One of the biggest surprises for me during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct was the reveal of a new Final Fantasy called Final Fantasy Resonance.

This is the first game in the series to adopt an HD-2D pixel art style seen in other modern Square Enix titles like Octopath Traveller, Live a Live, and Dragon Quest's HD-2D Remakes, and it plans to bring back an important feature Final Fantasy has been lacking for decades – turn-based combat.

When I first heard that this game was bringing back turn-based in a modern Final Fantasy (something that hasn't been seen in most major titles since 2001's Final Fantasy X), I couldn't believe it.

There had to be some kind of catch, but my doubts were laid to rest as IGN released exclusive, edited gameplay footage of Final Fantasy Resonance's combat system, and it made my heart leap with joy upon seeing it.

Final Fantasy Resonance's combat is a traditional turn-based system where you take turns pelting enemies with magic spells, summoning monsters, buffing allies with support magic, and delivering devastating melee attacks.

It also incorporates elements from more recent titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake's stagger meter that lets you stun enemies upon depleting it.

Final Fantasy Resonance isn't without its own unique gameplay mechanics, though. During battle, your characters will be able to summon spiritual Visions of iconic Final Fantasy characters like Cloud Strife, Zidane Tribal, and Terra and use their powers to aid you in battle.

Additionally, when you deplete an enemy's stagger gauge, you don't just get free hits on an enemy. You can activate a Vision's ultimate ability at the end of a Bonus Stage combo to unleash a world of pain upon your foes or activate your own character's ultimate abilities to end foes with gorgeously animated, HD-2D pixelated cinematic finishers.

Windows Central's take

Speaking as a PlayStation One-era Final Fantasy fan who's missed having turn-based combat in a Final Fantasy game for decades, this was a dream come true.

Granted, it's not quite how I'd imagine it, as Final Fantasy Resonance is based on an old 2015 mobile game called Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, but I'll take what I can get.

I have nothing against Final Fantasy 16 or Final Fantasy VII Remake's hack-and-slash combat systems, but I personally prefer turn-based combat as it's more relaxing, fulfils my need for tactical gameplay, and is more immersive as I get to enjoy the character's cinematic special moves play out without being interrupted by enemies.

Not to mention, turn-based combat is what made Final Fantasy the legendary franchise it is today, and games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prove that you can make a big-budget RPG with turn-based combat and be successful in this day and age.

Hopefully Final Fantasy Resonance will be just as successful and convince Square Enix to continue making turn-based Final Fantasy games in the future. Perhaps even for a new mainline title?

Either way, I can't wait to try out Final Fantasy Resonance and indulge in its turn-based combat system when it launches on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PC via Steam on October 22, 2026.

🗨️ Over to you

What do you think of Final Fantasy Resonance? Do you think its turn-based combat looks cool, or do you prefer Final Fantasy games with real-time combat, like the Final Fantasy VII Remake series?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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After what felt like an eternity, we have finally received our first proper look at Dragon Quest 12, the next mainline entry in the legendary Dragon Quest franchise.

As revealed in a new trailer shown during a developer livestream hosted by Square Enix, Dragon Quest 12 will no longer be called "Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate" but instead "Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams".

The game's premise will center around a young man traveling the world trying to solve the mystery behind strange visions he's been having for a long time.

Along the way, our hero will encounter a cast of colorful characters like a desert-dwelling girl with advanced tech and a lizardman knight, and battle iconic Dragon Quest monsters like Slimes and Dragons.

Speaking of monsters, Dragon Quest 12's first trailer wasn't the only announcement Square Enix had prepared for Dragon Quest's 40th anniversary.

It also revealed that a new entry for Dragon Quest's monster-tamer spin-off series, Dragon Quest Monsters, is in development for Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1, and Nintendo Switch 2.

All we know so far is that the game will be called Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World and that it will star what seems to be younger versions of Bianca and Nera, two main characters from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride.

Windows Central's take

For the longest time, people were starting to get scared that Dragon Quest 12 had been cancelled despite the series' creator, Yuri Horii, assuring fans that the game was still in development last year.

And to be fair, that's kind of what happened as Square Enix confirms that the original version of Dragon Quest 12, "Flames of Fate", faced way too many hurdles during development and decided to redo the whole game from scratch for its betterment.

Judging from its first trailer, it was a well-made decision because Dragon Quest 12 looks absolutely stunning. The environments and art direction look so crisp and detailed, the characters look charming and interesting, and the player's movements look more fluid than ever.

If this is just a teaser, then I can't imagine what the rest of the game's going to look like, especially the gameplay, which I hope retains turn-based combat as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proves it still has a place in JRPGs.

As for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, I'll admit I haven't had the chance to play Dragon Quest's Pokémon-like spin-off series, as I preferred the mainline games.

However, since it is going to include characters from Dragon Quest 5 (which is one of my favorite entries in the series) and it's coming to Xbox and PC, I'll give it a chance when it comes out.

Overall, this was a short but very sweet developer update and I can't wait to see more of Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams and Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World in the future.

🗨️ Over to you

Are you happy to see Dragon Quest 12 finally receiving a trailer? What are your thoughts on a Dragon Quest Monsters game coming to Xbox and PC?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's been nearly two years since Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) released the Dawntrail expansion in 2024, taking the popular Final Fantasy MMORPG's story beyond the Hydaelyn and Zodiark Saga and to the "New World" of Tural. Indeed, players across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation have been waiting to see the next big DLC for quite a while — and now, thanks to a new reveal, we know where we're headed next.

Square Enix and Creative Studio 3 — and FFXIV director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida, specifically — officially announced the next expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, during the opening keynote of the FFXIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim. It was revealed with a lengthy four and a half minute-long teaser trailer at the start of the presentation, with additional details shared by Yoshi-P afterwards.

Notably, the end of the trailer confirmed a release window of January 2027 for the DLC, which came as quite a surprise; typically, the developers don't announce an expansion's release date when it's revealed, but it makes sense in this case since Evercold is only nine months away.

Our introduction to the story of Evercold is told through the perspective of a grandmother telling her granddaughter a story in the trailer. After debuting the trailer, Yoshi-P revealed that the expansion will take us to The Fourth — one of the surviving 14 reflections ("shards") of the sundered world of Etheirys.

Similar to how The Ninth was beset by overwhelming storms of lightning aether, The Fourth has been racked by a calamity of ice that's brought death to much of the life on the planet — though teaser screenshots of various locations we'll be visiting on the reflection suggest that it's not completely ravaged by the cold.

One such place visible in the trailer is a series of floating islands similar to Heavensward's Sea of Clouds, where we see the Warrior of Light, the Azure Dragoon Estinien, and Scion of the Seventh Dawn Alphinaud battling a swarm of constructs.

Presumably, we'll be fighting to stop The Fourth from succumbing to the "ever-spreading ice," and will perhaps be working with Xaela Au Ra that reside there; a praying Xaela woman and a Xaela man behind her are briefly seen before a colossal structure of ice, with the woman mysteriously vanishing into snow soon after.

Little else about Evercold is known beyond this, though Yoshi-P did show artwork of "arcane giants roaming the ice" and note the danger they pose "is going to be massive." He then posed a question: "Are they friend or foe? Or are they gods?" The wording there is particularly interesting, given that Evercold is progressing a new story arc titled "The Godless Realms Saga."

Finding the answer to that question will surely be an important part of Evercold's narrative. Further details about it aren't likely to come until the next FFXIV Fanfest event in Berlin in July, though Yoshi-P did note that FFXIV Patch 7.5 — releasing next week on April 28 — will begin setting it up with the Main Scenario Quest.

Are you looking forward to learning more about FFXIV: Evercold, and eventually playing the expansion when it comes out in January next year? Let me know what you thought of the announcement in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On March 12, 2026, Square Enix quietly shadowdropped, with little fanfare, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster onto Xbox and PC via Steam platforms.

This game is an HD Remaster of Bravely Default, a turn-based JRPG released in 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS. It was recently remastered into Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster as a launch for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.

But now, Xbox JRPG fans and PC players can finally enjoy this lovely throwback to Final Fantasy's 16-bit golden age and see what they missed out on all these years.

Bravely Default follows the tale of Tiz, a young man whose village has been swallowed up by a Great Chasm. In the midst of his survivor's guilt, Tiz meets a mysterious woman named Agnès, and they discover that the world is slowly being destroyed by forces of darkness that have corrupted the Crystals of Life.

So they set out on a journey across the land of Luxendarc to free the crystals from the forces of darkness and save the world from doom.

The setting, chibi art style, and gameplay of this game are a massive throwback to Final Fantasy's Super Nintendo-era titles, specifically Final Fantasy 5.

Players will form a party of 4 heroes that they can customize with a Job System, travel the world and dungeons for powerful loot, and fight nefarious villains and monsters in tactical turn-based battles.

However, Bravely Default features a couple of unique twists to turn-based battles through the Brave and Default mechanics.

By Defaulting (which is another way of defending), you can endure incoming enemy damage and build up Brave Points. Once you accumulate enough Brave Points, you can attack multiple times in a single turn or use multiple healing spells at once to escape a bad situation.

Be careful not to spend too many Brave Points, as your Brave Point meter can dip into negative numbers and cause you to skip turns, leaving you vulnerable to enemy attacks.

What's worse is that the enemy has access to the Brave and Default mechanics too. If you don't find ways to prevent the enemies from gaining Brave Points or prepare your defenses enough, even regular, non-boss enemies will wreck your party in the blink of an eye.

The HD Remaster of Bravely includes a variety of improved HD graphics, a redesigned UI, and several quality-of-life features being able to fast-forward event cutscenes.

What's more is that the original 3DS version of Bravely Default's network features have been retooled for modern network systems, and two new mini-games have been added for the HD remaster.

I can't wait to see more classic Square Enix JRPGs come to Xbox and PC

Square Enix has been on a tear porting its library to multiple platforms these past few years.

We've essentially got nearly mainline Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy Tactics, several Mana and Front Mission games, and now Bravely Default on Xbox Series X|S and PC.

I'm personally happy to see Bravely Default get a new lease of life, as I never played the original back when it first came out due to, well, personal and vastly immature bias I had towards Square Enix as a younger man.

During that time, the divisive Final Fantasy XIII trilogy was out, and I hated it so much that it made me quit JRPGs altogether until Atlus' Persona series rejuvenated my love for the genre years later.

Now that I'm older and wiser, it's time I finally give Bravely Default a shot and see what this game has done to earn so much critical and fan praise back in the day.

If you've never played this game before like me, be sure to check out Xbox Wire's post on Bravely Default, as it features a bunch of handy beginner's tips.

🗨️ Over to you

Are you excited to see Bravely Default re-released for Xbox and PC? Are there any other classic Square Enix titles you want to see brought for modern systems?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Following the big, highly anticipated launch of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Xbox (and Nintendo Switch 2) last month, a new rumor has surfaced that suggests Part 2 of the RPG, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, will arrive on these platforms in June — and that publisher Square Enix will announce that the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will release on Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 on day one alongside PS5.

This would see Square Enix shed PS5 exclusivity entirely with Final Fantasy 7 Remake for the first time, which would represent a major loss for Sony and PlayStation, and a huge win for gamers on Xbox, Steam, and Switch 2.

The rumor comes from Nate the Hate, a gaming content creator well known for reporting insider information that very often ends up being accurate. Specifically, he talked about Final Fantasy 7 Remake in his latest podcast episode, predicting Rebirth will appear at 2026's first Nintendo Direct and then get released on Xbox and Switch 2 in June before Part 3's multiplatform launch plans are revealed.

"I think by releasing the game in June around Summer Game Fest, it will allow Square Enix at Summer Game Fest to finally announce and give first details surrounding Final Fantasy 7 Part 3," he said.

"This way, 'Rebirth is out on all platforms, now we can talk about Part 3,' and that at that time, [Square Enix will] very likely confirm Part 3 is going to be day-and-date on all systems. There's gonna be no timed [exclusivity] to PlayStation, it's going to release day-and-date on everything," he continued.

If this does end up being what happens, it won't be particularly surprising, even if would undoubtedly be exciting for many. After Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth failed to meet performance expectations alongside Final Fantasy 16 in 2024, Square Enix admitted that it "cannot be exclusive to one console," signaling that ports of it to other systems would eventually come.

The Xbox and Switch 2 versions of Rebirth and Part 3 were then confirmed, and committed to once again last month by game director Naoki Hamaguchi. And given that timed PlayStation exclusivity has seemingly harmed Square Enix's bottom line, it makes sense that it would aim to bring Part 3 to Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 as well as PS5 at launch.

It's worth noting that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade has been a major success on Xbox thus far, with the game achieving the #9 position in the best-selling Xbox games list shortly after release. The Final Fantasy series as a whole has also surged on Xbox in recent years, with the platform getting tons of ports of the beloved JRPG franchise.

Windows Central executive editor Jez Corden says the Xbox edition of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is "officially the best version," citing its excellent optimization and full support for Xbox Play Anywhere cross-save and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Interestingly, the Xbox Series S delivers better texture quality than the Switch 2 version of the game despite having less RAM, also.

Ultimately, the release timing for Rebirth's ports to other platforms and Part 3 potentially coming to Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 at launch is still a rumor, so keep that in mind. That said, it's coming from a very credible source, and the strategy makes a lot of sense for Square Enix's business. Don't be surprised if this is what happens.

Do you believe we'll see Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 come to Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 at the same time it launches on PS5? When do you think Part 3 will release? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Last week saw the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S consoles, the Xbox PC app (and the Xbox Ally handheld, by extension), and Xbox Cloud Gaming, complete with full support for Xbox Play Anywhere cross-saving. Considering the fact that it's been exclusive to PS5, PS4, and Steam until that release, it's nothing short of a monumental addition to Xbox's library.

Notably, though, the remake of what may be the best and most-popular Final Fantasy title of all time also dropped on Nintendo Switch 2 on the same date, prompting many curious fans and performance analysts to investigate the differences between the Xbox and Switch 2 versions of the game, and also to compare them to its PS5 and PS4 counterparts.

This includes the renowned, widely respected team at Digital Foundry — a group of performance analysts that extensively test many games to see which systems they look or run best on, and which settings players should use for optimal performance. Responding to fan requests to compare the Xbox and Switch 2 versions, Digital Foundry put them head-to-head — and what it found is very interesting.

In a video discussing the results of its testing, Digital Foundry reported that despite having slightly less high-speed RAM for games than the Switch 2 — the Series S has eight, while Nintendo's newer system has nine — the Series S actually runs Final Fantasy 7 Remake with noticeably higher texture quality and resolution.

Ultimately, this means that the game looks better on Series S than it does on Switch 2, with its visual assets considerably sharper and more detailed. The video itself shows this across a wide variety of in-game scenes, including the infamous low poly "the door" asset; you can watch it with the link above, or via the embed below.

This, Digital Foundry explains, signals that Final Fantasy 7 Remake's texture quality is less reliant on memory, and more so on the process of texture streaming. Notably, while the Switch 2's hardware is significantly better than the original handheld console, its raw power still falls short of the Xbox Series S', even while docked.

The visuals in both versions of the game fall between the fidelity of the original PS4 edition and the PS5's version of Intergrade, with quality on the Series S version surprisingly close to the PS5 edition and the Switch 2 version more in the middle. The Series S manages to match the Xbox Series X and PS5's NPC draw distance, though its shadow quality is slightly worse.

In terms of resolution and framerate, Final Fantasy 7 Remake has two settings on Series S: a 1080p 60FPS Performance mode, and a 1440p 30FPS Graphics option. On Switch 2, meanwhile, the game runs at 1080p 30FPS while docked, with dynamic resolution scaled up to 1080p with DLSS and 30FPS in handheld mode.

As for the Xbox Series X, it has complete parity with the PS5 version of the JRPG, with similarly speedy loading times and options for a 4K 30FPS mode or a 1512p 60FPS setting that prioritizes performance over visual fidelity.

Ultimately, I think both ports of the game are excellent, and the fact that the Switch 2 version looks and runs as well as it does considering its weaker overall hardware is impressive in its own right.

With that said, performance results like these show why the less-expensive Xbox Series S is excellent value, as it brings quality visuals for an attractive price. It bodes well for the port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth that we know is coming, and that is expected by many to arrive in 2026.

Are you currently playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on either the Xbox Series S or the Nintendo Switch 2? If so, how do you feel about your experience? Are you playing on a different platform instead? Let me know in the comments.

Last week, Microsoft's Xbox brand got a massive third-party game release with Square Enix's launch of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade — the upgraded version of the first part of the illustrious 2020 remake for the beloved JRPG — on the platform. Until last week, it was exclusively on PS5 and PS4, with only a PC alternative on Steam available.

Now, it's finally playable on Xbox Series X|S too, as well as on the Xbox app on Windows PC (it's also now on Nintendo Switch 2). Notably, it's also come with full Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming support, meaning you can transfer your save progress across console, PC, and the Xbox Ally handheld if you're playing natively, as well as anywhere you're streaming the title to (provided you're using the same Microsoft account for everything).

It's the latest entry in the legendary franchise to make its way onto Xbox, following the MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy 16, along with several individual remasters of other classic titles — and Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi promises the other two chapters of the remake are coming to the platform, too.

"I'm very happy that Xbox players are enjoying FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE. We will also bring you REBIRTH and the last part of the trilogy. Let's enjoy the world of FFVII together," he wrote in a post on social media. "Thank you to Phil Spencer [CEO of Microsoft Gaming] and Sarah Bond [President of Xbox] for always supporting the FINAL FANTASY series."

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second installment of the three-part remake that released on PS5 in 2024 and came to PC via Steam a year later in 2025, and is rumored to release on Xbox later this year. Part 3, meanwhile, is expected by many to arrive in 2027 for the 20th anniversary of the original 1997 title, and there are hopes for a day one Xbox launch alongside PS5 and (potentially) PC.

Notably, this news comes just after Final Fantasy 7 Remake hit the #9 position in Xbox's best-selling games list, which is a very strong showing for the JRPG, and proves that there is indeed a hungry audience of fans on Microsoft's platform eager to play and support the Final Fantasy series.

Thus, the potential for major success for Final Fantasy on Xbox is clear — and Square Enix is keen to capitalize on it. Per 2024 financial reports, both Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 failed to meet expectations as PS5 exclusives, which is undoubtedly one of the primary reasons these games are being brought to Xbox.

Square Enix even went so far as to say that Final Fantasy "cannot be exclusive to a single platform" later that year, strongly hinting at the Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake ports we've gotten, as well as the future Xbox versions in the works.

Given that the industry as a whole has been shifting towards multiplatform features and game releases, it's not terribly surprising that the rest of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is heading to Xbox. Still, it's wonderful news for fans of the series on Microsoft's ecosystem all the same, and will likely give Square Enix a nice sales boost, too.

By the way, our executive editor Jez Corden has been playing the game on Xbox, and says it's "officially the best version" of the title thanks to great optimization and impressive support for Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Are you looking forward to checking out Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox? Are you playing it already? How about Rebirth and Part 3 of the remake? Let me know in the comments.

Update: Final Fantasy 7 Remake is now #5 most-sold game on the Xbox US store.

On January 22, 2026, the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake finally launched on Xbox as part of Square Enix's current strategy of releasing more Final Fantasy games on multiple platforms.

A strategy that is quickly proving to work out for Final Fantasy 7 Remake: in less than a week, the game has become the 9th top-paid title on the Xbox US store, as confirmed by users online and our own Jez Corden, who's been playing and loving it on Xbox. Microsoft updates its store tallies usually on a Tuesday, giving us a look at the movers and shakers on the best-selling list.

This is the latest piece of evidence that Square Enix, in my opinion, should've released their flagship titles on multiple platforms from the start.

Even Square Enix freely admitted Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth can't remain on one console to be successful after seeing sales figures for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 15 failed to meet expectations when they were PlayStation 5 exclusives.

Yet as soon as Square Enix started releasing their games on more platforms, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster topped the Xbox store charts, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth enjoyed a healthy launch on Steam, and now Final Fantasy 7 Remake is quickly rising to the top of the Xbox US store charts in less than a week.

