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Colorado-based developer IllFonic has been making asymmetrical multiplayer games based on iconic movie IPs for most of its existence. Arguably its biggest hit remains its first stab at the genre, with 2017's Friday the 13th: The Game (a great game now infamous for its shutdown), but since then, the team has released Predator: Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, and most recently, Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game.
Finally, though, IllFonic is making the biggest horror-movie-turned-asymmetrical-multiplayer layup game of all time with Halloween: The Game. If you preorder the more expensive fancy-smancy version, you can hop into the game early on September 4; otherwise, the game goes wide on September 8. I need more time to work through and digest IllFonic's multiplayer offering in Halloween, but I have completed the single-player campaign (the studio's first in one of these games) and wanted to bring you some initial thoughts.
A Few Notches Above Glorified Tutorial
If you aren't a multiplayer person and were curious about picking up Halloween for its single-player offering... I wouldn't. It lasts just a couple of hours – though you can extend it by replaying chapters to knock out optional objectives and unlock cosmetic rewards – and is just a few notches above a glorified tutorial for playing as Michael Myers. Each chapter introduces new mechanics in his kit that you will then hone and master in the multiplayer side of Halloween. There is a heaping dose of love from IllFonic, however, to the movies, primarily the 1978 Halloween from director/synth player/gamer John Carpenter that started it all, that elevates it just so.
As you might expect, a single-player campaign where you play as Michael Myers based on the first Halloween film is, well, a video game version of that movie. If you've never played an IllFonice game before, this campaign will give you the rundown on how its games feel, including the at-this-point-must-be-a-feature-and-not-a-bug baked-in instability. I encountered nothing game-ruining, but like its predecessors, Halloween has a distinguishable jank to it that you will either come to love because it adds to the unpredictable nature of these multiplayer experiences or you will hate because... it's still jank. It runs fine, performance-wise, but I did encounter some noticeable bugs, like falling through floors or being unable to hide bodies in designated hiding areas; I would not categorize this as the acceptable jank I expect in an IllFonic game, and I hope the team is working on patching issues like that up.
Nonetheless, escaping Smith's Grove, killing a mechanic and donning Michael's trademark navy blue jumpsuit, and killing the clerk at a department store so you can steal and put on the William Shatner mask to complete the set is good fun. A filmic look overlaid on the game's true-to-movie visual style sells the aesthetics. Though if you aren't a fan of film grain, you won't like what you see.
Performances in the campaign are fine, with Dr. Loomis being the only real standout/named character in the otherwise boilerplate cast who are there to be victims. Running around Haddonfield's suburbs as Michael is good, terrifying fun. In quiet moments, his pained breaths add a sinister air to every step, while screams from nearby houses or hushed breathing in closets sell the idea that you embody evil and everyone is afraid of you. So, too, does the wide array of kills at your disposal.
You can stalk victims from afar, completing minigames to raise what is essentially their fear level, and then strike using your knife, your hands, other weapons you find out and about like pitchforks and fire pokers, or even the environment for special contextual kills (like piercing bodies onto telephone poles or throwing someone off a second-floor porch). It remains a good time throughout the short campaign, which ends with Michael escaping Haddonfield to presumably go kill a bunch of random players in online matchmaking lobbies, but it does little more than teach you the ropes within the context of some of Michael's most notorious kills.
I'm satisfied as this campaign is about what I expected, but I would have liked something bigger to dig my knife into for IllFonic's first go at a single-player experience like this. Admittedly, however, that's not what you're here for (or at least, not what you should be here for). IllFonic's games of this ilk live and die by the multiplayer, and though I can see how playing as Michael will be interesting, I still have no idea what it's like to play alongside real players or as a resident running from him. With the campaign behind me, I'll be starting my multiplayer Halloween journey properly.
Look forward to my review for Game Informer at a later date.
In the meantime, read Game Informer's reviews for Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game. After that, read our interview with IllFonic about what to expect in Halloween.
If today's State of Play from PlayStation wasn't enough gaming news, Konami was hot in its heels with its own showcase. The Press Start stream showed off looks at a handful of Konami games, with new trailers and details. Here's a rundown of everything we saw.
