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The Witcher in Concert Comes to Asia

CD PROJEKT RED proudly announces The Witcher in Concert is continuing its global tour with new venues announced for several Asian countries, including South Korea, China, and the Philippines — with more dates to be revealed in the future.

Snapshot:

  • The Witcher in Concert will first visit Singapore in 2025 for three shows before embarking on a larger tour across Asia in 2026.
  • The multi-nation 2026 tour will begin in Seoul, South Korea on January 31, with ticket sales starting at the end of October.
  • Each concert features a special arrangement of the game’s music performed by a 14-member ensemble including members of Percival Schuttenbach.

The immersive concert experience, created to celebrate 10 years of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, brings to life the open-world role-playing game’s timeless score with a live orchestra performance. Tracks from The Witcher 3 and its expansions are accompanied by cutting-edge visuals and gameplay, as well as select members of Percival Schuttenbach — co-composers of the game’s soundtrack well known for their iconic tracks.

Following a successful run of concerts across Europe and the United States, The Witcher in Concert is bringing the celebration to venues in cities such as Seoul, Shanghai, and Manila, with additional venues to be announced in the future. Prior to the multi-stop tour in 2026, a two-day run is planned for November 29–30, 2025 in Singapore, with tickets already available to purchase.

The Witcher community across Asia expressed incredible excitement when we first announced The Witcher in Concert. To finally take the music to them is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” said The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt co-composer Marcin Przybyłowicz. “I’m already looking forward to 2026 — and I hope our community is also looking forward to experiencing Geralt’s journey with us!”

The full list of venues currently announced for the 2025 and 2026 dates:

  • Singapore — Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands | 29 and 30 November, 2025
  • Seoul, South Korea — Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace | January 31, 2026
  • Shanghai, China — Newbund 31 | March 21, 2026
  • Manila, Philippines — Solaire Theatre | 28 and 29 March, 2026

Ticket sales for the 2026 concerts will be staggered across a short period of time, with Seoul going on sale first this October 28, followed by Shanghai on October 30, and Manila on November 26 (with a pre-sale starting on November 14). Each stop will also feature unique commemorative merchandise for attendees to purchase.

“Our community in Asia has always been an important part of CD PROJEKT RED’s journey with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Whether it’s in the form of fanart, cosplay, music, modding, handwritten letters, or so many other creative outlets, we are always amazed by the passion and excitement that they bring to the game. With The Witcher in Concert, it was important for us to create a fitting tribute for so many shared memories — and the opportunity for one more adventure with Geralt,” said Community International Lead Carolin Wendt.

The Witcher in Concert is created in collaboration with GEA Live and RoadCo Entertainment, the producers of live entertainment events in over 40 countries worldwide. Those interested in learning more about the global tour, seeing the full list of announced venues, or staying up to date with newly announced stops can find information on The Witcher in Concert official website and through its official newsletter.

About The Witcher franchise
Created by CD PROJEKT RED, The Witcher is a series of dark-fantasy role-playing games that has, to this date, sold over 75 million copies worldwide and garnered over 1,000 awards. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, was released in 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and later in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch. In 2022, a next-gen update for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 was released. Overall, the game has won a total of 250 Game of the Year awards and sold over 50 million copies worldwide. The upcoming open-world RPG The Witcher IV marks the beginning of a new saga, focusing on main character Ciri as she embarks on the Path to become a professional monster slayer. The Witcher games are set in the universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski in his series of books.

About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and 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. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).

About GEA Live
Since 2003, GEA Live has delivered innovative live entertainment projects in over 40 countries, establishing itself as a global leader in location-based entertainment. GEA Live has collaborated with legends such as Maestro Ennio Morricone and music industry icons like James Newton Howard, Giorgio Moroder, and George Fenton. Their portfolio includes live cinematic experiences and live screenings with orchestras of major motion pictures like Spider-Man, Dirty Dancing, The Godfather, Titanic, La La Land, and more. Their partnerships with renowned studios and IP giants have earned GEA Live its reputation as a trusted partner in location-based entertainment.

About RoadCo Entertainment
RoadCo Entertainment, formed in 2020, is a producing and distribution agency specializing in live entertainment experiences. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment and independent touring entrepreneurs Stephen Lindsay and Brett Sirota, RoadCo represents a broad roster of live events based on popular brands and intellectual properties, as well as all-new immersive and interactive attractions for audiences of all ages.

