Game development is not easy, we all know that by now. Especially if we compare it to how things were 10-15 years ago. The stakes are now higher, the budget is way bigger, you need a publisher most of the time, a good PR campaign, and so on. You have to be brave to release something, to put your trust in some product you wholeheartedly believe in, and even then you’re not 100% sure it will leave a mark or turn a profit.
So how should we call developers that change the genre of their IP halfway through releases? Crazy, insane, inexplicably brave? I don’t know, you be the judge. To be fair, it is an infrequent occurrence but it happens now and then. For example, Yakuza: Like A Dragon turned out to be a big genre departure by making itself a turn-based brawler and somehow it worked! So how does all of that relate to HELLDIVERS 2? Read on, because you’re in for quite a ride.
Story
It is evident how the sequel draws a lot from the iconic Starship Troopers movie. Patriotically imbued PR videos will make you enlist and become one of the helldivers in the blink of an eye, but what is it that you do? You’re one of the elite Earth soldiers (in a team of 4) taking on assignments across the galaxy and decimating alien life or as they say in the game – bringing them some “managed democracy”. As of right now, we have two main fronts in our galaxy, the one with automatons, bots/robots (however you decide to call them) on one end and the oversized alien bogs on the other.
Gameplay
So what’s different about the sequel? Uhh, a whole lot. First, it’s not a co-op twin-stick shooter anymore but a co-op third-person shooter. And you know what, it works! I like the new point of view, our new spaceship hub for operation planning, new weapons, and new stratagems. Ooh, let’s talk about stratagems! To give you some upper hand, aside from the usual weapons arsenal (primary, secondary, and a grenade) you also can call for support from your mothership. Now that support can be a strong orbital strike that will obliterate everything where you throw the support beacon, a jet carpet bomb attack, an automated turret support, supplies support, and so on. Every single one of those stratagems has a cooldown and the stronger it is, the cooldown is usually longer.
Now, the factions. Each of them has weak points and gimmicks to make your life harder. The robot faction is susceptible to standard auto weapons (rifles, machineguns, grenades) while they are durable to fire and melee. On the other hand, the bug faction is weak to fire but it will take a lot more bullets to take them down, especially on higher difficulties. So what’s the incentive to play anything on higher difficulty then? Well, after every completed mission you’re rewarded with some medals and higher difficulty means more medals. You use them to unlock various weapons, armor sets, and cosmetics for your helldiver. You can also upgrade ship modules that will give you things such as faster stratagem deployments, more support ammo, and so on. What’s great is that most of those resources you can find by exploring the planets you’ve just been dropped on doing the side objectives. Every planet/mission has a couple of hidden objectives that you need to engage in by exploring the area thoroughly.
The last burning question is how do you progress in this game? This being a live service game means the progress is a bit tricky. Doing various missions over and over again will earn you enough medals to unlock new armor sets and weapons but the progress is global. A joint, collaborative effort. By playing together with all you increase the liberation percentage of the planet until it is eventually fully liberated (and that is usually followed by some big reward for you in the form of credits and such). Again, this being a live service game means that sometimes you’ll have to experience surprise attacks by factions and defend the assigned planet with others.
Visuals
A new genre switch also means a new visual switch. In this case, it was a good change since the new perspective makes the game far more immersive and engaging. And even since this is a third-person shooter every weapon has a first-person switch so if you want you can play it completely in the first-person as soon as you land on a planet. What makes this game stand out in terms of visuals is the creativity poured into different planets or should I say – different biomes. You’ll have deep forest planets (where the running is a bit harder since the foliage will slow you down), planets with hard weather conditions, and barren and desolated planets filled only with alien life and almost nothing else.
Things get even more fun once you realize you can use some stratagems (like orbital strikes) to decimate the buildings and fortifications and only then you can see just how much of the environment is destructible. I mean, why even go up close when you can decimate enemies with orbital lasers and carpet bombing before they even realize you’re watching them from afar.
