World of Warships Launches Global Open Beta

Set a course for 10 original maps, four classes of vessels, and action-packed naval combat

July 3, 2015 — The wait is over as Wargaming today announced World of Warships has launched its Open Beta. With the Closed Beta concluded, which surpassed over 410,000 prospective captains, the floodgates are open to all who are ready to command the most iconic vessels from the mid-century in intense naval battles.

“World of Warships’ Closed Beta was strong out of the gate and showed no signs of slowing as players and streamers embraced the game, then took to the high seas for legendary naval combat,” said Jake Neri, Publishing Producer Wargaming NA. “Participation was solid and a community of passionate, dedicated players was born to help shape the game with their feedback. We can only match that by working on the game with just as much passion. Building on all of this enthusiasm we look forward to welcoming even more players into the Open Beta test for a game we are so proud of.”

The Open Beta launches with over 80 warships from America and Japan and 10 original maps to participate in thrilling 12v12 matches. Players will shape the fight by harnessing the power of mighty battleships, swift destroyers, tactical aircraft carriers or versatile cruisers. Whether it is the fierce competition of PvP combat or the action-packed experience of PvE mode, commanders will take the helm, join forces with other players and sink the competition across the high seas.

Open Beta also brings new additions to the World of Warships experience. With the inclusion of Soviet and UK nations, the finest vessels that Britain and the USSR built will be joining the fleet. For the first time ever, World of Warships introduces a robust signal flag customization system. Earned in battle as achievements and applied to vessels to enhance performance, the signal flags in-game are not only cosmetic but also functional. Signal flags will display a player’s prowess on the water while providing buffs and advantages, such as giving extra credits for a battle, increasing the number of experience points gained in combat, improving the speed of the vessel, and more!

As the Open Beta commences, all purchased pre-order packages are credited to players. Closed Beta testers who used their bundles during the previous testing phase are credited them once again.

To stay up-to-date with all the latest developments, visit our official website.

• http://worldofwarships.asia

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About World of Warships

The highly anticipated World of Warships is the latest free, historical online combat game to be added to the Wargaming’s catalog. Command a massive naval fleet featuring history’s most iconic war vessels, level up important tech modules and prepare to dominate the oceans in World of Warships.

With four classes of ships, a plethora of upgrades, strategically designed environments the action never ends and every match is a unique experience.

Endless hours of strategy, tactical gameplay and pulse pounding combat await all who take the helm in World of Warships!

Official website:

• http://worldofwarships.asia

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market. Founded as a privately held company in 1998, Wargaming has shipped more than 15 titles. Currently, Wargaming is focused on its team-based MMO war series dedicated to the mid-20th century warfare that will include the armored World of Tanks, the flight combat World of Warplanes, and the naval World of Warships. The three intertwined titles will form a common gaming universe integrated within the portal www.wargaming.net.

As part of its multiplatform line-up, the company has introduced World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition and World of Tanks Blitz. Launched in 2014, World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition introduced epic tank-on-tank battles to console gamers and the mobile MMO game World of Tanks Blitz has opened up Wargaming’s trademark team-based military IP to smartphone and tablet users worldwide.

Official website:

• wargaming.com

F1^TM 2015 ‘FEATURES’ GAMEPLAY TRAILER UNLEASHED 

SYDNEY, 3^rd July 2015 – Codemasters® today released the ‘Features’ gameplay trailer for F1 2015, the official videogame of the 2015 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™. The game will be released on July 10^th 2015 and is being distributed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment across Australia & New Zealand. This will mark the award-winning series’ debut on PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. The game will also be available for Windows PC.

As shown in all its glory in the new trailer, the all-new Championship Season is the central game mode in F1 2015, which promises to deliver the most immersive F1 experience yet, thanks to an all-new ‘broadcast presentation’ style that recreates the unique race day atmosphere of a GRAND PRIX™. Brand new session intro sequences reflect the spectacle of the sport, along with the build-up and excitement of each race, as well as the championship season narrative as it unfolds for the player.

“Our new Championship Season and Pro Season modes deliver a much more engaging and fluid FORMULA ONE™ championship experience than ever before”, commented Lee Mather, Principal Games Designer, Codemasters.

“The race weekend is more than just the in-car and on track experience. Observing your driver working with his team during practice and qualifying and listening to the new commentary that sets the scene for the race and season standings is now present for the gamer. Then seeing the busy grid before a race, with all the flavour and character of it, into the race itself, the new television style cameras and replays, and finally the iconic podium celebrations all add to that race experience. The immersion is further enhanced with the voice recognition technology available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles, allowing players to engage with their race engineer through in-game voice commands with Kinect for Xbox One and the PlayStation^® Camera or compatible headsets and microphones for PlayStation 4.”

