Bandai Namco has revealed its intention to relaunch some of Sony’s most nostalgic franchises, starting with the announcement of Patapon 1+2 Replay and Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots. This pair of titles joins the list of remasters that will be released throughout this year for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Patapon 1+2 Replay, scheduled for July 11, revives the acclaimed original PSP rhythm strategy games, which were fundamental to the reputation of Japan Studio. On the other hand, Everybody’s Golf, previously known as Hot Shots Golf in North America, will also return […]
Bandai Namco has revealed its intention to relaunch some of Sony’s most nostalgic franchises, starting with the announcement of Patapon 1+2 Replay and Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots. This pair of titles joins the list of remasters that will be released throughout this year for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Patapon 1+2 Replay, scheduled for July 11, revives the acclaimed original rhythm strategy games from PSP, which were fundamental to the reputation of Japan Studio.
On the other hand, Everybody’s Golf, previously known as Hot Shots Golf in North America, will also return with a new game expected this year. This title, which dates back to the PS1 era, has been adored for its accessibility and charming style. The series has tried to stay alive with releases like Everybody’s Golf VR, launched in 2019.
A rescue of major franchises that might not stop here
The peculiar thing about this collaboration is that there has been no formal announcement of a partnership between Sony and Bandai Namco. However, the recent releases of remasters, such as Freedom Wars Remastered, indicate that both companies have reached an agreement to revitalize lesser-known intellectual properties of Sony. Consumers have expressed a growing interest in this type of revival, suggesting that the market is open to exploring titles that have been forgotten, such as Tokyo Jungle.
Meanwhile, in the realm of Nintendo, the company has introduced a significant novelty: the Virtual Game Cards, which will allow the transfer of games between consoles and lending to friends for up to two weeks, in anticipation of their upcoming console, Switch 2. This feature could change the way users manage their game libraries, offering greater flexibility and socialization in gaming.
Bandai Namco has officially presented Digimon Alysion, a new digital card game based on the iconic franchise of digital monsters, which is shaping up to be a direct competitor to the acclaimed Pokémon TCG Pocket. This new proposal aims to strengthen Digimon’s presence in the digital card game market, combining classic cards with a new exclusive collection. A game designed for people to get into Digimon One of the distinctive features of Digimon Alysion is its own deck-building system, offering players the possibility to create unique strategies within the Digimon universe. If […]
Bandai Namco has officially presented Digimon Alysion, a new digital card game based on the iconic digital monster franchise, which is shaping up to be a direct competitor to the acclaimed Pokémon TCG Pocket. This new proposal aims to strengthen Digimon’s presence in the digital card game market, combining classic cards with a new exclusive collection.
A game designed for people to get into Digimon
One of the distinctive features of Digimon Alysion is its own deck-building system, offering players the possibility to create unique strategies within the Digimon universe. While the game moves away from the physical card format that characterizes the franchise, users will be able to enjoy iconic figures such as Agumon, Gabumon, and Renamon, as well as new additions like the unprecedented Gemmon.
The title also introduces new female protagonists, among which Kanata Hondo, Futre, and Valner Dragnogh stand out. Although details about their stories or roles in the game’s narrative have not yet been revealed, their presence promises a fresh and engaging approach for players. Visually, Digimon Alysion has a design reminiscent of successful titles like Hearthstone, while its gameplay is inspired by the famous Duel Links from Yu-Gi-Oh!, but with a narrative nuance that could attract different segments of the audience.
Despite the game being free, in-app purchases will be implemented, a common strategy in this type of game. Digimon Alysion is expected to be available sometime in 2025, although no exact release date has been provided yet. With this ambitious strategy, Bandai Namco aims to position Digimon once again as a viable option in the competitive genre of digital collectible card games.
Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, former mission designer of The Witcher 3, has shared details about his new project, Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG in an open world that he is developing at Rebel Wolves. In a recent interview, Tomaszkiewicz revealed that the game will feature an innovative mechanic in which time is considered a resource, which could pose a challenge for some players. However, the designer is well aware of the risks in video game development, especially after his experience with The Witcher 3, the first title in the series that fully adopted a format […]
Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, former mission designer of The Witcher 3, has shared details about his new project, Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG in an open world that he is developing at Rebel Wolves. In a recent interview, Tomaszkiewicz revealed that the game will feature an innovative mechanic in which time is considered a resource, which could pose a challenge for some players. However, the designer is well aware of the risks in video game development, especially after his experience with The Witcher 3, the first title in the series that fully adopted an open world format.
There were doubts about whether it was a good idea to develop the game’s narrative so much
Tomaszkiewicz recalled that, just like in Blood of Dawnwalker, during the development of The Witcher 3 they had doubts about integrating a complex story within an open environment. “There were doubts about whether the audience would really want an extensive narrative in a game of this nature,” he commented. However, the results speak for themselves, as the title has been acclaimed as one of the best RPGs of all time, highlighting its successful fusion of expansive storytelling techniques typical of more linear RPGs.
As more details about Blood of Dawnwalker are revealed, industry experts are watching how this “time as a resource” mechanic will be received by the public. While some may interpret this innovation as a sign of risk, Tomaszkiewicz seems convinced that originality can prevail over initial concerns. With his legacy in The Witcher 3, fans hope that Blood of Dawnwalker can not only meet but exceed the expectations set by its predecessor. For now, the community remains intrigued, awaiting more information about this new proposal from Rebel Wolves.
During the recent State of Play in February, Bandai Namco officially announced the long-awaited release of Digimon Story: Time Stranger, a highly anticipated return to the roots of the JRPG genre after a decade of waiting since Cyber Sleuth. This new title, which will arrive on PlayStation 5 sometime in 2025, promises to reintroduce the iconic monster collecting style and turn-based combat that fans of the saga have missed. The confirmation not only brings a trailer but also a first look at the world and gameplay that this new chapter will offer. The game stands out […]
During the recent State of Play in February, Bandai Namco has officially announced the long-awaited release of Digimon Story: Time Stranger, a highly anticipated return to the roots of the JRPG genre after a decade of waiting since Cyber Sleuth. This new title, which will arrive on PlayStation 5 sometime in 2025, promises to reintroduce the iconic monster collecting style and turn-based combat that fans of the series have missed. The confirmation not only brings a trailer but also a first look at the world and gameplay that this new chapter will offer.
The game stands out for offering an unprecedented world, where players will be able to interact with various Digimon, including iconic characters like Agumon and Omnimon, who will also take on new roles. According to the official PlayStation blog, Time Stranger will feature an improved combat system and a strategic progression that will allow players to experiment with combos and optimize their teams. The promise of an immersive narrative and the development of both human and Digimon characters makes this release exciting for fans of the genre.
A step forward compared to previous Digimon games
One of the most innovative features is the inclusion of interactive environments where Digimon will have their own businesses and missions within their natural habitat. This dynamic provides a more enriching and expansive experience, allowing players to thoroughly explore the digital world that has brought them to life over the years. However, despite the excitement, details about the story and gameplay are still limited, leaving fans wanting more information in the near future.
As its release approaches, interested parties must be patient, as it is currently not possible to pre-order Digimon Story: Time Stranger or add it to wish lists. The anticipation surrounding the game remains high, and all eyes will be on Bandai Namco for more revelations.
Tales of is the great RPG franchise from Bandai Namco. Although it hasn’t managed to shine on its own in the West until the success of Tales of Arise in 2021, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a beloved franchise. Games like Tales of Vesperia and especially Tales of Symphonia were also highly regarded outside of Japan. That’s why it’s not surprising that they have decided to start systematically remastering their previous games. This is great news because it gives us the opportunity to play some games from the franchise that never […]
Tales of is the great RPG franchise from Bandai Namco. Although it did not shine brightly in the West until the success of Tales of Arise in 2021, that does not mean it is not a beloved franchise. Games like Tales of Vesperia and especially Tales of Symphonia were also highly valued outside of Japan. Therefore, it is not surprising that they have decided to start systematically remastering their previous games.
