Square Enix

One of Japan’s Oldest (and Most Hardcore) Gamers Passed Away

On January 11, famed actress Keiko Awaji passed away in a Tokyo hospital from esophageal cancer, reports Nikkan Sports. She was 80 years old. And she loved JRPGs. Awaji has acted in over 160 feature films, including Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 classic Stray Dog. Later in life, she became well-known online as a hardcore gamer—so much…

Drakengard 3‘s Director Is Keen for Drakengard 4

In a recently published interview from late last year with 4Gamer (via Siliconera), Drakengard‘s series director Taro Yoko reflected on 2013 and 2014. Last year was probably busy. This year? Less so. “I’d like to say thank you very much for the year 2013 to everyone,” said Yoko, who’s known for his honesty. “Living can…

Our Bravely Default Isn’t As Young And Undressed As Japan’s

An image that’s been circulating since early last month when Square Enix’s Bravely Default came out for European 3DS demonstrates how Japan’s nearly naked 15-year-olds become Europe’s slightly more sensibly dressed 18-year-olds. Reader eiffel65 sent in a link to the image above, which shows the Japanese version of Square Enix’s role-playing game on the right,…

The demo version of Square Enix’s Bravely Default is live on the 3DS eShop. The demo includes an exclusive side quest not available in the full game when it ships February 7. Check out the rest of this week’s Nintendo Download, including Dr. Luigi and Mega Man X2 for the Wii U, here.

That Lightning Returns Aerith Costume Wasn’t Meant for Everyone

One of the highlights of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is all the costumes you can play around with. Aside from the costumes included in the game and the DLC costumes, Square Enix also has a limited Aerith from Final Fantasy VII costume and weapons. Well, it was supposed to be limited. The Aerith costume…

Kingdom Hearts Director Addresses the Remaining HD Remake Left to Do

With Kingdom Hearts I.5 HD Remix out and II.5 HD Remix on the way next year, there’s nothing left to re-tell as we prepare for the eventual release of Kingdom Hearts III. Oh wait, yes there is. The HD collections of the Kingdom Hearts saga currently cover every previously released console game in the series…

Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD Remix is Just Like I.5 HD Remix, In a Good Way

Much like the previous HD upgrade collection, Kingdom Hearts I.5 HD Remix, Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD Remix takes 3 previous Kingdom Hearts games and gives them an HD bump-up. Square Enix had a playable demo available at this year’s Jump Festa 2014, and Kotaku East was there to experience some HD goodness. There were two…

Ah, So Lara Croft: Reflections Is A Card Game. Great.

Back in March of this year, Square Enix trademarked the name Lara Croft: Reflections. Some speculated it would be a 3DS or PlayStation Vita game. Nope, it’s a free-to-play card battler. Lara Croft: Reflections is in testing right now in Austraila and New Zealand, so anyone with an account in those regions can download it…

Tomb Raider Makes An Excellent Argument For iOS Controllers

Last week, Square Enix quietly released the original Tomb Raider for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. You can almost see the game through the haze of virtual controls. Might be time for a gamepad. Gamepad support, recently introduced to the platform with iOS 7, is likely why we’re seeing the original Tomb Raider being…

Happy 26th Birthday, Final Fantasy!

Congratulations, Final Fantasy—you made it! The big 2-6. You were born on December 18, 1987, and now you’re here. Good work. Last year I wrote about how you need to get your act together, Final Fantasy, and you seem to have listened. Final Fantasy XIV‘s remake was a resounding success, Lightning Returns is looking promising,…

Final Fantasy X And X-2 HD Won’t Be Sold Separately On Vita

If you were thinking you could just purchase Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster on Vita and forego the game that opens with a stunning musical number, think again. In a post on the PlayStation Blog today which also detailed the PlayStation 3 Collector’s Edition, Square Enix confirmed the Vita version of the remakes are separate…

Lightning Returns‘ Collector’s Edition Is So Fancy It Gets A Trailer

Not only is the collector’s edition trailer-fancy, the $90 box set is also exclusive to theSquare Enix store, so if you want a silver-embossed pocket watch, and art book and an Aerith costume, it’s your only hope.

Final Fantasy XI welcomes back players with special 11th anniversary promotions. No it doesn’t. Just give it up, Square Enix. You made a much better game, and now everyone wants to play that. No free activation of old accounts from now until December 23 and other special activities are going to change that.

Squall Reacts To Final Fantasy VIII On Steam

Hey Squall, did you hear? Your game’s on Steam now. It’s kind of a big deal, dude. Because now tons of people can buy and play Final Fantasy VIII on their PCs? I mean, you must know what Steam is. Okay, sorry! I shouldn’t have assumed. Steam is this big network that lets people buy…

Final Fantasy XIV‘s Finest New Features Coming December 17

I really love the reborn Final Fantasy XIV, but it’s the sort of love that can’t be fully consummated until I can own my own in-game estate and fight a giant, crown-wearing Moogle. Thank goodness for December 17’s massive patch 2.1. It’s got everything. I suppose some players are looking forward to the advancement of…

Final Fantasy VIII is on Steam starting today, Square Enix just announced. It’s going for $11.99, and it comes with an optional cheating tool called Magic Booster and the mini-game Chocobo World.

Akihiko Yoshida, a brilliant artist and character designer, is leaving Square Enix. Yoshida, however, said he will continued to work on Bravely series.

You’ll Never Guess Where Puzzle & Dragons Is Hitting Next

Role-playing game Puzzle & Dragons, which features puzzles and, um, dragons, has been a smash hit mobile title. The game is getting a 3DS version this month in Japan. And next spring, it’s coming to Japanese arcades. Yes, arcades! Remember those? Developed by Square Enix, the arcade version is called Puzzle & Dragons Battle Tournament…

First Look at Bravely Second, the Totally New Bravely Default Sequel

The eagerly-awaited sequel to role-playing game Bravely Default (pictured) has apparently been announced for Japan. According to an unconfirmed leak, it’s titled Bravely Second. And it’s a brand new game. Note: the announcement came via a Japanese magazine leak. Kotaku has yet to confirm the leak first hand with the actual magazine. The magazine article…

The global PS4 beta for Final Fantasy XIV begins on February 22, 2014. An April 2014 release date was also announced. That’s for Japan and,it seems, North America. [Thanks, Alex!]