Ubisoft Blue Byte, Author at Ubisoft Blue Byte

Anno 1800’s next DLC, Empire of the Skies, is available now

Posted on September 20, 2022 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Starting today, Anno 1800 players can elevate their aerial mastery with new airships that enable them to transfer workforce and conquer opponent’s islands, in Empire of the Skies, the second DLC of Anno 1800’s fourth season. In the New World session, players are now able to use new constructions materials. Players can discover new anti-air technologies, a new scenario, and the introduction of a mail system.

Players can use new construction materials such as aluminum and helium and create five new advanced airships that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. They also can benefit from the opportunity to transfer workforce with airships and allow their residents all around the world to stay in contact with each other through an innovative mail system. Finally, players can take advantage of military airships to attack enemy vehicles and harbors and use anti-aircraft defenses to protect their island from enemy attacks. Building and organizing the airships will also need the airships hangar which has multiple building phases and the landing platform which comes with three new modules to attach to.

The all-new scenario mission “Clash of Couriers” will have players establish an independent mail delivery service in the New World and tell them the story of Paloma Valente, the airships inventor. One of the challenges players must overcome in the scenario is that there will be no regular ships available, and they must use airships.

Accompanying the release of Empire of the Skies, Anno 1800 is publishing a free Game Update which offers players quality of life improvements such as updates when interacting with neutral traders and changes to the military system.

Anno 1800 is available on the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store. Players can also subscribe to Ubisoft+ and enjoy all Season Pass content on Anno 1800 Day 1. Empire of the Skies can be purchased for 11.99 euros, or as part of the Season 4 Pass for 24.99 euros, saving 10 euros on the total price of individual DLCs.

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Anno 1800’s First DLC of Season 4, Seeds of Change, is Available Now

Posted on April 12, 2022April 14, 2022 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Starting today, Anno players can build powerful agricultural hubs known as haciendas in Seeds of Change, the first DLC of Anno 1800’s fourth season. In the New World session, players are now able to manage county estates and produce import goods to strengthen their population’s independence. The new haciendas bring opportunities to expand available living space, influence areas of each island by building modules and enhance productivity with high-quality fertilizer.

The “Seasons of Silver” scenario coming with Seeds of Change will challenge players to establish and maintain an intricate silver production chain through changing seasons.

To celebrate the release of Seeds of Change and the start of Season 4, players will be able to enjoy the full Anno 1800 base-game for free from April 12th to 19th, on Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store. The Free Week will be available from April 12th 6PM CEST to April 19th 6PM CEST, and players can access it on: https://freeweekend.ubisoft.com/anno1800

During the Free Week, Anno fans can take advantage of the following discounts in digital stores where the game is available:

Standard Edition: 19.80€ (-67%)
Gold Edition Year 4: 47.99€ (-40%)
Complete Edition Year 4: 71.99€ (-40%)

Anno 1800 is available on the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games store for Windows PC. Seeds of Change can be purchased for 7.99 euros, or as part of the Season 4 Pass for 24.99 euros, saving 10 euros on the total price of individual DLCs.

On top of the Free Week, and for the first time on Anno 1800, a Friend Referral Program is available from April 12th to 19th. Players inviting friends to the Free Week who then purchase the full game will earn the Seasonal Decorations Pack for themselves and their Invitee. Players can find all the details on the Anno 1800 Friend Referral Program on: http://annogame.com/friend-referral

For more information about Anno, please visit: https://annogame.com/

To join Anno Union, please visit: https://www.anno-union.com/

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Venture into the New World with the Anno 1800 Season 4 Pass

Posted on March 29, 2022April 1, 2022 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Revolutionize agriculture, take to the skies and discover a new social class in the new season for Anno 1800

Today, Ubisoft announced that the Season 4 Pass for Anno 1800™ is now available for preorders. Composed of 3 DLCs, “Seeds of Change”, “Empire of the Skies” and “New World Rising”, the Season 4 Pass will invite players to discover alternative means of agricultural production, pioneer aviation and lead a new tier of the New World’s population. In addition, a new scenario will challenge players with each DLC, bringing in new missions and game mechanics. Three exclusive ornaments will also be available from April 12th, 2022, as part of the Season 4 Pass.

“Seeds of Change” is the first DLC from Season 4, releasing on April 12th, 2022. Anno fans will be able to build powerful New World haciendas and own their own country estate to produce agricultural goods. Maximizing productivity, establishing island policies and strengthening the inhabitants’ independence by farming goods which previously needed to be imported is at the core of the DLC experience. With the “Seasons of Silver” scenario, players will be challenged to establish a complex silver production chain from the ground up, while dealing with changing seasons.

