GAMES
License to Thrill – Iconic Franchises and Exciting New IP Wow at Nacon Connect
Last night was an exciting night for us at Nacon! We dropped 17 new trailers at this year’s Nacon Connect, a mixture of new IP and iconic franchises meshing in a way that’s hard to ignore, especially if you’re interested in racing, strategy, ‘80s movies, Lord of the Rings, and more!
But as we check out the future of the Nacon line-up, there’s a huge Nacon publisher sale on right now with discounts on pretty much everything, including the recently released Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong. You can find the full list of games on sale at the end of this article.
We’ll Buy That for a Dollar – RoboCop: Rogue City Revealed
Welcome to Detroit; crime runs rampant as the city lies on the edge of ruin, people fighting for scraps as others live extravagant lives of luxury. Control of the Detroit Police Department is given to the Omni Consumer Products corporation in an attempt to restore order. You are that solution, RoboCop, a cyborg tasked with protecting the city.
The triumphant return of RoboCop wouldn’t feel right without the man who brought so much life into the role, and we’re excited to reveal that Peter Weller will be performing voiceover work on the game. Enjoy this first look at gameplay and for the record, “dead or alive, you’re coming with me!” (Sorry, I had to.)
RoboCop: Rogue City will be coming to Xbox Series X|S in June 2023.
Sharpen Your Blade for Steelrising on September 8
The King has gone mad, the French revolution suppressed by the mechanical armies of Louis XVI. As the streets are teeming with tireless and pitiless machines, change the course of this alternative history as Aegis, a mysterious automaton serving as the Queen’s bodyguard.
In this action RPG, you’ll be facing up against various automatons, building your own playstyle as you collect new tools and weapons in this challenging action-RPG. Additionally, newcomers to souls-like games can experience the engaging story via the assist mode that allows you to tweak damage received, stamina usage, and other levers to enjoy the game at your own pace. That said, fans of this genre should prepare themselves for something quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Steelrising is coming to Xbox Series X|S on September 8. You can pre-order here to receive the Marie-Antoinette cosmetic pack.
Protect Your Precious with Lord of the Rings: Gollum on September 1
Experience an untold story in The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, an epic action-adventure where our twisted protagonist is on a quest to regain the only thing precious to him. Torn by his fractured psyche, players will have to manage both Sméagol and Gollum on a journey that will take him across famous locales. Learn more about his time as a slave below the Dark Tower and his stay with the Elves of Mirkwood, as he interacts with iconic characters from the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on September 1.
Prepare for a Bloody Good Game Later This Year with Blood Bowl 3
What does it take to succeed in Blood Bowl? A firm knowledge of the rules. Because without that, how are you going to break them? The world’s bloodiest sport is back as the factions of Warhammer take to the pitch in contests of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck to make sure you pick up the win. And if all else fails, cheat your way to the top! After all, it’s not Blood Bowl if you’re not peeling bodies off the pitch.
Blood Bowl 3 will be coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S later this year!
Session is Skating to Version 1.0 on September 22
As part of the Xbox Game Preview program, Session: Skate Sim has been going from strength to strength with the introduction of new maps, an overhaul of the physics, improvements to the lighting, the addition of more brands, pro skaters, and more to ensure this is the most true-to-life skateboarding simulator yet.
After a lot of work and a lot of player feedback, we’re hyped to let you know that version 1 will be launching on September 22. You can expect the addition of a third city, ragdoll slams (these are a lot of fun), the introduction of a progression system dubbed the Skater Journey, and a lot more.
But for those who want to check it out now, join the Session: Skate Sim Game Preview today!
Battle Old Folk Tales and Legends in Ravenswatch
It wouldn’t be a conference without some reveals, and the team at Passtech Games has been cooking up something special for those ready to answer the call of the Ravenswatch.
