Discover brand-new in-game features also coming soon for players on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC

LONDON (Nov. 30, 2023) – Developer Awaceb and publisher Kepler Interactive today announced that Tchia, the beloved, heartfelt love letter to New Caledonia, will launch on Steam in March 2024, alongside a wealth of new gameplay features and updates. 

New for the Steam release in March 2024, and available at the same time via a free in-game update for players on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC via the Epic Games Store, players will be able to enjoy a variety of exciting, new features to enhance their journey through the beautiful archipelago, including: 

• Outfits Perks System – Each piece of equipment Tchia finds in the world now provides various boosts and benefits, such as extra environmental resistances or stamina boosts. Explore the world and discover new items to suit your playstyle – looking stylish (or sometimes goofy) to boot. 
• New Cosmetic Items – Search for brand-new costumes and accessories hidden within the island locales to stand out from the crowd and show your personality, such as a classy top hat, or a hilarious clown costume.
• New Soul-Melodies – Play your ukulele and unlock new abilities to help explore the world around you in whole new ways, like a blast of powerful energy to knock fruit out of trees or leaping to new heights and performing tricks in the sky.

Tchia, which has been played by more than one million players since launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and the Epic Games Store earlier this year, is a sun-soaked sandbox that invites players to climb, glide, swim and sail around a beautiful open world inspired by New Caledonia – the homeland of Awaceb’s co-founders. With inherent Soul-Jumping powers at her disposal, Tchia can take control of almost any object or animal she can find to give her the edge in combat and traversal. From taking flight as a bird to reach mountain peaks, plunging to the ocean depths as a dolphin, to setting mindless minions alight as a lantern, players will turn the environment into the ultimate tool. 

Tchia is releasing on Steam in March 2024 and is available to Wishlist now. For more information, visit https://www.awaceb.com/tchia. 

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About Awaceb: 

Awaceb is a small studio based in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 2016, the studio’s first game was Fossil Echo, a story-driven 2D platformer. Tchia, Awaceb’s latest title, is a love letter to New Caledonia, the home of the studio’s two co-founders.  

About Kepler Interactive:  Kepler Interactive is the first global publisher co-owned and run by creators. Launched in 2021 and led by the founders of Kowloon Nights, Kepler nurtures creativity through collaboration with each of its founding studio partners having a stake in the business and a leadership role in strategic decision-making, whilst retaining total artistic independence. Following the successful launches of Ebb Software’s, Scorn, and Sloclap’s two million selling and critically acclaimed, Sifu, Kepler’s studio partners are as varied as they are talented, including A44 Games (Ashen, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn) in New Zealand, Alpha Channel and Awaceb (Tchia) in Canada, and Timberline (The Red Lantern) in North America and Shapefarm in Asia. Kepler Interactive is headquartered in London.

Establish a colony, survive the desolate wastes, and leave your legacy in this strategic roguelite

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Nov. 30, 2023 – Developer Wondernaut Studio and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX have announced Ironhive, a new deck-building strategy game in development on PC. Revealed during the PC Gaming Show, Ironhive challenges players to survive a harsh, dystopian future through an interconnected system of deck building, city building, crafting, exploration, resource management, and more. Build your colony, ensure the survival of your people, and create a legacy that will be passed on to the next generations. As the Ironlord, you are their only remaining hope.

The world as we know it ended hundreds of years ago. “The Great Collapse” saw the fall of humanity. With time, surviving groups began to establish new settlements-fortress-cities called “Ironhives.”

As the leader of an Ironhive, you will build your colony, lead your people, explore the world around you, and do everything in your power to withstand the harsh challenges of your hostile world. Every decision will contribute to building your Legacy, acquiring Cultural Traits that will affect subsequent colonies.

