Players can try out Monster Mop Up and Kaya’s Prophecy on November 18
Bristol, United Kingdom — November 18, 2024| After this year’s success with The Holy Gosh Darn and Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Yogscast Games is thrilled to announce that two new titles will be available to playtest towards the end of this month. Jérémie & Thibaut’s tribal deck-and-village-builder, Kaya’s Prophecy, joins Terahard’s creature-collecting cleaning sim Monster Mop Up in this opportunity for an early look at the publisher’s upcoming titles. Players are invited to head over to Monster Mop Upand Kaya’s Prophecy’s respectivestore pages and hit ‘Request access’ to try them out for themselves.
For those who have dreamed of appeasing a power-hungry leader while building their own tribe, then Kaya’s Prophecy is the answer to their twisted prayers. For the first time, players can have a go at hunting, gathering and building day and night – to the catchy beat of the tam tams – as they fight for the survival of their village. Protect the townsfolk from foes with a carefully crafted deck, and keep them out of the cruel hands of the village master. Players must exercise caution – if they fail, your poor townsfolk may end up poisoned, electrocuted, or even turned upside down!
Unlike these fearsome tribal attackers, the creatures encountered in Monster Mop Up are incredibly cute – though messy. As Custodian of the Ministry of Monster Concealment, it’s up to players to keep the rowdy Ragamuffins away from the human world. Rescue the adorable little rascals and mop up any trace of them – yes, that includes their poop. In fact, especially their poop. Plus, for the first time, players can flush with friends thanks to Monster Mop Up’s multiplayer mode.
Both titles will open their doors to playtesters on Steam on November 18, with press invited to preview the games from today (November 12). Whether you prefer protecting men or monsters, try your hand at these two exciting new titles from Yogscast Games and their respective indie developers, Jérémie & Thibaut and Terahard.
About Yogscast Games
Yogscast Games was established in 2017, with a simple goal: to work with small teams to develop and publish games which are as fun to watch as they are to play. Its most recent releases have included poker-powered deckbuilding game ‘Aces & Adventures’, the wickedly amoral ‘Trolley Problem, Inc.’ and the wildly successful restaurant management roguelike ‘PlateUp!’ which recently passed 1.5m Steam units sold.
About Jérémie & Thibaut
Thibaut is an indie game developer operating under the name of Chaos Interactive since 2007. He started working for hire on well-know licences games like Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull on american’s Didj handheld or Adibou series on Nintendo DS. He worked on Xbox360, PC, Mobile and html5 video games and during this time he met Jérémie and they decided together to create a brand new video game, Kaya’s Prophecy.
Based in the French Alps, Jeremie has been an independent artist since 13 years. He worked on several mobile video game projects where he met Thibaut and illustrated many board games. Together they decided to create their own game.
About Terahard
Founded in 2012, Terahard began as a skeleton crew in London, working with external clients in order to raise funds for our own dreams. These days we have a full time 30+ roster of amazing engineers, artists and designers from all over the world who strive to make the experiences we’ve always wanted.
London, United Kingdom — November 18, 2024| Have you ever wondered why the chicken crossed the road? Who were they running from? Who hit them, and why is a befuddled squirrel detective at the scene of the crime? Help Detective Cox in his search for the answers in No Stone Unturned, a detective tale with the whimsy of Hot Fuzz in an Adventure Time-looking world. Check out a glimpse of what to expect in the demo on Steam today!
Perfect for fans of the recently released Rise of the Golden Idol, the first 20 minutes of the comedy adventure see Detective Cox whip out his magnifying (and x-ray) glass and examine the start of the poultry puzzle. Players can even pre-order their own discounted copy of Detective Cox’s debut dive into deductive drama on Kickstarter here for £10 less!
But who is the squirrel cop of the hour? Detective Cox awakes with a battered notebook, amnesia and an unshakeable sense of justice. Once he dusts himself off, Cox explores the town of Orchard Under Hill, a quiet village set in the footsteps of giant humans, where the animals of No Stone Unturned reside.
A rich and strange mirror of the English countryside, this beautifully rendered world includes aptly appley-named locales like The Rotten Apple, Big Red’s Brewery and even a Village Church for players to explore.
With over 30 hours of gameplay, No Stone Unturned is built upon RPG mechanics and fast-paced minigames — bound together by absurdist humour. Take a break from the hard work of investigating for a spot of fishing or pub games at the local inn, or even try your hand at a Zelda-like temple. Don’t dally for too long, however – there are six challenging cases to solve in No Stone Unturned. From the curious case of ‘Cat Got Your Tongue’ to ‘The Owl Hoo Knew Too Much’, it’s safe to say that Cox is on the case.
For more about the game, check out the noir-esque trailer below:
With over £25,000 raised, head over to Kickstarter and snag a discounted copy of the game until it ends on November 23, or wishlist on Steam and get ready to solve a mystery most fowl.
Wise Monkey Ltd
Gareth Owens (the game’s creator) started out at 15 years old as a freelance script writer for the Film Industry whilst lying about his age, before becoming an Escape Room designer for the best interactive experiences in London. With two police detective parents and old comedy cassettes to inspire him, he turned his creative efforts to Mystery and Detective fiction. Thanks to a love for video games and the Film Industry feeling “doomed by streaming”, Gareth began learning to make games. Many years later, his debut release is coming soon with the help of a very small remote team of industry professionals and worldwide artists.
No Mic Needed, Just Sing to Start! Pre-Order Now to Prepare to Sing & Dance to A Star-Studded Setlist Including Never Ending Story, Dancing Queen, & Sweet Caroline
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – November 18, 2024 – Always Blue Games confirmed today that its all-new karaoke VR game will be launching on December 5, 2024. Created for the Meta Quest, Songbird invites players to experience the thrill of singing and rhythmic dancing in an interactive, colorful world known as Nestopia. Play your way by choosing your mode style: Performance, Quick Play or Rehearsal. No audience pressure! Songbird is designed for an uplifting experience with dozens of adorable characters cheering you along your journey.