Hit Anime Franchise Girls und Panzer Storms into World of Tanks with New Content!

October 21th, 2025 – The iconic and fan-favorite Girls und Panzer universe shines once again in World of Tanks, this time introducing a fearless and high-spirited new team to the game – Saunders University High School. Saunders is known for its emphasis on teamwork, fair play, and an upbeat spirit, often approaching challenges with a positive and lighthearted attitude. Their trademark strength lies in large numbers and overwhelming firepower, supported by charismatic leadership that makes them one of the most recognizable schools in Sensha-Dō.

From today to October 27th, tankers will have the opportunity to recruit four distinctive crew members from Saunders University High School, led by the charismatic Commander Kei. As the team’s spiritual pillar, Kei encourages her crew with extroverted energy and fair play, showing that victory is always sweetest when shared with laughter and fun. Each of Kei’s lines is voiced by the original Japanese cast, delivering an authentic experience.

Taking the spotlight is the Tier VI Sherman Firefly Saunders, an American medium tank with authentic styling that faithfully recreates its appearance from the anime series. Alongside the new tank, Commanders can personalize their vehicles with the all-season Saunders University High School 2D Style, letting them showcase the flair of one of most lively schools.

Throughout the event, commanders can take on special missions to earn GuP Tokens, which can be redeemed in the Girls und Panzer Event Store for customization items such as voiced Commanders, 2D styles, decals, emblems, and more. The lineup includes brand-new content from Saunders University High School alongside established favorites from St. Gloriana, Kuromorimine, and Jatkosota HS. In addition, the fully adjustable Oarai 2D Style makes its return, giving tankers the freedom to mix and match elements for a truly personalized design.

For more details and to access special World of Tanks and Girls und Panzer offers, visit the official website at https://worldoftanks.asia/en/news/general-news/girls-und-panzer-october-2025/

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About World of Tanks  

World of Tanks is the first team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to tank warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with gamers all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 800 armored vehicles from 11 nations, carefully detailed with historical accuracy. Official website:  worldoftanks.com

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 15 offices around the world, including studios in Guildford, Prague, Chicago, Austin, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Kyiv, and Belgrade. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Our flagship products include hit free-to-play franchises – World of Tanks and World of Warships. Official website: https://wargaming.com/en/

About Girls und Panzer​

Girls und Panzer is a popular anime franchise that was first broadcast in October 2012 as a 12-episode TV series. With an unique concept of high school girls playing against each other in tanks and its heart-warming drama, it has since become well known all over the world. As a result of the TV series’ success, a Girls und Panzer OVA hit theaters in July 2014 and a film version took to the silver screen in November 2015. The movie was a smash hit and amassed a total box office revenue of over 2.5 billion JPY. The town of Ōarai in the Ibaraki Prefecture, where the series is based, has become increasingly popular as more and more fans flock to come visit it. The first installment of the latest OVA series, ‘Girls und Panzer das FINALE’, was released in cinemas in December 2017, followed by sequels in June 2019 and March 2021. The fourth and latest release, Part 4, was released on October, 2023! ​

Official website: https://girls-und-panzer-finale.jp/

Lessaria –Polden Publishing’s Royally Raucous Real-Time Strategy Game – Is Now Available on Steam

Your subjects will determine your worthiness as a leader – build a fantasy kingdom, hire mighty heroes, and try to keep an unpredictable army under control!

NICOSIA, CyprusOct. 20, 2025 – Polden Publishing (Static Dread, Bus Flipper: Renovator Simulator) and developer Rockbee Team are proud to announce that the ambitious fantasy strategy game Lessaria is now available on PC via Steam for $24.90. But players who jump in during the first two weeks of the game’s launch can grab the title at a 20% discount!

A modern spiritual successor to the classic Majesty series, Lessaria celebrates a golden age of real-time strategy with a unique gameplay twist. Rather than directly ordering your heroes to act, you have to incentivize them via rewards and hope that you’ve earned their loyalty!

Allowing your citizens to make their own decisions and lead their own lives, you’ll indirectly guide your heroes to defend, attack, and explore in a dynamic, living world. They rely on you to build the kingdom – and you rely on them to keep it all from falling into ruin!

From combat to progression and beyond, you’ll experience a number of upgrades on the old-school formula across a variety of ways to play, including a full story campaign, a more relaxing sandbox mode, and the relentless challenge of survival mode.

