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Braid Anniversary Edition Announced

At Sony’s State of Play event today it was announced that Braid, Anniversary Edition will be coming early next year to a wide range of gaming platforms. The indie classic, originally released to critical acclaim in 2008 by Jonathan Blow, has been reimagined and updated for modern, high-resolution gaming hardware. Hailed at the time by Eurogamer as
“beautiful, entertaining and inspiring,” Braid went on to garner multiple year-end awards and accolades and in a 2018 retrospective was called “the definitive indie game” by The A.V. Club. Jonathan Blow and the team at Thekla Inc. most recently released The Witness in 2016, a sprawling exploration and puzzle-solving game that was similarly lauded by critics and fans.

To accompany the news today, Jonathan Blow penned a blog post detailing the Braid, Anniversary Edition development process and changes to the game, which can be found here.

Braid, Anniversary Edition features a variety of changes and updates to the original release including the following:

  • Improved sound and new mixes and variants of the soundtrack by Martin Stig Andersen (Control, Inside) and Hans Christian Kock

  • Hand-repainted graphics by David Hellman

  • All-new animations for smoother in-game motion

  • Ability to switch back and forth between the old and new Braid on the fly

  • Extensive developer commentary

The developer commentary, in particular, stands out as a major addition to the Braid experience. The goal of the Thekla Inc. team is to make it the most extensive and detailed commentary in any game, ever. Players can listen to the team offer commentary and insight on puzzle design, programming, visual art, math, history of independent games, and many other topics. Aspiring or interested game designers should find a lot to love in this particular feature and Thekla will be revealing it in more detail closer to launch.

World of Warships Gets German Aircraft Carriers

World of Warships today releases Update 0.9.7 introducing the highly-anticipated German aircraft carriers. The new German CVs are Tier IV Rhein, Tier VI Weser, Tier VIII August von Parseval and Tier X Manfred von Richthofen, and can now be researched by all players.

A new trailer celebrating the launch of the German aircraft carriers can be viewed here:

The German aircraft carriers branch features a series of capital ships that were either planned or partially constructed in the lead-up or during World War II, but never actually deployed. The German planes of these aircraft carriers have low HP pools but feature high speeds. The attack aircraft carry a new type of armor-penetrating rockets that are capable of inflicting heavy damage to enemy citadels with accurate shots. Torpedoes carried by the planes are fast, but short ranged. The dive bombers stationed on these aircraft carriers are armed with armor piercing bombs.

Update 0.9.7 also brings a new expansive in-game Collection called “Germany Navy”. This Collection includes unique collectibles such as emblems, ships, planes, uniforms, and historical personalities that pay homage to the history of German naval forces in the first half of the 20th century. The first elements will drop from new German Navy containers which can be obtained by completing Directives, combat missions and in the Armory. Players who completed the collection will receive the ability to feature a second flag and to use an alternative color scheme for their German ships.

In addition to the German aircraft carriers, three new ships will become available with the release of Update 0.9.7: Tier IX German battleship Pommern, ready to brawl with her torpedoes, effective secondaries and 12 380 mm guns; the Tier VI German carrier Erich Loewenhardt, whose dive bombers carry high-explosive bombs instead of armor piercing; and the Tier X Soviet battleship Slava, well suited for long-range firefights with her accurate guns but rather weak armor.

Update 0.9.7 also brings a new Ranked sprint with a 3vs3 format, playing Tier IX ships, new Unique Upgrades added to the Research Bureau in the Armory, as well as a renewed Hamburg port, and other technical improvements.

Further details on Update 0.9.7 can be found here.

WRC 9 Rally Japan Gameplay Trailer

After New Zealand and Kenya, NACON and KT Racing studio are happy to present Rally Japan, a brand-new round for the 2020 season that players will find in WRC 9, the official video game of the FIA World Rally Championship. WRC 9 is due to be released on September 3rd 2020 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC from the Epic Games Store, then on PlayStation®5, Xbox One Series X and Nintendo Switch™ at a later date.

