Paradox Interactive would like your feedback about The World of Darkness and have commissioned a survey.

Help us build the #worldofdarkness! Share your thoughts and opinions in our new community survey, we want to hear from you: http://bit.ly/wodcommunitysurvey2020 …

PC Gamer reports on Paradox Interactive sharing some new screenshots for its Vampire game.

From the images, posted on Twitter, we think we can pick out the Surfside Diner, The Ocean Hotel in flames, The Ventrue Penthouse, The Malkavian Mansion, the Nosferatu Sewers, and Fat Larry's van. 

It's all pointing towards either a remake or a follow-up to Bloodlines, and Paradox promises that "something big" is coming next week during the Game Developers Conference.

[...]

GameWatcher reports on a new screenshot and concept art for a Vampire game from Paradox.

We initially dismissed the message we received as spam (as did Outlook), but it links to a site warning about the spreading influence of Tender - and offers invites to closed 4-hour event this Saturday, February 22. The same site has the first concept art, and has just released a screenshot too, and is promising the first video soon. Perhaps this Saturday?

[...]

RockPaperShotgun reports on a potential Vampire game tease from Paradox.

Either Paradox, who these days own Vampire: The Masquerade & World of Darkness publisher White Wolf, are getting into the Netflix & Chill game, or they’re they’re gearing up to reveal a long-awaited follow-up to the legendary Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

They’ve come up with Tender, ostensibly a dating site. Whose metadata just so happens to read “Whether you’re looking for meaningful friendships, true love or simply a late night bite with a kindred spirit, Tender is here to help.”

By the pricking of my thumbs…

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Paradox have upgraded their engine to be more moddable in the future according to PC Gamer.

"Half of our team is going to be building tools, going forward.”

Starting with next year's Imperator: Rome—which impressed Tom in his hands-on this week—Paradox's grand strategy games are going to be much easier to mod thanks to an upgrade to the engine the developer uses, according to engine team lead John Wordsworth.

In an interview with Venture Beat, Wordsworth said that a major upgrade to the ten-year-old Clausewitz engine will provide far more tools to modders, allowing them to easier create custom UIs, complete overhaul mods or simply change the terrain of a map.

[...]

Harebrained Schemes have announced that they are now apart of the Paradox family. Video at the link.

We just announced some big news today and wanted to share it with you personally.

[...]

From Paradox forum

Greetings everyone,
We just wanted to answer some of the (probably) most likely questions you may have so please read this entire post before asking your questions

What will this mean for Paradox and HBS?
Harebrained Schemes will continue to operate with its own internal management and creative teams, designing and developing the games that have earned them their outstanding reputation. HBS and Paradox have a shared vision for where to take narrative rich tactical games. Of course each title will be greenlit via Paradox's publishing process. HBS will continue to have the freedom to creative direct our games and build our player experiences.

In their new role as a division of Paradox Interactive, Harebrained Schemes will gain access to an expert publisher with a strong reputation and a global audience. Paradox will handle finances, marketing, PR, and distribution, and leave the development to HBS. Paradox is bringing HBS on board because they like what the studio is doing, so nobody wants to change that. Fans of Harebrained Schemes can continue to count on the community involvement and visibility that the studio has always provided.

This arrangement came about due to the excellent experience both companies have had while working together on BATTLETECH. Everybody believes this is a great fit.

Is Paradox removing any of the executive team at HBS? Will they be installing new studio managers from their side? Will there be other staffing changes?
All the executives of HBS are remaining at the company in their current roles. There are no plans to install new studio management from Sweden in the HBS offices. The only anticipated staffing changes is that we at HBS are currently hiring for the studio!

Will PDS make games using the HBS IP? Will there be Mechwarriors in Stellaris?
There are no plans for “crossing the streams” at this point.

Will HBS make games using Paradox IP? Could we get a CK2 RPG? Victoria 3 when?
HBS will continue to focus on what it does best which are tactical games with rich stories.

Is HBS going to shift its focus to developing tons of DLC?
We will be supporting BATTLETECH with updates and additional content and we are starting concept development for a new title.

Paradox Interactive are having a sale over the weekend on GOG called the PDXCON Sale.

Oh, you'll want in on that Con!

