Take the Watery Road to Victory in Man the Guns

Victories in Western Europe and East Asia were won through the decisive application of industrial naval power. The Atlantic convoys kept Britain supplied until overwhelming force could be applied to Fortress Europe, and American shipyards produced capital ships for the Pacific War at an unprecedented pace. Are you a savvy enough admiral to master the intricacies of naval war? Will you repeat or rewrite history? Test your seaborne skills in Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns, available now at major online retailers for $19.99.

Watch the Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns – Release Trailer HERE.

Man the Guns is the newest naval themed expansion to Hearts of Iron IV, the popular World War II strategy wargame from Paradox Development Studio. Man the Guns comes with an armada of improvements to the naval game, including a new ship design mode, refitting older designs, fuel considerations and strategic convoy routes.

Man the Guns also improves play for major democracies like the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with all new alternate history paths and the mobilization of the American Congress.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns include:

• New Alternate American History: Use the American Congress to push for reform, at the risk of plunging the nation into another civil war.
• New Alternate British History: Push for early decolonization of the British Empire or restore the ancient privileges of the monarchy.
• Ship Design: Research new components and refit older vessels to take advantage of new knowledge. Outfit your submarines with snorkels or improved stealth.
• Admiral Traits and Skills – Tailor and level up your Admirals with new traits and skills.
• Governments in Exile: Welcome a government in exile to your democracy, boosting their legitimacy in return for more manpower and elite troops fighting to free their homeland.
• Other National Focuses: New national focuses for The Netherlands and Mexico.
• Naval Mines: Protect your coasts from invasion or assault with anti-ship mines, or clear a path through enemy mines before you make the big push.
• Shipping route controls – plot new routes for your shipping and navies by marking areas you want to avoid.
• Naval Treaties: Struggle to keep the peace by following internationally agreed upon rules, or creatively defy the world consensus by exceeding your limits.
• Amphibious Landing Vehicles: Add power to your beach landing by researching and producing specialized combat vehicles for your marines.
• New Music: Original music composed specifically for the Man the Guns expansion.

As usual, the Man the Guns expansion is accompanied by a major free update that improves the game for all Hearts of Iron IV owners. This update includes fuel as a major resource and a new Rules screen that allows you to customize your World War experience.

Man the Guns can be purchased from the Paradox store, Steam or other major online retailers for $19.99.

Eugen Systems Adds Six Historical Battles Playable as Solo or Co-op for Upcoming Sequel to Steel Division: Normandy 44

The offerings for Steel Division 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed World War II real-time strategy title, Steel Division: Normandy 44, continues to grow with today’s announcement from self-publishing independent developer Eugen Systems. In addition to an epic single-player campaign set during Operation Bagration, Steel Division 2 players can also look forward to six brand-new Historical Battles with the core game.

With Steel Division 2, players can look forward to a total of six extensive Historical Battles spanning a variety of significant campaigns across the frontlines. Playable solo, co-op against AI enemies, and multiplayer, including 2v1 and 3v3 scenarios, the six new Historical Battles for Steel Division 2 make the already huge real-time strategy title even bigger with this tremendous amount of content that will take players across the frontlines of war, including the Battle for Orsha, Bobr, Krupki, Pleshchenitsy, Lenina, and Naratch Lake. For full details on the upcoming Historical Battles in Steel Division 2, please visit the official page on Steam.

The six extra Historical Battles for Steel Division 2 also follows recently announced news that Steam users who already own Steel Division: Normandy 44 can also expect eight exclusive divisions with over 350 extra units from the original title when Steel Division 2 launches later this year, including the Sherman Jumbo tank from the United States of America, the Churchill IV heavy infantry tank from the United Kingdom, the lend-lease Spitfire and Sherman M4A2 for France and Canada, and many more. For a complete list of divisions and units, please visit the official Steel Division 2 page on Steam.

In addition, players who pre-order any edition of Steel Division 2 can also expect guaranteed access to the game’s Beta phase. Scheduled to start this quarter, the Steel Division 2 beta will offer players exclusive access to an early build of the game ahead of its 2019 launch. Moreover, players who pre-order the Commander Deluxe Edition, General Deluxe Edition, or Total Conflict Edition will also benefit from 48-hours of early access to the game ahead of the worldwide launch for Steel Division 2.

