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RIPOUT’s First Content Update Arrives Today on Steam!

RIPOUT’s First Content Update Arrives Today on Steam! – Tear through more mutant monstrosities in the co-op horror shooter’s all-new Payload Update

AALBORG, Denmark Dec. 18, 2023 — 3D Realms and Pet Project Games are excited to announce the first Steam Early Access content drop for RIPOUT: the Payload Update. This update adds all-new payload missions and levels, the Machine Pistol, a new sidearm to mow down enemies, and additional garments to do it in style! But you aren’t the only one getting new toys. The monstrosities that lurk in the darkness also gain access to the Geist, a module that allows them to turn invisible. Luckily, your trusty Pet Gun can steal it to give you a tactical advantage as you complete missions.

The Payload Update is live today along with new bug fixes and game balance updates based on community feedback.

In RIPOUT, you’ll face off against mutant monstrosities transformed by Cell, a human-made biological weapon that has turned its sights on its creators, able to adapt their bodies in grotesque ways. Use your trusty biomechanical Pet Gun to gain a tactical advantage over your enemies by ripping weaponry off them while exploring procedurally generated derelict spaceships, collecting loot, and customizing your character to survive whatever dangers lurk around the corner.

Payload Update Features

  • Payload Missions: Blast into additional levels with the brand-new Payload Delivery mission type. Deliver a critical payload through the mutant onslaught to receive your loot!
  • New Sidearm: Tear through monstrous enemies quicker than ever with the new Machine Pistol sidearm!
  • Additional Garments: Unlock two new full suits.
  • New Module: The new Geist module will allow you to become invisible – but beware – your enemies gain invisibility, too.
  • Tutorial Improvements: Tutorial, lobby and navigation updates make RIPOUT easier to tear into than ever before!
  • Additional Updates: In addition to new content, the Payload Update brings with it more bug fixes and balance updates to the easy and hard difficulty modes.

For more information about RIPOUT, visit http://ripoutgame.com, follow the game on Twitter, and join the official Discord community.

About 3D Realms

Redefining AAA – Action, Attitude, Adrenaline, 3D Realms has rocked the world for almost 30 years by publishing unforgettable, iconic games like Duke Nukem, Terminal Velocity, Shadow Warrior, Death Rally, Max Payne, and more recently Ghostrunner, Ion Fury, Cultic, Tempest Rising, Phantom Fury, and RIPOUT. Lead by industry veterans, 3D Realms is a proud member of the Embracer Group as part of Saber Interactive, with a mission of publishing games for grownups. Unapologetic and uncompromising, we’re not afraid of being who we are and being damn good at it – for everyone’s benefit. For more information, visit 3drealms.com.

About Pet Project Games

Pet Project Games is an indie video game company founded in January 2020. It consists of seasoned developers that have many years of experience in the gaming industry, developing multiple projects together. While working on these projects, they realized they could take the gaming experience to the next level and offer a new game. As passionate gamers and fans of classic video games, they are developing RIPOUT, their most ambitious project to date.

Sea of Stars Surpasses 4 Million Players in Less Than Four Months

Sabotage Studio’s Magnum Opus Clears Remarkable Milestone Following String of Award Wins & Nominations Ahead of Upcoming DLC

QUEBEC CITY (Dec. 18, 2023) – Sabotage Studio (The Messenger) today announced that Sea of Stars, the acclaimed turn-based RPG inspired by the heights of ‘90s role-playing classics, has seen more than 4 million players embark on its grand adventure since debuting this year on Aug. 28. Sea of Stars is available across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One for $34.99; it’s also free to subscribers to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, as well as PlayStation Plus’ Extra and Premium membership tiers:

This astonishing reception by the community accompanies Sea of Stars’ recognition with the games industry’s most sought-after accolades, including Best Indie Game at The Game Awards, Best Indie Game at the Golden Joysticks and recognition by the British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) as one of the best games from 2023. The ambitious RPG continues to appear as a top pick within critics’ Best of 2023 selections following its August debut with more than 25 perfect review scores.

Sea of Stars is the game of my dreams, and seeing its quest resonate so strongly with players and critics means the world to everyone at Sabotage,” said Thierry Boulanger, co-founder of Sabotage Studio and game director on Sea of Stars. “The team behind this game is the most talented and dedicated group I could have ever hoped to create Sea of Stars with, and I’m again reminded of their brilliance as we progress with creating Sea of Stars’ upcoming DLC, Throes of the Watchmaker. For fans to have recognized our adventure in such an incredibly prosperous year for RPGs alongside new arrivals from the genre’s biggest franchises … we simply just cannot thank you enough for supporting us, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next for Sea of Stars.”

