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Railway Empire 2: The Official Game Guides Announced

Publisher Kalypso Media have today revealed their latest collaborative project with German publishing house BILDNER Verlag, Railway Empire 2: The Official Game Guides. The comprehensive game guide will feature detailed descriptions and imagery of the 60 locomotives found in-game, gameplay tips and tricks, and comprehensive guides to maximize your efficiency across the sprawling maps and scenarios.

BILDNER Verlag publishing house specializes in educational content for video games and hobbies with a heavy digital component, such as photography.

The guides will consist of three books: The ‘Official Compendium’, ‘Official Engine Catalogue’, and ‘Official Mission Guide’, which can be purchased separately or as a bundle, with each one focused on a separate aspect of the Railway Empire 2 experience.

  • The Official Compendium: Information and tips for the core gameplay, enabling you to get the best start possible in the campaign, or learn new tricks for your next playthrough!
  • The Official Engine Catalogue: Detailed pictures and information on the 60 historically accurate locomotives found in game!
  • The Official Mission Guide: Walkthroughs and suggestions for the 14 scenarios and detailed campaign map across Europe and America.

Railway Empire 2: The Official Game Guides will be released in e-book format alongside Railway Empire 2 on May 25, for $5.99 with the 3-guide bundle available for $14.99. They will be available for purchase on Steam, The BILDNER Verlag website (https://bildnerverlag.de/en), and through e-book retailers. Physical editions of the books will be available from retailers in June.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Release Date Announced

Telltale, the leading narrative game development studio and publisher, today revealed the release date for The Expanse: A Telltale Series. Episode one of the series is coming to PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Epic Games Store on July 27, 2023.

Following the release of Episode 1, the following four episodes will be releasing every two weeks from July 27, 2023, allowing players to experience the exciting universe of The Expanse like never before.

Pre-orders for both the Standard ($39.99) and Deluxe Editions ($44.99) will go live on June 1, 2023. Players who pre-order will receive 24-hour early access*, while players who purchase the Deluxe edition will also receive DLC (content to be announced at a later date).

The first new IP announced by Telltale since the company re-formed in 2019, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is set prior to the events of Alcon Television Group’s critically acclaimed and award-winning television series which streams on Amazon Prime Video. Players take on the role of Camina Drummer (played by actress Cara Gee in both the game and TV series), the XO of a scavenger crew on the hunt for a mysterious treasure on the edges of The Belt. As Drummer, players must deal with a mix of powerful personalities, square off against a bloody mutiny, explore locations beyond The Belt and, most of all, make tough decisions that will decide the fate of The Artemis crew. Scour shipwrecks, use mag boots to walk on walls and ceilings, and utilize Zero-G thrusters to float through sections of ships and the open expanse of space in the largest and most immersive exploration of any Telltale game to date.

To learn more about The Expanse: A Telltale Series, please visit: https://www.telltale.com/the-expanse/.

Starship Troopers: Extermination Launches into Early Access

Today, Offworld Industries, in collaboration with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, are proud to launch Starship Troopers: Extermination into Early Access. While the game is primed and ready for intense squad-based shooter action, more features and enhancements will be added to the core gameplay experience over time. By inviting players into the beginning stages of public access, the Offworld Industries team is excited to enlist the community to help guide what features and mechanics to build upon and evolve before the game’s eventual transition into 1.0. Player feedback will be integral to the ongoing creative process, as Offworld Industries works to iterate upon popular requests and add more content throughout the weeks and months following the Early Access launch.

The Early Access edition of Starship Troopers: Extinction will be available for $24.99 USD—a special introductory price that will increase as more content is introduced ahead of the 1.0 launch— and puts players on the far-off front lines in an all-out war with the Arachnid menace. Squad up as a Trooper in the Deep Space Vanguard, an elite Special Forces group within the Mobile Infantry, and get ready to stomp some Bug! No Trooper will ever stand alone as they line up shoulder-to-shoulder with their fellow Vanguards—trusty Morita Assault Rifles in hand—to battle against hordes of bloodthirsty insectoid aliens on the hostile surface of the planet Valaka.

Work together to complete objectives, acquire resources, build and defend your base of operations, and then escape to the extraction point together. The battle will be intense but, as hardened warriors standing for all of humanity and the United Citizen Federation, leave no inch of ground safe for the Arachnids!

