SANTA MONICA, Calif. – February 2, 2017 – Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that its Netflix original series “Skylanders™ Academy” has been renewed for a third season. Production on the third season of “Skylanders Academy”—the first television series developed and produced by Activision Blizzard Studios—will begin in February, with animation again created by the renowned TeamTO studio in France.
“Activision Blizzard Studios celebrates the opportunity to bring another season of quality programming to families around the world,” said studio Co-President Nick van Dyk. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Netflix on this iconic franchise.”
Season 3 will launch in 2018. This year, audiences can enjoy Season 2 of “Skylanders Academy,” which brings back Justin Long as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks as Eruptor and Norm Macdonald as Glumshanks.
New addition Felicia Day (The Guild, Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will join the cast in Season 2, voicing the role of Cynder, a new cadet at the Academy with a mysterious past. The Diamond Minecart (Daniel Middleton) will reprise his role as Cy and Daniel Wu returns as King Pen. Additional voice talent in Season 2 includes Susan Sarandon, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O’Hara, Bobcat Goldthwait, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jonny Rees, Harland Williams and Richard Horvitz. The series features the exclusive song “Harmony” (Skylanders Academy Theme) produced by GRAMMY® Award winner Timbaland and performed by Timbaland fet. Dalton Diehl.
“Response to the show has been incredibly enthusiastic, and we’ve taken a lot of creative inspiration from fans’ excitement,” said studio Co-President Stacey Sher, “We have a lot of fun in store for season three and are thrilled to give audiences even more of the characters they love.”
Based on Activision Blizzard’s record-breaking $3.5 billion Skylanders® game franchise1, “Skylanders Academy” is high quality entertainment for the whole family. This Netflix original series follows the heroic adventures of Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz as they travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers. The award-winning Skylanders franchise, created by Toys for Bob, has sold through more than 300 million toys since pioneering the toys-to-life category in 2011(1), and late last year Activision launched Skylanders® Imaginators, the latest innovation in the franchise.
Activision Blizzard Studios launched last year to create original content based on the company’s extensive library of iconic and globally-recognized intellectual properties, which includes some of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world. “Skylanders Academy” is the first production by Sher and van Dyk, who are joined by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick as the series’ executive producers.
February 1, 2017 (Rockville, MD) – ZeniMax® Media Inc. – parent company to video game publisher Bethesda Softworks – today announced that it has acquired Escalation Studios, located in Dallas, TX. Founded in 2007 by industry veterans Tom Mustaine and Marc Tardif, Escalation’s team has helped build and support some of the biggest franchises in the industry – including id Software’s award-winning first-person shooter, DOOM which launched in 2016.
“We have continually been impressed with the team at Escalation that Tom and Marc have assembled,” said Todd Vaughn, Vice President of Development at Bethesda. “Their commitment to quality and innovation has made significant contributions to the projects we’ve worked on together, and we’re excited to have them join ZeniMax.”
Escalation is currently working on a number of projects with studios throughout the ZeniMax family and will continue to contribute its talents across PC, console, mobile, and VR titles going forward.
“ZeniMax Media’s studios are responsible for some of the most iconic games in our industry,” said Marc Tardif, Co-Managing Director of Escalation Studios. “Becoming a part of this amazing family of developers is an honor for everyone at our studio.”
“We are proud of the incredible team that has helped make Escalation such a success,” added Tom Mustaine Co-Managing Director of Escalation Studios. “We can’t wait to see what the studio is capable of with the support of such a great company as ZeniMax.”
For more information on ZeniMax Media, visit www.zenimax.com.
February 1, 2017 – As we announced earlier, Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf is coming to Steam Early Access in February 2017: http://store.steampowered.com/app/553210. We’re ready to unveil the GUI screenshots now!
Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf was originally released on iOS and Android as a f2p game, and now we’re working on the PC version of the game, it will be a full paid game, without any IAPs. At the very beginning of Early Access there will be the original gameplay and in-game balance, because the main aim of this Early Access is to gather players’ feedback and get the understanding of what they would like to see in our game.
Steam version of Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf will be remastered especially for PC players and will include:
enhanced graphics with improved textures and materials;
dynamic lighting;
improved weapon effects and brand new weather effects;
Recently, we got the chance to ask Wargaming.net Community Manager, Chris Stott, some questions about the the release of “dragon boats” in World of Warships we well as some questions regarding the game’s 2017 roadmap. We’d like to thank Wargaming.net’s PR department as well as Chris Stott for making this interview possible.
Q) Wargaming has laid out a great roadmap for future changes in World of Warships. How far out has the team planned? Just a year in advance or even further?