Audio
Let me tell you about the music here. It elevates everything to a new level, especially if we compare it to a previous game. The hyped-up orchestra as we descend onto a planet is sure to give you a short adrenaline nudge no matter how many times you replay the missions. The weapon arsenal has some distinct sounds that are so detailed that eventually, you’ll be able to distinguish the machine guns by sound alone when you hear your teammates using them far far away.
Team communication and listening around is something you’ll have to incorporate later on, especially on higher difficulties. You don’t want to be around once your teammate calls an orbital strike or shooting at the enemies when they’re in the line of fire. Remember, friendly fire is nothing to joke about in this game and if you’re not paying attention you can do more damage to your buddies than any other enemy.
Overall
In the end, HELLDIVERS 2 is an experiment that gave some pretty good results. A gamble that paid off. It feels fun playing the sequel in a whole different way and this being a sole co-op game where you have to work together with your team members means that toxicity is down to an absolute minimum and pretty much nonexistent. And we’re just getting started, who knows what kind of invasions, events, and new content awaits us down the line. In any case, I’m all here for it and I’ll see you all on the battlefield.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The Persona series is something of a strange one as, despite being a spin-off of the Shin Megami series, its eventual popularity ended up eclipsing what it was derived from. While most of this popularity bloomed when Persona 4 was released and especially with the arrival of Persona 5, Persona 3 and its numerous re-releases with various improvements and added content saw some of the first additions that would make the franchise as popular as it is today. That being said, it also features some of the oldest holdovers from the first few entries in the series that leave it feeling quite archaic in nature to the point that the first two Persona games are barely even acknowledged, as such ATLUS ha seen fit to give Persona 3 a full blown remake with Persona 3 Reload, looking to bring this game a bit closer to modern day while still retaining many elements of the original release. This effort proves to be quite successful in some ways while leaving some things still to be desired.
Story
Players take on the role of a fresh transfer student on his way to the dorms of Gekkoukan High School who happens to be so entranced in his music as he heads to his destination that he doesn’t quite seem to care that the world around him has taken on an eerie green hue and mostly everyone has transformed into coffins. Even upon arriving at the dorms he finds that his new dorm mates are shocked to see him as the group finds themselves quickly being attacked by a Shadow. After proving themselves capable of wielding the power of a Persona which is needed to survive, the player is recruited into the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S) in an attempt to use their unique power to discover the truth behind what they call the Dark Hour.
The Dark Hour happens every night past midnight and transforms the region of Tatsumi Port Island into a sinister one where the local high school transforms into the towering dungeon called Tartarus and dangerous Shadows spill out, slaying anyone unlucky enough to not transform into a “safe” coffin. Those that can remain mobile during the Dark Hour are few but even fewer still are Persona users capable of defeating the Shadows and with the player now joining the S.E.E.S. and leading the team, it is up to them to find out the source of the Shadows and face down the dark groups maneuvering within the shadows themselves in an attempt to save the world all while still living the life of a mostly normal teenage high schooler during the day. Just one that happens to talk to a dog and robot quite often.
While Persona 3 Reload may have plenty of bright colors and feature a very eclectic cast of characters that make up the main party, perhaps some of the most interesting ones even compared to more recent entries, it is worth noting that the overall tone for this story is far more sinister and grim than one might expect. While this is true for all of the Persona games, including both 4 and 5, this is true throughout nearly every aspect of Persona 3 Reload. This of course includes the Persona summoning tool of the Evoker being a gun pointed at the user’s head and nearly every Social Link as well with even the “happier” ending ones usually resulting in accepting one’s fate and either moving forward/giving up or trying to redeem something terrible that has happened in the past. In fact, a few of these Social Links can be downright depressing at times and these darker themes can feel rather uncomfortable despite how impactful they can feel.
