Manage a bountiful garden, customize your shop, meet new characters, and master alchemy with new sets of talents, a new potion base and even more challenges in this free update
SEATTLE – Dec. 6, 2024 – Publisher tinyBuild and developer niceplay games’ medieval-inspired crafting game, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator,is releasing thefree Enchanted Garden 2.0 update on PC today, available on Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG! Tend a bountiful garden with new unlockable sections, discover a new talent system with over 50 new talents, customize your shop like never before, choose new difficulty modes, and more. Embrace your inner alchemist and concoct various potions for the townsfolk, roleplaying as a noble artisan, greedy weasel, or dark occult master.
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator’s Enchanted Garden 2.0 update introduces new characters, potion features, and more to help your humble shop thrive! Discover Build Mode, a new way to transmute the old house and make it your own. Rearrange stuff, add shelves to display items, and place various types of furniture and decor to enhance the coziness of your shop.
Update Features
Enchanted Garden 2.0: Unlock new sections of the garden (Pond, Cave, Crystal Grotto) to move your plants to! Plant and replant your herbs, and don’t forget to water them!
Talents 2.0: A whole-new talent system, including over 50 new talents, each with progression levels ranging from 1 to 20. There’s also a new talent that can be leveled indefinitely. Experience has also been rebalanced, with more experience given for new actions, and each talent now always costs one talent point. You now can reset talents for gold, as well.
Wine Map: Sometimes a potion calls for something a little stronger than water as the base. When a glass of merlot is the only solution, Enchanted Garden 2.0 introduces a new alchemical map with unique mechanics that will have you making new boozy potions in no time!
Game Difficulty Selection: Regardless of skill level, there’s a difficulty for you to enjoy Potion Craft. Choose from the casual Explorer experience, the balanced Classic setting, or Grandmaster for alchemical masters. True prodigies are invited to try Suffering difficulty, just keep in mind it isn’t for the lighthearted!
Gameplay Improvements & Rebalancing: Including new potion requirements, new ways to haggle, and more.
A selection of new characters and merchants to add more gameplay variety, including an appearance from everyone’s favorite deep-sea fisherman, Dave the Diver!
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator’s Enchanted Garden 2.0 update is available now on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG. The update will come to consoles at a future date. To learn more about the game, visit PotionCraft.com, follow the team on Twitter/X and join the official Discord.
About tinyBuild
tinyBuild is a Seattle-based video game label behind the Hello Neighbor franchise and over 30 other renowned titles, including Potion Craft, Graveyard Keeper and Streets ofRogue. With additional offices in Amsterdam, Riga and Boise, ID, tinyBuild is rapidly building a portfolio of fun, high-quality games across multiple platforms.
About niceplay games
Potion Craft is developed by niceplay games, a small independent studio with team members based around the globe. The game first launched in Early Access in 2021, where it received widespread acclaim from players and critics alike. The full version was released in 2022, with tinyBuild as its publisher, and is available now on PC and consoles.
Perhaps one of the most common narratives that is used in stories, whether they are books, video games, or even plays, tends to be about rescuing a princess. Either the princess has been kidnapped and is being held by an evil monster or perhaps never had freedom to begin with and it is up to the noble knight to rescue her. Throughout the countless iterations of this trope we’ve seen various twists, turns, role-reversals, and much more as a simple premise leaves plenty of room for variations, but few, if any, have handled in the way that Black Tabby Games did last year with the release of Slay the Princess. Now, with Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut refining the cult classic and expanding on the visual novel with a slew of new content on consoles, is this unique take on a classic story a must play?
Story
You’re on a path in the woods, and at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a Princess. You’re here to slay her. If you don’t it will be the end of the world. Who are you? It doesn’t matter. How will she do it? Doesn’t matter. Just know that she will do everything she can to stop you, be it deceit, charm, or force. Or at least, that’s what The Narrator tells players upon beginning the game for he is their only ally in this fated encounter. Or is he? Could she be? Or is the best option not an option at all?
