Foster real connections in free-to-play virtual social app

MANCHESTER, UK – December 19, 2024 – StageTime, the virtual social app for connecting and sharing the joy of performing, makes its grand debut on the virtual Meta Quest stage on Thursday, January 16, 2025. 

Hop into a lively cyberspace primed for singalongs, social interactions, and epic performances envisioned by an ex-software engineer from a top social VR platform, and creator of the leading VR karaoke space. Create memories and lasting connections in this immersive, virtual venue. Invite up to 10 friends into a bustling performance room and put on a rockin’ gig, funny standup act, or a heartfelt poetry recital. 

Aspiring entertainers can quickly and easily get the party started. StageTime offers a zero friction process, placing players in public rooms without the need to set up an account, eliminating pesky barriers and allowing partygoers to immediately dive into the festivities. This seamless integration is one of many key features that sets StageTime apart from other social apps in the VR space. Customize an avatar fit for a superstar with multiple options for hair colors and styles, skin tones, accessories, and more. 

Stage all-out performances, complete with full-body avatar representation. Vocal animations sync to each person’s voice, creating a seamless and captivating experience. Every twirl, tap, and move is rendered in VR. Take the spotlight for all to see, or sit back, enjoy others’ performances, and cheer them on along the way! 

Using YouTube connectivity, StageTime allows users to sync their favorite videos to share with others in real time. Become the life of the party and pick any video to share with friends. StageTime allows seamless sync for each user, so there are no pesky delays or lag to drag down the party. The in-game LIV creator kit also offers a camera for recording and selfie options in first, third, and landscape perspectives. 

“My goal is to present StageTime as a new way to connect with people through shared experiences in a live, virtual setting,” said Hamza Qureshi, Founder of Virtuware. “By blending performance and connection, StageTime invites people everywhere to celebrate creativity, share their talent, and forge meaningful moments together.”

The party continues following StageTime’s launch, as Virtuware’s vision is to continue providing support in the long-term. Fans of the social platform can look forward to a robust content roadmap, with plans to integrate new venues and environments, additional customization options for stellar avatar designs, and monetization with the ability to purchase avatar emotes, cosmetics, and more. 

StageTime launches for free worldwide on the Meta store on Thursday, January 16, 2025. For more information on the game, please visit the official website, follow StageTime on TikTok, and join the community Discord. 

About Virtuware 

Virtuware is a development studio based out of Manchester, UK. With several years of experience in the VR space, Virtuware aims to create fun and engaging experiences for users through social connections. 

WINTER SEASON LAUNCH: OPERATION CRYOSTASIS 

Stalkers in the Zone will find unique winter artefacts and anomalies, breathtaking encounters with icy mutants, and battles with holiday bosses!

CREATE A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE WITH CHRISTMAS TREES!

Players have the opportunity to dress their own Christmas Tree with festive decorations, each earning extra points.

The more extravagantly the tree is decorated, the greater the daily reward will be.

• Decorations for the tree could be found or obtained through the following activities: 
• Random appearance in various boxes and barrels
• Gifts scattered across all locations
• Human campgrounds and mutant dens (with some chance from regular events)
• Holiday bosses in locations
• Holiday airdrops.

At the end of the event, a summary will be held where each participant will receive a reward depending on their place on the leaderboard. Decorate, receive daily gifts, and compete for the coolest and most beautiful Christmas tree!

UNIQUE SEASONAL REWARDS

This season, you can expect unique rewards, including the Antares Exosuit—a new scientific armor specially created for the harsh conditions of the Zone. By the way, in the new North, faction safes can now be found, so don’t miss the chance to loot some cool stuff!

STALCRAFT: X is available to play for free now via Steam and the EXBO launcher. 

An update brings new racing game mode and a set of new futuristic vehicle parts

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of the “Wasteland Drift” update and the start of the Christmas holidays celebration in the post-apocalyptic online action game Crossout. Players are getting a series of time-limited game modes with non-standard rules, the next season of the battle pass with rewards from the Syndicate faction, a new Syndicate-style PvP map, and new parts for armored vehicles.

