The dangerous ancient evil Shakturi have returned, and their ships have been detected in our galaxy again. They are malevolent aliens who were central to the last cataclysm that almost annihilated the galaxy. Their reappearance now endangers even the mightiest empires, threatening to devastate the galaxy.
The sinister abilities of the Shakturi include Genetic Engineering, which allows them to generate new space creatures they can use for scouting and combat. This mastery also grants the Shakturi to influence existing life forms in the galaxy to serve their purpose. No empire is safe: the knowledge in Biowarfare enables them to spread plagues that weaken the other factions, making them vulnerable to Psychic influence and control. The Shakturi have sharpened their Psychic skills, making them even more dangerous in space and ground combat, diplomacy, espionage, and research. They can even turn our own ships, troops and greatest heroes against us.
However, do not despair! To confront this unprecedented threat, factions now have access to the new Planet Destroyers and Mega Ships, as well as new research that can help level the field against these Shakturi advantages. These assets are vital to have a chance of defeating the Shakturi in large-scale confrontations. Outposts are another weapon to allow us to secure vital territory in previously uncolonizable planets, enabling future expansion and access to more of the ancient ruins. Furthermore, strength in numbers has never been more crucial. The new alliance system allows our empires to forge closer bonds, coordinate strategy, and collaborate more effectively against common enemies.
But be cautious about whom you trust, as every faction can be a sinister Shakturi ally.
The first major remake in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE is now available digitally worldwide on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, and Windows PC via Steam®. The tactical, historical simulation game, published by KOEI TECMO America and developed by the famed Kou Shibusawa, is based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII with Power Up Kit, complete with both the “All Officers Play” and “All Periods Scenarios” features, as well as a host of new content to produce the most complete Romance of the Three Kingdoms experience to date, delivering infinite drama inside a theater of war.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE boasts all-new graphical and game system upgrades to help reawaken the title as the newest addition to KOEI TECMO’s long revered franchise. Among the new additions, the number of officers has been increased from approximately 600 to 1,000! With the newly added officers and forces that were not in the original game, players can enjoy new events and relationships between the officers for an even more authentic experience. The “All Periods Scenarios” feature has also been updated to offer more than 55 scenarios, including fictional scenarios – most in series history! From the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the final age of the Three Kingdoms period, players can choose any officer and period they’d like to play, creating numerous combinations for an ideal playthrough.
On the battlefield, combat in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake remains turn-based, just like the original title, but the system has been fundamentally restructured, the result of Kou Shibusawa’s 20 years of know-how since the launch of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8. While the remake retains the key features of RTK8 — simple rules that make it easy for beginners, a map that combines field and siege battles, and the use of terrain – the tempo and balance of the game have been greatly improved. With the addition of new features such as “Link Forged”, players will discover an easy-to-play yet highly tactical combat experience.
In addition, through the evolved “All Officers Play” feature, players have the option to take control of the powerful rulers and the officers who serve them or be a free officer and join a vagrant army. This enables players to explore the Three Kingdoms with a fresh and unique experience every time thanks to the incredible amount of new features and the variety of associations formed both on and off the battlefield.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE is available now in both standard and Digital Deluxe editions. The Digital Deluxe edition features the base game along with a special digital artbook, digital soundtrack, and the bonus scenario, “Liu Bei’s Three Tacticians”.
In celebration of the game’s launch, KOEI TECMO will be holding a Fictional Scenario Contest. Fans will be able to submit original scenario ideas for Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE, exploring “what if” stories and alternative events that didn’t happen in history. The game’s development team will judge and select from among the entries a total of three scenarios; one each from the regions of Japan, Asia, and North America/Europe. These scenarios will be released as a free update for Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE at a later date.
For more information on Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE and how to enter the Fictional Scenario Contest, be sure to visit the official site, Subscribe to the official KOEI TECMO America YouTube channel, Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on X, Instagram, and Discord.
