Source: Blue’s News

Creative Assembly announces a Reign of Blood Effects Pack coming to Total War: Three Kingdoms on Thursday, which will increase the blood and gore level in the historical strategy game. Those who purchase this on Steam will find a new option for more gore in the game’s advanced graphics settings. This trailer shows this off, so avoid this if you faint at the sight of blood. Here’s word:

Experience the battlefields of ancient China in gruesome detail with the Reign of Blood Effects Pack for Total War: Three Kingdoms. This pack introduces a number of new gory and mature-rated effects, animations and kill-moves to the game in both Campaign and Battle. Once installed, these effects can be activated in the graphics settings of Total War: Three Kingdoms.

Campaign effects:

• New campaign event-pictures depicting blood and gore
• New blood effects for battle-resolution combat animations between characters

Battle effects:

• Human dismemberment: limb-lops and beheadings
• Equine dismemberment: leg lops
• Charred bodies
• Blood sprays on weapon impacts
• New death animations for characters vs infantry
• Dead bodies as battlefield set-dressing
• Blood scaler: increase or decrease the level of gore to your tastes

Please note that, depending on your country of residence, the Reign of Blood Effects Pack may raise the age-rating of the main game.

Eugen Systems Commences Launch of Sequel to Acclaimed Real-time Strategy Game

French independent developer and self-publisher Eugen Systems is happy to announce that their new real-time strategy game Steel Division 2 has launched on Steam (Windows/Mac). The Steel Division 2 launch trailer can be viewed HERE.

“We can’t wait for players to finally get their hands on the final version of Steel Division 2,” says Game Director at Eugen Systems Alexis Le Dressay. “On behalf of the entire development team at Eugen Systems, we want to thank our die-hard community and players who helped us continue to improve and polish this game through its extensive closed beta period.”

Set during massive Operation Bagration on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1944, Steel Division 2 pushes the limits of the World War II tactical experience. After an extensive closed beta period which saw the roll-out of brand-new game modes, units, and divisions to players who pre-ordered Steel Division 2, Eugen Systems (R.U.S.E., Wargame series, Steel Division: Normandy 44) is excited to welcome all strategy players to their latest game. Steel Division 2 is the sequel to the real-time strategy title Steel Division: Normandy 44, which was released to critical acclaim in 2017. Featuring the loving and painstaking attention to detail developer Eugen Systems is famous for, players can expect historically accurate units, weaponry, vehicles, aircraft and battlefields throughout the course of Steel Division 2’s new campaign, multiplayer, and co-op modes.

Steel Division 2 owners can enjoy:

• New Dynamic Strategic Campaigns: turn-based single-player mode with four different campaigns, which sees players reenact crucial engagements during Operation Bagration on a 1:1 scale. Each campaign offers dozens of authentic units, and thousands of soldiers and tanks for players to command.
• 600+ Units: Hundreds of authentic units, spanning troops, tanks, artillery, and airplanes, from both the Soviet and German side. From the fearsome “beast killer” ISU-152 tank destroyer, the iconic Tiger heavy tank, to partisans and penal troops, prospective commanders can create their own battlegroup on both the Soviet and German side.
• New Deck Builder: a new deck building customization mode allows the players to create their own formation choosing from 18 parent divisions including the 5th Panzer, the hard-hitting 2nd Guards Tank Corps and the Hungarian 1. Lovasz division.
• New Game Modes: multiple challenging game modes, each providing a different tactical experience. Players can play in different variations of the fast-paced Skirmish mode, solo or online against human opponents. The demanding Breakthrough mode is also available and features new defensive structures.
• Historical Battles: six meticulous crafted scenarios, delivering players a refined tactical experience of some of the most important battles which occurred during the strategic offensive.
• Maps: 25 maps, painstakingly researched using real-life military maps and aerial photography set across the breadth of the Eastern Front, with new terrain features and topology providing more variety (and obstacles) on the battlefield.
• IrisZoom: Steel Division 2 is developed in-house with the IrisZoom engine, allowing players to seamless zoom in and out, drinking in the glorious details of each battlefield from afar with an eagle eye perspective one moment and examining up-close details of each individual unit the next.

