January 2022

With the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the final season of Attack on Titan currently airing, it is safe to say that these two franchises are all anyone is talking about in their respective industries at the moment. As such, it makes complete sense that someone would cross them over with an amazing animation that is worthy of both series.

As you can see in the post below, originally posted to the ShingekiNoKyojin subreddit by user Zalfurius, fans can now witness what it would look like if Charmeleon was the main character in an Attack on Titan-like story.

While brief, this awesome hand-drawn animation takes an iconic moment from the series and replaces it with Charmeleon transforming into a Mega Charizard X. The transformation is so vivid and detailed, and fits in seamlessly in regards to both Pokemon and Attack on Titan.

With a new season comes new videos to showcase what’s to come, and Season 12 starts on Feb. 8 so we’re seeing more than ever. This new Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance trailer provides gameplay and details on the upcoming 9v9 Control LTM, the changes on the Olympus map, the new Battle Pass, and it even teases some of Mad Maggie’s abilities.

The Control LTM will have players in teams of nine as they try to capture and hold points on the map. It’s reminiscent of the Hardpoint Domination mode in Titanfall 2, so fans of the mech shooter should feel at home here.

The Olympus map is also being “sabotaged” with certain buildings being teleported to different locations and brand-new POIs being created.

You can check out the gameplay trailer for yourself to see a ton of what’s to come in Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance.

A three-year anniversary celebration is also beginning when Defiance goes live, and it’ll be offering more new cosmetics, along with themed ones for Octane, Wattson, and Valkyrie.

Bandai Namco has been teasing a new anime trailer of its popular JRPG Tales of Arise, and it’s finally time to watch it.

The trailer provides an introduction to the game, and we take a look at its main characters through the animation of beloved studio Ufotable.

You can check it out below.

Tales of Arise is currently available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can already read our review. The game has already passed 1.5 million copies shipped.

When Cyberpunk 2077 was announced back in 2012, gamers were on the edge of their seats with anticipation at the idea of being able to explore such a huge sci-fi landscape. That excitement continued to grow after the release of The Witcher 3 thanks to stellar gameplay and a hinted connection between the games, which came as a result of a brief dialogue exchange where Ciri mentions traveling to the Cyberpunk world.

Unfortunately for many, Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t live up to expectations, as bugs, lacking open-world elements, and a lackluster story turned many off to the game. Despite the disappointment, we will still always have the build-up period to its release, including the awesome cover model and statue that was a part of the game’s original branding.

As a way of celebrating that original hype and the love CD Projekt Red fans had for The Witcher 3, one fan went out of their way to repaint the original 1/6 Cyberpunk 2077 statue they got with a custom made Ciri head sculpt.

Today Square Enix and Nintendo released another English trailer of the upcoming HD-2D turn-based strategy game Triangle Strategy.

The trailer focuses on one of the main characters who will be playable in the game, Benedict Pascal, steward to House Wolffort and advisor of the hero Serenoa Wolffort.

This follows the previous character trailers for Frederica Aesfrost and Roland Glenbrook.

You can watch Benedict in action below, alongside other characters who will interact with him.

Fresh off this weekend's Royal Rumble is a new trailer for WWE 2K22. While previous videos have provided snippets of action, this new look at the trailer is a pure gameplay showcase.

While the video still presents the in-game action from a cinematic standpoint, it does provide looks at the models and animations on display. That’s important given that 2K22 runs on an entirely rebuilt gameplay engine, which 2K promises will be more intuitive than ever. The video also reveals previously unconfirmed superstars such as Asuka, Damien Priest, and Alexa Bliss. Cover star Rey Mysterio’s legendary career gets spotlighted in this year’s Showcase Mode and the trailer reveals one of the matches players can revisit: Rey vs Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 21. 

WWE 2K22 launches March 11 for current and last-gen PlayStation/Xbox consoles and PC. It also comes with a few special editions, which you can read the contents of here.

2022 is a special year for Square Enix’s Final Fantasy franchise. Not only is it the series’ 35th anniversary, but it’s also the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII (take a moment to breathe if you need it – that one hit us like a gut punch, too). 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of what is considered by many to be the most popular Final Fantasy in the entire series, FF7 director Yoshinori Kitase and Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Tetsuya Nomura shared some words about what the series means to them. They also teased some exciting development in the universe of FF7-related games. 

