Author - Jerry Paxton

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Trailer and Release Date

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.– During a panel today at Star Wars™ Celebration in Chicago, Respawn Entertainment, a studio of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA), announced that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order ™, a new third-person action adventure game, will launch on November 15, 2019 on Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and PC via Origin™. The game will feature an authentic story set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith™, when the Jedi have fallen. Fans will play as a young Padawan named Cal Kestis, brought to life by Cameron Monaghan (Shameless, Gotham), who has survived Order 66, the Emperor’s secret decree to eliminate all Jedi. Players must pick up the pieces of Cal’s shattered past to complete his training and master the art of the iconic lightsaber – all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly Inquisitors.

“Many Star Wars fans, ourselves included, are really interested in the dark times, so we wanted to explore that mysterious, dangerous period,” said Stig Asmussen, Game Director, Respawn Entertainment. “The team at Lucasfilm have been amazing collaborators, helping us explore and further develop this part of the timeline where the Empire is at the height of its power and any remaining Jedi are in hiding. Within this narrative, we’ve crafted a game with intense, yet thoughtful and fun melee combat using the lightsaber and Force powers, allowing anyone to fulfill their Jedi fantasy.”

“When Respawn approached us with the idea for this game, we were immediately supportive. A single player, story-driven title in the Star Wars universe was exactly what we were looking for, and we know the fans have been eager for one, as well,” said Steve Blank, Director, Franchise Content & Strategy, Lucasfilm Story Group. “Focusing on Cal stepping back into the shoes of a Jedi post Order 66 opens up a lot of gameplay opportunities and rich story threads to develop for this new character and his backstory.”

Players will meet Cal on Bracca, a brand-new Star Wars planet and one of several new locations introduced in the game. Cal is hiding from the Empire in plain sight but is forced to go on the run when he exposes his Force powers. Along the way, Cal will make new friends, like his mysterious companion Cere, as well as run into some familiar faces, all while being accompanied by his faithful droid BD-1. Cal’s flight from the Empire is made even more dangerous as he is being pursued by the Second Sister, one of the Empire’s elite Inquisitors, who seeks to hunt Cal down and extinguish this surviving Jedi. Assisting the Second Sister are the terrifying Purge Troopers, special Imperial forces trained to seek out Jedi and aid the Inquisitors in their dastardly work.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is designed with gameplay as a top priority in order to deliver the kind of intense Star Wars lightsaber battles that are seen in the films. Brought to life by Respawn, a studio known for high-quality games that are both visually beautiful and technically masterful, players will use their Jedi training to create different melee combinations with an innovative lightsaber combat system and Force abilities. Players will also use traversal and other platforming abilities to strategically overcome opponents and solve puzzles in their path across this galaxy-spanning adventure. Star Wars fans will recognize iconic locations, weapons, gear, and enemies, while also meeting a roster of fresh characters, locations, creatures, droids and adversaries new to Star Wars.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available now for pre-order, and will offer fans unique cosmetic content. For more details, visit StarWarsJediFallenOrder.com.

For more information on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, please follow the EA Star Wars channels on Twitter and Facebook, or visit https://www.ea.com/games/starwars.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Teaser Trailer Released

Director/Writer J.J. Abrams and Producer Kathleen Kennedy were joined by stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Oscar Isaac, Billy Dee Williams, Naomi Ackie, Joonas Suotamo and Anthony Daniels, and droids BB-8 and D-0, for a panel discussion at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, moderated by Stephen Colbert.

It was a day of surprises at Star Wars Celebration for the enthusiastic fans in attendance as the title of the final installment of the Skywalker saga was also revealed, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and along with the first trailer for the film a brand-new teaser poster!

ALIEN DAY Back for 2019

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2019 – Forty years ago, a terrifying film burst from the mind of Ridley Scott, “xeno-morphing” into one of the most iconic franchises of all time. From the first menacing Chestburster shock to the last acid-drooling extraterrestrial kill, ALIEN became the definitive sci-fi horror film, winning fans, critics, and an Academy Award® along the way. To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the film that spawned a global franchise of record-breaking hit movies, video games, graphic novels, consumer products, and more, 20th Century Fox launched an otherworldly tribute with thrilling new stories, exclusive exhibits, and other one-of-a-kind experiences for fans.

Culminating on April 26th, ALIEN DAY devotees will rally for the fourth year in a row for 24 hours of worldwide fanfare. Fans eager to participate can share their own personal memories or recreations of their favorite moments for a chance to become part of the 40 Year legacy! (click here for more information on #MyAlien40th)

Over the next two weeks, fans can continue to experience the Alien 40th Anniversary Shorts, a series of frightening new narratives from six emerging filmmakers selected from over 550 entries through a 20th Century Fox partnership with creator community Tongal. These terrifying tales have been shocking viewers on IGN since the first short debuted on March 29th, and the final two thrillers – ALIEN: Alone and ALIEN: Harvest – will be unearthed on ALIEN DAY, April 26th. Descending into orbit on April 23rd is the ALIEN 40th ANNIVERSARY 4K ULTRA HD®, courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and available for pre-order HERE. Featuring an enthralling new 4K master, the film was restored at Company 3 and Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, supervised by both director Ridley Scott and Fox’s own Pam Dery.

