Demo available to play now ahead of Steam Next Fest

London, U.K. – 3rd June 2024 – Developer Knights of Borria and publisher Marvelous Europe today unveiled that Leximan, a wholesome narrative-adventure in a modern fantasy world, driven by word puzzles, unique comedy, and constant surprise will release on Windows PC via Steam on August 13th, 2024.

The Leximan Ultra Mega Demo 2.0 is available now ahead of Steam Next Fest: June 2024 edition, so don your trusty hat, ready your lexicon and head over to Steam to play!

Turn your Leximan experience into an absolute hullabaloo with the Digital Deluximan Edition, featuring unique offerings from the hooligans behind the magic. In addition to the full game, the Digital Deluximan Edition contains the game’s soundtrack featuring over 100 minutes of riotous retro bangers and the Basement Breakout TTRPG Mini-Campaign PDF for mischief makers and avid hat enthusiasts.

The Digital Deluximan Edition will be available at launch for $19,99. The standard edition will also be available for $14,99, and a 10% discount will be available for both versions on the week of launch.

In Leximan, you’re lucky enough to be enrolled in the world’s most exclusive magic school: Academy Elementinia. Unfortunately, this is a world in which magic is a bit embarrassing… Still, you alone have the ability to use Leximancy, a hitherto unimaginable power driven by something as fascinating as it is enchanting: language. Years ago you caused THINGS to happen, and ever since then you’ve been banished to the school basement with the other failures – I mean ‘learners’ – but your life as a humble basement-wizard is abruptly interrupted as Academy Elementinia is attacked by someone with a baffling agenda and a huge set of fireballs. Now it’s time to become the outcast that saves the school. Or if you don’t vibe with heroics, at least cause some more THINGS to happen.

Embark on a brilliant adventure, using words and incompetence to solve bizarre problems and unravel a surprisingly wholesome story about embracing and empowering the real you while you bother a chaotic cast of characters, from potion witches and sweaty musclemancers, to a bombastic policewoman and a pyromancer who’s just fed up, to be honest. There are also hat goblins – give hats to the hat goblins, please and thank you.

Leximan is set to launch August 13th, 2024, on Windows PC via Steam.

About Knights of Borria

Knights of Borria is an award-winning UK-based studio founded in 2020. Formed by three Falmouth University graduates, the Knights of Borria aim to create soulful, fun, and outright weird games..

About Marvelous Europe

Marvelous Europe is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Marvelous Inc., developer of beloved Story of Seasons and Rune Factory games. Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe’s varied portfolio includes both third-party titles such as Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Leximan, Cuisineer and Moonlight Peaks in addition to select Marvelous Inc. content.

Debut title from Hardball Games Offers PC Players Big Battles, Mass Destruction and Comedy Chaos In the Ultimate Party Throw-Down 

3.6.24, Brighton, UK. Hot on the heels of their successful demo launch, and ahead of their inclusion in Steam’s Next Fest on June, 10, Hardball Games is thrilled to announce that OutRage: Fight Fest, the world’s first, 16-player beat-em-up, PC Mega-Brawler will be available for players to enjoy on Steam from 16 July.

In the first-of-a-kind party game, contenders will need to embrace the chaos as they, and up to 15 of their friends, punch, kick, throw, use a whole host of weapons and the destructible levels around them in a battle of the biggest! They’ll party-up in hilarious, short-session, Battle Royale, Free for All and Team-Based battles, causing damage to each other and the scenery to earn ‘Rage’ and as their ‘Rage’ increases they’ll bulk up, hitting harder and throwing bigger in chaotic smash sessions where everything is a weapon. 

Set in a reality parallel to our own, a rare serum is discovered that gives players temporary invulnerability and superhuman strength paving the way for the craziest punch party on the planet: OutRage: Fight Fest. A mysterious eccentric billionaire will grant you entry to the fist-fighting showdown in exchange for the rights to harvest your Rage!

