Welcome to the latest review of key events from the world of video games, e-sports and geek culture. Today's issue covers the financial successes of cult franchises, the problems of ambitious blockbusters, updates to popular service games and high-profile castings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
1. Sales of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth "exceeded expectations" after the announcement of Revelation
Square Enix reported a noticeable surge in interest in the modern trilogy of Final Fantasy VII. After the official announcement of the final part, subtitled Revelation, sales of the first two games in the series - Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - increased significantly and exceeded the publisher's internal forecasts.
Players are actively returning to the origins of the trilogy or purchasing it for the first time in order to prepare for the final outcome of the story of Cloud Strife and his companions. The surge in sales affected both console versions and PC releases.
Source: Gaming addiction
2. The latest update for Crimson Desert has improved the trading content
The developers from the Pearl Abyss studio have released a new large-scale update for the action-adventure Crimson Desert. The main focus of the patch was a deep reworking and expansion of the trading system in the world of Pyvel.
Main innovations:
Dynamic economy:Prices for goods now fluctuate depending on demand, regional characteristics and current events in the world.
New caravan routes:New supply chains and dangerous trade routes have become available to players.
Improved interface:The menus for managing resources and interacting with merchants have been optimized.
Source: Gambling addiction
3. Ubisoft will close Champions Tactics, a turn-based role-playing game based on blockchain and NFT
Publisher Ubisoft has decided to wind down support for its experimental project Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. The turn-based tactical RPG, built on blockchain and NFT technologies, has failed to attract a stable audience.
The game servers will be shut down in the near future, and support for virtual assets will cease. This move underscores the continued trend of major publishers reconsidering investments in the Web3 segment amid a decline in player interest in NFT mechanics.
Source: Gaming addiction
4. Jason Schreier spoke about the problems of Last Sentinel, a “GTA competitor” from Tencent
Famous gaming journalist and insider Jason Schreier published an investigation into the state of development of Last Sentinel, an ambitious open-world action game from the Lightspeed LA studio, financed by the Chinese giant Tencent.
The project, which was positioned within the company as a potential rival to the Grand Theft Auto series, faced serious production difficulties:
Staff turnover:A number of key developers and department heads left the project.
Divergence of vision:Differences between the American team and the Chinese management of Tencent regarding monetization and development direction.
Deadline shift:The game's release is postponed indefinitely.
Source: Gambling addiction
5. Microsoft planned to continue supporting discs even before the Xbox “reboot”
Internal documents and evidence appeared online that Microsoft did not plan to completely abandon physical media in the near future. Contrary to rumors about the imminent transition of the Xbox ecosystem to exclusively digital distribution, the company's strategy involved preserving disc drives and physical copies of games.
Analysts note that physical retail still plays an important role in the European and Latin American markets, where the quality of the Internet connection does not always allow comfortable downloading of projects larger than 100 GB.
Source: Gaming addiction
6. Mortal Shell 2 open beta has become available on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles
Fans of dark souls likes can now try out Mortal Shell 2 for themselves. The developers have launched an open beta testing phase on the current generation consoles - PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
As part of the beta, players have access to:
Starting location with an updated visual style.
Several unique Shells with individual battle trees skills.
New petrification and counterattack mechanisms.
Source: Gaming addiction
7. Valve has released updates for Dota 2 with sets for The International and a summer purge
Valve has pleased the Dota 2 community with a major patch. The update combines both esports content and significant technical improvements.
Main innovations:
The International Collector's Sets:A themed treasure trove has been released with unique cosmetic sets for popular heroes.
"Summer Purge" (Summer Scrub):Over a hundred bugs have been fixed, client performance has been optimized, performance on weak PCs has been improved, and the system for reporting unsportsmanlike behavior has been updated.
Source: Gambling addiction
8. A new difficulty level is being prepared for Dragon's Dogma 2
Capcom Studio has confirmed work on a new update for the action-RPG Dragon's Dogma 2. At the request of the hardcore segment of players, an increasing level of difficulty will be added to the game, reminiscent of the mode from the Dark Arisen expansion for the first part.
The new mode is expected to make monsters more aggressive, reduce the effectiveness of healing items and force players to more carefully plan the composition of their squad and the equipment of their pawns.
Source: Gaming addiction
9. Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost in the X-Men reboot
According to Deadline, actress Samara Weaving (“I'm Going to Find You,” “Scream 6”) has been cast as Emma Frost (the White Queen) in the upcoming reboot of the “X-Men” franchise from Marvel Studios.
The character of Emma Frost is one of the key telepaths in the Marvel Universe. who also has the ability to turn her body into diamond. Fans greeted the news of Weaving's casting with enthusiasm, noting her vibrant charisma and acting range.
Source: Gambling addiction
10. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls received release trailers and a new Spider-Man costume
The upcoming fighting game Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls received a portion of fresh promotional materials from the pre-release cycle. The developers have published a dynamic release trailer, and also demonstrated an exclusive alternative costume for Spider-Man.
The video demonstrates combinations of attacks, spectacular super moves and team synergy of various heroes and villains of the cinematic universe.
Source: Gaming addiction
11. Genshin Impact will receive the "Relentless Frost" update on August 12
HoYoverse has announced the release date for the Genshin Impact version called "Relentless Frost". The release is scheduled for August 12.
What awaits players in the update:
New snowy location: Exploration of a harsh snowy region with unique survival mechanics and riddles.
New character - Alyosha:The debut of a five-star character with unique combat mechanics and a personal story chain of quests.
Story continuation: A new chapter of the Tome of Prayers and temporarily available events with generous rewards.
Source: Gaming addiction