Other Key Features:

  • Cooperative Gameplay – 16 players can team up in squads of four to defend their base, complete objectives, gather resources, and try to kill every Bug in sight.
  • Three Playable Classes – Choose from Assault, Support, and Defense classes to best suit your playstyle and support the rest of your squad.
  • Build Defenses – Construct walls, towers, ammo stations, and more using resources acquired from planetside refineries.
  • Class Progression System – Unlock new weapons, equipment, and perks for each class to become an elite warfighter among the Deep Space Vanguard.
  • 5 Unique Bug Types – At Early Access launch, encounter Drone, Warrior, Gunner, Plasma Grenadier, and Tiger Elite enemy Bugs during missions.
  • Escalating Infestation Levels – Increasing Bug threat levels during missions bring bigger and more dangerous enemies to the fight.
  • Large-scale Battles – A massive map with five unique zones, and swarm-based combat with hundreds of enemy Bugs on screen delivers the sense of an overwhelming planetary war.
  • Ground War – Retake bases and refineries, destroy hives, and complete a variety of side objectives to wrest control of the map away from the Bug menace.
  • Ping system – Communication is key! The ‘Ping’ system gives players a quick and easy way to call out points of interest, objectives, incoming enemies, and more to teammates.

Gangs of Sherwood Reimagining the Robin Hood Legend Trailer

Game publisher NACON and developer Appeal Studios are pleased to announce a new video for the co-op action-adventure game Gangs of Sherwood. In the video, Game Director Andrea Di Stefano and Art Director Michael Defroyennes talk about how they adapted the legend of Robin Hood.

In Gangs of Sherwood, gamers can choose to play as four of the most famous heroes from the legend: Friar Tuck, Little John, Maid Marian and, of course, Robin Hood. The development teams also wanted to highlight the wonderfully rich lore of the legend by including lesser-known characters, such as Alan-a-Dale. As much focus has been placed on the antagonists, such as the charismatic Guy of Gisbourne, usually depicted as an assassin charged with killing Robin Hood, and the prioress of Kirklees, presumed responsible for Robin Hood’s death.

The story in Gangs of Sherwood is a unique take on the Robin Hood legend. It is a war story in which the heroes are leaders of a resistance against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Technological advancement plays a major role in the world, which adds a science-fantasy dimension to the game’s medieval world. “The new technology was made possible by the Lionheart, a unique stone brought back from the Crusades, which can be used to transform metal and give it magical properties,” said Andrea Di Stefano. “This swift technological progress has led to a revolution in transportation and the way the war unfolds. In our case, it is having a big impact on combat, on the way the characters interact with enemies and the power they can unleash, which results in explosive and spectacular battles.”

During their adventure, players will explore a wide variety of stunning environments, some of which will certainly be familiar. As Michael Defroyennes explains, “For example, we start in the village of Locksley, which is under siege, and there will be other iconic places, of course, such as Sherwood Forest and the city of Nottingham. We also wanted to highlight the bleak aspect of the various regions to show how the world is war-torn and the how pollution from technology has impacted the environment.”

Stay tuned! More information about the game will be shared soon on our social media channels!

Red Barrels Launches The Outlast Trials into Early Access

Red Barrels, the independent game development studio based in Montréal, has officially launched Early Access for The Outlast Trials which is available now via Steam and Epic Games Store for $29.99 USD.

Stepping into Murkoff’s Sinyala Facility during Early Access, players will experience mind-numbing terror, whether surviving alongside friends or daring to go alone. Early Access includes all the main features of a classic Outlast game and will introduce a whole new program structure. Players will be pushed to their limits in new environments, new trials, several challenges and variators, a seasonal program, character and cell customization, full character progression with a narrative introduction and a surprising conclusion for each Reagent released, and more, gradually throughout the Early Access.

“We’re eager to see and hear how Reagents (players) perform in Murkoff’s experimental program during The Outlast Trials Early Access,” said Philippe Morin, Co-Founder of Red Barrels. “Feedback from players throughout Early Access is key to us delivering a more refined and balanced game. The Outlast Trials is our most challenging production and we’ll continue developing the game until we feel the game delivers our initial vision.”

The Outlast Trials, is a brand new take on the acclaimed Outlast survival horror series, set in the same terrifying universe as the previous titles, only this time you can choose to play on your own or with friends in a team of up to four people.

Set in the height of the Cold War era, players take on the role of test subjects abducted by the shadowy Murkoff Corporation. Imprisoned in a secret Murkoff facility, players will be thrust into a series of physical and mental ordeals, tormented by iconic characters, and challenged alone or in teams to survive with their sanity intact.

Tamarak Trail Coming to Consoles

Independent game studio Yarrow Games, in partnership with leading independent video game publisher Versus Evil, are pleased to reveal that its upcoming deck-bulding roguelike Tamarak Trail is coming to Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, where it will launch alongside the Steam release this summer. Tamarak Trail is a turn-based deck-building roguelike that uses customizable dice instead of cards.

As a member of a secret society named the Sturgeon Lodge it’s up to you to piece together the mystery of a decaying earth, hunt down the source of this corruption and put a stop to it at all costs.

