9th DLC pack for DCUO presents thrilling multiplayer action with the Red and the Blue Lantern Corps

Hi there,

You can download screenshots in support of this story from our livedrive, including the full press release, the text of which is below:

Unterföhring – Dec. 11, 2013 – The European Publisher ProSiebenSat.1 Games and Developer Sony Online Entertainment, LLC (SOE) today announced the next installment in the DC Universe™ Online (DCUO) narrative, War of the Light Part I. Introducing a brand-new storyline, the ninth downloadable content (DLC) pack introduces the Blue Lantern Corps to DCUO and brings a new power set – Rage, which can be used by both heroes and villains. Players will also have access to new Legends PvP characters – Saint Walker and Atrocitus. The DLC will be available for download on the PC early next year.

“Our first DLC introduced Light Powers and allowed players to feel the awesome abilities of the Power Rings employed by Hal Jordan and Sinestro in the pages of the comics,” said Jens Andersen, Senior Creative Director for DC Universe Online.  “With War of the Light Part I, we are adding another light power to the mix, this one fueled by the Red Light of Rage. Rage Powers will have a brand new tanking mechanic for players to master, adding a whole new strategy to group content.”

Added Andersen, “War of the Light Part I will let players explore new and reimagined environments in DCUO. They will notice changes to Metropolis, which has been affected by this new war of light, and for the first time they will journey to Mogo, the sentient Green Lantern Planet, and Ranx, the Sentient Sinestro Corp City. These environments play a big part in the storyline and we look forward to expanding each of them as the trilogy unfolds.”

War of the Light Part I is one of three upcoming downloadable content packs that focus on characters that manipulate power from the Emotional Spectrum. Players can expect to see additional corps introduced by the end of the trilogy.
In War of the Light Part I, lanterns of all colors have lost connection with their emotional spectrum entities. Following cryptic evidence, four Corps – Green, Blue, Sinestro, and Red – converged on Earth determined to find their entities. The clash of Lantern Corps has resulted in a new war of light, centered in Downtown Metropolis and nearby sentient planets Mogo and Ranx. Players must team up with Hal Jordan or Sinestro in high-level multiplayer adventures to investigate the colored mists that have descended upon Metropolis and are affecting the citizens’ emotions.

War of the Light Part I will include:

• New Rage Power – The game’s 12th Power Set is a product of red light of rage and can be utilized for both good and evil. Heroes and villains who wield the tank power will notice its abilities have a berserker style feel. 
• New 4-Player Operations – Unusual colored mists have appeared and caused a new war of light, centered in Downtown Metropolis, Mogo and Ranx. With the help of friends, including Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner on the hero’s side, and Hank Henshaw and Sinestro on the villain’s side, players must uncover the origin of the mysterious mists.
• New 8-Player Operation  – The Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps clash while investigating the mists in this new raid that takes place on Mogo and Ranx.
• New Legends PvP Characters – War of the Light Part I introduces two new Lanterns – the violent Atrocitus and the agile Saint Walker.
• New gear and collections.

DCUO’s War of the Light Part I DLC pack will be a free download for the game’s Legendary members and will be available later this winter for purchase by Free and Premium players via the DCUniverseOnline.eu website.
DCUO is licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Entertainment. For more information about DCUO, visit www.DCUniverseOnline.eu.

Hi there,

Daniel Hasselberg, CEO of MAG Interactive, made the announcement today on stage at Slush 2013 in Helsinki that the company had secured a funding round of $6m, led by Nokia Growth Partners. The text of the press release is below, or you can download a PDF of the release from here.

Assets to support the story can be grabbed right here.

If you need any further information or would like to arrange an interview with Daniel or another member of the team, please contact Lina who will be happy to help - or call her on +46 70 555 3971.

Swedish game developer raises funds to accelerate plans for global growth and draw on investor experience

Stockholm, Sweden – November 13, 2013 – MAG Interactive has secured a $6 million USD funding round from Nokia Growth Partners and a private investor. The investment was revealed by MAG Interactive CEO, Daniel Hasselberg, on stage at Slush 2013 start-up conference in Helsinki, cementing the future of a company poised to accelerate its plans for further growth in the mobile gaming space. This follows the success of its first title, word game Ruzzle, which debuted in March 2012 and has driven strong and consistently increasing profits for the company since its launch. Ruzzle has been downloaded more than 45 Million times and achieved top ten placements in over 148 countries around the world on a broad range of mobile platforms.