Sea of Stars is the second game from Sabotage Studio and takes place in the same universe as The Messenger, the studio’s award-winning debut. Legendary composer Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger) joined composer Eric W. Brown on Sea of Stars to produce a rousing original soundtrack, which was released on streaming services this month: 

iam8bit will also be releasing exclusive physical editions of Sea of Stars for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2024. 

Sea of Stars features:

  • Active Turn-Based Combat: Pressing the action button in sync with battle animations strengthens a hero’s attacks and reduces incoming damage during defense. Along with interactive timed attacks, combat features boosting and a strategic “locks” system, providing options for leveraging different damage types in order to hinder enemies while they are preparing powerful attacks or spells, all in an immersive take on the RPG genre; no random encounters, transitions to separate battlefields or grinding.
  • Unshackled Traversal: Swim, climb, vault, jump off or scale ledges while seamlessly traversing through the world with a navigation system based on platformer expertise that breaks free from classic, bound-to-the-ground tileset movement.
  • A Story-Rich Adventure: Meet dozens of original characters and progress memorable narrative arcs throughout a captivating journey. Sometimes epic, sometimes silly, and other times emotional, Sea of Stars explores classic themes of adventure and friendship with heart, while also being chock-full of the unexpected twists and events you’d expect from a Sabotage Studio production.
  • All Fun, No Tedium: Enjoy experimenting in combat without fear of hitting a wall requiring grinding or farming for unique items; in Sea of Stars, defeat calls for a change in battle plans, not hours of repetition to better the odds in a rematch.
  • A World You Can Touch: There are many ways to hang out in the world of Sea of Stars if you feel inclined to change the pace during your adventures. Sailing, cooking, fishing, stopping by a tavern to listen to a song, or playing the beloved tabletop game known as “Wheels” … every system has been designed to deliver a journey that pays tribute to retro classics, while rethinking conventional elements to offer a smooth and refreshingly modernized experience.
  • Radiant Lighting: Dynamic lighting effects pair with a world-influencing day/night cycle to make every area feel truly alive, pushing the traditional visual limits of classically stylized 2D pixel art games – the only way to properly tell the story of heroes conjuring the powers of the Sun and the Moon.

For complete game information, please visit www.seaofstarsgame.co.

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Cozy Restaurant Sim “Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya” Serves Delicacies on Nintendo Switch May 2nd, 2024

TOKYO – Dec. 18th, 2024 – Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya, the cozy restaurant simulator set in the Touhou Project universe from developer Dichroic Purpilion and publisher Phoenixx, crafts the perfect dining experience on Nintendo Switch starting Thursday, May 2nd, 2024.

An unruly customer destroyed Mystia Lorelei’s tavern – the most popular in all of Gensokyo. While restaurateur dreams were shattered, bills must still be paid! Rebuild, starting with a humble new food cart, pay off Mystia’s ever-growing debts, and grow the business to revive the restaurant to its former glory.

Running the best tavern in the Touhou universe requires round-the-clock work! During the day, collect recipes and source hand-picked ingredients from the wild to cultivate fresh produce. Befriend the local townsfolk and hire employees to help with daily duties. Watch the clock while running daytime errands – restaurant doors open every night and hungry customers await!

Open for business in the evenings and deliver a flawless experience. Each visitor has distinct preferences, favorite dishes and beverages, as well as individual budgets. Converse with guests, showing hospitality with promptly-fulfilled orders and friendly interactions. Chain together successively-satisfied customer service combos to create massive profits, but invite ire from Mystia’s mentors when careless management leads to unhappy guests.

While hired workers can handle everyday tasks, keep an eye out for rare visits from Reimu, Akyuu, and more than 30 hungry Touhou characters who require a personal touch. Learn the culinary preferences of each special visitor who will only hint what they would like to be served, and be prepared to cook up off-menu items to unlock special rewards.

Scout new locations for Mystia’s food cart across six familiar Touhou locations including the tranquil Hakurei Shrine and the bustling Human Village. Re-invest profits to improve the business, collect cute costumes, enhance the ambiance with decorations, and unlock two soundtracks’ worth of music for customer’s enjoyment during every evening (Soundtrack 1 and Soundtrack 2 are both available for purchase on Steam).

Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya breaks the mold of the usual Touhou game. Instead of combat, players must utilize cooking and customer service to achieve victory”, said Youzi KK, founder of Dichroic Purpilion. “We are very grateful for the success that Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya has experienced on Steam, and we look forward to bringing the mobile restaurant experience to a new platform.”

Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya launches on Nintendo Switch on Thursday,  May 2nd, 2024 for $24.99 with language support in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean. For more information, please visit the Phoenixx official website, Phoenixx Facebook page, and follow @Phoenixx_inc on Twitter.

About Dichroic Purpilion

Dichroic Purpilion is an indie game developer based in Japan specializing in creating Touhou Project based games for which he received the official recognition of being “Touhou Project Approved”.

About Phoenixx

Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game, and one community at a time.

Mabinogi’s Arcana: Dark Arts Update adds Exciting Arcana Talents and Powerful Skills

Acquire new Arcana Talents and Skills

LOS ANGELES – December 18, 2023 – Mabinogi, Nexon’s free-to-play fantasy MMORPG, is thrilled to launch the second part of its two-part winter update, Arcana: Dark Arts. Milletians can gain new Arcana talents and powerful skills, plus enjoy improvements to enhancement and enchantment.

The latest update includes the addition of two new Arcana talents, Alchemic Sharpshooter and Dark Diviner! Arcana is a powerful force you can unlock when you push your talents to the limit. To learn more about acquiring Arcana, reach cumulative level 20,000 and find Laoire of the Arcana Talent Association.

  • Alchemic Sharpshooter, an Arcana talent combining the Alchemy and Archery talents into a piercing elemental power. Some of the exclusive skills are:
  • Ventus Howl: The flow of battle will be in your favor! Harness the power of the wind with one shot.
  • Terra Scourge: When synergy is needed most, this skill performs necessary attacks simultaneously.
  • Ignus Plume: Bolts of hot fire fly out and explode, burning everything on the battlefield.
  • Dark Diviner an Arcana talent combining the Magic and Chain Slash talents into a fusion of power.  Some of the exclusive skills are:
  • Thunderblight: Ideal skill for when you need to attack, move, and use various skills–all at the same time.
  • Hexshroud: Block damage from magical opponents by sealing tricky enemies.
  • Polar Vortex: In a moment of crisis, let this skill be the solution.

The Arcana: Dark Arts update improves the Arcana Enhancement experience, with an expanded Arcana Total Level Effect that unlocks an even higher upper stat limit for the character according to the overall level of Arcana (up to level 150). At level 150, the max critical cap increases by 2%. With New Arcana Growth, players forge the Scorching Crests needed to unlock the links of the new Arcana at the Enkindling Lectern in the Arcana Association Room. 

The update also features enchanting improvements where when attempting an enchantment, players can choose a failure penalty in the UI window. In addition, convenience and accessibility are improved to try enchanting any time. 

From now through January 11, players can participate in the Erinn-Go-Round event and travel with Rowan. The event starts by talking to Joy The Erinn-Go-Round tour guide, then registering your main character. Complete the event to earn valuable rewards!

Return to Mabinogi and experience the unmissable update first-hand!

About Mabinogi 

Released in 2008, Mabinogi is an immersive free-to-play MMORPG world where mystical adventures await. Create anime-inspired heroes with thousands of customization options, such as hairstyles, facial features, and outfits. Select from dozens of talents ranging from professional gunslingers and archers to musicians, tailors and cooks. Players can enjoy the game on their own terms, taking the perilous path of an adventurer or building a thriving business using unique trade skills.

About Nexon America Inc.  Founded in 2005, Nexon America Inc. delivers outstanding free-to-play online game expertise and live game support, taking the strengths of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) and applying them to uniquely Western audiences. Nexon America has consistently sustained iconic franchises such as MapleStory and Mabinogi for more than a decade, which have gone on to break records and captivate players. With new projects on the horizon, Nexon America maintains the pioneering and innovative spirit of its parent company, employing its player-first approach, while designing the best possible gameplay experiences for the Western market.

Selecta Play Announces a publishing deal for a physical retail edition of One Last Breath for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5

Indie publisher collaborating with Maniac Panda Games on a boxed version of award-winning 2.5D adventure. 

