Action/Strategy

Destructibility Improvements, New Maps and First British Tanks

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that its award-winning MMO WWII online game, War Thunder, will be introducing a host of new and upgraded features in a forthcoming update for War Thunder’s 10 million players to enjoy.

War Thunder is starting to implement an improved version of its engine, known as Dagor Engine 4.0, and part of this is physically based rendering. War Thunder has always prided itself on its unrivaled attention to detail, even going as far as to correctly interpret the way light interacts with objects within its environment, including the diffusion and reflection of light on shiny and opaque surfaces and materials, such as wood, steel, rubber and glass. In short, it means that War Thunder will look even more realistic than ever before.

Another part of the improved engine is the integration of NVIDIA GameWorks technologies. NVIDIA PhysX Destruction aids War Thunder’s quest for increased realism by enabling the introduction of larger destructible objects to the game: wall fragments, ruins and entire buildings will all react to in-game ballistic physics. Players now have the ability to destroy enemy’s cover or create new firing positions, changing dynamics of tank battles.

The inclusion of NVIDIA WaveWorks technology generates incredibly realistic waves and foam for oceans, seas, rivers and lakes, which will also factor wind direction and strength. All of the maps in the game will benefit from this addition, aerial and ground combat ones alike.

The name “Firestorm” for update 1.53 comes from the introduction of a deadly set of new multiple rocket launcher systems: namely, the American M26 Pershing tank with mounted T99 system, the German Panzerwerfer 42 and Russian BM-24-8. These vehicles provide a formidable barrage of high-explosive rockets and continue to expand the armored vehicle design variation in the game.

Fans anticipating British tanks will rejoice, as an initial set of four exclusive vehicles become available: the A13 Mk II, the Sherman Firefly, the M10 Achilles and the A43 Black Prince Infantry tank. The main British Ground Force line-up will appear in War Thunder in the next updates.

In total, there are over 20 new vehicles in update 1.53, including the amphibious Soviet tank PT-76, Cold War-era Jagdpanzer 4-5 and, eagerly awaited by fans, the top-range British jet fighter the Hawker Hunter.

Finally, two new ground combat locations were added, a winter map of the Stalingrad tractor plant district, which has been painstakingly reproduced based on real photographs taken during the bloody battles for the city and “Advance to Rhine,” based on late-war Cologne with its towering cathedral and maze-like streets that will provide the optimum challenge for urban warfare.

Steam Achievements are now available for the PC version of the game. There are many more improvements and features in this update, of course. To see a detailed list, click here. Or visit the War Thunder developer’s blog.

Discover new maps, tackle a new game mode, and reap greater rewards in Ranked Battles

Wargaming is excited to announce update 0.5.1 for World of Warships will go live on November 5 in North America and on November 6 in Asia, the CIS and EU. This update brings a boatload of great content including three new maps—with the very first night map—a brand new game mode “Zone”, and further improvements.

Three new maps for World of Warships are set to test players’ skills by plunging them into new and exciting waters. For the very first time, commanders will find “Northern Lights”, a reimagining of a once-familiar locale, doused in darkness and the spectacle of the Aurora Borealis. New maps include “Land of Fire”, inspired by South America and “The Trap”, which is modelled on the fierce battles between U.S. and Japanese fleets, complete with an active volcano.

The new game mode “Zone” pits opposing teams in contention of one giant base in the middle of a map. However, this base only becomes available for capture two minutes into the battle. With “Zone”, players will have to reevaluate their old tactics and techniques, trading off the vulnerability of open waters for glory. Also in update 0.5.1 are various additions and enhancements such as “Events”, “Challenges”, “Missions, and “Daily Missions”.

Ranked Battles now feature even more rewards in the form of flags to deck out a vessel and make it the envy of others on the high seas. Also for those still finding their sea legs, Introductory Missions have been added with a tutorial to help commanders develop their tactical skills and strengthen their grasp of the game.

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

Obsidian Entertainment and Paradox Interactive today announced that Pillars of Eternity, the critically acclaimed computer role-playing game (CRPG) made possible by a record-setting crowdfunding campaign, has crossed a new milestone, and has now sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. Including fans who backed Pillars of Eternity on Kickstarter, over half a million players have purchased the game worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games on Steam this year. Pillars of Eternity has gone on to be one of the best reviewed PC games of 2015, and in addition to its two-part expansion The White March, Obsidian has plans to continue to expand upon its rich universe across several forthcoming releases.

