Julius

So, this won't come as a shock to anyone, but Ever Crisis has just been announced to be coming to Steam, following a successful mobile launch - which I think now makes it worthy of a dedicated thread. For anyone who needs a reminder, Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is a compilation of the original Final Fantasy VII and it's various spin-offs, whether it be Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, or Dirge of Cerberus. The game also has an original storyline telling the history of Sephiroth, based on the previously released The First Soldier (also for mobile). These are planned to be served up in monthly instalments, but I imagine it's only a matter of time - once the project is completed - before it lands on console. Now, for a roundup of the game's various trailers: After this and XV Pocket Edition, I'm curious to see what other plans S-E has for adaptations/reimaginings of their own works - I think it's one of their smarter moves to be going this route. Personally, given the game's length and MMORPGness, I'd love to see a story-focused and mechanically leaner release of XIV, similar to Dragon Quest X Offline.

Yet another fantastic episode of Ahsoka. That's four in a row of Ahsoka (Parts 4 to 7) that have been top tier Star Wars, as far as I'm concerned! Loved every second of it. I can update this post with some thoughts on it now, though Just one episode left... Cannot wait for next week's episode! Crazy to think there's only one episode left...and then the long wait begins

Versions of the games bundled with the DLC are on their way: Man, Pokémon main series box art hasn't been the best box art in the series for a long time, but the way they make it look with the DLC packed in...gross

I'm not saying that they're planning on teaming up, but the fact that Kamiya announced he is leaving Platinum the same year that Mikami announced he is leaving Tango...definitely gets the mind racing a little at the possibilities. My gut instinct is that they might both go the Nagoshi route and set up shops for Net Ease/some other big Chinese gaming entity like Tencent. Unfollowed them on Twitter too, apparently? So it really doesn't have great optics. Could be a case that he feels like he sees where Platinum is going and isn't in a position to be as creative as he maybe wants to be, seems to be the way the majority of these go

Well here's the answer to that question! You'll be able to create save data for any PS1 Konami titles not released on modern platforms to recreate the memory part of the Psycho Mantis battle. Kind of blown away by some of the extra flourishes Konami are adding to this collection, got to give credit where credit is due! Also, it's been a long minute since I've booted up a PS1, so I might be off here, but the memory card editing screen being 3x5 is a recreation of the PS1 memory card screen, right? If so, that's really neat!

Crazy deal for new PS5 owners in the US where, as part of the Upgrader Program, for the next month new PS5s will include a free game – and it's a mighty strong list of first-party and exclusive offerings that they'll be choosing from. A good few of these have been on PS+ Extra/Premium, but TLOU Part I and Ragnarök making it onto this list too is an insane move. Based on the date by which the offer ends, the plan seems to be to sell as many PS5s between now and when Spidey 2 comes out next month with this added incentive, and then hoping people pick up either Spidey 2 or make some Black Friday/holiday pick-ups. Seems like a great deal for those in the IS without a PS5 to their name!

Special TGS showing covers some open world exploration, Kalm, chocobo catching, hunts, mini-games and the return of CHADLEY! Excellent companion piece to the previews from the other day!

First game announced for the Switch 2/successor: Tamarindos Freaking Dinner. I don't want to get my hopes up here as I'm new to this franchise, but surely this means they think the game is at least on par with Dragon Quest XI?

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror comes to the service on September 29th!

Gameplay deep dive shown off at TGS: Looking good!

Release date announced during Capcom's TGS showing: January 25th 2024.

How dare you suggest that Xbox are money-hatting to keep the Octopath games off of the Ouya!

Can't wait to be a bard @drahkon think you'll appreciate this artistry

Pre-order trailer from TGS: Very excited, curious to learn when us backers get the game!

The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows early next year. Yup, that's a standard Xbox @ TGS announcement

We've got previews! Not too surprising as one preview slipped out a bit early yesterday...and the thoughts seem real positive! Game Informer also got a chance to sit down with some of the team and asked about the game being on two discs: Hype. Just over five months to go...

