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GCAP 2024 takes place from 7-9 October 2024 as part of Melbourne International Games Week

Sydney, Australia, 27 February 2024 – Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) 2024 will take place in Melbourne from 7- 9 October 2024, as part of the prestigious Melbourne International Games Week, a week dedicated to celebrating all things games, including the development industry and tens of thousands of players who enjoy playing.

The video games sector is dynamic, vibrant, and ever-changing. Like many high-tech and creative businesses, 2024 will likely present challenges for game creators. However, amidst these challenges, a sense of cautious optimism remains.  With consistent disruption likely to remain constant throughout the year, GCAP 2024 will again be an essential games conference, delivering strategies and opportunities for creators and studios to adapt and thrive in these turbulent times.

GCAP 2024 will foster connections with industry professionals to create opportunities for business development.  The conference will inspire attendees with education and upskilling programs focusing on game development’s core disciplines. With numerous formal and informal networking opportunities, GCAP 2024 will provide many opportunities to create and grow a sustainable business.

This year GCAP will offer:

  • Learning Opportunities: Practical sessions cater to developers of all sizes. Whether you’re an individual or part of a team, GCAP offers applicable skills to achieve your vision.
  • Cutting-Edge Tools: Stay ahead with insights into the latest techniques and tools for game creation and distribution.
  • Expertise Sharing: Industry veterans from Australia and beyond share their wisdom. Best practices across all disciplines will empower developers.
  • Networking: Formal and informal programs to connect with peers and the many stakeholders across the games industry

We are looking for speakers, with submissions open now.  Learn more here.

To wrap up GCAP, IGEA will celebrate the incredibly talented Australian game developers and the brilliant games they create at the 2024 Australian Game Developer Awards (the AGDAs) on Wednesday 9 October 2024.  More details will be revealed soon.

GCAP and the AGDAs would not be possible without the generous support of our industry partners. If you would like to support the Australian games industry, please reach out to our Director of Industry Development, Ceri Hutton, to discuss sponsorship opportunities available.

Keep an eye on the GCAP website as more information becomes available and stay in the loop by signing up to our GCAP newsletter (details on the website). 

About GCAP

Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) is Australia’s premier professional development and networking event for the game development industry, focused on up-skilling and connecting the Australian sector via education, knowledge sharing and the provision of extended personal and business networks. GCAP caters to a range of disciplines and has grown and attracted an engaged audience and esteemed speakers from around the world.

As of 2020, GCAP has been run by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) – the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.

For more information, please visit https://gcap.com.au/

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net.

TEKKEN 8 SELLS OVER 2 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE IN THE FIRST MONTH AFTER LAUNCH

Bandai Namco Europe announces today that TEKKEN 8, the latest instalment in the critically acclaimed TEKKEN series released on January 26, 2024, surpassed a total of 1 million units worldwide on its first day of release and 2 million units in the first month. Support for TEKKEN 8 will continue through various content updates, esports events, music and licensing announcements. 

The next step in TEKKEN esports, the TEKKEN WORLD TOUR 2024, will start on April 13, 2024. After successful TEKKEN WORLD TOUR events that have accompanied the lifecycle of TEKKEN 7, now players will compete with TEKKEN 8 through TEKKEN WORLD TOUR 2024 events across the world to earn points and progress through the rankings, with the hope of reaching the TEKKEN WORLD TOUR Finals and have a chance to become the best TEKKEN 8 player worldwide.

As part of regular updates, the Tekken Shop will make its way into the game. This in-game shop will provide customization items such as costumes from previous instalments, character skins for avatars, and licensed items from our collaborations, letting players put their own touch on their favourite TEKKEN characters.

The sales of over 2 million copies in the first month of release greatly outpaces its predecessor, “TEKKEN 7,” which is still being played and has the series’ total highest sales record of over 11.8 million copies worldwide.

For more information onTEKKEN 8 and other products from Bandai Namco Europe, please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on X at: https://twitter.com/TEKKEN.

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About Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S.

Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.

Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.

Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.

For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu.

