Author - Jerry Paxton

Toxic Avenger Being Released in TROMAzing Ultra High Definition

Troma Entertainment, the longest-running independent movie studio in North America, celebrates their 50th anniversary this year with the release of all four of their groundbreaking Toxic Avenger films, presented in TROMAzing Ultra High Definition.

The Toxic Avenger Collection comes to home video on August 29th, and features a new 4K scan and restoration of each film from the original camera negatives, presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in HDR with English DTS 2.0 stereo audio; new introductions for each film from the President of Troma Entertainment and creator of The Toxic Avenger, Lloyd Kaufman; and a collectible Toxic Avenger postcard, all compacted into one MONSTROUS, TROMArific 8-Disc TOX SET oozing with TOXIC bonus features!

Melvin (Mark Torgl) lives the regular life of a 98-pound janitor at a gym, constantly bullied by the meathead members. The gym and Tromaville, NJ will never be the same when Melvin – after falling into toxic waste – becomes the Toxic Avenger! Toxie, armed with justice on his side, keeps the residents of Tromaville safe from the crime and evildoers that would tarnish the town he loves.

Featuring cameo appearances by award-winning actors Marisa TomeiMichael Jai WhiteJulie Strain, and Corey Feldman, and A-listers including Hugh HefnerJames GunnStan LeeKevin Eastman, and Eli Roth. Of course, no Troma-venture would be complete without musical legend Lemmy!

THE TOXIC AVENGER COLLECTION’S BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

THE TOXIC AVENGER [Unrated Director’s Cut] 4K Ultra HD 
Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with cast members Robert Prichard, Gary Schneider, and Dan Snow; and audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman.

THE TOXIC AVENGER [Unrated Director’s Cut] Blu-ray 
Introduction by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with cast members Robert Prichard, Gary Schneider, and Dan Snow; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; interviews with cast members Jennifer Baptist, Robert Prichard, Mitch Cohen, and Dan Snow; interview with co-Director Michael Herz; a “Mark Torgl Talks About The Toxic Avenger” featurette; Behind the Scenes; Photo Gallery; Trailers.
 
THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II [Unrated Director’s Cut] 4K Ultra HD 
Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman.

THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II [Unrated Director’s Cut*] Blu-ray
Introduction by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; “At Home with Toxie” Mockumentary; an interview with cast member Lisa Gaye; Japanese news report on the filming of The Toxic Avenger Part II; “Radiation March,” a short film directed by Lloyd Kaufman; The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma; Trailers.

THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE [Unrated Director’s Cut] 4K Ultra HD
Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with cast member Joe Fleishaker.

THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE [Unrated Director’s Cut] Blu-ray 
Audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with cast member Joe Fleishaker; Behind the Scenes of the “Return to Nuke ’em High Vol. 1” screening at MOMA; The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma; “Make Your Own Damn Horror Film” – Behind the Scenes of Old 37 with Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley; “A Halloween Carol” short film; Infomercial for “Rabid Grannies” Blu-ray Release; “Radiation March,” a short film directed by Lloyd Kaufman.

CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER PART IV [Unrated Director’s Cut] 4K Ultra HD
Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with editor Gabriel Griedman; audio commentary with cast member Trent Haaga.

CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER PART IV [Unrated Director’s Cut] Blu-ray 
“Apocalypse Soon: The Making of Citizen Toxie” Behind the Scenes Documentary; audio commentary with Director Lloyd Kaufman; audio commentary with editor Gabriel Friedman; audio commentary with cast member Trent Haaga; Tribute to Lemmy Kilmister; The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma; Trailers.

Troma continues the celebration with special screenings of the new 4K transfer of The Toxic Avenger at Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide in August 2023:

Additional dates TBA. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Alamo Drafthouse website.

