The Undying mission is currently playable in the Free Starter Pack for new players and as an Elusive Target for HITMAN World of Assassination players until the 21st of April
(Copenhagen, Denmark) –April 15, 2024 – IO Interactive, the independent video game developer and publisher behind the internationally acclaimed HITMAN franchise shares today an infographic, providing some insights on how players have been fairing in their attempts to eliminate the evasive Mark Faba (aka two-time BAFTA winner Sean Bean), in The Undying mission.
With one week left for players to complete the Elusive Target in HITMAN World of Assassination, it surely will be of interest for those who have yet to finish the mission. So far, 52% of players who have tried their luck against the Undying have managed to take Mark Faba down. Some have taken the fast approach, with the quickest completion time running at 12 seconds, whilst some have been playing with their target, leaving The Undying alive more than 3 hours before he met his fate.
With The Undying leaving the Free Starter Pack and the Elusive Target mission coming to an end on April 21st, players still have the time to create new records, change any of the statistics and make a name for themselves by eliminating The Undying.
Alongside The Undying, IO Interactive released The Undying Pack, a DLC which includes: a permanent access to The Undying through an Elusive Target contract in the Arcade mode, The Ephemeral Suit with Eye Patch suit, three items, and cosmetics for the Freelancer Safehouse.
The Season of Undying is at full tilt in HITMAN World of Assassination, with new content coming over the coming weeks such as Curated contracts, Challenges and returning Elusive Targets.
HITMAN World of Assassination is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. The Undying Pack is available for $4.99 USD/€4.99/£3.99 on every platform.
To learn more about HITMAN World of Assassination, please visit the official website.
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About HITMAN World of Assassination
HITMAN World of Assassination brings together the best of HITMAN 1, HITMAN 2 and HITMAN 3 in a bumper package of content that includes the main campaign, Contracts mode, Escalations, Elusive Target Arcades and featured live content.
HITMAN World of Assassination also includes the ‘Freelancer’ mode, a new way to play on your own terms, that combines rogue-like elements and deep strategic planning with a persistent and infinitely replayable gameplay experience.
About IO INTERACTIVE
IO Interactive is an independent videogame developer and publisher with studios in Copenhagen, Malmö, Barcelona, Istanbul, and Brighton. As the creative force behind some of the most talked-about multiplatform videogames in the last two decades, IOI is dedicated to creating unforgettable characters and experiences using their award-winning proprietary Glacier technology.
IO Interactive will develop and publish the very first James Bond origin story with the working title Project 007 and is currently developing a new IP under the codename Project Fantasy.
The investment into Skybound will be used to develop and market a new, in-house AAA video game centered around Invincible
LOS ANGELES – April 15, 2024 –Skybound Entertainment, the leading global entertainment company known for blockbuster franchises The Walking Dead and Invincible, and emerging tentpole IP Impact Winter, today opened a Regulation Crowdfunding (CF) campaign to the public on crowdfunding platform Republic. This initiative marks the company’s second foray into a public equity offering, previously having raised $18 million from more than 6,000 investors in 2023. More information can be found here.
Watch the investment sizzle reel below:
With just a $100 minimum investment into the company, it is a rare chance for fans to own a piece of Skybound’s beloved IP, with the use of proceeds to help to continue the in-house development of an upcoming AAA video game based on Invincible, whose wildly successful second season has just concluded on Prime Video with a 100% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. The video game will be developed under the direction of Skybound’s new 30-person studio of notable industry vets from Activision Blizzard, EA, Amazon Games, and creator Robert Kirkman himself, ensuring the company is making the best video game in the universe.
Skybound’s innovative approach to fan engagement extends beyond mere entertainment consumption, empowering supporters to actively shape the future of beloved franchises.
“We are thrilled to launch this Regulation Crowdfunding campaign on Republic, inviting fans to join us on this new expansion and venture,” remarked David Alpert, CEO of Skybound Entertainment. “At Skybound, we prioritize fostering meaningful connections with our audience, and this initiative allows fans to not only immerse themselves in the world of Invincible but also to directly contribute to its expansion.”
Skybound Entertainment’s unique business model revolves around amplifying its owned comic book IPs through various mediums, including television, film, and video games, while prioritizing creator and fan engagement. Partnerships with industry giants such as Amazon, Netflix, and HBO underscore Skybound’s commitment to delivering premium entertainment experiences.
Other Invincible universe games the company has published include Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, a critically acclaimed visual novel RPG where you play in a non-canon world as Atom Eve; Invincible: Guarding the Globe, a mobile RPG where you play as Cecil’s number two, developed in partnership with Ubisoft; and most recently, three custom Fortnite maps with a level of production value unmatched by other Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) Creative Mode experiences, outside of Epic’s owned and operated, with exceptional cinematic animations, detailed character models, and original voice-over: Doc Seismic Attacks, GDA Combat Training, and Rise of the Sequids. Investors at certain levels can anticipate perks and rewards, ranging from discounted merchandise to unparalleled behind-the-scenes access and experiences. The offering closes April 29, 2024.
