Fresh Off a TGA Nomination for Best Mobile Game, Wuthering Waves Set to Kick Off the New Year With Major Expansion and Console Debut
GUANGZHOU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 22, 2024 – After kicking off the week with a nomination in the Best Mobile Game category at The Game Awards, Kuro Games today announced Wuthering Waves Version 2.0 will launch on January 2, 2025, coinciding with the game’s debut on PlayStation 5. The award-winning, open-world action RPG is getting its biggest update yet, welcoming players to an all-new region, Rinascita.
Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play, cross-platform, open-world action RPG that emphasizes dynamic movement and freedom of exploration on a mysterious, post-cataclysmic, sci-fi planet. Engage in fast-paced PVE combat that focuses on special dodge, parry, and counter mechanics. Wuthering Waves hosts a deep storyline, breathtaking art and atmosphere, and addictive action-RPG combat that is suitable for novice and veteran RPG players alike. Wuthering Waves features plenty of fierce opponents and captivating quests that unfold in the game’s vast world.
Version 2.0 will be available on January 2 (PT), January 1 (UTC). Download Wuthering Waves today on the Wuthering Waves official website, on the App Store, Google Play, and PC via The Epic Games Store. Pre-Order the Wuthering WavesAwakening Bundle today on the PlayStation Store.
ABOUT KURO GAMES
Founded in 2014, Kuro Games main focus is to create high quality, original games that push the boundaries. For over a decade Kuro Games has strived to bring more diverse, innovative, and enjoyable services to its players.
Kuro Games independently developed “Punishing: Gray Raven”, which was well received with warm response from players around the world. With over 30 million downloads worldwide, its recently released new open-world ARPG “Wuthering Waves” is receiving the same public reception.
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 22, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, celebrates the 5.5th Year Anniversary of The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross (7DS). The new update titled, “Grand Cross 5.5th Anniversary: Supernova,” introduces a new hero, limited-time events, rewards and more.
Starting today, players can experience a new UR hero, [Hero’s Bloodline] Young Knight Lancelot. He is the first hero with ‘Ability,’ a new combat system allowing players to deploy extra skill effects that can be used in addition to existing skill cards.
As part of the “Grand Cross 5.5th Anniversary: Supernova” update, players can experience various events through December 26 and receive special rewards including:
Grand Cross 5.5th Anniversary Grand Festival Poll Draw: Offers the opportunity to obtain the newly added UR [Hero’s Bloodline] Young Knight Lancelot, or one of the four festival heroes who were voted as fan favorites in a recent poll, guaranteed at 900 mileages.
5.5th Anniversary Special Thank You Draw: Players can have up to 220 chances to draw a hero through playing in-game activities. Various heroes at UR 90 level, including [Waves of the Earth] Queen Diane who is upgradable to LR level, can be acquired through this draw.
5.5th Anniversary Jump Supernova Box: Earn the ‘5.5th Anniversary Jump Supernova Ticket’ by playing the game, which can be used to earn all seven members of [The Seven Deadly Sins] including [Waves of the Earth] Queen Diane, [Immortal’s Return] Purgatory Ban, [Cursed Shackles] Purgatory Meliodas and more.
5.5th Anniversary Event Boss Parade: Challenge the Event Boss – Gloom, Malek, or Kimara – and earn various rewards for defeating them. The 5.5th Anniversary Jump Supernova Box Part 1 Ticket, 5.5th Anniversary Grand Festival Card Pack IV, 5.5th Anniversary Lucky Bag Ticket, SSR Evolution Pendant, and more will be provided as Event Boss Parade rewards.
In addition, the 5.5th Anniversary Percival’s Lucky Card Event will run through December 5. Players will use a Roc Birds Feather to select a card and receive a reward, such as 5.5th Anniversary Grand Festival Card Pack II, Super Awakening Coins, and more. Other content updates add a new story chapter and an expansion of player rank to 130.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross translates the storytelling and adventures of [The Seven Deadly Sins] into a highly engaging and entertaining mobile gaming experience. The game features stunning, high-resolution 3D graphics, more than 100 dramatic cutscenes, and is brought to life with the cast of the original Japanese voice actors reprising their characters.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, please visit the game’s official website and Facebook.
Based on the manga “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Nakaba Suzuki originally serialized in the weekly SHONEN MAGAZINE published by Kodansha Ltd.
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
Prague, Czech Republic – November 22, 2024 – No matter what your stance on the battle between Arcane Magic and the Steampunk Revolution may be, we have excellent news – the highly-anticipated launch of New Arc Line is just around the corner!
Indeed, just four days remain – as New Arc Line will be launching into Early Access on November 26, when it will be available on Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. And for our press friends, we are delighted to let you know that review codes are now available upon request on the link below this press release. Please note that this form is for press only.
Set in a world teetering on the precipice of change, New Arc Line is a story-rich RPG that invites players to explore the abundant yet troubled realm where magic and technology collide.
