An important update regarding Outriders. pic.twitter.com/HHZrq5GIik

— Outriders (@Outriders) January 6, 2021

The PvE shooter space is pretty crowded these days. With live service games more popular and numerous than ever before, it takes a lot for newcomers to become successful. Outriders has just the right pedigree to succeed.

Published by Square Enix and developed by People Can Fly, the sci-fi co-op shooter could become the next big thing. Even if you don’t recognize the studio’s name, you’ll surely remember their games. They worked together with Epic Games on Gear 2, 3, and Judgement.

But their crowning achievement is the ridiculously fun Bulletstorm. Hence, Outriders is promising from the start. These developers sure know how to create extremely satisfying combat.

Outriders originally targeted next February for release but alas. The developers decided it would be better to take the extra time to polish their new IP. After all, first impressions do matter in the contested online shooter market like no other.

And from our early experience with it, Outriders is definitely one title to look out for. You can read more about our thoughts in our preview coverage here. Especially, if you’re looking for a traditional complete game. As the developer states, Outriders is not a live service game and instead a complete product.

Still, that doesn’t mean eager gamers won’t have anything to look forward to next month. Outrider will receive a meaty demo towards the end of February. People Can Fly promises the full experience in the demo which spans the first few hours of the campaign.

It also features access to all characters classes and solo & co-op gameplay. The cherry on top, you’ll be able to transfer your progress from the demo once Outriders fully releases in April.

Outriders will launch for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 1st.

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For whatever reason, publisher Square Enix decided to only allow playback of the trailer on YouTube. So, just click on the video above to watch the trailer there without any issues.

But it’s really worth it. The upgrade of the NieR Replicant remake over the last-gen original is truly massive. From attention to detail, visual effects, and image quality. The remake is a marked step up over the cult game from 2010.

Discover the one-of-a-kind prequel of the critically-acclaimed masterpiece NieR:Automata. Now with a modern upgrade, experience masterfully revived visuals, a fascinating storyline and more!

The protagonist is a kind young man living in a remote village. In order to save his sister Yonah, who fell terminally ill to the Black Scrawl, he sets out with Grimoire Weiss, a strange talking tome, to search for the “Sealed verses.”

It has really been over a decade already.  And if it wasn’t for Platinum Games’ outstanding reboot of the franchise with 2017’s Nier: Automata, chances are the IP would be dead until now. But Automata to become one of the best games of the generation though.

In terms of gameplay, visuals, and story, Automata won over gamers across PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Toylogic is in charge of the NieR Remake and aims to deliver a worthwhile game for modern audiences.

NieR Replicant releases April 23rd, 2021 for PC and consoles. Only current-gen PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are confirmed for now. Of course, that makes the game playable on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but we expect a proper next-gen upgrade in the near future.

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Japanese gaming powerhouse Square Enix has a real treasure trove of IPs. Besides juggernauts like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, a plethora of retro classics remain. One of these is the SaGa series.

Even after 30 years, it firmly remains a niche franchise. But those who know it, generally love its unique allure. 1998’s SaGa Frontier holds a special place, since it is the first game in the series that came to the west under the SaGa title.

More than two decades later, SaGa Scarlet Grace tried to bring back the JRPG household name in a big style. The reception was great but it still couldn’t propel the SaGa name into the stratosphere.

But Square Enix isn’t giving up just yet. By combining the resurgence of the franchise with Scarlet Grace and the power of nostalgia, SaGa Frontier Remastered aims to charm the sizeable JRPG crowd where it all started for many Western gamers.

There’s a lot more than just fuzzy feelings of nostalgia here though. SaGa Frontier was a game way ahead of its time by offering multiple protagonists, each telling their own story. If you’re getting a déjà vu that’s because Square Enix tried something similar with Octopath Traveler. Furthermore, the remaster will include an additional new playable character with its own story, new events, and more.

So, if you enjoyed that to any extent, chances are you’ll be in for a ride with SaGa Frontier Remastered. The title is slated to launch in summer 2021 and will launch on a wide range of platforms. From iOS & Android devices, to PS4, Switch, and PC. The Xbox crowd is basically the only place the JRPG will not come to.

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Deep breaths everyone. This certainly is not what fans of the legendary adventurer imagined when they asked for Lara Croft’s return. But the truth is, this is the only new Tomb Raider game we know of for now.

Tomb Raider Reloaded will be a Free-to-Play arcade-action spin-off targeting Android and iOS devices next year. These bullet points sure don’t gel that well with what the main Tomb Raider games stand for, but we should give Square Enix the benefit of the doubt.

