Leading video game developer Bandai Namco Online and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced that Season 2 of GUNDAM EVOLUTION, the franchise’s first-ever free-to-play hero shooter, will officially commence on November 29 for PC users. Additionally, the currently PC-exclusive title will launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One in North America on November 30 (December 1 in Europe and Japan).
Season 2 of GUNDAM EVOLUTION will run for two months and introduce an array of new updates and features throughout, including improvements to the matchmaking system, various adjustments to ranked matches, brand new customized items, updates to supply pods, the addition of Achievements, Spectator Mode (for PC only), and more. New event modes and campaigns will also be added in late December during the second half of Season 2, along with a revamp of the in-game store.
With Season 2 on the horizon, two new videos were released to prepare Gundam pilots for the action ahead:
S2 MISSION BRIEFING: A top-secret briefing detailing the updates to come in Season 2 can be accessed at the following link:
MOBIUS TRAILER: A brand new trailer spotlighting the theme of Season 2, MOBIUS, can be viewed here:
GUNDAM EVOLUTION is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter featuring 6v6 PvP combat with playable mobile suits from across the Gundam universe. The game offers three objective-based game modes: Point Capture, Domination and Destruction. The title presents a unique set of challenges that requires teams to craft and execute formidable offensive and defensive strategies to emerge victorious.
GUNDAM EVOLUTION is now available in North America, Europe, Japan and other parts of Asia on PC. Supported regions, for the upcoming PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One versions can be found on the official website (https://gundamevolution.com).
Before the Shadow, the next mini-expansion for the highly acclaimed MMO The Lord of the Rings Online from Standing Stone Games, is now available. Before the Shadow focuses on early levels of the game, and players can expect more new content and special incentives for VIPs. The new mini-expansion will send players into two new regions, Swanfleet and Cardolan, as Boromir makes his way north to Rivendell ahead of the meeting of what will eventually become the Fellowship of the Ring while the Nazgûl search for “Baggins” in the peaceful land of the Shire. Players will discover the threat rising from Mordor and Saruman’s Uruks as they explore the far history of Middle-earth.
Key features:
Questing from levels 1 to 32 in addition to four new Books for new characters
Two new regions: Swanfleet and Cardolan
A new Six-person Instance
A new Skirmish
A new Delving difficulty system: Higher level characters can increase the difficulty of new missions to earn great rewards!
New Themed Missions Wrapper: Earn rewards by completing daily and weekly rotating Missions!
The latest blog post on Before the Shadow can be found here. The mini-expansion is available in the Ultimate Fan Bundle for $99.99, the Collector’s Edition for $59.99 and the Standard Edition for $19.99.
For more information on The Lord of the Rings Online, visit www.lotro.com.
Thunderful & Megagon Industries take you on an exhilarating new trip through nature in their latest free DLC for Lonely Mountains: Downhill, Redmoor Falls, launching today on all platforms. Race down the unforgiving hills of the lost “Whispering Lake” trail while sporting new outfits and accessories.
Enjoy a thrilling ride down an atmospheric and unspoiled mountain landscape. Wind your way through narrow dusty trails, along wild rivers and misty swamps while you take on the new challenges to win some eye-catching aqueous accessories for yourself and your bike from the new water elemental set.
“We’re excited for you to experience the beauty of Redmoor Peaks on the all-new Whispering Lake trail,” said Daniel Helbig, co-founder of Megagon. “Get back on your bike and take to the mountain trails for one epic adventure.”
Lonely Mountains: Downhill is available on Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and PC (Steam® & Microsoft Store). The game is also verified for Steam Deck and a demo is available on Steam® and Nintendo Switch™. Keep an eye out on Lonely Mountains’ Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages to stay up-to-date on all the latest, straight from the mountain peaks.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill was initially released on October 23rd in 2019. During its first year, the game has been a hit amongst players and critics alike; resulting in more than three million players (3.7 million as of November 2022). The game won awards such as “Best Indie Game” at the German Developer Awards and “Best International Indie Game” at Poznan Game Arena. Prior to the current Redmoor Falls DLC, Lonely Mountains: Downhill received two other free DLCs earlier which both added additional environments and tracks, “Riley’s Return” and “Misty Peak”.
