Tag: Square Enix
News Final Fantasy 7 Devs Suggest Which Rebirth Girl Is Best (for Cloud)
Perhaps, in another lifetime?
While conventional wisdom and the original Final Fantasy VII might suggest to some that Aerith is the "best" girl for the stoic but surprisingly sweet swordsman, Cloud Strife, the developers in the Remake trilogy (and fate) see things differently. It's no secret that the ongoing story in Rebirth is not a straight...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Pleads for Modder Restraint on PC
Keep Kalm and Carry On
Like asking the ocean nicely if it wouldn't mind holding the tide back, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has appealed to modders and players to show some restraint, just once. Sadly, if our time on the internet has taught us anything, his pleas will almost certainly fall on deaf ears. When the PC version...
Hands On Final Fantasy 16's Clive Is Ridiculously Well Realised in Tekken 8
The only fantasy here is yours
Clive Rosfield, of Final Fantasy 16 fame, is the first guest character in Tekken 8 — and the final part of the game's first season pass. Armed with his trusty blade and a slew of Eikon-based superpowers, Clive would feel far more at home in SoulCalibur than Tekken. But much like Noctis in Tekken 7 — also a DLC...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Casts Arise, Arrives on PC in January 2025
Sweet Ramuh, the mods
Square Enix's excellent continuation of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Rebirth, is officially coming to PC just under a year after its initial release on PS5. If you want to appreciate every last follicle and fibre, ensure you properly update those drivers on 25th January 2025. Cloud and companies' ongoing adventure on...
News PowerWash Simulator Unwraps Another Free Festive Level, Available Now on PS5, PS4
Ice rink needs a deep clean
PowerWash Simulator has recently released another seasonal level for players to hose down, and it's available for free on PS5 and PS4. The DLC stage is a Christmassy ice rink, though you'll need to blast away all the grime to reveal the colourful, gleaming display underneath. As well as this sizeable new level, which...
News Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
Overexposed
2024 has been so dire for video game development that we are now in the business of reporting on repeat layoffs at the same studios. Case in point, Deck Nine, which endured a 20% reduction in headcount back in February, has announced it will be doing it all over again, just in time for the holidays. Poste
News Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Ships 2 Million Worldwide, Japan Accounts for at Least Half
Holding out for a hero
Square Enix has revealed that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has shipped and digitally sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. As regular readers will know, Square Enix doesn't share official sales figures very often — much to the frustration of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth enthusiasts — so this remake must have done pretty...
News Foamstars Support Ends in January as Square Enix Drops Soapy Live Service Shooter
Bubble's burst
Square Enix is essentially ending support for Foamstars, the quirky live service shooter that launched for PS5 and PS4 in February. The game's final season — called 'The Party Goes On!' — begins on the 13th December, and runs through to the 17th January. After that, there'll be no more seasonal updates — although Foamstars...
Review Fantasian Neo Dimension (PS5) - Delightful JRPG Comfort Food Let Down by Uneven Combat
Final Fantasian
Fantasian Neo Dimension is a little like Japanese role playing game comfort food. There's the slightly androgynous amnesiac hero. He'll go on a quest to reclaim his memories and along the way he'll meet up with a slightly kooky orphan mage with secrets of her own to uncover. They'll befriend the sassy princess, the lovable rogue, the...
News Final Fantasy 7 Was Made for PlayStation Thanks to Sony Music and Booze
Whiskey business
PlayStation is an enormous brand and one of the biggest names in gaming nowadays, but back when it was just getting started, it was of course a different story. In a recent interview, Sony alumnus Shawn Layden reveals how the team secured Final Fantasy VII for PS1. He recalls his early days when PlayStation was in its infancy, and...
News Visions of Mana Director Snapped Up by Square Enix Following Studio Cuts
A new vision
Visions of Mana director Ryosuke Yoshida has announced that he left the NetEase-owned Ouka Studios on the 31st October, and that he's now working at Square Enix. Of course, Square Enix published Visions of Mana to begin with, so the move makes sense. Previously, Yoshida was a designer at Capcom, helping develop titles like Devil May...
News Outstanding PS2 RPG Dragon Quest 8 Is Now 20 Years Old
Remaster, anyone?
At the time of writing this article, it just turned 12am in Japan — and that means Dragon Quest 8 is officially 20 years old. The PS2 RPG first launched on the 27th November, 2004 — but the West didn't get to experience this franchise-defining adventure until later. Dragon Quest 8 dropped the following year in the US, but us...
