Siliconera

Bandai Namco revealed more information about the gameplay and modes available in Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival. It was announced back in February 2022 and is slated for release on the Switch on September 23, 2022. Like previous entries, it'll have a variety of gameplay modes to keep aspiring Drum Masters entertained.

The opening mode of Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is actually a story mode, set in the game location of Omiko City. Players join Taiko mascot Don-chan ahead of a planned fireworks display. While attempting to drum away some inclement weather, the pair encounter a new friend, Kumo-kyun the mysterious cloud. Together with Don-chan and Kumo-kyun, players continue their journey to bring rhythm and joy to Omiko City, while aiming to become a Taiko Master. The game also supports a variety of control options in handheld and docked modes. Motion controls, touch controls, and controls using the Taiko Drum peripherals are supported. Online and local multiplayer for up to two players are supported for the core Taiko Mode and the game's second mode, "Great Drum Toy War."

Suzume no Tojimari  (lit. "Suzume's Door-Locking") is the next film from Your Name and Weathering With You director Makoto Shinkai. It's his first film since Weathering With You premiered in 2019. Toho debuted the first full trailer for Suzume no Tojimari on July 15, 2022. A short teaser debuted on April 10, 2022, after Toho confirmed the film's November 11, 2022 opening date in Japan.

Check it out below.  The Suzume no Tojimari trailer is set to the film's theme song, "Suzume," and English translations of the lyrics are available via closed captions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7nQ0VUAOXg

The Suzume no Tojimari trailer opens with footage of the protagonist, 17-year-old Suzume. She's played by actress Nanoka Hara, who rose over 1,700 other audition candidates to secure the role. What's more, Suzume no Tojimari is her first anime voice-acting credit. She also sings the theme song.

Good Smile Company has released the next set of Fire Emblem: Three Houses Pop Up Parade figures, with Dimitri and Felix taking the spotlight this time. Like the previous Edelgard and Bernadetta figures, they will appear as they do in the Academy chapters when they are students at the monastery. Both figures are available for pre-order until August 17, 2022. They will come out in Japan in November 2022 and in North America in February 2023.

Like other Pop Up Parade figures, you will not be able to change the pose or face plates. Both stand at approximately 18 centimeters in height. The Fire Emblem: Three Houses Dimitri figure has him standing with his legs somewhat apart. His blue cape billows behind him, either from his own movement or the wind. He will cost 4,800 JPY/$35.99.

[gallery columns="4" ids="932210,932209,932208,932207" link="file"]

A new trailer for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury is now available online. It is just under a minute long and gives a look at the art style and animation, as well as some of the characters. There is little dialogue in the trailer, focusing mostly on teasing who will show up and how it will look.

The text that appears in both the trailer and the announcement tweet can be translated to “The witch will spur on the Gundam.”

You can watch the trailer here:

https://twitter.com/G_Witch_M/status/1547554048056111105

Hiroshi Kobayashi (Spriggan) and Ryo Ando (One Punch Man) are on the project as directors. Meanwhile, Naohiro Ogata (Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt) is the producer and Ichiro Okouchi (Devilman Crybaby) is the writer. Takashi Ohmama (Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation) provides the music.

Sales for Resident Evil 2 Remake have, as of July 14, 2022, reached over 10 million units worldwide. This number includes digital and physical copies over the various platforms the game is on. The game debuted on January 25, 2019, which means that it achieved this milestone in a little over three years. This also means that, with 10 million sales, Resident Evil 2 Remake has sold more copies than the original game.

https://twitter.com/dev1_official/status/1547446134385176577

The tweet announcing the sales for Resident Evil 2 Remake looks like the results screen after finishing the campaign. It also includes thanks to the Resident Evil fans who supported the game and series the entire way. At the bottom of the screen, where a letter grade for how well the player performed during their run appears, Capcom has graded this achievement an “SSS.”

Resident Evil 2 originally came out in 1998, following then-rookie cop Leon Kennedy and the first game’s protagonist’s sister Clair Redfield in Raccoon City after a viral outbreak transformed the city’s human and animal population. The remake boasts improved graphics and controls and is a relatively faithful retelling of the original game. It was well-received, earning honors such as being nominated for Game of the Year in 2019.

Better late than never? You wouldn’t think it would take this long to see a crossover of the Pokemon Trading Card Game and its massively popular mobile counterpart, Pokemon GO. Still, the special summer set is anticipated by many. So what’s it all about? Let’s get into it.

A primer

Like last holiday’s Celebrations set, the Pokemon GO expansion is a special promotional one, largely releasing in special box sets with pins and other extras. There’s also an Elite Trainer Box, though, which is the closest you can come to just getting a stack of booster packs.

