JACK TRETTON TO STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA

Sony Network Entertainment International EVP and COO Shawn Layden Appointed
President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America

TOKYO, MARCH 6, 2014 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. today announced that Jack Tretton will step down from his role as President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) as of March 31, 2014. This is a result of a mutual agreement between Mr. Tretton and SCEA not to renew their contractual relationship.

Shawn Layden, currently Executive Vice President and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International, will become President and CEO of SCEA, effective April 1, 2014.

Mr. Tretton has been with SCEA since its inception in 1995. As one of the founding members of the executive team, Tretton played a pivotal role in launching all PlayStation® platforms in North America, including the original PlayStation®, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), PlayStation®3, PlayStation® Network, and PlayStation®Vita. Most recently, Tretton led the record-breaking launch of PlayStation®4 (PS4™), which sold more than one million units in 24 hours in North America and is now the #1 next generation gaming console in North America and worldwide. During his tenure, Tretton was also responsible for achieving several industry milestones, including surpassing 50 million units sold of PlayStation®2 in North America, and aggressively growing the PlayStation business in Canada and Latin America.

“Working at SCEA for the past 19 years has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Tretton. “Although I will deeply miss the talented team at SCEA and the passion demonstrated every day by our fans, I’m very excited about starting the next chapter of my career. I want to thank the employees, partners and customers for their tireless commitment to the PlayStation brand and, of course, to our fans who have pushed us to new heights of innovation and entertainment over the past two decades. I leave PlayStation in a position of considerable strength and the future will only get brighter for PlayStation Nation.”

A 15-year PlayStation veteran, Layden was one of the founding members of SNEI in 2010, joining the company directly from Sony Computer Entertainment, where he most recently held the position of President, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan.  His career at Sony Computer Entertainment also included eight years at SCE Worldwide Studios in London where he directed international software development.

“It’s an honour and privilege to join Sony Computer Entertainment America and be a part of the team that is leading the next generation of gaming and entertainment,” said Layden. “SCEA is committed to delivering breakthrough gaming experiences that inspire fans and exceed their wildest expectations. As PS4™ shows us every day, there has never been a better time to be part of the PlayStation community and I look forward to working with our retail, development, publishing and network partners to further demonstrate why PlayStation is the best place to play.”

“I’ve worked with Jack for nearly two decades and I want to personally thank him for his leadership and the considerable contributions he’s made to the SCEA business and PlayStation brand over the years. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors,” said Andrew House, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment. “I also want to welcome Shawn to the Sony Computer Entertainment America team. I have the utmost confidence in Shawn’s leadership capabilities, and his deep knowledge of the gaming industry and commitment to gamers, will help keep PlayStation at the forefront of entertainment and innovative gameplay.”

ACTIVISION AND INFINITY WARD SET TO RELEASE THE KRAKEN WITH DEVASTATION – THE SECOND EPIC DLC PACK FOR CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS, LAUNCHING FIRST, EXCLUSIVELY ON XBOX LIVE APRIL 4^th. 

Features Four New Multiplayer Maps, Plus Second Chapter in Extinction’s Four-Part Episodic Story that Debuts the 100-foot Tall Seaborne Cryptid Boss – the Kraken 

Starting Today, Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass Owners on Xbox Live

Can Get Their Hands on Devastation’s All-New “Ripper” Tactical 2-in-1 Weapon 

First Ever Call of Duty: Ghosts Multiplayer Demo Weekend Kicks-off Tomorrow

Sydney, Australia, March 7, 2014 – Gamers clamoring for all-new Call of Duty®: Ghosts content can set their calendars for Devastation, the second of four massive DLC Packs, set to launch on April 4^th.

Available first, exclusively on Xbox Live for both Xbox One and Xbox 360, Devastation delivers a new assortment of content to Call of Duty®’s definitive online multiplayer experience.

The DLC Pack features four new small to medium-sized multiplayer maps, including a mountaintop Mayan temple, a mangled container ship, a giant excavation digger in South America, and a fully reimagined version of Infinity Ward’s fan-favourite map “Dome” from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 – each with their own unique Field Order.

There’s also the all-new “Ripper” tactical 2-in-1 weapon, and “Episode 2: Mayday” – the gripping second chapter in Extinction’s four-part episodic narrative which includes multiple mod-able versions of the Venom-X weapon, and closes with a battle against a monstrous, 100-foot tall Cryptid alien boss, aptly named the Kraken.

