Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced Batman: Arkham Trilogy is now available for the first time on Nintendo Switch™. The compilation of Rocksteady Studios’ award-winning videogames brings together the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight in one iconic package, complete with all previously released downloadable content (DLC) from all three titles. Batman: Arkham Trilogy was developed for Nintendo Switch™ by Turn Me Up Games.
Additionally, the compilation features the new Batman character skin* inspired by the suit from the Warner Bros. Pictures hit 2022 film The Batman, which is available now exclusively in Batman: Arkham Knight on Nintendo Switch™ and will be available in Batman: Arkham Knight on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC beginning Dec. 15.
Developed by Rocksteady Studios and released in 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the first installment in the iconic Arkham series. The game sets the stage for DC’s “Arkhamverse” that fans know and love today, and introduces players to a unique, dark, and atmospheric adventure, taking them into the depths of the infamous Arkham Asylum. Featuring an original story, players move in the shadows as Batman to instill fear amongst enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains, including Harley Quinn, Bane, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow, who have taken over the asylum.
Independent developer Hitori De Productions is thrilled to unveil a new trailer for its horror game SUPERNORMAL. Inspired by the highly anticipated Allison Road, the title offers players a psychologically intense horror experience set within the confines of a seemingly ordinary apartment. Developed in Unreal Engine 5 and permitted by Allison Road’s original creator, SUPERNORMAL is designed to support both next-gen and past-gen platforms. The latest trailer highlights the advanced capabilities of next-gen graphics and teases the eerie potential of what Allison Road could have evolved into.
In SUPERNORMAL, players step into the shoes of Detective Wyatt, tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of Masato Sakamoto’s daughter. The game intricately weaves detective work and puzzle-solving, immersing players in an environment where every detail could be a clue. Unique features such as using a microphone to communicate with paranormal entities elevate the gameplay, creating an intensely personal horror experience.
Starbreeze Entertainment today announces that it has licensed the world’s greatest roleplaying game – Dungeons & Dragons® – to be used in the upcoming Project Baxter game. Starbreeze licenses the IP from Wizards of the Coast, the IP-holder of Dungeons & Dragons® and a division of Hasbro, Inc. The upcoming game is planned to be released in 2026, with Starbreeze acting both as developer and publisher.
The game, with the internal codename Project Baxter, set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons® will carry the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-model, community engagement and a larger than life experience. Project Baxter will launch on all major platforms in 2026 and include cross-play. The game will be produced in Unreal Engine 5.
“It is hard to imagine a better pairing than Dungeons & Dragons® and Starbreeze – both with their foundation in cooperative and community driven experiences, ‘play it your way’ and infinite replayability. When looking at prospective IPs for our future projects, Dungeons & Dragons was always at the top of our list and I’m incredibly happy to announce this license. I want to thank Wizards of the Coast for being such a great partner. Development of the game is in full swing, and we are excited to deliver an amazing Dungeons & Dragons action-adventure in 2026.”, says Tobias Sjögren, CEO of Starbreeze.
“Dungeons and Dragons is having an extraordinary year” says Eugene Evans, SVP Digital Strategy and Licensing at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro. “Our gaming brands, including Dungeons & Dragons, continue to attract great partners as we execute our plan to grow our digital games portfolio through licensing and development. Our collaboration with Starbreeze is a prime illustration of this strategy. Given their impressive games and passion for Dungeons & Dragons, we are confident that they will create an experience that will delight fans worldwide.”
Stay tuned for more information about Project Baxter on Starbreeze’ webpage www.starbreeze.com and social channels X (Twitter) and LinkedIn.
The holiday season has once again hit the beautiful hills of Universal Studios Hollywood and, with it, comes Grinchmas and Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Grinchmas is back at the Universal Plaza location with a massive Grinchmas Tree! The festivities become even more eye-catching at night when all the beautiful lights begin to glow. The Universal Plaza is not the biggest area, so be in line for the tree-lighting ceremony early, as it gets pretty long. Once inside the plaza, you can enjoy pictures with Max and the Grinch! You can even enjoy a large assortment of Grinchmas-themed goodies from the food stands around the plaza. Our pictures with the Grinch and Max were amazing; the Grinch was everything you would expect him to be. Max was the sweetest dog, and his soulful eyes were magical.
Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter brings the yuletide season to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. I love seeing Hogsmeade all decked out for the season. The park introduced spooky Death Eaters for the Halloween Horror Nights event, and seeing the transformation to the merriest time of year is outstanding. Walking around the snow-capped buildings, grabbing a hot butterbeer from the Hog’s Head Tavern, and taking a spin on Flight of the Hippogriff was a blast, and we spent so much time just walking around the streets and shops. We even witnessed a wand ceremony at Olivanders, and one of our party members was selected for it! Even though the Southern California sun was beaming down on us during our visit, the Universal Studios set decorators did such a good job we felt colder than it was. I have no idea if or when the Diagon Alley expansion will happen at our Hollywood park, but I would love to see it happen. I need to ride on the Hogwarts Express! Also, stick around in the evening as the Holiday Lights at Hogwarts Castle show is spectacular.