Now, imagine the huge commercial sales boom Square Enix will achieve if it releases the 3rd final part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam all at the same time, as it once implied it's dropping PlayStation exclusivity?

But first, Xbox JRPG fans will need to get their hands on the Xbox version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth first, which is reportedly coming soon in 2026, according to famed leaker NateTheHate (as reported by Insider Gaming).

Rumors and leaks should be always be taken with a grain of salt, but NatetheHate's leaks have been reliable, as his claims of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 15 coming to Xbox eventually ended up becoming true during June 2025.

So it's likely that we'll see Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Xbox halfway or near the end of 2026. In the meantime, Xbox JRPG fans will have plenty of time to keep themselves busy now that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Ally, and Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Play Anywhere.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is also available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam (which is my favorite version because it has insane PC mods that let you fight Darth Vader from Star Wars)

Are you happy that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is finally on Xbox platforms? Are you looking forward to playing the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the 3rd unnamed game come to Xbox?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

We're a month away from the release of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, an upcoming remake of the 7th entry in the legendary Dragon Quest series that's set to be released on Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere support), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and PC via Steam on February 5, 2026.

Square Enix has decided to whet fans' appetite for this title by announcing a free playable demo for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, which will be available to download on the aforementioned systems on January 7, 2026.

Players can experience the opening act of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined within this demo and get a sneak peek at how this remake improves upon the original 2001 PlayStation 1 version of Dragon Quest VII with its next-gen graphics, refined combat, and new voiceover work.

After completing the demo, you will be able to carry over your progress to the full game and unlock a bonus "Day Off" cosmetic outfit for the party member Maribel in the full version.

I personally never played the original PS1 version, but I do have fond memories of playing the Nintendo 3DS version of Dragon Quest VII for its lighthearted story, massive world abundant with secrets, zany yet tough enemies, and complex character class system.

So I'm looking forward to seeing how this new version differentiates itself from the 3DS remake while standing on its own two feet and paying homage to its legacy when Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined releases on February 5, 2026.

Are you excited to play the upcoming remake of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined or are there other upcoming JRPGs you're more interested in playing on Xbox, like Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, or the long-awaited Xbox port of Final Fantasy VII: Remake? Let us know what Xbox JRPGs you're looking forward to in 2026 in the comments below.

Today, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally got its demo build on Xbox Series X|S, ahead of an early 2026 launch.

Square Enix and Xbox have had something of a tumultuous relationship over the years. Final Fantasy has sporadically appeared on Xbox systems here and there, but never in a consistent way as it has with PlayStation or Nintendo platforms in years past.

As a result, Xbox never build up the same audience for JRPG and other popular Japanese genres and games that its competitors enjoy, and never achieved the same traction in the region with its ecosystem and hardware. It's a chicken and an egg scenario essentially for both companies — as Microsoft seeks to build up a bigger user base for gamers who enjoy these types of titles, and Square Enix seeks to find new users on new platforms.

As part of that, the team at Square Enix has been quite receptive to Xbox-oriented press beats recently. We interviewed We interviewed Final Fantasy director Naoki Hamaguchi a short while ago, and Hamaguchi shared some of his favorite recent Xbox titles with us while explaining why Final Fantasy has returned to the Xbox platform. Today, Square Enix shared a video with us from Final Fantasy 7 producer Yoshinori Kitase, also giving some shoutouts to Xbox.

"As a developer, I've always been drawn to platforms that allow us to push into new frontiers, and Xbox is truly putting that into practice. That is why being able to release Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrate on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Ally, is something that makes us extremely happy."

"Please allow me to introduce three titles that are especially memorable to me, I believe these titles that really showcase the appeal of Xbox hardware."

First up, Kitase talked up Flight Simulator 2024, "It's incredibly realistic, it reproduces the entire world at scale. It really is more of a flight simulator than a game. You know how in movies, sometimes the pilot dies in an accident or becomes unable to fly the plane, and then a passenger suddenly has to take the controls. I'm sure you've seen scenes like that. I often travel overseas on business trips by plane, and I'm always imagining what I would do if something like that happened. I always play while imagining that scenario."

Kitase also had positive things to say about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, noting how the original movie had left a huge impression on him back in the 1980s. Like many of us, Kitase found the nostalgic recreation of Indiana himself and the opening sequences from Raiders of the Lost Ark to be "incredibly moving," and hailed the franchise for originating many modern video game mechanics. "Even if you haven't seen it, the treasure-hunting mechanics, dungeon gimmicks, or puzzle-solving mechanics ... in a way, the origin of those ideas, the original inspiration, can be found in Indiana Jones."

Finally, Kitase gave a shoutout to the recently-released Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. "This is a strategy game set within the Final Fantasy series, with the original creator, Yasumi Matsuno, supervising the game design. It unfolds with an extremely deep and weighty story."

Can Xbox build a bigger fanbase for Japanese games?

It's no secret that Xbox is virtually non existent in Japan, and is hardly doing that well in the West either. Xbox hardware sales have been flagging for some time, and Xbox has become something of a pariah with a string of unpopular decisions this year.

Despite that, Japanese developers have been lending stronger support to the Xbox platform as of late. Franchises like Yakuza, Persona, and indeed, Final Fantasy are arriving on Xbox a lot more consistently in-line with other platforms, even if service games like Fortnite and Call of Duty continue to dominate the way the console is used.

Xbox has been expanding its horizons to PC to grow its userbase and find some of those "variety" gamers again, who have increasingly flocked to Steam in recent years. Xbox Game Pass has been a vehicle for delivering some of that variety too, although the big Xbox Game Pass price hike from a few months ago has eaten into its value proposition.

Whether it's Xbox PC, OEM devices like the Xbox Ally, or Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft and its Japanese partners could have a strong position on some of these new frontiers. Xbox Cloud Gaming is a great way to experience turn-based JRPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics, Persona, and the recent Dragon Quest remakes. They're also strong on battery-limited devices like the Xbox Ally, since they can be experienced in lower power modes.

I think it's around these types of experiences that Xbox could find new audiences for these types of games more and more over time, but it's hard to know for sure if they will be able to move beyond being a simple niche. Time will tell.

You can preorder Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Xbox Series X|S today with some nifty bonuses (available until January 31, 2026), as well as try out this new demo. FFVII Remake launches on January 26, 2026 for Xbox Play Anywhere.

The storied Japanese developer and publisher of franchises like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy is the next to join the spree of layoffs that continue to permeate the gaming industry.

According to a report from IGN on Thursday, Square Enix is laying off large portions of its remaining Western teams, which includes publishing staff in the U.S. and the U.K. The exact number of workers being laid off is not confirmed, but up to 137 staff in the U.K. could be affected.

The goal of these layoffs are to slim down publishing operations outside of Japan, with Square Enix focusing more on its Japanese games.

This comes as Square Enix has systematically whittled down its Western gaming division over the past several years, letting Hitman developer IO Interactive go independent, and selling its remaining Western studios to Embracer Group, including Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics.

Despite no longer internally developing games with U.S. or European studios, Square Enix had continued to maintain a Western publishing division, publishing games like the first PowerWash Simulator (the sequel is notably being self-published by developer FuturLab) and the narrative-focused Life is Strange franchise.

This layoff news comes at the same time as Square Enix confirming to investors in a public report that it is "streamlining" many operations, consolidating an "overly layered and segmented organizational structure" in order to deliver savings of over 3 billion Yen, or just under $20 million USD.

Square Enix is investing in generative AI for QA testing

In that same public report, Square Enix outlined that the company is planning to make generative AI a more significant part of its game development workflow.

Specifically, Square Enix plans for AI to comprise automating 70% of its quality assurance (QA) work by 2027, with the company engaging in joint research with Matsuo Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo.

Square Enix isn't alone in turning to AI of late in order to try and improve its development pipelines, with publisher Electronic Arts also rolling out AI tools to developers.

A report from Business Insider details how Electronic Arts employees have faced problems and setbacks due to these mandates, with coding issues and other "hallucinations" that have to be fixed.

Square Enix's multiplatform strategy continues

In the same report as above, Square Enix noted that it is continuing to focus on its multiplatform strategy, delivering more games to more players simultaneously.

This is in stark contrast to how the company previously operated, releasing many games such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake as timed console exclusives on PlayStation hardware.

Earlier in 2024, Square Enix brought Final Fantasy 16 to Xbox Series X|S. Looking ahead, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is finally slated to launch on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 on Jan. 22, 2026. Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake support Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning players can buy a copy for Xbox and then play on console or Windows PC.

Square Enix is also bringing the sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, to both platforms at some point in the future, while the company has also confirmed that the third and final entry in the remake trilogy will also be a multiplatform game.

FAQ

OpenAI’s Sora 2 was released amid a flurry of viral videos featuring beloved characters from franchises like Dragon Ball, Mario, and more. However, its popularity was short-lived after Japanese IP holders, represented by CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), demanded that OpenAI prevent their content from being used to train its AI models.

Concerns have been growing around AI-generated content and the use of copyrighted media without permission, particularly in Japan. The country’s media, including anime, manga, and video games, is especially sensitive when it comes to copyright protection.

CODA represents major Japanese organizations and their intellectual property, including Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix.

CODA and Japanese Creators Challenge OpenAI’s Sora 2 Training Data

On October 28, 2025 in Japan, CODA sent a letter to OpenAI, demanding that it cease using copyrighted Japanese content to train its AI models. CODA argues that OpenAI’s training process could lead to copyright infringement, as the outputs generated by Sora 2 resemble specific copyrighted works.

Sora 2 operates on an opt-in/opt-out system for IP content, but under Japanese copyright law, prior consent is generally required, not just the ability to opt out after infringement has occurred.

Sora 2 has produced outputs closely resembling copyrighted materials from studios like Studio Ghibli and Bandai Namco, including scenes and characters from Dragon Ball and other anime that would infringe on Japanese IP.

The requests demanded by CODA are as follows:

• CODA requests that OpenAI refrains from using its members' content for training generative models without their explicit permission.
• CODA also asks that OpenAI sincerely addresses any claims or concerns from its member companies regarding potential copyright infringement related to the outputs of Sora 2.

The Future of Copyright in AI Development

In response to these concerns, OpenAI updated Sora’s opt-out policy; however, this change may still not be enough and could still be considered insufficient under Japanese law.

As a result, OpenAI may need to rethink its approach to copyrighted content. The company is now at risk of facing legal challenges, not only from Japanese creators but also from others, such as George R.R. Martin.

A recent ruling allowed Martin to pursue a copyright infringement claim after ChatGPT generated a Game of Thrones sequel idea, suggesting the model had been trained on his content without permission.

FAQ

Just a week from today, modern JRPG fans will get to experience the games that laid the groundwork for the entire genre from the 1980s onwards, when Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake launches on October 30, 2025, for home consoles and PC.

To get players excited for this HD-2D remake bundle, Square Enix has released a new launch trailer for the game, which gives a sneak peek at how this game will renovate the original Dragon Quest I and II's story for a modern age.

The trailer starts with a montage for the Dragon Quest I portion of this bundle.

The game follows the story of a heroic descendant of Erdrick, the protagonist of Dragon Quest III, on a quest to save the land of Alefgard from the evil Dragonlord.

The original game's "save the world from evil dragons" plot was about as traditional as you get, but during an era when video game plots weren't as complex as they are today, it was somewhat advanced for 1986.

The HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest I will have the same premise, but it will take great strides to flesh out the adventure by having the hero encounter new characters, get involved in new side adventures, and battle new foes along the way.

The trailer then shifts to a montage showcasing various story scenes for the Dragon Quest II portion of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake.

The plot of Dragon Quest II has you assume the role of the Prince of Midenhall, who is on a quest along with his cousins, the princess of Moonbrooke and the prince of Cannock, to stop the evil wizard Hargon from destroying the world.

The original game's plot was slightly complex than Dragon Quest II as it was one of the first JRPGs on home consoles to feature additional party members, because in Dragon Quest I you got only one character to play as.

Meaning there was some more character dynamics and development to be had, but by not much for modern standards.

The HD-2D Remake's version of this story will feature far, FAR, greater changes as this game will introduce a new, fourth-party member named Matilda, the Princess of Cannock, and a brand new underwater region complete with new quests, stories, and enemies to find.

Time to complete the HD-2D retelling of the classic Erdrick Trilogy.

Overall, I'm intrigued to see how exactly Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake will flesh out the original Dragon Quest I and II's stories, especially since the trailer ends with an ominous message saying "A new ending awaits...".

Could this imply that the remakes will have new endings to discover compared to the original? It wouldn't be the first time Square Enix heavily rewrote a classic JRPG's story like it did with Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, so it's entirely possible.

However, I'm more looking forward to Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's gameplay changes and new content as it looks nuts. We'll be getting new spells to learn, new side quests to complete, new areas to explore, and challenging bosses to slay.

So I can't wait to play Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake when it launches on October 30, 2025, and relive these genre-defining titles all over again as I played emulations of the original NES games many years ago when I was preparing to review Dragon Quest XI.

FAQ

After years of eschewing Xbox, Square Enix is back with a vengeance.

A year ago, I reported that Square Enix would begin bringing its whole slate of games to Xbox consoles. Up until then, Square Enix was bringing its games to practically every platform except Xbox, with its high-end 3D titles being exclusive to PlayStation and PC. A year later, and it feels like the entire industry has changed.

Microsoft has begun putting its games on PlayStation. PlayStation has even started publishing its games on Xbox. Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! It's not just the platform holders rethinking exclusivity, though.

Square Enix signalled deeper support for Xbox in a range of interviews running up to last year's Tokyo Game Show, where the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection was revealed for Xbox PC and Xbox consoles. Earlier in the summer, Square Enix pledged Final Fantasy 16, and now Final Fantasy 7 Remake as well — both with Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming support on top.

Xbox went from the platform with the spottiest Square Enix support to arguably the best Square Enix support. Thanks to Xbox backwards compatibility, Xbox has become the only place where you can play various legacy Final Fantasy titles, even among games that never saw a PC release. Other Square Enix games like Octopath Traveller, Triangle Strategy, and Dragon Quest have also been arriving on Xbox with expanded support, too.

Ahead of Xbox's Tokyo Game Show 2025 festivities, we had the opportunity to talk to Square Enix's Naoki Hamaguchi, who has been leading the charge remaking what is arguably the firm's most legendary title — Final Fantasy 7.

A change of the guard led to a new reality for Square Enix and Xbox

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is heading to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC on January 22, 2026, with Square Enix hinting that Final Fantasy 7 Remake "Part 3" will launch on Xbox simultaneously with PlayStation. Xbox fans have had to wait years and years to get access to this JRPG, and I was curious what exactly led to Square Enix's new thought process.

"That's a very good question," Hamaguchi started, "I think firstly, we have a new president at Square Enix, so we do have a new direction when it comes to multiplatform game releases. I believe that is the most vital point. The vision is to deliver Final Fantasy to a broader and wider audience through multiplatform releases, on multiple devices. Whether this is Xbox Cloud Gaming, console devices, or handheld PCs — that is very much now the core philosophy of Square Enix.

I noted personally that I was grateful and happy to see Square Enix lend greater support to Xbox, as someone in the ecosystem. Naoki Hamaguchi felt the same way.

"I'm definitely an Xbox fan myself. I'm going to do my best to make sure that Square Enix can continue to reach a wider audience, including Xbox. So thank you from me as well."

Circling back to handheld PCs, I was curious how Naoki Hamaguchi felt about the Xbox Series S and upcoming Xbox Ally, given his programming background. The Xbox Series S has often been the target of criticism by commentators, but many developers have also praised the Xbox Series S as an optimization target. I noted that I was impressed by how well Final Fantasy 7 Remake ran on my Steam Deck, for example.

"In terms of hardware specs, I would say the Xbox Series S is actually quite solid in terms of spec. We didn't come across much of a processing challenge, but many of the challenges were more memory related.

Optimization is something we were strongly cognizant of as we worked on the PC version as well. For Final Fantasy 7 Remake, we took some of the philosophies found in Nanite for Unreal Engine 5 and created our own solution for Unreal Engine 4. We were successful in delivering stable graphics there, and gain Steam Deck verification as well. We have been pretty proud of what we were able to achieve, even on lower spec systems."

Final Fantasy 7 Remake design philosophy, and the future

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a bit of a misnomer. It's not a direct remake in the sense that it directly mirrors the original. It diverges in pretty large ways from what fans of the original might expect, both in terms of story and gameplay, while leaving many of the big nostalgic story beats intact.

As director of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, I was curious how Naoki Hamaguchi felt about the way the game had been delivered and received, and if they would consider doing anything differently.

"We decided to construct Final Fantasy 7 Remake as a trilogy," Hamaguchi explains. "If we were to totally align with the original, and replicate it exactly, I believe that would still appeal to players. But because it became a larger trilogy, we felt there was a necessity to change things up and try different things, to maintain interest across each part, and pique player's curiosity.

I understand that there are differing opinions regarding choices we have made for the Remake series, but I think as a whole, as a developer, I do think that these were the right decisions to make. I can't comment yet on [Final Fantasy 7 Remake] Part 3, but I am also a big fan of the original Final Fantasy 7. I am someone who played it when it first released, too. I believe that the direction that we are taking the series will ultimately satisfy fans who are eagerly awaiting its conclusion."

As someone who has enjoyed the Final Fantasy 7 Remake vision so far, I couldn't help but ask what Naoki Hamaguchi would like to tackle next in the same context. With infinite time, money, and resources, what Final Fantasy "remake" project would Naoki Hamaguchi tackle next?

"If I had all the time and money in the world, Final Fantasy 6 is my favorite mainline title. That would be very cool to take on as a remake. That being said, I've put my heart and soul into the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series for over a decade now. Working on something completely new would be quite fun as well."

September has been stacked for new games, so I also wanted to ask Naoki Hamaguchi what, if anything, he'd been able to play or look forward to playing. What games inspired him?

"Since we're talking Xbox, I'd like to share my favorite Xbox title. I absolutely love the Fable series. I love that sense of freedom and choice, and how the player's actions really impact the world. Fable has had a positive influence on my own creative work. Since there's a new Fable title in development, I'm eagerly awaiting it. Looking forward to it."

A bright future for Xbox fans of Square Enix games

The video game industry's dropping of exclusive games has been an unexpected evolution over the past few years. The battle for new players, regardless of where they are, has forced PlayStation and Microsoft to rethink their approach to their walled platforms. In a universe where players have become digitally locked into their chosen platforms, it doesn't make as much sense to gatekeep content anymore.

Microsoft has worked hard to rebuild trust with Japanese studios over the past few years, spearheaded by the likes of Mena Kato Sato, who now runs Xbox Asia. Microsoft still has work to do with other companies, such as Nihon Falcom, Konami, as well as smaller Japanese developers — but the wins keep coming.

As a fan of Square Enix's games, it has been a delight to see the support roll in. A huge thank you to Naoki Hamaguchi and his team for fielding our questions, and thanks to all of you for reading.

Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection are available now on Xbox and Xbox PC, with Final Fantasy 7 Remake slated for January 22, 2026.

We're nearly one month away from the grand release of Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake, the two-pack reimagining of the first two entries in the Dragon Quest franchise.

To keep the hype train rolling, Square Enix has uploaded a new gameplay trailer showcasing the remake's new, exclusive content not found in the original Dragon Quest I or II.

This content ranges from new locales to explore, new power-ups and abilities, new stories, and more.

Here's a recap of all the new content coming in Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake.

To start things off, let's discuss a major change for the Dragon Quest I HD-2D remake.

In the original game, turn-based battles were a 1v1 affair, but in the remake, you will be forced to fight multiple enemies at once alone, as Dragon Quest 1 only features one playable character, the Hero.

To survive these handicap matches, the Dragon Quest I HD-2D remake will feature Sigils (a plot device from the original Dragon Quest II, now included in both remakes) to grant the player powerful new abilities to use in battle.

In addition, a new item called Scrolls will be able to teach the Hero new magic spells and skills, so they can learn early instead of unlocking them via leveling up.

Dragon Quest II HD-2D remake will also feature Scrolls and include unique ones that only certain party members can use.

