Author - Jerry Paxton

Sniper Elite 5 Cinematic Trailer Released

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful independent studios, has today released a new CGI trailer for Sniper Elite 5, the latest installment of the award-winning franchise, hinting at the new Invasion Mode which allows players to drop into each other’s campaigns and take on the role of an Axis Sniper with high rewards on the line. Created by Rebellion’s dedicated production company Rebellion VFX, the new trailer utilizes both in-game and bespoke VFX assets with a tailored audio mix to create a stunning cinematic which can be watched here:

Rebellion has also today revealed the pack and key art for Sniper Elite 5.

Invasion Mode will bring a whole new dimension to the game’s intense drama and add increased diversity to the tactics that players will have to employ in order to complete their mission. The invading Axis Sniper will have the sole aim to eliminate the player while the Allied Sniper will gain an extra objective: take out the invader. Invasion Mode will also be available in cooperative play – increasing the challenge for the Axis invader as they now have two Allies to track down but offering greater rewards.

Chris Kingsley, CTO at Rebellion, commented: “Invasion Mode is a fantastic addition to the gameplay experience of Sniper Elite 5. A human-controlled invader can act in ways that are so diverse and unpredictable, which adds to the challenge and ramps up the tension even further. The player will be informed that an invading Axis Sniper has joined their game and from that point on it becomes an extremely intense, high stakes game of cat and mouse.”

Chris continued: “For those players who just want a solo gameplay experience there will be the option to switch Invasion Mode off, but we recommend that everyone gives it a try at some point. We have been having a lot of fun with it in the studio, jumping into each other’s games and finding innovative, stealthy ways to take each other out.”

Invasion Mode will enable some unique skills for both players. The Axis invader can make use of the AI Axis forces to help locate the Allied player. Tagging an Axis soldier will enable ‘Eagle Eyes,’ which means that if that soldier spots the Allied Sniper then their last known location will be displayed on the map. The Axis Sniper can also instruct nearby soldiers to ‘Stay Sharp,’ increasing their awareness. For the Allied Sniper, each level has invasion phones scattered around the map which the player can use to discover the last known location of their opponent. But beware, as not only can these phones be booby-trapped, but overuse will raise suspicions and reveal the player’s location.

Successful Axis Snipers will be rewarded with weapons, items and skin unlocks while Allied Snipers can earn weapon and character skins by killing their opponent. You will also be awarded with additional XP for having Invasion Mode enabled.

Recognized for its unparalleled tactical sniping experience, Sniper Elite 5 will release simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 & 5, Epic, Steam and the Windows Store in 2022. Players will reprise the role of elite marksman Karl Fairburne as they travel to France in 1944 tasked with the mission to uncover and destroy the Nazi’s latest plan: Operation Kraken.

To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com and follow the game on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The new CGI trailer was created by Rebellion VFX. Based at Rebellion Film Studios in Didcot, Rebellion VFX has been formed from industry-leading visual effects supervisors, artists and developers. The team specializes in full CG environment builds, FX, Compositing, Environment Set Extension and Virtual Production set builds with projects utilizing both offline rendered and real-time rendered game engine methodology. The on-site capability is further enhanced by Rebellion’s award-winning motion capture and full performance capture facilities, Audiomotion.

He Sun, Head of Rebellion VFX, said: “It has been a real pleasure for Rebellion VFX to be collaborating with the Sniper Elite brand, to be involved in working on such a title was a real privilege. We wanted to create a trailer that evoked a gritty and down-to-earth feeling in its cinematography, as if it was shot with a film crew on a real location. Technically, we relished the challenge of implementing USD (Universal Scene Description) pipeline in our offline rendering workflow. It was an enjoyable creative process which will hopefully be enjoyed by our passionate community of Sniper Elite fans too.”

For the latest news and information about Rebellion VFX please visit rebellionfilmstudios.com/vfx/.

Respawn Entertainment Announces Three New Star Wars Titles

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Lucasfilm Games  are joining forces to continue delivering all-new, world-class gaming experiences set within the beloved Star Wars galaxy.

Respawn Entertainment, best known for their work on Apex Legends™, Titanfall™ and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™, is leading the development and production of these new projects.  Vince Zampella, Group GM and Founder of Respawn, will oversee this new phase of EA’s relationship with Lucasfilm, building on Respawn’s award-winning history in game development and expertise in telling compelling Star Wars stories.

