Destructoid

Valheim came out at the start of February and has been taking the survival community, and beyond, by storm. But right now it's squarely housed on PC: something developer Iron Gate may want to rectify at some point. Enter Panic Button to save the day?

Speaking to Nintendo Life in the context of bringing Apex Legends to Switch, they mused on wanting to take up the task. The famed studio that has handled many successful Switch ports like Doom, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein, and Subnautica, expressed interest in a Valheim on Switch. After being asked if they could bring "any game" to Switch without limitations, one of the developers raised their hands.

Head of Production Dan Hernberg explains: "I'm not sure if this is my 'any game pick' but, right now I’m playing way too much Valheim and I would love to port that to Switch." But Technical Director Andy Boggs and Respawn's Chad Grenier also chimed in, saying they'd love to see Bloodborne and Dyson Sphere Program on Switch respectively.

At this point, in Panic Button I trust. If there's a game that exists and it's remotely feasible to bring it to Switch, I'd give them a call.

Panic Button And Respawn On The Challenge Of Bringing Apex Legends On Switch [Nintendo Life]

Well, here's one story I didn't expect I'd ever be covering. Canadian developer Outerminds has announced it is currently hard at work on a video game adaptation of over-the-top action movie Turbo Kid, set for release some seven years after the movie's premiere.

For those less inclined, Turbo Kid was a low-budget Canadian flick produced during a movie-making zeitgeist which saw an abundance of "'80s grindhouse movies" that - while capturing the spirit of the era - weren't really like '80s grindhouse movies. Set in the post-apocalyptic future of 1997, Turbo Kid is the story of an orphaned BMX bandit - The Kid - who battles the armies of warlord Zeus (Michael Ironside) in order to liberate the wasteland and save the (extremely excitable) gal of his dreams, Apple.

Well, It's a bit like TimeRider: The Adventures of Lyle Swann, I guess.

We all love Zagreus, right? Right?!

He's the broody protagonist you either enjoy or don't mind playing, but for a second there, we almost had a more boisterous hero. Speaking to The Verge, developer Supergiant Games explains that Theseus, one of the game's most contentious enemies, almost made the cut.

It would have dealt with Theseus delving into the Crete labyrinth, building the hero myth as you played. The team notes: "So kind of cerebrally, he was interesting. But when we were trying to bring him to life as a protagonist, he has this risk of being kind of very generic. But as soon as we start adding specific detail to him, he just doesn't really feel like Theseus anymore."

Here's the crux of why the change was made. Studio co-founder Amir Rao elaborates, stating: "[Creative Director Greg Kasavin] sort of had this idea that we could probably keep everything in the game, but recast it as Zagreus. These different ideas, all these different characters, they all kind of came together. Within I think a day or two he had convinced everyone that it was a better idea."

I mean, to be real, Hades probably would have been fine with a different main character. The interpersonal relationships could have been just as deep and the gameplay could have been 100% the same, as Zagreus was like mechanical modeling clay for whatever the developers wanted him to do.

It's nice that it turned out the way it did, but Supergiant likely had a hit on their hands either way. And that Theseus idea is still fire. A sequel, perhaps?

Hades almost starred its worst character [The Verge]

Legendary developer Nihon Falcom has announced that it is teaming with a quartet of production companies to produce an anime adaptation of adventure series The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. The new series is expected to launch on TV in 2022.

Details are incredibly thin on the ground at this pre-production stage, but the title would suggest that the series will follow a similar narrative to the Trails of Cold Steel series - also known as the "Erebonia arc" - which began in 2013 on the PS3 and PS Vita and concluded in the fall of 2018 with the release of Trails of Cold Steel IV on PS4.

The project will see Falcom team with its Asian distributor UserJoy Technology, renown anime distributor Funimation Global Group, anime production company NADA Holdings, and finally content funding affiliate SYOU.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel TV anime project announced [Gematsu]

The Mario apocalypse continues.