On top of that, Mini-Medals will be retroactively included in both games of the Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake.

Mini-Medals are a staple of the franchise ever since Dragon Quest III, which rewarded players with mighty gear and items for collecting medals scattered throughout the world.

The original two Dragon Quest games never had Mini-Medals, but now they do in their HD-2D remakes to help give players a fighting chance at saving the world.

Next up, let's discuss one of the biggest changes for Dragon Quest II's HD-2D Remake.

In this game, there will be an entirely new underwater region to explore, not found in the original game. It will be filled with new dungeons to traverse, new storylines to experience, new world-building to collect in the form of 'Memories of the World', and new enemies and bosses to slay.

The trailer also gives more details on Matilda, the Princess of Cannock. She is a brand new playable party member made for Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake who will wreak havoc on the battlefield with lightning-fast attacks and chaotic abilities.

Additionally, Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake will feature a mini-game called Tombola, where you can try your luck at getting specific spheres that can be traded for fabulous prizes like gear, items, and more.

Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake new content is bigger than I thought, and I'm all for it.

I knew Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake was going to get original content ever since Dragon Quest II HD-2D remake's new 4th party member was shown in the teaser trailer back in March 2025.

But I had no idea the changes and new additions would be this drastic. We're getting multiple new skills to learn, Dragon Quest I will have you fight multiple enemies solo, and Dragon Quest II is getting an entirely new underwater region.

If I wasn't stoked about getting my hands on this Xbox JRPG before, then I am now, as these changes look awesome.

Who knows what else this remake two-pack is hiding from the media? Perhaps we'll see new, secret post-game bosses or teasers for HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quests 4, 5, and 6?

With the recent announcement of the Dragon Quest VII Remake, it's only a matter of time before Dragon Quests 4, 5, and 6 get the next-gen remake treatment too (which I prefer to be with HD-2D graphics, as I am a sucker for pixel-art visuals).

Only time will tell if these remakes come to pass.

In the meantime, though, I'll be saving the world from the Dragonlord again when Dragon Quest I + II HD-2D Remake launches on October 30, 2025.

It will be released for Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere support), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Windows and Steam.

We're halfway into September 2025, and as such, Microsoft has recently announced( via Xbox Wire) the next batch for this month's line-up of Xbox games coming soon to Xbox Game Pass. Twelve have been revealed for this batch, and some of them are worth keeping a major eye out for as they're regarded as some of the most critically acclaimed of modern gaming.

These include, but are not limited to: Supergiant Games' award-winning roguelite Hades, Square Enix's newest entry in its Mana series, Visions of Mana, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the latest installment of Call of Duty's best-selling Modern Warfare sub-series.

Here is the full list of Xbox games coming and leaving Xbox Game Pass for the second half of September 2025. Don't forget to check out the first half of Xbox Game Pass' new titles for September 2025 if you missed them already.

Games coming to Xbox Game Pass

September 16, 2025

• RoadCraft (Xbox Series X|S and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard

September 17, 2025

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Console) – Game Pass Ultimate
• For the King II (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Overthrown (Game Preview) (Xbox Series X|S) – Game Pass Standard
• Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 18, 2025

• Frostpunk 2 (Xbox Series X|S and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate
• Wobbly Life (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 19, 2025

• Hades (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 22, 2025

• Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (PC) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 23, 2025

• Sworn (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 25, 2025

• Peppa Pig: World Adventures (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
• Visions of Mana (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 30, 2025

• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

October 7, 2025

• Sopa – Tale of the Stolen Potato (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

New games coming to Xbox Game Pass Core in October

On the first day of October, three games will be added to Xbox's Game Pass Core tier program. These titles are:

• Cities: Skylines – Remastered
• Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass

Here is list of titles leaving Xbox Game Pass on September 30, 2025. So be sure to get your playtime on these games before they're gone from the library.

• Ninja Gaiden Sigma (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor’s Edge (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC)

Time to play Hades on Xbox Game Pass an appetizer for Hades 2

This next batch of Xbox Game Pass titles is a solid line-up to close out September.

We have Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a title we gave a glowing 4-Star review to for its well-executed single-player campaign, satisfying gunplay, wide variety of old and new multiplayer maps, and entertaining Modern Warfare Zombies mode.

Then there's Visions of Mana, a charming action-RPG that has helped Square Enix's colorful Mana franchise gain mainstream popularity for its action-packed gameplay and fantastical world.

Finally, we have Hades, one of the most critically acclaimed action-RPG roguelites in recent memory. This game won accolades for its unique take on Greek mythology, addictive combat system, endless replay value thanks to its roguelite elements, and its brutally challenging boss fights.

With its sequel, Hades 2, leaving early access soon as it approaches its September 25, 2025, release date, Hades 1 coming to Xbox Game Pass a few days prior makes it the perfect time for longtime fans to start another playthrough or new fans to experience it for the first time.

I'm of the latter, as I never played the original Hades when it first came out in 2020 due to my life being completely taken over by Monster Hunter World at the time.

Now that it's coming to Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, it's time for me to see what I missed out on when Hades joins Microsoft's vaunted subscription service on September 19, 2025.

Among the many announcements shown at Nintendo Direct September 2025, Square Enix showed off a new title that nobody saw coming and had old-school Dragon Quest fans excited with nostalgia — Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.

This game is the 2nd remake of Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, the seventh mainline installment of Square Enix's iconic Dragon Quest franchise.

It was originally released on the PlayStation One in 2000 before receiving a remake on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013.

Now this retro JRPG is getting reimagined yet again for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch consoles and PC on February 5, 2026.

For those unfamiliar with the original game, Dragon Quest VII is a turn-based JRPG that follows the adventures of heroes travelling the world to explore mysterious, uncharted islands surrounding their homeland of Estard.

Along the way, our heroes will uncover ancient secrets, trek through wondrous locales, and face off against giant monsters and evil villains in turn-based combat.

The original game blended pixel-art character designs with 3D backgrounds, whereas the 2013 3DS version employed full 3D graphics.

From the looks of this trailer, it appears that Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will be taking the 3DS' approach of making the whole game 3D but with crisp, next-gen graphics while upholding the cutesy art direction of the original game.

Another new feature is that Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will feature full voice-acted dialogue, which previous versions never had.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will also feature an updated version of Dragon Quest VII's traditional turn-based combat system.

In the original Dragon Quest VII, you can equip your party with Vocations, which are the game's classes that grant them powerful abilities and access to mighty weapons.

However, in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, party members can equip two Vocations at once instead of only one, thanks to the new 'Moonlight' feature.

Additionally, each Vocation gets a new Vocational Perk, which are special attacks and support spells that can only be activated when a character gets 'worked up' in battle.

On top of that, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will include a Monster Master Vocation and quality-of-life features like seeing enemies on the field (eliminating random encounters), automatically killing enemies several levels below you in one shot, tactics for party members, and battle speed-up options.

Time to embark on another Dragon Quest on Xbox

Square Enix is putting out all the stops to bring us a wide range of Xbox JRPGs for the upcoming winter season and beyond.

We've got Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D remake, the long-awaited Xbox port of Final Fantasy VII Remake (which finally has a release date), and now we have a 2nd remake for Dragon Quest VII on the way.

I am slightly disappointed that this game won't have an HD-2D art style like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake did, as I love pixel art graphics. I will say, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined's full-3D graphics look very impressive and 100% faithful to the original game's charming art style.

As a UK-based gamer, I sadly never got a chance to play the original PlayStation One version of Dragon Quest VII, as it was released only in Japan and North America.

I did, however, play the Nintendo 3DS remake in the 2010s, and I remember enjoying it a lot for its diverse character build potential thanks to the Vocation system and crazy boss fights you encounter late in the game.

So, I can't wait to relive those memories with next-gen graphics when Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on February 5, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.

The game will also receive Xbox Play Anywhere support, so you can continue your save file progress on any compatible Xbox console and Windows PC if you have a digital copy of the game.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is now available for pre-order on various online storefronts, which are selling Standard, Digital Deluxe, or Collector's Editions of the game.

During Friday's Nintendo Direct presentation, Square Enix rolled up with several announcements, including a release date for the Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

After years of PlayStation console exclusivity, Final Fantasy 7 Remake will launch on Jan. 22, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.

The Xbox version, as previously confirmed, includes Xbox Play Anywhere support, meaning players get an Xbox on PC copy in addition to a console version, all with one purchase.

You can check out the trailer Square Enix shared below, though note that it is in Japanese:

That's not all though. Over on X (Twitter), Square Enix confirmed that not only is Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade launching on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2, but the entire remake trilogy will be multiplatform.

That means players on Xbox and Nintendo can expect to see 2024's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launching at some point, as well as the currently untitled upcoming third game.

It's a significant shift, as both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launched as console exclusives on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, respectively, before later being ported to Windows PC.

Hopefully we'll get a release date for the Xbox and Nintendo port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth before too long. I understand that Square Enix probably wants to space these launches out just a bit, but maybe Winter 2026 could work?

Square Enix also specifies that the trilogy will be available on Xbox on PC, among other platforms. That means Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the untitled third game should both support Xbox Play Anywhere, just like Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Early bird bonus for Final Fantasy 7 Remake preorders

Square Enix is also dangling a bonus to entice preorders. If you choose to preorder Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Series X|S or Nintendo Switch 2, you'll get an accompanying free copy of the original Final Fantasy 7.

This offer will obviously expire when the game launches, so if you're interested, you'll need to act before then. Preorders are already live on the Xbox Store, with the regular version of the game available for $40 and the Deluxe Edition at $60.

The Deluxe Edition packs in some extra in-game accessories and materia, as well as an artbook and soundtrack.

Square Enix continues its multiplatform efforts

All of this comes as Square Enix is continuing to launch more and more games across more and more platforms, eschewing console exclusivity in favor of pushing as many titles as possible.

Far removed are the days when players couldn't be sure of what Square Enix would launch where, with some honestly haphazard launches that didn't really make sense.

Last year, Square Enix brought Octopath Traveler 2 to Xbox and Octopath Traveler to PlayStation, correcting a truly bizarre release strategy. Meanwhile, earlier in 2025, the company launched Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox Series X|S, again with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

The company also has several other upcoming games such as a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the latter of which was also just announced during Friday's Nintendo Direct. Both of these titles will also launch as multiplatform games.

When does Tokyo Game Show 2025 start?

Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's biggest gaming conventions, is right around the corner as it's scheduled to go live on September 25, 2025, across the following time zones on YouTube and Twitch: 03:00 AM PT | 6:00 AM ET | 11:00 AM BST | 7:00 PM JST

The event will run from Thursday, September 25, 2025, until Sunday, September 28, 2025. I highly recommend you stay tuned during those three days so you don't miss out on any announcements, as this is one of the biggest Tokyo Game Shows yet.

This year's Tokyo Game Show is brimming with hundreds of game studios, from indie developers to blockbuster AAA studios across the world, looking to show off their latest creations to the world. These companies attending include, but are not limited to: Sony, Sega, Square Enix, Capcom, Konami, Atlus, and even Microsoft.

What can we expect to see at Tokyo Game Show 2025?

As I mentioned, we have big-time studios such as Square Enix, Capcom, and Microsoft attending the event to show off their latest games. While we don't know what games Microsoft will bring to the event, rumors are flying around that it may reveal Forza Horizon 6 at Tokyo Game Show 2025.

Square Enix has recently announced that their Tokyo Game Show 2025 line-up will include the following games:

• Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
• Octopath Traveler 0
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
• Killer Inn
• Dragon Quest X Online
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Dragon Quest III HD-2D
• Magic the Gathering's collaboration with Final Fantasy
• Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

The major highlights of this line-up are the long-awaited Xbox port of Final Fantasy VII Remake, the HD-2D Remakes of the first two Dragon Quest mainline titles, and the dream-come-true remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics.

Final Fantasy Tactics is considered to be one of the greatest titles in the entire Final Fantasy franchise, but I sadly missed out on the original 1997 classic as I was too young to understand tactical RPGs at the time.

So I'm looking forward to seeing it in action at the show before it releases later on September 30, 2025, on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam.

The studio I'm looking forward to hearing news from the most is Capcom, which has confirmed it will bring its biggest upcoming titles to the show, like Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.

Capcom will also share news on already released titles like Street Fighter 6 and Monster Hunter Wilds.

Among Capcom's line-up, I'm personally keeping a close eye on the news for its Monster Hunter titles as I am a huge Monster Hunter fan.

I'm hoping to see how Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will evolve the Monster Hunter Stories sub-series with its darker story direction and new Monsties from Monster Hunter Rise.

I'm also praying we get to see more footage and a launch date for Monster Hunter Wilds' crazy crossover with Final Fantasy XIV, which will add rideable Chocobos and FFXIV's infamous superboss, 'Omega', to Monster Hunter Wilds' massive monster roster.

This is just a taste of the dozens of games you can expect to see at Tokyo Game Show 2025, and that's without getting into the unexpected grand reveals of unannounced games that will most likely be revealed at the show.

With this guide, you will be able to witness these announcements and find new, exciting upcoming Xbox titles and upcoming PC titles to put on your wishlist when Tokyo Game Show 2025 commences on September 25, 2025.

Among the many Gamescom 2025 announcements going on this week, one piece of news was shared on August 20, 2025, by Square Enix that is sure to please strategy-RPG fans.

After three years of being locked behind PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, Square Enix has finally ported the 2022 hit strategy RPG, Triangle Strategy, onto Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 as a shadow-drop release.

If you're unfamiliar with this game, here's what you need to know about Triangle Strategy and why it should be on your radar if you're a fan of Strategy-RPGs.

Triangle Strategy is a turn-based Strategy-RPG released in 2022, inspired by classic titles of the genre like the original Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, and Tactics Ogre, to name a few.

It features gorgeous HD-2D visuals popularized by Octopath Traveler and the Live a Live Remake, advanced combat mechanics, and an epic story that is shaped by the player's decisions.

The story is set in Norzelia, a continent on the brink of war between the rivaling nations of the Holy State of Hyzante, the Grand Duchy of Aesfrost, and the Kingdom of Glenbrook.

The game's story has you play the role of Serenoa Wolffort, the heir of one of Glenbrook's noble houses, House Wolffort.

As the conflict between the nations begins to boil, Serenoa sets off on a journey to find allies to aid him on his quest to stop the impending and save Norzelia from the horrors of war.

What's unique about Triangle Strategy's story is that its direction can be shaped by the player by selecting moral choices and choosing certain actions through a unique Voting system.

These decisions also change your character's Conviction alignment between Utility, Morality, and Liberty. Depending on your Conviction, you can unlock multiple new story routes, endings, and even secret units to join your army.

Be warned that certain choices may cause specific party members to disagree with your actions, and may even invite a tragic fate upon them.

Making story decisions won't be the only hard choice you will make in Triangle Strategy, as you will frequently be forced to battle enemies in tactical, turn-based battles.

In Triangle Strategy, battles are waged on grid-based maps where you will need to carefully position your party and utilize their abilities to destroy the opposition.

To succeed, you will need to take advantage of the terrain, have your party form unique battle formations to activate powerful passive abilities, and flank the enemy so your team can perform combo attacks to wipe them out.

In between battles, you can rest up in Encampments to converse with your allies, shop for supplies and gear, improve your team's stats, and practice strategies in Mental Mock Battles before taking on real opponents.

This hit HD-2D Strategy-RPG will be sure to wet players' appetites as they wait for Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Square Enix once again continues to fulfill its promise of bringing more JRPGs to multiple platforms by bringing this critically acclaimed title to Xbox, and I'm happy it's doing so.

I personally have never played Triangle Strategy before, but after watching this trailer, I'm really inclined to check it out now.

The turn-based combat looks intense and creative, the story looks intriguing, and the retro-inspired pixel-art graphics are a beautiful sight to behold now that they've been upgraded with 4K resolution support and improved framerates granted by next-gen consoles.

As a fan of Strategy-RPGs like Persona 5 Tactica, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and the Disgaea series, I can't wait to try out Triangle Strategy.

I know it will certainly be a good time to kill until the long-awaited remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics arrives on Xbox, as Triangle Strategy's combat and war story was largely inspired by the original PlayStation One version of that upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title.

So, it will serve as a good appetizer to wet my Strategy-RPG palate before Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, the HD remaster of one of the most iconic Final Fantasy games of all time, arrives on September 30, 2025, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.

Capcom and Square Enix took the stage at Gamescom 2025 to reveal that Monster Hunter Wilds will get an upcoming crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV and vice versa.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will get a chance to ride the Final Fantasy series' iconic Chocobos as cosmetic skins for the Seikret mounts and catch the speedy Cactuar to add their Endemic Life collection.

In addition, Monster Hunter Wilds will add a boss from Final Fantasy XIV to its extensive monster roster — Omega Planates.

Omega Planates is based on Omega, one of the Final Fantasy franchise's most infamous superbosses that made its debut in 1992's Final Fantasy V as a secret, optional boss and has made appearances in future titles since.

Omega is a giant beetle-like robot armed to the teeth with lasers, rocket punches, and tons of world-shattering explosives.

It's often regarded as one of the toughest bosses in Final Fantasy history as Omega is impervious to nearly all forms of damage, it has a mountain of health to chip at, and it can wipe out players in the blink of an eye if they're not prepared.

The Final Fantasy XIV version of Omega is particularly special, as that game made an entire Raid storyline around it, which had players fight Omega numerous times.

Omega was even later given an Ultimate Raid-tier boss fight in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker that pushed raiders to the limit.

Players will get to hunt this Omega and ride Chocobos as part of Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update, which will be released sometime in late September 2025.

Meanwhile in Final Fantasy XIV, its Dawntrail expansion will feature a crossover event where players can obtain Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret mount and take on the intimidating Arkveld in a special Trial raid fight.

Arkveld is Monster Hunter Wilds' flagship monster that was once thought to be extinct and is now on a rampage planning to make everything else extinct.

Arkveld attacks players using the chain-like appendages on its arms as weapons and bombards them with Dragon-elemental explosions, which have a mile-wide radius.

This crossover event will go live for Final Fantasy XIV in early October 2025.

Do note that in order to unlock this fight, players will need to be Lv. 100 and complete the Main Scenario Quest "Dawntrail.

Just when I'm losing hope for Monster Hunter Wilds, one of Final Fantasy's most insane bosses has convinced me to start hunting again.

This isn't the first time that the Monster Hunter has had a huge crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV.

Monster Hunter World had a collaboration with Square Enix's popular MMORPG that added the iconic Behemoth as a boss, and it ended up being one of the hardest in the whole game.

With the addition of Omega, we might be in for a crazier challenge, as this mechanical monstrosity is no joke.

I personally fought Omega in Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster and Final Fantasy XIV, and this thing kicked my butt for many hours on end to the point I was tempted to look up guides on how to beat it.

The Final Fantasy V version of Omega was especially gruelling as it required you to build a very specific party composition and pray you were able to kill Omega faster than it could kill you.

Normally I'd be terrified at the thought of fighting Omega in Monster Hunter Wilds (especially after how nightmarishly difficult fighting the Behemoth was in Monster Hunter: World), but I'm actually happy they're adding this boss to the game.

This boss may help solve the lackluster difficulty problems Monster Hunter Wilds has been suffering from since launch earlier this year.

The endgame update buffing Tempered Monsters is a good start, but we need more challenging monsters that push players to the limit using every tool at their disposal and encourage them to prepare for the hunt with the best gear possible instead of relying on Focus Strikes and Wounds to knock enemies down.

Either way, I can't wait to fight Omega and obtain all kinds of cool gear from farming its metallic hide when the 3rd Title Update for Monster Hunter Wilds launches in late September 2025.

Let's hope this update will also come with Optimization upgrades for the PC version to win back fans who've been review bombing Monster Hunter Wilds for months.

As for the Final Fantasy XIV crossover fight with Arkveld — while I don't play the game anymore after the Dawntrail expansion disappointed me, I'm happy for Final Fantasy fans getting to fight another Monster Hunter monster other than Rathalos which was added in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.

