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New World The Game Awards Trailer

Seattle – December 12, 2019 – (NASDAQ: AMZN) During The Game Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles tonight, Amazon Games announced that New World, its first massively multiplayer online (MMO) PC game, will launch in May 2020. The launch timing was revealed in a cinematic trailer that introduced players to Aeternum, the Eternal Isle, a vast and diverse land of danger and opportunity.

New World is an open world MMO set in the twilight of the Age of Exploration, during the 17th century. In New World, players are pitted against the haunted wilderness of a mysterious island known as Aeternum. Success in New World depends on players’ ability to conquer not only companies of rival players, but the dark soul of Aeternum itself, as it unleashes undead legions, hell-bent on purging them from its shores. In its unsettled state, Aeternum is open and chaotic, but rich in opportunity for soldiers, explorers, artisans, and empire-builders.

Massive battles set New World apart, with fortress sieges against other players and supernatural invasions, featuring up to 100 players on the battlefield at once. Combat in New World is visceral and skill-based, giving players direct control over their movements and attacks. Players can band together to form powerful Companies operating out of fortified strongholds, or play alone and acquire and customize their own homes as they contribute to the growth of the larger community around them. New World provides near-limitless play, with classless character progression, social systems, and rich crafting mechanics.

“We want our players to feel the depth—and the danger—of New World from the moment they step onto the shores of Aeternum in May 2020,” said Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Games. “Our team has been working tirelessly to create a deep, immersive world that delivers challenges and surprises at every turn, and we’re so excited to reveal a bit more of it today.”

New World is being developed by Amazon Games’ development studio in Orange County, California, with a team comprised of industry veterans with experience building some of the world’s most beloved multiplayer games, including Destiny, World of Warcraft, and Everquest.

Pre-order New World here. Players who pre-order New World will receive Isabella’s amulet, the Fist Bump emote, a guild crest set, and the Expedition One unique title, plus access to Closed Beta in April 2020.

For more information on New World, please visit https://newworld.com, and follow the game on Twitch, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Universal Studios Announces Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival

Universal City, CA, December 12, 2019 – Universal Studios Hollywood and Bravo team up for the first-ever Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival on March 19-20, 2020, inviting guests on a culinary excursion featuring an all-inclusive eclectic menu inspired by the series, live challenges, food & wine pairings and panels with “Top Chef” Alums.

The two-day, separately-ticketed event will take place at Universal Studios Hollywood and feature dozens of food, wine, craft beer and spirit stations with a delicious array of dishes inspired by the Cheftestants’ creations over the years. Guests also will have a chance to watch “Top Chef” veterans battle it out in a series of live cooking competitions and enjoy panels with fan favorites from the series.

In addition to a general admission ticket to the event, guests can also purchase a premium VIP ticket option, inviting them to experience several first-class opportunities including an exclusive tasting and wine pairing hosted by a “Top Chef” Alum, intimate meet and greets with the Cheftestants, early access to the theme park, complimentary parking and a special commemorative gift.

The inaugural Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival coincides with the Season 17 premiere of “Top Chef” returning Thursday, March 19 on Bravo with All Stars LA, featuring the fiercest group of competitors the show has seen with 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorites from seasons past who have all returned to finish what they started and battle it out for the coveted title.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ to introduce this exclusive Food & Wine Festival,” said Karen Irwin, President & COO, Universal Studios Hollywood. “As an industry leader, we take as much pride in our culinary offerings as we do with our innovative rides and we’re excited that our Executive Chef will have the opportunity to collaborate with these acclaimed ‘Top Chef’ Alums to create this unique food and wine event, and we look forward to toasting the occasion with our guests.”

Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival will give guests an opportunity to interact with their beloved chefs and try the culinary feast firsthand while also giving them a glimpse at the pressure the competitors face in the kitchen with the Quickfire Challenges,” said Ellen Stone, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal.  “Partnering with Universal Studios Hollywood is a natural extension of our brand and offers our incredibly engaged fans of Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ a unique chance to taste and experience a piece of the hit culinary competition series.”

To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit here.  More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

RUGBY 20 Tactical Gameplay Trailer

Lesquin, December 12, 2019 – Bigben and Eko Software are pleased to share a new video on the gameplay of Rugby 20. The third phase of the game’s closed beta starts on 19 December. The final version is planned for release on 23 January on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC.

Watch the gameplay video here:

The video highlights three fundamental aspects of the game, which fans of the sport will love.

One of the major new features in Rugby 20 is the ability for you to change tactics before and during matches. By managing the game plan, and positioning and behaviour of players, you can experience the unique character of modern rugby and implement your own style of play.

For attacking play, there are different moves available, such as long passes to teammates and kicking options. Grubber kicks, pass feints and side-steps are just some of the options available to help you gain the upper hand over your opponent.