As most of you know by now, several games, one device, and even one instance of Wii U online play functionality are going away on March 31 for several Mario games. Even an old Fire Emblem game is being removed from the eShop for good measure! But now, it's come to light that The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 on Netflix will be removed from some regions on that same date.

As a note, the US doesn't even have the show, but for the regions that do, there's an obvious reason for this. CBS All Access has been revamped into Paramount+, which is where the shows will be headed.

It's just another casualty of the streaming wars, as Netflix continues to be stripped for parts and attempt to rely on its original programming to weather the storm. They planned for this! But it's still hilarious timing given everything else that's happening to Mario on March 31, 2021.

Mevans [Twitter via Nintendo Life]

Chocobo Racing was an absolutely staple '90s game. I mean, it came at the tail-end of the '90s, but it epitomized Square Enix's attempt to spin off anything and everything Final Fantasy related after VII hit it so big. And mascot kart racers? They were '90s comfort food. It was the perfect combination that formed a very fun little racer, and it might be coming back.

Square Enix tried to resurrect it once before! In the mid-2010s there was talk of reviving the series on 3DS, but it was quietly canceled because of the "quality of the game" behind the scenes. But hopefully this new trademark will give us some hope, as "Chocobo GP" and "Chocobo Grand Prix" have been registered in several countries (Europe, Australia, Canada) recently.

It could be a remaster or remake, or a new game: we don't really know at this point. But either way, I'd definitely welcome the chicken overlord back into the fray given how long he's been gone. I mean if Crash Team Racing can get a revival, and Mario Kart is still around and selling, why not?!

Chocobo GP [Chizai-Watch via Gematsu]

This morning, Microsoft officially confirmed that it has completed its $7.5 billion USD acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiary companies. As of today, Bethesda Softworks, its studios, and range of IPs and licenses are now officially Xbox-owned properties.

"It’s an honor to welcome the eight incredibly talented development studios – Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios - and their passionate global communities to the Xbox family," said Xbox head Phil Spencer in a statement. "Our goal is to give these teams the best foundation for doing their greatest work and to learn from them as we continue to build Xbox into an inclusive platform for all players."

"This is the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team, a commitment we have to our Xbox community. With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players."

As Sonic the Hedgehog's 30th anniversary year continues, more and more companies are producing merchandise celebrating the Blue Blur and his army of fuzzy friends. The latest in this line of product announcements comes from Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy, who is adding Sonic and his friends to its collectible "Club Mocchi" line of plush dolls.

The Club Mocchi range of plushies are cute and cuddly toys stylized after a variety of video game icons. Characters and items already featured in the range include Kirby, a Zelda Octorock, a Splatoon Squid, Super Mario Bros.' Boo, and Mario Kart's Blue Shell. The first item from the Sonic license will be the smart-alec hedgehog himself, alongside his fox pal Tails. Further characters to be announced down the line - a must for Sonic memorabilia collectors.

An as-yet-unannounced compilation of recent Tomb Raider releases appeared on Microsoft's Xbox Store this past weekend, only to vanish just as quickly.

According to the long-gone listing, spotted by ResetEra users, The Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is comprised of three titles taken from Lara Croft's grisly modern reboot: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The trilogy supports HDR/4K visuals and comes packaged with all previously released DLC, along with each title's respective online/multiplayer modes.

According to the listing, the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is scheduled to launch on Xbox One March 18, although it would seem very likely that the same package will also be available on PlayStation platforms. Once official confirmation from Tomb Raider publisher Square Enix is forthcoming, we will be sure to update you. So stay tuned.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy popped up on Microsoft Store [Eurogamer]

Today sees the release of EA's futuristic battle royale title Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch, bringing all of the explosive action of the Respawn Entertainment developed shooter to the hybrid console. Players can dive straight into the action with a huge roster of "Legends", a double XP event, and the option to play with the community-at-large, thanks to its optional cross-play capabilities.

