Author Archives: Kori-Maru

Virtua Fighter is Back! Celebrate VF’s 30th Anniversary with Multiple Announcements through VF Direct!

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The time has finally come for the Virtua Fighter series to return, with multiple projects underway! In the very first VF Direct, the development team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA AM2 unveiled a plethora of exciting announcements about the future of the Virtua Fighter franchise. Here’s everything fans need to know from the VF Direct:

  • The next chapter in the Virtua Fighter series is officially in development! At the Game Awards, a teaser showcased Akira Yuki and Sarah Bryant with stunning new designs. More details about the game will be revealed in future VF Directs.
  • The 2.0 update for Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is now available as a free download on Playstation 4. The 2.0 update includes returning moves from Virtua Fighter 5 R, balance adjustments, new combos, and revamped hit effects.
  • Pre-Orders for Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O is available now on Steam with Standard and 30th Anniversary Edition for $15.99 and $39.99, respectively. The 30th Anniversary Edition will include exclusive 30th Anniversary themed costumes for all characters, collection of all Virtua Fighter titles original soundtracks*, plus 2 new songs and previously unreleased themes from the Virtua Fighter 2 era, ultra rare preliminary sketches and artwork straight from the pre-production of the original Virtua Fighter, and 30th Anniversary in-game rank titles. Exclusive set of character customization items featuring SEGA’s legendary consoles will be available for both editions if you pre-order the game.
  • The Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O Open Beta is now live on Steam and will run for five days. Be sure to jump in and experience the updated mechanics while you can!
  • Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O tournaments have been announced for major fighting game events at Frosty Faustings XVII 2025 in Chicago on January 23-26, 2025 and EVO Japan on April 12, 2025.
  • Official Virtua Fighter merchandise will soon be available for purchase on Amazon. Stay tuned for the release date.
  • Physical editions for Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown will be available to purchase through Limited Run Games website at 10 AM ET for a limited time from December 12, 2024 – January 12, 2025.

The future of Virtua Fighter looks incredibly promising. With a new game on the horizon, major updates, special editions, and tournaments, the iconic fighting game franchise is making a triumphant comeback.

What are your thoughts on all this exciting Virtua Fighter news? Which announcement are you most looking forward to? Share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from everyone in the community!

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SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Pack Available Later Today

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Can’t wait for Sonic Movie 3? No fret as SEGA has announced that the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Pack for SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS will be available later today for players who own the Digital Deluxe Edition across PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch family of systems, and PC.

When transported to an unknown dimension, Shadow must race through the streets of modern-day Shibuya to defeat the forces of G.U.N. Players who own the Digital Deluxe Edition or purchase the Digital Deluxe Upgrade can take on a new look as Shadow and play through a unique level inspired by the new movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, featuring the voice of Keanu Reeves!

The new level can be accessed from the White Space in Shadow Generations. Here are some cool screenshots of Movie Shadow in action!

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SEGA Celebrates Upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie with New Mobile Updates

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Today, SEGA announced in celebration of the highly anticipated “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” film set to release later this month, there will be a few themed updates coming to Sonic Dream Team – the 3D Sonic the Hedgehog action-platformer, playable exclusively on Apple Arcade, as well as Sonic Dash, and Sonic Forces available on the App Store and Google Play.

Here are the details on the updates here and screenshots in the next section of the article:

Sonic Dash – update available December 20, 2024

  • Win your favorite stars from the Sonic Movie! Collect cards to unlock Movie Shadow and Movie Sonic, and pick-up daily collectibles to earn extra rewards!

    • Sonic Dash+ on Apple Arcade will also be receiving Shadow-themed updates coming January 2025!

Sonic Forces – update available December 12, 2024

  • New Adventure. New Rival. Play as Movie Shadow, Movie Sonic and all of your favorite characters in the Sonic Movie Mobile events. Race through the all-new Metro-city Zone which includes 3 brand new tracks to put your skills to the test!

Sonic Dream Team – update available December 18, 2024

  • Playable Shadow and new challenges!

    • Dive into Tails’ Challenges and take control of Shadow! Experience special Challenge levels, earn new rewards, and unlock Shadow for use in Adventure.

