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In , people who visit The Louvre museum can pay to use a New NIntendo 3DS system as an audio guide to the exhibits and attractions. However, there’s now an end date for that service. The official site for it noted the program ends in September 2025. However, an exact cut-off date wasn’t revealed by the staff. 

As experienced firsthand by Siliconera in December 2013, the New Nintendo 3DS Louvre audio guide begins with a tutorial, than offers an opportunity to go through guided tours through the museum. It will take people through exhibits with 3D photos of the art, in-character guides, curator explanations, and opportunities to go off the set path to learn more about the art and exhibits. 

To use one of these systems at the Louvre, people would need to pay an additional €6 (~$7) fee. This would grant access to all the guides available on the 3DS model, as well as access to use it for your entire visit. It featured these insights in Chinese, English, French (standard and sign language), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. In addition to the guides, it also functions as a map to help find where you are and where to go in the museum.

Part of this could be due to the fact that Nintendo cut off for the handheld for years. Production ended in Japan in September 2020. 

The Louvre New Nintendo 3DS audio guide feature will end in September 2025, and it is unknown what will happen to those systems with the tour software on them.

The post The Louvre New Nintendo 3DS Audio Guide Service Ending appeared first on Siliconera.

We now know when the Switch versions of the 3DS original Harvest Moon games The Lost Valley and Skytree Village will launch, as Natsume shared the release date. It will debut on the system on July 3, 2025. 

There aren’t any special anniversaries associated with that date. The first original 3DS entry, Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, first debuted in the US in November 2014, before showing up in Europe and Australia in June 2015. As a reminder, that installment doesn’t offer an actual village to visit. Instead, you have to wait for folks from Hillsville to visit the valley where your cabin is to interact with them. Harvest Moon: Skytree Village followed that release in November 2016 in the US, followed by a 2017 debut in Australia and Europe. 

The last update regarding this 3DS to Switch Harvest Moon collection involved its pre-order bonus. Instead of a plush toy, like ones that accompanied past releases, the incentive here is an acrylic standee featuring animals in front of a barn and the game’s logo.

Neither game of these two games appeared in Japan. This is because they marked the start of Natsume’s original line of Harvest Moon games. Previously, it released Marvelous’ Bokujou Monogatari titles under that name outside Japan. Since then, Marvelous handles them with XSEED as Story of Seasons, with the next mainline entry in that base series being the return of the DS game Grand Bazaarto the Switch as Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.

Natsume’s Cozy Bundle with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village will be on the Nintendo Switch in Summer 2025. Both games also appeared on the 3DS.

The post Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village Switch Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera.

Good Smile Company opened pre-orders for a Fire Emblem: Awakening Lucina figure, and she’ll be able to wear her mask and appear with short hair to put on her Marth disguise. It will cost ￥31,680 (~$223). She’s expected to debut in June 2026 in Japan, with a worldwide release following after that.

Lucina is wearing the her outfit she’s best known for from the game. She also wields the Parallel Falchion. The pose makes it look as though she is about to strike with it. Good Smile Company’s product page mentions she comes with the additional head parts to change her appearance from her standard look with long hair to her Marth disguise. However, it is unknown if this means you could display her with long hair and a mask or short hair and no mask. The only initial photos show her with long hair and no mask or short hair with a mask.

This is how the figure looks when her head part with long hair and no mask is used:

Here’s how the Fire Emblem: Awakening figure looks if you switch to the display option that disguises Lucina as Marth by showing her with short hair and a mask. 

You can see the trailer showing both display options from different angles below:

This isn’t the only time Good Smile Company released a figure of the character. Lucina is also part of its figma line. It even rereleased it, due to its popularity.

The Fire Emblem: Awakening Lucina figure with optional Marth mask and hairstyle will debut in Japan in June 2026. She’ll appear worldwide after that. Pre-orders are open until July 9, 2025. Fire Emblem: Awakening is available on the 3DS.

The post Fire Emblem: Awakening Lucina Figure Can Wear Her Mask appeared first on Siliconera.

Natsume announced the pre-order bonus for the Switch game Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village, and it isn’t a plush toy this time around. While said orders are available at Amazon now for $39.99, only the Natsume Store page mentions the bonus. The company also offered a first look at  screenshots showing how the former 3DS games look on a new platform. 

This time, the pre-order bonus for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village is an acrylic standee instead of a plush. This decorative item shows various animals from these two entries. So you can see a chicken with chick, dog, cat, sheep, cow, horse, and two birds standing in front of a barn. The series’ name appears on it as well.

