Showing posts with label free-to-play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free-to-play. Show all posts

FTS: Where Winds Meet Introduces First Major Expansion: Hexi, Chapter One “Jade Gate Pass” Coming on Mar 6th

Massive expansion featuring 3 major maps, nearly 20 sub-regions- spanning deserts, ice fields, and grasslands, available for free!


GUANGZHOU, China – (Feb 27th, 2026) – Where Winds Meet is proud to unveil the game’s first major expansion, “Hexi”. The new expansion will be free-to-play on PC, PlayStation® and mobile. It consists of three major chapters, with chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass launching on Mar 6th, bringing a mesmerizing desert area, brand-new narratives, bosses, as well as fresh gameplay features and martial art styles to the Jianghu.



From March to May 2026, players will unlock Hexi's three chapters - Jade Gate Pass, Liangzhou and Qinchuan - in sequence. Spanning deserts, ice fields, and grasslands, each chapter introduces brand new landscape and challenges. Featuring 3 major maps, nearly 20 sub-regions, 11 unique bosses, 7 Jianghu Legacies, dozens of side quests, and more, the Hexi expansion is a truly distinctive addition to the game with rich content waiting to be discovered!

Sneak Peek Into The Hexi Narrative - A Dream to the Tang Dynasty
The entire Hexi expansion exists outside the game’s current main timeline, inviting players into a dream that harkens back to one of ancient China’s most glorious eras - the Tang Dynasty. Hexi adopts a more cinematic approach to storytelling and gameplay. As the developers push boundaries and bring something fresh to the table, players will inhabit characters in history and become a witness to the era and live through the fates of ordinary people caught in the tides of history. It is the ordinary people who make up history, and that is what makes Hexi's main story unique. 
 
Hexi Chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass Brings New Desert Exploration Gameplay
On March 6th UTC, the biggest expansion since launch will begin at Chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass - a desert area with sand and poetry, and generations holding onto hope.

After the update, players will be able to obtain 2 new tricks, Cosmic Reversal and Sand Chaser, both designed to optimize the unique experience when wandering in the massive desert. Sand Chaser allows you to surf on the sand, and Cosmic Reversal enables you to reverse time and rebuild the ruins in the desert, which can be useful for overcoming obstacles, uncovering secrets, and solving puzzles. What you need may simply be your imagination and a touch of curiosity. In addition to matchmaking battles, there will be even more gameplay fun and strategic depth. New gameplay, Sand Table Struggle and Heroic Gauntlet, will also be available for a limited time!
 
Campaign boss at Jade Gate Pass: Guo Xin
With this update a brand-new campaign, White-Crown City, opens. This border pass lies between Jade Gate Pass and Liangzhou Area; for centuries, it has been a crossroads of east - west travel and a vital part of ancient frontier defense. Today, the once-bustling pass lies abandoned, as time quietly erodes its former glory.
 
When players enter this land, ancient legends are rekindled: Guo Xin, the last Grand Protector of Anxi, stands as the guardian of this lonely outpost. Time has turned his hair to white as he watches over the frontier in solitude, while you personally witness all that unfolds on this desolate ground and uncover the secrets hidden behind history.
 
World Boss: The Wandering Ark
Across the sand sea, there is a roaming world boss - The Wandering Ark - a colossal vessel that moves freely and isn’t tied to any single location. In the midst of a sandstorm, its enormous hull seems to cut through the night, delivering a visually imposing presence while players must precisely target its weak points as they shift between ranged and close-quarters combat, choosing their moves with care. The legend of The Wandering Ark is closely tied to Hexi’s lore and awaits discovery by players.
 
Two new Martial Arts for Umbrella and Rope Dart
Additionally, the Jade Gate Pass update will introduce a new path: Bamboocut Dust, including two new Martial Art styles. The first, Spring Dreamscape, is an Umbrella-style art focused on agility, enabling fluid, endless combos and excelling in tight spaces or group skirmishes. The second one, Fleeting Clouds, is a new Rope Dart art that centers on large, sweeping AOE attacks. Its moves cover a wide area, making it ideal for crowd control; in one-on-one duels, you can keep the pressure on and chase down enemies for relentless damage.

The Hexi expansion pre-download is available now. With a bold new chapter in Where Winds Meet, we welcome you to step into the Jianghu - as new adventures await!




NetEase Games and Marvel Games Ignite the Competitive Scene with Marvel Rivals Global Esports Tournament

Marvel Rivals Ignite eSports Tournament is here! Are you ready?

Guangzhou, China & Los Angeles, California – May 2025 – The battle for Super Hero supremacy is about to reach new heights as NetEase Games and Marvel Games officially unveil Ignite—the first global esports tournament for Marvel Rivals. With a staggering $3 million prize pool, this high-stakes competition will bring together elite players from across the world to showcase their skills in the award-winning, team-based PVP shooter.

A Global Showdown Across Five Regions

Starting this May, Marvel Rivals Ignite will see fierce competition across five major regions:

  • AMERICAS

  • EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

  • CHINA

  • ASIA

  • OCEANIA

Players will battle across destructible maps inspired by the Marvel Multiverse, assembling squads of Super Heroes and Super Villains with unique abilities. The tournament will culminate in November 2025, where the best teams will face off in the Global Finals for a $1 million grand prize!

A New Era for Marvel Rivals Esports

Since its launch, Marvel Rivals has captivated players with its fast-paced action, strategic team play, and ever-evolving roster of Marvel icons. With Ignite, NetEase Games is taking the competitive scene to the next level, offering players a chance to prove their mastery and cement their legacy in the Marvel gaming universe.