A) You probably have seen what we have announced for 2017 in videos or on the forums but we have plans for 2018 and even some exciting ideas for 2019! There are a whole boat load of new tech trees and features that we have been wanting to put into the game since we started so we have a pretty full schedule of new things coming. World of Warships is one of those games that your mind can go wild with the potential of where we could be in 1-2 years. Naval combat has so many interesting mechanics we can expand on and there a ton of cool new ideas that really capture the feeling of being on the deck of a ship during a fierce battle. So we have quite the backlog of ideas too!
Q) Wargaming has a history of adding fictionalized vehicles and vessels into their titles alongside more realistic units. Why was the choice made to add Dragon Boats to World of Warships?
A) We set out with the goal of sticking to historical visuals and ships but both the players and us keep coming up with cool things we could do in our engine. Our players always want something new to keep them interested or a new way to show off their accomplishments, so we started creating some less historical designs. Many of our designs are inspired by the really crazy “dazzle” camouflages that were used in real warships. There are some very psychedelic and mind-bending designs that real navies were using that we could pull from. It turns out, it was a big hit in the community and we have continued to push more non-historical content in our game. Ultimately, our game is about having fun, and sometimes that means doing something a bit off the wall compared to what you are used to. Plus our artists get bored drawing gray ships all day!
Q) What kind of changes can we expect to see with regards to Soviet Destroyers?
A) We are splitting the current Soviet Destroyer into the two main gameplay styles that destroyers typically have, Gunboats and Torpedoes. Right now the Russian tech branch contains both and playstyles often switch back and forth as you climb up tiers. This can be really annoying or just confusing when you unlock your next ship and it plays totally different that what you just had. We recently did a split to the Japanese destroyers for the same reason and we will add in new destroyers to fill out the gaps in the two lines. For the Russian DDs, the new additions are more mostly torpedo focused as the line of ships already features amazing gunboats.
Q) What other legendary commanders can you tell us about? Any as “notorious” as Steven Seagal?
A) Haha. Commander Seagal is the first of many Legendary Commanders to come. Some will be historical with skills and abilities that represent some of their greatest achievements during real world naval battles. We also plan to make Commanders that are totally not from history and are just for fun. As for specific Commanders, I can’t say but they will be equally famous, if not more!
Q) Can you tell us about any of the new commander skills that are coming down the pipe?
A) There are several new Commander skills that are going to be very powerful from the skill rework. Priority Target is one that seems to be going under the radar at the moment. It tells you when and how many ships are directly aiming at you. Basically, it gives you more warning that you are about to start being blasted to bits. Even just a few seconds of knowing that can be huge for some of the lighter classes like Destroyers and Cruisers. For the Captains who like to sling HE shells all day, Inertial Fuses is going be a big boost. It reduces your chance to start fire, but increases the penetration power of your shells. This can push some small cannons from entirely bouncing off thicker armor like on Battleships or angled armor to being able to pierce that steel like a hot knife through butter. In addition to several brand new skills, we made most skills cheaper to obtain by flattening the tree a bit so players can unlock more options and different builds much easier.
Q) Some rumors are saying that anti-ship missile weapons are going to be added to the game – can you confirm or deny this and, if they are being added, how will they be balanced alongside the existing weapon types?
A) We mentioned in our 2017 Preview that we will be adding new armaments to the game and at this moment, missiles is the top guess from our players. There may be some hints in the background, so take a look, but all I can say is that we are testing a few ideas for new weapons, but we don’t know which ones will make it in yet. We will have to see how they feel and how well they can be balanced before we make any more crazy announcements.
Q) The Halloween event was a lot of fun, can you tell us about any upcoming modes for PvE play?
A) Halloween Mode allowed us to test the waters for how we should develop PvE in the future. In short, it was a huge success and it definitely encouraged us to do more like it. While Halloween Mode wasn’t exactly historically accurate (to say the least!) our next PvE event we are planning is based on a famous moment in naval history. We really want to raise the bar again in World of Warships for what we can do with asymmetrical gameplay and storytelling. The mission won’t be a walk in the park but we plan to include a bunch of fun secondary objectives, so even if you don’t make it all the way through on your first or second try, you can still earn a bunch of prizes.
Q) How goes the possibility of adding World of Warplanes or World of Tanks players into WoWs so there can be joint battles?