The New World awaits, and with it, the last beacon of hope for a potential cure for a global plague that threatens your loved ones as well. But all is not as it seems – tensions simmer beneath the gilded surface of New Arc. Arcane magic clashes with steampunk ingenuity, the wealthy exploit the impoverished, and prejudice festers between humans and other races. As a stranger in this volatile land, you are thrust into the heart of the conflict. Your choices will not only shape your own fate, but also the future of this fractured world.
Will you side with the established powers or champion the downtrodden? Will you embrace the arcane arts or harness the power of technology? In this RPG, every choice carries weight, leading to many branching storylines and impactful consequences.
To find out more about the world of New Arc Line, check out the latest update straight from the developer, going into the legend of Mick Mortinsen, the first companion to join your party in the game.
New Arc Line will launch in Early Access for $19.99/€19.99 on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GoG on November 26. Review codes are available to press upon request.
About Fulqrum Publishing
Fulqrum Publishing is a global games publisher with a diverse portfolio of titles, including in-house and independent productions. Fulqrum Publishing released over a hundred games, including the critically acclaimed titles like Men of War, King’s Bounty, Space Rangers, Fell Seal, Forgive Me Father and many others.
About Dreamate Games
Dreamate Games is a Ukrainian game development studio founded by industry veterans from some of the biggest Ukrainian development studios: Wargaming, GSC Game World, 4A Games, and Frogwares. As long-time video game geeks and tabletop RPGs fans, they strive to create action-packed stories with strong narratives that intensify player experience. Even the war wasn’t able to stop the studio from developing the project we love.
Watford, UK – 22nd November, 2024: Video Games Music Label Black Razor Records in collaboration with award winning Publisher, Wired Productions, and award winning Developer, Just Add Water, have today launched the third episode of ‘Making DIG VR’ titled ‘Sound of the Broken Ground’.
The final episode of the three part series digs deep into the creative journey and story behind DIG VR’s Official soundtrack which features six independent radio stations. Brought together by a host of well revered artists, composers and producers, part three is told through the lens of Leo Zullo, Matt Jackson, Sam Clay, Kieron Pepper, Pascal Magdinier, Max Blomfield and Tim Debney.
Watch the Making of DIG VR ‘Sound of the Broken Ground’
About the DIG VR Soundtrack:
DIG VR features six independent radio stations which consist of originally created music, all tailored with a variety of genres that evoke emotion through all musical tastes. Each station is designed to accompany players throughout DIG VR as they grow their business in the charming town of Diglington.
Radio Stations in DIG VR:
DIG FM – The ultimate destination for commercial music that digs deep into the hits from every decade and subgenre, taking you on a musical journey that captures energy, spirit, and the evolution of pop music throughout the years. Also available in an instrumental only version!
Drumstep Revolution – Tune in for a high-energy music experience, where the beats are fast, the bass is heavy, and the vibes are electrifying.
Sonata Serenade – Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty and emotional depth of classical music, in a station that brings you the finest compositions, showcasing the complexity and expressive power that define this rich tradition.
CHYME – Escape into tranquility with soothing ASMR music and calming sounds. CHYME blends gentle melodies, soft tones and ambient whispers to create a deeply relaxing experience.
Harvest Hits – Your go-to station for farming music which blends country, folk, and traditional tunes that celebrate rural life.
Lo-Fi Haven – Your sanctuary for laid-back, nostalgic sounds. Celebrating the soothing imperfections of lo-fi music, blending mellow melodies, gentle rhythms, and warm, vintage vibes.
DIG VR is now available for Meta Quest priced at £14.99 / $19.99 / €19.99. Sign up for more information via DigVRgame.com, tune in to DIG FM and choose your preferred streaming platform here.
About Black Razor Records
Black Razor Records launched in 2022 and is a wholly owned label of Wired Productions. Its mission is to bridge the gap between the video game and music worlds and to provide music creators a platform to showcase and commercialize their talent. All music originates from video games, whether in-game or for promotional purposes. By collaborating with great writers and producers, the loadout is complete. Music is in the DNA.
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is a true Indie Publisher proudly presenting a diverse range of specially curated games from some of the greatest storytellers and independent developers. Named as “Indie Publisher of the Year” at the MCV / Develop Awards, Wired is home to an award-winning collection of titles including: Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, Arcade Paradise VR, Tin Hearts, Martha Is Dead, The Falconeer, The Last Worker, and Deliver Us The Moon. Upcoming titles include Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Hotel Architect, DIG VR and KARMA: The Dark World.
About Just Add Water
Just Add Water was founded in 2006 by Stewart Gilray and after his death has continued to grow as an experienced games development studio. The company has partnered with a variety of the industry’s most high-profile publishers and developers, on well-loved and award-winning franchises. Their 25+ staff have worked on Sniper Elite VR, Sniper Elite VR Winter Warrior for Rebellion Developments, as well as BPM: Bullets Per Minute (for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch) for Playtonic and AWE Interactive. Other clients have included Bethesda, Oddworld Inhabitants (Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath & Oddworld: New & Tasty), Bossa Studios (I Am Bread), FuturLab (Powerwash Simulator), Bithell Games (Volume & Volume: Coda), and Liquid Swords.