This charming isometric action roguelike will let you battle through a world inspired by old folk tales and legends but revisited in a dark fantasy style and with its own unique flair. You can play solo or with up to 4 players as you look to banish the nightmares in the world of Reverie.
Get Up to Speed on Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
We also couldn’t do a Nacon Connect without talking more about Test Drive Unlimited. Earlier this year, we announced that the game would be delayed into 2023, adjusting the scope and focusing entirely on the Xbox Series X|S.
Your car and how you customize it is an extension of yourself. The two factions in Hong Kong, the Streets and Sharps live this, with an emphasis on style and culture uniquely their own, the ultimate goal being to carve that style into the streets of the city.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will be coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2023.
How Will You Survive Judgement Day?
Just a tease for the future, but if you couldn’t tell, we’re big fans of ‘80s movies, and our team at Nacon Studio Milan is working on the first survival game set in the Terminator universe. I can’t say much more for now, but this is definitely something to keep your eyes on.
That was quite a lot to get through, but these were just a few of the surprises revealed at last night’s Nacon Connect. More upcoming games, new reveals, interviews with the developers, and a whole host of other goodies to check out on the official YouTube playlist here and below:
And if you can’t wait and need something to sink your teeth into now, there are huge discounts on Nacon’s games in the sale right now on the Xbox Store — see the full list of games below. Don’t miss out!
Content Title | Content Type | Discount | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong Xbox Series X|S | Xbox Series X|S (Optimized) | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
AO Tennis 2 | Xbox One X Enhanced | 85% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Bee Simulator | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Blood Bowl 2 | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Blood Bowl 2: Legendary Edition | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Cricket 22 | Xbox Game Pass | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Farmer’s Dynasty | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Hunting Simulator 2: Elite Edition Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Hunting Simulator 2: Elite Edition Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Hunting Simulator 2 | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Hunting Simulator 2 Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Monster Truck Championship Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Monster Truck Championship Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
My Little Riding Champion | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Outcast – Second Contact | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
OVERPASS | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
OVERPASS Deluxe Edition | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Rims Racing : Ultimate Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
RiMS Racing Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
RiMS Racing Xbox Series X|S | Xbox Series X|S (Optimized) | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Rogue Lords | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 25% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Roguebook – Deluxe Edition Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 25% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Roguebook Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 25% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Roguebook Xbox Series X|S | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 25% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Rugby 22 Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 30% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Rugby 22 Xbox Series X|S | Xbox Series X|S (Optimized) | 30% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Session: Skateboarding Sim Game (Game Preview) | Game Preview | 25% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Tennis World Tour 2 | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Tennis World Tour 2 – Complete Edition Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Tennis World Tour 2 – Ace Edition | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
The Sinking City | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
The Sinking City – Necronomicon Edition | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
The Unicorn Princess | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge 2 | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong PRIMOGEN EDITION | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 50% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
V-Rally 4 Ultimate Edition | Xbox One X Enhanced | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr Complete Collection | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr Complete Upgrade Pack | Add-On | 60% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer: Chaosbane | Xbox One X Enhanced | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer: Chaosbane Magnus Edition | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Warhammer Pack: Hack and Slash | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 80% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
WRC 10 Deluxe Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S | Optimized For Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship Xbox One | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | 70% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship | Smart Delivery | 75% | Nacon Publisher Sale |
GAMES
This Week’s Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale
GAMES
The German Empire Marches to Italy in a Free Expansion Today
We have a new expansion for our WW1 Italian Front FPS game Isonzo releasing today! It’s the first part of our Caporetto season of free expansions, and features a whole new faction with the arrival of the German Empire on the Italian Front, and brings a new map for the Offensive game mode. There will be two more releases in the Caporetto season, each one with a new map to ultimately link together into a three map Caporetto Offensive.
The German faction comes with more than ten new weapons, as well as historically accurate uniforms and equipment. This first Caporetto map sees you taking part in the early stages of the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, with German troops assaulting Italian positions on the road to Caporetto. Historically it was a military disaster for Italy which brought down the government – but maybe things can go differently with you on the battlefield?
