Author - Jerry Paxton

Project Slingshot Announcement Trailer Released

C77 Entertainment®, a new studio helmed by industry veterans, today announced Project Slingshot, codename for an all-new multiplayer First Person Shooter (FPS) expected to launch in 2023.

Part of Embracer Freemode, a home for creators and entrepreneurs within the gaming and entertainment industry, C77 Entertainment® is a newly formed studio led by industry veterans from the likes of EA® Dice™ and 343 Industries™, a team with decades of experience and responsible for some of gaming’s most prestigious FPS games.

Project Slingshot promises a uniquely fresh take on the FPS genre. A new IP, players are invited to enter a world where corporations rule, using battles to settle their differences to devastating effect. Capitalizing on the chaos, big business monetizes their thirst for power by televising the combat to an adoring TV audience, with players fighting for fame and the will to survive. An objective-based 16v16 sandbox, Project Slingshot promises an experience like no other when gamers pick their weapon of choice and enter the adrenaline-fueled combat of the new world.

Those brave enough to participate in the live survival spectacle, won’t have to wait long, as C77 Entertainment® is currently recruiting for private participants as the game enters Alpha testing. Those interested in signing up are encouraged to visit http://www.projectslingshotalpha.com/ for more details.

C77 Entertainment® is led by CEO Mattias Kylén, Multiplayer Level Lead behind many fan-favorite Battlefield™ maps including Operation Metro, Grand Bazaar, Siege of Shanghai, Caspian Border and more.

Commenting on the game Mattias Kylén said, “We’re thrilled to announce Project Slingshot, a game we have poured our hearts and soul into. Entering private Alpha testing is an important milestone for us, as we finally get to lift the lid on what we’ve been working on.”

Continuing, Mattias said, “A new multiplayer IP of this scale is a huge undertaking, and the private Alpha testing gives us the opportunity to test, tweak and improve performance. We’re focused on evolving the genre with ideas we’re excited about, rather than chasing trends which we believe gamers will rightly reject. We want to build our community with honesty and integrity, using the feedback we receive to craft a better FPS which we’re confident gamers will love.”

To learn more about C77 Entertainment® please visit: https://c77.live/ Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/C77ent

The Mortuary Assistant Being Made Into A Feature Film

DreadXP — an independent horror publisher and production company — and its parent company Epic Pictures Group, today announced that a live-action feature film adaptation of DreadXP and independent developer DarkStone Digital’s popular supernatural first-person horror video game, The Mortuary Assistant, is in pre-production.

Since its launch in early August 2022, The Mortuary Assistant has become an internet phenomenon — achieving a top 10 streamed games spot on Twitch, becoming a Top Seller on Steam, and taking gaming TikTok by storm. It has been played by top gaming YouTubers such as Markiplier and Jacksepticeye, garnering over tens of millions of views. The Mortuary Assistant tasks players with performing routine mortician tasks while enduring increasingly bizarre and horrifying encounters with demonic entities. To survive, players must identify the correct demon and corpse that it has bound itself to and exorcize it.

The Mortuary Assistant film adaptation will be written and directed by Jeremiah Kipp, whose credits include SLAPFACE (writer/director, now available on AMC+ and Shudder), DRAW UP AND STARE (director) starring Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, the Chinese-American co-production BROKEN BADGES (director), the HP Lovecraft inspired BLACK WAKE (writer/director) and THE SADIST (director) starring Tom Savini. He is currently in post on his latest feature, THE BOO HAG (director), filmed earlier this year in Savannah, GA and DON’T PICK UP (director) starring Keith David & Kathryn Erbe.

“There’s a quiet, unnerving intensity to The Mortuary Assistant that creeps into the player, creating a sense that something terrible could happen at any moment,” said the film’s writer and director, Jeremiah Kipp. “Writing the adaptation, I wanted to celebrate all of the game that terrified me as well as create a companion piece to it — honoring the dense creepy world developer Brian Clarke (DarkStone Digital) made and translating it into the visual storytelling and character driven horror of narrative filmmaking.

