Square Enix
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The Daily Grind: Would you pay money to place an in-game ad in an MMO?
This article discusses the potential for players to pay real money for in-game advertising space within MMORPGs like Final Fantasy XIV. Commenters suggest this could be a viable monetization strategy for companies like Square Enix, offering an alternative to spamming global chats for guild or event promotion.
Final Fantasy Resonance is getting a 120-song original soundtrack
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy Resonance will receive a 120-track original soundtrack on October 28th, a week after the game's release. The soundtrack includes 33 new songs by Noriyasu Agematsu, complementing existing tracks from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius and War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. This extensive OST is being released across four CDs and is positioned as a significant musical offering compared to previous Final Fantasy titles.
It's been 25 years and I'm still not over one of the greatest songs to grace JRPGs
This article reflects on the enduring legacy of Final Fantasy 10's soundtrack, particularly the song "Suteki Da Ne," 25 years after the game's release. The author praises the song's emotional impact and its place within the game's narrative, highlighting it as a standout vocal track in the Final Fantasy series.
Shack Chat: What do you think the plot of Kingdom Hearts 4 will be?
Several Shacknews staff members offer their speculative theories on the plot of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4, which is slated for a 2027 release. The discussions touch upon themes of reality versus fiction, potential crossovers with other franchises like Marvel and The Simpsons, and the series' complex lore progression.
FF11's 'unlimited' free trial expansion is planned for September, but it still falls short of FF14
Square Enix plans to expand the free trial for Final Fantasy XI in September, removing the 14-day time limit and increasing the level cap from 50 to 75. While these changes aim to make the game more accessible, the trial will still be limited to base-game areas and will not include features like trading or the bazaar. This update comes as Final Fantasy XIV continues to offer a more extensive free trial, including its base game and three expansions.
Kingdom Hearts modder turns an indie love letter to the JRPG series into an even more blatant Kingdom Hearts-like
A modder named Dallin1016 has created mods for the indie game Duskfade, making it even more similar to the Kingdom Hearts series by adding Sora's iconic outfit, hairstyle, and Keyblade. Duskfade itself is an action RPG inspired by classic PS2 titles, including Kingdom Hearts, and features gameplay elements like fighting shadowy enemies and light RPG progression. The mods are available on NexusMods, and Duskfade has received a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam.
What games would you play in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?
Many gamers struggle with large backlogs of unplayed titles, leading to a desire for more time to enjoy them. The article uses the Dragon Ball universe's Hyperbolic Time Chamber as a metaphor for a place where time moves slower, allowing for extensive gaming sessions. The author reflects on personal gaming habits and the challenge of keeping up with new releases while trying to finish existing games.
Weekend Console Download Deals for Aug. 21: Catching up with Black Myth: Wukong
This weekend's console deals include significant discounts on Black Myth: Wukong for PlayStation and Xbox. Nintendo Switch owners can find deals on Sega titles, Dispatch, and BALL x PIT. Numerous other games across various genres are also on sale for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
We Aren’t Talking Enough About All That Hayden Panettiere Brought To Video Games
This article highlights the significant contributions of the late actress Hayden Panettiere to the video game industry, particularly her voice and performance capture work. Panettiere voiced Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series and played Sam in Supermassive Games' Until Dawn, bringing a level of Hollywood professionalism and emotional depth to her roles.
Thanks to this Final Fantasy 14 roleplayer survey, I know exactly how basic my Warrior of Light's backstory is
A survey of over 10,000 Final Fantasy 14 roleplayers, compiled by Reddit user CevicheLemon, reveals common character backstories and demographics. The most popular character is a female Miqo'te from Ishgard, while the least popular is a non-binary Lalafell from Mhach. The author analyzes their own character's backstory against these findings.