Arkveld was a really cool monster to hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds, and I hope he'll be just as fun to fight in Final Fantasy XIV and potentially give players a chance to earn a mount version of Arkveld for their mount collection.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

In the darkness, I glance through a window and see a dead woman in one of the locked hotel bedrooms. I use my crowbar to break the glass door open and retrieve a clue from the body: a green piece of cloth.

The bell rings, notifying the other players of the body I've discovered. As an innocent lamb, I feel compelled to tell someone about the clue I've acquired.

I turn to head toward the hotel lobby, only to encounter a man dressed in green strolling down the hallway. A quick glance tells me no one else is in the corridor. My heart beats fast as he pivots his body toward me.

Is he a friend who also happens to be wearing green, or is he the murderer? My eyes flick to his hands. No apparent weapon is grasped there, but that doesn't mean anything.

Suddenly, a woman holding a handgun emerges from behind him. She takes aim at me while he equips a club and runs my way.

I throw a smoke grenade, bolt outside, dive around the corner, and crouch into some bushes, hoping they rush past me. My crowbar isn't very powerful against two assailants, but it could still be the difference between life and death.

I hold my breath and listen as the two discuss strategy while looking for me. Eventually, their footsteps and voices fade, and I'm alone again.

But then the bell rings, and I know that yet another of my fellow lambs has fallen.

I carefully make my way to the new crime scene and collect a clue from the fallen body. Blonde hair, likely from the woman I just saw.

To my relief, I loot the body and find a handgun, but then I realize there is hardly any ammo. Others appear at the scene, and I'm not sure who to trust. They all look suspicious.

I try to convince my fellow lambs that I know of two wolves, but someone contradicts me and tells the others that I'm the suspicious one. After all, I was the first one they saw at the scene, and I'm holding a gun.

My word has been questioned, and no one believes me. I'm starting to develop trust issues.

It's up to me, then, to defeat the wolves I've detected. But first, I need to purchase bullets.

However, as I'm carefully making my way to a vendor, I'm shot by the man in green I originally encountered.

As one of the dead, I'm brought into a spectating room where the other murdered figures and I can watch and discuss any of those still in play without the players hearing us. But now, we know who the wolves are and who the lambs are.

A sense of dramatic irony boils up within me as I see who the effective liars and manipulators are within the group, while the unsuspecting lambs try their best to weed out the wolves. As the dead, we laugh and comment on people's effective movements or bad decisions.

Eventually, it's down to two lambs and one wolf. The wolf is clever and doesn't attack outright. He attempts to trick the lambs into killing each other, and he almost succeeds. Last minute, the lambs grow suspicious of the wolf and defeat him.

A screen appears proclaiming the lambs the winners and showing our stats. We all laugh and discuss how the round went, but then all I can think is, I want to play again.

In the next round, I'm told I'm a wolf, and this completely changes my tactics. Each wolf has a Sacrifice somewhere on the grounds, and if I take time to conceal mine, it's harder for lambs to discover me.

After a while, I acquired both a knife and a sniper rifle. I take out lambs by hiding in bushes or climbing up to the second floor of the building and waiting for lone figures to pass by.

A lamb stumbles onto my hiding place, so I stab them with my knife, but now I'm all bloody. Listening to make sure no one is nearby, I make my way to the kitchen and clean the blood off using the sink.

I look innocent enough and won't leave as many clues behind. Now there are only three lambs left with us, four wolves among them.

A solitary lamb runs past the open window toward the gardens. I smile, equip my knife, and the hunt continues.

An addictive social deduction murder game with puzzles that I can't stop thinking about

NOTE: Killer Inn doesn't have a release date yet. The preview I played is not the final product, and it's possible that some game mechanics could change before launch.

That's what Tactic Studios and Square Enix's heart-pounding Killer Inn feels like. It's a social murder mystery game heading to PC that requires some cleverness and keeps you coming back for more.

I was lucky enough to attend a preview of Killer Inn, and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed the 1.5 hours I spent playing it. In fact, I can't stop thinking about this game, so I'm going to tell you all about it.

Players start by choosing one of the 25 characters they will play as, each with their own stats and abilities. If a character levels up, they can unlock new abilities.

Then players are dropped into their room at the titular inn, and the announcer tells players whether they are a lamb or a wolf.

The game ends when either only lambs remain, only wolves remain, or the lambs get four keys from battling guardians (gold devices hovering over the grounds) to unlock the gate to the harbor and work together to escape on a large boat.

Wolves can tell what side people are on, while lambs have no idea who is friend or foe. If a lamb attacks another lamb, they are taken out of the game, so players have to be careful about who they fight.

Of course, wolves can use that information to their advantage.

I appreciate how effectively Killer Inn uses proximity voice chat. It allows me to naturally communicate with others nearby or strategically eavesdrop on those walking past, but prevents me from hearing anything if someone gets too far.

If you're not interested in talking to random players, you can use emotes and pins to communicate with others.

Tactic Studios and Square Enix also did a fantastic job of making sure players don't just nest somewhere and prevent the game from moving forward.

If the wolves fail to murder anyone after a while, players can go talk to NPCs and get clues, so the hunted can become the hunters. Meanwhile, the game encourages lambs to go exploring by telling them to hunt down harbor keys.

There are various weapons, healing items, and armor scattered throughout the nearby buildings and grounds, but the best ones are locked within special chests.

Saferooms with NPCs in them are scattered throughout the inn, and no one is allowed to attack anyone in these spaces, which prevents wolves from camping and easily picking off lambs while they're vulnerable as they buy things.

In addition to providing armor, healing items, and weapons, these non-playable characters offer quests.

In a somewhat Among Us-like fashion, quests require players to go to a specific location and solve a puzzle or fulfill a task in order to be rewarded with money and treasure chest keys. But being distracted by a puzzle leaves you unaware of what's happening around you, so you have to be careful.

All in all, Killer Inn feels like a well-balanced super-sized game of Mafia or Werewolf for large groups to enjoy. There are plenty of mechanics to keep you moving and working toward a win, whether you're a wolf or a lamb.

I can't wait to jump back into this game when it launches, even if it has made me develop some trust issues.

Killer Inn is an upcoming murder social deduction multiplayer coming to PC via Steam, but it doesn't have a release date yet. If you're interested, you can sign up to join the Killer Inn Beta on Steam.

Over the last couple of months, there have been rumors spreading that Square Enix is developing a remake of Final Fantasy IX, one of the most beloved entries of the Final Fantasy franchise and the last mainline title released for the PlayStation One.

These speculated rumors have been fueled by Square Enix, which has recently been showing off new artwork, merchandise, and a website celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX, suggesting it may reveal the remake on its birthday of July 7.

Well, July 7 is here, and there's sadly no news of a Final Fantasy IX remake from Square Enix. Instead, we've been given a montage video showing the game's memorable moments on YouTube.

To make matters worse, there's been a new rumor from renowned leaker 'Natethehate' suggesting that the Final Fantasy IX Remake may now be cancelled.

According to 'NateTheHate' as shared by (@HazzadorGamin on X), he says, and I quote "As of last check it remains in development, to my knowledge; but I need to a do a fresh check & see what a more current status is -- as I did hear a month or so ago that it was in trouble & possibly cancelled. I only had one source on the cancellation possibility and need to verify the info further."

Now, rumors should always be taken with a grain. However, it's worth noting that 'NateTheHate' once leaked that Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XIV would be coming to Xbox, and it turned out to be true when Final Fantasy XVI shadow-dropped on Xbox with Final Fantasy VII Remake coming to Xbox in Winter 2025.

So it's very likely that news of the Final Fantasy IX Remake being canceled may turn out to be true, and if it is, then this is an incredibly heartbreaking way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest JRPGs ever made.

It's a sad day to be a fan of Final Fantasy IX

After all this build-up, all we've got is some merch, a montage video, and rumors that the Final Fantasy IX Remake may not even be happening anymore.

Final Fantasy IX deserves better treatment than this for its 25th Anniversary, as I consider it to be one of the best games ever made.

Its story was full of charm, adventure, and heart, its turn-based combat and levelling-up systems were engrossing, its characters were lovable and unforgettable, and its world was filled to the brim with secrets, side quests, and mini-games that hooked me for hours on end.

Final Fantasy IX is also one of the few games I've played that's even managed to make me cry, and this is coming from a guy who sat through the saddest moments of Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy VII, Mass Effect, Persona, and Dark Souls, without shedding a tear.

I would have loved to see Final Fantasy IX get a modern-day remake that gave us upgraded visuals of the game's cartoony artstyle, a refined cinematic presentation of the game's story (while keeping it faithful to the old game) and new challenges and bosses for us to tackle that were never found in the original game.

Although, if a remake did get made, I would prefer it if the Final Fantasy IX Remake retained the original game's turn-based combat system rather than adopt action-RPG combat like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Final Fantasy XVI have.

I have nothing against real-time combat, I just prefer turn-based combat as I enjoy the relaxing yet tactical feel of it. Plus, turn-based JRPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have proved to Square Enix that JRPGs with turn-based combat can still be financially successful, and if recent business meetings are any indication, Square Enix is taking notice and may consider bringing back turn-based combat for future mainline Final Fantasy games.

Although 'NateTheHate' says he needs more verification from his sources to confirm Final Fantasy IX Remake's cancellation, so there's still hope it may come true in the future. We will have to wait for future rumors and official confirmation from Square Enix to find out if this game ends up coming true.

From the pay-to-win loot boxes of the infamous Star Wars Battlefront 2 launch to the ridiculously overpriced skins you can buy in competitive shooters like Valorant, exorbitant microtransactions have come in many shapes and sizes over the years and continue to be a significant issue in the gaming industry. Early Monday morning, though, Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) — Square Enix's globally popular MMORPG — introduced what might just be the worst microtransactions I've ever seen.

I'm referring to the Belt-Leather Attire set that was just added to FFXIV's Online Store cash shop that includes a trousers variant, a cropped slops version, and an additional purchase with a hat and gloves. Overall, the attire looks nice, if not a bit simple; it's hard to go wrong with the combo of a turtleneck sweater and a leather harness, and a pair of leather pants and shoes complete the look.

But then I saw the prices.

The two variations of the set — each only featuring some minor differences like cuffs on the pants or boots instead of regular shoes — cost $18 each, and the hat and gloves cost an additional $6. Altogether, to get every piece in the Belt-Leather set to play around with, you'd need an eye-watering $42.

To put things into perspective, that's two dollars more expensive than the entire ongoing Dawntrail expansion itself, and an absolutely absurd amount of money to charge players for some simple variations on a simplistic set of clothes. Unsurprisingly, the FFXIV community is in an uproar over these items and their prices, with several posts criticizing them at the top of the r/ffxiv subreddit right now.

"This is a new low when it comes to the cash shop," wrote one fan; in the eyes of many, the bang you get for your buck in the Online Store has been deteriorating for a long time now. "I never thought I would say this about this game, but Square Enix deserves these sh*tposts at this point. I bought a lot of glamours over the years, but this is some next-level robbery here," said another exasperated player.

Indeed, asking for $42 for a relatively plain glamour is simply ridiculous — especially when past $18 sets have included alternate pieces and fancier designs, and with look-a-like options available for barely any gil (FFXIV's main earnable in-game currency) at all on the player-driven Market Board. Within hours, a player put together a "Belt-Leather at home" set that looks nearly identical, without spending a penny on Online Store apparel.

The timing of this release isn't particularly great, either — though, admittedly, there's not exactly a good time to introduce insanely pricey cash shop items. Still, it's a shame that they came a little over a week after Square Enix announced support for Hrothgar and Viera wearing hats is coming soon, as fans have been asking for that feature since those playable races came out with Shadowbringers in 2019.

It's an unfortunate and deflating reminder that while player feedback about certain things is finally being responded to with improvements, there are also controversial mishaps like this that make it feel like there's always a step back after every step forward.

In regards to the FFXIV Online Store specifically, I expect we'll only see positive change come if people steer clear of buying microtransactions like these on a wide scale. As one player wrote, these have the prices they do "because people will still buy it and they know it."

You shouldn't, though. With plenty of alternative attires purchasable on the Market Board with gil and the Steam Summer Sale now live, I guarantee you there are better things you can spend $42 on right now.

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the biggest and best MMOs you can play today, and stands tall as one of the best PC games and best Xbox games in general — even despite things like these overpriced shop items. Notably, you can play the base A Realm Reborn experience and the first two expansions Heavensward and Stormblood for free (with limited features), and it's available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and PS4.

Square Enix, not content with just announcing a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster for Xbox, has decided to give Xbox JRPG fans even reasons to be excited during the Xbox Games Showcase by revealing Xbox ports for Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XVI.

After years of rumors, Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade and Final Fantasy XVI are finally making their way to Xbox Series X|S, along with all their DLC expansions.

For fans, you won't even have to wait for one of these games as Final Fantasy XVI is available today! That's right, you can play it right now, no waiting.

Two of Final Fantasy's best modern-day hits are finally coming to Xbox

Final Fantasy VII Remake is an action-RPG reimagining of the iconic PlayStation One JRPG, Final Fantasy VII. It follows the tale of Cloud Strife as he and the eco-terrorist group Avalanche fight to save the planet from the tyrannical Shinra Corporation and the malevolent war hero-turned-villain Sephiroth.

Meanwhile, Final Fantasy XVI is a brand new mainline entry in the Final Fantasy series that follows the story of Clive Rosfield. Clive is a wandering warrior traversing the war-torn land of Valisthea to exact revenge on the infernal Eikon, Ifrit, for destroying his kingdom and friends.

These two games are critically acclaimed for their complex, rich storylines, casts of intriguing characters, action-packed real-time combat systems filled with in-depth mechanics, and epic, cinematic boss fights.

For many years, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XVI were locked behind PlayStation and PC platforms. However, Xbox fans will finally experience these beloved games for themselves by playing Final Fantasy XVI today and in the future when Final Fantasy VII Remake launches for Xbox Series X|S this winter!

Sony's State of Play June 2025 event has made a dream come true for long-time Final Fantasy fans as Square Enix has announced that the classic PlayStation One-era Strategy-RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics, will be remastered for modern platforms as Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles.

This new version of Final Fantasy Tactics will feature improved graphics, several adjustments to the story and gameplay, fully voiced dialogue, and more.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will also include the option for players to experience the original's PlayStation graphics and gameplay as a "Classic" mode.

The game is currently slated to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam on September 30, 2025, and its available for pre-order on the digital storefronts for each respective platform.

This PlayStation One classic gets to shine once more and remind us of Final Fantasy's 'Golden Age'

For those unaware, Final Fantasy Tactics was a spin-off of Square Enix's Final Fantasy series released in 1997 for the PlayStation One. It followed the story Ramza Beoulve, a noble thrust into a bloody conflict where two noble factions are waging war for the right to rule the realm of Ivalice.

Unlike other Final Fantasy games at the time, which used traditional JRPG turn-based combat, Final Fantasy Tactics employed turn-based tactical gameplay where you positioned your party on a grid to attack enemies or cast spells from a distance.

Final Fantasy Tactics was widely regarded as one of the best games in the entire Final Fantasy franchise for its innovative tactical gameplay and complex story of political intrigue, tragedy, and war.

In fact Final Fantasy Tactics was so successful, it birthed its own series and served as the setting for Final Fantasy 12.

Now, new and long-time Final Fantasy fans will get to relive this legendary title when this upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title arrives on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms on September 30, 2025.

After months of waiting, Square Enix has finally revealed the release date for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, a dual-pack of remakes for the first two titles of the legendary Dragon Quest series.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake will be arriving on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Windows and Steam on October 30, 2025.

In addition, the Xbox version will receive Xbox Play Anywhere support, so you can continue playing your save file on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and compatible handhelds.

Pre-orders for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake are now live for all above-mentioned platforms, along with a special Collector's Edition that's only available for purchase at Square Enix's website.

The Collector's Edition will include:

• A physical copy of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake.
• Acrylic Blocks of various characters and monsters from the game.
• An Outstanding Outfit Kit, which contains various in-game items like the Ring of Strength, Slime Earring, Arriveste's Vest, and a Mad Cap.
• Pre-order bonus in-game items like Elevating Shoes, three Seeds of Agility, three Seeds of Magic, three Seeds of Defence, three Seeds of Strength, and three Seeds of Life.
• Two exclusive digital wallpapers.

On top of that, if you have save data for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on the same platform you wish to get Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on, you will also get bonus in-game outfits for the following games:

• Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake – One dog suit.
• Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake – One cat suit.

I can't wait to see how Square Enix will reimagine the original Dragon Quest and its sequel for the modern era

As a big-time Dragon Quest fan since I blazed through the main series in the 2010s, I cannot wait to play this upcoming Xbox JRPG. I absolutely loved Dragon Quest III HD-2D when I reviewed it last year for how it modernized Dragon Quest 3 with gorgeous HD-2D graphics, cool new gameplay mechanics, and quality-of-life features, while paying homage to the original game by retaining a retro, 16-bit pixel-art aesthetic.

It will be interesting to see how Square Enix will reimagine the first two Dragon Quest games to make them appealing for modern audiences, since the original Dragon Quest 1 only had one character to play as, and the original Dragon Quest 2 only had three party members.

From what's been seen of this upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title so far in its teaser trailer, there are already hints of big changes coming to these classic JRPGs, as Dragon Quest 2 now has a new potential fourth member to recruit.

What could these big changes be? We will have to wait until this Fall to find out when Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake launches on October 30, 2025, for Xbox, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Modern games, such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, are increasingly demanding of your available storage. But in this case, at least, Square Enix has made use of a tool that should be used by more developers to make Steam Deck downloads take up less space.

As reported by GamingOnLinux, the latest update to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth significantly reduces the size of the download when installing it to your favorite handheld.

On Steam Deck it now comes in at just over 88GB, which is still a lot, but substantially less than the over 144GB download on a desktop gaming PC. Thanks, Square Enix, from Steam Deck owners everywhere.

So how is this possible just for Steam Deck? Admittedly, this passed me by, but as GamingOnLinux goes on to explain, developers can actually target Steam Deck specifically when adding their packages to Steam.

By setting up a dedicated content depot for Steam Deck, overall package sizes can be reduced by offering such things as lower resolution textures. After all, we're not hunting for 4K visuals and ray tracing on the Deck, are we?

This isn't a totally foreign concept, either. Borderlands 2 always springs to mind, offering an HD texture pack as an additional download for those who wanted it and had the hardware to use it.

The Steam Deck is powerful, but not that powerful, and we can't use these super shiny high-res texture packs anyway, so it makes sense to offer specific versions without them. The sad truth is that not many do this, but they definitely should.

Square Enix gets a gold star for effort here, and is setting an example others should certainly follow. The update you're looking for is version 1.003, so grab it and reclaim some of your precious storage.

On February 8, 2025, the founding creator of Square Enix's legendary Dragon Quest franchise, Yuji Horii, hosted a livestream with his radio show group KosoKoso Hōsō Kyoku, to share an update on the next big installment of the series, Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate.

According to Yoji Horii (as translated by Automaton-Media), the developers at Square Enix are working hard on Dragon Quest 12, and he hopes to share more concrete information on the game little by little in the future.

Dragon Quest 12 was first announced on May 27, 2021, as a follow-up to 2017's critically acclaimed Dragon Quest XI. However, there's been very little information shown on the title in nearly four years, so fans were worried it might've been canceled.

However, thanks to this news update from Yuji Horii, fans can rest easy knowing that the next big chapter in the Dragon Quest franchise is still alive and that more info will be announced soon.

What little is known about Dragon Quest 12 is that it will feature a darker, more mature storyline than the previous installments, as the Dragon Quest series is generally known to feature light-hearted adventures. Additionally, Dragon Quest 12 aims to reinvent the series' trademarked turn-based combat system and have the story themed around making difficult choices that can alter the fates of the characters you meet.

What new adventures await in this new, dark chapter of the Dragon Quest series?

As a Dragon Quest fan, I'm curious to see how Square Enix will tackle creating a darker Dragon Quest title aimed at an older audience, as the games aren't afraid to implement dark, tragic elements in their mostly kid-friendly stories. Dragon Quest 5 and Dragon Quest 11, in particular, without spoilers, have emotional moments that are downright heart-breaking to watch and would even give the saddest moments of the Final Fantasy series a run for their money.

