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FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH AVAILABLE NOW ON PLAYSTATION 5

Critics Proclaim FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH “An Absolute Must-Play,” a “Masterpiece,” “One of the Best RPGs Ever Made”

SYDNEY (1st March, 2024) The groundbreaking fantasy is reborn. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, the new chapter in the epic FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, is now available worldwide for the PlayStation®5 (PS5®) console. Having earned a Metacritic “Must-Play” award, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH has garnered over 50 perfect review scores from global gaming critics and has been heralded as an “Utterly massive RPG pushed to its limits” by VGC, “a rich lavish remake” by Eurogamer and “a RPG masterpiece” by GAMINGbible.

A celebratory Launch Trailer for the title was also released today and can be viewed below:

In FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, players take on the role of mercenary Cloud Strife and his comrades as they pursue legendary swordsman Sephiroth, a haunting figure from Cloud’s past bent on ruling the planet, across a vast and vibrant world rife with danger, adventure, joy and uncertainty. These unlikely heroes, including beloved, iconic characters Tifa, Barret, Aerith and Red XIII, join forces with new companions like the spirited ninja operative Yuffie and the wisecracking, feline-shaped robot Cait Sith. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH delivers an unforgettable experience to players filled with unexpected twists, memorable characters, and jaw-dropping set pieces that longtime fans and newcomers can both enjoy.

“As the director of the original FINAL FANTASY VII, I feel very proud that we were able to introduce a whole new generation to role-playing games and show so many newcomers a wider world of storytelling. Today, I’m filled with the same sense of pride when I look at what our development team has accomplished with FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH. This adventure offers rich rewards to longtime fans while welcoming in newcomers to begin their FINAL FANTASY adventure here and experience a similar sense of wonder as they would have felt in 1997. I hope that both fans and those who have never played FINAL FANTASY before will enjoy this game.” Yoshinori Kitase, Producer

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is a labor of love and our tribute to adventure – a massive world of compelling stories and our most ambitious game to date. Like those who first brought us the original FINAL FANTASY VII, we’ve reached for something that was never possible before today’s technology: a deeper portrayal of our main cast of friends, comrades and people of the Planet. By combining their powers in battle and strengthening their bonds through your choices, we hope you feel a powerful, connection with these characters and the world they inhabit.” Naoki Hamaguchi, Director

“For many years, I wondered what a remake of FINAL FANTASY VII could look like. Above all else, I felt we would need to do justice to the characters and story that had become so beloved by fans around the world. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH delivers on this vision and vastly expands upon the original title not only in the size of its world, but in the quiet moments shared by party members, where warmth, joy, sorrow and tenderness can be found. As they press on and forge deeper bonds en route to their ultimate fate, I hope you will open your heart to feel these feelings alongside them. As the second title in a trilogy, we’ve enjoyed hearing our fans’ feedback from the previous title and incorporating elements into FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH for a truly breathtaking follow-up. Thank you for playing our vision for a remake, in which the past is honored by the possibilities of the present to reimagine a story for future generations.” -Tetsuya Nomura, Creative Director

The FINAL FANTASY VII remake project began when FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE released in 2020 to universal acclaim from players and critics around the globe. After earning more than 20 perfect scores from media and being selected as a PlayStation® “Editor’s Choice” pick, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE became the highest-selling digital release on the PlayStation® platform in SQUARE ENIX’s history, exceeding more than 7 million shipments and digital sales worldwide since its release.

Players eager for more FINAL FANTASY VII content can download FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS, the hit mobile RPG that has been downloaded over 7.77 million times, through the App Store, Google Play or STEAM for free, and take part in a limited-time FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH crossover event within the game. As a part of this event, players can experience the infamous Mt. Nibel incident and receive various in-game bonuses. For more information, visit the official FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS social channels.

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is now available for the PS5® console. For more information, visit https://ffvii.square-enix-games.com/games/rebirth/.

A free, two-part demo available now lets players experience both the game’s opening chapter and a special preview of part of the massive in-game world set several hours into the main storyline. Players who complete the first part of the demo, “Fall of a Hero in Nibelheim,” will receive the Kupo Charm and Survival Set demo incentives and be given the option to skip the same section in the full game* if desired. Download the “Fall of a Hero in Nibelheim” and “Dawn of a New Era in Junon” demo here.

