In the words of Natsu himself, ‘I’m all fired up!’ to share with you an exciting Fairy Tail crossover event coming soon to AFK Journey, the multi-award-winning fantasy RPG sequel to the global smash hit AFK Arena. The limited-time crossover event launches May 1, 2025, and introduces Natsu and Lucy from Fairy Tail for an unforgettable adventure!
Iconic Fairy Tail heroes Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia prepare to traverse Esperia as powerful dimensional faction heroes, bringing their signature abilities and combat styles to the battlefield.
Stay tuned for more information about player rewards and new content in the crossover event in the weeks ahead.
For the latest updates on AFK Journey, visit the official website.
About AFK Journey
AFK Journey is an overworld fantasy RPG created by the original AFK Arena team. With its visually stunning artistic design, the game offers an expansive world filled with adventure, immersive storytelling, and challenging battles. Players are whisked away into the magical world of Esperia, where they will recruit numerous heroes to their cause, take on powerful foes, and earn rewards both through in-game actions and idle (AFK) mechanics. Players can freely roam across Esperia’s rich and colorful world, exploring bustling towns and taking on quests from NPCs. As a live service title, Farlight Games supports the game with expansive seasonal content updates.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 31 MARCH, 2025: For those who missed out on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II pre-order bonus – The Lion’s Crest set – fear not, because it’s now for sale as DLC.
And if you haven’t got your copy of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II yet, well now there’s even more options, as the game is available to purchase on GOG.com, the Polish-based digital PC store.
The Lion’s Crest set, as used by the famous knight Sir Brunswick, will let you stand out from the crowd with a full suite of weapons and armour:
Polearm for long distance combat.
Dagger, when you want to get up close and personal.
Full set of plate armour.
A full caparison (a protective and decorative cloth covering) for your noble steed.
Of course, you don’t just open a box and kit yourself out. There’re riddles to solve, maps to guide and treasure chests to discover. You’ll travel the length and breadth of Trosky after the Scribe tells you to “Take your leave of crone and maiden…”
This set comes replete with a Bohemian coat of arms, with burgundy and gold trim in abundance. Because no one said you can’t look classy on the battlefield.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S – available in Standard, Gold and Collector’s Editions.
# # #
About Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a true sequel to its predecessor but developed and written in such a way that it is perfect for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Diving back into the heart-pounding world of 15th Century Bohemia (Central Europe), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II picks up where its predecessor left off, thrusting players into the shoes of Henry, the steadfast son of a blacksmith, embroiled in a tumultuous tale of vengeance, betrayal, and self-discovery.
In this gripping sequel, players will traverse a meticulously crafted medieval landscape, from the humble confines of a blacksmith’s forge to the grandeur of royal courts, all while navigating the treacherous currents of a kingdom torn apart by civil war.
About Warhorse Studio
Warhorse was founded in 2011 by industry veterans Dan Vávra, creator of Mafia and Mafia 2, and Martin Klíma, formerly of ALTAR. Combined creativity of the experienced team gave birth to the Kingdom Come: Deliverance Saga – an open world, realistic, single player RPG set in medieval Czech Kingdom. Kingdom Come: Deliverance successfully released on 13 February 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and sold over 8 million copies.
PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, fifteen regional publishing offices, three game publishing labels including Deep Silver, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe. Founded 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. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences. PLAION is an Embracer Group company.
About Deep Silver
Deep Silver is PLAION’s flagship publishing label, and the home of captivating gaming worlds from the gripping post-apocalypse of Metro, to the twisted paradises of Dead Island to the authentic Medieval landscapes of Kingdom Come Deliverance. For more information, please visit www.deepsilver.com
A brand-new 5-Star Memory Pair, exclusive event rewards, and deeper connections await
March 28, 2025 – Love and Deepspace introduces Fallen Cosmos, an event with an all-new 5-Star Memory Pair featuring Caleb. Players can now unlock his latest Memories and uncover a gripping new storyline by collecting both cards in the pair. With immersive storytelling and high-stakes choices, Fallen Cosmos brings players closer than ever to Caleb’s new story, his struggles, and the depths of his devotion.
