Metaphor: ReFantazio, the Xbox-exclusive RPG by the team behind Persona 5 among other RPGs, officially has a release date. In a special showcase streamed Monday, Atlus revealed that Metaphor will be out October 11, putting it squarely in the holidays.
The release date was revealed amid a 25-minute showcase hosted by director Katsura Hashino, which showed off the gameplay, music, and other elements. It offered a glimpse of what Persona fans can expect from Hashino’s latest project, which bears some resemblance to Persona 5 but is in other respects very different.
Unlike Persona, which seeks to capture the feeling of being in a Japanese high school, Metaphor is a much more high-concept fantasy adventure. It retains several of the elements of the Persona series, including the turn-based combat and the passage of time, but reimagines them. For instance, instead of a school year that progresses day by day, Metaphor is more of a fantasy roadtrip.
It’s all a bit difficult to describe, but the trailer above should give you an idea of what to expect. One way or another, expect Metaphor to feature the same memorable art and music that made the Persona games so famous.
Hashino has been working on Metaphor since at least 2017, when he left P-Studio to establish Studio Zero with the intention of working on a new IP. He was joined by composer Shoji Meguro and artist Shigenori Soejima among others, all of whom had a hand in shaping the Persona series. Metaphor made its debut at the Xbox Game Showcase in 2023, with Atlus steadily revealing more details in the months since.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC when it releases later this year. In the meantime, Xbox is holding an ID @ Xbox showcase next week, which will be presented exclusively right here on IGN.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
Check Out the First Metaphor: ReFantazio Gameplay Reveal, Launching October 11
Summary
During a recent livestream, Atlus showed a brand-new trailer for the upcoming Metaphor: ReFantanzio.
Get a first look at gameplay, with developer commentary, as segments of the game are explored.
Metaphor: ReFantanzio is set to launch October 11, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S.
A special developer livestream, titled “Atlus Exclusive,” took place today for Metaphor: ReFantazio, revealing brand new details about the upcoming RPG. Studio Zero Director Katsura Hashino, who you might know from Shin Megami Tensei III — Nocturne, Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 — introduced the first hands-on gameplay for the title with a 30-minute livestream (dubbed and subbed in English), discussing his development vision and creative inspirations as he explored various segments from the game.
During the livestream, Hashino-san started by introducing viewers to the premise of the story and acquainting them with the protagonist, and his fairy companion Gallica. The game is filled with interesting allies, rivals, and terrifying monsters that will come across his journey.
After displaying some of the introductory parts of the game, the first stop of the journey is shown with the Royal Capital Grand Trad. This is where you can start getting a sense of scale of the game as you walk through the city and view the maps. Fans were also given a first look at another local, Martira, a town that hasn’t been shown before.
As Hashino-san moves through dungeons and locations, he dives deeper into the gameplay systems and the journey the game takes you through. At the heart of it is the Gauntlet Runner, a fun and cool vehicle that can travel safely across wastelands, that also doubles up as your home base and HQ. The Gauntlet Runner is quite spacious with numerous functions, so use your time as you please!
Another important element of the game is Archetypes, which lies in the job system. The Archetypes are a special power that can awaken in various forms. A few Hashino-san highlights are the Seeker, the Mage, and the Thief, which were put on display in a dungeon. Archetypes can be used by your other party members, giving countless options in forming your party.
Throughout the livestream, Hashino-san also shared interesting information about the music, concepts behind the art and design, and teased some of the story, as well as insights into combat strategy, enemy analysis and more!
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a massive game, with much more to share throughout the coming months. Notably, one of the most exciting news from the livestream: we have a launch date to share! Metaphor: ReFantazio will launch on October 11, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Physical pre-orders for the title are now open at participating retailers, with a special physical Collector’s Edition for those looking to commemorate this exciting launch. To accompany this exciting announcement, the team shared a new trailer, The King’s Trial, for Metaphor: ReFantazio highlighting much of what is to come – you can watch it below!
Since it’s been 35 years since Atlus released its first title, we see Metaphor: ReFantazio as a culmination of everything that makes Atlus what it is — distinctive style & UI, cutting-edge combat, engaging characters and legendary stories. We can think of no better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than releasing Metaphor: ReFantazio for all the old and new Atlus fans alike.
If you want to learn more, please watch the full livestream on the Atlus YouTube channel or wish list the game here on Xbox. That’s all the team has to share for now but please keep an eye out for more information and reveals as we start the countdown to October 11! Also stay tuned to the ATLUS West official channels Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a fantasy RPG that takes players on a thrilling adventure in a world where eight tribes live in strife and the throne sits empty after the king’s assassination. With no heirs to wear the crown, the will of the late king decrees that the kingdom’s next monarch will be elected by the people, and thus begins your fight for the throne… and the future.
