Keen Games has released the first DLC for Sacred 3 called Orc of Thrones that allows you to play as Garok the Orc. It will cost you $2.99 on Steam.

Play as Garok the Orc, the true heir of the Orc Throne. Betrayed by his brother Gragon, he sets out to kill him and return his tribe back to the ways of nature. This pack contains Garok the Orc as a fully playable character.

Despite my distaste for Sacred 3 I thought a few of you would be interested in a new video interview from GamerHubTV with developer Keen Games.

Keen Games developer discusses Sacred 3, the new hack and slash RPG sequel from publisher Deep Silver, in this exclusive interview.

A former Junior Game Designer at Keen Games who worked on Sacred 3 has posted an apology on the Steam forums. Sorry the game key is already taken.

I was one of the Game Designers of Sacred 3. Giving away my key.

Hi, I was a Junior Game Designer at keen games and worked on Sacred 3. I joined the development team in May 2013. Overall development was a bit longer, as you may know.

My main tasks where design, implementation and maintenance of the enemies and the bosses.

I'm sorry for the die-hard sacred fans, that didn't get the game they wanted to have. As a developer I received a free steam key for Sacred 3, which I would like to give to a disappointed fan, who did not purchase the game already. It's not much, just a gesture.

I've read a lot of hate against my former employer keen games, that they destroyed the franchise (on purpose)... All I can say is, that you should not overestimate the power of a developer in a "work for hire" constellation with a big publisher.

I could answer some questions but I would appreciate to not receive the full hatred package on a personal level.

- Sascha

Edit: Some people demanded proof. http://i.imgur.com/FTXrAgl.jpg?1

Here are a few more reviews I found this week for Sacred 3. I warned you guys before about the game, and I was right. So here we go with the next roundup.

Mouse N Joypad - 75/100

Taking cues from other genres, Sacred 3 spins its gameplay yarn so as to satisfy a very specific niche. Seemingly a combination of Diablo and Devil May Cry series, the game is a hybrid that wants to attract fans of both game archetypes. The final product is much better than I had anticipated, but is still missing some key features that would greatly extend its longetivity.

Hooked Gamers - 7/10

Sacred 3 doesn’t do a whole lot wrong other than having lackluster writing. However, as has always been the case with the series, the action is very standard. There’s not a great deal of depth, but if you want to spend a few hours hacking and slashing your way through hordes of enemies, you could do a lot worse.

Strategy Informer - 8/10

While we're certainly not starving for Action RPGs these days Sacred 3 does manage to stand out. A poorly-told story with odious voice-acting, crushing linearity, a total lack of customization right down to clothing and levelling upgrades, and an absolute distain for single-player gamers are its biggest faults. None of these manage to stop it from being a really fun and well designed ARPG, which is addictive with one player and utterly glorious in co-op. The linearity and other lack of reasons to do so stop replayability dead however, so beyond maybe an odd further playthrough of certain maps in co-op you'll be done in about 10-15 hours. If ARPGs, particularly co-op ones, are your thing then Sacred 3 should definitely be on your to-buy list, but don't expect it to take over your life the way other games in this genre have a tendency to do.

PCGamesN - No Score

You can now buy Sacred 3 via Steam.

Sacred 3 is Now Available on Steam in most countries! Please see the store page for more information about your local release date.Sacred 3 is an arcade Hack ‘n' Slash game for up to 4 players. Choose a hero and fight cooperatively against the rise of evil. Victory is Ours. Glory is Mine.

Just in case you were thinking about playing Sacred 3, you might want to check out some of the reviews below.

