Drive your favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, compete with friends and perform spectacular stunts in the ultimate monster truck showdown!
EL SEGUNDO, California and MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (Oct. 18, 2024) – Go big, go Hot Wheels! Mattel, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAT), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, in partnership with GameMill Entertainment, today launched Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem™ on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store.
Developed by 3D Clouds and published by GameMill Entertainment, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem invites diehard monster truck fans and newcomers to hop into their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks in solo play or head-to-head local multiplayer arena showdowns as they perform epic stunts and take on massive bosses.
“Hot Wheels fuels the competitive spirit in every kid, inspiring them to reach their full potential. The challenger ethos truly shines in Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem,” said Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Gaming at Mattel. “We’re fortunate to partner with the incredible team at GameMill to deliver a turbocharged game, and we can’t wait for fans and newcomers to dive in today and experience the action-packed thrills while immersing themselves in the Hot Wheels universe.”
Inspired by Hot Wheels, the number one selling toy in the world*, players can take control of the wheel of their favorite monster trucks like the Bone Shaker™, Tiger Shark, Race Ace™ and Bigfoot™. With each truck’s unique signature moves, fans will experience heart-pounding action as they perform epic, jaw-dropping flips, spins, and jumps alongside colossal crashes across fantastical arenas. Compete in intense game modes, including head-to-head showdowns, boss fights, and career challenges, or jump right in and dominate with easy-to-learn controls and jaw-dropping combo chains.
The Standard Edition of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is available today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store for $39.99. Players can also grab the Deluxe Edition for $49.99, which includes the full game plus the Treasure Hunt Pack DLC, featuring a variety of in-game cosmetic skins, plus an exclusive menu soundtrack.
*According to Circana, Hot Wheels Single Assortment was the #1 toy sold in the US in 2023 based on units. Source: Circana/Retail Tracking Service/G12/JAN-DEC 2023/Total Toys/Projected Units
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, MEGA® and Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com.
About GameMill Entertainment
GameMill Entertainment, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a third-party publisher of console and mobile games for passionate fans around the world. Development platforms include PC, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft consoles including the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Sony consoles including the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, and mobile devices. With development across the globe, GameMill is a source of entertaining and fun games for all ages. For more information, visit https://gamemill.com, as well as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Watford UK – 18th of October, 2024 – Black Razor Records, in collaboration with Wired Productions and Just Add Water, has released the highly anticipated DIG FM Album. As the flagship station for the immersive video game DIG VR, DIG FM delivers a world-class soundtrack that captures Black Razor’s signature sound and creative vision.
DIG FM is your go-to station for commercial hits across every decade and genre, bringing energy and spirit to every moment. Now, you can enjoy that sound beyond the game with the release of the official album on all streaming and download platforms. This collection of high-energy, anthemic tracks celebrates perseverance, teamwork, and the unstoppable power of music.
Inspired by the driving rhythms of “Heave Ho” worker songs, this album blends infectious beats with uplifting melodies to create the ultimate motivational soundtrack. Whether you’re pushing through a tough workout, grinding away at your goals, or just need a boost, these tracks will keep you going.
You can listen to the soundtrack on your preferred platform.
Ready to vibe with us? Hit play and let DIG FM fuel your hustle, your grind, and your adventures. This is more than just a station—it’s your pulse for the day.
Live Stream below:
At Black Razor Records, we’re passionate about delivering music that resonates with listeners both in and beyond video games. This album is a tribute to those who hustle, strive, and celebrate the journey. More than just a collection of songs, it’s the soundtrack to your next adventure.
DIG FM, along with three other incredible radio station albums from DIG VR, is available starting October 18, 2024. Don’t miss out—tune in, turn it up, and DIG deep!
Follow us on socials for more updates and make sure to check out DIG FM live for all your favorite hits!
DIG VR is coming to Meta Quest on 14th of November, 2024. Sign up for more information via DigVRgame.com, tune in to DIG FM.
DIG VR is also compatible with Roto VR Explorer, a next-generation VR gaming chair made in partnership with Meta. The new chair creates an unparalleled immersive experience with Meta Quest headsets with its patented ‘Look & Turn’ technology transforms the seated 360º experience. In addition to its powerful motorized base, the chair also has full body haptics too.
Furthermore, DIG VR will be the first game to use the SDK and it is fully compatible with the Roto VR Explorer at launch. It’s time to take your immersion to the next level and also eliminate motion sickness at the same time.
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.
K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA – 18 October 2024: Dusters at the ready: A Little to the Left: Extra Tidy Edition, the Nintendo Switch™ physical release of the chart-topping puzzle sensation, is out today in Europe and will launch in North America on 25 October. Players will discover a physical sticker puzzle tucked inside every copy to prepare them for the digital tidying treasure trove waiting in the game itself.
A Little to the Left: Extra Tidy Edition contains the bestselling, tidying-up puzzling sensation A Little to the Left, its two premium expansions Cupboards & Drawers and Seeing Stars, plus over 20 additional seasonal A Little to the Left levels and features, all neatly packed onto one Nintendo Switch cartridge, with no download code required to access the full library of puzzles. That’s over 160 household-themed puzzles in all, spanning dishevelled shelves, jumbled drawers, and messy dressers, all in need of rearranging.
