Month: June 2017

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• XIGMATEK Launches the Whiz CPU Cooler
• EK Releases Water Block for MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Cards
• Rapoo Announces the VPRO V720S Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
• First ASUS Mining-P106-6G for Cryptocurrency Mining Spotted
• Creative Unveils All-New Sound BlasterX AE-5 Audiophile-Grade Gaming Sound Card
• Be Quiet! Launches the Shadow Rock TF2 CPU Cooler
• Plextor Intros the S3 Series Value SATA SSDs
• LG Releases 34UC89G 34in 21:9 UltraWide Full HD GSYNC Curved IPS Display
• Team Group Creates Colorful Experience with Dazzling T-Force NIGHT HAWK RGB Memory
• Iiyama Introduces New 1080p Screens with Free Sync
• Mushkin Intros Reactor Armor3D Series SATA SSD
• AMD Ryzen Threadripper Could Launch on July 27

By Chloi Rad @ IGN

Call of Duty: WW2’s return to its historical roots is not just a sudden change of scenery for the more recently high-tech franchise — it’s also a return to a more grounded kind of shooter in general. The advanced weaponry and enhanced mobility mechanics of the series’ last handful of games are obviously gone in favor of period-appropriate firearms and movement that doesn’t get much fancier than vaulting over cover.

But Call of Duty: WW2 seems to be doing a bit more to magnify your character’s vulnerability in its single-player campaign, based on the 15-20 minute hands-off preview I saw at E3 2017. Those looking for the type of power fantasy offered by Advanced Warfare might not get the same kick out of crawling through the mud and having bell towers crumble down on you and your teammates, but it seems there are still plenty of big, cinematic set pieces to keep the experience as thrilling — just in new ways. Whether or not that’s compatible with the “authentic” World War experience its creative directors seem to be aiming for is another story. Then again, how many of us are looking for a touching, meaningful meditation on war’s atrocities from a series known for its action flick-style bombast?

Read on…

Developer Battlestate Games announced today that a new feature for Escape from Tarkov called ‘The Hideout’ will be available during open beta testing in Fall 2017. The process of escaping from Tarkov is not as quick as it may appear from the outside- players will need a place to settle down to gain strength, store supplies, and stash discovered gear and weapons. Players must readjust utilizing ‘The Hideout’ features and resources before setting out to achieve the main goal of the game.

Players begin the construction of their ‘Hideout’ from the ground up. Initially discovered as an abandoned, cluttered bomb shelter without any means of sustaining life, players must continually build and improve aspects of ‘The Hideout’ modules, including: the power generator, water collection system, ventilation, medical treatment facility, recon center, heating, bathroom and other areas. Players will work to improve various parameters of their characters, such as: out-of-raid health, hydration and energy regeneration speed. Players will also gets special opportunities for the production of medicines, ammunition, and other items from various resources. Recon center improvements provide new opportunities of working with merchants and playing as Scavs, and much more.

There are 13 different ‘Hideout’ modules in production, and each will have unique bonuses, and require a unique scheme for building. Players will need different resources, access to a variety of merchants and necessary skill levels to unlock the module installation capabilities and the possibilities for their improvement.

The first thing players need to install in their ‘Hideout’ is the generator. Without proper fuel, production and regeneration of items will be slowed or disrupted. It should also be noted that the size of the cache will directly depend on the level of ‘Hideout’ cache. Players with an Escape from Tarkov Limited Edition copy will receive the cache of maximum, which is third level.

In addition to the basic modules of ‘The Hideout’, players can install elite modules that drastically improve living standards and security, accelerate skills leveling, allow production of unique items and resources, and add comfort to your new home. There also is a full-fledged shooting range where players can test their weapons.

‘The Hideout’ will be an integral part of the game and the out-of-raid processes that characters experience, such as restoring health, size of caches, access to new services of merchants, objects research and events in the world of Escape from Tarkov.

