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Capcom announced that the PS4, PS5, and Xbox ports of Monster Hunter Rise will be digital only. So far, it does not plan to release physical copies of the game. This is an update to the news from early December 2022 that Monster Hunter Rise will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One. [Thanks, Gematsu!]

For reference, the only way to get a physical version of the game is to purchase it for the Nintendo Switch. When Capcom ported it to PC in 2022, it was also digital only. The lack of a physical release of Monster Hunter Rise is the latest in updates regarding the PS4, PS5, and Xbox ports.  Capcom previously announced that there would be no cross-save support between the PS4 and the PS5 versions of the game.

Hololive announced that Vtuber Laplus Darkness will be going on hiatus due to her mental health. Per a tweet from the agency's official Twitter account, she and Hololive's management team agreed to allow her to suspend her activities and focus on recuperating. It is unknown how long her hiatus will last. The agency also apologized for any concern and inconvenience.

Following the announcement, which comes just over a week after her one-year anniversary, Laplus posted a tweet stating that she hopes to get better soon so that she can get back to having fun with everyone. She asks people to wait for her to return, saying that she will definitely be back. You can check out the tweet (in Japanese) below:

https://twitter.com/LaplusDarknesss/status/1599638650991804416

Laplus Darkness is not the first Hololive Vtuber to go on hiatus for mental health purposes. In the past, both Akai Haato and Murasaki Shion took breaks from their Vtuber activities at least in part because of mental health concerns. Haato went on a three-week mental health break back in April 2021, while Shion took time off for both her physical and mental health in June of the same year. Shion stated that on top of worsening issues with her throat, the announcement of fellow Hololive VTuber Kiryu Coco's graduation was taxing her emotionally.

Nintendo Switch Online subcribers can try the full version of River City Girls for free. Nintendo announced it is the latest game in the Free Game Trial series. Starting on December 6, 2022, people will be able to go through the beat'em up. It will also be on sale during the event, as is common for titles participating in the program.

River City Girls is an original spin-off in the beat'em up Kunio-kun series. (Outside Japan, the NES entry ended up localized as River City Ransom.) Misako and Kyoko's boyfriends Kunio and Riki are kidnapped, and the girls go around town beating up enemies to rescue them. The title normally costs $29.99. However, as part of the promotion, it is temporarily $14.99 in the eShop until December 11, 2022.

This comes ahead of River City Girls 2's debut. The game is already available in Japan. However, there is no worldwide release date for the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC game yet. It still has a 2022 release window, however.

River City Girls is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and PC. The sequel is out in Japan and is expected to appear worldwide before 2022 ends. The Nintendo Switch Online Free Game Trial for it will last until December 12, 2022.

Cover and Anycolor, the parent companies of Hololive and Nijisanji, announced the two are working together to combat defamation against their Vtubers. The two issued a join press release confirming their intentions to work together against bad actors. The announcement also noted that both began working together in October 2022 to take action against “summary sites.”

Throughout the joint statement, Cover and Anycolor noted they “condemn” actions of people harassing and spreading lies about the Hololive and Nijisanji Vtubers. They also noted how this distress and invasion interferes with the Vtubers’ livelihoods and fans. The notice acknowledged how it puts people’s health at stake.

As for actions the companies will be taking, a few things came up in the announcement. It mentioned the two developed strategies and took part in “public awareness campaigns.” It also mentioned Cover and Anycolor will enter a settlement agreement with those who operate “summary sites” in the hopes of protecting Hololive and Nijisanji Vtubers. However, it also noted they will be branching out. The statement said, “Going forward, while implementing these countermeasures, we intend to go even further by cooperating with other companies in accordance with the circumstances and matters at hand and intend to work vigorously to eradicate acts of defamation.”

There are a lot of great new Pokemon designs in Scarlet and Violet. We have Tandemaus, a pair of mice that eventually evolves into a family as Maushold. There’s a pig with the perfect name Lechonk. But of all the new Pokemon out there, few can outclass Scarlet and Violet’s Tinkaton as the best of the best. Well, and by extension Tinkatink and Tinkatuff.

First, aesthetically Tinkaton is a great new Pokemon. Each one begins as a pink, tony baby with a small hammer that looks more like a metal rattle. As she grows (and inevitably craves destruction), that begins to become a hammer. So by Tinkatuff at level 24, she starts to turn into a little pink menace. Then, by level 38, she is a full-blown problem with hammer far bigger than she is.

The Hololive Myth Vtubers are now in CounterSide as part of the game’s latest crossover event. To help people get an idea of everything that entails, there’s a new video showcasing the collaboration. It goes over all of the five characters now in-game. People can also hear the voiced lines that will play. Some of the figures they can collect also show up. This comes following the event's announcement back in November 2022.

