The Sword and Fairy franchise may not be that well-known internationally, but it’s regarded in China as one of the most iconic RPG series ever made. Since its launch in 1995, Sword and Fairy has grown to include seven official sequels, more than 10 spin-off titles, and two live-action TV shows.
Today, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the latest game in this series, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever, will arrive with Xbox Game Pass on July 6, 2023, and will support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing you to bring all your saves and achievements with you across Xbox and Windows PC.
For those new to the series, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a standalone story so there’s no need to catch up with all the older games (although if you’ve played them, you’ll definitely see how far the series has come). From a graphics perspective, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a huge step up from its previous games. Running on Unreal Engine 4, it’s filled to the brim with stunning character models, creatures, environments, and architecture.
At its core, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is about the relationships between humans, deities, and demons. Our story revolves around a young woman name Yue Qingshu, one of the last remaining members of the elusive Mingshu Sect; and Xiu Wu, a deity who has lost a divine sword and must remain in the human world. The two young warriors form a symbiotic bond and must stick together throughout their adventure as they discover new allies and mortal enemies.
Gameplay combat is simplified and fast-faced, especially compared to the last games’ turn-based system. Now in real-time, fighting is smooth and straightforward. You’ll also get to switch between party characters and assign elements to customize and balance the team as you progress.
Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a refreshingly stunning Asian title featuring jaw dropping environments and impressive character models. In this beautiful world, you can explore mountains and fields, while fighting epic characters. To top it off, the official soundtrack is just stellar- you might just add it to chill/study playlist!
We look forward to seeing Xbox Game Pass members dive in and experience this epic franchise with Sword and Fairy: Together Forever on July 6, 2023.
Enter a realm that blends ancient mythology with traditional oriental aesthetics in Sword and Fairy: Together Forever, the latest standalone entry in the nearly 27-year-old RPG franchise! Weaving its tale between the three clans of Human, Deity and Demon, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever puts you in command of a memorable party of characters, each with unique personalities, motives, skills, strengths and weaknesses. Only together can they shape the future! Guide them as one in this compelling standalone chapter that serves as a jumping-on point for those new to Sword and Fairy while paying tribute to the series’ grand legacy.
Sword and Fairy: Together Forever not only features the most advanced graphics in series history, but it also introduces dynamic real-time combat mechanics with total freedom of movement and fluid, screen-filling skill animations. Switch between playable characters and strategize on the fly! Along the way, you can also meet and care for spirit creatures that will aid in your journey. Discover lush interconnected environments, equip your party with new skills, play mini-games and much more as you explore this beautifully crafted action role-playing epic, including exclusive outfits and weapon skins to further enhance the experience!
Features:
• Fight in real-time and switch between party characters instantly!
• Explore diverse landscapes, towns and more across a vivid mythology-based world.
• Learn and equip new skills as you progress.
• Experience more than 30 hours of story content and optional side quests!
• Capture, tame and feed spirit creatures that aid you in different ways.
• Play card battle mini-games in between intense battles!
• Discover console-exclusive outfits and weapon skins!
If you wish to be a great Wild Hearts hunter you must rely on all your senses, not simply your sight, in order to successfully stalk and defeat your prey. The snapping of tree branches in the distance to your right, the plodding thuds that send vibrations through your body as impossibly heavy feet meet the earth, they all tell you plainly that a Kingtusk is passing through the forest. You ready your weapon, testing the bowstring which thrums reassuringly in your hand. You are ready.
This should give you a taste of how the PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller makes each and every hunt in Wild Hearts unforgettable. The hunt begins on February 17. Keep reading to discover what you can expect when you enter the land of Azuma and take on the mighty Kemono.
Haptic feedback
The beauty of the land around you can be both a blessing and a distraction while you pursue your massive prey. Your sense of touch can help ground you, keeping you focused on your pursuit as well as giving you vital feedback that can make the difference between victory and failure. Whether you are using a Karakuri to evade an attack or practicing with your weapons in Minato, Haptic feedback will sometimes speak louder than the mightiest Kemono’s roar.
