After a successful Early Access journey, the cooperative railway builder is coming to consoles this year
LONDON (March 3, 2026) – Full steam ahead – today during the Nintendo Indie World Showcase, developer Indoor Astronaut revealed that Unrailed 2: Back on Track, the bombastic co-op railway builder, is officially leaving Early Access and heading to consoles soon.
Watch today’s new Unrailed 2: Back on Track trailer. Upon arrival, fans can look forward to both native Nintendo Switch™ 2 and Nintendo Switch editions of Unrailed 2 alongside the 1.0 PC update in May 2026, with a PlayStation 5 release also due later this year.
To celebrate today’s announcements, a new playable demo is now available on Nintendo Switch, giving players a chance to jump in and experience the fun. Players can dive into the first biome of the game and attempt to overcome the boss encounter within, all while being able to enjoy local multiplayer for up to four players on a single Nintendo Switch device.
Upon the game’s full release in May, alongside local multiplayer, the Nintendo Switch 2 version will also support GameShare, allowing players to enjoy Unrailed 2 in even more ways on a compatible Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch device. Players can look forward to more information about GameShare and how to play together closer to release.
Unrailed 2 is a fast-paced cooperative multiplayer game where players must work together to keep their train moving across procedurally generated worlds. Up to four players can work together to gather resources and lay tracks and keep their constantly moving locomotive from derailing as it pushes through ever-changing landscapes. Featuring unlockable upgrades, six unique biomes, community-made maps and an all new eight-player Versus Mode, Unrailed 2 is the ultimate multiplayer mayhem for train aficionados and first-time passengers alike.
Unrailed 2: Back on Track will release its 1.0 PC update and launch on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch in May 2026, with a PlayStation 5 release due later this year. For more information, visit: unrailed-game.com
About Indoor Astronaut:
Indoor Astronaut is a super small indie studio located in Zurich, Switzerland with the goal to make co-op games more cooperative! Visit https://indoorastronaut.ch/
CD PROJEKT RED announces that its open-world role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 will join Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on March 10.
Snapshot:
Cyberpunk 2077 will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass, joining CD PROJEKT RED’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the platform.
The narrative driven, open-world RPG will be available to Premium and Ultimate plan subscribers on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
Starting March 10, players can enter the dark future with Cyberpunk 2077 and take on the role of Night City mercenary V — a fully customizable character enhanced with cybernetic implants. Players will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime heist to steal an experimental prototype known as the “Relic” — and watch the trajectory of V’s life change when things don’t go as planned.
What follows is a narratively-rich open-world experience where every decision matters, as players’ choices affect how the story unfolds. Robust perk trees, futuristic cyberware, and a range of powerful weapons — from thermal katanas to talking guns — are all at players’ disposal to build their ultimate playstyle and define their legend.
Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X|S comes with every update released for the game since launch, which brought myriad technical improvements, new features, and additional content such as quests, vehicles, and character customization options. Players on Xbox Series X can also play Cyberpunk 2077 at 60 frames per second in Performance Mode or with 4K Ultra HD visuals in Quality Mode. Players on Xbox One will receive Cyberpunk 2077 and everything released up to and including Update 1.6 — the Edgeruners Update.
Cyberpunk 2077 joins Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate for both Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles on March 10. More information about Cyberpunk 2077 can be found on the official website, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and X.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a video game development studio founded in 2002. Its flagship titles include the futuristic role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 and its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, alongside The Witcher series of games including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world role-playing game set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V, and players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 30 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with TRIGGER. Its spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was released in 2023 and has sold over 10 million copies. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen and paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.
Race officially licensed cars, tracks and series in this stylish arcade racer with an engaging career mode and online multiplayer, also coming to PlayStation & Xbox this summer!