Everything Shown At The Konami Press Start Stream
Silent Hill: TownfallRelease Date: September 24
Motoi Okamoto, Silent Hill series producer, teed up a new trailer showing off the game's creators and cast. Writer/director Jon McKellan tells the story of how he cast Jovan Adepo as Simon after seeing his performance in Three Body Problem, how Terry O'Quinn (Lost) was his dream casting for the game (he did an impression of O'Quinn in an early teaser) and how the studio was excited to reunite with Kezia Burrows, who worked with developer Screen Burn Interactive on 2019's Observation.
For more on the game, check out our thoughts from a Summer Game Fest demo.
Castlevania: Belmont's CurseRelease Date: October 15
This new footage of Belmont's Curse provides a look at some new abilities and weapons Rose can equip, but it also showed off a trio of formidable new bosses. It looks just as good as it did when I played it in France back in June.
Wai Wai World CraftRelease Date: TBA
This game has you create levels for a 3D platformer using a 3D block grid system. You can create levels, share them online, and compete for high scores. The trailer mostly shows off gameplay on mobile devices and PCs. It also includes crossovers with Castlevania and Contra, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more crossovers with other Konami franchises.
eFootball Kick Off!Release Date: Out Now
A new trailer for the Switch 2 game that teases a Leagues mode, which comes out this Autumn, was shown.
Project ZirconRelease Date: TBA
This roguelike deckbuilder was announced in September 2023 as Konami's first "Web3 project." Today's trailer showed off some new gameplay, but if its current iteration includes any blockchain-based elements, today's footage did not mention it, and it's excluded from the game's steam page. It combines strategic and narrative elements, and the story has multiple endings depending on your actions during the campaign.
Rev. NoirRelease Date: 2027
This is one of Konami's headliners, and it looks like a big swing into the action-RPG genre. Rev. Noir follows Asch and his companions as they attempt to end Lightfall, a catastrophe that turns people into blight husks, killing them. In this world, people also live according to their Astral Ordinances, and while many people accept them without question while the world is peaceful, Lightfall's return changes things. Asch Finé, and the rest of their companions embark on a journey next year on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Rhapsody in ScarletRelease Date: TBA
Revealed during today's State of Play, the Press Play showcase gives another look at Rhapsody in Scarlet. Co-Producer Takanori Murayama reveals the protagonist, Ellie Myer, is played by Cherami Leigh in English, while her Japanese VO will be provided by Akari Kito. Meanwhile, Ilya, a supporting character, will be voiced by Hannah Grace, with a Japanese performance from Saori Onishi. Murayama also shares a little more about the game's combat, hinting at customizable combat-based gameplay. The trailer shows footage of Rhapsody in Scarlet's New York City, and includes a jazz performance from Soil & "Pimp" sessions and singer Emi Meyer.
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Release: October 22, 2026 Rating: Everyone 10+
Nostalgia for the olden days of Final Fantasy is on no shortage. Trading card games, merchandise, and even spin-off games have dipped into the well, including the 2016 mobile title, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, which is serving as the base for Final Fantasy Resonance.
With Resonance, Square Enix and Lancarse are following in the footsteps of Octopath Traveler 0: taking a former mobile game and giving it a premium game treatment. And while it's certainly a little strange at times, the results have so far turned out well.
The big draws for Final Fantasy Resonance are immediately apparent. For starters, it's a new HD-2D game, an aesthetic that's become a trademark of the retro side of Square Enix's portfolio. There are some new advancements, including some 3D mapping using pixels that makes for incredibly gorgeous story moments. And the Visions you can call upon unleash their biggest attacks in elaborate 3D CGI cutscenes, in ways that strangely reminded me of Square's movies like The Spirits Within and Advent Children, though not in a bad way.
Those Visions are another draw. During my demo at Gamescom 2026, I had an established party of characters specific to the story of Resonance, but each of them could equip a spiritual Vision of famous Final Fantasy characters from throughout the series, augmenting their move sets. Final Fantasy XV's Noctis was invaluable in accessing more Blizzard attacks for my boss fight, for example, while the Warrior of Light from the original Final Fantasy served as a perfect companion for my party's vanguard, healing and casting protective magic.