He continued, “I want to retain the minimalist setting in and around the mortuary, the fascination with the process of embalming, and the nerve shredding terror of the gameplay. Rebecca Owens is a fascinating character, vulnerable because of a traumatic past and committed in her self-reliance. It has been a truly crazy ride living in Brian’s twisted world, and that’s the experience we want to give the viewer.”

“The incredible reception to The Mortuary Assistant has cemented it as one of DreadXP’s most successful games to date,” said Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures Group. “The world Brian Clarke created is rich with lore and the perfect subject to expand upon with a live-action feature film. DreadXP’s parent company Epic Pictures Group is already in a prime position to make that happen, having financed, produced, and distributed over 100 films over the past 15 years.”

“It’s such a rare and exciting opportunity to have your work adapted into film. It’s certainly something I never imagined would happen to me when I started developing the game two years ago,” said The Mortuary Assistant creator, Brian Clarke. “Movies have always been the main inspiration for the style of my games. I’m always trying to create story, dialogue, and moments that feel filmic, so an opportunity to bring this project full circle is making a dream of mine a reality.”

Clarke continued, “These characters and their stories are extremely important and personal to me. I’m honored to have people as talented as Jeremiah Kipp and devoted as Patrick Ewald, Ted Hentschke (Head of Production at DreadXP), and Abbey Smith (co-producer at DreadXP) to bring it all to life. Jeremiah is an amazingly skilled storyteller and I’m so excited to see him expand The Mortuary Assistant in new and different ways. I want the adaptation to be a great movie before anything else and I know it’s in great hands. I’m thrilled to be working with such passionate people.”

Patrick Ewald will produce. Brian Clarke and Ted Hentschke will executive produce. Abbey Smith will co-produce. Casting for the film will be announced in the future.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Gameplay Trailer Released

A44 Games (Ashen) and Kepler Interactive (Scorn) today unveiled a deeper look at Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, introducing Nor and her fully voiced mystical fox-like companion, Enki. In the brand-new gameplay trailer, get a first glimpse at what lies in store for Nor and Enki as they team up against the Gods in the upcoming gunpowder-packed, magic-fueled action-RPG coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox consoles (with Day One Xbox Game Pass availability) in early 2023.

To defeat the undead armies of the Gods, players will have to combine the might of Nor’s destructive axe and flintlock weaponry with Enki’s mysterious mystical abilities, strategically signaling Enki to gain the upper hand and to harness his astonishing powers.

With heavy, impactful combat, players must think carefully about their every strike. The soldiers of the Gods’ undead army are devastatingly strong, and their dark magic can turn the tides of battle with just a few strikes. To defeat some of the most powerful beings in existence, players must utilize their full arsenal of tools – using black powder to its fullest extent and combining Nor’s agility with Enki’s most powerful magic to render enemies vulnerable and pick them apart one by one.

Flintlock introduces players to a wholly unique RPG setting set in a world inspired by the Flintlock Fantasy genre where magic and technology collide. In a world where the old Gods have returned to wage war against humanity, lead the fight against the Gods’ undead army alongside Nor and Enki.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launches on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One in early 2023. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn will also be available day one with Xbox Game Pass.

For more information visit www.playflintlock.com.

World of Tanks PC Rolls Out Biggest Technical Update of 2022

World of Tanks PC is releasing its biggest content and technical update of the year! Rolling out of the garage is a new map, significant matchmaking changes, rebalanced vehicles, and thanks to surviving blueprints and archived materials, a large convoy of new Italian tanks, to bring new content to millions of players globally.

Uriy Kuryavyi, World of Tanks PC Publishing Director says update 1.18 is unique and comprehensive.

“I am proud of the hard work of the huge international team of developers that were working on this massive update. We have updated the performance of many vehicles, improved a large pool of Random Battles locations and introduced important matchmaking changes for light vehicles and SPGs,” said Uriy.