A) Currently, it’s not something we are considering doing for a few reasons. The scale of our games is very different and it’s not a simple task to maintain a balance between realism and fun when you have such differences between scales. It is also partly due to the design of the machines. The tanks in our game are designed to fight other tanks, and part of what makes tanks so awesome is the constant attempts from each side to outdo each other. That makes each battle very compelling and contain some interesting match ups. For us, it doesn’t make sense to combine these different experiences. Each game has its own balance and pacing that make it engaging compared to other games. On top of all that, just balancing everything gives me nightmares. The largest tank ever made just can’t stand up to a warship that fires shells the SIZE OF A TANK from miles away. It wouldn’t be a fun time for that poor tanker.
Q) Is there anything else you guys would like to talk about with regards to upcoming World of Warships changes, etc?
A) We will be announcing more new features and ships in the future, but right now we are excited about the new loot that is on the horizon! We added in bonus loot boxes for earning experience in World of Warships recently, but we plan to expand the system to have unique equipment and consumables with special bonuses. Second thing to mention is the Carrier rework. This has been a big request from the community and will be a high priority for us this year. Our current plan is to see first iteration of changes in March or April.
WARSAW, Poland (Feb. 1, 2017) — CI Games has announced a super special incentive for people who pre-order Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, containing a load of extras at no additional cost. Players can take advantage of this valuable season pass offering beginning today on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PC.
“We have a long-term investment in our community and believe that this season pass is a huge value to them,” said Marek Tymiński, CEO of CI Games. “The content within the season pass has variety to it, and we’re committed to provide support and additional content throughout 2017 for our largest game to date. The major part of the edition will be the single player campaign ‘The Sabotage’. This is one we’re quite proud of where players will follow the story of the separatists and experience everything from the other side of the conflict making the story more being in the grey zone than black and white.”
In addition to the highlighted extras below, CI Games plans to roll out exclusive content drops and special events that will enhance the game throughout 2017.
The season pass on PS4™ and PC includes the following:
– Two major single-player expansions
– – The Escape of Lydia
– – The Sabotage
– Two multiplayer maps
– An exclusive all-terrain vehicle
– Two exclusive weapons:
– – The McMillan TAC-338A Sniper Rifle
– – Compound Bow
The season pass is a $29.99 value and is available for free for those who pre-order the game. Players can pre-order the game at their local retailers or at http://sniperghostwarrior3.com/pre-order/.
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 launches on the PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC on April 4, 2017.
To learn more about CI Games and Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, visit:
BELLEVUE, WA. – January 31, 2017 – VRstudios, a global virtual reality (VR) company offering commercial entertainment and enterprise solutions, announced today, a partnership with Knott’s Berry Farm and parent company, Cedar Fair, to design and install a specialized VR experience at the Southern California-based theme park.
Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair are recognized in the entertainment industry for their leadership in creative application of technology in their attractions. Cedar Fair’s Vice President of Strategic Growth, Christian Dieckmann, is leading the company’s pursuit of immersive and unique experiential technology through their relationship with VRstudios.
“Our collaboration with VRstudios to develop a new custom-built, immersive amusement experience at Knott’s Berry Farm is exciting for our customers and consistent with the memorable experiences they expect from our parks,” said Dieckmann. “We chose VRstudios for our inaugural free-roaming VR installation because of their successful track record providing VR globally for other location-based entertainment venues. No other VR company can offer a truly untethered multi-player experience. We believe the planned attraction will amaze our guests and encourage repeat visits.”
“It is rewarding to partner with entertainment visionaries who want to do something amazing with the new VR technology,” added Charles Herrick, Chief Executive Officer of VRstudios. “When clients want to push the limits beyond what is commonly available, it gets our entire team motivated because they know there will be an outlet for their innovation.”
Knott’s Berry Farm visitors will be able to enjoy the new VR experience for a small fee in addition to admission, beginning the second quarter of this year.
January 31, 2017 – Today Bethesda Softworks announced The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind, the next epic Chapter of ZeniMax Online Studios’ award-winning online RPG, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). This new adventure will returnElder Scrolls fans to the legendary island of Vvardenfell, the same iconic environment featured in Bethesda Game Studios’ genre-defining open world RPG, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Introducing an enormous new zone, a new player class, more than 30 hours of main story content, a new Trial, and a new three-team, 4v4v4 PvP mode, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will be the biggest addition toThe Elder Scrolls Online yet, offering a new adventure for ESO veterans as well as a fresh Elder Scrolls saga for players new to the game.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will release globally for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on June 6, 2017. The game is now available for pre-order. To learn more and pre-order the game, please visit www.ElderScrollsOnline.com.
A NEW ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER FOR EVERYONE
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind redefines the traditional MMO expansion by delivering vast new content and features that are equally accessible and fun for both existing and new ESO players.