Preorder on the Meta Quest Store for a 20% discount or Wishlist Songbird to be notified as soon as it’s available!
MEDIA NOTE: Press members interested in pre-release access to Songbird, please email Tracie Kennedy ([email protected]).
Created by the musical minds behind the groundbreaking rhythm game Guitar Hero, Songbird features a curated setlist of 33 iconic tracks with hits from global superstars like Billie Eilish, ABBA, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and more! With a New Song Pack each month the music never stops. Today seven more songs were revealed, including:
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
Laufey – From The Start
The Interrupters – Raised By Wolves
Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
Lorde – Royals
and more!
Key Features of Songbird:
Engaging VR World: Explore the enchanting world of Nestopia, where your voice brings the landscape to life. From a lush and cozy garden to a magical snow globe wonderland, each stage is designed to immerse you in the music.
Revolutionary Note Tracking:Songbird features a seamless, non-intrusive note tracking system that adapts to your voice and lets you focus on the performance—whether you’re belting out your favorite tunes or just humming along.
Real-Time Scoring & Multiplier Gameplay: Improve your vocal skills while earning points and boosting your performance with dynamic multipliers. The more on-point your singing, the more vibrant the world of Nestopia becomes.
Easy Setup & Playability: Put on your Meta Quest headset and start singing! No extra equipment is required. Whether you’re looking for casual fun or a more challenging experience, Songbird offers multiple difficulty levels to suit all players.
Songbird was designed and created by the rhythm game visionaries at Always Blue Games in collaboration with the genius minds at Muteki Games Collective. This original karaoke game has stunning visuals, a vast song library, and easy-to-jump-into gameplay. It’s the ultimate choice for music lovers and VR enthusiasts alike. Find your voice, unleash your inner star and join the karaoke revolution with Songbird— find your voice to bring the magic of music to life.
Songbird will be available for download on Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Quest Pro. Players can wishlist now by visiting the Meta Quest Store page here.
Based in the Bay Area, Always Blue Games The founders and creative talent at Always Blue Games have been responsible for some of the best selling music games of all time, including the Guitar Hero franchise, Rock Band Unplugged and many more. With decades of experience in rhythm game design and massively successful post-launch marketing efforts, this all-star collective has helped shape modern rhythm gaming as we know it.
About Muteki Games Collective
Muteki Games Collective has been bringing the joy of games to players since the days of the original Nintendo Game Boy. We put love and care into everything we do from the biggest AAA console releases to the most unique indie games.
New illustration by beloved artist Benitama and new trailer also unveiled!
Hertfordshire,18th November 2024 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Gust revealed new details about the gameplay of their upcoming JRPG, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. Players can also discover the new artwork by beloved artist Benitama and catch a glimpse of the adventure that awaits them in a brand-new trailer. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available on 21st March 2025 on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Windows PC via Steam® and, for the first time in franchise history, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Discover the second trailer of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land on YouTube
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land follows the adventures of Yumia Liessfeldt and her companions as they set off to unravel the mysteries behind the cataclysm that destroyed the once great continent of Aladiss, resulting in alchemy becoming taboo. Mysterious characters obsessed with alchemy such as a Noble in a Black Cloak, a Monocular Werewolf, a Sheep-Eye Witch, and a Dragon-Winged Warrior, stand in Yumia’s way.
To prepare for the adventure ahead, players will rediscover the Atelier franchise’s signature synthesising system in a fresh form by manipulating “mana” to create new items useful in combat or exploration. To create more powerful items, fans will have to master the art of “Resonance Synthesis” by adding ingredients which resonate with each other to the “Alchemy Core” of the recipe. The strength of the resonance will depend on the quality of the ingredients selected.
The combat system has also been revamped in Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land to offer intense real-time combat with intuitive gameplay. The skills available to active team members will depend on their distance from the enemy (close or ranged combat). Compared to previous instalments, players can now move or interchange characters at any time during the fight. When certain conditions are met, a powerful “Friend Action” combo can be unleashed in battle. By meeting certain conditions, players will be able to activate “Mana Surge”, which will allow for exclusive actions to be performed. In addition, each character will have a unique special move, “Maximize Mana Surge”, which can inflict significant damage on enemies.
Journeying alongside Yumia and her friends, players will explore the vast open world of the Aladiss continent. As they travel, they will be able to build their own bases. Thanks to the new “Building” feature, fans will freely be able to create and decorate their atelier from a vast choice of walls, floors, roofs, furniture, and more, or choose to select a predefined base model from the catalogue. By increasing the “comfort level” of their atelier, players will unlock bonuses such as the ability to develop their base and enhance the skills of Yumia and her companions.
Lastly, if players do not wish to return to their base during exploration, they will be able to set up a camp where they can spend time cooking, which will provide various benefits during exploration and combat, or resting. Certain character events that can only be seen at camps will sometimes occur, providing greater insight into Yumia and her companions.
In addition to the standard edition, players can pre-order two special physical editions; the PREMIUM BOX that includes the base game*, an artbook, a B3-size cloth poster with original illustration, a CD with extra tracks, and the exclusive early access costume for Yumia “Alchemist of her day off”. The SPECIAL COLLECTION BOX includes all the content from the PREMIUM BOX as well as a handkerchief in the style of the Aladiss Research Team bandana, an A1-size tapestry with original illustration, a set of 6 decorative keychains, a set of 6 special clear file folders, a special sticker sheet, Yumia’s precious stuffed animal, an official short story and accompanying translation booklet.
