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Square Enix Drops a New Line of Exclusive Final Fantasy IV and X Anniversary Merch at Amazon
Square Enix has released new anniversary merchandise for Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy X exclusively on Amazon. The collection features exclusive artwork on items such as shirts and hoodies.
Esports consultancy The Story Mob rebrands to "strategic player culture advisory"
Esports consultancy The Story Mob has rebranded as a "strategic player culture advisory" to better serve the broader games industry. The company, founded in 2018, has launched a new service called Play Makers to help brands understand and navigate player culture through immersive strategy sessions. CEO Anna Rozwandowicz stated that the shift reflects gaming's evolution into sport, entertainment, identity, and community.
Final Fantasy 10 gets first Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay
Square Enix has released the first gameplay footage of Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 10-2 HD Remaster on the Nintendo Switch 2. The upcoming release will feature graphical enhancements, a high-speed mode, and the option to turn off random encounters, offering over 100 combined hours of gameplay. The HD Remaster is scheduled to launch on July 23.
Final Fantasy 14's Third Walk raid starts with FF11's most infamous boss being bodied in a cutscene because a raid designer wanted to show off the true strength of your first foe
Final Fantasy 14's battle content designer Masayoshi Ishikawa discussed the inclusion of Absolute Virtue in the Final Fantasy 11 crossover raid, explaining it was to showcase Shantotto's power. Ishikawa noted that while Absolute Virtue was a notoriously difficult boss in Final Fantasy 11, Shantotto defeats it in a cutscene before the fight in Final Fantasy 14, demonstrating her formidable strength.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Leak Has Fans Wishing Square Enix Hadn't Canceled Its Mobile Spinoff
Footage of the intro for the canceled mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has leaked online, leading fans to express disappointment that Square Enix did not release the title. The leak showcases what appears to be a nearly finished product.
Kingdom Hearts made assembling Final Fantasy 10's dev team "difficult" after Tetsuya Nomura and other JRPG veterans were assigned to the Disney crossover, lead says
Final Fantasy 10 producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed that assembling the development team for the game was challenging due to the concurrent development of Kingdom Hearts, which involved key staff like Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura, who was the director of Kingdom Hearts, also served as character designer for Final Fantasy 10, leading to divided attention and the need to bring in new talent or promote existing staff for core development roles.
Canceled Kingdom Hearts spin-off's intro apparently leaks online and not even veteran fans understand what's going on: "Why does it look like Pacific Rim but with Keyblades"
The opening cinematic for the canceled mobile game Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link has reportedly leaked online, featuring a large-scale battle and narrative elements that some fans find confusing and unlike the game's previously described steampunk aesthetic. The footage's grand scale has led to speculation that parts of it may be repurposed for Kingdom Hearts 4.
As PlayStation kills discs, Nier Automata creator Yoko Taro is "saddened by the loss of physical media" and despairs over "the future" of games: "That's just the way things are going"
Nier series director Yoko Taro expressed sadness over the decline of physical game media, citing PlayStation's plans to end disc production and Nintendo's Switch 2 Game-Key Cards. He believes the industry is moving away from physical distribution, contrary to his expectations that limited editions would persist. Taro's comments reflect a broader concern about the future of games and the loss of physical ownership.
Final Fantasy 14's attempt to take the MMO mobile is over before the world even gets the chance to see it
Square Enix and Tencent have decided to terminate the licensing agreement for Final Fantasy 14 Mobile, leading to the shutdown of the game in China and the cancellation of its unreleased global version. The mobile iteration, developed by LightSpeed Studios, offered a streamlined experience based on the base A Realm Reborn content with some features from later expansions. Service for the mobile game is ending on September 30, 2024.
Final Fantasy 4 was nearly skipped entirely so the JRPG series could "beat" Dragon Quest: "It was kind of…
Square Enix considered skipping Final Fantasy 4 and releasing Final Fantasy 5 instead to gain a promotional advantage over the Dragon Quest series. Takashi Tokita and Yoshinori Kitase revealed that the CEO at the time suggested this unconventional strategy to surpass Dragon Quest's popularity. The company also controversially renumbered Final Fantasy 4 as Final Fantasy 2 in North America.
Square Enix assembles Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary trailer
Square Enix has released a trailer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy X, which originally launched on PlayStation 2 in 2001. A Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster is also slated for release on Nintendo Switch. The trailer invites players to relive memories from the beloved title.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link may have been cancelled, but that hasn't stopped footage of Keyblade-wielding astronauts from leaking online
Footage of the cancelled mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has surfaced online, showcasing astronaut-like characters fighting a giant Heartless with Keyblades. Development on the game, which was intended to connect Kingdom Hearts Union X and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, ended last year due to concerns about long-term service viability. Square Enix's current focus for the series is on Kingdom Hearts 4.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
What's the best summer-themed videogame track?
This article discusses the best summer-themed video game music tracks, highlighting examples like Destiny Islands from Kingdom Hearts, Ginger Island from Stardew Valley, New Bodhum from Final Fantasy 13-2, and Seaside Resort from Tekken 8. The author expresses a preference for more subtle tracks that evoke nostalgia for late summer nights over overtly tropical themes.
Final Fantasy 10 leaned into the fantasy genre after devs "learned that The Lord of the Rings was in production" and thought it would be "the next big global trend"
Final Fantasy 10's developers shifted from a sci-fi direction to a fantasy setting after learning about the production of The Lord of the Rings films, anticipating fantasy would become a major trend. This decision aligned with the game's 2001 release, shortly before The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone hit theaters. While the game embraced fantasy, some sci-fi elements remained, influenced by a desire for Eastern-inspired fantasy rather than medieval European settings.
Square Enix talks Final Fantasy 4, was originally intended for the NES
Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy 4 was initially planned for the Nintendo Entertainment System before its eventual release on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Development began in 1989, and the platform change occurred due to unexpected shifts, including the desire to utilize the SNES's Mode 7 graphics feature for elements like the opening airship scene.
Kitase says it was hard building a team for Final Fantasy X due to Kingdom Hearts
Square Enix director Yoshinori Kitase revealed that assembling the development team for Final Fantasy X was challenging due to key staff members, including Tetsuya Nomura, being occupied with the Kingdom Hearts franchise. This situation impacted the resources available for Final Fantasy X's production.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 17: Epic Games Summer Sale
The Epic Games Store is hosting its annual Summer Sale, featuring discounts on titles like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Resident Evil Requiem. Other storefronts like Steam, Humble Store, and Ubisoft are also offering various deals on PC games, including new releases and popular titles. Additionally, Amazon Luna is providing free games for subscribers.
Square Enix just killed Final Fantasy 14's mobile port before it could even launch globally, offering "sincere apologies for being unable to meet your expectations"
Square Enix and Tencent have officially canceled the global release of Final Fantasy 14 Mobile, citing business and market changes. The Chinese version, which launched in June 2025, will also go offline on September 30. This decision follows the earlier shutdown of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remaster and the upcoming closure of Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis.
Final Fantasy Resonance calls back to the JRPG series' most sweat-inducing challenge with the jump rope minigame…
Final Fantasy Resonance will feature a challenging jump rope minigame, reminiscent of Final Fantasy 9's infamous challenge. The game, launching October 22 for PC and current consoles, also includes other fan service elements like character summons and pixel art. Square Enix is considering more traditional remakes based on fan reception.
