Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Owners of Xbox One and Xbox 360 with Xbox Live Gold subscription will enjoy free for the first month of 2016 the following games:

Xbox One 

• Killer Instinct: Season 1 Ultra Edition (available from 1st -31st of January)
  
• Zheros  (available from 16th of January  to 15th of February)
  

Xbox 360

• Dirt Showdown (available from 1st - 15th of January)
  
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution (available from 16th -31st of January)
  

Whatever console you have.. enjoy your games!!

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Assassin's Creed : Empire

The new year has just entered and Ubisoft began to make us look forward to the next. In 2017,after seven years with an Assassin's Creed game release every year until now, Ubisoft will release the next game of Assassin, which takes place in ancient Egypt and called Empire. It is probably the first part of a trilogy with the same characters, who will travel after Egypt in ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

Three civilizations entangled, each one with its own elements and data, borrowed or not, and all this under a single scenario cut in three parts.

The decision to delay the release of the game was taken to avoid the problems encountered, particularly in Unity and not in Syndicate, which was a greatly improvement compared to Unity. So 2016 will overtake us without a big Assassin's Creed game, although Ubisoft has some plans for 2016.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India and Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia are hitting in January and February, respectively, and the Assassin's Creed movie hits theaters this December.

Of course, without official verification from Ubisoft, we'll have to treat it all as a rumor for now, but there's certainly a ring of truth to it - and sending the franchise back to the ancient world would certainly make sense for the history-trotting series.  Stay tuned for more!!!

Enjoy your gaming!!!

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

"My story is ine of many thousands, and the world will not suffer if it ends too soon" 

Ezio Auditore

Assassin's Creed: Unity

In the last part of our tribute we will deal with the two most recent releases of the Assassin's Creed series. Unity and Syndicate.

Arno Dorian

The Assassin's Creed: Unity takes place in the era of the French Revolution (1789).  Our character  is Arno Dorian, born in Verasailles, from an Assassin father. After the assassination of his father, Arno was adopted by a family, which has very close relations with the Templar Order, as his stepfather is the Grand Master of the Order.

In a France confused by the rapid political changes, Arno needs to understand the past, which follows him and take important decisions, which will determine his future and the future of France.

In a multitude of real historical figures, we see and conflict the character of Maximilian Robespierre . Robespierre was one of the most powerful figures of the French Revolution, best known as being responsible for the so-called '' bloody period '' or as otherwise known, Reign of Terror .

Although historically someone whoadvocated for a lot of things that we take for granted now such as abolition of slavery, equality of rights (because this is still the 18th century we are talking about), he appears to have been mad with power in his last years which culminated in him eventually being arrested and executed for his crimes.

How could of course Ubisoft ignore such a personality. So Robespierre is one of Arno's enemies,  in Unity, who just before he was surrended to the mob, they are looking for him in the palace ( later the palace will be the Louvre museum) he was shot in the jaw from Arno's ally, Elise De LaSerre.

Ths dramatization not only of Maximilian Robespierre, but generally of  the people of Paris,  has revolutionize reactions from a sizable part of the population of France. They say that the French people are outlined as barbarians and bloodthirsty and they use propaganda to this game.

However, one of the feelings Unity offers, among others of course, is a tremendous force, which the player has. You take part in events that marked history, like the execution of King Louis XVI, but you also participate in these moments.

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate

Jacob and Evie Frye

In the next title of the series we pass the English Channel and we are in Victorian London. So God save the Queen and the player is asked to save London.

Once the nine basic missions are completed, we gain access to London Stories, and we can meet the imposing figure of Queen Victoria and many many more The writers Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens , the biologist Charles Darwin , the inventor Gkrakcham Bell, the sociologist Karl Marx , the nurse Florence Nightingale are just some of the names found in Syndicate.

But what does the Victorian London mean? Rapid industrial development , population explosion of England and Wales and almost a century (1837 -1901) , influenced by the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria , until recently the longest monarch in the history of Great Britain ,reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901 and was the first British monarch , who saw her name be given to her period of reign while he was still alive . Her reign is characterized , as we have said , from industrial development - revolution , by a significant territorial expansion of the British Empire and the radical change in economic and social structures in the United Kingdom.