‘The Hideout’ feature is being developed in parallel and independently from the main course of the company and will launch during open beta testing in Fall 2017.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore story-driven MMO featuring elements of FPS and RPG. The events take place in the Russian city of Tarkov, which has been sealed off by roadblocks and sunk into the chaos of local warfare between private military companies. Escape from Tarkov’s Hazardous Environment Combat Simulator employs a number of custom system modules to create incredibly immersive gameplay that allows players to feel the reality of what is happening in the game.

The closed beta-testing of Escape from Tarkov is planned for Summer 2017. More about Escape from Tarkov can be found at the games official website.

Players can get a chance for access to Escape from Tarkov testing stages by placing a pre-order on the official website.

The Asian theater is back! This summer, lead the British defense of Burma against the Japanese invasion – Order of Battle: Burma Road is coming!

In this original and unique DLC, you will fight for the first time in the jungles of Burma, and organize a deep defense to stop the invading Japanese army. You guard the gateway to India, and they can’t be allowed through! Lead forces of both British and Indian conscripts, including the fearsome Chindit infantry, in a 13-scenario campaign! Fight in the sky, on the sea and on land, and command many new units, from 1942 to 1945, reliving the fall of Burma and its reconquest! Remember, Commando operations will be essential!

Encounter special Commanders including William Slim, leader of Britain’s so-called “Forgotten Army”. Fight alongside Brigadier Orde Wingate, mastermind behind the infamous Chindit operations, as you fight deep behind enemy Japanese lines to disrupt their command structure and supply lines. Re-take control of the skies over Burma with pilots such as Ace Elsdon.

The campaign also comes with a set of new Specializations, to reflect the theater and the strategies employed in those years.

We will tell you more of Burma Road in the weeks to come! Stay tuned!

Last but not least: if you’d like to give us a hand in polishing the game, feel free to join the beta. That would be really appreciated!

Guide Russia to Glory or Resist the Soviet March in Third Rome and Death or Dishonor

Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer that’s never rushin’ out its games, today released new content for two of its best-selling Grand Strategy games, both focused on the nations of Eastern Europe during different, formative periods in history. Third Rome, a new immersion pack for Europa Universalis IV, adds new gameplay features for the Russian empire, and is available for $9.99. Death or Dishonor, a new country pack for Hearts of Iron IV, brings new events and national focuses to the nations bordering the Soviet Union during World War II – Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia – and is available as well for $9.99. The two packs can also be purchased together in a discounted bundle for $17.98. Both packs are available today for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs.

• See what happens when you wish upon a Tsar in a new trailer for Third Rome
• Prepare to make a not-so-difficult choice between Death or Dishonor in the new trailer

In Third Rome, players will find new means to wield spiritual, political, and military control in the Russian empire, with new ranks of government and unique military units. Features include:

• Tsardoms and Principalities: New ranks of Russian government with new abilities and, for Tsars, strong bonuses including the right to claim entire States – not just provinces.
• Iconography: Commission great religious icons for the Orthodox church, boosting your empire’s power depending on the saint you choose to revere.
• Siberian Frontier: Russian nations can slowly colonize uninhabited border regions, with no fear of native uprisings

Meanwhile, in Death or Dishonor, the Soviets lie on your eastern borders while the Axis march forth from the west. Players will have to find ways to come out of the war with their lives and/or their dignity intact. Features include:

• Four New Focus Trees: Experience the war from the difficult perspectives of Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
• Equipment Conversion: Update your arsenal by converting older units — or make use of captured enemy vehicles and gear.
• New Diplomatic and Puppet Interactions: License military technology to bring other nations’ weapons to the field or sell your advances to the highest bidder.

Players can purchase Third Rome and Death or Dishonor together here via Paradox Plaza.

The packs can also be purchased separately via Paradox Plaza at the following links:

• Third Rome Pack
• Death or Dishonor Pack

Grounded combat returns in Call of Duty: WWII Multiplayer, combining classic wartime action with all-new ways to play. Utilise an arsenal of devastating weaponry from the European theatre of World War II and take your team to victory.

Fast-paced, grounded combat returns in Call of Duty: WWII Multiplayer. Armed with an arsenal of iconic Allied and Axis weaponry, players are immersed in brutal gameplay as they fight to liberate a continent in the throes of tyranny.

