Author - Jerry Paxton

World of Warships: Legends Kicks Off 4th Anniversary Celebrations

Wargaming, the publisher and developer of the leading naval MMO World of Warships is kicking off festivities for the fourth anniversary of its console edition World of Warships: Legends. To celebrate four years since launch, the game introduces plenty of in-game activities, alongside a Treasure Hunt web event, as well as tons of totally free gifts to unlock. In addition to the birthday festivities, this update welcomes a brand-new Training Mode, a classic campaign with a Tier VIII Italian Premium battleship waiting at the end and three new seasons of Ranked Battles!

An Anniversary On the High Seas
To celebrate four years, World of Warships: Legends is gifting players plenty of activities and in-game content to dive into. A new look of the Treasure Hunt web event awaits, with keys to be found across gameplay and missions, this time available for completion without spending doubloons. These keys can be used to open cells that contain plenty of prizes, including a special fourth anniversary currency called Quadrans. In exchange for Quadrans, players can unlock dedicated anniversary items including different ships, such as Tier VII Premium American cruiser Congress and British Tier V Battleship Repulse.

In addition, players can also acquire the highly desirable Super V Crate, which guarantees a Premium ship to those who unlock it. Exclusive to this сrate is Japanese Tier V destroyer Shinonome. Another specialty сrate, Super VI, also comes in this update, with plenty of other special ships waiting to be discovered, with the likes of Belfast and Yukikaze among those. To wrap up all the birthday bonuses, players can also pick up the “Seasoned Veteran” bundle. Featuring an exclusive edition of Soviet Premium Tier II cruiser Oleg, this bundle contains plenty of in-game goodies.

Test the Waters in Training Mode
Brand new in this update is the introduction of a Training Mode available to all players. This customizable practice area creates a space to strategize for battle, without the risk of losing any in-game resources. With an array of maps, scenarios, and durations to choose from, as well as bots with various settings available, players can trial new action plans before going head-to-head with the foe.

A Brand-new Campaign and the Return of Ranked Battles
Closing out this update comes a fresh, classic Legends campaign. The five-week, 100-milestone “Dies Irae” offers those who answer the challenge the impressive Premium Italian Tier VIII battleship Giuseppe Verdi, available with Admiralty Backing active. In addition to the campaign, World of Warships: Legends also sees the first of three seasons of Ranked Battles make its way to the game beginning July 28. Ships spanning Tier IV-VI, barring aircraft carriers, can get into the action, depending on the seasons, and fight for the number one spot to take home the glory and plenty of prizes.

This update also brings several bug fixes, upgrades and balance changes across the game. You can find the full patch notes here.

Skybound Announces Invincible Presents Atom Eve Visual Novel and Video Game

Skybound Entertainment, the creator-led, multi-platform entertainment company, has revealed its first original video game in the Invincible universe, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, adding to its award-winning and critically-acclaimed series of comic books and television. The special reveal was made at the Invincible 20th Anniversary Panel this past Friday at Comic-Con International: San Diego and falls on the heels of the recently announced multi-hero mobile game from Ubisoft and Skybound, Invincible: Guarding the Globe.

Developed by Terrible Posture Games (The Walking Dead: Last Mile, Mothergunship) with Creative Director, Jill Murray (Narrative Lead/Design on Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Boyfriend Dungeon) and Art Director, Rossi Gifford (Illustrator and Character Designer Riot Games, Marvel, and Skybound), Invincible Presents: Atom Eve will allow players to become Atom Eve, the eponymous super hero from the Invincible comic books and animated series.

“I love this game for its fresh spin on the original comic’s artwork and style,” said Robert Kirkman, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Skybound. “Terrible Posture Games, Jill Murray, and Rossi Gifford do an incredible job of bringing 20 years of Invincible to new life in a game that really looks and feels like a comic book.”

Players can explore Atom Eve’s life beyond the story they already know and love from the comics and animated series, and face the difficulties that come with balancing the dangers and responsibilities of her superhero life with the everyday challenges of school, friends, family, and romantic interests. Dramatic player choices that shape Atom Eve’s relationships will define the outcome of the story across multiple paths and choosing how to develop Eve’s skills can increase her power, unlock special combat skills for use in vivid comic-book-style combat, or unlock unique dialogue options to further play your story, your way.

“Atom Eve’s complexity, creativity, and wry sense of humor make her such a joy to build a game around. I can’t wait to share her powers and unique point of view with players,” said Jill Murray.

“It has been hard to keep this game a secret! Being entrusted by a fellow creator to bring Atom Eve to life through my art has been such an honor. As a big fan of Invincible I’m excited to show what we have in store for our players!” said Rossi Gifford.

