Stardew Valley is available on a lot of different platforms, probably all of the ones you could imagine, including Android. While modded games might feel like something that’s reserved for PC players, there are actually a lot of mods that work on Andro??id. 

It’s worth remembering that while there are mods that will work on the Android version of Stardew Valley, they can be a little unstable, as they’re often designed specifically for the PC version. The best way to tell if a mod is compatible with the Android version of Stardew Valley is by heading to th?e “Files�tab on NexusMods and looking for a file specifically labeled for Andro??id. 

How to install Stardew Valley mods on Android

Before you can install any mods for Stardew Valley, you’ll need to download SMAPI. This is the program through which most Stardew Valley mods are implemented, including a?ll of those I’ll list in just a little bit. 

To install SMAPI on y??our ?Android device, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Android SMAPI page on GitHub and download the APK file
2. Locate the APK file in your device’s “Downloads�folder
3. Tap on the file to run it, confirm permissions, and select “Install�/li>

4. When installation is complete, select “Update�and finalize the installation of the latest version.

Once you’ve got SMAPI up and running, you’ll now be able to search for mods that you want to in??????????????????????????stall. Here’s how:

1. Open up SMAPI and navigate to the “Help�tab
2. Select “Nexus�to be taken directly to NexusMods in your device’s browser
3. Find the mod you want to install and select “Manage Download�/li>

4. Find the correct file (preferably one specifically for Android) and download it
5. When downloaded, locate the file in your downloads and transfer the zipped file to the Mod folder, which can be found at the following location:

   1. Internal Storage > Stardew Valley > Mods

6. Restart SMAPI and make sure that the downloaded mod is available in the “Config�tab to confirm installation.

If you’ve followed these steps and downloaded a mod compatible with Stardew Valley on Android, you should have successfully installed your first?? mod! 

Now that we’ve figured that out, let’s look at the 14 best Android-friendly mods for Stardew Valley.

Helpful Spouses

L?ook, I’m not saying that you should marry a villager and then immediately put them to work, but they ar??e living on the farm rent-free, so they should probably contribute just a little bit, you know?

The Helpful Spouses mod by LeFauxMatt enables you to choose which chores your chosen spouse will do for you each day, and you can opt to have them help out with one or more of the foll??owing tasks:

• Providing the perfect gift for any villagers who have a birthday that day
• Feeding or petting the animals in Barns or Coops
• Making breakfast for you each morning
• Repairing any damaged fences
• Watering the crops
• Filling up water troughs in Slime Hutches

Better Ranching

It can be a little hard to figure out which farmyard animals you’ve already interacted with on any given day, especially when you start to really build up the number of animals you have. The Better Ranching mod by Urbanyeti negates this i?ssue by giving all farm animals bubbles above their head that show whether they have produce to be gathered or whether they’ve been petted. 

Automatic Gates

I know it’s a relatively small thing, but nothing is more annoying than getting into your groove and then a single misclick halting you in your step because you failed to open a gate in time. The Automatic Gates mod by ScheKaa fixes this particular pet peeve. Now, every time you a??pproach a gate, it will automatic?ally open and then close behind you, allowing you to really get into the groove. 

Configurable Luck

Luck is responsible for a surprising amount of things in Stardew Valley, from how quickly you find ladders in the Mines or Skull Valley to whether or not a tree nearby will get struck by lightning. The Configurable Luck mod by SophieSalacia gives you full control over your level of lu??ck, so you’ll be flying down the Mines and getting bountiful rewards in no time. 

DaisyNiko's Earthy Recolour

Stardew Valley definitely has its charm, but even at the best of times, the sheer amount of color on screen can be a little overwhelming. DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolour mod desaturates the colors, lowers the brightness, and makes everything look just a little bit more classy. If you want the insides of your buildings to match the outside, you can also download DaisyNiko’s Earthy Interiors mod. 

Elle’s Town Buildings

One of the best things about modding your game of Stardew Valley is the ability to change how things look to suit your taste. Junimods has a long list of incredible recolor and redesign mods available to download, all of which are Android-friendly, so I urge you to check them all out. Elle’s Town Buildings is just one, but it’s a fantastic example, giving all of the buildings in town a subtle yet ?impactful makeover. 

Skull Cavern Elevator

Skull Cavern is ripe with rewards and it’s a great place to spend rainy days, but this experience can be somewhat hampered by the lack of progression saving. The Skull Cavern Elevator mod by Bifibi does just what you’d think �it adds an elevator to Skull Cavern that works just like the one in the norma??l Mines, updating every five floors and allowing instant access to lower floors. 

Easy Prairie King

For a cozy game, Stardew Valley has its fair share of frustrating elements, and none is more frustrating than The Prairie King in the Stardrop Saloon. The Easy Prairie King mod by spineshank3042 allows you to tweak the difficulty of the arcade game to the point that you can change how?? long each stage lasts, give yourself a shotgun, or slow enemies down. If you’re going for the Fector’s Challeng??e achievement, don’t worry; you can still get it with this mod enabled. 

Shop Anywhere

The Shop Anywhere mod by SorryLate is a godsend whether you’re bad at balancing your time or if you just don’t want to put effort into physica??lly going to one of the many vendors for on?e specific item. All of the shops are included, from the General Store to the Hat Mouse, and you don’t even need to leave your farm to spend your Gold. Bliss. 

CJB Cheats Menu

The CJB Cheats Menu mod by Pathoschild is jam-packed with cheats that can help you get ahead in the game, and all of it is accessed through a ?single in-game menu. Instantly increase the number of hearts you have with a selected villager, increase your skill level, change how time works, instantly warp to a selected location, and a long, long list of other cheats are included. 

NPC Map Locations

You know the drill: you’re looking for a specific villager, and you haven’t quite managed to memorize their entire year's worth of routine, so you go online and look it up, which costs you valuable gaming time. Well, the NPC Map Locations mod by Bouhm makes this? a thing of the past by showing the villagers on the map in real-time. It’s such a small quality of life improvement, but it makes a world of difference. 

Instant Tool Upgrades

I don’t think I need to explain this one too much, but the Instant Tool Upgrades mod by Binarynova will prevent you ?from ever having to go two days without your Hoe or Watering Can ever again. Instead, Clint will immediately hand over your upgraded tool, and you can go about your day. Again, it is a small change, but definitely worthwhile. 

Automate

The Automate mod by Pathoschild can just make your life so much easier, especially when it?? comes to the grind of refining resources in farm machinery. This mod allows you to place a chest next to any machine, and the machine will automatically grab the required resources from the chest while putting finished produce back in. It works with all vanilla machines, so the possibilities are endless. 

Carry Chest

There’s nothing worse than going to rearrange your house or farm and realizing that you have a full chest that you need to move. Usually, you’d need to empty out the chest and then destroy it so that you can pick it up and place it down elsewhere, but the Carry Chest mod by Spacechase0 puts an?? end to that hassle. Now, even if a chest is filled to the brim with resources, yo??u can pick it up and move it to a new location.

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Disney Mirrorverse fans are poor, unfortunate souls, because the servers for the mobile game are shutting down on December 16. The Disney Mirrorverse shut down announcement has also cause??d the removal of the game from the App Store and Google Play?? Store, and players can't spend their hard-earned cash on microtransactions anymore.

Disney Mirrorverse gets its conclusion, however

Despite the Disney Mirrorverse shut down occurring this December, players of the game will thankfully get a resolution of the storyline that pits alternate universe Disney characters into one valiant adventure. The remaining content will be released "over the coming weeks," said Kabam on the Disney Mirrorverse website.

"Our sincere thanks to you, our amazing community of players, who have made this journey unforgettable," said the developer. "Your support and passionate dedication to the game is t??ruly inspiring to our team."

The mobile space is competitive, and likely as a result, Disney Mirrorverse only lasted for just over two years. No reason has been given by Kabam for the shutdown of the game, but it's possibly due to a lack of interest from Disney fans around the world. There are arguably better action-RPG experiences out there on mobile, like Genshin Impact.