Additionally, as a special offer available starting today for players on Xbox Live, Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass owners get instant access to Devastation’s all-new “Ripper” weapon, which features the unique ability to quickly convert from Sub Machine-Gun (SMG) to Assault Rifle and back again in the midst of battle, and can be used in all Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer maps.

Devastation is available a la carte for a suggested retail price of $19.95, or as part of the Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass, which gives fans access to four epic Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Packs** planned to release throughout 2014 at the discounted* suggested retail price of $64.95. Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass holders also get instant access to the Team Leader Digital Pack, which comes with a unique multiplayer character head, weapon camo, reticle, patch, player card and background.

And for the first time in Call of Duty history, a free Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer demo will be available for gamers to experience over the weekend, starting tomorrow, Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 5am AEDT and running through Tuesday, March 11, 2014 until 4am AEDT .

Gamers will be able to jump on Xbox Live and try out Ghosts multiplayer, including three multiplayer maps – Strikezone, Warhawk, and Prison Break; three multiplayer modes – Team Deathmatch, Domination and Search & Rescue; and the original Extinction game mode – Point of Contact, all at no cost. Simply sign-in, download the Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer demo, and get right into a match against friends, family and anyone else enjoying the free demo this weekend.

“The Devastation DLC Pack continues the fast-paced, fun and imaginative gameplay that Infinity Ward and Neversoft began with Onslaught,” said Daniel Suarez, Vice President of Production, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Ghosts’ DLC is much more than just new multiplayer maps. The teams have added new weapons; the next intense continuation in Extinction’s four-part, episodic narrative; and another epic, action film character soon to be revealed. Devastation, like Onslaught before it, is a ton of fun, and we can’t wait for the community to experience it all.”

Devastation delivers four distinctive new maps with the fast-paced gameplay Call of Duty fans love, each with their own surprises. The first map, “Ruins,” is located on a Mexican peninsula and set amidst the remnants of a mountaintop Mayan temple, with multiple levels providing verticality for longer-range weapons, and underground pathways perfect for close-quarters encounters. Savvy players that find and complete the unique Field Order will be able to trigger the map’s volcano to erupt, and enjoy watching enemy players attempt to take cover as fiery debris fall from the sky.

The map “Collision,” is a mangle of debris scattered atop a container ship pinned underneath a crippled bridge in New York. This small map is ideal for run-and-gun tactics. Players that dominate “Collision” and complete the map’s specific Field Order will be able take control of a heavily armed aircraft and rain down destruction from above.

“Behemoth” takes the battle aboard a massive excavation platform in South America. Long sight lines open this map up to longer-range weapons, while the compact interiors of the control rooms are ideal for SMG’s and Shotguns. Completing “Behemoth’s” Field Order will allow players to control an attack helicopter armed with a deadly, armour-piercing Rail Gun as it circles the excavator searching for enemy combatants.

Devastation’s fourth map, “Unearthed,” drops players into a reimagined version of “Dome,” the fan-favourite multiplayer map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. With a new look and all-new secrets, “Unearthed” is a compact map for all player types, who must navigate an alien artefact dig site in order to unlock the map’s Field Order and unleash the power of the Cryptids, as well as locate the map’s secret alien weapon.

Call of Duty: Ghosts Devastation also arms players with the “Ripper” – a new, tactical 2-in-1 SMG/Assault Rifle that can be used in all of Ghosts’ multiplayer maps. The “Ripper” is a highly unique weapon because of its ability to quickly switch back and forth from SMG to Assault Rifle on the fly.

A deadly addition to Ghosts’ arsenal, the “Ripper” is the ideal companion across a variety of map types and tactics, providing players unprecedented flexibility with medium to short-range capability as an SMG, and medium to long-range as an Assault Rifle.

For Extinction fans, “Episode 2: Mayday,” highlights the Call of Duty: Ghosts Devastation DLC Pack. Following the dramatic events that took place deep within the Alaskan wilderness at the Nightfall Program research facility, the Quick Reaction Force team now heads on board a mysterious Chinese research vessel drifting abandoned in the Tasman Sea in the South Pacific Ocean.