It's PDXCON time again and for three days Paradox fans will be converging to Stockholm, Sweden to celebrate the epic games in the publisher's expansive catalog! Even if you're not attending, doesn't mean you can't participate in the fun: our PDXCON Sale is now on, with a wide array of modern classics going for up to 80% off.Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny are two prime examples of why the isometric, party-based RPGs of yore needed to come back and stay. Age of Wonders, Europa Universalis, Majesty, and Hearts of Iron will more than scratch your tactical itch while sucking you in their respective worlds.The PDXCON Sale ends May 21, 10pm UTC.

Gamewatcher reports that Paradox Interactive will announce two new games at PDXCON 2018, one of which will be from Triumph Studios, maker of Age of Wonders. PDXCON 2018 takes place at Stocklhom, Sweden from May 19-20th.

Paradox has let us know that they will be finally announcing a full new title from Paradox Development Studio at PDXCON 2018. All bets were on Victoria 3, but we've just seen in the video at the bottom of this report that it won't be there.

The Swedish publisher has also announced the reveal of a new game from Triumph Studios, the guys behind Age of Wonders and Overlord.

[...]

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Paradox Interactive have acquired Triumph Studios, the makers of Age of Wonders. 

We are super excited to bring you the news that Triumph Studios has been acquired by Paradox Interactive. Our Triumph adventure began 20 years ago, taking us from the first Age of Wonders strategy game to the Action RPG series Overlord, and back to our turn-based roots again. We have created the sort of original games that we ourselves craved, and that we wanted to share with a like-minded audience. Triumph's games are genre-defying, can be experienced with other people, appeal to the inner nerd and somehow all involve conquering the world in some fashion.

Throughout our history we have worked with varying degrees of independence, from full-on indie to close cooperation with publishers. After self-publishing Age of Wonders 3, which creatively and commercially turned out tremendously well, we realized that development - in close relation to our fans - is the thing that we care about most. Additionally, the games market is constantly evolving and we drew the conclusion that expanding our publishing efforts for the limited number of games we release would be inefficient.

So we were super excited when Paradox proposed joining their family. As one of the world's premier publishers - and developers - of strategy games, they really understand the type of games we make. The have specialized, highly skilled personnel to complement our activities: from marketing and PR, to QA, localization and of course development itself. Many of us are huge fans of Paradox games, so we're very much looking forward to sharing knowledge with their renowned Grand Strategy developers.
As a development studio we will keep on flying our own flag, but with the help of Paradox and the continued support of you -our fans- we'll be able to take our games to another level, and contribute to the continued development of a strategy powerhouse. We just can't wait to reveal to you what we've been cooking up over the last two years.

Thanks for all your support. A new Age of Wonders dawns today, the future for strategy games has never looked better!

Arno, Lennart and the Triumph Team

Paradox and Triumph will host a live stream and Q&A about the acquisition on Friday, June 30 at 4PM CEST. Tune in at twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive.

Paradox's summer sale is on now; huge discounts can be had on almost their entire catalogue, including Pillars of Eternity, Crusader Kings II, the Magicka series, Warlock, and more.  Some games are up to 90% off.

Check it out.

Gamasutra reports that Paradox Interactive is going public soon. What this means for there future ventures is more development in console and mobile games.

An IPO is in the cards for Paradox Interactive, as chief Fredrik Wester took to Twitter today to confirm that the 17-year-old company intends to go public this year.

What's especially intriguing about the long-private company's intent to turn public is that proceeds from sales of shares in the company will presumably afford Paradox an influx of cash, something it recently spent a great deal of in order to take White Wolf Publishing off of CCP's hands.

According to a roughly-translated version of an interview with Wester published today by Swedish-language outlet Di Digital, Paradox is interested in making further acquisitions in the future and expanding deeper into mobile and console game publishing.

Gamasutra has reached out to Wester for further details on Paradox's IPO plans.

Good news - all White Wolf properties, including World of Darkness and Vampire: The Masquerade are in new hands:

Paradox Interactive Acquires White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games

New Paradox Subsidiary will Operate Independently and Manage All White Wolf Properties, Including World of Darkness and Vampire: The Masquerade

STOCKHOLM - Oct. 29, 2015 - Paradox Interactive, a global games developer and publisher, today announced the acquisition of White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games in an all-cash deal. Now a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive, White Wolf Publishing is a licensing business that owns and manages intellectual properties including World of Darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Led by CEO Tobias Sjögren, former EVP of Business Development at Paradox, White Wolf Publishing will operate as an independent entity with a dedicated team.

White Wolf Publishing has a long history of producing gaming universes that span mediums, including tabletop and collectible card games, PC games and books. Paradox Interactive acquired all of White Wolf’s brands, and its new subsidiary will pursue development opportunities across relevant categories of games under the White Wolf Publishing name.

