Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s weekly catch-up news feature, the catch-up coffee. With each issue I will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
Hades II announced
This news surprised a lot of people, despite Hades being incredibly popular. The developer, Supergiant Games isn’t known for making sequels; in fact, this is its first. It promises the sequel “builds on the best aspects of the original god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler in an all-new, action-packed, endlessly replayable experience rooted in the Underworld of Greek myth and its deep connections to the dawn of witchcraft.”
Playing as the immortal Princess of the Underworld, you’ll explore a deep mythic world, battling the forces of the Titan of Time will all of Olympus behind you. The story will unfold through both setbacks and accomplishments. There are near-infinite ways to build abilities: infuse legendary weapons with ancient magick, and become stronger with Booms from over a dozen Olympian gods. The cast includes fresh faces as well as old friends. New interactions allow you to grow closer to them and experience countless story events based on how your journey unfolds. There are new locations, new challenges, and new upgrade systems. And the best news yet? God Mode is returning, making the game accessible for many more players than it would otherwise.
Developed and published by Supergiant Games, Hades II will be released in Early Access for PC via Steam/Epic in 2023. I fully expect it will come to consoles alongside the full PC launch.
Final Fantasy XVI launch date revealed, editions detailed
I’m not going to lie, the last Final Fantasy game is the one that finally made me say no thanks; but I understand the love for the series, so regardless of whether or not I will play Final Fantasy XVI I’m quite excited to see it come to fruition. Last week, details of its launch were announced, including its launch date and various editions. First, a little about the game. Set in a standalone universe, the story takes place in a land blessed in the light of Mothercrystals. The world is struggling to keep the peace while the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy it. The fate of the land rests in the hands of the Eikons – powerful, deadly creatures – and their Dominants, those who have the ability to call upon and wield Eikons. Specifically, the story follows Clive, a warrior sworn to protect his younger brother, the Dominant of the Phoenix. Clive ends up entangled in tragedy that leaves him wanting revenge upon the Dark Eikon Ifrit.
Onto the different editions available. One will be the base game, both digitally and physically. There’s the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game, a digital mini artbook, and a digital mini soundtrack. The physical Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a cloth map, and a SteelBook case. Finally, there’s the Collector’s Edition for PS5: a collector’s box, the base game, a premium Phoenix vs Ifrit statue, a metal Eikon pin collection (eight pins total), a SteelBook Case, a cloth map, and weapon DLC called the Blood Sword.
Developed and published by Square Enix, Final Fantasy XVI will be released on June 22, 2023 for PlayStation 5.
Go on a bicycle road trip in Season: A Letter to the Future
In Season: A Letter to the Future, players take on the role of a young woman from a secluded village who is exploring the world by bike for the first time. She’s collecting memories before a cataclysm washes everything away. The game is a quest to discover a new world, one that is unknown yet familiar. Document, photograph, and record life while you still can.
The gameplay revolved around exploring, recording, and meeting others. At any point, the player can hop off their bike, equip a recording tool, and capture elements of the world: sounds and music, art and architecture, voices of old people, vanishing religious practices, and the traces of seasons past. These tools enable the player to examine the world closely in order to understand the culture, history, and ecology of the world.
Developed and published by Scavengers Studio, Season: A Letter to the Future will be released for PC via Steam/Epic, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 on January 31, 2023.
Playism will be publishing VN from Madness with Love
Playism has announced that it will be publishing from Madness with Love, a visual novel about being unable to communicate with the guy you like. The protagonist is a second-year high school student new to Kokain Private Academy… because your old school got blown up. That’s a reasonable excuse to switch schools! Life at this school feels new and exciting, and there’s four guys vying for your time. Get to know then during activities, festivals, and holidays. The story changes depending on the choices mad, and each character has their own ending. Play the field too much, though, and risk ending up alone.
So let’s talk the four suitors. First there’s Yusuke Saeki, a flirtatious boy in the same grade as you, who also used to attend the same school. He basically talks in gibberish. Second up Shuji Arakawa and this is kinda gross: it’s a teacher, the “sexy” school nurse who likes music and muscle training. Third is Tamura Marshmallow, a mysterious boy who likes eating, sleeping, the occult, and avoiding others. Finally we have Aorta, a senior student and student council president; he’s cool yet dignified, he has great grades, and is kind of clumsy.
Developed by jamsanpoid and Vampire K.K., and published by Playism, from Madness with Love will be released for PC via Steam in Q2 2023.