The new Divisions feature redefines how players invest in their MP career, giving them the chance to choose from five divisions, each with their own specialized training and weapons skills. In War Mode, an entirely fresh Call of Duty experience, players must works as a team and fight for control through multiple strategic objectives.

Pre-order Call of Duty: WWII on disc or digital download and get Private Beta Access. Beta begins first on PlayStation® 4 on 25th August, 2017.

Get more information at the official Call of Duty website.

Source: UbiBlog

On February 27, Far Cry 5 will give you the chance to build a resistance and save Hope County, Montana, from the predations of fanatical doomsday cult The Project at Eden’s Gate. And when it arrives, fans on the hunt for collectibles can snag a collector’s edition packed with exclusive items designed to evoke Hope County – along with the game and its Season Pass.

The Hope County, MT Collector’s Case is available for pre-order exclusively from the Ubisoft Store. In addition to the Gold Edition of Far Cry 5 – which includes the Season Pass for access to future expansions, as well as a Digital Deluxe Pack that adds new vehicles, weapons, and outfits – the Collector’s Case includes a Deer Skull Trophy that measures 17.72 inches (45cm) wide, an exclusive Steelbook case, the official Far Cry 5 soundtrack, and a double-sided tourist map of Hope County.

View the Far Cry 5: E3 2017 Official Gameplay Trailer HERE.

Far Cry 5 will be available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on February 27, with enhancements for Xbox One X and PS4 Pro. For more information about Far Cry 5, please visit http://farcry.com.

TaleWorlds Entertainment has released two videos showing an extended look at the large-scale, epic combat in their upcoming follow-up to Mount & Blade: Warband – Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord.

[VIDEO] Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord E3 2017 Cavalry Sergeant Gameplay

[VIDEO] Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord E3 2017 Horse Archer Sergeant Gameplay

KEY BATTLE IMPROVEMENTS

Battles are at the very core of the series and play better than ever in the latest installment.

• Advanced Formations – Merge and split forces at your behest, with intuitive but powerful control over the movement, form and behavior of every unit! Order heavy infantry to hold together, shoulder-to-shoulder in a slowly advancing but near impenetrable shield wall; or launch your cavalry in lightning charges using the skein formation.
• Battlefield AI – AI commanders can execute complex tactics, utilizing the advanced formation options to present a formidable challenge. Their behavior is drawn from actual historical tacticians, for example Alexander the great, who used his superior cavalry forces to rout their counterparts in the opposing army, before delivering a crushing blow to the enemy’s main force. This not only creates the feeling of an authentic medieval battle but also proves effective in-game, as in reality.
• Sergeant System – Commanders now designate units to other lords in battle, including the player! Execute the orders issued by your commander throughout the fight, and use your own instincts to do your part and help secure victory on the field of battle. Lead the horse archers as they skirmish and harass the enemy to disrupt their lines before your allies finish them off, or take control of the cavalry and charge into the fray to devastate entire units at once!

KEY COMBAT UPDATES

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord also features greatly updated combat, which builds on previous installments in a number of ways while retaining its intuitive, direction-based core that made it so popular among players.

• Directional Shield Blocking and Shield Bash – These two features revitalize the sword & board gameplay, making it a more engaging experience than ever before! Blocking in the wrong direction will not necessarily get you killed but it will cause your shield to break faster, leaving you defenseless against missiles and vulnerable against multiple foes. Shield bashing, a highly requested feature, temporarily stuns your opponent and knocks them back, lowering their defenses and giving you room to breathe.
• Attack Chaining – Swings that complete their motion can now be chained into follow-up attacks which can catch your opponent off-guard after a miss. Unbalanced weapons such as hammers and axes also use the momentum of the first swing for a faster follow-up!
• Improved Animations and Combat Engine – Huge effort has gone into making Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord’s combat as fluid and visually appealing as possible. Damage dealt is now calculated with a great degree of physical depth, factoring in the weight distribution of every individual weapon. This means that whether you are executing a perfectly timed thrust while thundering towards a hapless archer on horseback or shooting an arrow across the battlefield to whittle down your opponent’s infantry forces before the melee, the game will understand all of the forces involved and produce consistent, realistic and satisfying results every time.