Skybound Entertainment Unveils SDCC Panels and Signings

Skybound Entertainment, the creator-led, multi-platform entertainment company, today unveiled its plans for this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego. Skybound is celebrating the 20th anniversary of two of the company’s beloved franchises: The Walking Dead and Invincible. It will be an action-packed week filled with exclusive panels, celebrity appearances and signings, giveaways, playable tabletop and video games, daily photo booth and cosplay contests and much more taking place at the Skybound booth (#3735).

For all the updates and schedules go to skybound.com/sdcc-2023 or follow the Skybound social channels. Skybound will be hosting the following panels, special events, appearances and livestream and stage programming each day at the show. Additionally, fans can watch all of the livestream programming from home at twitch.tv/skybound and https://www.youtube.com/@Skybound.

Wednesday, July 19

Fans can join Skybound at their two story booth for the company’s first ever appearance on the SDCC show floor. Preview night will kick things off with a special celebration of the recently announced partnership between Skybound and toy and game company Hasbro. A live session of Travel by Trolley, the hit board game with a brand-new vacation expansion pack, will also be running.

The merchandise booth will be open for business starting tonight, premiering exclusive SDCC gear including comics, games, apparel, limited edition collectibles and more across fan-favorite Skybound properties.

Headlining the merchandise booth will be custom The Walking Dead skate decks by rising star artist Bear Walker, all-new The Walking Dead and Invincible AR-enabled pins by Pinfinity, and the official Burger Mart Box, which features exclusive Invincible merchandise alongside all-new Slabs comic cover trading cards produced by Yesterdays, with 1:10 chance of securing a Robert Kirkman signed Slab.

Each day of the convention will also see a special variant cover of Invincible comics available for fans to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the best superhero comic in the universe, published by Image Comics. Skybound has recruited some of the best talent in comics–Greg Capullo, Tradd Moore, Andy Kubert, Justine Florentino and Rose Besch–to showcase favorite characters Invincible, Omni-Man, Atom Eve and Battle Beast.

Thursday, July 20

WrestleQuest: The Wrestlefication of an RPG

4:15-5:15 PM, Room 6A

Join Mega Cat Studios team members alongside surprise legendary wrestlers, as they break down bringing traditional JRPG mechanics to the wrestling ring. Peak behind the scenes with case studies, lessons learned, and feedback from fans, professional wrestlers, and RPG superfans. Panelists include wrestling legends Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Sgt. Slaughter, Jeff Jarrett along with James Deighan and Zack Manko of Mega Cat Studios.

At the Skybound booth:

Travis Beacham, creator of the hit Audible original Impact Winter, will do a signing (3:30-4:30pm*) and be joined by Skybound Chairman Robert Kirkman in conversation live. Greg Nicotero and artist Becky Cloonan of the Skybound anthology comic series Creepshow (10:00-11:00am*), published by Image Comics, will be making special appearances and signing. Wrestling legends Jeff Jarret, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Sgt. Slaughter will be making an appearance and signing, as the development team from Mega Cat Studios shows off the latest gameplay from the highly anticipated WrestleQuest (12:30-1:30pm*).

Offsite Activation:

Impact Winter themed activations include wrapped trolleys transporting SDCC attendees throughout the Gaslamp and an exclusive, VIP-only immersive dinner featuring thrilling audio and tantalizing provisions called “The Feast.”

Friday, July 21

Invincible 20th Anniversary Panel

4:30PM – 5:30 PM, Room 6BCF

The Best Superhero Comic Book In The Universe celebrates its 20th anniversary, since it first debuted at Image Comics, with a look back at the franchise and a look forward at what’s to come in the worlds of comics, animation, video games, tabletop games, and more! Join Invincible creators Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley along with Marge Dean (Head of Studio, Skybound Animation) and Mike Rogers (Creative Director, Skybound).