It is somewhat of a challenge to discuss the storyline of Slay the Princess because it is both simple but at the same time incredibly complex and going too far into detail about some of these complexities would spoil the many twists and revelations that players will have throughout the game. That being said there will be some spoilers in the following should players truly want to experience everything as blind as possible, though things will still be described as vaguely as they can be. At its heart Slay the Princess is a horror story and a love story twisted together in a way that few could possibly think of let alone expect and it is only through the incredible writing of the developers combined with outstanding performances by two highly skilled voice actors as well as hauntingly beautiful hand-drawn artwork that ties the entire package together.
The storyline for Slay the Princess involves making choices. Some of these are simply probing for information while others are direct lines of action, but even asking a question can be seen as an action at times. Everything that players do in the woods or in the cabin, all before reaching the basement containing the princess, can play a role in how an encounter can play out. Taking one specific item will lock away an entire version of the princess until that route is seen through one way or the many, many others. All the while through the initial chapter players will find themselves accompanied by The Narrator and The Voice of the Hero who will comment and question the player’s choices and interactions with the princess who, herself, will react accordingly to how players are treating her, be it with cold hostility, a warm guiding hand towards potential safety, or a cautious observer, or even any combination of these as that is just how many encounters and routes are there for players to stumble upon.
After completing the first chapter is where things go from strange to any number of places. They could simply be stranger, or more horrific, more hostile, twisted, romantic, any number of routes that are unveiled all with a new voice joining the player’s head depending on how their previous chapter concluded. Aggression can bring out The Hunter, the questioner can trigger The Contrarian, the defeated may summon The Broken to chime in along as players witness the results of their actions and the new form that the Princess possesses now.
The princess herself is an always changing being, but one that also has some set personality traits that remain consistent even throughout the myriad of forms that the player may encounter and it is through the writing of the princess’ changes and her voicework that really makes these experiences memorable. Combine this with the writing of The Narrator and the many voices that players will be joined by along with the myriad of choices available at nearly every turn and the title rarely fails to surprise. Interactions had me chuckling as the voices bickered with The Narrator or the blunt responses from the princess, others saw me as tense as possible, not sure what move to make next that might derail a plan, and even more turned out to be as heartbreaking as they could have been heartwarming. This is a game of many sides and the title ensures that players will see at least a number of these throughout their first playthrough.
An initial completion of the game will take roughly three or four hours, depending on the routes taken as some are far longer than others and even others can be cut quite short depending on the actions taken and it is here that players will find that the game’s gallery system serves as not only a way to revisit some of the gorgeous artwork, but also gain hints as to routes yet unseen, encounters and endings yet to be unlocked. Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is a title that revolves around replayability and thrives on it, especially since this version added new endings, new forms of the princess, and also expanded on some previously available routes. Even as we saw our first ending come to a conclusion that felt as natural as can be, a glance showed that there was far more to obtain and that tracking down some of these encounters and endings would be far more difficult than they may seem, especially some of the more meta ones. Combine this level of replayability with some of the best writing a horror visual novel with tinges of romance can have and you have an excellent story that will have players hunting for missing routes long after their first completion.
Gameplay
Being a visual novel, the actual player interaction is quite slim. The title is designed to appear to be similar to “choose your own adventure” style of novel where players can have questions that can be, usually, asked without consequence displayed as (Explore), though be wary as some of these do have consequences, while direct choices will spirit players along their current route or change it altogether depending on their selection. It is worth noting that the game does feature a handy “Skip Previously Read Text” option that can be triggered with RB. This can make some of the early repeatable scenes far easier to zip through to see what new routes await these three characters and the voices in your head. It is interesting to note as well that, at least throughout a single playthrough, the title also will begin to lock out certain choices to avert players from running down the same route they have already completed for that playthrough. This is incredibly useful, though it is worth noting that any subsequent playthroughs won’t feature this option unless they repeat a route once more.
One thing that is a bit of an annoyance is the game’s user interface when it comes to the extra options. While players will generally only be making choices on the dialogue tree, the cursor will occasionally appear out of place on the tree until it is moved and should players tap to the left they can easily find themselves on the settings, save, auto, or log options instead. This is a minor nitpick but one that happened frequently enough to be a bit annoying.
