Taipei, Taiwan & San Francisco, CA – August 21, 2017 – HTC Vive™ today announced a $200 price reduction for Vive, making the best VR system more accessible to the mass market, across the globe. Starting today, Vive will be available for $599. All Vive purchases come with a free trial to Viveport Subscription, where consumers can choose up to 5 titles per month to experience, and copies of many of the most popular pieces of VR content today, including Google’s Tilt Brush, Everest VR, and Richie’s Plank Experience.
“Our goal at Vive has always been to offer the best and most advanced VR system and drive mass market adoption for VR across the globe,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman, HTC. “We’re continuing to deliver on that commitment with this new price for Vive, making VR more accessible to a broader audience and driving the entire VR industry forward. Vive’s game-changing technology, best-in-class content and unmatched global partners are fulfilling the promise of VR like never before. With highly anticipated titles, and the upcoming launch of Vive Tracker, there has never been a better time to embrace Vive, and enjoy the most immersive VR experience available.”
A winner of hundreds of technology and industry awards across the globe, Vive is the only product that offers room-scale VR out of a single box, and this version of Vive will be the unit in market for the foreseeable future. The base Vive package comes with everything you need for a quick room-scale VR set-up: two base stations for accurate tracking, two motion controllers for immersive VR experiences and new and improved connection cables and new materials that offer a lighter weight on the Vive headset.
According to a recent report from UBM, more developers are building experiences for Vive than ever before, and Vive was chosen as developers’ top target when creating content. With more than 3,600 titles available across Steam and Viveport and with new AAA content arriving soon, Vive will continue to be the platform of choice for developers and consumers alike. In addition, Viveport Subscription allows consumers to choose from over 250 pieces of content from a highly-curated offering, giving consumers another opportunity to discover the best VR content available.
According to Steam statistics, HTC Vive maintains a 60% share of access to the Steam platform for high-end VR headsets. Over the past year, Vive has maintained its lead by more than 20%.
“We’ve rapidly diversified the Vive business so that when customers and businesses purchase Vive, they know they’ll benefit from a wide base of support for years to come,” said Dan O’Brien, GM US, HTC Vive. “From constant improvements to the core Vive hardware to the industry’s first VR subscription service, to investments in new technology for developers, Vive is at the forefront of the push to take VR to the mainstream.”
August 21, 2017 – Be it man or tree-frog, everyone is welcome in the resistance to help fight off unending hordes of alien invaders in the second trailer for Mothergunship. Utilizing humor, and the sheer havoc provided by ceaseless waves of weapon-fire, the developers at Grip Digital and Terrible Posture Games have literally immersed players in bullet-hell. Stuck aboard an orbiting spacecraft, players must fight interminable, procedural generated enemies in an attempt to make it to a final boss, whose sheer size instills fear in the heart of even the bravest resistance commanders.
Mothergunship will be playable at both the Gamescom Indie Arena and PAX West Indie Megabooth this year, taking appointments and giving players a chance to demo the onslaught.
GAMESCOM
Set your course for the Gamescom Indie Arena to go hands-on with brand-new MOTHERGUNSHIP content. Located in hall 10.1, at booth A020.
PAX WEST
Game developer, Joe Mirabello, will be on site to field interview questions at the PAX West Indie Megabooth. Swing by booth #752 to test your luck with the resistance.
MOTHERGUNSHIP is coming for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam in 2018. Visit www.mothergunship.com to enroll into the resistance movement now, for exclusive information, content and other members-only perks!
August 20, 2017 – Today, during Xbox @ gamescom Live, we announced global pre-orders for Xbox One X starting today, with a limited edition, fan-inspired design of the world’s most powerful console that features a custom color and vertical stand and the words “Project Scorpio” printed on the console and Xbox Wireless Controller. Pre-orders are now open and available here. November 7 can’t come soon enough!
