Square Enix held its first Nintendo Direct-style “Square Enix Presents” showcase today, and while most of what was shown was stuff we’ve seen before, there were a few surprises.
For one, Life is Strange: True Colors, the latest game in the visual narrative series, is coming later this year. Square Enix’s upcoming PS5 console-exclusive Project Athia also got a new trailer and some information about what the game actually is (hint: wilderness witch sim). No other company has quite mastered the Nintendo Direct, but it’s also clear that game development continues to be very touch-and-go during the pandemic era.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what today’s stream covered:
Outriders looks as technicolor splatter-filled as ever.
Players have already gotten super familiar with People Can Fly’s loot shooter through the current demo. In case you forgot it’s full of granular gear upgrades, skill trees, and monster fighting.
It’s the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider.
And Square Enix is bringing Croft Manor to Fortnite on March 23 to celebrate.
Just Cause is being turned into a mobile game.
We didn’t see gameplay or get a release date but it exists.
There’s also a new Hitman mobile game coming later this year.
It’s called Hitman Sniper Assassins.
Some quick-hits:
- Space Invaders is getting an AR game.
- Side-scrolling shooter series Darius is coming to Switch and PS4 as an HD remaster called Darius Cozmic Revelation.
- Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is coming to Steam.
- A second story pack for Touhou Spell Bubble on Switch is on the way.
Black Panther is coming to Marvel’s Avengers!
It might finally be time to give that game a second chance.
Balan Wonderworld got a new trailer.
It was not enough to convince me the game will be any good.
The next Life is Strange got announced.
It’s called Life is Strange: True Colors and stars Alex Chen who has to unravel the mysterious death of her brother using an empathy-based psychic ability.
The first two Life is Strange games are getting remastered.
Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm will get visual upgrades arriving later this year in the fall.
We learned more about Project Athia like its real name: Forspoken.
“Is that a mother fucking dragon?” Why yes, yes it is Ella Balinska, who will star as the game’s protagonist. It’s scheduled to to PC and PS5 sometime in 2022.