Author - Jerry Paxton

Shadow Warrior 2 Console Launch Trailer

Austin, TX  – Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital have announced that the katana-heavy first-person shooter Shadow Warrior 2 is now available digitally on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. For a limited time, eager ninjas can get Shadow Warrior 2 for a discounted price of $34.99 along with a free download of the Shadow Warrior for Xbox One or PlayStation 4 [shadowwarrior.com].

Shadow Warrior 2 makes its move to consoles after a successful debut on PC late last year, taking the trademark Shadow Warrior melee combat and outlandish style to the next. A stunning evolution of Flying Wild Hog’s reboot, Shadow Warrior 2 ratchets up the action with online cooperative campaign mode, scores of unique weapon combinations, and a stunning mix of hand designed and procedurally generated worlds. Players assume the role of smart mouthed corporate shogun Lo Wang to wield a devastating combination of guns, blades, magic and wit to strike down the demonic legions overwhelming the world he inadvertently corrupted.

“Flying Wild Hog is excited and relieved to finally bring our biggest and best project to the PlayStation and Xbox communities,” said Michal Szustak, Studio Director at developer Flying Wild Hog. “Shadow Warrior 2 is a huge accomplishment for our little team and a new benchmark for the series so we hope that both our fans and new comers enjoy Lo Wang’s latest misadventures.”

Shadow Warrior 2 is available now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. For news and information on the series, follow @ShadowWarrior on Twitter or visit shadowwarrior.com.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum Available Now

Santa Monica, CA – May 18, 2017 – Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum, the second DLC Map Pack for the game, is available now on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC. Continuum delivers four new maps, including the return of one of the most beloved maps from Modern Warfare 2, Rust, re-imagined for today’s generation with an ultramodern look. The new DLC pack also features “Shaolin Shuffle,” the next chapter of the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare zombies experience set in 1970s disco era New York.

Shaolin Shuffle, features the return of Willard Wyler, the mysterious movie director villain. This time, Wyler has trapped the four protagonists inside a new horror film, set in the unforgettable 1970s. Players face all-new zombie enemies across a variety of disco-era New York locations, including subways, flashy nightclubs and a martial arts dojo headed up by the “Shaolin Sister.” In addition to hallmark Call of Duty action, Shaolin Shuffle introduces four unlockable fighting styles, each with its own set of unique combat moves. The four playable characters return, and are voiced by the same actors from the original story, but now take on funky, over-the-top roles from the ‘70s era including “the Punk Rocker,” “the Sleazebag,” “the Street Poet,” and “the Disco Chick.”

In addition to the Shaolin Shuffle, Continuum includes four new multiplayer maps:

  • Turista – A plush spa and resort, Turista is nestled in the middle of a giant skeleton of an ancient creature. With sniper spots scattered across a majestic, central waterfall, Turista also boasts tight interiors for fans of close-quartered combat and a three-lane design that caters to a variety of play styles.
  • Scrap – Set in an abandoned junkyard on the Moon, Scrap features a combination of extended sightlines and tactical pathways that reward players who engage in both long and short-range combat.
  • Archive – Fast, frenetic action sets the pace in Archive, a post-futurist art gallery where tight engagements contrast with open exterior battlegrounds in this wide three-lane style map.
  • Excess – Perched atop a gilded penthouse in a sprawling future metropolis, Excess is a small, circular map re-imagined from the classic Modern Warfare 2map, Rust, that retains the intense, fast-paced combat from the original.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum DLC Map Pack is available for a great value via the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Season Pass, which can be purchased on its own or obtained as part of the Legacy Pro or Digital Deluxe editions of the game. Season Pass gives discounted access to all four Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare DLC Map Packs released during 2017 (discount based on a Season Pass suggested retail price of $49.99, and four individual DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $15 each). Upon purchase, Season Pass owners also receive three base weapons released to date, as well as 10 Rare Supply Drops and 1,000 bonus Salvage Credits to craft new prototype weapons.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. Fans can also follow @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Flight Sim World Now on Steam Early Access

CHATHAM, Kent – May 18, 2017 – Flight Sim World®, developed by specialist simulation developer and publisher Dovetail Games, has now been released into Steam’s Early Access program.

Take control of your exquisitely modeled aircraft from take-off to landing through a variety of dramatic weather conditions. Either fly with friends in multiplayer mode, or fly solo from over 24,000 airports worldwide.

If you are new to flight simulation, learn the basics while working towards obtaining your in-sim qualifications in our true-to-life flight lessons. For those who demand more of a challenge, a series of complex missions will push your skills to their limit.

As part of Flight Sim World’s release into Steam’s Early Access program, regular updates will be delivered over the coming months – including a weather system upgrade, flight planner expansions, and enhanced multiplayer functionality. Additionally, the Flight Sim World team will be collating and acting on player feedback for the complete duration of the early access period.

“The flight sim community is a fountain of experience and expertise and early access is our way of drawing upon that knowledge to make Flight Sim World the best it can be,” said executive producer Stephen Hood. “With this release, we are forging a brighter and more vibrant future for flight simulation.”

