Warner Bros. Games and DC today debuted an all-new cinematic launch trailer for Gotham Knights, the upcoming open-world action RPG releasing on Oct. 21, 2022. Told from the perspective of Alfred Pennyworth, the video looks at the inner reflection that Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin all go through as each Knight rises to the challenge of protecting an increasingly vulnerable Gotham City in the wake of Batman’s death. The trailer also provides a glimpse of the mysterious Court of Owls and the growing threat it poses.
Cross Roads Escape Games The Weeping Witch is now open! What is The Weeping Witch? You may recall our review of Cross Roads Escape Games The Hex Room from 2016. At the time, the Hex Room was the scariest escape room I had ever experienced. I then went to such rooms like Murder Co., Bunker Experience, the Zoe, and Darkest Hour. All were scary with varying degrees of escape room challenge – some with live actors and some without. However, one thing that seemed to escape all of them was a sense of narrative cohesion and smooth transitions between the puzzles. When Cross Roads Escape Games retired the Psych Ward last year, I was excited to see what they would replace it with. Now, we have our answer: The Weeping Witch. We had the chance to experience The Weeping Witch during its preview phase and it has officially become the best horror-themed escape room I have ever gone up against.
Cross Roads Escape Games The Weeping Witch is actually a sequel of sorts to the amazing, and short-lived, Séance live theatrical experience that they hosted in 2019. Without spoiling the plot, you will definitely recognize some of the story elements and characters from the Séance (if you attended it – and you should have!). As with most escape rooms, you are given some basic instructions before going into the room. The Weeping Witch is no different, except you are also given some interesting items which you need to hold onto throughout the game – you’ll need them later! Also part of the pre-show is a story-building narrative. During the preview, it was read to us by the game master but they said they would be putting it into a video format soon. This story helped construct the world we were stepping into and contained lots of helpful tips – be sure to listen, no matter what format it is presented to your team in. Like any escape room, once inside The Weeping Witch you’ll need to solve a variety of puzzles in order to complete your objective and survive!
Setting it apart from other escape rooms which usually drop players into a space without a good starting point, The Weeping Witch has clever ways of informing players what their goals are and actually lays out a lot of the instructions out in the room before them in a way that doesn’t break the narrative. This gives the team of players a sense of unified mission as you have certain things to accomplish in order. Our group was made up of six people, which seemed like a really good number of players for the room. There were plenty of puzzles and we could split off into teams of two in order to solve them. From a puzzle standpoint, The Weeping Witch is a challenging room. Do your best and have fun, our group escaped with three minutes and fifty five seconds to spare. The only reason we made it out with that little time left at all was because of the in-game help system.
Our group prior to going in!
Unlike many escape rooms where the help system takes the form of a narrative-breaking walkie talkie or a phone, The Weeping Witch’s help system is all in-world and perfect for the overall experience. Instead of it becoming a source of shame for needing help, you actually look forward to using it as the system brings a whole separate element to the game which is rewarding in and of itself. As mentioned, the in-world narrative is one of The Weeping Witch’s many strengths. I would love to see them create more escape rooms in this game world – perhaps based around some of the other interesting characters your group might encounter in The Weeping Witch?
The physical elements of the game are somewhat more challenging than your usual escape room, but nothing back-breaking. There will be some crawling that needs to be done but nothing too vigorous. There are also several phases of darkness in the maze, but most of those times you won’t be required to do anything except cower in fear with one another. Most of the puzzles will be solved upright and on your feet, which is nice!
The horror? Well, The Weeping Witch is full of horror, creeps, and shrieks in the best way possible. Throughout your experience, you’ll come into contact with evil forces and, if you’re unlucky enough, the witch herself! Just know that none of the actors will intentionally touch you and, of course, no one in your group should attempt to touch the actors. The evil creature or creatures you may encounter are beautifully-scary with great costuming and masks. Coupled with some solid physical character work on their behalf and they are truly terrifying spectacles to behold. Aside from the scary monsters, the overall level of technical expertise and effects work in The Weeping Witch is bar none the best I have ever seen. Everything works in a smooth and cohesive manner. When it doesn’t, you’ll find that the reason is more likely than not that your group is missing something in the puzzle-solving. The set design in The Weeping Witch is also outstanding. All of the props are placed with purpose and, sometimes, provide little Easter eggs for those with a keen eye.
We live!
Overall, Cross Roads Escape Games The Weeping Witch is the perfect escape room challenge for the Halloween season. It is open now and available for ticket purchases at the official Cross Roads Escape Games website. Each game at Cross Roads Escape Games is private, meaning your group (in the case of The Weeping Witch) of 4-8 players will have all the frights to themselves – no strangers will be placed with you. Tickets range from $38 to $40 dollars a person depending on the day and time of the game you book, which is very reasonable for this level of an experience. Thanks to Cross Roads Escape Games for having us out to the preview week!
