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    MonolithSoft profits DOUBLED despite opening two new studios recently.

     

    MonolithSoft‘s story is one fascinating case, it all started with a young couple, a talented team and a clear vision, telling original, never seen before stories with great gameplay.

    While the quality of their games is not to be questioned, stating that they’ve always been commercial successes would be exaggerating a bit.

    Fortunately, ever since the studio got purchased by the big N themselves, Tetsuya Takahashi and the team are finally meeting the success they’ve rightfully deserved with the Xenoblade series.

    Here’s a quick look at their past fiscal years, including 2019 :

    • March 2019: 274m yen (251m USD)

    • March 2018: 138m yen (126m USD)

    • March 2017: 346m yen (318m USD)

    • March 2016: 274m yen (251m USD)

    • March 2015: 101m yen (92m USD)

    As we can see, MonolithSoft made double the profit compared to last year despite not having released a game since Xenoblade 2 (and it’s standalone expansion Torna: The Golden Country), not to forget that they also opened a studio in Osaki, Japan earlier this year and one lidabashi, Tokyo, last year. So that raises the question, why is that ?

    Where does the profit randomly come from, all of a sudden?

    Did Xenoblade 2 suddenly attract a wave of newcomers nearly two years after it’s release?

    Well perhaps but there are other very plausible possibilities:

    It could simply be the cut of the continued Breath of the Wild sales (MonolithSoft helped immensely Nintendo with development) or…it could be the budget given for their brand new game. Remember, MonolithSoft has been seen urgently recruiting staff for an upcoming RPG. Unless Breath Of The Wild 2 has switched direction to become a full-blown JRPG, this can only mean one thing, development for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 / XCX-2 (or a new IP) has started and with MonolithSoft now being bigger and healthier than ever, it seems like this mystery game is shaping up to be one you don’t want to miss if you have enjoyed their previous works. One thing’s for sure, the horizon is looking bright.

    Nintendo Switch Lite announced, out on September 20

    Nintendo has announced the Switch Lite, A new revision of the Switch designed for portable play. It will launch worldwide on September 20 at a suggested retail price of $199.99 and will be available in three colors. A Pokemon Sword and Shield variant will be available on November 8 for the same price, you can also purchase a screen protector or carrying case separately.

    The Switch Lite differs a bit from the normal model but still retains much of the same features, here are a few notable examples.

    • Longer Battery Life (About 3-7 hours)
    • Handheld mode only, can only play games that support it
    • No detectable controllers (Joy-cons can still be used, sold separately)
    • Still supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC and built-in gyro controls
    • Won’t play on TV or include the dock
    • D-Pad replaces the original 4 directional buttons
    • No HD Rumble or IR Camera
    • Transferring content from one Switch to another will be implemented
    • Auto Brightness is no longer an option, but can still be adjusted manually
    • 5.5 inch screen, still outputs at 720p
    • Motion Controls will require a seperate joy-con for games such as 1-2 Switch
    • No Labo Support

    Are you excited for Nintendo Switch Lite? Do you think you’re gonna pick it up at launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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    Upcoming Yakuza game casts Eri Kamataki as female co-star, more details arriving August 29

    Sega has announced that Eri Kamataki will be the female co-star of the new Yakuza game featuring Ichiban Kasuga. Ichiban is the protagonist for this new Yakuza game.

    Previously, Kamataki was featured as a top 10 finalist in Sega’s “Latest Yakuza Game for PS4 Female Co-Star Report.” In this contest, nearly 1000 had auditioned for the role of female co-star.

    In addition, Yakuza series general producer Toshihiro Nagoshi announced that detailed information about the upcoming game will arrive on August 29th.

    We will keep you updated on information about the Sega’s upcoming Yakuza game as more details arrive! The new game will be available on PS4 first just like previous games in the series.

    Rumor: Xbox Germany leaks Final Fantasy VII: Remake for Xbox One, releasing on March 3rd

    Twitter user Nibellion tweeted earlier this morning, showing screenshots of a video revealing Final Fantasy VII: Remake for the Xbox One posted by Xbox Germany. The game is only confirmed for PlayStation 4 as of now, but it does make sense that it would come to the Xbox One. This seems like a huge slip up on Xbox’s part, so it will be interesting if the actual announcement is rushed as a result of this. THe post was deleted shortly after being published. Also, if the game does release on March 3rd as the trailer says, then the PlayStation 4 seemingly has no timed exclusivity. Below you can find the screenshots Nibellion provided, as well as a general overview of Final Fantasy VII: Remake.

     

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    The world has fallen under the control of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a shadowy corporation controlling the planet’s very life force as mako energy.

    In the sprawling city of Midgar, an anti-Shinra organization calling themselves Avalanche have stepped up their resistance. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the group, unaware of the epic consequences that await him.

    A spectacular re-imagining of one of the most visionary games ever, the first game in this project will be set in the eclectic city of Midgar and presents a fully standalone gaming experience.

    What do you think of this rumor? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter! Final Fantasy VII: Remake will launch on PlayStation 4 on March 3rd, 2020.