To stay up to date on the latest regarding Steel Division 2, be sure to visit the game’s official website and follow the developers at Eugen Systems on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Fans can also interact with the Steel Division 2 team at Eugen Systems and find the latest developer diaries on the official Eugen Systems forums. The release of the Standard Edition of Steel Division 2 is available for $39.99/£34.99/39,99€, while the Commander Deluxe, General Deluxe and Total Conflict editions are available for: $59.99/£59.99/59,99€, $69.99/£69.99/69,00€ and $79.99/£79.99/79,00€, respectively. Complete details about each edition can be found here.

Sightings of a new terrain, factions, weapons, vehicles, and more

Following its reveal in May, Bohemia Interactive today published a brand-new trailer (watch on YouTube) for the anticipated upcoming Arma 3 spin-off expansion, Arma 3 Contact – which is scheduled for arrival on Steam on July 25, 2019.

Narrated by Game Designer Scott Alsworth, the new trailer goes beyond Arma 3 Contact’s extraterrestrial components – such as its military science fiction singleplayer campaign – to present a showcase of all the other sandbox assets that the Contact expansion will deliver to the wider Arma 3 platform, including a massive terrain, new factions, weapons, vehicles, and more.

The largest addition is a 163 square kilometer Eastern European terrain, which covers the partly abandoned Nadbór region within the larger Polish-speaking country of Livonia. This temperate summer environment is characterized by its many coniferous forests, open wheat fields, towns, railroads, the Biela river, and many interesting landmarks such as an old munitions factory, an abandoned radar station, and dozens of old bunkers from World War II.

To support the new locale, Arma 3 Contact will introduce two small-yet-capable new factions to the game. These are the local Livonian Defense Force and the Russian Spetsnaz. Each of these will be equipped with their own gear and have access to a customized arsenal, and will be complemented by new character faces, as well as Polish or Russian radio protocols. Moreover, the expansion will add 5 new weapons and an unlikely pair of new vehicles in the form of the Mini UGV and Tractor.

In response to first contact, there will also be various new game assets that are more closely connected to the theme of Arma 3 Contact ’s singleplayer campaign. These might have scripted gameplay functionality within the campaign, but will still be available as cosmetic-only items to players and content creators for use in the Arma 3 sandbox (e.g. multiplayer and scenario editor). Perhaps the most striking of these additions is the gear related to CBRN defense, consisting of over-garments, face masks, and breathing apparatus backpacks.

Lastly, Arma 3 Contact will bring along a variety of free bonus content for everyone who owns Arma 3. Specifically, NATO forces will be able to make use of a new woodland camouflage option providing better concealment in the Livonia terrain. Meanwhile, the local civilian population will see its wardrobe expanded with new outfits for farmers, looters, and scientists. To reinforce content creation, all Arma 3 players will receive more than 100 new terrain assets and decorative objects to use in their projects.

Not shown in this sandbox trailer is the headline act of the spin-off expansion: the story-driven “First Contact” singleplayer campaign. Here, the player will take on the role of NATO drone operator, Aiden Rudwell. When a massive alien vessel suddenly enters the Earth’s atmosphere, Specialist Rudwell joins an improvised taskforce and is sent out to investigate the extraterrestrial presence. However, amid the tension and chaos, armed conflict inevitably unfolds.

Arma 3 Contact is expected to land on July 25 and will be made available as DLC for Arma 3 on Steam. People can already pre-order the expansion on Steam and the Bohemia Store for 24.99 EUR / 27.99 USD / 21.99 GBP (plus a temporary 10% discount until one week after release). This will also grant them immediate Sneak Preview Access to the new Livonia terrain, weapons, and more.

For more information about Arma 3 Contact, visit www.arma3.com/contact.

Source: Blue’s News

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Website is now accepting signups from those interested in beta testing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine. There aren’t any details, they just offer the following pitch to everyone with a Ubisoft account:

“Tell us which platform you play on to receive custom updates and a chance to play Rainbow Six Quarantine early!“

By Meng Vang @ Legit Reviews

Thermaltake has added a new keyboard to their Premium product series, the Level 20 RGB Titanium Edition gaming keyboard. This keyboard is a combination of outstanding build quality with the ability to synchronize lighting effects across a variety of TT RGB Plus compatible devices. Along with the desktop version of the TT iTAKE Engine software, there is a mobile version of the app with voice-controlled AI for changing different keyboard settings. The mobile app also features a patented designed Virtual Game Controller (VGC), which turns the smartphone/tablet into a wireless gaming controller. This keyboard comes in four variants: the non-Titanium models with Cherry MX Blue and Speed switches, and the Titanium Editions with Cherry MX Blue and Speed switches. Priced at $149.99 shipped on Amazon, we will take a look at the Level 20 RGB Titanium Edition with Cherry MX Speed switches.