“Like Paradox’s games, White Wolf’s properties have dedicated, passionate communities. While there are similarities in spirit, White Wolf’s IPs have very different themes than Paradox’s titles, and deserve their own brand and team,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO and President of Paradox Interactive. “We have great respect for White Wolf’s gaming worlds and see big opportunities for their expansion in the future under our new subsidiary.”

“Over the last 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with beloved studios like DICE and Paradox on the business management side of games, and as a developer earlier in my career. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as we pursue new ways to interact with White Wolf’s universes,” said Tobias Sjögren, CEO of White Wolf Publishing. “The White Wolf IPs are well suited for all kinds of media and we see great potential to expand them in the future.”

"At CCP, we have great admiration for the White Wolf brands and communities, and it was extremely important to us that the acquiring company share the same respect and understanding,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “With Paradox, we know we are leaving the brands in good hands."

For more information about White Wolf Publishing, please visit www.whitewolf-publishing.com.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global publisher and developer of PC games and is world-renowned for its strategy catalog. Paradox’s steadily-growing portfolio includes established PC strategy franchises such as the critically-acclaimed Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Victoria and the Hearts of Iron series, as well as franchises in other genres such as Magicka and Cities:Skylines. Its online community consists of millions of highly-engaged and active gamers. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com.

About CCP

CCP is a leading independent game developer and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically-acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac) as well as DUST 514®, a groundbreaking, free-to-play, massively multiplayer online first-person shooter for the PlayStation®3. The company is currently developing Gunjack™, a virtual reality action game for the Samsung Gear VR mobile platform and EVE: Valkyrie™, a multiplayer virtual reality spaceship dogfighting shooter for PCs and the PlayStation®4. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1997, CCP is privately held, with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

Paradox Fan Gathering at the GC 2015 on Twitch TV.

(The show starts at the 28 min mark)

GameGrin published a new preview of Knights of Pen & Paper II, that calls the game a fun and refreshing title. Here is the usual short quote from the preview.

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 uses an interesting framing device to anchor the story and gameplay. The game begins with a man sitting at a table, engaging you directly, ready to narrate your journey. That's right: he is the 'dungeon master' and you are quite literally playing through a tabletop RPG as one would in the real world. The dungeon master tells the story, and the fictional world fills up the room you sit in as if by magic. This may be the most realistic, grounded, and also interesting depiction of an RPG ever – Knights, as a whole, feels all the more interesting for it.

Paradox Interactive released a new trailer for Knights of Pen & Paper 2 which shows off gameplay of some new in-game content in 1080p at 60FPS. Here is the trailer.

Witness 60FPS Gameplay

See New Graphics, Gameplay Features, and Retro RPG Revelry at a Thoroughly Necessary Framerate

STOCKHOLM — April 23, 2015 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer on a roll, today released a new trailer for Knights of Pen & Paper 2, the turn-based meta-RPG coming to PC, iOS, and Android devices this year. The new trailer, which showcases a broad selection of in-game content in crisp, jaw-dropping 1080p at 60FPS, also includes sound, and the revolutionary interactive "pause" feature.

Viewers of this trailer will be treated to a preview of the next-gen retro-style world of Knights of Pen & Paper 2, including dynamic dungeons, custom-built encounters, new character options, a horse, and some people yelling.

Prepare yourself for sensory overload and download our uploaded trailer here.

Roll up for adventure in Knights of Pen & Paper 2, the new turn-based adventure sequel to Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition, coming to iOS, Android, and PC in May 2015. Players get to take on the role of players, and also master the game as the party's Game Master, designing encounters, rolling saves, and bickering endlessly at the 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.

I found two new previews for Paradox Interactive's Knights of Pen & Paper II.

GodisaGeek

A game should keep you enticed, wanting to play more, and there’s been an unfortunate shortage of those at the moment. Knights of Pen and Paper 2 has changed that for me entirely. Coming to the end of the preview, I was left sad, plain and simple. The fact it has offered an utterly unique and entertaining experience to me (a complete D&D virgin) just goes to show the appeal of this game. Its potential audience is vast, not limiting itself to those who are experienced in the genre but instead broadening its horizons by softening the often daunting atmosphere found in RPG titles. This second game essentially builds upon its predecessor, improving on its imperfections, honing its mechanics, and ultimately paving the way for another stellar title.

