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Kotobukiya’s Kurosu took to MyFigureCollection to explain the inspiration behind the first Star Trek Bishoujo figure and noted that Spock did inspire the character. While the finished product is based on a general science officer from the original series, the different renditions of one of the most famous Vulcan’s in the show influenced her.

Specifically, a handful of the Kotobukiya Star Trek Vulcan Bishoujo figure are designed to be callbacks to Spock. In the article, Kurosu cited the makeup referencing that of Leonard Nimoy’s in the original TV show. Her hair color is also black, referencing the various portrayals of the character over the years. At one point during the design process, it almost ended up being “light gray.”

Kurosu also noted the haircut in another point in the piece. Shunya Yamashita, the designer for the Bishoujo series, maintained the “signature five-point cut” that Star Trek Vulcans tend to have. However, the sculptor did need to redo the prototype’s hair and ears.

The article from Kurosu also hinted at some additional Star Trek Bishoujo figures that could appear. Kotobukiya picked generic crew members to go with different officers. Kurosu noted, “We’re hoping to make other officers, such as an operations officer, command officer, and explore a variety of options in this series.”

Japanese apparel company Cospa will be releasing a new series of merchandise inspired by Bayonetta 3. This new line of merchandise includes a variety of T-shirts inspired by the hack and slash franchise. Some of them are based on Viola’s different in-game costumes available in Bayonetta 3. There is also a rocks glass with The Gates of Hell logo, a keychain of Cheshire, and a sticker of Bayonetta’s iconic “Let’s dance, boys.” Pre-orders will open on the Cospla online store from April 27, 2023, and they are estimated to release on early July 2023. The company does not ship outside Japan and recommends using a third-party service to purchase from the store.

As you can see below, the Bayonetta 3 Cospa long sleeved T-shirt features an illustration of Gomorrah, one of Bayonetta’s iconic Infernal Demons. The Gomorrah long sleeved T-shirt is available on L and XL sizes. It costs 4,620 JPY or roughly $34 USD. The Bayonetta logo T-shirt costs is again available in L and XL sizes, and it costs 3,850 JPY (~$29 USD.) Meanwhile, The Gates of Hell T-shirt is available on multiple sizes, ranging from S to XL. It costs 3,300 JPY (~$25 USD.)

Hidekazu Tanaka, the composer for series such as Uma Musume Pretty Derby and The Idolm@ster, pleaded guilty to several indecent crimes. He'd attempted to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl. As well, the court found him guilty of exposing himself on trains and sneaking pictures of girls’ underwear. We do not yet know what his sentence will be. [Thanks, Livedoor!]

The incident that lead to Tanaka’s initial arrest took place in August 2022. He forcibly grabbed a girl in a bicycle parking area while saying “sexual things” at her. At the time, it was unclear how old she was, but it turns out she was 15. As a reminder, Tanaka was 35 at the time. He'd told her that he would give her money in exchange for sexual favors. From September to October 2022, Tanaka used his phone to take pictures of girls’ underwear from beneath their skirts at the JR Ebisu Station. He had also exposed his sexual organs in the train from JR Yurakucho Station to Tokyo Station.

Touhou: New World will be getting an official Western release, according to XSEED Games. The publisher confirmed they would be bringing the game to North America and Europe for the Nintendo Switch and PC, with a PlayStation release following at a later date.

Billed as a fan-made entry in the Touhou Project universe, Touhou: New World sees shrine maiden Reimu and magician Marisa battling enemies invading Gensokyo. The game is being developed by Ankake Spa, developers of Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity. Just like that game, Touhou: New World is an action RPG featuring the franchise’s trademark bullet hell design at the core of its gameplay.

https://twitter.com/XSEEDGames/status/1635989783921979393

XSEED are promising the game will be heavily customizable, with skill trees and equipment offering a wide selection of options. There will also be side quests as players explore Gensokyo, rewarding players with upgrades and tips to turn the tide in their favor.

Touhou: New World is the latest of several fan-games set in the universe, the most recent release being the farming sim Harvest Yuuka for Nintendo Switch.

Touhou: New World will be releasing sometime in North America and Europe in Summer 2023. It will be releasing digitally for Nintendo Switch and on PC via Steam. A PlayStation 4 and 5 release will follow sometime later in 2023.

The FFVII Remake Twitter account shared some more details about its character design, focusing on Reno from Shinra's Turks this time. Unlike his fellow Turks, Reno has gone and personalized his suit. There are several close-ups and tidbits about the way that his outfit looks.

Here's the reveal going over his Turks suit in FFVII Remake, complete with pictures highlighting certain elements.
https://twitter.com/FFVIIR_CLOUD/status/1635928837870735360

For starters, Reno’s jacket doesn’t have any buttons. He keeps it together with a belt at the front of it. He does have buttons on his shirt, though! There are also some patches on his shoulders that look like they are crocodile skin. It is unknown what animal the skin is from, or even if it is natural. Unlike Tseng and Rude, who wear their suits in a much more traditional fashion, this suit seems to reflect Reno’s more laid-back personality.

