The Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor series holds a unique place in the tactical RPG genre. It blends the intense strategy of grid-based combat with the moral complexity and alignment systems the Shin Megami Tensei franchise is known for. While the series currently consists of only two games, Devil Survivor and Devil Survivor 2, both entries left a lasting impression. They both share complicated gameplay systems, time-sensitive narratives, and emotionally charged decision-making. I think it's time for ATLUS to deliver a third entry. One that builds upon its predecessors while introducing new mechanics and modern quality-of-life features.

The Devil Survivor series took the moral dilemmas and mythological themes of the mainline SMT games and combined them with tactical combat. Unlike the turn-based battles of traditional SMT, Devil Survivor relied on grid-based movement and positioning, emphasizing strategy and careful planning. Battles unfolded in a hybrid system. Once units clashed, they entered a familiar turn-based combat mode akin to mainline SMT games. This is complete with demon summoning and elemental weaknesses. This dual-layered approach gave the series its distinct identity, appealing to fans of both strategy games and traditional JRPGs.

Both games implemented a time-sensitive narrative structure, with events unfolding over a set number of days. Players had to make choices about how to spend their limited time. This includes advancing the main plot, forging bonds with other characters, or preparing for upcoming battles. This mechanic heightened the sense of urgency and added replayability, as nowhere near all of the events could be experienced in a single playthrough. The time mechanics also tied into the series’ multiple endings, which depended on the player’s choices, alignment and available party.

In keeping with SMT tradition, Devil Survivor featured an alignment system that influenced the story’s direction and the protagonist’s ultimate fate. Players’ decisions throughout the game aligned them with Law, Chaos, or Neutral ideologies, each represented by different factions and characters. What set Devil Survivor apart was how these alignments were interwoven with the personal struggles of its cast. The choices were much less abstract. They directly impacted the characters the player had grown attached to over the course of the game.

There's also multiple endings within alignments, something not as common in the mainline series. For example, there are different options even if you take the Chaos route. Some of the endings can be easily missed if you don't follow a specific path.

The cast of the Devil Survivor games is another standout feature. In the first game, players were thrust into a locked-down Tokyo as demons began to overrun the city. The second game deals with themes of societal collapse and prophecy. Each character had their own struggles, motivations, and potential arcs depending on the player’s choices. This focus on interpersonal dynamics made the stakes feel personal, further distinguishing the series from other tactical RPGs.

However, the gaming landscape has evolved significantly since the release of Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker in 2015. A third entry could capitalize on modern advancements in game design while staying true to the series’ core identity. Here’s why we need Devil Survivor 3 and how it could improve upon its predecessors.

While the hybrid battle system of the first two games was innovative. Devil Survivor 3 could take inspiration from modern tactical RPGs to refine and expand its gameplay. Games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Triangle Strategy have introduced new ideas to the genre, such as terrain effects, class-specific mechanics, and more dynamic battlefields. Devil Survivor 3 could incorporate these features to make combat even more engaging.

For example, Introduce environmental elements like destructible terrain, hazardous zones, or demon-summoning circles that alter the battlefield dynamically. Also, it could add mechanics that reward teamwork, such as combo attacks or support bonuses for characters with strong relationships. We've seen elements like this in Persona, so they can do it.

The Devil Survivor games were challenging, but their difficulty sometimes bordered on frustrating. A third game could address these issues. Borrowing from Persona 5’s sleek menus, demon fusion and skill inheritance could make things more accessible.

The alignment system is central to the Devil Survivor experience, and a third game could take it even further. Instead of sticking to the traditional Law, Chaos, and Neutral alignments, Devil Survivor 3 could introduce new factions or ideologies, each with its own moral complexities.

Players could manage relationships between multiple competing sides, each with shades of gray. This could help to make alignment a more fluid system that reacts to the player’s choices, rather than locking them into a specific path early on.