Game Director Stig Asmussen and his team at the studio are already working on the next game in the action adventure Star Wars Jedi series, and are joined by two new teams working to deliver additional unique Star Wars gameplay experiences across multiple genres. Leading the development of Respawn’s all-new Star Wars first-person shooter game is Peter Hirschmann, Game Director at Respawn, who has a long and accomplished history with the Star Wars franchise. The third title is a Star Wars strategy game developed through a production collaboration with the newly formed studio Bit Reactor, helmed by games industry veteran Greg Foerstch. Respawn will produce the new Star Wars strategy game while Bit Reactor leads on the development of the title.

“We are excited to continue working with the superbly talented developers at Respawn,” said Douglas Reilly, VP, Lucasfilm Games. “They have demonstrated excellence in telling epic Star Wars stories along with best-in-class gameplay across different genres and we are looking forward to bringing more amazing experiences to the galaxy far, far away.”

“Building on the previous successes of our EA relationship, this new collaboration highlights the trust and mutual respect shared between the world-class teams at EA, Respawn and Lucasfilm Games,” said Sean Shoptaw, SVP, Walt Disney Games. “Fostered by the expertise and passion within each team, we will create thrilling original games for diverse audiences across the Star Wars galaxy.”

“Working with Lucasfilm Games on a new FPS in the Star Wars galaxy is a dream come true for me, as this is a story I have always wanted to tell,” said Peter Hirschmann, game director at Respawn. Peter previously worked as VP of development at LucasArts, and was executive producer on the original Star Wars Battlefront games. Hirschmann and the team at Respawn have just begun work on the title.

Work has already begun on all three of these projects, and Respawn is looking for talent to join the teams. Additional information on available job openings can be found at Respawn Careers.

“We are huge fans of Star Wars here at Respawn and we’re thrilled to work with Lucasfilm Games on new titles that we have wanted to make for years,” said Zampella. “If you want to make great Star Wars games, you should come join us on our journey.”

Hidden Deep Early Access Trailer

Fans of 80s-horror, rejoice! Today, the sci-fi thriller Hidden Deep, developed by Polish one-man studio Cogwheel Software, enters Early Access on Steam and sends a reconnaissance mission into a claustrophobic research facility where nameless horrors lurk. Armed with various gadgets, players have to explore the dark, abandoned depths alone or in special co-op missions. Hidden Deep will continuously receive new content and improvements during the Early Access phase.

The Early Access launch follows after a popular beta in December 2021, played by over 50.000 Steam users. The highly anticipated game already boasts a wishlist that is nearing the 200.000 mark, an active Discord community with over 10k members, and a popular TikTok channel.

In Hidden Deep, players explore a vast suboceanic research and mining facility, inhabited by alien creatures brought to life in a 2D game world full of action, mystery, and danger. They must command their team members and find out what happened in the abandoned caves and corridors, unraveling a dark sci-fi horror mystery inspired by classic movies from the ‘80s and ’90s.

To explore the depths and find the missing researchers, the rescue team has a variety of tools at their disposal. Learn to master the grappling hook to avoid plummeting to your death or bashing your head in, use drones to scan the colossal cave systems, operate heavy machinery to explore new areas of the research station and blast your way through to new caves with demolition charges. Shoot or sneak your way through dangerous traps and alien lairs – and try not to get eaten by the facility’s inhabitants

With today’s co-op update, beta players are now able to work together with a friend on specific coop missions in challenge mode. They have to solve problems as a team via local multiplayer or use the Steam remote play feature.

Achilles: Legends Untold Story Trailer

After its explosive reveal this summer, Dark Point Games is thrilled to announce that Achilles: Legends Untold will have a closed Beta starting January 27th.

During the beta, players can relive the battle at the gates of Troy, facing legendary warriors like Hektor, Paris and a slew of mythological menaces. While, according to the Iliad, Achilles was at the peak of his unquenchable desire for fame, this battle is only the opening chapter of his untold stories.

Players can Wishlist on Steam and sign up for the closed Beta by joining the Discord

The combat in Achilles: Legends Untold brings a unique isometric approach to traditional Souls-like gameplay. Learning enemy movements and timing your attacks will be key, while Dark Point Games also added devastating special abilities like the shield toss to overwhelm enemies with Achilles’ raw power. This way, Achilles: Legends Untold may be enjoyed by souls veterans and new players alike.

The gameplay features satisfying and skill-based combat, RPG elements, and resource management. Collect raw materials to bring to the forge to create new deadly weapons and sturdy shields to take Achilles to the peak of his power. As you watch Achilles become stronger and more ferocious with each ability you pick up, you as the player will also have to adapt to the world, as Achilles is not the only one picking up new tricks along the way.

