Mattel’s Hot Wheels races onto Roblox with the launch of Hot Wheels Open World

Mattel’s popular Hot Wheels brand is racing onto Roblox thanks to the launch of Hot Wheels Open World, a racing experience that allows players to race, collect, and earn over 80 different cars at launch.

The game is the result of a partnership between Mattel and Roblox and has been developed by Gamefan. It encourages players to take part in quests and stunt challenges, as part of a mission to bring Hot Wheels to a new audience of gamers.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring Hot Wheels to life for millions of fans around the world on Roblox. The Roblox platform unlocks digital experimentation and play, which are core to the Hot Wheels brand,” said Andrew Chan, head of digital gaming at Mattel.

“Hot Wheels Open World provides a creative sandbox for Hot Wheels gamers of all ages to play and compete online together.”

The Roblox is recognised for allowing players to create and programme their own games, and early speculation suggests that this will be an element brought into the new title. Hot Wheels is known for its creative and customisable track building, as well as its collectability.

The game also utilizes an open world, letting players drive around a vast map in search of stunts, racetracks, and hidden items, whether they’re inside volcanoes or on the beach.

Hot Wheels Open World is out now for Xbox One, PC, and Mac, and will be out later for iOS and Android.

It’s Bond, James Bond – and he’s returning to the video game space with working title Project 007

It’s Bond, James Bond, and it’s coming to a console and computer screen near you.

IO Interactive, in collaboration with MGM, EON Productions and Delphi have released the first details of the first James Bond origin story video game, under the working title Project 007.

Over the last two decades, IO Interactive has created, developed and published multiple award-winning titles in the stealth and espionage video game genre, including the acclaimed Hitman franchise. Project 007 will be powered by IO Interactive’s proprietary Glacier technology and the game will be made for modern systems and platforms.

Project 007 is currently in active development at IO Interactive’s offices in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden. Both locations are recruiting elite talent from around the world to join the team that will build out this exciting and unique gaming title.

“It’s true that once in a while, the stars do align in our industry,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive. “Creating an original Bond game is a monumental undertaking and I truly believe that IO Interactive, working closely with our creative partners at EON and MGM, can deliver something extremely special for our players and communities.

“Our passionate team is excited to unleash their creativity into the iconic James Bond universe and craft the most ambitious game in the history of our studio.”

Robert Marick, MGM’s executive vice president, global consumer products and experiences, said: “James Bond has a strong legacy in the video game space, with some of the most iconic games of all-time based on the character. Working with our partners at EON and the talented team at IO Interactive, we plan to bring a new take on this legendary franchise to gamers and Bond fans around the world. IO Interactive are masters of crafting living, breathing worlds of immersive storytelling.”

Based on British novelist Ian Fleming’s popular 1950s book series of the same name, James Bond is one of Hollywood’s longest running and most successful film franchises with a catalogue of 24 films released. The 25th installment in the series, No Time To Die, will be released in theaters globally on April 2, 2021. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, No Time To Die stars Daniel Craig in his fifth and final performance as the legendary British Secret Service Agent 007.

LEGO reveals new LEGO Super Mario building sets and collectable character packs

The LEGO Group has expanded its 2020 LEGO Super Mario line with the launch of a new line of sets and characters, including the Master Your Adventure Set, the Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter Expansion Set, The Pirhana Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set, and more.

Leading the newest line up, the Master Your Adventure Maker Set delivers a creative toolbox that enables kids to customise LEGO Super Mario building, play and ways to earn coins. Users can change how LEGO Mario reacts to three Special Bricks, offering a variety in play and a new element of surprise.

The Maker Set also introduces a new special Start Pipe that will shuffle the known rules of the level play, in that players are challenged to reach the Goal Pole in less time, yet with increased rewards up for grabs. The Maker Set comes with 366 pieces, all selected to ensure that children can unleash their creativity and customise their own levels for themselves or other players.

Further sets that have been introduced today are the Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter Expansion Set, the Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set, the Wiggler’s Poison Swamp Expansion Set, Penguin Mario Power-Up Pack and the Tanooki Mario Power-Up Pack.

As well as this, Series Two of the LEGO Super Mario Character Packs has also landed, all featuring an action tag that LEGO Mario can read for fans to easily integrate into the level play. Series Two features ten new collectable, buildable characters.

Kept a surprise until opened, fans could be getting a Huckit Crab, Spiny Cheep Cheep, Ninji, Foo, Parachute Goomba, Fly Guy, Poison Mushroom, Para-Beetle, Thwimp or a Bone Goomba.