Key Features

• Rebuild Your Home. Elevate housing, utility, social, production, and defense buildings.
• Corrupted by Choices. Use your cards to maintain your Ironhive’s Stability through every season.
• Explore the Wasteland. Send out expeditions in search of vital resources, technologies and more.
• Take On the Harsh World’s Challenges. Make decisions through interconnected narrative events, telling a different story with each playthrough.
• Secure Your Legacy. Register your legacy in the Book of Ashes and choose cultural traits that will influence your next colonies.
• Thick Atmosphere & Beautiful Visuals. Ironhive takes inspiration from Avery Alder’s The Quiet Year and Simon Stålenhag’s The Labyrinth.

The Brazil-based team at Wondernaut comes from a variety of backgrounds, sharing a mission to create rich worlds and tell extraordinary stories. Inspired by the intersection between board games and RPGs, they began to develop Ironhive in 2022 at BIG Festival’s game jam, gaining enough praise both from the judges and the community to pursue expanding the game.

Ironhive is available to wishlist now on Steam. For the latest information, follow the game on Twitter and visit the website to join the Discord and subscribe to the newsletter.

About Wondernaut Studio

Driven by stories and fantastical worlds, Wondernaut Studio was founded in early 2020 by Pablo Abraham and Bruno Klipel, professionals passionate about creating experiences that not only entertain but also enlighten and enrich lives. We achieve this through original aesthetics, captivating music, and engaging narratives, focusing on transforming each game into a unique journey that takes players beyond their everyday realities.

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

Frantic Multiplayer Mayhem Due for Arrival on Steam Early Access 2024

LONDON (Nov. 30, 2023) – During today’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, independent developer Indoor Astronaut announced the sequel to its runaway co-op hit Unrailed! with Unrailed 2: Back on Track, coming to Steam Early Access next year.

Watch today’s announcement trailer for Unrailed 2: Back on Track below:

Featuring chaotic online and couch co-op multiplayer mayhem, players will gather resources, craft tracks, upgrade their trains and overcome the wild world’s wicked challenges to reach the next station or risk becoming a total trainwreck. Each journey through diverse biomes is unique with procedurally generated maps and branching paths across exciting landscapes, or players can even challenge their friends with brand-new user generated maps using the Terrain Conductor tool to create truly frantic and one-of-a-kind game worlds.

In Unrailed 2: Back on Track, players will be able to customize their train and characters in a variety of ways, meaning no two excursions will ever be the same. As the train’s wheels keep on rolling, do you purchase upgrades like a Cannon Cart to blast helpful building components across the map to your waiting teammates, or do you set up a series of costly Conveyor-Belt-Transporters to automate the process? Feeling too lazy to walk? Learn to lob your items across the map or upgrade your stamina to sprint that little bit further and help your fellow conductors. The possibilities are endless. 

Players will be able to freely explore a vast world of interconnected and diverse biomes, unlocking new regions as starting points to continue their journeys on. Additionally, players will keep certain upgrades between runs, so each locomotive loss is an opportunity to rebuild and get back on track with new abilities and perks. Unrailed 2: Back on Track will be available on Steam Early Access in 2024. Fans are invited to Wishlist the game now to stay updated for more information or follow the Unrailed! social channels for up-to-date news. For more information visit: https://unrailed-game.com/

Publisher GameForge and Indie Studio Nordic Trolls Announce Under a Rock, a New Open-World Survival Craft Game

Don’t Get Caught Living Under a Rock Following this Title’s Reveal for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation Consoles

Karlsruhe, Germany (November 30, 2023) – Today, Gameforge—a leading Western publisher of MMORPGs—and indie developer Nordic Trolls are excited to reveal their new title: Under a Rock, coming to PC via Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. In this open-world survival craft game, players must build, craft, and explore to survive and succeed on a colorful but mysterious and perilous island.

Watch the Under a Rock announcement trailer:

Walk the path of an early nineteenth-century explorer, recently stranded in an exotic and strange new land. A world draped in mysteries once thought lost to time, this land experienced completely different evolutionary paths, with exotic creatures roaming dangerously. 