Key Features

  • MAJESTIC STRATEGY:RTS action with indirect controls is back! Build a kingdom, hire heroes, and try winning in battle with a truly unpredictable army!
  • THE CLASSIC RTS EVOLVED:Lessaria is an evolution of the RTS genre, where the classic spirit of old-school strategy meets with exciting additions like a brand-new combat system, hero squads, and much more!
  • WATCH YOUR WORLD COME ALIVE: Your heroes have their own daily lives and unique personalities. Follow their everyday routines and see how they spend time between battles according to their interests!

Pick up Lessaria on Steam today for 20% off for a limited time and let your reign begin! For more info, visit polden.gg, and join the Discord community for the latest news and updates.

About Rockbee Team

Rockbee Studiois a small indie studio founded by a group of programmers. The team experimented with various indie game projects before starting development on Lessaria. Rockbee Studio chose the indirect-control RTS genre, as the team has strong expertise in NPC design and behavior — a field where few studios can deliver high-quality indirect gameplay. With Lessaria, the team hopes to revive and reimagine an entire genre.

About Polden

Polden Publishing is an indie game publisher dedicated to helping talented creators connect with their audience. We provide transparent, honest, and data-driven support, empowering developers to bring their unique visions to life. To find out more, visit polden.gg.

AttritoM7 Productions Reveals New BLACKWOOD Gameplay Video

From quiet days in the DVD store to deadly nights as an assassin, Anton Blackwood walks a razor’s edge in a city that shows no mercy.

Dhaka, Bangladesh – October 20, 2025. AttritoM7 Productions, acclaimed developer and publisher of Zero Hour, has released a thrilling 3-minute gameplay reveal for their cinematic third-person action-thriller BLACKWOOD, coming to PC via Steam in 2026.

The clip showcases the prologue of the game, following Anton Blackwood, a contract killer living a double life. Cornered by the mob in the neon-lit streets of New York, Anton must fight his way out with cinematic melee takedowns, environmental kills, and high-octane chases, giving players a first look at the game’s intense combat system.

By day, Anton manages a quiet Brooklyn DVD store, surrounded by shelves of old films and the gentle hum of customers browsing. Amid the routine of scanning rentals and restocking shelves, he experiences fleeting moments of normalcy, and even connection, particularly with a woman who begins to see the gentler, hidden side of him. But by night, the city transforms into a dangerous playground as Anton navigates New York’s underworld, executing contracts with precision while facing the chaos and consequences of his actions. Every encounter, every choice, and every fight tests the balance between his deadly profession and the fragments of humanity he clings to, shaping both his story and the world around him.

Check out the previously released teaser trailer

BLACKWOOD Key Features:

  • Unmatched Takedown System: 30+ contextual finishers, from environmental kills to cinematic executions
  • Grounded but Stylish Combat: Responsive movement, third-person cover mechanics, and 30+ unique weapons
  • Dual-Life Roleplay: Manage a DVD store by day; take contracts by night
  • Authentic 2012 New York: Detailed, immersive world-building
  • Cinematic Storytelling: Seamless gameplay-to-cutscene transitions with human, flawed characters
  • Original In-House Soundtrack: Music composed and performed by the studio’s band

The unseen streets of New York await. Add BLACKWOOD to your Steam Wishlist today and follow Anton’s journey from mundane to deadly when it launches in 2026.

About AttritoM7 Productions
AttritoM7 Productions is a game development and publishing company based in Bangladesh, specializing in the creation of original video game titles, including Agontuk and Zero Hour.

DARK PUZZLE PLATFORMER ‘INMOST’ HITS OVER 1 MILLION PLAYER MILESTONE AHEAD OF MOBILE LAUNCH

With a mobile release and Halloween just around the corner, what better time than now to share that spooky atmospheric puzzle platformer ‘INMOST’ has reached a huge 1.2 million players! However, their emotionally charged tale was one that almost didn’t get told at all.

“Before we made INMOST, Alexey and I were struggling to make ends meet as contract game developers. Not only were we facing losing our business, but also our homes as we were on work visas.” says Andriy Vinchokovskiy, Technical Director Hidden layer Games.

“I had sunk into a deep depression after burning out creating match 3 titles. We’d already said goodbye to our friends and packed our bags, but with nothing to lose, we started working on our dream game – a dark pixel art title.” says Alexey Testov, Art Director of Hidden Layer Games “We were so laser focused on creating something playable that I had even forgotten my own birthday. It was worth it though, the demo went on to win us $30,000 at the DevGamm Awards. Enough to save our business, and ourselves from deportation.”

