Beyond balance patches

Hidden Variable has released the previously announced "major update" for the Nintendo Switch edition of cartoonish tag-fighter Skullgirls 2nd Encore. More than just a balance patch, the new update rebuilds much of the game's engine at a core level, in efforts ??to severely improve the Switch edition's performance.

The update, practically a full reinstall of the base game, features fully-rewritten code that vastly improves the load times of the Switch port, while also tightening up online play, ensuring more stable performance, and wiping out a litany of small, troublesome bugs. Hidden Variable hopes that this new version of Skullgirls 2nd Encore will offer Nintendo players their best experience with the fighter to date?.

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In addition, the new update brings with it the addition of the Skullgirls Season 1 Pass. Switch players can now pick up previously released season one characters �such as Annie of the Stars and Umbrella �while bringing the game up to parity with the PC and console editions in regards to bala??nce and tournament standard features. This update has been a long time coming, and finally sees the Switch Skullgirls community rewarded for their patience.

2023 promises to be a big year for the long-life fight franchise. The coming months will see the arrival of the sinister assassin, Black Dahlia, as well as new stages, character color palettes, webtoons, merchandise, and more. For a full report on Skullgirls' road ahead, be sure to check out our exclusive feature from last month �which includes some first-ever looks at ch?aracter model sheets and anim?atics!

Skullgirls 2nd Encore is available now on PlaySta?tion, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms.

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Two types of 'Cleaner' to join the roster next year

Autumn Games has revealed its plans for the coming year as it pertains to the fantastic Skullgirls 2nd Encore, which has, impressively, enjoyed a full decade of exciting, tag-fighting action �fending off competit?ion from a plethora of fighting game releases, large and small, to carve itself a niche in the competitive scene.

And it seems th?at the party is only just ge??tting started.

As we enter 2023, Skullgirls 2nd Encore will begin a year-long rollout of new characters, console ports, balance updates, and new merchandise, celebrating a full decade of fist-throwin', hair-slammin', charleston-boppin' action. The initial impact will be felt via the official launch of the ruthless Black Dahlia �the amoral assassin of The Medici Crime Family and one of the most highly anticipated DLC characters in Skullgirls' history, having been part of the game's lore since launch d??ay.

Black Dahlia is my favorite character in the SG universe, so I??'m personally very e??xcited for her launch.

Very kindly, the development team at Hidden Variable provided Destructoid with these exclusive model sheets, showcasing the classy, sassy, Rockefeller style of perhaps the single most sociopathic woman in all of Canopy Kingdom. In a cool preview of her intro animation below, Black Dahlia and her deadly bunny girl army can also be seen strutting their stuff on their new stage, The Bunny Barrow.

Boom Boom Coming Through, M'fer.

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As 2023 progresses, Xbox and Nintendo Switch fans will finally get the opportunity to step into the world of Skullgirls 2nd Encore themselves, with the title finally receiving its official launch on both platforms. January 3 will see the Switch edition of Skullgirls receive its largest-ever update, bringing it up to parity with all other versions of the game. This update will feature a full code rewrite, which aim??s to bring improved performance, smoother online? play, and faster load times for the Switch release.

For Xbox players, Skullgirls 2nd Encore will launch on Xbox One and Xbox Series X in early 2023 (exact date to be disclosed). This update, much like the Switch release, will bring the Xbox version of Skullgirls up to parity with the PC and PlayStation editions, adding all 2nd Encore updates and paving the way for the Season 1 DLC.

It should be noted that, unfortunately, the Xbox 360 edition of Skullgirls will not be updated.

In a motion amusingly titled "Skullgirls World Domination", Autumn Games notes that it hopes to transition the world and characters of Skullgirls out of the gaming realm and into the field of merchandising and multimedia. 2023 will see the launch of Skullgirls' first-ever Good Smile Nendoroid �ninja-nurse Valentine �as well as a new range of apparel from Eighty Sixed Clothing.

We will also see further adventures of the new Skullgirls webtoon, which premiered last month and has already launched its first five episodes. You can check out the initial chapters right here.

Last, but by no means least, work continues on the final season one DLC character, the hyper-destructive Goth-Lolita, Marie! Having laid a hell of a beating on the Skullgirls community as the game's final boss, the vacuum cleaner-swinging demon will finally be in the hands of the players. A terrifying thought. Autumn Games hopes to see Marie launch before 2023 is out, but she currently sits in early development, with much more work to be done before she can step back into the ?ring.

To whet your appetite, here are some exclusive early animatics of our princess in action. These are? obviously very early animations, so are subject to change, but we already we can see her dry modesty and deadly hoover skills in full effect. Can't wait to see the OG Skullgirl when she take??s her final form!

All in, 2023 is looking like another solid year for the underdog fighter that won't lay down. Skullgirls has had a tough fight since launch, with hurdles ranging from crowdfunding risks, publisher fallouts, and the nigh-on dissolution of its talented team of artists and designers through studio toxicity?. Crucially, however, the game has endeavored �carried forth by the dedication of its developers, the faith of its ma??rketers, and, of course, the passionate love bestowed upon the fighter by its community.

