On September 9, 2024, Nekokurage, the artist for the manga adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, gave an update on her tax evasion situation. Long story short, she will continue to work on the series.

In a handwritten note, Nekokurage apologizes for all the trouble she caused people. She has deeply reflected on her actions after receiving a guilty verdict and has now hired an accountant. She swears that she will not repeat this mistake in the future. Nekokurage also thanks the readers who told her they still wanted to see her art in the manga, as well as those who allowed her to remain the artist. She hopes that her work can make it up to everyone, as well as serve as a way of showing gratitude.

Nekokurage, or Erika Ikeda, was found guilty of tax evasion in July 2024. The Fukuoka District Court sentenced her to three years’ suspension, as well as fined her 11 million JPY. She had pleaded guilty in June 2024 after evading taxes worth 47 million JPY. According to her, she had planned on declaring several years’ worth of taxes at once, despite people around her (including the author of The Apothecary Diaries) giving her financial advice. As a reminder, Nekokurage is the artist for the manga adaptation and not the original light novel.

The Apothecary Diaries is available in English from J-Novel Club and the anime adaptation is on Crunchyroll.

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Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist will come out on January 22, 2025. It is the sequel of Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights.

The story of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist takes place decades after Ender Lilies. With artificial life forms now rampaging through the Land of Fumes, only Lilac, an “Attuner” can save the kingdom. She can use her powers to purify bosses and turn them into her allies. You’ll also be able to customize your fighting style with various attack and equipment options. At launch, you can expect about 35 hours of content. This is a 2D side-scroller set in a dark fantasy post-apocalyptic world, with a play style quite similar to Ender Lilies’s.

You can check out the announcement trailer for Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist here:

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights came out in 2021 and is a dark fantasy fairy tale that plays like a 2D side scroller. Critics gave it positive reviews at launch. Since then, it’s sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. The story follows Lily, the final priestess of a land that’s gone through an apocalyptic event called the Blight. As a result of the Blight, everyone in her country turned into monsters. Lily has the power to purify souls from corruption and they then accompany her on her journey to protect her.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist will come out on January 22, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC via Steam. It's readily available in Early Access.

The post Ender Magnolia Will Come Out in January 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Fuwa Minato of Nijisanji has just passed a million subscribers on his YouTube channel. He held a stream on September 8, 2024 that would last until he reached that number and it took him around forty-five minutes to hit that milestone.

The official Nijisanji X (formerly known as Twitter) account posted a commemorative video for Fuwa Minato. It includes highlights from Fuwa’s streaming career, including his appearances in collaborations with other livers. Fuwa also handwrote a message stating his disbelief that he managed to reach a million subscribers. He said that he was only able to do so thanks to his listeners and that he loves them. At the end of the message, he said that he hopes they stay with him until he gets 10 million subscribers.

Fuwa left another message on his Twitter account. He once again thanks everyone for their support and says that he debuted almost five years ago. He wonders how much longer he can remain as Fuwa Minato. Though he doesn’t know what awaits him in the future, he enjoys his life as it is now. At the end of the message, he asks his fans to continue living on with him.

Fuwa Minato debuted in 2019 as part of Nijisanji’s Yaoukoku trio, which consisted of him, Shirayuki Tomoe, and Gwelu Os Gar. He’s also part of groups like ROF-MAO and Mescher’s. In his lore, he’s a host. As you may expect from a host, he has a very friendly and goofy personality.

The post Fuwa Minato of Nijisanji Passed A Million Subscribers appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus announced that a collaboration between Seven Knights Idle Adventure and Persona 3 Reload started on September 9, 2024 and will run until September 23, 2024. During the event, you’ll be able to obtain Yuki Makoto (the protagonist), Takeba Yukari, Aigis, and Kirijo Mitsuru.

While the Persona 3 Reload event is live in Seven Knights Idle Adventure, you can obtain a special login bonus award. As well, there is a new Challenge Pass available for you to try and get either Yukari or Mitsuru. Koromaru is also in the crossover as a pet, though you’ll need to clear the Tartaros-themed collaboration dungeon in order to get him as an award. Finally, a new Legend Costume for Aigis will appear in the gacha.