It’s themed around the mobile game, so that means a few things. There are appearances from that game’s characters and special items! Creature art sometimes uses real-world visuals! It’s understandably focused on the original Kanto creatures and the fever pitch surrounding the game’s initial launch. Still, it’s not exclusively so, mixing in some iconic Pokemon from later generations that have made their presence known in GO.

What makes the set special?

The selection of Trainer cards in the set largely tries to bring the concepts of GO to card form. Lure Module, for example, does what you think: gets both players more Pokemon. PokeStop, on the other hand, is a Stadium card that lets players essentially spin for Items each turn.

In addition to revamping PlayStation Plus, Sony has also overhauled its loyalty rewards. A new blog entry details the result, now called "PlayStation Stars." This new loyalty program is free to join and doesn't require a payment or purchase to qualify. It combines traditional rewards with the community challenges PlayStation uses to engage its fans.

Once they join, PlayStation Stars members will earn rewards by completing campaigns and activities. The activities include things like a "Monthly Check-In" that simply requires members to play a game to receive a reward. Some activities may require a member to win a tournament, earn a specific in-game trophy, or be first in their time zone to "platinum" a blockbuster title (by earning all its available Trophies).

The rewards that PlayStation Stars members can win range from loyalty points to "digital collectibles." Loyalty points are like points in many other brand reward programs and will be redeemable in a catalog for prizes. The prizes include PSN wallet funs, PlayStation Store merchandise, and more. The "digital collectibles" are new to the program. They're described as "digital representations" of things like figurines of iconic characters and PlayStation hardware.

In case you missed it, Sony recently revamped its PS Plus subscription service. The original version of the service is now the "Essential" tier. The more expensive "Extra" and "Premium" tiers get additional benefits, including the game catalog. The PS Plus Extra lineup for July 2022 is the new service's inaugural one. To commemorate its debut, Sony is leading with a heavy hitter: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. It, as well as feline adventure game Stray and other titles, will be accessible on July 19, 2022.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the definitive version of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Exclusive to the PS5 on consoles, Intergrade includes graphical enhancements to take advantage of the PS5's hardware. It also comes with "Episode INTERmission," an exclusive new mini-campaign starring Yuffie Kisaragi. PS4 owners will have access to the base version of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Additionally, Stray puts players in control of an innocent cat living in a mysterious city full of sentient automatons.

Bayonetta 3 is coming in late October 2022, finally ending the years-long wait endured by fans of the Umbra Witch. Nintendo's set to take advantage, of course, by offering a Bayonetta 3 limited edition package filled with goodies. Formally known as the "Trinity Masquerade Edition" of the game, the Bayonetta 3 limited edition package will be sold at select retailers and the My Nintendo Store.

Check out a preview of the pack below.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1547270745780273153

The Bayonetta 3 Trinity Masquerade Edition comes with the game in a standard-size Switch cartridge case. It also includes a 200-page art book and three special game case art inserts. Each art insert corresponds to one of the Bayonetta series titles, and the three combine to form a single panoramic work. A large box decorated with the Bayonetta 3 box art holds the goods.

You might be wondering why Nintendo would include box art for Bayonetta 1 in the package when the Switch version of Bayonetta was a digital-only release. Wonder no more, for Nintendo has also confirmed that there will be a separate physical release of Bayonetta on September 30, 2022.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1547270761924157440

Japan-based publisher 3Goo announced that it will release The Rumble Fish fighting game series globally for home consoles in Winter 2022. This includes The Rumble Fish and its sequel, The Rumble Fish 2. Notably, this is the first time 2005's arcade release of The Rumble Fish 2 will receive a home console port. Alongside the announcement, 3Goo also uploaded the story trailer for the game via YouTube. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

The Rumble Fish is a 2D arcade fighting game that originally debuted in 2004. Known for its sleek character models that utilized Smooth Model Animation, the series has never been released outside of Japan. While Sega later ported the first game to the PlayStation 2 in 2005, the series hasn't seen much activity since. Dimps, the game's developer, acquired the rights to the game back in 2012.

It's still unclear which platforms The Rumble Fish will be available on, as well as whether it will appear on PCs. As of writing, 3Goo has not stated whether there will be updates to the game's net code or if it will have online multiplayer support. However, 3Goo has uploaded a 3-minute-long story trailer featuring the game's protagonist Zen, Greed, and other characters.

You can check out The Rumble Fish story trailer below:

https://youtu.be/JeB-HMEpUNk

Tomonobu Itagaki, former head of Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja, has a new studio. He's also working on a new game, called Warrior, an NFT Massive Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG). Itagaki's new studio, called Apex Game Studios, will specialize in developing "triple-A Web3 titles." "Web3" is a catchphrase for blockchain-related internet technologies, including NFTs (non-fungible tokens), cryptocurrencies, and "decentralized finances." Virtual reality social and commercial spaces like the "Metaverse" are often classified as part of "Web3" but don't necessarily require blockchain or cryptocurrency technology to work. Warrior is built on the Unreal engine and slated for initial release early in 2023, with mobile platforms and PC targeted.