Wishlist and Follow Invincible Presents: Atom Eve on Steam for regular updates and news: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060870

For more Atom Eve, fans can watch the critically acclaimed adult animated superhero series Invincible on Prime Video. The first episode of Season Two is available now, and will be followed by the first half of its eight-episode second season on November 3, with new episodes weekly. Following a mid-season hiatus, the second half of Season Two will premiere in early 2024. Invincible will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

Nintendo, Bandai Namco, SEGA Among Many Exhibitors at PAX West 2023

Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade reveal the first list of exhibitors showcasing at PAX West 2023, the West Coast’s most-attended gaming event. PAX West welcomes gamers from around the world to the revamped Seattle Convention Center this Labor Day weekend from Friday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.

Nintendo, Bandai Namco, and Among Us developers Innersloth, are among the many publishers ready to offer attendees hands-on opportunities with their most anticipated releases and hottest games. International publishers like Devolver Digital, NIS America, PLAYISM, and XSEED Games will also take over a larger than ever expo hall thanks to the addition of the new Summit building to the Seattle Convention Center.

In addition to the jam-packed expo, PAX West 2023 will treat attendees to panels along with a variety of live entertainment throughout the show. Panelists will explore lighthearted topics such as fan-favorite universes like Kingdom Hearts and Zelda, as well as a variety of important topics to the gaming industry. Participants include popular content creators Caddicarus and STPeach, journalists from Kotaku, TheGamer, and IGN, and talented team members from Microsoft, Riot Games, and more. Check out the preliminary schedule here.

Nintendo Live, the separately-ticketed event, will take place at the original Arch Building of the Seattle Convention Center, with a special selection of hands-on gameplay, live performances, special merch, tournaments, and more.

PAX Arena will see a weekend full of intense esports competition, including an Among Us tournament as part of Stream Stars. Celebrate gaming from creators of all kinds in the PAX Together activations throughout the show. Additionally, the community will get the chance to come together in tabletop, handheld, and console freeplay areas, along with the Bring Your Own Computer section.

“PAX West is where it all began, so I’ll always have a special heart for this one. Plus, it’s about fifteen minutes from my house,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX, Penny Arcade, and Child’s Play. “It’s gone by many names – PAX Prime, even just plain old PAX at first. It’s been in many places, sometimes even multiple places at once. But we’ve put together a strong one this year and I can’t wait for you to see it.”

Four-day PAX West 2023 badges are available now for $260, while individual day passes go for $71 each. Media and content creator registration is currently open from now until Friday, July 28, at 8:00 am PDT. For more info, check out the PAX West website, and follow PAX on Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram.

Trine 5 Pontius the Knight Trailer

Glorious battles, shining armor, a sharp sword, and a trusty shield: That’s the stuff that heroes are made of! Become a hero yourself when Trine 5 releases on August 31st, 2023 on PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One™, Xbox Series S/X™, and Nintendo Switch™! Watch the new trailer for magical co-op adventure Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy:

For now, meet Pontius the Knight, Protector of the Realm and also the biggest pie lover the land has ever seen! A real frontline hero who is always going head first into battle to protect his friends!

Your sword and shield will aid you on your journey – if you know how to use them! As a skilled knight and professional pie eater, Pontius can use his sword to fight off enemies, get rid of obstacles, and even use it as a platform to help him reach higher areas. The shield, not only made to protect, will come in handy to reflect light, skate across water, and even use as a glider!

Charge, smash, fight, and puzzle-solve your way through the dangers that await with your fellow adventurers. And should you need further help, the Prismatic Talisman will be your best friend – literally. Clones can be useful!

Trine 5 is developed by Frozenbyte in Helsinki, Finland and is coming to PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One™, Xbox Series S/X™, and Nintendo Switch™ on August 31st, 2023.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Gets Archangel Bonus Episode

Telltale, the leading narrative game development studio and publisher, today revealed Archangel, a bonus episode for The Expanse: A Telltale Series.

The bonus episode stars Shohreh Aghdashloo, reprising her role as Chrisjen Avasarala, Secretary-General of the United Nations in The Expanse. Archangel is a completely different take on The Expanse: A Telltale Series, where players will experience a fateful day in the life of Chrisjen Avasarala by managing conflicts across the solar system and battling wits with rival politicians, all while navigating family drama on a day that will change her life forever.

Archangel launches this Fall and is included in The Deluxe Edition or purchaseable separately.