From March 28, players can dive into Gravity Calls, a limited-time event centered around Caleb. This event features an exclusive storyline, companion rehearsal, SNS updates, and a shop item refresh. Players can also earn the 3-Star Memory [The Termination] for free through event participation.
The full list of additions coming in Fallen Cosmos can be found below.
Fallen Cosmos Event & Limited Wish Pool
From March 28, 5:00 AM to April 11, 4:59 AM (server time), players can enter the Limited Wish Pool for a chance to obtain:
Special event packs with up to 90% discounts available, including Deepspace Wish: Limited and enhancement materials.
More information about Love and Deepspace is available on the official website here.
About Love and Deepspace
Love and Deepspace by Infold Games transports players to a galaxy-wide adventure as a Wanderer-slaying Deepspace Hunter alongside five striking male heroes, all of whom possess powerful ‘Evol’ abilities and lethal finishing moves. Packed with immersive cutscenes, carefully crafted storylines, and satisfying RPG and roguelike combat, over 50 million players have downloaded the game as of January 2025.
About Infold Games
Established in 2021 and headquartered in Singapore, with branches in key cities such as Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Seoul, Infold is a company dedicated to content creation. Guided by our company culture, “Creativity that Empowers, Imagination that Inspires,” we continually create and operate long-term Intellectual Properties (IPs). Our “Nikki series” and “Mr. Love series” IPs have already amassed over ten million fans worldwide. Apart from focusing on the development of game titles like “Love and Deepspace,” “Project: The Perceiver,” and “Infinity Nikki,” Infold is also investing and innovating in various entertainment fields such as animation, film, and music to craft a more comprehensive IP ecosystem.
Hinwil, 28 March 2025 – The 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship wrapped up with the third and final event of the season, featuring four intense rounds in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. KICK F1 Sim Racing Team drivers, Thomas Ronhaar, Brendon Leigh, and Tycho Hardy, gave their all on track, closing out the season after fierce battles both in the drivers’ and teams’ championships. The race in Abu Dhabi held special meaning for Brendon, as the two-time sim racing world champion bowed out of sim racing competition after a long and well-decorated career.
Round 9: Mexico Thomas put in a brilliant qualifying performance to take pole position, setting the stage for a strong race. He held first place at the start but picked up damage mid-race after being hit by Ulas Özyıldırım, causing him to drop down the order and finish P17. Brendon made up places early on but struggled to make further progress, eventually crossing the line in eighteenth place.
Round 10: Brazil A chaotic race in Brazil saw changing conditions shake up the team’s strategy. Thomas secured another pole position and led the early laps before the drying track prompted a switch to soft tires. It was a bold call, but when the rain returned, he lost ground before fighting back to claim third place after post-race penalties were applied. Tycho Hardy made his debut race for the team, gaining valuable experience in challenging conditions, although he ultimately finished P19.
Round 11: Qatar Thomas lined up in second place on the grid, opting for a hard tire strategy that initially saw him dropping positions early on. The long first stint eventually paid off, allowing him to charge through the field later in the race. Despite three penalties, two of which were revoked after an appeal, Thomas eventually secured fourth place at the finish line. Tycho, in only his second race for the team, battled hard but was unfortunately disqualified after the race for sandbagging.
Round 12: Abu Dhabi Confirming his strong form, Thomas took his third pole position of the event, showing incredible one-lap pace. However, the race proved challenging, with early battles seeing him lose ground. A damaged front wing and aggressive racing led to more struggles, which ultimately cut Thomas out of the championship fight, as he eventually finished P17. As he bid farewell to F1 Sim Racing, Brandon suffered similar struggles despite showing strong pace early on, crossing his last-ever finish line in eighteenth place. Despite the challenges, Thomas’s strong performances across the final event of the season placed him in fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship, while the team ended up fifth in the Teams’ standings.