Like almost every SMT title, first two games focused on Tokyo. They both also deal with societal collapse. Devil Survivor 3 could explore fresh thematic and narrative territory. The protagonist navigating cultural and ideological clashes as demons threaten to bring about the apocalypse. The narrative could tackle timely issues such as climate change, technology’s impact on humanity, or global inequality, giving the series a modern edge.

The broader SMT franchise has evolved significantly since Devil Survivor 2. A third game could integrate some of the best features from recent entries. For example, the nuanced demon recruitment system from Shin Megami Tensei V. The game could also leverage modern hardware to deliver stunning character designs and atmospheric environments, while retaining the series’ signature art style.

A third entry could also introduce entirely new mechanics to set itself apart. Many of Devil Survivor's modern peers feature some sort of management between battles. Players could manage resources and alliances between human survivors and demon factions, adding a layer of strategic depth.

Then of course they could Include cooperative or competitive multiplayer options. This would let players test their strategies against others or team up for challenging battles. I'm not typically a fan of this sort of thing, but the Pokémon series shows us the demand for this sort of thing.

The Devil Survivor series has always excelled at delivering thought-provoking narratives, intense tactical combat, and morally challenging choices. A third entry could build upon this foundation, incorporating modern gameplay advancements and exploring new thematic territory. By blending the best elements of its predecessors with fresh ideas from the wider world of tactical RPGs, Devil Survivor 3 could reignite the franchise and deliver a truly unforgettable experience. The fans are ready, ATLUS — it’s time to answer the call.

The post I Want a Third Devil Survivor Game appeared first on Siliconera.

When you think about Pokemon, it’s easy to feel the nostalgia. For so many of us, the series holds a unique place in our childhoods. It’s a franchise that knows exactly how to keep itself alive. Whether it’s introducing features like Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, or Dynamaxing, the formula is constantly being supplemented by gimmicks. But underneath it all, the Pokemon experience stays fundamentally the same, and maybe that should change to embrace what games like it also do.

Game Freak is often too cautious to truly take big leaps with Pokemon. That approach has kept fans coming back, but some of the more innovative takes on monster-catching come from smaller, indie games influenced by Pokemon. These games, such as Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown, give us a fresh look at a genre Pokemon pioneered, but has not truly innovated on in a long time

As a franchise, Pokemon is among the most established. It's a cultural juggernaut not only in gaming but across media. With every new release, Game Freak fine-tunes the well-loved turn-based mechanics and injects a new gimmick. In Generation VI, we had Mega Evolutions, an exciting feature that allowed certain Pokémon to transform mid-battle and become even stronger versions of themselves.

It was wildly popular. Fans loved the additional layers of strategy and the dramatic designs. But by the next generation, Mega Evolutions were gone. Then came Z-Moves and Gigantamaxing, which faded in and out with their respective games. Fans see their favorite features disappear, replaced by something new each time. While this cycle can add flavor to each new game, it sometimes leaves fans wondering if Game Freak cares about their feedback at all.

On one level, it’s understandable why Game Freak takes this approach with Pokemon. No matter what, these games are guaranteed to sell well. Even when Pokemon Scarlet and Violet dropped with performance issues and graphical inconsistencies, they still broke sales records.

It raises the question: why should Game Freak deviate from their tried-and-true formula when they don’t have to? Without the pressure to innovate for survival, they have the luxury to play it safe. It’s only natural, but it also creates a gap that indie games have stepped in to fill.

Games like Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown have innovated in ways Pokemon could, but perhaps never would. Take Cassette Beasts for example. Tts monster fusion system, which lets you merge two creatures to create a more powerful hybrid, offers thrilling tactical depth. Each fusion carries unique abilities and stats, so you’re incentivized to experiment and discover combinations.

Imagine a similar feature in Pokemon—even with a fraction of the possibilities, the concept would have endless strategic applications, but it’s also easy to see why Game Freak wouldn’t attempt it. Pokemon lore emphasizes individuality; fusing Pokémon might seem at odds with its core “gotta catch ‘em all” mantra. Yet, fusions could have been integrated differently, perhaps as temporary team-ups in battle or unique synergies.