Watch the original launch trailer for A Little to the Left below
A Little to the Left is also available now on iOS for both iPhone and iPad. Download the trial for free, featuring the first nine puzzles, along with three Daily Tidy puzzles – one per day across three days – and one additional puzzle from the Archive, all without any ads.
The full game is available for a one-time in-app purchase of $9.99/£9.99. Its DLC packs – Cupboards & Drawers and Seeing Stars – will also be coming to iOS alongside an Android release later this year.
About A Little to the Left
Sort, stack, and organize household objects into just the right spot in A Little to the Left, a tidy puzzle game with a mischievous cat who likes to shake things up!
Puzzles hidden among household objects.
Multiple solutions make for intuitive and satisfying puzzle design.
A puzzle unique for you every day with The Daily Tidy Delivery.
Perfect for casual puzzle game fans and those who get a jolt of satisfaction from a well-organized space.
About A Little to the Left: Extra Tidy Edition
Includes both “Cupboard and Drawers” and “Seeing Stars” expansions in the cartridge, with over 60 additional levels!
Integrated hint system for every single solution in the base game and across both expansions!
About A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers
Sort, stack, and organize household objects into particular arrangements in A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers. Prepare to clean out the cabinets and secret compartments of the home with even more charming illustrations, surprising scenarios, and 25 delightful new Cupboards & Drawers themed puzzles to discover.
About A Little to the Left: Seeing Stars
A Little to the Left: Seeing Stars is all about multiple solutions. Collect up to 100 stars as you discover the logic behind a multitude of ways to tidy up the house. Fold, flap, crush, join, stick, bounce, stack, strum, and lovingly smash your way through 38 new levels layered with both easy-to-find solutions, as well as more challenging puzzles. There are also some extra cute visitors who will make an appearance as well.
About Secret Mode
Secret Mode is the publishing wing of Sumo Group Ltd, and winner of the Ukie Best UK Publisher 2024 award. Our goal is to publish internally developed projects from any of our 16 game development studios across the UK, US, Europe, and India, as well as third party independent game developers. We believe that games are for everyone, and that creativity has no limits. We believe quality and fun are everything.
About Max Inferno
MAX INFERNO is a seaside indie game studio from K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia. It makes charming games that are inspired by moments in the team’s daily lives.
The studio was founded in 2021 by Annie and Lukas, who have always loved making things together: Halloween costumes, treasure hunts, dance moves… Now they have a platform for all of the odd and lovely ideas for interactions they want to see in the gaming world. Thanks to the success of its first title, A Little to the Left, the MAX INFERNO team is growing and is focused on even more delightful things for the future.
Play as Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo in solo or 2-player co-op to face off against an all-new wave of mutants, continuing the story of blockbuster-hit “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
Battle 10 brand new mutant enemies, designed in collaboration with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’s lead character designer, Woodrow White
Explore a variety of interactive locations around New York City, from the Turtles’ Sewer Lair to The Coexisting Center and The Haunted Arcade
Take on missions and unique side quests assigned by familiar faces, from discovering hidden graffiti, immersive Dojo challenges, boss battles and even pizza delivery
Unlock in-game character skins that pay homage to the iconic history of the TMNT franchise
London, UK – October 18th 2024: Outright Games, a leading global publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, in collaboration with Paramount Game Studios, are thrilled to officially launch their hugely anticipated title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed. Developed by A Heartful of Games, this 3D Beat ‘Em Up’ Platformer is out now on PlayStation 4®, PlayStation 5®, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
Set in the aftermath of the acclaimed 2023 Paramount Pictures film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, play as the four brothers to discover the mystery behind a new type of menace wreaking havoc across New York City. Go up against 10 brand new mutants, or “Mewbies” for short, each with 5 varying forms of mutation that are set to level up the challenge. Boasting high-energy gameplay, utilise the Turtles’ unique weapons and combat styles, from Mikey’s brawler-style close range attacks to Donnie’s bō staff-wielding prowess. The game also sees the voice actors behind the titular brothers return, with Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, Brady Noon as Raphael, Micah Abbey as Donatello and Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, as the quartet reprise their movie roles.
In addition to the iconic Turtles, fans can also look forward to the return of other characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Take on surreal Dojo challenges from Master Splinter, assist April in creating her “O’News” broadcasts, and help Bebop and Rocksteady adjust to New York life with their new pizza place job plus much, much more!
With a distinct New York feel, the game offers multiple interactive locations to absorb fans into the world of the Turtles. Train in the Turtles’ Sewer Lair inspired directly by the film location, or visit new “hangout” spots such as the Coexisting Center, the Haunted Arcade and an abandoned movie theatre – all immersively changing with the game’s dynamic day and night cycle.
