Action/Strategy

US tanks join the fight

Gaijin Entertainment announces that Update 1.45 (code named Steel Generals) for the award-winning MMO WWII online game War Thunder is now live. Now War Thunder’s eight million players worldwide have access to a slew of new and improved features, including new maps, new armored vehicles and aircraft, an improved damage model, a tow cable system and reworked Artillery Strikes. To see the full list of new improvements and features, visit the War Thunder developer’s blog.

The biggest addition to War Thunder with this update is the beta of the Steel Generals expansion, which includes the first six American tanks available now. By the end of Q1 2015, more than 30 US WWII tanks will be available. This release schedule allows Gaijin Entertainment to test each of the tanks to ensure that they are ready for battle when commercially launched. In honor of the update launch, special packages are available for purchase that contain premium US tanks and other bonuses alongside closed beta access. Players can participate in the Steel Generals beta by entering into contests and in-game events in War Thunder.

Click here for more information about the special US tank beta packages.

War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform, massively multiplayer military masterpiece for PC, PS4, Mac and Linux with more than eight million players worldwide, that allows players to fight their way across air and ground with access to almost 500 of historically accurate planes and armored vehicles from WWII and Korean War. Fans can expect hundreds more added as Gaijin Entertainment commits to ongoing development via regular updates. For more game information, please visit the official War Thunder website.

New combat mode, map and custom warplane added to game

Wargaming today announced that the new winter game mode Snowball will be added to the action MMO World of Warplanes. The new Snowball combat scenario available starting December 18 through January 15 includes a unique battle arena, daily missions, new consumables and custom built aircraft for pilots to enjoy during this holiday season.

In Snowball mode, players will battle to eliminate the opposition in standard Team Deathmatch rules on the Lapland map created exclusively for this mode. The only aircraft available is the UFO Odin 42M vehicle that fires snowballs instead of rockets. This aircraft comes with 100% trained crew, hangar slot and is free to all registered players.

During the holiday event, special consumables—Fireworks, Sparklers and Smoke Flare—will be available for players that accomplish specific combat missions and earn achievements.

Players that complete the “Happy New Year!” mission will be awarded the Dornier Do 17Z-7 Kauz warplane.

For more information about World of Warplanes and additional information on holiday events, visit:

• http://worldofwarplanes.eu (Europe)
• http://worldofwarplanes.com (North America)

TaleWorlds Entertainment is extremely proud to announce that the Viking Conquest DLC for Mount & Blade: Warband is now released! Viking Conquest is available right now, on the TaleWorlds Store, Steam, GoG, HumbleBundle, Gamersgate. The DLC features full single and multi player in a historical Dark Ages setting. Some of the key features include:

• A fully fledged story mode in single player, which offers deep and consequential choices and interesting dynamic characters.
• The full Mount & Blade sandbox experience opened up to the seas of the British Isles with naval trade and warfare!
• Completely revised artwork and scenes based on real historical references, developed with advice from expert historians.
• Several types of boat, with varied abilities affected by their form and building materials.
• Formations in battles, including the renowned Shield Wall and Wedge.
• Religion based gameplay, with actual consequences which are affected by your own faith and how you behave towards others, depending on theirs.
• Dramatic weather effects including heavy rain, snow, thunder and lightning!
• The option to create your own refuge and upgrade it over time, watching it grow.
• Massive multi player battles (up to 200 players)
• Special characters and abilities such as standard bearers and berserk!
• New multi player game modes, including Thor’s Champion, Naval Battle and Viking Invasion.

Watch the Mount & Blade: Warband Viking Conquest Live Action Trailer HERE.

For more game information please visit the official TaleWorlds Entertainment website.

There’s something momentous on the horizon, and you’re just the salty-dog to get the job done. We’re looking for a few good sailors to join us in testing the latest build for World of Warships! We’ve got a cargo hold full of keys to distribute, so scope the information below and get in on all the high-seas action!