For more information about Lonely Mountains: Downhill please visit the official website: https://lonelymountains.com/
Leading video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today released THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY season one finale, THE DEVIL IN ME, on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam®.
In THE DEVIL IN ME, players are invited to a stunning recreation of the World’s Fair Hotel built by American serial killer, H.H. Holmes. They control the crew of Lonnit Entertainment, low-budget documentary creators who are lured to the hotel with the promise of something truly unique, something that might just boost the ratings of their true-crime show. Their fate is in the hands of the players, who will have to make impossible decisions under pressure, while their murderous host watches their every move.
As well as a new story and star-studded cast, the Season One finale comes with an array of new gameplay features. Characters can now climb, jump, crawl and run through exploration areas that are larger and more complex than ever. Players will need to keep their cool to solve puzzles and using the new inventory system and special character tools at the right moment can save their lives.
As with all games in THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY, players can face the horror alone or team up with friends in the multiplayer modes: online with a friend or with up to 5 players in couch mode.
THE DEVIL IN ME is the season one finale in THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY, a series of stand-alone, branching cinematic horror games, designed to present a new terrifying experience on a regular basis. Each game features a brand-new story, setting and new cast of characters.
For press only, static assets are available at the Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. press room at www.bneapressroom.com; a library of video trailers ready for embedding are available on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica.
For information on this title and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please visit www.bandainamcoent.com.
GIANTS Software upgrades the family-friendly agricultural simulation by releasing the Platinum Expansion and Platinum Edition of Farming Simulator 22. Furthermore, the publisher and developer have over four million copies sold globally since the base game was released almost exactly one year ago. The launch trailer introduces virtual farmers to Silverrun Forest.
20,000 Trees and a Rollercoaster
With the Platinum Expansion, the forestry part of agriculture is heavily refined and extended – with 40+ new vehicles, tools & items from Volvo Group, IMPEX, John Deere, Koller, Komatsu, Pfanzelt, Schwarzmüller, WESTTECH and other renowned brands. The Platinum Edition combines the base game and expansion, driving the machine count to more than 500 authentically digitized vehicles and tools from over 150 real manufacturers.
Silverrun Forest, the most serene map by GIANTS Software so far, welcomes virtual business people with more than 20,000 trees, including sturdy sequoia trees and other new species. The atmospheric blend between agriculture, forestry, and recreational projects sees players shaping the character of the landscape by starting constructions – most impressive: a giant rollercoaster that is built by delivering resources.
Complex Machinery, Fun Logistics
Farmers harvest trees with state-of-the-art machines like the Volvo EC380DL and a variety of harvester heads. They drag logs through the dense forests with winches like the Pfanzelt Pm Trac and overcome impassable terrain with yarders like the Koller K 300-T which spans hundreds of meters of rope wires through the woods. With shipping containers, they deliver the logs to various new production plants or construction projects to build boats, dog houses, or furniture. Many new selling points and production sites are resident in Silverrun Forest.
New Milestone Reached “One year since the initial release of Farming Simulator 22. One year full of additional content – lots of it completely free of charge – leading up to one of the gameplay-wise most ambitious expansions we ever did”, comments GIANTS Software’s Head of Publishing Boris Stefan.
After Farming Simulator 22 sold 1.5 million copies in the first week after launch and 3 million after nine weeks, GIANTS Software now reaches another sales milestone. “That assures the new, successful, and self-published era of the Farming Simulator brand. An era that sold no less than four million copies of Farming Simulator 22 since launch so far”, says Stefan.
Farming Simulator 22 – Platinum Edition is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One – including the base game and the Platinum Expansion. A Year 1 Season Pass is available, containing the Platinum Expansion as well and extending the game with even more content. GIANTS Software will also continue to release free content updates and user-generated content on the official ModHub.
SEGA today announced Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, the free-to-play online action RPG game, has released AC Scratch Ticket: Overlord Style in collaboration with the popular dark fantasy anime, Overlord.
