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[iamvoid0]

Starfield release date, "Warzone can run on Switch", says Microsoft, Square Enix Shakeup, and Mario Day Deals!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Metroid Fusion launches on Nintendo Switch Online!

The critically acclaimed Metroid Fusion will finally be available via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on modern consoles. It was released on the 9th of March, 2023. Initially released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, Fusion is the canonically fourth game in the long-running franchise, with Metroid Dread being the fifth and most recent instalment released on the Switch in 2021. (Source)

Cities: Skylines gets a sequel with an announcement trailer.

The critically acclaimed Cities: Skylines will receive a sequel, thanks to a new announcement trailer released by Colossal Order & Paradox Interactive. The game is slated for a 2023 release and will be coming to Xbox and GamePass, PlayStation, and the PC via Steam.  (Source)

Bethesda Softworks' Starfield finally gets a release date.

The long-awaited "Skyrim in Space" has finally received a launch date. According to the blurb, this will be the first new universe from Bethesda Game Studios in almost 25 years. The game will launch on the 6th of September, 2023. (Source)

Microsoft claims Activision can get Warzone to run on the Switch.

In another snippet from the documents relating to the ongoing acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King, Microsoft claims that "low-end pcs" already run Warzone, so it will be trivial for Activision-Blizzard-King to run on the Switch. (Source)

📈 Financing the Bits & Bytes

Square Enix will change its President

Yosuke Matsuda, who has led Square Enix since 2013, will be succeeded by Takashi Kiryu, who has been with Square Enix since 2020. It appears from the announcement that Yosuke will be exiting Square Enix entirely, with the change set for approval at the 43rd Annual Shareholders' Meeting that will take place in June 2023. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Mario Day, the 10th of March, will see a host of Nintendo games go on sale at major retailers. Most games will be listed for USD 40 versus their regular USD 60 price tag.  (Source)

Capcom Showcase

Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection will launch on the 14th of April, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam. The segment gave an overview of the game and revealed new details. The game includes all 499 Japanese-only patch cards. Mega Man Battle Network 4–6 uses these. The final round will also have a 1,000-illustration art gallery.

Street Fighter VI will launch on the 6th of June, 2023. Capcom has unveiled Hikaru Takahashi as the final commentator for Street Fighter 6. The Japanese actress will join the list of commentators that have already been released, which includes WWE star, Zelina Vega. The final game will also feature commentary in 13 different languages.

Capcom Town will launch on the 12th of June, 2023. Capcom declared that Capcom Town, a virtual theme park, would be the centrepiece of the company's 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Exoprimal received much attention during the program thanks to a brand-new trailer outlining its plot and characters. The extensive information is that the game's open beta ran from the 17th of March to 19 before the game's official launch on the 14th of July.On day one, it will also be available on Xbox Game Pass. The pre-order bonuses, the deluxe edition, and the game's survival pass were covered in depth during the stream.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the 30th of June, 2023.

Monster Hunter: Rise + Sunbreak will be heading to all platforms, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. April 28th, 2023

Resident Evil 4: Chainsaw demo is available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam.

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[iamvoid0]

Call of Duty on Nintendo for the next ten years! Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get Updates and Nintendo Skips E3 for PAX East!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is set to receive a large patch, v1.2.0, in 'late February'.

After the state that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet was launched last December, Nintendo issued a statement stating that they are working to ensure all players can enjoy Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Nintendo has since given a relatively extensive list of bug fixes and upcoming additions in the form of patch notes. While we don't know when the patch is slated for release, the patch notes indicate more spots are still to be revealed. (Source)

Nintendo will attend PAX East 2023.

After exiting E3 for 2023, Nintendo will be attending PAX East. Their booth was spotted on the official PAX East website. No additional information was provided. (Source)

Minecraft gets new DLC in the form of Minecraft x Megaman X!

A new trailer for DLC shows off the stages and boss battles faithfully recreated in Minecraft with multiplayer support. This will allow players to play through several of the scenes from the original Megaman X inside Minecraft with friends. It will also feature a boss rush and battles that are a full 3D representation of the fight. (Source)

Pokemon will have a Pokemon Presents on Pokemon Day!

The 27th of February, 2023, is Pokemon Day. It was announced by Pokemon's official Twitter that there is going to be a 20-minute-long Pokemon Presents on Monday the 27th. There have been ongoing leaks and rumours regarding what we could see, from Red, Blue, and Yellow to Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald as well a new Pokken game. The words have seemingly gotten out of hand, but it is less than a day before we get the announcements. (Source)

Xbox will bring Call of Duty to Nintendo consoles for ten years!

Amidst the ongoing conflict between Sony, Activision-Blizzard-King, Microsoft, and the various regulating bodies across the globe, Xbox has inked a new deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to Nintendo consoles for the next ten years. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I picked up Kirby: Return to Dream Land Deluxe. I am enjoying my time with this one quite a bit. It's an excellent game that honestly doesn't feel too demanding. Despite being a remake/remaster of a game from the 3DS, which I believe was a remake of a very old Kirby game, it's very well-built. I would love to see more games in this art style.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

A pretty demanding week.

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Call of Duty Beta & Early Access, Sony Accuses Microsoft of 'harassment', Xbox Game Pass Reduces Sales!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Call of Duty will have a beta and early access campaign for its new premium stand-alone release!

The game was once called "premium DLC" for Modern Warfare 2. The project will now be a premium standalone game released in 2023. The game's narrative is currently unknown. Like previous premium titles, this year's will feature two weeks of beta testing, an early access campaign, and a comprehensive marketing plan. It has been confirmed that the next game would release on last-generation systems. Current dates floating around are: Beta weekend 1 (PS4/PS5) – October 6, 2023 – October 10, 2023Beta weekend 2 (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – October 12, 2023 – October 16, 2023Campaign Early Access (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – November 2, 2023Full Release (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – November 10, 2023

(Source)

Sony accuses Microsoft of "obvious harassment" as the conflict over Activision Blizzard escalates!

Microsoft requested Sony executive files, including performance reviews, during the "discovery" phase of its bitter legal battle with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its proposed $69bn buyout of Activision Blizzard. Sony's court motion stated, "Microsoft's demand for performance reviews for SIE's leadership is obvious harassment." Kotick has accused Sony of "sabotaging" the deal after saying a UK block would turn Britain into "Death Valley" after Brexit. "Suddenly, Sony's entire leadership team stopped talking to anyone at Microsoft," Kotick told the FT. "... adding that his calls to Sony's chief and other executives were not returned," the FT concludes. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) expressed serious concerns about the deal this week. It said Microsoft owning Activision "could harm UK gamers" and lead to "higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation". The FTC and EU's European Commission have both opposed the deal. The CMA decides in April after Microsoft and Activision have two weeks to respond. (Source)

Microsoft is trying to clarify its admission with Xbox Game Pass, so fewer people buy the games in the service.

In response to Microsoft's admission that games added to Xbox Game Pass sell fewer copies in the year after they were added to the service, Microsoft has released a statement. Microsoft claimed that the inclusion of a title in Game Pass resulted in a subsequent decline in base game sales in the UK Competition and Markets Authority's provisional report on Microsoft's attempted Activision Blizzard takeover, published last week. According to Microsoft's internal research, "base game sales decline by [redacted] per cent 12 months after they are added on Game Pass," as stated by the CMA. Microsoft does not dispute the CMA's assertion that Xbox Game Pass reduces game sales, but the company does argue that its subscription model is still compelling to studios aiming to release their games on the service. (Source)

Pokémon developer, GameFreak, seeks to create more non-Pokémon game titles!

In an interview with Axios, GameFreak's Masao Taya - who directed Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On- calls for creating more non-Pokémon games. "In recent years, the amount of resources required for game development has steadily increased, so Development Department One has been experimenting with a style of development in which it collaborates with external studios," he explains. The core teams at Game Freak produce Pokémon games annually, and these games have become increasingly graphically complex, necessitating more resources. Taya explains that for Ride On, Game Freak collaborated with Infiniteloop Co. and Pixyda, two studios that have collaborated with the company over the past decade. Taya indicated that Game Freak isn't finished with Ride On, despite not announcing any other games yet. (Source)

📈 Financing the Bits & Bytes

The financial report of Embracer Group for the period of October to December 2022 revealed a 128% increase in net sales, but only 3% of that growth was organic. They generated total sales of SEK 11,622 billion. Except for Tabletop Games, the company's operating segments, which include PC/Console Games, Mobile Games, and Entertainment & Services, all experienced sales growth. The company's EBIT rose to SEK 226 million, and its adjusted EBIT rose 78% to SEK 2,009 million.

The positive cash flow from operating activities for Embracer Group was 2,810 million Swedish crowns. Their basic earnings per share were 1.39 Swedish crowns, and their diluted earnings per share were 1.38 Swedish crowns. The company's adjusted EBIT forecast for fiscal years 2022/23 and 2023/24 remains unchanged at SEK 8,000 to 10,000 million and SEK 10,300 to 13,600 million, respectively. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I have been obsessed with Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. Released this week for the Nintendo Switch, I picked up the demo, and I loved it. It takes a bit of getting used to and hurts my hands, but it's a fun game. I recommend that you play the demo on the Switch because it is a ryuthm game, and it may not be for everyone. The demo contains about thirty songs in total. Get it on Nintendo Switch.

🎵 Turn it up to 11!