While we wait to see what Dragon Quest 12 has in store for us, we'll be keeping ourselves with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and the upcoming Xbox title / upcoming PC title, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, which will be released sometime in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

On January 9, 2025, Square Enix unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming and highly-anticipated PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which is set to be released on Steam on January 23, 2025. Aside from a grand montage of the game's cinematic set pieces and action-packed gameplay, the trailer showcases technical features that will be exclusive to this upcoming PC title compared to the PlayStation version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

These exclusive features coming to the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth include:

• Improved lighting.
• Enhanced visuals and textures.
• DualSense Wireless Controller Support.
• NVIDIA DLSS Functionality (which will upscale the image quality and improve the framerate).
• Three graphical pre-set options (Low, Medium, and High).
• 4K resolutions and 120fps framerates.
• Customizable on-screen NPC count to best suit the specs of your PC rig.
• Mouse and keyboard support.

If you want to see if your PC rig has what it takes to run the game and take full advantage of its PC-exclusive features, check out our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC requirements and specs guide.

Continue the journey to stop Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was originally released on February 29, 2024, for the PlayStation 5. Then during the 2024 Game Awards in December 2024, a PC port for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was announced as a part of Square Enix's newfound goal to bring more of its titles to more platforms.

Despite failing to meet Square Enix's sales expectations, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth still received a ton of critical acclaim from both critics and fans for improving upon the foundations of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It has a much more advanced combat system, bigger boss fights, a grander story with more twists and turns, a mountain of easter eggs for longtime Final Fantasy fans, and a large, gorgeous-looking world to explore.

If the improved graphics and framerates shown in this trailer meet up to expectations, then Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has a good chance of receiving a standing ovation from PC players and becoming one of the best PC games of 2025.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is currently available on PlayStation 5, and is slated to launch on Windows PC via Steam on January 23, 2025.

On December 26, 2024, IGN Brasil interviewed two big name developers from Square Enix regarding the sales of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. These individuals are Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Yoshinori Kitase, the director of the original PlayStation One version of Final Fantasy and producer of Final Fantasy franchise.

During this interview, Yoshinori Kitase mentions that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth sales have been "satisfactory and safe," a stark contrast to Square Enix's previous financial reports, which stated that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI failed to meet the company's expectations. He then goes on to say, and I quote,

"While we are confident and pleased that we are reaching a certain level of sales, it is clear that with the modernity of gaming, we cannot be exclusive to a single platform." Kitase then says, "I think we need to offer the game to as many players as possible."

This statement implies that in addition to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's upcoming PC port, we could potentially see an Xbox port of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (and by proxy, Final Fantasy VII Remake) in the future. There's a high chance of this happening as Square Enix has been releasing more of its games onto Xbox lately.

These include the long-awaited Xbox ports of Final Fantasy XIV and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection (which has seen massive worldwide success on Xbox Stores). Not to mention several titles from the Mana series and the Dragon Quest HD-2D Remake have been released on Xbox to name a few.

Additionally, a couple of developers at Square Enix have shown a growing interest in the Xbox platform. This includes Final Fantasy XIV's director, Naoki Yoshida, who desires to bring Final Fantasy XVI to Xbox, and Naoki Hamaguchi, who during an interview with GamesRadar, has stated he's an Xbox fan and that he wants and I quote, "to bring Final Fantasy VII and the Remake series to as many players out there as possible."

In a separate interview (via Stellar Blade aficionado Genki_JPN), Hamaguchi echoed the same sentiments, stating that FFVII Remake and Rebirth will come to more players in 2025, while following up with a reminder about the PC version. It stands to reason that he could be referring to the Nintendo Switch 2, and hopefully, Xbox Series X|S.

"We are currently working on the final game in the FFVII REMAKE series, and the entire development team is working hard to make it a suitable finale. Next year, we will continue to take on the challenge of making the FFVII REMAKE series available for more gamers to play, so please continue to support us!"

Will the Final Fantasy VII Remake series finally come to Xbox?

It would certainly be a dream come true for Xbox fans to finally experience the Final Fantasy VII Remake series. Despite controversial changes made to the original Final Fantasy VII's story, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth have been touted by critics and fans as some of the best PC titles in the Final Fantasy franchise. They feature extremely high production values, adrenaline-pumping combat, incredibly diverse soundtracks, and larger-than-life boss fights. Rebirth reviewed well enough on PlayStation to be considered for the top accolade at The Game Awards 2024 as well.

Will Xbox ports of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth become a reality or will they be another dead fantasy? We will have to wait to find out. In the meantime, Final Fantasy VII Remake's PC port and the upcoming PC port for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth which is scheduled to release on January 23, 2025, will keep you company.

Be sure to check out our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC system requirements guide to see if your PC rig has what it takes to run this upcoming PC title.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is currently available on PlayStation 5, and is slated to launch on Windows PC on Jan. 23, 2025.

Take some time to check your computer and ensure you're ready for the next PC-bound JRPG.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is coming to Windows PC, and ahead of launch, developer and publisher Square Enix published the expected minimum and recommended requirements, ensuring players have a chance to double-check their specs. I've gathered the details you need right here.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: PC requirements

Broadly speaking, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth definitely doesn't skimp out on its requirements, and you'll want to have somewhat recent hardware if you want to really crank the settings. That said, as long as your rig was built (or heavily upgraded) at some point in the last three years, you should be able to play without issue. Continuing an annoying trend we've seen across many recent games, however, you'll want to make sure you have a lot of space free on your internal SSD.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth minimum requirements

Per Square Enix, the minimum requirements will be enough to play the game with the settings at "Low" while running the game at 1080p 30 FPS.

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 OR Intel Core i3-8100
• GPU: 16 GB RAM
• RAM: AMD Radeon RX 6600 OR Intel Arc A580 OR NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
• STORAGE: 155 GB available space
• NOTES: An SSD is required. Square Enix recommends 12GB of VRAM (or more) if you intend to play at 4K resolution.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth recommended requirements

The recommended requirements should be enough to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth at "Medium" settings while running at 1080p 60 FPS.

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 3700X OR Intel Core i7-8700 or Core i5-10400
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT OR NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
• RAM: 16 GB RAM
• STORAGE: 155 GB available space
• NOTES: An SSD is required. Square Enix recommends 12GB of VRAM (or more) if you intend to play at 4K resolution.

While Square Enix has not detailed what players should have in order to push the settings even higher, I'd definitely recommend an even higher-end CPU and GPU combination, while also running on an NVMe SSD storage solution.

How to check your PC specs

If you aren't exactly sure what you've got running with your PC, don't fret, as it's easy to check. Just follow these steps:

• Click the Windows button (the Windows icon) on the taskbar.
• Type dxdiag into the search bar.
• Click on dxdiag to see your PC's specs.
• Select the System tab to see the components within your PC.
• For GPU details, click on the Display tab.

How to upgrade your PC

Depending on exactly where your computer sits, it may be easy to upgrade, or you might want to consider starting a new build entirely. This'll depend largely on how out of date any specs are, if at all. Are you simply missing some RAM? It's easy enough to add some more. Is your CPU far below the minimum requirement? It's time to consider building or buying a new computer. Below, you'll find a variety of helpful starting information, depending on your needs.

Recommendations: Best pre-built gaming PCs | Best gaming laptops

Memory: How to upgrade and install RAM in a laptop | How to upgrade and install RAM in a desktop

Storage: Best SSD for PC | How to upgrade laptop HDD to SSD | Tips to free up space on Windows 11

CPU: Best CPU for your PC | How to install an Intel CPU in your PC

GPU: Best graphics cards | How to install a new graphics card

Overall tips: How to build your PC the right way

Will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth run on gaming handhelds?

As time goes on, more and more players are choosing to experience PC games through different gaming handheld platforms, including Valve's Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally. These handhelds allow you to take PC versions of games on the go, trading upgradeability and high-end specs for convenience and portability.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is currently available on PlayStation 5, and is slated to launch on Windows PC on Jan. 23, 2025.

With the new year underway, one of the most-anticipated PC ports of the year is almost here. Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is one of the best-reviewed games of 2024, but it's already available at an awesome discount. At this time, you can preorder Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC for just $40.89 at CDKeys, a nice discount compared to the $70 price tag it'll command at launch.

A great way to save as Square Enix focuses on more multiplatform launches

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a huge game, continuing the retelling of the iconic story while vastly expanding the playable areas with new quests and backstories. It's not just a remake though, and there's more going on in the story than is clear at first glance. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII are joined by Yuffie and Caith Sith as they fight Shinra's forces or just relax and have fun at the beach.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is hitting PC faster than its precursor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. That's likely in part due to how Square Enix is focusing on launching its games across more and more platforms now, eschewing its prior tactics of console exclusivity.

The publisher even went so far as to admit that Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (both of which launched as PlayStation 5 exclusives) failed to meet expectations. Square Enix has since brought Final Fantasy 16 to Windows PC, and is now doing the same with Rebirth, which is slated to launch across Steam and the Epic Games Store on Jan. 23, 2025.

To encourage preorders, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is discounted to just $48 right now on both platforms, but using CDKeys brings that price down even further to just $43. That's a steal compared to the $70 launch price. If you're interested in some digital extras like an art book, you can also grab the Deluxe Edition for just $54.79, which will cost $90 at launch directly through Steam or the Epic Games Store.

On February 10, 1988, the game company Enix (back before they merged with Squaresoft to become what we know today as Square Enix) released Dragon Quest 3 for the NES in Japan. This third installment in the legendary Dragon Quest franchise was heralded by fans and critics back in the day as one of the most revolutionary turn-based JRPGs of the 1980s. It improved upon the gameplay of its predecessors and incorporated innovative gameplay mechanics that later games in the series would retain, such as being able to create and swap customizable party members, a day/night cycle, an open-world-like gameplay structure, and more.

Over the years since then, Dragon Quest 3 has been re-released worldwide on multiple platforms and received several remakes, including the topic of today’s review – Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. This remake aims to reimagine the classic JRPG with an HD-2D graphical art style, update its in-depth class system with overhauled Vocations and a new Monster Wrangler Vocation, new lore that adds further depth to its story, new optional difficulty and accessibility options to make it enticing for newcomers while keeping the original, challenging difficulty intact for veterans.

Does it succeed? Well, as someone who played the Super Nintendo version of Dragon Quest 3 many years ago during a Dragon Quest marathon I did in the lead-up to my review of Dragon Quest 11 back in 2021, I can confidently say it does. So, sit back and relax as I regale you with my review of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and why I think it’s the best iteration of this world-renowned JRPG to date.

Disclaimer: This review was made possible thanks to a review code provided by Square Enix. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – What is it?

Much like previous versions of Dragon Quest 3, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a turn-based JRPG where you play as a young hero and a group of customizable adventurers on a quest to save the world from a vile villain known as Baramos.

You will explore the world for information on where to find Baramos and equipment to make your team strong, help defend innocent townsfolk from monsters threatening them, complete sidequests that offer valuable rewards, and traverse the depths of complex dungeons to defeat Baramos' minions in turn-based combat.

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Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – Presentation: Graphics, sound and performance

The game’s beautiful HD-2D presentation is one of the major selling points for this remake. For those who need a primer, ‘HD-2D’ is an art style where characters in-game are depicted by 2D pixel-art animations set against detailed 3D backgrounds enhanced with immersive, realistic lighting effects. This art style originated during the 1990s and was seen in titles like Grandia, Xenogears, Breath of Fire 3, and more. HD-2D was made popular again in recent years thanks to the success of Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler series and the Live A Live remake.

Needless to say, the HD-2D art style of this remake is a perfect fit for Dragon Quest 3 as it helps keep the retro charm of the Super Nintendo version’s pixel art graphics alive while updating the graphical fidelity to modern standards. The pixel-art sprites of the characters and monsters are exquisitely detailed with smooth animations, while the 3D backgrounds are richly enhanced by atmospheric lighting and fog effects.

It certainly shines during the turn-based battles where we get to see classic monsters of the Dragon Quest series come to life with meticulously detailed sprite animations and the player party assailing them with extravagant, flashy spells and supermoves, which are visual eye-candy.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s presentation is then further enriched by an epic orchestral re-arrangement of the original NES version’s soundtrack by long-time series composer Koichi Sugiyama with occasional moments of well-executed voice acting that brings certain characters in the story to life.

• RELATED: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU review

Performance-wise, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake runs flawlessly on PC and Xbox, easily reaching consistent frame rates of 60FPS and 1080p resolutions, which enrich the HD-2D aesthetic of the game. I reviewed the Steam version of Dragon Quest 3 using an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card and Intel Core i5-9400 CPU processor, but if your PC rig doesn’t have the latest cutting-edge tech, there’s no need to fret. The PC Spec requirements for this game are fairly low, so you won’t need to rush out and buy the best graphics cards on the market to run Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake at its full graphical potential.

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Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – Story

The story takes place in a fantasy world that is under threat of being conquered by monsters led by the vile Archfiend Baramos. Many years ago, a powerful warrior by the name of Ortega attempted to defeat Baramos but never returned. Cut to the present day, and Ortega’s offspring (our protagonist, whom the player can name and determine their gender) vows to finish their father’s work by embarking on their quest to travel the world and vanquish Baramos once and for all.

The story of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is very much the same as the original NES version of Dragon Quest 3, with its traditional ‘Good vs. Evil’ scenario where you and your party must save the world from cartoonishly evil bad guys. The plot is fairly straightforward, with predictable plot twists (though there are a couple of exceptions) and minimal character developments, as your entire party are all silent custom-made avatars with little to no personality.

While Dragon Quest 3’s story is pretty basic compared to the latter Dragon Quest games (like the epic, sweeping narratives like Dragon Quest 11 or Dragon Quest 8), it is still competently written. Plus, there are a couple of interesting sub-plots that had me genuinely intrigued by their execution and direction, especially for a game originally made back during an era when 90% of videogame plots were no more complex than rescuing princesses or saving the world from fire-breathing dragons.

However, the way Dragon Quest 3’s plot is conveyed in the HD-2D Remake is much better compared to previous versions thanks to improved cinematography afforded by its new HD-2D art style and orchestral soundtrack. This allows certain scenes to have more emotional impact without being held back by hardware limitations of the NES/SNES/Game Boy Color.

In addition, without going into spoiler territory, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has added additional cutscenes to the main story, which provide more backstory to certain characters and other pieces of new lore that long-time Dragon Quest fans will get a kick out of.

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Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – Gameplay

The gameplay of Dragon Quest 3 is about as traditional as it gets when it comes to JRPGs. You and your party of heroes must venture into the world, visiting towns for information on where to go next, buying equipment and healing items, exploring dark dungeons filled with enemies who must be defeated in turn-based battles, etc. Rinse and repeat.

In this HD-2D remake, the gameplay is 95% identical to all previous versions but with new exploration and combat accessibility gameplay features. For starters, it has a new Recall mechanic in the options menu, which allows you to record conversations you’ve had with NPCs. This mechanic helps you memorize the hints they provide, which then helps you know where to go for your next main story objective or side quest.

Other accessibility options for newcomers are a difficulty option setting to make battles easier or harder depending on your preference, objective markers and objective logs to help you remember what your next main objective is, and maps to help you navigate the world, towns, and dungeons of the game.

These new quality-of-life features are welcome additions since exploration in older versions can admittedly become confusing due to the vast world and labyrinthine dungeons. Not to mention, you had to rely on memorizing the hints you found from chatting with NPCs in order to progress the story. Thankfully, in the remake, Square Enix has redone certain cutscenes, which make it more obvious where a player will need to venture next.

It should be noted that a lot of these quality-of-life features are completely optional. So, if you’re a Dragon Quest veteran who wants to play Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D the old-school way without any assistance, you can turn off the objective markers/logs in the options menu and ignore the Recall mechanic and maps entirely so you can rely purely on your wits and memory of recalling NPC hints just like in the original NES, SNES or Game Boy Color versions.

Vocations have received major upgrades across the board

By far, the biggest gameplay change is the overhauled Vocations in HD-2D Remake. Vocations are character classes that you assign to party members when you create them, and they cover a wide range of roles, such as Warriors, Priests, Mages, Thieves, Merchants, and more.

Almost every Vocation in the remake has tons of new abilities that they never had in previous versions. For example, the Warrior Vocation previously didn’t have any special techniques or magic abilities to speak of. However, now the Warrior Vocation has a huge repertoire of new abilities designed to protect fellow party members, as well as sword-fighting techniques that deal with massive damage.

The same goes for the Martial Artist Vocation, which has been given new devastating super moves, and the Thief Vocation, which has lots of new useful utility skills that can be beneficial both in and out of combat. Even the quirky Merchant and Gadabout Vocations are more viable now as they have been given some very useful abilities in the HD-2D Remake, which will be of great help to the party in the latter half of the game.

To complement these overhauled Vocations, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has implemented a new Vocation not seen in any previous version of Dragon Quest 3 – the Monster Wrangler Vocation.

The Monster Wrangler (first debuted in Dragon Quest 6 as the Monster Master Vocation) is essentially a beast-tamer class whose main gimmick is taming friendly monster NPCs you encounter while exploring the world and dungeons to learn combat abilities by wrangling them into your monster pen. In addition, Monster Wranglers can summon all the monsters you have wrangled into battle and have them gang up on enemies to dish out massive damage, depending on the number of friendly monsters you have tamed.

I love the Monster Wrangler Vocation since not only does it look the coolest in terms of character design, but it’s also great fun to use in battle. If you take the time to find and tame monsters, you can obtain some insanely powerful abilities that will shred through bosses like a hot knife through butter. Plus, the Monster Wrangler can be very lucrative thanks to the special Monster Arena mini game, which rewards you for winning tournaments.

While it is annoying that you can’t directly control your friendly monsters in the Monster Arena (at best you can direct their AI behavior so that they’re more likely to use abilities you prefer them to use), it is still fun and worth doing because the Monster Arena has tons of cash and equipment prizes up for grabs.

What I love most about the overhauled Vocations and the new Monster Wrangler Vocation is that they add so much more variety to the turn-based combat system. While the original combat system in previous versions was simple and effective, it did become stale as you were forced to form specific party Vocation formations with samey tactics in mind when dealing with difficult bosses.

A world of new possibilities at the Alltrades Abbey

At a certain point, you encounter a building called the Alltrades Abbey, which allows you to change party member Vocations as many times as you like. When a character changes Vocations, they will retain all the abilities they have learned and gain half the stats they have obtained from their previous Vocation in the process, essentially allowing you to multi-class. Unfortunately, the protagonist can’t change Vocations as they are permanently stuck with the Hero Vocation, which isn’t too much of an issue as the Hero Vocation is extremely powerful in its own right.

This is an original 1988 respec feature that was very innovative and certainly ahead of its time. Yet I hardly ever used the Alltrades Abbey feature when I originally played the Super Nintendo version many years ago due to most of the Vocations not having useful abilities to inherit. However, thanks to the new abilities every Vocation has received in this remake, along with the new Monster Wrangler Vocation, you now have loads more reasons to use the Alltrades Abbey and create all kinds of powerful heroes for your party.

For example, in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, I created a powerful character, "Jezerath," by starting as a Priest to learn healing spells, changing him into a Warrior so he could wear heavy armor, and then changing him to a Merchant to boost his attack and summon abilities, and then I turned him back into a Warrior. By the end of the game, I essentially had an unstoppable Paladin-esque character who protected the party while overwhelming enemies with a variety of deadly physical attacks.

This is just one example of how insanely in-depth the Vocation system has become in the HD-2D Remake. I spent hours theory-crafting and experimenting with multi-classing Vocations via the Alltrades Abbey to see what kind of godlike heroes I could create to unleash their newfound powers onto enemies. The results ranged from hilarious disasters to glorious triumphs.

It was so much fun and added a healthy dose of creativity to Dragon Quest’s tried-and-tested turn-based combat system, so you’re not just stuck repetitively using the same abilities as in previous versions of Dragon Quest 3.

