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Articles by Aidan SimondsThursday
Final Fantasy 6 Terra Shows Strength in Compassion
Welcome, fellow party members, to the newest installment of our “Our Favorite Characters” column. This time, we’re traveling to the steampunk world of Final Fantasy VI, to take a look at Terra Branford. While the creators of Final Fantasy VI have stressed that this game is much more of an ensemble piece, with no distinct main character, many can agree that if there were to be one central hero, Terra is the best fit for that title.
Labyrinth Life PS4 Release Confirmed for the West
In what is a new wrinkle to one of the most twisting and turning tales in all of video games, Labyrinth Life is actually getting a Western release. This comes after Omega Labyrinth Z was (in?)famously rejected outright by Sony. However, it appears that both Sony and D3 Publisher have reached some sort of consensus, as the most recent title in the series will be hitting the West on August 1, 2019. What a time to be alive.
Project Sakura Wars Release Date for Japan Announced in New Stream
Sega’s Project Sakura Wars stream offered fans a deep-dive on the upcoming title. Significant details were revealed, including a first look at the battle system that completely differs from past mainline installments. In addition, we finally know when the highly-anticipated title will appear in Japanese stores. Get ready to return to the world of Sakura Wars on December 12, 2019.
Travis Strikes Again PS4 Release Date Revealed in Retail Listing
We had previously known that Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes would be eventually making its way to the PlayStation 4 (and PC) sometime in 2019. Now, thanks to Amazon Japan, we finally know when it will appear in Japan. The very wordy Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition will be released on the PlayStation 4 on October 17, 2019. No word yet if this date will apply outside of Japan, as well.
Wargroove PS4 Release Date Finally Announced by Chucklefish
Chucklefish has finally announced when PlayStation 4 players can get their hands on Wargroove. The turn-based tactical game will be here sooner than you may think! It will be released on July 23, 2019. While it will feature most of the things included in the previous releases, one major selling point will not be found on the PS4.
Overwatch Role Lock Confirmed, Thanks to a Leaked Video
After previously being rumored, a leaked video has confirmed that role locking is indeed coming to Overwatch. While this shift will only concern the Overwatch League, it should also make its way to make its way to the game proper soon. While this technically hasn’t been formally announced yet, it will mark the biggest balance change yet in Blizzard’s hero shooter. A video for the upcoming stage four OWL match was leaked ahead of time, revealing the major change.
Tim Willits id Software Departure Announced After 24 Years
id Software Studio Director Tim Willits has announced he is leaving the studio. While he won’t officially be leaving the developer until after QuakeCon 2019 wraps up, he’s already set his next destination. Willits made the surprising announcement on Twitter, revealing he will be leaving id after 24 years working there: After 24 years, I’ve decided to leave id Software after QuakeCon. I’ve been extremely lucky to work with the best people in the industry on truly amazing games.
GTA Online Casino Release Date Announced by Rockstar
Los Santos is about to get a huge new attraction in the coming days. Rockstar has announced that the Diamond Casino & Resort will officially be opening its doors on July 23, 2019. The new complex will give Grand Theft Auto Online players a whole bunch of new actives to spend their time (and money) on. The headliner of this new complex is, unsurprisingly, the world-class casino. There will be a variety of distractions for players once they enter the building.
Oculus Wants to Trade With Sony for PSVR Exclusives
While one could argue whether or not virtual reality gaming has truly blown up in the mainstream, there’s no denying there’s a bevy of great titles on the various VR platforms. Some of these titles are exclusives, with Sony’s PlayStation VR being home to games like Blood & Truth and Firewall Zero Hour. However, if Oculus executive (and Naughty Dog co-founder) Jason Rubin has his way, those games won’t necessarily stay exclusive to PSVR.