All of the Persona 3 Reload characters will have their default Personas with them. However, they’re wearing modified versions of their usual uniforms. The Challenge Pass for Yukari will start from September 9, 2024 and the one for Mitsuru will be from September 16, 2024. The Legend Costume gacha for Aigis will start from September 16, 2024 as well. It features her in her Gekkoukan High School uniform.

Seven Knights Idle Adventure is a spin-off of Netmarble’s other game, SevenKnights, but an idle game. You can get rewards from battles and such even when you’re not actively in the game. As an idle game, all phones should be able to handle it and it’s easy to pick up and play. It focuses a lot more on collecting and raising the heroes from SevenKnights.

Persona 3 Reload is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Seven Knights Idle Adventure is on mobile devices and the Persona 3 Reload crossover event will run until September 23, 2024.

The post Persona 3 Reload Appears in Seven Knights Idle Adventure Event appeared first on Siliconera.

For the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, Sanrio will release a total of 20 different acrylic stands featuring mascots wearing hats of the famous cat girl. These are in blind boxes so there’s no telling which acrylic stand you’ll get until you open them.

These blind boxes are available in convenience stores, supermarkets, hobby shops, and such across Japan. They cost 275 JPY each, which would convert to around $1.95. Like how Bandai releases wafers with collectible cards inside of them, these blind boxes will also come with a little snack. In Sanrio’s case, you can get a piece of chewing gum.

As for the acrylic stands, you have a chance of getting some more minor mascots. Popular characters like Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Chococat, and Hello Kitty exist, of course. But there’s also the chance of getting Marroncream, My Sweet Piano, Paupipo, and Usahana. For some reason, Chococat and Kirimi come in a pair. Meanwhile, Little Twin Stars do not. If you want both Kiki and Lala, you’ll need to rely on luck.

Sanrio has been launching a lot of limited products and crossovers for the 50th anniversary of its signature mascot Hello Kitty. For example, there is a special plush you can make at Build-a-Bear, as well as a limited edition necklace on FanFun Market. Bandai Namco also released a newer version of the Hello Kitty Tamagotchi Nano model from 2020.

The Hello Kitty 50th anniversary blind boxes with acrylic stands are available in stores around Japan.

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Bunny Garden Version 1.0.5 is now available and it introduces a new cast member. Since she’s still in her trial period, she won’t be able to actually interact with the player directly.

The new cast member will only appear when Kana, Rin, and Miuka are on their break. Though she won’t come up to serve the player, you can still observe her hard at work with other guests. In the picture on Qureate’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, she seems to be the girl behind Rin with the pigtails and gray-pink hair. It’s likely that she will finish her trial period in a future patch and become a new romanceable girl.

Yujiro Usuda, the CEO of Qureate, QRT-ed the announcement post to say that it's thanks to players' support that Bunny Garden grew big enough to hire a new cast member. He hints that there will be more exciting things in the future for the game and that he hopes the new girl will start serving customers soon. Finally, he reveals that Qureate is still working hard on games it announced at the beginning of the year. This list likely includes games like Fantasista Asuka.

Bunny Garden is a dating sim that takes place in the titular gentleman’s club. As you may expect from such a setting, there are plenty of ecchi elements in the game so it’s not suitable for a younger audience. In Bunny Garden, you can pay money to enjoy conversations, drinks and games with the hostesses.

Remembering past conversations with the girls in your answers to them can make you more popular with them. However, if you don’t work hard (or win big in gambling), you won’t have enough funds to go hang out with the girl of your dreams.

Bunny Garden Version 1.0.5 is readily available on the Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam. A physical version will also appear on the Nintendo Switch on December 19, 2024.

The post Bunny Garden Version 1.0.5 Introduces New Girl appeared first on Siliconera.

There’s a new Shonen Jump manga series, and it is Ichi the Witch. The first chapter is available worldwide, and people can read it for free on MangaPlus and Viz Media’s sites.

Aside from the fact that this is a new Shonen Jump manga series, another reason this release is so notable is the writer behind Ichi the Witch. The author is Osamu Nishi. Previously, she created Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun. Shiro Usazaki is the artist behind it.

Ichi is a young man known for his hunting prowess who lives on Druid Mountain after being abandoned there as a child. He expresses his desire is to hunt and defeat an unknown entity he discovered also living there, concerned about it being a threat to the people in the nearby village. 

