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The global version of Idola Phantasy Star Saga will permanently shut down on August 22, 2022. This news comes seven months after the Japanese server shut down in January 2022. Boltrend has announced the timeline for this shutdown and apologizes for the inconvenience.

You will no longer be able to purchase items in-game or download the game from July 22, 2022. On August 22, the servers will shut down, which means that players will not be able to log in. Those who wish to get refunds on paid Star Diamonds may apply for them between August 22 and September 6, 2022. These refunds will only be given for the paid Star Diamonds you owned at the time of the server shutdown.

Idola Phantasy Star Saga first came out in Japan in 2018, and its global release was in 2020. The game is part of the Phantasy Star franchise. In terms of the battle system, it was turn-based, though it also had auto-battle. In addition, the game used an Affinity system in which characters could align themselves with Law or Chaos. Characters would change their appearance, personality, skills, and the like depending on their alignment.

The global server of Idola Phantasy Star Saga will shut down on August 22, 2022. It will remain available to download on mobile devices until July 22, 2022.

What springs to mind when you think of the afterlife? Is it a peaceful, relaxing place? A space that allows someone to take their time, meet friendly people and take part in an activity they enjoy? The heaven depicted in the new Switch game Fishing Paradiso takes that approach. While it can be relatively simple, it’s also soothing and best approached at someone’s own pace.

The game begins with the player approaching an amorphous form in space. You died! But it’s okay, because you’re in heaven. Which initially is a small island in a relaxing ocean with a bird companion by your side. What comes next is finding a way to get settled, make some friends, and learn more about your past life and current one. All while you fish, of course.

The next JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R character trailer appeared. This time, it’s for one of the more notable members of the first part of the series. People can now see how JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood’s Baron Will Anthonio Zeppeli looks in the game.

As Will Zeppeli hails from one of the earlier JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure arcs, it means he doesn’t fight using a stand. Rather, he’s a Ripple Master. He’s the one who helps Jonathan Joestar master the art in that storyline. He only appears in Phantom Blood.

Today we're rewinding back to Phantom Blood with Jonathan Joestar's mentor of the Ripple technique!

Will A. Zeppeli is bursting into the battle (with confidence and style!) pic.twitter.com/rI7CIBzFpV

— JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R (@jojo_games) June 24, 2022

We’re now at 15 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R character trailers so far. Here are the other 14.

The Sailor Moon museum unveiled some of the food and drink items that will be available from its cafe when it opens on July 1, 2022. The museum, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon, will be open until December 30, 2022. The announcement also offered a sneak peek of the Sailor Moon Museum Cafe logo, which stars the Inner Senshi in bunny outfits. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

All of the items use imagery and color schemes that represent the various Inner Senshi, as well as famous lines or catchphrases from the series. The Sailor Moon Museum Cafe partnered with The Alley, a Taiwanese tea store, with its drinks.

Menu items and prices include:

• Cosmic Heart Compact Dessert Plate (1730 JPY)
• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Museum sliders (1850 JPY)
• In the Name of the Moon, I’ll Punish You Omurice (1650 JPY)
• Sailor Senshi 5 Rainbow Parfait (1480 JPY)
• Chibi-Usa Pudding a la Mode (1630 JPY)
• Sailor Senshi Paired-up Soda Float (950 JPY)
• Catchphrases Art Latte (770 JPY)

[gallery columns="4" ids="930965,930964,930963,930962" link="file"]

You will also be able to have sugar cookies for take-out. This cookie is also the same one on top of the raspberry mousse in the Cosmic Heart Compact Dessert Plate.

Square Enix will end service for another Final Fantasy mobile game. It revealed Final Fantasy Record Keeper is shutting down. First, folks won’t be able to purchase gems as of August 30, 2022. Then, the game itself will close on September 29, 2022. The Japanese Twitter account for the title remains active.

In order to see any of the notices about how Final Fantasy Record Keeper will be shutting down, people need to download the game. In addition to the two dates related to the end of its service, messages from Producer Ichiro Hazama and Development Producer Yu Sasaki appear. Neither explains why the Final Fantasy mobile game will no longer appear outside Japan.

Here is Hazama’s message.

Hello! This is Ichiro Hazama from SQEX.

Well, everyone. Have you played FFRK to your heart’s content?

For me, this project has been a treasure trove brimming with the limitless wonders of the FF series.

Of course, it could never convey all of the charm found in the FF games.

But I’d like to think we were able to bring you glimpses of its iconic pixel graphics, music, incredible battle systems, and so much more.