Featuring an epic storyline with fierce turn-based battles against powerful foes and other candidates vying for the crown, you’ll customize your party from endless combinations of classes, dive into the deepest dungeons, and come face to face with this world’s greatest threats – humans.
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince. Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical “Archetype” powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an “Archetype,” you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
The release date for Genshin Impact maker HoYoverse’s upcoming urban role-playing game, Zenless Zone Zero, might have leaked before its official announcement. The action RPG’s soft “coming soon in 2024” placeholder text may actually mean this summer.
According to Zenless Zone Zero’s Apple App Store page, the anime-inspired third-person action RPG is expected to release on July 3. As of the time of writing, developer HoYoverse has yet to announce an official release date on its official social media accounts. So far, only Zenless Zone Zero’s Apple store page has a listed release date, though the storefront does couch the expected date with supplemental text, saying, “This content may change without notice, and the final product may be different.”
Zenless Zone Zero’s seemingly leaked expected release date may hold some water, considering the whoopsie daisy comes weeks after the free-to-play urban fantasy RPG’s official PlayStation 5 technical test sign-up announcement. Prior to Zenless Zone Zero’s PS5 technical test sign-ups — which ended on April 17 — HoYoverse invited players to Amplifying Tests for PC and mobile platforms. Taking all of this into consideration, it wouldn’t be wild to assume the conclusion of ZZZ’s PS5 technical test serves as the action RPG’s final pitstop before its official release. The sooner we’re able to play as a bazooka-wielding grizzly bear, the better.
Zenless Zone Zero was first revealed in May of 2022. In it, players take on the role of mercenaries for hire named Proxys tasked with defending the last vestiges of the post-apocalyptic world of New Eridu from Bleach-esque monsters called Hollows.
Zenless Zone Zero will also be available on Android, PlayStation 5, and PC. Be sure to check out our Zenless Zone Zero guide to get yourself well acquanted with the game’s sprawling lore and enemble cast of anime-inspired characters.
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh
Team Folon’s Dean Carter, project lead on the highly anticipated mod Fallout London, has opened up about how Bethesda’s upcoming Fallout 4 update impacted the studio, saying the team felt “blindsided” by the move.
Carter delved into how the Fallout developer’s next-gen update, which is set to release on April 25, has affected Folon’s development timeline during an interview with the BBC. He says his team had no communication from Bethesda when it came to the update’s release plans, resulting in the unforeseen delay of Fallout London. While the team pivots to account for a relatively substantial new update for Fallout 4, Folon is left wishing it had a heads-up.
“So that has, for lack of a better term, sort of screwed us over, somewhat.”
“This is the thing: they randomly dropped it, that they were going to bring it out on the 25th of April. So that has, for lack of a better term, sort of screwed us over, somewhat,” Carter said.
Folon has been set to bring London to Fallout 4 for years. Although it’s unofficial, its popularity has positioned it as one of the most important game releases for the franchise since Fallout 76 launched in 2018. The mod was set to drop April 23, 2024, until Bethesda threw a wrench into the timeline by announcing earlier this month that its own update for Fallout 4 would drop just two days later. An official, somewhat important change to Fallout 4 is something Folon would have needed to account for during development, so when the update was announced without warning, Fallout London was delayed.
“We’ve signed NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) with big companies. Why haven’t we done that?” Carter continued. “They could just say, ‘Well, look, this is when it’s due to come out. Maybe, get your PR in order, or talk to your fans, cage expectations, because this is what’s going to happen,’ rather than just blindsiding us out of nowhere, which is what has happened.”
Bethesda’s Fallout 4 update adds improvements across PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S. The list of changes includes stability improvements and fixes, up to 60fps support, quest updates, and more. It’s a long-awaited update that many no doubt excited to dive into following the success of Season 1 of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout series, but the lack of communication with Folon means that some fans will be left waiting.
“We need to talk to people so that we can know these things,” Carter added. “This has definitely snowballed. We see ourselves as just developers who sit around in our pajamas, quite frankly, to then have this big corporation where we get millions of views on YouTube videos, we’ve out performed some of their Fallout 76 announcements, which is another game that they’re doing that relates to the series. You’d think that they’d have at least had a conversation to just be like, ‘Look, you guys are clearly at least notable, you’re not official, but let’s make sure that we don’t ruin this for the fans.’ ”
He continued: “We’re doing this for the fans at the end of the day. The same fans, and this has just caused us to delay which hurts a lot of our team and our hard work for the past four years, and it’s let down a lot of fans. As a result, which we’ve seen from the backlash from the video, is that people are blaming Bethesda even though I’ve asked them not to. I think that’s inevitable when there’s that lack of communication. I just wish they had a conversation with us.”