CHELMSFORD, Mass. – March 3, 2026 – iRacing Studios and Original Fire Games are excited to share that iRacing Arcade, the all-new, third-person, arcade-style racing title featuring pocket-sized versions of premier real-world cars and circuits, is available today on Steam for $24.99! Grab your controller and climb the global racing ranks as you build a motorsport dynasty in the robust career mode, compete against friends in online multiplayer, and hone your skills with customizable free play races and global time trials.
iRacing Arcade takes some of the world’s leading cars and circuits and converts them into highly stylized versions designed for maximum fun, combining an adorable art style with the realistic fuel burn and tire wear that iRacing products are known for. Progress through a deep career mode as you build the fully customizable campus of your dreams, manage drivers and resources, and shape your journey from grassroots racing to motorsport glory.
iRacing Arcade Key Features
Iconic Cars, Tracks & Series: Experience the vibrant world of motorsport with stylized recreations of legendary cars and tracks, including the world-class Barber Motorsports Park, Imola, Mexico City, and Miami circuits, plus the FIA Formula 4, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTP class and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Approachable Yet Authentic Racing: Race across multiple categories with a physics model that’s easy to learn yet endlessly rewarding to master, keeping you hooked as you chase the perfect lap in this accessible racer built for game controllers.
Build A Motorsport Legacy: Rise from rags to riches in the extensive career mode as you build a fully customizable motorsport campus with garages, engine and chassis shops, plus R&D buildings to unlock in-race boosts, with no two campuses ever looking the same. Team management allows players to manage multiple series at once, with hired drivers available to keep your team on top of the racing world.
Online Multiplayer: Compete in online multiplayer with up to 11 competitors worldwide, with custom lobbies to race against friends.
Global Time Trials: Hone your racing line as you chase top times on the Global Leaderboards—or set the pace and let others chase you. With weekly rotations, the competition always stays fresh.
iRacing Arcade is co-developed and published by iRacing, the studio behind the most authentic motorsport racing simulation in the world, as well as the acclaimed NASCAR 25, released last fall on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
iRacing Arcade is available on Steam today with a free demo, and will also release on Xbox and PlayStation consoles this summer. For more information, visit www.iRacingarcade.com.
About iRacing
The world leader in the online racing simulation and gaming market, iRacing was founded in 2003 by Dave Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world, including with NASCAR, INDYCAR, the FIA, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, and numerous other car manufacturers, tracks, and racing series. Alongside its PC simulation, iRacing also produces the official console games of NASCAR (starting with NASCAR 25) and the World of Outlaws, as well as the fantasy off-road racing game ExoCross. Learn more at www.iracing.com.
About Original Fire Games
Original Fire Games is a games studio dedicated to distilling the thrill and beauty of racing into arcade Motorsport experiences. Their debut game, Circuit Superstars, captivated fans with its unique blend of sim-meets-arcade. Original Fire Games is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 3rd, 2026 – Saigon Dragon Studios today announced that Space Tales, its retro-futuristic real-time strategy game, will launch in Early Access on Steamon March 11th. The Early Access release includes the first eight story missions, the introduction of a new enemy faction, and replayable survival mode variants for each mission. The launch trailer debuts today.
Space Tales combines classic RTS decision-making with modern strategic twists designed to reward both tactical planning and creative battlefield adaptation. The Early Access build delivers a substantial single-player experience, offering players a deep first chapter of the campaign, full access to core systems, and meaningful strategic variety from the outset.
Following Early Access, the development team will focus on completing the remaining story chapters and expanding the campaign into a full-scale sci-fi epic. Regular content updates are planned throughout development, with a full 1.0 release targeted for the end of 2026. Player progress will carry over seamlessly from Early Access to the full launch.
Early Access Content at Launch
At launch, Space Tales will include:
8 story missions introducing the main characters, the central antagonist, and the foundations of the game’s universe
Survival Mode variants for every campaign mission, increasing replayability
Two enemy eactions: the deadly alien Nexera and the relentless mechanized Kill Bots
Modular HUB base building with full access to all core units and mechanics
Alien boss encounters that can be defeated and captured to become powerful battlefield units
A Reluctant Hero Space Tales follows Xander Falcon, who becomes humanity’s reluctant hero after his father’s death, leading the Inter-Planetary Expansion army against the alien Nexera while uncovering dark secrets.
Alongside Vespera and Desmond, the conflict blends large-scale warfare with character-driven storytelling.
Two Factions. Two Threats. Adapt Your Strategy Players build modular colonies, manage limited resources, and push back escalating threats across hostile alien worlds. The introduction of The Kill Bots marks a major escalation in battlefield complexity. This relentless mechanized faction forces players to rethink defensive layouts, timing, and unit compositions. Success depends on efficient expansion, careful positioning, and decisive counterattacks.