At publisher DreadXP’s annual Indie Horror Showcase, developer Nightdive Studios presented a brand-new gameplay trailer for its highly anticipated title, The Thing: Remastered. The new trailer presents an in-depth look at the bloodied and mangled happenings inside of Outpost #31 and the desperation the crew faces in their rescue-turned-escape mission from a gruesome, body-invading alien threat.
Coming soon to Windows PC and consoles, The Thing: Remastered is a faithful restoration of the cult-classic 2002 third-person survival horror shooter game inspired by Universal Pictures’ genre-defining 1982 film, The Thing.
Nightdive Studios has upgraded this horrifying classic for the modern era through its proprietary KEX Engine for play on current-generation gaming devices up to a 4K resolution at 120FPS. Improvements to character models, textures, and animations have been hand-crafted by Nightdive Studios, with the implementation of advanced 3D rendering for updated lighting and atmospheric effects — for a suspenseful and disgustingly detailed remaster that reanimates the thrilling game for modern audiences.
In the frozen arctic tundra, a mysterious shape-shifting alien has wiped out the crew of the U.S. Outpost #31 research facility. In The Thing: Remastered, players step into the boots of Captain J.F. Blake, the leader of a United States Army Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events that transpired in the original The Thing film. Trapped by the elements and at risk of infection by a horrific entity, Blake must keep his squad together to survive by gaining their trust and ensuring that their fear and paranoia don’t get the best of them… or himself.
Today, EA and BioWare revealed the official launch trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, showcasing some of the demons, darkspawn, blighted dragons and perilous choices that lie ahead for Rook and their companions on their journey to defy the gods.
For good or ill, the fate of Thedas will be decided soon, as the single-player fantasy RPG experience releases worldwide on Thursday, October 31 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Players who pre-order the game will receive Rook’s Blood Dragon armor cosmetic for all three classes: Warrior, Mage and Rogue.
THQ Nordic is excited to announce the release of two new DLCs for SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! – Nichole’s Home Brew and Good Times with Weapons. Available now on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. Watch both trailers now:
Nichole’s Home Brew
Nichole’s Infernal Pacts were just the beginning! The Board Girls have unleashed diabolical new Home Brew rules for Snow Day, featuring game-altering modes like The Floor is Lava, Air Superiority, and Super Pissed Off. These brutal challenges will push you to your limit. Your gear? Useless. Your strategies? Obsolete. Adapt fast or fail. Conquer all five new modes and unlock even crazier rule combinations to prove you’re the one and only New Kid. Are you ready?
Good Times with Weapons Weapon Variation Pack
Harness the power of speed and stealth and follow the path of the Ninja with the all-new Ninja Stars ranged weapon variation. Strike quickly with a decisive burst of projectiles and vanish back into the shadows, for the life of a Ninja is complex and full of peril. This DLC features an all-new weapon variation of the Wand: the Ninja Star ranged weapon. It also includes three brand-new upgrade cards and new cosmetics.
Today, FuzzyBot and Dreamhaven launched Lynked: Banner of the Spark, the arcade-inspired co-op action game, into Early Access on Steam. Jump to the year 30XX and help the robot resistance defend against the world-dominating Combots in this action game where playing together goes beyond the run for $24.99 on Steam.
Watch the Steam Early Access launch trailer here:
Lynked blends high energy, hack-and-slash combat with roguelite-inspired missions and town-building progression for an unexpected twist on the action game genre. In the game, players must brawl, build, and befriend to gain an advantage over robot adversaries. It is FuzzyBot’s debut game, developed by former EA and DICE veterans Max Spielberg (yes, THAT Spielberg!) and Tatyana Dyshlova, published by Mike Morhaime’s Dreamhaven.
Developer SpaceRocket Games and publisher Toplitz Productions are excited to share the remarkable achievements of Permafrost during Steam’s recent Next Fest. The game secured the number 3 spot in “Trending and Upcoming Games” and reached a high of number 7 for “Most Popular Demos” in its first few days. Additionally, Permafrost became one of the top 20 most wishlisted demos. This success highlights the game’s growing popularity among fans of the survival genre.