Launching into ALIEN Day, the biggest name brands have created exclusive collections in honor of the franchise. All-new figures, merchandise, apparel, publications, mobile game promotions, comics and collectibles will be unveiled from NECA, Funko, Diamond Select, Dark Horse, Audible, Weta Workshop, Zen Studios, D3 Go!, The Loyal Subjects, Upper Deck, Changes, Loot Crate, Super 7, Acme Archives, Wonderdice, Mondo, Fanattik, Sideshow, Rubies, Gale Force Nine, Macmillan, Monogram, CoolProps, Hollywood Collectibles Group, and Good Smile Company to name a few. Highlights include a comprehensive and definitive volume on the making of ALIEN from Titan Books, a new line of Alien Pop! Figures from Funko, limited edition giclée prints from Acme Archives & Dark Ink, and a selection of apparel and merchandise sure to please the most discriminating Alien collector from Shop.FoxMovies.com. A full list of what is shuttling in for Alien Day can be found HERE.

Check out the announcement video HERE for a peek at this iconic film’s early development, and watch the rest of the horror unfold every day by plugging into www.AlienUniverse.com. Participate in the worldwide Alien Day celebration by following #ALIENDAY and #Alien40th on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Comic-Con Museum Announces EverQuest 20: A Living Legend Exhibit

SAN DIEGO — April 15, 2019 — Daybreak Games® and the Comic-Con® Museum will host, “EverQuest 20: A Living Legend,” a special event on Saturday, April 27 through Sunday, April 28 celebrating the groundbreaking franchise that popularized and changed the MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) genre 20 years ago. In addition to showcasing an incredible collection of original art, the exhibit will be accompanied by special programs and panels highlighting key moments throughout the game’s storied history.

The event will be hosted at The Comic-Con Museum’s future home in Balboa Park (2131 Pan America Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101). The original art, concept work, and other key items will be arranged into a community-focused EverQuest timeline, spanning two decades of active development and gameplay. The Museum gallery will feature original oil paintings by renowned fantasy artist and illustrator Keith Parkinson, the first game design document by Brad McQuaid, and original box art. Attending fans will also be invited on an EverQuest adventure inside the museum where they will solve challenges to receive exclusive rewards.

“EverQuest changed the face of MMORPGs and continues to evolve as we remain committed to delivering fantasy content to our loyal fans,” said Holly Longdale, Executive Producer of EverQuest. “We can’t wait to transport them on an art journey through the game and share their memories with other players who have also loved EverQuest for the past 20 years.”

Activities for the weekend will include*:

  • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – EverQuest 20: A Living Legend
    • Exhibit Hall Open.
  • 11 a.m. PT – Exploring the World of Norrath
    • Join game developers as they introduce EverQuest and explore 20 years of evolution and expansion in the world of Norrath.
  • 1 p.m. PT – Living the Legacy
    • Senior members of the EverQuest development team will describe what it is like to work on the game they once played, exploring how their ongoing efforts ensure the game and its community continue to thrive.
  • 2 p.m. PT – Developer Signing
    • Members of the EverQuest team will be signing and distributing exclusive EverQuest 20 posters featuring the game’s original key art from 1999.
  • 2:30 p.m. PT – Fan-Made Experiences, Community Forum
    • Join active members of the EverQuest Community as they explore and discuss the experiences that have defined 20 years of gameplay. The audience will have an opportunity to share their stories as well!

*Note: Schedule Subject to Change

“We are looking forward to welcoming the EverQuest community to the future home of the Comic-Con Museum and celebrating this incredible milestone in gaming history,” said Adam Smith, Executive Director of the Comic-Con Museum. “We can’t wait to commemorate this special moment with the developers and fans who have kept the world of Norrath alive and thriving for 20 years.”

Few titles have existed as long as EverQuest and the franchise continues to influence games today. Since its launch on March 16, 1999, the high-fantasy free-to-play game continues to grow, with 25 expansions to-date, over 1,600 unique playable areas, 700+ raid events, 50,000 design scripts and more than 3 million lines of code. The game has built and sustains a thriving community, enriching players lives and forging friendships and relationships that have transferred into real life, even leading to marriages.

