The Gaming News Thread (for news that doesn't need a thread)

My personal stance with Game Key Cards is that its fine for them to exist but a majority of the library shouldn't need to use it (and the cause of that is due to Nintendo being Nintendo with the cartridge storage options).

GKCs as a concept right now is fine on the condition that you have internet access especially during travel (for example buying a GKC during a convention trip), considering there is a separate server from the eShop to support the ability to download the games, but I wouldn't be surprised if it experiences a situation similarly to Gran Turismo 7 where it was unplayable when it first launched. I don't know if GKCs require connection to the internet every now and then to verify the key but I assume not.

For me, I just prefer to have the game on the cart without having to download it for the first time and it won't use up console storage space (like a Vita). GKC physical cases also felt like filler on the shelf, but at least they're clear on branding.

An argument that I have seen is that for some developers, they felt that games on the cart are making their games slower and in that case what Nintendo should have done was follow the PS4/PS5 model of installing the games onto the system itself (which would go against my earlier point, but having the data on the cart would still count as a proper physical release for me).

In relation to my first sentence, massive games like Final Fantasy VII Remake and EA Sports, and shovelware titles are the ones that make more sense to use the GKC model.

I'm not the type of person to ask people to avoid using GKCs as it's their decision on whether to pursuit or not. My preference is to support the traditional physical ones and the 'Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' type releases instead.
 
Shadow Cat said:
I see a lot of people on Twitter celebrating NIS America cancelling their Switch 2 Game Key Card release of Starbites. With the main reason against GKC's being - Its not a physical release because there is no data on the card
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Just to clarify something here, as I keep seeing the implication that the reason this is canceled is because of it being a GKC. The game is canceled for Switch 2 period, no digital version either. Most likely this is due to the fact that the game has never existed for the Switch 2; there is no Japanese release for Switch 2, only PS5 and Switch.

As for my opinion on the GKC controversy, in my view it's a combination of the negative points of both digital and physical, with zero positives. But I do not like Nintendo first party games, or portable gaming devices, so I have zero interest in the Switch or Switch 2, will never own one, and so really just don't care.
 
NormanicGrav said:
For me, I just prefer to have the game on the cart without having to download it for the first time and it won't use up console storage space (like a Vita). GKC physical cases also felt like filler on the shelf, but at least they're clear on branding.
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For GKC vs Physical. I would 100% prefer the data to be on the cartridge

Having the game on the cartridge so I can plug it and play was the whole reason I chose to move away from Xbox and now only use a Switch 2 and PC. I got tired of waiting for games to install/update and then have to mess around with Storage so I was able to fit the next 120gb+ update on. Only for me to loose interest and go do something else while I waited

But if its GKC vs Digital Only. I'd much rather spend £56 on a GKC from retail rather than buying £66 digital only. Then spend that £10 on another game. All while having the option to sell the GKC later on.

cfx said:
Just to clarify something here, as I keep seeing the implication that the reason this is canceled is because of it being a GKC. The game is canceled for Switch 2 period, no digital version either. Most likely this is due to the fact that the game has never existed for the Switch 2
Click to expand...

Ah thats actually good to know. They're releasing the Switch ver with a cartridge like normal, so in this case I really don't really see the point in a Sw2 release
 
Shadow Cat said:
This is a post that might need its own thread or not?

I see a lot of people on Twitter celebrating NIS America cancelling their Switch 2 Game Key Card release of Starbites. With the main reason against GKC's being - Its not a physical release because there is no data on the card

So no data on the card means you need to download it before you play it... correct?