We also revealed more details about the most diverse line-up of games coming to the Xbox family of devices, highlighted by the news that over 100 new and existing Xbox One titles will be enhanced for Xbox One X to take advantage of the world’s most powerful console including Halo 5, NBA 2K18, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, ReCore: Definitive Edition, FIFA 18, Star Wars Battlefront II, Below and remastered versions of Disneyland Adventures, Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure and Zoo Tycoon. Head on over to Major Nelson for the full list of games planning enhancements for Xbox One X.
Regardless of what type of gamer you are, there has never been a better time to be Xbox fan.
Custom editions added to the Xbox One Family
Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition
Be the first to experience the Xbox One X designed for the biggest fans — the Project Scorpio Edition featuring a custom color, vertical stand, and “Project Scorpio” printed on both the console and controller. Available to pre-order now, starting at 499 USD / 449 GBP / 499 EUR, while supplies last.
Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle
For the countless enthusiasts who’ve sent us their designs, posted their requests, or simply dreamt of a console built out of grass and dirt blocks – this one’s for you. The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle (1TB) includes a custom designed grass block console, Xbox Wireless Controller – Minecraft Creeper, Minecraft system sounds, vertical stand and transparent underside with Redstone circuit accents. This exclusive bundle also includes a full game download of Minecraft plus the Redstone Pack, a collection of unique skin packs. Available only in limited quantities, it’s a must-have for avid Minecraft players and collectors. The bundle is available for pre-order now and will be launching in all Xbox One markets, except China and Brazil, on October 3, 2017.
Xbox Minecraft Creeper and Pig Wireless Controllers
Prepare to create, explore, and survive your own Minecraft adventure with two new Xbox Wireless controllers: the Minecraft Pig controller, featuring an adorable pink Pig design – and the Minecraft Creeper controller, with that iconic green Creeper design. Both feature textured grip for enhanced comfort, and ABXY buttons with classic Minecraft font. Play the way you want to play with custom button mapping to personalize your controls and Co-pilot to play any game with two controllers linked so you can use them as one. And with Bluetooth technology, you connect your controllers to play wirelessly with your Windows 10 PCs and tablets. Both of these controllers are available for pre-order now, and will be launching in the U.S. at Microsoft Stores and Target on September 5, 2017, and available more broadly beginning September 12, 2017.
Xbox One S Shadow of War Bundles
For those who can’t wait to get their hands-on Middle-earth: Shadow of War,the new Xbox One S Shadow of War Bundles are the best way to do it this October. Each bundle comes with an Xbox One S with either a 500GB or 1TB hard drive, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, an Xbox Wireless Controller, 1-month Xbox Game Pass subscription and 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial.
Xbox Design Lab comes to new countries
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re expanding Xbox Design Lab to over 20 additional European countries starting August 22, 2017. This extends Xbox Design Lab beyond United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, France and Germany. On August 22, fans living in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden will be able to order their custom controllers online through local-language websites. In addition, the European Union websites above will enable shipping to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Xbox One gets a new look and feel
The Xbox One family will receive a big update with a new look and feel later this fall – available now in preview – designed to make the Xbox gaming experience more personalized and social than ever. Now, you can customize your Xbox One Home to be uniquely yours and view all the content you love at-a-glance! Further details about what’s next for gamers on Xbox are available here.
One of our largest, most diverse games line-ups at gamescom 2017
During Xbox @ gamescom Live, we showcased one of our largest, most diverse line-up of games from developers around the world and highlighted our commitment to delivering amazing games and experiences for gamers on both console and Windows 10 PCs.
PlayerUnknown himself, Brendan Greene, joined the Xbox @ gamescom Live event to discuss the epic Battle Royale title that is coming exclusively to Xbox One in the Xbox Game Preview program later this year and to announce that the game will be published by Microsoft on Xbox One. As an expansion of the partnership announced at E3, this collaboration will help Bluehole accelerate console development while maintaining quality across platforms and provide resources ranging from technical to sales and marketing. For those that don’t know, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has seen runaway success in Early Access on PC and is a tactical, last-man-standing shooter being developed with community feedback where players must fight to locate weapons and supplies in a massive 8×8 km island to be the lone survivor.