Eurogamer, 5/10

Sacred 3 could have been a really good game, and a much needed shot in the arm for a series that has always struggled for relevance. There's simply not enough of it, though, and what is there is so slim and featureless as to be almost intangible. It certainly doesn't feel like a game that's been in development for years (Deep Silver announced it in 2010) and is constantly defined by what has been left out, far more than the little that has been fixed or added. As such, amusing as it is in its own shallow way, Sacred 3 can only come as a mediocre disappointment to the hardy few who still consider themselves Sacred fans

Rock Paper Shotgun, Rubbish

It’s spectacularly bad. Bad not like Sacred games have been bad before, where maps stopped working or the game just crashed. In this game crashing would be a welcome feature. Here the awfulness is hard-programmed into the code, wilful, deliberate. It’s a series of abysmal choices strung together in a vacuous, tiresome chain of near-identical linear missions. The “combat arts” should have been its defining feature, letting you craft a unique and elaborate fighting style to afford this drivel at least the genre of “hack n slash”. But instead it’s the rusting chassis of an ARPG, after it’s been stripped down for parts and left, abandoned in a disused yard, where it really ought to be forgotten.

Games TM, 6/10

Considering the scope of its predecessors and how far the genre has come since the series’ inception a decade ago, that’s as unnecessary as it is unwelcome. Still, there’s potential here and approached with the right mindset and a group of friends there’s some fun to be had. Streamline your expectations, in other words, and you’re more likely to view Sacred 3 as slick rather than shallow.

Escapist,3/5

Sadly, with a game so stripped bear of player input, Sacred 3's biggest problem becomes an overwhelming sense of repetition. Once you find those aforementioned skills and spirits that work best for you, there's no reason to change things up, and since each skill is leveled up at different, predetermined parts, there isn't really anything to work towards for vast periods of time. As if that wasn't enough, weapon spirits themselves keep spouting out stock phrases from a limited pool, in annoying voices, driving home the sense that you're doing the same things over and over again.

GamesRadar, 2/5

Fans of the Sacred series should definitely give this one a pass unless they're prepared for massive disappointment. People looking for a co-op time waster can wring a bit of fun out of Sacred 3, but will probably get annoyed by the bad comedy or bored of the repetitive gameplay long before it's over. If this is the best that Dr. Frankenstein could do for Sacred, the poor dead franchise should have been allowed to rest in peace.

And for a bit more positive tone:

GameInformer, 7.5/10

I can see how Sacred 3 is going to upset purists and longtime fans; the latest entry has as much in common with Skylanders as it does with previous entries, to be honest. If you’re dead-set on an open world, this one’s dead in the water. If you liked last year’s Sacred: Citadel and want a slightly deeper take on it, however, it’s worth a shot.

I found another Sacred 3 preview this time form a website called One Angry Gamer.

Deep Silver and Keen Games’ upcoming Sacred 3 is due for release on August 5th in two weeks. The game is gearing up to land on retail shelves and digital distribution for PC, PS3 and the Xbox 360. One of the things I thought was pretty odd was how few previews are available for the game, but with the release looming so close, I’m sure a lot of gamers would love to know a bit more about the game given its thinly promoted presence in current gaming media.

The plot of the game is pretty straightforward: evil dude called Emperor Zane is attempting to overtake the land with his trash mobs. Quite naturally it’s up to players to band together and take out the trash like it was an isometric, hack-and-slash action-RPG from 1996.

The game focuses heavily on four-player drop-in and drop-out functionality for local and online gameplay. So you can grab friends or family in the room or go online and snag a buddy or two from your friend-list and attempt to take down baddies and out-score your friends with the most kills.

Deep Silver released a new CGI trailer for Sacred 3, and I can safely say I'm still not interested in the game despite their effort to promote it.

Sacred 3 "Fighter" Trailer Shows Competition

Today Deep Silver released a new CGI trailer for the arcade hack 'n' slash title,  Sacred 3,  available on August 5th for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 as well as Windows PC. Teamwork is important in Sacred 3, but who doesn’t like fighting for personal glory? 

The latest trailer shows off the competitive, co-op gameplay and the humor that fans of the franchise expect. Gamers will enjoy fighting back the hordes of the evil Emperor Zane while competing with friends to prove who is Ancaria’s greatest champion.

A strong team is necessary to defeat the countless enemies of the evil empire. You’ll need to equip combat arts and weapons spirits that compliment your team and your own unique play style. However, there are powerful enemies that won’t be easily slain. Combine your powers with other champions to cast powerful and devastating co-op combat moves. Once the dust from the battles has settled, the score sheet will reveal which hero will stand as the undisputed champion over his or her peers. This establishes a delicate balance between friendly cooperation and cutthroat competition

MousenjoyPad has posted a new preview for the Hack & Slash game Sacred 3.