Audio & Visuals
We’ve already mentioned before how critical the presentation of Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is to its storyline and this is thanks to the truly striking art style that the developers have chosen to go with for the game. Every background, character, and other element is completely hand-drawn and in almost entirely monochrome black-and-white with an extensive level of detail provided thanks to impressive use of shading and shadow techniques. There are splashes of color though these are reserved for only the horrific moments that can occur, be it a sudden appearance of blood red or a truly brutal looking drawing accompanying an especially brutal event, with more than a few of these being outstandingly gross in nature and easily unsettling for those without a stronger stomach. Combine this with some truly unique looking takes on the princess’ countless forms, including the hauntingly beautiful look of her eyes in nearly every form and players will find themselves in for a truly splendid visual treat.
Another mentioned aspect that makes Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut so outstanding is the game’s voice work. Most impressive is that there are only two voice actors for the entire game, Jonathan Sims, who pulls countless duties as The Narrator as well as the numerous Voices that accompany the player, and Nichole Goodnight who voices the princess in all of her unique and horrible forms. Both of these voice actors show incredible range providing unique sounding voice work here, with Sims providing unique voices for each of the emotions the Voices represent and Goodnight masterfully handling the constantly swinging emotions of the Princess, with one route being loving, the other a sadistic monster, another completely detached, and many more. This voice work really drives home the game’s writing and does wonders when accompanied by the game’s simple but effective soundtrack. The soundtrack for the game is simple in nature but used to great effect, with a general track played more often than not but either silenced completely for tense effect or swapping to other tracks, a few brand new to this version of the game, to show how truly far the players have wound themselves into the current route with the princess.
Overall
Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is an outstanding visual novel with such a fantastic presentation that it elevates the already impressive writing that players will experience through the myriad of routes available. There are some minor quibbles with the user interface, but other than that players will find themselves in for a real treat throughout the entirety of the game as they never know what route their next choice might bring them down and the emotions they’ll experience. Combine this with the now expanded and added routes in this enhanced version of the visual novel and Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is a must play for any fan of visual novels or even those who like subversions of the genre.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
SHANGHAI – [Insert Date] – HoYoverse is excited to announce the release of Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.4, “A Storm of Falling Stars”, arriving on December 18, 2024 (UTC+8). This thrilling update introduces groundbreaking features, compelling characters, and immersive experiences on PS5 Pro, PS5, PC, and mobile platforms.
Major Storyline Updates with New Characters
Version 1.4 brings a complete overhaul of the TV mode in main storylines, blending immersive combat and exploration to elevate gameplay. Proxies will meet Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, elite agents from Section 6, as they unravel the culminating chapter of the year.
Hoshimi Miyabi: A sharp tactician specializing in precision combat.
Asaba Harumasa: A resilient defender with crowd-control expertise, available as a free S-level character for all players during the update.
Explore New Areas and Features
Version 1.4 expands the world of New Eridu, introducing new regions and exciting gameplay updates:
Hollow Zero: A major update enhances this iconic feature with dynamic events and challenges.
Port Elpis: A bustling area for combat missions and social encounters.
Reverb Arena: A futuristic battleground offering high-stakes, competitive gameplay.
Now Available on PS5 Pro with Enhanced Visuals
With the launch of Version 1.4, Zenless Zone Zero debuts on PS5 Pro, delivering enhanced performance and visuals, including Ray Tracing technology, to immerse players deeper into the world of New Eridu.
Introducing Free Roam Mode
Players can now explore New Eridu in Free Roam Mode, allowing Proxies to interact with their agents in meaningful ways. Take a leisurely stroll through the city and build bonds with your favorite characters, adding a layer of connection and depth to your adventures.
Experience “A Storm of Falling Stars”
Mark your calendars for December 18, 2024, and dive into this transformative update, packed with new content, gameplay enhancements, and the culminating chapter of the year.
Zenless Zone Zero is an urban fantasy action RPG by HoYoverse. Set in the bustling metropolis of New Eridu, the game blends dynamic combat, rich storytelling, and innovative gameplay to deliver a captivating experience.
Escape false murder accusations as Scarlet, a hedonistic duchess guilty only of disobeying the aristocracy’s tiresome customs. Flee the imperial armies eager to see Scarlet’s head roll and buy time until she can clear her name. Conspire with Lily, a time-traveling livestreamer, and convince the opposing generals of Scarlet’s innocence, win their loyalty…and perhaps even form a rebellion.
