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Kojima Productions, the studio headed by Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima, publicly denounced "fake news and rumors" in a statement on social media. The statement comes after Hideo Kojima was falsely identified as the alleged assassin of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The statement was delivered by the official Twitter account of Kojima productions in Japanese and English. They do not reference the misidentification incident directly, but state that "[Kojima Productions] do not tolerate such libel and will consider taking legal action in some cases." Kojima himself did not comment directly on the incident, but shared the Tweet via his personal Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/1545751079685484544

Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom is coming in 2022. To promote the release Bandai Namco uploaded a new trailer that shows off its second Doraemon-themed take on farming. This follows the initial Doraemon Story of Seasons announcement at the June 28, 2022 Nintendo Mini-Direct.

Check out  out below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyelIfpvO1E

The Doraemon Story of Seasons trailer sets up the game's peaceful premise. As it's the second farming sim based on the long-running anime and manga franchise Doraemon, the game brings its cast to a new locale. Noby, Doraemon, and their friends continue their pastoral existence on an unfamiliar fantasy planet. They'll set up their farm, harvest crops, tend to their animals, and go fishing.

The sequel promises additional gameplay courtesy of Doraemon's famed gadgets. These gadgets include items like the Time Kerchief, which can speed up the hatching of an egg. Other gadgets allow Noby to move planted trees or harvest unusual crops. Other new tools like a "Mini Raincloud" and a "Farm Restaurant" expand the homestead management options available to Doraemon and crew. Further, the trailer showed scenes of the gang sharing a meal, enjoying seasonal events, and doing what looked to be some underwater exploration.

Powerpyx has revealed the full list of trophies and accomplishments that you will be able to obtain in Stray. The upcoming indie game will have you take on the role of a nameless cat in its journey through a post-apocalyptic world, with a robot as your only companion.  In total, there are a total of 25 trophies for Stray.

You will be able to obtain 7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 8 Bronze trophies in Stray. There will also be, of course, the one Platinum trophy after you finish collecting everything else. You will be able to obtain trophies by completing missions in a certain way. For example, ‘Can’t Cat-ch Me’ is the accomplishment for completing the first Zurk pursuit without being caught. The description did not elaborate on what a Zurk actually is, though.

However, there are also trophies you can get for completing mundane tasks a certain amount of times. Meowing for 100 times, jumping for 500 times, and sleeping for more than one hour will each net you a Silver trophy. You can get trophies for dying a certain amount of times, or completing the game for under 2 hours. As a reminder, the Stray developers have said in the past that it would take 8 hours to finish the game.

Stray will come out on July 19, 2022 for the Windows PC, PS4, and PS5.

DNF Duel is another fighting game made in collaboration with powerhouse Arc System Works. For those who are fairly deep into the early MMORPG scene or play a lot of Korean MMOs, Dungeon Fighter Online remained a staple since its original release in the mid-2000s. Arc System Works adapted the core strengths of this title and incorporated its signature style into what turned into an exciting and approachable fighter.

Ark System Works managed to retain the essence of each of the original classes from Dungeon Fighter Online in DNF Duel. I was particularly surprised at how well the Ranger, which was my main during the short period of time I played the MMORPG, translated into a fighting game. Staple attacks from the MMO appear in his move list, with animations almost identical to the sweeping kick he can perform.

Each animation is particularly punchy, with snappy, over-exaggerated movements making each action feel particularly dynamic. In retrospect, it almost feels natural that a fighting game would somehow manifest from the Dungeon Fighter Online series. Arc System Works nails the general feel of each of these classes. Every character looks good and works well. The Hitman is the standout for me among the roster. Mostly because I loved his design, his ability to balance medium range projectiles (which are really just short bursts of rounds sprayed from his SMG), and the long, sweeping slashes of his sword.

HoYoVerse released a short trailer for the upcoming Sumeru region and Dendro element in Genshin Impact. Sumeru will be part of Version 3.0, which will go live after the next update, Version 2.8. While Dendro is an existing element in the game, Sumeru will be the first time players will be able to use it. As well, Dendro will react with elements other than Pyro.

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

The Sumeru trailer features the Genshin Impact development team discussing how it implemented and chose to design Dendro in the game. According to the trailer, the concepts ‘catalysis, wisdom, and life’ were key in how the team designed the elemental reactions, level designs, and environmental puzzles. An example of a Sumeru environmental mechanic seems to be a mushroom that the Traveler can jump on like a trampoline.

Version 3.0 will introduce the Bloom and Catalyze reactions. Bloom is Hydro and Dendro, while Catalyze is Electro and Dendro. The video does not explain what the reactions do. However, it does mention that you will be able to use elements to alter states of Dendro objects and monsters. Depending on the state, Dendro monsters will have different attacks, as well as drop different items.

