April 3, 2018 – A brand new, story-driven, RPG from developer 3Mind Games (stacked with veterans from Ubisoft, EA, and more), is in development for PC and set for release next year. As the first sprawling, narrative game from the studio, The Protagonist is aiming to entice fans of epic space operas such as Mass Effect with its rich, branching narrative and unique, turn-based combat system with flavors of XCOM and Divinity: Original Sin.
This first look into the combat-style and narrative of The Protagonist shows ANGEL and her comrade RADICAL engaging in deadly combat with a new race of alien foes, while the commanding voice of the Terran elite orders its citizens to take up arms against their oppressors.
Burbank, Calif. – April 4, 2018 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and independent game developer, IO Interactive, today announced a worldwide publishing and distribution agreement for the acclaimed international video game, HITMAN™. As part of this agreement, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will publish the HITMAN™: Definitive Edition, which will be available in retail stores for PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One X and Xbox One beginning May 15, 2018.
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will feature new in-game disguises for Agent 47 inspired by classic IO Interactive titles – Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas – celebrating the Danish studio’s 20th anniversary, in addition to all previously released content* and game updates from the first season of HITMAN.
“We’re very excited to be working with IO Interactive, a talented studio with a long-standing legacy creating the iconic HITMAN games,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The passionate, global HITMAN community has embraced the recent return of the series, and we’re thrilled to bring the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to fans and new players next month.”
“We’re super excited to be working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on HITMAN and together releasing the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to new players,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO IO Interactive. “Working with a partner like WBIE means that the team at IOI can stay focused on what we’re good at, making games.”
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will include the following content:
IO Interactive’s 20th Anniversary Outfit Bundle – Three new outfits inspired by Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas
HITMAN Season One (Main Game) – Seven exotic locations from the first season, including Paris, Sapienza, Marrakesh, Bangkok, Colorado and Hokkaido, along with the ICA Facility
HITMAN Game of the Year Edition Content – Four missions from the Patient Zero Campaign, three themed Escalation Contracts that unlock three unique weapons, as well as the Clown Suit, Cowboy Suit and Raven Suit from the recent Game of the Year Edition digital release
HITMAN Summer Bonus Episode – Featuring ICA bonus missions in Sapienza and Marrakesh
HITMAN: Blood Money Requiem Pack – Including the Requiem Suit, Pale Duck Explosive and ICA Chrome Pistol
All featured Contracts, Escalation Contracts, Challenge Packs and game updates from HITMAN Season One and the HITMAN Game of the Year Edition
Please note that a portion of add-on content is not pre-loaded on the HITMAN: Definitive Edition disc and requires an internet connection. Additional content is approximately 12-24GB depending on platform.
*Elusive Targets that have already run and ended may not be available again as these are time limited events.
San Francisco, CA – April 4, 2018 – Zen Studios announced today that Nintendo Switch owners won’t need to wait long to experience Bethesda® Pinball, a thrilling three-pack of tables featuring “Fallout® Pinball,” “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® Pinball,” and “DOOM® Pinball.” Coming today, April 4, 2018, the pack represents Zen’s dedication to expanding the Switch’s Pinball FX3 library from its initial 30 titles to dozens more.
Explore the secrets of “Fallout® Pinball’s world decimated by nuclear war, as you join factions, raid vaults and collect Vault Boy bobbleheads on the table. Similarly, you’ll craft weapons, wield magic, equip armor and more as you fulfill your destiny as Dragonborn in “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® Pinball.” Finally “DOOM® Pinball” takes you to Mars, where you’ll battle hordes of demons.
Bethesda Pinball earned rave reviews upon its release to other platforms. “Each table felt 100% like a pinball representation of its triple-A counterpart; and not only was the table enjoyable to play, but it sparked great memories of the original games,” said XBLA Fans. Meanwhile,Ragequit.gr raved, “An ingenious adaptation of some of gaming’s most beloved franchises for the arcade pinball format. … An absolute must for pinball enthusiasts and Bethesda fans alike.”
On a similar note, Pinball FX3 on Switch has wowed fans and critics alike since its December 2017 release, with exclusive features such as HD Rumble support and the console’s unique capability of perfectly balanced vertical-orientation gameplay. “Pinball FX3 is an incredible platform for pinball tables,” said Nintendo World Report’s 9/10 review, while Gaming Age’s A review declared, “Switch owners can now play some of the best pinball experiences available.”
The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, Oblivion, Bethesda Game Studios, Dishonored, Arkane, The Evil Within, PsychoBreak, Tango, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames, Prey, Nuka Cola, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda, ZeniMax and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Fallout and its related logos (including Vault Boy) are registered trademarks or trademarks of Bethesda Softworks LLC in the United States and/or other countries. id, id Software, id Tech, DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, RAGE and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.