The video begins by showing the five Hololive Myth members’ CounterSide skins. As a reminder, Calliope is a Lucrecia skin, Kiara is a Yuna Springfield one, Ina’nis is one for Edel Meitner, Gura is a Kaci Bins skin, and Amelia is one for Yang Harim. In each case, people can see the people in character and using attacks. One skin will be a free collaboration mission reward.

After that, the trailer goes over other elements of the event. It shows the compose system with the Vtubers. A number of chibi figures inspired by the Hololive Myth members show up. It then closes with a look at how the characters look like in a room interacting with different pieces of furniture.

Here’s the latest trailer for the crossover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syTQhIFujSc&ab_channel=CounterSideGlobal

CounterSide is available on PCs and mobile devices, and the Hololive Myth crossover is now live in-game.

Shonen Jump finally ended its promised new run of four new manga series with Fabricant 100. As with the past three, it is available outside of Japan. People can start reading its first chapter on Manga Plus and Viz Media immediately.

Fabricant 100 comes from Daisuke Enoshima. The series begins with the backstory into fabricants. These are beings who aren’t human. A doctor attempted making them, hoping to create a perfect one, eventually creating 100 of them. However, all of the imperfect fabricants are constantly searching for “perfect” parts from ordinary humans. And so the series follows Ashibi Yao and that fabled 100th one the doctor created as they hunt the 99 others to protect humanity.

Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball Super Card Game is going to get a Digital Version. At the December 2022 Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour, a teaser appeared for the project. Sometime in 2023, a virtual version of the card game will appear. Platforms weren’t announced, but there will be a closed beta test.

Here’s the official teaser trailer for Dragon Ball Super Card Game Digital Version. The video begins with the existing TCG’s logo. Then, it shows a number of cards from the game. After that, it confirms the new version. Apparently, the official title will just tack “Digital Version” on to the end of the game’s title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olNSaa8JR8I&ab_channel=OfficialBandaiCardGamesChannel

However, aside from the trailer, there aren’t any other details about the project. We see Goku about to unleash a Kamehameha on a field of cards after the Son Goku card appears in the teaser. It doesn’t show any more than that. Instead, it says the next announcements regarding the game will appear at the March 4-5, 2023 Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour.

The Dragon Ball Super Card Game is available physically worldwide now, and the Digital Version is in development for undisclosed devices. It will appear in 2023, with a closed beta preceding the official release.

A realm that collapsed into darkness will be reborn. Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost is getting made, officially. Developer UnknownX released a promo for the resurrected title at Winter 2022 Indie Live Expo on December 4, 2022.

Check out the extended teaser for Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PPpCOoDMbw

Phantasia Lost is the rebooted edition of mobile rhythm game Touhou Danmaku Kagura, which ended service in late October 2022. UnknownX began a crowdfunding campaign to fund its efforts to salvage the now-defunct gacha game as a single-release product on PC. That campaign has to date raised over 92 million Yen (about $675,423 USD), more than 6 times the initial funding target. These campaigns activated stretch goals for a Switch edition, as well as for a new theme song produced by band Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets and singer-songwriter Kayoko Kusano.

The teaser tells the story of how Gensokyo, the home of the many characters of Touhou Project, fell to ruin, with its cities, people, and even memories subsumed by sand. Reimu Hakurei awakens, with no memory of who she was, and must collect the Mitama Cards to restore the lost memories of the realm, that it might be reborn in truth.

A new Fire Emblem Engage teaser details Corrin, the protagonist of Fire Emblem Fates. Unlike Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Corrin's female incarnation appears as an Emblem character this time around.

Check out the Fire Emblem Engage Corrin teaser below.

https://twitter.com/FireEmblemJP/status/1599667781468684288

In Fire Emblem Fates, Corrin was born to the royal family of Hoshido, but was kidnapped and raised as part of the royal family of Hoshido's longtime foe, Nohr. Following the prologue, Corrin is given a choice of whether to return to Hoshido or continue siding with Nohr in the war between the two kingdoms. Fire Emblem Fates then split the story between two separate releases. The Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright release follows the storyline of Corrin siding with Hoshido, while the Conquest release follows the Nohr plotline. A third route, Revelation was released later as a downloadable expansion.

Animation studio Orange unveiled the main trailer for Trigun Stampede on December 4, 2022, along with its worldwide release date of January 7, 2023. This new trailer highlights the clash between Vash and his brother, Millions Knives. Humanity is stranded in a desert planet, forced to rely on Plants, valuable biological power reactors that can’t be replicated. Knives seeks to collect all Plants, and Vash is set to stop him.