Survivors can build a base, explore dark caves, swim through underwater environments, and traverse a diverse surface world, facing a myriad of unique challenges and discovering much-needed resources. Players must fish, fight, farm, craft, and more as they build their new island base and hope to fight off the forces of nature and terrifying curses.

Under a Rock utilizes procedural level generation to offer a new gameplay experience every playthrough. With multiplayer co-op available for more than 10 people and a deeply diverse character creator, players can look forward to surviving a vast new world of fearsome flora and fauna together. 

“Under a Rock is a unique new take on the open-world survival-craft genre,” said Noemi Feller, Vice President of Products at Gameforge. “The procedural generation means each playthrough is a new experience, and the ability to build and explore with up to 10 friends will make for some unpredictable and dynamic gameplay.” 

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Gameforge to help bring this dream of ours to life,” said Thorbjoern Olsen, CEO and Co-founder of Nordic Trolls. “We’re incredibly dedicated to living up to everyone’s excitement in making this an extremely fun, if not chaotic, multiplayer experience for players to really enjoy.”

Key Features of Under a Rock:

• Expect the Unexpected: Featuring procedural world generation, no two playthroughs of Under a Rock will be the same. A once-safe base could be riddled with danger the second time around, and players will need to stay on their toes to keep up
• Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover: They may seem cute and cuddly, but some of these creatures sure pack a punch. Fight, tame, breed, and ride various creatures…or players can develop their cooking skills for nourishment and other potential benefits in efforts to survive various biomes, curses, diseases, and the forces of nature
• It Builds Character: Players can create their own unique looks with the in-game character creator, offering a variety of diverse customization options
• A Not So Desert(ed) Island: Explore this mysterious island together with co-op multiplayer support for up to 10 players 

Under a Rock is in development for Windows PC, Xbox Series S|X, and PlayStation 5. It is available to wishlist now via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Stay tuned for more information on Under a Rock by following the Nordic Trolls on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Discord.

About Nordic Trolls

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Beijing, China, Nordic Trolls is an independent game developer with Nordic roots. The developer’s first title is the award-winning VR action RPG title Karnage Chronicles, but have since returned to their roots and are currently developing the open-world survival craft game Under a Rock for PC and consoles.

Find out more about Nordic Trolls at nordic-trolls.com. 

About Gameforge 

Founded in 2003, Gameforge is a leading Western publisher and operator of widely acclaimed Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) and browser-based game titles. Gameforge builds highly active and enduring global communities by supporting players through the greatest quality LiveOps, provision of localized content, engaging community management, and frequent delivery of meaningful updates. 

Gameforge’s diverse portfolio of highly successful gaming brands provides different worlds with engaging experiences for players from all walks of life: core MMORPG titles AION Classic, Runes of Magic, and Metin2, beloved anime MMOs Elsword and NosTale, strategy-focused browser games like OGame and Ikariam, along with indie titles such as Trigon: Space Story and Tiny Thor. 

More information is available on gameforge.com. 

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Pinball M awakens five frightful pinball tables, including Chucky’s Killer Pinball, Dead by Daylight Pinball and more TODAY!

SAN FRANCISCO – Nov. 30, 2023 – Brace yourselves, horror aficionados and pinball enthusiasts! Zen Studios, the pinball wizards behind the acclaimed Pinball FX series, today unleash a new nightmare into the pinball realm with their new spine-tingling pinball platform – Pinball M. Prepare to tilt into terror as Zen Studios horrifies PlayStation, Xbox, Steam and the Epic Games Store with Pinball M – TODAY! Pinball M will launch on Nintendo Switch on December 28. 

Pinball M boasts a sinister lineup of pinball tables available day one, designed to keep players on the edge of their seats from the moment they plunge into the darkness. Prepare to face your deepest fears with Zen’s own Wrath of the Elder Gods – Director’s Cut, Dead by Daylight Pinball, Chucky’s Killer Pinball, and The THING Pinball in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences. To complete the launch table lineup, Duke Nukem’s Bigshot Pinball delivers a wild and uninhibited extravaganza, complete with bubble gum.

