Author - Jerry Paxton

I Expect You To Die 3: Cog In The Machine Announcement Trailer

Today, Schell Games released a trailer to announce I Expect You To Die 3: Cog In The Machine, the next installment of the award-winning I Expect You To Die franchise. The three-quel will be available to Agents across the globe in 2023 on Meta Quest and Steam.

In I Expect You To Die 3, players must outwit their most cunning adversary to date in this spy-themed VR puzzle series. Players will experience brand-new missions, wield complex gadgets, visit action-packed locales, engage with robots, harness the power of telekinesis, and wear custom attire as they dive back into the world of espionage.

“I Expect You To Die launched in 2016, and the franchise has expanded beyond our expectations thanks to the passion and hard work of the development teams and our amazing fans,” said Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games. “We are truly grateful for the community of Secret Agents who supported the series over the years, and we’re excited to declassify top secret missions that anyone can enjoy.”

The three-quel is full of the classic I Expect You To Die hilarity. From cheeky jokes to multiple outrageous puzzle solutions, players familiar and new to the franchise will enjoy tactical challenges in tandem with light-hearted humor.

Building on the first game’s success, I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy And The Liar won several awards, including the Unity Awards, the NYX Game Awards, and the Telly Awards. The game was nominated for several prominent awards, including the Game Awards, Steam’s Game of the Year Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, SXSW, the Develop:Star Awards, and the VR Awards. Between I Expect You To Die and I Expect You To Die 2, the franchise has racked up 38 award wins or nominations. I Expect You To Die 2 also surpassed $1M in revenue less than a week after launch and continues to be a top seller on the VR charts for Meta Quest and Steam.

“We have some unique and exciting locations in I Expect You To Die 3, and we can’t wait to see how players creatively solve puzzles in a race to beat Dr. Zor at his own game,” said Matt Mahon, VP of Engineering and Project Director for I Expect You To Die 3. “Players new to the series can jump right in and have a great time, and returning fans will appreciate some fun nods to the prior games.”

I Expect You To Die and I Expect You To Die 2 are available now at a 20% discount in a Duo Bundle on the Meta Quest and Steam stores for players who want to prepare themselves for the next mission.

For more information, sign up for the email newsletter on the newly updated website

World of Warships British Submarines Early Access

Wargaming, publisher and developer of the naval multiplayer free-to-play game World of Warships, is introducing an armada of content to Update 12.1. With British submarines coming to Early Access, a campaign with an Australian light cruiser waiting at the end and a new season of Clan battles, this update is jam-packed full of content. Moreover, World of Warships has also added a chain of several special combat missions with All-American prizes waiting at the finish line.

British submarines sink into Early Access

Beginning March 2nd, three historic British submarines will make their way into Early Access. Undine, Sturdy and Thrasher all enter the game alongside several permanent camouflages and other exciting rewards. These deep-sea vessels offer value in maneuverability and fast reloading acoustic torpedoes, however their limited hit-points will require players to be deft in their movements. These sub-surface ships also see the standard submarine equipment, including “Damage Control Party,” “Submarine Surveillance” and “Hydrophone”.

Alongside these additions, comes a special collective chain of combat missions which, upon completion, will bestow players with both a special commemorative flag and British Tokens.

Queen of the Seas campaign sets sail

In a three-week campaign format, The Queen of the Seas takes players on a special pirate-themed adventure that follows the path of an Australian bushranger on her quest to flee the continent aboard a mythical ship. Along the way players can acquire plenty of Pirate Tokens – a temporary resource that can be exchanged for two valuable prizes – Australian light cruiser Brisbane and Commander Matilda Kelly. With powerful air defence that includes ten 152-mm main battery guns and an augmented torpedo armament for underwater destruction, Brisbane is a valuable addition to any fleet, and the accompanying Commander Kelly sits at her helm with 19 skill points.