“It’s crazy to think that since then 1.2 million people have played INMOST, and we’re really excited for the mobile launch on the 28th so we can speak with more players about the themes that matter to us. More than a few have told us the finale brought them to tears, and we hope that new players find it just as meaningful and moving”

Currently available for pre-registration, INMOST will be dropping on to Android and iOS stores October 28th.

About Chucklefish

Chucklefish is an independent game developer and publisher based in London, UK, with a love of charming pixel art and a drive to support and create amazing games. Since 2011, Chucklefish has developed its own games (Starbound and Wargroove) and supported indie developers to realise their own visions. They’ve published titles such as Risk of Rain, Stardew Valley, Timespinner, Pathway, Eastward, INMOST and Wildfrost. With their third in-house game – Witchbrook – in the works as well as many exciting projects from their publishing partners, Chucklefish have never been more proud to remain independent.

About Hidden Layers Games

Hidden Layer Games is an independent studio founded by Alexey Testov and Andriy Vinchkovskiy, creators of the critically acclaimed title INMOST. The narrative-driven game has reached over 1.2 million players worldwide and has amassed multiple awards since its debut. Based in Lithuania, the two-man team are dedicated to developing deep, artistically-driven experiences.

Armor King, “The Dark Supernova”, is now available in TEKKEN 8

The iconic Armor King joins the fight today in TEKKEN 8. The “Dark Supernova” reignites as Armor King returns to the ring, consumed by vengeance for his fallen brother. Once seeking justice in The King of Iron Fist Tournament, fate denied him his revenge when the tournament vanished under G Corp’s reign of terror. Confronted by his rival, King, who tried to stop the cycle of hatred, Armor King refused to yield, vowing, “I will have my revenge. No matter what.” Now wielding a forbidden technique passed down by his brother, the heel wrestler joins the TEKKEN 8 roster, ready to settle the score once and for all.

Armor King is available as part of the Season 2 Character Pass and Season 2 Character and Stage Pass, he is also available to buy as a standalone. He is the third character of the Pass, joining Anna, and Fahkurmam that have already been released, and will be followed by Miary Zo, which will be joining the roster on December 5th.

For information on TEKKEN 8 and other titles from Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.eu/. Join the conversation on X at https://x.com/tekken.

Battlefield 6 – Gameplay

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Strap in and get ready for chaos. We charge headfirst into Battlefield 6, blasting through the first four single-player missions. From high-octane firefights to precision stealth kills, we take down helicopters with rocket launchers, outsmart snipers in the shadows, smash through barricades with a sledgehammer, and line up brutal headshots with pinpoint accuracy.

Battlefield 6 – Gameplay

Battlefield 6 is the latest entry in the storied Battlefield series, developed by Battlefield Studios (a collaborative effort of DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive) and published by Electronic Arts. It returns to high‑stakes, modern warfare settings, blending large‑scale infantry battles, aerial dogfights, vehicular warfare, and dynamic environmental destruction. The new Kinesthetic Combat System grants players refined control over movement—leaning, hitchhiking on vehicles, dragging downed teammates—while every structure can be tactically manipulated or demolished.

Matches center around classic and expanded modes such as Conquest, Breakthrough, Rush, Dominion, King of the Hill, and the new Escalation mode, giving options for large battles or close‑quarters combat. You’ll choose from four distinct classes—Assault, Engineer, Support, Recon—each with role-specific strengths, and customize weapons and gadgets to fit your playstyle. Multiplayer is complemented by a cinematic single-player campaign, following elite Marine Raiders known as Dagger 13 in a near‑future conflict between NATO and the private military force Pax Armata.

Battlefield 6
Developer: Battlefield Studios (DICE, Criterion, Motive, Ripple Effect)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC
Release Date: October 10, 2025
Price: $69.99 USD

Available here – https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6

Summary:

Recommended – “A remarkably layered multiplayer mode, coupled with a surprisingly engaging single‑player experience, makes Battlefield 6 a strong candidate for Game of the Year — near‑perfect at launch.”

Check out our review for Battlefield 6 here!

Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
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ATARI REVEALS THE INTELLIVISION SPRINT, A MODERN REVIVAL OF THE LEGENDARY 1980s INTELLIVISION

The Intellivision Sprint celebrates the 45th anniversary of Intellivision, with 45 of the era’s best games on an all-new upgraded gaming system from Atari and PLAION REPLAI

20th October 2025:  Atari announced the Intellivision Sprint, a brand-new gaming console, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the release of the original home video game console, Intellivision.  Featuring 45 fan-favourite games and a host of technical upgrades, the Intellivision Sprint will be available for pre-orders from the 18th ofOctober for $229.95 and will launch on the 5th of December

Released in 1980 as a direct competitor to the Atari 2600, the Intellivision sparked a legendary rivalry that became known as the First Console War.  Intellivision offered contemporary players more realistic sports games, richer graphics, and unique controllers. 

Created in collaboration with PLAION REPLAI, the new Intellivision Sprint has an authentic design, with the original’s gold and black surface and wood grain front.  Technical upgrades include two wireless controllers, HDMI output, and a USB-A port for library expansion. 

The 45 built-in games represent the Intellivision’s competitive edge in sports and strategy games.  Highlights include the sports games Baseball, Chip Shot Super Pro Golf, Soccer, Super Pro Skiing, Tennis and Super Pro Football, and strategy games B-17 Bomber, Sea Battle, Space Battle, and Utopia.  Fan-favourite arcade games include Astrosmash, Shark! Shark!, Star Strike, with Thin Ice and Boulder Dash rounding out the collection.  Two of the unique and eye-catching controller overlays are included for every game in the collection.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate Intellivision’s 45th anniversary, and what better way to honour it than by bringing back this innovative console for fans to experience once again?” said Matt Burnett, VP of Strategic Operations at Atari. “Becoming caretakers of such an important brand is both a big responsibility and a very fun expansion of our work at Atari.”

Atari set off with a major initiative to expand on the legacy of Intellivision through the landmark acquisition of the Intellivision brand and the lion’s share of the game catalogue in 2024.  Since then, ‘The First Console War’, an expansion for the Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration collection, has been released, and now, the Intellivision Sprint begins Atari’s journey with Intellivision hardware. 

“It has been rewarding to apply some of the learnings from our successful collaboration on the Atari+ retro consoles to the Intellivision Sprint,” said Ben Jones, Commercial Director of PLAION REPLAI.  “We’re proud to bring a modern take on this ground-breaking console to Intellivision fans and collectors.”

The Intellivision Sprint will be available for pre-order from the 18th ofOctober for $229.95; the console will launch on the 5th of December

For more details on Intellivision Sprint, including a complete list of games, pleasevisitwww.atari.com.

About Atari

Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 400 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios, the publishing label Infogrames, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.

Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).

©2025 Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari wordmark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc

About PLAION

PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide.  Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena.  With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels.  Additionally, the company has a retro label, PLAION REPLAI, which is dedicated to the production, publishing and distribution of retro gaming hardware and software.

PLAION is an Embracer Group company.

SEVEN KNIGHTS RE:BIRTH DEBUTS NEW LEGENDARY HEROES “NIGHT CHASER” KYLE AND “LAST EXECUTOR” AQUILA

LOS ANGELES OCTOBER 16, 2025 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, has introduced a new update for its collectible RPG Seven Knights Re:BIRTH. This thrilling update introduces new Legendary heroes, a new Story Event and multiple in-game events and more.

The new Legendary Hero [Night Chaser] Kyle, one of the Four Lords of the Old, is a formidable Attack-type hero with powerful skills such as “Chain Suppression” and “Tomb of Chains.” Kyle’s passive skill “Master of Chains” grants him Crit Rate Boost and lets him prioritize the enemy with the highest attack when a battle begins. Joining him is the [Last Executor] Aquila, a member of the Night Crow known for her defensive skills, including “Merciless Storm” and “Shroud of Darkness.”

Players can enjoy an increased chance to obtain Kyle through the Kyle Rate Up Summon Event. Additionally, the Kyle Power-Up Event and Aquila Power-Up Event are currently underway, that offer players generous rewards such as a Brilliant Skill Enhancement Stone, Rate Up Hero Summon Vouchers, Gold and more. 

The update also introduces a new Story Event, “The Root of the Storm, Struck Down by Heaven,” available until October 30. This event explores the backstory of Kyle and Aquila while giving players opportunities to earn valuable items such as a Brilliant Skill Enhancement Stone, a Legendary Hero Ticket I, and Rate Up Hero Summon Vouchers. In addition, new costumes for Mercure, Colt, and Silvesta are now available. Players can also join the Guild War Challenge Event, where rewards are distributed based on Guild War victories.