Flight Sim World is now available to purchase on Steam for $24.99 / £19.99 / €24.99.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Getting Nighttime Light Show

Universal City, CA, May 18, 2017 – Beginning June 23, guests are invited to see “The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM” in a whole new light when Universal Studios Hollywood introduces its all-new “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts TM Castle,” featuring a dazzling light projection experience against the backdrop of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” will shine brightly with an awe-inspiring spectacle that showcases the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin that culminates with awesome beams of lights that fan into the night sky.

The colorful state-of-the-art light display and special effects projection, designed to dance across the stunning Hogwarts castle, will be accompanied by a special musical arrangement created by Academy Award-winning composer John Williams based on his original scores composed for the film series. The musical arrangement that will emanate in a surround sound environment was conducted by prolific arranger William Ross and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra in London.

This new summertime feature will take place multiple times a night during its run.  Live rehearsals with annual pass previews and very limited guest access will begin in June in preparation for the June 23 grand opening.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the incredibly captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, now enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks™ and Hog’s Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with eight retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Join the conversation online using #WizardingWorldHollywood. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Razer Announces Destiny 2 Themed Peripherals

LOS ANGELES – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced a partnership with Bungie, one of the world’s most respected games studios, on its upcoming titleDestiny 2, published and distributed by Activision.

Razer will release a suite of Destiny 2-themed products to celebrate the game’s upcoming launch on PlayStation®4, Xbox One™, and PC.

The products include the Razer DeathAdder Elite, the most accurate mouse ever created; the Razer Ornata Chroma, a keyboard that combines the tactility of a mechanical keyboard with the comfort of membrane keys; the Razer ManO’War Tournament Edition, a headset designed for ultimate comfort that is compatible with every gaming platform; and the Razer Goliathus Speed, the industry benchmark for soft gaming mouse mats.

“We’re very excited to partner with Razer to create a line of premium gear that we know Destiny 2 players and action shooter fans will love,” said Jim McQuillan, Creative Director, Brand & Marketing at Bungie. “The team has come up with some cool ways to pair Destiny’s art and designs with Razer’s high-performance hardware, providing players with new ways to customize their Destiny 2 experience.”

Destiny 2 was announced earlier this year and is the sequel to Destiny, which set records as largest new console video game franchise launch in history.

“This is one of the most anticipated games this year, with a community that’s been yearning for a PC release,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “Destiny’s innovation and depth is remarkable. We’re honored to be working with some of the world’s best developers to support the launch of the game on PC.”

Razer’s peripheral suite will go on sale this September.

Overwatch Celebrates One Year Anniversary

The Overwatch team is excited to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Overwatch with our latest seasonal event – Overwatch Anniversary, a Free-Weekend and the release of Overwatch®: Game of the Year Edition!

Overwatch Anniversary Event – Save the Date

The upcoming Anniversary Event begins on Tuesday May 23rd, 2017. To celebrate, the Overwatch team has created a “Year in Review” trailer which is available in the link below.

We’ve also included the seasonal event logo and a new illustration featuring all 24 heroes at the link below.

Overwatch Free-Weekend

In addition to Overwatch Anniversary, we will be holding another free-weekend from May 26th-29th. For this free weekend, we’re making Overwatch’s full roster of heroes and maps available for play in a variety of modes, including Quick Play, Custom Games, and the latest Weekly Brawl. Players will also have the ability to level up, earn Loot Boxes, and unlock a variety of different customization options. If players decide to purchase a copy of Overwatch after the free-weekend they will get to keep any progress made during the weekend.

Overwatch®: Game of the Year Edition

On Tuesday May 23rd we will be releasing the digital version of Overwatch®: Game of the Year Edition for PC, Xbox One and PS4. The Game of the Year Edition will include a variety of in-game goodies for Blizzard games:

  • Overwatch® – 10 Bonus Loot Boxes

o   Enjoy 10 bonus Loot Boxes which each contain random items that can be used to customize the appearance of your heroes and personalize them. Loot Boxes may include Skins, Emotes, Victory Poses, Voice Lines, Sprays, and Highlight Intros, as well as Credits you can use to acquire many different customization options.

  • Overwatch® – Hero Skins

o   Pay homage to the original Overwatch strike force by wearing the vintage Blackwatch Reyes or Strike-Commander Morrison skins. Explore other heroes’ origins with Overgrown Bastion, Security Chief Pharah, and even Slipstream Tracer!

  • Heroes of the Storm® – Tracer Hero

o   Jump into the Nexus with Tracer and surprise your enemies in the blink of an eye.

  • World of Warcraft® – Baby Winston Pet

o   Adorably cuddly and highly intellectual, the Baby Winston pet will be at your side as you fight your way through Azeroth.

  • Diablo® III – Mercy’s Wings

o   Slay demonic forces throughout the High Heavens and Burning Hells as you don Mercy’s wings. All of Sanctuary will know of your allegiance to Overwatch!