Propelled by a great reaction to the demo by players with a ‘very positive’ rating on Steam, Permafrost is the latest entry in the post apocalyptic survival genre and one that builds its narrative around a catastrophic event that has plunged the world into a permanent winter with deadly sub-zero temperatures. Open world survival game fans will be pleased to know that the Permafrost demo will remain on Steam and has updated the latest version with hotfixes for improved stability.
In a recent Q&A, SpaceRocket Games revealed that completionists can expect over 30 hours of gameplay in the story at launch. Expanding on equipment options, two additional weapons including a crossbow will provide players with the capability to hunt or to defend themselves from aggressive enemy factions such as the moon cult. SpaceRocket Games also hints that ranged combat mechanics will evolve and that Permafrost will introduce more companion options and dog breeds for players to utilize, additionally the launch version will provide transport in the form of a sleigh and snowmobile for traversing large expanses.
Also hinted are a lot more customization options for players to be able to tune the game to their personal taste.
To wishlist the game and for more details on Permafrost head over the games official Steam page here
Check out the recent developer Q&A insights video here
Brace yourself for the scare of a lifetime, as the world of Insidious jumps off the screen and directly into your theater seat with “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” – a live immersive horror experience that will bring your darkest fears to life right before your eyes, based on the box office hit horror film franchise from Blumhouse, director James Wan, and writer Leigh Whannell. GEA Live, Blumhouse, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and RoadCo Entertainment have joined forces to unveil a spine-tingling, live immersive show that will haunt 80+ seated theaters across North America starting in January 2025. Tickets go on sale October 25. For more information including tour dates, visit www.insidious-live.com.
“INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” is a heart-pounding live theatrical experience where the lines between reality and fiction blur, constantly challenging what’s real and what’s imagined, what’s safe and what’s dangerous. This groundbreaking immersive experience is meticulously crafted to always keep the audience on edge, with no fourth wall to separate them -or protect them- from the unfolding terror. Each attendee will go face-to-face with the protagonists, making the audience an integral character in the chilling story as it unravels.
“We have brought some of the most respected names in the horror and entertainment industries together to make this groundbreaking show possible and ensure a hauntingly unforgettable experience for audiences everywhere,” says Floris Douwes from GEA Live. “We’re excited to bring the eerie and otherworldly thrills of ‘Insidious’ to cities around the country,” says Co-Director Toby Park. Park, who is also composing the original music for the show, and Co-Director Aitor Basauri are artistic directors for Spymonkey, and serve as creative directors for “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR.”
“Bringing audiences deeper into The Further with this live experience has been an exciting challenge, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they respond,” said Jason Blum, Founder/CEO, Blumhouse. “Insidious is one of our most popular franchises, with a sixth installment premiering next year, and this is a fresh and frightening new way for fans to experience it.”
“INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” is an exciting new story conceived within the Insidious universe. Hosted as a live event by the “real” Specs and Tucker, the actual paranormal investigators who inspired the first movie, the “Spectral Sightings Road Show” soon takes a turn for the terrifying. As the infamous duo desperately try to prove they are legitimate ghost-hunters, things start to become very Insidious when a paranormal demonstration goes wrong and dark forces are inadvertently unleashed. Trapped in a genuinely haunted theatre, with something truly sinister lurking back-stage, the audience will find themselves under attack from such iconic characters as the Bride in Black, the Wheezing Man and, of course, the terrifying Lipstick Faced Demon. But what’s real? What’s the show? And who are you really sitting next to?
The house is full. The stage is set. And the Red Door is about to open.
