Honkai: Star Rail‘s closed beta, and it certainly seems that MiHoYo’s upcoming free-to-play RPG is hoping to capture a similar audience to Genshin Impact’s. Star Rail’s turn-based battles and JRPG leanings might be a bit of a departure from Genshin’s open-world adventuring, but it’s definitely, 100%, without a doubt, anime as heck. Oh, and very gacha. There’s a lot of currencies. So many currencies. Still, I think it’s shaping up to be a decent time.
Despite lots of back and forth messaging, it looks like Final Fantasy 16 is probably getting a PC version after all — though likely not for a long time.
Speaking on the Japanese PlayStation Blog (and translated by industry insider Wario64 on Twitter, below), Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida said he would “like to release a PC version at some point”.
Yoshida said: “It is true that Final Fantasy 16 is a six-month limited time exclusive on the PS5 platform. However, it is a completely different story that the PC version will be released in half a year. I will make it clear: the PC version will not come out in half a year.
Naoki Yoshida says Final Fantasy XVI PC version will not be ready in 6 months after PS5’s release (PS5 version has a 6-month timed exclusive)
“This is because we spent a lot of time and money optimising the PS5 platform to deliver the best gaming experience. Of course, I would like to release a PC version at some point so that everyone can play as many games as possible.
“However, even if we start optimising the PC version after the PS5 version comes out, we won’t be able to optimise it in half a year, so it won’t come out in a short span of half a year. I would like to release it eventually, and I think I will, but I am not at the stage where I can say when.”
Publisher Square Enix has not yet confirmed what other platforms will receive Final Fantasy 16 once the six-month exclusivity ends (whether it be Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or something else), though Yoshida has at least now confirmed that it won’t be PC.
Yoshida then denied that a PC version existed at all. “Nobody said a word about a PC version releasing,” he said, wrongly. “Why is it like a PC version is releasing six months later? Don’t worry about that, buy a PS5. Sorry, I went overboard. We did our best, so please look forward to it.”
LEGO Bricktales released on Switch in October last year to a number of lukewarm reviews (check out our thoughts at the bottom of this article). The brick-themed biome explorer might have failed to capture the imagination of the building brand, but that hasn’t stopped developer Clockstone STUDIO from coming up with more seasonal content for the game.
The latest update to be announced is going to focus on Easter and will be launching with the holiday later on this year. Bricktales is all about solving small-world problems across a series of LEGO dioramas and the new Easter world is no exception. This time, you will be helping the Easter Bunny make chocolate eggs by navigating a number of chickens through a variety of obstacles.
Travel across eras this March in Games with Gold! On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, start the month with a visit to a 1960s-era set sci-fi mystery in Trüberbrook or strategize WWII battles in Sudden Strike 4- Complete Collection, and then midmonth survive 19th century supernatural horrors in Lamentum.
Xbox Live Gold members will have exclusive access to these games for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. So will Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, who receive all the fantastic benefits of Gold plus access to hundreds of high-quality games with Xbox Game Pass.
Lamentum($15.99 ERP): Available March 16 to April 15
Trüberbrook
Explore the charming 1960s German village of Trüberbrook where not all is as it seems. Get trippy in this single-player Sci-Fi mystery adventure game. The world of the game is beautifully built using meticulously handmade miniature scenery. Discover reality rifts, encounter crazy scientists, and fight for true love as you step up to save the world!
Sudden Strike 4 – Complete Collection
Play the original World War Two RTS classic and all five previously released DLCs. Command forces from all sides in iconic battles including on the Road to Dunkirk, across the snowy landscape of Finland, the rugged deserts of Africa, or engaging in the naval battles of the Pacific. You can play single-player or multiplayer leading over one hundred different units into battle across eleven campaigns.
Lamentum
Delve deep into nightmare-fueled madness. How far would you go to save the one you love? For young aristocrat Victor Hartwell the cost to save his ailing wife might be unthinkable. Explore the mystery and encounter horrific creatures. Who will you choose to trust? How will you ever hope to survive? Spending one night in Grau Hill Mansion may be the last night you ever see.
