New players, it’s ‘ice to meet you. Returning Hunters, the cold never bothered you
Shanghai, China — October 25, 2024| The time has finally arrived! Players: unpack your paintbrushes and prepare to bring colour to a monochromatic landscape in Torchlight: Infinite’s sixth season: The Frozen Canvas.
XD Games is bringing artistic flair to its newest instalment, injecting some much-needed color into the murkiness of darker months. Step into Torchlight and discover a world of possibilities, meet new heroes and create together today!
Players will step into the shoes of Selena, a powerful bard with destructive capabilities able to transform between defensive and offensive strategies for devastating effect.
Prepare to descend onto the frozen canvas and discover the Netherrealm like it’s never been seen before. Covered in sparkling ice, it’s up to players to battle their enemies, gather colorful tools and transform this icy expanse into a majestic masterpiece.
As we heard in the recent campfire chat with maxroll , SS6 brings an exciting new gameplay mechanic centered around painting and canvases. Players will collect Snowpaper Fragments and magical paints within the Netherrealm, which they can use to create their own custom maps. As these paintings are completed, they come to life, allowing players to step into these vibrant, frozen landscapes and engage in battles for exclusive rewards. Mastering colors has never been so rewarding as players can use these combinations to complete objectives, unlock new areas, uncover hidden treasures and so much more.
Alongside this creative system, players can look forward to over 100 new support skill effects, enhancing the customization of character builds. The revamped crafting system emphasizes non-legendary gear with more predictable, strategic outcomes, removing legendary gear crafting in favor of deeper customization. With a brand-new dual-form hero, Selena, and significant balancing updates across skills and mechanics, SS6 is a refreshing blend of creativity and strategic depth that promises to elevate the Torchlight experience.
With new ways to play, craft and explore, there’s so much to experience in this effervescent new season!
XD Games
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users. XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
London, UK – 25th October 2024 – Curve Games, a leading publisher in the video games industry, is thrilled to announce a new publishing partnership with Patattie Games for their highly anticipated title, Wax Heads. This collaboration brings together Curve Games’ expertise in game publishing and Patattie Games’ unique creative vision, with the aim of delivering an unforgettable gaming experience to audiences worldwide.
Wax Heads is a lovingly handcrafted narrative sim where players recommend just the right record for every eccentric customer at Repeater Records. Combining charming puzzles and minigames, punchy dialogue and a gorgeous comic book art style, Wax Heads tells an emotional and uplifting story set to a toe-tapping original soundtrack.
Bradley Crooks, COO at Curve Games, expressed his excitement about the partnership: “At Curve Games, we are always looking for projects that push creative boundaries and offer something fresh to players. Wax Heads is a fantastic addition to our portfolio, and we believe it will resonate with our audience. Patattie Games has crafted something truly special, and we’re thrilled to bring their vision to gamers everywhere.”
Patattie Games shares this enthusiasm, as the studio eagerly anticipates the support that Curve Games will bring to Wax Heads’ launch. With Curve’s well-established publishing and marketing expertise, both teams are confident that Wax Heads will reach a global audience and exceed expectations.
Pattatie Studios, Rothio Tome & Murray Somerwolff shared: “We’re so excited to be working with Curve Games, they understand our deep love for making a game about music lovers, bands, records and the messy stories in between. Wax Heads is a game with community at its heart, and now, with the Curve team behind us, just like our eccentric patrons of Repeater Records, we feel like anything is possible. Plus what do records need…? Curves! So it just made sense.”
Wax Heads is scheduled for release in 2026. More details on the gameplay, characters, and features will be revealed in the coming months. Gamers can stay tuned to Curve Games’ channels for the latest updates and announcements.
About Patattie Games
Patattie Games is an independent game development studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment with emotionally resonant experiences and stories. Featuring the award-winning talents of the punk dev duo Rothio Tome and Murray Somerwolff, Wax Heads is the studios first release.