Therefore, when the player takes the characters Jacob  and Evie Frye, first he expirience a vivid, alive London. London in Syndicate  is 30% larger in size and accessibility than Paris of Unity, full of real historical figures , who come into contact with the characters but fully controlled by the Order of the Templars . The two siblings of the game (both playable) undertake to liberate the city from the Templars , exploiting with outlaws and criminals of the underworld .

The games of the Assassin's Creed series have a unique charm . They entangled the plot of the game with  history and they make us to look for more information about each character (fictional or not). This is because all the protagonists of the game are complex and integrated personalities . They feel anger , jealous , pain, passion , love and they fight trying to do what they think is right.

Being an Assassin is not just a game ... It's a whole mentality and develops all aspects (positive and negative ) of the very history of humanity . From Altair and Ezio, to Jacob and Evie and from the Holy Lands and Florence, to Paris and London we play, we entertaine ourselves and we learn.

Enjoy your journeys!

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Imagine the following scenario: You've just picked your favorite videogame, for which you've waited very long time and you have preordered it. You remove the disc from its case and place it on the console. But suddenly, instead of starting to run the game, you get an error message telling you that your disk has problems. So before you rush to the store to buy another copy, I suggest, you try the following seven methods to repair it:

Method 1: Cleaning with Detergent

1. First of all make sure the disc has no significant scratches. A CD with large scratches probably will not be repaired, especially at home.

2. Apply a small amount of water on the disc and wash with the detergent.

3. Using warm water and a soft, microfiber cloth,  wipe the disc from the center to the periphery, but not in a circular motion. If you wipe in a circular orbit,  you'll create rotary scratches which are a much bigger problem.

4. Rinse thoroughly to remove the detergent and any surface contamination. Shake the water and dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

5. Put the disc in the console and see if it works.

Method 2: Clean with alcohol

1. Apply a small amount of alcohol in the gray side of the disc (data side).

2. Clean the CD, with a soft microfiber cloth, from the center out, gently. Repeat that a few times.

3. Do not rub too tough. Just let the alcohol evaporate. Fortunately it evaporates quickly.

4. Try the CD in your game console. If this does not work, continue to the next method suggested.

Method 3: Toothpaste

1. Put some toothpaste, the size of a pencil eraser, on the disc. Be sure to choose toothpaste that does not contain microgranules.

2. Wet your finger and gently apply toothpaste on scratched area with a straight, outward motion. Do not rub the toothpaste circular because it will create more scratches.

3. After about one minute of rubbing, gently wash the toothpaste.

4. Then check for scratches. If you do not see other scratches, put the disc into the console. If still the disc appears scratched, it may have to repeat this process several times until the scratches are more like mere shadows on the disc.

Method 4: Peanut butter

1. Apply a thin layer across the shiny side of the disc.

2. Leave for approximately 5-10 minutes.

3. Wipe the butter with a wet cloth.

Method 5: Vaseline

1. Rub a little Vaseline on the data side of the CD. Try this method only if you have failed with the previous methods.

2. Wipe the Vaseline with a paper towel with a straight, outward motion. Do not rub circularly. Be sure to remove the entire amount of vaseline from the disk, before putting it into the console.

3. Try to run the game on your console. Repeat if necessary.

Method 6: Professional Help

1. Ask nearby video stores if they can clean the disc. This may cost you about 5 to 10 € per disc (maybe less), but it is better than to give 60 € for the purchase of a new one.

2. Additionally,  you can purchase a CD repair machine. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. After use, place the game disc in the console. If you see an error, then it is  suggested that you return the game to the store.

Method 7: Use a banana!

(This method is recommended for discs that are slightly scratched).

1. Peel and cut the banana in half.

2. Rub over the surface of your disc. Do not rub in circles but straight.

3. Gently wash with warm water.

4. Repeat two to three times if the scratches are still on the surface of your disc.

So,I hope I gave solutions to your problems with all my suggestions.

Enjoy your repairs!!

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Edward Kenway

Once again Ubisoft travels us into historical ''waters''. We are speak of cource  of (my favourite) Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

In this game we experience action originate from the 18th century Carribean , a period known as the golden age of piracy.

