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Final Fantasy VII Remake Sells Over 7 Million Copies

Square Enix is seeing a very positive reception to the release of Final Fantasy VII remake. For many fans of the ongoing series, Final Fantasy VII is one of the pillars of the RPG genre and a classic on the original PlayStation. When Final Fantasy VII remake was released for PlayStation 4, some were skeptical if it would live up to the hype it generated. Luckily for Square Enix and everyone else, expectations for the game were far exceeded. And if that wasn’t clear enough, Final Fantasy VII Remake has sold A LOT of copies.

Square Enix made a post on the official Final Fantasy VII Twitter page that FFVII Remake has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. The official post listed the phrase “Seven is the magic number” and thanked fans for picking up the game. The number given counts all of the different platforms that the game is available on, which includes PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The given number of units also counts digital sales as well. For context, some of Square Enix’s previous Final Fantasy games have sold exceptionally well, with Final Fantasy XV selling 5 million copies on its first day. It’s sequel Final Fantasy XVI sold 3 million copies within its first week of release.

Final Fantasy VII Remake original came out on PS4 in April 2020, and later was released on PS5 with the Intergrade Expansion. That expansion gave players another story to follow that focused on the character Yuffie. The PC version of the game came out shortly afterward in 2021. As of now, Final Fantasy VII Remake has not been released for any Xbox platform.

The sequel to FFVII Remake, titled Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, is set to release on PlayStation 5 on February 29th, 2024. Although that game won’t allow players to import their progress from saved data, it will reward players who have played through FFVII Remake and the Intergrade DLC. The game’s director Naoki Hamaguchi had an interview with the official PlayStation blog that detailed aspects of the sequel, including other characters who will make an appearance. “The original party members are all present in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth… Red XIII became an accompanying member in the second half of the game, but he will become an official, playable party member starting from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Similarly, there are characters who are accompanying members in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, that will become official party members in the next title…” Hopefully the next game will have as good, if not a better reception than its predecessor.

Are you happy to see Final Fantasy II Remake sell over 7 million copies? Will you be checking out the sequel to the game when it’s finally out? Who is your favorite Final Fantasy VII character? Tell us your thoughts about everything related down below in the comment section!

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order Director Leaves Electronic Arts

For many Star Wars fans, the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order marked a significant time for Electronic Arts. When Respawn Entertainment developed the game for consoles and PC, it was a big indication that single-player games with a narrative were still important to players. The game was a massive hit that sold millions of copies, which was followed up by its sequel Jedi Survivor with an equally positive reception. And yet despite the success of both titles, the game’s director is leaving EA.

Stig Asmussen, the director of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was announced to be leaving EA after the publisher confirmed the news in a report published on Bloomberg. For now, there was no specific reason given for why Stig had decided to leave the studio, there doesn’t seem to be any bad blood between the two parties.

“After careful thought and consideration, Stig Asmussen has decided to leave Respawn to pursue other adventures, and we wish him the best of luck. Veteran Respawn leaders will be stepping up to guide the team as they continue their work on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.”

While Stig takes his leave from EA, other veteran members of Respawn Entertainment will be stepping up to continue updating Jedi Survivor, as well as developing the planned third game in the Star Wars Jedi series. It may be some time before we see that next game, however, as Respawn currently has other Star Wars games in the pipeline. This includes a first-person shooter and real-time strategy game set within the Star Wars universe. The FPS game is being directed by Peter Hirschmann, while the RTS is being produced by Respawn and developed by Bit Reactor.

Back in March 2023, Stig Asmussen spoke with multiple outlets about the Star Wars Jedi series, giving insight into what he saw as a trilogy of games. “I always wanted to see this as a trilogy… How can we take Cal and the crew to new places beyond what we were doing in the first game? We had a pretty decent idea of the timeframe where we wanted Survivor to take place, what the stakes were going to be, what the tone of the game was going to be, what Cal was going to be up against, and how the crew was going to factor into that. And there’s ideas of what we could do beyond that as well.”

Whether the third game in the planned trilogy will be as big of a hit as its predecessors is anyone’s guess right now. But Respawn and EA will have to release it without its original director who helped make the Jedi series a massive hit. Time will tell whether they can get it done or not.

What are your thoughts about the director of Jedi Fallen Order leaving Electronic Arts? Does this mean the next game won’t be as good? What do you think of the other Star Wars games being developed with Respawn Entertainment now? Tell us all of your thoughts about everything down below in the comment section!

