Earlier this year, Capcom launched a special survey titled ‘Super Elections’ via its Capcom Town website, where fans around the globe could vote on their favourite characters, series and what sequel or new game they would like to see the most.
The votes are now in and the results have been shared across 10 different questions. All up there were 254,148 total votes across the globe with countries like the US, Canada, the UK and Japan participating. We’ve shared some of the responses below:
Embark on a journey to claim the throne and change the world
After the king’s assassination, an election for the next monarch unfolds and thus begins your fight for the throne.
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Customize your party using 14 lineages and 40 different classes. Quickly take out weaker enemies in the field, or strategically target the weaknesses of stronger foes through turn-based battles. Time management is key—explore labyrinths during the day and foster your bonds at night! Choose your actions wisely as you plot your journey!
In addition to the base game, this commemorative edition lets you celebrate the past 35 years of ATLUS and immerse yourself in the world of Metaphor: ReFantazio through DLC and additional bonus content. With 8 ATLUS-themed costume and BGM bundles included, journey through Euchronia with music and outfits from Persona and other favorite ATLUS titles!
Luigi’s Mansion 2 returns later this month on the Nintendo Switch in HD, and we’ve now had the chance to go “hands on” with it.
If you haven’t already seen our feature here on Nintendo Life, we mentioned how we couldn’t wait to continue our playthrough. It’s still stuffed “full of charm and atmosphere” and now comes with all sorts of upgrades like new character models, animations, improved controls, gyro aiming and more.
Action game aficionados have been well-fed in the recent past with games like Stellar Blade and Sekiro, but based on a new hands-on gameplay demo at Summer Games Fest, it looks like Phantom Blade 0 will stand up with the leaders in the genre.
Aside from a short tutorial, the demo does not take much time setting things up, preferring to leap right into the action. The main character, Soul, is given two main weapons to switch between at first: a pair of short swords and one longer katana. This switching mechanic does not just change playstyle and reach, but allows Soul to regain their stamina bar immediately to continue their combo and scratch away at the enemy lifebar.
In addition to these offensive weapons, the protagonist is given defensive options in the form of both parries and dodges. As per action game tradition, parries break down the enemy’s wearwithal to open them up for a combo opportunity. Dodges, meanwhile, help you avoid enemy attacks that either cannot be parried or might be too difficult to try.
Phantom Blade 0 has more in common with something like Ninja Gaiden Black than games on the From Software spectrum
Where this comes into play is PBZ’s playstyle. Approaching it more like a Souls game is absolute folly, as that patience-driven, opportunity-seizing gameplay will end up earning a quick and unnecessary death to enemies that will get to those opportunities first. Instead, Phantom Blade Zero rewards a hyper-aggressive playstyle in order to make those defensive options shine.
Meanwhile, enemies are largely made up of warriors of similar size to Soul, suffering very little in the way of knockback to individual attacks. Combos with the pair of short swords will not stop an enemy intent on hurting Soul from completing their attack, but constantly hammering them with it will chip away as you switch weapons, dodge, and parry a path to victory. In this way, Phantom Blade 0 has more in common with something like Ninja Gaiden Black than games on the From Software spectrum, putting an emphasis on relentless attacks to outclass Soul’s opponents.
The art style is described by the developers at S-Game as “China Punk,” taking classical Chinese mythos and environments and combining them with modern sensibilities. The technical prowess on display so far indicates that PBZ will be able to reach those lofty goals with the final version and impress on a visual level.
The Summer Games Fest demo I played featured three small sections with increasingly difficult bosses. In the first, a cliffside fort featuring some warriors and archers needed to be defeated in order to move on. There are a number of options for taking them out, including using one Soul’s projectile weapons like a bow or a big handheld dragon mouth laser. Footholds and paths can also lead up to them, preventing Soul from being buffeted by arrows any further.
Huangxing presents the hardest battle of the demo by being aggressive, having wildly damaging attacks, and being hard to predict.
Defeating the boss, Tie Sha the Frenzy, is the first real test of skill in the demo and it demands a degree of understanding the parrying concept before moving on. Proper dodging and parrying can take care of Tie Sha quickly, but slipping up might make the battle more difficult to regain the momentum.