“Every one of these milestones, from the completion of our crowdfunding campaign to the game’s release and beyond, is a surreal moment when you consider where this journey began,” said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. “Pillars of Eternity has been a life-changing experience for me, and for everyone involved in its creation. Knowing that over half a million people have gotten to share in that is both flattering and humbling. I want to deeply thank all of our fans and supporters. We can’t wait to share what we’ve got next for the world of Eora.”

For more information on Pillars of Eternity, visit eternity.obsidian.net.

Discover new vessels to unlock, upgrade, and master

In the wake of World of Warships’ release just over a month ago, captains can now get behind the helm of vessels from two distinct nations: Germany and the Soviet Union.

On the horizon for the German fleet are Dresden and Hermelin cruisers, swift vessels capable of running rings around opponents. If that’s not enough, this new line of German cruisers boast great endurance—especially as players progress up the Tech Tree—along with solid armor and powerful guns.

The Soviet Tech Tree is ready to make some waves with Izyaslav, Gnevny and Tashkent destroyers—plus many more. These vessels are the sharpshooters of the sea; easily picking off targets from afar with their hard-hitting canons and superb accuracy. Soviet destroyers are also extremely rapid making them a hard target to scuttle. When adding their strong anti-aircraft armaments and rapid turret rotation into the mix, players have a set of devastating attack runners on their hands.

Click here for the announcement video.

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

360° experience produced in cooperation with Google immerses viewers in a historic 1941 battle recreation

Wargaming today released “1941 Battle: 360° Reenactment”, a unique 360° virtual reality video that teleports the viewer into the heart of battle with four tanks, 40 infantry reenactors, artillery and warplanes for the first time ever.

“Wargaming is excited to share our passion for history, and to use innovative technology to bring history alive,” said Tracy Spaight, Director of Special Projects at Wargaming. “Recreating this historic tank battle in 360°, with iconic tanks like the T-34 and Panzer III, will reignite the past like never before.”

Earlier this year, Wargaming’s global PC phenomenon World of Tanks, in partnership with Google and The Bovington Tank Museum, released a series of five 360° videos titled “Virtually Inside the Tanks”. Covering famous vehicles such as the M4 Sherman from the movie “FURY”, viewers could discover some of history’s most notable tanks, inside and out.

Click Here for more information about World of Tanks.

A new pack of destroyers is set to hunt down the competition

Wargaming today announced that the Soviet Tech Tree will be joining the armada beginning October 19. Setting sail to cause some destruction will be a full destroyer line, including the legendary Izyaslav, Gnevny and Tashkent, the lead destroyer of Project 20 I whose cobalt blue color earned her the nickname “blue cruiser”.

Soviet destroyers bring unique features and strengths to the fight. The hard-hitting cannons deliver great accuracy making hitting even the fastest targets at long distance a breeze. Coupled with extremely high speed, strong anti-aircraft armaments and rapid turret rotation at higher Tiers, these new Soviet vessels are capable of delivering devastating attacks run.

“We’re looking forward to letting players command this line of Soviet destroyers,” said Daniil Volkov, World of Warships Development Director. “Working towards new and interesting content to give players different ways to battle is a priority for the team and these upcoming additions will open up some distinct vessels for commanders to discover and leverage in combat.”

Alongside the USSR Tech Tree, World of Warships will also be welcoming German cruisers to the fleet. These stalwart vessels boast high endurance, solid armor and powerful weaponry, making the invaluable in the most hectic battle. Soon these two lines of ships can clash with those from Japan and the U.S. to determine who really rules the waves. Check out the new Soviet Destroyers & German Cruisers video here.

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

Chart a course for epic naval warfare

Wargaming is proud to announce that World of Warships is now live. This latest, highly-anticipated installment in Wargaming’s free-to-play combat series lets players seize the helm of history’s most iconic vessels and take part in giant battles.

“World of Warships is our biggest release this year,” said Victor Kislyi, Wargaming CEO. “Everyone involved has put their heart and soul into creating a truly outstanding title, and we are extremely proud to share it with gamers across the world. We hope that players will love this game as much as we do.”