The iconic “Insidious” franchise, consistently gaining momentum over the years, is a box office sensation generating more than $742 million in revenue across five highly successful films. The growing legion of fans includes an active community of five million social media followers. However, while the show is a must for Insidious fans, it’s also created for those who don’t know the films, particularly those who love a fun, thrill-filled night out at the theatre.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 has partnered with Fun World to introduce Ghost Face® to the gunslinging world of Hunt. The “Ghost Face® Rampage” DLC includes one Hunter (Ghost Face®), two weapons – the Hush (Frontier 73C Silencer) and Whisper (a Bornheim No. 3 Silencer), and a tool – Life Taker (a knife). The included weapons are silent, offering players an edge in fast-paced, close-quarters combat, which Hunt is famous for.
“Ghost Face® Rampage” retails at $9.99/€9.99 and will be available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on October 24.
The character was designed to fit into the 19th century world which Hunt takes place in. This is a unique take on Ghost Face® with a never-before-seen design. Stefan Heinrich, Lead Art Director for Hunt, comments further:
“The character design was interesting to work on as it had to fit into the gritty, dark corners of the 1890s setting that Hunt is famous for. For example, the iconic mask is now a hand-carved wooded mask, weathered and cracked, a tattered, battle-worn duster replaces the robe, and to complete the look, leather holsters and gear have been added, giving him the tools of a 19th century Hunter while maintaining his iconic style. We hope Ghost Face® & Hunt fans enjoy the new DLC as much as we enjoyed designing it.”
This is a first horror collaboration for Hunt: Showdown 1896 and the perfect accompaniment as the game moves into celebrating the spooky season with its Harvest of Ghosts in-game event, going on now until Nov. 25, 2024.
Purchase the “Ghost Face® Rampage” DLC October 24 and dominate the shadows during Hunt: Showdown 1896’s newest Halloween event!
Stay tuned to official channels for more updates and details!
On November 12th, Arrow Video delivers the beloved horror-comedy classic, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark on 4K UHD, starring the campy “hostess with mostest.” In 1988, Elvira departed the red sofa on the Movie Macabre set to star in her first major motion picture, solidifying her status as a major comedy/pop culture icon. The Limited-Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and hours of special features.
Elvira (Cassandra Peterson, Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold) quits her job and is down on her luck when the phone rings with the news that a distant aunt has died and named her in the will. She embarks on a cross-country trip to accept the inheritance. As it turns out, the relative has left Elvira a poodle, a decrepit manor, and a family cookbook. The prudish locals, led by Edie McClurg (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), aren’t happy that the goth temptress remains in their precious town, and Elvira appears bound for a one-night bonfire instead of the lush life she envisioned.
The special features include three vintage audio commentaries, a feature length making-of documentary with cast and crew, a featurette on the special effects, an introduction by the director, original storyboards, image galleries, and an Illustrated collector’s booklet with essays.
Watch the trailer for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark here:
On November 12, The Invasion makes its global debut on 4K UHD, as well as Blu-ray. This 2007 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers puts humanity at risk from alien invaders, only this time it happens through an epidemic, instead of the pods used in previous versions. Featuring a 4K transfer, the film is presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and filled with both new and archival special features.
When a space shuttle wrecks upon re-entry, the debris scatters from Washington D.C. to Texas. Eager souvenir hunters grab the chunks of heat shield without having a clue that they’re covered in alien spores. The collectors are becoming infected and transforming into new beings. A psychiatrist, Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman, Eyes Wide Shut), hears from a patient (Veronica Cartwright, Alien) who swears her husband is a different person. After their meeting, the psychiatrist notices strange things about the people around her: they are either freaking out or displaying no emotions. There are also reports of a fast-moving dangerous flu. After a night of trick-or-treating with her son, Carol makes a grisly discovery that she shares with her boyfriend, Dr. Ben Driscoll (Daniel Craig, Knives Out), and a leading biologist (Jeffrey Wright, Casino Royale). Can they discover the true nature of the infection and what happens when people fall asleep? The Invasion was eerily ahead of its time, with its tale of the effects of a post-pandemic world.
The special features include a brand-new audio commentary, a new visual essay, vintage featurettes with cast and crew interviews, trailer, an illustrated collector’s booklet with essays, and a double-sided fold out poster with new and original artwork.