Making its return for the first time since 2011 is Rally Japan, in which players can enjoy the thrilling mountains and forests of the Aichi and Gifu districts, that will host the WRC season’s finale in November. Just like the real WRC drivers, in WRC 9 players can master the demanding course with its narrow asphalt roads and aggressive corners, while also navigating the lush environment which affects the driver’s visibility.

Discover Rally Japan in WRC 9 in a brand-new gameplay video:

WRC 9 will be available on September 3rd, 2020 on Xbox One, PS4™ and PC from the Epic Games Store. Release timing for Xbox Series X, PS5™ and Nintendo Switch will be announced at a later date.

Standard et Deluxe Digital Editions of WRC 9, are currently available for pre-order on Xbox Live, PlayStore and EPIC Games Store for PC.

The Ren & Stimpy Show Being Reimagined on Comedy Central

Today, Comedy Central announced a reimagination of the Emmy®-nominated cult hit The Ren & Stimpy Show as it continues to double down on adult-focused animation, unlocking and reinventing a treasure chest of IP across ViacomCBS to complement South Park, including the newly announced Beavis and Butt-Head from Mike Judge and Daria spin-off Jodie.

“I want to thank our partners at Nick Animation as we re-imagine these iconic characters with a new creative team,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer for ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group.”

Nickelodeon launched the original Ren & Stimpy alongside Rugrats and Doug in 1991, where it quickly catapulted into the pop culture zeitgeist with its dark humor, vivid imagination and critical acclaim. Often thought of as an adult series at the time, the iconic dog and cat duo are consistently ranked among the top animated characters of all time.

“We are excited to reinvent this iconic franchise with a new creative team and our partners at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio,” said Chris McCarthy, President of ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group. “Ren & Stimpy joins our rapidly expanding roster of adult animation including South Park, Beavis and Butt-Head and Clone High as we continue to reimagine our treasure chest of beloved IP for new generations.”

Spitlings Launch Trailer

Have you ever seen a Spitling before? Colorful, rectangular, spitting teeth? You haven‘t? Well, then it’s about time! A Spitling is a peaceful and happy little creature, but the utopian tranquility of their skyscraper town has been violently disrupted, and their friends are entrapped by all-consuming slime blobs.

So brush your teeth, grab your friends, and embark on a rescue mission of a different kind! The hardcore arcade co-op game Spitlings pits you against bouncing bubbles. Jump, bob, and weave to avoid their touch and spit your teeth at them to make them pop. Clear all of the 100+ levels and free the trapped Spitlings!

Spitlings is available starting today, August 4th, on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch for $ 14.99 / € 14,99 / £ 13,49.

Razer Launches New Xbox Version of Kishi Universal Mobile Gaming Controller

Razer, the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers. Razer announces the immediate availability of the Razer Kishi Universal Mobile Gaming Controller for Android (Xbox), a new accessory enabling seamless gameplay of over 100 Xbox favorites on most smartphones with a USB-C connection, directly from the cloud through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

This Designed for Xbox version of the Razer Kishi is optimized for cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and includes a 14-day free trial subscription. The device can also be used with compatible downloaded Android games.

This version adds the convenience of integrated Xbox Nexus, View, and Menu buttons to the feature set of the existing Razer Kishi Universal Gaming Controller for Android™ product.

For more information, please visit Razer.com/gaming-controllers/razer-kishi.

Cloud gaming will become available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate beginning September 15 and requires a compatible controller to play. The Razer Kishi is an essential add-on for console style control in the most portable, ergonomic, and low latency design available.

WHEN: August 4, 2020

WHERE: Razer.com, Microsoft.com, Amazon, and other authorized Razer retailers.

PRICE: Razer Kishi Universal Mobile Gaming Controller for Android (Xbox) – $99.99 USD / €109.99 MSRP, including a 14-day trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

This is the Zodiac Speaking Announced

$13 000 and world fame – this is what This is the Zodiac Speaking developers are aiming for! Today Punch Punk Games (developer) and Klabater (publisher) have launched a 30-day Kickstarter campaign designed to expand the community and scale of its extremely ambitious project.

This is the Zodiac Speaking was created by a team of award-winning writers, developers, acclaimed musicians, and a legendary music label and will be available on September 24, 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms. More details below!