Has it really been six years since Sacred 2 was released? Indeed, we are getting old. While the wait for the third game in the series hasn’t been as prolonged as, say, the wait for Diablo 3, it’s been tough on fans of the franchise. Last year, we got a side-scrolling excuse in the way of Sacred Citadel, and if you weren’t too happy with the given characters and style, you aren’t going to like the direction in which Sacred 3 is headed.

Steam announces you can now Pre-Purchase Sacred 3 for $49.99. Don't forget to check out the news coverage on our site first as the new game is different.

Sacred 3 is an arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash game for up to four players, set in the war for Ancaria. Choose from legendary heroes and fight together against the rise of evil. You will face hordes of grimmocs, brute beasts, legions of mercenaries and undead wizards. Develop your character’s skills and abilities and band together to use powerful co-op abilities and tactics. Victory Is Ours. Glory Is Mine.

Deep Silver released a new trailer for Sacred 3 called the Trophy Trailer, and even descride their game as an arcade Hack 'n' Slash. They called it an ARPG at first.

Sacred 3 is an arcade Hack 'n' Slash game for up to 4 players. Choose a hero and fight cooperatively against the rise of evil. Victory is Ours. Glory is Mine.

Calm Down Tom has posted a new preview of Sacred 3 where he writes if he should be excited about playing the new game.

I enjoyed my time with Sacred 3; it looks really good and plays well. The only real worry I have about the full version is the structure of it. It feels in a lot of ways like a half-step, like this game was built to join the co-op resurgence that we’re seeing in the industry and wanted to hit a middle ground between Sacred 2 and Sacred Citadel (a surprisingly good beat-em-up that came out last year). The lack of weapon and armour loot could definitely limit the replayability depending on how well the full skill tree and leveling is handled. It’s definitely a game to keep an eye on, especially if you’re into co-op heavy games but in a lot of ways it could be disappointing if you go in looking for a direct sequel.

Also Neptune Games has six new screenshots.

Keen Games and Deep Silver has released a new bunch of gameplay screens taken from their upcoming action role-playing game.

Deep Silver sent a reminder that you can now pre-order Sacred 3 for release on August 5th. Here is the full press release for those interested in the game.

SACRED 3 GEARS UP FOR GLORY ON AUGUST 5 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Nab Exclusive Items, Weapons And DLC In The Penultimate Fantasy Hack 'n' Slash Installment In The Sacred Universe

Larkspur, Calif., May 27, 2014 – Prepare to enter the fantasy realm of Ancaria. Today Deep Silver announced that Sacred 3 will storm into retailers on August 5 for for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows® PC and PlayStation®3. and PC. Sacred 3 is the third installment in the Sacred universe where good is pitted against evil in a timeless battle filled with non-stop action and the chance to become the ultimate hero. Featuring incredibly immersive and engaging drop in/drop out seamless co-op gameplay, players must outperform and outshine their teammates in epic battles where victories are shared, but glory can only belong to one. Pre-orders for Sacred 3 are now available with exclusive bonuses for fans in North America.

All fans who pre-order Sacred 3 will be able to jump into Ancaria primed for battle with the playable Malakhim character, who uses mysterious blood magic to combat the armies of Emperor Zane. Additionally, fans that purchase Sacred 3 at GameStop will receive the Underworld Story mission pack, the playable Malakhim character and the exclusive Z4ngr13f Weapon Spirit.

Weapon Spirits are a brand new addition to the Sacred universe in Sacred 3. Players will be able to enhance their weapons with these upgradable and interchangeable weapon augmentations, each with their own unique buffs and debuffs. Certain Weapon Spirits even take the form of previous characters from the Sacred franchise, to help aid players of Sacred 3 in their fight against the hordes of evil.