Mirrorverse had a lot of competition, especially within the Disney gaming space. Gameloft's Disney Dreamlight Valley and Disney Speedstorm have been successful at gaining an audience, and consistently getting new updates. Just recently, Gameloft announced that Maleficent will become a racer in Disney Speedstorm. Tiana and Mulan also became recent villagers in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Kabam still has its mobile fighting game Marvel: Contest of Champions going strong and is about to reach its 10th anniversary on December 10. In ??today's ??gaming landscape, that's quite an accomplishment.

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We've been dealt yet another radical, multiplying hand as a release date has been revealed for Balatro Mobile. The iOS and Android version of LocalThunk's widely-acclaimed poker roguelike launches via the App Store, Goog?le Play, and Apple Arcade on September 26, 2024.

Watch as Jimbo ominously introduces the new ports in the releas??e date trailer: 

Already a hit on portable platforms like Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck â€?as well as PC and all other major consoles â€?taking Balatro on the go just makes sense. Balatro Mobile has been further tweaked to suit its new platforms, including the ?addition of remastered controls for touchscreen devices. 

Beyond that, the rest of Balatro Mobile appears to be exactly what it should be: Balatro. You've got an abundance of Jokers with special powers you can use with your decks, Campaign Mode and Challenge Mode, and the one-?more-run card-dealing madness that remains an utter delight.

Jokers wild

If you're already well-versed in Balatro, or just want some further insight into where the whole ?thing came from, then boy, do I have a podcast for you. The excellent Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games podcast had LocalThunk on back in April, and it's absolutely worth a listen, whether you're into the game itself or just love game dev chat. 

Balatro was already a brutal time vampire, doing its best to magically whittle away hours before our very eyes. With the game even more accessible to everyone, all I can recommend is that you all go ahead and kiss you??r free time goodbye. 

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Horror multiplayer game Identity V is now hosting a new Persona 5 Royal event. As a result, you can now unlock costumes ??inspired by the Phantom Thieves an?d more.

The Identity V Persona 5 Royal event began on August 2 and runs until August 31. You'll be able to complete tasks ??to unlock the cat-??inspired Morgana as a pet. You can also unlock the following crossover costumes, including:

• [S Costume] First Officer- Goro Akechi
• [A Costume] Coordinator - Makoto Niijima
• [A Costume] Mechanic - Ann Takamaki
• [A Costume] Gardener- Haru Okumura, Emote, Portrait, and Graffiti.

You can also get the 'Regular' and 'Souls of Resistance' costumes from past Identity V crossovers with Persona 5 Royal. "For those who missed the last Persona C??rossover Event and were unable to obtain the?? sought-after costumes, this is the perfect opportunity to join the new activities and complete your collection," said the press release. Past characters include Joker, Ryuji, Yusuke, and Futaba.

Identity V seems very much inspired by the popular Dead by Daylight. It's a 1v4 survival game, in which one player plays the?? monster while four others play the survivors. It's free to play on PC, Android, and iOS. For now, it's not available on consoles?? like the PS5 or Switch yet.

As for the Persona series, Atlus has a mobile spinoff on the way in Persona 5: The Phantom X. It has already been released in some territories on April 18 but will be getting a global launch for both mobile and PC with consoles down the line, according to Persona Central. It seems to have its own storyline and characters with high-quality cutscenes you'd expect from a mainline title. However, it will be gacha-based like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero.

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Natsume continues to diligently plow the fields of Harvest Moon, and its latest crack at the farming sim series takes it to mobile. The developer and publisher revealed Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home as a mobile game that's eyeing an August 2024 launch on ?iOS and Android.

Details are light at the moment, but Home Sweet Home has players moving back to their hometown at the behest of their childhood friend. It turns out the town of Alba is in rough shape now, and it's up to you to revit?alize it. In the process, you'll need to team up with friends while convincing the more doubtful townsfolk that someone from the city has what it takes to bring their town back to life.&??nbsp;

I want to see you dance again

Interestingly enough, the news about the latest Harvest Moon game arrived a day prior to the Marvelous Game Showcase 2024 event. The stream is set to kick off today, on May 30, at 3 p.m. Pacific Time, and it sure would be a coincidence if one of their announcements had to do with the Story of Seasons series. As you may know, the original, long-running Harvest Moon series continues under the Story of Seasons title in the west due to rights issues.

We'll see what comes of the Marvelous stream soon while we wait for more information from Natsume on the next Harvest Moon entry. Prior to this, the most recent game was Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos, which hi??t consoles and?? PCs around the world in September 2023. 

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Even in the modern age of ??constant internet connection, ??there are times when you simply can’t connect to the wifi. Whether you’re traveling, too far from civilization or you just want to disconnect, don’t worry, there’s still some games out there to keep you entertained even when there’s no signal. 

As someone w??ho spends a lot of time 30,000 feet up in the air, I’ve become pretty good at finding offline games to occupy my time when flying and I’m not one fo??r gatekeeping, so I’m going to share those I’ve found with you. 

1. Plague Inc

There’s no two ways about it: Plague Inc is the perfect game to play when you’re stressed out from traveling and would? love to watch the world fall to pieces around you, even though you wouldn’t wish harm on anyone, realistically spe?aking. 

In case you’ve not played before, the aim of Plague Inc is to create a deadly illness and eradicate life on Earth through adding contagious symptoms and transmission methods. This game can admittedly be pretty dark, but if you’d rather be the hero and sa?ve the world from a bacterial or viral threat, you can play Cure mode and race the infec?tion to, well, cure the afflicted.

2. Dumb Ways To Die

Dumb Ways To Die is a phenomenon which began as a clever advertising campaign, reminding people to stay safe around trains, for Metro in Melbourne way back in 2012. Now there are 11 Dumb games in total, but the first remains the most entertaining for lon??g pla?y sessions. 

The aim of Dumb Ways To Die is to, well, avoid dying a particularly dumb death. Whether you’re helping a bean avoid being eaten by a bear because they’re poking the beast with a stick, or helping a different bean avoid having their unmentionables bitten off because they decided to use them as piranha bait, there’s no denying that Dumb Ways To Die is still a hilarious and bizarre way to pass the time between?? Wi-Fi connections.

3. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is an amazing time killer regardless of which platform you choose to play on. You can spend hours clearing your farm, building friendships and exploring the world around you. One benefit of playing on mob?ile is that you can take it wherever you go, and you don’t need an internet connection to progress your story. 

One amazing thing about Stardew Valley is that if you??’re logged into the Google Play Store or App Store on more than one device, you only need to pay for it once. Once you’ve purchased it, you can install it on as many devices as you like. Sadly, your save files won’t transfer onto other devices, but this does mean that you can do things in different ways, like going the Joja route. Heathen.

4. Fallout Shelter

If you love Fallout and have always wanted to be the Overseer of a Vault, then Fallout Shelter is the perfect game to kill some tim??e while in waiting rooms or flying through the skies. Control your own Vault, build it however you like and even perform your own ex?periments if you want, there’s no limit to what you can do to your Vault dwellers. You can send them out on expeditions to explore the wastes, give them jobs within the Vault, and you even get to name their many, many children. 

There are a host of familiar faces within Fallout Shelter?, with the most recent addi??tions being characters from the TV series, including Lucy and The Ghoul. 

5. Papers, Please

Papers, Please, the border-control phenomenon by Lucas Pope, was released on PC back in 2013 and if you’ve ever wanted to take it with you, it’s available on both Android and iOS. I have to admit, it’s ironic to play Papers, Please while waiting in line at TSA, but it d??efinitely helps to pass the time. 

While the gameplay doesn’t feel quite as smooth as it does on PC because you have to keep switching between documents, the story, characters, and now-iconic sounds of Papers, Please are all very much present in the ??mobile version. 

6. Crossy Road

As someone who grew up in the '90s, I’m pretty familiar with Frogger. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I’m pretty good at the traffic jumping game. However, Crossy Road seems to exist purely to prove me wrong and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve ended up splattered agains?t the side of a lorry because I mis?judged the timing of a jump.

You start the game with a chicken whose only aim is to cross the road, although you don’t get any answers as to why, sadly. Progressing through the game rewards coins which can be spent on other animals and maps to navigate. During my travels between the US and UK, my Crossy Road sk??ill has come on in leaps?? and bounds. (I’ll see myself out.) 

