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Razer Acquires THX

IRVINE, Calif. – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today confirmed it acquired the majority of the assets of THX Ltd. and have brought onboard the management and employees of the company. Financial details of the transaction, which closed earlier this month, were not disclosed.

“Razer has a vision for innovation at every level of entertainment, a vision which THX has championed since its inception more than 30 years ago,” says Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “This acquisition will allow us to reinforce Razer’s leadership in gaming and extend the brand into broader areas of entertainment, while at the same time empowering THX to develop into a global powerhouse, independently.”

THX will operate as an independent startup under its own management and apart from the ongoing business of its parent company. Further to the point, the audio technology business will have discretion to seek agreements with other product makers, service providers and financial partners apart from Razer.

“For over 30 years, THX has maintained a proud legacy of being one of the leaders in audio technology and certification worldwide,” said Laurie Fincham, Sr. Vice President of Audio Research and Development at THX. “With their focus on quality, design and innovation, Razer supports our vision to optimize and deliver the best audiovisual experiences to audiences worldwide.”

Ty Ahmad-Taylor, CEO of THX, says: “Our focus has always been on ensuring that anyone can experience high quality entertainment, regardless of their medium of choice. With Razer, we can now continue to strengthen our core lines of business while delivering excellence for our customers’ ever-changing needs. As a standalone company, THX will work with Razer but will primarily continue to service our partners in the industry in order to deliver great products to consumers.”

According to Tan, “The value of THX rests in its bedrock competencies with certification, optimization of audio and intellectual property development. We expect Ty, Laurie, and the executive team and employees of THX, who we have also retained, to continue leading the world in innovations and technology in the audiovisual space.”

Civilization VI Launch Trailer

October 17, 2016 – To celebrate that Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is now available to pre-load on Steam, 2K and Firaxis Games today revealed the Launch Trailer for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.

The Launch Trailer features the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI theme music, ‘Sogno di Volare’ from Christopher Tin, the Grammy award-winning composer of Sid Meier’s Civilization IV theme music, ‘Baba Yetu’.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 Delayed

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Screenshot

WARSAW, Poland (October 17, 2016) — CI Games, the development studio behind Lords of the Fallen and the Sniper: Ghost Warrior franchise, has announced a new release date of 04/04/2017 for Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3, so it may further polish and optimize its upcoming game currently in development for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

CI Games has received excellent feedback from hands-on sessions with press, streamers and fans, and as a result, want to offer its supporters more features in the game for launch. “We’re making an ambitious game and unfortunately still need an extra few months to make sure it will stand up to the expectations of the fans,” said Marek Tymiński, CEO of CI Games. “Our goal is to ensure Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 runs smoothly on all platforms, and right now we still have some important work left on optimizing the game. This is our biggest project we’ve ever worked on and the entire team is pushing really hard to make the entire experience more polished. I really hope everyone will understand our decision and will wait the extra time to play something we’re excited about, and that will redefine our IP and the sniping genre as a whole. This is a new beginning for the Sniper: Ghost Warrior series.”

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 tells the story of brotherhood, faith and betrayal in a land soaked in the blood of civil war. Players take the role of an American Sniper named Jonathan North, who is dropped into northern Georgia, nearby Russian borders. He has an an official mission, and a personal mission–to find his brother. Explore large open-world maps with dynamic weather and a day and night cycle that actually impacts play and decisions. Customize weapon equipment, accessories, vehicles and a drone, and utilize the three pillars of gameplay to your liking: Sniper, Ghost and Warrior.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 will launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 4, 2017.

To learn more about CI Games and Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, visit:

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Multiplayer Beta Screenshots

Santa Monica, CA – October 14, 2016  The start of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta kicks-off today on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Gamers who pre-ordered the game on PS4™ system will obtain a beta access code for instant access to the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta. They will experience Infinite Warfare multiplayer first hand, including all-new maps, the all-new Combat Rigs system, new weaponry, unique progression systems, mission teams, select multiplayer modes and more, starting now through 10:00am PT, Monday, Oct. 17.

“Infinite Warfare multiplayer is about customizing the experience to fit different play styles, and that begins with Rigs,” said Dave Stohl, Studio Head of Infinity Ward.  “In the Beta, players will get their hands on our new Rigs, abilities, equipment, and of course our new craftable, prototype weapons. With new maps and modes, there’s a ton of cool new stuff here, and we’re excited to share a slice of multiplayer with the community.  The data we’ll receive over these next two weekends will be helpful as we get ready to share the full multiplayer experience next month at release.”

The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare beta represents a sample of the full multiplayer mode, giving fans access to a slew of its new features and returning features. Beta participants can get hands-on with one of the biggest additions to Infinite Warfare’s multiplayer offering – Combat Rigs. Built around six distinct playstyles, these new combat systems, or suits, offer a whole new level of customization for the player. Choosing your Rig provides a layer of strategy for fans as they personalize their loadout with selectable abilities, called Payloads or Traits, before heading into battle. Three of the game’s six different Combat Rigs will be available when the Beta kicks off.