Exclusive Global MapleStory content Ride or Die Has Arrived alongside Aran and Shade Remaster, Hyper Burning, Tera Blink, Item Burning and More
LOS ANGELES – November 22, 2024 – Nexon’s popular side-scrolling 2D MMORPG MapleStoryhas launched The Dark Ride, the first part of a two – part winter update. This update introduces Ride or Die, a Global MapleStory exclusive.
Ride or Die
Players assist Althea, an all-new character, and her secret task force of inspectors responsible for protecting the separation of alternate dimensions of Maple World. Equipped with the powerful Mapae tool, the team traverses these dimensions and harness Mapae’s power to remain in them for a limited amount of time to carry out their mission.
Althea ventures deep underground into a Maple World that has long been free of the Black Mage. There, she encounters Kazax who has been resurrected and is controlling six MapleStory bosses – Vellum, Horntail, Papulatus, Darknell, Zakum, and Guardian Angel Slime – and it is up to players to defeat these formidable foes and stop Kazak’s nefarious scheme. In addition, players can earn a variety of rewards when they defeat these foes.
Players at level 200+ can participate in a 12-week boss rush event. Each week, they can choose from three difficulty levels and select the number of additional challenges to undertake for extra bonuses as they face one of the six randomly chosen bosses and up to 20 different challenges. Points earned from defeating bosses and remaining death counts contribute to their weekly scores, with higher difficulties providing better rewards.
Aran and Shade Return with New Skills
Aran the Polearm Master and Shade the Forgotten Hero have both been remastered, bringing players new skills, animations, abilities and voiceovers. Newly created Aran and Shade characters can obtain gear upgrades, experience and power boosts, and level up support, while existing Aran and Shade characters can receive special event outfits and chairs through the “Blossoming by Moonshade” event.
In addition to one Hyper Burning character in The Dark Ride update, players can also choose to Hyper Burn either Aran or Shade, enabling quick gameplay immersion and access to their remastered skills. This event supports rapid leveling and engagement with these newly revamped characters, enriching the overall game experience during the event period.
Prepare for the Return of Hyper Burning and Tera Blink and the All-New Item Burning
Happening now through February 11, 2025, Hyper Burning makes its return, allowing a character to gain two bonus levels each time they level up until they reach level 260. Tera Blink is also back to teach players the basics of MapleStory for their Hyper Burning character, providing them with plenty of EXP to help them reach level 200 in the blink of an eye. Additionally, with the new Item Burning event, the stats of a Hyper Burning character’s equipment will level up as players complete boss challenges after reaching level 200, giving new and returning players an easy way to undertake bossing.
Earn a Wealth of Rewards during the Page of Memories Event
Themed around the Librarian and memories of Maple World’s past, the Page of Memories event runs through January 14, offering players access to untold stories of the Black Mage’s Commanders. Players can encounter a variety of scenarios and earn a wealth of rewards, including daily and weekly attendance bonuses, stat buffs throughout the event, and coin and meso shops stocked with growth and cosmetic items.
Enjoy Various Quality-of-Life Improvements
The Dark Ride brings MapleStory players various quality-of-life improvements and rebalanced skills for classes. Details are available here.
The Dark Ride Continues
December 17, 2024
The next part of The Dark Ride goes live on December 17, featuring the exclusive event Dark Maplemas, that offers players four events and two minigames. High-level players can expect to challenge new boss Limbo in a previously unseen dynamic boss battle. In addition, Hexa Stat II will be available and players can continue on their journey of strengthening their characters.
January 15, 2025
Kicking off the new year, MapleStory players can participate in the New Name Auction where they can sell and bid for sought after in-game names (IGNs). They can also tackle the epic dungeon Angler Company, explore the event Extradimensional Visitors, and experience Champion Burning, where as a lead character levels up, two champion characters level up alongside them.
AboutMapleStory
MapleStory is a beloved, 2D side-scrolling online MMORPG known for its distinctive gameplay and unique art style. This iconic game’s popularity has fueled its expansion to the far corners of the globe with several services of MapleStory available to players around the world. In 2005, the Global version of MapleStory launched and has continued to grow and evolve alongside its passionate community of millions of fans.
About Nexon America Inc.
Founded in 2005, Nexon America Inc. delivers outstanding popular, online game expertise and live game support, taking the strengths of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) and applying them to uniquely Western audiences. For decades, Nexon America has consistently sustained iconic franchises such as MapleStory, a beloved, 2D side-scrolling online MMORPG known for its distinctive gameplay and unique art styleand Mabinogi, the world’s most expressive MMORPG, where you create a unique character and live your fantasy life. Both games have gone on to break records and captivate players. With exciting projects on the horizon, Nexon America maintains the pioneering and innovative spirit of its parent company, employing its player-first approach, while designing the best possible gameplay experiences for the Western market.
Fight Lu Bu in the Battle of Sishui Gate as the Three Kingdoms descends into chaos!
Hertfordshire, 22nd November 2024 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Omega Force announced that their tactical action game,DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, is now available to pre-order digitally before its launch on 17th January 2025 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam®. A free demo featuring the “Battle of Sishui Gate” is also available to download on all platforms, enabling players to experience the most intense combat in DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise history. Furthermore,DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINSand the demo will be PS5 Pro enhanced.