While exploring the game’s expansive map, players can complete main missions and NPC side quests, experiencing adrenaline-fueled boss battles, taking on pizza delivery challenges, and discovering hidden graffiti secrets around the city as players investigate the troublesome Mewbies’ origins. Completing quests to advance the story, players can unlock new abilities via gaining XP and levelling up Ally Bonds through immersive and infectiously humorous dialogue. Adding to the mayhem, players can even team up with a buddy in up to 2-player couch co-op as they vie to restore peace to New York City and help the Turtles achieve their dreams of attending a regular high school.
Introducing new characters authentically designed by the film’s lead character designer, Woodrow White, fans can delight in the faithful recreation of the film’s distinct and colourful art style, with a variety of fully voice acted dynamic 2D and 3D cutscenes. With unlockable skins based on the original comic book Turtles in black and white and a unique variation on the 80s cartoon Turtles, fans of all eras can enjoy this new gaming take on the incredible Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
Stephanie Malham, Managing Director of Outright Games said: “The anticipation for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed from fans has been phenomenal and we are delighted to finally release this game into the world. With the help of our friends at Paramount and our talented developers A Heartful of Games, we’ve captured the unique art style and humour of the most recent film, while offering story-driven brawler gameplay that faithfully fits the world of TMNT.”
Doug Rosen, SVP, Games and Emerging Media, Paramount, said: “The TMNT franchise has a rich history in gaming, and we cannot wait for fans to immerse themselves in this new story and further explore this universe. The gameplay is fun and delivers the dynamic action players expect., the narrative is captivating, and we are sure fans will return to the New York sewers again and again for more.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is available now on PlayStation 4®, PlayStation 5®, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Physical retail editions, including the Deluxe Edition (£54.99 / €59.99/ $59.99) and Collector’s Edition (£219.99 / €249.99/ $199.99) are also available today. Check local retailers for stock and pricing.
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About Outright Games
Outright Games is a global video games publisher with a focus on bringing quality family entertainment to a worldwide audience. Founded in 2016, Outright Games has established its place in the market delivering engaging interactive games of beloved entertainment licences globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including favorites such as Peppa Pig: World Adventures with Hasbro, DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos with Warner, Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova and Paw Patrol: Grand Prix with Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The Nine Realms with NBC Universal. With an Outright Games title there will be fun for all the family to enjoy.
About Paramount Consumer Products
Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio includes a diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and SHOWTIME®. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises.
About AHEARTFULOFGAMES
AHEARTFULOFGAMES is a boutique game studio based in Madrid, Spain. We are a diverse team that works mostly remotely, and take pride in valuing our developer’s work-life balance, while striving to hit the time and quality deadlines of our clients. We have ample experience in working on multi-platform releases touching all major console developers. Since our debut title, Heart&Slash, we have worked in many different games, both of our ownership and for third parties. While we dabble in different genres, we like to focus on action titles, visually rich, thematically wholesome and mechanically satisfying.
London (October 18, 2024) For the first time ever, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess™is on sale for Xbox, PlayStation, Windows, and Steam! This limited time offer invites players to experience a beautifully crafted world that merges both action and strategy, while celebrating the rich traditions of Japanese artistry.
The fourth episode of the behind-the-scenes video series is also now available on the official Capcom YouTube channel! This installment delves into the fascinating overlap between the creation of Japanese sweets and game development. Featuring Tsuruya Yoshinobu, a well-known confectioner from Kyoto with over 200 years of history, this video offers a glimpse into the artistry behind the traditional sweets that were brought to life in the game using 3D scanning. Explore the connection between crafting both sweets and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess as it is showcased by the dedication and craftsmanship in both worlds, highlighting how the meticulous art of wagashi-making informs the design philosophy behind Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.
To watch the new behind-the-scenes video visit the official Capcom YouTube channel here. For real-time news and updates on Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, visit the official X/Twitter page here.
About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including groundbreaking franchises Resident Evil™, Monster Hunter™, Street Fighter™, Mega Man™, Devil May Cry™ and Ace Attorney™. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Tokyo, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com or news.capcomusa.com.
Capcom, and the Capcom logo are registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. in the U.S. or other countries. Ace Attorney, Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil and Street Fighter are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
Travel the world and protect humanity as Haroona, a heroine with mystical powers, and enter a narrative universe expanding into novels, podcasts, comics, and more
Tap into the powers of the Fold to right the wrongs of Haroona’s past and stop a secret society from taking control of powerful knowledge in the narrative-driven action-adventure game, Unknown 9: Awakening, out now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe and developed by Reflector Entertainment, the game is set at the turn of the 20th century and takes players on a globetrotting mission to prevent the world’s best-kept secrets from falling into the wrong hands. The game’s heroine, Haroona, is portrayed by the talented actress Anya Chalotra in her first video game role.
Unknown 9: Awakening follows the story of Haroona, a Quaestor born with the ability to venture into the Fold: a mysterious dimension that overlaps our own. On her quest for powerful hidden knowledge, she will learn to master her unique connection to the Fold, which allows her to channel its powers into our world. But such power does not go unnoticed. Haroona quickly becomes the target of the Ascendants, a splinter faction of a secret organization known as the Leap Year Society, which wants to use the Fold to alter the course of human history.