Read The Review Here

By crmaris @ TechPowerUp!

During CES 2019, we had the opportunity to take a good look at Arozzi’s products. We were aware of the company’s product variety, which had us look forward to seeing product types from the company we had not reviewed yet, including their gaming desks, something we have had an interest in lately as well. The Arena gaming desk caught our attention almost instantly as it was standing imperiously among the rest. It is a huge desk covering an impressive 14 sq. ft. and comes in six different color combinations, so there is a color option to suit everyone’s tastes. The frame and legs are made out of steel to ensure it can deal with a load of up to 80 kg (176 lb). As it stands, it currently comes in at €299 (incl. VAT) in the EU and is sold for $399 (excl. VAT) in the States.

Read The Review Here

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.

• Team Group Releases T-FORCE CARDEA II M.2 SSD and PD400 Portable SSD
• Intel Launches Performance Maximizer: Automated 9th Gen CPU Software Overclocking Tool
• Super Flower Announces Leadex III Power Supply Range
• Thermalright Enters the AIO CLC Market with the Turbo Right Series
• Cooler Master Introduces New ML240P Mirage Pro-Series Liquid Cooler
• Corsair MP600 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD Pricing Out
• Transcend Launches 1,050MB/s ESD350C Portable SSD
• Scythe Enhances Mugen 5 TUF Gaming Alliance HSF with RGB LEDs

Insurgency: Sandstorm, the smash-hit indie FPS from New World Interactive, is set to receive even more free content this month as players are invited to join the fight in the Steam Free Weekend from June 20th – June 24th. This is the perfect opportunity for newcomers to join the huge community of Insurgency: Sandstorm players, who already enjoy Insurgency’s signature style of immersive, team based, high lethality gameplay.

Today’s monster update includes new weapons, a remake of the classic Insurgency map ‘Ministry’, along with a zombie-inspired arcade mode called Frenzy. Update 1.3 is expected to go live at 3pm MT / 11pm CEST today.

Check out all this and more in the Free Weekend Trailer.

Other additions in today’s update include:

New weapons and attachments:

• QBZ-03 Chinese assault rifle and TAR-21 MARS-style red dot optic for Insurgents
• VHS-2 Croatian assault rifle and MRO “Micro Red Dot” optic for Security

Ministry – new indoor-focused map (remake of the Insurgency classic)

New World Interactive and Focus Home Interactive continue to be delighted with the response and community reception to Insurgency: Sandstorm so far. This upcoming content follows another large free content update in May which also featured a new map, customization options, a new hardcore cooperative game mode and more. New World Interactive has many more free content updates planned for the rest of this year and 2020, including modding support, game modes, maps, weapons, and more. Take a look at some of what’s due to arrive in the next six months in the recently announced Free Content Roadmap.

Play Insurgency: Sandstorm during the Steam Free Weekend, 10am (PT) Thursday June 20th to 10am Monday June 24th, with all this new content available free to all players. Insurgency: Sandstorm is out now on PC.

By Martynas Klimas @ Wargamer

Call of Duty 2 released so long ago, the series has left WW2, gone ‘Black Ops’, come back to WW, and now is leaving it again with a reboot of Modern Warfare. However, it still remains possibly the best single-player FPS set within that particular conflict. And for many, it’s still the greatest Call of Duty multiplayer experience. With that in mind, where does the recently released Battalion 1944 stand?

Read on…

By Hilbert Hagedoorn @ Guru3D

In this review, we peek at a more mainstream Z390 motherboard from ASRock, meet the Z390 Steel Legend. Ready for 8th or 9th Gen processors this board is about performance, aesthetics, and features. The board looks great, a PCH cover. and black and grey style with some gear imagery really looks nice. The board’s covered with Aluminum Alloy Heatsinks enhance stability and according to ASRock, overclocking potential. Dual full coverage M.2 SSD heatsinks dissipate heat efficiently to ensure your high speed drives always work at their best.

Read The Review Here