Of course, this darker nature doesn’t mean that Persona 3 Reload isn’t afraid to let its lighter side show as there are still plenty of goofy moments and heartfelt ones as well. As mentioned before, the main cast of characters is absolutely wonderful here and some of the best story moments come from interacting with your classmates. Persona 3 Reload adds a number of “hangout” opportunities with your fellow S.E.E.S. members that aren’t Social Links but do eventually provide buffs to a character’s skills as well as new and unique story interactions that give players a new look at their team members, even if they happen to be longtime fans of the franchise. This, plus the various twists and reveals that happen throughout the storyline, make the game’s narrative as gripping as ever even if it mostly follows the same story beats as the original minus some of the brand new side interactions. It is worth noting however that, unless it is coming later as DLC, the epilogue that was eventually released in Persona 3 FES called The Answer is not currently in the base game.
Gameplay
Players familiar with the recent Persona formula will feel mostly at home still with Persona 3 Reload as the game still breaks down into two halves. During the day players will attend school, occasionally answering questions in class for a social stat boost, and after-school they will be able to choose from a wide range of activities around town. This can include those that don’t pass time like shopping at various stores, visiting a certain fox shrine, or even talking to random NPCs that all seem to have a little bit of a story of their own throughout the year. Most activities do take time however as these involve working part-time for some quick cash, visiting a store for a social stat boost of which there are only three to manage this time around in the form of Academics, Courage, and Charm, visiting the shrine to pray to be closer to someone, and of course taking part in character interactions through the Social Link system as mentioned before or even a hangout session with the gang.
During the day players will find that nearly every Social Link will be found available over the course of the game as the title does a fairly poor job of actually balancing the split between Social Links available during the day and at night. Unlike during the day, the areas available for players to travel around the town at night are far smaller though players will immediately be able to venture out at night starting day one. Certain stores only offer specific menu options for various social stat boosts at night and there are also locations that are only available at night as well that can offer unique ways to increase the player’s capabilities. There also happens to be only two Social Links at night, meaning players will likely max these two out quite quickly if they plan accordingly with their Social Stats. It is also worth noting that while more recent entries gave players various extra benefits for raising their Social Links with characters, the only gameplay benefit for doing so here is to increase the amount of bonus EXP given to Persona fusions and unlocking ultimate Personas of various tarots.
To try and balance out the limited nighttime Social Links most of the game’s hangouts with the members of S.E.E.S. occur at night. This can involve going on a walk with Koromaru, cooking or watching a movie with various members of the team, and even tending to vegetables players can plant on the roof to add extra benefits to the produce when it is harvested. Not only are these interactions an extra bit of story for players as mentioned before, they also can unlock extra abilities for team members if pursued properly.
Alongside these nighttime activities players will also find that night is when they will be traveling into Tartarus and venturing up the endless floors while facing off against bosses and countless Shadows along the way. Despite being given a facelift, Tartarus is still randomly generated as players progress through the dungeon with certain set locations where players will face off against bosses and eventually reach a “roadblock” that will prevent them from climbing higher until a certain date has passed. This generally means players can explore Tartarus as much as they want and as often as they want thanks to its randomization but it isn’t necessary for a number of reasons, mostly due to repetition and the general grinding feel of climbing the tower. While not necessary, it often feels like players are meant to crush through an entire stage of Tartarus in a single night and it is certainly possible on Normal or even harder difficulties even at the beginning and there are very few actual rewards for going back through previously completed stages.
Of course, this is partially do the fact that the largest overhaul to Persona 3 Reload over the original release is its combat system. In the original, players could only control their character and while that option is available, it isn’t recommended as players can now control their entire party in combat and dictate exactly what skills and attacks they want them to use. Players can still target various elemental weaknesses to “down” an enemy and any time an enemy weakness is hit or a critical is struck the attacking party can make another attack or “shift” their attack to an ally. This allows players to shift their follow-up attacks to specifically target a number of enemy weaknesses at once to down every foe and give players the chance to trigger the “All Out Attacks” that deal immense damage and almost certainly slay most normal enemies.
Alongside the ability to actually control your team Persona 3 Reload now features “Theurgy” attacks that work as ultimate attacks for the player’s team members and charge up through various means, be it healing in the case of Yukari or buffing the party for Aegis though it will still fill normally as well. These powerful moves are incredibly effective as they ignore resistances and can deal plenty of damage to bosses. To go along with these new attacks players can also find new “Monad” doors where they can challenge new harder Shadows that often hide useful treasures, extra costumes, and most importantly extra tarot cards behind them.