A wooden gate – somewhat past its prime – blocks your way. You begin to push through it, but it’s surprisingly sturdy. Feel the resistance as it fights against you before, inevitably giving way to your strength.
You pursue your prey, leaping over gnarled tree roots and rocks that litter the forest floor. It begins to outpace you, but suddenly you see a spring Karakuri, a sure sign that luck is on your side today. You leap onto it, feeling the vibrations (thanks to your DualSense controller) as if through your own feet, and make up valuable ground quickly.
Of course not all sensations you experience through Haptics will be strictly necessary for the hunt. You may find it both useful and soothing to take time to interact with the gentler wildlife throughout Azuma. Make a new friend (or two) with a gentle pat on the back.
As a hunter, you must be one with your chosen weapon. You must know its weight, its speed, the sensation it makes as it contacts your prey or as you loose an arrow. As you might expect, a hefty maul will feel quite different from wielding a more delicate bladed wagasa, and in time you will come to know each one better via your DualSense controller.
Adaptive triggers
Carefully you take aim, pausing only long enough to draw in a breath. The reactive trigger as you ready your bow emphasizes its power, your commitment to protecting your people, and the respect you have for your giant prey. As you release your breath your arrow flies, dealing the Kingtusk a final, devastating blow.
3D Audio
The beauty of Azuma extends beyond what you can see. All around you the sounds of nature fill the air. Birds sing and chirp above you, the wind dances through a chime creating a soft melody, water rushes by with a soothing murmur. Enjoy the peacefulness of natural sounds all around you with realistic 3-D audio. At least until that peace is shattered by the roar of an enraged Kemono.
Life in Minato creates its own melody, made up of the chatter of villagers as they gossip or barter. Listen carefully and you may even be lucky enough to catch someone singing a folk song.
Hunt with friends
For some, the thrill of the hunt is best savored alone. But even the most deadly hunter may face a beast they cannot take down on their own. In Wild Hearts you can unite with up to two friends (or other players) to stalk and hunt your prey. Hunting in a party will enable you to expand your battle plans and special missions. And with Fast Loading you will be able to experience the game with your friends even more quickly.
Pre-order the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition
Leave a lasting impression on your fellow hunters with the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition which includes the base game and six items: the Karakuri Samurai and Karakuri Ninja cosmetic armor sets, a decorative Tsukumo Lantern, and three Emotes. If you pre-order the Karakuri Edition you will also receive the Ferocious Kemono Emote and five Chat Stamps.
Master Of Magic, an all-time best 4X loosely summarisable as Civilisation crossed with Master Of Orion.
In the… uh, semi-heady fog of 2019 came the news that it was getting a remake, and I was muchly excited, for in the interim I’d actually learned the original existed and how good and somehow unrivalled it still was. And finally, in the slight damp of late 2022, that remake arrived. It is a remarkably faithful remake, to a degree I may not ever have seen for such an old game. Some details and flourishes aside, it’s basically the same design, with all the same parts.
Coincidentally, I’ve also finally got into Total Warhammer lately, and spent some time reacquainting myself with Warlords Battlecry, and in between building city walls and crushing stupid aryan elfs, I’ve realised what truly connects all three: balance. They all, correctly, reject it.
Let’s talk Game Pass. There’s news about Game Pass cannibalizing sales (though is anyone surprised by that?), but I’m more interested in using this space to share some neat games you can play on Game Pass now that may go overlooked. With a whopping 379 console games and 448 on PC as of this writing, there’s a lot to check out.
I try my best to play games outside of my comfort zone and, generally, grab ones that just look cool. Unfortunately, some of my favorite gems on Game Pass have been removed, but with those large aforementioned numbers, there’s no shortage of games to check out. The following games are all on Game Pass and are scheduled to stay through at least the month of February.