Here’s how that looks:

This breaks tradition for the series. Typically, Natsume offers a plush as a pre-order bonus or pack-in for a version of the game. The Harvest Moon: One World Collector’s Edition included a stuffed chicken, as an example. When it came to Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos, pre-orders of that included a Sleepytime Cow plush. 

As for a peek at the game, here are the first screenshots for the Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village collection:

There’s still no official trailer showing either of the Switch ports of the two Harvest Moon 3DS games look in-action yet.

While this is the new Natsume game under the Harvest Moon game, Marvelous and XSEED are working on a new Bokujou Monogatari game that will appear under the Story of Seasons name. It first discussed it in 2024, and we’re waiting for further reveals about it.

Natsume’s Cozy Bundle with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village will be on the Nintendo Switch in June 2025, and we can pre-order the collection now. Both games also appeared on the 3DS.

The post Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village Pre-order Bonus Isn’t a Plush appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced that the company has run out of replacement parts in Japan for the Nintendo 2DS [FTR-001] model and the New Nintendo 3DS LL (XL) [RED-001] model handheld systems, and it is no longer accepting any further repairs for them as of March 4, 2025.

The announcement appeared on a thread in the Japanese Nintendo customer X (formerly Twitter) official that the company has been updating regarding information about repair parts for the Nintendo 3DS family of consoles.

Nintendo informed back on February 13, 2024 that the company would stop offering repairs for various model of Nintendo 2DS and New 3DS consoles, as it would soon run out of parts stock in Japan. The New Nintendo 3DS models were the first to run out of replacement parts and the announcement happened on August 28, 2024.

It makes sense that Nintendo is stopping for the handheld systems, considering that the Nintendo 2DS originally released on October 12, 2013, and the New Nintendo 3DS and New 3DS XL models launched on February 13, 2015, over a decade ago now. Similarly, the Wii U also stopped receiving repairs in Japan back in July 3, 2024.

Nintendo is no longer accepting repairs for the Nintendo 2DS [FTR-001] and New Nintendo 3DS LL (XL) [RED-001].

The post Nintendo Will Stop Repairing 2DS and New 3DS XL Handhelds appeared first on Siliconera.

Kotobukiya offered a Pokemon figure update on Pokemon Day 2025, which is the X and Y hero Calem and the starter Froakie. There’s no release window for it yet. However, since it is only in the unpainted prototype stage, it will likely be a while before we see it appear. It is one of many protagonists in the Pokemon ARTFX J line.

Calem is the first Pokemon X and Y person to appear as a Kotobukiya ARTFX J figure. His prototype build shows he’ll wear his default protagonist outfit. His hat will also feature sunglasses perched on it, just like in the official art. Froakie will be able to be posed at his feet. The preliminary photos showed that the starter will be able to be removed and displayed on its own, if someone would like.

Here are the initial photos of the character and Pokemon:

His counterpart in that entry has the canon name Serena. 

The last character to appear in this collection was Florian, the male avatar option for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, with Fuecoco. He appeared after the female avatar option Juliana, who showed up with Sprigatito as her partner.The next release in the series will mark the return of Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Gloria with Sobble.

Pokemon X and Y are available on the 3DS, and there’s no release window for the Calem and Froakie figure.

The post Pokemon X and Y Calem Figure Poses With Froakie appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom revealed that it will sell a new book containing key art from games it released in the up to 40 years since its first release. The book will have the title "Capcom Key Art Catalog since 1984 to 2023," and it will be available on March 20, 2025, at 9,900 yen (~$65.20).

The A4-sized book will have a total of 376 pages. It will cover over 300 games Capcom has released on numerous platforms throughout 40 years since 1984, with explanations in Japanese and English.

The first-ever title Capcom released was the arcade shooting game Vulgus in May 1984. Since 2023 is the cutoff year, the latest games featured in this book should include the Resident Evil 4 remake, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, Street Fighter 6, Exoprimal, Mega Man X DiVE Offline, and Monster Hunter Now.

Here are the samples for some of the pages in the book:

The new catalog book will be available for purchase in Capcom's physical and online storefronts. The company will also sell the book at the Capcom Exhibition, which will take place at Osaka's Nakanoshima Museum of Art from March 20, 2025—the same day as the book's release date—until June 22, 2025.

The "Capcom Key Art Catalog since 1984 to 2023" book will be available for purchase in Japan on March 20, 2025.

