ASTRO Gaming today announced support for the launch of Battlefield Hardline with three sets of speaker tags designed for its ASTRO A40 Pro-Gaming Headsets. Developed alongside EA and developer Visceral Games, the ASTRO Gaming Battlefield Hardline speaker tags will feature artwork taken directly from the game.

The three sets of ASTRO Gaming Battlefield Hardline speaker tags, including Class, Faction and Hardline will be made available exclusively, as follows:

• Battlefield Hardline CLASS Speaker Tags sold exclusively at Amazon (www.amazon.com)
• Battlefield Hardline FACTION Speaker Tags sold exclusively at ASTRO Gaming (www.astrogaming.com)
• Battlefield Hardline HARDLINE Speaker Tags will be sold exclusively at The Penny Arcade Expo East (ASTRO Gaming Booth #6124) in Boston, March 6-8.

The three sets including Class, Faction and Hardline are fully compatible with existing ASTRO Gaming A40 Pro-Gaming Headsets and can be purchased individually for $24.99 each. Bundles including the latest A40 Headsets with Battlefield Hardline speaker tags are also available for $160 and $260, respectively.

Interceptor Entertainment and 3D Realms today announced Bombshell, an isometric action role-playing game set for release on PC and consoles.

Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison is a bomb technician turned mercenary for hire. Shelly lost her arm and her squad after failing to disarm an otherworldly bomb in what became known as “The Washington Incident.” Held responsible for the explosion, Shelly was discharged from the Global Defence Force and later approached by a private military contractor with the promise of a second chance: an arm constructed from technological remnants found in the wake of the incident.

Follow Bombshell’s quest for redemption as she fights through surreal alien worlds to rescue the President and save Earth using a growing array of special skills. With her own tech­tree upgrades, destructive weaponry and combat abilities, Bombshell and her countless arm configurations make her the perfect soldier to stop the Kyrr, an evil alien race lead by diabolical scientist­ turned­-madman Jadus Heskel.

Team17 today announced their partnership with Bulgarian indie studio Ivent Games. Together they will release the 3D brawler Strength of the Sword: Ultimate on PC and other platforms yet to be confirmed.

Hi-Rez Studios has released a new developer diary to welcome SMITE and MOBA newcomers on Xbox One.

As the online Battleground of the Gods, featuring over 60 playable deities, SMITE includes a pantheon of cooperative and competitive game modes to play alone or with friends:

• Arena (5v5) – SMITE’s take on Team Deathmatch. Go online, or load up some bots for local or co-op play.
• Conquest (5v5) – Classic MOBA gameplay. Three lanes, minions, towers and a titan boss fight.
• Joust (1v1 to 3v3) – One-lane, head-to-head competition. Quick, brutal and fun.
• Siege (4v4) – Two-lane combat fueled by colossal siege monsters that either team can summon.
• Assault (5v5) – All Gods are picked randomly before duking it out in one giant lane of chaos.

There’s also the Match of the Day, which mixes the daily challenge up in different ways, as well as practice, tutorial and co-op modes for those just getting started.

SMITE, currently in Season 2 on PC, will enter closed alpha testing on Xbox One on March 11th to prepare for its official release. To sign up for the upcoming closed beta, coming to Xbox One this spring, visit www.SmiteGame.com/Xbox.

Visceral Games today announced Battlefield Hardline Premium, an exclusive membership program delivering new content and early access to Battlefield Hardline fans all year long. Battlefield Hardline Premium members will enjoy four super features – Masks, Gun Bench, Competitive Play, and Legendary Status – as well as two weeks early access to four story-themed digital expansion packs. In addition, members will receive monthly rewards and access to exclusive in-game events and items.

Battlefield Hardline Premium membership includes:

• Four super features:
  • Masks – New player masks with unique gameplay benefits tied to the theme of each mask.
  • Gun Bench – Provides players with the ability to visually customize their weapons and track their kills per weapon.
  • Competitive Play – Support for competitive play through Battlefield Hardline Premium-access only tournaments and ladders.
  • Legendary Status – Provides replayability of the entire progression system.

• Four digital expansion packs featuring new multiplayer maps, modes, vehicles, in-game content and a story themed throughout all four:
  • Battlefield Hardline: Criminal Activity – Players have to make a name for themselves in fast-paced, highly-destructible new maps littered with small-time crime jobs. Available summer 2015.
  • Battlefield Hardline: Robbery – Take down the opposition head on and progress through key locations with major cinematic action. Available summer 2015.
  • Battlefield Hardline: Getaway – This is frantic, high-speed chases that immerse players deeper in the heist. Available fall 2015.
  • Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal – There is a rat in every operation and players will have to find out who to trust. Available winter early 2016.

• Two weeks early access to all expansion packs
• 12 Gold Battlepacks
• New personalization options including gun camos, ammo skins, and more Battlefield Hardline Premium exclusive in-game items
• Access to double-XP, in-game missions, and more Battlefield Hardline Premium exclusive events
• Priority position in server queues

Paradox Interactive today announced Knights of Pen & Paper 2, the sequel to Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition, will release for PC on May 14th.

Return to the dicey world of Knights of Pen & Paper for a new turn-based adventure, where players get to take on the role of players, and also of the game’s encounter-designing, rules-laywering GM in a fully customizable party. Assemble a group of virtual friends, dress them in class-specific hats, and take on an all-new series of quests, including dynamic dungeons, an improved combat system, new loot and crafting mechanics, and more, as the party faces its greatest challenge yet: the new edition of the ruleset

Frozenbyte today revealed the first glimpses of Trine 3, the next installment in the Trine series. The trailer reveals that the game is coming in 2015 initially for PC, and will be called Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power.

Dead Mage announced that their action platformer, Shadow Blade: Reload, will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U and PC in Q2 2015. The game is currently on Steam Early Access.

Sierra shares a new behind-the-scenes video for Shiftlings, the wacky puzzle platformer from Rock Pocket Games. This intergalactic adventure will be coming to PlayStation 4 and PC on March 3rd, and Xbox One on March 4th.

Bandai Namco has released a new video for Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, highlighting the new NPC invader, The Forlorn, as he hunts down players through the game.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available on April 7th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.