ADD TO QUEUE: CRUNCHYROLL SPINS UP CURATED ANIME PLAYLISTS ON SPOTIFY

Sydney, Australia (August 20, 2024) – Crunchyroll^®, the ultimate brand for every anime fan, has an exclusive partnership with Spotify to present listeners with specially curated playlists and a dedicated shelf on Spotify’s global Anime Hub. The partnership comes at a time when global streams of anime music on Spotify have skyrocketed by 395% since 2021, highlighting the growing influence of anime culture worldwide. Turning the daily grind into an epic adventure, the playlists present fans with a thoughtful curation of music that will further immerse them into the action-packed world of anime.

The new “Curated by Crunchyroll” playlists will be regularly refreshed with new content for listeners, setting up the ultimate anime-inspired queue:

• Crunchyroll Anime Essentials – A brand new anime season has arrived on Crunchyroll this summer! Listen along to the music behind the lineup.
• The Broody Black-Haired MC – Anguished with a tragic past, this character’s demeanor may intimidate some, but deep down they just need a hug.
• The Bubbly Pink-Haired BFF – Always close at hand when a friend is in need, this character brings light, positivity, and an often underestimated strength.
• The OP White-Haired Sensei – Underneath their cool, unbothered exterior, this character is an enigma to be unraveled.
• The Journey Begins – You are the main character of your own story. The fate of the world depends on you … and of course there are side quests.

The shelf will also include Crunchyroll’s recently debuted hit podcast: Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect Podcast, featuring high-profile guests like Oppenheimer’s David Dastmalchian, rapper Denzel Curry, and J-Pop icon LiSA.

“Anime and Japanese music are a match made in pop culture heaven,” said Terry Li, Executive Vice President of Emerging Business, Crunchyroll & General Manager of Crunchyroll Games. “Music is a vital part of the anime experience, and through our partnership with Spotify, we’re excited to amplify that connection and make fandom even more immersive for our fans.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Crunchyroll to bring listeners a new curation of anime music to explore,” shared Kyota Onishi, Head of Music in Japan at Spotify. “On Spotify, global streams of anime have surged over the past few years and we hope Anime Hub will become an indispensable part of Anime culture.”

The Curated by Crunchyroll shelf is available to visit here, via Spotify’s global Anime Hub. Over 250 hours of Japanese music and performance videos from popular artists such as LiSA and aimer can also be found on Crunchyroll.

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.

@2024 Crunchyroll, LLC. All rights reserved. CRUNCHYROLLand the Crunchyroll logo are registered trademarks of Crunchyroll, LLC.

About Spotify

Spotify’s mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by it. Spotify’s platform revolutionised music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our move into podcasting brought innovation and a new generation of listeners to the medium, and in 2022 we entered the next audio market primed for growth with the addition of audiobooks.

Today, more listeners than ever can discover, manage and enjoy  over 100 million tracks, 6 million podcasts titles, and 350,000 audiobooks a la carte on Spotify. We are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with more than 626 million users, including 246 million subscribers in more than 180 markets.

Starting today, The Elder Scrolls Online Update 43 is available for free on PC/Mac. This latest update introduces a series of improvements and additions to The Elder Scrolls Online for all existing ESO players including Home Tours, and an Infinite Archive update alongside an assortment of quality-of-life improvements. 

As a base-game update, Update 43 is now available on PC/Mac with Xbox and PlayStation consoles receiving the update on September 4. More details on what’s included in this update can be found below.

Update 43 introduces one of the most anticipated new features for Tamriel’s housing enthusiasts in Home Tours, allowing players to explore and admire the creativity of Tamriel’s residents. With Home Tours, players will be able to tour fully decorated and personalised player-owned homes through a curated ‘Recommend’ list, or a free form Browse list. The ‘Recommend’ tab will highlight top-rated player homes as well as newer created homes, providing easy access for those interested in viewing standout designs. Players can also add any home to their favourites, making it simple to revisit these impressive creations whenever they wish.

