Author - Jerry Paxton

D&D Beyond Acquired by HASBRO – D&D Parent Company

2022/04/13

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that it is acquiring D&D Beyond, the leading digital toolset and game companion for the Company’s groundbreaking fantasy franchise, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, from Fandom. Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, has owned and operated D&D Beyond since 2019 and has grown the direct-to-consumer business to be the leading role-playing game (RPG) digital toolset on the market with close to 10 million registered users. This strategic acquisition, for $146.3 million in cash, will further strengthen Hasbro’s capabilities in the fast-growing digital tabletop category while also adding veteran talents to the Wizards of the Coast team and accelerating efforts to deliver exceptional experiences for fans across all platforms.

Since 2017, D&D Beyond has helped to power DUNGEONS & DRAGONS tabletop play and deliver the brand’s eighth consecutive year of growth in 2021. Over the last three years, the royalty paid to Hasbro by D&D Beyond has represented a significant contribution to the fastest growing source of revenue for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. The strategic acquisition of D&D Beyond will deliver a direct relationship with fans, providing valuable, data-driven insights to unlock opportunities for growth in new product development, live services and tools, and regional expansions. As part of Wizards, the brand’s leadership will soon be able to drive a unified, player-centric vision of the world’s greatest role-playing game on all platforms.

“The acquisition of D&D Beyond will accelerate our progress in both gaming and direct to consumer, two priority areas of growth for Hasbro, providing immediate access to a loyal, growing player base,” said Chris Cocks, Hasbro Chief Executive Officer. “Hasbro’s gaming portfolio is among the largest and most profitable in the industry, and we continue to make strategic investments to grow our brands, including in digital.”

“This is the perfect next step for the talented D&D Beyond team, who built a transformative digital product that engaged and delighted millions of D&D fans around the world,” said Perkins Miller, CEO of Fandom. “We can’t wait to see what this team will do next as an integral part of the D&D franchise, and I look forward to investing in more brands and products to super serve Fandom’s 300 million+ global fans.”

“D&D Beyond has been one of our most valuable partners in the digital space for the past six years and we’re excited to bring their best-in-class talent onto our team,” said Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming. “The team at D&D Beyond has built an incredible digital platform, and together we will deliver the best-possible DUNGEONS & DRAGONS experience for players around the world.”

Hasbro’s continued investment in Wizards of the Coast’s digital growth for its two iconic franchises, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, is representative of the significant opportunity in PC and mobile gaming, an industry that represented over 3 billion players globally and $129 billion in revenue in 20211. With the launch of Magic: The Gathering Arena on PC in 2019 and on mobile in 2021, Wizards has built a unique ecosystem of best-in-class tabletop and digital play to create deeper player engagement and satisfaction and grow revenue across all expressions and regions. Similarly, with more than 80% of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS fans having already played the game virtually in 2021, aided by online digital platforms such as D&D Beyond, this acquisition accelerates the game’s ability to penetrate new markets, gather valuable consumer insights and provide players with the best DUNGEONS & DRAGONS experience on all platforms.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 2022. The transaction will be funded out of cash on hand and is expected to be immaterial to revenue and earnings per share in 2022 and accretive to earnings per share in fiscal year 2023 and beyond. The transaction has been approved by both Hasbro’s and Fandom’s Boards of Directors.

Galactic Civilizations IV Launch Trailer

2022/04/13

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Stardock announced the April 26th release date for Galactic Civilizations IV today. The newest installment of the award-winning space 4X strategy sandbox game series takes the best of what its predecessors had to offer and adds new features like multi-sector maps, the ability to customize your civilization mid-game via policies, internal factions, a unique mission/quest system, and so much more.

As the all-powerful leader of a spacefaring civilization, players will seek out new star systems and discover the exciting potential of the subspace realm. With over a dozen starting civilizations to choose from – plus the ability to create unique custom civilizations from scratch – the possibilities for each playthrough are endless, leaving players with a truly unique experience every time they start up a new game.