The Season 4 Pass will also introduce players to new ways to use airships with “Empire of the Skies”, scheduled for Summer 2022. From the transportation of mail, goods and workers to aerial battles, the skies will expand the players’ possibilities. Finally, coming in Late 2022, “New World Rising” will add a brand-new population tier and more islands to the New World. Additional information for each DLC will be released in the weeks leading up to their launch.

There are two Anno 1800 Year 4 editions available as of today:

Complete Edition Year 4: Features main game, Deluxe pack, and all 4 Season Passes
Gold Edition Year 4: Features main game, Deluxe pack, and Season 4 Pass

These two editions are now available and replacing the old editions. In addition to the three DLCs, Anno 1800 will also receive free Game Updates to accompany each DLC release, which will focus on improving the game even more.

With the release of “Seeds of Change”, players will also have the opportunity to test Anno 1800 (full base game) free of charge from April 12th to April 19th, as part of a Free Week.

Anno is available on the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games store for Windows PC.

Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, Anno 1800 has allowed players to evolve and gain new skills as a ruler. Players can create their cities –big or small–, plan efficient logistics networks, settle new continents, send out global expeditions, and dominate their opponents with diplomacy, trade, warfare and tourism.

By the end of 2021, the game reached more than 2 million players. Since its creation, Anno 1800 has been dedicated to incorporating the Anno community into its thinking process. Many ideas mentioned by fans –like additional New World content in the case of Season 4– find their way into the game. This collaboration between players and the studio is essential for the development team, to create a pleasant gaming experience tailored to every fan.

For more information about Anno, please visit: https://annogame.com/

To join Anno Union, please visit: https://www.anno-union.com/

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New Year, New Adventures Await: Ubisoft Announces The Settlers Will Release on PC March 17

Posted on January 13, 2022January 21, 2022 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Players Will Embark on a New Land and Encounter New Challenges on the PC Closed Beta that Begins January 20

Today, Ubisoft announced the much-anticipated return of The Settlers, the build-up real-time strategy (RTS) game where players must settle onto a new land, gather resources to build their communities, recruit fellow civilians (or Engineers) and form military units to protect and defend their new settlement.

The Settlers will release on Windows PC on March 17 and is available for pre-order now on Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store. Additionally, players can participate in the upcoming Closed Beta, which begins January 20.

Developed by Ubisoft Düsseldorf, The Settlers returns as a reboot mostly inspired by The Settlers 3 and The Settlers 4, two of the most popular games in the franchise. Players can expect a fresh take on the new The Settlers, built from the ground up using Ubisoft’s proprietary Snowdrop Engine, The Settlers sets a new visual benchmark in the RTS game genre. Traditional and new players will experience lush and colorful environmental biomes, as well as modernized gameplay. Players can enjoy The Settlers in one of three game modes: Single-Player Campaign, Onslaught and Skirmish (Solo vs. AI, Co-Op vs. AI or PvP featuring up to eight players).

In The Settlers, the Elari (one of the factions in the game) are forced to flee from their homeland and must settle on new and unknown lands. Adventure awaits as The Settlers come across other citizens and face tough challenges on their journey. There are a total of three playable factions in The Settlers, each with a unique look, playstyle and respective background story.

At release, The Settlers will be available in three editions:

Standard Edition: Base game
Deluxe Edition: Base game, deluxe pack and other digital goodies

Players participating in the upcoming Closed Beta can expect to experience: Tutorial, two playable factions and two Skirmish modes, 1v1 and 2v2. Players will be able to play the Closed Beta for an unlimited time between Jan. 20-24 on both the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. The Closed Beta pre-load will be available on January 18th.

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Anno 1800’s UNEP Choice Award-Winning Game Mode Launches December 14

Posted on December 6, 2021December 15, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Today, Anno 1800 teased its Season 4, and announced that its UNEP Choice Award-winning game mode, Eden Burning, will be available for free on December 14. Anno 1800 is available now on Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games store for Windows PC. In 2022, Anno 1800 will release three DLCs as part of its Season 4.

Anno 1800 recently surpassed two million players, and to celebrate this milestone, players will receive two ship skins with the upcoming Game Update, one for the Battlecruiser and one for the Ship of the Line, as a gift.

First debuted during the 2021 Green Game Jam, Eden Burning introduces a new game mode: Scenarios. The Eden Burning Scenario features a rogue-like mechanic that teaches players the dangers of an exploitative economy for the environment. Players must finish an industrial project without destroying their ecosystem while weighing the impacts of using renewable versus non-renewable resources.

