Join the Smurfs’ village party in this Smurf-tastic party game and set off on an exciting journey thanks to its adventure mode.
Sydney, Australia, 18 March 2024 – Publisher Microids and IMPS are pleased to announce the video game The Smurfs – Village Party, and have unveiled a first look trailer for this game showcasing the gameplay combination of party game and adventure. Developed by Balio Studio, The Smurfs – Village Partywill be available from 6 June 2024 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Papa Smurf is having an extraordinary party! For this occasion, he is asking all the Smurfs to take part in the preparations to make the party unforgettable! Scour the village and invite all the Smurfs to the event, but beware of Gargamel who has heard about the party and will do everything he can to spoil it…
In party game mode, get your friends and family together for hours of fun in 50 mini-games inspired by the world of Smurfs. In adventure mode, set off on a thrilling journey full of quests, meet over 100 iconic Smurfs and explore 10 different regions, from the Smurf village to Gargamel’s territory.
Game features:
Party game:
50 mini-games
19 playable iconic Smurfs
+ 31 outfits for your playable Smurf
6 types of games (sport, quickness, luck, memory, battle and accuracy)
2-4 local multiplayer
Adventure mode:
Original story in the Smurf Village
Meet over 100 iconic Smurfs
10 various environments (Enchanted Forest, Snowy Mountains, Gargamel’s Territory, …)
The Smurfs – Village Party is scheduled for release on 6 June 2024 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
***
About Microids
Microids is a French video game publisher. Founded in 1985, Microids’ editorial strategy now focuses on 4 major areas: adventure games, racing games, retro gaming and games inspired by iconic titles. By collaborating with renowned studios and authors (Revolution Software, Sloclap, Oddworld Inhabitants, Pendulo Studios, Eden Studios, Go Nagai, Charles Cecil, Benoît Sokal, Paul Cuisset…), Microids has become a major player in international video games. Taking inspiration from legendary titles, Microids reaches a wide audience and creates original adventures which give gamers the chance to play as some of their most beloved characters.
About Peyo, IMPS (International Merchandising Promotions & Services)
IMPS is the world license holder for The Smurfs. Ever since its establishment in 1984, IMPS has worked closely with its teams worldwide to develop with success many merchandising programs, retail operations, publishing activities, broadcasting offers, theme parks, shows, video games, online games, official Smurfs license soundtrack… All of which played a part in the global success of the franchise. IMPS is managed by Véronique Culliford, Pierre Culliford’s daughter, the Smurfs’s creator, better known by his pseudonym Peyo.
New Fall Out Boy Track “Heartbreak Feels So Good (Dillon Francis Remix)” available to stream now, featured In TopSpin 2K25 trailer and in-game soundtrack
Today, 2K announced Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz will be representing TopSpin 2K25 as the franchise’s first-ever Off-Court Ambassador, a role that includes contributions to the game’s soundtrack and appearances on behalf of the game as a tennis aficionado and cultural figure. An avowed fan of both tennis and the TopSpin franchise, Wentz, best known as the bassist and primary lyricist of the GRAMMY®-nominated and multiplatinum selling rock band Fall Out Boy, will lend his tennis cultural expertise to TopSpin 2K25, as well as his musical expertise to the selection of songs on the in-game soundtrack. Among other soon-to-be-announced songs, the soundtrack will include a new Dillon Francis remix of Fall Out Boy’s “Heartbreak Feels so Good” from the band’s latest album So Much (For) Stardust which debuted as the No. 1 Rock Album upon its March 24, 2023 release on Fueled By Ramen/Elektra/DCD2 Records. Now available to stream on all platforms, “Heartbreak Feels So Good (Dillon Francis Remix)” premiered in the official TopSpin 2K25 announcement trailer on Tuesday.
Hailed by GQ as the “King of the L.A. Tennis Scene,” Wentz’s passion for tennis is well-documented as he plays near-daily, even while on tour. He has participated in pro-am events alongside top-ranked tennis pros including the recent Desert Smash charity event at Indian Wells and is a long-time fan of the TopSpin tennis video game series, making him the ideal Off-Court Ambassador for the franchise’s resurgence in TopSpin 2K25 which he was able to play ahead of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open.