How is this any different to games like Super Smash Bro's and Animal Crossing that have compulsory updates before you can play it? Even on a console thats never had the cartridge played before, is not connected to the internet and can't bing Nintendo servers to check.... It still asks for an update before playing

Dont get me wrong, full cartridge would be great. But I don't see how a GKC is any different than having day one updates on Xbox/PS. Only difference is most Nintendo games aren't like 100+gb downloads so wont take hours to download

Personally I would rather have the choice of GKC's over Digital Only. At least you have the option to sell or lend the game out

And if Nintendo services go down in the future and you loose access to your GKC's,,,, well at that point you have lost access to digital downloads and physical cartridges that require updates... so kinda in the same position, no game for you
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That is because there is limited space on the card and it's unlikely that games that support both the switch and the switch 2 would be able to have both versions of the game on the card if one or both versions are large enough to fill up even the largest size game card, so like how mAIcroslop (yes, I'm going to be calling them by that from now on) dealt with it on games that supported both the xbox one and series X, it's more then likely that they put the lowest common denominator (that being the switch version) on the card with it requiring download of the full switch 2 version if the card is used in a switch 2
 
Shadow Cat said:
Ah thats actually good to know. They're releasing the Switch ver with a cartridge like normal, so in this case I really don't really see the point in a Sw2 release
Click to expand...

There's a lot of confusion on this for some reason, perhaps in part because I don't think how NISA has worded some things is that clear. Gematsu's article on the release date still claims there is a Switch 2 version.
www.gematsu.com

STARBITES launches May 21 in the west

Science-fiction turn-based RPG STARBITES will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam on May 21 in the west, publisher NIS America and developer IKINAGAMES announc…
www.gematsu.com www.gematsu.com

NISA's page specifically mentions the LE being canceled which could make you think there is still a regular version. Scroll all the way to the bottom where the specs are listed, and there is no Switch 2 version listed, while the Xbox (digital-only) version is, so if there was still going to be any form of Switch 2 version it should be listed there.
nisamerica.com

STARBITES | NIS America

Break the barriers and blaze through Bitter!
nisamerica.com nisamerica.com

The developer, Ikina Games, is Korean, and here is the original page for the game. It's not exactly current in info since it is written like the game isn't already out in Asia, but it shows the logos for Steam, Xbox, Switch, and PS5, verifying they didn't make the game for Switch 2. Presumably NISA was originally getting the game ported to Switch 2 and canceled their plans since surely they knew what platforms the game was originally made for.

The game has a demo on the Japanese PSN, Japanese language only.
 
My stance on GKC's is I try to avoid them. I would rather have the data on the cartridge (minus updates) so I can plug and play and save what limited storage space the Switch 2 has. I will admit that GKC makes more sense for games that surpass the 64gb storage limit or need the higher read speeds of the internal storage, but then most situations aren't actually like that at all, games like Bravely Default for example have no place being on a GKC. If Cyberpunk can run off a cartridge some excuses becomes a lot weaker.

I haven't bought any GKC's yet but I imagine if I do it will be because it's significantly cheaper than eshop prices. Ultimately you're trading the convenience of both Digital and Physical for the advantages of neither.
 
Vincentdante said:
Ultimately you're trading the convenience of both Digital and Physical for the advantages of neither.
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This is exactly my view. Since I don't have a Switch 2 nor intend to buy one, I don't have to make the decision, but if I did, I'm pretty sure I'd just buy digital over GKCs. I don't sell games so that aspect of GKCs is irrelevant to me.

Nintendo should have made it where regular carts could also be installed onto the system storage, which would eliminate the excuse about data transfer speeds.
 
Blue Reflection lives (sort of)!


In the vein of the DX versions of Atelier games that are included in the combined trilogy sets, the Blue Reflection series is getting current gen versions in the form of Blue Reflection Quartet. As you would expect, the original game and Second Light are getting enhanced ports with some light graphical upgrades, additional characters, etc. The surprise is that Sun and Ray are also included.

The previously JP exclusive (and now defunct) mobile game Sun will be included as an offline console version, which is described as having a reworking of the main story, additional chapters, and will be using the Second Light battle system. I was never able to play the mobile version, so I don't know how extensively this changes the game.

As for Ray, the changes are even more extensive, since that was the anime series. I'm a little fuzzy on exactly what this is. The trailer suggests it's a game adaptation of the final arc of the anime, while I've seen other sources describe it more like a simple exploration game where the main characters find memory fragments that recount events from the series using dialogue and still images from the anime. The Japanese livestream that announced Quartet was annoyingly coy about showing much gameplay from Sun or Ray, so it was hard to get a feel for it.