Supermassive Games The Dark Pictures Planned for Eight Games
When The Dark Pictures Anthology was first announced, it was billed as a Twilight Zone-esque series of games. Each entry in the series would essentially be a standalone title, though they would share some thematic elements. Developer Supermassive Games certainly has ambitious plans for it, as it sees the series spanning eight titles overall. CEO Pete Samuels detailed Supermassive’s grand plan in an interview with IGN.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Xbox One Release Not Planned
Obviously we all know Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released on the PlayStation 4. However, many have been wondering what platforms, if any, besides the PS4 the highly-anticipated game will be found on. Square Enix has said that, at least for now, there are “no plans” to release it on other platforms. But does that mean it won’t release on the PlayStation 5, either?
The Dark Pictures Anthology Multiplayer Modes Announced
While Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology will be a purely story-focused experience, the developer just announced something that should get fans excited. Every game in the upcoming series will have not one, but two unique multiplayer experiences. Take a look at multiplayer in action here: The first of the two modes, “Shared Story,” will be played out online. Designed for two players, this mode gives each player control over certain sections of narrative.
New Private Division Disintegration Title Announced for 2020
Take-Two’s Private Division has announced its newest title, Disintegration, an upcoming first-person shooter, set to release in 2020. Only a few details were given at this time, but expect to see more of it in August, as a full reveal is planned for gamescom 2019. The sci-fi shooter already has an impressive pedigree behind it, however, as it comes from one of the brains behind the Halo series. Disintegration is the first title from independent studio V1 Interactive.
Live-Action Final Fantasy Series in Development from Sony
Final Fantasy is officially getting its first live-action television show. It was announced that a series based on the popular MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, is currently in development from Sony Pictures Television. Both Hivemind (The Witcher, The Expanse) and Square Enix are producing it. And, before you worry, it has already been confirmed that Final Fantasy mainstays like chocobos, airships, and even Cid will be appearing. Other details, like a release window or a home for the project, are unknown.
Dragon Quest Developer Hiring for 'Next Generation' Title
Is Square Enix officially about to begin development on Dragon Quest XII? Perhaps, but we do know that the team that worked on Dragon Quest XI is officially hiring staffers for a “next generation” Dragon Quest title. What this title exactly is is unconfirmed as of now, but Square Enix is specifically looking for a battle planner, facial motion designer, 2D background designer, and a technical artist for this game.
Western Atelier Ryza Release Date and Limited Edition Announced
As expected, Atelier Ryza will be coming to the West. Now known as Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, fans won’t have to wait long to experience the next entry in this long-running series. The adventure begins on October 29, 2019. Superfans will even be able to get their hands on an exclusive Collector’s Edition. Atelier Ryza will begin a brand new story arc in the Atelier series. It centers around the titular Ryza, an adventurous one who longs to escape her hometown.
EA CEO and Other Executives Reportedly Declined Most Recent Bonuses
While Andrew Wilson didn’t confirm the news directly, several EA staffers confirmed to Gamedaily.biz that the CEO, along with other executives, declined a performance bonus for the 2019 fiscal year. Instead, that money went into a bonus pool intended to be distributed among employees all across the company. Back in 2018, Wilson apparently received a bonus of $2.5 million. While it’s unknown how much he was due to receive, it appears as though he didn’t accept any part of it.
Fast-Paced and Frantic Harvest Moon Mad Dash PS4 Announced
The newest Harvest Moon game has officially been revealed, but it aims to make the normally tranquil experience a little more frantic than usual. Harvest Moon: Mad Dash will have you doing the trademark Harvest Moon tasks, but the action will be more fast-paced as you attempt to complete the numerous orders ahead of you.
NHL 20 Release Date and More Details Revealed by EA
The latest title from EA Sports has officially been unveiled. NHL 20 looks to include some major changes to the long-running franchise, including a mode inspired by the recent battle royale craze. Of course, a new EA Sports title also means a new athlete will be gracing the cover, and NHL 20 will feature Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Accompanied by a striking purple hue, Matthews is actually the first Maple Leafs player to grace the cover of an NHL title.
Bloodstained Update Glitch Forces Players to Restart Their Games
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has only been out for a couple of days, but it’s already been hit with some major controversy. The 1.02 update has come with an quite unfortunate side effect, essentially breaking the game for some people. Unfortunately, the only way to combat the issue is by restarting the game completely. Even worse, the issue affects players who started a new game prior to the update, which could be many of those currently playing Bloodstained.