Interview with some of the key devs to work on the game:

Game's gone gold! 30 days to go

Yeah, honestly I say it'll be a tough choice to choose, but for me, I don't think it is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Jan 26th) - I always want to be a few games behind on Yakuza/Judgment/RGG projects so that I can use them as a pick-me-up when I need them. Right now that means going back to Like a Dragon (I think I got to Chapter 5 and completed the business management stuff - aka got filthy rich - last year, before dropping off due to life stuff and then other games coming along). Also got Lost Judgment and Ishin to get through, not to mention the upcoming Gaiden - I'm backed up on these games for now Granblue Fantasy Relink* (Feb 1st) - yeah, Day 1. I've been waiting on this game and keeping tabs on it forever, and even if it's just a case of swimming in 7s, I'm fully onboard for that. It just looks so vibrant compared to a lot of other bigger JRPGs these days, I'm really curious to see how the combat is after Platinum stepped back from the project, and I'm super curious to see what the long-term plans are for the series outside of mobile. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if this got knocked back to the summer just to avoid the trinity of JRPG big-hitters releasing around it. Persona 3 Reload (Feb 2nd) - the last thing I want to do with my second Persona experience is to rush through. I love taking my time and just chilling in those games. I'll wait. Hopefully next summer is quieter than this year's because that seems like the perfect time of year to get through a Persona game! Final Fantasy VII Rebirth* (Feb 29th) - yeah, also Day 1. I'm on the fence about replaying OG VII and Remake before this, but regardless of what I decide to do, there's no way I'm not picking up Rebirth on Day 1. Four weeks between this and Granblue seems ample time to get through Relink, too! We're just getting absolutely spoiled these days Loved 5! Definitely a bit longer than the other games in the series up to that point, but I also think it's one of the stronger games in the series (I'd put it behind 0 and alongside Kiwami 2 as one of my favourite entries) if you're looking to take your time and soak it all in. And, if not, I feel like the story has enough momentum/switch-ups to keep driving things forward! Will be looking out for your thoughts Man, the RGG games are insane for what they do with stuff like this. I always love toying around with the arcade machines in these games, I think I spent a solid hour or so on Virtua Fighter 5, such a blast! Waiting for the day we inevitably get to buy a Dreamcast, put it in our in-game room, and boot up Shenmue and after that it'll be OG PS2 Yakuza. Man, wouldn't that be a thing!

Trailer 3:

January 26th 2024: Fml. This, Granblue Fantasy Relink, Persona 3 Reload, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth all releasing within just over a month of each other. All potentially 100+ hour JRPGs. We're eating good, but man am I exhausted just thinking about it! Will definitely need to put some time into thinking about which games take precedence.... Gameplay trailer: Story trailer: Announced during today's RGG Summit: Q1 2024 is simply nuts.

I'll update with some more cohesive thoughts on Ahsoka Part 6 in a bit, but for now: Man, I love Star Wars

When I first saw the leaks when I woke up this morning, I looked up at my desk and just let out a good chuckle As for the decision to stay the same price, go all-digital, and 2TB (which I'm sure they want consumers to view as a trade-off for the disc drive): all makes sense to me. With Game Pass being - by far - the biggest draw into the Xbox ecosystem these days, I'm sure their player numbers are heavily leaning in favour of digital games as it is, and I'd imagine they have the stats between Game Pass and the all-digital Series S to back this all up.

I've had to check so many times over the months on the spellings, Shin is right but it seems like they've gone with Baylan (source: Star Wars Databank); don't think it helped that they said their names on-stage well before spellings were confirmed in printed press. As for expectations, I don't really have many, but what I hope... Very excited for tonight's episode, whatever it may bring!

A further leak has also seemingly confirmed the existence of a planned Xbox handheld... ...which will not be getting funding. Yeah, totally agree – and I do wonder if it will have any impact at all on the Activision-Blizzard purchase, because seeing it stated like this (we are also planning on purchasing X developers and one of our only two rivals in the dedicated console space) is finally the phrasing that I think could put things in a new light in this case: Xbox do want a monopoly. It's something I would certainly be considering and taking a harsh look at, that's for sure. This also feels like the most casually unhinged thing I've ever heard/read Phil Spencer say. I can see what he's trying to get at - what greater jewel in the video game acquisition crown could there be than Nintendo? - but to suggest that it would be a career moment to have your bosses buy them? It sounds like a pretty sad career if the highlights are acquisitions. Also, for context, this was all said during perhaps the biggest mid-gen surge to date (2020, so the year COVID has massive tangible effects, and Animal Crossing and the Switch soared to new horizons), so it's even funnier reading him go on about Nintendo taking too long to adapt and bring their games to other consoles Yeah, seems like an old doc based on it starting with FY20 (so probably 2019/early 2020?) and while COVID is a factor in potential delays, etc., boy oh boy are they super behind if all of this was the plan. Even before COVID, to slate Elder Scrolls VI for FY24 seems bold, genuinely to the point of outright stupidity. I do find it interesting that they at least acknowledge the weakness of the Zenimax purchase in it being more North American/European focused and not exactly diversifying their portfolio, which is what a lot of us have been saying since the acquisition was first announced. And I agree with you – the slide doesn't exactly invoke any confidence in them doing much interesting besides, well, remaining Bethesda, for both better and worse.