“For those gamers who want the ultimate challenge, then the new Pro Season mode, which ramps up all the settings to the most realistic possible, is really for them”, added Mather. “Full 100% race distances, full practice and qualifying sessions, the most competitive A.I. settings, no flashbacks with which to correct mistakes, all locked into cockpit view with minimal HUD assistance…Pro Season will truly separate the weekend drivers from the experts!”

With the 2015 FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX this coming weekend at the iconic Silverstone circuit, this year’s FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP is already proving to be one of the most exciting seasons in many years, with further anticipation around the return of Mexico for the first time in two decades. In addition to a fully playable 2015 season, gamers will be able to play the full 2014 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP season as bonus content. Additional content updates will deliver the full season liveries, enhanced performance data and the Manor Marussia F1 team, who did not attend the pre-season tests.

Gamers can see the ‘Features’ trailer now playing at https://youtu.be/UjVmodaEOO8

Follow Codemasters F1 games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates. F1 2015 will be published by Codemasters and distributed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

YouTube Stream:

https://youtu.be/UjVmodaEOO8

CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE SUPREMACY AVAILABLE NOW FOR PLAYSTATION AND PC 

Sydney, Australia – July 3, 2015 – Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Supremacy, the third DLC pack for Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare is now available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. London and Moscow are just two of the locations players will experience in a diverse collection of multiplayer mayhem, including the return of one of the most iconic multiplayer maps in Call of Duty® history, “Highrise,” which first debuted in 2009’s Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2, now transported to the year 2054. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Supremacy includes four new, action-packed multiplayer maps, all featuring the new Exo Grapple mechanic, which adds a layer of fun and strategy to the experience.

• Parliament: Docked on the River Thames, this military cargo ship delivers a view of the London cityscape along with a fast-paced combat experience. Mixed site-lines provide opportunities for all styles of play to dominate this medium-sized map.
• Kremlin: Gamers must prepare for intense combat in Red Square. Secure elevated positions to give the team a strategic advantage, or use exoskeleton capabilities to avoid being caught in the minefield that activates mid-match.
• Compound: Players take combat preparation to the limit in an Atlas training facility hidden away in the Colorado wilderness, as they’ll have to be quick on the trigger in this small, symmetrical map, which funnels high-speed combat through tight corners to the main tower structures.
• Skyrise: Players deploy to an Atlas Skyscraper overlooking the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Based on the fan-favourite Highrise, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by Infinity Ward, this map brings new exoskeleton mechanics to the classic multiplayer layout. Gamers must dominate the power positions in the centre of this small-to-medium sized map to control the key navigation points.

The popular Exo Zombies saga continues in the all-new experience, Carrier. Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice, Bubba Hotep) steps in and joins the battle-hardened cast, including John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, RED, Burn After Reading), Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic, Edge of Tomorrow), Rose McGowan (Planet Terror, Scream), and Jon Bernthal (Fury, The Wolf of Wall Street). In Carrier, players are trapped on an Atlas aircraft carrier and encounter advanced new weaponry, enemy Atlas Strike teams, and a host of new zombie enemies.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Supremacy will be available for an RRP of $19.95.  The Supremacy DLC Pack is also included in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s DLC Season Pass*, featuring all four DLC Packs planned for the year, as part of the discounted bundle.**

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, is developed by Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software specifically for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PC, and is available via direct digital download.  Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system versions are developed by High Moon Studios. The title is rated MA15+ for Strong Violence by the Australian Classification Board.

For the latest intel, check out: www.callofduty.com, www.facebook.com/callofduty, www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty_ANZ on Twitter and Instagram. 

*Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately.  If you purchase the DLC Season Pass, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Map Packs, as you will be charged for them.  DLC Season Pass and DLC Map Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories.  Pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare game required; sold separately. 

**Based on DLC Season Pass suggested retail price of $64.95 and four DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $19.95 each. 

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. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future 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.

# # #

ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY ADVANCED WARFARE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.

GUST’S DEEPLY IMMERSIVE RPG, AR NOSURGE PLUS: ODE TO AN UNBORN STAR, LAUNCHES FOR THE PLAYSTATION® VITA

BURLINGAME, Calif. – July 2, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America today announced that Ar nosurge Plus: Ode to an Unborn Star is now available for the PlayStation®Vita in North America. This turn-based ‘7-Dimension’ RPG is a remake of Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star, updated with new costumes, new “purification” partners, and DLC available in the previous version comes pre-loaded with this game. KOEI TECMO America also released three exclusive DLC bonus costumes for the playable characters, available free of charge to those who download the game in the first four weeks of release. These unique items are a sports outfit for Casty, a UNITY-CHAN costume for Casty, and a set of gorgeous Amenomirai Vestments for Ion designed by TATSUWO.