Combine that with a classic turn-based system, with a stagger bar setup that encourages you to press an enemy's weakness for extra turns, and you've got a pretty well-rounded RPG setup. It would have been easy to stop there: make an RPG, fill it with Final Fantasy references, slap a coat of HD-2D paint over the top, and you've got a decent entry for the fall release season.
Oddly though, it wasn't the nostalgia that hooked me the most. I'm an avowed Final Fantasy enjoyer; I've collected the aforementioned trading cards, played numerous mainline and spin-off games, and spent likely hundreds of hours in Final Fantasy XIV. What I enjoyed the most in Resonance, though, was the promise of what will be fresh.
Some additions are small but meaningful, like the conversations your party can have while wandering around a dungeon. I really like options like this – the Tales Of series' skits are a great example – and they naturally flesh out the lore and world of Resonance, as well as the relationships between my four party members. I didn't get a big intro to their backstories leading into the dungeon I played, but even just hearing them discuss the ethics of summoning a primal entity to play a bedtime lullaby for the party was a fun way to get to know this crew of adventurers.
The battles, too, add a lot of interesting strategy to your conventional turn-based combat. Clever management of the stagger bar against tough enemies, especially the wind-wielding boss of the dungeon I faced, was the difference between a victory fanfare and a full party wipeout. Chipping away at the bar meant constantly balancing who was attacking, defending, healing, and using items to keep the magic flowing.
Final Fantasy Resonance falls into an interesting spot, as Square Enix's trend of revitalizing former mobile games into standalone console releases continues. There are some upgrades and quality-of-life changes built up over the narrative framework and building blocks of Brave Exvius, with plenty of series iconography draped over the top; a towering sundae of RPG. The cherry on top, though, is a solid new RPG built on both new and old. I might have shown up because of the Final Fantasy moniker, but now I'm just interested in a good ol' fashioned RPG to dig into this October.
Sony hosted a double-header showcase today, split between its main State of Play showcase and a specific State of Play Japan right after. The first showcase hosted quite a bit of new info, from release dates for big games to reveals of upcoming titles. State of Play Japan, right after, veered into a series of trailers for Japan-developed titles for PlayStation consoles with host Yuki Kaji.
Here's everything we saw in the big September 2026 showcase for Sony State of Play Japan.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3Release Date: 2027
Leading off today's showcase is a trailer for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, showing the many, many characters and fighting styles we can expect to see in the new entry of Bandai Namco's Xenoverse series. It looks packed full of Dragon Ball action, as well as the many cameos you'd hope for. Really, though, I'm just looking forward to making my awesome Saiyan avatar and having him do nothing but Ginyu Force moves.
Fate/Extra RecordRelease Date: January 28, 2027
Though it was recently shifted to a new publisher in Aniplex, Fate/Extra Record seems to be pushing ahead towards a January 2027 release date. This remake of the original 2010 dungeon-crawling RPG Fate/Extra certainly looks intriguing for all the Nasuverse fans. Now, they won't be waiting long until the full game arrives.
Monster Hunter Wilds: AscendanceRelease Date: 2027
Today's trailer showed off the new vertical zones in Ascendance, which the hunter and their Seikret can float around in. Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto sat down with the host to share some new info, including the name of our new Elder Dragon, Gundoraja.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered WorldRelease Date: December 3, 2026
The latest Dragon Quest Monsters game is headed to PlayStation 5 (as well as Switch 1 and 2, Xbox, and PC), and we got a new glimpse of the exciting journey ahead. It will be, of course, filled with various Dragon Quest Monsters from throughout the series. In today's trailer, we got to see some colosseum fights as well as some story teases. And I also really dig the brides from Dragon Quest V taking the lead in this game. You can look forward to that in December.
The Eminence In Shadow: Phantom EchoesRelease Date: 2027
This is some news for a very specific subset of anime and manga fans, but an Eminence In Shadow game is on the way. Few details were given, other than it starring Alpha of Shadow Garden and seemingly showing a darker version of the main protagonist from The Eminence In Shadow. (Which, by the way, is a surprisingly fun and comedic take on isekai stories, if you're looking for something a little off the beaten path.) It's also a roguelite of some kind. This likely appeals to a very specific subset of fans, but if you're in that group, it might be worth keeping an eye on Phantom Echoes.