The new sets and characters will give fans the chance to have LEGO Mario slide on his belly as Penguin Mario or spin round as Tanooki Mario. The sets will also introduce much-loved enemies including the Piranha-Plants, Larry, a Goomba, Wiggler, and Koopa Paratroopa, to the play, all of whom can be defeated or played with for coin rewards.

LEGO Super Mario jumped into existence earlier this year through a unique partnership between The LEGO Group and Nintendo. The adventures were kick-started with an entry-point set: LEGO Super Mario Starter Course, which includes an interactive LEGO Mario figure that collects coins in interactive level play created with LEGO bricks.

Each Expansion Set and Collectable Character is designed to be used with the entry point set, featuring seven action bricks for different interactions with the LEGO Mario figure, which has LCD screens in its eyes, mouth and belly to display instant reactions to movement, colour and action bricks.

All sets and characters are compatible, allowing fans to combine sets and characters announced today with the Starter Course and all other LEGO Super Mario products revealed in June this year. Each set also comes with its own series of distinctive challenges and characters, and have been designed to work alongside the free LEGO Super Mario app.

The app hosts 3D Building Instructions for the sets, keeps track of scores and provides inspiration for builds and ways of playing to encourage continuous rebuilding and extended playtime.

Simon Kent, design creator and creative lead for LEGO Super Mario, The LEGO Group, said: “It wouldn’t be Super Mario if we weren’t constantly creating new worlds and adventures for everyone’s favourite Plumber.

“The LEGO Super Mario sets we released earlier this year have been extremely well-received by fans and we’re really excited to build on those with even more characters and experiences today.

“We really want to empower users to be as creative as possible with LEGO Super Mario – and today’s expansion sets and new collectible characters have been launched to broaden the horizons of the LEGO Super Mario universe, letting players be as imaginative as possible in the way they have Mario interact with his friends – as well as defeating his enemies.”

Playing video games is ‘good for mental wellbeing’, says new study by Oxford University

Not just one of the fastest growing means of entertainment, video gaming could be beneficial for your mental health, too. This is the conclusion of a new study from Oxford University in which academics worked with gameplay data for the first time.

The study focused on two games: Nintendo’s Animal Crossing and EA’s Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. The study found that those who played more games generally reported better wellbeing.

The study was one of the first to be done using actual playtime data: the team at Oxford were able to link up psychological questionnaires with the records of time spent playing games. Previous studies focused on self-reported time playing, which is often inaccurate.

“This is about bringing games into the fold of psychology research that’s not a dumpster fire,” said Andrew Przybylski, the lead researcher on the project.

At the start of the project, Przybylski was surprised at how little data gaming companies had about their players, and how little hard data had been used in previous studies analysing the harms and benefits of gaming.

The study, says Przybylski, “shows that if you play four hours a day of Animal Crossing, you’re a much happier human being, but that’s only interesting because all of the other research before this is done so badly.”

Of course, both Animal Crossing and Plants Vs Zombies are online multiplayer titles. Given the current pandemic and social distancing measures, there seems to be an obvious argument for the social nature of these games helping players with their mental health during this challenging time.

Przybylski also makes it clear that this study does not mean there aren’t negative aspects to games too. “I’m very confident that if the research goes on, we will learn about the things that we think of as toxic in games,” Przybylski said, “and we will have evidence for those things as well.”

On that note, the study contrasts “intrinsic” enjoyment (playing a game because you enjoy it) with “extrinsic”, such as playing a game because you feel bullied into it, either by players or the game’s mechanics.

WWE teams with games developer nWay to launch WWE Undefeated on mobile

Mobile, consoles, and PC games developer nWay – a subsidiary of Animoca Brands – has partnered with WWE to launch the latest mobile game for the franchise, titles WWE Undefeated. The new launch features real-time head-to-head competition and features WWE Superstars and Legends.

Developed by nWay, the developer and publisher of hit multiplayer games such as Power Rangers: Legacy Wars and Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, WWE Undefeated features quick-session matches designed for mobile devices, set against exotic backdrops from around the world.

Players can also compete head-to-head in real-time with live opponents while experiencing the action, signature moves, and larger-than-life Superstars synonymous with WWE.

“nWay is a leader in making real-time competitive multiplayer games and we could not be more excited to partner with WWE to deliver an over-the-top experience,” said Taehoon Kim, CEO of nWay. “Combining synchronous PvP gameplay with the ability to collect and upgrade signature moves of WWE Superstars makes Undefeated the ultimate WWE mobile game fans have been waiting for.”

