Square Enix

Final Fantasy XIV’s Nier Automata Raid Is Spectacular

Final Fantasy XIV is no stranger to crossover events. Whether that’s the chance to chill with Final Fantasy XV’s Noctis or battle in Final Fantasy Tactics’ Ivalice, there have been plenty of cool stories and difficult bosses. The latest challenge, a huge 24-player raid, adds a splash of Nier Automata and might be the best…

For A Rug, There is No Better Dragon Quest Monster

Out of all the characters and monsters in Dragon Quest, there is no better one for a rug than Liquid Metal Slime See what I mean? The character’s liquid-metal part is a bit larger than in Dragon Quest, but it all works so well. As Famitsu reports, the rug went on sale in Japan last…

Ms. Marvel Gets The Team Back Together In The Avengers Video Game

The first trailer for Square Enix’s upcoming Avengers game featured a female narrator that many fans thought sounded a lot like Inhuman fangirl Kamala Khan, AKA Ms. Marvel. They were right. Revealed during the Marvel Games panel at New York Comic-Con, Kamala Khan is indeed the voice narrating the original trailer, and she’s much more…

Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s Box Art Sure Is Misleading

This is the box art, released this morning, for the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake, which is out March 3, 2020. It’s killer art. But if you saw it on a store shelf, you would have absolutely no idea that it’s actually just part one of the remake. The game that publisher Square Enix is…

Because one can never have too many ominous characters wearing horned helmets, Final Fantasy XII’s Gabranth joins the roster of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT on October 10. Out of curiosity, who is still playing Dissidia? Why? Where? How?

Final Fantasy XIV Director Talks Class Changes, Music, And Role-Playing

Final Fantasy XIV’s latest expansion, Shadowbringers, brought a sweeping storyline and tons of job adjustments that streamlined how the game played. Last month, we emailed questions to Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida (through Square Enix PR) about class adjustments, roleplaying, and how the game’s music is composed. Heather Alexandra: One of the goals for…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Seems Popular At The Tokyo Game Show

In what should surprise absolutely no one, Final Fantasy VII Remake is drawing long lines at the Tokyo Game Show. I think people in Japan might be excited about this game. Call it a hunch! Today is the first public date for the 2019 Tokyo Game Show. As soon as the general public started being…

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers: The Kotaku Review

Shadowbringers, the latest expansion to Final Fantasy XIV, released two months ago, and I cannot begin to fathom the amount of time I have spent in the worlds of Eorzea and Norvrandt. Shadowbringers is one of Final Fantasy’s finest stories, buoyed by powerful music and sweeping gameplay changes that make job classes sleek and enjoyable.…

I Wasted My Life Trying To Climb A Dragon Quest Builders 2 Mountain When I Could Have Walked

Since video games have significantly lower stakes than real-world decisions, I am, as a rule, happy to be a reckless fool in them. Eager, even. Many times, this has led to me being a complete and total bonehead. Given the option between a sensible solution to a problem that requires a little planning and a…

The Motorcycles Of The Tokyo Game Show

I’ve been coming to the Tokyo Game Show since 2004, but this is the first year I remember seeing bikes of any sort at the booths. While they’re not road-ready, they are prime for picture taking. Makes sense! Both Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy VII Remake feature motorcycles. Neither of these bikes actually move. They’re props…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Continues To Look Like A Brand New Game

Blink and you’ll miss some of the brand new additions to Final Fantasy VII for the remake, as showcased in this new trailer that Square Enix put out in honor of the Tokyo Game Show this week. Among other things, there’s a new boss fight with Reno, some sort of dart minigame, a brand new…

Returning To Final Fantasy VIII After 20 Years Is Letting Me Resolve Childhood Shame

I vividly remember when Final Fantasy VIII came out in February 1999. I coveted it for months but didn’t get it until October for my 11th birthday. It was my first Japanese role-playing game ever. I struggled desperately just to get through its opening moments of tutorials and text walls and Y2K CD-Rom-ass menus. I…

Square Enix Shows Real-Time Graphics Of The Future

Square Enix studio Luminous Productions has unveiled a new tech demo called “Back Stage” that shows how it uses ray-tracing tech. The demo is rendered in real-time  Luminous Productions was established last year and staffed with former Final Fantasy XV staff. The game’s director Hajime Tabata initially headed up the studio. He has since left Square…

I Keep Quitting Dragon Quest XI Thanks To Its Atrocious Music

Ever since my friend and Kotaku comrade in arms Tim Rogers reviewed Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age last year with glowing praise, I’ve been trying desperately to play it. The combat is snappy, the world is gorgeous, and the prospect of a sweeping story excites me. But every time I play, I…

Dragon Quest Builders director Kazuya Nino has announced he’s leaving Square Enix, where he’s been for the past seven years. According to Nino, his next career move has already been decided and he’ll be discussing that in the near future.

Oninaki: The Kotaku Review

When I first played the demo for Oninaki, an action role-playing game out tomorrow from Lost Sphear and I Am Setsuna creators Tokyo RPG Factory, I was optimistic. The gameplay wasn’t particularly captivating, but the story seemed unique and dark enough for me to push through the repetitive combat. Unfortunately, by the time I finished…

Final Fantasy XIV Bard Reimagines Performances As A Rhythm Game

Bards gained the ability to play actual music in Final Fantasy XIV near the end of 2017 and have been annoying bar-goers with their covers of “All Star” and “One Winged Angel” ever since (or just beeping loudly like fire alarms). One talented bard had reimagined Final Fantasy XIV as a rhythm game, and I…

Final Fantasy VIII’s remastered version now has a concrete release date. It’s coming to PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC on September 3. Bid a fond farewell to that classic Squall meme while you can.

Square Enix Hit With More Death Threats, Cancels Game Tournaments

Starting this weekend, there were supposed to be events for mecha arcade game Starwing Paradox at four cities across Japan. Those events have been canceled due to death threats. According to an official Square Enix statement, there have been several death threats made against Starwing Paradox’s management team. Square Enix has reported the threats and…

I Helped Some Gaggling Final Fantasy XIV Newbies Best One Of the Trickiest Bosses

There are moments in online games when leadership and authority are thrust upon us. In group-based content, like the various boss fights in Final Fantasy XIV, knowledge is power. If you’re in a group full of helpless newbies and you know the fight’s mechanics, you’re suddenly in charge. Earlier this week, I suddenly became the…