Free base-game update launching alongside DLC

BORDEAUX, France – 1 Dec. 2023 – Wartales, the medieval open-world tactical RPG with more than 850k downloads across Windows PC via Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, sets sail towards new horizons in the Pirates of Belerion. Developer and publisher Shiro Unlimited will launch the DLC on Steam and GoG on Thursday, 14 Dec. 2023 alongside a free update offering a new class, weapon type, foes, and more.

Navigate the dangerous waters of Belerion, a treacherous archipelago home to notorious seafarers. Captain an impressive vessel in Wartales’ largest region yet, clashing with plundering pirates while absorbing a rich new island culture. Hunt for untold treasure and earn an ocean-wide reputation by taking down a list of infamous Sea Lord captains one by one.

Maneuver through wind conditions while engaging in strategic marine-based combat. Board and battle on enemy ships or attack from afar with powerful ballistas. Tactfully allow adversaries close to challenge other captains in dramatic 1v1 duels. Customize the mobilized mercenary camp at sea before embarking on a thrilling voyage with more than 25 hours of content.

“We are deeply committed to nurturing and expanding the world of Wartales for our devoted community,” said Quentin Lapeyre, Game Director, Shiro Games. “Our hired blades have offered so many excellent suggestions over the years and we’ve used that feedback to enhance the game further. We cannot wait to see the stories they create in Belerion.” 

Outside of a new nautical adventure, a free update will be released alongside the Pirates of Belerion DLC adding a new class, weapon type, items, foes for existing factions, and customization options that allows one to alter skin color, hair, and facial hair. Additionally, bug fixes and quality-of-life enhancements further the gameplay.

Where will the wind take these downtrodden souls? Find out when Pirates of Belerion launches 14 Dec. 2023 on Steam and GoG for $19.99/€19.99/£16.99 with English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, and Portuguese language support.

For more information about Wartales, please visit the official website and follow Wartales on Twitter.

About Shiro Unlimited

Shiro Unlimited, the publishing arm of independent game development studio, Shiro Games, was created by video game veterans Sebastien Vidal and Nicolas Cannasse to bring new innovative games to life. Based in Bordeaux, France, the studio released its first project Evoland in 2013 and its acclaimed sequel Evoland 2 in 2015. Shiro Games then launched its popular Viking strategy game Northgard on Steam in 2018, which has gone on to sell nearly 3 Millions units across various platforms, followed by the medieval tactical RPG Wartales in 2021 and the critically acclaimed 4X RTS game from a renowned franchise Dune: Spice Wars in 2022.

For more information on Shiro Unlimited, please visit the official website.

A new update coming today reimagines two classic heists: Cook Off and Turbid Station

Sydney, Australia – 1^st December, 2023 – Deep Silver and Starbreeze announce that PAYDAY 3, the ultimate co-op heist shooter fantasy, is rewarding players with a blast from the past with the Legacy Patch (1.0.2) releasing today.

This major update for PAYDAY 3 brings back fan-favourite heists from PAYDAY 2, known as Legacy Heists, allowing players to relive the thrill and excitement of these classic missions.

Cook Off and Turbid Station (Murky Station in PAYDAY 2) have been reimagined to fit in the recently launched title and to improve how the heist works with the new feature set of PAYDAY 3.

A new trailer that showcases how the heists have been reimagined for PAYDAY 3 can be found here: https://youtu.be/0NQMPjxhbiw

Alongside with the two Legacy Heists, Legacy Patch (1.0.2) for PAYDAY 3offers:

• Two Legacy Heists (Cook Off & Turbid Station)
• The Transporter skill line 
• First person interaction animations
• In-game weapon inspect
• Added Infamy Points to heist payouts
• The “Under Wraps” mask
• The “Compact7 Lycan” preset weapon
• 200+ bug fixes and many balancing and quality of life improvements

To continue with the Year 1 post launch content, PAYDAY 3 players can also look forward the release of Syntax Error now announced for December.