Twenty five years ago today the original @FinalFantasy VII first launched in Japan, and to celebrate this very special anniversary we're delighted to present messages from both Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura. #FFVII25th pic.twitter.com/3Py8FwarIl

Following Code Force's recent demonstration, I was optimistic about the upcoming space 4X/simulation/strategy/forward slash game Distant Worlds 2. The original was a game I very nearly adored, but playing it always meant being a little too frustrated to talk about it without complaining a lot (which, granted, I do about everything, but still).

Code Force have since sent us a preview build, and I've been consumed with it for the better part of a week. I'm struggling to gauge exactly how much to reserve, because it's had me positively cackling at my minor successes and howling in enjoyable despair at my setbacks. If they can do, ooh, two thirds of what I'm hoping in the six weeks before its release on March 10th, this could be every bit as brilliant as its predecessor, with fewer flaws.

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The new Apex Legends Season 12 gameplay trailer gives us a better look at Mad Maggie's fiery abilities, and they seem perfect for flushing campers out of their hiding spots. This latest trailer, delivered as a piece of Silva Pharmaceuticals propaganda, also reveals the Sabotaged Olympus map update and Control mode coming in Season 12.

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A new standalone singleplayer game of Gwent is coming this year, telling a new tale with the card game spun off from The Witcher 3. It's codenamed Project Golden Nekker and... that's about all we know for know. It's not another 'Witcher Tales' like the previous singleplayer Gwent game, like Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, and it is confirmed to have at least two (2) monsters. Possibly three (3) if you consider that man is the real monster. Or four (4) if you hate libraries.

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People can get a better look at Leona in KOF XV. However, this isn't just a peek at the fighter again. Back when SNK announced the game's release date, it also teased the exclusive add-ons included with some versions. Now there's a new trailer showing exactly how the KOF XV Classic Leona costume DLC will look in-game. It also features some pre-battle conversations between her and other characters.

This Leona costume is inspired by her first appearance. She debuted in The King of Fighters 96. Since then, she's appeared in KOF installments and some Metal Slug games.

The trailer begins with Heidern and Leona facing each other. It establishes their working relationship. After that, the video looks at her in-battle and shows alternate color options. At the end, we see Leona talk to Iori before she fights him.

With just hours left to go before Fate/Grand Order finishes celebrating the new year, it'll soon be time to commemorate the next big holiday in line: Valentine's Day. The Fate/Grand Order Valentine's Day 2022 event will kick off on February 1, 2022, according to an update on the official website.

The event's official title is A Not-So-Ordinary Valentine's - Murasaki Shikibu and the Five Slaying Queens. The world's first novelist returns from 2021's FGO Valentine's Day event, but the day itself seems to have changed. Rather than celebrating the reception of chocolate, the occasion has mutated into a festival of punishment for those who receive no chocolate at all. Players will team up with a new Servant, the Archer-class Sei Shounagon, to investigate. Sei Shounagon is this year's limited-rarity Servant, and is based on the 10th-century Japanese author of the same name. Sei Shounagon happened to be a contemporary and storied rival of Murasaki Shikibu herself, and wrote The Pillow Book, an account of daily life in the Heian-era court.

Check out Sei Shounagon's Fate/Grand Order incarnation, and her Noble Phantasm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_skP74rMcK8

People can see one of the major cutscenes from the Genshin Impact 2022 Lantern Rite without playing the game. MiHoYo shared the video online. There are no spoilers for the event storylines in it. However, the Genshin Impact heroine Keqing features prominently in it due to her role in this year's event storyline.

Here's the full Fleeting Colors in Flight Lantern Rite cutscene from Genshin Impact. In addition to Keqing, other notable Liyue characters like Hu Tao, Ningguang, and Xiao show up.

Keqing is a character who’s been in Genshin Impact since launch. She’s a five-star Electro character who wields swords. She’s also the Yuheng in Liyue, one of the people who helps run the city. Her role in the Qixing is to help manage construction and business in the city.

