Archive - 2017

Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Narco Road DLC Release Date

SAN FRANCISCOApril 11, 2017 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that the first Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands expansion, Narco Road, will be available to season pass owners simultaneously across all platforms on April 18. Season pass owners will have access to Narco Road one week before it releases for individual purchase on April 25 for the suggested retail price of $14.99.

Narco Road tasks players with infiltrating three gangs of smugglers led by the elusive El Invisible. Players will have to work their way up the ranks and earn the trust of the mysterious leader if they have any hope of bringing him to justice. Reaching El Invisible will require gaining the trust of three new charismatic bosses:

  • Eddie Escovado: The self-proclaimed social media star and adrenaline-addicted leader of the Kamikazes gang.
  • Arturo Rey: The mysterious leader of the Death Riders, a gang of riders who worship Santa Muerte.
  • Tonio Mateos: The arrogant leader of the Jinetes Locos, a gang specializing in racing muscle cars.

To earn the respect of these bosses, players will complete more than 15 fast-paced campaign missions. In addition to these new story missions, four new types of side missions and racing challenges offer adrenaline-fueled action. Completing these activities will earn players fame and followers. The more followers a player acquires, the more interest they will get from the gang bosses, and the closer they will come to bringing down El Invisible.

Narco Road also features four exclusive outfits, nine new weapons and four new vehicle types. Traverse the massive Bolivian map in huge monster trucks, nitro-boosted muscle cars, powerful motorcycles and aerobatic planes.

Additionally, a new game update will be launching April 12 on consoles and April 14 on PC. The update will introduce weekly live season challenges in the form of solo, co-op and community tasks that refresh every Wednesday. Players who complete these challenges will be rewarded with up to three unique in-game rewards per week. Challenges will be available through multiple seasons, each of them lasting six weeks and featuring a specific theme. In the first season, The Rise and Fall of Unidad, players gather intel on Unidad’s operations and combat the threat to the country.

In Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, players discover a fictionalized future Bolivia, a few years from now, in which players must take down the Santa Blanca drug cartel by any means necessary. Behind enemy lines, they hunt down targets and discover intel, using any of the more than 60 vehicles available, including cars, motorcycles and even helicopters that they can commandeer. To topple the cartel, players have to fight their way to El Sueño, Santa Blanca’s ruthless leader, by breaking down the Santa Blanca drug cartel’s operation piece by piece as they sever alliances between the drug lords and the corrupted government. A second expansion for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, Fallen Ghosts, will be available soon, as well as an all-new PvP mode in the coming months.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, please visit ghostrecon.com.

Final content and release dates may be subject to change. Some features may not be available at launch. Content may be available for purchase and/or as giveaway(s) separately at Ubisoft’s sole discretion at any time. System requirements pending. Please check system requirements upon game release before purchase and redemption.

To learn more about other Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.com.

The Commanders Update Comes to Elite Dangerous

Cambridge, UK. April 11 2017. Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) will today launch Elite Dangerous: Horizons 2.3 – The Commanders for PC and Xbox One.

Frontier’s commitment to expanding and improving Elite Dangerous continues with the fourth update in the Elite Dangerous: Horizons season of expansions. The Commanders introduces Multicrew co-op play, the highly customizable Holo-Me avatar creator, the new Dolphin passenger vessel, an all-new third-person camera suite, cavernous Asteroid Bases and awe-inspiring Mega Ships.

Elite Dangerous 2.3 – The Commanders arrives at a time when all eyes have turned to Merope, where the Empire and Federation are drawing closer to a collision, and the Commanders of the Pilots Federation have encountered a spacecraft unlike anything designed by humanity. As the galaxy prepares for conflict, Elite Dangerous 2.3 puts itsCommanders front and center, with new ways to play and new discoveries to be made.

Multicrew co-op in The Commanders gives groups of players the opportunity to fly aboard the same ship, assuming one of three specialized roles. At the Helm is the pilot of the ship, while the Gunner handles secondary firing groups from a third-person tactical viewpoint and the Fighter flies into battle from the cockpit of their own ship-launched fighter deployed from the mother ship’s launch bay.

Multicrewed ships benefit from precision firepower and additional control, giving Commanders a vital edge in combat. Players can join Multicrew vessels from anywhere in the Milky Way and will share in the galaxy’s rewards… and its punishments.

Holo-Me is Elite Dangerous: Horizons’ new Commander creator and editor, allowing players to create a unique face and physical appearance for their in-game avatar. The highly customizable Holo-Me system offers an amazing array of options at launch, making every Commander recognizable with just a glance across your ship’s bridge in Multicrew, or in a very close fly-by out in the massively multiplayer galaxy.

Elite Dangerous grows for every player with today’s free 1.8 gameplay update on PC, Mac and Xbox One, offering new sights, experiences and gameplay improvements throughout the galaxy. Starports carved into asteroids make for a new and unexpected stop-off point for commanders exploring planetary rings and asteroid belts; Mega Ships dwarf even the mightiest capital ships, offering one of the galaxy’s mightiest man-made spectacles; and updates to the mission system unlock chained missions allowing players to progress through all-new questlines.

