Author - Jerry Paxton

Shadow Man Getting A Remastered Edition

March 18, 2020 (Vancouver, CA) – Valiant Entertainment has partnered with Nightdive Studios to develop a remastered edition of the classic action-adventure video game SHADOW MAN. The remastered edition will be coming to Windows PC via the Steam and GOG platforms, as well as to the PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch consoles. This partnership continues Valiant’s expansion into other mediums in addition to publishing.

Valiant Entertainment is home to the third-largest connected universe in comics, behind Marvel and DC, with over 2,000 characters. Since DMG Entertainment’s acquisition of Valiant in late 2018, the global media and entertainment company has proven its ambitious plans to grow its presence in Hollywood, making its first foray into theaters with “Bloodshot”, starring Vin Diesel, opening #1 worldwide this past weekend.

“As part of our continued growth into the video game industry, we’re happy to bring Valiant fans this immensely popular Shadow Man character as the next title we release,” said Dan Mintz, Chairman and CEO of Valiant Entertainment. “Using this platform allows the Valiant fans to experience and explore the universe creatively.”

Shadow Man is the brave and powerful supernatural hero who protects humanity from the sinister demons that lurk in the Deadside and spill into our world. The Shadow Man video game was originally developed by Acclaim Studios and published for the PC, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast console in 1999. Considered a “lost classic” for years, the PC version of the game was published again in its original form by Nightdive Studios in 2014.

Now the title is being updated using Nightdive’s proprietary KEX engine which has been used to restore classic video games across all digital platforms including System Shock: Enhanced Edition, Turok, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Blood: Fresh Supply, and Forsaken Remastered.

The Remastered version adds a host of features in addition to console support:

* 4K widescreen display
* Dynamic shadow mapping
* Dynamic per-pixel lighting
* Antialiasing, and other post-process effects
* Higher density of particle effects
* Refined art, audio, and assets
* Refined gameplay experience
* Reintroduction of missing content cut from the original game
* Xbox, PS4, Controller Pro support
* HDR Rendering

Stephen Kick, CEO at Nightdive Studios explained: “Our goal with the remaster is to give today’s generation of gamers all the features that they expect from a modern title while preserving the qualities that made Valiant’s iconic character and the original Shadow Man game such memorable classics to begin with.”

Shadowman will also have a brand-new comic book series this year! From master of horror Cullen Bunn (Venom) and bone-chilling artist Jon Davis-Hunt (The Wildstorm), SHADOWMAN #1 will release on May 20th. Fans can contact their local comic shop to preorder a copy now.

Vampire: The Masquerade Audio Book Series Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (New York, NY – March 18, 2020) – HarperCollins is pleased to announce the publication of VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE: WALK AMONG US (Harper Voyager US; June 16, 2020), an audio-first trio of horror novellas set in World of Darkness’ Vampire: The Masquerade, one of the most popular role-playing properties in the world.

“The World of Darkness is a transmedia brand that today encompasses everything from video games to immersive events. But it started with books: the written word created our complex dark fantasy world, and it’s in our blood,” Sean Greaney, Brand Manager for the World of Darkness at Paradox Interactive, said. “For years, fiction audiences have thirsted after deep and complex vampire stories. With this partnership, HarperCollins will introduce vampire fans to a whole universe filled with intriguing and intricate stories. We are thrilled to return Vampire: The Masquerade to mainstream fiction with these audiobooks.”

The subtle horror and infernal politics of the World of Darkness are shown in a new light in VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE: WALK AMONG US, spotlighting the terror, hunger, and power of the Kindred as they’ve never been seen before.

In A SHEEP AMONG WOLVES by Genevieve Gornichec, depression and radicalization go hand-in-hand as a young woman finds companionship in the darkness… In FINE PRINT by Cassandra Khaw, an arrogant tech bro learns the importance of reading the fine print in the contract for immortality… And in LAND OF MILK AND HONEY by Caitlin Starling, ideals and ethics bump heads with appetite on a blood farm.

Three very different stories from three brilliant, distinct voices, but all with one thing in common: the hunger never stops, and for someone to experience power, many others are going to have to feel pain.

Says Harper Voyager US Editorial Director David Pomerico, “Vampire: The Masquerade has always been such a powerful force in the gaming community, it was almost shocking there wasn’t much in print set in the World of Darkness. The opportunity to tell three very different, very powerful stories with three incredible young writers is so exciting, and clearly a no-brainer for Harper Voyager and Harper Audio.”