The four most well-known clown-masked criminals in recent video game history returned from retirement last September in PAYDAY 3 on PC via PC Game Pass, on Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series S|X, on Console Game Pass, PlayStation 5 and GeForce Now.

For more information about PAYDAY 3, please visit: https://www.paydaythegame.com

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About Starbreeze AB

Starbreeze is an independent developer, publisher and distributor of PC and console games targeting the global market, with studios in Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris and London. Housing the smash hit IP PAYDAY, Starbreeze develops games based on proprietary and third-party rights, both in-house and in partnership with external game developers. Starbreeze shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the tickers STAR A and STAR B. For more information, please visit www.starbreeze.com.

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver development studios include Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Free Radical Design, both in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com. All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

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 nine 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. 

Sydney, Australia – 1^st December 2023: Focus Entertainment and DON’T NOD are delighted to feature the voices of the characters of Red and Antea in a brand-new video, “The Weight of Consequences.”

Explore the game through the eyes of the English voices of the duo: Russ Bain and Amaka Okafor – known for her leading role in the critically acclaimed series ‘Bodies’. They are accompanied by Stéphane Beauverger, the narrative director of the game. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden will be released on the 13^th of February 2024 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Watch the new video below:

A journey of love, life, death and sacrifices.

Discover Antea Duarte and Red Mac Raith, two experienced ghost hunters. After Antea’s death and her return as a ghost, the couple face an impossible moral dilemma. With Antea’s spirit now stuck between the world of the living and the world of the dead, the duo must make a heart-wrenching choice: release her soul and let her go for good or betray their Banishers’ vow by sacrificing the living to bring her back to life.

In this new video, you will discover the importance of choices and their impact on the mystical world of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Immerse yourself in the lives of the people of New Eden to uncover their terrible secrets and exorcise this world overrun by supernatural forces.

Use your skills to investigate, combining Antea’s spiritual powers with Red’s formidable arsenal to triumph and break the link between tormented souls and the living they haunt.Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden will be released on the 13^th of February 2024 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Overnight, Xbox announced several new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and cloud beginning today including:

Week of November 27:

• Remnant: From the Ashes, November 30 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Remnant II, November 30 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
• Spirit of the North, December 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• SteamWorld Build, December 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Week of December 5:

• Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, December 5 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider, December 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• While the Iron’s Hot, December 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• World War Z: Aftermath, December 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Goat Simulator 3, December 7 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
• Against the Storm, December 8 (PC)

Week of December 11:

• Tin Hearts, December 12 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Far Cry 6, December 14 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

For more details on the new games joining Xbox Game Pass this month, available Perks and Quest updates, check out Xbox Wire here.

‘Tis the season for Jingle Brawls, the special holiday-themed event returning to LEGO Brawlsall December long! During the event, players can sleigh the competition in a new Jingle Brawls level and unlock 22 limited-time festive LEGO Minifigures, all free with purchase of the base game.

A brand-new trailer for LEGO Brawls showcasing the new content coming as part of Jingle Brawls is available below:

LEGO Brawls is a family-friendly, brick-based, team action brawler with cross-platform play (cross-play) and multiple game modes that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, skill levels, and play preferences. Players build and compete with custom, one-of-a-kind LEGO Minifigure brawlers tailored to their personality, strategy, and play style with more than 77 trillion customization possibilities. The game features iconic LEGO themed levels, from beloved classic themes like Space and Castle, to fan-favorites such as LEGO Jurassic World™, LEGO NINJAGO®, and LEGO Monkie Kid™. 

For more information on LEGO Brawls, please visit the official website at https://www.legobrawlsgame.com/. For other products from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU. Join the conversation on X at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU 

Face off against a tyrannical system and become a hero in a cyberpunk world ruled by artificial intelligence, coming to PC and consoles 

Limassol, Cyprus – 30 November, 2023 – Developer Nekki today released the first gameplay of its upcoming gun fu action game SPINE. Revealed at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, the trailer showcases SPINE’s futuristic cyberpunk world, close-quarter gunfights, spectacular combat system, movie-like action experience, and vibrant graffiti aesthetic. SPINE will be published for PC and consoles. 