A Quick Mental Scrub
With as heavy as things are these days, sometimes you just need a quick run of something that doesn’t involve dropping into a massive (or small) map with other humans and something that won’t threaten to send you into a spiraling rage. The games below are easy to pop on and dip out of, or, they’ve got some sort of relaxing element to them.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Xbox, PC)
Starting with the most chaotic and joyous option, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator pits your selected group of fighters against another preset challenge. Once you’ve got your fighting group ready to go you sit back and watch the battle playout, featuring, as the official description puts it, “wobbliest physics system ever created.” The ragdolls are fantastic, the eyes are goofy, and the victors of each battle aren’t always the ones you’d expect! Whether you’re interested in solving battle puzzles using your limited resources to select the right kind of fighters or playing around with weird matchups, these quick rounds are almost always a delight. Even better, there’s local and online co-op and multiplayer!
My Time at Portia (Xbox, PC)
If you’re still on the hunt for the right farming simulator, give My Time at Portia a try. I reviewed this back when it was released in 2019 and found it to be one of the most pleasant post-apocalyptic worlds I’ve explored. Combining farming, relationship building, combat, mining, building, and all sorts of activities in one, My Time at Portia is one of the few persistent simulation games I miss and plan on going back to.
DJMax Respect V (Xbox, PC)
DJMax Respect V isn’t the best rhythm game I’ve ever played but it’s certainly a fun one in quick bursts. If you’re a fan of the Hatsune Miku games, Guitar Hero, or other input-based rhythm game, DJMax Respect V is quick to get into with plenty of fun music. There are some more challenging inputs to figure out on controller, but ultimately it’s a quick download and a fun distraction if you’re looking to rest your thoughts.
A Longer Journey
Tinykin
I mentioned this one on Podcast Unlocked previously, but in case you missed it, Tinykin is a pleasant trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with adventure platforming games that gave us a space littered with an abundance of trinkets to collect while working to reach the next area of our journey. Tinykin features a small extraterrestrial man exploring a bug-infested home in search of a way to get back to his home planet. With the help of creatures called Tinykin, you’ll platform, solve environmental puzzles, and investigate secrets. Every time I hop in to explore a new area I come away happy. Tinykin taps into that kid-like wonder of exploring something bigger than yourself and having fun while doing it.
Prey (Xbox, PC)
For folks looking for something more intense, you’ve gotta check out Prey. No, this game is not new nor is it all that unknown (I’d like to assume), but come on y’all if you haven’t played it, this is your reminder that it’s on Game Pass and it rules. In Arkane’s Prey, you’re left alone on a ship with a mysterious lifeform out to get you. And, unfortunately for you, it could be literally anywhere and mimicking anything. This first-person shooter is a tense, neat journey with an excellent DLC.
Up Next
Below are a few titles I’m interested in checking out soon. You can also check out my backlog on my Playlist page.
Genesis Noir (Xbox, PC) – I’ve had this one on my list for a long time. It’s a stylish puzzle game and that’s really all I needed to see to be interested.
Soccer Story (Xbox, PC) – Did you ever play Backyard Soccer or the other Backyard sports kids games? This vaguely reminded me of those and I’m interested to see how its story about a magical soccer ball in a world where soccer is forbidden plays out.
Signalis (Xbox, PC) – Ever since IGN’s Senior Features Editor Matt Kim described this survivor horror game to me I’ve wanted to play it. I’m not usually great with horror, but the – perspective makes it seem like something I could handle and enjoy.
Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (Xbox, PC) – This looks like a rather dreamy adventure and I like that it’s described to put its story front and center. I had a brief stint of digging deep into visual novels and I’m curious how it blends those elements with its puzzles and resource management.
Got a Game Pass recommendation you think has gone unnoticed? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share it in the comments below. You can check out other columns from the rest of the Podcast Unlocked crew on our show’s column page.
Miranda Sanchez is the executive editor of guides at IGN and a member of Podcast Unlocked. She’s a big fan of stationery and fountain pens. You can find her on Twitter and Twitch.
podcast, where we discuss the surprising release date of 2029 for In The Valley Of Gods, the surprising advance of the Dead Island 2 launch date, and the entirely unsurprising delay(s) of Skull & Bones. Do you know what the most delayed game ever is? Because the title recently changed hands. This plus what we’ve been playing, a new hardware update, and a round of “what video game should Shakespeare play?”
