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Star Citizen, the spaceship-combat game with a never-ending crowdfunding campaign, is currently undergoing a wave of backlash from players. Developer Cloud Imperium Games recently rolled out components that improve ship movement that were originally exclusive to the real-money store--a change that has caused fans to revolt. As reported by PC Gamer, CIG's addition of flight blades in a recent update, which improve ship maneuverability or speed, has caused significant anger among the community. The particular issue at hand here is that CIG rolled these out only to the Star Citizen Pledge Store, where the studio sells in-game items like ships, cosmetics, and upgrades.Selling an item like flight blades isn't on its own unusual--the pledge store is a core method that CIG crowdfunds its game. However, Star Citizen has long had a norm of allowing players to purchase upgrades either with real money or with in-game currency (called aUEC). While the studio promised that they would be made purchasable by in-game currency later in the summer, they were launched early to players willing to shell out cash. Gating the flight blades exclusively behind a real-money paywall struck many fans as a bridge too far. The Star Citizen forum thread announcing the flight blades has accumulated over 2,000 replies, way more than the average thread, and most of these are quite negative. "Selling performance altering modules and keeping them locked behind this paywall even for a short period is still the definition of pay to win and not ok CIG," the top-voted comment from user Vraxer declared. User Morphologis wrote, "So if we're now separating out new features into sellable website commodities, where does this go next? Exclusive Jump Gate keys to Nyx 3 months early? Special exclusive new mission coordinate keys? This is a step too far." The fan revolt came so quickly and with such intensity that CIG had to post a revision of its approach to flight blades. In this new thread, which itself has garnered over 1,100 replies and a huge number of negative reactions, the studio admitted that it had "missed a step" due to "moving faster than ever" to complete a packed docket of game updates this year. Instead of launching them into timed exclusivity to the pledge store, CIG stated that it would delay the release of the components until later in the summer and launch them simultaneously for both real money and in-game currency. CIG also committed to concurrent releases in the future, stating, "For future gameplay kit introductions, we’ll ensure these items are obtainable in-game on day one." Perhaps not surprisingly, this slight backtrack has not calmed the frustration of Star Citizen players. Many of whom have continued to express dismay and anger at the expansion of components for sale that are seen as "pay to win"--that is, components that significantly improve or otherwise alter the behavior of ships in normal gameplay situations. As the top-voted poster, SaltEMike, wrote, "This is a bandaid to calm people down, but the root issue here is that you continue to sell more and more items in the game that have a wider impact on what a player would do day to day." Part of the reason why this change has caused such ire among fans is likely that Star Citizen has raised a tremendous amount of money from early adopters since it began its crowdfunding campaign back in 2013. According to its own website, CIG has brought in well over $800 million, an astonishing sum for a game that is still technically in early access. Correspondingly, Star Citizen is considered one of the most expensive games ever made.However, despite the game's astronomical price tag, CIG has had a rocky track record of development practices. Last year, reports claimed that employees at CIG were being forced to work brutally long hours and crunch seven days per week on the game and its first-person shooter spinoff, Squadron 42...

Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has discussed the hot-button issue of pricing in the video game industry, saying prices have consistently gone down over the years, adjusted for inflation, while also claiming the company is not attempting to nickel and dime players to maximize profits.Speaking to GI.biz, Zelnick said his ambition is for people who buy Take-Two's games to feel like they're coming out ahead in terms of the value proposition."Our job is not to turn a consumer upside down, shake them, and see how much change comes out of their pockets. Our job is to create the very best entertainment. If we do that, the revenue will take care of itself," he said.Not everyone would agree that Take-Two is executing against this directive, as 2K's annual NBA 2K franchise is criticized every year for its ubiquitous microtransactions. Despite that, sales of NBA 2K25--the newest entry--are strong, reaching nearly 10 million units, Zelnick said.Take-Two currently makes most of its money from what it calls "recurrent consumer spending," which includes revenue from virtual currency, add-on content, in-game purchases, and in-game ads. For Take-Two's latest quarter, revenue from recurrent consumer spending jumped by 14% and made up 77% of Take-Two's entire net revenue. NBA 2K25 was one of the top contributors in this department.Also in the interview, Zelnick discussed the current pricing environment for video games, with companies like Nintendo and Microsoft beginning to charge $80 for new games. Zelnick said when adjusted for inflation, pricing for new releases has declined for the past 20 years. Indeed, $60 in the '90s is about $80 today, adjusted for inflation.Zelnick declined to say if Take-Two will follow suit and begin charging $80 for new games, but instead spoke about how his aim is to "maximize the value being delivered, and then offer that value at a meaningfully reduced cost.""That's our job. I do think that the value that is offered is massive and growing, and that is our job," he said.On the subject of Mafia: The Old Country bucking the trend and selling for $50, Zelnick said this was an intentional pricing decision made with the aim of getting the game "into as many hands as possible." The Old Country is a linear, non-open-world title that doesn't require a massive time commitment. 2K has said it believes there is an audience for just such a game.Another upcoming 2K game, Borderlands 4, launches in September but has no price as of yet. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said even he doesn't know what the price will be.GTA 6 launches in May 2026, and many are expecting it to sell for a higher price point, though not everyone agrees that it will be $100. According to industry experts, the data shows that people are already embracing paying more for video games, which may help explain why Nintendo and Microsoft were the first to move to higher price points. Sony has warned it might raise prices, too...

The Heroes of Might and Magic video game series turns 30 this year, and ahead of the release of a new game in the series, Dark Horse Books has revealed a new 30th Anniversary Retrospective book. Now available to preorder for $55 at Amazon, the 192-page deluxe hardcover is scheduled to release November 25.Heroes of Might and Magic has had multiple games over the years, starting in 1995 when it spun off from the main Might and Magic series. The rights to the IP were originally held by New World Computing, which was later acquired by 3DO.After 3DO closed down, these rights were then sold to Ubisoft, with the first game under new ownership being Heroes of Might and Magic 5. Following a lengthy hiatus after the release of Heroes of Might and Magic 7 in 2015, Ubisoft recently announced Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, which is being produced by Iratus: Lord of the Dead developer Unfrozen. The new game will be released later this year through Steam Early Access on PC.For more cool collectibles, you can check out several other books at Dark Horse Direct focused on the art behind specific video games. These range from The Last of Us to Mass Effect, and several of them have been discounted recently.Alternatively, you can also preorder jigsaw puzzles designed to celebrate the legacy of developer Naughty Dog. Based on the studio's Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and The Last of Us Part 2 games, these are priced at $30 each, and they're now available to preorder.Naughty Dog Collectible PuzzlesThe Last of Us Part 2 deluxe two-sided puzzle -- $30Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception circular cipher disk puzzle -- $30Dark Horse Art BooksThe Art of the Mass Effect Trilogy: Expanded Edition -- $30 ($40)The Art of Mass Effect Andromeda -- $30 ($40)The Art of Horizon Forbidden West -- $70 ($100)The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard -- $100The Art of The Last of Us Part 2: Deluxe Edition -- $80 ($90)The Art of Halo Infinite: Deluxe Edition -- $70 ($80)The Art of God of War Ragnarok: Deluxe Edition -- $120 ($130)The Art of Star Wars Visions -- $90 ($100)The Art of Masters of the Universe: Origins and Masterverse -- $90 ($100)The Legend of Zelda: Arts and Artifacts -- $30 ($50)The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia -- $30 ($40)The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia -- $30 ($40)The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion -- $35 ($50)...