Since players do not directly fight the Personas that they are using on their team, the actual recruitment of Persona is far simpler this time around and a bit more random. Every battle has the chance to trigger “Shuffle Time” at the end of a fight with All-Out-Attack finished fights always triggering it and during this time players can choose one card (initially) that will provide a reward. This can be some healing for the team, some money, a skill card, extra EXP, a Persona that will be added to the player’s roster, and larger Tarots that provide additional bonuses. The usual Persona fusion methods remain the same with players choosing exactly what Persona they want to fuse for and selecting skills to inherit, though there is the chance for some fusion accidents to happen though this appears to happen incredibly rarely to the point that it happened only one time in our entire playthrough.
Audio & Visuals
One of the biggest draws of Persona 3 Reload is of course the fact that it now features updated graphics alongside a brand new voice cast and set of background music. The visuals this time are incredibly striking with all of the character models being lovingly recreated to modern-day standards and every party member even having a large variety of costumes players can unlock for use in Tartarus. As for Tartarus itself, while the floors are still almost all randomly generated they now follow certain themes as players travel up through various floors. Some locations can be dark and difficult to navigate while others are a mix of confusing neon colors, adding some extra spice to an otherwise randomly generated series of stages that, even with this extra touch, can feel repetitive. The Personas that players acquire remain impressive as ever looking and the Shadows players fight are also recreated nicely, and it is worth noting that unlike the most recent game, Personas and Shadows are not the same meaning players won’t be always fighting the same things they are recruiting.
Atlus USA has released Persona 3 Reload with both the brand new English voice track as well as the Japanese voice track and players can choose to swap between them at any time. The new voice actors do a solid job with their characters here, especially in some cases such as Akihiko coming off as far better sounding characters compared to the original release while Aegis’ stylistic approach is also quite wonderful here. It is also worth noting that nearly every element of dialogue involving a named character is entirely voiced, this includes every step of all Social Links, not just the beginning and end. This does an incredible job at making these scenes more impactful, especially with how heavy some of the Social Links in this entry can be. The soundtrack features a redone version of nearly every piece of music from the original game including a number of new tracks as well. The vocal tracks do have different vocalists this time around though and for the most part they fit perfectly fine with some wonderful battle music though some extra variation in battle themes would have been nice.
Overall
Atlus has done a surprisingly impressive job at keeping the Persona 3 still in Persona 3 Reload. The remake features just enough in the way of updates to make it play better than ever and look as impressive as fans would hope while still trying to make sure that its various themes and mechanics remain mostly untouched both to its benefit and detriment. This has led to some unbalanced time constraints for certain interactions that require some tight planning and repetition with the exploration of Tartarus but these issues are minor when compared to the grander package that delivers an emotional tale that fans will be eager to see through to its ending, hopefully one that will be expanded upon properly again in the future.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
After dealing with a massive encounter with the British Navy we hit the ocean with a freshly built ship to try and establish our own legend as a pirate in Skull and Bones, including sinking numerous ships and smuggling contraband.
Enter the perilous world of Skull and Bones, a co-op pirate open-world action RPG experience, to become the most infamous pirate kingpin!
Skull and Bones Developer: Ubisoft Singapore Publisher: Ubisoft Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Release Date: 16th Feb, 2024
Not Recommended – “Skull and Bones nails its ship combat and sailing so wonderfully it becomes a highlight amongst generic gameplay loops, bare bones story, and chore-like endgame tasks.”
Sydney, Australia, February 16, 2024 – Hot Wheels Unleashed™ 2 – Turbocharged today released the new Made in Italy Expansion Pack, featuring an array of new content with hints of nostalgia perfect for both first-time and seasoned players. Developed for Mattel by Milestone, proudly based in Milan, the creative minds behind the game and Expansion Pack are the very folks who know the alleys of Italy like the back of their controllers. The pack includes four of the most iconicItalian vehiclesand a brand-new setting that will take players through the alleys of a small Italian coastal village, available now across all major gaming platforms.