Daniel Hasselberg explained: “Bringing such an experienced investment group on board at this stage of our development allows us to create a portfolio of successful games, while maintaining the DNA of our company. Becoming a significant studio recognised for mobile social games has been achieved by our commitment to constant improvement of our products, an approach that has made Ruzzle such a global success story. We are looking forward to working with NGP to maximise the opportunities its investment brings.”

Walter Masalin, Principal at Nokia Growth Partners added “NGP is looking for people that can build large sustainable companies and Daniel and the MAG team have demonstrated great potential with their first titles. They are on track building the next major global gaming company from Scandinavia.”

Ruzzle is an addictive, fast-paced puzzle game that challenges players to compete to find as many words as possible from a given set of letters on a four by four grid in two minutes by sliding a finger from letter to letter. Simple to learn but fiendishly difficult to master, Ruzzle can be played in 13 different languages and is available for free on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle and Blackberry platforms.

###

About MAG Interactive
MAG Interactive started app development for third parties the day Apple’s App Store opened. After several years refining its services as a leading third party developer for other companies, in 2011 MAG Interactive embarked on developing its own apps, launching its first game, Ruzzle, in March 2012. It became an immediate success and has been in the top ten list in 148 countries.
Located in Stockholm, Sweden, the company is recruiting new, talented staff while maintaining the creative culture that has led to its huge commercial success.
Find Mag Interactive at http://www.maginteractive.se, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/maginteractive and follow on Twitter, @maginteractive

About Nokia Growth Partners (NGP)
Nokia Growth Partners invests in companies that are changing the face of mobility, communications and the internet. NGP offers industry expertise, capital and an extensive network, enabling entrepreneurs to build disruptive, industry-changing companies and take them to the global market.  With offices in the US, Europe, India and China, NGP extends the reach of companies making their products and services local everywhere. Visit www.nokiagrowthpartners.com for more information.

CONTACT:
Lina Svanholt Sims
Mag Interactive
lina@maginteractive.se
+46 70 555 3971

Hi there,

On behalf of ProSiebenSat.1 Games, we're delighted to announce the tenth expansion for Everquest II - in its tenth anniversary year.

You can download the full press release and screenshots from here, a making of video from here, or watch the video / grab embed codes from YouTube here.

You can also watch or grab embed codes for the launch trailer here. The original trailer file will be on the FTP site (scroll down for details) later today.

Acclaimed MMO Reaches 10th Expansion

Munich/San Diego – November 13th, 2013 – Sony Online Entertainment, LLC (SOE) and ProSiebenSat.1 Games today announced the launch of EverQuest®II: Tears of Veeshan™, the 10th expansion for the hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The Tears of Veeshan expansion features engaging new content, including a compelling storyline to experience, a new overland realm to explore, massive dungeons, dragon-themed Alternative Advancements (AAs), the new Channeler class, and a host of challenging quests and items.

“EverQuest II will reach a variety of major milestones over the next year, from today’s 10th expansion launch of Tears of Veeshan, through next year’s 10th anniversary celebration,” said Holly Longdale, Sr. Producer, EverQuest II. “Our team remains as dedicated today as it was during EQII’s initial launch. This expansion carries on our tradition of delivering rich features and content… only this time we’ve filled the skies with an army of everyone’s favorite winged beasts!”

EverQuest II: Tears of Veeshan is set amongst the Eternal Broodlands, resting place of the dragon dead. Here, players will rediscover familiar fallen dragons, including Yelinak (now the keeper of the Vesspyr Isles), and learn of Kerafyrm the Awakened’s quest to rule all. Using his stolen Tear of Veeshan, Kerafyrm’s fearsome power now threatens Norrath. Players are called upon to fight the Awakened’s draconic army, shine light into the world’s looming darkness, and set the tone for a new Age’s beginning.