According to Yoji Fujito, the producer and director of Final Fantasy XI, ongoing support for the game could have ended in 2024. Player interest was high enough that Square Enix ultimately decided not to stop supporting the MMO, though, and a series of new updates is expected throughout this spring and summer.Final Fantasy XI was the first MMO in the long-running RPG series, and it first launched for PS2 in Japan on May 16, 2002. Live-service support for the MMO, which is now played on PC, has continued ever since. Final Fantasy XI, which GameSpot reviewed all the way back in 2003, has survived Square's merger with Enix, the disastrous launch and lauded rebirth of Final Fantasy XIV, and all of the other changes in the MMO space that have happened in the 23 years since its launch. It's not the most popular MMO, but it has a dedicated and passionate fanbase.That dedicated fanbase ultimately saved the game. In an interview with Dengeki Online, translated by Automaton Media, Fujito explained that Square Enix had previously considered ending support for Final Fantasy XI by 2024 following the end of The Voracious Resurgence storyline."There was a real possibility that 2024 would be the year updates would come to an end, with the game shifting into a so-called maintenance mode, where only system upkeep would be performed," Fujito said. "We thought, if The Voracious Resurgence wrapped up and FFXI clearly started losing its momentum, then maybe we really should prepare to end it. But that didn’t happen. I took this as a sign that we should keep running the game."Ultimately, Fujito says the fact that Final Fantasy XI has continued to receive "a lot of support" from players is the reason why Square Enix is still committed to supporting it now. A series of updates for Year 23 of service was recently revealed too, including a new High-Tier Mission Battlefield called The Orb's Radiance, a new Master Trial called Wing of War, the ability to pay to change your character's race, gender, face, hair, and size, gamepad configuration support, and more.Final Fantasy XI is available on PC, and support for it does not seem to be ending anytime soon...

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster is on sale for the first time for Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Released in March on consoles and PC, the great remasters of these classic PS1 turn-based RPGs are up for grabs for $40. The deal applies to the physical Day One Edition on all three console platforms at multiple major retailers, including Amazon.Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Deals: Nintendo Switch -- $40 ($50)PS5 -- $40 ($50)Xbox Series X -- $40 ($50)PC (Steam) -- $37.49 ($50)Meanwhile, PC players can take advantage of an awesome deal at Fanatical (a GameSpot sister site). Steam keys are discounted by 25% at Fanatical, which drops the price of the recent release to only $37.49.Suikoden I & II HD Remaster includes enhanced versions of Suikoden I and II. The remasters of both games feature HD sprites and backgrounds, enhanced sound effects, and QOL options like auto-saving, adjustable battle speeds, and a conversation log for reviewing previous dialogue.For more JRPG deals for consoles, check out the lists below, which include the lowest-ever prices on Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven.RPG Game Deals at AmazonPlayStation Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade -- $53.49 ($60)Final Fantasy 16 -- $30 ($40)Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition -- $50 ($75)Nier Automata - Game of the Yorha Edition -- $22 ($30)Octopath Traveler 2 -- $27 ($40)Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven -- $30 ($50)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Tactics Ogre: Reborn -- $29.79 ($50)Visions of Mana -- $36 ($60)Nintendo Switch Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition -- $66 ($75)Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster -- $27 ($40)Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven -- $30 ($50)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection -- $40 ($50)Xbox Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Visions of Mana -- $35 ($60)Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom...

If you're the type of player who likes to share video footage of your mad skills, you may be disappointed to hear that clips recorded on the Nintendo Switch 2 will apparently be limited to only 30 seconds.According to the Nintendo Today app, the Switch 2 will have the same 30-second video capture limitation as the original Switch. And while the average player just looking to grab a quick clip of a cool in-game moment isn't likely to be particularly bothered by this constraint, it's likely to be much more frustrating for enthusiasts who were hoping the Switch 2 would provide upgraded abilities.The Switch 2's 30-second cap on video capture falls behind the abilities of the PS5, which can capture up to 30 minutes internally or 60 minutes on external storage. For Switch 2 users to obtain similar capabilities, they'd need to invest in an external capture card, which can be a costly venture.No word has been shared on whether the Switch 2 can capture video at higher resolutions and frame rates than the original Switch, which was capped at 720p and 30 fps. It seems likely that the new console will improve on this at least marginally, but Nintendo has yet to comment.Maybe we'll know more before the Switch 2 launches June 5. In the meantime, you can check out GameChat accessibility features and look over all of the confirmed and rumored games coming to the console...