Players with a sporty edge will finally get to experience the thrills of racing behind the wheel of Italian-made speedsters like the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI and Lancia 037, whereas players with an eye for the romantic will fall in love with the legendary Fiat 500D Modificado and the historic Vespa 90 SS Super Sprint (1966). Whizzing among roof tiles, bricks and stones, the all-new Italian Village is the perfect setting to enjoy adrenaline-fueled races while discovering the hidden corners of a wonderful township on the Italian coastline with its restaurants, shops, and the church bell tower.
The Made in Italy Expansion Pack is included in the Hot Wheels Unleashed™ 2 – Turbocharged Deluxe Edition and Legendary Edition, as well as in the Season Pass Vol. 1, or can be purchased separately. For more information, visit hotwheelsunleashed.com.
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Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. ” “, “PlayStation” and “” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved Fast & Furious Franchise (c) 2023 Universal City Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved.
About Milestone
Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers in the world. The 200+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, MXGP, and Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, as well as RIDE and Gravel, Milestone’s own IPs. For more information, please visit www.milestone.it.
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest portfolios of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Monster High® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music, and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at mattel.com
Spain – 15th February 2024. Indie publisher and developer Firenut Games is thrilled to announce Shines Over: The Damned, a dark horror adventure game coming exclusively to PlayStation 5 in Spring 2024.
Shines Over: The Damned is a unique adventure experience where your senses will be tested and your reality questioned. Immerse yourself in a mysterious and terrifying world where scares, tension and environmental puzzles surround you, and danger lies in wait.
You have no name, no weapons. There are no friends to protect you. You are alone except for your faithful dog, who will guide you through this dark world and stay by your side.
Beware of the horrors that await you in Shines Over: The Damned. You have been warned. . .
Watch the announcement trailer for Shines Over: The Damnedhere
Features of Shines Over: The Damned.
Beautifully created environments using Megascans Technology enhance the dark game storyline.
High-tension exploration exposing the terrifying secrets of the world around you – Expect jumpscares!
Engaging first-person gameplay with platforming elements to access new areas of the world
Challenging environmental puzzles to solve, each revealing new secrets.
Explore a dark and oppressive world with an atmosphere of terror.
Shines Over: The Damned will be launching exclusively for PlayStation 5 this Spring, published by Firenut Games.
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About Firenut Games
Firenut Games is a European video game publishing company for PC and Consoles that aims to support great talents and launch video games with a unique essence. Our philosophy is to produce video games focused on gamers.
The New Gallivanter Baller ST-D Raises the Bar for Supersized SUVs – Plus, Get the New Contrast Dragon Mask, Los Santos Drug Wars Bonuses, and More
The new Baller ST-D is the latest addition to Gallivanter’s pedigreed lineup of SUVs: road-ready, supercharged by design, and Imani Tech compatible for that extra edge in situations calling for a Remote Control Unit or a Missile Lock-On Jammer to get out of a predicament.
Pick up an ST-D for yourself on Legendary Motorsport’s website or at the Luxury Autos showroom, and take it to your Agency Workshop to outfit it with Imani Tech upgrades.
Meanwhile, the city’s drag racers waiting with bated breath for the release of the Declasse Impaler SZ sedan can look forward to its arrival next week.
Lunar New Year Gifts
The Lunar New Year celebration in GTA Online concludes this week. Get the new Contrast Dragon Mask to ensure this is a year full of success and prosperity, and also receive all the previous week’s mask and apparel gifts — the Wooden Dragon Mask, Red Lunar New Year Dress, Black Lunar New Year Tee, Regal Dragon Mask, and Midnight Dragon Mask — just by playing.
Los Santos Drug Wars Bonuses Help the Fooliganz with their psychedelic hijinks and plans for world domination. Assisting these misfits in both First Dose and Last Dose Missions will grant you 2X GTA$ and RP.