After Tie Sha, the demo moves Soul to another level where he encounters the second boss fight available: the alliteratively named Commander Cleave. This larger boss unsurprisingly wields a cleaver sword that tears through Soul’s defenses, so proper timing is paramount. He also has a fair bit of health and defensive options of his own, making him feel like the first real skill test of the demo.
Upon defeating Commander Cleave, the final challenge is presented: a one-on-one fight against Huangxing, the Sunken Pillar of Kunlun. Huangxing presents the hardest battle of the demo by being aggressive, having wildly damaging attacks, and being hard to predict. His one-hit kill, a move where he swings a basket around and lands it on Soul’s head to decapitate him, can only be avoided by staggering him with heavy weapons or leaping off a pillar in the room to dodge it.
The best way to stagger him turned out to be using a weapon received from Commander Cleave, his trademark cleaver, and start comboing Huangxing with the knives and switching to the cleaver for a big transitional hit. Beating the hulking warrior is not easy, but it is definitely satisfying.
What wasn’t in the demo, though, was any level design. Dropping directly into combat areas and bosses meant there was no space to look around and figure out the structure between fights. While Phantom Blade Zero absolutely nails its controls and the fighting feels fast and frantic, the unknown questions still leave more puzzle pieces to be filled in. Based on what has been shown so far, however, S-Game’s newest action offering is swinging for the fences and has a good chance of succeeding.
Quickly becoming Bethesda Game Studio’s most successful release and one of the best-selling games of all time, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has remained a fixture of the company’s lineup even years after it hit shelves, with the studio repackaging and reselling it multiple times. From handheld ports and next-gen upgrades to full-on VR recreations, Skyrim is a game that you can play pretty much anywhere at this point.
But, with so many versions of Skyrim to choose from, which should you play in 2024? With multiple editions spread across PlayStation, Xbox, PC and even Switch, it can be tricky to know which release of the game is best suited for the experience you’re searching for. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve put together a full guide on all the versions of Skyrim currently available and what’s included in each package. You should have plenty of time to play it before The Elder Scrolls 6 arrives.
How Many Versions of Skyrim Are There?
In total, there have been seven unique releases of Skyrim released across nine different platforms. One of these is a version completely playable through Amazon Alexa known as Skyrim: Very Special Edition, which functioned entirely through voice commands. It was largely released as a simple, fun nod to the countless memes about how frequently Skyrim was remastered and, although we can appreciate Alexa dryly describing your epic showdown with a wandering Mudcrab, we won’t include it in the list.
We’ll also be moving past 2013’s Skyrim: Legendary Edition, which was a bundle including the base release of the game and its three expansions. With the release of Special Edition in 2016, Legendary Edition was delisted from Steam. Although you can technically still buy second-hand physical copies of this version on Xbox 360 and PS3, it’s not a product Bethesda still sells and so it’s one we’ll skip over.
That leaves us with five different versions of Skyrim to run through. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Every Skyrim Edtion in Order
1. Skyrim – PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (2011)
The first version of Skyrim that launched all the way back in 2011, the standard edition is about as vanilla as Skyrim gets. Launching on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, it laid the foundation for the game’s various updated ports in the years following its launch. However, in 2024, it’s probably not worth seeking out.
Unless you still have an Xbox 360 or PS3 to hand, this will mostly be an option for PC players, and even then, most digital PC storefronts don’t even have it appear in their search bars following the release of Skyrim: Special Edition. As for why, It comes bundled with none of the expansions or the visual and gameplay updates that were included in the more modern versions of the game. Considering Special Edition Skrim is quite frequently discounted on storefronts like Steam and GOG, the Standard Edition has been made slightly redundant in the years since.
That being said, if you’re looking to tap into Skyrim’s older modding scene, it may still be worth checking out. On both Steam Workshop and Nexus, you’ll find mods for the original version of the game, and while they may not be as advanced as the mods that can be built on Special Edition, there’s a ton of them to try out.
