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Genshin Impact's Next Major Expansion Adds New Nation, Goes Live on August 28

HoYoverse announced that their free-to-play open world gacha game Genshin Impact is getting a major update at the end of the month. Version 5.0 will add the sixth nation of Teyvat which will come with various content and new areas to explore.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect from the 5.0 update, which is titled ‘Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn’.

  • New Nation: Natlan, the Nation of War, and Nation of Pyro, reveals the first three of six tribes

  • Open to early and mid-game players: Map unlock criteria – complete all Mondstadt Archon Quests and reach AR 19; Archon Quest unlock criteria – complete all of Liyue's Archon Quests and reach AR 28.

  • Transform into Natlan's Saurians: Tepetlisaurus (burrow underground, climb cliffs), Koholasaurus (swim), Yumkasaurus (reach great heights)

  • Tribes: Children of Echoes, Scions of the Canopy, People of the Springs

  • Characters: Kinich (5-star, Dendro, Claymore), Mualani (5-star, Hydro, Catalyst), Kachina (4-star, Geo, Polearm)

  • Banner: 1st – Mualani, Kachina, Kaedehara Kazuha; 2nd – Kinich, Raiden Shogun

  • Bonus to celebrate the anniversary

The new nation is called Natlan, and HoYoverse provided a good description of the new region.

The road to Natlan will open with an unlocked Teleport Waypoint that is accessible to players, even beginners and intermediates, who have completed the Prologue of the Archon Quest in Mondstadt.

Known as the Nation of Pyro, Natlan is located west of the Sumeru desert. The people of this nation are divided into six main tribes. The dragons of Natlan, more commonly called Saurians, are the result of a long evolution and have evolved to coexist with humans, and they have even become their faithful companions. With Version 5.0, players will be able to explore three of the six tribes, as well as encounter three types of Saurians who live together with the locals.

Mastering the abilities of the different Saurians can prove decisive in exploring the towering cliffs and flowing springs, and players can transform into a Saurian by indwelling them. The Tepetlisaurus are Saurians good at tunneling undergrounds and climbing cliffs, and they are the companions of choice for the Children of Echoes who call the canyons their home. The Yumkasaurus can pull themselves in the chosen direction and reach great heights with ease. They have taken up residence among the Scions of the Canopy, a tribe living suspended from the walls of steep cliffs. As for the Koholasaurus, they can move quickly on water and liquid Phlogiston, which explains why they are commonly seen with the People of the Springs near the sea.

Natlan, also known as the Nation of War, honors her warriors at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, where the Champion of each tribe is chosen through a tournament. This is where the main story unfolds, as the player, accompanied by local warriors Kachina, Kinich, and Mualani, travel to the Stadium. To begin Natlan's Archon Quest, players need to reach Adventure Rank 28 and above, and have completed all of Liyue's Archon Quests.

New Characters

Those looking forward to the new characters will get to play around with Mualani and Kachina the moment Version 5.0 is in the first phase along with the Kaedehara Kazuha rerun. The new 5-star Kinich will debut during the second half and come with the Raiden Shogun. The stories for Natlan’s new characters will be available through the Tribal Chronicles, the new three-act quest chain.

Genshin Impact 4th Anniversary Celebration

The game’s 4th anniversary is just around the corner and HoYoverse is bringing back the special daily login event as players can earn up to ten Intertwined Fate, 1,600 Primogems waiting in their in-game mail, two exclusive gadgets — the Firstborn Firesprite and the Kabom Box, and more.

Furthermore, players can also invite a 5-star character from the Standard Wish lineup to their team for free. More updates on the Character Event Wish, Weapon Event Wish will be announced at a later date.

Genshin Impact’s Version 5.0 goes live on August 28, 2024.


Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed

Civilization VII gameplay trailer reveals release date in February 2025

2K and Firaxis have revealed more information about Sid Meier's Civilization VII at gamescom 2024. After first publishing a teaser trailer at Summer Game Fest 2024, the companies revealed the release date and gameplay details for the new game at the European gaming event.

A new trailer for Civilization VII appeared first during the gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live stream. It showed a quick montage of in-engine footage, including buildings from various civilizations and units from different ages. The main highlight of this trailer was the release date announcement.

The new game will be available on February 11, 2025. While prior entries used to appear first on PCs with consoles like Nintendo Switch getting them later on, this trailer's ending segment hints that Civilization VII will be available simultaneously on not only PCs but also the PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U

Soon after that, Firaxis held an official gameplay showcase stream dedicated to the game on the series' official YouTube channel. The new game will have civilizations tied to each of the three different eras, and the leader character the player chooses is no longer tied to their original civilization.

For example, while Hatshepsut is originally related to Egypt, the player can choose to have her lead the Aksum civilization instead in the Antiquity Age. As the game progresses in age, the player will have to choose a different civilization for Hatshepsut to lead, such as Songhai or Mongolia in the Exploration Age, and Buganda in the Modern Age.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc3_EO6Bj2M

2K has also updated the game's Steam page with additional bonus editions that provide both in-game content at launch and post-launch DLC that 2K will release in the future. People who have pre-purchased any edition of the game—including the standard version before release—can get the native American civilization Shawnee and Tecumseh as a playable leader.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on February 11, 2025.

The post Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadion Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video

See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadian Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video

Square Enix released a Chrissy Costanza music video for the FFXIV “Give It All” Arcadion Raid song, as well as shared the official English lyrics for the track. The song debuted alongside the 7.01 Dawntrail Raid AAC Light-heavyweight Tier.

In FFXIV, you hear the song “Give It All” during AAC Light-heavyweight M4. The Orchestrion Roll for the track is also a basic rarity reward from a Treasure Coffer from the fight. The idea is that Wicked Thunder is “performing” the track. In reality, it is a The Primals song with Costanza providing the vocals. Previously, the company shared the track following its release. However, now the additional video and lyrics are also available.

Here are the full, official “Give It All” FFXIV Arcadion Raid song lyrics:

Tonight our city bleeds red, blue, and green 
As I walk in the dark unseen 

Yet like the grey the sky is draped in 
The colors in my heart have faded 

Gone 
They're gone 
They're gone 
All gone 

A girl looks to the stars and dares to dream 
On the world she'd make her mark, it seemed 

This phantom in my mirror starin' back 
I realize that girl is 

Gone 
She's gone 
She's gone 
I'm gone 

Climbed every mountain, made it to the top 
I had it all, or so I thought 
Traded tomorrow for a lie 
And found the price too high 

The clock is ticking counting down to naught 
I'm outta time but it won't stop 
I'll bet my life before it's lost 
That final line I'll cross 

There ain't no going back 
No going back 
No going back 
No 

What light's left here inside 
I'll suffocate 
If that's what it takes, oh 

And those who look to cast me aside 
or turn their backs and leave me to die 

You can try, can try, come try, 
But I will survive 

No going back 
No going back 
Won't ever 
(no) Never again, no 

Ain't no going back 
No going back 
No coming back from the edge 

Look in my eyes, yeah I know you understand 
(somebody help, my misery's taking me) 
I've made up my mind, now there ain't no going back 
(somebody help, I'm losing what's left of me) 
I've made up my mind, now my heart's demanding 
I'm ready to fight til there's one left standing 
Tonight, lightning'll strike, thunder will fall 
(and) You're gonna give it all 

To me 
To me 
To me 
To me, I gotta believe 
You'll set 
Me free

Tonight my circle finally comes complete 
One last step from the dark, I breathe 

The music's swellin', crowd is chantin' 
And for this moment fear's an after-thought
It's gone
It's gone 
All gone 

I look out to the crowd and there I see 
A thousand little girls--all me 

I've turned the tables, yeah I'm fightin' back 
I'll bring the lightnin', now it's 

On 
It's on 
It's on 
You're gone 

Climbed every mountain, made it to the top 
I had it all, or so I thought 
Traded tomorrow for a lie 
And found the price too high 

The clock is ticking counting down to naught 
I'm outta time but it won't stop 
I'll bet my life before it's lost 
That final line I'll cross 

There ain't no going back 
No going back 
No going back 
No 

What light's left here inside 
I'll suffocate 
If that's what it takes, oh 

And those who look to cast me aside 
or turn their backs and leave me to die 

You can try, can try, come try, 
But I will survive 

No going back 
No going back 
Won't ever 
(no) Never again, no 

Ain't no going back 
No going back 
No coming back from the edge, no more 

Next, here’s the “Give It All” music video from YouTube, which features gameplay footage from FFXIV, Solution Nine, and the Arcadion Raid. Note there are spoilers for all the AAC Light-heavyweight Tier fights in the video below, and not just the Wicked Thunder one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSU-swmCxVM

Both standard and Savage versions of the AAC Light-heavyweight Tier Arcadion fight are available in the game. The more difficult version of the Raid debuted at the end of July 2024 in patch 7.05.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Arcadian Raid series are part of the Dawntrail patches.

The post See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadion Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video appeared first on Siliconera.

PS5 and PS4 Releases: Every Game Release Date for Week Beginning August 19, 2024

New PS5 PS4 Games August 19 2024

The list of new PS5 and PS4 games for the week beginning August 19, 2024, has gotten shorter this week but does include a couple of bigger AAA releases. The catch is that only PS5 owners get to enjoy them. The highlight of the week will be action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, although there’s also multiplayer shooter Concord

All PS5 and PS4 August 19 to 25, 2024 game release dates

Here are all of the PS5 and PS4 games currently set to be released throughout the week of August 19 to 25, 2024.

PS5 Games

  • Tribe: Primitive Builder (August 19)
  • Black Myth: Wukong (August 20)
  • Dustborn (August 20)
  • Predecessor (August 20)
  • Cyber Mission (August 21)
  • Mangavania 2 (August 21)
  • Naive Boy Super Lash (August 21)
  • Wheel Riders (August 21)
  • Long Yard Run (August 22)
  • Rise Eterna War (August 22)
  • Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch (August 22)
  • TIEBREAK: Official game of the ATP and WTA (August 22)
  • Concord (August 23)
  • The Jumping Donut (August 23)
  • Learn to Play Vol. 5 – Break the Blocks (August 23)
  • Magnus Trilogy (August 23)
  • Operation: Polygon Storm (August 23)
  • Pixicharm – Dinoluship (August 23)
  • Supermarket Simulator Pro (August 23)

PS4 Games

  • Dustborn (August 20)
  • Predecessor (August 20)
  • Cyber Mission (August 21)
  • Mangavania 2 (August 21)
  • Naive Boy Super Lash (August 21)
  • Wheel Riders (August 21)
  • Long Yard Run (August 22)
  • Rise Eterna War (August 22)
  • TIEBREAK: Official game of the ATP and WTA (August 22)
  • Aery – Ancient Empires (August 23)
  • The Jumping Donut (August 23)
  • Learn to Play Vol. 5 – Break the Blocks (August 23)
  • Operation: Polygon Storm (August 23)
  • Pixicharm – Dinoluship (August 23)
  • Supermarket Simulator Pro (August 23)
  • A Bibelot: Prototo (August 24)

A total of 19 games are coming to PS5 this week, while PS4 players get a slightly shorter list of 16 titles. Black Myth: Wukong, the action RPG based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, is making its console debut exclusively on PS5. The game is supposed to come to Xbox Series X|S later but has been delayed due to optimization issues.

Meanwhile, PS5 exclusive multiplayer shooter Concord makes its debut at the end of the week, although early access begins tomorrow, August 20. The game is available to preload right now.

Finally, PSVR 2 players miss out this week as there are no new games due to be released this week.

The post PS5 and PS4 Releases: Every Game Release Date for Week Beginning August 19, 2024 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Battle Bards Episode 233: Epic fight music

For Battle Bards’ penultimate episode, Syp and Syl explore some EPIC battle music across many MMOs. After all, if we’re going to go out in style, that style’s going to be loud enough to blast a hole in your eardrums! We also learn that nobody likes the Flute Guy. Battle Bards is the world’s first, best, […]

💾

One Shots: Remembering in peace

When a beloved player falls, a studio may honor that memory by including him or her as part of the game world. While our headlining picture isn’t the first time we’ve seen such an inclusion, it’s nevertheless heart-touching. “Death comes to us all but this player was very active in game, on the forums and […]

Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed

Civilization VII gameplay trailer reveals release date in February 2025

2K and Firaxis have revealed more information about Sid Meier's Civilization VII at gamescom 2024. After first publishing a teaser trailer at Summer Game Fest 2024, the companies revealed the release date and gameplay details for the new game at the European gaming event.

A new trailer for Civilization VII appeared first during the gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live stream. It showed a quick montage of in-engine footage, including buildings from various civilizations and units from different ages. The main highlight of this trailer was the release date announcement.

The new game will be available on February 11, 2025. While prior entries used to appear first on PCs with consoles like Nintendo Switch getting them later on, this trailer's ending segment hints that Civilization VII will be available simultaneously on not only PCs but also the PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U

Soon after that, Firaxis held an official gameplay showcase stream dedicated to the game on the series' official YouTube channel. The new game will have civilizations tied to each of the three different eras, and the leader character the player chooses is no longer tied to their original civilization.

For example, while Hatshepsut is originally related to Egypt, the player can choose to have her lead the Aksum civilization instead in the Antiquity Age. As the game progresses in age, the player will have to choose a different civilization for Hatshepsut to lead, such as Songhai or Mongolia in the Exploration Age, and Buganda in the Modern Age.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc3_EO6Bj2M

2K has also updated the game's Steam page with additional bonus editions that provide both in-game content at launch and post-launch DLC that 2K will release in the future. People who have pre-purchased any edition of the game—including the standard version before release—can get the native American civilization Shawnee and Tecumseh as a playable leader.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on February 11, 2025.

The post Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadion Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video

See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadian Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video

Square Enix released a Chrissy Costanza music video for the FFXIV “Give It All” Arcadion Raid song, as well as shared the official English lyrics for the track. The song debuted alongside the 7.01 Dawntrail Raid AAC Light-heavyweight Tier.

In FFXIV, you hear the song “Give It All” during AAC Light-heavyweight M4. The Orchestrion Roll for the track is also a basic rarity reward from a Treasure Coffer from the fight. The idea is that Wicked Thunder is “performing” the track. In reality, it is a The Primals song with Costanza providing the vocals. Previously, the company shared the track following its release. However, now the additional video and lyrics are also available.

Here are the full, official “Give It All” FFXIV Arcadion Raid song lyrics:

Tonight our city bleeds red, blue, and green 
As I walk in the dark unseen 

Yet like the grey the sky is draped in 
The colors in my heart have faded 

Gone 
They're gone 
They're gone 
All gone 

A girl looks to the stars and dares to dream 
On the world she'd make her mark, it seemed 

This phantom in my mirror starin' back 
I realize that girl is 

Gone 
She's gone 
She's gone 
I'm gone 

Climbed every mountain, made it to the top 
I had it all, or so I thought 
Traded tomorrow for a lie 
And found the price too high 

The clock is ticking counting down to naught 
I'm outta time but it won't stop 
I'll bet my life before it's lost 
That final line I'll cross 

There ain't no going back 
No going back 
No going back 
No 

What light's left here inside 
I'll suffocate 
If that's what it takes, oh 

And those who look to cast me aside 
or turn their backs and leave me to die 

You can try, can try, come try, 
But I will survive 

No going back 
No going back 
Won't ever 
(no) Never again, no 

Ain't no going back 
No going back 
No coming back from the edge 

Look in my eyes, yeah I know you understand 
(somebody help, my misery's taking me) 
I've made up my mind, now there ain't no going back 
(somebody help, I'm losing what's left of me) 
I've made up my mind, now my heart's demanding 
I'm ready to fight til there's one left standing 
Tonight, lightning'll strike, thunder will fall 
(and) You're gonna give it all 

To me 
To me 
To me 
To me, I gotta believe 
You'll set 
Me free

Tonight my circle finally comes complete 
One last step from the dark, I breathe 

The music's swellin', crowd is chantin' 
And for this moment fear's an after-thought
It's gone
It's gone 
All gone 

I look out to the crowd and there I see 
A thousand little girls--all me 

I've turned the tables, yeah I'm fightin' back 
I'll bring the lightnin', now it's 

On 
It's on 
It's on 
You're gone 

Climbed every mountain, made it to the top 
I had it all, or so I thought 
Traded tomorrow for a lie 
And found the price too high 

The clock is ticking counting down to naught 
I'm outta time but it won't stop 
I'll bet my life before it's lost 
That final line I'll cross 

There ain't no going back 
No going back 
No going back 
No 

What light's left here inside 
I'll suffocate 
If that's what it takes, oh 

And those who look to cast me aside 
or turn their backs and leave me to die 

You can try, can try, come try, 
But I will survive 

No going back 
No going back 
Won't ever 
(no) Never again, no 

Ain't no going back 
No going back 
No coming back from the edge, no more 

Next, here’s the “Give It All” music video from YouTube, which features gameplay footage from FFXIV, Solution Nine, and the Arcadion Raid. Note there are spoilers for all the AAC Light-heavyweight Tier fights in the video below, and not just the Wicked Thunder one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSU-swmCxVM

Both standard and Savage versions of the AAC Light-heavyweight Tier Arcadion fight are available in the game. The more difficult version of the Raid debuted at the end of July 2024 in patch 7.05.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Arcadian Raid series are part of the Dawntrail patches.

The post See the FFXIV ‘Give It All’ Arcadion Raid Song Lyrics, Music Video appeared first on Siliconera.

Mai Shiranui Returns in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Mai Shiranui in her new outfit in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Mai Shiranui will be making her return to the Fatal Fury series in SNK's newest fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. A trailer for her came up as the latest announcement for the game at gamescom 2024. The game appeared with a new trailer featuring Mai in both a brand new design for the new entry and her classic look.

You can take a look at the gamescom 2024 Mai Shiranui Fatal Fury trailer here:

https://twitter.com/summergamefest/status/1825970638890160220
Tweet via Summer Game Fest

The trailer showcased Mai Shiranui's combos and highlighted her design through the ages before revealing her new black jacket and pants ensemble. It showed off some of her specials and supers as well. After that, SNK revealed the classic look, which involves the red and white kunoichi dress from her previous appearances.

Mai Shiranui is one of many stars making their way to Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Characters like B. Jenet, Terry Bogard and Rock Howard will also be taking the stage alongside new fighters.

The trailer also featured a release date for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: April 24, 2024. That was followed by the contents of the special edition. The special edition will feature the base game and the first season pass, featuring five new characters to play as, for $59.99. In addition, pre-orders of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will give players the Fatal Fury 2 look for Terry Bogard and along with three-day early access. So people who pre-order can play starting on April 21, 2025.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will be available on the Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC on April 24, 2024.

The post Mai Shiranui Returns in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves appeared first on Siliconera.

Genshin Impact Xbox Series X Release Date Set at Gamescom

Genshin Impact Xbox Series X Release Date Set at Gamescom

During gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live, HoYoVerse announced a Genshin Impact Xbox Series X release date. The game will come to the console on November 10, 2024, following the 5.0 launch on August 28, 2024.

The Xbox Series X version of Genshin Impact came up in the gamescom 2024 trailer for the title. For the most part, the video focused on the 5.0 update. We got to see the three new characters joining in August 2024 in action. These are the five-stars Mualani and Kinich and four-star Kachina.

https://twitter.com/summergamefest/status/1825969246767042859

This is the second Genshin Impact trailer to appear recently. On August 19, 2024, there was a Natlan-focused one. It highlighted certain areas we’ll visit and creatures we’ll encounter in the new region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-IgLbEmtDM

This announcement means Genshin Impact is only missing on one major console. The Switch version of the title was announced not long after launch. However, it’s since been absent over the years with no updates. It is unknown if this means it might not appear on a Nintendo platform until a Switch successor appears.

Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Xbox Series X release date is November 10, 2024. 

The post Genshin Impact Xbox Series X Release Date Set at Gamescom appeared first on Siliconera.

Vampire Survivors Is Coming To PlayStation At Last

Vampire Survivors Is Coming To PlayStation At Last

The hit title developed and published by poncle, Vampire Survivors, is finally making its way to the PlayStation family of consoles this month.

The BAFTA ‘Best Game’ award winner, Vampire Survivors has seen a release on many platforms including smartphones, and today the developers at poncle have announced it is PlayStation’s turn. Vampire Survivors and all of its post-launch updated content is coming to the PlayStation family of consoles on August 29. On the Steam platform alone, poncle’s breakout title still sees thousands of daily players (according to SteamChartz) and has garnered over 200,000 positive Steam reviews.

Vampire Survivors Is Coming To PlayStation At Last

The Roguelike title puts players behind the capable pixels of one of the many cast of characters tasked with pushing back the hordes of the night. It’s worth mentioning all of the previously released DLC (including the Among Us Emergency Meeting! mashup) will be launching at the exact same time, so fans can get a full fix of poncle’s offerings. CGMagazine’s review of poncle’s breakout title says “It never feels like you’re playing the same game twice. Whether you’re trying to hit the 30-minute mark, completing missions to unlock new characters or items, or upping the difficulty to really challenge yourself, there is always something exciting to do.”

Vampire Survivors PlayStation Pricing

we said summer… it's still summer 💙

Vampire Survivors will be coming to PS4 & PS5 on August 29th (yes, 2024) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/slxHNYvv3s

— Vampire Survivors 💙 PlayStation 29th August (@poncle_vampire) August 8, 2024
  • Vampire Survivors ($4.99/€4.99/£3.99)
  • Legacy of the Moonspell DLC ($1.99/€1.99/£1.59)
  • Tides of the Foscari DLC ($1.99/€1.99/£1.59)
  • Emergency Meeting – Among Us DLC ($2.49/€2.49/£1.99)
  • Operation Guns – Contra DLC ($2.49/€2.49/£1.99)

To absorb all of the available content available, fans will have to shell out just under $14 to snag all of the content poncle has released since Vampire Survivors launched back in 2022, where it was only available on Steam. Now, the title is available on nearly every platform, with the PlayStation family of consoles letting the night into their ranks on August 29.

A Look At Gun Club VR Reloaded For The PSVR2

Gun Club came out for PSVR back in 2018 and it has been one of my most played VR games since then. Now 5 years later it has made its way onto the PSVR 2 and luckily its been updated perfectly to fit the new controllers, haptics and it even includes an reduced price for people which own the original PSVR version.

Source

GUNDAM BREAKER 4 Announces 2nd Open Network Test Sessions and Collaboration Content

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the second Open Network Test (ONT) for their upcoming game Gundam Breaker 4, which features new modes, missions, and an interesting collaboration content with an iconic video game figure.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2nd Open Network Test.

Dates

  • Pre-Download: From 00:00 SGT on Wednesday, 7 August 2024

  • Day 1: Saturday, August 10, 2024 (Session 1: 17:00 SGT to 22:00 SGT)

  • Day 2: Sunday, August 11m 2024 (Session 2: 08:00 SGT to 13:00 SGT, Session 3: 17:00 SGT to 22:00 SGT)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

New Features

  • Diorama Mode: Available for trial during the ONT

  • Two Additional Missions

  • Seven New Mobile Suits: Expanded roster for a more dynamic experience

Pac-Man x Gundam Breaker 4 Collaboration

Bandai will be doing a unique collaboration between Gundam Breaker 4 and the iconic Pac-Man as players will face a giant Pac-Man-themed Gundam RX-78-2 and can earn a special Emblem to customize their Gunpla.

Check out the trailer for the collaboration content below.

Early Purchase Bonus for Southeast Asia

Lastly, Bandai announced that early purchasers of the physical editions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in Southeast Asia will receive a limited-edition Gundam Breaker 4 mouse pad (shown below), available at select retailers while stocks last.

Gundam Breaker 4 is set to release on August 29, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.


PGDX 2024 Highlights: Atlus and Sega Takes Metaphor: ReFantazio Center Stage

PGDX 2024 featured numerous developers, big and small, showcasing their titles during the 3-day event. On day 2, Atlus and Sega took center stage to present their upcoming JRPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, with Atlus’ game designer Naoto Hiraoka leading the showcase.

A Message from the Game Director

The showcase began with a video of Metaphor’s game director, Katsura Hashino, sharing a few words about the JRPG. He provided a quick overview of the concept and vision for the title, which takes a high-fantasy route instead of the modern setting familiar from the Persona and Shin Megami series.

Hashino emphasized that Metaphor marks a return to the basics of JRPGs while retaining the distinctive art style seen in recent Atlus titles. If you’ve played Persona 5 or Persona 3 Reload, you know what I’m talking about.

The Development Team

During the showcase, Hiraoka highlighted the impressive development team behind the game:

  • Director: Katsura Hashino (Shin Megami Tensei 3, Persona 3)

  • Character Design: Shigenori Soejima (Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5)

  • Composer: Shoji Meguro (Persona 3, Persona 4)

  • Concept Art Designer: Koda Kazuma (NieR: Automata)

  • Gauntlet Runner Design: Ikuto Yamashita (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

  • Archetype Design: Yujio Himukai (Etrian Odyssey series)

Atlus, Sega, and Southeast Asia

While the showcase was mainly focused on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Hiraoka then shared the importance of Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines as Atlus titles have a strong fanbase in the region.

Filipinos have been feeling the presence of Sega recently as the region was treated with multiple events hosted by Sega to promote Persona 5 Tactica at Moon Rabit Cafe back in October 2023, then Persona 3 Reload at High Grounds Cafe at the start of this year. Sega was also present at previous events such as ESGS 2023 where they had theirbooth featuring their recent and upcoming titles for con-goers to give their titles a try.

With Metaphor: ReFantazio being a new IP for the company, Hiraoka hopes it will receive similar enthusiasm from Filipino fans.

Soon after, giveaways were given to those in attendance.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is set to release on October 11, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). You can learn more details of the game’s combat here, or if you’re interested in the different editions available, Altus is offering an Atlus Brand 35th Anniversary edition that comes with tons of bonus items.


Bungie Lays Off 220 Employees Despite The Final Shape's Success

Despite the success of Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, which concluded the 10-year-long light versus dark saga, developer Bungie has been hit with another major layoff wave. This is their second layoff wave since being acquired by Sony in 2022. This decision affects 220 employees, which is 17% of the studio’s workforce.

Destiny 2 The Final Shape received an impressive 89 critic score and a 7.8 user score in Metacritic, the franchise’s highest score to date. According to Steamdb, Destiny 2 reached its second all-time peak as the launch of The Final Shape expansion garnered 314,634 concurrent players on one platform, a couple of thousands shy from it’s all-time peak on Steam.

“These actions will affect every level of the company, including most of our executive and senior leader roles,” said Bungie CEO Pete Parsons in an announcement post at Bungie’s official website.

Parsons then explained how the company reached this decision:

“For over five years, it has been our goal to ship games in three enduring, global franchises. To realize that ambition, we set up several incubation projects, each seeded with senior development leaders from our existing teams. We eventually realized that this model stretched our talent too thin, too quickly.  It also forced our studio support structures to scale to a larger level than we could realistically support, given our two primary products in development – Destiny and Marathon. “

“Additionally, in 2023, our rapid expansion ran headlong into a broad economic slowdown, a sharp downturn in the games industry, our quality miss with Destiny 2: Lightfall, and the need to give both The Final Shape and Marathon the time needed to ensure both projects deliver at the quality our players expect and deserve. We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running in the red.”

Another major change within the company is that one of Bungie’s incubation projects, described as an “action game set in a new science-fantasy universe,” will be transferred out of Bungie, with development continuing under a newly formed studio within PlayStation Studios.

What does this mean for the Future of Destiny and Bungie?

It’s hard to have a clear idea of the future of Destiny 2 as the game is coming off the final conclusion of a narrative they’ve been telling since the franchise started back in 2014. After the conclusion of The Final Shape expansion, new stories are slowly being told to carry the effects of the saga’s conclusion, but many, including myself, are unsure if Bungie’s plans for the series will be able to replicate the same success.

As for Bungie as a studio, it’s incredibly sad that the success of The Final Shape expansion didn’t stop the bleeding. It seems that the layoffs were inevitable, and the success of the expansion merely determined the extent of the impact. The loss of 220 employees is significant, more than double the number of layoffs from October 2023 when the company laid off 100 employees. This is demoralizing to see, especially since Bungie was acquired by Sony in 2022, with leadership promising no layoffs post-acquisition. This is obviously not the case.

The future of Destiny 2 is now uncertain within its community. Some players remain optimistic, while others consider The Final Shape expansion as the “true end” of the game. For players who have committed to the game for years, it’s a hard pill to swallow seeing such an amazing expansion followed by job losses. As of this writing, 850 employees remain at Bungie, focusing on Destiny 2 and continuing development on their next shooter title, Marathon.

Are you a player of Destiny 2? What do you think about the layoffs and the future of the franchise?


Diablo IV's Fifth Season is Season of the Infernal Hordes, Here's What You Need to Know

The next live service content drop for the action RPG Diablo IV is Season of the Infernal Hordes, which launches on August 7 at 1 a.m. SGT (GMT +8).

Hell is the theme for the fifth season of Diablo IV as players head to hell once more and face the Fell Council, a familiar entity for you Diablo 2 veterans. The Season will come with a new endgame content called Infernal Hordes which sounds like a wave-based horde mode best played with a group of players. On top of this, there will be new unique and legendary gear to spic up and the build craft meta.

What to Expect in the Season of the Infernal Hordes

Infernal Hordes: This wave-based feature can be tackled solo or with friends. Between waves, select Infernal Offerings—boons or banes—to increase the challenge and enhance the final rewards. The Infernal Hordes feature is accessible on both Realms, interwoven through a Seasonal Questline on the Seasonal Realm, and unlocked after a brief Questline on the Eternal Realm at World Tier III.

Fell Council Showdown: At the end of each Infernal Hordes run, face off against the Fell Council. With 5 members in total, 3 are randomly selected for each encounter. Prepare for unique abilities and various combinations that will keep you on your toes.

Hellbreach Dungeons: Available in the Seasonal Realm, these dungeons offer a glimpse of what’s to come in Infernal Hordes. Complete these dungeons to earn Burning Aether, which can be spent on chests at the end.

New Gear: Over 50 new Uniques and Legendaries are being introduced this season, and they’ll be available beyond the season’s end. Collect these powerful items by defeating enemies across Sanctuary and in the Infernal Hordes.

Seasonal Progression: Collect caches dropped by powerful Hell servants to unlock Seasonal Progression. The Infernal Hordes feature is one of the best ways to boost your reputation and earn caches throughout the season.

Battle Pass: Progress through the Season Journey and complete the new Battle Pass, which includes 28 Free Tiers and 62 Premium Tiers, for even more rewards.

The current season, called Loot Reborn, is a turning point for the game’s live service offering as the game’s itemization was completely overhauled, making it a more streamlined but satisfying experience, especially those that grind hours on end at endgame. So far, the reception of the four season has been rather positive compared to the first three seasons.

Developer Update Livestream

Blizzard will discuss more about Season of the Infernal Hordes this Friday, August 2, at 2 AM PHT (GMT +8).

It’s a long list of changes coming next week, so if there’s one item in particular you wish to read on, you can see the full rundown here on Blizzard’s post.


Warner Bros. Games Acquires Player First Games, Developer of MultiVersus

Warner Bros. Games has officially acquired Player First Games, the developer behind the recently launched MultiVersus, a free-to-play platform fighter video game.

Player First Games will continue its operations under the leadership of its co-founders, Tony Huynh and Chris White. Huynh, the Head of Player First Games, and White, the Head of Technology at Player First Games, will now report to Carlos Barbosa, Vice President and Studio Head of Warner Bros. Games San Diego.

David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Games, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition:

“We have worked with Player First Games over several years to create and launch MultiVersus, and we are very pleased to welcome this talented team to Warner Bros. Games. The bright and creative team at Player First Games adds to our extensive development capabilities.”

Tony Huynh also shared his excitement:

“Our team is excited to join the Warner Bros. Games family, and we feel that this will be great for MultiVersus overall. We are working to make the MultiVersus game experience the best it can be and having our development team integrated with the publisher is optimum for the players.”

About MultiVersus

MultiVersus, developed by Player First Games with production support and live management by Warner Bros. Games San Diego, features an ever-expanding roster of popular characters from Warner Bros. Discovery franchises. The game is available now as a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC.

The fighting game will soon enter its second season as it was announced in Evo 2024 that Samurai Jack and Beetlejuice will be joining the fighting game

Why This Acquisition Matters

This acquisition could be a double-edged sword. For Warner Bros. Games, this bolsters their portfolio even more, especially in the fighting game genre considering they have Mortal Kombat in the mix. For Player First Games, this could either bolster their efforts in supporting the game in the long run or struggle to meet both expectations from Warner Bros. and the community that has stuck with them during the open beta phase.

Only time will tell but Warner pushing through with this acqusition shows promise with the developer’s potential in the long run, beyond MutiVersus.


Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred's New Class Spiritborn Detailed

In a recent Blizzard livestream, Blizzard and various Diablo IV team members unveiled our first good look at Diablo IV’s upcoming new class called the Spiritborn debuting when the Vessel of Hatred expansion goes live later this year.

It’s an entirely new class based on the new region called Nahantu, where the expansion will take place. It’s a unique class that calls up four Spirit Guardians to help him fend off the hellish monstrosities found in Sanctuary.

Here’s what to expect from the new class:

SPIRITBORN

  • The Spiritborn are an entirely new class in the Diablo series that call upon the strengths of four Spirit Guardians: Jaguar, Gorilla, Eagle, and Centipede. They are masters of hand-to-hand combat with a versatile playstyle that allows them slay demons with the aid of spirit energy.

  • Hailing from the brand-new Nahantu region, the Spiritborn have a rich history that revolves around their dedication to protecting the Spirit Realm, a ghostly reflection of Sanctuary where the souls of the jungle have a purpose beyond life.

  • The Spirit Guardians represent the connection between humans and the natural world. The warrior sees her strength in the Gorilla, the hunter sees his speed in the Jaguar, the strategist sees their vigil in the Eagle, and the apothecary sees her practice in the Centipede and the decay it devours.

  • Utilize the new Skill Tag, Incarnate, to embody the traits of a Guardian and receive a passive bonus.

  • New Legendaries and Uniques tailored to the Spiritborn will be available with the Vessel of Hatred expansion. These items can lean into different playstyles of the Spirit Guardians, augment or amplify skills, or amplify a player’s inherent power.

  • A new class quest will be available for the Spiritborn once players have reached Level 15. Embarking on this quest will allow players to become attuned to the ways of the Spirit Guardians and unlock the Spirit Hall.

  • Use the Spirit Hall to enhance a Spiritborn build by choosing a Primary Spirit for a special bonus and the addition of the Spirit’s Skill Tag to all Skills. At Level 30, players can choose a secondary bonus from the same Guardian or a different one that will either strengthen the bond or intertwine it with another Guardian’s mechanics.

Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, will launch on October 4, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.


Path of Exile's Settlers of Kalguur Expansion Detailed, Path of Exile 2 Closed Beta Coming

Grinding Gear Games revealed the 3.25 update of their ever-popular action RPG Path of Exile. Titled Settlers of Kalguur, the July expansion contains various balance improvements set to shape up the meta and add new content when the expansion goes live on July 27.

Settlers of Kalguur will add a long list of balance work, but just like previous seasons, a new league will be introduced.

Here’s what you need to know about the Settlers of Kalguur Challenge League:

“In the Settlers of Kalguur Challenge League, players will help Kalguuran pioneers build the town of Kingsmarch and establish trade between Wraeclast and their homeland. Players will focus on mining exotic resources, hiring and protecting skilled workers to construct and defend the town, and build out a harbor to establish and manage trading. Once the town is constructed and trade is underway, players will be able to buy and sell currency and other stackable items in the Currency Trade Market, and craft and recombine powerful weapons and items on the Runesmithing Table.

Ascendancy classes will be refreshed with the addition of the new Warden class, as well as a rework of the Gladiator. The Warden will replace the Raider class, focusing on elemental attacks, damage mitigation and a specialization in Tinctures, which can now be found throughout the land. The Gladiator class maintains powerful skills for Bleeding and Block, along with receiving newly designed skills including the opportunity to invest in Retaliation Skills, a new type of skill that allows you to unleash devastating damage upon meeting certain conditions in combat.

Endgame content will see changes to many Scarabs, a 6th Map Device Slot, new encounters in Tier 16 and Tier 17 Maps, updates to Blight and Ritual and more. There will also be a set of new Chisel types and a massive increase in the drop rate of Valdo's Puzzle Boxes.

The developers shared the patch notes for update 3.25 and as expected, it’s quite extensive as it tackles various changes to certain skills concepts and even adds quality-of-life changes. For those interested in deep diving into the changes one by one, patch notes are right here.

Console Love

The reveal of 3.25 also came with the developers improving console performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X as the action RPG is now taking “full advantage of PS5 and Xbox Series hardware” as you can expect a huge reduction in load times and texture pop-in. Good news as console performance has been criticized as of late, especially players on the PS5.

Path of Exile 2 Closed Beta coming soon

Grinding Gear Games also announced that they are hard at work in developing Path of Exile 2 and that the first closed beta test for the sequel will happen soon, encouraging players to sign up for a chance at being the select few to try out the game before launch.

The Settlers of Kalguur expansion goes live on July 27, at 4 AM (GMT+8).


Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review - FromSoftware Continues To Impress, Even With DLC

Bandai Namco Entertainment and FromSoftware have delivered an expansion for their blockbuster action RPG Elden Ring that hits all the spots and chews up any player naive enough to think that their overpowered characters stand a chance against the new content. It’s roughly 20-30 hours long, depending on a player’s eagerness to explore and their skill in dealing with the most difficult encounters. This is no picnic. This is no half-baked add-on to satisfy the masses. This is a true expansion in every sense of the word, and despite a hefty price point, it’s probably the best piece of DLC ever released.

A DLC meant to frustrate and push your skills past your limits

Off the bat, it’s smart for FromSoftware to gatekeep the Shadow of the Erdtree by requiring players to defeat a specific boss on the main path, plus an optional boss that’s guarding the entrance to the DLC. The optional boss, whom less than half of players defeated before the DLC’s release, was a great test for players thinking of rushing into the new content, as the area where said boss resides is normally only reachable after 50+ hours of game time (faster for veteran players, of course). With this in mind, I had to replay the game to prepare myself for the new content as I made a new character and also revisited my old characters, since the last time I played Elden Ring was back in 2022.

I was rusty, and with good reason. But no matter how much I prepared for the DLC, it wasn’t enough. I never felt a sense of ease while exploring this new area. The bosses were unforgiving, something that I and most of the soulslike community greatly appreciated. There’s no sense of respite or big opening, as once you enter the boss' domain, you’ll need to bring your best as they’ve tailored these fights with the expectation that players engaging with them are seasoned and well-equipped. 

The little things make these DLC bosses far more difficult in comparison to those in the base game. Foes that dual-wield are the worst, as there’s always a lingering second attack that punishes those too reliant on the i-frames of their character’s dodge, or who find refuge in their high-poised shield block. Some combos feel like they go on forever, something that personally tested my stubbornness while learning their move sets. Every major boss felt like a massive roadblock. I’ve spent hours on several encounters, resulting in this review coming out rather late as I’ve been struggling with some of them, and this is exactly what I wanted and expected from the DLC. 

“Git gud?” Definitely. As in any soulslike game, the feeling of finally achieving victory over these monstrosities brings a unique high that I’ll always appreciate. It feels like a heavy fog has lifted, resulting in a new path filled with other encounters ready to deliver a similar feeling.

Messmer the Impaler was one of the toughest bosses that stood out for me, but what I appreciate about FromSoftware’s boss fight philosophy is that some bosses feel difficult or easy depending on the player’s playstyle and build. As I progressed through the DLC, I saw colleagues and friends express that one particular boss or another was far more difficult than the ones I personally found challenging. I had a conversation where I was saying that Messmer and the final boss tested my limits, but Rellana and another boss were far more punishing for them. Each boss brings a new set of challenges, either forcing players into familiar places or uncomfortable positions through sheer pressure. You need to keep adapting.

An open world that’s beautiful and knows how to inflict pain

Beyond the boss encounters, Shadow of the Erdtree’s open world delivers yet again with a strong sense of exploration, rewarding those eager to upturn every rock in the hopes of finding something rewarding. The quality of the environments is on par with the base game. Some might even argue that the art direction has improved. FromSoftware’s design philosophy has emphasized how exploring is king, and each new weapon or item entices me to give it a shot, and since I’m using a character with a crazy amount of materials, upgrading them to make them viable for the DLC content was a breeze.

My new favorite is the Milady weapon, equipped with a unique moveset that somehow decimates new enemies, breaking their poise and leaving them open for easy punishment. The DLC not only provides new weapons but also new Incantations, Spells, crafting items, armor sets for flair, and a lot more.

When you explore and gain the new DLC items, don’t think it’ll be a breeze going from one new boss to another, as the open world has its fair share of crazy enemies that could be mini-bosses in their own right thanks to their crazy move patterns. I never felt safe despite being over level 150+, as they designed the DLC to make every hit and every damage taken mean something, keeping the tension. The unfamiliar will be punished by this world, and no amount of health or leveling up will prepare you for ambushes and traps found in either the new dungeons or locations.

New upgrades - Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings

There’s a sense of balance in the DLC as the game gets a bit more manageable if players pick up Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings found in the new map, another major incentive to explore the land.

As mentioned in my initial impressions on the DLC, you will come across items called Scadutree Fragments as you explore the new location. These items increase a player’s damage output and enhance their damage mitigation. Spirit Ash Blessings improve your summons and increase the life total of your trusty steed, Torrent, making them all more resilient against the expansion’s most deadly foes.

Simply put, there will be more room for error with these upgrades. It doesn’t necessarily make the game easier, but it will make the difference whether your character can survive three boss attacks instead of two. I like the additions, as it brings the experience back to its roots - ergo, despite your level and weapons, these encounters will always feel like you’re always a few seconds away from revisiting the ‘You Died’ screen for the nth time.

Planting more lore seeds for the diehards

The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion also has its fair share of storytelling in the most FromSoftware way. Things are still vague, but there’s a series of new characters introduced that provide more context to this part of the world, with new details that will entice lore enthusiasts that pieced the Elden Ring world together. Remember those living pot creatures? We get more information about them. You might find a piece of added lore by simply stumbling upon a deep dungeon complex with a short boss waiting at the end. 

I was never much of a fan of the storytelling style of FromSoftware’s soulslike games, and if you’re on the same boat, don’t expect much to change here, as they embrace their style and deliver it the same way as they did in the base game. 

This is one of the meatiest expansions I’ve ever encountered in a video game. It could be its own game. All of the additions Shadow of the Erdtree makes are everything a Soulsike fan could hope for, as they’ve delivered a challenging experience with fresh ideas not only in the boss encounters, but in the environments, enemy variety, and even new items that freshen up the co-op and even player versus player space. While many think the price point for the DLC is a bit steep, I can clearly say what you get here more than justifies the asking price, and if you love Elden Ring, you should definitely not skip Shadow of the Erdtree.


Verdict: 5/ 5 (Exceptional)

PROS

  • Fascinating boss battles that are challenging and unique

  • A massively beautiful new location filled with novel surprises, enemy types, and encounters

  • New equipment and spells freshens up the two-year-old game, encouraging new builds revolving around them

  • Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings are a great solution to preserve the game’s unique experience

CONS

  • Price point might feel a bit steep for some

  • The requirements to access the DLC are necessary but intimidating

What I’ve Played 

  • Beaten all of the key bosses (missing some optional)

  • Explored most of the new location (I think)

  • Played the DLC through two characters

*This review is based on a review copy provided by the publisher


SCHiM Review

Platform through the Dutch shadows - As someone who doesn't live in North America or Japan, I don't often get the opportunity to play games from my country. Today is an extra special day when I even get to review one - here's SCHiM, the creation of Dutch duo Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman. Read more: SCHiM Review

Yakuza Wars could be the title of Sega’s next Yakuza game

A recent Sega trademark filing could point towards the title of the next game in the Yakuza franchise. According to Trademark Watch (spotted by our friends at Gematsu) the Sonic the Hedgehog publisher trademarked the name “Yakuza Wars” late last month.

Details on the next Yakuza game are pretty sparse for now, but with TGS 2024 fast approaching (taking place between the 26th and 29th of September) Sega is expected to make a new Yakuza reveal. What we do know is that the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are teasing another surprise twist for the popular series, potentially introducing a new setting or protagonist, or maybe even shifting genre. The name “Yakuza Wars” suggests more of a strategic focus, perhaps allowing players to manage their own Yakuza clans, recruit famed gangsters, and war for territory.

When did Yakuza become so popular?

After years spent shrouded in obscurity, the Yakuza series witnessed a sudden burst of popularity among western gamers around a decade ago with the launch of Yakuza 0 and a much-requested English port of Yakuza 5. Sega was quick to harness this momentum, releasing “Kiwami” remasters of the first 2 games, which originally launched exclusively on PlayStation 2.

For the seventh mainline instalment, the developers decided on a drastic change of direction. Yakuza was known for its frenetic action-fuelled combat, immersive open world, and bizarre humour, but the team at RGG Studio wanted to change that formula. Not only did Yakuza 7 (titled “Yakuza: Like a Dragon” in western markets) introduce a new player character – Ichiban Kasuga – it featured traditional turn-based JRPG gameplay. This year’s sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth would refine this new template but whether Sega will triple dip for the upcoming Yakuza Wars (or whatever the next Yakuza game will be called) is a mystery for now.

Looking to get into the series? There are a few good entry points with Yakuza 0 being a solid prequel for those wanting to kickstart the full Yakuza timeline. You can also skip ahead to Yakuza Kimawi which is a remaster of the first game or, if JRPGs are your thing, then Like a Dragon may be geared more towards your tastes.

The upcoming Amazon Prime series should also serve as a handy primer, though we’re not quite sure just how much it will deviate from the video games. That will be launching on October 24th.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Preview – Not lost it’s Edge yet

Ever thought to yourself that Ace Attorney, as a series, has far too much courtroom shenanigans and that the investigation segments felt bland and formulaic? Well, if you’re this very specific and hypothetical person, boy do I have the games for you: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

The latest remastered game bundle, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection’s twinned games star fan favourite and cravat enthusiast Miles Edgeworth after the events of the third game in the main series, and they off with an investigation of several cases around an underground smuggling ring. As this is set in the same continuity of the main series, mainstays such as Dick Gumshoe return to support our prosecutor protagonist, with the addition of new characters such as the plucky “master thief” Kay Faraday.

Instead of trying to win a court case, the focus of the gameplay in each case is to unravel the mystery through a variety of investigative techniques. The simplest of these is exploring the crime scenes to gather evidence and talking to witnesses and your allies to uncover facts or questions about the case at hand. This evidence will then either take the form of tangible evidence or clue-like prompts, but more on those in a moment.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Gumshoe

Some interactions with characters result in Rebuttals that see you hear a character’s testimony about the events, which can be a witness statement or a character’s opinion on what happened. You can press individual statements to garner more information, and then expose contradictions between what they say and the evidence by presenting the correct evidence. Do this successfully and you can garner more information and inch ever closer to the truth. Get it wrong and your little life bar in the top right takes a little hit while you regroup to try again.

If this sounds familiar to you that’s because it is essentially a cross examination from the main series right down to the similar aesthetic flair of the cut-ins focusing on the eyes. But, if it ain’t broke, does it really need fixing?

Where the Ace Attorney Investigations games deviate is with the Logic mechanic. As I mentioned, you gather a variety of clue-like prompts related to the case as you investigate, which often relate to elements of the case that stand out oddly or question other aspects of the facts. Using Logic, you can piece together two of these clues to gather new information, which is a clever little wrinkle on Ace Attorney’s gameplay.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection logic

Like the Rebuttals, you get a penalty for getting these links wrong, but it’s incredibly satisfying when you nail it. Also, some of them lead to that classic Ace Attorney mainstay of turning your thinking entirely on its head. The only criticism I have from the early cases I’ve been able to play for this preview is that these do tend to be a little easy to work out.

This criticism – in fact – I would extend to the whole experience so far. It might change as I go deeper into each game, but nothing I’ve seen so far hasn’t really been a challenge to get through. Though, I must admit, sometimes an easier game is hugely welcome.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection remaster art style

A big thing for this release that I have made a concerted effort to check out is the revised visuals and sound. The collection has had new HD visuals of the characters created, and you can switch between the original sprites and these new models in the Options menu. To be honest, the sprites have held up well and I find the chibi-like style of the HD models a little off putting, but the option to switch between the styles is great.

The revised soundtrack is also pretty good and allows the same option to switch back and forth between it and the classic version for the discerning gentleman prosecutor. Also, this collection has the trimmings that these collections have generally had, such as a Gallery, but I’ve not delved too deeply into the bonus content here to avoid spoilers on how to receive the accolades for achieving specific criteria in the games.

At my current point in the games, this shaping up as another excellent collection from the Ace Attorney series, especially as it brings the first of the two games to the West for the first time. It’s also good to see Edgeworth display the discerning eye and quick wit that was only hinted at with a superb (but unevidenced) ego in the main series. I’m looking forward to getting deeper into the core mysteries of both Ace Attorney Investigations games and – hopefully – I’ll have more of a challenge getting to the truth of them.

PS5 and PS4 Releases: Every Game Release Date for Week Beginning August 5, 2024

New PS5 PS4 Games August 5 2024

The list of new PS5 and PS4 games for the week beginning August 5, 2024, has grown bigger again but is filled with indie games. There’s not a AAA game to be seen, although the highlights of the week will likely be the high-sea adventure SteamWorld Heist II and childrearing simulation game Princess Maker 2 Regeneration.

All PS5 and PS4 August 5 to 11, 2024 game release dates

Here are all of the PS5 and PS4 games currently set to be released throughout the week of August 5 to 11, 2024.

PS5 Games

  • Bleak Faith: Forsaken (August 6)
  • Cygni: All Guns Blazing (August 6)
  • Eden Genesis (August 6)
  • Pepper Grinder (August 6)
  • Volgarr the Viking II (August 6)
  • Cattie (August 7)
  • Color Dodge (August 7)
  • I Want To Go To Mars (August 7)
  • Love is all around (August 7)
  • Arcade Paradise VR (August 8)
  • Cat Quest III (August 8)
  • Cultist Simulator (August 8)
  • Darksword: Battle Eternity (August 8)
  • Dead Age 2 (August 8)
  • Deathbound (August 8)
  • HoneyLand (August 8)
  • Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony (August 8)
  • Princess Maker 2 Regeneration (August 8)
  • SteamWorld Heist II (August 8)
  • That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles (August 8)
  • Bowling In A Skate Park (August 9)
  • Gravitators (August 9)
  • Rolling Wheels (August 10)

PS4 Games

  • Bleak Faith: Forsaken (August 6)
  • Eden Genesis (August 6)
  • Pepper Grinder (August 6)
  • Volgarr the Viking II (August 6)
  • Cattie (August 7)
  • I Want To Go To Mars (August 7)
  • Love is all around (August 7)
  • Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona (August 7)
  • Cat Quest III (August 8)
  • Cultist Simulator (August 8)
  • HoneyLand (August 8)
  • Princess Maker 2 Regeneration (August 8)
  • SteamWorld Heist II (August 8)
  • That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles (August 8)
  • Bowling In A Skate Park (August 9)
  • Gravitators (August 9)
  • Mondealy (August 9)
  • Rolling Wheels (August 10)

A total of 23 games are coming to PS5 this week, while PS4 players get a slightly shorter list of 18 titles. The sequel to Steamworld Heist sees players trying to avert a water crisis on the Great Sea through real-time naval combat and turn-based Steambot combat. A slightly different pirate adventure is also available in Cat Quest III, with the Pi-Rats and the Pirate King trying to halt your 2.5D open-world adventure.

Elsewhere, Princess Maker 2 sees a father trying to make his daughter’s dreams of becoming a princess come true. The game celebrates its 30th anniversary with a release on newer generation consoles. On the other hand, Volgarr the Viking returns in another 2D action-platformer that has kept its unforgiving 1980s-arcade level of difficulty.

Finally, PSVR players get a couple of choices this week. Arcade Paradise VR offers the chance to transform the decrepit King Wash laundromat into a thriving arcade mall, while Darksword: Battle Eternity is a fantasy RPG set in the world of the Twisted Corridors.

The post PS5 and PS4 Releases: Every Game Release Date for Week Beginning August 5, 2024 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack DLC Adds Follower Forms and Quests

cult of the lamb pilgrim pack

Massive Monster and Devolver Digital announced The Pilgrim Pack, which is a new piece of DLC for Cult of the Lamb with additional Follower forms and unique quests. It’ll come out on August 12, 2024 alongside the new update.

The Pilgrim Pack will be a bit different from what people expect from Cult of the Lamb. It’ll be an interactive digital comic, through which you can access new secret quests, Follower forms, outfits, and accessories.

You can check out the Cult of the Lamb new DLC trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY1EYzn_5qY

Instead of playing as a cult leader like you do in the main game, it seems like the Pilgrim story will focus on Followers instead. You’ll be helping Jalala and Rinor journeying in search of a new home, only for dangerous cultists to stalk them in hopes of sacrificing them to their gods. As The Pilgrim Pack will include two unique Follower quests, it’s likely that you’ll be able to further explore Jalala and Rinor’s stories outside of the comic as well.

As a reminder, The Pilgrim Pack will be paid DLC. It will come out on the same date as the Unholy Alliance free update, but if you want to experience it, you’ll need to pay some money. The Pilgrim Pack will cost $6.99 on PC and $8.99 on consoles.

Cult of the Lamb is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. The Pilgrim Pack will appear in Cult of the Lamb on August 12, 2024, and it will not be part of the free Unholy Alliance update.

The post Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack DLC Adds Follower Forms and Quests appeared first on Siliconera.

Byakuya Stars in a Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer

Byakuya Stars in Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer

Bandai Namco is releasing Bleach Rebirth of Souls character trailers to highlight different fighters’ gameplay styles, and Byakuya Kuchiki is the latest one to appear. This marks the second time a video focused on him, as he starred alongside Ichigo Kurosaki in a general gameplay video at the end of July 2024.

The video begins with an introduction to who Byakuya Kuchiki is. In addition to being Rukia’s brother and Renji Aburai’s superior, he’s head of the Kuchiki family and Sixth Division. His Zanpakuto is Senbonzakura. After showing him off, more specific attacks are highlighted. He uses Senbonzakura Seal & Release as his Signature Move, and it has two forms to it that swap when used. His Spiritual Pressure moves are Release: Senbonzakura/Seal: Senbonzakura and a That Won’t Touch Me counterattack. His Awakening involves Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi being unleashed.

Here's the full Bleach Rebirth of Souls Byakuya trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzBelDvJt4c

We’re now at four Bleach Rebirth of Souls character trailers total. The first three provided us an opportunity to see Ichigo, Rukia, and Uryu Ishida fight. Other characters confirmed so far who haven’t shown up in videos are Renji and Yasutora “Chad” Sado.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is in development for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The Bleach anime, including Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Viz Media handles the manga.

The post Byakuya Stars in a Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

Rent-A-Girlfriend Console Game Release Date Set in November

Rent-A-Girlfriend: The Horizon and the Girlfriend in Swimsuit - visual novel game will be available for Switch and PS4 in November 2024

Mages revealed more details about the upcoming Rent-A-Girlfriend adventure game for consoles, including its release date. The visual novel will have the subtitle The Horizon and the Girlfriend in the Swimsuit, and the company will release it for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on November 28, 2024.

The company initially revealed the title in July 2024. It revealed new details on the visual novel on August 5, 2024, as promised. Mages has yet to provide new in-game screenshots, but it did reveal the game's story synopsis.

The player will assume the role of the series protagonist Kazuya Kinoshita, who is working part-time at a beach house in Enoshima Island in order to gather funds to produce a movie that stars Chizuru Mizuhara. During the seven-day stay, Kazuya can interact with not only Chizuru but also Mami, Ruka, Sumi, and Mini.

Mages has also opened pre-orders for the upcoming Rent-A-Girlfriend game in Japan with various bonus benefits. In addition to regular physical copies, the company will offer a limited edition that includes an original soundtrack CD and four drama CDs. People who pre-order the game can also receive a small illustration based on one of the five heroines at random by the series creator Reiji Miyajima. Each store chain in Japan will also have a different bonus character item that comes with the physical copy.

Rent-A-Girlfriend: The Horizon and the Girlfriend in the Swimsuit will be available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan on November 28, 2024.

The post Rent-A-Girlfriend Console Game Release Date Set in November appeared first on Siliconera.

Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack DLC Adds Follower Forms and Quests

cult of the lamb pilgrim pack

Massive Monster and Devolver Digital announced The Pilgrim Pack, which is a new piece of DLC for Cult of the Lamb with additional Follower forms and unique quests. It’ll come out on August 12, 2024 alongside the new update.

The Pilgrim Pack will be a bit different from what people expect from Cult of the Lamb. It’ll be an interactive digital comic, through which you can access new secret quests, Follower forms, outfits, and accessories.

You can check out the Cult of the Lamb new DLC trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY1EYzn_5qY

Instead of playing as a cult leader like you do in the main game, it seems like the Pilgrim story will focus on Followers instead. You’ll be helping Jalala and Rinor journeying in search of a new home, only for dangerous cultists to stalk them in hopes of sacrificing them to their gods. As The Pilgrim Pack will include two unique Follower quests, it’s likely that you’ll be able to further explore Jalala and Rinor’s stories outside of the comic as well.

As a reminder, The Pilgrim Pack will be paid DLC. It will come out on the same date as the Unholy Alliance free update, but if you want to experience it, you’ll need to pay some money. The Pilgrim Pack will cost $6.99 on PC and $8.99 on consoles.

Cult of the Lamb is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. The Pilgrim Pack will appear in Cult of the Lamb on August 12, 2024, and it will not be part of the free Unholy Alliance update.

The post Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack DLC Adds Follower Forms and Quests appeared first on Siliconera.

Byakuya Stars in a Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer

Byakuya Stars in Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer

Bandai Namco is releasing Bleach Rebirth of Souls character trailers to highlight different fighters’ gameplay styles, and Byakuya Kuchiki is the latest one to appear. This marks the second time a video focused on him, as he starred alongside Ichigo Kurosaki in a general gameplay video at the end of July 2024.

The video begins with an introduction to who Byakuya Kuchiki is. In addition to being Rukia’s brother and Renji Aburai’s superior, he’s head of the Kuchiki family and Sixth Division. His Zanpakuto is Senbonzakura. After showing him off, more specific attacks are highlighted. He uses Senbonzakura Seal & Release as his Signature Move, and it has two forms to it that swap when used. His Spiritual Pressure moves are Release: Senbonzakura/Seal: Senbonzakura and a That Won’t Touch Me counterattack. His Awakening involves Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi being unleashed.

Here's the full Bleach Rebirth of Souls Byakuya trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzBelDvJt4c

We’re now at four Bleach Rebirth of Souls character trailers total. The first three provided us an opportunity to see Ichigo, Rukia, and Uryu Ishida fight. Other characters confirmed so far who haven’t shown up in videos are Renji and Yasutora “Chad” Sado.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is in development for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The Bleach anime, including Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Viz Media handles the manga.

The post Byakuya Stars in a Bleach Rebirth of Souls Character Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

Fate/Extra Record Releases in 2025 for Switch, PS4, PS5, PC

Fate/Extra Record Releases on 2025 for Switch, PS4, PS5, PC

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDg4wZsaC-E

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.

Review: Those Games 2 Gets Genuinely Challenging

Review: Those Games 2 Gets Genuinely Challenging

D3 Publisher’s Yeah! You Want “Those Games,” Right? So Here You Go! Now, Let’s See You Clear Them series may sound like some gimmick. After all, the premise takes the games from mobile ads and turning them into actual minigames for each collection. Yeah! You Want “Those Games,” Right? So Here You Go! Now, Let’s See You Clear Them, which we’ll call Those Games 2 going forward, extends the premise by bringing back one type of mobile game from the original and adding four more to the mix. It can get shockingly challenging sometimes!

The returning minigame based on fake mobile game ads in Those Games 2 is Pin Pull, aptly called Pin Pull 2. It draws inspiration from the ones where you see two sad people freezing or something, like the Homescapes ads, and you need to pull pins in the correct spots and order to get them coal to warm themselves up. These are joined by Draw & Guard (the one where you draw to save a Shiba Inu from bees), Knock-Back Shooter (Evony: The King’s Return), Numbers Dungeon (Hero Wars), and Spellbinding Scroll (also Evony). All of the inspirations are incredibly obvious, and they all play the way they seem to in those ads on places like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QQTlwzc8fc

The number of puzzles for minigames vary, with some only being around 20 and others past 40. You earn up to three stars per stage depending on the speed with which you solve the puzzle. I was shocked going in at how strong all of the Those Games 2 minigames are, considering they are based on fake mobile ads. When I’d see the “inspiration” for Draw & Guard online, it usually seemed like a circle, a line shaped like a capital I, or one shaped like an H would do the trick. However, elements like fire or collapsing blocks mean it gets genuinely challenging. The first few stages of Knock-Back Shooter are incredibly easy, but after about 15 in I started only managing 1-2 stars per level due to needing to figure things out. (The brick blocks for areas helps with determining angles and where to shoot a lot!)

Pin Pull 2 and Spellbinding Scroll ended up being my favorites. In the case of Pin Pull 2, new elements like rocks that prevent things from getting past, switches, and items that can negate the heating or cooling effect of the items you’re trying to get to the bottom really do make you think about the proper order. I did notice a little control issue with pulling items in later stages, perhaps because so many pins were around. There’s a lot to consider though, and it’s genuinely thoughtful. With Spellbinding Scroll, the idea of knowing which one to “keep shooting” to make numbers go down seems easy. However, a few stages there left me really plotting when it came to prioritizing targets in a way I didn’t expect. I do wish it was a bit more responsive 

Screenshot by Siliconera

The only minigame based on a mobile ad in Those Games 2 that didn’t actualized properly is Numbers Dungeon. This isn’t because the concept isn’t sound or it was too easy. There are some great ideas here, such as dropping roads that keep you from doubling back, items that increase or reduce your number, and stages that really do require you to figure out the right “road” through what is actually a labyrinth of challenges. Rather, it’s the inputs. You can’t just press up, down, left, or right on the Switch. You have to cycle through the directions. That eats away at your time. Plus, while I got accustomed to that, I did accidentally send the little warrior down the wrong path twice. 

Minor missteps aside with controls side, Those Games 2 can be a genuinely strong minigame collection. It gives a perfect amount of games for each fake mobile game ad, so you don’t feel like they wear out their welcome. They do get genuinely challenging after the first 10 levels, in many cases. It’s a fun game to play when you just want to take 10-15 minutes to play something and feel smart, and doing so in short bursts helps keep you from noticing that some levels can get repetitive.

Yeah! You Want “Those Games,” Right? So Here You Go! Now, Let’s See You Clear Them! 2 is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam.

The post Review: Those Games 2 Gets Genuinely Challenging appeared first on Siliconera.

FFXIV Mobile Game on List of Games Approved for China

FFXIV Art of players crafting together on the moon

As of August 2, 2024, China's National Press and Publication Administration approved 15 new video games for import and publication. The report by Niko Partners, shared by Daniel “ZhugeEX” Ahmad, showed the list included Rainbow Six, Dynasty Warriors, Marvel Rivals, and a mobile game co-developed by Tencent and Square Enix based on Final Fantasy XIV. [Thanks, Niko Partners!]

This is the first official announcement of any kind that a mobile game or title based on Final Fantasy XIV was being developed. The eXputer forum user Kurakasis shared a rumor in July 2024 stating a project is in the works. This is the first official confirmation that the game is both in development and co-developed by Tencent and Square Enix, following a 2018 agreement that the two companies would be working together in the future. When Ahmad shared the news on social media, the tweet specifically mentioned by Lightspeed Studios. The report does not list if the game is a spin-off or a full mobile version of the MMORPG that is playable on phones or tablets.

The other games being brought over, including the upcoming team-based multiplayer hero shooter Marvel Rivals and Paper Mario: The Origami King, are imports of products that are either out or are leaving open beta testing and entering full release. The Rainbow Six title, Dynasty Warriors 8 mobile adaptation, and the mobile Final Fantasy XIV game are the two entirely new titles.

Final Fantasy XIV and its newest expansion Dawntrail are available now on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The FFXIV mobile game is apparently in development and headed to China.

The post FFXIV Mobile Game on List of Games Approved for China appeared first on Siliconera.

Persona 5 Royal Haru “Noir” Okumura Figure Closer to Releasing

Persona 5 Royal Haru “Noir” Okumura Figure Closer to Releasing

At Smile Fest 2024, Good Smile Company showed off the latest version of the upcoming Persona 5 Royal Haru “Noir” Okumura Pop Up Parade figure. This time it showed up as a painted prototype, suggesting pre-orders could end up opening in the next few weeks or months.

Haru is wearing her full Noir Phantom Thief attire for this figure. She’s also tipping her hat and pointing with her right hand. She doesn’t have any weapon “equipped.” Also, as this is a Pop Up Parade standard figure, there are no additional parts or options.  

Here’s a closer look at the Pop Up Parade figure of the character that is based on her Persona 5 Royal appearance.

https://twitter.com/GoodSmile_US/status/1819532156508479717

All Persona 5 figures in the Pop Up Parade line are standardized. So they all tend to be about the same high and cost the same amount. So like the Oracle or Crow ones, she should be around over six inches tall and will cost¥4,800/$38.99.

There’s no release window for the Persona 5 Royal Haru “Noir” Okumura Pop Up Parade figure just yet. Persona 5 is on the PS3 and PS4, while Royal is on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Persona 5 Royal Haru “Noir” Okumura Figure Closer to Releasing appeared first on Siliconera.

Persona 5 Royal Items to Appear in Avail Again

persona 5 royal avail merchandise

Avail will start selling Persona 5 Royal merchandise and outfits in Shimamura from August 10, 2024. You’ll be able to get them in both brick-and-mortar and online storefronts.

The items that will be available, as well as the prices, are:

  • Barrettes: 790 JPY
  • Face towel: 1200 JPY
  • Garbage box: 1200 JPY
  • Hairband: 1200 JPY
  • Keyholder: 790 JPY
  • Loungewear: 3300 JPY
  • Mat: 1800 JPY
  • Morgana parka: 2300 JPY
  • Rubber bracelet: 790 JPY
  • Scrunchie: 790 JPY
  • Seat cushion: 2300 JPY
  • Socks: 390 JPY
  • Sun visor pouch: 900 JPY
  • Tissue box: 1200 JPY
  • T-shirts: 1800 JPY
  • Waist cushion: 1800 JPY
  • Zip-up hoodies: 3300 JPY

As a note, all of the clothing items are mens’ sizes. So when you’re buying them, if you don’t normally wear clothing for men, you might need to buy a size smaller than your usual.

avail shimamura persona 5 royal merchandise 1

avail shimamura persona 5 royal merchandise 2

Image via Avail, Shimamura

Some of these items have been around in the past. The Morgana parka in particular must be a very popular item. This marks the third time Avail and Shimamura have offered it during a Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal collaboration.

Though the game came out in 2019 for Japan, it remains very popular today. Kotobukiya recently announced a re-run of a scale figure of Kasumi Yoshizawa in her Phantom Thief outfit, with this figure’s initial release being in 2020. Meanwhile, NetEase is currently re-running its Persona 5 crossover event in Identity V.

Persona 5 Royal is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Persona 5 Royal Items to Appear in Avail Again appeared first on Siliconera.

Naoki Yoshida Will Be at Gamescom 2024 With Final Fantasy XIV

Naoki Yoshida Will Be at Gamescom 2024 With Final Fantasy XIV

Square Enix announced the Final Fantasy XIV gamescom 2024 events. The company will set up gameplay sessions, challenges, and merchandise at Booth B-054 in Hall 9.1 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany for the August 22-25, 2024 event.

Some of the activities will be happening at all times during the event. If people head to the booth, they can take on the Valigarmanda Battle Challenge. Winning with a group will earn you an “I Beat Valigarmanda Battle Challenge” shirt and picture on the photo wall. There will be a New Player Area to sample the game. Stage Programs will be held. People can likely also expect merchandise, as some will be on display and other items can be won as prizes.

Here's how the “I Beat Valigarmanda Battle Challenge” shirt looks:

Image via Square Enix

There are also certain events, such as panels and a fan meeting, that will only happen at certain times. Here is the full Final Fantasy XIV gamescom 2024 schedule:

  • August 22, 2024 at 11:30am CET: Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida and German Localization Lead Pamela Drobig Valigarmanda Trial at Stage Program at Booth B-054 stage.
  • August 22, 2024 at 1pm CET: “Bridging Language Barriers: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FFXIV Localization” panel part 1 with Drobig.
  • August 22, 2024 at 9pm CET: Fan Celebration at gamescom 2024 at Hellers Brauhaus in Cologne, Germany. 500 tickets available at Eventbrite starting at 8pm CET on August 5, 2024.
  • August 23, 2024 at 1pm CET: Yoshida and Drobig Trial Roulette Show Match at Booth B-054 stage.
  • August 23, 2024 at 2pm CET: “Bridging Language Barriers: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FFXIV Localization” panel part 2 with Drobig.
  • August 23, 2024 at 4pm CET: Yoshida Signing Session at Creator Signing Hall 11.2. Tickets available at official site or at Booth B-054.
  • August 24, 2024 at 11:15am CET: "Why are you or your friends not playing FFXIV?" panel with Yoshida with Q&A session. Questions can be submitted at gBooth B-054.
  • August 24, 2024 at 1pm CET: Yoshida and Drobig Trial Roulette Show Match at Booth B-054 stage.
  • August 24, 2024 at 4pm CET: Yoshida and Drobig Trial Roulette Show Match at Booth B-054 stage.
  • August 23, 2024 at 6pm CET: Yoshida Signing Session at Creator Signing Hall 11.2. Tickets available at official site or Gamescom booth.
  • August 25, 2024 at 12pm CET: Yoshida and Drobig Trial Roulette Show Match at Booth B-054 Stage.
  • August 25, 2024 at 1pm CET: PvP stage showcase with Yoshida at Booth-054 stage.

Gamescom won’t be the only August 2024 event where Final Fantasy XIV will appear. Square Enix is also bringing the MMORPG to PAX West. That event will feature a UI panel that also discusses the group pose feature and another Valigarmanda Challenge. 

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Gamescom runs August 22-25, 2024. 

The post Naoki Yoshida Will Be at Gamescom 2024 With Final Fantasy XIV appeared first on Siliconera.

Final Fantasy XIV 2024 Moonfire Faire Offers Emote, Bomb Balloons

Final Fantasy XIV 2024 Moonfire Faire Offers Emote, Bomb Balloons

The Final Fantasy XIV Moonfire Faire, a recurring summer-themed FFXIV event, is about to return on August 8, 2024 with a new Uchiwasshoi emote and Bomb balloon furnishing. People get just over two weeks to earn both, as well as pick up past event items at in-game vendors, before the event ends on August 26, 2024.

If you’re at level 30 (or hit it during the event period), head on over to Limsa Lominsa, Upper Decks (X:11.5, Y:13.8). You’ll find the NPC Mayaru Moyaru waiting for you there. (He’s a Lalafell.) Talk to him to start the quest “Fire Red, Beast Green.” This will get you a chance to take part in the Moonfire Faire.

The Uchiwasshoi emote in FFXIV makes a player’s character wave a fan with a Namazu face on it. The Namazu themselves wave similar sorts of fans in-game. (The cover of the picture book The Namazu and the Greatest Gift even shows one with a fan.) Meanwhile, the Bouncing Bomb Balloon furnishing item lets you place a decoration that involves blue, red, and yellow Bomb-shaped balloons on any tabletop in FFXIV.

Here’s how the FFXIV Moonfire Faire emote and furnishing will look:

Final Fantasy XIV 2024 Moonfire Faire Offers Emote, Bomb Balloons
Image via Square Enix

In 2023, the Moonfire Faire event reward was Phoenix Riser armor. The 2022 run added Summer Sunset gear. A Polar Bear mount and Moonfire Mask stall furnishing showed up in 2021.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Moonfire Faire will run in FFXIV between August 8-26, 2024.

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Genshin Impact Natlan Trailer Introduces Lil’ Buddy

Genshin Impact Natlan Trailer Introduces Lil’ Buddy

HoYoVerse shared a new Genshin Impact trailer for the Natlan region that seems to show a baby Geovishap referred to as “Lil’ Buddy” accompanying the Traveler. After it steps away from Aether and Paimon, it walks around the new region and gives the viewer a chance to see notable places that will debut in 5.0. 

The Genshin Impact “Natlan Preview Teaser - Lil’ Buddy” begins with the new character standing behind Aether and Paimon as they sit on a platform overlooking some cliffs and a valley. It’s distinguished from other, enemy monsters by the red and yellow bow on their tail. After being distracted by a bird, it follows it and goes on a brief journey through a cavern with ruins and crystals, a place alongside a river, and a small settlement in a valley and beside a lake. 

After burrowing underground for a bit in the same way a Geovishap Hatchling does in Genshin Impact, Lil’ Buddy encounters one of the Natlan enemies. It looks like some sort of Elemental Lifeform, with a green color that suggested it could be a Dendro element one. After Lil’ Buddy roars at it, the opponent turns around. This causes Lil Buddy to turn around and run away. 

Here’s the full teaser trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxbxTI_zL0

We should learn more about Lil’ Buddy and other elements soon. HoYoVerse will hold the 5.0 Special Program for the game on August 15, 2024. 

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the 5.0 update is expected to arrive at the end of August 2024. 

The post Genshin Impact Natlan Trailer Introduces Lil’ Buddy appeared first on Siliconera.

Slitterhead Inspired by Seinen Manga

slitterhead inspiration

The Bokeh Game Studio developers revealed they drew inspiration from seinen manga like Tokyo Ghoul when working on Slitterhead. This information comes from an interview with Game Watch. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The three Bokeh Game Studio members who participated in the interview are Keiichiro Toyama (CEO and founder), Akira Yamaoka (composer, sound director, and game designer), and Tatsuya Yoshikawa (character designer). During the interview, they reveal that they used seinen manga to try and bridge the gap between horror fans and players who avoid a game because of its horror elements. Some seinen manga series show the characters facing off against a powerful foe, which has the same entertainment value as an action series. However, seinen manga also tend not to shy away from killing off its characters, which raises the tensions and stakes.

Toyama noted that shonen manga is more popular in foreign countries, so a seinen-inspired work may feel novel. Like our coverage of the SGF 2024 trailer, the Game Watch interviewer noted that the character designs feel like they’re from Parasyte. Toyama acknowledges that Parasyte was an inspiration, but Slitterhead actually takes more cues from Tokyo Ghoul. To be more specific, he drew reference from the uncertainty of when characters would die—calling it a “thrilling” survival horror experience—and the charm of battles in which the characters use superpowers.

Slitterhead will come out on November 8, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.

The post Slitterhead Inspired by Seinen Manga appeared first on Siliconera.

Hikakin Stars in New Final Fantasy XIV Commercials

hikakin final fantasy xiv

A new series of Final Fantasy XIV commercials starring Hikakin will start playing on TV in Japan until July 7, 2024. It’ll feature real footage of Hikakin and his friend Hajime Syacho playing the MMORPG. [Thanks, PR Times!]

For reference, Hikakin is one of the top YouTubers in Japan. Hikakin is also a businessman, releasing products such as the Misokin instant ramen, which was a collaboration product with Nissin. He has multiple channels and his main channel HikakinTV has over 18.8 million subscribers. As for Hajime Syacho, he is also a very popular YouTuber. Like Hikakin, he has multiple YouTube channels, and his main one has over 14.2 million subscribers. Both of them are part of the UUUM network.

You can check out the Hikakin Final Fantasy XIV commercials here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH37ag5Nr-g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCZ-9p0nsO0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwrp95XKjsI

As a note, the Japanese version of Warrior of Light is "Hikari no Senshi," or "Hikasen" for short. It sounds quite similar to Hikakin. So the title of this series is "Hikakin Becomes a Hikasen," aka "Hikakin Becomes a WoL."

Hikakin commented that he and Hajime Syacho had so much time playing for the commercials that recorded ended really quickly. He’s also amazed and emotional about how he’s able to do something for Final Fantasy as part of his job as a YouTuber, since he’s been a fan of the series since he was a student. As for Hajime Syacho, he said that he felt like a parent and cried when his cute avatar appeared in the commercials. This is the avatar he actually uses in game, which he started playing this year. He adds that he wants people to play Final Fantasy XIV, which he likes so much that he prioritizes it over sleep.

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

The post Hikakin Stars in New Final Fantasy XIV Commercials appeared first on Siliconera.

Stardew Valley Hardcore Mode Mod Is Real

stardew valley hardcore mod

On June 21, 2024, X (Twitter) user nightshademagia released a Hardcore Mode mod for Stardew Valley that’ll delete your save file if you open up the Wiki for the game. This was based off a joke article from Hard Drive.

You can find the source code via Github here. There’s also a clip showing how it works. In the clip, they load up their file as per usual. Then, in another window, they open up the Stardew Valley Wiki. As soon as they do so, the game forces them back to the title screen and when they try to load up a game, their save file is gone.

The original article was from satire website Hard Drive, stating that the new default Hardcore Mode erases your save file if you open the official wiki. The article includes false quotes from players expressing their outrage, including a fake quote from ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley. Some players tend to use the Wiki to help them optimize their farm or game. For example, you can look up what gifts certain characters prefer or how to catch certain fish.

Stardew Valley is readily available for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, macOS, and mobile devices. It is one of the best-selling games of all time, selling over 30 million copies by February 2024.

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VTuber Inugami Korone Sports New Shadow the Hedgehog Look

shadow the hedgehog korone

The official Sonic the Hedgehog X (Twitter) account has revealed the Shadow the Hedgehog collaboration outfit for Korone. There will be merchandise of her, including an A4 clear folder of her posing with Shadow.

Like Korone’s past Sonic outfit where she’s wearing a hoodie that resembles the blue hedgehog, the Shadow the Hedgehog outfit puts Korone in a black hooded jacket and red sneakers. Her hair is black as well, and she has red eyes. She’s wearing asymmetrical socks in the Shadow outfit, but that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with Shadow and is more a fashion choice from her designer.

If you pre-order Sonic X Shadow Generations from certain vendors, you’ll be able to get exclusive goods of Korone in her Shadow the Hedgehog outfit. Amazon will offer an acrylic keyholder. Hanekoto, who was the main artist for Minato Aqua’s game Aquarium, drew this Korone. Meanwhile, if you purchase from Geo, you’ll be able to get a clear folder of her posing with Shadow. The Sonic Team from Sega drew this one.

Inugami Korone is one of the top Hololive VTubers, debuting in 2019 as part of GAMERS. As of the time of writing, she has over 2.1 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. As an official Sonic the Hedgehog ambassador, she has often appeared in events or collaborations with Sega to celebrate or market the blue hedgehog.

Sonic X Shadow Generations will come out on October 25, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC via Steam.

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What’s Your Best Elden Ring Build

Best Elden Ring build

It’s an exciting weekend! Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is live, giving us an excuse to head into the Lands Between and to the Land of Shadow. New challenges await, basically. So, as we all prepare to dive back in, let’s each share what we consider our best Elden Ring build. Maybe it can help us with different ideas or to overcome certain bosses!

I'd been trying to move away from sword and board builds in soulslikes, but Elden Ring hit me with the double whammy of timed blocks and the gorgeous looking Sword of Night and Flame. It requires a big investment into a whole spread of stats which isn't ideal, but that's a price I'm willing to pay to shoot lasers AND fire waves. — Elliot

I feel like I need to preface this by apologizing before revealing that I am one of those players that dual wields the Moonveil and the Meteoric Ore Blade katanas. And when not throwing magic lasers from my sword and using gravity to destabilize enemies, I like to use a vast array of magic spells to keep enemies at bay. Or... just simply throw a laser beam for good measure. — Daniel

I am nothing if not predictable. Even in my attempts to play a Souls-esque game in a new way led me back to a Big Sword and Bigger Flips. Between the Ruin Greatsword, the classic Greatsword, the Royal Greatsword, and the Moonlight Greatsword: I found myself holding two colossal greatswords enchanted with ice as extra spice. That, combined with the intense poise damage from the jump attacks, made my journey through The Lands Between less Berserk and more Moe Szyslak. I gotta tell you, it was pretty terrific. — John

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Atlus Needs to Remaster SMT IV and Apocalypse

If there is one element Atlus is becoming really good at lately, it is respecting and preserving older titles in its gigantic library. Most of the modern Persona games and mainline Shin Megami Tensei titles exist on current systems. However, there are two noticeable exceptions that could be used as a solution, such as an SMTIV and Apocalypse remaster collection.

If you want to, it is technically possible to play every single mainline Shin Megami Tensei game right now on a modern system. After all, there is a brilliant remaster of Nocturne on all current systems and PCs. Plus, there is the recent release of SMTV: Vengeance, which makes it available to everyone.

Image via Atlus

In fact, you can even play the older SMT titles, such as the first game, second game, and even if on Nintendo Switch. That is, if you have a Japanese account. However, it is possible, at least, which can’t be said for two particular games that are left out: Shin Megami Tensei IV and Apocalypse. As of right now, there are the only mainline games not available on current hardware.

They were also only ever released on the Nintendo 3DS and nowhere else. So, unless you use unsavory means, it isn’t possible to play them if you don’t have a 3DS handheld. This is why it is so crucial a remaster collection happens. I could see a situation where the two connected games come together into a remastered collection on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

It wouldn’t be too difficult to modernize them, either. Though these games had a second screen, removing it isn’t too big of an issue. The bottom screen with your demons would just need to move to the top screen in some way. The 3D visuals still look solid on 3DS, so you only need some light brushing up there. Of course, some quality-of-life features might be welcome, but that’s pretty much it.

Image via Atlus

For me, personally, SMTIV: Apocalypse is my favorite game in the series. It perfectly balances story, characters, and a twisted world to explore so excellently. SMTIV is also fantastic, though the two are quite similar in some regards. With how solid these games are — even better than the recent SMTV, in my opinion — it is a shame they are stuck elsewhere. In fact, Atlus now has a pretty open slate for the Shin Megami Tensei series. With the release of Vengeance, no other games are coming for the franchise.

An SMTIV and Apocalypse remaster collection could be the perfect next title to satiate fans. They would be fairly easy to put out and a simple success for the company. Better yet, an SMTIV and Apocalypse remaster collection could tie fans over until Shin Megami Tensei VI, Persona 6, or whatever is next from Atlus. It is possible those games are a couple of years away still, so this would be a great way to keep players occupied.

I would be happy if they included Strange Journey as well. It also falls into the unfortunate portable-exclusive dilemma. It might be too soon after Vengeance for an SMTIV and Apocalypse remaster collection, but it needs to happen eventually. A release of these two brilliant 3DS JRPGs for modern consoles and PC would be a welcome release in 2025 or 2026. Regardless, I hope Atlus doesn’t let these games remain exclusive to the 3DS.

Shin Megami Tensei IV and Apocalypse are only available right now for Nintendo 3DS.

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Nekopara Chocola, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Maple Figures Announced

Nekopara Chocola, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Maple Figures Announced

As part of the Good Smile Company Smile Fest 2024, three Nekopara figures of Cinnamon, Maple, and both Chocola and Vanilla together came up. While the Cinnamon and Maple ones are the latest entries in the Race Queen line, the one of the two sisters together will be a 10th anniversary figure.

Two of the figures are much further along in development than the other. Both the Cinnamon and Maple Race Queen Nekopara designs showed up as painted prototypes. This could mean both will be available to pre-order in the immediate future and launch in late 2024 or early 2025. Meanwhile, the Chocola and Vanilla 10th anniversary Nekopara design only showed up as concept art. While their sisters appeared in racing maid outfits, they’ll appear in white dresses on a staircase with the series name and a 10th anniversary logo above them.

Here’s how all three of those announcements look:

https://twitter.com/goodsmile_en/status/1804336036543184947

There’s been quite a gap between Nekopara Race Queen releases. The first one was the Azuki version. She launched in October 2021. The Coconut variant appeared after that in September 2022.

The Nekopara Race Queen Cinnamon, Racing Queen Maple, and Chocola and Vanilla 10th anniversary figures are in development.Thegames are available on the PS4, Switch, and PC. The anime series is streaming on Crunchyroll

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Some New Atelier Ryza Figures Wear Swimsuits

Some New Atelier Ryza Figures Wear Swimsuits

During its Smile Fest 2024 announcements, Good Smile Company revealed five Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout figures of the characters in normal clothing and swimsuits. Two of them are Reisalin “Ryza” Stout, two are of Lila Decyrus, and one is of Klaudia Valentz. 

First, the one Ryza figure is actually a PLAMATEA model kit. If someone gets it, they can build a figure of her in her normal clothing from the game and anime. It is very early in development, so only an announcement with her official character art appeared.

https://twitter.com/goodsmile_en/status/1804312118826619048

The one Lila Decyrus figure is also of her in her official attire from the game and anime. In it, she is sitting while staring at the sky. It appeared as an unpainted prototype, so the scale figure is a bit further along in development.

https://twitter.com/goodsmile_en/status/1804311867319357497

Finally, the last three are Solarain Atelier Ryza figures of Ryza, Lila, and Klaudia in swimsuits. Each one is only at the unpainted prototype stage of development. 

https://twitter.com/goodsmile_en/status/1804336790670565849

Even though the Atelier Ryza original game has been out for a while, lots of figures based on it and the anime adaptation keep appearing. For example, a summer version of Ryza will appear in 2025. One involves a matching pair of her with Klaudia. Taito also recently released Aqua Float Girls versions of Ryza in a swimsuit while floating in an inner tube.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is available on the PS4, Switch, and PC, and five figures of Ryza, Lila, and Klaudia are on the way. The anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake Figma’s an Update Figure

Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake Figma’s an Update Figure

A number of figmas showed up at Good Smile Company’s Smile Fest 2024, and one was an updated version of the Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake figure. It is a new take on the item that first appeared back in August 2018

The Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake figma wears his original uniform, just like the first version of the figure. His face plate is a stern, stoic expression in the example photo. He’s also holding the tranquilizer that he came with originally. It does seem like the bodysuit is a different shade than the original version of the figma. Also, the paint job on the face seems a bit different and more in line with other recent releases.

Here’s how that looks:

https://twitter.com/goodsmile_en/status/1804308092215017657

To compare, here’s how the original 2018 version of the Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid figure looked. The additional accessories also included an assault rifle and a cardboard box. Some of the hand parts would even allow the figma to be posed as though it is hanging from a shelf or table.

Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake Figma’s an Update Figure

Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake Figma’s an Update Figure

Metal Gear Solid 2 Solid Snake Figma’s an Update Figure

Images via Good Smile Company

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is available on the PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Vita, Switch, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X, Windows PC via various collections, and the Solid Snake figma will return in the future.

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Final Fantasy XIV Pop-Up Store Brings Dawntrail Merchandise to Paris

Final Fantasy XIV Pop-Up Store Brings Merchandise to Paris 1 Final Fantasy XIV Merchandise

Square Enix announced it will open a Final Fantasy XIV pop-up store in Paris, France, and it will include FFXIV Dawntrail merchandise. People will only be able to visit and buy items between June 21-23, 2024.

The Final Fantasy XIV pop-up store will be present at 9/11, Rue des Déchargeurs in Paris, France. It will only be open from 11am-7pm CET each day. While being able to pick up merchandise tied to both Final Fantasy XIV and FFXIV Dawntrail is a part of the experience, there will also be activities available. Photo ops will appear, temporary tattoos will be available, a crane game will appear, and an art exhibit will be open. Someone earns crane game chances by buying items. Demo stations will be set up to make accounts and get PC copies of the Starter Edition. 

As for the sorts of merchandise being sold at the Final Fantasy XIV store, three were confirmed and shown in the official image. There will be post cards, with the five examples showing scenes from the new locations Kozama Uka, L’Hoirie Recouvree, Tuliyollal, Urqopacha, and Yak T’El. Magnets of the Pictomancer, Viper, and FFXIV Dawntrail logo are among the merchandise. There is also a sticker sheet that features the two new jobs, the logo, a Moogle, and creatures from the new region.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Dawntrail expansion will arrive on July 2, 2024. The Paris pop-up store will be open between June 21-23, 2024.

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New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear

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:

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

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:

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

New NieR Automata 9S and A2 Form-Ism Figures Appear
Image via AmiAmi

Image via AmiAmi

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.

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FFXIV Dawntrail Expansion Shows New Corn Cob Monster

FFXIV Dawntrail Expansion Shows New Corn Cob Creature

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:

https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_JP/status/1799637541806801176

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.

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Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Always Online, Past Bans May Apply

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Online Requirement

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will make it a requirement for players to be always online, even in campaign mode, and all past bans will apply to the new game as well. This came up after the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase reveal

In a page detailing the features of various editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Activision confirmed the always online requirement. According to the site, the game will make use of texture streaming. The studio claims this will allow them to provide high quality visuals while reducing storage space on player hard drives. This will include the Campaign mode, meaning even single player content will require a connection. Activision has confirmed that the Campaign mode can be played without the need for an online subscription on console.

In addition, Activision also confirmed that all permanent bans will be carried over to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This restriction will apply for any bans issued in all games released since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare from 2019. This will extend to Battle.net, as any banned player attempting to buy the game through the storefront will be unable to do so. They can buy the game through other storefronts but will be unable to access online modes due to their ban. The ban appears to not affect the ability to play the Campaign mode, despite the online requirement.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the latest game in the hugely successful FPS franchise. The latest game was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase and has been confirmed to be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will release on October 25, 2024 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and PC.

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Which MultiVersus Character Is the Best?

Which MultiVersus Character Is the Best

Now that MultiVersus launched and we’ve had a chance to get comfortable, it’s time to talk about the characters we like the best. The game has its issues, for sure. But there’s also some fun to be had if you can deal with quirks like finding lives up for sale that is apparently a “bug.” Let’s talk about our mains.

Sadly, I found MultiVersus to be Very Bad and dropped it after about a day of playing around with the beta. However, if I must pick a character I had some enjoyment out of, it's easily Bugs Bunny. I've always been a Looney Tunes nerd since I was a kid and that trickster god of a rabbit is my favorite cartoon character of all time. And despite the problems I had with the game overall, I did feel he was represented well. He had all the Acme props you'd expect plus a sneaky burrow move which you could mess with other players with. If the relaunch improves the game, he would be a strong candidate for a personal main. — Leigh

I also didn’t stick with MultiVersus, so my opinion may not be the best for those looking for a character to pick. I really liked Wonder Woman! She’s always been one of my favorite DC heroes and she’s easy enough to get. She’s a Tank type fighter, so it meant I didn’t have to worry about being defeated too quickly before I figured things out. Plus I really found her Sword of Ares and Amazon Shout attacks. — Jenni

MultiVersus is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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New Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay Trailer Revealed

Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay trailer

During the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, 2024, Ubisoft revealed a new gameplay trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows.  The trailer showcases the dual protagonists, Naoe, a shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, a samurai. Set in the late Sengoku period, the game allows players to explore a detailed open world of feudal Japan, featuring environments like castle towns, ports, shrines, and landscapes with dynamic weather and changing seasons.

View the Xbox Games Showcase Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay trailer below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx8WN9fY22M

Players can choose between the two characters, each with their own progression, skills, and gear, allowing for different gameplay styles. Gathering intelligence and recruiting allies with specialized skills will be a part of the main gameplay loop for the game.

Pre-ordering any edition grants someone the bonus quest "Thrown to the Dogs," which will be available at launch for players. The Gold and Ultimate Editions include additional digital content and early access, while the Collector’s Edition offers exclusive physical items and an Ultimate Edition copy of the game.

Assassin's Creed Shadows will come to Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Ubisoft+, Amazon Luna, Macs with Apple Silicon via the Mac App Store, and Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store on November 15, 2024.

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Inugami Korone Revealed Boss She Designed For Lords of Exile

korone lords of exile

Hololive VTuber Inugami Korone has shared on her X (Twitter) account the boss character she designed for Lords of Exile. Many of her fans have expressed happiness that they guessed right due to the monster having many design aesthetics Korone likes.

Korone revealed the monster in a QRT of her original Tweet from February 2024, when she announced that Lords of Exile is available to purchase. She revealed that she'd secretly backed this game's Kickstarter and that she also designed one of the bosses in it. Korone then ended the Tweet, inviting players to guess which one she had made. On May 31, 2024, she acknowledged that she was late with the reveal and then showed the correct answer.

Lords of Exile is a retro-looking game that uses an 8-bit aesthetic and a linear-level design. It’s an action and platforming game in which you play as a cursed knight who seeks revenge. There are eight levels in total, with various items and skills you can obtain in order to make your journey easier. Korone tends to play retro games on stream, so her backing of Lords of Exile on its Kickstarter may not have been a surprise.

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

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Metaphor: ReFantazio Demo Booth Will Have Three Modes

metaphor refantazio demo

Metaphor: ReFantazio will have three different modes in its playable demo at Atlus Fes, with each mode having a different difficulty rank. You’ll only have about fifteen minutes to play when it’s your turn, so choose wisely.

Atlus Fes will run on June 8 and 9, 2024. You don’t have to pay for a ticket, so you can just walk in and check it out. However, there will probably be a line-up at the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo booth, so there’s no guarantee everyone will be able to play it. You can check out Atlus Fes in Bellesalle Akihabara.

The three different modes are Scenario Mode, Dungeon Mode, and Boss Challenge Mode. Atlus recommends Dungeon Mode for players. Scenario Mode lets you play the first little bit of the story and learn the basic controls. You will also be able to experience your Archetype awakening scene.

Dungeon Mode lets you play through a dungeon from the early hours of the game. Your goal is to complete a subquest while using your Archetype-wielding companions in turn-based combat. Finally, Boss Challenge Mode pits you against a boss from the middle section of the game. You’ll also be able to operate a mount that can move around on the ocean.

Metaphor: ReFantazio will come out on October 11, 2024, for the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

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Review: Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer Has a Packed Schedule

Review: Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer Has a Packed Schedule

When you think about it, The Quintessential Quintuplets is a perfect anime and manga to dating sim game adaptation situation. We have a number of heroines. For much of the series, there’s the question of which Nakano sister Futaro will end up with at the end. The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer gives players a chance to get closer to the sisters, with tutoring playing a part, in the hopes of getting a chance to date one of them.

For those completely unfamiliar with The Quintessential Quintuplets, Futaro Uesugi is hired to tutor his classmates, the quintuplet sisters Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki Nakano. As a reward for the efforts, the young women invite him and his kid sister Raiha to their family’s private island. It’s supposed to be a short jaunt, but a storm leaves them stranded there for two weeks. However, while it’s a potentially harrowing experience, it also gives Futaro a chance to grow closer to the sisters and perhaps even find love with one of them.

Review: Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer Has a Packed Schedule

Image via Spike Chunsoft

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer is an unusual dating sim! It’s basically divided into two parts. In the first half, you need to keep meticulous schedules. You must raise the five sisters’ stats to ensure they can pass a test at the end on various subjects, while also occasionally sending people to gather supplies so there’s always something to eat. For the first half, you need to ensure each of the girls can pass a test with a 60 in each subject. If you do, then you can move on to routes with each sister, a family-route with Raiha, and an “all route” with all the siblings. The second half is a more traditional dating sim visual novel game, which feels like a reward for The Quintessential Quintuplets and is a much less demanding experience.

I did feel that the balancing might be a bit off in The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer. Basically, if you let someone’s mood drop too low, they’ll need to recuperate for a time slot. Okay, fine. I’ve played Princess Maker and Idolmaster style games before. I figured that meant losing some morale and some time. No, here that also means a severe stat drop across the board. It happened to me once early on with Miku and Yotsuba, as both were about to dip below 20 mood. Instead of getting some grace period, they immediately took off to relax and came back with some of their 15-17 stats dropped down to 0. It’s a harsh lesson to learn!

spike chunsoft game

Image via Spike Chunsoft

It almost feels like it is a lesson you have to learn. Once I did, I found I got into a much better groove as I worked my way toward the second half of the game. The stat requirements aren’t too demanding for a route. In fact, given the way in which affection builds up, it’s very easy to have multiple characters at the necessary relationship level to end up with Futaro. I was able to find a much better balance as I arranged the Nakano sisters’ schedule to ensure they would get a passing score and do well, all while surviving on the island.

Plus, the story and relationship portions of The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer are can be quite fun. The “trapped on a deserted island” plotline gives Mages an excuse to focus only on Futaro, Raiha, Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki. The studying and gathering elements also provide opportunities for Futaro to spend time with just one of the sisters, furthering a relationship with them. The CGs are well-executed, and it’s a good amount of fanservice handled well for a series with established, beloved characters. There are some awkward formatting elements though, as sometimes the font in text boxes won’t stay consistent and will shrink to fix everything into them, and every once in a while something might read a bit awkwardly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1as86PgxBo&ab_channel=SpikeChunsoft%2CInc.

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer really sets itself apart with its unique premise that is part tutoring and life management sim, then part visual novel dating sim. It’s true to the series, given there is still that element of helping tutor the sisters. Plus, you absolutely are earning your happy ending here. I enjoyed it, because it’s an approach we don’t often see paired with likable characters and a fun premise, but the approach may make it an acquired taste. Just be sure you really pay attention to the sisters’ stats and make smart choices.

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer is available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The anime is available on Crunchyroll. Kodansha handles the manga.

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Little Nightmares 3 Delayed Until 2025

Little Nightmares 3 Delayed Until 2025

Supermassive Games and Bandai Namco announced that Little Nightmares 3 is delayed. Instead of appearing in 2024 as planned, it will now launch in 2025.

Supermassive Games released a statement going into why Little Nightmares 3 is delayed alongside the announcement. It essentially noted the goal is to ensure the overall quality of the experience. As such, to ensure it meets expectations, its release window is being pushed out of this year. As a reminder, there was no exact quarter set for the game initially, so we don’t know exactly how long this delay will be.

Here’s the official announcement made on social media:

https://twitter.com/LittleNights/status/1796512039768097038

Little Nightmares 3 first appeared at gamescom Opening Night Live 2023. There are few details about characters and the story just yet. However, it will be a multiplayer experience. 

This installment marks the first time Supermassive has been completely responsible for a game in the Little Nightmares series. Tarsier Studios created the first and second installments. Supermassive only became involved when the Enhanced Edition of Little Nightmares 2 was made for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Little Nightmares 3 is delayed until 2025. People will be able to find it on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC when it does debut.

The post Little Nightmares 3 Delayed Until 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

See the Code Geass Characters in PSO2: New Genesis

Code Geass Lelouch Zero and Kallen character avatars in Phantasy Star Online 2 PSO2 New Genesis

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will offer new crossover avatar parts based on characters from Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2. Players can now check out how the characters will look like after Sega revealed the upcoming in-game content at the May 2024 NGS Headline program. Existing players of PSO2: New Genesis will be able to get the parts from the Code Geass Style scratch ticket that launches on June 19, 2024.

As announced previously in late April 2024, the crossover scratch ticket will primarily feature avatar parts based on Lelouch, C.C., Kallen, and Suzaku. Other than outfits and facial parts, the lineup will include voice sets for each character, with their original Japanese voice actors returning to provide the lines. Players who pull an adequate amount of tries in this scratch can also get the Code Geass track "Previous Notice" as an in-game music disc.

Sega stops short of producing the Knightmare Frames as CAST parts for mechanical avatars, but it will still release some parts based on the units. The list will include weapons like Super VARIS, movement motions inspired by Suzaku's Lancelot, and miniaturized Mag Forms based on Shinkiro, Guren SEITEN, and Lancelot Albion.

In addition to the above, Sega will also give away acrylic stands of Lelouch, C.C., Kallen, and Suzaku to all players who log into the game regularly daily during the collaboration period.

Code Geass Style login rewards in Phantasy Star Online 2 PSO2 New Genesis
Image via Sega

Code Geass Style scratch ticket in Phantasy Star Online 2 PSO2 New Genesis
Image via Sega

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is available worldwide on PC and PlayStation 4. The online game also appears on Nintendo Switch in Japan and Xbox One elsewhere globally. The Code Geass Style scratch ticket will be available for a limited time starting from June 19, 2024.

The post See the Code Geass Characters in PSO2: New Genesis appeared first on Siliconera.

Princess Maker 2 Regeneration PS4, PS5 Versions Delayed; New Art Shared

princess maker 2 regeneration delay

Bliss Brain has released some new pictures of Princess Maker 2 Regeneration, including comparing old screenshots to new ones. However, there will also be a few changes to the contents of the game (to match with modern sensibilities), as well as a delay for the PS4 and PS5 versions. [Thanks, PR Times!]

Here are some of the screenshots, along with their comparisons to the previous games. Some of the screenshots don’t have a comparison. This is due to "certain reasons," which likely have to do with suggestive content.

princess maker 2 regeneration delay artwork comparison
Bottom is original. Image via Bliss Brain

princess maker 2 regeneration delay artwork comparison 2
Bottom is original. Image via Bliss Brain

princess maker 2 regeneration delay artwork comparison 3
Right is original. Image via Bliss Brain

artwork comparison 4
Right is original. Image via Bliss Brain

new art 1
Image via Bliss Brain

new art 2
Image via Bliss Brain

Takami Akai, who drew for the original Princess Maker 2 Refine, also redrew these pictures to make them closer to the original PC-98 version’s style. They’re also much more HD to reflect the current gaming devices people use. Aside from improving the overall quality (as in resolution and whatnot), some of the expressions are different. This can impart a different atmosphere or mood.

Finally, the PS4 and PS5 version will remove items or endings, which is why they will come out later than the PC and Switch versions. You will no longer be able to buy items to make your daughter’s breasts bigger. The marriage endings where the daughter marries the father or the butler are also gone. These changes are due to ethical reasons. As a reminder, the items and endings are still present in the PC and Switch releases.

Princess Maker 2 Regeneration will come out on the Nintendo Switch and Windows PC on July 11, 2024. The PS4 and PS5 versions will come out on August 8, 2024.

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FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool Update Slightly Delayed

FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool Update Slightly Delayed

Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida offered an updated release date for the FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool update following a slight delay. Instead of appearing in May 2024, it will now launch on June 3, 2024. 

Yoshida noted the last minute delay is due to Square Enix needing to squash a bug. During the final testing, they found and fixed a problem. Before releasing it, the team is doing another final review. Following that and building inspections ending on June 2, 2024, the FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool update will launch.

While part of the update went over the brief delay, the rest of it went over fixes and additions people will notice when they use the tool after the update. There will be a background option with no blue lightning, there will be blue and plain lightning effects, and the lighting and time of day can be set. The vignette effect is gone, so it doesn’t influence the character design. Also, characters’ pupils, lips and lip gloss, facial textures, hair textures, shadows, and lighting were adjusted. The announcement also reminded people that Phials of Fantasia will be available via a quest and will have a grace period of 60 in-game minutes for editing after use.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Dawntrail expansion debuts on July 2, 2024. The FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool update arrives on June 3, 2024.

The post FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Tool Update Slightly Delayed appeared first on Siliconera.

FFXIV Red Mage and Sage Dawntrail Changes Are Exceptional

FFXIV Sage and Red Mage job changes Dawntrail 7.0

Anyone who has been a Final Fantasy XIV player for a couple of expansions likely knows Square Enix isn’t immune to mistakes. Though the game is nearly MMORPG perfection, its biggest issues come from the strange and often unwarranted job changes. Thankfully for Dawntrail, it looks like the FFXIV job changes could be much more welcome, especially for Sage and Red Mage.

I am personally invested in both the changes to the Red Mage and Sage, as they are both my two main jobs in FFXIV. Red Mage is the one I often use for endgame content when I don’t want to be a healer, while Sage is the role I main during story content. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like that will be changing in the new expansion.

Back in the day, I used Summoner between launch and for several expansions, until it was ruined by job changes. Fortunately, Red Mage and Sage are seemingly all the better going into FFXIV Dawntrail. Take the Red Mage, which has two key changes. The first is to make Manafication work better for the player. Instead of granting 50 Black and White Mana, it now just lets the player use the three-step enchanted sword combo for free.

Screenshot by Siliconera

This means being able to use the Verholy or Verflare combo for free as always, but not at the cost of mana. In addition, one of the most useless parts of the Red Mage — Enchanted Moulinet — is now viable. It uses 50 mana, so it is more possible to use as an AOE attack. Overall, it seems these changes enhance the Red Mage in FFXIV, all without taking away what makes it great.

I am still curious to see if Manafication comes with its buff, but I am confident nonetheless. The skill rotation for Red Mage should be even smoother now. After all, you don’t have to obsess as much about having a perfect 50 and 50 Black and White Mana gauge before using Manafication. In addition, if you’re like me, you don’t have to ignore Enchanted Moulinet due to its uselessness. This makes Red Mage a much better class at both single targets and mobs alike.

When it comes to Sage, this is my favorite healer job for a reason. It is the perfect blend of DPS and healing, and its FFXIV Dawntrail changes further that idea. For starters, Eukrasia now properly enhances the damage over time Dyskrasia. This new version acts as an AOE damage over time, affecting multiple enemies at once.

If you are like me, you have spent way too much time trying to apply damage over time to multiple enemies and not enough time doing what you’re supposed to be. This fixes that issue so us Sages can focus on what really matters. The other key change is a new action that gives Kardion for everyone in the party. It seems to be limited in how it works with likely a long cooldown if I had to guess. That said, it is nice to be able to temporarily extend all of the healing capabilities of Kardion to everyone.

All FFXIV Sage Job Changes Dawntrail
Image via Square Enix

These FFXIV Sage job changes in Dawntrail will ensure it is the most flexible healer around. You can focus purely on DPS at times since the new action will heal everyone for all the damage you do. In addition, the new AOE damage over time skill means you deal damage more often and much faster.

While there are other great job changes for the new expansion, I am comfortable in saying Red Mage and Sage got some of the best ones. These FFXIV Red Mage and Sage changes in Dawntrail may not be as drastic as others. However, they don’t have to be. They enhance the existing strengths of both jobs while fixing their few weaknesses. If you’re looking for a DPS or healer to main in Dawntrail, I certainly suggest Red Mage and Sage.

Final Fantasy XIV is available right now for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Dawntrail will release on July 2, 2024.

The post FFXIV Red Mage and Sage Dawntrail Changes Are Exceptional appeared first on Siliconera.

Review: Library of Runia Is a Challenging Switch Experience

Library of Runia

I always wanted to properly get into deck-building games. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the GameBoy Advance at the tender age of thirteen was my first exposure to this kind of game. I wouldn't run into anything even remotely like it until Slay the Spire burst onto the scene in 2017. However, nothing about Slay the Spire drew me into it. The visuals weren't enticing enough to hold my attention and, despite the deck building aspect being more than proficient (the game is a hit for a reason), I dropped it after clocking in a measly ten hours. When I was asked if I was interested in checking out Library of Runia, I gave the game a quick look and agreed, unaware that I would be spending weeks desperately trying to decipher the complexities of what has become one of the most challenging turn-based RPGs of my life. Honestly, I'm into it.

Library of Runia is a visual novel with deck-building components and all of the bells and whistles associated with turn-based RPGs attached to it. Players follow Roland, a Fixer from The City. He stumbles upon the titular Library and ends up meeting the Head Librarian, an enigmatic woman by the name of Angela. She ends up recruiting him as a member of staff. Through this, he becomes a Librarian, which you think wouldn't be all that exciting. However, in this world knowledge is power. Those that seek out the tomes within this illustrious building must fight the staff in order to obtain the books they desire. That is more or less the premise, which weaves itself into how the game itself is played.

Library of Runia
Image via Project Moon

Players can create a team of Librarians, each with a unique set of skills associated with whatever outfit they are wearing at the time. Each Librarian is given a default outfit, which contains a set of cards that will appear in their deck. Initiating combat requires players to offer a book, which then entices combatants to come out. This in turn allows you to take books off of their corpses to obtain more cards and their outfits. It is also how you progress through the story. You can grind stages for multiples of these books to burn, but the game does warn you that you should keep a copy of each, just to have the required offerings on hand to challenge a specific stage.

Now, I had no idea that this was a sequel to Project Moon's Limbus Company. Not having known that and immediately being thrust into the game, I actually advise those looking to play Library of Runia either experience Limbus Company themselves or watch a playthrough. The lore gets confusing and sometimes hard to follow, even if the premise is simple enough. I ended up setting time aside to watch a playthrough of Limbus Company just to get a better grasp of The City and the world in which these games take place while I grinded for more cards and experience, as I was often woefully underprepared for each fight.

Library of Runia
Image via Project Moon

As mentioned previously, Library of Runia is a turn-based game. However, there is an extra layer of complexity added onto this that requires some level of resource management. Every card (called "pages") costs a certain amount of Light points. So you don't want to blow all of your Light to take out one enemy if you have several stages ahead of you. Because while you need to factor in the cost of Light, you also have to take into consideration turn order which is determined by Speed Dice. I still don't have an idea of how Speed Dice work. I more or less pick a card and pray that I attack first, killing my enemies before they break my defense, stagger me, and force me to go back and grind.

Attacking isn't the only thing you can do in the game, as playing defensive cards are also an option. You see, each card has several status effects attached to it, some with more offensive capabilities and negative status effects, and others capable of guarding attacks.

This is where you need to be strategic in using your cards. Especially as the game progresses. At first you will fight one round of enemies at a time, picking off two or three combatants before you are given a break to burn books you've acquired from fallen foes to obtain their cards and outfits. But you are quickly thrown into tiered fights, sometimes facing upwards of three waves of enemies with no way to heal or recover what remains of your stamina. Rushing through stages no longer becomes an option. Instead you need to carefully consider what outfit you are equipping your Librarian with, and what cards will accompany that deck. Thankfully you can save builds and swap between them before entering stages very easily. Which is great. Because having to recreate your deck every time you switched out an outfit would be a chore.

It's these little bits of quality of life features that stop Library of Runia from being frustrating to the point of making the player never want to pick the game up ever again. However, I do wish the font was larger, as on the Nintendo Switch it's almost impossible to read any kind of text. This is especially true in handheld mode. I was squinting most of the time as I played the game during commute, and even docking it and projecting the game onto my PC monitor I was having issues reading the text just because of how cramped and small it was. This can be a make or break for some players, and for me it has actively factored into my score. As after a handful of hours with the game my eyes were tired, sore, and bloodshot.

Library of Runia
Image via Project Moon

That said, Library of Runia is a fantastic game. The voice acting is top notch, the story is intriguing enough to entice players who otherwise may not be interested in deck building games to give it a shot, and it forces the player to engage with its systems to meet each challenge. However, this means that it won't be for everyone. Those that have gotten tired of fiddling around with the same deck builders for hours on end may find Library of Runia enticing, especially with its heavy emphasis on story. Overall, I had a blast with the game, even if I'm still figuring out just how to optimize my deck some thirty hours in.

Library of Runia is available for PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Review: Library of Runia Is a Challenging Switch Experience appeared first on Siliconera.

Fallout Looks to Be Coming to Fortnite Season 3 Wrecked

Fallout and Fortnite Tease Chapter 5 Season 3 Wrecked

Epic Games is teasing a surprising, timely crossover seemingly coming to Fortnite Battle Royale in the near future. It looks like the two massive franchises Fortnite and Fallout will be coming together for an event, though there is no release window or date for the crossover just yet.

The Fortnite and Fallout tease began with a short tweet from Epic Games with an image. The image appears to showcase one of the Brotherhood of Steel members from the Fallout series, but in the Fortnite style. This looks to be hinting at a likely skin players will be able to get in the near future.

In addition to that, the image showcases a factory-like location of some kind underneath the Brotherhood of Steel member. This spot could be a brand new location in the upcoming Chapter 5 Season 3 Wrecked. As a result, it is possible this upcoming post-apocalyptic-themed season will feature a massive crossover with Fallout.

Here is the official teaser. It also features emojis that recreate the Vault Boy expression of a person winking while giving a thumbs-up sign.

https://twitter.com/fortnitegame/status/1791499072789979575?s=61&t=9YBio6l0V75AlnyR8nX7jQ

This possible Fortnite and Fallout crossover season could feature Wasteland-themed locations from the Bethesda series, plus a Brotherhood of Steel skin possibly in the new Battle Pass. This timing makes a lot of sense, too, with the recent Fallout Prime Video TV series. Fortunately, it won’t take long for players to find out if this is the case, since the new season is coming out in the near future.

Fans can look forward to the release of Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 Wrecked on May 24, 2024. Fortnite and Fallout fans alike should wait until then for more info on how this teased crossover event will work.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 is coming to Android, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Fallout Looks to Be Coming to Fortnite Season 3 Wrecked appeared first on Siliconera.

Quintessential Quintuplets Dating Sim Games Appear in English in May

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer and Five Memories Spent With You will be on the PS4, Switch, and PC.

Spike Chunsoft confirmed it will release two The Quintessential Quintuplets dating sim games in English on the PS4, Switch, and PC. The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer and The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You will both appear on May 23, 2024 and can be purchased alone or in a double-pack.

Both of these dating sim visual novel games pull from the original The Quintessential Quintuplets series, but let you pick which Nakano sister Fuutarou ends up with in the end. Memories of a Quintessential Summer involves a summer trip gone awry due to a storm. It also involves some character development elements, since players help determine the sisters’ study schedules to help boost their abilities in certain school subjects. Meanwhile, Five Memories Spent With You involves the five sisters, Fuutarou, and Fuutarou’s sister going on a graduation trip together.

Spike Chunsoft already confirmed launch discounts will be in effect for each game and the double-pack between May 23-30, 2024. Alone, each game purchased separately is $34.99. If someone gets the double-pack that includes both games, it will be $59.99.

There’s another The Quintessential Quintuplets game on the way, though it is another console adaptation of a puzzle game rather than a more straightforward dating sim like these two. The Quintessential Quintuplets: Gotopazu Story 2ndwill appear in Japan in 2024 on the Switch and PS4. 

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer and The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You will come to the PS4, Switch, and PC on May 23, 2024, and both are already available in Japan. The anime is on Crunchyroll, and Kodansha handles the manga.

The post Quintessential Quintuplets Dating Sim Games Appear in English in May appeared first on Siliconera.

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