Curve Games is a leading video game publisher known for working with independent studios to bring engaging, high-quality games to players around the world. With a diverse portfolio that spans multiple genres, Curve Games is committed to helping developers reach new audiences and achieve commercial success.
Help shape the future development of Playtonic Friends’ cozy Wild West life-sim!
Burton-on-Trent, UK – 25 October 2024. Listen up, partner! It’s time to start a whole new wholesome adventure in the pixel-art prairie paradise of Cattle Country! Publisher Playtonic Friends and developer Castle Pixel are thrilled to release the first PC Open Beta demo via Steam and give budding digital ranchers the opportunity to play the anticipated cozy Wild West life-sim AND leave valuable feedback to help shape the game into a true Western classic!
Head over to the Cattle CountrySteam page and download the Open Beta demo now! Also, here’s a friendly reminder that Cattle Country is still in early development, and this Beta will not represent the final scope or performance of the final product!
What can you expect from the Beta?
This Open Beta builds upon the Closed Beta that took place in August and features a hearty slice of what new settlers can expect from the full Cattle Country experience. We will be showing off some exciting new additions based on the community/Closed Beta feedback including prairie pets, expansions to the in-game mining features and tool upgrades as well as more exciting additions we will reveal in the Open Beta!
At the start, you will be able to create your character, manage a pre-built ranch, interact with local characters, and explore some of the early features!
Start by customising your character, your pronouns, naming your ranch, and meeting Mayor Archibald who will welcome you to the town. To save a little time, the Mayor has set up a small, simple ranch to get you started! Here, you can engage in an optional tutorial to get a lay of the land or jump straight in!
Mayor Archibald will then stay near your ranch, ready to whisk you away to the Town Square or the Mines if you want to fast travel. However, if you would prefer to explore on foot, signposts will be dotted about to help you on your way!
You’ll also be able to interact with and befriend a small handful of the lively characters planned for the full game, who will have a variety of quests for you to potentially help with!
These lovely folk are known as the Welcoming Committee, with Carl, the bank teller, Sassy, the outdoor expert, John the blacksmith, and Carrie, who owns the saloon (which, rumours have it, might be haunted!!) all ready to guide you on your adventure!
Ready to get your hands dirty? Then it’s time to dig deep and explore the mines, try out your fishing skills, craft items, decorate your homestead and more!
This Open Beta is a chance to provide your feedback on your Cattle Country experience. You’ll receive a feedback form, and be able to discuss your thoughts via our Steam Community!
About Cattle Country
Here is a taste of some of the wild adventures awaiting you as you become part of this small community of settlers, and part of a story that’s as old as these hills. Welcome to Cattle Country.
Ranchin’ and Handcraftin’ – Making your home on the range is a modern departure. From sunup to sundown, you’ll be rollin’ up your sleeves and gettin’ your hands dirty working the land and raising your cattle. Building and crafting as you go to make your own little slice of heaven under the blue skies of Cattle Country.
Swappin’ stories and settlin’ in with your neighbours – Get to know the townsfolk, hear their stories, help them out. The people here are a hardy bunch – you’ve got be to survive here. But they have hearts as warm as a hearth in the wintertime if you make the effort to stoke the flames.
Beware of Bandits – Not everyone in Cattle Country is the warm and fuzzy type, so watch out for nefarious plots and shady characters. Protect your homestead and your community.
Rodeos to Romance – Making friends is a must in the Wilderness, relying on each other through thick and thin. But maybe you’ve got a yearnin’ for more? With 18 romanceable characters, take a chance and grab love by the reigns.
Buried Treasure – Did yer hear? There’s treasure in the mines, for those who are brave enough to look for it. From precious metals and minerals to bandit stashes. Grab your pickaxe and venture out into the thrill of prospecting.
Trackin’ game in the wild – From bunnies to bovine, there’s many a critter waiting in the woodlands for a keen adventurer. Hunting to eat or venturing out just to see all of nature’s wonders, it’s your call.