A Q&A with the Cast and Creator of Prime Video’s Invincible

5:45 – 6:45 PM, Room 6BCF

Join executive producer Robert Kirkman and members of the cast and crew as they break news and discuss key storylines from the upcoming and highly anticipated second season of Prime Video’s hit animated series Invincible, based on the groundbreaking comic book by Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley. The story revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Starring Steven Yeun, with Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Grey Griffin, Chris Diamantopoulos, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons. Executive producers are Kirkman, Catherine Winder, David Alpert, Simon Racioppa, Margaret M. Dean, Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, and co-executive producers are Helen Leigh and Walker.

This is NOT an Invincible Season Two Special Screening

10:00 – 11:00 PM, Room 6A

At the Skybound booth:

Wrestling legends will be making an appearance and signing, as the development team from Mega Cat Studios shows off the latest gameplay from the highly anticipated WrestleQuest (1:30-2:30pm*). Skybound Animation’s Marge Dean will be on hand to discuss bringing Invincible from comics to the screen (10:00-11:00am*).

Saturday, July 22

Transformers & G.I. Joe Return in The Energon Universe

4:15-5:15 PM, Room 6A

The Transformers and G.I. Joe are back at Skybound, kicking off THE ENERGON UNIVERSE! Superstars Robert Kirkman (Void Rivals), Daniel Warren Johnson (Transformers), Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander) and Sean Mackiewicz (SVP/Publisher, Skybound) reveal the secrets behind Image/Skybound’s most anticipated comics of 2023. Moderated by James Viscardi (ComicBook.com).

At the Skybound booth:

Iconic actress Katee Sackhoff will be making an appearance on the broadcast livestream to talk about her new podcast, Blah Blah Blah with Katee Sackhoff (1:30-2:00pm*). Artist Bear Walker will be hosting a signing and debuting his all-new The Walking Dead skate deck (12:00-1:00pm*). Daniel Warren Johnson (Transformers) and Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander) will also be hosting an Energon Universe signing (6:00-7:00pm*).

Sunday, July 23

At the Skybound booth:

Impact Winter creator Travis Beacham will do a signing (3:00-4:00pm*). An exclusive look at the upcoming new tabletop game Kiss the Goblin played live on the Skybound stage (12:00-1:30pm*). Fans can participate in a cosplay contest for exclusive prizes (2:30-3:00pm*). Skybound CEO David Alpert will host a special session on giving fans the unique opportunity to own a part of Skybound (1:30-2:00pm*).

All Week

Throughout the show at the Skybound booth fans will be able to preview and play the following highly anticipated audio series and video and tabletop games:

  • Impact Winter: The Skybound booth will come complete with individual sound bays where fans can listen to Season 1 highlights and Season 2 previews of the best selling Audible original series. The second season of the epic post-apocalyptic drama from Audible, Skybound and Anonymous Content debuts exclusively on Audible on July 13.

  • WrestleQuest: an upcoming RPG adventure featuring a licensed roster of iconic wrestling legends scheduled for worldwide release on August 8. Players assume the role of a young wrestling hopeful, on their quest to become one of the all-time greats by powerbombing, slamming, and suplexing their way to the top. As our hero progresses through their quest, they’ll note homages to “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Booker T, Andre The Giant, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett, and many more.

  • Invincible and The Walking Dead Dice Games: Play the two new card-and-dice games set to launch in Q4 2023 in time for Season 2 of the highly anticipated Invincible series on Amazon Prime. Both games are designed to be easy to learn and packed with iconic art from Skybound’s flagship comic universes, clever mechanics, and exciting push-your-luck gameplay.

