War Mongrels, a brutal and authentic isometric real-time tactics game from Destructive Creations, follows its PC version with today’s release on PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™) in Europe and the Americas, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, as well as on iPads and Macs. War Mongrels will run natively on iPad and Mac, and both ports have been realized thanks to the experienced porting company, Virtual Programming Ltd.
https://youtu.be/yCWBXjtZn6E
Since its original PC release, War Mongrels has been praised by many for its historically accurate depiction of the lesser known part of World War II, the Eastern Front, as opposed to the usually portrayed events in the West. Furthermore, players have been complimenting its gameplay, true to the classics of the RTT genre, as well as the visuals and its grim, realistic atmosphere.
War Mongrels had a controversial release last year, which included a strong backlash in the German media, as well as a mixed reaction in Russia due to its historically accurate portrayal of the Eastern front of World War II. Nonetheless, players praised its gameplay, true to the classics of the RTT genre.
Now, the game receives a big update, which includes full controller support, major gameplay and AI improvements, over 500 tweaks and fixes, as well as a slew of technical optimizations.
Today, KOEI TECMO America and developer Kou Shibusawa revealed the latest battle details for their upcoming historical simulation NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening. The 16th entry in Kou Shibusawa’s famed franchise, NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening mixes military might with political diplomacy in a quest to conquer Japan’s Warring States. The title will be available digitally in North America on July 20, 2023 and is currently in development for PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch, and PC Windows via Steam®.
In NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening, players will experience the troubled times of the Warring States Period, 16th century Japan through the virtual life of a daimyō, a powerful Japanese leader, land owner, and feudal lord. Leading their troops to battle can be tricky, however, as the daimyō must quickly assess every situation on a rapidly changing battlefield in order to successfully take control of the map. First order of business is the march. Look across the land and choose the marching route carefully, as certain routes may be beset with obstacles, including roads too narrow for large troop movements, or even an enemy fortress! By choosing the wrong route, you could lead your army into a devastating situation.
But that’s not the only danger you’ll face. If there are any small battles happening nearby a daimyō’s unit, then one major battle can be launched to settle the fight. Allies and enemies nearby will assemble at a single battlefield to determine the clan’s future, and the results could have significant impact on surrounding clans, truly testing the daimyō’s ability as a military leader and political negotiator.
In NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening, the key to conquering the map is the ability to master the military art of the siege. A siege takes place when you attack an enemy’s main base or defensive position. Each castle will have a totally different battlefield, while the surrounding domains and land holders will also be involved in these large-scale conflicts. The attacking side will need to break through defensive equipment to attack the citadel while fighting across a variety of terrains including mountain castles and flatlands. To achieve victory, the daimyō will need to consider how to attack or defend based on each castle’s terrain.
Historic sites and terrain captured in the game include: Nagashima, a stronghold of the Holy Rebellion at the mouth of the Kiso Three Rivers which had many branches and blocked Oda clan’s army; Kasugayama, the castle of Kenshin Uesugi that overlooks the Sekigawa River and the Sea of Japan; Tsukui, a castle at the entrance to Yamanashi Prefecture on the Kantō Plain; and Kameyama, a castle in Mie Prefecture, located between the Suzuka Mountains and Ise Bay.
The attacking side will win the siege if they destroy all enemy units or conquer the main citadel. However, they will lose when all of their allied units are destroyed or their total morale turns to zero. Total morale decreases over time, so it is important to attack quickly. The defending side will win if they withstand the onslaught until the enemy’s total morale turns to zero, or if they destroy all enemy units. On defense, it’s important to resist enemy’s attack while protecting equipment and troops to prevent the enemy’s total morale from rising. Winning a siege will enforce your “authority” throughout the area and help your daimyo secure their spot in history!
Fulqrum Publishing and Kalla Gameworks today announce The Height of the Empire – the third major Content Update for story-driven, sci-fi grand strategy title The Pegasus Expedition is now available via Steam, GOG.com and Epic Games Store. The biggest update to the game yet introduces a new gameplay scenario and systems, in addition to a variety of quality of life changes and visual improvements.