* To skip the Nibelheim section in the full game, plus receive the Kupo Charm and Survival Set demo incentives, players must ensure they have the latest update installed for the full game.

About FINAL FANTASY VII

First released in 1997 on the PlayStation® computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY VII celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022. The game is universally regarded as a hallmark title of the RPG genre. The original title received high praise for its epic storyline, unique characters, and movie sequences that utilized the most cutting-edge technology of the time. Since then, the game has sold over 14.4 million copies worldwide and continues to receive widespread acclaim from critics and fans around the world. The popular game has even expanded into spin-offs, films and merchandise.

The first game of the FINAL FANTASY VII remake trilogy project, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, released in 2020, has been praised by both players and critics across the globe, earning more than 20 perfect scores from media, and was selected as a PlayStation® “Editor’s Choice” pick. The game also became the highest-selling digital release on the PlayStation® platform in SQUARE ENIX’s history, exceeding more than 7 million shipments and digital sales worldwide since its release. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, the second game in the trilogy and standalone story, is now available worldwide for the PS5®.

About FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS
FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS is a chapter-structured RPG experience that will cover key elements of the FINAL FANTASY VII timeline, including the events of the original game, plus new story elements penned by FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE story and scenario writer Kazushige Nojima surrounding a young hero, Sephiroth. The game is now available through the App Store, Google Play, and STEAM.

About Square Enix Ltd.

Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories 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  180  million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

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

TOWER OF GOD: NEW WORLD UNVEILS THE ARRIVAL OF SSR [RED SNAKE] SHILIAL ALONGSIDE STORY UPDATES AND LIMITED-TIME EVENTS

LOS ANGELES – February 29, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, released a new game update for its collectible card game RPG, Tower of God: New World. Players can add a new teammate, experience main and side story updates, and enter a number of limited-time events.

The newly added teammate, SSR [Red Snake] Shilial (Green element, Mage, Anima), is a Princess of Zahard from the Lo Po Bia Family and is often seen with her twin, Lilial, who is also a princess. Shilial uses Black Snakefish and specializes in ACC, EVA, and AoE Attacks.

Newly added game content as part of the latest updates includes Act 7-2 [Eye of a Needle: The Shinsu Contest] and Act 7-3 [Eye of a Needle: Same Goal, Different Purpose] of the main story, which feature the 20th floor’s residential area and the story of Wangnan Ja. A new side story titled “A Day in the Life of a Princess” is also available, where players can take a sneak peek at Shilial’s past secret with appearances from Shilial, Ren, Endorsi and Yihwa Yeon.

The following limited-time events are available as part of the update:

  • The Tower of Alliances Event (Feb. 29 – Mar. 10): During the event, the player’s Alliance is matched against another Alliance to conquer the opposing Alliance’s Tower starting from the ground floor. The winning Alliance is rewarded with Alliance Coin, Suspendium and more.
  • Shilial Release Celebration Check-in (Feb. 29 – Mar. 14): Check-in the game for 14 days and receive the [Red Snake] Shilial Hot Deal Summon Ticket, Suspendiums and more.
  • Shilial’s Growth Mission (Feb. 29 – Mar. 13): After acquiring SSR [Red Snake] Shilial, players can clear various in-game missions to earn mission points which can be used to obtain another SSR [Red Snake] Shilial, as well as Normal Summon Tickets and Exclusive Equipment Enhance items and more rewards.
  • Shibisu’s Strategy Lesson (Mar. 8 – Mar. 22): Obtain Formation Tokens by having a match with a random player, which can be exchanged for various rewards including SSR characters.

In Tower of God: New World, players can take control of fan-favorite characters to ascend the Tower. Join Twenty-Fifth Bam – and more than 90 characters – as he fights his way through the Tower in gorgeous 3D animation that will make players feel like they have stepped into an anime world. Players will experience fast-paced battle mechanics while utilizing a unique Slot System that powers up a particular “slot” instead of a specific character.

The game is now available on Google Play and the App Store while the PC version is available to download from Google Play Games Beta. Players are encouraged to sign up on Discord and other social channels (YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook) for the latest information.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

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Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Pre-orders Now Live + Extended Trailer

Pre-orders are now live for ATLUS’ upcoming RPG Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Those looking forward to playing the definitive version of the acclaimed game can pre-order the physical edition on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox One.