Exclusive Merchandise including:

  • Bear Walker Skate Deck – $225
  • The Walking Dead Backpack – $64.99
  • Pinfinity The Walking Dead Blind Box Pins – $14.99
  • The Walking Dead Bloody Clementine “Clem” Hat – $24.99
  • Lucille Ballpoint Pen – $9.99
  • Pinfinity Invincible Pin Set – $39.99
  • Burger Mart Box with Invincible Slabs Comic Cover Trading Cards – $49.99
  • Mantic The Walking Dead Dice Game – $19.99
  • Mantic Invincible Dice Game – $19.99
  • Impact Winter Vinyl Soundtrack – $24.99
  • Trial by Trolley Core Deck – $24.99
  • Trial by Trolley Vacation Expansion – $17.99
  • Mr. Lovenstein Presents: No Context – $24.99

Exclusive Comics including:

  • Invincible #1 Greg Capullo Variant – $25.00 – available Wednesday only
  • Invincible #11 Tradd Moore Variant – $20.00 – available Thursday only
  • Invincible #19 Andy Kubert Variant – $20.00 – available Friday only
  • Invincible #2 Rose Besch Variant – $20.00 – available Saturday only
  • Invincible #2 Justine Florentino Variant – $20.00 – available Sunday only
  • Void Rivals #1 Daniel Warren Johnson Variant – $20.00
  • Transformers #1 Ashcan – $20.00
  • Creepshow Volume 2 #1 Ashcan – $10.00

Stray Souls Announcement Trailer

Independent game studio Jukai Studio and Versus Evil, one of the leading independent video game publishers, have today revealed that their upcoming mystery-driven psychological horror game Stray Souls will feature new music by legendary Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.

Akira Yamaoka is best known for his work scoring the first several Silent Hill games, though his work has also appeared in such acclaimed titles as Shadows of the Damned, Lollipop Chainsaw, and The Medium. You can hear a sample of his Stray Souls collaboration in the new trailer below, which features his piece, “Splintered Mind.”

“It’s no secret that we’re massive fans of Silent Hill, so being able to get its series composer, Akira Yamaoka, on board for our game is a dream come true!,” said Artur Łączkowski, Owner & Director at Jukai Studio. “Yamaoka’s work was so integral in creating the tone and mood of Silent Hill, so we’re beyond excited to have him enhance our vision with his legendary soundscapes. There’s really no one quite like him and we are so honored to have him as a creative collaborator!”

Image Comics Unveils San Diego Comic-Con 2023 Panel and Signing Lineup

Image Comics is pleased to return to San Diego this year for Comic-Con on Wednesday, July 19 through Sunday, July 23 at booth #1915.

Please note: updates to the schedule may appear online during the show. Please refer to www.imagecomics.com for the most up-to-date information.

LIMITED* CONVENTION VARIANTS SOLD AT THE IMAGE BOOTH (#1915):
*Quantities will be limited by customer and per day on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ask at the Image booth about availability.

  • Big Game #1 Convention Exclusive by Mark Millar & Pepe Larraz, cover art by Larraz, $5 + tax
  • Eight Billion Genies deluxe edition Vol. 1 Convention Exclusive hardcover by Charles Soule & Ryan Browne, cover art by Browne $39.99 + tax
  • Inferno Girl Red Convention Exclusive hardcover by Mat Groom & Erica D’Urso, cover art by D’Urso, $40 + tax
  • Night Fever hardcover by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips with Convention Exclusive dust jacket, cover art by Phillips, $24.99 + tax
  • A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance deluxe hardcover by Rick Remender & André Lima Araújo with Convention Exclusive dust jacket, cover art by Araújo, $39.99 + tax
  • Paper Girls x Blackwings collab pencils, $25 + tax
  • Black Science statue, $100 + tax

AVAILABLE AT THE MAD GHOST PRODUCTIONS BOOTH (#1320):

  • Geiger: Ground Zero full color, 8-page Convention Exclusive ashcan

IMAGE COMICS SDCC PANELS:

—THURSDAY, 7/20—

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Image Comics: Spotlight on Bestselling Creator Jeff Lemire

Join us for an in-depth conversation with bestselling, multiple award winning, master storyteller Jeff Lemire as he shares details about his new series Fishflies and Tenement as well as his upcoming graphic novel Cosmic Detective and even more in store for his fans. Moderator Ashley V. Robinson of PopverseGeek History Lesson podcast. Room: 25ABC