Ever since the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix has been posting little tidbits about the game onto Twitter. This can range from trivia about the design, such as this post about Reno in FFVII Remake, or information about the development of the game. Recently, Square Enix shared that in the original Final Fantasy, the team had considered having Barret use a bowgun.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on the PS4, PS5, and Windows PC.

It seems people won't need to wait too long to test out the One Piece Tony Tony Chopper virtual pet, as the Tamagotchi Nano appeared on Amazon outside Japan. The product listing notes that it will release on May 6, 2023. It will cost $24.99. [Thanks, Wario64!]

As with all Tamagotchi Nano models, it is a black-and-white variant. It is also smaller than more modern Tamagotchis. The two case models are Going Merry, inspired by the Straw Hats’ ship, and a New World version based on Chopper himself. The shell is just cosmetic, as the game itself remains the same across variants. In each one, you take care of him by feeding and playing with him. Various events can come up that will feature Chopper with other One Piece characters. Also, depending on how well you care for him, he’ll “evolve” to look like he did during different arcs in the series.

Bandai Namco releases Tamagotchi Nano variants inspired by anime series and games rather frequently. For example, there's a Kingdom Hearts one involving Sora and other characters, as well as a Spy x Family model that tasks people with caring for Anya. A One Piece TamaSma Card appeared as well. That let people raise traditional Tamagotchi characters cosplaying as characters from the anime and manga.

Ahead of Bayonetta Origins’ debut, PlatinumGames kicked off an art countdown with new images of Cereza. The official Twitter account has been sharing illustrations from the developer’s artists. The two so far include works from a Bayonetta 3 concept artist and a Babylon’s Fall and NieR: Automata artist.

The first piece of art is by Tomoko Nishii. In the past, Niishi worked on games like NieR: Automata. Most recently, the artist served as a concept artist on Babylon’s Fall. PlatinumGames Vice President Hideki Kamiya also noted in the past that Nishii is the Bayonetta Origins art director.

What terrors await Cereza in the shadows of the forbidden Avalon Forest...?

3 days to go until the release of #BayonettaOrigins: Cereza and the Lost Demon.#Bayonetta
Art by: Tomoko Nishii pic.twitter.com/cm0fHhGoEZ

— PlatinumGames Inc. (@platinumgames) March 14, 2023

The March 15, 2023 Bayonetta Origins art featured both Cereza and Cheshire. It was drawn by Satona Takahashi. Takahashi also worked as a concept artist on both Bayonetta 3 and World of Demons.

Nintendo released a behind the scenes video showing off the voice actor performances behind Splatoon 3’s music. The video features two songs by Deep Cut and one by Damp Socks ft. Off the Hook, all of which should be familiar to Splatoon 3 players. The video also finally reveals the voice actors for Shiver and Frye from Deep Cut, who have been a mystery since the game’s release. Shiver is voiced by Anna Sato while Frye is voiced by Laura Yokozawa. They are both singers working in Japan. The voice actor for the third member of the band, Big Man, is still unknown.

Here's the new Splatoon 3 music video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hn4TuF6-xs

The video’s three songs are “Anarchy Rainbow,” “Fins in the Air,” and “Tentacle to the Metal”. “Anarchy Rainbow” plays in the plaza during Splatfests. “Fins in the Air” is one of the match tracks during a Splatfest. “Tentacle to the Metal,” the only song in the video not performed by Deep Cut, is a standard match track heard in normal Splatoon 3 gameplay.

It’s not the first time Nintendo released behind the scenes footage of Splatoon’s music. Past games have shown off these performances, and Splatoon 3 has previously seen behind the scenes footage of C-Side’s “Clickbait”. Nintendo’s celebration of Splatoon’s music has also seen concerts, such as the joint Animal Crossing and Splatoon concert that happened in October.

Atlus is going to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Shin Megami Tensei series with music outside Japan. It announced a special presentation will arrive in July 2023. When Anime Expo 2023 comes to Los Angeles, California, attendees can see the Shin Megami Tensei 30th Live: Band of Shadows Concert at 8pm PT on July 1, 2023 at The Novo.

While the performance is affiliated with Anime Expo, it will not be a free event. People who pay to attend the anime convention will be able to buy tickets for the July 1, 2023. Atlus didn’t note how much tickets will cost. However, a one-day Saturday ticket for Anime Expo 2023 costs $80 and a four-day ticket is $165.