Their decisions will affect their environment positively or negatively – and players who prioritize sustainable practices will see the best results. Eden Burning will be available as part of the free Game Update 13 on December 14. In Season 4, at least one new Scenario will be released alongside each new DLC.

Anno 1800 is also partnering with Ecologi, a social enterprise funding reforestation and other carbon reduction projects. Beginning December 14, players can buy the Plant A Tree DLC for $2.99 to receive a new ornamental tree to plant in their cities. A minimum of $1 of every purchase of the Plant A Tree DLC will be forwarded by Ubisoft to Ecologi. After March 31, 2022, the DLC will be removed from the in-game store, but players who own the DLC will retain it in their account. The ornament will also be given away for free later in 2022.

“The Anno team believes it is crucial to protect our planet and take action to address climate change. Taking part in the Green Game Jam earlier this year and winning the UNEP Choice Award was a real honor for us. We are happy that we can now bring this concept to life in our latest free game update and show how video games can play a role in teaching players about environmental issues.” said Marcel Hatam, International Brand Manager for the Anno series at Ubisoft Mainz.

In addition, Anno 1404 History Edition will be free as part of Ubisoft’s 35th Anniversary celebrations from December 6 to December 14.

To learn more about Scenarios and the Plant a Tree DLC, please visit: https://anno-union.com/devblog-eden-burning-green-game-jam.

To learn more about Ecologi, please visit: https://ecologi.com.

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Indie Camp 2021: Interview Hanging Gardens Interactive

Posted on November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

The next edition of the Indie Camp is right around the corner so it’s time to light up the fire pitch again! Oh, you’re curious about our last trip? Worry not, our last participants are happy to share some insights!

1. The first Indie Camp – What a ride! How did you enjoy your trip with Ubisoft?

It was incredibly valuable to us to gather the opinions of industry veterans on our game, our way to convey it to third parties and our core mechanic. The excitement and potential of the awards stream was an absolute blast.

2. What did you expect when you first applied?

Nothing really, just an opportunity to get the word out for Sonority. We got way more out of it than we expected and are glad we applied.

Ralf Neubauer – Producer

3. What would have winning meant for your game and company?

The opportunity to finally work together again after Covid took that away from us, would’ve been amazing. Especially working so close to Ubisoft employees could have helped us merge the energy and rich ideas of an indie project with the consummate professionalism of an experienced AAA company.

4. How did things change for you in the meantime? Anything you’re looking forward to?

Since then we have been working hard to push Sonority to be ready for its release early 2022, our new demo even has the first finished VO implemented.

5. And lastly: Do you have any advice for indies who’d like to apply to the next Indie Camp edition?

It’s a cool experience and great way to meet other developers. The application process and follow-up questions/requests are time consuming but interesting and thought provoking along the way. If you have some spare hours, just shoot your shot.

More information about Sonority here.

Indie Camp 2021: Interview Stelex Software

Posted on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

The next edition of the Indie Camp is right around the corner so it’s time to light up the fire pitch again! Oh, you’re curious about our last trip? Worry not, our last participants are happy to share some insights!

1. The first Indie Camp – What a ride! How did you enjoy your trip with Ubisoft?

It was an awesome journey and a great experience for us. We’re honored and proud to have been nominated among the finalists of the first Ubisoft Indie Camp with our game, Monorail Stories.

2. What did you expect when you first applied?

We didn’t know exactly what to expect, but we were certainly very interested in the mentorship program. That’s because we always want to evolve, learn and

improve and with our previous experience we’ve learned that having real help from someone who has already experience in the field is very important.

Founder and co-owner Stefano Maccarinelli, his wife and co-owner Tania Maccarinelli as well as their daughter

3. What would have winning meant for your game and company?

Of course it would have been great, but just being among the finalists makes us realize that the game we are developing has great potential.

4. How did things change for you in the meantime? Anything you’re looking forward to?

In the meantime we have talked to many publishers and we are finally about to sign a contract for Monorail Stories. This will allow us to reach the quality level we were aiming for at the beginning of the project. It will still be a long way but we are doing it with great enthusiasm and dedication.

5. And lastly: Do you have any advice for indies who’d like to apply to the next Indie Camp edition?

I have only positive things to say about this experience. So, what are you waiting for? Apply now, you won’t regret! 🙂

More about Stelex Software here.