Cattle Country is developed by Castle Pixel and published by Playtonic Friends and will be released on PC via Steam. Budding buckaroos can download the Cattle Country PC Open Beta and add to their Steam Wishlist now.
About Playtonic Friends
The studio that brought you Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Playtonic launched their publishing arm, Playtonic Friends to be a helping hand to indie developers around the world. Established in February 2021 Playtonic Friends has helped bring incredible titles such as B.P.M, Demon Turf, Blossom Tales 2 and Lil Gator Game to wider audiences.
About Castle Pixel
Castle Pixel are a small creative indie dev team based in the US and Canada. They are devoted to making big new adventures inspired by the classics they grew up with! Get ready for a new experience from the team that brought you Blossom Tales and Rex Rocket.
Terrifying new trailer debuts during The Indie Horror Showcase
Lanzarote, Spain – 25th October 2024 – Solo developer, Rat Cliff Games today pleased to announce that its upcoming metafictional horror game Among Ashes will launch for PlayStation 5 and PC this December, with the full release date to be unveiled in the coming weeks. The PC version will be self-published via Steam, while newly-formed, Madrid-based publisher Dojo System will be bringing the game to PlayStation 5.
The announcement was made yesterday evening during The Indie Horror Showcase, in which a brand new trailer for the title was premiered; featuring nightmarish glimpses of never-before-seen terrors that await those brave enough to play.
Previously announced for PC only, Among Ashes is a metafictional horror title about a haunted video game and the disturbing story behind its creation. It’s a stormy night in the early 2000s and your friend has sent you a link to Night Call, a horror game that he found online. As you play, strange things start happening in your apartment. Something is terribly wrong with the game.
Among Ashes features an innovative, meta-framing device in which players will experience a full retro-inspired first-person survival horror game within another first-person horror game, in addition to a host of unique presentational touches, surprises, mechanics and puzzles that transport players back to the turn of the millennium – providing a terrifying dose of nostalgia in the process.
In the retro-styled survival-horror Night Call, players will explore Stoker manor; solving puzzles and fighting off the nightmarish creatures that have infested its labyrinthian halls. In the real world, however, they’ll be haunted by the dark entities that have latched on to this strange game, as they frantically try to unravel the mystery behind the game and its enigmatic creator.
Whatever you do… K̴͉͚̗̅̃̄E̷͓̤̺̊͠E̴̤̰̿̽P̴̠̳̀́ ̴̨̮̭̕̚P̷̠͇̳͐̓̀L̶̹̔Ả̷̧Y̵̘̺͆̓Ï̻̏͂N̷͙̯͊G̵͖̹̠̽̿
Among Ashes is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5 and PC in December. A demo is now available via Steam, where you can also wishlist the game. PlayStation owners can also wishlist the game here (EU) and here (NA).
About Rat Cliff Games
Rat Cliff Games is a one-man independent games studio founded by game designer Daniel Ferrer in Lanzarote, Spain. The studio aims to craft memorable story-driven experiences with engaging gameplay. It released the epic 3D-platformer One True Hero in 2022, and is now developing a chilling and innovative survival horror title Among Ashes.
Play Solo or with Friends as Barbie and Barbie Embark on a Fun Adventure to Revitalize the Malibu Waves Community Center
El Segundo, Calif. and London, UK (October 25, 2024) – 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, and Outright Games, the leading publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, today launched Barbie Project Friendship™, now available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store.
Join Barbie “Malibu” Roberts and Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts as they team up to save the Malibu Waves Community Center with help from their friends and family. Along the way, unlock fabulous outfits, discover new areas of the community center, and participate in exciting activities. Enjoy both as a single-player experience or in two-player local co-op mode, where friends can tackle minigames together. Barbie Project Friendship includes various accessibility features, offering numerous difficulty levels for each minigame and an auto-win option, ensuring a great experience for Barbie fans of all ages and skill levels.