Brendon Leigh KICK F1 Sim Racing Team (Car #72)
“This was an emotional event for me, knowing it was leading to my last-ever race in F1 Sim Racing. The results weren’t what I wanted, but I gave it everything in my final races. Mexico and Abu Dhabi were particularly difficult, but I fought hard to move up the order where I could, even if things didn’t go our way. Despite the challenges, I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved over the years. Competing at this level has been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way. A massive thank you to KICK F1 Sim Racing Team, R8G and of course to Thomas and Tycho – it’s been great working with you all. I know you guys have bright futures ahead, and I’ll be cheering you on.”
Thomas Ronhaar KICK F1 Sim Racing Team (Car #39)
“Although I’m obviously disappointed not to have clinched the title, this event had some great moments, especially in qualifying where I managed to secure three pole positions. Unfortunately, the races didn’t always go as planned. Mexico was particularly frustrating after the contact that cost me a strong result, while Brazil was a real challenge with changing conditions, but I was happy to fight back to the podium. Qatar was another strategic battle where we made good progress, and Abu Dhabi was tough with damage and penalties eventually affecting the final outcome. Still, we showed our potential, and I know we can build on this for the future to improve even more. I also would like to say a huge thank you to Brendon – he’s been an incredible teammate and a true professional. I’ve learned so much from him these past seasons, and his impact on sim racing speaks for itself. It’s been an honour to race alongside him, and I wish him all the best in the next chapter.”
Tycho Hardy KICK F1 Sim Racing Team (Car #74)
“Making my debut in Brazil and Qatar was a big step, and I’ve learned a lot from both races even though the results didn’t match my expectations. Brazil was especially tricky with the changing conditions, and we took a big gamble on strategy. Qatar was a tough race as well, but I did my best to fight through and support the team. I’m really grateful for the opportunity and the experience I’ve gained in such a competitive field, and I’m already looking forward for more. Lastly, a shout out to Brendon: he has been a great mentor in the short time we worked together. His experience and dedication to the sport are inspiring, and I hope to carry forward what I’ve learned from him.”
About Sauber Group of Companies
The Sauber Group of Companies is composed of two operational entities: Sauber Motorsport AG, which operates and manages its Formula OneTM team; and Sauber Technologies AG, which focuses on third-party business in the areas of advanced engineering, prototype development and additive manufacturing, in addition to full and model-scale testing in the factory’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel and ground-breaking innovation in the field of aerodynamics. The companies collaborate closely and share know-how to apply the expertise of more than 550 dedicated individuals at the headquarter in Hinwil, Switzerland, to all internal and external projects.
The Sauber Group puts sustainability at the heart of its mission; its business, operating under the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, has been carbon neutral since 2011 and the company has achieved the Three-Star level in the FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework.
Since its founding in 1970, the innovative Swiss company has been setting standards in the design, development and construction of race cars for various championship series, such as Formula One, DTM, and WEC. Following its own Formula One debut in 1993, Sauber Motorsport AG has established one of the few traditional and privately held teams in the sport. A member of the exclusive club of teams which competed in more than 500 F1 races, it celebrated 30 years in the sport in 2022 and continues to go from strength to strength on and off the track.
Summon Heroes, Strategize in Battle, and Save Civilization – Secure Your Spot Today!
Shanghai, China — March 28, 2025| Calling all Hyperlinkers! Pre-registrations for futuristic strategy RPG, Etheria: Restart, are now officially live on iOS and Google Play! Players are invited to commence preparations for this captivating cyber-fantasy experience, with a wealth of exclusive pre-registration rewards up for grabs!
Enter Etheria. A neon-soaked virtual metropolis on the brink of war. Free from their mortal shells, players take on the role of Hyperlinkers, elite warriors struggling against advanced AI, rogue factions, and supernatural forces shape the world’s destiny and it’s up to players to put a stop to their nefarious schemes.
By tapping into unique attributes and abilities, they must take up arms against the dangers that lurk within this digital dystopia, assembling a diverse roster of heroes to build the ultimate squad. Will Etheria plummet into eternal chaos, or rise anew?
Whether testing their might in PvP battle modes, or slaying adversaries in intense PvE challenges, players must engage in high-stakes, strategic turn-based battles that will push their team’s limits. Every move counts and careful planning and team synergy is paramount.