7. Two Dots

If you’re not up for the stress of avoiding traffic, don’t want to end the world, or simply want to relax, Two Dots is probably the best choice on this list. It’s a simple game of connecting the dots in straight lines (but not diagonally) to clear levels. You can spend hours trying to beat your own personal best score on any level, attempting to beat a level using as few moves as possible and, if you get bored of joining the dots, there are other things on offer in Two Dots as well, such as painting challenges. 

One of the huge plus sides to Two Dots is the colorbl?ind mode, for those who struggle to tell the colors of the dots apart. The accessibility option puts symbols onto each dot, allowing you to differentiate between them even if the colors a?re hard to tell apart. 

8. Best Fiends

In the same vein as Two Dots, Best Fiends is a matching game which goes one step further and allows you to connect items diagonally. Through clearing botanical themed items, you help the bugs take down the evil slugs, and each bug has their own corresponding color. Clearing items of this color allows the bugs to do more damage to the slugs. You can also upgrade your Fiends and unlock new ones, including s?ome epic Fiends, along the way.

You only have limited moves per level and running out of moves means losing a ??life, but lives regenerate at a rate of one every twenty minutes so even if you do lose one, you’ll get it back soon enough. There’s nothing more satisfying than creating a huge chain of items before quickly jumping to the end of a level to take down the big, bad slug boss.

9. Pocket City 2

If you like city building games, I cannot recommend Pocket City 2 enough. The possibilities are endless and you can build anything from a small town to a huge, sprawling m?etropolis. If you’re traveling through cities, you can take inspiration from the things you see to design your own dream location, become the all-powerful ruler of ?your domain and build up the population. 

Not only do you get to build ?your city, but once you’ve placed down a few buildings, you can enter free-roaming mode and explore the city from the perspective of a re?sident. 

10. Once Upon a Tower

If you’ve got an image in your head of a defenseless princess, locked in a tower, waiting for a prince to rescue her from the terrible dragon holding her captive, then think again. Once Upon a Tower sees you playing as the princess herself, who wields a sl?edgehammer and uses it to descend the tower through breakable floors. 

You’ll also use your sledgehammer to defeat enemies on the way down and collect fireflies, which accumulate over time and can be exchanged for rewards. It’s very easy to make mistakes in Once Upon a Tower, but you can always start again and begin? smashing your way ??through the levels.

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Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is finally dropping soon, including revamped versions of old classic maps. If you're itching to play Verdansk and Rebirth Island, Warzone Mobile will soon be the best way to do it. However, many mobile players, especially new ones, might want a better way to play mobile games. That's where the Backbone comes in, and it's partnering with Warzone Mobile for the Backbone One x Call of Duty Warzone Mobile gaming controller on March 13.

Backbone One x Call of Duty Warzone Mobile

Backbone and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile's controller is the standard Backbone One device, but it comes with a custom Warzone Mobile sleeve and exclusive in-game content. The $99.99 device also give you 't?he opportunity for two 30 minute double XP tokens.' Each unit will come with a single token, while purchasing an additional Backbone+ membership grants another 30 minutes of ??double XP.

Backbone+ is a membership within the Backbone mobile app. It lands all your games in one place, allowing for easy PS Remote Play, Xbox Remote Play, and Steam Link gaming. Also, it adds features l??ike gameplay capture, unlimited cloud storage, and 1080p/60fps recording on iOS 15 for $4.17 a?? month.

What is the Backbone One mobile gaming controller?

The Backbone One mobile gaming controller is device that turns your mobile platform into a controller. You snap your phone into place and can instantly play any game o?r service that supports controllers. These include Apple Arcade, App Store Games, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, or streaming from your console or PC. Moreover, the latest version of the Backbone One includes two sets of magnetic adapters allowing for better phone fit along with a more responsive D-pad.

Turning your mobile device into a controller will surely give you the leg up on enemies in Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. This version in the game, while casual, is certain to get competitive. Some high-profile Call of Duty content creators and streamers are even looking into getting Warzone Mobile running on? their computer or mobile device. Bringing back the old classic maps is sure to draw a lot of interest, especially when most players haven't enjoyed any of the new maps nearly as much.

The Backbone One x Call of Duty Warzone Mobile gaming controller is available March 13 exclusively at Best Buy.

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Bitlife allows you to live out your dreams, no matter what they are. Some of those dreams, however, can feel as hard within the game as they are in real life, and one of these is becoming an Actor. To get you to stardom fast, here's the stats you'll need to become an actor in Bitlife.

The best thing to do when trying to become an Actor is start a new life, because the work for this route begins at age eight, when you can ask your parents for acting lessons. If they allow you to take them, make sure to take at least one Acting lesson every time you age up, ensuring you fill the skill bar before?? you reach 18.

You’ll also want to join the Drama Club? as soon as you’re able,? so either in Middle School or Secondary School depending on your starting location. 

How to become an Actor

Once you’ve reached age 18, you should have a full Acting skill bar after lessons. Now, star??t focusing on looks. You’ll need at least a part-time job for this, or take freelancing op??portunities, to fund the lifestyle improvements. 

You’ll need at least 70% in the Looks category before you can even think about becomin??g an Actor, so do the following to boost your looks:

• Go to the Gym
• Get a Manicure
• Plastic Surgery

While doing this, look for Extra roles. To do this, open up the Job menu and select Special Careers before selecting Actor. Acting as an Extra can sometimes get you spotted and a role can be handed to you, if you’re lucky. At the very least, Extra roles land your name in the credits, so you’re more likely to be given a role that you audition fo??r. You’ll also get paid, which helps. 

You’ll want to audition for absolutely everything in both Movies and Tele?vision, and I’d advise working from the bottom up. When you select a role that’s on o??ffer, you’ll see two bars:

• Script quality 
• Your fit

You want your fit to be as high as possible in o??rder to maximise chances of getting the role. Don’t lose hope if you’re facing a wall of rejections,?? either. It only takes one successful audition to begin your journey to fame and fortune as an Actor.

The post How to become an Actor in Bitlife appeared first on Destructoid.

WWE superstar Brock Lesnar has been removed from the 2K mobile game WWE Supercard, the latest in a series of changes following a federal investigation into sex trafficking allegat??ions against former WWE owner Vince McM?ahon.

Though Lesnar is not mentioned?? by name in a sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit against former WW?E owner Vince McMahon from Janel Grant, there are several references to an individual who is believed to be Lesnar.

Why Brock Lesnar may have been removed from WWE Supercard

The lawsuit only names a "former UFC Heavyweight Champion" who was allegedly contacted by McMahon. Cageside Seats reports "McMahon [allegedly] enticed [Lesnar] to sign a new contract in August 2021 by offering Grant as 'a sex??ual commodity' for his use."

According to the lawsuit, the individual in question showed interest in a sexual encounter, but "a snowstorm changed WWE Superstar's travel plans, and Ms. Grant ultimatel??y used the weather and COVID-19 as an excuse to back out."

Brock Lesnar is the only male UFC Heavyweight champion who wa?s prominent on WWE programming during the events, leading many to speculate he was involved.

Though Lesnar's involvement has not been confirmed in court, he's now been removed from WWE Supercard. It is also rumored that Lesnar was taken off the 2024 Royal?? Rumble card, wit??h many reporting that former NXT champion Bron Breakker took his place.

With all these changes, fan's eyes are now on the roster of the upcoming WWE 2K24, as many wonder if he'll be featured in the game. WWE 2K24 is scheduled to be released on March 8 for those who buy the standard edition, with an early access period for those who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition. A full roster has yet to be announced, so fans will have to wait until closer to ?release to confirm if Lesnar is on the roster or not.

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If you've been hankering for a new tactical mech shooter, the first game from KEK Entertainment fits the bill. Armor Attack is in the works a?t a team comprised of former EA and Ubisoft devs, and it's due out sometime this year.

Armor Attack is billed as a crossplay game with PC, Mac, iOS, and A??ndroid listed as its starting platforms. A console release is planned for an as-yet-undetermined date, and you can see how it looks in action in the announcement trailer below. 

At a glance, customization is goin??g to play a large role ??in the tactics at hand. Each vehicle has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can tweak your loadout in different ways depending on the desired playstyle. Abilities, weapons, talent systems, and other aspects will lend themselves well to certain objectives, and this combines with the different styles inherent to the three main factions. Naturally, everybody wants to rule the world, so these factions are all about trying their best to control the last remnants of a wartorn Earth. 