Players will uncover a much deeper conspiracy as they pursue Captain Archer and discover what has become of Doctor Cross. Armed with multiple mod-able versions of the Venom-X weapon powered with Cryptid technology, players will come up against yet another new alien species referred to as the “Seeder,” as well as go head-to-head with a massive, 100-foot tall Cryptid enemy from the depths of the ocean…the “Kraken.”

From Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Call of Duty: Ghosts is rated “M” (Mature – Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language) by the ESRB. 

Call of Duty: Ghosts Devastation is created by Infinity Ward, with additional development by Neversoft and is scheduled to arrive April 4, 2014 first, exclusively on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow.

For more information, visit www.callofduty.com/ghosts, www.facebook.com/CallofDuty, or follow on Twitter @InfinityWard.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Mainland China and the region of Taiwan. 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, including statements about the expected release date of the Downloadable Content (DLC) Pack offerings for Call of Duty: Ghosts, 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, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

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

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

First-Ever Games+Movies “Devolver Double Debut” Humble Bundle:
Get Behind the Scenes in the Merciless World of Competitive Gaming with Professional Gamers in “Good Game” and Take a Psychedelic Audio-tastic Ride with Cosmic DJ
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MARCH 6, 2014 — AUSTIN, TX – A mega Games+Movies bundle from Humble Bundle is now available ending March 16, featuring a film and game debut that allows Humble fans a chance to get them first. From independent games publisher and film distributor, Devolver Digital, comes the Devolver Double Debut Bundle (www.humblebundle.com/devolver) which packages five games both classic and new, including the world-debut of the sinisterly brilliant audio adventure, Cosmic DJ. Also premiering is a new documentary profiling the professional gaming lives of the world-renown Evil Geniuses team. Proceeds from the Devolver Double Debut bundle are set to benefit the Brandon Boyer Kicks Cancer’s Ass fund as well as The Film Collaborative. Brandon Boyer is the Independent Games Foundation (IGF) Chairman, founder of videogame culture site Venus Patrol, and co-founder of Austin’s independent game collective JUEGOS RANCHEROS. The Film Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping creators preserve their rights in order to be the main beneficiary of their work.

Grab a bowl of popcorn and get a first-hand look at the high emotional toll professional gaming takes on players in “Good Game” which chronicles life with the Evil Geniuses – one of the world’s most successful professional gaming teams. In the relentless and unforgiving digital gaming realm, the stakes are high and one wrong move could end it all. Also making its world-debut in the Devolver Double Debut Bundle is hypnotic and visually engaging music sequencer, Cosmic DJ. Cosmic DJ invites you into a seductive world of beats, highs and loops as you engineer your own tracks set to an incredibly stylized 3D digital world – whether you are a novice or lifelong musician, Cosmic DJ is one fantastic voyage you won’t want to miss.

“The entire Humble team is thrilled to be working with Devolver Digital on this game and film bundle that includes two world debuts. We’re also excited to give our fans a way to support indie film makers through The Film Collaborative and to help Brandon Boyer during his time of need,” said John Graham, co-founder of Humble Bundle. “Double debut all the way!”

This unique bundle comes via the collaboration between Humble Bundle, Devolver Digital/Devolver Digital Films and VHX, an online direct-to-fan distribution platform built for premium video.

“We’re excited to be working with Devolver and Humble Bundle. This is what modern digital distribution is supposed to look like,” said Jamie Wilkinson, co-founder and CEO of VHX.

Mike Wilson, co-founder of Devolver Digital said, “Where entertainment is concerned, games have always been at the forefront of digital technology, breaking down the barriers of entry with fast, easy access to a myriad of games across multiple genres. With the help of our fantastic partners at VHX and Humble, Devolver is poised to push films in similar directions by offering unique and engaging cinema to fans via similar distribution platforms that have seen so much success in the games-sphere.”

Included in this stellar bundle:

Fine Independent Cinema

o   Good Game (Debut movie via VHX key)
o   Austin High (movie via VHX key)
o   The Poisoning (movie via VHX key)
o   One Couch at a Time (movie via VHX key)
o   Mars (movie via VHX key)

Historic and InstaClassic Games

o   Cosmic DJ (Debut game DRM Free PC/Mac version)
o   Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition (game via Steam Key)
o   Shadow Warrior Classic Redux (game via Steam Key)
o   Marc Ecko’s Getting Up (game via Steam key)
o   Defense Technica (game via Steam Key)

For more information on Humble Bundles, please visit www.humblebundle.com.