Indie Camp 2021: Interview Toukana Interactive

Posted on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

1. The first Indie Camp – What a ride! How did you enjoy your trip with Ubisoft?

It was an emotional ride indeed! Since the Indie Camp application and award took place before the early access release, we were in active contact with Ubisoft during a very exciting and sometimes tense period of Dorfromantiks development. We were of course not sure that our launch would go well and were working hard to hopefully gain enough attention for our project. We are very thankful for the help and the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and enjoyed it a lot!

2. What did you expect when you first applied?

To be honest, we didn’t expect to win but instead thought that applying would be a fantastic way to hone our pitching skills and really engage with how to showcase and describe our game, and which aspects to focus on. We also thought that taking part would allow us to network in the indie and game development scene here in Germany which we deemed a valuable opportunity. Of course the winning prizes / rewards were a great motivation too

Zwi Zausch – Co-Founder, Tech-Artist, Game Designer

3. What did winning mean for your game and company?

Winning the Ubisoft Indie Camp definitely had a big impact on Dorfromantik and our company. As mentioned above, we were able to improve our approach on pitching and presentation. Ubisoft supported us in form of business development mentoring, marketing shoutouts on social media and streaming platforms. We also got a booth in the Indie Arena at Gamescom 2021, which, although fully digital due to the pandemic, was a fantastic experience. Another service we might be able to use later towards our full release is a professional QA testing facility, which is an exciting new experience waiting for us.

4. How did things change for you in the meantime? Anything you’re looking forward to?

Well we’ve gained a very active community which keeps us busy with many requested features! So for now we’re lazer focused on improving the game

and the new the creative mode and bringing the promised content updates to Dorfromantik to get everything ready for the upcoming full release in the beginning of 2022. Also we’re looking forward to hopefully bringing the game to more platforms…

5. And lastly: Do you have any advice for indies who’d like to apply to the next Indie Camp edition?

Yes of course! What worked really well for us is to ask for feedback early on in the development, optimally directly when you’re putting together the first mechanics and prototypes. Evaluating this feedback helped us to choose a feasible project/prototype to continue with. Additionally we tried to think about marketing as an engrained part of development, which then dictates how you go about your daily tasks. We tried to have a presentable build of the game ready all the time to be able to create shareable content early on. This also improves your skills in presenting and describing the game. This helped us a lot when we Dorfromantik started to get more attention and then later towards the Early Access release.

Learn more about Toukana Interactive here.

Anno 1800’s The High Life DLC Launches Today

Posted on August 31, 2021September 23, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Today, Ubisoft announced that The High Life, Anno 1800’s final DLC of its third season, is now available. In The High Life, players can reach new heights and build soaring skyscrapers alongside new buildings, production facilities, a brand new monument, and more.

A thriving population needs plenty of residences – and there is no better way to maximize space in your city than to build upwards with skyscrapers. The High Life’s skyscrapers are available for the Investor and Engineers citizens and can be upgraded up to five levels (or three for Engineers), with each level increasing the height, maximum population, and number of resident needs.

Players can build upwards for the first time in Anno 1800, taking advantage of a modular system that offers many combinations to customize their buildings. The High Life also introduces an enormous new monument, The Skyline Tower, inspired by some of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. More details about skyscrapers can be found in a dedicated blogpost.

While building and upgrading skyscrapers, players need to keep the Panorama Effect in mind, which gives a boost to the building’s maximum number of residents, reduces maintenance costs, and provides bonus residents – as long as the skyscraper in question is not surrounded by other skyscrapers of the same height or higher.

In addition, a free Game Update will be available alongside The High Life focusing on Quality-of-Life improvements, a new high score screen and a multi-downgrade tool to plan the cities more effectively.

For more information about Anno, please visit:

annogame.com

To join the Anno Union, please visit: anno-union.com

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Ubisoft brings 7 Indie Studios to Indie Arena Booth Online 2021 @ gamescom

Posted on August 19, 2021August 20, 2021 by Ubisoft Blue Byte

Today, Ubisoft announced its participation at Indie Arena Booth Online 2021, which takes place during the digital gamescom & devcom event from August 23 to 29. Ubisoft will showcase 7 indie studios from the United States, Canada, Germany and Austria via the Ubisoft Entrepreneurs virtual booth.