To achieve power, you must be prepared to level-grind for it

However, there is a big catch when you change Vocations at the Alltrades Abbey —characters reset to Lv.1 when you change their Vocation. This means you will have to spend a lot of time fighting monsters and earning EXP (experience points) to level them back up to speed with the rest of your party.

This leads to probably the biggest problem I feel most people may have with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake – level-grinding. Modern Dragon Quest games, like Dragon Quest 11, for example, are pretty forgiving when it comes to the amount of EXP needed to level up your characters. However, a lot of the NES and Super Nintendo-era Dragon Quests were not, requiring tens of thousands of EXP to level up. The same is true for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.

When you reach the latter half of the game, you’re going to be spending a massive amount of time killing enemies to level up your characters in order to learn their new abilities and survive battling the bosses, which can be pretty hard to deal with if you’re unprepared. As you can imagine, this can be a very time-consuming and tediously boring process.

Thankfully, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake does have a couple of features that can speed up the process of level grinding somewhat compared to previous iterations. You can adjust the difficulty mode to its easiest setting to significantly increase the amount of EXP you’ll gain from fighting regular enemies without being forced to sorely rely on tracking down the iconic and rare Metal Slime monsters for big EXP gains, then go back to your preferred difficulty mode once you’re done.

I also recommend adjusting the animation speed of turn-based battles to ‘Fast’ or ‘Ultra-Fast’ so you can get battles with low-level monsters over and done within a flash. On top of that, when a character changes Vocations at the Alltrades Abbey, the amount of EXP they need to level back up to their previous level is cut down by a good margin. However, if you can’t stomach the thought of level-grinding fighting the same enemies over and over for a couple of hours at a time, then this game may not be for you.

A Personality problem

Another issue I have with this game is the Personality mechanic. This determines the rate at which your party members gain certain stats when leveling up. You can temporarily adjust a party member’s Personality by wearing specific equipment or change it permanently by reading books.

I’m personally not a big fan of Personalities because they require hours of experimentation and trial-and-error to understand which ones are beneficial or useless. Plus, Personalities make half of the equippable accessories useless; if you aren’t paying attention to an accessory’s item description, they can alter a party member’s Personality without you realizing it and mess up their stats. It's no surprise that we haven't seen this feature in return for future Dragon Quest titles because it feels half-baked in execution.

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Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – Should you buy it?

You should play this if ...

✅If you’re a fan of old-school lighthearted JRPGs or a fan of Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is an old-school JRPG at heart, yet it’s made enough gameplay changes to keep it relevant in the modern era without sacrificing what made the original game special. It’s got a light-hearted narrative, an enjoyable turn-based combat system, overhauled Vocations, and a colorful world filled with secrets and sidequests to uncover.

You should not play this if ...

❌You prefer RPGs with darker stories or don’t like level grinding.

Dragon Quest games don’t usually venture into dark and mature themes very often but when they do, they can leave a big emotional impact. That being said, you won’t find much darkness in here as Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s standard ‘Good Vs Evil’ plot is about as traditional and light-hearted as it gets.

Additionally, you probably won't enjoy Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake if you detest level grinding, as this game does demand a fair amount of it, especially if you wish to take full advantage of its character class system or have an easier time challenging its late game bosses.

Overall, I enjoyed Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. It took a beloved classic JRPG and successfully modernized it while keeping its old-school charm alive and well. The HD-2D art style is pretty to look at, the combat is entertaining, and the Vocation character class system is vastly improved. The new quality-of-life features are welcome additions, and the game is packed with tons of engaging gameplay content to keep you busy for hours on end.

While the level grinding can be tedious and demanding during the latter portions of the game, I feel the reward is worth the effort now that you can have tons of new character-builds to create and experiment with due to the overhauled Vocations in this remake. If you’re a stalwart fan of Dragon Quest who grew up playing previous versions of Dragon Quest 3 or a lover of retro old-school JRPGs that hark back to the 1980s or 1990s, then you’re going to love this game.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is set to release on November 14, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. This was one of the best PC games and best Xbox games I’ve played in 2024. I can’t wait to see how Square Enix will tackle reimagining the first and second mainline installments of the Dragon Quest franchise when Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake releases sometime in 2025.

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What you need to know

• Square Enix's Naoki Yoshida has confirmed reports that more Square Enix games will release day and date on Xbox and PC.
• The publisher has previously had exclusivity agreements with PlayStation for some franchises, including Final Fantasy, that have not been as profitable due to sales numbers not compensating for the game's growing operating costs.
• Earlier this year, Square Enix announced plans to shift its marketing strategy to eschew exclusivity agreements and instead embrace a more widespread release schedule across multiple platforms, including Xbox and PC.

More Square Enix titles are making their way to Xbox and PC with day-and-date releases to their PlayStation counterparts, according to comments made by Square Enix director and executive officer Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P) in an interview with 4gamer.net.

Square Enix announced its plans to bring more of its games to Xbox and PC earlier this year after financial reports revealed that the Japanese publisher's games were failing to recoup operating and development costs, even with increasing sales numbers. The plan revolved around major franchises and AAA titles, as well as older IPs tucked away in the publisher's catalog, and would see an end to timed exclusivity agreements for games in the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is among the first Square Enix titles to launch simultaneously on all platforms following the announcement of the strategy change. Slated to release on December 5 on Xbox, PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a definitive edition of a classic JRPG adventure that precedes the Final Fantasy series. In the interview above with 4gamer.net, Yoshida explains that he expects the Nintendo Switch to be the most popular platform for FANTASIAN because of its portability. When asked about PC and other console ports, Yoshi-P says, "This time, the Xbox Series X|S version will be released at the same time. In the future, Square Enix will release more and more titles simultaneously on each platform... so I hope Xbox users will play it, as well."

Yoshi-P followed up the statement with an apology to Mistwalkers, the developers of FANTASIAN, for the extra work required to ship the game on all platforms. "The fact that it is released simultaneously on such a platform has led to excitement. . .so we are grateful that they did a good job," Yoshida said. Yoshida was at the forefront of pushing FANTASIAN to a multiplatform release, telling 4gamer.net, "We have to think about how to get as many people as possible to play it and how to make it viable from a business perspective."

According to Yoshida, the team looked at FANTASIAN's metascore and the awareness the game raised when it was released in 2021 on Apple Arcade. The team also considered the regions where FANTASIAN's original release was played to determine which platforms would be best for the release of the definitive edition. Yoshi-P has also hinted that other Final Fantasy titles could see multiplatform releases in the future, leading to hope that Final Fantasy XVI could see an Xbox once the PC port is finished. Square Enix is known for being behind some of the best JRPGs on Xbox, and the publisher has been heavily courted by Xbox executives Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond.

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Their efforts have seen some success, as Square Enix has recently brought several JRPGs, including the definitive versions of Final Fantasy I-VI, to Xbox consoles and Windows PC in recent months. The popular Mana series, consisting of Trials of Mana and Legends of Mana, was also recently added to the Xbox Game Pass library. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is also scheduled for a November 14 launch on Xbox.

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What you need to know

• A week after being announced and released during the 2024 Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix's long-awaited Xbox port of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has been seen jumping up high on the Top Paid charts on Xbox stores worldwide.
• Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection is a compilation of the first six entries of Square Enix's Final Fantasy franchise, all remastered with upgraded pixel-art graphics and re-arranged soundtracks, and includes quality-of-life improvements to smooth out the gameplay experience for newcomers to the series.
• Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection is available for purchase digitally on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud via Xbox Play Anywhere, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

Original article (October 4, 2024):

On September 26, 2024, Square Enix has started making good on its promise to bring more of its JRPGs to Xbox consoles by releasing the long-awaited Xbox port of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection during the 2024 Tokyo Game Show (along with releasing several Mana games to Xbox). 

Demand for this grand compilation of classic Final Fantasy games has shown to be very high as a week after it launched on Xbox platforms, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has been seen rising up to the 12th spot on the Top Paid list on the Xbox Store in the U.S. (as sighted on Reddit via @HazzadorGamin at X).

We at Windows Central also checked the game's position on the Xbox Store in other countries. While the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection only holds the 20th spot in the UK, it has hit a high 13th spot in Xbox stores in Germany, and has been riding high in other countries we've been able to check as well.

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Classic Final Fantasy has finally come to Xbox and it is glorious

As a long-time fan of the Final Fantasy series since playing the original Final Fantasy 7 on the PlayStation One during the 1990s, it warms my heart to see so many Xbox players come together and show their love for the 2D-era Final Fantasy titles. 

Some of the games in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection like Final Fantasy 1, 4, 5 (my personal favorite of the collection), and 6 have stood the test of time and are still widely regarded as some of the best JRPGs ever made. And now, Xbox fans can finally experience these excellent Xbox JRPGs on Xbox Series X|S for themselves and see how they helped shape the JRPG genre into what it is today. 

On top of that, these games are also available on Windows PC and are compatible with Xbox Play Anywhere. This means you can use some of the best gaming handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and play some of the best Xbox JRPGs while traveling abroad or visiting a friend's house as these games are a perfect fit for them.

With the recent revelation that Square Enix confirming its plans to bring Final Fantasy 16 to Xbox, I believe it's only a matter of time before we see the once-thought-impossible Xbox ports of Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake become a reality next.

What you need to know

• Square Enix is a major Japanese publisher, known for the Final Fantasy series among others. 
• In recent years, Final Fantasy began skipping the entire Xbox platform, opting for PlayStation exclusivity. 
• Subsequently, Square Enix has denounced its exclusivity plans blaming declining sales, with aims to launch games on Steam for Windows more regularly. 
• As an extension, the firm has also pledged support for Microsoft's Xbox console, with games like Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, Legend of Mana, and Dragon Quest all slated for the console. 
• Now, Square Enix has confirmed aims to bring flagship titles like Final Fantasy 16 across as well. 

A short while ago, I shared on my XB2 Podcast that I'd heard Square Enix was looking to bring its entire slate of Final Fantasy games to Xbox, including Final Fantasy 16. Now, we have some confirmation that that is indeed the plan. 

Speaking in a new interview (via HazzadorGamin), Square Enix legend Naoki Yoshida (often known affectionately by fans as Yoshi-P), confirmed that Final Fantasy 16 is slated for Xbox, although stopped short of offering a timeframe. 

Final Fantasy 16 took the franchise into more of an action hack n' slash direction, riffing on games like Devil May Cry. While some fans lamented the lack of tactical combat prevalent in previous games, the game's spectacular combat visuals won over many new and returning fans regardless. However, the game was up until recently, fully exclusive to PlayStation 5. Final Fantasy 16 has since launched on Steam for PC, however, and managed to hit 27,000~ concurrent players at peak. Although you'd have to wonder how much more it might've done if it had launched simultaneously with its PlayStation version, taking advantage of the marketing cycle from its initial launch. 

RELATED: Will Final Fantasy 16 come to Xbox?

Indeed, Square Enix has commented repeatedly about its recent Final Fantasy games, saying that they've "missed targets" (via IGN). To that end, Square Enix has begun adopting more of a multi-platform approach, with games like Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster launching on Xbox, as well as the World of Warcraft MMORPG competitor Final Fantasy 14. "Now we are moving towards the policy of releasing our games on a multiplatform basis, and we really want as many players as possible to play our titles," Naoki Yoshida previously said. 

In the new interview, Naoki Yoshida emphasized that Square Enix is planning to bring flagship titles like Final Fantasy 16 to Xbox as well, although it seems more like an aspirational plan right now, given the firm's growing pains as it moves towards multi-platform game development. 

"Of course we did announce the PC version of the game, so looking towards the Xbox version, we do want to release it on Xbox," Yoshida said. "But when it comes to the specifics such as when the game would be available and such, we are not in a position to be able to share anything. But of course, I want to say that it’s not as if there’s zero hope, and we very much do want to achieve that. So players should not give up in terms of their hopes."

I've heard via trusted sources that Microsoft is working heavily with Square Enix to make games like Final Fantasy 16 and even Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox a reality. Microsoft has made a prolific effort to repair its relationships with Japanese and Asia-region developers in recent years, with a large Xbox outreach presence at the Tokyo Game Show to meet publishers and teams of all shapes and sizes. 

Microsoft worked hard to bring games like Genshin Impact, Yakuza, and Persona to Xbox, finally, and developers like Koei Tecmo and Square Enix have also begun to support the platform a little more in recent months too. 

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Square Enix's support of Xbox is very welcome

Elsewhere in the interview, Yoshida mentions fan's requests to remake Final Fantasy 9, heralded by many as one of the franchise's brightest spots. He laments that the size of the game would mean the remake would have to make up several parts, and thus be incredibly costly and risky. Final Fantasy 7, for example, has been an incredibly huge and unwieldy project for Square Enix, with the firm claiming both FF7 Remake and Rebirth missed their sales projections. 

I wrote on Twitter earlier today that I'd love to see Square Enix revive classics like Parasite Eve with a Capcom-like flair, but not every game needs to have a massive AAA budget remake in order to be good. Would the PlayStation 1 version of Final Fantasy 9 benefit from a multi-part Unreal Engine 5 AAA extravaganza? Or could it still thrill new audiences in similar fashion to the modern Persona games, with text-based dialogue and more simplistic, albeit stylish visuals? 

It has been interesting watching Final Fantasy evolve as a long time fan. I wasn't initially enamoured with the switch to hack n' slash gameplay, but I felt it worked quite well in Final Fantasy 7 Remake when I did my review, striking a good balance between the old and the new. Wider audiences didn't seem too interested, though, judging by Square's comments on sales. Younger cohorts seem more interested in the heavily anime-styled JRPGs in recent years, such as Genshin Impact. Persona 5 Royal almost doubled Final Fantasy 16's maximum player count on Steam, although Final Fantasy 16's lofty PC requirements don't exactly open it up to a broad audience.

Hopefully, bringing Final Fantasy to Xbox helps Square Enix recoup some of its costs there, while it searches for what the future of Final Fantasy looks like. I suspect Final Fantasy's future success may hinge on making its visual requirements less intensive to target a broader subset of PC users, while also simultaneously launching across all platforms. 

What you need to know

• Square Enix has revealed several new Xbox ports for the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection, Legend of Mana, and Trials of Mana during Microsoft's livestream presentation at Tokyo Game Show 2024.
• In addition, it showed more gameplay footage for the upcoming HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest 3, which is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Steam on November 14, 2024.
• Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, Legend of Mana, and Trials of Mana will be available for purchase later today for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. In addition, Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana will also be available to download via Xbox Game Pass.

On September 26, 2024, during the finale of Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation, Square Enix made an appearance to make several startling announcements sure to please long-time fans of its classic JRPGs. Later today, Square Enix will be releasing the highly-requested Xbox port of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, along with two unexpected Xbox ports of two classic titles from the Mana franchise — Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana.

In addition, Square Enix also showcased new gameplay footage for the upcoming 2D-HD remake of the legendary JRPG, Dragon Quest 3. Here is everything you need to know from these announcements.

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection

First off on this list of major announcements is the Xbox port of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has finally been confirmed after many months of rumors. For those unaware, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection is a compilation featuring the first six entries of Square Enix's critically-acclaimed Final Fantasy series. 

Several games in this compilation are often regarded by critics and fans (myself included) as some of the most influential and best games in the JRPG genre, such as Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 4, and even the original Final Fantasy. But this isn't just a normal compilation port of the original games, all six titles have been remastered for modern consoles with new pixel-art graphics and rearranged soundtracks.

In addition, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection will include quality-of-life improvements such as an optional experience point booster so you can level up faster, an auto-battle option, and the ability to turn off random encounters.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection is now available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.

Trials of Mana

Next up on our list of Square Enix JRPGs coming to Xbox is the surprising announcement of Xbox ports for Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana from the Mana series. Trials of Mana is a remake of the once Japanese-exclusive third entry in the Mana series (also known as Seiken Densetsu 3) and has the player embark on an epic adventure to stop evil villains from freeing monstrous beings known as Benevodons, and save the world.

In this game, you will form a team of three out of six heroes and use their powerful abilities to vanquish monsters and evildoers in fast-paced real-time action-RPG combat. When this game was released back in 2020 for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, it received wide acclaim for its in-depth character class customization system, compelling characters, and beautiful music. 

Now Xbox fans will be able to experience this highly-praised entry in the Mana series for themselves as it is now available to purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Windows.

Legend of Mana

Legend of Mana meanwhile is the fourth title in the Mana series that was only once released only in Japan during the 1990s before being re-released as a HD remaster for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in 2021. This JRPG has a rather unique premise that instead of going off on a journey to travel the world, you are instead tasked to build one from scratch.

This is because the world map is completely empty, and it's up to you to fill the gaps by completing a series of quests that tie together to form compelling story arcs and unlock new locations to explore. You can tackle these quests in any order you desire and depending on the order you complete them, you will create your own world map with secrets and challenges unique to each playthrough. 

In addition, like the rest of the Mana series, Legend of Mana features a real-time action-RPG combat system and a complex character customization system to help over the various beasties that will impede your adventure.

This remastered edition of Legend of Mana features gorgeously redrawn pre-rendered background art and a memorable soundtrack composed by the legendary Yoko Shimomura known for composing tracks for Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XV, Mario & Luigi, Street Fighter 2, Live a Live, and many more.

Legend of Mana will be available for purchase later today for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows. On top of that, both Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana will be added to Xbox Game Pass's library today as well, so Xbox Game Pass subscribers can download them for free.

With the addition of the recently released Visions of Mana, it's safe to say that the Mana series is back and here to stay on Xbox consoles.

Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake

The last announcement from Square Enix for this showcase is a montage of new gameplay footage for Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake. This game is a remake of 1988's Dragon Quest 3, one of the most influential and critically-acclaimed JRPGs of all time that set the standard for future JRPGs to come. 

In this game, you are given the daunting quest of saving the world from being conquered by the vile Archfield Baramos and avenging your father Ortega, who fell in battle trying to slay Baramos. To complete your quest, you will need to recruit powerful heroes to your party and strengthen your gear and abilities if you hope to stand a chance of defeating Baramos and his army of monsters.

RELATED: Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake preview: A beautiful game with smart improvements

The remake reimagines the original Dragon Quest 3 with a gorgeous HD-2D art style seen in other Square Enix titles like the Octopath Traveler series and the Live a Live remake. However, this game doesn't just include new visual enhancements, it will also feature a new Vocation class for members of your party to learn called the Monster Wrangler. 

The Monster Wrangler Vocation has the power to use the abilities of monsters you encounter in battle and can even tame them so you can use them to fight in the arena and earn some extra money.

Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake is scheduled to be released for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Windows and Steam later this year on November 14, 2024.

Xbox JRPG fans are eating good in 2024

2024 has been an incredible year so far for Xbox JRPG fans. This year we had high-quality JRPGs from SEGA such as Persona 3 Reload and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Several cult-classic titles from the 1990s are coming back and being ported onto modern consoles, like Suikoden and Grandia. 

And to top it off, Square Enix is finally bringing the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection to Xbox along with, Xbox ports for Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana, and an HD-2D remake of one of the best entries in the Dragon Quest series.

While we're still a ways off from getting Xbox ports of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16, the chances of those ports happening are looking more likely than ever before.

With more upcoming Xbox JRPGs to look forward to such as Atelier's Xbox debut title, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio, the recently announced indie title Threads of Time, and many others, I'd say the future of JRPGs on Xbox is on the path to a bright future.

What you need to know

• Xbox Tokyo Game Show just aired with a bunch of announcements of new Game Pass games, and new trailers for upcoming titles.
• Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster has been confirmed and is available on Xbox right now. 
• Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana are now available on Xbox Game Pass.
• StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are coming to PC Game Pass, and we got a new trailer for Indiana Jones, as well as news of Fallout 76 Pets!

Xbox returned to the Tokyo Game Show today, packed with new gameplay footage, announcements, and reveals, the showcase highlighted games from across Asia and beyond, coming soon to Xbox consoles and PC.

Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard, and Bethesda delivered exciting updates on several games. We learned that the legendary RTS games StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are joining PC Game Pass, saw a first look at new content for Age of Mythology: Retold, and got a sneak peek at a My Hero Academia crossover event for Overwatch 2. In super exciting news, Fallout 76 introduced C.A.M.P. pets for the dog and cat lovers amongst us, and we were treated to more footage from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. What's more the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster was confirmed and is available right now on Xbox. 

New trailer for Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater

Not only did we get a brand-new trailer for Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, but it was also confirmed that the game will be fully localized in Japanese. Game Director Jerk Gustafsson and Creative Director Axel Torvenius made an appearance during the Xbox Broadcast to share insights about the story. They also showcased gameplay footage, giving us a preview of the impressive Japanese voice acting featured in the game.

Overwatch 2: My Hero Academia crossover

A new event dropping into Overwatch 2 on October 17, 2024 — My Hero Academia! From October 17 to 28, players can step into the shoes of their favorite anime heroes and villains with exclusive legendary skins.

This limited-time event features iconic characters, with Tracer embodying the determined Deku, Juno as the optimistic Uraraka, and Reinhardt as the mighty All Might, squaring off against villains like Kiriko as the sinister Toga and Reaper as the ruthless Shigaraki. 

Age of Mythology Retold: Immortal Pillars 

Age of Mythology: Retold | Immortal Pillars will be the first expansion for the game. This new expansion brings the rich myths and grandeur of ancient China to life, introducing a brand-new pantheon of gods, mythological units, divine powers, and an immersive campaign inspired by Chinese mythology.

In Immortal Pillars, players can earn the favor of 12 new gods, including Nüwa, the goddess of creation, Chiyou, the bull-headed god of war, and Nüba, the goddess of drought. They can also summon powerful god powers, like the mighty Yinglong, the rain-bringing dragon of Chinese legend. Fans can now add the expansion to their wish list as they await its release.

Starcraft Remastered and Starcraft 2 coming to PC Game Pass 

If you've been asking for more Activision Blizzard titles on Xbox Game Pass, well this news is for you.  Announced by Phil Spencer, StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are coming to PC Game Pass  on November 5, 2024. While StarCraft and StarCraft II’s multiplayer modes remain free-to-play for all, Game Pass members will be able to access StarCraft: Remastered and the StarCraft II: Campaign Collection as part of their subscription.

Tanuki

Take on the role of an adorable, BMX-ing mailman racoon dog in Tanuki: Pon's Summer, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. Tanuki: Pon’s Summer offers a cozy adventure perfect for the whole family, featuring a delightful mix of lovable characters, fun and unique activities, all set in a charming world. Players can fall in love with Pon, just like the townsfolk do, while exploring the game’s heartwarming quests.

Threads of Time

Threads of Time is now available to wishlist on Xbox and PC. Threads of Time is a beautiful 2.5D JRPG inspired by the genre’s classics. Guided by the Watcher of Time, you’ll journey through different time periods, from prehistoric lands filled with dinosaurs to a far-future world dominated by advanced technology, and beyond.

This first look reveals Threads of Time as a charming, party-based, time-traveling adventure, showcasing cinematic turn-based, combo-driven combat. Players will face legendary enemies such as Fenrir, the mythical wolf, and Ruin, a colossal robotic behemoth from the future, as they navigate through different epochs in time.

We Love Katamari: Reroll+ Royal Reverie

We Love Katamari: Reroll+ Royal Reverie is now available on Xbox Game Pass. It is a remaster of one of the most beloved titles in the Katamari Damacy series, offering enhanced visuals and exciting new content. This version introduces a brand-new story where players can roll around as The King of All Cosmos during his boyhood. 

Metaphor Re Fantazio 

Metaphor: ReFantazio, an exciting new fantasy RPG from the creators of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, is set to launch on October 11, with a demo available now. Progress will carry over into the full game upon release.

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, the protagonist awakens the power of the 'Archetype,' enabling him to battle enemies using a variety of abilities, including those of a Warrior or a Mage. Players can unlock different Archetypes, build their ultimate party, and take on a range of formidable foes. The newly released trailer provides an overview of the game while introducing powerful Archetypes and various Synthesis skills for the first time.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land

Atelier Yumia is the first game in the beloved RPG series to come to Xbox. Coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on March 21, 2025. Read more at Xbox Wire. 

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls

BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S in early 2025. The release window was announced in a brand-new trailer showcasing the climactic battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra Schiffer, and fans can follow the Bleach game X account to stay updated on the latest character reveals and gameplay details.

Synduality: Echo of Ada

Synduality: Echo of Ada coming to Xbox Series X|S on 24, January 2025. In this sci-fi, PvPvE extraction shooter, you and your A.I. partner must survive the surface by gathering resources to thrive in a harsh world. The release date was unveiled in a brand-new trailer, offering a glimpse of various A.I. Magus partners, customizable Cradlecoffin Mechs, and a treacherous environment teeming with hostile enemies. Compete for resources against or alongside other players, each with unpredictable loyalties.

Pre-order the Deluxe Edition or Ultimate Edition to play up to seven days early.

Fallout 76 gets pets!

What truly makes a C.A.M.P. feel like a home? Pets! Pets are coming to Fallout 76 by the end of 2024. Get ready to prepare your personal corner of the wasteland for your new furry friends!

Suikoden Remastered

Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster coming March 6. 2025. This beloved Konami RPG franchise, which first debuted in 1995, is making a comeback on current consoles with a remastered user interface, enhanced visual effects, and high-definition redrawn backgrounds.

All You Need is Help on Xbox Game Pass TODAY 

Get ready to put your friendships to the test, All You Need Is Help is a co-op puzzle game designed to be played with your friends - and it's out today, on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

This four-player co-op game supports both local and online multiplayer, allowing players to connect regardless of their console thanks to cross-platform support and a robust lobby system.

Slitterhead

Slitterhead, the fascinating new horror-adventure from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, opens pre-orders today and is set to release for Xbox Series X|S on November 8, 2024. Both digital Standard and Deluxe editions will be available – Deluxe owners will get early access, a digital artbook, and a soundtrack from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.

Slitterhead is a horror-themed action-adventure game from Bokeh Game Studio, marking the first title developed and published by this independent company led by Keiichiro Toyama, renowned for his work on Silent Hill, as well as the Siren and Gravity Rush series. In an exclusive video, Toyama discussed his influences and shared insights into the unique "Possession" system, which will play a crucial role in both gameplay and storytelling. 

The Starbites

Starbites is a sci-fi, turn-based RPG set on the deserted planet of Bitter, where the remnants of spaceships from past space wars litter the landscape. Players follow the story of Lukida, a debris collector who scavenges the wreckage to pay off his debts. Disillusioned by his bleak existence on Bitter, Lukida decides to embark on an epic journey with his friends to escape the planet.

The combat system in Starbites offers a unique blend of traditional turn-based strategy and innovative mechanics. We don't have a release date for this title yet. 

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake adds updated features to an all-time classic, blending classic aesthetics with modern gameplay. This remake not only captures the essence of the original but also expands upon it with exciting new features, such as the Monster Wrangler vocation. This new class harnesses powerful monstrous abilities to damage foes, heal allies, and more. Players will also have the chance to scout friendly monsters and recruit them for battles in the Monster Arena, where they can participate in tournaments for fun and profit.


Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake launches for Xbox Series X|S on November 14, 2024.

The definitive versions of Final Fantasy 1-6 are out on Xbox consoles and Windows PC today!

In a not-so-surprise announcement that was leaked yesterday, the legendary first six games in the Final Fantasy series are now available on Xbox and Windows for the first time! It's the first of many Square Enix games coming to Xbox. Experience the six incredible stories that captivated a generation, all featuring universally updated 2D pixel graphics, a rearranged soundtrack, and various quality of life improvements.

The remasters include modernized gameplay elements such as an updated user interface, auto-battle options, and supplementary extras like a bestiary, illustration gallery, and music player. Players can enjoy Final Fantasy I-VI either individually or as part of a bundle.

Trials of Mana and Legends of Mana on Xbox Game Pass TODAY

Experience the magic of Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana, now available on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass for the first time. Legend of Mana features the unique 'Land Make' system, allowing you to build your own world map and shape your adventure by placing special artifacts. With a colorful cast of characters and exciting real-time combat, this HD remaster also includes a rearranged soundtrack and the mini-game Ring Ring Land, offering the ultimate way to enjoy this classic RPG.

Trials of Mana is a beloved classic reimagined in 3D, showcasing significant graphic improvements, voiceovers, and a remastered soundtrack. This RPG presents an overlapping story of interwoven destinies that changes based on your chosen main character and companions. 

Over and out

That's everything from the Xbox Tokyo Game Show this year! What was your favorite announcement? And why is it the Fallout 76 pets?

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What you need to know

• Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, two large Square Enix games, both launched as PlayStation 5 exclusives. 
• According to a Square Enix financial results briefing from May 2024 that is now availably publicly, profits from Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth failed to meet expectations. 
• Final Fantasy 16 recently launched on Windows PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store.
• Square Enix has committed to launching more games as multiplatform releases.

Some of the biggest games of the last two years haven't met expectations. 

Publisher Square Enix confirmed in a May 2024 financial results briefing (that is now available publicly) that after launching big games including Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth "profits unfortunately did not meet our expectations." 

Final Fantasy 16 first arrived on June 22, 2023, while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launched back on Feb. 29, 2024. Both games first launched as timed PlayStation 5 exclusives, with Final Fantasy 16 recently arriving on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. 

Final Fantasy 16 sold three million copies in its first week after launch. Square Enix has not yet publicized sales information for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but the title is currently the ninth best-selling game of the year in the U.S, per analytics group Circana.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, first launched as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in 2020, receiving a PlayStation 5 version with new DLC in June 2021, with a PC version following in December 2021. As of September 2023, Final Fantasy 7 Remake has sold over 7 million copies.

Square Enix has announced plans to launch more multiplatform games, instead of consistently pursuing console exclusivity. Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida has noted that the company will be putting more games on Xbox, saying that "So with Final Fantasy 14 as the starting point, we do want to release more Square Enix games on Xbox, and there will be more of our titles released on Xbox. So I hope players will look forward to future things to come on the platform."

In addition to bringing the long-awaited Final Fantasy 14 to Xbox in 2024, Square Enix suddenly launched Octopath Traveler 2 on Xbox earlier this year. Looking ahead, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake is launching in November 2024, with remakes of Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest 2 following in 2025. 

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What you need to know

• Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P), the director and producer of Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, was recently interviewed by Eurogamer about the possibility of Square Enix bringing more of their titles to Xbox.
• During the interview, Naoki Yoshida confirmed that Square Enix desires to bring more of its games to Xbox consoles and strengthen its relationship with the Xbox community of players.
• In addition, our managing editor, Jez Corden, recently interviewed the developers of Final Fantasy 16 and discovered hints that we could soon see more Final Fantasy games on Xbox.

On August 28, 2024, the gaming website Eurogamer interviewed Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P), the director and producer of Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy 14. Eurogamer and Yoshi-P discussed Square Enix's newfound ongoing mission to bring more of their titles to Xbox consoles during this interview.

In the interview, Naoki Yoshida states that thanks to Final Fantasy 14's successful launch on Xbox consoles, Square Enix would like to "further deepen the relationship with Xbox gamers." He then goes on to say that the number of Final Fantasy fans on Xbox consoles declined in the years after Final Fantasy 15 was released in 2016. 

However, with the "really strong reception" Final Fantasy 14's Xbox port has (as Naoki Yoshida describes it), he says, and I quote from the interview:

Naoki Yoshida also mentions that Xbox consoles have often struggled to find success due to the lack of people playing them. However, he says that Square Enix aims to change that with their recent newfound business strategy of releasing games on multiple platforms to attract as many players as possible to play their titles. Naoki Yoshida then says, and I quote:

In recent years, Final Fantasy fans on Xbox consoles have been missing out on critically acclaimed Square Enix titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 16, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, to name a few, due to timed PlayStation exclusivity and their release on other platforms like the PC. 

With Naoki Yoshida's statement provided in this interview, as well as hinting at the idea of bringing Final Fantasy 16 to Xbox consoles after the PC version is finished during Noisy Pixel's interview, the possibility of these Final Fantasy titles and others coming to Xbox consoles may finally become a reality.

What compounds the likelihood of these highly-requested Xbox ports happening is that our managing editor, Jez Corden, interviewed the developers of Final Fantasy 16, and they stated they would like to see that game come to Xbox in the future. Also, during Jez Corden's most recent podcast livestream, he hinted that games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 could be gearing up for an Xbox debut because Xbox executives are going to appear at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show.

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More Square Enix games on Xbox please

As a long-time Final Fantasy fan, I, too, desire to see more Final Fantasy games come to Xbox consoles. I'm excited to hear about Naoki Yoshida's interview and Jez Cordon's hint that it may finally happen. While playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox would be fantastic, I would love to see an Xbox port of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster.

Playing remastered versions of the first six Final Fantasy titles on the go via Xbox Cloud Gaming would be amazing. They would also make great additions to Xbox Game Pass' vast library of games alongside other beloved Xbox JRPGs like Dragon Quest XI, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Persona 3: Reload, and more.

However, we must wait to see if Square Enix can deliver its promise and bring these beloved titles to Xbox consoles. In the meantime, you can keep yourself busy by checking out Square Enix's upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title, Visions of Mana, which is scheduled to launch this week on August 29, 2024. Plus, there's the free playable demo you can download right now for the PC port of Final Fantasy 16, which will released on September 17, 2024.

My experience with JRPGs is unfortunately limited, but I have heard tales of the "of Mana" series for many years (mostly thanks to a previous colleague whom some of you may know). When Visions of Mana, the first mainline entry in the Mana franchise in 18 years, was announced and revealed to be coming to Xbox, I knew I had to play it. Now I can do exactly that and save some cash, as preorders for Visions of Mana are already discounted.

Technically, the best price is $51.09 at CDKeys for a Visions of Mana Steam code, but you can spend a little more and get a dual Xbox and PC copy of Visions of Mana for just $53.09 at CDKeys. Either way, you're saving.

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A demo taste test now, a discounted full copy later

I won't disguise the fact that I know very little about the Mana franchise. I have heard about how amazing it is, and what I've heard combined with what I saw when Visions of Mana was initially announced was enough to earn the upcoming action-JRPG a place on my wishlist. This game is being helmed by veterans of the classic Mana series that went on break all the way back in 2016, and sees the series embrace 3D with an incredibly vibrant visual style.

This game is spectacularly gorgeous and its gameplay looks very fun. I'm actually downloading the demo as I write this so I can get a quick taste test of the game before it rolls out (I actually forgot there was a demo until I began writing this, haha). I'm excited to explore this fantasy world and learn more about the Mana Tree and the alms that sustain it, especially since I'll be doing so without the nostalgia of previous entries in the series.

That being said, I hope that Visions of Mana ends up being as excellent as it looks, and I hope its success on Xbox persuades Square Enix to also port the rest of the classic Mana franchise to my platform of choice so I can play them all. Right now, though, what's most important is that you can preorder Visions of Mana without paying full price. $51.09 at CDKeys (PC, Steam) or $53.09 at CDKeys (Xbox & PC, Microsoft Store) is hardly the most exciting discount, but if you're going to preorder the game anyways you might as well save yourself a few bucks.

If you want to sample Visions of Mana before pulling the trigger, you can download the Visions of Mana demo for free at Microsoft Store (Xbox & PC).

What you need to know

• Square Enix has a released a playable demo for Visions of Mana, an upcoming action-JRPG where players embark on a pilgrimage to replenish the Tree of Mana so it can continue providing life to the world.
• The demo contains a portion of the game's first chapter and showcases a preview of its combat, exploration, and story. Players who participate in the demo will obtain unique in-game items in the full game.
• Visions of Mana's demo is available to download on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, and the full version is set to be released on August 29, 2024.

Square Enix has announced that it has just released a playable demo for an upcoming JRPG called Visions of Mana to the general public. This game is the long-awaited fifth mainline in beloved Square Enix's Mana series, and the first mainline title to be released for the franchise in nearly two decades.

The demo gives players a taste of its gameplay and story, and it's available to download right now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

Visions of Mana is an action-JRPG where you play as Val, a Soul Guard tasked with protecting special people labeled 'Alms' by Faeries as they journey across the world to replenish the Tree of Mana. The Tree of Mana is a gigantic, magical tree that provides the world with life-giving mana, but every four years, Alms must sacrifice themselves to the tree so it can stay alive and sustain the world.

Along the way, you will meet complex characters who will join your pilgrimage, explore a beautiful world filled with wonder and magic, and become immersed in an emotional tale of self-discovery and sacrifice.

The playable demo will contain a portion of Visions of Mana's first chapter and allow players to get a taste of its story, explore its vibrant setting, and try out its complex combat system where you must combine martial arts and elemental magic attacks to achieve victory.

As an added incentive to try out the demo, players who play it will be rewarded with special in-game items they can unlock in the full game, which comes later on August 29, 2024. 

These items are:

• Gladius (a short sword for Val which you obtain the moment he becomes playable in Chapter 1) 　
• Falx (a great sword for Val which you obtain once you change to the wind class for the first time) 
• Horn Lance (a lance for Val which you obtain once you unlock the ability to change classes).

To obtain the privilege for these items, the player must have save data from the demo and download the latest update for the full game when it comes out. 

For those wondering if progress made in the demo will carry over to the full game, it does not. The demo takes place far into the game's opening act and features cut-down content, the full extent of which, will only be seen in the full game.

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Are you ready to witness the majesty of the Tree of Mana?

The Mana series was considered by old-school JRPG lovers who grew up during the 1990s to be one of Square Enix's finest franchises back in the day, the most famous title of which being 1993's Secret of Mana on the Super Nintendo. These games were loved for their cutesy art styles, fun action-JRPG combat, and lighthearted tales of adventure. 

The last mainline entry in the Mana series was Dawn of Mana, released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. This means that fans had to wait over 18 years for a new entry, although they had spin-offs and remakes of older titles to keep them occupied in the meantime. 

While I haven't played the Mana series growing up, I can just imagine how excited longtime fans are to see this series get a new mainline after so many years. Especially since from what's being shown so far, it looks extremely promising with its gorgeous artstyle, exciting and complex combat system, and charming roster of playable characters. 

I might give the demo for this upcoming Xbox JRPG/upcoming PC title a shot later to see what I've been missing out and see if it has the potential to be one of the best Xbox JRPGs, or even one of the best Xbox titles and best PC titles when the full game launches later this August.

Visions of Mana is scheduled to be released on August 29, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

What you need to know

• Capcom and Square Enix have announced several new games during June 2024's Nintendo Direct event.
• One of the titles Capcom announced was MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection Arcade Classics, a bundle featuring several of Capcom's Marvel Vs. Capcom series. However, it will be coming to every platform except Xbox.
• Square Enix meanwhile has announced that its upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake will be coming to Xbox on November 14, 2024, and that Fantasian Neo Dimension will be coming to Xbox during Winter 2024.
• UPDATE: It seems that Capcom's MT Framework engine is at least partially to blame for the spate of omissions. Details below. 

On June 18, 2024, Nintendo hosted its latest Nintendo Direct event and it was packed with earth-shattering announcements from Zelda finally getting her own game with Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom to Metroid 4 becoming a reality with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

During the event, Capcom and Square Enix appeared to show off a few products they have lined up for the Nintendo Switch, although only some of them will be coming to Xbox.

UPDATE (June 18, 2024): We saw a suggestion from Jawmuncher on Twitter (X) that Capcom's MT Framework engine is to blame for the recent spate of Xbox omissions. Our sources indicate that this is correct. Right now, Capcom has no pipeline for porting older MT Framework titles to Xbox's modern ERA system, which makes it more expensive to deliver the same titles than it would porting them to PlayStation 4, Switch, or PC. Perhaps Microsoft could step in to lend a hand here? We can only hope.

Original article: 

Capcom announced two collection bundles featuring based on two of their popular franchises. The first one is the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, a bundle of remastered Ace Attorney Investigation games where the player assumes the role Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor, and arch-rival of the series' protagonist, Phoenix Wright.