Check out the trailer below. English subtitles are available in the closed captions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlJZJWt7fpA

Along with the release date, this new trailer revealed the opening and ending themes for Trigun Stampede. The opening theme is called "TOMBI," performed by Japanese hip hop artist Kvi Baba. The ending theme is called "Hoshi no Kuzu α (Waste of the Stars Alpha)," composed by Haruka Nakamura and performed by singer Salyo.

In a previous tweet, studio Orange confirmed that this new retelling of Trigun was only possible thanks to the original manga being complete. Two characters present in the trailer are William Conrad and Livio the Double Fang, which were exclusive to the manga. Their appearances, along with other hints present in the trailer, point to this new adaptation sticking closer to completed source material.

The latest Feh Channel appeared on December 4, 2022. As expected, it announced Book 7’s story will be told in Fire Emblem Heroes and revealed new characters Seidr, Heidr, and Gullveig. Seider is the Realm of Light Vanaheimr’s god. The new book will appear on December 7, 2022, as will a banner with characters from Fire Emblem Fates. There are also new adjustments and features for existing modes coming in the update.

First, here’s the Fire Emblem Heroes Book 7 movie that introduces Seidr and sets the stage for the new storyline. Not long after meeting Seidr and Heidr in the game, Heidr is taken by Gullveig. It will be up to players to save her. If you complete chapter 13 of book 7, you get the Seidr: Goddess of Hope unit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHFjMCIKq1U&ab_channel=NintendoMobile

As for the new banner, it will feature Caeldori, Dwyer, Seidr, and Rearmed Ophelia. Caeldori is a flier who uses lances. Dwyer is an infantry healer and the only character available as a four or five-star unit. Seidr is a cavalry unit who uses green tomes. This version of Ophelia is an infantry unit who wields red tomes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knWaDA3MDZA&ab_channel=NintendoMobile

In addition to those four, the Feh Channel confirmed Kiragi will appear as a colorless infantry archer. People can also get Hans, an infantry unit who wields an axe, from a Grand Hero Battle.

There's more than one web event live in Genshin Impact. HoYoVerse kicked off two ahead of the 3.3 update. This second one is called Fluttering Footsteps in the Fields. This web event follows Scaramouche, who will be joining Genshin Impact as a playable character called the Wanderer. In it, players can follow him around to earn rewards. People can visit the official site to participate.

Here’s how Fluttering Footsteps in the Fields works. When this Genshin Impact event begins, Scaramouche is walking around Sumeru as The Wanderer. When he does, you can click on his surroundings. He will then react to the different things he sees. You’ll then be able to check the experience records to see the full experiences. When you do, you can perform certain actions to see his silhouette in a space. (This can involve sharing a picture or visiting the YouTube channel.)

There are a few rewards connected to the event. To start, you can earn a wallpaper of Scaramouche for participating. People can also earn 2 Mystic Enhancement Ores, 3 Vayunda Turquoise Fragments, 40 Primogems, and 20,000 Mora.

Square Enix announced the FFXIV Moogle Treasure Trove event will return on December 12, 2022. As usual, the event involves collecting Irregular Tomestones of Creation from Duties. If you do, you can trade them at Itinerant Moogles to get new and old items. Among the FFXIV rewards this time include things like a Namazu Neckerchief, a The Falcon airship mount, and the Albino Karakul mount.

First, here’s a list of FFXIV Duties that will reward players with Irregular Tomestones of Creation.

Crisis Core: FFVII Reunion is just over a week from its December 13, 2022 launch date, and Square Enix debuted a huge new Zack and Cloud ad in Japan's Shinjuku Station to push the game. The ad is unique in this case because of its gimmick. It shows a different image depending on which direction a viewer is coming from. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

Taking up the entire wall of the Shinjuku Station Metro Promenade, the Crisis Core: FFVII Reunion ad is 14 meters (about 45 feet) long and divided into two "sides:" the Zack Side and the Cloud Side. The two sides are linked by the Buster Sword wielded by both Final Fantasy VII stars. Travelers walking from one end of the poster to the other will see the image change from Zack to Cloud and vice-versa.

This is because the Crisis Core: FFVII Reunion poster is printed using a technique called "bellows printing." A single partial image is printed on each of a surface consisting of triangular ridges. When viewers approach from one side, they only see one image. The second image is on the other side of the poster's ridges, and is hidden from view until they get to the other side of the poster and view it from the opposite angle.

Viewers standing near the ad will also be able to hear Ayaka's "Why," the game's theme song.

See the Crisis Core: Reunion bellows print poster in action below.

