Author - Jerry Paxton

PAX West 2025 Dates Announced

Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade revealed today at the conclusion of PAX West, the West Coast’s most-attended gaming event, that the 2025 edition will return to the Seattle Convention Center for Labor Day Weekend from Friday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.

PAX West 2024 hosted more than one hundred thousand attendees from around the world, with even more participating in the festivities via Twitch, Steam and other online platforms. Highlights included the Storytime with Phil Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Gaming; hands-on opportunities with Sony’s Astro Bot; Nintendo demos including the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Super Mario Party Jamboree; and anticipated multiplatform releases like the North American hands-on debut of Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds.

PAX West featured a massive expo hall dedicated to tabletop titles, intense competitive gaming in the PAX Arena, live concerts, intriguing panel discussions, community meetups, and opportunities to play games with others across three massive buildings. Fans who missed out on some of the exciting panels and live shows such as the latest Acquisitions Inc. session can catch up with uploads of all the recorded content on the PAX official YouTube channel.

PAX West 2025 will happen in its traditional Labor Day weekend time in the region where Penny Arcade was founded and the first PAX took place. Fans looking ahead to next year can expect expo halls full of developers, and four days of insightful panels and exciting live entertainment.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been twenty years since the founding of PAX, but the energy it was founded with is still there,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX, Penny Arcade, and Child’s Play. “In some ways, I feel like we’re just getting started.”

While fans have to wait a year for the next PAX West, PAX will continue to bring gaming communities together with PAX Aus taking place from Friday, Oct. 11, to Sunday, Oct. 13, in Melbourne, Australia; the tabletop-focused PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia from Friday, Dec. 2, to Sunday, Dec. 4; and PAX East in Boston from Thursday, May 8, 2025, to Sunday, May 11, 2025.

For more information on future PAX events, follow PAX on Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram.

PDP Introduces New REMATCH GLOW Controllers

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR), and Performance Designed Products LLC (PDP), are set to glow up the early holiday season with all-new, collectable glow-in-the-dark controllers for Nintendo Switch™ and Xbox. PDP’s newest controllers include the officially licensed Boo Hoo, Grand Prix Mario, and Blackout Bowser REMATCH GLOW Wireless Controllers for the Nintendo Switch family of systems. There’s also a new Nintendo Switch Boo Hoo Travel Case + GLOW coming as well. For gamers on Xbox and PC, PDP introduced the exclusive, Designed for Xbox Titan Steel REMATCH GLOW Advanced Wired Controller. All controllers are available for pre-order now at www.PDP.com, at www.turtlebeach.com, and at participating retailers in the U.S., UK, and Europe.

“Our glow-in-the-dark REMATCH GLOW controllers are a real treat for gamers on Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PC as we head into the holidays,” said Cris Keirn, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “The controllers introduce amazing designs that gaming fans will certainly appreciate, and their unique collectable nature at affordable prices makes them perfect gift options.”

For gamers on Nintendo Switch, the Boo Hoo, Grand Prix Mario, and Blackout Bowser REMATCH GLOW Wireless Controllers will power-up their play with rare designs from beloved Mario games that glow-in-the-dark after exposure to light. With a 40-hour battery life, gamers can play all day knowing their controller can keep up with longer gaming sessions. The REMATCH GLOW Wireless Controllers for Nintendo Switch also feature built-in motion controls and a 30-foot low-latency wireless range. Plus, gamers can customize even further with dual programmable dual back buttons. In addition to the Boo Hoo controller, PDP has also created a new Boo Hoo Travel Case Plus GLOW for Nintendo Switch featuring gaming’s favorite ghost. Gamers and fans alike should not turn their backs on these two collectables, especially once the lights go out.