Read more about our Games with Gold program here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all the latest news on Xbox. Like we said before, if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, hundreds of high-quality games you can play on console, PC, and across devices from the cloud, and access to EA Play at no extra cost. New games are added all the time, so you’re never without something new to try when you’re looking to find your next favorite game. If you’re new, or if you’re an existing Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for Console member, join or upgrade today.
»Trüberbrook« is a thrilling mystery-sci-fi adventure game. Enjoy an adventurous vacation to a 1960’s parallel universe! A Sci-Fi-Mystery Adventure Game with handmade scenery.
Imagine yourself on a vacation to Europe in the late sixties. Now, picture yourself as a young American scientist; Hans Tannhauser. While you’re at it, think of Trüberbrook, a remote village in rural Germany. Because, that’s where you end up after hitting the continent. But who cares, you won the trip in a lottery! Or at least, that’s how it seems. But don’t fear, instead of getting some rest, you could find yourself having to save the world …
The Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection offers fans the ultimate World War II strategy experience, containing the main Sudden Strike 4 game plus all five previously released DLCs: Battle of Kursk, Road to Dunkirk, Finland – Winter Storm, Africa – Desert War and The Pacific War.
Sudden Strike 4 sends you off on three extensive campaigns set amongst the battlefields of World War II. Command the British and American, German or Soviet troops in the most iconic conflicts of the war, leading over 100 different units into battle. Prove your strategic expertise in over 20 demanding singleplayer scenarios, the challenge-focused skirmish mode and the ultra-competitive multiplayer mode.
In Road to Dunkirk, relive the battles leading up to one of the world‘s most daring military rescue missions ever – the evacuation of British Expeditionary Forces and French soldiers from German superior numbers in 1940.
Advance the Soviet forces into Finland during the Winter War’s Vyborg Offensive, and take part in some of the most infamous Finnish vs. Soviet military conflicts in Finland – Winter Storm. Fight as the Finnish against an overwhelming threat, or play as the Soviets and crush the last Finnish defensive lines.
Africa – Desert War shifts the setting from the cold north to the unforgiving and harsh deserts of Africa. Lead the Axis powers in their mission to invade Libya, Tunisia and Egypt to crush the unprepared American forces, or take command of the Allies and relive the battles that turned the tide of the Western Desert campaign.
Gather your forces for an all-out attack on the Pacific shores. Experience the fiercest battles of the South East Asian campaign like never before, as the The Pacific War throws you right into the conflict between the Allied Forces and the Imperial Japanese Army.
Features:
• Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection offers realistic real-time strategy gameplay with tactical depth and a historical setting
across 11 campaigns with over 45 missions and more than 200 different units in a complete package.
• Contains all free content updates available, with over 10 new maps and gameplay refinements.
• Command German and Soviet forces in the Battle of Kursk – one of the largest tank battles of World War II!
• Road to Dunkirk features 4 new missions, 2 new commanders and 10 all-new units, as well as additional buildings and ships.
• Finland – Winter Storm features 6 new missions, 3 new commanders, and 19 all-new vehicles, along with additional buildings
and units.
• Africa – Desert Storm features 6 new missions, 5 new commanders, and 30 new vehicles, including a medical truck.
• The Pacific War features 10 new missions, 6 new commanders, and over 50 new vehicles, including aircraft carriers.
• Adapt and refine the military doctrines of more than 20 renowned commanders, such as Heinz Guderian, George S. Patton or
Charles de Gaulle for a different strategic and tactical approach to each scenario.
• Pit yourself against other commanders or challenging enemy AI enemies in competitive multiplayer modes.
Guide Victor Hartwell, a young aristocrat on a desperate journey to cure the deadly disease that afflicts his beloved wife, Alissa. Their last hope resides in the darkened halls of Grau Hill Mansion whose Earl has uncovered ancient secrets and forgotten sciences. He claims he can heal Alissa, but… at what price? Grau Hill mansion will open its doors and immerse you in a world of nightmares where you may be trapped forever.