Those who pre-order will receive two “Sacred Treasure” sets, in-game items designed to aid players during their journey through Da’at. This set includes the “Gleam Grenade” which inflicts a small amount of damage to foes and the “Haraedo Bead” which recovers the HP of all allies. Both can be used infinitely in battles.

In addition, ATLUS has shared an extended cut of the announcement trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.

Check out the trailer below:

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by existing and new fans. At the start of the game, players will choose between two paths: the story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, or the brand-new Canon of Vengeance. This dramatic new tale of revenge introduces brand-new characters, a new area to explore and a new dungeon. Additionally, the game features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration in this newest entry in the series.

SEGA Collaborates w/ Anti Social Social Club for Like a Dragon Streetwear Collection

Sydney, Australia – 29th February 2024: SEGA®, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment, announced a fashion collaboration with the global streetwear brand Anti Social Social Club. The collection celebrates SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s iconic Like a Dragon™ game series and its newest installment, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth™. The collection will drop on the 3rd March 2024 at Anti Social Social Club’s online store.

Inspired by the game characters Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga, the collection represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Like a Dragon and its developer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio: Never before has Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio collaborated with the Anti Social Social Club label to bring its iconic designs and characters to life.

Like a Dragon, formerly Yakuza, is one of the iconic franchises in SEGA’s portfolio of IP, helmed by the skilled developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The latest addition to this series is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which has earned critical acclaim and is the fastest selling game in the franchise, reaching 1 million units shipped worldwide in a week since its launch on the 26th of January 2024. Set in the diverse and vibrant landscapes of a fictionalised Honolulu, Hawaii, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers a fresh environment for players, characterised by a mix of sunny beaches and bustling city life.

Like a Dragon has always pushed the boundaries of real-world and virtual collaborations, and this collection with Anti Social Social Club is an authentic expression of innovation and creativity in both spheres,” says SEGA of America.

The collaboration also represents a significant investment in the Japanese fashion market for Anti Social Social Club. With this partnership, Anti Social Social Club inks a capsule collection tailor-made for its dedicated fanbases globally.

“Anti Social Social Club and Like a Dragon share a common customer and community, and we’re proud to bring them a first-of-its-kind fashion collaboration with SEGA and RGG Studio,” says the brand. “Like all games in the Like a Dragon series, Infinite Wealth is bursting with energy and character. The pace and rhythm of life in Like a Dragon’s fictional urban environments evokes the spirit and vitality of what it means to live in a city. So much of the game’s ethos resonates with what Anti Social Social Club—and the streetwear community—stand for. Our collection with Infinite Wealth isn’t merch: It’s a must-have extension of the iconic game and characters into our world.”

The collection will feature hoodies, t-shirts and button-downs, as well as accessories like bandanas and co-branded hats.

About SEGA

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. Established in 1986, SEGA of America publishes innovative interactive entertainment experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms. In 2020, SEGA ranked #1 among Metacritic’s Annual Game Publisher Rankings. Its globally beloved franchises include Sonic the Hedgehog™, Like a Dragon, Virtua Fighter™, Super Monkey Ball™, and Phantasy Star Online™, along with Atlus’ Persona™ and Shin Megami Tensei™ series. Since its debut more than three decades ago, Sonic has become a pop culture icon featured in dozens of games, TV series, and movies. SEGA of America has offices in Irvine and Burbank, California.

Known for its engaging storytelling, vivid portrayal of Japan’s underworld, and a unique blend of action and role-playing elements, the Like a Dragon (Formerly Yakuza) series has gained a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim worldwide. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth introduces a significant shift from the traditional Japanese settings of its predecessors and is largely set in the diverse and vibrant landscapes of a fictionalized Honolulu, Hawaii.

ⒸSEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo, LIKE A DRAGON and LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION.

ASSC Manifesto / Statement on Collaboration:

We have teamed up with SEGA’s Like a Dragon franchise to release a special collection inspired by the latest global game launch, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Especially in Asia, Anti Social Social Club and Like a Dragon share a common customer and community, and we’re proud to bring them a first-of-its-kind fashion collaboration with SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Like all games in the Like a Dragon series, Infinite Wealth is bursting with energy and character. The pace and rhythm of life in Like a Dragon’s fictional urban environments evokes the spirit and vitality of what it means to live in a city. So much of the game’s ethos resonates with what Anti Social Social Club—and the streetwear community—stand for. Our collection with Infinite Wealth isn’t merch: It’s a must-have extension of the iconic game and characters into our world.