Ar nosurge Plus: Ode to an Unborn Star is a fantasy, sci-fi game that takes place in a world where music and song can create magic. It tells the compelling story of a civilization that lost their planet and has been roaming the edge of space for 2000 years in search of a new home. The player follows two sets of characters: Delta and Casty, whose goal is to protect humanity and save the world, and Ion and Earthes, who are trying to find Ion a way home to Earth. The player can change between both pairs and discover a way to combine their storylines and strengths to eventually solve the mystery that shrouds their ongoing struggles.

Developed by GUST and published by KOEI TECMO America in North America, Ar nosurge Plus: Ode to an Unborn Star is now available for digital download on the PlayStation®Vita for $39.99. This game has been rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

For the latest Ar nosurge Plus news, follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmous or @KoeiTecmoUS or visit the official website at: www.koeitecmoamerica.com/arnosurgeplus.

About KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP:

KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.

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

©2015 Unity Technologies Japan

FIGHTING IN MMO GAMES IS ACTUALLY FUN AGAIN WITH THE LAUNCH OF CABAL 2

With Fluid Fighting Mechanics and an Intricate Combo System, New Sequel from ESTsoft Proves that MMOs Don’t Have to Be a Grind

IRVINE, CALIF. – July 2, 2015 – ESTSoft, Inc. announced today that the highly-anticipated open-world, massively multiplayer online (MMO) game CABAL 2 has officially launched and is now widely available on PC. CABAL 2 is free to download and play.

Download CABAL 2 now at: http://cabal2.estgames.com/Download.

“The CABAL franchise has always emphasized the thrill of combat in an MMO world, and with CABAL 2 we created a new combo system that will not only appeal to our huge base of dedicated fans, but to all MMO players in general by proving that battling doesn’t have to be a grind” said Steve J. Pae, COO at ESTSoft.  “CABAL 2 features gorgeous graphics and an awesome skill-based combat system, which is easy to learn but a challenge to master, and it will make MMO gamers remember why they fell in love with the genre in the first place.”

CABAL 2 features combat that is fluid and skill-based, but also offers all the depth and strategy players would expect from a genuine MMO experience. Designed by passionate MMO gamers for fans of the genre, the game’s fast-paced combat and focus on role-playing game (RPG) elements harken back to classic MMOs.

Evolving from the wildly-successful CABAL Online, which hosts nearly 30 million users from more than 60 countries around the world, CABAL 2 is a high-fantasy MMO for PC which combines deep, immersive RPG elements with epic skill-based battles. This next chapter in the CABAL series bring a unique style of gameplay sure to appeal to players who are both nostalgic for the classic MMOs of the past, but also still enjoy the technical advancements of modern PC gaming.

For more information, and to download CABAL 2, please visit www.cabal2.com.

For the all-new launch trailer, please visit: https://app.box.com/CABAL2-LaunchTrailer

To embed the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkavyM4Sul4&feature=youtu.be

About ESTSoft, Inc.

ESTsoft Inc. is the North American publishing and operations arm of ESTsoft Corp, a leading Korean software company since 1993. ESTsoft delivers essential software products and innovative online games around the world. ESTsoft has been a KOSDAQ listed company since 2008.

LIVE A NEW SMURFING QUEST WITH THE SMURFS^ä LATEST VIDEOGAME

Available For the First Time on Nintendo 3DS^ä

LAUNCH TRAILER: YOUTUBE

London, UK – July 2, 2015 – Today, Ubisoft^® announced that The Smurfs will be available this week on Nintendo 3DS^TM across all EMEA territories (Europe, Middle East and Asia).

Developed by Magic Pockets, The Smurfs for Nintendo 3DS will take players to the colourful comic book world of their favourite characters. In this great new adventure, players will need to help the Smurfs rebuild their village while finding out what could have possibly caused its destruction. To complete their quest, they will have to play through a variety of 12 mini-games, collecting resources and avoiding Gargamel’s traps.

In this brand new Smurfs game, players will be able to build the greatest village for Papa Smurf, Smurfette and all their friends. Through multiple environments, from Gargamel’s lab to the deep forest surrounding the village, players will collect wood, rocks and bricks to help them in their quest. Customisation will be possible for both the Smurf houses as well as the whole village by sawing logs, nailing planks and stacking bricks.

All the mini-games are tailored for Nintendo 3DS^TM, taking full advantage of its features: players will play hide and seek with the Nintendo 3DS^TM stylus, pilot a plane through the woodlands, organise music contests or create their very own recipes by tilting the Nintendo 3DS^TM to mix ingredients and blow in the microphone to cool their preparations.

For the latest information on The Smurfs, please visit: www.thesmurfsgame.com

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, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. 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.

SMURF^TM & © Peyo 2015 Lic. Lafig Belgium/IMPS. www.smurf.com – All Rights Reserved. Game Software excluding Lafig Belgium/IMPS Elements: © 2015 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Nintendo 3DS is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2011 Nintendo.