In an era without the internet, leverage the power of media to outwit enemy forces. Hop aboard an imperial airship, spread (occasionally fake) news from above, and sway public opinion to increase the odds of victory during every battle.
Strengthen Scarlet’s army with her winsome ways: capture prisoners of war, then sway them with propaganda.Plant seeds of doubt into the minds of opposing commanders to cut off supply chains, divert troops away from battlegrounds, and flank distracted squadrons to thin out their ranks.
“The Great Villainess explores an alternate reality where mass media could be perceived as mystical powers,” says Daichi Saito, CEO of WSS Playground. “We encourage all who test the demo to lend their voice to development, we look forward to your feedback!”
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily is coming to PC in 2025 with language options in English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and Korean. For more information, Visit the Alliance Arts official website, follow Alliance Arts on Twitter and YouTube.
About One or Eight
One or Eight is a Japan-based game development studio with a focus on creating obsession-worthy titles, with various Touhou Titles under their belt including Marisa of Liartop Mountain and Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost, as well as other iconic releases like LOST EPIC, EARTH WARS, VTuber Baseball, and many more.
About WSS Playground
Founded in October 2019, WSS Playground is a development studio that takes “play” seriously, with notable titles in their portfolio including The Great Vilianness: Strategy of Lily, DRAINUS, EDEN.schemata();, Touhou Luna Nights, and NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD.
About Alliance Arts
Creating interesting games and delivering them to a large audience is a difficult task for a single company. Alliance Arts is a confluence of independent people joining forces to create a system that delivers interesting games to a large audience.
Critically Acclaimed Remake Available Now On All Major Platforms
SYDNEY (Dec. 6, 2024)– SQUARE ENIX® announced today that DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake, the RPG that IGN called “a shining example of how to remake a classic RPG,” has surpassed 2 million units in worldwide shipments and digital downloads. The game is currently available for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam® and Microsoft Store on Windows.
Acclaimed by critics all over the world, DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a complete remake of DRAGON QUEST III (originally released in 1988), now featuring the HD-2D graphic style, a unique blend of pixel art and 3D graphics. The story and the series’ familiar turn-based command battles remain true to the original, but DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake also includes a variety of additional elements, including voiced event scenes, orchestral music, a new “Monster Wrangler” vocation, the “Monster Arena” feature for extra challenges and new story episodes featuring Ortega, the protagonist’s father.
Additionally, the classic DRAGON QUEST III story fans know and love, which is chronologically first in the “Erdrick Trilogy,” has been refined to better tie-in to the events of DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake. DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake is planned for release next year.
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is perfect for anyone who thoroughly enjoyed the previous versions, newcomers to the DRAGON QUEST franchise and gamers of all ages – even those who don’t typically play RPGs.
DRAGON QUEST is a legendary series of role-playing games created by Yuji Horii and beloved by millions both in Japan and around the world. The first DRAGON QUEST was released in 1986, and the game made its US debut in 1989 as DRAGON WARRIOR. The critically acclaimed series has shipped more than 91 million units worldwide, spanning 11 main series titles, many spin-off games, as well as films, anime, novels, manga, merchandise and more. Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, the wildly popular DRAGON QUEST franchise holds various Guinness World Records including “Longest-Running Japanese RPG Series.”
The visionaries behind the series, Creator and Game Designer Yuji Horii, Character Designer Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball) and composer Koichi Sugiyama, have long enchanted newcomers and long-time fans alike, with each new entry in the franchise comprising charming visuals, enthralling storylines, and captivating music. The latest instalment, DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age, was released to much critical acclaim, winning the Metacritic Must-Play game award and becoming Metacritic’s “#2 Best Switch Game of 2019” and “#3 Best PS4 Game of 2020.” It has shipped over 7 million units globally to date.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including FINAL FANTASY™, which has sold over 195 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 91 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
AN EPIC TRAILER FOR AN EPIC STORY – 1,000,000 Wishlists Can’t Be Wrong
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 6 DECEMBER 2024 – Warhorse Studios and PLAION have revealed the official story trailer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
The latest trailer delves into the chaos, brutality and intrigue of a realistic late Middle Ages world. It follows Henry, a young man seeking justice for his murdered parents, as he embarks on an epic journey where his morality and integrity are tested. With blood feuds and political conspiracies unravelling, Henry’s choices will ultimately shape his destiny.