Achilles: Legends Untold features the innovative GAIA system, which means the AI characters’ actions feel lifelike and work together in unpredictable ways. Experience immersive battles in which monsters adapt to your playstyle, try different strategies or create ambush scenarios, all driven by this contemporary, in-house-designed system.

Achilles: Legends Untold is aiming for an EA Release in Q2 of 2022 on PC.

Arrow Video Unveils February 2022 Release Lineup

This February Arrow Video opts for quality over quantity. Featuring two new releases for the month, the boutique home video label continues to keep fans of physical media extremely satisfied and busy.

Director Scott Mansfield’s oft-overlooked slasher, Deadly Games, makes its disc-debut on February 22. In a small American town, women fall victim to an unhinged masked maniac with a fondness for board games. Each time the dice is rolled, another victim meets a grisly end. Jo Ann Harris stars as a woman that gets caught up in the killer’s sadistic games after she returns home to mourn the murder of her sister. Sam Groom and Steve Railsback co-star. Made in 1980 but not released until 1982, Deadly Games has languished in relative obscurity for the last forty years. Arrow hopes to introduce Deadly Games to a new fan base by shining a new light on this unique oddity of early ’80s horror. This release includes a brand-new 2K restoration from the original camera negative, new interviews with actor Jere Rae-Mansfield and special effects and stunt co-ordinator John Eggett. The first pressing includes a fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film historian/author Amanda Reyes.

A staple of the French New Wave scene, Claude Chabrol established himself as one of French cinema’s most influential directors despite often being overlooked throughout a career spanning more than fifty years. Arrow Video is proud to give the award-winning director his just praise with the Lies & Deceit: Five Films by Claude Chabrol, a stunning 5-disc set highlighting five of the director’s best films.

Entered into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival, Cop Au Vin is a crime film set in a small provincial French town. A butcher, a doctor, and a lawyer agree to go into business with one another. But after obnoxious behavior leads to one of them ending up dead, the town’s police detective, Inspector Lavardin (Jean Poiret) shows up to investigate. Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader described Cop Au Vin as a “good whodunit” that is “well-crafted and satisfying.”

In 1986, Jean Poiret reprised his police detective role from Cop Au Vin in the sequel Inspector Lavardin. After a wealthy Roman Catholic writer is found dead on the beach of a small coastal town, Lavardin heads to the scene to solve the mystery. When Lavardin discovers that the victim’s widow is an old flame that he hasn’t seen in more than two decades, the investigation takes a turn. Caryn James of The New York Times praised Inspector Lavardin for the fun and charming way it plays with some of the most famous French stereotypes.

Based on Gustave Flaubert’s novel of the same name, Madame Bovary is the story of an attractive young woman (Isabelle Huppert) stuck in a lackluster marriage with a country doctor. To spice things up and escape the boredom of married life, she enters into multiple affairs, runs up countless debts, and meets a tragic end. Madame Bovary earned a 1992 Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film and an Oscar nod for Best Costume Design.

Betty (Marie Trintignant) is a young, attractive alcoholic that spends her evenings hopping from bar to bar. One night she meets Laure (Stéphane Audran), an older alcoholic that decides to take Betty in and help her get her life back on track. Betty eventually becomes jealous of her new friend’s relationship and attempts to steal her lover. Famed critic Roger Ebert gave Betty three and a half out of four stars, praising the film for the way it abandons a more traditional plot in exchange for interesting characters.

Torment is the story of a man who appears to have it all before obsession drives him mad. Paul (François Cluzet) owns and runs the successful Hotel Del Lac and is married to the beautiful Nelly (Emmanuelle Béart), a woman he believes to be way out of his league. After witnessing Nelly being friendly to a handsome hotel guest, Paul becomes convinced that she’s unfaithful and begins to follow his wife. His delusion and paranoia lead to tragedy.

The impressive set comes loaded with archived and new bonus features, including interviews and audio commentaries, trailers, image galleries, and video essays. Also included is an 80-page collector’s booklet of new writing by film critics Martyn Conterio, Kat Ellinger, Philip Kemp, and Sam Wigley, and archive material. This must-own set releases on February 22.

Eugen Systems WARNO Official Reveal Trailer

Eugen Systems is excited to announce that WARNO – the spiritual successor to Wargame – launches into Early Access on Steam today.