Actual details about how Warrior will play or what it will look like are sparse, though. The official site contains some copy laying out the premise of the game, which is that players are on a journey to claim the power of the "King Warrior." Gameplay descriptions promise an upgrade system using randomly generated gear, "tribal territory," and "mob servants" that can be traded back and forth. Much of the site's content is dedicated to explaining the Warrior NFT economy.

Nintendo has updated its official website with the company’s Partnership System. This system gives those in same-sex and common law marriages the same benefits as legally married heterosexual couples. While these policies have existed within the company since March 2021, the website has only now been updated to reflect these rules.

According to the website and announcement, Nintendo wishes to create a work environment that “supports and empowers each and every one of their unique employees.” The entire notice is available on the Nintendo website. Essentially, the company says that the Partnership System uses the philosophy of empowerment to give employees in same-sex or common-law marriages the same benefits as those in legal marriages.

Koei Tecmo America has launched Warriors Orochi 3: Ultimate Definitive Edition for Windows PC via the Steam storefront. There is also a trailer for the game on the company’s official YouTube channel. The game costs $39.99.

The trailer mostly focuses on gameplay, but also shows off some of the different game modes, such as Duel Mode. Duel Mode is a 1v1 combat mode that combines elements from card games, as opposed to the hack-and-slash of the normal campaign. Aside from these game modes, Warriors Orochi 3: Ultimate Definitive Edition will include DLC content from the base game.

You can watch the trailer for the Steam version of Warriors Orochi 3: Ultimate Definitive Edition here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hyGafV8_g

Warriors Orochi 3 combines characters from Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, as well as ones unique to the game. Crossover characters include Sophitia from Soul Calibur and Kasumi from Dead or Alive. Though it is a hack-and-slash game that pits you against hordes of enemies to cut through, there is a tactical element as well in how you approach the maps. Unlike the more “historically accurate” Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, Warriors Orochi 3 has a more fantastical story.

The long wait is over: The witch is back. Nintendo and PlatinumGames formally confirmed the release date of Bayonetta 3. That date is October 28, 2022, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. Previously, the game was confirmed only for a 2022 release window.

To celebrate, PlatinumGames released a lengthy new trailer for the game. Check it out below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6a5-8_kt3E

The Bayonetta 3 release date trailer shows off known characters like Bayonetta, Jeanne, Luka, and Rodin. The biggest new addition is Viola, an apprentice witch. Viola wears a purple leather jacket accessorized with pouches, and jeans. With multicolored hair in a pixie cut, she wields a long katana against her enemies. Her slashes seem to be able to place symbols on the ground that can summon a monstrous cat.

Bayonetta herself will have some new tricks to deploy upon the Bayonetta 3 release date. Besides her guns and hair-powered special moves, Bayonetta is able to go into Demon Masquerade, changing her form and summoning giant monsters.

On its release Bayonetta 3 will also have an additional mode for shy players. PlatinumGames added the optional, tongue-in-cheek "Naive Angel Mode" to the final release. This mode subtly alters outfits and character designs to be slightly more covered-up, cutting down on visible nudity in the game. The mode should make Bayonetta 3 easier to play in public or around polite company.

Check Naive Angel mode in action below.

https://twitter.com/platinumgames/status/1547216944470069248

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for a long time. Long enough to have had multiple generations of home game adaptations based on them. Konami is collecting them all in the TMNT Cowabunga Collection, a playable bundle of thirteen games releasing later this year. The PlayStation Blog's PlayStation Underground program showcased boss gameplay from the collection in a special program.

Check it out below. The program is hosted by presenters Tim and Brett, developer Digital Eclipse's Chris Kohler, and Konami's Charles Murakami.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnxtjOVMITk&

The program features boss battles against Bebop and Rocksteady, the mutant minions of Shredder. The gameplay showcase shows off how the different games interpreted the ninja turtle quartet and their most persistent foes. Mechanically, the games range from side-scrolling platformer style to a more roaming brawler format.

Sometimes, a game comes along that simply catches your eye and doesn’t let go. Super UFO Fighter is certainly that, with a bright feel, a sharp pixel-art aesthetic and an approach to game structure that learns from titans of the genre. Past the coat of paint, though? There really isn’t much to find.

In Super UFO Fighter, you control a spaceship in a crane game. Since these are widely known as “UFO Catchers” in Japan, it’s a pun we’ve seen a lot. Fundamentally, though, this takes the tractor beam and physics-heavy object system of HAL Laboratory’s Part Time UFO and puts it into a head-to-head battle arena format. Your job is to root through the gachapon capsules, breaking them open until you find the trophy item and getting that special prize to your chute. In the meantime, you can collect common items to raise your opponent’s wall and make it harder for them to reach the chute. You can also strike your foe with an attack from above.