The story trailer comes hot on the heels of the news that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has achieved over 1 million wishlists on Steam and will be launching a week earlier than originally announced: players can now get their hands on the title on 5 February, 2025.
In addition, there’s more good news: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has officially Gone Gold. The game is now in the final stages of optimisation and on track for its 5 February launch.
Lastly the team at Warhorse studios also revealed the final PC and console specifications. allowing players to configure and optimise their gameplay experience as they choose. Full details below.
About the game
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.
Gamers can choose one of the following editions:
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Standard Edition. This is the full game. Pre-order now to get the Lion’s Crest bonus items.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition. The crown jewel of every noble’s chest with everything for an aficionado or newcomer to the series. It contains the standard edition, Expansion Pass and the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit:
Gallant Huntsman’s Kit Whether you’re sporting St. Hubert’s hunting cap, firing bolts at your quarry with Artemis’ crossbow or looking dapper in Nimrod’s famous hunting coat, this full costume hunting garb is a ‘must have’ for an aspiring ranger.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Expansion Pass The Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Expansion Pass includes three upcoming expansions as well as the bonus unlockable content: Shields of Seasons Passing. Available day one, this allows you to customise your shields with one of these four unique designs.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Collector’s Edition. The ultimate in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II goodness. You’ll get everything that’s found in the Gold Edition, along a fantastic statue of Henry and his trusty steed, Pebbles; the exclusive cloth map Alleys of Kuttenberg; the enamel pin set Coats of Valor; the iconic Letter of Hope – which Sir Hans Capon was entrusted with; and the King’s Rebels collectable cards set.
Join Henry on his quest for redemption and revenge in 1403 Bohemia and remember: “Audentes fortuna iuvat!”
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will release on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X on 5 February 2025.
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 6 million copies.
Warhorse Studios is a PLAION company.
About PLAION
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 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. 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
The cult classic Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut has arrived on consoles and now, with more content than ever, we run through one of the many endings, seeing many horrific, heartwarming, and strange scenes along the way in this incredibly unique visual novel.
Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut Full Playthrough
You’re on a path in the woods, and at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a Princess.
You’re here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.
She will do everything in her power to stop you. She’ll charm, and she’ll lie, and she’ll promise you the world, and if you let her, she’ll kill you a dozen times over. You can’t let that happen. Don’t forget, the fate of the world rests on your shoulders.
You’re not going to listen to him, are you? We’re supposed to save princesses, not slay them…
Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut Developer: Black Tabby Games Publisher: Black Tabby Games, Serenity Forge Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch Release Date: 24 Oct, 2023 Price: $19.99 USD
Recommended – “Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut’s gorgeous presentation elevates already impressive writing that does an excellent job keeping players coming back for more routes, hoping to find them all.”
Your Indiana Jones™ adventure begins today! Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™ is now available in early access worldwide on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC, and Game Pass. Developed by the critically acclaimed studio MachineGames in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, this adventure game brings the iconic archeologist to life in an all-new cinematic and interactive experience.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle combines thrilling set pieces, intricate puzzle-solving, and intense hand-to-hand combat to deliver an authentic Indiana Jones experience. Set between the events of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade™, players will unravel a brand-new narrative-driven single-player story steeped in archeological mystery, danger, and intrigue.
Players can jump into Early Access now by purchasing the Premium, Premium Upgrade or Collector’s Edition of the game, which will also give them access to more content with the launch of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of the Giants DLC™ coming in 2025. More details of this story-driven DLC will appear at a later date.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™ officially launches globally on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC and Game Pass on December 9 and arrives on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025. To learn more about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, check out the official website at https://indianajones.bethesda.net/
– Nominees will be Revealed on April 4, 2025, Alongsidethe Start of Global Fan Voting – – New Nominee Eligibility Period and Categories Revealed – – First Celebrity Presenter, Brazilian Drag Pop Icon Pabllo Vittar, Announced –
Sydney, Australia (Dec. 6, 2024) – Crunchyroll, the ultimate brand fueling anime fandom worldwide, announced at CCXP in São Paulo, Brazil, that the ninth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards will return to Tokyo, Japan, on May 25, 2025. A star-studded orange carpet and global live stream will precede the ceremony.