New season-exclusive Mistville gameplay, hero, Activation Medium system, adjustments and optimizations across the board and season Pactspirit adjustments all revealed And anniversary rewards!
Shanghai, China — April 15, 2024 |Torchlight: Infinite, the beloved action-packed RPG game, unveiled a brand new season this weekend, mysteriously titled ‘Whispering Mist’. But what awaits players in the mists and will they be able to make it back alive?
Hosted by XD Games, Saturday’s livestream revealed more about this Cthulu-style season and its roguelike gameplay. Players will step into the mists, exploring previously undiscovered areas, laying their hands on unique power-ups and accepting challenges to earn incredible rewards — if they’re brave enough to face what lurks at the edge of sight.
The home of this eerie roguelike adventure is Mistville — a once quaint town now engulfed by a mysterious fog. Encountering Mistville Residents, players put themselves at risk of infection as they step into the Netherrealm. Once their roguelike adventure is complete, Mistville holds plenty more secrets to uncover.
Treading these cobbled streets not as hunters, but as detectives, players can use lanterns to navigate and manage their Sanity while uncovering hidden secrets within the bones of this nightmarish town. They can throw open the doors of the Sanatorium, but beware, Mist Monsters lay in wait.
Clock Tower challenges offer rewards and Activation Mediums, triggering new abilities and synergies with skills. With enhanced Deduction Records and Activation Mediums, players delve deeper into Mistville’s mysteries, while adjustments to skill slots and legendary gear offer strategic depth. Resistance changes and new Ember types provide further customization, promising an exhilarating journey into the mind-bending depths of Mistville.
Meet Cateye Erika’s Electrifying Transformation
In SS4, our beloved character Cateye Erika takes center stage with an electrifying new hero trait. Witness her transformation into Lightning Shadow as she harnesses the power of Ember tech, gaining lightning-fast movement and devastating damage capabilities. Beware, for with great power comes great vulnerability. Assist Erika in her thrilling adventures as she navigates through challenges both electrifying and perilous!
By unlocking the Golden Season Pass, hunters can gain access to all heroes in the current season. This includes permanent usage rights of Erika’s new hero trait – Lightning Shadow, advanced auto loot, exclusive portrait frames, new teleport effects, and new back accessories will also be unlocked as progress is made.
Exciting Gameplay Updates
This season introduces the Divine Might Trials, a brand new endgame mode. Players must collect Divine Might Emblems from the Six Gods before entering into these deadly trials to prove their worth. Upon completion, players are rewarded with Divine Might Luminous Stones, used to exchange for valuable items at the Spacetime Wanderer’s [Gifts from the Gods]. The Heartless Bounty content is integrated into these rewards, replacing the Desire Bead from the Evil Desire Cube. Additionally, hunters can encounter the Dream Lotus in the Netherrealm, reliving Season 2’s Twinightmare gameplay to earn rewards and utilize Trait Cards and Confusion Cards to enhance their experience.
But there’s plenty more, check out the full list of changes below:
Multiplayer Mode is here: Team up with friends and fight together!
New Season, New Appearances: A host of new gear and upgrades will be available to hunters. Check out the reveal here for more info.
Activation Medium System: A groundbreaking addition simplifies gameplay for mobile players with automatic triggers and support skills.
Skill Bar Adjustments: Enhance strategic choices with reworked passive skill slots, allowing only support skills for increased flexibility.
Early Game Optimization: Streamlined main story progression, Treasure Troves, and adjustments to gear drop rates for improved early game experiences.
In-Game Optimisation: Reduced screen sake, improved performance and improved damage number clarity.
Legendary Gear Adjustments: Early to late-game gear enhancements for a more balanced and diverse experience.
Feature Adjustments: Build recommendation system, improved filter interface, and comprehensive Help manual for better gameplay understanding.
User Experience Optimizations: Smoother drop performance, streamlined item pickup, and clearer damage number displays for enhanced combat fluidity.
Battle Anchor Plan: This and adjustments to the Season Pactspirit Boon offer more choices for hunters, while the refreshed Pactspirit Encounter Pack provides additional value.
SS4 Anniversary Rewards
Torchlight: Infinite is almost 1-year old! To celebrate this anniversary, XD Games are offering multiple rewards for all hunters, including a free back accessory and a free SSR battle Pactspirit. All players need to do to redeem this is log in and they can claim these incredible goodies!
Season Launch Date
Mark your calendars! Torchlight: Infinite Season SS4 “Whispering Mist” goes live on April 18th at 7pm PDT, delivering an electrifying experience like never before. Enter Mistville, if you dare!
XD Games
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.
XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
Life might suck, but at least you aren’t living in the NetherWorld!