Ahead of certain character debuts or new features, HoYoVerse often holds Genshin Impact web events. These serve as a way to introduce things. Participation is encouraged via rewards like Primogems. Well, ahead of the Genius Invokation TCG debut, a Genshin Impact Duelist Rising web event began. People can immediately start seeing cards and earning items at the official site.

Here’s how the Genshin Impact Duelist Rising web event works. Once you log in, you can complete missions to unlock character and action cards. These are just to see in the event. You aren’t actually unlocking them to use in the Genshin Impact TCG. When you get a chance to unlock cards, you can choose which six elemental types you want it to belong to. Every time you tap to unlock cards, you get one random character card and four random action cards. If you get duplicates, you can trade with friends to build your virtual collection.

Dragon Quest Treasures is this entirely new sort of spin-off for the Dragon Quest series. Tapping into Dragon Quest XI, it pulls younger versions of the thief Erik and his sister Mia as they go off on a search for, well, treasure. Early promotional materials suggested an action-RPG with exploration on various islands. However, in my first few hours with the game, I also was delighted by how often it reminded me of the Dragon Quest Monsters series.

Part of it hit me before the game even began. I mean, this is a TOSE project, and the company also worked on games like Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker and its sequels, and Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry’s Wonderland 3D. So coming in, I had that hit of nostalgia. The fact that we have two child protagonists working alongside monsters they recruit? Well, it left me with high hopes.

In addition to a bevy of information about Scaramouche, HoYoVerse shared details about another new Genshin Impact character. Faruzan is joining the cast, and her ascension materials, talent materials, and character demo showed up. There are isolated videos focusing on her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst talents too. Also, HoYoverse again confirmed the English voice actress and Japanese one for Faruzan. She'll be played by Chandni Parekh in English and Yui Horie in Japanese.

Faruzan’s English voice actress, Chandni Parekh, previously appeared in a few cartoons. She voiced Lola in Bugs Bunny Builders and Jenny in Big Nate. As for Yui Horie, she’s played Hitomi in Dead or Alive 6, Ai-chan in Honkai Impact 3rd, Chie in Persona 4, and Tohru in Fruits Basket.

Voice Artist Announcement

"Before you ask a question, do call me 'Madam.'"
Travelers, let's listen to the voice of "Enigmatic Machinist" #Faruzan!

Voice Artist
EN VA: Chandni Parekh
JP VA: HORIE Yui

There's once again a reason to work for Grizzco. Salmon Run updated with a new reward in Splatoon 3, adding the Astro Helm to the collection. If you get 200 Grizzco Points while playing through the horde mode, you'll get one piece of the showcased gear.

After you earn the Astro Helm reward for playing Salmon Run in Splatoon 3, you will find it in the Headgear section on the equipment page. The item will arrive with ability slots already filled. However, each time you earn one by playing, it could feature different skills. Since you can only own one of these items at a time, earning additional ones will allow someone to choose which version to keep. (You will get ability chunks in exchange for the one you don't pick.) Also, as the Astro Helm name suggests, it looks like a helmet someone flying a space ship would wear.

This is the fourth Salmon Run reward to be offered in the game. When Splatoon 3 launched, people could earn a Bream-Brim Cap. The Lo-Vis Visor came up at the beginning of October 2022. Throughout November 2022, people could earn the Brain Strainer helmet. So far, all rewards involved new headgear.

Splatoon 3 is available for the Nintendo Switch, and people can get the Astro Helm as a Salmon Run reward in December 2022.

Through his studio Fahrenheit 213 former Fate/Grand Order Yosuke Shiokawa announced a new game: Tsurugihime. The first title for Shiokawa and Fahrenheit 213 since leaving Delightworks (FGO's former developer before transitioning to Lasengle), Tsurugihime will appear on PCs via Steam.

Check out the game's teaser trailer below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB_vWXe3uK4

The trailer shows off what Fahrenheit 213 calls an "RPG that 'crafts' fate". Tsurugihime blends side-scrolling action gameplay with crafting and a system for daily progression. The "crafting" is about more than putting items together, as players can also "craft" their path to victory in the last battle. That last battle will happen within 100 days. Before that, players are free to live their life however they wish. They can train to become stronger, target powerful enemies, or even refuse to fight at all, living a peaceful life. The game's ending will change based on how players spend their time.

Fahrenheit 213 said that Tsurugihime will have up to 1,000 weapons available to the player. The weapons can be found, acquired, and created, and will have distinct properties that promote mastery. The game also offers a number of customization options, ranging from the main character and their sword, their home base, and even a custom little sister. The little sister will support the player through the "Ikusei" system, and her personality and outlook will change based on how players interact with her.