All-American awards await

Combat missions aren’t only limited to British submarines though. Until the end of February, players can embark on a chain of combat missions where completing them brings about a number of all-American rewards including a Commander Statue of Liberty, equipped with its own unique voice acting and American Tokens. Players can also secure permanent camouflages, a commemorative flag and a number of other star-spangled goodies in exchange for tokens or across random doubloon packs.

The season of “Salamander” Clan Battles

Closing out Update 12.1, the game also sees the 20th season of Clan Battles. Starting February 20th through April 10, Warships players with Tier X ships can team up and engage in a seven-on-seven battle of strength and strategy. As usual, to keep the playing field level, there are a handful of ship restrictions with the exclusion of aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as a cap on battleships.

Update 12.1 also sees another Battle Pass added to the game, three Brawls starting on February 20th and several visual and technical changes across the board.

Razer Introduces New Blade 15: Ultimate Portability and Power Gaming Laptop

A brand-new Razer Blade 15 – continuing its storied legacy of pushing the boundaries of thin and light 15” gaming laptops – is now available. This ultra-portable gaming machine is powered by the latest 13th generation Intel® Core™ i7 13800H processor and NVIDIA®’s newest GeForce® RTX 40-series GPUs, up to the RTX 4070. Enhanced vapor chamber cooling and thinner 0.05mm exhaust fins provide the exceptional thermal control needed to pack this level of performance in a laptop that is 25% smaller than the Blade 16.

The Blade 15 places portability at the forefront. As the thinnest Blade in the 2023 line, it weighs less than four and a half pounds and delivers up to over six hours of battery life from its 80Wh battery. The 16:9 QHD 240Hz display provides smooth, sharp visuals with a 2.5ms response time and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The Blade 15 is easily upgradeable, accommodating up to 4TB of storage using an extra M.2 slot and up to 64GB DDR5-5200MHz memory, allowing users to keep pace with even the most demanding games and tasks.

In addition to the new Razer Blade 15, the recently launched Blade 16 and Blade 18 are now available equipped with RTX 4060 and 4070 GPUs as well. These configurations round out the full line of the new Blade 16 and Blade 18 laptops.

All Blade laptops are protected by a 1-year manufacturing warranty and a 2-year battery warranty backed up by Razer’s award-winning customer support. Optional enrollment in RazerCare provides further peace of mind.

For more information on the new Razer Blades, please visit the following product pages: Blade 15; Blade 16; Blade 18.

For more information on how Razer empowers you to #WinItYourWay, please see here.

WHEN

Available now, February 22, 2023.

WHERE

Razer.com, RazerStore locations, and select retailers.

PRICE

  • Razer Blade 15: Starting at $2,499.99 / 2,899.99€ MSRP
  • Razer Blade 16: Starting at $2,699.99 / 3,099.99€ MSRP
  • Razer Blade 18: Starting at $2,899.99 / 3,399.99€ MSRP

Resident Evil Village VR Mode Out for PlayStation VR2

Dive headset-first into the world of survival horror today with Resident Evil™ Village VR Mode. This immersive new experience is out now alongside the launch of PlayStation®VR2 as free downloadable content for all PlayStation®5 owners of Resident Evil™ Village and Resident Evil™ Village Gold Edition.

A demo for Resident Evil Village VR Mode is also now available for download via the PlayStation™ Store.

Development has also begun on Resident Evil™ 4’s VR Mode. This PlayStation VR2 content will be available as free DLC for the highly anticipated remake of Resident Evil 4. Please stay tuned for more information. Resident Evil 4 is now available for pre-order ahead of its fast-approaching March 24, 2023 release across PlayStation 5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

Resident Evil Village VR Mode dials up the intensity of the award-winning eighth core entry in the Resident Evil franchise. The DLC supports the full story campaign following Ethan Winters’ harrowing journey to rescue Rose, his kidnapped daughter. This adventure is more thrilling than ever in virtual reality, as Resident Evil Village VR Mode takes full advantage of PlayStation VR2’s advanced features to transport players directly into the village. Prepare to see this world straight through Ethan’s eyes in stunning detail powered by the new headset’s 4K HDR display and eye-tracking technology. The atmosphere is further enhanced by 3D audio effects that add texture to the environment and allow listeners to hear the horrors that lurk around every corner.