Skullgirls has fought the good fight for 10 years, coming up trumps each and every time. Constantly updated and supported by developers in its formative years, offering up its first DLC free for early adopters, and building a competitive scene despite the title's niche nature. Within a highly crowded and competitive marketplace, Skullgirls has held its own, outliving larger budgeted and more established fighting games. Now entering its second decade, Skullgirls deserves everything coming to it.

For more details on Skullgirls 2nd Encore's 2023 battle plan, visit the official blog.

The post Exclusive: Black ??Dahlia and Marie lead Skullgirls ??2nd Encore into an exciting 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Death Becomes Her

Some tubular news for Xbox fighting game fans today, as publisher Autumn Games has announced that the charleston-tastic scrapper Skullgirls 2nd Encore is currently in development for Xbox platforms, with a tentative release date of late-2022. In addition, developer Hidden Variable released the very first gameplay footage of yer boy's favorite Skullgirls character, the terrifying Black Dahlia!

As you can see from this alpha footage, The Medici Family's sinister assassin is shaping up to be quite the unliving nightmare. Dahlia's gameplay is built around her?? explosive (and literal) side-arm, which allows the exquisite maniac to control the playing field with a variety of differently equipped rounds. So, for example, Dahlia may choose to keep her prey at bay with explosive rounds, get up close and personal with buckshot rounds, or perhaps she will create health-sapping fire traps with her flame rounds.

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And thus, it will take savvy management of Dahlia's options to switch between offensive, defensive, and environmental damage in order to keep Dahlia a threat at all distances. From this early footage, Black Dahlia looks to be a pretty complex character, requiring her player to quickly adapt to the changing situation. However, with a little practice, Dahlia-l??overs will become masters of mixing up their opponent from any angle �including the air �in the deadliest game of playing hot 'n' cold.

I've been awaiting Black Dahlia's arrival ever since she failed to make the current for the initial Skullgirls roster. So the w??ait has been painfully long. But you know w??hat they say about the best things...

Black Dahlia will arrive on PC alpha next month, before receiving a full release on PC and PlayStation for Season Pass holders in late-2022. The Nintendo Switch Season Pass DLC remains in development. Skullgirls 2nd Encore will launch on Xbox? ?One and Xbox Series X in late-2022.

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Stinging in the Rain

There's no fighting game that I'm happier for the continued existence of than Skullgirls. The dynamic and visually appe??aling 2D fighter has clambered over multiples walls, hurdles, licensing issues, and controversies ever since its debut an incredible 10 years ago, yet remains not only alive and well, but still beloved by its dedicated community.

This weekend saw the launch of the tag fighter's newest updates: Version 3.3.22 (PC) and Versio??n 01.11 (PlayStation). The new digital drop brings with it a fresh run of bug fixes and balance tweaks, alongside the second DLC character of the Season One pass, following on from Annie of the Stars. So dig out your wellies and introduce yourselves to Skullgirls 2nd Encore's totes adorbs mini-monarch, Umbrella!

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Princess of Canopy Kingdom and sister of ?roster mainstay Parasoul, Umbrella strides bravely and gleefully into battle armed with her sentient, ever-eatin?g sidekick Hungern. As you can see from the trailer above, Umbrella is surprisingly complex for such a moppet, utilizing close distance pokes, her diminutive frame, acrobatic skills, and even the ability to launch bubbles as projectiles, combo extenders, and even platforms! Don't be fooled by her childlike nature, this gal will rain on your parade.

Umbrella is now live for Skullgirls 2nd Encore Season Pass holders, or can be purchased separately for everyone else. Umbrella brings with her a new stage, The Boardwalk, a new music track, an array of palette options, her narrator voice pack, and new combo trials. In addition, the update features a selection of balance changes, so be sure to check out the official patch notes and see whe?ther your favorite femme got an in-ga??me boost.

The next character to join the Skullgirls roster will be my personal favorite, Black Dahlia. We'll be sure to give you a heads up when more info on the sultry assassin is forthcoming. Skullgirls 2nd Encore is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox?, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms.

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It's showtime!

Evo 2021 Online is adding another game to its main lineup. The stylish fighting game Skullgirls 2nd Encore is now a part of the main lineup at Evo 2021 On?line.

Skullgirls joins Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive as the featured games that will host tournaments across two weekends in August. While the main event will be played on PC, there will also be a PS4 Community Series event hosted for those who play on console. Sign-ups cl??ose on July 15.

Evo 2021 Online is the fighting game tournament series' answer to hosting online events during the pandemic, with a number of bouts taking place this summer. Following last year's cancellation of Evo 2020, the tournament series was acquired by Sony Interactive Ent??ertainment and RTS.

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Now, in 2021, there are many different tournaments being held across various fighting games. Aside from the main bracket, this month a number of side tournaments are being hosted, including Granblue Fantasy Versus, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r], Them's Fightin' Herds, Soulcalibur VI, Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost On, Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, and the aforementioned Skullgirls event.

Seeing Skullgirls carry on after the internal strife of last year is rad; it's a recognition of the players who have kept the scene alive, and it could even bring on some new fans with it getting featured on the main stage. This has ?definitely cl?imbed up my list of brackets to watch when August rolls around.

Evo 2021 Online will take place across two weekends, on Aug. 6? through 8 and Aug. 13 through 15.

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