Square Enix
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Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Was Originally Planned To Be Tied Into The Olympics
Square Enix's upcoming fighting game, Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, was initially conceived with a tie-in to the Olympic Games. The article discusses this original concept for the game.
Google's Gemini will make its way into Dragon Quest X to power a "Chatty Slimey" AI companion, Square Enix has announced
Square Enix is partnering with Google to integrate Gemini AI into the Japan-exclusive MMORPG Dragon Quest X, creating an AI companion called "Chatty Slimey." This companion will generate conversations and react to in-game events to help new players feel less lonely. Details on how the AI will be managed and its specific functionalities are still forthcoming.
Final Fantasy's Wait Times: Sinking Its Own Magic?... | TAG
This article rounds up several gaming news items, including new Pokémon accessories for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation's upcoming AI-powered frame generation technology, concerns about long release intervals for the Final Fantasy series, and New Blood's commitment to supporting GOG. It also touches on quick hits like Mario Kart Tour's age rating change and updates for fighting games.
"New Players Won't Feel Alone" - Square Enix Partners With Google For AI-Powered Dragon Quest Companion
Square Enix is partnering with Google to integrate a generative AI-powered companion, "Chatty Slimey," into the MMORPG Dragon Quest X. This feature, powered by Google's Gemini, aims to assist new players by analyzing gameplay and initiating conversations. While currently Japan-only, the move highlights Square Enix's increasing exploration of AI in game development and quality assurance.
Women and LGBTQ+ Gamers Get the Worst of Online Toxicity. The Data Proves It.
Data indicates that women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Black gamers, and Jewish gamers experience disproportionately high rates of identity-based harassment in online gaming environments. While AI moderation tools are improving, they struggle to address coordinated, multi-platform harassment campaigns, leading to players avoiding games and the industry losing diverse talent. Games like Final Fantasy XIV and Deep Rock Galactic are highlighted for fostering more inclusive communities through design and active community management.
Square Enix Is Turning Slimes Into AI Chatbots In Dragon Quest X
Square Enix is partnering with Google to integrate its AI, Gemini, into the MMORPG Dragon Quest X. The collaboration will introduce an AI-powered chatbot named Chatty Slimey, based on the game's iconic slimes, which players can interact with via voice and text for guidance and commentary. This initiative aims to make the game more accessible to new players and follows Square Enix's broader interest in AI for game development and QA.
Younger fans are finding it hard to connect with Final Fantasy because of long "release intervals", says FF14 director
Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy 14, expressed concern that long release intervals between new mainline titles may be hindering younger players from connecting with the Final Fantasy series. He noted that the extended development cycles make it difficult for newcomers to experience the franchise compared to older fans. Square Enix attempts to bridge these gaps with remasters, remakes, and spin-offs, but recent entries like Final Fantasy 15 and 16 have also caused division among the fanbase.
Ex-Blizzard president says gamers need to 'Man up' over AI usage in games after Crimson Desert devs issue…
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra stated that gamers need to 'Man up' regarding the use of AI in video games, following an incident where Crimson Desert developers Pearl Abyss mistakenly used AI-generated art assets. Ybarra believes AI will be ubiquitous in gaming and other industries, questioning the need for developers to apologize for its use. The article also touches on industry trends like Square Enix aiming for AI to handle 70% of QA by 2027 and a survey indicating most developers favor disclosure of AI usage.
Frasier Pinball, Horses In Among Us, And More Of The Best Gaming April Fools' Day Jokes Ever
This article rounds up some of the most memorable April Fools' Day pranks from the gaming industry over the years. It highlights jokes from publications like GameSpot and IGN, as well as from developers such as Innersloth, Blizzard, and Sega, covering a range of humorous and sometimes prophetic fake announcements.
Capcom Will Not Implement AI-Generated Assets in its Games, Still Testing the Tech
Capcom has stated it will not implement AI-generated assets in its current game content but is testing the technology for improving development efficiency across graphics, sound, and programming. While other companies like Square Enix are researching AI for tasks like quality assurance, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick and Bethesda's Todd Howard expressed caution regarding AI's role in creative game development, emphasizing artistic intention.
