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Unrevealed Zynga Star Wars Mobile Game Releasing This Year

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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According to a recent earnings call, there is a new and upcoming Star Wars game arriving sometime this year. Developer Zynga has disclosed the release window for its forthcoming Star Wars mobile game.

Zynga is popular for experiences tailored towards social interaction such as Words with Friends and Farmville. Recently, the company revealed that it had begun developing a mobile game set in the Star Wars universe.

Since there is a new Lucasfilm Games brand, various video game developers have teased new Star Wars games. While Zynga’s game is slated for mobile devices, it will be one of the first to debut under this banner.

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The information came from an earnings report to investors after a significant Zynga stock jump last year. Located deep in the document are several details about this upcoming mobile installment. The statement describes that the soft release will start this summer, with a full launch before this year ends.

If the team commits to this deadline, fans can look forward to some kind of beta or demo of the game coming out in the middle of the year. This will possibly determine the popularity of the game, as well as any enhancements that may prove to be necessary.

While the specifics about the game are still lacking, it seems like players will learn more about it sooner rather than later. Frank Gibeau, CEO of Zynga, revealed in a Q&A the status of their upcoming Star Wars game.

Allegedly, there will be more news for the title during the first half of 2021. Lately, the company opened a studio in Austin, Texas as it prepared to create the new Star Wars experience. With this upgrade, Zynga promises to bring high-quality gameplay and visuals to the mobile platform.

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The debut of Lucasfilm Games was a huge deal because of the opportunities it now brings to the table. For example, Ubisoft is currently building an open-world Star Wars game as well. While a lot of fans are waiting for this game to be revealed, a mobile title proves that Star Wars experiences are going to be diverse. With a myriad of social games in its collection, it will be exciting to see how Zynga’s attempt at the sci-fi franchise pans out.

Obviously, a few fans may be skeptical of a new mobile game for Star Wars. With numerous titles already released, another game on the mobile platform could easily get lost in the crowd. In addition, it is possible the experience will have controversial microtransactions possibly frustrating fans.

As one of the first games launching under the Lucasfilm Games brand, the forthcoming title has a lot to prove. Nonetheless, it appears like players will get to check out the new game during the soft release this summer.

Pokemon 25th Anniversary Concert To Be Headlined By Post Malone

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Pokemon will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in style with an exclusive virtual concert headlined by Post Malone later this month, which The Pokemon Company revealed with a surprise trailer. The worldwide musical event on February 27, also called Pokemon Day, will launch Universal Music Group and The Pokemon Company International’s yearlong music program.

The Pokemon Company launched its 25th-anniversary festivities last January. The long-running series was recognized with a charming Pokemon tribute video just several days ago. The video featured the original Pokemon from all the way back in 1996 as it traversed through generations of Pokemon games and trainers.

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The Pokemon Company’s video paid tribute to the original Pokemon plushies and anime, as well as Pokemon Go and the Poke Ball factory. That footage was just the start in what will certainly be a big milestone year commemorating all things related to Pokemon.

The official YouTube channel of Pokemon posted a trailer inviting music and Pokemon fans alike to watch the Pokemon Day Virtual Concert this February 27. In the clip, Post Malone can be seen entering a jam-packed arena as his voiceover gives a shoutout to all fans who have been there since Pokemon started 25 years ago.

Post Malone even pulls out a Poke Ball and transforms into a 3D-animated character, looking a lot like the style adopted in recent movies and games. The concert can be viewed on the official Pokemon Twitch and YouTube channels, as well as its 25th-anniversary website, at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT on February 27, Pokemon Day. At the end of the virtual concert, more information about the P25 Music Program will be unveiled, of which pop star Katy Perry was revealed to be a collaborating celebrity in January.

Of course, there is no need to wait until the end of February to begin commemorating the Pokemon series’ birthday. In the days leading up to the event, The Pokemon Company International will release a few activations across the Pokemon brand.

On February 20, Pokemon fans can join in a contest for the opportunity to become an NPC in the Pokemon Go Kanto Tour event. In addition, on February 25, The Pokemon Company will provide a special code that unlocks a Pikachu that knows the move Sing in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The Pokemon Company hints that even more announcements will come during the week of the event.

Ubisoft Reveals Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Post Release Content Will Be Better Than Odyssey

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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0
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In its latest earnings call, Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will benefit from a better post-release support strategy in comparison to 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Intriguingly, Ubisoft came under fire a few days ago from unhappy fans who claim the publisher prioritized microtransaction, rather than releasing valuable post-release updates and content that will better Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Much of the repercussion comes from concerns about the grind required to progress and obtain good equipment. Players particularly took note of the nine gear sets being sold in the in-game shop, the same number of sets available in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla main.