Cassette Beasts also succeeds by keeping its world small, with a limited roster compared to Pokemon’s sprawling Pokédex. With nearly 1,000 Pokémon species to consider, every new Pokemon generation runs into the problem of bloat. Scarlet and Violet, even with all it's expansions, is missing over 20% of the full roster. There are so many creatures that it’s no longer even possible for a player to “catch ‘em all” in a single game. Game Freak claims this is a technical limitation of the switch, but me? I don't buy that.

Cassette Beasts and other indies can design smaller, tightly-knit rosters without players feeling like they’re missing out on decades of characters and mechanics. For them, this limited scope is an advantage, allowing deeper exploration of each monster’s role within the world and narrative. Meanwhile, Pokemon’s vast array of creatures, while mostly beloved, might be the very thing holding it back from incorporating fresh ideas.

Another fascinating feature is how indie monster-collecting games handle lore and story. Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a significant step forward in this department, weaving an engaging tale about the origins of Pokémon in a way that was refreshing and new.

Fans embraced it, thrilled by the idea of exploring lore in a more hands-on way. But even then, it was limited in its risks; rather than push the boundaries further. Indie games don’t have this hesitation. Without a massive back catalog, Cassette Beasts can tie its creatures into every layer of the game’s world and narrative, weaving a story that feels deeply interconnected and freeing the player to explore without rigid constraints.

If Pokemon could merge this depth with the mainline games, we might see a shift to more player agency and immersion—exactly what Pokemon Legends: Arceus hinted at but didn’t fully realize.

So, does Game Freak have a responsibility to keep up with these smaller games, or is it enough to just polish up each new entry in the franchise and let the brand’s legacy carry it forward? For many fans, the answer lies somewhere in between. If Pokémon incorporated a mix of its past mechanics and some of these indie innovations, it could retain its wide appeal while adding meaningful depth.

Imagine a world where we could combine the best of every generation. Where Mega Evolutions, regionals, Dynamaxing, and maybe even fusion mechanics could coexist to create a player experience that evolves over time, rather than starting fresh every few years.

What stands in the way of such a vision? Perhaps it’s the franchise’s sheer scale. With so many facets, card games, movies, toys, and shows, the Pokémon games are but one piece of the bigger picture. Its massive appeal means Game Freak doesn’t have to experiment as much. When something like Mega Evolutions fades away, it’s still just as profitable to make a new game without it. Younger fans and longtime players will buy every release regardless.

Game Freak may be unwilling to commit to complex Pokemon mechanics because it doesn’t need to. That leaves us with a franchise whose games are timeless but, at the same time, overall unchanging. It's disappointing that the company who pushed the Gameboy to its limits to include Kanto in Generation II is now not even including every Pokémon in a main game.

To expect massive changes would be a lot, but the franchise still has the potential to introduce smaller, meaningful innovations. Games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus suggest that the franchise might dip into a deeper experience again. Perhaps drawing from the RPGs that keep people hooked not for one generation but for years.

If that happens, Pokemon might yet blend its comforting nostalgia with the inventive spirit of the games it inspired. Games that go beyond “catching them all” as a slogan. Until then, we’ll continue to explore these indie gems and wait patiently, catching what we can.

The post Pokémon Could Learn a Little From Games It Influenced appeared first on Siliconera.

Another one of the Good Smile Company announcements from New York Comic Con 2024 involves a The Binding of Isaac figure that is a Nendoroid of the main character. It is the furthest along of all of the company’s announcements at the event, as a painted prototype appeared and there are multiple photos showing the extra parts included with it.

The multiple photos tied to a gif released alongside the reveal covered many of the parts Isaac will include. His face plates always show him crying, and it seems he will have ones that feature both his eyes open and closed. He’ll come with a standard body, as well as an additional one of him curled up in a fetal position on the floor. You can arm him with Mom’s Knife, which was a passive in the original game. He also comes with a Dead Cat passive item, which can be displayed alongside him.