She plays a large part in the Genshin Impact 2022 Lantern Rite storyline. During the Flameplume Starflower quests, players help her carry out her duties and prepare for the festival’s fireworks show. As a nod to her prominence in the event, people can spend the real money Genesis Crystals currency on a new Opulent Splendor skin for her.

Final Fantasy VII turned 25 on January 31, 2022. To celebrate the occasion and announcements to come, Square Enix shared new FFVII logo designs. There are two options. While the text for both can be different, the image accompanying it is always the same. Each one features art of FFVII heroes Cloud and Zack with antagonist Sephiroth.

Here’s the official announcement. It also notes people should prepare for 2022. As a reminder, Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase both teased new FFVII projects alongside the games we know are on the way. Producer Kitase also said FFVII Remake Part 2 news is coming this year.

Here's a first look at the brand-new Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary logos.

We hope you're ready for the year ahead! #FFVII25th pic.twitter.com/dniDnfn4tw

— FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) January 31, 2022

A championship on the line. A move so cold and calculated it has to be a troll (probably). A vitriolic fanbase armed with keyboards and anonymous screen names. And you thought these sorts of things only happened in video games. But even chess, a turn-based strategy game first released for wooden boards some 1,500…

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Sony has responded to Microsoft’s record-shattering deal to buy Activision Blizzard with acquisition news of its own, announcing today it plans to buy Destiny 2-maker Bungie for $3.6 billion. 

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Pokémon do not mess around in the ancient Hisui region. Life might not be nasty, brutish, and short, but it’s far from breezy in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. That’s especially evident in some of its more RNG-based side-quests, where hard work and determination can’t overcome bad luck. Arceus does a lot right, but forcing…

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In 1994, Andy Davidson had an idea. That idea was to take the infinitely copied mid-70s Tektronix 4051 game, Artillery, but do it with cartoon worms. Then-developer Team17 snapped it up, called it Worms, and have since wrung out every last drop of miserable profit from the mediocre idea ever since. So of course…

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I’ve found my mortal enemy in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and no, it’s not the surly-faced captain who threatened to leave me to die in the wilds. It’s the guy standing right outside of her office. You know who I’m talking about. It’s Bagin, the guy who offers to expand your inventory–for a price.

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EA really wants you to know that a new Apex Legends season is coming, and its ceaseless drip-feed of Season 12 details continues with a new gameplay trailer showcasing the free-to-play battle royale game's incoming map changes and new Control mode.

To date, developer Respawn's pre-launch promotional material for Apex Legends: Defiance (as the new season will be known) has largely focused on new hero Mad Maggie, but we're going deeper into gameplay territory this time around, starting with Control.

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Sony has today announced it will buy Destiny maker Bungie for $3.6bn.

The Destiny franchise and other future games from Bungie will remain multiplatform, the developer has said.

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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City leads new additions to PlayStation Now in February.

Rockstar's ode to the 80s was part of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Remastered Collection and will now be added to PlayStation Now as a standalone game.

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Today Sony Interactive Entertainment and Destiny developer Bungie announced that the studio is being acquired by the house of Playstation.

Interestingly, Bungie shared that they will continue to “independently publish and creatively develop” its games, targeting “fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.​”

Below you can read the full announcement:

BUNGIE JOINS SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT (“SIE”)​

We believe games have limitless potential, and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people.​

In SIE, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.​

Today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company. ​

CREATIVE FREEDOM ​

Since taking flight in 1991, Bungie has always charted the future with our own star map – a path that is driven by our people and for our community. We are continuing that journey with new worlds in development, and we can’t wait to share them with you. ​

Earlier today, Sony San Diego released a new trailer for MLB The Show 22 that revealed three big details about the upcoming baseball video game. Arguably, the biggest reveal was that 2021 American League MVP, Shohei Ohtani, will be the cover athlete for the game this year. This marks the first time that a Japanese player is featured on the cover of MLB The Show.