This is specifically worrisome when considering equipment sets can give stat bonuses that affect gameplay. Add this to the high cost of said sets and there lies the perfect storm for developing fan disappointment.

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The game’s mistakes don’t appear to have badly impacted sales, though. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s commercial success drove the company to its most lucrative quarter to date, which saw the French game publisher bring in $1.2 billion during 2020’s holiday season.

The most recent word from Ubisoft about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla suggests it’s just getting started content-wise. During the latest earnings call with investors, the publisher insisted that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will “benefit from a stronger and longer post-launch program” compared to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Specific details weren’t provided during that time, but there’s plenty to pick out from the announcement when taking Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s post-release offerings into consideration.

Most players would agree the post-release content rollout for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was remarkable, in spite of a narrative mistake that Ubisoft Quebec hastily changed. Paid and free content was spread out over the course of a few months.

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Players frequently received new side missions, equipment, and other major updates free of charge. The paid expansion came in the form of two separate story DLCs, The Fate of Atlantis and Legacy of the First Blade, each separated into three episodes.

So far, the free offerings in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla aren’t particularly on par, with the Yule Festival last December leading the charge on this front. However, new modes, additional settlement festivals, and equipment should be coming as freebies this spring.

With regards to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s paid DLCs, two are coming out soon – The Siege of Paris and Wrath of the Druids. The Wrath of Druids expansion is on track to release on an unannounced date during the spring, while The Siege of Paris should follow summer 2021.

Developer Tricks Steam Users By Changing Its Name To ‘Very Positive’

By
Aletheia
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0
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You may not be aware of this, but one thing that long-time gamers have come to realize throughout the years is that the review systems of many gaming websites are easy to manipulate. Let’s use Metacritic as an example—the overall ratings on sites like this are based on the amassed review scores of all users. Valve’s digital storefront, Steam, utilizes a similar review system as well.

In other words, if there’s a sufficient group of players who either love or hate a particular game, they can all work together to either pull down or bring up its overall rating. This act is also known as review bombing.

Review bombing is fairly common in recent years, with The Last of Us Part 2 being one of its victims. It can easily trick unsuspecting gamers who haven’t been keeping tabs on the gaming industry’s trends and updates. In cases like this, many gamers end up missing out on titles that they could have potentially enjoyed due to inaccurately low ratings. On the other end of the spectrum, players could be left disappointed by a game due to overenthusiastic fans positively review bombing it.

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Outside of this, we also have the deceitful developers. Now, players have discovered that there’s one developer on Steam who is seemingly trying to trick users of the platform. The video game in question is called Emoji Evolution, and it appears that the creator of this alchemy-themed game has changed its developer and publisher names on the platform to “Very Positive.”

If a Steam user who isn’t paying that much attention to the game’s store page quickly glances at these names, they might mistakenly purchase the title, thinking that the names were the overall review ratings of the other users. What we’re trying to grasp is why the creator decided to make this misleading change.

For one thing, Emoji Evolution already has an overall rating of “Mostly Positive” on Steam, so there really was no need in trying to deceive the users. On the other hand, perhaps the developer was trying to be funny, and didn’t intend their actions to be viewed as being deceitful.

In fact, we can imagine that there would be some gamers out there who would probably commend the developer for its clever move. Another possibility is that the developer and publisher are genuinely named Very Positive, as even the title’s Metacritic page lists the same name as well.

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That being said, it’s highly likely that many gamers in the Steam community won’t appreciate this—whether or not it’s a lighthearted joke. It could possibly even lead to Emoji Evolution getting review bombed instead, which is something that the developer must have wanted to avoid in the first place.

In any case, no matter what developer “Very Positive” wanted to achieve, Valve should do something about this so that other creators won’t follow in the same footsteps. After all, no one would like it if other developers think this kind of move is okay, and would find other ways to deceive gamers.

Harvest Moon: One World DLC Packs Revealed

By
Aletheia
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0
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The release date for Harvest Moon: One World is looming closer with each passing day, and Natsume has been hard at work ensuring that the hype remains strong by slowly unveiling what fans can expect once the new farming sim gets launched. Last time, fans discovered through the game’s demo that Harvest Moon: One World will feature multiple regions, with each one offering players a unique farming opportunity.