GTFO Gets Massive Update this Month

March 18, 2020 Swedish independent game developer 10 Chambers Collective – formed in 2015 by nine industry veterans known for titles such as PAYDAY: The Heist and PAYDAY 2 – released their first game GTFO, a 4-player co-op action/horror FPS, as Early Access in December last year. It’s been described as “Left 4 Dead meets Aliens”, and on March 31st it’s getting a massive update as a part of their Rundown concept, where the game is regularly updated with new expeditions (i.e. maps, enemies, etc.) that replace the previous ones. The new update, which has been in development since November, includes a new environment laid out over 10 new maps, new weapons, enemies and objectives – and today they are teasing it by releasing a developer playthrough of one of the new levels.

GTFO is a 4-player co-op action/horror FPS game, made for hardcore gamers looking for a challenge. The game takes place in a terrifying underground facility called “the Complex”, where your team’s survival relies on your ability to communicate, coordinate – and count your bullets, as ammunition is scarce. Today, they are showing a recorded gameplay session the developers had, revealing the first expedition of their next big update (Rundown #002), which will be named “Infection” – hinting its theme.

In the video, you can see the group of four put on the objective to locate a “TERMINAL_546” and from that, establish an external uplink. It’s up to the team to find out how to get to this terminal, GTFO doesn’t give any waypoints or name clues. This can involve looking for signs on walls and doors, and to type in commands on computers placed out over the maps, called Terminals.

“GTFO doesn’t hold any hands and places demand on cooperation from the start; communicate with your team to find out if they see any signs on the walls or doors, to make progress. On this particular level we’re playing in the video, a new puzzle is introduced where everyone needs to cooperate to establish an external uplink form a terminal. One team member will need to type in commands that are only visible on the screens of the three other players – who will need to shout them, while also combating an onslaught of monsters. It gets intense, as you can see in the video”, Ulf Andersson, founder of 10 Chambers, says.

Visible in the video are also two new weapons, a machine pistol, and a burst rifle. When it releases – and is made available free for everyone that owns GTFO – on March 31st, it will also include a total of 10 new maps, some of them needing unlocking, new enemies and objectives.

“The update will include 10 new maps in total but we’re trying out an exciting new feature as well, that we call Community Lock. When we release the update, it will have a number of the maps unlocked. When a certain number of people have completed the first batch of levels, the rest will be unlocked as well”, says Simon Viklund, co-founder of 10 Chambers. “We hope this will encourage even more help and engagement between our community members, which we have seen a lot of already – and we feel very grateful to have such a nice and friendly community.”

GTFO already has a very active community, especially on Discord where they’re one of the largest servers right now with over 175 000 members. This is used for people to find new team members as well as discussing the game or helping new people understand the game.

This new update, named Infection (Rundown #002), will be available March 31st, 1 PM CET, to everyone that owns GTFO Early Access.

GTFO Early Access is available on Steam for $34,99. The game will be regularly updated with new content.

SnowRunner Gameplay Overview Trailer Released

March 17, 2020 – SnowRunner, the new off-road driving experience from Saber Interactive and Focus Home Interactive, is just a few weeks away, but you can find out everything you need to know about how it works now with the game’s new Overview Trailer!

SnowRunner puts you behind the wheel of 40 heavy-duty, customizable, off-road vehicles from makers like Chevrolet, Caterpillar, Freightliner and more in some of the world’s most unforgiving environments. Explore three new regions with 11 interconnected sandbox maps, bringing you more than three times the square mileage of the original MudRunner for a true test of how you fare against the elements.

Master extreme hazards like snowbanks, ice, rivers and mud — each with their own unique physics and challenges — to get the job done as cleanly as possible. SnowRunner offers a huge variety of missions to take on alone or with friends online in fully synchronous four-player co-op multiplayer! And with mod support at launch on PC made possible by a new partnership with mod.io, you’ll be able to expand your experience even further with great content from the community.

SnowRunner is coming April 28 to PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store. SnowRunner: Premium Edition includes the base game and its season pass, which will deliver new vehicles, maps, activities and more after release. Pre-orders and an exclusive pre-order bonus are available via the game’s official store.

Deep Sky Derelicts: Definitive Edition Announcement Trailer

Prague, Czech Republic – March 13, 2020 – 1C Entertainment and Snowhound Games announce Deep Sky Derelicts: Definitive Edition is coming for PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Switch. Deep Sky Derelicts: Definitive Edition is set to release March 24th and be priced at $24.99 USD / 24,99 EUR.

Check out the trailer:

Following Deep Sky Derelicts initial launch into Steam Early Access in 2017 and its positive reception by fans of tactical rogue-like RPGs, the game has been requested by numerous players to hit the shelves of Microsoft Xbox One, Sony Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch stores. Since its successful release on PC, Deep Sky Derelicts has been remarkably polished, expanded, and enhanced with fresh content and multiple new features, which now creates a perfect moment to gratify the console gamers and finally bring it on their favorite platforms!