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 independent gaming studios in the world. Zen Studios has worked with some of the most iconic entertainment studios, including NBC Universal, FOX Digital Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment, South Park Studios and Lucasfilm, as well as revered gaming properties like Valve’s Portal and Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead. Zen Studios’ CastleStorm franchise has also won the developer critical acclaim and commercial success, including the coveted Editor’s Choice awards from both the Apple App Store and Google Play, and its Pinball FXfranchise has defined video game pinball excellence since 2007.
Please visit blog.zenstudios.com for more information on Zen Studio’s robust library of titles.
SAN FRANCISO – April 3, 2018 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands will get a second year of post-launch content, offering players new free contents, both in the campaign and the Ghost War PvP experience. The first major update entitled Special Operation 1 will be released on April 10 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC
Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 will continue to deliver substantial post-launch support with four free major updates titled “Special Operations”, each of which will feature a unique theme, updates for the PvE campaign with special free missions and special challenges with exclusive rewards, updates for the Ghost War 4×4 PvP experience, as well as highly community-requested features.
The first update, called “Special Operations 1” launching on April 10 will contain:
Teammate Customization: The number one feature requested by the community, teammate customization will allow players to customize teammate outfits with all items they have unlocked for their own character.
PvP Update: A new game mode called “Sabotage” with five exclusive maps, the first of six new PvP classes for Year 2, and new perks and weapons.
PvE Update: A free special themed PvE mission and special challenge with exclusive rewards.
The Special Operation I includes the content planned for Updates 5 & 6 from the original Ghost War roadmap.
On top of that, Ubisoft announced Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 Pass offering seven-day early access to all the six new Year 2 Ghost War classes, an exclusive customization pack, and eight Battle Crates (four Special Ops crates and four Ghost War crates) to further customize players characters in the main game as well as in the Ghost War. Ghost Recon Wildlands Year 2 pass will be available digitally for $29.99.
Since the initial launch of Ghost Recon Wildlands in March 2017, Ubisoft Paris released 13 updates, including the launch of Ghost War – the 4v4 PvP mode – as well as The Predator special event and numerous updates to the core gameplay. With more than 10 million players worldwide, the Ghost Recon Wildlands team is committed to support the game, offering new free content and continued improvement of the core experience.
For more information about the contents of the Year 2 pass or Special Operation I, check out the trailer here:
Developed by Ubisoft Paris,* Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is a military shooter entirely playable in up to four-player co-op or single-player from beginning to end. Players have total freedom to accomplish their missions how they want and watch as the world reacts to their actions. Players can choose to move quietly in the night, go in hot at dawn or work together to execute a sync shot that takes out enemies in one fell swoop. Each choice has a consequence, and players must improvise or adapt their plans to ensure the completion and success of each mission. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Ghost War allows players to live the ultimate co-op experience in 4v4 modes. Featuring a growing roster of classes, maps and modes, Ghost War focuses on teamwork, strategy and tense tactical engagements.
Miami, FL – April 3, 2018, 9:00 A.M. EST – ORIGIN PC has announced today that Intel’s new 8th generation 6-Core “Coffee-Lake H” mobile processors and a new optional 144Hz 1080p (1920*1080) HD Matte Display are now available on their line of EVO15-S gaming laptops and NT-15 professional laptops for gamers, artists, content creators, streamers, and professionals all over the world.
Measuring only .73 inches thick and weighing only 4.3 pounds, ORIGIN PC’s latest EVO15-S and NT-15 redefine the thin and light notebook category by supporting Intel’s latest 8th gen Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 6-Core mobile processor and up to an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5) GPU with MAX-Q design. Experience an unprecedented level of performance, power efficiency, and a significant increase in productivity compared to the previous generation thanks to the new Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 6-Core mobile processor. For a smoother gameplay experience, a new 1080P 144Hz matte display is now available for the EVO15-S and NT-15.
“It’s simply incredible that the thin and light EVO15-S laptop is less than one inch thick with a 6-Core Intel Core i7-8750H processor inside of it!” said Kevin Wasielewski, ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. “Combined with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q desktop-class graphics, our latest thin and light custom notebooks take gaming, content creation and streaming higher than ever before.”
“For the first time, our new notebooks can now support up to a 6-Core Intel Core i7-8750H mobile processor inside both our thin and light and entry-level notebooks which is simply incredible! said Kevin Wasielewski, ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. “Combined with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or 1070 Max-Q desktop-class graphics, our latest notebooks take gaming, content creation and streaming to the next level.”