These regions are supposedly inspired by real-world locations such as Hawaii, which is definitely interesting. This time around, Natsume revealed that the upcoming title will have several DLC expansions packs as well as a Season Pass. The good news is that many of these will be offered at affordable prices.

For those who may not know, Harvest Moon: One World is the most recent entry in the long-running Harvest Moon franchise. Just like the other titles in the series, Harvest Moon: One World is an agricultural simulation RPG, so players have the responsibility of tending to their farm and livestock, while trying to create lasting relationships—romantic or otherwise—with the game’s villagers.

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Once a sufficient relationship level has been reached, players will be able to marry the villager of their choosing. Fans of other popular farming simulators, like Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons, may be familiar with this gameplay mechanic.

That being said, it appears that Natsume has more to reveal about Harvest Moon: One World. Specifically, the upcoming game will have 4 DLC packs, with 3 getting released after the game has already launched. For those who want to have access to the entire collection of DLCs, Natsume will offer players with a Season Pass worth $14.99. Interested players will be able to purchase the Season Pass on March 2, 2021, the same day as the game’s release.

That being said, here’s a quick breakdown of what players can expect from these DLCs:

The Interior Design & Tool Upgrade Pack, which is priced at $2.99, will be immediately available upon the game’s launch. This gives players more design options when it comes to house customization. It will also give players access to another upgrade level for the various tools available, which will make fishing, planting and growing crops, as well as mining more convenient and efficient.

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As for the post-launch DLCs, players can look forward to the Far East Adventure Pack, which will be available for $12.99 on March 23, the Precious Pets Pack for $2.99 on April 13, and lastly, the Mythical Wild Animals Pack for $2.99 on May 4.

Each of these expansion packs is definitely interesting in their own right, and we can imagine players would want to purchase each one for what they can bring to the table. For instance, the Far East Adventure Pack will unlock a completely new island in the game called Wagashi.

On the other hand, the Precious Pets Pack will introduce 12 new animals like silver dapple horses and siamese cats. Given its name, we assume that players will be able to make them into farm pets. As for the Mythical Wild Animals Pack, players can look forward to 10 fantasy creatures, including lava rabbits and chocolate mint tigers.

Spiritfarer Confirmed To Have New Content This Year

By
Aletheia
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2020 was a great year for video games, with many highly acclaimed titles getting released within that period of time. There was a wide array of releases as well, ranging from major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, to successful indie ones like Disco Elysium. Spiritfarer was considered to be one of the best indie releases of last year, so much so that it garnered praise from critics and players, and was even nominated multiple times for different awards during The Game Awards 2020.

Now, fans of this indie hit from developer Thunder Lotus Games will be glad to know that they can look forward to more Spiritfarer content this 2021. The developer recently revealed the game’s 2021 Roadmap, which includes a Spiritfarer DLC. The Roadmap also includes specific release windows, which is great as it gives fans something to look forward to this year.

Fans can expect the first update to go live by spring 2021, and it’s expected to add the new spirit called Lily. Lily will bring a little bit of lore to Spiritfarer, as she’s apparently the younger sister of Stella—the game’s protagonist.

The Roadmap states that since Stella is getting more and more used to Spiritfaring, “she starts to uncover some of her memories, which are starting to blossom as wondrous flowers over her cabin.” As such, it doesn’t come as a surprise that her sister, Lily, takes on the form of butterflies.

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Players will find Lily to be a unique spirit because she’ll be the only one that’s active at night. Her introduction to Spiritfarer also means that players can expect new story content for Stella, although Thunder Lotus Games has yet to reveal the specifics of this upcoming story content.

Among other things, this first update will also bring about improvements to in-game activities such as fishing. More specifically, the developer will introduce co-op fishing as well as a brand-new interface for co-op players. After the spring update comes the summer update, which will introduce yet another new character. This time around, Spiritfarer players can welcome Beverly, a new bird character they’ll encounter in Oxbury.

This update will also implement a new station called the Archive Room, which players can build onto their ship. In this new station, players will be given the opportunity to check out new collectible items such as Acetate Sheets. Thunder Lotus Games will also implement several quality of life improvements to Spiritfarer, although the developer is keeping this information a secret for now.

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Last but not least, fans can expect the fall update to come after the summer update. Now, this last one is arguably the most sizeable one yet. The fall 2021 update is significant because it will be released more or less a year since Spiritfarer was first launched. As such, Thunder Lotus Games will be adding two new spirits to the game to mark the occasion.