Supermassive Games has revealed how its upcoming horror shooter title Switchback VR will benefit from the PlayStation VR2’s new tech when it launches on February 22.
Switchback VR will see players blast their way through a series of rollercoaster levels steeped in the lore of Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology, while coming face to face — sometimes literally it seems — with the apparitions and monsters featured in titles including Man of Medan and The Devil in Me.
In a PlayStation Blog post, the developer detailed how it harnessed the upgraded capabilities of the PSVR 2 to intensify the experience and horror of their latest game.
Some monsters will be more likely to attack when the player blinks, for example, a feature which has been made possible by the improved eye-tracking tech built into the new headset, and other more insidious enemies will only move when you aren’t looking directly at them.
All the while, players will have to deal with demonic screams and whispers seemingly coming from all around, courtesy of the 3D audio headset that comes bundled in with the $549.99 PS VR2 hardware offering.
Failing to duck in time could also result in getting a smack to your virtual head from a low-slung wooden beam, triggering the haptic feedback system built into the headset.
Meanwhile haptics integrated in the headset and triggers of the Sense controllers will be used to “make each weapon feel unique”, and to simulate the feeling of careening down a bumpy track while being buffeted by rain, wind, and sand.
According to Supermassive, each Switchback VR level will feature multiple tracks and obstacles to ensure that “no two runs will be the same”.
In our review we gave the PlayStation VR2 a 9/10, describing it as “a quantum leap over its predecessor” that sets “a new standard for console VR gaming”. Be sure to check out IGN’s unboxing video to see how the new hardware stacks up against its predecessor.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
Wild Hearts came in hot and fast earlier this week. So while other outlets will be delivering their final verdicts on Omega Force’s beast batterin’ simulator today, I’m afraid I haven’t had the chance to play enough of it to give it a fair shakedown yet. It’s good, though! I really like it, and as a huge Monster Hunter fan I’m pleased that there’s finally a worthy alternative to Capcom’s long-running series. Competition is good!
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Switch eShop – Highlights
THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE(Square Enix, 16th Feb, $49.99) – In this rhythm-action game, enjoy 385 carefully selected music tracks from across the entire FINAL FANTASY series. Meet cute versions of many classic characters and monsters from the series as exciting RPG battles play out alongside the rhythm action, where you’ll push buttons in time with the music to match triggers moving across the screen. Enjoy playing along to popular tracks from a total of 46 different games, featuring the latest music from FINAL FANTASY I to FINAL FANTASY XV in the main series, as well as remakes, spinoffs and various soundtrack CDs. Relive thrilling battles and soaring emotions alongside beautiful music and videos in THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE, available now. – Read our THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE review
Disney Dreamlight Valley’s new update “A Festival of Friendship” is now live on all platforms!
Solve the frigid mysteries of the Frosted Heights and befriend Village newcomer, Olaf.
Welcome Mirabel and her iconic Mini-Casita to the Valley.
In honor of Disney’s 100-year anniversary, discover the all-new Centennial Star Path.
Happy February, we hope you brought some winter clothing! Temperatures are dropping in Dreamlight Valley but that can only mean one thing – fun! The Disney Dremlight Valley team is happy to announce that “A Festival of Friendship” is now officially live for all platforms, introducing players to a whole new biome – The Frosted Heights. Plus, launching alongside this new update is the brand-new Centennial Star Path launched in honor of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.
Unlike the rest of Dreamlight Valley, The Frosted Heights remains an almost inhospitable place for you and your Disney and Pixar friends thanks to its frigid temperature and tumultuous blizzard. The ever-wise Merlin, however, believes that the Frosted Heights can be brought back to more mild conditions, but players will have to enlist the help of Olaf, everyone’s favorite snowman, in order to unravel the mystery behind the area’s wintry dilemma.
Meanwhile, players will also discover how the power of family and understanding can help bring another Disney friend back to Dreamlight Valley – Mirabel! The Madrigal family’s most well-known family member, and the Mini-Casita she calls home, was whisked away from Dreamlight Valley at the onset of The Forgetting. Players will need to work with Mirabel and use her skills at resolving family conflicts in order to bring her and the Mini-Casita back to Dreamlight Valley.
