Author - Jerry Paxton

Razer Meets Goal of Saving 1M Trees

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers (Hong Kong Stock Code: 1337), is celebrating protecting one million trees, a milestone that had been set as a part of its campaign with environmental nonprofit organization, Conservation International. To mark the occasion, Razer has also released the highly anticipated Sneki Snek hoodie and announced its new even more ambitious target of saving ten million trees.

The partnership between Razer and Conservation International is a part of the company’s ten-year sustainability plan #GoGreenWithRazer, which aims to preserve nature and protect the environment. Together with the Razer community, the organizations have helped protect around 4,000 acres of forest, roughly around the size of 3,000 American football fields. The campaign leverages the fandom of Razer’s sustainability mascot, Sneki Snek, to rally the community behind its tree saving efforts. What started off as a doodle by one of Razer’s designers, Sneki Snek has since spawned into countless memes, has been featured in plenty of tattoos, and even got a dedicated fan page set up by the community. For every Sneki Snek merchandise sold, Razer has been donating a part of the proceeds to support Conservation International’s work to protect forests globally.

“We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without our passionate community,” says Addie Tan, Associate Director of Business Development at Razer. “In fact, our initial goal was to save 100,000 trees but our community of gamers achieved that in a matter of weeks, and we knew that together we could accomplish so much more. Now that we’ve helped save one million trees, we are excited about what’s coming next as we gear up for our next challenge: to save ten million trees.”

In true Razer fashion, the brand has now set its sights on an even bigger target of saving ten million trees and will keep working with Conservation International to realize that goal. Razer will also continue the tradition of celebrating milestones with exclusive Sneki Snek merchandise, so for every 250,000 trees saved, Razer will release a new merch and donate part of the proceeds to help Conservation International protect forests. The environmental impact of this new goal includes saving nearly 40,000 acres of forest and the endangered species that depend on that ecosystem for survival.

“Protecting nature is one of the most important things we can do to address climate change and support biodiversity,” said Sarah Cragg, Partnership and Marketing Director, Asia Pacific, at Conservation International. “Razer’s effort is raising awareness of the challenges facing our planet and also providing its community a clear way to take action. We are deeply grateful for the community’s response and excited to take this challenge to the next level.”

As a part of #GoGreenWithRazer’s ‘Green Community’ initiatives, the company seeks to not only empower its community by giving them the opportunities to make a difference and contribute to its green causes, but also with knowledge. Last year Razer released a new Sneki Snek cartoon series to teach its community about the environmental challenges threatening our planet and what they can do to help. The first episode of season one was on Deforestation, which highlights the importance of preserving the environment which many species depend on for survival, a cause that is very near to Sneki Snek’s heart.

Learn more about Razer’s sustainability efforts here.

Help Razer and Conservation International protect trees here.

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Launch Trailer

SQUARE ENIX® today announced that STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN™ is now available. Developed in collaboration with Team NINJA from KOEI TECMO GAMES, creators of the NINJA GAIDEN and Nioh series, this new action RPG brings a bold, new vision to the FINAL FANTASY® series that both existing fans and new players alike can enjoy.

Players can also try out the free demo, available now on consoles. Save data from this demo will carry over to the full game, allowing players to seamlessly continue their full journey once purchasing the game.

In STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN, players can experience an alternate retelling of the classic FINAL FANTASY story, with a blend of challenging and strategic action-packed gameplay set in the world and lore of the beloved series. Players can join Jack and his allies, Ash, Jed, Neon and Sophia, as they throw open the gates of the Chaos Shrine and step into a world of dark fantasy and take on exhilarating battles to discover if they are truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold.

STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN is now available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via the Epic Games Store. Players who purchase the Digital Deluxe or Digital Standard Editions of the game prior to April 19, 2022 can obtain the Rebellion weapon as an early purchase bonus. STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, visit: https://www.square-enix-games.com/sopffo

Hogwarts Legacy Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer

Warner Bros. Games introduced today the Official Gameplay Reveal for Hogwarts Legacy, the upcoming open-world, action role-playing-game set in the 1800s wizarding world, in development by Avalanche Software. The narrated video gives an in-depth look into the gameplay, including character customization, and the variety of spells, adventures, missions, locations, and characters that players will encounter as a student at Hogwarts. Also showcased was the Official Behind the Scenes video featuring comments by the creative minds making the game.