Produced by Madhouse and directed by Naoyuki Itō, Overlord is based on the Japanese novel of the same name written by Kugane Maruyama, which follows Ainz, a veteran player who refuses to log out of a popular DMMO-RPG.
AC Scratch Ticket items include Ainz and Albedo avatar items as well as Voice Tickets, Emotes, Weapon Camo, Stamps, and more to totally transform players into characters from Overlord.
The Global version of PHANTASY STAR ONLINE 2 NEW GENESIS includes fully localized text and character voices in English and will remain content current with the Japanese servers. Details can be found at https://ngs.pso2.com/. For additional up-to-the-minute updates, players can follow @play_PSO2 on Twitter, @PSO2Official on Facebook, and @play_pso2 on Instagram.
NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX: 9999, “NetEase” or the “Company”), one of China’s leading internet and online game services providers, today announced that it anticipates that its licenses covering the publication of several titles of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in China will expire in accordance with their terms on January 23, 2023 and will not be renewed. The affected games are World of Warcraft®, the StarCraft® series, Hearthstone®, Heroes of the Storm®, Overwatch® and Diablo III®.
“We have put in a great deal of effort and tried with our utmost sincerity to negotiate with Activision Blizzard so that we could continue our collaboration and serve the many dedicated players in China. However, there were material differences on key terms and we could not reach an agreement. We hold high regard in our product and operational standards and abide by our commitments to Chinese players.
We are honored to have had the privilege of serving our gamers over the past 14 years and have shared many precious moments with them during that time. We will continue our promise to serve our players well until the last minute. We will make sure our players’ data and assets are well protected in all of our games,” said William Ding, CEO of NetEase.
The net revenues and net income contribution from these licensed Blizzard games represented low single digits as a percentage of NetEase’s total net revenues and net income in 2021 and in the first nine months of 2022. The expiration of such licenses will have no material impact on NetEase’s financial results. The co-development and publishing of Diablo® Immortal™ is covered by a separate long-term agreement and will continue.
Laminar Research is proud to present the brand new trailer for X-Plane 12. The simulator includes 18 unique aircraft models and detailed 3D scenery for more than 17,000 airports around the world – all with new ground textures, towers and pavement effects to enhance realism. X-Plane 12 will be released in December 2022 on PC, Mac and Linux.
X-Plane 12, is the most realistic and powerful flight simulator with real-world physics, accurate aircraft systems and an immersive simulation of the world. X-Plane 12, built by pilots and engineers, is for everyone who craves a realistic flight simulation experience.
Features in X-Plane 12
Volumetric 3D Clouds
Physics-Based Photometric Lighting Model
18 Aircraft – from the Piper Cub to Airbus A330
Worldwide 3D Water
Rewritten AI Air Traffic Control System
Global 3D Forests
Seasonal Textures and Weather Effects
Revamped Real Weather Data and Rendering
X-Plane 12 is still in development but you can already try out the Early Access version.
RØDE has today announced a new addition to its industry-leading range of USB microphones, the NT-USB+. Based on the legendary NT-USB, the NT-USB+ is a professional-grade USB microphone loaded with next-generation features. It is also compact, portable and versatile, making it the ideal microphone for musicians, podcasters, streamers and professionals who want to capture studio-quality sound with ease.
KEY FEATURES OF THE NT-USB+:
Studio-grade condenser capsule and tight cardioid polar pattern, delivering pristine audio ideal for recording vocals, speech and instruments
Ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamp™ and high-resolution 24-bit/48kHz analog-to-digital conversion for professional sound quality with stunning clarity
Internal DSP for advanced audio processing powered by APHEX® – including a compressor, noise gate and legendary Aural Exciter™ and Big Bottom™ effects
High-power headphone output for zero-latency monitoring, complete with level and mix controls
USB-C output for plug-and-play connectivity with computers, smartphones and tablets
Includes high-quality pop filter and desktop mount – an all-in-one solution for recording professional sound at home or on the go
Designed and made in RØDE’s state-of-the-art facilities in Sydney, Australia
A LEGEND REBORN
The NT-USB+ is based on the original NT-USB, which was released in 2014 and has long been an industry-standard professional USB microphone for musicians, podcasters, streamers and other creators. Featuring the same iconic form factor and studio-quality sound as the original, the NT-USB+ builds on this legacy with a number of next-generation enhancements and is set to become a modern classic.