For more information about Devolver Digital, please hit up www.devolverdigital.com, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/devolverdigital and Twitter @DevolverDigital and @DevolverFlix.

More information on VHX distribution is at www.vhx.tv/.

To contribute to the Kick Cancer’s Ass Brandon Boyer fund hit up http://www.gofundme.com/brandonnn.

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About the Bundle – Films:

Good Game (http://www.goodgamemovie.com/)
Good Game is an independent documentary from Nine Hour Films that follows a year in the life of the members of Team Evil Geniuses Starcraft 2 division as they compete throughout the United States and the world. Good Game will debut at this year’s SXSW on March 11 in a special screening by Devolver Digital. View the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/82424677.

Austin High (http://keepaustinhigh.com/)
Keep Austin Weird is the unofficial saying of this Texas town that’s packed with music, film, fun and of course, weed-loving folks.  In this hilarious and sexy stoner adventure, the blazed students and faculty of Austin’s Ladybird High attempt to shake off their slacker demons to stand up for their lifestyle and the eccentric city they love.

The Poisoning (http://www.devolverdigital.com/films/view/the-poisoning)
Three men travel across the country and encounter a hitchhiker that turns their world upside down. A maddening hellride and a race for survival ensue.

Mars: (http://swervepictures.wix.com/mars)
The discovery of life on Mars places a robotic expedition and a manned mission in a race to the Red Planet. On the way we discover that love – biological, spiritual, and even mechanical – can flourish in all kinds of ways.   This romantic comedy is told in the playful style of a graphic novel- using a unique animation process that director Geoff Marslett developed specifically for the film.

One Couch at a Time (http://www.onecouchatatime.com/)
One Couch at a Time is the first full-length feature documentary on the CouchSurfing movement and this emerging Age of Sharing. The film follows protagonist and veteran CouchSurfer, Alexandra Liss, through 21 countries and 6 subcontinents for 7 months using CouchSurfing.org. As we explore our inner and societal limits, this film pushes us to ask ourselves and our peers “what would YOU be willing to share with a stranger?”

About the Bundle – Games:

Cosmic DJ (www.cosmicdjgame.com)
Cosmic DJ from is a quick “pick-up and play” musical experience. It is appropriate for people of any musical competence and is meant to be a fun and new way for people to experience the joy of music creation. Create songs quickly and intuitively and then share them on SoundCloud for the world to hear.

Defense Technica (www.defensetechnica.com)
Defense Technica from developer Kuno Interactive is the next evolution in hardcore tower defense strategy games. Protect the core from an onslaught of unrelenting biomechanical terrors with a powerful range of tower defense units – each with their own upgradable features and methods of attacks.

Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition (http://www.devolverdigital.com/games/view/duke-nukem-3d)
Needing no preface, Duke Nukem redefined shooters in the 90s with hardcore gameplay action and unrelenting comedy that became an instant video game classic. The Megaton Edition is the definitive edition and includes enhanced versions of Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition and three unique expansion packs as well as the original version of the classic game.

Shadow Warrior Classic Redux (http://www.3drealms.com/sw/)
Recently remade by Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital to critical and commercial success, the original Shadow Warrior was released in 1997 and was a pinnacle of eastern-themed swordplay in video games at the time. Follow hero Lo Wang as he fights evil with a sharp sword and a sharp tongue. Classic Redux features remastered visuals and two massive expansion packs. Corporations rule every facet of life in a near-future Japan and employ Shadow Warriors, one-man armies of unparalleled skill, to protect their power and forcefully remove all opposition.

Marc Ecko’s Getting Up (http://store.steampowered.com/app/260190/)
Released in 2006, Marc Ecko’s Getting Up redefined what fans expected from video game soundtracks.  Play as Trane, a “toy” graffiti artist with the street smarts, athletic prowess and vision to become an “All City King” – the most reputable of all graffiti artists. Along your quest, uncover the mayor’s deep, dark secret and use your fighting talents and high-wire graffiti to expose the city’s leader as a corrupt… 

About VHX
VHX is a digital distribution platform for artists to sell videos from their own websites, directly to their fans. The company was founded in 2011 by Casey Pugh and Jamie Wilkinson and is headquartered in NYC and http://vhx.tv.