Continue-Play

If, like me, you’re totally new to this franchise, then I’d definitely recommend that you pick up Knights of Pen and Paper +1. I’ve now been playing it to death, and it’s a great introduction to the franchise. Knights of Pen and Paper 2 seems to improve and expand on everything from the first game, while still bringing back the humor, atmosphere and fun gameplay (it’s even made the jump from stylized 8-bit graphics to 16-bit).

If you’re a fan of RPGs and are looking for a game that’s a lot of fun, then Knights of Pen and Paper 2 is definitely worth keeping an eye on. It releases on the 14th of May for PC, iOS and Android.

Matthew Jarvis of MCV interviewed Paradox Interactive to talk about Cities: Skylines success, how they plan to outdo EA, and why they make games for the PC.

Outside of two games released on PS3, Paradox has remained a largely PC-only publisher. Why stick with PC?

The PC platform has been a very open platform. It’s enabled us to develop both our games and our offering on the business side together with our community.

We released our first expansion for a game called Victoria in 2006; at the time, downloadable content wasn’t even discussed in the games industry. People were still saying that it would take 10 years to move onto digital distribution.

That eventually went quicker, but the fact that we were able to do it early developed this idea of releasing content after release and that the franchise wasn’t doomed if the base product didn’t sell. It allowed us to experiment in a different way.

Crusader Kings II is a great example of the PC platform being used to regularly distribute post-release add-on content. How has the market for such content evolved in recent years?

We only see interest increasing.

With our games we release paid expansion packs and smaller cosmetic DLCs, but we also release free content at the same time. The expansions don’t build on each other – you can pick and choose depending on your own personal interests.

That’s a very exciting way to go about it: having a really good product as a base and then developing and adding content depending on what you see people playing and liking, as well as what the developers are passionate about.

 With the success of Skylines, this year is already off to a great start for Paradox – what’s yet to come in 2015?

2014 was a bit of a tough year for us – we decided to postpone several titles because we felt they weren’t really at where they should be. Everyone was working really hard and we weren’t feeling the fruits of that labour.

We knew 2015 was going to be a massive year for us – we call it the year of the platypus, because our logo is a platypus skeleton. We’re keeping an eye on making sure that we deliver on everything we set out to for 2015. We’ve always had a tendency to dream big, but now we’re buckling down and trying to deliver.

Paradox Interactive announced today they will be publishing Knights of Pen & Paper 2.

World Randomly Encounters Exciting New Sequel to Classic Old-school Title

STOCKHOLM — March 2, 2015 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer with plenty of initiative, today announced the forthcoming release of Knights of Pen & Paper 2, coming to PC, iOS, and Android devices. Knights of Pen & Paper 2, the appropriately named sequel to Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition, will bring players back to the table, where they can sit and simulate another, different table inside the game (which is about a game). Danger, intrigue, death, role-playing, and roll-playing will return when Knights of Pen & Paper 2 arrives 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.

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 rolls with the following features:

•    +2 to Impress: The retro adventure makes the leap from simulated 8-bit graphics to simulated 16-bit graphics, providing players with twice the bits
•    New Racial Feats: Customize your party members by choosing players such as the Goth or the Rocker, classes such as Wizard or Thief, and for the first time, races such as Dwarves and Elves
•    A Game of Throws: Face the whims of the d20 in an overhauled combat system, new crafting and loot, dynamically generated dungeons, and a variety of nail-biting saving throws
•    Entirely Too Many Gaming and Pop Culture Jokes: Seriously

“When you allow people at your company to dress up in wizard robes and suits of armor, sometimes you wind up with games like Knights of Pen & Paper 2,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “We’re going to be showing off the game in person this week at GDC. I wanted to reveal it during the DICE conference, but nobody agreed with me.”

For more information about Knights of Pen & Paper 2, visit http://www.knightsofpenandpaper.com

Paradox Interactive annouces that Haunted Fall a new expansion for Knights of Pen and Paper their tabletop-inspired RPG is now avaiable.

Spooky New Adventure is Loaded with Fun Content and is Still Completely Timely Despite Claims that Halloween is Over

STOCKHOLM  — Paradox Interactive today showed up, in costume, on gamers' doorsteps with a Halloween-themed update for Knights of Pen & Paper for PC, Mac, Linux, and Android, with iOS to follow soon after. Paradox, while announcing this update with a perfectly straight face, insisted that every day of the year (not just Halloween) is a good time for ghosts, and reminded the world that there's another pumpkin-related holiday right around the corner. Haunted Fall brings enough content to Knights of Pen & Paper to overload a festive candy bucket, including new monsters, items, areas, skills, and jokes.

