CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III MULTIPLAYER BETA AVAILABLE NOW FIRST ON PLAYSTATION®4 SYSTEM

Beginning Today, Treyarch’s Black Ops III Beta Provides Gamers Hands-On with All-New Multiplayer 

First Public Call of Duty Beta Since Call of Duty: World at War Starts First on PS4™ System Through Sunday, Aug. 23

Sydney, Australia – August 20, 2015 – The start of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty ®: Black Ops III multiplayer beta has arrived on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.  Beginning today, PS4™ system owners worldwide who obtained a beta access code for the Call of Duty: Black Ops III multiplayer beta will experience Treyarch’s new multiplayer gameplay first hand.  New maps, modes, specialists, weapon customisations and more, including gameplay progression and the all-new momentum-based, chained movement system will be available for play through Sunday, Aug. 23, with other platforms to follow.  Players are encouraged to submit their Beta feedback, directly to the studio team, at https://activision.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qwebcorporate.dll?idx=ET2VTC.  As the Beta continues, the Treyarch blog will provide updates as events unfold.

“We have poured our heart and soul into making Black Ops III, pushing ourselves to develop the deepest and richest experience we could for Call of Duty® players. We can’t wait for the fans to get their hands-on multiplayer so they can provide us with the type of feedback at scale to ensure we deliver the best experience we can come November,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch.  “With the new precision fluid movement system, the introduction of Specialists and an all-new weapon customisation system, there’s a ton of multiplayer content in the beta and that’s just scratching the surface.”

The Call of Duty: Black Ops III beta represents a fraction of the full version of the game.  Fans playing in the Beta can expect to play through three maps that will accommodate various play styles and enjoy high-octane combat that takes advantage of the new momentum-based, chained-movement system, advanced weaponry, new gear and much more.  At least seven game modes will be unveiled throughout the Beta, including fan favourites and quite possibly a few surprises along the way.  Plus, Beta participants will be able to play as two all-new Specialists in addition to the six previously revealed.  The Beta also includes weapon customisation featuring both Create-a-Class and Weapon Paint Shop functionality (Weapon Paint Shop not available on PC version of Beta) as well as gameplay progression covering weapons, scorestreaks and equipment (all progression will reset at the end of the Beta).

“The relationship between SCEA and Activision continues to flourish, allowing us to deliver content to PlayStation® fans before they can get it anywhere else,” said Adam Boyes, VP of Publisher and Developer Relations, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. “Continuing to redefine the multiplayer experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops III looks and feels incredible, and I’m thrilled fans will have the chance to experience it first on the PlayStation®4 system.”

Fans looking to get all the latest news and information on the Call of Duty: Black Ops III multiplayer beta can visit CallofDuty.com, Treyarch’s blog or the PlayStation Blog.  Here participants can stay up-to-date on any announcements and new details revealed throughout the beta.

Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and award-winning developer Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops III delivers a campaign that can be played as a full single player game or co-op online with up to four players (on PS4™ system, Xbox One, and PC), the deepest, most rewarding multiplayer ever offered in Call of Duty, and, a mind blowing Call of Duty Zombies experience that, for the first time, features its own XP progression system.  Call of Duty: Black Ops III is in development for PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC.  The Call of Duty: Black Ops III multiplayer beta will be available on Xbox One and PC starting August 26.

For the latest intel on Black Ops III, check out: www.callofduty.com, www.youtube.com/callofduty_ANZ or follow @Treyarch and @CallofDuty on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.   The title is not yet rated by the Australian Classification Board.

About Treyarch

Treyarch is a video game studio, driven by the desire to create epic gameplay experiences that are enjoyed by as many video game fans as possible. It is an approach that has helped to make the studio an industry-leading game developer, whose Call of Duty: Black Ops II set world-wide launch day records, and whose previous game Call of Duty: Black Ops set an entertainment launch opening record upon its release in 2010 and continues to be one of the best-selling games of all time, according to NPD and GfK Chart-Track. Treyarch is wholly owned by Activision Publishing, Inc. 

