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'Final Fantasy XV' loses its director and most DLCs
Final Fantasy XV has lost its director Hajime Tabata and the majority of its upcoming DLCs. The news was announced during a Square Enix livestream where the publisher also showed a teaser for the one surviving DLC, Episode Ardyn (due March 2019). Episode Aranea, Episode Lunafreya, and Episode Noctis, which formed the "Dawn of the Future" DLC plan, have all been cancelled.
'The World Ends with You' shines on Nintendo Switch
The World Ends with You is one of my favorite Japanese role-playing games. It was released for the Nintendo DS in 2007, when I was a moody teenager trying to make it through college. I loved the graffiti-inspired art style, eclectic soundtrack and unique touch-and-button-based combat. Most of all, though, I was enamored by the game's depiction of Tokyo. While many JRPGs take place in a fantastical land, The World Ends with You is set in modern Shibuya. Sprinting across the 'scramble' crossing and diving into ramen bars was a welcome escape from my daily bus rides.
The first 'Shadow of the Tomb Raider' DLC arrives November 13th
Basically every big-name video game has extra downloadable content at this point, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider is no exception. For those who picked up the game's season pass, Square Enix just announced when the first of seven expansion quests will arrive. The Forge is set to launch on November 13th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. As previously announced, it'll be the first bit of co-op gameplay for Shadow, and it should be different than the co-op "endurance mode" that was featured in one of the expansions released for 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Square Enix's soundless thriller 'The Quiet Man' arrives November 1st
Square Enix raised a few eyebrows at E3 when it revealed The Quiet Man, a story-driven game featuring a deaf protagonist. The latest trailer highlights the blend of live action and animation that make up the action thriller, as well as the combat and some story details. Square Enix has confirmed that The Quiet Man will arrive November 1st on PS4 and PC.
'The Last Remnant' finally comes to PlayStation a decade late
If you've been waiting patiently for a decade to play The Last Remnant on a PlayStation, we finally have good news for you. A remastered version of the Japanese RPG is coming to the PlayStation 4 on December 6th in celebration of the game's 10th anniversary. It will cost $20 in the PlayStation Store.
'Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles' is coming to the Switch and PS4
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition isn't the only Final Fantasy game coming to the Switch. Square Enix is doubling down on its ports of the JRPG series by bringing Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles to Nintendo's console as soon as next year. Oh, and it's also getting its Sony debut on the PS4.
Square Enix survival-shooter 'Left Alive' delayed to 2019
Square Enix's mysterious Left Alive project has been pushed back from an ambiguous "2018" release date to February 28th, 2019 in Japan. The delay isn't a huge surprise given how little we've seen of the game. Square Enix did, however, show a new cinematic trailer today during Sony's pre-Tokyo Game Show event. Set in the fictional city of Nova Slava, it follows three characters as they try to endure a futuristic warzone filled with soldiers and mechs. The teaser had no gameplay (boo) but did show some impressive-looking robots sliding around. Which is no surprise, really, given the game's director is Armored Core legend Toshifumi Nabeshima.
'Kingdom Hearts 3' trailer shows off 'Big Hero 6' world
Back in 2015, Square Enix confirmed that Big Hero 6 would be a playable world in Kingdom Hearts 3. Since then, though, we've heard zilch about Hiro, the lovable Baymax and the rest of San Fransokyo's residents. Well, the wait is finally over. During a "Lineup Tour" event ahead of Tokyo Game Show, Sony revealed a new Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer that shows cutscenes and gameplay from the superhero-inspired locale. As expected, Sora, Donald and Goofy team up with Baymax and eventually acquire a transformational Big Hero 6 keyblade called Nano Arms. Combat sequences take place on a bridge, atop a skyscraper, and on the city streets.
'Life is Strange 2' deals with brotherhood in the face of death
Life is Strange 2 begins with a bleak bang. Developer Dontnod shared the game's first 20 minutes this week on YouTube, introducing series fans to the Diaz family before diving straight into a chaotic, violent scene that sets the stage for the rest of the five-episode season. This article contains spoilers for the first 20 minutes of Life is Strange 2
'Life is Strange 2' trailer follows two young brothers on the run
The studio Dontnod Entertainment previously revealed that the sequel to its highly-acclaimed adventure game Life is Strange would debut with its first chapter on September 27th, 2018. But aside from some intriguing teaser footage, we didn't know what much about the game. Get ready, fans: An official trailer has dropped, and we've got a new pair of protagonists to follow and root for.