Seven years ago when it all started, you could count the number of characters in the game, and the strategic elements were still relatively simple.

At the end of May 2022, more Star Ocean news was teased. Now, People will soon learn more about the next Star Ocean game. Square Enix confirmed that there will be a Star Ocean Program Special Edition stream in Japan discussing Star Ocean: The Divine Force. It will appear at 4 a.m. PT/7 a.m. ET/1 p.m. CET/8 p.m. JST on June 29, 2022. It has only been announced for Japan so far. [Thanks, Gematsu!]

A few details appeared as a result of this. In Star Ocean: The Divine Force, people will be able to choose their protagonist. Folks can be either Princess Laeticia of Aucerius on Aster IV or Captain Raymond Laurence from Verguld, who is head of the Ydas spaceship. (The same sort of decision appeared in Star Ocean: The Second Story.) This presentation will show off a bit of the start of Raymond’s story. His Japanese voice actor, Subaru Kimura, will appear.

Here's the official embed for the video.

Sega revealed the next 11 games that will appear on the Mega Drive Mini 2, aka the Sega Genesis Mini 2. While the majority are Mega Drive titles, there are also three Mega CD ones. Also, the bonus title this time is Star Mobile.

Here’s the latest list of Mega Drive Mini 2 games.

Here’s the trailer looking at all of the games. Each one offers a brief glimpse at footage, a picture of its original box art, its release date, and a brief summary going over it.

Spy x Family Uniqlo shirts are heading to the US next month. The company revealed folks will be to pick them up on July 7, 2022. As usual, these will cost $19.90 each. Four varieties will be available. All of these shirts already showed up in Japan. The official preview site for them is also open.

The four shirts are all adult, unisex t-shirts. Each one will be available in sizes XXS through XXXL. Every one of them features characters and logos from the series. The first design shows the entire Forger family. Loid and Yor stand behind Anya.

The second shows the series’ logo with a red silhouette of Loid behind it.

In honor of the Final Fantasy VII 25th anniversary, Square Enix’s released a number of announcements and new details about the entry and its games. Most recent is a FFVII Remake official interview discussing Sephiroth and various design decisions. Most notably, it talks about design decisions relating to his appearance visually and in the story.

Editor’s Note: There are spoilers pertaining to Sephiroth and FFVII Remake chapter two below.

The interview with development team members went over various parts of Sephiroth’s appearance in FFVII Remake chapter two. For example, it goes over the lighting for the scenes, him showing up earlier in the story than expected, and the early Nibelheim flashbacks. Scenario Designer Co-Director Motomu Toriyama first explained it was to show Sephiroth’s prominence in this retelling and Cloud’s life.

Here’s Toriyama’s statement.

There was the intention to show the effect that a most likely imagined Sephiroth had on Cloud's mind at an early stage, but his earlier appearance was also because his existence had a massive influence on the world of Remake itself.

There is a new time limit on the Monster Hunter Rise demo, as Capcom announced it will be delisted. It will disappear on June 30, 2022. To be specific, it will be gone at 9 p.m. PT on June 30, 2022 and 12 a.m. ET/6 a.m. CET on July 1, 2022. This will apply to both the Nintendo Switch and PC versions of the trial.

However, people will still be able to play a Monster Hunter Rise demo even after the original one is delisted. On June 14, 2022, a demo specifically highlighting the Sunbreak expansion's content appeared. That will remain online on both platforms.

For context, the Sunbreak demo offers multiple quests for people can take. There are three tutorials. People can take part in the Basic Training Quest, Switch Skill Swap Training Quest, and Wyvern Riding Training Quest. As for the hunts, people can slay an Astalos, a Great Izuchi, a Malzeno, and a Tetranadon in four additional quests.

Monster Hunter Rise is available for the Nintendo Switch and PC, and its demo will be delisted on June 30, 2022. Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak will release for the PC and Nintendo Switch on June 30, 2022. Its trial will remain online even after its launch.

For a limited time, the first five minutes of the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie is available on YouTube. It will be available until June 26, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. JST. That would be 7:59 a.m. PT/10:59 a.m. ET/4:59 p.m. CET on the same day. However, the video is only available in Japan. This means viewers will need to physically be in the country or use a VPN. [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

The movie starts with a recap of when Goku annihilated the Red Ribbon Army, as well as the creation of the Androids. It also very briefly summarizes events from the Cell Games Saga before it begins in earnest. The rest of the scene focuses on the Red Ribbon Army’s attempts to find and recruit Doctor Hedo, who is a descendant of Doctor Gero. Unfortunately, Doctor Hedo is in prison, and they must wait three months before he is free. The video then ends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ170UAbXVo

This scene gives viewers a good look at some of the new characters from the Red Ribbon Army who will appear in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The majority of the scene features Magenta and Carmine, as Doctor Hedo is in jail. The movie will introduce two more characters, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, though they are not in the scene.