Mastering Haroona’s umbric abilities will prove critical to defeating the Ascendants and seeking the revenge the heroine craves. Players can choose to ambush opponents from the shadows, engage in melee combat, or “step” into foes to take control of their bodies and weapons, and turn them against each other. Haroona can dodge bullets, shield attacks, hurl energy, and perform creative combat combinations to take down whatever stands in the way of securing humankind’s continued existence.
Unknown 9: Awakening is the key entry point into the Unknown 9 IP’s expansive narrative universe, which consists of interconnected standalone stories told across web series, comic books, podcasts, novels and more. Players can extend their Unknown 9: Awakening experience by following these other adventures, and those who know where to look will uncover their share of crossovers, callbacks, secrets and more.
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About Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™ and UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.
Founded in Montreal in 2016, Reflector Entertainment is a new breed of studio that specializes in the creation of immersive narrative universes. Its products, which are as enjoyable as standalone experiences as they are when consumed all together, span various entertainment formats and empower audiences to craft their own unique journeys across vast narrative landscapes. In 2020, the studio was acquired by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, the headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, recognized internationally for top franchises including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, and the award-winning game, ELDEN RING™.
Original game owners can upgrade at a discount starting today
Sydney, Australia, October 18 2024 – Welcome back to where it all began — Arizona Sunshine® Remake, a complete rebuild of the iconic zombie apocalypse VR game, is now available on Meta Quest 2 and 3, PS VR2, and PC VR.
Starting today, owners of the original Arizona Sunshine® can get a discounted upgrade to Remake, also including the Federal Containment Agency pack.Meta Quest users can take advantage of the upgrade until November 30th. Upgrading requires the original game to be purchased and installed on the respective platform.
Developed and published by Vertigo Games, Arizona Sunshine® Remake brings an even bloodier, more intense survival experience. Experience the original story and all the DLCs, now with GORE-geous new visuals, including high-res textures and brutally detailed environments that bring the undead world to life like never before.
With next-gen combat, you’ll physically wield a lethal arsenal—shotguns, machetes, and more—blasting, hacking, and slashing your way through relentless hordes of Freds. Plus, a brand-new mutilation and gore system offers even more satisfying ways to take down the undead, from severing limbs to turning Freds into a bloody pulp.
Face the undead alone or up to three fellow survivors in a post-apocalyptic southwestern America overrun by zombies, and experience a zombie-infested Arizona like never before:
GORE-geous graphics: Immerse yourself in stunning new visuals, including high-resolution textures and realistic environmental details.
One complete edition including all DLZ:Arizona Sunshine® Remake includes all original DLCs and updates – Dead Man DLC, The Damned DLC, Old Mine update, Trailer Park Update and Undead Valley Update.
Co-op multiplayer: Join forces with a friend in co-op campaign mode or multiplayer Horde mode for up to four players. But beware, more warm brains mean more hungry undead.
Next-gen combat and weapons: Experience the thrill of combat as you physically wield weapons, from shotguns to machetes.
Relive the original story: Built in bite-sized VR chunks that together form a full narrative, the campaign allows you to jump in for a short session or stay for the complete ride.
Brand-new mutilation and gore system: Discover all the ways to slay a Fred through our upgraded mutilation and gore system.
About Vertigo Games
Vertigo Games, the VR publishing and development arm of the global PLAION Group, is a multi-platform VR publisher and developer with offices in Rotterdam & Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Los Angeles, California. With teams in the areas of development, publishing and LBE (location-based entertainment) distribution, the company offers a portfolio of quality VR games that provide novel, powerful and full-featured gaming experiences both inside of the home. Games include Vertigo Studios’ Arizona Sunshine® 2, The 7th Guest VR, and the epic VR action FPS After the Fall®. Upcoming titles include Arizona Sunshine® Remake and Metro Awakening. Vertigo Games is a PLAION (previously Koch Media) Group company. http://vertigo-games.com
PlayStation Australia is pleased to share some additional information on Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered from the PlayStation Blog, written by the Nixxes Software team. Insights from the developers include details on improvements in visual quality for foliage and environment, enhancements to the living world, improvements to terrain with assets used from Horizon Forbidden West, over 10 hours of additional motion-capture data for characters, as well as updates to lighting. The link to the blog is here.
Nixxes shares developer insights on remastering Guerrilla’s action adventure for PS5 and PC.
Hey everyone, you may be familiar with Nixxes as the developer behind PC ports of PlayStation games, but behind the scenes, we have also been hard at work on a project of a very different nature. Working closely with our friends at Guerrilla, we set out to create Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for both PS5 and PC.
In our announcement last month, we shared details of improved features and technology, such as the completely revamped sound mix by Guerrilla’s audio team, support for DualSense controllers, and new motion capture for conversations. Today, I’d like to introduce you to some of the team members at Nixxes to give you more insight into some of the enhancements that have been made in the remaster.