Of his role as TopSpin 2K25’s Off-Court Ambassador, Wentz said, “Having three of my favourite things come together in an organic way is really special. I love music, tennis and video games so was psyched when 2K gave me the opportunity to get involved and contribute to TopSpin 2K25. The game is sick and I can’t wait to play when it’s out. Working with Dillon Francis on the “Heartbreak Feels So Good” Fall Out Boy remix was a blast as he has a great musical perspective. The song encapsulates how I feel about tennis – it is pure elation and heartbreak moment-to-moment but always undeniable.”
The TopSpin 2K25Deluxe Edition and Grand Slam® Edition will be available April 23, 2024 –up to three days ahead of Standard and Cross-Gen Editions! TopSpin 2K25 Standard and Cross-Gen Editions will be available Friday, April 26, 2024.*Additional information on the TopSpin 2K25 roster, brands, arenas, Centre Court Pass, and more will be shared soon.
Developed by Hangar 13, TopSpin 2K25 is rated G. For more information on TopSpin 2K25, please visit https://topspin.2k.com/.
Hangar 13 is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
Internet connection and online Account (minimum age varies) required to access online features and redeem and use bonus content, including MyCareer, MyPlayer, 2K Tour and World Tour . See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. Some in-game content may require online gameplay to unlock. Online console play may require separate paid platform subscription and account registration. Terms apply.
*Early Access available for Deluxe and Grand Slam® Editions only. Early Access for physical copies of TopSpin 2K25 Deluxe Edition only available at participating retailers and stores in select territories while stocks last. SeeTopSpin2K.com for more details.
Sometimes releases in this industry find a way to align with our own story. Star Wars Battlefront Collection is that type of release. Twenty years ago, I found myself spending countless nights both online and off with the original title (and its sequel later), which in my opinion was one of the founding pillars of online shooters for its era. This collection was kind of just dropped unexpectedly by Aspyr, putting together one of the most successful sets of licensed title of all time on modern consoles. Can these two still live up to their past and find fame with modern audiences? Let’s find out.
Story
I am going to try to compile both titles into one section here as even though there are a lot of story element to both games, that is still not a focus and as a result, both titles are not exactly remembered for the narratives within. Star Wars Battlefront shines light on two great rivalries, which are the Rebels vs the Empire and the CIS vs the Galactic Republic. When I was younger I think I felt there was a lot more weight here, but honestly the first game just uses editing in of the actual movie franchise to make the narrative feel important. This still is a cool effect and better than most other shooters of the era in terms of a story mode, but alas, you may be looking for something meatier when it comes to a story, which will bring you to Battlefront II.
Battlefront II does what the first did not, which is make an identifiable character within the main modes. Players now control the 501st Legion in the Rise of the Empire mode, and must make their way through two different eras as they revisit history. Movie footage is again used to assist with the narration, adding more depth and tying together the timeline properly for the player alongside the standard narration. This storytelling is pretty impressive, even to this day, and stands out on the collection due to its hefty campaign size and replay-ability. Yeah, this isn’t what you came for with either one of these titles in this collection, but its still nice to revisit.
Gameplay
Years ago, when the Xbox 360 was still in its prime, Microsoft put both original versions of Battlefront I and II on the storefront. Both games still exist there to my knowledge, fully backwards compatible, lacking every feature but online and the DLC which was featured on the Xbox version. This collection in some ways feels just like that, but now online is back and some refinements have been put in place to “modernize” the experience. You see, this is not a remake at all, but more of a polished port of both titles, with a few features re-added in to kind of give of it a complete feel. That mindset works for this collection fine, and most hunting nostalgia will be elated to know that these titles still look and play like they did in their prior release.
Star Wars Battlefront may have only launched a year before II, but the changes II made are quite dramatic. Battlefront primarily features a mix of modes such as conquest, where players have to find checkpoints, gain ground of that area, and turn the checkpoint to their side so they can spawn from their new base, basically squeezing the opponent out through “conquest”. There are also standard skirmishes with assault, which are a lot of fun to play. Its sequel is so much more in terms of content. We now have heroes, which add in a super-powered hero from the movies, as well as space battles, one and two flag capture the flag matches, other variations you can customize through the options of each match. Thankfully, the gameplay still feels tight in the sequel. Both play just fine, but the lack of the ability to sprint in the first title as well as other additions made in the first title make II where I spent the biggest chunk of my time. Its kind of like playing the original Sonic and then playing II, where the spin-dash changed the way the game was played. Battlefront is fine and maybe even better than I remembered it, but II just feels like the fleshed out version that truly gave this franchise its legs.
