Kotaku Friday, December 27, 2024 4:55 PM  On December 26, Microsoft confirmed that its Game Pass cloud streaming platform wasn't working as expected. Over 24 hours later, many players are still complaining about long waits and disconnects. This outage comes at a time when Microsoft has been pushing a new marketing slogan that claims everything connected to… |
Kotaku Friday, December 27, 2024 3:45 PM  There are only two episodes left in Marvel's animated anthology series What If...?, and one of the multiverse's most disgruntled employees is finally getting reprimanded by upper management. In the third-to-last episode of the series, Uatu, better known as The Watcher, was visited by three other Watchers—The Eminence,… |
Kotaku Friday, December 27, 2024 3:10 PM  Finding out how to get Units in Marvel Rivals is a surprisingly difficult task. The game doesn't outright tell you how to earn them anywhere. And, when you do earn them, it's hard to tell where they're coming from. However, this galactic currency will be very important in-game. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 9:00 PM
Akihiro Hino, in an interview with 4Gamer, stated that 2025 will be a year of progress for Level-5. This means a worldwide release of Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
In his comment, Hino states that all three titles are chock-full of what makes Level-5 games "Level-5," while still providing new experiences for the player. He hopes to create works that'll make people say, "I was waiting for something like this." As well, Hino mentions the Inazuma Eleven movie that came out in Japan on December 27, 2024. Part of the movie is a compilation of the Football Frontier matches (season 1), while the other one is The Prologue to New Heroes which focuses on new protagonists Unmei and Haru.
While Level-5 announced Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam rather recently, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road has been in development since 2016. Back then, it was supposed to be Inazuma Eleven Ares, and the Ares no Tenbin show started airing in 2018 to tie into it. After several delays and name changes, a beta version finally came out in 2024.
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road will come out in 2025 for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time will come out in April 2025 for the Nintendo Switch. Finally, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam will come out for the Switch in 2025.
The post Akihito Hino Said Level-5 Will Release New Games in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 8:00 PM
Several key staff members from Bandai Namco shared their aspirations for 2025 with 4Gamer. Some of them revealed that they are preparing for the respective 30th anniversaries of the Tales Of and Ace Combat series in the same year. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
Most of the company's staff members who sent their messages, including Tekken 8's Katsuhiro Harada and the Gundam Breaker 4 producer Masanori Tanaka, only stated their intentions to continue updating their respective games. Meanwhile, Yosuke Futami is preparing to release the PvPvE mech shooting game Synduality: Echo of Ada physically on January 16, 2025, and digitally on January 23, 2025.
However, the key staff behind Tales Of and Ace Combat left the most notable comments. Yusuke Tomizawa made the following comment as the Tales Of series producer:
Meanwhile, the Ace Combat series producer Kazutoki Kono chimed in about the franchise's next new game, which has been under development since as early as 2021:
Both the Ace Combat and Tales Of series debuted in 1995. Namco released the first Ace Combat for PlayStation in Japan on June 30, 1995, and in North America as Air Combat on September 9, 1995. It later released the RPG title Tales of Phantasia for Super Famicom (SNES) in Japan on December 15, 1995.
The latest mainline entries for both franchises are Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown in 2019 and Tales of Arise in 2021. Both titles are readily available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Tales of Arise also has native PS5 and Xbox Series X releases, while Ace Combat 7 is playable on the newer consoles via backward compatibility. Bandai Namco has also released a Nintendo Switch port of Ace Combat 7 in 2024, but it has still yet to announce a Tales of Arise port to a Nintendo console as of the end of 2024.
Tales of Graces f Remastered will appear as a part of Bandai Namco's project to remaster prior Tales Of entries for the series' 30th anniversary in 2025. It will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch, and PC on January 17, 2025.
The post Bandai Namco Prepares Tales Of and Ace Combat 2025 Birthdays appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 7:00 PM
A new post on the official FFXIV official blog detailed the upcoming 2025 Heavensturn event, including showing off a new Great White Tsuchinoko minion. The event is set to begin on December 31, 2024, and it will remain available until January 16, 2025.
As detailed in the announcement, the event quest can be started in Limsa Lominsa by speaking to the Hebi Bugyo on the Upper Decks. The new Heavensturn event minion for 2025 is called the Great White Tsuchinoko, and it resembles the Great Serpent of Ronka that appeared back in the FFXIV Shadowbringers expansion. Players will also be able to earn the Springtide Fan Stand and the Oriental New Year's Meal furnishings, while Omikuji fortunes are again available for 100 gil.
Here is how the Great White Tsuchinoko minion, Springtide Fan Stand and the Oriental New Year's Meal look in FFXIV.