HoYoVerse announced the Honkai Impact 3rd 5.8 release date, and it will be out before June ends. Folks can update the game on June 30, 2022. In addition to the previously revealed eleventh Flame-Chaser Griseo battlesuit, there will be a new story chapter and a battlesuit event questline.

Here’s the new trailer celebrating the Honkai Impact 3rd 5.8 release date. It begins with Elysia. After that, we see the fifth Flame-Chaser Vill-V. After that, Griseo is painting, and reminiscing about Aponia talking about those departed. It then shows her fighting alongside Mr. Knight as the new battlesuit. After that, Story Chapter XXX: Marcia Funebre shows up, hinting at Kalpas’ involvement in it. The Battlesuit Event: The Journey of Painting Stars is teased after that.

Off The Hook is back for more. The musical duo of Pearl and Marina has a new Splatoon 3 track on offer for fans. The track was released by Nintendo through the official Splatoon Twitter account, along with some art of the characters.

Known as "Off the Hook" ("Tentacles" in Japan), the pair were the hosts of Splatoon 2's in-game show, Inkopolis News. After the events of Splatoon, Pearl and Marina took over as hosts from the Squid Sisters Callie and Marie. Players who logged into Splatoon 2 would see updates from Pearl and Marina about maps in the daily rotation and other ongoing events. They also performed during Splatfests, and even appeared in real life to hold virtual concerts in Japan and around the world. It has yet to be confirmed who will be the hosts of Inkopolis News for Splatoon 3. Whether Pearl and Marina will return for the gig or if the role will transition to new characters (or if there will even be an Inkopolis News segment, for that matter), it seems like Off The Hook is at least part of Splatoon 3's game world.

https://twitter.com/SplatoonJP/status/1540258439603007489

The new single from Pearl and Marina for Splatoon 3 is called "Busy Vacation feat. Off The Hook." It's the first single off their album "Taking That Back" ("Zengen Tekkai" in Japanese).  The promotional tweet reveals that the pair have been scouting out members for their band while on a world tour.

Check out the track below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acbTIKpOGp8

A total eclipse is coming in just under a month's time. More specifically, visual novel Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse is landing on PC. The announcement comes courtesy of aNCHOR, which developed this version of the game. Formally titled Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse Remastered, the game lands on July 20, 2022. This will be the first time Total Eclipse is made officially available in English.

Check out the game's opening below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9NN9Uwk1g0&

Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse Remastered is an enhanced rerelease of the titular spin-off, which is based on the world and storyline of Age's Muv-Luv series. Though typically framed as a trilogy, Muv-Luv's three story arcs: Extra, Unlimited, and Alternative are more like counterparts to each other rather than direct continuations. Extra is framed as a romantic comedy, with protagonist Takeru struggling to choose between the women in his life. Unlimited throws Takeru into an alternate timeline from Extra, where Earth is at war with mysterious aliens called the BETA. There he joins the military and pilots a Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF) mecha against the invaders. Alternative is a sequel of sorts to Unlimited, involving time travel.

The Nendoroid of VShojo member Nyatasha Nyanners is now available for pre-order at the Good Smile Company Store. This is the first Nendoroid of a VShojo character, with a second Nendoroid, that one of Ironmouse, on the way. The Nyatasha Nyanners Nendoroid will be available until August 17, 2022. It will cost $62.99 and ship sometime in January 2023.

Nyatasha Nyanners is a VTuber that is part of the US-based VShojo talent agency. She was initially announced alongside news of a new partnership between Good Smile Company and VShojo. This indicates that Good Smile Company will continue to release Nendoroids of other talents from the agency.

https://twitter.com/GoodSmile_US/status/1540172883867176960?s=20&t=oit2NiR8kjp6Rzf5P3qA6Q

The Nendoroid is based on Nyatasha Nyanners' usual appearance, including details such as her hair ribbon and knee-high socks. It will come with three faceplates of varying expressions, featuring a standard, smirking, and blushing face. The blushing face has hearts in her eyes. For optional parts, Nyatasha comes with her cane sword, a holdable Goro, and a microphone. Furthermore, her hand parts include one that allows her to make the "Nya" pose, as well as the peace symbol.

