• The French Tennis Federation is pleased to announce the new edition of 2024 Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault, with the Final Stage scheduled on May 25th.
• Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault competition is played on Tennis Clash, the popular mobile game exceeding 150 million downloads and published by Wildlife Studios, recently stood out by being among the selected games for the Olympics Esport Series in 2023. 
• For the first time, a wild card is granted to a former professional tennis champion: Gilles Simon. After casting on the tournament last year, the former ATP number 6 and Davis Cup winner decided to swap his racket for a smartphone to challenge the best international players!
• The Open Qualifiers gathered over 547,000 players on Tennis Clash, across 215 territories with 7,690,642 matches played, making Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault 2024 one of the largest competitions in mobile gaming and the sports world. 
• The 8 qualified players are now known and will compete, for the first time in public, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in a brand new exceptional place: the auditorium of Roland-Garros. 
• The 5,000€ Prize Pool for Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is split between the winner and the runner-up.

Paris, France – 2024 May, 16th – The world’s largest eTennis tournament returns this year with its 2024 edition. Proud of the growing appetite in the past editions, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirms once again its willingness to elevate esports in the tennis world to reach the biggest competitive stage level. The four Open Qualifiers are now closed, the eight qualified players will meet on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Roland-Garros to compete for the World champion title.

With over 547,000 players participating in the Open Qualifiers from 215 territories, the 2024 edition had already made Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault one of the largest competitions in mobile gaming and the sports world. For the past 2 years, the tournament has been held on the mobile game Tennis Clash, whose success is now undeniable with over 150 million downloads and 5 million monthly active users.
Besides, this title developed by Wildlife Studios recently stood out by being among the selected games for the Olympics Esport Series in 2023; a new recognition matching with the growing development of virtual sports. Aware of this evolution, Roland-Garros continues to establish itself as a leading player in this field, inspiring the three other Grand Slams tournaments to offer their own virtual competition on Tennis Clash. The synergy between the game and the Parisian Grand Slam intensifies even more each year with the reproduction of the Philippe-Chatrier court and the exclusive Roland-Garros outfits created specifically for the 2024 edition.

On May 25th, 2024, eight competitors will face off during the Final Stage at Roland-Garros to claim the champion’s title! The two finalists will share the 5,000€ prize pool. William “Fozzy” Foster, winner of the last two editions, will defend his title against the four challengers from the Open Qualifiers and against the top female player from the first one. The last two spots are reserved for Wildcards: the first awarded to the best player from Handigamers association and the second given to Gilles Simon. After casting the 2023 Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault, the former ATP world number 6, Davis Cup winner and recently joined Daniil Medvedev’s team, makes history by becoming the first professional tennis player to take part in an esport Final Stage, bringing together those two worlds. 

The following 8 qualified players will first experience exclusive support with GameWard, an esport club offering one of the best performance ecosystems in France, before they meet for the Final Stage to determine the champion of this 2024 edition : 

• William Foster “Ƒøƶƶу” (UK) – Back-to-back champion.
• Gilles Simon (FR) – Wild card n°1, former top 6 in the world and newly appointed coach of Daniil Medvedev.
• Tony Pilarski “Ivar” (FR) – Wild card n°2, best player of the Handigamers association.
• Adjua Boucher “RenaPower” (USA) – Best player of the first Open Qualifier.
• He ShengHao “Kafe” (CHN) – Finalist 2023 and silver medalist at the Olympic Esport Series 2023.
• Alessandro Bianco “ΔLEX” (IT) – Winner of the second Open Qualifier.
• Marc Antoine “MarcAntony” (QUE) – Winner of the third Open Qualifier
• Hizir Balkanci “Hizir” (TUR) – Winner of the Grand Tour (qualifier reserved for the top players of Tennis Clash)

This year, the audience will be able to experience the competition on-site at Roland-Garros in addition to the Twitch livestream for those who cannot attend. Hosted by exceptional casters on the Samuel Etienne’s Twitch channel, a famous french TV host, and supported by its new title partner Renault and official partner Mastercard, the show will combine the intensity of the matches with highlights around tennis, surrounded by prestigious guests.

For the first time, the Final Stage of Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault will take place at the heart of the brand new auditorium of Roland-Garros.