Crunchyroll also announced its first-ever Brazilian celebrity presenter and anime fan for the ceremony—drag pop icon and musician Pabllo Vittar. Additional celebrity presenters from the world of television, film, sports, fashion, and music as well as musical performers will be announced closer to the ceremony.
Wildly popular voice actress and idol Sally Amaki and renowned entertainer Jon Kabira will return as co-hosts, and Sony Group Corporation Chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida will again deliver opening remarks.
“The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is one of the biggest moments for anime all year – thanks to the creators honored and fans who will decide the winners,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. “We’re thrilled to host the awards again in the birthplace of anime and produce a celebration of the world’s fastest growing entertainment space.”
The largest global celebration of excellence in Japanese animation continues to evolve and expand with a new eligibility period, voting window and categories. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ move from March to May begins a transition towards an updated eligibility period that celebrates a clearly defined calendar year of anime.
Exclusively for the 2025 Anime Awards, the updated eligibility period will expand from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, encompassing five seasons (or quarters) of anime. This expanded window marks a transition year that ensures no anime goes uncelebrated and fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite series, film, creators, and more. In the future, nominee eligibility will extend from January 1 to December 31.
“Every year we see an outpouring of love and admiration from fans around the world, voting for and cheering on their favorite shows and creators,” added Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll’s Chief Operating Officer. “This year will be no different as anime continues to captivate larger and more diverse audiences than ever before.”
Crunchyroll has revealed 32 categories that capture anime’s contributions to popular culture and reflect its continued global growth. From fresh new categories like Best Isekai and Best Hindi Voice Artist to fan favorites like Best Opening Sequence and Best Main Character, the accolades continue to parallel the expansion of anime. The full list can be found on the Anime Awards Official Website.
To be revealed on April 3, 2025 as fan voting begins, the nominees in each category will be selected by the passionate and independent 2025 Anime Awards judges, who represent global creatives, tastemakers, experts, and influencers.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. The ninth annual Anime Awards will take place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on May 25, 2025. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
The Problem Child DLC Expands Fighter Roster with Seven Boxers and Alternate Outfits
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 6 DECEMBER 2024 – Global boxing superstar and serial entrepreneur Jake ‘El Gallo de Dorado’ Paul has officially joined the roster of the hit boxing video game Undisputed.
In the debut DLC since the game’s full release in October, the high-profile influencer-turned-boxer will be available as a playable character with three in-game outfits, bringing his fight style and personality to the most authentic boxing game from 13 December 2024 (AEDT).
Paul was put through his paces at the Sheffield, UK studio to ensure his in-game character reflected his signature style, combining his real-world fighting skills with his unapologetic, bold persona.
Steel City Interactive conducted a full motion capture of Jake Paul, resulting in a lifelike appearance with precision perfect punches, defence and footwork. His trademark flamboyant attire completes his virtual look.
“I’ve been breaking barriers and making history in real life, so it’s only fitting that I bring the same energy to Undisputed. This isn’t just about being in a video game; it’s about inspiring a new generation of fans to step into the ring – virtually and in real life.
The Steel City team nailed every detail, from my moves to my swag, and I can’t wait for players to test their skills as ‘El Gallo de Dorado.’ Just like in the real ring, I’m here to take over,” said Jake Paul.
“Jake’s influence on modern boxing is undeniable. His meteoric rise has introduced a whole new generation to the sport, especially those who have followed him from a YouTube phenomenon to a legitimate boxing contender,” said Ash Habib, Founder and CEO of Steel City Interactive.
“His inclusion in Undisputed represents our commitment to featuring fighters who bring something new and exciting to the sport, pushing boxing inside and outside the ring.”
Undisputed is known for its authenticity to the world of boxing and detailed recreation of the sport.