The next major collaboration coming to Overwatch was teased last week, as Capcom's Street Fighter franchise will become the first-ever video game franchise to join Blizzard's hero shooter. Eight of Overwatch's heroes will be given the Street Fighter treatment, as they'll be able to dress up as eight of SF's world warriors, with some new themed emotes to boot.GameSpot sat down with Overwatch art director Dion Rogers and former character art director Arnold Tsang to talk about bringing Street Fighter to Overwatch, from the character-selection process to how Street Fighter inspired some of Overwatch's design choices from the very beginning.The eight Overwatch 2 X Street Fighter skins"Match made in heaven"From the beginning of discussions–"about a year ago," according to Rogers--the Overwatch x Street Fighter collaboration has been what Tsang describes as "a match made in heaven." A big part of that, as Rogers describes, is Capcom's shared background in developing games."With some of our collaborations, there's a little bit more explaining to do," Rogers says. "Capcom though, they do this. They make games. They get it. If we come to them and say, 'Hey, there's some technical challenges with this, we're going to have to edit this look,' they understand. The back-and-forth between us and Capcom was really nice."Capcom also gave the Overwatch team "complete say" in which heroes would be included from the Overwatch side, as well as the Street Fighter characters they would be paired with. There was only one caveat: The Street Fighter characters had to come from the roster of the current game, Street Fighter 6."We had complete say on what that would look like," Rogers says. "Capcom gave some suggestions after reviewing things with us, but we have a ton of Street Fighter fans on the team, so the concept artists already had ideas. Ultimately, we had a conversation together that landed on which hero we choose as the right hero for a character."Finding the right pairThe team at Overwatch, with Capcom's input, eventually settled on eight Overwatch heroes and the Street Fighter characters they'd be portraying:Hanzo as RyuSigma as M. BisonWinston as BlankaCammy as WidowmakerSoldier: 76 as GuileZenyatta as DhalsimJuno as Chun-LiKimiko as JuriSome of these decisions allowed the team to explore new facets of a hero; pairing Widowmaker with Cammy, a natural fit given their assassin or "femme fatale" background, also offered a unique opportunity to show Widowmaker with a more human-like skin color as opposed to her trademark purple.Other groups presented unique challenges; making Sigma into M. Bison, for example, resulted in Sigma donning a cape, which is not usually part of his outfit. "It doesn't affect gameplay too much," Rogers said. "Usually the animations and the movement of the hero kind of dictate who they are, but Bison now becomes a unique skin for Sigma because of the cape; no other Sigma skin has that."The best parts of designing the skins, however, were when the animators could inject parts of the Street Fighter character's background into unexpected places. Hanzo as Ryu might seem like it poses a challenge--Ryu is no archer, after all--but the team immediately paired the two as the design process was evolving."Everything else [with the pair] fits perfectly, but the fact that Hanzo's an archer? We thought, 'Well, everyone else has guns,'" Arnold Tsang said. "If Ryu was going to be in Overwatch, he'd probably pick up the bow in favor of something else."The Hanzo pairing also let Tsang add that unexpected reference too--"In Street Fighter, Ryu has that white bag he usually travels with," Tsang explains. "If you look at the Hanzo skin, his quiver isn't actually a holder for the arrows. It looks more like that duffel bag, to mimic the traveling Ryu."Overwatch 2 X Street FighterOverwatch FighterWhen asked if the team was surprised by how naturally the two properties fit together, Tsang says he knew immediately it would work, simply because Street Fighter is "in the DNA" of both Overwatch and his own artistic approach. "I learned how to draw by studying the Street Fighter and Capcom artists," Tsang explains.He attributes this to why, from a visual perspective, the two sides meshed so well together. "I remember in the beginning, when we were making the game, we had our first few heroes, and one of the big decisions we made was we wanted heroes from different countries," Tsang says."That was hugely inspired by Street Fighter; I used to have a poster where I would see the different characters and the little flag beside their names. So, when we made Overwatch, I thought 'Let's bring some of that energy into the game and have all these characters from different countries, influenced by their culture.' Some of that DNA is there, in these heroes from all around the world coming together."Now that Street Fighter is entering Overwatch, what if the roles were reversed and a hero for Overwatch joined the battle in Street Fighter? Tsang has a few ideas on who might best fit on the Street Fighter roster from the Overwatch squad."Genji and Doomfist are melee characters, so those are no-brainers," Tsang says. "A lot of the heroes have guns, so it's harder to imagine how they'd fit into a traditional fighting game, as it makes the martial arts aspect less creative. Hanzo has a bow, but he also has the sword; he could use that too." Eventually, Tsang settles on one of the first names he mentioned: Doomfist, who according to Tsang, was "designed to be a fighting game character, basically."The Overwatch x Street Fighter collaboration begins May 20 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC...

