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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Legacy of the First Blade Ep 2 Out Now

SAN FRANCISCO — January 15, 2019 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Shadow Heritage, the second episode in the first post-launch story arc for Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Legacy of the First Blade, is now available across all available platforms.

In Shadow Heritage, a letter from Darius leads players to investigate a mystery through which the hero will come face to face with a new threat, The Tempest, a mastermind of naval battle who commands her own fleet. With her superior naval techniques and deadly weaponry, she will stop at nothing to ensure the hero’s demise.

Each episode of Legacy of the First Blade will feature a new ability for each branch of the skill tree: Hunter, Warrior and Assassin. The first episode, Hunted, introduced a new Assassin ability, and in Shadow Heritage players will discover a new Hunter ability, Rapid Fire. It will allow players to rapidly shoot arrows without having to reload with the firing speed increasing with each skill level and will be a valuable skill to all players, not only those with a Hunter playstyle.

To access Shadow Heritage, players must have completed Hunted, the first episode of Legacy of the First Blade, and the Naxos questline in Chapter 7 of the main story of the game, and must have reached character level 28 or above.

The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey post-launch plan is the biggest and most ambitious in the franchise, and the launch of Legacy of the First Blade is just the beginning for players who wish to progress further with new content in Ancient Greece. Season pass owners will access two major episodic storylines, Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. Players can dive into new episodes as they premiere, or experience the epic adventures in their entirety once all episodes are available. The season pass also includes Assassin’s Creed® III Remastered and Assassin’s Creed® Liberation Remastered and will be released this March.

The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Season Pass, which includes the two story arcs Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis, can be purchased for $39.99. Legacy of the First Blade is also available separately for $24.99. The first episode, Hunted, and second episode, Shadow Heritage, are now downloadable for players who already own the season pass or Gold Edition. The third episode of Legacy of the First Blade will complete the story arc beginning of March.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit: assassinscreed.com.

LucidSound Now Shipping LS41 Wireless Surround Headset

San Diego, CA – January 15th, 2019 – LucidSound®, the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today shipping of the LS41 Wireless Surround Headset, a premium surround sound, multi-format headset and a new flagship model for the Company.

Available now via Amazon and other leading gaming retailers, the LS41 features wireless audio when used with PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, and can also be used with Nintendo®Switch™ and other mobile devices via the 3.5mm wired connection.

With a premium build quality usually reserved for audiophile grade headsets, the LS41has been expertly tuned by audio engineers and offers a clear leap in quality when compared to other gaming headsets. Featuring a host of meaningful upgrades over the previous LS40, the all-new LS41 uses a best-in-class 2.4GHz wireless connection, delivering uncompressed audio when used with modern consoles. In addition, the LS41 features rich DTS® Headphone:X® 7.1 Surround Sound allowing players to accurately identify placement of team mates and enemies. The high-capacity rechargeable battery provides up to 20 hours of use between charges and the upgraded drivers deliver superior amplification for remarkably accurate audio without distortion. The earcups feature the signature LucidSound control scheme, but now sport an oval design, better fitting the ear and providing a more comfortable experience along with greater noise isolation.

“I am very excited about the positive response from the gaming community to our new product line including the LS25 eSports headset, the LS31 and the LS35X,” said Chris Von Huben, CEO of LucidSound. “The LS41 is our flagship gaming headset product designed for exceptional audio quality, comfort and performance.”

Universal Studios Unveils Grad Bash Musical Lineup

Universal City, CA, January 15, 2019 –Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual Grad Bash celebration rolls out the red carpet for graduating seniors, inviting the Class of 2019 to party Hollywood-style on select nights during this year’s event.

The premier event kicks off with performances by world-renowned DJ, Marshmello.  Kaskade keeps the party going, followed by performances by multi-platinum, award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Derulo.

Select dates and performances are as follows:

  • Friday, May 17 – Marshmello
  • Thursday, May 23 – Marshmello
  • Thursday, May 30 – Kaskade
  • Friday, May 31 – Kaskade
  • Thursday, June 6 – Jason Derulo
  • Friday, June 7 – Kaskade

            Highlights of Grad Bash also include dance parties hosted by radio station DJs, a silent disco, fun photo ops and access to Universal Studios Hollywood’s thrill rides and attractions.