In addition to Paul, The Problem Child DLC roster is expanded further to include two specialised packs comprising of six current boxing superstars and legends of yesteryear:
Pack 1 – Mexican Legends
Marco Antonio Barrera
Erik Morales
Juan Manuel Márquez
Pack 2 – Hard-hitting Heavyweights
James ‘Buster’ Douglas
Otto Wallin
Zhilei Zhang
New outfits Each new fighter comes with an alternate outfit. There are also two new cosmetic packs that include alternate outfits for Deontay Wilder, Roy Jones Jr., Sunny Edwards, Terence Crawford, Vasilii Lomachenko and Seniesa Estrada.
Free content and game updates In addition to the paid for DLC fighters and outfits, all existing and new players will also receive free content and game updates including:
Two brand new ‘Ring of Fire’ outfits for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in anticipation of their rematch on 21 December 2024.
Two new venues, new animations for knockouts and knockdowns, movement up and down in weight class for Career Mode, audio and UI changes.
This debut DLC represents the first of numerous planned content drops comprising of free, paid and game enhancements. More detail to be revealed soon.
Undisputed is available to purchase on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC Steam.
About Jake Paul
Jake Paul, known as “El Gallo de Dorado,” has rapidly become one of the most influential figures in the world of combat sports. After rising to stardom on YouTube, Paul quickly earned a reputation for his brash, unapologetic behaviour, which often landed him in the headlines. This rebellious attitude and controversial persona led to the birth of another one of Paul’s nicknames, “The Problem Child.” Paul left behind the digital influencer life and made the bold pivot to professional boxing in 2020. Driven by his passion for the sport and a desire to redefine his legacy, he relocated to Puerto Rico to focus fully on his training and boxing career.
After competing in three professional fights and headlining his first pay-per-view event in April 2021, Paul took another bold step. In August 2021, he co-founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) with Nakisa Bidarian, aiming to give fighters greater creative control over their careers. Paul’s commitment to the sport extends beyond his own career, as he and MVP actively promote women’s boxing and support rising talent through initiatives like MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series. In 2023, Paul was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s “The 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports” issue — he was celebrated for revolutionizing the sport by advocating for equitable pay and creating platforms for young fighters, particularly women.
Paul’s impact in the ring is equally significant, with high-profile victories over names like Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. His viral knockouts and headline-grabbing performances have breathed new life into boxing, drawing millions of fans and setting records. In November 2024, he headlined a historic bout against boxing legend Mike Tyson, streamed live globally on Netflix. The event shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. The main event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams worldwide, including 38 million in the US. During its broadcast, 56% of all US TV viewing from 9 PM-10 PM PST was dedicated to the fight. The fight’s impact extended beyond streaming, achieving record commercial distribution across 6,000+ bars and restaurants in the US and topping Netflix charts in 78 countries. Globally, it trended as #1 on X, with #PaulTyson dominating worldwide discussions and #Serrano ranking second in major markets like the US, Brazil, Spain, and Canada. With an $18,117,072 gate and 72,300 attendees at AT&T Stadium, the event set a record as the highest-grossing combat sports gate in US history outside of Las Vegas and entered the top 10 overall.
Outside the ring, Paul’s contributions to the sport extend into philanthropy and advocacy. In 2021, he launched the Boxing Bullies foundation, a nonprofit that empowers and inspires young people through boxing. He’s also been an outspoken advocate for fighter rights and pay equity and has partnered with USA Boxing to support the development of future Olympic athletes. Through his ventures and advocacy, Paul continues to shape the future of boxing and influence the broader sports and entertainment landscape.
About Steel City Interactive
Sheffield-based Steel City Interactive (SCI) was founded in 2020 by Ash Habib, along with his brothers Asif and Asad. Formed around the idea of creating the first major, new boxing game in over a decade. The rapidly growing studio now employs 34 people and has partnerships with the world of boxing’s leading companies including the WBC, Ring Magazine, CompuBox, BoxRec and many other prestigious boxing organisations. During development SCI has created innovative, proprietary technology to bring the world of boxing to life like never before.
About PLAION
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 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. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences.
