Speaking recently with Japanese outlet Young Jump, creative director and series mastermind Tetsuya Nomura explained that Kingdom Hearts 4 (as well as mobile title Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link) is being designed as a “reset” that will be easier for new players to get into.

“I do think of Missing Link and 4 as a reset,” Nomura said (via GamesRadar). “I wanted to end it with 3, or rather reset it, so I appointed new writers and even made a new logo to make it easier for new people to get into it.”

Nomura went on to say that the action RPG will still serve as a follow-up to Kingdom Hearts 3, but though existing fans will find the connective tissue, he says the hope is that more new players will be able to hop in this time.

“For those who know how Kingdom Hearts 3 ends, the reason why Sora ends up like that in the ending is because we wanted to reset the story in a way,” Nomura said (via @aitaikimochi on Twitter). “This should make it even easier for newcomers to join the story starting from Kingdom Hearts 4. Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series will also be able to feel like, ‘oh so it’s THIS’, but we’re making this game with the hopes that new players can enjoy it as well.”

Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022, though details on it have been scarce since then. Leaks have previously claimed that it is targeting a 2025 release.

Speaking in a recent interview with Wccftech, when asked about the same, game director Corinne Busche acknowledged that a pre-launch character creator demo was a “much-requested feature”, and added that though it “would be pretty cool”, EA and BioWare are still “TBD on that.”

The action RPG is, of course, still over a month away from release, so there’s time yet for EA to announce something along those lines. If it were to happen, however, you’d expect to not have to wait too long for something like that, so hopefully we’ll be hearing more soon.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard launches on October 31 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Henderson claims the next Battlefield is set in the late 2020s, with its campaign set to tell the story of a private military group’s conflict against NATO. The campaign will be set across multiple different locations, with Gibraltar being what was shown in the recently released concept art (which you can view above), and the US being where Ripple Effect Studios’ rumoured free-to-play battle royale experience will be set. The battle royale experience will allegedly be tied to the mainline game, similar to Call of Duty: Warzone.

Where the mainline title’s multiplayer is concerned, the report claims the next Battlefield will launch with 45 different weapon types, while DICE is also targeting “around 10” multiplayer maps. Additionally, though it’s unknown if Battlefield 4’s Levelotion will be returning, the report does claim that the game will feature a “significant overhaul” for the destruction mechanics.

As part of that overhaul, the game is allegedly also set to feature caliber-based destruction similar to Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege, which means different caliber weapons will cause different levels of environmental destruction. Meanwhile, new movement options are also reportedly being introduced, such as being able to pick up and move downed players.

Where the game’s name is concerned, the report claims the development team has been conduction “mass surveys” with the community for a year or so as it tries to decide whether to call the game Battlefield 6 or simply Battlefield.

As per prior reports, the next Battlefield is targeting an October 2025 release. Recently, EA’s Vince Zampella said the company “would love to see” the upcoming shooter on Nintendo’s currently unannounced next-gen console. Read more on that through here.

That’s as per GSD data shared on Twitter by GamesIndustry’s Christopher Dring, who says Space Marine 2 has already become the second biggest new game release of the year in Europe. The only new 2024 title to have sold more in the region is Helldivers 2, which means Space Marine 2 is tracking ahead of the likes of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Tekken 8, F1 24, WWE 2K24, Star Wars Outlaws, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. 

Shortly after its release, publisher Focus Entertainment revealed Space Marine 2 had crossed 2 million players across all platforms. 

In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Brutal action, mind-boggling scale, spectacular set-pieces, and a bevy of content come together in what is one of the best action games in recent memory. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is unmissable.” Read the full review through here.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. 

However, there is a Digital Deluxe Edition, which costs $74.99. It includes the base game and the Legendary Pirate Crew Pack, with Kazuma Kiryu, Daigo Dojima and other iconic characters able to join Majima’s crew. You also get the Legendary Outfit Pack with the iconic outfits worn by Kiryu and Taiga Saejima.

There’s also a Ship Customization Pack for customizing Goromaru, Majima’s ship, with designs based on Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga. If that weren’t enough, you get an Extra Karaoke and CD Pack, which adds the Majima Construction Song to Karaoke and allows playing Karaoke songs while traversing locations.