EverQuest II: Tears of Veeshan content and features include:

• Overland Dragon Realm – Venture through Vesspyr, the Eternal Broodlands, while seeking quests, collections, and more!
• Variety of Quests – Signature, story, tradeskill, point-of-interest and dropped quests, missions and collections.
• New Dungeons (9) – Experience unique local stories across new dungeons, including Temple of Veeshan (3), High Keep (2), Nexus Core, Chamber of Stasis, Stratum of the Protectors, and the Fractured Hive.
• Dragon-Themed Alternate Advancements (AAs) – A new line of AAs (healer, warrior, mage, and scout) dedicated to iconic dragons.
• New Channeler Class – Wield your bow while taking advantage of this new Priest class’s “dissonance” energy, intercept healing mechanics, and Construct pets.
• Additional Features and Content – New itemization focused on flexibility and play style choices, AA limit raised to 340, tradeskill apprentice items, and a new PvP item tier.

EverQuest II: Tears of Veeshan is rated T for Teen by the ESRB with the content descriptors for suggestive themes and the use of alcohol and violence. Tears of Veeshan is available for €40. The Collector’s Edition, which includes several in-game bonus items, is available for €85. EverQuest II is a Free to Play. Your Way™ title for PC systems via digital download in Europe via ProSiebenSat.1Games.

Standard and Collector’s Edition items include:

STANDARD EDITION

• Aeraykn Monk Mercenary: “Slymar”

COLLECTOR'S EDITION

• Aeraykn Monk Mercenary: “Slymar”
• Ethernere Enclave Prestige Home
• Darkcrow Etherwing Mount
• Painting: Tears of Veeshan
• Potion: 1x2 HR 100% XP
• Shissar Custodian Plushie

For more information on Tears of Veeshan, please visit our website.

About EverQuest II
EverQuest II is the epitome of massively multiplayer gaming, a huge online world that blends deep features, heritage, and community. Featuring breathtaking graphics and a vast, beautiful game world to explore, EverQuest II sets the standard for graphical realism as players are immersed in the game’s exciting locales, mysterious lands, intense battles, exciting quests, and amazing achievements.

EverQuest II features a powerful epic storyline and gives players the power to be the hero or villain in their personal adventure. Players enter this world by creating their own unique character, choosing from 20 races and 26 classes. Players will encounter thousands of creatures as they travel across a majestic landscape of enchanted forests, deadly volcanic plains, rolling hills, and bustling cities. Thousands of items, hundreds of spells, and unlimited adventure await all who enter the world of EverQuest II.

For press assets please visit our press ftp:

ftp.p7S1games.net
Username: press
Password: slurp

About ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH
The games publisher ProSiebenSat.1 Games is a subsidiary of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group focusing on the licensing and marketing of online and mobile games, as well as the acquisition of games partners throughout Europe. The company's portfolio includes, among others, S4 League, Maestia and Florensia as well as Europe-wide licenses to several games from Sony Online Entertainment, including DC Universe™ Online, EverQuest® II, PlanetSide® 2, Wizardry Online®, and the sequel to the EverQuest® franchise.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games. Best known for its blockbuster hits and franchises, including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, PlanetSide®, Free Realms®, Star Wars®:  Clone Wars Adventures™, DC Universe™ Online, and PlanetSide®2, SOE creates, develops and provides compelling online entertainment for a variety of platforms. SOE is building on its proven legacy and pioneering the future of online worlds through creative development and inspired gameplay design for audiences of all ages. To learn more, visit www.soe.com.

SOE, the SOE logo, Free to Play. Your Way™, EverQuest, Champions of Norrath, PlanetSide, and Free Realms are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Hi there,

Phase 1 of Operation: Make Faster Game (OMFG) is a go! You can download the full press release from here.

Munich, Germany, November 13, 2013 – Today, the European Publisher and Developer Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) released PlanetSide 2’s first major optimization patch to the live servers.  The huge Phase 1 patch of OMFG is now live on the European PlanetSide 2 servers!

This first phase of OMFG includes optimized UI, physics, sound, player processing, rendering code and more. These improvements will allow PlanetSide 2 players to experience a significant increase in frame rate and performance. In many cases, players will see a 30%+ improvement in frame rates. The team will continue to elevate the game’s optimization levels, focusing on engineering improvements to the visibility and physics systems for Phase 2 of OMFG.

For full details on Phase 1 of OMFG, please visit this page.

For more info on OMFG, please see these recent posts from Technical Director Ryan Elam, Phase 1 on Test Servers

What is OMFG?