“We really wanted to give players the opportunity to party together in a way that was fun and didn’t involve the time sink that most multiplayer games require.” Said Jason Avent, Founder of UK based Hardball Games. “We wanted to put them straight at the heart of the battle. Making the game easy to get into and enjoyable in short sessions, but also offer a depth of gameplay to those looking to be more strategic in wrangling the chaos of 16 players, all fighting for victory at once.” He continued.

Already two years into its development, the early access version of the fun and frenetic game includes; a 16-player ‘Knockout’ mode and a 4×4-player and team-mode called ‘Domination’; set in two arenas: Dockyard and Construction Site, both just waiting to be destroyed. With a strong focus on party-play, contenders will be able to host custom games and share them with friends so they can battle together. While those wanting to hone their fight skills can learn the ropes and practice combos either in training mode or with battle bots in time-limited practice challenges.

Ahead of early access launch in July, wanna-be contenders can check out the latest on the game in Steam’s upcoming Next Fest at 18:00 GMT/10AM PST on June 10, or play the new game demo right now: OutRage: Fight Fest on Steam (steampowered.com)

This two-mode teaser gives players the chance to take part in 16-player brawls in Knockout matches where only one contestant can be left standing. They can also try out 16-player, team-based, flag capturing in the Domination mode where they’ll need to work together to capture and control points.  Newbies can jump into the training area or Practice Mode to hone their fighting skills.

About Hardball Games:

A new, independent start-up company based in Brighton and founded in January 2022, Hardball Games is composed of the previous founders of Boss Alien, Mad Atom & TT Odyssey, who have experience creating a range of multiplayer games, particularly for mobile, including CSR Racing & LEGO Star Wars Battles on Apple Arcade, as well as developing Pure & Split Second for console & PC.

Join spirit guide Kena and her Rot companions on their magical adventure on Xbox, with digital and physical versions of the game launching this August

Los Angeles, 3 June 2024: Award-winning indie games studio Ember Lab is delighted to announce that its popular story-driven action adventure game Kena: Bridge of Spirits will be available worldwide on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One for the first time from 15 August 2024. The new Xbox version of the game will feature exciting content including Xbox Exclusive pirate-themed Rot hats as well as a unique Kena Staff and a Golden Rot Skin.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits will also be available as a physical Premium Edition on Xbox Series X through a partnership with Maximum Entertainment. The physical Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Premium Edition will be available at major retailers globally from 15 August 2024, and pre-orders will go live soon. In addition the base game, this physical version of the game will include:

• Official Digital Soundtrack
• Retail Exclusive Sticker Sheet
• Unique Kena Staff
• Golden Rot Skin
• Xbox Exclusive pirate-themed Rot hats

Josh Grier, Chief Operating Officer at Ember Lab said: “We’re thrilled to bring the story of Kena to a new audience on Xbox platforms. As our debut game, Kena means a great deal to everyone at the studio and the team is excited to share Kena’s journey with more players  – we really hope everyone enjoys meeting Kena and her Rot friends!”

One of the most talked about adventures from an indie studio in recent years, Kena: Bridge of Spirits offers players an action-adventure game that combines compelling narrative with exploration, puzzle-solving, and fast-paced combat. The game delivers a journey of self-discovery as Kena, a young Spirit Guide, restores balance to an ancient village in a once-thriving environment.      

Kena: Bridge of Spirits first launched on PlayStation platforms 21 September 2021 and went on to win several awards including Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2021. The Xbox version of the game will also include the Anniversary DLC update that launched in September 2022 which features Charmstones, Spirit Guide Trials, Kena Outfits, and accessibility features. It  also features New Game+ mode, which allows players who’ve completed the game to restart Kena’s journey with all of their previously unlocked abilities, upgrades, outfits, Rot, etc, as well as redesigned and more challenging combat encounters.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits will be available globally on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One from 15 August 2024 for $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99 from the Microsoft Store. The physical Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Premium Edition for Xbox Series X will be available at major retailers globally from 15 August 2024 for $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99.

