I rue every day that the complete Baldur’s Gate 3 experience isn’t out yet, but we’re getting there. Today, developer Larian dropped the fourth patch for the Divinity: Original Sin 2 sequel/Baldur’s Gate sorta-sequel, which it calls its “biggest patch yet.” Standout features include the druid class, loaded dice to…
When the Animal Crossing Sanrio amiibo cards officially release outside Japan, they'll also unlock new villagers, clothes, and furniture.
The post Animal Crossing Sanrio amiibo Cards Will Unlock Villagers in New Horizons appeared first on Siliconera.
Sephiroth hopes new students won't discover a cure for Geostigma.
The post Sephiroth University Statue Welcomes Students to Study appeared first on Siliconera.
The Genshin Impact voice lines do a great job at fleshing out characters, showing relationships, and hinting at future content.
The post Genshin Impact Voice Lines Reward People for Paying Attention appeared first on Siliconera.
The Narrative Systems Designer is responsible for the creative implementation of dialogue and working to maximize and improve our narrative systems. ...
EA has abandoned plans to make the next Dragon Age a game with a "heavy multiplayer component" and will instead let it move forward as a single-player experience. ...
Tonight's Nintendo Direct-style PlayStation State of Play broadcast was a mix of upcoming third-party games and indie titles headed to PlayStation 4 and 5.
Many of the titles on offer were games we'd seen before, and big hitters such as Ratchet & Clank and Horizon were notable by their absence.
The show started with Crash 4, which offers 4K 60FPS gameplay, 3D Audio, faster loading times and reactive triggers on PlayStation 5:
PlayStation 5 owners will be able to enjoy an enhanced version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake starting 10th June, courtesy of Square Enix's newly announced Intergrade release - which also brings a new Yuffie Kisaragi episode.
Intergrade will freshen up Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PS5 with improved textures, lighting, and fog effects, and there's also a new Graphics Optimisation Mode, offering 4K resolution, and a 60fps Performance Optimisation Mode. Additionally, Intergrade players can take advantage of a new Normal (Classic) difficulty option, improved loading times, and a new Photo Mode.
Owners of Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PlayStation 4 will be able to download Intergrade on their PS5s for free (it's also available as a standalone PS5 release for newcomers), bringing over their save data if need be - although Square reminds players a PlayStation 5 with a disc-drive is required to upgrade from a physical PS4 copy.
Square Enix has announced two new Final Fantasy 7 mobile games.
Final Fantasy 7 The First Soldier is a battle royale game set in Midgar 30 years before the events of Final Fantasy 7. You play as a SOLDIER candidate and fight for survival.
The gameplay video below reveals The First Soldier to be a mix of third-person shooter action and Final Fantasy-style combat. It's due out at some point in 2021 on iOS and Android.
It doesn't really feel like a PlayStation launch without a Housemarque title, whether that's Super Stardust's fine appearances at the dawn of PS3, Vita and PSVR or Resogun's star turn upon the release of PlayStation 4. For PlayStation 5, we've had to wait a little while, but it's understandable why - with Returnal, Housemarque makes perhaps its biggest departure yet with a shift to blockbuster third-person action.
We've just been afforded a fresh look at Returnal as part of tonight's State of Play, showcasing the procedural levels, the intense atmosphere and gunplay as well as a surprise shift to a PT-inspired first-person interlude. It's a lot to take in, so we spoke through it all with Housemarque's own Mikael Haveri and Returnal director Harry Krueger.
It's great to have Housemarque back. I didn't quite realise it's been four years since your last release, which is quite some time for you guys. And a lot has happened in between. Early last year, I'm sure I wasn't alone in being a little bit concerned for Housemarque - there was the whole arcade is dead thing after Nex Machina underperformed, and then Stormdivers was put on the shelf. And then you come back with what looks like your biggest, most ambitious and grandest game yet. So how did you go from Nex Machina not doing so well to all of a sudden making something on this scale?