Everyone who purchases either a physical or digital edition up to two weeks after release will receive the “Athlete of Memories” early purchase costume for Yumia, the “Floating Object of Memories” costume for Flammi, and the unique “Training Wrist Weight” equipment.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available on 21st March 2025 on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Window PC via Steam®. The game will include Japanese voices with English, French, German and Spanish texts.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite NINJA GAIDEN and fighting entertainment title DEAD OR ALIVE. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of Gust, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
There have been many different spin-offs featuring Mario and his various allies throughout the years but one that has always remained fairly consistent are the Mario & Luigi RPGs. Or at least they were, until the series vanished for nearly nine years and its original developer, AlphaDream, was shuttered. Now Nintendo has teamed up with a new development team to bring the brothers back together for their first RPG on an actual home console. Well, console/handheld hybrid, with Mario & Luigi: Brothership arriving for the Switch. With a new team behind the wheel and plenty of time between releases, will this latest Mario & Luigi game live up to expectations?
Story
Out of nowhere a number of mysterious portals appear in the Mushroom Kingdom and not only are Mario and Luigi sucked into the vortex but Peach, Bowser, and a large number of Bowser’s subjects are as well. After a brief period of separation, Mario and Luigi find themselves reunited on an island that is capable of traveling the ocean they find themselves on, Shipshape Island. The Mario Brothers soon meet up with a resident from the island named Connie that explains that the world they find themselves in now is called Concordia and that the lands used to be united by the powerful Uni-tree that connected everyone. That is until an unknown and malevolent force destroyed the Uni-tree and split the lands apart, isolating villages from one another.
With Connie, who happens to be a “Wattanist” planting a new Uni-tree on Shipshape island, it is up to The Mario Bros. to launch themselves, literally out of a cannon, at the islands they pass by and reconnect them to the Uni-tree in an effort to reunite the world. Along the way they’ll encounter not only a number of different kinds of residents and those seeking to rejoin the grander world, but also discover the truth behind what destroyed the Uni-tree to begin with and the sinister plot behind it all.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership tells a fairly simple and easy to understand story that isn’t afraid to take a few twists and turns with big reveals, especially past the halfway point. The primary focuses are of course on uniting with one another and creating bonds, especially the bonds of family and rising to meet expectations. There is some drama mixed in here and there but for the most part the story is light and has plenty of little bits of comedy mixed in, nevermind the fact that nearly every aspect of the Concordian world, be it names or objects, are electrical puns or designs. There are even a solid number of side-quests and bits of optional story content to take part, albeit with minimal actual developments.
Unfortunately, despite finding a great balance between comedic moments and some more dramatic twists here and there with big reveals, Mario & Luigi: Brothership manages to suffer quite a bit from two very specific issues, which is rather surprising since the two rarely coincide with one another. The first issue is the fact that the story is incredibly slow to get going, with some of the first major and important reveals taking far too long to actually happen and kickstart the pace. This is then combined with the fact that the game feels rather padded to try and stretch the runtime far longer than it should. This is usually not a problem with an RPG, however Brothership manages to repeat certain plot elements and even character interactions can have some of them explaining the same piece of information multiple times over. This latter issue may be due to the game targeting a younger audience, to try and make sure they catch what the writers are going for and want them to do next, but it grows to be rather tiresome, often dragging the pace of the game’s plot.
Gameplay
The gameplay loop for Mario & Luigi: Brothership is fairly straightforward but quite interesting simply thanks to the amount of variety on offer when it comes to the places players will be exploring. Mario and Luigi will be shooting themselves out of a cannon to different lands and meeting the people there, battling their way through and figuring out the problems of that current location before finally making it to the land’s lighthouse and connecting it back to Shipshape.Shipshape itself serves as the main hub for players to use and any islands that the players connect to it can instantly be fast-traveled back to, which is helpful since many different side-quests and new pathways only open up after the island has been reconnected to the freshly planted Uni-tree. Perhaps one of the strangest mechanics in the game at Shipshape is one that the developers can’t even end up sticking with, as initially players will find that they will need to wait a specific amount of real world time when charting a course to a new island, having to spend this time either going back to old islands to do side-quests or simply kill enemies, Eventually the speed of the island can be increased, sharply reducing travel time which brings up the question as to why include it in the first place.
Anyways, once out in the field and exploring, players will be able to control Mario with Luigi following behind and while it is possible to have Mario jump with A and Luigi B, Luigi will usually stick close by without any need for extra commands as he does have some mind of his own in this entry. In fact, this mind of his can goa bit into overdrive at times and help players solve certain environmental puzzles and target a boss’ weak points for massive damage. These moments are called “Luigi Logic” and appear fairly frequently when Luigi is seen pondering a possible solution. Simply tapping L will then send Luigi off to head out and put his ideas to good use and it is an entertaining mechanic, especially with how fun the celebration and Luigi’s actions tend to be during these sequences.
Eventually, players will also gain a number of special abilities called Bros. Moves and these allow for special open world traversal options that can be used to solve puzzles or reach previously unreachable items or platforms. While we won’t spoil just how ridiculous some of the Bros. Moves can look like in exploration, it must be noted that not only are there a number of new moves but also a few returning ones from past entries that fans will love. Bros. Moves aren’t only usable during exploration however, there are also certain moves that are only available for use in the game’s combat system.
