Gaming in city Tokyo. Reviews, Walkthroughs, News

The sudden closure of several video-game studios at Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox division was the result of a widespread cost-cutting initiative that still isn't finished. 

Marvel Rivals has released a new trailer revealing Hela's abilities and gameplay. This year, players were surprised by the unveiling of Marvel Rivals, a shooter that pits Marvel heroes and villains against each other in 6v6 matches. Although Marvel Rivals doesn't yet have a confirmed release date, players are already looking forward to checking out the game.

Xbox rocked the games industry earlier this week by closing down Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin, two developers responsible for beloved titles such as The Evil Within series, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the Prey reboot. Pretty much everyone was surprised by the announcement, including the people at Tango and Arkane Austin themselves, who were reportedly in the middle of pitching new projects to Xbox before being shut down.

In light of the recent closure of Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, the studios original founder, Shinji Mikami, has taken to social media platform X to share his thoughts.

Final Fantasy 14 players can soon claim an outfit from the series' long history, as the Imp Attire from Final Fantasy 6 will be added to the game during the annual Make-It-Rain Campaign. The upcoming Final Fantasy 14 campaign will let players earn extra points and housing items by playing mini-games in the Manderville Gold Saucer.

We are so excited to announce that Spin Rhythm XD is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and the first-ever VR version on PlayStation VR2!

Resident Evil creator and Tango Gameworks founder Shinji Mikami has shared his thoughts on the announced closure of the renowned game studio. On May 7, Microsoft revealed that it was shutting down four Bethesda studios: Redfall developer Arkane Austin, mobile studio Alpha Dog Games, Roundhouse Studios, and Tango Gameworks.

Microsoft has shuttered several Bethesda-owned game studios, including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall maker Arkane Austin, in order to shift focus on to its “priority games”. The Xbox parent is also closing Alpha Dog Games, makers of the mobile game Mighty Doom, while Roundhouse Studios, which also contributed to Redfall development, will be absorbed by ZeniMax Online Studios. The development, initially reported by IGN, was confirmed by affected studios Tango Gameworks and Arkane in separate posts on X late Tuesday. The shutdowns come months after Microsoft announced layoffs at Xbox and Activision Blizzard earlier this year, which made 1,900 roles redundant.

Microsoft has shuttered three ZeniMax teams: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Studios. The company is also folding Roundhouse Games into Zenimax Online Studios. Arkane Austin is the home of Prey and Redfall, while Tango is responsible for The Evil Within, Ghostwire Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush. Alpha Dog is the creator of Mighty Doom and Roundhouse was a support studio for ZeniMax projects.

Earlier today, it was announced that Xbox will be closing multiple studios under its umbrella, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin. Despite having made several high-profile titles between them, including Hi-Fi Rush, Ghostwire: Tokyo, The Evil Within series, Prey (2018), and Redfall, Xbox explained that it will be shutting the studios to funnel more cash into "high-impact" titles from Bethesda.

The video game industry has reacted with shock and anger after Microsoft shut down several game studios today, May 7, 2024 including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, the developers of Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush respectively.

Microsoft's Xbox division has decided to shut down four Bethesda Softworks studios, the most prominent being Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks.

Microsoft are shutting down multiple game studios including Redfall developers Arkane Austin and the creators of Hi-Fi Rush, Tango Gameworks. The news was delivered via an email to staff from Xbox boss Matt Booty which has since been seen by IGN. Booty calls the decision a "consolidation of our Bethesda studio teams, so that we can invest more deeply in our portfolio of games and new IP."

Microsoft is closing four Bethesda studios: Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Mighty Doom developer Alpha Dog Studios, Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, and support studio Roundhouse Games. Xbox Game Studios leader Matt Booty announced the news to staff in an email Tuesday citing a reprioritization of “high-impact titles,” according to IGN. Arkane, Alpha Dog, and Tango Gameworks confirmed the closures on their respective X accounts.

Microsoft is shutting down four of the studios it picked up as part of the 2020 Bethesda acquisition, as reported by IGN.

Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has announced the shutdown of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks amidst huge cuts at Bethesda.

Xbox is closing down four Bethesda studios, including Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango Gameworks.

Nintendo will hold its traditional June Nintendo Direct this year, the company has confirmed.

A real-life Yakuza member was arrested after stealing Pokemon cards in a break-in. Crimes involving Pokemon are more common and recurring than one might think.

Forgotten Gems is a regular column about notable games that have moved out of the public eye and may not be easily accessible anymore. To see all the other games I've covered so far, be sure to check out the 11 previous issues of Forgotten Gems in our Columns section.