This update also adds more depth to the Infinite Archive in the form of new maps, enemies, Verses and Visions, and updated loot including new class item sets. In addition to Infinite Archive updates, there are an assortment of quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes that will make players’ time in Tamriel easier and more enjoyable. 

For all the details on Update 43, be sure to check out the official blog post here. The complete list of fixes, improvements, and additions can be found on the official forums here.

For more information head over to the Bethesda News site

Vanquish the Grim Reaper by becoming the ultimate math hero

SEATTLE, WA – 19 August, 2024 – Divide by Sheep 2, the sequel to the cartoony math puzzle game that sold more than 200,000 copies, developed by Viktor Solodilov and Denis Novikov, and published by tinyBuild, makes problem solving fun on PC via Steam today. The game is out now on iOS devices, with Android joining the horde soon. 

Watch the Official Trailer for Divide By Sheep 2

Put a thinkin’ cap on and get ready to save some sheep. Get the “baaaa-rain” juices flowin’ in a wacky cartoon world and save only the right amount of sheep, even if that means…dividing the poor little guys. Beware the terrifying Grim Reaper, who will stop at nothing to collect the adorable creatures when a math problem is too hard to crack. 

Solve more than 150 math problems by any means necessary. Divide the fluffy animals in every way imaginable by feeding them to wolves, pushing them off the ledge for the Kraken to devour, or simply slice ’em up. Do whatever the heck it takes to get to the final platform with the correct amount of sheep according to the equation. Stop the Grim Reaper from flooding the sheep’s home and save the day as a mathematician hero!

“We’re looking forward to Divide by Sheep 2’s quirky, math-based adventureentertaining a new audience on PC” said Viktor Solodilov, lead developer. “By melding colorful designs with ever-evolving puzzles, we have brought a new way to make math fun, enveloped in hilariously dark humor.” 

Divide by Sheep 2 is available today on Windows PC via Steam for $4.99 USD. It offers English language support.

To learn more about the game, follow @DivideBySheep on Twitter, and visit tinyBuild’s official website to learn more about their catalog!

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.

About Viktor Solodilov, Denis Novikov

They are independent game developers based in Europe. The duo have previously worked together on the action RPG title Phanton Trigger, and have put their brains together for their latest project, the Divide By Sheep series.

Exhilarating Free Playable Demo Introducing Clive’s Epic Story and Showcasing Large-scale Eikon Battles Now Available On PC

SYDNEY (Aug. 20, 2024) – SQUARE ENIX® today announced they are bringing the latest numbered entry in the FINAL FANTASY™ series, FINAL FANTASY XVI, to PC platforms, including Steam® and Epic Games Store on September 17. A free demo for the critically acclaimed action RPG is also available on both platforms.

View the new PC announcement trailer, titled “DELIVERANCE,”

Players can now pre-purchase the FINAL FANTASY XVI Standard Edition, which includes the base game, or the Complete Edition, which will also include the exciting DLC chapters “Echoes of the Fallen” and “The Rising Tide” at a discounted price. Further, players who are interested in purchasing the DLC chapters individually or as the FINAL FANTASY XVI Expansion Pass, which includes both chapters, may do so at launch.

Those who pre-purchase the game on either platform will also receive the following in-game DLC items:

• Brave Blade Weapon
• Cait Sith Charm (Gil Boost Accessory)
• “Sixteen Bells” Orchestrion Roll

The adrenaline-filled FINAL FANTASY XVI Demo is also now available on Steam and Epic Games Store, allowing players to try out the PC version for free. The demo includes the opening prologue of the game during Clive’s adolescence, with the save data carrying over to the full game at launch. With over two hours of content, the demo also includes a special “Eikonic Challenge” Mode, allowing players to enjoy even more frenetic fights with access to even more Eikonic Abilities in battle.

