Tokyo Game Show 2023: Where to watch and what to look out for

Regular readers will know, perhaps rather unusually, I love trains. I’ve been covering Train Sim World in intimate detail for years now, much to developer Dovetail’s pleasure. (I will get around to reviewing Train Sim World 4 by the way, it’s just the schedule’s been brutal for me this past month. Also, maybe the studio would like to slow down just a touch with the sequels and expansions so I can catch up?)

Tokyo Game Show is happening right now, and in case you missed it, Sony is celebrating with a new sale on the PS Store. As you'd expect, the offer comprises almost exclusively games made in Japan, though there are one or two outliers. Anyway, there are a lot of fantastic titles included here for both PS5 and PS4.

This year's Tokyo Game Show saw 243,238 participants visit the event, show organiser CESA has confirmed, which is double the attendance of last year.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has received new gameplay and details thanks to various hands-on impressions over the past few days. However, the development team hosted a stage event at Tokyo Game Show 2023 to show off even more, from The Grasslands and its mini-games to more combat. You can also check out more gameplay courtesy of Famitsu below.

Between 2017 and 2013, the number of smartphone brands out there has dropped by an astounding 500 companies.

January 2024 will be literally loaded with games that gamers will have to pick and choose from to see what they play first or how many they’ll be able to afford. For the fighting game crowd, Bandai Namco is releasing Tekken 8 on January 26th, and they promise a visually stunning entry fueled by Unreal Engine 5 while also diving even deeper into the game’s story mode. At the Tokyo Game Show, producers Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray did a special stream of the title so they could drop details for fans. Many of these were about the story mode, but we also got some key gameplay details.

Xbox announced a slew of new titles coming to its Game Pass subscription service this year. At its Tokyo Game Show segment, held Thursday, the publisher confirmed that Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will be available to members for free on day one i.e., November 9. In it, Kazama Kiryu, the famous Yakuza who faked his death to protect his family, slips into the black suit once again and works as a bodyguard codenamed ‘Joryu.' His cover is soon threatened when a mysterious figure with ties to the past comes to haunt him, spawning a crazed frenzy across the streets of Japan, as we punch our way through hordes.

Video games can be pricey. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. But the latest generation of console platforms also brought a new standard for AAA releases. Instead of paying the once-standard fee of $59.99 on a new game, we’re digging deeper into our wallets to meet that $69.99 price tag. As a result, knowing what video games to pick up at launch and which to hold off is crucial for our bank accounts. So, if you’ve been saving back on the funds, then check out a new sale promo being offered at the official PlayStation Store.

Swery-led studio White Owls Inc. and Suda51 of Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind the No More Heroes Series, have teamed up to develop Hotel Barcelona. Revealed during Xbox's 2023 Tokyo Game Show broadcast, the team describes Hotel Barcelona as a «2.5D slasher film parodic action» game, and it's out next year. 

New Dragon's Dogma 2 footage was shared online today, providing a new look at some of the mechanics that power the highly anticipated new entry in the series by CAPCOM.

Today's Xbox Digital Broadcast from Tokyo Game Show 2023 highlighted and revealed a slew of varied titles heading to the Game Pass subscription service in the coming months, ranging from first party games like Forza Motorsport, to pixel art adventures and day-one major releases from the Yakuza franchise.

Microsoft made a number of announcements during its Xbox Digital Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2023, most of which revolved around Japan and Japan-inspired games and updates. Xbox boss Phil Spencer and Head of Xbox Creator Experience Sarah Bond talked about the importance of the Japanese market. "Japan will always have a special place in my heart for pioneering innovative ways to play, from the Game Boy, to PSP, to the Switch," Spencer said.