Feature: ‘Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam’ – Our Questions, Theories, And Speculation

Rampant speculayton.

It’s been a couple of weeks now since February’s Nintendo Direct and you want to know the one thing that we are still not quite over? There’s a new Professor Layton game coming our way! It almost doesn’t sound right saying that out loud: “a new Professor Layton game”. Not a remaster. Not a rerelease. Something new. So new, in fact, that the team at Level-5 has even stuck it in the title: Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.

What do we know about the game at the moment? Well, not a lot if we’re being honest.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Samurai Epic Like a Dragon: Ishin! Is Out Now

Summary

  • From the creators of the Yakuza series, heated samurai epic Like a Dragon: Ishin! is out now on Xbox and Windows PC.
  • Fight with katana, firearms, fists, and everything in a samurai’s arsenal to avenge Sakamoto Ryoma’s fallen master and trailblaze Japan’s revolution.
  • Xbox fans can download the deadly-elegant ‘Poet Immortal’ katana exclusively from the Microsoft Store for free.

Draw your blade and join the revolution! Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the latest game from the creators of Yakuza, is now available worldwide on Xbox Series X|S. Ishin! is a heated samurai epic that draws from real-world Japanese history and politics fuelled by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s over-the-top action combat.

Following the tale of Sakamoto Ryoma, this lone samurai’s fight for justice stands to change the course of Japan’s history forever.

Ishin! takes place in the 1867 Bakamatsu era, Japan. The country is in civil unrest due to widespread inequality, and political tensions are running high. Ryoma’s master falls in a political ploy, and his only lead to the assailant points to the Shinsengumi, the ruling Tokugawa Clan’s elite samurai police force. Vowing to avenge his master, Ryoma flees to the capital and joins the Shinsengumi undercover where his path entwines with that of the revolution.

The Ishin! launching today is a remake of its 2014 predecessor, which was never released outside of Japan. With tightened combat, enhanced graphics, full localization and all-new content, today’s Ishin! is truly the definitive version of the game to play. It’s largely to the credit of vocal Yakuza fans worldwide that the lost chapter of the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio library arrives to Western shores on Xbox and Windows!

Certainly the katana is ubiquitous with samurai, but there was much more to their arsenal in 1860s. Ryoma can wield period firearms, swords and even his bare fists in four unique combat styles. You can seamlessly change your fighting style mid-fight to counter your opponents.

Poet Immortal katana image.

Forged by Sega exclusively for Xbox fans, those that want to be a cut above the rest can claim the Poet Immortal katana, a deadly blade with an elegant luster. Poet Immortal is available to download for free only on the Microsoft Store. Once downloaded, head to the Teradaya Inn, which is accessible from Chapter 2 onwards, to retrieve the weapon from Bakumatsu Bob.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is now out on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC! Follow us on Twitter @RGGStudio for Like a Dragon series updates or visit ishin.sega.com to learn more.

Xbox Live
Xbox Play Anywhere

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Digital Deluxe Edition

SEGA


77

$69.99

Pre-order your Digital Deluxe Edition for exclusive early access on February 17, 2023 @ 15:00 GMT.

Don the clothes and weaponry of the elite to become the samurai of legend, Sakamoto Ryoma. The Deluxe Edition both adds challenge to your journey and gives you additional resources to overcome it. The Deluxe Edition includes:

• Shinsengumi Captain’s Set
• Ryoma Growth Support Kit
• Sword Upgrade Materials Kit
• Gun Upgrade Materials Kit
• Third Division Armament Expansion Kit
• The Dragon of Dojima Skin

PLUS an additional three weapons to help you trailblaze the road to revolution:
• Kijinmaru Kunishige, a dark sword with a white hilt
• Tsuyano Usukurenai, a sword soaked in blood
• Black Ship Cannon, a cannon taken from Western ships

1860s Kyo is plagued by widespread inequality, and one samurai will change the course of history in his search for justice. Take up the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and venture to Kyoto to find your father’s killer, clear yourself of a framed murder, and restore your honor. In doing so, you will bring an end to the samurai era and forever change the future of Japan. Draw your blade, load your revolver, and join the revolution in this heated historical adventure that only the creators of Yakuza: Like a Dragon could produce.