Developed with support from Ann Austen, producer and developer of numerous Barbie animated series and specials, including Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, the game stays true to the charm of the series and includes all of Barbie’s best friends. The original English voice cast also returns to deliver an authentic experience, allowing fans to fully immerse themselves in the world of Barbie.
“We are excited that Barbie Project Friendship is now available on all major gaming platforms, letting kids jump into Barbie’s latest adventure,” said Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Gaming at Mattel. “With the local multiplayer options, friends and family can team up for the fun and celebrate the imagination and creativity that the brand represents.”
Stephanie Malham, Managing Director of Outright Games, said, “With a touching and inspiring story, amazing support from the television series cast, and a strong focus on accessibility for younger players, Barbie Project Friendship offers something for fans of all ages. Fans can now dive into this heartwarming adventure, with gameplay that is welcoming and accessible to everyone.”
Since 1959, Barbie has inspired limitless potential in every girl. Countless children have imagined their own adventures, shaping their futures through play. As Barbie celebrates her 65th anniversary, the brand is celebrating its legacy of inspiring stories and shaping the future.
Purchase today to experience the fun and creativity of Barbie Project Friendship!
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 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 licenses globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including favourites 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.
New Trailer and Gameplay Reveal arrive in time for Halloween
Oberhaching, Germany, October 24th 2024 – Developer Mehuman Games and publisher Toplitz Productions are excited to reveal its new gameplay trailer for its upcoming story-driven sandbox action adventure Vampire Dynasty in this year’s Indie Horror Showcase streaming event.
Hosted by the horror aficionados at DreadXP and presented in partnership with The Media Indie Exchange, horror fans get an updated look at the games open world exploration, fantasy horror action and a branching story set against the backdrop of the fictitious Balkan area of Sangavia.
Playing as Dragos, the victim of a vampire attack, a character torn between his urge to satisfy his hunger for blood and his responsibility towards the people he swore to protect, players will need to navigate the complex relationship between friend or fiend as they try to find a place in a society where vampires are at the top of the food chain.
As a vampire endowed with ancient, mythical powers, you’ll wield dark magic and supernatural influence as well as your keen combat skills to fend off relentless vampire hunters who threaten your eternal reign. Survival won’t just depend on brute strength, but on mastering your abilities to outsmart and overpower your enemies, ensuring your dominance over the living and undead alike.
Vampire Dynasty will be coming to PC in 2025.
To wishlist the game and find out more information on Vampire Dynasty head over to its official Steam page here.
Mehuman Games is a team of nearly twenty professionals – from artists to gameplay designers to programmers. At the heart of this passionate group are members of the former Movie Games Lunarium – the studio responsible for the undeniably successful games Lust from Beyond and Lust for Darkness. Currently we are combining our passion for telling unique stories with the latest technological solutions of the Unreal 5 engine to venture into the opportunities of combining epic storytelling with open world sandbox gameplay.
About Toplitz Productions
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.
Uncover paranormal activity and beyond, working for the infamous shadowy SCP Foundation
Vilnius, Lithuania – October 25th, 2024 – Indie games publisher Nordcurrent Labs, in partnership with developer Misfit Village, has today announced that the hotly anticipated first-person psychological thriller investigation game Go Home Annie will be launching on PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store on December 3rd, 2024, and later next year on console. During the Indie Horror showcase, a new trailer has been released, introducing the shadowy paranormal investigation outfit, the SCP Foundation, and the metaphysical mysteries they seek to answer, which go beyond human comprehension.
In Go Home Annie you assume the role of Annie, a low-level employee of the SCP Foundation, a covert organization meant to secure and contain anomalous entities and protect the general public from them. Working for the SCP’s Replication Division, you’re tasked with testing artificially developed paranormal events. You’ll have to solve puzzles, converse with strange entities, and explore multiple paths to untangle the secrets behind the SCP’s Replication Division.
