Month: December 2014

Internationally acclaimed game developer, publisher and distributor CI Games today revealed that it is deep in the development of Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3, marking the popular tactical shooter franchise’s first AAA production effort. Due for release in the first half of 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is being created from the ground up by an all-star development team that includes Steve Hart, former senior producer of Rebellion’s Sniper Elite V2, as well as combat veteran and former Marine Paul B. Robinson, who has an extensive resume of game development reaching back over 20 years.

“The Sniper: Ghost Warrior franchise is one of the most popular in the CI Games portfolio with over 5.5 million copies sold, so we’re investing a significant amount of effort into the third installment,“ said Marek Tyminski, CEO, CI Games. “We’re fully committed to creating a AAA franchise that gamers can rely on for the ultimate first-person sniper experience.”

Set in a modern day conflict based in Eastern Europe, players will be thrust into the role of a sniper caught between three warring factions, played out in a realistic and immersive environment. Dig deep into the Ghost Warrior DNA as you choose between taking out your targets up close or from a distance, while at the same time focusing on your survival through evasion and stealth. Non-linear, sandbox-style gameplay on large open-ended maps gives players the flexibility to play and replay the missions in a number of different ways. Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 will offer intriguing challenges for tactically-minded gamers, while still remaining accessible to first-person shooter fans.

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe, Ltd. today announced Total War: Arena is now entering Closed Alpha, and interested players can sign-up to get involved in shaping its future development.

Total War: Arena is a free-to-play, team-based strategy game, putting players in the middle of epic-scale battles. Using key elements of award-winning Total War design, it is made from the ground-up for multiplayer realtime strategy fans, with two teams of ten players going head-to-head.

Each player controls three units of warriors, led by an iconic commander from history, each with their own battle style. Players level up commanders and units to open up more specialist skills, weaponry, armour and abilities. Decisive strategies, combat tactics and teamwork decide who is victorious.

First announced at Game Developers Conference in March 2013, the game represents a new direction for the Total War franchise, and is in development by a dedicated team at Creative Assembly, focused on a purely multiplayer experience.

“We have spent time since the announcement evolving both the gameplay and the supporting technology, to ensure we deliver smooth online service for multiplayer gamers”, said Gabor Beressy, Arena Project Lead. “We are excited to say that the game is now in Closed Alpha, and we welcome feedback from players to inform the next stages of development”.

Sign-up for the Closed Alpha HERE. Visit to find out more about taking part and for further news on the game.

New Expansion and Free Patch v2.3 Launches Today

Come all ye lost and prodigal rulers! Hearken unto what I say! Whatever path you are on can be changed, and whatever failings you have can be remedied. Close study, wise decisions and good counsel can help you transform yourself. Choose a new Way of Life!

Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today announced that Crusader Kings II: Way of Life can now be purchased on digital storefronts worldwide. Way of Life, the latest expansion for the critically acclaimed strategy franchise, is available for $7.99 and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.

Get a glimpse at the new Way of Life trailer HERE.

Choose who to seduce, which people to spy on, challenge characters to a duel, and much more in this new installment for the Crusader Kings II series that bolsters the role-playing elements of the acclaimed medieval dynasty simulator. Way of Life allows conquerors of all walks to further customize their methods of intrigue by offering 10 different Focuses that players can set for their characters. These, in turn, open up new options for diplomacy and events to participate in, allowing all sorts of wonders (and mischief) to befall characters during their lifetimes. Featuring hundreds of new events and over 20 new event pictures, Way of Life aims to breathe new life into the devilish demesne of Crusader Kings II.

For details on Way of Life and the accompanying patch v2.3, visit the official Crusader Kings II forums.

Alongside the launch of Way of Life, Paradox Interactive is releasing three limited collector’s editions of Crusader Kings II, each with unique offerings that diehard CK2 fans will enjoy, including the option to receive signed swag, thank you credits in the game, an invite to the next Paradox Fan Gathering, and more.