SPINE is a single-player, story-rich action game where the player takes on the role of rebellious street artist Redline, accompanied by her sentient combat implant, Spine. Join them as they challenge the autocratic AI regime of Tensor Corporation while learning to trust each other. As players advance and improve their rapport with Spine, they will boost Redline’s reflexes and acquire stunning combos, with unique camerawork and combat choreography designed by action movie specialists, enabling them to embody the protagonist of their own action movie.  

“We are thrilled to unveil SPINE and invite players to experience what we hope would be a new level in cinematic action gaming,” says Dmitry Pimenov, producer of SPINE. “From John Wick to District 13, we adore those films so much, and want to make this game an ode to our favorite movie genres.”  

SPINE features: 

• Close-quarter Gun Combat: SPINE introduces a unique fusion of cinematic gunplay and close-combat beat ’em up, emphasized by elaborate camerawork and providing players with dynamic and immersive gun fu gameplay. 
• Cinematic Action: Collaborating with action movie specialists and paying homage to iconic action movies, Nekki promises a truly cinematic adventure where every moment feels like a scene from an epic blockbuster. 
• Gripping Narrative: Explore an immersive cyberpunk world as Redline and Spine challenge Tensor’s autocratic regime. Discover a story of rebellion, trust, and survival, while exploring the risks and benefits of AI.  
• Cutting-Edge Tech and Graphics: Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and Nekki’s proprietary animation engine, Cascadeur, SPINE boasts fluid, lifelike combat animations within a detailed cyberpunk environment, pushing the boundaries of gaming graphics. 

Players can wishlist SPINE now on Steam and keep to date with SPINE on the official website, Discord, Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. For those interested in the game’s universe, Nekki publishes a webtoon comic “SPINE: Bullet Dancers” that lets fans dive into the world of SPINE before the game is released. 

About Nekki

Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, Nekki is a leading developer and publisher in the gaming industry, known for creating high-quality action games and the proprietary animation software Cascadeur. With global downloads exceeding one billion, Nekki’s portfolio includes famous titles like Shadow Fight and Vector. With SPINE the company continues to push boundaries, creating a new action IP for PC and consoles.

Explore and investigate a walled-off land of phenomena in one of next year’s first must-play outings 

LONDON (Nov. 30, 2023) – Pacific Drive will send players on a road trip of a lifetime when the driving survival adventure game releases Feb. 22, 2024 for PlayStation 5 and PC, Ironwood Studios and publishing partner Kepler Interactive announced today. The highly anticipated title’s release date was revealed within a new trailer debuted at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase while a Deluxe physical edition of Pacific Drive was also unveiled, to be distributed later next year by Maximum Games. 

Take a brief glance behind the curtain of the Olympic Exclusion Zone’s past, the engrossing expanse at the heart of Pacific Drive. Once a shining jewel in the Pacific Northwest, it now sits behind a 300-meter wall, closed to the outside world and left to mysterious phenomena and the forces of nature. Explore distinctly fascinating new biomes as you drive deeper into the unknown; chart the Zone, uncover its hidden history and try to outrun the deadly anomalies of this surreal place. 

Get behind the wheel of a uniquely capable station wagon, maintaining and upgrading your ride with life-saving tools while navigating treacherous terrain, gathering supplies and surviving tense encounters with the land’s dangerous hazards. Mysterious voices reach your car’s radio the further you drive, offering questions and dire warnings – leaving you to wonder who or what remains in this desolate place. Will you survive or become another relic in the Zone’s haunting landscape?  The Pacific Drive: DELUXE EDITION is a retail exclusive that features the base game, a set of three art cards from the heart of the Olympic Exclusion Zone, traveler’s journal, deluxe sleeve, reversible coversheet as well as a pack of in-game cosmetic items for your station wagon. 