Over in Super Nintendo World, not much has changed regarding bringing in the holiday season, but given the popularity of the land and its young age, I am not surprised. You can still enjoy everything that Super Nintendo World has to offer during the holiday season, such as eating a great meal at the Toadstool Cafe and racing against Bowser in Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge! On the day we ventured into the Mario Bros.-inspired glory, guests needed a reservation to get on the ride and get into the cafe, so be sure to make one early if you’re interested! Aside from the ride and cafe, there is a great gift shop with Super Nintendo World goodies only found at Universal Studios. It’s a great place to find stocking stuffers for the people on your Christmas list!
The world-famous Universal Studio Tour didn’t change much for the holiday season, although it is still jam-packed with various fun experiences and glimpses of movie magic. I would love to see Courthouse Square up close and personal one day, but on our Studio Tour that evening we had to avoid the area altogether (maybe they were filming there?). We also didn’t go through Earthquake, which was a bummer as I am a much bigger fan of experiences with practical effects work rather than movie screens and 3D glasses – but, I digress… Overall, the studio tour is a must-do event at Universal Studios – it’s tradition!
Photo Gallery
Universal Holidays is a must-see event filled with joy and fun for the whole family. The event runs from now until January 1st, 2024 (so weird to type that!) and the Universal Holidays experience is included with the cost of general admission. Be sure to check out the Universal Studios website for ticket information and more!
Truck & Logistics Simulator, the open-world transportation simulator with cross-platform multiplayer from the sim vets at Aerosoft and developer Simula Games, completes its delivery with a version 1.0 launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One today. The simulator is already available on Nintendo Switch.
Manage a fledgling logistics company with a handful of forklifts to its name on an immersive journey to transform it into an industry titan. Tackle missions and challenges to fund the acquisition of everything from delivery vans to heavy trucks. Master over 30 vehicles, each with realistic physics and damage systems, as well as fully detailed interiors, while facing multi-step delivery missions where the right vehicle is the key to success.
Use profits from completed jobs to customize each vehicle in the fleet to match personal preference or address specific mission parameters. Load up vans and trucks with precious cargo and travel to the delivery point, avoiding speed cameras and police patrols on the lookout for reckless drivers eager to cut corners and expedite deliveries. Learn the intricacies of each vehicle with steering wheel support on PC and consoles for added immersion.
A work order shared is a burden lessened, so team up for greater profits in cross-platform multiplayer that supports up to 24 simultaneous drivers. Collaborate on multiplayer-specific jobs like escorting heavy transport convoys with specialized equipment. Explore the world with a partner to unearth hidden secrets across a diverse environment, experiencing waterways, rural hills, and industrious metroplexes throughout the full day/night cycle.
“Truck & Logistics Simulator fans know to expect a high-fidelity experience from their developers,” said Maarten Janello, Product Manager at Aerosoft. “We are excited to bring the 1.0 release onto platforms today, giving the community the meaty experience their appetite demands from simulation games.”
Truck & Logistics Simulator version 1.0 launches today on Steam for Windows PC for $19.95/€19.95 and digitally on PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One for $29.99/€29.99. The retail box version releases on December 7th. It features English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Hungarian, Romanian, and Simplified Chinese-language support.
Experience World War II rewritten. The new major expansion Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1946 for the popular turn-based strategy game has launched today on Steam. Renowned strategy publisher Slitherine invites players to explore a tantalizing ahistorical take on a massive Axis invasion of the United States with a new in-depth campaign, thirty new scenarios, hosts of new units, and more.
Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1946 uses the ahistorical campaign path established in previous expansions as a springboard, offering a massive and original strategic campaign exploring a joint German-Japanese invasion of the continental United States. It is the final, grand instalment and a fitting climatic ending for all those players who took the first steps in Panzer Corps 2 ahistorical campaigning.
To bring the necessary level of authenticity to this major expansion, expert historical consultants ensured all the details in this “what if” campaign were up to scratch. This means Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1946’s thirty new ahistorical campaign scenarios are anchored in a believable context, from the Battle of San Francisco, Alamo 1946, or the Second Battle of Wichita.
Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1946 is specifically designed to welcome new players next to returning veterans. A new tiered objective system is featured. Primary objectives influence campaign progression and are created to be manageable for all players. Bonus objectives are off the beaten path, purely optional, with players rewarded with extra prestige resources. Lastly, Elite objectives give an exciting, extra challenge, including massively overpowered enemy armies.
Players of Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1946 have the option to import their core forces, which completed the previous Axis Operation 1945 East campaign. They can also opt to use a preset core force to launch the Axis Operations 1946 Amerika campaign directly. Imported forces can seek additional challenges through increased difficulty settings, advanced game modes, and elite objectives. Preset forces contain a balanced amount of experienced units plus a variety of heroes suitable for new and returning players.