For more information about EverQuest, visit EverQuest.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

High School ALIEN Play Gets Sponsored Encore

April 15, 2019 – The North Bergen High School students who spawned a media frenzy when they presented a stage adaptation of ALIEN several weeks ago, will be performing an encore presentation in honor of the fourth annual ALIEN DAY on Friday, April 26th. The performance caught the attention of the star and the director of the original 20th Century Fox film, Sigourney Weaver (“Ellen Ripley”) and Ridley Scott. Scott was so impressed that he pledged funding for a special encore presentation of the student play.

WHAT: ENCORE presentation of Alien: The Play
WHERE: The North Bergen High School Auditorium, New Jersey

WHEN: ALIEN DAY – Friday, April 26th, 8pm ET

This special performance is one more activity surrounding ALIEN DAY on April 26th when devotees of the Alien franchise will assemble again for the 24-hour worldwide celebration. Those eager to participate can share their own personal memories or recreations of their favorite moments for a chance to become part of the 40 Year legacy; click here for more information on #MyAlien40th!

Follow @AlienAnthology for updates on #AlienDay on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Yakuza Kiwami 2 PC Release Date

London, England – April 11, 2019 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. is excited to announce that the famous saga continues with the critically acclaimed Yakuza™ Kiwami 2 arriving to Steam on 9 May 2019 for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99. Get ready to join the all-out war between rival clans Tojo and Omi by pre-purchasing Yakuza Kiwami 2 today, now fully optimised for PC, including stunning 4K resolution and unlocked framerates, customisable controls and robust graphics options. Check out the trailer here:

When a single gunshot takes out the Fifth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, Kazuma Kiryu must journey to Sotenbori, Osaka, to broker peace between rivalling clans. Kiryu is pulled back into the life he desperately wanted to leave as he faces the ambitious Ryuji Goda, the Dragon of Kansai, who will stop at nothing to get his war. In this world, there can only be one dragon…

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is remade from the ground up in the Dragon Engine, first introduced in Yakuza™ 6, making it the best-looking Yakuza on PC yet. Enjoy endless hours of side stories including updated minigames like Cabaret Club simulator and Clan Creator, and new additions like Virtual On, Golf Bingo, and Toylets. Kiwami 2 also includes a few chapters developing the backstory of fan favourite Goro Majima. Pre-purchase Yakuza Kiwami 2 now and receive the complete Clan Creator Bundle DLC, including super rare Clan Creator Leaders and Packs, exclusive weapons, outfits and more!

For all things Yakuza Kiwami 2 check out the Steam page or visit www.yakuza.sega.com/kiwami2. For more information about SEGA Europe, log on to www.sega.co.uk, follow us on Facebook or on Twitter.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Nominated for Webby Award

Baltimore – MD — April 11th 2019 – Independent games publisher Versus Evil and developer Obsidian Entertainment today announced that Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire has been nominated for Best Adventure game and Best Writing categories in the 23rd Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the “Internet’s Highest Honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of Internet industry experts including Internet inventor Vint Cerf, Instagram’s Head of Fashion Partnerships Eva Chen, Director of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society Susan P. Crawford, actor and activist Jesse Williams, GE CMO Linda Boff, Pod Save the People host and activist DeRay McKesson, Google’s Head of Conversation Design Cathy Pearl, Fortnite Designer Eric Williamson, HBO Digital Chief Diane Tryneski, Los Angeles Laker Isaiah Thomas, and DDB Worldwide CEO Wendy Clark.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is the sequel to the critically acclaimed, award-winning RPG Pillars of Eternity and launched on PC, Mac and Linux in May 2018. The game will be launching on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch later this year.

“Nominees like Obsidian are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet,” said Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 13,000 entries we received this year.”

“Having Deadfire nominated in both Best Game and Best Writing for the Webby Awards is a great honor. For over fifteen years we have committed ourselves to creating memorable role-playing experiences and the continued praise for Pillars II keeps us focused on this mission,” said Obsidian Entertainment Studio Head, Feargus Urquhart.

“Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire continues to be recognized for the passion and commitment that the Obsidian team has put into creating the ultimate RPG adventure and we couldn’t be more proud of their Webby Award nomination,” added Steve Escalante, General Manager for publisher Versus Evil.

As a nominee, Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is also eligible to win a Webby People’s Voice Award, which is voted online by fans across the globe. From now until April 18th, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire fans can cast their votes at vote.webbyawards.com.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, and honored at a star-studded ceremony on Monday, May 13, 2019, at Cipriani on Wall Street in New York City. There they will have an opportunity to deliver one of The Webby Awards’ famous 5-Word Speeches. Past 5-Word Speeches include: Steve Wilhite’s “It’s Pronounced “Jif” not ‘Gif’; Stephen Colbert’s “Me. Me. Me. Me. Me.”; and Björk ‘s “A E I O U.”

