January 13, 2020 – MachineGames and Arkane Studios Lyon released an update for Wolfenstein: Youngblood on PC that includes the highly anticipated NVIDIA ray tracing support. Players can now experience the ray-traced reflections throughout each of Wolfenstein: Youngblood’s levels. Any surface, if it’s reflective, will feature accurate, high-quality, high-detail, lifelike reflections that elevate graphical fidelity. In action, ray tracing truly shines, with weapon effects reflecting, and dynamic real-time reflections being reflected on enemies and moving game elements.
In addition to this, the update boosts performance throughout Wolfenstein: Youngblood, allowing the game to be enjoyed in higher framerates.
RENTON, WA – January 13, 2020 – When Critical Role debuted in March 2015, no one predicted the success of a Dungeons & Dragons liveplay show starring prominent voice actors. Not only has the show inspired a vast fan community of “Critters” to create fan art, cosplay, and even musicals based on Critical Role’s adventures, but the stories crafted by Matthew Mercer and his friends have encouraged droves of new players to try D&D for the first time. The D&D Team at Wizards of the Coast is excited to officially collaborate with Mercer by publishing a brand new tabletop roleplaying book detailing the continent explored in the second campaign of Critical Role, complete with player options such as subclasses, magic items, and more. Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount will be available in stores everywhere on March 17, 2020!
“Critical Role is a great example of why Dungeons & Dragons has been popular for over 45 years: a group of friends getting together, telling stories, and making each other laugh. In this case, the friends are talented performers playing live on camera, but the fun’s the same. We’re thrilled D&D fans and Critters alike can now enjoy playing in Matt’s world, as brought to fifth edition in this lovingly-crafted book,” said Nathan Stewart, VP of Franchise for Dungeons & Dragons.
“I’m sincerely so honored and excited to be working directly with Chris Perkins and this team of talented D&D writers and designers to bring this book to not just our community, but to D&D players everywhere,” said Matthew Mercer, Chief Creative Officer and Dungeon Master of Critical Role, as well as lead writer on the guide. “Dungeons & Dragons has had such a massive, positive impact on nearly my entire life, and I am ever inspired by the endless creativity I see it spark in so many others across the world. To have been able to work with Wizards of the Coast to bring my world to life as an official campaign book is nothing short of surreal. I can’t wait to see what other DMs and players create within my world to make it their own!”
The 304-page Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount invites DMs to start playing in any of Wildemount’s regions using introductory adventures, dozens of story-inspiring plot seeds, and the new heroic chronicle system. Adventurers can also expect to discover countless secrets revealed by Critical Role Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer for the first time. Players and DMs will find new character options available for play in any campaign, like the Echo Knight fighter subclass, spells of dunamancy, numerous new monsters, and more!
For more information about Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount and Dungeons & Dragons, please go to dungeonsanddragons.com.
January 10, 2020 – Paradox Interactive and Iceflake Studios have kicked off 2020 with the launch of Update 3: Expeditions, a free content update to Surviving the Aftermath that introduces vehicles and enhances trade between societies. Vehicles allow players to quickly send groups of Specialists across the World Map while trade allows the player to leverage their colony’s reputation in exchange for favors and resources.
Check out this video showcasing the new features in Update 3: Expeditions:
January 10, 2020 – Today, Skydance Interactive released an all new behind-the-scenes look at The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners which delves into the unique story the team has developed, with roots in the core concepts from the iconic universe.
You can check out the video on YouTube (ready for embedding):
Set in the flooded remains of New Orleans, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners will launch on January 23, 2020. Freedom of choice and visceral combat offer players a new way to live survival horror in a deep-rooted VR gaming experience. As players dive deeper into this unforgiving journey they will uncover the mystery at the heart of the conflict that threatens to tear the city apart.
Lesquin, France, January 9, 2020 – BIGBEN and Big Ant Studios are thrilled to announce that AO Tennis 2, the second game in the official Australian Open game series, is now available for PC in North America and will be released for PS4™, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch™ on February 11.
Released to coincide with the Australian Open, the first major tennis tournament of the year, AO Tennis 2 offers an unprecedented level of depth and an extensive range of customization options for a tailor-made gameplay experience. In the brand-new narrative-driven career mode, you’ll be able to dominate the court, build your reputation, climb to the top and become a Tennis legend!
January 9, 2020 – My narratively-inclined adventurer, Independent developer No Code and label Devolver Digital have announced the celebrated experimental thriller Stories Untold will launch on Nintendo Switch next week on January 16.