PlayStation is reportedly in the process of winding down Sony Japan Studio - the company's renowned development arm, responsible for the likes of Knack, Puppeteer, Patapon, Ape Escape, and Gravity Rush - with the "vast majority" of staff already having been let go.
Sony Japan Studio is PlayStation's oldest first-party developer, having been established in 1993, and has frequently collaborated with external developers on some of PlayStation's most iconic titles, including Bloodborne, Shadow of the Colossus, and Demon's Souls.
The studio's last solo effort, however, was Knack 2 in 2017, and PlayStation's decision to wind down development efforts at Sony Japan is - according to a new report by Video Game Chronicles - simply a result of the fact the team hasn't been profitable enough in recent years.
During the newest State of Play livestream, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Steel Wool Games showcased a new look at Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.
The new trailer provides a look at the creepy fellows we’ll meet in the game and also showcases some new gameplay.
Details about the game are still scarce, and apparently Steel Wool Games isn’t yet ready to share much more, but what we saw is likely promising for those who enjoy this kind of scary games.
You can watch it below and see if it scare you, at least a bit.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC in 2021.
If you’d like to see more, you can check out the previous trailer showcased in September, which also was a bit sparse on details, but shows more PS5 gameplay.
It’s been recently announced that Summer Game Fest is returning in 2021 to celebrate games at a safe distance once again. It’ll be a bit different this time around, though. Geoff Keighley mentioned on Twitter that this year’s events will be “more condensed” than what was presented in 2020.
Last year, Keighley brought us the first-ever Summer Game Fest as a way to allow people across the world to attend events from the comfort of their own homes. These digital events looked to fill a void in a year with no E3 convention because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Summer Game fest looks to provide in-game events, some playable content, and more in a shorter amount of time. Last year’s presentations included these notable names:
It’ll be interesting to see exactly what’s in store for this more focused version of Summer Game Fest.
There isn’t much more info to share, but we’ll be sure to provide any new details on the digital events as they become available.
During today’s State of Play, Oddworld: Soulstorm’s creative director went through multiple gameplay aspects for the new Oddworld game.
Oddworld: Souldstorm is about Abe, the unlikely hero of the Oddworld games who finds himself becoming a shepherd to lead his people out of the grasp of the evil glucons. Oddworld’s platforming is described as 2.9D due to its use of 3D space but still acts as a 2D platformer.
The game will make use of the Playstation 5’s haptic feedback as you’ll be able to feel Abe’s heartbeat in tense situations. Check out the trailer below to see all the gameplay shown off.
The Oddworld series started in 1997 and is created by the developers Oddworld Inhabitants. There have been six Oddworld games to date, with 2 HD remasters.
Oddworld: Soulstorm releases on April 6 for PS4 and PS5 with no word on when the PC version releases.
Sony brought out the big guns once again for its most recent State of Play address, showing off a little bit more of the highly anticipated upcoming action-adventure by Arkane Studios, Deathloop. In the trailer, we once again see Colt tracking down his targets, all the while bantering with Julianna as she tries to kill him.
Colt boast a bevy of abilities throughout the trailer, ranging from stealth elements like a camo cloak to powerful combat ability like dual wield weapons. There are also plenty of more fast-paced, Dishonored-like sequences, as the assassin teleports into a room, toss a grenade, then jump out the window and shoot someone right in the head.
All of this is set to Deathloop’s beautiful theme song, Déjà vu, which feels like it was ripped straight from James Bond. The game is set to be released for PlayStation 5 and PC on May 21, 2021, with other console possibilities coming at some point after.
If you’re still looking for more State of Play information, or just general news and articles, be sure to check out the rest of Twinfinite, as we’ve got everything you’ll ever need.
During the newest State of Play livestream, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Square Enix announced the arrival of the Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS5, titled “Intergrade.”
We get to take a look at the debut of Yuffie in the remake in a brand new episode focusing on her, likely set between the first part and the second part.
A second video showcases the features that will be added to the PS5 version, including plenty of enhancements and better visuals.
Those who already purchased the PS4 version will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version at no additional cost.