We are proud to have great games coming to PC, including Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, Forza Motorsport 7, Crackdown 3, charming platformer Super Lucky’s Tale and cross-play between Xbox and PC on fan favorite Sea of Thieves. We are bringing more features and games to PC gamers around the world including things like Mixer broadcasting, updates to Game Mode, Game Bar and added support for HDR screenshots.
Xbox Game Pass
Building on the momentum from our new gaming membership, Xbox Game Pass, which gives you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games – for one low monthly price, all in full fidelity, without any streaming or connectivity issues, we’re bringing Game Pass to eight new countries: Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. Next month we will also add seven new titles including ReCore: Definitive Edition. It will also be available as a digital and retail purchase as well as a free upgrade to existing ReCore players.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Journey into Ancient Egypt, the most mysterious place in history, during a crucial period that will shape the world. Discover the secrets behind the Great Pyramids, forgotten myths, the last pharaohs, and the origin story of the Assassin’s Brotherhood. For the last four years, the team behind Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag has been crafting a new beginning for the franchise. Fight in a completely new way where you transition seamlessly between unique ranged and melee weapons, and take on multiple enemies at once. Choose your Assassin skills while exploring the full country of Ancient Egypt, engaging in multiple quests and gripping stories along a journey that will change civilization. Available across the Xbox One family of devices starting October 27, 2017 and as an Xbox One X enhanced title alongside the console’s launch on November 7, 2017.
Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare
Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare is a full expansion coming to Halo Wars 2, featuring a new campaign with Blur cinematics, exclusive new multiplayer Leaders, new maps playable across Halo Wars 2 classic multiplayer and Terminus Firefight – a unique game mode in the expansion set on a dynamic map where players build bases and armies to defend against waves of enemy forces. Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare releases on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC on September 26 and as an Xbox One X enhanced title with 4K and HDR support on November 7.
Halo 5: Guardians
Announced earlier this year, Halo 5: Guardians returns as an Xbox One X enhanced title with 4K support and is set for release this holiday.
ReCore: Definitive Edition
ReCore: Definitive Edition lets players experience the game’s mysterious and dynamic world with enhanced visuals (increased resolution and HDR), a brand-new adventure, and the long-awaited T8-NK Corebot who joins Joule, Mack, Seth, Duncan, and Violet as they explore new environments and dungeons while battling the deadly Obsidian Cult. The game will be available next week, on August 29, and the enhancements and additional content will be provided as a free content update for current owners of original ReCore release. New players can download the ReCore: Definitive Edition within their Xbox Game Pass membership or purchase it for $19.99 as an Xbox Play Anywhere game for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.
Forza Motorsport 7
Forza Motorsport 7 is the first Forza game built from the ground up for Windows 10 PCs. It is the ultimate racing experience with over 700 cars, dynamic skies and weather that are different every time you return to a track, a new career mode inspired by real-world motorsport and support for a wide range of PC configurations and peripherals. Also, for the first time ever, fans who want to test drive Forza Motorsport 7 on Windows 10 PCs can play the demo ahead of the game’s release. Forza Motorsport 7 is available for pre-order on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, releasing globally on September 29 for Ultimate Edition with Early Access and October 3 for Deluxe and Standard Editions. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire and ForzaMotorsport.net for additional details on Forza Motorsport 7 demo in the coming weeks.
State of Decay 2
We’re taking a deeper look at how State of Decay 2 is bigger, badder and bolder than the previous game. The number one ask from fans was to bring four player co-op multiplayer, and that’s exactly what we did. State of Decay 2 features cross-platform co-op, where you and up to three of your friends can survive together regardless of which platform you prefer to play on.