In a grim dystopian future, mankind has scattered across the galaxy and human society has split into two distinct classes. You are a poor, stateless outcast forced to live off scraps from derelict stations and ships in outer space. A fabled alien derelict ship rumored to be hidden within the Deep Sky sector of space is your ticket for citizenship and a cozy life on a hospitable planet.

Begin your search by building a crack team of scavengers, then enhance their skills and equipment through exploring decrepit space stations, hazardous planets, and derelict alien ships. Fight monsters for loot and return to home base to upgrade your gear, all in distinctive retro-futuristic comic book art style.

Experience Deep Sky Derelicts in its ultimate, definitive edition, which combines the overhauled base game with its two DLCs: New Prospects and Station Life. Both additions bring new gameplay features, character upgrades, home base improvements, monsters, missions and much more!

Key Features:

  • Enhanced base game and two DLC packs included
  • Fresh take on turn-based combat with cards
  • Dynamic sci-fi comic book look & feel
  • Endless customization options for characters and scavenging teams
  • High replay value thanks to procedurally generated content
  • Dozens of enthralling little stories of the outcast life in the grim Deep Sky universe
  • Two game modes: Story Campaign and Arena

Deep Sky Derelicts: Definitive Edition is developed by Snowhound Games and published by 1C Entertainment. The title is rated PEGI 12 – Violence and Bad Language.

Tour de France 2020 Announcement Trailer

Lesquin, France, March 12, 2020 – NACON and Cyanide are delighted to announce that their two cycling simulations will return this year: Tour de France 2020 and Pro Cycling Manager 2020!

Take your team to the top in Pro Cycling Manager 2020

Become the manager of a professional cycling team, string together victories and take it to the very top of the rankings. Building on the strong foundations of this successful series, Pro Cycling Manager 2020 provides the chance to take part in all 21 official stages of the Tour de France and over 230 races – a total of 650 stages. New features have been added to the game, including:

  • Managing the morale of your cyclists in career mode to recreate this essential aspect of real races
  • A new stage planning system to help assign your team members
  • A more dynamic and aggressive AI that forces you to adapt and improve your strategy in real time
  • Experience the intensity of the Grande Boucle from inside the peloton with Tour de France 2020

Pedal into the thick of the action as a cyclist for one of the top teams in the Tour de France. Elbow to elbow in the peloton, experience the attacks, breakaways, sprints and other tense situations of this famous race. You will need to optimise your tactics and stamina management to slip on the iconic yellow jersey.

Multiple improvements and new features have been added to Tour de France 2020, including:

  • Liège-Bastogne-Liège (“The Old Lady”) added, a 266km race of steep climbs
  • A redesigned interface that provides better anticipation of the course and position of competitors
  • A deeper time-trial where posture and sprint management are crucial for success
  • A more realistic AI that grabs any attack opportunity
  • A unique immersive aspect thanks to a new feature that will be revealed soon

Tour de France 2020 and Pro Cycling Manager 2020 will be available on June 4, 2020 for consoles (PlayStation®4 and Xbox One) and PC.

DOOM Eternal Official Launch Trailer

March 12, 2020 – The time of the Slayer is now. DOOM Eternal releases next week, and to celebrate, we are pleased to present the Official Launch Trailer in all its vicious glory. Rip and tear through heaven and hell, featuring more demons, more Glory Kills, gigantic behemoths, never-before-seen environments and more in id Software’s biggest and most ambitious game to date.

Check out the Official Launch Trailer for DOOM Eternal here:

DOOM Eternal, E3 2019’s Best Action Game and Best PC Game, releases next week on March 20, 2020 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia with Nintendo Switch releasing at a later date.

Comanche Now in Early Access

Hannover, Germany / Vienna, Austria, March 12th, 2020 – Engines: ready! Weapons: ready! Companion Drone: ready! Pilots: are you ready? Comanche lifts-off today for a routine Early Access Launch on Steam. Mission goals are: generate fun among players. Gather feedback. Return to base and update strategy according to the feedback & upgrade the game regularly.

Comanche is now available on Steam for € 19.99 / $ 19.99 / £ 17.99 / 999.00 Rub. Head over to the Steam-Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/879000/Comanche/

What’s in the Early Access Version now?
At the start of the Early Access Phase Comanche will offer 3 different game modes:

Singleplayer
As requested by the community, Comanche will get a singleplayer campaign. Starting with one mission available from March 12th on, developer Nukklear will add new missions on a regular basis.