That being said, there is a caveat: the upgrade from PS4 to PS5 does not include the new episode starring Yuffie, which can be purchased separately as DLC.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will launch on Sony’s new console on June 10, 2021.
You can check out the trailers below (including the one for Intergrade in Japanese if you prefer it) alongside screenshots and artwork.
During a brand new trailer that was shown as part of today’s State of Play showcase, the release date of Ember Lab’s Kena: Bridge of Spirits was revealed.
The game, which was initially revealed during the PlayStation 5 reveal event, was due to come out during the first quarter of 2021 (and late last year before then), but is now set to release on Aug. 24, 2021.
While the trailer, which you can see below, still showed off the beautiful world, it also gave us a deeper look at the combat. From liberating areas and bringing nature back to taking on huge monsters, it’s more varied than previous trailers suggested.
In the trailer, you’ll see Kena working together with her cute little companions, swimming through parts of the stunning world, using her staff to take on menacing beats, and dodge rolling at any opportunity. It’ll certainly show off the graphical prowess of the PlayStation 5 once it launches.
If you’ve not seen anything from the game before, below if the official description.
PlayStation’s State of Play has is well underway now, and there have been announcements left, right, and center. Solar Ash just got an overview trailer during the presentation. The video goes over a bit of the game’s story and setting while showing much more gameplay than we’ve ever seen for it.
Solar Ash is being developed by Heart Machine, the same team behind Hyper Light Drifter. It’ll be coming to PS4 and PS5 later this year, and it looks just as colorful and bright as what we’ve come to expect from these devs.
In Solar Ash, players will assume the role of a Voidrunner in a 3D platformer as she looks to save her home. To accomplish her goal, she’ll be traversing a world within a giant black hole full of enemies and obstacles to deal with.
As you go deeper and deeper into the black hole, foes will become larger, and must be dealt with in more precise, skill-based ways.
You can check out the Solar Ash trailer below to see all of the smooth platforming and vibrant visuals for yourself:
Sloclap, the developers behind Absolver, have unveiled their latest game Sifu via an action-packed trailer.
Streamed during the Feb. 25 State of Play livestream event held by Sony, the trailer shows off elements of the upcoming title through an extended cinematic. It also reveals that the game is slated for release sometime in 2021, though a specific date has not been provided at this time.
In the trailer, a character can be seen training before engaging in hand-to-hand combat with some enemies. While he fends off most of them, he’s overtaken, aging as he falls to the ground and gets back to his feet. He then resumes his training, becoming stronger and taking on more enemies as more time passes, aging all the while.
This continues until he has aged considerably, finally coming face to face with an unknown adversary. The trailer then cuts out, leaving plenty of questions hanging in the air.
It’s a brief trailer, but one which also puts the game’s art style and intended action on full display. The character’s animations while in combat are fluid and intricate, making each bit of combat a feast for the eyes. Likewise, the aging element offers an interesting spin on the narrative presented, though it’s unclear whether or not this will be an integral part of the gameplay or was simply a stylistic choice for the trailer.
Fans of Sloclap’s previous title, and those who enjoy action titles with an indie flair, will want to check out the full trailer down below.
Earlier today, we got another look at the PS5 game Returnal during the latest State of Play stream. This new trailer showed off a handful of gameplay and some details about the story.
The main character, Celine, crash-lands on a dark planet filled with deadly enemies. She must dash, around to evade the numerous enemy attacks in this bullet hell roguelike game to discover the mysteries of this inhospitable planet.
As we saw in a past trailer, the majority of Returnal’s gameplay is focused on high-speed gunplay that requires a lot of dexterity to master. Fortunately, it seems that the main character will also have plenty of speed to dodge enemy projectiles.
This trailer also revealed a few more of the roguelike features of Returnal. When Celine dies and comes back, the layout of the world changes. On top of that, you’ll find different enemies in these areas with varied numbers compared to previous runs. What’s more, there are also stat augmentations you can pick up that will change the look of each individual run.
You can check out the new Returnal trailer below.
Knockout City, the upcoming multiplayer dodgeball game by Velan Studios received a new gameplay breakdown trailer during tonight’s State of Play.