Shohei Ohtani was a force to be reckoned with last year and became the first player to lead the league in home runs while starting as a pitcher since Babe Ruth did it 100 years ago. That was just one of the many once-in-a-century feats that Ohtani accomplished in the 2021 campaign. Needless to say, he was a clear pick for the cover of MLB The Show 22.

Ohtani also commented on the honor with ESPN’s Joon Lee, saying, “I was very excited about the possibility and it actually came true. This game has a lot of history. It’s one of the only baseball games that has been out here, so it makes me want to get better on the field and live up to the hype.”

On top of the cover reveal, it was announced that MLB The Show 22 will be launching in just a few months on Apr. 5. This marks the second time that MLB The Show will release shortly after the MLB regular season begins. Last year, MLB The Show 21 launched nearly two weeks after teams returned to the field. This time around, it’ll be launching just five days after MLB Opening Day.

Gore hounds, rejoice! That’s right, Netflix has just dropped the debut trailer for its modern horror sequel to the legendary 1974 cult classic. Simply dubbed Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the new follow-up is set to launch on the streaming platform on Feb. 18, 2022. Yep, that’s just around the corner, folks.

Go ahead and check out the new video down below. As you can imagine, it’s pretty gory stuff – so beware!

Clocking in at just two and half minutes long, there’s lots to see in the debut footage. From the looks of things, a handful of influencers have decided to take a visit to Harlow, Texas to catch a glimpse of the one and only Leatherface. Of course, let’s just say said influencers get a little bit more than what they bargained for.

Today Square Enix hosted a livestream to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII.

While the stream mostly focused on Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, there were snippets about other games as well and the sub-franchise in general.

First of all, we get the reveal of the logo for the anniversary, which will be used across various initiatives this year. You can find two versions above and below with the acronym and the whole title spelled out.

Sony has just announced that a new State of Play presentation focused on upcoming racer Gran Turismo 7 will be coming this Wednesday, on Feb. 2. The event will go live at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET / 11:00pm CET and will last just over 30 minutes.

The news comes from a PlayStation Blog post that was published not too long ago, and it provides a few small details on what fans of the racing game can expect. The State of Play will showcase PS5 footage of the game alongside gameplay info.

Scarlet Nexus director Kenji Anabuki has revealed his vision for a potential sequel to last year’s Scarlet Nexus, that is, if Bandai Namco gives him and his team a greenlight for such a game. 

This news comes by way of a new interview with Inverse in which Anabuki said a sequel would be “even more mature.” He also said it would hone in on the “superpower” aspect of Scarlet Nexus, implementing these otherworldly powers into other elements of the game rather than just combat. 

“If there is a sequel, I would personally want to utilize the ‘superpower’ theme in areas other than battles,” Anabuki said. “The world and settings of the story could potentially be created to suit an even more mature audience; by exploring themes like the dangers of having or using superpowers.” 

A potential sequel would also take into account feedback from reviews and fan reception. 

“We have received a lot of positive reviews regarding the battle system, story, and characters,” Anabuki said. “One reason might be due to the development experience I gained from working on the Tales Of series.” 

One of 2021’s most eyebrow-raising stories was MLB The Show, the PlayStation published and exclusive series, launching on Xbox platforms, including Game Pass. If you thought seeing the PlayStation Studios logo appear on an Xbox title was strange, we’re about to see it happen in Nintendo’s ballpark too. 

That’s because the newly announced MLB The Show 22 is coming to Switch, marking the series’ first appearance on a Nintendo platform. The game is also heading to Xbox for the second year in a row, including launching day one on Game Pass. Of course, you’ll still be able to play it on PlayStation consoles. Los Angeles Angels superstar player and American League MVP Shohei Ohtani graces this year’s cover, and the game is set to launch on April 5.

In addition to standard editions, San Diego Studio promises to share more details on the Collector’s Edition on February 2. You can look for MLB The Show 22 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. 

Filed under “things we never thought we’d be writing,” Radar Pictures has announced that it is adapting EA’s American McGee’s Alice (in Wonderland) series into a television show. What’s more, Solid Snake voice actor and X2 writer David Hayter is attached to the project. 

