Author - Jerry Paxton

EVE Fanfest 2025 – First Keynote Speakers Announced

Today, CCP Games is proud to make the first official program announcement (of many to come) for EVE Fanfest 2025, the annual celebration of spaceship MMO EVE Online and its intrepid community. EVE Fanfest 2025 will take place May 1-3 next year at Harpa Conference Hall, a beloved landmark in the heart of Reykjavik’s cultural district that has hosted several past Fanfest events.

CCP Games is looking forward to welcoming the following keynote speakers on the main stage for the seventeenth EVE Fanfest:

  • Dr. Becky Smethurst: Award-winning astrophysicist, author, and Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellow at Oxford University.
  • Dr. Ronald Turner: Senior Science Advisor to the NASA Advanced Concepts (NAIC) Program and EVE player, Fa’ile.

In addition to guest speakers, EVE Fanfest attendees can expect tours, social events, special announcements and new product reveals, presentations by EVE developers and players, panel discussions, the legendary Pub Crawl, the Party at the Top of the World, and much more.

EVE Fanfest 2025 looks set to be even bigger than last year’s event, which sold out completely. The first three tiers of Pioneer Early Bird tickets are now entirely sold out, but CCP Games has issued an extra batch of Early Bird tickets. Never in the history of EVE Fanfest have ticket tiers sold out this quickly and so far in advance of the festival.

Eager attendees can purchase their Early Bird tickets to EVE Fanfest 2025 today on Eventbrite.

SUPER BATTLE POLYCARS Steam Release Date

We are excited to announce that SUPER BATTLE POLYCARS, a modern old-school vehicular game, will be available in Early Access on Steam on June 28th.

SUPER BATTLE POLYCARS invites players to engage in modern vehicle combat, where they can join teammates in a Massive Online Vehicle Arena to showcase their driving prowess or participate in Arena Deathmatch, aiming to drive the fastest, destroy opponents, and emerge victorious.

A downloadable Demo version of the game is currently available on Steam, which allows players to try out the full game before release.

Midsummer Scream Details 2024 Hall of Shadows

The massive Hall of Shadows dark zone will return to Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, featuring a horrifying array of haunted attractions, terrifying photo ops, and live entertainment July 26 to July 28 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Passes for this year’s Midsummer Scream are available now at www.MidsummerScream.com.

 

Gears of Fear: Explore the Legacy of Lionsgate® Horror is the first walk-through experience ever created for the Hall of Shadows by a major motion-picture studio. In partnership with Jon Cooke and his team at Plague Productions, Lionsgate invites fans to come face-to-face with some of the most formidable characters in cinematic history, as the studio’s greatest madmen and monsters stalk and slash at every turn.

All passes for Midsummer Scream include admission to every attraction in the Hall of Shadows. Guests holding Gold Bat VIP credentials will receive priority access to most attractions in the Hall of Shadows, bypassing General Admission standby queues. Hall of Shadows will be open to guests all three days of Midsummer Scream: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 26 to July 28.

“We are excited to celebrate the realm of ‘Spirits & Legends’ this year in the Hall of Shadows,” says Rick West, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Midsummer Scream. “Lionsgate and the amazing team at Plague Productions, along with some of the most talented haunters in the world, have been brought together, creating what will be the most thrilling spectacle we have ever presented to guests at Midsummer Scream. Each year, we wonder how these attractions can become bigger and better — and each year, these incredible artists rise to the occasion. We can’t wait to unveil everything in Long Beach!”

Guest will enter the Hall of Shadows through a dilapidated ghost town, created by the unstoppable team at Fear Farm. In this boomtown-gone-bust, spirits and legends of the Old West abound, setting the stage perfectly for what lies ahead, beyond its borders …

Within the foggy expanse of the Hall of Shadows, guests can explore and engage with over a dozen spooky attractions, elaborate displays, and frightening photo ops that also include: A good, old-fashioned romp through a haunted carnival to help members of Mystery, Inc. search for their missing pal, Scooby-Doo, courtesy of The Dreich Society; a Celtic graveyard filled with incredible detail and ghostly activity known as The Haunt With No Name … Yet; a pizza delivery gone very wrong in the halls of a monster-filled photo op experience from the Pizza Planet Truck and Art’s Sideshow; a complimentary photo shoot by professional photographer Rawl of the Dead in a creepy environment where only the departed reside; an exclusive club, as well as an interactive bar (for guests 21 and older), hidden within a dank warehouse, where members carry out their darkest violent fantasies, thanks to Santa Ana Haunt; a heart-pounding trip through the Lord of Shadow’s Puzzle Box, created by Realm of Shadow; 360 degrees of terror in a photo op filled with scare actors from everyone’s favorite SoCal horror-themed Haunted Car Wash; a Western train station in shambles, where a ghostly locomotive has crashed through its walls in celebration of CalHauntS 20th anniversary; a visit to a once-lively mining town, where restless ghosts of the past linger in the shadows of Hellizondo Haunt; and a glowing pumpkin patch and spooky haunted house façade from Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group’s Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns Los Angeles that the whole family will enjoy.