Multiplayer
The 4vs4 team-based multiplayer will start with two modes, one called Black Box, the other Infiltration. In Black Box, the goal is to collect more black boxes from destroyed Comanches with your drone. You can collect both enemy and friendly black boxes using the drone, so this mode guarantees intense team fights at close range. Infiltration again combines helicopter combat and drone piloting: your objective is to either defend or infiltrate a base. Attackers must place an EMP, defenders must disarm it.

Flight & Combat Training
In a variety of different missions, you can learn how to fly your Comanche and its drone to familiarise yourself with the flight controls and how to maneuver in combat. As Comanche requires some practice before you become a good pilot, we highly recommend players check out the training missions.

Available Helicopters & Drones
Five Comanches and four drones will be available at the Early Access launch, all coming with specific weapons, abilities and strengths and weaknesses. Each type of Comanche has a certain role to fulfill in the team-based combat and is suitable for a special type of player, so choose your favorite.

What to expect in the next months?
The developer has defined a roadmap for the next months of Early Access but we really want to emphasize, that the community will have a voice in the development process. Here is the roadmap:

Garmin Unveils the zūmo XT All-Terrain GPS

OLATHE, Kan. — Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the zūmo XT all-terrain GPS motorcycle navigator, designed to help riders venture on and off the beaten path. The glove-friendly zūmo XT touchscreen introduces a new ultra-bright 5.5-inch display with crisp HD resolution. Designed to withstand the most rigorous weather and rough terrain, the rugged zūmo XT is rain-resistant1 and forged to military grade 810G drop test standards. Riders will also appreciate the zūmo XT’s versatility, with a quick push of a button they can easily toggle through street map views, topographic maps, or BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for the best possible view of their route.

“The zūmo XT is able to take on any type of adventure, regardless of the weather or rugged terrain, it’s ready to venture wherever the rider chooses,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “With its new, larger display offering an impressive ultra-bright touchscreen, riders will have the advantage of easily seeing their screen even on bright sunny days. Visibility of the route ahead is further enhanced with a choice to mount zūmo XT in traditional landscape or portrait mode.”

The zūmo XT boasts an impressive feature set, starting with new Garmin Adventurous Routing™ options that find the most thrilling and scenic routes. Adventure riders – seeking more than spoken turn-by-turn street directions from their zūmo navigators – can explore new places thanks to preloaded topographic maps that show public land boundaries, 4×4 roads, and much more. Garmin Explore™2 helps adventure seekers easily plan trips and later access routes, tracks, and waypoints across their electronic devices including the zūmo XT, a smartphone3 or a computer. In addition, riders can access stunning Birdseye Satellite Imagery with direct-to-device downloads that do not require a subscription.

Sight-seeing has never been simpler with the zūmo XT’s lineup of options that include the HISTORY® database of notable sites, iOverlander™ points of interest, Ultimate Public Campgrounds, a U.S. National Parks directory, TripAdvisor® traveler ratings and Foursquare® content – offering millions of popular places to explore.

Storing or sharing adventures is a snap with the new track recorder option built into the navigator. Users can wirelessly import3 their favorite tried-and-true GPX files after pairing their phones to the zūmo XT using the free Garmin Drive™ app. Additionally, the convenient Garmin Drive app will allow riders access to smart notifications, real-time fuel prices, and live4 traffic and weather.

Designed with built-in convenience, the zūmo XT offers a number of safety features, including Bluetooth® hands-free calling5, rider alerts for potential hazards6, automatic incident notifications for family or loved ones in case an incident occurs, and the option to pair the zūmo XT with a compatible7 Garmin inReach Satellite Communicator for two-way texting, critical location sharing, and interactive SOS. Motorcyclists can stream their favorite music tracks on their smartphones through the zūmo XT or by utilizing the MP3 music files stored on the navigator. Built-in Wi-Fi® allows riders to easily update the maps and software on the zūmo XT without the hassle of using a computer. Riders can hardwire the device to constant power or rely on the zūmo XT’s extended battery life that can last up to 6 hours (3.5 hours with backlight settings at 100 percent brightness).

The zūmo XT is expected to be available in March with a suggested retail price of $499.99. To learn more, visit garmin.com/zūmo.

E3 2020 Canceled Due to COVID-19 Concerns

WASHINGTON – MARCH 11, 2020 – After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles.

Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.

Our team will be reaching out directly to exhibitors and attendees with information about providing full refunds.

We are also exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020. Updates will be shared on E3expo.com.

We thank everyone who shared their views on reimagining E3 this year. We look forward to bringing you E3 2021 as a reimagined event that brings fans, media and the industry together in a showcase that celebrates the global video game industry.