From August 23-25 the Indie Studios will get the chance to showcase their projects exclusively to business partners and media. From August 25-29, starting with the end of the Opening Night Live, the virtual booth will be accessible for everyone for free at https://indiearenabooth.de/

The line-up contains:

Company	Game	Website	Country, Region
Toukana Interactive	Dorfromantik	https://toukana.com/dorfromantik/	Germany, Berlin
Forbidden Folds	WHALIEN	https://forbiddenfolds.com/	Austria, Salzburg
Serenity Forge / Twin Otter Studios	Arcadian Atlas	http://www.arcadianatlas.com/	USA, Texas
Watcha Games	Sea Raiders	https://www.watchagames.com/	Canada, Québec
Clever Plays	Operation: Tango	http://www.operation-tango.com/	Canada, Québec
Mermaid Heavy Industries	Skategirl Destroys the Universe	https://mermaid.industries/	Canada, Ontario
Killjoy Games	Curses	https://www.killjoygames.fun/curses	Canada, Ontario

Ubisoft Entrepreneurs is an exclusive gateway to Ubisoft’s expertise and local and international networks. Through various programs, Ubisoft Entrepreneurs provides mentorship from internal experts, partnerships with Ubisoft brands and ecosystem, and venture capital. Ubisoft wants to explore with entrepreneurs opportunities that will shape the future of entertainment.

“After the very positive feedback from last year, we are thrilled to have these talented Indie teams with us at one of the largest gaming events in the world to showcase their amazing creations. We hope this will bring them many opportunities to help further move forward with their projects”, says Francis Baillet, VP Corporate Affairs at Ubisoft. “This is precisely what initiatives like Ubisoft Entrepreneurs and our Open Innovation Accelerator program are for, and we are committed to share our experience and bring support to innovative and exciting projects that are created by young talents around the globe.”

Indie Teams from Germany and Austria are part of the Ubisoft Entrepreneurs GSA (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Mainz) initiative. Toukana Interactive with Dorfromantik was the winner of the Indie Camp 2021 while Forbidden Folds with WHALIEN won the Newcomer Award of the Deutsche Entwicklerpreis (German Developer Award) which is sponsored by Ubisoft.

From Canada, Ubisoft Entrepreneurs brings 4 Indie Teams to the Indie Arena Booth Online as part of Ubisoft Entrepreneurs Quebec (Montreal, Saguenay and Quebec) and Ubisoft Entrepreneurs Ontario (Toronto).

Watcha Games with Sea Raiders and Clever Plays with Operation: Tango both took part in La Caravane Virtuelle – On the Road to International Expansion. This annual event, which runs in Quebec, is set up by Ubisoft, La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec and Québec EPIX, with the collaboration of The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and Investissement Québec International.

Mermaid Heavy Industries and Killjoy Games are, respectively, the 2021 Grand Prize and Special Prize winners of the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank in Ontario.

Twin Otter Studios from the USA are supported by Ubisoft’s Open Innovation Accelerator which is a brand-new initiative to connect and share development experiences and expertise with whiz kids – young developers with huge potential – and innovative creators in the video game industry. A team of dedicated scouts tries to anticipate the trends and spot innovative new actors in order to forge mutually beneficial partnerships.

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About Ubisoft Entrepreneurs

Ubisoft Entrepreneurs encompasses Ubisoft initiatives toward startups.

Ubisoft Entrepreneurs Quebec contributes to the global rise of local entrepreneurs in Quebec’s techno-creative industry. It acts at every creative and development stage of a company through mentorship and expertise, grants and funding, networking with Ubisoft teams in Quebec and around the world.
Ubisoft Entrepreneurs GSA is supporting video game developers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria through their annual Ubisoft Newcomer Award and Indie Camp initiatives.
Ubisoft Indie Series is an initiative of Ubisoft Entrepreneurs. It’s an annual competition for independent game development studios, offering cash prizes, mentorship from Ubisoft experts to help with development. Ubisoft Indie Series exists in Ontario and Quebec

About Ubisoft Open Innovation Accelerator

The Open Innovation Accelerator team is a brand-new initiative to connect and share development experiences and expertise with innovative players in the video game industry. The team of dedicated scouts tries to anticipate the trends and spot innovative new actors in order to forge mutually beneficial partnerships. Sharing innovative content stemming from our partners to widen the Ubisoft mindset and help our teams imagine even more creative experiences, we work with indie developers as we believe Ubisoft can learn from these smaller creators to stay ahead of the curve and satisfy our players with best-in-class games.

About Indie Arena Booth Online 2021

The Indie Arena Booth, operated by SuperCrowd, is an open home for independent game developers from all over the world. It is a platform for the developers as well as a showcase for the colorful and vivid game scene between Avantgarde and AAA. Starting as a small hand-made exhibition space for indie developers at gamescom in 2013, Indie Arena Booth has since grown to become the place to be at gamescom for hundreds of fresh indie games. Our intention is to give games of all sizes a platform to be presented to the audience of gamescom, supporting local as well as international developers.