Just inaugurated, this venue designed to host prestigious events throughout the year will open its doors to the public, for the first time ever, during the Final Stage of the world’s largest eTennis tournament. With a capacity of over 350 spectators and the players on stage, the event reaches a new level worthy of the biggest esports stages, allowing fans to share their passion and experience an intensity like never before.

Through its support to Handigamers, a French association providing disabled people with assistance to keep playing video games, and its reserved spot for the top female talent, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault reaffirms its commitment to be the most inclusive eTennis tournament. Moreover, the FFT will convert the points scored during the 31 matches of the Final Stage into a donation to Handigamers, contributing €15 per point.

About Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault

Launched in 2018, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is the world’s largest and most inclusive eTennis tournament. The competition offers four open Qualifying tournaments accessible for free directly through the Tennis Clash application. The Final Stage brings together eight players ; the four qualifiers will face the defending champion, the top female player from the first Open Qualifier, and the two wild cards for Gilles Simon and Handigamers’ player. It will take place at Roland-Garros on Saturday May 25th. Since 2022, the competition has been played on the most popular mobile tennis video game, Tennis Clash, published by Wildlife Studios. With this new format, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault strengthens its position as a leader on the global eTennis scale.

Tear into hordes of enemies alone or with friends with new levels, challenges and more!

AALBORG, Denmark – May 16, 2024 – 3D Realms and Pet Project Games are thrilled to announce that RIPOUT, the co-op sci-fi horror FPS, will exit Steam Early Access for PC on May 28, 2024! Traverse (not-so) abandoned spaceships filled with terrifyingly deadly monstrosities. Take down these mutant horrors alone or with a squad of up to three, tearing through enemies as you search for Sanctuary, the last bastion of humanity.

As you sweep the forbidding hallways of derelict starships, you’ll encounter genetically altered beings that can attach smaller mutants to their bodies. Luckily, you can harness the power of your enemies with the Pet Gun, using their own biotech to tear through the most formidable defenses!

Equip multiple weapons and abilities as you embark on a dangerous journey through space unraveling the fate of humanity. Will you find Sanctuary in time – or will you perish alongside the rest of Earth’s inhabitants?

RIPOUT’s 1.0 release includes new levels and the brand-new Kill Zone objective type, as well as a variety of balancing and quality-of-life updates.

New 1.0 Features

• Eight new levels for players to explore
• New Objective Type – Kill Zone: A new objective where players must eliminate a specific number of enemies at a certain section of the level
• Improved balancing for enemy health and damage based on player count and sector progress
• Quality-of-life updates, including sensitivity settings for keyboard and controller, the ability to toggle ADS, and more
• Cloud saves

For more on RIPOUT, visit the official RIPOUT website, follow the game on Twitter, and join the official Discord community.

About 3D Realms

Redefining AAA – Action, Attitude, Adrenaline, 3D Realms has rocked the world for almost 30 years by publishing unforgettable, iconic games like Duke Nukem, Terminal Velocity, Shadow Warrior, Death Rally, Max Payne, and more recently Ghostrunner, Ion Fury, Cultic, Tempest Rising, Phantom Fury and RIPOUT.

Led by industry veterans, 3D Realms is a proud member of Saber Interactive, with a mission of publishing games for grownups. Unapologetic and uncompromising, we’re not afraid of being who we are and being damn good at it – for everyone’s benefit. For more information, visit 3drealms.com.

About Pet Project Games

Pet Project Games is an indie video game company founded in January 2020. It consists of seasoned developers that have many years of experience in the gaming industry, developing multiple projects together. While working on these projects, they realized they could take the gaming experience to the next level and offer a new game. As passionate gamers and fans of classic video games, they are developing RIPOUT, their most ambitious project to date.

Mirror’s Edge meets Fall Guys in the Ultimate Competitive Parkour Showdown on PC, new Supermoves demo will be available from June 10th Makea Games announces collaboration with Finnish Musician Olli Heino to score the Supermoves soundtrack

Tampere, Finland, 16th May 2024: Get ready to challenge your limits and unleash your inner parkour master – Makea Games today announce a new playable demo for Supermoves! The demo will be available from June 10th, starting with its debut at Steam Next Fest. In addition, the studio is also proud to announce their partnership with Finnish musician Olli Heino who has composed an original soundtrack for the game. 