Our main character is a pirate, what else? Edward Kenway is an English pirate, who explores the seas with his ship, Jackdaw, searches hidden treasures and prevents the Templars to complete their plans.

Among his allies, we find the infamous, notorious pirate Blackbeard or Edward Teach, as he was known. Blackbeard was an English pirate who, according to records, terrorized shipping endeavors across the Caribbean from 1716 to 1718. 

His ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was armed with forty guns--a sight that put fear in any merchant unfortunate enough to cross his path.

One of Blackbeard's favorite tricks, we are told, was to put gunpowder charges into his beard and hat, then light them as he boarded an enemy ship.

But don't be fooled into thinking he was a certifiable maniac. Merchant ships attacked by Blackbeard would be treated leniently if they put up no resistance. This was a smart move by the pirate, as it meant the authorities were less likely to hunt him down or put a reward on his head.

In fact, at one point, Blackbeard was pardoned for his piracy by the British government, but then decided to blockade and ransom an entire port, landing him back on their hit list. 

Blackbeard became incredibly rich, but kept plundering and pirating until the British authorities in the Caribbean could ignore him no more. It still took two ships armed with soldiers to bring just the single ship of the mighty Blackbeard down, and his head was stuck (rather ingloriously) on the prow of his vanquisher's vessel as they sailed back to announce their triumph.

Blackbeard really was the quintessential pirate, and it's no wonder Ubisoft picked him to accompany Edward Kenway and appear in Assassin's Creed IV.

to be continued...

Read also:

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

I'm perfectly sure that many of you have tried to make a video record with whatever you do on your mobile and then publish it on YouTube or in any other social network. For example, I want to record  a RPG game I'm playing my phone or that I want to make a demo video for a new application release on play store .....and the list goes on. Of course there are applications that can record your screencast, but to tell you the truth in the end you realize that it is nothing but a hassle.

In this article I will show you a way that you can do all this easily and without hassle. You will have the ability to record video - easily - with everything you do on your mobile screen and you will then be able to upload it to any social network you want.

Google released the application "YouTube gaming" and made this feature available for everyone. It is compatible with devices running Android 4.1 and above.

However it could be certain that "YouTube gaming" is designed to record your achievements in games but who said that you can not use it to make a video about what you see on your screen? Best of all you can do it without being connected to the internet. Of course later you will need a connection to upload it.

So follow these steps:

Step 1st: First install the application "YouTube gaming". After, you start and tap "Go Live" in the upper corner of your screen. Then tap Next.

Step 2nd: Here you can select the resolution of your registration. There are two options: 720p (HD) and 480p (SD). Before you click "Next" button twice, make sure you choose previously the "Record" button.

Step 3rd: Now select an application to register. Obviously the games will be your main goal, but you can choose almost any application you have installed on your phone. First you select it and later you can start recording it by pressing "Start".

At the bottom of the screen you can activate the microphone input, if you wish to do it with live commentary. You can also activate the front camera of your phone, if you want to be in the video.

Step 4th: Select the "Stop" button when you want to finish recording.

Congratulations! You just made your first video to upload it online. The application gives you - mostly - the ability to upload videos to YouTube, but if you want, you can upload it wherever you wish. The video is saved in the gallery of your device, where you can edit and basically do whatever you want with it.

Enjoy your records then...

P.S. The application is not available in every country and if you want to download it, you may have to ROOT your phone first.

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Treyarch and released by Activision. While initially it was announced that will be released on February 5, 2015, he was 9 months late, with a final release date on November 6, 2015. Black Ops III is the twelfth game in the series Call of Duty. It took three years to develop it.

Before Call of Duty: Black Ops III prior to Call of Duty: World At War, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and the last Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

If we can say that Call of Duty is a well-oiled machine, the Black Ops III is a replacement, make the wheels move for another year. It presents minimal changes to an established formula, the team that wins does not change , and in some game elements, which reach their peak, thanks to Treyarch design team. However, Call of Duty: Black Ops III has great lack in inspiration.