The new addition of Italian tank destroyers consists of six researchable vehicles, from Tier V to Tier X. All tanks will feature strong frontal armor, excellent gun depression angles, and starting from Tier VII—a classic autoloader with unusual implementation, as a unique gameplay feature.

They include the Semovente M41; Semovente M43 Bassoto; the Semovente Controcarro mod. 1956 (starting with this TD the branch begins to take on its main features); the Controcarro mod. 67 (embodies all the finest qualities of Italian tank destroyers); the Controcarro 1 Mk (an incredibly dangerous opponent in close and mid-range combat); and the Controcarro 3 Minotauro (the jewel in the crown of the new line).

“Almost all these new vehicles existed only as incomplete design project, and only a few of them were physically built-in metal. But thanks to surviving blueprints and archive materials, we have taken these forgotten concepts to the next level and recreated machines in the game as if they might have existed in real life,” said Uriy.

A new map is also making its debut in Random Battles: Outpost. This is a picturesque summer map that combines open green areas, city ruins and trenches, and an impressive fortress with an outpost of its own. All these elements make the location diverse both visually and in terms of gameplay.

Tank commanders will welcome important changes to matchmaking. New rules are being introduced for balancing light and wheeled tanks, and for the number of SPGs per team. The matchmaker will now always try to match light/wheeled tanks so that both teams have identical number of vehicles with a limit of no more than one in a platoon from Tier VII onward. Concerning the number of SPGs, the players will take the battle with 0-2 SPGs per team.

Within the Update 1.18, players will enjoy new visual changes which scale based on the PCs capability. It delivers vehicle tracks beginning to look even more realistic. Now, the tracks of vehicles in the game unwind correctly when hit, fly off and stay on the ground if the vehicle is hit while moving at high speeds.

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster Launch Trailer

Recruits, stand by. Commandos 3 – HD Remaster, published by Kalypso Media and developed by Raylight Games will be infiltrating enemy lines starting today. The HD Remaster of the third edition to the genre-defining series is available today with Game Pass on console and PC. The tactical strategy game is available digitally on Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch™ right now!

In this revamped edition of Commandos 3, players will have their tactical know-how put to the test as they take history into their own hands. The notorious special forces unit consists of 6 iconic commandos, all experts in their fields and crucial to success: the Green Beret, Sapper, Sniper, Diver, Spy, and Thief. Players will have to perfect their strategy as they face the pressure of 12 daring missions across the 3 perilous frontlines of Stalingrad, Central Europe, and Normandy, all with reworked 3D models and textures, improved controls, and a refined user interface. Keen to rally more recruits? Players can also compete in ‘Deathmatch’ or ‘Collect the Flag’ modes for 2-8 players.

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster is available digitally from today with Game Pass on console and PC and is out now on Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch™. The title will be available physically as a Commandos Double Pack on October 27, 2022 and is now available for pre-order.

Call of the Wild: The Angler Launch Trailer

Can you feel the call? Call of the Wild: The Angler™, the immersive, genre-defying, open-world fishing game from Expansive Worlds, makers of the hit the Hunter: Call of the Wild™, debuts today on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store for $29.99 (save 25% on Steam if you already own the Hunter: Call of the Wild – valid until September 11). Cast off in search of the perfect fishing spot, battle wily freshwater species with a growing collection of customizable gear, or create your own path through the unspoiled wonders of the great outdoors.

“We set out to create a game where players can feel immersed in the wild, where the pine trees, blue water and serene landscape provide a backdrop to memories that will last a lifetime. Every catch needs to be exciting, and the path to get there an adventure. Our team managed to capture an authentic fishing experience, and we can’t wait for people to play,” said Paul Rustchynsky, Game Director at Expansive Worlds.

“I’m extremely proud of the team at Expansive Worlds as they find new ways for our players to explore and connect with nature through our games. The Angler brings our expertise of community-driven gameplay in immersive open worlds to fishing and is a natural progression of theHunter: Call of the Wild. We look forward to continuing to build new and original fishing experiences that our players will discover for years to come,” said Expansive Worlds Managing Director Samuel Peterson.