Fans have gotten id Software's classic shooter Doom playable within Atlus' hit JRPG, Persona 5 Royal. The iconic first-person shooter game is one of id Software's most beloved titles, having been ported to several different video game systems over the past three decades. The effort hasn't stopped at official ports to consoles, as Doom is also quite famous for having been ported to non-gaming devices, including but not limited to a Google Smart Clock, an Amiga 2600, and many others. Some fans have now managed to get the game running within Persona 5 Royal.

Editor's Note: Our first NordVPN review was published back in 2017, but after significant updates we've revisted the review.

Genre-bending game and installation creators, Blast Theory are bringing back the beloved original Can You See Me Now?

Huawei was reported to have attained a new milestone as its Pura 70 lineup was said to be comprised of 90 percent components sourced from Chinese partners. This approach would have meant that shortly, the company would be even less dependent on foreign suppliers that are strongly influenced by the U.S., assuming the claim turned out true. The report mentioned that the Japanese electronics consultancy firm Fomalhaut Techno Solutions analyzed the latest smartphones, but the Chief Executive has denied this information.

On the hunt for some shiny new games for your PS5? Well, you're certainly in the right place!

Che Lingo, the U.K.-based rapper and musician, is an avid anime enthusiast. In addition to collaborating with Crunchyroll on its fall 2023 anime trailer, Che Lingo also composed and performed several songs for Jujutsu Kaisen’s first season.

We’ve all heard of Persona — it’s one the undisputed kings of the RPG right now, each game pitting one unwitting school kid against an evil adult, using an army of angels and demons to achieve the insurmountable odds stacked against them. But how many people have played a Shin Megami Tensei game, the franchise from which Persona was born? We’d guess comparatively few people. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the latest opportunity to change that.

Publisher Atlus shared a new trailer for the upcoming. Releasing June 14 on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the re-release expands the game with an alternate “Canon of Vengeance” story path.

A new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, the enhanced version of the 2021 RPG, is now available. Nahobino’s new form is in action, alongside some of the new Demons to recruit, but more than anything, its tone is foreboding. Of the coming apocalypse to ensure the “ideal world.” Check it out below.

ATLUS has released a new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, dubbed “An Ideal World.”

Just when you think a game likeShin Megami Tensei V can’t get any darker, a new version comes for blood.

will soon be the definitive way to experience the story of the Nahobino, expanding the world and narrative while still keeping the core of what made the original great. The upcoming Atlus title adds a brand-new storyline and character, as well as additional demons, fresh areas, and overhauled graphics. recently got a few hours of hands-on time with the game to see the biggest changes it has to offer.

While Square Enix may remain quiet when it comes to the development of , a new report alleges that the highly-anticipated sequel could be out sooner than expected. Despite its massive fanbase and passionate community, isn't exactly known for maintaining a consistent release schedule given that over a decade passed between the launch of the second and third games. Smaller titles have been released for handheld systems and mobile devices in that time span, but the mainline franchise has always suffered when it comes to consistent releases.

Yu-Gi-Oh! just broke the Guinness World Record for the most entrants in a trading card game tournament, shattering its own record. This year, 7,443 people took part in the 10th Yu-Gi-Oh! Champion Series Japan tournament held at the Tokyo Big Sight.

Marvel Rivals will see players battling with and against each other while playing as a variety of different Marvel heroes and villains, but given its nature as a 6v6 hero shooter, the arenas that you’ll be fighting in are going to be just as crucial as the characters you’ll be playing as.

Kaizen Game Works, the studio behind the bangin' 2020 detective game Paradise Killer, has revealed its next game, and it sounds absolutely wild in a way that seems meticulously catered to my precise tastes.

Every day, I wake up, and write about videogames, so it’s a strange feeling to realise I won’t be able to do that anymore, because videogames have been completed. Won. Done. Wonso. Doneso. Promise Mascot Agency is "the world's first (and best) open world mascot management crime drama." It's from Paradise Killer studio Kaizen Game Works Limited. You recruit Yokai-lookin' mascots. Yakuza are in it. You can upgrade your battered truck. You can play a tactical card game to help your mascots. Ikumi Nakamura, of Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo art-fame worked on it. Quick! Someone arrest these reprobates for voter fraud, because no one game should tick this many boxes.

Kaizen Game Works, the studio behind the cracking detective adventure Paradise Killer, has just revealed its second game, and it looks every bit as bizarrely intriguing. Titled Promise Mascot Agency, this unique indie title is heading to PS5 and PS4 in 2025, and based on the debut trailer we're so on board.

An award-winning game is coming to Xbox Game Pass on May 30 after a surprise announcement. Microsoft's subscription service has been praised for having a diverse range of titles, from indie games to major AAA releases, with its ever-changing roster usually having something available for all kinds of players.

Upon its announcement last month, NetEase Games confirmed that Marvel Rivals would be getting a closed alpha sometime in May, and now the company has revealed further details. The 6v6 hero shooter’s closed alpha will go live on May 10 at 5 PM Pacific, and will remain live until May 20 at 11:59 PM Pacific. The test will be available to 30,000 players, but only in the United States and Canada.