F-Zero 99 Reinvigorates a Classic Nintendo Franchise

Nintendo has a lot of series that it has yet to explore with any games on the Nintendo Switch. While the company has released various classics on their Switch Online service for players to enjoy, many fans have wanted certain series to make a comeback. One of the biggest classic Nintendo franchises many have craved to see again was the futuristic racing action of F-Zero. And although we don’t have a brand new, next-generation entry of the series just yet, Nintendo is finally doing something interesting with F-Zero. And Nintendo fans are digging it.

During a Nintendo Direct presentation on September 14th, Nintendo announced that F-Zero will be making a return with the release of F-Zero 99. Much like other games that have taken the 99 in their name, this F-Zero title will pit 99 players against each other in races. The game itself looks very similar to F-Zero on the Super Nintendo but will have a lot more chaotic action with 98 other players racing alongside you online.

Although there will be race tracks and vehicles from the original game, some of the mechanics during races will be a little different. The power meter that acts as your vehicle’s health can also be used to gain a burst of speed, giving players an option to play it safe or risk it all for a higher placement. In addition, you can gather sparks on the track to help gain access to a floating pathway that will help boost you ahead of other racers, which can bring you higher in the rankings if you’re able to capitalize on it.

In addition, the game will have challenges and extra bonuses to unlock as you play. This will include skins and other goodies for doing well in races. As of now, you can download F-Zero 99 off the Nintendo eShop and play if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online account. The game was made available after the conclusion of the Nintendo Direct presentation that revealed it.

For many, this will be a similar approach to what was done with games like Super Mario 99 and Tetris 99, where classic gameplay is put together with a battle royale design. For F-Zero fans, it’s something new and interesting that could lead to other things down the line. Let’s hope Nintendo sees enough interest and success with F-Zero 99 to think more about making a new game for the series.

What do you think of F-Zero 99? Do you feel Nintendo should finally make a brand-new game for the series? Will you be hopping online to play F-Zero 99 with other people over Nintendo Switch online? Tell us your thoughts about everything down below in the comment section!

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Won’t Import FFVII Remake Saves

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the next game in the planned trilogy of titles based on their classic RPG. Square Enix recently announced that this second game will be coming out worldwide on February 29th, 2024 for PlayStation 5 and be on two discs. For many, Final Fantasy Remake was a grand event that marked the return of a beloved part of the Final Fantasy franchise. And although the events of Rebirth take place sometime after the FFVII Remake, not everything will carry over into the sequel.

Unfortunately for fans, they won’t be able to import their save data from Final Fantasy VII Remake in FFVII Rebirth. This means any progress with your characters in that first game won’t continue onward into the second. For many who spent a lot of time maxing out their levels and going through the extra content, this might seem like a bummer at first. But Square Enix hasn’t left everyone completely out of luck when it comes to recognizing those who played the previous game.

During an interview with the official PlayStation Blog, FFVII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that there will be a special bonus you can get if you played FFVII Remake and its Intergrade DLC. “We have announced that the Final Fantasy VII remake project will be a trilogy and that each entry will be a standalone game in its own right. Because of this, each game’s balancing is done independently and a player’s levels and abilities will not carry over from one game to the next. However, we have created some special bonuses for fans who played the previous game, allowing them to start with a little something extra.”

In the rest of the interview, Hamaguchi discussed many of the locations and other new aspects they’re bringing in FFVII Rebirth from the original Final Fantasy VII. Everyone who got to see the new trailer for the game will recognize many locations and characters that will finally be making an appearance in the sequel. He also went into detail about how it will be controlling some of the new characters, like Red XIII, in the game and how they’ll mesh with the rest of the cast. Hamaguchi also briefly discussed other characters that are quickly shown in the trailer, some of which fans are very excited to see.

“The original party members are all present in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. In the previous title, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Red XIII became an accompanying member in the second half of the game, but he will become an official, playable party member starting from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Similarly, there are characters who are accompanying members in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, that will become official party members in the next title.”

Will you be playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth when it’s finally out in 2024? What do you think about getting special rewards for your FFVII Remake save data? What are you most excited to see in the next game? And who is your favorite FFVII character? Tell us everything down below in the comment section!

LEGO Star Wars BD-1 Set Impressions – The Best Buddy Droid?

LEGO and Star Wars often feel like a perfect match made in heaven. There are many different LEGO sets that are based in the Star Wars universe that look fantastic. Some of the larger LEGO sets are often elaborate in design, with tons of pieces to put together to make something truly amazing. But is the set based on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order from Respawn Entertainment a good addition to the ongoing legacy of bricks from a galaxy far, far away? Should LEGO and Star Wars fans be eager to pick up their own BD-1 droid?