“Galactic Civilizations IV is the result of years of thinking about the exciting innovations that have been occurring in strategy games,” said Brad Wardell, Stardock CEO. “We want to give players the ultimate turn-based strategy experience, and we’ve accomplished this by adding in tons of new features that add to the depth and scope of the game while incorporating feedback over several alpha and beta testing phases.”

For nearly 30 years, the Galactic Civilizations series has focused on four main pillars: a simulated universe, strong AI opponents, rich lore, and multiple paths to victory. Galactic Civilizations IV supports this approach through several new features.

Multi-sector maps add a new depth to the scope of Galactic Civilizations IV. While players will still be able to play a smaller map, the ability to span an adventure across an enormous map with multiple sectors gives a true feeling of galactic conquest and exploration. Each sector is connected by subspace streams that will allow the player to travel between them.
While the idea of citizens was introduced in Galactic Civilizations III, their role was not as distinct as it is now. Citizens have individual approval ratings and keeping them happy is important – a disloyal and unhappy governor might just take their planet and corresponding colonies with them and start a new empire if the player isn’t careful. The story of the game changes depending on which characters are recruited and how their various backstories manifest throughout.
Galactic Achievements solve the age-old problem of a player seeing a clear trajectory to victory that is locked behind another couple hours of gameplay. Historically, many players quit at this point and don’t bother finishing their game because they “know they are going to win,” but it’s hardly a satisfactory victory. With this new feature, players can take on a challenge to earn “prestige points” that will go toward a total necessary for them to win the game. This cuts down on the “grind” of late game and allows a story to come to a much more interesting conclusion.
The concept of the Core Worlds system was introduced to reduce micromanagement. Previously, players would have to manage each world they conquered individually. When a player colonizes a subpar world, it will feed into a core world that the player has already established. With this system, players will directly oversee a lower number of worlds, but still receive the benefits of colonizing and conquering as many as possible.

To further support a unique experience for every game of Galactic Civilizations IV, players will now be able to set and update policies and issue executive orders during gameplay. Policies allow a player to shift priorities as they play by choosing between different buffs and focuses, while executive orders allow the player to spend a new resource called control to do things like print money or draft colonies.

There are many other features that comprise the Galactic Civilizations IV experience, including several new additions for helping newer players. An in-game tutorial and advisors that offer strategic and tactical advice make getting started easier than ever before. Many old and beloved features from previous games – including the ship designer and civilization creator – are also included.

For more information or to get into the beta now, visit www.galciv4.com.

QuakeCon 2022 to be Digital Only Event

2022/04/13

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

This year’s QuakeCon will once again be a digital-only event, August 18-20, 2022. Like you, we’re disappointed to not return to Dallas this year. An event of this size requires months of planning, and in this case, we had to make decisions when there was still too much uncertainty to commit to successfully executing an in-person QuakeCon.

The QuakeCon team is already working hard to put together exciting new streaming programming, online meetups, giveaways, charity opportunities, the virtual BYOC, and more, and we will announce more details in June.

We’re committed to returning with our full in-person festival in 2023, and already looking forward to reconnecting with friends, a massive BYOC packed with your latest custom PC creations, our wild contests, and tons of great new games and hardware for attendees to try out.

We can’t wait to see you online this August and in-person next year.

-Bethesda

80s Cartoon Inspired MythForce Official Announcement Trailer

2022/04/12

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Today Beamdog and Aspyr revealed their first original title: MythForce. Inspired by beloved 80s cartoons like, MythForce unites colorful swords & sorcery with gripping first-person combat in a roguelite adventure. Published by Aspyr Media, the game will launch into Early Access on April 20, 2022 as an Epic Games Store exclusive for Windows PCs, priced at $29.99 USD. See the Mythforce trailer.

“I’m beyond excited to finally show off our team’s original work,” said Trent Oster, Beamdog CEO. “MythForce is pure, unadulterated fun— right out of the Saturday mornings of my childhood. With a simple yet satisfying game loop, it’s a big departure from the RPG classics we’re known for, but the Beamdog DNA is evident if you know where to look.”

