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Bless Unleashed Combos and Blessings Trailer

March 24, 2020 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today released a new trailer for its recently released free-to-play title. Combat is a key feature in Bless Unleashed and with a unique combo system, players can dive deep into making their character unleash devastating attacks and powerful blessings. Bless Unleashed launched as a free-to-play title on Xbox One on March 12, 2020.

Bless Unleashed takes place in the untamed world of Lumios; presenting a rich backstory created with hardcore MMO players in mind featuring deep combo-driven mechanics, player customization, and cooperative (PvE) and competitive (PvP) multiplayer. At launch, the land of Lumios featured 13 zones for players to explore and do battle against countless foes within. There are seven powerful Field Bosses scattered across the wilds and 26 Elite Bosses who will drop amazing rewards for those who can defeat them. Additionally, there are six unique Dungeons to explore enabling players to truly feel the dangers of Lumios. Players will also engage in battle in eight Arena Challenges and eight Lairs belonging to powerful foes who are eagerly waiting to dispatch players. Developed using Unreal Engine 4, Bless Unleashed brings unparalleled visuals to a fully realized fantasy world, offering one of the most stunning MMORPGs developed specifically for console players. Players adventure across an open persistent world where mythical beasts roam the land and player vs. player battles can take place at any time.

To deck your character out in unique armor sets, get Valor Perks, receive extra in-game currency, ride fantastic mounts, and more please visit https://blessunleashed.com/packs to learn more about the Ultimate, Exalted, and Deluxe Founder’s Packs.

For more information about Bless Unleashed, please visit: https://blessunleashed.com, follow us on Facebook at https://bandainam.co/BUfacebook, or join the conversation on Twitter at https://bandainam.co/BUtwitter.

Moons of Madness Now Out on Consoles

OSLO, Norway – March 24th, 2020 – Today you can finally launch into space and experience Lovecraftian horror on your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, as developer Rock Pocket Games and publisher Funcom announce the console release of Moons of Madness.

Assume the role of Shane Newehart, chief engineer on a research facility on Mars, where something is about to go horribly wrong. Strange and terrifying creatures emerge, and nightmares begin to blend in with reality. In order to survive, you’ll have to rely on your calm, your problem-solving skills and your quick feet, as you delve deeper and deeper into a world of fear, conspiracy and madness.

“We’re happy to see that the game was well-received on PC, but we are well aware that many players prefer to play horror games on console, on a bigger screen and with the curtains closed,” says Ivan Moen, CEO of Rock Pocket Games. “And so today, we’re very excited to finally bring the game to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players,” he says.

Moons of Madness was released on PC in October 2019 and is set in the same thematic universe as Funcom’s The Secret World, where conspiracies and dark secrets are commonplace. The Secret World-players may recognize certain names and themes, but having played one is by no means a prerequisite to enjoy the other.

The PlayStation 4 release of Moons of Madness in Japan, South Korea and select Asian countries will follow later this week.

For more information, please visit www.moonsofmadness.com.

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme vs Maxiboost On Release Date

March 23, 2020 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. announced today that MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON will be launching in the Americas on July 30, 2020 on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. The 2-on-2 EXTREME VS mecha combat game was originally released exclusively for Japanese arcades and will now head to living rooms in the west.

In anticipation of the upcoming launch, a Closed Beta Test will be hosted for MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON from April 25–27 on PlayStation 4. Registration for MOBILE SUIT is open now through April 10 and can be found at the following link: https://www.bandainamcoent.com/landing/msge-vs-mbon-closed-network-test. Participants who are selected to participate will be notified on April 17, and a pre-download period will be open April 17–25.

Set in the globally iconic GUNDAM universe, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON enables players to take 2-on-2 PVP combat to the next level with Mobile Suits spanning the entire breadth of the franchise’s history. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON features 185 playable units from 36 different GUNDAM iterations, each with unique abilities designed to match any fan’s personal playstyle. Players can choose between three different EX Burst Systems—Fighting Burst, Extend Burst, and Shooting Burst—to coordinate with allies and lay waste to all that stand (or fly) in their way.