Unicorn Overlord Trailer Reveals Combat Tips, Battle Details and More

ATLUS and Vanillaware have released a new trailer for their upcoming tactical fantasy RPG Unicorn Overlord. The latest trailer gives players tips and tricks on how to succeed in combat, details about battle mechanics and more.

For the best chance at victory in Fevrith, watch the new Unicorn Overlord – Josef’s Guide to Combat trailer below:

From the creators of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Unicorn Overlord shines in combining overworld exploration and an innovative battle system in the iconic Vanillaware style. Traverse the vibrant world, cultivate a grand army with over 60 uniquely designed characters, and grow your renown throughout the five nations in this unique epic fantasy experience!

Unicorn Overlord will be available on the 8th March, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

Descend into the madness with this NEW trailer for Alone in the Dark!

Sydney, Australia – February 29th, 2024: Descend into the madness of Alone in the Dark as you meet the residents of Derceto Manor in this brand-new trailer! Watch the new trailer here: https://youtu.be/xW0PQkpjk5M

Get a glimpse of  Emily and Edward’s descent into madness: “One of the most important parts of the game is the place. It’s at its very core a haunted mansion story. That’s why we needed to make sure we recreate Derceto again!”, says Creative Director Mikael Hedberg.

Jodie Comer and David Harbour talk about different story endings and the colourful, vibrant characters you will encounter. Depending on who you choose to play as, Emily or Edward, people will react differently, and you will experience different scenes – definitely worth it to play as both!

Alone in the Dark is developed by Pieces Interactive in Sweden and published by THQ Nordic and will be coming to PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation®5 on March 20, 2024.

Alone in the Dark – Overview
Alone in the Dark is a love letter to the ground-breaking original, allowing players to experience a haunting story through the eyes of one of the two protagonists: play as Edward Carnby, portrayed by David Harbour (Stranger Things, Hellboy), or Emily Hartwood, portrayed by Jodie Comer (Free Guy, Killing Eve) in this reimagined classic survival horror game, where Psychological Horror meets Southern Gothic. Explore your surroundings, battle monsters, solve puzzles, and uncover the unsettling truth of Derceto Manor.

The compelling story by Mikael Hedberg (SOMA, Amnesia: The Dark Descent), the exceptional monster design by legendary Guillermo del Toro collaborator Guy Davis, and the haunting Doom Jazz melodies by legend Jason Köhnen come together to create a chilling and atmospheric survival horror experience.

Alone in the Dark is being developed by Pieces Interactive in Sweden and will be coming to PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation®5 on March 20, 2024.

Alone in the Dark is available for pre-order now!

Pre-Order:

PC: Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1310410
PS5: PlayStation Store: https://thqn.net/aitd-psn
Xbox Series X|S: Xbox Store: https://thqn.net/aitd-xbox

About Alone in the Dark

Explore Derceto Manor in this reimagination of Alone in the Dark, a love letter to the 90’s cult classic horror game! Set in the gothic American south in the 1920’s, Alone in the Dark features a noir-setting with classical Lovecraftian horror-elements, where the familiar meets the surreal.

  • Return to the roots of psychological horror and experience an atmospheric journey worthy of the game that started the genre.
  • Dive into a world full of sounds that make your skin crawl with a haunting, yet mesmerizing doom jazz soundtrack.
  • Enjoy the thrill of desperate survival in a world where reality starts to crumble, evil lurks in every shadow and ammunition is scarce.
  • Experience this nightmare from either Emily Hartwood’s or Edward Carnby’s perspective and unearth the dark secrets of a gothic mansion.
  • Immerse yourself in a deep psychological story that goes beyond the realms of the imaginable, by Mikael Hedberg, cult horror writer of SOMA and Amnesia.