About Humble Bundle
Humble Bundle organizes pay-what-you-want sales and puts the power directly in the hands of the consumers, offering them awesome games, eBooks, albums and more at prices they set themselves. Consumers not only pay what they want, but also decide how to allocate their money among the game developers, charity, and a humble tip. Thanks to the generous contributions of bundle buyers, Humble Bundle has raised over $33 million for charity to date.

About The Film Collaborative
The Film Collaborative is a non profit organization dedicated to helping creators preserve their rights in order to be the main beneficiary of their work. We advise and we actively work with filmmakers to distribute their work and educate them on the best opportunities available for gathering an audience and generating income. The Film Collaborative is currently preparing the next edition of the groundbreaking book Selling Your Film Without Selling Your Soul  filled with case studies and in depth information about distributing films and making money in the digital age. The past edition of this book is available for free from sellingyourfilm.com/store/#PDF  For more information on our organization, visit www.thefilmcollaborative.org. 

EDGE OF SPACE ONLINE MULTIPLAYER LAUNCHES WITH FIRST NEW TERRARIA CONTENT

Buy One, Get One Free and Explore the Dangers in Edge of Space with Friends

Twain Harte, CA – March 4, 2013 – ArkCo space adventurers, get ready to join forces to conquer space!  Reverb Publishing is proud to announce that today the wild 2D sandbox, survival-adventure game Edge of Space is getting a fresh injection of life with full online cooperative multiplayer support. This major content update will also include a new Training mode and the first phase of the crossover content from the hit game Terraria.  Now gamers can band together online to trek across unexplored landscapes, share resources to create wicked-cool weaponry and construct bases, battle wicked mutated monstrosities, and discover the first taste of the Terraria content.

Watch the new Edge of Space multiplayer launch trailer HERE: youtube.com/watch?v=buu-ly9w9U8

“This is by far the biggest and probably most important content update for Edge of Space yet,” said Jake Crane, lead designer and founder of Handyman Studios.  “Multiplayer support has been a long time coming and it’ll be awesome to see Edge of Space gamers team-up in some awesome co-op play. We’ve also added a ton more improvements to the overall look of the game, balanced gameplay mechanics, and even added a rewarding Training mode.  Finally, we’re really excited to begin adding some of the cool Terraria content in this update and look forward to seeing our fans enjoy all the fun features.”

Available on Steam Early Access for the price of $12.99, for a limited time consumers can now enjoy a special “buy one, get one free” promotion to celebrate the launch of multiplayer and the first phase of the Terraria content.

Set in deep space, Edge of Space is an open-world, dynamically generated sandbox survival-adventure game. Gamers start with only a laser pick and the gear from a crashed cryopod, and immediately start exploring and collecting resources as every piece of ore mined is used to fabricate survival equipment. Fight against an array of creative horrors including cybernetically enhanced Space Laser Sharks, vicious genetically evolved polar bears, and deadly quick Jet Pack Space Penguins — and those are not even the strangest monstrosities to encounter! At the absolute edge of space gamers must adapt or die – good luck ArkCo Operatives!

For new feature announcements, please visit the game’s official Website, playedgeofspace.com/ and follow the development team at Twitter, “Like” it on Facebook, and watch development video streams on Twitch.

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ABOUT HANDYMAN STUDIOS
Founded in 2011, Handyman Studios is an independent game company founded on the dreams and skills of two game development veterans who are also best friends who have worked together for four years in various capacities. Starting out as a work for hire company, Handyman used its skills to help others and learn how to operate effectively and efficiently. With a successful kickstarter, Handyman Studios is able to transition into its real purpose – becoming a game studio dedicated to creating the best gameplay experience possible without fear to evolve or innovate in small and large ways.
For more information about Handyman Studios, please visit www.handymanstudios.com/.

ABOUT REVERB PUBLISHING
Launched in 2010, Reverb Publishing offers digital publishing to independent game developers, combining production and business development support paired with the proven public relations and marketing agency expertise from its parent company, Reverb Communications. Reverb’s unique model is form fitted for studios, ensuring they receive the majority of the game’s revenue and maintain ownership of their titles while Reverb handles non-developmental tasks including production support, navigating QA, and preparing for product submission.

For more information about Reverb Publishing, please visit www.reverbpublishing.com.