Those who pre-purchase any edition will receive the Ichiban Pirate Crew Set, containing Ichiban as a crewmate and Nancy as backup crew, and the Ichiban Special Outfit Set, providing outfits based on Kasuga’s appearance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on February 28th, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. Check out all the different locations and playspots available here.

Majima, the protagonist, utilizes the Mad Dog Style from previous games and allows for quick attacks with a tanto. He can even summon shadow clones to fight alongside him and mirror attacks. However, there’s also the Sea Dog Style, with Majima equipping dual cutlasses for exceptional area attacks. There’s even a flintlock pistol for ranged attacks and a chain hook to pull towards enemies.

While you explore locations like Hawaii from Infinite Wealth, the new Rich Island and Madlantis, there’s also sailing on open waters. The developer also confirmed a Colosseum in Madlantis, presumably where you’ll tackle numerous pirate foes. Notable playspots include Crazy Delivery, the return of Dragon Kart and Karaoke, and a live-action scenario with the Minato Girls.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on February 28th, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

STORY

Starfield’s base experience introduced several different factions across its interstellar setting, and though the mysterious House Va’ruun wasn’t as prominent a part of the game or the story as many other were, that’s set to change with Shattered Space. The expansion will begin with players coming across an abandoned space station dubbed The Oracle, with a message telling you to stay away and not board it. That, of course, means you will board it, from here players will be inadvertently led to the mysterious home planet of House Va’ruun.

SETTING

House Va’ruun’s home planet – Va’ruun’kai – was briefly referenced a few times in Starfield, but Shattered Space will be the first time we’ll get to see it ourselves. Upon arriving on the planet, players will find that the people of House Va’ruun – who have lived in voluntary seclusion from the rest of the human race for a long time – were experimenting with grav drive technology, with that experiment failed and led to disastrous consequences all over the planet- that you now have to deal with.

In fact, once you arrive at the planet, that’s where most of the expansion will take place, as per Bethesda. Much of Starfield’s base experience saw players hopping from planet to planet, which means that the organic exploration and emergent design that BGS RPGs are usually known for was much less prominent for many players’ tastes. With Shattered Space, however, Bethesda is looking to deliver a single, large, fully handcrafted location that will span the vast majority of the expansion and its content offerings.

OVER 50 NEW LOCATIONS

We don’t know exactly how large the planet of Va’ruun’kai is going to be compared to the other handcrafted planets found in Starfield, but based on everything that Bethesda is saying, it’s going to be quite sizeable. The developer has said that the expansion is set to open up over 50 new locations for players to seek out and explore on Va’ruun’kai. Throughout the planet, players will also find gravitational distortions known as Vortexes, which will bring their own unique challenges (more on this in a bit).

DAZRA

One of the main locations that players will be exploring in Shattered Space is Dazra, the city that serves as the capital of Va’ruun’kai, and, by extension, the seat of power for the entire faction. Players can expect to be spending quite a bit of time in the city, with Bethesda also promising plenty of room for exploration, secrets, and more. The land vehicle Rev-8 – which was added to Starfield for free in August – will also be usable throughout the city and the rest of the planet.

HORROR ELEMENTS

As you make your way through Shattered Space, you can also expect a tonal shift compared to the base game. Specifically, Bethesda is promising a more horror-tinged experience. Anytime you did have run-ins with House Va’ruun in the base game, Starfield definitely did sprinkle a little bit of horror into proceedings, and it looks like that’s going to be a much more prominent part of the experience from beginning to end in Shattered Space.

FILLING IN THE GAPS

House Va’ruun was a deliberately mysterious and ambiguous part of the setting and the backstory in Starfield’s base experience, but with the faction taking on a much more prominent role in the upcoming Shattered Space, you can expect a good number of those mysteries to be tackles. As per Bethesda and Microsoft, the expansion will fill in purposeful gaps in the base game’s lore, explaining why House Va’ruun cut itself off from the rest of humanity and what those decisions led to for the faction as a whole.