Speaking of which, Mario & Luigi: Brothership makes use of the same turn-based style that fans are familiar with but it has been modified slightly. Yes, once again players will have Mario attack with A and Luigi B, but they act far more in sync with one another. Standard attacks will allow the brothers to back each other up through well-timed prompts that allow for players to deal maximum damage to an enemy with alternating timing depending on which character is the primary attacker. Similarly, the game puts a lot of emphasis on dodging and counter attacking enemies. There is an emergency guard button should players feel like using it, but the best way to take on combat is to figure out each enemy’s attack pattern and properly time their dodging jump so that either Mario or Luigi will land on them, dealing extra counter attack damage. This helps keep fights interesting and dynamic, always making sure to keep players on their toes as long as they aren’t too overpowered and simply demolishing their enemies after certain points. The flashy Bros. Moves are also impressive in combat, offering some truly spectacular looking attacks. The game is far from challenging, but players will need to make the most out of these mechanics to actually survive certain fights, especially those that we can’t talk about as they’ll be in for a world of hurt otherwise. That being said, players can make use of multiple save slots and even just retry the battle if they happen to fall in combat.
Outside of standard equipment that players can equip onto Mario and Luigi, which is honestly rather disappointing in nature as it offers zero cosmetic change outside of swapping weapon types, the primary equipment players will be using happens to be the brand new “Battle Plugs.” Initially Mario and Luigi can only have a couple of plugs equipped at a time but eventually will gain the ability to have more usable at once. These Battle Plugs serve as various boosts to the brothers’ skills, sometimes offering something as simple as making every attack an “excellent” one or triggering an AoE effect when landing a perfect move. There are also augment plugs that boost certain stats or make attacking or defending far easier and what makes things interesting is that these Battle Plugs can be swapped out at any time during combat.
The downside to them is that they only have so many charges before they need to be recharged over the course of many turns. Oddly enough, players cannot “charge” a Battle Plug unless they drain it entirely, forcing players to drain their favorite resource if they want to make use of it properly after a period of time, rather than laying off of using it for a bit.Late game Battle Plugs offer a large amount of variety and ways to really customize the way that players want to take on certain challenges. There are even certain plugs that augment other ones, really making it so players can try to minmax if they wish. That being said, there is a bit of an issue here as once players find what works for them, there is very little reason to branch out to new plugs which is quite a shame as some offer some truly powerful abilities that need a bit of experimentation to work right, though we can’t say what they are here. This gives Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s combat a surprising level of depth even if it does start to feel a bit “samey” after a while as the brothers only have so many little upgrades that they can gain and the amount of combat in the game is surprisingly high for modern RPG standards..
Audio & Visuals
Thanks to the fact that Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the first game to actually be released on a console, the developers were able to pull a lot more emotion and expressions out of Mario and Luigi here. The expressions the two make throughout the game, including some actual cutscenes, are incredibly emotive and quite humorous at times. There is also an impressive amount of variety when it comes to the places players will be exploring and the enemies that they will be facing down in these locations. That being said, the Switch does have some issues handling some of the busier areas in the game, often experiencing a bit of slowdown, and this can also happen during some of the flashier attacks which can be problematic given how important timing is for most moves.
As for the voice work, there really isn’t much unfortunately. While Mario and Luigi will spend plenty of time yelling each other’s name and there are also small voice barks from other characters, the game’s dialogue is simply presented as gibberish which is unfortunate. The soundtrack is as catchy and enjoyable as one would hope for a Mario game and there are a number of great tracks to go with the wide variety of biomes players will venture through.
Overall
Mario & Luigi: Brothership manages to be a mostly successful return to form for a beloved spin-off RPG series that sees everyone’s favorite plumbers in a brand new adventure all while working together to pull through. Once the story finally gets going it delivers a fairly satisfying, albeit padded, tale with some positive themes and a few worthwhile twists to keep players on their toes. Combine that with a wonderful combat system that has plenty of customization depth and Brothership looks to be a solid offering for fans of the franchise or even Mario in general, but it is far from smooth sailing for this returning spin-off series.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Operation Collision Point brings robust changes to anticheat, an Operator remaster, PC & console crossplay, Siege Cup, and more gameplay updates
Sydney, Australia — Nov 18, 2024 — Today, Ubisoft revealed the final season of Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 9, Operation Collision Point. This season kicks into high gear with significant improvements to player protection and anticheat, PC and console crossplay, a remaster of Blackbeard, Siege Cup Beta on all platforms, and more quality-of-life updates.
Player protection and anticheat receives several updates this season, including improved cheater detection to ensure fairness. With the arrival of PC & console crossplay, players with a Mousetrap Penalty will be forced into the PC-matchmaking pool for 90 days. If crossplay is turned off, these players will be unable to join matchmaking until the option is turned back on. Additionally, matches with a detected cheater will be automatically canceled with no impact on MMR. These changes reflect Rainbow Six Siege’s ongoing commitment to player protection.
Year 9 Season 4 brings a long-awaited update to Rainbow Six Siege: the arrival of PC and console crossplay! Players will now be able to Squad up and play with friends from other platforms seamlessly. Console players will have the option to join the PC player pool, and squads including a PC player will be automatically moved to the PC-matchmaking pool. However, PC players will not have the option to join the console matchmaking pool. Console players who play Ranked playlists with crossplay active will maintain a PC rank that is separate from their console rank.
Operation Collision Point unveils the new and improved Blackbeard and his H.U.L.L. Adaptable Shield gadget. Capable of expanding and contracting for use on foot and in rappel, Blackbeard’s upgraded gadget provides him with cover wherever he goes with its impressive ability to breach walls. With his renewed shield, Blackbeard can take on the enemy team, create new strategies, and open new lines of attack while remaining protected during his charge. Blackbeard is a two one speed, two three health Operator whose loadout features a MK17 CQB or SR-25 as a primary weapon and a D-50 as a secondary weapon.