You can get a better look at the Nyatasha Nyanners Nendoroid in the screenshots below:

[gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="930921,930920,930919,930918,930916"]

Kotaro Uchikoshi’s reputation precedes him. You generally know if he’s involved with a game, it is going to be a thoughtful experience with twists and turns. From the Zero Escape series to Punch Line, his work will surprise you. AI: The Somnium Files proved it was no different, with its Cyclops Serial Killings storyline, AIs that replace a person’s actual eye, and dreamscape explorations. Now AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative is here with another baffling case. And this time, players are seeing the investigation from two sides.

When Mizuki Date was 12 years old, she and Ryuki Kurato both were participating in a quiz show. At one point, the lights when out. When they came back on, the body of Jin Furue, a well known tech CEO, was there with a sign that included a QR code linking to a strange video and a “Fray to Free!” message on it. However, only half of his body appeared. Six years later, 18-year-old Mizuki is recruited to ABIS due to her potential as a Psyncer. Someone lures her to a stadium via text messages. There, the other half of Furue’s body appears. Yet even though it appeared six years later, that body’s time of death is apparently nine hours ago. The key to working out what’s going on is to work with Ryuki. However, the past investigation left him a broken drunk. Mizuki must investigate the Half Body killings in the present to find the Tearer, while also learning what the mentally broken Ryuki learned from his investigations in the past.

VTuber Inugami Korone appeared as a guest during the Sonic Origins commemorative broadcast, revealing a new outfit inspired by the iconic Sega mascot. The outfit features a Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired hoodie, a choker that resembles the rings players can obtain in the game, and red shoes. Other details included a Sega t-shirt, a Chaos Emerald earring, and a Knuckles plush. The outfit was specifically created to commemorate a collaboration between the Sonic brand and Korone.

During the broadcast, the presenters asked Korone what her favorite part of the outfit was. She responded that due to always bumping into her desk while she streams, so she's happy that she will have a ring attached to her.

You can watch an archived version of the broadcast below, which includes a look at Inugami Korone's Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired outfit. The outfit is revealed around the 38 minute mark.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS0X1M8dv_8&ab_channel=%E3%82%BD%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BB%E3%83%98%E3%83%83%E3%82%B8%E3%83%9B%E3%83%83%E3%82%B0%E3%80%90%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E3%80%91[/embed]

You can take a look at the reference sheet for the outfit below.

It turns out new Persona 5 and SMT V plush are on the way, as they will become part of the Stubbins line. Aogami and the Nahobino will both be 10” Stubbins Deluxe versions. So will one of the two Morgana options. The other Morgana will be a 4” Stubbins Hugz clip-on plush. Pre-orders for all three will open on July 1, 2022.

First, here’s a better look at all three of the Stubbins Deluxe toys.

And here’s how the standard Morgana compares to the smaller Stubbins Hugz one.

Square Enix uploaded the key artwork for the Final Fantasy XIV Make it Rain 2022 campaign to its Final Fantasy Portal app. Users can download the artwork to use as wallpaper for their mobile devices. It features the Senor Sabotender flanked by two Gold Saucer employees.

People will also be able to get their hands on a physical piece of merchandise that features this artwork. Square Enix announced it would be hosting a Gold Saucer-themed event at two of its Eorzea Cafe locations in Japan. Alongside a themed menu, those who eat at the Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara and Osaka during this period will receive a special placemat. The placemat in question features the key artwork from the Make it Rain 2022 campaign. A total of four items are available to order from the menu.

The Make it Rain Campaign in Final Fantasy XIV has appeared more than once in the MMORPG. During this period, players can obtain MGP at incased rates. Certain exclusive items and emotes are available to obtain during the campaign. The 2022 event featured two emotes players could get through event participation.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The Final Fantasy XIV Make it Rain 2022 campaign wallpaper is available on Android and iOS through the Final Fantasy Portal app.

Crunchyroll confirmed that One Piece Film: Red will be heading to theaters outside Japan. There’s no exact release date yet for the showings. However, it did confirm One Piece Red will appear in Australia, Canada, the US, and Australia in Fall 2022. It also promised additional details at Anime Expo on July 2, 2022.

In the past, another Anime Expo 2022 One Piece Film: Red affair came up. Toei Animation confirmed Steve Aoki will perform at The Novo during it. That performance will be held on July 2, 2022 as well. People will also be able to get Aoki’s DIM MAK x One Piece clothing and skate decks at the event.

The announcement of the film’s release window and further Anime Expo 2022 news also led to additional confirmations. At the event, there will be a Toei Animation presents One Piece Film Red Panel. That will appear at 3 p.m. PT on July 2, 2022 and last for 50 minutes. Producer Shinji Shimizu, ADR Director Anthony Bowling, and Brook and Shanks English voice actors Ian Sinclair and Brandon Potter will attend.

