PENANG, Malaysia, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Just days after successfully hosting the Aspen-Klippa Penang Bridge International Marathon, Klippa Shopping Centre is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA, an exciting addition to its vibrant Batu Kawan destination. Scheduled to open in June 2025, this state-of-the-art facility marks Soccer Experience's first venture on mainland Penang, cementing Klippa's masterplan as THE hub for community, lifestyle, healthy living and fitness.
Operated by Soccer Experience founder Martin Tierney, the Batu Kawan facility that spans across 200,000 square feet will be the largest in the Soccer Experience portfolio. The facility will feature two football fields which includes a roof-covered field designed to host large events, regular competitions, and individual bookings. Additionally, visitors can enjoy light refreshments, including offerings from IKEA at the clubhouse. Equipped with ample parking facilities for maximum convenience, the facility ensures a great experience for all.
Soccer Experience F.C. has a rich history of developing young talent, with many players earning college soccer scholarships, joining various national youth teams, and participating in professional trials. Most recently, Fergus Tierney, the first Soccer Experience youth player and son of founder Martin Tierney, made headlines by scoring his first full international goal for the Malaysia National Football Team. Fergus expressed his excitement about the new Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA, sharing that he hopes this facility will inspire and develop the next generation of Malaysian football talent.
The facility will cater to players of all ages through its football academy, which will provide coaching, host leagues and tournaments for women, youth, and children, and aim to nurture talent while fostering inclusivity.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Community
Aligned with Klippa's Masterplan vision for sustainability-focused development, Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA, will be partly developed by repurposing materials from an existing project management office building. The facility will also incorporate several green infrastructures such as solar energy solutions and rainwater harvesting systems. To further strengthen its commitment to preserving nature, existing trees will also be replanted within the grounds to create a green eco-friendly environment.
Arnoud Bakker, Director of Market Strategy and Real Estate Development at Ikano Centres, expressed his excitement about Klippa's role in fostering a vibrant, active community, saying, "Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, is a perfect fit for our vision of creating dynamic spaces where people can connect and pursue their passions and aspirations with their friends and family. Following successfully hosting the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2024 and the opening sports retail giant Decathlon, we're proud to continue promoting a healthy, active lifestyle through community-driven initiatives here in Batu Kawan." He added, "Klippa Shopping Centre and masterplan development is more than just a shopping centre; it's the heart of Batu Kawan within Aspen Vision City, Northern Malaysia's future smart city. As the area grows, Klippa's role as a catalyst for that development is key. Our commitment to expanding Klippa and enhancing the experience for the community is unwavering, with green spaces, family-friendly areas, and diverse entertainment offerings. The Soccer Experience facility exemplifies how we continue to evolve, offering enriching experiences that benefit both individuals and our community."
Martin Tierney, Owner & Founder of Soccer Experience, shared his enthusiasm about Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, expansion to Batu Kawan, stating, "We are absolutely delighted to bring Soccer Experience to mainland Penang. This facility represents more than just a sports venue—it's a dynamic, community-driven space that will create connections and lasting memories for people of all ages. Our goal is to not only provide world-class football facilities but also to nurture local talent, promote inclusivity, and inspire a deep passion for the sport. We are committed to offering an environment where players, fans, and families can come together to celebrate football in a way that's accessible, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the values of community and growth. This facility will play a central role in elevating the local sports culture, supporting the development of youth and women's leagues, and contributing to the overall well-being of Batu Kawan's residents and beyond."
Continued Growth and Community Engagement
The Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA is a key element of Klippa's commitment to enhancing its position as the heart and hub of the Batu Kawan township. Recent milestones such as the opening of Decathlon in October 2024 solidifies Klippa's position as a hub for active living and retail experiences. Upcoming additions such as the Caltex petrol station is also designed to provide added convenience for visitors. Klippa's successful collaboration with Aspen and the Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) in the recently concluded Aspen-Klippa Penang Bridge International Marathon demonstrated its strong commitment to local events and community engagement. The event, which took place near Aspen Vision City Central Park in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan, attracted over 22,000 participants from 65 countries and regions. Klippa played a key role as the venue for race kit collection, welcoming thousands of runners and visitors who enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere, further cementing its position as the heart and hub of the Batu Kawan community.
With its blend of sports, lifestyle, and sustainability, the facility promises to be a cornerstone of the Batu Kawan community, offering an unparalleled space for recreation and connection.
For more information about the Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA or other developments at Klippa, please follow Klippa Shopping Centre on Facebook and Instagram for latest promotions, events, and updates.
About Ikano Centres
Our portfolio of shopping centres is the heart and hubs of our communities, creating a better everyday life for the 100 million visitors who visit us every year. Together with our IKEA stores, we create meeting places for friends and families to have a safe and fun day out. We also develop land and invest in residential, office and other types of real estate to create vibrant destinations where people can live, work and play. With strong ambitions to grow our portfolio, we currently operate five meeting places in Malaysia and Thailand including IPC and MyTOWN in Kuala Lumpur, Toppen in Johor Bahru, Klippa, the first phase of our shopping centre in Penang, and Megabangna in Bangkok. We are part of Ikano Retail, the only IKEA franchisee in the world owned by the Kamprad family that founded IKEA. To learn more, visit our Ikano Centres WEBSITE or LINKEDIN page.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Klippa Shopping Centre Unveils Largest Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA
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The First Time a Game in the Legendary Franchise Comes to Consoles
BELLEVUE, Wash., June 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Critically-acclaimed game development studio ArenaNet® tonight announced Guild Wars 3™, the third entry in the legendary and beloved Guild Wars® MMORPG franchise and their first new game since 2012. The game will release globally on PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5, marking the first time a Guild Wars game will appear on home consoles. The first beta test is scheduled for fall of 2027.
The official debut trailer features the first in-engine gameplay footage and can be viewed HERE. The first concept art and other assets are hosted at the Guild Wars 3 official press kit.
"Guild Wars 3 is a new era not just for ArenaNet and Guild Wars, but also for MMORPGs as a whole," said Colin Johanson, Guild Wars 3 Game Director and ArenaNet Studio Head. "The MMORPG genre has millions of players worldwide eager for new, modern experiences, and the opportunity to harness that excitement is immense. Our approach with Guild Wars 3 is to push MMORPGs forward, to create an online game world that feels believable, rewarding, responsive, and innovative while at the same time respecting players' time and providing a positive, supportive space to build community and enjoy new stories in our universe."
Taking place over a thousand years before the events of the original game, Guild Wars 3 is set in the Tyrian region of Orr, a vast wilderness frontier imbued with the world's magic. Nature entities with strong connections to the land called Vael spirits embody the vitality of this lush, verdant landscape. Various guilds are engaged in conflict over how to protect or exploit the bounty beyond civilization's borders. These multitudinous spirits will vary in size and influence within the ecosystems around them, with the most notable of these being the Seeker. As seen in the trailer, every player's Seeker will serve as a connection to the spirits of Orr and a mount that will carry them on their journeys through the game's open world.
Players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden, a member of a guild of adventurers committed to preserving and protecting both the spirits of the wild and the land of Orr itself. Through the deep character customization and skill-building gameplay the Guild Wars franchise is known for, players will seek adventure and confront danger across this sumptuous, vibrant online world, growing their relationships with the spirits of the wild, the inhabitants of Orr, and other Vaelwarden players.
A combat system designed from the outset to feel great on both a controller and keyboard rewards positioning by emphasizing the joy of movement and momentum. As players seamlessly transition between various movement modes, they can harness their speed and turn it into bigger damage and impact when fighting their foes.
More information about pricing, beta tests, release date, and gameplay features will be revealed later in 2026 and into 2027. Guild Wars 3 will be available directly from the developers at GuildWars3.com, and can be wishlisted on Steam and the PlayStation Store beginning today, with more information available at the game's official website.
About the Guild Wars Franchise
Guild Wars is the award-winning, visually stunning MMORPG franchise that originally launched in 2005 on PC. Boasting a timeless art-brought-to-life aesthetic, the epic grandeur of massive role-playing environments, fast-paced action combat, large-scale dynamic events that players tackle together in the open world, team-based competitive player-versus-player battles, and a sprawling fantasy storyline, the series is often proclaimed as having the friendliest player community in gaming. Guild Wars was relaunched as Guild Wars Reforged in 2025 and expanded to mobile devices in 2026. Guild Wars 2® launched in 2012 on PC and quickly earned accolades across the industry, including Time Magazine's 2012 Game of the Year. Unlike most competitors, the franchise has always been playable with no subscription fee required, welcoming over 29 million players across its history.
About ArenaNet
ArenaNet is the developer of the best-selling Guild Wars Reforged and the groundbreaking Guild Wars 2 massively multiplayer online PC role-playing games. The studio's mission is to create innovative online worlds, cultivate a vibrant and engaged global community of players, and to incorporate handcrafted artistry into every aspect of their games. ArenaNet formed in 2000, with press and fans consistently calling Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 two of the best MMOs and RPGs of all time. Based in Bellevue, WA, ArenaNet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korean gaming giant NC.
The First Time a Game in the Legendary Franchise Comes to Consoles
BELLEVUE, Wash., June 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Critically-acclaimed game development studio ArenaNet® tonight announced Guild Wars 3™, the third entry in the legendary and beloved Guild Wars® MMORPG franchise and their first new game since 2012. The game will release globally on PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5, marking the first time a Guild Wars game will appear on home consoles. The first beta test is scheduled for fall of 2027.
The official debut trailer features the first in-engine gameplay footage and can be viewed HERE. The first concept art and other assets are hosted at the Guild Wars 3 official press kit.
"Guild Wars 3 is a new era not just for ArenaNet and Guild Wars, but also for MMORPGs as a whole," said Colin Johanson, Guild Wars 3 Game Director and ArenaNet Studio Head. "The MMORPG genre has millions of players worldwide eager for new, modern experiences, and the opportunity to harness that excitement is immense. Our approach with Guild Wars 3 is to push MMORPGs forward, to create an online game world that feels believable, rewarding, responsive, and innovative while at the same time respecting players' time and providing a positive, supportive space to build community and enjoy new stories in our universe."
Taking place over a thousand years before the events of the original game, Guild Wars 3 is set in the Tyrian region of Orr, a vast wilderness frontier imbued with the world's magic. Nature entities with strong connections to the land called Vael spirits embody the vitality of this lush, verdant landscape. Various guilds are engaged in conflict over how to protect or exploit the bounty beyond civilization's borders. These multitudinous spirits will vary in size and influence within the ecosystems around them, with the most notable of these being the Seeker. As seen in the trailer, every player's Seeker will serve as a connection to the spirits of Orr and a mount that will carry them on their journeys through the game's open world.
Players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden, a member of a guild of adventurers committed to preserving and protecting both the spirits of the wild and the land of Orr itself. Through the deep character customization and skill-building gameplay the Guild Wars franchise is known for, players will seek adventure and confront danger across this sumptuous, vibrant online world, growing their relationships with the spirits of the wild, the inhabitants of Orr, and other Vaelwarden players.
A combat system designed from the outset to feel great on both a controller and keyboard rewards positioning by emphasizing the joy of movement and momentum. As players seamlessly transition between various movement modes, they can harness their speed and turn it into bigger damage and impact when fighting their foes.
More information about pricing, beta tests, release date, and gameplay features will be revealed later in 2026 and into 2027. Guild Wars 3 will be available directly from the developers at GuildWars3.com, and can be wishlisted on Steam and the PlayStation Store beginning today, with more information available at the game's official website.
About the Guild Wars Franchise
Guild Wars is the award-winning, visually stunning MMORPG franchise that originally launched in 2005 on PC. Boasting a timeless art-brought-to-life aesthetic, the epic grandeur of massive role-playing environments, fast-paced action combat, large-scale dynamic events that players tackle together in the open world, team-based competitive player-versus-player battles, and a sprawling fantasy storyline, the series is often proclaimed as having the friendliest player community in gaming. Guild Wars was relaunched as Guild Wars Reforged in 2025 and expanded to mobile devices in 2026. Guild Wars 2® launched in 2012 on PC and quickly earned accolades across the industry, including Time Magazine's 2012 Game of the Year. Unlike most competitors, the franchise has always been playable with no subscription fee required, welcoming over 29 million players across its history.
About ArenaNet
ArenaNet is the developer of the best-selling Guild Wars Reforged and the groundbreaking Guild Wars 2 massively multiplayer online PC role-playing games. The studio's mission is to create innovative online worlds, cultivate a vibrant and engaged global community of players, and to incorporate handcrafted artistry into every aspect of their games. ArenaNet formed in 2000, with press and fans consistently calling Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 two of the best MMOs and RPGs of all time. Based in Bellevue, WA, ArenaNet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korean gaming giant NC.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Guild Wars 3, Modern Evolution of the MMORPG, Announced at Summer Game Fest for PC and PlayStation 5