The key styles at play are defense, damage, and battlefield exploitation, the latter of which sounds ??like it might have something to do with the "game-changing mechanic" on each map. These range from changes to the overall layout to large boss enemies and the availability of vantage points that offer a competitive edge. KEK Entertainment CEO and co-founder Georgy Egorov says they want to offer the "ultimate mecha shooter experience for friends to enjoy across PC, mobile, and consoles without sacrificing caliber." We'll see how that pans out soon. 

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The Shadowverse series is getting ready to expand with a new game for mobile devices and PC. Cygames announced Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond as a free-to-play card?? battler, with a summer 2024 release planned for iOS, Android, and PC.

In the announcement overview, Cygames noted that "international language support" is planned for the new Shadowverse. While the competitive online? collectible card game will be free to play, there will naturally be optional? in-app purchases, so we'll see how that balances out when it launches. 

Check out the first look at the direct sequel to Shadowverse: 

Players will be able to move around? the world with custom avatars, interacting and battling with others they run into along the way. According to the footage, you'll also be able to kick a giant soccer ball around, play Mahjong, and fish, among other activities. There are also events and "other content" in the works, with more details to come on everything at a later date. The battles themselves promise fresh features like super evolution and new amulet abilities. 

Tournaments are already planned for 2024, including the RAGE Shadowverse Pro Tour and both in-store and online tournaments in Japan. For overseas players, there will be the Shadowverse NetEase Championship, Shadowverse Korea Open, Shadowverse Taiwan Open, and Shadowverse Open West/SEAO. There's also a Shadowverse World Championship scheduled for early 2025, with 10 million yen and a special Shadowverse: Evolve card up for grabs. Various slots are available for qualifyi??ng through the other tournaments in Ja??pan and other regions. 

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Hitman: Blood Money was a big hit for the franchise when it was released for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360 back in 2006. Now, a new set of players can experience the classic stealth title as heads to iOS and Android at the end of November as Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal.

Feral Interactive, the same studio that brought us a slew of AAA titles to mobile, is back at it again. The developer dropped a trailer for Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal that shows exactly?? what iOS and Android users should expect when the game releases on November 30.

The game's visuals r?emain on par with its PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 predecessors. But the stealth game's interface has been completely reworked to suit mobile devices. There have also been a few new bells and whistles included for a better overall experience.

Instinct Mode is something that's being brought to Reprisal from later games in the series. It hig??hlights targets and critical mission points to make navigating maps a bit easier.

A mini-map is also being introduced to Blood Money for the first time. It offers better feedback on Agent 47's surroundings, including alerts if the character is raising suspicions. As in the o??riginal, there are 12 sandbox missions for players to enjoy over and over again due to their highly replayable nature.

Controls for Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal have been reworked, too so that users can create a UI that fits them best on the go. However, those who wish to utilize? a gamepad or keyboard and mouse have that option too.

Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal sneaks up on iOS and Android users on November 30. It's listed in the App Store and Google Play Store for $14.99. A Nintend?o Switch port is also planned ??for some point in the winter.

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Despite its legacy, Xbox 360 puzzle-platformer Braid hasn't been around much. However, that's all about to change as the game's creator Jonathan ??Blow has recently announced a??n Anniversary Edition coming in 2024.

Releasing April 30, this new version of Braid comes with improved visuals and animatio??ns, areas that have been "re-envisioned to make them more unique," and more than 15 hours of commentary. If you're interested in the world game development, that last one may be of interest to you.

This special Anniversary Edition �which is launching to celebrate 15 years of Braid �is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, Android, and even Netflix. It'll also be available on PS4 and?? Xbox One, with Linux and Mac ports coming later on.

Considered a "masterpiece"

Originally released on Xbox 360 in 2008, Braid has been described as one of the greatest independent games of its generation. It won several awards and was the second-largest-selling game on Xbox Live Arcade. It has a Metacritic score of 93.

Its developer Blow is no stranger to the video game world. Some of his earlier work includes being a programmer on Oddworld: Munchy's Oddysee and Deus Ex: Invisible War. He released the puzzle title The Witness in 2016.

He's also gained something of a reputation over the years, often being held aloft as an outspoken critic of the gaming industry. He was described in a 2016 New Yorker article as a "prickly genius," while an interview with Kotaku in 2011 said Blow's opinions are not aimed at individuals, but at "trends." He's also no stranger to maki??ng public controversial statements over the years, further complicating his legacy.

In any case, Braid is often signposted as an indie release that helped shape an industry of indie releases. This was before Minecraft did it. If yo??u still haven't played the game (guilty), April's Anniversary Edition is definitely one to look out for.

The post Braid current-gen release coming April to celebrate 15th anniv??ersary appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's be honest, Kingdom Hearts 4 isn't coming anytime soon. So fans of the series may want to look elsewhere to get their fix of the Disney-verse. Luckily, with closed beta recruiting beginning today, Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link may not be all that far away.

Square Enix confirmed that Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link is arriving in 2024. Also, between today and November 19, iOS and Android users in the UK and Australia can sign up to ??potentially be chos??en for the title's upcoming closed beta. In total, roughly 3,000 participants will be selected across the two platforms. To commemorate the announcement, the publisher also dropped a new trailer for the game:

As for the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link closed beta schedule, iOS users are up first. Square Enix revealed that invitation emails will be going out around November 28, with the closed beta spanning from November 29 to December 8. Selected Android users will follow, with their closed beta launching at some point in January 2024. Square Enix recommends following the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link X account for future news on the Android beta.

Not much is known about the new mobile title to this point. At the game's initial reveal, we were told that the adventure would depart from Scala ad Caelum and instead take place in the real world. The Heartless would once again be a focal point as players experience a brand new story. And if these words mean nothing to you, feel free to check out Destructoid's full Kingdom Hearts timeline explained.

Today's trailer describes the upcoming game as a "GPS Action RPG". It's unclear how exactly GPS is incorporated, but you do see a real-world global map with various chests scattered about. Though the trailer also states you can "trave?l the world ??without stepping outside".

The trailer also teases the ability to adventure through various Disney worlds and collect Disney characters to aid you. In a couple of quick battle clips, we can see Mickey, Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, Ariel, Woody, Aladdin, Rapunzel, Tinker Bell, Simba, and a fe??w other?s.

As far as Kingdom Hearts 4 goes, we don't know much about that project either, aside from a teaser trailer. We do know a general timeframe that we will have Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link on our phones. ?Square Enix states in today's new trailer that the game will release sometime in 2024. Unless, of course, you're one of the lucky 3,000 that gets to try the game out early.

The post Kingdom Hear?ts: Missing-Link launches in 2024, closed beta sign-ups l??ive now appeared first on Destructoid.

The Creative side of Fortnite just got a new experience, courtesy of developer Torus Games and publisher Starbreeze Entertainment. Turtle vs Turtle sets two teams on top of moving platforms and puts them in a bat??tle of base destruction. 

Turtle vs Turtle is essentially the Fortnite that you know and love with a slightly different hook. The game supports two teams of up to eight players. Each team gets a moving platform, and team members need to get to work building defenses and turrets. The goal is to keep your own platform stable and on the move while?? blasting your opponents�to bits. 

Bill McIntosh, CEO of Torus Games (LEGO 2K Drive, World War Z) released a statement saying: “Creating Turtle vs Turtle has been an exhilarating journey for us at Torus Games, and the support from Starbreeze ?has been pivotal in bringing our vision to life.�

Starbreeze Entertainment, mostly a live service games publisher with titles like Roboquest and Payday 3, will be supporting Torus on Turtle vs Turtle as the game continues to evolve. 

Creative 2.0

The game was built using Unreal Editor for Fortnite as part of the Creative system, which Epic released in March 2023. The toolset lets developers create new games inside Fortnite. It also lets them cash in on their work. Each month Epic pays a portion of its Fortnite ??revenue to crea?tors based on player engagement with their games.

Starbreeze's other recent live service release, Payday 3, debuted in September to mostly negative reception. Fans ran into frequent matchmaking problems and were frustrated by the game’s need for an internet connection even during solo play. An update addressing some of the issues has faced multiple delays.

Turtle vs Turtle has a solid foundation as part of the Fortnite ecosystem, but Payday 3's rough start ??might make some reluctant to give it a shot.

