The news that fans outside the US have been waiting for has finally been delivered as the launch date for the Disney + Streaming service has finally been confirmed and announced via the official Disney Twitter account:
.@DisneyPlus will be available in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain (and more to be announced soon) starting on March 31. Please note: Titles may vary by territory. #DisneyPluspic.twitter.com/2NqM1JVESb
With the service launching next week in the US, this will mean a very long four month wait to see shows like Star Wars series The Mandalorian and all the MARVEL MCU films and TV shows that the service will launch out.
Whilst it is a long time to try and avoid spoilers it will mean even more shows at the service launch in the UK and EU regions come March 31st 2020, though the *Titles May Vary by Territory* could be an issue for some regions.
BIGBEN and Big Ant Studios, Australia’s leading developer of sports titles, are delighted to announce their partnership for the publishing and distribution of AO Tennis 2, the second game in the official Australia Open series.
In AO Tennis 2, tennis fans can take themselves from the outside courts to centre-stage glory in the all-new narrative-driven career mode. For the first time in AO Tennis, success for a young talented player depends as much on external events as great play on the court, which provides deeper immersion into the world of professional tennis.
Players can once again use Big Ant’s celebrated content editor, which was loved by the community in AO Tennis, to customise every element of their game. Furthermore, all content created and shared by users since the first game from 2018 will be available in AO Tennis 2. That’s over 20,000 players and hundreds of courts that can be enjoyed by fans of the sport.
For fans that want to relive the glories of their favourite players, AO Tennis 2 includes a roster of some of the brightest talents across both the ATP and WTA, including Rafael Nadal, Ash Barty, Angélique Kerber and many others. All venues that will be used in the 2020 Australian Open will also be available in the game, so fans can enjoy maximum authenticity as they play along with the Australian summer of tennis.
Big Ant also listened to the community and has implemented many other improvements and new features requested by players. More details about content and the career mode will be shared soon.
Developed in close collaboration with the tournament’s organisers, AO Tennis 2 will give fans a more intense experience of the Australia Open, the first of the year’s four Grand Slam events, which begins on 20 January.
AO Tennis 2 is planned for release on 9 January 2020 on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
For the 4th year in a row, World of Tanks Blitz is organizing its premier esports event in the form of the Blitz Twister Cup 2019 world championships on November 9th, 2019. The world’s 6 best teams will take to the stage, fighting for a $100,00 prize pool in explosive 7v7 tank battles. Passionate World of Tanks Blitz fans will not only get to watch their favourite game played at the highest level, but will also get to participate in contests and use stream chat to talk to the game’s developers.
The event stream is set to start at 2 PM local time in Minsk (11am GMT) and will show the entirety of the tournament. European users can tune into the event here, North American users can tune in here, while Asian users can tune in here – as well as on the official WoT Blitz Youtube channel.
Viewers tuning into the stream will be rewarded with both a collective bonus, as well as a personal bonus as a thank you for their dedication to the World of Tanks Blitz community. These range from experience bonus, different boosters and premium days – all the way to camo certificates and research discounts. For more details, click here.
A lot has changed since Tetris was initially released and made it possible for countless people to spend hours playing it on all kinds of devices. Ever since then, different developers have attempted to put a spin on this classic game and that is also the case with Nintendo Switch exclusive, Day and Night.
Only the old Sega could come up with the idea of a game about monkeys rolling around inside balls. Originally a successful Nintendo exclusive, the Super Monkey Ball franchise eventually made it to other platforms. Now after letting the franchise lay dormant for so many years, Sega has finally released a new title in the form of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD.
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), the company responsible for the PlayStation brand and family of products, has today announced the promotion of Guerrilla’s Hermen Hulst to Head of Worldwide Studios (WWS) effective immediately. In this role, Hulst will manage and lead all game development across the 14 studios that form Worldwide Studios. The company also announced that Shuhei Yoshida will leave his current position as President, WWS, to become head of a newly formed initiative that will focus on nurturing external independent creators.
“Hermen is one of the most effective and well-respected leaders in the video game industry. He is a passionate advocate for the teams he leads and understands how to empower creative talent to build great experiences,”said Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. “Worldwide Studios is a critical part of the future success of the company, and we must deliver on the promise we have made to gamers to create imaginative and exciting content that is truly unique to PlayStation. I have no doubt Hermen can lead our teams to deliver compelling and diverse experiences at a steady cadence.”