Since I've been playing Theathrythm, I would like to share one of my favourite pieces from Final Fantasy: "Suteki Da Ne". Composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu and performed by Japanese singer RIKKI. Despite having never played the original Final Fantasy X, I came across this song listening to "Distant Worlds II: More Music from Final Fantasy". This was a live recording of an orchestral concert performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Arnie Roth at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden, in late January 2010. The album is a sequel to Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy, recorded following the success of the concert tour. The English language vocal performance of "Suteki da ne" on this album was performed by Susan Calloway. She provided a fantastic rendition that is grand and verbose without any need for visual cues. (English Language Version)

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

This week was a bit much. I've been a bit bogged down by work. I'm trying to get a lot of stuff going, so everything is taking a bit.

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Bobby Kotick promises 'Death' to the United Kingdom, Nintendo raises salaries by 10%, Tears of the Kingdom to cost $70!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Nintendo Wins Class Action Suit Regarding Switch Joy-Con Drift

Last November, a federal judge sided with Nintendo in the Sanchez et al. v. Nintendo of America case. The Switch's EULA "disallows lawsuits" and requires legal arbitration, so Nintendo was able to stop the case. Nintendo prevailed when the parents were recognized as the systems' owners instead of the children the units were purchased for. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has apologized for Joy-Con drift and launched a free repair program. Recently, Nintendo America president Doug Bowser has discussed the "battle against" Joy-Con drift, saying Nintendo is improving. (Source)

Nintendo to Raise Worker's Salaries by 10%

Nintendo Co Ltd increased base pay by 10% on Tuesday despite lowering its full-year profit forecast due to a stronger yen. As Japan prepares for its annual spring labour negotiations, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has urged companies to pay workers more as inflation rises in an economy used to deflation and stagnant wages. In an earnings briefing, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said, "Securing our workforce is crucial for our long-term growth." Japan has severe labour shortages due to a declining birth rate and low immigration. Companies that can afford higher salaries may help. The maker of "Super Mario Bros." and "Legend of Zelda" cut its operating profit by 4% to 480 billion yen ($3.6 billion) for the fiscal year ending 31st March. Refinitiv predicted a 582 billion yen profit. Nintendo also lowered its annual software sales forecast from 210 million to 205 million and its Switch console sales target from 19 million to 18 million. Furukawa said the Kyoto-based company would consider raising software and game console prices if necessary. He declined to tell if the company was considering replacing the six-year-old Switch. (Source)

Bobby Kotick Promises to make the United Kingdom the 'Valley of Death' if they continue to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King.

Bobby Kotick, the chief executive officer of Activision Blizzard, stated that blocking Microsoft's acquisition of the Call of Duty publisher would significantly setback the United Kingdom's aspirations to become a technological superpower. This week, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is expected to release its provisional findings on the $69 billion transaction and notify the relevant parties of potential antitrust concerns and potential remedies. "They will not be Silicon Valley. They will be Death Valley," Kotick told CNBC in a televised interview on Tuesday, the same day that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of a new government department for science, innovation, and technology. Microsoft is rumoured to have paid close attention to the CMA, as it is perceived to be less predictable than regulators in the EU and USA. It could potentially influence their decisions regarding Microsoft's proposed merger. (Source)

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Costs $70

In a Nintendo Direct press release, Nintendo announced that the upcoming Zelda instalment would cost $69.99. This makes Nintendo the most recent major publisher in recent years to test the pricing waters for its triple-A titles. With the beginning of the next console generation in 2020, other major publishers, such as 2K Games and PlayStation, began pricing their major releases at $70. Both Xbox and Ubisoft announced a year ago that their triple-A games would cost $70 in the future. The following day Nintendo clarified that the Zelda price change was on a 'case-by-case' basis, and they would also be assessing the price change for their future games on a 'case-by-case' basis. (Source)

📈 Financing the Bits & Bytes

Nintendo Quarterly Financial Report Ending December 2022.

Nintendo's revenue for the nine months ended 31st December reached ¥1.29 trillion ($9.8 billion), down 1.9% year-over-year. The company's net profit was ¥346.2 billion ($2.6 billion), down 5.8% year-over-year.

Sales of the Nintendo Switch reached nearly 15 million units (down 21.3% year-over-year), while game sales reached 172.1 million copies (down 4% year-over-year).

The nine months' best-selling games were Pokémon Scarlet / Violet, Splatoon 3, and Nintendo Switch Sports, with sales of 20.61 million, 10.1 million, and 8.6 million units.

Given the decline in revenue and profit, Nintendo has lowered its financial forecast for the entire year ending 31st March.

The company anticipates revenue of 1.6 trillion ($12.1 billion) and net income of 370 billion ($2.8 billion), decreases of 3% and 7.5%, respectively, from its previous projections. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Xbox Game Pass

Madden NFL 23, Atomic Heart, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord.

Nintendo Direct

Games in Bold & Italics are the games I'll be getting.

Pikmin 4 - 21st of July, 2023

Xenoblade chrones 3: Volume 3 of DLC will be available on 15th February 2023. Volume 4 was announced as well.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central - Summer 2023

Fashion Dreamer - Summer 2023

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania on 5th March 2023.

Tron: identity - April 2023

Ghost Trick: Phantom- summer 2023

Deca Police - 2023

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon - 17th March 2023.

Splatoon 3 Expansion - Available on 8th February 2023. Wave 1 Sping 2023, Wave 2: Side Order coming later.

Disney Illusion island - 28th July 2023.

Fire Emblem Engage - New information about Expansion Pass. Wave 2 will arrive on 8th February 2023. Wave 4 will come at a later date and have a new story.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie - June 2023

Octopath Traveller 2 - Demo launches on 8th February 2023. The game itself will launch on 24th February 2023.

We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie - 2nd June 2023.

Sea of Stars - Launches 29th August 2023. A free demo will be available from 8th February 2023.

Omega Strikers - 29th April 2023.

Etrian Odessey Origins Collection - 1st June 2023. Each game is available separately as well.

Advanced Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp - 21st April 2023.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe - 24th February 2023. Demo available from 8th February 2023.

Gameboy games are being added to Nintendoswitch online - Tetris, Super Marioland 2, The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX, Gargoyle's Quest, Game & Watch Gallery 3, Alone in the dark, The New Nightmare, Metroid 2 - Return of Samus, Wario land 3, Kirby's Dreamland.

Gameboy Advance is being added - Super Mario Advance 4: Mario Bros 3, WarioWare inc: Mega Microgames, Kurkurkuruin, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga, Legend of Zelda Minish Cap.

Metroid Prime Remastered  - eShop version launches 8th February 2023. The physical version will launch on 22nd February 2023.

Master Detective Archives Raincode - 30th June 2023.

Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD - Summer 2023

Fantasy Life I - The Girl who steals time - 2023

Professor Laton and the World of Steam

Mario Kart 8 - Wave 4, Spring 2023

Minecraft Legends - 18th April 2023

Blanc - 14th February 2023.

Megaman Battle Network Collection - 14th April 2023.

Have a lovely death - 22nd March 2023.

WBSC eBaseball: power pros - 8th February 2023.

Disney Dreamlight Valley - April 2023

Tales of Symponia Remastered - 17th February 2023.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom - 12th March 2023.

🎮 Where's My Controller?

IXION still has my attention. I want to complete this game.

I played the Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe, and I am hyped.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

This week had a lot of stuff to sift through.

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[iamvoid0]

Amazon acquires Tomb Raider, and EA cancels Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Titanfall 3! Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox no-shows at E3!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo will be no-shows at E3 2023!A new report by IGN has indicated that Xbox, Sony, and Nintendo will skip the yearly show, which finally returns to an in-person event since the pandemic started. While Xbox will return to Los Angeles for its annual summer showcase, they made no indication if it will be part of the E3 floor. Sony has not been a part of E3 since 2019 due to potentially ongoing issues with the Entertainment  Software Association. Xbox, however, noted that they have a good relationship with the ESA. There are rumours which indicate that Nintendo will not have any big hitters after The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and as a result don't think the cost of an E3 booth makes economic sense. The report also notes that despite the new event organizers, ReedPop - who handles multiple other large conventions such as Star Wars Celebration, New York Comic Con, and PAX - there seems to be a lot of mismanagement of the event as a hold, with promises made with publishers last fall. Still, as of December 2022, the promised bookings have no information. (Source)

PlayStation has not cut PSVR2 production!In response to a Bloomberg report, PlayStation states that it has "not reduced PlayStation VR 2 production." According to GamesIndustry.biz, the company is "seeing enthusiasm from PlayStation fans for the upcoming launch, which will include more than 30 titles such as Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Resident Evil Village." The initial report indicated that Sony was significantly reducing its projections for PlayStation VR 2 and cautioned its supply chain partners that production could also decrease. According to the source, Sony has halved its original forecast for PSVR 2 shipments from two million units for the headset's launch quarter to one million. The PlayStation VR 2 release date is 22nd February. It will cost $550, and 37 titles are scheduled to be released during its launch window. (Source)

Embracer Group has leased Tomb Raider to Amazon!Amazon just acquired the 'Tomb Raider' rights from Embracer Group in a deal valued at approximately $600 million, making it Amazon's second largest commitment after purchasing the television rights for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings'. Consequently, this provides context for the cost and commitments that Embracer may be seeking. (Source)