The PlanetSide 2 team has been documenting the entire OMFG process. To get a glimpse of the development process, check out all the episodes of OMFG on YouTube here.

Phase 1 of OMFG is now on the live servers and it's time to join the fight!

For more information about PlanetSide 2, check out http://www.planetside2.eu

Check us out on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/PlanetSide2Europe

Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PS2EU

Assets for ProSieben Sat.1 Games can also be downloaded from their FTP site:

Address: ftp.p7S1games.net
Username: press
Password: slurp

For further inforomation, UK and Nordic media should please contact Tom, Lina or Tim at Renegade PR.

Hi there,

On behalf of Irrational Games, we're delighted to announce that BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 1 is available for download starting today, exact timing depending on format. Please find below the text of the press release.

You can download screenhots and the original release from here, and a launch video from here - alternatively, head here to watch the launch video or grab embed codes.

Any questions, contact Tim, Tom or Lina at Renegade PR as usual!

Return to Rapture in a story that brings Booker and Elizabeth to the underwater city on the eve of its fall from grace

Windsor, UK – November 12, 2013 – 2K and Irrational Games announced today that BioShock® Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1 is available for download worldwide* on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC starting today.

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1, developed by Irrational Games, is the second add-on content pack for the award-winning BioShock Infinite, and features Booker and Elizabeth in a film noir-style story that places them in a shining Rapture on the eve of its fall from grace.

GamesTM recently called BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1: “…intelligent, indulgent and nostalgic in equal measure, left dangling on a transfixing narrative hook.” Xbox360Achievements claimed it to be: “…a masterclass in how story-driven DLC should be.” IGN concluded: “It feels damn good to be back in Rapture.”

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1 can be purchased separately for £11.99, or as part of the BioShock Infinite Season Pass, which is priced at £15.99. The Season Pass, which is available for purchase via online marketplaces on all available platforms starting today, contains £27 of playable content for £15.99, including both Burial at Sea episodes, the previously released Clash in the Clouds add-on pack, as well as the Early Bird Special Pack that has powerful weapon upgrades, exclusive gold weapon skins and infusion bottles to upgrade player abilities.

“It’s been particularly rewarding to return to Rapture with Booker and Elizabeth,” said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games. “We were inspired by both Columbia’s and Rapture’s storylines, and merged them into something new. The icing on the cake is seeing the BioShock Infinite team build entirely new sections of the underwater city in the Infinite engine.”

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 2 is in development at Irrational Games and brings gamers something they have been asking for since they first met the character of Elizabeth: the chance to see the world through her eyes and face challenges as she would. In this second episode of Burial at Sea, players will experience a new storyline, and a new stealth-oriented gameplay experience.

BioShock Infinite is rated PEGI 18 and is available now for the PS3™ system, Xbox 360, Mac® and Windows PC. For the latest news and information on BioShock Infinite, become a fan on Facebook and follow Irrational Games on Twitter.

* BioShock Infinite is not included in this add-on content, but is required to play all of the included content.

About BioShock Infinite

From the creators of the highest-rated first-person shooter of all time**, BioShock, BioShock Infinite puts players in the shoes of U.S. Cavalry veteran turned hired gun, Booker DeWitt. Indebted to the wrong people and with his life on the line, DeWitt has only one opportunity to wipe his slate clean. He must rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious girl imprisoned since childhood and locked up in the flying city of Columbia. Forced to trust one another, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond during their daring escape. Together, they learn to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, as they fight on zeppelins in the clouds, along high-speed Sky-Lines, and down in the streets of Columbia, all while surviving the threats of the air-city and uncovering its dark secret.

**Based on Metacritic average ranking across available platforms.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe.  The Company develops and publishes products through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K.  Our products are designed for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment globally for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, which are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, sports, casual, and family entertainment. The 2K label has some of the most talented development studios in the world today, including Firaxis Games, Visual Concepts, Irrational Games, 2K Marin, 2K Australia, 2K Czech, Cat Daddy Games and 2K China. 2K’s stable of high quality titles includes the critically acclaimed BioShock®, Borderlands™ and XCOM® franchises, the beloved Sid Meier’s Civilization series, the popular WWE 2K franchise and NBA 2K, the #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise***. 2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information, please visit www.2K.com.