Sacred 3 features classic arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash action centered around drop in/drop out cooperative multiplayer for both offline (2 players) and online (4 players) play. The game brings back favorite characters such as the Seraphim, Ancarian, Khukuri and the Safiri, and introduces the aforementioned new character, Malakhim. Each character class features its own unique skills and weapons that can be upgraded to match the player’s very own combat style. Master the art of war and fight through enemy hordes and try to outshine fellow companions on the way to become the greatest hero of all.

Victory Is Ours. Glory is Mine.

For more information about Sacred 3, please visit our social channels:
Official Website: www.sacred-world.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacredworld
YouTube: www.youtube.com/sacredworld
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sacred_world

Gamingbolt took the time to interview Deep Silver's Creative Producer Sebastian Reichert to ask a few questions about their new ARPG Sacred 3.

Rashid Sayed: Customization is a big part of any role playing game. Sacred 2 featured a wide variety of options for equipment and weapons types. What kind of customization options will have the player have in Sacred 3?

Sebastian Reichert: First of all, Sacred 3 at its core is an action game. A lot of classic RPG elements have been removed or simplified to ensure a fluid multiplayer experience. Of course, we still like our customization that is synonymous with our gameplay. We offer armor and weapon upgrades but our focus is on the Combat Arts. The players have to decide which ones to take along for a quest. And this choice will change their experience completely. There are even differences within the Combat Arts. The Stomp of the Safiri, can be focused point damage or can be used as huge area effect with DoT-capabilities.

Rashid Sayed: Why is Sacred making a comeback after almost six years?

Sebastian Reichert: Because it is an awesome world. And we think it deserves another title; one that shifts the gameplay but stays in the same storyline.

Rashid Sayed: Lastly, there has been some criticism on the latest gameplay trailer. Some fans think the visual design is too cartoonish at the moment. What are your thoughts on this?

Sebastian Reichert: The design has become a little bit more cartoonish, but as we continue to focus on the rich lore of Ancaria, we will also present comic style cutscenes at the introduction for each Main Quest.

Deep Silver sent out a new press release announcing the release date of Sacred 3 on August 26th in North America, and includes a new a trailer to go along with it.

SACRED 3: THE FIGHT FOR GLORY HAS BEGUN

Sacred 3 to launch on August 26 in North America, first gameplay trailer introduces fast-paced Hack ‘n’ Slash action

Larkspur, Calif. – March 19, 2014 – Publisher Deep Silver pulled back the curtain on the upcoming and anticipated Sacred 3 today, revealing the first eye-popping gameplay footage for the arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash title. The trailer introduces a selection of unique character classes that will be available giving fans a glimpse of the fast-paced co-op action against countless enemies. The newest installment of the classic Sacred series will be available on August 26 in North America for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system as well as Windows PC.

At launch, Sacred 3 will include the Malakhim class as well as the unforgettable Underworld Story DLC. In Underworld, players have to forge their way to the top of a mysterious tower where they have to confront the Black Seraphim, a notorious rival from Sacred 2.

See the gameplay trailer: http://youtu.be/skMsZyNN21A.

About Sacred 3

Sacred 3 features classic arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash action centered around drop in, drop out cooperative multiplayer for both offline (2 players) and online (4 players) play. The game brings back fan-favorite characters such as the Seraphim, Ancarian, Khukuhru and the Safiri, as well as introduces a new character, Malakhim. Each character class features its own unique skills and weapons which can be upgraded to match the player’s very own combat style. As they master the art of war, players will fight their way through enemy hordes and try to outshine their fellow companions on their way to become the greatest hero of all. The inclusion of mission stats and online leaderboards will continue to drive competition both locally and online. Victory Is Ours. Glory is Mine.

Deep Silver sent a press release today with information that Sacred 3 will be releasing in Summer 2014,  and included a new trailer to go along with the news.

Sacred 3 Delivers Action-filled Fantasy In Summer 2014

Reveal Trailer Sets The Tone For Arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash Gameplay

Deep Silver today announced that the next installment of the famed Sacred franchise, Sacred 3, will release on consoles and PC this summer. Sacred 3 takes players back into the fantasy realms of Ancaria, where they will need to band together in the hope of vanquishing the deadly tides of evil. Sacred 3 will be released for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft as well as Windows PC.