Fallout London has no new released date. For more on the DLC-sized mod, be sure to read up on its recent cast addition, Neil Newbon. Newbon is best known as the voice of Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 and plays an unannounced role in the upcoming mod.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
That’s right, it’s time for another edition of ‘Help, Please Help – Too Many Switch Games!’
For a few years now we’ve been running bi-annual Games We Missed round-ups where you lovely lot nominate great Switch games that we weren’t able to review. We do our best to cover as much as possible, but with so many brilliant things hitting the eShop every month, it’s impossible to play everything we’d like to.
The critically acclaimed action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment – in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games – is coming to the Play List on April 25, 2024, for all EA Play members. PC Game Pass and Ultimate Game Pass members can start their adventures this week as a part of their membership to experience the next chapter in Cal Kestis’ saga.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has earned top accolades and awards – including IGN’s Best Action Game of 2023, PC Gamer’s Best Adventure Game of 2023, and a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.
The game follows Cal Kestis as he explores an untamed galaxy while carrying its hopes for the future on his shoulders. Members can look forward to discovering new planets and revisiting familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. All the while, they’ll be mastering new skills, equipment, and abilities as they traverse the grandiose landscapes.
EA Play also offers members regular in-game rewards. Here are the latest items, coins, and boosts, all claimable now:
Apex Legends Apex Logo (Precious Peaks) Weapon Charm – Now to April 30
Battlefield 2042 Brigade Buster – Now to April 30
EA Sports FC 24 Clubs FC Pro Black Glasses – Now to April 25
EA Sports FC 24 VOLTA FC Pro Neck Tattoo and COINS – Now to April 25
EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team Draft Token – Now to May 14
Madden NFL 24 MUT April Pack – Now to April 30
WRCSeason 4 Rewards – Now to June 3
NHL 24 Super Hero Set – Now to May 22
NHL 24 WOC Coins – Now to May 22
NHL 24 WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier – Now to May 22
Game Pass Ultimate members can claim more member benefits in the Xbox Perks section in the Game Pass App or on console. This month’s perks include:
F1 23 24,000 PitCoin – Now to April 29
NHL 24 Mega Players Pack – April 18 to May 9
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select new games such as EA Sports FC 24 and access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, including the recently added EA Sports PGA Tour and EA Sports NHL 24. In addition, all members get 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.
Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on, Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times – but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. Carrying the memories and expectations of the Jedi Order with him, his crusade against the Empire has only become more perilous. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Creatively leverage all these abilities and weapons to strategically take on an expanded host of enemies, sizing up strengths and weaknesses while cleverly utilizing your training to overcome your opponents and solve the mysteries that lay in your path.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
Unlock exclusive cosmetic items inspired by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, as seen in STAR WARS: A New Hope, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe Edition*.
• The “Galactic Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Scoundrel” Cosmetic
– The “Rugged” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “DL-44” Blaster Set
• The “New Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Rebel Hero” Cosmetic
– The “BD-Astro” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “Rebel Hero” Lightsaber Set
The story of Cal Kestis continues in STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, a galaxy-spanning third-person action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. This narratively driven single-player adventure continues five years after the events of STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight to protect the galaxy from descending into darkness.
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system from Jedi: Fallen Order returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Combine all these abilities and weapons to find your distinct style and defeat enemies new and old.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and revisit familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will enhance the ways you explore, fight, and roam.
In the vast majority of cases, board games are inherently social gathering activities. While there are some great solo board games, many of the best, most fun-filled gaming experiences I’ve had are from consistent, larger play groups. And while it isn’t always that easy to get six players to find time to get together, that magical moment when you do is always memorable. In this list we offer some of the best six-player board games around, ranging from various age recommendations and levels of difficulty. While a full group isn’t necessary for many of these, these games shine when you do have a group of six players at the table.
Based on the sci-fi real-time strategy video game, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a competitive resource management game played over seven rounds, and each round has players exploring a different planet. The game ends once all seven planets are explored and your precious resources are added up, earning you Empire points. The player with the most Empire points wins. Sporting a unique card drafting system and six playable unique commanders, this is perfect for ongoing gaming groups.