  • StarCraft® II In-game Portraits and a Hearthstone® Card Back!

o   With portraits of Tracer, Reaper, Pharah, Winston, Bastion, and Soldier: 76, you’re sure to become a champion of the Koprulu Sector. You can also battle it out in Hearthstone with an Overwatch-themed card back fit for a hero!

To learn more about the free weekend please check out our blog: https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/blog/20793052

Shadow of War Open World Trailer Released

May 17, 2018 – Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released a brand new trailer showcasing the diverse and dynamic open-world of Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

The video introduces viewers to the vast environments within Middle-earth, stretching beyond Mordor, and giving fans the first glimpse of various new environments to explore, including the Island of Nurn, Cirith Ungol, Gorgoroth and more. Through the innovative Nemesis System, every player experiences a unique world to explore and share and every area of the world is larger, more varied and more dynamic than ever before.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole Release Date and Trailer

SAN FRANCISCO – May 17, 2017 – Today, Ubisoft® and South Park Digital Studios announced that South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ will be available at partners across North America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia) on October 17, 2017. From the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, The Fractured But Whole is an outrageous sequel to 2014’s award-winning title, South Park™: The Stick of Truth™ and will release on Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

With crime on the rise in South Park, the streets have never been more dangerous. As the sun sets on the quiet Colorado town, havoc and chaos unleash a reign of terror and the seedy underbelly of the city comes alive. The town needs new heroes to rise! Eric Cartman seizes the opportunity to save the town and create the best superhero franchise ever, his own Coon & Friends with himself as the leader, The Coon.

Every superhero has an origin, and Coon & Friends are no different. Continuing in their role as the New Kid, players will discover their backstory, assemble their unique costumes, and harness their fart-based powers from numerous hero classes to create their own original hero. An all-new combat system offers unique opportunities to master space and time while on the battlefield, and a revamped looting and crafting system gives players the freedom to craft their own equipment to aid them in battle.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be available in four editions: Standard, Gold, Steelbook Gold and Collector’s. Anyone who purchases South Park: The Fractured But Whole will receive South Park: The Stick of Truth for free.* If you pre-purchase the game at select partners, you can start playing The Stick of Truth immediately.

All pre-orders will also receive an exclusive in-game assistant, Towelie: Your Gaming Bud. The streets of South Park aren’t as safe as they used to be, and even the most seasoned South Park veteran will need help. Towelie: Your Gaming Bud provides helpful and hilarious advice and commentary to players at key locations throughout the game.

For more information on the South Park: The Fractured But Whole, please visit: www.southparkgame.com

F1 2017 Announced with Trailer

Larkspur, Calif. – May 17, 2017 – Codemasters® and Deep Silver today announced that F1™ 2017, the official videogame of the 2017 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, will include the return of classic F1 cars to the series, as well as an even deeper career mode, numerous multiplayer enhancements, and a brand new ‘Championships’ game mode. F1 2017 will release on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one entertainment system by Microsoft, and Windows PC via Steam on August 25th 2017.

The announcement trailer showcases three of the historic F1 cars that will feature in the game – the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 as driven by Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, the 1992 Williams FW14B that was raced by Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese and the 2002 Ferrari F2002 of Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher. Further classic cars will be revealed in the coming weeks.

“After an extremely successful year with the highly acclaimed F1 2016, we are delighted to be announcing F1 2017 and re-introducing classic F1 cars back to the series,” said Paul Jeal, game director at Codemasters. “Classics were incredibly well received when we included them in F1 2013, and in F1 2017 they are back and better than ever. With so many great cars to choose from, it was hard to decide on the final twelve, but we are delighted with our selection of some of the most successful and iconic fan favourites from the past 30 years.”

“For the first time ever F1 2017 fully integrates the classic experience into the main career mode,” said Lee Mather, creative director at Codemasters. “As part of your career you will be invited to race in modern day, invitational events in the different classic F1 cars throughout the season. We’re also adding to the variety in F1 2017 with the inclusion of four alternative circuit layouts, as well as numerous new gameplay types. The classic cars will also be available to play in a range of other game modes, including online multiplayer modes and time trial.”

The 2017 season has seen a huge number of changes to the sport itself, with the stunning new car designs not only looking great, but having lap record breaking performance levels to match. The opening races of the season have further thrilled fans with the increased competition on the grid, as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Lewis Hamilton and Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel battle it out at the top of the Championship, and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen continuing to excite fans around the world.

Consumers who pre-order or purchase ‘Day One’ copies of F1 2017 will have exclusive access to the iconic 1988 McLaren MP4/4, as part of the ‘F1 2017 Special Edition.’ Alternatively, the McLaren MP4/4 car will be available to be purchased at a later date. The eleven other classic cars are available in all editions of the game.

Follow the Codemasters F1 games blog (http://blog.codemasters.com/f1) and social channels on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Formula1game) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/formula1game) for future news, Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/formula1game) for video content, and visit the website (http://www.formula1-game.com) for additional information.