But the horror doesn’t stop there! Pinball M introduces never-before-seen features that will plunge players even deeper into the nightmarish realms.

Play Corners

With Play Corners, the haunting ambiance of each table creeps beyond the gameplay, immersing you in 3D environments in the table menus. You can customize your Play Corners with an array of chilling decorative elements that can be earned through gameplay, making the perfect space to reflect your own twisted tastes.

Profile Banners

Pinball M also touts a multitude of other new and malevolent features that will keep even the most experienced pinball players wickedly entertained. Player profiles become their own personal banner of horror, as you customize with a wide range of haunting options showcasing your unique and terrifying identity.

New Challenges

Engage the tables like never before in the Dread Challenge and Shiver Challenge. Reach the point threshold in Dread to give yourself another minute to reach the next one. Accumulate and survive as long as you can. Can you brave the Shiver Challenge? The table lights dim to almost total darkness and you have to navigate your ball based on your instincts.

Community Features

With Pinball M, pinball is no longer a solitary gaming experience. Players can engage in a variety of new community features where modes like the Nightmare Trails await! Each day, random objectives materialize to torment and test players, accompanied by separate daily leaderboards that intensify the spirit of competition.

This is just the beginning of the horrors that await in Pinball M. Stay tuned for spine-chilling updates, as additional pinball tables are planned to release later this year with more expected to come in 2024.

Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the darkness and unleash your pinball prowess in Pinball M. Get ready to tilt into terror like never before! For more information visit www.pinballm.com.

About Zen Studios

Zen Studios is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for all major digital game platforms. Recognized as one of the premier gaming studios in the world, Zen has worked with some of the most iconic entertainment studios, including Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, NBC Universal, and FOX Digital Entertainment.

Zen’s Pinball FX franchise has defined video game pinball excellence since 2007, and critically acclaimed titles like Circus Electrique and Operencia: The Stolen Sun have proven its devotion to creating captivating RPGs. Zen Studios joined Saber Interactive in November 2020. For more information on Zen’s library of titles, visit zenstudios.com.

About Chucky

CHUCKY is a continuation of the iconic film franchise chronicling the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll. In the TV series, Chucky crosses paths with archenemies, old allies, and new prey as he seeks to inspire fear and mayhem wherever he goes. This series is produced by Universal Content Productions (UCP) and executive produced by creator Don Mancini, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, David Kirschner and Jeff Renfoe. Chucky is currently streaming on Peacock.

About The THING

Horror-meister John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York) teams Kurt Russell’s outstanding performance with incredible visuals to build this chilling version of the classic The Thing. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them.

About Universal Products & Experiences

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Merchandise & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.

About Embracer Group

Embracer Group is a global Group of creative and entrepreneurial businesses in PC, console, mobile and board games and other related media. The Group has an extensive catalog of over 900 owned or controlled franchises.

With its head office based in Karlstad, Sweden, Embracer Group has a global presence through its twelve operative groups: THQ Nordic, PLAION, Coffee Stain, Amplifier Game Invest, Saber Interactive, DECA Games, Gearbox Entertainment, Easybrain, Asmodee, Dark Horse, Embracer Freemode and Crystal Dynamics – Eidos. The Group has 135 internal game development studios and is engaging more than 15,500 employees in more than 40 countries.

DUBLIN — Nov. 30, 2023 — Baldur’s Gate 3’s most feature-filled patch yet is out today, not only fixing slowdowns caused by the eternal acts of thefts and violence reported earlier this week, but also bringing with it brand-new epilogues, providing closure to each player’s unique journey, as well as new game modes and so much more.

This playable new epilogue gameplay, accessible to all players loading the game prior to the final fight, takes place before the credits. Players will now find themselves in camp, six months after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3’s story, where they’ll meet new friends and old, taking all the time they need to say their final goodbyes to the party.