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About THQ Nordic

Our official boiler plate can be found on our website: https://www.thqnordic.com/company/about

Gas Station Simulator Vacations on a Tropical Isle in ‘Tidal Wave’ DLC March 21

Gas Station Simulator Vacations on a Tropical Isle in ‘Tidal Wave’ DLC March 21

Kraków, Poland – Feb. 28, 2024 – Gas Station Simulator, the critically acclaimed management game from developer and publisher DRAGO entertainment, sets sail with the highly-anticipated “Tidal Wave” DLC, coming to PC via Steam on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Soak up the sun on a tropical trip far away from the famous Route 66, where compelling new challenges and fresh mechanics await gas station employees. Start from scratch and amass a thriving gas station empire, while providing services to the island locals and appeasing the volcanic god Chunchumachu. 

Expand the gas station’s services and amenities perfect for the new location, like scuba gear and surfboard rentals. Stay on high alert and wield hand cannons to protect patrons swimming in the ocean from a massive megalodon shark. Neglecting proper maintenance of the gas station and its equipment can lead to “accidents”, causing Chunchumachu to lash out in a volcanic fit and rain hellfire across the island.

Key features: 

  • Fresh, stunning environment set on a tropical island
  • Brand-new challenges, mechanics, and clientele to serve
  • Start from the ground up and build a prospering gas station empire far away from Route 66
  • Distinct decorations to enhance the station in new and creative ways to attract the local clientele

The Tidal Wave DLC will be available on PC via Steam Thursday, March 21, 2024, for $14.99, and will support English, French, German, Spanish – Spain, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Czech, Portuguese – Brazil, Ukrainian, Italian, and Portuguese – Portugal languages.

If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest news, make sure to follow DRAGO entertainment on Twitter and Facebook. For more details regarding the DLC head over to the recently revealed Steam page.

About DRAGO entertainment

DRAGO entertainment began operations in 1998 in Krakow, Poland. The company initially focused on creating innovative projects for international video publishers as an external contractor while strengthening internal competencies and creating a friendly and professional team to develop their own titles. Since adopting a new strategy in 2018, their goal is to deliver high-quality productions on an international level.

The studio’s flagship title is Gas Station Simulator, which released on September 15, 2021 and immediately became a best seller on Steam. DRAGO entertainment is currently broadening their horizons with new projects and continuing to support their current titles. 

Learn more about DRAGO entertainment on the official website

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – Gameplay

Following up on the shocking finale of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cloud and the group’s journey continues as they reminisce about the past before heading out into Midgar to begin their search for Sephiroth in a story both familiar but already altered in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is the highly anticipated new story in the FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, a reimagining of the iconic original game into three standalone titles by its original creators. In this game, players will enjoy various new elements as the story unfolds, culminating in the party’s journey to “The Forgotten Capital” from the original FINAL FANTASY VII.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: 29th February, 2024
Price: $69.99 USD

Available here – https://ffvii.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/rebirth

Summary:

Not Recommended – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth delivers an extraordinary story expanding on the plot in ways that fans could never have imagined with a massive open world and character building they will adore.”

Check out our review for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth here!

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

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CapsuleComputers
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/capsulecomputer
Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/2666558-Capsule-Computers/
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CINEMATIC TRAILER CELEBRATES EARLY ACCESS RELEASE OF CO-OP ACTION ROGUELIKE ‘CHAMPION SHIFT’

Shift between character and car in Champion Shift’s latest cinematic trailer.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, 29 February 2024 | A new face enters the action roguelike genre today with the early access release of Champion Shift from SRG Studios. Get a preview of the game’s unique mechanics and epic abilities in the cinematic release trailer.

Defeat the Dominion

Champion Shift is an exciting new addition to the roguelike genre, bringing famed warriors to the combat field. Beginning your adventure as the legendary King Arthur, slash through your oppressor’s chains with his mighty Excalibur and free your fellow fighters to aid alongside your journey. Under the dominance of the Dominion–a shadow corporation intent on eliminating your preternatural abilities–you must battle your way toward freedom. As you experience Champion Shift’s different maps and enemies, unlock more champions to enact your revenge on the Dominion, including Athena, Gilgamesh, Tomoe, and more.

Shift Between Character and Car

Explore Champion Shift’s unlockable characters, each boasting a unique kit to fit any playstyle. As you defeat enemies and explore more of the map, earn additional upgrades to your kit like Ymir’s Howl, a bone-chilling frost that slows enemies, or Naga Venom, potent venom that deals damage over time and weakens foes. With over 20 different abilities, choose your own adventure and create a custom kit for your perfect run! In addition to melee combat, players can swap between champion and sports car. Race to your next mission, control your car to clear enemies, and use skill points to add abilities and boost your car’s overall damage!