Today we have the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II PC trailer to share. Modern Warfare II will be available on PC via Battle.net and Steam on October 28 and features 4K graphics, Ultrawide support, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat and more than 500 PC customization options.
It’s a family affair for WEDNESDAY with the new trailer for Netflix’s upcoming original series revealing comedy veteran Fred Armisen will portray beloved Uncle Fester when the show premieres on November 23. The trailer debuted at New York Comic Con during a packed Empire Stage panel on Saturday night that featured stars Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Luis Guzman and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, along with surprise guest Fred Armisen.
20th Century Studios and New Regency present Barbarian, the scariest movie of the year. From writer/director Zach Cregger, and noted horror producer Roy Lee (The Ring, The Grudge, and It) comes a film both critics and audiences are raving about. The “exquisitely crafted scary story” (Simon Abrams, The Wrap) is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and fans can enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus features when the film arrives on all major digital platforms October 25.
Film Synopsis
Arriving in Detroit for a job interview, a young woman books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. From 20th Century Studios and New Regency, Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long. Written and directed by Zach Cregger.
Bonus Features*
Featurette
Behind Barbarian –Director Zach Cregger and the cast and crew discuss both the unique and familiar horror elements that make Barbarian terrifying and reveal the inspiration behind the horrific tale.
From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and producer Jordan Peele, comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele) – who enlist the aid of Kat Elliot – a tough teen with a load of guilt – to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop motion.
Time to show the world, what kind of a leader you are: SuperPower 3 is out today for PC and puts you in charge of one of the 194 nations in the world. SuperPower 3 is based on contemporary real-world data and simulates international geopolitical decisions for each and every country in the world. There are 14 pre-defined scenarios to choose from – or the completely free sandbox mode, where you achieve exactly the goals you are making for yourself and your chosen nation.
Additionally to the content delivered today, SuperPower 3 is super-mod friendly and allows players around the world to adjust the game to their taste.
Independent developer Otherworld Interactive have today announced that their stealth horror adventure game Hello Puppets: Midnight Show will launch on October 19th for PC on Steam. This dramatic prequel reveals the origins behind the infamous terrors in the first game of the series, Hello Puppets! VR through jump scares, intense encounters and a thrilling, mystery-filled narrative.
In Hello Puppets: Midnight Show, discover the story behind the infamous puppets who stalked terrified gamers in the previous game through this perplexing prequel adventure. The year is 1987. You play as Owen Gubberson, creator of a rapidly-failing Muppets knock off called “Mortimer’s Handeemen”. In a last-ditch effort to save his dying show, Owen uses a mysterious spell to bring his puppets to life. But his Handeemen aren’t how he imagined them: they’re sadistic, evil versions of themselves, and they’re loose in the soundstage. Now Owen has one night to outrun his puppets and reverse the spell that brought them to life before they slaughter him and escape!
Features:
Dynamic Hide and Seek against an advanced AI that haunts you and forces you to study behaviors and adapt your playstyle accordingly.
Three distinct AI “Boss” enemies with unique behaviors, personalities and narratives. You’ll grow to fear and love their weird personalities at the same time.
Large, complex levels full of tools to use against the puppets, hiding spots to get away, and pieces of a larger narrative for the player to put together
Unique “Hiding” mechanic that forces you to stay on your toes even when you’re hidden, with a plethora of high-stakes minigames and challenges
Dense mysterious narrative with layers of enigma and shocking twists that only the most diehard players will discover
It’s the most frightening time of the year: Halloween has come to Dead by Daylight.
Players will get to experience the Hall of Fame of Horror under an ominous new light… and find out why the Entity’s Realm is the best place to get scared, to get hooked and hopefully, to escape and start all over again. Players can join the festive Haunted by Daylight celebrations, which starts on October 11th and closes on November 3rd. The Haunted by Daylight festivities will kick off with the release of the anticipated store Collections, while the newest Archive Tome will be released on October 12th. Lastly the sought-after in-game Halloween event will be live on October 13th.
The Haunted by Daylight in-game event, accessible from October 13th to November 3rd, will allow players to take advantage of a slew of horrifying cosmetics to unlock, the Fog’s unsettling atmosphere, and intense challenges! The Dead by Daylight lobby & loading screens will be decked with fearsome pumpkins and frightful decorations, Players will also experience a new gameplay, requiring them to gather and steal “Void Energy”. Lastly, daily login rewards will be available, encouraging players to connect to the game every day.
Dead by Daylight will also hold a Free Weekend from October 27th to November 1st, so that more players can join in on the fun and experience why Dead by Daylight is the place to be for Halloween.
A New Tome: MALEVOLENCE
A new Rift opens on October 12th and with it a new Tome which features memories for beloved Killer Ghost Face®, and Survivor Mikaela Reid. Players will have the chance to plummet into the devious mind behind the mask and discover what keeps a horror aficionado up at night with Tome 13: MALEVOLENCE. They’ll be able to dive into Ghost Face®’s memories, as a local cartoonist parodies him in the local papers. OBVIOUSLY, this won’t stand.