This is great news because it offers us the possibility to play some games from the franchise that we never got to play in the West. Also, because it means being able to play some of the games that might be more difficult to play today. And that’s why today we’re going to talk about five Tales of. Of the five we would want to be their next five remasters. And if you ask us, they are not too crazy bets: they are the ones most likely to sell like hotcakes.
Tales of Phantasia
Published on December 15, 1995, this was the first Tales of. Developed by Wolf Team and directed by Eiji Kikuchi, everything that defines the franchise was already here. And although it is true that it can be a bit tough to play, it remains an extremely interesting and very beautiful RPG, especially for being a Super Nintendo game.
Why should they do a remaster? To begin with, because it’s the first one. But also, because it’s the game they always return to. They re-released it on the first PlayStation and made a remaster for Game Boy Advance that later also came to PSP and mobile phones. So it wouldn’t be surprising if once they’ve fired up the engines, they decided that returning to the game they always come back to is the most logical and natural move. And given the success of their games, it would make perfect sense.
Tales of the Abyss
Published in 2005 for PlayStation 2, Tales of the Abyss is a divisive game that never made it to Europe. Why was it divisive? Its story was filled with extremely complex concepts, its protagonist wasn’t necessarily likable, and its combat system was quite a peculiar twist compared to what was seen in Tales of Symphonia. But all of this has made it one of the most beloved titles in the franchise, being passionately defended by its supporters.
The reason for making a remaster of Tales of the Abyss is evident: today it would be better understood than in 2005. Where in 2005 it lived in the shadow of Tales of Symphonia and its own ambition, today all its complexity and the parts considered more generic would be celebrated as inherent to the genre. A remaster could prove that its defenders, perhaps, were right all along and Tales of the Abyss is the best Tales of.
Tales of Rebirth
Another PlayStation 2 title, this one exclusive to Japan. In terms of gameplay, it managed to refine many aspects that had been becoming outdated or were clearly hindering the genre. But that’s not the best part of the game. The best part was the spectacular animations developed by Production I.G for it and its spectacular and complex story, based on racial and ethnic conflicts, inspired by the Yugoslav wars. Which had ended just a few years earlier.
If they only had to remaster one game, it would have to be this one. The first reason is that it was never released in the West. The second, is that it is surely the most complex and revolutionary Tales of until the arrival of Tales of the Abyss and from there, almost until Berseria. This makes it an essential title to preserve.
Tales of Hearts
At this point, we enter the peculiar choices of the list. The elections with flavor. But choosing Tales of Hearts has several reasons. To begin with, it is a title that originally came out on Nintendo DS, which later had a remake on PlayStation Vita. And that is the most interesting part. A remaster of the PlayStation Vita version could give it all the weight it deserves.
The reason why it would be interesting to see this remaster is that PlayStation Vita was an exceptional console that almost no one bought. Tales of Hearts is certainly not the greatest Tales of, but it is a very interesting installment of the franchise that has barely been played. And offering the possibility for it to be played more and reach more people is precisely what remasters are for. Making it a more than obvious candidate for this treatment.
Tales of the Tempest
If choosing Tales of Heart was a peculiar but understandable selection, here many people have lost us. And we can understand that. But we can defend it. Tales of Tempest is a Nintendo DS game that has everything that can be attributed to a DS game: it is a reduced and somewhat watered-down version of what a Tales of is. It doesn’t even take much advantage of the console’s capabilities. Now then. Is it a bad game? Absolutely not.
Tales of the Tempest is a good Tales of game that never left Japan. It is not the best Tales of, nor will it likely be anyone’s favorite, but it serves its purpose. Being a competent version of the game for handhelds. And a remaster would achieve what remasters should: make accessible and preserve a game that today is inaccessible to anyone who doesn’t know Japanese and has a DS. Therefore, Tales of the Tempest is a perfect candidate for a remaster. Even if it is not the Tales of that would excite us the most.
The next Dragon Ball video game might already have a release date, according to a dataminer who searched the data on Namco’s website.