When defending, timing and accuracy are the key to success: tackles must be triggered at the right moment to boost your chances of success while avoiding dangerous play that could lead to a penalty.

With a strong focus on simulation, Rugby 20 offers players all the elements that make up modern rugby: tactical changes during matches, attacking pods, passing after contact and set plays. Rugby fans will find all the sport’s essential elements in the video game.

With real tactical depth, the addition of a set plays system, revised motion-capture animations, redesigned AI and innovative gameplay, Rugby 20 is ready to become the new standard for rugby video games.

Rugby 20 will be available on January 23, 2020 on Xbox One and PC worldwide and on January 28, 2020 for PlayStation®4 in North America.

Find all the information on https://rugby-thegame.com/ and on the official Facebook page

HUNT: Showdown Gets Free Weekend

FRANKFURT, Germany – Dec. 12, 2019 – This weekend PC gamers can check out Crytek’s award-winning multiplayer bounty hunting game Hunt: Showdown for free on Steam. During Hunt: Showdown’s free weekend – going on now until Monday, December 16, at 9:55 a.m. PT – the game will also be on sale for 30% off.

Players will have full access to all gameplay modes during the free weekend, including special holiday-themed surprises (wait until you see the spider!). Hunt’s most recent update added new legendary weapons and hunters, the latest in the development team’s continued commitment to evolving and improving the game alongside the game’s incredible community.

So grab a few friends and give Hunt: Showdown a try this weekend on Steam!

Mad Catz Unveils CES 2010 Product Lineup

Kowloon, Hong Kong – December 12, 2019 – Mad Catz Global Limited, leading gaming hardware innovators for 30 years, announced today that they will be previewing an extensive array of hardware due for release in 2020 at CES, taking place in Las Vegas from January 7th through 10th 2020.

2020 promises to be the year of the R.A.T., and to celebrate Mad Catz plan to release multiple new entries into the much-loved gaming mice line-up including the R.A.T. PRO X3 Supreme, R.A.T. 8+ ADV, the R.A.T. DWS , and the R.A.T. AIR S. Mad Catz will also showcase the new C.A.T. Game Pad range, the F.R.E.Q. 4 Gaming Headset and a new year surprise in the form of the E.G.O. Arcade FightStick, a triumphant return to one of Mad Catz most famous product lines!

A high-end customizable gaming mouse, the R.A.T. Pro X3 Supreme features a 16,000 CPI gaming optical sensor, 10 programmable buttons and over a dozen adjustable accessories, offering 108 different physical configurations! A limited-edition product, the R.A.T. Pro X3 Supreme is expected to ship only in 2020 the year of the R.A.T.

The R.A.T. 8+ ADV, features a PWM3389 PRO optical sensor with 20,000CPI, striking gloss-red exterior and 11 configurable buttons for complete, programmable control. Premium switches are designed to withstand 60 million clicks for intensive gaming. The R.A.T. DWS features a dual wireless connection with 2.4ghz wireless and Bluetooth® connectivity, ensuring low latency and battery life of up to 80 hours between charges. Following last year’s popular introduction of the R.A.T. AIR, the R.A.T. AIR S is perfect combination of a powerful 12,000 CPI optical wireless gamingmouse and a resonance wireless charging pad, keeps the mouse fully charged at all times and can even be rolled up when on-the-move!

The F.R.E.Q. 4 gaming headset is expected to begin shipping early 2020 and will be setting the standard for quality PC audio at CES 2020. Equipped with 50mm audio drivers for powerful bass and high-performance audio, the F.R.E.Q. 4 features virtual 7.1 surround sound creating an incredibly immersive sound field. Designed for comfort with a stylish appearance, USB connectivity and full RGB LED lighting, the F.R.E.Q. 4 makes a stunning addition to any gamers’ arsenal.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. range of gaming keyboards is set to expand, with the addition of the S.T.R.I.K.E. 13, a configurable RGB mechanical keyboard with dynamic controls. Benefitting from Cherry Red mechanical switches, an ergonomic keypad and a comfort-focused tilting angle, the S.T.R.I.K.E. 13 offers comfort and accuracy during sustained gaming sessions.

Mad Catz will also be returning to game controllers in 2020, with the C.A.T. 7 and the C.A.T. 3. With an OLED display panel for configuring macros and sensitivity control, plus built-in memory to store configuration profiles, the C.A.T. 7 is an ideal controller for gamers who require maximum flexibility in their setups. The C.A.T. 3 is a sleek, ergonomic controller with a dual wireless connection of 2.4GHz and Bluetooth.

Lastly, Mad Catz will be offering a new year surprise to the fighting game community, previewing the E.G.O. Arcade FightStick. Returning to fighting game controllers, the E.G.O. features genuine high-quality Sanwa Denshi® arcade components, an eight-directional joystick, eight-button arcade layout and customizable faceplate.