A well-known gaming industry insider has claimed that Kingdom Hearts 4 will be released sometime next year. Kingdom Hearts 4 fans have been incredibly eager for more updates about the upcoming fourth mainline entry in Square Enix's long-running series. The game was first revealed during the franchise's 20th anniversary event, where a trailer showed Sora's situation after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3. This included a brand-new look for Sora, an apartment and city that resembled modern day Tokyo, and even some gameplay footage where Sora battled a giant Heartless.

Nintendo has revealed a new line of merchandise based on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The new Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom items, which include apparel, accessories and novelties, are available in Japan via Nintendo's online store, as well as stocked physically in Nintendo's superstores in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

Shinji Mikami, the esteemed director of iconic games like Resident Evil (1996) and The Evil Within, has finally opened up regarding his decision to leave Tango Gameworks, the company he founded. Given Tango Gameworks' recent rise to fame with the release of the critically-acclaimed game Hi-Fi Rush, Mikami's sudden departure from the studio was seen as surprising by many, but fans now have a proper explanation from the famed developer himself.

Tango Gameworks has seen some success over the past year thanks to the launch of Hi-Fi Rush (which recently arrived on PS5). While many awaited to see its next big project, perhaps the most surprising announcement to emerge was that Shinji Mikami would be leaving. As the founder, he would directThe Evil Within and serve as executive producer on The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Hi-Fi Rush.

Tucked away in the corner of this year's Day Of The Devs at GDC I discovered a lavish, strangely unattended action-RPG, in which austerely beautiful young women in elaborate skirts kick the bejazus out of each other on fields of whirling flowers. That game was Aikode, the work of Spanish solo developer Ace.

Veteran video game developer Shinji Mikami has opened up about his departure from Tango Gameworks in a new interview.

Famed game developer Shinji Mikami, known for directing the original Resident Evil and The Evil Within, has revealed why he left his former studio Tango Gameworks despite founding it himself.

The last time we wrote about Distance was just under a decade ago, when it was announced the game was coming to PS4. In the intervening years, the high-intensity arcade racer has been through a prolonged stint of early access and had its full launch on PC, but the PS4 version never surfaced. Now, thanks to a Trophy list appearing online, it seems the title is finally approaching the finish line — and it's coming to PS5 as well.

As we near the end of April, the fighting game scene truly begins to heat up. From April 27 to 29, the best of the best will gather in Tokyo to crown an Evo Japan champion. Then, players will gather for the world’s premier fighting game event, Evo 2024 in Las Vegas. Through the PlayStation Tournaments: Road to Evo program, players can compete at home and join online competitions for a chance to win a trip and showcase their skills at Evo 2024 in Las Vegas.

Japanese anime, manga, and games are popular in Japan, but Western media also has its place in Japanese pop culture. One of the most popular companies in the country is Disney, and Disney characters, movies, and theme parks are beloved by a huge number of people in Japan. Disney spans across ages, genders, and walks of life in modern Japan, with all kinds of different fans.

Kazuma Kaneko, whose career as a character designer at legendary JRPG studio Atlus has spanned almost four decades, has officially left the company. Kaneko has joined COLOPL, a developer and publisher headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, where he will work on a new IP.

The original Shin Megami Tensei 5 on Nintendo Switch is already a long game, clocking in at around 70 hours if you want to see most of what the RPG has to offer — and its expanded re-release, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, will apparently double that runtime. That is, if you play through the game twice, since Vengeance's main selling point is the addition of a new storyline that branches off from the existing release.

The man suspected of being responsible for threats that led to the cancellation of Nintendo events in Japan has been charged.

Hot off its showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio, where it revealed cities, exploration, dungeons and whatnot, Atlus has announced Atlus Fes for June 8th and 9th in Bellesalle Akihabara, Tokyo, from 10 AM to 6 PM JST. It will feature playable demos forReFantazio and evenShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance.

Veteran Atlus artist and character designer Kazuma Kaneko has left the Japanese company. Kaneko departed in 2023, ending a tenure that lasted 35 years, joining Tokyo-based publisher and developer COLOPL. He revealed the same in an official interview recently published by his new employer.

If you’ve held off on playing Shin Megami Tensei 5 since its launch for the Nintendo Switch in 2021, your patience is set to be rewarded. Not only is the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance set to bring Atlus’ acclaimed RPG to non-Switch platforms, it will also bring with it a truckload of new content in the form of a new playable character, over 75 hours of additional gameplay, and much more. Also included in that deluge of additions is a host of new music- which, of course, is always a crucial part of Atlus-developed games.