Get ready to assemble your Squad with the release of Siege Cup beta on all platforms. Available to all players above Clearance Level 50, Siege Cup is our most competitive playlist, where 5-player squads compete in skill-based ladder tournaments for Competitive Coins that can be used to unlock exclusive skin collections every two weeks.
This season also features changes to Ballistic Shields as well as balancing updates for Attacking Operators Ying and Sens. The number of bullets needed to suppress Shield Operators have been reduced to add value to suppressive fire and improve Shield Operator counterplay. This allows suppression to occur sooner and last for a longer duration. Operators will not take damage from melee attacks while shielded, but guard break intensity from melee attacks will remain the same. Ying’s rush has been changed to encourage more precise gameplay in addition to Sens’ R.O.U. Projectors update that allows for more flexible and creative play.
Other updates this season include additional player protection changes that bolster the Rainbow Six Siege experience. The Reputation Center has been overhauled to provide a clearer overview of how different actions affect player standing and thresholds for receiving warnings or penalties. Account-related information such as rank, reputation, and match replays will also be concentrated in the new Career hub, with account stats coming soon. Finally, players can now flaunt their accomplishments in-game. Each time a player completes a new set of challenges, they are awarded a badge to honor their skill and dedication, which can be showcased on their Operator Card.
Rainbow Six Siege is now available to play on Ubisoft+, Ubisoft’s subscription service*, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, the Xbox One family of consoles, Xbox Series X | S, Windows PC, including on Steam, and Amazon Luna*.
For the latest news on Rainbow Six Siege and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com. To purchase Rainbow Six Siege, please visit store.ubisoft.com. For more information about Year 9, visit rainbow6.com/Roadmap.
*Ubisoft+ on Luna requires account linking and a Multi-Access plan. Territorial restrictions apply.
About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Alongside a thriving professional esports scene and a community of over 80 million registered players, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of a fast-paced, ever-evolving multiplayer experience grounded in the selection of unique Operators. Using the right mix of tactics and destruction, Rainbow Six teams engage their enemies in sieges, where both sides have exclusive skills and gadgets at their disposal. Defenders prepare by transforming the environments around them into modern strongholds, while attackers use recon drones to gain intel for carefully planning their assault. With access to dozens of Operators inspired by real world counter-intelligence agents from around the globe, players can choose exactly how they want to approach each challenge they encounter. Through the constant addition of new Operators and maps that add to the depth of both strategy and combat, the unpredictability of each round of Rainbow Six Siege sets a new bar for intensity and competition in gaming.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,739 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
AI-driven efficiency and uncompromising security for modern overachievers and future prepared businesses
KEY POINTS
First ASUSCopilot+ PC for work: Powered by the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processor (Series 2) to deliver up to 47 NPU TOPS
AI-powered productivity and collaboration: ASUS AI ExpertMeet, the on-device AI assistant that ensures your data stays on your laptop and automates meeting minutes, translates subtitles, transcribes and offers watermarks in conference calls
All-day battery life: Up to 28 hrs of battery life* for uninterrupted productivity anywhere
ASUS ExpertGuardian: Includes business-grade security and NIST SP 800-155 BIOS, Windows 11 Secured-core PC tech, complimentary 1-year McAfee+ Premium membership
SYDNEY, Australia, 18 November 2024 — ASUS today announced that ExpertBook P5 (P5405), a groundbreaking Copilot+ PC designed to empower modern professionals, is now available in Australia and New Zealand through ASUS E-shop and selected resellers.
With reports finding that Australian businesses are set to boost AI investment by 67% this year and three-quarters of Australian business leaders (75%) believe their organisations will be at a competitive disadvantage if they do not invest in AI. ASUS has worked to deliver a product that delivers speed, battery life and security to empower modern businesses to capitalise on AI software as it becomes more and more ubiquitous in the workplace, providing competitive advantages with productivity and efficiency for employees.
Powered by the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processor (Series 2) with up to 47 NPU TOPS, delivering an up to 3X AI performance boost over the prior generation and featuring ASUS AI ExpertMeet, this AI-driven powerhouse streamlines workflows and enhances collaboration. Its sleek, durable aluminium chassis houses a stunning 2.5K 144 Hz display, delivering exceptional visuals. With a 1.29 kg feather-light design, robust security features, and a focus on sustainability, ExpertBook P5 is the perfect companion for on-the-go professionals seeking peak performance and efficiency.
Emma Ou, Commercial Regional Head for Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia, SYS BG at ASUS, said “The ExpertBook P5 introduces our new P series, targeting the SMB sector. This Copilot+ PC is designed for work and has ASUS AI ExpertMeet, an on-device AI assistant ensuring your data stays on your laptop. With a battery life of up to 28 hours*, the ExpertBook P5 is a great choice for professionals and everyday users who need a reliable and efficient laptop. We’re thrilled to bring this model to Australia and New Zealand.”
Experience the power of AI in meetings
ASUS ExpertBook P5 benefits from the all-new ASUS AI ExpertMeet, an on-device AI assistant that ensures your data stays on your laptop, exactly where it belongs. ASUS AI ExpertMeet transforms meetings into productive and engaging experiences, and leverages advanced AI capabilities to enhance audio, video, and collaboration features, ensuring seamless communication and capturing every important detail.
AI ExpertMeet offers:
AI Meeting Minutes – records the meeting in real-time, providing transcripts, translations and AI summary to capture key points
AI Translation – seamless multi-language communications in real-time with subtitle generation from both audio sources
Business Watermark – for secure on-screen sharing, protecting proprietary data, better-trusted relations and partnerships
AI Audio – for ultimate clarity offering general, single-presenter and multi-presenter mode for optimal experience
AI Camera – provides seamless visual experience with lighting correction, auto framing, appearance filters, gaze correction and background blur.