The post Capcom Key Art Catalog Will Cover Over 300 Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Two of the original Harvest Moon games Natsume developed for the 3DS after it got rights to the title for the Bokujou Monogatari games will come to the Switch as Natsume's Cozy Bundle. This collection brings back Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village. It currently has a 2025 launch window.

As a reminder, both of these feature a more blocky and rudimentary experience. In Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, the priority involves digging into and placing blocks, as in Minecraft, to shape the way the valley in which your farm appears. As you play, you’ll bring seasons back to a place that somehow stopped experiencing them. The Switch version will include the outfit, building sets, additional crops like basil, cacao, olives, and soy beans, and makes the romance options Andrea and Luke available. This version also cut back on socialization, prioritizing your actions on and around your farm.

Here’s the 3DS trailer for that game, in case you forgot how it looked and worked.

The Harvest Moon: Skytree Village game in Natsume's Cozy Bundle still involves terraforming, but in this entry that means you can also get different crop variants as a result. As you play and live your new life, you’ll also revive the Skytrees to restore the Harvest Goddess to full power. The DLC will also be present immediately in the Switch release, meaning you’ll get access to farm decorations and the romance options Edmond and Nova.

You can watch the Harvest Moon: Skytree Village 3DS trailer below:

The announcement didn’t note if there will be any special or new features available in the Switch versions of either game. However, we do know what the cover art will look like:

Natsume's Cozy Bundle with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village will be on the Nintendo Switch in Summer 2025. Both games also appeared on the 3DS.

The post 3DS Natsume-Developed Harvest Moon Games Head to Switch appeared first on Siliconera.

The Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor series holds a unique place in the tactical RPG genre. It blends the intense strategy of grid-based combat with the moral complexity and alignment systems the Shin Megami Tensei franchise is known for. While the series currently consists of only two games, Devil Survivor and Devil Survivor 2, both entries left a lasting impression. They both share complicated gameplay systems, time-sensitive narratives, and emotionally charged decision-making. I think it's time for ATLUS to deliver a third entry. One that builds upon its predecessors while introducing new mechanics and modern quality-of-life features.

The Devil Survivor series took the moral dilemmas and mythological themes of the mainline SMT games and combined them with tactical combat. Unlike the turn-based battles of traditional SMT, Devil Survivor relied on grid-based movement and positioning, emphasizing strategy and careful planning. Battles unfolded in a hybrid system. Once units clashed, they entered a familiar turn-based combat mode akin to mainline SMT games. This is complete with demon summoning and elemental weaknesses. This dual-layered approach gave the series its distinct identity, appealing to fans of both strategy games and traditional JRPGs.

Both games implemented a time-sensitive narrative structure, with events unfolding over a set number of days. Players had to make choices about how to spend their limited time. This includes advancing the main plot, forging bonds with other characters, or preparing for battles. This mechanic heightened the sense of urgency and added replayability, as nowhere near all of the events could be experienced in a single playthrough. The time mechanics also tied into the series’ multiple endings, which depended on the player’s choices, alignment and available party.

In keeping with SMT tradition, Devil Survivor featured an alignment system that influenced the story’s direction and the protagonist’s ultimate fate. Players’ decisions throughout the game aligned them with Law, Chaos, or Neutral ideologies, each represented by different factions and characters. What set Devil Survivor apart was how these alignments were interwoven with the personal struggles of its cast. The choices were much less abstract. They directly impacted the characters the player had grown attached to over the course of the game.

There's also multiple endings within alignments, something not as common in the mainline series. For example, there are different options even if you take the Chaos route. Some of the endings can be easily missed if you don't follow a specific path.

The cast of the Devil Survivor games is another standout feature. In the first game, players were thrust into a locked-down Tokyo as demons began to overrun the city. The second game deals with themes of societal collapse and prophecy. Each character had their own struggles, motivations, and potential arcs depending on the player’s choices. This focus on interpersonal dynamics made the stakes feel personal, further distinguishing the series from other tactical RPGs.

However, the gaming landscape has evolved significantly since the release of Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker in 2015. A third entry could capitalize on modern advancements in game design while staying true to the series’ core identity. Here’s why we need Devil Survivor 3 and how it could improve upon its predecessors.

While the hybrid battle system of the first two games was innovative. Devil Survivor 3 could take inspiration from modern tactical RPGs to refine and expand its gameplay. Games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Triangle Strategy have introduced new ideas to the genre, such as terrain effects, class-specific mechanics, and more dynamic battlefields. Devil Survivor 3 could incorporate these features to make combat even more engaging.