The officially licensed REMATCH GLOW Wireless Controllers for Nintendo Switch are available for pre-order for $54.99/£49.99/€59.99 MSRP. The Boo Hoo controller goes on-sale in the U.S. on October 1, 2024, and will be available in the UK/EU on October 8, 2024. The Boo Hoo Travel Case Plus GLOW is available for pre-order for $19.99/£16.99/€19.99 MSRP and launches October 24, 2024, in the U.S. and on October 8, 2024, in the UK/EU. The Grand Prix Mario edition controller will be available at participating retailers in the U.S. on October 8, 2024. The Blackout Bowser edition controller goes on-sale in the U.S. on September 22, 2024.

Gamers on Xbox and PC can play as strong as steel with the new, Designed for Xbox Titan Steel REMATCH GLOW Advanced Wired Controller. This unique controller exclusively for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11 features a unique glow-in-the-dark design, plus customizability through the PDP Control Hub app, 2-way hair triggers, and two programmable back buttons for quicker reaction time. Dual rumble motors and impulse triggers also deliver an immersive gameplay experience while the D-pad provides quick and easy built-in volume adjustments. The PDP Control Hub app lets gamers re-map buttons, reconfigure triggers, adjust deadzones, and more. The Titan Steel REMATCH GLOW Advanced Wired Controller is an Xbox officially licensed controller and is available for $37.99/£29.99/€39.99 MSRP and launches October 18, 2024, in the U.S., and will be available in the UK/EU on October 25, 2024.

For more information on the latest PDP products and accessories, visit www.pdp.com and www.victrixpro.com.

Universal CityWalk Hollywood Welcomes Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe and Sanrio Smile Shop

Universal CityWalk rolls out a virtual pastel pink carpet to welcome the Hello Kitty® and Friends Cafe, serving a scrumptious selection of sweet treats and specialty beverages, and the Sanrio® Smile Shop, offering a variety of collectible merchandise featuring Hello Kitty®, Cinnamoroll™, Keroppi™, Kuromi™, My Melody™, Badtz-maru™ and Chococat™. Both venues open at Universal CityWalk on Friday, September 6, 2024.

The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe and the Sanrio Smile Shop are located adjacent to one another at the heart of Universal CityWalk and complement the Animation Studio Store located within Universal Studios Hollywood which features a wide selection of Hello Kitty merchandise including exclusive items only found at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, adorned with a giant signature Hello Kitty bow and framed by a pastel pink and white awning, will welcome guests to enjoy a unique, grab-and-go menu with the option to dine at any one of umbrella-covered tables located just outside the walk-up venue. The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe is the first of its kind to open in Los Angeles.

The all-new Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe will offer a Sanrio-themed menu that presents an array of whimsical creations that include:

Desserts

  • Hello Kitty® Mousse Dome – A red chocolate dome-shaped caked with cinnamon mousse, apple pie filling and cinnamon streusel
  • Seasonal Mousse Domes – Seasonal dome cakes inspired by Hello Kitty’s friends crafted uniquely based on their personalities and composed of chocolate mousse and a delicious combination of fruit fillings and sponge cake
  • Strawberry Cake – Vanilla sponge cake, strawberry jam and whipped white chocolate ganache
  • Berry & Cream Churro – Berry stuffed churro with cream cheese frosting
  • Birthday Cake – Confetti cake layered with white chocolate mousse topped with whipped white chocolate ganache
  • Macaron Set – A set of raspberry, caramel, vanilla, pistachio and chocolate macarons
  • Hello Kitty Cookie – A Hello Kitty-shaped sugar cookie topped with royal icing and rainbow sprinkles

Beverages

  • Hello Kitty® Strawberry Green Iced Tea – Strawberry green tea, pink sugar rim with strawberries and mint
  • My Melody Lemonade – Strawberry lemonade, yellow sugar rim, garnished with strawberries and a lemon wheel
  • Kuromi Berry Iced Tea – Blackberry tea, purple sugar rim and served with blackberry and mint
  • Tuxedosam Lemonade – Blue raspberry lemonade, pink sugar rim served and a lemon wheel
  • Keroppi Matcha Latte – Frozen matcha latte topped with whipped cream and matcha powder
  • Chococat Frozen Mocha – Frozen coffee, chocolate boba, whipped cream topped with chocolate sprinkles