For the writers of Larian, this ‘final goodbye’ has been some of the most complex writing in the game so far, as it takes advantage of the game’s reactivity across the entire adventure. A gigantic tree of permutations defines the content, with new writing (3,589 lines to be exact), cinematics, and even characters joining the get-together at camp, organized by Withers.

Alongside the new epilogue content comes two new game modes: Honour Mode and Custom Mode. Honour Mode not only makes the game more difficult in and out of combat, but also introduces over 30 new tweaks to all of the game’s boss fights, with a new Legendary Action system designed to catch players off-guard and increase the challenge. Now bosses can perform new actions, adding twists and turns to all major fights throughout the game.

Inspiration points become more valuable in Honour Mode, as loading previous games – or ‘save scumming’ – is disabled, meaning players will need to keep count! Some of the more powerful ‘unintended exploits’ have been removed for players who embark on an Honour Mode adventure, though have been kept open for players to exploit in other difficulty settings.

When a player dies, they will be presented with statistics of their journey, including how long and how far they survived for. Should players choose, they can continue their adventure, which will then disable Honour mode. Players who do manage to complete the entire game with Honour Mode enabled (without dying) will be awarded the coveted Golden D20.

Those who lack a penchant for punishment (or perhaps want to push it to its extremes) may avail of Custom Mode, a new game mode that allows players to pick and choose a type of experience best for them. With many options to pick from, a few favorites include the option to hide the required roll to succeed dice checks, which gives a more realistic D&D experience, as well as the ability to hide enemy HP in battle, again more closely simulating the tabletop style.

Other options in Custom Mode include short rests fully healing the party, as well as disabling death-saving throws, or even the ability to hide failed perception checks, which means you’ll never know there was even a roll to begin with!

This patch also lands with improved inventory access, allowing players to manage the inventory of all companions from one single UI, regardless of whether or not they’re currently in your party. On top of all this, Patch 5 also brings performance improvements engineered as a consequence of the Xbox version of Baldur’s Gate 3, which benefits all platforms.

Patch 5 is so feature-full, we recommend reading the full patch notes. It includes many tweaks, fixes, and additions.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC, Mac and PS5, and launches in December on Xbox Series X|S.

More information on Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on the official website. You can stay up to date with the latest Larian Studios news via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and the official Discord server.

About Larian Studios

Larian Studios is an independent RPG developer founded in 1996 in Ghent, Belgium. Over 400 people work between worldwide studios in Ghent, Quebec, Dublin, Guildford, Malaysia and Barcelona. Larian is best known for the Divinity universe, which they introduced to the world with Divine Divinity in 2002. In 2014, Larian launched Divinity: Original Sin, a classic CRPG that won over 150 awards and nominations. The company released its critically acclaimed sequel Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Sept. 14, 2017, followed by the Definitive Edition in August 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to a 93 Metacritic rating. The Nintendo Switch version released in September 2019 featuring cross-save progression between Nintendo Switch and Steam. Divinity: Original Sin 2 won a BAFTA for Best Multiplayer Game. On Aug. 3, 2023, Larian released Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC. On Sept. 6, 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 was released on PS5.

The battle for the kingdom begins today on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

Boulder, Colo. (Nov. 30, 2023) – Following its launch on Steam earlier this year, Serenity Forge and Twin Otter Studios today released the gorgeous pixel art tactical RPG Arcadian Atlas to consoles. Your formal invitation to save the kingdom of Arcadia is here across PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch for $29.99. Purchase now on your platform of choice: https://www.serenityforge.com/games/arcadian-atlas

The wait is over and the fate of the kingdom has fallen into your hands. Today’s new trailer will give you a taste of what is to come in this epic journey where every choice you make can change the lives of everyone around you permanently:

Arcadian Atlas is a unique, narrative-driven isometric tactical RPG set in Arcadia, a nation tearing itself apart via political factions and treacherous intrigues just as ancient evil forces begin to awaken. With a queen willing to do anything to ascend to the throne, no one is safe.