An alternate history take of the game’s main campaign, The Height of the Empire is a brand new gameplay scenario that sees the Tamanin Empire – who experience civil war and splinter into several smaller factions during the main campaign – stay unified against the player, who will have to face fierce opposition from them and be thrust into war immediately.
The update introduces changes to the game’s consequence system, giving players a clearer idea of how their choices will impact their campaign, while a brand new Veterancy system sees units that fight and survive through many battles gain a Veteran status, giving them better performance in combat scenarios.
Additionally, a new Edicts system allows players to better manage their empire and survive through the many crises that may fall upon it. Players can now also automate their fleet’s upgrades, reducing the end game busywork, and will notice that a variety of changes and improvements to visual effects have also been implemented.
Finally, devastating new thermonuclear weapons have also been added, giving players a fighting chance against the Tamanin Empire. These weapons are not to be used lightly, with each warhead taking up an entire equipment slot, and upon use cause massive reputation penalties to the player. However, they can single-handedly turn the tide of combat.
The Height of the Empire is the third of four planned early access content updates for The Pegasus Expedition. It follows Scattered Empires and At the Center of It All – both of which introduced new gameplay scenarios alongside a variety of changes and bug fixes.
Besides these new features and content, The Height of the Empire brings a number of additional changes and fixes:
Changes
Happiness has been largely rebalanced and should feel much more sensible and predictable.
Updated Social media buttons in the menu.
Repair costs and time has been rebalanced to be more usable.
Updated fleet management UI elements.
Players can now zoom in much further
Fixes
Fixed issue where AI movement rarely crashed the game.
Fixed end cutscene voice lines sometimes playing at wrong times.
Fixed flickering issues with some UI elements.
Fixed issue where game would start without music.
Fixed issue where game could freeze at Anabah combat.
Available since 19 May 2022 on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC (Epic Games Store), Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong, the story-driven RPG from development studio Big Bad Wolf, will release on Steam on 25 May.
Developed by Big Bad Wolf (The Council), the game is adapted from the classic tabletop RPG Vampire: The Masquerade and has a brand-new approach to gameplay in which every choice matters, both when investigating and when interacting with others. Players can now add the game to their Steam Wishlist.
About Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
In this story-driven RPG adapted from the fifth edition of Vampire: The Masquerade, you play as three vampires, each a member of a different clan in the Camarilla, the secret society that governs most vampires. Through the characters’ intertwined destinies, players must contend with their different viewpoints to separate the truth from the lies. While navigating rumours of conspiracies, murders and power struggles, players must protect their clan, uncover the truth and, above all, ensure that the Masquerade – the vampire law that hides their existence from humans – remains unbreeched.
Features of the game:
3 playable vampires, each with distinct powers, motivations and personal terrors
Each of the three heroes has a character sheet with their own characteristics, as well as Skills and clan-related Disciplines that can be upgraded and used freely – as long as they can satisfy their Hunger for blood
Original gameplay in which every dialogue interaction advances the story
A branching storyline in which every choice matters
A gripping thriller set in a dark and glamourous world, faithful to the tabletop RPG
An original soundtrack composed by Olivier Derivière
With over 15 different endings for the main characters and as many again for the Boston Camarilla, every player will experience a unique adventure.
Become a private detective and solve murder cases, robberies, vandalism reports and more in Shadows of Doubt, an immersive sandbox detective sim, available today on Steam Early Access.
Think like a private investigator in a unique crime-solving experience, using a variety of gadgets to investigate each case and track down a serial killer. Explore fully simulated cities and meet individual citizens each with their own name, job, apartment and daily routine. Track down suspects and approach each case your way: scan fingerprints, check call histories, read private emails, bribe citizens, watch CCTV, or pick locks, break down doors and sabotage security systems – there are multiple ways to solve each case.