For more details on the limited collector’s editions available for Crusader Kings II, click HERE.

By Jake @ PureOC

Gamdias is a company that is likely not well known by many computer enthusiasts, except for perhaps some of the diehards in the crowd. In truth, Gamdias has only been around for a couple years, designing keyboards (and the company) from the ground up. Needless to say, they’re up against some industry heavyweights in the peripheral market, but perhaps that also means a chance to shine. And today we’re looking at the flagship mechanical keyboard from Gamdias, the Hermes Ultimate.

Read The Review Here

By: Hilbert Hagedoorn @ GURU3D

We test the ASUS ROG Poseidon GTX 980. Armed with a massive liquid cooling block (DirectCU H2O), a custom PCB, quality components and a factory overclock this product is bound to perform, whilst staying silent. The card has 4 GB graphics memory, is energy efficient and factory overclocked for you. Oh and hey, it overclocks very nicely!

Read The Review Here

Dual 10GBase-T for Prosumers

By Ian Cutress @ AnandTech

For a number of months I have been wondering when 10GBase-T would be getting some prime time in the consumer market. Aside from add-in cards, there was no onboard solution, until ASRock announced the X99 WS-E/10G. We were lucky enough to get one in for review.

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.

• CRYORIG H7 CPU Cooler Soon to be Released
• Cougar 600K Mechanical Keyboard Pictured
• Lite-On Zeta SATA SSDs Coming To Consumer Market in 2015
• Func Adds New Version of the Popular HS-260 to the Range
• Mini-ITX Cooltek Case Packs Full-Size Desktop Benefits
• Biostar Announces A70MGP Socket FM2+ Motherboard
• Huntkey Debuts X-Power Series Power Supply for Europe
• ViewSonic Introduces Privacy Filter Screen Protectors for Monitors

Source: Blue’s News

Steam News announces a free weekend is now underway for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, coinciding with a 25% off sale on the military shooter sequel:

Save up to 25% and play Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer for free as part of this week’s Weekend Deal*!

*Free multiplayer ends Sunday at 1PM Pacific Time, discount offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time

Armored Warfare, Obsidian Entertainment and My.com’s upcoming tank-based MMO, has generated more than 500,000 signups worldwide for its upcoming closed beta program. To celebrate this milestone, the team has released an all-new video where players can get a look into Armored Warfare’s modern battlefield, PvP combat , co-op missions and deep customization options.

Since the game’s reveal in February, fans around the globe have flocked to Armored Warfare’s website to sign up for beta and to see more of the game’s stunning next-gen visuals, dynamic destructible environments, customizable vehicles and intense team-based gameplay. Players who haven’t yet signed up can do so now at http://aw.my.com/us/.

In Armored Warfare, players will take on the role of private military contractors who are called into action throughout a modern virtual world. Overseeing their own personal command base, players will expand, enhance, and customize their headquarters, manage and upgrade their military convoy of vehicles, and train and develop their crews through a robust reputation and experience system. Dynamic environments in Armored Warfare require players to change strategies on the battlefield at a moment’s notice keeping them ever vigilant to the tides of battle.

A variety of team-based tactical and competitive gameplay modes in Armored Warfare will not only test the mettle of players in PvP, but will have them pulling together group strategies in order to overcome grueling player-versus-environment (PvE) scenarios. Players will also be able to join Clans and participate in large scale Territory Wars in the power struggle for world domination. Armored Warfare will continue to be updated and supported for years to come with new weapons, vehicles, base elements, and battle modes.

Source: Eurogamer

Developer Avalanche Studios has released 20 new screenshots of its upcoming sandbox action game Just Cause 3.

In the screenshots, we see Rico Rodriguez falling from the sky, parachuting, using his grapple and blowing things up. It looks like a blast! We also get and a few scenery shots of the new fictional Mediterranean republic of Medici, and a look at a statue of dictator General Di Ravello, who runs the 400 square miles island.

Just Cause 3 is due out on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015.