Additionally, the fifth and final behind-the-scenes video, ‘Building The Belt’ has been released. The video series is designed to give fans of both Telltale and The Expanse unprecedented access to the game’s development. The other videos feature discussions about how the narrative for The Expanse: A Telltale Series was designed, how the game fits into the broader Expanse canon, and conversations with some of the Lead developers on the project.

You can see the whole playlist here.

Telltale, the leading narrative game development studio and publisher, recently announced that Episode 1 of The Expanse: A Telltale Series would be launching on July 27, 2023. The following four episodes will be releasing every two weeks, allowing players to experience the exciting universe of The Expanse like never before.

Pre-orders for both the Standard ($39.99) and Deluxe Editions ($44.99) are live now. Players who pre-order will receive 24-hour early access*, while players who purchase the Deluxe edition will also receive the Archangel bonus episode.

The first new IP announced by Telltale since the company re-formed in 2019, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is set prior to the events of Alcon Television Group’s critically acclaimed and award-winning television series which streams on Amazon Prime Video. Players take on the role of Camina Drummer (played by actress Cara Gee in both the game and TV series), the XO of a scavenger crew on the hunt for a mysterious treasure on the edges of The Belt. As Drummer, players must deal with a mix of powerful personalities, square off against a bloody mutiny, explore locations beyond The Belt and, most of all, make tough decisions that will decide the fate of The Artemis crew. Scour shipwrecks, use mag boots to walk on walls and ceilings, and utilize Zero-G thrusters to float through sections of ships and the open expanse of space in the largest and most immersive exploration of any Telltale game to date.

To learn more about The Expanse: A Telltale Series, please visit https://www.telltale.com/the-expanse/.

* Only available on PlayStation and Epic Games Store 

ScareScape Halloween Haunt Announced in Murrieta

Step into your wildest nightmares, experience heart-pounding terror and spine-chilling thrills at ScareScape, the newest halloween haunt to hit the Inland Empire. Debuting for the first-time this spooky season on September 29th for select dates through October 29th, ScareScape promises an unforgettable experience that goes beyond reality, beyond fear, immersing guests in a truly nightmarish dimension. Tickets go on sale today at scarescapehaunt.com, starting at $25 USD per ticket.

Set amidst the breathtaking panoramic views of the Temecula valley at Heritage Hill in Murrieta, California, ScareScape will transport guests on a terrifying exploration of their deepest fears. SoCal’s newest haunt will deliver frights for 19-nights with 3 GA mazes, 1 VIP Maze, multiple bars, VIP lounge, live entertainment, food trucks, roaming monsters, a vendor marketplace, and more. Included in ScareScape admission, each ticket-holder will embark into the darkness on an exclusive shuttle ride to the summit of the hill before facing their wildest nightmares. More details to be announced soon.

“We’re excited to introduce ScareScape to the SoCal haunt scene and provide a spooky Halloween experience that highlights the talent and creativity of our local community,” shared Lexy Berru, Creative Minds Productions. “We designed each maze to embody some of the most archetypal and primal fears that humans experience. From coulrophobia (fear of clowns) to phasmophobia (fear of ghosts and the supernatural), ScareScape will take you on a terrifying exploration of humankind’s deepest fears.”

Tickets for ScareScape are available today starting at $25 USD and can be purchased at scarescapehaunt.com. Early Bird buyers can use promo code SPOOKYSUMMER to save $10 on GA tickets through July 31st. Promo code SPOOKYSUMMER is valid on General Admission (GA) ticket purchases only, while supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other offers. SPOOKYSUMMER promotion is valid through July 31, 2023.

Visit ScareScapeHaunt.com for more information, to purchase tickets, and to stay up to date on announcements, sales, and more.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarescapehaunt/

Facebook: facebook.com/scarescapehaunt

Unholy Official Launch Trailer

HOOK, the indie label of global video game publisher Digital Bros, and Polish developer Duality Games are thrilled to announce that Unholy, the highly anticipated first-person psychological horror experience is available today for PC via Steam for £24.99/€29.99/$29.99 with a limited time 20% discount. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X versions will follow later.

Unholy takes players on a terrifying journey and uncovers the horrors facing the protagonist Dorothea, as she traverses two parallel worlds in her search to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her son. Unholy follows the disappearance of a young child from a run-down, unwelcoming post-soviet town. Using exploration, puzzle solving and intriguing combat mechanics, players will traverse between reality and a twisted Unholy world to unveil the terrifying truth.

High On Life PlayStation Launch Trailer

Squanch Games is excited to announce that its smash hit High On Life is now available on the PlayStation Store. The comedic sci-fi shooter, previously available on Xbox consoles and PC, is priced at $59.99.