The incomparable Decayed Brigade will present three shows daily both Saturday and Sunday, and a unique Friday night “interactive exhibition” on their Hall of Shadows runway, delighting hundreds of onlookers with high-energy sliding maneuvers and unreal stunts that defy gravity.

All of that and more will be waiting in the darkness of the Hall of Shadows for fans when the doors to Midsummer Scream 2024 burst open the evening of Friday, July 26 in Long Beach.

For breaking information about Midsummer Scream, sign up for our digital newsletter at MidsummerScream.com. Follow Midsummer Scream on Instagram and Facebook by searching @midsummerscream.

MudRunner VR – Launch Trailer

It’s time to strap in, grab the wheel, and take on the great outdoors! MudRunner VR is now available for $19.99 on Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Quest Pro. Developed and published by Saber Interactive, MudRunner VR is perfect for MudRunner veterans, VR fans, and daring adventurers alike. Armed with only your vehicle, a map, your gear and your wits, do you have what it takes to overcome the muddiest expeditions and get your cargo to safety?

MudRunner VR captures the classic MudRunner experience in virtual reality with new 3D landscapes and models, plus eight powerful all-terrain vehicles, each with their own characteristics and attachable equipment. Traverse vast environments in total immersion in Story Mode and Free Play Mode, completing challenging objectives and deliveries across extreme conditions. Interact with your cockpit and venture outside the cabin to use the winch, refuel and more to execute your objectives in unparalleled VR.

Monster Hunter Wilds Announcement Trailer

Capcom explored the living world of Monster Hunter Wilds™ at PlayStation’s State of Play broadcast with the first in-depth look at the highly anticipated action RPG. The trailer traversed an untamed landscape teeming with new monsters adapted to the everchanging conditions of their rugged habitat. The vibrant new gameplay footage also revealed the first glimpse of the story, characters, systems, and more.

Capcom also revealed special bonus items that players returning from Monster Hunter: World™ can obtain when Monster Hunter Wilds arrives in 2025 for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players join the ranks of a special Research Commission team investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the Monster Hunter™ series, the hunter ventures into the unknown with their companions, including Guild-appointed handler Alma, their Palico partner, and a mysterious child. Monster Hunter Wilds features multi-dimensional biomes that can transform in unexpected ways. The first locale to be unveiled is the Windward Plains, a vast region encompassing harsh deserts, twisted rock formations, and swaying grasslands abound with life.

These immersive ecosystems are populated with wildlife acclimated to their surroundings, including smaller monsters like Dalthydon, an herbivorous wyvern that migrates seasonally, and Ceratonoth, who rely on males to shield the herd from raging storms with well-developed dorsal horns that serve as lightning rods. Of course, large monsters also roam the Windward Plains, including Doshaguma. While massive and territorial, these fanged beasts are curiously sometimes sighted stalking the plains in aggressive packs. Meanwhile, the formidable amphibian Chatacabra uses its surroundings and adhesive saliva to become an even stronger adversary by armoring its body with natural materials like ore.

To help hunters meet the challenges that await in Monster Hunter Wilds, the beloved gameplay of the series has evolved with an arsenal of new features. Players will experience a seamless flow from story sequences to gameplay without interruption. To traverse this world’s sprawling environments, the game introduces Seikrets, a new type of mount. These nimble creatures can guide their riders to destinations and allow hunters to perform actions on the go, such as sharpening weapons, gathering materials, and wielding the slinger. Hunters can also swap to a secondary weapon with their Seikret, empowering hunting parties to adapt to the changing conditions out in the field without returning to base.

All 14 of the series’ iconic weapon types return in Monster Hunter Wilds and have now evolved to include new actions. Additionally, the game introduces brand-new systems, such as Focus Mode, giving hunters more precise control over aiming, guarding, and attacking monsters’ weak points. The new Hook Slinger also offers hunters additional abilities, including contextual actions and the power to collect items from a distance – even when mounted atop their Seikret.