In order to save Arcadia, players need to build an elite party of adventurers from more than 12 unique classes, each with their own custom skill trees and equipment ranging from potion-brewing apothecaries to magic-channeling warmancers. Strategic, turn-based battles will determine the fate of both the kingdom of Arcadia and its people. Every single action counts: just one wrong move could tear your party and the land itself apart for good.

The stunning pixel art of Arcadian Atlas pairs with a rich story that will push players into tough, emotionally driven choices and send them down an unforgettable path. No one is safe now that the Atlas, a power that can change life in an instant, has been unleashed.

For more information about Arcadian Atlas, please visit https://arcadianatlas.blogspot.com/ 

Stay in the loop on all things Serenity Forge by visiting the team’s website and Twitter page.

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About Twin Otter Studios

Twin Otter Studios is an independent game developer started in 2015 by siblings Taylor & Becca Bair. After ranking in various game jams, creating their 5 hour indie RPG “Genesis” together & working professionally in the gaming industry as a writer & freelance artist (respectively), the brother/sister duo decided to make their work official with an LLC & logo, growing their team with the coding expertise of Paddy Otterness and jazz-infused musical stylings of Moritz P.G. Katz and sound studio German Wahnsinn to craft Arcadian Atlas, a dream project years in the making.

Our goal is to craft lovingly handmade games with a fusion of modern elements & classic aesthetics that we ourselves would want to play. We have brought together some of the freshest & most innovative talent in the industry to bring you unforgettable gaming experiences.

About Serenity Forge Based in Boulder, Colorado, video game development and publishing studio Serenity Forge prides themselves on the care and dedication they put into their work, creating meaningful games that challenge the way you think. Firm believers in the artistic, cultural, and educational power of video games, Serenity Forge aims to craft unique interactive experiences to broaden players’ horizons and expand their perspectives. Learn more at http://serenityforge.com.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – November 30, 2023 -Thirdverse, Co., Ltd., a virtual reality game development, distribution and management company, announced the successful completion of an $8 million USD funding round through a third-party allocation of new shares. This latest investment round brings the company’s total funding to an impressive $38 million USD, including the initial capital raised prior to the corporate spin-off on May 1, 2021.
 
Thirdverse has ambitious plans to intensify its focus on the development and worldwide marketing of two groundbreaking VR titles. “X8,” a VR multiplayer hero shooter, and “SOUL COVENANT,” a thrilling VR dramatic action game currently under development.
 
On November 9, 2023, Thirdverse’s highly anticipated VR title, “X8,” developed by Thirdverse US Studios, made its official debut on the Meta Quest store and Steam store. Soon, the company will reveal service launch dates for the PlayStation VR2 and PICO versions. “X8” previously entered Early Access on the Meta Quest App Lab and Steam in May 2023, rapidly accumulating 180,000 downloads in approximately five months since its initial release. The game has also successfully paved the way for VR esports in Japan and abroad, having already hosted three esports events. At the Tokyo Game Show 2023, Thirdverse unveiled “SOUL COVENANT,” an immersive VR dramatic action game with an official release scheduled for early 2024.
 
Thirdverse’s latest funding round attracted a diverse group of investors who share the company’s vision for the future of VR gaming. These investors recognize the tremendous potential of Thirdverse and its innovative approach to the industry. The company is committed to delivering immersive and cutting-edge experiences that captivate VR enthusiasts worldwide.
 
Hironao Kunimitsu, CEO of Thirdverse, said: “We are thrilled to have raised $8 million USD in funding to continue our mission of pushing the boundaries of VR gaming. The success of ‘X8’ and our upcoming ‘SOUL COVENANT’ release demonstrate the incredible potential of VR, and we are excited to bring these experiences to an ever-growing global audience.”
 
