Author - Jerry Paxton

theHunter: Call of the Wild Gets New England Mountains Reserve

Released today for €/$ 7,99 on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store (save 20 %), and the Microsoft Store, as well as on PlayStation and Xbox, Expansive Worlds’ immersive hunting game has expanded with an all-new alpine reserve and the Granite Update, which includes a framerate boost of up to 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Cosmetics, and performance improvements.

Covering roughly a quarter of the state of New Hampshire, as well as portions of Western Maine, the White Mountains in the northern Appalachians served as the inspiration for the New England Mountains reserve. This vast new region gives Hunters a wonderful new area to explore, and it is teeming with wildlife to stalk and natural beauty to take in. So grab your gear and explore the majesty that is the New England Mountains!

New England Mountains – Key Features:

  • Hunt in stunning surroundings – The New England Mountains reserve features varied landscapes shaped by the passing of time, from open alpine regions to coniferous and mixed woodlands interspersed with lakes and rivers. When you are tired from stalking deer through the spruce or hunting waterfowl along the bends of the river, there is no shortage of perfect opportunities to sit back and take in the picturesque environment around you.
  • Wildlife, Great Ones and refined classics – Hunters have a wealth of wildlife to hunt – from the humble Ring-necked Pheasant to the sneaky Coyote and the majestic Moose. Speaking of the Moose, this gentle giant is now present as one of the extremely rare Great Ones alongside the equally giant Black Bear and the graceful Whitetail Deer. Not only do the Moose and Whitetail Deer have the Great One status in common – along with the stunning Red Fox, they are also among the three beautifully refined animals, who now look better than ever.
  • New weapon, unique cosmetics: Visit the Weapons Cache at any Outpost, and you will find a new weapon waiting for you. The Patriot is a powerful, modern 0.50 cal break-action muzzleloader made locally in New Hampshire. It is perfect for hunting large prey, but aim carefully – with great power comes… slow reload speed.Hunters will also receive three special welcome gifts: a free paint and a free camo, as well as the New England Mountains Scout Pack, which contains six weapon customization options. For Hunters looking for even more customization, the Veteran Pack (available to purchase via the in-game store) offers additional unique New England Mountains-inspired cosmetics: Paints, sprays, materials, camos and a unique wrap.
  • Free Granite Update – 60FPS + more wildlife: Alongside the New England Mountains reserve, we are excited to offer a series of free updates dubbed the Granite Update for theHunter: Call of the Wild:
    • The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions will receive a framerate boost of up to 60 FPS for a smoother hunting experience.
    • Extra animal species across nearly every reserve, giving Hunters plenty of reason to revisit their old favorite spots in search of new prey.
    • Already own a previously released reserve? Want to give your weapons a unique flavor? Well, you’re in luck, because we are giving all Hunters two free, themed cosmetics for each reserve, which they already own – one paint and one camo. This includes the two reserves in the base game.
    • This update also includes a range of performance improvements and minor additions to make your gameplay more enjoyable – an updated Harvest screen with preview, the ability to place/remove waypoints when using binoculars, as well as improved stability on consoles and various minor tweaks across the game on all platforms.

For more information, visit callofthewild.thehunter.com, and keep up with the latest updates from the game by following the team on Twitter @theHunterCOTW.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game – Meet the Lackeys Trailer

Good Shepherd Entertainment and Teravision Games just premiered a brand-new video at LA Comic Con for Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game! Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is a 3v7 asymmetrical multiplayer horror game based on the iconic 1988 cult horror classic film. When murderous alien Klowns come to feed on the quiet town of Crescent Cove, the locals must work together to fight back and survive the invasion. Players can team up as either Klowns or humans, choosing from a variety of character classes, to explore an expansive, ever-changing map with creepy surprises waiting around every corner.

https://youtu.be/gpefErBBfXo

Developed by Teravision Games, this playfully panic-inducing action experience faithfully recreates the atmosphere of the iconic movie and aims to stir up the asymmetrical multiplayer horror genre in multiple ways. The game is being developed as a live-service title, with multiple content updates planned for post-launch, and is expected to release in 2023 on Steam, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

Firefighting Simulator – The Squad Console Launch Trailer

Firefighting Simulator – The Squad from astragon Entertainment and developer Chronos Unterhaltungssoftware is now available for consoles. Alone or in multiplayer with up to 4 players, the fight against fire now begins on PlayStation®4, Playstation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

In Firefighting Simulator – The Squad, players take on the battle against the flames alone or in multiplayer with up to 3 other virtual firefighters. In more than 40 varied missions, the virtual firefighters must scan the locations, assess the hazardous situation, and coordinate their own squad. The scenarios include forest fire, aircraft fire or fires in residential and industrial buildings with different fire sources.