To continue to appreciate this year's Halloween, which of course is still completely relevant and has by no means passed by already, players can enjoy this trailer while overindulging in cheap, discounted candy:
 
New to the seasonally appropriate expansion, players can now adventure as the new Witch class, a supportive sorceress who can heal party members, weaken foes, and cackle with the best of them. The new adventure also introduces new dungeons, including a terrifying Corn Field Maze, and the Abandoned Dwarven Mall – where the prices are as low as the window display heights. The expansion also includes lots of new items, monsters, NPCs, and meta-gaming humor.

Knights of Pen & Paper is an RPG where players take on the role of players who are playing an RPG. A group of mundane in-game friends and relatives are transformed at the gaming table into a collection of RPG classes and clichés, while a snarky gamemaster narrates the adventure within their imaginations. Control both the players and the GM – design encounters for your party, and then slay the monsters for all the XP and loot your character sheets can hold.

Paradox announces that Charlemagne, the next DLC for Crusader Kings II, is now available. I can't wait to see what it changed, but alas, my mods are now broken.

STOCKHOLM — October 14, 2014 — The Father of Europe leads the youngest expansion to Paradox Development Studio’s best-selling grand strategy game, Crusader Kings II. Charlemagne, the newest expansion to Crusader Kings II, is available now worldwide for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. This major expansion adds new story events, another hundred years of gameplay and long requested game features to the widely popular grand strategy game of dynastic politics and family rivalry.

Charlemagne can be purchased from digital distributors everywhere for $14.99. New downloadable content (DLC) for Crusader Kings II is also available today, including the Dynasty Shields: Charlemagne collection, new portrait packs, and an e-book version of the medieval epic “Song of Roland.” Full details and purchase location can be found now at www.paradoxplaza.com/crusader-kings-ii-charlemagne.

As usual, the expansion will be accompanied by a host of free changes to the core Crusader Kings II experience, available in a major update that can be downloaded today. This free content includes a major overhaul to the nomadic tribes of Europe – now they are even more distinct from their neighbors hiding behind castle walls.

"Charlemagne" will introduce Crusader Kings II players to the man who became the “Father of Europe,” uniting much of the continent for the first time since the since the fall of Rome and founding the Holy Roman Empire. Including the ability to start a dynasty as far back as 769 AD, the expansion will include a series of story events surrounding the rise of Charlemagne. The expansion also features game options to allow players to chart their own places in history – such as a new in-game “Chronicle” that highlights a dynasty’s conquests, marriages, and labors for the faith.

Crusader Kings II is currently at 75% off on most digital outlets! To learn more about Crusader Kings II, visit www.crusaderkings.com

Charlemagne, the final DLC for the medieval dynastic simulator Crusader Kings II, arrives on October 14. While not strictly an RPG, I thought it might be of interest to the CKII fans among us.

Paradox Interactive today revealed that “Charlemagne,” the newest expansion to the best-selling strategy game Crusader Kings II, is scheduled to release worldwide on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Charlemagne adds new story events, the ability to create new kingdoms, and an additional century to play. The expansion also features game options to allow players to follow their progress in history with the inclusion of a new in-game “Chronicle” that highlights a dynasty’s conquests, marriages, and labors for the faith.

More information.

Paradox Interactive is selling most of their games with a huge discount on Steam this weekend. So check out the deal for a few exceptional games this weekend.

Paradox Interactive released a new video preview for Gamescom 2014.

Come get your hype, get your hype here!

Today we hosted a live stream where Shams and Fred talked a about what you can expect from us at Gamescom this year, where to catch the news (we're live-streaming our press conformance, yay!) and how awesome the Fangathering is going to be!

If you missed it you can watch it on our twitch channel, or if you did see it you can watch it AGAIN on the same link. And again. And again.

Paradox Interactive has announced their game lineup for Gamescom 2014. The best part of the news is Pillars of Eternity will be playable at the convention.

Lineup for Gamescom 2014

Meet the Paradox Development Studio Devs in Person at Fan Gathering 2014 in Cologne!

STOCKHOLM — July 8, 2014 — Paradox Interactive today announced the catalog of games that would be on display – and playable by attendees – at the Gamescom trade show in Cologne, Germany on August 13-17, 2014. Featuring recently announced titles and impending releases such as Runemaster and Obsidian Entertainment’s Pillars of Eternity, Paradox will be demonstrating and sharing their biggest games with Gamescom visitors, as well as announcing a few never-before-seen titles at the show.