During today’s PC Gaming Show, indie developer Monumental Collab and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX revealed a new trailer officially announcing Drowned Lake, a story-driven horror fishing game with survival elements in development for PC. Pilot a boat into the heart of the forest and investigate its ominous waters to fish out the terrifying secrets hidden in the darkness. Unravel the truth in a mystery told from three unique perspectives, inspired by the legends and nightmares of Brazilian folklore and influenced with a retro VHS aesthetic.
Deep in Brazil’s coastal forest is the Drowned Lake, an area of folk tales and legends, where many who trespass never return. When Bento, a student in his twenties, goes missing in this sinister place, it sets off a twisted story to discover the truth. Explore your surroundings by boat from a top-down perspective, collecting evidence with a fishing rod, while solving puzzles in first-person adventure-like segments. But try to avoid disturbing these troubled waters too much. Remember: you’re not safe here.
Key Features
A Non-linear Horror Story, Told From Three Perspectives: Explore the most forbidding reaches of the forest as a firefighter, a journalist and an elderly fisherman. Unravel the mystery and each character’s true motives in an interactive narrative where your choices matter.
Scour Dark Waters for the Truth: Collect evidence and uncover what hides beneath the surface of the Drowned Lake by exploring, fishing, investigating, and solving puzzles.
Beware Making Noise: As you probe the forest’s farthest depths, your choices and actions may increase your noise level, attracting unwanted attention from the horrors of the night.
Discover the Nightmares of Brazilian Folklore: Experience a tragic, twisted tale inspired by the unique melting pot of Brazilian culture and mythology.
Investigate in First-Person Mode: Navigate narrow areas, complete intricate puzzles, and experience the true terrors the darkness hides in first-person POV sections inspired by escape rooms and classic horror games.
Drowned Lake builds on the success of Monumental Collab’s Our Lady of the Drowned Lake, an original nautical horror experience created for the 2022 GMTK Game Jam. The development team has a shared passion for weird horror, producing multiple experiences for game jams over the years. The studio most recently released the free found-footage horror game TELEFORUM, which launched earlier this year to “Very Positive” player reviews on Steam.
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.
Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to ring in 2024 with EVE, Hollywood’s hottest New Year’s Eve celebration featuring multiple dance locations, a captivating fireworks display and access to select rides and attractions, on Sunday, December 31 with extended hours until 2:00 a.m.
Included in the price of theme park admission, EVE is the ultimate way to usher in the new year. Beginning with a full day of theme park fun, guests can enjoy award-winning rides and attractions, before transitioning to a park-wide celebration and special midnight countdown to 2024.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s unforgettable night begins at 9:00 p.m. as the theme park transforms into a thrilling celebration, including designated dance party zones with DJs spinning an eclectic medley of music from pop, rock and hip-hop to EDM and Latin music. Unique photo opportunities located around the theme park will also provide a sparkling backdrop to capture and share memorable moments from the night.
Guests will countdown and toast to the new year as a dazzling fireworks display punctuates the nighttime sky. Plus, a winter snowfall and confetti will add to the celebratory feel in the air within designated areas.
An array of food and beverages, champagne, beer, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase. Guests must be 21+ and have a valid photo ID to purchase alcoholic beverages.
While rejoicing in the New Year, visitors can enjoy festive holiday activities such as “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” featuring “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts TM Castle” which brings the iconic Hogwarts castle to life in a stunning spectacle. The Who-bilation continues at “Grinchmas” where joyful park-goers can delight in the wonderous Who-ville and meet its legendary resident, The Grinch and his faithful dog Max, plus the Whos.
Holiday festivities at Universal Studios Hollywood run daily now through Monday, January 1, 2024.
To purchase tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood, which includes Holidays and EVE access, guests can click here.
Core Engage and Daedalic Entertainment are proud to announce that the developer’s debut title, New Cycle, will launch into Early Access on January 18th, 2024. The survival city-builder is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by solar flares and reduced to settlements reminiscent of early civilization. Players must take lessons and knowledge of the past into each new day, hoping to carry forward into a future for humanity.
Watch the release date trailer for New Cycle here:
New Cycle is a dieselpunk-inspired city-builder with an emphasis on survival. You are the leader of a small group of settlers seeking refuge after a catastrophic solar flare desolated the Earth. You start with only a basic settlement, a few hungry workers, and many unfulfilled needs. Over time, as your population grows, new challenges for your colony will emerge —fluctuations in morale, disease outbreaks, power losses, and resource demands will all test your capabilities as a leader. Nothing is ever certain, but each new day is another opportunity to rebuild what was lost and return humanity’s dominion over the earth.
Looking into the bright dawn of Early Access in January, Turkish developers Core Engage are excited to inject fresh energy into the survival city-building genre by elevating tried and true hallmarks both narratively and mechanically. With the unique crisis component around the sun and climate changes reminiscent of today’s ecological concerns, New Cycle honors the existing elements while entertaining innovation in light of the new world and circumstances. Early Access will feature two different gameplay modes (campaign and sandbox), three different biomes, 54 buildings, 47 producible resources, three classes of society, eight different stages of development, and an inventory of 3D assets divided into three main eras and art style approaches.