From the “Yellow Turban Rebellion” to the climax of the “Battle of Chibi”, the story of DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS will transport players to the heart of an ancient China in turmoil. Through the eyes of a nameless hero, players will have to make choices to restore peace and shape history to their own experience, battling enormous enemy armies whilst navigating the chaos of the Three Kingdoms era.
In the game’s free demo, players can experience the thrill of DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS’ massive armies with the “Battle of Sishui Gate”, where forces led by Dong Zhuo have seized power and now face coalition forces led by Yuan Shao. Alongside legendary figures from the Three Kingdoms such as Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei, players will slash through massive enemy forces and battle powerful generals in the immersive battlefield. Throughout the demo, players will be able to use four of the nine types of weapons available in the game – the Sword, the Guandao, the Pudao, and the Wheels – and will be able to customize Battle Arts, gems and accessories.
In addition to the pre-orders and demo, KOEI TECMO Europe also unveiled new details about the game’s original story. As the protagonist, a martial artist with amnesia, journeys through the world of the Three Kingdoms, he’s accompanied by a travelling boy named Yuanhua, who seeks to help the protagonist recover his memories. Two mysterious figures related to the protagonist’s past will also appear to play an important role throughout the story. Players, taking the role of the protagonist, will gradually immerse themselves into the world of the Three Kingdoms, interacting with characters that will guide them on their journey. During their epic quest, fans will forge bonds with the heroes rising in this chaotic era, sometimes clashing swords, and, through various choices and struggles, advance to the legendary “Battle of Chibi”; a key moment in the first half of the Three Kingdoms story.
Players can now digitally pre-order DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS as a standard and Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game, digital artbook and soundtrack, useful in-game items and an early access of 72 hours before the game releases.
Everyone who digitally pre-orders the game before 16th January 2025 will receive the “Nameless Warrior Garb” costume for the protagonist, in collaboration with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.
In addition to the standard edition, fans can now pre-order the “DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS TREASUREBOX”, which includes the base game, a Special Cloth Poster (B3), the Original Soundtrack, and an Original Book.
Everyone who purchase a physical or digital edition before 30th January 2025 will receive the Soundtrack collection as a bonus, which includes tracks from the early titles of the series.
DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS is set to be released on 17th January 2025 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam®. For more information, visit the official website.
About DYNASTY WARRIORS
DYNASTY WARRIORS is a tactical action series of games that spans over 20 years and has shipped over 21 million units worldwide. Traditionally, players take on the role of officers from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms while battling through hordes of soldiers in 1 vs. 1,000 gameplay. With the latest title, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, developer Omega Force returns to these roots and delivers what the series has aimed for since its inception: the overwhelming sense of realism of a battlefield where large armies of opposing sides meet, the exhilarating feeling of advancing with your allies and pushing up the battle line, and the thrill of striking down countless enemies.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite NINJA GAIDEN and fighting entertainment title DEAD OR ALIVE. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of Gust, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.7 “A New Venture on the Eighth Dawn” Launches December 4, 2024
SHANGHAI – HoYoverse is excited to announce the release of Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.7, launching December 4, 2024. This milestone update concludes the Penacony arc and sets the stage for the Astral Express’s journey to Amphoreus, the Eternal Land, as revealed in the “A New Venture on the Eighth Dawn” Special Program Livestream on November 22.
Bid Farewell to Penacony, and Embark on New Adventures
In this final chapter aboard the Express in Penacony, Trailblazers will reunite with beloved companions, forging unforgettable memories before charting a course for the mysterious realm of Amphoreus. As one story ends, another begins with the introduction of two new five-star playable characters:
Sunday: A Radiant-type wielder specializing in wide-range support abilities.
Fugue: A Void-type attacker known for dynamic, rhythm-based combat techniques.
Additionally, Version 2.7 brings back two rerun five-star characters, Jing Yuan and Firefly, offering players another opportunity to strengthen their roster with these iconic heroes.
New Features Aboard the Astral Express
The Party Car: A luxurious and interactive space for players to host events and connect with the Crew in a social, festive atmosphere.
Trailblazer’s Room: A customizable personal haven blending nostalgia with elegant design, allowing players to decorate and relax after thrilling journeys.
Claim the “Gift of the Express”
From Version 2.7 through the end of Version 3.2, Trailblazers can claim the “Gift of the Express”, an exclusive opportunity to select one regular five-star character of their choice to join their team. This limited-time offer celebrates the culmination of the Penacony arc and the start of new adventures in Amphoreus.
About Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based strategy RPG by HoYoverse, set in a vast, story-rich universe. With stunning visuals, compelling characters, and an engaging narrative, it invites players aboard the Astral Express to explore the stars and unravel interstellar mysteries.
New Heroes Join the Roster, Alongside New Game Modes and a New Map!