Rematch x Blue LockRelease Date: September 24, 2026
Remember Rematch? The surprisingly excellent soccer title from Sifu developer SloClap? Well, the anime hit Blue Lock is crossing over into Rematch, with some special cosmetics this September. Honestly, I like it as an excuse to get back into Rematch. I've been itching to revisit this game, and maybe the power of anime will help me score a few more goals than I normally would have.
Where The Seeds FallRelease Date: November 5, 2026
A new game under CyGames' new publishing label, Where The Seeds Fall is a game about risk-taking vertical jumps and platforming, as your hero tries to descend down the World Tree. The main story takes about three hours to play, but there are also extra levels and time trials. It's a pretty neat new effort from CyGames Edge, and I'm happy to see something new and novel get a spotlight here amid some big names.
Gundam Rogue OrbitRelease Date: March 5, 2027
Bandai Namco's new action-driven Gundam game Rogue Orbit got a March release date during the Sony State of Play, and a sit-down interview section during today's State of Play Japan put the spotlight on a few more cool notes. Namely, you can pilot a version of the Gundam RX-78-2 in Rogue Orbit. That's really all I wanted. Well, maybe add the Gundam Sandrock and that windmill one from G Gundam, too.
WPCA: World Phasebound Control AuthorityRelease Date: 2028
This brand-new game had surprisingly little fanfare during the show, but its trailer description adds at least a little more context. WPCA seems to be an action-horror game, immediately reminiscent of Scarlet Nexus. (When are we getting another one of those, by the way?) As a containment agent of the Seoul Branch of the World Phasebound Control Authority (WPCA), your job is to apparently slice, dice, and destroy supernatural phenomena for the benefit of humanity. We've got some time to learn more, though, as it's currently targeting a 2028 launch.
Stupid Never DiesRelease Date: October 21, 2026
Man, I really love the vibe of Stupid Never Dies. It feels like a long-lost Xbox 360 game in the best way. Today's trailer for the pop-punk dungeon-diver showed off a bunch of boss characters, ranging from the werewolf Wolfgang and vampire Dragul to a scary specter named Takiyasha-Hime. If you're curious about this one ahead of its October release, a demo is out today with the first two hours of the game, and save data will carry over to the final. Pop punk never dies!
SlashZeroRelease Date: Spring 2027
This gorgeous 3D anime side-scrolling action game has apparently had a closed beta rolling around for a while now, but today's cinematic trailer revealed a new demo out today, featuring a new map and a total of three playable characters now available. I'm admittedly in the dark on this one, but I like how colorful and action-filled the game looks. And it's a demo! No better way to try and pitch me than offering a taster slice of the game up for free.
Echoes Of Aincrad DLC: Genesis MaidensRelease Date: Winter 2026
Bandai Namco took the virtual stage next to announce two new DLC additions to existing games in its catalog. The first: Sword Art Online game Echoes of Aincrad is getting a new DLC this winter, centering on the Genesis Maidens. Mito from Sword Art Online Progressive will join the fray; there's a new Curved Sword weapon type, and some new systems to dig into. My experience with SAO goes as far as exactly a single season of the anime, but I did get a kick out of Echoes of Aincrad's permadeath mode. More games should have that.
Digimon Story Time Stranger DLC: A Hero's Eternal LegacyRelease Date: 2027
Second on the Bandai Namco DLC lineup, Digimon Story Time Stranger is getting its big new story DLC in 2027. Dubbed A Hero's Eternal Legacy, the new story will center on a new protagonist, with new maps in Iliad and 50 new Digimon. That's a whole lot of new. Digimon fans have often raved about this series as a viable competitor in the monster-trainer genre, and though I only got enough time to dip my toes into Time Stranger, maybe this is a good enough push to get further in.