"In future I will not be making Platinum Trophies that difficult"
The as-yet-unnamed successor, the final chapter in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, won't suck the lifestream out of players to unlock its Platinum Trophy. That's according to director Naoki Yamaguchi, anyway, who apologised for the pain he put persistent Trophy Hunters through...
News Huge PS5, PS4 MMO Final Fantasy 14 Is Being Shrunk Down for Mobile
Explore Eorzea two ways
Final Fantasy 14 is immensely popular, and has been for many years now. Square Enix's MMORPG may have started out rough, but after A Realm Reborn, it's only gone from strength to strength, and is played by countless people across all platforms, including PS5 and PS4. Soon, though, Eorzea will be even more accessible. In...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is Not Getting DLC, Part 3 the Full Focus
Trying to get the third game out ASAP
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has shared that the second part of Square Enix's big remake project will not be treated to any DLC so the studio can fully focus on getting the third and final game made. Talking to the Daily Star, he said that while the company hears the "desire" from fans for...
News Final Fantasy 6 Remake Mentioned Again, A Dream Project for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Producer
Return of the Returners
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Final Fantasy games, talk of a Final Fantasy 6 remake has been floating around for years. In particular, the epic RPG is an obvious candidate for Square Enix's trademark 'HD-2D' overhaul, given its 16-bit origins. And guess what? Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake producer Masaaki Hayasaka...
News Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake's Brutal Difficulty Spikes Are Shocking New Players
Feel the burn
We're now a few days removed from the release of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and so players have had time to formulate some initial thoughts on the RPG. And perhaps surprisingly, the title's difficulty seems to be the biggest talking point at this early stage. Generally speaking, a lot of new players are quickly discovering that...
News Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Third Entry 'Won't Cheat' with the Airship
"We will take on the challenge"
While Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – the second entry in Square Enix’s remake trilogy – offered a vast open world, fans of the original PS1 title will know the Highwind airship forms a crucial part of traversal in the closing act of the game. Speaking at G-Star 2024 in Busan this week, director Naoki Hamaguchi...
Review Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PS5) - A Timeless RPG, and a Gorgeous Nostalgia Trip
Golden oldies
You always know what you're getting with a mainline Dragon Quest game. The series is pretty much the epitome of consistent, having stuck to its timeless Japanese RPG formula for decades. But that comfy feeling of familiarity somehow hits even harder with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake — a powerfully nostalgic rebuild of a true classic...
News Square Enix's New AAA Games Are Being Trounced by Final Fantasy 14
Profitable MMO segment still winning
The venerable MMO Final Fantasy XIV, once considered an abject failure, is now pointed to as an example of a video game redemption arc. Over the years, Square Enix has come to rely on the regular, predictable profits it draws from the title's vast player base, and the massively multiplayer game has become one of...
Hands On Serious Pop-In the Only Problem with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Massive PS5 Pro Boost
Cloud nine
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was plagued by an astoundingly blurry performance mode when it first released on PS5 in February of this year. Obvious graphical limitations were put in place so that the RPG could run at 60 frames-per-second; it played just fine, but it could look rough outside of cutscenes. With the PS5 Pro, Rebirth has gained...
News PS5 Pro Makes Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Look Like a Whole New Game
Footage of new PS5 Pro Versatility Mode found
An unlisted YouTube video from the Japanese Square Enix channel has been discovered that shares a short glimpse of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth running in its new PS5 Pro-exclusive Versatility Mode. Delivering "optimized gameplay" that is "tailored" for PS5 Pro, the Versatility Mode is aiming to deliver a...
The sins of our fathers
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a remake of the influential, Japan-only, 1993 original JRPG of the same name. Square Enix has modernised the experience, which holds its own even in a year which has proven extremely strong for the genre. With a classic design, exciting twists on well-worn systems, deep combat, and...
News Don't Nod Dev Pushes Back on 'Hateful' Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Comments
But admits that he wouldn't have "written things the same way"
Don't Nod creative director Michel Koch has reacted to some of the "hateful" comments directed at Deck Nine employees for their take on the Life is Strange franchise in Double Exposure. Dontnod Entertainment, the publisher's development studio, made the mainline games in the franchise,...
Review Life Is Strange: Double Exposure (PS5) - Hallmark Series Loses Its Charm
Hella disappointing
After taking over development duties from Don’t Nod, Deck Nine really made the Life Is Strange series its own with 2021’s True Colours. Now heading up Double Exposure, the developer is reaching into Don’t Nod territory by bringing back everybody’s favourite hella awkward teen, Max Caulfield, now as an adult. With a...