Experience the beginning of Clive’s epic tale and learn about his ambitions and goals by downloading the free FINAL FANTASY XVI Demo at:

Steam:

FFXVI Base Game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2515020  
Complete Edition: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/1029295

Demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2738000 

Epic Games Store:

FFXVI Base Game: https://store.epicgames.com/p/final-fantasy-xvi
Complete Edition: https://store.epicgames.com/p/final-fantasy-xvi-complete-edition-7cfd7c
Demo: https://store.epicgames.com/p/final-fantasy-xvi-demo-c289c2

FINAL FANTASY XVI introduces players to an original standalone story in the FINAL FANTASY universe, an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realm of Valisthea – a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon known as Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

The first DLC chapter, “Echoes of the Fallen,” unlocks new story, battles, weapons, accessories, level cap and more. The adventure begins before the base game’s final battle, as strange, dark crystals begin to circulate on the black market. Players will follow Clive and company during their investigations as they encounter a group of suspicious traders, leading them to a long-abandoned Fallen tower known as the Sagespire and the terrible secrets that await within.

The second, and final DLC chapter, “The Rising Tide,” brings an all-new story, battles, sidequests, weapons, accessories, level cap and more, adding a new depth to Clive’s journey before the exciting conclusion of FINAL FANTASY XVI. Players will gain new Eikonic abilities, explore a beautiful new area in the hidden land of Mysidia, and dive into battle against the legendary water Eikon, Leviathan the Lost. This DLC also adds brand new end-game content with the Kairos Gate, where players will challenge 20 stages of intense scored and ranked battles against waves of enemies.

More information on the base game, “Echoes of the Fallen,” “The Rising Tide” and the Expansion Pass is available on the official website at: https://www.finalfantasyxvi.com.

About FINAL FANTASY

For over 35 years, the FINAL FANTASY series has delighted generations of gamers and millions of players worldwide through beloved role-playing adventures that are built upon the benchmarks of spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds, rich stories, memorable characters, and technical and gameplay innovation leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from around the world. Each mainline game in the series is a completely new experience, and an ideal entry-point to the series. Titles of the series have sold over 185 million units worldwide. 

About Square Enix, Inc. 

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY™, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
  
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com 

© SQUARE ENIX LOGO ILLUSTRATION: © YOSHITAKA AMANO

Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Test your skill against the new escalating missions of Capes!

BRISBANE, Australia / HAMBURG, Germany, August 19, 2024 – Developer Spitfire Interactive and Publisher Daedalic Entertainment just released a new free update for their turn-based superhero tactics game Capes, introducing new unique missions that provide combat challenges for any skill level.  Each mission is designed to be completed by all players regardless of experience. However, meeting certain combat criteria through expert play causes each mission to escalate and unleash an additional layer of challenge.

Can you face the ultimate Holo fight?

Capes is a turn-based superhero strategy game where XCOM fans will feel right at home. Level up your heroes and combine their powers to access devastating team up attacks in strategically challenging missions. Master compelling tactical gameplay while uncovering a cinematic story:
Twenty years ago, the supervillains won. Since then, they’ve created a dystopian city where developing superpowers is a crime and no one has dared oppose them. Until now! Assemble a ragtag team of young heroes and hone their skills and take back King City. Play across the dark and gritty campaign to reveal the truth behind the horrific Enhancement Program of supervillain Operator Alpha and complete optional side-missions to level up your heroes and learn more about their past.

FEATURES

• Be Mighty: Play as a team of heroic protectors, each with unique skills and powers. Master each hero and unleash their devastating ultimate abilities!
• Assemble Your Team: Combat isn’t based on random numbers; knowing which hero Team Up abilities are best for the job will be key to your success!
• Level Up: Complete challenging missions and side-quests to improve your heroes with new abilities and powerful upgrades!
• Defeat Evil: Face down vile villains and criminal corporate henchmen. Do you have what it takes to free your city from the clutches of villainy!?