Kingdom Hearts 4 lead Tetsuya Nomura plays 4D chess, potentially drops hints his canceled Final Fantasy game could…
Tetsuya Nomura, the lead for Kingdom Hearts 4, has potentially dropped hints about a connection between the upcoming game and the canceled Final Fantasy Versus 13. These hints appear through subtle references in clothing brands featured in NEO: The World Ends With You, a fashion designer's name appearing in both games, and striking visual similarities between Kingdom Hearts 4's city guards and airships and those from Final Fantasy 15, which evolved from Versus 13.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Features Coco Since It Fits Sora’s Story The Best, Says Nomura
Kingdom Hearts 4 director Tetsuya Nomura explained that the inclusion of the world from Disney's Coco was chosen because its themes of the Land of the Dead best fit Sora's story progression. The game is slated for a late 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, with no planned delays. Co-director Tai Yasue also confirmed King Mickey will be a playable character with puzzle-based gameplay distinct from Sora's adventure.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World details Thespidor, King Withers, and Scruffy, Taiboku and Lushland, Waterwing Can
Square Enix has released new details for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, introducing characters like Thespidor, King Withers, Ed, and Scruffy, along with locations Taiboku and Lushland. The game, launching on Nintendo Switch on December 3, 2026, features the restorative artifact known as the Waterwing Can, which players will use to heal monsters and synthesize new ones.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles composer Kumi Tanioka says that she didn't make the new, very likely AI-generated album on her Spotify page
Composer Kumi Tanioka, known for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, has stated that a new album titled 'A Village Built on Wind' appearing on her Spotify page was not created by her and is likely AI-generated. Digital Sonic Design confirmed no copyright infringement but noted the artwork appears AI-generated, and some platforms label the tracks as such.
Kingdom Hearts 4 features Pixar's Coco because Tetsuya Nomura thought it "would be the best world" for…
Tetsuya Nomura, lead designer for Kingdom Hearts 4, explained that the Pixar film Coco was chosen as a world in the upcoming RPG because its themes best aligned with Sora's story progression. Nomura emphasized that world selection is based on synergy with the main narrative. The trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 features elements from Coco, hinting at narrative connections related to memory and forgetting.
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles composer speaks out about AI-generated Spotify album falsely using her name
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles composer Kumi Tanioka has publicly stated she did not create a Spotify EP titled 'A Village Built on Wind' that was falsely attributed to her. Her publisher, Digital Sonic Design, confirmed the music does not infringe copyright but could mislead the public, noting that similar tracks have been labeled as AI-generated on other platforms. This situation highlights systemic vulnerabilities in streaming services regarding AI-generated content and false artist attribution.
A Kingdom Hearts Movie? It’s Not Ruled Out, Disney Exec Says
Disney executive Jared Bush stated that a Kingdom Hearts movie is not impossible, following the success of the franchise and news of a Disney+ TV show. The Kingdom Hearts series has generated over $1 billion in sales for Disney. Additionally, Kingdom Hearts 4 was confirmed for a late 2027 release, featuring Donald Duck and characters from Disney's Coco.
2022 PS5 RPG in Fan-Favorite Franchise Is 65% Off on PlayStation Store
Star Ocean: The Divine Force, a 2022 RPG from Square Enix and developer tri-Ace, is currently available for 65% off on the PlayStation Store for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The deal brings the price down to $20.99 until August 27, with a discounted upgrade available for the Digital Deluxe Edition. The game features dual protagonists and a sci-fi fantasy setting.
Kingdom Hearts 4 references a bit of OG lore so obscure I wouldn't have blamed Tetsuya Nomura for forgetting it
The article highlights how Kingdom Hearts 4 references an obscure piece of lore from the original Kingdom Hearts game concerning Heartless behavior towards living beings. This detail, noted by fans and confirmed by Ansem's Report 4, was observed in the D23 trailer where Heartless only reacted to the living protagonist Miguel in the Land of the Dead. The author praises Tetsuya Nomura and the development team for their commitment to preserving even the most obscure lore elements in the upcoming sequel.
The road to Kingdom Hearts 4 goes through Melody of Memory
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory serves as a crucial story recap for players looking to catch up before Kingdom Hearts 4, which is slated for a late 2027 release. While the first half recaps the series' narrative from Kairi's perspective, the latter half reveals critical plot points about Sora's disappearance and the world of Quadratum, directly setting up the events of Kingdom Hearts 4. This rhythm game, exclusive to the Epic Games Store, is essential for understanding the upcoming sequel.