Now the true excitement for having this collection was the mode most returning players will be most excited about, which is online. Sure, the split screen is fine and well made, but this was a cornerstone for an entire era, rivaling Halo 2 and Socom back then – so the importance for the online function has to be noted. Sadly, Aspyr have launched this in a state that is confusing and a chore to play with friends. There are very few public servers, and if you want to play with a friend, there is no way to invite them to your game or even join their server properly, even when utilizing the Playstation 5’s “join game” function, as the wait timer times out, leaving the player with an error message every time. There are dedicated servers that keep the online play fluid, but there is still a lot of lag in most game modes, and even finding named game rooms is tedious due to the separate servers players are randomly assigned to by entering the mode. I finally got some games in by finding friends, but this took over an hour to figure out. These games were better than this then, and its puzzling how this was not the first feature that was prioritized for these ports’ development. Considering Battlefront is known for its online, a lot will be let down due to how much of a mess this mode is in its current state.
Audio
The audio is mostly how I remember it. There are a few bugs that keep light sabers humming in hero matches, but mostly, the presentation of the originals is in tact and that soundtrack is still stunning to see on consoles all of these years later. The voice acting is also fine, as LucasArts original vision holds up, with what were probably mundane narratives enhanced by the performances given by the cast involved. You may not get the best quality out of the audio here, but Aspyr did manage to at least capture the essence of the originals to an acceptable degree.
Visuals
Well, the games look the same? Textures and models are smoothed and enhanced, and the game has no issues staying at 60 frames while playing. Its actually great to see the work done in that area as while not perfect, most of the visuals hold tight throughout both games. There are still some odd bugs such as enemies disappearing and reappearing at random times, and the poor AI kind of runs with this by running into walls or seemingly doing nothing while their model has a freakout of sorts. Not game breaking really, but it does give this re-release a rough texture to itself.
Overall
Star Wars Battlefront II was one of the greatest video games of all time. Its part of my own history as a player. The franchise as a whole is so important to what online gaming is today, so while Aspyr may have came out of nowhere with this collection, it doesn’t make it less important. Sadly, Star Wars Battlefront Collection is a mess right now where is matters most. Online feels like it was stapled together by a small team with little resources, making it hard to recommend this collection without a patch. The nostalgia is there, and we almost have it right with presentation, but those hunting for those feelings of late nights and Logitech headsets will be disappointed to return to a port that feels rushed and lacking where it matters the most.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
It is quite a throwback to dive into Star Wars Battlefront after over twenty years, but thanks to Star Wars Battlefront Collection, that is now possible. Join us as we go through the first hour of the Clone Wars campaign for the original.
STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection – Battlefront Campaign Gameplay
Star Wars Battlefront II is known as one of the best multiplayer titles of all time. Straight from Star Wars Battlefront Collection, check out our gameplay mode that check out hero, space, and standard battles!
STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection – Battlefront II Gameplay
It’s time to relive intense battles from the Star Wars™ galaxy in the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. Jump into thrilling firefights across massive battlefields on the ground, in the air, and in space as the Empire, Rebellion, Republic, and the Separatist Alliance. Choose an array of unique classes, pilot a multitude of vehicles, and play as iconic heroes and villains from multiple eras of the saga in solo, local, and online play.
STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection Developer: Aspyr Publisher: Aspyr Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Release Date: 14th March, 2024 Price: $39.99 USD
Not Recommended – “Star Wars Battlefront Collection is a nostalgic blast from the past, but misses the mark with its included online mode. While it is worth a revisit, this is not the definitive way to play the classics.”