One Piece Film: Red will appear in theaters in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in Fall 2022.

We have a date for the next Pokemon Trading Card Game set. The Pokemon TCG Sword & Shield: Lost Origin expansion will appear on September 9, 2022. When it launches, people will be able to get booster packs, an Elite Trainer Box, and as-yet-unknown special collections. It will also add the Lost Zone mechanic that keeps someone from cards sent to that area when discarded during play. (Normally, there are certain moves that allow someone to retrieve cards from the standard discard pile.)

Here’s the full list of some of the major additions in this Pokemon TCG set.

• 1 VMAX card
• 3 Radiant cards
• 6 VSTAR cards
• 14 V cards




• 30 Trainer Gallery subset cards

So far, a few of those special cards have been confirmed. Girantina, Hisuian Goodra, and Hisuian Zoroark VSTARs will all appear. There will also be Radiant Gardevoir in this batch.

Pre-orders already opened for some of the cards. At the Pokemon Center, someone can get this expansion's Elite Trainer Box for $49.99. People can already pre-order booster packs alone for $3.99 each or in bundles.

During the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, Bandai Namco announced Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival would head to the Nintendo Switch. Now there's a release date for it. People will be able to get it on September 23, 2022. Bandai Namco also confirmed physical copies via opening pre-orders. People can also pre-order a drum peripheral to go with it.

First, here's the new trailer for Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival. It is brief and goes over features. There will be 76 included songs. People can play alone, online against others, or take part in party games alone or with others. A campaign of sorts will be present. In it, characters like Don and Katsu will meet Kumo-kyun the cloud. It will support the Taiko Music Pass too, which allows someone to pay a fee to access a library of 500 songs. It ends with the release date.

No Man's Sky will be available for the Nintendo Switch soon. Director Sean Murray at Hello Games confirmed that the studio's expansive, open-universe game will arrive on October 7, 2022. This is a little later than Hello Games' original target window of "mid-2022."

Check out a tweet featuring Murray's comments and a video demo of the game running on Switch.

No Man's Sky is coming to Nintendo Switch and it looks

Releasing Oct 7th pic.twitter.com/kmKVHuVhXm

— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) June 23, 2022

 

Hello Games also uploaded a more formal No Man's Sky Switch trailer to its YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIks_7Ha9zg

The Switch trailer repeats the now-familiar No Man's Sky pitch, touting its "Every [Thing] Procedural" tagline. It ends up showing a player walking along the surface of an unknown planet and jetting off into space.

HoYoVerse announced there’s a new Genshin Impact web event called Echoes of The Chasm. This time, it’s the sort that doesn’t involve repeatedly returning over a period of time for rewards. Rather, all you have to do is listen to and share music from The Chasm OST. After logging in and sharing it on social media, the free Primogems will be credited to a person’s account. However, only two million people who participate will be randomly given the Primogems and a HoYoLab avatar frame.

There are five tracks in the new soundtrack. These are “Wandering Clouds,” “Tremor of Menace,” “Seething Animosity,” “A Route to Fantasies,” and “Inevitable Conflict.” After people listen to at least three of those songs, they can then share the album to be entered to possibly get the free 40 Primogems and frame.

This is one of two events related to The Chasm running for the game right now. The other is A Muddy Bizarre Adventure. That is an in-game event. Like Echoes of The Chasm, it will mean free Primogems for folks’ effort.

There will soon be more private housing in FFXIV. Square Enix announced that there will be ward restructuring following the next housing lottery on July 10, 2022. After that happens, nine more wards will be available for private housing. This does mean less housing for free companies.

Square Enix brought up the exact division as part of the announcement. At the moment, you can only find FFXIV private housing in Wards 19-24. Once this change happens after the next lottery’s entry period, Wards 10-18 will also be open to players looking for a private home.

As you might imagine, this means a similar sort of cut for free company housing in FFXIV. It currently occupies Wards 1-18. Once the change happens, it will cut off at Ward 9.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. To pick up some of the new private housing plots in FFXIV, people will need to take part in the housing lottery.

The post More FFXIV Private Housing Coming After Ward Classifications Changes appeared first on Siliconera.

Celebrating the release of the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion, Capcom Stores in Japan will start selling golden Felyne Daruma and a bunny dango plush. The two new items will be available starting June 30, 2022, the release date of the expansion. The plush will cost ¥880 (about $6), and the Daruma will cost ¥4,180 (about $31). [Thanks, Game Watch!]