Early Access features two distinct enemy factions with radically different combat styles. The Nexera rely on alien aggression, while the Kill Bots apply relentless mechanized pressure. What works against one will fail against the other, forcing players to constantly adapt their tactics and base layouts.
Capturable Alien Titans Large boss encounters are a signature element of Space Tales. Players will face colossal alien lifeforms capable of overwhelming even established colonies. Once defeated, these titans can be captured and deployed as powerful units, unlocking new tactical possibilities and reshaping battlefield dynamics.
Saigon Dragon Studios is targeting a full 1.0 release by the end of 2026, with regular updates pacing the Early Access journey.
After Early Access, the team will head down into completing the remaining campaign chapters and expanding late-game content:
The remaining 5 campaign missions
Larger, more chaotic battles as the story escalates
A third enemy faction designed to further elevate tactical challenge and narrative stakes
Continued balance updates, quality-of-life improvements, and community-driven refinements
“Early Access is the beginning of the journey,” said Matt, Game Director at Saigon Dragon Studios. “Players will experience the opening arc of our story and face The Kill Bots for the first time. From there, we’ll expand the universe, escalate the conflict, and deliver the epic sci-fi campaign we’ve always wanted to build.”
About Saigon Dragon Studios Founded in 2015 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Saigon Dragon Studios built its reputation as a leading art production partner for the global games industry, contributing to more than 100 titles across AAA, indie, and mobile games. With a team of seasoned artists and developers, the studio is now channeling a decade of experience into its own original creation, Space Tales, blending artistic excellence with a deep passion for real-time strategy.
Construct your ideal kingdom, throw anything and everything, and rule the land!
Walnut Creek, California — March 3, 2026 | Maximum Entertainment today announced that Overthrown will officially launch into version 1.0 on March 18, 2026, arriving on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The full release will debut alongside the game’s most ambitious content drop yet: the Airship Update.
In Overthrown, players rule as a monarch wielding an ancient soul-stealing crown with powerful magical abilities. Set in a hostile wilderness, the game challenges players to build, defend, and expand a kingdom while fending off bandits, mutants, and increasingly complex threats, alone or with friends in up to six-player co-op.
The Airship Update dramatically expands Overthrown’s scope by taking the chaos to the skies. Players can construct and command their own airships, sending them to assault outlaw camps from above. However, airships come at a cost, requiring significant mana upkeep to operate, forcing players to balance power with sustainability. Outlaws are not defenseless either, fielding airships of their own and turning aerial dominance into a high-stakes strategic arms race.
To counter these airborne threats, the update introduces the Cannon Tower, a new defensive structure designed for direct fire against both airships and ground troops. Unlike existing indirect siege options, cannon towers provide precise, reactive defense and are available to both players and outlaws alike.
Outlaw activity escalates significantly in the Airship Update. Camps grow larger and more complex, featuring new structures and three dangerous new enemy types:
Scrappers, support units that stay behind the front lines to repair and rebuild damaged defenses
Ringleaders, heavily armored elite enemies limited to one per camp
Firestarters, stealthy saboteurs that infiltrate settlements at night to ignite fires before disappearing
The update also introduces a terrifying new creature: the Devourer. If left unchecked, Snappers can evolve over time into these massive beasts, capable of consuming entire buildings and even ships.
Rounding out the update are three new levels, each focused on distinct ecosystems, including the high-elevation Highland Plateau, designed to highlight verticality, aerial combat, and environmental strategy.
With its Airship Update launching day one alongside version 1.0, Overthrown delivers its most expansive and dynamic experience yet. Overthrown is available now in Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, launches day one with Xbox Game Pass, and releases fully on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on March 18, 2026.
Play today: www.playoverthrown.com. For more news about Overthrown, follow @MaximumEntmt on X.
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About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs experienced professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations. Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
About Brimstone
Brimstone is a fully remote, international indie team founded in Sweden and spread across more than ten different countries throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a studio we focus on creating chaotic and innovative sandbox games. For more info visit www.brimstone.games.
Over 1 million units sold during Early Access of Hit Survival Colony Sim
London, UK – March 3, 2026 – With March 12th being a busy day for colony sim games, Mythwright and Foxy Voxel have decided to move GOING MEDIEVAL’s 1.0 launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG to March 17th.