There’s also a music-filled trailer promoting the Anime Expo 2023 Shin Megami Tensei 30th Live: Band of Shadows Concert. The performance will be two and a half hours long, as it is expected to end at 10:30pm PT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETr8BrD_Fp0

And here's the official art for the event.
[gallery size="full" columns="1" ids="955630" link="file"]

The English dub of the NieR Automata anime is finally on the way, and Aniplex and Crunchyroll revealed the voice actors who will join the cast. Many of them should sound familiar. This is because once again, performers like Kira Buckland, Kyle McCarley, and Cherami Leigh will appear to reprise their roles as 2B, 9S, and A2. Episode one of the dub will launch on Crunchyroll on March 18, 2023.

Here’s the full cast list of voice actors for the NieR Automata anime’s English dub. The only new cast member is Erica Mendez as Lily, a new character who appears in the anime and related NieR Automata media, but didn’t show up in the game.

• 2B: Kira Buckland
• 9S: Kyle McCarley
• A2: Cherami Leigh
• Adam: Greg Chun
• Commander: Colleen O’Shaughnessey
• Eve: Ray Chase
• Lily: Erica Mendez
• Pascal: Alexis Tipton

Finally, here's a NieR Automata anime trailer showing how people like Buckland, McCarley, and Leigh sound when reprising their roles as 2B, 9S, and A2's voice actors.

Presenting the English dub cast of NieR:Automata Ver1.1a!

Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming to another platform. Tango Gameworks announced an Xbox Series X version of the game. Ghostwire: Tokyo will come to the Xbox on April 12, 2023, the same day a free Spider’s Thread update arrives on the PS5 and PC. It will also be a day one Xbox Game Pass release for both the console and PC version.

When Spider’s Thread arrives, it will both add to existing areas and bring in entirely new experiences. The main story’s cutscenes will, in some cases, be longer. People will also see Retribution and Silent Gaze Visitors wandering Tokyo. Akito will learn new skills, with Charge Rush and Counter Attack being the two named in the announcement. People can also explore a Tokyo Middle school to encounter its otherworldly visitors.

As for the name “Spider’s Web,” it applies to the new Ghostwire: Tokyo update mode. Tango Gameworks created 120 levels. When someone enters Spider’s Web, 30 of them will be randomly chosen. They’ll need to survive until the end. As they complete each area, they’ll gradually be able to make Akito stronger.

Ahead of the latest Street Fighter game, Capcom’s been sharing developer matches to offer insight into what people can expect. The latest fight involves two brawlers. Returning wrestler Zangief faces off against the new Greek warrior Marisa.

Both Zangief and Marisa use wrestling moves and brawler attacks in Street Fighter 6. The two exchange some blows when the match begins. Likewise, the footage allows people to get a better sense of scale to see exactly how strong Marisa is. Also, to help provide a better sense of context and show off both moves, the match goes to three rounds. Both characters essentially use finishing moves in the final one, to offer a chance to compare attacks.

Show me everything you have!

Watch the colossal Zangief and Marisa duke it out in this special developer match. pic.twitter.com/ANyvCs4piL

— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) March 14, 2023

This isn't the first time Marisa appeared in one of these Street Fighter 6 developer matches, though it does mark Zangief's debut in them. Back in January 2023, another one appeared putting Marisa against fellow newcomer Manon.

A Shaman King Flowers anime, based on the sequel of Hiroyuki Takei’s Shaman King, will air in January 2024. A short trailer focusing on Hana Asakura is available on YouTube. There is also a key visual featuring the next generation of Shamans, with Amidamaru sitting on Hana’s shoulders. [Thanks, Comic Natalie!]

First, here's the key visual:
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="955662" link="file"]

Shaman King Flowers follows the children of the Shamans from the original Shaman King. Hana Asakura, the protagonist of the sequel, is the son of Yoh Asakura and Anna Kyoyama. The manga originally ran from 2012 to 2014. Though Hana is the next head of the Asakura family, he feels frustrated that he cannot find a place to use his Shaman powers. However, a meeting with assassins Yohane and Ruka, who are members of the Asakura branch family, triggers the beginning of a new battle.

The cast for Shaman King Flowers so far is as follows:

The Devil Hunters of Public Safety Special Division 4 are traveling far and wide. Their latest excursion is out to the diamond, to join a Power Pro and Chainsaw Man crossover. The event will launch in the mobile version of Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball on March 16, 2023 in Japan. [Thanks, Denfaminico Gamer!]

Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball (also known as Power Pro Mobile) is the mobile version of Konami's long-running Powerful Pro baseball series. Its gameplay combines training mechanics with baseball mechanics reminiscent of the console-based versions of the game. Players can also build out their teams by collecting characters, all of which are rendered in the game's distinct chibi art style.