PSN Down Once Again, All Online Services Currently Experiencing Issues
It looks like PlayStation Network is currently down. All of PlayStation’s online services are offline, and it doesn’t appear to be part of any sort of maintenance. At this time, it’s unknown what has caused this issue, and there’s no indication of when the service will be back up.
Fortnite Developer Almost Canceled the Project During Development
By this point, almost everyone has heard of Fortnite. The free-to-play game from Epic Games has become a full-on juggernaut in the last couple of years. However, there may be an alternate timeline where Fortnite never made it to the public, and it probably would’ve been because of Rod Fergusson. While he may have been joking, it definitely seems like he wasn’t particularly hyped about the project during an interview.
Square Enix Subscription Service Currently in the Works
As digital-based games continue to have greater prominence in the world of media, more companies are looking to find ways to adapt to this changing world. Even Sqaure Enix, one of the longest developers currently active, is trying to figure out how to capitalize on the increasingly-digital future. One such way is making all of its titles available digitally in the future. What form this will take is unknown, but Square Enix does mean all of its titles, even the weird NES ones.
Geurrilla Games Lead Producer Patrick Munnik Passes Away
Patrick Munnik, a lead producer at Horizon Zero Dawn developer Guerrilla Games, has passed away at the age of 46. Details on his death are currently unknown. Guerrilla Games confirmed the news earlier today, and messages of condolences have begun to pour out for the developer. It is with great shock and sadness we inform you that our lead producer Patrick Munnik is no longer with us. We are eternally grateful to have had our greatly valued and much loved Patrick on our team.
Catherine Full Body Persona 5 DLC Will be Heading West
Catherine: Full Body will be heading Westward soon, and now we know Joker and the Phantom Thieves will be along for the ride. Atlus has confirmed that the “Joker & The Phantom Thieves Commentary Set” will be available in the West at launch. Even better, it will bring the entire cast of Persona 5 back together again. Take a sneak peek at the DLC below: The “Joker & The Phantom Thieves Commentary Pack” will introduce Persona 5 protagonist Joker as a playable character in Catherine: Full Body.
Tales From the Borderlands Delisted From the PlayStation Store
The impact of the closure of Telltale Games continues to ripple through the industry. Once again, a Telltale series has been delisted from the PlayStation Store. This time it’s Tales from the Borderlands, one of the most beloved entries in the Telltale catalog. While removing any game from digital storefronts is bad enough, this one stings more knowing that it looks to be an important piece in setting up the still-unreleased Borderlands 3. This news, while disheartening, is not unexpected.
New Ubisoft Game Codenamed 'Orpheus' Could Appear at E3 2019
Ubisoft may be planning on bringing a few new names to E3 2019. According to Kotaku’s Jason Schreier, Ubisoft will be be revealing at least one new IP at its upcoming press conference. Codenamed Orpheus (though its official name is currently under wraps), it looks to be an action-adventure title in the vein of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The tidbit was brought up in the Kotaku Splitscreen podcast, which you can listen to here.
Destiny 2 Free to Play Model Reportedly Being Released
It looks like Destiny 2 is about to go through a massive overhaul. Hours before the major Destiny 2 showcase, some notable details have leaked out. The launch of the Destiny 2: Shadowkeep expansion will do much more than add new story content; it’ll also reportedly mark Destiny 2 officially going free-to-play. Additionally, it looks like platform-exclusive content in Destiny 2 will no longer be a thing.
Diablo-Esque Darksiders Genesis Announced by THQ Nordic
THQ Nordic has announced Darksiders Genesis, the newest entry in the long-running series. However, this will be a radical departure from the usual Darksiders formula, offering up a Diablo-esque experience. It is being developed by Airship Syndicate, which is actually made up of employees from Darksiders creator Vigil Studios. Set to release later in 2019, Darksiders Genesis will allow players to finally play as the last of the four horsemen: Strife.