TIP: You’ll need to set up an Acid Lab to aid the Fooliganz. Luckily, the MTL Brickade 6×6 (Service) and all its Upgrades and Modifications (including Acid Lab Installation) are 30% off this week. Visit Warstock Cache & Carry’s in-game website to purchase one for yourself.
Once you’ve got your psychedelic operation up and running, you can offload product in Acid Lab Sell Missions to rake in Double Rewards throughout this week. Plus, assist Dax in dosing the world in Fooligan Jobs this week and you’ll earn 2X GTA$ and RP. Completing 3 Fooligan Jobs by February 21 will also fulfill the new Weekly Challenge, and land you an extra GTA$100,000.
5X GTA$ on Taxi Work
Contribute to Los Santos’ gig economy by picking up customers and shuttling them to their destinations in Taxi Work and you’ll earn 5X GTA$ all week long.
If you haven’t already, pick up your own Taxi (Service) this week at a special 30% discount from Warstock Cache & Carry, and you’ll always be able to launch Taxi Work at your own leisure just by requesting the Taxi from Pegasus.
2X GTA$ and RP on Power Play
Run amok taking out foes and utilizing power-ups to tilt the playing field in Power Play and earn Double Rewards through February 21.
Salvage Yard Robbery Targets
Visit your Salvage Yard to learn how you can steal a trio of vaunted vehicles — the Lampadati Komoda (Sports), Överflöd Tyrant (Super), and Vapid Caracara 4×4 (Off-Road) — in a series of elaborate multi-part robberies.
Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom
Stop by Simeon Yetarian’s Premium Deluxe Motorsport showroom anytime this week to scope out his latest curated selection of vehicles:
Declasse Lifeguard (Emergency)
Ocelot Locust (Sports)
Western Bagger (Motorcycle)
BF Raptor (Sports, 30% off)
Declasse Vamos (Muscle, 30% off)
Luxury Autos Showroom and Other Vehicle Offerings
The Luxury Autos showroom in Rockford Hills offers a good look at the new Gallivanter Baller ST-D (SUV) glittering behind glass, alongside the Vapid Dominator GT (Muscle) — both obtainable via on-the-spot purchase.
If you’re up for sitting behind the wheel of a rolling experiment, check out Hao’s latest Premium Test Ride: a tweaked-out version of the Weeny Issi Rally (SUV) outfitted with a full suite of cosmetic and performance-enhancing upgrades.
Hit up the Test Track inside the LS Car Meet to try out the Bravado Buffalo (Sports), Cheval Fugitive (Sedan), and Dinka Double-T (Motorcycle) on the painted track. Compete in Scrambles and Time Trials, or freestyle between the columns — at no personal cost. Placing Top 5 in the LS Car Meet Series for two days in a row will win you the Vapid Caracara 4×4 (Off-Road).
Spin the Lucky Wheel at The Diamond Casino & Resort for a shot at this week’s jackpot: the Albany Brigham (Muscle).
GTA+
Sign up for GTA+ and supercharge your GTA Online experience to gain access to the following Member benefits through March 6:
Claim a free Ocelot Jugular (Sports) at the Vinewood Car Club showroom
Soft Pink Pearl Chameleon Paint and Pink Prismatic Pearl Chameleon Wheel Paint
Heartbreakers Jacket, Heartbreakers Cap, Black Lunar New Year Shirt and Pants, and Red Lunar New Year Shirt and Pants
2X GTA$ and RP on Casino Work Missions and Casino Story Missions, plus 40% off the Casino Penthouse
Plus, a GTA$500,000 bonus delivered upon billing each month, access to download and play a rotating assortment of classic Rockstar Games titles, and more. Visit the GTA+ website for full details.
DISCOUNTS
MTL Brickade 6×6 (includes Acid Lab Installation) – 30% off
MTL Brickade 6×6 Upgrades and Modifications – 30% off
Become the most infamous pirate kingpin and build your smuggling empire in the perilous world of Skull and Bones.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16, 2024 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Skull and Bones is now available on Ubisoft+, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S as well as PC through the Ubisoft Store, GeForce Now and Epic Games Store. A Free Trial will also be available starting February 16,allowing players to experience up to 8 hours of unrestricted gameplay.