Press Release © 2024 Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Pocket Fishing now available on Nintendo Switch with 65 fish species

Nintendo Switch welcomes Pocket Fishing, an arcade fishing game featuring relaxing gameplay and an impressive array of 65 fish species. This new title comes from Ultimate Games S.A., known for the best-selling Ultimate Fishing Simulator series among others. The release date for Pocket Fishing on Nintendo consoles has been set for February 26th of this year.

The preparation and release of Pocket Fishing on Nintendo Switch is managed by the Polish company Ultimate Games S.A. The game is based on Ultimate Fishing Mobile, a title previously released on mobile devices with Android and iOS systems.

Pocket Fishing | Nintendo Switch Trailer:

Pocket Fishing (Nintendo eShop): https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/pocket-fishing-switch/

Pocket Fishing is an arcade fishing game that primarily focuses on relaxing gameplay and offers long hours of fun. An important feature of the game is its comprehensive development system, in which players can unlock new possibilities and better fishing equipment as they progress.

The game focuses on an arcade gameplay style, emphasizing calm and engaging mechanics. It offers two popular fishing methods: float fishing and spinning. The game features, among other things, a day and night cycle and an underwater camera, which is an iconic feature of the Ultimate Fishing series.

In Pocket Fishing, players will find 5 unique fishing spots located in New Zealand, the USA, Norway, Mauritius, and the Amazon River. The title offers a total of 65 different species of fish, including salmon, piranhas, eels, sharks, carp, and trout.

Pocket Fishing – key features:

  • arcade-style fishing game;
  • 2 fishing methods (float fishing and spinning);
  • up to 65 fish species;
  • 5 unique fishing spots;
  • underwater camera view.

The release date for Pocket Fishing on Nintendo Switch is set for February 26, 2024.

Passkeys – Introducing a More Secure, More Convenient Way to Play

Passkey commenced rolling out earlier this month, on February 13 – with Australia and New Zealand first in line to be able to activate a passkey for a password-free sign-in experience. With the rollout now Global, Ryan King, Senior Director, Product Management, Platform Experience, shares his thoughts on the introduction of the new more secure way to play.

Announcing the global release of passkeys as an alternative option to passwords to enhance the security of our player community

Author: Ryan King, Senior Director, Product Management, Platform Experience

PlayStation’s community is made up of incredible players who are instrumental to the success of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Each and every player’s account, and associated identity on PlayStation, is a central and core aspect that unlocks access to all the amazing experiences PlayStation has to offer. Purchasing and playing games, accessing media and services, connecting with friends, competitive match-making, personalised experiences, and well-earned gaming trophies, all rely on a player’s identity.

In recognising how valuable that identity is for each individual, PlayStation consistently improved the ways that players can enrich that identity to ensure that PlayStation continues to be the ‘Best Place to Play.’

At the same time, PlayStation has also continuously introduced enhanced ways to protect and safeguard those player identities, including customer-facing security features like 2-step verification, as well as layers of protective systems and services that silently work behind the scenes.

A Balance of Convenience & Security

With each new feature introduction, PlayStation is increasingly mindful of the balance to consider between ease of use, quickly accessing games and entertainment experiences, and minimising potential friction that can result from additional security measures.

Historically, a challenge for Sony Interactive and the tech and gaming industry as a whole, is that the use of passwords has been a limitation both in how well an identity can be protected and how quickly and easily someone can access experiences if a password is forgotten, compromised, or simply just difficult to enter on a given device.

Facing the challenge of passwords, but keeping that balance of elevated convenience and increased security in mind, PlayStation is proud to announce the global release of passkeys as an alternative option to passwords. We believe passkeys are the next step in offering our community a more convenient and more secure way to sign in and access all of the great experiences PlayStation has to offer.

A New Age of Security

Technology evolves over time and along with that comes a need for evolving standards and efforts for protecting users. Passkeys are one such advancement for us, aimed at keeping our player community safe and secure. 

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are constantly mindful of the wide and diverse sets of people within our community and the need for flexible security and safety measures to fit different ways of play. From ensuring our player community has a safe, secure, and welcoming online experience, to improving and evolving our products and services on PlayStation, the integration of passkey is the latest example of how we continue to safeguard our players while maintaining the best and most seamless user gaming experience, so you can do less worrying, and more gaming. 