ASUS ExpertGuardian: the ultimate guardian of confidential data
ASUS ExpertBook P5’s robust security arsenal safeguards critical data. Engineered with a business-grade and NIST SP 800-155-compliant BIOS, it provides a foundational layer of protection against firmware attacks. Coupled with Windows 11 Secured-core PC technologies (TPM, DMA, DRTM), the ExpertBook P5 creates a fortified defence against software vulnerabilities. To ensure long-term security, ASUS offers comprehensive five-year support for BIOS and driver updates, safeguarding the system against emerging threats. The ExpertBook P5 also comes with integrated biometric login with FIDO2 authentication, ensuring the utmost security of your data.
Complementing this robust hardware-based security, ExpertBook P5 includes a complimentary one-year McAfee+ Premium membership for free. This comprehensive security suite leverages McAfee Smart AI™ for advanced threat detection, including AI-powered deepfake detection to protect against sophisticated social engineering attacks. Additionally, email scam protection provides an extra layer of defence against phishing attempts.
In addition to all this, ExpertBook P5 also comes with Adaptive Lock that detects your presence and uses an integrated infrared camera to recognise your face and log you in without lifting a finger. The moment you step away, ExpertBook P5 automatically locks to protect both your AI laptop and your data.
The future of work
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, ExpertBook P5 boasts a premium aluminium design that seamlessly blends aesthetics and ergonomics. Despite its lightweight construction, at just 1.29 kg, P5 offers exceptional durability — meeting US MIL-STD 810H military grade standard to ensure resilience to environmental extremes, including wide temperature fluctuations, sudden shocks and jarring vibrations. It also undergoes the rigorous in-house ASUS Superior Durability Test, including 120 cm drop tests, extensive hinge cycles, 78cc spill-resistant test and keyboard durability tests, ensuring it can withstand the rigours of daily use.
ExpertBook P5 is a thoughtfully designed workspace featuring conveniently placed function keys and a spacious mouse area created by relocating I/O ports to the left, optimising productivity and comfort during video conferences and multitasking.
Engineered with the ASUS ExpertCool thermal structure and a newly enhanced cooling design, the ExpertBook P5 ensures consistent, optimal cooling whether the lid is open or closed, guaranteeing peak performance even during extended usage. It is a productivity powerhouse designed to elevate professional performance, empowering users to achieve their full potential.
Continuing with the ASUS commitment to sustainability, ExpertBook P5 also represents a significant advancement in sustainable technology. This intelligent product has significantly enhanced its circularity by 10% to 50%, utilising Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) for performance measurement. By incorporating recycled materials and a modular design, ExpertBook P5 directly addresses the pressing issue of e-waste, making it a preferred choice for businesses holding sustainable values as a core purpose.
All-day battery life and fast charge support
The ExpertBook P5405 features all-day battery providing up to 28 hrs of battery life. In addition, it has fast charging technology that charges the battery from 5% to 60% in under 49 minutes.
ExpertCare Guarantee
Our commitment to quality is further supported by the ExpertCare Guarantee for our entire P series. This offers AUD $500 in compensation for manufacturer’s hardware fault needing repair within the first year, giving you complete peace of mind in your investment.
ASUS Service Guarantee
Understanding the critical needs of modern professionals, ASUS Service Guarantee includes a comprehensive service network, dedicated support teams, and a commitment to minimising downtime for our customers. We offer hassle-free onsite warranty repairs and extended commercial service options to give our customers peace of mind.
Easy to service design – ExpertBook P5 has an easy-to-service design that helps maximise system uptime by enabling system administrators to perform maintenance and upgrade system components easily with just one tool required to open the chassis.
ExpertBook P1
Adding to the P series lineup, ASUS also launched a compact and elegant ASUS ExpertBook P1 that weighs a mere 1.42 kg. Empowered by the all-new ASUS AI ExpertMeet tool it is engineered to deliver superb performance powered by an up to 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor with dual RAM up to 64GB and packs up to 1TB capacity. ASUS ExpertBook P1 is engineered to protect your privacy and business data via a built-in fingerprint sensor and integrated TPM 2.0 chip — your reliable, trusted travelling companion, ready to complete every task on time.
Intel® Core™ 7 Processor 258 V 32 GB 1.8 GHz (12 MB Cache, up to 4.8 GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads); Intel® AI Boost NPU up to 47 Intel® Core™ 5 Processor 228 V 32 GB 1.6 GHz (8 MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads); Intel® AI Boost NPU up to 40 Intel® Core™ 5 Processor 226 V 16 GB 1.6 GHz (8 MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads); Intel® AI Boost NPU up to 40″
Graphics
Intel® Arc™ 140 V GPU (16GB) Intel® Arc™ 130 V GPU (16GB) Intel® Arc™ 130 V GPU (8GB)”
Display
14.0″ 2560 x 1600 Anti-Glare, 100% sRGB, 400 nits
Chassis
Colour: Misty Grey
Operating system
Windows 11 Pro
Main memory
Up to 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533 MOP
Storage
1 x M.2 2280 SSD, 512 GB /1 TB M.2 PCIe®4.0 Value SSD up to 2 TB PCIe® 4.0 SSD User upgradeable 1 x M.2 2230 SSD, up to 1 TB PCIe® 4.0 SSD User upgradeable
2X Thunderbolt™ 4, USB 3.2 Gen2, support wide range 5–20 V 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen2, support BC1.2 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen2 1 x HDMI® 2.1 1 x Audio combo jack 1 x Kensington® Nano lock slot
Keyboard
Full-size keyboard with 1.5 mm key travel; backlit, spill-resistant 78 cc
Touchpad
ASUS ErgoSense touchpad Smart gesture touchpad Silent touchpad technology
Audio
2 x speaker 2 x multi-array microphone with intelliGO beam forming Smart amp technology Dolby Atmos certified”
Battery
63 Wh, 3-cell, Li-polymer
AC adapter
65 W non-wall mount Type-C® power jack, Input : 100–240 V AC, 50 / 60 Hz universal
Dimensions
31.2 x 22.3 x 1.645 cm
Weight
63 Wh battery: starting at 1299 g
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About ASUS
ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components, and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, the company is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies. Consistently ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, ASUS is also committed to sustaining an incredible future. The goal is to create a net zero enterprise that helps drive the shift towards a circular economy, with a responsible supply chain creating shared value for every one of us.