What’s more, life as a Hyperlinker promises encounters with enigmatic AI companions known as Shells, whose support will prove invaluable in battle. With their assistance and through upgrading, customising and refining, players will truly be able to maximise the potential of their team and face down the most formidable of foes.
Those daring enough to pre-register and embrace their destiny as a Hyperlinker can kickstart their epic adventure with limited-time awards:
Pre-register now for Etheria: Restart and unlock exclusive launch rewards including 800 Hydra Crystals, 80,000 Etheria Coins, 10 Anima Prototypes, a special Pre-reg Avatar Frame, and Protagonist Outfits!
With its breathtaking visuals, deep tactical gameplay, and thrilling PvE & PvP challenges, Etheria: Restart is set to redefine the cyber-fantasy genre. Pre-register today on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store to secure your spot and unlock exclusive launch rewards!
For the latest updates, follow Etheria: Restart on social media and stay tuned for more reveals leading up to the game’s official launch.
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.
XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
Bring your action figures to life across the solo or co-op story campaign, or in PvP battles!
Manchester, UK – March 28th, 2025 – Independent developer Digital Cybercherries is thrilled to reveal that their acclaimed shooter about sentient action figures, Hypercharge: Unboxed, is coming to PlayStation 4 and 5 later this year! Furthermore, it will feature cross-platform support across its PC and Xbox brethren.
Inspired by films like Toy Story and Small Soldiers, Hypercharge: Unboxed is the first and third-person shooter action figure game you’ve always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign. Hypercharge welcomes both parents and children into a vibrant world of action figures and toys. It’s a way for adults to remember the fun of their own childhoods and make new, happy memories with their children.
Hypercharge: Unboxed features a full story campaign mode, which can be played solo offline or with up to 4-players online in co-op. The game also supports split-screen play, both locally and online. This PlayStation release will feature cross-platform support for the PC and Xbox versions (with Switch support to follow), so you can play with your friends however you’d like. There are even bots available if you’d prefer to play with AI teammates or opponents.
If you’re feeling more competitive than collaborative, Hypercharge: Unboxed has got you covered too, as it features an array of PvP modes for brief bouts of action figure mayhem! Defend the Hypercore with your friends, survive waves of relentless hordes of weaponised toys, or enjoy a good old-fashioned free-for-all rumble!
“Hypercharge: Unboxed has been a smash hit on PC, Switch and Xbox, where it was selected as one of the six best indie titles of 2024,” said Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay and Marketing Director at Digital Cybercherries. “When we released it on Xbox, the game sold over 100k units in its first month without Game Pass or a publisher – but we’ve had thousands of fans on social media asking us if and when it would be coming to PlayStation. You asked, so we’ve delivered and are so pleased to announce that PlayStation players will get to join in on the fun soon. And better yet, you can play cross-platform with your friends on other systems, ensuring that everyone can get in on the fun!”
Key Features
1-4 player online/local co-op.
Full split-screen support including online/local.
Single player/offline play with player bots.
Difficulty scales based on the number of players.
Wave-based shooter with story campaign.
Classic PvP game modes. (up to eight players)
First and third-person camera modes.
Cross-platform Support
About Digital Cybercherries
Digital Cybercherries came to life in 2015, nestled in the heart of Manchester, UK. We’re a cozy crew of six indie devs with a big passion for games. Our mission? To make games that entertain, innovate, and stand the test of time. We’ve had our hands in a bunch of cool projects – like New Retro Arcade: Neon, a VR trip down memory lane, and Hypercharge: Unboxed, an action figure adventure that caught the internet by storm. We’ve also spooked the gaming world with hits like DON’T SCREAM and are buzzing about our next big thing, Paranormal Tales. Making games that we and players love is what gets us up in the morning. We’re all about bringing something new and exciting to the table for gamers everywhere! For more information, visit: https://digitalcybercherries.com
Prepare for 100 Days of Despair With a Robust Gameplay Systems Explanation Trailer for PC and Switch
Aniplex Inc., a leading global entertainment company, today announced the release of a free digital demo on the Nintendo Switch™ system for the upcoming adventure / tactical battle game, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-. The demo introduces players to the Last Defense Academy and some of the characters they will learn with and fight alongside, covering the first seven days of the 100-day story. Like the Windows PC demo, save data from the Nintendo Switch™ demo can be carried over to the full game release when The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- launches on Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam on April 24.