Titles to be shown at Gamescom include:

- Pillars of Eternity – available to play on the show floor
- Runemaster – available to play on the show floor
- Magicka 2
- Hearts of Iron IV
- Secret projects we can’t talk about just yet 

Paradox will be publicly showcasing Hearts of Iron IV, the highly anticipated World War II strategy war-game, for the first time ever in a live demonstration during Fan Gathering 2014, an annual event where Paradox Development Studio fans and devs alike can commingle and plot world domination together. Fan Gathering 2014 will take place in Cologne on August 14, 2014.

Fan Gathering 2014 will also play host to a guest panel of Paradox personnel, including CEO Fred Wester and Paradox Development Studio veteran Johan Andersson, which will be moderated by popular YouTuber Quill18. Hear banter on developing strategy games, ask Fred embarrassing questions about his love of karaoke, or just stare intently into Johan’s deep blue eyes. For more information on how you can attend Fan Gathering 2014, please visit https://www.paradoxplaza.com/fancon-2014.

Paradox Interactive announced today at E3 they will be releasing Magicka 2, and sent out a new press release with more information.

Paradox Interactive Announces Magicka 2 for PC and PlayStation4 system at E3

Learn to Spell Again in the Sequel to the Best-selling, Wizard Felling Action Adventure Game

LOS ANGELES — June 9, 2014 — Paradox Interactive today announced that Magicka 2, sequel to the best-selling, award-deserving game Magicka, will be released on PC and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Magicka 2 will bring the iconic spellcasting system, irreverent humor, and relationship-testing friendly fire into an all-new adventure with up to 4-player co-op. Featuring a story-driven campaign mode, new co-op gameplay features, and plenty of surprises, Magicka 2 will have players casting and blasting together on computers and consoles alike.

While you get your robe cleaned and pressed for your next adventure, witness the announcement in a new trailer:
 
“Millions of people enjoyed the first Magicka, even after their friends exploded their heads with an ‘accidental’ fire beam,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “The next chapter of the Magicka saga is going to introduce new twists on the gameplay and customization options, all presented with beautiful art and animation on the PC and PS4®. Our players will be able to control their Wizards the way they like, assuming their fellow spellcasters let them live that long.”

In Magicka 2, Wizards will attempt to survive the next chapter of the Magicka tale, exploring a Midgård that has been ravaged by the recent Wizard Wars. Utilizing a new iteration of the dynamic Magicka spellcasting system, players will don a wide selection of robes and staffs, face new enemy classes, and seek guidance from Vlad, who is, thankfully, not a vampire.

Magicka 2 features:

•    4 Player Friendly Fire Co-op: Making and losing friends has never been better with all game modes supporting co-op, including hot-joining, checkpoints, and more supportive functionality.
•    Venture into Adventure: Witness a Midgård mostly purged of Wizard-kind, save for a few remaining madmen, and encounter hordes of fantasy creatures great and small.
•    Wizard Your Way: Try on your choice of robes, staffs, and weapons, each with special abilities of their own, to play as the Wizard of your choice.
•    The Art of Artifacts: Discover the new “Artifact” system of Magicka 2, offering new gameplay changes and options to put new twists on each level.

Paradox Interactive released a new video about the developers history, and they include a small segment about their upcoming RPG Runemaster.

Highlighting the studio's humble beginnings with its adaptation of Europa Universalis from the tabletop to the desktop, this short film goes on to examine the team responsible for such titles as the Hearts of Iron and Crusader Kings series. Games both old and new are shared from the designers' perspective, including a look at what's next for Paradox Development Studio -- their first RPG, Runemaster.

Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester is interviewed by US Gamer to talk about PC gaming,  hardcore fans, and new platforms for future releases.

Since he's been CEO of the company, Wester believes that Paradox has found its identity in the larger gaming market. When he first took on the position, Wester told Gamasutra that the publisher does whatever it feels is right for the fans. He believes that statement still remains true today. 

"I think we've found the perfect niche, where we feel really happy and we can do whatever we want to do. The most important thing for us is to make the kinds of games that we want to play ourselves," he says. "If we can't get passionate about the products we make, then who else will be passionate?" 

Paradox is continuing to serve its passionate niches with titles like Europa Universalis IV, War of the Vikings, and Crusader Kings II, but it's also trying new things. Runemaster represents the company's first internally-developed RPG; it exists because Paradox asked its fans what they wanted to see from the publisher, and they said "RPGs". Runemaster is also a response to larger PC RPG developers moving their focus towards consoles. 