The new trailer featured narration from Velan Studios’ Joshua Nuernberger.
The trailer explored two of the game’s modes including Team K.O –the game’s standard mode, pitting two teams of three players against on another in an epic dodgeball battle. As well as Face Off, a 1 versus 1 mode on a constantly shrinking battleground.
It also showed off a new map called BackAlley Brawl. The map features an urban city design with an intricate tube system that allows players additional mobility options to travel around. BackAlley Brawl also features the Sniper Ball –a map specific ball that can be used to strike down an enemy from across the map.
Each map will feature its own unique map and feature such as Back Alley Brawl’s tube system.
The trailer’s narrator also broke down some of the moves available to you in Knockout City. Some basic moves include tosses, fake tosses, catching the ball, and trick shots that allow you to lob the ball over an edge.
You can become the ball itself to get the drop on your opponent. If one of your teammates already transformed into a ball, you can use them to charge up an ultimate throw to drop an explosive shot on the enemy team.
Knockout City releases on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch –and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility on May 21.
There will also be a cross-play beta for the game which players can sign up for at knockoutcity.com. The game held a PC-only beta offered to a limited number of players through Steam earlier this week.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is crashing its way onto PS5 relatively soon, bringing with it a bunch of awesome next-generation features. This news came to us via Sony’s recent State of Play address, where the trailer below broke down what fans can expect from this new version of the game.
The video reveals that not only will the PS5 version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time look even better, sporting 4k visuals and 60 FPS, but that it’ll feel better thanks to the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller. You can feel the grip of every hook shot and boost of a jetboard thanks to the haptic feedback.
Audio has also been improved considerably, as the PS5 version will feature enhanced 3D audio with compatible headsets.
One of the most important features the PS5 update will have is the ability to bring over save transfers from you PS4. That means you won’t have to start your 106 percent playthrough from scratch when you get the upgrade.
Today Aerosoft released another extensive video about its upcoming Bombardier CRJ add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
This video is likely what may give novices the strongest taste of what hardcore flight simulation is like.
It shows how you feed data into the Flight Management System, which is a rather daunting process for many moving their first steps into this level of simulation, but it’ll become second-nature once you’ve done it a few times.
As before, this video is narrated by TheDude, a real-world CRJ pilot with a lot of flight experience.
Incidentally, we know that the CRJ is under two weeks from release and we’ll get a date on Monday.
If you want to learn more, you should definitely read our interview with project manager Mathijs Kok.
You can check it out below.
If you thought the one-two punch announcement of Final Fantasy VII coming to PS5 and its Yuffie-focused content was all the new stuff you were getting from the series, think again! Square Enix took to Twitter right after State of Play wrapped up to announce not one but two different Final Fantasy VII related titles for mobile devices.
The first is Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier. It’s a battle royale (you read that right) set in Midgar before the events of the game, where you control a candidate for Soldier and battle an unknown number of other players. Players use a combination of third-person melee, gunplay, spellcasting, and even summons to take out opposing players and be the last Soldier standing. In addition to other human players, it looks like you face off against A.I. enemies as well. The game launches later this year for iOS and Android.
Click here to watch embedded media
Click here to watch embedded media Final Fantasy VII Remake was one of the best RPGs of 2020, and Square Enix is building on that success by releasing a new episode featuring Yuffie – one of the party members from the 1997 original who did not appear in last year’s game. And if you're excited to see what Yuffie can do, you won't have long to wait.
The new content is part of the PS5-enhanced version of the game, called Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. As revealed during PlayStation's State of Play event, the whole package releases this summer on June 10. According to a Square Enix press release, Intergrade "comes bundled with the brand new episode featuring Yuffie as the main character, which introduces an exhilarating new story arc and numerous gameplay additions for players to enjoy."
While a few cryptic early videos have teased the atmosphere and visual potential of Returnal, Housemarque’s new game has remained largely a mystery since its announcement. But after a recent hands-off demo I had the chance to check out, and its appearance at today's State of Play event, my anticipation for the project skyrocketed.