4 Player Online Co-op

Play Champion Shift solo, or invite friends to co-op and put your champions to the test. Up to four players may band together to leverage their strength and reach new damage records. Challenge mobs along Champion Shift’s city streets, survive oncoming attacks as you race through the desert, and take on elite bosses to prove your status as champion!

Features:

  • Unlock globally iconic champions, including Sun Wukong, Athena, and Gilgamesh!
  • Increase your champion’s power as you unlock upgrades through the eternal Yggdrasil.
  • Explore hundreds of celestial ability combinations to customize your perfect run.
  • Boss battles and challenging enemy encounters test your playstyle and strategy.
  • Shift between vehicle and champion, each with their own strengths and additional skills.
  • Default auto attacks or optional manual aim for a customizable gameplay experience. 
  • Play solo or co-op with up to 4 players.
  • Original musical scores designed for each stage, including day and night variations.

Champion Shift is available now on Steam. Additional updates will be added during Early Access to prepare for the full launch.

About SRG Studios

SRG Studios was founded in 2013 with a focus on developing mobile games. Known for games like Jaws.io, Ink Inc., Heroes Inc., and Sausage Wars, their games have been downloaded over 200 million times. The release of Champion Shift will mark their transition from mobile games developer to developing games for consoles and PC.

Skull and Bones Review

Skull and Bones

Developer: Ubisoft Singapore
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X (Reviewed), PlayStation 5
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $69.99 USD – Available Here $109.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Back in 2013 Ubisoft took their Assassin’s Creed franchise to the seas in what was one of the biggest departures the franchise had ever seen up until that point, by placing players in control of an assassin who also happened to be a pirate and could take part in numerous pirate activities. Four years later, Ubisoft announced that they had been working on an entirely pirate focused game in the form of Skull and Bones for a few years already. Then, what happened will likely turn into a topic of much discussion for quite some time. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore and, rumored to be contractually obligated to release, Skull and Bones went through development hell over the course of nearly a decade of development with countless changes behind-the-scenes, scrapped projects, shifted focus, and more. With numerous issues that saw the pirate game delayed over five times, Skull and Bones was finally released and just dropped its first Season Pass. With such troubled developmental seas, has this ship managed to sail forth to treasure?

Story

Players begin their voyage on the open seas in a heated battle, manning a massive ship while battling against numerous British vessels whose sails blot out the horizon. When the player inevitably loses, they manage to survive the shipwreck and are rescued by their new first mate Asnah and an unnamed crew member aboard a Dhow, a barely floating vessel meant for hunting wild game. Despite being a colossal failure, it turns out the player was set-up to sink and their survival and ability to deliver even a meager amount of goods manages to impress John Scurlock, the local pirate Kingpin. Scurlock takes the player on as their lackey while setting them out on the seas to take on various tasks only for the inevitable to happen before players move on, talking to another group for a small portion of a similarly poorly developed storyline. In fact, even Asnah, the player’s first mate, is often only given small hints about her past with players left to infer much from her outfit, since she never will tell players about her tattoos despite mentioning them nonstop.

The pirate haven of St. Annes serves as the player’s initial starting point but players will eventually find another large scale pirate port that they can use as their main base, but the majority of the actual story comes from outposts and even that is kept to the bare minimum. Players will interact with NPCs that have unique quests as well as repeating ones and while it may appear that some areas have more going on with their designs, the only hint of detail comes from notes or newspapers players find scattered around various outposts, obtained from pillages, or sinking certain ships. The whole plot is ironically bare bones and mostly serves as a vessel to get players into the seas and exploring, giving their missions some form of storyline to try and drive players forward. Ironically, once players hit their own “Kingpin” notoriety rank, they will be given a cutscene showcasing how fancy they are as a new pirate lord while hearing about an ally in the distant seas that never appears while showcasing new elements of “The Helm” that truly controls the seas endgame content despite its also, at least currently, lack of storyline.

