Archive - 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Toreador Clan Introduction

May 15, 2019 – The next full-blood Vampire clan in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been revealed by Paradox Interactive – Toreador! Also known as the Clan of the Rose, Toreador are creators of art and beauty known for their hedonistic ways.

To learn more about the Toreador, who they are, and what they’re capable of, check out this video:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAoFUt-RW-c[/embedyt]

One of the largest Clans in Seattle, the Toreador’s history in the emerald city runs deep. Beauty-obsessed artists and architects, poets and songwriters, these Kindred have had their hands in shaping Seattle since its pioneer days. As the historic music venues and eccentric mid-century homes make way for expensive high-rise apartment buildings, some wonder if the Clan of the Rose is fading in Seattle. Still, members of the Toreador Clan can be found perusing an art gallery downtown or revelling in a Pioneer Square nightclub, and more likely than not, hanging on the arm of someone with social, political, or cultural power.

Head over to the Paradox Interactive Twitch channel now (9 a.m. Pacific / 12 p.m. Eastern) where the Bloodlines 2 team has just gone live with more details and a Q&A on the Toreador clan: https://www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive.

Toreador are creators with the ability to capture a room like no other Kindred, using the discipline of Presence to turn a crowd into an audience, distraction into rapt attention, and aggression into adoration. They also utilize Celerity to push their bodies to incredible speeds.

Presence

  • Awe: Strike a pose that freezes all before you in adoring wonder. For a short time after, new admirers are oblivious to anything other than what they’ve just witnessed.
  • Entrance: Form a group of admirers around the vampire, following along and distracting nearby enemies.

Public use of Presence abilities does not constitute a Masquerade violation.

Celerity

  • Unseen Storm – Dash in any direction with such speed that you momentarily disappear from view, allowing you to land attacks, dodge around enemies, or get away before the dust has settled. Upgrades further enhance the effects of Unseen Storm.
  • Accelerate – Move so fast that everything else in the world appears to slow down to a standstill. Assailants seem frozen in their attacks, cars crawl forward, bullets zip by lazily, and the vampire can perform stunts that, with an 80’s synth track in the background, would make for an awesome movie scene. Upgrades further enhance the effects of Accelerate.

Use of Celerity before mortals is a Masquerade violation.

Toho Launches Official Godzilla Website

May 14, 2019 (Los Angeles) – Feel the rumble as one of the most iconic monsters stomps its way online with the global launch of the first-ever official Godzilla website from Japanese entertainment studio Toho Co., in time for the highly anticipated film, Godzilla: King of the Monsters releasing on May 31.

Commemorating the 65th anniversary of its screen debut in 1954, Toho is connecting Godzilla fans around the world of all ages through exciting content from more than 30 films, comics, art, apparel, toys, encompassing the entire Godzilla universe.

“We’re thrilled to unleash a world of content around our most beloved Godzilla,” said Keiji Ota, CGO (Chief Godzilla Officer) at Toho. “Fans have been longing for a universe that celebrates the all-mighty king of monsters and Godzilla.com delivers the most exciting news and stories about upcoming events, new merchandise and special releases as we commemorate the 65th anniversary of Godzilla.”

One of the most exciting features is the first official Godzilla Monsterpedia, unveiling everything fans have ever wanted to know about monsters (or kaiju) in the Godzilla Universe! Monsters such as King Ghidorah, the three-headed monster and Godzilla’s biggest rival; Mothra, the guardian god of its maternal island; and MechaGodzilla, the giant battle robot modeled on Godzilla are featured. The battles among them and with humans are one of the highlights of the Godzilla movies. The more fans get to know about the kaiju, the more they can enjoy the exciting world of Godzilla.

Godzilla.com will be continuously updated as a source of news for upcoming Godzilla films including movie trailers and key art, events, fan content, new product news, and all future announcements. It will also be a resource for Godzilla’s complete filmography including rare videos, wallpaper and much more destructive content including updates on epic Godzilla toys, apparel and lifestyle products.

