Gaming
FF7 series launches new PS5 update, mobile battle royale
Featuring a new mission with Yuffie
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
Gaming
NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer showcases new dunk mechanics, Rucker Park, and more
First gameplay details revealed
NBA 2K27 is giving fans their first look at this year’s gameplay.
2K has released the official gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27, showcasing enhanced visuals and several gameplay updates ahead of the game’s September 4 launch. The trailer also features cover athletes Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose while teasing changes across Gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and the MyPLAYER Builder.
The publisher also confirmed the Preseason Breakdown: NBA 2K27 Game Reveal, which streams on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT. During the presentation, 2K will reveal this year’s biggest gameplay innovations and mode updates before Early Access begins on August 28 for Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition owners.
Smarter AI and a new Dunk Meter headline gameplay changes
NBA 2K27 introduces several gameplay refinements based on community feedback.
AI defenders now contest shots more effectively and hold their defensive positioning better, especially in online modes like The REC. The changes aim to create a more balanced experience on both ends of the floor.
The game also introduces a fully dynamic Dunk Meter. Instead of locking in the timing at takeoff, the meter continuously evaluates defensive positioning throughout the dunk attempt. Open driving lanes create a larger green window, while late defensive rotations shrink it, making each dunk attempt feel more responsive to the action on the court.
MyPLAYER Builder expands with more Badges
The MyPLAYER Builder now features 53 total Badges, up from 40 in last year’s game. Players can also experiment with 19 brand-new Badges designed to support more specialized builds.
Cap Breakers are also making a return. This time, players can preview attribute boosts directly inside the Builder before finalizing their character.
MyTEAM and MyNBA receive community-requested updates
MyTEAM introduces the franchise’s first unified Auction House across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The shared marketplace creates the largest pool of community-listed cards in the mode’s history. It should also make card prices more consistent across supported platforms.
Winning an auction is now faster, too. Purchased cards go straight into your collection without a verification delay.
MyNBA also receives several franchise management updates that reflect today’s NBA. These include second apron salary cap rules from the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement and the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents.
Rucker Park comes to MyCAREER
The City returns with the same centralized layout introduced last year. This time, however, it gets a new nighttime look filled with neon lights.
NBA 2K27 also recreates the legendary Rucker Park. The iconic streetball court serves as the setting for this year’s MyCAREER prelude story, Fire & Concrete, and also appears in the Street Kings mode.
NBA 2K27 launches on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition can jump in early starting August 28 through Early Access.
Gaming
God of War Laufey finally confirms its highly anticipated launch date
Set your calendars next year.
It’s about time we get excited for God of War Laufey. The upcoming entry into the acclaimed franchise takes off on a tangent as it follows Faye, Kratos’s late wife, as she traverses an afterlife filled with similarly deceased gods. It’s a different perspective but with still the same action we’ve come to expect from the series. Now, we know when to expect it: February 16.
In the ongoing Norse saga, Faye’s death is everything. Her passing pushes Kratos and Atreus towards a path that eventually led to Ragnarok. In Laufey, a deceased Faye wakes up in Everywhen, an afterlife where gods from different mythologies converge. She then discovers that the carefully laid plans she made to help her husband and her son are unravelling, so she has to find a way to save the living world from past the veil.
Laufey will still have the iconic battles that the God of War series is known for. However, because Faye is nimbler than the burly Kratos, fighting is more fast-paced with a mix of grounded and air-based fighting. All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about for Laufey, despite its different take on the series.
Over the weekend, during San Diego Comic Con, PlayStation confirmed when the title is launching. Thankfully, it’s not a long wait. God of War Laufey is launching for the PlayStation 5 on February 16 next year.
Additionally, Santa Monica Studio has also confirmed that Kratos will lead another entry after Laufey.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have announced that FINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster is now available on Nintendo Switch 2. Physical copies are also on sale across Southeast Asia.
The collection brings together FINAL FANTASY X and FINAL FANTASY X-2, two of the most celebrated entries in the long-running RPG franchise. Both games feature enhanced HD visuals while preserving their original stories and gameplay.
Two classic adventures in one package
In FINAL FANTASY X, players follow Tidus, a star blitzball athlete whose journey becomes intertwined with the summoner Yuna as they travel across the world of Spira to confront a devastating threat.
Its direct sequel, FINAL FANTASY X-2, takes place two years later. Players take control of Yuna alongside Rikku and Paine as they uncover ancient mysteries and face new enemies.
The release also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original launch of the game in Japan, giving longtime fans and newcomers another opportunity to experience the pair of RPG classics at home or on the go.
Bandai Namco notes that physical edition availability may vary by country across Southeast Asia.
Watch the launch trailer below:
About the FINAL FANTASY series
The FINAL FANTASY franchise has entertained players for more than 35 years. Known for its cinematic storytelling, memorable characters, imaginative worlds, and technical innovation, the series has sold more than 212 million copies worldwide.
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