It turns out Ichi gets his chance to face it, as a number of the young women from the town heading out to the capital for a test. They end up catching that creature’s attention. It turns out that being is a Majik, with a witch Desscaras also dispatched there to investigate. Women who pass a Majik’s test can become witches. However, in the series’ world, it’s proven impossible for men to become witches. So, we see what happens when an extraordinary young man ends up in a life-changing situation and gains that kind of power.

Chapter 2 of Ichi the Witch will debut in Shonen Jump and on manga sites like MangaPlus and Viz on September 15, 2024.

The post Ichi the Witch Manga Debuts in Shonen Jump appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus has released a new illustration to celebrate the launch of Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis DLC. The official Persona series Twitter account shared the artwork, which was drawn by Azusa Shimada, the character designer for Persona 3 Reload. The illustration marks the release of the new DLC, which focuses on the character Aigis and adds new story content.

You can view the official announcement post below:

Episode Aigis is part of the Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass, which includes three DLCs that expand on the game's characters and narrative. The post also includes a link to a video that gives an overview of the upcoming Episode Aigis DLC, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the commemorative illustration. Shimada's design highlights the themes of the DLC, while the video showcases the artist’s process and attention to detail.

You can view the YouTube video:

In related news, the Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis DLC will feature a special Persona 5 Challenge Battle, where players will face off against Joker, who uses his Persona Arsene. This was revealed in a trailer during gamescom 2024.

Persona 3 Reload is available on multiple platforms, with the Episode Aigis DLC arriving on September 10, 2024.

The post Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis Illustration Celebrates DLC  appeared first on Siliconera.

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who joins his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio members, along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

Tales of Vesperia

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

Tales of Hearts

Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely remember that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Premium Box Set.

Tales of Graces

Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

Tales of Xillia

Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

Tales of Xillia 2

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

Tales of Zestiria

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

Tales of Berseria

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

Tales of Arise

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

HoYoVerse has been helping us better understand the personality of Feixiao, the next new Honkai: Star Rail character, via a series of trailers. The latest one shows what happens when she cuts loose and gets drunk, following meeting with Jing Yuan. The official social media account commentary even noted, "From this day forward, all stores on the Luofu will temporarily cease the sale of alcoholic beverages."

The video begins with Feixiao running out of something she’s drinking. However, her ear twitches as she hears someone nearby. This is Jing Yuan, who tosses a glass of liquor her way when she approaches. However, she isn’t satisfied with one glass and steals the rest of the alcohol. When he attempts to take what remains from her when she’s sleeping, she gets so drunk that she doesn’t recognize him or what’s around her and starts to fight.

Here’s the full animated short on YouTube. Only Japanese voice acting is available, but English subtitles are available if you turn on closed captions. 

This is the second Honkai: Star Rail trailer to feature both Feixiao and Jing Yuan. The first appeared earlier in September 2024. That was a MiHoYo Anime production that compared what the start of the day looks like for both generals. It was set during the Wardance arc of the story, so the two were both preparing to meet with each other and Huaiyan.

As a reminder, this is the first of two new 5-star characters to debut in Honkai: Star Rail. She’s a Hunt character who deals Wind elemental damage. The other is Lingsha, a Fire Abundance unit. While both aren’t playable just yet, they did each appear during the first part of the Wardance storyline in 2.4.

Honkai: Star Rail is available on the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Feixiao banner begins on September 10, 2024. That is also the day the 2.5 update for the game appears. 

The post Feixiao Gets Drunk in New Honkai: Star Rail Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom has announced a collaboration event between Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered and the upcoming movie Saw X as part of a limited-time social media campaign. The event will take place from September 9-19, 2024. While the film debuted in the US in September 2023, it launches in Japan on October 18, 2024.

Participants in Japan can enter the event by following both the official Dead Rising and Saw X social media accounts and reposting campaign videos. Winners will have a chance to receive collaboration-themed prizes, such as original tumblers and shopper bags designed after Willamette Parkview Mall from Dead Rising.

Here are how the themed prizes look:

As a reminder, we will see the game soon. Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered is set to release on September 19, 2024. It brings back the zombie action game with enhanced graphics and additional content. Capcom already opened pre-orders for it, as well as announced an array of crossover skins and background music (BGM) included in the Digital Deluxe version. These skins feature characters from titles such as Resident Evil 4, Street Fighter Alpha, and Mega Man Battle Network. BGM tracks tailored to each skin will play while exploring the Willamette Parkview Mall.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is available to pre-order now, and it releases on September 19th on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC via Steam.