The Early Access launch includes four playable heroes for MythForce Episode 1: Bastion of the Beastlord. Wielding legendary weapons and powerful magic, the heroes of MythForce face a series of increasingly difficult challenges as they explore overgrown ruins teeming with cartoon enemies. Players can brave the dungeon alone or join forces with friends in online co-op mode for up to four people.

Heroes level-up as they explore the dungeon, unlocking different perks for each playthrough, as well as special rank upgrades that carry over to new sessions. Procedurally-generated maps with randomized encounters and loot keep each playthrough fresh. In true roguelite fashion, each time players are defeated they have to start over at the beginning, but every playthrough makes them a little stronger

MythForce is currently available to wishlist from the Epic Games Store, and Episode 1: Bastion of the Beastlord will be playable on April 20, 2022. Beamdog will release additional episodes and updates during Early Access, incorporating input from Early Access community members.

“MythForce is a feel-good game that speaks to the kid in us. In Early Access we want to collaborate with players who are excited by our wholesome, 80s vision for MythForce, and build up the best game possible. Community will be key to getting us to 1.0,” said Oster.

6th Annual USC Games Expo Announced

2022/04/12

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, North America’s No. 1 collegiate game design program USC Games announced their 6th annual USC Games Expo with support from long-term partner Jam City, a leading international game developer behind some of the world’s highest-grossing and most enduring games. The virtual event will feature up-and-coming game designers and developers from USC Games’ program, packed with world premieres of over 50 student-made games. This year’s Expo will be the third time the multi-hour event is livestreamed and will air on May 12, 2022 at 2pm PT on uscgamesexpo.com and USC Games’ Twitch and YouTube channels. IGN is the official media partner of Expo Day and will also be concurrently streaming the live virtual event.

“USC Games Expo is a unique opportunity for our students to show their skills in game development, the challenges they’ve faced, and share the results of their hard work with the world,” said Danny Bilson, Chair of the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ (SCA) Interactive Media & Games Division (IMGD), and Director of USC Games. “We’re very excited for our Trojan family and our friends at Jam City to join us for another showcase featuring the talented game designers and developers of tomorrow.”

“We are continually wowed by the creativity and innovation that comes out of USC’s game program. It undoubtedly deserves its spot as North America’s No. 1 collegiate program and we are so proud to continue to sponsor and support the USC Games Expo each year,” said Chris DeWolfe, Co-Founder and CEO of Jam City. “The incredible talent this program hones and produces will undoubtedly usher in the games of the future.”

The USC Games program, a truly interdisciplinary program shared between the School of Cinematic Arts and Viterbi School of Engineering’s, champions diversity, equity and inclusion with 48% of program students identifying as female and initiatives like the Gerald A. Lawson Endowment Fund for Black & Indigenous Students, to catalyze the inclusion of underrepresented voices in the games industry.

USC Games will feature the best games of the past year both at the Expo on May 12 as well as give a livestreamed “virtual field trip” for junior high and high school students and their families on May 11, prior to the official show. On Expo Day, eight projects developed in USC Games’ capstone course, the Advanced Games Program (AGP), will be featured with their first hands-on showcase.

Those featured AGP titles include:

1. Bounty Heart (Mobile iOS/Android)
Bounty Heart takes you on a journey through a fantasy world full of quirky characters, renegades, and outlaws. Devise the best strategy to match orbs, recruit allies and defeat enemies to obtain the legendary bounty in Bounty Heart.

2. Charon (PC)
Charon is a single player action-adventure game where the player traverses the perilous River Styx as the ferryman of the underworld. They must utilize weapons and maneuverability to survive raging rapids, vengeful spirits, and the goddess Demeter’s onslaught of monsters to bring the lost soul Alexis to her lover in the afterlife.

3. Impasto (PC)
Impasto is a dark fantasy adventure inside the macabre imagination of the legendary Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Step inside the world of his paintings and unravel the mystery and the tragedy of the man who painted them directly onto the walls of his home.