Grad Bash begins at 5:00 p.m., then from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. becomes transformed into a party exclusively for the Class of 2019.

Advance reservations are required, and it is recommended that schools book early as this in-demand event will sell out.  For more information and to purchase tickets, school administrators can visitwww.UniversalYouthPrograms.com/graduation/grad-bash\ or call 800-436-8802.  Meal options, pre-party and post-event breakfast packages are available.

Hitman HD Enhanced Collection Launch Trailer

Burbank, Calif. – Jan. 11, 2019 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and IO Interactive today announced the launch of Hitman™ HD Enhanced Collection, featuring Hitman: Blood Money and Hitman: Absolution in 4K resolution and 60 frames per second (fps). The two remastered classics are now available digitally for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X.

 

The Elder Scrolls: Legends Isle of Madness Trailer

January 11, 2019 – Isle of Madness, the latest and largest story expansion to date for The Elder Scrolls: Legends, officially releases on January 24 for PC, iOS, and Android devices. The trailer for the expansion dropped today, giving a glimpse into the emotionally intense story that follows a desperate father who’s willing to take a trip into madness to save his son.

With new card and lane mechanics, a theme of transformation and insanity and a story that offers a mixture of both hilarity and tragedy, Legends players are in for a sweet(roll) treat. Beginning today, players can visit The Elder Scrolls: Legends website to pre-order and find more information on Isle of Madness. While you’re there, be sure to check out the new Prince of Madness card back, available to all players who pre-order or purchase the three-chapter bundle upon release.

Isle of Madness is available for pre-order for $19.99 and includes all three chapters, one card back and one title. The Premium Map Bundle is available for pre-order for $49.99 and includes all three chapters, one card back, one premium card back, two titles and all Isle of Madness cards unlocked, premium, and playable upon release. Isle of Madness will also be available upon release for the in-game price of 1000 Gold per chapter, or $19.99 for all three chapters plus the Prince of Madness card back.

Stay tuned to The Elder Scrolls: Legends on Twitter to stay updated on the latest Legends news. Also, be on the lookout for early card reveals as we begin to ramp up the excitement for Legends’ most ambitious journey yet.

Mad Catz Unveils New Line of S.T.R.I.K.E. Gaming Keyboards

Kowloon, Hong Kong – January 10th, 2019 – Mad Catz Global Limited, leading gaming hardware innovators for nearly 30 years, today announced an all-new line of S.T.R.I.K.E. professional gaming keyboards, including a S.T.R.I.K.E. with ultra-reliable mechanical keys, ideal for the Esports community.

Expected to begin shipping from Spring 2019, the S.T.R.I.K.E. range is a perfect addition to the Company’s recently announced range of G.L.I.D.E.™ gaming surfaces and R.A.T.™ mice., forming part of a complete PC eco-system. With two S.T.R.I.K.E. keyboards to choose from, gamers can pick the keyboard that suits their preference and budget.

Armed with Cherry mechanical switches, the S.T.R.I.K.E.4+ is the gamers’ new secret weapon. Tested to withstand at least 50 million hits, the Cherry switches provide perfect travel and precision every time. With anti-ghosting featuring on every key, gamers can combine with the powerful F.L.U.X. software, which allows for staggering customization and control over every aspect of the keyboard including individual key lighting and control over the USB report rate. Chameleon RGB Lighting baths the keyboard in 16.8 million colors, fully adjustable and customizable via the F.L.U.X. software and creating a new standard in keyboard lighting.

Elegantly simple, yet built to withstand the rigors of professional gaming, the S.T.R.I.K.E.2+ is precision-engineered to provide impressive durability. With a toughened aluminum faceplate designed to withstand the most heated of gaming sessions, the S.T.R.I.K.E.2+ is created with a double-shot injection process, fusing the chassis together and creating a seamless and extremely durable keyboard, battle-ready and always maintaining a clean and minimalist appearance.

The S.T.R.I.K.E.2+ features a custom designed membrane, mimicking the reliability and precision of a mechanical keyboard, but without the associated noise. A 26 key anti-ghosting matrix gives gamers the power they crave, and the advanced Chameleon RGB Lighting can be programmed to adjust speed and brightness.