The post Starbreeze and Torus Games launch a new island?? inside Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid.

The Walking Dead franchise has ventured into a lot of different video game genres. But it has yet to infect the match 3 genre, until? today.

Unlike The Walking Dead: Destinies, The Walking Dead Match 3 Tales is a puzzle RPG set within the universe of Robert Kirkman's original comic. Through match 3 puzzles, players will combat Walkers and various other enemies while playing as various characters fr?om the series, with each having their own set of unique skills and weapons to aid you.

Both heroes and villains are selectable in the mobile title. Characters of note include Rick, Michonne, Carl, Glenn, The Governor, Maggie, Abraham, and more. There's weapon crafting outside of mat?ch 3 rounds that can give you an edge. As well as a mode to build your own settlement which leads to unlocking additional survivors and upgrades.

As per most The Walking Dead projects, the game's narrative is a focus of the Skybound Entertainment team. Dan Murray, managing partner at the studio, says in a press release that "fans can now take an active part in the decision-making that lends such drama and emotion to The Walking Dead’s story, whether defending their home or expanding it.â€?/p>

The Walking Dead Match 3 features brand new comic book-style art. You'll revisit iconic moments from the original comics as well as never-before-seen ones.? And the mobile title even features full voice acting as well.

What about The Walking Dead Match 3 multiplayer?

Match 3 Tales has bo??th competitive and cooperative multiplayer included. Players can team up to take down difficult raid bosses that emerge as threats. You can go up against fellow survivors in PvP Raids, or participate in the game's All-Out War mode, which revolves around large-scale player alliance battles. And like many live service mobile games, daily and weekly challenges will occur.

The Walking Dead: All-Stars, released last year for mobile, had a similar comic book style as Match 3 Tales. However, the survival RPG didn't embrace the iconicly intense story of the franchise. Really, since the conclusion of Telltale's The Walking Dead series, th?e g??aming aspect of the series has had little focus on its comic-verse.

The aforementioned The Walking Dead: Destinies is based within AMC's ever-popular live-action world. And when Negan joined the roster of Tekken 7 in 2018, it was an adaptation of Jeffrey Dean Morgan's take on the television character. So it's refreshing to feel as though we are finally adventuring back into the original world of Kirkman's The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead Match 3 is available for both iOS and Android devices right now.

The post The Walking Dead has a match 3 game now, based on the or??iginal comic appeared first on Destructoid.

Dynasty Warriors 9 is getting another turn in the spotlight, this time in the form of a mobile game. Nexon and Koei Tecmo announced Dynasty Warriors M for a global release this winter. 

Dynasty Warriors M promises an action-RPG based on the ninth mainline entry, which left something to be desired when it launched in 2018. The mobile version for iOS and Android will be free-to-play with in-app purchases, offering over 50 Officers from five factions to "collect and develop." Each Officer has their own tactics to employ across 520 stages?? and 13 regions.

According to Gematsu, a soft laun??ch is live in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. While we wait for the worldwide launch,?? Nexon Korea shared some cinematic trailers. This one highlights the Battle of Hulao Gate:

The last we heard of Dynasty Warriors 9 was the Empires expansion that launched in 2021. M isn't the first game to strike phones and tablets exclusively. Dynasty Warriors: Overlords recently mixed Musou combat with town building, quests, and very mobile-style events. As teased in some of the videos, M will cover territory familiar to anyone modestly well-versed in the Three Kingdoms era. Settings like the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the Siege of Luoyang are deeply tread hack-and-slashing grou?nd.

Will Dynasty Warriors M revitalize the greatest video game series ever? The official English Facebook page is live for anyone who wants to keep up with the game in the months lead??ing up to its gl??obal release. 

The post Dynasty Warriors M l?aunches on mobile ?around the world this Winter appeared first on Destructoid.

Last week we got an early peak at Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a real-time collection RPG autobattler set in the MK universe that is exclusively on mobile. Developed by NetherRealm Studios, the features its own story centered around Shinnok's quest for destruction. Players must work together to aid Raiden and build a team of classic Mortal Kombat fighters to level up and progress through the story. Those interested in checking out this unique twist on Mortal Kombat can do so today on both iOS and Android.

"In Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, players will be able to unleash total mayhem in strategic, fast-paced battles with up to ten characters at once. Mortal Kombat: Onslaught introduces a new level ??of strategic gameplay and we’re excited to see how players build their teams to overcome various opponents and challenges."

- Ed Boon, CCO of NetherRealm Studios and Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat

Test Your Might

During our preview, we got to see an overview of how Mortal Kombat: Onslaught will play. Lead Designer Mike Lee showed us the real-time combat and gameplay. Players will grow their arsenal of Mortal Kombat fighters such as Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Liu Kang. As they progress they will level up their fighters. Along the way, you will also earn and enhance gear, equip powerful Relic items, and upgrade your Kombos and Special Abilities. Each fighter will fill the role of Assassin, Warrior, Sniper, or Defender. Each role has special abilities to excel at its specific role, and battles? will require specif??ic setups.

I have to admit, the gameplay actually looked ??pretty good for a mobile title. Players can deploy their fighters in an ideal formation to make use of their roles. Once the combat starts, ??players actively use their Special Abilities to change the tides of battle. You will have to grind a bit to level your character and increase their power to take on harder missions.

According to Lee, players will get a handful of characters via progression through the story. However, after that, Kombatants are acquired via a Gacha system. I asked Lee what we co??uld expect in terms of microtransactions and he stated that as a F2P game there are certainly microtransactions, but t?hat he felt NetherRealm was very generous with the MTX.

Khronicles

There are a variety of game modes in Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, including Boss Towers, Chasm Modes, and even Arena to enga?ge in PvP. In Arena, players will challenge each other in real-time matches to climb leaderboards and earn unique rewards.

Onslaught will also feature Khronicles, which will progress the story as well as introduce new fighters. The first Khronicle will feature the MK11-specific version of Scorpi??on. Players who partake in the Khronicle will get to tr??y out the fighter as well as unlock them for free by successfully completing the event.

Mortal Kombat: Onslaught releases today on iOS and Android.

The post Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is a mobile RPG autobattler that releases to??day appeared first on Destructoid.

I didn't need to play much of Mario Kart Tour to find out it's not for me: but even if you're still enjoying it, the race is coming to an end in the near future. According to a new in-game notification straight from Nintendo (via OatmealDome), new content for Mario Kart Tour will cease to come out from October 4, 2023 onward.

Here's the full wording from Nintendo:

"From 10/04/2023 (Wed) on, tours will consist of content from tours that have appeared before. Note: No new courses, drivers, kart?s, or gliders will be added following the Battle Tour starting 10/04/2023 (??Wed). We hope you continue to enjoy playing Mario Kart Tour."

We?ll, that's pretty definitive! I love how Nintendo clarified "courses, drivers, karts, or gliders" just to let folks know that there is no hope of new content coming to the game post-October. This is just a few weeks following the fourth anniversary of the game's release on September 25, 2019.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will carry on the legacy of Mario Kart Tour's few bright spots

Funnily enough, a good chunk of the game's courses have already been ported over to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so even when the microtransaction-filled game goes offline entirely, its legacy will still live on in some form. Even though it kicked off years ago, it's still so weird to see Nintendo getting into the mobile game with gacha fodder and loot boxes.

The post Mario Kart Tour is ending new co?ntent drops afte?r October appeared first on Destructoid.

By the time I spent about an hour with Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, I was hit with an overwhelming wave of familiarity. Not because of nostalgia for Final Fantasy 7, though I have fond memories of that game. Rather, it was because I hav?e seen virtually this exact same game on mobile devices for the past seven years now.

Despite what Square Enix’s frankly confusing marketing might leave you to believe, Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis is just a gacha game. Calling it “another possibility for a remake�maybe isn’t untrue, but it's a bit misleading. Games like Genshin Impact or even Square Enix’s own Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent have really raised the bar for mobile games, so I don’t blame anyone for thinking Ever Crisis would be more than it is. But rather than reaching for those loftier heights of quality on the back of the Final Fantasy brand, Ever Crisis is a firmly complacent title. It is as gacha as any gacha that you’ve ever played, and we need to establish that before we continue??.