An action game like Returnal lives or dies by how tight the controller play feels, and of course, that’s one element that I can’t speak to with authority until I get hands-on. As such, I’m not ready yet to crown the game as my new shooter obsession until I play it in full on PlayStation 5 for the April 30 release. But independent of gameplay feel, Returnal has a lot in its favor as it nears release in a couple of months.
At today's State of Play, the upcoming Deathloop from Arkane Studios and Bethesda got a spiffy new trailer, full of James Bond vibes. The time-looping title is scheduled to arrive on May 21 this year. Inside the trailer, not only do we get to immerse ourselves in a Bond-title-card homage, but we get to see quite a bit of action. Inside, we get a peek at a neon-tinged world where there's plenty of assassination happening, from throwing knives to heavy explosives to standard guns. There are some other curious weapons around too that don't look anything like a standard arsenal. Check out the trailer right here!
Click here to watch embedded mediaProtagonists Colt and Julianna are both prominently featured in the trailer, taking on a variety of colorful foes in a number of environments. Strange, cult-like masked foes make up some of the enemy composition. So far, we know the game is something of an assassination tour, with Cole tasked with taking out a certain number of big bads before time runs out. Because of the loop mechanic, players are tasked with trying to hit the perfect run, taking out all the targets and surviving. If Colt fails, you're back to the start of another loop, though some aspects are likely to be retained from loop to loop. How it all plays out in the end we have yet to see.
Click here to watch embedded media Final Fantasy VII Remake is coming to the PlayStation 5 with upgraded visuals, faster load times, and new features such as a photo mode, developer-publisher Square Enix announced today during Sony's latest State of Play livestream. The game is expected to be re-released on June 10 under the new name Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.
While the port comes with the standard upgrades people have come to expect, such as updated textures, fog, and lighting effects, a few quality of life improvements to note are the inclusion of faster load times, the option to choose between a graphics mode (which displays at 4K resolution) or a performance mode (running at 60 frames-per-second), and a new Normal (Classic) difficulty mode, which allows the player to automatically attack and defend. Previously, this playstyle was only available for the game's Easy difficulty. Lastly, Square Enix unveiled that Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will feature a photo mode, though it's unclear if this is exclusive to the PlayStation 5 version of the game.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will be available as a free upgrade on PlayStation 5 for anyone that already bought the game on PlayStation 4.
Click here to watch embedded media Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee was a beloved cult classic from the original PlayStation generation, and while that game received a handful of sequels, creator Lorne Lanning says that those titles didn’t really captures his original vision for the series. Fortunately, Lanning is getting a second bite at the apple with Soulstorm, a true sequel to Oddysee, which is set to release in a matter of weeks.
In Soulstorm, players reprise the role of Abe, a strange-looking Mudokon slave who escaped RuptureFarms’ meat processing factory and helped liberate his fellow workers. Abe grows to become a leader of this rebellion, and Soulstorm follows his continued adventures.
In this 2.5D action platformer, players lead Abe as he unites his fellow Mudokon’s and sneaks past – or otherwise does battle with – the evil Glukkons. Over the course of the game, you can rescue over 1,000 companions, who help you solve puzzles and navigate combat sequences. If you wish, you can complete the game as a pacifist or an agent of chaos. The PS5 version even makes use of the Sony’s DualSense controllers, allowing you to feel Abe’s heartbeat during tense situations.
Last year, a State of Play stream brought us the our first look of a new Five Nights at Freddy's game called Security Breach. While the announcement was more or less just a sneak-peek teaser trailer of the newest entry in the popular frightful franchise, today's State of Play stream gave us a better look, plus further confirmation that Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach is coming to PlayStation 5 this year.
We still don't have a ton of details, but the trailer shows the poor player-character running through children's play area in a mall full of deranged, living animatronic monsters. The PlayStation 5 version utilizes ray tracing, but if you still haven't gotten your hands on Sony's hard-to-obtain new-gen console, don't worry, it's also coming to PlayStation 4 and PC.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach comes to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC sometime in 2021. Check out the new trailer below and let us know your thoughts on the new Five Nights at Freddy's game in the comments section below!