NEW ENEMIES

Starfield: Shattered Space is going to have players going up against plenty of smaller factions within House Va’ruun, with the larger group facing internal turmoil amidst its latest crisis, but they won’t be the only enemies you’ll be taking on. Bethesda has confirmed the expansion is set to add entirely new enemies to take on as well- such as monstrosities known as Redeemed and Vortex Horrors, who are among several extradimensional threats that have come pouring out on Va’ruun’kai after the faction’s aforementioned failed experiments.

NEW WEAPONS AND GEAR

As you may expect, Starfield: Shattered Space is also going to add new equipment and weapons for players to find and use- this is an RPG, after all. Further details on that front are somewhat scarce, so we don’t yet know what the extent of the additions here will be. One new addition in particular that has been mentioned is the Vortex Grenade, which potentially suggests that we’ll be using new weapons tied to House Va’ruun’s experiments with grav drive tech.

CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE MECHANICS

Choice and consequence mechanics are a huge deal in any Bethesda RPG, and Starfield: Shattered Space isn’t going to buck that trend. Bethesda is promising a large number of choices for players to make as they make their way through the expansion, while an Xbox Wire preview has also teased decisions that can “affect the wider galaxy” once you are through with Shattered Space. Of course, Bethesda has also previously said that Shattered Space is supposed to be a largely standalone experience, which means its story is unlikely to affect the base game, and vice versa- so keep that in mind as you dive in.

LENGTH AND SCOPE

Let’s get to the question on everyone’s mind- exactly how large of an expansion is Shattered Space going to be? This being a Bethesda expansion, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that it is set to be a sizeable addendum to what was already quite a massive game. Speaking earlier this year in an interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays, director Todd Howard revealed that Shattered Space is going to be similar in scope to Fallout 4’s acclaimed expansion, Far Harbor, which means we’re likely looking at a 10-20 hour expansion, depending on how extensively you engage with all of its optional content. “Content-wise, we’re looking at kind of like what we did with Far Harbor on Fallout 4,” Howard said. “This is a scope that works for our development in doing this kind of annual story expansion type of thing, so we’re really excited about that. And it lets us kind of do some things the way we would in previous games and give people not completely that experience, because it’s still Starfield, but this new kind of alien world that you’re able to explore.”

Washing up on Rich Island, not far from Hawaii, Majima suffers from amnesia. After help from a boy, Rich Noah, he battles with pirates before becoming the captain of a sea-faring vessel. Things only escalate as Majima encounters an organization known as Madlantis and its leader, Queen Michelle.

There’s also something about the Lost Treasures of Esperanza, another island where nuclear waste is stored, and, most shockingly, Samoa Joe. Hawaii looks to still be a location (though Ichiban Kasuga is not in the game), with Majima battling enemies and even taking on biking jobs.

Unlike Infinite Wealth, this is an action-adventure game with the goal of players enjoying being a pirate. The combat looks especially tight, with Majima wielding dual sabers.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. Stay tuned for more details shortly.

As for the future, its first major content update arrives in Fall. It continues the story, adding a new companion and companion quests, a new region, a Hub, and two new skill trees. The next update is planned for Winter, adding another new companion and companion quests, local quests in Teer Fradee and Uxantis, a new skill tree and abilities, and a crafting system.

Beyond that, Spiders intends to continue the main story and add another region. There will also be new quests, including for companions and factions, alongside new skill trees, abilities and an increased level cap. Photo Mode is also in the works. Of course, during early access, the developer looks to “continuously update the game to balance it and add new content depending on your feedback.”

GreedFall 2: The Dying World launches into early access on September 24th for PC. It’s also in the works for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

The mode lets you fight AI opponents created by analyzing “countless online battles” from Ranked play. You can select a fighter, their Rank (including different leagues in their tier), and the Control Type before entering combat. While players will receive feedback following matches, talking to Li-Fen allows for a “more detailed assessment.” You can also spectate other V-Rivals and fight your own.

It may sound familiar to those who have played Tekken 8 and dabbled in Ghost Battle. The upside is fighting the same character within a rank and potentially encountering new moves and mix-ups, thanks to the sheer volume of data analyzed. Time will tell if it’s effective, so stay tuned.

Street Fighter 6 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Check out Terry’s Character Guide for more details on his fighting style and Overdrives.