• Begins: Friday, December 12 at 15:00 PST / 18:00 EST
• Ends: Sunday, December 14 at 23:59 PST / 02:59 EST on December 15

“This weekend with World of Warships, we are starting with a new model of testing and are looking forward to seeing the results of this new approach,” states Daniil Volkov, World of Warships Development Director. “The game is still in the early stages of development. Opening it to a larger audience will allow us to get a lot of relevant feedback that will be instrumental in defining player expectations and outlining what we are to focus on in the coming months.”

The event will feature three classes of military vessels, offering players the chance to experience the unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” approach to naval combat. Players will have the opportunity to command American cruisers and destroyers as well as Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

Once they’re up and running, you’ll be able to head to any one of our media partners’ sites for details on how to secure a ticket aboard this weekend’s World of Warships testing event.

• IGN
• Gamespot
• MMORPG
• Curse (requires login)
• TenTonHammer

Activating Your Key
After you’ve run the gauntlet and secured your key, it’s time to click on this link and follow the directions! Please keep in mind that there is a non-disclosure agreement and an embargo on any media impressions or reviews at this time.

Watch the first World of Warships gameplay video HERE.

Newest episode of video tutorials explains canopy roll

Wargaming today announced a brand new series of video tutorials for the flight action MMO World of Warplanes, aimed at providing players with guidance on how to pull off some of the most iconic and acrobatic maneuvers to ever grace the skies. From canopy rolls, basic loops combat turns and the legendary Immelmann turn, each of the four new videos will give World of Warplanes players a crash course in improving their aerial prowess and look great while doing it.

Besides giving players the skills to look great in combat, the video series will also shed light on using these incredible maneuvers in actual combat situations. Whether evading fire from enemy planes or using techniques to flank enemy squadrons, this new video series will give all of World of Warplane’s virtual pilots the opportunity to take their game to the next level.

The canopy roll, the focus of the first episode of the series, is an evasive maneuver that helps shake enemies off your tail and avoid potentially devastating damage. The three types of canopy roll, mastery of the game’s controls, and knowing exactly when to pull off the maneuvers will be just a few of the details revealed in the video.

• www.worldofwarplanes.com (North America)
• www.worldofwarplanes.eu (Europe)

Source: Blue’s News

An Update on Assassin’s Creed: Unity from Yannis Mallat details a dramatic gesture from Ubisoft to compensate customers for launch problems with Assassin’s Creed: Unity along with word of the release of the promised third patch for the stealth/action game (thanks Guile). Word is they will now give the Dead Kings DLC to everyone who owns the game. They will also give season pass holders a free game, and while they say: “Season Pass holders will continue to have access to a variety of additional content, including Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China,” they also say: “We are discontinuing sales of the Season Pass.” All the details are in an Assassins Creed: Unity Offer FAQ, and here’s the overview:

We’ve been working hard to fix the problems players are reporting, and the patches we have released so far have resolved many of them. Today, we’re releasing our third patch, which fixes a variety of specific issues related to the game’s stability and performance, matchmaking and connectivity, gameplay and menus. You can find the release notes on that patch here: Patch 3 Notes

To show our appreciation for your continued support, we’re making the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Unity Dead Kings DLC free for everyone. For Season Pass holders, we will also offer the choice of one additional game from a selection of Ubisoft titles for free. More details on the offer for Season Pass holders can be found here: AC Unity FAQ

In addition to the latest patch and this offer, we are committed to delivering further fixes for other issues you’ve raised. In the meantime, please keep your feedback coming – it has been both humbling and incredibly helpful as we continue working hard to improve the overall quality of the game. We are hopeful that with these forthcoming updates, everyone will be able to truly enjoy their Assassin’s Creed Unity experience.

We will continue striving to make Assassin’s Creed one of the most ambitious and innovative franchises on the market, and we thank you for your continued loyalty and support.