Barcelona, Spain – December 18th 2023. Following an exclusive presentation at the Bilbao International Conference 2023, global indie publisher and distributor Selecta Play is thrilled to announce a new publishing deal with developer Maniac Panda Games to release a boxed edition of One Last Breath for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

Winner of the Indie Arena Booth Best Game Award at Gamescom 2022, One Last Breath is a stunning 2.5D adventure game developed by Maniac Panda Games where you take on the role of Gaia, a powerful being born from Mother Nature’s last breath and tasked with using her powers to save our dying planet. 

Selecta Play will be releasing further information on the content for the physical edition of One Last Breath in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for the latest information. 

“We are thrilled to be the publishing partner for this physical boxed edition of One Last Breath, a game which we believe will be an instant indie hit when it launches next year.” commented Javi Puertas, Head of Gaming at Selecta Play. “Our publishing team is working hard to produce a beautiful and highly collectable boxed edition worthy of the innovative and award-winning gameplay experience Maniac Panda Games is creating.” 

As expressed by Daniel Valdés, CEO of Nexxyo Labs, “We’re excited to bring Gaia to life and present to the players One Last Breath as a new immersive experience with a unique social message behind it. One Last Breath marks our grand entrance into 2024, standing as our first launch of the year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to do so alongside Selecta Play.

The physical boxed edition of One Last Breath will be launching in 2024 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Stay up to date with all the latest Selecta Play news on the official community channels:

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About Maniac Panda Games

Maniac Panda Games is an independent video game studio by Nexxyo Labs, a vibrant technology company headquartered in Navarra, Spain, that unites a global team of talented and young professionals.  

Born in 2019 from the dream of a group of friends passionate about gaming and possessing a wealth of experience in development, Maniac Panda Games has evolved into a mission to revolutionize the way people engage with gaming, actively crafting new ways to immerse players in the exhilarating world of gaming with thrilling games in the oven. Rooted in our dual commitment to delivering entertainment and fostering a global gaming community, we continually push innovation ensuring enduring value for each player.

About Selecta Play

Selecta Play is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats worldwide.

About SelectaVisión

SelectaVisión is a media entertainment distributor company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalogue includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies. Publishing both anime classics and the latest Japanese productions since 1997, SelectaVisión has built a long relationship with fan-favourite Japanese producers and distributors, becoming the major publisher of anime content for Spanish audiences. 

Like a Dragon Gaiden English Dub is Now Available

The free English dub for SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s latest action brawler, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is now available. Those that own the game can update their game to download the free patch now.

Get a glimpse of the English performance in the Like a Dragon Gaiden | English Dub Story Trailer.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is the latest entry in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s flagship Like a Dragon series. Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Under the codename “Joryu,” Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities. Thrilling sub-missions will draw you into an epic showdown that unfolds across Sotenbori and Yokohama.

DâM-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original Score Now Available

DāM-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original ScoreFeaturing Rampa, &ME, Soulwax, HEALTH, Take A Day Trip, Show Me The Body, and More

DāM-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original Score — a brand new album of music from across the biggest and most beloved updates from GTA Online — is now available on all major digital music services including Spotify and Apple Music.

Showcasing ten years of meticulous musical curation inside the living world of GTA Online, DāM-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original Score features score contributions from a wide array of artists, re-arranged and reimagined into 15 new songs by L.A. producer, DāM-FunK, and available on digital streaming platforms for the first time ever.

From Rampa’s take on the action and suspense of The Cayo Perico Heist II to HEALTH’s industrial rock for the frantically paced Arena Wars, Soulwax’s trippy contributions to Los Santos Drug Wars, or Take A Daytrip’s atmospheric vision of vehicular Import/Export, DāM-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original Score delivers a snapshot of the in-game musical universe, and a new way to interact with the music that has defined the GTA Online experience across the last ten years.

And starting on Monday, West Coast Classics listeners are in for a special treat. To commemorate a decade of hosting Los Santos’ preeminent classic hip-hop station, DJ Pooh has hidden a special mix of the album somewhere in town. You’ll need to call in to West Coast Classics for clues, and also make sure to listen for some very special shoutouts from notable friends of WCC’s iconic DJ to celebrate his legendary run.

Also available today is SOUTHSIDE, a new track by BEAM and Cardo that is featured in the trailer for GTA Online: The Chop Shop and samples Take A Daytrip’s version of Import/Export. Get it here.