Genshin Impact is readily available on PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. A Nintendo Switch version is in the work. Version 2.8 will launch on July 13, 2022, with Sumeru appearing in Genshin Impact 3.0. There is no confirmed release date as of yet for Version 3.0.

Good Smile Company has opened up pre-orders for a Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama Nendoroid, so make sure you give the Mob Psycho 100 protagonist plenty of notice before you call him in. Pre-orders are open until September 1, 2022. He costs 6,500 JPY and will ship out in December 2022 for Japan. Meanwhile, North American customers can purchase him for $47.99 and he has a release window of February 2023.

[gallery columns="4" ids="931936,931935,931934,931933" link="file"]

The Mob Nendoroid will come with three faceplate options. You can make him have his normal blank expression, a blushing expression, or an awakened expression. The awakened expression is what he looks like when he reaches 100% and loses control. There is also a spiky hair part to fully re-create his 100% form. Other optional parts include Dimple, a bent spoon, a bowl of ramen, and a pair of chopsticks.

The English edition of Fate/Grand Order will soon host its annual summer event, and this year's theme is a summer camp. The FGO Summer 2022 event is formally titled "Servant Summer Camp ~Chaldea's Thriller Night~".

Players will investigate a new singularity located in Japan. But it's not beach hijinks, this time. Instead, the Masters of Chaldea and their Servants will retreat to an idyllic lakeside cabin resort. Of course, there's more to the FGO Summer 2022 event than meets the eye. For with mountain vacationing comes the prospect of ghost stories.

Check out a trailer for the event below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaD6Nkt62As

Key to the FGO Summer 2022 event is Yu Mei-ren, star of Lostbelt No. 3. She's this year's free event Servant. She'll join the roster as a 4-Star Lancer-class character. As a former Chaldea master herself and the players' "Senpai", she'll assist during the event story. As for the event itself, it'll use a day-night cycle in its quest structure. Consequently, certain quests will be limited to certain times of the day, which is advanced alongside progress. Finally, objective-based missions can also be accomplished to further quest progress and unlock rewards.

With the approach of Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness' English release date, Spike Chunsoft is revealing in more detail what the game's actually about. A new system trailer for Made in Abyss Binary Star debuted on the Spike Chunsoft official channel on July 7, 2022.

Check it out below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTCae4rAfo

The Made in Abyss Binary Star system trailer lays out the game's structure in more detail. In particular, its two playable narrative modes are explained. "Hello Abyss" mode follows the plot of the anime, and stars Riko. Meanwhile "Deep in Abyss" mode stars a player-created character. Their name is "Aki", though players can customize this novice "Bell" Cave Raider. Deep in Abyss follows an original story written by Made in Abyss creator Akihito Tsukushi. It'll involve known characters from the series, though.

The trailer also laid out how players will progress the story in Made in Abyss Binary Star Falling into Darkness. First, they'll complete quests, which involve exploring the Abyss. Jiruo and the Cave Raider Guild issue most quests.

In keeping with the themes of the series, the Abyss is a dark, dangerous place. Even with adequate supplies, players will suffer from the Curse of the Abyss as they return to base. The curse intensifies the further they descend, and symptoms include vomiting, statistical penalties or bleeding from their orifices. This renders them vulnerable to environmental hazards and monster attacks.

About a year after its original release on the Nintendo Switch, the localized version of Disgaea 6 Complete is now on the PS4, PS5, and Windows PC worldwide. I had the opportunity to play the PS4 version and, while this is almost everywhere now, it still feels like a handheld game.

The first thing I noticed about Disgaea 6 on the PS4 was that it felt very much like a Switch game. The 3D effect looked rather rough. Also, something about the font made it look quite retro. This combination made the game look a lot older than one released in 2021. At first, I actually thought that it was from the Nintendo 3DS! The 3D animations in combat when you use special attacks are rather lackluster when compared with other native Switch games that came out around the same time.

The Square Enix blog is continuing its series of retrospectives on the development of Final Fantasy VII Remake. The latest installment covers FFVII Remake Chapter 4. While FFVII Remake is in large part a retelling of the original FFVII, it takes extra time to expand on Cloud and the party's adventure in Midgar. As a result, the game does feature a significant amount of new content that expands on moments in the first iteration of the story.

The blog delivers insights and comments on the chapter's development from Scenario Design Co-Director Motomu Toriyama, Game Design Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi, Facial Directo Akira Iwasawa, Music Superviso Keiji Kawamori, Sound Director Makoto Ise, Battle Director Teruki Endo, and Senior Assistant Producer Yuma Watanabe.