The Infinite Warfare Beta features three diverse maps designed to accommodate a variety of engagements, all built to immerse players into fast, fun, and frenetic gameplay that players have come to expect from Call of Duty.  The Beta will feature several game modes, including fan favorites like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed and a brand new game mode called Defender. Players will also be introduced to Mission Teams. By joining different teams and ranking up, players can earn unique rewards from that team, including calling cards, camos, emblems, weapons and more.

Players will battle online with a wide array of new weaponry and equipment, have access to new scorestreaks, lethals, tacticals and customization options that let them tailor their multiplayer experience to suit their play style. Additional multiplayer content, features, maps and game modes will launch with the final game on Nov. 4.

The second weekend of the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta will open up to fans who have pre-ordered the game on either PlayStation®4 system or Xbox One, and will take place from 10:00am PT, Friday, October 21 through 10:00am PT, Monday, October 24. Fans can get more information on the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta at https://www.callofduty.com/infinitewarfare/beta.

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Tyranny – “Fatebinder” – Release Date Reveal Trailer

STOCKHOLM and IRVINE, Calif. — Oct. 13, 2016 — Paradox Interactive today unveiled the release date for Tyranny, the new role-playing game (RPG) from Obsidian Entertainment.Tyranny, a game that challenges players to find their place in an original fantasy realm where evil has conquered the known world, will be available for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs on November 10, 2016. Starting today, players can pre-order Tyranny in advance of the game’s launch, and secure bonus material that will help demonstrate their loyalty to Kyros the Overlord.

HTC VIVE X Accelerator for VR Start-Ups Opens Call for New Submissions

SAN FRANCISCO, October 13, 2016 — HTC Corporation (“HTC”), a pioneer in innovative, smart technologies, today announced that its VIVE X accelerator fund for virtual reality start-ups is accepting new applicants. VIVE X is a $100 million USD fund for investment in promising VR technologies, and the fund is fueling more than just content creation for VR. VIVE X is building on HTC’s vision for VR as the next mass medium with support for start-ups providing a variety of new tools and applications that can help grow the VR ecosystem. With  nearly three dozen companies already in its portfolio, VIVE X partners are developing solutions in areas such as social, analytics, advertising, content generation tools, rendering, search, education and more.

VIVE X is accepting applications now through the deadline on December 1, 2016 at www.htcvive.com/us/vivex/apply.php.

“VIVE X has quickly ramped up to be a global leader in accelerating early stage VR companies,” said Marc Metis, VP at HTC Vive and global head of the VIVE X program. “We are looking forward to serving the next round of innovative companies that can make a difference in the space.”

VIVE X start-ups receive much more than financial investment. Partners are given the opportunity to work at VIVE X accelerator locations around the world, where they get special access to advanced VR technology and the mentorship, networking and even hands-on coaching that comes with working side by side with leading VR experts. As companies progress through the program, they can participate in VIVE X demo days where they have an opportunity to showcase their products to investors and additional partners, and begin developing their go-to-market solutions.

“Becoming a part of the HTC VIVE X program has been a transformative experience for ObEN,” said Nikhil Jain, co-founder and chief executive officer at ObEN. “The network, knowledge and resources the program provides has enabled our company to accelerate our progress on a number of crucial fronts, especially product development. ObEN is proud to partner with HTC as we work to bring our unique AI-based VR technology to the world.”

“Through VIVE X, we were able to gain insights into the industry and form key relationships that would not have been possible otherwise. It has been an incredibly valuable resource for us,” said Norman Wang, Co-founder and CEO, Opaque Studios, an award-winning creator of VR apps for entertainment as well as scientific and medical use.

“To be able to join VIVE X and get connected with the technical team that made this possible, key company executives that are singularly focused on VR, and other developers at the forefront of this technology has been a dream come true,” said Arthur Goikhman, CEO of SurrealVR, a creator of virtual reality games inspired by social experiences.

“We are delighted with the support that the HTC team has given us during our time here in the VIVE X program,” said Lee Jacobson, CEO of Apmetrix. “With their help we are really breaking new ground in spatial and emotion based analytics for content creators.”

VIVE X launched in August of this year in four cities – Taipei, San Francisco, Beijing and Shenzhen – and is now accepting applicants for these locations. The program will continue to grow globally including the addition of locations in Europe coming soon.

Visit www.htcvive.com/us/vivex/ to learn more about VIVE X and www.HTCVive.com to learn more about the HTC Vive.