***According to 2008 - 2013 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through September 2013.

About Irrational Games

Located near Boston, Massachusetts, Irrational Games is widely recognized as one of the industry's leading game developers. Irrational has earned a reputation for creating story-driven, genre-defining games with award-winning hits like System Shock 2, Freedom Force, the original BioShock, and BioShock Infinite. For more information, visit http://www.irrationalgames.com.

Irrational Games is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company's future business and financial performance.  Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.  Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles for current and next-generation platforms, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, our ability to raise capital if needed and risks associated with international operations.  Other important factors and information are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, in the section entitled "Risk Factors," the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013, and the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com.  All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

# # #

 

Hi there,

A few of you are already aware of the Beta program for GunZ 2 which is nearing its final stages. For those of you new to the game, here's the low-down on the latest Beta.

Screenshots can be downloaded, plus the full version of the press release, from here. For further information about GunZ 2: The Second Duel, please contact Tim, Tom or Lina.

We have Beta keys available for anyone interested, or for your readers if you wants to offer a bunch.

Munich, November 7th, 2013 - The European online game publisher ProSiebenSat.1 Games and the Korean studio MAIET Entertainment will launch the 3rd and final phase of the closed beta for their title GunZ 2: The Second Duel today. Between November 7th, 4:00 p.m. CET and November 10th, 11:59 p.m. CET, the third-person action game will be put to the final test by the dedicated closed beta participants.

Can we fix it? Yes, we can!

The team at the Korean game studio MAIET Entertainment has until recently been implementing numerous adjustments and enhancements in order to improve the Gunz 2: The Second Duel test build’s network code and matchmaking system. Some of the closed beta phase 2 participants had recently reported network-related communication issues and problems with finding player matches.

Short and sweet

Phase 3 is scheduled to last only four days.This short 3rd and final closed beta phase is to achieve a pass on an extensive stress test for the adjusted network code as well as a load test for the completely revised matchmaking system of GunZ 2: The Second Duel. ProSiebenSat.1 Games and MAIET Entertainment would like to take this chance to thank all participants. We hope you enjoy GunZ 2: The Second Duel – see you on the battlefield!

About GunZ 2: The Second Duel

GunZ 2: The Second Duel is an action-packed online game, in which two factions of valiant warriors clash: the Axium Empire and the Republic of Travia. Get ready for exciting combat in elaborately designed environments, where fighters rely on stunning acrobatics and spectacular stunts as well as lead bullets. With additionally enhanced controls, amazing real-time physics and thrilling boss battles, GunZ 2: The Second Duel is bound to set a new benchmark for its genre.

GunZ 2: The Second Duel will be released in the fourth quarter of 2013, and will be free-to-play on PC.

Learn more about GunZ 2: The Second Duel here: www.gunz2.eu

About ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH

ProSiebenSat.1 Games is a game publishing subsidiary of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group with specialisation in Europe-wide licensing and marketing of online and mobile games as well as the acquisition of partners in the gaming sector. Its portfolio includes S4 League, Maestia, and Florensia, as well as Europe-wide licenses for several Sony Online Entertainment games such as DC Universe™ Online, EverQuest® II, PlanetSide® 2, and the sequel of the EverQuest® franchise.

About MAIET Entertainment, Inc.

MAIET Entertainment, Inc. is an independent game development studio based in Seoul, South Korea. MAIET Entertainment, Inc. previously delivered the conceptual design and development for successful online games such as AceSaga, Gunz the Duel, and RaiderZ. The team at MAIET Entertainment shares the common goal of inspiring gamers worldwide with unique online gaming experiences.

How a bunch of PlayStation Move cameras, several bits of wire, a flashlight and a dollop of ingenuity can replace a mutli-million pound mo-cap facility...

Hi there,

5 Lives Studios' Mitch Clifford explains how Kickstarter-funded Satellite Reign can compete with products with huge animation teams by using a smarter, leaner animation pipeline. It's a good watch people!

You can download the original video from here, or alternatively you can watch the video or grab embed codes from YouTube.

You can check out the first Diary entry at the official Satellite Reign website.

Gamers keen to back the project can still make pledges via PayPal - all the details are available here.

For further information about Satellite Reign, please contact Tim at Renegade PR.

About Satellite Reign

Satellite Reign is a real-time, class-based strategy game. You control a squad of four agents, each with distinct and unique abilities, as they vie for control of a fully simulated, living, cyberpunk city.