Firefighting Simulator – The Squad is now available for PlayStation®4, Playstation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and costs EUR 29.99/USD 29.99/GBP 24.99. A box version is planned in selected territories in 2023.

New Hogwarts Legacy Music Video

Warner Bros. Games and Avalanche Software released today an orchestral music video to “Overture to the Unwritten” set over original gameplay footage from the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy game which is scheduled to be released on February 10, 2023. Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before, as they live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.

“Overture to the Unwritten” features local studio musicians from Avalanche Software’s home state, Utah, including choir and orchestral members from the University of Utah, BYU, Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra and featuring renowned recording artists Nicole Pinnell, Nicole Klossner, Ryan Shupe, Abe Kaelin, Bart Olson, John Knudsen and Dune Moss. The video, filmed on location at big idea music studios in Sandy, Utah and Media Grabbers in North Salt Lake City, Utah, features the original composition by composers chuck e. myers “sea”, J. Scott Rakozy and Peter Murray and performed by a 54-piece orchestra conducted by Nathan Hofheins.

Projected behind the orchestra and interspliced throughout the music video, the original gameplay footage traverses throughout the Hogwarts Castle and the expansive surrounding areas including Hogsmeade, to reveal the vastness of the world. The orchestral song conjures a magical melody reminiscent of the Wizarding World fans are accustomed to while evoking an older descant from ancient lore.

As of today, fans are now able to stream or digitally purchase “Overture to the Unwritten.” All of the additional music from Hogwarts Legacy will be available on launch day on the Hogwarts Legacy (Original Video Game Soundtrack). Additionally, songs from Hogwarts Legacy will be featured on a second album titled, Hogwarts Legacy (Study Themes From the Original Video Game Soundtrack), an album focusing on more ambient, chill, relaxing music that is ideal to listen to while studying for classes at Hogwarts or any school. Both albums will be released by WaterTower Music and will be available at all digital streaming services.

Hogwarts Legacy is available for pre-order on PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4 via the PlayStation Store, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles via the Microsoft Store, and PC via the Steam and Epic Games Store. The Nintendo Switch pre-order date will be revealed soon.

For more information on how to pre-order Hogwarts Legacy, visit: www.hogwartslegacy.com

Exclusive Harry Potter Wand Collections Come to Universal Studios Theme Parks

A brand-new collection of authentic, interactive Ollivanders wands has arrived at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the globe, bringing 12 all-new wands – plus an additional one that is exclusive to each destination – to Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort.

Each original wand within the new assortment pairs a wood type with one of the three powerful cores preferred by master wandmaker Garrick Ollivander from the Harry Potter film series – unicorn hair, dragon heartstring and phoenix feather – and comes with a first-ever “wand lore” insert that details the distinct properties of that specific wand and the attributes of its ideal owner. Guests can also use the new wands to cast spells and reveal magical surprises with the right incantation and a gentle flick of the wrist at select locations within the spectacularly themed lands.

The new collection also brings a unique wand to each Universal park that is exclusive to that destination and not available anywhere else, including:

  • a larch and phoenix feather wand at Universal Orlando Resort
  • a walnut and dragon heartstring wand at Universal Studios Hollywood
  • a cherry and unicorn hair wand at Universal Studios Japan
  • a red oak and unicorn hair wand at Universal Beijing Resort

The lineup of new interactive Ollivanders wands is available now at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort, and joins each park’s current selection of wands inspired by beloved characters from the Harry Potter series. For more information about Universal Parks & Resorts, visit www.universalparks.com.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns Official Launch Trailer

The official launch trailer for Marvel’s Midnight Suns is now available to watch. Debuting on today’s Marvel’s Midnight Suns Livestream, this action-packed trailer shows the devastating effects of Lilith’s successful takeover of the Sanctum Santorum – unleashing the forces of the underworld on Earth. Only the full might of the Hunter and the Midnight Suns stand a fighting chance to save the world.