What are Passkeys?

Passkeys are digital credentials that are automatically generated using cryptography. This modern alternative to passwords gives users the ability to log in to platforms and devices with a unique passkey for each online service. It allows you to access your account without a password. Instead, you sign in through your mobile device or computer using the same convenient device screen unlocking method, like a fingerprint, face scan, or PIN. 

Watch the full video breakdown below. 

Strong and phishing-resistant, passkeys adhere to Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standards which were established by the FIDO Alliance, an alliance of which Sony Group is proudly part of. The FIDO Alliance is a global authentication standards organisation that strives to reduce the world’s reliance on passwords by promoting the development, use of, and compliance with cutting-edge standards for authentication across an inclusive library of devices and platforms.

This standard is supported by major platforms and devices from leading tech companies. As part of the FIDO Alliance, PlayStation has worked with members of these major companies and institutions to design a truly improved sign-in experience.

Players can get started using passkeys now by setting it up on your account. As an additional benefit, if you use other Sony services with the same account, passkeys will work with those services as well.

To find out more, head to PlayStation.com, and keep up with the latest news from PlayStation Australia on FacebookTwitterYouTube and Instagram

SQUARE ENIX Announces new FOAMSTARS Season 2 “GROOVY DISCO” Starts March 9

New Character “Coiff Guy”, Seasonal Events and More Arrive in Upcoming Update ​​​​​​​

SYDNEY (Feb. 27, 2024)  Today, SQUARE ENIX® announced FOAMSTARS™, the recently released online 4v4 foam party shooter, will launch its newest season, “GROOVY DISCO”, on March 9th 2024 (ANZ). New and returning players will soon have access to a new character, new modes, and a variety of new Free and Premium cosmetic content. FOAMSTARS is now available as a February PlayStation® Plus monthly game and PlayStation Plus subscribers can redeem, download, and play the game at no extra cost until March 4, 2024.

Watch the “GROOVY DISCO” Announcement Trailer below:

Season Two “GROOVY DISCO” is the second season of FOAMSTARS and will be available to all players beginning March 9, 2024 until April 13, 2024 (ANZ).
 
Season Two updates and highlights include:

  • A New FOAMSTAR Slides into the Party: Unlock and compete with the newest FOAMSTAR, “Coiff Guy“, teased in the Happy FriYAY Party event from Season One Starry Pop. “Coiff Guy” can be acquired by all players for free as a Tier 31 reward for the Season Pass or can be obtained immediately by purchasing the Premium Pass.
  • More FOAMSTAR Missions: Missions 4-6 have been added to FOAMSTAR Missions. Experience even more of the individual stories of the FOAMSTARS, learning more about their backgrounds and how to play as each character in the process and go head-to-head in a boss battle against “Dark Ramzey” in Mission 6.

The season will also feature the following limited-timed events:

  • Ranked Party: Rise in the FOAMSTARS ranks by competing in two limited-time seasonal events, the solo player-based Ranked Party Lonestar and team-based Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe. There are seven ranks to progress though – Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star, Platinum Star, Diamond Star, Superstar and Party Legend. Earning enough Rank Points allows players to take part in the Rank-Up Trials.
  • Extreme Party: Challenge players in two special themed modes; the All Coiff Guy Party – where every player team competes to chill opponent teams as Coiff Guy, and the Super Duel Party, where players battle 1-on-1!
  • Happy FriYAY Party: A weekend-only party event with no winners or losers, just the opportunity to try-out next season’s FOAMSTAR.

Seasonal Event Dates*

  • Ranked Party Lonestar
    • Ranked Party Lonestar Dates: March 11, 2024, until March 28, 2024
  • Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe
    • April 4, 2024, Sunday, until April 7, 2024
  • Extreme Party – All Coiff Guy Party
    • March 22, 2024, until March 24, 2024
  • Extreme Party – Super Duel Party
    • March 29, 2024, until March 31, 2024
  • Happy FriYAY Party
    • Event Timings: First Half
      • March 14, 2024, and March 16, 2024
    • Event Timings: Second Half
      • April 4, 2024, and April 5, 2024

 * Seasonal Event Dates are PST. For local event timings, please visit the FOAMSTARS website and social channels.
 