The Treyarch had set the bar very high with its contribution in the series Call of Duty. In the first game of the series, he has presented a complex, attractive campaign with vivid characters and historical conspiracies. In Black Ops II renewed the adaptation of multiplayer and gave deeper choices for a player  and competitive experience. And now, in Black Ops III, we see something similar, but with more plot options and results.

In the new Black Ops III of Treyarch there is a new drive system, allowing players to move smoothly into the environment using controlled impulse jumps and many new capabilities, while maintaining complete control over your gun at any time. We see the soldiers of the future of humanity, dressed in armor made of titanium and equipped with multi-million weapons. There is also a new option in the customization of the character. You can still have the traditional loadout system with 10 slots for the player for weapons, items and equipment.

Each character carries a powerful weapon or a special ability, which charges several times during the game. You have to choose between these two, since you can have only one weapon each time. For example, if the Outrider is equipped with Sparrow compount bow, she shoots explosive arrows at enemies. If however, is selected Vision Ability, which as a careful player I prefer, you may reveal the figures of the enemies behind walls, allowing your group to approach them much easier and you have a better sense of the whole situation.

This dichotomy between powerful weapons and capabilities-and the possibilities that reveal - lead us to exciting battles scenarios.

But this sense of exploration fades as time passes. Black Ops III gives access to four characters from the beginning (John Taylor, Sarah Hall, Jacob Hendricks, Rachel Kane), and other options are unlocked later with trickle. By the time I unlocked Seraph and the One Shot Annihilator handgun ability at level 22, both of her skills didn't offere sufficient variety to keep me pretty excited for the next unlocking. This brings Black Ops III to evoke a more general experience Call of Duty.

Multiplayer

This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the multiplayer of Black Ops III offers one of the best-designed maps of the series. Each arena is a mix of different shooter areas, feverish collision points and variety of uneven territories. The new movement system additionally creates an action - reaction dynamic. You can run on walls, sliding to the ground avoiding enemy gunfights and arrive in places you could not reach before. In short, Black Ops III is fluid. And this is something that I like.

But the lack of variety after 10 hours of play, removes all the excitement you have in the beginning. The usual progression is based on experience and even the variety of weapons and equipment unlocked, they may be enough to keep some players awake. But not for me. The proverbial carrot still hanging in front of us-just  smaller than usual (are we however donkeys?)

Guns and Zombies

The weapons found in the game are:

Submachine guns

Kuda · VMP · Weevil · Vesper · Pharo · Razorback · Bootlegger (ZM)

Rifles

KN-44 · XR-2 · HVK-30 · ICR-1 · Man-O-War · Sheiva · M8A7

Carbines

KRM-262 · 205 Brecci · Haymaker 12 · Argus

A sense of continuity in multiplayer of Black Ops III and maintaining a question of balance, comes fully to the new map Zombies, Shadow of Evil. Imagine a fictional city in the 40s, populated by  Cthulhu and you see everywhere portals for spaceships. There are four characters played by Jeff Goldblum, Ron Perlman, Heather Graham and Neal McDonough - actors picked as from noir novels of Raymond Chandler. Imagine constantly shooting a crowd of bloodthirsty corpses under the unaccented sounds of a saxophone. Do not make mistake. This picture with Zombies is strange. But it is also fantastic.

The exploration pushes things as our four friends march among hordes of undead. It dominates a simmering mystery as you choose which doors will unlock after, what weapons are proved effective and what the heck does this green glowing plant. Here is the difficulty. I managed to pass round 4 very difficulty with 10 attempts.

The new  Zombies design make their way on the map, new Perks Machine for weapons, and the smallest detail to the heroes and Zombies are unique. Furthermore collect EXp's from the Zombies and level up. Fighting zombies anyway, now more than ever, is an evolving exciting experience. Surviving the streets of this strange world, it is itself a reward. Once reached 20º level, I began to feel like a veteran

Nightmares

The horde of undead make their way in another mode of the game. It called Nightmares and it is unlocked after finishing the campaign. Treyarch has recycled the campaign missions Black Ops III - level design, objectives, animation of the character etc. Now there are Zombies and a booming voice from an anonymous character. Believe it or not, it works. There is a slower pace in the missions here. The Treyarch let things take their time.