CONQ: Crown Of No QuarterRelease Date: 2027
Saying it up front: I love this name. "CONQ." Onomatopoetic is your word of the day, and CONQ is it. Anyways, CONQ is not a grim reboot of the Conker series but is instead an action game that seems to lift some good notes from various Assassin's Creed entries, including Black Flag and Valhalla. We've got Viking warriors, ship battles, cannons, and even some impressive-looking castle sieges. Add in some magical powers, like summoning the undead, and I'm pretty interested in CONQ. You'll have to wait a bit to CONQ, though, as it won't launch until sometime next year.
Rhapsody In ScarletRelease Date: TBD
Revealed during the preceding State of Play, we got a longer look at Rhapsody In Scarlet, the strangely magical New York action game that looks to pit mages and wizards against each other in a roaring '20s setting. It looks absolutely bonkers, but honestly? I'm enjoying how strange it all is. Producer Takanori Murayama offered some more details in a sit-down interview, expanding on the story of polar-opposite characters Ellie and Ilya caught up in the drama of this magical Big Apple. Even more new information is set for the upcoming Konami presentation today, so keep an eye out for that.
Rev. NoirRelease Date: 2027
The new RPG from Konami is certainly laden with proper nouns and mysterious dialogue, with phrases like "Travelers of the Cessation." That does, however, mean it's probably of high interest to people who love deep party-driven RPGs, like myself. We got a glimpse at the journey ahead, and the potentially grim twists and turns waiting for Asch and crew. This one stays on my radar as an under-the-radar RPG to watch for next year.
Daba: Land Of Water ScarRelease Date: Spring 2027
Another new game reveal, and part of Sony's China Hero Project, Daba: Land of Water Scar is a third-person action game where you play as a clayman brought to life, seeking to seize the water and reforge the divine soul. In practice, it looks like a challenging action game, likely with some parries, impressive boss fights, and various weapons to master. The aesthetic really draws me in here; I love the ornamental attire on the various characters we see in the trailer, and some of the attacks — from both foes and the player character — are wonderfully balletic. Consider me intrigued for the spring 2027 arrival of Daba.
Ghost of Yotei: Complete EditionRelease Date: TK
The Complete Edition of Ghost of Yotei is on the way, with several modes and new gameplay options packed in. During the stream, Fairouz Ai sat down with the host of State of Play Japan to discuss her own approach to playing Atsu in Japanese, including taking cues from Erika Ishii's performance and the drama of specific moments in Yotei's story. We also got a narrative trailer for the Echoes of Sekigahara expansion, arriving as part of the Complete Edition. That, alongside the Most Wanted mode shown off during the State of Play, arrives on October 1, 2026.
PlayStation presented its Fall State of Play, showcasing new game announcements, updates on known projects, and everything in between. If you missed the live broadcast, here’s a quick summary of every announcement, including trailers and links to our full write-ups for applicable titles.
Resident EvilDirector Zach Cregger's (Weapons, Barbarian) kicked off the show by sharing an exclusive clip of his film adaptation of Resident Evil ahead of its September 18 premiere. Marvel’s WolverineA final trailer before the game's September 15 launch featured a montage of gameplay and story moments featuring previously revealed characters such as Jean Grey, Sentinels, Sabertooth, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike, Mystique, and Bolivar Trask.Full article Ghost of YoteiThe 2025 game is getting a new single-player combat survival mode called Most Wanted. Most Wanted allows players to participate in run-based bounty hunts with different playable characters, including the returning Jin Sakai, the protagonist of Ghost of Tsushima. A Complete Edition of the game is coming on October 1. Full article Monster Hunter Wilds: AscendanceThe upcoming expansion received its first full-length trailer highlighting its story, while peppering in plenty of gameplay footage.Ascendance launches in 2027. Full article Metro 2039A new gameplay trailer captured on PS5 Pro shows a shootout in an apartment building.February 4 release date announced. Full article Maneater 2 (New Game Reveal)A sequel to the 2020 cult-favorite shark RPG centers on a shark trying to escape a luxury resort/theme park called Neptune's Kingdom. It launches in 2027. Crimson Desert - Charting The Unknown DLCThe new story expansion was shown off in trailer.Launches on October 