We're closing in on a year since the release of Pokemon Sleep. A game/lifestyle app The Pokemon Company had been radio silent on for so long after its announcement that some of us were convinced it had all been a dream. Pokemon Sleep users have their phones unlocked next to them while they slumber and various Pokemon will be waiting to meet them in the morning depending on their sleep style. There will naturally be some sort of anniversary event announced for Sleep's first birthday, but if you really want to celebrate a year of the game in style, you can do so in an official Pokemon Sleep suite.

ATLUS will host ATLUS Fes, its first ever large-scale user event, on June 8 and 9 at Bellesalle Akihabara in Tokyo on June 8 and 9, the company announced.

Dead Island 2 has announced the exact date and times it's set to launch on Steam across the world. The zombie-mashing action adventure game was released on Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Games Store almost exactly a year ago, unfortunately skipping out on Steam users. Despite its long and troubled 9-year development cycle across three different studios, Dead Island 2 released to positive reception, as it provides ample first-person melee action fun in incredibly vivid and iconic zombie-torn Los Angeles environments.

The Steam version of Ghostwire: Tokyo has removed Denuvo Anti-Tamper. The change rolled out as part of a recent update that spelled the end of Ghostwire: Tokyo's unusual approach to the controversial digital rights management (DRM) tool.

Bosses worried about turnover or wondering how long a new hire will stick around can now turn to AI for a heads-up on who might be next out the door.

Publisher dramatic create and developer MAGES. will release otome visual novel Meiji Tokyo Renka: Full Moon for Switch and PC via Steam in 2024 worldwide with Japanese audio and English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese subtitles, the companies announced.

Bethesda has removed Denuvo anti-tamper technology from the PC version of Ghostwire: Tokyo.

Octopath Traveler has been made available to purchase on the Nintendo eShop again.

Bethesda and Tango Gameworks have quietly removed Denuvo DRM technology from Ghostwire: Tokyo on PC as part of a recent update.

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Elon Musk's AI venture, xAI, has recently introduced an upgraded version of its Grok 1.5 model – the Grok 1.5 Vision. This new model integrates computer vision capabilities, allowing it to interpret visual content and respond to questions about images. This development comes shortly after OpenAI presented its GPT-4 model, which also boasts computer vision features.

In the last few months, OpenAI has been hard at work to push boundaries and open new doors when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). In its quest to do so, it faces competition from tech giants across the world, with Microsoft and Google just to name a few. To aid in its efforts, it has named the former president of Amazon Web Services's Japan arm to spearhead its push to woo enterprise clients in the world's fourth-largest economy, according to Bloomberg.

Gross-out humor reached its apex in 2010’s Jackass 3D, when the boys slingshotted a ripened port-a-potty 100 feet into the air, and a bungee-cord bounce sent fecal matter splattering all over Steve-O — in glorious 3D, no less! That was it. There was nowhere else to go. Or so I believed.

Atlus has released a new for the upcoming definitive take on the latest mainline entry of the iconic RPG series. The game is set to release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on June 14, 2024.

Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, an enhanced version of the 2021 game Shin Megami Tensei 5, is set to be released on June 14. Originally a Nintendo Switch exclusive, Vengeance will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Today, a new trailer titled ‘The Sacrifice’ showing some new story elements, locations, and demons hit the web.

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The American Tabletop Awards, the United States’ answer to Germany’s Spiel des Jahres, is back for the sixth consecutive year. The annual award celebrates the very best in board gaming across four different categories, with dozens of games judged by a panel of industry experts who collaborate within a shared set of ethical guidelines. The result is a collection of 20 excellent games, with four winners overall. The categories mirror those of last year, and include titles best for Early Gamers, an assortment of Casual Games, more traditional Strategy Games, as well as Complex Games for more experienced players.

Roguelike action game Rustil: Eternal Labyrinth Castle will launch in Early Access for PC via Steam on April 26, developer Shinden Games announced.

The number of arcades in Japan, the world’s third-biggest games market, have declined by nearly 8,000 over the past decade, according to a new report.

Sky: Children of the Light is turning five in a few months and Tokyo is where the party’s at! On July 13th and 14th, thatgamecompany is throwing SkyFest, a special event. It’ll be a community gathering full of adventure and fun. It’ll also mark the first in-person and in-game Assembly event for the game!

We have the solution to Wordle on April 4, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We’ve placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don’t ruin the surprise before you’ve had a chance to work through the clues. So let’s dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday’s answer.

Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance has offered fans a glimpse at some of its new story tidbits, demons, and locations, among other novelties. The content was showcased as part of the newly debuted SMT5: Vengeance trailer.

A Pokemon fan online has shared images from an awesome sculpture exhibit, which recreates several different Pokemon using only upcycled waste. The creativity of the Pokemon community seemingly knows no bounds, and designs like these prove why that's still the case.