The experience is also tangibly more immersive with PlayStation VR2 Sense™ functionality. The new controllers enable players to interact with their surroundings like never before with natural motions that mirror Ethan’s on-screen movements. These intuitive inputs include blocking enemy attacks by lifting Ethan’s arms, reloading firearms with realistic actions, and exploring while holding up a map. Players can also dual-wield weapons, store and retrieve items inside Ethan’s coat, and perform a range of other tactile gestures such as unlatching doors and healing wounds with medicine bottles.

Resident Evil Village VR Mode also includes VR Tutorial and Shooting Range modes that demonstrate the new VR gameplay systems and provide a place for players to hone their marksmanship skills.

Transport Fever 2 Console Edition Gameplay Overview

NACON and Urban Games are pleased to release the first gameplay video with commentary for the game Transport Fever 2: Console Edition. The transport simulation game, a benchmark title in the genre on PC, will be released on 9 March 2023 on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Watch the new gameplay video for Transport Fever 2: Console Edition

With commentary by Nihat Isik, a developer at Urban Games, this gameplay video looks at some of the mechanics you will use to develop your empire using a fictional tropical island in the 1970s as an example.

The prosperity of your transport enterprise is closely linked to the growth of surrounding towns. The more the towns expand and become interconnected, the more your business needs to handle a growing number of users and goods, which increases revenues. To achieve this, you can diversify your transport offering by rolling out a variety of services: bus, rail, air, sea, etc. This will make it easier to serve new areas within the same city and connect it to other urban areas. You can also increase the frequency and capacity of your transportation, modernise lines and add improvements to help traffic circulation.

Explore all the ways you can develop your transport company and build a genuine empire when Transport Fever 2: Console Edition releases on consoles on 9 March 2023!

About Transport Fever 2: Console Edition
Transport Fever 2: Console Edition is a tycoon game in which you create a transport company and develop all the infrastructure required for the business to grow. By transporting cargo and passengers, you build a transport empire and contribute to the global economy. And now Urban Games has adapted the game for consoles so even more gamers can enjoy the experience. With improved graphics, a revamped interface and controls adapted to controllers, everyone can enjoy an optimized version of the renowned management game.

Transport Fever 2: Console Edition is the first transport management game on consoles. You get the chance to:

  • Build all the transport connections required for a town to grow, from 1850 to the present day
  • Develop complex transportation links using advanced interactive construction tools
  • Control around 200 vehicles, real and historical: trains, buses, trams, trucks, planes and ships
  • Create your own maps on three different landscape types
  • Become a major player in the town’s economy by improving access and trade: transport passengers as well as deliver raw materials and consumer cargo

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals Review – Step on it!

There are not a lot of well known, big names in the flight simulation peripheral industry. You have some bigger companies which have dipped their toes into the market to varying degrees of success but most flight simulation gamers turn to lesser well-known companies for specialized peripherals. Enter Turtle Beach, a company that has been in tech and peripherals for decades, and their VelocityOne lineup. Recently, we got the chance to check out the Turtle Beach, VelocityOne Rudder Rudder Pedals, the rudder pedal entry into their product line.

The design and overall build quality of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals is outstanding – second to none when it comes to big company flight sim peripherals. It’s heavy, weighing over thirteen pounds, and feels extremely sturdy. I have used a lot of rudder pedals over the years and these have been the best of the bunch. They feel like a real piece of aviation equipment. Versatility is something the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals have in spades. The pedals themselves can be configured in one of two ways. They arrive in the more standard pedal configuration, where the user’s foot is placed on the entire pedal in an angled fashion. The alternate configuration of the pedals allows you to push the pedals back and forth then move your foot to the brakes when needed. Usually, pedals are sold in one of these two designs – with Turtle Beach, you get both! An additional feature of the VelocityOne Rudder Pedals are its adjustable width. Very easily, you can adjust the width of the pedals from to accommodate your personal comfort. The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals utilize HAL effect sensors in each axis for precise movement. Inside the base of the pedals, you’ll find another set of springs with a heavier tension rating. With an included tool, you can swap out the springs based on the amount of tension you prefer.