To help prepare players for their 100 days in the Last Defense Academy, a new ‘Gameplay Systems Trailer’ was released narrated in Japanese by in-game classmate Hiruko Shizuhara, showcasing the combat and non-combat activities players can participate in each day. When not defending the school from invading monsters, protagonist Takumi will have time to explore the academy facilities, including access to the Training Room to practice virtual combat and earn Battle Points, upgrade class weapons in the Garage, interact with classmates to deepen bonds and raise combat stats, and much more as players progress through their 100 days. Whenever the school is attacked by monsters, Takumi and his allies will need to rally to defend it! During tactical combat, players will build up Voltage by attacking and defeating enemies, which can be used by the team to unleash a powerful Special Attack. Voltage can also be generated when an ally dies which, thanks to the advanced technology at the Academy, is only a temporary inconvenience as all students are revived following each battle. This opens up exciting new tactics where wounded allies can use powerful Last Resort attacks, sacrificing their life to deliver a devastating blow and generate Voltage for the team.
Click to Watch the Gameplay Systems trailer on YouTube, below:Developed by TooKyo Games Inc. and Media.Vision Inc. and to be published digitally on the Nintendo Switch™ in Europe and Windows PC via Steam globally by Aniplex The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- will release globally on April 24, 2025. The title is currently available for digital pre-purchase in a standard edition for €59.99 and a Digital Deluxe edition including a copy of the game, digital art book, and digital soundtrack for €69.99 for both platforms. Digital pre-orders of both editions come with a digital copy of the original The Hundred Line short novel, “Former Lives of the SDU: File 03 – Hiruko Shizuhara’s First Battle.”
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy will be published physically and digitally on the Nintendo Switch™ in the Americas by XSEED Games,. The title will be supported with a physical release on the platform including a standard edition available for an MSRP of $59.99, and a limited edition available for an MSRP of $99.99. The title will also be supported with a digital release on Nintendo Switch including a standard edition available for an MSRP of $59.99, and a Digital Deluxe edition for an MSRP of $69.99, which includes a digital art book and digital soundtrack.
For more information about The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- visit the official website at https://hundred-line.com/en. This title has an IARC rating of 16+ (ages 16+) and has been rated “M for Mature” on Nintendo Switch by the ESRB
New DLC adds three characters and two costumes packs from the fan-favourite Atelier series!
Hertfordshire,28th March 2025 – For the first time, the alchemists of theAtelierseries are descending into Hell as KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Omega Force revealed that characters from Gust’s popular JRPG franchise are joining the 1 vs. 1,000 fight ofWARRIORS: Abyss, the roguelite hack’n’slash action game now available as a digital-only title on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam®.
Discover the WARRIORS: Abyss collaboration trailer on YouTube below:
In this free update, Sophie from the Atelier Sophie series, Ryza from the Atelier Ryzaseries and Yumia from the recently released Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land have been added as new heroes. Each character has abilities that enhance each other’s skills and appearance rates and if players include all three in their lineup, Atelier characters will become even more powerful. In addition, by combining certain Atelier characters, like Yumia, withWARRIORScharacters, like Magoichi Saika, players can enhance their abilities, depending on what emblems each character possesses.
Furthermore, two Atelier DLC costume packs will also be available for purchase, including the “Atelier Series Vacation Costume Set” and “Atelier Series Academy Costume Set”. These fresh and vibrant costumes can be selected after completing the tutorial.
WARRIORS: Abyss is now available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam® in standard, Deluxe and Hack’n’Dash editions. The game features Japanese voices and texts in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. For more information, visit the official website, Like us on Facebook, Join us on the KOEI TECMO Europe Discord server, and Follow us on Instagram and X.