Barcelona, Spain – 15th April 2024. SelectaPlay is excited to announce a new global digital and physical publishing deal for Hungry Pixel’s dark-humoured 2D action-adventure narrative game NetherWorld. Coming to PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eStore and physical boxed edition, will take you on a crazy adventure full of sex, drugs and . . . worms!
Since smashing its Kickstarter funding target, developer Hungry Pixel has been busy creating a unique narrative adventure experience with NetherWorld. Follow the story of the crestfallen protagonist Medoo, the weird jellyfish, after being abandoned by his wife. While drowning his sorrows at the bottom of a vodka bottle, Medoo finds himself lost in a surreal and twisted land and must journey through a dark and decadent land full of filthy creatures and quirky fellow travellers.
Watch the new gameplay trailer for NetherWorldbelow:
NetherWorld features:
A twisted story – Journey through a disturbed land where cokehead mages, entrepreneur prostitutes, mobsters, sociopath kids, old perverts and many more quirky characters look to fix the pieces of your broken life, or at least to try to. (spoiler – most of them will make things worse!)
Crazy minigames – Earn money and other useful items by participating in drinking competitions, dabbling in amorous encounters (!), shooting stuff, or controlling a bionic tick called Joe through filthy underground rogue-like dungeons. Complete quests during the story and be rewarded with special hats, masks, weapons, and other mission items.
Bonkers boss fights – Time to kick some twisted asses! Survive savage boss encounters during your crazy adventure by using all kinds of guns, weapons and environmental objects… or brave it totally unarmed!
NetherWorld, published by SelectaPlay and developed by Hungry Pixel, will be released digitally in 2025 for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. A special physical boxed edition will also be available for Nintendo Switch. Fans can add NetherWorld to their Wishlistnow
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About Hungry Pixel
Hungry Pixel is a small indie game studio based in Spain. They’re currently developing a dark and bizarre adventure called NetherWorld.
About SelectaPlay
SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats in Europe and worldwide.
About SelectaVisión
SelectaVisión is a video publishing company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalog includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies.
When one thinks of the post-apocalypse, it almost always involves some form of nuclear destruction, plague, or even zombie threat as the survivors struggle to continue living in a world that wants them dead. Usually these are set in a North American city or greater region, sometimes in Europe, but what about a place where the wildlife wants to kill its residents even on a normal day? Few games take advantage of Australia and the unique aspects the continent provides, even less in a post-apocalyptic Australia. So when indie developer Drop Bear Bytes worked hard to put out a CRPG called Broken Roads, where players have a moral compass, choices to make, and a world to survive in all while exploring Western Australia, it seemed like a perfect chance for something new. If only the game’s name didn’t end up having a double-meaning in the end.
Story
Players begin Broken Roads by selecting from one of four origin stories that dictates their starting location and how they will spend their first hour or so with the game as each origin story features a different starting circumstance and can provide extra dialogue checks, unique services, or interactions with characters down the line, as well as a personality test. This personality test is rather important as it plays a key role in one of Broken Roads’ more interesting features, the Moral Compass. Rather than things being good or evil, or even shades of gray, they are broken down into four different philosophical branches: Humanism, Nihilism, Utilitarianism, and finally Machiavellianism. Depending on the player’s answers to the quiz they’ll end up with a “golden arc” that highlights their character’s worldview and often provides dialogue choices related to it. For example, the humanist might want to invite the devastated survivors of a group into their town even if it means the survivors end up being turned into basically slaves or tell them to take their chances out in the wild rather than fall so low as to deal with that. Along those same lines, the nihilist option might be crossed out entirely, with the game giving players the option to hide unselectable dialogue prompts if they so choose. There are occasionally dialogue choices that bridge the gap a bit and let player’s swing their viewpoint a bit in different directions or even narrow theirs even further, though these are rare and don’t seem to make significant swings outside of a couple specific choices.
Regardless of the player’s moral compass and origin story, they’ll eventually find themselves saddled with a group of survivors on the run from a terribly powerful force and seeking refuge in one of the safest and well-supplied locations close-by only to find themselves embroiled in a bit of a dispute between who the next mayor should be. Things come to a head during a debate that sees a massive reveal about the grander world of Broken Roads, before opening players up to the world and allowing full exploration to find out who attacked them and far more than that along the way, including a number of solid twists in the latter half. If only the road there weren’t as broken as the name suggests, littered with bugs, glitched quests, and progress stopping bugs that required not one, but two complete restarts of the game from the beginning to get through.
Broken Roads’ storyline is an interesting one and seems to do a fairly good job exploring an untouched location such as Australia. Not only is there a “slang” encyclopedia during conversations with characters, but the interactions can have some rather surprising results. Certain dialogue options might have dire consequences without the player’s knowledge, only coming into play an hour later into the game or changing how a character sees the player. Even combat interactions can be avoided in nearly every case, with players able to flee random encounters and even scripted ones if they so choose.