“The paramount development goal for Sacred 3 has been to create a seamless online and offline co-op experience”, said Remy van Leeuwen, Brand Manager of Deep Silver. “By creating a game built around the central concept of co-op gameplay, we’re expanding the series to new audiences without compromising the rich lore and fantasy of the Sacred universe.”

Sacred 3 features classic arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash action centered around drop in, drop out cooperative multiplayer for both offline (2 players) and online (4 players) play. The game brings back fan-favourite characters such as the Seraphim, Ancarian, Khukuhru and the Safiri, as well as introduces a new character, Malakhim. Each character class features its own unique skills and weapons which can be upgraded to match the player’s very own combat style. As they master the art of war, players will fight their way through enemy hordes and try to outshine their fellow companions on their way to become the greatest hero of all. The inclusion of mission stats and online leaderboards will continue to drive competition both locally and online. Victory Is Ours. Glory is Mine.

Official Website: www.sacred-world.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacredworld
Youtube: www.youtube.com/sacredworld
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sacred_world

Here are two previews of the recently announced Sacred 3.

OXM:

Since Deep Silver bought the license to the Sacred series from former developer Ascaron Entertainment, they basically went back to the drawing board for the next installment. With new developer Keen Games at the helm, you can think of Sacred 3 as a sort of franchise reboot, albeit one that returns to the high-fantasy realm of Ancaria and may involve some familiar characters and kingdoms. Most everything else has been stripped down and rebuilt as a more action-oriented console-friendly hack-and-slash.

Press2Reset:

The action RPG can be played cooperatively with up to four players. The Safiri Berserker (a ripped beast of a man) and the Ancarian Lancer (a scantily clad pixelated wet dream) character classes were showcased. The two playing showed off the benefit of using character classes with complimentary skill sets as the Lancer stunned groups of enemies and, when timed correctly, the Berserker wreaked havoc as it charged through them. Often this combo instantly destroyed enemies or, when travelling an area on narrow paths, knocked them off to their deaths.

Deep Silver let us know, via GameBanshee, that Sacred 3 now has been officially announced. A quote from the press release - courtesy of Gamebanshee.

Return to the World of Sacred With the Next Installment

 LARKSPUR, CA – AUGUST 31, 2012 -- Deep Silver today revealed the first details about the upcoming Action RPG Sacred™ 3, the next installment in the popular series set in the rich and detailed world of Sacred. They say that whoever possesses the Heart of Ancaria will decide the fate of the world. Zane Ashen, ruler of the corrupt Ashen Empire, will do everything in his power to obtain the Heart; however, the Seraphim have hidden it away in a secure and secret place. Only when a group of heroes combine their powers to oppose Zane Ashen’s reign of terror does the world have a chance of escaping utter destruction.

Please head over to GameBanshee's image gallery to see the screnshots.

There was a ban on reporting on Sacred 3 until Pax and so the first previews will show up these days with one of the first being Xbox360 Achievements.

Showing off the combat, Toplansky states that button mashing is a possibility, but when things get hectic that simply won’t cut it. Players have a range of Combat Arts that can swing the tide of battle and clever players will quickly learn to chain them together with friends for massive damage. “We wanted to create a deeper experience so that players are discovering nuances dozens of hours into the game,” Toplansky states, as a foolhardy opponent is cleaved in two. “To do this we wanted more action rather than pure numbers, so it puts that sense of interest and control back into players hands.” The series certainly seems to have stepped away from the statistic driven end of the RPG spectrum and instead has a more action orientated approach. The reason for this, according to Toplansky is down to giving players a sense of reward. “There is a fleeting sense of reward for, say, getting a new item. I’m going to take that new +6 sword into battle and see that the damage numbers have gone from 200 to 206. Wow, bravo to me right?” Instead they want players to spend time learning the nuances of the game itself rather than scrounging for slightly better weapons.

This is just a dummy newsbit for DB purposes. You can find the details in the accompanying Koch Media newsbit.

Ascaron also announced they are already working on Sacred 3.