Microsoft has rolled out a new Xbox update allows players to further customize the home screen, and the changes sound pretty nice. For now, the new features are available only to Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha users, before everyone else gets to try it later. You can sign up for the free Xbox Insider program to get early access to Xbox updates.Microsoft said it's received feedback from fans that they want the Home screen on Xbox to feel more personalized. Specifically, fans have asked for Microsoft to hide tiles they don't regularly use, and in general, make the Home screen feel "less crowded." This new update is an attempt to give fans some updates with those concerns in mind, Microsoft said."This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to your feedback," the company explained.You can now further customize the Xbox Home screen.So what's in the new update? To begin with, the Home screen now has three new settings, the first of which is "Hide System Apps." Whereas system apps would previously show up under "recently played games," this will no longer happen. The second new setting is "Pin Favorites to Home," and this allows users to pin up to three recently played games or apps to the recently played list. "These pins will stay near the front of the list as you launch other things, giving you quick access to your go-to titles," Microsoft said.The third is "Reduce Tile Count." This isn't available yet, but when it does arrive, users will be able to reduce the number of tiles that show up in the recently played games and apps list. "We're still refining this setting, and it will be coming soon," Microsoft said.In other news, Microsoft just recently raised Xbox console prices, while the company will start charging $80 for games later this year. The Xbox Games Showcase is coming June 8, with an Outer Worlds 2 Direct broadcast to follow immediately after...

Summer is typically a great time to head outside, enjoy the warmer weather, and work on your tan, but if you're into video games, it's also a season of announcements. Similar to previous years, various developers and publishers are gearing up to reveal what they're working on, as they'll be taking to the internet for a series of livestreams. From indie games to upcoming AAA releases, the next couple of months are going to be a busy--but entertaining--time in the industry.If you're looking to stay up to date on when these livestreams are being held, we'll be keeping track of everything and updating this post whenever a new livestream is announced. For now, there's a lot to look forward to already as Geoff Keighley's annual Summer Game Fest, the feel-good Wholesome Direct, and the Xbox Games Showcase are all confirmed for this year. A few other events are also coming even sooner--a clever move that will allow these respective initiatives more time to shine.Here's a closer look at everything on the way.May 22Warhammer SkullsWhere to watchTwitchYouTubeWhen to watchPT: 9 AMET: 12 PMBST: 5 PMFor all things grimdark in video games, the Warhammer Skulls livestream is the place to be. Once again hosted by actor Rahul Kohli, this year's livestream will explore in-development games, provide updates on existing titles, and it will include a few surprises.Six One Indie ShowcaseWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 8:50 AMET: 11:50 AMBST: 4:50 PMIf you're feeling jaded by the current AAA scene, there are several showcases focused specifically on indie games that you can tune into. Six One Indie is one such example, as it's a celebration of games and the developers who make them. For this one, you can expect 48 indie games to be seen in this 75-minute show.May 29Indie QuestWhere to watchYouTubeWhen to watchPT: 4 PMET: 7 PMBST: 12 AM (May 30)This year will see a new digital showcase debut, as Indie Quest is aiming to be a spotlight for independently developed JRPGs. The games have been curated by YouTube channel The Gaming Shelf, and each title will be introduced by popular YouTube creators. For the first showcase, you can expect over 40 exclusive game trailers and one of these will be a world premiere from a "critically acclaimed" studio.June 6Access-Ability Summer ShowcaseWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 8 AMET: 11 AMBST: 4 PMThis annual showcase is focused on games made by disabled developers and the accessibility options available in each one. Previous Access-Ability livestreams have not only highlighted these initiatives, but they've also examined how accessibility in video games can be improved upon.Summer Game FestWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 2 PMET: 5 PMBST: 10 PMThe big all-rounder of the summer gaming season, the Geoff Keighley-hosted Summer Game Fest covers everything from big-budget games to smaller titles. Now in its sixth year, the platform-agnostic showcase will take place from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.Day of the DevsWhere to watchYouTubeWhen to watchPT: 4 PMET: 7 PMBST: 12 AM (June 7)Right after Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs will return for another digital showcase. Last year's show saw games like UFO 50, Zoochosis, Cozy Grove 2, and more highlighted, so this could be another year full of previews focused on potential hits.June 7Wholesome DirectWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 9 AMET: 12 PMBST: 5 PMAnyone looking to check out upcoming games with good vibes and cozy settings can tune into the Wholesome Direct showcase on June 7. This has been a charming highlight on the gaming event calendar for several years now.Future Games ShowWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 1 PMET: 4 PMBST: 9 PMThis year's Future Games Show will be hosted by Laura Bailey (Abby from The Last of Us) and Matthew Mercer (Vincent Valentine from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth). As usual, you can expect world premieres, exclusive game demos, developer interviews, and new trailers from a wide variety of studios. Some of the highlights here will be new trailers for Supermassive Games’ Directive 8020 and Crisol: Theater of Idols from Blumhouse Games, as well as an interview with Mafia: The Old Country developer Hangar 13.June 8Xbox Games ShowcaseWhere to watchYouTubeWhen to watchPT: 10 AMET: 1 PMBST: 6 PM2025 has been a great year so far for Xbox--thanks to releases like South of Midnight and Doom: The Dark Ages--and June will see more details on in-development games revealed. This will cover first-party games and third-party-partner productions, so we're hoping to see what's next for franchises like Perfect Dark, Gears of War, and Forza.The Outer Worlds 2 DirectWhere to watchYouTubeWhen to watchAfter the Xbox Games ShowcaseBookending the Xbox Games Showcase will be a livestream dedicated entirely to The Outer Worlds 2. New gameplay and details on the sci-fi RPG for Xbox Series X|S and PC will be revealed, and the game is currently expected to launch at some point in 2025.PC Gaming ShowWhere to watchYouTubeTwitchWhen to watchPT: 12 PMET: 3 PMBST: 8 PMWe don't know what we'll be seeing at the PC Gaming Show this year, but we do know there are going to be a lot of games shown off here. The event is promising new looks at over 50 games, including world-premiere trailers and developer interviews...