Photos

Connecting the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals to your PC is super easy. There is a mode button on the back of the pedals and you need to make sure that is set to “PC”. From there, just plug the USB-C to USB-A cable into an available port and off you go. Unfortunately, in order to use the pedals on the Xbox Series X or Xbox One, you will need to also purchase the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Yoke as it will act as a passthrough. Turtle Beach has been smart enough to include friction pads with rubber cleats that can be adhered to the button of the pedals – this makes the pedals carpet ready, and they will NOT move around on you while in use. There are also mounting holes that could be used to screw or bolt the pedals down if that’s your preference.

In my time with the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals, I played an unhealthy amount of MS Flight Simulator, X-Plane 12, and DCS. The pedals never failed me, they performed every time I needed them. The precision of these pedals is so impressive. Switching between pedal setups takes very little time and as I jumped into DCS, my F-14B Tomcat wheeled around the carrier with newfound agility. I was also able to maintain level turns a lot easier thanks to the VelocityOne Rudder Pedals. Simply put, they feel like pedals ripped from a very expensive professional level simulator – just in my own gaming setup!

Overall, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals are the best big company rudder pedals that you can purchase at this time. They cost $299.99 and, while that’s not cheap, they are worth every penny. They are available for purchase now – you can find more information at the official Turtle Beach website. Due to their overall excellence, we are awarding the rudder pedals a 5 out of 5 and our coveted Seal of Excellence award.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Train Sim World 3 Gets New American Route and Locomotive Content

Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of authentic simulation titles, today release new and upgraded Train Sim World 3 content focusing on American routes and locomotives. Out now on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, the individual items of DLC includes Amtrak’s Acela® and Fallen Flag locomotives from Union Pacific. Bundles in the form of the Train Sim World 3: U.S. Passenger Bundle and Train Sim World 3: U.S. Freight Bundle are also available on all platforms as well as Starter Packs.

Passenger Content

The flagship addition for passenger train fans is the iconic Amtrak’s Acela®, now available in Train Sim World as a locomotive Add-on for the first time. This high-speed passenger train celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020 and continues to ferry Americans through the Northeast Corridor. A section of this route, Northeast Corridor: New York – Trenton, forms separately a new route for Train Sim World 3, including NJ TRANSIT’s 7,100 horsepower ALP-46 to run alongside the Acela in this passenger-heavy route.

“Dovetail Games’ growth and expansion of their simulation software offers an amazing way to explore this popular route in ways that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” said Kerry McKelvey, Amtrak’s VP of Marketing. “Amtrak is excited to bring yet another new section of the Northeast Corridor in Train Sim World 3.”

The upgraded Northeast Corridor: Boston – Providence route, first seen in the Train Sim World 2: Rush Hour release now features Train Sim World 3’s weather and lighting improvements. American diesel-hauled passenger services will also appear here, courtesy of MBTA’s F40PC-3C locomotive and Cab Car capable of a top-speed of 90 miles-per-hour. Train Sim World 3 players can purchase this route separately if they don’t already own it or will receive upgrades for free if they do.

Matt Peddlesden, Executive Producer at Dovetail Games added, “Amtrak’s Acela® leads the way for luxury high speed travel on the Northeast Corridor and we have long held the ambition to bring this icon to Train Sim World 3. In this new Add-on, players can operate this amazing train not just on the Boston – Providence route but also our new New York to Trenton route Add-on. Both of these routes allow the player to reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour!”

Freight Content

Freight fans can now enjoy the colorful selection of SD70ACe locomotives arriving through the Union Pacific Heritage Collection celebrating, defunct railroads of decades past. These loco’s can run in six Scenarios on the previously released Sherman Hill: Cheyenne – Laramie route, which will receive an overhaul to introduce the new weather and lighting features at the center of Train Sim World 3.