Visit the Kickstarter page!

This is the Zodiac Speaking is a fact-based single-player noir/psychological thriller based on the story of Zodiac, one of the most famous never-caught serial killers. It mixes vintage ’70s California visuals and an original epic cinematic soundtrack with gameplay elements that include classic horror, investigation, stealth mechanics, and multiple endings to discover.  It offers two unique gameplay modes, one that blends storytelling with stealth action gameplay and the other (Detective Mode) that emphasizes immersive investigative storytelling.

Play as San Francisco journalist Robert Hartnell. Robert receives a mysterious phone call from the serial killer Zodiac who greets him with the infamous ‘hello, this is the Zodiac speaking’. This single event kicks off a series of events that will take Robert down a spiraling path toward confronting one of America’s most notorious killers and…his own past.

“This is the Zodiac Speaking is a true American crime story. The Zodiac killer is ingrained in American pop culture. And though this game is by no means a homage to serial killers, it’s a story about their victims and the people who survived,” said Krzysztof Grudziński, Director and Narrative Designer in Punch Punk Games “The selection of Zodiac is the backdrop we are using to tell a unique story about a troubled protagonist, a San Francisco based journalist Robert Hartnell, who one day receives an ominous phone call. We look forward to sharing Robert’s story with you on September 24, regardless of the level of campaign’ success.”

MORE THAN A GAME! Meet the amazing team behind This is the Zodiac Speaking

The co-author of the script to This is the Zodiac Speaking is Lukasz Orbitowski, one of the best Polish writers, laureate of the ultra-prestigious Paszporty Polityki pop-cultural award and nominated for the Nike Award (most important literature prize). Orbitowski is one of Poland’s most important horror authors. Together with Krzysztof Grudziński, Head of Punch Punk Games, they plunged into the dark and dangerous 70s to produce an immersive and mature story.

Music for the game was created by AGIM, a restless innovator and experimenter of the Polish electronic music scene. The official soundtrack from the game will be published in Europe (digital distribution and vinyl edition) by a legendary electronic music label, Pias Recordings. The amazing soundtrack prepared by A_GIM, an acclaimed DJ, instantly sparked the interest among the Pias team. Pias will work with Klabater, the publisher of the game.

“It rarely happens you gather so many talented people behind one game. And it is even more impressive when you consider the fact that This is the zodiac Speaking is an ambitious narrative game,” said Michal Gembicki, Joint-CEO in Klabater. “Acclaimed musicians, awarded writers, and of course very talented Punch Punk development team lead by Krzysztof Grudziński, they are all on board. I’m really excited about this joint cooperation. Narrative games at their best!”

Game Features:

  • Discover the facts and evidence-based story of America’s most famous never-caught serial killer.

  • Experience the story from the perspective of a person who survived the attack of the serial killer, face your trauma, and run an investigation that will lead you to the truth about Zodiac.

  • Unravel the details behind the murders, visit locations inspired by the original crime scenes, experience real psychological sessions that will help you to manage your traumas.

  • Reveal 3 alternative endings, all based upon your investigation decisions.

  • Enjoy the atmospheric film music and original retro-inspired art style.

  • Travel to the vintage ’70s and feel the old-school vibe while visiting faithfully depicted California’s hallmark spots from the past.

Visit This is the Zodiac Speaking Steam page! This is the Zodiac Speaking is scheduled for September 24 2020 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Spellbreak to Feature Cross-Platform Progression

Award-winning independent game developer Proletariat today announced that their highly-anticipated magic-focused battle royale title, Spellbreak, will be one of the first titles on the market to support cross-progression when it launches for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Players will be able to create a Spellbreak account and access it on any supported platform to maintain their game progression, customizations, and stats. Players will also be able to use their account to easily find friends and create cross-platform squads.

“Breaking new ground in multiplayer titles has been Proletariat’s mission since the beginning,” said Seth Sivak, CEO of Proletariat, Inc. “Introducing cross-progression means you can play Spellbreak however you want, with whomever you want, and always ensure your progress in-game follows you to whatever platform you’re playing on. If you’ve leveled up to Master Toxicologist on your PlayStation 4, all of the time you have invested is still with you if you log-in to your game on PC, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch.”