"We're putting a lot of effort into developing new RPGs for the PC format," explains Wester. "Many of these big RPGs have gone to the consoles, but we think PC gamers deserve better. We're keeping it in PC format, so the PC gamer get better quality RPGs. That's the next challenge that we're working on." 

Wester admits that much of Paradox' output can be complex, dense, and hard for new fans to get into, but he says that's not a problem because Paradox gamers "are our greatest ambassadors." Fervent Paradox consumers convert others with their love for the games and that leads to growth for the company. Services like Steam Early Access and Steam Workshop only increase Paradox's interactions with those fans. Steam Workshop is a big focus for the publisher: Paradox recently hired employees to interface with modders full-time to ensure modders have the tools and help they need to create excellent content for the community. 

Paradox Interactive has news on thier forum that Tale Worlds the developer of the Mount & Blade games are parting ways.

Mount and Blade Leaving the Paradox Stables

As of January 31st at 00:00 (UTC -08:00) Paradox Interactive will be handing over the reins for Mount and Blade back to the developer, TaleWorlds. It’s been five and a half years since Mount and Blade was released, five and a half years of sieges, tournaments and pitched open-field battles, and of course, the odd expansion or two!

We feel honoured to have fought beside you and at our final parting of ways would bid our farewells with a gift which has automatically been added to your Steam library.

What is your gift? One of our internal studios, Paradox North, is currently hard at work on a spell-casting action PVP game by the name of Magicka: Wizard Wars. As we know that you are all fans of fast-paced tactical combat we feel that you would be equally as adept with a robe and staff as you are with sword and shield, as such our gift to you is an invitation to our Early Access alpha of Magicka: Wizard Wars.

If you would like to know more about the game please do check www.wizardwars.com or our official forum at http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ka-Wizard-Wars.

Again, thank you for an exciting five and a half years!

US Gamer has a new article calling Paradox Interactive the the strangest company in games.

Now, don't get me wrong, strange can often be a good thing and I certainly am not using this term pejoratively, but Paradox Interactive is strange. Its portfolio is a hodge-podge of critically acclaimed genre titles, surprise successes and widely panned, sometimes alarmingly broken disasters. The eccentric image it projects extends within as well as without, with would-be interviewees facing questions like "Are you a Stark or a Lannister? A Kirk or a Picard?" some of which may be delivered to them by a man who has used the title Vice President of Business Development and Manager of the Unicorn Division. 

Its PR philosophy sits somewhere between openness and frankness. In an industry where PRs usually strictly control the flow of information between writers and developers, games journalists are encouraged to email development teams directly, while Paradox staff openly, candidly reflect on their failures as much as they celebrate their successes. It's beholden to no-one and, should it feel the need to adopt a corporate anthem, it wouldn't be inappropriate for it to be singing "I did it my way," though with the addendum "and sometimes it really didn't work." 

The history of Paradox Interactive is also a little strange and it begins, as so many of the best gaming tales do, with board games. Then, a famous barbarian appears and later an Argentine software pirate inspires a key business decision. 

This is the story of the Swedes who say what they think and who try what they fancy. 

Polygon has an interesting article about how the historical strategy game maker Paradox has stayed in business as long as they have.

Over the last decade Paradox Interactive has earned a mixed reputation. The Swedish developer is known primarily for its unique brand of deep historical simulation games that take a long time to master but allow players experiences that can't be found elsewhere.

But it seems that for every well-reviewed epic strategy title, Paradox releases a buggy, broken mess. One step forward, two steps back. Take for instance a two month period from 2012.

In February of that year Paradox released Crusader Kings 2, perhaps its most successful in-house effort to date. It's one of the company's best-reviewed games, reaching beyond the strategy niche to be nominated as one of game site Kotaku's best of the year.

Just a month later Paradox published a game called Gettysburg: Armored Warfare, a blend of real-time-strategy and first-person shooting. Programmed almost entirely by one person, the online game was released in an unplayable state. Its Metacritic average review rating currently is an abominable 22, the lowest of any Paradox title.

Heavy weighs the head of Fredrik Wester, the CEO who wears the crown at Paradox Interactive.

"Changing a games company is like turning ... a big battle cruiser," Wester says. "What I think is that in [2014] you're going to see even better improvement than that. We're on the right path, but we still have a very long way to go."