2. Skyrim: Special Edition – PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (2016)
Launching five years after the standard edition, Skyrim: Special Edition is the most common version of the game currently available. Bundled in this version, you’ll get all three of the game’s major expansions, Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn, as well as a suite of visual upgrades, including remastered textures and vastly upgraded lighting.
One of the biggest additions is access to the Creations tab, which allows you to download free mods made by the community as well as paid Creation Club content packs licensed by Bethesda. This feature is included on console too, meaning you can finally get a taste of the game’s modding scene without needing to play the game on PC. Skyrim: Special Edition is often discounted on console and PC, but it can also be downloaded through Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra, making it one of the easiest versions to get your hands on.
This really is the core version you’ll be looking at if you just want a no frills, standard Skyrim experience with all the quality of life updates that come with more modern hardware. It’s easy to get either through subscription services or sales, and has all of the expansion content included, as well as the option to extend your playtime or mix things up with in-built access to mods.
3. Skyrim: Special Edition (Nintendo Switch) – Switch (2017)
Although technically another port of Skyrim: Special Edition, the Nintendo Switch version deserves its own spot on the list for being a full handheld port that you can play on the go.
The Switch release also has a few unique features outside of its portability. Players can switch on motion controls, using the JoyCon to attack with a sword or pull back the string of a bow, while the game also includes unique Zelda-themed items, including Link’s tunic, a Hylian Shield and the Master Sword. If you’re looking to clear a few dungeons on your commute to work, this is the version for you.
4. Skyrim VR – PC, PlayStation 4 (2017)
Just a year after the release of Special Edition, Bethesda decided to release an alternate version of Skyrim that would ramp up its immersion to new heights. This new port was Skyrim VR, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Using a PSVR or Windows-based headset, players can hop into Skyrim’s world recreated in virtual reality, allowing them to explore its icy plains from a new perspective.
Skyrim VR includes the full base game and its expansions while implementing motion controls, with players using VR controllers to swing swords, draw bows and pick up items. In essence, it’s another version of Special Edition but fully experienced through a VR headset, so if you want a new way to explore Skyrim and have the tech necessary to play it, it could be one to try out.
5. Skyrim: Anniversary Edition – PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch (2021)
The latest version of Skyrim, Skyrim: Anniversary Edition launched in 2021 to celebrate the game’s ten-year anniversary. In essence, it’s more of an expansion to Special Edition than a full-fledged remaster, bundling together a list of over 70 Creation Club mods for a discounted price. Included are new quests, weapons, armor sets, houses, enemies, dungeons, spells and features, alongside a lot more.
You can buy Skyrim: Anniversary Edition as a full game, but if you already own Skyrim: Special Edition, you can upgrade to the Anniversary edition for a lower cost instead. Anniversary Edition definitely isn’t an essential add-on to the game, but if you’ve already wandered the world of Skyrim for years at this point and want to freshen things up for your next playthrough, it’s worth a look.
Callum Williams is a freelance media writer with years of experience as a game critic, news reporter, guides writer and features writer.
The Switch eShop can be a dark and dreary place. The storefront is home to some absolute gems, but a multitude of rushed, rip-off and scam games can turn these beauties from a shining beacon to a needle in a haystack.
Here to prove that there are still some good games out there, our video producer Alex set out on the hunt for something special. To do so, he got his hands on five random eShop games (ones we didn’t review on the site) and took them for a spin in the hope of finding a goodun. Did he manage it? Well, you’ll just have to watch the above video to find out.
Mecha Break Coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2025, Apply for the Closed Beta Today
Brett Buren, ÜberStrategist PR, Amazing Seasun Games
Summary
Mecha Break will be available in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, with a closed beta test coming only to Xbox Series X in August 2024.
The game features three distinct game modes: 6v6 Battlefield mode, 3v3 Arena mode, and up to 60-player PvEvP (unavailable for the upcoming beta).
Experience an arsenal of unique mechs with diverse playstyles and customization; play how you want and master your mech’s abilities.
Oozing with high-tech style and full of fast-paced battles, Mecha Break is multiplayer mech-based shooter that puts you in the pilot seat of your very own towering mech as you dive into a clash of steel and plasma unlike any other. Now, after two successful closed beta tests on PC, developer Amazing Seasun Games is proud to announce that Mecha Break’s next closed beta test will be coming to Xbox Series X in August 2024!