In this update, fans can look forward to meet Daria the patient and Jackie the caretaker. They take on the form of what looks to be a bat and hyena, respectively. Not only that, this update will introduce a brand-new island to the game’s map—among other things—offering players with something new they can explore.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Celebrates Franchise’s 25th Anniversary With Singing Pikachu

By
Aletheia
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0
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The Pokemon Company has been going full force with the celebration of the Pokemon franchise’s 25th anniversary. Even though the anniversary won’t officially take place until later this month, the company has been revealing to fans the festivities and collaborations they can expect for the special occasion, such as the exciting partnership with none other than Katy Perry herself.

Not only that, but The Pokemon Company will also be collaborating with Post Malone on February 17, who will host a virtual concert for the anniversary. Even McDonalds will be joining the festivities, as the American fast food company offered to include Pokemon cards into Happy Meals for the significant event.

That being said, it appears that Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield will be celebrating the milestone in-game as well. Not only will players obtain items for the occasion, but they’ll also be given a special Pikachu that has an ability that others of its kind don’t have. The official Play Pokemon account broke the news on Twitter, saying that this latest version of Pikachu will be able to use the move “Sing” in order to put enemy Pokemon to sleep.

The account hasn’t revealed how to obtain this version of the brand mascot yet, but it assures fans that it will reveal more information on February 25. That being said, Pokemon fans aren’t exactly thrilled by this announcement, especially since special event Pikachus are quite common already at this point.

As a matter of fact, many fans especially criticized this version of Pikachu because it doesn’t bring anything new or unique to the table. The Sing attack is a common move for many Pokemon in the base game—Pokemon such as Jigglypuff are even known to have this ability from the get-go.

Understandably, fans were hoping for something more interesting or useful, especially since the franchise is turning 25. What’s more, there’s a plethora of other Pokemon available that the company could have chosen from. While it makes sense for the team of developers to utilize Pikachu for special events like this, given the fact that the creature is the mascot for the brand, fans are somewhat tired of the many special Pikachus thrown their way.

In any case, whether or not fans are happy with the company’s decision, they can expect a singing Pikachu some time soon. More details about this in-game event will be revealed within the next few weeks. If the release of previous special Pikachus are anything to go by, interested fans will most likely be able to claim this singing version through a code that can be found on the in-game menu.

In other news, Pokemon fans have a lot to be excited about this year asides from the 25th anniversary celebration. Another anticipated title, New Pokemon Snap, will be released in April. This will serve as a follow-up to the Nintendo 64’s Pokemon Snap, which was released back in 1999.

What makes New Pokemon Snap even more exciting, asides from being a new game, is the fact that it will introduce a new region called Lental. Players can look forward to hours of snapping pictures of Pokemon such as Grookey, Torchic, and so much more.

Fortnite x Tron Crossover Revealed

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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With how many crossovers existing in Fortnite right now, with The Flash from DC Comics being the most recent to be confirmed, it’s hard to be surprised anymore whenever a new one is revealed or teased. With this said, what’s looking to be the next crossover event has emerged to justly surprise players for unanticipated it is – Tron.

Speculations of a Tron skin being introduced to Fortnite first started after a recent datamine, courtesy of reputable Fortnite dataminer and leaker HYPEX. They shared a photo of a new portal on Twitter, which always brings about a new guest star for the battle royale, codenamed Mainframe.

The graphical aesthetics are brazenly reminiscent of the Tron films, particularly the 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy, and one of the Light Cycles can even be barely spotted. Even the accompanying sound effects seem like it was ripped straight out of the movies.

And as if that was not obvious enough, developer Epic Games shared another teaser transmission which always gives hints for the next big crossover character. The audio log is from Jonesy cleaning an old computer before supposedly being teleported away, which brings to mind how people enter the world of Tron, called The Grid.

Aside from this, the log is also labeled as MCP-82. Any fan of the original movie should be familiar and will recognize these letters, as the MCP stands for Master Control Program which was the main villain of the franchise.

The number 82 is certainly a reference to the original film’s launch year of 1982. Finally, the target’s description states “They fight for the users,” which is a blatant reference to Tron’s line of “I fight for the users.”

While Tron fans are obviously hyped to see this oft-overlooked series making a cameo in one of the most famous video games in the world, it’s kind of odd that Epic Games chose it in the first place. Tron as a Fortnite character barely fits with the current season’s hunter theme, which is why characters such as The Predator and The Mandalorian have been included.

There also has not been any new Tron update in years, though relevance has barely been a factor for guest character’s inclusion. In addition, a third movie is currently in the works and will star Jared Leto with Garth Davis as its director.