Scheduled for release holiday 2022, Hogwarts Legacy will be published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey Games label. The game will be available for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch™ system and PC.

Hogwarts Legacy is filled with immersive magic that puts players at the centre of their own adventure. Joining as a brand new fifth year student with a unique ability to manipulate powerful ancient magic, players will live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world. Throughout their adventure, they will grow their character’s abilities by mastering powerful spells, brewing potions, and harvesting magical plants as they face off against deadly enemies. Along the way, they will meet new friends who can accompany them, interact with school professors, and confront dangers that could jeopardize the future of wizardkind.

Join the Hogwarts Legacy conversation on Facebook (https://facebook.com/HogwartsLegacy), Twitter (https://twitter.com/HogwartsLegacy), Instagram (https://instagram.com/HogwartsLegacy) and YouTube (https://youtube.com/HogwartsLegacy) Website: http://www.hogwartslegacy.warnerbrosgames.com/

WRC Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer

NACON and KT Racing Studio are pleased to announce that WRC 10, the official video game of the FIA World Rally Championship, is now available on Nintendo Switch™ in Europe and on March 29 in North America.

The anniversary edition of WRC celebrating 50 years of the competition is still packed with new features and thrills. The historical mode allows players to relive 23 events that have marked the history of the Championship. With more content than ever, WRC 10 is a tribute to 50 years of rallying that will delight fans. The popular Career Mode is also present in the Switch™ version with the addition of a livery editor and the ability to create your own team. Players can now put their colors on the championship cars, based on around 30 vehicles present in the WRC, WRC 2, WRC 3, Junior WRC categories, but also the game’s historic vehicles, alongside the 52 official teams of the 2021 season. The perfect opportunity to take up the challenge with a personalized team!

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WRC 10 is available today on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™ in Europe and on March 29 in North America. WRC 10 is also available on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam PC and Epic Games Store.

Hard West II Announced with Reveal Trailer

Good Shepherd Entertainment and Ice Code Games have revealed Hard West 2, the long-awaited sequel to 2015’s hit turn-based strategy game set in the American Wild West and experienced by over half a million players. Hard West 2 ups the ante in every way, with the unique new Bravado State that delivers a more aggressive approach to combat. The game’s expansive, character-driven story is brought to life by the voice talents of Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Darien Sills-Evans (Days Gone, League of Legends) and Adam Gifford (The Colony, Batman: Hush), plus a score by BAFTA Award winner Jason Graves (Dead Space, Tomb Raider) and story co-written by Origins Awards winner and New York Times bestselling author Matt Forbeck (Deadlands).

Hard West 2 delivers a classic Western world with a supernatural twist, where legends tell of an elusive ghost train with a bounty of gold for the taking. But when first-class con man Gin Carter raids the transport, he discovers this “ghost train” is exactly that! Now Gin must lead a posse of strange outlaws and chase down the Devil across a land touched by darkness, battling forces both living and undead.

Key Features:

  • SHOW YOUR BRAVADO: Ruthlessly rack up kills to activate the new Bravado State and replenish your Action Points. Rush out of cover, go on the offensive, and chain together stylish kills to extend your streak as you brazenly take down anyone or anything that stands in your way.
  • SUPERCHARGED POSSE: Unearth mysterious playing cards to build your crew’s poker hands, and kit them out with punchier guns, explosives, trinkets, or just a square meal of beans and whiskey to keep them in top six-shooter shape.
  • UNNATURAL LEADER: Like it or not, responsibility for your growing posse of gunslinging outlaws, teleporting witches, and other mysterious beings lands at your boot-clad feet. But be careful who you listen to and what you ask of them. The right choices lead to more Loyalty Points and new skills for those closest to you, but choosing poorly will test their commitment to your cause.
  • SHOOTOUTS ON THE MOVE: With projectiles of lead and witchcraft, Hard West 2’s turn-based combat happens in dynamically shifting environments, keeping your brain as busy as your trigger finger. Let your Western imagination run wild, from horseback chases to tense train holdups, as you hone your strategic skills to a fine edge.
  • THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UNDEAD: Folk tales of the far West collide with the darkness of the occult in an unforgiving land riddled with as many demons as bullets.
  • CONQUER THE DARK FRONTIER: Explore the far reaches of the Wild West in a desperate fight to save your soul. Discover more about your posse as you wander the lands, from snow-covered vistas to frontier towns struggling to survive in a merciless world. Make brutal choices and learn to live with the gruesome consequences.

