Author: sick skills

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Review: Violett (Switch eShop)

Point-and-click adventure games are in an interesting spot these days. There’s definitely an audience for them, but it seems that developers go out of their way to make them only cater to that specific crowd. Those who don’t have an affinity for finding hidden messages in game manuals or using an inventory item on every applicable spot on the screen can find them obtuse to the point of being frustrating and inevitably not worth playing. Violett by Forever Entertainment attempts to marry this polarizing play style with something that’s more palpable to the masses; as to whether this works or not is a complicated discussion indeed.

Violett follows a little girl as her family moves into a new home off the beaten path. As they start settling in Violett’s parents get into an argument, sending the lost girl into her room to sulk. While growling on her bed, she notices a flash in a hole in the wall that sends her into a curious and wondrous world. Unsure of her surroundings, she eventually discovers that completing an amulet is her ticket home. Scared and alone in a bizarre place, she sets off to find some missing gems; if it sounds like a modern day retelling of Alice in Wonderland, you aren’t far off the mark.

Rather than having players wander aimlessly trying to find their way, the pace of Violett is structured in a way that almost feels level-like in design. Most areas are accessed through a hub world that is akin to an M.C. Escher painting of looping staircases and warping doors. Once within a new locale, your goal is to poke around until you find the way to each gem for the amulet. There’s plenty of random clicking going on, but you’ll eventually surmise that you have to set off a chain of events in a Rube Goldberg machine-like manner to find your way to the previously unreachable area. The game does a good job of showing you a hand icon when something can be interacted with, waylaying some frustration in a genre that often stubbornly leaves you to your own devices. Even if you can’t do something at a particular point, it’s worth nothing Violett shaking her head because you’ll need to come back to it later.

While you constantly find yourself wondering what to do next, there is a neat hint mechanic that alleviates those issues if you don’t have the patience. At any point, with no penalty, you can hit the button and the game will point you in the right direction. It in no way just hands you the answer, but it is often a firm enough nudge to keep you going. There are four hints per area, but you can’t access the next one until a timer bar fills up. This forces players to think intuitively instead of spamming the hint button in the hopes that it will teach them how adventure games work. While certainly helpful, it never alleviates the feeling that there isn’t really a logic to adhere to in this game.

It is assumed that if you plan on picking up this game, you know what you’re getting into. That being said, the biggest knock against Violett is that while it offers two control schemes, neither of them feel intuitive. The game suggests you play it using the touchscreen and, as sensible as this choice is, it has a sluggish level of responsiveness. You can also opt to use the left analogue stick to move and the right one to access a pointer, but this too feels laborious because it moves too slowly. Even for a game that is based around patience and observation, this is still a detriment.

The bright spot, and a very good reason to play Violett, is the lavishly detailed lands our heroine finds herself in as she tries to make her escape. You constantly find yourself in awe as you look upon places that are based on real-world locales like bathroom sinks and train depots, but filled with novelties like a giant caterpillar with a man’s face fencing with spiders, or a mirror that lets poor Violett see upon her parents at home, wondering where she is. It’s dripping with detail, which often rewards players with little orbs strewn about for their effort. It’s part and parcel with the adventure genre, but always an endearing inclusion.

Conclusion

At its heart Violett is a classically designed point-and-click adventure, warts and all. It tells an interesting tale in a world filled with oddity and excitement, but it’s told in an unintuitive manner that only the most stalwart fan of the genre will likely stick with. It tries to cast its net wide by offering a clever hint system to help players survive its obtuse nature, but nevertheless only the most patient will try to come back out of the rabbit hole.

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Inside Xbox One X Enhanced: Titanfall 2

Many of gaming’s most compelling stories come from those who’ve helped to create our favorite Xbox One games. In our Inside Xbox One X Enhanced series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of the work involved in enhancing these epic games for Xbox One X, how they’ve helped chart the course of the world’s most powerful console, and what that means for the future of gaming. Today, we’ll be chatting with Respawn Entertainment’s Drew McCoy, Lead Producer on the action-packed shooter Titanfall 2.

What specifically is your development team doing to enhance Titanfall 2 for Xbox One X?

We have increased the rendering details and dynamic resolution cap of Titanfall 2 on X1X. This means the game will always output a 4K signal, but dynamically alter the resolution based on GPU load to ensure smooth framerates. Additionally, we have brought over from the PC version of Titanfall 2 Dynamic Superscaling for times when even full 2160p doesn’t push the X1X GPU to 100% utilization. Players will benefit from these enhancements whether they are enjoying our single player campaign or playing online. The characters you’ll meet and environments you’ll battle through will be rich with new detail and the epic mayhem of a multiplayer match will run smoothly even with dozens of grunts, Pilots, and Titans going at it in a match of Attrition.

How do these enhancements impact the gaming experience?

Titanfall 2 on X1X is a substantially clearer/sharper image presentation. Players will notice lots of little details in the world and it maintains the fluid 60 fps framerate needed for smooth gameplay more often so you won’t see any frame rate drops even with a bunch of 20 foot Titans battling it out at once.

Why did your development team choose to focus on these enhancement areas?

Gameplay is the focus of any Titanfall game, so hitting our target framerate while maintaining the clearest image possible were the goals. Our games always need to FEEL great so with all enhancements we make sure that Titanfall feel that is unique to us stays true.

How do you expect fans of Titanfall 2 will respond to seeing/playing it on Xbox One X with these enhancements?

We think they’ll love them! Whether they are enjoying the enhanced visuals while traversing the epic single player campaign or in the middle of a chaotic battle in Attrition, they will notice new details that make it feel like they are seeing it with new eyes. And there isn’t any other game that can replicate the smooth and frenetic gameplay of Titanfall 2, and so now playing with more stable framerates at 4K turns it into a sublime experience.

How has the process been to get the game up and running on Xbox One X?

Extremely easy! Being a part of the Xbox One family means it was a matter of hours/days to get a build up and running, as opposed to months/years for an entirely new platform.

What enhancement are you most excited about leveraging for Titanfall 2 on Xbox One X?

We’re pretty excited to be taking advantage of Dynamic Superscaling, which ensures 100% GPU utilization at all times. It is a pretty ingenious feature to allow a game that is so dynamic like Titanfall 2 to always look its best. Players can be sure that no matter what they are doing in the game, the Xbox One X is running on all cylinders to make Titanfall 2 run and look amazing.

What does 4K and HDR mean for your game, games in the future, and development at your studio?

Thinking about 4K/HDR really changes how you approach content creation, but it takes time to really get the most out of everything. We want players to be immersed in the worlds we create and this new layer of fidelity will allows developers to craft spaces that players will get lost in.  I think this first batch of titles is only scratching the surface of what will be possible in the future and I can’t wait to see what everyone does!

Thanks to Drew for taking the time to chat with us about Xbox One X Enhanced. We’ll be bringing you more interviews with more developers in the future, so stay tuned to Xbox Wire!

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Rocket League Blasts Onto the Nintendo Switch on 14th November

It’s been one of the more eagerly anticipated download releases on the Nintendo Switch and now has a final release date – Rocket League will arrive on 14th November in Europe / North America and, as expected, it’ll cost $19.99USD on the eShop (with regional equivalent prices).

On Switch it’ll have the notable bonus of the smash hit title being playable on the go, of course, and on top of that there’ll be free Nintendo-themed cars based around Mario, Luigi and Samus’ Gunship. Just a few days ago the game also featured on Nintendo Minute, with some looks at the way gameplay is shaping up on the diminutive system.

Switch players are promised the full experience, all told, with those additional add-ons of unique cars and some unlockable Customisation items.

Are you planning to rev up for the release on 14th November?

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Now Available on Steam – Lost Dimension, 40% off!

Lost Dimension is Now Available on Steam and is 40% off!*

In the near future a terrorist mastermind, known only as ‘The End’, threatens humanity with nuclear armageddon. A special task force, the S.E.A.L.E.D team, are the only ones who can stop him: a group of young combatants with incredible abilities and each with a mysterious past. Together, they must climb The End’s formidable tower one floor at a time and bring him to justice. Each of the S.E.A.L.E.D. members’ psychic powers will be put to the test against the sinister occupants of each floor as they race against the clock – and the traitors hidden within their ranks – to save the planet.

*Offer ends November 6 at 10AM Pacific Time

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Nintendo Plans ‘More Ways to Have Fun’ on Switch and Anticipates Momentum Into 2018

It’s been a good day, as anticipated, for Nintendo. It unveiled its Q2 financial results that confirmed what was widely believed – that the Switch has started well. With the new system joined by optimism around Nintendo Mobile and also the anticipated Pokémon bump for 3DS in the Holiday season, share value climbed. The raw numbers also tell a positive story, with Switch sales estimates getting substantial increases.

Still, you don’t need to be an industry analyst to know that Nintendo left some Switch sales on the floor due to stock issues in the early days. The situation is starting to ease, but in the first few months the system was very hard to find in various territories; speaking to the media following Nintendo’s financial reports company President Tatsumi Kimishima acknowledged this. The Wall Street Journal (paywall) reports that Kimishima-san apologised for that situation and admitted that the company had been over-cautious. He reiterated, however, that logistical issues were being overcome to get enough systems into stores.