But for those perhaps hoping on making a permanent transition from Apex Legends' current PC and console ports to the Switch, I'm afraid that you'll have to start from scratch, as the new release does not support cross-progression - at least not in the immediate future. Speaking to Nintendo Life, Game director Chad Grenier spoke of his regret that the team cannot offer cross-progression at present, but noted that they are working hard to make it a possibility at some point down the line.

My favorite video game clips are the ones where players show off a mechanic, feature, or trick that's either obscure, entertainingly unnecessary, or just plain easily overlooked by most people. If the idea is hiding in plain sight, even better! I want to feel silly for not even considering doing it before.

One recent-to-me example: you can use a bug net to pop balloons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

When you don’t have a slingshot... from r/AnimalCrossing

You could be a normal player and just use a slingshot, of course. Or, if you want to live a little after spending countless hours with this game, you can load up the Island Designer app on your phone, plop down a cliff, climb up it with your ladder, and knock down the floating present with your humble net.

As impractical as this is, more than anything, I appreciate Reddit user ItzStarr86 demonstrating an alternate use for the terraforming tools. They're great in theory but they're too finicky for me.

Realistically, I'm never going to use this trick, but I love that I can – a cute a-ha moment.

Bethesda shared the key art for Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part Two, and yep, it's awesome.

Let's not forget that the art for The Ancient Gods - Part One was also on-point.

What about the DLC itself? When can we play it?

Based on the difficulty of the first part, I hope your aim, your traversal skills, and your ocular-patdown instincts are ready to go. Bethesda plans to release a teaser trailer for The Ancient Gods - Part Two on March 15, so the wait shouldn't be too much longer now. Doom Eternal turns one on March 20.

It's worth reminding everyone – myself included! – that Doom Eternal will have a free PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade. I'm expecting to feel like Milhouse when he entered his name in Bonestorm.

In the meantime, if you're okay with spoiling yourself, the Part Two achievements leaked.

With Nintendo still pledging to stop selling "Mario 35th anniversary celebration" games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars at the end of March, our attention is elsewhere in the Mushroom Kingdom this month, but it wouldn't be MAR10 Day – March 10 – without several discounts on "Mario games" for Switch.

If you're in the mood for a Mario romp – or want to show your support for Luigi instead – the following Nintendo Switch titles are discounted until March 13 at 11:59 pm Pacific on the Nintendo eShop:

• Super Mario Party ($38.99)
• Super Mario Maker 2 ($38.99)
• Mario Tennis Aces ($38.99)
• Luigi's Mansion 3 ($38.99)
  

35 percent off during a 35th anniversary? You lucked out on this one, Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch titles remain the most popular physical purchases in the UK's gaming market, a trend that has seen the Japanese industry giant dominate the UK Charts for the first quarter of 2021. Leading the charge is the indelible Super Mario Bros. series, which has seen steady and persistent sales across its range of re-released Switch titles.

This past week saw Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury retain the number one spot for a fourth week running, making it a month on top for the Wii-U remaster. Social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons sits at number three, having held a Top Ten position for almost an entire year. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D All-Stars sit at number four and six respectively, while the Switch edition of Minecraft and exercise 'em up Ring Fit Adventure fill out the back end of the Top Ten.

V1 Interactive, the studio behind last year's squad-commanding strategy shooter Disintegration, is shutting down this month. The FPS-meets-RTS game about robots with transplanted human brains didn't review all that well, and five months after it was released, the multiplayer modes went offline.

"We want to thank all the talented people at V1, both past and present, who helped make the last five years wonderful," V1 tweeted. "And a heartfelt thanks to the amazing community that supported us."

In another tweet, V1 Interactive president Marcus Lehto said that "our priority has been to the wellbeing of our employees. We've been transparent with them about the state of things for months and are making this decision now so they still have ample time to search for new jobs while being supported by our studio." Other than V1, Lehto is best-known for his hand in creating the Halo series.

As grim as the post-launch outlook seemed for Disintegration, I had hoped the studio's publishing deal with Private Division (a label under Take-Two Interactive) would've insulated V1 to a greater extent.