—FRIDAY, 7/21—

10:30AM – 11:30AM
Image Comics: Spotlight on the Legendary Todd McFarlane

Todd McFarlane Spawn and Venom creator, McFarlane Toys’ CEO, and President of Image Comics takes fans on a behind-the-scenes look at Spawnmania. McFarlane offers fans a sneak peek into the future of upcoming toys, what’s ahead for the Spawn Universe, and all the exciting developments on the horizon.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Image Comics: Spotlight on Bestselling Writer Rick Remender

Join comics titan Rick Remender for an in-depth conversation about his Giant Generator imprint at Image Comics, his 25 years as one of the primary voices shaping the landscape of creator owned comics with tiles like Fear Agent, Black ScienceLowDeadly Class, and Seven to Eternity, how the industry attitude towards creator rights has changed, the power of DIY thinking, and the inside scoop on his new ongoing series with Max Fiumara, The Sacrificers! All of this and a massive announcement about a new Giant Generator project slated to hit next year! Moderator: Robert Kirkman of Invincible, The Walking Dead. Room: 25ABC

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Syzygy Publishing’s Tales of Syzpense: its recent Past, current Present, and exciting Future

Join Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood, the co-founders of Image’s newest imprint, Syzygy, and some of Syz’s key creators for spirited Tales of Syzpense involving what’s come before and what’s coming up next. Panelists include multiple-Eisner nominees and Rain co-creators David M. Booher and Zoe ThorogoodHitomi writer HS Tak! And Artist Uko Smith! Interesting announcements and great art will be provided, gratis, to all attendees! Room 24ABC

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Image Comics: The Future of RADIANT BLACK’s The Massive-Verse

Join Massive-Verse superstars Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black, No/One), Brian Buccellato (No/One), Melissa Flores (The Dead Lucky), Ryan Parrott (Rogue Sun), and more special, celebrity surprise guests as the crew unveils exciting new developments and announcements in store for the Massive-verse this year and beyond! Moderator: TBA. Room: 5AB

5:00 – 6:00 PM
Cliff Bleszinski: Games to Comics

Games legend Cliff Bleskinski (Gears of War, Fortnite) discusses the creation of his debut comic Scrapper (Image Comics) with co-writer Alex de Campi (Dracula, Motherf**ker!, Bad Karma, Parasocial), plus a Q&A moderated by John Nee (publisher, Marvel; president Wildstorm). Room 23ABC.

6:15 – 7:00 PM
Cliff Bleszinski post-panel signing in Autograph Area

—SATURDAY, 7/22—

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Image Comics: Comics Storytelling, Genre & Craft

Join Dustin Nguyen (Little Monsters), Zoe Thorogood (It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth), Daniel Warren Johnson (Do a Powerbomb!), Alex De Campi (Parasocial), Ryan Stegman (The Schlub), and Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian) for a freewheeling conversation amongst some of the top talent in the comics industry as they discuss genre, storytelling, industry secrets, and tricks-of-the-trade. Moderator: Chris Arrant of Popverse. Room: 28DE

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Spotlight on Alex de Campi, bestselling writer/co-creator of Dracula, Motherf**ker!

Cult comics writer Alex de Campi (Dracula, Motherf**ker!, Bad Karma, Parasocial) discusses her career and the three books she has coming out this Autumn. Q&A to follow. Moderator: Khai Krumbhaar of Geekiary & True War Stories. Room 9.

1:30 – 2:00 PM
Alex de Campi post-panel signing in Autograph Area.

—SUNDAY, 7/23—

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Image Comics: Comics characters fans will love or hate—or love to hate!

Join Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), Tony Fleecs (Local Man), Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), David F. Walker (Bitter Root), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia) and special surprise guests come together for an in-depth discussion of character building that leaps from the page and the secret behind what makes for loveable or unlikable characters for readers. Moderator: Graeme McMillan of Popverse. Room 10

SIGNINGS AT THE IMAGE COMICS BOOTH (#1915):
*All items presented for signing are subject to review and denial by staff. No CGC, CBCS, or other witnessing/grading.