About Spitfire Interactive

Spitfire Interactive is an Australian development studio founded by former team members of Defiant Development, who made the critically acclaimed Hand of Fate (2015), an action role-playing video game based on a deck-building system. The team includes writer Morgan Jaffit, who helped break the original superhero curse working on Freedom Force (2009) and helped to direct the cult hit Hand of Fate (2015).

About Daedalic Entertainment

Daedalic Entertainment is a renowned publisher supporting indie developers for over 17 years, bringing their titles to every major gaming platform. The line-up of games is comprised of a diverse variety of unique titles, focusing on 4 distinct areas: story-telling, strategy, co-op-games, and wholesome games. With an international team of around 45 employees, Daedalic is currently working with various development studios to create a new line-up of innovative games across consoles and PCs to market. Recent hits include New Cycle, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Potion Tycoon, Deponia, Shadow Tactics, Inkulinati, Hidden Deep, Fling to the Finish! and more. In regards to future titles please look out for upcoming games like Woodo, Magin: The Rat Project Stories, Edge of Sanity, Wild Woods, and many more. Since April 2022 Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house Nacon.

Leamington Spa, UK – Aug 19, 2024 – Leading UK games publisher Kwalee and independent game development studio Inzanity have released a new update for their rogue-lite rhythm shooter, ROBOBEAT. The update introduces a new melee weapon, the ‘Shield’, a brand new utility ‘The Boombox’ and more.

ROBOBEAT is currently part of the Steam Rhythm Fest and is available at a 20 percent discount until August 26th. Furthermore, players can purchase ROBOBEAT in bundles with Bullets Per Minute, Dusk, UltraKill, Metal: Hellsinger, or Crypt of the NecroDancer to receive additional discounts.

Buy the game on Steam

The Shield – The Shield is a new melee weapon that places focus on combos rather than direct damage. Normal hits with the Shield will do a small amount of melee damage with a very short range, but the combos are where this weapon really shines.

Players can choose from three different parry-focused combos to maximise this weapon’s potential and turn defence into a brutal offence.

The Boombox – The Boombox is a brand new utility that is sure to blow enemies away!

It deals massive damage within short-range cone areas. Unlike The Nuke, however, it also does AOE damage! Gather your enemies into one place, get some air, and then boombox them out of existence.

Based on community feedback, the developer has also added the ability to reroll Data Chips! If you don’t like the Data Chips you’re offered, you’ll have the chance to reroll for some shiny new ones to give you a bit more control over what your loadout is like during a run.

About ROBOBEAT –

Beat. The. Bot. You’re Ace – a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, you’ll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat! Get ready to dance till you’re dead and then suit up for the remix in rogue-lite rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT.

Shoot to the Beat Shoot to your own beat with the custom music feature. Simply upload & trim your track or leave it as it is in our in-game editor to auto generate beats that suit your play style. Change custom songs effortlessly in-game anytime anywhere without interruption. The feature will support .wav, .mp3, and .ogg files. Maximise your damage and shorten your cooldown time by shooting in sync.

Master the art of charged shots, damage multipliers, armour piercing rounds, and more!

Move to the Music You’ll want some slick moves to go with those slick new weapons. Your enemies aren’t going to wait around for you to take a dance break, so you’ve got to keep moving if you want to survive.

Wall run, slide, double jump, bunny hop, and grapple hook your way through technicolour levels to give your enemies the runaround. Keep it fluid, keep it funky, and keep it moving.

Rewind, Remix, Replay ROBOBEAT is a rogue-lite remix.

Fast forward through procedurally generated levels, equip an arsenal of finely-tuned weapons, and accompany your arsenal with a symphony of modifications. Your playstyle is on continuous shuffle, so you never know what each new run is going to bring!

About Kwalee

Kwalee is a multi-award-winning games publisher and developer based in Leamington Spa, UK, and has published a growing catalogue of PC and console titles including Wildmender and ROBOBEAT along with upcoming titles The Precinct, The Spirit of the Samurai, Voidwrought, Hordes of Hunger and In Sink.