And by popular request, Elite Dangerous’ new Camera Suite gives players total control over a third-person camera for screenshots, film-making and a whole new view on the Elite Dangerous galaxy.

For the full changelog, visit the Elite Dangerous forums here.

The Commanders is available today for all Elite Dangerous: Horizons season pass holders at no additional cost. Buy the Elite Dangerous: Horizons season pass today for £19.99 ($29.99, €24.99) on Steam or FrontierStore.net, or buy Elite Dangerous and the Elite Dangerous: Horizons season pass together for £39.99 ($59.99, €49.99) on Steam or FrontierStore.net.

Elite Dangerous: Horizons arrives on PlayStation 4 in Q2 2017 including 2.3 – The Commanders at launch.

Aaero Launch Trailer

Twain Harte, CA – April 11, 2017 – Talented indie studio Mad Fellows Games, in cooperation with Reverb Triple XP, are proud today to release Aaero, a music-fueled, aerial-combat game.  Available now for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Steam, Aaero combines shooting, flying, mesmerizing visuals and amazing enemy encounters into a beat-powered, kinetic experience like no other. Featuring artists Noisia, Flux Pavilion, Katy B, The Prototypes, Neosignal and many more, Aaero is sure to keep all the player’s senses engaged while soaring through distinctly designed levels crafted to deliver a fantastic aural and visual experience.

To commemorate the launch of the game, Aaero is currently available for the limited promotional price of $11.99 USD, a 20% discount off the regular $14.99 USD price.

EVE: Valkyrie – Groundrush Update Launch Trailer

April 11, 2017 – Today, CCP Games launches Groundrush, the fifth major free update for EVE: Valkyrie – the acclaimed virtual reality space combat shooter set in the universe of EVE – on PlayStation®VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Groundrush takes the fight to the surface with Solitude, the game’s first ground-based map. Solitude introduces a brand-new battleground carved into the craggy face of a remote planet, featuring fully playable interior and exterior spaces with intricately detailed terrain. With its tight passageways, mountainous terrain and cavernous underground spaces, Solitude rewards risky flight maneuvers that will test the flight skills of even the most seasoned Valkyrie pilots. You can find full details about Solitude in this developer blog: Groundrush Update – A New Map, Wormholes and More

The Groundrush update also introduces yet more chaos to the weekly Wormhole events, bringing even weirder and wilder permutations to this popular weekly game mode where the usual rules no longer apply.

In addition, co-op players can now enjoy the Carrier Assault and Control modes when teaming up for battle, plus EVE: Valkyrie players on Steam now benefit from official support for the Steam Controller. The full list of improvements can be found on the EVE: Valkyrie website here: Groundrush Update – The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Further substantial updates are also in development for all Valkyrie pilots to enjoy. For more information about EVE: Valkyrie, visit https://www.evevalkyrie.com/roadmap

Knott’s Berry Farm 2017 Boysenberry Festival

Once again, Knott’s Berry Farm has brought its prized boysenberries into the spotlight with their annual Boysenberry Festival. Running until April 23, the festival sees several stations setup around the park’s Ghost Town area with boysenberry themed foods to purchase and enjoy. Also gracing the park for the festival are some new shows to enjoy such as Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree!

Of the boysenberry flavored offerings this year, I was once again enamored with the “Fun Bun”. A deep fried cinnamon roll with sweet boysenberry frosting… It’s really an amazing treat. Also great were the boysenberry meatballs and boysenberry pana cotta. Also of note is the boysenberry fry bread, which is located over at the churro factory.  The dishes I could have done without were the boysenberry ravioli (I applaud their effort but it just didn’t work for me) and the boysenberry pizza. Of course, the park has its standard restaurants and watering holes open for guests during the festival, so the choice is yours. Knott’s Berry Farm is once again offering their $25 dollar tasting card for sale so that guests can get a little sampling of a number of boysenberry treats. Unfortunately, the fun bun is not on the tasting card, so you’ll have to pick that up separately, but I digress. If you are looking for liquid refreshment, you can find boysenberry cream soda as well as a host of craft wines and beers in the Craft Wine and Beer Garden, located within the Wilderness Dance Hall. There are some great local wineries and breweries on display here, so if you are over 21 and interested, be sure to check it out!

Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree is a fun show for the whole family which takes place at the new Calico Stage and features dancing, singing, and your favorite Peanuts characters. Also fun to take in is Old MacDonald’s Barn over near the Ghost Town windmill. Inside, you will find horses, burros, and all sorts of animals for the kids to look at. At certain times, you can even watch them shear some sheep! It’s how shirts are made, people, and harmless for the innocent sheep.There is also a new Melodrama in the Bird Cage Theater, which is always a fun time. The Bird Cage Theater players are a talented lot and allow a lot of improv to come through with their performances, which just adds to the fun!

Overall, the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is a fun day trip that will entertain and fill you up. Between the new boysenberry flavored treats and the entertainment options available to guests, Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is always a great time!

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Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Announcement Trailer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (April 10, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the premier anime videogame publisher and developer has announced NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER™, the latest addition to the popular Naruto game franchise, coming soon to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM®. Developed by Soleil Ltd. and published by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., this new action game enables players to compete online in 4 vs. 4 matches against other teams to become elite ninja masters.

In NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER, players go head-to-head in 4 vs. 4 battles, with all eight ninjas fighting simultaneously. NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER features beloved Naruto characters and teams from the series, including Naruto, Sasuke, and Team 7. The game showcases a brand-new graphic style with vivid colors and dynamic third-person ninja gameplay that enables players to take advantage of the verticality of the arena environment with vertical running and jumping to elevated areas. Players can also choose to play co-op with friends and lead teams to victory to be the top ninjas online.

“We’re delighted to work with Soleil on the newest installment to the Naruto series, taking the popular franchise to literal new heights as players utilize the vertical plane to gain advantages in battles with friends. Long-time fans and Naruto newbies are sure to enjoy the intense arena combat together,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER is a fresh take on the iconic anime series, and puts all players and characters into the fight.”

To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s other products go to: http://www.bandainamcoent.com/home.html or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bandainamcous.

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Sells Over One Million Copies

April 10, 2017 – Holding strong as Steam’s number one seller for more than two weeks, Bluehole and Brendan Greene (aka PLAYERUNKNOWN) announced today that PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS has sold more than one million units on Steam Early Access in 16 days. PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS has remained in the top three concurrent user count on Steam, peaking at more than 89,000 simultaneous active players at a given time.

The battle royale chart-topper has over 150,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch with more than 2,000 streamers streaming every day. To date, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS has been featured on more than 39,841 streams for a total of 5,168,180 minutes streamed since launch.

“We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the dedication of our players and we are truly humbled by their passionate response,” said Brendan Greene (aka PLAYERUKNOWN). “As we move to make improvements and deliver new content we will actively engage this growing fan base.”

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is being developed with full transparency and is planned to be in Early Access for less than six months. More information can be found at www.playbattlegrounds.com, ‘Like’ it on Facebook, and follow the team on Twitter @PUBATTLEGROUNDS for all the latest updates and news.

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS – Not Just a Game. This is Battle Royale.

30v30 Frontline Game Mode in Development for World of Tanks

April 10, 2017 — Wargaming today revealed its partnership with Austrian developer Bongfish, who brought over a decade of experience working with well-known publishers to bear on a new game mode for World of Tanks, dubbed Frontline. From today, players can put the new mode through its paces in the World of Tanks test server, Sandbox.

What can players expect from Frontline? Epic 30v30 tank clashes across vast 9 km2 battlefields, with one team pushing the assault while the other defends their territory. Over several rounds, the action spreads deeper behind defensive lines until a winner is declared.

“Players have been asking us for larger teams, bigger maps, and new combat setups for some time,” said Milos Jerabek, World of Tanks Development Director. “Wargaming’s distributed development approach made this a reality and we partnered with Bongfish to create the new mode—all while the in-house team for World of Tanks works on the game’s key mechanics. Bongfish has a ton of expertise to make it happen under our guidance. There’s true chemistry between the both of us, and we look forward to revealing what this collaboration brings to players.”

“We’ve been working on Frontline for a while now, and are excited to finally show it to the world,” said Michael Putz, Bongfish Founder and CEO. “We’re passionate about authentic gameplay and vast open spaces, and so are World of Tanks developers. By working with them, we can channel this passion to create something one of a kind for tankers to enjoy.”

Sandbox has been an integral component in improving the game as well as fostering a conversation between the players. Frontline marks the third time the game tests the waters in Sandbox to ensure World of Tanks continues going from strength to strength.

Thor: Ragnarok Teaser Trailer Released

April 10, 2017 – In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! “Thor: Ragnarok” thunders into U.S. theaters on November 3, 2017.

KRYTAC Signs Exclusive Distribution Deal with EVIKE

April 10, 2017 – Brea, California, United States – KRISS USA, a leading manufacturer and distributor of small arms and training replicas, has signed an exclusive agreement for the U.S. market with Evike.com, a world leading distributor of airsoft training equipment, for the distribution of KRYTAC® products. Evike.com will be offering the full range of KRYTAC® replicas and accessories to retailers and end users, along with providing customer service and warranty support, beginning April 10, 2017.

“Evike.com has been an invaluable retail partner since the beginning of KRYTAC®, we’re looking forward to continuing with them as a distribution partner to better serve our customers,” states Peter Ching, CEO of KRISS USA Inc. “This new synergy is a key part of our strategy for KRYTAC® as we concentrate our efforts on branding, R&D, and product development, to bring exciting new products to the market.”

“We are honored to have been appointed as the Exclusive Distributor of KRYTAC® for the U.S.A.” states Evike Chang, CEO of Evike.com Inc. “In less than three years, we have witnessed the rise of KRYTAC® to be referenced today as a world-class leader in the premium airsoft market through its dedication to innovation, out-of-the-box performance, and quality. We look forward to working closely with the KRYTAC® team at KRISS USA as they contribute to support the growth of the airsoft community.”

For more information on KRYTAC®, please visit www.krytac.com. For more information on Evike.com, please visit www.evike.com.