Jurassic World Evolution
During today’s livestream Frontier Developments debuted their newest title Jurassic World Evolution, launching in summer 2018. Jurassic World Evolution places players in control of operations on the legendary island of Isla Nublar and the surrounding islands of the Muertes Archipelago and challenges players to build their own Jurassic World as they bioengineer new dinosaur breeds, and construct attractions, containment and research facilities. Every choice leads to a different path and spectacular challenges will arise when “life finds a way.” Find out more at https://www.jurassicworldevolutiongame.com.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Coming to Xbox One as a console launch exclusive in Xbox Game Preview later this year, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a tactical, last-man-standing shooter being developed with community feedback where players must fight to locate weapons and supplies in a massive 8×8 km island to be the lone survivor.
Sea of Thieves
With Sea of Thieves, we are extremely excited to show off cross-play for the first time, showing that Sea of Thieves is a game that brings players together, regardless of device. Alongside this, we’re delivering the PC experience our players expect, with the game playable in 21:9 and 4K and 60FPS on the show floor.
Since the Insider Program launched, players on both PC and console have shared valuable feedback that has already helped shape Sea of Thieves. Join the Insider Program for a chance to play the Technical Alpha and shape the game into the pirate game you’ve always wanted on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Wield a new Ring of Power and confront the deadliest of enemies, including Sauron and his Nazgul, in a monumental battle for Middle-earth. This open-world action RPG is brought to life through the expansion of the award-winning Nemesis System. The robust personalization from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is now applied to the entire world where the environments and characters are all shaped by player actions and decisions, creating a personal world unique to every gameplay experience. Available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title across the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 starting October 10, 2017 and as an Xbox One X enhanced title alongside the console’s launch on November 7, 2017.
Cuphead
Available (finally) beginning September 29, 2017, as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, Cuphead is a classic run-and-gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e., traditional hand-drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz recordings. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single-player or local co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful supermoves and discover hidden secrets while you try to pay back your debt to the devil!
Surviving Mars
Haemimont Games and Paradox Interactive debuted their first gameplay trailer for their upcoming management and survival game, Surviving Mars. In Surviving Mars, players will experience the wonder and danger of the red planet. From Landing your first rocket to building up a bustling metropolis of domes that house your first colony. Tackle the dangers of life support with the help of drones, survive meteor storms and discover mysteries. Welcome to life on Mars.
Disneyland Adventures
Experience the magic of Disneyland Park like never before. Take a journey where stories come to life and dreams come true, right in your living room. Disneyland Adventures allows children, families and Disney fans of all ages to explore Disneyland Park, step into adventures based on attractions, engage in challenging quests and interact with beloved Disney characters, remastered in 4K Ultra HD and HDR.
Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure
Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure invites families and fans of all ages to experience the worlds of six beloved Disney-Pixar films like never before. Team up with characters from “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up,” “Cars,” “Toy Story,” and “Finding Dory” to solve puzzles and uncover hidden secrets, all remastered in 4K Ultra HD and HDR.
Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
Let your imagination run wild with Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection, now remastered in 4K Ultra HD and HDR. Build, manage, and maintain your dream zoo alone or with up to four players on Xbox Live. This zoo simulation will charm animal lovers of all ages.
Super Lucky’s Tale
Developed by Playful Corp., Super Lucky’s Tale is a delightful, playground platformer for all ages that follows Lucky, the ever-optimistic, energetic, and lovable hero, on his quest to find his inner strength and help his sister rescue the Book of Ages. Along the way, players encounter a hilarious supporting cast of friends and adversaries. Available on November 7, Super Lucky’s Tale will deliver a state-of-the-art gaming experience on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
For additional news, highlights, exclusive reveals and a behind-the-scenes look at some of your favorite games throughout the week of gamescom, check out news.xbox.com and be sure to tune in Monday, August 21, starting at 9:00pm CEST, 12:00pm PDT, for Age of Empires @ gamescom Live, streaming across all of our usual channels.