The new Sanrio Smile Shop, located next to the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, celebrates all things Sanrio and Hello Kitty. Guests are invited to embrace the cheerful spirit of Hello Kitty and her closest friends, Cinnamoroll, Keroppi, Kuromi, My Melody, Badtz-maru and Chococat, with a wide selection of themed collectibles perfect for enthusiasts and novice fans alike.  Iconic statement pieces in vibrant colors with iconic motifs will include such favorites as backpacks with Hello Kitty’s iconic bow, stylish Spirit Jersey®), embellished hats, specialty cups and mugs, collectible pins, t-shirts, plush toys, keychains, jewelry, phone cases, lanyards and much more.

Within the Sanrio Smile Shop, shoppers can also celebrate the charm of the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe with an exclusive new line of curated merchandise that pays homage to the Cafe by offering guests the opportunity to bring home a piece of its super cute atmosphere. The all-new Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe-themed merchandise is only available at the Sanrio Smile Shop with additional products being added throughout the rest of the year.

The shop also features a dynamic in-store photo op spotlighting Hello Kitty and the Sanrio characters, a perfect shareable moment for fans to enjoy.

Hello Kitty continues to bring her message of friendship and kindness to Universal Studios Hollywood theme park where she meets with guests in a dedicated area adjacent to the Animation Studio Store which offers exclusive merchandise that celebrates her status as a global pop icon.  This year, in honor of her 50th anniversary, Hello Kitty also debuted a soft pastel pink flowy dress, embodying the perfect blend of timeless charm and elegance to commemorate her milestone moment as she poses alongside guests for memorable photo ops.

More information about Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios Hollywood is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com; like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter)

Squirrel with a Gun Available Now

Maximum Entertainment and Dee Dee Creations today launched highly anticipated shooter Squirrel with a Gun onto PCs worldwide. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the physics of a squirrel utilizing a firearm to unleash chaos across your neighborhood, you came to the right place:

Squirrel with a Gun is now available with a 10% discount on Steam and Epic Games Store. The wacky, nefarious misadventure will be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on Oct. 15.

In Squirrel with a Gun, you’ll find yourself starting out as nothing but a rodent with a dream. However, once equipped with one of the many firearms squirrels so often encounter in nature, you’ll use an arsenal of weapons to take on the Agents hunting you down. Need to make a quick escape? Fire off your weapon and use the recoil to propel yourself to safety. With varied guns to collect, RC cars to steal and birthday cake to eat, the world is your acorn in Squirrel with a Gun.

Purchase Squirrel with a Gun today and benefit from a 10% launch discount:

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/squirrel-with-a-gun-6b1fa1

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2067050/Squirrel_with_a_Gun/

 

The Casting of Frank Stone Official Launch Trailer

Today, Behaviour Interactive and Supermassive Games are thrilled to announce that The Casting of Frank Stone, a cinematic horror experience from the world of Dead by Daylight, is now available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. View the official launch trailer here.

The shadow of Frank Stone looms over Cedar Hills, a town forever altered by his violent past. As a group of young friends are about to discover, Stone’s blood-soaked legacy cuts deep, leaving scars across families, generations, and the very fabric of reality itself. Step into the shoes of four young filmmakers to decide their fate, develop their relationships, and guide their shoot of Murder Mill, a soon-to-be cult classic with an insidious influence.

Each decision shapes the way the story unfolds, with choices determining whether a character lives or dies. Navigate eerie environments, solve puzzles, and complete Quick Time Events as the mystery of Frank Stone unravels in nightmarish fashion.

“We always want players to experience gut-wrenching choices that really make an impact, and Frank Stone has some of our best yet,” says Steve Goss, Creative Director at Supermassive Games. “Knowing that a character’s life hangs in the balance can really elevate the stakes. It helped to operate in the world of Dead by Daylight, which has established such a horrifying and compelling universe to explore.”

