May 02, 12:00


Kotaku Monday, May 2, 2022 11:40 AM
    

It's like we're back in the 2000s. Cropped cardigans are making a comeback, Biden is still in the White House, and Nintendo dropped a Wii Sports sequel in the form of Switch Sports. The nostalgia is so uncanny that players of Nintendo's quirky sports simulator are once again flinging controllers from their hands…

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Kotaku Monday, May 2, 2022 11:10 AM
    

It's been a long six years for Deus Ex fans, who've understandably been concerned that the long-dormant cyberpunk series would remain untouched. But today, in the cold, harsh light of an industry-shaking acquisition, we're feeling…is it hope? This is what hope feels like, right?

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PCGamesN Monday, May 2, 2022 11:00 AM
     Apex Legends Season 13 drops a giant crab on Storm Point

When you drop into Storm Point for the first time in Apex Legends Season 13, you'll notice a few changes straight away. From above, the most obvious will be the massive dead sea monster lying on the beach. While that's an important new point of interest on Storm Point, there are other changes too - including some dangerous old armouries that have appeared around the battle royale game's tropical island.

EA has revealed that the dead sea monster you'll find on the beach started with a simple idea. "We kind of asked the question, what would it be like if we could fight inside and around the stranded sea monster?" explains Jeff Shaw, lead level designer at Apex Legends developer Respawn. "We thought that fit so well thematically for what Storm Point is as a map, which is of course this wild tropical paradise inhabited by monsters."

In the Apex Legends storyline, this sea monster appeared near Storm Point, and the Legends had to band together to take it down. The seismic activity caused by this battle led to the reactivation of several forgotten IMC armouries, which will appear around Storm Point at the beginning of season 13.


Twinfinite Monday, May 2, 2022 11:07 AM
     Respawn has just announced that Apex Legends Mobile will be launching worldwide this month. Fans will be able to play the game on iOS or Android devices sooner than expected, as the call for pre-registration wasn't too long ago. This version of the game was built from the ground up with mobile devices in mind, […]

Twinfinite Monday, May 2, 2022 11:06 AM
     The excitement for the next season has been building as the launch date approaches, and Respawn has just dropped the gameplay trailer for Apex Legends Season 13: Saviors. The video gives us a good look at Newcastle in action without going in-depth on details for abilities, while also showing the updates that are coming to […]

Twinfinite Monday, May 2, 2022 4:30 AM
     Eidos Montreal studio head David Anfossi outlined the current development slate of the studio following the acquisition by Embracer.

Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 11:30 AM
    

May 2022 FFVII Remake Calendar Features Red XIII

Red XIII might not show up until the final chapters of FFVII Remake, but people didn't have to wait that long for him to show up in the 2022 calendar images. Square Enix released the latest May 2022 pictures for its ongoing calendar series. Red XIII gets the honor of being the focus character for the month.

The art for the May 2022 FFVII Remake calendar features Red XIII in the Shinra building. This comes up after he joins the group in Chapter 17 of the game. Here's the desktop version of the calendar image.
May 2022 FFVII Remake Calendar Features Red XIII

Here's the mobile version of the picture, which is designed specifically for phones.
May 2022 FFVII Remake Calendar Features Red XIII

This means all of the main characters in FFVII Remake appeared on official Square Enix 2022 calendar images. Things kicked off in January 2022 with Cloud. February 2022 featured Barret as its star. Tifa showed up on the March 2022 PC and mobile calendar. In April 2022, people got to see Aerith all month.

Since Red XIII showed up as the May 2022 calendar character, this means subsequent images could move on to antagonists or FFVII Remake Intermission characters. This could mean Yuffie will be the June 2022 character. That could pave the way for Sonon to show up in July. We might also start seeing antagonists like Sephiroth, Reno, Rude, Tseng, and Rufus.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The post May 2022 FFVII Remake Calendar Features Red XIII appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Naruto x Jordan

Naruto fan and professional basketball player Zion Williamson is collaborating with Nike's Jordan Brand to produce a line of shoes and apparel based on Naruto characters. Jordan Brand revealed the look of the Naruto x Jordan Zion Collection on April 26, 2022. The collection itself debuts on Nike's website and select retailers on May 11, 2022. [Thanks, Modern Notoriety!]