Dune
If your entire personality isn’t Dune in 2024, what are you even doing? Gale Force Nine’s Dune is an asymmetrical conquest and diplomacy game set on the titular desert planet Arrakis of Frank Herbert’s creation. Players take control of one of the six available factions, including the Atreides and the Harkonnens, as you fight for control of the planet and the precious spice. Played over 10 rounds, each lasting nine phases, you’ll manage resources, avoid the dreaded sandstorm, and battle opposing armies. The play time is admittedly above average, but rounds will go by in no time due to how much fun you’ll be having.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
A fast-paced secret role game, One Night Ultimate Werewolf can be played with up to 10 players, and is a much more entertaining experience with more players involved. Each player takes a role card, noting it without telling other players, then the night begins. Throughout the night phase, each player closes their eyes, then the moderator will give specific instructions based on your role card. In the day phase, players will have conversations to determine who to kill. If a werewolf is killed, the villagers win, and if a villager is killed, the werewolves win. Each round lasts around 10 minutes, perfect for kids and parties.
Zombicide: Black Plague
Zombicide: Black Plague is a cooperative RPG board game with light campaign elements. Play is done with various miniatures and item cards, with each player taking control of one of six survivors as they work together to escape the hordes of the undead in multiple scenarios. Be warned: you will die. A lot. Luckily, with a full party of six players, breaking down doors and taking out Abominations is a much less daunting task. Featuring detailed miniatures, a robust level up and skill system, and an extensive scenario book, Zombicide is the perfect ongoing game for consistent play groups. It’s also a great board game for teens. Be sure to check out their other themes as well.
Munchkin
A silly fantasy-themed game, featuring cards like the Horny Helmet or the Peanut Butter and Orc Guts Spreader, Munchkin is a D&D-lite card game that pits players against each other as they delve into the dungeon, nab loot, and backstab their friends to level up. The first player to level 10 wins the game. Another one that’s best enjoyed with a full group, the 168 card base set offers a ton of variety for multiple rounds, with the option of eventually adding some of their numerous expansions later on.
Toil and Troublez
The ultimate test of risk and reward, Toil and Troublez is a simple card game of pressing your luck. The game determines who goes first by the players discussing who most recently ate a mushroom (yes, really!). That starts by revealing a card from the top of the deck and trying to match it up with a card from one of the three rows, referred to as the Enchanted Forest, and can either end their turn there or risk it all by continuously playing more cards. Their turn also ends if the drawn card cannot be played. Then, in clockwise order, the remaining players pick a card from the Enchanted Forest and try to create matching sets of cards to earn points, goldfish style. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
The former multiplayer lead for RTS giant StarCraft 2 is working on a new real-time strategy game that he promises will mark a “paradigm shift” for the storied PC genre.
Developer Strange Scaffold’s third-person neo-noir shooter, El Paso, Elsewhere, is heading to the big screen, per Deadline.
LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah, Sorry to Bother You) is currently in talks to star and produce the project alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Di Bonaventura Pictures and Colin Stark. The adaptation is said to follow protagonist James Savage as he navigates a monster-filled world in order to bring an end to his vicious ex-girlfriend and his own inner turmoil.
The indie hit from studio head and narrative director Xalavier Nelson Jr., who also voices its main character, released last year and tells the story of a vampire hunter who sets out to destroy his ex-girlfriend before she destroys the world. In other words, these first details promise a movie version of this story that will stick close to the game it is based on. Although Stanfield is seemingly still only in talks to join the video-game-to-movie project, Nelson Jr. took to X/Twitter to share his excitement.
— Xalavier Nelson Jr. 🔜 Reboot Develop (@WritNelson) April 22, 2024
El Paso, Elsewhere is Strange Scaffold’s 2023 take on third-person shooting gameplay, but it’s not the studio’s first crack at this world. That status goes to El Paso, Nightmare, a first person shooter that released in 2022. According to the game’s Steam page, this entry is treated as a “standalone survival horror FPS side story” that takes place within the same universe as El Paso, Elsewhere. It’s unclear if that story will be featured in or tie into the movie.
For more on El Paso, Elsewhere and a better look at how the movie might tackle its monster love story, be sure to check out some of its gameplay. You can also take a look at its animated trailer from last year, which gives fans a more cinematic look at its story before diving in.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
The Fallout TV show effect continues. This time, it’s popular mod site Nexus Mods on the receiving end of the double-edged Shishkebab, as its servers struggle under the weight of people rushing to play through the series again – and mod its latter entries into games worth playing, presumably.