The game world is designed to facilitate emergent gameplay, giving you the tools and freedom to play how you want to play, so you can create strategies and scenarios that not even we had anticipated!

Customise your team with the strength to destroy your enemies head-on, or hack into their facilities to manipulate their infrastructure without them ever knowing you were even there.

Will you take down your enemies with brute-force? Covert espionage and infiltration? Or will you use propaganda to influence the citizens of the city and overthrow the controlling powers?

Satellite Reign will be released on Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

Successful Swedish start-up hits milestones just 18 months after the original iOS version launched

Stockholm, Sweden – November 1st, 2013 – MAG Interactive announced today that over 12 billion rounds of its smash-hit word game Ruzzle have been played to date – and that downloads have now reached 45 million globally.

Developed in Stockholm by a small team of talented developers led by Chief Executive Daniel Hasselberg, Ruzzle debuted on the App Store for iOS in March 2012, hitting more than 45 million downloads on mobile devices just 18 months after launch.

“We are proud that Ruzzle has hit such staggering milestones,” said Daniel Hasselberg, CEO of developer MAG Interactive. “Since its launch, we have continuously improved the game. Even when it started to take off, we didn’t stop refining the game and still have more ideas and plans to create the best possible product. Our players appreciate this and share their love of Ruzzle across social networks and by word of mouth, leading to the steady growth in downloads. At the same time, the sophisticated match-making system keeps players motivated to challenge each other competitively, collectively playing over 12 billion rounds to date.

“It’s proof that a small, motivated team can produce and maintain an excellent product. While we remain tightly focused, we are actively looking for more talented people to join our team and help take the company to new heights as part of the vibrant development scene in our home city of Stockholm.”

Ruzzle is an addictive, fast-paced puzzle game that challenges players to compete to find as many words as possible from a given set of letters on a four by four grid in two minutes by sliding a finger from letter to letter. Simple to learn but fiendishly difficult to master, Ruzzle can be played in 13 different languages and is available for free on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle and Blackberry platforms.

Interesting Ruzzle-related statistics, newly revealed:

• MAG Interactive partners over 4 million random opponents every day.
• Collectively all Ruzzle players have swiped a distance that would get you to the moon and back 26 times.
• When they first start to play Ruzzle, players find an average of 18 words; by the time they have played 100 matches, they find an average of 51 words.
• Top players can average over 180 words per round, more than 1.5 words per second.

###

Please access our filestore for images and information to support this news release right here.

About MAG Interactive

MAG Interactive started making apps the day Apple’s App Store opened. Initially developing iOS titles for other companies, in 2011 MAG Interactive embarked on developing its own apps, launching its first game, Ruzzle, in March 2012. It became an immediate success and has been in the top ten list in 148 countries.

Located in Stockholm, Sweden, the company is recruiting new, talented staff while maintaining the creative culture that has led to its huge commercial success.

Find Mag Interactive at http://www.maginteractive.se, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/maginteractive and follow on Twitter, @maginteractive

Hi there,

We're delighted to announce that BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 1 has been dated - available for download starting November 12th.

The text of the announcement is below, or you can download the full press release here.

For further information please contact Tim or visit our filestore for assets.

 

Return to Rapture in a story that brings Booker and Elizabeth to the underwater city on the eve of its fall from grace.

New York, NY – October 25, 2013 – 2K and Irrational Games announced today that BioShock® Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1, the second add-on content pack for the award-winning BioShock Infinite, will be available for download worldwide* on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC starting November 12.

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1, developed by Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BioShock and BioShock Infinite, features Rapture as you’ve never seen it before—a shining jewel at the bottom of the ocean, built almost entirely from scratch in the BioShock Infinite game engine. Join Booker and Elizabeth in a film noir-style story that places them in a shining, pristine Rapture on the eve of its fall from grace. Explore the underwater city, try your hand at a grift or two, and even encounter some old “friends” from the original BioShock.

The combat experience has been rebalanced and reworked with a greater emphasis on stealth and resource management that merges the best parts of BioShock and BioShock Infinite. It includes a new weapon, an old favorite weapon from the original BioShock, the return of the weapon wheel, a new Plasmid, new Gear, and Tears.