Both products are based on real in-game items within Monster Hunter Rise. The golden Felyne Daruma, for example, is a reward from the lottery. Once acquired, players can display them in their house as a trinket. Its real-life counterpart is hand-crafted, and even includes the purple seat cushion that appears with it in the game.

On the other hand, the plush dango is based on the same bunny dango that players can eat before embarking on quests. Rather than being edible, however, Capcom is selling a soft plush keychain version of the snack.

https://twitter.com/CStorejapan/status/1539787845900316672?s=20&t=z--dBw65qBnS3Q9kMOE2fQ

Square Enix has shared information about future plans for the company, which includes the creation of "story-focused" NFTs. This information appeared during the Square Enix Shareholders' 2022 Meeting Report. The report also revealed the extent of the financial success of Final Fantasy XIV. Beyond that, it included a look at how the company's mobile market is fairing. [Thanks, michsuzuki!]

Final Fantasy XIV is up 56% from the previous year. Previous reports concerning the continued success of Final Fantasy XIV have mentioned the Endwalker expansion, which released in December 2021. And while Square Enix has continued to expand its mobile division, there was no report of any significant change or success among its recent releases.

However, Square Enix further revealed its intentions to incorporate NFTs into its business model in some tangible way. This includes the development of "blockchain games and entertainment," and, most notably, the production of NFTs that will focus on stories. This goal is included in Square Enix's medium-term strategy. On the topic of turning Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy into blockchain games, Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda said this:

It's still a bit too early to consider making Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy blockchain games, and we're not at the stage of thinking about that yet.

A new Ys game is in development according to Falcom President Toshihiro Kondo. In an interview, Kondo shared details about the title, including new gameplay elements that may potentially appear. [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

In December 2020, Kondo revealed that Falcom was making preparations for the next Ys game. However, at the time he did not specify if it would be a remake of a past game or Ys X. That said, he has provided some information as to what direction consumers can expect the series to go with this next entry.

One of the points mentioned reveals that certain areas are being "reexamined." Specifically, while the next Ys title will retain some of the core feelings of being a Ys game, there will potentially be some "Souls-like" elements to it. This includes more evenly paced one-on-one combat, where players will be able to watch and learn enemies' movements and patterns.

And regarding what platforms the new Ys game could appear on, Kondo said this:

While we can't say what platforms the game could appear on at this time, we would like a wide range of players to enjoy it. It will be released as we're working on various platforms.

Additionally, he reveals that this next entry will provide something new, as the team believes that new gameplay elements will be vital for the series to move forward.

Jewelry brand Tasaki will release Chainsaw Man-themed jewelry; most of the items are necklaces or pendants. Prices start from around 187,000 JPY, which is approximately $1,374.65. Though the items do appear on the Tasaki website, you will only be able to purchase them from the physical pop-up stores. They will appear across Japan from June 29. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

There is a limit of one per customer when it comes to the Chainsaw Man jewelry pieces from Tasaki. Aside from general teeth- and chainsaw-looking items, there is a necklace that looks like Pochita. There is also one that draws inspiration from Power, with the same bangs and horns. The prices for each individual piece of jewelry are:

• Chainsaw Man gold pendant (902,000 JPY)
• Chainsaw Man white gold diamond solo pendant (1,056,000 JPY)
• Chainsaw Man white gold diamond pendant (3,300,000 JPY)
• Chainsaw Man pendant & ear cuff (198,000 JPY)
• Pochita yellow gold pendant (308,000 JPY)
• Pochita silver pearl pendant (187,000 JPY)
• Power yellow gold necklace (319,000 JPY)

[gallery columns="4" ids="930838,930837,930836,930835" link="file"]

Gallerynucleus will be hosting a No More Heroes art exhibit from June 25 to July 10, 2022. Artwork by Kozaki Yusuke and Masanori Ushiki will be featured at the exhibit, including illustrations from the production of No More Heroes. Admission to the opening reception will be entirely free, while autographs from the artists will cost $10 for books and posters. Those looking to get their copies of No More Heroes signed will have signing fees waived. The No More Heroes art exhibit will be held at Gallerynucleus in Alhambra, California.

Outside of displaying artwork from the No More Heroes series, consumers will also be able to obtain stickers, prints, and other exclusive pieces of artwork. Gallernyucleus will also host a livestream through Twitch which will include an hour-long interview segment featuring the artists. Additionally, viewers will have the opportunity to watch as the artists sketch out paid illustration slots.