EA cancels Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Titanfall 3!According to three individuals who know the situation, Electronic Arts Inc. has cancelled a game based on the Apex Legends and Titanfall franchises. Respawn Entertainment was developing the game for EA, which had not yet been announced publicly. Tuesday, EA, one of the largest video game publishers in the world, issued a disappointing revenue forecast for the current quarter. The company announced the cancellation of the mobile game Apex Legends and a mobile version of Battlefield, as well as the closure of the studio responsible for their development. EA also delayed Respawn's highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in development. According to management, EA will attempt to place the approximately fifty members of the unnamed game's development team. According to individuals who know the situation and request anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, those who cannot be placed will be given severance packages and laid off. Titanfall Legends, or TFL, was a cancelled single-player game set in the same universe as Apex Legends and Titanfall. Seasoned designer Mohammad Alavi directed it until he left the company in early 2022. EA made several hints about the game, which was not advertised, even though it was not announced. (Source)

Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp gets relisted!Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon Canada, and EB Games have relisted Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp. Initially scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch family of systems in December 2021, the collection was delayed indefinitely due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Now that Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp has reappeared on numerous retail sites worldwide, speculation has arisen that Nintendo is prepared to commit to a release date for the compilation. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a WayForward and Nintendo collaboration. (Source)

Horizon Forbidden West gameplay leaked for its Multiplayer!Co-op gameplay footage from Guerilla's forthcoming Horizon: Forbidden West has allegedly leaked online. The video was brought to light by the game's official subreddit community and u/BirdonWheels, who claims the footage - reportedly shot in "summer 2020" - is "very old" and includes a "join-PC" and "join-PS4" option in the alpha build, indicating that the game may eventually support cross-platform connectivity. While we glimpse some combat, the video focuses primarily on the game's environments, characters, enemies, and potential skins. However, as the footage is almost three years old, a lot can change in that time, so don't be surprised if the final game looks or plays very differently from what we see in this leak. (Source)

Hi-Fi RUSH performs exceptionally well!The shadow-dropped game from Tango Gameworks during the Xbox Developer Direct showcase has found its way onto the top 10 best sellers for the week ending 29th January 2023 on SteamDB. Indicating that the game has done exceptionally well. Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-based action game for Windows and Xbox Series X/S developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was announced on 25th January 2023 and released the following day globally. Chai is a self-proclaimed "future rock star" whose music player is accidentally implanted in his chest during experimental cybernetic surgery, allowing him to sense the world's rhythm. Chai, labelled a "defect" and hunted by the corporation that transformed him, unites with new allies to defeat the company's executives and thwart their schemes. The Black Keys and Nine Inch Nails are licensed artists featured on Hi-Fi Rush. (Source)

📈 Financing the Bits & Bytes

In its most recent financial results released on Monday, the publisher reported that it sold 29.1 million games to consumers in the nine months leading up to 31st December 2022, an increase from the 25.8 million games sold during the same period in 2021.

And with continued sales of catalogue titles and the upcoming release of Resident Evil 4 on 24th March – a week before the end of Capcom's fiscal year – the company expects to sell more than 40 million game units, which would be a record for an entire year.

Capcom anticipates that 90% (36m) of these sales will be digital downloads and only 10% (4m) will be physical, with 75% (30m) being catalogue sales and 25% (10m) being new releases (Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Resident Evil 4).

The company attributes its current sales figures to the release of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and its continued pursuit of digital sales, including the sale of catalogue titles primarily comprised of Monster Hunter and Resident Evil games.

The company sold 2.75 million copies of Monster Hunter Rise, 1.5 million copies of Resident Evil 2, 1.45 million copies of Devil May Cry 5, and 1.35 million copies of Resident Evil 3 in the nine months leading up to 31st December. Each of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Street Fighter V has sold 750 thousand of units.

Despite massive unit sales, Capcom's sales revenue has decreased year-over-year, which the company again attributes to the release of "a new major title" in the same period of the prior year, most likely Resident Evil Village.

Net sales were 79,671 million yen for the nine months ending 31st December 2022 (down 9.6% year-over-year), operating income was 33,332 million yen (down 5.0% year-over-year), and ordinary income was 33,564 million yen (down 7.1% year-over-year).

Capcom expects these to be completed by the end of the fiscal year (31st March 2023), indicating that it has high hopes for Resident Evil 4. This would be Capcom's tenth consecutive year of increasing operating income. (Source)

According to the company's most recent financial report, 7.1 million PS5s were shipped in the three months leading up to 31st December 2022. This is nearly double the number of units sold during the same quarter last year, which was 3.9 million. According to Sony's earnings reports, the company has now shipped 32,1 million units of its latest generation console, which is in line with the 30 million lifetime sales figure disclosed at the beginning of January.

The global chip shortage significantly impacted production, making it difficult for the company to meet the demand for its new console for most of its two-year lifespan.

Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of brand, hardware, and peripherals at Sony Interactive Entertainment, stated earlier this week that PS5 consoles should now be more widely available at retailers worldwide.

Nikkei reports that Sony has increased its operating profit forecast for the end of the year from 1.16 trillion yen to 1.18 trillion yen (approximately $9.1 billion). Even though the new forecast still represents a 2 per cent year-over-year decline, a Bloomberg-quoted analyst was impressed by Sony's performance in light of the struggles of the entire technology industry.

An analyst at Morningstar Investment Service, Kazunori Ito, remarked, "Given the current global demand environment, it's astonishing that Sony's earnings are in line with expectations."

Aside from this, PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers increased marginally to 46,4 million quarter-over-quarter but were still lower than 48 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Nevertheless, network service revenue increased by approximately 17 per cent, indicating that Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus subscription tiers are increasing average revenue per user.

VGC notes that Sony will need to continue selling PlayStation 5 consoles at a similar rate to reach its 18 million console sales target by the end of its fiscal year in 2022. This will necessitate the sale of an additional 5,2 million consoles in the quarter ending 31st March.

This objective may be attainable with the 22nd February release of the highly anticipated PSVR 2 headset and what appears to be a large-scale marketing campaign. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Xbox Games with Gold for February 2023 sees For the King and Guts N Goals added to the service. (Source)

PlayStation Plus members get four new games in February. Take on demonic Deadites in Evil Dead: The Game's asymmetrical multiplayer mode, grind and trick your way through the vibrant world of Radlandia in OlliOlliWorld, and live the life of a Prohibition-era gangster in Mafia: The Definitive Edition. In addition to these titles, Destiny 2: Beyond light joins the roster this month as a bonus game. From Tuesday, 7th February, through Monday, 6th March, all four titles will be accessible to PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium members. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I have only been playing IXION for this past week. The game is addictive. I will be doing a written piece on this in the future. Most likely when I complete the game itself.

🎵 Turn it up to 11!

Since  I've been obsessed with IXION, you need to hear the metallic contemplations across the stars with Guillaume David's excellent soundtrack. The soundtrack adds to the tense contemplations you will have to make as your resources dwindle and you frantically turn off factories and mismanage your population before their inevitable revolt. (YouTube Link)

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I recently my new piece on Megaman 11: "Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise?".

Megaman 11 brought the classic blue bomber back to new heights, and with that, it took the title of best-selling classic Megaman title. Capcom had pre-emptively purchased the domains of Megaman 12, 13, 14, and 15. With the glaring success that Megaman 11 has, there is still a demand for classic Megaman. That raises a question, though, Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise? You can read the rest here.

I also recognize some of you may not want reviews sent to your inbox. I will provide a new newsletter specifically for Reviews & Think Pieces in the coming weeks.

This week's newsletter was a bit more intense than I usually do. This is part of my plans to expand Void0Media. You will receive a taste of the Financial section I've been working on for a while. That portion of the letter is currently in Alpha, and tracking and compiling financial reports/data can be more time-consuming than a simple news digest. Once it exits Alpha, I will place it behind a paywall, which you can access via our Patreon. This is not absolute, and I would love to hear your thoughts and feature requests for the newsletter in the comments section here.

Be sure to use the "More Like This" or the "Less Like This" buttons at the end of the newsletter to let me know your thoughts on the newsletter.

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Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise?

Megaman 11 brought the classic blue bomber back to new heights, and with that, it took the title of best-selling classic Megaman title. Capcom had pre-emptively purchased the domains of Megaman 12, 13, 14, and 15. With the glaring success that Megaman 11 has, there is still a demand for classic Megaman. That raises a question, though, Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise?

Short Answer: Yes. But let us dig deeper as we prepare for Capcom's announcement for Megaman 12.

An Evolution of form

Megaman 11 was a return to form for the blue bomber that harkens back to the old school days while modernizing a notorious, mechanically demanding game for audiences of all skill levels. Megaman 11 simultaneously invokes nostalgia while pushing every aspect of its design, audio, gameplay, and art to new heights. It not only separates it from the mega man clones of today but also prevents it from being another hollow Megaman clone.

It is easy to view Megaman 11 through the lens of pure nostalgia, a cash grab, stomping on the cold dead corpse of a long-dead franchise for an easy payday. What is hard is accepting the fact that the team that took Megaman 11 from idea to product outdid themselves.

Another Dimension

Megaman 11 takes the classic game out of its 2D roots and into a new 3D space; though at times it may look like it's 2.5D, I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a full 3D space that is 2D in the viewport.

The art direction of this game is stellar. I cannot begin to describe just how gorgeous and warm this art feels. Every character and background is just bursting at the seams with personality and life. From Roll, Auto, and Dr Light to the various enemies you encounter, many of which are callbacks to the original Megaman 1, to the new ones that blend so seamlessly into the world of Megaman that you will question if it had always been there. Megaman is expressive, clear, and concise in his actions and animations.