Godzilla first appeared in Toho’s “Godzilla” (1954), a classic monster movie widely regarded as a masterpiece. The work launched a monster franchise that expanded over 64 years with more than 30 films. Over time, the franchise itself has evolved, as Godzilla and other creatures appearing in Godzilla films have become a metaphor for social commentary in the real world. The characters are no longer mere entertainment icons but embody emotions and social problems of the times. Godzilla has become a globally recognized icon, finding its way into worldwide pop culture and influencing many creative minds.

Bigben Unveils Blood Bowl III and More for Bigben Week 2019

Paris, France, May 14 2019 – During Bigben Week, a major annual event where the company presents all its products to the press and international partners, BIGBEN held a press conference to recount the history of its work in video game publishing and exclusively unveil our ambitions for the future.

BIGBEN, the leading AA publisher within 3 to 5 years
BIGBEN aims to become the leading AA publisher within three to five years, and 2019 will be a springboard to reaching this goal. BIGBEN has developed a robust strategy that leverages its extensive experience in the video game industry, its creativity and its catalogue of games built around many unique titles and genres. In 2018 the company was bolstered by the acquisition of three studios – Cyanide, EKO and KT Racing – each providing valuable expertise to expand BIGBEN’s catalogue of games and meet the expectations of increasingly demanding gamers.

A diverse and innovative line-up
Thanks to the creativity of some 250 developers working within the BIGBEN group, the games catalogue is continually expanding and is now structured around four major pillars, each one providing players with a variety of experiences: Racing, Sport, Simulation, and Action & Adventure.

Racing
In addition to the latest edition of the iconic WRC franchise, WRC 8, the Racing segment is gathering momentum in the 2019 financial year. Two new titles will be added to the catalogue to the delight of all racing fans. The first, Overpass, is a game where players navigate and race across technically challenging off-road courses with buggies and quads. The second, FIA European Truck Racing Championship, provides a unique simulation experience at the wheel of a 5-tonne racing truck.

Sport
BIGBEN provides sports enthusiasts with an alternative experience to what the industry giants offer and showcases sports that the sector has never previously offered. This year four new sports will be added to the catalogue: Spike Volleyball was released in February 2019; Tour de France and Pro Cycling Manager join the portfolio of BIGBEN following its acquisition of Cyanide. Rugby by EKO marks the return of the simulation that all rugby fans have been eagerly anticipating. On the courts of Tennis World Tour – Roland Garros Edition, gamers can play as Nadal on the legendary Parisian clay courts.

Simulation games
BIGBEN is exploring original experiences in this third pillar. The critically acclaimed fishing game The Fisherman – Fishing Planet is releasing as a premium version on console; Farmer’s Dynasty is the perfect combination of a farm simulator and life simulator; and Bee Simulator is another testament to the originality and breadth of the catalogue: the game allows players to change their perspective and explore the world through the eyes of a bee.

Action & Adventure
The Action & Adventure titles include some of BIGBEN’s most ambitious projects of 2019. Warhammer: Chaosbane (EKO) is a prime example. Releasing on June 4th, players will join the Great War against Chaos and explore the Warhammer Fantasy Battles universe.

In The Sinking City, developed by Frogwares and inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, gamers play as Charles Reed, a private detective who arrives in Oakmont, Massachusetts to investigate the origin of an unprecedented and supernatural flood. Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory (Black Shamrock/Cyanide), inspired by the cult role-playing game Paranoia, is an RPG with original mechanics and quirky humour set in a dystopian world. Other major projects such as Werewolf: The Apocalypse – EarthBlood complete our line-up. More details on that game will be shared at E3 in June.

Great projects in the works
After a first foray into the World of Darkness universe with Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, BIGBEN is proud to announce that its partnership with Paradox will be extended and that a game under the Vampire: The Masquerade licence is in development. Developed by Big Bad Wolf, creators of the episodic adventure game The Council, the game aims to define a new genre: the narrative RPG, inspired by the rules of the tabletop RPG. The studio will share more information at Gamescom in August.

Cyanide is also pleased to announce a new partnership has been signed for the third edition of Blood Bowl, the iconic game from Games Workshop. Blood Bowl 3 will coincide with the release of the new paper edition in 2020, which is being revamped with all-new game rules. More information about Blood Bowl 3 will be shared in the coming months.