November 22nd, 2024 – Today iDreamSky’s highly anticipated next-gen anime 5v5 shooter Strinova officially launched globally on PC for regions including North America, Japan, South Korea, Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, and more. Featuring an original mechanic called Stringification that lets players freely swap between 3D and 2D forms, Strinova adds an unprecedented level of strategy and innovation to the team-based tactical shooter. Players can download the game for free from Steam, Epic Games Store, or through the official Strinova website to begin their competitive journey.
During the Steam October New Releases Festival, Strinova stood out among numerous games worldwide, securing the top spot in the “Daily Active Demo Players” category and third place in the “Most Popular Upcoming” section. This official launch adds a host of new content outlined below.
Previously, the pre-registration giveaway event on the official website attracted a large number of players to participate, and the number of pre-registrations has now reached 6 million.
Strinova is an anime-style third-person tactical competitive shooter that lets you freely switch between three-dimensional and two-dimensional forms for a one-of-a-kind battle experience. By utilizing its unique “Stringification” mechanic, you can seamlessly flatten your avatar into a 2D plane allowing you to instantly change your elevation by zipping up through walls, swimming through ceilings, or using your paper-like form to glide through the air. You’ll also be a thinner target, making it easier to avoid enemy fire. Flesh yourself out into 3D to utilize your weapons and take the offensive against the opposing team. Explore different movement routes and combat strategies, delivering a shooting experience unlike anything else.
The official launch of Strinova brings a wealth of diverse game content to players, including five unique gameplay modes: Demolition, Rank Demolition, Team Arena, Team Deathmatch, and Escort. This official launch also features 14 intricately designed maps, each with unique terrain and layouts. Additionally, there are 17 characters, each with their own distinct skills and traits, offering unprecedented potential for player expression and strategy.
Compared to the test version, the official launch introduces two captivating new characters and one exciting new map, making battlefield strategies even more diverse and dynamic.
The new character Eika belongs to The Scissors faction and is a lively high school girl with a vibrant personality. She wears a mask and wields powerful weapons, using fire to protect the surrounding area. With her signature suppressive fire skills and agile combat style, she shines on the battlefield like a moving turret, instilling fear in enemies wherever she goes. Her weapon design focuses on high-intensity damage output, capable of delivering devastating blows to foes, making her an indispensable damage dealer.
The other new character, Fragrans, aka “The Perfumer,” is a gentle woman who was originally a botanist and researcher. However, she was caught in a conspiracy and falsely accused by P.U.S of being the mastermind behind a series of Collapse Syndrome incidents, leading to her being wanted. Now, she has found her place in The Scissors faction, becoming the team’s vital link. Her ultimate skill lets her use her signature perfume bottle to provide powerful buffs to movement speed, attack speed, and healing for all allies within range, while granting herself significant damage reduction.
The new character Fragrans is a perfumer, and in her ultimate ability animation, she holds up a perfume bottle.
The new map, Cosmite, is a unique desert Demolition map set in mysterious and magnificent ruins. Its swirling golden sands, majestic main temple, ancient and enigmatic technologies, and the strange natural phenomena are intricately intertwined, creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere. As the first stop for humans upon entering the new world, Cosmite carries immense historical significance, providing valuable insights into the past. It also contains vast quantities of the rare Bablo Crystal, adding to its mysterious allure. It’s a distinctive Demolition map, with complex terrain full of various bunkers, passages, and elevation differences, providing players with rich tactical options.
That’s not all, as Strinova will continuously inject new vitality into the game through seasonal and event-driven operations. The game will gradually introduce more characters, maps, and gameplay features, providing players with a constant sense of freshness and challenge.
“Whether you’re a devoted player of competitive shooters or a fan of anime, Strinova has a unique charm waiting for you to discover,” said Alan Zhang, Executive Producer of Strinova and Vice President of R&D at iDreamSky. “For competitive shooter enthusiasts, its quality is on par with any other game in the genre, satisfying your thirst for competitive challenges. For anime lovers, its stunning visuals and distinct anime style will undoubtedly leave you ecstatic. Even if you don’t belong to either of these groups, it’s still worth a try. Exploring this free game world might reveal new joys, and you might even fall in love with it!”
It has been practically a decade since Dragon Age fans were able to experience a new game, as Dragon Age: Inquisition was quite some time ago. Since then, BioWare has seen quite a few struggles over the past ten years, with Mass Effect: Andromedafailing to live up to the franchise’s expectations and Anthem missing the mark, fans were worried if we’d ever see a new entry in the Dragon Age franchise. Thankfully that all changed when Dragon Age: Dreadwolf was initially revealed in 2022 before becoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard closer to release. So, with nearly a decade of waiting and numerous changes throughout its rough development until release, does Dragon Age: The Veilguard feel like a proper continuation to the saga?
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Gameplay
Story
Now, before we begin, it is worth noting that those unfamiliar with the Dragon Age series will likely feel rather lost as the game does very little to try and catch players up on the various plot elements that are being continued from the previous entry. That being said, there are surprisingly few smaller elements that are actually carried forward from past games, especially any further back than Inquisition. The larger story plots of course are at least explained well enough that newcomers will be able to get the gist. Of course, those who have played through the previous entry, and most importantly its Trespasser DLC, will get the most out of the countless references and even minor plot elements that pop up as easter eggs.