Hulst co-founded Amsterdam-based Guerrilla, and most recently served as Managing Director. The studio is best known for the Killzone franchise, which debuted on PlayStation 2 in 2004, and the acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, which launched in 2017 on PS4. Under Hulst’s leadership, Guerrilla has continued to innovate and developed Decima, a proprietary game engine launched in 2013 and used for the production of a range of titles, including the upcoming Death Stranding by Kojima Productions. Sony Computer Entertainment acquired Guerilla in 2005. Angie Smets, Jan-Bart van Beek and Michiel van der Leeuw will take over Hulst’s duties at Guerrilla as joint studio heads.
“I have worked closely with PlayStation and the entire Worldwide Studios family since 2001, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for the creative talent and ambitious ideas within the network of studios across the US, Europe, and Japan,” said Hulst, Head of Worldwide Studios. “I am beyond excited to have the opportunity now to lead such an inspired and talented team whose singular mission is to build amazing games for PlayStation fans.”
Today, SIE also announced a new company initiative led by PlayStation veteran Shuhei Yoshida and focused on celebrating external developers that are creating new and unexpected experiences for the gaming community. Reporting directly to Jim Ryan, Yoshida will leave his role at WWS to concentrate on our diverse community of independent developers, ensuring they have the tools, technology, and services to reach PlayStation’s large community of gamers successfully.
“I am thrilled to announce Shu Yoshida as head of this new initiative. Everybody knows just how passionate Shu is about independent games – they are lifeblood of the industry, making our content portfolio so special for our gamers. These wildly creative experiences deserve focus and a champion like Shu at PlayStation who will ensure the entire SIE organization works together to better engage with independent developers through a culture of supporting and celebrating their contributions to PlayStation platforms,” added Ryan.Pl
Motion Twin and Evil Empire announced Yet Another Big Update for Dead Cells today – the Corrupted Update. The update is now live on PC with Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch to follow in late November.
The Corrupted Update adds a new optional mini biome – mirroring Prison Depths – which offers shorter challenges featuring one cursed chest at the beginning. Additionally, the Corrupted Update introduces Scroll Fragments which can be combined to make a whole triple scroll. Experienced players should also appreciate the Recycling Tubes, a new meta upgrade that is unlockable when beating the Hand of the King for the first time in Dead Cells’ initial unlockable difficulty, BC1.
Specifically for players heading into battle in the higher difficulties, Recycling Tubes replace the starting gear with four sets of five random items (melee, range, shield and two skills) and players can choose which one to start with. This is designed to smooth out the difficulty of the first level for advanced players, giving you a bit of momentum and getting back to that sweet sweet feeling of kicking ass right out of the gate.
Other additions to the game include the Explorer’s Instinct (a new rune which reveals the whole map and points of interest), a complete rebalancing of the biomes and paths, and three new Tactics mutations: Crows Feet, Tactical Retreat and Networking. Crow’s Feet allows you to place up to nine Crow’s Feet on the ground to damage and slow enemies, Tactical Retreat gives you the ability to slow nearby enemies, preventing them from inflicting malaise by dodging them just in time and Networking links all enemies that have a projectile lodged in them, sharing damage taken by one with all linked baddies.
With a ton of quality of life additions straight from the community wishlist, all the details can be found here: https://dead-cells.com/patchnotes.
Dead Cells is an award-winning roguelike metroidvania action platformer. Explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle … That is, assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers. To beat the game, you’ll have to master frantic 2D combat, with the ever-present threat of permadeath looming. Winner and nominee for dozens of Game of the Year awards in 2018, the title has undergone a series of updates and continues to evolve based on its feedback from its awesome community.
To keep up with the latest Dead Cells news and updates, make sure to follow @motiontwin.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and IO Interactive have released the HITMAN 2 November 2019 Roadmap, celebrating the game’s one-year anniversary with a wide-ranging selection of free live content, including the return of some of the best legacy content, coming throughout the month. All HITMAN 2 owners will have access to a variety of Featured Contracts, Escalation Contracts, Challenge Packs, item unlocks, suit unlocks and a legacy Elusive Target.
A rundown of the free content updates coming to HITMAN 2 in November is listed below.