PC Gaming Show 2019 Announced

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 14, 2019 – Developers are lining up to take the stage at this year’s PC Gaming Show, the fifth-annual celebration of the future of PC gaming. Hosted once again by legendary livestreamer Sean “Day[9]” Plott and rising star esports presenter Frankie Ward, this year’s event will showcase an amazing lineup of trailers, developer interviews, and never-before-seen PC games.

Viewers can watch live from Los Angeles on June 10 at 10 AM PDT on twitch.tv/pcgamer, or reserve tickets and attend in-person at pcgamingshow.com.

“This year’s livestream will present more announcements and new trailers than any previous PC Gaming Show,” says PC Gamer Global Editor-in-Chief Evan Lahti. “From brilliant indies to studios that have shaped PC gaming for decades, we’re excited to showcase what’s next for the world’s most vibrant gaming platform.”

This year’s lineup, revealed today, is led by Epic Games store, which joins the PC Gaming Show as presenting sponsor. Epic Games will reveal brand new material for several games, including some exclusives, coming to the Epic Games store.

Also taking to the stage will be Annapurna Interactive, Chucklefish, Digital Extremes, Digital Uppercut, E-WIN, Fatshark, Fellow Traveller, Frontier Developments, Funcom, Modus Games, Paradox Interactive, Perfect World Entertainment, Raw Fury, Rebellion, Re-Logic and Tripwire Interactive, among others yet to be revealed. Stay tuned for additional participant announcements in the coming weeks.

Last year the PC Gaming Show drew more than 1.8M unique viewers live on Twitch and other streaming platforms, becoming one of the most-watched events during E3 by concurrent viewers, ahead of presentations from Nintendo and Electronic Arts. In total, the 2018 PC Gaming Show had 4.7M video plays and a record 241M Twitter impressions using #pcgamingshow.

PC Gaming Show 2019 will take place at The Mayan Theater (1038 S. Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90015) on June 10, 2019 from 10AM – 12PM PDT. PC gamers can attend the event or watch live at twitch.tv/pcgamer, or on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter.

Samurai Shodown 101 Trailer Released

LOS ANGELES — May 14, 2019 — With the release of Samurai Shodown fast approaching on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One on June 25th, a new trailer, “Samurai Shodown 101”, has been released to give longtime fans and newcomers alike a better understanding of the newest title in this legendary fighting game series. Revealing all-new information about the upcoming title and showing off as-of-yet unrevealed concepts such as Dojo Mode, this is the entry to the new game you won’t want to miss.

SNK and Athlon Games are also proud to announce that players who pre-order or buy the game on PSN, Xbox Live or any physical retailer will be able to download the Season Pass absolutely free through the PlayStation Store or Xbox Live up until June 30th. Regional restrictions may apply.

“We’re extremely excited to finally confirm that June 25th will see the much anticipated return of Samurai Shodown – one of the founding figures of the fighting genre,” said Koichi Toyama, Company President at SNK. “As a thank you to the fans who have stuck with us during the long wait between the franchise installments, we’re pleased to offer the first 6 months of DLC completely free of charge to anyone who buys the game and redeems the game’s season pass within the first week of release, which will include four new fighters.”

Officially a prequel to the original 1993 Samurai Shodown, the latest title’s Story Mode allows players to choose any character and experience their journey – from franchise favorites like Haohmaru and Charlotte to newcomers like Wu-Ruixiang and Darli Dagger. Several other modes will be present as well, including a Training Mode, Online Play and the all-new Dojo Mode.

As fighters continue to play and level up their skills, the game is watching, learning, calculating and mapping its user’s playstyle in the offline battle modes in order to create an online “ghost” that replicates that style in Dojo Mode. Players can take on their own AI-derived avatar for better insight into their own weaknesses, or download the ghost of a favorite player from the cloud for a fresh challenge. These intelligent AI ghosts promise to change the way fighting game aficionados train and compete forever.

“Dojo Mode has been a franchise aspiration for the team for some time now and an evolution to the fighting genre that we’re very proud of,” said SNK Lead Producer, Yasuyuki Oda. “Not only will it give players the opportunity to play against the ghosts of some of the best Samurai Shodown players in the world, but playing against your own ghost will prove an amazing tool to learn more about your own playstyle.”

