Legendary Hollywood Actors Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano and Michael Madsen Unite as Four Prohibition-Era Mobsters Battling the Undead on Alcatraz, the World’s Most Inescapable Prison, in the Groundbreaking, All-New Zombies Experience, “Mob of the Dead” 

Sydney, Australia – 17 April, 2013 – Coming out right on the heels of the inaugural Call of Duty® Championship, presented by Xbox, which set records as the biggest live event ever streamed on Xbox LIVE®, and the largest concurrent viewership for a live streamed console game tournament on Twitch, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Uprising, is available today, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow.  The second Downloadable Content (DLC) Map Pack from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and its award-winning studio Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising includes four new, diverse multiplayer maps and the groundbreaking “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience, featuring legendary Hollywood actors Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano, and Michael Madsen as four mobster inmates trying to escape a zombie infested Alcatraz.

“Uprising is equal parts creativity and passion, all rolled into four amazing multiplayer maps, and entirely new and ambitious ‘Mob of the Dead’ Zombies experience,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head.  “We’ve packed a ton of gameplay into the multiplayer maps, including game-changing environmental challenges and opportunities.  And with ‘Mob of the Dead,’ the team has pushed the boundaries of the Zombies fiction into new territory, anchored by top Hollywood talent.”

Following tradition of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops fan-favourite Zombies mode “Call of the Dead,” Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising’s chilling new “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience puts players in the shoes of four prohibition-era mobsters, Billy Handsome (Liotta), Al “The Weasel” Arlington (Pantoliano), Salvatore “Sal” DeLuca (Palminteri), and Michael “Finn” O’Leary (Madsen), serving time in Alcatraz Prison only to discover that being behind bars is the least of their problems.  In order to survive, players must work their way through the steel cells and aging concrete buildings while fighting off a multitude of zombified prisoners and guards trapped on the island with them.

Uprising also debuts four new, exotic and unique multiplayer maps set around the globe:  “Magma” is a modern Japanese village with volcanic eruptions carving multiple paths throughout the town; “Encore” takes place in the aftermath of a deserted London music festival and leaves numerous opportunities for plenty of run-and-gun, close quarters combat; “Vertigo” is a futuristic high-rise mega-structure located in India and features dizzying vistas and multi-tiered pathways; finally, “Studio” is a contemporary re-imagining of “Firing Range,” the fan-favourite multiplayer map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops.  “Studio” is a Hollywood movie back lot with a variety of cinematic themes that range from Sci-Fi to the Old West.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising is out now first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for a suggested retail price of $20.00 or 1200 Microsoft Points.  The Uprising DLC Map Pack is also included in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass*, where fans can purchase all four epic DLC Map Packs planned for the year, and also receive the Nuketown Zombies bonus map, and an exclusive in-game calling card as part of the discounted bundle offered at a suggested retail price of $69.95 / 4000 Microsoft Points – a discount of 800 Microsoft Points off the individual purchase of all four DLC Map Packs**.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated “MA15+” (Strong Violence and Coarse Language) by the Australian Classification Board.  More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops.  Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.

Popular Shield Design Contest Returns Offering Players Another Chance of Immortality in Dark Souls II 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA  – April 17^th, 2013 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe announce announces that a DARK SOULS™ II shield design contest will begin today on the game’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/darksouls.

Channel your inner medieval craftsman and create the best shield design; showing off your skills as a warrior artist. Then, submit your works of art, and watch the votes tally up from every corner of the globe from fellow Dark Souls II fans.

The submission and voting period for shield designs will begin on April 15^th and run through May 13^th. Beginning May 14^th no further submissions will be taken and the contest enters into a “voting only” phase until May 20^th. On May 20^th the shield designs that receive the most fan votes will be submitted for a final round of judging by the Dark Souls II development team at FromSoftware in Japan. The FromSoftware development team will select the final six winning shield designs to be included within the final Dark Souls II game. The winners will be announced at San Diego Comic Con taking place from July 18^th through the 21^st.

The six lucky winners will be able to engage in battle with their friends online while proudly bearing the shield of their own design. Other players will also be able to carry the shields designed by their compatriots into battle.

How to enter the Dark Souls II Shield Design Contest:

• Become a fan on the official Dark Souls II Facebook page at www.facebook.com/darksouls
• Check out the Shield Design Facebook application
• Download the blank shield template
• Create up to three original masterpieces of heraldic design
• Submit your finished designs via Facebook before May 14, 2013

Sign up today for this unique opportunity and carve your name indelibly in Dark Souls II.