    Taiwan rating for a New Super Monkey Ball game on the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC surfaces

    Twitter user GoldMetalSonic has found a rating in Taiwan for a New Super Monkey Ball game on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC. GoldMetalSonic wrote an article in their blog, detailing the rating itself on the Taiwan Rating Board. GoldMetalSonic also translated the name of the game, which roughly says “Now Taste Good!”. You can take a look at some screenshots from the board’s official website below.

    As we learn more about the game, we’ll be sure to keep you updated. Are you excited to see a brand New Super Monkey Ball back in action on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC? Let us know and join the conversation on Twitter!

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $14.99 for 3 months at Best Buy

    3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is on sale right now at Best Buy, priced at only $14.99 instead of the usual $44.99. You can read about what Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has to offer below, and check out this deal here.

    The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, plus over 100 high-quality console and PC games. New games are added all the time, so there’s always something new to play. Enjoy exclusive member deals and discounts. Play together with friends on the most advanced multiplayer network and discover your next favorite game.

    You can learn more about Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from the official Xbox website.

    Metal Wolf Chaos XD Physical Release Announced

    Special Reserve Games has announced a physical release for Metal Wolf Chaos XD from publisher Devolver Digital and developer From Software.

    The release is PS4 only but it’s currently available to pre-order at Gamestop for $29.99. Metal Wolf Chaos XD is due out August 6 for PS4, XBO and PC.

    Source

    Gamestop

    Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online July games revealed

    Nintendo has revealed the Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online July games. The Wrecking Crew and Donkey Kong 3 will be joining the lineup on July 17th, 2019. There is also a brand new rewind feature coming to the application itself. This feature allows players to rewind in the game to a previous point. You can check out the trailers for the rewind feature and the July games below.

     

    You can read Nintendo’s official statement below.

    On July 17, two action-packed NES™ games are coming to the Nintendo Entertainment System™ – Nintendo Switch Online collection: the building-destroying Wrecking Crew™ and bug-exterminating Donkey Kong™ 3. But that’s not all that’s coming to the paid online service this month. On the same day, a Rewind feature will be available to use with the entire collection of NES – Nintendo Switch Online games, allowing players to easily rewind gameplay by pressing and holding ZL + ZR if they make a mistake or just want to retry a section of the game!

    Wrecking Crew

    In the days before Mario and Luigi became sports stars in their down time from saving the princess, they tried their hands as one-man wrecking crews. With a hammer as your only tool, take control of the brothers and set out to destroy ladders, rip out pipes, knock out walls, and detonate explosive devices. But make sure to plan your path of destruction carefully, as each building is designed as its own clever puzzle.

    Donkey Kong 3

    Based on the third game in the enormously popular arcade series, Donkey Kong 3 introduces an exterminator named Stanley as he desperately tries to protect the flowers in his greenhouse from Donkey Kong. Armed only with a can of bug spray, Stanley must force Donkey Kong higher and higher into the greenhouse rafters until Donkey Kong is off the screen and the next stage is reached.

    For more on Nintendo Switch Online, you can visit the official website here.

    2 million courses have been uploaded in Super Mario Maker 2

    Nintendo announced via Twitter today that there are now over 2 million courses uploaded in Super Mario Maker 2.

    Super Mario Maker 2 is the sequel to the Wii U’s Super Mario Maker. The game released on June 28th, 2019, and seemingly is selling extremely well. New to the series, Super Mario Maker 2 offers a story mode, where players are tasked with completing levels to help rebuild Princess Peach’s castle. The game also offers a brand new game style, Super Mario 3D World! This style offers lots of brand new objects and enemies for players to use, such as the Koopa Car or Meowser! There have been many fantastic creations on Super Mario Maker 2’s course world so far, such as music from your favorite Nintendo titles, or even a level based on the Nintendo Switch!

    Have you uploaded any of your own levels to Course World? Reply with your level on Twitter!

    Dr. Mario World datamine reveals brand new doctors seemingly on the way

    Dr. Mario World released today, and naturally it has already been datamined. The datamine has revealed brand new characters that seem to be joining as doctors in the near future. You can take a look at the datamined characters below.

    These are all the sprites, each having three expressions. Dr. Mario, Dr. Luigi, Dr. Peach, Dr. Toad, and Dr. Bowser are the only doctors currently available in the game. Here is a list of all the new doctors found in this datamine.

    • Dr. Baby Mario
    • Dr. Baby Luigi
    • Dr. Baby Peach
    • Dr. Baby Daisy
    • Dr. Wario
    • Dr. Waluigi
    • Dr. Bowser Jr.
    • Dr. Wendy
    • Dr. Ludwig
    • Dr. Donkey Kong
    • Dr. Diddy Kong
    • Dr. Rosalina
    • Dr. Luma
    • Dr. Daisy
    • Dr. Toadette

    Dr. Mario World is available now on iOS and Android. Have you played Dr. Mario World? If so, are you enjoying the game so far? Let us know and join the conversation on Twitter!