In World of Warships, aspiring commanders have four distinct classes of ships at their command, and a myriad of upgrades and strategically designed environments, ensuring the action never ends. Cruisers are incredibly versatile vessels, ready to take on any other ship in the game and pick off scuttled opponents. Destroyers are quick and maneuverable, able to dodge enemy fire and deliver a well-executed torpedo strike. Battleships are heavy-hitting powerhouses, perfect for dealing massive damage. Finally, tactical Aircraft Carriers bring a real-time strategy dynamic, with scout planes to enemy vessels and torpedo bombers dropping their devastating payload.

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

Tiers 2–10 vehicles bolster Japanese Tech Tree and new Rampage event

Wargaming has announced that update 9.10 for World of Tanks is now live globally, bringing nine new Japanese vehicles and the next exciting stage in Domination event: Rampage.

This new branch of Japanese tanks sees Tiers 2 through 10 get some serious backup in a series of heavy-hitting vehicles, featuring medium and heavy tanks. Notable vehicles include the Type 91, a Tier 3, which is the first Japanese heavy tank in the game, with a high damage-per-minute output. Tanks from Tiers 6–9, featuring the Tier 6 O-I, Tier 7 O-Ni, Tier 8 O-Ho, and Tier 9 Type 4 Heavy, boast tough armor and powerful weaponry. Finally, the Type 5 Heavy at Tier 10 has thick armor and a devastating 140 mm gun.

What makes this new tank line even more special is that Japanese company FineMolds provided World of Tanks with a 3D tank models based on the O-I. The blueprints were assumed destroyed, but by working together, FineMolds and World of Tanks were able to bring these vehicles to life in-game. The models helped designers construct the O-I-Experimental and continue Wargaming’s mission of historical accuracy in their titles. This collaboration continues with a series of World of Tanks plastic models for sale, starting with the Type 1 Chi-He, Type 4 Chi-To, and the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tanks.

Update 9.10 also brings Rampage event, containing Steel Hunt and Domination. Players can rent one of the three tanks to engage in the event: the AMX 50 B (D), the Object 140 (D) and the Т110Е5 (D), as well as use their vehicles that comply with the rules. In Steel Hunt, players can command Tier 10 vehicles exclusively, with the ability to respawn in their battle to capture flags, earning the most Victory Points. In Domination, players can use their Tier 8–10 vehicles in furious 10 minute battles to destroy enemy tanks and transport captured flags to select zones to score Victory Points.

Map availability has also been introduced. Now players will be able to battle across more maps as they work up the Tech Tree, unlocking more tiers. A new garage tutorial also makes it easier than ever for players, from veterans to new recruits, to familiarize themselves with game’s basics and discover useful tips. There is also the addition of a smaller game client, which lets players roll out in a more streamlined version of World of Tanks.

For more information on update 9.10, visit the official World of Tanks website.

Get ready for giant naval battles on the high seas on September 17

Wargaming today announced World of Warships will officially launch on September 17. After dominating new ground with World of Tanks, and conquering the skies with World of Warplanes, World of Warships arrives, bringing thrilling naval warfare to players everywhere. The highly anticipated game of strategic naval combat will set sail with four classes of ships, a vast selection of historic vessels and endless strategic approaches to winning the fight for the high seas.

“Based on our Open Beta success with World of Warships, Wargaming is poised to launch our next big game,” stated Fred Menou, Head of Global Publishing, Wargaming. “With 2 million participants and the average player spending 3 hours a day in game we have an armada of sea captains ready to take the helm of the ultimate naval combat game.”

On September 17th, players will have four distinct classes of warships to command, featuring some of history’s most iconic vessels including legendary battleship Yamato and aircraft carrier Midway. Two full Tech Trees from the U.S. and Japan are available at launch, and several vessels from the U.K, Germany, and the U.S.S.R, including Warspite, Tirpitz, and Aurora also enter the fight. In total, there are currently over 80 historical vessels available, with more nations on their way this year.

The wait is over. Set course and take control of colossal vessels in epic World of Warships battles. Action Stations!

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

Source: Blue’s News

A new London Horizon trailer from Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate offers a look at 19th century London as depicted in the upcoming installment in the stealth/action series. The description of the clip is quite brief:

“Welcome to London, 1868. Here is a brief glimpse into the industrialized world Jacob and Evie will take by storm in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.” There’s more new info on the game to be found in a new article from Ubisoft taking us into the “stealthy mind of Evie Frye.”

Find out more about Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate at the games official website.