Samurai Shodown will launch in the Americas and Europe on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One on June 25th, 2019. Samurai Shodown will be available on Nintendo Switch™ in Q4 2019 and PC at a later date. Samurai Shodown ($59.99 MSRP) is available for pre-order now.

PlayStation Store

Microsoft Store

Stellaris – Ancient Relics Announcement Trailer

STOCKHOLM – May 14, 2019 – Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer of games that go down in history, today announced that Ancient Relics, a new story pack for Stellaris, will soon be available for Windows, Mac, or Linux PCs. Ancient Relics will add two new Precursors to investigate, forgotten Relic Worlds to explore, and more archaeological treasures to unearth.

Check out the first trailer for Ancient Relics here:

Uncover the ruins of long-dead civilizations in Relic Worlds to piece together the story of their rise and eventual downfall. Mine their derelict cities and ships to unearth the truth, discover powerful relics and harness them for your own empire’s ambitions.

Stellaris: Ancient Relics includes:

  • Said Ancient Relics: Collect and acquire valuable relics in your adventures as rewards for overcoming major crises or after completing a dig at an archaeological site and solving the chapters. Each relic gives significant benefits to your empire to aid in your interstellar escapades.
  • Those Who Came Before: Encounter clues about two extinct Precursor civilizations, the Baol and the Zroni, the former a sprawling hivemind of plantoids, the latter some of the most the most powerful psionics to have ever lived. Players can investigate these home systems to understand who they were and, more importantly, what one can learn from their demise.
  • Relic Worlds: Once filled with teeming life, these Relic Worlds now lie dead, replete with desolate ruins and dormant mysteries. Players can excavate guaranteed archeological sites on these worlds to explore these remnants and bring to light powerful relics and artifacts.
  • Dig In: Hit the dirt on a variety of enigmatic and alien worlds with more archeology sites available for your empire to study… or plunder. Each site begins a story with between one and six chapters to investigate. Retrace the history to discover artifacts and relics that can be boons to your empire.
  • Matter of Artifacts: Learning from history is much more than parables and antiques, it can often be the key to understanding one’s own place in the galaxy. Utilizing archaeological research, discover Minor Artifacts, a new resource type which can help empower one’s empire.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered Launch Trailer

Oxford, May 13th 2019 – Independent developer and publisher Rebellion is celebrating the hotly anticipated release of Sniper Elite V2 Remastered with a stunning new launch trailer.

Showcasing gripping gameplay, revamped visuals and new features, the trailer highlights the improvements fans old and new can look forward to when Sniper Elite V2 Remastered launches tomorrow on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered takes players to Berlin, 1945, and the heart of World War 2. As veteran sharpshooter Karl Fairburne you must use skill, patience and cunning to prevent the unthinkable. Your mission is to go behind enemy lines and prevent the cataclysmic Nazi V2 rocket technology from falling into the hands of the Red Army. Deadly aim and a stealthy approach are vital as you find yourself trapped between two armies in a race against time.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered amplifies the original’s iconic sniping and advanced ballistics with a host of improvements and added extras. In addition to impressive 4K and HDR support on available platforms, the game features stunning remastered visuals, from overhauled assets to modernized rendering and much more.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered also adds a versatile new photo mode that lets you pause and move the action frame-by-frame for that perfect X-ray Kill Cam shot. You can also play the campaign and multiplayer modes as one of 7 new characters from Rebellion’s Zombie Army series. And now multiplayer is expanded for up to 16 players online* across all modes.

On top of all this, Sniper Elite V2 Remastered includes all the DLC ever released for the game including the iconic “Assassinate the Führer” mission, making it incredible value-for-money.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is out tomorrow on digital platforms across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, including Steam and GOG. Physical editions are available from Friday 17th May on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is priced £29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99 across all platforms. Steam and GOG users who already own the original Sniper Elite V2 can upgrade to Sniper Elite V2 Remastered for just £6.99 / $9.99 / €9.99.