That Dragon Quest MMO still isn't coming to the west, but it is getting a Gemini-powered AI slime companion
Square Enix is partnering with Google to introduce a conversational AI companion called Chatty Slimey to the MMO Dragon Quest X. This AI will generate voices and engage in conversation with players, and can even initiate dialogue based on in-game events. A beta test is planned, with applications open until March 30th.
Square Enix announces it will integrate Google’s generative AI Gemini into popular online game Dragon Quest X
Square Enix is integrating Google's generative AI, Gemini, into its online game Dragon Quest X to provide players with conversational assistance and hints. This feature, embodied by the companion character Oshaberi Slimey, aims to help new players navigate the game. Square Enix is also collaborating with Google Cloud to expand AI usage, with executives predicting AI will significantly transform gaming within the next three to five years.
Yoshi-P: Younger players “haven’t really had the chance to connect” with Final Fantasy series as “release intervals for new titles have gotten longer”
Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida believes younger players struggle to connect with the Final Fantasy series due to increasingly long release intervals between new titles. He suggests that the series' traditional gameplay may also be a barrier for a generation accustomed to action-based combat and online play.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Dirge of Cerberus Event “Breaking Chains” Launches March 25
Square Enix announced that the Dirge of Cerberus event "Breaking Chains" for Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis will launch on March 25, 2026. This update adapts story material from Dirge of Cerberus and features characters Azul, Neor, and Shelke. Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam, and has achieved 11 million downloads.
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix Free Flow Virtuoso Improvements Implementation Mod by Xaddgx Overhauls Combat,
A new mod for Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, titled Free Flow Virtuoso Improvements Implementation, significantly overhauls the game's combat system. The mod, created by Xaddgx, introduces full combo control, mid-combo magic and item usage, and a new Free Movement system. It also features redesigned Drive Forms, updated party behaviors, and new challenge rooms. Currently, the mod is available for the PCSX2 emulator, with a PC port in development.
If you ask Yoshi-P, kids don't care about Final Fantasy anymore because they're taking too long to come out
Naoki Yoshida, producer of Final Fantasy 14, acknowledges that younger generations may not be as engaged with the Final Fantasy series due to long release intervals between titles. He hopes Dissidia Duellum can help foster community and brand awareness, contrasting the series' pace with the more frequent releases of games like Genshin Impact. The article also notes the significant gaps between recent main Final Fantasy entries.
World of Warcraft: Midnight's class balancing is steering the MMO headfirst into a mistake that's been…
This article analyzes the class balancing in World of Warcraft's upcoming Midnight expansion, suggesting that the current approach of focusing on two-minute burst windows is a mistake. The author contrasts this with Final Fantasy 14's meta, highlighting how this design choice negatively impacts gameplay outside of coordinated boss fights, particularly for solo content and alt characters. Blizzard's reactive nature is noted as a potential factor in addressing these issues.
Dragon Quest X Main Story Ending in Upcoming Version 8 Update; Switch 2 Updates Announced
Square Enix announced that the main story of the MMORPG Dragon Quest X will conclude with the upcoming Version 8 update, subtitled The Lost Children of Time and Space, releasing June 25, 2026. While the central narrative will end, side stories and other content will continue. Performance improvements and HDR support are also planned for the Nintendo Switch version.
Final Fantasy 14 boss man Yoshi-P says younger players "haven't really had the chance to connect" with the JRPG series as "the release intervals for new titles have gotten longer"
Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida believes the increasing release intervals between new titles are hindering younger players' connection to the JRPG series. He hopes that upcoming games will provide a new entry point for younger generations to discover and engage with the Final Fantasy universe.
60+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Refreshed Spring Sale (North America/Europe)
The PlayStation Store's Spring Sale is currently active and features over 60 discounted games for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The sale includes a curated list of recommended titles, many of which are at their lowest prices ever, and will run until April 22, 2026.