Pre-order for the digital edition and the physical Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Premium Edition will be available soon.

Ember Lab website: https://emberlab.com/ 

About Ember Lab

Ember Lab is an independent game development and animation studio known for their successful award-winning debut game Kena: Bridge of Spirits in 2021, which is currently available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC. Driven by a passion for telling great stories, the Southern California company was founded in 2009 as a post-production studio by brothers Josh and Mike Grier. Specializing in character-driven animated commercials, VFX, and film production, the studio grew into a boutique advertising agency creating immersive stories with worldwide appeal. Previous projects include the fan film Majora’s Mask – Terrible Fate and award-winning short film Dust, as well as numerous ad campaigns for brands including Coca-Cola and Hisense. 

About Maximum Entertainment Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalogue, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs more than 200 professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations.

Latest lineup includes creator, ultraportable, gaming and mainstream laptops to open up a new era of seamless AI experiences

KEY POINTS

• AI for creators: ProArt P16/PX13/PZ13 portable studios; latest AMD Ryzen^™ AI 300 Series processors and Snapdragon^® X Series processors; GeForce RTX^™ 40 Series GPUs; StoryCube and MuseTree AI apps
• AI for the highly mobile: Ultrathin Zenbook S 16 with Ceraluminum^™ lid, latest AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors with advanced cooling for 28 W TDP in a 1.1 cm-thin profile
• AI for all: All-new Vivobook S 15 is the first Copilot+ PC from ASUS; 2024 Vivobook S 14/16 models now feature AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors
• AI for gaming: New 14″ TUF Gaming A14 and 16″ TUF Gaming A16 feature AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors and new ultraportable design

SYDNEY, Australia, June 3, 2024 — ASUS today ushered in a new era of Copilot+ PCs — featuring advanced AI capability with 45+ TOPS NPU AI engines — during its Always Incredible virtual event at Computex 2024, with the launch of brand-new models across its ProArt, Zenbook and Vivobook portfolios. 

For creators, the three new ASUS ProArt laptops deliver an unprecedented combination of portability and power, with three form factors designed to empower creativity in any environment or setting. The rugged yet lightweight designs allow users to unleash creativity wherever their life story goes. The new model lineup includes the 16-inch ProArt P16 clamshell and the 13-inch ProArt PX13 convertible powered by the up to 50 TOPS AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 processor — one of the latest Ryzen AI 300 Series processors — with up to a 321 TOPS NVIDIA^® GeForce RTX^™ 4070 Laptop GPU, and the 13-inch PZ13 detachable based on the AI-enabled Snapdragon^® X series Platform. These devices will streamline the creative process with the full spectrum of creative tools at the user’s fingertips, including the ASUS DialPad, the new AI-powered StoryCube and MuseTree apps, and the ProArt Creator Hub control centre. 

Design and technology enthusiasts will appreciate the fusion of art and technology that characterises the functional aesthetics of the premium 16-inch ultraportable ASUS Zenbook S 16 (UM5606), which despite being only 1.1 cm thin houses up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and is packed with innovation, from its unique Ceraluminum^™ lid cover to its CNC-machined geometric grille design. Ceraluminum is a new durable high-tech ceramic with an entirely new look and feel.

At its recent dedicated launch event, the new ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) became the company’s first Copilot+ PC. It’s a sleek AI-powered laptop designed for those who demand more, boosted by the efficient power of the AI-enabled Snapdragon X Elite Platform. Existing 2024 models in the Vivobook family — the 14-inch Vivobook S14 (M5406), the 15.6-inch Vivobook S 15 (M5506), and the 16-inch Vivobook S (M5606) — now have refreshed specifications and are all available with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. The new Windows AI features, such as Recall and Cocreator in Paint, will be coming to ASUS Vivobook S 15 on June 18, with the rest of the models receiving a free update to Copilot+ PC experiences when available. The Zenbook S 16, ProArt P16, and PX13 are also all powered by up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. All ProArt laptops include a free three-month Adobe Creative Suite subscription and a free six-month CapCut Pro subscription. 