Note: The blog entry contains spoilers for Chapter 4 of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

FFVII Remake Chapter 4 is titled "Mad Dash" and is notably all-original to Final Fantasy VII's story. It takes place the night before Avalanche is to destroy Shinra Mako Reactor 5. While Tifa and Barrett rest Cloud is approached by Jessie, who proposes a secret midnight outing to Jessie's parents' house in Midgar proper. Tagging along are Biggs and Wedge. The party gets into a running battle with Shinra's bike soldiers, as well as with Roche, a SOLDIER member.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will support both English and Japanese-language voice tracks upon launch. However, unlike Xenoblade Chronicles 2, players won't need a separate download to install their preferred voice track. Instead, the initial Xenoblade 3 game install is dual audio. This means it contains both voice tracks, and will let players choose their preferred voice language from the outset.

Nintendo confirmed the inclusion via a Tweet.

https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1545392286049222658

The tweet included a video comparing both voice tracks, allowing players to experience Xenoblade Chronicles 3 in dual audio and contrast the characters' lines and delivery in either language.

Earlier videos also confirmed the English voice cast for Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

• Noah - Harry McEntire
• Mio - Aimee-Ffion Edwards
• Eunie - Kitty Archer
• Taion - Olivier Huband
• Lanz - Jack Bardoe
• Sena - Rebecca LaChance

Additionally, here's the Japanese voice cast.

• Noah - Ryohei Arai
• Mio - Minami Tsuda
• Eunie - Megumi Han
• Taion - Ryohei Kimura
• Lanz - Kosuke Tanabe
• Sena - Miyuki Satou

It's beneficial for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 to have dual audio options for voice acting. After all, not every user has unlimited access to internet bandwidth. They may not be in a position to visit the eShop to queue up an added download.

The DioField Chronicle will launch on September 22, 2022 in Japan and overseas. After confirming the news last week, Square Enix and developer Lancarse released a launch date trailer for The DioField Chronicle. It shows a mix of gameplay and narrative footage. It highlights characters involved in the story, as well.

Check out the trailer below, via the official DioField Chronicle YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD6weq_KVU4

The DioField Chronicle launch date trailer highlights the game's aesthetic. The game world blends magical fantasy with early-industrial elements. Soldiers wield spears, bows, and swords and wear armor, but also fight with firearm-style weapons and enter battle on metal ships bearing artillery cannon. Amidst the chaos of war, a band of elite, independent mercenaries called Blue Fox arises, their deeds entering legend.

Characters like Andreas Rhondarson, Fredret Lester, Iscarion Colchester, Waltaquin Redditch lead The Blue Fox. They're shown questioning their actions and making decisions about how to involve themselves in the war that grips the land of The DioField Chronicle.

HoYoVerse has released some information on the upcoming new 4-star character, Heizou, in Genshin Impact. He will be part of the first Version 2.8 banner, alongside returning 5-star Kazuha. Heizou will be the game’s first male Catalyst user, and he will be of the Anemo element.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp-u0LmUikU

Though he is a Catalyst user, Heizou’s combat animations utilize a lot of martial arts moves. In his character video, he discusses what his beliefs are as a detective, as well as how useless resorting to violence is against him. His Elemental Skill, Heartstopper Strike, can charge up to four stacks for increased damage. Meanwhile, his Elemental Burst, Windmuster Kick, deals AoE Anemo damage.

Nintendo announced two new games coming to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass library, including Custom Robo and Custom Robo V2 for the N64. However, Custom Robo and its sequel will only be available to Expansion Pass subscribers in Japan. Instead, global subscribers will receive Pokemon Puzzle League. Both games will be available starting July 15, 2022, at no additional cost to subscribers.

Custom Robo is a sci-fi RPG originally released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. Players would control a small robot and battle against other robots, collecting parts that could be used to customize their character. Many of the series' games were exclusive to Japan, with the international releases being Custom Robo: Battle Revolution for the GameCube and Custom Robo Arena for the Nintendo DS.

https://twitter.com/Nintendo/status/1545212433035595776?s=20&t=8TBnBS7ToNTIeZyt2bW2tw

Both Custom Robo and Custom Robo V2 will support local and online multiplayer on the Nintendo Switch. Custom Robo will support up to two players, while Custom Robo V2 will support up to four players at once. Furthermore, much like last month's Pokemon Snap N64 release, players will be able to customize their button bindings if they do not have the N64 controller.

The official Twitter for The First Slam Dunk has uploaded a short trailer (just under twenty seconds) to tease the upcoming movie. It will air in Japan on December 3, 2022. Toei Animation and Dandelion Animation Studio will produce the movie, with original author Takehiko Inoue serving as the writer and director. There is no news as of yet in regards to a Western release.

https://twitter.com/movie_slamdunk/status/1544992710641082368

Takehiko Inoue first announced the upcoming film on Twitter in 2021. Though the original show, which aired from 1993 to 1996, used traditional animation, The First Slam Dunk will be computer animated. Toei Animation was the original studio to work on the 90’s anime as well. So far, there is no news on if the cast will reprise their roles. There is also no information on the plot of the movie.