Watch the trailer for The Invasion here:
On November 19, the neo-noir crime thriller A Simple Plan arrives from director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The Academy Award®-nominated film shows what can go wrong when an unexpected fortune falls from the sky. Featuring a 4K remaster from the original camera negative and approved by director Sam Raimi, the film is presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and contains both new and archival special features.
Brothers Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton, Apollo 13) and Jacob Mitchell (Billy Bob Thornton, Bad Santa), with their friend Lou (Brent Briscoe, Twin Peaks: The Return), search in the snowy woods for a lost dog. What they find instead is a crashed plane with a bag stuffed with over $4 million in hundred-dollar bills inside. When they decide to keep the money and not tell anyone about it, things begin to unravel quickly.
The special features include two brand new audio commentaries, a new visual essay, new interviews with cast and crew, vintage on-the-set interviews with the stars and crew, trailer and an Illustrated collector’s booklet with essays.
Watch the trailer for A Simple Plan here:
On November 19, the ‘90s J-Horror box office hit Tomie makes its U.S. debut in a Limited Edition Blu-ray release.
Based on the smash-hit series by cult manga artist Junji Itō (Uzumaki), Tomie is about a detective Harada (Tomoro Taguchi, Tetsuo: The Iron Man), who investigates the murder of high school girl Tomie Kawakami (Miho Kanno, Dolls). He quickly learns this is a bigger case since several of her classmates and a teacher have committed suicide or have gone insane. The detective’s research shows that there was someone also named Tomie Kawakami who was murdered three years ago in a rural part of Japan. Further startling evidence reveals that numerous women named Tomie Kawakami have been murdered for over a century. The detective locates Tsukiko (Mami Nakamura, Tales of the Unusual), a surviving classmate of the latest Tomie. Instead of losing her mind, she merely suffers from amnesia. She has no memory of the time around Tomie’s murder. Tsukiko also doesn’t notice her neighbor’s fast-growing child who begins calling herself Tomie. What is the secret to this woman who won’t stay dead? Tomie’s box office success spawned seven sequels.
The special features include a brand-new audio commentary, new interviews with cast and crew, image gallery, trailer and an Illustrated collector’s booklet with essays.
Watch the official trailer here:
On November 26, Shawscope Volume 3 arrives with a Limited-Edition Blu-ray box set containing 14 movies from the vault of Hong Kong’s legendary Shaw Brothers Studio: The One-Armed Swordsman, Return of The One-Armed Swordsman, The New One-Armed Swordsman, The Lady Hermit, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, The 14 Amazons, The Magic Blade, Clans of Intrigue, Jade Tiger, Sentimental Swordsman, The Avenging Eagle, Killer Constable, Buddha’s Palm, and Bastard Swordsman. Shawscope Volume 3 explores the wuxia genre that features heroic warriors wielding legendary weapons. Thirteen of the movies feature new 2K restorations by Arrow Films from the original negatives, and a new 4K restoration of The One-Armed Swordsman by Celestial Pictures.
Jimmy Wang Yu (Master of the Flying Guillotine) became a superstar with one arm tied behind his back to play Fang Gang in The One-Armed Swordsman. Fang must retrain to be able to sword fight with his left arm after losing his right arm in a fight involving a jealous woman. Can his new one-armed technique defeat the long-armed Devil and his goons? Return of The One-Armed Swordsman has Fang Gang (Jimmy Wang Yu) happily retired with his wife. A group of wicked warriors calling themselves the Eight Sword Kings arrive on the scene and terrorize all the local schools. They want rival students to cut off their sword arms as a sign of surrender. Fang once more picks up his sword to defend the students before they suffer his fate. The New One-Armed Swordsman introduces David Chiang (Shaolin Temple) as the new title character. Lei Li (Chiang) cuts his own arm off after losing a duel that he doesn’t realize was crooked. He takes a humble job as a waiter until one night, he steps up to help someone. During the fight, he’s joined by Feng (Ti Lung, A Better Tomorrow). He relearns how to fight with Feng’s help. Eventually Lei Li seeks revenge against the cheater who cost him his arm. All three of The One-Armed Swordsman films were directed by Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms).