The Bahadur Dexterity Legacy Escalation Contract in Marrakesh (Morocco) – Available Nov. 7
The Teague Temptation Legacy Escalation Contract in Paris (France) – Available Nov. 7
The Great Heist Challenge Pack in Whittleton Creek (Vermont/U.S.) – Available Nov. 7
The Montague Audacity Escalation Contract in Santa Fortuna (Colombia) – Available Nov. 14
Special Occasions Featured Contracts – Available Nov. 14
Master Fortune Teller Legacy Challenge Pack in Marrakesh (Morocco) – Available Nov. 14
Art of Revenge Legacy Challenge Pack in Hokkaido (Japan) – Available Nov. 14
Blake’s Endeavor Challenge Pack in Isle of Sgàil (North Atlantic) – Available Nov. 21
The Arthin Occultation Legacy Escalation Contract in Bangkok (Thailand) – Available Nov. 21
The Szilassi Darkness Legacy Escalation Contract in Sapienza (Italy) – Available Nov. 21
Plumber’s Apprentice Legacy Challenge Pack in Sapienza (Italy) – Available Nov. 21
Master Sniper Legacy Challenge Pack in Sapienza (Italy) – Available Nov. 21
The Fixer Legacy Elusive Target in Marrakesh (Morocco) – Available Nov. 22 through Dec. 2
The Bartholomew Hornswoggle Escalation Contract in Haven Island (Maldives) – Available Nov. 28
The McCallister Ransack Escalation Contract in Whittleton Creek (Vermont/U.S.) – Available Nov. 28
The Quimby Quandary Escalation Contract in Sgàil (North Atlantic) – Available Nov. 28
HITMAN 2 is the follow-up to the internationally acclaimed videogame, HITMAN. Featuring entirely new hyper-detailed sandbox locations full of living, breathing environments to explore, HITMAN 2 offers players the freedom to plan the ultimate assassination utilizing an assortment of tools, weapons, disguises and a variety of stealth techniques to creatively trigger their own unique chain of events.
HITMAN 2 is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X and PC.
NACON, a major designer and distributor of gaming accessories, is pleased to announce that the REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3,the new benchmark for wired controllers designed for competitive gaming on. The REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3 is licensed for sale by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) exclusively in Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and India.
The REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3 is a wired controller that has been created specifically for competitive gamers looking for performance and comfort. They will enjoy the characteristic ergonomics of the REVOLUTION range: asymmetric analogue sticks, wider action buttons and triggers, and two weight compartments for a truly personalized experience. With the included PC software, gamers can create custom game profiles: full button mapping, analogue stick and trigger sensitivity, vibration motors and much more. NACON has set the new standardfor wired controllers designed for competitive gaming onPS4.It is also fully compatible with PC games.
With the REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3, NACON has expanded its range of PS4 officially licensed controllers and now offers the widest variety for Sony’s best-selling console. Compact Controller, Asymmetric Wireless Controller, Revolution Pro Controller 3 or Revolution Unlimited Pro Controller: there’s a NACON controller to suit every unique playstyle.
NACON’s REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3, officially licensed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is now available in stores across Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and India at a recommended retail price between 99,90 and 109,90 euros.
You can pick up the REVOLUTION Pro Controller 3 in the UK from the below retailers:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Epic Games today announced that the Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle is now available as part of a worldwide retail distribution partnership for the gaming phenomenon Fortnite. The all-new retail version of the Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle is on store shelves now with a MSRP of £24.99 and players can pick it up for PlayStation 4, the Nintendo Switch, and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X. Players can also purchase the Fortnite: Darkfire Bundleand download digitally through the in-game store and first-party digital marketplaces.
The Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle contains over £70 worth of in-game content with 13 new items, including:
UK video game publisher Reef Entertainment and developer Teyon are delighted to share two new gameplay videos for TERMINATOR: RESISTANCE. All footage has been captured from the PC version of the game.
This combat trailer focuses on Jacob Rivers, the main protagonist and a member of the Resistance battling SKYNET in the Future War.
Private Jacob Rivers starts the game on the run from SKYNET’s forces after his division is routed by a mysterious new foe. Forced to strike at SKYNET from the shadows while protecting a group of civilian survivors, Jacob is brought to the attention of Resistance South Division’s Commander Baron. Under her leadership Jacob will learn how to wield Tech-Com’s arsenal to take the fight back to SKYNET.