Beyond the narrative experience, The Casting of Frank Stone offers several gameplay-enhancing features:

  • The Cutting Room Floor: Players will gain the unprecedented ability to shape the final cut of their story, revisiting key decision points, easily tracking down missing collectibles, and reliving the most memorable moments. Unlock it instantly by purchasing the Deluxe Edition, or by completing the game for the first time.
  • Twitch Integration: Streamers looking to experience The Casting of Frank Stone can add extra interactivity for their audience to enjoy. While the game progresses, viewers will be able to vote to determine the outcome of a choice – provided the streamer doesn’t use one of their limited “vetoes.”
  • 8MM Camera: Peer through the frame and face unspeakable horror. As the story unfolds, players will find themselves pursued by an invisible eldritch terror. When the camera starts to crackle, that’s the signal for players to lift the viewfinder and discover what’s lurking unseen.
  • Plunderer’s Instinct: Plunderer’s Instinct, which shares a name with a Dead by Daylight Survivor Perk, highlights the aura of any Trinket Chest you might have missed. With the simple press of a button, the aura of all nearby Trinket Chests will be revealed.
  • Couch Co-Op: The Casting of Frank Stone can be experienced as a group, as up to 5 people can play the game together offline. Pass the controller back and forth as the character perspective changes throughout the game and discover which member of your crew is most likely to survive a horror movie.

“It’s been incredible seeing the world of Dead by Daylight in this new light,” says Stephen Mulrooney, Chief Product Officer at Behaviour Interactive. “We know players have been wanting a single-player experience, and Supermassive has done a phenomenal job expanding on our universe with a truly haunting horror story. We can’t wait to see how fans react to all the Easter Eggs and connections. “

The Casting of Frank Stone is available in two versions:

  • The Casting of Frank Stone: Standard Edition is available for $39.99 USD in digital format for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Purchase includes additional rewards in Dead by Daylight*: A Murder Mill T-Shirt for all original Survivors, a Murder Mill Badge and Banner, and 2 million Bloodpoints.
  • The Casting of Frank Stone: Deluxe Edition is available for $49.99 USD in digital format for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Purchase includes an instant unlock of the Cutting Room Floor feature and 8 Exclusive Costumes. The Deluxe Edition also offers additional rewards in Dead by Daylight*: A Frank Stone Mask for The Trapper, a Frank Stone Badge and Banner, 3 Rellik Charms, a Murder Mill T-Shirt for all original Survivors, a Murder Mill Badge and Banner, and 2 million Bloodpoints.

*A Behaviour Account with linked entitlements to both The Casting of Frank Stone and Dead by Daylight is required to claim rewards.

Panzer Corps 2: War Stories – Fall of Poland Out Now

Players can now relive one of the most pivotal battles of World War II like never before as Panzer Corps 2: War Stories – Fall of Poland is now out on Steam. Taking place from the perspective of Polish forces, the story-driven DLC immerses players in the Invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the start of a global conflict that would reshape history.

Fall of Poland marks the debut of a new key characters system, which will see players track the fate of unique individuals across the campaign. Key characters are a key part of the game and players will unlock specific extras such as weapon prototypes by saving them or completing the objective attached to them. Fortunately, it’s not game over and you can still progress with the story if you are unable to save them.

Fall of Poland also features 14 new scenarios that were pivotal to the Invasion of Poland, including the Battle of Westerplatte, Battle of Mława, and Escape from Warsaw. The DLC additionally sees the arrival of 21 new units for Poland and Germany. These range from modifications of existing vehicles such as the Panzer IID and TKS 20mm to unique Polish equipment of Uhlan Cavalry and even some ultra rare prototype aircraft.