The ultimate action sports experience, Supermoves throws players into a thrilling world of freerunning with eight exhilarating game modes for an unforgettable multiplayer party. Go head-to-head with up to 40 players in heart-stopping races and last-man-standing battles, such as Sprints, Circuits, avoiding the Rising Tide and clashing in the explosive PvP Bomb Tag – all with a parkour twist.

You can chain any game mode together into a playlist-based Royale or Tournament. Gain a competitive edge by honing your skills in the single-player Career Mode to become the supreme freerunning champion! 

Beyond the thrilling race action, ignite your creativity with the Makea Editor. This intuitive feature empowers players of all skill levels to become game creators, building anything from pulse-pounding races to chill hangout spots. Choose from a diverse selection of eight game modes and multiple environments to seamlessly integrate them into your level and create your own competitions. Publish your creations to the ever-expanding Supermoves universe, a vibrant online hub showcasing player-created content for the whole community to experience.

From the adrenaline-fueled excitement of competition to the creative sandbox of the Makea Editor, Supermoves fully immerses players into the game world through the entrancing music of Finnish musician Olli Heino and engaging sound design by Red Stage Entertainment. Olli Heino’s original score blends rhythm, rock and synth to create a captivating and ambient gaming experience. 

The soundtrack will be available as part of the Deluxe Edition upon launch.  

Of this collaboration Tomi Toikka CEO & Creative Director at Makea Games commented: “Music is a vital part of the parkour experience in Supermoves. With Olli, we managed to find an extraordinary partner who not only deeply understood our vision for the game, but is helping us elevate it throughout the experience with unique music that adapts to every situation in the game.”

Olli Heino added “The opportunity to work in collaboration with Makea Games has been an incredible experience for me. I’m proud and very happy to have been part of the team’s strong and unrelenting vision in creating a thrilling and unique game that is Supermoves.” 

Key Game Features: 

• Freerun Your Way: Master immersive first and third-person parkour mechanics. Grind rails, leap from trampolines, wall run, trapeze and pull off epic flips in a playground of acrobatic possibilities.
• Massive 40 Player Online Mayhem: Face off against dozens of players in pulse-pounding online matches across eight thrilling game modes across an endless supply of developer and player-created levels. 
• Eight Thrilling Game Modes: Brave the ever-growing danger zone in Rising Tide, conquer classic Sprint and Circuit races, or evade the explosive dodgeball in Bomb Tag.  Challenge players to ‘collect them all’ in Loot or showcase your masterful skills in the fan-favorite Obstacle Course. Combine all modes in an epic Battle Royale or a thrilling Tournament to become the ultimate champion.  
• Become the Freerunning Champion: Embark on a single-player Career Mode with classic goal levels, races, and tournaments. Rise from local gyms to breathtaking rooftops in a nostalgic journey that will test your skills to the limit.
• Build Your Parkour Dreams: The intuitive Makea Editor allows you to easily craft your own parkour playgrounds, races, or chill hangout spots. Remix any level or create your own for any game mode and publish for the whole community to play. The possibilities are limitless.

To get a taste of the action and join the growing community already crushing leaderboards ahead of the demo release, players have just over a week left to request access to the exclusive Supermoves playtest on Steam which ends on May 24th. 

The new Supermoves demo will be available via Steam from June 10th following its debut at Steam Next Fest.  

It’s not just a game, it’s a movement… Never stop running! 

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About Makea Games 

Founded in 2022 in Tampere, Finland, Makea Games is a game development studio built on the foundation of UGC (user-generated content), social play, and empowering players. Their core mission is to provide players with the ability to create anything they can dream of, piece by piece within their games, sparking imaginations and unleashing creativity. 

This is achieved by offering intuitive tools and fostering a collaborative online community, essentially giving players an online sandbox to build their dream games in. Makea Games titles themselves are testaments to the potential of their creation tools, being both fun and engaging games while showcasing what players can achieve. Believing in the power of community, Makea Games invites enthusiastic gamers to join their Discord server to playtest, develop games together, and be part of the creative process. 

Makea Game’s current project, Supermoves, the ultimate parkour showdown, is due to release on PC via Steam in 2024. 

About Olli Heino

Olli Heino is a music composer/producer, musician and sound designer based in Tampere, Finland. His 20-year experience spans clients work, solo-material and the band Ember Falls. Founding Pale Bloom Audio in 2023, Olli is passionate about storytelling through music, sound and the possibilities of adaptive music. On a mission to showcase the power of adaptive music in games, Olli works with indie developers through music design, composition, and production.  