Here’s the official announcement gif showing some of the different The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid poses that will be possible.

While there’s no pre-order open yet, we should see that happen soon. Not only did the painted prototype appear at NYCC 2024, but there are multiple photos of its accessories and extra parts.

Many of the other NYCC 2024 Good Smile Company reveals involved games. There will be a new World of Warcraft Nendoroid and Diablo 4 Pop Up Parade figure coming from the company.  

The Binding of Isaac original game is available on PCs. The remake showed up on the 3DS, PS4, PS5, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices. There’s no release window for The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid yet.

The post The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid Includes Tons of Tears appeared first on Siliconera.

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who joins his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio members, along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

Tales of Vesperia

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

Tales of Hearts

Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely remember that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Premium Box Set.

Tales of Graces

Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

Tales of Xillia

Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

Tales of Xillia 2

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

Tales of Zestiria

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

Tales of Berseria

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

Tales of Arise

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced via its official Japanese X account that it has updated its guidelines for sharing content from its games on online platforms.

The guideline is available in multiple languages, including English. The original Japanese version has additional update date notes on the newly revised lines on the page, which has been regularly updated since its debut in late 2018. Nintendo made three new revisions to the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The first revision added a new line to the official guidelines list. It shows Nintendo's right to object to any infringing content and blacklist the offender from sharing content from Nintendo games in the future. The Japanese page added that the company will even use legal measures to enforce its objections.

In the second revision, the company explained the types of shared content it allows and disallows. While Nintendo forbids republishing official trailers and game assets like music or cutscenes, it also discourages players from uploading simple gameplay recordings without any edits or commentaries. The Japanese page added an exception to content produced directly from the Nintendo Switch's Share button feature, which includes videos that can only run for up to 30 seconds.

The third and last revision in this guideline had Nintendo update the list of content that it will deem unlawful or inappropriate at the bottom of the page. Usages of unauthorized methods like third-party emulator software, cheats, and data mining are part of the list. The company also included malicious acts, such as making offensive remarks or griefing another player by impeding their game progress during a multiplayer session.

The Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms appeared first on November 29, 2018, as it replaced the Nintendo Creators Program. The company newly updated the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The post Nintendo Updates Its Online Media Sharing Guidelines appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo in Japan has announced that as of August 28, 2024, it has run out of replacement parts for the New 3DS [KTR-001] model. This means it will no longer accept them for repairs.

Earlier this year, Nintendo announced that it will phase out repairs for the 2DS, 3DS, and 3DS LL consoles. This is due to them no longer stocking the parts they needed. This meant that if you wanted to send your 3DS in for any issues, you had a limited time to do so before they ran out of supplies. It took them a little over five months to run out of the New 3DS parts. If you have issues with your 2DS or 3DS LL, you might still be able to send them in.

Considering that the 3DS came out in 2011, it’s no surprise that Nintendo has cut off support for the console. Even the successor to both—the Switch—is on its way out, with rumors of a potential Switch 2 announcement some time soon flying around. Once Nintendo fully runs out of parts, it may be impossible for 2DS or 3DS players to continue enjoying their devices should something arise in the future.

Nintendo will no longer accept the New Nintendo 3DS [KTR-001] for repairs. You will still be able to send in the New Nintendo 3DS LL [RED-001] and 2DS [FTR-001] though.

The post Nintendo in Japan Ran Out of Replacement Parts For 3DS appeared first on Siliconera.

Masahiro Sakurai has revealed on his X account that he has finished recording the final episode for his YouTube channel "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games." However, it will still take quite some time until this episode comes out, as Sakurai still has other regular episodes coming beforehand.

Sakurai's plan to end the video series has been known for quite a while. He first announced it in early January 2024. 2024 will thus be the final year for him to publish new episodes on the channel.

The original Japanese tweet is available to view right below:

And our translation of this tweet is as follows:

I have finished recording the final episode for the channel.
I think it will still take a while until it's published, so until then, please enjoy the regular episodes...

Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai established the YouTube channel in late August 2022. He has since published new episodes simultaneously in Japanese and English. As of June 2024, the channel has a combined total of almost 1.18 million subscribers, with around 580,000 from the English channel and almost 600,000 from the Japanese channel.

The channel has also received acclaim from the gaming industry. In August 2023, Sakurai received two awards at the CEDEC Awards 2023 for running the YouTube channel. The awards in question were the Game Design award and the Visual Arts award.

The "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" YouTube channel is available in Japanese and English languages, and its final episode will appear sometime in 2024.

The post Masahiro Sakurai Recorded His Final YouTube Channel Episode appeared first on Siliconera.

It’s a big year for Monster Hunter as a series, as we’ve not only started to see more Monster Hunter Wilds news, but both Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2 are heading to more platforms. To learn more about the latest remaster and port, Siliconera got a chance to talk with Producer Yoshihiro Akira and Art Director Takahiro Kawano about the games getting a new chance at fresh audiences.

Jenni Lada: Monster Hunter Stories is about eight years old now. What sorts of challenges did that pose when preparing it for the Switch, PS4, and PC?

Yoshihiro Akira: Because Monster Hunter Stories was an older title, it took a lot of effort to bring it to current platforms. Programmers had to decipher the source code to develop the game. The biggest problem we faced was the user interface. The Nintendo 3DS version had two screens, including a touch screen, and even the mobile version was designed for touch controls. We have rebuilt the controls based on the user interface of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin so that Monster Hunter Stories can be played comfortably on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.

In addition, in order to allow players who have played the game in the past to enjoy it again, we created a fully voiced version of the game to deepen immersion in the scenario, which was well received, and a Museum mode containing design artwork to help users fall in love with the series even more.

It was already confirmed that Title Update 1.20 and 1.30 will be included in the Monster Hunter Stories Switch, PS4, and PC versions. Will any other quality of life features inspired by the sequel appear in the game?

Akira: The user interface was rebuilt based on the controls of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. In addition, we have incorporated features to make it easier to play based on our experience with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, such as gathering materials while riding your monstie and the Quick Heal.

How deep into the archives did you go to prepare its Museum Mode, and which piece of insight into its development are you most excited to have preserved for people to see?

Akira: Fortunately, the archives were well organized and preserved at the time, so it made things a lot easier. If you visit the Museum after playing the story, you will have a better understanding of the character design ideas that sadly did not make it into the game and the images that were created to design the maps, allowing users to enjoy the Museum mode even more.

In particular, the map images will give you a better understanding of the many wonderful designs that were used to create the world of Monster Hunter Stories. Please also take a look at the comments made by the staff at that time!

How will the amiibo-exclusive monsters be handled for the Monster Hunter Stories remaster, given the amiibo for the 3DS game never appeared outside Japan?

Akira: The amiibo functions will be carried over as is. The Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin amiibo can also be used to acquire content. What you can get though....you will have to wait and see!

Likewise, how will the Monster Hunter Stories 2 amiibo bonuses be handled on the PS4?

Akira: It is not possible to obtain this with the PlayStation 4 version.

Which monster design for Monster Hunter Stories and its sequel are you most proud of? Likewise, which Monstie do you wish you could have included in the series?

Takahiro Kawano: The Monster Hunter Stories series features monsters from the Monster Hunter franchise, and while we rarely design new monsters, we did create original monsters for the final bosses of both games. I can't go into detail about this due to spoilers, but please check them out for yourself! A monster I’d like to introduce to the series would be a very large monster like Lao-Shan Lung. It would be difficult to incorporate it into an RPG style game, but I’m sure it would be fun if we could make it happen.

What would you like to potentially do in, say, a Monster Hunter Stories 3 if given the chance to make it?

Akira: I think the core being a Monster Hunter title that is easy to play for those who are not good at action games and those who like turn-based RPGs will remain the same. It would be nice to be able to evolve the series in such a way that we can keep the strong elements and change things that need to be changed.