The good news is that there will be a western release on 30th July. The bad news is that only Japan is getting a physical release; it's digital-only elsewhere. No word on pricing yet, but considering what's included, I would expect it to be at least as much as one of the Atelier trilogy sets, which were also digital-only outside of Asia. Maybe there will be an Asian physical release with English, but I'll likely just get it digitally on PS5.
 
Dai said:
The good news is that there will be a western release on 30th July. The bad news is that only Japan is getting a physical release; it's digital-only elsewhere. No word on pricing yet, but considering what's included, I would expect it to be at least as much as one of the Atelier trilogy sets, which were also digital-only outside of Asia. Maybe there will be an Asian physical release with English, but I'll likely just get it digitally on PS5.
Click to expand...

Koei Tecmo has been moving to global releases where the Japanese versions of games contain English language support. This is true for Nioh 3, Fatal Frame II remake, and the Atelier Ryza DX trilogy. Since Blue Reflection Quartet has the same release date everywhere, I think there is a good chance for that on it as well, but that isn't currently verified as the website doesn't have the information.

What they've said about Blue Reflection Ray seems inconsistent. From the website:
BLUE REFLECTION Quartet

It says in the summary of the included games:
Catch up with the story in the closing act of the anime by exploring the Common as Hiori and Ruka with new 2D character models.
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That makes it sound like if you haven't already seen the anime you would be lost as this would be something like a summary of only the ending. I'm pretty sure "2D" is also a typo and it means 3D instead given what the game's page says:
Re-experience the story of the anime with 3D renderings of its main characters.
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and
Follow Hiori and Ruka as they explore the world of the collective human unconsciousness, known as the Common, while re-experiencing their memories on their way to confront Shino.

Collect the Memory Shards scattered across the map to delve deeper into the story of BLUE REFLECTION: RAY.

Now with a new prologue and epilogue connecting this entry to the other works in the series.
Click to expand...

That says nothing about "closing chapter" and more implies it would summarize the entire anime.

I'm curious if the added prologue and epilogue really flesh out the story as always existed, or if it is some kind of revisionist thing to connect it to the other games where a connection never really existed before.

I never saw the anime. It streamed on Crunchyroll in the US but was never released on disc, anywhere, as the Japanese release was canceled. The only comments I've ever read on it were not positive.

I watched some video of gameplay of Blue Reflection Sun a long time ago, and the battle system was very simplistic and looked boring, so changing that to have Blue Reflection Tie/Second Light's battle system is certainly an improvement. As a mobile game with presumably a typical ongoing storyline, I don't know how good that aspect was or how it will translate here.

The information on Sun's page is a bit more clear I think:
Experience SUN on consoles for the first time!
Explore the academy, interact with fellow students, and jump into recreations of SUN's most memorable battles using BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light's combat system.
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and
This game tells the story of SUN across 24 events featuring new character interactions and the prologue and epilogue from the original release connect this entry to the other works in the series!
Click to expand...

I would interpret that to mean this includes the major story events from the mobile game put together into a story that presumably has better pacing than what a service game would typically have and without any filler that may have been there.

I like the existing console games a lot, but I don't think I'll be buying this. The addition of Ray and Sun are not really tempting me, and I don't see anything with the updates to the two console games to make me want to have these versions. With the limited screenshots and nothing that quite matches, I may be 100% wrong on this part, but I have the impression that the claimed improved textures in the first game have led to a change (for the worse) in the atmosphere it presents. The sort of foggy, dreamy look of the original seems to be greatly reduced. I also paid a lot for my physical copy of the first game because I waited too long to buy it because of stupid reviews that told me it wasn't worth buying so it's kind of special to me.

If this sells to a level they're happy with though maybe it will lead to a new game.

The price in Japan is ¥7480 for both physical and digital so I would expect something similar elsewhere.

For anyone who loves the music in these but missed the previous releases of the CD soundtracks, a 10 CD set was also announced for Japan, that is a rerelease of everything, coming the same day as the game, for ¥15000.

If I find confirmation on the Japanese version of Quartet containing English I'll post it here.
 
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