By Marty Sliva, IGN

Assassin’s Creed: Unity is a game of impossible peaks and disappointing valleys. Its highs of movement, customization options, and just the city of Paris itself pierce the sky like the spire of Notre Dame. On a purely technical level, Unity is a marvel to walk through and admire. But at the same time, a lot of my journey through the French Revolution felt as cold and heartless as the darkest depths of the catacombs. I was never given a real reason to care about new Assassin Arno, or the events that transpired. Instead, I had to find my own fun throughout my 30 hours in Unity, which was generally easy to do in its large sandbox assassination scenarios. However, it’s a bit disappointing to see how few of the long-standing problems with the series have been solved by the upgrade to the new generation of gaming hardware.

Read on…

Ubisoft has announced the launch of  Assassin’s Creed: Unity, the latest installment of the award-winning franchise set against the backdrop of the chaos and brutality of the French Revolution, for the Xbox One games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Set in a once-magnificent Paris, Assassin’s Creed: Unity plunges players into the terror of the 1789 French Revolution and features the most dense and immersive Assassin’s Creed city ever created. In this time of chaos and brutality, a young man named Arno, wounded by the loss of those he loved, sets out on a deadly path of redemption. Arno’s pursuit throws him into the middle of a ruthless struggle for the fate of a nation, and transforms him into a true Master Assassin.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity reinvents the franchise, starting with the core gameplay pillars that have defined the series from the beginning: navigation, stealth and combat. Players will carve their way through a stunning, full-scale open-world Paris, thanks to the power of the new Anvil engine, rebuilt from the ground up for new generation consoles. Players can channel their inner Assassin, customising weapons, equipment, outfits and specialised skills to match their play style.

In addition to the sprawling single-player campaign, players can join with up to three friends and take part in story-driven online co-op missions designed specifically for Assassins to play together. Skills and unique gear acquired in the single-player missions will be accessible in co-op and will define a player’s personalised Assassin’s style, whether emphasizing brute force, agility or stealth. Players will also select a unique co-op skill that will help the team survive, evade or fight more effectively to the benefit of the team.

More game information is available at the official Assassin’s Creed: Unity website.

Source: CVG

Ubisoft has released the Assassin’s Creed: Unity launch trailer. Primarily set during the French Revolution, the series’ first new-gen outing sees players embark on a quest for redemption in the violent and anarchic 18th century Paris. For a more detailed overview of the game’s key features, check out this seven minute Assassin’s Creed: Unity 101 trailer.

The Assassin’s Creed: Unity release date is November 11 in North America, November 13 in Europe and November 14 in the UK. The game will be available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Source: The UbiBlog

Assassin’s Creed: Unity is nearly here. In advance of the launch of the franchise’s first true steps into the new generation, we’ve got an info-packed new 101 trailer, detailing everything from customization to co-op to the city of Paris. It even has new details on the mysterious time anomaly feature in the game.

• With 7 diverse districts, a near 1:1 scale, fully detailed interiors and the possibility of up to 5,000 NPCs on screen at a time, Assassin’s Creed Unity’s Paris promises to be the most immersive and systemic setting to date.
• For the first time, you will be able to craft the perfect Assassin to suit your playstyle. From your clothing and weapons to your skills, this Assassin will be unique to you. The Arno you create will then be carried over into co-op for all your friends to admire.
• Make use of the group skills when you’re trying out the co-op. Become a team healer or ammo supplier and help out your comrades. Everyone benefits from these perks. Create a balanced team to successfully take on the narrative-driven Brotherhood missions, the endlessly replayable Heist missions, or even just the free-roaming exploration of Paris.
• Historical figures like Napoleon, the Marquis de Sade, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Robespierre all play roles in Assassin’s Creed Unity. Some will be friends, some will be foes, but all will be more realistic than any characters seen before in Assassin’s Creed, thanks to the power of the Anvil engine’s character design and motion capture.
• We recently revealed the new time anomaly feature in Assassin’s Creed Unity, though we provided very little information as to what exactly it is. Take a leap of faith into an unstable time anomaly and face Paris in a different time period – like the German occupation of Paris during World War II.