New trailer at The MIX Spring Showcase details launch date for highly anticipated road trip-inspired shooter, playable level at PAX East 2024
AALBORG, Denmark —March 15, 2024 —Phantom Fury, the road movie-inspired first-person shooter starring Ion Fury’s Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison, developed by Slipgate Ironworks and published by 3D Realms, comes to PC on Tuesday, April 23, with console versions launching later this year, as revealed during The MIX Spring Showcase. Fans that will attend PAX East will have the chance to get a quick taste of the Crater Bar level on March 21-24, 2024 at Booth #18019.
Suit up and head out on an all-new adventure as Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison, taking place years after the events of Ion Fury. After awakening from a coma with a shiny new bionic arm, Harrison takes on a new mission: journeying across the United States to track down a deadly artifact called the Demon Core.
Set off on a cross-country trip filled with over-the-top action sequences inspired by classic road movies. Survive shootouts at a seedy motel in Albuquerque, cause chaos in Chicago, and launch an assault on a Los Alamos research facility with Shelly’s exhaustive arsenal of over 20 weapons.
Tackle enemy encounters creatively – and explosively – across each highly interactive environment. Charge in with reckless abandon, wielding the Motherflakker– an armor-piercing shotgun–or take a more calculated approach by monitoring in-game computers and tossing Bowling Bombs toward groups of unsuspecting foes. Each of the over 20 weapons features unlockable upgrades and mods, allowing for a wide array of options no matter the odds Shelly faces.
Utilize Shelly’s bionic arm and enhance her combat capabilities with a suite of enhancements like shock-inducing punches and bullet-blocking shields as she fights against dangerous cyborgs, souped-up soldiers, and freakish mutations. Square off against larger-than-life boss battles and soar through the skies during pilotable helicopter sequences with plenty of explosions to go around.
“Shelly makes her triumphant return in Phantom Fury’s standalone adventure, and we can’t wait for fans to dive straight into the action,” said Frederik Schreiber, CEO of 3D Realms. “After planning this title for over a decade, we’re thrilled to get this action-packed FPS in the hands of players around the world.”
Phantom Furylaunches on PC Tuesday, April 23, 2024 for $24.99, with console version available later this year. Fans will have the opportunity to play the Crater Bar level at PAX East on March 21-24, 2024 at Booth #18019. Follow 3D Realms on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube, or join the Discord for up-to-date information.
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 the Embracer Group as part 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, visit3drealms.com.
About Slipgate Ironworks™
Industry veterans with two decades worth of indie and AAA experience, Slipgate Ironworks™ has contributed to popular titles, including Ion Fury, GRAVEN, WRATH: Aeon of Ruin, Ghostrunner, and most recently, Phantom Fury and the highly anticipated Tempest Rising. Proudly old-school, the team all shares the same vision: “Crafting Intense Gaming Experiences: Bold, Thrilling, Unmatched!.”
Get locked and loaded for a gunslinging action-platformer adventure through the Underwest against the Deadly Sins
NICOSIA, Cyprus – March 15, 2024 – CRITICAL REFLEX and Whistling Wizard are excited to launch the first public demo of Rose and Locket, available now on Steam. Announced with a brand-new trailer at The MIX Spring Game Showcase, the demo features 15 minutes of lightning-fast action-adventure platforming through the Wrath biome. Dive in today and claim your first bounty against the wicked Deadly Sins!
Join Rose, a gunslinging mother fueled by devotion and vengeance, on a journey to free her daughter’s soul from a mysterious silver locket. Master powerful weapons and abilities as you battle through the colorful world of the Underwest, depicted in breathtaking, hand-drawn animation inspired by the works of Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack, Primal).
Rose and Locket is coming soon to Steam. Join the game’s Discord community to learn more, and follow Whistling Wizard on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news.
About Whistling Wizard
Whistling Wizard is a two-person indie dev studio from New Zealand. We have been operating for a number of years together and are currently making our debut on the game space. You can learn more about what we’re working on by visiting our website www.whistlingwizard.com and following us on Twitter at twitter.com/WWGAMINGNZ.