The Monster Hunter Stories remaster will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC on June 14, 2024. It is also available on the 3DS and mobile devices. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin releases on the PS4 on June 14, 2024, and it is available now on the Switch and PC.

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There are a lot of Paper Mario games out there, with varying degrees of quality. (We don’t talk about Sticker Star anymore.) With one of the strongest entries now on the Switch, we figured it’s a great time to talk about which Paper Mario game (or games) are best for people to play.

As someone who played Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door again fairly recently, I'm going to say that is the best Paper Mario game you should play. It's an absolutely fantastic RPG with tons of personality, memorable characters, great challenges, and a lovely aesthetic. There's no busywork. No bland character designs. Every part feels valuable. Plus, it's very easily accessible right now. — Jenni

With the caveat I’ve ironically played almost every Paper Mario game except The Thousand-Year Door (will change that soon with the Switch version), I would say the original Paper Mario on the Nintendo 64 is a classic and great place to start. The Wii U and 3DS games all have their share of issues, so there is nothing like the simplicity, charm, and surprisingly solid graphics in the original that hold up much better than other N64 titles. Plus, it is available through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. — Cody 

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Nintendo announced repairs for the Nintendo 2DS and the New Nintendo 3DS line will soon be no longer available in Japan. Nintendo announced that the time limit for the company to retain spare parts for the handheld consoles had passed. Therefore, it no longer restocks the spare parts and will stop repairing the consoles after it has completely run out of parts.

The models affected by this announcement are the regular Nintendo 2DS [FTR-001], New Nintendo 3DS [KTR-001], and New Nintendo 3DS LL (XL) [RED-001]. The New Nintendo 2DS LL (XL) that came out in 2017 is the only console in the 3DS family that still has a steady supply of spare parts as of this announcement.

Nintendo has been gradually phasing out support for its 3DS consoles, along with the Wii U. The company has shut down the eShop on both platforms in March 2023, and it will also cease most of the console's online services on April 8, 2024.

But even though Nintendo will soon stop accepting repairs for the New 3DS series and the original 2DS, people who reside around Japan's Noto peninsula and had their consoles damaged by the earthquake on the 2024 New Year's Day can still have the units repaired free of charge until July 1, 2024.

The post Nintendo 2DS and New 3DS Repairs Will Cease Soon in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced that as of April 8, 2024, it will no longer support online services for the 3DS or the Wii U. This will include online co-op or multiplayer, internet rankings, and data distribution.

You will still be able to play offline games, and Pokemon Bank and Poke Transporter will still be available as well. Nintendo does note that support for Pokemon Bank and Poke Transporter may end in the future though. StreetPass will be available too, because it uses local communication between 3DS systems. However, you won’t be able to use SpotPass. Finally, it will be possible to download update date, as well as redownload games and DLC you own from the eShop.

Nintendo has been phasing out both the 3DS and the Wii U for a while now. The eShop for both consoles closed down in March 2023. Nintendo also announced that it would close down online services for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U back in October 2023. This is not a surprise considering how old these consoles are. The 3DS first came out in 2011 and the Wii U launched in 2012.

You will no longer be able to access online services on the 3DS or the Wii U after April 8, 2024. However, you will still be able to access StreetPass, as well as download games and DLC you previously purchased.

The post Reminder: Online Services For 3DS and Wii U Will End in April 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo joined the list of Japanese companies that offer support following the Noto earthquake. It revealed on its Japanese corporate account on X that it is donating 50 million yen (~$341,380) to the Japanese Red Cross. In addition, the company also announced that it will offer free repairs of its products belonging to people who reside in the affected area, regardless of their warranty status for six months since the earthquake occurred on the 2024 New Year's Day.

All Nintendo Switch models released to date are eligible. Most units in the 3DS and 2DS families, except the original 3DS [CTR-001] and 3DS LL (XL) [SPR-001] models, are also available for repairs. And even though Nintendo is on the verge of running out of Wii U spare parts, the legacy console is still eligible as the company has yet to add it to the list of completely discontinued platforms as of mid-January 2024.