In addition, fans who purchase MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON early will receive a bonus playable mobile suit, the fierce Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex.

Half-Life: Alyx Out Now

March 23, 2020 – Valve, the creators of Half-Life and the Steam platform, today announced the official release of Half-Life: Alyx, a new, full-length virtual reality entry in the Half-Life series. It is compatible with all PC-based VR headsets.

Set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2, Alyx Vance and her father Eli secretly mount the resistance to the brutal occupation of Earth by a mysterious alien race known as The Combine. As Alyx, players take the fight to the Combine to save the future of humanity.

Designed from the ground up for virtual reality, Half-Life: Alyx features all of the hallmarks of a classic Half-Life game: world exploration, puzzle solving, visceral combat, and an intricately woven story that connects it all with the series’ iconic characters.

“Half-Life: Alyx represents the culmination of Valve’s technological advancement over the past few years,” says Valve founder Gabe Newell. “We have built SteamVR, our game engine, our tools, and VR hardware specifically to enable us to ship the best content we know how to create. Today, as we ship Alyx remotely from our homes, we are hoping that everyone stays safe and has a great time playing the game. Please let us know what you think.”

Half-Life: Alyx is powered by SteamVR on Valve’s Source 2 engine, and can be played on Steam with all PC-based VR headsets.

Available for purchase now on Steam for $59.99: https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Final Fantasy VIII Books Announced

LOS ANGELES (March 23, 2020) – SQUARE ENIX® announced two new books being published by the company’s Square Enix Manga & Books imprints, FINAL FANTASY® VII REMAKE: World Preview and FINAL FANTASY VII Poster Collection, which will celebrate the iconic characters, massive world and beautiful visuals of one of the most anticipated video games of the year, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE. The titles will be releasing this Fall through all major book sales channels as well as from the SQUARE ENIX Store for $24.99 each.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE: World Preview, releasing on September 8th, is a lavishly illustrated, full-color introduction to the world of the beloved game. The hardcover volume offers both new players and long-time fans essential information on characters, gameplay and more, in addition to exclusive commentary from Director Tetsuya Nomura and Producer Yoshinori Kitase.

FINAL FANTASY VII Poster Collection, shipping on November 17th, is a collection of 22 full-color, premium-quality removable posters celebrating the game’s rich legacy, with images depicted from the world of FINAL FANTASY VII, including FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN®, DIRGE OF CERBERUS®, CRISIS CORE®, FINAL FANTASY VII and FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE is rated T (Teen) and will be available first on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on April 10, 2020. The FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Demo is available to download now for the PlayStation®4 system at: http://sqex.link/FF7RDemo. For more information, visit: www.ffvii-remake.com

Related Links:
Webpage: https://sqex.link/ffviibooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finalfantasyvii
Twitter: https://twitter.com/finalfantasyvii
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalfantasyvii/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/finalfantasy

Five Supernatural Stars to Highlight Wizard World’s First Virtual Experience

LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2020 – Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCB:WIZDD) announces that “Wizard World Virtual Experiences” makes a “Supernatural” debut on Tuesday, March 31, when five stars of the long-running CW series take part in an interactive afternoon which includes a FREE live moderated video Q&A, plus one-on-one video chats, recorded videos and autographs. Mark Sheppard (“Crowley”), Emily Swallow (“Amara”), Ruth Connell (“Rowena”), Sebastian Roché (“Balthazar”) and Timothy Omundson (“Cain”) will attend via video beginning at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT, accessible to virtual attendees on their computer and mobile devices via http://wizd.me/virtual.

As part of the event, fans across the globe can:

· Submit questions via chat during the free 30-minute panel featuring all five standouts (open to everyone, no entry fee to watch or submit)
· Participate in a personal, exclusive one-minute live video chat with each celebrity (paid)
· Purchase a recorded video from any of the five, specifying the message if desired
· Purchase an autograph either on an 8”x10” photo or custom exclusive 11”x17” lithograph designed specifically for this event (if purchasing a live video chat, the item can be signed during the session)

Pricing begins at $40 for the individual chat, video and autographs, and vary by celebrity, available on the Website.