Welcome to Golden Ridge Reserve – The Angler’s launch map – an idyllic expanse of open wilderness inspired by the raw natural beauty of northwest Wyoming. In this home away from home, you’re free to boat down tranquil waters, explore pristine terrain by off-road vehicle, or roam across sprawling forests and mountain ranges on foot. Share this slice of paradise with friends in online co-op multiplayer for up to 12 players, or claim it all for your own peaceful enjoyment in single-player.

Key Features:

  • Explore a Vast Open World: Dive into a living environment full of breathtaking fishing spots at your own leisure. Venture across winding rivers, soaring peaks, inviting outposts, and epic hiking trails by foot, boat, or off-road vehicle. Discover the freedom of fishing through engaging story missions, chase down that one elusive catch, or just relax and get lost off the beaten path.
  • Feel the Thrill of Real Fishing: Battle a variety of unique fish species with their own authentic behavior in an accessible fishing experience for all skill levels. Fish will spawn realistically based on water depth, temperature, altitude and more – choose which tackle to use to get their attention, then react to their movements to hook ‘em and reel ‘em in.
  • Become a Master Angler: Learn expert fishing techniques and adapt your strategy to land the most challenging catches. Customize your character, complete challenges to earn rewards, and build out your collection of gear with a wide range of rods, reels, floats, hooks, lures, and more.
  • Play Solo or With Friends: You’ve never been fishing like this before – explore the great outdoors in online co-op multiplayer for up to 12 players. Share a boat or vehicle with friends and land the perfect catch together, or enjoy paradise on your own in single-player offline.
  • An Evolving Stream of New Content: The world of The Angler will continue to grow and keep you coming back for more with regular content updates featuring new game experiences designed in close collaboration with community feedback.

Call of the Wild: The Angler is also in development for a future release on consoles. For more information, visit www.COTWTheAngler.com, and keep up with the latest updates from the game by following the team on Twitter @COTWTheAngler.

Train Sim World 3 Dev Diary Focuses on Weather

Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of authentic simulation titles, today released their development diary video for Train Sim World 3, coming to PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on Sept. 6. This is the third of three videos focused on three topics core to Train Sim World 3: Freedom, power, and weather.

Weather alters the behavior of trains quite significantly in the real world, resulting in the skills of drivers and operators being tested to their maximum to keep passengers and freight moving on time. In Train Sim World 3, bringing this challenge to players has been a key area of development, resulting not only in better visual representation of rain, wind and snow but also a noticeable impact on how they affect the in-game vehicles.

The all-new Dynamic Weather feature adds excitement and variety to every journey as changing weather patterns merge seamlessly from one to another on a randomized cycle. The time and consistency of weather changes will vary, even if you repeat the same service with the same settings, so what seems like a repeated journey could bring with it entirely different gameplay. Inclement weather increases braking distance, slows acceleration and results in more sparking from electric trains – a new visual element to Train Sim World 3.

Perhaps the biggest visual difference however is the introduction of Volumetric Skies. Gone are the 2D textures that have been a staple of the Train Sim World skies for years, and in their place is a wonderfully detailed, ever-changing frame for every journey. Scrapping the flat textures and completely redesigning the skies from the ground up has resulted in a dramatic change to the overall feel of each route’s setting.

Lighting has also had an overhaul, not only seen in the day-night cycle and aforementioned electric train sparking, but also when entering and exiting tunnels. The implementation of ‘tunnel bloom’, where the eyes adjust to changing light levels, is particularly relevant for the new Kassel-Würzburg route which sees players operate the 280 km/h ICE 1 and ICE 3 trains in and out of tunnels, including the longest one in Germany.

Other additions and effects that really enhance the immersion come in the form of kick-up, where snow blows around the train as it blasts through wintry rails, and passengers react to conditions with umbrellas in a variety of colors. Whether a minor detail or a complete overhaul, the improvements made to weather are something that Train Sim World 3 players will really notice and enjoy.