So in short, Ever Crisis is probably not the game that I imagine many hoped it would be. But what if we set all of that aside and just j??udged the ??game on its own merits? Does it, at the very least, function well as a simple time killer to put on your phone?

Well, now’s ??as good a time as any to reveal myself as a gacha game sicko to you all.

Disclaimer: All screenshots have been c??ropped to fit on the page. Som?e shots may not be fully reflective of the game.

[caption id="attachment_402790" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis (iOS [reviewed], Android)
Developer: Square Enix, Applibot
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: September 7, 2023
MSRP: Free-to-play with microtransactions

Reroll for initiative

My relationship with gacha games is much like my relationship with fast food. I’m never proud of having a Big Mac, but it is an itch I need to scratch here and there. During periods of my life when I had more time than money, I dipped into virtually every notable gacha game I saw just to see how meta I could make my account for free in each game. I’ve played everything from Dragalia Lost (RIP) to Arknights to Sdorica to Langrisser to BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! to�I think you get the picture.

Ever Crisis specifically comes to us via Applibot, whose bread and butter veers more towards the “put game on auto battle and watch numbers get bigger�brand of gacha games. Their most notable work nowadays is Square Enix’s NieR Reincarnation, which I did generally like. However, that one was carried by its writing and original story, which makes Ever Crisis an interesting case. Sure, jamming what appears to be the all of the “Compilation of Final Fantasy 7�into one game is an interesting hook. But Applibot is absolutely working within their usual wheelhouse here, which makes Ever Crisis feel as strange as it is unremarkable.

[caption id="attachment_403155" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Learn the battle system, or not, it doesn’t matter

At first blush, I did think Applibot might do something different here. The tutorial sequence takes you through Final Fantasy 7’s iconic opening, because why wouldn’t it. You have free reign to move around and explore, plus the battle system initially appears to have some strategy. Players have to manag?e th??eir ATB and select attacks that often need to counter specific enemy mechanics. For example, boss monsters will occasionally put up shields that require certain elemental attacks to dispel.

Also, you can switch between offensive and defensive stances so you can prepare for stronger attacks. I first thought this might set the stage fo??r a combat system that could, theoretically, grow in com??plexity as the game progresses.

Then you see the main menu proper, where the game quickly turns into, again, a gacha. Those free-roaming dungeons become rarities as the game takes you through the same menu-based motions you’ve seen a thousand times. Select a stage, watch a cutscene, play a battle (typically involving three waves of enemies), collect rewards. Additionally, you soon unlock auto battle and X2 battle speed, both of which I have yet to turn off since. Combat is so basic ?that auto battle doesn’t ever do much that I wouldn’t normally do. It even stance dances perfectly and targets those enemy shields as long as you have the right elemental attacks.

The good news is that the game doesn’t use a Stamina system to progress through the story. The “bad�news is that it does use a Stamina system for all the supplemental stages you’ll need to run to strengthen your team. Character upgrade items, equipment upgrade items, items to increase level caps, it’s all here in full force. I put “bad�in quotation marks because I do prefer Stamina systems over the hou??rs-long grinds that gacha games without them tend to devolve into. It’s still all dancing around a time-gated system, and I’m sure you know where your tolerance lies when it comes to that by now.

[caption id="attachment_403156" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Final Fantasy 7 The Abridged Series

As for the story itself, I honestly dread the idea of anyone first experiencing Final Fantasy 7 like this. While the PlayStation-style graphics are charming, the structure of the game quickly devolves into Final Fantasy 7 Cliffs Notes. Sure, that intro stays faithful to the o??riginal. Then you meet Aerith on the street, get some text summaries, fight some battles, and next thing you know you’re at Seventh Heaven talking to Ti?fa.

The entire game seems to focus mostly on the major scenes, letting all the in-between fall to the wayside. If you’re the type of person that’s still mad that Tom Bombadil wasn’t in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, you’ll have a rough time here.

Additionally, the way the game integrates the “Compilation of�content isn’t particularly coherent. As you’re progressing through the Final Fantasy 7 story, you’ll make your way to crashing down into Aerith’s garden in the church. You see Reno of the Turks chasing after you, and then�it’s Crisis Core time? I mean, I could understand the game shoot??ing over that way if they at least finished this immediate arc. It’d make sense to play as Zack after Aerith mentions him at the playground. But here it just cuts off any momentum the story had built up.

I’m less versed in Crisis Core and the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 extended universe, so I can’t specifically explain how those plots measure up compared to the originals. But overall, Ever Crisis seems more intent on giving Final Fantasy 7 fans some nostalgic feels than doing these stories justice. I think there’s a place for that kind of experience, but I don't think Ever Crisis quite pulls it off so far.

[caption id="attachment_402646" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Let’s talk Gacha

Of course, I’m sure the big question here is just how bad the gacha is in Ever Crisis. It’s, well, definitely a weapon gacha. Honestly, the way t??he game introduces its gacha is one of the most abrasive I’ve ever seen in a gacha game. And in this genre, that’s saying something.

When you’re introduced to the system, you’ll see a series of banners. There are the banners you can roll on with paid currency, which of course show up first. Then there’s the Featured banner, which introduces a lot of rul??es. Here’s where you roll on weapons for your protagonists to use, but only by doing 10-pulls can you collect stamps. Every 10??-pull can grant anywhere from 1-12 stamps, which fills out your Stamp card. Collect 12 stamps, and you can earn a specific costume.

This is the only way you can earn costumes, which do not appear in the gacha and do increase stats. However, this isn’t to be confused with getting weapons from the stamp card, which just guarantees a certain weapon will appear in your pull and isn’t an actual bonus. Also, don't mix this up with Ticket pulls, which operate on a different banner and don’t grant stamps. So actually it doesn’t matter if you 10-pull or not here, just make sure you know what ticket youâ€??™re actually using, because there are several different ones (including many that cost real money). Still with me?

I understand all of this now, but getting there was a journey. Generally speaking, if I need to study a monetization system like I’m deep in a Wiki learning how to play a Souls game, it’s probably too complicated. There’s also an element of FOMO to this too, since stamp cards expire with no indication that your stamps will carry over afterwards. Many gacha games feature “pity�systems that wo??rk like this, but few lock unique items like costumes to them. I have zero doubt this exists to get you to spend more so you don’t miss out on that cool Cloud outfit you’re so close to getting.

[caption id="attachment_402711" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Grind it out

Having said that, even though the game coaxes you to spend money, I’ve done just fine as a free player. As mentioned above, I’ve kept the game on auto battle and? have progressed easily. I have to press my Limit Break buttons so they're timed properly, but that’s it. If you’re stuck, you just have to identify which resource you need to strengthen your character or weapon and go to the right stage to farm it. This will eat your Stamina, but the game gives Stamina restoration items out like candy. I’m literally farming things as I type this.

Ever Crisis automates so much for players that the only strategy really comes from identifying what you need to grind. Hitting the “recommended party�button does all your team building for you, right down to outfitting your party with the elemental coverage you need. And for the most part, the story content has been a cakewalk. I’ll need to see how the later stages of the game play out, but you certainly don’t need to pay-to-win. Don’t get me wrong, you absolutely can pay-to-win, I just haven't hit a wall tha??t mandates it. Someone who just wants to see the story should get throu??gh fine for free.

I will say that, for a game that almost completely centers around its grind, it really needs to streamline its menuing. I often find myself tapping around for far too long just to, say, toss upgrade materials into a weapon. Even accessing your main grind stages requires more tapping and scrolling that most games of this variety require. I’m used to it now, but for a 2023 gacha bearing the Final Fantasy name, it feels outdated.

[caption id="attachment_403157" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

It ain’t all bad, I guess

It’s not like Ever Crisis completely lacks redeeming qualities. It obviously looks and sounds great, even if it does reuse several assets from Final Fantasy 7 Remake. And while the story takes many shortcuts, it is charming to see the extended Final Fantasy 7 world presented in that PlayStation-inspired graphical style. The cutscenes themselves don’t cut corners, even if the overall story does. It still looks downright quaint compared to, say, Genshin Impact, but the appeal is there.