The update sees new uniforms and equipment from the German Empire for Isonzo’s six classes: Rifleman, Assault, Engineer, Officer, Marksman and Mountaineer. For those who aren’t familiar with the game, each class has different weapon, gear and perk options that allow you to specialize your play style within the overall focus of the class. For instance, Marksmen are always sharpshooters, but a lot depends on your loadout. You could be a long-range sniper and observer identifying and eliminating high value targets with a scoped rifle, or you could equip body armor to take and hold a front line position with deadly accurate mid-range fire. Every class has choices to make in this regard.
In Isonzo’s signature Offensive game mode, one side must attack and break through multiple defensive lines. Thick layers of barbed wire, trenches, and whatever extra defenses the enemy engineers put together will stand in the way of a successful attack. Objectives can be taking and holding key points, or planting dynamite to sabotage enemy supply stashes or heavy artillery guns.
The new Caporetto map – the first of three in the season – is a huge battlefield based on the strategically important Monte Kolovrat. There are five defensive lines, where each line has two objectives for the attackers before they can advance further. While in the historical Battle of Caporetto both German and Austro-Hungarian forces were involved, in Isonzo we’ve chosen to focus on the German contribution, so the map recreates the stunning German advance from the town of Tolmein all the way to Kolovrat Ridge. It’s a damp, overcast day when the attack begins, and the attackers must first cut their way through lines of wire to break into a devastated town – including capturing a church defended by multiple heavy machine gun positions. Fortunately, in Isonzo there are many tactical options available to deal with such strong points: artillery barrages, smokescreens, snipers, rifle grenades, even poison gas. From there, it becomes a literal uphill battle for the German attackers as they begin to climb towards the peak of Kolovrat Ridge. They’ll need to sabotage bunkers and capture command posts while navigating rocky trenches and steep forested slopes. At the penultimate fourth defensive line there is a huge siege mortar to sabotage and a cluster of houses providing cover to the Italian defenders – then it’s one last climb to reach the final objective: Hill 1114. If the Germans can take it, the Italians will finally be the ones fighting uphill as their reinforcements stream in to try and counterattack.
Of course, things are no walk in the park for the defenders either – although it’s easier to maneuver when going downhill, and it’s much simpler for officers to deploy flares to call in support, the extensive trench lines can become a liability once the Germans get a foothold, providing cover as they advance. Some of the Italian defensive positions can be exposed against the sky, making it easy for German marksmen to pick off targets. Italian engineers should make good use of their construction abilities to put down additional sandbags and lay out extra wire to prevent German assault troops sneaking through the trees to flank trenches with their grenades or light machine guns.
As we mentioned before, historically the Battle of Caporetto was a disaster for the Italians. Appalling leadership led to poorly motivated and unprepared troops falling apart in the face of the combined Austro-Hungarian and German armies using cutting edge infiltration tactics. The Italian soldiers were not allowed to retreat until too late, and in the end hundreds of thousands would surrender. After Caporetto the top Italian general was fired and replaced by someone far more competent, who managed to turn the war around for the Italians. In Isonzo, it’s a more fair fight where both sides have an equal chance of winning, if they can use all the tactical options available better than their opponents.
The release will also bring other improvements to the game, including a prestige mode and higher level cap. Additionally, for those who want more options for visual customization of their character, the Royal Units DLC is releasing alongside the free expansion and contains uniforms from the German Kingdoms of Bavaria and Württemberg. Though part of the German Empire, these states had their own distinctive uniforms which we’ve carefully recreated with the same accuracy and attention to detail as with the other uniforms in the game.
The Battle for Caporetto Begins…
Isonzo is available right now on the Microsoft Store for Xbox, and the free Caporetto expansion is out today! Plenty of time to master the art of mountain warfare before the German Empire joins the action on the Italian Front. Follow us to get the latest development news as we add the finishing touches!