Unfortunately, despite having a moral compass mechanic and so many variations on the ways various events and quests can play out, including multiple endings with these variations, Broken Roads’ characters and companions can be incredibly lacking. That being said, the few larger locations that feature NPCs with their own stories that actually play out and don’t bug out are quite interesting, ranging from spiritualism, dictatorship, militarism, and more. Seeing these locations all try to survive under different types of rules is interesting, especially when players can have a role in things. It is clear that Drop Bear Bytes has done their best to write many of these characters as interesting as possible as some of the best parts of the game come from having debates or unique interactions with the residents of these towns, especially one that involves solving some quiz questions to enter. There are plenty of characters to interact with in the devastated land of Western Australia and the writing certainly lives up to the task to make these characters feel unique, at least when they don’t bug out.
It is rather unfortunate though that, beyond the initial introduction to many of the companions in the game, there is very little opportunity to actually interact with them in any meaningful way or learn about them. A few are given some extra writing here and there, or chime in if they are in the player’s party, but otherwise the companions are incredibly forgettable, something that is a disappointment in a CRPG like this. In fact, one of my companions seemed perpetually pissed at my character despite literally saving their family and completing a quest for them while another couldn’t be happier to see me despite doing nothing for the man. Perhaps it plays into the moral compass, but this isn’t indicated plainly.
Along these same lines, while many CRPGs feature various skill checks that require a player to have a certain attribute to “succeed” an action, rather than giving players a potential percentage Broken Roads appears to make use of a pass/fail system. This means if a skill check says that an action is going to be “Normal”, if the player doesn’t have enough points attributed to said skill, then it’ll fail. Every single time, even given reloads. Perhaps this was done to avoid save-scumming, but considering once the game opens up fully they are given access to an NPC that will allow them to reset their character’s stat point distribution free of cost, this is a strange choice to make. It is worth noting that the game does feature something called a “punt” system that is stated to allow players to have some extra advantage during skill checks if they invest enough points into their punt ability, however outside of combat these seem to have no effect in actual skill checks, with players better spent investing points in skills directly rather than punt.
Now, onto the bugs that make Broken Roads feel broken. As mentioned before, these can range from making side-quests completely uncompletable or complete on their own, with players seemingly giving objects to characters that they do not have or finding NPCs stuck in dialogue loops and non-intractable as a result or even finding NPCs in random locations, talking to characters that aren’t anywhere near them or even in the same town. On more than one occasion an NPC would ask for items, then vanish from the game entirely without any hint in the incredibly non-player friendly journal about their location or if the quest just bugged out. Similarly, while many quests have different outcomes and ways to tackle them, completing a quest can entirely remove the option to talk to or use an item with certain characters as a result. On the more severe side of things, progression bugs can be quite dire and throughout my time with the game, required two entire starts from scratch. This involved a bug that completely disabled any form of user interface and movement after a certain date in the game, even reloading far earlier into the game and making it to that same point resulted in a complete lockdown no matter where my character traveled to. Another saw my characters being locked entirely within a location, unable to interact or talk with any character but able to at least use the menu though this still needed a complete restart from the beginning to resolve.
Gameplay
The bulk of what Broken Roads has to offer comes in the form of its story content and, as mentioned before, the moral compass and how it plays a role in the choices available to players, how some party members react to them, and of course if they can sway their worldview or tighten it even further. Despite being a full blown CRPG, the game is at its best when exploring towns, talking to people and seeing how the world is still continuing despite the destruction, maybe seeing the local emu wander the streets without a care that people are wandering around or a kangaroo hopping through a devastated gas station that has been set up as a fortified position. This can involve taking on quests, as mentioned before, from these NPCs and completing them in a variety of ways, with most quests featuring at least two or three different ways to properly solve them. In fact there are even ways to purposefully fail missions if the reward for doing so is better in the player’s eyes. This level of choice is a nice one, though considering how heavily bugged many quests can be, the actual progression can be quite difficult.
For example, one such quest could see me freeing an NPC from indentured servitude, giving me many ways to do so. My character could smuggle them out with the help of a companion that needs convincing, pay someone else to smuggle them out, do a favor for the mayor to get their debt cleared, or sneak in and steal the contract myself. First, trying to find the most peaceful option for everyone involved, my character tried to be sneaky only for the safe to be locked and the only way to access the code being unselectable. Another option to try and talk to the NPC involved was met with repeated dialogue that wouldn’t even enter an actual conversation, locking out two approaches with bugs. Finally, deciding to see if my player could backstab the mayor a bit by taking advantage of their task to earn a favor, the prerequisite option vanished entirely once the character was smuggled out as a final choice. Broken Roads may have players fight some bugs at times in random encounters but the game itself is just riddled with them and the longer players delve into the content, the more pronounced they become and nowhere is this more prominent than the quest progression system.