Lamentum is a pixel art survival-horror game set in New England in the mid-nineteenth century. To solve the dark secret at the heart of Grau Hill Mansion, you will have to immerse yourself in a nightmare world full of terrible creatures.
Choose well in whom to trust, every decision you make may alter the course of the story.
Will you survive?
Lamentum is inspired by classic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill along with cosmic horror masterpieces, especially the Cthulhu mythos.
Lamentum is a dark and adult-themed game, in which the player can enjoy classic survival-horror gameplay.
Square Enix has already made it clear that Final Fantasy 16 will not have an open world. But in a recent interview attended by IGN the developer has explained how its segmented map works, revealing that the world of Valisthea is made up of a number of variously sized zones that will provide opportunities for non-linear exploration.
Talking as part of a roundtable discussion with the press, Final Fantasy 16 director Hiroshi Takai explained that the world is constructed from multiple maps; some small, others large. Commenting on the larger scale ones, Takai said “We have – I think – four zones that are about two kilometers by two kilometers.”
Producer Naoki Yoshida elaborated on the way players will navigate and explore these zones, which collectively make up the landscape of Valisthea. “On the world map you have the areas that you can travel to and you select that area and then you jump to that area seamlessly. And then you follow the main quest there. And then once you finish that, you’ll go back to this hub area […] called the Hideaway.”
Takai describes the Hideaway as a location from which to start both main missions and optional side quests, the latter of which includes monster hunts among other activities. Yoshida also notes that the Hideaway is where players will find the item shop, as well as a blacksmith who can craft and upgrade weapons.
Much of this set-up will be somewhat familiar to series veterans; even back in the days when Final Fantasy had an ‘open world’, the overworld was more a home for a variety of zones (or ‘field maps’) rather than what we’d consider an open world today. But unlike many of the series’ beloved classics, Final Fantasy 16 will not feature any hidden dungeons or areas.
“We didn’t create any [hidden dungeons or maps] because we wanted players to focus more on the main scenario and not have this feeling that you have to go to this area and clear this area,” said Takai. “We wanted them to focus on this and we wanted to focus our development more on the main areas. So we didn’t go out of our way to create maps that didn’t need to be visited.”
“However, there are areas that I guess players could consider dungeons,” he continued. “They’re off the field and you go deep down, but those are all connected in some way to the story. And they’re all expertly crafted dungeons. We created these as great places, we want players to go there and so we’re going to give reasons for players to go there. We didn’t want to create something that most players may not even find.”
Despite this, Yoshida wished to assure players that there’s still much to see and do within Final Fantasy 16’s world. “The one thing is that as you hear this answer and you’re thinking, oh, and so there’s not many places you can explore,” he said. “There are a lot of areas that you can explore. So don’t worry about that.”
As the highly anticipated June 22 release of Final Fantasy XVI draws near, fans of the iconic franchise eagerly await what promises to be a new and thrilling addition to the beloved series.
I was lucky enough to go hands on with Final Fantasy XVI, and even had the opportunity to interview some of the key members of the development team. After my time with the game, I came away with a deep appreciation for its many strengths, and am convinced that it will become an essential PS5 title.
One thing is certain, Final Fantasy XVI has assembled a stellar line-up of creators, each with a proven track record of delivering unforgettable gaming experiences. Leading the project is producer Naoki Yoshida, widely regarded as one of Square Enix’s most beloved figures and the mastermind behind Final Fantasy XIV, which he transformed into a massively successful title. Yoshida has brought with him key members of his XIV team, including Masayoshi Soken, the composer responsible for XIV’s soaring score, who will create the soundtrack for XVI, and Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, the mastermind behind XIV’s intricate lore, who will oversee localization, writing, culturalization and lore for the title. Ryota Suzuki, the Capcom veteran responsible for Devil May Cry 5’s satisfying combat, heads the combat department, while art direction is provided by Hiroshi Minagawa, whose credits include Final Fantasy XII, Tactics, and XIV. At the helm of this all-star team is Hiroshi Takai, a Square Enix veteran known for his contributions to the SaGa series and The Last Remnant. With such a talented group of creators, Final Fantasy XVI promises to be an unforgettable gaming experience that fans won’t want to miss.