The star items of the Naruto x Jordan Zion Collection are the Zion 1 shoes. The shoes are available in three colorways, with a fourth promotional shoe model available in one colorway. Each pair of shoes with a scheduled release is priced at USD $130.

The "Kyuubi" colorway is inspired by the Nine-Tails Sage Mode form of Naruto. Clad in orange and yellow, Naruto uses this mode to harness the ultimate power of the Tailed Beast living within him. It releases on May 11, 2022.

Naruto x Jordan

The "Madara Six Paths" colorway uses an asymmetrical black-and-white pattern and a Rinne Sharingan pattern on the tongues to evoke the design of Madara Uchiha's Six Paths form. It releases on May 18, 2022.

Naruto

There's also a "Nine Tails" colorway for the Naruto x Jordan Zion 1 shoe, inspired by the visual effect used to depict the chakra of Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Beast living inside Naruto. It releases on May 18, 2022.

Finally, a promo shoe based on the Jordan Air 200E sports the "Jonin" design. Named after the top rank achievable by a ninja, the Jonin shoe is based on the visuals of Naruto's experienced ninja characters, and bears Konoha Village's logo on the heel. It doesn't have a release scheduled.

Besides the Naruto x Jordan Zion 1 shoes, the collection also stocks apparel. These include a sweatsuit patterned after Naruto's outfit in Naruto Shippuden, and a long-sleeved t-shirt inspired by his Nine-Tails Chakra form. Other items use combinations of the line's logos and Naruto character art, as well. The apparel items release on May 11, 2022.

[gallery ids="925888,925889" link="file"]

The Naruto x Jordan Zion collection launches on May 11, 2022 and May 18, 2022. The Naruto TV series is available to view on streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix. The manga is published in English by Viz Media. Zion Williamson plays for the Neo Orleans Pelicans NBA team.

The post Naruto x Jordan Zion 1 Shoes and Clothes Drop in May appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 10:30 AM
    

FFXIV Dragonsong's Reprise

Raid group Neverland cleared the FFXIV Dragonsong's Reprise, or Dragonsong Ultimate, raid. Dragonsong's Reprise was made available as part of FFXIV Patch 6.11, which released on April 26, 2022. Since its release, raid groups have been attempting to clear the Ultimate raid. It features an alternate telling of the events of the Dragonsong War, which was a major plot point throughout the Heavensward expansion. [Thanks, umadori0726!]

Editor's Note: The following information will contain spoilers for the FFXIV Heavensward and the Dragonsong's Reprise raid.

The raid, while challenging, tells a different story from the Dragonsong War players may be familiar with. In it, players are tasked with saving Haurchefaut and Ysyale from their untimely demises. Doing so created a different version of events that transpired, which plays into several gimmicks that appear in the raid. For example, saving Haurchefant allowed for King Thordan to make his way to Azys Lla unopposed. This spawned an entirely new event that appeared in the raid. Additionally, it tied into one of the final moments in the raid which saw players facing off against Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr.

While the FFXIV raid has been cleared and screenshots of Neverland's success have been shared, the group did not upload the ending of the Dragonsong Ultimate raid. This includes a potential ending cutscene, and the final arena of the raid.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The post FFXIV Dragonsong's Reprise Ultimate Cleared by Neverland appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Nintendo confirmed that Splatoon 3 will include all basic weapons from the first two games and specifically cited three "shooter" ones.

When playing Splatoon 3, folks' staple weapons from Splatoon and Splatoon 2 will show up. Nintendo confirmed that "basic" weapons will be back. It also shared a picture showing some of those returning pieces of equipment. It followed that up with details about three "shooter" types that will be back in the new game.

First, in the new image seven Splatoon 3 weapons appeared. From left to right, the Sploosh-o-matic, Jet Squelcher, .52 Gal, Splattershot Pro, Aerospray, L-3 Nozzlenose, and N-Zap all showed up. All seven are classified as shooter weapons in game.

It then offered three brief videos in tweets looking at returning weapons and how they will change in Splatoon 3. First is the Splattershot.

Next is the Splattershot Jr.

Finally, the .96 Gal showed up.

In addition to old weapons, Nintendo's gone over new ones heading to Splatoon 3. In particular, three showed up so far. One is the Stringer bow. Another is the Ink Vac. Finally, there's the Triple Airstrike.

Splatoon 3 will appear on the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022.