Slam Dunk is the seventh best-selling manga series in history, with 170 million copies in circulation. It follows the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent at Shohoku High School. One day, he meets Haruko Akagi and falls in love with her. Akagi introduces him to the high school’s basketball team, where he is a natural despite his somewhat bad attitude. The story follows Sakuragi as he learns to love the sport, as well as the team's journey to fame.

The First Slam Dunk will debut in theaters in Japan on December 3, 2022.

In IGN’s interview with Square Enix, the Crisis Core: FFVII Reunion development team discussed its intentions behind certain decisions. Producers Mariko Sato and Yoshinori Kitase talked about how the game will be a remaster of the original, as well. They said that while the story and core elements will remain faithful to the original, it will have updated graphics and a new voice cast.

The development team will overhaul the graphics of Crisis Core to match the standards of FFVII Remake, and the soundtrack will consist of new arrangements. The PC version, in particular, will target 120 FPS. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game will run at 60 FPS. Sato did not mention the Nintendo Switch version's target framerate, though she did say it will run at different resolution. According to the development team, it wanted to make the Crisis Core remaster as accessible as possible. Hence, they're targeting a wide number of platforms.

Regarding gameplay, while the DMW (Digital Mind Wave system) from Crisis Core will remain the same, it will be easier to link Zack’s attacks. One major change will be to how you can use Limit Breaks. In Crisis Core Reunion, you will be able to use them at any time you wish. Previously, you had to wait until they appeared in the DMW.

The Phantom Thieves are coming. Developer TrueDog confirmed that its mobile strategy-RPG Alchemy Stars and Persona 5 will cross over on July 14, 2022. The event, titled "Heist Under A Moonlit Night", will bring the characters of Persona 5 Royal to Astra, the world of Alchemy Stars. There players will be able to acquire playable versions of the Phantom Thieves for use in their own parties. TourDog is also holding a social media contest for fans to win merchandise from either Persona 5 or Alchemy Stars.

https://twitter.com/AlchemyStarsEN/status/1543519942615629825

The story of "Heist on a Moonlit Night" revolves around the Phantom Thieves battling Shadows in Umbraton, a city and faction in Astra. The Phantom Thieves are seeking the source of the Shadows and why they're appearing in Alchemy Stars' world.

Alchemy Stars players participating in the Persona 5 crossover event will be able to acquire playable versions of Joker, Mona, Queen, Violet, and Fox. All will be dressed in their Phantom Thief outfits. Mona will be obtainable for free, as players who log during the event will receive him. Other characters will be obtainable through the Collab Exclusive Recruitment or Thief Companion Selection Box.

Earlier in the week the official Twitter account also began posting previews of the crossover characters. Check out some of their art in the gallery below.

[gallery columns="4" ids="931867,931868,931869,931870" link="file"]

Fans are one step closer to seeing the continuation of Hunter x Hunter manga series. The series creator Yoshihiro Togashi took to Twitter to announce that he was one chapter away from completing the manga's latest release. Alongside the announcement, Togashi also revealed a detailed sketch of the character Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, another popular series that he created.

Back in May 2022, Togashi surprised fans of Hunter x Hunter after he suddenly revealed that he was continuing work on the series after a nearly four-year hiatus. Over the last few months, the creator has been uploading images of his progress via his personal Twitter account every day. These images usually consist of page numbers and a few rough sketches. Details are still scarce, and it's unclear how many chapters or volumes Togashi plans on releasing.

With the last-chapter milestone, Togashi decided to do something slightly different.

https://twitter.com/Un4v5s8bgsVk9Xp/status/1544880069771833344?s=20&t=tTcuPkZNQ1E2e_YxEfn8Bg

In the latest update, Togashi also revealed a sketch of Hiei, one of the main characters from YuYu Hakusho. The sketch shows Hiei unraveling the bandages on his arm and letting the Dragon of the Darkness Flame loose. Notably, Togashi notes that he had originally intended on coloring in the sketch, but ultimately gave up. Furthermore, according to the attached Twitter hashtag, the sketch was from "quite a while ago".

A Nintendo Switch OLED model with a Splatoon 3 design will come out on August 26, 2022. The Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch OLED model will cost $360. While the Splatoon 3 model will come out on August 26, the carrying case and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to complete the look will come out on September 9, 2022.