*for up to 8 players on Nintendo Switch

Ubisoft’s VR Escape Room experience Beyond Medusa’s Gate Now Open

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, 2019 – Today, Ubisoft announced that the VR Escape Room experience Beyond Medusa’s Gate is now available at more than 100 location-based entertainment centers across the US and Europe. Beyond Medusa’s Gate is an incredible, larger-than-life virtual reality adventure that is designed as a cooperative multiplayer VR experience. Players will be transported to the world of Ancient Greece where they must team up in order to solve a series of complex puzzles that include various activities, including interaction with ancient objects, climbing, shooting arrows, and more.

Developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte, Beyond Medusa’s Gate is the second experience available on the Ubisoft Escape Games platform and is set in the re-creation of Ancient Greece from Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey. Teams of two or four players will have 60 minutes to work together and find a way out of a vast Aegean coastal cave where the legendary ship of the Argonauts is anchored. To successfully escape, players must use cooperative teamwork, problem-solving skills and precise timing to solve riddles and find their way out of this room-scale experience. As part of the immersive VR experience, players start the adventure by choosing their avatar among six diverse characters and can customize them with ancient Greek accessories.

More information about Ubisoft’s Escape Games and locations can be found at https://www.ubisoftescapegames.com/beyond-medusas-gate/.

Oddworld: Soulstorm First Teaser Trailer

May 13, 2019 – Oddworld Inhabitants Inc. proudly unveil the first look at gameplay from Oddworld: Soulstorm, the second game in a planned Oddworld pentalogy. It is the first true follow-up to the critically acclaimed, best-selling Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, which was a ground-up remake of Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. With more than 15M games sold, and dating back to the original PlayStation, Oddworld has always been developed with fans in mind.

Oddworld: Soulstorm picks up from where New ‘n’ Tasty ended. Abe has defeated Mollusk the Glukkon, his former boss and RuptureFarms’ meanest inhabitant, overthrown RuptureFarms and liberated workmates.

Now, Abe finds himself – along with 300 newly emancipated Mudokons – without food, water or a place to call home. Stranded alone in the desert, they find solace in a strange new brew – a delicious drink that has insidious ramifications for their newfound freedom.

Oddworld: Soulstorm will continue to chew up the themes of environmentalism, capitalism, consumerism and addiction that critics and fans found so engaging in the “AAA Indie” release of Oddworld’s last pensive platformer, New ’n’ Tasty.

Oddworld: Soulstorm will launch on PC & consoles in 2020.

To feel the heat, please see our website at oddworld.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook, where we will be revealing an all new Abe for Soulstorm. For details, please check oddworld.com.

Tabletop Gods Launches May 16

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, CANADA – May 13, 2019 –Tabletop Gods, the game combining arcade action, real-time strategy, tower defense, and highly competitive multiplayer is poised to be the next big Virtual Reality game! Launching on May 16, Tabletop Gods is playable on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality (PSVR coming soon), as well as crossplay with non-VR PC gamers and provides a unique viewing experience especially for VR players!

Tabletop Gods has been designed with Virtual Reality in mind from the ground up! Among the many VR features included are a UI system created specifically for VR, options to customize VR controls, comfort vignettes, movement, etc., and voice chat supported from HMD! While playing on PC is great, the VR experience of Tabletop Gods really captures the social experience of hanging out with friends as you battle across tabletop battlefields.

To celebrate the upcoming launch, Tabletop Gods is now on sale for 25% off on the Humble Store and 25% off on Steam starting May 16. These sale prices will not last long, so act fast, get your copy and save!

Game Features:

  • Human, Undead and Demonic Governance factions
  • Castle Grounds, Nether Realm and Void Temple Tabletop battlefields
  • Powerful spells
  • Killer traps
  • Single and Multiplayer Gaming
  • Achievements and Leaderboards
  • Localization into French, Italian, Spanish, German, Korean and Mandarin

Tabletop Gods is NOW available on Steam Store and Humble store ​for PC Windows, and on Oculus Home and Viveport for Virtual Reality with HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality and Oculus Rift + Touch with Xbox controller support; Other VR platforms including PSVR are planned to follow. It is priced at $19.99 USD. The game was developed in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island with valued support from the Canada Media Fund, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Innovation PEI.