—THURSDAY, 7/20—

1:30 – 2:30 PM

  • Dustin Nguyen
  • Brett Bean

3:00 – 4:00 PM

  • Charles Soule
  • John Layman

3:30 – 4:30 PM

  • Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn & Scott Koblish

4:30 – 5:30 PM

  • David F. Walker & Sanford Greene

—FRIDAY, 7/21—

10:30 – 11:30 AM

  • Zoe Thorogood (no sketches)

11 – 12 PM

  • Daniel Warren Johnson

12 – 1 PM

  • Jeff Lemire

12:30 – 1:30 PM

  • Alex de Campi

1:30 – 2:30 PM

  • Rick Remender

2:30 – 3:00 PM

  • Shof Coker

4:00 – 5:00 PM

  • Massive-Verse group signing

4:30 – 5:30 PM

  • Charles Soule & Ryan Browne

—SATURDAY, 7/22—

10:00 – 11:00 AM

  • Charles Soule & Ryan Browne
  • Fred Kennedy, Allison O’Toole & Nick Marinkovich

11:30 – 12:30 PM

  • Zoe Thorogood (no sketches)
  • Daniel Warren Johnson

1:00 – 2:00 PM

  • Tony Fleecs & Tim Seeley (limited quantity free promotional Local Man trading cards available to signing attendees, first come, first serve).
  • Pornsak Pichetshote

2:30 – 3:30 PM

  • Rodney Barnes & Jason Shawn Alexander
  • Shof Coker

4:00 – 5:00 PM

  • Rick Remender
  • Sanford Greene

—SUNDAY, 7/23—

10:00 – 11:00 AM

  • Mirka Andolfo

10:30 – 11:30 AM

  • Zoe Thorogood (no sketches)

OFF-SITE SDCC PROGRAMMING:

—SATURDAY, 7/22—

4:00 – 6:00 PM
Creators Assemble: Comics Camaraderie, A Networking Event
Together, creators, publishers, comic shop owners, teachers, and library workers have brought greater acceptance to comics and fan culture. Take a break from hectic convention life to experience “speed dating”style networking with diverse comics enthusiasts from all backgrounds. Guests include: Alex Antone (Skybound Entertainment), Heather Antos (IDW Publishing), Vince Alvendia (Egg Drop Ramen Studios), Matthew Atherton (CSUSM), Moni Barrette (2023 Eisner judge), David M. Booher (Killer Queens), J.M. Brandt (Swamp Dogs: House of Crows), Cherish Chen (Massive-Verse), Amy Chu (Carmilla: The First Vampire), Dani Colman (The Unfinished Corner), Barbra Dillon (Fanbase Press), Andi Dukleth (Accidental Aliens), Kyle Higgins (Massive-Verse), Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman Historia), Nikita Kannekanti (Legendary Comics), Mathias Lewis (Knowhere Games & Comics), Hannah Rose May (Rogues’ Gallery), Don Nguyen (Zoo Magnet Inc.), Alonso Nunez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), Morgan Perry (Skybound Entertainment), Jack Phoenix (comics librarian), Jimmy Purcell (A3 Publishing), Chris Ryall (Image Comics/Syzygy), Brian Schirmer (Quests Aside), Erin Snider (Creators Assemble!), and Charlie Stickney (White Ash)Marriott Marquis Marina D

The Making of Karateka Coming this Summer from Digital Eclipse

Before The Last Express… before Prince of Persia… there was Karateka. Famed game designer Jordan Mechner was an 18-year-old college student when he started making the martial arts adventure that would become one of the most influential games of the Apple II era.

Four decades later, the story behind this groundbreaking game has been meticulously reconstructed into an innovative interactive documentary by Digital Eclipse, the team behind acclaimed collections including the Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection.

