Science Adventure Series Super Robot Wars Like Game Teased By Chiyomaru Shikura

Science Adventure Series Chaos Head Steins Gate Robotics Note Occultic Nine feature

Steins;Gate is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, and multiple plans are moving around for the Science Adventure Series overall. In fact, this week's Famitsu magazine (officially titled Weekly Famitsu Magazine August 20-27 2020 Issue) included an interview with Mages President Chiyomaru Shikura, who touched on multiple subjects linked to the series. In particular, he mentioned he'd like to make a huge crossover game of the Science Adventure Series.

In the interview, Chiyomaru Shikura explained he wants to do a huge crossover game of the Science Adventure Series that'll be "similar to Super Robot Wars or Avengers". However, he stressed out it'll only be happening once Anonymous;Code, the latest game in the series, is done and released. He talked about Anonymous;Code as well in this interview, and we'll cover that soon.

Chiyomaru Shikura mentioned this crossover game would be a new, Original story where all the characters would meet each other for a lot of fanservice. It'd have discussions and interactions between certain characters that fans always wanted to see. He jokingly said among all the games' protagonists so far though, there's no character who gives a strong enough impression to be the main hero of this crossover. He definitely wants to make this game one day to please the fans, and to bring the Science Adventure franchise to a new level.

The Science Adventure games are, so far, of Chaos;Head, Steins;Gate, Robotics;Notes, Chaos;Child, Occultic;Nine, Anonymous;Code. Along with all their related games sequels, and prequels. As seen above, the Science Adventure Series twitter is pretty active and never forgets its characters' birthdays.

Robotics;Notes Double Pack (Science Adventure Series) Western Release Trailer

In the west, the sequel of Robotics;Notes, Robotics;Notes DaSH, which is also closely linked to Chaos;Head and Steins;Gate, will be out on October 13 in the land of Freedom and Justice. And on October 16 in Europe. The game is coming on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It'll be bundled with an improved version of the first game, Robotics;Notes Elite.

We'll cover more news from the interview shortly.

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Marvel's Avengers: Spider-Man Will Be the Only Platform Exclusive Character

Marvel's Avengers, Square-Enix

In a report from IGN, Marvel's Avengers developer Crystal Dynamics says Spider-Man will be the only platform exclusive character for the game.

"That is the only character that we are doing that way," said Scott Amos, Crystal Dynamics studio head. He also confirms the deal was made because of the relationship PlayStation and Marvel have. Additionally, he says there are no announcements to be made about if cross-platform play will happen and how that'd work with a platform exclusive character. Spider-Man will be added to the game sometime in 2021.

"I would say that Marvel's Avengers has a lot of heroes, and with the scope and the breadth of this game and this universe, players are going to have their hands full with a lot to play with," said Amos. "And as we have just announced with Hawkeye, there are more heroes to come. So this is an opportunity to celebrate [Spider-Man's addition] uniquely for those players [on PlayStation] because of that relationship, but I think there's so much of a world for people to explore, I wouldn't look as that as a reason not to embrace it [the opportunity to add Spider-Man on PS4 and PS5]. I would say, look at all this stuff you get to play with."

Earlier this week, Spider-Man was announced as a PlayStation exclusive character, leading to some backlash from Xbox users. Additionally, this version of Spider-Man will be different from Insomniac Games' version. "It's going to be our version of Spider-Man, inspired by our world and integrated into our story," said Shaun Escayg, creative director on Marvel's Avengers.

In addition to news on Spider-Man, Hawkeye will be added after launch. With the beta mode releasing this weekend, DualShockers' own Logan Moore got to check it out.

Marvel's Avengers launches on September 4 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and PC. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions will release once the consoles launch. You can check out our video impressions below of the Avengers beta, featuring DualShockers' Logan Moore and Mario Rivera.

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Latest Update Adds Free New Stage

Super Smash Bros

It's been a relatively busy day for Nintendo news. The company's holiday lineup just got a little substance with the announcement that a port of Pikmin 3 from the Wii U is heading to the Switch in October. Alongside that, they announced that in the latest Super Smash Bros. Ultimate update (version 8.1.0) players would gain access to a new stage, free of charge.