The post Splatoon 1 and 2 Basic Weapons Will Appear in Splatoon 3 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 7:00 AM
    

AI The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative New Characters

Spike Chunsoft shared new information about AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative, which includes a look at new characters. Additionally, Iris Sagan from AI: The Somnium Files will be a returning character in this title. A total of two new characters were revealed for the game. They are Kizuna, a senior at Sekiba High School, and Komeji, a comedian. Details include a short biography along with who will be voicing the characters in Japanese. [Thanks, Gamer!]

[gallery columns="2" ids="925867,925868" link="file"]

The first of the two new characters in AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative is Komeji (CV: Shinobu Matsumoto) the comedian. He is a former "Quiz King." His stage name is Andes Komeji, and he has made several TV appearances. However, these were mostly unsuccessful. He was hosting a game show when the right half of a body suddenly appeared on the broadcast. This marked the start of the "Half-Body Serial Killings."

[gallery columns="2" ids="925865,925866" link="file"]

The second character is Kizuna (CV: Emiri Suyama), a senior at Sekiba High School. She is the daughter of the ultra-wealthy Chieda family and is part of a dance club where she has won competitions in the past. Iris is part of the same dance club as Kizuna. Through Iris, she has become close friends with Mizuki.

[gallery columns="2" ids="925864,925863" link="file"]

And the last character is the internet idol Iris Sagan (CV: Nao Shiraki). She is a returning character from AI: The Somnium Files. She belongs to the talent agency Lemniscate and has a love of the occult and urban legends. Like Kizuna, she is a senior at Sekiba High School and is a member of the dance club. Both Iris and Mizuki were present at the studio when the right half of a body suddenly appeared during the game show.

AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative will release in North America and Europe on June 24, 2022. It will be available for the Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

The post AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative New Characters Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 6:30 AM
    

Deus Ex Human Revolution Mankind Divded Lifetime Sales

Lifetime sales for Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided have reached over 12 million units worldwide. This information was revealed during a livestream where it was announced that Embracer Group would be acquiring Eidos-Montréal. Sales do not include the releases of Deus Ex or Deus Ex: Invisible War. Instead, total lifetime sales are split between Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut, and its direct sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

The livestream also shared the number of paid mobile downloads for Deus Ex: Go. The title is similar to Lara Croft: Go, where players traverse maps to complete puzzles and take down enemies. However, it featured elements from Deus Ex: Human Revolution, including hacking and Adam Jensen's signature takedowns.

You can watch the livestream below. The segment about Deus Ex begins at 15:47.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TiG0Adh-fM&t=890s&ab_channel=EmbracerGroup[/embed]

Eidos-Montréal released Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which featured protagonist Adam Jensen, in 2011. The title featured a skill tree of sorts, that would allow for players to slot in points to obtain various augmentations. This included bolstering their hacking skills, or upgrading total health and armor. A paid DLC, Deus Ex: The Fall, released in 2013. The sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, released in 2016.

The post Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided Sales Reach 12 Million appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 6:00 AM
    

Tomb Raider Lifetime Sales

Eidos-Montréal announced that lifetime sales for the Tomb Raider series have reached 88 million units worldwide. This information was revealed during a livestream where it was also revealed Embracer Group would acquire Eidos-Montréal from Square Enix. The livestream also announced that total sales for the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, which includes the 2013 release of Tomb Raider, as well as Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, have reached 38 million units worldwide. This means 38 million units out of the total 88 million units in lifetime sales for the Tomb Raider series are attributed to the reboot trilogy.

The livestream details the financial history of the series, such as mobile endeavors like Lara Croft: Relic Run and Lara Croft: Go. Eidos-Montréal revealed that the mobile Tomb Raider titles had reached 53 million paid downloads between them.

You can watch the livestream below. The segment about Tomb Raider begins at 13:38.

[embed]https://youtu.be/1TiG0Adh-fM?t=818[/embed]

In October 2021, Square Enix announced that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris would release for the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2022. However, an exact release date for either title was not shared.

In September 2021, Lara Croft appeared in War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius to celebrate the Tomb Raider series anniversary. Lara Croft was available to obtain for a limited time through the crossover event.

The post Tomb Raider Series Lifetime Sales Reach 88 Million Units appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 5:30 AM
    

Embracer Group

Sweden-based publisher Embracer Group has acquired Eidos from Square Enix. More specifically, it has agreed to buy Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, and Square Enix Montréal. The three studios were known as part of Square Enix's collection of overseas studios and worked on series associated with the former Eidos Interactive brand. By the standards of recent major acquisitions in the game industry, the asking price was low: About USD 300 million [Thanks, Cision].