A good example of new Syndicate-built weapons is the “Punji” turret, which allows you to install energy rods on the battlefield. Two such objects, located at a distance of up to 30 meters, generate a force field, and if the enemy crosses it, they receive significant damage. Another example, the “Satori” cabin, is ideal for drifting fans: the armored vehicle’s skidding increases the weapon’s damage, and the longer the skid lasts, the better.

The new map “New Fuji” features remains of the destroyed energy infrastructure, and some of those are still intact. For example, the players can turn on the generator to reactivate the system for a while and release an impulse that affects both allies and enemies. The oriental flavor of the map and the Syndicate faction as a whole is illustrated by the tracks Shamisen Hunter, Kariya and Twilight Samurai by musician Satxri, which were also added to Crossout in the “Wasteland Drift” update.

Finally, until January 22, players have access to special alternating PvP and PvE modes in which they can earn “crackers” and then exchange them for rewards. In particular, players will find a new racing mode “No Brakes”, in which participants in pre-installed cars must drive three laps faster than their opponents, while escaping from police pursuit. The fuel supply in the accelerators can be replenished by successfully drifting, and drivers caught by the cops themselves become law enforcement officers and hunt racers.

The exact schedule of modes and their rules are available on the official Crossout website.

About Crossout

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Crossout is an MMO vehicle combat game available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S offering players complete customisation in building and upgrading deadly armored vehicles to destroy enemies in open PvP and PvE battles. Crossout gives players thousands of possibilities to design their vehicle, including shape, armor, weapons, support systems and, of course, cosmetic enhancements. Official website: http://crossout.net

About Gaijin Entertainment

Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder, Crossout, Enlisted, CRSED: F.O.A.D. and Star Conflict as well as other PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as Gamescom Award and many more. Official website: http://gaijinent.com/

Season’s greetings, Travelers! HoYoverse is excited to announce that Genshin Impact Version 5.3, titled “Incandescent Ode of Resurrection,” will launch on January 1, 2025. This milestone update introduces the highly anticipated Pyro Archon, Mavuika, continues Natlan’s Archon Quest, and brings back the festive Lantern Rite with incredible rewards to celebrate the New Year.

Watch the Version 5.3 trailer here: https://youtu.be/Uh3JVQWe16w

Key Features of Version 5.3

Generous Rewards Await

• Primogems ×1,600 and the new glider “Wings of Fate’s Course Intertwined” via in-game mails.
• Intertwined Fate ×10 from the daily login event.
• A free 4-star Liyue character through the Lantern Rite event.
• Xiangling’s new outfit, “New Year’s Cheer,” available via Festive Fever.

New Main Story Content

The Archon Quest continues in Act V of Natlan, where the Traveler and Mavuika face the Abyss in a decisive battle, unlocking the Pyro element for the Traveler.

New Playable Characters

• Mavuika (5-Star Pyro): The Pyro Archon can ride her motorbike for exploration and unleash fiery attacks in combat.
• Citlali aka “Granny Itztli” (5-Star Cryo): Provides shields and continuous Cryo damage.
• Lan Yan (4-Star): Deploys adaptive Elemental shields to protect allies.

Lantern Rite Returns

Celebrate the Lantern Rite Festival with new stories, mini-games, and generous rewards.

Two New Outfits

• Hu Tao: “Cherries Snow-Laden” (limited-time discount).
• Xiangling: “New Year’s Cheer” (free reward during Lantern Rite).

New Bosses

• Wayward Hermetic Spiritspeaker: A world boss introducing fresh challenges.
• Lord of Eroded Primal Fire: A powerful new Weekly Boss for daring Travelers.

Permanent Additions and Optimizations

• Rhythm game mode becomes a permanent feature, adding Kazuha and Ganyu to Envisaged Echoes.
• Quality-of-life improvements:
  • Boss respawn time reduced to 5 seconds without needing to teleport.
  • Artifact inventory limit increased to 2,100.
  • Enhanced Training Guide for new players.

HoYoFair 2025: Genshin Impact Fan Art Special Program

The HoYoFair 2025 Fan Art Special Program, “Dimensional Detective Chronicles,” will premiere on December 28 at 8 PM (UTC+8) on YouTube, X, and TikTok. Highlights include:

• New episodes of fan-favorite series, such as:
  • “If Genshin Had a Cyberpunk Anime: Progenitor” by Dillongoo.
  • “Genshin with Guns” animations by No_Tables.
• A text-based detective-themed mini-adventure game, available starting December 25 at 12 PM (UTC+8).