General evaluation

The traditional campaign mode is a chore. After a torture scene - which has become common in the universe of Black Ops -you are transported between waves of enemies on your next target. There are of course some branches in this pattern. Dogfights, large turret missions, underwater escapes. But somehow I was on autopilot until the fifth mission and obedient to his routine: "aim, shoot, reload, repeat".

There are fleeting moments that some changes in the plot, change the way you play. So driving enemy drones, knocking down enemies or put fire to robot's internal systems. These skills would have greater effect if there was  variety in enemies. 

While Black Ops III offers the option to play the campaign with your team, however the degree of difficulty rises with this option. Instead of creating better scenarios, including cooperation and communication among four players, Black Ops III decides to throw in the battle more difficult enemies. A Warlord, an enemy that needs quite a few bullets to be killed, it is quite annoying. Four of them are simply irritating.

In the mode with the Zombies and the first 10 hours of multiplayer, the game excels. But in the main campaign, barely advances. Black Ops III does not offer anything remarkable but gives as much as needed to maintain  Call of Duty's status quo.  The series relentlessly continues its course. 

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Moving on to Assassin's Creed II, which is set in Italy at the time of the Renaissance in the fourteenth century? Here we find the assassin Ezio facing off against the Templars, who are led by the corrupt Pope Rodrigo Borgia. Rodrigo is not only Pope, but also the head of the Templars, and his papacy is one based on the tenants of corruption and violence.

Yet again, when we look at the history of the time, there was a Pope called Rodrigo Borgia whose papacy began in 1492 and renamed Alexander VI.  History tells us that the real-life Rodrigo was just as bad as his in-game counterpart.

The real Rodrigo was said to have bought the papacy with bribery and vote corruption, and as soon as he took office, he began elevating his family to positions of power (or, if no such position existed, creating it for them). Rodrigo's time as Pope was spent (according to his enemies) murdering rivals, promoting war across Europe, and siding with anyone who could help him consolidate his power. 

So, Rodrigo's reign as one of history's worst Popes continued until, in 1503, at the age of 72, he dropped dead. Poison was suspected but never proved, though if it was used, it was a fitting end to a man who history would have us believe was more violent and corrupt than even his video game counterpart.

Ratonhnhaké:ton - Connor

Now let's look at Assassin's Creed III, which sees the action move to colonial America where the assassin Connor sets out to free his land from the tyranny of the Templars who have settled there. Connor is half Mohawk, and shares his heritage with a tribe of Native Americans who are resisting the British colonial forces and supporting George Washington, the American force's leader.

To include such a strong historical figure as George Washington was a bold but logical choice for Ubisoft. He who charted the fate of the United States has a real history just as exciting as the in-game character.

Washington is famous for being the first president of the United States of America and for being commander-in-chief of the American forces during the American Revolution. He is rightly named as one of the country's founding fathers. His real life is filled with so many interesting facts that, for the purposes of this article, I am going concentrate on just a few of the major landmarks in his life and how these are reflected in Assassin's Creed III.

Notably, history doesn't record that Washington suffered numerous assassination attempts, but his many victories against the British in battle, the betrayal of Benedict Arnold, and the arrest of Charles Lee after the Battle of Monmouth are all real events that play out in Assassin's Creed III, much as they did historically.

Of course, things didn't always go Washington's way. He was responsible for giving the order to carry out a scorched earth war policy that saw 40 Native American villages destroyed (and which would see him come into conflict with Connor over the order). 

Still, Ubisoft chose wisely in giving focus to a historical figure that represents the Revolutionary War and the forging of the United States. Having a fully realized George Washington in Assassin's Creed III allows the player to feel like they are taking part in, and making, history.

to be continued...

Read also:

Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

The unbelieveable (but real) history behind the Assassin's Creed series.

Assassin's Creed series has been rightfully praised for its intricate gameplay and rich worlds populated with historical figures. But just how accurate has Ubisoft been when taking ideas and people from history to use in these games? Read on for some facts that just may surprise you.

We're going to take a look at a real assassins guild, the humble beginnings and the violent end of the Knights Templar, and more as we see how the past influenced the present from the first Assassin's Creed game to the newest Syndicate.

Fact or Fiction ?