Hard West 2 is expected to launch this year on PC. The game is available to wishlist now on Steam. Visit www.hardwestgame.com to sign up for the game’s closed beta, going on now through April 7, and join the community on Facebook, Discord and Reddit.

EverQuest Celebrates 23 Years

Today, EverQuest, the groundbreaking franchise that catapulted the MMORPG genre, is turning 23! In celebration of its anniversary, Darkpaw Games has prepared a new mission, some new quests, a new raid, and achievements players can earn from now and until May 10. Additionally, EverQuest also has a little surprise gift for players just for logging in and celebrating with them from now through April 20th.

New adventures for this year include:

Quest – The Known Laws of Aviation

  • Giraga the troll has come to the sphinxes for information. He asked a warrior in her town to train her to be as strong as him. He laughed and told her, ‘mebbe when fish fly.’ Giraga has never seen a flying fish, so she has gone to the sphinxes for help. They gave her a book full of riddles and, presumably, solving them will lead her to flying fish.

Quest – Paintings Playing Poker

  • Big Slick Jones loves his poker, and one of his early poker memories is the stories that would be told about the crows playing poker at his hometown tavern, getting him interested in the craft. He’d love to hear more about the other paintings around Norrath and if they’re still up.

Quest – Death Finds a Way

  • Krastoraab, Acolyte of the Cycle, has a story that he wishes to tell any who is willing to hear it. A story about the cycle of life, death, and everything in between. He needs the  help of several spirits who have since passed, and he is waiting for their cycle to begin anew.

Mission – Beyond Hope

  • Players can pick up a quest from Krastoraab who will send them out to meet several disciples of the cycle. It’ll then be up to them to fight each of the disciples in order to understand the importance of the cycle. There are lots of steps to tackle, but the rewards will be worth it.

Raid – Mad Emperor

  • Rumors have been spreading about activity in Karnor’s Castle. Eerie green lights, screams, etc. Not that these things never happen in the castle, but never this frequently!

Returning events:

If players are looking for some fun and are over level 100, previous top hits are returning, including Sailor Twift with her Riveting Tales. If they don’t have time to help spread the Unity among the Gnolls and would like a shorter adventure, they can head to the Plane of Knowledge and speak with Maitreya, the Maitre D, who needs some help making a Fancy Feast.

If fans are not quite up to the level 100+ quests, there are plenty of lower-level quests to enjoy. If they are not ready to head out for summer, stop by Geia Korrel and head back to school with School Supplies. Or if helping a lovesick Iksar is more to their liking, they can speak with an Emissary of Erollisi in the Plane of Knowledge.

No party is complete without eating some delicious Platinum Anniversary Cake in scenic locations. While players are out in the world adventuring, they can take the time to explore over seventeen years of anniversary content.

It’s a great time to explore Norrath like never before and celebrate EverQuest’s birthday. Fans can speak with the Mechanical Fortune Teller in Plane of Knowledge for details on these past and current celebrations. Darkpaw Games invites you to hop in, strap on your armor and weapons, and have fun!

Netflix’s Resident Evil Release Date Announced

Netflix has announced the official release date and a new trailer for their upcoming Resident Evil series. RESIDENT EVIL, the first live-action series, will redefine the legendary horror franchise for Netflix on July 14. Year 2036 – 14 years after a deadly virus caused a global apocalypse, Jade Wesker fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and insane creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father’s chilling connections to the Umbrella Corporation but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie.