AI for creators: ASUS ProArt P16 / ProArt PX13 / ProArt PZ13

The new ASUS ProArt AI laptop lineup is designed to empower every creator — whether they are everyday users, outdoor content creators, or professionals — to transform their precious life moments into enduring stories. The lightweight, durable, and powerful laptops allow users to create anywhere, create faster, and create smarter. 

All three new models are Copilot+ PCs and feature the ASUS-exclusive StoryCube and MuseTree apps to enable smarter and more streamlined creative workflows, made possible by the power of fully-local AI. StoryCube is a smart, convenient, and powerful digital asset-management tool with AI assistance for scene categorisation and clip generation, allowing users to effortlessly manage and export the contents of their file library. MuseTree transforms inspiration into imagery swiftly, allowing users to generate more creativity through simple graphical interactions, while intelligently storing and managing their ideas at all times. The devices also include a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to your everyday AI companion. 

The 16-inch ProArt P16 laptop delivers unparalleled creative on-the-go experiences anywhere, boasting cutting-edge components within its premium-feel black chassis that’s just 14.9 mm thin and 1.85 kg light. Powered by a 50 TOPS NPU integrated into the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU that can deliver up to 321 TOPS, it becomes the first AI PC of its kind built for advanced AI workflows across creativity, gaming, productivity and more. Its GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU provides creatives with RTX AI acceleration in top 2D, 3D, video editing and streaming apps. RTX GPUs breeze through video editing tasks 2.5x faster with DaVinci Resolve. Adobe Premiere Pro’s AI Speech Enhance runs 4.5x faster. 3D is accelerated by as much as 6x in Autodesk Arnold, andProArt P16 has access to exclusive NVIDIA AI software like NVIDIA Broadcast, RTX Video, and the ChatRTX tech demo. 

For increased portability, the 1.38 kg 13-inch ProArt PX13 convertible laptop is designed to excel in any user scenario, with a 360° hinge that allows seamless flipping between laptop, tent, stand or tablet modes. Whether creating on-the-go or working from home, its high-resolution 3K ASUS Lumina OLED display ensures lifelike visuals that captivate and inspire. Powered by up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, ProArt PX13 is an NVIDIA Studio-validated laptop, with up to a GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU that delivers over 300 TOPS for an advanced AI PC experience, enabling creators to unlock unique AI capabilities and dive into AI-accelerated workflows, from textures to lighting effects to AI-generated imagery. Along with ultrafast WiFi 7 connectivity, there are extensive I/O ports including twin 40 Gbps USB4 for fast charging and external displays, HDMI 2.1 FRL, and a UHS-II MicroSD card reader for quick action-cam transfers. 

Finally, the ultracompact and ultraportable ProArt PZ13 detachable laptop enables users to experience the ultimate portability without sacrificing performance. Weighing just 0.85 kg, this device packs a punch with its AI-enabled Snapdragon X Series processor, 3K ASUS Lumina OLED screen and Copilot+ PC AI capabilities. Whether working on the go or enjoying multimedia content, the lifelike visuals provided by the world-leading display ensure an immersive experience. PZ13 has dual functionality as a tablet or a laptop, thanks to its magnetically-attached full-size detachable keyboard. The long-lasting 70 Wh battery, IP52-rated durability for dust and water resistance, and an SD slot with a microSD adapter all combine to make this device the perfect choice for ultimate creative mobility.

Additionally, across the new ProArt laptop lineup, ASUS and CapCut have partnered to give users an exclusive free six-month CapCut membership program that provides access to premium features and thousands of assets, giving them the benefits of a flexible editing workflow, magical AI tools, and a stock library. 

