Gaming
Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment Announces LEGO Worlds
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group have announced that LEGO Worlds, a galaxy of imaginative worlds made entirely of digital LEGO bricks where players can explore, discover and create together, will commercially launch on February 21, 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and STEAM. Developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, LEGO Worlds has been in STEAM Early Access since last year allowing players to provide feedback for continual improvements leading up to its official launch.
“In LEGO Worlds, players will go on an exciting journey to become a Master Builder, in an open-world made completely of LEGO-built environments,” said Jonathan Smith, Head of Production, TT Games. “Whether customising characters, exploring in vehicles, building structures, or discovering an expansive range of items, characters and creatures throughout the worlds, there’s the freedom to create anything imaginable.”
“LEGO Worlds expands our LEGO videogame franchise with a new experience that embodies all the fun of physical LEGO brick building,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “TT Games has created an expansive, digital universe that combines unlimited creativity with the LEGO humor that fans love.”
“LEGO Worlds brings the very essence of LEGO play – building – to the digital world, more than ever before,” said Niels Jørgensen, Vice President, Digital Games for The LEGO Group. “We are excited to bring our physical and digital
play models closer together and know it will resonate with our core audience – and engage new ones. We believe LEGO Worlds has the potential to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through its experience of open-ended creative play.”
In LEGO Worlds, players uncover hidden treasures in environments that range from fun to the fantastical, where worlds come to life with a dizzying variety of vehicles and creatures – from cowboys riding giraffes to vampires scaring
Yetis, to steamrollers, racing cars and colossal digging machines. Gamers can embark on a quest to become a Master Builder by helping other LEGO characters along the way – find a sword for a king, protect a farmer from a zombie
invasion, or build a home for a caveman.
Environments and creations are brought to life in any way fans can imagine, either by building brick by brick, placing down enormous prebuilt LEGO structures, or by using wondrous tools that let you paint and shape the landscape. LEGO Worlds’ online multiplayer functionality allows players to explore each other’s worlds together, create together, and engage in cooperative and competitive play experiences that players can build themselves.
Gaming
TMNT: Mutants Unleashed Gameplay Trailer is Out
Outright Games, the leading publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, in collaboration with Paramount Game Studios, is excited to reveal the thrilling new gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed. Developed by AHeartfulofGames, this story-driven 3D Brawler/Platformer game will be released on 18th October 2024 and will be available to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
Continuing the story of Paramount Pictures’ 2023 hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, fans of the beloved franchise can get ready to team up with everyone’s favourite heroes in a half shell, taking on missions solo or teaming up with a friend in up to 2-player co-op. The new gameplay trailer showcases the acclaimed 3D-meets-2D art style of the movie and sees players take control of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, each with their unique combat style and unlockable skill tree. It also offers a glimpse at the game’s original storyline, as the pizza-loving crime fighters battle to save New York City from a rising Mewbie threat.
Narrated by fan-favourite character April O’Neil in the style of her captivating ‘O’News Casts, the trailer also showcases all-new original mutants and their difficulty-enhancing mutations, all designed by the film’s lead character designer, Woodrow White. Fans can also get a feel for the expansive New York City environments, from the tops of skyscrapers to down in the sewers, from pizza parlours to a concert led by Bebop and Rocksteady.
Stephanie Malham, Managing Director of Outright Games said, “With 2024 marking the 40th anniversary of this incredible franchise, it has been a pleasure to work with Paramount Games Studio to bring this extraordinary world to life. We hope this new gameplay trailer will whet the appetite of TMNT fans old and new!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on 18th October 2024. The Deluxe and Collector’s Edition physical releases are available to pre-order from specialist retailers now.
Gaming
Gosu Academy Announces UAE Expansion
Gosu Academy, a leading provider of esports coaching and education, has announced its expansion into the UAE. The company’s entry into the region comes at an opportune time, as the gaming industry is poised to contribute over $1 billion to Dubai’s GDP by 2033, with an estimated 30,000 jobs to be created.
The announcement further aligns with Gosu Academy’s mission to empower individuals through exceptional education in gaming and esports, supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global esports hub. Established by seasoned professionals with over twenty years of expertise, Gosu Academy started its journey in the United States and Europe before expanding to Asia.
Gosu Academy is expanding into the UAE to take advantage of the nation’s dynamic gaming community and its progressive esports initiatives, having already established a footprint in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Having trained more than 14,000 students globally, the academy’s expansion to the UAE marks a pivotal step in its global growth strategy.
F. Javier Bernal, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Gosu Academy said, “This market presents tremendous opportunities, and we are eager to enhance the region’s fast-developing esports landscape. In line with the Dubai government’s focus on this sector and the vision of the Dubai Program for Gaming (DPG) 2033, which aims to create jobs and bolster innovation, we strongly believe that Gosu Academy, through our expertise, can contribute significantly to this initiative. At the same time, Abu Dhabi’s ambitious project to build an Esports Island reflects its distinct approach, focusing on creating a dedicated hub for global esports events and immersive gaming experiences. We aspire to cultivate a new wave of gaming and esports experts in the UAE, establishing the nation as a frontier in this sector, with both Abu Dhabi and Dubai playing complementary roles in driving the future of esports.”
Braeden Plein, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Gosu Academy, remarked, “Our mission is to redefine the future of gaming and esports by equipping individuals with essential skills and knowledge for success. DPG 2033, which aims to generate 30,000 jobs in this sector, resonates deeply with our objectives. We are dedicated to advancing this vision and providing our best support in achieving the economic target of USD 1 billion in the Gaming industry by nurturing outstanding talent and providing meaningful employment opportunities within the industry.”
Gadgets
Acer Shows Off Project DualPlay Gaming Laptop Concept with Detachable Controllers
Acer today unveiled the Project DualPlay gaming laptop concept at its next@acer global press conference in Berlin, Germany. This Predator concept embraces the latest gaming trends, unleashing a new dimension of versatile and shared PC gaming experiences that converge in one powerful device.
Project DualPlay pushes the boundaries of gaming on-the-go, offering players more ways to enjoy their favourite AAA titles. The cutting-edge design features a vast touchpad that doubles as a built-in detachable wireless controller. Players can easily wield the wireless controller from its electromagnetic lock by simply placing two fingers on the release button located on top of the keyboard. This action also triggers the two high-fidelity, 5-watt pop-out speakers to emerge from the sides of the laptop, immersing players in heart-pounding audio that brings every scene to life.
For multiplayer enthusiasts, Project DualPlay allows another player to jump in on the action. Whether it’s a first-person shooter, multiplayer online battle, sports, or fighting games such as Capcom Street Fighter 6, Project DualPlay elevates gaming control and experiences to new heights. The detachable controller can be further separated into two joysticks that are perfect for head-to-head combat on the next evolution of the Street Fighter series and can instantly transform the laptop into a battle station. This feature also provides gamers with the flexibility to switch seamlessly between keyboard and controller gaming, and to adapt to different playing styles and game genres.
The new gaming laptop concept creates an electrifying atmosphere that fuels gamers’ passion. The device is wrapped with customizable 360-degree dynamic RGB lighting on the keyboard, screen bezels, and wide trackpad area to add to its visual appeal. The mesmerizing light show extends even further to the infinity mirror lighting bar at the backside and the detachable controller’s joysticks, dazzling players during gameplay.
With Project DualPlay, the Predator brand is innovating the gaming laptop market. The concept represents a bold step forward in gaming innovation, promising to deliver unique experiences and engagements for gamers of all levels.