15.Full article Lego PlayStation SetLego revealed a new set modeled after the original PlayStation, complete with a controller and memory cards.It goes on sale for $179.99 on October 4.Full article Final Fantasy ResonanceSephiroth was revealed as a boss in a new trailer for this HD-2D quasi-remake of Final Fantasy: Brave Xvius. A demo is available today. Full article Gundam Rogue OrbitThe new trailer focuses on some story elements while still showing off plenty of gameplay in this narrative-driven action game.March 5 release date announced.Full article Hunter’s Moon (New Game Reveal)This indie first-person horror game is based on historical folklore and unfolds in a single night.Set in 17th-century England, inspired by the real-life witch hunts of the time.Players spy on a dysfunctional village as a woman on the run after being accused of witchcraft. The game releases October 26. Uncanyon (New Game Reveal)The next game by Graceful Decay, the developer of Maquette, and published by Annapurna Interactive. Isometric top-down puzzle game where players control protagonist Sonia exploring a forgotten world caught between parallel realities.Puzzle-solving involves manipulating the environment itself by bending reality in different ways. Launches in 2027. Keeper Double Fine Productions' 2025 narrative adventure about a sentient walking lighthouse and its bird companion (and former Xbox exclusive) is coming to PS5 today. Rev. Noir A new trailer for Konami's upcoming action RPG showed off combat while providing more insight into its story premise. 2027 launch window announced. Rhapsody in Scarlet (New Game Reveal)A fast-paced action game set in a fantastical, jazz-filled version of 1920s New York City.Players control a music-loving spellcaster named Ellie and her magical wolf companion who confront a world-ending threat. No release window.Full article
MycopunkThis four-player looter shooter about blasting fungal aliens on a strange planet (currently available in PC Early Access) is coming to the PS5 Premium/Extra Game Catalog later this year
PlayStation Classics Catalog UpdatesMega Man X Command Mission arrives this month. Dino Crisis 2 and Ratchet & Clank arrive later this year. Saros - Zenith UpdateThe free Zenith update comes later this year and adds new Overlord Rush, a score-based boss rush mode where you can compete against friends' scores. Zenith also adds a New Game Plus mode called Eclipse Layers that adds modifiers and other tweaks, plus new accessibility features like slower game speed. Gran Turismo 7 - Spec IV Update Spec IV update is coming later this year in two parts: Part 1 in October, Part 2 in December. Two new tracks will arrive: SUGO Circuit in Japan and Autumn Ring, an old favorite that has been recreated and expanded. 12 new cars will be added across both parts, along with Online Drift Trials and Shuffle Races. A new Family Mode adds more casual features ideal for family play. More information on Spec IV will be shared at the World Series event on October 3. Full article Until Dawn 2A new trailer highlights the choices and consequences of the playable cast, which is a ghost-hunting TV crew who explore an abandoned sanatorium and an abandoned remote island. January 28 release date announced. Full article Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSenseThis GTA VI-themed PS5 controller comes in white and black variations.November 19 launch, the same day as Grand Theft Auto VI.Available at select retailers and direct.playstation.com. Full article Final Fantasy VII RevelationThe new trailer runs down each party member's unique skills and personalities.We got to see how piloting the Highwind airship to explore and skydive to landmasses, as well as its interior as a home base of sorts, works.Chocobo combat and the FITS system class roles were detailed. The Wutai capital was shown off along with a side activity of photographing the city's many cats. Rocket Town and Gongaga were highlighted too, with fast travel between previously visited locations shown. Fast-forward function for cutscenes revealed, along with a side-mission mechanic that allows a party member to take lead, changing how it unfolds based on their unique perspective. April 8 release date announced. Full article
Platform: PC Publisher: Dotemu Developer: Homo Ludens
Dungeons & Dragons is often played from the perspective of the daring adventurer, rolling dice to slay monsters, topple tyrannical rulers, and loot perilous areas. Small roles like the shop or innkeeper are typically left to the Dungeon Master to occupy, but a new video game flips the script and lets the players experience the fantasy world from behind the counter for a change. It’s a role reversal that has a ton of potential.