Aussie game developers pull in $345.5 million for local economy

Sydney, Australia, 18 December 2023 – Results released today show that revenue in the Australian video game industry has risen to $345.5 million, an increase of 21% over the past financial year. The results are part of the eighth annual Australian Game Developer Survey (AGDS), released by peak industry body, the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA). The survey results are backed up by Australian consumer sales data released earlier this year, showing that Australians’ love for video games is reflected in the local industry.

51% of the 111 studios surveyed intend to utilise the Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) pending their eligibility, while 49% are already accessing some form of government funding. Many local studios will be looking to secure further funding made possible through government programs, such as the reinstated Australian Interactive Games Fund (AIGF) from Screen Australia, and boosts in games funding from Victoria and Queensland. As a direct result of federal and state-based government support, Australian studios are committing to the development of more projects, receiving increased interest from international businesses, and are predicting either income growth (68% of respondents) or income stability (21% of respondents) throughout the 2024 financial year.

“79% of studios have less than 20 employees, and nearly half of all studios (45%) have existed for less than five years, highlighting growth in independent and emerging businesses,” said Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA. “With continued government support to ensure success in our industry, we will likely see our younger studios turn into veterans – like the 32% of Australian studios that are 10 years or older today. We even have 63% of studios planning on hiring over this financial year, creating 200+ new jobs.”

“It is important to acknowledge that this is a challenging time for the industry and some studios are really feeling the effects. Funding and support must continue to ensure the long-term growth and success of the Australian industry so we can maintain the positive trajectory and continue contributing to the Australian economy and talent development.” Curry added.

The survey also revealed that Australian studios face ongoing challenges such as securing early-stage development funding, securing international publisher deals, and hiring specialised talent when local talent is hard to come by. To combat some of these issues, many studios have taken to working and hiring remotely to lower costs and unlock the potential of hiring interstate or international talent. 

Despite the challenges, diversity in local studios is increasing with 26% of developers identifying as women and 5% identifying as trans, non-binary, or gender diverse.

“Our incredible local studios continue to perform on the global stage – 87% of our video game revenue comes from outside Australia into the local economy and 19% of our game developers who responded are receiving investment from overseas businesses. There is always potential for our local industry to grow sustainably, and thanks to the survey’s respondents we can now target the issues affecting local studios with renewed certainty and clarity.” said Curry.

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.

About Australian Game Developer Survey

Our 2022-2023 game development survey is based on financial year data from 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023. The survey was conducted by Bond University who supply responses in aggregate to IGEA. The survey opened in September 2023 and closed in the middle of November 2023. Participation in the survey is voluntary, with 111 studios completing the survey and providing usable data, which is slightly higher than the participation rate last year.

SAGA EMERALD BEYOND LAUNCHING APRIL 25, 2024

Company Celebrates Iconic SaGa Franchise’s 34th Anniversary with a Special Livestream Revealing New Details for the Upcoming SaGa Emerald Beyond

SYDNEY (Dec. 18, 2023) SQUARE ENIX® recently hosted the SaGa Glimmerfest 2023 34th Anniversary Livestream, where members of the development team revealed that the all-new original adventure in the acclaimed RPG franchise, SaGa Emerald Beyond,will launch digitally on April 25, 2024 for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®) consoles, PC (STEAM®) and iOS and Android devices.

Watch the SaGa Glimmerfest 2023 livestream VOD here.

Along with the release date, the livestream shared a deeper look into SaGa Emerald Beyond’s eclectic cast of heroes and their stories. SaGa series Producer Masanori Ichikawa, Executive Producer and SaGa series General Director Akitoshi Kawazu, and Localization Director Neil Broadley introduced two key SaGa Emerald Beyond characters who possess the rare ability to see the mysterious emerald waves that present choices of their destinies: Tsunanori Mido and Ameya Aisling.

Tsunanori comes from the esteemed Mido family, whose bloodline uses their unique ability to control kugutsu puppets to complete all manner of odd jobs. He joins the Cathedral Project, made up of a group of explorers who investigate other worlds, with the goal of repairing his city’s weakening barrier and to help reclaim lost spiritual energy.

Watch the Tsunanori Mido character trailer below:

Known by her pseudo-identity Yumeha Izumi, the Miyako City schoolgirl, Ameya is actually a witch from Pulchra whose powers were stolen from her. Ameya hopes that by following the mysterious emerald waves, she’ll discover who stole her mana and become the best witch anyone has ever seen.