At the Winter 2022 Indie Live Expo publisher Playism announced that it'll release a new otome game from developer Jamsanpoid. Titled From Madness With Love, the game's set for release in the Spring of 2023.

Check out the announcement trailer for From Madness With Love below. English subtitles are available in the closed captions.

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

The player is a second-year high school student, who just transferred to a wealthy Japanese private school, Kokain Private Academy. There they'll meet four available guys: Classmate Yusuke Saeki, teacher Shuji Arakawa, student council president Aorta, fellow student Tamura Marshmallow.

Each guy has his own quirks to emphasize the main conceit of From Madness With Love, which is getting to know guys "you'll never be on the same page with." Each romantic interest has some hangup that prevents straightforward communication. Yusuke speaks in incomprehensible gibberish. Shuji speaks like he's been badly translated. Tamura prefers to communicate in profanities and verbal abuse. Aorta's foreign language is impossible to understand or decipher.

Players will need to get around these roadblocks on the path to love, and help determine the story of From Madness With Love through their choices. Seasonal events, club activities, festivals, and occasions like the New Year and Valentine's Day will provide opportunities to meet with each character and deepen their bonds.

After years of Genshin Impact leaks being an open secret on the internet, HoYoVerse will take firm legal action against Ubatcha, one of the game’s most popular leakers. TorrentFreak reported a court ordered Discord to hand over Ubatcha’s personal details, as Discord is one of the biggest platforms for sharing leaks to a wide audience. [Thanks, TorrentFreak!]

Technically speaking, Ubatcha’s Discord server and subreddit with Genshin Impact information received DMCA takedown notices since July 2022. However, leaks continued to spread around the internet. Information on both Childe and Yoimiya appearing in the Version 3.2 photography event appeared on Twitter in September 2022. Version 3.2 of Genshin Impact launched in November 2022, more than two months after the leaks. Wanderer will launch in December 2022 as part of Version 3.3. However, information on his kit, animations, and ascension materials started appearing in early November 2022.

There's yet another Genshin Impact trailer for The Wanderer, the playable version of Scaramouche, and this time it is a character demo. The new video focuses on setting the stage for him, before showing him enter a battle against members of the Fatui. In addition, HoYoVerse officially confirmed the English voice actor and Japanese voice actor for Scaramouche in another tweet on the Genshin Impact Twitter account.

First, here's the Genshin Impact "Wanderer: Of Solitude Past and Present" character demo for Scaramouche. Like another character close to him, a bird seems drawn to him during more quiet moments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHEE_-87mNE&ab_channel=GenshinImpact

In English, Patrick Pedraza is the voice actor for Scaramouche in Genshin Impact. He’s also played Yun in Onyx Equinox and Mike Tiller in Fallout 76’s Steel Dawn DLC. In Japanese, Tetsuya Kakihara plays the character. Kakihara is known for his roles as Natsu Dragneel in Fairy Tail, Jin Kisaragi and Hakumen in BlazBlue, Lloyd Bannings in Trails of Cold Steel, and Prompto Argentum in FFXV.

Voice Artist Announcement

"Don't ask redundant questions. I will not answer them."
Travelers, let's listen to the voice of "Eons Adrift" #Wanderer!

As expected, HoYoVerse shared Genshin Impact banner details for the new Scaramouche (The Wanderer) and Itto rerun ones debuting on December 7, 2022. The company already confirmed Faruzan would be a four-star focus unit on both. However, it turns out Gorou and Yanfei will also join them.

Scaramouche, now known as The Wanderer, is a five-star Anemo character in Genshin Impact. He'll use a catalyst in-game. The Epitome Invocation weapon banner running on that date will include the five-star Tulaytullah’s Remembrance catalyst designed with him in mind. Itto is a returning five-star Geo character. He wields claymores. Likewise, the weapon banner will bring back his Redhorn Stonethresher five-star claymore.

While the focus five-stars are always different on these banners, they share the same four-stars. New Anemo archer Faruzan makes her debut on both. Gorou is a returning Geo archer. As for Yanfei, she’s a Pyro character who uses catalysts.

For the meantime, two other rerun banners are available. People can get Childe and Yae Miko again until December 6, 2022. He's a five-star Hydro archer, while she's a five-star Electro catalyst-wielder.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Scaramouche (Wanderer) banner and Itto rerun banner will appear on December 7, 2022. They will end on December 27, 2022.

Soccer Story showed up on multiple platforms, blending the idea of a soccer game with RPG and minigame elements. As the concept and whimsical designs suggest, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. (After all, you have a panda as a team captain.) But while the soccer segments are capable enough, what really makes the game stand out is the RPG side of things.