We’ll see you in the trenches!
Isonzo
BlackMill Games
$29.99
World War One expands to the mountains of the Italian Front – beautiful but deadly in equal measure. Inspired by the two year struggle for control of the Isonzo river valley and the Alps during World War One, Isonzo elevates the WW1 Games Series, figuratively and literally.
From the makers of Verdun and Tannenberg…
Take part in historical offensives from the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo to the Strafexpedition. Reflecting the course of the actual battles, as the attackers advance the fighting will shift through vastly different landscapes within a single offensive: from hillside fortresses to mountain trenches and fierce urban combat on city streets. Everything is recreated based on research and field trips, from sound effects and uniforms down to the houses, vineyards and trenches you’ll be fighting over.
The new Offensive game mode puts you right in the middle of key historical offensives on the Italian Front. Lead the charge across stunning Italian landscapes as you choose your path to victory – cut paths through barbed wire, flank your enemies by following mountain trails, or man a mortar to blast a way through. Shape a dynamic battlefield by laying sandbags and wire, placing ammo crates, deploying trench periscopes or sniper shields, and more.
Call in support with a unique historically accurate flare system: flare guns can mark targets for artillery or biplane flybys, or different colored flares can be used to guide your team. Once the big guns have softened up the enemy, finish the job at close quarters with an Arditi dagger or mountaineer’s pickaxe. Man heavy machine guns, mortars and even mountain guns for more direct fire support.
Choose from six classes based on historical combat roles and build your loadout from a selection of weapons, equipment and perks linked to that class, giving flexibility and variety while staying grounded in what real soldiers might have carried. You’ll be operating wire cutters, bandaging yourself and wounded teammates, and blowing the whistle to start an assault. One shot can kill and even lighter injuries can lead to quickly bleeding out.
Being an effective soldier in Isonzo is not just about being a good marksman. Mastering the terrain is also key – the mountain can be a friend or foe. Learn how to navigate well to maintain cover and surprise your enemies or support your allies.
Finally… watch out for the dreaded poison gas. You’ve never experienced WW1 action quite like this!
Isonzo key features include:
• MOUNTAIN WARFARE: Assaulting mountain fortifications, battling through ruined towns, and fording rivers are just a few of the challenges you’ll face as you fight your way through numerous enemy positions
• TACTICAL MULTIPLAYER FPS: Choose your role and loadout carefully to survive this high altitude combat – play a sniper to pick off the enemy engineers before they can cut your wire, use rifle grenades to clear enemy machine guns, and much more
• WORLD WAR ONE GAMEPLAY: Historical Offensive game mode based on real battles and focused on the unique challenges of Alpine warfare. Fight with 30+ WW1 weapons, poisonous gas attacks, and intense artillery barrages
• BUILD FOR VICTORY: Place your own wire, sandbags, trench periscopes, and more! Whether you’re digging in or on the attack, shaping the battlefield to your advantage will be key to victory
• FACES OF WAR: Make every class your own by picking from a variety of historically class-appropriate uniforms, accessories and headgear. As a finishing touch, you can even pick your mustache from several famous period-accurate styles!
• AUTHENTIC WW1 ATMOSPHERE: Accuracy in everything from maps and weaponry to music and the uniforms – fight for the Kingdom of Italy, the German Empire or the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy
MORE GAMES IN THE AUTHENTIC WW1 GAME SERIES
Immerse yourself in more WW1 action with our other standalone titles Tannenberg and Verdun. Experience trench warfare on the Western Front in Verdun, or maneuver for control of key sectors in Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. These authentic WW1 shooters let players choose from a range of squads from across the war, as they fight for control of the ever-changing frontlines.
GAMES
Transport Fever 2: Console Edition is Bringing the Full Transport Tycoon Experience to Xbox
Today, we proudly share a sneak peek into the development of Transport Fever 2: Console Edition, and how we managed to bring the full transport tycoon experience to Xbox.