Dynamic lighting effects breathe life into every nook and cranny of this gorgeous hand-drawn environment. The stunning illustrations that wash the backdrops are often reminiscent of old 90s cartoons, although that might be my nostalgia bleeding through.

Despite that, however, the game continues to be a breath of fresh air. We rarely get such a visually distinct game from a large publisher. It was clear from the get-go that Capcom needed – no, wanted – Megaman 11 to be an evolution, the springboard for the next generation of Megaman.

Lessons from yesterday

Megaman 11 takes a vast array of cues from its predecessors. From its punishing difficulty to its ease of access. The deceptively simplistic level design hides brilliantly crafted sequences that encourage experimentation while also providing a challenge for those willing to take it on.

One of the strengths of Megaman 11 lies in how it carries its legacy while also being distinct and new. The previous two Megaman games, 9 & 10, felt more like the recently uncovered Nintendo Entertainment System games that were lost media than they did a proper sequel for a new generation.

The previous games introduced a shop, which is brought back for the ride in this new entry. The game also comes preloaded with multiple easy-to-hard difficulty challenges.

The game makes excellent use of the various bosses' gimmicks to give Megaman a new way to interact with the stages. Megaman controls much better than I anticipated. The game was responsive and kept the old-school feeling of Megaman in this new perspective.

I mentioned before that the game could be unforgiving at times, and it is very unforgiving. Several passages throughout the game will give even seasoned Megaman players a challenge.

It is hard to describe how Megaman plays and controls, and it is ultimately something you will have to experience to understand Megaman 11 at its core gameplay.

Listen

If it's one other thing Megaman is known for, it is the absolute jaw-dropping, iconic soundtracks of the past. Megaman 11 is no slouch in this department. Every single stage gets a theme song that fits the environment, matches the scenes' intensity, and pairs well with the various bosses.

Marika Suzuki shines as Megaman 11's composer, having attained experience in various games across multiple genres. She clearly understands what made the original soundtrack so appealing, and she carries much of the soundtrack to its logical climax.

The soundtrack is more electronic-based, but Marika Suzuki masterfully makes every single instrument sing a dazzling array of notes and phrases that matches everything surrounding it.

Marika Suzuki's soundtrack was so rendered that it beautifully tied all the extremities of the game into an even more closely knit experience that all provided a sense of cohesion that ultimately elevated the experience of Megaman as a whole.

Conclusion

Whatever you think about Capcom's business practices, Megaman 11 is truly one for the history books. A fun-filled experience with a visually unique art style and a lavish soundscape that perfectly blends all parts of Megaman into an experience worthy of the franchise.

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The Void Calls, Will you Answer?

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PlayStation 5 Updated, GoldenEye 007 on Switch + Xbox, Metro Exodus gets SDK, and Xbox draws 120 Million Users in 2022!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Armored Core 6 Set for Taipei Game Show on the 6th of February.

The next major information dump for FromSoftware's forthcoming Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will be revealed at the Taipei Game Show. Yasunori Ogura, the series producer and promotional marketer for the Armored Core series, will participate in the Armored Core 6 presentation, which is scheduled to last one hour. It will be broadcast live on the 3rd of February at 20:00 GMT, 3 pm ET, 12 pm PT, and 4 AM HKT. Armored Core 6 is scheduled for release in 2023, and it will be accessible on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam for PC. (Source)

PlayStation 5 gets a new Generation!

According to insiders, PlayStation 5 will get a new revised model. It will not be a PS5 Pro, nor will it be a 'PS5 Slim'. Instead, it will merely replace the current PS5 in production. It is expected in late 2023 (Source)

Metro developer, 4A Games Studio, unveils SDK for Metro Engine!

The new SDK allows users to build Mods for the Metro games better and create new experiences in the Metro universe. Creations made with the SDK have not been licensed for commercial activities. The SDK is a massive piece of software that encompasses all the games that have become known for. I recommend that you glance through the source attached. Those who have been around the block a few times will know this is an eerily similar approach that Epic Games took with the Unreal Tournament SDK back in the early 2000s. (Source)

Xbox Q2 Performance details!

During the quarter ending in December 2022, Xbox reportedly drew a record 120 million monthly active users. "Game Pass subscriptions, game streaming hours, and monthly active devices reached new heights." And monthly active users exceeded 120 million for the first quarter.  Xbox revenue dropped 13% during the holiday quarter. In the three months ending in December, Microsoft's gaming business suffered from a lack of new releases. Microsoft announced earlier on Tuesday that its Xbox division's gaming revenue for the three months ending in December 2022 decreased by 13% year-over-year. (Source)

GoldenEye 007 is coming to the Nintendo Switch Online Service!

The critically acclaimed cult hit was released this week on the Nintendo Switch Online Service + Expansion Pack. It brings with it a multitude of updates and online play. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Nintendo's Lunar Sale is on.

🎮 WhWhere'sy Controller?

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I have completed my Megaman 11 review. I  will be made available this week.

I am considering retooling my Yakuza 0 review. But I'I'llet you know.

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Microsoft Fires 10K Employees, Callisto Protocol Misses Sales Goals, Historic Valve Leak, and Ubisoft Employees Fires back at CEO!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Valve's most significant historical leak unveils a treasure trove of assets from iconic games, including Half-Life 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2 Video game developer and publisher Valve experienced a significant leak of game assets in 2016. Portal, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life 2: Episodes 1 and 2, Half-Life 2 multiplayer, and Team Fortress 2 are among the games that have been leaked. The leaks were initially shared on Discord and appear to have come from a user going by the handle WandererLeaker. They include a variety of assets, such as abandoned assets, cut content, and previously released ranges in various forms. The most comprehensive leak is for Team Fortress 2, which includes almost all of the game's assets going back to 2016. More discoveries are anticipated in the upcoming weeks as the community continues to sift through the data. (Source)

Krafton's Stock Plummets as The Callisto Protocol Misses Sales Goals Striking Distance Studios' first game, The Callisto Protocol, is said to have fallen short of sales projections, prompting Krafton's investors to lower the price of the company's stock. A Korean source claims that the action-horror game's underwhelming sales have reduced the value of the parent company Krafton, which spent £132 million over three years creating it. The game has only sold two million copies so far, falling short of the five million copies that Krafton had anticipated would be sold. The game's unfavourable reviews and brief playtime have also weighed on Krafton's stock price decline. The game has been compared to Dead Space by some reviewers, who have praised it for its frantic action and bloody battles while criticizing it for lacking tension and depth. (Source)

Fire Emblem Engage breaks street dates with ROMs available online According to @OatmealDome, Fire Emblem Engage seems to be built using the Unity game engine, opening up the game for other community-based mods. (Source)

Google Stadia releases a tool for their controllers. Google Stadia has released their device for their game controllers, enabling BLE use for other consoles/PCs. (Source)

Microsoft lays off 10,000 Employees Microsoft has announced plans to eliminate 10,000 jobs across the organization as it releases its Q2 FY23 earnings report. According to reports, several Xbox game development studios, including Bethesda Games Studios, The Coalition, and 343 Industries, have been impacted by the layoffs. In terms of the affected studios, 343 Industries appears to have been particularly hard hit, with Joseph Staten, Halo Infinite's Head of Creative, moving over to Xbox Publishing. (Source)

Ubisoft Employees dismayed with CEO's public comments Ubisoft has been having trouble lately, especially after disclosing disappointing financial results. The company's CEO issued an apology for an internal email he sent to every employee that received criticism for its wording and tone. Ubisoft Paris staff members made a strike announcement in response. The meeting reportedly did not provide specific details, and the apology did not alleviate the employees' worries about the company's course. With the cancellation of several unannounced games and the underwhelming sales of some of its most recent releases, Ubisoft has recently struggled. (Source)

Nintendo Set to Boost Switch Production As it ships about 21 million units this fiscal year, which ends in March, Nintendo plans to increase production of its Switch console, which has been on the market for six years. The company believes it can produce more because demand for the console is still high, the sources, who preferred to remain anonymous because the discussions are private, said. Despite initially lowering the sales forecast for the console to 19 million units in November due to component shortages. This increase in production is an unexpected step at this point in the console's life. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

PlayStation Store has a massive sale, with most games at twenty USD or less. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

So it's been a while, but I've recently tried to complete Yakuza Kiwami 1, and it's taking a lot longer than I anticipated. I had my fill with Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and I will wait for Version 1.2 before I say anything about the game.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I have not revealed anything relating to Void0Media in the past month; I needed to take a break for my sake. My day job has brought massive burnout, unlike anything I have ever experienced. I can't even bring myself to write code for my projects. A simple update to the HTML, and I struggled.

But I'm doing a bit better now. And with that, we have new announcements. Starting today, we have updated the site theme. The goal is to make the site more readable and focused. I want to avoid overcomplicating the experience. Thanks to the underlying CMS engine, every post will now have a comment section where you can voice your concerns.  

I have also changed how I format the weekly news digest, so please let me know what you think!

💬 Question of the Week

What do you all think about the new site layout/changes?

How do you all like the new newsletter format? Should I go back to the older ones?

💖 Enjoy this newsletter?

Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe (hint: it's here).