Monster Hunter Wilds players who link their Monster Hunter: World save data can receive special bonus items. This includes the Felyne Leather Set (Palico Armor) and Felyne Acorn Spade (Palico Weapon) for linking Monster Hunter: World base game save data, and Felyne Duffel Set (Palico Armor) and Felyne Trekker Peckaxe (Palico Weapon) for linking save data from the title’s massive expansion Monster Hunter World: Iceborne™. Please see the official website for more details.

DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS – Announcement Trailer

KOEI TECMO America and developer Omega Force are creating the most intense musou game yet with DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, available in 2025 for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam®. Fueled by electrifying 1 vs. 1,000 action, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS intensifies the battlefield thanks to massive armies populating the screen from end-to-end raging for a fight.

“For almost 30 years, the DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise has been built by delivering not only a sense of realism on the battlefield, but by the exhilarating action of 1 vs. 1,000 gameplay,” said Tomohiko Sho, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS producer and Head of Omega Force, KOEI TECMO GAMES. “With DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, we return to these roots and deliver the non-stop action to not only our most loyal fans of the series, but to all game fans worldwide, delivering the most thrilling warfare we’ve ever been able to create!”

Throughout the game, players will be forced to act fast as the unprecedented size and scale of enemy armies overwhelm the battlefield. Coordination with allied armies is key as players deploy battle tactics in real time while slicing through waves of soldiers in the most tension-filled fights in DYNASTY WARRIORS history!

In addition, for the first time in a DYNASTY WARRIORS title, the storyline will be told through the eyes of a “nameless hero”. Play through the historical tale of war as chaos erupts throughout the Three Kingdoms, showcasing the vast lands of China and its most ruthless generals like never before!

For more information on DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, be sure to visit the official site, Subscribe to the official KOEI TECMO America YouTube channel, Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on X, Instagram, and Discord.

Alien: Rogue Incursion First-Look Trailer and Screenshots

Leading VR developer Survios just debuted a brand-new Alien: Rogue Incursion trailer during yesterday’s PlayStation State of Play, giving fans their first look at gameplay and in-game visuals from the next-gen VR title. Set in the iconic Alien universe, the upcoming action-horror game launches on PlayStation VR2, PCVR via Steam, and Meta Quest 3 in Holiday 2024.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a single-player, action-horror game featuring an all-new storyline of an ultimate mission that tests players’ courage, wits, and skill to survive the terrors of the Perfect Organism. A high tension shooter developed with Unreal Engine 5, players will need to stay frosty as they explore an overrun facility on the inhospitable planet Purdan.

TEKKEN 8 and King of Fighters Victrix Pro FS Fight Sticks from PDP

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR), and Performance Designed Products LLC (PDP) today announced two highly-anticipated additions to its award-winning Victrix Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick line.

Victrix has been a staple in the Fighting Game Community (FGC) since 2017, working with pro gamers to design and build their cutting-edge esports gear. Using their input, the Victrix Pro FS Arcade Fight Sticks incorporate unique, tournament-ready features like built-in carrying handles, a foam lap pad, an integrated wrist slope for maximum comfort, and a Tournament Lock Mode button.

Officially licensed by SNK and PlayStation®, The King of Fighters Pro FS Arcade Fight Sticks (MSRP: $499.99) are compatible with PS5® & PS4® and Windows PC and are available now at www.PDP.com and participating retailers worldwide. The King of Fighters fight sticks are available in four colors and character designs, and come serialized out of 250.

Officially licensed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and PlayStation, the TEKKEN 8 Pro FS Arcade Fight Sticks (MSRP: $499.99) are compatible with PS5 & PS4 and Windows PC and launch in August 2024 at www.PDP.com, Amazon, and participating retailers worldwide. The TEKKEN 8 fight sticks will be available in six colors and character designs, and come serialized out of 300. The upcoming TEKKEN 8 Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick launch will coincide with two additional TEKKEN 8-themed products: the Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller: Rage Art for PS5 & PS4 and Windows PC; and the Victrix Tournament Backpack.