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Now Has Highly Requested Dating and Romance Options

By
Aletheia
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0
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Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery has been around since 2018, and one of the most highly requested features since its release was dating. After all, dedicated Harry Potter fans know just how vital dating and romance was in the original book series, especially as the main protagonists grew up and entered their hormonal teenage years.

Developer Jam City previously danced with the idea of introducing romance options in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. This time around, however, the gameplay mechanic has been confirmed to stay as a permanent feature, and players won’t have to rely on special events if they want to deepen their relationship with other characters.

Thanks to this new update, players will now be able to romance different characters and go on dates anytime they want to. As a matter of fact, this permanent feature comes with new relationship levels, which players can increase by simply playing the game and going through the motions.

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After reaching a sufficient amount of points, players and their significant other of choice will be able to complete relationship milestones as well as open up new activities and side quests. According to the developer, this new Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery feature will result in even more in-game locations that would be perfect date spots.

Just like in real life, players will have the option to either exclusively date their partner of choice, or break up with them instead if they decide that they want to pursue someone else. There will be different romantic options available, so the chances of this happening are pretty high, especially for those who want to test out the different options and see where they’re the most compatible.

Asides from this, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery players can look forward to this year’s Valentine’s Day side quest. However, it’s worth mentioning that only players who have already reached Year 5 Chapter 9 in the game, at the very least, can take part in this exciting event.

For this year’s special event, players are tasked to make the Valentine’s Day dance more fun and enjoyable for the participants, while at the same time, trying to plant a “seed of love” between none other than Madam Pince and Mr. Filch.

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Fans have been asking Jam City to implement permanent romance options in the mobile game for quite some time now—in fact, it’s something that the community has wanted ever since Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery launched. As such, we can imagine that many players are thrilled that the most-requested feature is finally a reality.

It’s a significant addition, so much so that it may even be enough to bring back the past players who abandoned the game. It could also convince dedicated fans to keep on playing the mobile title for many years to come. We’re definitely interested to see how this permanent addition will change things up for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, and how fans will react to its addition.

Kingdom Hearts Series Is Finally Coming To PC Exclusively On The Epic Games Store

By
Aletheia
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0
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For the first time ever, the Kingdom Hearts series will be made available to PC users. Set to release on March 30, 2021, PC gamers will finally be able to experience almost every game in the beloved franchise, although the collection of games will only be released exclusively on the Epic Games Store.

This shocking news was revealed during the Epic Games’ Spring Showcase that took place a few days ago. There will be 4 games from the Square Enix and Disney crossover series that’s coming to PC, namely Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mind, and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, which was the most recent title to be released.

Four games may not sound like a lot to those who aren’t familiar with Kingdom Hearts, but to long-time fans, this is already a massive treasure trove. For one thing, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 and Kingdom Hearts 2.8 already contain several mainline titles like Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep, which are also critically acclaimed.

Then we have Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mind, which features the franchise’s latest mainline game along with a DLC that is jam-packed with content in itself. Lastly, even though it’s just a rhythm game spin-off, Melody of Memory is a recent title that’s still worth having in any fan’s library of games.

Released last November, Melody of Memory features some of the most iconic soundtracks from the entire Kingdom Hearts series by composer Yoko Shimomura. When combined, these four games already contain most of the series’ storyline so far, which makes it a great refresher for dedicated fans waiting for the next major release, or an easy way for new fans to dive into the franchise.

The collection may not include the mobile title Union X [Cross] as well as a bunch of other spin-offs, but as a whole, these 4 games are already pretty solid titles to try out while still containing the series’ essentials. According to its designated page on the Epic Games Store website, all of the titles will cost $59.99, except for the $49.99 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX.

Undeniably, these are significantly more expensive than the PlayStation and Xbox releases, which constantly receive discounts and price drops. For instance, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One pricing for Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package is often at $29.99.

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This offer already includes all the previous games, but without Melody of Memory and the Re Mind DLC. So, expect that buying this collection of games for the PC will significantly hurt one’s wallet or even savings. While this announcement is undeniably exciting, it can also be disheartening, especially for many who don’t have the extra funds to spare.

The fact that Kingdom Hearts is finally coming to PC for the first time is wonderful news, especially since it gives interested players who don’t have supported consoles the chance to experience the highly beloved action-RPG series.

On the other hand, its exclusivity to the Epic Games Store may put off some potential and returning fans, as some have preferences when it comes to launchers. Plus, there’s the fact that the games are quite pricey. That being said, those who are willing to fork over money for this collection will surely enjoy what Kingdom Hearts has to offer.

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