For full details on pre-order bonuses for Steel Division 2, please head to the official website at buy.steeldivision2.com.

Set during Operation Bagration on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1944, Steel Division 2 pushes the limits of the World War II tactical experience, delivering new 1:1 scale Dynamic Strategic Campaigns. Command entire armies during Operation Bagration, covering the Soviet counter-attack against Axis forces in Byelorussia. Battle in the multiple skirmish modes on 25 maps and customize your battlegroups in the brand-new deck system, allowing for an unprecedented level of customization.

Ubisoft has revealed a brand new trailer ahead of the highly anticipated Open Beta for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. The Open Beta will run from 1st March – 4th March, and is available to pre-load now.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 releases worldwide on March 15th, 2019, on the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Led by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with seven other studios around the world, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is the next evolution in the open-world online shooter RPG genre that the first game helped establish. Set seven months after a deadly virus was released in New York City, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will bring players into a fractured and collapsing Washington D.C. The world is on the brink, its people living through the biggest crisis ever faced in human history. As veteran Division agents, players are the last hope against the complete fall of society as enemy factions vie for control of the city. If Washington D.C. is lost, the entire nation falls. Building upon more than two years of listening to and learnings from The Division community, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will offer a substantial campaign that organically flows into a robust endgame, to create a cohesive and meaningful experience for all types of players.

More game information can be found on the official Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 website.

By VSG @ TechPowerup!

Ah, Aimpad technology! I have been wanting to try it out for a while now, having read references of the Aimpad analog control input mechanism with mechanical keyboards over three years ago. I referenced it in my review of the Roccat Isku+ Force FX as well, a membrane keyboard that used pressure sensitivity to drive a rudimentary form of analog control. Then came the very impressive Wooting One with optical switches for a satisfactory analog control experience on the entire TKL form factor keyboard. That required new switch designs, however, and Aimpad’s compatibility with many existing switches offered a viable alternative as well. Cooler Master partnered with Aimpad, first via a working prototype using their erstwhile Rapidfire keyboard and then for more proofs of concept at CES 2018. Well, it is now 2019, and we are finally here with a retail keyboard. Say hello to the Cooler Master MK850.

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.

• Cooler Master Releases Gaming Keyboard with Aimpad: MK850
• MetallicGear Makes Premium The Standard With Skiron Series Fans
• Sharkoon Introduces its New Low-budget Gaming ATX Midi tower: The VG7-W
• Alphacool Releases Eisbaer Solo Chrome (DIY CPU Pump and Block)
• Thermalright’s Huge HR-22 Passive CPU Cooler Spotted In Matte Black
• SilverStone Introduces the 550 W and 650 W Strider Gold S PSUs
• Be Quiet! Now Offers Window Side Panels for Silent Base 801 & 601 Cases
• SilentiumPC Signum SG1 Brings the ODD-less Design to the Masses
• ENERMAX Intros REVOLUTION D.F. 80PLUS Gold Certified PSU with DFR Tech
• Arctic Shows Semi-passive Freezer 50 TR Cooler for AMD Threadripper
• ENERMAX Launches MAKASHI MK50, an Elegant RGB E-ATX Gaming Case

Following up on recent relaunch of the aircraft carrier line of naval ships in World of Warships, Wargaming is pleased to announce that British aircraft carriers will be added to the game, expanding upon the currently available US and Japanese Carrier lines!

Starting February 27 with the launch of Update 0.8.1, three Royal navy aircraft carriers enter the fray through early access. Mighty tier IV Hermes, tier VI Furious, and tier VIII Implacable will be made available upon completing new missions and Directives of the “Fly! Strike! Win!” in-game event. A full release of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier branch will follow in the next month’s patch update.

British planes come with generous HP, which allows more daring attacks against ships with strong AA defenses. And while these aircraft are somewhat slower than the American and Japanese naval planes, they pack more of a wallop, thanks to extra rockets and high-level bombs, that makes them unique in this class.

