Japan Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages helms a week of GTA-style cop games, sweaty animal spas and feudal strategy

- Chambers is a new Weird West shooter from the creators of Golden Light. - Labyrinth Of The Demon King is a first-person dungeon-crawler set in feudal Japan. - The Precinct is a top-down 1980s urban sandbox game where players are policemen battling gangs. - Animal Spa is a resort for chibi creatures that allows players to enjoy their bathing rituals while managing tasks. - Doom: The Dark Ages features "gratifying and chunky violence" but has been criticized for restrictive combat and tedious exploration. - Into The Restless Ruins allows players to build dungeons as they explore them. - House Of Legacy is an isometric strategy management game inspired by imperial China. - Kulebra And The Souls Of Limbo is a whimsical adventure game based on Latin American myths, focusing on helping shades find closure. - The editorial team is working on longer-form pieces about survival games and nihilism, with Nic and James collaborating on a review of Doom: The Dark Ages. - Brendy missed the morning meeting but provided information about Take Two Interactive's financials, which may relate to the anticipated delay of GTA 6.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Minecraft Franchise Pixelates on an International Scale

A Minecraft Movie made its theatrical debut last month, achieving a record-breaking release. The franchise has over 200 licensing partners worldwide, expanding its reach through various collaborations that enhance both the film and the gaming experience. Notable U.S. partnerships include Fossil, which launched a collection of luxury accessories; Woobles, offering crochet kits; Crocs, with Minecraft-licensed footwear and Jibbitz; and Home Chef, creating themed meal kits. Internationally, new tabletop games and pinball machines are set to launch in August 2025, along with pet and camping gear in Europe, bedding in Mexico, crafting supplies in Japan, and party essentials in Brazil. Bandai will debut its health and beauty line in Japan in September, with additional rollouts planned. Food and beverage initiatives include offerings from San Carlo in Italy, Marumiya in Japan, Finsbury Foods in the UK and France, and Norco in Australia and New Zealand, as well as new snacks and dairy products across Europe and Brazil. Dairy Farmers of America released Minecraft-inspired vanilla-flavored green milk in March.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

GTA 6’s preposterously-gorgeous second trailer has me thinking ‘no-one does it like Rockstar’ isn’t just a compliment, but an omen

The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been released, showcasing impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game is set for release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the most successful video games in history. Rockstar Games is in a strong position, with GTA Online generating significant revenue, allowing for a lengthy development period. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including layoffs and the struggles of several studios, major projects like GTA 6 and others from prominent developers are underway. The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 faced issues related to crunch periods, but Rockstar has committed to improving working conditions.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in May

In May, several notable games are set to release, including Among Us 3D, Revenge of the Savage Planet, and Elden Ring Nightreign. Events include Gamescom Latam in São Paulo until May 4, PAX East in Boston from May 8 to May 11, EVO Japan in Tokyo from May 9 to May 11, and the Six One Indie Showcase on May 22. Steam Fest sales will feature themed events: Wargames Fest (April 28 - May 5), Creature Collector Fest (May 12 - May 19), and Zombies vs. Vampires Fest (May 26 – June 2). Upcoming game releases include: - May 5: Drop Dutchy - May 8: Captain Blood, Creature Keeper, Empyreal, The Midnight Walk, Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall - May 9: Anoxia Station - May 15: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - May 21: JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time, Gundam Seed Battle Destiny, Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution - May 22: Deliver At All Costs, TMNT: Tactical Takedown - May 23: Onimusha 2 - May 28: To a T, As We Descend - May 29: A Nice Day for Fishing - May 30: F1 25

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Assassin’s Creed Shadows announces more difficulties, more immersion options, more Jesuits, and a bo staff in its year 1 roadmap

Ubisoft has announced a post-launch roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, featuring a year of updates that include patches, new features, and enhancements. This month, players can expect: - A free quest focused on Yasuke's companion, Luis Frois. - Quality-of-life improvements, including the potential reinstatement of the multi-sell feature. - An updated photo mode for creative expression. - A special collaboration similar to past co-marketing efforts. - Refinements to parkour mechanics, introducing new movement options. Future content will include: - A new free quest and ally. - New difficulty settings. - Gameplay immersion options, such as headgear visibility in cutscenes. - An open-world alarm system with unspecified changes. Ubisoft has also teased expansions, including new storylines, collaborations, unique gear for the battle-pass system, and the Claws of Awaji expansion, which will add a new region. Additionally, Naoe will be able to wield a bo staff, enhancing combat dynamics.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

The ever-gorgeous Capcom classic Breath of Fire 4 is back on PC, alongside a little sprucing up

Breath of Fire 4, originally launched on PlayStation 1 in 2000 and released on PC in 2003 in Japan and Europe, has been revived through GOG's preservation program, making it accessible on Windows 10 and 11. GOG has enhanced the game with new display options, upgraded the audio engine, and ensured it is DRM-free. GOG's preservation program has also revived other classic titles such as Ultima Underworld 1+2, Worms: Armageddon, and Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

25 Years Later, This Cult-Classic Capcom JRPG Has Been Modernized For PC

Breath of Fire 4 has been re-released by GOG as a new PC port that is DRM-free and optimized for Windows 10 and 11. The game features both English and Japanese localizations and supports modern controllers, including the Sony DualSense. Enhancements include restored sound effects, new rendering options, and fixes for previous crashing issues. Originally launched for PlayStation in 2000, this is the second PC port, following the first in 2003. The game's story involves two isolated continental powers and the protagonist Ryu, who can transform into a dragon, as he seeks to stop an immortal emperor. GOG has also been expanding its game preservation program, which started in November 2024, and allows community voting on classic titles for revival.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Metaphor: ReFantazio smashed Atlus’ expectations on PC – another reminder that PC gamers really want more JRPGs and Japanese games

ReFantazio has achieved unexpected success on PC, indicating a growing interest among PC gamers for Japanese titles. Katsura Hashino, the creative director known for the Persona series, noted that the percentage of PC players engaging with Atlus games is increasing annually, with long-term data supporting this trend. Major industry players like Square Enix are also moving away from console exclusivity, as seen with the successful PC port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Hashino emphasized the importance of allowing players to enjoy games in their preferred environments. Additionally, the lead UI designer of Metaphor: ReFantazio referenced a lesser-known PS2 title from 25 years ago, highlighting the ongoing influence of older games on modern design.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

Star Wars Zero Company shows off its first trailer and gameplay details

On April 14, 2025, EA announced a turn-based tactics game titled 'Star Wars Zero Company', set to launch in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The game features a secret war aimed at saving the galaxy, drawing inspiration from titles like Gears Tactics and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Players will navigate strategic combat, utilize their environment, and develop bonds among squad members to unlock combat synergies. The game is set during the Clone Wars era and allows players to assemble a squad of iconic characters, including Jedi, Mandalorians, Clone Troopers, and Astromechs.