[iamvoid0]

EU Fires back at FTC, new PlayStation hardware in testing, and Call of Duty may come to PS Plus!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

The EU clarifies its stance on Microsoft's Zenimax Acquisition and the ongoing acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King - The European Commission has come to Microsoft's aid in the Activision Blizzard takeover case. US Federal Trading Commission (FTC) mistakenly believed Microsoft made 'commitments' to EU regulators not to release Xbox-exclusive content following its takeover of ZeniMax Media. In a new report published by MLex, the EU states that Microsoft never made any such commitments. The deal was approved because it "would not raise competition concerns". This means that even if Xbox made Bethesda's titles exclusive, it wouldn't significantly impact as rivals wouldn't be denied access to an "essential input". The European Commission says it has no comment on whether it agrees that Microsoft didn't stay true to its assurances to the EU on ZeniMax. Microsoft has told U.K. regulators that it makes sense for a Starfield to go exclusive and for a CoD not to. FTC is saying that if Microsoft told the EU it didn't need to go exclusive, then perhaps it'll do the same again with CoD. (Source)

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores to arrive exclusively on PlayStation 5 - The new DLC expansion for Horizon Forbidden West, subtitled "Burning Shores", will arrive on PlayStation 5 exclusively on the 19th of April, 2023. (Source)

New PlayStation 5 hardware currently being tested - According to Insider-Gaming, the PlayStation 5 is set to get a unique overhaul in the middle of FY 2023, with the new console launching around September 2023. This new console will completely replace the A, B, and C chassis that have been in production since the console's launch. It's understood that this new PlayStation 5 console will be sold on its own or in a bundle with the detachable disc drive. (Source)

Sonic Frontiers has sold over 2.5 million units - SEGA tweeted on their official Twitter account indicating that Sonic Frontiers has sold over 2.5 million copies. They continued by indicating that more free content will come to the game in 2023. (Source)

Microsoft has offered to include Call of Duty in PlayStation Plus - Microsoft has offered Sony the right to include Call of Duty within its PS Plus subscription service. This is in addition to a deal that would also keep Call on PlayStation, Nintendo and Steam platforms for at least the next ten years. The move could boost subscriptions as a business model, which fits with Microsoft's strategy to grow this business area. (Source)

Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection gets a release date - In a new trailer for the collection, the game was revealed to launch on the 14th of April, 2023. The game will also feature extended online play, trading, and PVP. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

PlayStation Plus gets new games for December. The lineup includes Far Cry, Judgement, Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon, Yakuza 6: Song of Life, Mortal Shell, Middle Earth and more.

🎮 Where's My Controller?

Duelyst 2 came out this week. I was disappointed when the original was shut down. Duelyst 2 is a tactical turn-based card game on a grid. I gather that this sequel is a fan-made resurrection, so I will have to see how it is managed going forward. I enjoy this game, and you should check it out on Steam.

I've also been playing Marvel Snap. It is a fun game, but ranking up to get new cards feels like a slog. Actual PVP is set to be released sometime in the future. Right now, you are matched up against persons with similar ranks, and you grind levels to get to max rank. There aren't any ladders, so to speak.

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Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe (hint: it's here).

[iamvoid0]

Nintendo gets Call of Duty, FTC Sues Microsoft, Panda CEO steps down, and $70 Video games!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Monster Hunter Rise coming to other console platforms - The game is set to go to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One digitally on the 20th of January, 2023, for $39.99 USD. The Sunbreak expansion will follow in the Summer of 2023. (Source)

Microsoft is raising game prices - Xbox X|S first-party titles will now cost USD 70, according to Microsoft. Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield will cost USD 69.99 USD 69.99 at launch. Microsoft stated, "This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles.". (Source)

Panda CEO steps down - Following the controversy surrounding the Smash Bros tournaments, the Panda CEO has stepped down following several accusations regarding his conduct - bullying players and organizers in partnering with Panda Cup. The Panda Cup Finale has also been postponed. This is an ongoing story. (Source)

Microsoft has inked a 10-year deal for Call of Duty to go on Nintendo Platforms - In a new report, Microsoft has announced that they have signed a new 10-year agreement to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo Platforms. The word itself does not name the Switch. Microsoft has also stated they've committed to keeping Call of Duty on Steam, with Gabe Newell confirming the release and praising Microsoft for "following through" with their statements. (Source)

Sony Fires Back At Nintendo & Microsoft - Microsoft's new deal with Nintendo has raised a response from Sony. Sony claims that the Call of Duty deal with Nintendo is meaningless as the Switch "could not run Call of Duty easily and may never be able to" and that Nintendo's younger audience has no interest in Call of Duty. (Source)

FTC Sues to block Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King. In a new report, the FTC has indicated their decision to sue Microsoft to block the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King. The FTC representative stated, "Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals." (Source, Twitter Thread)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

The Game Awards 2022 happened.

Winners

Credit to IGN for the formatted list.

Game of the Year

It is recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Elden Ring - WINNER

God of War Ragnarok

Horizon Forbidden West

Stray

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Best Game Direction

It is awarded for outstanding creative vision, game direction, and design innovation.

Elden Ring - WINNER

God of War Ragnarok

Horizon Forbidden West

Immortality

Stray

Best Narrative

For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Elden Ring

God of War Ragnarok - WINNER

Horizon Forbidden West

Immortality

Best Art Direction

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in artistic design and animation.

Elden Ring - WINNER

God of War: Ragnarok

Horizon: Forbidden West

Scorn

Stray

Best Score/Music

For outstanding music, including score, original song and licensed soundtrack.

Olivier Deriviere - A Plague Tale: Requiem

Tsukasa Saitoh - Elden Ring

Bear McCreary - God of War: Ragnarok - WINNER

Two Feathers - Metal Hellinger

Yasunori Mitsuda

Best Audio Design

It is recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Elden Ring

God of War Ragnarok - WINNER

Gran Turismo 7

Horizon Forbidden West

Best Performance

It is awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and performance capture.

Ashly Birch - Horizon: Forbidden West

Charlotte McBurney - A Plague Tale: Requiem

Christopher Judge - God of War: Ragnarok - WINNER

Manon Gage - Immortality

Sunny Suljic - God of War: Ragnarok

Games for Impact

For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.

A Memoir Blue

As Dusk Falls - WINNER

Citizen Sleeper

Endling - Extinction is Forever

Hindsight

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

Best Ongoing Game

It is awarded to a game for outstanding ongoing content development that evolves the player experience over time.

Apex Legends

Destiny 2

Final Fantasy 14 Online - WINNER

Fortnite

Genshin Impact

Best Indie Game

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

Cult of the Lamb

Neon White

Sifu

Stray - WINNER

TUNIC

Best Debut Indie Game

For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.

Neon White

NORCO

Stray - WINNER

TUNIC

Vampire Survivors

Best Mobile Game

For the best game playable on a mobile device.

Apex Legends Mobile

Diablo Immortal

Genshin Impact

Marvel Snap - WINNER

Tower of Fantasy

Best Community Support

It recognises a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, including social media activity and game updates/patches.

Apex Legends

Destiny 2

Final Fantasy 14 Online - WINNER

Fortnite

No Man's Sky

Best VR/AR Game

For the best game experience, playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.

After the Fall

Among Us VR

BONELAB

Moss: Book II - WINNER

Red Matter 2

Innovation in Accessibility

Recognizing software and hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.

As Dusk Falls

God of War: Ragnarok - WINNER

Returnal

Return to Monkey Island

The Last of Us Part 1

The Quarry

Best Action Game

The best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.

Bayonetta 3 - WINNER

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Neon White

Sifu

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

Best Action/Adventure Game

Combine combat with traversal and puzzle solving for the best action/adventure game.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

God of War Ragnarok - WINNER

Horizon Forbidden West

Stray

TUNIC

Best RPG

For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.

Elden Ring - WINNER

Live a Live

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Triangle Strategy

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Best Fighting Game

For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

DNF Duel

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R

The King of Fighters 15

MultiVersus - WINNER

Sifu

Best Family Game

For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - WINNER

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Nintendo Switch Sports

Splatoon 3

Best Sports/Racing Game

For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.

F1 22

FIFA 23

NBA 2K23

Gran Turismo 7 - WINNER

OlliOlli World

Best SIM/Strategy Game

The best game focused on real-time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.

Dune: Spice Wars

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope - WINNER

Total War: WARHAMMER 3

Two Point Campus

Victoria 3

Best Multiplayer Game

For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Multiversus

Overwatch 2

Splatoon 3 - WINNER

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

Content Creator of the Year

For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.

Karl Jacobs

Ludwig - WINNER

Nibellion

Nobru

QTCinderella

Best Esports Athlete

The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.

Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon  (Gen.G, LOL)

Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok (T1, LOL)

Finn "karrigan" Andersen ( (FaZe Clan - CS:GO)

Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev (Natus Vincere, CS:GO)

Jacob "Yay" Whiteaker (Cloud9, Valorant) - WINNER

Best Esports Coach

The Esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

Andrii "B1ad3" Horodenskyi  (Natus Vincere, CS:GO)

Matheus “bzkA” Tarasconi (LOUD, VALORANT) - WINNER

Erik “d00mbr0s” Sandgren (FPX, VALORANT)

Robert "RobbaN" Dahlström (FaZe Clan, CS:GO)

Go "Score" Dong-bin (Gen.G, LOL)

Best Esports Event

Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.