The long-awaited followup to 2064: Read Only Memories is finally available to download to your cerebral cortex

Check out our review for Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER here!

VANCOUVER, Canada — May 16 2024 — This is not a drill – indie publisher Chorus Worldwide and developer MidBoss are delighted to announce (after much delay) that retro cyberpunk mystery adventure Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER is available today for PC via Steam, PlayStation®5, Xbox One (X/S Compatible) and Nintendo Switch™.

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER – Launch Trailer

“Just” five years after its initial announcement, the long-awaited followup to the critically acclaimed 2064: Read Only Memories will finally bring fans back to the vibrant streets of Neo-San Francisco filtered through a 16-bit lens. Boasting an all-new story, Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER introduces fans to a new cast of characters… as well as some returning favourites! 

Join ES88, a young esper, as she works to uncover a dark secret lurking in Neo-San 

Francisco. Employed by MINERVA, a powerful organization specializing in information science, neurotechnology, and extrasensory phenomena, ES88 has been tasked with tracking down the mysterious psychic entity known as Golden Butterfly, who has been hiding in and fragmenting the memories of Neo-San Francisco’s citizens. Who are they? Why are they doing this? And how will you stop them?

Your ticket to Neo-San Francisco is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation®5, Xbox One (S/X Compatible) and Nintendo Switch™ for $14.99 / €14.79 / £12.79. 

Additionally, Chorus Worldwide and MidBoss are offering a Complete Edition Bundle on Steam, which includes not just a copy of Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER, but also the following additional items:

Visual Works: To showcase the artwork in NEURODIVER, “Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER Visual Works” dives into concepts, designs, key art, animation frames, and much more from the game. Compiled by MidBoss’ creative director and lead artist, John “JJSignal” James, this collection is a must-have for fans curious about peeking behind the scenes at the visuals that would eventually paint the pixelated world of Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER!

Original Game Soundtrack: Dive into the bright, glossy and rich tones of Neo-San Francisco with 22 original tracks composed by Ken “coda” Snyder. Let the silicon streets of the city come to life in your ears as each song sets the hearts of classic Yamaha FM chips on FIRE! Long live the power of FM synthesis!

Instruction Manual: Step back into the golden era of gaming when every game came with a manual! This Digital Game Manual doesn’t just show you how to play the game, but provides beautiful and detailed info about the world of Neo-San Francisco in 2070. Learn about the mysterious MINERVA, meet ES88 and her friends and colleagues, and reunite with old friends like Turing.

And as an added bonus to celebrate NEURODIVER’s long-awaited launch, we’re delighted to reveal that the game is currently available at a special 10% discount – but hurry, the discount ends on May 22nd!

Physical Editions

And if a digital trip to the cyberpunk world of NEURODIVER doesn’t quite cut it for you, why not get your hands on a physical copy of the game – available on October 29 , courtesy of the good people at Serenity Forge?

Standard Edition

The standard edition includes a physical copy of the game for PlayStation®5 or Nintendo Switch™, an illustrated inner cover sheet, a soundtrack download card, and an instruction manual that will come in handy for aspiring espers.

Collector’s Edition

The collector’s edition comes in a large Collector’s Edition box and includes everything in the standard edition, plus a full-size artbook, prismatic sticker sheet, double-sided acrylic charm, and a unique plushie featuring the Neurodiver itself!

About Chorus Worldwide

Chorus Worldwide is a global publisher composed of gaming veterans with experience at world-renowned companies including Microsoft, Grasshopper Manufacture, and Electronic Arts. Originally created to guide indie developers into the rapidly growing Asian markets, Chorus now works with talented developers across the world, including Argentina, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to launch games globally, finding huge success in titles like the acclaimed Coffee Talk, and the Asian releases of The Room and The Room Two.

About MidBoss

Based out of San Francisco (although not the Neo kind), MidBoss aims to make the world better, safer and more inclusive for marginalized people, especially those across the gender and sexuality spectrum, by creating cool experiences through games and other forms of media which diversify representation, as well as becoming a platform for queer content around the world.

Roll into physics-based summer fun with friends across a variety of outrageous local multiplayer and solo game modes, coming May 31 to Xbox Series X|S!

AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands – May 16, 2024 – Wanna beat the summertime heat? Then grab some friends and dive into Pool Party, out today for $19.99 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC. The game will also arrive on Xbox Series X|S on May 31. Developed by Lakeview Games and published by Mindscape, Pool Party is a laugh-out-loud, local multiplayer arcade game where up to four players can go head-to-head in chaotic, physics-based, sports and brawl game modes.

Jump into a wave of fun at the Pool Party resort! Battle with friends or solo across a variety of wacky and competitive game modes, including Pool, Idol, Sumo, Free-for-All and more.

These pool balls aren’t just adorable – they’re also surprisingly agile, reaching ridiculous speeds as they roll and bounce around the arena! You’ll be amazed by the sheer power of a perfectly aimed kick, propelling a rival ball all over the place. So what are you waiting for? Gather your friends, grab a cue, and duke it out in chaotic physics-based party games in Pool Party!

Key Features

• Enjoy chaotic physics-based sports and brawl games
• Battle on your own or with up to four players in local multiplayer
• Add bots to fill out teams and practice your skills
• Master a variety of game modes like Pool, Idol, Sumo and Free-for-All
• Easy to learn, hard to master – anyone can join the fun!

Pool Party is available today on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Steam! Pool Party will be available on Xbox Series X|S on May 31.

The physical edition of Pool Party for Nintendo Switch (code in box) and PlayStation 5 is out now in Europe. The North American release is coming on June 14.

For those who can’t get enough of a good time, Pool Party is also heading to TwitchCon Europe! Mindscape is bringing the game to Rotterdam from June 29-30 in the Indie Game Zone, Booth 2206-IND.

About Mindscape

Established in 1991, Mindscape has been at the forefront of the development, marketing, publishing, and distribution of video games for over 30 years, capturing the minds and imagination of millions of gamers around the world, from children to adults. Mindscape is best known for distributing big brands such as The Smurfs, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Bluey, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 and Story of Seasons, and publishing and developing games like the Windstorm-games, Pool Party, Speed 3: Grand Prix, Prince of Persia 3D, Myst, Riven, Life in Willowdale: Farm Adventures, Games Advent Calendar, and Unpetrified. In the coming years, Mindscape will deliver more fun and accessible games. For more information, visit www.mindscape.com. Mindscape® and the Mindscape® logo are registered trademarks of Elementalz B.V. and its affiliates. © 2024 All rights reserved.

About Lakeview Games

Founded in 2021, Lakeview is an innovative game development studio located in Geneva, Switzerland. Their goal is to create entertaining and captivating experiences for all kinds of players. With their first title, they want to bring people together and express their love for the party game genre. © 2024 All rights reserved.

Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive is celebrating the 15th anniversary for their flagship franchise Killing Floor, first released as a stand-alone game on May 14, 2009 for Windows PC. Originally conceived of by a team of modders, the Killing Floor franchise has horrified and entertained more than 30+ million players world-wide, delivering over a decade and a half of guns, gore, and co-op mayhem to gamers on PC and consoles and will continue that tradition with Killing Floor 3, the highly anticipated next installment announced in 2023. To commemorate the occasion Tripwire Interactive is peeling back the curtain and letting the insides show with the release of the first in a series of Killing Floor 3 Developer Diary videos. The first video drills into the bloody history and legacy of the franchise, and how the studio is  returning to its horror roots with the upcoming sequel.

Watch the first Killing Floor 3 Developer Diary below:

After more than eight years of industry-leading live game support, including more than 25 free content updates for Killing Floor 2, Tripwire has announced the end of active support for the title with no future content planned as the studio focuses development efforts and resources on the upcoming Killing Floor 3. The end of active support doesn’t mean the end of Killing Floor 2, as Tripwire will keep the game’s backend servers and online features active and maintained so players can continue to hone their zed-killing skills, and share their exploits and achievements with their fellow community members for years to come.

As part of the 15 year franchise anniversary celebrations, Killing Floor 2 is currently free-to-play from May 16-20 on Steam PC, the PlayStation®4 system (playable on PlayStation®5), and the Xbox One family of devices (playable on Xbox Series X|S), and is on sale on all storefronts including the Epic Games Store. Fans can check the official Killing Floor social channels for specifics on these special anniversary, limited time discounts which are the deepest in Killing Floor 2 history – including 95% off the base game! All progress made and rewards earned during this free weekend are carried over to full accounts following purchase, including Perk levels and weapon unlocks.