In the aptly named Dungeons & Dragons: The Long Rest Tavern, players assume the role of a customizable innkeeper running a burgeoning business in Faerûn. Despite this angle, your character still takes on one of seven classes: Bard, Wizard, Fighter, Druid, Barbarian, Rogue, or Cleric. How the unique traits of these classes come into play wasn’t immediately evident during my 45-minute hands-on demo, but I imagine it's more than a mere label.
I begin my business venture by building my tavern. Intuitive tools make laying out my floor plan a breeze; by simply clicking and dragging on a grid, I quickly lay out and construct a large dining room, a closet for storing inventory, and a couple of bedrooms. Decorations include various floor and wall patterns and textures, different doors and windows, and furniture like tables. To add an extra comforting touch, I add a blazing fireplace for good measure. The first and most important element of any tavern is a bar, which serves as the centerpiece of the business.
Once I build and place the bar, I must then hire my first employees: a bartender and a server. Hiring someone involves weighing stats such as pouring speed for bartenders and walk speed for servers. The faster these tasks are performed, the quicker you can flip tables, meaning the more customers you’ll serve during a shift, which always begins at night. During the day, you’ll explore outside to expand or improve the tavern or place orders to ship new inventory to keep the business well-stocked, among other tasks. You’ll even be able to send adventurers on quests to retrieve resources for you.
Each shift sees parties of adventurers and other clientele arrive to drink the night away. As the manager, you need to ensure there are open, clean tables for patrons to occupy, and that there’s enough booze on tap to keep mugs full. I began with a basic ale, but later unlocked a recipe for higher-quality beer brewed using gathered ingredients. Running out of beer mid-shift means turning away disappointed customers and losing money. Once a party leaves, I quickly clean the tables to make them ready for the next group. If your tavern has rooms with beds, some adventurers will stay the night, letting you earn more money from them. At the end of each shift, you earn Renown based on how much money you earned, overall customer satisfaction, and the total number of visitors that night. As your Renown level rises, you’ll attract higher-level customers with deeper pockets.
I had a good, relaxing time playing through a few early shifts and improving my tavern during my demo. The Long Rest Tavern checks the basic boxes for a good shop management sim, but it will take a longer play session for its deeper, more D&D-centric systems to reveal themselves. Once they do, I hope they further separate the game from the myriad of similar titles out there. But even if they don’t, I suspect even a by-the-numbers cozy management sim with D&D trappings will more than satisfy avid tabletop fans. This is a killer concept, though, so here’s hoping it leverages the license to the absolute fullest.
We knew Final Fantasy VII Revelation was going to get story DLC, and we knew that it would be considered bonus additions to the story, as director Naoki Hamaguchi has confirmed the game's main quest will wrap up the Remake trilogy narrative. Now, thanks to the Final Fantasy VII Revelation Collector's Edition, we know it will feature two story DLCs – the first one will be for Sephiroth and the second one will be for Vincent and the Turks.
The Collector's Edition will feature a lot more, too, including a special Magic: the Gathering – Final Fantasy "Final Showdown" promo card, a hardback artbook, a mini-soundtrack CD, a statue featuring Cloud, Zack, and Sephiroth, an exclusive steelbook case, the game itself with a reversible cover sleeve, and digital content in the form of the Nymphwing Bracelet armor, Risk Taker's Choker accessory, Polydroid Alexander summoning materia, the Reclaimant Choker and Survival Set, and the Mecha-Chocobo & Moogle summoning materia. The Collector's Edition is available for preorder on the Square Enix Store for $349.99.
Check it out in the image below:
As for what to expect from the two story DLCs, fans of Final Fantasy VII can probably guess what they might be about, but Square Enix has not released any official details.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation launches on April 8, 2027, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
In the meantime, read Game Informer's reviews for Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and then check out the Final Fantasy VII Revelation release date trailer. After that, watch this Final Fantasy VII Revelation extended gameplay look.
Are you planning to pick up the Collector's Edition? Let us know in the comments below!
Final Fantasy VII Revelation finally drops on April 8, 2027, according to a new trailer dropped during today's PlayStation State of Play. It marks the conclusion of the most ambitious remake project of all time, coming out just over seven years after the initial remake. Check out the release date trailer below.