Overhauling nature
Foliage plays a big role in portraying the lush, overgrown ruins of a long-lost civilisation in the world of Horizon. Our team of Environment Artists considered the foliage in Horizon Zero Dawn to be an industry standard, and Horizon Forbidden West added to that with significant improvements in visual quality. For the remaster, the team wanted to give the foliage the same care and attention.
Patrick Blankenzee, Senior Environment Artist: “To bring the foliage in the remaster up to the same level of quality as in Horizon Forbidden West, we enhanced the shaders, textures, geometry and foliage interaction. We assessed all the foliage assets in Horizon Zero Dawn and upgraded them with all these new features. We did this for hundreds of plants, bushes, flowers and trees.”
“We looked at the biomes in the original game and compared them to the concept art. We found places that we could enhance and bring closer to the original intent, with the rainforest biome being a good example of this. With powerful procedural technology, we injected new foliage and raised the quality and density to new heights. The riverbanks have also been upgraded with more biodiversity to bring them closer to the original intention as seen in the concept art.”
Julian Hofman, Environment Artist: “Working with the original team over at Guerrilla, we were able to ask questions, and directly compare their latest work on Horizon Forbidden West to the work we were doing for the remaster. This gave us some very specific goals to work towards, like the fresh generation of moss that you can now see in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.”
“For me, the foliage changes make the game feel more alive and make it live up to the incredibly high standards of the Horizon games. The result is a coherent world to replay or experience for the first time.”
Enhancing the living world
The Design team at Nixxes made several key improvements to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. One of the most significant changes is the enhancement of the living world.
Brian van Nunen, Senior Technical Game Designer: “To achieve this, we reviewed all villages, outposts and cities, identifying areas that felt empty or where we could improve realism and immersion.”
“Building the game for PS5 allowed us to leverage the increased amount of memory available, enabling us to significantly boost the number of non-player characters. We added many more places for NPCs to stand, sit, work and fulfill their needs. We gave them more varied schedules to increase movement and liveliness in different areas. We also tried to make creative use of existing animations. For example, there is now a woman feeding geese at the well in Meridian, reusing an existing sowing animation. Additionally, on the bridge to Meridian, we’ve made significant strides in improving the atmosphere and sense of activity.”
Improving terrain and building blocks
Our Tech Art team used the library of next-gen materials that were created for Horizon Forbidden West to enhance the quality of assets used for terrain, objects and buildings significantly in the remaster.
Sander Bronkhorst, Senior Technical Artist: “We began by replacing all the Horizon Zero Dawn terrain materials with their new Horizon Forbidden West counterparts. This was only the first step, as the sequel’s terrain materials didn’t always align with the original aesthetics. To address this, we carefully tweaked and polished each individual terrain material to closely match the look and feel of the original game, while maintaining the visual fidelity of the terrain materials in Horizon Forbidden West.”
“In addition to updating all the terrain textures and materials, we incorporated features like deformable snow and sand. Snow deformation was first introduced in the Frozen Wilds expansion, but in the remaster, you will find this feature outside that area as well.”
“In settlements like Meridian and Daytower, the ground required a more unique aesthetic. Previously, Guerrilla used custom meshes and materials for the floors in these settlements, exclusive to these locations. For the remaster, we initially followed this approach, exploring the possibility of increasing texture resolution and adding parallax mapping to areas such as brick floors. However, after initial tests, we concluded that in these specific cases, this wasn’t going to give us the visual quality that we were aiming to achieve. Therefore, we decided to completely remake the floors in Meridian and Daytower from scratch. This involved creating new high-resolution textures, setting up new materials, painting blend maps, and creating new high-resolution geometry supporting the shapes from the textures used in the material.”
“Another aspect of the upgrades to the game environment in the remaster is Building Blocks. To give a bit of context here: Building Blocks are the individual assets that are used for set dressing the world of Horizon Zero Dawn. Think of objects like rocks, plants, utensils and even buildings.”
“Building Blocks can be divided into two categories: natural and man-made. For both types, we increased the resolution of the textures and adjusted the level of detail (LOD) ranges to ensure higher mesh fidelity.”
“We performed a separate pass on all the man-made Building Blocks, creating new high-resolution geometry for assets that would benefit from this. We found that buildings greatly benefited from having more detailed geometry, as most were using brick-like textures on the walls without the shape of the bricks being reflected in the geometry.”
“To address this, we developed custom tools for generating more detailed geometry for these buildings. The artists used these tools to create new geometry, then manually tweaked and adjusted each individual building for the best visual result.”
Lively conversations
A big change in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is the addition of over 10 hours of additional motion-capture data for characters, directed and captured by Guerrilla at their motion Capture Stage in Amsterdam, making the game’s conversations much livelier and in line with those in Horizon Forbidden West. Implementing this additional data was handled by our technical artists and animators.
Mark Bazelmans, Senior Technical Artist: “Horizon Zero Dawn has almost 300 conversations and well over 3100 dialogue options, so we needed to find a way to easily integrate this huge number of updated animations into the conversations. We created a tool with Python to process the almost 2500 mocap files that Guerrilla provided to replace the original animation in the conversations, removing deprecated events and replacing those with the mocap and setup.”