For anyone who’s never played through Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, BD-1 is the droid companion of the main character, Cal Kestis. He’s a short but excited droid that helps Cal throughout the story, leading to some pretty heartwarming moments between the two. The LEGO Star Wars BD-1 set is a full build of the little droid. Not only does it have features that are authentic to the character, but it’s also a set that is actually to scale.

When fully built, the model stands at 12.5 inches (31cm) tall and can be posed in different ways. There’s a total of 1062 pieces that make up BD-1, with some of them being accents on the main model. Putting the droid together isn’t as complicated as it sounds though, especially with the detailed guide that comes with the set. LEGO does a great job with their manuals that give a step-by-step illustrated guide on how to put the model together, with extra help on some of the more complex portions of the building process. Even if you’re not used to building things with LEGO, you can definitely catch on pretty quickly.

As far as features with BD-1, there are only a few things the little guy can do when fully built. The headpiece is pose-able, along with joints that can be bent for specific looks when on display. Fans of the game Jedi Fallen Order will also appreciate the details that went into BD-1, including a compartment that holds stim packs inside the droid. While the stims are one bundle of LEGO pieces instead of individual stims, they fit comfortably into a sliding compartment on BD-1’s head, exactly how it’s shown in the game. It’s not a big detail when looking at the model from a distance, but definitely one that goes a long way for fans of the game.

Beyond that, BD-1 is just a good display piece for nearly any location. If you have a shelf or mantle where you place figures or other LEGO model builds, BD-1 will fit nicely there. Not only is the model stable when standing, but is also stable when you move the head and other joints around for different poses. Provided you have a stable ground for BD-1 to stand on, you won’t see the droid tipping over easily. After going through over 1,000 LEGO pieces for the model, it’s good to know they won’t be easily broken apart.

The only thing that this BD-1 set lacks is any other additional features or add-ons to further accent its presentation. There are wires on BD-1 around the legs, but they aren’t for any function beyond looking like the character. The same goes for the eyepieces on BD-1, which are translucent LEGO pieces. It would’ve been a great idea for LEGO to have an extra bundle of lights or electronics to add on BD-1 if possible, allowing owners to go even further with the build. There are third-party kits that one can buy that do this exact thing, which highlights the eyes and other parts on BD-1. However, it would be much better to see LEGO themselves come up with something that takes this BD-1 model to the next level, especially for big fans of Jedi Fallen order who love the character.

For display, BD-1 comes with a LEGO sign that can be put at the base of the legs. The display sign has bits of information about BD-1, such as the in-universe manufacturer and equipment, and a blue illustration. The sign also needs to be put together, which is not complicated at all. In addition, the sign also comes with a minifigure version of BD-1 that is scaled to other LEGO Star Wars minifigures.

What would’ve made a lot of sense to also include in the set is a figure of Cal Kestis in LEGO form. Not only would this have been a great pairing with the minifigure of BD-1 but also a nod to Jedi Fallen Order, since both characters are always seen together. It doesn’t take away from what’s in the box already, but it definitely would’ve made this set even more special for Star Wars fans.

As a total package, the LEGO BD-1 set is a great build for LEGO fans and Star Wars fans who enjoy playing Jedi Fallen Order. As one of the few LEGO sets that have a droid built to scale, it helps BD-1 stand out among the other droids that one can build in LEGO form. While this set is based on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it would be great to see a variant of BD-1 that offers a different color scheme to the droid and takes inspiration from the sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Hopefully, LEGO has already thought of that one, because this little buddy droid definitely looks good when displayed, and would be even better to have a friend standing alongside him.

What do you think of the LEGO Star Wars BD-1 set? Are you a big fan of Jedi Fallen Order? What other LEGO Star Wars sets do you want to see made? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comment section below!

Swear An Oath To Gondor With The Fountain Guard of the White Tree From Weta Workshop

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The White Tree of Gondor stands, awaiting to bloom again upon the return of the King. At its base stands a lone, silent guard. Celebrate the tree’s legacy and the strength of Minas Tirith with this grand statue from Weta Workshop.

Like many of Weta Workshop’s statues, this thing is enormous! The Fountain Guard of the White Tree work of art measures 11.81″ x 24.01″ x 18.11′ (W x H x D). That also means you’ll need to fork out quite a bit of cash.

Fountain Guard of the White Tree is $899 and requires a 25% non-refundable deposit if you’re going to pre-order it. Shipping is separate; if you’re in the US, expect to pay between $90 and $170.

Silent and steadfast, for silk wrapped their faces as a reminder of their oath, he stood there, a sentinel of the realm, keeping a watchful eye over the White Tree. Its roots, intertwined like the ancient bonds and vows of old, drank gently from the fountain’s waters, prolonging its final breath, while its branches, sparse strokes of ivory, danced gently in the breeze, whispering tales of a kingdom’s resilience.