“It is great to be back at E3 with Bannerlord, demonstrating the best Mount & Blade battles ever. Our team worked very hard on developing all aspects of the battles, which are so central to the game. We are thrilled to showcase our work and looking forward to seeing the response.”
Armagan Yavuz – CEO / Founder, TaleWorlds

More game information is available via the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord website.

Award-winning wargame designer Richard Bodley Scott is back. The mastermind behind successes like Pike and Shot and Sengoku Jidai, returns to his roots and is busy at work on the sequel of one of the most successful wargaming systems ever: Field of Glory.

“The first digital adaptation of the most popular ancients and medieval tabletop wargaming rules served as a stepping stone in the foundation of the Slitherine Group as we know it today”, said Iain McNeil, Development Director of Slitherine. “We are happy to have RBS working on the next iteration of this PC game as he is both the father of the original tabletop game and the creator of its digital conversion”.

It’s 280 B.C. The Republic of Rome has just finished defeating its Italian neighbours and already the Southern territories are menaced by King Pyrrhus of Epirus. Carthage, to the South-West is also a threat to the newborn Mediterranean power. In the north, the Gaul’s continue to see the rich Roman cities as inviting targets.

A new age of war is coming.

Set during the Rise of Rome from 280 BC to 25 BC, Field of Glory II will accurately simulate the battles of the Ancient World, before the full establishment of the Roman Empire. Boasting a set of unique and detailed Army Lists for each faction, the game offers a wide variety of tactical choices with more than 80 beautiful and fully animated 3D models, each with multiple uniform variations.

“We really wanted Field of Glory 2 to be a big step up both in terms of visuals and in gameplay. We knew that with RBS on board, gameplay would fit well with both the historical setting and the nature of warfare at the time. For the visuals, we have put together a team that includes Pat Ward, formerly Art Director at Shenandoah and our Art Director Richard Evans. The result is a wargame that will please the fans, but also attract a brand new generation of gamers”.

Players can already join the beta of Field of Glory II by applying here.

Expect to experience a Classic Age that’s more vibrant than ever in this tabletop miniature wargame brought to life to PC! Field of Glory II is set to release this fall.

Find out more about Fields of Glory II at the games official webpage.

Worldwide Launch Includes Collector’s Edition for Sequel to Critically Acclaimed First-Person Shooter

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company revealed that Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed first-person shooter Wolfenstein: The New Order, is slated for release worldwide on October 27, 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, and PC. Developed by the award-winning team at MachineGames, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus sends you to Nazi-controlled America where you’ll embark on an exhilarating adventure to free the world from the evil empire’s stranglehold.

You are BJ Blazkowicz, aka “Terror-Billy,” member of the Resistance, scourge of the Nazi empire, and humanity’s last hope for liberty. A heart-pounding journey brought to life by the industry-leading id Tech  6, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus sends you on a mission to recruit the boldest Resistance leaders left. Fight back against the Nazis in iconic locations such as small-town Roswell, New Mexico, the flooded streets of New Orleans, and a post-nuclear Manhattan. Equip an arsenal of badass guns, and unleash new abilities to blast your way through legions of advanced Nazi soldiers, cyborgs, and über soldiers in this definitive first-person shooter. Only you have the guts, guns, and gumption to return stateside, kill every Nazi in sight, and spark the second American Revolution.

On October 27, Bethesda will also release the Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Collector’s Edition, which includes a 1/6 scale 12-inch action figure of the game’s Nazi-killin’ hero William Joseph “BJ” Blazkowicz, packaged in a premium, 1960s-style box. BJ comes fully equipped to rally the Resistance and free America, with an arsenal of accessories including four high-powered guns, a hatchet, and his bomber jacket. Available through participating retailers across the globe, this limited Collector’s Edition also includes the eagerly awaited game inside an exclusive metal case, and a 9″x14″ Blitzmensch poster. Fans are encouraged to check with preferred retailers for pre-order incentives and additional special edition offerings.

Watch the awesome Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – E3 2017 Full Reveal Trailer HERE.

For more information, please visit the official Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus website.