Everyone in Dreamlight Valley loves a party and who couldn’t be excited about a party 100 years in the making! For 100 years, Disney has tapped into the spirit of creativity and imagination to delight audiences of all ages around the world. It’s time to celebrate that legacy with the all-new Centennial Star Path! This season features new Dream Styles for both Mickey and Minnie, as well as a range of new furniture, clothing, and motifs!
Cozy up next to the fire or grab a warm blanket for the frigid temperatures and wintry adventure waiting for you in “A Festival of Friendship.” The entire team couldn’t be more thrilled for the launch of this new update, and to continue bringing improvements to the game with our Early Access. We hope you have a great time with Disney Dreamlight Valley’s “A Festival of Friendship” update.
This Founder’s Pack grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items.
This pack contains:
• Early Access to Disney Dreamlight Valley
• All the exclusive cosmetic items from the Standard and Deluxe Founder’s Packs
o From the Standard Founder’s Pack: 9 decorative items, 3 motifs & 2 wearable items
o From the Deluxe Founder’s Pack: 1 animal companion, 10 decorative items, 3 motifs & 7 wearable items
• 20,000 Moonstones* (in-game currency)
o These Moonstones can be used to activate the premium Star Path**, granting extra rewards for 7 seasons.
• Exclusive Ultimate Regal Fox animal companion
• Exclusive Ultimate Clothing Set (2 wearable items)
• Exclusive Ultimate Ears Headband and Jersey (2 wearable items)
• Exclusive Ultimate Furniture Set (13 decoration items)
• Exclusive Ultimate Wall & Floor Coverings (2 decoration items & 2 color variants)
• Exclusive Ultimate Design Motifs (3 motifs to use in the Touch of Magic tool***)
*Moonstones are an in-game currency that can be collected for free by performing tasks in the game or be purchased using real money. They are used to unlock the premium track of the Star Path (a battle-pass-inspired system that grants in-game cosmetic items as a player completes various tasks and missions). Moonstones can also be used to accelerate progress in the Star Path. Additionally, Moonstones can be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store that will be added later on as part of early access.
**The Star Path is a season-based mission system inspired by the idea of a “Battle Pass” and used to reward players for completing various missions and tasks. The player has a full season to complete a set of duties to receive exclusive cosmetic items (clothing items, companions, furniture sets, etc.). The duration of a season will be determined during early access based on community feedback. The plan for now is to make each season last one month.
***The Touch of Magic is an in-game tool that allows the player to create custom T-shirts, backpacks, Mickey ears headbands, etc. Using a variety of colors, shapes and motifs, players will be able to create an infinite number of combinations and express themselves in unique ways!
For more details on the Founder’s Pack and its contents, please visit https://gameloft.helpshift.com/hc/en/66-disney-dreamlight-valley/
This Founder’s Pack grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items.
This pack contains:
• Early Access to Disney Dreamlight Valley
• All the exclusive cosmetic items from the Standard Founder’s Pack
o 9 decorative items, 3 motifs & 2 wearable items
• 14,500 Moonstones* (in-game currency)
o These Moonstones can be used to activate the premium Star Path**, granting extra rewards for 5 seasons.
• Exclusive Deluxe Celestial Sea Turtle animal companion
• Exclusive Deluxe Clothing Set (5 wearable items)
• Exclusive Deluxe Ears Headband & Jersey (2 wearable items)
• Exclusive Deluxe Furniture Set (8 decoration items)
• Exclusive Deluxe Wall & Floor Coverings (2 decoration items)
• Exclusive Deluxe Design Motifs (3 motifs to use in the Touch of Magic tool***)
*Moonstones are an in-game currency that can be collected for free by performing tasks in the game or be purchased using real money. They are used to unlock the premium track of the Star Path (a battle-pass-inspired system that grants in-game cosmetic items as a player completes various tasks and missions). Moonstones can also be used to accelerate progress in the Star Path. Additionally, Moonstones can be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store that will be added later on as part of early access.