“The fans have spoken. And spoken. And spoken,” says Mike Fridley, Squanch’s Studio Director. “We’ve been thrilled with High On Life’s reception since it launched in December. Our PlayStation fans have been slightly less thrilled, which is why we’re so excited to share that it’s coming their way very soon. Like now soon! Thank you for your patience!”

High On Life follows the misadventures of an unmotivated high-school graduate who becomes Earth’s last hope following an alien invasion. These alien creeps have been scouring the galaxy fiending for their next great high, and humans provide an exceptional buzz. Naturally, the only course of action is to become a bounty hunter, track down the key members of the alien cartel, and end their intoxicating aspirations. Also, your guns talk and they’re funny.

Squanch recently announced their first DLC update, High On Knife, which introduces a brand-new talking gun character, Harper, voiced by Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live) and a goopy new boss named Mux who’s voiced by Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, American Horror Story). High On Knife will be launching on PlayStation this fall when it’s also available for PC and Xbox consoles.

High On Life, is available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store; Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles; and with Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud, has surpassed more than 7.5 million unique players worldwide since its launch in mid-December. High On Life was the top seller on Steam during launch week, the biggest Xbox Game Pass release of 2022, the biggest 3rd party launch in Game Pass history, and the biggest single-player game launch on Game Pass ever. It’s out now on PlayStation 4/5, in case you skipped to the end.

Knott’s Scary Farm 50th Year Promises Nostalgia of Haunts Past

This year marks 50 years of never-ending nightmares at Knott’s Scary Farm. The spine-tingling tradition is Southern California’s longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event. Starting Monday, tickets go on sale for a frightful experience that has left no tomb unearthed, no crypt unrattled and no fear untouched. This year’s lineup is a culmination of five decades of terror that no one will want to miss select nights from September 21 through October 31. For those counting, that’s 29 fearful nights of horror.

This anniversary’s lineup includes 10 frightening mazes, 5 sinister scare zones and 4 hair-raising shows. Guests can expect to uncover unforgettable experiences that will usher in characters from Haunt history. Those looking to unleash their inner monster at this year’s event can purchase event tickets on July 24 at 10 AM.

WHEN: This year, the event returns September 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, October 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31. Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 2:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:00 pm – 1:00 am on select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

WHERE: Scary Farm tickets go on sale July 24 at knottsscaryfarm.com

Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, park hours, and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com. Join the scary conversation by using #ScaryFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

City of the Living Dead Coming to 4K UHD

On August 15th, Cauldron Films unleashes the worldwide UHD debut of Lucio Fulci’s Italian horror classic City of the Living Dead in 4K, fully restored with a brand-new Dolby Vision™ color grade, exclusively commissioned by Cauldron Films. The 3-disc set includes the 4K UHD Feature, a Blu-ray Feature and a Blu-ray Extras Disc double-sided Blu-ray wrap with artwork by Matthew Therrien.

The death of a priest causes a chain reaction that begins The End of Days. The only hope lies in a jaded reporter (Christopher George) and the psychic (Catriona MacColl) he saved from being buried alive. The two set off for Dunwich, New England to shut the gates of hell before it’s too late and the undead rule the Earth. This horror classic features Special FX work by Gino De Rossi of Zombie and Cannibal Ferox infamy, a score by Fabio Frizzi, and a screenplay co-written by Dardano Sacchetti (Rat Man, Demons).

Special features include:
• A new audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan
• Archival audio commentaries with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Archival audio commentary with actress Catriona MacColl moderated by Jay Slater
• Archival audio commentary with actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice
moderated by Calum Waddell
• Zombie Kings: Interview with Massimo Antonello Geleng
• Requiem for Bob: Interview with Giovanni Lombardo Radice
• On Stage: Q&A with Venantino Venantini & Ruggero Deodato
• Catriona MacColl Q&A
• Fabio Frizzi Q&A
• The Meat Munching Movies of Gino De Rossi
• Carlo of the Living Dead, an archival interview with actor Carlo De Mejo
• A Trip Through Bonaventure Cemetery
• Catriona MacColl video intro from 2001
• Image Gallery
• Plus more archival extras and other surprises!
• Double-sided Blu-ray wrap with artwork by Matthew Therrien
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Seamless branching – watch in English Language w/ English credit sequences and watch Italian language w/ Italian credit sequences.
• UHD (feature film) 4K (2160p) presentation with Dolby Vision™ HDR (HDR 10 compatible)
• Blu-ray (feature film) 1080p presentation