Pushing real-time strategy to the next level, WARNO (Warning Order) is the new World War III battle simulator from the masters of strategy. In WARNO’s alternative history, the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 never happened. Instead, a tense NATO and Soviet-led Warsaw Pact have deployed in a divided Germany for immediate conflict. The only thing left is to wait for the Warning Order that will signal the start of an all-out war.

Players will need to call on their quick wits and tactical prowess to take charge of the hundreds of units on exquisitely detailed battlefields. World War III conflict becomes a chilling reality, with NATO and Warsaw Pact using their full arsenal of war, from conscripts to Spetsnaz, main battle tanks, attack helicopters, and stealth strike aircraft.

Meticulously researched and painstakingly recreated, every nation and their units in WARNO has unique strengths and weaknesses. As a commander, it’s the player’s duty to use the entire range of tactical tools available to them, from smoke screens to off-map fire missions. Each battle will be heavily contested, be it against the expert computer, fighting in cooperative teams, or ranked against other hot-blooded human opponents.

“It’s fair to say both military enthusiasts and historians alike have both speculated just how an actual full-scale conflict in the Cold War would have played out,” said Alexis Le Dressay, Creative Director and co-founder of Eugen Systems. “WARNO is an opportunity to take a look at what a world at war at the end of the 1980s would have looked like. Play is grounded in reality and based on fact, from technology to tactics, and thanks to Early Access, we can give our community, veterans and new players alike, a chance to play early.“

In WARNO, players can:

  • Experience in-depth and realistic real-time strategy Cold War-era warfare. From tactics to technology and hundreds of painstakingly researched and recreated military units from NATO’s and Warsaw Pact’s arsenals.
  • Get to know each unit in detail in Armory, and use this knowledge to your advantage as you build, customize and fine-tune each unique battlegroup.
  • Witness a battlefield that never looked more beautiful, in the environments and brutal destruction. The latest incarnation of Eugen’s proprietary engine simulates modern combat to the fullest extent.
  • Take on maps online, cooperative, or solo. Each map has a unique set of objectives with a dynamic frontline that directly results in one side’s victory or defeat.
  • Battle against a smart and truly challenging AI or pit your tactics and strategy against other players, from ranked 1v1 to all-encompassing 10v10 battles.
  • Dive into do-or-die Operations or the massive turn-based Army General strategic campaigns depicting some of the hardest-fought “what if” scenarios of a Cold War turned hot. Massive Warsaw Pact armies square off against the NATO formations for a vicious fight across Western Europe.
  • Taking advantage of Eugen Systems’ game experience and previous titles,  a host of quality-of-life enhancements will appeal to new and veteran players alike, from issuing commands during pre-combat deployment to AI-assisted Smart Orders.

In Steam Early Access, WARNO will be updated continuously with new content, units, game mechanics, scenarios, and campaigns. At release, players will be able to play Skirmish battles, either solo or online, including the massive 10v10 battles. They will also be able to explore the Cold War-era arsenal of two nations: the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

WARNO launches in Early Access on Steam today.

Railway Empire – Japan Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer

Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Gaming Minds Studios have added a whole new stop to the Nintendo Switch™ – unleashing the engines of Railway Empire – Japan on the mobile console and opening new paths to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Railway Empire – Japan transports players back to the 19th century and gives them the levers to lead the country through the industrial revolution. However, fulfilling the desire to build a modern, nationwide railway network requires intelligent and strategic planning. Players will lay tracks through seas of cherry blossoms, mountains, and hot springs to create a booming metropolis.

With the release of the Japan DLC for the Nintendo Switch, Railway Empire now brings all the title’s expansions to the mobile console, offering a load of captivating railway content.

Railway Empire – Japan is available now via the Nintendo eShop and can be purchased with a 10% discount until January 31st. Both the main game and all DLCs are also available for PC, PlayStation®4, and Xbox One.

Razer and Sanrio Team Up for Hello Kitty Peripherals

Calling all Hello Kitty fans! Razer and Sanrio have teamed up to launch a supercute new capsule collection today bringing Hello Kitty enthusiasts the purr-fect way to bring their favorite aesthetic into their PC setup.

Featuring the iconic Hello Kitty herself along with her beloved friends like Badtz-maru, Keroppi and more, the colorful Razer x Hello Kitty and Friends collection is sure to be the bow on top of your prized gaming setup, just like Hello Kitty’s iconic bow on top of the headset itself.