On July 21, 2022, Bright Memory: Infinite will appear on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will support 120 FPS, while the Nintendo Switch will have gyro controls. This is the full-length version of Bright Memory, which first came out in 2019. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

The game focuses on fast action using guns and knives, and players will receive grades based on how they combine their abilities. Those factors also earn players points, which they can then use to upgrade or unlock powers. These range from shooting energy blasts from Shelia's hands to stopping time. Aside from combat, there are stealth sequences and chase missions. Cosmetics DLC such as costumes and weapon skins will be bundled with Infinite.

Here are the trailers for the console version of the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AhrdkGVV2Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQS6ah8Aib8&t

Bright Memory (or Bright Memory: Episode 1) is a first-person shooter action game that a single developer created in his free time. The story follows Shelia, who works for the Science Research Organization, on her mission to stop military organization SAI from acquiring the ability to awaken the dead. The game plays like a first-person shooter, though Sheila is also capable of melee combat and using supernatural powers.

Mages is creating a game based on Summer Time Rendering, the 2017 manga by Yasuki Tanaka. The series was adapted into an anime series that aired in Spring 2022. According to the announcement, the game is targeted for release on consoles. Which specific ones, though, were not indicated.

No assets of the planned Summer Time Rendering game have been shown. The only information is in the announcement from the series' official Twitter account.

／#サマータイムレンダ
コンシューマゲーム化決定‼
＼

『#サマータイムレンダ2026 未然事故物件』の
帯でも発表された通り、ゲーム化が決定

開発は《MAGES.》が担当
ティザーサイトも本日オープンしました
続報に是非ご期待ください

ティザーサイトはこちらhttps://t.co/WWWUANlC3a pic.twitter.com/iQMnWyUtJE

— サマータイムレンダ公式 (@summertime_PR) July 12, 2022

A teaser site is open at this link. It promotes the decision to develop a "consumer game" based on Summer Time Rendering, and not much detail besides. The teaser site features artwork of the characters Shinpei Ajiro and Ushio Kofune.

A classic Dungeons & Dragons game is coming to a new generation of hardware. A remaster of 2004's Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II will release on Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developer Black Isle Studios (recently revived by its owner Interplay Entertainment) tweeted that the finalized release date for the remaster is July 20, 2022.

Check out the announcement and the accompanying teaser below:

https://twitter.com/BlackIsleStudio/status/1546512156631384065

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 was originally released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to 2001's Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, and like that game, it is an isometric action RPG. It became popular and achieved critical acclaim by adapting the gameplay style of then-PC-exclusive Diablo to console controls. The games take place in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms setting. Players can choose from one of five playable heroes: Barbarian, Monk, Necromancer, Rogue, and Cleric. Then, they'll chop their way through a series of threats to the Sword Coast city of Baldur's Gate. They'll loot new equipment from the fallen and gain experience and levels to upgrade their abilities and fighting styles.

Nintendo has announced Kirby's Dream Buffet, a four-player Kirby game for the Nintendo Switch that will release sometime in Summer 2022. The new announcement trailer gives fans a first glimpse at how the game will look and play. The Japanese Kirby account also confirmed that the game will support online multiplayer.

Kirby's Dream Buffet is the latest announced Kirby game, following the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land earlier this year. The official announcement indicates that the game will be similar to other titles in the party game genre. The game supports up to four-player multiplayer, with players taking control of various different-colored Kirby. The goal of the game is to collect strawberries across a food-themed obstacle course. At the end of the race, the players are literally weighed to see how many strawberries they've collected, with the heaviest Kirby being crowned the winner.

The rules for collecting these strawberries may vary. In addition to a racing mode that mimics games like Fall Guys, there will also be other game modes where racing takes a back seat. These include a mini-game where players collect falling strawberries, as well as a battle royale mode where they can bump into other players and steal them.

You can check out the Kirby's Dream Buffet announcement trailer below:

https://youtu.be/qOGQv0hJNJ8

Monster Hunter Rise was, perhaps, one of my favorite games of 2021. It’s hard to believe that over a year has passed since its release on the Nintendo Switch. My original playtime for it totaled around 120 hours. So, as you can imagine, I was elated about the announcement of the Sunbreak expansion. Nothing had me more excited to sink my teeth back into the game and, after spending over 50 hours with Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak, it feels like the expansion was well worth the wait.

Sunbreak builds upon an already solid foundation, extrapolating on what made Monster Hunter Rise so good. That was the range of movement players could now perform with the aide of the Wirebug. It’s a mechanic I can’t really see myself living without at this point, and Sunbreak adds to this through the implementation of “Morphed Wirebugs.” This makes an already essential mechanic all that more useful.