Nintendo released a short video that shows off the different angles of the Splatoon 3 edition. The colors of the Joy-Cons are purple and yellow, and there are designs of the squids and paint splashes all over everything. Both the dock and the backs of the Joy-Cons are white, though still with the same pattern throughout. The color schemes and design are the same on the carrying case and Nintendo Switch Pro controller.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1544667690484252672

The OLED version of the Nintendo Switch costs slightly more, but it will have slight changes to the design, such as different-looking buttons. The most major difference, however, is with the screen. Because the screen uses an OLED display, there are more vibrant colors and sharper lines when you play the game.

Taito will release a big plush of Anya Forger from Spy x Family from July 8, 2022. There will be two versions – one with a normal smile and one with a more mischievous one. It will be around 30 centimeters tall, and she is wearing her school uniform. These plushes are prize ones, which means you will have to get them from a claw machine. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

Most stores around Japan will have the Anya Forger plush available for people to try and grab. Those who play the online version of Taito’s claw machine will also have the chance to get it. Anya’s mischievous expression is a signature look for her, and many pieces of merchandise use it for her. For example, it is one of the looks that the Anya Tamagotchi can make.

Spy x Family is available on Crunchyroll, and aired during the Spring 2022 anime season. It follows the story of Loid Forger and his fake family, which he assembled in order to complete a mission for the safety of his country. Anya, his fake daughter, is a mind reader who knows that Loid is a spy and fake wife Yor is actually an assassin. The show is a critical success and the second season will start airing in October 2022.

The Anya Forger plush will come out in Taito claw machines from July 8, 2022.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, out for the Nintendo Switch later this month, is an anticipated tentpole release for the hybrid console. And thanks to some schedule shuffling, it's sooner than ever! We’ve spent time with the game’s opening areas, which set a foundation for what should be another long, sweeping adventure.

Combat will feel similar to players of earlier Xenoblade games. You probably know at this point if you like it! It feels a lot like MMO combat. Characters auto-attack, and the strategy comes through selection and timing of special skills. The Xenoblade Chronicles 3 version is all about combos that trigger Break, Topple and Daze statuses. Attacks have special effects if you attack from certain directions, and a handy arrow on the UI lets you know your current angle designation.

The early tutorial sequences of a JRPG can be something of a slog, as the game's long running time means a couple of hours getting you settled isn't entirely unreasonable. Still, Xenoblade 3 breaks down elements and rolls them out in bits! This helps with a battle interface that otherwise might overwhelm.

God of War: Ragnarok now has a definite release date. The sequel to 2018's God of War is set for a November 9, 2022 launch date, according to Sony. This confirms earlier rumors published in Bloomberg. God of War: Ragnarok would have launched originally in 2021. Santa Monica Studio chose to delay the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, developer Santa Monica Studio promoted the impending release with a new cinematic trailer, titled Father and Son.

Check it out below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIQGI36BxDE

The brief "Father and Son" cinematic trailer shows off God of War star Kratos fighting alongside his son Atreus. Atreus is now a young man, indicating some time has passed since the pair's previous outing. During a fight, Kratos falls into a snowy valley, and fends off enemies with his shield. After Atreus catches up, the pair gets ready to face a giant, mountain-sized wolf. The wolf is likely Fenrir, in keeping with the series' recent Norse inspiration.

Alongside the news of the release date, Santa Monica Studio unveiled deluxe editions and preorder bonuses for God of War: Ragnarok. 

According to local news reports, Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, has died. He was sixty years old.

A passing boat found his body off the coast of Nago in Okinawa prefecture on the morning of July 6, 2022, and alerted the Japanese Coast Guard. He was wearing snorkeling equipment at the time. His identity was confirmed on July 7, 2022. Police and the Japanese Coast Guard are still investigating the exact circumstances of Takahashi's death.

Check out a news report broadcast by the NHK below.

https://twitter.com/okinawa_nhk/status/1544939487062822913

Also known as Kazuo, Kazuki Takahashi began his career as a manga artist in 1982. His debut manga, Tokiou no Taka (Fighting Hawk), published in 1990. His breakout work was the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga, which went to print in 1996. The series told the tale of Yugi Muto, a kind young man who solves the ancient Millennium Puzzle. The act causes him to become the host of the spirit contained within the puzzle, a former Pharaoh from ancient Egypt. This ghost came to be known as "Dark Yugi" or "Yami Yugi", and showed himself whenever Yugi and his friends were threatened by those with darkness in their hearts. Together they also played dangerous "Shadow Games", risking their lives and souls to help Dark Yugi recover his memories and challenge various trials.

There is now a release date and price point for Valkyrie Elysium, according to Wario64. It will come out on September 29, 2022 for the PS4 and PS5, and there is also a trailer on YouTube to watch. The Steam version for Windows PC will come out on November 11, 2022. Those who wish to pre-order the game can do so from the various storefronts.