The limited-run collection includes the following Hello Kitty-branded Razer gear:

  • Razer DeathAdder Essential + Goliathus Speed Bundle [Mouse & Mat]
    • With the comfort and reliability of the Razer DeathAdder Essential, coupled with the breathtaking speed of the Razer Goliathus Medium, these cute, capable companions will make the perfect clique.
  • Razer Kraken BT Kitty (Bluetooth Headphones)
    • Say hello to the Razer Kraken BT Kitty – reimagined with a heart of gold! Freshly baked with Razer Chroma™ RGB and a burst of stream-reactive lighting, this headset is the perfect companion for those who speak from the heart.
  • Razer Iskur X (Gaming Chair)
    • Take on any challenge in top gaming form with Hello Kitty by your side while My Melody, Pompompurin, Kuromi, and an entourage of the sweetest friends cheer you on
  • Razer Lumbar Cushion
    • Whether it’s baking, reading, gaming or simply napping – the Razer Lumbar Cushion’s cushy memory foam and plush, velvety fabric offers the cutest dose of posture-perfect comfort that will see you through the day with a smile.

These products will go up for sale today on Razer.com. If they aren’t officially live just yet, fans can use the “Notify me” option on Razer’s website here.

Crossout Mobile Official Launch Trailer

Targem Games and Gaijin Entertainment announce that the mobile vehicular action online game Crossout Mobile will soon launch on Android (February 3rd) and iOS (February 10th) in North America, Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Previously, the game was only available in the UK, Poland, Russia and a few other countries. Crossout Mobile will also get a huge update in February with new maps, vehicle parts and other content.

Сrossout Mobile is a new action game developed from scratch that brings the gameplay and the world of the popular Crossout online game to mobile platforms. Wasteland warriors ride post-apocalyptic armored vehicles and fight over the scraps of resources in the ruins of the Earth civilization that we know. One of the maps brings players to the abandoned oil derrick in the midst of the dried out Adriatic Sea, another one to the former space shuttle launching facility with one machine still waiting for an ignition command. Crossout Mobile players craft their own unique vehicles from myriads of available parts and enter battle under the flag of one of the five factions.

An armored vehicle could sport machine guns or shotguns, or something a bit more exotic. For example, one type of weapon launches an explosives-stuffed wheel at the enemy! There are also futuristic devices like the railgun or even a tesla-gun that scorches enemies with human created lightning. It’s also important to equip armor and defensive modules (for example, one granting invisibility), while not making the vehicle too heavy to move around. Crossout Mobile players can use up to 40 parts in the single vehicle in total, and that’s more than enough to create some crazy designs. The fun thing is that any part on the vehicle can be destroyed in battle, so good sharpshooting skills will allow players to disarm or immobilize the enemy.

The full list of countries where Crossout Mobile will become available for free this February is: Australia, Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, USA, Vatican, Yemen. Pre-registrations are already open on Android and first Crossout Mobile players will get an early adopter bonus. The team is also working on versions for other countries, and any release date for them will be announced later.

Matchpoint – Tennis Championships Announcement Trailer

Publisher Kalypso Media and Australian developer Torus Games have today announced Matchpoint – Tennis Championships, a brand-new title that delivers authentic gameplay and an immersive tennis experience. Matchpoint – Tennis Championships is scheduled for release in Spring 2022 for PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch™.

An immersive announcement trailer gives a first look into the tennis simulator, which focuses on realistic scenarios and player reactions in the exciting world of tennis. By using the right tactics, intelligent player positioning, and utilizing authentic ball physics which are a central part of the gameplay – players will be able to top the tennis tables in tournaments and competitions around the world. Sophisticated character animations and unprecedented player control are combined within Matchpoint – Tennis Championships, creating realistic rallies in which every swing of the racket counts.

As a modern tennis game, Matchpoint – Tennis Championships promises a dynamic and immersive gaming experience with an extensive career mode and a unique rivalry system. At the time of release, 16 well-known tennis stars will be integrated into Matchpoint – Tennis Championships. From the current number two in the world ranking list Danill Medvedev – to other top ten world ranked players such as Garbine Muguruza, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkaczs. More renowned players will also be playable, with Nick Kyrgios, Benoit Paire, Heather Watson, Hugo Gaston, Madison Keys, Victoria Azarenka, Carlos Alcaraz, and Pablo Carreno Busta.

Taylor Fritz, Amanda Anisimova, and Kei Nishikori will also be part of the launch, and together with Garbine Muguruza and Danill Medvedev – they have expressed their enthusiasm and anticipation for Matchpoint – Tennis Championships in the included video testimonials.

The integration of sports and fashion brands such as Uniqlo, Nike, and Head, all integrated into the game and the players’ equipment, will also add an authentic atmosphere in Matchpoint – Tennis Championships.