Altair

So let's start with the first game in the Assassin's Creed series, which sees the player assume the role of Altair, a twelfth century assassin who resides in the city of Masyaf in the Holy Land during the time of the Third Crusade. It's fact that during the Third Crusade (1189-1192), history records indicate there was a guild of assassins based at the castle of Masyaf, where they had been active for many years.

This actual assassins guild was founded by Persian missionary and philosopher Hassan-i Sabbah. To protect the interests of his order, he used the assassins to target leaders and politicians whose death would cause people to think twice before acting against Hassan. These assassins were well-read, as well as trained in the martial arts as, just like Altair, they needed to blend in to be able to gather information on their targets before they struck. Sometimes, they didn't kill, but instead left a threat such as a dagger on a pillow. This gesture was often enough to bring folks around to Sabbah's way of thinking.

But what about  their sworn enemies, the Knights Templars ? 

Well, history tells us the Knights, like the assassins, came to prominence during the Crusades, but their origin starts some time before that.

The Knights were originally a charity oganization set up to escort pilgrims from Europe to the Holy Lands. Like all charities, word spread of their good deeds and they gained a tax break from the Pope of the time. This was the turning point which allowed a disorganised charity to rapidly grow into an elite military order and it was only natural that, at the time of the Third Crusade, they should throw themselves wholeheartedly into the fighting.

Altair's journeys across the Holy Lands in Assassin's Creed, where he sees the distinct white coat and red-crossed surcoat of the Knights Templar nearly everywhere, would have been quite historically accurate. 

Templars had roles such as guards, bureaucrats, and doctors, and gave threats to the local populace to keep them in line.

However, while Assassin's Creed sees the Templars expand after the Crusades, the real Templars fell from grace and, due to a mixture of politics, money, and greed, many were captured, tortured to confess to numerous false crimes, and then burned at the stake. The order disbanded (Friday 13th October 1307), and while conspiracy theorists would have it that the Templars are still active today in a fashion similar to their devious workings in the Assassin's Creed games, history can neither confirm nor deny this part of the Templars' story.

To be continued...

Read also:



Written by Vasilis Zafiridis

Final part

Expansions

Let's begin from scratch.

An expansion is additional software (usually made available for retail sale) that adds new content, features, new characters or complete a character's personality to a game.

The content of an expansion is usually not available to anyone who does not own the expansion. Most expansions will not install or run as stand-alone products.

For example, the Frozen Throne expansion for Warcraft III added new campaigns, units, maps, and other content to the game.

Timeframe

As of 2013, six have been released. It was stated in an interview prior to the first expansion, that concepts for that expansion had been made, and that Blizzard already had enough ideas for 5-6 more.

Blizzard tends to plan expansions far in advance of the current content; in February 2014 (prior to the Warlords of Draenor alpha) the team had already begun planning the next two expansions.

Following the release of World of Warcraft's first expansion in 2007, Blizzard announced plans to release expansions once per year. However, this rate of production was never delivered, with subsequent expansions arriving roughly every 2 years.

Warcraft II

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal - expansion of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness

Warcraft III

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne - expansion of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - first expansion, released 16 January 2007

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King - second expansion, released 13 November 2008

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm - third expansion, released 7 December 2010

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria - fourth expansion, released 25 September 2012

World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor - fifth expansion, released 13 November 2014

World of Warcraft: Legion - sixth expansion, announced 6 August 2015

That's the last part of the brief tribute to World of Warcraft. 

But we couldn't say goodbye for now, without inform you about the upcoming movie, which is directed by Duncan Jones and written by Chris Metzen. It is based on the Warcraft video game series and novels set in the world of Azeroth. The film stars Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell, Ben Schnetzer, Robert Kazinsky, Daniel Wu, Ruth Negga, Anna Galvin and Clancy Brown. 

The film portrays the origin story of the initial encounters between the humans and the Orcs, with an emphasis upon both sides of the conflict, and will take place in a variety of locations established in the video game series.

The film was first announced in 2006 as a project partnership between Legendary Pictures and the game's developer, Blizzard Entertainment.

Filming began on January 13, 2014 and concluded on May 23, 2014. The film is set to be released by Universal Pictures on June 10, 2016.