Our story begins ten years after the previous game with Varric seeking to track down and put a stop to Solas’ plans, the former party member from Inquisition has long since been known to be an ancient elven god known as the Dread Wolf thanks to the last piece of DLC for the previous game and is seeking to potentially destroy the world by taking down the Veil, the mystical barrier that separates the material world from the Fade, where raw magic runs rampant and incredibly powerful entities lay dormant. To assist Varric he has gathered the help of the returning Harding and a new mage named Neve, as well as the wildcard Rook. Players take on the role of the brand new Rook whose class, history, and other selected elements during character creation will alter elements of the story slightly.
Finally tracking Solas down, the group manages to interrupt the powerful ritual only to trigger a massive blast of energy that leaves not only Varric critically injured but unleashes two extremely powerful and highly dangerous elven gods that had been imprisoned in the fade for thousands of years and now that they are free, are ready to sink the world into darkness. Nevermind the fact that Solas somehow ends up trapped within a dimension of the Fade and only able to speak directly into Rook’s mind. With Solas’ former base, The Lighthouse, serving as their new home within the Fade and as a way to quickly traverse Thedas thanks to Solas’ network of portal-esque mirrors called Eluvians via the Crossroads, it is up to Rook as the new de facto leader of the group to try and not only defeat these two elven gods before they destroy the world with their Blight and other disastrous plans and try to save anyone they can along the way all while gathering new allies to fight by their side.
In many ways it feels like Dragon Age: The Veilguard is trying to be two things at once. The game is weighed down by the fact that it has three games worth of lore and plotlines to work with to the point that it is practically buckling under the pressure to try and work in cameos and references to various events in the past that doesn’t quite do enough to please longtime fans. On the other hand, it is trying to create a story of its very own within that lore, pitting Rook and their small ragtag group of allies that they gather throughout the game to take down a pair of sinister gods all while doing its best to at least keep some tenuous connection to the events of Inquisition through limited character interactions with Varris, Morrigan, and even the Inquisitor themselves from time to time.
That doesn’t mean that the storyline for Dragon Age: The Veilguard is bad. In fact, it is actually handled fairly well as long as players take to heart that this is a more dialed back experience compared to Inquisition despite the high stakes that Rook and their allies are facing. There is no gathering an army or making allegiances, but assembling a team of skilled allies in a manner similar to Mass Effect 2 to take down the big bads. Of course, there are still plenty of important decisions to be made but some of these big grand choices are unfortunately few and far between. In fact most dialogue choices are simply picking the tone of how Rook will reply to a statement, rather than actually making a choice in any way. That being said, there are plenty of smaller decisions that do play a factor into various developments though these are usually smaller in scale and tend to only result in some dialogue changes or a few extra scenes. Ironically, the player’s choice of background and factions will play a decent role in flavor text and ambient dialogue as well with the party.
There is once again plenty of focus on making sure that the party members in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are as memorable as possible and for the most part the team at BioWare has done an excellent job here. While some characters may take a bit to grow on players upon their initial introduction, others feel like winners right out of the gate. Seeing Hardin change from a minor NPC to a full dwarven ally with her own significant storyline is impressive, just as much as learning more about the detective-esque mage Neve whose work with her faction pits her against the shadier aspects of the cities she deals with. Nevermind the likes of a certain demon possessed assassin, necromancer with a skeleton butler that’s a real hoot, a gray warden finding themselves rearing a young griffin, and even a Qunari torn between their life by being raised apart from the Qun or embracing their current life.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for these characters and Rook will have plenty of time to interact and even romance every character if they so choose, though only one romantic option can be locked in here. No harem for Rook, but plenty of flirting. There is something of a dissonance to the characters and the way they interact with one another however There is very little in the way of… edge let’s say, to introducing party members to one another. While characters will talk when out in the field and question each other, there really isn’t any friction between team members even when some of their skills are less than savory or may put the whole team at risk, they are just readily accepted. That being said, it is nice to note that party members will talk quite a bit while traveling through areas and will react to story events alongside Rook who will make their own quips, helping provide plenty of interaction even if players aren’t able to make direct choices here when it comes to answering their party members. In fact, the whole storyline as a whole feels like a lot of the darker aspects have been brushed off to provide a more sterilized narrative, especially in regards to certain . Sure, there are still a number of dark developments as well as some dastardly reveals and evil machinations, but they are far fewer in number than what fans of the franchise will remember and the overall gritty nature of the series has been dialed back heavily.
This is partially due to the fact that, with the exception of Solas that serves as initial antagonist to a trapped voice providing double-edged wisdom for the majority of the game and numerous elements involving his history and how the Dread Wolf became what he is, the actual villains that players will need to tangle with are comically evil. The writing for nearly every villain is so thin that it makes sense that there is very little dialogue interaction with them at all, instead players will mostly have their weapons do the talking in most cases and very rarely actually have conversations with any sort of meaning with the villains here. This leads to a storyline that feels like its smoothed some of the rougher edges of the world for its own service but despite this, thanks to both a wonderful cast of characters and plenty of emphasis on making sure to keep players invested in their developments through near unmissable markers when someone is willing to talk or has a quest as well as some side-quests that actually contain meaningful lore, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard manages to deliver a surprisingly satisfying storyline even if it doesn’t quite feel like it’ll be able to pull it together sometimes.