Obsession drives Lara in 'Shadow of the Tomb Raider'
Early trailers for Shadow of the Tomb Raider have portrayed Lara Croft as a ruthless killer. Someone who can hide in the jungle and silently dispatch armored soldiers with sophisticated traps and fast, calculated strikes. The underlying message is clear: The beloved archaeologist is now the hunter rather than the hunted.
'Life is Strange 2' prelude proves superpowers aren't just for girls
In The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, the latest installment in the Life is Strange series, developer Dontnod once again taps into a deep and pervasive human emotion: The desire to have superpowers. However, where the first season approaches this feeling from the perspective of a confused teenage girl with the fate of an entire town in her hands, Captain Spirit puts players in the basketball-spotted socks of a 9-year-old boy playing pretend. Though the protagonist, Chris, is younger than the star of the original series, his problems are just as mature: His mother recently died in a car wreck, and in the aftermath, his dad is having a rough time creating a stable home life. Meanwhile, Chris attempts to escape his new reality by becoming the superpowered Captain Spirit -- in his imagination and possibly in the real world, too.
First episode of ‘Life is Strange 2’ debuts September 27th
A month ago, studio Dontnod revealed that its graphic adventure game Life Is Strange had sold 3 million copies -- and a sequel was on the way. Apparently it was pretty far along when they made the announcement. The first episode of Life Is Strange 2 is coming out on September 27th, with four more to follow.
'Kingdom Hearts 3' made me feel 15 again
Kingdom Hearts II was my jam. I can't recall the number of times I've played those opening hours in Twilight Town. When the game came out in 2005, I was a 15 year-old grappling with adolescence and the relentless pressure to figure out my career path. Kingdom Hearts, with its colorful Disney worlds and random Final Fantasy cameos, was the perfect escape from reality. Over time, though, my interest in the series has waned. I enjoyed Birth By Sleep, but found the rest of the spin-offs to be underwhelming and full of needlessly convoluted story beats.
Watch Square Enix's E3 conference in under seven minutes
Square Enix's press conference didn't exactly wow us the way others have this E3, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any news. Or, that you don't want to watch the show anyway. It's just that we saw most of it during Microsoft's keynote yesterday. Which is why we've distilled the show down to an easy six minutes. You're welcome!
Square Enix’s E3 showcase was a bust
Well, that was a disappointment. Square Enix held its E3 showcase earlier today and it was, to put it mildly, underwhelming. If you were hoping for more information about Final Fantasy VII Remake, or the mysterious Avengers Project, sorry -- neither made the cut this year. A number of smaller releases were absent too, including Dragon Quest Builders 2, The World Ends With You: Final Remix, and Left Alive, a new apocalyptic shooter directed by Armored Core producer Toshifumi Nabeshima.
Square Enix's new title 'The Quiet Man' embraces silence
In between all the fantasy worlds in today's Square Enix presentation we also got a look at a decidedly realistic New York and some sweet fighting action thanks to what looks to be an entirely new franchise from the company: The Quiet Man. And no, it doesn't seem to be related to the classic 1952 film.
‘Babylon’s Fall’ is the next Square Enix PlatinumGames collaboration
Square Enix and Platinum Games last worked together on Nier: Automata. Now, as announced during the Square Enix livestream from E3, the two companies are partnered up again for a brand-new game titled Babylon's Fall. It looks to have a 2019 release date for PS4 and Steam.
'Monster Hunter: World' will invade 'Final Fantasy XIV'
At the top of its E3 presentation, Square Enix trailer footage for Final Fantasy XIV's Stormblood expansion that dropped last year...and then had bumper footage for another event: A crossover between the MMO and the publisher's best-selling Monster Hunter: World, which came out back in January.
Watch Square Enix's E3 keynote right here at 1 PM Eastern
How do you catch the news as it happens from Square Enix's E3 media briefing if you aren't in LA? You watch along with the publisher's livestream embedded below starting at 1PM Eastern, naturally. In a few minutes we'll (hopefully) find out more about Dontnod's next Life is Strange tale (above), Kingdom Hearts III and maybe an update about that Final Fantasy VII remake. Perhaps a few Marvel superheroes will show up as well? It's E3 week after all -- anything can happen.