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.

Source: Blue’s News

More leaked news is now unleaked, as UbiBlog has the official announcement of Assassin’s Creed Origins, confirming the ancient Egypt setting for the next installment in the assassination sequel. This already has a release date, as they say it’s expected on October 27th. This trailer accompanies the news to show this off, and they also have this article with all the details you need for this. Here’s word:

Amongst the Great Pyramids, the last pharaohs, and the myths of Ancient Egypt, the Assassin’s Brotherhood was born. As Bayek, a protector of Egypt, you’ll experience the origin story of the Brotherhood as it unfolds against the backdrop of one of history’s greatest empires, plunging you into a living world where epic battles will be fought and ancient secrets discovered.

Assassin’s Creed Origins features new action-RPG elements, which allow you to level and customize your own version of Bayek with unique gear and powerful weapons before engaging in a new combat system designed to offer more tactical freedom than ever before in the franchise. Likewise, a new quest experience gives you the opportunity to explore and uncover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt at your own pace.

In addition to the standalone game, Assassin’s Creed Origins will be available in Deluxe and Gold Editions. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a printed version of the hand-drawn world map, the official soundtrack, and a variety of digital content that includes the Ambush at Seas naval mission, the Desert Cobra Pack, and three bonus Ability points. The Gold Edition includes all of the Digital Deluxe Edition content as well as the Season Pass, which grants access to all upcoming expansions and equipment sets.

Assassin’s Creed Origins will be available at the launch of Xbox One X and on October 27 for Xbox One, PS4, PS4 Pro, and PC. For more information, stay tuned to UbiBlog.

Flee the ruins of Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet

After a spectacular gameplay reveal during the Xbox E3 2017 Briefing, Deep Silver and 4A Games today announced that Metro Exodus – the next chapter in the critically acclaimed series of Metro games – is planned for release in 2018 on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and PC.

A quarter-century after nuclear war devastated the earth, a few thousand survivors still cling to existence beneath the ruins of Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro. They have struggled against the poisoned elements, fought mutated beasts and paranormal horrors, and suffered the flames of civil war. But now, as Artyom, you must flee the Metro and lead a band of Spartan Rangers on an incredible, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in search of a new life in the East.

Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Explore the Russian wilderness across vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.

Inspired by the internationally best-selling novels Metro 2033 and Metro 2035 by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro Exodus continues Artyom’s story in the greatest Metro adventure yet.

“We are so proud to finally be able to reveal our next Metro game to the world, and would like to thank all the Metro fans for their patience,” said Andriy Prokhorov, Creative Director and co-founder at 4A Games. “Metro Exodus has been in development for three years between our Malta and Kyiv studios, and represents our most ambitious project yet.”

Be the first to learn more about this incredible new title by registering for updates at MetroTheGame.com. You can watch the Announcement Gameplay Trailer here.

MORE ABOUT METRO EXODUS

The year is 2036.

A quarter-century after nuclear war devastated the earth, a few thousand survivors still cling to existence beneath the ruins of Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro.

They have struggled against the poisoned elements, fought mutated beasts and paranormal horrors, and suffered the flames of civil war. But now, as Artyom, you must flee the Metro and lead a band of Spartan Rangers on an incredible, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in search of a new life in the East.

Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created.

Explore the Russian wilderness across vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.

Inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro Exodus continues Artyom’s story in the greatest Metro adventure yet.

• Embark on an incredible journey – board the Aurora, a heavily modified steam locomotive, and join a handful of survivors as they search for a new life in the East
• Experience Sandbox Survival – a gripping story links together classic Metro gameplay with new huge, non-linear levels
• A beautiful, hostile world – discover the post-apocalyptic Russian wilderness, brought to life with stunning day / night cycles and dynamic weather
• Deadly combat and stealth – scavenge and craft in the field to customize your arsenal of hand-made weaponry, and engage human and mutant foes in thrilling tactical combat
• Your choices determine your comrades’ fate – not all your companions will survive the journey; your decisions have consequence in a gripping storyline that offers massive re-playability
• The ultimate in atmosphere and immersion – a flickering candle in the darkness; a ragged gasp as your gasmask frosts over; the howl of a mutant on the night wind – Metro will immerse and terrify you like no other game…

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.

• Logitech Announces G903 and G703 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Mice Along with POWERPLAY Charging System (VIDEO)
• ID-Cooling Intros Auraflow 240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
• EK Water Blocks Releasing a New AM4 Monoblock for MSI® X370 XPOWER Gaming Titanium!
• MSI Announces Infinite A Gaming Desktop
• Samsung Announces the CHG70 and CHG90 QLED Monitors: HDR and FreeSync 2
• Logitech G433 7.1 Gaming Headset and G233 Prodigy Gaming Headset Announced
• MSI X299 Breaks DDR4 Memory World Record With 5500-DDR4 Speeds
• ViewSonic Releases VP2768 27-inch WQHD IPS Monitor

How Barry Sadler’s “The Ballad of the Green Berets” became the No. 1 single of 1966.

By Marc Leepson @ Historynet.com

A little more than 50 years ago, on May 7, 1967, a 26-year-old Green Beret staff sergeant let his term of enlistment expire and took his honorable discharge at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He had served five years, including a tour of duty during 1964-65 as an A Team medic in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. He left the service, he said, to pursue a career in music and movies.

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler had a good start on the music part. His song, “The Ballad of the Green Berets” came out of nowhere in January 1966 to become the No. 1 single of the year, selling some 9 million copies. The album sold 2 million. Sadler earned $500,000 in royalties in the first six months after the song hit. In the process Sadler—who dropped out of high school to join the Air Force in 1958, served four years and then joined the Army—went viral decades before anyone knew the word “internet.”

Read on…