The Battle Begins with Nightfall in Killing Floor 3

Killing Floor 3 is the next installment in the legendary co-op action/horror FPS series. The year is 2091, 70 years after the events in Killing Floor 2, and megacorp Horzine has produced the ultimate army: an obedient horde of bio-engineered monstrosities called Zeds. Now, the only thing standing between these infernal creations and the future of humanity is the rebel rogue group known as Nightfall. This intense first-person shooter puts players in the role of a Nightfall specialist, joining forces with up to five teammates as they battle through a war-ravaged, dystopian future, surviving unrelenting waves of Zeds, unlocking new skills, and building the ultimate arsenal.

Developed and published by Tripwire Interactive, Killing Floor 3 is currently in development for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation®5 system, and the Xbox Series X|S console system, and is now available for wishlisting on all storefronts. Additional product information will be released at a later date.

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Killing Floor© 2009-2024 Tripwire Interactive. Unreal® is a trademark or registered trademark of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere. Unreal® Engine, Copyright 1998-2023, Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved.

*Note: This trailer/video may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar; (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any ESRB rating information on the video player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardize your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future.

Building on its successes of “SOUL COVENANT” and “X8” Thirdverse now offers comprehensive services to navigate the unique Japanese market, including localization, media management, and influencer partnerships

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – May 16, 2024 – Thirdverse, Co., Ltd a leading VR development studio and publisher, today announced its new Japan Publishing Support Services, tailored specifically for international VR game publishers aiming to enter the lucrative Japanese market. This service follows the recent triumph of “SOUL COVENANT,” which topped the PSVR2 Store sales in Japan, demonstrating Thirdverse’s unparalleled expertise in navigating the unique and challenging Japanese gaming landscape.
 
Thirdverse’s Japan Publishing Support Service offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to maximize the reach and impact of VR games in Japan:

• Community Management: Including Discord operations, user support, campaign planning, translation of game updates, and live community broadcasts.
• Japan Media Management: Handling major social media platforms in Japanese, collaborates with key media, and creates impactful press releases and campaigns.
• Influencer Marketing: Engaging with top content creators to craft campaigns that resonate with Japanese audiences.
• Online Advertising: Executing targeted social media advertising campaigns across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, and collaborates with Japanese local game media.
• Merchandising: Managing the production and sale of character goods and organizing exhibitions at major game expos.
• IP Collaboration: Leveraging established relationships with major Japanese IPs for collaboration and licensing opportunities.
• PSVR2 Launch Support: Offering specialized support for PlayStation VR2 launches, including QA and store publishing.
• Localization and Culturization: Providing comprehensive localization services, ensuring cultural and legal compliance, and securing talented Japanese voice actors for projects.

Proven Track Record

The launch of Thirdverse’s Japan Publishing Support Service is backed by a proven track record of success, as demonstrated by the overwhelming popularity of “SOUL COVENANT” on the PlayStation VR2 platform in Japan and Asia markets. This initiative is part of Thirdverse’s commitment to supporting foreign publishers in navigating Japan’s complex but lucrative gaming market, fostering global connections, and enhancing cultural exchange through gaming.

For more information about Thirdverse’s Japan Publishing Support Service and to inquire about partnership opportunities, visit: https://www.thirdverse.io/en/contact

About Thirdverse, Co., Ltd

Founded in 2020, Thirdverse, Co., Ltd is a virtual reality game development, distribution and management company paving the path to the metaverse with two studios in Japan and the United States.

Thirdverse is experienced in sword-fighting multiplayer VR games and has expanded into PvP shooting, narrative-driven VR games and VR Esports. The studio has launched two successful VR co-op sword-fighting games “SWORDS of GARGANTUA” and “ALTAIR BREAKER” for Meta Quest 2 and PCVR. In November 2023, Thirdverse launched multiplayer VR hero shooter “X8” developed by its US Studio. In November, they announced that both titles are joining the lineup for PlayStation®VR2. Additionally, Thirdverse revealed in late 2023 that the core team of the Japanese favorite action RPG SOUL SACRIFICE had reunited with its studio to develop its spiritual successor “SOUL COVENANT” for VR. Thirdverse continues to drive a robust roadmap of VR titles and feature updates scheduled for release in 2024 and beyond.