About WARRIORS: ABYSS
Set in the floors of a randomly generated hell, players battle through waves of enemies from all directions as they delve into the abyss where the arch-villain, Gouma, awaits. Along the way, players meet new characters and find items to select from to strengthen their team. These selections can be combined to unleash powerful effects, allowing for a variety of strategic approaches. Since the characters and items will change with each playthrough, players will need to craft new strategies in order to find success.WARRIORS: Abyss introduces a new way to play a WARRIORS title by combining the exhilarating feeling of 1 vs. 1,000 action with roguelite elements – such as randomly generated stages and items, and enhancing player strength through choices – allowing for a different experience with each playthrough while also encouraging countless hours of replayability.
ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.
KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warrior’s series, the fan-favourite NINJA GAIDEN and fighting entertainment title DEAD OR ALIVE. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of Gust, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com
SHANGHAI – March 28, 2025 – HoYoverse has announced that Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.2, titled “Through the Petals in the Land of Repose,” will officially launch on April 9, 2025. The news was unveiled during the latest Special Program Livestream, offering players an in-depth look at the next chapter of the Flame-Chase adventure on the enigmatic world of Amphoreus.
Experience the world of Amphoreus and the unfolding story in the Version 3.2 trailer
A Journey of Mystery, Intrigue, and Discovery
In Version 3.2, Trailblazers continue their journey alongside the Chrysos Heirs, navigating survival challenges and political intrigue in a world veiled by ancient secrets. As tensions rise and destinies intertwine, the narrative takes a deeper turn into the heart of Amphoreus.
New 5-Star Characters: Castorice and Anaxa
Version 3.2 introduces two highly anticipated playable characters:
Castorice(Remembrance) – A poised and calculating figure whose abilities offer unique control on the battlefield.
Anaxa(Erudition) – A powerful intellect whose explosive attacks provide high-value offense in extended engagements.
These new additions expand strategic options and bring fresh synergy to team compositions.
Celebrate the Two-Year Anniversary of Honkai: Star Rail
In honor of Honkai: Star Rail’s Two-Year Anniversary, players will enjoy a range of celebratory content and special rewards:
“Festive Gifts” Anniversary Event
20 free pulls via daily check-ins throughout the event period.
Anniversary Day – April 26, 2025
1,600 Stellar Jades gifted to all players.
A commemorative in-game card sent from a companion.
Choose one free 5-star character between Ruan Mei and Luocha.
These anniversary bonuses reflect the game’s gratitude to its community and the global support that has driven its success.
About Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based space fantasy RPG developed by HoYoverse, where players journey aboard the Astral Express across a vast universe filled with thrilling adventures, deep narrative arcs, and unforgettable characters. With its cinematic visuals, strategic gameplay, and ongoing content updates, the game continues to captivate players around the world.
Whenever someone mentions “the big three” any long term fan of Japanese anime or manga will know immediately that they are talking about the big three franchises of the early 2000s. These three being Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach but unlike the former two, Bleach was always something of a middle-child. Not only was the manga not given an entire anime adaptation until it was recently continued, but it also has not been given a sequel nor continuation other than a one-shot from Tite Kubo years ago. This also meant that unlike the other two series, the title was not given many major video games throughout the years, the most notable being the Warriors-esque Bleach: Soul Resurrección back in 2011 and a mobile phone game that launched in 2015 and is still running to this day with console ports.
This made the reveal that a brand new fighting game for the Bleach franchise was on the way all the sweeter. So now with both its anime series continuing and a fresh new fighter arriving on the scene, is Bleach: Rebirth of Souls a worthwhile game for fans of this long loved shonen series to jump into?