FOAMSTARS’ Season Pass Content
Players will gain XP (experience points) by competing in battles or missions and completing Weekly Challenges to advance through the season tiers to unlock rewards. Earn various rewards such as character skins and items by progressing through the ranks and achieving challenges. Players who purchase a Premium Season Pass will unlock even more rewards as all rewards up to each player’s current tier will be unlocked immediately. A Premium Season Pass is available for purchase.
 
FOAMSTARS will be available to purchase from March 5, 2024, via the PlayStation® Store and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription.

FOAMSTARS is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. An internet connection is required to play FOAMSTARS.
PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with a recurring fee. Age restrictions and terms apply.

For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit the official website and follow FOAMSTARS social media channels.

About FOAMSTARS

FOAMSTARS is a vibrant, over-the-top shooter, that is accessible to players of all skill levels. It combines the fun of partying with the thrill of combat where players blast through matches using foam to attack, build and defend. Taking control of a quirky and colorful ensemble of athletes, players are dropped into the eccentric city of Bath Vegas to compete in FOAMSMASH. Created as a casual yet competitive experience for everyone, FOAMSTARS features a combination of PvP and PvE modes for up to eight players, either as four vs. four, solo, or co-op as a Squad with three teammates.

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 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 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.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

Celebrating platformer games at “2D Platformer Vibes” Steam event

Run, jump, roll, and fight in 2D platformer paradise!

Retrovibe, the indie game publisher known for its captivating retro-inspired titles, is happy to invite everyone to a special “2D Platformer Vibes event on Steam, and celebrate with us some great platformer games from amazing developers. The event kicks off today, February 26th at 7pm CET/10 AM PT, and will last till March 4th 7pm CET/10 AM PT.

Explore amazing platformers in a wide range of settings and art styles – from retro-fueled fantasy worlds soaked with pixel art, to desolated post-apocalyptic lands or even space – from Webbed or Tribal Hunter, to Ultros, Lone Fungus, Janosik 2, and more!

More than 50 different titles from talented developers from around the world have joined the 2D Platformer Vibes celebration. Players can browse through a selection of released and upcoming games, try some demos, wishlist amazing 2D platforming titles, or purchase some with a special discount! You never know what awaits you on the next level or in another castle!

Players can also download the full version of Janosik, a fast-paced retro action-platformer metroidvania set in a Slavic setting, for free.

Visit the “2D Platformer Vibes” page on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/40645616/sale/2DPlatformerVibes

About Retrovibe

Retrovibe is a publisher that aims to unlock next levels of fun by delivering new indie games with a retro heart. It was established in 2021 by a group of experienced games industry professionals.

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Skybound Entertainment Announces Invincible: Doc Seismic Attacks, a Brand-New, Custom-Built Raid in Fortnite Launching March 15

Fight alongside your favorite heroes in this free-to-play experience for up to six players

LOS ANGELES Feb. 26, 2024 – Calling all Guardians of the Globe! Skybound Entertainment and independent developer House of How are thrilled to announce a brand-new story in the Invincible universe, Invincible: Doc Seismic Attacks, a free-to-play multiplayer experience for up to six players playable completely in Fortnite, coming on March 15 to PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Doc Seismic Attacks allows players to dive into battle as Cecil Stedman’s Elite GDA Agents in a new PvE squad-shooter experience for up to six players, pushing the limits of the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) to new heights.

Dive into the thrilling crossover of Fortnite and the Invincible universe in Invincible: Doc Seismic Attacks, an immersive multiplayer experience featuring a fresh narrative waiting to be uncovered. Safeguard the city and fight alongside Invincible, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, and Robot to take down Doc Seismic and his horde of underground creatures, kaiju-sized moths, and Magmanites before the city is reduced to rubble.