The full Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick features for the new The King of Fighters Fight Stick and TEKKEN 8 Fight Stick include:

  • Etched character art and limited-edition numbering
  • Mode switch for compatibility with PS5 & PS4 and Windows PC
  • Durable shell made from aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Integrated 6.28° wrist slope to help reduce fatigue
  • Quick-access back panel for easy mods and updates to buttons and sticks
  • Authentic 30mm Sanwa Denshi buttons
  • Patented Link 2 detachable joystick on Sanwa JLF base
  • Control bar featuring Tournament Mode button, audio controls, lighting modes, the PS button, and more for quick adjustments
  • Built-in carrying handles and cable organizers
  • Foam lap pad for long-lasting comfort during tournaments
  • Rubberized grips on the back for anti-slip during gameplay

Architect Life: A House Design Simulator Announcement Trailer

NACON and the studio Shine Research are pleased to announce the development of a new project as part of the Life range of games: Architect Life: A House Design Simulator. This game invites the player to head an architectural firm that designs and builds dream homes for clients. The game will be available on PC, PS5™, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch™ in 2025.

Who hasn’t dreamed of creating the ideal home? Lovers of wide-open spaces, modern or traditional architecture: in Architect Life players design whatever they want, giving free reign to their creativity. Using an advanced, user-friendly construction tool, they create whatever house they can imagine in sandbox mode, or develop their architectural firm in career mode by bringing their clients’ dreams to life.

Thanks to the many options and wide range of choices available to players, each project will be unique, whether it involves designing a house, interior decoration or exterior improvements. At each step, the player can set up a virtual visit to ensure that, once finished, the project corresponds to the specifications and the clients are satisfied… with new skills unlocked in the process.

“Lots of people think about their dream home and decor, so seeing it come to life onscreen with Architect Life is highly gratifying. Benefiting from the studio’s technical expertise, we have created a game that is both comprehensive and easy to access, so everyone’s ideas can become reality. We hope that each player will appreciate and create their very own ‘Home sweet home’,” explained Sylvain Grosdemouge, CEO and founder of Shine Research.

Architect Life: A House Design Simulator will be available on PC PS5™, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch™ in 2025.

GameSir Unveils its Kaleid and Kaleid Flux Controllers

GameSir, a World-renowned brand in gaming peripherals, is proud to announce the launch of its Kaleid and Kaleid Flux controllers. These amazing new wired game controllers are designed to enhance the gaming experience with their advanced features, vibrant illuminated LED strips, and high-quality, comfortable design. Engineered with precision, and packed with features, these latest additions to GameSir’s outstanding range of controllers are the ultimate choices for FPS and action gamers that are looking to take their gaming performance to the next level. GameSir is focused on providing gamers with a superior gaming experience through its high-quality yet cost-effective controllers.

The GameSir Kaleid is available to purchase on Amazon UKAmazon US and the GameSir official website, with an RRP of £59.99/$49.99 from May 30th

The GameSir Kaleid Flux is available to purchase on Amazon UKAmazon US and the GameSir official website, with an RRP of £55.99/$46.99 from May 30th.

An additional 10 percent discount coupon is also available for both controllers during the three month launch period.

The Xbox-licensed controllers feature GameSir’s signature Hall Effect sticks, which effectively deliver an anti-drift glide and a reliable, precision-tuned performance on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X|S and Windows 10/11 and Steam platforms. The Hall Effect Analog triggers are designed to deliver a consistent output, ensuring that actions like accelerating or braking during racing games give reliable and predictable results. Textures on the grips, triggers and bumpers keep fingers firmly in control during rapid actions, while also ensuring comfort and a strong grip during extended gaming sessions.

Both models boast a stunning transparent design that incorporates 2 customisable LED light strips that can be tailored to each gamer’s unique preferences to suit different environments, moods and styles. The Kaleid has microswitch ABXY buttons, rainbow light colors, and an original PCB pattern printed with ‘KALEID’, whereas the Kaleid Flux features membrane ABXY buttons, a stunning gold light color, and is printed with a stylish damascus pattern.

Equipped with four distinct motors, these controllers can deliver both strong and subtle vibrations as needed, enhancing the tactile feedback for a more immersive gaming experience. With two asymmetric motors in the grips and in the triggers, gamers can truly experience the real, precise feedback of crashes, gunshots and bumps. The two macro back buttons offer extensive customization, allowing users to map them to a single button or a combination of buttons based on their preferences. Additionally, a turbo function can be enabled for rapid, repeated inputs. For those that like to play FPS and action games, there is a useful quick-switch to Hair Trigger Mode, which can be enabled simply by holding M + LT / RT buttons for 3 seconds. When precise linear control or ultimate responsiveness is required, the Kaleid family of controllers give the competitive edge each and every time.

 

Using the fully customizable GameSir Nexus software, users can enjoy creating controller profiles by mapping buttons, fine-tuning the sticks and triggers, and configuring vibration and light effects. Up to three profiles can be saved simultaneously, allowing players to adjust their settings based on the game they are playing.