**The Star Path is a season-based mission system inspired by the idea of a “Battle Pass” and used to reward players for completing various missions and tasks. The player has a full season to complete a set of duties to receive exclusive cosmetic items (clothing items, companions, furniture sets, etc.). The duration of a season will be determined during early access based on community feedback. The plan for now is to make each season last one month.
***The Touch of Magic is an in-game tool that allows the player to create custom T-shirts, backpacks, Mickey ears headbands, etc. Using a variety of colors, shapes and motifs, players will be able to create an infinite number of combinations and express themselves in unique ways!
For more details on the Founder’s Pack and its contents, please visit https://gameloft.helpshift.com/hc/en/66-disney-dreamlight-valley/
It’s time to make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, grab a cozy blanket, and join the new Festive Star Path!
Welcome to Disney Dreamlight Valley’s early access! Show your love for Disney with exclusive outfits that celebrate the classic Disney Parks themes, along with beloved characters such as Mickey Mouse. This Founder’s Pack grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid between a life-sim and an adventure game rich with quests, exploration, and engaging activities featuring Disney and Pixar friends, both old and new.
Once an idyllic land, Dreamlight Valley was a place where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony—until the Forgetting. Night Thorns grew across the land and severed the wonderful memories tied to this magical place. With nowhere else to go, the hopeless inhabitants of Dreamlight Valley retreated behind locked doors in the Dream Castle.
Now it’s up to you to discover the stories of this world and bring the magic back to Dreamlight Valley!
Discover the Secrets of Dreamlight Valley
Free the Dream Castle from the insidious grip of the Forgetting, and unlock the unique Realms of well-loved Disney and Pixar characters. Each Realm has its own challenges, with puzzles to solve and friends to bring back to Dreamlight Valley. Free the Dream Castle from the Forgetting’s grasp and unlock the Realms of great queens and kings such as Anna and Simba. Each Realm contains unique challenges with puzzles to solve in the quest to bring friendship back to the Valley.
You’ll start your adventure in the Valley, but your journey will take you to infinity… and beyond! Explore what lurks in the Forest of Valor and brave the deepest caverns as you take on challenges from iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains. Who knows who—or what—you might discover.
Forge Friendships with Disney & Pixar Characters
Garden with WALL•E, cook with Remy or kick back and fish with Goofy. What better way to collect, craft, and rebuild the Valley than with a friend! From beautiful princesses to nefarious villains, every Dreamlight Valley resident brings their own story arc, quests, and rewards. Meet up in daily hangouts and make friends with some of your favorite Disney and Pixar characters.
Restore the Valley to Its Former Glory
Free the Valley from the grip of the Forgetting and return Dreamlight Valley to its former greatness by making it your own. In Dreamlight Valley, you can build the perfect neighborhood that is just for you with a fully customizable layout, creative landscaping, and thousands of decorative items.
Will you settle on the Beach next to Moana, or call Buzz Lightyear your next-door neighbor in the Plaza?
Express Your Disney Style
Bring out your inner princess, villain, or Disney bounder! Assemble unique outfits and decorate your home with thousands of fantastic items. Using the Touch of Magic tool, you can even create your own designs using Disney and Pixar decals!
With the in-game Camera, get ready to snap a sunset selfie with Rapunzel, a culinary creation with Remy or simply cherish a moment.
A Game in Constant Evolution
New content means that there’s always something fresh to explore. Meet new characters in the Valley, check out the latest clothing and furniture collections in Scrooge’s Store, and complete challenging in-game events! Be sure to dream your way back to Dreamlight Valley regularly to discover new adventures!
MLB The Show 23 includes some serious updates and additions to gameplay. Read all about them below ahead of launch on March 28.
Defense
High Fielding attributes matter more now than ever before. The disparity between players in games with high vs low fielding attributes is more noticeable. Players with lower Fielding attribute will feature worse start transition animations when contact is made off the bat far more frequently than those with high Fielding attribute.