The Power Pro and Chainsaw Man crossover event adds four characters from the series to the roster: Denji, Power, Aki, and Makima. Based on the event details, Denji and Power will be obtainable via the game's gacha system. Aki can be obtained as a reward for one of the event's minigames. The details didn't specify whether Makima would be playable, or if she appears in the game as an NPC. Like other crossover characters, the Chainsaw Man additions will appear in the game's signature art style.

[gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="955649,955650,955651,955652" link="file"]

Two members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn have joined the Warrior of Light to promote Puma's new line of Final Fantasy XIV-inspired wear. The FFXIV and Puma collection, "A Wardrobe Reborn," went on sale today. The official Puma Japan account also tweeted out a promo video featuring three Final Fantasy XIV characters decked out in the items.

https://twitter.com/puma_jpn/status/1635808033421795329

The commercial shows Scions characters Alisaie Leveilleur and Estinien Varlineau walking about a modern cityscape dressed in the Puma x FFXIV street wear. They're also joined by the Warrior of Light, or at least, the default male Midlander Hyur version seen in the various Final Fantasy XIV opening scenes. Alisaie wears the white hoodie with the game's meteor, and carries a backpack emblazoned with the line's logo, which incorporates the Final Fantasy XIV Fat Cat. Estinien wears a crossbody bag, cap, and shorts in the same style. Both wear sneakers from the line as well, specifically the "Unisex eSports Slipstreams", with a blue colorway and a crystal-themed lace ornament.

Meanwhile the Warrior of Light is dressed in the all-black "gaming hoodie", which features a pattern of the Fat Cat, Fat Chocobo, and Fat Black Chocobo. In one part of the trailer he's wearing the black-and-purple eSports Slipstreams, but  at the close of the trailer he's wearing a different pair that matches the "Court and Rider Chaos Basketball Shoes".

There might be a chance for the horse girls of Uma Musume to go global after all. A video presentation uploaded by Google might have revealed the existence of an Uma Musume global release.

The presentation in question is a video titled Google Play Games on PC: Unlock Seamless Gameplay Across Mobile and PC, uploaded to the official Android Developers YouTube channel. Presented as part of the Google For Games Developer Summit, the video is presented by Google Play Games Director of Product Management Arjun Dayal. The nearly 19-minute presentation is mainly targeted at new and existing game developers, and exists to promote Google's initiatives for cross-platform compatibility through the Google Play Games on PC app. The app is a Windows-based program that allows players to launch select games and play them on a PC interface. Participating titles include Arknights, Mobile Legends, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, and Dragon Ball Legends.

The relevant point about a possible Uma Musume global release comes at about 4 minutes and 20 seconds into the presentation. Dayal offers a "sneak peek" at upcoming mobile games about to launch in 2023 for Google Play Games on PC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfqh9soEKNg&t=258s

Dayal promotes the arrival of Garena Free Fire, Ludo King, Disney Mirrorverse, Angry Birds 2, and Maple Story M. Then he invites interested developers and players to "join an anime equestrian universe with Uma Musume." And that's about it. Nothing else is shown regarding the game.

Girls wearing mecha parts. That is the core concept of "Mecha Musume," and love for the idea lies at the very core of Alice Gear Aegis CS Concerto of Simulatrix. The game is a spin-off of the (Japan-exclusive) Alice Gear Aegis mobile game, bringing its characters and world to consoles.

Like the original, Alice Gear Aegis CS takes place in the future, centuries after humanity was forced to abandon Earth due to the invasion of the Vice, an alien race. The remnants of humankind have taken to the stars, inhabiting "Shards," spacefaring replicas of Earthbound life built into floating pieces of what used to be the moon. Defending these colonies are "Actresses," young women who can channel a mysterious energy to power the titular Alice Gear. A suite of powerful weapons worn and wielded by each Actress in battle, they're the only effective weapons against the Vice. This Actress system's proven so successful that defense against the aliens has been privatized, with up-and-coming Actresses working for various agencies like weaponized idol units.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9EBPb80slE

Studio Khara announced the release of Project Shin Evangelion, a book that delves into the process of creating and producing the movie Evangelion 3.0+1.0, from a business perspective. Project Shin Evangelion will cost 1,760 JPY (or about $13 USD). It will release in late May 2023, and it is available now for pre-order from select Japanese retailers and Amazon Japan. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The Project Shin Evangelion book includes a detailed report summing up the production status of the movie, including goals, process, expenses, duration, and initial pre-visualization results. It also includes an interview with General Director Hideaki Anno, offering a project summary. There are also project evaluation interviews with nine other creatives involved in the film, including Kazuya Tsurumaki and Illustrator Masahiro Maeda. In addition, the book offers credits for all members of the staff involved in the creation of Evangelion 3.0+1.0.

A new promotional ad for the Pokemon anime features the show's original stars, Ash and Pikachu. The ad is notable for its huge size, as it takes up most of the wall at Shinjuku's Japan Rail station.