Celebrate the New Year in Teyvat!

Prepare for an unforgettable journey with Version 5.3 as Genshin Impact continues to expand its world and immerse Travelers in thrilling adventures.

For more information, visit: https://genshin.hoyoverse.com

About Genshin Impact

Developed by HoYoverse, Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG offering a vibrant world, rich lore, and dynamic gameplay. Available on PC, PlayStation, and mobile platforms.

BeardedBrothers.Games continue to make improvements to their Early Access blend of narrative-driven open-world racing and in-depth car repair mechanics, Underground Garage, with a new update available now. This latest update of the game completely revamps the games’ physics to make driving feel smoother, more responsive and more immersive. The update also includes a new map with ten new time attacks added to the new part of the map, a new car and a host of quality of life improvements and bug fixes.

Underground Garage is a Need For Speed meets Car Mechanic Simulator blend of car customisation and racing that lets you raid junkyards for old parts and cars, delve deep under the hood to repair and tweak every conceivable aspect of your cars, give them custom paint jobs, then take them out into an open world to take on challenges. A demo is also available on Steam for players to try out the game before jumping into the Early Access version. The full patch notes are available for viewing here.

Stockholm, Sweden – 20th Decemeber 2024: After The Game Awards 2024 ended, Swedish game developer 10 Chambers transformed the Los Angeles skyline with a stunning display of light and fire to celebrate the show’s 10th Anniversary and promote its upcoming co-op FPS heist game, Den of Wolves. A total of 1,100 drones were deployed, including 100 equipped with pyrotechnical flamethrowers, all choreographed by a specialized 30-person control team. Now, they’re releasing a video of it all – and the full-length music track from the trailer, “Takeover.”

10 Chambers premiered the first gameplay trailer for  Den of Wolves during The Game Awards 2024. The game is led by Creative Director Ulf Andersson, creator of the critically acclaimed heist games Payday: THE HEIST and PAYDAY 2. Den of Wolves is a co-op heist FPS where you and your friends operate as criminals for hire in the conflicts between rival corporations in Midway City, a hyper-capitalistic free trade zone set in 2097.

“It was our first gameplay trailer for Den of Wolves, and it was The Game Award’s 10th anniversary – so we set out to do something extra special to celebrate”, says Rasmus Harnell, Brand Experience Manager at 10 Chambers. “You could say it grew in scope, and I didn’t know back then that I would end up having to close off a street in central Los Angeles – and hire two LAPD officers to make sure we weren’t up to no good.”

The drone show was inspired by the trailer shown at The Game Awards and employed 1,100 drones to recreate moments from the trailer, 100 of which were fire shooting, pyrotechnical drones. 10 Chambers worked with multiple Guinness World Record Holder and America’s Got Talent Finalists, Sky Elements, to bring the drone show to life as the audience exited the Game Awards venue.

The Den of Wolves team has been inundated with comments about the trailer’s heavy EDM track which really sets the tone for the heists featured. So many, in fact, the composer Simon Viklund chose to turn it into a full-length track, and it’s now available on all major streaming platforms.

About 10 Chambers

Founded in 2015, 10 Chambers is a game studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. The studio was founded by Ulf Andersson, who founded Overkill Software and was the brain behind the PAYDAY franchise. 10 Chambers’ debut title GTFO was released in 2019. The studio is currently in active development of its second title, Den of Wolves.

For more information about Den of Wolves, visit www.denofwolves.com PAYDAY THE HEIST® and PAYDAY 2® are registered trademarks of their respective owners. 10 Chambers AB is not associated with, affiliated with, sponsored by and/or endorsed by them.

Unleash chaos in this intense horde-survivor before Early Access Launch

Košice, Slovak Republic – 20 December 2024 – Grindstone and Games Farm invite players to descend into Niflheim with a limited-time demo of Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel, available from December 20th through January 7th. Showcasing stunning new Key Art by renowned Slovak artist Michal Ivan (Blizzard, Riot Games, Marvel), this demo brings back the highly requested Revenant character and Loki skill type, previously available exclusively during October’s Steam Next Fest, providing enough gameplay to whet players’ appetites over the holiday season ahead of the game’s Early Access launch on January 21st, 2025. 

