December 13, 2019 – At The Game Awards 2019, ZeniMax Online Studios presented a thrilling cinematic trailer showing the climax of the Season of the Dragon, The Elder Scrolls Online’s first year-long interconnected adventure.
Eagled-eyed viewers will notice ZOS also teased next year’s big adventure right at the end. With the Season of the Dragon coming to a close, it’s time to prepare for 2020’s year-long adventure, returning Elder Scrolls fans to the legendary lands of Skyrim.
Also announced: at the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, and in front of a live audience of ESO players and fans, ZeniMax Online Studios will reveal The Elder Scrolls Online’s next year-long adventure and Chapter! Tune-in at 2 pm PST on January 16, 2020 to explore the Dark Heart of Skyrim.
THE BEYOND (Dec. 12, 2019) – Developer WolfEye Studios and publisher Devolver Digital have announced Weird West, an action RPG experience set within a surreal vision of the developing frontier. Weird West stands as WolfEye’s debut project and was revealed on stage this evening at The Game Awards [http://weirdwest.com].
Discover a dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West where lawmen and gunslingers share the frontier with fantastical creatures. Journey through the origin stories of a group of atypical heroes, written into legend by the decisions you make in an unforgiving land. Each journey is unique and tailored to the actions taken – a series of high stakes stories where everything counts and the world reacts to the choices you make. Form a posse or venture forth alone into an otherworldly confines of the Weird West and make each legend your own.
Seattle – December 12, 2019 – (NASDAQ: AMZN) During The Game Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles tonight, Amazon Games announced that New World, its first massively multiplayer online (MMO) PC game, will launch in May 2020. The launch timing was revealed in a cinematic trailer that introduced players to Aeternum, the Eternal Isle, a vast and diverse land of danger and opportunity.
New World is an open world MMO set in the twilight of the Age of Exploration, during the 17th century. In New World, players are pitted against the haunted wilderness of a mysterious island known as Aeternum. Success in New World depends on players’ ability to conquer not only companies of rival players, but the dark soul of Aeternum itself, as it unleashes undead legions, hell-bent on purging them from its shores. In its unsettled state, Aeternum is open and chaotic, but rich in opportunity for soldiers, explorers, artisans, and empire-builders.
Massive battles set New World apart, with fortress sieges against other players and supernatural invasions, featuring up to 100 players on the battlefield at once. Combat in New World is visceral and skill-based, giving players direct control over their movements and attacks. Players can band together to form powerful Companies operating out of fortified strongholds, or play alone and acquire and customize their own homes as they contribute to the growth of the larger community around them. New World provides near-limitless play, with classless character progression, social systems, and rich crafting mechanics.
“We want our players to feel the depth—and the danger—of New World from the moment they step onto the shores of Aeternum in May 2020,” said Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Games. “Our team has been working tirelessly to create a deep, immersive world that delivers challenges and surprises at every turn, and we’re so excited to reveal a bit more of it today.”
New World is being developed by Amazon Games’ development studio in Orange County, California, with a team comprised of industry veterans with experience building some of the world’s most beloved multiplayer games, including Destiny, World of Warcraft, and Everquest.
Pre-order New World here. Players who pre-order New World will receive Isabella’s amulet, the Fist Bump emote, a guild crest set, and the Expedition One unique title, plus access to Closed Beta in April 2020.
For more information on New World, please visit https://newworld.com, and follow the game on Twitch, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Universal City, CA, December 12, 2019 –Universal Studios Hollywood and Bravo team up for the first-ever Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival on March 19-20, 2020, inviting guests on a culinary excursion featuring an all-inclusive eclectic menu inspired by the series, live challenges, food & wine pairings and panels with “Top Chef” Alums.
The two-day, separately-ticketed event will take place at Universal Studios Hollywood and feature dozens of food, wine, craft beer and spirit stations with a delicious array of dishes inspired by the Cheftestants’ creations over the years. Guests also will have a chance to watch “Top Chef” veterans battle it out in a series of live cooking competitions and enjoy panels with fan favorites from the series.