When not talking to people or doing quests, players can travel around and search locations, though consoles unfortunately lack the PC option that highlights lootable containers and points of interest. Eventually players can even travel the open world via a map screen to specific locations that they either find by wandering aimlessly or have marked down as part of a quest. While traveling time will pass, though this only plays a role in a few timed quests and events, and they may meet with bandits or hostile wildlife along the way. Considering there is an achievement for never killing a single thing throughout the game, the Broken Roads allows players to flee open world encounters at the click of a button without repercussions and even the rare times that the story forces players into combat, there also the option to flee though this can and will usually result in a different outcome compared to simply standing and fighting.
Combat in Broken Roads is… basic at its best and frustrating at its worst. Combat is turn-based with every character in a fight having Action Points and Movement Points. Players can move a certain distance to either run up and stab/smack an enemy or position themselves for the best shot with a gun, though swapping between melee and ranged takes an action point. Players are given percentages to hit and shown how much damage they’ll do, but rarely does it ever feel more involved than that. Yes, players do get a few special skills that we will keep secret here that involve the expanding world of Broken Roads but rarely does combat ever feel like it evolves. In fact, the game can warn players that they might encounter difficult fights but doesn’t actually show enemy risk or level. Nevermind the fact that targeting enemies in fights can be an absolute disaster in certain locations, especially if they are in melee range of an ally. While it is possible to try and target an enemy by hovering over their HP bar, this doesn’t always work and in more than one fight an encounter lingered on far longer than it should have simply because I needed to lure the enemy away from a tree or move an ally away from them (taken the game’s version of an attack of opportunity as a result) in order to actually shoot them. Of course, considering allies that lose all their health get right back up after a fight is over, it isn’t really of much consequence as long as the player wins. Combine this with simplistic equipment where character’s can wear a different type of shirt and hat to gain some stats and some tools like grenades, molotovs, and of course different kinds of beer to chug for bonus stats, and that’s all Broken Roads’ combat has to offer, often making it feel like something tacked on at times rather than an initially planned part of development.
Audio & Visuals
Broken Roads has a lovely art style that gives everything a feeling as if it was hand-drawn. This includes the numerous character portraits that players meet even if the actual player customization is a bit limited as a result. The areas that players can explore feel satisfying, though it is worth noting that, unlike the PC version, players on console cannot currently highlight interactable objects which can be a pain given the main hidden loot caches in most locations. It is also nice to note that the game is filled with both authentic Australian wildlife, including hostile ones players can eliminate, as well as landmarks. While I myself may not be from Australia, a few of our writers are and can confirm some standout jokes and landmarks that survived the apocalypse. Players can and will encounter everything from kangaroos and dingos to drop-bears (koala) and even mutated wombats ready to take a chunk out of their team.
The soundtrack is fittingly atmospheric for a post-apocalyptic game. The background music is well enough for exploration of towns and fitting for combat even if it could use a bit more variety doesn’t really stand out in any unusual way while the sound effects often feel delayed compared to the action players make. It is also worth noting that the game does have a partial English voice track, though this is incredibly hit and miss to the point that there is seemingly no rhyme or reason why some characters are voiced and others are not. In fact, one character can have an initial voiced line, be silent the next two lines, and speak the fourth. The quality of the voice work is also a mixed bag, as, consulting with members that live in Australia, shows that many of the characters at least sound authentically Australian, a few sound quite odd, especially whenever the narrator chimes up with an incredibly dramatic take on things.
Overall
As someone from a place with eternal road construction, seeing broken roads get patched is a common occurrence and often one that makes for smooth sailing after a while, but in the case of Drop Bear Bytes’ Broken Roads, some of these issues run deeper than the bug riddled experience, what with its lackluster combat, boring companions, and lacking quality of life features. Playing through the game the multiple times I needed to to actually see it through, it is evident that there is a lot of passion here and the writing does show it. The morality compass, the numerous ways things can develop and progress, and the unique Australian flavoring seeping from every crack in this broken road makes it an interesting game that we hope can get fixed in the future, even if some of its issues are far deeper than some patches can fix.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
‘The sincere effort opens even the hardest stone’.
Guangzhou, China – April 12th 2024. Exciting indie publisher 663 Games invites you to embark on a roguelite action adventure inspired by Chinese mythology with today’s launch of Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother for PC via Steam. This anticipated and thrilling game is available to buy now for $9.99USD/€9.75EUR/£8.50GBP with a limited-time 10% launch discount.
Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother is a top-down roguelite action game inspired by Chinese mythology. Join Chenxiang on a perilous quest to rescue his mother, Sanshengmu. To battle the enemies standing in his way, Chenxiang must master martial arts skills from the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. After completing the main story, players will also have the freedom to adjust the difficulty settings to their preference for added challenges.