AI for the highly mobile: ASUS Zenbook S 16 (UM5606)

A stunning fusion of art and technology, the premium ASUS Zenbook S 16 is a sleek and lightweight ultraportable laptop, measuring just 1.1 cm slim and weighing 1.5 kg. It’s a masterpiece of craftsmanship that, despite its ultra-sleek design, can deliver up to 28 W TDP and 50 TOPS from the NPU in its formidable AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, aided by an advanced 3D vapour-chamber cooling system that’s unique in such a slim device, and which is capable of ultra-quiet <25 dB cooling. In the CNC-machined keyboard area, a novel geometric grille design ensures maximum airflow while reducing dust ingress. 

The all-metal chassis features an outer lid made of Ceraluminum^™, ASUS’ exclusive new material that blends the beauty and feel of ceramic with the strength of aluminium. Ceraluminum is durable and has a pleasantly warm and tactile feel compared to aluminium. The device is available in elegant Scandinavian White or sophisticated Zumaia Gray.

Equipped with a highly efficient 78 Wh battery and a full array of I/O ports — including two USB4^®, USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI^®, an audio jack, and an SD card reader — on-the-go connectivity is seamless. 

Users can prepare to enjoy lightning-fast responsiveness with up to 2 TB PCIe^® 4.0 x4 SSD and up to 32 GB LPDDR5x RAM. The immersive 16-inch 3K 16:10 panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, NanoEdge bezels, and a 90% screen-to-body ratio offers stunning home theatre-grade visuals. Certified by TÜV, with low blue-light and flicker-free technology, it also ensures the highest degree of eye protection. With the six-speaker sound system — unprecedented in such a compact device — the laptop delivers cinematic sound, and AI Noise Cancellation for enhanced conference calls makes sure that calls are clear and undisturbed by the world around them. The FHD AiSense IR camera supports AI effects, while Dolby Atmos provides multidimensional sound. With a 40%-larger 16:10 touchpad supporting smart gestures for easy navigation and control, the user experience is further elevated.

Zenbook S 16 also includes enhanced privacy features. Inside, the Microsoft Pluton security processor creates a protective boundary around critical components to safeguard them from external threats. Outside, the FHD AiSense IR camera supports Windows Hello, Adaptive Lock and Dimming, and Windows passkeys. It enables users to log in to apps and accounts with just their faces. 

AI for all: ASUS Vivobook S series

ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) is at the vanguard of the new-era ASUS AI PCs, kickstarting the new paradigm at its recent dedicated launch event. This 1.47 cm-thin, 1.42 kg-light 15.6-inch ultraportable laptop was the company’s first Copilot+ PC to launch, harnessing the AI power of the Snapdragon X Elite Platform with its hardware-accelerated AI functions and a powerful battery that delivers up to 18 hours of seamless productivity or entertainment. Leveraging this powerful hardware, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 integrates advanced features such as Windows Studio Effects, which adjusts lighting and offers new creative filters to enhance call collaboration, and ASUS AiSense Camera with AI-powered Security, enabling the adaptive lock feature to auto-lock when the user walks away and auto-unlock upon their return, as well as auto-dimming when the user looks away. Furthermore, it incorporates Live Captions which turns any audio that passes through the PC into a single, English-language caption experience in real-time on screen across all apps consistently; and Cocreator, which empowers users to transform sketches into finished artworks using natural language to describe what they want to create. These innovative technologies not only enhance security and privacy but also elevate the audiovisual experience and unlock creativity. The expansive 3K 120 Hz ASUS Lumina OLED display and immersive Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos^® audio system are encased in a premium all-metal 1.47 cm-thin, 1.42 kg-light body that’s built for effortless mobility. The mood-setting single-zone RGB keyboard features a dedicated Copilot key for quick AI assistance to revolutionise work and play. 

ASUS Vivobook S 15 also offers incredible on-the-go connectivity with WiFi 7 and a full set of I/O ports — including two full-function USB4^®, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI^® 2.1, a microSD card reader, and an audio combo jack.