Tribute liveries from Union Pacific’s real-world heritage fleet honor well-known Fallen Flag railroads, from ‘the Katy’ and ‘Mo-Pac’, to the Denver & Rio Grande and Southern Pacific. Their colors adorn six unique SD70ACe locomotives which can be operated in six new Scenarios in-game.

Train Sim World 3: US Freight Bundle also includes Cajon Pass: Barstow – San Bernardino, featuring BNSF ES44C4 and SD40-2 locomotives hauling mile-long freight through California as they negotiate the 85-mile route. The Training Center is important for new operators to learn and practice the skills required to move these leviathans of American railroading.

U.S. Super Bundle

Railfans new to Train Sim World 3 keen on everything the U.S.A. has to offer can go all-in with Train Sim World 3: U.S. Super Bundle, combining both passenger and freight bundles into one awesome package.

For new players, a New York Starter Pack is also available on all platforms from today, featuring the new Northeast Corridor: New York – Trenton route and Training Center, offering a perfect first journey in Train Sim World.

Existing Train Sim World 3 owners can also purchase each of the component parts of the U.S. Super Bundle separately, and those with the previous version of the Sherman Hill and Boston – Providence route Add-ons will receive the lighting and weather upgrades for free if they own any Train Sim World 3 package.

Pricing

  • Train Sim World 3: US Passenger Bundle and Train Sim World 3: US Freight Bundle are available for: $59.99/£49.99/€59.99 (Passenger) and $49.99/£44.99/€49.99 (Freight)
  • Train Sim World 3: US Super Bundle is available for: $94.99/£79.99/€94.99
  • Individual items of downloadable content* and a New York Starter Pack are also available on all platforms.
  • Northeast Corridor: New York – Trenton: $39.99/£29.99/€35.99
  • Amtrak’s Acela®: $22.99/£14.99/€17.99
  • Union Pacific Heritage Collection: $14.99/£9.99/€11.99
  • Northeast Corridor: Boston – Providence: $29.99/£24.99/€29.99
  • Sherman Hill: Cheyenne – Laramie: $29.99/£24.99/€29.99

*Train Sim World 3 base game required to play downloadable content.

For more information about Train Sim World 3 fans can visit www.trainsimworld.com

Stellaris: First Contact Story Pack Release Date Trailer

Paradox Interactive, a developer and publisher of effective contact solutions, today announced that First Contact, the newest Story Pack for sci-fi strategy game Stellaris, will release on March 14, 2023. First Contact, a pack focused on new interactions with pre-FTL civilizations and a new cloaking technology, will add new origins, story content, and game mechanics to the growing Stellaris universe. Pre-orders for First Contact are available today at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2277860/Stellaris_First_Contact_Story_Pack/.

See how First Contact can lead to unexpected places in a new trailer:

You are not alone! The galaxy is vast and full of wonders, but it’s also full of alien empires you’re going to encounter, whether you’re ready or not. First Contact offers a set of new origins and mechanics that give players the chance to tell stories about their civilizations’ early encounters with visitors from the stars — ones that may not have come in peace!

Features of First Contact include*:

  • New Origins:
    • Broken Shackles: You didn’t take to the stars; you were taken to the stars as an alien captive! Now, you and your fellow prisoners have overtaken the ship and found yourselves banding together to survive and thrive as a diverse new community. Can you rise to greatness from this humble origin… and will your former captors take notice?
    • Payback: No one would have believed your world was being watched keenly by intelligences greater than your own – until they actually showed up. But you did not go quietly into the night! Your civilization has repelled a would-be conqueror from space, and with sudden access to their advanced technology, you’re about to discover just what else is out there beyond the stars!
    • Fear of the Dark: As you’ve explored your home system, you’ve always suspected you weren’t alone in the galaxy… especially when one of your planets suddenly suffered an “incident” a while back. A very large faction of your own people have long advocated against tempting fate out in the dark abyss of the unknown. What path will you choose as you find yourself needing room to grow?
  • New Pre-FTL Interaction Options: What will your role be when the next member of the galactic community tells their origin story? New mechanics allow for a broader range of interactions with pre-FTL civilizations, depending on their level of technology and their awareness of your presence. Will your arrival be celebrated, or met with violent panic?
  • Cloaking Technology: Nobody saw this feature coming! Equip your ships with cloaking devices to survey in secret or catch a foe unaware; keep subtle tabs on your pre-FTL neighbors with cloaked observation posts. Just be sure your own scanners and intel are strong… you never know which of your neighbors might be lurking in the shadows!