THE SIMILARS (aka LOS PARECIDOS) Official Trailer

October 13, 2016 – On the rainy night of October 2, 1968, eight people waiting in a remote bus station for a bus heading to Mexico City start experiencing a strange phenomenon. Threatened by paranoia and fear, the strangers show the best and worst of themselves as they try to unravel the mysterious condition that is invading each of them like a virus. THE SIMILARS (aka LOS PARECIDOS) is due out via VoD on November 15, 2016.

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Resident Evil 7 Kitchen Demo Out Now On PlayStation VR

October 13, 2016 – The intense Resident Evil 7 biohazard “KITCHEN” demo is available today alongside the release of PlayStation VR. The demo is included on a disc as part of the PlayStation VR headset package in North America and is available as a free download in Europe for PlayStation VR owners.

“KITCHEN” features a quick and intense glimpse of the immersive horror experience players can expect from Resident Evil 7 biohazard, when it releases on January 24, 2017. In this atmospheric teaser demo, a disturbing kitchen provides the unsettling backdrop for a tense scenario that draws players into a hyper-realistic virtual world like never before.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard will be one of the first AAA games to be completely playable in VR as an option from start to finish, or any part thereof, when it releases on PlayStation 4. The flexibility of the optional PlayStation VR Mode included with the game gives players complete control over how much they want to engage in the immersive and terrifying VR experience. In fact, players are able to use the same save data to play the game in either standard or PlayStation VR Mode at any point.

Dual Universe is the Third Most Funded Video Game Kickstarter in 2016

Paris, France, October 11, 2016 – Paris-based game studio Novaquark announces the successful completion of its Kickstarter campaign for Sci-Fi MMORPG Dual Universe. Backers of the civilization-building game helped the team achieve its initial €500k goal by raising over €565k before the campaign’s conclusion today, becoming the third most funded video game on Kickstarter in 2016.

“We did incredibly well thanks to our amazing community! It’s even more impressive considering the fact that the studio went from having no visibility to a successful €565k campaign in a matter of three months.” says JC Baillie, Creative Director & Founder of Novaquark. “We introduced our game during the last E3 in June 2016 and rose to become the third most funded Kickstarter videogame launched in 2016, with a vibrant and growing community.”

Novaquark expresses great thanks and gratitude to all the backers of this innovative title. Due to popular demand, the developers are also working on a crowdfunding website to make their stretch goals. It will feature alternate payment methods, such as PayPal, and will provide backers another way to access similar pledges to the ones on its Kickstarter campaign.

The crowdfunding page will be accessible here:

http://www.dualthegame.com/crowdfunding

The passionate Dual Universe fan base has already led to the creation of about 900 organizations established on the role-playing community website. Additionally, the game’s Facebook page features over 50,000 fans with a healthy 40% growth since the last E3.

Dual Universe Community Portal

https://community.dualthegame.com/

Dual Universe takes players back to the roots of the MMO genre with emergent gameplay and a fully editable world. The game provides one centralized and unique persistent universe shared by everyone at the same time with no instances, zones, or transitions. Everything in the game is player-made and player-driven. Players can freely modify the voxel-based universe by creating structures with no limit in size, from spaceships to giant orbital stations, giving birth to empires and civilizations while managing the in-game economy, politics, trade and warfare.

About Novaquark
Novaquark is a Paris-based game studio formed in 2014 by veterans from Ubisoft, Sony, Apple and Aldebaran Robotics, with a mission to renew the MMO genre through technological innovation. Dual Universe, their flagship title, fosters massively emergent gameplay in a huge, continuous single-shard virtual world. The studio is currently hiring experienced and motivated candidates in various domains of expertise.

Check out the latest news

Game site: https://www.dualthegame.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dualuniverse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dualuniverse

Devblog: https://devblog.dualthegame.com

Community: https://community.dualthegame.com

Forum: https://board.dualthegame.com

Music: https://soundcloud.com/dualuniverse

MTV’s Scream Returns with 2-Hour Halloween Special

October 11, 2016 – Just in time for Halloween, MTV unleashes a horrifying new 2-hour special that picks up eight months after Kieran’s (Amadeus Serafini) arrest. Emma (Willa Fitzgerald) is struggling to focus on her future and who she really is after everything that has happened. Meanwhile, Noah (John Karna) and Stavo (Santiago Segura) have combined forces to create a best-selling graphic novel based on the Kieran Wilcox murders and Audrey (Bex Taylor-Klaus) has found herself in a new relationship. Since the first anniversary of Piper’s killing spree is upon us, Emma and her friends are determined to be as far from Lakewood as possible and Stavo has the perfect solution. He and Noah are researching for their next graphic novel, a Lizzy Borden-esque legend on Shallow Grove Island, and suggest the rest of the group come along for the weekend. Just when they thought they were safe, the Lakewood survivors find themselves in another bloody standoff, leaving them to wonder – is an old legend coming back to life or has murder followed them from Lakewood?”  Could there be more “Scream” to come?…