There are a total of two Morphed Wirebugs available, Gold and Ruby, which have individual effects. The Ruby Wirebug increases the amount of damage done by Mounted Punishes, whereas the Gold Wirebug affects the amount of items a monster will drop when it is attacked during wyvern riding. Since I love to min-max, the Gold Wirebug became my evolution of choice, as it helped me farm items to craft and acquire better armor and weapons.

Zombies are a staple of video games, as are games based on zombie TV series. The latest in that latter trend is Kingdom: The Blood, a new game based on the hit Netflix horror series Kingdom. The game is in development for PC and mobile platforms.

IGN hosted the first Kingdom: The Blood gameplay trailer on their official Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/IGN/status/1546676044542902274

The trailer shows a Korean warrior slicing his way through various foes, both human and undead. According to IGN's preview, developer Action Square motion-captured a professional Korean sword dancer to inspire the combat animations and system. As Kingdom is also a period story, the team paid special attention to replicating historical details for clothing and locations for Kingdom: The Blood. Netflix bills the game as a "zombie RPG". It will feature a story mode, an arcade-like Conquest Mode, and PVP combat. Players can create their own character and customize them.

It's a fairly common occurrence for gacha games to cross over with popular IP. It's not every day, however, for a gacha game to hook up with a verified classic. That's the case with Arknights and The Nine-Colored Deer, a classic Chinese animated film. The film is the subject of the game's latest crossover event, which kicks off on July 14, 2022.

The Arknights event is a simple one, requiring players only log in during the event period to net the reward. The main reward is a new playable Operator, the titular Nine-Colored Deer. This time the magical deer has been reimagined as a more humanoid character. She appears in-game as a 5-Star Abjurer-type Supporter character.

Check out the Arknights Nine-Colored Deer character trailer below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYB4B6fYE1I

The Arknights x Nine-Colored Deer event trailer evokes the classical styling of the original 1981 short film. Also known as A Deer of Nine Colors, the film was produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio. The film was inspired by Buddhist Jataka tale of the same name. It drew its look from a set of cave paintings discovered in the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China.

Curious viewers can actually watch the original film in its entirety below. It was uploaded by the YouTube channel Unraveling China with English subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcGVqaes8dA

The Pokémon Company is gearing up to produce a new series based on the Pokémon Trading Card Game. But rather than a narrative adaptation or a work of fiction, the series will apparently be unscripted. That means it could be non-fiction, such as a documentary, or more like a "reality" show. The company opened a casting call seeking candidates in the Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. area and its surroundings [Thanks, ANN!].

Casting for the Pokémon Trading Card Game show (its actual title is currently unknown) is managed through the company Casting Crane. The casting call seeks "energetic, personable candidates of all ages and their families." The call focuses on the candidates' experiences with the Pokémon TCG. Scenarios described include trying to learn the game to connect with loved ones, honing their TCG skills, or life as a competitive player. Casting Crane particularly wanted to hear "how a Pokémon TCG expert can help you". This could mean that the show may focus or feature where candidates are assisted by high-level Pokémon Trading Card Game players.

F:NEX opened pre-orders for two figures of Anya and Loid from Spy x Family. The figures, both of which include a brick-style figure stand, can be connected and displayed together. The Anya figure will cost ¥14,300 (about $104), while the Loid figure will cost ¥17,600 (about $128). Pre-orders are available until September 15, 2022. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

The two 1/7 scale figures are based on each character's appearance in the Spy x Family anime adaptation. Loid Forger, an undercover spy by the name of "Twilight", wears his signature turquoise suit with black gloves. He also holds a silenced pistol in his right hand. The figure features finer details such as creases in Loid's three-piece suit, black dress shoes polished to a shine, as well as buttons and his bronze pin.

Anya Forger, a telepathic girl whom Loid adopted for his mission, is wearing her Eden Academy uniform. Her uniform features gold trim. Furthermore, Anya is also pointing her toy gun in front of her with a stern expression. In her left hand, she is holding her Chimera doll aka "Director Chimera". While the two figures can be displayed together, F:NEX does not appear to sell a third figure of Yor Forger as of writing.

You can get a better look at the Spy x Family Anya and Loid figures in the screenshots below:

[gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="932102,932101,932103,932105,932109,932108,932104,932107,932106,932100"]

It's summertime in many parts of the world, including Japan. The country experiences notoriously hot and humid summers. For example, Tokyo's average temperature during summertime averages at 27°C (80°F). Nintendo Support of Japan kept people, and their Nintendo Switches, in mind, though. The official Twitter account spread some public reminders to help customers avoid Switch overheating issues.

