New Entry in the Mana Series Coming 2024 to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
SYDNEY (11 Dec, 2023) – At The Game Awards, Square Enix Ltd., revealed a brand-new entry in the beloved Mana series, Visions of Mana™; the first mainline instalment in over fifteen years. Visions of Mana will return to the series action-RPG roots and take players on a new adventure with protagonist Val, a soul guard assigned to protect his childhood friend who has been chosen by the Faerie as the Alm of Fire to travel to the Tree of Mana and rejuvenate the mana flow. Visions of Mana is coming to PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and PC via STEAM® in 2024.
SQUARE ENIX® released a new trailer which provides a first look at the newly imagined world of Mana in the all-new Visions of Mana. The trailer features action-packed gameplay and showcases a vibrant world where players will be able to journey across a range of breath-taking environments, battle with an array of enemies and monsters including fan favourite Rabites, while exploring a world where the powers of nature and elemental spirits connect. Fans and newcomers alike will also get to experience new and evolved gameplay with real-time 3D combat.
Watch the Visons of Mana Announce trailer, below:
Since the series’ debut in 1993 as MYSTIC QUESTTM, a spin-off of the FINAL FANTASY series, Mana games have immersed players in bright vibrant worlds, breath-taking environments, heart-warming characters, and high fantasy storylines across many genres and platforms. Fans of the series can expect new designs of the series’ beloved creatures from Mana series Illustrator, Airi Yoshioka and a new captivating musical score composed by Mana series composers, Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito and Ryo Yamazaki.
“I am delighted to finally be able to reveal Visions of Mana, the first mainline instalment to Mana series in over fifteen years” said Mana Series Producer, Masaru Oyamada. “The development team have been working hard to ensure that Visions of Mana remains faithful to the series that players know and love while also offering fans and newcomers a fresh new experience with an all-new story, characters, and gameplay mechanics. We cannot wait to share more details about the game with you soon.”
To celebrate the reveal of Visions of Mana, popular series artist HACCAN created a new teaser artwork which gives players a glimpse of the iconic Tree of Mana against one of the game’s enchanting vistas and a variety of the heart-warming characters that players can expect to encounter within the game.
Visions of Mana will be launching in 2024 for PS5®, PS4® consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam®. For more information, visit: https://www.square-enix-games.com/
About the Mana Series
Originally released in 1993 as “MYSTIC QUEST™,” a spin-off title for the “FINAL FANTASY™” series, the game’s positive reception established it as its own standalone action RPG franchise.
The unique elements that make a true Mana game include; an emotional narrative about the power of mana, the legendary Mana Sword, a quirky cast of characters, memorable music, and a weapon-based battle system. The Mana series has released 17 titles over the last 30+ years and sold over 9 million copies/downloads worldwide. The demand for the franchise from its fans has seen several Mana games re-mastered and re-released in the West over the last console generation.
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 185 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.
Expansion Pass Including Both “Echoes of the Fallen” and “The Rising Tide” Also Announced
SYDNEY (Dec. 11, 2023) – During The Game Awards 2023, SQUARE ENIX® revealed a new trailer that showcased two paid DLC chapters for the critically acclaimed action-RPG, FINAL FANTASY™XVI, on PlayStation®5. The first DLC, titled “Echoes of the Fallen,” is now available on the PlayStation™Store, with the second DLC, titled “The Rising Tide,” set to release in Autumn(ANZ) 2024. Players can also purchase the FINAL FANTASY XVI Expansion Pass, which will include both chapters at a discounted price.
The official FINAL FANTASY XVI DLC Introduction Trailer is available below:
“Echoes of the Fallen” unlocks new story, battles, weapons, accessories, level cap and more. The adventure begins before the base game’s final battle, as strange, dark crystals begin to circulate on the black market. Players will follow Clive and company during their investigations as they encounter a group of suspicious traders, leading them to a long-abandoned Fallen tower known as the Sagespire and the terrible secrets that await within.
Special bonus items for purchasing “Echoes of the Fallen” or the Expansion Pass include the Buster Sword, allowing Clive to wield Cloud Strife’s iconic weapon from FINAL FANTASY VII, and the “Away (1987)” Orchestrion Roll which allows a chip-tune version of the song “Away” to be played as background music in the hideaway.