(C) Thirdverse, Co., Ltd

Embark on a treacherous descent Into the Abyss in the latest expansion for the beloved idle adventure

Tuesday, 16th May 2024, Cambridge, UK. Jagex is thrilled to announce that ‘Melvor Idle: Into the Abyss’, a brand new DLC expansion for the beloved RuneScape-inspired idle adventure, will be available June 13th on PC, iOS, and Android.

Embark on a treacherous descent into the Abyssal Realm in this all-new chapter, and test your might in brand new Combat Challenges to defeat a powerful antagonist, Xon, the Abyssal King.

Created with end-game players in mind, Into the Abyss continues the story of Melvor Idle following the defeat of Bane, which has resulted in unforeseen consequences and signalled the start of a dire new threat. Emerging from the chaos, Xon has seized the opportunity to bridge his kingdom, the Abyssal Realm, and conquer the overworld using his vast and fearsome armies. Players find themselves on the frontline of this new conflict, tasked with the monumental challenge of stopping the seemingly all-powerful Xon before his dark ambitions come to pass.

Take up arms in two new Combat Challenges, designed to deepen the world of Melvor Idle. Venture into The Abyss, an enormous labyrinthine dungeon that is home to increasingly challenging encounters against Xon’s forces. Then, take on Strongholds, a brand new type of Combat Challenge that sees players battling through waves of monsters to reclaim possession of areas overrun by the enemy.

Unlock powerful abilities with the all-new Skill Trees, a mechanic that introduces new gameplay and branching bonuses in each player’s preferred playstyle. Discover the ‘Abyssal Levels’, a powerful new levelling system that unlocks brand new content within each skill for the player to explore and create. Finally, take advantage of two Abyssal Skills – Harvesting and Corruption – to aid you on your quest through the Abyssal Realm. 

Melvor Idle is a feature-rich, idle/incremental game that combines a distinctly familiar feel with a fresh gameplay experience, taking the core of what makes an adventure game so addictive and stripping it down to its purest form. Whether you’re a RuneScape newbie or hardened veteran, tap into battle to conquer brutal dungeons and topple boisterous bosses. Maxing 20+ skills has never been more zen.

Melvor Idle is available now on Steam, iOS and Android. For more information, visit jagex.com.

About Jagex

A leader in creating deep and engaging forever games that empower our communities across PC, mobile and consoles. Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1billion + lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond live operations; our titles are forever games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.
 
In 2022, Jagex expanded with the acquisitions of PipeWorks and Gamepires, bringing its expertise in building forever games to SCUM, a multi-million selling open-world survival title in Steam Early Access & other unannounced titles. Jagex employs more than 600 people globally, and is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Highlights:

• Latest main story set during the Allied Hyakkiyako Academy’s tourism development efforts is now live
• Players can follow the members of the Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council as they confront the dissolution of their club
• Yukari, a new Sonic-type Striker who deals powerful, guaranteed critical damage arrives in Blue Archive

SEOUL – May 15, 2024 – Beloved tactical RPG Blue Archive is primed for spring with the debut of Main Story Vol.5 Hyakkaryouran Episode Chapter 1, titled: “Like the Flower That Wishes to Bloom.” Set against the background of the Allied Hyakkiyako Academy’s renowned Cherry Blossom Festival filled with summer fireworks and hot springs, the story features the Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council, a club that mediates various disputes across the academy. Players will meet the club as it is on brink of ruin and follow Sensei and the members of the Hyakkaryouran as they try to avert the club’s closure and restore it to its former glory.

Featuring tactical combat and a charismatic bunch of characters, NEXON Korea Corp.’s Blue Archive places players in the shoes of Sensei as they rally a diverse group of students to fend off a seemingly never-ending barrage of threats and nuisances that loom over the academy city of Kivotos. As the story progresses, fresh faces will join the ranks for players to recruit, offering tactical gameplay and heartfelt storylines throughout the journey.

In “Like the Flower That Wishes to Bloom,” players can meet and recruit Yukari, a confident, sniper-rifle wielding Sonic-type Striker who is part of the Allied Hyakkiyako Academy and a member of the Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council. Yukari’s Basic Skill increases her damage for 30 seconds and grants her an Invocation every 40 seconds to increase her stats, perfect for players looking for an extra boost. Her EX Skill “Blooming Resolution” deals damage proportional to her ATK to enemies in a circular area and deals higher guaranteed CRT DMG depending on how many Invocations she consumes.