For example, Introduce environmental elements like destructible terrain, hazardous zones, or demon-summoning circles that alter the battlefield dynamically. Also, it could add mechanics that reward teamwork, such as combo attacks or bonuses for characters with strong relationships. We've seen elements like this in Persona, so they can do it.

The Devil Survivor games were challenging, but their difficulty sometimes bordered on frustrating. A third game could address these issues. Borrowing from Persona 5’s sleek menus, demon fusion and skill inheritance could make things more accessible.

The alignment system is central to the Devil Survivor experience, and a third game could take it even further. Instead of sticking to the traditional Law, Chaos, and Neutral alignments, Devil Survivor 3 could introduce new factions or ideologies, each with its own moral complexities.

Players could manage relationships between multiple competing sides, each with shades of gray. This could help to make alignment a more fluid system that reacts to the player’s choices, rather than locking them into a specific path early on.

Like almost every SMT title, first two games focused on Tokyo. They both also deal with societal collapse. Devil Survivor 3 could explore fresh thematic and narrative territory. The protagonist navigating cultural and ideological clashes as demons threaten to bring about the apocalypse. The narrative could tackle timely issues such as climate change, technology’s impact on humanity, or global inequality, giving the series a modern edge.

The broader SMT franchise has evolved significantly since Devil Survivor 2. A third game could integrate some of the best features from recent entries. For example, the nuanced demon recruitment system from Shin Megami Tensei V. The game could also leverage modern hardware to deliver stunning character designs and atmospheric environments, while retaining the series’ signature art style.

A third entry could also introduce entirely new mechanics to set itself apart. Many of Devil Survivor's modern peers feature some sort of management between battles. Players could manage resources and alliances between human survivors and demon factions, adding a layer of strategic depth.

Then of course they could Include cooperative or competitive multiplayer options. This would let players test their strategies against others or team up for challenging battles. I'm not typically a fan of this sort of thing, but the Pokémon series shows us the demand for this sort of thing.

The Devil Survivor series has always excelled at delivering thought-provoking narratives, intense tactical combat, and morally challenging choices. A third entry could build upon this foundation, incorporating modern gameplay advancements and exploring new thematic territory. By blending the best elements of its predecessors with fresh ideas from the wider world of tactical RPGs, Devil Survivor 3 could reignite the franchise and deliver a truly unforgettable experience. The fans are ready, ATLUS — it’s time to answer the call.

The post I Want a Third Devil Survivor Game appeared first on Siliconera.

When you think about Pokemon, it’s easy to feel the nostalgia. For so many of us, the series holds a unique place in our childhoods. It’s a franchise that knows exactly how to keep itself alive. Whether it’s introducing features like Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, or Dynamaxing, the formula is constantly being supplemented by gimmicks. But underneath it all, the Pokemon experience stays fundamentally the same, and maybe that should change to embrace what games like it also do.

Game Freak is often too cautious to truly take big leaps with Pokemon. That approach has kept fans coming back, but some of the more innovative takes on monster-catching come from smaller, indie games influenced by Pokemon. These games, such as Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown, give us a fresh look at a genre Pokemon pioneered, but has not truly innovated on in a long time

As a franchise, Pokemon is among the most established. It's a cultural juggernaut not only in gaming but across media. With every new release, Game Freak fine-tunes the well-loved turn-based mechanics and injects a new gimmick. In Generation VI, we had Mega Evolutions, an exciting feature that allowed certain Pokémon to transform mid-battle and become even stronger versions of themselves.

It was wildly popular. Fans loved the additional layers of strategy and the dramatic designs. But by the next generation, Mega Evolutions were gone. Then came Z-Moves and Gigantamaxing, which faded in and out with their respective games. Fans see their favorite features disappear, replaced by something new each time. While this cycle can add flavor to each new game, it sometimes leaves fans wondering if Game Freak cares about their at all.

On one level, it’s understandable why Game Freak takes this approach with Pokemon. No matter what, these games are guaranteed to sell well. Even when Pokemon Scarlet and Violet dropped with performance issues and graphical inconsistencies, they still broke sales records.

It raises the question: why should Game Freak deviate from their tried-and-true formula when they don’t have to? Without the pressure to innovate for survival, they have the luxury to play it safe. It’s only natural, but it also creates a gap that indie games have stepped in to fill.

Games like Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown have innovated in ways Pokemon could, but perhaps never would. Take Cassette Beasts for example. Tts monster fusion system, which lets you merge two creatures to create a more powerful hybrid, offers thrilling tactical depth. Each fusion carries unique abilities and stats, so you’re incentivized to experiment and discover combinations.