Additionally, these more passive gacha games do kind of work. I mean, there’s a reason we see so many of them on mobile devices. It’s a primal “watch numbers go up and feel happy brain chemicals�kind of experience, similar to an idle game. For someone who wants that, Ever Crisis does the trick. It’s one for people who want to play something but also want to rewatch The Office for the seventh time.

However, the question for me becomes “why would I want to play Ever Crisis instead of other gacha games that do the exact same thing?�And honestly, aside from the Final Fantasy fan service, I’m struggling to find the answer. It’s a pretty game, and it’s the newest one on the block. But beyond that, I don't know what to tell you. Ever Crisis is another possibility for a remake, but so far, I’m good with the? one we already got?.

I still want to give Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis a fair shake before declaring a verdict. While I’m a decent ways into the game, I haven’t seen how the game might evolve at the upper thresholds of its available content. Tune in next week for my final thoughts on Ever Crisis, and we’ll see if there’s any Ma?ko to uncover?? underneath its surface.

The post Review in Progress: Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis appeared first on Destructoid.

(It's Monster Hunter GO, essentially)

Developer Niantic and publisher Capcom have lifted the lid on a brand new mobile title set within the latter's popular fantasy series, Monster Hunter �Currently in development for iOS and Android platforms, Monster Hunter Now is an augmented rea??lity title that will ??allow fans to go searching for beasties when out and about in the real world.

"Monster Hunter Now is a new and unprecedented Monster Hunter game that entices players to go out with their Palico and encounter incredible monsters in the real world," said producer Ryozo Tsujimoto in the announcement. "Niantic’s AR technology delivers a ‘here and right now�hunting experience, something that can be played casually, while honoring the gameplay and hunting action that only Monster Hunter c??an offer. Let’s get out into the r?eal world and enjoy hunting!"

//www.youtube??.com/watch?v=IOvwHwa7_Gs&ab_channel=MonsterHunterNow

In case you haven't put it together, Monster Hunter Now is, essentially, a Monster Hunter-themed variant on Niantic's incredibly popular critter catcher Pokemon GO! which captured hearts and minds while making major headlines back in 2016. Much like that title, Niantic's new ventur??e will see players tracking beasts in the real world, while taking part in specifically located gatherings and events.

This time around, however, you will not have to battle the monsters there and then. Should you come across a beastie to hunt, then you can "mark" the monster with a device known as?? "Paintball", and then simply do battle with the creature once you're on your commute home/the toilet. You can hunt alo?ne or with friends, as you race to tackle the rarest specimens in a mission to, well, make them rarer still, I guess.

Whether Monster Hunter Now has quite the incendiary, and frankly insane, cultural impact of Pokemon GO! remains to be seen �and is perhaps a little less likely �but for franchise fans, it's certainly going to be an interesting way to interact with your favorite series while out and about. If you're interested, then sign-ups are available now on the official website, wit?h the game expected to launch i?n September of this year.

The post Niantic reve??als Pokemon GO-like Monster Hunter Now for mobile appeared first on Destructoid.

A lot of players are ready to board

HoYoverse's upcoming game Honkai: Star Rail is picking up a lot of speed heading into launch. The studio recently confirmed that it's garnered 10 million pre-registrations for Honkai: Star Rail ahead of release later this month.

This is the latest game from HoYoverse (also known as miHoYo), the makers of Genshin Impact and, before that, Honkai Impact 3rd. Considering the wild popularity of Genshin and the Honkai name attached, it's not terribly surprising that Star Rail is garnering numbers. Still, 10 million is a lot of players.

//twitter.com/h??onkaistarrail/status/1647177950??012354560

Honkai: Star Rail is a free-to-play game, so pre-registering doesn't cost anything. The goal, really, is to net some pre-release goodies. Pre-registering now will net you 20 Star Rail Passes, as well as a 4-Star character Serval. So if you want some extra fodder for launch day, pre-registering will net you that. You can find the site for it over here.

All aboard

Unlike Genshin Impact, an action RPG with Breath of the Wild vibes, Honkai: Star Rail look?s ??towards older genre conventions. Namely, it's a turn-based RPG. But it also has all the gorgeous graphics and super-stylish character designs you'd want from this studio.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7jilzcZoiE

Considering the stories I've heard about how good Genshin Impact's story got over the years, I'm tempted to dip my toe in the water with Honkai: Star Rail. This one's a bit more sci-fi themed, which seems like a neat set-up, and a turn-based RPG might be a ??little easier for me to dip in and out ?of than a more action-driven game.

If neither one is your cup of tea, there's still Zenless Zone Zero on the way, which is one I've also been keeping an eye on. We'll see if it garners the same pre-release attention, but it certainly looks interesting too. Seems like HoYoverse is really using its Genshin momentum to expand outward into new ventures.

Honkai: Star Rail hits PC and mobile on April 26, with a PlayStation version a?lso plann??ed for a "coming soon" window.

The post Honkai Star Rail reaches 10M pre-registrations ahead of its l??aunch appeared first on Destructoid.

Publisher to capitalize on new Digital Markets Act

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has revealed the publisher's plans to open its own in-house app store, selling and distributin??g games and other software directly to mobile devices.

Speaking to The Financial Times, Spencer noted that the EU'??s incoming Digital Markets Act �new legislation that will force carriers such as Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores to operate on the iOS and Android service �will offer Microsoft the opportunity to distribute its wares directly, ??rather than through current conglomerate app stores.

"We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play," said Spencer in the intervi?ew. "Today, we can't do that on mobile devices but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up."

"The?? Digital Markets Act that's coming �those are the kinds of things [Microsoft is] planning for... I think it's a huge opportunity."

Spencer also referenced the potential for Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming services to appear in the hypothetical new store. Microsoft is, of course, hoping to get its hands on some of today's most popular mobile titles, including Call of Duty Mobile and Candy Crush Saga, through its intended acquisition of Activision Blizzard �an acquisition that still remains a long, long way from completion. The deadline for the EU Commission to decide whether or not it approves the merger has been delayed to May 22, but this remains one of numerous hurdles Microsoft must clear bef??ore the propos?ed purchase can be closed.

Microsoft plans mobil??e g?ames app store to rival Apple and Google [Financial Times]

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Steal Your Heart (And Wallet)

Just in case you liked Persona 5 a little too much, publisher Perfect World Games has announced the coming of a brand new release within the slick 'n' stylish RPG franchise, situated within the much-loved "free-to-play mobile title with in-game purchases" genre �Presented for your consideration: Persona 5: The Phantom X aka Persona: Phantom of the Night.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=g88lHDhbEQI&??amp?;ab_channel=GamersPrey

Developed by Black Wings Game Studio, Persona 5: The Phantom X will see an entirely new gang of Phantom Thieves stealing hearts and purchasing microtransactions against the backdrop of a depressed Tokyo populace. The new title will feature all of the typical action players have come to know from the series �from attending school classes and enjoying local activities to battling demons and exploring alternate univ??erses. Both Sega and Atlus' dedicated P-Studio will supervise product??ion.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=upvfxp00Bv4&a?b_channel=GamersPrey

Two new trailers showcase The Phantom X's very nice visuals, and also reintroduce us to The Velvet Room, complete with what appears to be a whole new assistant. I'm certainly not denying that it looks like a legitimate and authentic spin-off of the Persona series' biggest-selling release, (and that new owl companion is super cool) but by its core F2P w/ in-game purchases concept, it's difficult not to view the title immediately with a raised eyebrow and an impending sense of expensive dread. Am I being presumptuous? Perhaps, but then, we've all had more than enough experience with these titles.

Here's hoping our new Phantom Thieves will buck the trend.

Persona 5: The Phantom X / Persona: Phantom of the Night is in development for iOS and Android platforms. There is no release date, but players in China can already sign up for an "Infiltration Test" over on the official website.

Related: 8 Things You Need to K????now Before Playing Persona 5 Royal on PrimaGames

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I vant to suck your blood, BLEH!

The uber-compelling, smash-hit mobile title Vampire Survivors will receive its first DLC expansion on iOS and Android platforms on March 14... That's today! The Legacy of the Moonspell expansion can be purchased now on mobile platforms for a special launch price of just $0?.99, (regular price $1.99).