Unveiled minutes ago during Microsoft’s ID@Xbox showcase, The Making of Karateka will be available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S as well as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam, GOG, and Epic Store). A simultaneous release on all platforms is expected later this summer.

EVERSPACE 2 Console Release Date Trailer

Independent AA developer ROCKFISH Games is excited to share their critically successful space action RPG, EVERSPACE 2, is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on August 15, 2023. After a successful PC launch earlier this year with an 81 Metacritic rating and 88% Very Positive rating on Steam totalling more than 350,000 copies sold so far, the massive single player open-world space action RPG will be available for $49.99 USD / £49.99 / €49.99 / ¥6930. Pre-orders on PlayStation are now open, offering a 20% discount on the sci-fi adventure for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Xbox Game Pass players will be excited to hear they’ll be able to hop in the pilot seat and explore more than 100 handcrafted locations across multiple star systems as EVERSPACE 2 launches on the service, day 1. PC Game Pass and Microsoft Store players can also enjoy the game on Xbox Series X|S through Play Anywhere support. To-date, more than 120,000 PC Game Pass players have tried EVERSPACE 2.

On PlayStation 5, EVERSPACE 2 will take full advantage of DualSense controller haptic feedback, adaptive trigger, and speaker features, tying gameplay with in-hand response.

“With space adventure games getting more attention than ever, we’re excited to bring EVERSPACE 2 to whole new audiences on Xbox and PlayStation this August,” says ROCKFISH Games CEO Michael Schade. “The two years we spent in Early Access when developing for our PC launch has served us well in the lead up to our release on consoles and we’ve used the last few months well, polishing an already rock-solid foundation. Series X and PlayStation 5 players can look forward to exploring the star systems of EVERSPACE 2 supporting 60 FPS when we launch later this summer.”

EVERSPACE 2 launches on consoles with an exciting 30-hour single player campaign fully voiced in English and German plus many more hours of additional side missions, jobs, distress calls, location challenges, puzzles and other activities. The game is localized in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Spanish.

Publisher Maximum Games is working with ROCKFISH Games to bring a spectacular collector package for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to retailers worldwide on October 3, 2023. The EVERSPACE 2 Stellar Edition comes packaged in an attractive steelbook along with a 64-page artbook and digital soundtrack download.

Pre-orders are available now on Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, GAME, Argos, Micromania, Cultura, Leclerc, Xtralife, MediaMarkt, Saturn, EB Games, JB Hi-Fi, and other retailers across the globe.

MythForce Release Date Announcement Trailer

Saturday morning cartoons are back! Developer Beamdog and publisher Aspyr have announced that the first-person roguelike action game MythForce™ will launch on Sept. 12, 2023, for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam, as well as exit early access on the Epic Games Store. Catch a glimpse of the world inspired by 1980s-era cartoons in the new release date trailer showcasing an in-game cinematic video and new gameplay!

MythForce is a roguelike adventure set in the ever-changing Cursed Lands, an immersive cartoon world filled with crypts and castles. Team up with up to four friends in online co-op and unleash your inner hero in intense first-person combat, wielding legendary weapons and powerful magic in an immersive fantasy dungeon crawl that will test your skills and leave you craving for more.

Key Features

  • Star in Your Own Saturday Morning Cartoon: Step into a vibrant and colorful world crafted using the classic aesthetics and techniques of the ’80s animation era.
  • High Fantasy Swords & Sorcery: Feel the thrill of each swing and the might of each spell as you smite hordes of enemies and emerge victorious in heart-pounding, first-person combat.
  • Deep Roguelike Adventure: Level up as you explore the dungeon, uncovering magical artifacts and upgrades to become even stronger with each playthrough.
  • Play Together with Friends: Team up with friends or meet fellow adventurers online to conquer the Cursed Lands together in co-op mode for up to four players.
  • New Content for 1.0 Launch: The official 1.0 launch of MythForce on consoles and PC includes three story episodes (up from one in early access), unlockable difficulty modes for even greater challenges, and an overhaul of the meta-progression system with drop-in/drop-out functionality for online co-op.