Why has an organization with the motto “Secure, Contain, Protect” created a division for replicating paranormal events and anomalous entities? Why are you tasked with repeatedly testing the same replicas, with a seemingly never changing outcome? You will need to make drastic decisions to uncover your true purpose and alter the course of your fate.
“Go Home Annie is our love letter to all things paranormal and SCP Foundation related across the internet, media and beyond”, said Mladen Bošnjak, Creative Director at Misfit Village. “Go Home Annie intimately puts players straight into the heart of the action – it’s intense, creepy, and has you question reality and what you really know. Are you ready to uncover the secrets behind the mysterious SCP Foundation?”
“We are thrilled to announce the launch date of Go Home Annie and bring this spectral experience to psychological thriller fans across the world”, said Andrius Mackevičius, Head of Publishing at Nordcurrent Labs. “The horror community has been incredibly supportive in the game’s development and we believe it will resonate with players worldwide. Whether you’re into horror, SCP Foundation, or psychological thriller games, there’s an opportunity for everyone to enjoy in Go Home Annie.”
Game’s features:
Twisted gameplay mechanics: Utilize existing and original anomalies to solve puzzles and navigate levels.
Explore every corner of the mysterious facility: from terrifying experiments to loose subjects, no place in the Replication Division is completely safe.
An original take on the SCP Universe: If you’re familiar with the stories of the SCP Foundation, you might find Go Home Annie has made surprising changes to them. Besides the most popular ones, you will meet and interact with many hidden gems of the SCP Foundation Wiki.
About Misfit Village: Misfit Village is an indie game development studio based in Croatia with a track record of several games released for PC, VR, and mobile since 2015. Fostering a particular penchant for horror, their latest creation is Go Home Annie – an SCP horror title coming soon to PC and consoles.
About Nordcurrent Labs:
Nordcurrent Labs is the PC and console publishing label of the Nordcurrent Group. Its mission is to empower talented video game developers and bring creative and ambitious multiplatform games to the worldwide gaming community. Established in 2002 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Norcurrent Group is an international publisher and developer of casual games for smartphones, tablets, and PC/Mac. With headquarters in Lithuania and development studios in Vilnius, Gothenburg, Dnipro, and Warsaw, the Nordcurrent Group employs over 300 game industry professionals and has developed over 50 games for various platforms, achieving over 500 million downloads worldwide.
Australia – October 25, 2024 – Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announced the upcoming release of Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 CUDIMMs, compatible with Intel’s new 800-series chipset (formerly codenamed Arrow Lake). Intel’s 800-series chipset is the first platform to utilize Clock Drivers on CUDIMMs (Clocked Unbuffered Dual Inline Memory Modules). At 6400MT/s DDR5, JEDEC mandates the inclusion of a Client Clock Driver (CKD) on UDIMMs and SODIMMs. This component buffers and redrives the clock signal from the processor, enhancing signal integrity to the module. To distinguish these advanced modules from standard DDR5 UDIMMs and SODIMMs, JEDEC has designated them as CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs, respectively.
Kingston FURY Renegade RGB and non-RGB CUDIMM modules start at an overclocked speed of 8400MT/s and are available as 24GB single modules and 48GB dual channel kits. Since CUDIMMs and UDIMMs share the same 288-pin connector, Kingston FURY UDIMMs with XMP and EXPO profiles are also compatible with Intel 800-series motherboards. However, it’s recommended to verify compatibility through the motherboard manufacturer’s QVL (Qualified Vendor List) or by checking the Kingston Configurator for supported speeds and capacities.
“Our new 8400MT/s CUDIMM modules have been thoroughly tested, qualified by the top motherboard manufacturers, and Intel XMP certified on the new Intel Z890 motherboards with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors,” says Kingston. “The introduction of overclockable DDR5 CUDIMM modules allows us to reach a broader range of professionals who demand top-tier performance and want to push the limits of their systems without compromising signal integrity.”
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 CUDIMMs will begin shipping in December. For more information visit kingston.com.