In order to provide the latest AI capabilities to the widest range of users, the existing ASUS Vivobook S lineup has been refreshed to feature up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. The 14-inch ASUS Vivobook S14 (M5406), the 15.6-inch ASUS Vivobook S 15 (M5506), and the 16-inch ASUS Vivobook S (M5606) have all been reimagined for 2024 with even slimmer and lighter designs. Sporting elegant all-metal chassis, these laptops start at a mere 1.39 cm in thickness and weigh as little as 1.3 kg. Alongside their exceptional portability and minimalist aesthetics, they boast uncompromising performance powered by the latest AMD Radeon^® graphics, up to 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, and lightning-fast up to 1 TB PCIe^® 4.0 SSD storage. Enhanced cooling is ensured by the ASUS IceCool thermal technology, now featuring two heat pipes, two 97-blade IceBlade fans, and two air vents.

AI for gaming: TUF Gaming A14 and A16

Also announced today were two new models in the popular TUF Gaming laptop series, the 14-inch TUF Gaming A14 and the 16-inch TUF Gaming A16. These feature new ultraportable chassis designs, up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and dedicated NVIDIA GPUs. Combined with improved cooling and superior upgradeability, the new TUF Gaming laptops are the most advanced yet.

Thanks to their AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, with a built-in NPU capable of 50 TOPS of AI performance, the new TUF laptops can enhance productivity with AI features such as background blur and eye-gaze correction with low power consumption. For creators or gamers doing more demanding AI tasks such as gaming or local image generation, the laptops are accelerated by up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPUs with up to 371 TOPS. Gaming features like DLSS super resolution, frame generation, and ray reconstruction will also run with excellent performance, making for a perfect companion to the 2.5K 165 Hz displays on both machines.

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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, ASUS is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies for tomorrow, garners more than 11 awards every day for quality, innovation and design, and is ranked among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

Tokyo, Japan – 3rd June, 2024 – Kakehashi Games and Don Yasa Crew are excited to announce that their Japanese hip hop biopunk action title, Sonokuni, will have a new playable demo featured during the coming Steam Next Fest on 10th June.

A sneak peak of what’s to come will also be shown during the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on 8th June, including a brand new trailer and track from the game.

In Sonokuni, players will take on the role of Takeru, a lone assassin tasked with raiding a surreal superpower empowered by biotechnology. Join in her struggle to balance the morality of extreme violence against the defence of her own people, in a story inspired by real-life Japanese mythology (with every moment punctuated with a visceral soundtrack from Japanese developer and hip hop group, Don Yasa Crew).

Are you ready to deliver vengeance? Wishlist the game now over on the Sonokuni Steam page to be alerted when the demo goes live.  

About Don Yasa Crew

Don Yasa Crew is a 7-person Japanese hip hop group who in 2019 – during the height of Covid pandemic lockdown in Japan – decided to make a game. With live performances impossible, their aim was to convey their particular have-not-hip-hop style through Sonokuni – a world and story infused with their raw energetic music and a fresh biopunk take on Japanese mythology.

About Kakehashi Games

Founded in Tokyo in 2013, Kakehashi Games is a boutique publishing team that strives to build bridges between East and West. Over the last decade they have helped release over 300 of the most acclaimed indie titles in Japan, including Hollow Knight, Sea of Stars, Dead Cells, Eastward, and more.  As of 2023, Kakehashi Games has become a worldwide publisher as well, with a focus on bringing the best indie games from Asia to the rest of the world. Check their website for more information.

Sales of video games valued at $4.4 billion

3 June, 2024 – Video game consumer sales data released today by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) reveals that Australians spent $4.4 billion AUD on video games and video game-related hardware, a 5% increase on last year’s report. The data details an increase of 11% in a growing digital market valued at $1.67 billion AUD, and stability across traditional retail and mobile gaming sales.

“The traditional retail video games market in 2023 witnessed relatively stagnant growth compared to 2022, driven by increased spend in software across the board, with Hogwarts Legacy emerging as the best-selling physical title in Australia for 2023. The year also marked a resurgence in PC gaming compared to 2022,” said Aidan Sakiris, APAC Regional Manager for Product Marketing & Reporting at Sparkers.