Hiroyuki Watanabe, CEO of B Dash Ventures Inc., said: “The virtual reality market is rapidly growing. With Apple and Meta striving to bring VR into the mainstream, we anticipate the global enthusiasm for VR will continue to grow. Thirdverse’s VR games have the potential to be enjoyed worldwide as evidenced by “X8”, which has been played globally since its launch. Additionally, we expect that the upcoming game title “SOUL COVENANT” will provide an immersive experience for everyone with its unique worldview and narrative. B Dash Ventures will continue to support Thirdverse, a leading VR company representing Japan.”
 
Junichi Taguchi, General Manager of Mitsubishi UFJ Capital., Ltd. Investment Department No.2, said: “We’ve been involved in the gaming industry for many years, and it’s incredible to see that Thirdverse is at the forefront of VR gaming and esports. VR gaming is on the cusp of a transformative era and Thirdverse’s vision aligns with this exciting future, and I’m thrilled to join them on this journey.”
 
Thirdverse remains dedicated to reshaping the future of VR gaming, delivering captivating experiences that transport players to new realms of entertainment.
 
For more information about Thirdverse and its innovative VR gaming projects, please visit https://www.thirdverse.io/en/.
 
About Thirdverse, Co., Ltd

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

In August 2022, the studio launched its next-generation sword-fighting VR title “ALTAIR BREAKER” for Meta Quest 2 and PCVR. In November 2023, Thirdverse officially launched its multiplayer VR tactical hero shooter title called “X8” developed by its US Studio. At the Tokyo Game Show 2023, the company also revealed its newest VR project “SOUL COVENANT”, set to release in early 2024. Currently, Thirdverse plans to strengthen the recruitment of VR game creators for the development of new titles, scheduled for release in 2023 and beyond. For more information, visit www.thirdverse.io.

Are you a fan of big robots? A superbly stylish mech-themed 2D side-scroller is coming to Xbox!

Chinese indie developer RocketPunch Games in partnership with publisher E-Home proudly announced their mech-themed 2D side-scrolling game Hardcore Mecha: Bravely Edition will be released on December 14th. An Xbox exclusive Mecha Skin has been packed to the Bravely Edition, and all the released DLCs’ been unlocked! Pre-order opens today with a 20% discount.

View the single-player mode trailer:

Visit Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/HARDCORE-MECHA/9P0ZSZCLPD40

About the game:

Hardcore Mecha is a mech-themed 2D side-scrolling action game developed by RocketPunch Games, a Chinese indie game label. Hardcore Mecha’s inspired by the Super Robot War series and was a success when it debuted. The Bravely Edition will offer an Xbox exclusive Mecha Skin, and Xbox players can unlock all the released DLCs.

Game features:

Exciting, fast-paced Mecha Battle! – A campaign mode offers rich gameplay and seamless in-game cut-scenes for an immersive experience. In the local multiplayer battle, you can choose your favorite mecha, showcase your amazing free style combo moves, experience the fast-paced hardcore competitive battle of steel, or choose to play a round of ‘friendly’ chaos free-for-all.

Stunning Highly Polished 2D Animations – The detailed skeletal animation with a unique impression of power will fully showcase the characteristics of each mecha. The smooth and natural movements have also laid a good foundation for the fine handling experience. Natural 2D rotating animation, the use of visual deception like dislocation and timely switched elements have brought out a visual effect like 3D artwork.

Fast-pace Gameplay Mechanism – No in-game preset combo moves, no need to cram up combo moves table. The player will have full control over how to maneuver and shoot. Each player can come up with their own amazing styles.

4 Times Fun – Against each other with local split-screen. Single purchase, 4 times of fun!

Various Mechas – American style, Japanese style, Super style, Realistic style, there are dozens of mechas of all kinds of styles available. Each mecha has its own unique tactical value, only the player who has completely grasped the features of each mecha can fully bring out their maximum combat effectiveness. What type of Mecha is the best? Prove it with your hands to your friends!