Embarking on this adventure, you can choose one of three characters; The Magician, the Tracker or the Detective, each with their own unique abilities and traits. Depending on your preferred playstyle, the character’s different skills and attributes allow you to craft a unique strategy for your character as they navigate the ominous trail. Procedurally-generated paths create a myriad of possibilities where you can encounter events, monsters, campsites, treasure and more. Every new discovery reveals new bonuses and strategies to explore.

To combat the monsters and nefarious foes you’ll encounter, you’ll have to be tactical in your dice-building, as each face could mean the difference between victory or defeat. Different dice sides can be used to attack directly, apply buffs and debuffs, inflict damage over time, defend yourself, to “flip” them to another side for combo awesomeness and much more. You can even apply “dice cores” to secure passive abilities. You’re given direct control of your dice rolls, and getting them to smack together allows you to create killer combo attacks. In true deck-builder fashion, dice faces can be customized with more abilities after each victory, adding new attacks, defenses and combinations to take forward into future battles.

With a beautiful hand-drawn illustrative style, the game’s art direction has many inspirations, including the Group of Seven, the Canadian landscape painters of the 1920’s, and illustrator Ivan Bilibin. Tamarak Trail takes its inspiration from roguelike deck builders like Slay the Spire, and pays homage to innovative titles like Dicey Dungeons and Peglin, which have influenced the game’s feel and mechanics. Add to that a diverse and horrific bestiary influenced by Northern Ontario’s wildlife, it culminates in a treacherous trail where danger and intrigue hides in every corner.

“Tamarak Trail is among the most deep, engrossing deck builders I’ve ever played,” ​​said Steve Escalante, general Manager of Versus Evil. “We think Tamarak Trail has such wide appeal that we’re committed to bringing it to all major platforms right out of the gate. Thankfully you won’t have to wait too long to play it, as it’s launching this summer!”

Crusader Kings III: Royal Court Console Launch Trailer

The throne room is the center of royal power. This is where your vassals and courtiers plead their cases. This is where you gather the relics and artifacts that represent your power. And this is where your majesty is most obvious to all. Manage your regal reputation with the best propaganda tool available to a medieval ruler – the Royal Court.

Royal Court is the first major expansion for Crusader Kings III, now on XBox Series X|S consoles and Playstation® 5. Paradox Interactive’s revolutionary medieval strategy game now gives players the chance to rule their kingdom or empire from a specially designed throne room. They can collect and commission special items, set a budget for food and lodging, and answer the petitions of visitors and subjects as they bring their problems to the royal ear.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Royal Court include:

  • Throne Room: Available for king and emperor characters, this is a visual representation of your royal court, reflecting all the accumulated majesty and prestige of your dynasty.
  • Hold Court: Interact with vassals and courtiers as they come to you with their problems, seeking a royal judgement.
  • Grandeur: Increase the quality of life at your court with fancier trappings and better food, all the better to impress your rivals and attract higher quality guests.
  • Inspired People: Talented artists, craftspeople and thinkers can work on new projects, adding treasures and artifacts to your court.
  • Inventory System: Commission and collect special weapons, armor and regalia to outfit your character and boost their skills and prowess.
  • Hybrid Cultures: Make the most of a multicultural realm, developing a new way of life that is specifically adapted to your population and geography.
  • Cultural Divergence: Split from your traditional culture, adapting it into something new that better fits your aspirations.

The release of Royal Court is accompanied by a major free update to Crusader Kings III available for all players on console. This update includes the eagerly awaited character designer, which allows players to create their own starting character.

Crusader Kings III: Royal Court is now available for Playstation® 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Please check the relevant stores in your region for pricing.

Jagged Alliance 3 Features Trailer Released

When people talk about turn-based tactics games, very often Jagged Alliance is mentioned as one of the legendary forefathers of the genre. So creating a new installment in the series, almost 25 years after the first one has electrified gamers around the globe, is not a simple task: The memories of those iconic games remain cherished, but times have changed, and players now have different expectations. Nevertheless, developer Haemimont Games and publisher THQ Nordic are proudly adding the long-awaited “3” to the iconic title, indicating nothing less than: Jagged Alliance 3 shall be a worthy successor and an outstanding strategy game when it releases on July 14th, 2023 for PC!

In the latest trailer, we’re gonna spill the beans on what Jagged Alliance 3 brings to the table – and what it doesn’t. Battle-hardened mercenaries who’ve conquered the previous installments might scoff and say, “Been there, done that.” But for you unfortunate souls who’ve never tasted the thrill of a Jagged Alliance game yet (shame on you!), this rad new trailer will answer the burning question you’ve been dying to ask: What is the gameplay like? Does it focus on tactics or strategy? Is there a crafting system? And so much more… Find all the answers you seek in the thrilling new trailer!