Part Number
Description
KF584CU40RS-24
24GB 8400MT/s DDR5 CL40 CUDIMM Silver XMP
KF584CU40RSK2-48
48GB 8400MT/s DDR5 CL40 CUDIMM (Kit of 2) Silver XMP
KF584CU40RW-24
24GB 8400MT/s DDR5 CL40 CUDIMM White XMP
KF584CU40RWK2-48
48GB 8400MT/s DDR5 CL40 CUDIMM (Kit of 2) White XMP
48GB 8400MT/s DDR5 CL40 CUDIMM (Kit of 2) RGB White XMP
About Kingston Technology
From big data to IoT devices, including laptops, PCs, and wearable technology, Kingston Technology is dedicated to delivering top-tier product solutions, service, and support. Trusted by leading PC manufacturers and global cloud providers, we value our long-term partnerships that help us evolve and innovate. We ensure every solution meets the highest standards by prioritizing quality and customer care. At every step, we listen, learn, and engage with our customers and partners to deliver solutions that make a lasting impact. To learn more about Kingston Technology and our “Built on Commitment” vision, visit Kingston.com.
# # #
Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation.
IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The Viral Japanese Music Sensation Will Be Lighting Up Over 30 Cities Across The World
Sydney, Australia (October 25, 2024) – Crunchyroll, the global brand for anime, is announcing today that iconic Japanese vocalist Ado will embark on her second world tour, Ado WORLD TOUR 2025 “Hibana” Powered by Crunchyroll, reaching even more fans worldwide next year.
Ado WORLD TOUR 2025 “Hibana” Powered by Crunchyroll is gearing up to be one of the biggest world tours ever organized by a Japanese artist, a strong follow up to her first-ever, sold-out world tour this year, “Wish” Powered by Crunchyroll. Starting at Tokyo’s iconic Saitama Super Arena next April, Ado will light up over 30 cities worldwide before closing out in Honolulu, Hawaii next August.
“If my first world tour embodied my ‘Wish,’ then my second will ignite the spark I want to light in the world,” said Ado. “I named this tour ‘Hibana,’ meaning ‘spark’ in Japanese, to carry my heritage with me on this journey. I aim to show my growth since the ‘Wish’ tour and deliver my best performances yet.”
Known both for her vibrant voice and her mysterious identity, Ado has captured hearts in Japan and global audiences alike. Her vocals can be heard coloring the soundtracks of SPY x FAMILY and ONE PIECE FILM: RED, of which “New Genesis”, the film’s title track, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart and Apple Music’s Top 100: Global Chart.
A special presale for Crunchyroll fans will open on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The presale code will be available on Crunchyroll News. General onsale will be Nov 22, 2024 for all markets. Further details on ticket sales, including details on presale timing for each available market, will be available on the official tour website.
“Hibana” – I originally had an idea of naming this tour “Spark.”
To start a revolution can also be expressed as “ Spark a Revolution,” and the word “spark” is also often used in contexts like “light a fire,” “start a fire” and “provoke something.”
If my 1st world tour was my “Wish,” my next step is to light a fire in the world as someone from Japan. Hot as a spark of fire, even if it’s small, I want to be the inspiration to start something big. “Hibana” is a Japanese word for “Spark.” I want to bring my Japanese heritage on the road with me so I named this tour “Hibana,” in Japanese.
I hope to show everyone around the world my growth since the “Wish” tour and bring you the best live performance.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
About Ado
Ado, a 22-year-old Utaite, a Japanese term for someone covering Vocaloid songs with their real voice, became a mainstream name via her 2020 major label debut “Usseewa.” The song topped multiple charts in the country, garnered millions of YouTube views and cemented itself as a defining number of the early 2020s. Her highly anticipated first album, Kyougen (2022), also went on to debut at #1 on multiple domestic charts and became a long-running hit.