Additionally, from February 28 to March 14, players who log in each day will receive free Air Supply containers in World of Warships. These containers include — Naval Aviation collection, camos, signal flags, resources, and combat missions that can help players earn additional ships.

Lastly, upcoming patch 0.8.1 will introduce three key new changes to the gameplay of World of Warships. These include changes to the way Search Radar works, along with interface updates, and a change to how ships suffer flooding damage. For more information, please see the developer diary video HERE.

For the latest game information, visit the official World of Warships website.

Ubisoft has fully revealed the details of Special Operation 4 for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, the last free major update for the second year of post-launch content. Special Operation 4 will be released on February 27th, on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC. The update will contain a brand new PvE mode: Guerrilla, the new Sapper PvP class and several highly requested features from the community.

Guerrilla Mode expands on the game’s PvE experience with a unique challenge testing players’ endurance, skills and tactics. The mode is available to play solo or co-operatively with up to four Ghosts. Players will need to defend key locations against increasingly deadly waves of Cartel and Unidad members. After each completed wave, players will have the opportunity to purchase and upgrade weapons, skills and attachments with resources gathered from dead enemies. Each choice will be impactful, meaning strategy will be essential to overcome the challenge.

In addition to Guerrilla Mode, Special Operation 4 introduces a wealth of new Ghost War PvP–focused content, including:

• One New PvP Class: The Sapper is a new Support class option that deploys a specialized drone capable of shooting “concussion” mines. These mines drain stamina from players as well as suppressing them, slowing down their rush.
• Two New PvP Maps

Two New PvP Events:

• Arms Race: Players spawn with only their pistols and are forced explore the map for better weapons.
• Danger Zone: Players are periodically bombed with ultrasonic blasts, forcing them to always be on the move.

In line with previous Year 2 updates, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands will continue to receive community-requested features and improvements, including time of day setting for Solo Campaign Mode, a new bleeding notification in Ghost War, the addition of the compass HUD option to PvE, as well as the introduction of daily campaign challenges with increased rewards. Additionally, Special Operation 4 will add a new Heatmap view, where players will be able to see the most visited locations in the Wildlands and discover some they have never explored.

The Ghost Recon: Wildlands Year 2 Pass offers seven-day early access to the new Ghost War class, along with the exclusive Active Duty Pack starting tomorrow. All other players will be able to access on the new PvP class on March 6th.

Developed by Ubisoft Paris, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a military shooter entirely playable in up to four-player co-op or single-player from beginning to end. Players have total freedom to accomplish their missions how they want and watch as the world reacts to their actions. Players can choose to move quietly in the night, go in hot at dawn or work together to execute a sync shot that takes out enemies in one fell swoop. Each choice has a consequence, and players must improvise or adapt their plans to ensure the completion and success of each mission. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands Ghost War allows players to live the ultimate co-op experience in 4v4 modes. Featuring a growing roster of classes, maps and modes, Ghost War focuses on teamwork, strategy and tense tactical engagements.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, please visit www.ghostrecon.com.

Source: Blue’s News

A new post on the website for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 welcomes us to the open beta for the upcoming sequel, a bit prematurely, as the beta isn’t set to commence until Friday. Ubisoft is obviously worked up about this, though, as they accompany this with a new open beta trailer and they also offer another new post outlining everything that’s changing since the conclusion of the private beta. Finally, for those who can’t wait until the testing resumes, they also announce their “state of the game” livestreams are back, so we can tune in on Wednesday to see where things stand. They offer details on the Dark Zone, how Conflict mode will offer a sample of organized 4v4 PvP action, and the end game content the beta will include. Here’s an overview:

Welcome to The Division 2 Open Beta! If you did not get the chance to participate in our Private Beta phase, now is your chance! Available from March 1 – 4 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, we want to welcome you as you take your first steps into Washington, D.C. The beta introduces you to some of the unique features The Division 2 has to offer—main missions, side missions, open world activities, and one of the three Dark Zones—to name a few.