The new stage is titled "Small Battlefield" and is, as the name suggests, a smaller take on the popular Battlefield stage. A tweet from the game's director Masahiro Sakurai stated that the regular Battlefield stage is too wide to play one-on-one and therefore "it is unsatisfactory" before confirming that "the stage will be adjusted to two scaffolds." This is down from the usual three platforms on the regular Battlefield and six on Big Battlefield.

The full patch notes for version 8.1.0, which is already live, can be seen below:

 Stage
・ The Small Battlefield stage has been added. You can also set Small Battlefield as a Preferred Rule in Online battles.
・ You can now select any stage-specific music for the Battlefield, Small Battlefield, Big Battlefield, and Final Destination stages.

Online
・ The online user experience has been adjusted.
・ The way matching is determined when using Preferred Rules has been adjusted.
・ Following a look at the current number of players eligible for Elite Smash, the threshold for entry has been recalculated to allow more players. Additionally, the way initial values for Global Smash Power are calculated has also been adjusted.

General
・ Several issues have been fixed to improve gameplay experience.

The two biggest points for me, aside from the new stage, are the fact that players can now "select any stage-specific music for the Battlefield, Small Battlefield, Big Battlefield, and Final Destination stages."  and that "The online user experience has been adjusted."

While there are no further details on the point about online experience, other than the fact it's "been adjusted", I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that I hope some of the stability and latency issues have been improved. The notes do add that "Further investigations and adjustments to Online mode are expected", which is definitely a good sign.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on the Nintendo Switch alongside the Fighters Pass and Fighters Pass Vol. 2.

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Street Fighter V Season 5 Adds Dan, Rose, Oro, and Tons More

Street Fighter V, Capcom, PS4, PC

Today, Capcom provided fans with an in-depth look at the new content coming to Street Fighter V. In what the team called the Summer Update, we were treated to reveals for four of the five characters coming in Season 5. As expected, it's a star-studded cast full of fun fighters. Check out the full update right under this or skip below and read the highlights.

Street Fighter V Season 5 kicks off with off the release of Dan. As the world's biggest (and maybe only) fan of Hibiki, this is incredibly exciting news for me personally. Dan might be a joke and an idiot, but he's also objectively the best.

Dan and a host of new content hit SFV in winter 2020. This includes a stage, some costumes, and a new battle mechanic. In spring 2021, Rose fans will be happy to see her join the crew, with Oro and Akira joining in summer 2021. Those updates will also drop new stages and costumes, though the Dan drop looks to be the biggest one of the bunch.

Currently, the team is still keeping the fifth and final fighter under wraps. We know they're coming during winter 2021, but have no idea who it will end up being. Make sure to stay tuned for then that info becomes available.

If you haven't picked up Street Fighter V yet and want to, now is a great time to do so. You can pick up a full trial of the game on PC and PS4. It comes complete with all 40 previously released fighters. You'll have to do so quickly though, as it expires in five days. That said, the Championship Edition is currently on sale for 25% off on both platforms. There's never been a better time to hop in and get to fighting.

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Someone Made a Nearly Perfect, Live-Action Recreation of Yakuza

While our long wait for the Western release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon continues, fans of the series continue to provide exceptional content to tide us over. Today, two fans who go by KaroruGans0 and hayaken_kmzw on Twitter posted a live-action recreation of the Kamurocho streets. It's not completely flawless and also takes some inspiration from the Grand Theft Auto series. That said, it's pretty awesome how well they've done with this. Check it out below.

From the start, you can tell these people have played some Yakuza. The lead actor perfectly mimicks Kiryu's walking and idle animations. The swagger in that walk is spot on. Even his weird running style features, which only looks odder in real life. As the short continues, it just gets better.

I mean, the part where he follows that guy through the streets is incredible. The lead runs into walls, hides behind things that would never cover his body, and even takes some inspiration from a certain superspy. This team completely gets what makes Yakuza games great and has put all that knowledge into an excellent video. I'll stop pointing out references, so you can have some fun looking for them yourself.

As good as this is, it only makes me want that Yakuza: Like a Dragon release date more. There are, of course, rumors that the date is November 13, but until those are confirmed by SEGA, I'll continue waiting. If you haven't checked out a Yakuza game yet and are interested in hopping into the long-running series, we have some suggestions. I would highly encourage you to give the series a look.