Founded by games industry icon and Codemasters co-founder David Darling CBE, who is joined by a team of global games experts with studios in the UK, India, Portugal and China, Kwalee is on the lookout for high-quality games to publish on all platforms and encourages developers to get in touch.

Officially recognised as ‘Best Publisher’ (TIGA 2022), Kwalee is also highly active in the industry, as an ambassador of not-for-profit organisation Women in Games and a regular supporter of charities like Safe In Our World, GamesAid and SpecialEffect.

About Inzanity

Founded in 2016, Inzanity is the brainchild of Simon Fredholm, an independent solo developer based in Sweden. Inzanity has previously developed and self published games like Break the Game and Escape the Game on PC. Simon is currently working on ROBOBEAT, a rhythm shooter where you’ve been trapped in the ever-changing mansion of the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer.

Montpellier, France – August 19th, 2024. Dear Villagers is excited to announce a new publishing partnership with Goat Gamez for their upcoming title, Sports: Renovations. This unique renovator sim challenges players to restore neglected sports facilities and save their beloved team’s court from a looming real estate threat.

The game’s demo will be playable at both Gamescom and PAX West, offering attendees a first look at the immersive experience. Sports: Renovations will be coming soon on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements!

Give sports facilities a second life in this relaxing first-person simulator! Restore the glory of old gyms, courts and pitches as you try to make enough money to save your hometown basketball court.

• Steam Page

About Goat Gamez

Goat Gamez SA is a video game developer and producer founded by Movie Games and Robert Lewandowski. The company focuses on creating sports-themed games, which it approaches in an unconventional way: Goat Gamez games focus on sports emotions shown from an unusual perspective, including from behind the scenes.

About Dear Villagers

Based in the South of France, in sunny Montpellier, we are a boutique publishing label composed of a team of twenty people. Open-minded and versatile, Dear Villagers offers handcrafted marketing and production guidance. Our mission: We tell memorable stories through memorable games.

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (Aug. 19, 2024) – Motion Twin and Evil Empire released the final update to the multi-million smash hit rogue-lite Dead Cells today. Update 35 of Dead Cells, “The End is Near,” is available now on PC and console platforms for free, concluding the journey started by The Beheaded in 2017. To celebrate the last content update for Dead Cells, you can pick up the critically acclaimed rogue-lite with a 50% discount today through Aug. 26 on Steam.

Watch the new, and last, video detailing the update below:

“Now Dead Cells is complete!” says the Motion Twin team. “Some of the developers here at Motion Twin have been working on Dead Cells for over ten years, and to see the community embrace it from Early Access, to 1.0, through 35 updates and expansions, and beyond is really the most awesome feeling. Although some of the original Dead Cells developers have moved on to cool, new projects since that original launch years ago, our original team vision for The Beheaded remains, and we want to celebrate this moment with the community that made this game the success that it is.”

The End is Near puts a bow on the legendary Dead Cells journey with one final content update, adding new mobs, weapons and mutations into the already jam-packed rogue-lite title. Building further upon Dead Cells with a veritable buffet of new content as well as gameplay changes, The End is Near pits you against three new mobs: The Sore Loser, Curser and Doom Bringer, all of which can appear in any biome if your Boss Cells level is high enough. Combat these curse-frenzied foes with Misericorde and Anathema, vicious melee and ranged weapons respectively, that can apply curse to you but deal massive amounts of damage. Three new mutations, the Cursed Flask, Damned Vigor and Demonic Strength serve to mix up your runs even further with some of the game’s highest risk vs. reward builds.

There are also 40 brand-new heads to unlock and equip. Who said being cursed meant you have to look bad? Be sure to check today’s patch notes for a full list of everything coming to Dead Cells in The End is Near: https://deadcells.com/patchnotes.

Dead Cells fans on mobile platforms can also look forward to both the release of Update 34 “Clean Cut” and Update 35, coming later this year.