For everyone who has already participated in the Private Beta, here are the additional content highlights for the Open Beta:

• Character level cap increase to level 8
• An additional Story mission—Viewpoint Museum
• An additional Skill—Chem Launcher with two variants, Riot Foam and Explosive Vapor
• Two additional Settlement Projects with the second upgrade of the Theater
• An additional Skirmish PVP map—Capitol Ruins

You are limited to one character during the testing phase, and this character can be deleted. At character creation, you are able to cycle through presets of customization features to randomize your Agent. Remember that character progression is capped at level eight during this period.

Three main missions are available on Normal and Hard modes—Grand Washington Hotel, Jefferson Trade Center, and Viewpoint Museum—to offer a smaller piece of a much larger, compelling narrative we are telling from start to finish.

As you explore D.C., five optional Side Missions will also be available for everyone who prefer to branch out from the main storyline.

“No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First!”

Matrix Games has announced that, after several months of hard work, Close Combat: The Bloody First is ready to go officially in Beta!

Developers have put a lot of effort into creating one of the most realistic tactical wargames ever, improving and refining the overall gameplay experience.

Now it’s your turn to duty! If you think you have what it takes, enlist here and help us in giving the final touches to the game!

IMPORTANT:

If you have applied in precedence for the Alpha, you don’t have to apply a second time as you have been automatically added to the Beta.

Close Combat: The Bloody First is the latest release in the critically-acclaimed Close Combat series, and the first using the new 3D Archon engine. With this Close Combat: The Bloody First combines classic Close Combat tactical gameplay with battles fought across a wide variety of diverse 3D landscapes including craggy ridgelines, narrow valleys and dense villages. The switch to 3D also allows an increase in the level of detail (e.g. the specific types of ammunition used by each weapon are now modeled) with more realistic movement and projectile physics.

Following the career of the famed US 1stInfantry Division (forever known as ‘The Big Red One’) Close Combat: The Bloody First visits the battlefields of Tunisia and Sicily for the first time, as well as covering the Normandy campaign. 

With 3 theatres to cover Close Combat: The Bloody First places the focus firmly on the tactical level putting you in command of a 1st Infantry Division company (sometimes reinforced … and sometimes not!), leading your men through a series of linked operations and battles from Longstop Hill in Tunisia to Mortain in Normandy. You’ll have to look after your men, work out the best combination of fire and movement, know when they need bolstering with armoured vehicles and decide when to call in support from artillery and aircraft.

Game developer Icebreaker Interactive is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for development of their upcoming PC game Escalation 1985.

What would have happened if the cold war turned hot in 1985? The new first person shooter Escalation 1985 is offering a grand campaign spanning 5 European nations, locations such as Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie, and the soldiers of 9 armies, including the US Army and the British Army of the Rhine.

The crowdfunding campaign offers players in-game rewards of rare and forgotten weapons.

Backers can also write their own lines for their characters which will be recorded by a professional voice actor or get their own or someone else’s face in the game.

And finally on the highest tier a backer can get their very own real-life BRDM-2 amphibious armored vehicle (video) delivered to their door in the EU or USA. It comes freshly painted in mint-condition from the Czech Republic and is road legal in most places.

It’s fully amphibious and can swim at 10 km/h for 17 hours. You can have a party on a lake with this thing or make the school run very exciting.

About Escalation 1985:

Experience what an armed conflict would have been like between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in 1985. Escalation 1985 features massive 50 v 50 battles set in iconic areas surrounding the iron curtain. Use finely detailed weapons, vehicles, and equipment used by forces on either side. Work with your squad to defeat the enemy team and gain control before the nuclear Armageddon!

Using VoIP for radio and proximity communication along with a morale and stamina system the player will feel as if he is actually there, his weapon along with his avatar will be an actual part of the world. Moving, firing, being close to friendlies, enemies or tanks, will all have an impact on how you as a player will interact with the environment around you. Experience the horrors of Nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare with accurate recreations of these events.

Drive a tank with your friends. Our armor features intractable interiors that are precisely modeled from their real life counterparts. Engage enemy forces using detailed fire control systems and ballistics.

Use exquisitely modeled weapons systems, from rifles to anti-air systems. Accurate bullet and missile physics let you experience the true power of these weapons.

Find out more about Escalation 1985 HERE. Visit the games official website where you can view the reveal trailer, screenshots and more.