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected Call of Duty:  Black Ops III beta release date of August 26, 2015, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

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ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS, and stylised roman numeral III are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.  All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark and “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Disney Interactive Releases New Trailer for Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set for Disney Infinity 3.0

MELBOURNE, Aust. – (August 19, 2015) Disney Interactive today released the new trailer which debuted at D23 Expo 2015 for Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic, one of three Star Wars™ Play Sets to be released for Disney Infinity 3.0, which launches in Australia and New Zealand on September 3.  Developed by Ninja Theory, in partnership with Avalanche Software, this Play Set features iconic moments inspired by the original Star Wars trilogy, Episodes I-III.

The Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set will be included in the game’s Starter Pack and lets players embark on an intergalactic adventure with Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his trusty Padawan Ahsoka Tano to uncover secret plots, defeat villains and bring peace back to the galaxy.  Featuring an original story set in the Episodes I-III timeline, players will travel through four iconic locations, use the Force™ and Lightsabers™ in epic battles, and master their combat skills.

To access the official Star Wars Twilight of the Republic trailer, please visit http://youtu.be/iznOlE_IT_k 

The Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack will include the Disney Infinity 3.0 Base and video game software, the Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks content for PC and mobile devices.

Two additional Star Wars Play Sets will be available for Disney Infinity 3.0 this year: Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire following the classic trilogy, and one based on Star Wars™: The Force Awakens™. In addition, players will be able to unlock all Star Wars characters in each Star Wars Play Set.  All characters are playable  immediately in the newly enhanced Toy Box, along with entire line-up of characters previously released for Disney Infinity.

All figures and Power Discs from the 1.0 and 2.0 editions of Disney Infinity will be compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 in the enhanced Toy Box and, for the first time, Power Discs will be sold in labeled franchise-specific packs of four. Other Disney Infinity 3.0 Play Sets such as Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out, figures, and Toy Box Expansion Games will be sold separately.

Disney Infinity 3.0 is rated PG for online interactivity and mild violence and will be available for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U™ system from Nintendo, PC and iOS and Android devices.

For additional information, please visit http://www.disney.com/infinity and http://www.youtube.com/disneyinfinity, join the Disney Infinity Facebook community (Facebook.com/disneyinfinity) and Google+ community (https://plus.google.com/+DisneyInfinity), and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/disneyinfinity) and Instagram (instagram.com/disneyinfinity).

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About Disney Infinity

Disney Infinity is an interactive gaming platform where players have unprecedented freedom and endless opportunity to create stories and play experiences starring the beloved characters from across the worlds of Disney. Building on the success of launching Disney Infinity 1.0 and 2.0, Disney Interactive announced its latest installment to the best-selling “hybrid toy/video game,” Disney Infinity 3.0. In its third iteration, players will again utilise real-world interactive figures to activate original storylines (Play Sets) in the virtual game worlds of popular Star Wars franchises and create new adventures with a variety of characters from Marvel, The Walt Disney Co. and Disney•Pixar properties in the Toy Box mode. Disney Infinity 3.0 is rated PG for online interactivity and mild violence and will be available in stores on September 3. For more information, visit Disney.com/Infinity.

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive is the digital entertainment part of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). As one of the world’s largest creators of high-quality digital experiences, Disney Interactive produces interactive entertainment for the whole family including multi-platform video games, online short form video, mobile and social games and digital destinations across all current and emerging media platforms.

Entertaining guests of all ages, Disney Interactive’s key products include the video game platform Disney Infinity, top virtual world for kids Club Penguin, popular mobile franchises like Frozen Free Fall and LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum, top online destinations for kids, parents and fans including Disney.com, Oh My Disney, and Babble.com and the Disney social network reaching more than 1.5 billion guests on Facebook.

©Disney. STAR WARS © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

JOIN THE YEAR’S MOST EPIC PARTY WITH THE BLIZZCON^® 2015 VIRTUAL TICKET

Gather some friends and watch live HD coverage of Blizzard Entertainment’s gaming convention this November 6 and 7 (November 7 and 8 AEDT) 

SYDNEY, Australia—August 20, 2015—The biggest Blizzard bash of the year is almost here! BlizzCon^® 2015 is coming this November 6–7 (November 7–8 AEDT) to the Anaheim Convention Centre—and anyone who’s not attending in person can still join in on the excitement from home with the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, available now at www.blizzcon.com.

