In a first for the company, Nintendo has launched the 3DS-based Pokedex on iOS as a paid app. Currently limited to Japan, the app costs 170 yen and covers all creatures from the latest generation (Black & White). In-app purchases can expand the encyclopedia to cover previous monsters, separated into four packs at 500 yen apice.
Source: Eurogamer
In a rather explosive finale, the original release of Final Fantasy XIV has officially come to a close. The weekend event drew enough players to overwhelm servers, leaving several – such as yours truly – unable to log in and witness the final battle firsthand. Fortunately, Square Enix arranged the final minutes of the Seventh Umbral Era in a CG trailer, available for all over on YouTube.
This marks the shutdown of the original servers, to be replaced next year with the Realm Reborn content. I’ll just be waiting over here, not at all impatient or anything.
*twitch*
Via Dengeki, Nippon Ichi’s president Sohei Shinkawa stated that Disgaea 5 will have a new setting, and accordingly feature a new cast of characters. This keeps in line with past numbered entries, which have also shifted away from those of previous installments.
Source: Gematsu
Vita dungeon crawler Demon Gaze has received its Japanese release date: January 24, 2013. No US or European releases have been announced yet.
Source: Gematsu
Presumably because they like money, Blizzard announced that a Diablo III expansion is currently in development. This was brought up during an investor call with Mike Morhaime, though he was unable to give any specifics about timeframe or content.
Source: Eurogamer
After little in the way of news regarding Skyrim DLC on PS3, Bethesda offered some hope that the issue is coming to a close. While discussing DLC in general, Bethesda tweeted that “To update: we’re also close on new Skyrim content for PS3 and PC.” A follow-up tweet reads “Thanks to all our fans. We think you’ll love the new stuff. We know it takes us time and thanks for all your support and patience!”
Source: Eurogamer
Rumblings about Mass Effect 4 have already begun, with BioWare more or less confirming it after asking for fan feedback via twitter. With the project in its early stages, little is currently known about the title. However, BioWare did confirm that ME4 will run on DICE’s Frostbite engine, most recently used in Battlefield 3. Development has also been handed off to BioWare Montreal from their Edmonton studio, who developed the original trilogy.
Source: Eurogamer
Acclaimed designer Yasumi Matsuno has parted ways with studio Level 5, as he announced on twitter like all the cool kids seem to be doing today. Having joined the studio just sixteen months ago, Matsuno commented that “With my work done on the domestic and overseas version of my latest 3DSWare game (Guild 01: Crimson Shroud) it was good timing for me to step down and take a short break in order to recharge for my next project. My deepest thanks to everyone at Level-5 and everyone playing our games for your continued support.”
Matsuno gave no details about the upcoming project, tweeting only that “sorry, it’s a secret.” Friendly reminder: Matsuno is the brains behind Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre, directed Final Fantasy Tactics, and produced/directed Vagrant Story.
Source: Eurogamer
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With the Mass Effect Trilogy already available for 360 and PC, BioWare has revealed a date of December 4 for the bundle to hit the PS3 in North America. The European release will follow on December 7.
DLC-wise, the PS3 version will include Bring Down the Sky, Kasumi, Overlord, and Lair of the Shadow Broker. Mass Effect 3 will remain as it shipped, with the Extended Cut still free for download separately.
Source: Eurogamer
Square Enix has announced their 3DS redux of Dragon Quest VII will hit Japan on February 7. No global release was confirmed at this time.
Source: Eurogamer
Obsidian’s South Park: The Stick of Truth has been delayed, with a nebulous “fiscal 2014” as the release window instead of its original March 5 of next year. Given how fiscal years work, that could still technically be in 2013, but this was not clarified.
Source: Gematsu
In a rare twist, Overhaul Games announced that the Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition has been pushed forward, slightly. The game is now set to launch on November 28, as opposed to November 30; the Android release will happen “soon after” the iOS, PC, and Mac versions.
Source: Eurogamer
Skyrim: Dragonborn has been confirmed, with the DLC scheduled for a 360 release on December 4 for 1600 MS funbucks. No PC or PS3 dates were given. As the title suggests, the content centers around another Dragonborn, specifically the very first one. Currently known only as the Dragonbeast, it intends to make a dramatic return to the land of Solstheim, which it once ruled.
Check out the official trailer here. No, seriously, check it out. That looks an awful lot like a dragon mount, my friends.
CC2 president Hiroshi Matsuyama announced that development is already underway on a new Solatorobo. While it follows last year’s Solatorobo: Red the Hunter for the DS, no further details have been given at this time.
Source: Eurogamer
Over on Persona Europe’s Facebook page, it was announced that Persona 4 Arena will not see a 2012 release. An FAQ from the publisher explained that “For all EU games, there are a number of changes that need to be done to bring it in line with the regulations laid out by Sony and Microsoft in Europe. These regulations are to ensure the game will work correctly in each individual PAL territory, from individual EU countries to Australia and UK.” This, unfortunately, appears to be the delaying point.
While fans reacted angrily, citing the unpopular decision to region-lock the game, the FAQ did suggest a possible bonus as compensation for the delay. “We understand everyone’s frustration surrounding this,” it reads, “so we are preparing something – and we’ll announce that once the new schedule for release is in place.”
Check out the full FAQ and resulting rage here.
In a press release, Nexon announced an update for the XBLA-based Dungeon Fighter LIVE: Fall of Hendon Myre. Apart from technical changes, such as an improved camera during multiplayer, the update adds new difficulty modes – Expert, Master, and King’s Road – for the game’s final dungeon.
The press release can be read in full here.
With Disgaea D2‘s announcement still warm from the oven, producer Shogo Kozakai released a few general details. As mentioned before, the game follows the original Disgaea and its eccentric core cast, with Laharl again at center stage. D2 will apparently scale back the content somewhat, reacting to fan feedback that Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten was a bit too large.
The team originally considered remaking the original, but eventually settled upon a new story. Kozakai indicated this may be the start of a new subseries, as Disgaea 5 has also been confirmed to be in development. D2 will hit Japanese PS3s on March 20 of next year.
Source: Source: Gematsu
This week’s Dengeki PlayStation has revealed the release date for Valhalla Knights 3 as January 31. At present, no release outside of Japan has been announced.
Source: Gematsu
Square Enix has announced that the Wii U beta test for Dragon Quest X will start in February, with vouchers for the beta to be included with Wii U Premium Set editions. As the Wii and Wii U playerbase will share the same server, Wii character data can be imported to the Wii U.
DQX is set to launch on the Wii U sometime next year.
Source: Gematsu