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1 will be available via online marketplaces on all participating platforms starting November 12, and can be purchased separately for £11.99, or as part of the BioShock Infinite Season Pass. The Season Pass, which is currently available for purchase, contains over £23 of playable content for £15.99, including both Burial at Sea episodes, the previously released Clash in the Clouds add-on pack, as well as the Early Bird Special Pack that has powerful weapon upgrades, exclusive gold weapon skins, and infusion bottles to upgrade player abilities.

“This is a love letter to the fans, but it’s also the beginning of a story that will give gamers a new perspective on the BioShock universe,” said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games. “With Burial at Sea, we built a Rapture not from BioShock and BioShock Infinite scraps and pieces, but with environments almost entirely crafted from scratch.”

Still in development at Irrational Games, and also included in the Season Pass, is BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 2, which brings gamers something they have been asking for since they first met the character of Elizabeth: the chance to see the world through her eyes and face challenges as she would. In this second episode of Burial at Sea, players will experience a new storyline, and a new stealth-oriented gameplay experience.

The previously released add-on content pack, Clash in the Clouds, allows players to take Elizabeth and Booker through a series of unique and intense challenges, and combine the diverse toolset of weapons, Vigors, Gear, Tears and Sky-Lines in all-new ways. This combat-focused content features 60 Blue Ribbon challenges in four stunning new environments. By completing challenges, players will delve deeper into the world of BioShock Infinite via the Columbian Archeological Society, gaining access to Voxophones, Kinetoscopes, concept art and more.

BioShock Infinite is rated PEGI 18 and is available now for the Xbox 360, PS3™, Mac®, and Windows PC. For the latest news and information on BioShock Infinite, become a fan on Facebook and follow Irrational Games on Twitter.

* BioShock Infinite is not included in this add-on content, but is required to play all of the included content.

About BioShock Infinite

From the creators of the highest-rated first-person shooter of all time**, BioShock, BioShock Infinite puts players in the shoes of U.S. Cavalry veteran turned hired gun, Booker DeWitt. Indebted to the wrong people and with his life on the line, DeWitt has only one opportunity to wipe his slate clean. He must rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious girl imprisoned since childhood and locked up in the flying city of Columbia. Forced to trust one another, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond during their daring escape. Together, they learn to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, as they fight on zeppelins in the clouds, along high-speed Sky-Lines, and down in the streets of Columbia, all while surviving the threats of the air-city and uncovering its dark secret.

**Based on Metacritic average ranking across available platforms

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe.  The Company develops and publishes products through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K.  Our products are designed for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment globally for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, which are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, sports, casual, and family entertainment. The 2K label has some of the most talented development studios in the world today, including Firaxis Games, Visual Concepts, Irrational Games, 2K Marin, 2K Australia, 2K Czech, Cat Daddy Games and 2K China. 2K’s stable of high quality titles includes the critically acclaimed BioShock®, Borderlands™ and XCOM® franchises, the beloved Sid Meier’s Civilization series, the popular WWE 2K franchise and NBA 2K, the #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise***. 2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information, please visit www.2K.com.

***According to 2008 - 2013 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through September 2013.

About Irrational Games

Located near Boston, Massachusetts, Irrational Games is widely recognized as one of the industry's leading game developers. Irrational has earned a reputation for creating story-driven, genre-defining games with award-winning hits like System Shock 2, Freedom Force, the original BioShock, and BioShock Infinite. For more information, visit http://www.irrationalgames.com.

Irrational Games is a 2K Games studio. 2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company's future business and financial performance.  Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.  Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles for current and next-generation platforms, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, our ability to raise capital if needed and risks associated with international operations.  Other important factors and information are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, in the section entitled "Risk Factors," the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013, and the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com.  All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

# # #

BioShock Creative Director and Co-Founder of Irrational Games to receive inaugural award

Friday 25th October 2013, The Westminster Park Plaza

Hi there,

The Golden Joystick Awards presented by Green Man Gaming today announces that Ken Levine, BioShock Creative Director and Co-Founder of Irrational Games, will be bestowed with a special Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s ceremony.

For the first time in its 31 year history, the Golden Joystick Awards will honour an individual for their lifetime’s work by celebrating Levine’s creative accomplishments ranging from1999’s System Shock 2 to 2013’s BioShock Infinite.