The post also reminds players that several Christmas-themed items like the Starlight Stalls Chocobo Barding will remain available in-game. We can participate in the Starlight Celebration until December 31, 2024.
Earlier in December 2024, Samsung Japan announced a new advertising campaign for its Samsung 990 Pro SSD. It features artwork of the 22 jobs available in FFXIV. The game's online store also recently added a new purchaseable outfit based on G'raha Tia.
Final Fantasy XIV and its most recent expansion, Dawntrail, are immediately available on the PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The 2025 Heavensturn celebration is set to begin in-game in FFXIV on December 31, 2024, and that will run until January 16, 2025.
The post Tsuchinoko Minion Appears During FFXIV Heavensturn 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 6:30 PM
As part of the latest 4Gamer New Year's interview discussing 2025 plans with various developers, Persona 5 Tactica Director Naoya Maeda and SMT V and SMT V Vengeance Producer Shinjiro Takata teased new unannounced Atlus games. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
When asked what are their plans for the next year 2025, Maeda said that he's sorry for not being able to give any details about the game he's currently working on, but that he's confident that players will enjoy it. Meanwhile, Takata said he hopes to be able to announce a new title as soon as possible.
The developers gave no more details or comments about the unannounced Atlus games. Takata's body of work within Atlus has mainly focused on the Shin Megami Tensei series, while Maeda is part of P-Studio and has mostly worked on games belonging to the Persona series. With this in mind, the words of both Atlus veterans might be a hint that they are working on separate unannounced SMT and Persona games during 2025.
In addition to the aforementioned titles, Maeda worked as lead designer in Persona 5 and was a designer on the Persona Q series, with Takata acting as the Producer of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE and working as Director and Producer of the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor sub-series.
In the December 2023 version of the 4Gamer interview, Soul Hackers 2 and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Director Eiji Ishida teased another unannounced Atlus game. As of writing this, we still don't know what this game is, or if it is related to the titles that Maeda and Takata are working on.
The post Atlus May Be Teasing SMT and Persona Games in 2025 New Year's Message appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 6:00 PM
Oshi no Ko is one of the best anime and manga series in recent memory, but what about the live action series? Well, I watched the entire series from start to finish to let everyone know. The Oshi no Ko live action series isn't actually bad at all; just decent. However, this series is very much made, specifically, for existing manga and anime fans.
The main issue behind this Japanese TV series is the format of it. It has eight episodes in total in its first and only season, adapting a large portion of the manga in a handful of episodes. Though these eight episodes are more than double the length of a normal anime episode, it does so much in so little time.
Without spoiling too much, the only existing season of this series adapts both seasons of the anime within eight episodes and even goes beyond that point in the manga. There are entire episodes that adapt a single arc, while others are done in a couple of episodes. This is such a swift pace that anyone new to the series will likely be left behind pretty easily.
The series just doesn't take enough time for some plot points to resonate. Some of my favorite scenes only last for a minute at best. For instance, there is the fight between Akane and Arima during the Tokyo Blade production. This part almost needs 10-20 minutes to really dive into their argument and the backstories between them. However, it is done in a few seconds.
This unbelievably fast pace does lead to some positives. For one, it is a great way to recap the series for existing fans. In addition, some of the twists and turns have surprising emotional impact since they come out of nowhere at times. But if you are new, this is not the place to start.
Another concerning aspect of the Oshi no Ko live action series is what it changes. Some of this is intentional and interesting, but others are downright problematic. I won't spoil the premise for newcomers, but it revolves around a pregnant teen idol. The manga and anime start with this twist and shows the idol Ai giving birth and all that.
However, this live action adaptation skips straight to Ai's twin children as toddlers. Worse still, it doesn't properly address Ai's doctor and that situation until the end. This is even though this is the very beginning of the series. It is an intriguing change I like. But if you aren't familiar with the storyline, it is confusing and unnecessary.
Then there are the changes to the Tokyo Blade story arc. In the original series, this is a stage play. This live action series was an excellent chance to make a real-life stage play episode. However, that isn't the case. Not only is there not enough footage of Tokyo Blade itself, but it is a TV series rather than a stage play now. This is by far the most controversial change for me, which made this already somewhat boring arc even worse.
There is also a key missing character, which I dare not spoil here. But the return to Miyazaki Prefecture doesn't see the introduction of a certain person there. Overall, the Oshi no Ko live action series will be quite confusing for newcomers to the franchise. It is a shame because the production value and most of the actors are excellent; just look at Ai's opening performance scene and you'll see. Nagisa Saito as Ruby is particularly impressive and she only gets better as the series goes on.
