Mind Candy Partners With Activision Publishing, Inc. on New Moshi Monsters™ Video Game Katsuma Unleashed

NEW YORK, July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Mind Candy, the entertainment company behind the successful kids' franchise Moshi Monsters™, today announced Katsuma Unleashed, a new video game created in its on-going partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI). Currently in development at UK-based studio Sumo Digital Ltd. for the Nintendo DS™ and 3DS™ handheld gaming systems, the game is planned to hit store shelves on October 11, 2013 in Europe, and on November 5, 2013 in North America.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130724/629857 )

Katsuma Unleashed is a side-scrolling, action-adventure platform game rendered in a beautiful 3D cartoon style and designed to appeal to Moshi fans of all ages across the globe. In a move away from the previous two titles, the game will feature stand-alone hero character Katsuma. As the franchise's most popular Moshi Monster, players will embark on a voyage with Katsuma through brand new worlds packed with mini arcade challenges and boss battles. Along the way, Katsuma will have to battle enemy characters using powerful new capabilities, including Furi's Smash and Diavlo's Flight, in order to rescue other Moshi Monsters - fur will certainly fly! Another exciting feature available in the 3DS version of Katsuma Unleashed is StreetPass™* secrets - 18 huge, explorable maps and monster attack games where users get to play as each of the Moshi Monsters, each with their own unique set of moves.

"We're delighted to continue our partnership with Activision on our third Nintendo title, and we are hugely inspired by the amazing talents of Sumo Digital who have developed some fantastic games in the past," said Andy Matjaszek, Sr. Global Marketing Manager at Mind Candy. "This time around, with Katsuma Unleashed we've broken out Katsuma as a stand-alone character to deliver an all-new, incredible Moshi Monsters game that fans of all ages can enjoy."

Katsuma Unleashed is Mind Candy's third Nintendo DS/3DS title, following the success of its two previous releases, Moshi Monsters™: Moshlings Zoo, which topped the UK DS charts for a record-breaking 23 consecutive weeks, and Moshi Monsters™: Moshlings Theme Park, which also held an impressive chart position reaching number one in 2012 for four consecutive weeks.**

Katsuma Unleashed for Nintendo 3DS™ is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. Katsuma Unleashed for Nintendo DS™ is not yet rated by the ESRB. Additional details about the game, as well as pre-sale opportunities will be made available soon.

* Street Pass is an exclusive feature for the 3DS version

** (UKIE GFK Chart-Track reports 2012)

About Mind Candy

Mind Candy, creator of the successful Moshi Monsters franchise, is a global entertainment company based in the UK with offices in Los Angeles and New York. The company was formed by Internet entrepreneur Michael Acton Smith in 2004.

For more information visit http://www.MindCandy.com

About Moshi Monsters™

With 80 million registered users in 150 territories worldwide, Moshi Monsters - the online world of adoptable pet monsters for boys and girls aged 6-12 - has become a global phenomenon. Children choose from one of six virtual pet monsters that they can create, name and nurture. Once their pet has been customised, players can navigate their way around Monstro City, taking the daily puzzle challenge to earn 'Rox' (virtual currency), playing games, solving Super Moshi Missions, personalising their room, showing off their artwork, reading stories and communicating with friends in a safe environment. Following its huge online success, Moshi Monsters has expanded into the real world with physical products including best-selling toys; the number one selling kids magazine in the UK; a best-selling DS video game, a top five music album, books, membership cards, trading cards and much more.

For more information visit http://www.MoshiMonsters.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.  

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, http://www.Activision.com.

About Sumo Digital

Sumo Digital is a cross-platform video game developer based in Sheffield, UK. Formed in 2003, the studio has had successes on every console for partners including SEGA, Sony, Microsoft, BBC, EA, Disney, Codemasters, Konami and many more.

For more information visit http://www.sumo-digital.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected release date are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Published and distributed by Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc.

SOURCE Mind Candy