Given that we waited until the first season pass content launched for Skull and Bones, it is worth noting that there is some extra storyline involved here, though once again it is kept to the bare minimum. In this case, a new plague-riddled pirate and his minions have begun traveling the seas and players will need to be wary of his massively overpowered ship with no weaknesses and new forms of weaponry that, ironically, advancing the battle pass can provide counters to. A new NPC is introduced to help introduce the introduction of this plagued villain but, again, it is kept to the bare minimum.

Gameplay

As a pirate there are a few things that players will need, but the first thing any good pirate needs is a ship to call their own even if it is good for nothing besides hunting sharks and crocodiles. The ship options as players progress through the game happen to be quite impressive, as player’s increase in rank, either unlocking or purchasing blueprints for larger more capable vessels with more gun ports, better storage, and a wide-array of special stats between them all. Considering Skull and Bones is an online game and does offer co-op play options as well as pvp events, Ubisoft has gone the extra mile here to give players a number of unique ways to build and outfit their ship. This includes ships that have better healing capabilities, cannons that somehow fire healing rounds, ships that have higher defense and can ram others, cannons that act similar to shotguns, long distance cannons, mortars or rockets that can set ships ablaze for constant damage or lay them low with flooded decks, and more. In fact, this customization is one of the most unique aspects when it comes to outfitting your ship, especially when players manage to find a playstyle that works for them, mostly.

Despite offering a wide-array of builds, Skull and Bones does feature a ship “level” system depending on the gear equipped and taking on ships, forts, or even small manufacturing plants can show significant differences depending on how players are equipped and if they are “up to snuff” level wise. In fact, one of the most notorious enemies players may initially encounter is a high level “Privateer” on a small looking vessel that will crush anyone on even a larger vessel. This includes the new “Plague” pirates that now populate the game as part of the seasonal content. This means that, while players are encouraged to build and outfit their ship however they want, trying to make sure you reach an equipment level is always going to play a factor.

Along the same lines, actually obtaining the ship equipment, repair kits, furniture, etc. all ties together into the core gameplay loop that is traveling from place to place, sinking ships, pillaging forts and towns, and harvesting through really generic timed mini-games. A lot of this content is highly enjoyable at first glance and, in the case of ship combat, is truly exceptional feeling most of the time, but a lot of it is kind of bland. Before we go into the meat of the content and what is the best, it is worth noting that the only actual “on land” gameplay involves walking around, talking to NPC merchants or quest givers, and that’s it. Even when it comes to hunting down treasure on a treasure map, players will simply travel to a location hinted at on the map where a giant notification will appear and, upon exploration, a large glowing marker will appear where the player captain will brush off the chest like some dust covered it up and yank it up wholesale from the ground.

All forms of pillaging a base simply involve keeping your ship within range of the location while your “crew” loots the location when not battling out against the faction’s warships that come to its aid or taking out its defensive towers. The longer players survive a pillage, the better rewards, but even a fully pillaged location is simply shown off by having a quick cutscene of the crew celebrating their haul that is the exact same every time. Even boarding enemy ships that have been damaged enough is no longer an act that players actually take part in, instead it is simply a cutscene after successfully grappling an opponent’s boat for some bonus loot and still watching the boat sink after, with no actual player interaction beyond choosing whether or not to take all the loot or leave some behind for whatever reason.

Now the actual ship combat, that is where Skull and Bones shines. Sailing and controlling your ship feels absolutely wonderful, navigating with the ever-changing wind to make the most out of the ship’s top speed, which is oddly limited by having a stamina meter affecting how long players can keep their ships at full mast. Slowing down to make tighter turns, aiming the camera to either the front, back, or either side to aim your weaponry at a target, all of it flows well and even a bit arcade-like with how things play out. Sailing through a storm is a delightful experience despite how chaotic it can make things feel and even rogue waves can spawn in the open ocean, forcing players to either try their best to sail out of its path or brace and hope they can survive. Oddly enough, it is impossible to actually lose cargo in a storm though it is possible for other ships to drop some of their own. That being said, should players end up sinking they must travel back to their location to regain any actual cargo they had, though things such as repair kits and ammunition don’t count.