Thanks to our component suppliers, who even opened up new production lines for the Switch, our ability to ship the console has improved drastically.

Looking ahead, Kimishima-san apparently spoke optimistically about the company’s business, including the goal of Mobile titles like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp winning over more consumers that would then shift over to Switch. He stated that the company will aim to strengthen the console’s appeal further into 2018.

We will introduce more ways to have fun with the Switch next year, and we expect those will further strengthen demand for the Switch.

Some believe that the Switch, with the necessary manufacturing issues resolved, could truly take off in the next financial year. Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute, is quote by WSJ as saying he thinks “at least 25 million” Switch systems could be sold in the next financial year starting on 1st April 2018.

It’s certainly been a strong year so far for Nintendo; here’s hoping that positive momentum will continue.

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Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns to Get a Notable Update and “New Neighbors Pack” DLC

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is a relatively recent arrival in PAL territories, but has been keeping 3DS players busy in North America since the Spring. Now XSEED games has outlined details on the first paid DLC to come to the title in the North American region, along with a free update and 3DS theme.

Due on 9th November at a price of $7.99USD, the ‘New Neighbors Pack’ will include new outfits and story content along with two additional romance candidates; the official blurb is below.

In addition to new friendship events, winter outfits, NPC dialogue, and story content, the upcoming STORY OF SEASONS: Trio of Towns “New Neighbors Pack” DLC introduces two new romance candidates: Stephanie the contest MC, and Woofio the contest judge in the dog suit. This includes new friendship and romance events for these characters.

There will be a free update with a few goodies, too, including “various gameplay improvements as well as four new outfits, which include Lest and Frey’s attire from Rune Factory 4“. A 3DS HOME Theme will also go on sale for $1.99USD.

We’ll likely have to wait a little while to see these extras in Europe, but if you’re in North America and have the game let us know if you’ll be tempted to pick up the New Neighbors Pack.

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Guide: Super Mario Odyssey amiibo Outfit Unlocks

The ability to change Mario’s outfit in Super Mario Odyssey is one of the many reasons we love this video game to bits. We’re not saying we dislike the character’s iconic dungarees, you understand – they’re timeless, darling – but it’s nice to have the option to change things every once in a while.

If you couldn’t agree more but are finding it tricky to fill out your wardrobe then you might want to search around in the back of your cupboard to find those amiibo things that were all the rage 18 months ago. 

Some of them unlock costumes in the game – although before you reach for your pitchfork and flaming torch, it should be said that none of these are locked to amiibo. If you have the perseverance, you can acquire them without using any plastic figures whatsoever.

Without any further ado, here are the costumes you can unlock with your amiibo.

Dr. Mario (Smash Bros.)

Unlock: Doctor Headware and Doctor Outfit

Mario – Gold Edition (Super Mario)

Unlock: Gold Mario Cap and Gold Mario Outfit

30th Anniversary Mario – Classic Color and Modern Color (Mario series)

Unlock: Classic Cap and Classic Outfit

Diddy Kong (Super Smash Bros.)

Unlock: Diddy Kong Hat and Diddy Kong Suit

Luigi (Super Mario Series and Smash Bros.)

Unlock: Luigi Cap and Luigi Suit

Wario (Super Mario Series and Smash Bros.)

Unlock: Wario Cap and Wario Suit

Waluigi (Smash Bros.)

Unlock: Waluigi Cap and Waluigi Suit

Mario Wedding Outfit (Super Mario Odyssey)

Unlock: Mario’s Top Hat and Mario’s Tuxedo

Bowser Wedding Outfit (Super Mario Odyssey)

Unlock: Bowser’s Top Hat and Bowser’s Tuxedo

Peach Wedding Outfit (Super Mario Odyssey)

Unlock: Peach’s Veil and Peach’s Wedding Dress

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Video: It’s Time To Celebrate Some Of Video Gaming’s Most Haunted Houses

It’s almost Halloween, a time of year where lots of candy is consumed and people dress up terribly in the hope of scaring / amusing others. ]

If you’re wisely choosing to stay indoors this year then you may wish to indulge in a spooky game, and our friends over at iRetrogamer have put together a video which highlights some of interactive entertainment’s spookiest abodes.

While the video is quite light in Nintendo titles, it does showcase the iconic Luigi’s Mansion – the perfect game to play at Halloween. Let us know if you have any happy memories of busting ghosts on your GameCube, or if you recall any of the other games mentioned in the clip.