When it comes to our throwing interfaces, we have a couple to select from depending on player skill and engagement level. Our more player-friendly interfaces, Buttons and Analog, rely heavily on the Arm Accuracy attribute which has been tuned to be in line with MLB statistics. Elevate your game with the Button Accuracy Meter where you are in complete control of your throws.
If using the Button Accuracy throwing interface, consistent with last year’s game, the green portion of the meter (indicates a throw that will be accurate to the fielder), scales based on the Arm Accuracy attribute. However, the functionality of the meter has changed. Universally, the speed of the meter needle is slower than in years past. This is intended, as it helps facilitate the upcoming changes. In previous years of The Show, the meter was consistent, meaning the green spot was always in the middle. Repetition with this mechanic led to ease of use for many players. Now, on difficult infield plays and long outfield throws, the green portion of the meter will dynamically move. This change increases realism while also adding additional skill to defense.
On force throws to first base, players will experience a yellow portion of the meter. This section indicates the dirt ball region of the meter, leading to balls being thrown in the dirt. The frequency of the play being made is based on the first baseman’s Fielding attribute. Visit custom practice to experience and perfect the changes to fielding and throwing.
Two new quirks have been added/revamped on defense. These two quirks are Break Outlier and Pick Off Artist. A pitcher with Break Outlier loses break at a slower rate than those without the quirk. A pitcher with Pick Off Artist leads to 2x the chance of a successful pick-off.
Offense
The pitcher-batter dynamic is better than ever with the revamped competitive gameplay engine. And don’t worry Casual or Simulation fans, we have also tuned and balanced those gameplay styles.
One of the major attribute updates to MLBTS23 we have redefined the Clutch Attribute. With runners in scoring position, clutch attribute directly replaces contact. This helps to facilitate more realism. The battle between a batter’s Contact attribute and a pitcher’s hits per 9 innings (H/9) attribute is directly replaced with batter Clutch and Pitcher Clutch with RISP.
Two new quirks have been added on offense. These are Bad Ball Hitter and Table Setter. A batter with Bad Ball Hitter will excel at hitting pitches outside of the strike zone. A batter with Table Setter excels with no runners on base.
Animations
We’ve added over 5,000 gameplay animations to MLB The Show 23. From rob foul ball, dives, batting stances, additional hot shot variety at the corners and as always new animations for fielder urgency and efficiency.
Gameplay styles
Gameplay Styles are meant to create unique experiences for all players. Gameplay style tuning for Casual and Simulation are continuously taking place. However, the biggest gameplay style change revolves around Competitive Gameplay Style.
Competitive gameplay style is the default for all Online Head-to-Head* games and all Diamond Dynasty* modes. Competitive Gameplay Style can also be accessed by visiting the gameplay settings and toggling the Gameplay Style setting under General Difficulty.
The goal of this Gameplay Style is to increase the consistency of good input for producing good results and bad input for producing bad results, without going too far from baseball strategy and basics. Players will notice more swing and misses, fewer popups and choppers, and the hits put into play are slightly better to make up for fewer being put into play.
Player clarity, visual updates in game, and functionality improvements
Updates to the in-game displays have been made. The largest focus for visual display updates revolved around increasing clarity amongst the player base.
Swing feedback
Swing feedback is a piece of art that appears in the bottom left corner of the screen after a swing attempt is made. This feedback displays Batter Attributes, Pitch Location, Pitch Type, Swing Timing, and Plate Coverage Indicator Placement. It is meant to help describe the outcome of the hit. Although it is difficult to achieve perfection through this art, strides were made to increase precision and accuracy of the art. Previous versions of MLBTS swing feedback displayed Swing Inputs on the left and the outputs on the right. Now the swing feedback is a story that can be read from left to right, top to bottom.
In-game directional button functionality
Left on the directional buttons now display live, up-to-date, Statcast numbers. Right on the directional buttons now display important pitcher/batter matchups, attempting to present all factors that impact the at-bat. This includes vital attributes that dynamically swap in and all active quirks. Up on the directional buttons remains relatively consistent to previous years of MLBTS, with slight functionality updates, including the ability to bring in a pitcher that’s being warmed up without needing to navigate back into the bullpen.