Click here to watch embedded media
Click here to watch embedded media Sifu premiered today during Sony’s State of Play showcase. Developed by indie dev studio Sloclap (the creators of 2017's Absolver), Sifu is an intense third-person action game where players take on waves of enemies in various environments — from housing complexes to death arenas — using an array of martial-arts techniques. Players can use the environment to their advantage by pinning enemies to walls for devastating attacks. Some of the adversaries in your path will attempt to strike you down with deadly weapons like pipes and knives, but the fighting mechanics allow for interesting counterattacks and opportunities for players to use unique weapons of their own.
Last year, Ember Lab made the difficult decision to delay its debut game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, from a planned release around the PlayStation 5 launch to a date sometime in 2021. At today’s State of Play event, the indie studio revealed when, exactly, players will be able to finally experience the delightful action-adventure for themselves. What are your plans around the end of August?
More specifically, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (via the Epic Games Store) on August 24. Preorders go live starting today, giving players who get in early a crack at some special cosmetics. You get access to a pair of silly hats regardless of whether you preorder the standard digital edition ($39.99) or the deluxe digital edition ($49.99). The headwear gives you a chance to show your festive side by equipping your Rot companions with party hats or a head-mounted celebratory cake – complete with Kena’s name.
Click here to watch embedded media 
Solar Ash is a game about movement through a dangerous world filled to the brim with exploration opportunities. Players will be tasked with trying to save the planet and during the most recent State of Play, Sony showed off more about the game, including enemy encounters, traversal movements, and so much more.
From massive Sentinels with their elongated bodies and hungry appetites to the smaller enemies players will face, Solar Ash blends beauty, danger, and an adventurous spirit for those looking for a new world to get lost in. Take a look at the latest gameplay reveal, with commentary from the creative director, in the video below:
Click here to watch embedded mediaFor those that enjoyed Hyper Light Drifter, the team is sticking pretty true to the art style that many fell in love with. Solar Ash looks like a more peaceful version of that game with many surprises hidden around each corner. According to the studio over at Heart Machine, "Players will find a surreal, vivid, and highly stylized world filled with wild high-speed traversal, endearing characters, and massive enemy encounters. The Void is calling…"
Sony is scaling back its Sony Japan Studio, letting go of a majority of its staff, with key people within the company leaving, Videogames Chronicle (VGC) reported on Thursday. According to the outlet, citing sources, this decision, in part, stems from the development studio not being profitable enough in recent years and having a Japan-first development mentality.
It's dropping several months later than expected, but I'm still planning to show up for Kena: Bridge of Spirits on day one – which now happens to be August 24, 2021. Some of us tend to associate this fantasy action-adventure game with PS5, but it's also releasing on PS4 and the Epic Games Store.
Ember Lab brought a new trailer to today's State of Play stream – a mix of quality animation work to set up the little critter premise and surprisingly fast-moving combat gameplay sequences.
"We're taking the next few months to further polish and optimize for the best possible game," said COO Josh Grier. "It's been quite an experience completing our first title during the pandemic."
I'm particularly stoked about the budget-friendly price tag: the standard edition is $40, and PS4/PS5 copies are bundled. If you end up pre-ordering Kena, you'll also get Celebration Hats for the spritelings.
Final Fantasy VII is one of the most expansive game universes ever created. It covers games across multiple platforms, remakes, and movies. It can be hard to keep up with everything that's happened in it, but Square Enix is looking to change that.
Coming to iOS and Android, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis will retell the entirety of the FFVII timeline as a single-player, episodic game. Just to be clear, this will relive the events of the original Final Fantasy VII and all of its compilation titles. That includes Advent Children, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, and Dirge of Cerberus.
Ever Crisis will also feature new story elements surrounding the founding of SOLDIER written by Kazushige Nojima, the story and scenario writer for Final Fantasy VII Remake. The game will launch in 2022 as a free-to-play title with optional in-game purchases.