Below, I’ll share some of the standout aspects of the title that left the greatest impression on me, and that I believe will make this game an unforgettable experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
The thrills of real-time combat and high-octane Eikon fights
In Valisthea, nations are safeguarded by Eikons, enormous and potent creatures each harnessing an elemental power. These mighty beings reside within Dominants, mortal hosts blessed with the ability to summon their respective Eikon’s incredible strength. As nations clash, Eikon fights make for bigger-than-life combat. Channeling Japanese Kaiju culture from the likes of Ultraman, Evangelion, and Attack on Titan, boss battles will see grand showdowns between Final Fantasy’s Titan, Garuda, Shiva, Ifrit, Phoenix, Bahamut and more, each battle entirely unique in their setting, movement, and gameplay.
And when these colossal creatures aren’t engaged in battles, the protagonist Clive Rosfield is equipped with a range of combat abilities he learns as the story progresses, peppering them in fights to execute impressive combos.
“We drew a little bit of inspiration from the Final Fantasy V ability system in the sense that Clive learns abilities from the Eikons he encounters on his journey, and can combine them in countless unique ways to create a powerful arsenal of techniques,” says Ryota Suzuki.
With this Devil May Cry 5 veteran leading the way and Final Fantasy XVI departing from turn-based battles to focus on real-time combat, the gameplay felt fast-paced, intricate, and incredibly exhilarating.
A high skill ceiling yet accessible gameplay experience
Perhaps one of the things I found most impressive and exciting about XVI’s combat system is how the title does away with difficulty settings. No need to choose between easy, normal or hard at the beginning of your playthrough: you will have two options: action-focused or story-focused. Behind these two options, there’s in fact a singular experience, with enemies just as ferocious in the story-focused mode as they are in the action-focused one, with the single difference that picking story-focus grants players access to a particular set of accessories from the very start of their playthrough.
To make the game more accessible to players who may be less familiar with action gameplay, Final Fantasy XVI features a variety of helpful accessories. There are five to choose from, each offering unique benefits and picking the story-focused setting will let you equip two from the get go. One accessory slows down time to make it easier to perform perfect dodges, while another fully automates the controls of Torgal, Clive’s loyal canine companion. One accessory automatically uses potions when your health is running low, and another automatically dodges incoming attacks for you.
Perhaps the most visually striking accessory, however, lets you dish out a series of powerful combos and finishers based on your available cooldowns at the (repeated) press of a single button, showcasing the full breadth and intricacy of the combat system for virtually none of the price, and making for a flashy experience. With these accessories, Final Fantasy XVI is designed to be accessible to a wide range of players, regardless of previous experience with action games.
However, action gamers – do not fret. The skill ceiling is even higher in the third setting you’ll get to pick once you finish the game. Aptly named ‘Final Fantasy’, the New Game+ mode will provide players with an extra challenge should they be up for it, not only increasing the strength of enemies but also their placement throughout the game as well as providing players with full-on different battles.
A narrative landscape of high fantasy and political intrigue
Unlike its predecessor, which ventured into more modern territory, XVI takes us on a journey back to the roots of the franchise, immersing us in a world of high fantasy that draws inspiration from medieval Europe. The realm of Valisthea is built around powerful Mothercrystals that provide aether, the magical force that has been a staple of the Final Fantasy universe since its inception. As nations form around these crystals, each developing its own customs and philosophies, a delicate balance emerges, punctuated by periods of precarious peace. But when the aether starts to drain, tensions rise, and deep political conflicts threaten to tear Valisthea apart.
Against this backdrop of uncertainty, players will embark on Clive’s journey, a tale of revenge with his own personal, unique motivations. And of course, he won’t be traveling alone.