Mad Catz will be available at CES at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel via appointment only.

Additional information available at: www.madcatz.com

Planet Zoo Getting Free the Arctic Pack DLC

Cambridge, UK – November 12, 2019 — Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today announced the first PDLC for Planet Zoo, the Arctic Pack, will be available on Steam from December 17 for $9.99. Alongside the PDLC, a free update will add new features for existing players. Planet Zoo is available now on Steam with a RRP of $44.99, Planet Zoo Deluxe Edition RRP for $54.99 or the Planet Zoo Deluxe Upgrade Pack for $11.99.

No need to wrap up warm, players can explore a wintery wonderland with Planet Zoo’s first PDLC, Arctic Pack, out December 17. Featuring four new habitat animals, two new scenarios and hundreds of foliage and scenery items, the first Planet Zoo PDLC launches alongside a free update for existing players including a range of new features, improvements and fixes.

The graceful Arctic Wolf, majestic Polar Bear, wintery Reindeer and hardy Dall Sheep join the impressive list of habitat animals available to players to breed, research and raise within their hand crafted and unique zoos. Two new arctic themed scenarios will set a series of challenges, focusing on expanding and maintaining existing zoos while ensuring animal welfare and educating guests. The mountainous and snowy tundra biome, based in Norway and featuring the Aurora Sky, and the arid desert biome in Mexico, will challenge and delight players.

The PDLC launches alongside a free update containing a range of new features for existing players; a new aging slider to slow the animal lifecycle, immediate family members have been added to the animal info panels, new heat maps including crime and inbreeding, new nature assets, enrichment items and a range of fixes and improvements.

Frontier also shared a Planet Zoo stats and facts based on the first month of player data in a handy infographic, including;

  • 62 million animals born
  • 23 million staff hired
  • 18.5 million enrichment items placed
  • 13.7 million animals released into the wild

Dall Sheep

  • Native to north-western North America, ranging from white to slate brown in colour and having curved, yellowish-brown horns
  • The sheep inhabit the subarctic mountain ranges of Alaska, the Yukon Territory,  the Mackenzie Mountains in the western Northwest Territories, and central and northern British Columbia
  • Dall sheep are found in relatively dry country and try to stay in a special combination of open alpine ridges, meadows, and steep slopes with extremely rugged ground in the immediate vicinity, to allow escape from predators that cannot travel quickly through such terrain.

Polar Bear

  • The polar bear is a large species of bear that lives in the Arctic Circle and the Sub Arctic. Their coat is completely white, with dark eyes and a dark nose
  • Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the world
  • Polar bears do not need to drink as they can produce water through digesting seal blubber
  • With the exception of a mother with her cubs, polar bears are solitary

Arctic Wolf

  • Arctic wolves, also known as white wolves, are a large canid species that live in Northern Canada and Greenland. They are large pack predators that feed mainly on muskoxen and arctic hares, although they may also eat foxes, birds and bear cubs as well as scavenge carrion.
  • Arctic wolves are larger and stockier than other species of wolves to enable them to withstand the harsh conditions in which they live
  • Arctic wolves can withstand temperatures as low as –53oC

Reindeer

  • The reindeer is a species of ungulate that lives throughout the Arctic and Sub Arctic
  • The appearance of reindeer changes depending on where they are from and the time of year, but generally they have a brown and white coat and face with a white underside and muzzle, often with darker coloration on the snout.
  • The North American reindeer (caribou) migrates up to 5000km, the furthest of any land mammal
  • The most mature and dominant reindeer stags have the largest antlers

Norway>

  • Players will head over to the Scandinavian fjords of Norway to build up a remote animal sanctuary, bringing new Arctic animals to their zoo, tending to their needs, and ensuring their habitats are suitable

Mexico

  • Players will expand on an existing zoo that’s looking to bring a touch of frost to its guests, while learning how to keep native Arctic animals comfortable in a challenging hot climate

D&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set: Collector’s LE Available Now

12/12/2019 – Join us in celebrating 45 years of Dungeons & Dragons – and 5 years of D&D fifth edition – precisely at 9AM PT today with the release of the D&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set!

With only 1,974 sets available for purchase, commemorating both the year of D&D’s first publication and #5yearsof5e, the D&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set also celebrates the explosion of D&D’s popularity over the past five years. The Dice Set is available exclusively through Wizards of the Coast: https://dnd.wizards.com/products/sapphire-anniversary.

The Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set includes eleven custom-designed aluminum dice from Level Up Dice, each including an engraved ampersand on the highest number with the exception of the d20 which features a non-mined sapphire, a nod to the traditional anniversary stone for both five years and forty-five years. The Set also includes a high-quality dice box and a matching dice tray displaying the ampersand, fifth edition D&D stats and details introducing the sapphire dragon, commemorative stickers, and a sequentially numbered collector’s card confirming the set’s authenticity.