Developed and published by Dovetail Games, Train Sim World 3 will release for Windows PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles on Sept. 6, 2022, and will also be available via Game Pass. The title is available for pre-purchase digitally now on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation®Store, and Microsoft Store with a Deluxe Edition available for £49.99/€59.99/$59.99 and four ‘Starter Packs’ each available for £29.99/€35.99/$39.99.

For more information about Train Sim World 3 fans can visit www.trainsimworld.com, and follow along on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, Discord, YouTube, and Twitch.

Rocksmith+ Music-Learning Service Launches September 6th

Today, Ubisoft announced that Rocksmith+, a premier music-learning subscription service that teaches players how to play acoustic, electric and bass guitar through their favorite songs, will be available on Windows PC exclusively through the Ubisoft Store on September 6.* Building upon 10 years of successful music teaching experience** with the award-winning Rocksmith method which has helped more than five million*** people learn how to play guitar, Rocksmith+ will be available for $14.99  for a 1-month subscription, $39.99 for a 3-month subscription, and $99.99 for a 12-month subscription. The subscription service will run on 10-year-old laptops with Windows 10 and will also be available on mobile later this year.****

Developed by a team of musicians, music educators and video game developers at Ubisoft San Francisco in collaboration with Ubisoft Osaka, Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Bucharest, Rocksmith+ will provide players with an expert, 360-degree approach and unlimited access to guitar learning, all included within the subscription:

  • Players will be able to learn how to play guitar through master recordings of songs from Sony Music, Universal and more, and will have access to an expanding library of more than 5,000 songs at launch, with new songs added each week from artists such as The Clash, Juan Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Santana, and more. Rocksmith+ will feature music across a variety of genres such as Rock, Metal, Pop, Latin, Hip-Hop and Indie from countries all around the world.
  • Rocksmith+ features a suite of new and improved practice tools to give players a fun, personalized experience at any skill level. For example, the Adaptive Difficulty feature will dynamically adjust to a player’s skill level while they play, introducing new notes and chords as the player progresses. The technology adapts to players’ skill levels by measuring the total sum of their abilities, rather than their performance for an individual song.
  • Rocksmith+ introduces the free Rocksmith+ Connect app, a phone-as-a-mic feature on iOS and Android that will let players follow along to Rocksmith+ on PC. The app works with acoustic instruments or electric instruments played through an amp or the Rocksmith Real Tone cable, sold separately. Players will benefit from Rocksmith+’s note detection and real-time feedback without the need for any peripherals. Additionally, the Rocksmith+ Connect app also works as an accurate, professional grade guitar tuner. For more information on the Rocksmith Connect app, please visit: rocksmith.com/tuner.
  • Players can hone their skills with interactive lessons and practice recommendations that the service generates based on their goals, skill level and progress.
  • In addition to learning and improving their mechanics, players will also have lessons available ranging from proper technique, gear, instrument care, music appreciation, and more.

Rocksmith+ is also collaborating with major music instrument partners Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, Ibanez, Ernie Ball, Ernie Ball Music Man, Marshall, Orange, Mesa/Boogie, Roland, Boss and Electro-Harmonix.

For returning Rocksmith players, Rocksmith+ will have a loyalty offer for Rocksmith 2014 owners and closed beta participants who purchase a Rocksmith+ subscription of 3 or 12 months. Those players will get bonus time in their first billing cycle — one month free for those who purchase a 3-month plan and three months free for those who purchase a 12-month plan.

Ubisoft also announced that from now until September 6, the Ubisoft Store is running a contest for a chance to win a signature Gibson or Epiphone guitar. To enter, learn more about the prizes, and to read the complete rules, visit https://store.ubi.com/rocksmith-guitar-giveaway-contest.

For more information about Rocksmith+, please visit rocksmith.com.