Xbox Live
Xbox Play Anywhere

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

SEGA


5

$59.99

Pre-order now for exclusive access to three of the best weapons of the era. Trailblaze the road to revolution with:

• Kijinmaru Kunishige, a dark sword with a white hilt
• Tsuyano Usukurenai, a sword soaked in blood
• Black Ship Cannon, a cannon taken from Western ships

1860s Kyo is plagued by widespread inequality, and one samurai will change the course of history in his search for justice. Take up the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and venture to Kyoto to find your father’s killer, clear yourself of a framed murder, and restore your honor. In doing so, you will bring an end to the samurai era and forever change the future of Japan. Draw your blade, load your revolver, and join the revolution in this heated historical adventure that only the creators of Yakuza: Like a Dragon could produce.

Poet Immortal Katana

SEGA


5

Slay your enemies with the Poet Immortal Katana, weapon available exclusively to Xbox users.

Related:
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Soul Hackers 2, F1 22, and Merge & Blade
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 20 to 24
The Xbox February Update Rolls Out Today! 

New State of Play arrives Thursday, featuring Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

State of Play returns with its first show of 2023! Get ready for new looks at some anticipated games from our third-party partners, as well as a first glimpse at five PlayStation VR2 games set to arrive later this year. Then, settle in for more than 15 minutes of all-new gameplay details and updates on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the next game from Rocksteady Studios.

It all begins this Thursday at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 9pm GMT / 10pm CET on Twitch and YouTube.


New State of Play arrives Thursday, featuring Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)
 
Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

Sony Announces PlayStation State of Play Event for This Week

Sony has announced that a PlayStation State of Play event will take place on February 23 and share new details on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and more.

Announced in a tweet (below), the event will take place at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 9pm UK (so 7am AEST on February 24) and can be viewed on PlayStation’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Though it didn’t say exactly what it would be showing, Sony has confirmed that five brand new PlayStation VR 2 games will be shown off at the State of Play alongside indie and third party reveals.

The main attraction will perhaps be a 15 minute gameplay showcase from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League though, which will share new game mechanics and updates on Rocksteady Studios’ latest.

Having stepped away somewhat from the likes of E3 and some other big gaming conferences, Sony has reserved a lot of its big announcements for State of Play events like this one.

The last one took place in September and saw Tekken 8 officially revealed, a new trailer shared for God of War: Ragnarok, Like a Dragon: Ishin revealed for the west, and much more.

State of Play events have also been used to showcase other PlayStation blockbusters including Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and more. IGN has even put together a list of the biggest and best announcements since the State of Play’s inception in 2019.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Soul Hackers 2 and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty included in the next batch of Game Pass additions

Atomic Heart which releases today. I was interested in the steely Soviet shooter until I read James’ review and saw that the protagonist yells “Crispy critters,” more than once – I think I’ll skip.

Here are the next batch of Game Pass titles:

  • Merge & Blade (Feb 28th)
  • Soul Hackers 2 (Feb 28th)
  • F1 22 (March 2nd)
  • Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (March 3rd)

This is my first time hearing of Merge & Blade, not to be confused with Mount & Blade which is also on Game Pass. Merge & Blade is a hybrid between puzzle games and auto-battlers. Rounds will start with a Tetris-like mini-game, but instead of shapes, you’re guiding different unit types and merging them together. You then use your completed party to raid castles and kill monsters. Mixing – or merging – Tetris into a new genre is a recipe for success, so I’ll definitely be downloading this one.