Check out the trailer below. It confirms the release date, which was leaked earlier in the week after it was published prematurely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXG0xBnY_zo

Manga and doujinshi chain Toranoana will shut down five locations in Japan from August 31, 2022. These stores are the Akihabara A, Shinjuku, Chiba, Nanba A, and Umeda stores. The announcement also states that plans to open a Toranoana branch in Nagoya will not proceed. The company had planned on opening it in 2021. [Thanks, Dankanemitsu!]

According to the announcement, the reason behind the store closures is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, the pandemic and quarantine measures intended to contain its spread greatly affected the physical locations of Toranoana, with the difficulties continuing into the present. These problems have affected other businesses and industries around the world. Toranoana apologizes for this, noting that the company’s “lack of effort” is to blame for the situation.

However, since Akihabara has been Toranoana’s center of operations since the beginning, the company wishes to return to it one day. Though the actual store itself will cease operation in August 2022, Toranoana will continue its plans to create a gallery. Artists will be able to display illustrations in the gallery, as well as look at other people's works.

Square Enix and Luminous Productions' action-RPG Forspoken will not release as planned. An announcement on the official Forspoken Twitter account revealed that the game is delayed to early 2023. This is the second time Forspoken has been delayed. Previously, Forspoken was set to go on sale on May 24, 2022, and was pushed back to October 11, 2022. The new Forspoken release date is now January 24, 2023

Check out the tweet announcing the delay below.

https://twitter.com/Forspoken/status/1544675140780392453

The announcement does not give a specific reason for the Forspoken release date delay. It does state that the "strategic decision" comes as a result of discussions with "key partners".  The team clarified that "all game elements" of Forspoken are complete, with development in its "final polishing phase". The team thanked fans for their support and patience. It will share more information about Forspoken in Summer 2022.

Games like Forspoken can have their release date delayed for a variety of reasons. These range from unforeseen issues in development to an overly crowded initial release window. Even external circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or global events can force a team to rethink the best time for their game to debut.

Forspoken is in development. Its current release date is January 24, 2023. It will launch on PS5 and PC.

American screenwriter and director James Gunn, as well as Grasshopper Manufacture founder Suda51 clarified that they will not be working on the upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw remake. This means that while publisher Dragami Games' effort involves development staff that worked on the original release of Lollipop Chainsaw, some key writers and creators from that time will not be part of the remake's development.

News of the remake's development came a few weeks after Dragami Games CEO Yoshimi Yasuda teased a revival back in June 2022. The announcement revealed a tentative 2023 release window, though details were still relatively scarce. However, Yasuda also stated that the "original staff" would be working on the remake, albeit with some elements that were "different from the original".

Speculation within the fan community and through news coverage led James Gunn, one of the writers of the original Lollipop Chainsaw, to clarify that he was not part of the remake. In a quote tweet, Gunn stated that Dragami Games did not approach him or Suda to work on the project. Furthermore, he had only heard of the remake from Suda a few weeks prior. However, Gunn also expressed that this was neither a condemnation nor an endorsement of the remake.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1544357353318797312?s=20&t=RbaCQbWpPyFqjIgVXlMu4A

Live A Live, an “HD-2D” remake of the 16-bit RPG, is a particularly special release in the West. While Japanese audiences may have some nostalgia for the original game, this marks the first international appearance for a Square RPG from an era full of beloved releases from the company. In the game’s early hours, we’ve grown to appreciate the game’s distinct elements.

The original Live A Live, released on the Super Famicom in 1994, was an experimental release. It remains so in its updated form! It’s an anthology of short stories from different creators, all built within the same RPG engine and using the same tactical battle system. The structure is built to tell specific, short narratives. It’s not a package full of nuance and depth. Instead, it offers a variety of smaller tales that are often homages to popular genres.

Each chapter has its own setting and feel. The Twilight of Edo Japan is a sneaking mission to assassinate an enemy leader. It’s lonely and tense. You're largely alone, and you can get through the whole thing without taking a lot of lives with careful use of the hide button. The Wild West is a classic cowboy tale, with shootouts and standoffs. It’s largely built around prepping a town with traps to fight off a bandit gang within a time limit. You learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the townsfolk, mostly by them just telling you they're bad at stuff.

Some games are so neat, succinct, and tidy. Everything is laid out in front of the player. You know what they’re getting into when you start playing. It’s a treat. Little Noah: Scion of Paradise, Granblue Fantasy creator Cygames’ roguelike, is a delightful adventure that can be enjoyed in large or small doses, gradually filling someone up. It’s a fantastic surprise.