Sarah Cummins, WWE senior vice president, consumer products, added: “nWay’s strong reputation for developing quality multiplayer games makes them a natural partner for us. WWE Undefeated will allow our fans to connect with their favorite Superstars and Legends in a fun and action-packed setting on their mobile devices.”

Players can pre-register to unlock special rewards by visiting wweundefeated.com.

Peaky Blinders and Doctor Who game developer Maze Theory expands into US with new leadership team

The London-based digital entertainment studio, Maze Theory, has expanded its leadership team as it breaks into the US and continues to grow operations on a global scale. The firm, the name behind the development of the Peaky Blinders and Doctor Who VR titles, has grown by 30 per cent since March this year.

The digital entertainment industry veteran Phil Greenspan will lead the studio’s US venture, while in the UK, the outfit has welcomed Mark Ripley and Steven Huckle to leadership roles, as well as made an additional 11 new hires across the global business.

New hires come from a range of disciplines and backgrounds with a combined experience across the worlds of gaming, TV and film, further strengthening the company’s commitment ‘to deliver innovative, immersive and exciting storytelling across multiple platforms and devices.’

Greenspan has been named Maze Theory’s executive producer and will be based in Los Angeles, where he will use his expertise in VR and game development to oversee the development of Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, Engram, and Maze Theory’s new multi-tech Doctor Who titles.

HE will work to grow the presence of Maze Theory within the US, developing new strategic alliances and representing Maze Theory’s growing portfolio.

Greenspan has produced AAA and indie video games for more than a decade. Beginning at Activision on the Guitar Hero franchise, he assisted CEO Bobby Kotick through the Activision Blizzard merger. After a stint making indie games, he founded the Oculus Kickstarter and joined the company to develop and manage the Oculus Store. Following this, Greenspan set up to support developers directly and subsequently met Maze Theory.

Meanwhile, Mark Ripley has been appointed as technical director having been at the forefront of game development for 40 years. A veteran gaming consultant, he has developed or produced more than 150 games; including brands such as Harry Potter, The Sims, Pirates of the Caribbean, Final Fantasy and Crash Bandicoot, for clients including BMW, Sony, EA, Disney, BBC, Channel 4, Samsung and Vodafone, as well as many original and self-published games.

Dr Steven Huckle has been appointed as art director. He is an award winning expert and Creative England Top 10 Future Leader. After making games in the late ’80s, Huckle began his career working on the cult classic TV show Knightmare before joining companies such as Sensible Software, Core Design and Jagex on numerous titles including Sensible Soccer, Tomb Raider, FIFA, Need for Speed, BAFTA nominated The Sims and the Transformers franchise.

They join Maze Theory’s Russ Harding, who has recently been promoted to Studio Director and Joey To as Design Director.

Ian Hambleton, Maze Theory CEO said: “At Maze Theory, our ambition is to create a hybrid of creativity that goes way beyond traditional gaming.

“We are committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling to create groundbreaking and compelling experiences for fans, gamers and entertainment lovers. All of these hires, with their diversity of backgrounds, experience, talent and outlook will help us do just that.”

Studio director, Russ Harding, added: “Our new leadership team possess a pedigree in gaming which speaks for itself. Our wider team hires bring a range of talent and expertise to provoke fresh thinking, new ideas and help us redefine the future of entertainment across multiple windows and devices.”

Netflix and Ubisoft partner for live-action Assassin’s Creed series – and a promise of more to come

Ubisoft has partnered with the streaming giant Netflix to develop a new ‘genre-bending’ live action adaptation of its hit video gaming franchise, Assassin’s Creed. It will form part of a multi-project deal with the games publisher that includes other live action, animated, and anime series to follow.

The series will be executive produced by Ubisoft’s own Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, but is yet to find a showrunner.

“For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise,” said Altman. “We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.”

Netflix’s Peter Friedlander, said: “We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for.”

The development of the series follows the 2016 cinematic adaptation starring Michael Fassbender, which fell flat among film critics and goers.

Reality Gaming Group partners with Herotainment to bring Smighties to blockchain collectables and gaming space

Reality Gaming Group has partnered with the New York entertainment company Herotainment to create a digital, blockchain-fueled collectables range based on Smighties.

The digital experience, called Smighties Universe, will enable fans to collect and trade digital versions of their favourite characters for the first time, as they build their own Smighty Hotel with themed rooms, or customise their characters with limited-edition accessories.

Their Smighties characters can then be traded with friends before, eventually, they go head-to-head in a groundbreaking game for the genre.