In Skull and Bones, players will immerse themselves in thrilling experiences by sailing through unexplored waters in search of challenges, competition, and crafting. As players start with nothing, they will need to increase their Infamy by taking on contracts, going on treasure hunts, engaging in high stakes naval combat, plundering forts, and much more. As players climb through the ranks and grow in infamy, they will gain access to blueprints that will allow them to craft better ships, weapons, attachments, and furniture with resources gathered from the world.
Skull and Bonesis inspired by the Indian Ocean during the tumultuous second Golden Age of Piracy. Players enter a chaotic and ruthless era as warring factions vie for power on the lawless seas. Anyone can head into the treacherous waters on their own, or form groups of up to 3 players as they battle powerful Mega-corporations, pirate hunters, local factions, rival pirates and more.
Players can get a taste of what the game has to offer with the Free Trial, which is available now. During the trial period, players will have unrestricted access to the game on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S as well as PC through the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store, allowing them to embark on epic voyages, engage in intense naval battles, and explore the vast expanse of the open seas for a total of 8 hours of gameplay. If they wish to continue their adventure, progression and all unlocked items will be carried over after purchasing the game.
While exploring these dangerous seas, players will be fully immersed in the pirate fantasy thanks to the original soundtrack created by Tom Holkenborg and sea shanties by the Busking Barnacles. Both their creative work conveys the epic scale of this extraordinary adventure. The full soundtrack is available now on all streaming platforms and is also available here: https://ubisoftmusic.ffm.to/skullandbones.
Skull and Bones, the first new IP and major game title led by Ubisoft Singapore and developed by gaming talent in Southeast Asia and India, is available now on Ubisoft+, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X | S as well as Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store, GeForce Now and Epic Games Store.
Skull and Bones is a co-op open world pirate action RPG where you play by your own rules to become the most infamous pirate kingpin and build your smuggling empire in a perilous world. Craft a variety of unique ships, forge unlikely alliances, and take part in thrilling naval battles as you overcome the odds and bring mayhem on the seas. Be part of an immersive world that introduces new challenges and features every season. Skull and BonesTM is developed by Ubisoft Singapore in collaboration with Ubisoft Belgrade, Berlin, Chengdu, Kyiv, Montreal, Mumbai, Paris, Philippines, Pune, and Shanghai
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,739 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 16 FEBRUARY 2024 – On 28 March, 2024 the Definitive Edition of Outward, the open-world fantasy role-playing game developed by Nine Dots Studio, is launching on the Nintendo Switch.
Set in the world of Aurai, players step into the boots of an ordinary adventurer defending themselves against threatening creatures, braving hazardous environmental conditions, and keeping healthy and hydrated.
So, check your backpack to ensure you’re well-prepared for you journey through cities, dangerous hidden dungeons (teeming with formidable enemies), and as you traverse the untamed wilderness.
The Nintendo Switch release is the culmination of months of hard work between NineDots Studio and Sneaky Box, the developer brought on board to lead the efforts of porting the game to the hybrid console.
The Definitive Edition includes the base game, along with the DLCs “The Three Brothers” and “The Soroboreans” – along with a plethora of new and updated content, including new weapons, dungeons and quality of life improvements.
Key Features:
Survive in the wilds as you explore the land
Play solo or cooperatively online
Dynamic defeat scenarios that react to your context
Constant auto-saving means there’s no turning back
Ritualistic, step-by-step approach to spellcasting
Unique experience with every play through
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Title: Outward – Definitive Edition Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Survival Action RPG Developer: Nine Dots Studio Publisher: PLAION Release Date: March 28th, 2024
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, 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 Nine Dots Studio
At Nine Dots Studio we create games aimed at hardcore gamers with sophisticated tastes. We specialize in making games that would normally be out of scope for a studio of our size by refining our management practices and by focusing on creating the best work environment for our team. Our team currently counts 29 employees, all based in Quebec City, Canada.