Five illustration slots per artist will be available at the opening reception, with attendees needing to provide their own shikishi boards. Four additional slots will be available to those watching through Twitch. Only one slot can be purchased per attendee, with each one costing $20.

When you get a game collection, there are certain things you expect. Different ways to play the game which capture the original spirit and perhaps a more modern look. Historical elements compiled in some kind of gallery. Which yes, Sonic Origins does all that with its Classic Mode, Anniversary Mode, and Museum. But there’s also an unexpected element. Its Story Mode offers a sense of context that helps see how entries fit together.

A good way to think of Sonic Origins’ Story Mode as being akin to The Godfather Saga. Where that version put all the scenes from The Godfather and The Godfather Part II in chronological order, this behaves similarly. It runs through the games as events happened. So Sonic the Hedgehog leads into Sonic CD. That, in turn, leads into Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Things close out with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. Each one is preceded by a new animated short setting the stage for the adventure and ended with another that closes things out and helps tie things together.

More people will be able to play Rune Factory 5 soon, as a PC version is heading to Steam. It will debut on July 13, 2022. It will be $59.99 for the standard version. There is also going to be a $69.99 Digital Deluxe one with Rune Factory 4 Marriage Candidates Outfit Set DLC. However, the pre-order discount in effect brings the price of the former down to $50.99 and the latter to $59.49. 10 pieces of DLC will also be available at launch.

Here’s the Rune Factory 5 PC trailer that appeared ahead of its Steam debut. It doesn’t note any of the specific changes for this version. However, you can see some of the visual updates.

The product page confirmed the game will appear in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. It also confirmed there will be achievements and trading cards to earn.

Here’s a list of all the DLC that will be available at launch. If people own the PC version of Rune Factory 4 Special, people get Lest and Frey protagonist outfits and will see Doug and Margaret in town. Pre-orders also come with the The Holy Knight and the Bibliophile Swimsuit Set and New Ranger Care Package Item Pack add-ons.

It is the time of year when new anime pickups are announced. Crunchyroll revealed its Summer 2022 anime lineup. Many of the additions involve continuing simulcasts or additions of staples. For example, Crunchyroll will continue to air new Boruto, Digimon Ghost Game, and One Piece episodes, and the My Hero Academia season 5 OVAs are on the way. But there are also new additions and seasons joining the service. For example, people can see season 2 of shows like The Devil is a Part-Timer, Obey Me! and Rent-a-Girlfriend, as well as new additions like ODDTAXI In the Woods and The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting on Crunchyroll.

Here’s the full schedule of Summer 2022 anime that will be a part of Crunchyroll’s lineup. It already also announced the dubs that will appear for some shows. While many shows have release dates, the My Hero Academia Season 5 OVA HLB doesn’t have one yet.

Once again, there's a new JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R character. This time, we're "meeting" another member of the Pillar Men. Kars from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency is the latest fighter to appear. In addition, Bandai Namco released a survey for everyone who played the limited-time PS4 and PS5 demo.

Kars appeared in the original JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle. He’s the Pillar Men’s leader and is considered the Ultimate Life Form. Like the other people in the group, he can change his body’s structure.

1st ranked among the Pillar Men and your first choice in a fight!

Kars is returning to the 50+ roster in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R! Pre-order today! pic.twitter.com/5SD8DYvf84

— JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R (@jojo_games) June 22, 2022

In case you missed some of the other JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R character trailers, here are ones that showed up so far.

June 22th is Crab Day in Japan, and Square Enix celebrated with FFVII Remake enemy concept art looking at the Scissorclaw. This is a kind of crab enemy that appeared both in the original game and remake. It also featured screenshots showing Barret using his Steel Pincers weapons while fighting one.

First, here’s the FFVII Remake concept art just showing the design direction for the enemy. It involves a a detailed look at its body from above and below. There’s also a picture of how the enemy looked in the original game at the bottom.

Next, here are the screenshots showing Barret dealing with a Scissorclaw in FFVII Remake. He's using his Steel Pincers for the fight. (Square Enix's official commentary says they are as strong as the crab's claws.) People can get that weapon from Moggie in the Sector 5 Slums.
[gallery columns="2" ids="930821,930819" link="file"]

The Pokemon Legends: Arceus anime is now finished, as folks can now see the third episode of Pokemon Hisuian Snow. It closes out the story following the bond between a young man named Alec and a Hisuian Zoroa. “Two Hues” is immediately available

If people haven’t been keeping up with Pokemon Hisuian Snow, they might be a bit lost going into the last episode of the Pokemon Legends: Arceus anime. It picks up right as Alec is finding his father again after returning home. He mentions his goal of finding medicinal plants in Alabaster Forest. That’s where he met the Hisuian Zoroa before. It’s then that he hears a roar.