About CRITICAL REFLEX
CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publishing label on a mission: find kick-ass games, make sure they’re at their best upon release, and put them in front of as many gaming fans as possible. Members of our team have worked with a lot of successful indie projects, launched a dozen crowdfunding companies, and now we’ve come together to publish games that we love! www.criticalreflex.com
Wishlist and play the demo today to unravel the inexplicable
Walnut Creek, Calif. (March 15, 2024) – Maximum Entertainment and Polychroma Games revealed today that Until Then, the slice-of-life narrative journey set in the Philippines, is coming to PC and PlayStation 5 on May 23. Wishlist the game and play the demo now to see if you can decipher the mysterious happenings in this emotional adventure: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1574820/Until_Then/
Today’s news was accompanied by a new trailer showcasing the intricate, pixel-art world of Until Then. Beyond the beautiful landscapes, though, lies something else. Disappearances, moments of déjà vu that just don’t add up, and other abnormalities await:
Until Then is a side-scrolling, cinematic adventure game that tells a strange and intriguing story of inquisitive high school students living in a fractured existence. Players explore and navigate various everyday environments inspired by real-world locations in the Philippines. You’ll explore a lush, stunning pixel art environment in the shoes of high-schooler Mark Borja. Through his life, you’ll explore the trials of any normal teenager: school, piano practice, friends… but something isn’t right. A twist of fate that will change Mark’s life is looming just beneath the surface. Can you weave through the mysteries before all is lost?
Through your journey you’ll meet vibrant, relatable peers navigating their own lives, explore the world around you through everyday technology and play seemingly mundane minigames you won’t want to put down. Until Then is wrapped in a jaw-dropping cinematic pixel art style and set to a soundtrack that brings the world to life in unexpected ways.
Until Then is coming to PC and PlayStation 5 on May 23.
# # #
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs more than 200 professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations. Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
About Polychroma Games
Polychroma Games is an independent game studio based in the Philippines seeking to explore and push the envelope of story in play. Our team believes that video games hold awesome potential as a medium of storytelling. We entwine the interactivity of play and the power of narrative into one. Official website: https://polychromagames.com/.
New modes, characters, online co-op and more coming to all platforms April 4
Walnut Creek, Calif. (March 15, 2024) – Maximum Entertainment today revealed that Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons will receive the free Sacred Reunion DLC on April 4 that will unleash a flurry of three new characters, two new modes, online co-op and new upgrades on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC:
Ranzou will make his grand return following his last playable appearance in Double Dragon IV, where he’ll be able to utilize the skills he’s learned through his ninja training to take down foes in the blink of an eye. If Ranzou veterans need a new challenge, they can use his powers in the brand-new Survival Mode. Survival Mode will challenge you to defeat waves of increasingly powerful enemies. Buff your character between rounds with a host of new, more impactful upgrades and last as long as possible. Additionally, join forces with a friend from anywhere in the world as online co-op will be launching alongside Sacred Reunion.
More details on the other new characters and modes coming to Scared Reunion will be available soon.
Set in the nuclear wasteland of New York City during the year 199X, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons features a showdown between the iconic Double Dragon brothers, Billy and Jimmy Lee, and their allies against the criminal gangs terrorizing the city for dominance. Defeat one gang and the others will seize the opportunity to grab more power for themselves by enhancing their own abilities and bringing in new sub-bosses to take players down. To combat this, you’ll have a multitude of powerful friends and resources at your disposal as you fight to save the city.
To land hits on the latest updates for Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, please visitDoubleDragonGaiden.com.
# # #
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs more than 200 professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations. Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
About Secret Base
Founded in 2010, Secret Base specializes in reimagining classic styles of gameplay in new and exciting ways. Secret Base is best known for Streets of Red: Devil’s Dare Deluxe, an inventive horror-themed beat ‘em up recalling gaming’s greatest heroes in multiplayer, permadeath-aligned action. The studio is currently developing Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons.
Walnut Creek, Calif. (March 15, 2024) – Maximum Entertainment and Dee Dee Creations today revealed during The MIX’s Spring Games Showcase 2024 a new Squirrel with a Gun trailer that showcases the intricate lives of squirrels: finding nice trees to live in, foraging nuts to snack on, and absolutely decimating the humans that have done them wrong with an array of firearms. They also like collecting acorns. This chaotic little rodent will be making its home on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC later this year: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2067050/Squirrel_with_a_Gun/
Check out today’s Squirrel with a Gun trailer:
In Squirrel with a Gun, you’ll find yourself starting out as nothing but a rodent with a dream. However, once equipped with one of the many firearms squirrels so often encounter in nature, you’ll use your weapon to take on the agents that are hunting you down. You may be less than a foot tall, but you can wreak havoc with the best of them.