Key Features:  

  • Join the GDA – Become a GDA agent, guided by Cecil, as you shoot your way to victory against Doc Seismic and his underground army.
  • Heroically Memorable Moments -​ Interact with Invincible, Atom Eve and other key characters from the Invincible universe.
  • Authentic Story and Original VO – Become a part of an all-new Invincible story featuring high-quality voiceover performances crafted specifically for this experience.
  • A Modular Experience – Access three classes and a variety of weapons from Fortnite past and present. Two unique paths in the game’s second act offer up further variety and reward superfans.
  • Persistent Experience​ – Upgrade and retain points to climb the leaderboards, becoming the best of heroes.

Invincible: Doc Seismic Attacks will launch as a free-to-play experience within Fortnite Creative on March 15, 2024, for PC via Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

This is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.

About Invincible

Created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, Invincible #1 debuted to critical acclaim on January 22, 2003. Soon after, they were joined by artist and contributing creator Ryan Ottley. Throughout its fifteen-year run, Invincible not only continued for a historic 144-issues but also spawned multiple spin-off series and even an intercompany crossover with a certain friendly neighborhood superhero. In 2021, the Invincible animated series arrived on Amazon Prime and quickly became one of the most popular new streaming series of the year, earning praise worldwide for its fresh storytelling. With a second season currently airing on Amazon Prime Video and new comic book projects to be announced, Invincible remains a cornerstone of the pop culture landscape that continues to grow in popularity every year.

About House of How

Founded in 2016, House of How is an independent studio with a Seattle headquarters, and Swedish and Canadian subsidiaries. We hire worldwide. Our leadership team is made up of ex-Microsoft and Electronic Arts Directors and Executives. We encourage initiative, creativity and ownership. www.houseofhow.com

About Skybound Games

Skybound Entertainment is a creator-first company focused on bringing amazing comics, TV series, audio series, film, and video games to dedicated fans. Skybound Games publishes, produces, and distributes video games across every genre, including the blockbuster The Walking Dead video game series and BAFTA award-winning Before Your Eyes. In November 2023, we launched our first original game in the Invincible universe, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, to critical acclaim. In 2024, Skybound will build a cutting-edge in-house gaming production studio, further enhancing our capacity to shape the future of gaming entertainment.

NG24 Spring: Celebrating 20 Years of Nordic Game

Malmö, Sweden, February 22, 2024 – Nordic Game welcomes everyone to celebrate the twentieth anniversary show, NG24 Spring on 21-24 May at historic Slagthuset Malmö, Sweden and online via Discord, Twitch and YouTube. Tickets are available here.

Twenty years of support and engagement by the extended developer community, from one-person start-ups to some of the most prominent studios in the world, are what have made Nordic Game the leading games industry event in Europe. Nordic Game acknowledge this milestone and thank everyone who contributed to that.

Nordic Game in 2024 will revisit the past, celebrate the present and explore the future of the games industry in the region and across the globe. This years’ speaker program will feature talks and sessions by a string of leading industry profiles and studios, from the Nordic region and abroad. The first speakers are yet to be officially announced, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the stellar profiles in the current program roster.

“Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” Lead Game Designer Lau Korsgaard (Massive Ent.), Creative Lead Fredrik Olson from the “Amnesia” franchise (Frictional Games), and finally Erwin Kho, art director and art lead for the award-winning game “COCOON” are in this first batch.

This magnificent trio will be joined by developers from global studios such as Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate 3), Funcom (Metal: Hellsinger), IO Interactive (Hitman), Ghostship Games (Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor), and companies such as AMD and Valve/Steam. All in all, more than 150 speakers will be ready to talk at NG24 Spring this May.

NG24 Spring is of course much, much more than talks. Favourites like the Games Capital Summit, Nordic Game Expo, Executive Summit, Nordic Game Awards, MeetToMatch, Nordic Game Discord and more will return, as well as lots of fresh ideas and a few surprises.

Through the twenty years, Nordic Game has first and foremost been for the developers and there’s no better place to celebrate than at the NG24 Spring Developer Showcase. More than 150 new and upcoming games from countries all over the world – Philippines, Canada, Spain, Germany, to name a few, and of course the Nordics as well – will gather to present the future of our industry, and a full 360 degree experience awaits them. They will present their projects, meet with publishers, investors, media, and the entire conference audience, and additionally expand knowledge and skills by using the splendid mentor network Mighty Diamonds, while also getting the chance of pitching and/or giving a talk on the special Dev Showcase stage. More will be revealed the coming months.