BlizzCon is an epic celebration featuring Blizzard Entertainment’s game universes and the global player communities that bring them to life. With the Virtual Ticket, Blizzard gamers around the world can get a front-row seat for the action across two high-def streaming channels of coverage, including  developer panels, interviews, and community contests—this year hosted by author, actor, and all-around good geek, Wil Wheaton (@wilw).

“BlizzCon is the ultimate Blizzard community event, and we’re thrilled to give even more people around the world a chance to be a part of it with the Virtual Ticket,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Whether they’re hearing cool news about their favourite game, cheering on the community contests, or getting behind-the-scenes insight from the developer panels, we want everyone at home to feel like they’re right there with us.”

The BlizzCon 2015 Virtual Ticket is available to order now for $54.95 AUD, and grants access to two days of live convention coverage and other content, including:

• Developer Panels – Get the scoop on the latest developments for your favourite Blizzard games, including World of Warcraft^®, StarCraft^® II, Diablo^® III, Hearthstone^®, Heroes of the Storm™, and Overwatch™—live from the main and panel stages. 

• Community Contests, Hosted by Wil Wheaton – Don’t miss a minute of the legendary BlizzCon costume and talent contests on Friday night—emceed by writer, podcaster, TableTop creator, and champion of geek culture Wil Wheaton. 

• Exclusive Interviews – Go beyond the latest announcements and get even more insider info from members of Blizzard’s development teams in a series of in-depth interviews.

• Closing Ceremony – Every Virtual Ticket holder gets a great seat for the closing celebration, which wraps up two days of Blizzard gaming and eSports action in style—stay tuned for more details. 

• On-Demand Replays – Miss a panel or just want to relive an awesome moment? The Virtual Ticket provides access to on-demand replays of main-stage and panel-stage events (available for two weeks after the show). 

• In-Game Goodies – As a bonus, the Virtual Ticket also comes with this year’s commemorative BlizzCon in-game goodies for a variety of Blizzard games—more details soon!

• Advance Access to BlizzCon Loot – Shop for BlizzCon merch from home with early access to this year’s online BlizzCon sale, scheduled to run from October 17 through November 9, and snag some cool new Blizzard gear created for the show.^†

New for 2015—Get Yourself a Goody Bag

For the first time ever, Virtual Ticket buyers also have the option to purchase a BlizzCon Goody Bag, containing a treasure trove of cool commemorative BlizzCon-exclusive loot—a new way to bring a piece of the BlizzCon experience home. Available to pre-purchase now through the Blizzard Gear Store for an additional $34.99 USD (plus tax, shipping, and applicable fees; limit 1 per Virtual Ticket), the Goody Bag is the same one given out to BlizzCon attendees, and is expected to ship out prior to the show in early November.^† This loot’s not likely to lie around for long—supplies are limited, so be sure to lock in your pre-purchase before they’re all claimed. Visit BlizzCon.com for more information.

Watch All the eSports Action Free

Even if you don’t purchase a Virtual Ticket, you’ll still be able to catch plenty of BlizzCon action online free of charge. Coverage of the opening ceremony and the eSports tournaments taking place at BlizzCon—including the Global Finals for the 2015 StarCraft II World Championship Series, World of Warcraft Arena World Championship, Hearthstone World Championship, and Heroes of the Storm World Championship—will be streamed free in HD at www.blizzcon.com.

BlizzCon would not be possible without the enthusiasm of Blizzard Entertainment gamers around the world as well as the generous support of the event’s partners—Intel, NVIDIA, DIRECTV, Gigabyte, Samsung, Rosewill, Amazon Appstore, Logitech, Corsair, and Razer.

More information on BlizzCon 2015 and the Virtual Ticket can be found at www.blizzcon.com.

^†While supplies last. All orders will be shipped from the United States; international shipping rates may apply. Not available in all regions—visit https://www.battle.net/support/article/blizzard-gear-store-shipping for more information.