New gameplay features contained within the DLC are:

  • All new support for displaying images during mid-scenario messages
  • A new ‘Key Character’ system
  • Additional support for the Polish faction, including General’s Portraits, Hero Portraits, and Unit Award Medals
  • 21 new units for Poland and Germany

The Fall of Poland DLC is the first installment in Panzer Corp 2’s all-new War Stories chapter. Expansions included within the chapter focus more on storytelling with them aiming to tell specific stories through varied and engaging scenarios. It follows after the launch of the turn-based strategy title’s Frontlines chapter in March this year. The Bulge DLC kicked off the chapter, which centers on short, but intense, scenarios that showcase some of World War II’s most pivotal battles in greater detail

Offroad Mechanic Simulator Now Available on Xbox

Polish developer and publisher Image Power is thrilled to announce that Offroad Mechanic Simulator , after a triumphant debut on PC and Playstation, is launching on Xbox X/S on September 4th. Experience the thrill of repairing, customizing, and testing offroad vehicles in the most challenging terrains.

Prepare for an offroad adventure!

In Offroad Mechanic Simulator you are employed to modify offroad vehicles and prepare them for the toughest challenges they could face!

Accept contracts that go well beyond standard repair jobs. Equip the client’s cars with the best parts that far exceed their original capabilities and make sure they’re ready to travel the most difficult terrains possible. Get ready to install a higher suspension or add a snorkel when a client needs it. Choose the parts that will do the job without going over your budget.

Rise to the challenge of servicing offroad vehicles in a single-player campaign! Enjoy your progression as you steadily learn how to service increasingly expensive cars. Purchase additional parts and tools needed to transform a car into an offroad monster.

About Offroad Mechanic Simulator

In Offroad Mechanic Simulator players step into the role of an offroad vehicle mechanic. Repair, tune, and test drive various offroad vehicles in rugged environments. Following its significant success on PC, this engaging simulation game is now available for Xbox Gamers to enjoy.

Star Trucker Official Launch Trailer

Swedish publisher Raw Fury and developer Monster & Monster today launched their interstellar trucking simulator, Star Trucker, globally for PC and Xbox Series X|S. Star Trucker is also available today on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, and in celebration of launch, players can enjoy a soundtrack and customization pack DLC available on PC via Steam.

Star Trucker puts an intergalactic twist on the trucking simulation genre by bringing authentic and grounded trucking gameplay to an out-of-this-world setting. Star Trucker invites players to take to the ultimate open road and search for fame and fortune among the stars.

https://youtu.be/7iYsFWBUar0?si=48tcalwsk83-h8y1

In Star Trucker, players tame the most open road of them all – space – in a true Americana inspired retro sci-fi fashion. Players will be able to explore expansive worlds, overcome the challenges and opportunities with zero-g truck physics, skill up their mastery over hauling different types of goods and upgrade their truck to complete their jobs faster and more efficiently.

Key Features in Star Trucker include: 

  • Cruise the hyper highways, taking on a variety of jobs such as fuel-hungry long hauls and hazardous drop-offs to earn cash and unlock new content.
  • Use the galactic map to plan your journey and warp jumps, while keeping an eye on your fuel reserves and power levels.
  • Utilize the fully voiced, interactive CB radio to get the latest gossip from fellow truckers, request docking permissions or send out an SOS, and swing by auto shops to upgrade and improve your truck systems to gain access to new areas.
  • Kick back, crank up the cab hi-fi and cruise to a range of starburst blues, galactic rock and asteroid-influenced Americana, spotlighting unique tracks by acclaimed musicians like Tom Bromley from Los Campesinos!, composer Randall Breneman and more.

STARMINER – Mining Trailer

Today Paradox Arc and CoolAndGoodGames unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming game Starminer. In Starminer, players design and build an interstellar mining fleet to harvest valuable minerals from deep space and sell them for profit. However, unchecked greed can attract dangerous attention. Players must deploy warships and defense platforms to protect their fleet and push the boundaries of space. The new trailer introduces mining and exploiting space.

About Paradox Arc

Paradox ARC incubates and publishes deep, replayable games from studios with great ideas, including the titles Across the Obelisk, Mechabellum and Starminer.