Nordic Game would not be celebrating double editions annually without the enthusiastic participation of thousands of talented game developers from the Nordic region and across the globe for nearly two decades and are also tremendously grateful for the unwavering support of their exhibitors, sponsors and partners.

Many of them have already signed-up for upcoming events, but new partnerships are always welcome, too.

“We’re at full swing preparing for our anniversary show, and it’s so great to see Nordic Game fans already buying lots of NG24 Spring passes. This indicates that we will be a big crowd celebrating come May, and we can’t wait to meet you all there!”, says Program Director Jacob Riis.

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About the Nordic Game conference

Nordic Game is the leading games conference in Europe. Gathering thousands of industry professionals in the spring and autumn each year, Nordic Game is the one and only “home turf” meeting place for the highly successful game developers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

ENDER LILIES Sequel “ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist” Manifests an Early Access Launch on March 26th

TOKYO – Feb. 26, 2024 – ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom In The Mist, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed dark fantasy metroidvania fairy tale ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights which sold more than 1.4 million copies from publisher Binary Haze Interactive as well as developers Adglobe and Live Wire, absolves evil on PC via Steam Early Access on Monday, March 25th at 8AM PST / Tuesday, March 26th at 12AM JST, followed by release on PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch later in 2024. 

Fight for the salvation of both man and machine in the once-flourishing Land of Fumes, where immense magic lies beneath the soil. As mind-altering toxins exude from underfoot, only Lilac, an “Attuner” capable of cleansing blighted beings’ souls, can bring peace to those suffering in the kingdom. 

With the help of the Spirit Reaper who fights at Lilac’s command, slash through legions of Homonculi — artificial intelligence beings tainted by the vaporous contagion. Set bosses free from the shackles of corruption, and regain their allyship to access 30 different spirit abilities including brute strength fists, rapid-fire gatling guns, and auto-attacking beasts — each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and cooldowns. 

Discover hidden collectibles, equipment, and relics from more prosperous times, including stat-boosting amulets and bracelets offering more health, increased attack power and enhanced abilities. Visit the Blacksmith’s storefront to collect and trade gold in for upgraded items. 

Whether in the cold, dungeon-filled depths or exploring castle peaks, bask in a beautiful hand-drawn landscape complimented by the relaxing tunes of fan-favorite musical group Mili (Ghost in the Shell, Goblin Slayer). The gorgeous ENDER MAGNOLIA soundtrack will become available for purchase at a later date.

“We cannot thank our online community enough for the feedback and support they provided for ENDER LILIES,” says Hiroyuki Kobayashi, CEO, Binary Haze Interactive. “ENDER MAGNOLIA will evolve with the help of our amazing players, and we look forward to this new journey with them into the Land of Fumes.”

ENDER MAGNOLIA – Bloom in The Mist – will arrive on PC via Steam Early Access on Monday, March 25th at 8AM PST / Tuesday, March 26th at 12AM JST, followed by PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch in 2024 with language options in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), and Korean-language support.

For more information, please visit the ENDER MAGNOLIA – Bloom in The Mist – official website, follow ENDER LILIES on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as Binary Haze Interactive’s official account on Twitter.

About Binary Haze Interactive

Binary Haze Interactive, founded in 2020 by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, is a production and publishing company located in Tokyo, Japan, Starting with ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Binary Haze publishes games with a focus on atmospheric settings for major consoles and PC.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island Review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
Platforms: Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 – Available Here

Overview

Like a lot of us out west, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon kind of introduced many to the rogue-like dungeon exploring genre, but through some research – I found and fell in love with the DS romp that released in 2010. That very game would get a localized port on the Switch, and through some luck – Spike Chunsoft have brought Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island to the same platform years later. This title brings us a more modernized take with several enhancements and a brand new locale and story, but does it have enough weight to be worth its full pricepoint? Let’s find out.