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Guide: The Simple Trick To Finding All Of Super Mario Odyssey’s Power Moons

If you’re one of the many people who purchased Super Mario Odyssey last week then chances are you’re already gripped by the desire to find as many Power Moons as possible. These collectable items are key to the game’s longevity, and are hidden away all over each of its varied worlds.

The trouble is, the map doesn’t actually tell you where they are. Sure, the locations of some will pop up at certain points but the vast majority don’t get marked on the map until you either ask a friendly Toad to point them out (for a 50 coin fee) or use an amiibo – the latter being a much better option, even if many players totally overlook it.

We’re loathe to call this a “hint” because Uncle amiibo – the robot who makes this process possible – is easy enough to find on each level. Chat with him and he’ll ask if you want to tap an amiibo character. Do this, and he’ll send that amiibo off into the level to find the location of a Power Moon. The catch is that it takes five minutes for the location to be confirmed, but on the upside you can tap up to three amiibo at any one time. Return to Uncle amiibo when the time has elapsed and he’ll update your map. You can then send three amiibo back out into the level to find more.

Using this method, it’s possible to unearth the locations of many Power Moons in a short space of time. Given that many Nintendo fans have an aversion to amiibo it’s quite possible that they will unfairly ignore this mechanic, but it’s another way Nintendo is making those NFC-enabled figures valuable. We honestly don’t know where we’d be without it in our quest to find all the Power Moons. It should also be noted that certain amiibo give you bonuses in game – so be sure to try all of yours out.

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Gamers from Around the World Gather for Gaming, Esports, and More This Week at BlizzCon® 2017

Blizzard Entertainment’s annual community celebration is back and bigger than ever

BlizzCon 2017 is filled with two days of games, world-class competition, and developer panels, and a concert featuring Muse

The party extends around the globe via BlizzCon.com and the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– BlizzCon® 2017, Blizzard Entertainment’s epic celebration of gaming and community, is almost here!

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171030005426/en/

BlizzCon 2017 (Graphic: Business Wire)

BlizzCon 2017 (Graphic: Business Wire)

This Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4, gamers from around the globe will gather at the Anaheim Convention Center for a weekend filled with Blizzard gaming news, events featuring players’ favorite community personalities, epic esports tournaments, contests spotlighting cosplayers and other talented creators, a performance by Grammy Award-winning band Muse, and much more. While tickets to the convention are sold out, anyone can join the party online with the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket.

“The community is the heart of Blizzard’s games, and BlizzCon is our favorite way to connect directly with our players and geek out over the things we’re passionate about,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’ve worked hard to make this our biggest and best BlizzCon yet, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone this Friday.”

BlizzCon will be a can’t-miss destination for gamers everywhere, packed with an array of activities, events, exciting announcements, and more:

Don’t Miss the Epic Opening Ceremony

The BlizzCon festivities officially begin Friday at 11 a.m. PDT with the opening ceremony, where the world gets the download on Blizzard’s latest development plans. For the first time, attendees can watch developers presenting live on three different stages—the Mythic stage in Hall D, the Overwatch Arena, and the Hearthstone stage in the new North Hall—and everyone can watch free online at BlizzCon.com. Tune in early at 10:30 a.m. for the free BlizzCon All Access Channel preshow to kick things off.

Discover Four Live Stages of Developer and Community Events

Experience four stages of live game and community content. Learn what’s in store for your favorite Blizzard games in developer discussions; connect with your favorite online personalities in an array of activities such as live podcasts and Blizzard-themed game shows; and get in touch with your inner creator at sessions featuring live art demos, cosplay tips, engineering workshops, and more. See the complete schedule at www.blizzcon.com/schedule.

For the first time ever, all four stages will be streamed live online for people watching with the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, and VODs will be available in English, French, German, Russian, and Korean. Before the show begins, gamers can get in the BlizzCon spirit by watching more than 40 pre-show videos (many free; all included with the Virtual Ticket) at www.blizzcon.com/watch.

Cheer On Your Favorite Esports Players

All weekend long, the spirit of competition fills the convention center as the final rounds of the World of Warcraft® Arena World Championship, Overwatch® World Cup, StarCraft®II World Championship Series, Heroes of the Storm® Global Championship Finals, and Hearthstone® Inn-vitational play out. Esports fans can also psych themselves up for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League with a special kick-off event on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PDT. Visit www.blizzcon.com/esports for more information on this year’s tournament programming.

All of this weekend’s Blizzard esports action is available to watch for free on BlizzCon.com, Twitch, and MLG.com. Virtual Ticket holders can enjoy an enhanced esports viewing experience when watching on BlizzCon.com or in the BlizzCon Mobile app.