Check out the tweets here.

https://twitter.com/nintendo_cs/status/1546333844109832194

Nintendo Support's tips for preventing Switch overheating focused on reminders of the Switch hardware's temperature tolerances. Nintendo Switches are best used in locations with a  temperature of 5°C to 35°C (41°F to 95°F). The advisory also warned customers to avoid blocking the Switch console's exhaust and intake ports, located on the top and rear of the main housing.

The advisory also linked the following FAQ on the Japanese Nintendo Support website. Check out the equivalent English-language page at this link, which lists the same information about Switch overheating prevention.

Helpfully, the Japanese page includes diagrams indicating the vents on the Nintendo Switch Lite and the Nintendo Switch OLED model. Check out the pictures of all three below. The labels are "排気口" for "Exhaust" and "吸気口" for intake. The official docks for the original Switch and Switch OLED have holes to prevent the intake valves from being blocked while the console is docked, preventing a docked Switch from overheating.

Here's for the original Switch.

On July 11, 2022, Konami added the Wandering Travelers Selection Pack and Dragonmaid Structure Deck to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel store. In solo mode, you will also be able to play through the lore of Wandering Travelers. Each Wandering Travelers pack will cost 100 Gems, with the Dragonmaid Structure Deck costing 500. [Thanks, Gamer!]

With the inclusion of the Dragonmaid structure deck in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, you will be able to get a Dragonmaid-themed protector or Mate in the shop as well. The Dragonmaid archetype consists of Dragon Monsters, with House Dragonmaid serving as the mascot. Dragonmaid focuses on getting the ‘dragon’ forms of each Monster in your hand or graveyard. The ‘human’ Monsters transform into their ‘dragon’ forms during the Battle Phase. Additionally, players should strive to summon House Dragonmaid when they can. She is a Fusion Monster, and most Dragonmaids' dragon forms are immune to destruction when there is a Fusion Monster on the field.

Kadokawa announced that it will release a character encyclopedia for the Kirby series on September 28, 2022. It will cost 1,500 JPY, which is approximately $11. This book is in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the series. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

The book will include over 1,000 characters – both allies and enemies – who have appeared throughout the 35 Kirby titles. Aside from pictures and which games they appear in, each entry will also include previous artwork and information. There are no samples of the pages, so it is unknown what statistics or information will appear in the character biographies.

For those in Japan, there is also a Kirby book fair that Kadokawa is hosting. It started on March 24, 2022, and features exclusive prizes such as library cards and bookmarks. Depending on when you purchase your book and which period you submit your receipt in, you will get different prizes. Those who submit their receipts before July 15, 2022, will get a library card that is covered in Kirby, for example.

Tsukumo Sana of Hololive English Council will graduate from the VTuber group on July 31, 2022. According to the announcement, Cover Corporation had discussed with Sana “the direction of her activities.” However, due to difficulties in continuing her streams, Cover Corporation decided to allow Sana to graduate.

Neither Cover Corporation nor Sana has revealed the details behind her graduation. Sana does note that it was a difficult decision and thanks her fans for all the support. Additionally, she notes that she wishes she could stay for everyone and that she felt like she was in a fairy tale, except that fairy tales "have to end." Sana will still attend Smash!, which will run from July 16 to 17, 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbqJ7JObVBM

Those who purchased merchandise from Tsukumo Sana’s Birthday Celebration 2022 and wish to cancel their orders may do so from the official shop. While her graduation will be at the end of July, members will be able to access members-only content until October 31, 2022. In addition, those who wish to send in fan mail or presents must make sure they will arrive before October 31, 2022.

I remember receiving the first Rune Factory game as a gift, and I was eager and excited to cut my teeth on the hybrid dungeon-crawler/farming simulator. It became an immediately memorable experience. It managed to dabble in both genres effectively, proving that a more involved Harvest Moon (now Story of Seasons) was possible. Rune Factory 5 is the latest entry in the series, with the Nintendo Switch version arriving in North America and Europe in March 2022. However, its initial release was plagued with technical issues, and the PC version of the game isn’t exactly free of them.

Immediately, I noticed several visual errors that resulted in lighting dispersed over character models in large, triangular chunks that would flash in and out of existence. This became a source of pain some hours in, with the light flashing from this glitch proving to be more than just an annoyance. While there are several graphics options available that you can select before loading the game, none of these feel particularly significant. Not to mention textures for outfits on certain characters looking pixelated and extremely rough around the edges. Switching between these options and fiddling with the menus didn’t alleviate my initial issue.