The post Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Saw X Event Begins in Japan  appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom revealed the lineup of games, events, and merchandise goods that will be available as part of the upcoming TGS 2024. Capcom will offer demos and information on a variety of games at the event venue, and the Capcom online program will start on September 26, 2024 at 7am PT/10am ET.. [Thanks, PR Times!]

The main Capcom game at TGS 2024 will be Monster Hunter Wilds. The game will be playable for the first time worldwide during Tokyo Game Show 2024. 112 game stations will be offered in the Capcom area of the venue, while the PlayStation section will have 40 game stations.

Two demos will be available, a beginner friendly single player story quest where players will face a Chatacabra, and a Doshaguma Elimination Quest that can be played either alone or in multiplayer with other people at the venue. Limited tickets for the demo will be offered by order of arrival. In addition, a MHW shoulder bag will be offered as a novelty gift.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will also have a playable demo featuring early stages of the game. The novelty item is a set of stickers. Any case from both titles of the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection will be available in a test demo Miles Edgeworth stickers are the novelty items for playing the demo. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will have a demo featuring a variety of early stages from the game. A clear file folder will be offered as the novelty item gift.

People will be able to try any of the 7 titles included in the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection. In addition, people will be able to play in either single player or versus modes. A set of original stickers featuring characters from the Marvel vs Capcom series is the chosen novelty gift. Street Fighter 6 will be available as well, featuring the upcoming DLC character Terry Bogard as playable. The Fighting Grounds mode with single player and competitive modes will be available. A sticker set featuring the DLC characters released so far is the novelty gift.

Capcom also revealed the merchandise items that will be available at the venue. The items are also available for pre-order from the special Capcom TGS 2024 online store.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan between September 26 and September 29, 2024.

The post Capcom TGS 2024 Games, Events, and Merchandise Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

Netflix confirmed the streaming release dates of the anime movies Grave of the FIreflies and The Boy and the Heron. The former will show up first, as it is set to debut on the service on September 16, 2024. People need to wait a month for the new Studio Ghibli film, as it appears worldwide in countries that aren’t the US and Japan on October 7, 2024. 

Grave of the Fireflies is a classic anime movie set during and after the events of the Pacific War. In it, we witness how the lives of siblings Seita and Setsuko change after an attack on Kobe. It is known for its stark depiction of people’s lives during tragic moments. As its a classic film from 1988, it often bounces between streaming services.

Meanwhile, The Boy and the Heron debuted in July 2023 in Japan and is the latest Hayao Miyazaki movie. Like Grave of the Fireflies, it takes place during the Pacific War. A young man named Mahito while dealing with the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage to her sister, finds himself caught up in a supernatural adventure involving another world. 

The restrictions for the Studio Ghibli movie in the US are due to a prior agreement. If you are in that country, you can catch The Boy and the Heron streaming via other methods. For example, it is on the Max service as of 1:30pm ET on September 9, 2024. Other Studio Ghibli anime movies, such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service are also there. 

Grave of the FIreflies will be on Netflix on September 16, 2024, and The Boy in the Heron will stream on the service in select regions worldwide on October 7, 2024.

The post Netflix Getting Grave of the Fireflies and The Boy and the Heron appeared first on Siliconera.

As a Persona 3 Portable player, I never experienced the FES version and its signature exclusive The Answer content. Fortunately, with the release of Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis - The Answer DLC as part of the expansion pass, I am now able to finally see what it has to offer. Unsurprisingly, Episode Aigis just feels like more of the same base game, for better or worse.

This doesn’t sound initially like an issue! Persona 3 Reload is an excellent remake of this beloved JRPG. The problem comes from what Episode Aigis doesn’t emulate. This entire DLC is like a brand new Tartarus dungeon to explore, but it might not be exactly what people want.

Editor's Note: There will be some mild spoilers for the end of Persona 3 Reload below.

Without spoiling too much, the Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis DLC expansion takes place after the events of the base game’s storyline. As such, the original hero isn't available as a playable character. Instead, Aigis is the new protagonist. Just when the heroes of SEES think everything is over and are saying their goodbyes, a new dungeon called Abyss of Time and character named Metis appears. Everyone is trapped in the S.E.E.S dormitory and a time loop. Said dungeon has multiple different doors to go through, with unique areas and plenty of floors to explore, but it all ends up feeling pretty familiar.