Geek Out at Community Night—Hosted by Chris Hardwick

On Friday at 6 p.m. PDT, get ready for an evening of legendary community creativity with the BlizzCon 2017 costume, talent, movie, and art contests. This year’s Community Night will be emceed by Chris Hardwick, founder of Nerdist and host of NBC’s hit game show series The Wall, returning for his second BlizzCon.

Close Out the Weekend with Muse

Get ready for an epic finale—Grammy Award-winning band Muse will be performing on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PDT, giving everyone at the show and watching online a stage-shattering send-off.

Explore an Array of On-Site Activities

Everyone attending in person can explore a variety of events and activities throughout the convention center. Surprises await around every corner, and highlights include:

  • Darkmoon Faire—Trade pins, adopt plush pets, meet your favorite authors at Publishers’ Row, and more in this area themed after World of Warcraft‘s mystical traveling carnival.
  • Hearthstone Tavern—You’re invited to a Fireside Gathering for the ages! Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and meet up (and duel) with fellow attendees and Hearthstone developers in this cozy corner of the convention.
  • BlizzCon Gear Store—Starting Thursday, attendees can pick up commemorative Blizzard merchandise in Hall E of the convention center. Download the BlizzCon Mobile app to enhance the experience, or head to the online Blizzard Gear Store to pick up some souvenirs from afar.
  • Charity Auction—Bid on an array of Blizzard artwork and collectible memorabilia to benefit CHOC Children’s in the Blizzard 2017 Charity Auction, taking place Thursday, November 2 through Tuesday, November 7.
  • Hands-on Gaming—Attendees can enjoy hands-on demos featuring the latest World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, Heroes of the Storm, and Diablo®III content.

BlizzCon is made possible in part by the generosity of the event’s sponsors, who help provide hardware, peripherals, and other support for the show. This year’s sponsors include Cisco, DXRacer, and Intel, along with the following partners who’ll be hosting activities for attendees at booths around the show floor:

  • ASUS—Check out BlizzCon vending machines, collect a special WoW® coin, and enter giveaways for more than 10,000 prizes ranging from patches to a brand-new laptop. See the latest ROG products and find out how your skills match up playing alongside an Overwatch pro.
  • CORSAIR—Try your hand at the CORSAIR Claw machine to win exclusive prizes, take a seat on the “Throne of Games,” and be the Overwatch Play of the Game in the CORSAIR photo booth.
  • HP—Stop by for some 3v3 Overwatch Arcade action, a real-life Loot Box, and a photo op with an epic Overwatch cosplayer.
  • NVIDIA—Participate in an Emissary quest, discover collectible patches, enter a raffle to win some amazing prizes, find exclusive Overwatch buttons, and more.
  • NZXT—Enter a raffle for one of four Blizzard-themed custom-wrapped H700i PCs, and learn how to build your own PC, including setting up liquid cooling and more.
  • Razer—Enter a giveaway at the Hearthstone Tavern, claim an exclusive Razer patch, meet Overwatch and World of Warcraft celebrities, and win prizes including the latest Overwatch peripherals at the Razer booth.
  • T-Mobile—Vote for the Overwatch World Cup MVP using #TMobileMVP and the player’s BattleTag™ on Twitter, take your photo with the MVP trophy at the Un-carrier Lounge, and stay connected to all the BlizzCon action thanks to free Wi-Fi at the convention, presented by T-Mobile.

Although BlizzCon tickets have sold out, viewers can still join the excitement from home with the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket ($39.99), which offers comprehensive live online coverage of both days of the event—including Community Night on Friday evening and Muse’s performance on Saturday. Virtual Ticket holders will also receive a treasure trove of bonus in-game items for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo III, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, and StarCraft II.

Attendees and Virtual Ticket viewers alike can download the BlizzCon Mobile App, available free for Android and iOS devices, and use it to plan their weekend, map a route through the convention center, and even watch live streams.

For more information on BlizzCon 2017, visit www.blizzcon.com.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-one #1 games and multiple Game of the Year awards.* The company’s online-gaming service is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

*Sales and/or downloads. Based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Information in this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the dates, event plans, and features of BlizzCon and the pricing, features, and functionality of the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard Entertainment’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Rob Hilburger
VP, Global Corporate Communications
949-955-1380 x13228
rhilburger@blizzard.com
or
Andrew Reynolds
Director, Global PR
949-955-1380 x14301
areynolds@blizzard.com
or
Meelad Sadat
Director, Global Corporate Communications
949-955-1380 x14301
msadat@blizzard.com

Source: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

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