SERIES LAUNCH DATE: July 14
SHOWRUNNER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER: Andrew Dabb (Supernatural)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER: Mary Leah Sutton
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Robert Kulzer and Oliver Berben of Constantin Film
PRODUCER: Constantin Film CEO Martin Moszkowicz
STUDIO: Constantin Film
FORMAT: 8 x 1 Hour episodes

CAST:
Lance Reddick (he/him) as ALBERT WESKER
Ella Balinska (she/her)
Tamara Smart (she/her)
Siena Agudong (she/her)
Adeline Rudolph (she/her)
Paola Nuñez (she/her)

ADDITIONAL CAST WILL INCLUDE:
Ahad Raza Mir (he/him)
Connor Gossatti (he/him)
Turlough Convery (he/him)

Total War: MEDIEVAL II Mobile Launch Date Trailer

Feral Interactive and Creative Assembly announced today that Total War™: MEDIEVAL II will release for iOS and Android on Thursday, April 7.

MEDIEVAL II brings Total War’s compelling mix of massive real-time battles and intricate turn-based strategy to mobile. Set across three continents during the turbulent Middle Ages, spectacular conflicts and scheming rivals mark the path to power as the great kingdoms of the medieval world vie for supremacy. Be it through diplomacy or conquest, trade or subterfuge, players must secure the resources and loyalty required to rule an empire from the shores of Western Europe to the sands of Arabia.

Total War: MEDIEVAL II is the complete BAFTA-nominated strategy classic, brought to iOS and Android without compromise:

  • 17 playable factions to build into major world powers using statecraft, cunning and all-out warfare.
  • Huge real-time battles featuring infantry, archers and cavalry; all wielding a full range of authentic medieval weaponry.
  • More nuanced settlement management, additional agents to conduct state affairs, and more sophisticated campaign mechanics to forge alliances or destabilise rivals.
  • A campaign map spanning Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – and even the shores of the New World – through four centuries of competition, combat, and conquest.
  • A new intuitive user interface and refined touch controls for fingertip control of the battlefield.

Total War: MEDIEVAL II will be released on mobile on Thursday April 7 for $14.99 / £12.99 / €14,99. iOS players can pre-order now while Android players can register their interest on the Google Play Store here. Supported devices for each platform are listed on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Starfield – Episode 2: Made For Wanderers Dev Diary Released

Today we are pleased to present Into the Starfield – Episode 2: Made for Wanderers. Join members of the Starfield development team including Game Director Todd Howard, Design Director Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Quest Designer Will Shen and Lead Artist Istvan Pely for a roundtable discussion as they talk about team’s approach to designing an immersive, next-generation RPG that gives players the freedom to navigate their own path through the cosmos.

Watch Into the Starfield – Episode 2: Made For Wanderers here:

Stay tuned for more episodes of Into the Starfield in the coming months to learn even more about how the team is building a new universe from the ground up.

Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series S|X and PC on 11.11.22. Fans can play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human Gets New Challenges

Yesterday in Dying Light 2 Stay Human, the new parkour challenge Flying Scorpion arrived in The City, challenging all Pilgrims to show off their parkour skills all across the Central Loop. Did you pass the test? Perfect! New challenges will appear in the game this Thursday, ready for you to give them a whirl.

On Thursday, March 17, you will be able to face four new amazing trials specially prepared by Techland for every Pilgrim out there:

1. Suspension of Disbelief – This challenge will test your wall-running skills in the heart of Central Loop!
2. Grakour – This challenge in Old Villedor will check all your basic skills so don’t make any mistakes or you’ll be kissing the gold medal goodbye!
3. Stroll on the river – Ready to get soaked?
4. My Whole World is a Glider – Fly Pilgrim… Fly high over the chemical areas and try not to fall, or at least not too hard!

But this is not all! Techland have also prepared a new series, At The Fish Eye, which will focus on post-launch activities for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, the developers’ lives, and entertainment straight from The City. In the first episode, several Techland developers will face each other in four challenges to earn a prize and the title of the first Techland Nightrunner. Take a look at this teaser and meet us at the Fish Eye canteen this week!

Dying Light 2 Stay Human, published by Techland, is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S.

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