August 19, 2017 – Ready to jump into the cockpit of a speedy TIE Interceptor or nimble A-wing? In Star Wars Battlefront II’s new Starfighter Assault mode, players can live out their ultimate Star Wars fantasies by becoming an ace pilot in epic space battles set across authentic locations from all three cinematic Star Wars eras. Space combat has been vastly improved and expanded with superior controls, deeper customization and role-based team play featuring an all new class-based system.
Get a peek at the some of the iconic ships that players can pilot in intense, high stakes dogfights in the new Star Wars Battlefront II: Official Starfighter Assault Gameplay Trailer.
Also be sure to tune in to the EA Live Show at Gamescom streaming on EA.com on August 21 at 9:30am PDT/6:30pm CET to watch the Starfighter Assault live gameplay reveal. 24 players will face off in a swirling dogfight in the Fondor: Imperial Shipyard map, weaving around an Imperial Star Destroyer complete with speedy fighters, thundering bombers, distinct hero ships, and more.
For updates on Starfighter Assault and the new hero ships that will be revealed during Gamescom, head to the EA Star Wars blog.
August 18, 2017 – Focus Home Interactive is pleased to announce its collaboration with Saber Interactive for the development of Spintires: MudRunner, the ultimate version of the million-seller indie hit Spintires coming in October to PC and, for the first time, to consoles. Like Spintires before it, Spintires: MudRunner puts players in the driver seat and dares them to take charge of incredible all-terrain vehicles, venturing across extreme Siberian landscapes with only a map and compass as guides. Get a taste of what awaits you in the reveal trailer.
A huge upgrade over its predecessor, this edition comes complete with a brand new sandbox map joining the original game’s five environments, a total graphical overhaul, a new Challenge mode with nine new dedicated maps, 13 new vehicles, and other comprehensive improvements. It’s not just an enhanced edition, it’s the ultimate off-road simulation experience!
Drive 19 powerful all-terrain vehicles, each with their own characteristics and attachable equipment. Complete your objectives and deliveries by enduring perilous conditions across wild, untamed landscapes in extreme conditions with dynamic day-night cycles. Explore an immersive sandbox environment enhanced by improved graphics. Overcome muddy terrain, raging rivers, and other obstacles that all realistically react to the weight and movement of your vehicle thanks to the game’s advanced physics engine.
With your map, compass, winch, and driving skills, go solo or join up to three others in co-op multiplayer. On PC, download mods created by the passionate community for truck-loads of content and an ever-evolving Spintires: MudRunner experience.
Spintires: MudRunner will release in October on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Spintires owners benefit from an exclusive 50% discount on Steam on top of the 10% discount on all pre-orders starting today on Steam.
Munich/Vienna, August 17th: Today THQ Nordic released an all-new CGI trailer for SpellForce 3, the real-time-strategy meets role-playing fantasy game launching this winter on PC. The trailer offers a recap of the events, narrated by voice actor Doug Cockle, leading up to the newest iteration in the franchise, while providing a glimpse of the battles to come. You can watch it here:
THQ Nordic also announced a limited collector’s edition for the game. Starting today, the SpellForce 3 Collector’s Edition can be pre-ordered for $129.99 in North America and €129,99 in Europe. The package will include the game, an exclusive artbook, the game’s official soundtrack, a Godstone amulet and an 8-inch figurine of Sentenza Noria, a seasoned commander and spymaster of the Royal Army that acts as the mentor for the player. The Collector’s Editon can be preordered now here.
SpellForce 3 returns to the roots of the SpellForce saga. Taking place before the acclaimed SpellForce: The Order of Dawn, players will unravel a deep and epic story in the SpellForce universe with over 30 hours of a single-player campaign, that is also playable in Coop. Additional multiplayer modes offer competitive battles for up to eight players. Create your own heroes, develop your skillset and build your own army to fight in legendary battles with gameplay that expertly blends the RTS and top-down RPG genres together.