Transport Fever is a very popular and highly rated transportation tycoon franchise on PC. Its latest entry, Transport Fever 2, delivers a level of size and detail never before seen in the genre. The goal of the game is to build a successful transportation company by constructing railroads, streets, water and air lines. Starting in the 19th century, the player connects towns and industries to transport both passengers and cargo. In addition to a customizable free game mode, there is also a fully-fledged campaign mode with challenging missions set in real-world transportation history.
After the huge success of Transport Fever 2 on PC, it was only logical to bring the experience to consoles as well. Not only that, but no efforts were spared to give the console community the full experience that made the game great on PC. In order to achieve this, the engineers at Urban Games had to pull some rabbits out of their engineers’ hats.
Always providing the freshest layer of paint
One of the most cherished features of Transport Fever 2 are its highly detailed vehicles. The game comes with more than 200 lovingly hand-modeled trains, ships, and airplanes, each sporting multiple 4k textures and normal maps.
On PC, it is easily affordable to have all the models and textures in memory whenever needed, as a typical rig has 16 GB of RAM and a GPU with a dedicated extra memory. Consoles, however, are built differently. They have a unified architecture with an overall smaller amount but ultra-fast memory. The key to make it work on consoles is texture streaming, which allows to clear textures of models that are not in view anymore. Moreover, this technology is used in Transport Fever 2 to constantly load textures at the highest affordable resolution to present the stars of the show, like the classic Class A 3/5 steam locomotive, in their best coat of paint at all times.
Keeping the ground like a console pro
A trademark of Transport Fever 2 are its huge maps. During development of the game, it was always paramount to provide a real sense of scale. The engine should allow for maps where a high-speed train, such as the famous Japanese Shinkansen, can really make use of its superior speed. So, a lot of effort was put into designing a highly effective terrain rendering pipeline that can handle maps of more than 120 sq miles of size with a detail resolution of almost 1 yard. Central to this is a dynamic terrain tessellation algorithm on the CPU that, while costing a bit of extra memory, makes sure the engine can render these maps on a wide variety of PCs.
Now, enter the world of consoles with their incredibly well-designed GPUs and graphic APIs. Here, the hardware can be leveraged very well for terrain rendering by making use of the GPU tessellation feature. This feature generates the render mesh for the terrain fully on the graphics card, saving valuable processing time for the complex economy and city growth simulations. While generating more triangles, the hardware approach still costs less memory overall due to its efficiency. So vast maps can be viewed from a bird’s view high up in the sky and seamlessly zoomed in down to individual rocks on a riverbank.
Inspiring the inner architect
Finally, let’s talk about constructions, a central and defining part of the Transport Fever 2 experience. Constructions are large assemblies that consist of dozens of assets, street segments, ground decals and terrain modifications. Think of structures like airports, train stations, docks, highway crossings, and many more. Anything that is needed to build a vast transportation empire.
For a smooth construction experience, it is key that the player really feels that he has precise control over the building placement. On PC, constructions are typically built using the mouse. As the average PC user is very well adjusted to this method of input, it is sufficiently performant to calculate the entire construction each frame and place it under the cursor. However, on consoles, the best way of building constructions is to have them always kept in the center of the screen and move the camera along the map for placement. And moving the camera needs to be as smooth as silk.
So, for the console release of Transport Fever 2, the construction preview pipeline was overhauled. All dynamic calculations are now performed in the background while a static preview of the structure and its underlying ground plan are shown. Not only are constructions now completely stable in terms of FPS, but they also give feedback to the player on what environment features the construction would tear down when built.
Let’s get tycooning on console
We are very excited to bring the Transport Fever franchise to consoles for the first time ever with the release of Transport Fever 2: Console Edition on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One in February 2023, and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did developing it.
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