Soccer Story begins in a world in which only officially licensed soccer matches from a big name corporation are allowed. At a past match, a goal exploded and disaster struck, providing the perfect excuse to tear it away from the masses. The player character, one of two twins that the player can pick between, loves the sport though! Especially since their father was a player in that fateful calamity of a game. When a futuristic ball crashes into their room, they end up getting an opportunity to pull together their own team.

Squishmallows are basically 2020s’ Beanie Babies. They’re a collectible plush toy line, complete with special crossovers and artificial scarcity in play. At the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, Jazwares and Kelly Toys announced Pokemon Squishmallows were in the works, with Pikachu and Gengar confirmed as the first two products in the line. Due to that aforementioned artificial scarcity, the first batch sold out in the Pokemon Center the day they launched. However, somebody (me) managed to win the battle with the website to secure an order for a Pikachu variant. Now that he’s settled in at home, I can confirm… it is basically a pleasantly plump pillow.

The Pikachu Squishmallow features a minimalistic design, much like other characters in the plush toy lineup. For example, I also own a (ridiculously large) Shark Squishmallow with the major accents being fins, gills, two black eyes, a toothy grin, and a pair of goggles. The Pikachu is slightly more elaborate in comparison, with his front paws embroidered on the front, a tail that almost matches the size of his body on the back, his trademark brown stripes and pink cheeks, and large, sturdy ears. The fabric is soft, but not overly fuzzy or long. It’s a more subtle texture and grain, which makes it feel more like hugging or rubbing a very soft pillow, rather than a stuffed animal.

When Genshin Impact wins awards, HoYoVerse tends to celebrate them. This usually involves a free gift for players. The game ended up getting a PlayStation Partner Awards 2022 Japan Asia win when December 2022 began. As such, players will get 800 free Primogems in Genshin Impact until December 7, 2022.

HoYoVerse detailed how the free Genshin Impact Primogem rollout will work. Every day someone over Adventure Rank 7 logs in to play starting on December 4, 2022, 200 Primogems will appear in their mailbox. They can then claim them and use that currency on things like wishes to get new characters and weapons. It didn't note if there is an expiration date to the free gems or how long someone has to claim them.

As a reminder, Genshin Impact took one of the top "prizes" at the PlayStation Partner Awards 2022 for Japan and Asia. Both it and Elden Ring received the Grand Award. That means those two were both the top games by Asian developers.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices. The 3.3 update will appear on December 7, 2022. That will bring the Genius Invokation TCG and a playable version of Scaramouche called The Wanderer.

A new promo for Genshin Impact held at GiGO Amusement Centers (formerly Sega) features art of the characters Xingqiu, Chongyun, Ayaka, and Thoma wearing modern school uniforms. The latest Genshin x GiGO campaign, titled "Tamayura no Kokoroyukashi" ("Heartfelt Fleeting Moments") brings with it a new line of prizes to GiGO stores and crane games. The prizes range from small ticket holders to plushies, wall scrolls, and standees. The campaign kicks off from December 10, 2022, and it runs through January 15, 2023.

The Genshin x GiGO campaign features several different merchandise items to win by playing on a participating GiGO store's crane games. The basic prize, a ticket holder, can be had with any 500 Yen spend on the crane games. There are 12 variants, with the four featured characters in their schoolwear, as well as eight other Genshin Impact characters (Razor, Fischl, Eula, Albedo, Yanfei, Shenhe, Yun Jin, and Yelan) wearing their default outfits. Several of the items feature the Japanese pronunciations of the characters' Chinese-style names (for example, "Xingqiu" is rendered as "Yukuaki").

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="941985,941986" link="file"]

Other more limited items include acrylic standees and art boards of the featured characters, sitting plushies (using the default outfits), hug pillow cases, wall scrolls, and rubber mats.

Jim Ryan, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, stated that more PS5 consoles will ship out in Asia and Japan from 2023. This is due to the resolution of a long-running issue in the supply chain shortage that has limited the production of the PS5. He thanks people for their understanding and cooperation, as well as apologizes for the trouble. [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

When the PS5 came out in November 2020, the world was in the middle of a global pandemic. That on its own would be more than enough to disrupt supply chains. However, at the same time, there was a worldwide semiconductor shortage occurring at the same time. The pandemic exacerbated the issue. Semiconductors are vital in the creation of electronics, from cars to consoles, and without them, Sony simply could not make enough PS5s to keep up with consumer demand.