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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Interview — Square Explains Why it Returned to the Spin-Off

Originally released all the way back in 2003 on the Nintendo GameCube, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has a soft spot in the hearts of many longtime FF fans. Over the year, the game has gone on to become one of the most popular spin-offs in the long-running franchise. So much so, in fact, that Square Enix decided a couple of years back to bring back the title for a whole new generation.

Now, after a handful of different delays over the past few months, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition is finally set to make its way to new platforms later on in August. Ahead of its launch, we were able to briefly speak with Square Enix's Ryoma Arakai, the director of the game, about this re-release and what it has in store for both new and old players.

DualShockers: What made Square decide to return to Crystal Chronicles and remaster it?

Ryoma Araki: At SQUARE ENIX, creating new titles is a given, but we also actively remaster or remake past titles to acquaint as many new players as we can with these games. This title was one that I enjoyed as a player myself, so I launched this project with the hope of getting many people acquainted with the game.

The reason why I decided to create this game in the form of a remastered version is since the original was so well made, instead of changing up the feel of the game completely as a remake, I wanted people to experience the great aspects of the game from back in the day. Therefore, I decided we should release the game as a remastered version.

DS: Are there any plans for future content? Perhaps new dungeons or additional classes/races?

RA: This is strictly a remastered version, so we have no plans of providing additional content as, for example, one would do for a live operation title.

DS: How has the team transitioned to working on the game's development in the midst of a pandemic? Have there been any additional struggles?

RA: The pandemic hit right when we were at the height of our development, so it was very difficult to deal with. In response, we had to adjust our working environment so that people could work from home to continue development.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

DS: What were the main challenges in adapting the experience of playing the original game on GameCube to modern platforms? (i.e. playing with the GBA link cables, etc.)

RA: In the original, people were able to play the game while looking at such things as map information on their Game Boy Advance, but as there's only one screen for the Remaster, we reorganized and consolidated the information so it would work with this new setup. In order to accomplish this, we ended up needing to recreate most of the UI.

DS: Will there be any official online community events in the future?

RA: We currently don't have any plans, but I would love to do an event. Whether it'd be official or unofficial, it would be great to gather loads of people for an exciting time with this game as the centerpiece!

DS: What's one specific thing about this remaster that you would like to make new or returning players aware of?

RA: The co-op multiplayer mode is purely so much fun. As it can be enjoyed with cross-platform play, and since there is a free version, which lowers the barrier to start playing, I hope you ask your friends to join you and enjoy the game together!

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered will finally be making its return later this month when it releases on August 27 for PS4, Switch, iOS, and Android. Keep an eye out closer to launch as we should hopefully have a review to share with you on this new edition of the game at that time.

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Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape is Another Massive Success for CMON

Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape, board game, CMON

In the board game world, there really isn't a bigger publisher than CMON. The team consistently hits it out of the park, both with their original IP and licensed games like Marvel United. When their games launch on Kickstarter, it's nearly guaranteed that they'll easily clear $1 million. Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape, their latest project, is no different. The game is already well over its goal and is tracking to be yet another massive hit.

The original Massive Darkness raised over $3.5 million in 2017.  It's too early to tell if the follow-up will reach those heights, but it has a chance. Massive Darkness is a 1-6 player dungeon crawler that's heavily inspired by classic RPGs. Hellscape does have a new, revamped ruleset; however, if you've played the original, you'll likely feel at home here.

As always, the component quality for this CMON production is through the roof. The publisher made its bones producing stunning miniatures and that's still the case here. However, this goes beyond the minis. The cards boast gorgeous, colorful art. The tokens are vibrant. Heck, the team is even providing plastic hero dashboards to make organizing your character much easier.

If you're completely sold on Massive Darkness 2, the team is also selling an extra expansion that takes your campaign to Heavenfall. This includes several massive miniatures and tons of new components. Of course, it will run you $45 on top of the $100 purchase price for the base game. It's not a cheap price of entry, but CMON is a proven publisher with a stable of games worth the purchase price.

As of this writing, Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape has 20 days left to go on Kickstarter. That gives you plenty of time to hop in and see if the game is for you.

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Xbox Announces Cloud Gaming Partnership with Samsung

Microsoft and Xbox have been pushing hard to bring in new players to their ecosystem recently. From bringing Game Pass to the cloud with xCloud in September to supporting their competitors' controllers on xCloud, it would be an understatement to say that Microsoft's gaming division is making moves. And now, in their latest push, Microsoft has announced that they're partnering up with Samsung to bring xCloud to their phones and tablets.