HoYoVerse uploaded a trailer video titled “A Winter Night’s Lazzo” that teases an upcoming Chapter Interlude about the Fatui Harbingers in Genshin Impact. While the trailer does not fully spoil the Inazuma Archon Quests, players should finish Inazuma’s plot before watching. As such, both this article and the video will have some spoilers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmaAOV4SJNQ

At just over four minutes long, “A Winter Night’s Lazzo” gives a peek at all of the Harbingers who will appear in Genshin Impact. Signora and Scaramouche are not there due to Signora’s death and Scaramouche’s disappearance following the events of Inazuma. In the trailer, everyone has gathered to mourn Signora. It also sheds some light on some of the dynamics within the Harbingers. At the end of the trailer, there is a brief scene of Collei, who will be one of the upcoming Dendro characters from the Sumeru region.

DAMTOYS is releasing a new version of its Resident Evil 2 Remake Leon and Claire action figures, this time featuring both characters in their original costumes. In addition to removable clothing, the 1/6 scale action figures will also include guns and iconic items from the game. Pre-orders are currently open, with each figure costing ¥32,000 (about $233). Both figures will ship sometime in Late 2022. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

The Leon figure is based on a previously released action figure that Nauts and DAMTOYS released back in 2020. The previous version of the figure featured the character in his default outfit from Remake. Similarly, Claire is also getting a default figure in the near future. Much like the latest release, those figures have over 30 points of movement and posability, as well as a variety of weapons and items to hold.

Each figure will come with a different set of weapons. Leon, for example, will come with Matilda and the M19 handgun with removable stock, magazine, and muzzle brake, as well as the W870 shotgun, LE5 machine gun, grenades, and combat knives. Unlike the standard figure, however, Leon's classic version will come with the ATM-4 rocket launcher rather than the standard Anti-tank Rocket.

[gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="932051,932049,932048,932047,932046"]

While Genshin Impact is still a whole Version away from Sumeru, HoYoVerse has teased three characters from the region: Dori, Collei, and Tighnari. Collei will be a Dendro Archer, while Tighnari will be a Dendro Catalyst user. Dori will be an Electro character. They will likely debut in Version 3.0.

For those who read the Genshin Impact prequel webtoon, Collei should be a familiar figure. She is the main character of the story, and her mission to take revenge on the Fatui drives the plot. As the webtoon takes place a few years before the start of the game, Collei is younger and has a different appearance in that media.

https://twitter.com/GenshinImpact/status/1546347989836345345

As for Tighnari, he is a completely new character in Genshin Impact. He will follow Heizou as the second officially confirmed male Catalyst user. The name of his constellation, Vulpes Zerda, is the scientific name for the fennec fox.

https://twitter.com/GenshinImpact/status/1546346856858324992

Finally, unlike Tighnari and Collei, Dori will be of the Electro element. It is unclear from the Genshin Impact splash art what weapon Dori will use. We do know from Tighnari's quote that she will be a merchant, which may mean that her passive Talent has something to do with Mora.

The 2022 Comic-Con International (a.k.a. the San Diego Comic Con) is coming. And with it, is a wave of exclusive merchandise for attendees. Bandai Namco Collectibles is bringing four Dragon Ball Z SDCC exclusive S.H. Figuarts figures to the event. SDCC exclusive items are usually sold only to Comic-Con attendees at the various exhibitor booths on the show floor. In some cases just the chance to purchase these items is subject to lottery-style distribution among certain groups of attendees. For its part, Bandai's exclusives - including the Dragon Ball Z SDCC figures - will be available at its booth.

The Dragon Ball Z SDCC exclusives for 2022 are based on Goku, Majin Buu, Shenron, and Android 16.

The Son Goku S.H. Figuarts figure is based on his Super Saiyan 2 power mode. A straight upgrade of the Super Saiyan transformation, Super Saiyan 2 is even more powerful. Its wielders have even spiker hair, a more dramatic aura, and occasionally flash with lightning. Goku has three pairs of hands, three faces, a halo, and a special set of visual effect parts.

[gallery columns="4" ids="932023,932024,932025,932026" link="file"]

The Majin Buu S.H. Figuarts figure is based on Majin Buu's Good form. In good form, the fearsome fighter is a portly paragon. He comes with two pairs of hands, three faces, an Angel Halo, and a handy chocolate bar.

[gallery columns="4" ids="932028,932029,932030,932031" link="file"]

Android representation comes to the Dragon Ball Z SDCC exclusive line through Android 16. This version has an improved paint job that sticks more closely to his look in the anime. He has interchangeable hands, two faces, and an exchangeable head.

The crossover event between gacha strategy RPG Alchemy Stars and Persona 5 Royal opens soon. Level Infinite shared more details ahead of its July 14th opening date to detail the Alchemy Stars x P5R event's structure and preview its crossover characters.

Check out the trailer below. It offers a look at how Phantom Thieves leader Joker will appear in-game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_96tFatnAo

The Alchemy Stars x P5R event "Heist Under a Moonlit Night" will add Phantom Thieves members Joker, Queen, Violet, Fox, and Mona to the game's playable roster. Joker and Queen appear as 6-Star Aurorians with the Fire and Thunder attributes, respectively. Fox, Violet, and Mona are 5-Star units with the Water, Fire, and Forest attributes.