This massive piece of Lord of the Rings lore comes with the following features:

  • Made from high-quality polystone;
  • Fountain Guard sculpted by Daniel Holland;
  • Includes the White Tree of Gondor, hand sculpted by Shaun Bolton;
  • An iconic scene, recreated in celebration of the LOTR 20th Anniversary;
  • Immaculate detail made with reference to the original props and costume;
  • Featuring translucent resin to depict the fountain’s waters;
  • With a magnetic base, the Fountain Guard can be removed and placed wherever desired;
  • Also features a single blooming flower, signifying the return of the King.

The bloom on the White Tree is a nice touch. I hope Weta Workshop one day creates a statue of a “living” white tree, possibly the one at Isildur planted. It never showed up in the films, but it would also give Weta to make a new Isildur statue, a character who is rarely seen in LotR merchandise.

Get Six Inches Of Geralt With The Witcher 3 – Wild Hunt Statue

Straight from Dark Horse Direct comes a bust of Geralt as he appeared in The Witcher 3 – Wild Hunt. The Butcher of Blaviken is clad in his leather and chainmail armor, brandishing his silver sword.

For only $129.99, you can get yourself 6″ of rock-hard Geralt. He’s 5″ in width and 8″ long, made out of rigid polyresin. Mmmmmm.

The Geralt statue is limited to only 1,000 pieces and should ship between February and April 2024. It comes with a hand-numbered base from Gentle Giant and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Dark Horse Direct and CD PROJEKT RED have teamed up once again to bring fans an all-new collectible based on The Witcher 3 – Wild Hunt, the Geralt Bust! Designed by CD PROJEKT RED’s very own talented character artist and sculptor, Dawid Kowal, this 6-inch tall bust perfectly captures the game’s protagonist in the midst of combat.

So toss a coin to your Witcher and pretend that Netflix didn’t turn Andrzej Sapkowski’s work into a giant waste of time. OK, I’m being too harsh, Henry Cavill was the best part of the whole thing, and thankfully, YouTubers have made several “best of” compilations of that handsome fellow.

Sword in hand and a snarl on his face, the Butcher of Blaviken is ready to defend the realm and defeat his foes. Geralt is posed on a 3.5-inch wide base where the Witcher’s signature Wolf School emblem adds a unique dimension and element to the piece. Highly limited to just 1000 units and depicting amazing detail throughout, this bust is the perfect addition to any The Witcher fan’s collection!

Ladies, I know what you’re really here for. You want that Geralt in the Bath statuette. Don’t worry. Your dirty secret is safe with me. Just click here, and you can order it.

[Source: Dark Horse Direct]

English Dub Cast Announced For Fantasy Anime ‘Management of a Novice Alchemist’

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‘Management of a Novice Alchemist’ is a 2022 anime series directed by Hiroshi Ikehata with all twelve episodes produced by the Japanese animation studio ENGI. Sentai Filmworks acquired the license to release it in the United States on the HiDive streaming service and announced that they were producing an English dub version.

They announced the cast list online:

  • Sarasa voiced by Brittney Karbowski
  • Lorea voiced by Juliet Simmons
  • Iris voiced by Donna Bella Litton
  • Kate voiced by Jade Kelly
  • Ophelia voiced by Molly Searcy
  • Maria voiced by Alyssa Marek
  • Proctor voiced by John Swasey
  • School Director voiced by Marcy Bannor
  • Teacher Glasses voiced by Cat Thomas
  • Teacher Ruby voiced by Elissa Cuellar
  • Sarasa’s Father voiced by Brandon Hernsberger
  • Sarasa’s Mother voiced by Star Carter
  • Elles voiced by Elissa Cuellar
  • Delal voiced by Melissa Pritchet
  • Geberk voiced by Ty Mahany
  • Mayor voiced by Luis Galindo
  • Gizdo voiced by Kyle Colby Jones
  • Andre voiced by Matthew David Rudd
  • Gill voiced by Scott Gibbs
  • Gray voiced by Adam Gibbs
  • Jasper voiced by John Swasey
  • Leonora voiced by Patricia Duran
  • Dudley voiced by Joe Daniels
  • Darna voiced by David Lascoe
  • Elyn voiced by Sophia Marcelle
  • Gree Dilly voiced by Joe Daniels
  • Filiorne voiced by Samantha Stevens
  • Leroy voiced by Jack Stansbury

You can watch the trailer below:

The anime is based on a fantasy Japanese light novel series written by Mizuho Itsuki, illustrated by Fuumi, and published by Fujimi Shobo.