Read more

Sons Of The Forest shows off multiplayer and slimy mutants ahead of its early access release

Sons Of The Forest is only a few days away as it launches into early access on February 23rd, and the team is celebrating with a final pre-release trailer, exposing us to some nasty sights. Sons Of The Forest was originally going to launch into a full 1.0 release this month, but the team ultimately decided on an early access release since it worked so well for the game’s predecessor The Forest.

Read more

The Next Pokémon Scarlet & Violet 7-Star Tera Raid Battle Event Has Been Announced

Catch Pikachu for Pokémon Day.

Today is stuffed full of Pokémon news, apparently. Not only has The Pokémon Company confirmed it’s holding a 25 minute Pokémon Presents showcase on Pokémon Day next week (27th February), but a brand new 7-Star Tera Raid event is coming to Pokémon Scarlet & Violet this weekend to celebrate.

From 24th to 27th February, you’ll be able to take on a 7-Star Pikachu with the Mightiest Mark. This yellow mouse comes with the Water Tera Type (thanks, Serebii).

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Soul Hackers 2, F1 22, and Merge & Blade

Welcome back friends, we have more games coming soon (some as soon as today!). RPG’s, Puzzles, Racing, and Action coming to your backlog. Let’s get to the games!


Available Today


Atomic Heart (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 21
Available on day one with Game Pass: In a mad and sublime utopian world, take part in explosive encounters. Adapt your fighting style to each opponent, use your environment, and upgrade your equipment to fulfill your mission.


Coming Soon


Merge & Blade (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 28
Experience an addictive fantasy puzzler and a massive auto-battler in the world’s first puzzle auto-battler game! Engage in large-scale battles with monsters with your own squad using merge mechanics. Only your brain can save the world!

Merge & Blade

Soul Hackers 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 28
Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under cyberpunk Japan. Join Ringo and her companions to solve the mystery behind an imminent apocalypse in Soul Hackers 2. Strengthen the bonds with your teammates and dive deeper into their soul, reliving their last adventures and discovering the truth of their stories and yours.

Soul Hackers 2

F1 22 (Console and PC) EA Play – March 2
PC Game Pass & Ultimate members can get behind the wheel on March 2 as F1 22 joins The Play List with EA Play. Get to grips with the fastest motorsport around. Take your seat in the 2022 season cars, test your skills around Miami International Autodrome, and get a taste of the glitz and glamor in F1 Life.

F1 22

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 3
Available on day one with Game Pass: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dramatic, action-packed story of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. Players fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on the Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Game Updates


Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII: New Zealand – February 23
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII: New Zealand beckons all to experience the expansive beauty that the country has to offer, reproduced in stunning photo-realistic quality including 62 handcrafted points of interest and 10 new missions to bask in the majesty of New Zealand’s diverse landscapes from above. Available for free to all owners and Game Pass members. The sky is calling!


Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks


Apex Legends: Supercharge Revelry Pack – Available now
Join the Apex Games ready for battle with the Supercharge Revelry Pack, available with your EA Play membership until March 14, 2023.

MultiVersus: MVP Pack – Drop 3 – Available now
The MultiVersus MVP Pack is a free in-game bundle only available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Enjoy a new variant, ringout effect, and a banner on us with each pack to further up your game!


Leaving February 28


There’s still time to pick up where you left off or earn some extra Achievements in the following games leaving soon. Remember to use your membership discount to save up to 20% on games available in the Game Pass library before they go!

  • Alien: Isolation (Console and PC)
  • Crown Trick (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Far: Changing Tides (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (Console and PC)
  • Madden NFL 21 (Console and PC) EA Play
  • Octopath Traveler (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Remember to use your Xbox Game Pass mobile app to add these games to your download queue (and to turn in your Game Pass Quests)! Stay tuned on Xbox Wire or on Twitter at @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass for more updates.

Related:
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 20 to 24
Explore Powderfall Bluffs in Slime Rancher 2: Song of the Sabers Free Update
Sword and Fairy: Together Forever Coming to Game Pass on July 6