For more on MythForce, visit www.MythForce.com, and follow along with the latest updates on Discord, Twitter and Facebook.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre IGN Exclusive Trailer

At today’s ID@Xbox Showcase, Gun Interactive—the multimedia development firm behind the upcoming The Texas Chain Saw Massacre—revealed a brand-new trailer for the upcoming asymmetrical horror game. Including the likes of the infamous Leatherface from the original 1974 film, the trailer paints a vivid, bloody picture of the dangers and mayhem that await players once the game launches in full on August 18th. Set to release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be available on launch day for $39.99 USD, in addition to being available on Xbox Game Pass. Watch the gory new trailer below!

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre takes place in the months leading up to the events of the original 1974 film, and features authentic recreations of the locations, characters, and imagery of the source material. Players control either the Victims or members of the Slaughter Family in a vicious game of 3v4 cat-and-mouse that takes the tension and suspense of the film and repurposes it into thrilling, competitive action. The Victims and the Slaughter Family must both utilize their unique abilities to come out on top, as the former use stealth and smarts to escape their fearsome tormentors, while each member of the Slaughter Family wields brutal and murderous attacks to hunt their prey.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will launch on August 18th, 2023 for PC, PlayStation® 5 (PS5™) & PlayStation® 4 (PS4™), Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, and will launch into Game Pass on Xbox and PC. For more information, visit The Community Hub at the official The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Website, and join the conversation at the Gun Interactive Discord.

EA and Cliffhanger Games Working on Black Panther Video Game

As we celebrate the 57th anniversary of Black Panther’s comic debut this July, we’re thrilled to announce Cliffhanger Games, a new triple-A development studio based in Seattle, is working on an original, third-person, single-player Black Panther game in collaboration with Marvel Games. Our mission is to build an expansive and reactive world that empowers players to experience what it is like to take on the mantle of Wakanda’s protector, the Black Panther.

Led by Kevin Stephens (Monolith Productions), Cliffhanger has already brought together accomplished talent with leaders from the critically acclaimed and innovative action-adventure game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, along with veterans of top franchises including Halo Infinite, God of War, Call of Duty and others.

“We’re dedicated to delivering fans a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, giving them more agency and control over their narrative than they have ever experienced in a story-driven video game. Wakanda is a rich Super Hero sandbox, and our mission is to develop an epic world for players who love Black Panther and want to explore the world of Wakanda as much as we do,” said Kevin.

As we begin this remarkable journey, we are excited to be working with Marvel Games to ensure that we craft every aspect of Wakanda, its technology, its heroes, and our own original story with the attention to detail and authenticity that the world of Black Panther deserves.

“It’s an incredibly rare opportunity to build a new team around the values of diversity, collaboration, and empowerment,” said Kevin.

“We want our game to enable players to feel what it’s like to be worthy of the Black Panther mantle in unique, story-driven ways, and we want Cliffhanger Games to empower everyone on our team as we collaborate to bring this amazing world to life.”

If you’re looking to take on an incredible next career move, we invite you to join our team, which we will be building over the next few years. We’re still early in development with a long road ahead, but we know the foundation to any great story is to build an experienced team with diverse voices and perspectives and that’s what we want to build, especially with a Super Hero as important as Black Panther.

Cities: Skylines II Feature Deep Dive: Zones and Signature Buildings

Today, Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order published the latest gameplay feature deep dive for Cities: Skylines II, breaking down the wide range of zone types and signature buildings players can use to create livelier and more realistic cities. From residential suburbs and industrial parks to bustling downtowns and sweeping skyscrapers, a world of options will be at players’ fingertips to build the cities of their dreams. This now includes the option for mixed-use zones, giving players even more flexibility in their city creation.