The Lady Hermit puts a sword back in the hands of Cheng Pei Pei (Come Drink With Me). Swordswoman Leng Yushaung (Pei Pei) gets injured in a fight with the Black Demon (Wang Hsieh, Jade Tiger) and hides out as a cook at a protection order. She quietly trains a female student before the Black Demon and his men show up. Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan is a murder mystery. A wealthy businessman is found dead, and the prime suspect is the courtesan Ainu (Lily Ho, The 14 Amazons). A masked fighter attempts to derail the police investigation into Ainu and the activities at the Four Seasons brothel.
The 14 Amazons has a grandmother (Lisa Lu Yan, Crazy Rich Asians) lead her clan into battle when she gets frustrated with the ineffective military leaders. Her women-led force proves formidable on the battlefield.
The Magic Blade declares Fu Hongxue (Ti Lung, The Avenging Eagle) as the best swordsman in the empire. His biggest opponent Yan Nanfei (Lo Lieh, King Boxer) can’t touch him at tournaments. The rivals must unite when the up-and-coming Gong Ziyu (Tang Ching, The Black Dragon) seeks the revolutionary “Peacock Dart” so he can claim Fu’s title.
Three leaders of clans are poisoned with spiritual water in Clans of Intrigue. Swordsman Chu Liuxiang (Ti Lung) arrives on the scene with three female disciples and is immediately suspected as the killer. In order to prove his innocence, Chu must uncover the culprit within a month otherwise he’ll be put to death.
Jade Tiger tells the tale of a bitter family feud. Zhao Wuji (Ti Lung) interrupts his wedding day for a fight. He returns victorious only to discover the ceremony has been raided by the rival Tang Clan. His father’s head has been cut off. Can the Zhaos get revenge for ruining this special day? Sentimental Swordsman has Li Xunhuan (Ti Lung) head back home to protect an old girlfriend (Candice Yu On-On, Death Duel) from a villainous swordsman. Sentimental Swordsman was a massive hit for Shaw Brothers with the mix of action and broken romance. The Avenging Eagle has Black Eagle Qi Mingxing (Ti Lung) rescue Zhuo Yifan (Alexander Fu Sheng, The Chinatown Kid) from dying in the desert. Qi was part of the legendary Thirteen Eagles but is now being hunted down by his former brothers.
Leng Tianying (Chen Kuan-Tai, Executioners from Shaolin) is assigned to find the thieves that robbed the palace vault in Killer Constable. This isn’t an easy investigation since the head of the robbers Fang Fengjia (Ku Feng, One-Armed Swordsman) orders the “Killer Constable” murdered. Leng can’t learn what palace insider was part of the heist. Buddha’s Palm is a fantastical tale of a secretive technique. Swordsman Lung Kim-Fei (Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Sentimental Swordsman) is taken by a giant bird to a cave to meet the blind Koo Hon-Wan (Alex Man Chi-Leung, Bastard Swordsman). He’s taught the supernatural Buddha’s Palm and wants to repay Koo by tracking down a magical pearl that can restore his vision. Bastard Swordsman features the Silkworm Style of swordplay in a tale of rival clans. Yun Feiyang (Norman Tsui Sui-Keung, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) seems to be a mere minion to the Chief of the Wudang, but turns out to have a deeper connection.
The special features include hours of compelling bonus features, including feature commentaries on each movie, several cast-and-crew interviews from the Frédéric Ambroisine Video Archive, the Korean cut of Killer Constable, a compact disc with soundtrack music from different films and an Illustrated collector’s booklet with essays.
Watch the trailer for Shawscope Volume 3 here: https://youtu.be/Rq9ARhDRZw8?si=1P7papjNFe2RlslF