The official Twitter account also shared skill previews for the four of the Alchemy Stars x P5R crossover characters. Check them out in the gallery.

[gallery columns="4" ids="932008,932009,932010,932011" link="file"]

Other than Mona, who is available via login campaigns, the characters can be obtained through recruitment banners that go live alongside the Alchemy Stars x P5R event. Joker and Violet are on the Fool and Faith Collab Exclusive banner. Queen and Fox are on the Priestess and Emperor Collab Exclusive banner.

Ken Akamatsu, the artist behind the Love Hina and Negima! Magister Negi Magi manga, has become the first mangaka to also be a politician. He won a seat in the national proportional representation block during the House of Councillors election in Japan, held on July 10, 2022. He is now a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. [Thanks, ANN!]

Akamatsu ran on a platform promoting freedom of expression and artistic freedom. It included protecting creators’ rights from censorship, regulations, and "external pressure." He began delving into politics as early as 2011 when he spoke against proposed changes to copyright law that threatened self-published derivative works. He also spoke against proposed amendments to pornography regulations.

In order to focus on his political career, he ended his manga series UQ Holder! in early 2022. Throughout 2022, he has commented on issues like censorship, such as in April 2022 in regards to criticism of the manga Tawawa on Monday.

Hallmark has premiered its Keepsake Ornaments for 2022, with over 250 new ornaments for this Christmas season. Purchasing the ornaments on July 17, 2022 will earn bonus points if you are a member of the site. Aside from normal ornaments featuring snowmen and angels, Hallmark is also offering a number of video game and pop culture ornaments for the Christmas tree.

Some of the items are not available online, and you will have to go to a Hallmark store to pick them up. The full list of items is on the Hallmark website, but here are some of the ornaments that you can decorate your tree with:

Toei Movie Village announced that it will bring the Demon Slayer Entertainment District to life. Visitors will be able to see spots such as the Butterfly Mansion and the train station from Mugen Train from July 23 to October 17, 2022. For the full experience, you can also take a limited edition Demon Slayer train. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Aside from visiting locales from Demon Slayer, the Toei Movie Village will feature cut-outs of the characters. You can take pictures with them, or with the various props around the area. For example, there is a box that resembles Nezuko’s that you can crawl into for photos or simply to experience what Nezuko must live like on a daily basis. The Movie Village will also offer a limited collaboration menu, as well as mini-games and a stamp rally.

Here are some pictures of places you can see and items you can purchase at the Movie Village:

[gallery columns="4" ids="931975,931974,931973,931972" link="file"]

There are three parts to the village, consisting of the different arcs of Demon Slayer. There is a section dedicated almost entirely to characters (ranging from Tanjiro to even Tamayo) and their famous scenes. After that, there are the three brothels that Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke infiltrate. Lastly, you can re-live Tanjiro’s final battle with Gyutaro.

Klonoa is back. Bandai Namco and Nintendo have launched Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, and the game is now available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, and Xbox Series consoles. It collects Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and its sequel Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil in a single-purchase package.

Check out the launch trailer for Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI0gLfsroY0

As seen in the trailer, the Klonoa titles collected in the release are enhanced remasters of the original releases. They pair the classic gameplay of Klonoa and Klonoa 2 with higher-resolution assets and graphical features. They also have some additional features for newer players, like tutorials, unlocked difficulty options, and two-player co-op play. An additional hard difficulty and speedrun-oriented "Stopwatch Mode" are also available.

Last Call BBS is a collection of games that may or may not seem familiar. After all Exapunks’ Hack*Match and Eliza’s Kabufuda Solitaire are both here. There’s also a take on Solitaire called Sawayama Solitaire. But they’re all puzzle games designed to make someone think. They’re also a way to close out a period of time, as Zachtronics announced it will be a last title. Each one is special in its own way and feels unique, making it a fun collection of games that all feel “great” in their own way. At the same time, it is a salute to how PC gaming used to be.

Last Call BBS begins with the player “setting up” a Z5 Powerlance PC. You have access to the System, which lets you change the collection’s settings. There’s the Sawayama Solitaire already downloaded. Messages are left to you on a HandyMate by the PC’s former owner. These gradually tell you how to find games and offer insights into each title you acquire. Should you actually want to start playing, you need to open up Drive 0 and hop onto Netronics Connect to access the different games via a BBS. Each one actually takes some time to “download,” complete with modem sounds, and you need to wait for your download quota to cooldown before acquiring more games. The aesthetic is absolutely on-point. Every UI is designed to make this feel more like finding an old computer, rather than buying a collection of games.