The ad focuses on Ash (known as "Satoshi" in Japan) and Pikachu's journey together through the many Pokemon anime adaptations. As part of a wall-sized display, clips from the different anime series covering their adventures are played simultaneously.

https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1635254545520693250

The presentation heavily references key scenes from different series, such as moments when Ash wins a gym badge or iconic Pokemon battles. With decades of material to draw on, the video highlights long-running stylistic flourishes, like the way Ash prepares to throw a Poke Ball. Even differences, like shifts in Ash's character design and moments from newer shows, get some screen time.

Sony announced a new line of PlayStation merchandise, with items featuring motifs reminiscent of the original PlayStation 1 model. Japanese retail store Thank You Mart will release the new line of official licensed PlayStation goods from March 17, 2023. The items will be available to purchase from retail stores and the online store. Some of the 16 items offered include stickers, keychains, bags, compact mirrors, rugs, and cushions. [Thank you, Game Watch!]

The items in the new line of PlayStation licensed merchandise are modeled after the original PlayStation 1 console and first DualShock controller. A majority of the items offered will cost 429 JPY (roughly $3 USD), with the exception of the silicon coin purse and tote bag. Those will cost 858 JPY (~$6 USD) The cushion will cost 1,287 JPY (~$9 USD.)

You can check out the official PlayStation merchandise in further detail, alongside the full merchandise catalogue, in the gallery below.

[gallery columns="4" ids="955593,955594,955595,955596,955597,955598,955599" link="file"]

In addition, Uniqlo collaborated with Sony on February 20, 2023 to release a new line of exclusive PlayStation-themed T-shirts in Japan, as part of their “UT Collection.”

While the full version of Resident Evil 4 remake isn’t available yet, people are already releasing mods for the Chainsaw Demo. Notably, some of them turn existing characters into entirely different people. Two of the most notable ones are Iven’s Shrek and ClownGodCG’s Mihono Bourbon, both of which are available on Nexus Mods. Both require FluffyQuack's Fluffy Mod Manager to run on PCs.

ClownGodCG’s Mihono Bourbon replaces Leon S. Kennedy with the Uma Musume character. For reference, she appears in both the game and anime based on it, however she didn’t debut in the show until its second season. It is a 3.9MB download.

Here are ClownGodCG’s screenshots showing how the Resident Evil 4 remake Mihono Bourbon mod looks in-game.
[gallery size="full" ids="955582,955583,955584" link="file"]

One month before the release of Atelier Ryza 3, Gust's official Twitter account for the Atelier series started a commemorative character illustration relay collaboration with several popular artists in anticipation of the game’s launch on March 24, 2023. The account shared a new illustration each day, and the relay ended on March 12, 2023. The final gallery included 18 pictures of Ryza. [Thanks, Inside!]

The commemorative illustration relay kicked off on February 23, 2023 with an illustration by popular Twitter artist Hungry Clicker (@click_burgundy). On the same day, the artist released a new illustration of Ryza with the caption “one more month.”

https://twitter.com/click_burgundy/status/1628686032358232066

In this Atelier Ryza 3 commemorative illustration by artist Chooco (@chocoshi3), Ryza is relaxing with the blue sky and a town seen in the background.

https://twitter.com/GustAtelierPR/status/1633754503550738433

In the piece drawn by Taiki (@taiki99), Ryza blends with the blue sky. The colors in the illustration are designed to evoke the feeling of summer.

https://twitter.com/GustAtelierPR/status/1634116893736075264

MegaHouse finally unveiled what the Look Up figures of Loid and Yor Forger from Spy x Family look like. The company shared this preview as part of the announcements during the MegaHobby Plus 2023 Winter Stage online event on March 10, 2023. Both are painted prototypes.

Previously, Megahouse announced at the Jump Festa 2023 event that it was working on new figures in the Look Up line based on Loid and Yor Forger. But just recently the company finally showed official images showing the designs for both.

Here's a look at the Look Up figures of Loid and Yor Forger from Spy x Family. Both feature the casual outfits of each character and measure around 110mm (4 inches). Loid is wearing his light green outfit, while Yor wears her red sweater.

https://twitter.com/Megahousejp/status/1635551587962683394?s=20

Previously, Megahouse released a Look Up figure of Anya in her school uniform. However, the company also announced that a second "special" version is in development. It will reveal more information about it at a later date.

Fengxi is, like Zhuyan before it, a fairly straightforward boss in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Because there are not a lot of moves in its repertoire and it telegraphs all of its attacks in a very obvious way, it is actually a very straightforward boss to fight. Once you see through Fengxi’s attack patterns, you should not have much trouble with it.