There is an easier way to find free trials for PS5 games, as a demo section is now available in the PlayStation Store. This can be found when browsing on the system or in a browser. Searching it from a computer or tablet includes access to additional filtering options.

The PlayStation Store PS5 demo section offered 352 game trials as of time of writing. People can search by criteria like most downloaded, price, release date, or name. It is also possible to narrow down the list by genre.

Here are some of the most notable recent PlayStation Store PS5 games available in the demo section in December 2022.

Getting 400 Pokemon in your Pokedex in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is an attractive notion. (Who wouldn't want a Shiny Charm that helps with catching Shiny Pokemon?) However, it also can mean a lot of work. It probably will be someone's post-game endeavor. When you do get to work on it, your current party and favorites might all be near level 70. That isn’t always great if you’ll be doubling back to go after weaker characters missing from your collection. However, the best Pokemon catching options in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet come down to three helpful moves: False Swipe, Super Fang, and Thunder Wave.

How Do You Get False Swipe to Help with Pokemon Catching in Scarlet and Violet

Good news! If you catch 30 different species of Pokemon and then go to Naranja or Uva Academy to take a Biology class, you can then go to Jacq after to get TM 57: False Swipe. The reason this attack is so good is because while it will damage the opponent, it will leave them with at least 1 HP. You’re guaranteed not to make it faint when you use this attack. To craft it, you will need 3 Chewtle Claws, 3 Kricketot Shells, and 400 League Points.

Pokemon with “claws” tend to be able to learn it via TM, like Meowth, Persian, Sneasel, Weavile, Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit. Pokemon like Scyther and Zangoose will also learn it naturally as part of their moveset. I’d suggest getting a Jolteon and teaching it this move, as it can also learn Thunder Wave, another helpful ability when coming up with the best sorts of Pokemon catching moves in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

There were two major DNF Duel announcements at ArcRevo Japan 2022, concerning Spectre showing up as a DLC character and a Nintendo Switch port of the game. Spectre will mark the first add-on for the title. As for the Switch version, it will mark the four platform for the fighter when it debuts in Spring 2023. A Grand Balance Patch will also appear in December 2022.

First, the official trailer teasing the DNF Duel Switch port isn't on the official YouTube account as of 11:45pm ET on December 3, 2022. However, GamerPrey already uploaded it online. At the very end, the new version is confirmed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpu3Q_th-D4&ab_channel=MasahiroSakuraionCreatingGames

The teaser for the DNF Duel Spectre DLC, however, is available already. It doesn't actually show her in battle. Rather, after showing off some current cast members, it follows up with a quick peek at the character. There's no release window for her yet. In Dungeon Fighter Online, Spectre is a female Slayer who wields katanas.

The Next Challenger!#DNFDuel pic.twitter.com/jctSJHPxMj

— DNF Duel (@DNFDuel) December 4, 2022

HoYoVerse always releases character teasers for new Genshin Impact five-stars ahead of their debut, and the latest one for The Wanderer delves into Scaramouche's past and shares some spoilers. It begins by teasing the recent events involving him in Sumeru. However, after that it goes further back to another event that happened in Inazuma.

Editor's Note: The video below includes spoilers for Genshin Impact Archon Quest chapter 3, act 5.

Here's the full Genshin Impact character teaser "Wanderer: Ashes." It begins with a scene from after the Shouki no Kami boss fight in chapter 3, act 5. As Scaramouche reminisces, it then goes to a scene from his early life in Inazuma. It then teases what his future will be like as The Wanderer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR2n2TsJuNE&ab_channel=GenshinImpact

In addition to the character teaser, there are also two videos showing off what the playable Scaramouche's Talents will look like in Genshin Impact. First, here is the Elemental Skill Hanega: Song of the Wind.

So, you beat Pokemon Scarlet and are excited to head back to Area Zero for ancient Paradox Pokemon. However, you got there and can’t see any of them around! I mean, okay, you’ll probably see Scream Tail, the ancient form of Jigglypuff. It’s everywhere there even before you “beat” the game. But what about others like Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, Sandy Shocks, and Slither Wing? Well, I’m here to help.

But, if you want to still find them on your own without more direct advice and just want a quick tip, searching around Research Station 1 and Research Station 4 will help you find most of these new Pokemon. They’re all in the late 50s and early 60s in terms of level, so be prepared.

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers regarding Pokemon Scarlet’s Area Zero postgame and Paradox Pokemon below.

At Anime Frontier 2022, Crunchyroll announced it will offer the The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel anime Northern War and six other shows on its streaming service in 2023. Four of the shows will debut in January 2023. Two will show up in April 2023. Masamune-kun’s revenge R has a tentative Spring 2023 release window.