New Players: New players can jump into The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind and start a new character without having to complete any previous ESO content. And, since the original ESO game is included with The Elder Scrolls Online:Morrowind, new players will have instant access to hundreds of hours of additional adventures throughout Tamriel.
Existing Players: ESO veterans will be able to upgrade and immediately journey to Vvardenfell to start the new epic adventure. With the power of October’s One Tamriel update, existing players will find level-appropriate content from the moment they step onto the island of Vvardenfell, regardless of level. Existing players can also choose to create a new character and begin anew.
Haven’t played ESO in a while? The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is a great chance to jump back in with your existing characters, or with a completely new one. Because ESO has no required subscription, you can just reinstall the game, log in, and start playing again.
RETURN TO MORROWIND
Vvardenfell is the largest zone added to The Elder Scrolls Online since launch and utilizes the same geographic footprint as The Elder Scrolls III, including all key points of interest from the classic game. Players will embark on a dangerous journey through legendary locales in Vvardenfell, 700 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls III, from the docks of Seyda Neen, to the volcanic Ashlands, to dense, mushroom-filled forests, and through the glory of Vivec City, still under construction in this time period.
NEW CLASS – THE WARDEN
Players will harness nature-based magic to master the powerful new character class – The Warden. The Warden is the first new class since launch of ESO and true to ESO and the Elder Scrolls franchise, the player will have the freedom to select from a number of abilities that enable a variety of play styles. The Warden also introduces a devastating new combat ally – the War Bear – a ferocious fighter will stay by the Warden’s side through the most intense battles.
AN INCREDIBLE ELDER SCROLLS STORY
Set roughly 700 years prior to the events of The Elder Scrolls III, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will take gamers on a sweeping adventure through the legendary Vvardenfell, featuring iconic locations, characters, and storylines that will instill nostalgia with longtime Elder Scrolls fans and extend ESO’s narrative into a new chapter. Morrowind is in dire peril and it’s up to player heroes to help Vivec, the legendary warrior-poet and Guardian of Vvardenfell, solve the mystery of his mysterious illness, regain his strength – and save the world from ultimate destruction.
NEW PvP MODE — BATTLEGROUNDS
The Elder Scrolls Online is renowned for open world PvP battles, pitting hundreds of players in a massive battle for supremacy in Cyrodiil. The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will introduce a new PvP mode – Battlegrounds – intense 4v4v4 battles in arena-like environments. Players take the battle to the Ashlands to claim their place among the fiercest and most accomplished combat veterans in Tamriel.
RELEASE AND VERSION DETAILS; PRE-ORDER BONUSES
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will release globally for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on June 6, 2017. The game is now available for pre-order on all platforms. Please visitwww.ElderScrollsOnline.com for more information. Editions available include:
Standard Edition ($59.99): Includes The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind as well as The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.
Upgrade Edition ($39.99): Existing players can upgrade their current game to unlock the new The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind content.
Digital Collector’s Edition ($79.99): New players can grab this special collection of in-game bonuses by purchasing digitally:
o Collector’s Edition Grey Bear – An exclusive grey War Bear for use while playing as the Warden.
o Armored War Horse – Players can charge into battle atop this steed clad in armor fashioned with ancient Dwarven plate.
o Dwarven Spider Pet – A personal Dwarven Spider is ready for adventure through Vvardenfell.
o Morag Tong Converter – Players can flaunt their commitment to the assassins by customizing their gear with the distinct style of the Morag Tong.
o Character Emotes – Celebrate victory in the battlegrounds with this bundle of exclusive emotes.
Includes all in-game rewards contained in the Pre-Order Bonus “Discovery Pack.”
Includes The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.
Digital Collector’s Upgrade ($59.99): Existing players who only need an upgrade can grab all the digital goodies from the Digital Collector’s Edition with the Digital Collector’s Upgrade.
Collector’s Edition ($99.99): The ultimate fan of The Elder Scrolls Online can grab the Collector’s Edition, which contains everything included in the Digital Collector’s Edition, as well as:
Dwarven Colossus Statue – Recreated with the help of sacred Dwarven texts, this 12” tall replica of the Colossus that starred in the announcement trailer stands ready to defend treasures.
Naryu’s Journal – A full-color, large-format book chronicling Morag Tong assassin Naryu’s pursuit of a conspiracy across Tamriel. Illustrated with a broad array of concept art.
Map of Morrowind – Players can chart adventures throughout Vvardenfell with this handy map at their side.
Exclusive Game Case – A limited edition metallic case bearing the marks of Vivec and the Tribunal.
Includes all in-game rewards contained in the Pre-Order Bonus “Discovery Pack.”