Full launch game enhancements
The main features of Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother lie in the martial arts factions, magical artifacts, as well as Nuwa’s elemental blessings. There are various styles of thrilling martial art factions to master such as Enigmatic Splendor, Mysterious Flying Stars and Phantom Slash, each providing rich character enhancements during battles, laying a solid foundation for player growth and progression as the story unfolds.
Over 20 magical artifacts are available in diverse categories named Heaven, Earth, Man, and God, offering players a range of active skills and unique passive attributes. In battles, players can also enhance their artefacts with the Destiny Plate Bead imbued with Ice, Fire, Thunder, and Wind elements. When enhanced to a certain degree, the artifact’s initial skills and performance undergo significant improvements.
Nuwa’s blessings, divided into elements of Thunder, Ice, Fire, Wind, and Formlessness, generate elemental products during battles, allowing regular attacks and skills to carry additional elemental effects. Players can freely choose and combine these within battles, gradually achieving increasingly powerful combat growth experiences based on the cultivation of techniques and artifacts.
Embark on an epic journey where players have the freedom to adjust the difficulty settings to their preference for added challenges after completing the main story.
Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother introduces numerous factions and artifacts and incorporates various elemental effects into martial arts and artifact skills. Players will encounter many characters from famous Chinese mythology, such as Princess Iron Fan and the Red Boy Sudhana, all of whom are fully voiced, providing a more complete immersive experience.
Watch the Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother Out Now trailer below:
About Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother
Sanshengmu, a goddess from the celestial court, has been imprisoned beneath Mount Hua for violating celestial laws by giving birth to a boy named Chenxiang with a mortal. When Chenxiang came of age and learned the truth, he vowed to rescue his mother.
With the assistance of Sun Wukong and other powerful immortals, Chenxiang must overcome numerous trials and defeat formidable enemies to finally be reunited with his mother.
Rich combinations of sects and magical treasures – Multiple sect systems will enhance various combat styles. Create your own magical combat abilities by combining a dazzling array of magical treasures with cultivating dozens of items. In each challenge, you always harvest new surprises.
Encounter well-known deities and immortals – On your perilous journey, you will meet many characters from Chinese mythology, such as Sun Wukong, the Eight Immortals, Erlang Shen and Nezha. Be they foes or friends, they will join you in crafting this gripping and suspenseful tale.
An ancient artifact and mystical powers – In addition to the real-time action combat, players can utilise the Lotus Lantern, an ancient artifact to unleash divine abilities like Time Manipulation and Bullet Time. The Lotus Lantern can also permanently enhance your abilities, aiding you in overcoming indomitable enemies!
An unpredictable adventure – As you encounter numerous random events throughout the game, will you challenge yourself or seek stability? It’s all up to you!
Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother releases today for PC via Steam for $9.99USD/€9.75EUR/£8.50GBP with a limited-time 10% launch discount. Fans can still wishlist the game on Steam and download the free Steam demo to play the full first level.
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About 663 Games
663 Games is a newly established publishing label committed to premium and indie game publishing on PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. The company, headquartered in China, was founded by a team of passionate gamers and industry veterans. The team had a proven track record of achieving global success with several titles previously, offering extensive experience and resources for worldwide publishing, along with unique advantages for a strong presence in the Chinese market. The team empathises with the financial challenges that independent developers and small teams often encounter, and 663 Games is dedicated to providing them with funding support to help bring their creative visions to life. As a new, ambitious and trustworthy global publisher, 663 Games collaborates closely with developers to ensure commercial success.
Survive Endless Waves of Cosmic Foes Through Five Golden Age Horror Comic Inspired Volumes – Available Now on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox X/S and Nintendo Switch
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – APRIL 12, 2023 – VoxPop Games, Inc. and publishing partner Ratalaika Games S.L. announced today the release of Outer Terror, the New York Video Game Awards 2024 Nominee, pulp action bullet hell horror game, is available now on consoles around the globe. This horde shooter has you assemble a ridiculous arsenal of weapons and blitz through endless waves of cosmic creatures in stylish roguelite worlds that pay homage to classic B-movies and the Golden Age of horror comics of the 80’s and 90’s.
“With Outer Terror coming to home consoles, it is a true testament to the power of the entire VoxPop Platform,” said Charles Fang Yu, Founder & CEO of VoxPop Games, Inc. ”our middleware toolset offers new independent game developers a pathway to publish their games. Outer Terror is the proof point, we are thankful for the efforts of the entire Ratalaika Games team bringing this game to consoles and we cannot wait to explore all of the fantastic new partnerships this will bring.
Watch the Outer Terror console release trailer below:
Explore Outer Terror either solo or co-op through the decimated cities swarming with deadly cosmic creatures to battle in fierce rapid-fire hybrid combat! Stay alive for as long as you can while attempting to assist the few survivors still alive. Five uniquely themed chapters feature 10 playable characters, each equipped with their signature weapons and special attacks forming an anthology of classic horror stories.