It's always a shame to see a smaller- or mid-sized studio working on a new IP go out so soon.

Microsoft is now one step closer to completing its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, having sought and received approval from both the European Commission and the U.S. Securities & Exchanges Commission (SEC) both of whom offered no opposition to the multi-billion dollar deal from taking place.

By law, Microsoft was obliged to seek approval from the statutory bodies on the basis of Antitrust - essentially global laws that are in place in order to supervise and prevent the formation of monopolies within a given industry. This is a common legal procedure in transactions of this nature, and was also sought by Tencent during the conglomerate's acquisition of mobile giant King in 2016.

Having received approval from both the EU Commission and the SEC, Microsoft is now expected to press forward with the $7.5 billion transaction, which is expected to see completion in late-2021. The deal gives Microsoft ownership of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiary studios and licenses, including those of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks.

Bethesda and Microsoft have previously assured video game fans that the new deal does not automatically designate all future Bethesda releases as Xbox/PC exclusives, suggesting that title exclusivity will be designated on a "case-by-case" basis. Bethesda's next release, Deathloop, will retain its initial PlayStation exclusivity despite the Microsoft purchase.

It's crazy to think that Super Nintendo World "isn't open yet," because there are hundreds upon hundreds of videos of people crowding into the park and doing vlogs of every single facet of it; but alas, it's not "officially open." That allegedly changes on March 18.

If you recall, the latest delay snatched away the prior launch date of February 4, due to a state of emergency that was declared in the Osaka prefecture. That delay was in mid-January, but here we are, mere days away from the new March 18 target, and Nintendo is giving the all-clear.

Things could change, but as of now, even the official Nintendo account is banking on March 18, beyond the purview of the Universal of Japan PR machine. Universal mind, elaborates on the opening, stating that there will be "strengthened" health measures to account for the decision.

If you can't go just check out this full park map and look up anything you're interested on YouTube. Again, there are hundreds of videos combing over every single part of the park in full HD, even full ride walkthroughs. We also have a hands-on look at the new Power-Up Bands!

Nintendo [Twitter]

Mobile game giant Zynga has pledged $100,000 from its Social Impact Fund in a new partnership with Girls Who Code (GWC), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and tutoring girls and young women in computer sciences, with an aim to close the gender gap in technological industries.

"Zynga is honored to team up with Girls Who Code to help forge a more inclusive industry in tech and games by expanding opportunities for girls and women across the globe," said Zynga's Chief Legal Officer Phuong Phillips. "Through their virtual workshops, school clubs, mentorship programs, networking and more, we are hoping to build the next generation of women in STEAM to help them to prepare and thrive in the tech workforce."

The support from Zynga will go towards the operation of computing clubs across the United States, Canada, the UK, and India. These free-to-attend events offer training and education for girls and young women interested in coding, design, and other computing-based roles. The clubs offer tutelage and information from a professional body of mentors, helping to train and inspire students while providing access to technology and resources unavailable to those from low-income communities.

"We know that passionate, diverse, ambitious young women are the key to transforming our workplace and our world," said Dr. Tarika Barrett, Girls Who Code's incoming CEO. "We’re excited to partner with Zynga this International Women’s Day to send a loud signal to young women everywhere that they belong in technology and that they have support in their journey from school into the workforce. Zynga and Girls Who Code share a vision of a more fair and equitable workforce, where women of all backgrounds rise to the top."

2020 was a quiet year for the still-happening PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Rust, but big plans are in motion this year. Double Eleven put out a new trailer for Rust: Console Edition today, thanked fans for their ongoing support, and sent out the first batch of closed beta keys. No release date, though.

[Update: Double Eleven is now aiming for a Spring 2021 release for Rust: Console Edition, and the studio shared a handful of new screenshots. The closed beta will stick around for "the next few weeks."]

Wait, there's a Dynasty Warriors movie? And it has crazy fantasy action just like the Koei Tecmo game series? Yes! But you may have even vaguely heard about it already.