Jelly Troops boils down RTS games to their core elements to create a cute, highly replayable battle of the minds. No managing resources, no complex unit matchups, just brain versus brain where fast-paced real-time strategy battles determine the victor.
Ooze toward victory in three main activities: amassing a formidable army of slimes, redirecting the opponent’s movement with well-placed walls, and capturing enemy flags to score precious points. Optimize a strategy that balances positioning and strength, then strike at the perfect time and place to throw enemies off kilter.
Whether steamrolling slimy rivals with brute force or sneakily capturing flags while unseen, enjoy an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay experience complemented by adorable, approachable visuals. Enjoy fast-paced matches between friends with two-player split-screen battles, or compete for the title of world’s slimiest strategist in online matches.
Playtest Jelly Troops’ simplified approach to real-time strategy starting this Friday:
Friday, November 15 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PST & 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM PST
Sunday, November 17 – 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM PST & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PST
Friday, November 22 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PST & 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM PST
Saturday, November 23 – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PST
“At gamescom 2024, we had quite a few people go hands-on with Jelly Troops, and we are very grateful for the feedback they provided,” said waken, solo developer at Nukenin LLC. “With that initial round of feedback implemented, we now invite the public to check out what we’ve been working on and encourage all testers to lend their voice to development as we continue to march towards launch.”
To join the playtest, click the “Download Demo” button on the Jelly Troops Steam page while logged into Steam. At the times listed above, you will be able to join random online matches. The tutorial and split screen mode (local two-player matches) will be available during the entire playtest period from Friday, November 15th to Saturday, November 23rd.
About Nukenin LLC
Nukenin LLC is a solo-developer studio based in Kyoto, Japan ran by waken, who began their career as a programmer with Nintendo for 10 years. Nukenin specializes in creating both imaginative indie games such as Godzilla Voxel Wars and Cat Painter, as well as puzzle games, such as Solokus and Divide.
About Phoenixx
Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game, and one community at a time.
Hinwil, 15 November 2024 – KICK F1 Sim Racing Team will be bringing fan engagement to an exciting new level, as it launches a partnership with Valhalla, the Play-To-Earn MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) powered by cryptocurrency ecosystem Floki.
Valhalla offers players an immersive platform to explore independently or as part of a clan, engage in a dynamic, player-driven economy to climb the community ranks, and leave their mark in a vibrant, competitive world.
The partnership, which comes ahead of Valhalla’s launch on Mainnet at the end of November, will see a number of exclusive activations throughout the 2025 F1 Sim Racing Season, including the team’s NFT presence in the Valhalla game, as well as in-game competitions where winners will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Sauber Motorsport’s headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. As part of the newly formed collaboration, Valhalla’s logo will be featured on an extensive range of digital and social media assets, including on KICK F1 Sim Racing Team’s drivers’ sleeves.
Andrea Bugnone, Team Manager of KICK F1 Sim Racing Team: “We are pleased to partner with Valhalla and Floki, currently one of the most innovative and engaging companies within this sector. This collaboration represents an exciting convergence between F1 Sim Racing and gaming technologies, opening a whole new world of engaging possibilities for our team. By integrating Valhalla’s cutting-edge platform within our team’s pursuit of excellence, we aim to enhance the F1 Sim Racing experience for fans of both KICK F1 Sim Racing Team and Valhalla itself.”
A spokesperson for Floki commented: “We are proud to step into this exciting new partnership with KICK F1 Sim Racing Team. By offering gamers and fans alike a dynamic, player-driven system that allows to play both alone and as a clan, Valhalla’s gameplay strongly resembles the world of F1 Sim Racing – further marking our commitment to integrating the world of gaming, cryptocurrency, and sim racing in a meaningful way. We are looking forward to getting started and unlocking the full potential of this collaboration throughout the 2025 F1 Sim Racing season.”
About Sauber Group of Companies
The Sauber Group of Companies is composed of two operational entities: Sauber Motorsport AG, which operates and manages its Formula OneTM team; and Sauber Technologies AG, which focuses on third-party business in the areas of advanced engineering, prototype development and additive manufacturing, in addition to full and model-scale testing in the factory’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel and ground-breaking innovation in the field of aerodynamics. The companies collaborate closely and share know-how to apply the expertise of more than 550 dedicated individuals at the headquarter in Hinwil, Switzerland, to all internal and external projects.
The Sauber Group puts sustainability at the heart of its mission; its business, operating under the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, has been carbon neutral since 2011 and the company has achieved the Three-Star level in the FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework.
Since its founding in 1970, the innovative Swiss company has been setting standards in the design, development and construction of race cars for various championship series, such as Formula One, DTM, and WEC. Following its own Formula One debut in 1993, Sauber Motorsport AG has established one of the few traditional and privately held teams in the sport. A member of the exclusive club of teams which competed in more than 500 F1 races, it celebrated 30 years in the sport in 2022 and continues to go from strength to strength on and off the track.