“We then focused on creating a pipeline in Maya for our animators to easily load, edit and re-export the individual mocap files for any other edits that were needed, such as finger animation, art direction feedback and fixes. Animators could select the conversation and subsequent dialogue option from a list which created the scene from scratch, or simply opened it if it already existed. Our tool referenced the characters and imported the dialogue audio, so the animators could time the movement better and create the camera cuts and layout. Later, we extended this pipeline to also include existing animations for both conversations and cinematics, as some of these also required edits. Our animators could then go into Guerrilla’s DECIMA engine and edit or change the updated conversation.”
Alexander Georgiev, Animator: “Since all mocap footage comes from actors with different height or gender, there was a lot of data that needed to be covered and checked. For example, characters looking up or down too much, shoulders not matching the rest of the pose, arms clipping through clothing and fingers that are too static.”
“To solve this efficiently, we created tools to help us. With these tools we visualised helpers that brought a closer connection between working in Maya and the DECIMA engine. One example was that we could not see the eyes moving the same way as in the DECIMA engine, as that was a complex, automated system. With the toolset we created a head and eye aim helper that made it clearer where the characters were looking, and with that we knew how much we should adjust the head of a certain character.”
“We made small, automated scripts to fix shoulders and arms clipping. All these tools gave the animators a way to focus more on enhancing the acting of the characters to support what they want to say. By developing these tools, we created a strong workflow and were able to significantly speed up our iteration time per conversation.”
Mark Bazelmans, Senior Technical Artist: “Alongside the updated body animation, new facial animations were captured for the conversations. Initially, this was deemed a straightforward ‘overwrite and replace’, but after seeing some of the results we decided to build a pipeline to be able to edit the updated facial animations.”
“We created tools in Maya that could process a facial animation file in proprietary format into a Maya scene with literally a talking head including audio. We also wrote our own exporter that could then export a Maya scene back to the same proprietary format.”
“Next to updating the animations in conversations, we did a pass on the camera and lighting setup for both conversations and cinematics. For the cameras, we batch updated the camera setup and values. In most conversations, the automated pass didn’t quite give the desired result because the contrast between the original movement and the new mocap was too big. The new body animations allow broader movements, often leading to characters stepping out of frame or being completely offscreen. Therefore, a manual pass was done by our Camera Layout Artists, aided by our custom DECIMA tools to easily edit cameras and settings.”
“We updated the lighting toolset to be closer to that in Horizon Forbidden West, which allows for editing settings of character and environment lighting across similar shots using a visual representation of shots. Lighting was controlled by a single setup for each character in a conversation that would apply to all dialogue options in a conversation. Then our lighting artists could do their magic on a particular shot type and all similar shots of that character would be lit the same, with of course room to edit individual shots if needed. This way lighting had maximum control with as little tweaks as possible.”
Shining new light on Horizon Zero Dawn
The work for world lighting and cinematic lighting was divided between Guerrilla and Nixxes Lighting artists, with Guerrilla providing direction and technical support. The Atmospherics team at Guerrilla recreated the sweeping cloudscapes from Horizon Zero Dawn in the new Nubis cloud system from Horizon Forbidden West. The cherry on the cake was the creation of the set piece volcano cloud in the Frozen Wilds expansion, using a combination of the latest innovations in voxel cloud rendering, first pioneered in the Burning Shores expansion for Horizon Forbidden West, and traditional particle VFX.
It was important to retain the strong mood lighting in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, ensuring a seamless transition when playing both games back-to-back. Nixxes’ Senior Lighting Artists Myvanwy Broers, Niels Iburg, and Lighting Artist Thomas Schrama talk about their approach and workflow:
“A lot of the world lighting had to be rebalanced or re-lit from scratch to reach the same mood and to bring it in line with the slightly updated art direction. Horizon Forbidden West has some workflow improvements that we used for the remaster, making the process quite enjoyable!”
“To use the improved features to their fullest potential, we revised all the atmospherics settings that control the biomes within the game world. This included changing the light intensities to Physically Based Rendering values. This is true for the sun and the moon itself, but also detailed lighting in areas such as caves and ruins that players can explore. Think of fog, the colour of the sun, glow intensities and so forth.”
“This meant that after rebalancing the light intensities into PBR, it was necessary to relight entire areas to create the best visual fidelity possible. It was a joy to revisit these iconic environments to do so!”
“To speed up our workflow, we used Guerrilla’s prefab system – an object which contains geometry, particles, sound, and lights that we can place anywhere. All these assets exist as referenced content within a prefab, which means that if the value of a torch light needs adjustment, this will simultaneously happen for every torch in the world. This enables large scale changes and high iteration speed.”
“Light bakes are an important aspect of the lighting – a system that is versatile enough for each time of day, yet providing the detailed light bounce that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered needs. The quality of such bakes is adjustable per volume that we set as lighters, which is great when we require the light bounce to be more detailed in an area without affecting the rest. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered uses the improved baking system from Horizon Forbidden West, resulting in at least twice as much detail in the light bounce compared to the original.”