For a while now the Dynasty Warriors film, crafted in China, has seen multiple delays, but it looks like it's going to finally come out very soon. As analyst Daniel Ahmad reports, it's due out on April 30 of this year in China, with an additional release in Hong Kong. There is no confirmation of a western release at this time.

The new trailer, which debuted this morning, showcases a few fan favorite characters, as well as plenty of action and a little drama. The costumes are completely on point, as is the "1 versus 100" action sequence later in the clip.

Whether all of that will come together for a good, or even enjoyable viewing experience is yet to be seen. But the trailer did pique my interest!

Dynasty Warriors [YouTube via Daniel Ahmad]

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot launched at the beginning of 2020, and it's been steadily getting a few major updates here and there. It even got a new card game mode! But now things are winding down a bit with what is seemingly the last DLC, which will once again feature Trunks; just like the Xenoverse 2 add-on due out this month.

It's called "Trunks: The Warrior of Hope," and will feature a time-bending storyline that involves the Androids winning the confrontation from the anime arc. To wit, Gohan and Trunks will defend the honor of the Earth against the Androids.

You can get a quick rundown of the setup, which involves the Androids killing several key members of the Dragon Ball cast, with Trunks and Gohan chilling on a mountainside, ready to strike and have their vengeance.

"What if..." Marvel-esque stories are perfect for this show, as there are so many directions Bandai Namco could take it. And it seems like they have carte blanche to draw upon whatever timelines they want, so why not experiment more?

Warrior of Hope is due out in the "summer of 2021" still, and will put a cap on the DLC for Kakarot, unless we hear otherwise.

CyGames' visually stunning fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus is still kickin' ass, and in fact has just announced that next DLC character joining its roster as part of the anime punch-up's second season pass. Locked 'n' loaded, the sharpshooting marksman Eustace will be arriving in-game late next month.

This quite literal "lone wolf" wanders the world as a vigilante, bringing justice to Skydom and visiting harm upon those who seek to inflict pain and punishment on the innocent. A master marksman, Eustace packs heat in the form of his beautifully ornate rifle, "Flamek Thunder," which will no doubt come into play as a part of his Granblue Fantasy: Versus fighting style.

As a weapons master, Eustace is expected to play as a ranged fighter, but we'll know more come April 15, when our wild boy will receive an official gameplay trailer. Additionally, CyGames has also announced a third Battle Pass will be added to Granblue Fantasy: Versus in April, which will offer up numerous exclusive cosmetic items including color variants, weapon skins, avatars, and lobby cards.

So you're saying there's a chance Nintendo won't pull a handful of Mario games at the end of the month? Well, there's always a chance! But it doesn't look good.

As a reminder, Nintendo of Japan cleared that notion up very quickly at the start of the month, explaining that yes, they were intending to go through with dropping Mario 3D All-Stars, Mario 35, and the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. handheld. Now, Nintendo of Europe is joining in.

They even have a whole landing page, not just a tweet! The page explains: "The Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary will come to an end on March 31st, 2021. After this date, the following limited-time products and services released in special recognition of the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. will end or be removed from sale."

It notes that you can of course redownload All-Stars if you have it linked to your account, even if it'll be removed from sale; but, as expected, Super Mario Bros. 35 is being completely nuked, even if you have it downloaded, as it's an online-only game. As for the handheld, "The Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. system will continue to be shipped to retailers through approximately March 31st, 2021, and will be available for purchase while supplies last."

The excellent Dragon Ball FighterZ is still going strong, having recently seen its third anniversary with no signs of slowing down just yet. In fact, DBFZ's third season of content continues this week, with the arrival of DLC character Gogeta (SS4). The fearsome fighter will launch on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch March 12. (Though season pass owners can get in on the action two days early on March 10).

Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta is the fusion of Super Saiyan Goku and Super Saiyan Vegeta. This immensely powerful warrior made an appearance in the Dragon Ball GT anime, when the two friendly rivals fused in order to take down the ridiculously spiky Omega Shenron. The combined might of the Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta fusion was so great that it only lasted mere minutes before the heroes were forced to defuse.