Dragon Quest III is one of the most special titles in the entire franchise. Acting as a prequel to the original and its follow-up, there is a reason this was the first in line to be remade. Remakes can be a mixed bag though, and not everyone was ready to see such a beloved instalment get a ground-up treatment. Does Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake hit all the right notes, or was this better left in history? Let’s find out.
Story
It’s more than you think, but more complex than you can explain in a summary. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings the same story but with minor changes added to modernize and even flesh out the original just a bit. Players take the role of their named “hero”, who is out to do what their father could not – defeat the evil Baramos. In order to do this, the player must acquire a party and travel the world to find keys that eventually lead them to their destination. That’s really all there is to the plot, but the world itself is where this shines.
Every NPC has a bit of a story, warmth, and a sense of character. This is a living, breathing world and each town has lore in it that runs deep if you go digging. Sure, Baramos is the big bad, but that really plays second fiddle to the game’s ultimate sense of adventure. There are goofy bosses, dastardly foes, and humble shopkeepers all throughout this journey, providing some gripping moments that are just as memorable as they are entertaining. It feels like a real place at times, and each area having its own identity makes it feel as if you are in an episodic marathon that culminates in the over-arching story. Sure, most of this has been seen before by those who have played it, but this is really a game to sit down and take in. Exploration is enchanting here, making escapism the forefront of your experience.
Gameplay
If you know Dragon Quest, you know what to expect here. This is a classic, turn-based RPG, featuring all of the tropes. An overworld, class system, party members, monsters, and so on. It’s as Dragon Quest as it comes as this entry would really go on to define most of the mechanics going forward. In fact, most never need much updating afterwards to please fans. That said, there is still a lot to detail and appreciate with this entry.
Players start out by building their party. There are several ways to do this as you can rent pre-built heroes, or you can create your entire team from scratch. The player simply picks a name, gender, class, and then personality to match, and they immediately join your ranks. I guess this came as a bit of a surprise as most Dragon Quest titles in the last couple of decades had pre-made characters that had backstories. Sure, it’s disappointing not to see that added here, but the trade-off of creating your own is perfectly fine. It’s easy to become attached to your own creation as they participate just as much as any other party member, but lack the spirit and personality that a more modern take would have.
This means you could love the party system or find it lacking, all depending on how much your imagination will do the work. I grew to instantly love it, as it just feels different and is easy to adjust to. As mentioned, the world tells the story here, so having these helpers in my party just build to the battle system was fine. If your party member isn’t working out, you can swap them out and test various strategies. Speaking of that, let’s talk about battles, which is a huge part of the experience.
This is Dragon Quest, so you are going to have to have a lot of battles. Almost all battles come at random, where encounters can bring “groups” of foes. Your attacks interact with this as the player can choose to utilize more powerful attacks that hit one enemy, or lesser attacks that hit groups of foes at once. This means you have to strategize a bit and select the party that will achieve a balanced system. For instance, if your team doesn’t have a healer or at least one magic user, you’re going to get stuck a lot. That is because Dragon Quest III makes you put in the work. You will grind, and that is not ever a problem.
In fact, grinding kind of makes the game. I can’t tell you how many times I had to re-calculate or think about my party, update equipment, and go back to farm for coins and experience in random battles just to build. It sounds tedious, but it’s rewarding here and not ever a chore as it never feels excessive. The game maintains a balance with the monster levels that usually stay on par with the player. Devices like the “handy heal all” assist those who take a clobbering to recover quickly and go right back at it. As you level, more techniques become available and this grind becomes more of just a primary function that feels second nature.
Bosses are made to feel larger than life and come with that difficulty climb, but thankfully you can evac and zoom out and grind more if your party is not up to par. Speaking of that, a lot of the fun is the exploration as well. These towns are all quite lovely to poke around in, with secrets all over that may give you a bit of an edge later. There are of course mini-medals to collect, new equipment found in every town, and secret grottos that can be truly memorising. Monster battles are also a thing, which is a fun way to kill time and make coins. This basically has the player find monsters, fulfil a requirement to recruit, and then utilize them in battle in a ranked tournament. It’s fun enough, and nearly required if you want to maximize your overall potential before a big dungeon.
Audio
I hate to keep saying this, but it’s Dragon Quest. The music is what would expect, and there is not a thing wrong with that. These melodies are classic and really set the mood for adventure. Each town has a theme for both day and night, with stunning re-recorded tunes that are sure to be a delight for returning players as there is a feeling of freshness to the compilation. All of the basic sound effects are also present and do their job well, but most impressive, there is some voice acting this time around. Not a lot, but enough during moments that matter. These bits are on par with what we got in Dragon Quest XI and do well to bring out a sense of character in the royalty and foes you encounter.
Visuals
This is the icing on this cake. The entire game has been rebuilt in gorgeous 2D. This world has never seen so much detail, right down to the animations on clothing and minor imperfections featured in paint on a wall. The little light particles, shadowing, and so on make it an enchanting sight to behold, and one of the best-looking 2D RPGs ever to release. Yes, it is that good. I think some might have issues with the third-person perspective not being featured for battles as they are in first-person, but I didn’t mind this at all. Our characters are all featured in every other moment, so it’s not a deal-breaker in the slightest for that omission.
Overall
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a love letter not just to Dragon Quest fans, but to the RPG genre as a whole. This franchise is so influential, and this remake actually means something. It’s a definitive way to play a game that needed this modernization. There is no insult here to the original, as instead, it acts as a beautiful tribute, bringing us a fantastic sense of adventure with one of the most technical battle systems of all time. Every time I put down the controller, I still played the game in my head, hearing the tunes, and wanting to jump right back in. That kind of excitement is what makes Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake so admirable for today. It’s a gift of nostalgia for a modern audience, done to perfection.
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