SpellForce 3 is launching on December 7, 2017 on PC. For more information, please visit the official website, like the game on Facebook or follow THQ Nordic on Twitter.
Austin, TX — August 17, 2017 — On Thursday, August 31st, audiences across the country will immerse themselves like never before in legendary director Sir Ridley Scott’s mesmerizing neo-noir vision, BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT.
Alamo Drafthouse and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment are proud to present BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT, screening for the first time in glorious 4K resolution, taking viewers even deeper into Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic, dystopian vision. Starring Harrison Ford as the iconic Rick Deckard, BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT is widely accepted as one of the most important and influential science-fiction movies of the twentieth century. The film has appeared on more ‘Top Five’ sci-fi lists than any other film.
To mark the film’s 35th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on September 5th. The new edition features restored and remastered original elements, added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, and director and filmmaker commentary.
“THE FINAL CUT is the product of a process that began in early 2000 and continued off and on through seven years of intense research and meticulous restoration, technical challenges, amazing discoveries and new possibilities,” said Sir Ridley Scott upon the film’s original release in 2007. “I can now wholeheartedly say that BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT is my definitive director’s cut of the film.”
“It’s an incredible honor to be able to screen BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT in 4K at Alamo Drafthouse,” said Christian Parkes, Alamo Drafthouse Chief Marketing Officer. “This movie is ageless and we’re excited to share this stunning restoration with our audiences. What better way for moviegoers to get ready for the upcoming release of BLADE RUNNER 2049 than by seeing this seminal film first in 4K.”
Crafty guests at Alamo Drafthouse screenings will have the chance to win copies of the BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT Ultra HD Blu-Ray by testing their paper-folding skills. Before the film begins, attendees will be invited and instructed on how to create their own origami unicorn out of Alamo Drafthouse’s order cards, then submit their creation via Instagram using #AlamoBladeRunner. Five of the best unicorns will win BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT on Ultra HD Blu-Ray.
Ridgewood, NJ, August 17, 2017 — Following on from the teaser released last week, Kalypso Media is excited to announce Shadows: Awakening, a new action RPG with real-time tactical combat that heralds the return of the Heretic Kingdoms saga. In this dark fantasy adventure, players will assume control of the Devourer – a feared demon summoned from the world of Shadow that possesses the ability to absorb the memories and personalities of acquired souls and materialize them as their puppets in the world of mortals. By combining the powers and abilities of these vanquished warriors, players will embark on a vast 40+ hour adventure across two very different worlds, engaging in action-packed real-time tactical combat, as well as tackling challenging puzzles, collecting valuable loot and equipment, and completing a wide variety of quests. But be warned – consuming so many powerful souls has a cost – such strong personalities cannot easily be suppressed, and players will have to manage the relationships with the voices in their head as they struggle to maintain their identity.
Shadows: Awakening heralds the continuation of the Heretic Kingdoms saga, last seen in Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms. Long-time fans and legacy players of the PC version will remember that the long-awaited ‘Book 2’ sequel never materialized. Kalypso Media and Games Farm are therefore excited to reveal that Shadows: Awakening will not only bring the story of ‘Book 2’ to life, but will also combine it with the original storyline, making Shadows: Awakening not a sequel, but a full and completed experience; improved and re-worked to take full advantage of today’s console and PC technology. Additionally, owners of the original Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms will no doubt remember that they were promised ‘Book 2’ free of charge. Kalypso Media and Games Farm are happy to confirm they it will uphold their promise to reward these long-time fans – with all owners of the Steam and GOG versions of Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms eligible to receive Shadows: Awakening as an update to their existing game, completely free of charge.