Gameplay
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is designed around using The Lighthouse in the Fade as the player’s home base. here players will be able to talk with their party members, upgrade equipment they’ve found or even improve the workshop itself if they’ve found enough mementos in their journey, and directly set out to whichever location they want to go to next through the Eluvian that leads to the “Crossroads.” It is worth noting that players will be able to fast travel to any unlocked fast travel beacons but this is only outside of the actual missions. The missions that players undertake, including side missions, are strictly designed and follow a linear path with extra routes literally blocked by fog and labeled as inaccessible. This is a bit disappointing, especially since the maps themselves aren’t the most helpful for remembering and marking locations, but also because of how linear it makes the title feel during said missions.
Thankfully, outside of missions players can travel back to most locations and freely explore, often finding that new side-quests are available and that previously locked off areas are now open. This gives players plenty of room to explore as well as take advantage of various shops, including faction shops. Throughout the title players will interact with the numerous factions in the game and, depending on if they do side quests for them or sell treasure (junk) to their primary shop it will increase Rook’s favorability and the power of the faction, often unlocking special weapons and gifts that can be given related to said faction. It is interesting to note that there are also non-faction shops scattered around as well that not only sell bonus equipment, decorations for the player’s room back at the Lighthouse, but also mementos to upgrade the Caretaker’s workshop as well, increasing the total power player’s equipment can be upgraded to.
As players are venturing out, whether it is to freely explore a location or on a mission, they will find that Dragon Age: The Veilguard has drastically altered almost every element of traveling around as well as combat. Players will travel with Rook and two party members of their choice, though some missions lock certain party members in, and they will only be actually able to control Rook with the other allies simply providing support both during exploration and combat. While venturing around there will be various interactables in the environment that make use of a party member’s skills (if they have been recruited yet) to either open or clear a path but thankfully Rook can trigger these skills even if the character isn’t in the party. It is also worth noting that there are some oddly interspersed platforming sequences that really don’t fit the feeling or nature of the game, especially with how floaty the jumping is.Ironically, there is no fall damage. Should players fall a certain distance, even with the ground in sight, the game will treat it like they fell into a bottomless pit and respawn them at the top. Rook cannot swim either, making our hero drown in chest-deep water.
When players encounter enemies is where Dragon Age: The Veilguard also takes its biggest step away from previous games. In fact, the combat itself is designed to be more like a character action game rather than an RPG with party members since, as mentioned before, players only have direct control of Rook in fights. Allies will fight on their own and can use skills on their own as well though players can use a quick-dial to order them to use specific skills on a target. This also allows for the use of Mass Effect styled “Prime” and “Detonate” combo where some combinations of skills can be chained together to trigger a bonus effect for massive damage. In fact, party members have no health bars to manage, players only need to worry about keeping Rook alive to stay in the fight and this can be done using limited potions to heal, dodging and perfect parrying attacks and of course, defeating the enemies.
Rook has three initial classes to choose from, mage, rogue, and warrior, with each of these classes then having their own variations that players can build towards using skill points obtained from leveling up as well as completing various in-game puzzles. These playstyles offer plenty of variation as we took our Rook down the path of a rogue, speedily using twin-blades to take down enemies up close and dodging around or vanishing through their attacks or whittling them down with a bow at a distance before closing in for a kill. Some of the skills that players unlock are as simple as straight bonus buffs to the character, specific ability boosts, and more and it is nice to note that players can reset both their and their party’s skill tree at any time with no cost. Unfortunately there is no way to quickly re-distribute or save previous builds, meaning every reset requires unlocking every node again building in the player’s newly chosen direction. As for the player’s party members, their skill points are actually tied to their bond levels and level up trees are far smaller and a bit too simple.
Combat feels extremely quick and has quite a lot of impact at times,especially when playing as an up close and personal rogue, but it is rather unfortunate that there are a handful of issues with the game’s combat mechanics. One, they just don’t have that much enemy variety to work with which is a shocking disappointment. There are only a few mechanics to deal with enemies that have certain shields or barriers and that’s about it with only a few fights actually changing things up. Along these same lines, the game’s lock-on mechanic is absolutely atrocious, often losing lock-on simply because the enemy moved out of sight which happens far too easily thanks to the large wind-up on some skills, especially some specific subclass skills for the rogue. This is an annoyance that should have been remedied, especially for a game designed to be character action centric with the player being the main damage dealer. This also means that those who like playing a supporting role won’t find that here anymore, nor even an option for stealth. Ironically, trying to snipe enemies with the bow at a distance isn’t possible since the arrows have a surprisingly short travel distance or will make enemies “immune” to damage if they aren’t engaged directly.