When the game launches into Early Access, players will have access to four distinct heroes – Berserker, Seeress, Revenant, and the newly revealed Flame Sister – as they battle across the scorching realm of Muspelheim and the frozen wastes of Niflheim, wielding divine powers from four legendary Norse gods in this visually stunning take on the horde-survivor genre. 

Do you have what it takes to become the Jotunnslayer? Download the demo and join the official Discord community for news and updates.

About Games Farm 

Games Farm is an independent game development studio with a team of more than 50 people, headquartered in Kosice, Slovakia. It specialises in developing premium cross-platform titles for PC and consoles with a portfolio of over 20 titles released to date. From a small unknown studio, Games Farm has evolved into a globally recognised RPG developer with renowned brands like the Heretic Kingdoms franchise and an ever-increasing roster of quality titles.

About Grindstone 

Grindstone is a videogame production and publishing company with a strong background in game development based in Slovakia. It was founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the well-established Slovakian development studio Games Farm to create new opportunities and support game developers in delivering creatively and commercially viable games that can compete on global markets.

Build your own custom BattleRigs & Hit the Road in ARK’s First Motorized Vehicles in This Post-Apocalyptic Chapter

SEATTLE, WA – December 19, 2024 – Studio Wildcard today launched two massive content drops for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam – Extinction Ascended and Bob’s Tall Tales: Wasteland Wars. The Extinction map brings survivors back to Earth—the birthplace of the ARK saga and the stage for its epic finale. Will you conquer the colossal roaming Titans that dominate the planet and complete the ARK cycle to secure Earth’s future?

Available as a free update, Extinction Ascended introduces the bellowing Dreadnoughtus, ARK’s newest community-voted creature, which delivers both size and strength making it a hardy ally in battles against the Titans. Additionally players will now have access to powerful new tames, unique gear, and epic challenges.

Also launching today is the third and final installment in the Bob’s Tall Tales series: Wasteland War! Narrated by ARK’s legendary “Bob” (Karl Urban, The Boys) as he recounts epic adventures to young Meeka, (Auliʻi Cravalho, Moana), in Wasteland War players can explore the desolate wastelands on modularly-built BattleRigs – blaze your own high-octane trail of destruction! Drive into the new BattleRig Garage to customize these powerful, highly modular, all-terrain war machines with a variety of attachments and heavy-duty turrets, in over 10,000 possible variations. You can also recruit a new permanent personal tame, the loyal Armadoggo, to help you unearth ‘Tek Item Traits’.

In addition to the BattleRig vehicles and Armadoggo tame, with Wasteland War, players will also unlock:

• New Weapons – Explosive Spear, Extinguisher Grenade
• Unique Structures – Bladewasp Hive, Bio-Grinder, Lights & Lamps, Makeshift Megalab, Tribe Tower, BattleRig Garage
• New Wasteland Skins and Tile Sets
• Over a dozen new character cosmetics

Drive through the desolate wastes in highly-customizable cars called ‘BattleRigs—with over 10,000 possible variations—and blaze your own high-octane trail of destruction.

With a platform saddle large enough to carry your artillery and the ability to spit acid-coated projectiles, the Dreadnoughtus will be your ultimate ally for taking on the Titans of Extinction.

With its customizable armor attachments and resourceful abilities, Armadoggo is always ready to lend a paw.

Wasteland War Gameplay Features

• Customize BattleRigs: Take on the Wasteland with rugged, fully customizable BattleRigs. These versatile machines are designed for survival, allowing players to equip turrets for extra firepower, functional attachments for specialized tasks, and personalized paint jobs. Whether you’re transporting supplies, battling enemies, or exploring the terrain, BattleRigs are your ultimate tool for domination.
• New Structures & Weapons: Build and defend your wasteland legacy with powerful new structures and gear. Construct fortified bases to protect your tribe and arm yourself with explosive spears and fire-quenching grenades to seize control of the battlefield.
• The Armadoggo: Meet your loyal survival companion, the Armadoggo. This resourceful sidekick assists in digging for treasure, fetching items, and fending off threats. With customizable armor attachments, and the ability to find powerful new ‘Tek Item Traits’, the Armadoggo is more than just a pet—it’s a vital part of your survival strategy.