Unfortunately, though, the Oshi no Ko live action series is made in a way where it only works for existing fans. Whether you miss the manga or are waiting for the anime to come back, this is a great way to recap the series. It moves so fast that it doesn't waste your time and it adapts the series well to live action. However, if you are new, it is best to read the manga or watch the two seasons of the anime first before checking this out.
The Oshi no Ko live action series is available on Prime Video.
The post Oshi no Ko Live Action Series Only Works for Existing Fans appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 5:00 PM
Numerous key staff members from Koei Tecmo Games have teased reveals of new games in 2025. They made the teasers in the annual end-of-year messages compiled by 4Gamer. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
The company already has several titles prepared for release in early 2025, such as Dynasty Warriors Origins, Atelier Yumia, and Venus Vacation Prism - Dead or Alive Xtreme. However, staff members from most of the company's brand studios teased that there will be more than just those for the remainder of 2025.
The one who headlines the group is Yosuke Hayashi, who has become the leader of the newly established AAA Studio:
Tomohiko Sho, the head of Omega Force and the producer of Dynasty Warriors Origins, also teased more titles coming from the studio:
The Team Ninja leader Fumihiko Yasuda also made a teaser that correlates with the studio's 30th anniversary, since it was founded at Tecmo in 1995:
While Gust is already known for its developments of Atelier Yumia and the Atelier Resleriana console entry, the studio head Junzo Hosoi also teased even more titles under production:
Mei Erikawa, who leads the otome game-focused brand Ruby Party, also has new game teasers while preparing the major anniversary event for one of the owned series:
Last but not least, the Kou Shibusawa brand team—best known for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga's Ambition series—also has upcoming title teasers via Yukinori Ito:
The first game Koei Tecmo will release in 2025 is Omega Force's Dynasty Warriors Origins, which is set to appear on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide on January 17, 2025.
The post Koei Tecmo Teases Many New Game Reveals in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 4:30 PM
HoYoVerse announced that the 3.0 Honkai: Star Rail Special Program livestream will air on New Year's Day: January 1, 2025. Expect to get a good look at Amphoreus, the next location the Astral Express is set to visit, as well as upcoming events and characters.
The program is set to begin at 7:30 pm UTC+8, which translates to 3:30 am PST or 6:30 am EST. As well as the expected rundown of events and rewards for 3.0, the Honkai: Star Rail livestream will also display character introductions for upcoming five-star characters The Herta and Aglaea. As a reminder, Aglaea is set to be the first Remembrance character in the game, while The Herta is another five-star incarnation of a previous four-star character, much like the recently released Fugue.
You can find the stream itself over on either Youtube or Twitch, or check out the announcement tweet below:
Earlier in December 2024, HoYoVerse released a new trailer showing off Fugue, the new five-star incarnation of the character Tingyun. Bandai Spirits also showed more details of its upcoming SH Figuarts figure of SAM, which is expected to release in September 2025.
Honkai: Star Rail is immediately available for PC, PS5, and mobile devices, while the Special Program livesteam for 3.0 is set to go live on January 1, 2025.
The post 3.0 Honkai: Star Rail Livestream Airs on New Year's Day appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 27, 2024 4:00 PM
Sega revealed that it has released new crossover goods featuring Hololive English Vtubers and Sonic the Hedgehog characters in South Korea and Taiwan. People living there can find the merchandise in select Animate Cafe outlets.
This collaboration features the following five pairings between Hololive English Vtubers and Sonic series characters:
On a side note, the Sonic characters are specifically modeled after their appearances in the TikTok short animation series Sonic & Friends. This also marks the first time Animate sells merchandise based on this title in its Asian cafe outlets outside Japan.
Prices for the merchandise range from 7,500 won (~$5.10) for a pin badge to 25,500 won (~$17.30) for a large acrylic stand of each Vtuber in normal proportions holding the respective Sonic character plush. In addition, the cafe is selling a set of crossover cakes at 12,000 won (~$8.15) and two types of drinks themed after Kronii-Tails and Shiori-Shadow priced at 7,000 won (~$4.75) each.
In the same Japanese press release, Sega added that it has been collaborating with Hololive Vtubers to promote its games on their streams. Ninomae Ina'nis, who went on a hiatus in October 2024, has since returned and published a gameplay stream of Sonic X Shadow Generations in December 2024.
The crossover merchandise between Hololive English and Sonic & Friends is available at Animate Cafe outlets in South Korea's Busan and Hongdae, Seoul, as well as Ximen in Taipei City, Taiwan, until Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
The post Hololive EN Sonic Crossover Merchandise Appears in Korea, Taiwan appeared first on Siliconera. |