Our mission is to cultivate long-term relationships with talented teams from around the world, build an exciting portfolio for players to enjoy over many years, and find future video game franchises for Paradox Interactive.

Paradox Arc is an initiative that is wholly owned and financed by Paradox Interactive.

For more information, please visit:
www.paradoxinteractive.com/our-games/paradox-arc

COLORFUL Introduces Flagship iGame Z790D5 VULCAN Series Motherboards

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and HiFi audio products, launches the flagship iGame Z790D5 Vulcan W and Z790D5 Vulcan X motherboards. First seen at COMPUTEX 2024, the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan is available in white and black models and comes in an E-ATX form-factor. The motherboard comes equipped with the latest technologies including USB4 40Gbps connectivity and the latest WiFi 7 solution.

Designed for high-performance gaming and content creation, the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan W/X motherboards are equipped with a 19+1+1 power phase design with DrMos 105A power stages. Furthermore, the motherboard has a dedicated LN2 Mode for extreme overclocking. The motherboard’s server-grade 8-layer low-loss PCB helps achieve higher and stable overclocks.

The iGame Z790D5 Vulcan motherboards come equipped with high-performance fin-stack heatsinks on its VRMs. It sports a large heatsink at the bottom that covers the M.2 slots and PCH and uses a quick-release mechanism for easy M.2 SSD installation. The motherboard’s RGB-lit Vulcan branding on the rear I/O cover is fully customizable using the iGame Center app.

Key Features

  •  Available in black and white colors to match your style
  •  Supports 14th, 13th, 12th Generation Intel Core Processors
  •  Premium 19+1+1 Power Phase Design with DrMos 105A Power Stages
  •  Server-Grade 8-Layer PCB
  •  Alloy-reinforced DDR5 DIMM slots with thickened gold-plated contacts
  •  LN2 MODE for extreme overclocking
  •  WiFi 7 + Dual LAN (2.5G + 5G) + Bluetooth 5.4
  •  USB 4 40Gbps Type-C

Premium Features for Extreme Overclocking

Designed for high-end desktop systems for gaming and content creation, the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan motherboard is built with a server-grade 8-layer low-loss PCB with a 19+1+1 Power Phase Design with DrMOS 105A power stages. The motherboard is built to support Intel Core i9-level processors with overclocking in mind. The motherboard’s LN2 MODE is specifically designed to assist professional overclockers in achieving record-breaking frequencies.

For the memory, the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan has four alloy-reinforced DDR5 memory slots with thickened gold-plated contacts and supports dual-channel DDR5 up to 7800MHz+ (OC). The motherboard also has onboard power on and restart buttons.

Storage Expansion

The iGame Z790D5 Vulcan motherboards have four M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs. The top-most M.2 slot sports PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and comes with a large fin-stack style heatsink to keep the SSD cool for stable performance. The rest of the M.2 slots use PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, hidden under the large heatsink armor that can be easily accessed with its quick-release mechanism. The motherboard also has six SATA 3 connectors for multiple HDD configurations

Advanced and Upgraded Rear I/O

The rear I/O interface of the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan motherboards is advanced featuring buttons for clearing and updating BIOS without a flash drive. It has two USB 3.2 Gen 1, six USB 3.2 Gen 2 interfaces, and two USB4 40Gbps Type-C interfaces that are compatible with Thunderbolt protocol and supports video output.

The USB4 connectivity can be used to support more devices including Thunderbolt-compatible devices. Lastly, the motherboards have dual LAN ports (2.5G+5G) and high-speed WiFi 7 networking which supports link aggregation, allowing users to achieve high bandwidth and low latency.

Advanced Added Features

The iGame Z790D5 Vulcan motherboard comes with additional advanced features for easy troubleshooting and overclocking. At the bottom of the motherboard includes a Safe Boot button to access safe boot options upon restart. There’s also the LN2 Mode and Slow Mode switch designed for extreme overclocking. The motherboard’s dual BIOS switch is also located at the bottom, providing users with a failsafe and backup.