For its initial launch into Steam Early Access, Shadows of Doubt includes ‘The Dead of Night’ – a specially crafted case to introduce the game – and a Sandbox Mode, featuring an endless number of cases to investigate and civilians to meet, a variety of equipment and dense procedurally-generated cities to explore.
ColePowered Games today also revealed the first look at a roadmap of free content and features coming to Shadows of Doubt during Early Access, ahead of a full 1.0 release scheduled for later this year. Coming in Q2 2023, the game’s first major update will introduce a brand new side job, along with a new building type and additional NPC interactions, with additional updates planned for Q3 and Q4 2023.
“I’m so excited to finally invite players into the world of Shadows of Doubt and delighted by the early press reaction to the game,” said Cole Jefferies, Founder & Director at ColePowered Games. “Shadows of Doubt has been a dream of mine for a very long time, so to finally see the game in players’ hands is an incredible feeling. I hope players love the game’s immersive crime-solving experience, and look forward to the additional content coming as we work towards a full 1.0 release.”
Awarded Ukie’s UK Game of the Show at gamescom 2022, Shadows of Doubt is available now on Steam Early Access. For more information, follow @detectivesim on Twitter or visit colepowered.com.
Paranormal Hunter, the co-op survival horror game set in haunted locations full of malevolent spirits from EALoGAMES, prepares to plague players’ worst nightmares with a Steam Early Access launch on Monday, May 22, 2023. The dread will spread onto PlayStation 5|4 and Nintendo Switch alongside a PC 1.0 release in late 2023.
Step into a wicked realm of paranormal phenomena in insidious environments brought to life with immersive VR support. Explore terrifying locations alone or with up to four friends in online co-op while carrying out spine-chilling investigations. Scour each stage for key objects and clues before completing a banishing ritual capable of eradicating the evil ghosts that stalk each location, all while a fearsome presence pursues the party with murderous intent.
Equip investigative tools to detect otherworldly disturbances and stay alert for things that go bump in the night. Discern the difference between creaking floors and spectral moans while unlocking doors and progressing deeper into distributing environments. Shine spirit-repelling flashlights to fight back against unwelcome entities, tune ghost sensors, and coordinate with fellow investigators to collect cursed items and earn extra cash between missions.
Race against the clock to perform banishing rituals before malevolent spirits capture the party. A single unfortunate encounter with a ghostly pursuer sends humans into a crippling stupor, damaging their sanity and threatening to send them to an early grave. Revive co-op partners from death by dread quickly and stay cautious during investigations to increase the odds of survival. Enjoy a tense and terrifying specter-hunting experience with crossplay for both VR devices and keyboard/gamepad users, allowing everyone to steel their nerves and become a Paranormal Hunter.
“We wanted to create an authentic, immersive experience inspired by both Japanese and Western horror imagery,” said Takatoshi Tatsusuremi, founder, EALoGames. “We invite players to bring their friends into the terrifying world of Paranormal Hunter when it arrives on Steam Early Access this May.”
Paranormal Hunter launches on Steam Early Access on Monday, May 22, 2023, for $9.99, with VR support for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality devices. It will offer English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese-language support.
For more information, please visit the official website, follow Paranormal Hunter on Twitter and Facebook, and wishlist Paranormal Hunter on Steam.
Wargaming, the publisher and developer of the leading naval multiplayer World of Warships, has today announced an official partnership with pop-culture icon Popeye the Sailor Man in a special collaboration recognizing World Ocean Month. This collaboration will take place in tandem with a charity partnership, to be announced ahead of the content becoming available to purchase. Taking place every June, World Ocean Month is an annual celebration of our ocean and a platform to raise awareness of the work needed to maintain the Earth’s greatest ecosystem. Check out assets supporting the announcement here.
The Popeye Charity Bundle will include in-game commanders Popeye and Bluto, including bespoke voiceovers, two flags, and a unique camouflage for the Tier VII USS Colorado.
Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor, and clean ocean advocate, is owned by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters. A longtime advocate for ocean conservation, in 2020, Popeye announced his representation of The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean, joining its fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness of its ocean conservation efforts. This partnership with Wargaming continues Popeye’s commitment to sustainability and ocean conservation.
World of Warships is the world’s leading free to play naval warfare from Wargaming, where players battle against each other in the largest library of historically accurate war vessels from the 20th Century. With the game’s deep roots in the military community, Wargaming has an established track record of supporting veteran and historical non-profit organisations.
“Popeye the Sailor Man is a beloved childhood favourite for many of us here at Wargaming, so having the opportunity to bring him to our waters is an honour. It feels even more special knowing we are making a contribution to raising awareness about the ocean preservation while bringing joy to our players,” commented Marko Valentic, Global Business Development and Communications Director at Wargaming.
“As one of the world’s most recognizable pop-culture sailors, we could not think of a better gaming partner for Popeye than World of Warships,” said Jarred Goro, vice president, licensing, North America, King Features. “We are thrilled that World of Warships passion for ocean conversation matches our own and we look forward to bringing this in-game collaboration to fans around the world.”
Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR) today announced its new flagship wireless multiplatform gaming headset – the Turtle Beach® Stealth™ Pro – is now available globally. The coronation of the new king of gaming headsets has begun, with critical acclaim already mounting for the Stealth Pro’s top-rated audio quality, best-in-class active noise-cancellation, and wealth of ultra-premium features for gaming on Xbox, PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
GamesRadar gave the Stealth Pro a 5/5 review score and Editor’s Choice Award, calling it, “A masterpiece of an all-in-one, multi-purpose gaming headset,” while IGN scored it 9/10 and said Stealth Pro, “is one of the best gaming headsets you can buy,” and that it produced, “Some of the best sonics Turtle Beach has ever delivered.” Additionally, Windows Central scored Stealth Pro a 5/5 plus the publication’s The Best Award and said, “Simply put, Turtle Beach has confidently usurped the best Xbox headset crown with the Stealth Pro. Bravo,” and GameTryant gave it a full 10/10 score, saying, “This headset truly lives up to the title of King.”
Designed for Xbox and PlayStation versions of Stealth Pro are available at www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for $329.99 (€329.99 | £279.99) MSRP.
“Stealth Pro has been crowned the new king of ultra-premium gaming headsets. It delivers the pinnacle gaming audio experience, with sound quality, noise-cancellation, build quality, and comfort that are simply unmatched,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “Turtle Beach has been the market leader in gaming audio for the past 13 years based on the high-quality sound and game-winning features we provide at every price point. With Stealth Pro, we’ve brought that expertise and leadership to bear to deliver a superior ultra-premium gaming headset. Our signature 50mm Nanoclear™ drivers are larger and more powerful for better sound; the Stealth Pro’s adjustable active noise-cancellation eliminates more external noise than the competition; and our TruSpeak™ boom mic reduces more background noise, so your voice comes through clearly.”
With 56% more surface area compared to 40mm drivers, not only are the Stealth Pro’s signature 50mm Nanoclear™ drivers larger and more powerful to create more bass and a wider soundstage, but they are also hand-matched to eliminate subtle differences between left and right speakers. The Stealth Pro’s optimized ear cup cavities and audio customization options via the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app combine to produce a truly detailed soundstage and captivating surround sound, whether using Windows Sonic for Xbox and PC, Sony 3D Audio for PS5, Dolby Atmos, or DTS Headphone:X.
Stealth Pro also features versatile active noise-cancellation, adjustable from full noise-transparency where you can still hear ambient background noise, all the way to 25dB noise reduction to block out most distractions and stay focused. The Stealth Pro’s removable TruSpeak™ boom mic also reduces background noise, plus, the boom mic and dual built-in mics both utilize Turtle Beach’s exclusive S.M.A.R.T. (Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning) technology which is designed to further minimize background noise and only let your voice through.