Devolver Digital Makes a Stink:  Gassy Mob Farts onto iOS and Android

*pfffffffft*

Your Lower Intestines – The adorable tooting developers at Flee Punk and silent but deadly game label Devolver Digital announce today that Gassy Mob, a game about an angry mob trying to kill you because you farted on them, is squirting out on iOS later this year and on Android in early 2016.

Let’s just let that one float for a minute.

Gassy Mob puts you in control of an adorably colorful character that, having eaten as much as possible, now must release copious amounts of delightful gas in the vicinity of seemingly innocuous bystanders. However, after enough back-end blowouts, you’ll be running for your life pursued by a mob – expelling more gas along the way. Gain points with each dusting and level up your gastrointestinal prowess, unlock new powers, and make new helpful friends but be sure to avoid pitfalls and traps as you dodge the increasingly angry mob. Stay on your feet long enough to break wind as much as possible before the mob eventually runs you down.

Gassy Mob’s blocky, colorful art style and delightful sound effects will be tooting its own horn (literally) at this month’s PAX Prime convention in Seattle, August 28-31 in the Devolver Digital booth of virtual wares, #3943.

For more information, please visit www.gassymob.com.

To stay up to date with the flatulently-inclined folks at Devolver Digital, be sure to follow @DevolverDigital on Twitter or visit www.devolverdigital.com.

SEGA ANNOUNCES LIMITED FREE TRIAL FOR COMPANY OF HEROES 2:  THE BRITISH FORCES

Free trial Offers Players Early Access to This Standalone Multiplayer Army Pack 

LOS ANGELES & LONDON – August 19, 2015 –SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced a limited free trial for Company of Heroes™ 2: The British Forces from Relic Entertainment™ which will begin at 10:00am PDT/6:00pm BST/7:00pm CET on August 31 and end at 2:00pm PDT/10:00pm BST/11:00pm CET  on September 2 2015. During the exclusive Steam trial, which is set to take place just before the final game’s release, up to 55,000 players will get hands-on with the British army. The trial includes access to all the content which includes 15 new units, up to six new commanders (three in the base game and three via the War Spoils loot dropping system) and a total of eight new multiplayer maps as well as the four factions and base commanders from all previous Company of Heroes 2 games. Keep your eyes on the @companyheroes Twitter feed for details of where you can grab a key through exclusive media partners or via Relic.

The British Forces adds a new dynamic to the Company of Heroes 2 battlefield by giving players the ability to combine powerful, coordinated attacks across two distinct combat styles – the ‘Hammer’, an aggressive, mobile approach; or the ‘Anvil’, a deliberate but highly potent defensive approach. With the addition of the British army, Company of Heroes 2 is one of the most comprehensive World War II RTS games available. 

The British Forces will be available on September 3, 2015 for $12.99/£9.99/€12.99 as a stand-alone package or as an addition to the existing factions featured in Company of Heroes 2. New players will also have access to all pre-existing Company of Heroes 2 maps via auto-match as well as the ability to battle against all other existing factions.

Pre-order on Steam to receive a 10% discount. Owners of any Company of Heroes game will receive a 20% discount.

For more information on Company of Heroes 2, please see www.companyofheroes.com. For assets, please go to www.sega-press.com.

About Relic Entertainment Inc.

Relic Entertainment™, Inc. is a SEGA owned studio located in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 1997, Relic is an award winning studio, known for critically-acclaimed titles like Homeworld, Company of Heroes and the Dawn of War series as well as other genre-defining real-time strategy titles. 

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:

SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.com 

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com

THE Settlers^® Online is now available on steam 

Game Supports Steam Trading Cards 

London, UK – August 19, 2015 – Today, Ubisoft® and Blue Byte® have announced that The Settlers® Online is now available to download on Steam. Players of the acclaimed strategy game can now add The Settlers Online for free to their Steam library, which allows Steam account players to start the game directly from the desktop and chat with friends – all while building their empire from a small village to a prosperous city. In the persistent world of The Settlers Online, players can achieve greatness through economical thinking and building a clever infrastructure. Fans now have access to the engaging browser game that offers Player-versus-Player battles, challenges based in fairytale-like epic adventures, and an integrated science system with different skill trees to improve their empire.