Combining a mix of classic text-adventure and point-and-click adventure in a modern presentation, four short stories are packaged together into a single mysterious anthology that earned widespread critical acclaim since release. Developer No Code has reworked their debut game’s user experience and controls to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con.
Universal City, CA, January 9, 2020 —Universal Studios Hollywood ushers in the “Year of the Rat,” the first of the Chinese zodiac animals, as the theme park celebrates with the Lunar New Year event from Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, February 9. Lunar New Year is included in the price of admission to the theme park.
This spectacular themed Lunar New Year event will take place within Universal Plaza, located at the heart of the theme park. Under a curtain of traditional red Chinese lanterns and stunning plum blossom Wishing Trees, the festivities will come to life as guests discover the 12 zodiac animal signs accompanied by their symbolic attributes. Guests with birthday years that correspond with the “Year of the Rat” are said to be intelligent, witty and charming.
The immersive event will feature Po and Tigress from the thrilling “Kung Fu Panda Adventure” attraction who will greet guests and pose for engaging photos; Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop returns by popular demand to serve up delicious culture-themed food, and Mr. Ping himself will be on hand to interact with guests and take memorable souvenir photos. Guests can learn how to draw Po and take home the drawing as a keepsake memento and, on select days, community cultural performances featuring traditional lion dances will round out the program.
Beloved global pop icon Hello Kitty, created by the lifestyle brand Sanrio, further complements this year’s Lunar New Year celebration when she steps out in style wearing her signature red bow and specially designed Lunar New Year attire. Hello Kitty will be available to meet guests at the Hello Kitty Shop located within the Animation Studio Store.
Keeping with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Lunar New Year tradition, MEGATRON from the TRANSFORMERS franchise will be speaking Mandarin while interacting with guests at the entry of the festivities. The imposing robot leader of the DECEPTICONS will engage attendees in real-time conversation reflective of his persona and will be sure to entertain TRANSFORMERS fans visiting the park. MEGATRON is one of the stars of Universal Studios Hollywood’s thrill ride, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D.”
Illumination Entertainment’s Minions from the theme park’s popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride will add to the festivities, entertaining guests in their brightly colored traditional Lunar New Year attire.
The world-famous Studio Tour is available in Mandarin at select times throughout the day. Featuring expertly-trained Mandarin-speaking tour guides, the experience provides insight into the world of movie-making magic as guests enjoy behind-the-scenes access to one of the largest production studios in the world. In-language park maps are also available for guests.
Guests can continue their Lunar New Year celebration at Universal CityWalk’sDongpo Kitchen restaurant which features upscale and modern Sichuan cuisine. Inspired by China’s premier restaurant Meizhou Dongpo, Dongpo Kitchen offers the comforts of a casual dining environment with both indoor and al fresco seating and caters to an eclectic palate with a variety of signature dishes.
9 January, 2020 – Dublin, Ireland | Frogwares is happy to announce that they have restored Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments to the PlayStation 4 store in the United States.
After being removed due to a dispute with the previous licensee, Frogwares was concerned the game would not be salvageable due to various technical reasons. But a small internal team worked to rebuild the game for submission.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is built around 6 intricate and twisting cases. Each mystery not only tests player’s detective and sleuthing skills, but also their moral compass. While sloppy detective work can get innocent people incarcerated, moral conflicts can ultimately decide who you believe is the true criminal in each case. Bend the law into your hands to help decide the punishments given out – whether the perpetrators are guilty or not.
As a flagship title for Frogwares, its return helps ensure the studio will remain afloat as it continues its push into self-publishing all of its future releases. The team hopes a similar result can be expected soon on other platforms were the game was also removed.
Check out the terrifying new trailer for Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Entertainment’s “The New Mutants,” an original horror thriller set in an isolated hospital where young mutants are being held for psychiatric monitoring.
January 2, 2020 – A Long Way Down, the deck-building roguelite RPG set in a dark and tormented world, will be released on Steam on January 16. Inspired by hits like Darkest Dungeon, Slay the Spire and Hand of Fate, in A Long Way Down you’ll have to assemble your party and use your cards to survive, fight and build your way through a dark maze of monsters.
A Long Way Down will be launched in Early Access and it will stay like that for 4-8 months. The game will currently contains 2-3 hours of gameplay, around 40 cards, 3 playable characters and a dozen of monsters.