The finale to this conclusion will see Cloud and co in their final face-off against Sephiroth and the mighty Weapons, who we saw more of in a recent trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live. The release date trailer gives a brief rundown of each of the main cast members – Cid, Yuffie, Red XIII, Vincent, Barret, Tifa, Cait Sith, and Cloud – before closing with a line from Cloud. "Nobody knows what's waiting for us down there. But honestly? It's nothing the eight of us can't handle."
The release date trailer was followed by a deeper dive into Revelation's new city and systems, including cat photography, which you can read about right here. Final Fantasy VII Revelation launches on April 8, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.
Square Enix has released another trailer for Final Fantasy VII Revelation, this time a whopping 10-minute look at the game's characters, story, setting, and so much more. Plus, the trailer also revealed that Final Fantasy VII Revelation will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on April 8, 2027.
The trailer begins by highlighting each playable party member alongside new looks at the game's expanded combat, then breaks to reveal the April 8 release date. After that, director Naoki Hamaguchi appeared on camera to introduce the rest of the trailer, and we learn more about how Cloud and Co. will jump from the Highwind airship and parachute down to the planet below, Fortnite-style. Once on the ground, you can hop onto your trusty chocobo and sprint/glide/fly around as far as the eye can see. Plus, this chocobo can be an active participant in combat now, and of course, you can also just hop off and fight with your character's weapons, too.
Check out the release date trailer for Final Fantasy VII Revelation below:
For the uninitiated, the FITS (Function-Integrated Tactical Suitware) system is the new addition to Revelation's combat, and it's basically this game's Job system, allowing different party members to slot into various classes like warrior, black mage, and more. You can access your party's FITS on the Highwind, which is your base of operations in Revelation. To head to a new location, pilot the Highwind there in real time, and when you're ready to jump, hop on out and parachute down to the ground below. You'll be bringing the Highwind to returning locations like Junon and new ones, too, like Wutai, Yuffie's ninja-centric homeland.
This trailer offered a great look at Wutai, which looks like a fantastical take on feudal Japan, and Yuffie's grapple gun makes traversing its towering buildings a breeze. In addition to Wutai, Revelation features several new areas, such as Rocket Town, though the trailer stops short of showing it. However, the trailer does bring us back to Gongaga, which first appeared in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Here, Square Enix explains that side quests in locations like Gongaga will reveal more about what's happening in the world, including the whereabouts of other characters from the wider Final Fantasy VII universe of games and media. Strangely, Revelation lets you to speed up cutscenes by 2x, allowing you to blitz through narrative moments (though I'm not sure why you would do that outside of, potentially, repeated playthroughs). It turns out, side quests and the unfolding narratives associated with them will change based on who you are controlling in the party. Cissnei reacts differently when working with Vincent, for example, versus Yuffie, but Square Enix says players can discover that in April.
One of the best parts of Rebirth, the optional but incredible Queen's Blood card game, returns in Revelation. This time, Red XIII is the protagonist of this Queen's Blood saga, and during his adventure, he'll encounter powerful opponents that turn standard bouts on their heads.
To close out the trailer, Hamaguchi asks that players get through Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth ahead of Revelation's launch in April.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC on April 8, 2027.
In the meantime, read Game Informer's Final Fantasy VII Remake review and then check out our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review. After that, catch up on the latest Final Fantasy VII Revelation trailer from Gamescom Opening Night Live.
What are you most excited to see in Revelation? Let us know in the comments below!
Alongside a bevy of video game reveals from PlayStation today, the State of Play also gave us a brief look at two new DualSense controller designs themed around the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.
With the big game set to release on November 19, the new PlayStation designs should offer players a way to further celebrate their enthusiasm for Grand Theft Auto VI. The new controllers are understated but attractive – one in black and the other in white – each with an iridescent purple/blue backing in the middle that recalls the Grand Theft Auto VI logo. There’s also a prominent “VI” logo across the touchpad.
No word yet on specific release date, but Sony usually aims to have these limited edition releases available by the time a game launches – if you can manage to snag one before they sell out.
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