Story
Ever since he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki could see ghosts and he has done his best to help them when he can, but one day he encounters something he has never seen before, the appearance of a Soul Reaper in the form of Rukia Kuchiki. Not only does Rukia help a ghost “pass on” but Ichigo follows her and sees her doing battle against a Hollow, a monster created by lost souls that feasts on both ghosts and humans with high spiritual power. When Rukia is severely wounded by the Hollow, Ichigo has her powers transferred to him, turning him into a Substitute Soul Reaper and changing the future of his life, and those around him, forever as Ichigo and a few of his friends soon find themselves embroiled in an afterlife rescue, political turmoil, and war for potentially all mankind as the story mode throughout Bleach: Rebirth of Souls retells the manga’s tale from the very beginning all the way to the conclusion of the Arrancar arc, properly stopping right there rather than continuing in the muddy middle-waters that made up the middle arc leading up to the major finale that isn’t included in this release outside of a few DLC costumes, Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
For the most part the story mode of Bleach: Rebirth of Souls does a satisfying job telling the original Bleach arcs while trimming some of the fat from the various filler arcs and lesser arcs that took place between major events. There are still plenty of fun and rather silly side scenes and battles that can take place should players pursue them as more than a few of the more comedic scenes, such as the 13 Guard Captains interacting in unusual ways, have made it into the story mode through side-stories that players can choose to pursue if they wish. The main story mode mostly is broken down into simple but occasionally challenging fights, with the challenges being to replicate key moments from the battles in order to unlock a bonus of various sorts.
The way the story is told is a bit on the interesting side, with many of the aforementioned key moments given plenty of great presentation and detail, especially once players get past the initial arc that serves as more of a tutorial than anything else, as it utilizes both in-engine cutscenes, masterfully drawn artwork for flashbacks of moments that happen off screen, and even tidbits that help fill in gaps such as explaining who some characters are that weren’t properly introduced in the story’s presentation. That being said, there are still plenty of faults here and there with the way the story is handled such as skimping out on some seemingly important fights and characters as well as how strangely some scenes are handled, cutting away from the most mild of movements or dire action only to say what happened against a black screen or off-screen entirely.
Outside of the core story mode players also will have the opportunity to unlock secret storylines for some of the side characters in the game depending on whether certain requirements have been met. This is a nice little bonus and gives fans a little extra incentive to make sure they meet all the aforementioned story moments to properly get the most out of the game. That being said, unfortunately beyond these the main story, the optional sub-stories that branch off of it, and the secret stories, there isn’t much else to work with here, with even the “Misssions” simply being a survival mode of sorts with Kurotsuchi acting as if he is contacting the player directly.
Gameplay
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is a one-on-one arena fighter that is developed by Tamsoft who has recently taken quite a few different genre under their belt despite being bests known for a certain beloved but abandoned franchise and it is clear that the developer wanted to try something a bit different with the way a standard fighting game works thanks to the various mechanics implemented, unfortunately not all of them work for the best. This is primarily thanks to a rather complete lack of depth for most of the characters on the roster as well as a fairly severe lack of balancing at least at launch as many fighters clearly outclass others thanks to untapped infinites, unblockable spam, and more and these characters aren’t the ones that fans would expect to be so broken. That and the fact that the game is fairly bare-bones in general outside of its lengthy story mode. The only other single-player content on offer is a standard Versus against CPU or fellow local player or the aforementioned Missions that work as a survival match against multiple opponents in a row.
Now one of the key aspects that Tamsoft does to try and set the game apart, beyond using a massive amount of technical terms from the series to try and explain various combat mechanics and the way characters can survive attacks and unleash their own, is by implementing a “lives” system rather than rounds. These lives are called Konpaku and every character starts with nine during a general fight and winning the battle will depend on either dropping your opponent’s Konpaku to zero or having more when time runs out as some of these fights scan take quite a bit, meaning players will likely want to up the average match time if they want to avoid time-outs.
There is a certain level of strategy as well when it comes to shaving down an opponent’s Konpaku as each fighter will have certain “Kikon” killer blows that can eliminate a certain number of these lives depending on various circumstances. Beating down an enemy until their Reishi gauge (health gauge) is below 25% will leave them wide open and unable to block a Kikon launched after a combo though these generally only take down two or three Konpaku. Taking an opponent’s health meter down to zero and having the game automatically trigger a Kikon can not only launch a different killing blow, it will also eliminate anywhere from three to five lives depending as a result. This means that going for a massive elimination on an enemy that only has two lives left isn’t needed unless players want to add insult to injury.