Find The Webby Awards Online:
Website: webbyawards.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheWebbyAwards
Twitter: @TheWebbyAwards
Instagram: @TheWebbyAwards
Snapchat: TheWebbyAwards
YouTube: youtube.com/webby

God Eater 3 Nintendo Switch Announcement Trailer

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (April 11, 2019) – Leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that it will be bringing GOD EATER® 3 to the Nintendo Switch™ on July 12, 2019. Players will be able to team-up with friends on-the-go to topple massive beasts known as Aragami in this fast-paced monster-slaying action game.

Join the elite force known as God Eaters, imbued with the unique ability to wield God Arcs, specialized weapons to take down the nearly indestructible Aragami threat that has ravaged the planet. God Arc weapons can come in a wide variety of melee and ranged type capabilities featuring swords, hammers, sickles, spears, shotguns, sniper rifles, and more. Each weapon also comes with unique transforming functions, extending their utility by providing additional attack options to deal more damage. Players can determine which weapon works best for their playstyle and hone its intricacies when taking on missions in Story Mode or online with other GOD EATER 3 players.

GOD EATER 3 incorporates new combat mechanics and customization options to create dynamic fights that change the flow of battles. After devouring an enemy, players can activate Burst Arts which change some of normal attacks into special attacks. Players can also choose between several Burst Arts, as well as the specific effects of the Burst Art, to suit their play style. In addition to Burst Arts, a new Dive ability increases the speed of combat by having players race headlong towards enemies for swift attacks, keeping constant pressure on the opposition.

“The Nintendo Switch opens up new ways to experience GOD EATER 3,” said Jackie Simmons, brand manager for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The portability of the system means players can meet anytime anywhere to band together and bring down monstrous threats. The platform also enables players to take GOD EATER 3 on the road, so they’re never far from adventure and fun!”

Players can team-up with three other God Eaters either online or through a local connection to tackle story missions together or combine forces with seven other players online to experience Assault Missions, the largest group battles ever seen in the GOD EATER franchise. Cooperating and fighting as a team will help engage the Battle Support System. By fighting next to teammates, players can unleash this new ability which shares various power-ups to help the entire team overcome tough fights and secure victory.

GOD EATER 3 for Nintendo Switch will also receive exclusive pre-order items in the form of Yuri and Estelle costumes from TALES OF VESPERIA™: Definitive Edition. Pre-order now at participating retailers.

GOD EATER 3 for the Nintendo Switch will be available in the Americas on July 12, 2019. For more information about GOD EATER 3 or other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twtitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

RAGE 2: Everything vs Me Trailer

April 11, 2019 – Ugly mutants. Wasteland samurais. Otherwise peaceful buffalo that may or may not have whispered insults under their buffalo breath. If it exists in RAGE 2’s wide-open wasteland, there’s an extremely high chance that it’s out to murder you.

WATCH the new Everything Vs. Me trailer here to see what kind of atrocities players can expect to shoot/punch hard/get bit by:

RAGE 2 launches on May 14, 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Check out the official RAGE 2 site at bethesda.net/en/game/rage2 to pre-order and to watch more over-the-top videos. The whole world is out to get you, so make sure you get it first.

Control Gets Two Renowned Composers

CALABASAS, Calif. – April 11, 2019 – Global videogame publisher 505 Games and internationally renowned developer Remedy Entertainment, Plc. today revealed award-winning composer Martin Stig Andersen (INSIDE,Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus) and BAFTA-nominated composer Petri Alanko (Alan WakeQuantum Break) are creating the score for supernatural action-adventure game Control.  Combining Andersen’s experience with creating eerie compositions with Alanko’s unique blend of orchestral and electronic arrangements, the renowned duo is joining forces to form an otherworldly soundscape for Control’s mysterious world.

“I couldn’t imagine a better match for Control than Petri Alanko and Martin Stig Andersen. Martin’s deep and moody style combined with the unique energy of Petri Alanko elevates the end result into something special,” saidControl’s Game Director Mikael Kasurinen. “While both capture the tone of the experience, they approach it from different perspectives, complementing each other beautifully.”

Control’s score is being carefully crafted to back an ever-changing world that juxtaposes reality with the unexplainable. Andersen and Alanko’s scores will mirror Control’s dynamic gameplay elements by evolving around the game’s moments of stirring surrealism and fierce action.

“We knew Control required a very specific form of music to fit the aesthetic vision. Given the exceptional scores of their previous projects including Alan WakeLimbo and Inside, it was clear to us that combining the talents of both Petri Alanko and Martin Stig Andersen would be perfect for creating such a weird, supernatural soundtrack for Control,” said Control’s Senior Audio Designer Ville Sorsa.

Control is available to pre-order now and will release on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019 for physical and digital retail on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with a simultaneous digital launch on the Epic Games store for PC. To register for more information and regular updates, please visit www.controlgame.com and follow @ControlGame on Twitter and Facebook and @ControlRemedy on Instagram.