While the impressive mechs and break-neck speed of Mecha Break’s combat is the flashy initial draw, the room for personal expression through cosmetic customization and diverse combat tactics will let you build an attachment to your favorite mech. The full release game will feature three distinct game modes: 6v6 Battlefield mode, 3v3 Arena mode, and up to 60-player PvEvP.
Mecha Break features customizable mechs, player-created mech pilots, a wide array of mech and weapon types, and three distinct game modes where you can discover an array of attacker, brawler, defender, sniper, and support mechs each with unique playstyles and toolsets.
For the upcoming closed beta test in August on Xbox Series X, the highlighted game modes will be the 3v3 Arena mode and 6v6 Battlefield mode. Here you’ll work together with your team and engage in intense aerial and ground combat as you fight for the objective. Employ strategic tactics for close and long-range encounters, unleash devastating firepower, cleave mechs in half with giant melee weapons, and rain missiles upon the battlefield as you and your team fight to win.
Strategic planning is key in Mecha Break, so effective communication with teammates will be essential to lead them to victory. Prepare for adrenaline-pumping battles, lightning-fast maneuvers, and explosive firepower. Experience the colossal power and thrilling movement of your towering mech. Mecha Break’s closed beta test on Xbox Series X will begin in August 2024. Stay up to date on all Mecha Break news on Discord, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
Mecha BREAK is a multiplayer mech game that allows players to choose from diverse mechs, customize appearances, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain. Get ready for the ultimate showdown—blitz, brawl, blaze!
Sumo Group, which encompasses Still Wakes the Deep publisher Secret Mode among other games, has announced layoffs affecting 15% of its staff.
The business announced the move following an internal message sent to employees today. Like many other companies, it says it’s “not been immune” to some of the difficult changes affecting the games industry recently. Sumo Group adds, “reshaping operations across the business to better navigate the upcoming challenges expected in the coming months is a path we must now take to ensure the security of the business going forward.”
“The difficult decision to reduce our costs across the business in a number of ways is a direct result of these challenges, and unfortunately will include a reduction in the number of people the business can support,” Sumo Group’s statement says. “Every alternate route to limit the impact to our people is being considered but sadly this process of transformation will affect up to 15% of our people across the Group in Canada, UK, Poland, Czech Republic and India.”
The Sumo Group website says it employs more than 1790 people across Sumo Digital and Secret Mode, meaning around 250 employees are affected by today’s layoffs. Polygon reporter Nicole Carpenter reports that the decision may have resulted in the complete closure of Timbre Games. The studio, which was founded to create AAA games for console and PC, opened in 2021. Carpenter adds that it was working on two unannounced projects.
Sumo Group’s statement continues: “This is an incredibly challenging process to go through for everyone at Sumo and our focus is now on supporting our people and working with our partners on their games as we move forward to ensure we emerge from this difficult time, ready for the future.”
Layoffs continue to affect thousands of people across the industry. Take-Two Interactive, Microsoft, Square Enix, EA, Riot Games, Sony, and Avalanche Studios are only a few of the companies to have announced that they would be laying off employees recently. More than 10,000 developers were impacted by layoffs in 2023, and that number is on track to be passed easily in 2024.
You can learn more about why some developers think the industry is going through a historic rough patch here. For a better look at how the layoffs are affecting the people who help bring the industry to life, you can click here.
I try to avoid describing video games in mathematical terms, but I can hardly avoid it here. Treasure Planet’s flying galleons plus Spirited Away’s bath house plus Spiritfarer’s gentle building and management mechanics equals Hotel Galactic. Watch the trailer below and tell me I’m wrong.
Caves Of Qud has been under development for over 15 years, but it’s finally reaching a 1.0 release later this year. Ahead of that happening, it’s received a final major content update which seeks to make the complex, detailed roguelike more approachable. The Spring Molting update, which is out now, makes the user interface work with both mouse and gamepad, adds Steam cloud saves, and more.