“Further full-game software spend saw a decline of 6% while hardware remained relatively flat. This was attributed to a decrease in Nintendo Switch hardware sales and balanced by the continued growth of PlayStation 5. With the expanding install base of the PS5 in 2023, first-party gaming accessories naturally experienced similar growth.”

“The Australian video game market continues to show resilience as we enter the fourth year of the current console generation, as well as four years post-pandemic lockdowns. Looking ahead, the industry seems to be back on track with planned development schedules, as consumers anticipate a variety of software releases, some of which are expected to gain traction due to the strong install base of current-generation platform,” continued Sakiris.

Aussies continue to subscribe to entertainment in 2023, spending $329 million AUD on video game-related subscriptions. This was a 31% increase on 2022, which was a 55% increase on 2021. Digital sales across full-game purchases and in-game purchases also saw strong improvements, as 2023 saw numerous AAA titles released into the market to support online retailers.

“With year-on-year growth for digital product, Australia’s market grew above the global average of +0.5%. The PC segment grew strongest, driven by performance in Full Game Digital sales and very strong performance in Downloadable Content (DLC). The same segments performed notably well in the console segment: full-game digital sales grew, whereas these declined in the global market. In-game transactions also increased based on the previous year.  As was the case last year, the appetite in Australia for multi-game subscriptions remains above average. In 2023, the growth in this segment was 2x the global average,” said Tom Wijman, Lead Analyst Games, Newzoo.

Traditional retail and mobile gaming saw stability this year, with an increase of 0.5% in spending for retail, and 1% in mobile from the 2022 data.

“The Australian consumer sales data has shown us this year that video games are here to stay. Digital sales are up 11%, traditional bricks-and-mortar up half a percent, and overall, a growth of nearly 200 million dollars over 2022 sales,” said Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA. “Australians love to play video games, whether it be to connect with family and friends, to relax, or for entertainment. Subscriptions are on the rise and are offering an alternative access point to Australians. However, with over $900 million spent on full-game software, traditional retail and online retail continue to be the cornerstone of distribution to a consumer base that continues to grow.”

You can view this year’s consumer sales data, and previous data reports on the IGEA website. You can also view the New Zealand consumer report here.

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net

Note: AUD amounts quoted in this press release and infographic were derived from the average of the AUD-to-USD exchange rate for 2023.

The ONE PIECE ODYSSEY release on Nintendo Switch is fast approachingand players can watch this new trailer to get to know or rediscover the two original characters created for the game, Adio & Lim.

Players will be set in Straw Hats Crew’s quest to discover the secrets of the legendary island of Waford, and get back their powers, taken by Lim, a mysterious young girl with an apparent dislike of pirates. Adio and Lim will accompany them on this journey through Waford and the various places of their past.

The Nintendo Switch version of ONE PIECE ODYSSEY includes the Reunion of Memories additional scenario that can be played after clearing the main game, as well as extra outfits for the Straw Hat Crew such as the Traveling outfits and the Sniper King’s Traveling Outfit. In addition, the City of Water outfits will be making their debut on the Nintendo Switch version.

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY is set to release on 26^th July 2024 for Nintendo Switch and is already available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

For more information on ONE PIECE ODYSSEY and other products from Bandai Namco Europe, please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on X at: https://twitter.com/onepiece_games.

Raises the bar with numerous hardware improvements, including upgraded storage, memory, battery, and joysticks, elevating Windows handheld gaming to new heights

KEY POINTS

• Pre-orders are available now in Australiafrom ASUS E-shop, JB Hi-Fi and in New Zealand via JB Hi-Fi and PB Tech.
• More storage, faster RAM, longer battery life: 1 TB M.2 2280 SSD, 24 GB LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, and 80 Wh battery stand ready for the latest games
• Updated controls and connectivity: Improved joysticks and ergonomics allow for more precise control, while two USB-C® ports increase flexibility
• Improved thermals all around: New fans push up to 24% more air through a third vent, while keeping the panel up to 6°C cooler to the touch

SYDNEY, Australia, June 2, 2024 — ASUSRepublic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Ally X, a new model of its popular ROG Ally handheld game console, is available for pre-order now in Australia and New Zealand via the ASUS E-shop and leading retailers. 