Also in 2022, she lent her voice to the world-renowned anime film “ONE PIECE FILM RED,” singing a total of seven songs, including the theme song “New Genesis” which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart for six consecutive weeks. It also became the first ever Japanese song to reach the #1 position on Apple Music’s Top 100: Global Chart.
2024 saw Ado in a series of live activities such as her SOLD OUT first world tour Ado THE FIRST WORLD TOUR “Wish”, Ado SPECIAL LIVE 2024 “Shinzou” at Japan National Stadium, where she was the first female artist ever to perform at the venue, and Ado JAPAN LIVE TOUR 2024 “Profile of Mona Lisa”.
Following the release of her latest studio album Zanmu in July 2024, Ado keeps attracting further attention with many exciting new releases lined up as well as her performance at the opening ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai in April. She has accomplished a lot in a short time, but she still continues to chase her dreams as she embarks on another adventure, Ado WORLD TOUR 2025 “Hibana” in Spring/Summer 2025, one of the largest world tours in history by a Japanese artist.
The East Coast’s most-attended tabletop gaming event returns to Pennsylvania this December
PHILADELPHIA – Oct. 24, 2024 – Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade have revealed the first panel and event schedule for PAX Unplugged 2024, the East Coast’s most-attended tabletop gaming event, ahead of its return to the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Friday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024.
Kickstart PAX’s 20th-anniversary celebration on Friday, Dec. 6 with a keynote speech from Elizabeth Hargrave, Game Designer of the award-winning title Wingspan. The keynote is part of a stacked lineup with panels featuring fan-favorite internet personalities and game developers.
This year’s schedule features three full days of panels, with Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer and Ashley Johnson offering a first look at the upcoming TTRPG Daggerheart. Hear from the team publishing a lost tabletop game from a legendary sci-fi author in “Kurt Vonnegut’s GHQ: The Lost Board Game” on Friday at 4:30 pm in the Kelpie Theatre. Former NFL player Johnny Stanton and former professional fighter Tank Tolman will talk about how to join disparate enthusiast worlds in “Athletes in Tabletop: Walking the Jock/Nerd Binary” on Saturday at 10:30 am in the Kelpie Theatre, with more announcements anticipated before the show kicks off.
The fun continues on Friday and Saturday nights, with the latest live edition of Acquisitions Inc., the long-running Penny Arcade Dungeons & Dragons show full of surprises and ornate costumes from the players on stage. Saturday night will also feature the first concert in PAX Unplugged history, headlined by Jonathan “JoCo” Coulton (“Still Alive” from Portal, The Spongebob Musical, “Code Monkey”, and more), alongside long-running comedy music duo Paul and Storm performing live.
Illustrious tabletop game developers and publishers also take over the show floor including Games Workshop (Warhammer), Dice Throne (Marvel), Ravensburger (Disney Lorcana), CATAN Studio (CATAN), and R.Talsorian Games (Cyberpunk franchise). Check out a curated selection of up-and-coming titles as part of the PAX Rising Showcase.
Round out the weekend and experience Classic Cardboard, a collection of renowned board games attendees can play together. Witness high-stakes gaming tournaments including the Omegathon, a weekend-long tournament featuring multiple games. Newcomers to the tabletop gaming world can visit the Learn & Play area, led by a group of the industry’s biggest names.
“PAX Unplugged is the perfect end to a year of great shows, and there’s so much to do and see this year,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX, Penny Arcade, and the Child’s Play Charity. “I’m glad we have the rest of the press release, because it would be hard to fit it all here in the quote.”
Attendees can purchase three-day badges for $91 (almost sold out), and pick up single-day badges for $43 each. Families can pick up Sunday Kids Day badges for children aged 7-12, for $14 each.
Media and content creators can apply for a media badge here before registration closes on Thursday, Oct. 31.
About PAX
PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop-focused show, held in Philadelphia.
About ReedPop
ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading events organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), Star Trek Missions and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop also runs and operates the Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun and GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.
About Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade has been the world’s most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.