This squirrel has more than one trick, though. Need to make a quick escape? Fire off your weapon and use the recoil to propel yourself to safety. With seven different firearms to collect, RC cars to steal and mayhem to start, the world is your acorn in Squirrel with a Gun. Cause chaos, forage nuts, interrupt picnics, steal cake and more to prove you’re one rodent that should not be trifled with.
Squirrel with a Gun will be present at MIX’s on-site GDC press event Monday, March 18 from 8-11pm at Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA.
To keep up with the Squirrel with a Gun’s development, follow @MaximumEntmt and @QuiteDan on X.
# # #
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs more than 200 professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations. Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
About Dee Dee Creations
Dee Dee Creations is a brand-new studio located in New York. They’re a small team of highly dedicated developers with a burning passion for gaming. Using the Unreal Engine and a suite of computer graphics programs, they bring their visions to life.
New gameplay sets the stage for a galaxy-hopping getaway while debuting out-of-this-world weapons, characters and more
Walnut Creek, Calif. (March 15, 2024) — The intergalactic bandits shooting up the West in strategy shooter Wild Bastards will bring their hijinks to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch later this year alongside the previously confirmed release on PC (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1660840/Wild_Bastards/). Publisher Maximum Entertainment and developer Blue Manchu just announced the expansion of their interstellar upcoming title in a new trailer featured in The MIX’s Spring Games Showcase 2024:
Today’s gameplay looks to the looming threat that has Wild Bastards’ misfit outlaws on the run as they test an arsenal of futuristic weaponry against devious extraterrestrial threats spanning multiple planets. The footage debuts two new characters, each brimming with eccentric bravado reminiscent of Wild Bastards’ full roster, along with weapons and never-before-shown areas. The antics of these antiheroes demonstrate Wild Bastards’ compelling blend of fluid FPS action with thoughtful management of the bandits; these decision-making moments are key to plotting the bandits’ course to their next incredible haul.
Wild Bastards finds its lawbreakers hunted and nearly eradicated by Jebediah Chaste, a ruthlessly puritanical magnate. After killing all but two of the Bastards, Jebediah’s final targets are miraculously saved by a mysterious, sentient spaceship known as The Drifter. The Bastards are fleeing an unwinnable standoff, exploring an ever-changing and lawless galaxy rife with precious weapons and spoils, as well as grisly fates, in a grand attempt to resurrect their compatriots while living to steal another day.
While working to demystify The Drifter’s intentions in saving them, amass a gang of 13 playable and uniquely talented criminals, managing the relationships between them and guiding their growth. Juggle injuries and feuds while plotting a path through the galaxy, exploring and fleecing planets and, of course, shooting anyone or anything who gets in the way. Prevailing through Wild Bastards’ campaign also unlocks a Challenge Mode which adds modifiers and a steadily ramping challenge to keep outlaws on their toes.
Wild Bastards will be present and playable at Day of the Devs 2024: San Francisco Edition on March 17th at The Midway, San Francisco, CA from 3-8pm and on the GDC show floor in the Day of the Devs station from March 18-22. The onsite demo will also be available at MIX’s GDC press event Monday, March 18th at Terra Gallery, San Francisco, CA from 8-11pm.
To steal the latest intel on Wild Bastards, keep @MaximumEntmt and @BlueManchuGames in your sights on X, wishlist Wild Bastards on Steam, and visit http://www.wildbastards.com/.
# # #
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs more than 200 professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations.
About Blue Manchu
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Canberra, Australia, Blue Manchu’s storied team of veteran developers shares a mission of building genre-merging original titles integrated with elements of strategy. Known for its acclaimed, spaceship-boarding strategy FPS Void Bastards as well as Card Hunter, a collectible card game homage to retro RPGs, Blue Manchu is currently developing the intergalactic tactical FPS Wild Bastards.