“I joined Motion Twin in 2014 and started working on Dead Cells in various forms from my first day,” says Steve Filby, CEO at Evil Empire. “I never would have believed that ten years later I’d be writing a final farewell… Hell when we launched the game, I wasn’t even sure people would like it. From Motion Twin to Evil Empire, it’s been a privilege and a pleasure to contribute to the game, work with the community, and onboard new teammates to the adventure. So long Dead Cells, I think I’ll just start one more run before I go…”

While the journey for Motion Twin and Evil Empire with the Dead Cells game is coming to an end, both teams are busy with their own brand-new titles. Motion Twin is diving back into the world of rogue-lites with Windblown, a fast single-player and co-op title launching in Early Access later this year. With up to two friends at their back, players will dash across disparate floating islands while beefing up with unique weapon synergies, dozens of abilities, Trinkets and more until their build is truly overpowered and ready to destroy the fearsome Sentinels.

Meanwhile, Evil Empire has recently launched The Rogue Prince of Persia, a roguelike set in the universe of the legendary action-platformer franchise. The Rogue Prince of Persia is available now in Early Access, featuring fluid combat and silky-smooth platforming in this delightful indie take on a video game classic.

Dead Cells update 35 The End is Near is now available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Fans looking for even more Dead Cells content can also check out the new animated series, available on ADN’s YouTube channel with French VO and English and German subtitles, and with an English audio version coming soon. For more information on Dead Cells visit https://dead-cells.com/

About Motion Twin:

Motion Twin is an indie worker’s cooperative game studio based in France. We’ve been raging at the machines since 2001 and we’ll be doing so for as long as people keep smashing into our games. Our latest game, Dead Cells, has brought joy and tears to 10M+ players around the world.

About Evil Empire:

Evil Empire is a French independent studio that cut its teeth on post-launch content for Dead Cells over 5 years. Today, the studio employs 70 people well-versed in creating live-ops content hand-in-hand with the players and is working on The Rogue Prince of Persia TM currently on Steam Early Access. To learn more, please visit www.evilempirestudio.com.

Join the team in Cologne for some fantastic hands-on gaming! 

Limassol, Cyprus – 19 August 2024. Publisher ESDIgital Games is thrilled to reveal its 2024 gamescom lineup, with some stellar titles showcasing never-before-seen gameplay in both the Business and Consumer halls at this year’s event. 

Gamers heading to gamecom will have the chance to get hands-on with some truly exciting titles covering all kinds of genres! Located in the bustling Indie Arena Booth (Hall 10.2, Booth F010g – E019) ESDigital Games will be showcasing brand new game demos for AWAKEN – Astral Blade, Steel Seed, Island of Winds, BattleJuice Alchemist and Sky of Tides. There will also be the chance to snap a picture with two awesome cosplayers portraying the protagonists Tania from AWAKEN – Astral Blade and Zoe from Steel Seed as well as grabbing some cool branded merchandise after trying out the hands-on demos. 

Watch the gamescom 2024 gameplay trailer for Steel Seed below

In addition to the Indie Arena Booth, the team will also have playable demos for Cats on Duty, Memory Lost, and REMEDIUM on the Polish Indie Booth (Hall 10.2, F-041) for fans to try out! 

Can’t make it to gamescom? Don’t worry as ESDigital Games has you covered! Starting on 21 August for the length of the show, fans can head over to Steam and download the special gamescom demos for Steel Seed and AWAKEN – Astral Blade, the same demos as consumers can play at the show! Running for the length of gamescom (21 – 25 August) gamers will be able to download and play the brand new Steam demos from the show and experience all the new action and adventure these two titles have to offer. The Steel Seed and AWAKEN – Astral Blade Steam demos will be live on 21 August and run until the end of the show on 25 August. Head over to Steam for more information and add all of the titles to your Wishlist. 