Imagine a similar feature in Pokemon—even with a fraction of the possibilities, the concept would have endless strategic applications, but it’s also easy to see why Game Freak wouldn’t attempt it. Pokemon lore emphasizes individuality; fusing Pokémon might seem at odds with its core “gotta catch ‘em all” mantra. Yet, fusions could have been integrated differently, perhaps as temporary team-ups in battle or unique synergies.

Cassette Beasts also succeeds by keeping its world small, with a limited roster compared to Pokemon’s sprawling Pokédex. With nearly 1,000 Pokémon species to consider, every new Pokemon generation runs into the problem of bloat. Scarlet and Violet, even with all it's expansions, is missing over 20% of the full roster. There are so many creatures that it’s no longer even possible for a player to “catch ‘em all” in a single game. Game Freak claims this is a technical limitation of the switch, but me? I don't buy that.

Cassette Beasts and other indies can design smaller, tightly-knit rosters without players feeling like they’re missing out on decades of characters and mechanics. For them, this limited scope is an advantage, allowing deeper exploration of each monster’s role within the world and narrative. Meanwhile, Pokemon’s vast array of creatures, while mostly beloved, might be the very thing holding it back from incorporating fresh ideas.

Another fascinating feature is how indie monster-collecting games handle lore and story. Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a significant step forward in this department, weaving an engaging tale about the origins of Pokémon in a way that was refreshing and new.

Fans embraced it, thrilled by the idea of exploring lore in a more hands-on way. But even then, it was limited in its risks; rather than push the boundaries further. Indie games don’t have this hesitation. Without a massive back catalog, Cassette Beasts can tie its creatures into every layer of the game’s world and narrative, weaving a story that feels deeply interconnected and freeing the player to explore without rigid constraints.

If Pokemon could merge this depth with the mainline games, we might see a shift to more player agency and immersion—exactly what Pokemon Legends: Arceus hinted at but didn’t fully realize.

So, does Game Freak have a responsibility to keep up with these smaller games, or is it enough to just polish up each new entry in the franchise and let the brand’s legacy carry it forward? For many fans, the answer lies somewhere in between. If Pokémon incorporated a mix of its past mechanics and some of these indie innovations, it could retain its wide appeal while adding meaningful depth.

Imagine a world where we could combine the best of every generation. Where Mega Evolutions, regionals, Dynamaxing, and maybe even fusion mechanics could coexist to create a player experience that evolves over time, rather than starting fresh every few years.

What stands in the way of such a vision? Perhaps it’s the franchise’s sheer scale. With so many facets, card games, movies, toys, and shows, the Pokémon games are but one piece of the bigger picture. Its massive appeal means Game Freak doesn’t have to experiment as much. When something like Mega Evolutions fades away, it’s still just as profitable to make a new game without it. Younger fans and longtime players will buy every release regardless.

Game Freak may be unwilling to commit to complex Pokemon mechanics because it doesn’t need to. That leaves us with a franchise whose games are timeless but, at the same time, overall unchanging. It's disappointing that the company who pushed the Gameboy to its limits to include Kanto in Generation II is now not even including every Pokémon in a main game.

To expect massive changes would be a lot, but the franchise still has the potential to introduce smaller, meaningful innovations. Games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus suggest that the franchise might dip into a deeper experience again. Perhaps drawing from the RPGs that keep people hooked not for one generation but for years.

If that happens, Pokemon might yet blend its comforting nostalgia with the inventive spirit of the games it inspired. Games that go beyond “catching them all” as a slogan. Until then, we’ll continue to explore these indie gems and wait patiently, catching what we can.

The post Pokémon Could Learn a Little From Games It Influenced appeared first on Siliconera.

Another one of the Good Smile Company announcements from New York Comic Con 2024 involves a The Binding of Isaac figure that is a Nendoroid of the main character. It is the furthest along of all of the company’s announcements at the event, as a painted prototype appeared and there are multiple photos showing the extra parts included with it.

The multiple photos tied to a gif released alongside the reveal covered many of the parts Isaac will include. His face plates always show him crying, and it seems he will have ones that feature both his eyes open and closed. He’ll come with a standard body, as well as an additional one of him curled up in a fetal position on the floor. You can arm him with Mom’s Knife, which was a ive in the original game. He also comes with a Dead Cat ive item, which can be displayed alongside him.

Here’s the official announcement gif showing some of the different The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid poses that will be possible.

While there’s no pre-order open yet, we should see that happen soon. Not only did the painted prototype appear at NYCC 2024, but there are multiple photos of its accessories and extra parts.