News Life is Strange: Double Exposure Spoiled by Square Enix's Early Access and Hubris
$30 upgrade has gone awry
When Square Enix boldly proclaimed it would charge fans $30 for the privilege of playing Life is Strange: Double Exposure's first two episodes a full fortnight early, we knew the pioneering publisher was plumbing uncharted depths of monetization. However, we did not consider data miners, who took less than 48 hours to rip...
News Unwind with Almost 10 Minutes of PS5's Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
Quest fallen
Sony’s got dibs on almost 10 minutes of PS5 footage from the upcoming Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. To be fair, for those of you who’ve been following the game, there’ll be few surprises here: it’s the NES original, presented in the Japanese publisher’s stunning new engine. You get a tasty mix of high-resolution sprites and...
News Get Back to JRPG Basics with Physical Final Fantasy 1-6 Collection Anniversary Edition on PS4
Finally together
Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition, which bundles together all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters in one convenient, physical location, is now available. You can pick it up from participating retailers in Europe and North America, or get your JRPG fix directly from Square Enix. <products id="28324"> For the...
News By the Way, Foamstars Is Now Free-to-Play on PS5, PS4
And it's pretty good fun
The gaming world seems to have forgotten, but Square Enix released Foamstars earlier this year on PS5 and PS4. This multiplayer shooter sadly didn't set the world on fire, but the upshot is that it's now completely free-to-play. As of 3rd October 2024, Foamstars costs nothing, and as with all free-to-play games, you don't...
News Final Fantasy 16 Receives Permanent Price Cut on PS5 as Complete Edition Launches
Eikonic
This sort of flew under the radar over the weekend, but one of 2023's biggest PS5 titles has now been permanently lowered in price. Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 16, the latest entry in the long-running series, has had its PS Store price tag cut. It's gone from $69.99/£69.99 to $49.99/£49.99. This news comes alongside the...
News Dragon Quest Veterans on Dealing with 'Ridiculous Country' USA Amid Censorship Row
"Who's even complaining about this?"
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and former Shonen Jump editor Kazuhiko Torishima – who played a pivotal role in the franchise’s inception with the late Akira Toriyama – have spoken candidly at the Tokyo Game Show about censorship to the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Earlier
News Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Looks Absolutely Stunning in Latest Gameplay Trailer
Wrangling monsters
Square Enix's Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake might be a bit of a mouthful, but it just looks better and better each time we see it. A brand new trailer has been released, providing an overview of how the game plays as we approach its 14th November launch date. The PS5 title looks beautiful, combining old with new to achieve that...
News Fantasian Neo Dimension Starts a New JRPG Adventure on PS5, PS4 in December
Into another dimension
Having previously been pencilled in for a late 2024 launch, we've now got confirmation that Fantasian Neo Dimension is adventuring to PS5 and PS4 on the 5th December. The RPG — spearheaded by Hironobu Sakaguchi himself — first released through Apple Arcade a few years back, but this console debut enhances the experience...
News Final Fantasy 16's Outstanding Soundtrack Finally Available on Music Streaming Services
Fire
Following on from the game's recent PC release, Square Enix has unleashed the Final Fantasy 16 soundtrack on music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The score's arrival has been a long time coming, with the action RPG having first launched for PS5 in June of last year. In our Final Fantasy 16 PS5 review, we...
News Tetsuya Nomura Considers Retirement, and How to End Kingdom Hearts
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
Famous for his love of belts and buckles, legendary video game director Tetsuya Nomura says he's considering retirement after an influential career spanning decades. Nomura started as a debugger on Final Fantasy IV in 1991 and, most recently, was the creative director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Love...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Huge PS5 Pro Enhancements Are a 'Vast Improvement'
A meaningful upgrade at 60fps
Here come the early tech evaluations, then: according to the experts at Digital Foundry, based on several minutes of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth footage running on the PS5 Pro, the upgrade is a “night and day” difference. We’ve already heard murmurs about the improvements to this game in particular, which will run at...
News Final Fantasy 16 Is F**cked and PS5's New Firmware Is to Blame
Square Enix investigating
Final Fantasy 16 has been suffering from some unexpected bugs on the PS5 this past week, and it’s beginning to look like the system’s recent firmware update is to blame. Players have reported everything from graphical glitches to crashes in the console exclusive – none of which occurred prior to last week’s system...