Watch the gamescom 2024 gameplay trailer for AWAKEN – Astral Blade below

 More information on all the great games available to play at gamescom: 

AWAKEN – Astral Blade – Steam | PS

Weave your own story in AWAKEN: Astral Blade, the dark 2D Metroidvania, side-scrolling game from developer Dark Pigeon Games. Join Tania, the bionically enhanced protagonist as she is sent deep into the rainforests in search of a missing Investigation Force.  Here Tania’s journey truly begins when she discovers ancient secrets buried deep within the ruins of the forest, and she must discover the truth of her own origins and destiny. Dive into the dark and mysterious world Tania must navigate through and test your skills against some truly astonishing enemies! 

Sky of Tides – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

Sky of Tides developed by Lofty Sky Entertainment, is a story-driven sci-fi adventure with RPG elements set in a technologically advanced universe on the brink of war. Play as Rin, who must search for her missing father and heal the broken planet of Numen. Explore the world while your choices shape your character. Check out this latest version of Sky of Tides and dive into the deep narrative and see how balanced decision-making will influence the game progression. 

Steel Seed – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

Steel Seed developed by Storm in a Teacup, is a stealth action-adventure game set in a dark, sci-fi world where humanity hangs on the brink of extinction. Join our protagonist Zoe, and a flying drone Koby, as they investigate the depths of a hostile underground facility in search of answers and the key to the survival of mankind. Having revealed the stealth and action gameplay in Steel Seed, the gamescom demo will now introduce the deep story and exploration side of Zoe’s journey through the stunning futuristic environments. 

Island of Winds – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

Island of Winds developed by Parity Games is an adventure game set in a stunning open-world environment inspired by 17th-century Iceland, drawing upon its nature, folklore and history. The core gameplay involves a rich story, extensive lore and intriguing puzzles, as well as legendary creatures, spellcasting and a special focus on empathy encounters. 

Battlejuice Alchemist – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

‘GDC Best in Play 2024 winner’ – Battlejuice Alchemist is a complex alchemy RPG that adds an equipment-based skill system to the classic aRPG formula. Focus on top-down combat or opt for JRPG-style one-on-one fights. Explore the wilderness, learn ritual magic, and craft potions to fight demonic hordes overrunning the lands.

Cats On Duty – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

Cats on Duty is a purr-fect blend of RTS, tower defense, and match-3 game genres. Manage two game fields at once, as well as arm and upgrade your cat towers to defeat hordes of formidable foes. Enjoy the meow-nificent battle!

Memory Lost – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch 

Memory Lost is a story-driven action shooter built around innovative game mechanics based on capturing enemies’ minds and taking control of their bodies. With no med packs available and only one magazine in your weapon, you must change bodies in order to survive! 

REMEDIUM – Steam | EGS | PS | Xbox | Nintendo Switch

A fast-paced twin-stick shooter game set in a grim post-apocalyptic Renaissance setting. It has been over a hundred years since the terrible plague devoured the whole continent and turned almost everyone into maddened mutants. Only a few survivors managed to find refuge behind the huge walls of the fortress cities. Infected while foraging outside the city walls, your only hope of survival is to fight through the hordes of mutants and chimaeras to find a cure! 

The ESDigital Games team is looking forward to welcoming all gamers to the Indie Arena Booth from 21-25 August, so head over to Hall 10.2, say hi and play some awesome games! 

About ESDigital Games

ESDigital Games is a global video games publishing company specializing in premium indie and mid-core games for both PC as well as consoles. ESDigital Games portfolio includes the 80s-themed point-and-click adventure Unusual Findings, the tactical card combat game Deck of Ashes, the Early Access release of roguelike action RPG Scholar of the Arcane Arts and the release of the action beat ‘em up 9 Monkeys of Shaolin. Their upcoming releases include twin-stick shooter REMEDIUM, RTS tower defense and match-3 mechanics title Cats on Duty, the Metroidvana inspired Awaken – Astral Blade, complex alchemy RPG Battlejuice Alchemist, and the story-driven sci-fi adventure Sky of Tides as well as new unannounced titles in development. 

