Since the launch of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo fans have continuously clamored for a similar open-world version of the Pokémon franchise. Well, Nintendo apparently heard the overwhelming clamor. Coinciding with the Pokémon Diamon and Pearl remakes, The Nintendo Company announced its first open-world Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Unlike the more formulaic entries in the franchise, Pokémon Legends: Arceus differs greatly. For one, the game is set in feudal Japan, a far cry from the main entries’ modern setting. Secondly, it looks like it’s nonlinear at all. It looks like a combination of Pokémon Sword’s and Shield’s Wild Area and Breath of the Wild’s open area. In fact, the teaser trailer even had shots similar to the latter’s trailer. Even the trailer’s music was minimalistic, much like the Zelda game.

Like Diamond and Pearl, Legends: Arceus will take place in the Sinnoh region. But, instead of the usual trio for Sinnoh, the game will offer up three different starter Pokémon: Alola’s Rowlet, Johto’s Cyndaquil, and Unova’s Oshawott. Plus, unlike the usual battle mechanic, players can throw PokéBalls out in the open. (As to how PokéBalls existed back then, we don’t know yet.)

Further, since we’re in the Sinnoh region, the titular legendary Pokémon Arceus is involved in the game’s story. He made a cameo in the trailer’s ending.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is coming soon to the Nintendo Switch sometime in early 2022.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl announced for 2021

It’s Pokémon’s 25^th anniversary! As you might expect, a major anniversary isn’t complete without a major game announcement. Fresh from a massive content expansion for the current-generation Pokémon Sword and Shield, The Pokémon Company has announced two upcoming remakes of the past generation: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Much like Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will bring the Nintendo DS games to the Switch. Originally released back in 2006, the original duo took players to Sinnoh to fight against Team Galactic while fighting their way to become the Sinnoh Champion.

Instead of a full-on remake, both games will retain the same quirky design of the original games. According to the trailer launched today, the remakes will look a lot cuter than the old DS graphics. It will also have a few feature improvements to make a player’s experience easier.

Other than that, the remake is faithful to the original. Players can still choose between the original three starters: Chimchar, Turtwig, and Piplup. Further, trainers can hunt for the series’ two legendary Pokémon, Dialga for Diamond and Palkia for Pearl.

At the moment, though, the announcement has not revealed how the remake will adopt the Switch’s different system. For one, unlike the DS, the Switch does not have a secondary screen. For sure, The Pokémon Company will release more details in the coming months.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is coming to the Switch in the latter half of this year.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon is holding a virtual concert with Post Malone

Today, PlayStation held a State of Play showcase for its upcoming games for both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5. Though the showcase was filled with new sneak peeks from all sorts of games, the now-iconic Final Fantasy VII took center stage and blew everyone away. Not content with last year’s remake, Square Enix will once again improve the original FF7 game for the PlayStation 5 and add a new DLC to go with it.

It’s a remake’s remake

Saving the best for last, 2021’s first State of Play unveiled a (literally) new look at the PlayStation 5’s version of the Final Fantasy VII Remake — titled Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.

Most importantly, the version will add in massive technical and graphical upgrades for the remade game. Intergrade will have better lighting, for example, to take advantage of the new console’s new hardware. While the remake is already graphically stunning, the new version will make the game practically cinematic in feel.

Besides the graphics upgrade, Intergrade will also add new difficulty settings. Players can now access the classic turn-based controls even on normal mode. The version will also add in a photo mode, which will naturally flex the PlayStation 5’s hardware capabilities along with it.

Finally, Intergrade will launch a new story featuring the oft-overlooked character Yuffie Kisaragi. Her story will take her on her own adventure with a new male character Sonon Kusakabe. Yuffie and Sonon are on a plan to infiltrate Shinra.

For current PlayStation 4 owners of Final Fantasy VII Remake, a free upgrade will bring the update’s technical improvements to the PlayStation 5. However, Intergrade itself (meaning, the additional content) will come with a separate price. Intergrade will cost US$ 70 as a whole.

A prequel battle royale

If Intergrade isn’t enough to satiate your FF7 needs, Square Enix is also launching a mobile battle royale game set thirty years before the events of Final Fantasy VII. More than a simple mobile shooter, Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier will feature the series’ popular tray of magic spells and summons (including Chocobos). According to the teaser video, players will participate in the Shinra Electric Company’s Soldier program, explaining the need for a battle royale.

Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier is coming to Android and iOS sometime this year.

A FF7 compilation

Finally, Square Enix also announced a massive mobile compilation — Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis — featuring all the smaller games and stories set in the game’s timeline including Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerebrus.

Though the developer describes it as a “chapter-structured single player game,” the teaser trailer doesn’t reveal how the compilation will weave through the entire series seamlessly. The game will reportedly feature all the stories from the series, while introducing new, unexplored elements.

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is coming to Android and iOS sometime in 2022.

SEE ALSO: Final Fantasy VII Remake review: A fresh experience of a timeless tale