Seven Knights Re:BIRTH held a special Seven Knights Re:BIRTH Mysterious Puzzle Event on its official forum where players voted for the puzzle piece they’d like to see revealed first. Each reveal came with a special coupon code, with the final reward offering 4★ Kyle. More details about the Mysterious Puzzle Event can be found here.

Seven Knights Re:BIRTH inherits the key elements of the original Seven Knights, Netmarble’s flagship IP that has surpassed 100 million cumulative downloads,including its story, characters, combat systems, and core mechanics while enhancing the gameplay experience with modern gameplay features and the latest trends. 

More details on Seven Knights Re:BIRTH are available on the official website and forum. Fans can also stay up-to-date with the latest information on the game by following official social channels on Facebook and YouTube. 

About Netmarble Corporation

Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

Bye Sweet Carole Review

Bye Sweet Carole

Developer: Little Sewing Machine
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox Series X (Reviewed), PlayStation 5
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $24.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

When it comes to presentation there are plenty of ways to go about it in a video game and while many have opted for some form of pixel-art or try to be as realistic as possible, a select few have taken the classic animation route with even fewer going as far as to hearken back to the classic ’80s style of Disney animation. That is where Bye Sweet Carole manages to not only make its mark, placing its entire identity and storyline within this animation style, but even plays like a living movie. That being said, while these charming visuals may draw in potential players, does Bye Sweet Carole manage to deliver the gameplay and storyline to go along with this strong foot forward?

Story

Set sometime in the early 1900s, Lana Benton lives a dreary life in an orphanage called Bunny Hall where she is regularly bullied by other orphans who exclude her from their “clique” and even the teacher often scolds her for not acting ladylike or even attempting to defend herself. The only shining light in Lana’s life was her best friend Carole but just as the story begins, we learn that Carole has gone missing for an unknown period of time. With the mysterious events surrounding her friends’ disappearance, Lana begins to find herself drawn into a haunted nightmare that sees a tall man named Mr. Kyn leads an evil force full of ash and oil that seeks to corrupt everything it touches, stalking Lana in an effort to claim her kingdom known as “Carolla” that she is apparently the princess of.

This nightmarish creature blends into the real world as well, grossly affecting those around Lana and even displaying some rather unique knowledge about her circumstances even as Lana does her best to uncover what secrets lie within Bunny Hall and the actions the facility’s staff are taking, sending her spiraling into a horrific and heart breaking journey that is as predictable as they come but still manages to land some emotional punches nonetheless, even if its secondary storyline is as subtle as a hammer.

That isn’t to say that Bye Sweet Carole‘s storyline is a bad one by any means, it just happens to be a bit on the predictable side all while withholding far too much information until the last couple of chapters before info-dumping on players in such lengthy cutscenes the controller disconnected at one point. While we won’t go into too much detail about the specifics of the cultural and emotional elements that come into play within the story, as doing do would spoil some of the bigger reveals, it is worth noting that it is at least portrayed well-enough, even if the Bunny Hall and its antics about how a “woman” should act is as blatant as they come to the point that a late-game reading of a long list of names felt more like checking boxes than actually being inspiring. 

It is also worth noting that while Mr. Kyn and the various monsters and “hunters” that end up chasing Lana throughout the game are deformed and have monstrous appearances and there are some rather terrible looking death sequences that  can be triggered here and there, this will not be a horror game for most people. There are some spooky elements and monsters, but anyone that has played any type of horror game before won’t find much to impress them here, as the horror is kept as low-key as possible, probably to aim for a younger audience that may actually be frightened by the hunters’ threats and appearances rather than the long cutscenes that come with getting caught or glitches they trigger.

Gameplay

Mechanically Bye Sweet Carole is as traditional as they come as the game is designed as a side-scrolling puzzle game with light platforming, stealth, and combat elements. Lana herself moves very slow while walking and “runs” at a normal walking pace, can lightly kick obstacles, and can push various boxes around to climb on them. She also can only fall about five feet without dying. Thankfully not too long into the game Lana gains the ability to transform into a rabbit. In rabbit form Lana can not only squeeze through spaces, she runs faster, jumps higher, can wall-jump, and even survive long falls all while being able to interact with nearly everything her human form can. The only real downside is that Lana’s health does not recover in rabbit form.