Revealed in a Windows Blog Post from Microsoft Corporate VP, Yusuf Mehdi, the partnership announcement follows Microsoft's reveal that they would be bringing xCloud to Android devices. Considering Samsung is one of the world's leaders in smartphone hardware and tech, especially in the Android space, this partnership was all but inevitable. The Cloud announcement was part of a larger suite of announcements for the Windows and Galaxy ecosystems, including various systems that allow direct wireless connection between Galaxy and Windows 10 devices.

According to the blog post, mobile players will have access to over 100 Xbox games on their Samsung devices via xCloud starting on September 15. Samsung released a brief teaser on Twitter to commemorate their partnership with Microsoft and Xbox that touts all of the features that players have access to, showing a litany of games that Samsung users might discover on xCloud.

While Microsoft has confirmed that its streaming service would make an appearance on Android devices, it will be interesting to see how xCloud works with other Android devices from Microsoft's competitors in the streaming space, namely Google. While Stadia isn't terribly popular among the gaming audience, from its very first mention, Google has pushed and maintained that their Pixel line of smartphones would support Stadia, so it will be interesting to see whether or not the two behemoth tech companies figure out the boundaries as streaming becomes more competitive.

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Madden 21 Introduces The Yard – A Backyard Football-Inspired Mode

Madden 21, EA, PS5, Xbox Series X

With Madden NFL 21 launching its mobile version today, fans are getting their first look at the game's new mode The Yard. It takes players back to the days of playing football in the neighborhood and is coming to all platforms. Of course, with the console and PC release still a few weeks away, Madden players itching to try the mode out will have to give the mobile version a go. Fortunately, most progress does carry over, so you'll have an early leg up on the competition. Give the mobile trailer a look.

The Yard is all about small-sided, fast-paced gameplay. You'll create your own avatar and then kit them out with all kinds of gear. Players who loved NFL Street back in the day will be instantly familiar with some of the trick play-centric gameplay. And, while the mobile version shares a lot with the full release, it's single-player only. Once the game launches on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, you can take on opponents online, but the mobile version stays focused on its single-player narrative.

All of this sounds great, especially if, like me, you miss the days when the Street games ruled the action sports arena. However, after playing Volta in FIFA 20, I'm a bit pessimistic. You can slap a fresh coat of paint on sim gameplay, but it's never going to feel like an arcade game. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be bad, it just won't actually be what arcade fans like myself want.

That being said, feel free to try it out for yourself. Madden NFL 21 Mobile is available now on Android and iOS. It's free-to-play, so giving it a whirl will only cost you time and data. Proper Madden NFL 21 drops on August 28 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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PS5 Controller's Black Edition Image May Have Leaked Online

PS5 Black Edition

Based on what we know so far, Sony's next-gen console will be shipping in white, but a recent leak from a black DualSense controller probably teases the black edition of PS5.

PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 all were launched in black as their default color and never received a white edition during their lifecycle, except for some unique bundles. That said, things have been totally changed for PlayStation 5 as it was announced in a brand new design unlike all the previous consoles from Sony to have a mixture of black and white colors.

While the default design of the PS5 looks pretty cool, there are a lot of fans who prefer to stay in black and get an all-black edition of the new console when it launches later this year. While no official confirmation has arrived yet, a new leaked image from a black DualSense controller fires up the rumors around the existence of PS5's black edition.

As shown in the image, the new DualSense is a full-black edition of the controller with white buttons. Personally, I think the combination of white buttons and a black body doesn't look cool enough, maybe if the buttons were black or grey it would seem much better. If this is going to be the final design for PS5 Black Edition, I'd rather get the white color.

DualSense is the start of a new generation for PlayStation controllers as it will feature some new cool capabilities to deliver a more realistic experience for players. DualSense is a bit bigger than the DualShock 4 with better ergonomics to make it feel much better when you hold it in your hands.

PlayStation 5 will be available in Holiday 2020. Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the only triple-A first-party launch title known for the console so far, but more games might be announced from Sony's internal developers at later events.

Editor's Note: Despite how this has taken off across Twitter, the story is about the image in the Tweet regarding the potentially leaked black DualSense controller — not the fan-made concept Feature image. Currently, there is no announcement about a Black Edition PS5.

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