“The Rising Tide” will bring new challenges and more, including the confrontation between Clive and the legendary Eikon, Leviathan.
More information on “Echoes of the Fallen,” “The Rising Tide” and the Expansion Pass is available on the official website at: https://www.finalfantasyxvi.com.
FINAL FANTASY XVI introduces players to an all-new story in the FINAL FANTASY universe, an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realm of Valisthea – a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon known as Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
For over 35 years, the FINAL FANTASY series has delighted generations of gamers and millions of players worldwide through beloved role-playing adventures that are built upon the benchmarks of spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds, rich stories, memorable characters, and technical and gameplay innovation leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from around the world. Each mainline game in the series is a completely new experience, and an ideal entry-point to the series. Titles of the series have sold over 185 million units worldwide.
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.
New Trailer Featuring the Game’s Theme Song Debuts During the Show
SYDNEY (Dec. 11, 2023) – During The Game Awards 2023, FINAL FANTASY™ VII REBIRTH, which will launch exclusively for the PlayStation®5 (PS5®) console on 29 February, was honored with the award for “Most Anticipated Game” of 2024. Additionally, SQUARE ENIX® unveiled the official theme song for FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH in a dramatic new trailer that debuted during the show alongside a showstopping live performance by featured vocalist Loren Allred.
You can also watch the just-released Extended Version of the “Theme Song Announcement Trailer” below:
The theme song of FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is “No Promises to Keep,” composed by the incomparable Nobuo Uematsu and performed by Loren Allred, the renowned, platinum-selling artist who captivated the world with her single “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman. In the new trailer, Allred’s stirring vocals are delivered by Aerith, the iconic flower girl and cherished party member, for a passionate in-game performance in “LOVELESS,” the musical stage play within FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.
“I am excited and humbled to bring the iconic Aerith’s voice to life on ‘No Promises to Keep’ in FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH. The composer Nobuo Uematsu is a musical visionary who has brought so much to the world of FINAL FANTASY, and to be able to collaborate with such an innovative talent was an honor. I am so grateful to the Square Enix team and cannot wait for the world to hear this song and to play the game we’ve all been waiting for.”
“As depicted in the song ‘Aerith’s Theme,’ Aerith has had a bit of an ill-fated and ephemeral impression within me,” said Uematsu. “I understood from the beginning that this song is also related to Aerith, but the poignant melody from ‘Aerith’s Theme’ does not appear in this song. I wanted to depict the opposite of this, the strength at her core, hidden within Aerith’s heart. As I listened to the recording over and over again once it was finished, Aerith, who until then was a resident of a fantasy world, now began to feel like a real human being in the flesh. Loren Allred’s vocals, sometimes ephemeral and other times passionate and powerful, surely give life to the existence of Aerith. It has been a while since I’ve written a ballad that feels uniquely my own, and I’m happy to have done so. Thank you, Aerith.”
The extended version of “Theme Song Announcement Trailer” takes fans on a whirlwind tour of new gameplay and reveals. The courageous pilot Cid Highwind makes his first appearance in the remake project to offer his aid; the enigmatic Vincent Valentine, a fallen Turk seeking redemption, shows his face to viewers for the first time; fan-favorite characters like Marlene Wallace and AVALANCHE member, Biggs return. Viewers can also witness breathtaking views of the Gold Saucer amusement park and new Synergy Abilities, powerful attacks in which two characters team up to turn the tide of battle. These abilities, unlocked as players deepen the affinity between party members, represent FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH’s focus on its beloved characters and exploring their motivations and relationships.
“This video is the long version of the theme song announcement trailer that was just presented at The Game Awards,” said Tetsuya Nomura. “The song adds even more emotional resonance to the game, with music composed by Nobuo Uematsu, lyrics by Kazushige Nojima, and performance by Loren Allred. This time, the trailer has been edited to reflect more of the story and its characters, but there is still so much more to show, so that will be for another time.”
SQUARE ENIX also unveiled new key art in which the heroic party looks on to the beautiful and expansive environment set in FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.
“This is the first-ever showing of the key art for FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, featuring the party members assembled together,” said Tetsuya Nomura. “While they are all facing away from the viewer, I chose to create an image that depicts each member with their own thoughts and feelings on the vast world and unknown journey they are about to embark on. I hope you will witness for yourself how they will confront the fates that await them in the journey ahead.”