Watch Going Medieval’s 1.0 Release Date Trailer below.
With over 1 million units sold during Early Access, GOING MEDIEVAL is set to bring a variety of new content to the colony sim when it launches into 1.0 later this month. Enjoy brand-new features, including Renown and Global Stats, which overhaul the in-game progression system, the introduction of Grand Objectives, providing a route to each campaign conclusion, new Starting Conditions with unique gameplay modifications, and additional quality of life improvements as well as new buildings, items, and roles for your settlers.
Rebuild civilization and help your survivors settle and thrive in a dangerous wilderness. Build them a home using freeform construction tools, shape their lives, and defend them from bandits and beasts. Research and craft medieval tech, construct, furnish, and decorate your chambers, workshops, chapels, and libraries, and build impenetrable defenses to survive raids and create the perfect stronghold, all in a dynamic sandbox world. The Dark Ages is yours to rebuild.
ABOUT FOXY VOXEL Foxy Voxel is an independent game development studio that brings together a group of seasoned developers to work on games they’d like to play themselves. Since late 2018, the team has been working on its first project – Going Medieval.
ABOUT MYTHWRIGHT Mythwright is an independent publisher founded by industry veterans. Established in 2024, Mythwright has already signed a range of exciting titles including Thronefall, Kaiju Cleanup, TerraTech Legion, TerraTech Worlds, TerraTech, Going Medieval, Cozy Marbles, Galacticare, War for the Overworld, Bladesong, Innkeep, Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts, Deadstick – Bush Flight Simulator and Touch Type Tale – Strategic Typing.
Much loved Farming/Life Sim Expands to New Platforms; Physical PS5 Edition Available to Pre-Order
London, UK. — 3 March 2026 — Marvelous Europe today announced that the latest installment in the beloved farming/life sim series, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar,will be releasing for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S systems on 28 May 2026. The PS5™ and Xbox Series X|S versions include all post-launch updates released on the Nintendo Switch™ system, the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system, and PC. Grand Bazaar will be available digitally in a standard edition for £44.99 / €49.99, a Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game and the “Trunk of Transformation” cosmetic DLC for £49.99 / €59.99 and a Super Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the “Trunk of Transformation” cosmetic DLC, a digital soundtrack, and digital art book for £54.99 / €69.99. All digital editions will also come with the “Cow Set” cosmetic DLC as a purchase bonus. Previously available downloadable content will also be available at launch on these new platforms.
Additionally, a standard PS5™ physical edition will be available shortly for pre-order for £44.99 / €49.99.
Zephyr Town’s bazaar was once one of the grandest in the world, drawing customers and peddlers from all four corners of the globe. These days, though, the bazaar has more tumbleweeds than customers. It’s up to Zephyr Town’s newest resident to turn its fortunes around! Players will raise animals, harvest crops, craft rare delicacies, then sell wares at their very own stall in the bazaar. As the bazaar business grows, new goods and services will arrive, which players can use to improve their farm. Help return prosperity to the bazaar, settle down for a cozy life and start a family, and Zephyr Town is sure to thrive once again!
Inspired by the classic handheld title, the new STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar builds up and improves on the original in every conceivable way. The world is bigger and more alive than ever thanks to incredible new visuals, new characters, an expanded story, and full character voice work in story events—a series first. Take advantage of Zephyr Town’s unique weather, using the wind to make travel and farm tasks a breeze! The winds of change are coming to deliver a new life in STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar.
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Key Features:
Cozy Living Reaches New Heights: The magnificent beauty of Zephyr Town shines with gorgeous graphics while a richly voiced story carries the player on a rewarding journey of farming, friendship, and renewal.
Take the Leap: Harness the power of the wind! Use windmills to create new products to sell, and effortlessly travel across the town on a glider. Use new jumping skills on the farm, or when exploring the town. You never know what you’ll find!
Ring the Bell and Sell, Sell, Sell: Your farm’s produce and goods take on additional importance as the heart of the business at the lively weekly bazaar. Customize the stall and take charge of sales to build up buzz and power up profits.
A Beautifully Cozy Life: Enjoy a rich life amongst a colorful community of characters, from friendly townsfolk to magical Nature Sprites. Build a home, grow relationships, and even find love and start a family.