“Earlier this week we were pleased to announce the shipping of our G.L.I.D.E. Gaming Surfaces, the perfect partner to out new range of R.A.T. mice. We’re delighted to grow our range of professional PC hardware yet further, with the new range of S.T.R.I.K.E. gaming keyboards,” said Selena Chang, Director of Sales and Operations for Mad Catz Global Limited, “We remain seriously committed to the PC gaming community, aiming to deliver an entire eco-system of high quality hardware, designed to use the latest technology and engineering prowess to provide a winning edge. We look forward to shipping these products soon and to announcing further product in the year to come.”

Additional information on all products is available at: www.madcatz.com.

Ace Comat 7: Skies Unknown Multiplayer Trailer

January 10, 2018 – The art of aerial dogfighting is one of the most dynamic forms of combat, experienced in three dimensions, setting the stage for a highly unique and challenging battleground. Now, with ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN’s multiplayer mode, players can enter dogfights with their friends and coordinate battle strategy to take out opposing players.

ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN’s multiplayer mode will consist of two gameplay variants; the first variant takes on a team death match format featuring 4 vs. 4 dogfights. The second multiplayer variant takes on a traditional death match format, enabling up to eight players to blow each other out of the sky. In both multiplayer modes, only players with skill, guile, and determination will taste victory!

ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN is flying at supersonic speeds towards its January 18th launch date in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The PC via STEAM® version of ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN will be available on January 31, 2019.

THQ Nordic Announces Acquisition of Outcast IP

January 10, 2019: THQ Nordic today announced that the acquisition of the intellectual property “Outcast” has been finalized with the three original creators of the game.

The acquisition itself is being handled by THQ Nordic AB, based in Karlstad, Sweden, and daily operations (sales and distribution, evaluation of sequels & new content etc.) will be done via THQ Nordic GmbH in Vienna, Austria.

About Outcast
GameSpot’s Adventure of the year in 1999 puts you in the role of Cutter Slade, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, and right in the middle of the alien world of Adelpha. After a couple of things went South with a probe sent to a parallel universe, Cutter is given the job to escort 3 scientists, close the black hole and safely get everyone back to Earth. So one cakewalk of a job and he blew it… Damn it, Cutter…

Thermaltake Unveils BattleStation Gaming Desks

Las Vegas, United States -January 10th , 2019-Thermaltake, celebrates their 20th anniversary by announcing a new category addition to the Thermaltake Gaming lineup at CES 2019- the Level 20 RGB & Level 20 GT BattleStation Gaming Desks, located at the Venetian Hotel Veronese 2402 Suite from January 8th (Tue) to 11th (Fri). Designed with the needs of gamers in mind, the Level 20 RGB & Level 20 GT BattleStation Gaming Desks are built using the highest quality of materials, constructed with a thick and durable steel frame for enhanced stability, finished off with a special anti-scratch resistant coating for added durability, and style finished for that all-important sleek gaming aesthetic. The Level 20 RGB BattleStation gaming desk is automatic height adjustable, fully compatible with the TT RGB PLUS ecosystem and features: 16.8 million RGB color illumination with 8 dynamic lightings effects and up to 20 customizable lighting zones for added personalization, 4 memory profile controller for easy saving and recall of height settings, large space design for maximum full tower chassis support, included full surface gaming desk mouse pad, and easy cable management system to keep your desktop looking neat and clean. The Level 20 GT BattleStation Gaming Desk features a manual adjustable design, and includes a large space design, full surface mouse pad, and cable management system. Enhance and elevate your game experience with the Level 20 RGB & Level 20 GT BattleStation Gaming Desk.

Level 20 GT BattleStation Gaming Desk suggested price of USD 399.99

Level 20 RGB Battlestation Gaming Desk suggested price of USD 1099.99

Razer Unveils New Blade 15 Advanced Gaming Laptops

IRVINE, Calif. – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced today a new range of the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model gaming laptops. This update to the award-winning Razer Blade 15 is centered around increased graphics performance with the inclusion of new NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 20-series GPUs, delivering a whole new way to experience gaming on-the-go.