Mod support coming soon after launch
After Jagged Alliance 3 has launched, the developers will focus on giving the players the exciting opportunity to customize the game according to their preferences. Initially offering basic mod support, allowing players to modify weapon statistics, adjust difficulty levels, and even display the “chance to hit” percentage, the mod support for Jagged Alliance 3 will continue to expand and evolve post-launch. In due course, players will wield a powerful tool that empowers them to create and share their own campaigns, introduce new mercenaries, and explore possibilities beyond our current imagination!

Jagged Alliance 3 is currently in development for PC and is set to release on July 14th, 2023 at an SRP of $ 44.99 / € 44.99 / 39.99 £ and will receive a launch discount of 20% on Steam – wishlist here: https://thqn.net/ja3-steam

Collector’s Edition
The Jagged Alliance 3 Tactical Edition is available for pre-order now at an SRP of € 129.99 / £ 114.99 and will release along with the game on July 14th, 2023. Please note: this edition is strictly limited.

Pre-Order the Tactical Edition here:
UK: https://thqn.net/414rVRZ
DE: https://thqn.net/425vA35
IT: https://thqn.net/3paHScd
FR: https://thqn.net/3Nz9B0c

More information about the game is available in our biweekly Twitch streams, tune in Thursdays at 11 AM EST / 17:00 CEST on THQ Nordic’s Twitch Channel:
https://www.twitch.tv/thqnordic

In case you missed a stream, you can always read all developer diaries here: https://thqn.net/ja3-dd02
… or re-watch the live stream recordings here: https://thqn.net/3nRdvHo

If you want to learn more about the game, make sure to follow on social media or discuss with other fans in the forums or on Discord:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaggedalliancegame/
Forums: https://community.jaggedalliance.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jaggedalliance

Station to Station Announcement Trailer

PRISMATIKA and Galaxy Grove today announce Station to Station, a brand new minimalist, voxel-art railroad building simulator, which will be pulling into Steam later this year.

In Station to Station, players are tasked with transforming a small rural world into a vibrant, lush environment full of life and colour by placing stations and creating connections to foster growth and expansion. Grab your conductor’s hat and watch the beautiful, tilt shift-inspired, voxel-art world come to life in the brand new announcement trailer:

Aspiring conductors will hop on board and steam through a variety of colourful biomes, breathing new life into dry desert sands, and transforming untamed mountain terrain. As the tracks are laid down a tranquil world will spring to life with an ever-widening tapestry of flora and fauna!

For those seeking to test their management and planning skills, each of the game’s levels offer their own optional challenges, stack bonuses, and unique mechanics tied to every biome. Whether seeking relaxation or mental stimulation, Station to Station has something for everyone!

Station to Station Features:

  • Enjoy your journey as you embark on a relaxing and peaceful experience
  • Take in the views with beautiful, colourful voxel art
  • Upgrade your experience as optional strategic gameplay allows players to earn high scores

Trackmania Comes to Consoles

Today, Ubisoft announced that Trackmania is now available to play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5. Players can also access the game on PC on Ubisoft Connect, Epic, Steam, Amazon Luna* and Ubisoft+, Ubisoft’s subscription service.

The legendary Trackmania hits the consoles with racing still as thrilling as ever thanks to crossplay and crossprogression. Since its launch on PC in July 2020, the game has continued its pursuit of enrichment, bringing new features to feel the joy of racing.

Trackmania offers a unique direct racing experience for players to compete and climb leaderboards on more than 1000 tracks, with a new one every day. Players can also team-up with their friends in two different game modes, Ranked and Royal, and join casual daily competitions. With their different progress in the races, players will unlock new prestige skins, medals and trophies to reward their skills. An official Esports circuit is also available for players looking for new challenges, in addition to many events organized by the community.

Creativity is the fuel of Trackmania’s community with more than 2000 car skins shared by players for everyone to enjoy. Furthermore, this console launch comes with a Track Editor especially designed for console players and hundreds of new blocks dedicated to gameplay and styling, completing a collection of more than 3000 pieces. New collections of pictures inspired by Ubisoft games are available to create and customize in game Clubs with players favourite franchises.

The Console version will feature the same Accesses as its PC version with a free Starter Access, a Standard Access for $9.99 per year and a Club Access for $29.99 per year or 59.99$ for three years. These three levels of engagement aim to fit every player’s gaming preference from regular updated content to full customization features and pro-level competition.

However, the game is not only enjoyable behind the wheel; since 2021, Trackmania is the 1st most viewed racing game worldwide on Twitch, with 30 million hours watched. *

With the release of Trackmania on consoles, the community will enjoy the pleasure of the race and test their skills altogether, longtime players and new ones alike.

For the latest on Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News at news.ubisoft.com.