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Disney’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ sails into ‘Sea of Thieves’

Unveiled during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 last year, the trailer for RARE games’ ‘Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life’, brings characters from Disney’s much-loved ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise into the fold in the ultimate pirate cross-over! CG Society took a plunge into the making of the trailer with the help of our incredible games team. Read the piece here!

The games and events we’re most looking forward to in 2022

There’s no doubt the last two years have proven to be extremely difficult for the games industry, but we hope that 2022 will prove to be the light at the end of the tunnel. Now January is out of the way, we’re looking forward to the events and new releases we’re most excited about. 

Events 

Gamescom 

Returning in August, Gamescom in Germany will be the acid test as to how much progress we’ve made in the fight against COVID. Anyone who’s attended this before and witnessed to tens of thousands crammed cheek-by-jowl in Koelnmesse’s enormous halls will know that this would never be given the green light if there was any danger. Gamescom usually gives us a first look at some of the most hotly tipped games in the industry, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store. 

E3 

E3 has already announced that it won’t be an ‘in person’ event this year. Switching from a closed-shop industry only affair to an all-embracing consumer focussed event has further confused E3’s relevance. Now that we’re used to virtual events, E3 will have something of a renaissance – one that will see it transform from being a fixed event into a ‘seasonal window’ where the biggest upcoming games get their big reveals online. We are already excited at the prospect of seeing some of the trailers already in production here at REALTIME having their debut there. 

Games 

Dave Cullinane, Executive Producer 

I’m really excited about Ubisoft’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Who knows, perhaps we might even get a sequel to the movie soon? There is also a new God of War game (Ragnarök) and new DLC content for Cuphead from the North American Studio MDHR. It is always exciting to see new developers with quirky game ideas succeed, so it is great to now see Cuphead expand into TV with a new Netflix series in the pipeline for 2022. 

Callum Sibley, Executive Producer 

The Nintendo Switch is the new addition to my console selection, and it only seems fitting that I use it to catch ‘em all in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. I’m also hyped that I’ll finally be able to spread the festering influence of Nurgle across the lands in Total War: Warhammer III. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Soulsborne series (& George R. R. Martin!) so I’m excited for the superb combat, sprawling landscapes and immersive lore that will inevitably be part of Elden Ring. Finally, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands – a D&D and Borderlands mashup? Say no more. 

The last two years have cemented games as being the biggest and most lucrative type of media in the world today, and it’s interesting to see how games, movies, and TV are increasingly working together to create new immersive experiences. If you’d like to get in touch to talk about your upcoming games projects, we’re here to help. Contact us: [email protected] & [email protected]   

#LEVELUPMENTALHEALTH

Safe In Our World is challenging all companies within the video games industry to unite and commit to change. The worlds we create are a refuge for many, but we must consider our teams and the impact our industry has on their lives.

We’re super proud to have signed up to the #LevelUpMentalHealth campaign to keep working towards building a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for all our staff. Find out more about the campaign here.

Five Develop: Brighton events you don’t want to miss

This year I’m looking forward to Develop:Brighton more than ever. When I head down there next week, it’ll be the first in-person games conference I’ve attended since before COVID. I’ve missed the parties, the chats, bumping into old friends, meeting new ones and the inspiration that comes from walking around and seeing what incredible things people are doing in games at the moment. Things you can’t replicate working at home in your kitchen, no matter how hard you try. 

Alongside my colleague Ethan, Talent Acquisition Specialist at REALTIME, we’ve put together a list of the things we’re most looking forward to at Develop this year. Let us know what makes your list. 

The Expo Indie Showcase

Sponsored by TALENTHOUSE MEDIA FOUNDRY, the Expo indie showcase demo’s some of the best independently developed projects around – we can’t wait to try our hands at playing them and learning more about their development. 

Spill the Tea by the Sea with OMG!

We love the chance to chat over a cuppa and a slice of cake, so you’ll catch us at Out Making Games’ event on the seafront. OMG welcomes LGBTQIA+ games workers and allies to their Develop:Brighton queer tea party to network, mingle and connect by the sea. 