Like Zhao Yun says as soon as the fight starts, Fengxi likes to charge about and you can definitely use this to your advantage. Not only is this very easy to parry, but even if you do not deflect Fengxi’s charge, it can sometimes ram itself right into a wall. If you have Absorb Vitality, this is the perfect chance to restore any lost HP. Otherwise, you can take this opportunity to attack it as much as you like. It doesn't stay down for very long, so keep alert for when it recovers.

Fengxi has a Morale of 20. This means that you should have around that number as well if you wish to fight on equal footing. Like all of the other bosses in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, however, you do not necessarily need to go grind for Morale just to prepare for Fengxi. Morale is more to reduce the damage per hit and increase your own attack. But if you would prefer a challenge, then Fengxi is perfectly defeatable even when you are at the minimum Morale.

The new Fate/Grand Order event titled “Akihabara Explosion” is coming to the English version of the game on March 17, 2023, and Galatea will join the roster when it happens. The Japanese version of the event ran back in March 2021. You must clear the game's prologue "Flame Contaminated City Fuyuki" to take part in the event.

The Akihabara Explosion event features a new five-star servant named Galatea that can be obtained through the event's servant summon. This new servant features a character design by artist Shimada Fumikane, who is known for his work on various anime that feature girls with mechanical accessories. Some of his art can be seen in series and games like Strike Witches, Kantai Collection, and Alice Gear Aegis. Nero Claudius in her bride outfit can also be summoned during the event and returns alongside a quest providing her with a power-up.

Taking place in Akihabara, a place known for being a center of Japanese pop culture, the event centers around a warped version of the Akihabara Tower Hall. It turned into a demonic realm and challenges the player and their servants to gain shop points in an event called “Operation Shop to You Drop.” This provides a backdrop for the new event.

Square Enix announced a new piece of Final Fantasy VII merchandise, which is a Crisis Core FFVII Reunion carrying case nased the SOLDIER uniforms and equipment from the game. The carrying case costs $85 (or or 113€), and it is scheduled to release in September 2023. The carrying case is available now to pre-order from both the North American and European Square Enix online stores. The company also noted the Crisis Core FFVII Reunion is about the size of a Switch.

The new Crisis Core FFVII carrying case is made of synthetic leather. It features the SOLDIER insignia in the front. While the Crisis Core FFVII Reunion can be used for storing items like game consoles or smartphone, it is also advertised that the case might not completely protect devices, such as a Switch console, from scratches and damage.

You can check out the Crisis Core FFVII Reunion carrying case in further detail on the gallery below.

[gallery link="file" ids="955527,955528,955529,955530,955531,955533"]

Square Enix reiterated a commitment to blockchain games and NFTs in the past, and now there’s an update on its NFT project Symbiogenesis. The company announced that there will be 10,000 “characters” available. It shared a new teaser trailer, which mentioned the information, noted the “story” for it will involve six chapters, and confirmed the full website will launch on March 17, 2023.

Here’s the YouTube trailer for the Square Enix Symbiogenesis NFT project. While the description mentioned 10,000 characters and a story, none of that is shown in the video. It only shows a vague, floating landmass with some forests and a town. While none of the story’s characters are shown, the description claims that there will allegedly be stories for them, and that each one will belong to “various races and professions.” There will supposedly be “real game utility” for the NFTs, though there’s yet to be any explanation regarding support or practical application.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lngJnSLx4hA&ab_channel=%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A8%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9

Good Smile Company is now accepting pre-orders for the new League of Legends Gwen figure by Infinity Studio. They will remain open until Thursday March 30, 2023 at 12pm JST. The statue will cost ¥77,000 from the Good Smile Store, which is about $572. It is expected to ship in September 2023. A maximum of three statues can be ordered per person, and shipment will not be available for some countries. As of yet, there is no listing on the Good Smile Us store, but international buyers can attempt to order through one of Good Smile's International Partner Shops.

Gwen appears in her default "Hallowed Seamstress'"outfit and bearing her large, ethereal scissors for this League of Legends figure. The statue is sculpted to 1/6th scale and stands 40 cm tall, which is over 15 inches. It will be a full 5 cm taller than the previous Infinity Studio League of Legends statue which featured Viego. The scissors held by Gwen are made of a translucent plastic, and the base features a special paint that changes color when viewed from different angles.

You can get a look at the figure below:
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A new entry on the official Playstation Blog featured an interview with Horizon series Game Director Mathijs de Jonge. In it, de Jonge discussed the advantages of developing content solely for PS5. Burning Shores, the upcoming DLC for Horizon Forbidden West, was previously announced as being exclusive to the system. Game Director de Jonge said focusing on PS5 development allowed Guerilla to "charge forward" with development without having to plan around PS4 optimization.

Game Director de Jonge talked about how environmental richness was a priority for the Horizon series, and the PS5's technical power meant they could add more detail while running at higher framerates and resolutions. He also explained that the extra processing power meant they could run simulations faster, as well as making it easier to review sections of the game without stopping for loading times.