The Steam launch also marks the introduction of trading cards for The Settlers Online. Players who collect all of the cards are able to craft them into a game badge that is tied to the player’s account, which is also shown in their profile. Game badges come with tradable The Settlers Online items, like emoticons, Steam profile backgrounds and other game rewards.

The Settlers Online on Steam is available here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/354640/

For the latest news on Ubisoft collectible merchandise, please visit and like the page www.facebook.com/ubicollectibles.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2014-15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Blue Byte

Having opened their doors in 1988, Blue Byte’s first hit came in 1991 with Battle Isle, followed by the ever-popular development strategy game The Settlers® – which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. Following their acquisition by Ubisoft in 2001, the studio continued work on The Settlers® series, and began overseeing the production of ANNO® in 2007. Winner of 2012 “Best European Studio” award (European Games Awards), Blue Byte expanded in 2014 with the acquisition of a new branch in Mainz. The teams are developing and operating HD, browser-based and mobile games, including Might and Magic® Heroes® Online, ANNO® Online and The Settlers® Online, captivating millions of players worldwide. In 2014 the studio successfully launched ANNO®: Build an Empire on mobile devices. Currently The Settlers®: Kingdoms of Anteria for PC and Assassin’s Creed® Identity for smartphones and tablets are in development at Blue Byte’s Düsseldorf studio while the Mainz studio works on Anno 2205^TM which will bring the acclaimed city-builder series into space. www.bluebyte.com

© 2010 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Settlers, Blue Byte and the Blue Byte logo are trademarks of Ubisoft GmbH in the U.S. and/or other countries. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Developed by Blue Byte Software.

Pocket Platoons to Bring Giant Battles to Small Screens

World War II Mobile Strategy Title to Focus on Tactics, Story, and Depth with Over 300 Campaign Stages and a Variety of Game of Modes 

SEATTLE — August 11, 2015 — En Masse Entertainment, publisher of TERA — one of the most-played MMORPGs on Steam— is excited to announce the upcoming launch of Pocket Platoons. Scheduled to charge into battle on August 27 for iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices across North America and Europe, Pocket Platoons finds players building bases of operations and controlling customized armies in a stylized, WWII-themed strategy extravaganza.

“Pocket Platoons is a little game with a lot of heart. It has so much to offer with its amazing depth, wide range of units and variety of modes,” said Chris Lee, En Masse Entertainment CEO. “In this game, troop position really matters, which will appeal to players looking for fantastic turn-based combat strategy. Core gamers will gravitate to this gem of a game for their mobile devices.”
Choose between the Allies and Axis factions, build your base, summon and strengthen your army, and then lead your troops into battle. Enjoy a variety of single-player skirmishes, PvP battles, and epic 5v5 coalition combat. With over 300 campaign stages, hundreds of progression quests, dozens of tactical units, and a wide variety of combat modes to master, Pocket Platoons brings a new experience to the mobile strategy genre. Instead of relying on luck-based battle systems and pay-to-win micro-transactions, Pocket Platoons rewards player skill and a deep understanding of battlefield positioning and combat tactics.

Pocket Platoons will be free to download on the App Store, Google Play™, and the Amazon Appstore on August 27. For more information please visit the official Pocket Platoons product page.

For supporting assets for Pocket Platoons, including today’s announcement trailer and screenshots, please visit: http://bit.ly/PocketPlatoonsAnnounce

About En Masse Entertainment

Based in Seattle Washington, En Masse Entertainment embodies the evolution of modern game publishing. The company’s mission is to publish great games and provide great service. Beginning with En Masse’s inaugural title, TERA, and continuing with Zombies Monsters Robots and its first mobile game, Fruit Attacks, the company has built a track record of excellence and innovation. The team at En Masse includes experts in online technology, live service, branding, community, and player support, allowing them to thrive as a publisher in the digital era. For more information, visit EnMasse.com.