Developed by Marvelous and published in Europe and Australia by Marvelous Europe, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaarlaunched for the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system, Nintendo Switch™ system, and Windows PC via Steam on 27 August 2025. The title is published in Asia by Marvelous Inc., and in America by Marvelous USA. This title is rated PEGI 3 / USK 0.
Marvelous Europe is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Marvelous Inc., developer of beloved Story of Seasons and Rune Factory games. Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe’s varied portfolio includes both third-party titles such asSakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Leximan, Cuisineerand Moonlight Peaks in addition to select Marvelous Inc. content.
WWE 2K26‘s special editions (King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition) release this Friday, March 6 AEDT. Before launch, we wanted to share all of the game announcements so far in case you missed any news that you’d like to cover.
WWE 2K26 covers
The current World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk, strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE ‘13.
The King of Kings Edition celebrates the in-ring career and ongoing behind-the-scenes legacy of WWE Hall of Famer and current WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
The Attitude Era Edition evokes nostalgia for one of the greatest eras in WWE history, and larger-than-life personalities including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, Undertaker, Kane, Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Kurt Angle, and The Dudley Boyz.
An all-new “super-premium” Monday Night War Edition features content tied to WWE stars of the Attitude Era, as well as a collection of WCW’s biggest names of the era, including “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Goldberg, Booker T, and Eric Bischoff.
Gameplay enhancements, new match types, & interactive environments
Four new match types, including I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell and Dumpster, stackable tables, new usable objects including shopping carts and thumbtacks, and larger interactive environments offer new but familiar ways to punish opponents. Intergender Matches are available across core game modes. A revamp of the Reversals and Stamina system adds a layer of strategy, and upgraded physics interactions make the action feel more dynamic and dangerous. Interactive entrances and the addition of Booker T and Wade Barrett to the commentary team further refine the audiovisual presentation.
Check out the Gameplay Ringside Report video narrated by WWE colour commentator Wade Barrett.
Welcome to The Island
2K’s WWE-themed world is now bigger and more social than ever, and available for the first time on PC. Players will choose one of three factions and battle for control with a revamped progression system. The new Scrapyard Brawl environment, fresh Towers, new shops and branded gear, an expanded MySUPERSTAR builder with face-photo importing, plus upgraded quests, complete with Superstar voiceovers, cutscenes and dialogue screens, enhance the immersive experience.
CM Punk jumps through time to relive incredible moments from his career. Narrated by “The Best in the World” himself, players will relive iconic matches and battle against WWE Legends in Fantasy Warfare. For those who want to truly prove their mettle, the Showcase Gauntlet looks to push players to their limits! CM Punk’s rise, rebellion, and return make this the most personal 2K Showcase yet.
Check out the 2K Showcase Ringside Report video narrated by CM Punk himself.
Roster for the ages
A roster of over 400 playable characters, the biggest in franchise history. A combination of current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, Legends, and WWE Hall of Famers, with new additions and returns including Rey Fénix, Rusev, and Blake Monroe, and many more.
New Intergender Matches, 5, 6, and 8-man matches, plus support for more match types than ever before, vastly increase the number of possible matches and outcomes. More shows per season pose new management challenges in 2K’s strategic brand management simulation mode.
The collectible card-battle mode is back with new intergender lineups and Quick Swap matches. Players collect new card designs and boost their performance with the new Faction Chemistry and run-in support. New themed card packs and goals will continue to roll out regularly throughout the year with seasonal content refreshes.
Players define their MySUPERSTAR’s journey through two new division-based storylines where villainous or heroic decisions impact MyPLAYERs like never before. Players can now keep playing even after the main stories are complete, with more unlockable content and achievements to earn for increased replayability.
Check out the MyRISE Ringside Report video narrated by Paul Heyman.
Universe Mode & Creation Suite
The WWE Draft comes to WWE 2K’s sandbox mode, where players create their own WWE Universe and control match outcomes. Other new introductions include new Universe Creation Wizard, Watch Show mode, improved Money in the Bank cash-ins, and additional Promo types.
The best-in-class customisation mode now offers 200 Create-A-Superstar save slots, doubling the existing count in response to community demand. Community Creations now features a doubled image capacity of 2,000, deeper body and face morphing tools, and two-tone hair colour blending, giving players unprecedented freedom to craft the Superstars, arenas, and other creations of their dreams.
