NewApp Digest
search bot

Square Enix

Nobuo Uematsu: On the Record
AppWizard
September 15, 2026

Nobuo Uematsu: On the Record

The biography "Nobuo Uematsu: On the Record," authored by James Mielke, is set to be released on September 15, 2026. It features interviews with Uematsu, his wife, and industry peers, including Hironobu Sakaguchi, Daniel Rosenfeld, Yoko Shimomura, and Hitoshi Sakimoto. Uematsu is recognized as a significant figure in video game music, known for his innovative compositions that have been performed by orchestras worldwide. The biography explores his life from childhood to his role at Square Enix and his concert tours.
Steam Price-Fixing Lawsuit: Valve, 10 Publishers Sued [2026]
AppWizard
September 15, 2026

Steam Price-Fixing Lawsuit: Valve, 10 Publishers Sued [2026]

On August 27, 2026, a class action lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by three California gamers—Alexander Shimota, Ricardo Camargo, and John Elliott—against Valve Corporation and ten video game publishers, accusing them of colluding to maintain uniform pricing for PC games across digital storefronts. The lawsuit alleges that Valve requires publishers on its Steam platform to agree to a most-favored-nation clause, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms, which stifles competition and limits consumer choice. The ten implicated publishers include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The lawsuit is filed under California's Cartwright Act and claims that the coordinated pricing strategy harms consumers by reducing product diversity and inflating prices. Valve's commission structure, which has largely remained unchanged, is central to the plaintiffs' argument. Valve's co-founder, Gabe Newell, has previously denied dictating prices to third-party developers. The lawsuit is distinct from a prior case, Wolfire Games v. Valve, which focuses on monopoly abuse against developers rather than consumer pricing. Additionally, Valve faces a parallel £2 billion class action in the UK regarding similar pricing allegations. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact the pricing landscape for PC games and the practices of digital storefronts.
Mid-week Android app deals and freebies: Loads of Final Fantasy games, Secret of Mana, more
AppWizard
September 9, 2026

Mid-week Android app deals and freebies: Loads of Final Fantasy games, Secret of Mana, more

Google Play has mid-week offerings featuring classic titles from Square Enix, including CHRONO TRIGGER, Secret of Mana, Legend of Mana, and FINAL FANTASY VII. Other notable games include Actraiser Renaissance, COLLECTION of SaGa FF LEGEND, Trials of Mana, Adventures of Mana, Romancing SaGa3, and CHAOS RINGS Ⅲ. Additionally, there is a significant price drop on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Moto Tag 2 trackers is priced at .50. Other ongoing deals include discounted rates on various apps and games, exclusive offers on in-app purchases, and promotions on subscription services.
Mortal Kombat 1's Denuvo Has Been Cracked
AppWizard
September 6, 2026

Mortal Kombat 1’s Denuvo Has Been Cracked

Mortal Kombat 1 was cracked by voices38, bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper protection, nearly three years after its release for PC in September 2023. The previous Denuvo-protected title to be cracked was Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced. Warner Bros has previously removed Denuvo from Mortal Kombat 11 and other titles, raising questions about similar actions for Mortal Kombat 1. Other publishers, including Square Enix and Capcom, have also removed Denuvo from various titles. KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, IO Interactive, Bethesda, and Bandai Namco have also eliminated Denuvo from their games.
Blue Dragon has been stuck on the Xbox 360 for 20 years, but no longer: a fantastic unofficial PC port unlocks the FPS, goes 4K, and even adds mod support
AppWizard
August 27, 2026

Blue Dragon has been stuck on the Xbox 360 for 20 years, but no longer: a fantastic unofficial PC port unlocks the FPS, goes 4K, and even adds mod support

Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker after leaving Square Enix in the early 2000s. Blue Dragon, a title from Mistwalker, is now available on PC due to a fan-made port created by programmer Tom, who used his toolset ReXGlue to recompile the game. This port integrates original game files into a single executable, enhances graphical fidelity, and resolves compatibility issues. Tom's work allows the game to run at 1080p resolution and 60 fps on systems with as little as one gigabyte of VRAM. The port was released on GitHub to coincide with the 19th anniversary of Blue Dragon's U.S. release, and future updates and mods are planned, including the introduction of characters from the Nintendo DS sequel.
Kingdom Hearts 4 finally has a release window, and it's sooner than I expected
AppWizard
August 16, 2026

Kingdom Hearts 4 finally has a release window, and it’s sooner than I expected

Kingdom Hearts 4 is set to launch in late 2027, as announced by Square Enix at Disney's D23 fan event. The game will feature a vibrant world inspired by the animated film Coco, where players will navigate the land of the dead and engage in battles. Sora's friends, including Mickey, Goofy, and Hades, will be on a quest to find him after his disappearance at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. The new installment will introduce the Lost Master Arc, primarily set in Quadratum, a realm similar to Tokyo, while still exploring various Disney worlds. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has confirmed that development is progressing smoothly. Disney has recognized Kingdom Hearts as one of its "billion-dollar franchises."
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's Denuvo Has Been Cracked
AppWizard
August 16, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s Denuvo Has Been Cracked

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced was released on July 9 and was cracked by voices38, bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper protection in just over a month. The game is a full remake with enhanced combat systems, new naval mechanics, and expanded exploration features. It introduces new narrative elements and characters, while also supporting Ray Tracing for improved graphics. Several publishers, including Square Enix, Capcom, KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, IO Interactive, Bethesda, Bandai Namco, and Warner Bros, have removed Denuvo from various titles, reflecting a trend against the use of anti-tamper technologies in gaming.
Champion modder ports the OG 'Father' Nier back into the PC remaster, original voiceovers and all
AppWizard
August 2, 2026

Champion modder ports the OG ‘Father’ Nier back into the PC remaster, original voiceovers and all

Modder Elevna has released Nier Gestalt ver.1.22474487139…, which replaces the youthful protagonist from the 2022 remaster with the older version from the original 2010 game. The mod enhances the character model and integrates audio files from the original voice actor, Jamieson Price. It features reimagined alternate skins, repurposed voice lines, and includes original DLC content that allows players to engage in battles as different versions of Nier. The mod aims to provide a nostalgic experience for fans of the game.
Amazon walks back comments about taking 007 off of IO, but does say 'anything's possible' when it comes to buying the studio outright
AppWizard
July 25, 2026

Amazon walks back comments about taking 007 off of IO, but does say ‘anything’s possible’ when it comes to buying the studio outright

Jeff Gattis, general manager of Amazon Gaming, hinted at the future of the 007 franchise, suggesting that sequels might be developed by MGM and potentially by Amazon Game Studios. He clarified that no decisions have been made regarding the publisher or developer for the next Bond sequel and acknowledged the success of IO Interactive's current game, indicating that it would be prudent for IO Interactive to continue as the developer. Gattis mentioned that while anything is possible regarding Amazon acquiring IO Interactive, there are currently no discussions about that.
Search