The set can be purchased here for $299.99 (USD).

Conan Exiles Gets Free Weekend

OSLO, Norway – Dec 12th, 2019 – Last week saw mounts and mounted combat making their long-awaited appearance in Conan Exiles, but the list of additions and improvements that now grace The Exiled Lands goes way beyond that of transit and warfare. Since Conan Exiles was launched into early access in 2017, a host of free updates have been released. New dungeons, fiercer mobs and legendary items have been introduced, as well as siege weapons, pet and thrall leveling, and a revamped combat system.

Now Funcom invites gamers to check out all of this for free during this week’s Steam Free Weekend.

Conan Exiles’ Steam Free Weekend starts today, at 7 PM CET / 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST, and ends on Monday. During this time the game will also be available for permanent acquisition at a heavily discounted price (up to 60 % off).

Conan Exiles is an open world survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian. After a successful Early Access run starting in January 2017, the game launched in full on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on May 8th, 2018 and became one of Funcom’s best-selling and fastest-selling games to date. For more information check out the official Steam page or conanexiles.com.

World of Warships Holiday Update 2019

Austin, TX, December 11, 2019 — Christmas is coming early to World of Warships with the new update 0.8.11, during which players will be able to build their own warship, as well be presented with Santa’s Gifts containers and a chance to receive premium ships or other valuable rewards. Wargaming prepares to keep on giving with a planned global charity stream for Save the Children set to kick off across all its territories on December 19th.

Keeping the season of giving close at heart, Wargaming will begin a Save the Children 24-hour charity stream, aiming to raise $25,000 dollars before the clock runs out. Players can donate by buying various in-game items, from premium ships to rare camouflages, with the proceeds going to Save the Children.

Players who log into World of Warships will also receive four Santa’s Gift containers, each likely to contain a premium ship or other valuable rewards. Containers will also be gifted by participating in in-game activities, shipbuilding, completing directives or through the Armory. Snowflakes – holiday victory bonuses with large rewards which can be collected by playing all ships of Tier V and above — are also making a return.

One of the biggest new features of update 0.8.11 lets players build their own warship. The Tier X large cruiser Puerto Rico is waiting to be finished in their Dockyard. Players can complete the warship in stages, from laying the keel to installing weaponry and other equipment, by spending special Shipbuilding Tokens found in the daily missions and shipments, and the new Event Directives.

Each completed stage nets the player various rewards, with the ultimate prize being the Puerto Rico itself. Progressing through the Directives also allows players to acquire another premium ship – the tier VII Italian cruiser Gorizia. A new Shipbuilding Collection, with 20 new collectible elements, is featured in the update. Each completed sub collection will reward you with one day of Premium Account.

Wargaming keeps on improving the visual fidelity of World of Warships with the Trident and Neighbors maps, as well as the Hamburg and Marseille Ports having been reworked in update 0.8.11. Special attention has been given to the sea with a more realistic surface and enhanced wave action.

Further details on the Update 0.8.11 can be found here.

Transport Fever 2 Launch Trailer

AMSTERDAM – Dec. 11, 2019 – Good Shepherd Entertainment and developer Urban Games have released Transport Fever 2, the next great Tycoon Simulation game from the makers of Transport Fever and Train Fever. Create elaborate transport routes and infrastructure over land, sea and air to build a transportation empire that rivals the ages!

Transport Fever 2 is available today for Windows PC and Linux via Steam and GOG.com for $39.99. Players who purchase the game before December 18 will receive a 10% launch week discount. Additionally, anyone who owns the original Transport Fever on Steam will automatically receive a special 15% stackable bonus discount (for a combined total 25% discount if you purchase this week).

With more than 170 years of real-world transportation technology at your fingertips, Transport Fever 2 lets you design and master fantastic new worlds with a vastly improved feature set, UI and mod tools:

  • Experience the greatest logistical challenges from 1850 to today across three unique story campaigns featuring voiceovers and cutscenes.
  • Let your creativity run wild through giant sandbox maps in free play mode.
  • Choose from over 200 realistically modeled vehicles from Europe, America and Asia, including trains, buses, streetcars, trucks, aircraft and ships, plus modular stations, airports and harbors.
  • Track and manage your booming empire’s rise with intuitive construction tools and dynamic economy, transportation and city simulation systems.
  • Choose from a diverse array of natural ecosystems, all rendered in exquisite detail.
  • Create and share your own worlds, missions, landscapes, vehicles and more with the in-game map editor and extensive modding tools via Steam Workshop.

For more information, visit https://www.TransportFever2.com, and follow @GoodShepherdEnt and @TransportFever on Twitter.