Alec heads to the town’s watch tower. It is then that he sees a phenomenon folks who played Pokemon Legends: Arceus will recognize. A Space-Time Distortion appeared in the Alabaster Forest. After seeing an injured Rufflet flying toward the village, Alec runs out to help. He then starts fighting to go and help the injured Pokemon.

Here’s the full Pokemon: Hisuian Snow “Two Hues” episode.

In case you missed them, here are the other two episodes in this series.

There's now a way for people who can't physically attend the Persona 25th FES anniversary event to get an official look at it. Atlus' Japanese Twitter account shared a video going through the exhibition. It spends over a minute and a half looking at different attractions.

Things begin in the video by showing official art with the Persona heroes from the first game through Persona 5. After that, some of the art exhibit is shown. This includes a Velvet Room-inspired area showing game footage. Recreated school uniforms from every installment show up. There are also fake Junes and Leblanc setups in the Persona 4 and Persona 5 sections. Morgana and Teddie costumes are on display. After the 1:12 mark, the 1:1 scale Thanatos, Izanagi, and Arsene statues appear.

「ペルソナ25thフェス」の大展覧会の様子を、特別に一部大公開！
「タナトス」「イザナギ」「アルセーヌ」1/1立像はライティングにもこだわってるから、ぜひ現地に見に来てくれよな！

「ペルソナ25thフェス」は7月10日(日)まで開催中！
→https://t.co/Sll9WLFULu#P25th #P25fes pic.twitter.com/ModExQHCvA

— モルガナ_ペルソナ広報 (@p_kouhou) June 22, 2022

Nintendo's June 22, 2022 Direct broadcast focused on Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ahead of its July release date. A new trailer set up the game world and narrative of the third Xenoblade title, emphasizing its themes of war, transience, and legacy.

Check it out below.

Note that some of these plot details could be considered spoilers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG_hINfOz28

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is set on the world of Aionios, where two nations: Keves and Agnus, exist in a state of unceasing war. The wars are fought by engineered soldiers with an artificially limited lifespan of ten years. Each year is called a "term," and all ten are spent entirely on fighting.

Six soldiers, three each from Keves and Ionios, encounter each other while on a special mission for their respective authorities. After a mysterious encounter, the sextet end up as fugitives, hunted by both nations. Their only hope is to head to the Sword March, a part of the world pierced by a gigantic blade. There, they'll find answers and a path towards "defeating the real enemy and bringing order to the world."

Teases of cutscenes from the story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 focus the characters' short lifespans and their desire to live or leave a lasting legacy, something that's not possible considering their life of constant war. Mio in particular is revealed to be late into her tenth term, with three months left to live. Another character appears to perform a ritual of some sort to share some of their own remaining time with Mio, who refuses to accept it.

At the very end of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct, Nintendo went over amiibo compatibility. While it will work with all amiibo, one will involve a special feature. If someone owns a Shulk amiibo and scans it into the game, it will cause a cosmetic change that makes Xenoblade Chronicles 3 characters’ swords look like the Monado.

Here’s the teaser showing how the Monado will look like when Noah is using it in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. While it does specifically show Noah in the video, all information does clarify that any “Swordfighter” character would be able to change the way their sword looks.

"Monado, lend us your power!"

With the Shulk #amiibo, you can unlock this Monado weapon skin for characters using the Swordfighter Class in #XenobladeChronicles3. pic.twitter.com/2tT4TeGkze

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 22, 2022

The video also mentioned other amiibo will provide unspecified "helpful items" when scanned.

Like Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will get a expansion pass that adds DLC to the game. During the June 22, 2022 Nintendo Direct focusing on the RPG, the add-ons came up. Like the previous game, some of it will involve new story content. It will cost $29.99.

The presentation hinted at some of the things people can expect from the add-ons. Some of them will offer new cosmetics that change how characters look. Others will bring in new story content.

Here's the full roadmap for the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC.

• July 29, 2022: Helpful items and outfit color variants DLC.
• Releasing by December 31, 2022: Challenge Battle, new hero character and quests, and new outfits DLC.
• Releasing by April 30, 2023: Challenge battle, new hero character and quests, and new outfits DLC.
• Releasing by December 31, 2023: New story scenario DLC

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will come to the Nintendo Switch on July 29, 2022. The special edition includes an art book and SteelBook case.

The post Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass DLC Announced appeared first on Siliconera.