To celebrate the announcement of Shadows: Awakening, Kalypso Media is pleased to share a full gameplay trailer to give players an idea of what awaits them in the shadows…
Hamburg, August 16, 2017 – Hamburg-based indie developer ROCKFISH Games just released a major update, adding the all-new Hardcore Mode, TrackIR, and fully customizable HOTAS (joystick) support to their fast-paced roguelike space shooter EVERSPACE™ on Steam and GOG.com. With this major update and the release of the original soundtrack and the official art book of EVERSPACE™, the veteran dev team delivers on the last remaining promises of their wildly successful Kickstarter from 2015, where they raised about $500,000 from close to 11,000 backers. Anyone who missed out on the soundtrack and the art book can now upgrade to the EVERSPACE™ Deluxe Edition for $9.99 on Steam.
The stand-alone Hardcore Mode offers a whole new level of challenge for veteran pilots. It is as demanding as hard difficulty, but players are not allowed to improve their starting conditions. Each new run starts out with the same fixed set of pilot perks and without any ship perks upgraded. Players can upgrade ship perks only at the end of each sector, provided they have collected enough credits. Hardcore Mode also introduces another nasty surprise: before entering a new sector, players must select from different “handicap” modifiers which have adverse effects on the overall gameplay, letting them choose between the frying pan or the fire.
In spite of the fact that the HOTAS support stretch goal was not unlocked, ROCKFISH Games also added fully customizable joystick support due to strong demand from the community. Now, space game enthusiasts can fully configure the controls layout including button and axis mapping, and even tweak settings for sensitivity and dead zones to their liking.
“EVERSPACE is still as fast-paced and twitchy as ever, so we still think that using the mouse and keyboard is the best way to fly. But, some of our fans have been pretty vocal about it, and we heard them loud and clear: they are finally able to use their HOTAS to pilot their space ship on their dangerous journey,” said Michael Schade, CEO and co-founder of ROCKFISH Games.
With this major patch, there are coming further features requested by the community, like options to toggle Motion Blur, Chromatic Aberration, different kinds of anti-aliasing, changing the screen percentage in non-VR Mode, Colorblind Mode, as well as mouse/keyboard controls and further improvements in VR. The complete changelog is available on the official EVERSPACE™ forum (requires registration): https://forum.everspace-game.com/categories/news.
Buena Park, Calif. – Knott’s Berry Farm will welcome HangTime, a brand new steel rollercoaster – and the only dive coaster on the West Coast – to the theme park in the 2018 summer season. HangTime will tower 150 feet over the Boardwalk area, showcasing gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and twisting dive tracks.
HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a 15-story 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once the highest peak is reached, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for several seconds staring downward at a 60-degree angle, giving the illusion of a disappearing track. Then the train will suddenly descend in a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,198 feet of steel track and five gravity-defying inversions. HangTime will be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating.
“HangTime’s disappearing track creates a memorable illusion of the unknown as riders feel like they are hanging over a cliff, staring at the ground in nervous anticipation,” said Jon Storbeck, vice president and general manager, Knott’s Berry Farm. “People who crave that adrenaline rush will want to ride this coaster again and again. Introducing a coaster like HangTime firmly positions Knott’s Berry Farm as a must see attraction among Southern California theme parks, and we look forward to welcoming our guests to this new experience.”
HangTime’s ride structure itself will come to life and illuminate the Boardwalk area with colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train’s travels across the smooth steel track. The coaster continues Knott’s legacy in rollercoaster innovation and industry firsts; the park introduced the very first corkscrew inversion rollercoaster with Corkscrew, and the first flywheel launch coaster with Montezuma’s Revenge.
HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next-generation “infinity coaster” model.
Guests can experience an entire season of fun including the thrill of HangTime with a 2018 Knott’s Season Pass, on sale now at the best price of the year. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Regular passes are just $92 or nine easy payments of $10.22 and Gold Season Passes are $110 or nine payments of just $12.22. These offers end October 29, 2017. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.
For more information about HangTime, Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about the newly announced dive coaster coming to Knott’s using #KnottsHangTime #KnottsBerryFarm.