As you can see in the brief trailer below, Gogeta (SS4) is an immensely confident - even arrogant - fighter, which is pretty brazen given that goofy-ass tail. Gogeta (SS4) joins DBFZ's near 40-strong roster, which features a wide variety of Goku and Vegeta variants, alongside a selection of more individual characters such as Frieza, Videl, Cooler, and Android 21.

Square Enix, in collaboration with Domerica and Shin-Ei Animation, has released a third trailer for the upcoming anime adaptation of JRPG The World Ends with You. The new video features the debut of the anime's ending theme "Carpe Diem," as performed by Japanese musician ASCA.

The new anime is a straight re-telling of the narrative from the kinetic 2007 Nintendo DS release. The World Ends with You the animation will follow the story of unruly teen Neku Sakuraba, who wakes within a ghostly side-reality known as The Underground (UG). Palling up with several equally confused teens also lost within this split-dimension, Neku and his new companions must learn of their respective fates and face the challenges that await them within the strange, otherworldly contest known as "Reapers' Game".

The World Ends with You the animation will premiere in Japan on April 9. For those who can't wait, March 14 will see Square Enix host a special pay-per-view "UG Shibuya FES" live stream, which will include an advance screen of the first episode, (complete with English subtitles), interviews with cast and crew members, and the opportunity to win exclusive prizes. For full details on this event, check out the Subarashki Anime website.

So Capcom just unleashed a ton of Monster Hunter news this morning. You ready?

First up is Rise. It's still due out on March 26, but now we know that a second demo is coming on March 12. This one is very similar to the first one, with the four quests from that one to boot; but it'll contain a new "seasoned hunter" challenge against Magnamalo. A new clip also showcased Zinogre and Nargacuga, as well as "Silkbind Attack" mechanics (allowing you to craft/customize new weapon combos). A camera mode was also confirmed.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 also got some love, as co-op multiplayer was teased, as well as the existence of three amiibo: a development we already knew about thanks to a PlayAsia listing leak. The three figures are Ena, Razewing Ratha, and Tsukino, and they are confirmed to be coming west. Sadly, they are GameStop exclusives.

Stories 2 is out on July 9, and you can check out the deluxe edition below; as well as both new trailers.

Pop quiz, hotshot! When did Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 come out?

If you answered...2016, you are correct! Bandai Namco is showing once again that Dragon Ball games can be a decent investment, time-wise, as they're peddling even more DLC very soon. In addition to a free update, "Legendary Pack 1" will launch as paid DLC on March 18. It'll feature Toppo and Pikkon, as well as a Janemba mascot.

The trailer below will give you a quick overview of what's up, with a decent chunk of footage and story bits. The publisher notes that this pack will include a "new story," and will feature Trunks battling against Fu. There's even a little teaser at the end!

Every so often this one beckons me back like a Siren's song. The free update, which hits on March 16, will help.

As they continue to rake in money hand over fist, the developers behind international sensation Genshin Impact are showing no signs of slowing down. Over the weekend, Mihoyo broadcast an informational video detailing some of the changes players will see with the upcoming ver. 1.4 update. Not only are there quality of life improvements to look forward to, such as the ability to lower the World Level if needed, but there is also a festival to experience provided you've advanced far enough in the game.

Players who've reached an Adventure Level of 20 or more and have completed the Song of the Dragon and Freedom Archon Quest will be able to partake in the Windblume Festival. An ancient tradition in Mondstadt, the festival will feature three mini-games for adventurers that test their gliding, archery, and ballad skills. Succeed in these games and you'll net yourself rewards and Festival Tour Tickets that can be exchanged for exclusive items and level-up materials. Players can also test their might in the Peculiar Wonderland during the festival. This is a series of trials designed to challenge the full gamut of players' abilities.

Of course, it wouldn't be a real update if there wasn't a new character to obsessively try to add to your roster. Rosario "Thorny Benevolence" will be available with the update as a 4-star playable character.