“With lighting in cinematics and conversations, we wanted to match the art direction and visual quality of Horizon Forbidden West. This, combined with all updated animations, motion-capture and camera shots, meant we built all the cinematic lighting in the remaster from scratch. We used a lot of new technology and workflow that was created for the cinematic lighting in Horizon Forbidden West.”
“Horizon Zero Dawn used a lighting rig around each character with roughly two lights. For the remaster we used the upgraded lighting rig from the sequel, which uses five lights in total: one key-light, two profile-lights and two rim-lights. These lights are then tweaked on a per shot basis changing position, orientation, colour and intensity.”
Detailed characters
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered features significant upgrades to character models and how they react to lighting. Many enhancements in areas such as detail, skin tones, hair quality, and outfits have been carried over from Horizon Forbidden West.
Patrick Blankenzee, Senior Environment Artist: “Working on the varied cast of characters in the remaster was a big undertaking. We enhanced various shaders to improve the visual quality and made changes to ensure the models react better to the new lighting in the remaster. We gave Aloy’s model – both adult and child – the full cinematic treatment, including peach fuzz, upgrades to hair, eyes and materials.”
“We looked at the original concept art of Aloy as a child and aimed to make changes to her outfit, hair and skin, to match the look envisioned in the concept art, as well as bring the model up to par with the quality of the improved model for adult Aloy.”
“In Horizon Zero Dawn, only the character model for Aloy reacts to environmental elements like weather. For the remaster we wanted to give all companion characters the same level of interaction to bring that cinematic feel to the whole world. For example, you will now see both Aloy and her companions react to warm and cold weather.”
On behalf of the teams at Nixxes and Guerrilla, we cannot wait for you to experience Aloy’s journey (again) with all the visual enhancements, upgraded features and tech improvements.
//
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is available for pre-order now and launches on 31 October on PS5 and 1 November on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). Account for PlayStation Network required on PC.
Existing owners of Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4) and/or Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition (PS4, PC)* can upgrade to the digital version of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on both PlayStation 5 console and on PC (via Steam or Epic Game Store) for $15 AUD. *Redemptions via PlayStation Plus are not eligible to upgrade
Next Wave of Free Content Revealed, Along With Year 1 Edition and Year 1 Pass
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 18 OCTOBER 2024: Get ready to pull off the ultimate score. PAYDAY 3 Anniversary Update: Part 2 is the latest free content drop for the fantasy co-op heist shooter and is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and PC on 31 October 2024 (AEDT).
Loaded with enhancements, new features and community driven requests, this expansive update will ensure your next heist is the smoothest getaway yet. In addition, PAYDAY 3 is rolling out the Year 1 Edition and Year 1 Pass – your all access tickets for those serious about mastering the art of the heist.
The definitive Year 1 Edition is the perfect entry point for newcomers, offering the base game along with every piece of paid and free content released since launch. For existing heisters, the Year 1 Pass ensures access to all the latest content, including the four gripping expansions – Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, Houston Breakout and Fear & Greed.
As a bonus for fans, a Legacy Heist will return later this year for free, allowing all players to relive one of the game’s most popular challenges. Additionally, a brand-new paid character pack will be released, offering heisters and operators the tools they need to stay ahead of the law.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a hardened criminal, it’s time to re-live or discover some of the most explosive heists of the year.
Free Updates:
PAYDAY 3 Anniversary Update: Part 2 gives players a powerful lineup of free improvements and features ensuring the heisting experience is more immersive than ever before, including:
Server browser: the much sought-after server browser returns. Pick freely with or without filters and dive straight into the action with the perfect crew.
Cross-platform VoIP and text chat: communication is key to any successful heist. Whether it’s the panicked cries of your team being gunned down, the sweet sound of coordination, or the heroic rescue, you’ll hear it all.
UI update:PAYDAY 3 now has a revamped UI to complement the brand-new content and features released in the past year.
Lobby kick: manage your lobby and control exactly who you want in your heist.
Twitch drops: Watch PAYDAY 3 streams on Twitch to receive in-game cosmetics for free.
New masks: Get spooky with a new Halloween mask or freshen up your heisting attire with two new Masks of the Week.
PAYDAY 3 Year 1 Edition – the definitive heisting experience:
The PAYDAY 3: Year 1 Edition offers the ultimate entry into a life of crime, now even more appealing with recent Steam player reviews shifting to “Mostly Positive”.
This edition is free to those who own the Gold Edition and available for separate purchase on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and PC. It includes the entire first year’s paid and free content and every improvement:
The base game PAYDAY 3.
PAYDAY 3 Year 1 Pass, including all four major DLC bundles – Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, Houston Breakout and Fear & Greed, introducing new heists, a variety of weapons and cosmetics.