News Yoshi-P Pleads for Modder Restraint Ahead of Final Fantasy 16 PC Launch
"Please don't make or install anything like that"
With its lengthy period of PS5 exclusivity now at a close, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida is concerned about the inevitable debauchery that will follow once the PC modding community gets its grasping paws on the game (available today, 17th September). Yoshida doesn't want to see...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 'Hugely Improved' on PS5 Pro, a 'Night and Day' Difference
Superior to fidelity mode at 60fps
We’ve already heard from CNET about how much better Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks on the PS5 Pro, but don’t just take their word for it: Digital Foundry’s John Linneman has chipped in on X (or
A neo dawn
Fantasian Neo Dimension is an updated version of the original Fantasian — an Apple Arcade release from a few years back. It's produced and written by Hironobu Sakaguchi, who's often referred to as the father of Final Fantasy — and so when we were handed an opportunity to interview the man himself, we couldn't possibly say no. Ahead of...
News Romancing SaGa 2 Remake's Overview Video Is How All RPG Revivals Should Be Marketed
What's the SaGa
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is set to release on the 24th October for both PS5 and PS4, and if you're not quite sure about this completely remade RPG, we'd highly recommend giving this 'Primer' video a watch. As far as we're concerned, this five-minute overview is a perfect example of how to market an old-school revival...
News Visions of Mana Dev Basically Shut Down Just as the RPG Releases
Chinese companies having doubts over Japan
Ouka Studios, the Tokyo-based team that just brought us Visions of Mana, is reportedly on the brink of being closed down. To be clear, the new Mana title is published by Square Enix, but Ouka Studios — the game's primary developer — is a subsidiary of Chinese colossus NetEase. The outfit was first...
News Final Fantasy 16 Was Temporarily Free on PS Plus Extra, Premium
Reports of downloads from PS Plus members
Update (30th August, 9am): The glitch in question has now been fixed overnight, returning a price point to Final Fantasy XVI on Sony’s digital marketplace. Original article: PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium subscribers have in the pa
Poll Are You Playing Visions of Mana?
Eyes open
Visions of Mana has arrived on PS5 and PS4. A brand new instalment in the long, long running RPG series, Visions looks to breathe some additional life into the beloved property, providing a sizable adventure across an incredibly pretty fantasy world. We awarded the game a 'good' 7/10 in our Visions of Mana PS5 review, concluding that,...
News PowerWash Simulator Tackles Shrek's Disgusting Swamp in Next PS5, PS4 DLC
Absolutely putrid
Square Enix has revealed the next PowerWash Simulator mess in need of tidying, and it's probably the most vile-smelling of all: the fairytale swamp of the antisocial and highly territorial ogre Shrek. This one has no firm release date but expect it sometime in autumn. PowerWash's Shrek Special Pack promises five fantastical maps...
News Coveted, One-of-a-Kind Final Fantasy 7 LEGO Set Sold for a Ridiculous Sum
Heist time
In January, Square Enix asked fans to vote on a scene from the legendary Final Fantasy VII to be transformed into LEGO form, and the iconic Sector 5 Slums Church, where Cloud fatefully encounters Aerith for the first time, won in a landslide. As far as we are aware, only two sets have ever been made: One is kept in a sealed vault inside...
News Forgotten PS Plus Shooter Foamstars Goes Free-to-Play in October
There's a Legacy Gift Pack for current owners
Square Enix has confirmed Foamstars, its online multiplayer game all about shooting foam, will be free-to-play from 4th October 2024. The title first launched as a PS Plus Essential offering in February, but it failed to generate and hold on to an audience that could support it in the long term. Now,...
Review Visions of Mana (PS5) - Classic RPG Series Returns with Good But Flawed Intentions
Branching out
There's always a degree of trepidation when a classic franchise returns with a brand new release. Down the years, we've seen countless properties attempt to reinvent themselves, either in a bid to reclaim a faded legacy, or to establish a fresh audience. Visions of Mana, however, feels like it's gunning for neither of these goals...
Preview Double Exposure Stretches Life Is Strange Across Two Gripping PS5 Timelines
Max returns in 30-minute Gamescom demo
The Life Is Strange franchise is at its best whenever Max Caulfield is around, so Double Exposure already has a leg up on its predecessors. The latest narrative entry on PS5 marks only the second time the popular protagonist has played the lead role, and Deck Nine Games isn't purely leaning on her welcome...
News Expect New, Stronger Tifa in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Sequel, Says Director
Improving on perfection
Almost universally acknowledged as the best party member, it seems Final Fantasy VII's actual star, Tifa Lockhart, will get even more of the spotlight in the as-yet-unnamed sequel to Rebirth and the conclusion of the Remake trilogy (we still tear our hair thinking about how Square Enix squandered the opportunity to call it...