Square Enix has announced that it has taken steps to ban the accounts of over 5000 Final Fantasy XIV players, after the publisher discovered evidence that the owners of said accounts were engaged in real-money trading (RMT) and other "illicit activities" within its online RPG.

The account purge - which took place during the final week of February 2021 - was noted on the official Square Enix website in a very officious statement, also asking the FF XIV community for its help in the identifying and reporting of traders and in-game cheaters.

"Real money trading (RMT) and other illicit activities upset the balance of the game and, as such, are prohibited under the Terms of Service," said the publisher. "Players who discover any confirmed cheats should, under no circumstances, exploit or disseminate such information. Instead, we ask that players file a report by using the in-game command [System Menu] > [Support Desk] > [Contact Us] > [Report Cheating]."

"In addition, any witnessed RMT advertisement can be reported by right clicking the character name in the chat log and selecting the menu [Report] > [Report RMT Activity].
The report will be processed automatically, and if determined to fall under RMT advertising, the reported character's comments will be restricted. We will continue to take stringent disciplinary action against any accounts with confirmed involvement in RMT/illicit activity; players should take care to steer clear of any activity that violates the Terms of Service."

In a collaboration set to rock the foundations of the very galaxy itself, Compile Heart has announced that goofy adventure series Hyperdimension Neptunia is getting set to crossover with cheeky cheesecake franchise Senran Kagura for a brand new, sword-and-sorcery, action RPG.

As revealed by Famitsu, the succinctly titled Senran Nin Nin Ninja Taisen Neptune: Shoujo-tachi no Kyouen is currently in development for PS4, and is tentatively scheduled to launch in Japan later in 2021. An expectedly silly premise sees two ninja schools - one trained in the art of "Command" attack and the other in the art of "Action" attack, combine forces when the land is invaded by a mysterious third school of unknown origin, kicking off the world-shaking "Super Ninja Wars."

While the Famicom saw release in the middle of 1983, most of North America wouldn’t see the NES until sometime in 1986. There’s actually a good few games that came out before the NES landed that never really got localized, such as Challenger, Chack’n Pop, and Antarctic Adventure. Being on the wrong side of The Legend of Zelda's and Metroid’s releases, most are cyclical arcade jaunts, but some are still worthwhile places to visit.

On this Famicom Friday, we’ll be taking a look at one of these primordial games that would go on to spawn its own franchise. Perhaps not a series as landmark as Ganbare Goemon, but one that has a place in gaming’s history. Japanese gaming history, anyway, we didn’t get too many of them over on this side of the pond.

It took me a bit, but after the urging of many Destructoid readers, I finally checked out the If Outriders demo.

It's better than I thought it would be!

Combat is a central feature to many games. We’re not very good at depicting conflict resolution in an interactive way unless it involves swinging a sword or firing a gun. A debate is difficult to simulate, but ballistics are not.

Recently, there’s been some effort spent at coming up with other ways to have the player solve their problems without resorting to violence. Many games are eschewing combat entirely or giving you more options about just what kind of monster you want to be. It’s refreshing, since we’ve kind of been stuck on this one note for action games since the ‘80s.

I’m going to say right off the bat that Everhood is perhaps my favourite depiction of not-quite-fighting that I’ve encountered in a long time. It contains all the excitement of a good dust-up but without any real blows being exchanged. It’s just too bad it also finds new and innovative ways to frustrate me.

It's crazy to think that it's been nearly five years since The Climb!

That's about how long mainstream VR tech has been out, and thankfully, a handful of plucky studios are still plugging away at VR games. I mean, it's a niche at this point, but I'm thankful.

The Climb was a really fun effort from Crytek to help cement why VR gaming has a place in the industry. It offered a unique perspective on a harrowing activity, and used the VR medium to juice up the atmosphere on an already-firm climbing game foundation.

The Climb 2 builds further on that, and adds my most-requested feature into the mix: city maps.