Includes The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.
PRE-ORDER BONUS — THE DISCOVERY PACK: Fans who pre-order The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will be rewarded with a collection of exclusive in-game bonuses, including:
o Exclusive Warden Costume – An exclusive costume available for all classes that matches the Warden’s outfit as seen in the announcement trailer.
o Dwarven War Dog Pet – A unique armored non-combat in-game pet.
o Treasure Maps – Maps detailing the location of Vvardenfell’s greatest rewards.
o Dwarven Crown Crate – A special Crown Crate with a chance to contain Dwarven-themed mounts, pets, costumes, and more.
o Experience Scrolls – Advance through Vvardenfell gaining 50% more experience points for two hours.
January 31, 2017 — Captured entirely from in-game footage, this six-minute ‘101’ trailer showcases all-new gameplay from Sniper Elite 4’s extensive feature set, including:
An expansive campaign for 1-2 players: Explore 1943 Italy and fight alongside the brave men and women of the Resistance. Hunt down a terrifying new weapon that threatens the entire Allied fightback.
A deep and rewarding sniping simulation: deliver pinpoint assassinations at extreme distance, adapting to wind and gravity, and adjusting for range with scope zeroing.
Traverse massive environments featuring hundreds of enemies and vehicles: Find your ideal sniper’s nest, out maneuvers your enemies or hunt them up close. Combine suppressed weapons with deadly traps to torment enemy formations and isolate priority targets.
Employ a massive, personalized arsenal including iconic World War II rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, explosives and heavy weapons. Adapt your loadout for each mission and upgrade core attributes like scope magnification, stability, recoil, muzzle velocity and more.
Challenging online co-op & multiplayer modes set across six gorgeous custom-designed maps. Take on dedicated co-op modes for up to four players and prove your mettle across seven competitive modes for up to 12 players.
It’s time to deploy, sniper. It’s time to liberate Italy and set the wheels in motion for victory in Europe.
SNIPER ELITE 4 releases for PlayStation 4, Xbox One & PC on February 14, 2017.
Tuesday 31 January, 2017: Little Bobby’s dead, the BBQ’s on fire, Jen’s eating poisonous berries and the birthday cake still needs icing. It’s just another wonderful day out with the kids in Think of the Children, a frantic new multitasking game revealed today by developer Jammed Up Studios and indie label Surprise Attack Games. Think of the Children will release on PC via Steam in mid 2017.
Hauled before the court for bad parenting and endangering your children, the prosecution present a series of family days out as evidence that will either condemn or exonerate you. To avoid jail players will have to play through each event in flashback to prove their parenting skills, and their innocence, to the judge.
Looking after kids is far from child’s play, however. Playerc1s are tasked with simple jobs to be done like setting the tables, tending the BBQ, putting suntan lotion on grandpa, having an adult conversation. Unfortunately their kids can’t seem to stop playing with dangerous hazards like rabid dogs, vicious seagulls, runaway trolleys or escaped gorillas. To get a good parenting grade and avoid jail time you need to get all your tasks done, keep the kids happy and, ideally, have as many of them as possible still alive at the end.
Players can parent solo or co-operatively with up to four players, locally or online and all kinds of families are welcome – single dad? Two mums? A mum, two dads and a horse in a long distance relationship? It’s all good.
Highlights:
Think of the Children officially announced, coming to Steam mid 2017
Frantic multitasking game
Get your tasks done whilst keeping the kids happy and, ideally, alive
Prove your parenting skills to avoid a jail sentence
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (January 31, 2017) Starbreeze AB and Behaviour Digital have agreed to bring asymmetrical multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight to PlayStation®4 and Xbox One in digital format later this year. Released on PC in June 2016, Dead by Daylight has already sold more than 1.8 million copies on the digital distribution platform Steam and became an instant favourite with streamers on Twitch and other streaming platforms.
“We’re proud of Behaviour Digital’s success with Dead by Daylight and can’t wait to deliver it to consoles together.” said Mikael Nermark, Starbreeze CoO.
”Being able to share Dead by Daylight with console players, many of them counted among our loyal viewers, is very exciting” said Stephen Mulroney, Senior Vice President at Behaviour Digital.
Release date and pricing will be released at a later date.
Development costs relative to the console adjustments will be split equally between the companies and the revenue share model will follow the previous agreement in place between the parties.
Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game in which one crazed killer hunts four friends through a terrifying nightmare. Players take on the role of both killer and survivors in a deadly game of cat and mouse. It’s a Mature Gamer take on the thrills of Hide & Seek. Dead by Daylight is out now and available on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/381210/