Standard combat however in Bleach: Rebirth of Soul is something of a rock-paper-scissors triangle format where players can block standard attacks, penetrating attacks piercing through guards, and standard attacks smashing through penetration. Landing a successive combo or signature move can send your opponent flying and can be followed up with a flash step to dish out more damage, though player can also choose to save their flash steps to avoid and counter incoming attacks, putting them at an advantage over an attacking foe. In fact, a properly timed flash step will boost the user’s abilities for a short period. Alongside these standard attacks, signature moves, and movement abilities every character also has an “Evolution” that when triggered brings the character to their next level.
Similar to the manga where fights almost alway begin with characters battling using their standard “shikai” or Hado attacks while fighting one another, eventually it comes time for the losing character to pull out their trump card and that almost always happens to be the case in Bleach: Rebirth of Souls as well. The more damage players take and receive (with receiving damage boosting it more) a character’s transformation gauge will fill up and when activated will trigger that character’s next stage of power. For most Soul Reapers this will trigger them summoning their Bankai form and, depending on the character, vastly changing up their playstyle while their Bankai is in use, while Arrancars will trigger their Resurrección forms as well, similarly expanding upon their abilities. Other characters will also receive various bonuses and enhancements to their stats, including dealing extra Konpaku damage when dishing out a Kikon attack. This means that, for the most part, the game’s combat system is shockingly simple to learn and easy to master, though unfortunately beyond the game’s limited single player, there isn’t too much else to do with it.
As mentioned before, despite offering a fairly expansive roster of fighters up to the point of the game’s story arc (though some favorites will obviously be missing) the game’s modes are fairly bare-bones and this includes the game’s multiplayer modes. There is no ranked mode of any kind on launch and instead players can only make use of a simple player match or searching for/creating a lobby for others to join. Combine this with some aged netcode and poorly balanced fighters and this really isn’t a game that many will spend a lot of time online with, despite how flashy and fun the combat can feel when everything is moving at a swift pace and the music is rocking as both fighter’s unleash their Bankai at one another.
Audio & Visuals
One element that must be praised about Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is that it captures the designs of the characters and their abilities perfectly as they appear wonderfully replicated in action throughout the game. Not only are there plenty of varied stages to battle on, including some that transition from location to location when a character is hit by a Kikon attack, and can feature some destructible environments, even a flashy Soul Reaper’s Bankai and Arrancar’s Resurrección are replicated wonderfully here, including complete character design overhauls if it means changing their weaponry, style of play, or appearance in a fight. That being said, some of the story cutscenes are presented rather poorly with there being far too many random black screens and cutaways during what should be simple moments. Thankfully, on the other hand, whenever the story mode utilizes flashbacks to fill in some minor gaps it features some wonderfully drawn artwork of scenes being referenced.
As for the voice work it is nice to note that all of the English voice actors for the anime series have returned to reprise their roles, though this does include roles that were changed for the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War series. This is a great touch for longtime fans, mostly, as oddly enough the English announcer during fights and recaps in the game’s story mode sounds quite awful to the point that he is entirely mispronouncing words and entire phrases at times. Thankfully this issue isn’t found in the Japanese voice track should players choose to go that route instead. It is also nice to note that in both dubs characters that either have history fighting each other or never would fight one another do have a bit of unique dialogue to start a match. The soundtrack throughout the game is actually quite outstanding as not only are there a number of vocal tracks used throughout the game but the background music during battle will even change when a character triggers a transformation, making each fight feel all the more intense as a result.
Overall
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls does a great job revisiting the old storyline that fans will remember and does a solid job introducing it for newcomers though it does happen to stop at a rather… odd place by opting to omit the finale of the series in favor of either saving it as DLC or a sequel and including a sizable roster of all different kinds of characters, making for a roster that any fan will have fun with. Unfortunately, a rather bare-bones offering of gameplay modes and effective but too simplistic combat mode will leave fans wanting, especially after how long they’ve waited for a proper Bleach game again.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
