Sydney, Australia – July 19, 2013 – May the flock be with you! Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), in conjunction with Rovio Entertainment Ltd. and Lucasfilm Ltd., today announced that the mobile gaming sensation, Angry Birds™ Star Wars^®, is expected to release on gaming console systems for the first time October 30, 2013. Complete with new levels, features and platform-unique design elements, these new editions will be available for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system.

“Downloaded more than 100 million times since its release last year, Angry Birds Star Warsmelds together two of the biggest names in pop-culture entertainment for an out of this galaxy gaming experience,” remarked Jami Laes, Executive Vice President of Games at Rovio Entertainment. “Angry Birds and Star Wars™ are franchises with millions of fans around the world, and we’re excited to partner with Activision to bring the marriage of these beloved properties to gamers everywhere this holiday season.”

Iterating on many of the engaging mechanics of Angry Birds™ and Angry Birds™ Space, Angry Birds Star Wars evolves the core game design and hilarious tone of previous entries in the series with new characters, challenges, and environments that pay homage to the iconic hallmarks of the Star Wars universe. This title adds 20 never-before-seen exclusive levels – in addition to the existing 200 from the original Angry Birds Star Wars mobile game – and, for the first time ever, multiplayer modes. Play alongside family members or friends in two-player co-op mode to achieve a combined high score, or against them (up to four players) in competitive mode. In addition, the game delivers achievements and trophies, leaderboards, high-definition graphics (on HD-compatible systems), as well as unlockable bonus levels, items and content.

Angry Birds Star Wars is not yet rated by the Australian Classification Board. For more information, please visit www.activision.com.

SYDNEY (July 19, 2013) – Square Enix Ltd., the publishers of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Australia, New Zealand, and other PAL territories, today showcased a new trailer and screenshots for  LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII as well as revealing details of the forthcoming in-game cross-over collaboration between LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII and FINAL FANTASY® XIV: A REALM REBORN™

Dress Lightning as a Miqo’te and encounter Lightning in the world of Eorzea – these are some of the surprises players will discover after a unique collaboration between the two development teams responsible for LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII and FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN.

In LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII, players can complete a specific quest to obtain the Miqo’te outfit for Lightning. This outfit is inspired by the Miqo’te race from FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN, complete with the distinctive ears and tail. In addition, you can also acquire customisable weapons and shields with designs influenced by the three main cities located in the world of Eorzea. The Miqo’te outfit not only transforms Lightning’s appearance, but also changes her victory pose and fanfare.

Meanwhile, Lightning will also appear in the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN thanks to the dynamic Full Active Time Event system (F.A.T.E.). A special LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII F.A.T.E. sees Lightning join the Eorzean adventurers as she lends a helping hand in battle. Collect weapons and shields with designs inspired by the FINAL FANTASY XIII universe and cosplay with your character as either Lightning (for female characters) or Snow (for male characters). 

Watch the new trailer for Lighting Returns on Youtube here: http://youtu.be/cW8Mzt6zRVI

SYDNEY, 19^th July 2013 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) has confirmed the August line-up for PlayStation®Plus (PS Plus) subscribers including all-time favourites like Need for Speed™ Most Wanted, Mafia II and Spec Ops the Line for PS3™ as well as LEGO® The Lord of the Rings and When Vikings Attack™ for PS Vita. All titles will be available to Australian members starting from 1^st August.

Buckle up, hit the gas and hold on tight as you’re in for the ride of your life with Need for Speed™ Most Wanted for PS3. You’ll need to outrun the cops, outdrive your friends, outsmart your rivals and make split second decisions as a relentless police force gun to take you down. Use the open world to your advantage to find hiding spots, hit jumps and earn new vehicles to keep you one step ahead. Make sure you get strapped in for this instant classic, which will be available on PS Plus until August 28^th.

Also available for PS3 in August is the epic gangster story title, Mafia II. Vito Scaletta has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay as someone who can be trusted to get a job done. Together with his buddy Joe he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, quickly escalating up the family ladder with crimes of larger reward, status and consequence. The life of a wise guy isn’t quite as untouchable as it seems. White-knuckle car chases, visceral hand-to-hand combat and intense gunplay—it  will this all and more to become a Made Man. Inspired by iconic mafia lore, the compelling characters and cinematic presentation pull players into the allure and impossible escape of life in the Mafia.