Tivola Games and MACK Magic Unveil ‘Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions’, an All-New Kart Racing Game Based on the Major Motion Picture, Featuring the Mascots of Europa-Park, Coming Summer 2025

Join stars Ed & Edda across 12 stunning racetracks with a familiar cast of colorful furry characters
 
HAMBURG, Germany (August 19, 2024) – Tivola Games—an international developer of family-friendly video games—in partnership with Europa-Park and MACK Magic, is delighted to announce Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions, an undeniably adorable kart racing game based on the major motion picture GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE, a co-production by MACK Magic and Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany, coming to PC and consoles in summer 2025.
 
Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions brings the loveable Europa-Park mascots and cinema stars Ed & Edda to video game format in a fast-paced, heart-warming adventure. Joined by the film’s cast of eclectic characters, players will race across a dozen stunning racetracks set in landmark European locations. From car tune-ups and upgrades to cosmetics, players will customize their racecars to their heart’s desire while mastering power-ups and unique driver abilities and playstyles.

Key Features of Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions:

• Tear through exciting tracks in beautiful recreations of prestigious European landmarks
• Choose from eight familiar characters, including Ed & Edda, Europa-Park’s historic mascots
• Unleash unique driver abilities, skillfully wield power-ups, and customize vehicles to ensure no two races feel the same
• Long-term racecar modifications and unlockable progression tune-ups ‘drive’ replayability
• 2-4 player split-screen mode for local multiplayer invites family fun and lifelong memories

Michael Mack is the Managing Partner of the Europa-Park Resort and operates the Mack family business in the 8th generation. As producer of the feature film and founder of the entertainment company MACK Magic, he emphasizes the meaning and the long-term strategy in producing content and building up brands: “With Tivola Games and Jumpgate, we are excited to have strong partners who believe in our Ed & Edda storyworld by bringing the beloved characters to PCs and consoles worldwide.”
 
Mack continued, “This will make the first feature film with the beloved Europa-Park mascots Ed & Edda more than just a movie: Together with the new associated family attraction 2025 at Europa-Park, the video game Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions and many other licensed products, it is the start of a very unique transmedia project. With our transmedia strategy, we are convinced that we will build a long-term sustainable brand with content based around our characters.”
 
Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions launches on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam with language support for English, German, and French. 

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ABOUT MACK MAGIC

MACK Magic, part of MACK One, was founded by entrepreneur and producer Michael Mack and is dedicated to creating captivating transmedia story worlds and unforgettable characters. Our focus is on creating international media and IP brands that can be experienced with all senses – from film and TV productions to publishing and licensed products, theme park attractions, and much more.

As part of the 245-year-old Mack family business, MACK Magic has a rich history in the amusement industry. The family business began by building carousels for showmen and eventually became one of the leading manufacturers of amusement rides and roller coasters in the world, known as MACK Rides. In addition, the Mack family founded and operate one of Europe’s most successful amusement parks, Europa-Park, as well as other entertainment companies such as VR Coaster and MACK Animation.

Since 2019, MACK Magic has sold over 700,000 books in more than 10 countries and developed attraction-based media content that has delighted fans around the world.

Our passion lies in bringing unforgettable characters and their stories to life, developing fantastical worlds, and creating innovative and engaging experiences from these elements.

ABOUT EUROPA-PARK

With 250,000 guests initially visiting Europa-Park when it opened in 1975, the Europa-Park Resort has grown and is now one of the most visited tourist destinations in Germany with more than six million visitors a year.

More than 150 million people have visited the park since it opened its gates. With around 100 attractions and international shows, there is guaranteed fun and entertainment for the whole family on an area of 95 hectares. Europa-Park has been awarded the Golden Ticket Award eight times as the best park in the world.

Europa-Park Resort is more than just a classic theme park; it is also a renowned conference venue and popular location for events and television productions. Thanks to the addition of Rulantica Water World and the largest interconnected hotel resort in Germany, the adventure resort has become a unique short break destination for visitors from all over the world.
Further information can be found at: www.europapark.de.