Story

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island‘s title really says it all. Along with your handy buddy, Koppa (a ferret), you start the game with few memories, with the task of going back and exploring a dungeon with over thirty floors and great threats amongst each one. You die, and its right back to the start. That said, every death and bit of progression introduces new portions of the narrative, expanding this world as you make your own way through the game. The story is fine enough, but I do wish that it added elements of gameplay, or attributed more than hints to how progress, but for fans of this franchise, the story means almost nothing compared to the actual mechanics that make this game such a banger.

Gameplay

Like most Mystery Dungeon titles, the player must make their way from floor to floor in Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, exploring in order to find items that grant you survival. Yep, unlike the missions in the Pokemon franchise, Shiren acts as one big course that has the player start from nothing, where they are expected to go until they either conquer the lot of floors ahead, or die and have to restart. Thankfully, the controls are fluid, and the gameplay comes with clever mechanics that make death rewarding as you educate yourself of the items and elements you find along the way.

Players take the role as a young adventurer and get tossed into the thick of the game, which is floor 1. Each floor is randomly generated, so from items to enemies to even layout – nothing really stays the same. You must then choose to progress by finding doors or staircases, which lead you to the next floor. Scrolls offer quick spells that can take out a room of enemies in one blast, and weapons and shields can litter the floor to give the player an edge over their standard melee attack in battle. The trick of it all is that sometimes you can go multiple floors without finding any consumables or equipment, so you really need to research every item to understand how it will work in specific situations. For instance, a magic staff can have the power to knock back an enemy, so if you notice a foe who has done you in or you are not of the level to take them on, use a staff to get away. 

Consumables can add levels to your equipment or character, increasing your stats as you grow. Every few floors, the player may end up in a village, which has randomly set shops with items that you can either take or leave if your currency collected is up to par. Shortcuts can also be found by triggering events from your progression, which give new routes for more seasoned techniques. As I mentioned, I wish that Shiren had more narrative that effected the gameplay, as most just open new areas and do little to give assistance. The base game is huge, but due to the randomly generated…everything, there is a stiff difficulty that can come down to luck. Players could clear these floors in one go, or could be stuck for hours retrying floors they had previously cleared. Either way, the journey is what matters here, and the addictive nature has that “just one more try” feel that keeps you coming back to best your last run.

Online play offers players to request a save, where a level one player must get to your portion of the game from level 1 in order to pull off a rescue. Succeeding in this doesn’t progress you if you are the hero of sorts, but instead gives you currency to purchase aid for your next rescue. Its a smart system that is community driven, but the community’s efforts usually come up a bit short at the moment due to the small player-base. If I had any complaints about the game itself, it wouldn’t be in the rescue system, but instead the pushing of the rescue system. Every time you die, the option by default comes up to request a save. If you are tapping “A” to progress, you automatically build a rescue request, going through a few screens before you have to cancel it and move back to the main screen where you left off to move forward. This would be fine if I wasn’t traveling (with no connection) or even felt the need for a rescue, but I did find the pushing of this to be a bit tedious as simply starting at “no” by default, but instead the player kind of gets pushed into attempting to connect to do a rescue, and that seems to be a weird, yet still small annoyance that gets old quick.

Audio

 The soundtrack here is fine, but kind of forgettable. We are given the usual feudal Japan setlist and it captures the atmosphere, but I would have liked to see this fleshed out a bit more. For a game where you repeat so much, some more voice acting to build these characters and story or even better songs overall could have gave the game the boisterous personality it so deserves.

Visuals

Most of the past titles in this franchise were in 2D with sprites. Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is much prettier with 3D models of characters and enemies alike, and while it isn’t always a stunner, it is very smooth and very nice to look at. Graphical improvements also come with a much cleaner interface, as well as smoother animations and a cleaner look overall.

Overall

Minor gripes aside, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is one of the best roguelikes in years for the Switch, due to its clever gameplay and satisfying progression style. While Pokemon Mystery Dungeon it is not, the trade-off for greater depth and more interesting enemies and strategic elements give this title the punch it needs to hold the players’ attention for hours on end. Roguelike fans rejoice, this may be one of the most thought-out adventures to come along in some time, and one that will surely be respected for generations to come.

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