4. Skylost (PC)
On a rescue mission, brave the mysteries of Spire, a series of beautiful, mysteriously floating islands that few have dared travel to and even fewer have ever returned from. Armed only with your wits, limited supplies, and the items you discover during your journey, traverse the exhilarating verticality of this gravity-defying wilderness. Craft, climb and glide your way past the Spire’s hazardous flora and fauna, reach the top, and find your lost missing love, Amelia before she—like so many before her—is lost forever!

5. Social Moth (PC)
Social Moth is a game that explores social anxiety. As Moth, you can explore vibrant environments, get to know your neighbors, and attend a party while coping with your desire to avoid social interactions. Developed with input from subject-matter experts, help the Moth manage his anxiety while making friends with the insects in his neighborhood and keep his thoughts under control to avoid the dreaded Anxiety Monster.

6. Spookulele (PC)
When a fabled disaster causes ghosts to spill into the human world, an apathetic reaper and a fearless young girl with magical powers must use their musical abilities to fight ghosts and save the world from an endless night. Spookulele is an action-adventure game where you play a pair of reapers and use musical abilities to fight ghosts.

7. That’s Not How it Happened (PC)
Disaster! When the Turner family’s inn burns down, they must recall the events that took place leading up to its fiery end, and ultimately explain HOW IT HAPPENED…That’s Not How It Happened is a rashomon-style beat’em up-point-and-click-dating sim that explores different art styles and game mechanics to show each character’s unique perspective. Follow George, Alan, and Zoey Turner as they try to decide who saved(?) the day!

8. Turtle Town (PC)
When the whimsical forest of Brightleaf Hollow is threatened by rogue mechanical animals, it’s up to you, to assemble, and protect a town of forest animals finding refuge on the shell of Tortimer Turtle. In this unique base builder on the move, every building you construct changes the way you explore the forest and every encounter in the forest will change the way you build and protect your city.

FRACKED PC Announcement Trailer

2022/04/12

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Fracked, the trailblazing and critically acclaimed VR action-adventure game from nDreams, is coming to Viveport and Steam on Thursday, May 5th. The game will also be available on the Rift Store soon afterwards.

The game is natively compatible with HTC Vive Pro, Valve Index and Rift S headsets, while Meta Quest and Quest 2 owners can get involved in the action via the Oculus Link Cable or Air Link.

In Fracked, you are a reluctant hero, stuck deep inside a remote mountain facility and forced into a final stand between the planet and the ‘Fracked’ – an army of gun-wielding, interdimensional enemies. There’s no room here for subtlety and stealth, this is bold, brash and uncompromising explosive action! Alone. On the edge. And really fracked off… humanity’s survival is in your hands!

“It’s been fantastic to see the love that Fracked has received from players and critics alike since it’s PlayStation VR launch last year,” said David Corless, VP of Publishing at nDreams. “We’re excited to give new audiences the chance to experience the thrill of Fracked’s high-octane action as they fight to save the world!”

Fracked’s innovative VR gunplay blends improvised run and gun combat with a 1:1 grabbable cover system allowing you to move freely around the battlefield outflanking, outsmarting, and outgunning the Fracked. The game also features free and intuitive no-rails movement on foot, on skis and climbing.

Originally released for PS VR last summer, Fracked’s first-person combat and free movement earned praise from reviewers and the game was featured on multiple ‘Best of 2021’ lists.

We’ll have more Fracked news to share in the coming weeks so follow us on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for further updates.

Orcs Must Die! 3 Tipping the Scales DLC Launch Trailer

2022/04/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Robot Entertainment, an independent development and publishing studio, announced the all new Tipping the Scales DLC for Orcs Must Die! 3 is launching today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia, Steam, and PlayStation® 4. Featuring the brand new Tuatara Race and its four enemy types, players will come equipped with a new Hand Gatling weapon, the Briar Patch Trap, and a Reptilian Carapace Trinket all set in a new desert biome.