Check out the Universe & Creations Ringside Report video narrated by Bayley.
Post-launch content – Ringside Pass
The all-new Ringside Pass offers players additional incentive to play, earning XP across all game modes, excluding online lobbies. 120 total rewards across 40 free tiers and 40 premium tiers will be available, with players who can reach tier 40 of the Ringside Pass Premium Season able to unlock Superstars, cosmetic and customisation items, VC, MyFACTION and The Island content, and more. Six Ringside Pass Seasons are planned to roll out throughout the year, with Ringside Pass Season 1 available at launch and featuring unlockable Superstars and Legends, previously available in the WWE 2K Supercharger, on the free tier.
Over the last few years, since the release of their brand new Tales of Arise, Bandai Namco has been working on re-releasing remastered versions of former Tales games. While some of these remasters went better than others and saw older titles like Tales of Graces and Tales of Xillia brought to a new generation of fans with some quality of life and visual improvements, many wondered what title would be next on the table. The last thing many expected would be that Tales of Berseria would be it, considering not only is it the second newest Tales game, but it is actively available on the PlayStation 4. Though now that Tales of Berseria Remastered has arrived and brought the title to more platforms and with a few improvements, is it worth picking up for newcomers or even longtime fans?
Story
Velvet Crowe has been doing her best to take care of her sickly younger brother after the passing of her older sister during the “Opening” that saw daemons and the cursed Daemonblight sweep the land. Training with her brother-in-law Artorius, she has done everything she can to help their small family thrive. That is until the Scarlet Night returns and Daemonblight sweeps through the village, transforming everyone into a daemon and Artorius sacrifices her brother in a ritual to unlock ancient power. In her attempt to stop him, Velvet is inflicted with the Daemonblight herself and is transformed into a Therion, a daemon that feeds on other daemons.
After being subdued by the exorcists under Artorius’ command and thrown in a prison for daemons, Velvet has survived for one thing and one thing only, revenge on the man that killed her brother. After three years of imprisonment a twist of fate frees Velvet when it is revealed that Artorius is seen as the hero of the world and has formed the Abbey Exorcists into his own religious military. Seeking to put a stop to him is none other than Artorius’ former malak, a being capable of wielding exorcism magic and usually “bound” to their masters, who frees Velvet in an attempt to stop what Artorius might have planned that will endanger the entire world. Though Velvet cares little for the reasoning, as any allies she gathers along the way, an eclectic crew of misfits and daemons themselves, are nothing more than means to an end as long as Velvet can slay Artorius.
Tales of Berseria Remastered doesn’t change anything in regards to the storyline that was in the original game back in 2016 but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While some Tales games have always had dark twists and turns and darker themes throughout them, Tales of Berseria has always been one of the darkest and most unique stories in the entire franchise. Between strong writing and engaging character motives, players will be eager to see Velvet’s journey through. Not only is the title a great revenge story but it is expanded upon by a great cast of characters to surround Velvet, such as the delightfully eccentric witch Magilou and other characters that join Velvet along the way for one reason or another.
It is interesting to note that there is a bit of new content for those that never purchased any DLC for the original release but it only comes in the form of Bonus Skits. Skits still work as usual, appearing at set or random locations, but these Bonus Skits feature extra bits of comedy, character interaction, and more that will be brand new for most fans.
Gameplay
In many ways Tales of Berseria Remastered will still play the same as the original as nearly every change was through quality of life improvements. These include the classic move from Bandai Namco to unlock the Grade Shop immediately and give players a chance to boost XP, Gold, Item Drops, or even make the game harder and many of them can be toggled off and on once players start the game. It is also worth noting that it appears that the standard moving speed has been boosted slightly to make navigating and backtracking through dungeons easier and similarly, bottles that previously were given later in the game to fast-travel to the start of a dungeon are given to players almost immediately rather than late-game.
Players can even turn on map objective markers that will display where they need to travel for their objective and, if they really wish to, turn off enemy encounters entirely. Nearly all of these options can be toggled on and off in the settings, giving players a bit of freedom if they feel like avoiding lop-sided encounters when backtracking. There is also the ability to save at will with “quick saves” and some auto saves here and there but it never really felt necessary to rely on an auto-save.