In addition to a general admission ticket to the event, guests can also purchase a premium VIP ticket option, inviting them to experience several first-class opportunities including an exclusive tasting and wine pairing hosted by a “Top Chef” Alum, intimate meet and greets with the Cheftestants, early access to the theme park, complimentary parking and a special commemorative gift.
The inaugural Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival coincides with the Season 17 premiere of “Top Chef” returning Thursday, March 19 on Bravo with All Stars LA, featuring the fiercest group of competitors the show has seen with 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorites from seasons past who have all returned to finish what they started and battle it out for the coveted title.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ to introduce this exclusive Food & Wine Festival,” said Karen Irwin, President & COO, Universal Studios Hollywood. “As an industry leader, we take as much pride in our culinary offerings as we do with our innovative rides and we’re excited that our Executive Chef will have the opportunity to collaborate with these acclaimed ‘Top Chef’ Alums to create this unique food and wine event, and we look forward to toasting the occasion with our guests.”
“Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival will give guests an opportunity to interact with their beloved chefs and try the culinary feast firsthand while also giving them a glimpse at the pressure the competitors face in the kitchen with the Quickfire Challenges,” said Ellen Stone, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal. “Partnering with Universal Studios Hollywood is a natural extension of our brand and offers our incredibly engaged fans of Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ a unique chance to taste and experience a piece of the hit culinary competition series.”
Lesquin, December 12, 2019 – Bigben and Eko Software are pleased to share a new video on the gameplay of Rugby 20. The third phase of the game’s closed beta starts on 19 December. The final version is planned for release on 23 January on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC.
Watch the gameplay video here:
The video highlights three fundamental aspects of the game, which fans of the sport will love.
One of the major new features in Rugby 20 is the ability for you to change tactics before and during matches. By managing the game plan, and positioning and behaviour of players, you can experience the unique character of modern rugby and implement your own style of play.
For attacking play, there are different moves available, such as long passes to teammates and kicking options. Grubber kicks, pass feints and side-steps are just some of the options available to help you gain the upper hand over your opponent.
When defending, timing and accuracy are the key to success: tackles must be triggered at the right moment to boost your chances of success while avoiding dangerous play that could lead to a penalty.
With a strong focus on simulation, Rugby 20 offers players all the elements that make up modern rugby: tactical changes during matches, attacking pods, passing after contact and set plays. Rugby fans will find all the sport’s essential elements in the video game.
With real tactical depth, the addition of a set plays system, revised motion-capture animations, redesigned AI and innovative gameplay, Rugby 20 is ready to become the new standard for rugby video games.
Rugby 20 will be available on January 23, 2020 on Xbox One and PC worldwide and on January 28, 2020 for PlayStation®4 in North America.
OSLO, Norway – Dec 12th, 2019 – Last week saw mounts and mounted combat making their long-awaited appearance in Conan Exiles, but the list of additions and improvements that now grace The Exiled Lands goes way beyond that of transit and warfare. Since Conan Exiles was launched into early access in 2017, a host of free updates have been released. New dungeons, fiercer mobs and legendary items have been introduced, as well as siege weapons, pet and thrall leveling, and a revamped combat system.
Now Funcom invites gamers to check out all of this for free during this week’s Steam Free Weekend.
Conan Exiles’ Steam Free Weekend starts today, at 7 PM CET / 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST, and ends on Monday. During this time the game will also be available for permanent acquisition at a heavily discounted price (up to 60 % off).
Conan Exiles is an open world survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian. After a successful Early Access run starting in January 2017, the game launched in full on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on May 8th, 2018 and became one of Funcom’s best-selling and fastest-selling games to date. For more information check out the official Steam page or conanexiles.com.
Austin, TX, December 11, 2019 — Christmas is coming early to World of Warships with the new update 0.8.11, during which players will be able to build their own warship, as well be presented with Santa’s Gifts containers and a chance to receive premium ships or other valuable rewards. Wargaming prepares to keep on giving with a planned global charity stream for Save the Children set to kick off across all its territories on December 19th.
Keeping the season of giving close at heart, Wargaming will begin a Save the Children 24-hour charity stream, aiming to raise $25,000 dollars before the clock runs out. Players can donate by buying various in-game items, from premium ships to rare camouflages, with the proceeds going to Save the Children.