Recognised as a luminary of the gaming world, Levine led the creation of the five-million-unit-selling, multiple-game-of-the-year-winning BioShock. As the highest-rated first-person-shooter of all time, the masterpiece helped spark the ‘games as art’ debate. Levine’s latest game, BioShock Infinite, released in March this year, has already won 88 awards and has sold more than four million units to date.

Described by legendary film director Guillermo del Toro as ‘one of the best world creators in any of the visual forms’, Levine is also penning a screenplay based on the sci-fi tale Logan’s Run for Warner Bros.

Upon hearing the news, Levine took a moment to contemplate the time he has spent in the industry: “In most fields, people begin their careers being inspired by others. In turn, they hopefully end up inspiring others. The great thing about the still-maturing nature of video games is you get to be inspired by the work of novices and veterans alike. We're all figuring out day by day exactly what the medium is capable of.”

Tim Clark, Group Senior Editor - Golden Joysticks and Future Games says: “From spaceships infected with extraterrestrial intelligence to the brutal politics of a city beyond the clouds, Ken Levine’s games transport players to new worlds that are as rich as they are dark. Best known for the critically-acclaimed BioShock series, his exploration of player choice and consequence, as well as his dizzying imaginative design work and storytelling, continues to be a huge influence on game makers around the world. As this year's BioShock Infinite proved, Levine is one of the most interesting creators working in games – and its fitting that he should be the inaugural winner of our Lifetime Achievement award.”

The Golden Joystick Awards are the world’s most popular and credible games awards and celebrate the very best in the gaming industry. Levine was selected for the honour by a group of gaming experts made up from Future’s enviable portfolio of games brands, including CVG, GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, Official PlayStation Magazine, Edge and PC Gamer. The award will be in addition to the 15 fiercely contested gamer-voted categories, including Most Wanted in association with Playfire, Best Gaming Moment in association with Absolute Radio, Best Gaming Platform in association with Digital Spy and The YouTube Gamer Award.

Levine has just wrapped up his work on BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1, the new add-on content pack for BioShock Infinite and is currently working on BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 2, which brings gamers something they have been asking for since they first met the character of Elizabeth: the chance to see the world through her eyes and face challenges as Elizabeth would.

The Golden Joystick Awards will take place at The Westminster Park Plaza on Friday 25th October, 2013. For more information on the Golden Joystick Awards, visit http://www.goldenjoystick.com

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Future:
Ben Bolton, Senior Communications Executive, at ben.bolton@futurenet.com or 020 7042 4034 and 07940 530424

Or

Ben Pester, Communications Manager, at ben.pester@futurenet.com or 0207 042 4035 and 07737 138 384

Irrational Games:
Leonie Manshanden, lmanshanden@irrationalgames.com, +1 (617) 934-0772

Or

Renegade PR: for Irrational Games in the UK: Tim Ponting, tim@renegadepr.com, 07582 887 114

About the Golden Joystick Awards presented by Green Man Gaming:

Established in 1982, the Golden Joystick Awards is the world’s longest-running and best-known gaming awards. It’s the only annual major awards voted for by gamers and a highlight of the games industry calendar. In 2012, it attracted a record 4 million votes, breaking its own record as the World’s Most Popular Videogames Awards by Guinness World Records. The Golden Joystick Awards presented by Green Man Gaming 2013 ceremony takes place on October 25th at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza.

About Future plc:

• Future plc is an international media group and leading digital business, listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR).
• We have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating more than 200 publications, apps, websites and events.
• We hold market-leading positions in Technology, Games, Guitar, Creative and Sport & Auto sectors.
• We attract more than 51 million monthly global unique users to our websites, which include techradar.com, gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com and musicradar.com.
• Future sold more than 24 million magazines last year, that’s 45 magazines sold every minute. Our most well-known brands include T3, Cycling Plus, Total Film, Mollie Makes and Official Xbox Magazine.
• Future has developed its own app-creation software, FutureFolio. We produce over 100 digital editions, and have now sold over five million digital copies.
• Future exports or syndicates 225 publications to over 89 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content.
• Future has been named Consumer Digital Publisher of the Year for three years in a row by the Association of Online Publishers (2011, 2012, 2013) and has been named the Professional Publishers Association Digital Publisher of the Year for two consecutive years (2012, 2013). Future is also the British Media Awards Media Company of the Year.