Starbreeze is an independent developer, publisher and distributor of PC and console games targeting the global market, with studios in Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris and London. Housing the smash hit IP PAYDAY, Starbreeze develops games based on proprietary and third-party rights, both in-house and in partnership with external game developers. Starbreeze shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the tickers STAR A and STAR B. For more information, please visit starbreeze.com
About PLAION
PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, fifteen regional publishing offices, three game publishing labels including Deep Silver, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe. Founded three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences. PLAION is an Embracer Group company.
About Deep Silver
Deep Silver is PLAION’s flagship publishing label, and the home of captivating gaming worlds from the gripping post-apocalypse of Metro, to the twisted paradises of Dead Island to the authentic Medieval landscapes of Kingdom Come Deliverance .
Slashers Creep Up on Locals as Halloween Chaos Escalates – Plus, Increased Reports of UFO Sightings, North Yankton Nightmare Community Challenge Update, Día de Muertos Rewards, and More
Reports of Slashers stalking Los Santos are through the roof, including bruised and blemished clones wandering the streets in search of prospective targets. There’s also an added paranormal streak to the citywide chaos, with increased UFO sightings alongside reports that these alien vessels are teleporting anyone within touching distance to undisclosed locations.
2X GTA$ and RP on Slasher
Stalk a team of up to seven Hunted as the Slasher, armed with a shotgun. After three minutes, the dynamic shifts as the Hunted become the hunters, receiving shotguns of their own. Both sides of this conflict walk away with Double Rewards all week long — swelling to 4X for GTA+ Members.
Jump into the action by entering the Featured Series in Legion Square or by navigating to Adversary Modes in the Pause Menu.
North Yankton Nightmare Community Challenge
Congratulations! After making quick work of the North Yankton Nightmare Challenge’s initial target by vanquishing over 200 million zombies in the popular new Ludendorff Cemetery Survival over the span of two days, we upped the ante to 800 million and now you’re poised to soar past that mark imminently.
Play GTA Online this week to receive the Orange Glow Skeleton Onesie and the Red Hooded Skull Mask, and look for the Purple Glow and Green Glow Skeleton Onesies to arrive as early as next week.
Bravely continuing to fight off these waves of ambling, reanimated corpses also continues to yield Double Rewards.
Get a Pair of Creepy Cat Masks
Picture a pair of eyes and a grin glowering in the darkness, and you’ll begin to see the appeal of the Brown Creepy Cat Mask, awarded upon logging into GTA Online anytime through October 23.
Killing your Clone Slasher will complete the Weekly Challenge and land you the Black Creepy Cat Mask and GTA$100,000. For the best chance of encountering these doppelgängers, make sure to enter Freemode at nighttime.
Día de Muertos Rewards
Celebrate Día de Muertos with a pair of decorated candy skulls to hide your visage — you’ll receive the Maritime Calaca Mask and Royal Calaca Mask simply by playing anytime this week.
2X GTA$ and RP on Acid Lab Sell Missions
Join up with Dax and the Fooliganz to dose the world — or at least the city of Los Santos — by completing Acid Lab Sell Missions for 2X GTA$ and RP through October 23.
Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom
Simeon Yetarian’s chosen a fleet of vehicles to coincide with the intensifying vibes outside. Visit the showroom on Power Street to peruse his selections:
Declasse Scramjet (Super)
Benefactor Stirling GT (Sports Classic, 30% off)
Grotti Cheetah (Super)
Chariot Romero Hearse (Sedan, 30% off)
Canis Bodhi (Off-Road)
Luxury Autos Showroom It’s a Vapid takeover at Luxury Autos this week as the window display features the Vapid Dominator FX (Muscle) and Vapid Aleutian (SUV).
Other Vehicle Offerings This Week
Premium Test Ride (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only): Grotti Brioso R/A (Compact)
Prize Ride: Karin Futo GTX (Sports), awarded to players who place Top 5 in the LS Car Meet Series for three days in a row.
On the Test Track: the Coil Raiden (Sports), Grotti GT500 (Sports Classic), and Benefactor Surano (Sports)
The Lucky Wheel: Dinka Kanjo SJ (Coupe)
Halloween Discounts and More…
On top of receiving this week’s special celebratory Calaca Masks just for playing GTA Online, all Skull Tattoos and Sugar Skull Face Paints are free through November 6. See the full list of this week’s discounts below:
Skull Tattoos – FREE
Sugar Skull Face Paints – FREE
Albany Fränken Stange (Sports Classic) – 30% off
Albany Lurcher (Muscle) – 30% off
Albany Brigham (Muscle) – 30% off
Declasse Tornado Rat Rod (Sports Classic) – 30% off
In addition to receiving the Mummy Outfit for playing the new Ludendorff Cemetery Survival mode, GTA+ Members get 2X GTA$ and RP on Halloween Adversary Modes, with a stacking bonus of 4X GTA$ and RP on Slasher this week.
GTA+ Members can also claim a free HVY Nightshark (Off-Road) with limited-time Skulls livery at The Vinewood Car Club and much more, including monthly GTA$ deposits into your Maze Bank account and access to a library of classic Rockstar Games titles in the GTA+ Games Library.