The Tipping the Scales DLC also includes five new scenarios including a War Scenario- Untrained Grounds (inspired by Orcs Must Die! Unchained Training Grounds map), Sandstorm Shelter, Oasis Outpost, Sand Sea Castle, and Desert Wall (War Scenario). Lastly, four Endless Maps, two new skins – Cygnus Sand Skin and Vorwick Sand Skin and six new Achievements will be included in this new DLC. The Tipping the Scales DLC will be available for $7.99 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia, Steam, and PlayStation® 4.

All players returning to the game will have access to two new Endless Mode maps (Split Stairs and Secret Fortress), new Scramble Mode buffs and debuffs, and a host of fixes and improvements.

Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 Coming to Steam this Year

2022/04/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Calling all mecha pilots! BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that the popular free-to-play team battle action game MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 is coming to PC on Steam in 2022. To ensure all systems are go for the game’s upcoming launch, players are invited to join the Network Test starting April 14.

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 features intense 6v6 online team battles, with players from all around the world fighting for survival as they pilot their favorite Mobile Suits. The free-to-play game immerses players in epic battles set in the Gundam universe, whether on land or in space. Mobile Suits are not the only heroes in these battle theaters. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 adds a new dimension to mecha combat with Infantry Battles, giving pilots the ability to take part in the fight alongside their Mobile Suits, placing bombs in enemy bases or requesting support fire to help decide the outcome of the battle. Additionally, customizable Mobile Suits offer players the opportunity to enhance their favorite mecha through DP earned in battle.

Players can sign up for the Network Test for MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 and get new game information and assets by visiting the newly launched Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1367080.

The Network Test will be held in two sessions, with the first running April 14-16 and the second on April 21. Each day will be divided into two blocks of playtime based on the following schedule:

Session 1

Thursday, April 14 – Friday, April 15
- First half: 5:00pm – 8:00pm PDT
- Second half: 10:00pm – 1:00am PDT
Friday, April 15 – Saturday, April 16
- First half: 5:00pm – 8:00pm PDT
- Second half: 10:00pm – 1:00am PDT
Saturday, April 16 – Sunday, April 17
- First half: 5:00pm – 8:00pm PDT
- Second half: 10:00pm – 1:00am PDT

Session 2

Thursday, April 21 – Sunday, April 24
- Open continuously from April 21 at 6:00pm to April 24 at 1:00am PDT

Additionally, a new trailer highlighting the explosive mecha action in MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 can be found at the following YouTube link.

Kerbal Space Program 2 Interstellar Travel Trailer

2022/04/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Kerbal Space Program has earned a reputation for being scientifically accurate in its depiction of the physics of space travel. For the sequel, Intercept Games plans to expand on this by introducing interstellar travel, which sends players on a voyage to the vast reaches of space on an unprecedented scale.

In the video below, the Kerbal Space Program 2 dev team with a guest appearance from writer Paul Gilster, author of Centauri Dreams, share the concepts and philosophy guiding them in understanding and crafting interstellar travel. This feature video also covers in-depth details on the brand new travel systems, details about various propulsion engines, and more.

The Batman Gets HBO Max Premiere Date

2022/04/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

The Warner Bros. Pictures global blockbuster, from writer/director Matt Reeves, THE BATMAN, starring Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, will be available to stream on HBO Max on MONDAY, APRIL 18. Dylan Clark (the “Planet of the Apes” films) and Reeves produced the film. THE BATMAN will also air on HBO on Saturday, April 23 at 8:00PM ET.

When a killer targets Gotham City’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle, The Penguin, Carmine Falcone and The Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, The Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

Starring alongside Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”) as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Big Little Lies,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton, aka The Riddler; Jeffrey Wright (“No Time to Die,” “Westworld”) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films, “The Plot Against America”) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Interrogation”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“The Gentlemen,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) as Oz, aka The Penguin.

Reeves (“The Planet of the Apes” franchise) directed from a screenplay by Reeves & Peter Craig, based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Simon Emanuel served as executive producers.