A new, standalone adventure set across a vast and vibrant planet, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH sees Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith and Red XIII escape from the dystopian city of Midgar into the wide world beyond. To hunt down Sephiroth, a haunting figure from Cloud’s past bent on ruling the planet, these unlikely heroes join forces with new companions like the spirited ninja operative Yuffie and the wisecracking, feline-shaped robot Cait Sith. Lead these characters into battle to overcome their fates. Explore classic locales reimagined in dazzling detail. Encounter dozens of hours of rewarding side quests, fiend hunts, mini-games and rich stories of the planet’s people and cultures.
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH follows the first game in the trilogy, 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.
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 13.9 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 in development and will be available worldwide on February 29, 2024, for the PS5®.
About Loren Allred
Loren Allred is a singer and songwriter who gained acclaim for her astounding vocal performance of the multi-platinum song “Never Enough” from the Oscar-nominated and Grammy award-winning “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack and film. Although she wasn’t a familiar face to the public, in April 2022, Loren appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, where she performed “Never Enough” and received a Golden Buzzer, sending shockwaves throughout the industry. Loren is widely regarded as one of the industry’s greatest voices and has collaborated with Michael Bublé and toured globally with recording legends Andrea Bocelli and David Foster.
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 185 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.
We return to the world of Pandora as we take the role of a young Na’vi who was taught by the human ambassadors for years before everything went wrong. Years later we find ourselves fighting against the RDA and venturing out into the world of Pandora as we start to explore, get a bit lost, and reconnect with our roots in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, action-adventure game set in the open world of the never before-seen Western Frontier of Pandora. Abducted by the human militaristic corporation known as the RDA, you, a Na’vi, were trained and molded to serve their purpose. Fifteen years later, you are free, but find yourself a stranger in your birthplace. Reconnect with your lost heritage, discover what it truly means to be Na’vi, and join other clans to protect Pandora from the RDA.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Developer: Massive Entertainment Publisher: Ubisoft Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release Date: 7th December, 2023
Recommended – “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is perfect for fans of the franchise as it captures the feel and design of the world perfectly while also delivering a solid open world FPS.”
Brutal melee brawler shows off new features in today’s Upload VR Showcase
QUEENSLAND, Australia – Dec. 6, 2023 – Paint the Town Red VR, the first-person brawler with sandbox combat levels and a massive roguelike mode from South East Games, spills fresh blood in VR on Steam, PlayStation VR2, and Meta Quest 2|3 on Thursday, March 14, 2024, as announced at the Upload VR Showcase earlier today.
After epic voxelized bloodshed on more than one million PCs and consoles, Paint the Town Red is back with a highly anticipated VR edition worthy of barroom brawlers everywhere. Get crazy in a fast-paced, immersive world of wild fisticuffs, complete with exotic locales primed for destruction.
Create a bloody spectacle across neon-lit discos, whiskey-soaked saloons, boisterous biker bars, and plundered pirate coves. Punch, stab, kick, and slice voxel-based baddies with a furious mix of melee madness. Dodge attacks and the dynamic splatter of gore and limbs courtesy of the voxel-based carnage.
Turn nearly anything into a weapon in this down and dirty world. With over 200 options to choose from, deck and decapitate unsuspecting souls with giant ham legs, pool cues, futuristic swords, and other armaments. The VR edition debuts dual wielding, empowering brawlers with double the options for chaotic carnage across three distinct game modes.
Defend against an onslaught of increasingly difficult enemies in Arena mode. Take down drunken bar crawlers in the Scenarios mode. For the more supernaturally inclined, descend into the roguelike Beneath mode, where zombies, floating skulls, and other nightmarish creatures roam free in decaying dungeons. Choose from one of five classes and defeat towering Elder bosses, solve puzzles, master magical abilities, and uncover mysteries of this ungodly world.
“Paint the Town Red’s immersive and fast-paced gameplay is a perfect fit for VR platforms,” said Matthew Carr, Co-founder of South East Games. “With the freedom of VR controls, variety of combat scenarios and huge number of enemies, it’s the definitive way for letting off steam.”
Paint the Town RedVR will be available on Quest 2 and 3 for $19.99, PlayStation VR2 for $19.99 with a discount for existing PlayStation owners of Paint the Town Red, and on Steam VR as a $9.99 add on DLC. The original version of Paint the Town Red is available now for $19.99 on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, in addition to Steam for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux.