Here’s the full list of Crunchyroll 2023 announcements from the event, alongside the release windows for each one.

The Game Awards are a prominent place for a developer or publisher to deliver a surprise announcement for a new title. Sometimes, though, one has to clarify when something isn't going to happen. That was the case with NetherRealm Studios Chief Creative Officer Ed Boon, who took to Twitter to announce that the studio is "not ready" to announce its next game. This means no Mortal Kombat or Injustice game announcement.

https://twitter.com/noobde/status/1598732410585088001

In the announcement (or rather, the denial of an announcement), Boon referred to the 2018 Game Awards event, when NetherRealm successfully announced Mortal Kombat 11, the current game in its hyperviolent fighting series. The game went on to sell more than 12 million copies by 2021.

The final Good Smile Company The Quintessential Quintuplets Date Style figure is about to appear, and it is of youngest sister Itsuki Nakano. While all five sisters are identical, she's considered the fifth and final one. Her figure will appear in Japan in December 2023. Then, in February 2024, a North American release will follow. It costs ¥18,800/$118.99.

As the name suggests, each figure in this line is designed to look like she's going out on a date. In Itsuki's case, hers involves getting snacks at an amusement park. She's carrying a crepe in one hand and a churro in the other. She's also dressed in a coat that matches her signature colors. The 1/6th scale figure will stand at over 11 inches tall.

Here is a closer look at the The Quintessential Quintuplets Itsuki figure.
[gallery size="full" ids="941970,941971,941972" link="file"]

This is the fifth and final The Quintessential Quintuplets Date Style figure. The Ichika, Nino, Miku, and Yotsuba ones' orders all already appeared.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 turned five in 2022, and main character designer Masatsugu Saito shared Pyra and Mythra art to celebrate. The new image features the two heroines standing in front of the game’s logo. This comes after Monolith Soft shared official wallpaper to mark the occasion.

Here is Saito’s official tweet with the new Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Pyra amd Mythra art.
https://twitter.com/_saitomasatsugu/status/1598323211942649856

This isn’t the first time Masatsugu Saito shared Xenoblade Chronicles 2 art of Pyra and Mythra in honor of the game’s anniversary. It happened for its third one as well. In that image, Pyra was on the left and Mythra on the right, with the two legendary Blades back-to-back.

People can also see more of Saito’s Xenoblade Chronicle 2 character designs in the newest entry. Back before Xenoblade Chronicles 3 debuted, Executive Director Tetsuya Takahashi confirmed the artist’s contributed to the new game. His drawings were used to bring characters to life. Other returning staff on the team included artist Koichi Mugitani and composers like Yasunori Mitsuda.

The latest Fire Emblem Engage character that Nintendo introduced is Byleth, one of the past heroes you can summon with an Emblem Ring.  Byleth was the protagonist of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which was the previous mainline title. While the player could choose Byleth’s gender in their actual game, Byleth will appear as a man in Fire Emblem Engage.

Byleth will be a support unit. He can raise his allies’ stats, as well as use Divine Pulse to reset an attack. If an attack was going to miss, he can rewind time and the attack will land on the second try. There is a chance that Divine Pulse will not work, though, so the success rate will likely depend on one of Byleth’s stats. Byleth will work the best when around allies, rather than on his own.

https://twitter.com/FireEmblemJP/status/1598578121888137219?t=SqpFngd6kwWIUAWA__tsAg&s=19

There is also a conversation between Alcryst and Byleth, which lets someone see how the characters interact with the past heroes. In the short clip, Byleth compliments Alcryst on his skills in the previous battle. However, Alcryst takes it the wrong way. After reacting with fear, he asks if Byleth is indirectly telling him that he needs to defeat more enemies.

Capcom clarified just how compatible the Monster Hunter Rise PS4 and PS5 versions will be, noting details about cross-save support. There will be no cross-progression possible with the game. A representative confirmed this to Digital Trends after the initial announcement. However, the additional details also noted the cross-progression and cross-saves will be available for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. [Thanks, Digital Trends!]

How cross-save support would work would mean someone could begin playing Monster Hunter Rise on a PS4, then use that same save file on the PS5. (Or vice versa.)

However, there will be some cross-platform compatibility when Monster Hunter Rise launches on the PS4 and PS5. Cross-play will be available. So someone playing on a PS4 will be able to go on hunts with a person on a PS5. This feature is restricted by platforms, though. So PS4 and PS5 folks can play together, but wouldn't be able to play with those on Xbox platforms.

There are some exclusive features confirmed for the PS5 version of Monster Hunter Rise. For example, it will take advantage of the DualSense controller. Adaptive triggers will work with some weapons.