Exploring each massive map, players will discover survivor strongholds and treasures. All culminating with massive boss encounters, elite creatures from beyond, ghouls, robots, and otherworldly abominations.
Outer Terror Game Features:
Battle, Loot and Explore – Discover other treasures and hidden items as you explore each massive map. This may lead to boss encounters and otherworldly abominations.
Weapon Stacking – Each player will experience increasing difficulty as gameplay progresses, bringing the opportunity to upgrade and gain new weapons and powers.
Survive Together – Sit back and enjoy side by side expansive cooperative play in 2-player couch co-op gameplay.
Unique Characters – Players can choose to play as one of the 10 survivors, each boasting unique weapons and skills that will help them in battle.
Nostalgic Art Style – Inspired by B-movies and classic comic books Outer Terror features art from renowned digital artist, Joe Roman (Chito).
Don’t Die! – Each volume of Outer Terror is packed with hordes of enemies set on ending your run, whether it be a vampiric zombie polar bear, the mangled remains of a pet bunny rabbit, or a pack of sentient toasters.
Outer Terror is available now on Xbox X|S, PS4/5 and Nintendo Switch for $9.99 USD.
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Outer Terror marks the first game launch for VoxPop Games’ new peer-to-peer games distribution and development platform, where multiple stakeholders, including the developer, artists, and voice actors, will be paid directly from the VoxPop platform. The middleware toolset VoxPop offers, allows game developers to use equity in their games as an advanced resource for both team profit-sharing and launch marketing.
ABOUT VOXPOP GAMES
VoxPop Games, Inc., is a New York based game development and distribution platform. VoxPop primarily caters to independent developers who may not have the marketing budget to pursue traditional advertising and hiring as a model.
Developers can use VoxPop to find collaborators using a percentage of their future profits, recruiting everything from programmers and artists to build the game, to influencers and celebrities to promote their products. Meanwhile, contractors can trust that their payments will be backed by a robust, and automated system which will keep their employers’ honest months or years after the project’s completion.
VoxPop is part of the NYC Games Industry Council and collaborates with non-profit groups like the NYC IGDA. VoxPop hopes to disrupt the gaming market by creating systems for smaller content creators to prop up one another.
About Ratalaika Games S.L.
Ratalaika Games S.L. is a video game company focused on porting & publishing great games to the console market. They publish and port games for all consoles including Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Our main objective is entertainment, so come and play with us!
Play 3rd most popular Next Fest game with 40-hour demo ahead of June 2024 launch
April 12th, 2024 – Singapore. Soulmask, the upcoming open-world Survival epic from Qooland Games is thrilled to announce a large-scale global playtest will be available for players to try their luck at survival and domination from May 1st through May 10th on Steam. With 180,000 players with its massive 40-hour demo and reaching 250,000 wishlists, Soulmask cemented its place as the most anticipated sandbox survival title of 2024 with 470,000 hours of gameplay clocked by players of the demo.
As a content-driven open-world sandbox game, Soulmask features a realistic world and survival challenges, with three distinctive gameplay features: Masks, Dynamic Tribesmen and Tribal Management, and a Diverse Physics-based Combat System.
Masks
Mask gameplay is at the core of Soulmask. Masks give you the ability to control most of the NPCs in the game world – possess them, take over their bodies, and transform into anyone. As the game progresses, you can discover more masks that embody the spirit of ancient heroes to unlock many different abilities. Harness the gift of immortality, walk among your enemies concealed in the shadows, fire homing missiles with dead accuracy, and more.
Dynamic Tribesmen and Tribal Management
In Soulmask, you can recruit up to 20 tribesmen to build your own tribe. Each tribesman is unique and has a distinct personality. You might recruit bloodthirsty warriors, dexterous hunters, ingenious craftsmen…or a drunk, lazy alcoholic. Soulmask offers powerful AI and command support, which allows you to set up and manage the workflow of clan members with a high degree of freedom: farming, harvesting, assembly line production, base patrol, automatic repair, and even maintenance. Everything can be automated and customized by you.
Diverse Physics-based Combat System
Soulmask also offers a diverse physics-based combat system for players who love to fight. The game features 8 weapon types and 67 skills, allowing players to customize their own fighting style. For example, the spear in Soulmask has up to 8 specialization skills that can be randomly learned, which can be used as a ranged weapon to pull enemies closer or as a melee weapon to pierce enemies hearts!
“We’re overwhelmed with the incredible amount of support and feedback we received from players who joined us for our massive 40-hour demo during Next Fest.” Said Wing, Head of Marketing at Soulmask. “Thanks to the invaluable feedback from players, we’ve been able to make some exciting changes, such as making all terrain climbable in the game. Even though our team is made up of veterans with over 10 years of experience working on MMORPGs, this is our first PC title, so we are beyond appreciative for all of the feedback and support from players. By working alongside players throughout the development process, we hope to make Soulmask something entirely new for the genre that players want to keep coming back to again and again.”
