The PS4 open beta for Final Fantasy XIV will begin its first phase on February 22 and run through March 3; the second phase will follow on April 4 to April 7. Any PS4 owner can download the beta from the PlayStation Store, and characters created during phase two will carry over to the retail release.
Players interested in transferring from the PS3 to the PS4 version may do so at no cost starting April 11, three days ahead of the PS4 launch proper. Do note this will render the PS3 copy unplayable; those players seeking to play the same account on both platforms must purchase both versions.
Source: Gematsu
Marvelous AQL has announced their next title, a 3DS Sim RPG from the developers of the Rune Factory series. Forbidden Magna puts players in the shoes of Lux, a down-on-his-luck inn proprietor who is assisted by friendly spirits and a mysterious girl named Charlotte. Gameplay centers around both turn-based combat in the field and inn management back home, with players tasked with building up trust with a spirit before bringing them into battle.
Forbidden Magna is planned for a 2014 release. Though a specific timeframe wasn’t announced, the game is reportedly about 50% complete.
Source: Gematsu
Here Lies John DeFoe
Finally At Peace
Do Not Disturb His Rest
Continue reading ‘Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk Media’ »
Falcom has confirmed that the previously mentioned follow-up to The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki is indeed a sequel. The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki 2 will be released on both PS3 and the PS Vita in 2014.
Source: Gematsu
In a recent ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Reddit, Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley confirmed that EverQuest Next will be released on the PS4. No release window was set, however, and no other details are available at this time.
Source: Gematsu
Square Enix has announced that the PS4 release of Final Fantasy XIV is set for April 14. The PS4 beta will begin on February 22.
Source: Gematsu
During a fan Q&A on the PlayStation Blog, Bethesda confirmed that a PlayStation Plus subscription will not be required to play The Elder Scrolls Online. A follow-up statement added that an Xbox Live Gold subscription will be necessary for Xbox One copies.
TES Online hits the PC on April 4, with the PS4/X1 coming in June.
Source: Gematsu
An update for Dishonored‘s Game of the Year edition page on Amazon accidentally showed details for a special edition of The Elder Scrolls Online instead. While the mistake has since been corrected, the ‘update’ revealed that the TES Online Imperial Edition will include a collector’s edition box and steelbook packaging, a 12″ figurine of Molag Bal, a map of Tamriel, a 224-page illustrated guidebook, and exclusive digital content. No price was listed on the image.
Source: Gematsu
In preparation for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII‘s release, Square Enix has taken the… let’s call it atypical step of summarizing the series thus far – in 16-bit form. The eight minute summary/trailer covers the broad-strokes events of XIII and XIII-2, and ends with the worldwide release dates: 2/11 for North America, 2/14 for Europe.
Watch the whole thing here.
Square Enix’s Akihiko Yoshida has reportedly joined the team developing the Kickstarter-backed Unsung Story. Yoshida is credited with character design work on Final Fantasy XII and Tactics Ogre, among other titles, and is also working on Bravely Second.
Source: Gematsu
Aksys Games’ Mind Zero will be coming to North America in both retail and digital flavors, with the European release to be digital-only. Both versions are planned to launch this spring.
Source: Gematsu
More information about Natural Doctrine has been released. Kadokawa Games provided the following details:
- Missions are divided into Story (plot progression) and Free (for leveling up). Consecutive plays of Free Missions are limited.
- Mission objectives are shown at the start of each stage, where players establish battle formation and turn order.
- Link Turns allow characters to perform consecutive attacks, though if one of the attacks fails, the player is exposed to consecutive counterattacks. Long Link Turns can also leave the involved characters unable to attack for several turns.
- Confirmed difficulties are easy, normal, and hard. Difficulty is set before starting the game, and can be changed between missions.
- Losing any ally, even only one, means game over.
- There are no mid-mission saves; all saving must be done on the world map.
Natural Doctrine hits the PS3, PS4, and PS Vita in Japan on March 19.
Source: Gematsu
Capcom released more tidbits about the upcoming PS4 RPG Deep Down, specifically its equipment system and microtransactions. Regarding gear, players can only equip various armor pieces after learning the required skills for them, which are inscribed on stone statues scattered throughout the game’s dungeons. Known weapon types include spears and both one and two-handed swords, though interestingly the spear seems to be the default weapon.
As for microtransactions, producer Yoshinori Ono explained that the base game would indeed be free of charge, with additional items and “other game content” sold separately. “To ensure people playing the game don’t lose interest,” he said in a recent interview, “we will keep working to deliver stable long-term services.”
Deep Down is planned for a 2014 release.
Source: Gematsu
Rune Factory 4 publisher Marvelous AQL announced the title, previously set for a Spring 2014 release, will not be coming to Europe. “While Marvelous AQL has made every effort to secure the title’s release for this territory,” said the company in a statement, “it is, unfortunately, not possible to do so at this time.”
No details were given regarding the reason for the cancellation.
Source: Gematsu
Card battling SRPG Monster Monpiece will hit North American and European Vitas in the Spring of this year, Idea Factory announced. The western release will be digital only, and will omit some content compared to the Japanese version; specifically certain Monster Girl card images, which the company confirmed were cut “solely due to [their] intense sexual nature.” The related gameplay mechanic – rubbing the girls on the screen to level up the cards – will remain intact, however.
Source: Gematsu
Not content to let NISA have all the fun, Atlus announced that Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars will launch for both the Vita and 3DS on April 15 in North America.
Source: Gematsu
NIS America announced that Demon Gaze will hit the Vita in North America on April 22, with the European release following on April 25. Apart the from digital and retail versions, the title will also come in a Limited Edition for $49.99, which contains a soundtrack CD, a “Mercenary’s Guide to Misrid,” and a special box in addition to the game.
Source: Gematsu
The first downloadable content for Muramasa Rebirth has just been released in North America. Titled Fishy Tales of the Nekomata, the content centers around Okoi, a girl possessed by the vengeful nekomata Miike. The DLC will launch in Europe on January 22.
Source: Gematsu
Yasumi Matsuno has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians, a tactical RPG for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms, with possible Vita/3DS versions as stretch goals. The title is described as “the spiritual successor in a storied line of epic tactical RPGs designed by Yasumi Matsuno”, which includes Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre.
The starting goal has been set at $600,000, and at the time of this writing the pledge balance sits at $277,858 with 29 days to go.
The anime adaptation of Atelier Escha & Logy is set to begin this coming April, with Studio Gokumi handling production. Gokumi is most recently known for Saki Achiga-hen Episode of Side-A and Kiniro Mosaic.
Source: Gematsu