According to Naoki Yoshida, individual stories will be essential. “We have a vast ensemble cast,” says Yoshida. “Each character is unique in their backgrounds and motivations, and each has their own unique arcs that play out through the story. And while the main focus of this story is on Clive Rosfield, as he seeks vengeance for the loss of his family and nation. Through his journey, players will witness the fates of many other characters as well.”
To support this rich narrative, Final Fantasy XVI will feature a brand-new system called Active Time Lore, or ATL for short.
“Our story is deep and focuses on the characters, but we wanted to make the world feel alive and give reasons for why things are happening,” says Michael-Christopher Koji Fox “We created a history that goes back over 1500 years, which influences the story.”
This very in-depth feature is integrated throughout and will allow you to pause the game at any point, even mid-cutscene, and get tailored lore prompts to refresh your memory on a character just mentioned, a nation’s history, or a particular event that took place.
“We have hundreds of entries available,” Koji Fox continues, “but players can also choose to ignore them and enjoy the game without feeling bogged down.”
Technical prowess fuelled by PS5’s hardware
Final Fantasy XVI sets a new standard in technical achievement that cannot be ignored. Its vast and beautiful world can be explored with ease, seamlessly transitioning between battle, exploration, and cutscenes without any pesky loading times. Thanks to the incredible speed of the PS5’s SSD, players can immerse themselves in a non-stop rollercoaster ride of gameplay. But that’s not all either, the DualSense wireless controller adds a whole new level of immersion with its impressive range of haptic feedback.
“In terms of the haptic feedback, we take the sound effect data from our cutscenes and transfer it into vibration data,” says Hiroshi Takai “While an explosion will obviously create a big vibration, it’s the smaller sounds and subtle variations in vibration that really stood out to us. It’s like going from one generation of controllers to the next.”
The portion of FFXVI that I had the opportunity to play was a vertical slice of the main questline, which took place a few hours into the game. During this segment Clive Rosfield was accompanied by Hugo Kupka and Torgal as we tracked down one of the dominants. In this pursuit, we ventured through a castle and encountered numerous enemies, culminating in two thrilling boss battles. It’s important to note that the version of the game that I experienced is still in development and may undergo further changes before its final release on June 22, 2023.
great games based on books, but I’ve never seen an adaptation as unconventional as The Forest Cathedral, a dramatic reimagining of Rachel Carson’s science book from the ‘60s, Silent Spring. Carson’s book investigated the pesticide known as DDT, its harmful environmental impacts, and the misinformation that allowed companies to indiscriminately use it. The Forest Cathedral reimagines this series of events as partly a first-person walking sim across the woods and partly a 2D platformer set inside scanning equipment. So, yeah, not exactly a one-to-one adaptation.
After being revealed at the February Nintendo Direct, the first wave of DLC for Splatoon 3 is now here, bringing the Inkopolis hub world from the first game in the series over to the Switch.
The location is nothing but a new hub for the time being, with no noticeable bonuses being granted to those that choose to shop and play there rather than Splatsville. You might remember the location from 2015’s Splatoon on the Wii U and while it remains mostly unchanged in its new Switch form, the graphics have received something of a facelift.
Honkai: Star Rail‘s closed beta, and it certainly seems that MiHoYo’s upcoming free-to-play RPG is hoping to capture a similar audience to Genshin Impact’s. Star Rail’s turn-based battles and JRPG leanings might be a bit of a departure from Genshin’s open-world adventuring, but it’s definitely, 100%, without a doubt, anime as heck. Oh, and very gacha. There’s a lot of currencies. So many currencies. Still, I think it’s shaping up to be a decent time.
 for like nine months now. If my need for plants were a child, it would have been born. I had a decent pot plant called James Plant back in the UK, but when I moved I bequeathed James Plant to Graham – and, now that I think about it, Graham hasn’t told me how James Plant is doing, so I should probably check in on that.</p><p>I know that digital plants do not replace real plants in a physical sense – i.e. I am getting no oxygenating benefit from them – but the little plants in <a href=)
Garden In! make me happy. And I’ve just realised the name is a pun, too.
great games based on books, but I’ve never seen an adaptation as unconventional as 
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