The other is Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics, a monolith collection of Capcom's legendary Marvel Vs. Capcom fighting game series, now included with training modes, one-button super options, display filters, and more.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection will be coming to all home consoles and PCs on September 6, 2024. Unfortunately for Xbox fans, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics will be launching on all platforms except for Xbox sometime later in 2024.

This is a disappointing blow for Capcom fans as the Marvel Vs. Capcom series was fairly popular on previous Xbox console generations with titles like Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite. I'd imagine those fans had been waiting for a long time to play the earlier Marvel Vs. Capcom titles on Xbox Series X|S, especially Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest fighting games of all time.

Fans on Twitter (X) are already calling Capcom out for making yet another missed opportunity to port some of its most-requested titles to Xbox consoles, as it missed golden opportunities to port much-requested titles like the Mega Man Battle Network Collection, Monster Hunter Stories, and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.

Meanwhile, Square Enix continues to uphold its promise of bringing more of its titles to Xbox and PC by showing off a new trailer for the highly-anticipated HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest 3 and a new title called FANTASIAN Neo Dimension.

Dragon Quest 3 is widely regarded as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time and the upcoming remake is dead set to improve upon everything that made the original classic great by implementing gorgeous HD-2D presentation, polishing out the original game's rough edges, and refining combat system. Judging from our preview of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D at Summer Game Fest, it seems to be already making good on that goal and beyond.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2024. On top of that, Square Enix has also announced that they already started development on HD-2D remakes for the original Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest 2.

The second major title Square Enix announced at Nintendo Direct is FANTASIAN Neo Dimension. This game is an enhanced console port of FANTASIAN, a mobile JRPG game released in 2021 by Mistwalker. This game is notable for being produced and written by the 'father' of the Final Fantasy series, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and has a soundtrack composed by Final Fantasy's legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu.

The plot revolves around Leo, an amnesiac researcher traveling the Queendom of Vibra in search of his missing father and memories. Along his journey, Leo will meet a host of intriguing characters that accompany him, battle insidious foes in turn-based combat, and become embroiled in an epic adventure where he must save the Queendom from being destroyed by a bio-mechanical infection called Mechteria.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is slated to come on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam during the Winter season of 2024.

For Xbox, it seems like one step forward, one step back

Marvel Vs. Capcom fans have my utmost sympathies with this disappointing announcement of classic Marvel Vs. Capcom games skipping Xbox consoles as I too feel your pain. Between this and the Monster Hunter Stories series not coming to Xbox, my hopes of seeing classic Monster Hunter titles like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Capcom's Dino Crisis series being ported to Xbox consoles are growing dimmer by the day. It's incredibly frustrating to see, given how Xbox finally started to turn a corner with publishers like Square Enix and Sega's ATLUS arm for games like Dragon Quest and Persona — now Capcom is giving Xbox users the cold shoulder, unless they get that $$$ from Xbox Game Pass with titles like Kunitsu-gami and Exoprimal. 

Either way, I cannot wait to play the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake on Xbox as I played the original game a long time ago and it was an amazing adventure that made me fall in love with the Dragon Quest. Additionally, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension looks intriguing to me as it reminds me of experimental, underground JRPGs released on the Xbox 360 like Mistwalker's criminally underrated Lost Odyssey. I wish I could count on Capcom to bring Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2 to Xbox some day ... alas. 

With upcoming Xbox titles like these and many more upcoming Xbox JRPGs such as Visions of Mana, Atlus' Metaphor Re:Fantazio, 2024 is looking to be a great year for Xbox JRPG fans regardless, even if Capcom doesn't want to play ball. Sigh. 

A heal from my party's Priest just barely keeps my Hero alive, ensuring he can land one more hit on the last enemy in this fight. I pull it off, and we're victorious, healing up and and finding a treasure chest with some new armor. From one random encounter to next, having my party members wait their turns before hurling fire bolts at Slimes and Batterflies has never looked better. 

While I was in L.A. for the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 and Summer Game Fest 2024, I also got to check out about 45 minutes of Square Enix's upcoming Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake behind closed doors. From my time hands-on, this beautiful remake updates the original game for modern hardware, with some smart decisions that file down the rough edges while preserving the intended experience. 

Best of all, I learned players won't be waiting for a long time in order to play it. Here's my thoughts.

The Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is absolutely gorgeous

Before beginning, Square Enix explained to press that this game is being remade because it's the start of the entire Dragon Quest journey. While it is the third game, it's chronologically the first entry in the "Erdrick Trilogy," meaning the team felt it was the right place to start players off if they are newcomers, while presenting the best possible way to revisit the experience in a new way for any long-time fans. 

The story setup in this turn-based RPG is classic and simple: As the child of the hero Ortega, players must complete their father's failed quest to defeat the Archfiend, Baramos. You'll gather companions and grow in power as you try to save the world. Exploring the world for key items will lead your party to villages and towns with helpful NPCs, as well as finding dark forests and dungeons that are packed to the brim with deadly enemies. 

My demo started extremely early on in the game, with Square Enix telling me and the others playing it that we were some of the first to ever try the remake. Built by Artdink (who previously worked on Triangle Strategy) alongside Square Enix Team Asano, it feels like a ridiculous understatement to say that this game is gorgeous, but I'll say it all the same. This game is gorgeous. 

As the game's name clearly spells out, the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is rendered in the "HD-2D" graphics style that Square Enix has pioneered over the last few years. This technique has previously been used in games like Octopath Traveler, Octopath Traveler 2 and Triangle Strategy to great success, marrying the 16-bit pixel art of SNES-era titles with 3D graphical detail that more advanced hardware can now render.

The detailed castles, forests, party members, and iconic foes all look simply wonderful, and over the course of my 45 minutes or so hands-on, it was sometimes hard to stop staring at background environments in villages or ruined castle hallways, as there's plenty of detail despite the simplistic beauty. Seriously, they look amazing. Running on a PlayStation 5 — the game is also coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch — there's never any framerate drops or loading stutters as I navigated across the world. I really wouldn't have expected otherwise, but it's still nice to note.

The teams at Square Enix and Artdink have poured a ton of effort into the visual quality of this game while working hard at preserving the intended art direction, as everyone involved wanted to honor the late Toriyama-san, whose work on the Dragon Quest franchise was legendary. 

As you explore, you'll encounter groups of enemies that have to be fought in turn-based combat. You can set your allies' AI to different strategies, such as being more aggressive or to focus on defensive measures, which can be extremely useful as they learn different abilities after leveling up. There's a lot of random encounters, so the adjustable battle speed and auto-battle settings are wonderful additions. Outside of combat, I found further quality-of-life improvements, such as the Heal All ability, which saved me from tedium after a particularly rough fight. 

That doesn't mean you're on autopilot though. If you're not careful, you can fall, and while the rougher parts of the experience have been sanded down through tweaks, battles can still be difficult. At one point, I lost one of my party members thanks to a gnarly encounter with multiple Batterflies, requiring a trek back to a Church in order to employ the service of a priestess to resurrect my mage. The setback was made slightly more amusingly bearable by the hilarious, classic image of the coffin being dragged around with the rest of the party until said resurrection could be paid for. 

While the development team is being intentionally vague in order to avoid spoilers, Square Enix does note that the narrative has been "refined," with a few changes and expansions to the story that are meant to enhance the overall experience. 

A classic adventure returning this year

I loved my time with the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and 45 minutes flew by in the blink of an eye. This remake isn't sacrificing the challenging experience the original game offered, but has smartly modernized it for a new generation. I'm eager to get back to it, and I can't wait to see what secrets are hidden away in this charming world.

Fortunately, I won't be waiting for a very long time in order to get my hands on this stunning remake, and neither will anyone else. The Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is scheduled to launch later this year on Nov. 14, 2024 worldwide. It's another multiplatform game from Square Enix, and I hope it finds success, because it'll be well-deserved.

This won't be the end though, as Square Enix is bringing the rest of the Erdrick Trilogy to HD-2D as well! Dragon Quest 1 HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake are slated to launch in 2025.

As Square Enix previously confirmed, the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

What you need to know

• Square Enix has revealed the release date for Visions of Mana, the latest installment of the Mana franchise, through a newly uploaded launch trailer.
• Visions of Mana is an action-JRPG that follows the tale of Val, a warrior charged with protecting his childhood Hinna as they embark on a pilgrimage to rejuvenate the life-giving Tree of Mana.
• Visions of Mana is scheduled to launch on August 29, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

On June 12, 2024, Square Enix had a new launch trailer for an upcoming Xbox JRPG called Visions of Mana, a new entry in Square Enix's long-running Mana series and the first new mainline title to be released in nearly two decades since Dawn of Mana in 2006. 

In addition to showcasing the game's story and gameplay, this trailer for Visions of Mana also reveals its release date – August 29, 2024, for home consoles and PC.

For those unaware, Visions of Mana is an action-JRPG set in the beautiful fantasy world powered by a life-giving tree known as the Tree of Mana. Every four years, special individuals known as "Alms" are selected by Faeries to embark on a pilgrimage to sacrifice their lives to the Tree of Mana so they can rejuvenate its mana supply and continue to bring life to the world.

You play as Val the Soul Guard, a warrior tasked with protecting Alms from monsters as they make their way to the Tree of Mana. However, his mission is complicated by the fact that one of his charges, is his childhood Hinna, and she is reluctant to sacrifice themselves because she doesn't want to die and would rather spend their life with Val, whom she has strong feelings for.

Moral dilemmas will not be the only obstacle players will face, as they will be beset by hordes of ravenous monsters, which they will need to defeat in action-packed real-time combat. To achieve victory, players will need to take control of 3-person parties and combine their attacks together to form intricate combos that will overwhelm the enemies.

In addition, players can acquire special elemental spirits that will change the class of a character and alter their powers so they can use abilities that can take advantage of a monster's elemental weakness or provide support to the party. Players will also be able to enlist the aid of NPC guest party members at various points in the story to aid them.

The Mana series is back to enrapture diehard fans and a new generation of players

I personally never played the Mana series growing up in the 1990s as I was more enamored with Square Enix's Final Fantasy series, Vagrant Story, and Parasite Eve. However, I am aware that some of these games are considered classics among JRPG fans for their addicting action-JRPG gameplay and lighthearted stories, particularly 1993's Secret of Mana on the Super Nintendo.

I'm happy for Mana fans to see their favorite series get a new mainline title after all these years, especially since this game is looking pretty good in the graphics and gameplay department from what's been shown so far.

Will Visions of Mana be able to live up to 18 years of anticipation and become one of Square Enix's Best Xbox JRPGs? Begin your journey to the Tree of Mana this August to find out when Visions of Mana releases on August 29, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

What you need to know

• During the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, Square Enix and Deck Nine showed up to reveal the next mainline Life is Strange game. 
• Titled Life is Strange: Double Exposure, this appears to be a direct sequel to the original Life is Strange, as it again stars Max Caulfield. 
• Max is dealing with strange timeline problems as a murder mystery unfolds.
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure is slated to launch on Oct. 29, 2024, with anyone that preorders the Ultimate Edition getting early access to the first two chapters on October 15.

Maybe get your handkerchiefs ready. 

Life is Strange is returning, with publisher Square Enix and developer Deck Nine showing up to the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 with the reveal trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure. This game is something of a direct sequel to the original Life is Strange, bringing back protagonist Max Caulfield as she deals with a new murder mystery. You can check out the trailer below:

The story revolves a strange new murder, while Max herself is being torn between different timelines and worlds after thinking things were finally stable.

Players won't be waiting long to figure out what's going on this episodic story, as Life is Strange: Double Exposure is launching across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 with an expected release date of Oct. 29, 2024, and anyone that preorders the Ultimate Edition of the game can play the first two chapters early on October 15.

Analysis: Bust out the flannel and the tears

Life is Strange is known for delivering emotional, narrative-driven stories that have extremely difficult decisions. Following up the original game with a sequel is a tall task, considering the extraordinarily passionate debates that ending has spawned, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. I certainly have my opinion on what happened, but if Deck Nine can thread the needle, it'll be a fascinating game to say the least.

I still haven't played Deck Nine's prior entry in the franchise, Life is Strange: True Colors, but I heard generally solid things. Hopefully this goes well, as Life is Strange helps occupy a particular niche in story-heavy games. Deck Nine appears to have mostly taken over the Life is Strange franchise, with developer Don't Nod, the team that worked on the original Life is Strange as well as Life is Strange 2, stepping away to focus on other games like 2023's Jusant and 2024's Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.

In our review of Life is Strange: True Colors, former editor Jennifer Locke wrote that "Life is Strange fans will find another adventure with excellent characters that doesn't always nail the pacing, even as it shipped with all five chapters complete and in one package. With a slower first half, exciting middle, and almost anti-climactic ending, it's a mixed bag in that regard."

What you need to know

• Octopath Traveler 2 is a JRPG developed by Acquire and published by Square Enix.
• Octopath Traveler 2 first launched on PlayStation consoles, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch in February 2024. 
• Square Enix previously confirmed that the game was coming to Xbox consoles at some point in early 2024. 
• Octopath Traveler 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, as well as being available in Xbox Game Pass. The original Octopath Traveler has also returned to Xbox Game Pass. 

A massive new adventure is suddenly available for Xbox players. 

Square Enix JRPG Octopath Traveler 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, having been surprise launched on Wednesday. This huge role-playing adventure is also included in Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, meaning any subscribers can just hop in and start playing it right now. 

The prior game in the series, Octopath Traveler, was already on Xbox consoles, but has also returned to Xbox Game Pass with a similar lack of fanfare. Octopath Traveler was previously included in the service for a time, but has remained available to purchase and play on Xbox consoles since 2021.

Square Enix previously confirmed during Tokyo Game Show 2023 that Octopath Traveler 2 was coming to Xbox consoles, but its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass wasn't disclosed (or possibly even decided) at the time. 

Octopath Traveler has a tumultuous platform history

Octopath Traveler 2 first launched in February 2023 across PlayStation consoles, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch, with no Xbox version available at the time. Meanwhile, its predecessor Octopath Traveler was briefly exclusive to Nintendo Switch before making its way to PC and Xbox, but not PlayStation. 

Amusingly, just as Octopath Traveler 2 has now arrived on Xbox consoles, Octopath Traveler is now available for purchase on PlayStation 5. 

While Square Enix has previously pursued platform particularity for many of its franchises, especially Final Fantasy, the company is now opting to bring more and more of its games everywhere in a multiplatform approach. The upcoming Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D remake is also confirmed to be launching on Xbox Series X|S as well as PlayStation and PC.

Analysis: Xbox users, go play these games

The Octopath Traveler games use Square Enix's special "HD-2D" approach, mixing pixelated imagery with modern technology to create games that look absolutely gorgeous, with the first game having been the first title to actually use this approach. 

I highly recommend playing both games, and while they're absolutely worth buying, you can opt to play them through Xbox Game Pass right now if you're not sure what kind of games they are. They are fairly lengthy titles, as JRPGs can be, so you can look forward to dozens of hours of turn-based battles and adventures.

Both titles follow disparate groups of eight companions, who each have their own stories and quests. The games are set in two different worlds, but share quite a bit of connective design tissue that becomes more and more apparent the more you play.

What you need to know

• Square Enix announced in 2021 that a remake of Dragon Quest 3 was on the way using the HD-2D style of games like Octopath Traveler.
• For Dragon Quest Day 2024, Square Enix shared a brief video showing a new logo for Dragon Quest 3 and teasing that "The legend of Erdrick draws near."
• Logos on the video also reveal platforms for the game, confirming that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. 

"The legend of Erdrick draws near."

That's according to a teaser video shared by Square Enix on Monday, giving Dragon Quest fans a tiny bit of excitement for Dragon Quest Day. Logos at the end of the video indicate that the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. 

While the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake — which was first announced all the way back in 2021 — isn't technically named in the teaser, namedropping Erdrick and showing a new version of the iconic logo makes it all too clear what game is being referred to. You can watch the quick teaser video below.

This remake of the third Dragon Quest game (the chronological beginning of a trilogy comprised of the first three titles) is using the "HD-2D" art style that Square Enix has utilized for a number of games, including Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, and Octopath Traveler 2.

What other Square Enix games are coming to Xbox soon?

Square Enix recently noted that it is committed to a multiplatform approach for its games moving forward, a shift away from the console exclusivity that has often been associated with titles like the Final Fantasy franchise in past years. 

Visions of Mana is also coming to Xbox and PC in Summer 2024, with Square Enix even taking part in the Xbox January 2024 Developer_Direct presentation to talk more about the game.

Octopath Traveler 2, which first launched in 2023 across PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC, is currently slated to hit Xbox consoles at some point in "early 2024," though the first half of the year is almost over and there hasn't been an update on this release date since the initial announcement.

Analysis: A hopefully-awesome remake

Dragon Quest 3 is fondly regarded by players, but as the original game first launched in 1988, it's not exactly a looker decades later. It's also the chronological beginning, so remaking this title makes perfect sense over some of the other options, and I can't wait to see what it looks like in action. 

The "HD-2D" style that Square Enix has pioneered for games is simply gorgeous, and if you haven't seen this action yet, I'd highly recommend checking out Octopath Traveler or Triangle Strategy to get an idea of what this gorgeous art direction and tech is capable of. I expect we'll learn more soon!

What you need to know

• Square Enix has released their Financial Reports for the end of the Fiscal Year of 2023-2024.
• In the report, Square Enix declares that it will begin shipping future titles on multiple platforms such as Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and PC as part of a new business strategy to bring in more customers. 
• As part of this new business strategy, Square Enix plans to create new titles based on some of its older IPs.
• Square Enix is a publisher/developer that's responsible for creating some of the biggest JRPG franchises in gaming including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and more.

On May 13, 2024, Square Enix released to the public (shared via @Genki_JPN on Twitter) a document containing the company's financial reports for the end of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The report includes an important announcement from Square Enix that it plans to focus on releasing future games on multiple gaming platforms as part of a new business strategy.

The full statement can be found on page 12 of the 32-page report and it reads:

"For HD titles, the Group will aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. Especially, in regards to major franchises and AAA titles including catalog titles, it will build an environment where more customers can enjoy our titles."

What this means is that Square Enix is going to stop releasing future games from their major franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest as timed-exclusive PlayStation titles. They'll ship games out on multiple platforms such as Xbox, PC, and even Nintendo Switch on release day simultaneously instead of months or years for the exclusivity rights to expire. 

The reason for Square Enix's new business strategy is that according to page 2 of the report: 

"In the HD (High-Definition) sub-segment, consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, increased compared with the previous fiscal year due to the release of titles including “FINAL FANTASY XVI,” “FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER,” “DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince,” and “FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.” 

Square Enix then notes, "However, operating losses grew due to higher development cost amortization and advertising expenses, as well as higher content valuation losses versus the previous fiscal year."

This means that while sales were up, operating losses were also higher because the games were more expensive. Square Enix hopes to combat this issue by releasing their games on multiple platforms instead of being constrained to a single console like the PS5-exclusive Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth currently are.

On top of committing to more multiplatform releases, Square Enix plans to revive some of its older IP with new games as noted on this quote from page 8 of the report:

"In addition, the Group will strive to increase its success rate in SD games by launching a carefully curated selection of titles. It will additionally explore ways to leverage its rich library of IP."

Analysis: Could we see more Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games come to Xbox day one?

What this means for us gamers is that hopefully, we'll be seeing more new upcoming Xbox JRPGs from Square Enix without having to worry about PlayStation exclusivity rights getting in the way. Perhaps we'll be seeing some Xbox ports of titles fans have been requesting for years like Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters.

Not only that, this new strategy could see Square Enix revive some of its lesser-known but just as beloved franchises like Parasite Eve or the Chrono series. I know I would pay for a new Chrono Trigger-style game.

Could this be what Final Fantasy XIV's and Final Fantasy XVI developer, Naoki Yoshida was eluding to when he hinted at the possibility of Final Fantasy XVI coming to Xbox after the PC port was finished? We'll have to wait and see if Square Enix's new multiplatform business strategy pans out to find out.