Sure, it’s unlikely that Tomb Raider Reloaded will be similar to the most recent Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but the publisher proved that they know how to create mobile games of their popular IPs. Namely, Tomb Raider and Hitman.

Both IPs got actually very solid mobile games in the GO series. These radically changed the gameplay formula into a strategy-puzzle mix. Nonetheless, both are highly regarded in the mobile space.

For now, there’s very little info about Tomb Raider Reloaded. So, it’s difficult to really get a clear picture of what awaits us. One thing’s for sure though. It won’t feature the gritty aesthetics of the reboot trilogy and instead go for the cartoonish classic style.

Also, the mere fact that Square Enix still greenlights Tomb Raider games of any kind is a promising sign that a proper new main entry will come sooner or later. Opinions on the reboot are rather positive. Even though longtime fans lament a departure from core design values and copying of the Uncharted formula. Hopefully, next-gen will see the return of Lara Croft in a grand style.

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The original The World Ends with You came out an eternity ago, in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. The mixture of stylish visuals and addictive gameplay made the game an instant classic. Square Enix even ported the game to mobile devices, courtesy of the game relying on the touchscreen of the NDS.

But despite all that success, a proper sequel never came. As such, the announcement of NEO: The World Ends with You is a big deal. Several console generations have passed and the sequel thankfully looks significantly evolved.

NEO: The World Ends with You transports players to the streets of the Shibuya, where they will take part in the “Reapers’ Game”. A life-or-death battle for survival. Players will take on the role of Rindo as they explore the heart of Tokyo to uncover the mysteries behind the sinister Game in which they have been forced to take part.

First and foremost, NEO: The World Ends with You is features a fully 3D recreation of the trendy hotspot of Shibuya. But don’t fret, the signature focus on stylish costumes and a banging soundtrack are still all here. In terms of combat, NEO offers fast-paced action gameplay with flashy visuals and effects.

Particularly, Shibuya’s crowded streets strike us. But you need to remember that NEO: The World Ends with You targets the Switch and PS4. Hence, don’t expect a next-gen experience. Still, PS5 users will be able to play the game via backward compatibility.

For now, NEO The World Ends with You targets a release sometime in summer 2021 for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

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It’s no secret that Crystal Dynamics’ jab at the live-service genre of games failed to meet expectations. Marvel’s Avengers not only failed to reach the success of the popular movie franchise but it failed to convince as a regular game too.

Both publisher Square Enix and the developers are aware of this, and they vowed to improve their game. Of course, that takes some time. But existing players of Marvel’s Avengers can still look forward to new content all the like.

With Kate Bishop, a new playable hero character joins the fray. Players not only can look forward to an entirely new playstyle and cosmetics but a whole new story as well. Later takes off right where the base game ended.

The developer promises an exciting new chapter where Kate tries to save her mentor Clint ‘Hawkeye’ Barton. It features time travel, so expect the unexpected. Best of all, all new content will be available for free to every owner of Marvel’s Avengers.

The same also goes for future new content. Speaking of, the new War Table feature ends up teasing what’s in store after Kate Bishop. Comic book fans should be thrilled to learn that Maestro is incoming. For those who don’t know, that is a fan-favorite storyline set in a post-apocalyptic future where an aged Hulk (Maestro) is the only living being left on earth.

So, despite a very rocky launch, 2021 looks promising for Marvel’s Avengers. Even if the developers have their work cut out for them to improve on the many issues of the game.

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Needless to say, it hasn’t been making the same kind of money that any of the Avengers movies have. Square Enix has reported a loss of 6.5 billion yen, which is about $63 million. Marvel’s Avengers reportedly sold about 3 million copies and the game cost $100 million to make. Marvel’s Avenger’s supposedly makes up a good portion of that $63 million loss.

Square Enix – reported Yen6.5bn loss for HD Games driven by Marvel Avengers, would not say how many sold but that volumes were 60% of plan. Implies game cost over $100m to make but only sold 3m or so. Ouch

— David Gibson (@gibbogame) November 6, 2020

Of course, there are microtransactions in the game for cosmetic items so the game is still likely generating some revenue. Outside of that, it’s tough to say how well the game is still selling after 3 months. Marvel’s Avengers was supposed to have a big content update with new playable characters in October but it was delayed. The lack of new content and the issues still present in the game have caused a lot of frustration with players, leading to a drop-off in active players.

Perhaps the game will have a resurgence in 2021 when it hits next-gen consoles and there are new characters. Spider-Man is also set to join the roster on the PlayStation version in 2021, which caused its own controversy.

Marvel’s Avengers is currently out on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. An Xbox Series X/S and PS5 version is slated for next year.

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You can try the demo on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. So, there really is no excuse not to dip your toes into the legendary franchise.

DQ XI originally came out three years ago on the PS4 and 3DS. Similar to Monster Hunter World, the 11th main entry brought the iconic JRPG series back to the home consoles. And it was a great success.

A year later, Nintendo Switch owners got the improved ‘S’ edition. It included Japanese voice acting, an orchestral soundtrack, an SNES-style retro mode. On top of that, many gameplay mechanics were overhauled and improved. All in all, a substantial upgrade over the original.

Thankfully, now every platform gets on a level playing field with Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. All upgrades from the Nintendo Switch version will soon be available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC gamers.

And in case you are still not sure whether you should buy the game, Square Enix now released a meaty demo. The publishers estimate that the demo alone will take players 10 hours to complete. Quite the insane amount of content.

At least the demo ought to make it crystal clear for players whether they want to get the definitive edition. As a bonus, progress achieved in the demo will carry over the full game once it releases. So, even if you’re already convinced to buy the game there is still a good reason to play the demo.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition launches December 4th for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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Our first State of the Game update discusses what we're currently focusing on along with what's in store for the future of Marvel's Avengers.

Read: https://t.co/I83RtRzRnE pic.twitter.com/NqQLcpCtfJ

— Marvel's Avengers (@PlayAvengers) October 16, 2020

There is promising news, however, as CD Head Scot Amos further outlines the extensive plans to turn around the project. It does come at a cost though. Namely, delays.

Despite an extensive marketing campaign across all media, Square Enix’ Avengers game couldn’t live up to the hype. The launch was pretty bad with droves of players voicing their disappointment at the game’s design and bugs. We weren’t thrilled with Marvel’s Avengers either which you can read in our review here.

Shortly after its launch, the game fell off the radar. Only a month after its launch, player counts dropped below 1,000 on Steam. Pretty much a death sentence for a game that relies on online multiplayer.

Marvel’s Avengers’ launch was not without turbulence, and we recognize that a number of issues detracted from your enjoyment of the game. This does not align with Crystal Dynamics’ value of craftsmanship, and for that we sincerely apologize.

Thankfully, Crystal Dynamics is aware of the game’s problems and vows to improve them. But it will take time. And to achieve that goal, the new character Kate Archer and her story that continues the main story will now come out next year.

There are more casualties though. The next-gen ports of Marvel’s Avengers for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are also delayed to next year. That would be a bummer in past generations, but since both new consoles offer backward compatibility, next-gen users will still be able to play the game on the new systems. Just without any upgrades.

As a thank you for players, the developer will hand out 1500 Credits, 7000 Units, 250 Upgrade Modules, 20 DNA Keys, and a Sarah Graza nameplate to all players. You’ll have until November 5th to claim your in-game bundle.

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In celebration for this year’s Tokyo Game Show, publisher Square Enix has released new footage of NieR Replicant alongside announcing the release dates. Well, the game is actually called NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… but for reasons you’ll understand we’ll abbreviate it.

Nier is probably best-known for being a fairly janky action-RPG on the Xbox 360 and PS3. But what the game lacked in polish – both visually and mechanically – it made for in spades in terms of music, style, and story. Still, that alone couldn’t carry the game in the last generation which led to it becoming a niche classic.

The brainchild of iconic Japanese game designer Yoko Taro, the franchise experienced a surprise reboot in 2017 with Nier Automata. Thanks to the help by gameplay kings Platinum Games, finally Taro’s brilliant mind was mixed with actually great gameplay for once.

It’s thanks to Automata’s huge success that Square Enix decided to give the original another a try. Handled by the rather unknown Japanese studio Toylogic, NieR Replicant will also be the first time gamers outside of Japan will experience the real Nier. You see, the last-gen version we got was a heavily changed version that featured drastic changes compared to the original.

While the trailer is nice it lacks actual gameplay. But Square Enix did show a couple of minutes of real gameplay of a development build during the TGS live stream which you should absolutely check out below.

Curiously enough, while NieR Replicant is due out next April, the game is only confirmed for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. With next-gen consoles featuring native backward compatibility, the game will be playable without issues at least.

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