Pacific Drive is available to wishlist now and will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). To find out more, visit https://www.pacificdrivegame.com/. 

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About Ironwood Studios  

Since its founding in 2019, Ironwood Studios has been hard at work on Pacific Drive and are extremely proud to be working with PlayStation to bring it to life. The team’s passion stems from a love of road trips and the relationship between the driver and the car, always dreaming about surreal worlds and the Pacific Northwest – two things that feature prominently in the game. Ironwood’s goal is to create games that inspire players to tell their own stories, with systems that work together to create unexpected and unique experiences. 

About Kepler Interactive 

Kepler Interactive – led by the founders of Kowloon Nights – is a developer and publisher that operates on a co-ownership model. Its studios are given strategic leadership roles, all while continuing to develop their games their way, with no creative limitations. Kepler’s partner studios are as varied as they are talented, including A44 Games in New Zealand, Alpha Channel and Timberline in North America, Awaceb, Ebb Software, and Sloclap in Europe, and Shapefarm in Asia. Kepler Interactive itself is headquartered in London. 

New gameplay revealed in a psychedelic new trailer with a glimpse at all-new locations and mysterious characters

LONDON (Nov. 30, 2023)– Indie developer Hadoque revealed today that the highly-anticipated and kaleidoscopic Metroidvania action-platformer ULTROS launches next year on Feb. 13 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). 

Watch today’s trailer for ULTROS here:

Today’s newly-released trailer introduces would-be adventurers and space gardeners to all-new gameplay showcasing new extractor-based mechanics that can be used to unlock new abilities to assist in exploring the stunning, multicolored world of ULTROS. Within glimpses of new locations and scenery, fans are also introduced to mysterious new characters that will expand their world and reveal undiscovered depths to the giant, space-drifting, cosmic uterus of The Sarcophagus. 

ULTROS is a mystical action-platformer from developer Hadoque that presents an entirely unique world set in outer space. Only through a mastery of skills can you balance the cycle of life and death in this enchanting, mind-bending alien world. 

Alongside the Standard Edition, fans can also pre-order the Deluxe Edition of ULTROS via the PlayStation Store, Steam and the Epic Games Store, which comes complete with a Digital Artbook, showcasing the psychedelic world through never-before-seen imagery from the visionary El Huervo, and the ULTROS Original Soundtrack, blending Peruvian instruments with classic orchestral themes, lovingly orchestrated by Oscar “Ratvader” Rydelius. Fans can also now pre-order an exclusive physical Deluxe Edition of ULTROS for PlayStation 5 from participating retailers made in partnership with Maximum Games, which also comes with three stunning art cards, plus a magnet of Ouji, the game’s protagonist alongside the items included in the digital Deluxe Edition. For more information, visit https://www.ultrosgame.com/. 

Achieve balance when ULTROS launches on Feb. 13, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). 

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About Hadoque: 

Hadoque is a kaleidoscopic blend of creatives – gathered to forge the embodiment of ULTROS and breathe life into its dormant potential. Some of us have wandered abreast for over ten years, while others are crossing paths for the first time. Congregated in Gothenburg, Sweden, where the seed of imagination gently met fertile soil, the roots of Hadoque stretch beyond the eastern realms and southern moors of the northern Kingdom we call home. Our confrères have previously worked on titles such as Hotline Miami, the SteamWorld series, Fe, Stick It To The Man, Magicka, Toca Life, Else Heart.Break(), and Kenshō. 

Prepare for Battle with a New Look at the Gorgeous Action-RPG Arriving Summer 2024 

London (Nov. 30, 2023) – A44 Games, in collaboration with publisher Kepler Interactive, unveiled the stunning new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated gods-slaying Action-RPG, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn at this year’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted. Scheduled for release in Summer 2024, the game is set to send players on a journey only they can survive on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store). 