EVO 2022

2022 League of Legends World Championship - WINNER

PGL Major Antwerp 2022

The 2022 Mid-Season Invitational

VALORANT Champions 2022

Best Esports Game

For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

DOTA 2

League of Legends

Rocket League

VALORANT - WINNER

Best Esports Team

Recognizing a specific esports team (not the entire organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

DarkZero Esports (Apex Legends)

FaZe Clan (CS:GO)

Gen.G (League of Legends)

LA Thieves (Call of Duty)

LOUD (Valorant) - WINNER

Most Anticipated Game

Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.

Final Fantasy 16

Hogwarts Legacy

Resident Evil 4

Starfield

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - WINNER

Best Adaptation

Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more.

Arcane: League of Legends - WINNER

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

The Cuphead Show!

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Uncharted

Announcements

Final Fantasy XVI will be released on the 22nd of June, 2023.

Armoured Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, from the developer of Elden Ring - FromSoftware, is set for a 2023 release.

Hades 2 was announced with a gameplay trailer. Supergiant Games will release Hades 2 in Early Access in 2023.

Bioshock creator, Ken Levine, has revealed his next game - Judas.

Death Stranding 2 has been announced.

Cyberpunk 2077 new expansion Phantom Liberty will get Idris Elba.

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor will be released on the 17th of March, 2023.

Diablo 4 will be released on the 6th of June, 2023.

Street Fighter VI will be released on the 2nd of June, 2023.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be released on the 26th of May, 2023. It was also confirmed that this game would be Kevin Conroy's, one of the voices of Batman who has done the voice for decades and who passed away recently, last appearance as Batman.

Tekken 8 gets a new gameplay trailer.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC will release on the 19th of April, 2023, for PS5.

Crash Team Rumble, a spin-off of the Crash Bandicoot franchise, will receive a 4v4 multiplayer game set for release in 2023.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 got a gameplay trailer and is set for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2023.

Earthblade, from Celeste developer, showed off a gameplay trailer which a release window of 2024.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Announced and will be released on the Switch on the 17th of March, 2023.

Hellboy will receive a new game under the subtitle "Web of Wyrd". It will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

Crime Boss: Rocky City Announced With Cast Including Chuck Norris, Danny Trejo, and Vanilla Ice.

Lords of the Fallen gets a new gameplay trailer. It will be a soul-like reboot of the 2016 Lords of the Fallen.

Last of Us Part 1 will arrive on the PC on the 3rd of March, 2023.

Returnal will be released for the PC in early 2023.

Baldur's Gate 3 gets a release window of August 2023.

Transformers gets an online action game coming to PC and consoles developed by Splash Damage. The title of the game will be Transformers: Reactivate; no further information was revealed.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden was announced.

Immortals of Aveum, a first-person magic shooter, was developed by developers who previously worked on Dead Space, Halo, and Bioshock. It received an announcement and is part of EA Originals.

Remnant 2 will arrive on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2023.

Blue Protocol will be released in North America by Amazon Games.

🎮 Where's My Controller?

Finally, using my Final Fantasy XIV for four free days.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I may or may not have written anything. Just look at all this stuff.

💖 Enjoy this newsletter?

Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe (hint: it's here).

[iamvoid0]

Nintendo issues apology for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Smash World Tour gets cancelled, God of War becomes franchise best seller, and the FTC may block Microsoft!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

God of War: Ragnarok has become PlayStation's fastest-selling first-party launch title. In a tweet by PlayStation's official Twitter account, they congratulated Sony Santa Monica on the success of God of War: Ragnarok. The game has sold 5.1 million units as of its first week, becoming the fastest-selling first-party launch and breaking records for the franchise. (Source)

FTC may go after Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition. A new report by Politico indicated that the FTC is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft's USD 69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Though the case has not been filed, according to insiders, the acquisition is being thoroughly investigated, with FTC being skeptical of the arguments provided by Microsoft. This is an ongoing story. (Source)

Microsoft may offer EU concessions in Activision-Blizzard acquisition - According to an exclusive report by Reuters, Microsoft is willing to concede to specific demands made by  European Commission. The concession would mainly consist of offering a 10-year licensing deal to Sony. (Source)

Nintendo Cancels Smash World Tour 2022 - In a Medium Post, Smash World Tour organizers stated that the day before thanksgiving, they received a notice from Nintendo saying that their Tour was unauthorized and they would have to cancel the event, or instead, they implied it. Kotaku reached out to Nintendo and received some Press Speak, effectively denying that they outright said to cancel events. However, many players in the Smash scene have noted that the Panda Cup organizers and CEO have been using their 'license' for Smash Brothers to coerce and bully players, and organizers, into signing onto Panda Cup. These issues muddy the waters regarding Smash World Tour, as the ongoing accusations regarding the personalities involved in the Smash Pro Scene have understandably caused damage for any significant company willing to associate with the scene, including Nintendo and their 'family-friendly' moniker. Despite this, however, Nintendo has issued an additional statement to Kotaku stating that Smash World Tour's decision to cancel their events remains with them. They doubled down on their partnership with Panda Global and indicated that Nintendo cares about the Smash Community and its fans. The decision to reevaluate their relationship with Smash World Tour resulted from the 'Protection of the health and safety of the community'. This has raised criticism of Nintendo as the Smash community has asked Nintendo to look into the actions of Panda Global. Additional information is found, and you are encouraged to read for yourself in the Medium Post, the Kotaku article, and @LDeeep Twitter. (Medium, Kotaku, Twitter)

GameStop leaks their customers' data to their other customers - According to GameStop, a bug has caused multiple users to receive the data of other users. Users noticed that when refreshing their order pages, they would see orders from other users. GameStop has indicated that this was a bug, and the data was test data that was used internally to validate the system. Despite this explanation, some users report searching for the data provided would connect to real people. (Source)

Monster Hunter: Rise to get a 4K60 release on current-gen consoles & Game Pass in 2023 - Monster Hunter: Rise will be available on the 20th of January, 2023, with the Sunbreak expansion launching in the Spring of 2023. The game will also be coming to Game Pass. (Source)

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get Version 1.1.0 and an apology from Nintendo. In the recent patch notes for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Nintendo has noted that some players may encounter issues with performance, and they have apologized for the inconvenience. Nintendo has also stated that they are working on improvements for the games. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

PlayStation has launched their End of Year Sale. Be sure to browse and pick up any games you might be on the fence about. A lot of games are discounted by up to 84%. (Source)

Xbox Games with Gold gets Colt Canyon and Bladed Fury. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

Oh, you know where. I've been pouring hours upon hours into Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Well, I started with Pokemon Violet. I am so far having a lot of fun, the game's mechanics are leaps and bounds better than Sword & Shield, and it makes me very excited for the expanded DLC and the next generation. However, the unfortunate poor performance and unacceptable launch state might have killed any chance for another Pokemon Mania like we saw in the 1990s.   It is important to note that the game performs very well, except when it doesn't. If you watched any gameplay footage, you'd begin to see just how large of a scope this was for GameFreak, and though it might have had better-looking games on Switch, there is a lot to unpack here. From the ability to see every corner of the world while having a few dozen pokemon rendered with their own AI within your range to the surprisingly gorgeous cities with lots going on. This game needed a delay, three to six months might not have fixed everything, but it should have been enough to get a majority of those issues and at least give us a fully stable framerate. I hope GameFreak learns from this and continues to update Scarlet & Violet, carrying what they learned here into the next generation since we know that Generation X is already in development.

🎵 Turn it up to 11!

It's finally back! Back Again!

While I've been away from this section, I've been discovering new albums and OSTs; one I completely forgot until I heard someone recommend it is Ecco The Dolphin. I loved playing this when I was younger, though I had to emulate it. The entire soundtrack for the first Ecco the Dolphin is good, but for me, the stand-out tracks were "Open Ocean", "Ice Zone", and "Time Travel". "Time Travel" is easily the best song on that entire OST, and I recommend you start with that one. It's constant swinging between your ears makes for a haunting, ethereal journey, as time travel would be. Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I've been getting back into the groove of writing. So what can you expect during December? Well, my original goal was to write decently long pieces. However, I might scale that back since I've been having trouble completing and editing my Yakuza 0 piece. The following essay is being written, and that's as much as I can say. In the meantime, please check out my article on Pokemon Legends Arceus and why it was important for Nintendo.  