Throughout exploring Bunny Hall and surrounding areas Lana will occasionally encounter “Hunters” that will pursue her. Most of these hunters will pursue Lana whenever she is spotted or breaks an object in an environment but they can be easily avoided by hiding underneath a table, within a shadowy alcove using a “hold your breath” mechanic, or simply running through them. Hunters are incredibly poorly programmed to the point that they either get stuck in the environment, swing so slowly that they will miss Lana entirely if she zips by in her rabbit form, or just randomly teleport around the location to fit the plot progression’s needs. You see, every one of the ten chapters in the game has some kind of puzzle players must solve and generally if a Hunter is around they’ll pop out randomly as players make progress even if it means that players may have just seen an enemy move off screen to the right only to pop out of the ceiling to the left.

Either way, it is also worth noting that among the Hunters that simply do damage to Lana and will eventually kill her, there are also certain heavily stealth based ones that will instantly kill Lana if she is seen or caught by them. Unfortunately these happen to be some of the worst in the game requiring some trial and error and a bit of luck as the game is incredibly touch-and-go with what it thinks a hunter’s vision is as well as how precise, or imprecise given the animations, of the wall-jumping come into play, and combining it with nearly ten seconds of “death animation” only to reload at the beginning is a bit frustrating. Hunters in these sequences can feel like easy to bypass once players get lucky, but being randomly seen when clearly behind cover or missing a wall-jump despite clearly being in position and chaining multiple together beforehand is annoying, not entertaining.

As mentioned before, there is some light combat that also comes into play here and there and that is usually when Lana is joined by her mysterious protector known as Mr. Baesie. Baesie will wield his umbrella in some mediocre combat elements to occasionally break debris or fight off enemies while Lana runs around in the background. The best place where combat shines happens to be the final battle that, we won’t spoil here, opens up a few more combat options but still keeps things quite limited. If anything Baesie is primarily used as another puzzle solving mechanic as his head can separate and be crushed to fit through tiny spaces, lit aflame to ignite tinder or other things, and even electrified to power generators.

As for the puzzles themselves, players will generally find that they are rather simple and can be easily finished simply by exploring all of a location, properly combining items or making use of them with the right objects, and occasionally some platforming. There are some environmental puzzles and clues that are a bit more challenging to help make sure players need to at least remember a bit here and there. The game also features a lot of… padding. While fitting for the theme of the game, there is a nonsensically simple “dancing” mini-game players are forced to do twice that take far too long and even balancing mini-games when sliding along ledges. It is also worth noting that the title absolutely loves to require “frame perfect” positioning at times to interact with environmental objects or switches. So much so in fact that it required a reload from the main menu to properly trigger a switch that just wouldn’t work prior. This is an unfortunately common occurrence but thankfully a patch today may have fixed how precise some of these interactables need to be and prevent softlocks.

Audio & Visuals

As mentioned more than a few times already, Bye Sweet Carole is an absolutely gorgeous looking game. Producing an entire game that uses classic Disney style animation is something that definitely deserves praise, even if it gets a bit rough looking when the cutscenes zoom in too close to some character models and how annoyingly specific character placement needs to be to properly interact with some objects or even perform standard platforming. There is a very dreary and gloomy atmosphere built into the Bunny Hall as Lana searches through the environments, whether it be in her human form or in her bunny form. Interestingly enough, there are even some key death animation sequences that only vary depending on what form the player is in if they happen to be caught. As mentioned before though, this isn’t really the scariest of games around even with some attempts at creating spooky enemies, though perhaps those who aren’t used to horror or younger audiences might find themselves scared here and there.

Bye Sweet Carole‘s gorgeous visuals are supported by a fitting voice acting cast whose English, and other, accents work perfectly in the English dub throughout the game, though it does appear that there are a few instances of dialogue cutting out for no reason, but this issue was fairly rare. The soundtrack features a great collection of background music throughout the player’s exploration of Bunny Hall and its strange surroundings but the credits song really deserves a special highlight as it feels like a perfect conclusion to the player’s journey and also mimics the same type of bold songs that helped bring classic animations to a close.

Overall

Bye Sweet Carole tells an emotional story of a young girl too small for a world that is changing without her but it takes far too long obfuscating things while stringing players along with simple but effective puzzles, mediocre combat and simplistic stealth that is only challenging when it is cheap. Thankfully an excellent classic Disney animation style makes the entire game absolutely gorgeous even if the whole “horror” aspect will only be for those on the younger side. 

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