All models are powered by the latest 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 6 core processor, and feature 16GB of dual-channel system memory with up to 512 GB of fast SSD storage, in addition to a new Windows Hello-capable IR camera for easy and secure login via facial recognition.

The Base Model of the Razer Blade 15 will remain available to gamers seeking additional storage capacity and connectivity, featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with Max-Q design and a CNC-milled compact aluminum chassis, from $1,599.

GRAPHICS REINVENTED
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series graphics provide the ultimate PC gaming experience. Powered by the new NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture and the revolutionary RTX platform, these processors bring together real-time ray tracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading. The new Advanced Models of the Razer Blade 15 will be available with a choice of RTX 2060 (6 GB GDDR6), RTX 2070 (8 GB GDDR6), or the RTX 2080 (8 GB GDDR6), with the top two configurations using a Max-Q design to ensure performance and user comfort within the compact Razer Blade 15 laptop.

“Gamers demand the best performance when it comes to PC graphics, and the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 20 Series GPUs fuse the performance of next generation shaders with real-time ray tracing and AI, blurring the line between movies and gaming, with cinematic-quality rendering,” said Kaustubh Sanghani, general manager, GeForce OEM at NVIDIA. “Seeing this technology available in a super compact laptop based on Max-Q design principles, such as the new Razer Blade 15, gives users a new level of graphics performance in a highly mobile platform.”

VISUAL EXPERIENCE
The 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) displays have 144 Hz refresh rates, driven by the new GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs to provide precise and fast game visuals and entertainment with full-frame fluidity and 100% sRGB color. Creative users that demand higher resolution and a wider color gamut can step up to a 4K (3840 x 2160) display with touchscreen functionality and 100% Adobe™ RGB color support.

Each laptop display is individually custom calibrated in production for amazing color accuracy out-of-the-box. All models feature 4.9mm thin bezels flanking the display, while the new Windows Hello-capable IR face camera retains the ideal placement at the top of the screen, allowing for easy and secure login via facial recognition. The HD Webcam is matched with a dual-array microphone setup for streaming, video conferencing and voice assistants.

Razer will also showcase at CES two new innovative display technologies being evaluated for the Razer Blade 15 in the future. The first showcase is Blade 15 with a 15.6” Full HD display capable of 240 Hz refresh rates for incredibly fluid gaming. The other Blade 15 showcase sports a 4K OLED touch display, delivering amazing color, deep blacks, and efficient performance.

COMPACT PERFORMANCE
The Razer Blade 15 currently holds the title of world’s smallest 15.6-inch gaming laptop1, with a minimal footprint and a thinness of 0.70 inches for ultimate mobility.

The chassis is individually CNC-milled from a single aluminum block to provide a sturdy yet lightweight design, and features a scratch-resistant anodized black finish.

Managing heat without sacrificing performance in such a small form factor is no easy task, but the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model utilizes vapor chamber technology for the cooling solution instead of the traditional heat pipes found in most gaming laptops.

Beyond cooling the CPU and GPU, the vacuum-sealed vaporized liquid helps dissipate the heat generated from other components within the laptop. Ultra-thin nanoparticle material and graphite-based server grade thermal interfaces reduce hot spots and facilitate heat transfer, while high-performance low-noise fans push air across dual heat exchanges with 0.1mm thin fins, quickly moving heat out of the chassis and away from the user.

FASTER MEMORY
The new GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs utilize GDDR6 memory, the fastest memory in the world. To complement the increased performance provided by the new GPUs and for extreme multitasking, Razer equips every Razer Blade 15 model with 16 GB of DDR4-2667 MHz dual-channel system memory. For users looking to push the performance even further, the expandable memory slots now support the installation of Intel® XMP compatible memory, with speeds up to 3200 MHz for increased bandwidth.

Fast PCIe SSD storage is provided with configurations up to 512 GB, with support for up to 2 TB of storage and up to 64 GB of system memory.

“The award-winning Razer Blade 15 is an ideal device for the latest NVIDIA Turing graphics processors, up to the GeForce RTX 2080, allowing gamers to take their visual experiences to new levels,” says Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “Fluid, lifelike visuals are displayed on the expansive 15.6-inch Full HD panel with refresh rates of 144Hz, and the compact Max-Q design makes the laptop perfect for gamers on-the-go.”

The anti-ghosting keyboard is powered by Razer Chroma and offers 16.8 million colors per key, customizable through Razer Synapse 3 software. New power management options are also available, including modes to boost graphics performance or maximize the run time of the built-in 80Wh battery. Sound is delivered through improved dual front-firing speakers and features Dolby Atmos for immersive audio with deeper bass response.

A large, clickable precision glass touchpad provides accuracy and gesture support. Connectivity options includes the ability to output to up to three external displays via Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, and Thunderbolt™ 3. Connect peripheral devices to the laptop with three USB 3.1 ports, and headsets via the 3.5mm combo audio port.

INCREASED CHOICE
The Razer Blade 15 family of laptops now covers a range of performance options for consumers from the dual-storage, 60 Hz Full HD Base Models with a GeForce GTX 1060 GPU, through the new Advanced Models with a 144 Hz Full HD display and up to the GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, all with Max-Q design.

Razer also is releasing versions of the popular Mercury White edition, offering configurations with the RTX 2060 (available exclusively at Razer.com and Best Buy), or the RTX 2070 with Max-Q design (available only at Razer.com).

Availability

The new Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptops with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs start at $2,299 and will be available beginning January 29 from Razer.com and select retailers in the United States, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, and China.

The Base Model of the Razer Blade 15 with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with Max-Q design is currently available starting at $1,599 from Razer.com and other retailers.

Razer.com now offers RazerCare protection plans for all Razer Blade laptops, providing a total of 3 years of coverage that includes 24-hour phone support and repairs by Razer-Authorized centers with free 2-way shipping.

For more information, visit razer.com/blade.

Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model Specifications:

  • 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-8750H Processor (6 Cores/12 Threads, 2.2GHz/4.1GHz)
  • Display Options:
    • 15.6-in. IPS Full HD (1920 x 1080) 144 Hz, matte, individually color calibrated
    • 15.6-in. IPS 4K (3840 x 2160) 60 Hz, capacitive multi-touch, individually color calibrated
  • Graphics Options:
    • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060 (6 GB GDDR6 VRAM)
    • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2070 with Max-Q Design (8 GB GDDR6 VRAM)

o   NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2080 with Max-Q Design (8 GB GDDR6 VRAM)

  • Storage Options: Supports up to 2TB SSD
    • 256 GB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4)
    • 512 GB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4)
  • 16 GB Dual-Channel system memory (DDR4, 2667 MHz), 64 GB maximum support, including XMP memory modules
  • Windows® 10 (64-bit)
  • Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 5
  • Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C)
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB-A) x 3
  • HDMI 2.0b audio and video output
  • Mini Display Port 1.4
  • Anti-ghosting keyboard powered by Razer Chroma™
  • Razer Synapse 3 compatible
  • Built-in front firing stereo speakers
  • 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo port
  • Windows Hello built-in IR webcam (1 MP/720) with array microphone
  • Intel® Platform Trust Technology (Intel® PTT) security enabled
  • Compact 200 W/230 W power adapter
  • Built-in 80 Wh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, NVIDIA® Optimus™ support
  • 0.70 in. / 17.8 mm (Height) x 13.98 in. / 355 mm (Width) x 9.25 in. / 235 mm (Depth)
  • [GeForce RTX 2060] approx. 4.56 lbs. / 2.07 kg
  • [GeForce RTX 2070] approx. 4.63 lbs. / 2.10 kg
  • [GeForce RTX 2080] approx. 4.72 lbs. / 2.14 kg

Price: 
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2060/16GB/512GB – $2,299.99
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2070/16GB/256GB – $2,399.99
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2070/16GB/512GB – $2,599.99
4K(Touch)/i7-8750H/RTX 2070/16GB/512GB* – $2,899.99
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2080/16GB/512GB – $2,999.99

Mercury Edition:
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2060/16GB/512GB* – $2,349.99
FHD(144Hz)/i7-8750H/RTX 2070/16GB/512GB* – $2,649.99

*select markets