Little Noah might look familiar, at least in terms of its appearance. That’s because The original version of the game, which people might know as Battle Champs, was a Clash of Clans sort of game with Akihiko Yoshida and Hitoshi Sakimoto involved. LIttle Noah: Scion of Paradise features the same alchemist protagonist Noah, as well as her airship and Lilliput champions. However, in this adventure she happens upon ruins, an amnesiac cat, and a power-hungry villain named Greigh while searching for her lost father. In the process, it hints she’ll be pulled into a world-changing adventure.

Good Smile Company opened up pre-orders for its Pop Up Parade figure of Hololive Vtuber Minato Aqua. She’ll appear in Japan first. The release window there is November 2022. In January 2023, she should show up in North America.

Minato Aqua wears her standard sailor uniform in her Pop Up Parade figure. Her pose features her making a heart with her hands. Her pink and blue pigtails are also curled.

Here’s a closer peek at how it will look.
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Most Pop Up Parade figures appear at a standard price. They tend to be $43.99/¥4,800. However, this one will be more expensive than usual. She’ll cost $49.99/¥5,500. Good Smile Company didn’t explain why this one will cost more.

This means the figure will appear right after the Minato Aqua game. It's called Aquarium. In Japan, the dating sim will appear on the Switch and PS4 on October 27, 2022.

In June 2022, we learned Dyspo would be a Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC character, and now we know new versions of Goku and Vegeta will join him. The Conton City Vote Pack add-on will arrive on July 7, 2022. When it does, it will add Dyspo, GT Vegeta, and Ultra Instinct -Sign- Goku. This month’s additions will also include a Legend Patrol Pack for consoles other than the Switch on July 7, 2022. All of this will be preceded by a July 6, 2022 free content update.

First, the Dragon Ball Xenoverse free content update will add more customization options, activities, figures, and attacks. To start, Dyspo will appear as a Crystal Raid. There will be five other Raid Quests too. People who like collecting and seeing things will see 68 new Hero Colosseum figures and 77 more loading screens. You can also get a new costume, three CC Mascots, five Dual Ultimate Attacks, and five more Super Souls.

As for the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Conton City Vote Pack with characters like Dyspo, GT Vegeta, and Ultra Instinct -Sign- Goku, the DLC adds other kinds of content too. People who buy that will also get access to two Extra Missions and four Parallel Quests. They’ll also have four costumes and accessories. 15 more loading screens will show up. There will also be five Super Souls and 10 Skills in it.

The next Fire Emblem Heroes summer banner is Taken by the Tide, and it features Thorr and Loki as a new duo unit. The characters on this banner consist of folks from Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones and Fire Emblem Heroes. In addition, Seth will appear as a four-star and five-star Tempest Trials+ reward starting on July 7, 2022.

There are four new units coming in the Taken by the Tide banner. Eirika is a five-star, flying unit with a green tome. Nifl is a five-star cavalry unit and colorless dragon. Lyon will be available as both a four-star and five-star hero, and he is a sword-wielding infantry unit. The summer Thorr and Loki Fire Emblem Heroes duo unit is only available as a five-star and is a flying unit with a blue tome.

Here’s the full Fire Emblem Heroes Taken by the Tide banner trailer showing off its new characters. As usual, Feh Pass subscribers who pull 40 times can pick one free focus unit.

Furyu is releasing a figure of Power from Chainsaw Man, as well as a 1/1 scale figure of Pochita. Both are available yo pre-order on the F:NEX website and are expected to ship sometime in July 2023. The Power figure will cost ¥34,980 (about $256), and the Pochita figure will cost ¥25,300 (about $185). Pre-orders will close on October 31, 2022. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

Notably, the Power figure is 1/7th scale and comes with its own stand based on her appearance. The figure recreates Power in her fiend form, wearing her typical Public Safety Devil Hunter's uniform. It pays significant attention to detail, down to the creases and folds of her slacks and how her coat hangs loosely from her torso. Surrounding Power is an array of blood weapons.

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On the other hand, the Pochita figure is a standalone figure made of soft vinyl. The figure's legs are posable, allowing the user to stand him up or have him sit down. As a 1:1 scale figure, Pochita is approximately 34 cm tall (about 1 foot tall) and is made with material that gives his tail and handles a distinctive glossiness.

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The latest Xbox Game Pass schedule is here and brings back Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 to the service. All three are immediately available on the service for both consoles and PCs. They are playable via the Cloud. They join other additions this month like DJMax Respect V.

Here’s the full schedule for July 2022 Xbox Game Pass titles so far.

Following the informal announcement by Dragami Games head Yoshimi Yasuda that a Lollipop Chainsaw remake is in the works, the company officially confirmed the project via its Twitter account. Concrete details are still scarce (even its title is still tentative), but the company is targeting 2023 for its eventual release.

https://twitter.com/Dragami_Games/status/1544244693801713665

The original Lollipop Chainsaw launched back in 2012 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. It was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture, with publishing assistance from Kadokawa Games and Warner Bros. Interactive. It was notable for the involvement of No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda and filmmaker James Gunn, who directed Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy films and Warner Bros. The Suicide Squad.