Challenge against Mecha with Mortal Flesh – The pilot can be controlled to eject from the mecha and work alone in critical moment with proper strategy, it will absolutely be a force on the battlefield that cannot be underestimated.

Xbox exlusive Mecha Skin – An exclusive Mecha Skin designed for Xbox fans!

About RocketPunch Games

We are RocketPunch Games, an indie game team from Beijing, China. Our mission is to create high-quality games across various genres and platforms.

In 2019, with the support of numerous players and friends, our debut game, Hardcore Mecha, earned the Indie Game Award at the PlayStation Awards 2019. After its release, the game received a 33/40 score, entering the Famitsu Gold Award and an 8.8/10 score from IGN Japan. Currently, we are simultaneously developing a supernatural sci-fi roguelite turn-based strategy game titled Anomaly Collapse .

Now, in collaboration with our partner E-Home, we are bringing Hardcore Mecha: Bravely Edition to the Xbox platform! This edition includes all DLCs, local multiplayer mode with all characters unlocked, gallery mode, and a new skin featuring the iconic Crimson Flame with the green X symbol for Xbox fans! We hope that the intense mecha battles of Hardcore Mecha: Bravely Edition will continuously convey RocketPunch Games courage to break through ourselves to every player.

About E-Home

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd. is a joint venture between Microsoft Corporation and Oriental Pearl Group, and the first registered company in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. E-Home publishes local and global high-quality games and features employees from around the world. Currently, E-Home is the largest publisher on the Chinese Xbox platform.

Get ready to beam up for multiplayer mayhem in this roguelike adventure 

Cambridge, UK, 30 November 2023. Today Jagex and Outlier Games’ spaceship management roguelite, This Means Warp, launches on consoles. Now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, players can fly solo to take on the fast-paced sci-fi action or enlist with some trusty crewmates in co-op. 

Now available for the first time on consoles, This Means Warp sees players exploring a strange new procedurally generated universe, while managing their spaceship and going head-to-head with other spacefaring enemies in hectic real-time battles. Players will have to stay on top of repairs and upgrade their ships, make sure weapons are fully loaded, and ultimately work together in order to survive the harsh world of intergalactic exploration. 

Up to four players can team up in either online or local multiplayer and enjoy frantic co-op gameplay that’s easy to understand, but tough to master. For those who prefer their challenges solo, however, there is a varied cast of AI crewmates to recruit to lend a hand aboard the ship. Space is a deadly new frontier and you’ll never know what you might face next in this sci-fi roguelite adventure. 

This Means Warp features: 

• Procedurally generated challenges make every game unique with randomised maps, items, enemies, and encounters. Players will need to adapt to new challenges by making the best of their arsenal of weapons and upgrades. 
• Deep, strategic combat that requires players to think on their feet as they contend with hectic, real-time battles where they must balance beating their foes while keeping their ship in one piece. 
• Varied roster of crewmates will support players as the galaxy provides challenge after challenge to overcome. Gamers can team up with up to three players or can choose to fill the ranks using a roster of AI crewmates. 

This Means Warp is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch priced £15.98 / €19.99 / $19.99. 

For more information about Jagex Partners visit the official site, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on Outlier Games visit the official website. 

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About Outlier Games 

Based in Dublin, Ireland, and Toronto, Canada, Outlier is an independent video game development studio focused on community-led multiplayer games. Founded in 2018 by experienced entrepreneurs from the tech and entertainment industries, Outlier develops strategic, replayable experiences for core gamers. For more information about Outlier, go to. 

About Jagex   

A leader in creating deep and engaging live games on PC and mobile, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1billion lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond live operations; our titles are forever games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.  

Jagex has expanded with the acquisitions of PipeWorks and Gamepires, bringing its expertise in building forever games to SCUM, a multi-million selling open-world survival title in Steam Early Access. Jagex employs more than 600 people globally, and is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom.