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Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Sphere of Combat Dev Diary

Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) revealed today “The Sphere of Combat”, the third in the series of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Developer Diaries. In this instalment, join Game Director Piers Jackson, Art Director Jonathan Bottone, Lead Designer Gareth Hughes, Assistant Producer Samantha Marsh, Principal Audio Designer Joe Hogan, Senior Audio Designer Dylan Vadamootoo and Principal Animator Felix Ilsley as they detail the multi-layered, tactical environment where Commanders, SRVs and starships converge.

The Sphere of Combat demonstrates Odyssey’s transformative shift in Elite Dangerous gameplay, showing how Commanders who have found their feet can wield a wide selection of weapons to win out against any opponents. These new weapons will range from assault rifles, shotguns and SMGs, to heavier anti-spacecraft weaponry, each dealing deadly thermal, kinetic or explosive damage, and offering its own distinct advantages.

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey launches in early 2021 on PC, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system. Prospective PC Commanders can pre-order now via Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Frontier Store. For more information, follow Elite Dangerous on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Visit the Elite Dangerous official website at elitedangerous.com.

Stellaris: Console Edition to Get MegaCorp Expansion

Paradox Interactive, a company known for creating galactic customer journeys, today announced that MegaCorp, the latest addition to Stellaris: Console Edition’s third expansion pass, will be available for budding titans of industry starting January 26th. MegaCorp will grant console gamers the power to usher their federation into a new era of opulence and luxury or poverty and corporate slavery on a galactic scale.

Secure funding for your corporation by viewing the brand new story trailer below:

Exciting new innovations included in MegaCorp include:

  • Corporate Culture: Bigwigs and C-suite execs of a MegaCorp can conduct business on a galaxy-wide scale with a host of new civics. By constructing Branch Offices on planets within empires they have trade agreements with, the MegaCorp can add a portion of the planet’s Trade Value to their own network. Using the new Corporate Authority government type, build a financial powerhouse and dominate galactic trade.
  • City World: With Ecumenopolis, players can increase the population density of core worlds to proportions that are “too big to fail”, eventually creating a megacity spanning multiple planets.
  • Caravaneer FleetsWatch out for those pesky Caravaneers, nomadic traders who walk the fine line between salesman and scammer. These slippery wheelers-and-dealers stay aloof from galactic politics and always have a sales trick up their sleeve. Expect surprises when these master barterers wander through your space or when you visit their home systems.
  • More MegastructuresThe finance department has approved the budget for your own glorious Matter Decompressor, Mega-Art Installation or Strategic Coordination Center! You’ve got the green light to use these to acquire new scaling capabilities for your megalopolis.
  • Galactic Slave Market: Acquire and dispose of labor on an industrial scale. Grant them freedom or keep them as livestock – it’s up to you!
  • VIP Status Comes with its Perks: Keep your economy competitive in a cutthroat galaxy with additional Ascension perks.
  • Advisors and music: 3 Additional Advisors and 4 music tracks to help you conquer the Galaxy.

For more information about Stellaris, visit http://www.stellarisgame.com/

Sideshow Partners with Critical Role for Collectibles and Figures

Through a brand-new partnership with the team behind Critical Role, the most popular story-driven and worldbuilding digital media brand in the world, Sideshow is poised to launch a new collection of fine art and collectible figures based on the show’s popular and long-running campaigns set in the fantastical world of Exandria.

Critical Role has grown from a roleplaying game between friends into a massive entertainment phenomenon, incorporating tabletop games publishing, comic books, graphic novels, multiple programming initiatives, animation, philanthropy, community building, and more. With games led by veteran storyteller and voice actor Matthew Mercer, the team includes fellow voice actors Travis Willingham, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, and Sam Riegel. These campaigns are rich with charming original characters, fearsome creatures, and expansive fantasy landscapes that have captured the imaginations of a global fan community, known as the Critters.

Critters can now look forward to exciting new Critical Role collectibles from Sideshow, the makers of museum quality statues, figures, and fine art, celebrating the legendary heroes of both campaigns – Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein.

Sideshow’s Critical Role collection will feature fine art prints and three-dimensional figural art so you can gather your favorite characters into an adventuring party for the ages.

“As fans and tabletop gamers ourselves, Sideshow is extremely excited to be partnered with Critical Role to bring Critters around the globe new premium-quality, limited-edition collectibles of Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein,” says Anna Van Slee, Brand Director of Sideshow. “Working closely with the cast to stay faithful to fan-favorite, canonical representations of the characters, we are hoping to make these wondrous items as glorious as any goods Shaun Gilmore or Pumat Sol would sell to adventurers.”

Starting with the show’s current campaign, the heroes of the Mighty Nein get the spotlight in the Mighty Nein: This is How We Roll! Fine Art Print by artist Ian MacDonald. This vibrant illustration catches the adventurers taking a short rest in a local tavern, celebrating their fantastic travels. Packed with visual Easter eggs, this high-end collectible art print will be available for pre-order on Thursday, December 17th, 2020, with custom framed and unframed options available.

Next up, two members of the Mighty Nein will make their debut as statues, launching for pre-order on Thursday, January 14th, 2021.

The Beau Statue is pop-popping onto the scene, celebrating the indomitable spirit of the Mighty Nein’s energetic human Monk, while the Fjord Statue captures the strength and stoicism of the half-orc Warlock channeling his patron’s power. These three-dimensional representations of the beloved heroes are faithfully detailed with the characters’ costumes and acquired treasures from throughout their Campaign 2 adventures.

Stay tuned for even more product reveals coming soon as a part of Sideshow’s new Critical Role line of collectibles. You can visit side.show/criticalrole to RSVP to be notified when these pieces launch for pre-order.

Tropico 6: Caribbean Skies Launch Trailer

Stop the count! Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Realmforge Studios have been coerced into releasing Caribbean Skies, the latest and greatest add-on for Tropico 6. Available today on the Kalypso Store, Steam, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, Caribbean Skies is Tropico 6’s largest add-on to date, introducing a sky-scraping stack of exciting new gameplay features as El Prez battles to save not only his beloved Tropico, but the world!

In this global-stakes airborne adventure, players will guide Tropico through five brand new campaign missions, deploying a veritable fleet of airborne minions and meeting an eclectic cast of characters along the way. New buildings, edicts and traits all bring fresh twists to the core Tropico 6 gameplay, while additional palace decorations and outfits for El Presidente offer players further choice to customize their islands.

Crane your neck skyward and check out the new trailer below. Review code is available now for all platforms.

Crossout Holiday Update Released

Targem Games and Gaijin Entertainment announce the release of Content Update 0.12.30 “Snowstorm” in the post-apocalyptic online action Crossout. Players will get the updated Christmas brawl “Present Heist”, festive decorations and prizes as well as a new “Bobsleigh” armoured vehicle.

“Present Heist” participants defend the truck from attacks by Gronch’s henchmen while it’s loading/unloading gifts, as well as provide escort while it’s moving between bases, complete extra tasks, and fight bosses. Success in this mission is rewarded with Crackers that can be exchanged for vehicle parts, upgrades, and other prizes.

“Bobsleigh” is crazy Bob Frost’s armored vehicle, the most dangerous guy in the Frost sect. After the fire in his home village, he really lost his mind. Fireworks and rockets became his main entertainment. Bob’s “toys” constantly explode at the most inappropriate moment or with the most inappropriate force. It’s only natural that the main caliber of “Bobsleigh” is the epic rocket launcher “Snowfall” that can launch 8 volleys of projectiles. This beast is available as a part of the Explosive Santa pack until January 31st.

The full list of changes in the update is available at the official Crossout website. https://crossout.net/en/news/1457-update-pc-crossout-0-12-30-snowstorm/

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian Season 2 Announced

From the triumphant return of legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett to the live-action debut of fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano, the second season of “The Mandalorian” is a fun, surprising, emotional thrill-ride which has kept fans excited to see how each new weekly chapter will unfold. Disney+ will bring viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking season in a new hour-long “Making of Season Two” special, premiering December 25 on the streaming service.

In this new installment of “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian,” filmmakers and cast provide unprecedented access to the storytelling decisions and innovations that went into the second season of the Emmy Award-winning series.

Featuring immersive on-set footage that places viewers right in the middle of the filmmaking process, and rare insights from the cast and crew, this special documentary explores the production of all 8 episodes in season two – from early concept art through the groundbreaking technology introduced in the series.

The “Making of Season Two” special premieres Friday, December 25, streaming only on Disney+.

MXGP 2020 Launch Trailer

Milestone is pleased to announce today the release of MXGP 2020, new chapter of the beloved series of the official FIM Motocross World Championship, for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Windows PC®/STEAM. While the PlayStation®5 release, as recently announced, will be released on January 14th, 2021.

MXGP 2020 is the only game where players can fully experience the excitement of the current MXGP season, competing with 68 riders from both MXGP and MX2 categories on the 19 circuits of the 2020 season. Starting as a rookie, players can choose their path to glory: joining an official team or creating their own.

Official MXGP tracks aren’t enough? The Track Editor* will be back soon with some great features added in. Thanks to the new Heightmaps feature, players can replicate the real MX tracks configurations, often built on hills and mountains, adding realism and all the challenges that real riders face during races. There will be 4 different terrain types that players can choose and customize – Plain, Quarry, Orchard and Forest – to create the track of their dream. All new tracks created, can be shared online with friends.

To enjoy free-roam riding, alone or with friends*, in MXGP 2020 returns one of the most beloved features, the Playground. Players can test their riding skills in the new setting inspired to Norwegian fjords terrains, and this year they can also free ride together with other 3 friends*.

And to create more fun in the Playground, the beloved Waypoint mode returns, now allowing races up to 4 players.

MXGP 2020 Multiplayer Mode will be boosted with Dedicated Servers for a lag-free gameplay experience, and Race Director Mode* to create amazing Online tournaments, deciding starting positions, assigning penalties, or choosing the cameras to focus on.

Last but not least, MXGP 2020 make feel every rider unique, with more than 10.000 items, all officially licensed from more than 110 brands of the Motocross world. Not only cosmetic customizations: bike performances can be also improved with real life replica of different bike parts.

MXGP 2020 is available PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Windows PC®/STEAM. On PlayStation®5 it will be available from January 14th, 2021.

Hot Toys Unveils 1:6 Scale Moff Gideon with Darksaber

“You have something I want. You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of, but you do not. In a few moments, it will be mine.” – Moff Gideon

Season two of The Mandalorian™ is heating up, and as fans eagerly await each new episode, Hot Toys have unveiled their first look at a 1:6 scale Moff Gideon™ figure inspired by the formidable Imperial Officer from the hit series.

Meticulously crafted and expertly designed to match Giancarlo Esposito’s appearance as Moff Gideon, this figure is a fine addition to any Star Wars™ collection.

The Moff Gideon 1:6 scale collectible figure is masterfully crafted to emulate Giancarlo Esposito as the sinister character in the acclaimed series.

Each Moff Gideon 1:6 scale collectible figure features:

  •  A newly developed specially hand-painted head sculpt with highly-accurate facial expression, mustache and detailed skin texture
  •  A newly-developed 1:6 scale body with over 30 points of articulation
  •  Multiple interchangeable gloved hands for a wide range of posing and display options
  •  Moff Gideon’s imperial officer outfit combining tailored fabric and armor elements
  •  A fabric cape
  •  One Darksaber hilt with blade
  •  One Darksaber blade in motion (attachable to the hilt)
  •  One blaster pistol
  •  A specially designed dynamic figure stand with Star Wars™ logo and character nameplate

Pre-Order the Moff Gideon 1:6 scale collectible figure from Sideshow, HERE.

HITMAN 3 Opening Cinematic Released

Agent 47 is reunited with his long-lost friend Lucas Grey as they begin their hunt for the partners of Providence. Witness the opening cinematic to HITMAN 3 and prepare for the dramatic conclusion to the World of Assassination trilogy.

You can watch the beginning to the final entry of the World Of Assaination Trilogy here:

HITMAN 3 will be available on 20 January 2021 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Google Stadia and PC. HITMAN 3 will also be coming to Nintendo Switch, playable via cloud streaming technology. Pre-order today for access to the Trinity Pack, a celebration of the World of Assassination.

World of Tanks Console Welcomes Plissken, Rambo, and Braddock

World of Tanks is excited to announce the launch of Season 3 including a latest engine update coming to Consoles on the 15th of December, giving players an enhanced gaming experience and a complete overhaul of its current game, crafting the graphics, UI and tank experience to a complete new level. From improved visibility, to increased level of detail, lighting, and textures – World of Tanks Console will look and play better than ever before.

With launch of Season 3, the game will also bring updates to gameplay to let players have a real next gen experience on all the consoles generations, as well as enhancements to vehicle management and commander and equipment systems. Players will also be able to access a new Profile tab which will give them information on their careers, keycards, medals, stats and activity log – alongside a post-game Personal tab.

And that is not all! Following on from the success of recent seasons– from the explosive action of WWE SummerSlam to the fast-paced fury of Hot Wheels™ – World of Tanks will be bringing an 80s action hero-filled Season 3 to its loyal community of more than 20 million tankers! Players will have the chance to get hold of Tanks and Hero skins for each of the new characters!

Introducing John Rambo, the star of the venerated Rambo series, and all-round badass. With unmatched strength, stamina and military knowledge – Rambo will bring an aggression to tank warfare that players will not want to miss out on. Next comes Snake Plissken, the special forces operator turned criminal – and the protagonist in cult classics Escape From New York; he never takes his eye off the prize.

Last but not least – World of Tanks Console will be welcoming Col. James Braddock from the Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) action-adventure film Missing in Action to the team. A decorated US Army Officer – Colonel James Braddock brings the grit and gusto of a POW escapee to proceedings, as well as the skillset of a military specialist.

Creative Director TJ Wagner said: “The team and I are so excited to bring tankers our newest and biggest update ever! Utilizing our custom console engine, Despair, with latest console hardware generation support will revolutionize World of Tanks Console, bringing evolved aesthetics and visual improvements to the game – as well as an updated HUD, vehicle management system and much more! We have also completely revamped the UI – advancing how players interact with the title.

With Rambo, Snake and Braddock on board for the coming battle, Season 3 will continue the excitement of the previous 2 seasons – and we look forward to seeing heroes rise amongst the ranks of our players!”

With over 20 million players currently on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One taking advantage of cross-platform gameplay, World of Tanks Console also offers day one backwards compatibility for next generation consoles on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X/S across the globe.

For more information on World of Tanks Console, please visit: https://console.worldoftanks.com