Many of the other NYCC 2024 Good Smile Company reveals involved games. There will be a new World of Warcraft Nendoroid and Diablo 4 Pop Up Parade figure coming from the company.  

The Binding of Isaac original game is available on PCs. The remake showed up on the 3DS, PS4, PS5, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices. There’s no release window for The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid yet.

The post The Binding of Isaac Nendoroid Includes Tons of Tears appeared first on Siliconera.

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia 2q1f5t

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny 304o49

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia 2t543o

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2 3i3854

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia 5r3l5w

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who s his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth 3d484v

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia 4q6q12

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio , along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss 5h3k3x

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest r5ii

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence 14305s

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World 4t508

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

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Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

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Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Box Set.

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Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

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Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

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Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

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Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

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Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

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Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced via its official Japanese X that it has updated its guidelines for sharing content from its games on online platforms.

The guideline is available in multiple languages, including English. The original Japanese version has additional update date notes on the newly revised lines on the page, which has been regularly updated since its debut in late 2018. Nintendo made three new revisions to the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The first revision added a new line to the official guidelines list. It shows Nintendo's right to object to any infringing content and blacklist the offender from sharing content from Nintendo games in the future. The Japanese page added that the company will even use legal measures to enforce its objections.

In the second revision, the company explained the types of shared content it allows and disallows. While Nintendo forbids republishing official trailers and game assets like music or cutscenes, it also discourages players from ing simple gameplay recordings without any edits or commentaries. The Japanese page added an exception to content produced directly from the Nintendo Switch's Share button feature, which includes videos that can only run for up to 30 seconds.

The third and last revision in this guideline had Nintendo update the list of content that it will deem unlawful or inappropriate at the bottom of the page. Usages of unauthorized methods like third-party emulator software, cheats, and data mining are part of the list. The company also included malicious acts, such as making offensive remarks or griefing another player by impeding their game progress during a multiplayer session.

The Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms appeared first on November 29, 2018, as it replaced the Nintendo Creators Program. The company newly updated the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The post Nintendo Updates Its Online Media Sharing Guidelines appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo in Japan has announced that as of August 28, 2024, it has run out of replacement parts for the New 3DS [KTR-001] model. This means it will no longer accept them for repairs.

Earlier this year, Nintendo announced that it will phase out repairs for the 2DS, 3DS, and 3DS LL consoles. This is due to them no longer stocking the parts they needed. This meant that if you wanted to send your 3DS in for any issues, you had a limited time to do so before they ran out of supplies. It took them a little over five months to run out of the New 3DS parts. If you have issues with your 2DS or 3DS LL, you might still be able to send them in.

Considering that the 3DS came out in 2011, it’s no surprise that Nintendo has cut off for the console. Even the successor to both—the Switch—is on its way out, with rumors of a potential Switch 2 announcement some time soon flying around. Once Nintendo fully runs out of parts, it may be impossible for 2DS or 3DS players to continue enjoying their devices should something arise in the future.

Nintendo will no longer accept the New Nintendo 3DS [KTR-001] for repairs. You will still be able to send in the New Nintendo 3DS LL [RED-001] and 2DS [FTR-001] though.

The post Nintendo in Japan Ran Out of Replacement Parts For 3DS appeared first on Siliconera.

Masahiro Sakurai has revealed on his X that he has finished recording the final episode for his YouTube channel "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games." However, it will still take quite some time until this episode comes out, as Sakurai still has other regular episodes coming beforehand.

Sakurai's plan to end the video series has been known for quite a while. He first announced it in early January 2024. 2024 will thus be the final year for him to publish new episodes on the channel.

The original Japanese tweet is available to view right below:

And our translation of this tweet is as follows:

I have finished recording the final episode for the channel.
I think it will still take a while until it's published, so until then, please enjoy the regular episodes...

Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai established the YouTube channel in late August 2022. He has since published new episodes simultaneously in Japanese and English. As of June 2024, the channel has a combined total of almost 1.18 million subscribers, with around 580,000 from the English channel and almost 600,000 from the Japanese channel.

The channel has also received acclaim from the gaming industry. In August 2023, Sakurai received two awards at the CEDEC Awards 2023 for running the YouTube channel. The awards in question were the Game Design award and the Visual Arts award.

The "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" YouTube channel is available in Japanese and English languages, and its final episode will appear sometime in 2024.

The post Masahiro Sakurai Recorded His Final YouTube Channel Episode appeared first on Siliconera.