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Pokemon Scarlet & Violet breaks records, Former Sonic Team Head arrested, and Microsoft offers a 10-year contract to Sony!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Former Sonic Team Head and multiple former Square Enix employees arrested - Yuji Naka, former Sonic Team head, and Taisuke Sazaki and Fumiaki Suzuki, former Square Enix Employees, have been arrested due to the ongoing insider trading investigation into the new Dragon Quest game. Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office’s Special Investigation Department has been investigating the former Square Enix employees for purchasing ~ ¥47 million ($336,300 US) of stock in Aiming, the development studio behind the new mobile game Dragon Quest Tact. The purchase was reportedly made before the announcement that Aiming was set to be the developer. It is said that Yuji Naka also purchased stock for ~¥2.8 million ($20,000) right before the announcement. This is an ongoing investigation. (Source)

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have sold over 10 million units in its first three days - Nintendo issued a press release indicating that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet has sold over 10 million units over the course of its first three days. The report also indicated that 4.05 million units alone were sold in Japan. The remaining ~6 million units have come from international sources. It was also Nintendo's biggest launch in history and the best-selling console-exclusive game ever. (Source)

Nintendo offering refunds for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet - Despite the record-breaking sales of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the poor performance and unfinished state of the game have led many buyers to request refunds for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet via the eShop. There are reports of players requesting refunds from Nintendo via customer support, with many receiving their money back. (Source)

Microsoft claims it has offered a 10-year contract with Sony for Call of Duty - Microsoft has stated to the New York Times that it had offered Sony a 10-year deal for Call of Duty. This report comes as part of the ongoing acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft. Several UK and European regulators continue to express hesitation. In a previous interview, Mike Spencer stated that the deal is primarily about acquiring Candy Crush maker King and not Call of Duty. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 3 has been revealed and is set for a 7th December 2022 release. The wave Maple Treeway from Mario Kart Wii, Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 7, Boo Lake from Mario Kart Super Circuit, Berlin Byways from Mario Kart Tour, Rock Rock Mountain from Mario Kart 7, Peach Gardens from Mario Kart DS, London Loop from Mario Kart Tour, and Merry Mountain from Mario Kart Tour. (Source)

Nintendo has started their Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals, which include discounts up to 50%, with most of their first-party games receiving 30% discounts. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I've been trying to get my hands on Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, but my usual physical game importers have seen delays due to weather and customs issues. I have since returned to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond in an attempt to catch a Totodile.

I tried out Evil West, and while it was a fantastic feeling game with solid battle mechanics, I ultimately could not stand the horror aesthetic. But it receives recommendations from me.

A message to you all

Today's newsletter is the 52nd since I started the Void0 Weekly Digest. It has been quite challenging at times. I severely underestimated the amount of work required to create a weekly newsletter. I must admit, though, this probably has been one of the few things I've truly stuck with. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have gone out of your way for the past year to read this newsletter every week. I am grateful for your continued patronage.

Over this past year, I've only created three new videos for the YouTube channel. It took me almost a year to write and then make the video review for Blue Reflection (Article/Video). Obviously, this wasn't the intention. I still have my Yakuza 0 video that I've been editing and editing. Yakuza 0 was a much more involved experience for me personally. As a result, I've been trying to get all my thoughts and feelings about the game out.

Earlier this year, I wrote my thoughts and ideas for videos and articles. I came up with a few exciting things. These things are still, unfortunately, in the pre-planning/research stage.

Void0Media isn't where I wanted it to be when I started on the 26th of May, 2018. My first video reviewed the indie game "Zero Ranger" (Video). I remember playing that game and thinking to myself, I have to talk about this game. I previously had another YouTube channel that also focused on games, but not in a review capacity. Over the next year, I continued to review Indie games because I felt like indie games did not get the press that many of them deserved. It would be in September 2019 that I would rebrand the YouTube channel as Void0. I would then infrequently upload videos, reviews and the like over the next two years. In January 2021, I began becoming more and more active. At this point, the form of Void0Media you now know began to take shape. That brings us to today.

This is not a goodbye. It would be nice to give some lore to those who have been around for a while. There are things I would like to do for Void0Media in the future. I won't disclose those things here or make grandiose promises. I hope to continue offering you value for your time in the future.

I don't know what is in store for me personally, professionally, for Void0Media, or any other projects I am working on. All I know is that I have to try.

The Void Called, and Thank you to Those Who Have Answered.

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Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Data mined, Microsoft commits to Sony, and Bethesda prepared to go to war with Mick Gordon!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet data mine shows improved network configuration - The new pokemon games have been shown to use Nintendo's new server system, NPLN. NPLN was first used by Monster Hunter Rise on the Switch, followed by Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Splatoon 3, and Bayonetta 3. The communication between players still uses Nintendo's peer-to-peer library. (Source)

Microsoft's Gaming CEO states Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation - Phil Spencer, Microsoft's Gaming CEO, makes it a point to mention that Xbox and Microsoft have no intention of removing Call of Duty from PlayStation in any capacity. He even mentioned carrying Call of Duty into PlayStation 7. Spencer also stated that it would not be required for PlayStation users to use Game Pass. (Source)

Xbox continues its integration with Discord - Xbox players will now be able to browse servers and join voice channels from the Xbox interface in a new update provided by Xbox to the Xbox line of consoles. (Source)

Bethesda Responds to Mick Gordon over accusations - I won't be covering the entire array of documents here. Mick Gordon released a Medium article detailing his side of the story. Where Bethesda and id Software held back payments and gaslit and abused Mick Gordon during the development of Doom Eternal. Mick Gordon stated that he was unaware of an OST in development until after it was announced by the team, and id Software withheld payments for months. Mick Gordon's account is here and is very dense with documented proof of his accusations against Bethesda and id Software. I encourage readers to read the entire statement posted by Mick Gordon and the Reddit posts made by id Software Studio Director Marty Stratton. (Bethesda's Response, Marty Stratton's Reddit Post, Mick Gordon's Medium Article)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Gungrave G.O.R.E, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Dune: Spice Wars, and More.

Nintendo eShop has kicked off Black Friday Sales.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

Next week is Issue #52. I'll see you all then.

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[iamvoid0]

Pokemon Scarlet ROMs leak online, Netflix to create Gears of War film, Nintendo talks sales and partners with DeNA, Capcom bringing Monster Hunter to Mobile, and NCSoft gets Horizon MMORPG!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Ratchet & Clank 20th Anniversary sees games find their way onto PS Plus. The critically acclaimed Ratchet & Clank series will get a selection of the games landing on PlayStation Plus for their 20th anniversary. Ratchet & Clank (PS3), Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS3), Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS3), Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked (PS3), Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) will all make their way on to PlayStation Plus Premium on the 15th of November, 2022. (Source)

Gears of War to receive a live-action adaptation and adult animated series from Netflix - Netflix once again dips into the pool of video game franchises to bolster their catalogues. Netflix has announced a partnership with The Coalition - the developers of the original Gears of War games - to adapt the game into a live-action feature film followed by an adult animated series. Netflix also noted that there would be potential for additional stories to be set in the Gears universe. (Source)

EA has shelved Project CARS - Another one bites the dust, as EA has decided to cease development and investment of Project CARS. The IP appears to have been sent to the EA vault, as the employees have been moved to other projects. (Source)

Nintendo Company has partnered with DeNA Company to continue developing the Nintendo Account. A joint venture has been established between Nintendo and fellow Japanese company DeNA to expand the relationship that started in 2015 when they were initially brought in to create the core system of the Nintendo Account. Nintendo noted that this joint venture is to strengthen the digitalization of Nintendo's business as well as create new value-added services that will reinforce Nintendo's relationship with consumers. (Source)

Nintendo's Financial report for Q2 - Following Q2, Nintendo has released a new report which updates investors on hardware and software sales. The Nintendo Switch stands at 114 Million units sold, with Switch games accounting for 917 Million units. The best-selling Switch game is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with 48.41 million units. Followed closely by Animal Crossing: New Horizons with 40.17 million units sold. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has sold 27.79 million units, with Pokemon Sword/Shield standing at 27.79 million. Nintendo also noted that 51% of all software sales came from the digital storefront rather than physical sales. (Source, Source 2, Source 3)

Sony has partnered with NCSoft for Horizon MMORPG - Sony has selected the South Korean studio best known for Lineage and Guild Wars to develop the new MMORPG set in the Horizon Universe. According to sources, the game is still early in development as the company is still actively hiring for positions such as Senior Game writer. (Source)  

Capcom set to bring Monster Hunter to mobile platforms - TiMi Studio Group and Capcom have partnered together to bring Monster Hunter to mobile platforms. According to the reports, it is set to be an all-original game set in the Monster Hunter universe. (Source)

Pokemon Scarlet has been leaked - The Pokemon Scarlet ROM has leaked online. Gamers have been streaming themselves playing the game, and YouTube videos have gone up featuring spoilers from within the game. This gameplay is being run through an emulator. No Sources are provided.

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Nintendo had its Indie World Showcase on the 9th of November, 2022. Bolded games are my games to watch/what I will be picking up.

Venba - Venba is a cooking game about an Indian mother and her family living in 1980s Canada. It will be released in Spring 2023.

Goodbye World - Play through 12 stages of a puzzle platformer while following the two protagonists through 13 chapters of their story. It will be released in November 2022.

Have a Nice Death - Have a Nice Death is a 2D action roguelike where you play as an overworked Death whose employees have run rampant, completely throwing off the balance of souls - and his vacation plans. To restore order, you'll have to grab your trusty scythe and show your employees who's boss. It will be released on the 22nd of March, 2023.

Aka - Find inner peace in a small, open-world game. On these carefully handcrafted islands, you can nap on a giant monster, feed baby dragons, and take care of the fauna and flora... ...but demons from your past might come back to remind you what you want to forget. It will be released on the 15th of December, 2022.

Pepper Grinder - Pepper Grinder is an action-packed 2D adventure blending traditional platforming with an alternate drilling mode that allows you to dive in and out of the earth as a dolphin swims through water. It will be released in 2023.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly - Dust off your coffee machine and prepare your warmest smile to meet your customers again in the second episode of the much-loved coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly. It will be released in Spring 2023.

Oni: Road to be the Mightest Oni - Break your enemies' souls to reclaim your pride. On Kisejima, demon warrior Kuuta and his partner Kazemaru challenge these souls to a trial. All to defeat Momotaro, a human and an evil monster. A tale of sky and wind as they embark upon an island quest. It will be released on the 9th of March, 2023.