Here is de Jonge's full explanation:

One of our key priorities with Horizon games is to add a ton of detail and richness to our environments. On Horizon Forbidden West, everything we added or increased was something we’d need to have a plan around how to optimize for PS4 as well. On Burning Shores, since we can just focus on PS5, we’ve been able to charge forward and we’re really excited about what we’ve been able to pull off in creating this stunning post-post-apocalyptic version of Los Angeles.

Idea Factory International revealed the Dokapon Kingdom: Connect worldwide release date. People in North America and Europe will be able to play it digitally and physically on May 9, 2023. This is just about one month after its Japanese debut in April 2023. To go along with the reveal, the company also shared a new gameplay trailer going over how this digital board game with RPG elements works.

The trailer begins with an introduction to the game’s premise. Each player is a character from an RPG staple class. Your goal will be to collect weapons and equipment, fighting enemies on spaces as you go around the kingdom. If you manage liberate the kingdom and save the day, you can marry the princess. However, every player is out to achieve the same quest, which means you can end up fighting each other or inflicting penalties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmNOx-hoAYA&ab_channel=IdeaFactoryInternational
While the original game featured only multiplayer, the Switch version will support online matches.

The Dokapon Kingdom: Connect North American and European Nintendo Switch release date is May 9, 2023. The game will be available both digitally and physically. Pre-orders are open. It will appear on the system in Japan on April 13, 2023. The original Dokapon Kingdom appeared on the PS2 and Wii.

Back when Square Enix announced the FFXIV Fan Festival 2023 ticket sales, it noted there may or may not be a general sales period. At the time, it noted there would first be a lottery for active players to get tickets. Now it confirmed there will be a general sales period on March 15, 2023, with "several thousand tickets" available. People will be able to order tickets from Showclix once sales open.

As mentioned before, the initial run involved people who play FFXIV registering for a chance to get to buy FFXIV Fan Festival 2023 tickets. Those who were picked could enter a code starting on March 6, 2023 to get up to two per code. The initial announcement made it sound like there was a chance no tickets would remain for a more general admission.

Two new Tekken 8 character trailers appeared nearly one after the other, reintroducing Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law. Both are characters who debuted in the 1994 fighting game. The latest videos show how they’ve evolved now that they’ll be back for the newest round.

First, here’s the Marshall Law Tekken 8 trailer. It begins with a look at his character art. Then, we see his introduction. After that, we get to watch him beat up Paul Phoenix with punches, kicks, and nunchucks. He’s been a series staple and appeared in almost every entry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj40qDgHjK8&ab_channel=PlayStation

As mentioned before, this is the second Tekken 8 character trailer to appear in the last week. Bandai Namco also confirmed Paul Phoenix will show up last week. He fights with his fists, as usual, and shows up to the match on his motorcycle. He’s continually appeared in multiple entries as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCOWceM2nZo&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

Bandai Namco gave an update on the exact dates of the postponed Blue Protocol network test. The network test for the game will be available to players in Japan from March 31, 2023 to April 2, 2023. The test was previously postponed due to difficulties in locating and fixing a bug interfering with the build being used. In addition, the end date for the friend invitation program is March 22, 2023 at 11am JST. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

https://twitter.com/BLUEPROTOCOL_JP/status/1635506796277428226

Blue Protocol is the new online multiplayer action RPG title by Bandai Namco Online and Bandai Namco Studios, and its network test was originally scheduled for January 14, 2023 in Japan. However, a bug related to the build used forced Bandai Namco to postpone it.

The client will be available to download prior to the start of the network test. Furthermore, Bandai Namco will detail the playable content available in the network test at a later date on the official website.

Bandai Namco officially released a Blue Protocol benchmark program, which includes the character creator for the game. Data from the character creator can be exported and used in the network test and final release of the game.

As preparations begin for the Honkai Star Rail launch, HoYoVerse has been touching base with the community. Among those efforts is a new survey. The Community Experience Survey is now live to gauge people’s expectations and learn more about the title’s prospective audience.

Here’s the link to the survey:

Honkai: Star Rail Community Experience Survey

Hello, Trailblazers!
Your comments are of great value to the Express Crew. Please fill out the survey to the best of your abilities~

Fill Out Survey: https://t.co/lcov8cMQVc#HonkaiStarRail pic.twitter.com/lkd6QzAyT4

— Honkai: Star Rail (@honkaistarrail) March 14, 2023

Sunrise will now include voice lines in the 28 pictures of Suletta and Miorine of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury as they go on dates around Japan. The first one that has a conversation between the two is for Matsushima, Miyagi. This is the third picture from the “Witch From Mercury Japan Travel Tour.”