Dreams PS4 VR Release Not Planned for Today, Contrary to Rumors
While many are eagerly awaiting the addition of VR to Dreams, they’ll have to dream a little longer. Despite rumors that VR would be coming to Dreams Early Access later today, that has officially been debunked by Media Molecule. Of course, there is always the possibility that this could all be a misdirect, but that seems unlikely. The chatter began when Media Molecule held a developer’s talk regarding Dreams.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 E3 2019 Absence Confirmed
Ubisoft recently announced its E3 2019 lineup, though fans noticed certain games were excluded from the roster. One such game is Beyond Good and Evil 2, which was originally announced at E3 2017. It has since been confirmed that this title will not be appearing at E3 2019, though we will get an update on the ever-mysterious title before the event. A dedicated Beyond Good and Evil 2 stream is planned for Jun 6, 2019, at 6 PM CEST/12:00 PM EST.
Guillermo del Toro Death Stranding Role Doesn't Involve Voice Acting
The May 30, 2019 extensive Death Stranding trailer revealed even more members of its all-star cast. Hideo Kojima has amassed quite the assortment of A-listers for his newest game, including Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen. However, don’t expect to hear the voice of every announced cast member in this game. Kojima revealed that the recently-announced Nicolas Winding Refn and Guillermo del Toro, will only be present in the game via their 3D models.
Ghostbusters the Video Game Remastered Announced, Releasing in 2019
It’s time to answer the call, as Ghostbusters: The Game Remastered has officially been announced. The remaster was first discovered via a ratings board leak, but now it’s been made official. Set to release later in 2019, it is being handled by World War Z developer Saber Interactive and will be published by Mad Dog Games.
Ancestors PS4 Release Date Announced to be in December 2019
It’s been a long road for Patrice Désilets’ Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, but the odyssey will soon come to an end (or maybe a beginning) soon. Take-Two Interactive has announced that the open-world survival game will be releasing on the PlayStation 4 at the tail end of 2019 in December. It follows the PC release, which has an August 27, 2019 release date.
YU-NO Remake Heads West in October With One Scene Changed
Spike Chunsoft has announced that YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world will be coming West this fall. However, there will be some changes made to the Western release of the popular adult visual novel. Unlike similar releases, these changes will not be exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and will also be found on the Nintendo Switch. The visual novel can be found on October 1, 2019.
The Division 2 Sales on Consoles Failed to Meet Ubisoft's Expectations
According to Ubisoft, Massive Entertainment’s The Division 2 failed to meet sales expectations on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. However, the publisher still believes the online-heavy shooter can still gain an audience. The news is a little surprising, considering that Ubisoft’s newest looter shooter topped the NPD charts for March 2019. Exact targets and sales numbers for The Division 2 were not given.
Fortnite John Wick Tie-in Event and Skins Announced
The world-famous hitman has come to Fortnite. Though it’s been leaked previously, the John Wick event is now live in Epic’s battle royale smash. Just in time for the release of John Wick: Chapter 3, a special Limited Time Mode will turn Fortnite players into (presumably less violent) hitmen themselves. But that’s not all, as players can turn into Keanu Reeves himself. The event was announced with a moody and self-referential trailer.
Free Apex Legends PlayStation Plus Pack Released
Respawn is giving certain Apex Legends players on the PlayStation 4 some exclusive cosmetic items. The “PlayStation Plus Play Pack” is, true to its name, is exclusive to PlayStation Plus subscribers. The pack is free for all members, so you better head over to the PlayStation Store now to get your exclusive gift. The pack comes packed (no pun intended) with six items, two character skins, two weapon skins, and two banners.
Robert Bowling Gives Fans Another Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Tease
At this point, no one is being slick about the next Call of Duty game. While Activision and Infinity Ward have yet to officially comment on what the next Call of Duty title will be, more and more hints have been dropped regarding the title, which is strongly believed to be Modern Warfare 4. Now, none of this should be taken as official confirmation, but things are definitely gearing up for a reveal soon. Things started out innocently enough.
Early Concept Art for Castlevania Animated Series Surfaces
Somewhere, there’s an alternate universe where we were blessed with many more video game-based cartoons. Some promotional material for a number of video game adaptations have surfaced on the internet, giving us a moment to think of what could have been. Shuttered animation company DiC Entertainment, known for such classics like The Super Mario Bros.