Combat remains as fast and more fluid than ever thanks to the remastering as even the flashiest of fights never saw a moment of slowdown. Tales of Berseria allows players to freely roam around the battlefield and target their locked-on enemy or swap targets with a single button tap. Once again combat chains are tied to the Soul Gauge with each attack draining some of the gauge that refills over time. Extra souls can be obtained from slaying an enemy or stunning them and in certain cases, especially Velvet, can be used to trigger a powerful Break Soul that unlocks the combo meter and allows her to finish off foes with a powerful finishing move depending on input and enemy type.
Exploration is something of a mixed-bag unfortunately and it is also an issue even with the quality of life improvements here. While there is some decent variation to the dungeons players will travel through, players will notice certain blocked paths that can’t be interacted with due to a missing character or some incredibly boring puzzles. Of all the Tales titles, the puzzles in Berseria are some of the worst and it is rather unfortunate that this hasn’t been remedied.
Audio & Visuals
It is a bit odd to say that Tales of Berseria Remastered really doesn’t look much different than the original title. Yes, combat and transitions are incredibly smooth without any loading and the animated cutscenes are still excellent, but most of the game’s character models and portraits were already impressive back in the day and thanks to the series’ art style, that remains true now even with this minor touch-up. Dungeons are similarly the same, which means that many are unfortunately bland and generic with only a few really standing out in any notable way. That being said, it is nice to note that since the game does include most of the DLC from the original game, players have a whole closet of different costumes, hair styles, and accessories to dress their characters up in. The only missing content are the Idolm@ster outfits which are likely due to licensing issues.
The game offers both the original English voice work as well as the Japanese voice track to choose from and the English cast does an excellent job with their roles here. Velvet’s voice actress does wonders for the character’s raging yells on one hand and deadpan tone on another while Magilou’s teasing voice serves as a perfect counterbalance. The soundtrack also is handled exceptionally well here with both an impressive opening song and a great collection of background music during combat and poignant moments.
Overall
Tales of Berseria Remastered is something of an odd game. Not because it is bad, far from it, but because it was a strange choice considering the other Tales games waiting in the rafters. The quality of life improvements do wonders to help smooth over some of the rough patches that were in the original release and smoother transitions and gameplay make combat better than ever, though the real bonus for some might just be all of the DLC being included in one batch and the classic Grade shop unlocking from the beginning. All that being said, while a strange choice for a remaster, Tales of Berseria’s strong writing and Velvet’s journey for vengeance remains as engaging as ever.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Embrace complete freedom and forge truly unique sagas with AI narration adapting seamlessly to any input. Evolve beyond multiple choice responses and guiding narratives to embrace the subtle nuances of storytelling. Simply type genuine responses and actions to engage with the story as naturally as playing a tabletop RPG.
Take advantage of a free-form character creation system, filling out CRPG-style character sheets with as much detail desired. Type out characters’ personalities, class, speech patterns, and more to forge distinct heroes and villains alike. Import and export character sheets to share your original characters on social media, or invite others’ to join the adventure.
Design any adventure, from a legendary campaign to a cheeky side quest, and complete missions to gather memories and skills meticulously generated to fit each character and storyline. Once completed, share a Quest Log with the world, or load and play original scenarios created by fellow adventurers to continue the search for the ultimate story.
Regarding the Use of Generative AI: While Saga & Seeker utilizes text-generation AI for part of its game system, human creators are responsible for all illustrations, sounds, and other in-game assets. With the exception of the text generated within the game, no AI-generated materials are used.
“We want Saga & Seeker to be a game where adventurers can unleash their imagination and are empowered to craft their own unique stories, free from the limit of pre-set choices,” says Dragdoria Studio producer Shinichi Taira. “It is thrilling to see those distinctive experiences can finally be shared with a new audience of English-speaking fans around the world today!”
Saga & Seeker is now available on PC via Steam for $9.99, with the language options of Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese. For more information, follow Saga & Seeker and Dagdoria Studio on X / Twitter, and join the Discord community.
To create a fun, raw experience shaped by cutting-edge technology, Dagdoria Studio has decided to take a challenging route: developing games using modern generative AI. Unlike other games with polished details, their debut title, Saga & Seeker, offers a rough-around-the-edges experience with surprising outcomes that players can refine.