You can watch the Matsushima video of Suletta and Miorine from the official Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury account. The picture shows Suletta excitedly peering over the bridge to look at the fish. Due to her spending her entire life in space, Suletta has very little experience with common Earth animals; she expressed shock when she saw goats for the first time on the show. Meanwhile, Miorine is holding her back to prevent her from falling into the water.

https://twitter.com/G_Witch_M/status/1635566450462138368

“Witch From Mercury Japan Travel Tour” shows Suletta and Miorine in 28 different cities around Japan. These are cities that have MBS and TBS stations in them. On the first day, the two of them posed in front of the Statue of Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo. On the second day, the two of them went to visit Bishamon-numa, which is one of the Goshikinuma in Fukushima.

Genshin Impact White Day Character Art Features Ayato, Itto, and Xiao

In Japan, White Day is celebrated on March 14th. On this day, people who received gifts on Valentine’s Day offer “return gifts.” HoYoVerse typically shares Genshin Impact character art of its male characters on that day, and for 2023 the featured characters are Ayato, Itto, and Xiao.

The Ayato Genshin Impact White Day art is the “official” HoYoVerse one. It features an in-character “monologue” with Ayato offering the reader candy. He noted that he had a retainer pick up some desserts Yae Publishing House was giving away and asks if the “reader” would like to share them.

I was discussing popular snacks with the owner of a food stall with whom I have grown familiar, and he recommended this particular dessert to me.#HoYoverse #GenshinImpact #KamisatoAyato pic.twitter.com/s54HFaySIZ

— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) March 14, 2023

The second Genshin Impact image featured Itto with a “bouquet” of lollipops. It was drawn by an artist named Miyamo.

The official Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Paldea Prologue online tournament ended and Flutter Mane was the Pokemon that players used the most in a competitive setting. This information comes from the PokeTimes Twitter account. With the recent update to Pokemon Home, you can also check out what moves and teams that competitive players' Flutter Manes use. [Thanks, PokeTimes!]

According to the Pokemon Home screenshot, the top ten Pokemon that competitive players use Flutter Mane with are:

1. Koraidon
2. Iron Treads
3. Iron Hands
4. Miraidon
5. Chi-Yu
6. Dragonite
7. Chien-Pao
8. Great Tusk
9. Talonflame
10. Amoonguss

It is unclear just from this data how competitors are using the Pokemon together. This data also just shows that players put Flutter Mane in teams that also contain these Pokemon. So it does not necessarily mean that there is synergy between Flutter Mane and, say, Dragonite.

Bandai Namco noted that Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 DLC 16: Hero of Justice Pack 2 would show up back in January 2023 and teased Orange Piccolo. Now, there's even more to see. The Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023 teaser for the next updates is now available. In addition to the paid update, it also shows a peek at the Cell Max Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 raid that will appear for everyone for free.

The teaser first begins with the add-on we already know about. The Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 DLC 15 added Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 costumes and the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero version of Gohan. However, once that's done, it moves onto DLC 16. That's when we get a first look at Orange Piccolo in an actual Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2. That portion of the trailer ends with a "coming soon" release window for the next add-on.

After that, the Cell Max Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 raid shows up. That shows a group of players confronting the free fight. It’s also listed as “coming soon," as it should appear at the same time as DLC 16.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ochnADw9Svo&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentSoutheastAsia

With Bayonetta Origins, PlatinumGames really went for the unexpected. It deviated from typical Bayonetta. There’s an experimental art direction. The studio also went with an unorthodox control scheme. All put together, it could have created a mess. Instead, Bayonetta Origins is an extremely charming, well-paced story chronicling the friendship of Cereza and Cheshire, all while using different gameplay decisions and artistic directions to further show both character development and their relationship.

Cereza is a young Umbra witch in training. Exiled from the community due to the circumstances of her birth, she trains with another, older exiled witch named Morgana. Her hope is that she’ll be strong enough to save her confined mother. However, after a dream about a mysterious boy tells her that heading into the Avalon Forest could grant her the power she needs, she heads into the fairy infested domain from which nobody escapes. It’s there that, in a moment of distress, she summons a lost demon and they inhabit the form of the stuffed cat her mother made for her. Promising to return “Cheshire” to Inferno once she gets the power she needs on the journey, the two set out to follow the White Wolf and find answers.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade received another accolade, this time from a Japanese outdoor advertising trade group. The Tokyo Outdoor Advertising Association (TOAA) has just released the winners of its biennial Tokyo Outdoor Advertising Contest. The winner of the top honor for the 2021-2022 period was the FFVII Remake Intergrade Red XIII 3D billboard that went up in late December 2021.

The FFVII Remake Intergrade 3D billboard was placed on a large display atop a building in Tokyo's Minato Ward. It featured the Final Fantasy VII character Red XIII rendered as if present inside the 3D "box" above the the building. The ad was visible from December 20, 2021 through January 2, 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6OFS3DCmmA