Legacy of the Moonspell is packed out with new characters, stages, weapons, and achievements, as well as six bangin' new tracks. Set against the backdrop of feudal Japan, the narrative focuses on a party of monster hunters, The Moonspell, who must take up arms to drive back hordes of oni a?nd yokai attackers, in an effort to cleanse the sacred mountains of thi??s unholy activity. Be there vampires? I guess you're just going to have to step up to the challenge and find out for yourselves.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=?AvMkS6GcxFU&a??b_channel=Xbox

Included in the new expansion is the new locale Mt. Moonspell, a huge map that boasts snow-topped mountains, an overrun village, and an abandoned castle. There are eight new warriors to choose from for battle, as well as 13 new weapons, many of which are imbued with ancient and mythic abilities. From the Silver Wind staff, to the Four Seasons battle orbs, and even a deadly kimono known as The Mirage Robe. Choose your hero, gather your weapons, and he??ad out into an eastern nightmare.

Vampire Survivors is available now on Xbox, PC, and mobile platforms. The Legacy of the Moonspell DLC launches today on mobile, and is already available to purchase on Xbox and PC platf?orms.

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Pokemon Go to sleep

The long-awaited lifestyle app Pokemon Sleep is finally nearing its wake-up call. The Pokemon Company announced today that Pokemon Sleep will arrive for mobile devices later this year.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=amLQr0l8n5Y

Shown as part of today's February 27 Pokemon Presents, Pokemon Sleep is a lifestyle app that tracks your sleep data. By?? simply activating the app and going to sleep,

You'll be able to unlock different Pokemon and their sleep s?tyles. You'll start with styles like Dozing, Snoozing, and Slumbering, and gradually pick up more as you sleep.

This app will also work with the Pokemon Go Plus+ device announced today, helping you track sleep and even hear lullabie?s from special monsters.

Pokemon Sleep is set to arrive sometime later t??his year for Androi??d and iOS.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KghsZQSXG8g

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Bullet hell, now in Hell

The Doom Slayer is ready to take on demons with a new perspective. Mighty Doom is a ?new mobile, single-touch shooter starring the Mini Slayer, arriving on March 21 for iOS and Android??.

Created by Alpha Dog Games and Bethesda, this particular version of Doom events takes place in the "animated Doom universe." ??The Slayer is stolen away to another universe an??d is on a simple mission: get back their pet bunny Daisy, and destroy any demons in their way.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJgN_gZd1iE

This new universe was inspired by the collectible toys in Doom Eternal. But now, they will replicate the gory, blood-s?plattering violence of their inspirations in adorable cartoon form.

Rip, tear, swipe

Rather than a first-person shooter, Mighty Doom is a scrolling run-and-g??un arcade shooter. You view the Mini Slayer from a top-down perspective, directing him through waves of demons and through the perils of mini-Hell.

Those runs through mini-Hell will evolve, too. There are rogue-lite elements that allow you to upgrade the Mini Slayer's gear, enhancing weapons and finding new skill combinations. What's the fun of raiding the demon realm? without a few new toys, right?

Mighty Doom is the creation of Alpha Dog Games, a studio that joined Bethesda in 2019. The team was given a shot to create a Doom spin-off, and here we are: Mighty Doom. Slayers Club members will get a special Mini Slayer skin in-game when Mighty Doom launches, and pre-registration is live now for both the Google Play Store and App Store on the Mighty Doom site.

While mobile game adaptations can be hit-or-miss, Mighty Doom seems built ground-up to be something that can stand on its own. I'm curious to see what the in-app purchases look like, as the store listing does say there will be some. But there have still been great adaptations of ??franchises into the mobile f?ormat. The lil' Mini Slayer is pretty fun, too.

Mighty Doom goes live for mobile on March 21.

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Pocket Punchers

At the finale of this weekend's Capcom Cup IX festivities, Capcom and Crunchyroll Games announced that mobile RPG title Street Fighter: Duel will make its global debut on F?ebruary 28, bringing its pocket-sized scrapper action to iOS and Android devices. Pre-registration is available now on both platforms.

Set against the backdrop of the Super Street Fighter IV timeline, Street Fighter: Duel tasks players with building up a faction of fighters with which to take on both Shadaloo and S.I.N. �led by the all-consuming CEO/Naked Puppet Man, Seth. The pint-sized RPG first launched in China back in 2020, so it's certainly taken its sweet time to make its way overseas to western shores. Street Fighter: Duel will launc??h with a huge roster of 40 unlockable characters, with future updates on the books.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH9evr?i9ezo&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection

Street Fighter: Duel looks to offer up typical mobile action, built around leveling up characters, mashing through battles, and unlocking further characters, buffs, and abilities �punctuated by a slew of microtransactions. While the gameplay and format can be expected to be typically divisive, I do dig the cartoony alternate takes on the World Warriors' cla??ssic appearances. I'll be sure to check out the game upon launch, and we'll see whether Crunchyroll is headed for a K.O., or whether it's lining up to be another popular franchise that fails to translate to the mobile RPG market.

Street Fighter: Duel launches Febr??uary 28 on iOS and Android. A PC and console port is planned for the summer.

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Yet another nostalgia-tinged mobile title bites the dust

Square Enix has announced that it will be shutting down service for mobile RPG Echoes of Mana �Th?e free-to-play RPG, which launched in April 2022, will hit th??e lights on May 15, 2023, just a pip over 12 months on from its initial launch.

"We regret to announce we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Echoes of Mana app service," reads a statement posted to the official website. "From the Echoes of Mana Production Team, we apologize for the abrupt announcement but are sincerely grateful for the support we’ve received from our players.??"

"Since Echoes of Mana‘s launch on April 27, 2022, we’ve strived to provide an incredible and enjoyable gaming experience for our players every day that could exceed the day before. However, we’ve come to the conclusion that it would be difficult to continue maintaining the app experience, and to therefore end the app service. Our remaining time together may be short, but we hope to see you in Echoes of Mana st??ill as we continue to bring exciting content and updates that you’re sure to enjoy."

As of today, ?players can no longer purchase "Spirit Crystals" and are encouraged to spend all that they currently have in their inventory ahead of the title's closure in May.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhTkT9ViGP8&a?b_channel=SquareEnix

Echoes of Mana is the latest in a myriad of free-to-play, live-service, or gacha titles to abruptly announce coming closures �with many of the affected titles only 12 months or so into their lifespan. The past year has seen similar announcements for a slew of mobile and console RPGs and action games, including Apex Legends Mobile, Crossfire X, Battlefield Mobi??l??e, Final Fantasy: The First Soldier, Knockout City, the GO strategy series, Dragalia Lost, Sakura Wars, Tales of Crestoria, Tales of Luminaria, and The Witcher: Monster Slayer.

As previously noted, one would be wise to think on before investing their time, money, and emotions into these endeavors, as more and more titles have seen the plug abruptly pulled on their services. And, in some cases, regardless of?? whether the release has proven profitable or ot??herwise.

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Series Drop to affect card rarity

Marvel Snap might want to ensure that they have a hand as mighty as Thanos this month, as developer Second Dinner has announced that its highly??-anticipated PvP Battle Mode will be launching in the digital card battler as s??????????????????????????oon as this month.

First announced back in the fall of 2022, the Marvel Snap PvP Battle Mo??de will give players the ability to swiftly and thoroughly pound their pals into mush, slapping down a series of cards designed to ruin everybody's day. I'm looking ?at you, Agatha Harkness. The update is expected to launch on January 31, though the developers ask players for patience in lieu of any possible last-minute delays or pushbacks.

In addition to PvP Battle Mode, the new update will debut Marvel Snap's official rebalance system, known as "Series Drop". This semi-regular event will see higher-level cards �for example Series 3, 4, and 5 �drop a tier each, increasing their chance of appearance ahead of any newly debuting characters. The team is aiming for one Series Drop per month. It should be noted that the most powerful cards, such as Thanos and Galactus, will not be reduced in r??ar?ity. As these fellas are bad boys 4 life.

Finally, Second Dinner notes that is currently investig?ating the rate at which Tokens are earned, in line with the price of in-store cards. The team hopes to come up with a fair and acceptable way to help Series 3 players push toward the upper echelons of Series 4 and 5 with less frustration. While no specific changes were announced, Second Dinner will conti??nue to experiment with balance tweaks to help expedite progress.

Marvel Snap is availabl??e now as a free-to-play title on iOS and Android devices.

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