Yoshimi Yasuda will be act as producer for the remake and explained the situation surrounding the project in a statement.

Check it out below. It is in English and Japanese.

https://twitter.com/yasudaD5/status/1544245448696680448

Square Enix suspended the FFXIV Data Center Travel feature immediately after launch due to congestion. The company noted that, after it arrived with update 6.18, visit requests were at 15,000 per minute. As such, it is temporarily disallowing the option.

The FFXIV Data Center Travel congestion issues kicked off almost immediately after the feature became available. Early on July 5, 2022, Square Enix alerted people to problems. It also took to Twitter to explain what people could expect while the service was still live. It noted that any world ends up billed as "congested," then no one will be able to visit it.

The FFXIV issues also led to an update on Japanese, North American, and European worlds. At time of writing, Balmung on Crystal was congested in North America. In Europe, Louisoix and Spriggan on Chaos and Phoenix and Zodiark on Light wouldn’t allow new character creation. In Japan, Tonberry, Typhon, Bahamut, Durandal, Ridill, Ixion, Masamune, Pandaemonium, Mandragora, Shinryu, Unicorn, and Zeromus all were labeled as “congested.”

Valkyrie Elysium could be rapidly approaching its release window, if recently opened store pages on the PlayStation Network store are accurate. Tipster @Wario64 and Twitter user @Renka_Schedule spotted store pages opening up for the game in English and in Japanese that suggested Valkyrie Elysium's release date would fall on September 29, 2022. @Renka_Schedule also uncovered a Japanese trailer marked with the same release date.

The leaked trailer has since been taken down by Square Enix, and the PSN store pages revised to show a "To Be Determined" date. The PlayStation.com game page for Valkyrie Elysium shows a release window of 2022. The official Valkyrie Elysium Twitter account then sent out a post clarifying that the trailer itself will be publicly available to view on July 6, 2022 in Japan.

https://twitter.com/v_elysiumPR/status/1544230238116204545?

While the Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak only released on June 30, 2022, it’s already hit a sales milestone. Capcom announced the expansion passed two million copies sold. It also confirmed it would be giving every player two free item packs on July 7, 2022 to commemorate the occasion.

Here’s Capcom’s official tweet confirming Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak sales passed two million. It also reminded people the base game is at 10 million copies sold.

Hunters!

Thank you so much for your incredible support! Monster Hunter Rise has surpassed 10 million units globally, with #Sunbreak already sun-breaking 2 million units too!

To celebrate this milestone, we’ll release 2 free items packs on 7th July! pic.twitter.com/mn74UZLgXb

— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) July 5, 2022

Though much of the focus of last week's Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live was on the upcoming version 6.2 update, patch 6.18 was much closer to arriving, with a deployment date of July 5, 2022. As the game went into maintenance to apply the update early on July 4, 2022, Square Enix posted the full Final Fantasy XIV 6.18 patch notes to the Lodestone community site.

The Final Fantasy XIV 6.18 patch and maintenance period is mostly focused on backend changes, like adding new servers and enhancing existing data centers. However a number of other changes are visible to players, particularly Data Center Travel, which allows players to move to different data centers in their region (such as visiting Crystal Data Center from Primal). Other adjustments were made to various Jobs' performance in PVP. PVP was overhauled in Patch 6.1, and a new PVP activity, Crystalline Conflict, was added. The next season of Crystalline Conflict also begins with patch 6.18, unlocking new rewards. Players can claim Season 1 rewards up to the end of Season 2. The other PVP mode, Frontline, also received mode-specific changes, such as slowing the rate at which the Limit Gauge fills. Damage modifiers for various job categories were also adjusted, with Tank and Melee DPS jobs receiving the most dramatic adjustments.

Aniplex and Lasengle officially began 5th Anniversary celebrations for the English edition of Fate/Grand Order. As with other anniversary celebrations, the FGO USA 5th Anniversary brought with it a brand-new playable Servant. For players who had "read ahead" to anticipate developments based on the Japanese edition of FGO, this particular Servant was much-anticipated. She's a Caster-class variant of Fate franchise alum Altria Pendragon (nicknamed "Castoria", "Castria", and "Saber (Caster)").

Caster Altria arrived on the FGO USA 5th Anniversary limited summoning banner. She's widely hailed among FGO players familiar with her on the Japanese version as a extremely powerful, support-oriented Caster. In that sense, she does for Arts-elemental Servants what Skadi did for Quick-elemental ones and Merlin did for Buster mains. She goes a step further by charging the Noble Phantasm gauges of her allies and having a Noble Phantasm that raises an impenetrable defensive barrier around the party.