As of the writing of this article, a second season has not been announced.

MyAnimeList describes the synopsis as follows,

“After her parents are killed by bandits, young Sarasa Feed is sent to an orphanage where she learns about the prestigious world of alchemy. Determined to follow in her late parents’ footsteps and become an independent business owner, she enrolls at the Royal Alchemist Academy to train and get certified as an official alchemist.

Five years later, Sarasa graduates from the institution and nearly achieves her dream before realizing that she lacks the funds to do so. Left with little choice, she makes do with a low-priced storefront in a town situated far away from the bustling capital. Despite the threat of treacherous terrain and dangerous monsters in the remote countryside, Sarasa begins her exciting new life as an alchemist.”

Kill Time Communication publishes a manga version illustrated by the artist known as kirero.

Netflix’s Live Action One Piece Confirmed For A Second Season

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After two weeks of being in the top 10 series spot worldwide as well as being number one in many places around the world, Netflix has confirmed that there will be a season two of a live action One Piece. There was previously speculation that such an announcement would not possibly happen until the strikes had ended. But it seems the enormous success could not wait for such an unknown period of time.

In its’ second week, One Piece live action went from 140.1 million hours in views to 145.7 million hours in views. The series also went from 18.5 million views to 19.3 million views, while remaining in the top 10 spot in 93 countries. The first season was number one in 46 countries in the first week, while being number one in 74 countries during the second week.

Via the Netflix Website Ranking from September 4-September 10, 2023

In making the announcement for a confirmed second season, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda was filmed at his drawing board writing in Japanese an introduction. He then turns around towards a transponder snail and picks up the receiver and communicates a message to the old and new fans of One Piece. At the end, he draws a picture of a character named Chopper, giving a major hint as to what to expect in season two.

Here is what he says:

To the Straw Hat Grand Fleet
What did you think of season 1 of the live-action One Piece? I spent a lot of time working on it with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios. It seems people around the world have been enjoying the show, which makes the hard work from the production team truly worth it. To everyone who’s been a fan of One Piece for years, and to those who experienced One Piece for the first time, thank you so much. Two weeks after the launch, I just received some great news. Netflix has decided to renew the show! The adventures of Iñaki and the live-action Straw Hats will continue onward! It’ll still take awhile to get the scripts ready so please be patient. From here on, it seems to me the Straw Hats will need a great doctor… We will see!

In an interview with Deadline earlier this week, those working on the live action series are hoping for 12 seasons. But of course, time will tell if it ever gets that far, especially considering the ever growing length of the manga.

What do you think of the news of a season 2? Are you excited? Or do you continue to be cautious due to the pattern of series tending to go downhill after a successful first season or two of a show on Netflix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

New Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord Trailer Shows Off Gameplay

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After months of waiting, we finally get to see how the latest Ghostbusters VR game plays, kind of. The new gameplay trailer for Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord shows us that our paranormal elimination equipment can be upgraded and supplemented with various secondary gadgets.

This isn’t as extensive as I had hoped, but the nDreams’s game is getting there. We get a glimpse at the West Coast version of Ecto-1, which looks pretty cool. The new equipment is modeled to match VR handsets, which means the classic wands lose their iconic look.

While we are not shown a coherent playthrough, there’s just enough footage to show us that there are lots of customization options and a heavy emphasis on teamwork. There’s a lot of potential here.

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord will arrive on October 26th and can be wishlisted for the Meta Quest and PlayStation VR2. There’s a price difference between the two platforms. Meta’s version of the game is $49.99, while Sony’s is $34.99. However, Sony also offers up a “Deluxe Edition” (aka the Full Containment Edition) for $54.99, which includes the following:

• 4 Equipment Skins
• 10 Additional Playable Avatars
• Slimer Hunt feature & collectible
• Additional Bonus Content!

Oh, boy! Additional Bonus Content! That’s my favorite type of nebulous content!

Strap on your proton pack and step into the world of Ghostbusters in immersive virtual reality. Run your Ghostbusters HQ in a new city, San Francisco, and unravel a rich mystery in a new chapter for the Ghostbusters universe.

Wield iconic equipment as you track, blast, and trap ghosts in gripping encounters across an extensive and engrossing campaign. Go it alone, or as a team with up to three friends in co-op to defeat a ghastly new threat – the Ghost Lord. Continue the Ghostbusters’ legacy, protect the city from fiendish ghosts, and experience all the humor and frights from the beloved franchise.

[Source: Ghostbusters YouTube Channel]

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