The equipment managing in the game is a bit of a mixed bag. It is nice that most weapons can be seen as viable as nearly every piece of gear can increase in rarity by discovering or buying a duplicate version of it, unlocking additional perks alongside simply upgrading it at the Caretaker’s workshop. That being said, it almost always feels like players are simply moving from chest to chest, with each piece of gear being stronger than the last with few exceptions. This does diminish the game’s loot system a bit, unless players are designing their character around a specific build that one weapon enhances greatly compared to another. For those who like the looks of certain pieces of gear over another, the game does allow for transmogrifying armor or any weapon into a previously obtained one, be it from finding it in the field or even a skin bought from a vendor or found in-game.
Audio & Visuals
Among the many things that Dragon Age: The Veilguard has changed from previous entries, the art style is one of them. Rather than keeping the grittier and slightly more realistic tone of past games, this release takes on a brighter and more stylized approach to both the characters and the enemy designs, with enemy designs being a bit of a mixed bag as a result.. The character designs are nicely detailed even if some races may not look quite the same as fans remember them but enemy types have seen some significant alterations from past entries. This is unfortunate when combined with the fact that actual enemy variety is quite low for an RPG like this. Thankfully the world design is absolutely breathtaking at times, with many of the locations that players travel to being a real treat for the eyes as they navigate the environment and, thanks to the Eluvian mirrors allowing for quick travel across Thedas, there is tons of variety to be had here. It is also nice to note that the character creator for Rook is extremely in-depth to the point of offering some never before seen options, though it is also limiting a bit in some areas at the same time.
The voice work throughout the game is handled excellently. There are a few characters that take some getting used to, especially the chippy Elven girl in my case who slowly grew on me over the course of the game. There are tons of moments throughout exploring that a player’s chosen party members will banter or even joke about what’s happening, making for unique interactions every time depending on who Rook’s traveling with. As for the soundtrack the game features some rather impressive background music that is fitting for the game’s themes, including some really special tracks for vital battles.
Overall
Dragon Age: The Veilguard feels like a game that is sometimes at odds with itself, trying to do two things at once and only barely managing to hold itself together as a result. The storyline is engaging though this is primarily thanks to Solas as well as the great writing that Rook’s companions bring with them and their lovely interactions. The combat itself is also fast and fluid even if it feels like the largest departure from Dragon Age‘s history of combat yet, though even then it isn’t without its flaws. Combine this with the feeling that player interactions are kept rather minimal in impact outside of a high impact choices that come few and far between and this RPG has all the makings for an engaging and gorgeous looking action RPG, but is hampered by many strange design and gameplay choices.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The game’s first story pack Wild Card is also available today, featuring notorious high roller Lando Calrissian
Sydney, Australia –NOVEMBER 22, 2024– Today, Ubisoft announced that Star Wars™ Outlaws is now available on Steam. The first story pack, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, is also available today, allowing players to continue their journey across the galaxy. Star Wars Outlaws is already available on Ubisoft+, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro and Windows PC, including Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna*.
In Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, Kay is hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament. As she crosses paths with the notorious high roller Lando Calrissian, she soon learns that another game is being played. Players must complete the Gunsmith and The High Roller quest from the base game before the story pack can be played.
Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card will be automatically accessible and free to Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass owners or available for separate purchase for a suggested retail price of AU$22.95. With the release of Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, Season Pass owners also receive the Hunter’s Legacy Bundle and Cartel Ronin Bundle with additional outfits for Kay and Nix, as well as cosmetics for Kay’s speeder and her ship, the Trailblazer.
As part of the team’s dedicated support of the game, the latest TU1.4.0 update brings with it a range of improvements, including:
Notable updates to stealth and combat that allow players greater choice in how they approach each quest including using stealth or reaching for their blaster, even in syndicate territories in cities.
Enemy AI and detection improvements, with players being notified when they’re being detected and can choose to escalate or change tactics to remain in stealth. Enemies will also now be more tactical as they use cover and seek better combat lines.
Enemy weak points have been added to reward strategic gameplay, which if targeted can trigger explosions or give players a way to defeat enemies in spectacular new ways.
Re-tuned Kay’s blaster and pickup weapons to improve the combat experience, including being able to carry two handed weapons in more situations including using ladders or grapple points.
Animations in dialogue scenes, the option to toggle off the cinematic lens, the visibility of distant lights and much more have been added to improve the experience across the galaxy.
Fans looking to purchase the game can take advantage of sales currently available, up to 25% off on all platforms, with conditions variable by retailer.
For more information about Star Wars Outlaws, please visit starwarsoutlaws.com .
*Ubisoft+ on Luna requires account linking and a Multi-Access plan. Territorial restrictions apply.
About Star Wars Outlaws
In Star Wars Outlaws, fans play as cunning scoundrel, Kay Vess (Humberly González), and her loyal companion Nix (Dee Bradley Baker, Star Wars: The Bad Batch™), as they attempt one of the greatest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen. Seeking the means to start a new life, players will join Kay and Nix as they fight, steal, and outwit their way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates and join the galaxy’s most wanted. Star Wars Outlaws is available on Ubisoft+, Ubisoft’s subscription service*, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro and Windows PC, including Ubisoft Connect, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2.32 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