The Spirit of Independence: Challenges and Inspiration from Three Decades at the Top

Debbie Bestwick MBE  co-founder of Team17 and one of the only female founders of a games listed company in the world today, will be a keynote speaker on the ‘Spirit of Independence,’: covering everything from signing amazing games, building franchises, and transforming a business. We can’t wait to hear what she has to say about helping to build the studios of tomorrow and taking the UK stock market by storm.  

Running a 21st Century Games Studio

The final keynote ‘Running a 21st Centruy Games Studio‘ boasts a panel of who’s who in the UK games industry: Jonathan Smith (TT Games), Alex Grimonpont (Hi-Rez Studios), Sally Blake (Silent Games), Rami Ismail and Maria Sayans (ustwo games). The panellists will be discussing the challenges facing their studios today, how they navigated the pandemic and what the future holds. 

#RaiseTheGame Knowledge Drop Meet-Up with Women Making Games

As #RaiseTheGame pledge partners, we know how important talking about Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) issues and sharing knowledge between studios can be to drive change. We’re super excited to hear from Women Making Games and to be able to network with like-minded people.  

REALTIME is an award-winning CG studio that works with video game creators to produce amazing creative that excites and engages their audience. If you’re heading down to Brighton next week and want to catch up over coffee or a beer, drop me a line. We’re looking forward to hearing about your upcoming game releases and marketing plans. 

 

What innovations will drive the electric car trend in the future?

Although September saw car sales fall to their lowest levels in 23 years, EVs had their highest market share for a month on record – 15.2% of all cars sold. With the UK government planning to stop sales of purely petrol and diesel cars by 2030, this number will no doubt rocket up soon. 

But are we ready for it? As of now, there are some 1.1 million electric, plug-in hybrid, and conventional hybrid cars on UK roads – but can growth happen without the infrastructure to support it? 

Charging 

The main logistical problem is going to be charging. In the UK, the British government confirmed legislation will be introduced to require any newly built home to have a charging point installed as standard. The rule is expected to come into force in 2022.  

Until then, you’ll need to set-up your own charging point (just make sure you don’t do what James May did with his Tesla.) A standard three-pin plug likely won’t do it – not in good time at least – so you’ll need a specific charging point that will set you back at least £450. Though, according to Whichthe amount you save over time is worth it. 

Outside of the home, wireless charging has been trialed in Nottingham on taxis in a £3.4 million scheme. Lamp-post charging has also been part of the conversation, brought about by companies like char.gy.

While outside of the UK, there is an exciting development happening in Scandinavia. Leading global technology company, ABB, plans to roll out 48 high-power charging stations across the freeways of Denmark, Norway and Sweden to offer premium e-mobility experiences on-the-go. Undoubtedly great news for European EV drivers. 

As of earlier this year, the US is also looking to support EV drivers charge up across the country in a bid to help tackle global climate change. President Joe Biden pledged to prioritise a national EV charging network under his $2 trillion infrastructure bill, promising to have at least 500,000 of the devices installed across the U.S. by 2030.

Going beyond 

In the grand scheme, this is a very short-term look at the future of EVs – where do they go next? At the top of the agenda surely must be longer ranges and quicker charging times? According to Ovo Energy, the Tesla Model S can go 405 miles on a single charge – that’s enough for Leeds to Cornwall. That sounds great, but in an EV, it means pulling over, waiting 7 hours to charge, and then carrying on.

Beyond consumer vehicles, they could become a part of commercial vehicle fleets very soon. In fact, there are often stories about council vehicles and buses welcoming EVs into their ranks. Last-mile deliveries – a delivery’s final trip between the depot and your door – could make use of EVs. It wouldn’t be the entire journey, but a significant part of it. According to Auto Express, this part of the delivery usually accounts for half of the shipping cost. It’s a way for courier companies to offset some of their costs without rising prices for the consumer. 

This is just a drop in the ocean of the world of EVs. We haven’t even begun to talk about R&D into hydrogen fuel cells by the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, and how it could work in tandem with electric cars. The future of EVs is exciting, but there are challenges ahead. The question is, how will we tackle them?

Get in Touch

We’re all about cars here at REALTIME. The future is bright and we’re ready to be a part of it. To talk about your needs, get in touch with us: