Circan’s November 2025 video game sales report has easily been one of the most anticipated. For one, November is always one of the most lucrative for the games industry, but this year in particular has seen several major hits - including new entries in two rival series.
A new Life is Strange game, titled Life is Strange: Reunion, has been rated in Europe. Since being discovered by fans, the game's presence on the PEGI website has since been removed.
Final Fantasy 14 has released its latest Savage-tier raid today, pushing the game's best and brightest to race through this new challenge group content to earn powerful loot and see which region can take it down first. However, for Americans, this is proving difficult due to ongoing DDOS attacks and server outages.
Toshiyuki Itahana, character artist for the Final Fantasy series, including games like Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, and Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail, has left Square Enix.
Alicia Vikander's turn as Lara Croft in 2018's Tomb Raider adaptation is having a bit of a renaissance it seems. The film, which is largely based on the rebooted Survivor timeline, recently popped up on the Netflix top 10 films list, seven years (give or take) since its initial release.
There are a few series staples you can expect from Final Fantasy: a guy called Cid, moogles, chocobos, that lovely arpeggio motif in the music, and… surveys? If you've been reading this site for a while - or, indeed, following the Final Fantasy series - you'll know that Square Enix likes to lobby the fanbase to hear our thoughts about the series' identity and future.
Nier producer Yosuke Saito has teased that there's "just a little something" on the way for fans in 2026.
It's been another strange, difficult, and yet somehow also brilliant year for video games in 2025. Triple-A releases have been sparse again, compared to the boom times of old, with a great big GTA 6-shaped hole left in the final few months of the year. And yet once again, every gap left by the established order has been filled twice over with something brilliantly new.
Despite the last game being a sales flop for Square Enix, another Life Is Strange is apparently not only in the works but out this year.
When developer Deck Nine took over Life Is Strange from original creator Don’t Nod, it seemed the series was in safe hands, given the critically acclaimedBefore The Storm prequel and Life Is Strange: True Colors.
Unfortunately, after 2024’s Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, it was hard to feel optimistic about the future of both the series and the studio. Not only was the game a messy disappointment, it was also a financial flop for Square Enix.
At that point it wouldn’t have been surprising if Square Enix put the series on ice, and they certainly haven’t announced anything since, but there’s suddenly clear evidence that a new game is coming and will be out surprisingly soon.
Recently, a new listing on the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) website, which provides age ratings for all games released in Europe, was spotted for something called Life Is Strange: Reunion.
It was listed only as a PlayStation 5 release, with a release date of March 27, 2025 – which obviously can’t be accurate.
Even more interesting, is that it includes a story synopsis; one that not only mentions Max Caulfield (the protagonist of the first game and Double Exposure) but her best friend and love interest Chloe Price.
‘Chloe Price was Max Caulfield’s partner in time… Losing her is Max’s greatest regret. Now Chloe has come to Caledon University,’ it reads (Caledon University being the setting of Double Exposure).
‘Haunted by nightmares and impossible memories, Chloe needs Max’s help. But Max is already in crisis: in three days, a deadly inferno will destroy the campus.’
The listing has since been removed (no doubt because it was published early and contains an incorrect release date), but not before VGC managed to grab a screenshot for posterity. The same thing happened with the still unannounced Assassin’s Creed 4 remake, which popped up on the PEGI website last month.
Age rating boards across the word regularly leak video game information before they’re supposed to and what’s useful about that is that not only do they have no reason to lie but a game has to be fairly close to release in order for them to give it a rating.
What seems almost certain to have happened in this case is that the game’s release date is March 27, 2026. But the doofus who was entering the information got the year wrong – a common enough mistake at this time of year.
The more perplexing element of the leak is that Square Enix has never hinted at any such game and it’s very odd to be planning to launch it so soon, without any pre-publicity. Even if the March date is wrong, a release any time this year seems surprising if the game hasn’t even been annouced yet.
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If the product description is accurate, and it would be bizarre if somewhere like PEGI just made it up, the concept feels like a direct response to one of the most notable criticisms Double Exposure received: the lack of Chloe. Both the character and her relationship with Max (which can turn romantic depending on player choices) are beloved by fans and one of the highlights of the first game.
Since that story ends with you needing to choose whether to sacrifice Chloe to save the town of Arcadia Bay or vice versa, Double Exposure omits Chloe entirely. Depending on your choice, she’s either dead or alive but no longer in contact with Max.
Bringing Max back without Chloe did not go down well with fans, especially as there’s a comic book sequel all about their relationship in the ‘save Chloe’ timeline.
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Double Exposure’s ending did tease a sequel, complete with a James Bond-esque ‘Max Caulfield will return.’ But considering Double Exposure was less than two years ago, it seems too soon for a sequel to release.
However, last year, there were rumours and speculation that Deck Nine had been contracted by Square Enix to release two Life Is Strange games, with an ex-employee of Deck Nine alleging that the Double Exposure sequel was aiming for a 2026 launch, suggesting both projects were in development simultaneously.
They also added that Deck Nine was ‘laying off every department one at a time after they finish their last work.’ When combined with Double Exposure’s financial failure, none of this bodes well for both the studio and Life Is Strange itself.
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Dissatisfaction with Square Enix’s work does not prevent the 3D Investment Partners fund from continuing to purchase shares of the Japanese company. Recently, they increased their stake from 14.36% to 16.48%.Final Fantasy 14 players who have not played the critically acclaimed MMORPG in some time now have a window to do so, as Square Enix launched a free login campaign for players to enjoy. The Final Fantasy 14 free login campaign is a limited-time offer that gives inactive players a few days of game time, allowing them to experience the game's latest content.
The Final Fantasy 14 team at Square Enix has just done the smartest thing possible right now by capitalizing on the hugely positive response to patch 7.4 with the return of the FF14 free login campaign. The special event allows lapsed players to come back and check out the latest additions, from the new story content to the final act of Dawntrail's Arcadion raid series, along with all of the quality-of-life tools that have just been rolled out. With player sentiment at its highest since Endwalker wrapped up, it's a good time to find out why.
Read the full story on PCGamesN: The FF14 free login campaign is back, right as Square Enix finds the spark it was missing
The FF14 race to world first has come to its conclusion, and this time there's nothing close about it, although continued DDOS frustrations certainly managed to put a dampener on the event. Rounding out a trilogy of wins across the entire Dawntrail raid series, Japanese team Lucrezia managed to take home the victory once again, and did so with well over an hour gap ahead of second place, making it tough to argue with the result despite repeated disruptions for several North American teams.
Read the full story on PCGamesN: The FF14 race to world first is over as Dawntrail's final savage raid falls, and despite DDOS drama the winner is clear
Amid all the waiting for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 – which has two final names and internal announcement date – it is funny to stop and think how the development team handled a project of this magnitude. After all, it doesn’t just factor in the original Final Fantasy 7 story, but also those of its spin-offs, thus creating a “fresh feel,” according to director Naoki Hamaguchi.
Speaking to GamerBraves in a new interview, he said. “Even from members such as creative director (Tetsuya) Nomura and producer (Yoshinori) Kitase, they didn’t just want to make a remake. They wanted to make a story that could include the compilation of the spin-offs and the soul that they have birthed across the years into this new project, and bring a fresh feel to Final Fantasy 7.”
Obviously, it’s not a simple matter of simply shoving in their stories – context matters, especially when it comes to characters who didn’t exist in the original. After all, where would that leave fans who never played the spin-offs (and given the quality of offerings like Dirge of Cerberus, you can’t really blame them)?
Hamaguchi said, “As a compilation of all these new stories that came post the original Final Fantasy 7, one of the things we sort of grappled with is how much do we show, how much do we include [for] players who wouldn’t know these new characters from the spin-offs.
“When discussing the limits of what we could express within a single game, we had to take timelines into account. At the same time, with many Final Fantasy spin-offs and additions including popular characters not in the original, we considered how much we could include to give players of the remake a fresh sense of life and excitement.”
Of course, other elements bring a degree of freshness to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which have garnered mixed reactions (if you know, you know). But one thing is for sure: It’s been one hell of a ride, and fans are eager to see where it goes next.
So, when does Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, or whatever it ends up called, actually release? Your guess is as good as ours, but last October, Hamaguchi said the project was in a “really good state,” and that’s turning into something “really satisfying.” Last month, he commented that the “core game experience” is complete, and how it’s “finally starting to match the vision.” That includes “a new experience and a new scale,” with the Highwind airship forming a “key” part of the same.
Final Fantasy VII: Remake Intergrade is one of my favourite PlayStation 5 games, a perfect reintroduction to the heart and soul of all things PlayStation and Final Fantasy. Much like how the original Final Fantasy VII gave the original PlayStation its identity, I feel this Director's Cut expanded release of FFVII Remake reminded me of all the intangibles which collectively come together to define the style and culture of PlayStation. Stepping into a fully realised Midgar was a surreal and enchanting experience for me, and more than the dazzling combat system, it was the intimate moments shared between characters which helped me lose myself in the setting. Returning to Midgar, along with the heartfelt cast, rolled together feelings of nostalgia and wonder into one beautiful sensation of escapism.
The game is now making a comeback of sorts, with a brand-new port for Xbox platforms and Switch 2. No matter the era, Final Fantasy VII is one of those games that's almost too easy to place into the "overrated" camp, and yet even its biggest naysayers are closeted fans.
As the premier RPG showcase for the original PlayStation, I've had an on-and-off relationship with the game, having spent more time with the follow-up, Final Fantasy VIII. My first time with Final Fantasy VII involved a one-sitting playthrough in the absence of a memory card (occasionally there would be shortages of those darn things!), where I made it all the way to Disc 3 (remember disc swapping mid-adventure?) before I finally hit the Game Over screen. I was pretty pleased with myself, but in hindsight, I realise just how linear and cinematic this RPG really was, and how dead-easy it was for me to be make it as far as I did without saving progress.
I eventually did play it again on the rather disappointing PSOne Classic mini-console, and then on Nintendo Switch, which is perhaps the best possible way to enjoy the classic at this point. A lot of things about the game obviously don't hold up (random battles are irritating), but the thing I enjoy the most, time and time again, is the time I get to spend in Midgar. This underground urban dystopia serves as the main hometown, so to speak, a fascinating fusion of sci-fi, fantasy, and steampunk, featuring both Western and Oriental cultural influences. Midgar is a melting pot of culture and inspiration, and each time I have replayed the original PlayStation game, it's only just to immerse myself in the early areas of the adventure once more.
Then there are the characters, and honestly, it feels to me that every RPG since 1998 has tried their hardest to be just like Final Fantasy VII, particularly in the effort to replicate the same chemistry and synergy of the cast. Since 1998, there have been so many JRPGs attempting the same magic; the cast of Final Fantasy VII, once known for their unique personalities, consequently created these now laughable tropes. The brooding amnesiac has been done to death, but when Cloud did the then-novel character gimmick, it was cool and edgy. To this day, no one does it better. Yes, Cloud has the mood swings of a teenager, but he also has a sense of humour with his witty comebacks. His personality certainly has more range in the remake, with lines like "I'm sorry about your ass."
I was initially hesitant about Final Fantasy VII Remake; for one thing, I didn't quite like the idea of it being episodic, with the uncertainty surrounding whether they would even be able to complete the project. The game first landed on PS4, as part of the apex lineup of swansong hits for the console. It came to PS5 as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and now has landed on Xbox and Switch 2. At the time of its PS5 release, I hesitated, yet something about it called to me, as I desperately needed an epic JRPG experience for my new console, especially since Scarlet Nexus was not quite what I hoped it would be.
One of the biggest complaints from critics was how VII Remake "never left Midgar," and then it hit me: every time I have replayed the original game, it was simply to relive Midgar all over again. I actually don't really want to leave Midgar; I'd rather perpetually live in a hyper-realistic recreation of it for as long as possible. Even now, my save progress is at the point of no return in Chapter 14, because once the party infiltrates Shinra headquarters, it's a rollercoaster into the endgame sequence. To be honest, I'm still not ready for it, as I'd much rather just roam the Sector slums. It's been a blast to explore every nook and cranny and meet all sorts of interesting characters.
The slums of Midgar are downtrodden and rustic, and yet they brim with so much life and personality. It's a multicultural hub in the truest sense, a dystopian future setting most video games struggle to create. Not everyone is friendly here, but even with so much pollution and rampant corruption, there are moments of quiet beauty and genuine kindness from its citizens. It needs to be experienced to be believed, and the level of detail present provides an unreal level of intimate immersion.
Then there is the cast, whom I've gotten to know over the years via the main game and various spin-off games and media, including full-fledged motion pictures. I don't claim to be the biggest Final Fantasy VII fan, nor was I ever a diehard fan of the cast, but over a period of two decades, I can't help but have a nostalgic sentiment towards it all. They're a bit like old friends I rarely keep in touch with, but getting in touch with them takes me back to a moment in time. I have lived through the anticipation, hype, magazine covers, stellar reviews, and everything else since. It's hard for Final Fantasy VII not to hold some meaning to anyone who grew up during that magical time.
At this point, the death of Aerith is the worst-kept spoiler in pop culture. Everyone knows about it, even those who still don't plan to play Final Fantasy VII any time soon. In hindsight, Aerith's character development was a little rushed in the original game, but in VII Remake, the depth of her development makes it so easy to genuinely care about her, and even sadder knowing what inevitably lies ahead for her (unless.. well, we'll see). One of my favourite moments in the original was the brief duration spent in Aerith's house, from its warm, cosy interior to the beautiful flowerbeds. In VII Remake, this humble setting is brought to life in rich detail, everything from creaky staircases to lush sun-kissed flowerbeds. It's an area where I can't help but stop to take it all in, an unexpected respite for mindfulness.
This is exactly what VII Remake does so well: the way it goes from moment to moment, allowing both its cast and setting to grow with the narrative pacing. The most profound moments are quiet yet interactive segments of intimate vulnerability, such as when Cloud and Aerith simply walk through the slums, talking just to overcome the awkwardness of being strangers to each other, or when Cloud and company visit Jessie's family home, as the cast walk through her childhood neighbourhood, complete with a park and a swing set.
These are the moments, so intimate and authentic, which defined my experience with VII Remake Intergrade, even more than the excellent battle flow and the sheer depth of its intricate systems. These quiet yet profound moments of immersion are what I hope to see more of in video games, daring moments rarely seen in gaming since the original Shenmue on Dreamcast.
I love a lot of things about Final Fantasy VII: Remake Intergrade, but the lasting moments to me are when things slow down to a mindful halt, where the game world simply allows itself to be, and allows me to be a part of it, and gives me the agency in allowing the cast to bravely be their vulnerable selves.