“The original NT-USB was an instant success when it launched almost a decade ago, setting a lofty standard for studio-quality USB microphones,” said RØDE CEO Damien Wilson. “With the NT-USB+, we are setting a new standard. We have kept the form factor and functionality that made the original such a success and introduced several new features, integrating cutting-edge technology for the next wave of creators. Plug-and-play USB audio has never sounded this good.”
STUDIO SOUND AT HOME OR ON THE GO
The NT-USB+ features a studio-grade condenser capsule that evokes the sound of a classic large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Delivering warmth and clarity, with a full frequency response and tight cardioid polar pattern for clear, focused audio, it excels on everything from vocals and speech to acoustic guitar and other instruments. The NT-USB+ features enhanced circuitry, with RØDE’s ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamp™ technology – first introduced with the groundbreaking RØDECaster Pro II – as well as upgraded high-resolution 24-bit/48kHz analog-to-digital conversion for pristine audio quality.
It also features powerful internal DSP, which allows users to apply advanced APHEX® processing to their audio. This includes a high-pass filter for cutting out low-end rumble, a noise gate for eliminating background noise, a compressor for delivering punchy and balanced sound, and the legendary Aural Exciter™ and Big Bottom™ effects for rich, broadcast tone.
This studio-quality processing can be activated via the companion app RØDE Central – available for desktop and mobile – for use with any other software or application. It is also available in RØDE’s free podcasting and streaming software, RØDE Connect.
SIMPLICITY, PORTABILITY AND VERSATILITY
Not only does the NT-USB+ sound amazing, but it is also incredibly easy to use, portable and versatile. It features a class-compliant USB-C output that is plug-and-play compatible with Mac and Windows computers; it is also fully compatible with any Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, making it an excellent portable recording solution.
It comes with a professional pop filter for minimising plosives, as well as a tripod mount for perfect positioning on a desktop. It also features a zero-latency headphone output for monitoring audio with no distracting echo or delay, complete with level and monitor mix controls. With its plug-and-play connectivity, included extras and all-in-one design, the NT-USB+ is the ultimate microphone for anyone who wants to record professional sound effortlessly.
The NT-USB+ is shipping worldwide and available now for US$169. To find out more, head to rode.com/nt-usb-plus.
Dune: Spice Wars, the 4X real-time strategy game from Northgard developer Shiro Games and co-publisher Funcom, is today launching its third major Early Access update. After adding multiplayer and the Imperial House Corrino faction in the previous update, Shiro Games is excited to significantly expand the game yet again by adding a whole new dimension to combat with flying units, along with a long list of other improvements and additions across every aspect of the game.
Shiro Games and Funcom are also thrilled to announce that alongside the new update, Dune: Spice Wars has now landed on PC Game Pass!
While combat may see the biggest changes, the additions and improvements touch on every aspect of the game.
As the most recent Dune game and the first in two decades, Dune: Spice Wars weaves the universe’s deep lore and themes into its gameplay. In the Air & Sand update, players see the expansion of several of these mechanics, such as spy missions, political resolutions, and brand-new Spacing Guild mechanics.
Additionally, balancing has been tweaked, quests updated, the UI and multiplayer chat system improved, new village features and Sietches added – the list goes on. Gather intel, garner political authority, make plans within plans within plans, and predict those of your opponents. The Spice War rages on.
Dune: Spice Wars is available on PC game Pass and is now 20% off on Steam. Experience the innovative blend of 4X and real-time strategy on the legendary planet of Arrakis and join forces or compete for the spice with friends in multiplayer. Discover more on https://spicewars.dunegames.com.
Funcom also recently announced that they are developing Dune: Awakening, an open world survival MMO set on Arrakis. For more information visit www.dunegames.com.