In combat players will battle it out against other ships using their wide-array of weaponry as mentioned before, with various status effects depending on the weaponry. “Crew Attacks” that deal extra damage or interrupt a ship repairing, like throwing Molotovs or firing rifles can trigger at times and players must be close to pull them off. All of the player’s ship’s weaponry has reload times and maneuvering the ship to make the best use of their loadout and even things like repair kits also have cooldowns depending on the kind used, meaning players cannot constantly heal as they duke it out on the seas. Sailing through a storm, taking on a convoy of merchant vessels to loot their cargo, bracing for their return fire, all of this makes ship combat an absolute blast and honestly, it is truly remarkable in Skull and Bones.

This bright shining highlight is unfortunately about all Skull and Bones has going for it unfortunately, as even the endgame content involves “Pieces of Eight” a separate currency from the silver players earn through standard gameplay and trading. These Pieces of Eight are gathered either through manufacturing and smuggling illegal goods but primarily from building an empire of locations that will do that for the player over time. These takeovers are PVP based events though some PVE ones are available, but the PVP element currently is a bit broken thanks to an exploit that is seemingly unfixed as of now. Outside of a PVP event, players cannot attack one another or deal damage, but in an event everything is free game. The problem is, should an opponent be teaming up with someone outside of the event, their friend is completely immune to damage and can sit there healing their ally as much as they like, leaving players struggling against a seemingly unbeatable team. There are also world-bosses that are larger bombastic fights that are exciting to take part in and some forts can be pillaged by teaming with others, but for the most part players will find themselves only participating in events triggered by the world itself and hoping the other pirate captains join in.

Now, it is worth noting that the first seasonal content for Skull and Bones has launched and with it comes its season pass content. The season pass is a bit unique as it gives players tokens for reaching certain goals that can then be used on three separate paths that have different rewards. It is worth noting that all of the paid content on the battle pass is cosmetic only but it is quite interesting looking, especially since ship customization is truly exceptional here and one of the best ways to make your ship stand out on the seas while the free content are things like weaponry, armor, and weakpoints for the Seasonal boss. Players on the paid line will receive all of the extra cosmetic content alongside the standard gameplay content and, it is worth noting that, should players complete enough of the season pass they can nearly pay off the next one if it follows the same pricing point as this one. The cosmetic offerings in the store are paid using “Gold” which can be bought in the shop or, as mentioned, earned in the paid line and many are quite outrageous compared to what is on offer. There are plenty of cosmetics both for the pirate captain and their ship available through standard silver purchase that allow for an extensive level of surface level of customization but obviously some of the best is paid only and a bit of a bummer in a full priced game such as this.

Audio & Visuals

Sailing on the seas in Skull and Bones is a wonderful looking experience as the ocean has never looked better. This is especially true during storms that can rage randomly as players sail through seas that could be calm one hour and churning an hour later. Navigating these waves is a wonderful delight and partaking in ship combat during these massive storms is incredibly impressive looking and the same can be said about the cosmetic side of things as mentioned before. Unfortunately the same cannot really be said about the actual character models as they are a bit on the predictably generic side while most of the places players explore are interesting at surface level and nothing else. It is also worth noting that the game is riddled with graphical issues that appear fairly often anytime land is involved. Embarking on land can result in the ground textures taking forever to load or never loading at all and there are times players can be sailing and witness the land looking like a gorgeous hue of colors only to realize it hasn’t loaded properly yet and will pop-in with its often generic mountainous or jungle design.

The soundtrack features a thankfully expansive amount of sea shanties with a number of them being familiar favorites from Black Flag as well as a number of new songs that are as delightful as ever. Players can tell their crew to sing at will though they will not if players are in combat. It is worth noting that the crew will still chime in quite often, calling out ships endlessly. As for the NPC dialogue… it’s serviceable at best for as little of the storyline they involve, though the accents do seem authentic at least.

Overall

Skull and Bones is the type of game that does one thing exceptionally well to the point of being absolutely exhilarating but manages to make nearly everything around it as stale and bland as possible. Taking part in ship battles feels amazing, exchanging cannon fire, sailing to outmaneuver the target and nail their broadside and dealing massive damage only to finish it off with a generic boarding cutscene. Combine this with the loop of harvesting materials for upgrades, non-existent on-foot gameplay, and the fact that the endgame rotates around a chore like task with even the Seasonal Pass content being unimpressive and Skull and Bones’ amazing ship gameplay can’t help salvage this leaking ship of a live service game.

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