Kinda Funny Games E3 2019 Showcase Date Announced
Notable video game personality Greg Miller has announced the date and time for the upcoming Kinda Funny Games Showcase for E3 2019. It will take place on Monday, June 10th at 4:30 PM PDT (6:30 PM EST). It’s the second such showcase for the company, and the first to take place during E3.
Get Final Fantasy 14 Heavensward Free for a Limited Time
Final Fantasy XIV is rapidly heading towards the start of its latest expansion, Shadowbringers. However, Square Enix is offering a little treat for newcomers to the MMO as well. From now until June 27, 2019, anyone who owns the base version Final Fantasy XIV will be able to get the first expansion, Heavensward, for free! While the deal is limited, anyone who takes advantage of it will keep the expansion for good.
Blizzard Possibly Working Towards an Overwatch Story Mode
Is Overwatch building up to something bigger? Despite criticisms for a lack of a dedicated story mode, it appears that Blizzard Entertainment is in fact planning some kind of Overwatch narrative. However, instead of simply launching it with the game itself, the studio opted to build out the world and its heroes first. Despite this piecemeal approach, it all has apparently been in service to a larger story that will soon reach its culmination.
Trails of Cold Steel 2 PS4 North American Release Date Announced
Fresh off of the Japanese release, XSEED Games has announced that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II will be coming to North America quite soon. The hugely popular JRPG sequel will be making its way Westward on June 4, 2019. It follows the release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel back in March 2019. In addition, fans can also preorder the upcoming physical “Relentless Edition,” which comes with plenty of exclusive items.
COD Black Ops 4 Black Market Now Features Weapon-Specific Cosmetics
The recent “Operation Spectre Rising” patch for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 not only introduced a host of new gameplay features, it also introduced plenty of new cosmetics in the Black Market. Unfortunately, these cosmetic items have proven to be quite controversial, as they appear to be tied to a specific weapon. That means that items like Death Charms, Death Effects, and camos cannot be used throughout your arsenal, but only for a certain weapon.
Apex Legends Updates Will Come Seasonally Rather than Weekly
Though Fortnite has made battle royale players accustomed to weekly updates, that’s not always the norm when it comes to live service games. For Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment specifically, weekly updates were never part of the plan. Despite Apex Legends’ meteoric rise in popularity, Respawn is sticking to that original plan. So expect the developer to focus on quality, rather than quantity, when it comes to updates, as they’ll come season-by-season.
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Sales Higher than Dark Souls III at Launch
It looks like FromSoftware has the makings of another hit franchise on its hands. While we already had gotten word on how Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was performing commercially, there’s another stat that puts into perspective just how well the famed developer’s newest title is faring.
New Fortnite Avengers Endgame Tie-in Event Announced
After days of teasers, Epic Games has finally unveiled its latest Marvel tie-in event. Unlike 2018’s crossover, where players could become Thanos, this year Fortnite players will be able to become Earth’s Mightiest Heroes themselves. (Well, that’s sort of how it works.) There are many more superhero-themed items that you can get your hands on. The event starts just as Marvel gets ready to release Avengers: Endgame, a project that’s been more than a decade in the making.
Caravan Stories PS4 Western Release Coming this Summer
The PlayStation 4 is getting another MMO this summer. Aiming, Inc. announced the popular Caravan Stories will be coming to North America sometime in July 2019. This comes after a wildly successful run in Japan, with over two million players taking part in the game. Caravan Stories is a free-to-play MMORPG that takes place in the fantasy world of Iyarr. Players can choose from six different races to make their character, with each one having its own unique storyline.
Mass Effect Liara T'Soni
Our next “Our Favorite Characters” takes look at—you guessed it—the favorite character of yours truly. This week, the character underneath the figurative spotlight is Liara T’Soni, the mild-mannered archeologist-turned Shadow Broker. Of course, we’re all aware of the unique (to this day) narrative structure of the original Mass Effect trilogy. One of the results of having consistent narrative through-lines is that you get to truly see the growth of the characters who join you on your adventure.
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