Additionally, Blue Archive introduced a new group story involving the de facto student council of the Allied Hyakkiyako Academy, the Yin-Yang Club. On Tuesday, May 21 at 2 a.m. UTC, players can recruit powerful friends Saori and Hiyori from Arius Squad, as well as rifle-wielding sisters Shun and Kokona from the Plum Blossom Garden for additional support and firing power.

Beyond the main story event, Nexon is also hosting a celebratory webview event for Blue Archive‘s 2.5-Year Anniversary Festival from Saturday, May 18 to Sunday, May 19. The festival organizers will release special daily episodes that cover the festival’s preparations, and players who log in to the game during the event will be able to earn 200 Pyroxenes each day.

Players can download Blue Archive for free on Google Play, App Store and Galaxy Store. For more information about Blue Archive, players can visit the official communities and the links below:

• Blue Archive Official Webpage: [LINK]

About NEXON Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) (3659.TO) is a company engaged in the production, development and operation of online games. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon was placed on JPX400 in 2015 and added to the Nikkei Stock Index 300 in 2017. In 2020, Nexon was added to the Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 45 live games in more than 190 countries on PC, console, and mobile. Major game franchises include MapleStory, KartRider and Dungeon&Fighter. In 2021, Nexon completed the acquisition of Embark Studios AB, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden, developing multiple projects for global release.

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‘A true warrior is defined by their mastery of the blade.’

Kosice, Slovakia – May 16th 2024. Slovakian indie development and publishing company Grindstone is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated one-hit-kill multiplayer sword fighting game Die by the Blade launches for PC today via Steam and the Epic Games Store for $19.99USD /  £16.99GBP / €19,99EUR. Console releases will follow in October 2024. 

Vanquish your foes with a single strike in this brutal and unforgiving 1v1 weapon-based fighting game. Dive into a samuraipunk world and wield a range of traditional Japanese weapons to determine your moveset. Outwit your opponent in intense, tactical battles and master the art of the one-hit-kill.

Watch the Out Now trailer for Die by the Blade below: 

Die by the Blade is a 1v1 weapons-focused fighter where the difference between victory and death lies in a single strike of the blade. Choose your weapon and character combination freely to define your moveset, then do battle in neon-soaked back alleys and ancient forests. Take up arms and crush your friends in local or online multiplayer, or test your skills against unknown warriors in online ranked matches.

Die by the Blade is a game with no health bars — every strike can mean death. Victory in these tense, all-or-nothing matches will depend on your ability to read your opponent, parry and avoid their attacks, and exploit their mistakes at a moment’s notice. There is no room for error.

Your moveset is determined by your weapon rather than your choice of character. Will you sacrifice your speed for the powerful two-handed nodachi? Or will you overwhelm your enemy with a flurry of strikes from the nimble katana?

Choose your favourite from among a range of diverse characters, or mould them into your ideal warrior through in-depth character and weapon customization features. Each character also features minor stat changes to suit certain playstyles.

Die by the Blade is set in a samuraipunk world that fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with cyberpunk culture.

Fight in the neon-soaked streets of the inner city or among the snowy fields of the Japanese countryside. Don historically inspired armour or kit your character out with a cybernetic mask. Each character and weapon features dozens of components, allowing you to perfectly express your personal style on the battlefield.

Features:

• Master the one-hit-kill, parrying, and dodging mechanics to withstand a flurry of blows and cut down your opponents in seconds.
• Choose from a range of traditional Japanese blades to define your moveset and playstyle.
• Take on your friends or test your strength against players from around the world with our local and online 1v1 multiplayer
• Hone your skills in Practice Mode, battle your way through Tournament Mode, or see where you stand in online Ranked matches.
• Explore a samuraipunk world through the game’s arenas: battle in the zen-like calm of a traditional Japanese temple or take the fight to the graffitied streets of the city.
• Make your weapon and warrior your own with in-depth customization features.

Die by the Blade is out today for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store for $19.99USD /  £16.99GBP / €19,99EUR. 

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About Grindstone

Grindstone is a videogame development, production and publishing company with a strong background in game development based in Slovakia. It was founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the successful Slovakian development studio Games Farm to create new opportunities and support game developers in delivering creatively and commercially viable games that can compete on global markets