Everything about this DLC is pretty akin to the dungeon-crawling gameplay of the original plot. Almost nothing substantial is added. As such, if the repetitive nature of Tartarus bothered you, I don’t have good news for you here. This is the same old run around, look for the stairs, open up some chests, battle some enemies, and repeat.

Except there’s a gaping hole that Episode Aigis has that wasn't in Persona 3 Reload. It has all of the Tartarus-like content from the base game, but none of the other stuff that made the title feel fuller and more alive. No social links being present is unsurprising, but the story is pretty basic and often barebones. Almost all of the character development happened before the events of this expansion, so in many cases there is much to see here.

Persona 3 Reload benefited from the ebb and flow. Spend a couple of hours in Tartarus grinding floors, Personas, and levels. Then spend a few hours hanging with friends, going to class, and doing requests. See major story segments as you do. That brilliant cycle doesn’t exist here, and it is what helped this game to not feel as repetitive as it really is.

There is almost nothing to break up the monotony of grinding in Abyss of Time besides the occasional cutscenes. What I will say is there are optional items you can get through locked treasure chests. These are like books or movies, which you can enjoy alongside the other cast members. Unfortunately, these little moments don’t amount to much at all in Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis, which is a shame.

The only real shakeup to the whole system is playing as Aigis for this DLC episode. This provides a unique perspective and allows for a new party member to arrive in the form of Metis. Metis, as a sister android to Aigis, is a bizarre character. I hate to compare her to Labrys in Persona 4 Arena, but it feels like that foil is a much stronger and more fleshed out attempt at giving Aigis a more interesting family member. Metis is just a bit too one-note in her obsession with Aigis, instead of putting her unique story at the forefront as it should’ve been. Given certain things, this can be understandable.

While I feel like the story took too much of a backseat here, even still, it can be quite enjoyable. Especially if you are an RPG masochist like me and love the grind. Aigis is the wildcard now, so she is able to fuse, visit the Velvet Room, access the Compendium, and all that. In addition, Elizabeth gives optional requests, like finding items or fusing a certain Persona, to provide more of a point to explore the new dungeon. However, like everything else, this lacks the extra meaningful story element that would make it more worthwhile.

There are positive changes to Episode Aigis from what I can tell, though. You have access to all of the major additions in the base game’s grind, such as Theurgy and quality-of-life changes. This also means this DLC can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. You do have difficulty options as well, so you can breeze through or crank it up for the ultimate challenge, which I liked.

Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis - The Answer DLC is the best way to experience this additional FES storyline. It doesn’t quite carry over the same excellent narrative, character moments, or daily life from the base game. What it does do is offer the most straightforward dungeon-grind experience. If you love a challenge, this is the DLC for you. For everyone else, this is a possibly an add-on that is okay to skip.

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis - The Answer DLC releases for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC as part of the Expansion Pass on September 10, 2024.

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Square Enix shared a new video of Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi talking about Fantasian Neo Dimension, Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker game which Square Enix is publishing and Yoshida is producing with Creative Studio 3. However, in addition to discussing Fantasian, the two also bring up FFXIV. 

The brief clip begins by setting the stage with some introductions. Sakaguchi and Yoshida then note how this is the first time Sakaguchi worked with Square Enix in 25 years. He is one of the founders of Final Fantasy and worked on mainline up until FFXI, as well as spin-offs like FFX-2 and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. From there, Sakaguchi said one of the reasons he “entrusted” Fantasian Neo Dimension to Yoshida is because of the work he’s done as director and producer on the MMORPG. They also tease a release date announcement for the console and PC version of the former Apple Arcade exclusive.

Here is the full video, which ends with Sakaguchi stating, “FFXIV is the best.”

This is the second time we’ve seen commentary from Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi about Fantasian Neo Dimension. Previously, a Famitsu interview with the two appeared. Among other things, they talked about how this version of the game has voice acting due to Yoshida’s influence and suggestions.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, and PC in Winter 2024. Fantasian is on Apple devices via Apple Arcade. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi Talk FFXIV, Fantasian in New Video appeared first on Siliconera.