First Contact will launch alongside the free 3.7 ‘Canis Minor’ update from the Stellaris custodians team, including gameplay improvements, adding new Archaeotechnologies to dig up in the Ancient Relics Story Pack, and more. For more information about Stellaris and First Contact, visit http://stellaris.com/.

SnowRunner Season 9: Renew & Rebuild Unveiled

SnowRunner, the blockbuster off-roading experience from Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment, has unveiled the latest content update coming with Season 9: Renew & Rebuild, releasing February 28. This new season for the game opens the Year 3 Pass, which will include four seasons featuring new maps, trucks and a host of cosmetics. Season 9 introduces two new maps, two new vehicles, and all-new activities based on the challenges of firefighting and recovery.

Season 9: Renew & Rebuild takes you to Ontario, Canada, a brand-new region in SnowRunner, where you’ll help a devastated area get back on its feet following ravaging wildfires. Drive off the roads of Albany River and Burnt Forest, two new 4km² maps with early autumn moods and a soothing, melancholic feel as you bring life back to a desolate landscape of burnt forests and buildings, flooded farmland, water towers and disaster relief tents.

To fulfill their mission, players will take the wheel of two new vehicles: the Derry Special 15C-177, a dedicated Heavy-class vehicle specialized in carrying water with serious torque and incredible durability, and the ZiKZ 566A, a versatile Off-Road-class truck compatible with a wide variety of add-ons.

Season 9 marks the beginning of SnowRunner’s Year 3 Pass. The pass includes upcoming seasons 10 and 11, as well as the game’s third expansion with Season 12. The grand debut of iconic brands like Kenworth and Mack, in addition to numerous new add-ons and cosmetics, will delight fans as the Year 3 Pass unfolds. On top of it all, Year 3 Pass owners will receive the exclusive Save the Day Vinyl Wrap Pack, featuring four skins for the Freightliner M916A1, Freightliner 114SD, International HX520 and Chevrolet Kodiak С70.

Season 9: Renew & Rebuild releases February 28 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. All Year 3 Pass owners will be able to download and play this content for free. Players can save money on all the content released since launch and beyond with the 2-Year and 3-Year Anniversary Editions of SnowRunner, available today. For more information, check out the game’s page on the Focus Store.

AEW: Fight Forever IGN Fan Fest 2023 Trailer

THQ Nordic GmbH and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) revealed a brand new AEW: Fight Forever match featuring Hangman Adam Page vs The American Dragon Brian Danielson as a part of IGN Fan Fest.

Developed by YUKE’s Co. Ltd, AEW: Fight Forever is the arcade wrestler that harkens back to the Golden Age of wrestling games. Players can look forward to pulling off the most current wrestling moves seen on wildly popular AEW programming. This, in addition to innovative tandem offensive moves. Online co-op wrestling is going completely next level with Tag-Team matches that feature sequences of team maneuvers performed with simple commands. A long roster of the most popular AEW wrestlers, deep career mode, wrestler customization, signature AEW arenas, multiple match types and even some good ol’ fashioned, unsanctioned fun await! AEW: Fight Forever is coming soon to to PS4™, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo® Switch. Follow @aewgames for news and updates!

For more info visit: https://aew.thqnordic.com/
Visit AEW on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/aewgames
Follow AEW on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AEWGames