Each Smighty character in the Smighties Universe will be tokenised into a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), which is secured and protected on the blockchain, providing documented ownership indefinitely. They cannot be copied, which makes them scarce and potentially valuable.

The Smighties Universe story will follow the Smighties journey to our planet and their place in our own history. At launch, there will be 136 distinct Smighties to collect, with different attributes including superpowers, strengths, weaknesses, favourite foods and birthdays.

The Smighties will be categorized by their rarity and the elements of earth, water, light, air and magic.

Limited edition Pods, each containing surprise, digital Smighty heroes, will be available for fans all over the world to buy from www.smighties-universe.com in November 2020. Once these limited edition characters have sold out, they will not be available to purchase again, except by trading with others.

To reserve an initial free collectible, fans can sign up now at www.smighties-universe.com.

Blue Planet Software renames as Tetris and secures raft of 18 global partners for the video game brand

Blue Planet Software Inc., known by video game and merchandise licensees worldwide as the sole agent for the Tetris brand, has changed its company name to that of the iconic brand that it represents: Tetris.

The move has been made in order to strengthen its global positioning and recognition just as it unveils a slate of 18 new and returning merchandise partners, spanning apparel and footwear to decor, debit cards and stationery.

The expansive line up of new licensees showcases the continued growth of the brand’s lifestyle offering, enjoyed by audiences around the world.

“Just as the Tetris brand has evolved over the past 36 years, so have we,” said Maya Rogers, president and CEO of Tetris. “We have long recognized that our broad, global network of video game and merchandise licensees and licensing agents mostly identify our company by the name Tetris.

“Therefore, we decided to make it official. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver great, innovative games, lifestyle products and experiences to fans, including the many new partners we’re announcing today – only now you’ll know us simply as Tetris.”

Kicking off with the global market partnerships, Tetris has secured new deals with the likes of Loot Crate and its curated collections of Tetris apparel and accessories, Natur Food Ventures and Tetris branded functional gummies that will launch in Europe and the US and Canada in 2021, OppoSuits for a 2021 collection, Pinfinity for collectable Tetris pins enhanced with AR technology to reveal animation, music, and exclusive content, and Retro-Bit, a portable retro game gaming device.

These are joined by North American partnerships in Buffalo Games & Puzzles’ new board games, Card.com’s series of Tetris pre-paid online debit cards, Mad Engine’s Tetris t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, accessories and more, Open Road Brand’s wall decor, magnets, and more, and Pollard Banknote’s Tetris themed instant lottery scratch tickets.

Across Europe, Blokken, the popular Benelux quiz show which features a Tetris core element is kicking off its 27th season, Diakakis Imports has new Tetris themed back to school gear and activity sets in Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, Ermoda is debuting a range of Tetris apparel for men, women, and kids, Fizz Creations is launching Tetris keychains, Hunter Price has teased new lifestyle products coming to the UK and Ireland in 2021, and MadLab is bringing a larger than life Tetris arcade experience to Zaragoza in Spain this October.

Asia completes the line up with Tetris Mini playable keychain devices courtesy of Gametech, and fashion and home accessories hitting Japan next year from Moritoku.

Earthworm Jim lands on retro gaming platform Antstream Arcade in Interplay Entertainment partnership

Earthworm Jim! From the soil he did crawl and onto the retro games platform Antstream Arcade he now falls, thanks to a new licensing deal with Interplay Entertainment.

This is the latest development for Antstream, the games streaming platform that specialises in retro and throw back video game titles. It follows the firm’s recent deal with Bandai Namco and will see popular titles such as Earthworm Jim and Descent become available for gaming fans of a certain vintage across the globe.

With all games streamable over any 4G connection or better and on multiple smart devices, having access to some of the most celebrated titles from the world’s leading games and entertainment brands strengthens Antstream’s position as the de facto retro game streaming company.

For monthly subscription, gamers will be able to play Antstream’s growing library of licensed classics and curios, as well as enjoy the chance to participate in a wide range of global tournaments and leaderboards.

Steve Cottam, CEO at Antstream, said: “Interplay is one of the most iconic and well- respected games publishers and developers, so this deal is hugely important for Antstream.

“Following other high-profile partnerships we have signed, and with more deals in the pipeline, we are clearly demonstrating the strength of our position in the gaming market and the huge growth potential that cloud-based streaming services creates.”

Herve Caen, CEO of Interplay Entertainment, added: “It is always great to partner with a company which is clearly leading the way in gaming and, in this instance, retro gaming. Antstream Arcade is on track to doing just that, substantiated by its strong vision and having a solid understanding and passion for the industry. We are very much looking forward to what this collaboration will deliver.”