Square Enix's Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake hasn't received very many discounts since launching last holiday season, but the charming JRPG is now on sale for its lowest-ever price for all three console platforms: PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X.Dragon Quest 3 isn't the only JRPG on sale at major retailers this week. We've included a list of notable game deals below.Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake recreates the original 1988 version of the game with all-new visuals, reorchestrated music, and even some new gameplay tweaks, while maintaining the content of the original. The original Dragon Quest 3 was notable for having one of the first class-switching systems in a console RPG, and a non-linear, open-world structure. The game still holds up well today, and the HD-2D Remake gives it a beautiful visual upgrade along with numerous quality-of-life features.Narratively, Dragon Quest 3 takes place before Dragon Quest 1 and 2, so you don't need to worry about playing Dragon Quest 1 or 2 first. Square Enix is currently developing HD-2D remakes of the first two games, too. They will bundled together in one package, which is slated for release this year. The first three games form what is often referred to as The Erdrick Trilogy.The art style of all three remakes aligns with Square Enix's other gorgeous HD-2D games, including Live A Live, Octopath Traveler 2, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, and Triangle Strategy.RPG Game Deals at AmazonPlayStation Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade -- $53.49 ($60)Final Fantasy 16 -- $30 ($40)Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition -- $50 ($75)Nier Automata - Game of the Yorha Edition -- $22 ($30)Octopath Traveler 2 -- $27 ($40)Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven -- $30 ($50)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Tactics Ogre: Reborn -- $29.79 ($50)Visions of Mana -- $36 ($60)Nintendo Switch Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition -- $66 ($75)Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster -- $27 ($40)Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven -- $30 ($50)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection -- $40 ($50)Xbox Game DealsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake -- $40 ($60)Suikoden I & II HD Remaster -- $40 ($50)Visions of Mana -- $35 ($60)See all Square Enix Game DealsAnd if you enjoy Dragon Quest 3, you might be interested in the upcoming manga. Dragon Quest: The Mark of Erdrick is a sequel that takes place 100 years after the final battle. Preorders for the 376-page paperback are available for $23 (was $25) at Amazon ahead of its September 23 publication date...

Two beloved PlayStation Vita games were originally getting sequels before Sony decided to put its focus on PS4 in the mid-2010s, according to Shuhei Yoshida. The former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president recently opened up about plans for Soul Sacrifice 2 and Freedom Wars 2.VGC reports that Yoshida appeared on Sacred Symbols+ and discussed how sequels were in the works for both Vita exclusives at one point. "We were actually working on Soul Sacrifice 2 and Freedom Wars 2, but because of budget limitation we had to stop and move on to PS4," Yoshida said on the podcast.Soul Sacrifice launched in 2013 for PS Vita and came from a concept created by former Mega Man designer Keiji Inafune. Meanwhile, Freedom Wars arrived the following year in 2014 for the handheld. Both Vita exclusives featured Monster Hunter-like similarities, which is notable because Capcom's popular franchise skipped the Sony handheld after being a juggernaut on PlayStation Portable. Nintendo was able to secure Monster Hunter 4 as an exclusive for 3DS.The online servers for Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars were shut down in 2021. However, Freedom Wars Remastered launched earlier this year, providing a new way to play the game on PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.As for Yoshida, he's been showing up on other podcasts recently, too. For instance, Yoshida stated that certain $80 games could be a steal because of the hours of entertainment they provide...

Naughty Dog's new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, remains largely a mystery, and now one of the actors who will appear in the game has shared some insight into what it's been like working on it.Speaking to Dexerto, Stephen A. Chang--who played Jesse in The Last of Us--said Naughty Dog is being quite secretive about the project. Change said he knows "probably as much as you" about it.In fact, Chang said he wasn't even sure the game was Intergalactic and not a new Last of Us game when he signed on."I saw the trailer, maybe a week before they released it. I didn't really know what to expect. I have a friend who's working on the game too. She's like, 'Is this Last of Us Part 3 that we're doing?' So we didn't even really know what we were getting into," he said.Despite claiming to know very little, Chang said he believes Intergalactic will be Naughty Dog's "next big thing."He also discussed how Naughty Dog is going about trying to keep story details from leaking online. He said some people on the game don't get full scripts but only small pieces of the script, which was how The Last of Us: Part II was produced as well."You'd film in sections. You'd get pieces of the script. Sometimes it's not even chronological," he said."I'm looking forward to hopefully getting another script and seeing where it goes. I'm trying to put the pieces together just like everyone else," Chang said.Intergalactic is Naughty Dog's first new IP in a decade. It's been in development since 2020 and more than 250 people at Naughty Dog alone have worked on it over the years, in addition to external development support. Druckmann is directing, and the cast also includes Tati Gabrielle, Kumail Nanjiani, and Tony Dalton.Intergalactic will be scored by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails fame. As for when it will be released, no one should expect to play the game until 2027 at the soonest...