TERMINATOR: RESISTANCE Producer at Teyon, Piotr Latocha said: “When developing the game we knew that authentically recreating the Future War scenario was key for fans, so we put a lot of effort into analysing the short glimpses we get of the future in Terminator and Terminator 2 in order to bring those environments and details to the game as closely as possible. The best example of this is the resistance shelter which is seen in the first Terminator. Also the Resistance uniforms are recreated with a lot of attention to detail. We really hope Terminator fans will enjoy lovingly crafted touches such as these in the game.
Combat is an exciting part of TERMINATOR: RESISTANCE but our team has also worked hard to create a thrilling story, an engaging cast of characters and satisfying RPG-lite mechanics.”
TERMINATOR: RESISTANCE Producer at Teyon, Piotr Latocha added: “We wanted to create situations in the early part of the game where engaging T-800s elicited dread and fear. So at beginning, the player has no access to plasma weaponry, so he isn’t able to harm a T-800. The only way is to avoid it or knock it down with a shotgun and use the moment to flee. The situation changes when Jacob gets access to more advanced weapons later in the game.”
We believe that in the Terminator universe the characters are as important as the combat itself, so we created a cast of characters with intriguing backstories that the player will have a chance to learn if they’re willing to. Gaining their trust will be crucial because that impacts how each of their stories ends.”
The first mission of the game also introduces some of the survivors whose fates have been entwined with Jacob. Players are given the choice of how they want to interact with these characters through dialogue and side missions.
TERMINATOR: RESISTANCE will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC via Steam on November 15 2019 in Europe & Australia and December 10 2019 in North America.
Spiders Studio has been releasing RPG games for a few years now with some being really good and some showing the limitations of a smaller studio compared to the big-name developer studios. I have always found that their games often show an attempt to recapture the world experience of a Bioware game like Mass Effect and Dragon’s Age, something that fans of those series can rightfully say is lacking in the current gaming generation. What Spiders Studio has managed to accomplish with their newest title ‘Greedfall’ is rather special, and a culmination of all the test runs they have had over the years to finally reach this point. I was rather eager to dive into this world and see what it had to offer.
Greedfall is set in a world where upon the discovery of a new island has prompted nearby nations to try and colonise the island of Teer Fradee. The island is a dangerous environment with monsters and magic and the indigenous people who live there are not too happy with these foreign invaders and thus begins the player’s adventure, taking the role of De Sardet, a noble of the Merchant Congregation who is tasked with finding a cure to a deadly disease known as Malicor, believing that Teer Fradee holds the potential cure.
First thing that hit me is the very detailed character customisation options players have to tailor their De Sardet such as gender and facial features, it was refreshing to have such detailed system compared to more recent games who offered a very limited level of the same system to create your own main character, but this will not be the only way in which players can shape De Sardet. One of my favourite aspects to Greedfall, which I shall come to a little further on, is how player choices can shape the character and the world around them as well.
Where Spiders studio has cleverly done with the game is to give the story all the elements of 17th century colonialism, something that is very real in our own history and sets up so many possibilities in the world of Greedfall bringing not only politics and diplomacy into the mix but also all the classic elements of an action driven RPG. Along the adventure, De Sardet will be joined by various companion characters, each with their own talents and motivations that can help in different situations and quest objectives. Where Greedfall does stand out for me and does a really good job of, is how companions are not simply there to provide help in combat or possibly dialogue options for the player.
The strength of Greedfall lies in that the player not only has to try and navigate the political factions of the world who are battling for control of Teer Fradee but also in keeping the relationships with the companions healthy as well. Each companion will have their own wants, needs as well as motivations in the world which the player needs to also work on whilst making decisions as De Sardet. Very much like the companion system in a Bioware title like Mass Effect, the companions you can travel with will have their own agenda which you as De Sardet can either help with or hinder. The difference in Greedfall is that failing to keep a companion happy or even as a result of decisions and choices that you make can make sour your relationship even to the point where a companion might actually turn against you.
This adds so much as you the player has so many decisions to make that can shape the world in Greedfall but make a wrong choice or maybe even find yourself in a position where you need to let down a companion should your own needs depend on it. Keeping the balance in your party is perhaps the most challenging aspect and for me, gives so many options for replayability which can help prevent a long RPG experience from being a simple one and done game.
I really like the multipath elements to completing mission adding more than just the standard “kill the room and steal everything” approach. Some missions why involve obtaining a particular item so you can either fight your way through it, risking damaging the relationship with that faction, or you can take a more stealthy approach to sneak your way in and even going as far as equipping the same clothing style as the faction so they will ignore you. I love mixing up the different approaches and when it comes up levelling up and picking different talents to use, you can really make a character a jack of all trades or focus on one play style. So, adding points to stealth, science and locking picking can help when a quest requires some sneaking but at the same time, if you want to build on De Sardet’s more diplomatic style then boosting that can also help keeping relationships strong especially with your companions.