Once you’ve had a chance to live the gangster life, push yourself to the limit in Spec Ops: the Line. It’s been 6 months since Dubai was wiped off the map by a cataclysmic sandstorm and thousands of lives were lost, including those of American soldiers sent to evacuate the city. As U.S. Army Captain Martin Walker, you and your elite Delta Force team are sent to infiltrate the treacherous region to rescue your surviving comrades. Spec Ops: the Line is a provocative third-person modern military shooter for PS3 that challenges players’ morality by putting them in the middle of unspeakable situations where unimaginable choices affecting human life must be made.

For those looking to game on-the-go, grab your PS Vita and explore middle-earth in the heroic LEGO adventure for the whole family in LEGO® The Lord of the Rings. Based on The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy, LEGO® The Lord of the Rings takes players through the epic events from the classic story reimagined with the humour and endless variety of LEGO play.

Take on a scary battalion of mischievous Vikings that have suddenly invaded Britain (over a thousand years too late) in When Vikings Attack™ for PS Vita. The silly things may have forgotten their weapons, but they are still itching for a fight!  Control gangs of civilians to pick up and throw whatever you can find at your foes – from road signs, to post boxes and vehicles, but be warned: the Vikings have the same plan so the art of dodging is just as important as having good aim. Defend farms, fairgrounds, building sites and more from your enemies and then take on your friends in truly frenzied multiplayer battles.

PS Plus provides subscribers with access to top-rated games* on PS3 and PS Vita throughout the course of the subscription. Gamers also have access to great PlayStation®Store discounts and an array of exclusive features and access, including 2GB cloud storage (1G for PS3 & 1G for PS Vita ) for game saves which will be welcomed by subscribers keen to take advantage of the Instant Game Collection. Subscribers will soon also be able to enjoy all the benefits of PlayStation Plus on PlayStation®4 (PS4) including exclusive access to a range of immersive online multiplayer experiences, all at no extra cost.

A PS Plus subscription is AUD$69.95 for a one-year subscription or AUD$19.95 for a 90 day subscription and will give users access to the same fantastic features.

*Top-rated is based on a meta-critic rating of 70+

For media assets, please visit:  www.scee-press.com

Upcoming video games based on Cartoon Network’s highest-rated shows Adventure Time and Regular Show will be available this summer 2013

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – July 18^th, 2013, Turner CN Enterprises and D3Publisher (D3P), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced that they will bring to Europe and Australasia two new video games based on the popular Cartoon Network award-winning animated shows. Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! will be available on the Wii U™ console, the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and for the Nintendo 3DS™ system. Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby In 8-Bit Land will be exclusively available for the Nintendo 3DS™ system.

Following the mathematical US success of the IGN Editors’ Choice Award-winning Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage?!!, show creator Pendleton Ward again teams up with developer WayForward to create Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!. In a completely new storyline and adventure and featuring the voices of the show’s most popular characters, fans will have to save the Candy Kingdom by exploring the mysteries surrounding a massive Secret Royal Dungeon deep below the Land of Ooo. Select from an assortment of fan-favorite characters from the show, including Finn, Jake, Marceline, Cinnamon Bun, and more, and team up with your friends in four-player co-operative multiplayer as the Adventure Time world comes to life.  Adventure Time has encountered a huge success in the US and is in the process to soar across the globe among fans of all ages.

Making its first foray into the video game world, Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby In 8-Bit Land brings the characters and humor from the Emmy® Award-winning animated comedy to Nintendo 3DS this autumn.  Regular Show is the Cartoon Network series starring best friends Mordecai and Rigby and their adventures as groundskeepers of the local park.  When Mordecai and Rigby get transported into some of their favorite video games they’ll have to use their best skills and unique abilities to traverse the various challenges to escape and get back home in this ‘eggscellent’ journey.  Developed by WayForward, in close collaboration with show creator JG Quintel, Mordecai and Rigby prove that a day in the life of Regular Show is anything but.

“We are very excited to extend our partnership with Turner CN Enterprises, via our sister company D3Publisher, with two exciting titles based on the famous Cartoon Network animated shows, Adventure Time and Regular Show” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice-President at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “Following the success of these two TV shows, we are delighted to bring truly authentic video game experiences to Europe and Australasia that will please fans of all ages.”