The New EVO15-S & NT-15 High-Performance Thin and Light Features and Specs:
Venerable horror website, Dread Central, recently got into film production. Their newest offering, #SCREAMERS, takes audiences on a journey through the day to day operations of fictional web video content company Gigaler and the relationships between its employees. Well… that’s not what it is supposed to be about, but that’s really what it’s about. The first 45 minutes of the 120 minute film are spent inside the office of Gigaler as they film a behind the scenes video of how they work. Having worked at several web video companies, including at a website called SpikedHumor back in the mid 2000’s, I can tell you that this is VERY much how startups like this operate – personalities and all. Director/writer Dean Ronalds and Producer/writer Tom Malloy must have experience in this kind of environment to have nailed it so accurately.
The first fifteen minutes of the film introduces us to the main characters of the film, as well as several characters you only see once, as we tour their offices. Gigaler hosts videos (and advertisements) in the hopes that they go viral. When an anonymous source sends them a “screamer” video, they embark on a journey to find out why and who this person is. #SCREAMERS is presented in a found footage style and the cast all do great jobs portraying their characters. Tom Malloy is not just a producer, writer, and director of the film, he also plays the CEO of Gigaler, “Tom”. He portrays the charismatic and ego-driven startup CEO with scary accuracy while “Chris” (Chris Bannow) is the introverted and mild mannered co-creator and COO of the media site – also, playing his character with eerie accuracy. “Griffin” (Griffin Matthews) is the community manager and engagement specialist, scrolling through comments as well as researching what people are responding to. He is also one of the main handheld camera operators throughout the film.”Abbi” (Abbie Snee) is the company’s lead developer, working on the website and, to some extent, a learning algorithm that will track user behaviors.
Unfortunately, #SCREAMERS sets up these characters, and the realistic inter-office dynamic between them, yet never really pushes them or challenges them. We spend 45 minutes in their office and then 50 minutes with them touring upstate New York on the hunt for this anonymous party. There is no real horror or scary things in this entire time – about 95 minutes. So, when the scares start 20 minutes before the end of the film, I was hoping they would hit me like a UFC fighter, as well as challenge the characters to try and overcome them. What happens instead is very formulaic for these kinds of movies. With as different as this film was for all the non-horror stuff, I was hoping that things turned out different and maybe showed some character arc resolutions by time the credits roll. Then I wouldn’t have minded the last part of the film as much. For instance, and I hate spoiling things but this is a good example of what I mean: There are some hints that Abbi might have some sort of feelings for Chris earlier in the film but this is never realized. There is the personality conflict between Tom and Chris, but this never gets ironed out either. Again – if you are going to show us these relationships for 90% of the film, we want to see them play out – not just end up in a formulaic, 20 minute-long ending sequence.
Instead, I am left with a multitude of feelings about #SCREAMERS. On one hand, I liked Tom, Chris, Griffin, and Abbie! I would like to have seen their characters uncover some dark secrets and grow closer as a group, maybe turning the site into one that explores the paranormal or inexplicable web videos. The cast all plays so well off one another, and because this is not a horror film, but a film about them, I wanted to see more of them. On the other hand, the last twenty minutes are very formulaic for a found footage horror film and the whole thing doesn’t pay off anywhere near what I had hoped.
#SCREAMERS plays select U.S. cities on April 5th and 6th, and debuts on VOD April 17th through Dread Central Presents, the genre label from Epic Pictures.
April 3rd, 2018 – Introducing the EVGA H370 Stinger – A budget-friendly workhorse for your HTPC or gaming PC. Featuring a next-gen Intel H370 Express Chipset, with DDR4 2667MHz+ memory support and a 10-layer PCB, this motherboard is built to withstand the daily grind. Using a 9-phase PWM, external clock generator, HDMI 2.0 and 7.1 Channel HD Audio, this motherboard will thrive as the heart of your next system, while supporting today’s widely-used components. With four SATA 6G ports, M.2, Intel Optane Memory Ready, the EVGA H370 Stinger has you covered for storage. This motherboard also comes with USB 3.1 Gen 2, 4 native USB 3.1 Gen 1 and included Dual-Band WiFi + Bluetooth for versatility. By using a careful balance of performance and features, the EVGA H370 Stinger gets you straight to the point.
Universal City, CA, Orlando, FL, April 3, 2018 – For the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore are partnering with Netflix to bring “Stranger Things” to life at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” events. Fans of the series will get the chance to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural as each park debuts all-new mazes inspired by season one of the critically-acclaimed series.
The parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down that terrorized the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in Netflix’s mega-hit “Stranger Things,” will bring the chittering, predatory Demogorgon to “Halloween Horror Nights” to stalk unwitting guests as they encounter iconic scenes, characters and environments from the mesmerizing series.
Working collaboratively with Netflix, along with the creators and executive producer of the blockbuster series—Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, the mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore will be authentic representations of “Stranger Things,” designed to transport guests into artfully recreated scenes and storylines. From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the U.S. Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.
Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited “Halloween Horror Nights” to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.
Halloween Horror Nights begins Friday, September 14 in Hollywood and Orlando and on Friday, September 28 in Singapore. Additional details about the events will be revealed soon. Select tickets and vacation packages for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights are on sale now. For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Singapore, visitwww.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
April 2, 2018 – This weekend, competitors from around the world arrived in Birmingham, United Kingdom, to compete for the top prize at the CWL Birmingham Open, presented by PlayStation®4, but only Luminosity walked away champion. Teams Splyce, Rise Nation and OpTic Gaming rounded-out the top four spots at the three-day competition in Call of Duty: WWII, hosted at the INSOMNIA62 Gaming Festival.
For their win, Luminosity had to overcome local favorites Splyce in front of a passionate and vocal crowd. “Winning Birmingham means a lot to me. After Atlanta we really decided to show up here and win this,” said Team Luminosity’s Johnathan “John” Perez.
Fans from around the world watched online as teams from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region competed via MLG.com/CallofDuty and Twitch.tv/CallofDuty, also via the in-game Call of Duty®: WWII theater within Headquarters on PlayStation®4..
Here are the final rankings for the CWL Birmingham Open:
The Call of Duty World League enters its first stage finals this weekend as the top eight teams from CWL Pro League Stage 1 will face-off April 6 – 8, at the MLG Arena in Columbus, Ohio. At stake is the winner’s share of a $500,000 event prize pool and the role of early season favorite in the record setting 2018 season of the CWL.
After the playoffs, the Call of Duty World League returns to the U.S. for the CWL Seattle Open, April 20 – 22. CWL Seattle Open tickets are available now in multiple varieties, while supplies last. General admission passes for the event are available for $59.99 (plus applicable fees and taxes). A Premium Pass for the event is also available for $89.99 (plus applicable fees and taxes) and includes an event t-shirt and one month of MLG GameBattles Premium. A $299.99 (plus applicable fees and taxes) Prestige Pass is also available and includes an event t-shirt, event jacket, one-hour early entrance to the venue, access to the Prestige Lounge and more. For tickets, visit MLG.com/CWLSeattle.
Visit CallofDuty.com/esports and follow the Call of Duty World League on Twitter and Instagram for the latest CWL updates. For live broadcasts and Video on Demand, visit MLG.com/CallofDuty.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – April 2, 2018 – Super League Gaming, the world’s leading platform for amateur esports athletes to play like the pros, is lifting the curtain on a new digital channel, SuperLeagueTV. Debuting on Twitch, SuperLeagueTV is the first ever network dedicated to amateur esports and competitive amateur players. Initial programming will include top tier gameplay from Super League’s City Champs tournaments, as well as the most compelling storylines that emerge from among the thousands of individual and team-vs-team competitions happening throughout the year within Super League’s League of Legends and Minecraft events.
Broadcasting from Ultimate Media Ventures, Super League Gaming’s Huntington Beach-based production partner, SuperLeagueTV will offer commentary and analysis during hotly contested matches and original programming that shines a light on the increasing number of people who are making competitive video gaming their sport of choice. Beginning this week with Super League Gaming’s League of Legends City Champs season, the channel will feature known shoutcasters and other esports influencers, including play-by-play from Alexander “Opal” Archumbault, and color commentary by Alex “Mad_Magical” Whieldon.
“Super League Gaming is a player-first company. SuperLeagueTV is a player-first network,” said Matt Edelman, Chief Commercial Officer of Super League Gaming. “We are creating a channel dedicated to the massive community of amateur gamers seeking opportunities to play their sport in a trusted, competitive environment where they also can create lasting real-world connections. SuperLeagueTV is a natural extension of our core value proposition.”
SuperLeagueTV’s launch lineup will consist of multiple nights of gameplay taking place in heated City-vs-City battles within movie theaters across the country. Woven into the programming will be pre- and post-match content, including player interviews and City Club profiles, all of which will be available on SuperLeague_TV via Twitch. Additional content and distribution announcements will be made throughout the year.
Coming on the heels of Super League’s recent four-city expansion to Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Washington D.C, and Philadelphia, SuperLeagueTV’s launch continues Super League’s 2018 momentum as the top esports brand for amateur gamers. New strategic, brand and game publisher partnerships will be announced soon.