Watch the brand-new trailer:  

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn takes place in a breathtakingly beautiful yet perilous open world where magic and guns collide. Taking control of Nor Vanek, alongside her mystical companion, Enki, players find themselves in a relentless battle against the gods and their menacing army of the dead. They must hone their combat skills using an enthralling mix of gunpowder and magic to reclaim the lost City of Dawn as the world around them plunges into chaos. Switch seamlessly from magic to weapons-based combat and partner with Enki to deliver devastating attacks on towering enemies. As the gods seek to rule over everything they call home, Nor must become more than a soldier if she’s to save humanity. 

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launches on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), in Summer 2024. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn will also be available day one with Xbox Game Pass. For more information visit www.playflintlock.com. 

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About A44

Founded in 2013, A44 Games has operated with the goal of making games we want to play in mind. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, the team at A44’s expertise is in combining cinematic experiences with complex gameplay. A44’s first game, Ashen, released in 2018 to critical acclaim. 

About Kepler Interactive

Kepler Interactive – led by the founders of Kowloon Nights – is a developer and publisher that operates on a co-ownership model. Its studios are given strategic leadership roles, all while continuing to develop their games their way, with no creative limitations. Kepler’s partner studios are as varied as they are talented, including A44 Games in New Zealand, Alpha Channel and Timberline in North America, Awaceb, Ebb Software, and Sloclap in Europe, and Shapefarm in Asia. Kepler Interactive itself is headquartered in London.

Dredge up the forbidden secrets of the Brazilian forest and survive the dangers that lurk in the darkness

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Nov. 30, 2023 – During today’s PC Gaming Show, indie developer Monumental Collab and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX revealed a new trailer officially announcing Drowned Lake, a story-driven horror fishing game with survival elements in development for PC. Pilot a boat into the heart of the forest and investigate its ominous waters to fish out the terrifying secrets hidden in the darkness. Unravel the truth in a mystery told from three unique perspectives, inspired by the legends and nightmares of Brazilian folklore and influenced with a retro VHS aesthetic.

Deep in Brazil’s coastal forest is the Drowned Lake, an area of folk tales and legends, where many who trespass never return. When Bento, a student in his twenties, goes missing in this sinister place, it sets off a twisted story to discover the truth. Explore your surroundings by boat from a top-down perspective, collecting evidence with a fishing rod, while solving puzzles in first-person adventure-like segments. But try to avoid disturbing these troubled waters too much. Remember: you’re not safe here.

Key Features

• A Non-linear Horror Story, Told From Three Perspectives: Explore the most forbidding reaches of the forest as a firefighter, a journalist and an elderly fisherman. Unravel the mystery and each character’s true motives in an interactive narrative where your choices matter.
• Scour Dark Waters for the Truth: Collect evidence and uncover what hides beneath the surface of the Drowned Lake by exploring, fishing, investigating, and solving puzzles.
• Beware Making Noise: As you probe the forest’s farthest depths, your choices and actions may increase your noise level, attracting unwanted attention from the horrors of the night.
• Discover the Nightmares of Brazilian Folklore: Experience a tragic, twisted tale inspired by the unique melting pot of Brazilian culture and mythology.
• Investigate in First-Person Mode: Navigate narrow areas, complete intricate puzzles, and experience the true terrors the darkness hides in first-person POV sections inspired by escape rooms and classic horror games.

Drowned Lake builds on the success of Monumental Collab’s Our Lady of the Drowned Lake, an original nautical horror experience created for the 2022 GMTK Game Jam. The development team has a shared passion for weird horror, producing multiple experiences for game jams over the years. The studio most recently released the free found-footage horror game TELEFORUM, which launched earlier this year to “Very Positive” player reviews on Steam.

Drowned Lake is available to wishlist now on Steam. For the latest information, follow the developers on Twitter, sign up for CRITICAL REFLEX’s horror-focused CR Channel newsletter, and join the CR Channel Discord.

About Monumental Collab

Monumental is a small collective spread throughout Brazil – a team formed by award-winning professionals known for games with a great sense of mood, mysterious narratives and immersive atmospheres.

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