Premium leatherette and memory foam cushions with Turtle Beach’s patented ProSpecs™ glasses-friendly technology provide added comfort, while a metal-reinforced headband and zinc alloy frame ensure the Stealth Pro is built to last. Additional features like Dual-Wireless connectivity, Variable Mic Monitoring, Superhuman Hearing®, audio presets, and a variety of customization controls are available via the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app which is available for Windows PC and Mac, and compatible iOS and Android mobile devices.
For the full list of Stealth Pro features designed to deliver an exceptional audio experience, and for more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way today released an extended single player gameplay video from highly-anticipated real time strategy title Men of War II. The 20-minute video spotlights Battle of Coisson, a mission from the game’s Falaise Pocket story campaign which takes place from the US perspective. It is just one of three single-player missions that will be playable in the upcoming Men of War II open beta, which will be available via Steam on May 11 through to May 15.
The mission takes place near the village of Coisson, Normandy, 1944, and sees The 68th Motorized Infantry Battalion – led by Lieutenant Carl Young – on a rescue operation to make contact with artillery gunners of Company H, who recently ceased communication with command.
The 68th Motorized Infantry Battalion is formed from what remained of two other battalions which took heavy losses during the Normandy landings. One used to be an infantry battalion, but the merged unit was reclassified as mechanised.
In addition to Battle of Coisson, players can also experience two new additional, non-campaign, single-player missions during the open beta.
Battle of Coisson
The first of which, Towards Freedom, sees players command a squad of scouts and NKVD Special Forces on a mission to destroy a German camp and liberate the POWs held captive within. The opposition has superior numbers and ample reserves, meaning the player must utilise superior tactics – or else perish in an unequal battle.
Towards Freedom
The final single-player mission available in the upcoming beta is Ambush, which takes place from the German perspective in Normandy, 1944. The 30th Panzergrenadier Regiment is taking heavy losses, and the decision has been made to ambush fresh US reinforcements while the regiment’s main force is off fighting at the front line. The new enemy units must not reach that front line and must be stopped at all costs.
Ambush
During the beta Battle of Coisson, Towards Freedom, and Ambush can all be played in both single-player and cooperative multiplayer modes. Players looking to get hands-on with these missions and additional multiplayer content, can now enlist for the Men of War II Open Beta which will begin next month on May 11 and run until May 15.
Signing up is simple: players just need to head over to the Men of War II Steam store page where they will have the option to ‘Request Access’ for a Men of War II Playtest – doing so will guarantee access to the playtest. Everyone that signs up ahead of time will receive an email notification once the beta goes live.
The open beta will feature a varied selection of multiplayer maps and modes, but will also introduce never-before-seen single-player content, and implement a number of gameplay changes based on community feedback from March’s multiplayer tech test.
Arcane Wonders is excited to announce a long-term partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), Genuine Entertainment, and Evolution to produce Call of Duty: The Board Game, a thrilling new strategy game series inspired by the popular video game franchise. Pre-orders for the board game will open on Kickstarter this Fall 2023 and roll out into retail worldwide in 2024.
Call of Duty: The Board Game combines elements of strategy, tactical planning, and combat to create an intense and immersive gaming experience. Players take on the roles of elite soldiers, battling against each other in intense, fast-paced action set in the iconic maps from the Call of Duty video games.
The original game will feature stunning artwork and high-quality components, including miniatures of the iconic soldiers and weapons from the Call of Duty franchise, as well as a variety of scenarios and gameplay modes that allow players to savor and share the excitement of Call of Duty in a whole new way.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Activision to bring the Call of Duty franchise to the tabletop,” said Bryan Pope, CEO of Arcane Wonders and one of the game’s lead designers. “As life-long COD fans, we’ve worked hard to capture the scope, stakes, and sheer intensity of the video games in ways that COD fans and board gamers new and old will love. We’re looking forward to bringing the unforgettable fun and competitive frenzy of COD to game night for years to come.”
For more information and to sign up to be notified of launch, visit www.callofdutyboardgame.com. Then follow Arcane Wonders on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more news and previews leading up to the campaign.