This news comes by way of The Hollywood Reporter, which reports that Ted Field’s Radar Pictures now owns the rights to McGee’s Alice, which began as a 2000 third-person action-adventure series. A sequel, Alice: Madness Returns, was released by EA in 2011, and it featured the same Hot Topic-esque, third-person action-adventure gameplay. 

According to THR, the show will be a drama series and is the first small-screen adaptation for McGee’s Alice franchise. However, both McGee Alice games are based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and as you might know, Caroll’s books have been adapted into both movies and television shows by many (namely, Disney). 

“American McGee’s Alice and Alice: Madness Returns game series is a groundbreaking reimagining of the classic tale,” Hayter told THR. “It takes you into the heart of a corrupted Wonderland and throws light into shadowy corners the world has never seen. I am beyond excited to bring this world of madness and wonder to a global audience.” 

The wag behind videos editing Austin Powers into Mass Effect and Mr Bean into Cyberpunk 2077 has returned to the shagadelic font. Just as Shepherd was reborn for Mass Effect 2, Powers rises again in the new video retelling BioWare's sci-fi RPG sequel with England's greatest secret agent. It remains funny and silly and an unexpectedly good fit.

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Just when you thought all the big movers and shakers had done their multi-billion dollar acquisition deals for the year, Sony have just announced they're buying Bungie for $3.6 billion. A small sum, perhaps, in the face of the $69 billion Microsoft are currently shelling out for Activision Blizzard, but rather than simply subsuming the Destiny developer into the PlayStation mothership, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan has said that Bungie will "remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher." Well!

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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels will be the cover athlete on the standard edition of this year's game. Collector's editions of the game will feature a different star, who is yet to be revealed.

The game is available to pre-order now, and will be released on April 5, 2022.

Another Triangle Strategy character is getting his moment. Nintendo and Square Enix started a series of trailers focusing on members of the cast. In the newest one, people can learn more about Benedict Pascal, one of the people dedicated to House Wolffort.

The video begins with a hint at Benedict’s past. An event scene refers to what he’s about to do as “revenge against myself for being so powerless.” Apparently, his “incompetence” caused something terrible to happen. After that, it mentions how he’s the steward for the Wolffort family. He’s dedicated to Serenoa’s success. Later in the video, gameplay with Benedict shows up. With that, there's a hint about what the future could hold for him.

However, before that, the video looks at some other Triangle Strategy characters. Serenoa’s father Symon is introduced. So are the other high house leaders Landroi Falkes and Silvio Telliore. After that, the House Wolffort members Anna Pascal and Serenoa show up. (Anna is a spy and may be related to Benedict, due to them sharing a last name.)

Sony announced that it will acquire Bungie, the developer behind series like Destiny and Halo. GameIndustry.biz reports the company will pay $3.6 billion for the studio. However, both the PlayStation Blog and Bungie announcement confirmed it will be able to act independently and will have “full creative control and publishing independence” of Destiny.

Bungie CEO Pete Parsons brought up the studios’ independence in both announcements, despite Sony’s acquisition and it becoming part of the PlayStation brand. Specifically, he noted, “We remain in charge of our destiny. We will continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games. We will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community. Our games will continue to be where our community is, wherever they choose to play.”

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and President also reiterated this. On the PlayStation Blog, he noted, “I want to be very clear to the community that Bungie will remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher.”

The next Sony State of Play will appear this week, however it won’t feature an array of games. Rather, the February 2, 2022 presentation will be a Gran Turismo 7 State of Play. The goal is to offer insight into the PS4 and PS5 driving simulation ahead of its March 2022 debut. People can tune in at 2pm PT/5pm ET/11pm CET.

Sony offered a few details about what it will entail. The segment will last 30 minutes. Only the PS5 version of Gran Turismo will appear during the State of Play. It will be available on Twitch and YouTube. Folks can already set a reminder for the YouTube presentation below.

Originally, Gran Turismo 7 was supposed to be a 2021 title. However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected its development. Some of the key features for this entry involve GT Simulation Mode, GT Sport Mode, Brand Central, Championships, and Special Events. There will also be dynamic weather and people can see time pass as they play. The PS5 version of Gran Turismo 5 will offer things like ray tracing and DualSense-exclusive features.