ARK: Extinction Ascended Gameplay Features

• Return to Earth: Journey back to the desolate remains of Earth, where the ARK saga began. Explore ruined landscapes, abandoned micro-biospheres, and a massive overgrown metropolis as you uncover the secrets of Earth’s downfall and its potential revival.
• Dreadnoughtus: Stomping into the post-apocalyptic chaos of Extinction, the Dreadnoughtus is as unstoppable as its name suggests. Towering above the fray, this behemoth exudes an aura of calm that contradicts its immense power. When it bellows, the air itself seems to tremble, unleashing a sound so forceful it disrupts the very essence of Element, leveling the playing field against even the fiercest Titans.  If you’re preparing for war, the Dreadnoughtus is the ally you need—a towering testament to survival against the odds.
• Tame New Creatures: Dominate the wastelands with powerful new tames, including robotic surveillance drones, teleporting security bots, and customizable battle mechs.
• Craft Unique Gear: Unlock exotic new tools and structures, such as creature leashes, taxidermy mounts, Tek bridges, cryopods, gravity grenades, and automated airlift crates to elevate your survival.
• Conquer Epic Challenges: Face Earth’s ultimate threats, from colossal Titans to waves of Element-corrupted creatures, while braving environmental hazards like Element eruptions, eclipses, and meteor showers. Protect orbital supply drops to secure valuable loot.

Haven’t yet experienced ARK: Survival Ascended? The base game is on sale for 40% off (Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S), while Bob’s Tall Tales DLC is 33% off and the Fantastic Tames are 20% off.
 
The definitive survival experience returns better than ever with ARK: Survival Ascended! Create a Survivor, form a tribe, and then tame, train, breed & ride dinosaurs within a living ecosystem. ASA is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam.
 
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ABOUT STUDIO WILDCARD
Since revealing its flagship game ARK: Survival Evolved in 2015, Studio Wildcard has tirelessly strived to bring its dinosaur-filled vision to the masses. With millions of players worldwide, the team has delivered an amazing amount of new content and leveraged cutting-edge technology to keep fans engaged. With a transmedia universe, the ARK story can be discovered on all gaming platforms, within spin-off titles, and now as a new epic narrative featuring a star-studded cast in ARK: The Animated Series on Paramount+.

Sydney, Australia (December 20, 2024) – Milestone, a leading global racing game developer and publisher based in Milan, and Feld Motor Sports, Inc., the worldwide leader in specialised arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment, announced today the release of the Aloha Expansion for Monster Jam™ Showdown.

This massive expansion will take players on a tropical adventure in a brand-new environment featuring six new tracks and one arena inspired by the fascinating and wild nature of Hawaii. The Monster Jam™ Showdown – Aloha Expansion will also include five fierce trucks – the perfect companions to dive into new events and prevail over the bosses guarding the exotic map, which adds to the three environments already included in the Showdown Tour. From Wreckreation, an RV style Monster Jam™ truck; to Lumberjack, the perfect fit for the Hawaiian road; and two of the most beloved trucks coming from the toy world, Fire Rescue and Full Charge, all are ideal choices to face the impervious terrains of the islands. Finally, a true legend will join the journey, the very first version of the Grave Digger™ body to ever showcase a spooky paint job, “Grandma” Grave Digger™.

The Monster Jam™ Showdown – Aloha Expansion is included in the Monster Jam™ Showdown – Big Air Edition as well as in the Season Pass or can be purchased separately. Monster Jam™ Showdown is available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. For more information, visit monsterjamvideogame.com.

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About Milestone

About Milestone Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone is one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers and publishers in the world. The +300 people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, the acclaimed Hot Wheels Unleashed™, as well as its own IP, RIDE. For more information, please visit https://milestone.it/

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc.™ is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam™, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc.

About Monster Jam

Unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable, Monster Jam™ features world-class athletes competing for championships on perfectly engineered dirt tracks that push these ever-evolving, state-of-the-art trucks to the limit. Beyond the 350 global live events each year, the Monster Jam brand extends off the track into the home through products, content, and merchandise that keeps the fun alive year-round.  For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.