Spellbreak is a AAA fantasy battle royale experience featuring epic magic combat and powerful spellcasting. Players choose a class, weave spectacular spell combinations, and fight to become an all-powerful battlemage. Featuring a deep item and class system, Spellbreak allows players to dominate the Hollow Lands as a solo competitor or conquer their foes with friends in a non-stop quest for survival. For more information, please visit www.playspellbreak.com. Streamers, influencers, and content creators are also encouraged to sign up for Spellbreak’s Creators List at: https://go.playspellbreak.com/creators. Join one of gaming’s largest Discord communities at discord.gg/spellbreak.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest Dev Diary #1

Rage gets things done. The first dev diary about the upcoming game of savage horror – Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest has been released.

Heart of the Forest is a narrative adventure game based on the legendary role-playing system Werewolf: The Apocalypse. You play as Maia, a young woman looking to uncover her family’s history. In the pursuit of past mysteries, she arrives at the Białowieża Forest, an ancient wilderness full of ancient and dangerous secrets.

Different Tales and Walkabout Games have prepared an entire series of short stories presenting their history with the World of Darkness setting and their views on the werewolf mythos. They will also discuss various elements of the game, including art, design, and characters.

The first entry in the dev diary series explains how our lead designer got into Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Incidentally, him becoming a fan included being bit by a dog. Learn more in the video above.

Drone Swarm Story Trailer

Drone Swarm, the upcoming sci-fi strategy adventure game for PC will offer space fans not only control over a swarm of 32,000 drones, but also an exciting story that will catapult them directly into a gripping fight for mankind’s survival in the vast expanses of an unknown galaxy. Your main mission is to find a New Earth for the remaining human survivors after a catastrophic attack by the swarm you now control has devastated Earth. Now that everything you once knew has been reduced to ashes, you have become humanity’s last hope.

Gain some first impressions of the unique story of Drone Swarm in today’s story trailer:

The end of earth

21st January 2111 – Out of nowhere a gigantic sphere arrived in our orbit and a swarm of alien drones attacked Earth. This was the day life as we knew it came to an end. Families were ripped apart and cities destroyed, but people fought to survive until the very end. Mankind however did not stand a chance. Carter, an ex-soldier, and his brother Ayden tried to save as many helpless inhabitants of their city as possible – but when the military unleashed all available nukes in a last desperate attempt of defense, the fires of apocalypse consumed the planet.

The last of hope of mankind

When Earth laid in ruins and only a few survivors were left to hopelessly fight the swarm, Ayden subconsciously found out that he is the key to end this destruction – but it came with a heavy price: he had to sacrifice his own life. Ayden was able to transfer is soul into a drone and with this gained the ability to control it. Other 32.000 human psionics like Ayden resolved to sacrifice themselves as well to save the remains of humanity. This was how the psionics became mankind’s last hope. Another powerful psionic, Eva, discovered her special connection to the Sphere itself. Through it she was able understand its nature and found a way to build the Argo – an interstellar ship built around the Sphere designed for the search of New Earth.

The story in Drone Swarm

With the swarm now under human control you lead this mission as Captain Carter – the swarm is yours to command. But you are not alone, your fellow crew members will help you to accomplish your mission. But be careful, there are risks waiting. You will encounter unknown alien races. The Voohr and the Dashan are the two dominant factions in this region of the galaxy, only it is not predictable whether they are willing to talk or whether it will come to inevitable conflicts.

The team behind the Drone Swarm story

The universe and story of Drone Swarm is the result of a collaboration between 451 Media and stillalive studios. 451 Media, co-founded by star director Michael Bay, will publish Drone Swarm comics that tell the prequel story. Meanwhile, Austrian developer stillalive studios is working with publisher astragon Entertainment on an action-packed strategy adventure game in which you will control 32,000 drones against a wide variety of enemies.

Drone Swarm will be released in fall 2020 on Steam. It will have voiceovers in English and German. In addition to the two dubbed languages, there will be subtitles in 13 languages. A detailed listing can already be found on the Steam store page.