Formerly known as THQ Nordic, Embracer Group is one of the gaming industry's biggest holding companies. In recent years, it's grown its umbrella even more through several acquisition sprees. In 2021, it picked up Borderlands and Godfall developer/publisher Gearbox Software for USD 1.3 billion. By the end of the same year, it had made no less than thirty-seven acquisitions, with plans to complete up to thirty-five more. Its current portfolio includes many well-known gaming brands like Koch Media, Aspyr, 3D Realms, and Slipgate Ironworks. The Embracer x Eidos deal puts the company in ultimate charge of the Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain series. Crystal Dynamics was also known to be working with Microsoft on a reboot of Xbox shooter Perfect Dark and a new Tomb Raider game. It and Eidos-Montréal also developed the Marvel's Avengers and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy games, respectively. The announcement makes no mention of whether the Marvel-branded titles will continue under Embracer or Square Enix.

For its part, Square Enix stated in its own press release that the transaction would enable it to "launch new businesses" and move forward with planned investments in fields "including blockchain, AI, and the cloud." Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda previously spoke positively about NFTs and blockchain-based gaming in his 2022 New Year's Letter. Though the acquisition of Eidos by Embracer Group represents a spinoff of Square Enix's largest "western" studios, Square Enix will continue publication of overseas-developed franchises like Just Cause, Outriders, and Life is Strange.

The post Embracer Group Buys Eidos from Square Enix for USD 300M appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 2, 2022 5:00 AM
    

Blue Archive Bunny

It's a little late to celebrate Easter, but not too late to commemorate the half-year anniversary of Blue Archive. Nexon is launching the fifth Blue Archive event of 2022, "Bunny Chasers on Board," on May 3, 2022. To celebrate six months in operation for the English version of the game, the event will add new playable characters to the roster, and they'll be dressed in bunny outfits.

Nexon uploaded a teaser trailer for the Blue Archive Bunny Event, as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWF-ak0FlCQ

The Blue Archive Bunny Chasers on Board event story focuses on the members of Clean & Clear, the covert operations squad of Kivotos' Millenium Science School. C&C consists of students Karin, Asuna, Akane, and Neru. The members typically go undercover as Millenium's maid club, which means they typically dress in maid cosplay while quietly excising threats to the academy and city.

This time, C&C is after "White Bunny," a notorious troublemaker based in Millenium. The pursuit leads them to a casino cruise ship belonging to another academy. When the ship launches with them trapped aboard, they must trade their maid wear for bunny suits, infiltrating the casino staff while they hunt down White Bunny.

Bunny Chasers on Board also expands the Blue Archive playable roster by three, with bunny-suited versions of Karin, Neru, and Asuna on the banner. Unlike regular Karin, Bunny Karin is a Striker character, using her sniper rifle like a shotgun to inflict wide-range Mystic damage. Bunny Asuna is a 3-Star upgrade from regular Asuna, with new damage-dealing attacks that sap enemy defense. Bunny Neru has learned to channel regular Neru's rage into endurance and is able to activate a defensive shield and greatly boost her evasion, making her into a potent tank character.

Blue Archive is available on Android and iOS. The Bunny Chasers on Board event begins on May 3, 2022. Players can "pre-register" for the event to receive a gift of premium currency.

The post Blue Archive Bunny Event Launches on May 3, 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Monday, May 2, 2022 11:30 AM
    

To some this makes perfect sense, to others, it doesn't Juuuuuust in case you're going to try and attempt Nintendo...

The post PSA: Nintendo Switch Sports must be played docked for local multiplayer appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, May 2, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Magic and Mystery are part of her history Anybody who knows me well knows that I wish I was an...

The post I'm spellbound with curiosity for GrimGrimoire OnceMore appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, May 2, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Forecasts are down 10% from fiscal year 2021 There are some Nintendo supply chain issues coming up, the company has...

The post Nintendo finally hit with supply chain issues, expects to sell 10% less Switch units this fiscal year appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, May 2, 2022 8:30 AM
    

Making the wrong kind of Impact Studio MiHoYo has announced that the next update to its uber-popular RPG adventure title...