When information becomes public, it is impossible to hide it. It doesn’t matter if it is encrypted, buried deep in dozens of code, or seemingly inaccessible without the right keys. There will always be someone curious and knowledgeable enough to access its contents. That’s what happened to Bandai Namco, who may have discovered the release date of their biggest launch of the year.
A dataminer named SergioM3R says he has discovered the release date of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero. Dating it for October 1, 2024, he claims that the information was in the code of the Bandai Namco website. Something he has offered evidence of.
According to screenshots of the website’s code, they have a list of all their own names by name, id, and release date. Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero would be released on October 1st according to this list, and to confirm it, there are the other titles. Because all the video games confirmed by Bandai Namco themselves appear there, with their confirmed release date, implying that the date is real.
According to Bandai Namco official site’s Datamine info, Sparking: ZERO Release Date seems to be October 1st, 2024. Not officially confirmed yet, will update once more information comes!
All of this doesn’t mean that it can’t be a placeholder. An approximate date while they decide the exact day the game will be released. That’s why, although it’s possible that it won’t be released on October 1st itself, we should expect it around those dates. Probably a release in the last quarter of the year, already thinking about the holiday season.
Bandai Namco has released three indie games, for free, developed as a way to train their new employees.
Starting a new job is always complicated. It involves getting used to the place, the company’s own workflows, and of course, the work we are going to do. This is no different when we talk about video game companies, especially considering that the experience applied to making video games is something that can only be gained by making video games. Something that Bandai Namco has understood perfectly, creating a very interesting way to train their new employees.
Under the name New Employee Training Project, Bandai Namco puts new employees in teams to create small games from scratch. Published under the Gyaar Studio label, with the support of the distributor Phoenixx, this way they have the possibility to adjust to the work without starting in one of the company’s big projects. And players enjoy free games. Because something they have been doing since the start of this project, in 2022, is making the games they produce available for free.
This has a problem. Until now they were presented at BitSummit, an indie game festival held in Kyoto, and then uploaded to Steam, but only for Japanese users. Until now.
The games of this year’s New Employee Training Project can also be enjoyed outside of Japan, for free. The first one is NOTTOLOT, a stealth and action game where we embody a robot capable of transforming between three different forms, capable of hacking other machines. Doronko Wanko is an adventure game where we embody an adorable pomeranian whose sole duty is to cause as much destruction as possible to cost their owners as much money in renovations as possible. Finally, Boomeroad is an action and adventure game, with a very Breath of the Wild vibe, where we will have to skate through the skies and unlock ancient ruins floating in the air.
As we have mentioned, the three games are free and are already available. Something that makes them a sweet deal, but also a way to support these workers, who are starting their career in the world of video games. Because these games continue to contain the ideas that we will see in the games of tomorrow.
Bandai Namco has just announced a new Little Nightmares during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, albeit with a couple of surprises.
Horror games have a very loyal audience. In addition to being highly popular among streamers, horror fans enjoy consuming a variety of games, each very different. The established presence of horror across all forms of audiovisual media makes it easy to envision and reimagine all sorts of video games for diverse audiences. That’s why it’s not surprising to find numerous cult titles and many companies specializing in creating them. Occasionally, these two aspects blend together, creating a unique synergy.
This is what happened during the Gamescom Opening Light Live event, where a new installment of the famous franchise Little Nightmares was announced. However, the original studio Tarsier Studios won’t be behind it, as we’ve known since Embracer Studios acquired them in 2021, since the franchise rights remain with Bandai Namco.
That’s why for the third installment of the series, they have entrusted its development to Supermassive Games, a studio renowned for its cinematic horror games like Until Dawn, The Quarry, and titles from The Dark Picture Anthology. In any case, this won’t be the first time they take on a title from the franchise. The studio already handled the Enhanced Edition for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S of Little Nightmares 2, so they are more than familiar with the game.
Although we’ve only been able to glimpse a short trailer of the game, it seems that the tone and aesthetic of the first two games will be preserved. The main novelty of this third installment is the introduction of online cooperative play or solo play with an AI-controlled companion.
Little Nightmares 3 is set to release in 2024 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
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