“The Fog turns into a twisted playground for Horror fan favourite Ghost Face®, and we’re happy to include him in our Halloween festivities”, says Dave Richard, Creative Director for Dead by Daylight. “Ghost Face® is a particularly terrifying enemy – being able to stalk his prey – and dedicated to striking Survivors down before they know what hits them and to have him as part of the Rift is a treat!”
Players will also be thrilled to uncover memories for Mikaela Reid – the feisty Survivor with a love of the macabre and the supernatural.
Players would be remiss not to take advantage of the tons of surprises that await them as they progress through the Rift, including Charms, Outfits and exclusive mask variations for Ghost Face®.
Tome 13: MALEVOLENCE is available on October 12th on Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Epic Games Store, Windows Store and Nintendo Switch.
More Treats from the Dead by Daylight Store
Costumes are mandatory on Halloween; therefore, players are invited to dress their favorite Killers and Survivors in their snazziest attire with new Outfits from the Hallowed Blight Collection and the limited-time Tricks and Treats Collection, available from October 11th to November 3rd. The Midnight Grove Collection will make a comeback during this time as well with two new Very Rare Outfits for Mikaela Reid and The Doctor.
The Hallowed Blight Collection – a creepy metamorphosis that occurs from within – features two Very Rare Outfits – for The Oni and Albert Wesker, The Mastermind. The Blighted Wesker Outfit looks right out of a terrifying biohazardous experiment gone wrong.
Nobody could predict the complex interactions that would occur between the serum and Uroboros, but that didn’t stop Albert Wesker from testing the Blighted serum on himself. This interaction caused Wesker to transform into a further transformed humanoid.
The Oni’s Bursting with Fury Outfit emphasizes the character’s rage. His overwhelming strength made him a priority candidate for testing the Blighted serum. The searing pain of the experiment, more than anything, made his rage even more potent.
Players can also take advantage of the limited-time Tricks and Treats Collection, featuring exquisite Halloween Costumes in the form of 2 new Very Rare Outfits for Jane Romero and Dwight Fairfield – Hollywood Glamour and Toilet Paper Mummy.
Dwight Fairfield’s Toilet Paper Mummy Outfit is a “last-minute stroke of genius” Halloween Outfit…. But it will fall to pieces five minutes before arriving at the party. Jane Romero’s Outfit is the embodiment of Hollywood Glamour. Perfect for a soiree among Tinseltown’s movers and shakers, she decided to pay tribute to her mother and other stars of yesteryear.
Today, Victrix, a San Diego based professional gaming accessories brand owned by PDP, has announced their newest premium controller: the Pro BFG. Launching this Fall at a price of $179.99, the Pro BFG for PlayStation®5 console, PlayStation®4 console, and PC is a high-performance, completely customizable controller. The Pro BFG is officially licensed for PlayStation systems by Sony Interactive Entertainment*.
Engineered from the ground up by Victrix and designed for e-sports, the Pro BFG offers a number of features and options including:
Full Wireless and Wired Compatibility: With the Mode Switch, players can easily swap between PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (using X input) devices.
Modularity: The reversible left module allows for both the standard PlayStation stick configuration as well as offset sticks. Fans of fighting games can swap in the Fight Pad module, which replaces the right stick with six microswitch buttons. The D-Pad, Analog Stick Caps, and Analog Stick Gates are also interchangeable.
Four Mappable Back Buttons with User-Configurable Profiles: Players can map the back buttons on the fly with the Profile Button, and save up to 3 unique profiles for button mappings
Patented Multi-Position Clutch Triggers™: Boasting 5 different stopping points, the patented clutch triggers allow players to tune the trigger pulls to their specific liking, whether they want hair triggers, standard triggers, or something in the middle
Low Latency Audio with EQ Profiles: The Pro BFG delivers the highest possible audio quality through the controller’s 3.5mm Headset Jack. The controller is also compatible with 3D Audio on PS5™ consoles.
Victrix Control Hub Customization App: PC players can make their controller as unique as their playstyle with the free Victrix Control Hub. The Control Hub allows players to configure button and EQ settings to fit their play style, run diagnostics, and update the controller’s firmware all in one place.
“When we released the Gambit controller last year, we got a lot of questions about when Victrix would launch a similarly pro-grade controller for PlayStation,” said Trevor Lehr, Director of Product Development at Victrix. “Rounding out the family of Victrix Pro products including Pro FS, Pro AF and Gambit, the Pro BFG brings the highest level of design and customization to a whole new level with wireless and modularity.”
You can pre-order the Pro BFG now at VictrixPro.com for an MSRP of $179.99 USD.
Media and influencers attending TwitchCon who are interested in experiencing the first hands on demo event for the Pro BFG on the evening of October 7th can fill out this registration form to receive more information.