Dark Souls II will be available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PCs. For more information on Dark Souls II, please visit http://www.darksoulsii.com/ or http://www.namcobandaigames.eu.

Experience an Epic Original Story and Battle as DC Entertainment’s

Favourite Heroes and Villains

SYDNEY, Australia –April 17, 2013 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced the Australian launch of Injustice: Gods Among Us for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Injustice: Gods Among Us introduces a new franchise in the fighting game genre and a brand new story created in collaboration between NetherRealm Studios, DC Entertainment and comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti.  As the story unfolds, players will experience the power, gadgetry and unparalleled strength of some the most popular DC Comics heroes and villains, such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, The Joker and others, as they engage in epic battles in a world where the line between good and evil is blurred.

“NetherRealm Studios was dedicated to making Injustice: Gods Among Us   an immersive, action-packed  experience,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios.  “We’ve created an original game with an all-new story filled with iconic characters DC Comics and gaming fans will appreciate.”

Injustice: Gods Among Us features numerous locales pulled from DC Comics lore including Arkham Asylum, Metropolis, Atlantis, and more.  The arenas are multi-tiered, destructible, interactive playgrounds in which players can unleash each character’s unique super powers, individual move-sets and environmental interactions to beat their opponents.  Fans can also extend their experience by playing the S.T.A.R. Labs missions, which offer players a wealth of additional content and unique gameplay that are outside of the game’s story mode experience.

Bringing these characters to life is a cast of actors, including Stephen Amell, star of the Nine Network’s upcoming new action show, Arrow, who reprises his role as the Green Arrow in the game as an unlockable “Arrow” version of the character, which players can choose to use in-game.  Also featured are Kevin Conroy, as Batman; Tara Strong, as Harley Quinn and Raven; Neal McDonough as The Flash; George Newbern as Superman; Adam Baldwin as Green Lantern; and Alan Tudyk as Green Arrow (regular version).

Fans looking for the ultimate package can purchase Injustice: Gods Among Us Collector’s Edition for Xbox 360 and PS3, which includes the game disc in a steelbook , an exclusive DC Collectibles statue featuring Batman and Wonder Woman, a special Collector’s Edition of the first print issue of the Injustice: Gods Among Us DC Comics series and three exclusive skins based on Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman from DC COMICS – THE NEW 52.  The Collector’s Edition is priced at $109.95 RRP and available in limited quantities.

Players looking to extend their gameplay experience can buy the Injustice: Gods Among Us Season Pass now for Xbox 360 and PS3 and receive four upcoming downloadable characters for the price of three, as well as a bonus Flashpoint Skin Pack featuring alternate costumes for Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Deathstroke. The Season Pass is available on the Xbox LIVE® Game Store for 1200 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Network for $21.95 RRP.

An Injustice: Gods Among Us free-to-play mobile game for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is available on the App Store and debuts original combat gameplay made special for the platform and connectivity to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game.  It features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that pits many of DC Comics most popular icons such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman and more against one another.  Fans who also own the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be able to unlock content in the console versions that will be available in the mobile game, and vice versa, by registering for a Warner Bros. ID (WBID) account and playing the game.  The Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game is available from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at AppStore.com/Injustice.

Injustice: Gods Among Us for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U is rated MA 15+, and priced at $79.95 RRP. The Injustice: Gods Among Us Collector’s Edition is available for Xbox 360 and PS3 only in limited quantities.

For more information and the latest updates, visit www.injustice.com or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/injusticegame.

Bethesda is pleased to announce that Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall, the second add-on pack for Arkane Studios’ critically-acclaimed first-person action game, is now available worldwide via Xbox LIVE and Steam and will be available later today on PlayStation Store for AUD $14.45 (or 800 Microsoft Points).

In The Knife of Dunwall you take on the role of Daud, the legendary assassin who killed the Empress, and access his weapons, gadgets, allies and supernatural abilities. After assassinating the Empress, and forever changing the fate of Dunwall, you embark on a search for redemption. The Outsider reveals the key to your atonement, but who—or what—is Delilah? Accompanied by the Whalers, your loyal band of mercenary assassins, your search will take you through never-before-seen districts of Dunwall as you face off against new and terrible foes. Employ a unique arsenal of new weapons and powers that enhance Dishonored’s dynamic combat, mobility and stealth systems. In the struggle to hang onto the last shred of your humanity, the choices you make will ultimately determine your fate.