Many other Japanese companies related to gaming and other subcultures have also donated money for relief following the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on January 1, 2024. Square Enix, Capcom, and Cover of Hololive fame are some of the companies that have done so. The Pokemon Company, which is affiliated with Nintendo, had also donated 50 million yen on its own.

Nintendo will offer free repairs for its products with available spare parts affected by the Noto earthquake that arrive at its service centers by July 1, 2024.

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Nintendo will put yet another nail in the coffins of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as it announced online play and other functions that use online communications will end in April 2024. According to the official website, this includes online multiplayer modes, internet rankings, and data distribution. More information on a specific date will come out closer to the shutdown.

The only online service that will be available after April 2024 will be Pokemon Bank. However, Nintendo warned that it may also end Pokemon Bank support sometime in the future. It also stated that there’s a chance it will end online functionality earlier than April 2024 if difficulties crop up between then and now. As a side note, you’ll still be able to use StreetPass (since it’s local communication) and access the Nintendo eShop to download purchased software and DLC.

The Nintendo 3DS first came out in 2010 and the Wii U came out in late 2012. The 3DS was massively popular (with Nintendo reporting over 75.77 million lifetime sales in 2020). Nintendo closed down the eShops for the 3DS and the Wii U in March 2023. While both the 3DS and the Wii U had its time in the sun, and with the Switch starting to head out as well, Nintendo seems like it’s preparing to take the next step towards the future.

Nintendo will close down online functionality for the 3DS and Wii U sometime in April 2024.

The post Nintendo Will Discontinue 3DS and Wii U Online Functions in 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

The latest video in Masahiro Sakurai’s video series is a show-and-tell episode showing rare items he’s acquired over the years. One of the more notable items was a Kid Icarus figure of Pit and Palutena based on their Uprising appearances. He noted “only about three of these exist.”

The Kid Icarus: Uprising Pit and Palutena figure comes up at the 1:12 mark of the Masahiro Sakurai video below. He noted it is based on the 3D printed model of the two characters used for a Goshogawara Tachineputa parade held in Aomori, Japan in 2011. That float was 10 meters tall. Sakurai and the float designer are two of the only people to own one.

Masahiro Sakurai has spoken about Kid Icarus: Uprising in his videos before. For example, back in July 2023 he noted he’d love to play the 3DS game on a bigger screen.

As for other items in the video, Sakurai also showed a Wii Remote with a Mii of him engraved into the back, some autographs he’d collected, a Sega Associate Planner Certificate No. 004 he won, and an Xbox 360 Elite with his name engraved on it. 

Kid Icarus: Uprising is available on the Nintendo 3DS.

The post Masahiro Sakurai Shared Rare Kid Icarus Pit and Palutena Figure appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix announced that service for Dragon Quest X Online on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U will end on March 20, 2024. However, more support is coming for the MMO. A new version 7.0 expansion is coming. The expansion is titled Dragon Quest X Online: The Door to the Future and the Sleeping Girl, and more information about it will appear after the plot of version 6.0 wraps up. The expansion is set to release in 2024.

Square Enix decided to terminate services for both the 3DS and Wii U versions of the game due to difficulties in continuing to support them. Additionally, Nintendo discontinued the hardware for both platforms, and other online services for both platforms have ceased service as well. It will regularly provide new information, and update the schedule until end of service for both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions of Dragon Quest X Online.

Dragon Quest X Online originally launched on 2012 for the Wii. The game later launched for the Wii U on March 30, 2013. The 3DS version followed that on September 4, 2014, and it runs using cloud technology. Online service for the Wii version ended back in 2017.

Dragon Quest X Online is available only in Japan for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Service for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions will end on March 20, 2024. The new Dragon Quest X Online expansion updating the game to 7.0 will appear on 2024.

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