Players can prepare to step into the primitive, mysterious, and immersive world of Soulmask during the global playtest beginning on May 4th until May 17th and joining via Steam. Players ready to ascend to tribal domination can wishlist the game on Steam now.
About Soulmask
Soulmask is a sandbox game that prioritizes an authentic and deeply engaging survival experience set in an immense and thriving world. As the “last one” blessed with the mysterious mask, players will grapple for survival as they dive into a primitive land steeped in mysterious faiths, carving out a path to ascendance. Start from nothing, explore, build, recruit tribesmen to fortify your clan, and ultimately unravel the mysterious truths hidden behind the civilizations of this expansive and richly rewarding world. Soulmask comes to PC via Steam later in 2024.
CD PROJEKT RED proudly announces that during the 20th British Academy Game Awards, Cyberpunk 2077’s development team received the award for Evolving Game.
The awards took place this Thursday on April 11th at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London to celebrate the very best games of 2023 and the developers who worked on them. The entirety of the ceremony was available live on major social and streaming platforms around the world.
During the ceremony, Cyberpunk 2077’s development team received the BAFTA Award for Evolving Game for their excellence in ongoing developer support. Maciej Włodarkiewicz (VP, Central Production), Agata Tokarska (Acting Lead Producer), Tomasz Herbrich (Publishing Tech QA Acting Lead) and Monika Janowska (Senior Producer) from CD PROJEKT RED took to the stage to receive the award.
‘I’m so happy to be here and this is such a special award for us, because it was quite a bumpy road for us, to be frank. I wanna thank all of my team, not only the development team that we are on behalf of here today, but also other teams supporting us’ – said Maciej Włodarkiewicz during his acceptance speech, adding that without the Cyberpunk 2077 community getting this recognition would not be possible.
The awards ceremony can be rewatched on BAFTA’s official channel on YouTube.
Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, as well as the latest release Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition are available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. For more information about the game visit the official website, Facebook, and X.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and The Witcher series of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. In collaboration with Studio Trigger, CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V. Players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. The game has sold over 25 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with Studio Trigger. Its spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was released on September 26, 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.
Sydney, Australia – 12 April 2024 – The award-winning System Shock remake, based on the iconic 1994 sci-fi action game, has received its highly anticipated version 1.2 PC content updated – adding an expanded ending, a new female hacker protagonist and dozen of gameplay enhancements.
Nightdive Studios’ stunningly faithful recreation of the classic shooter/immersive sim was released to critical acclaim in 2023 on PC.
System Shock’s patch v1.2 features the addition of a revised ending and optional female hacker protagonist, as well as numerous improvements, game optimisations, and fixes. Players who return to Citadel station to face SHODAN — the original rogue AI with evil intent — will be treated to enhanced enemy encounters (including new attacks and behaviours) and updated game balancing. The patch also introduces a new waypoint system for System Shock’s easy mission difficulty mode.
The System Shock remake combines the gameplay of the iconic original game with all-new HD visuals, updated controls, an overhauled interface, and new sounds and music. Nightdive Studios worked closely with many of the members of the original System Shock team, including Terri Brosius, the original voice of one of gaming’s most iconic villains, SHODAN.
System Shock v1.2 Key Features:
Unravel the chilling story of SHODAN’s rise and explore the mysteries of Citadel Station, piecing together the truth in this atmospheric sci-fi world
Face perilous traps, puzzles, and a legion of hostile and mutated creatures — created and controlled by the delightfully villainous SHODAN herself
A newly reworked ending that upgrades the final confrontation with SHODAN!
Choose between a male or female-presenting Hacker protagonist
Enhanced mouse and keyboard Interface and improved support for gamepads
System Shock is available now for Windows PC from Steam (and is Steam Deck Playable), Epic Game Store, GOG, and the Humble Store. System Shock is currently on sale for 55% off until April 25, 2024.
System Shock releases on 21 May 2024, available in both physical and digital formats on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game will be released in digital format only on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
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About PLAION
PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, sixteen regional publishing offices, three game publishing labels including Deep Silver, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe. Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences. PLAION is an Embracer Group company.
About Nightdive Studios
Based in Vancouver, Washington, Nightdive Studios is a dedicated team of industry veterans committed to restoring the classic PC game titles of the past and making them accessible to a new generation of gamers. Hit titles from Nightdive Studios include System Shock 2, System Shock Enhanced Edition, the remastered Turok trilogy, Shadowman Remastered,PowerSlave Exhumed, and Quake II. Nightdive Studios’ full-fledged remake of the iconic System Shock released on May 30, 2023. Nightdive Studios is a subsidiary of Atari, Inc. More info can be found at the company’s website at www.nightdivestudios.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/NightDiveStudios, or via X (Twitter) at @NightDiveStudio.