Players who log into World of Warships will also receive four Santa’s Gift containers, each likely to contain a premium ship or other valuable rewards. Containers will also be gifted by participating in in-game activities, shipbuilding, completing directives or through the Armory. Snowflakes – holiday victory bonuses with large rewards which can be collected by playing all ships of Tier V and above — are also making a return.
One of the biggest new features of update 0.8.11 lets players build their own warship. The Tier X large cruiser Puerto Rico is waiting to be finished in their Dockyard. Players can complete the warship in stages, from laying the keel to installing weaponry and other equipment, by spending special Shipbuilding Tokens found in the daily missions and shipments, and the new Event Directives.
Each completed stage nets the player various rewards, with the ultimate prize being the Puerto Rico itself. Progressing through the Directives also allows players to acquire another premium ship – the tier VII Italian cruiser Gorizia. A new Shipbuilding Collection, with 20 new collectible elements, is featured in the update. Each completed sub collection will reward you with one day of Premium Account.
Wargaming keeps on improving the visual fidelity of World of Warships with the Trident and Neighbors maps, as well as the Hamburg and Marseille Ports having been reworked in update 0.8.11. Special attention has been given to the sea with a more realistic surface and enhanced wave action.
AMSTERDAM – Dec. 11, 2019 – Good Shepherd Entertainment and developer Urban Games have released Transport Fever 2, the next great Tycoon Simulation game from the makers of Transport Fever and Train Fever. Create elaborate transport routes and infrastructure over land, sea and air to build a transportation empire that rivals the ages!
Transport Fever 2 is available today for Windows PC and Linux via Steam and GOG.com for $39.99. Players who purchase the game before December 18 will receive a 10% launch week discount. Additionally, anyone who owns the original Transport Fever on Steam will automatically receive a special 15% stackable bonus discount (for a combined total 25% discount if you purchase this week).
With more than 170 years of real-world transportation technology at your fingertips, Transport Fever 2 lets you design and master fantastic new worlds with a vastly improved feature set, UI and mod tools:
Experience the greatest logistical challenges from 1850 to today across three unique story campaigns featuring voiceovers and cutscenes.
Let your creativity run wild through giant sandbox maps in free play mode.
Choose from over 200 realistically modeled vehicles from Europe, America and Asia, including trains, buses, streetcars, trucks, aircraft and ships, plus modular stations, airports and harbors.
Track and manage your booming empire’s rise with intuitive construction tools and dynamic economy, transportation and city simulation systems.
Choose from a diverse array of natural ecosystems, all rendered in exquisite detail.
Create and share your own worlds, missions, landscapes, vehicles and more with the in-game map editor and extensive modding tools via Steam Workshop.
December 11, 2019 – Bohemia Interactive is proud to announce the release of the Update 1.2: Preppers, for Vigor, which is available today. The update reveals the Battle Pass along with its first season: Preppers. We are also bringing Christmas to the Outlands together with Tools, Crafting Boosters, Charity Box Rewards, and much more.
Update 1.2: “Preppers” includes:
Battle Pass – Our Outlanders asked for more measurable progression other than the Shelter itself, and we listened. Everyone can receive various exciting rewards for XP — There is also a Premium Battle Pass for everyone who wants to get even more.
Season 1: Preppers – The Preppers were ready for humanity to fall, so they represent the elite of all Outlanders. They bring new tools and ways to play. Everyone can become one of them with the brand new Battle Pass!
Tools – Tools are a staple in any Prepper’s repertoire. Those bring new exciting ways to play. You can come across these 3:
Contact Bomb
Transmitter
Alarm Trap
Crafting Boosters – Tired of waiting? Make the process faster with Crafting Boosters!
Charity Box Rewards – If you were one of those who did not see the point of helping the other not-so-lucky Outlanders, these rewards will get you on board.
While I stay away from “top” anything lists usually, I thought it would be fun to share some of the most tear-jerking Christmas commercials I have ever seen. Some of them are new – and some are old. Either way, they make my eyes rain. And now, they’ll make yours…. BEWARE, dear reader, there be tears ahead, and it be too late to alter course!