TOKYO – Feb 15th, 2024 – Nyaaaanvy, the physics-based 3D catplatform fighter starring fluffy feline fighters from publisher Phoenixx and developer Team DigitalMind, picks a (cat) fight on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024.
Battle a clutter of cute, cat-like creatures known as Nyanvies. Flail their wiggly slinky-like bodies to attack fellow formidable felines, and rack up enough damage to send opponents careening off stage across a variety of wacky arenas.
Sling Nyanvy hind legs side-to-side for horizontal attacks, uppercut-butt kitties skyward with rising strikes, or pounce downward with descending blows. As damage percentage increases, so does knockback — combo contenders into a daze, and then send them flying into the unknown to remain the last kitty standing.
Twist, curl, and jump around a variety of hairbrained locations like atop a moving bus, an apartment rooftop, an old-school jungle gym, and across moving conveyor belts. Dodge moving obstacles to avoid being whisked off-stage, and race towards randomly-spawning fish and tuna cans that boost health and attack power.
Cat-stomize the purr-fect Nyanvy companion for their moment in the spotlight with dozens of different body patterns, eye colors, fur colors, ear and whisker types. Show off some cool-cat personality with fancy accessories like hair bows, mustaches, halos, top hats, eyepatches, and more.
Earn stripes in arcade mode, face an endless supply of enemies in survival mode, or engage in comical combat with up to four-player local multiplayer and six-player online skirmishes. Get a solo workout in training mode where curious kittens can get their kicks in practice areas before going paw-to-paw in rating matches.
“Nyaaaanvy is a whacky adventure for those looking to engage in feline fisticuffs, and the cutest platform fighter we’ve ever seen” said RRR, member of Team DigitalMind. “Fighters can get creative with their cat-like creations and spend nine lives worth of playtime perfecting their style in the ring.”
Nyaaaanvy arrives on Nintendo Switch and wiggles out of Early Access into 1.0 on Steam for PC on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 with language options in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. For more information, follow Phoenixx on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
About Phoenixx
Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game, and one community at a time.
PC Players Can Now Enjoy the Celebrated Block-building Role-playing Game Featuring all Previously Released DLC
SYDNEY (Feb. 16, 2024) – SQUARE ENIX® has released DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ on PC via STEAM®. The PC version includes upgraded crafting features and the “Terra Incognita” DLC at no additional cost. A DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS + DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2 bundle is also available. Players who previously purchased DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2 on Steam can purchase DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS at a discounted price.
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS is an immersive sandbox gaming experience that invites Builders to rebuild the ruined realm of Alefgard, gathering materials and crafting unique items with endless possibilities. Set in a captivating DRAGON QUEST story and world, the title features an intuitive control system that will have players building towers and castles of their own to protect the world from the treacherous Dragonlord, an iconic DRAGON QUEST monster. The game’s classic RPG elements also deliver an exciting, family-friendly gaming experience.
The Steam version of DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS will also include upgraded crafting features and “Terra Incognita,” the content that was originally added in 2022 to the mobile version, where Builders can freely craft and play, now with nearly double the height of blocks that can be stacked on their creations. The additional content in “Terra Incognita” includes*:
Boss Monster Model Set – Builders can unpack several giant posable monster figures that can be added to their worlds.
Astronomy Set – Builders can light up the night sky with ten stars and planets to bring the beauty of the galaxy to their backyard.
Pixel Ring – More than just a pretty accessory, Builders can wear a Pixel Ring that grants higher number of “pixels” when defeating an enemy in “Terra Incognita”, which they can then use to create special items on the “Dragon Quest Game Pack” workstation.
Magic Carpet – Builders can use a magic carpet as they observe, build, and explore their structures from the sky, as well as listen to special music as they travel.
*The content above is the same as the content added to the 2022 mobile version.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
“STEAM” is a trademark and/or registered trademark of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. “PlayStation” and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. “Nintendo Switch” is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