Designed for Windows 11 gaming on the go, the ROG Ally X features the same AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme processor, but adds upgraded storage, RAM, and battery life, alongside an updated chassis for improved ergonomics, cooling, and connectivity. Combined with Armoury Crate SE 1.5, which features a new customisable game library and unified system updates, the ROG Ally X is designed to #playALLYourgames better than ever.

Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, Systems Business Group, ASUS Australia, said: “We’re excited to launch the new ROG Ally X in Australia and New Zealand after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from users on the ROG Ally last year. We have continued to listen to our customers’ feedback, resulting in the new ROG Ally X, which offers great improvements to battery, thermal cooling and storage. We are delighted that this best-in-class handheld console will now be available for individuals looking for a powerful yet portable on-the-go gaming experience.”

More storage, faster RAM, and longer battery life

Built with user feedback at its heart, the ROG Ally X amps many of its crucial internal components. A new 1 TB SSD ensures users have room for all their games, up from 512 GB on the original Ally. In addition, the ROG Ally X uses a redesigned motherboard featuring an M.2 2280 form factor slot, allowing users to more easily upgrade their storage to larger drives than previously possible.

Accompanying this storage upgrade is 24 GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM for more flexibility. As an APU, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme shares its video RAM with the device’s system RAM. With modern games using more VRAM for high-resolution, lifelike textures, 24 GB of system memory allows users to allocate more memory to both the system and the GPU for better performance in the next generation of AAA titles.

Finally, the ROG Ally X has also been outfitted with an 80 Wh battery, double the capacity of the previous model, so users can game longer away from the wall. Despite a sizeable improvement in battery life, the ROG Ally X only weighs 70 grams more than the original ROG Ally, with the weight distribution perfectly centred where the gamer’s thumb and forefinger lie while gripping the device. This keeps it feeling lighter than its 678 g weight, ensuring comfortable play and portability for all.

Updated controls and connectivity

The ROG Ally X features a redesigned chassis in a brand-new black colourway, with slightly deeper handles and a more rounded shape for improved comfort, without adding much thickness to the device. The buttons and sticks are arranged with more ergonomic angle, with a slant to the triggers that makes them easier to press. The macro buttons on the back are also smaller, to reduce accidental presses while keeping them easily accessible.

The joysticks have been replaced with a new, more durable module rated for a 5-million-cycle lifespan, with stiffer springs for a more familiar response curve to longtime controller gamers. The D-Pad has been similarly improved, with more precise eight-direction input for fighting and retro games.

Users overwhelmingly requested more universal I/O, so the original XG Mobile port has been replaced with two USB-C® ports on the ROG Ally X, one of which is Thunderbolt™-compatible for wide interoperability with third-party docks and external GPUs. 

Improved thermals all around

To accommodate the new battery, the ROG Ally X features new fans that are 23% smaller, but utilise 50% thinner fan blades to improve airflow. Two new tunnels in the fan housing direct air up and out toward an additional, third exhaust vent on the upper edge of the ROG Ally X. This new thermal solution provides 24% more air volume to be pushed through the device, cooling not only the internal components but also the touch screen, which measures up to 6°C cooler for more comfortable long-term usage.

Availability & Pricing

ASUS ROG Ally X will be available for pre-order, today in Australia and New Zealand from the ASUS E-shop (AU), JB Hi-Fi (AU/NZ) and PB Tech (NZ). 

SPECIFICATIONS – ASUS ROG Ally X

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About ROG

Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, system components, laptops, desktops, monitors, smartphones, audio equipment, routers, peripherals and accessories. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. To become one of those who dare, learn more about ROG at http://rog.asus.com.