Watch the Ameya Aisling character trailer below:

Additionally, the team unveiled a new key art featuring SaGa Emerald Beyond’s full cast of protagonists.

Players who are eager to embark on this new adventure can add the game to their wishlist for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Steam to be notified when pre-orders open next year.

SaGa Emerald Beyond will be the latest release from the ongoing SaGa Project from SQUARE ENIX that has so far included Western releases of Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered, Romancing SaGa 3, SaGa SCARLET GRACE: AMBITIONS, hit mobile game Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe, and SaGa Frontier Remastered. SaGa Emerald Beyond is not yet rated by the ESRB.

Official Website: https://saga-franchise.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/sgeb

About the SaGa Series

SaGa is a series of revolutionary role-playing games, created by legendary game developer Akitoshi Kawazu (FINAL FANTASY, FINAL FANTASY II, SaGa Frontier). Since THE FINAL FANTASY LEGEND was released in 1990 for the Game Boy, the series has expanded with several additional entries across numerous platforms. Other SaGa series regulars include illustrator Tomomi Kobayashi, who has given the series its own unique style, and composer Kenji Ito (Mana series). Although the SaGa series shares its roots with FINAL FANTASY, the SaGa series has always incorporated revolutionary and challenging gameplay mechanics, such as player choice, branching storylines and implementing characters with wildly different playstyles, setting it apart from other JRPG series. SaGa Emerald Beyond, the latest standalone entry in the franchise, will release across various modern platforms on April 25, 2024.

About Square Enix, Ltd.

Square Enix, Ltd. 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 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

Cozy Restaurant Sim “Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya” Serves Delicacies on Nintendo Switch May 2nd, 2024

TOKYO – Dec. 16th, 2024 – Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya, the cozy restaurant simulator set in the Touhou Project universe from developer Dichroic Purpilion and publisher Phoenixx, crafts the perfect dining experience on Nintendo Switch starting Thursday, May 2nd, 2024.

An unruly customer destroyed Mystia Lorelei’s tavern – the most popular in all of Gensokyo. While restaurateur dreams were shattered, bills must still be paid! Rebuild, starting with a humble new food cart, pay off Mystia’s ever-growing debts, and grow the business to revive the restaurant to its former glory.

Running the best tavern in the Touhou universe requires round-the-clock work! During the day, collect recipes and source hand-picked ingredients from the wild to cultivate fresh produce. Befriend the local townsfolk and hire employees to help with daily duties. Watch the clock while running daytime errands – restaurant doors open every night and hungry customers await!

Open for business in the evenings and deliver a flawless experience. Each visitor has distinct preferences, favorite dishes and beverages, as well as individual budgets. Converse with guests, showing hospitality with promptly-fulfilled orders and friendly interactions. Chain together successively-satisfied customer service combos to create massive profits, but invite ire from Mystia’s mentors when careless management leads to unhappy guests.

While hired workers can handle everyday tasks, keep an eye out for rare visits from Reimu, Akyuu, and more than 30 hungry Touhou characters who require a personal touch. Learn the culinary preferences of each special visitor who will only hint what they would like to be served, and be prepared to cook up off-menu items to unlock special rewards.

Scout new locations for Mystia’s food cart across six familiar Touhou locations including the tranquil Hakurei Shrine and the bustling Human Village. Re-invest profits to improve the business, collect cute costumes, enhance the ambiance with decorations, and unlock two soundtracks’ worth of music for customer’s enjoyment during every evening (Soundtrack 1 and Soundtrack 2 are both available for purchase on Steam).

Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya breaks the mold of the usual Touhou game. Instead of combat, players must utilize cooking and customer service to achieve victory”, said Youzi KK, founder of Dichroic Purpilion. “We are very grateful for the success that Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya has experienced on Steam, and we look forward to bringing the mobile restaurant experience to a new platform.”

Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya launches on Nintendo Switch on Thursday,  May 2nd, 2024 for $24.99 with language support in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean. For more information, please visit the Phoenixx official websitePhoenixx Facebook page, and follow @Phoenixx_inc on Twitter.

About Dichroic Purpilion

Dichroic Purpilion is an indie game developer based in Japan specializing in creating Touhou Project based games for which he received the official recognition of being “Touhou Project Approved”.

About Phoenixx

Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game, and one community at a time.