Desta: The Memories Between - Relive memories, rediscover friends and repair relationships in this unique turn-based strategy exploration through dreams and regrets from the creators of Monument Valley. It will be released in early 2023.

A Space for the Unbound - A slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in the late 90s rural Indonesia that tells a story about overcoming anxiety, depression, and the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers. It will be released on the 19th of January, 2023.

Dordogne - Dordogne is a narrative adventure game in which you play as Mimi, a young woman visiting the house of her recently deceased grandmother who left her letters and puzzles to solve. To do so, Mimi will revisit her childhood memories and reconnect with the little girl who marvelled at everything. It will be released in Spring 2023.

Botany Manor - Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th-century England. You play as inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold. It will be released in 2023.

Once Upon a Jester - Travel the kingdom as Jester with his best friend Sok to improvise theatre shows and perform on stages far and wide. Sing your hearts out, crack jokes and impress audiences to become the stars of the famous Royal Theatrical Spectacle! Available now on Nintendo Switch.

Rouge Legacy 2 - Rogue Legacy 2 is what you'd get if you mashed Rogue Legacy and a sequel together. Every time you die, your children will succeed you, and each child is unique. Your daughter might be a Colourblind Archer, and your son could be a Pacifistic Chef. Either way, one of them is getting conscripted. Available now on Nintendo Switch.

Blanc - Blanc is an artistic cooperative adventure that follows the journey of a wolf cub and a fawn stranded in a vast, snowy wilderness. They must come together in an unlikely partnership to find their families. It will be released in February 2023.

A little to the left - A Little to the Left is a cozy puzzle game that has you sort, stack, and organize household items into pleasing arrangements while you keep an eye out for a mischievous cat with an inclination for chaos. Check out this playful and intuitive puzzler with 75+ satisfying messes to tidy. Available now on the Nintendo Switch.

Sports Story - Sports story is a sports RPG like no other. It features a mix of sports and sporting activities wrapped up in one big story. With many characters to meet, you will make plenty of friends and enemies along the way. Sports Story isn't just about sports, and it's an all-out sporting adventure. It will be released in December 2022.

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup for November: Skyrim, Rainbow Six Siege, Kingdom Hearts III, The Division 2, Chorus, and The Gardens Between.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I've been doing this for almost fifty (50) weeks. In two weeks, it's going to be a year since I started doing this newsletter. And even longer since I began Void0Media. Honestly, it doesn't even feel like that amount of time. I am very grateful to those who have read my newsletters. This was initially supposed to be a little longer, but I will be better prepared in two weeks. Thank you all to those who have subscribed.

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Bayonetta 3 Leaks Online, Metal Gear Solid gets an update from Oscar Isaac, Age of Empires goes cross-platform, and The Witcher gets Next-Gen Remake!

An exciting week as Oscar Isaac gave an update on Metal Gear Solid's movie, Bayonetta 3 leaks early, Age of Empires shows of console ports, and The Witcher to get a next-gen remaster!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Bayonetta 3 Leaks online - Following the past few weeks of accusations, Bayonetta 3 has leaked online, the game appears to have already been dumped, and reviews and plot points are being revealed and discussed. (Source)

Metal Gear Solid movie gets an update from Oscar Isaac - Oscar Isaac, who has been attached to the film since 2020 as Solid Snake, gave the movie to ComicBook.com, where he stated that they want the film to happen and are iterating over the story. Issac also said he is a big fan of the game series. Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is currently attached to direct the film. (Source)

Age of Empires 2 and Age of Empires IV gets an Xbox release - During the Age of Empires 25th Anniversary showcase, Microsoft will be bringing the legendary Age of Empires 2 to Xbox Game Pass, xCloud, and Xbox consoles. The showcase also announced a remake of Age of Mythology. (Source)

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty gets a release date - The game is set for release 3rd of March, 2023. It is set to release for Xbox X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & 5, and on PC via Steam. It will also be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass. (Source)

The Witcher will get a next-gen remake - CD Projekt Red has announced that their project, code-named "Canis Majoris", is set to be a remake of the first Witcher game using the Unreal Engine 5. The development will be spearheaded by the polish studio "Fool's Theory". Legacy developers from the original will be involved with the remake's development. (Source)

Rocksteady, developers of the legendary Batman Arkham series, loses their co-founders and studio heads. A post went up on the official Rocksteady website, announcing that co-founders of the studio, Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker, have decided to leave the studio. It was stated that with the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League nearing, they felt it was time for them to go for new adventures in gaming. (Source)

Call of Duty Modern Warfare II Disc has 70 MB of Data - Reports are coming that the physical disc for Call of Duty MW2 has only 70 MB of data. Once you pop the disc into the machine, it will proceed to download over 100GB of data. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Mario Party 1 and 2 make their way into Nintendo Switch Online. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I've completed Mega Man 11. I am still undecided if to move on to Yakuza Kiwami 1, Monster Hunter: Rise, or Bayonetta 3. I will let you all know what I decide on next week.

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Silent Hill Returns, The Sims 5 Announced, Razer targets Switch, new Mortal Kombat Game, Microsoft prepares to take on Google & Apple!

A whole week as Microsoft has indicated that they will be taking on Google Play Store and Apple's App store. The Sims 5 gets a new set of screenshots, Mortal Kombat goes Mobile, Razer has Nintendo in its sights, and Konami has a vast array of Silent Hill Projects!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Splinter Cell remake loses its director - The first mainline Splinter Cell game in a decade has lost its director. David Grivel, who worked for Ubisoft for eleven years, stated, "it was time for him to go on a new adventure". He has previously worked on Splinter Cell Blacklist, Assassin's Creed Unity, and Far Cry 4, 5 and 6. (Source)

PC accessory and computer manufacturer Razer has announced a new handheld gaming system - The announcement came in the form of a YouTube trailer. The system is based on an Android Tablet with a joy-con-like peripheral attached to the sides. It is powered by a Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 with a 144hz AMOLED display. The system is currently in pre-order mode. You will be required to "reserve" a unit. (Source)

The Sims next-generation game has been announced - The Sims "Project Rene" has been revealed. This new iteration of Sims will be cross-platform, which is easy to communicate, share and play across devices, with the game said to offer the same experience across different devices. It was noted that the game is still in very early development. (Source)

DualSense Edge wireless controller has been announced - Sony's answer to Microsoft's Xbox Elite controller. Pre-orders will launch 25th of October, 2022. The package will have multiple hardware and software customizations, with different keycaps, high dome, low dome, half dome caps, and a carrying case. The unit will retail for recommended retail price (RRP) of $199.99 USD/¥29,980 (including tax)/€239.99/£209.99. (Source)

Mortal Kombat Onslaught has been announced - Mortal Kombat Onslaught is a collection-based role-playing game launching in 2023 for the mobile platform. The game is being developed by NetherRealm Studios and will feature a "cinematic story experience". The game sees you collecting fighters and putting together a team in real-time group battles. The game is set for a 2023 release window. (Source)

Digimon World: Next Order for Japanese Switch release in 2023 - The game is set for release on the 22nd of February, 2023. This game is a port of the original game launched for the PS Vita on the 17th of March, 2017. The game will feature a new "beginner" and "run" mode for players. (Source)

Microsoft is working on the Xbox Store - During the CMA's investigation of the 68.7 billion USD acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft, documentation has indicated that Microsoft is working on an Xbox Store for their Xbox Mobile Platform. The acquisition intends to use Activision-Blizzard properties to force users to use the Xbox Store rather than the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. (Source)

Final Fantasy XVI has dropped a new trailer showcasing more of the FFXVI world - The trailer shows off more characters, eikons, and in-game battles. The game is still set for a Summer 2023 release. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Xbox Game Pass gets Persona 5 Royal, Gunfire Reborn, Phantom Abyss, and More.

Konami had their Silent Hill Showcase this week. It features remakes, new games, and a movie.

They announced a remake of Silent Hill 2. The remake will retell the second game's story with some team members from the original studio. The remake is set for the PS5 and is being developed by Bloober Team.

Silent Hill: Townfall is a new spinoff by No Code Studios and publisher Annapurna Interactive. It is said this will be a unique take on the franchise.

Silent Hill f is a new spinoff set in 1960s Japan. The game will be a narrative-driven experience written by the acclaimed Japanese writer, Ryukishi07. Best known for their visual novels like Higurashi.

Silent Hill: Ascension is an interactive project where participants worldwide will control the characters in a new Silent Hill Story. Silent Hill: Ascension is a collaboration between Genvid Entertainment, Bad Robot Games, Behaviour Interactive, and dj2 Entertainment.

Return to Silent Hill, the third movie in the film franchise, will see the return of Christophe Gans, the first movie's director. Konami has promised more information about the project at a later date.

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I picked up Megaman 11 last week since it was on sale, and this has to be one of the best modern Megaman games out there. I am pretty much nearing the end. But this has my renewed interest in more games. Honestly, the mechanics were so simply fluid and smooth. It just felt so fun to jump 'n shoot.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I finally uploaded the video version of my Blue Reflection piece. The video is 16 minutes long, but if you haven't gotten time to read my Blue Reflection piece, check out the video review on YouTube.

I am having a bit of trouble finishing my other articles, but I'll see what I can get done over the next couple of weeks.

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After taking almost 5 months to actually write and edit this, here you go. This is the video version of my “How this Magical Girl RPG Handles Trauma“ piece from some months ago.