Cross Roads Escape Games The Weeping Witch Opens Sept 9th

Banish the evil spirit and lift your curse in the newest escape room adventure, The Weeping Witch, by Cross Roads Escape Games! Using their theatrical background, owners Madison and Luke Rhoades create immersive sets, special effects, and show moments in their newest game.

The Weeping Witch is a monster disguised as a human. It lures people close by mimicking the sound of a woman crying. When people hear its wails, they follow the sound, thinking someone needs their help. Once they get close enough, the Witch reveals a mouth on the back of its head and slowly sucks the life out of its victims. If you choose to enter Madam Ruby’s study, that is what is awaiting you. Will you be able to banish the evil spirit and end your curse before the Weeping Witch consumes your soul?

Luke and Madison elevated the escape room industry with their award-winning games The Hex Room, The Fun House, The Psych Ward, and the 2019 immersive theatre experience, The Séance. This husband-and-wife team is determined to break the ‘escape room’ mold and create more unique, interactive, theatrical games. The Weeping Witch is opening on Friday, September 9th, 2022. Tickets are $38 per person. The game is 60 minutes long for 3-8 players over the age of 14. Cross Roads Escape Games is open Wednesday-Sunday until 11:30 pm, all year long. Please be aware that this show contains flashing lights, fog smells, jump scares, and loud noises.

TICKETS: $38 per person. On sale now at https://crossroadsescapegames.com/the-weeping-witch/

You Suck at Parking Release Dates Revealed

Happy Volcano is excited to announce forthcoming top-down racer You Suck at Parking™ will launch across PC and Xbox on Thursday 1st September 2022, with a launch on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation following in 2023.

Excitingly, Happy Volcano can also confirm You Suck at Parking™ will also launch on Game Pass for Xbox and PC on day one – Wednesday 14th September 2022.

Comprising both single-player and online multiplayer modes, You Suck at Parking ™ is the world’s most extreme parking experience and the only racing game where, uniquely, the goal is to come to a stop. Success is all about racing against the clock as players dash, drift, and drag their handbrakes as they slam into parking spots in quick time.

Developer Happy Volcano lifted the lid on the game’s multiplayer mode – which will initially allow four players to take on each other in a full-on parking party – back in May, alongside the news that the top-down racer will feature 60 wild multiplayer levels and 100 solo levels with ever-increasing difficulty.

Excitingly, the multiplayer on offer will also be cross-platform, whilst Happy Volcano can also confirm it’s the studio’s intention to refresh the levels on offer in play every two weeks, with fresh ones delivered until…well, until the sun swallows the Earth.

“It’s great to be able to publicly pin down a launch date for You Suck at Parking™ after all the excitement we’ve seen from gamers over the last few months,” says David Prinsmel, Game Director. “There is, in fact, more news to come, however. Keep your eyes peeled and your handbrake firmly pulled up.”

Happy Volcano can also announce an exciting update to the game’s demo on Steam, with brand new levels added to build. Pick it up for free today!

In You Suck at Parking™, players will:

  • Speed through stages navigating obstacles aplenty before hitting the designated parking spots, all whilst somehow keeping cool, calm, and collected in the process.
  • Unlock Parking Tokens with their parking skills that serve up new customization options to pimp your ride with.
  • Climb the global leaderboards and prove to your friends that you truly do have the power to stop. Maybe not the world, but a car, at least.
  • Experience an ever-growing, always-expanding, forever-changing game, where more cars, more biomes, more tracks, and more customisation options are regularly added to the roster.

In addition, Happy Volcano is delighted to announce that it has partnered with Fireshine Games to release a physical edition of You Suck at Parking on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox, which will be racing onto store shelves in 2023. Formerly known as Sold Out, Fireshine Games is an established publisher of physical and digital titles, and a leading boxed partner who works extensively with indie developers to help bring their games to physical retail.

You Suck at Parking will launch on PC and Xbox (including Game Pass on both platforms) on Wednesday 14th September 2022 – with a launch on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation following in 2023 – for $19.99/€19.99/£15.49. You can pre-order on Xbox now, with a 20% pre-order discount currently available.