The critically acclaimed video game Skylanders SWAP Force™ from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is set to be released in Europe for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft on 15^th November, 2013.  Skylanders SWAP Force is the third instalment of the top selling kids’ video game franchise of 2013. ¹

Hailed as “A force to be reckoned with” by the Metro and regarded as “the best Skylanders game yet” by The Guardian, Skylanders SWAP Force is one of the highest rated kids’ games of the year and one of the few kids’ titles available on the next-generation of video game consoles this Christmas. The game, which is “a brilliant sequel” according to The Times, is already positioned to be a must-have game this Christmas, having been named in the 2013 Toys“R”Us^® Hot Toy List, the “Fabulous 15”

Skylanders SWAP Force  pushes the boundaries of innovation and imagination with an all new play pattern – swapability – that allows gamers to transform 16 SWAP Force™ characters into more than 250 unique characters by swapping the top and bottom halves of the toys. Building on the franchise’s signature gameplay and collectible toy experience, the game takes kids on an all-new adventure with more than 30 new characters each with unique powers and personalities. Additionally, fans can play Skylanders SWAP Force on next-generation consoles with their entire collection of 100+ characters from Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure® and Skylanders Giants^TM.

Optimised for next-generation game systems, Skylanders SWAP Force features an all new graphics engine that delivers high-resolution visuals that bring to life amazingly detailed characters and richer environments to deliver a high level of visual fidelity that immerse players in the game like never before.  The game runs in native 1080p on both next-generation consoles, further bridging the gap between a video game and feature film experience.

About the Skylanders® Franchise
The award-winning, billion dollar Skylanders franchise pioneered the toys-to-life category in 2011 with the debut of Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure. The game originated a new play pattern that seamlessly bridged physical and virtual worlds across multiple platforms and became the top-selling kids’ videogame of the year. In October 2012, Skylanders Giants™ further evolved the genre and added the mega-sized Giant Skylanders and LightCore characters to the collection of interaction figures. Skylanders Giants was awarded the “e-Connected Toy of the Year” at the 13th Annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards.  The next innovation in the franchise Skylanders SWAP Force was developed by Vicarious Visions, an Activision studio. The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.skylanders.com.

About Activision Publishing
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.
From USA Today, November 11 © 2013 Gannett-USAToday. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited.

From Forbes.com, November 11 © 2013 Forbes. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited.