A new trailer for Fate/Extra Record appeared at the FGO Fes 2024 event showcasing the story and gameplay elements in the remake. Additionally, the trailer reveals the release window for Fate/Extra Record as 2025, and the game will appear on Switch, PS4, PS5, and Windows PC.

The trailer offers a look at the dungeon exploration and turn-based card combat system, as well as a look at an early game boss fight against an enemy Rider servant and a mysterious Archer-type enemy. Characters like Rin Tohsaka, Shinji Matou, and servant Archer are also featured. Gameplay shows the three available servants Saber, Archer, and Caster chaining combos.

In addition, a room customization mechanic will seemingly be available as seen in the trailer. A new and revamped UI compared to the old one that appeared in footage shown in 2020 is also featured in the combat sections of the trailer.

You can check out the new Fate/Extra Record trailer here:

Type-Moon Studio BB previously confirmed that new information about the game would appear on the FGO Fes 2024 event with a teaser trailer.

Fate/Extra Record is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam and it is scheduled to release in 2025 in Japan. There are no news of an overseas release yet.

The post Fate/Extra Record Releases in 2025 for Switch, PS4, PS5, PC appeared first on Siliconera.

Now, when I talk about “the future” of the Gears of War series, I don’t necessarily mean the newly announced Gears of War: E-Day game. Going back in time to seeing the world of Sera in peace and witnessing young Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago become friends through the crucible of a new war against an incomprehensible enemy sounds fascinating, and I totally understand why The Coalition took this opportunity. However, I worry about about the future of the series when we eventually get to continue the plot threads left hanging in Gears 5.

In a recent interview with The Coalition, the developers reassured fans of the series that they are "not retreating” from the storylines that started in the series games Gears of War 4 and continued in Gears 5. While this can sound comforting, I can’t help but think that it will be a really long time until we see or even hear about a hypothetical Gears of War 6. When you consider how long video games take to develop and how expensive they are nowadays, I fear we might not see a resolution to the events and cliffhangers left in Gears 5, at least not in the way fans expect. The latest game in the Gears franchise shipped in September 2019, almost 5 years ago. With no announced date for Gears of War: E-Day, it could take a while for this new title to appear.

If things go swimmingly for The Coalition, a direct continuation of Gears 5 could take another four to five years to get greenlit and released. Unless the team is magically working on two titles at the same time (something which could be catastrophic when taking in account the massive financial risk), we could be talking about a direct sequel appearing sometime around 2030. That would be well over a decade after Gears 5. Of course, this is all hypothetical. But no matter the result, by the time we get to experience a direct sequel, it will have been way too long for audiences to keep the same level of interest than they had when the game originally came out.

Don’t get me wrong, I am actually very excited to experience Gears of War: E-Day. I completely understand the allure of going back to the very origin of the series. Showing the overwhelming and terrifying threat of the Locust Horde in its heyday, when humanity had no tools to fight back against a never-before-seen enemy, is promising. I can’t help but imagine how different it would be to play this game, compared to the action-focused romps of the original trilogy. The idea of combat encounters being more threatening than ever before for the series, a lower number of Locust drones feeling overpowering, compared to the hordes of enemies Marcus and the COG mowed down in the original trilogy could truly breathe new life into the franchise.

Of course, I’m not expecting the game to completely change genres into survival horror, although I wouldn’t really mind it, but I keep wondering what new ideas this new scenario could bring. Seeing Marcus and Dom fight a single enemy in the reveal trailer and barely survive the encounter really fascinates me. From a narrative standpoint, seeing their relationship flourish in real time after both experienced unspeakable loss sounds right up my alley. Even seeing the creation of the iconic Lancer or Hammer of Dawn, among other memorable tools in the franchise, to successfully face the Locust excites me. But there’s only so much The Coalition can do before they run out of material to cover for this prequel.

Once all it’s said and done, I just can’t imagine the future of the Gears of War franchise after E-Day. Once it’s time to go back to the present, there will be a whole new generation of players to bring into the fold. Maybe revisiting the past with E-Day, and with the release of the rumored remaster of the original Gears of War trilogy, could bring a renewed interest into the franchise for old and new audiences alike. But that’s hedging on too many bets at that point. And even if we end up seeing a continuation of the story of Gears 5, by that point it will be a completely different story from the one that started all the way back in 2016 with Gears of War 4.

The long development cycles, hyperinflated budgets, expectations for triple-A games, and constant layoffs are keeping the industry stagnant. Taking any type of risk is untenable for big name developers. That’s why remakes, remasters, and looking at the past of once-popular series is safer and easier. There’s no window for risk or experimentation in the triple-A market. And I worry that, with how long it takes to ship a game nowadays, the Gears of War franchise might not have much of a future after this detour to its past with E-Day.

Gears of War: E-Day is currently in development for the Xbox Series X and PC via Steam. There is no announced release date for the game yet.

The post I Worry About the Future of Gears of War Series After E-Day appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix announced four new NieR: Automata FORM-ISM figures of protagonists 9S and A2. The figures cost 4,950 yen (or about $31.53) each, and they are now available for pre-order from the AmiAmi online store.

Note: This story contains minor spoilers for some character designs in NieR: Automata.

There are two figures for each character, with the 9S figures available in his usual design and one where he’s not wearing his blindfold combat visor. The first model shows 9S in a dynamic pose holding his signature Cruel Arrogance spear, and about to use his hacking skills. The second 9S figure shows him standing wielding his spear again, with a determined look on his face. The 9S figures are expected to release in September 2024.

You can take a better look at the new NieR: Automata 9S FORM-ISM figures here:

As for the A2 figures, the first one shows A2 standing while resting on her large sword Type-4O Blade. Meanwhile, the second A2 figure depicts the character wearing short hair and in her Berserk mode, as she charges while wielding the Type-4O small sword. The A2 figures will appear on October 2024. You can check out both A2 figures here:

The new 9S and A2 NieR: Automata FORM-ISM figures are now available for pre-order, and are expected to release in September and October 2024, respectively. NieR: Automata is readily available for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC.

The post New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix revealed a possible corn cob creature or monster design that will appear in the upcoming FFXIV Dawntrail expansion. The post shared on social media reads “many encounters with the unknown await you on Dawntrail.”

The body of the FFXIV creature is divided between the corn cob itself, which sports a short ponytail, and a separate leafy stalk monster body from which short legs and arms sprout. The creature is carrying a cloth sack across its body, and the animation showcased in the social media post has the creature jump in surprise, with the corn cob jumping out of the main stalk body and returning to it swiftly. It is unclear if the new creature will be an enemy or minion.

You can check out the new corn cob creature that will appear in the FFXIV Dawntrail expansion here:

Square Enix previously showed off another new creature that will debut with the FFXIV Dawntrail expansion, and seems to be inspired by the species of prickly pear cactus native to the Mesoamerican region, as well as by the many Cactuar monsters found in the Final Fantasy series.

As a reminder, the new Shadow European Data Center and its four Worlds will arrive to FFXIV on June 11, 2024, as well as the new Dynamis North American Data Center.

Final Fantasy XIV is readily available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, and the Dawntrail expansion will arrive on July 2, 2024.

The post FFXIV Dawntrail Expansion Shows New Corn Cob Monster appeared first on Siliconera.

After the reveal of a new gameplay trailer during the Xbox Game Showcase 2024, Konami offered new details about the Battle Damage system as well as the new camera modes available in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

The new information appeared in the official website for the game, and it goes over how the Battle Damage system will now affect Naked Snake’s clothes with wear and tear as players advance in the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater. Similarly, any injuries Snake receives will leave different permanent scars and marks on his body once healed.

Regarding the camera system, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will allow players to use a new third-person view. This camera system is similar to the one introduced in the Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D version of the game that appeared on the Nintendo 3DS. Additionally, an overhead view legacy style will be available as well. At the time of writing, it is unclear if you can swap between both camera systems on the go.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is currently in development for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The original version of the game is available as part of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1, which is readily available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Metal Gear Solid Delta Battle Damage and Camera System Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.

Toho Animation announced the release of a new Jujutsu Kaisen special showcase focused on bringing new information about the anime series and the video games based on the show. The broadcast will air on the official Toho Animation YouTube Channel on May 19, 2024 at 8pm JST.

Aside from talking about the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series, the other focus of the special showcase will be the recently released Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash fighting game, as well as the Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade mobile game, which also released on PC in April 2024. Cursed Clash Producer Misaki Kai will appear as one of the guests, alongside anime Season 2 and Phantom Parade producer Tatsuya Oomori.

Neki Matsuzawa will be the host of the broadcast, and Yuichi Nakamura and Takahiro Sakurai, the Japanese voice actors for Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto respectively, will appear as part of the special program to talk about the second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series as well as the aforementioned console and mobile video games.

The Jujutsu Kaisen special broadcast will only be available in Japanese, and you will be able to watch it here:

As a reminder, the Guinness World Records recently revealed that the Jujutsu Kaisen anime is the most popular animation series in the world as of April 17, 2024.

The Jujutsu Kaisen anime series is readily available to stream on Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the English localization and publishing of the manga. Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash is available for Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade is available on mobile devices and PC via DMM Games.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Anime and Game Showcase Announced appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega Sammy Holdings announced that the company is considering a global release of Persona 5: The Phantom X. The company’s intention to prepare for a Japanese and worldwide release became public after the release of the latest Sega financial results in the fiscal year ending in March 2024. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Persona 5: The Phantom X started its open beta test in China on April 12, 2024, and officially released in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on April 18. In addition, the latest financial results for Sega confirmed that the release of Persona 5: The Phantom X met the company’s expectations.

Regarding the company’s financial results, Sega announced an increase in sales and a decrease in profits year-over-year. The release of titles like Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord, and Football Manager 2024 (the first title in the series to release outside of Japan) contributed to the increase in sales. However, the decrease in profits came from the weak performance of the European market, and the according structural changes.

Developer Perfect World Games originally teased P5X in April 2021, as a mobile game titled Code Name: X. Persona 5: The Phantom X was later officially revealed in March 16, 2023.

Persona 5: The Phantom X is now available in China and South Korea for mobile devices and PC, and Sega is currently considering a global release of the game.

The post Persona 5: The Phantom X Global Release Being Considered appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom and Grapht announced a new line of Street Fighter 6 merchandise that includes reversible eye masks of the 18 characters, as well as DLC character Rashid. Pre-orders are now open until May 13, 2024 from the Village Vanguard online store and the Grapht online store. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

The items are expected to release in Japan between June and July 2024. There are other items included in the new Street Fighter 6 merchandise collection aside from the eye masks, and you can check out the full list alongside their prices below.

• Desk Pad (5 types available) – 4,950 yen (~$31.83)
• Reversible Eye Mask – 1,980 yen (~$12.73)
• Trading Metal Art Pins – 1,100 yen (~$7.07) each, 6,600 yen (~$42.44) for a box of 6.
• Button Command Embroidery Stickers (4 types available) – 1,980 yen (~$12.73)
• Outfit 3 Character Embroidery Stickers (5 types available) – 1,320 yen (~$8.49)

You can also take a better look at them here:

The 5 desk pads available feature Luke, Ryu, Juri, Jaime, and the Street Fighter 6 logo each. As for the metal pins, there are three separate collections available, each including 6 different options. Collection A features Ryu, Jaime, Cammy, JP, Marissa, and E. Honda. Meanwhile, Collection B includes Luke, Ken, Juri, Chun-Li, Zangief, and Dhalsim. Finally, Collection C focuses on Guile, DeeJay, Manon, Kimberly, Lily, and Blanka.

Meanwhile, the button command embroidery stickers are available in 4 sets. One of them features the Drive Impact (DI) & Special Moves (SP) icons, and the rest include three variations for the punch & kick set, featuring the colors for light, medium, and strong buttons. The character embroidery stickers are available individually and they feature Jamie, Chun-Li, Zangief, and Juri in their Outfit 3, and DLC character Ed in his default outfit.

The new Street Fighter 6 Grapht merchandise collection is now available for pre-order until May 13, 2024. Street Fighter 6 is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, and the Akuma DLC will appear on May 22, 2024.

The post New Street Fighter 6 Merchandise Includes Character Eye Masks appeared first on Siliconera.

Prime 1 Studio announced the release of a new 1/4 scale figure of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West that costs $1,200/¥197,890. The figure is now available for pre-order from the North American and Japanese Prime 1 Studio online storefront, and it is set to be released between September and December 2025.

Its full name is the Aloy Tenakth Dragoon Armor Set figure, and it is approximately 27 to 28 inches tall (or about 69 to 73cm tall), depending on the chosen hand and spear pose. The figure includes a variety of swappable pieces, like a pair of arms and weapons and blue and yellow eyes for the machine featured on the base.

You can check out the figure in more detail here:

In addition, the bonus version of the figure will include a swappable head part for Aloy. The default piece features Aloy wearing the Tenakth Dragoon helmet and face paintings, while the bonus piece depicts Aloy not wearing them. The bonus version of the figure is limited to 1,000 orders, after which only the normal edition will be available.

Here is how the new Prime 1 Studio figure of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West looks with the bonus head part on:

Prime 1 Studio figures are as pricey as they are popular. In late April 2024, Prime 1 Studio announced a new 1/4 scale figure of Cammy from Street Fighter 6 and teased two other figures of Juri and Marisa.

The new Horizon Forbidden West Prime 1 Studio figure of Aloy is now available for pre-order and will be released between September and December 2025. Horizon Forbidden West is readily available for the PS4, PS5, and Windows PC.

The post Prime 1 Studio Horizon Forbidden West Aloy Figure Costs $1,200 appeared first on Siliconera.

In recent years, the unstoppable craving for an old-school survival horror revival has been growing within me. It seems I’m not the only one feeling that way, as various indie developers expanded on some of my favorite aspects of the genre, with excellent games like developers Jasper Byrne’s Lone Survivor and rose-engine’s Signalis. Now Crow Country joins the list by offering a true-to-form classic survival horror adventure that draws inspiration from and pays tribute to PS1-era titles, all while doing its own original thing.

The game takes players back to 1990 Atlanta, Georgia, and it starts when protagonist Mara Forest breaks into the eponymous Crow Country abandoned theme park. Her job is to find the owner Edward Crow, due to his daughter filing a missing persons report. As Mara delves deeper into the creepy locale, she discovers a plethora of terrible monsters roaming the park, putting anyone that approaches the place in danger. Determined to discover the secret hiding behind these creatures and Edward’s disappearance, she pushes forward. Throughout the game, she meets a variety of characters that found themselves drawn to the place. While their reasons for being there differ, their motivations are the same: investigating the monsters that roam the park and the cause and consequences of their appearance.

I really enjoyed the story in Crow Country. The central mystery is engaging and unique, and it keeps things simple and easy to follow. The environmental storytelling is also very effective, with the park having plenty of files that go into the history and creation of the place. One of the things I appreciated the most about the story is how the narrative is confident enough to not overexplain how and why everything happens, leaving just enough unanswered and ambiguous. After all, desperately trying to seek answers for things we don’t understand can lead to unforeseen consequences.

The setting of a theme park is ideal for a horror game, and I thought that Crow Country effectively uses this concept to its full potential. Using a creepy theme park as the setting for a horror game allows the layout to feel like the Spencer Mansion in the original Resident Evil without the puzzles feeling out of place. Furthermore, Crow Country expands on the concept of a location like the Lakeside Amusement Park in Silent Hill 3, showing different flavors of horror with the contrast between the run-down public facing areas and the fenced-off staff rooms and corridors. While its main fairytale area is supposed to be charming, the decay and abandonment has rendered it eerie and unwelcoming. Its tacky haunted mansion-style zone wouldn’t really scare anyone under normal circumstances, but given the situation I felt like I was being effectively gaslit into doubting whether what was threatening me was a part of the fictional spectacle or if I was truly in danger.

The gameplay loop in Crow Country will be very familiar to those that have played any early Silent Hill and Resident Evil entries. The park is divided in different sized “rooms” and areas, similar to Resident Evil, while the inventory system veers closer to Silent Hill. Mara carries all her weapons and items all the time, reducing frustration and making puzzles more about the experience than backtracking to safe rooms. The game uses a limited camera angle that players can freely rotate. Not being able to see clearly made the game pretty frightening in my experience. This coupled with some weird things that start happen as the plot moves forward, I found myself always on edge. Even after I cleared up a room full of enemies, I felt like I couldn’t trust myself.

As with all PS1 survival horror games, combat is de-emphasized in Crow Country. Aiming weapons is slow and locks you in place, while shooting enemies from up close deals more damage but puts you at risk of being hit. Mara starts with a pistol and can find a shotgun, a magnum, and a flamethrower, as well as being able to use grenades to deal with various enemies at once. While the guns only offer different damage values, I really enjoyed the flamethrower as an AoE weapon, as well as how the pistol also serves as a tool for solving some puzzles or interacting with boxes and bottles, creating an interesting item economy.

The visual direction for Crow Country is one of the strongest suits of the game. It captures that low-fi feel that games like the original Resident Evil had, while keeping things modern and crisp. Mara is very well animated, and the chunky 3D character models mesh very well with the environments. The enemies are extremely freaky looking and uncanny. Finding a new unspeakable horror in Crow Country is always awfully refreshing. In fact, I would often leave rooms as fast as possible when finding new enemies to try and gather myself before counting my bullets and healing items, deciding if I wanted to tackle whatever I just saw. (Often opting to just bail.) The soundtrack of the game was composed by Ockeroid, and it is equally as fantastic as the visuals. One of the reasons I was so tense while playing is thanks to the oppressive and chilling soundtrack, which also gets a chance to be playful and breathe at times.

It took me approximately 6-7 hours to beat the game. And, even though it felt like the right length, I still wanted to spend more time in the park. After completing it, I spent a few hours trying to find as many secrets as I could and completing some of the optional content that unlocks after seeing the ending. The only blemish I found in an otherwise spotless experience was being unable to unlock one of the weapon upgrades available in the game after completing the required challenge. Fortunately, this is something that a patch would easily fix.

Crow Country is one of those games that answer all of my needs for an old-school survival horror title. The game isn’t shy about its inspirations and it is a clear homage to PS1 survival horror games. While it is a somewhat short experience, Crow Country shows that sometimes less is more. And I want more of this.

Crow Country comes out on May 10, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

The post Review: Crow Country Celebrates the Survival Horror Genre appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom detailed the Street Fighter 6 Akuma command input for his iconic Shun Goku Satsu Critical Art when using the Modern Control scheme. Players using Modern Controls will still be able to perform the iconic move, although it will be a bit more complex than other Super Arts.

You can check out the full social media post here:

While Shun Goku Satsu is not listed as one of the three Super Arts available while using Modern Controls, players can still access the move by switching to Manual Control. This can be done by pressing R3 (or RS if you’re using an Xbox controller.)

Players must then input a slight variation of the classic Raging Demon command of light, light, medium, and heavy attack in quick succession. Unlike his other level 3 Super Art in Street Fighter 6, Akuma can only perform Shun Goku Satsu as a Critical Art when his health is at 25% or below.

Akuma is the final character in the Year 1 Character Pass for Street Fighter 6. While Capcom hasn’t announced a new character pass, players can expect new fighters to appear in the future.

Street Fighter 6 is now available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, and the Akuma DLC will appear on May 22, 2024. The "Akuma Arrives! Fighting Pass" will appear on the same day.

The post Street Fighter 6 Akuma Shun Goku Satsu Critical Art Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.

Born Digital Inc. announced the release of the digital version of the “Artificial Intelligence in Final Fantasy XV - The Future Seen Through Game AI” book. The book is now available as a Kindle e-book at Amazon and other various digital retailers. [Thanks, DenFamiNico Gamer!]

The digital edition of the book costs 3,520 yen (or about $22.35). The physical version originally released in 2019. The book goes into detail about the technology used to develop the AI for companion characters, NPCs, and monsters in Final Fantasy XV, as well as an invisible meta-AI system that works in a similar way to a “game master.” In addition, the book includes talks with various FFXV programmers, designers, and members of the development team that offer their perspective into the future of video game artificial intelligence.

Back in May 2022, Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy XV had surpassed over 10 million units sold worldwide, including sales of the base console game, the PC version, and the Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition.

The “Artificial Intelligence in Final Fantasy XV - The Future Seen Through Game AI” digital book is now available and it costs 3,520 yen (~$22.35). Final Fantasy XV is readily available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

The post Final Fantasy XV Book About Game AI Appears in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus released a short video sharing various details about the DLC demon Dagda for SMT V: Vengeance. Dagda originally appeared as a major character in the SMT IV Apocalypse.

Dagda is a deity in Celtic mythology and one of the High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In SMT V: Vengeance he is a member of the Deity Race (known in Japanes as Majin.) As a party member, Dagda is a powerful physical fighter and he can also offer support abilities.

Lost Hit is one of two unique skill Dagda can use in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. It is a physical attack consisting of a series of punches that finishes with a powerful charged attack. His second unique skill is called Dannan's Wisdom, and it is a support ability that restores Press Turn icons for the party. During its animation the demon Danu joins him. In SMT IV Apocalypse, Danu is Dagda’s mother.

You can check out Dagda’s introduction video below. The video is only available in Japanese.

Dagda is voiced by Hidenari Ugaki in the Japanese dub of SMT V: Vengeance. Ugaki is well known as the voice of Goro Majima in the Yakuza or Like a Dragon series, Argo Gulskii in the Japanese dub of Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and Ganryu in the Tekken series.

In other news, SMT V: Vengeance Artist Masayuki Doi recently commented on the creation of the new Nahobiho demon.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on June 14, 2024.

The post SMT V: Vengeance New DLC Demon Dagda Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.

A new line of Persona 3 Reload merchandise for disaster prevention featuring SEES motifs and a first-aid poach inspired by Koromaru is now available for pre-order from Movic. The SEES merchandise will release in Fall 2024, while the poach is set to release in July 26, 2024. [Thanks, PR Times!]

Pre-orders for the new merchandise items close on May 22, 2024. The Persona 3 Reload SEES Disaster Prevention Set costs 17,600 yen (or about $113.83.) The set includes a SEES backpack that also features two Gekkoukan High School logo pin badges, and two SEES pin badges. The backpack also includes a hand crank light, water bag, rescue sheet, an Aid-Team 2 emergency kit, emergency toilet sheets, masks, a SEES hand towel, and a P3R protagonist postcard.

You can take a better look at the Persona 3 Reload SEES disaster backpack here:

Meanwhile, the Koromaru First-Aid Poach costs 3,520 yen (~$22.77.) The poach is designed to imitate the same poach that Koromaru carries in his battle outfit in the new Persona 3 Reload remake.

And here is the Persona 3 Reload Koromaru first-aid poach:

Other Persona 3 Reload merchandise items include Gekkoukan High School uniform cosplay sets, and an Evoker replica.

The new Persona 3 Reload SEES disaster prevention merchandise will release in Fall 2024, and the Koromaru first-aid poach will appear in July 26, 2024. Persona 3 Reload is readily available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

The post Persona 3 Reload SEES and Koromaru First Aid Items Coming appeared first on Siliconera.

Bushiroad confirmed the playable characters that will appear in the Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact demo. The demo will feature 6 characters, and it will be available to try at the EVO Japan 2024 and KSG2024 events. [Thanks, PR Times!]

As it was previously hinted in the game’s reveal teaser, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact will be a 3v3 fighting game, and the playable characters available in the upcoming event demo are Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, Hisoka, and Chairman Netero. These are the same characters that were featured in the teaser. We still don’t know if the game will be a 2.5D fighter, a 3D arena fighter, or a different type of fighting game.

In addition, a lottery will be held at the Bushiroad Games booth at EVO Japan 2024, and participants have the chance to win various original merchandise goods, including a Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact t-shirt (100 available each day of the event,) a sticker (350 available daily,) and a Bushiroad Games t-shirt (50 available daily.) You can take a better look at the items available in the lottery here:

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is currently in development and it will come out for the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC via Steam. The first demo for the game will appear at EVO Japan 2024 between April 27-29, 2024.

The post Hunter X Hunter: Nen X Impact Fighting Game Demo Characters Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

G-Mode announced the release of Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission for the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The release date for the game is currently undecided.

Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission is a Japan-only single player action-RPG originally released in 2007 for mobile devices, and it will be the 100th game to release in the G-Mode Archives+ collection. The game will only appear in Japan on the Switch, but will be available worldwide on Steam. However, the game will only be available in Japanese. Furthermore, the game was originally released as Aegis The First Mission in Japan, and the port's title reflects that.

The plot of Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission takes players to Yakushima in May 1999, 10 years prior to the beginning of Persona 3. Like its title implies, players take control of Aigis in an original story. While the mainline Persona series is turn-based, Aigis The First Mission sees players use the titular android fighting against Shadows using her Persona Palladion using three different type of weapons, and four different skills.

In addition, G-Mode showcased some gameplay during their most recent livestream. You can take a look at how Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission plays in the video below. The footage of the game appears between the 1:04:24 mark and finishes at 1:33:47. The stream is only available in Japanese.

G-Mode has previously released a variety of Atlus spin-off mobile titles, including Persona: Ikuu no Tou Hen, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible New Testament III: Mugen no Eiyuu, and most recently Majin Tensei: Blind Thinker.

Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission will appear on the Nintendo Switch in Japan and PC via Steam worldwide. There is currently no set release date.

The post G-Mode Archives Gets Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo announced that a collaboration with PSO2: New Genesis will bring characters from the Atelier Ryza and Atelier Marie games to Sega’s action-MMORPG. It was also revealed that the collaboration will receive a worldwide simultaneous release.

More details about the collaboration as well as its official release date will be announced at a later date. The collaboration was originally announced during the latest broadcast celebrating the half-year anniversary of the Japanese release of Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator. Specifically, the two games that will be featured in PSO2: New Genesis as part of the upcoming event are Atelier Ryza 3 and Atelier Marie Remake.

In other Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis news, Sega revealed new details about the Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis second collaboration with Nijisanji Vtubers at the end of January 2024. Additionally, Ryza and Marie also appear as guest hero characters in the Atelier Resleriana free-to-play mobile and PC games.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is immediately available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A Nintendo Switch version is available in Japan only via cloud streaming. Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator is immediately available on Android and iOS devices, as well as PC via Steam.

The post Atelier Ryza and Marie Headed to PSO2 New Genesis appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom revealed a new Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess in-depth gameplay trailer during Day 1 of the Capcom Highlights broadcasts. The game mixes character action and real-time strategy elements with a unique Japanese aesthetic.

Kunitsu-Gami is set on Mount Kafuku, a blessed land that is defiled by a mysterious black substance. This defilement is stealing masks containing the guardian Goddess' powers, and it is up to protagonist Soh and Maiden Yoshiro to rescue the villagers of the land and purify each village.

Gameplay in Kunitsu-Gami is divided between day sections, where Soh guides Yoshiro to torii gates that need to be purified, rescues villagers, and builds contraptions used to fight enemies called the Seethe. At night, foes spawn and try to interrupt Maiden Yoshiro’s purifying ritual.

Villagers can be positioned around the field to help fight back the Seethe. Woodcutter, Archer, and Ascetic are three of the villager types shown, and they excel at close range, long range, and casting spells respectively. A Spearman villager was briefly shown as well.

You can check out the new Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess gameplay deep dive trailer here:

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will come out for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime in 2024. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass.

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Atlus released a special program spotlight for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance sharing details about the new story added to the game. Players will be able to choose between the original route or the new route from the beginning of the game.

The Canon of Creation route follows the same story told in the original SMT V. Meanwhile, the Canon of Vengeance route is the new story being added to Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Both routes follow roughly the same story up until the middle stages of the plot, at which point Canon of Vengeance will offer significant changes.

Some new additions unique to Canon of Vengeance include 4 new female demons named the Qadištu, the Goddesses of Vengeance. Lilith is the leader of the group, and she seems to have her own agenda set for the Nahobino. Yoko Hiromine is a new character that meets the Nahobino and joins him in his travels while wandering Da’at.

SMT V and SMT V: Vengeance Director Shigeo Komori said that Vengeance was developed as a response to all the ideas the developers couldn’t include in the original game. The new storyline of Vengeance will explore the relationship between the Snake God (Qadištu) and the Bull God (Nahobino,) as well as the relationship between those who win and those who are defeated. While SMT V was a story about the Bull God creating a new world, the Canon of Vengeance is structured from the perspective of the Snake God as a tale of revenge by the oppressed.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on June 21, 2024. The original game is immediately available on the Nintendo Switch worldwide.

The post Atlus Shares Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Story Details appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus detailed some of the new gameplay mechanics present in the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance in a special program spotlight. Atlus confirmed the inclusion of a new Da’at, as well as a new dungeon, new sub-quests, and quality-of-life changes.

One of the new gameplay elements included in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the addition of unique skills for each demon in the party. They will take a different slot from other skill, and the new skill will emphasize and differentiate the unique characteristics and playstyles of each demon, similar to the Persona Traits added in Persona 5 Royal.

The Nahobiho is a new Frost-type demon based on the appearance of the Nahobino. Nahobiho can use an Ice elemental version of the Wrath Tempest skill, exclusive to the Nahobino in the original SMTV. Nahobiho is one of the 40 new demons that will be added to the game. Players will also be able to interact with demons in their party.

Some of the quality-of-life changes being added to Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance include the following:

• Under certain circumstances, players can increase the level cap of the Nahobino and demons from 99 to 150.
• The speed at which players can distribute new demon skill has been changed, and now offers four alternatives: standard, double speed, max speed, or skip.
• Some Miracles can be toggled ON or OFF from the status screen.
• A new item will allow players to reset the Nahobino's parameters and relocate his stats.
• Players can toggle minimap rotation ON or OFF in the settings menu.
• Saving can now be done anywhere in the map.
• Growth items such as Gospels (EXP increase) and Incenses (stats increase,) can now be used in a batch.

Additionally, Atlus confirmed that The Return of the True Demon, The Doctor's Last Wish, The Rage of a Queen, and A Goddess in Training DLCs are all included from the beginning as part of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. The Mitama DLC will remain paid content, and two new demons will be added as paid DLC. These are Dagda from SMT IV: Apocalypse, and the brand-new demon Konohana Sakuya.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on June 21, 2024. The original game is immediately available on the Nintendo Switch worldwide.

The post Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Gameplay and QoL Changes Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.

FromSoftware shared the first trailer for the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree and revealed its release date. The new DLC expansion will be available on June 21, 2024.

The trailer starts with a cloaked figure arriving at the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, where Mohg, Lord of Blood keeps a cocoon with the Empyrean Miquella residing in it. As many fans suspected, the DLC seems to heavily focus on Miquella and what happened to the demigod.

The new footage shows not only new areas of the game, but also seems to tease that returning areas might see significant changes due to the events of the DLC. New weapons, Ashes of War, NPC characters, and plenty of other content will be added.

You can check out the trailer for the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion below. The trailer starts at the 28:58 mark.

FromSoftware reported in November 2023 that development of the DLC is progressing adequately. The company also mentioned that the release of the Elden Ring DLC is still some ways off. The company announced that they started development on the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC back in February 2023.

The release date for the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion is June 21, 2024. Elden Ring is immediately available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

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During the latest February 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner showcase, Capcom revealed that the original Monster Hunter Stories will receive an HD port for the Nintendo Switch on Summer 2024. The game will also appear for the PS4 and PC.

The new upgraded release will feature full English and Japanese voiceover, as well as updated graphics. Content updates 1.20 and 1.30, which were previously exclusive to the Japanese release of the original title, will also be included in the rerelease.

Some of the new content added in these updates included expanded character creation options, increased monster storage, new side-quests, and plenty of new post-game content, like new monsters and new hatchable Elder Dragons, and new tournaments.

You can check out the trailer for the new rerelease of Monster Hunter Stories below. Footage appears at the 4:22 mark.

Additionally, the new museum mode includes a music gallery, as well as developer sketches and concept art of the title. Furthermore, Monster Hunter Stories will add support for Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Arabic languages.

The new Monster Hunter Stories HD rerelease is coming to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC via Steam on Summer 2024. The game originally released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2017, and it is also available on Android and iOS devices.

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A new Persona 3 Reload mod changes the main character in the game to the Female MC Kotone Shiomi. The mod is currently being worked on and updated, but it already exists in a playable state.

The mod currently adds a new Kotone Shiomi model for the main character in P3R, new custom animations for her, and exclusive female voice lines for the English dub. The mod even changes the blue color scheme of the game's menu to the original Female MC pink color scheme that appeared in Persona 3 Portable. Additionally, many of the UI elements have been replaced with pink and the Kotone model.

However, Kotone still uses Makoto’s sword weapons instead of her naginata weapons from P3P, and the battle UI elements are still tinted blue. The FeMC Reloaded Team is currently working on custom physics for the skirt and hair. The team’s goal is to replace all 3D assets and 2D interface elements with the Female MC. This means that the Female MC Social Links will not be modded and added to the game.

You can check out a showcase video for the new mod below. The video is 7:38 minutes long, and the footage was recorded and edited by Persona YouTube content creator Faz.

Similar to this recent mod, Persona 5 Royal received a mod that allows players to control a female Joker, and it appeared on April 30, 2023.

Persona 3 Reload is immediately available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam. The Persona 3 Reload Kotone Shiomi Female MC mod is only available on PC and can be found on Gamebanana.

The post Look at the Persona 3 Reload Kotone Shiomi Female MC Mod appeared first on Siliconera.

Hololive Vtuber Inugami Korone revealed that she helped design an enemy boss for the indie action platforming game Lords of Exile. The Vtuber shared the news on through her official social media account, and then revealed she “secretly backed” the title on Kickstarter.

Korone was able to design a Lords of Exile boss thanks to the Boss Designer reward tier in the game’s Kickstarter campaign, which was available for 1,400€ (or approximately $1,509). The Vtuber encouraged fans to try and find the boss. Additionally, Inugami Korone shared a hint in a follow-up post about the boss that she designed for Lords of Exile, saying that it is a "small boss."

Here is the original post:

Lords of Exile is a retro-inspired 8-bit action platforming indie game in the style of classic titles like the original Castlevania games, as well as more recent ones like the two Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon games. The game was developed by solo developer SquidBit Works.

In other Korone related news, the Vtuber shared on December 2023 a Sonic the Hedgehog comic that she drew as Sonic Ambassador titled “Fast Friends Forever.”

Lords of Exile is immediately available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

The post Inugami Korone Designed a Mini Boss in Lords of Exile appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Namco announced that Tales of Arise will join the Xbox Game Pass catalog in Japan on February 19, 2024, as well as the PS Plus Game Catalog on February 20, 2024. Other Tales titles will be joining the PS Plus Game Catalog as well.

Sony also detailed various other games that will be joining the PS Plus Game Catalogue on the same day. The PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium catalogue will include Need for Speed Unbound, and The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition for the PS5.

Tales of Arise, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Roguebook will be added to both the PS5 and PS4 catalogues. Meanwhile, LEGO Worlds, LEGO Jurassic World, Rogue Lords, and Tales of Zestiria will be the PS4 games added. The PlayStation Premium Classics catalogue will add Resistance: Retribution, Jet Rider 2, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Vesperia.

Sony also announced recently that the three new PlayStation Plus February 2024 games are Foamstars, Rollerdome, and Steelrising. The three titles joined the subscription service on February 6, 2024.

Tales of Arise and the Beyond the Dawn DLC are immediately available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Tales of Arise will be available on Xbox Game Pass from February 19, and the PS Plus Game Catalog from February 20, 2024.

The post Tales of Arise Heading to Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus Game Catalog appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix announced the rerelease of the Final Fantasy XIV job icon pins. The pins are expected to release in Japan on May 26, 2024, and they are now available for pre-order from the Japanese Square Enix e-Store.

Each pin costs 660 yen (or about $4.40.) Only the Disciples of War and Magic pins will return for this rerelease, and there are 20 available. Here is a list of all the job icon pins we'll see again later this year:

• Astrologian
• Bard
• Black Mage
• Blue Mage
• Dancer
• Dark Knight
• Dragoon
• Gunbreaker
• Machinist
• Monk
• Ninja
• Paladin
• Reaper
• Red Mage
• Sage
• Samurai
• Scholar
• Summoner
• Warrior
• White Mage

You can also take a better look at the FFXIV Job and Class pins here:

The pins originally released prior to 2020, and received a rerelease earlier in June 2023. The original pin release offered both the Disciples of War and Magic, as well as Disciples of the Hand, and Disciples of the Land.

The Final Fantasy XIV Job and Class pins cost 660 yen (~$4.40) and are expected to release in Japan on May 26, 2024. Final Fantasy XIV is immediately available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. The open beta for the Xbox Series X version of the game begins on February 21, 2024.

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