Additional Virtual Experience dates and celebrity groups will be announced as they are formed.

The 2020 Wizard World convention schedule is available at: http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.

Disney and Pixar’s Onward Available Today on Digital

BURBANK, Calif. (March 20, 2020) –The Walt Disney Studios announced today that Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” will be available to buy digitally and on Movies Anywhere beginning today at 5:00PM PST/ 8:00PM EST and on Disney+ on April 3 in the U.S.

The film premiered in theaters on March 6 and earned rave reviews from audiences, including a 95% Verified Audience Score on RottenTomatoes. With cinemas currently impacted by closures due to the global health crisis, Disney will offer the film ahead of schedule to purchase on digital platforms in the U.S. beginning today at 5:00PM PST /8:00PM EST for $19.99.

“While we’re looking forward to audiences enjoying our films on the big screen again soon, given the current circumstances, we are pleased to release this fun, adventurous film to digital platforms early for audiences to enjoy from the comfort of their homes,” said Dan Scanlon (Director, “Onward”) and Kori Rae (Producer, “Onward”).

In “Onward,” teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) get an unexpected opportunity to spend one more day with their late dad, embarking on an extraordinary quest aboard Barley’s epic van Guinevere. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. But when the boys’ fearless mom Laurel (voice of Julia Louis-Dreyfus) realizes her sons are missing, she teams up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion, former warrior – aka The Manticore (voice of Octavia Spencer) – and heads off to find them. Perilous curses aside, this one magical day could mean more than any of them ever dreamed.

DOOM Eternal Out Now

March 20, 2020 — (ROCKVILLE, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, announced that DOOM® Eternal is available now digitally and at retail stores worldwide[i] for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, PC, and Google Stadia.

Developed by id Software, DOOM Eternal was awarded Best Action Game and Best PC Game at E3 2019 and has appeared on more than 350 ‘Most Anticipated Games of 2020’ lists. It is the direct sequel to DOOM, winner of The Game Awards’ Best Action Game of 2016.

“DOOM Eternal is the most ambitious game our studio has ever created,” said Marty Stratton, Executive Producer at id Software. “The scope and scale of the campaign and BATTLEMODE are a true testament to the passion and talent of everyone at id Software. We’ve had a blast making DOOM Eternal and we can’t wait for players to experience the thrill of this epic journey.”

Experience an aggressive and engaging combat puzzle that challenges you to master new abilities and weapons in the biggest, fastest, deepest DOOM game ever created. Powered by idTech® 7 and set to an all-new pulse-pounding soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon, DOOM Eternal expands on everything players loved about DOOM (2016), featuring a refined combat loop, new and returning classic demons, a powerful new arsenal, and unbelievable, never-before-seen worlds.

Following are samples of early reviews:

  •  “Bloody Brilliant” – GameInformer
  •  “An absolute blast” – IGN
  •  “A modern classic” – PC Gamer
  •  “One of the best first-person shooters ever made” – Game Revolution
  •  “DOOM Eternal stands apart…” – Polygon
  •  “A phenomenal game” – COGconnected

DOOM Eternal is available in Standard and Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the Year One Pass which grants access to two campaign add-ons to release within the first year of DOOM Eternal’s launch date. These standalone stories explore the cataclysmic events that led to earth’s fall against the demons. The Deluxe Edition also includes the Demonic Slayer Skin for use in campaign and BATTLEMODE, along with the Classic Weapon Sound Pack.

DOOM Eternal is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and is available now in Standard Edition for $59.99, or Deluxe Edition for $89.99.

Cities: Skylines Sunset Harbor DLC Announcement Trailer

STOCKHOLM – MARCH 19, 2020 – Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer that harbors strong feelings for its players, today announced the newest expansion for Cities: Skylines, available next week for both PC and consoles. Sunset Harbor, a new fishing, maritime, and transportation-themed expansion for the award-winning city-builder from Colossal Order, will launch on PC platforms, on Xbox One, and on PlayStation®4 simultaneously on March 26, 2020. The new expansion adds a wealth of content including Fishing Industries, intercity buses, passenger helicopters, water treatment plants, and much more.

Key Features:

  • Underwater Friends – Explore the new fishing industry with control over fishing boats at sea and fish farms, adding a new commercial element to your city. Ensure that four new policies are followed so that businesses can deliver the freshest fish to grocery stores.
  • Water Water Everywhere – No open water sources? Not a problem with Water Treatment Plants that process waste water for additional uses.
  • Find Your Route – Explore new bus systems for transporting your citizens, including the Intercity Bus Service for transit between cities on the highway. The Trolleybus Service provides an eco-friendly travel method with electric power sources from overhead wires.
  • Fly In Style – Circumvent traffic altogether by taking to the skies in the Passenger Helicopter service, connecting people and places in a whole new way. The Aviation Club building also encourages small plane owners to take part in recreational flying, adding to the attractiveness and entertainment of a city.
  • Five New Maps – Find a spot for the perfect city to build! Sunset Harbor includes a variety of different maps featuring boreal, tropical and temperate locales.
  • All Together Now – Transport hubs connect different public transport networks, easing the transition between different modes of transportation for your citizens.
  • Stash Your Trash – Upgrade waste management capabilities with Transfer Facilities that allow for easier handling of trash without compromising the city layout and high land value.

In addition to the Sunset Harbor expansion, Paradox also announced additional content launching next week to entice architects and delight the senses, including a new Content Creator Pack and a new Radio Station. More details will be shared soon, and these content packs will launch for all platforms on March 26, 2020.

Imperator: Rome Getting Religion-Focused Upgrade

STOCKHOLM – 18 March 2020 – In a time when the gods demanded burnt offerings and dedications of trophies, it was impossible to please them all. The supply of goats, after all, is not infinite. But still, the wise ruler hedges their bets, dedicates honors to the God of Victory, sets up shrines to Goddess of Wisdom, and may even welcome whatever foreign deity promises wealth and prosperity. Imperator: Rome, Paradox Development Studio’s grand strategy game about the classical world, will soon add even more flavor to the religious aspects of the game with a major update and new Content Pack.

The new 1.4 update to Imperator: Rome is coming in on March 31, 2020. The “Archimedes” update may have you scream “Eureka!” as you discover new ways to use religious beliefs in service of your growing and thriving empire. This update will be free to all users.

Features of the free 1.4 “Archimedes” update include:

  • State Deities: The Omens system has been replaced by a national Pantheon. Gods from across your empire are welcome into this divine collection, providing passive bonuses most of the time, though you can invoke their power for greater benefits.
  • Holy Sites: The classical world was full of sacred groves and mysterious locales. Holy Sites increase the strength of the relevant deity in your Pantheon, or may be sacked of their wealth by less faithful rulers.
  • Sacred Treasures: Revered historical and divine relics can be stored in your National Treasury, earning small bonuses. If you sack an enemy’s Holy Sites or capital, there is a chance you might capture these special artifacts.
  • Loyalty Rework: Instead of a ticking scale to track, Character Loyalty will be a sum of various factors, making it easier to understand and control.

The release of the update will be accompanied by the Magna Graecia content pack. As its title implies, this content pack is focused on the world of the Greek city states.

  • Apotheosis: A popular ruler from a prestigious family may be declared a god and welcomed into the State Pantheon. Elevate enough rulers and you may institute an Imperial Cult religion.
  • New Greek Missions: New missions available for Athens, Sparta, Syracusae.
  • New Deities: 12 new Greek deities tied to historical Holy Sites across the Greek world.
  • Hellenistic Themed Treasures: Collect special artifacts based on the history and legends of the Hellenistic world.
  • New Music, Art, and 3D Models.

The Magna Graecia content pack will be available from Steam and the Paradox store on March 31, 2020 for a suggested retail price of $7.99 / £5.79 / €7.99.