Combat is also refreshingly open in that players can choose between various styles of weapons and still embracing magic and range weapons attacks. The combat system really tries to cater for all possible player tastes with a lean to a turn-based style combat with the ‘battle pause’ feature which allows players to pause the action during a battle in order to plan their next move. By not limiting to any one style, players have more freedom in the combat especially one you venture into the wilds of Teer Fradee and some of the boss level fights you can have been satisfying and challenging depending on the makeup of your party
Following the road to release that Greedfall’ has taken, it was very clear to me that finally, Spiders Studio had found something to bring their vision of an RPG to life and rather than simply trying to imitate the loved series, they finally came up with their own title. Visually this game is the best looking they have produced and looks really good on a standard Xbox One as especially on the X. The musical score is stunning and the voice acting helps bring the various characters to life with only a few niggles on acting style. For a far lesser budget than a big studio, Greedfall not only punches well above its weight but it also fills a void for action RPGs that fans will be feeling. If you are a fan of Bioware classics like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, this game does more than enough to other a solid experience that rewards players for the time they invest in it.
It may have taken a long time for Spiders Studio to get their formula right for an RPG but Greedfall is a fantastic game from the studio and it has been worth the wait, there is just so much to do and explore in this game and whilst it is still rough around the edges and some of the narrative can get a little bloated at times, this is definitely one to try out if you are a fan of the genre.
Frontier Developments plc today launched Planet Zoo for PC players, with the game available globally on Steam from 12:00 GMT / 13:00 CET, alongside the official launch trailer, available below:
From the creators of Planet Coaster comes a new, deeper and more powerful sim with Planet Zoo, available now. Players will travel the globe on a quest to build the most awe-inspiring zoos and learn to care for a menagerie of authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world around them. Whether building piece by piece or upgrading an existing park, Planet Zoo’s Franchise, Career, Challenge and Sandbox Modes present endless opportunities to hone their management and building skills.
Over 70 animals will be available to create the most challenging, magnificent and diverse zoos, balancing animal welfare and conservation efforts with visitor enthusiasm. Budding entrepreneurs can finesse the balance sheet as they tackle everything from staff costs, to building maintenance, ticket sales and guest donations, while aspiring zoologists can juggle researching new facilities, enrichment items and habitat customisations on their quest to create the perfect zoo.
“We’re delighted to release the next entry in the Planet series. Planet Zoo is very much a labour of love for the team after two and a half years of researching animal traits and behaviours and translating that into what we think is a deep and rewarding sim game. The reception from announce to beta to launch has been wonderfully affirming, and we’re all excited to see what players create” said Piers Jackson, Game Director.
Today’s launch trailer also revealed the East Asia theme, new animals including the Giant Panda, Chinese Pangolin and Flamingo, as well as other attractions such as the gondola. With over 70 animals at launch, six biomes, varied weather types and a full night and day cycle impacting everything from zoo management to animal welfare, players will develop their skills and knowledge along the way in a variety of challenges.
Planet Zoo features both offline and online play, with weekly and monthly Community Challenges offering budding zoologists the ongoing chance to test their skills, trade animals online at the Animal Market with other players to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse zoo or share zoo, habitat and decoration blueprints with other players.
Players who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition will add the Komodo Dragon, Pygmy Hippopotamus, and Thomson’s Gazelle to their zoos today.
Planet Zoo is available now with a RRP of £34.99 / $44.99 / €44.99, Planet Zoo Deluxe Edition RRP for £42.99 / €54.99 / $54.99 or the Planet Zoo Deluxe Upgrade Pack for £9.99 / $11.99 / €11.99.
LET’S GO HUNT! The classic Fishing Game has never been more fun! This Baby Shark Fishing Game features four adorable characters from the global phenomenon—Mummy Shark, Daddy Shark, Grandma Shark, and, of course, Baby Shark! It’s your job to grab the fish with your Baby Shark-themed fishing rod as the board spins—the player who reels in the most fish wins! Plays the Baby Shark Song. Recommended for two to four players, ages four and up.
How to enter to win
We have a a Baby Shark Fishing Game worth £14.99 to give away.