As part of today’s livestream, the 13th and final playable character in the base game for Marvel’s Midnight Suns was also revealed – HULK! This powerhouse will be available to unlock further into the game, bringing incredible strength and endurance to any squad.

All five Marvel’s Midnight Suns Prequel Shorts are now available to watch on YouTube. For players looking to get a headstart on each of the playable heroes, check out the Character Deep Dives and Hero History segments.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns launches on December 2 for Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Launch timing for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions of the game will be shared at a later date.

Amnesia: The Bunker Reveal Trailer

Frictional Games, the studio behind the Amnesia series and SOMA, is eager to reveal their latest title, Amnesia: The Bunker, coming to Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, and PlayStation in 2023. Amnesia: The Bunker is the latest installation in the Amnesia franchise and a pivotal point in the beloved horror series. For the first time, players are equipped with high levels of freedom to impact gameplay, choosing their playstyle as they explore at will this semi-open world. With hardly any scripted events, and constant tension brought about by an ever-present threat, it is up to each player to finesse their approach to survival.

Unlike their previous Amnesia games, Amnesia: The Bunker will feature a new kind of horror survival adventure that incorporates emergent gameplay and sandbox elements into the mix. Players will be in total control of their moment-to-moment decisions. Armed with a revolver gun and a noisy dynamo flashlight, players will walk the course of an ill-lighted WW1 bunker on the shoes of a French soldier troubled by his amnesia and hunted by an otherworldly creature.

There are multiple available solutions to each task, puzzle, and approach to the game’s obstacles; it’s up to you to decide your moves. The tenebrous dark corridors and tunnels are perhaps the last of threats stalking your every move. When everyone is dead, rations are running low, and only one bullet is left in the gun barrel, it is all up to you to face the oppressing terrors of the Bunker and make your way out alive.

In a semi-open world, Amnesia: The Bunker encourages the player to explore and experiment, using wits and whatever tools are at their disposal to overcome the looming horrors. Players will feel a stressful amount of power in their hands. Every decision will change the outcome of how the game responds as a consequence of the choices made. This new twist in gameplay adds new depths and constant tension to the game, forcing players to create new strategic paths in every playthrough.

Features:

  • Player choice – emergent gameplay in a sandbox horror survival experience
  • Unscripted environment – objects, threats, and resources, change in every playthrough
  • Adaptive horrid threats – an ever-present gruesome creature that stalks the player.  
  • Tactile immersion – all-new levels of interaction with the world through puzzle-solving and tool handling
  • Absorbing yet terrifying tale – experience hell on earth in a fictional appalling story
  • Engrossing atmosphere and tension – enhanced lighting effects and carefully designed sound effects for a real horror experience.

Amnesia: The Bunker is set to release on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox X|S on March 2023. Expect to hear more news soon about Amnesia: The Bunker. In the meantime, you can browse through the game’s website and watch Frictional Games’ recently released video clips for The Bunker here. To keep up to date with everything from Frictional Games, follow the official channels on Twitter and Instagram.

The Legacy of Ant-Man Special Look Now Available

Stars and filmmakers from Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” ventured to São Paulo, Brazil today for Comic Con Experience 2022 (CCXP), building excitement for the feature film opening in U.S. theaters Feb. 17, 2023. Stars Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne/The Wasp) and Jonathan Majors (Kang) joined filmmakers Peyton Reed (director) and Kevin Feige (producer and president of Marvel Studios), sharing insights and sneak peeks of footage from the epic adventure.

A special retrospective look at Ant-Man and the Wasp in their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—including footage from “Ant-Man,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Ant-Man and The Wasp” and “Avengers: Endgame”—as well as a glimpse of the upcoming film—is now available to download and share. 

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Returns After 94 Year Cartoon Hiatus

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit returns to the studio that bears his creator’s name – Walt Disney Animation Studios – with an all-new animated short, over 94 years since Disney’s last Oswald cartoon. Created by Disney Animation’s hand-drawn animation team to help celebrate the start of Disney 100 Years of Wonder that marks 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, the short, appropriately titled “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,” is directed by famed animator Eric Goldberg (“How To Stay At Home (Starring Goofy),” “Pocahontas,” “Fantasia/2000”) and produced by Emmy Award®-winning producer Dorothy McKim (“Prep & Landing,” “Get A Horse!,” “Meet The Robinsons”) and available on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ YouTube channel.