BluesNews has word that Paradox Interactive has released Teleglitch: Die More Edition. It's an updated version of a survival horror roguelike. The game is available from the digital distributors listed here.

   NEW YORK — July 24, 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and a laboratory safety violator, today announced the release of Teleglitch: Die More Edition, a survival-horror rougelike action game. Teleglitch, the terrifying top-down shooter from developer T3P, has been enhanced with new levels, an extended game story, more weaponry, and deadlier enemy AI, offering both new players and veterans an experience that will put their survival skills to a vicious test.

Softpedia has posted their review of Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition. The review seems to rate the game as average. Give it a look, and ask Ranger any questions if you have them.

Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition is an interesting mix of traditional role-playing mechanics and critique of the same ideas and, while the game itself is enjoyable, it sometimes feels like it is running out of gags and fresh approaches.

The graphics of Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition are one of the hurdles that most players will have to overcome to actually enjoy the game, because they use an art style that’s designed to remind players of older role-playing titles.

There were moments when I, as a fan of Baldur’s Gate since the first installment, would have appreciated an option to turn on high-definition graphics but after about half an hour, the gameplay becomes engrossing enough to make true fans forget about the blurry images.

                                 Final score: 7.5 / 10

Paradox Interactive announces the release of Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition.

Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and a serious powergaming munchkin, today invited the world to encounter Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition, available now on PC, Mac, iOS devices and Android devices. The new +1 Edition adds a dragon’s hoard of new content to the hit mobile game from Behold Studios, including new game areas, a longer campaign, a tavern, dungeon raids, and more loot than you can shake a ten-foot pole at. Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition is available on PC and Mac through digital retailers for $9.99, with a premium Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition Digital Deluxe Edition available for $14.99. The iOS and Android versions are available for $2.99, and everybody who already owns Knights of Pen & Paper on a mobile device will be leveled up to the +1 Edition for free.

Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition will be released on June 18th according to the publisher Paradox Interactive.

Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition is scheduled to launch on June 18, 2013.

Knights of Pen & Paper is an RPG where players take on the role of players who are playing an RPG. Assemble a group of mundane in-game friends and transform them into classic RPG fantasy classes, while the Game Master narrates the adventure within their imaginations. Control both the players and the Game Master -- design encounters for your party, and then slay the monsters for all the XP and loot your character sheets can hold.

Several MMO titles have been released on Paradox Interactive's GamersGate service for digital purchase and download. The "newly added" titles are: Lineage II, City of Heroes/Villains and Tabula Rasa.

Yes, it's a slow news day.  Paradox announces their GC lineup with Mount & Blade an obvious one, although Majesty 2, Elven Legacy and Dark Horizons might be of interest to some:

Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim:

Majesty the game has sold millions of copies worldwide and made true believers out of a whole generation of RTS gamers. Paradox Interactive and 1C:Ino-Co studios are now teaming up for the sequel in this beloved series and promises to take the wishes of existing and future fans into consideration.

Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim will follow closely in the footsteps of the original game as well as bringing all key elements up to date. The charm and humor that made fans out millions of gamers worldwide will remain at the core of the title along with the indirect control aspect of the game.

Project Mayhem:

Next title developed by Paradox development team and their biggest production to date – To Be Announced at show.

Dark Horizon:

Dark Horizon is a space combat adventure where the player fights for survival through 22 missions of space combat. The title is laced with RPG elements such as original weapon and equipment creation, several modes of combat and advanced ship customization. Dark Horizon also offers joystick support.

Mount & Blade:

Mount & Blade is a single-player, third- or first-person action/role-playing game with a focus on medieval combat. Developed by the Turkish development house TaleWorlds Entertainment, the beta version of the game has received acclaim worldwide from users impressed by the game's realistic horseback combat, luscious graphics, and open-world sandbox gameplay. The latter enables players to roam the map freely in a medieval world that offers activities ranging from hunting down bandits, to trading for profit in the game's complex economic system, to becoming a commander and taking part in the wars, with the ultimate goal of becoming a great lord of the realm.

Elven Legacy:

Elven Legacy delivers a world filled with magic, and a thrilling nonlinear storyline, gauged to provide many hours of gameplay for strategy enthusiasts. Through an epic quest to restore the former glory of the Elven race, this fantasy strategy game offers both depth and scope, all in colorful and inspirational settings.

Play as an elf or a human, in the two primary campaigns - or why not the Orcs, in a wide variety of bonus missions? With the accompanying tools, players may also create their own missions and campaigns, and share them through multiplayer.