Settings updates
Settings terminology, organization, and descriptions have been updated to better inform players as for what each gameplay setting does. There are now two new settings that allow for increased customization of Pre-Pitch displays while on offense and defense. These new settings can be found under Display and aim to allow for increased control over what information is presented on screen prior to a pitch being thrown. These two settings are Pitch Select Displays and Batter Controls Display.
Additional visual updates
The runner windows displayed in the top right for a first base runner and top left for a third base runner no longer appear. This camera can now be seen in the top right baserunning diamond during pre-pitch. Logic is tied to which runner is shown in the camera, leading to the most viable runner displaying based on the bases currently occupied. Now that space has been created in the top left corner of the screen, important information can be displayed here such as Road to The Show base gains increase or decrease, moment tracking, and Dynamic Difficulty updates.
Custom practice updates
We’ve added some important functionality to Custom Practice. It now has a couple important additions. While batting, players can now finetune specific pitch locations around the Strike Zone. This tool is very useful for improving your eye and improving at specific problem areas. In previous years, players could solely turn specific pitches off or on. This functionality has been expanded upon, allowing players to choose the frequency of pitches thrown through a slider mechanism.
Attribute descriptions
MLB The Show has a lot of attributes, and if you’re new to the franchise, you might not know what they all mean. Be sure to check out the handbook/strategy guide located in the pause menu in game. The attribute descriptions can now also be found in the Diamond Dynasty * Handbook. These descriptions provide insightful information as for how each attribute functions and interacts with gameplay. The goal here is to ensure all players have the information needed to make the best possible decision when forming a squad or making an important managerial decision in game.
To access these descriptions, players can navigate to Diamond Dynasty* > Home > Standing, Stats, & History > Handbook > Attribute Descriptions.
Passive quirks changes
We’ve removed passive quirks from MLB The Show 23. Simplifying the quirk system seems to be the best approach here, as there was general confusion as for what Active Quirks did vs Passive Quirks. Universally, we hope this change leads to more clarity since only the quirks that impact gameplay is displayed.
Updated options explorer
The options explorer audio and art have been updated. This is a great area for players to learn the mechanics offered within MLB The Show. The general rule of thumb for gameplay mechanics is that the more control a player has over the mechanic, the less ability the CPU has to influence gameplay.
MLB rule changes
Changes to Extreme Left and Extreme Right shifts are now implemented into MLB The Show 23. These changes set a good baseline but will need tuning based on real life strategy seen throughout the MLB season.
Online H2H/Co-op*
Improvements to online stability are continuously being worked on to provide the best experience possible.
For those co-op* players, Play Now Co-Op* now offers the ability to toggle the rotational patterns prior to loading into game. Rather than being locked into rotating roles per inning on defense and rotating per at-bat on offense, teams can now choose additional rotation patterns.
MLB The Show 23 Gameplay Feature Premiere
You can watch the deep dive into all the changes and additions coming to gameplay on demand at your own convenience on Twitch and YouTube .
MLB The Show 23 Technical Test Info
The tech test is live until February21, players 18 or over in U.S. and Canada with a PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch** internet-connected console can participate in the MLB The Show 23 Technical Test.
We want to deliver the best version possible of MLB The Show 23 and to do that we need everyone’s help to stress test the servers, online match-making, cross-platform play, online co-op, and more in addition to gathering feedback on gameplay.
The best news? No need to sign up, it’s open to everyone eligible. ** Download for free on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Nintendo eShop beginning February 15.
“For more detailed information on MLB The Show 23 you can read the FAQ here.” *Online features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription.
Master Of Magic, an all-time best 4X loosely summarisable as Civilisation crossed with 
podcast, where we discuss the surprising release date of 2029 for 
Wild Hearts came in hot and fast earlier this week. So while other outlets will be delivering their final verdicts on Omega Force’s beast batterin’ simulator today, I’m afraid I haven’t had the chance to play enough of it to give it a fair shakedown yet. It’s good, though! I really like it, and as a huge 