“On the eve of Disney’s 100th anniversary, it was such a joy to create the first new Oswald short from our studio since 1928,” says McKim. “Our hand-drawn animation team – including our hand-drawn legends Mark Henn, Randy Haycock and Eric Goldberg, as well our wonderful team of 2D apprentices, had a ball animating in the style of Oswald’s era.”

“Oswald is such a plucky scamp. We wanted to bring Oswald back, and in the short, he literally returns to his original home, the movie screen,” says Goldberg. “We wanted to have Oswald do all of the ‘squash-and-stretch,’ ‘rubber hose’-animation style, celebrating that first generation of Walt Disney’s artists.”

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is considered Walt Disney’s first breakout animated star, and widely considered one of the first characters in animation history to feature a unique personality. Walt Disney introduced Oswald to moviegoers in 1927 with the short “Trolley Troubles.” 26 Oswald short films were created by Walt Disney and his team, with the final Disney shorts starring the character releasing in late summer 1928, the same year Walt lost creative control over his beloved rabbit. In 2006, Disney CEO Bob Iger made an unprecedented deal with NBC/Universal, that included permitting sportscaster Al Michaels to contract with NBC in exchange for the return of Oswald to his original home. Since then, Oswald has appeared in video games and merchandise, an animated short, and in Disney theme parks globally.

In conjunction with the animated short, Disney is also today launching an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Snapchat lens globally that allows users to channel Oswald using AR technology.

Path of Exile: The Forbidden Sanctum Release Date

Grinding Gear Games announced today via livestream, that Path of Exile’s latest free expansion, Path of Exile: The Forbidden Sanctum, will launch on Friday, December 9 on PC, and Wednesday, December 14 for PlayStation and Xbox.

During the stream, Grinding Gear Games Co-founder Chris Wilson revealed that Path of Exile: The Forbidden Sanctum will feature a brand new Challenge League and improvements to Path of Exile‘s endgame, alongside two new Skill Gems, seven new Vaal Skill Gems, over 15 new Unique Items, significant balance changes to jewels, hexes, monster modifiers, unique weapons and more. This expansion also introduces Ruthless, an optional new way to play Path of Exile with extreme item scarcity.

More information on The Forbidden Sanctum content can be found below:

  • New Three-month Challenge League: The Forbidden Sanctum is a roguelike that takes place within Path of Exile. Players will explore an ancient sanctum which is rumored to be hidden beneath the Fellshrine Ruins. Long abandoned, a malevolent presence has taken hold. In each area of Wraeclast they play through, players will have the opportunity to explore one room of the Sanctum as they search for its treasures.
  • New Skills and Vaal Gems – Two new skill gems that benefit melee characters have been introduced. These are Volcanic Fissure, a fiery slam skill, and Frozen Legion, a spell that summons a ring of icy melee statues. Many new Vaal Gems have been introduced. Vaal Gems are alternate versions of existing skill gems that come with a periodic and massive power boost.
  • Ruthless Mode – An optional new game mode which can be selected during character creation. Ruthless is all about extreme item scarcity, which creates a challenging and brutal way to play Path of Exile.
  • New Unique Items – This expansion introduces over fifteen new unique items that can be found within the Sanctum or throughout Wraeclast. These items create new opportunities for specialized character creation.
  • Monster Modifiers – The Archnemesis monster modifier system has been replaced with a refined set of modifiers that each only do one thing and say exactly what they do. Their rewards have been updated as a result and are no longer associated with specific modifiers. In general, magic and rare monster combat is now less complex but can still result in a combination of modifiers that get your heart racing.
  • Endgame Improvements – Improvements have been made to the Atlas Passive Tree that allow players to invest even further into content they enjoy. Two new Atlas Memories can now also be found, telling the story of Domination and Bestiary.
  • Buffed Endgame Unique Weapons – Ten endgame unique weapons have received massive buffs to bring them in line with some of Path of Exile’s most iconic items. Naturally, they’re now extremely rare.
  • Balance Changes – Many balance changes have been made to game areas such as Jewels, Hexes, and Eldritch Altars.

To learn more about the updates coming in Path of Exile: The Forbidden Sanctum, check out the full VOD of the Twitch livestream which aired today.