Taxi Chaos is, for all intents and purposes, the spiritual successor to Sega's Crazy Taxi. It features convertible cabs driving around a city, picking up fares, and dropping them off as quickly and stylishly as possible. There's even the arrow at the top of the screen that guides players to their destinations. But like a lot of "spiritual successors," it comes nowhere near measuring up to its predecessor.

[Update: People Can Fly has applied a second update to the Outriders demo in response to complaints about the first. As noted by Eurogamer, the Gauss boss chest will have a chance of dropping Legendary items once again. Ledge gear will remain absent from other chests.]

A lot of people have been enjoying the demo for People Can Fly's team-shooter Outriders, with an amazing two million players logging in to battle over the wastelands of the planet Enoch over, and over, and over again.

In fact, people have replayed the demo so many times, that they're starting to build up a worryingly powerful arsenal of weaponry - so much so that the developer is stepping in to alter the ease with which mercs can bag this devastating firepower. The concern is that this intense method of "farming" top level gear and weaponry will leave players absolutely loaded-for-bear once the main game finally hits, and will see them endlessly cream the opposition throughout the main campaign.

Speaking in an official Reddit post, People Can Fly noted that it is well in the player's right to play the demo as often as they want, bagging whatever goodies they can along the way, but that this might serve to hamper their enjoyment of the main game, which will allow players to carry over their inventory and levels from the demo edition.

Let me paint a picture for you of a quiet Sunday afternoon. I was in my living room playing with my Ripley figure as she explored a deserted town alongside Wolverine, a Stormtrooper, and Batman. Suddenly, we were attacked by a football player, Joker, a green army soldier, and Cable. It was a dramatic battle as everyone darted in and out of buildings, performed reckless jumps, and found perfect hiding spots to ambush their opponents. When the dust had settled and the fight was over, the Stormtrooper was dead, but so was everyone who’d attacked my group. The only thing those of us who remained could do was mourn the loss of our comrade and press on.

Now, what did I just describe: a game of Fortnite or me as a 10-year-old playing with my big collection of action figures?

Cblogs of 2/27 to 3/5/2021

-RedHeadPeak misses Dead Space like many of us.

-LaTerry shares the March Band of Bloggers prompt about what pulls you back into games.

-Gamingnerd looks at the history of Pokemon throughout the ages.

-Virtua Kazama sheds light on the top fighting games and DLC to look forward to in 2021.

-Black Red Gaming shares a list of his most anticipated games to be released in March.

-Captiosus shares his impression on the Final Outriders demo.

-Kerrik52 reviews Oddworld: Stranger's Worth as part of his Traveller in Playtime reviews series.

-Captiosus tries to define what "Games as a Service" means.

-Greglory13 reviews Cloud Garden.

-ThePacksHunt shares his thoughts on Vigor.

-Gamingnerd sheds light on some cool indie games.

-Eggs&BrewsterJr revisits Rayman 2.

-RedHeadPeak loves Link's Awakening so much he may not be yet ready for the Switch remake.

Keeping on its current run of forgotten Jaleco titles, the retro fans over at Hamster have released the latest entry in its record-breaking Arcade Archives range. Available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch is '80s fantasy platform adventure Legend of Makai.

Developed by NMK and released in Japanese arcades in 1988, Legend of Makai is a surprisingly ambitious release that is more in keeping with an early RPG, rather than a typical arcade platformer. The player steps into the role of a young warrior on a non-descript quest to rescue a non-descript princess from a non-descript evil wizard.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Dangorou Nishida.

It's been nearly two years since Bandai Namco first announced Tales of Arise, and it looks like we're getting closer than ever to seeing it hit store shelves. Today, the publisher dropped a new trailer for the game that ends with a promise of more information on the title later this spring.

Tales of Arise was first revealed in 2019 with a vague 2020 release date. Then COVID-19 happened, and the game was pushed out of its release window last summer. In December, we got word development on the title was nearing its end. With more news on it coming in the next few weeks, hopefully fans won't have to wait too much longer to get their hands on it.