For more information, please visit Paint the Town Red’s official website, follow South East Games on Twitter, and search #PTTR or #PaintTheTownRed.
About South East Games
Founded by cousins Matthew and Shane Carr in 2009, working as programmer and artist respectively, the duo worked nights and weekends to release a handful of small iOS games while working at larger companies by day including THQ and The Creative Assembly. Unhappy with working on the smaller aspects of larger titles, they wanted to work on something fresh and new, and achieved that with Paint the Town Red, which debuted on Steam Early Access in 2015 and readies its 1.0 and console debut in 2021.
South East Games has worked with Jeff van Dyck on Paint the Town Red. The two-time BAFTA award winning Composer and Audio Director, known for his emotive scores and immersive audio design in video games over the last two decades such as his work in the Total War series, Alien Isolation, and EA classics like Need for Speed and FIFA.
Following a night of sweeping awards at The Game Awards that saw it win nearly every category it was nominated for, including the big prize of Game of the Year, Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate III has now arrived on the Xbox Series X/S. The title is only available digitally, as a physical deluxe edition is set for early next year, and is priced at $69.99 though a $79.99 edition that contains some digital bonuses is also available. This release follows the game’s full release on PC back in early August and the title’s arrival on the PlayStation 5 in early September.
It is worth noting that, unlike most games, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S versions are slightly different. While both versions of the Xbox console will be able to enjoy the massive RPG with all of the various patches and updates Larian has made since release as well as use cross-save between their PC copies and Xbox copies, only the Xbox Series X version will allow players to play with split-screen co-op as the function is not available on the Series S. The ability to play online co-op remains on both consoles untouched.
With multiple awards won and reviewing glowingly nearly everywhere, Larian Studios have also released an accolades trailer which can be found below.
There have been a number of Jurassic Park games through the years, especially back when the movies originally aired. Recently however most of the games involving the series tend to be park building ones but it looks like Saber Interactive is about to take players right back to the first movie as the company has announced Jurassic Park: Survival for the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC. No release date was announced for the game but a trailer as well as some details about the game were revealed during the announcement.
Players will take on the role of Dr. Maya Joshi, an InGen scientist who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar, in an original adventure made for fans of the Jurassic Park franchise. Players must survive a mix of first-person stealth sections and actions as they encounter dinosaurs, each with their own distinct and adaptive behaviors brought to life by John Hammond’s vision. The reveal trailer can be found below.
Bandai Namco have announced that they are working with Spike Chunsoft for the next Dragon Ball Z fighting game. It has previously been said that a new Budokai Tenkaichi title was in the works and now we have been given our first look at the game as the companies have officially announced Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Currently the title has no release window but it was revealed to be coming to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
To go along with this announcement Bandai Namco also revealed an announcement trailer showing off a few of the fighters in the game as well as some samples of gameplay and it can be found below. The title will feature “high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series, with breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, movements too quick for the eyes to see, and planet-razing ultimate attacks” including an environment that will deform and be destroyed as characters battle.
After hearing quite some time ago that Microsoft was teaming up with Kojima for some type of project we finally know at least a little bit about what it happens to be. Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions have revealed that they are making a game called OD. OD is said to “explore the concept of testing your fear threshold” and will be “blurring the boundaries of gaming and film.”
No release window nor platforms were revealed for OD but Hideo Kojima did announce that a new storyteller would be working with him on the project, revealing that Jordan Peele is joining the writing team alongside several other writers that have worked with the team in the past and that Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schaffer, and Udo Kier would be playing lead roles in the title. The announcement trailer for the game can be found below.
Usually announcements feature a single game but SEGA took it a step further in their recent announcement by revealing that they are tapping into their treasure trove of beloved IPs. Sega has revealed that they are working on a new game for Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage. SEGA of America CEO Shuji Utsumi stated that “Today’s announcement is just the start of our initiative. First and foremost, our ambition will be to create great games with memorable characters and worlds. We hope fans of all ages will look towards our future with anticipation as we release these projects in the coming years.”
The announcement came with a trailer that gave us a small glimpse at each of the five games that they have in development though at the moment none of them have a release date nor were platforms announced. For now though, you can find the announcement trailer below.