What’s Next?

More details, including official tournament rules, qualifier dates, and team registration, will be revealed soon. Players can also stay updated with the latest game patches, hero balance adjustments, and new content drops as Marvel Rivals continues to evolve.

Stay tuned for further announcements, and get ready to ignite the battlefield in Marvel Rivals!

For more details, check out the official announcement here.



FTS: MAJOR UPDATE HEADED TO the Free-To-Play title... 'PIXEL STARSHIPS'!

 

MAJOR UPDATE HEADED TO 'PIXEL STARSHIPS'
New Missions, Ship Components, Weapons, Defenses, Customization, and More!

September 16th, 2024 — SavySoda is excited to announce a major content update to Pixel Starships, one of the most popular cross-platform multiplayer sci-fi strategy games. Upgrade your ship to level 13 and unlock an array of new enhancements and strategic possibilities.

This update is designed to reward dedicated players with greater power, flexibility, and challenge for both PvP and PvE engagements, encouraging them to explore further into the vast free-to-play universe of Pixel Starships.



Pixel Starships is the world’s first total spaceship management game in an 8bit massive online universe. You command every aspect of your ship from construction to battles in a single persistent world. Your mission is to build and develop your vessel into the largest, most powerful ship in the galaxy. Take epic journeys through unknown regions of space as you study alien races and discover new weapons and artefacts. Battle other players in head-to-head combat, steal their resources and strategically lead your crew to victory.

This Update Features:

  • New ship components
  • Advanced weapons
  • Upgraded defenses
  • Expanded ship customization options
  • New missions and challenges to test your upgraded ship


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Dear Developers: Repackaging Delisted Free-To-Play Games!


Dear Developers,

When it comes to certain free-to-play games, if they have a component that delivers story and progression like a single player game... there should be the option to restructure the game instead of having it delisted. I can't stand when that happens. So, when a gem like Gigantic can be resurrected, I can't help but wonder if other titles - like Heaven Strike Rivals - could make a comeback too.

I mean, come on - taking on the AI in Heavenstrike Rivals was legit enjoyable. It was a blast progressing through the story, and I can't be the only one missing it. And if Square-Enix really wanted to, they could give us the multiplayer component by allowing players to host matches.

I'm bringing this up because it's not just Heaven Strike Rivals - there are games out there that deserve more than to be yanked from gamers (if they fit certain criteria). All that hard work by dev teams could have a second wind if it makes sense. And I'm not just talking about bringing these games back for nostalgia's sake. These games could still be super fun and engaging today. Who knows, it might just bring you even more success than the original version did.

I would've flipped Heaven Strike Rivals a few ways. Anyways, keep making great games, adapt to keep them available and... game on!




 + Sophima 

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FTS: Are You Ready For A New Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter starring the Marvel Universe?


NetEase Games and Marvel Games Reveal Marvel Rivals, A New Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter Featuring a Deep Roster Across the Marvel Universe

  • Assemble an all-star Marvel squad and fight in team-based, third-person 6v6 battles in the new, free-to-play, and continually evolving universe of Marvel Rivals!
  • Experience an unstoppable lineup of the most popular and iconic Super Heroes and Super Villains the Marvel universe has to offer.
  • Devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and decimating obstacles in your path via destructible environments.

Guangzhou, China and Los Angeles, United States, March 27, 2024 – NetEase Games and Marvel Games are excited to announce their latest collaboration: Marvel Rivals, a cooperative, Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter that lets players assemble an ever-evolving all-star squad of Super Heroes and Super Villains while battling with unique super powers across a dynamic lineup of destructible maps from across the Marvel Multiverse. Marvel Rivals is in development for PC by a NetEase team composed of global talent who previously worked on hit franchises such as Call of Duty and Battlefield.


“We are overjoyed to bring Marvel Rivals to players around the world. We have always loved Marvel’s universe and its characters, and we are so excited to develop this game,” said the Marvel Rivals Producer, Stephen Wu. “This is the game we want to make, and we feel very lucky to be the team who made all of this come true.”

“NetEase Games is excited to collaborate with Marvel Games to deliver a thrilling, fast-paced cooperative gameplay experience featuring all of your favorite Super Heroes,” said Ethan Wang, Senior Vice President, NetEase, Inc. “This partnership with Marvel Games continues our commitment to build world-class development teams and reach global audiences with cutting edge experiences.”

Marvel Rivals is one of our most ambitious game development projects. Since the conceptualization of the game and throughout our collaboration, our Marvel team has poured our hearts and souls into this project, and we are thrilled to work with the incredible team at NetEase Games to help deliver the ultimate Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter,” says Jay Ong, EVP and Head of Marvel Games.


Marvel Rivals will feature the following:

A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster: Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse. With the Alpha Test in May, players will have access to more than a dozen playable Super Heroes and Super Villains, including iconic characters such as Black Panther, Spider-Man, Magneto, and Magik.

Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics: With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there's never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.

Dynamic Hero Synergy: Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!

Creative Environment Destruction: Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield. Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!

Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates: The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!

Marvel Rivals features a storyline crafted by the NetEase writing team where the merciless clash between the tyrannical dictator Doctor Doom and his future counterpart from the year 2099 has forced countless universes to collide in the Timestream Entanglement, creating new worlds and crises still unknown. Now, Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the multiverse must fight together and against one another as disparate groups seek to defeat both Dooms before one achieves domination of these realities. Familiar faces become newfound foes while former enemies become the greatest of allies in Marvel Rivals!

For more information about Marvel Rivals and to sign up for upcoming beta tests, please visit: 


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