The post Genshin Impact Version 2.7 update hit with indefinite delay appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, May 2, 2022 4:00 AM
    

Major acquisition deal struck with Square Enix The bottomless pit of cash that is the Embracer Group has gone on...

The post Embracer Group to acquire Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 2, 2022 11:00 AM
     Rogue Legacy 2 Barbarian class guide how to unlock abilitiesThe Barbarian is the first melee class unlocked in Rogue Legacy 2 following the Knight. Long-term series fans should be familiar with this class, as it was top-tier in the original game. This was mostly due to its large health pool, a trait that it has kept in the sequel. Barbarians have exceptional health and surprisingly good mana. This is the tankiest build in the game, and a great choice for attempting longer runs. The Barbarian class has an ax to grind, and this guide will help you take it to the end of Rogue Legacy 2 — from how to unlock, to the abilities. Unlocking the Barbarian class in Rogue Legacy 2 is simple. After unlocking the Ranger, you'll gain access to the Mess Hall castle upgrade. This increases your vitality stat, boosting your total health pool. Put one point into this upgrade and you'll be able to purchase the Barbarian plus two other new classes, the Mage and the Valkyrie.   Labrys The Barbarian uses a Labrys, a doubled-headed combat ax. The Labrys ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 2, 2022 10:00 AM
     Rogue Legacy 2 Mage class guide how to unlock best spells 1The Mage is the main magic-user in Rogue Legacy 2. This class goes all-in on the game's new spell mechanic, providing you with a variety of tools to keep up your Mana. Since Mages can spam magic, they have some of the best DPS output of any class. However, this comes at the cost of its low health which can make it difficult to stay alive for longer runs. This Mage class guide — going over how to unlock the class, and best spells — will help you add some sparks to your next run in Rogue Legacy 2. How to unlock the Mage in Rogue Legacy 2 is a simple process. After unlocking the Ranger, you'll gain access to the Mess Hall castle upgrade. This increases your vitality stat, boosting your total health pool. Put one point into this upgrade and you'll be able to purchase the Mage plus two other new classes, the Barbarian and Valkyrie.   Wand of Blasting The Mage utilizes a wand called The Wand of Blasting. Its "Blasting" is well deserved, as this ...

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, May 2, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, May 2, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, May 2, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, May 2, 2022 12:00 PM
     Like in the real world, Honey is a unique and special resource in Minecraft that is only attainable from beehives or bee nests. Naturally, players can easily collect honey by using an empty glass bottle or shears on a honey-filled beehive. However, it comes with its downsides, as harvesting honey without preparation will make all […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, May 2, 2022 11:10 AM
     One of the Shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Kema Kosassa Shrine or A Major Test of Strength. This shrine requires Link to, as the title of the shrine suggests, complete the shrine by proving his strength and defeating a Guardian Scout. This shrine may seem a little intimidating, […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, May 2, 2022 9:51 AM
     Martial arts action game Sifu has turned up to be one of the surprise hits of the year, and while there are some who love the challenge of the standard game, there are other less experienced players who want in on the fun without the frustration. Enter Sifu's new difficulty setting, which will go live […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, May 2, 2022 9:39 AM
     From Software's Elden Ring may be the soulslike game dominating the conversation right now, but Fallen Flag Studio has their own highly-acclaimed soulslike called Eldest Souls. Just in, the game has launched a new expansion called Depths of the Forgotten, and we have a new look at the new content that's now available for the […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, May 2, 2022 8:28 AM
     With the critical acclaim that Until Dawn received, there is a lot of hype building up to the release of Supermassive Games' spiritual sequel The Quarry. The game is set to launch later this June, and news has come out that the game has officially gone gold. Here's the announcement: For context, when a game […]

Pivotal Gamers Monday, May 2, 2022 4:46 AM
     What's up all? Giveaway Of The Day holds a new giveaway for Temple Run. This is what they say. Temple Run is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Temple Run There is a boulder rolling at you from who knows where and you're stuck on a long platform, what do you do?…RUN! jump over lava pits and circular saw...

Pivotal Gamers Monday, May 2, 2022 4:18 AM
     Hello folks. We have another great giveaway from Giveaway Of The Day for Lords Mobile. Their message follows. Lords Mobile is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Lords Mobile The program archive includes the readme file with the further instructions! Last minute notes Login with your Facebook or email account to get your ...