    • Manipulate time with Shadow’s special abilities, Chaos Control and Chaos Shift. Lock enemies and the environment in place as you tear through levels to achieve your goal.

  • New Powers!

    • Grab a new set of Powers to add to your loadouts through the new Shadow rewards!

    • Quick Grind, Perfect Jump, Chain Attack, and Perfect Boost are available for all characters, whilst Shadow can access the exclusive Double Chaos Shift, and Extended Chaos Control

  • New Music and statues!

    • 6 new Shadow themed statues, and more fan-favorite music tracks have been added to Tails’ Challenges for players to expand collections.

  • New tutorial

    • A fully reworked tutorial level has been added to help new players get to grips with the game. There’s never been a better time to try Sonic Dream Team!

Sonic Dash and Sonic Forces are available on the App Store and Google Play. Sonic Dream Team is available exclusively on Apple Arcade and is playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.

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Hasbro and SEGA Announces New Sonic the Hedgehog x TRANSFORMERS Action Figures

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Today, HASBRO and SEGA announced the all-new Sonic the Hedgehog x TRANSFORMERS mash-up pack of action figures. The collaboration features the new Blue Booster and Wingtail action figures inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog.

The Sonic the Hedgehog x TRANSFORMERS action figures can be pre-ordered starting on December 10 for $49.99 and will be available in Summer 2025. Hit the next section of the article to take a look at the Blue Booster and Wingtail action figures with screenshots and press release information.

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Sonic Rumble Pre-Registration Now Available + Get An Exclusive Movie Sonic Skin

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After several regional tests, Sonic Rumble is now available to pre-register beginning today coincide with the start of store reservations. In this campaign, the rewards players will receive in the game after the official launch will level up according to the number of pre-registrations. The more people who pre-register, the more exciting the items players can get such as the Movie Sonic skin.

The pre-registration period begins today, December 5, 2024 until the official launch. Are you excited to play Sonic Rumble soon? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to pre-register the game on mobile and PC devices.

Pre-Register

Google Play | App Store (iOS version) | Steam

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Internationally Renowned Artist Romero Britto and SEGA Bring an Exciting Art and Consumer Goods’ Collaboration to Miami

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Today, SEGA and internationally famed artist, Romero Britto, are excited to announce they will be teaming up in December 2024 to debut artworks and consumer goods from the BRITTO x Sonic collaboration through a pop-up at Britto’s flagship gallery in Miami, Florida.

On December 7, in Miami, fans will have the opportunity to experience Britto’s vibrant and bold artwork, including a collection of fine art and fun consumer goods from the Sonic collection.

The launch event of the BRITTO x Sonic collaboration in Miami will be held on December 7th, 2024 Saturday, from 6-8PM EST at the Romero Britto Gallery on 1102 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 and will feature the presence of Romero Britto as well as the official Sonic character.

Check out more information on the event by clicking the next section of the article!

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Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Announced for Steam; Launching This Winter

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Virtua Fighter players can finally rejoice as SEGA has made surprising announcement that Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O (based on Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown) is coming to Steam this winter and will provide players an optimized gaming experience in their quest to become the world’s greatest fighter with new features such as:

  • Rollback Netcode support, gorgeous 4K visuals with updated character models, stages, and cinematics.
  • Custom Combatants: Enter the ring with one of 19 playable characters. Master each of their unique fighting styles and customize them with distinctive costumes and items.
  • The Full Experience: Enjoy the pinnacle of Virtua Fighter as you battle it out across your favorite modes like Rank Match, Arcade, Training, and Versus
  • Crush the Competition: Take on challengers from around the world as you compete with up to 16 players in new online modes including Tournaments and League.

Game balance updates will also be reflected in the existing version of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown on PlayStation 4 as a future update. You can wishlist Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O today on Steam. We will update everyone when more news arrives.

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SEGA Releases New High-Octane Update for Sonic Racing on Apple Arcade

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Today, SEGA released a new content update for Sonic Racing, the ultimate high-speed, multiplayer racing experience available exclusively on Apple Arcade. The latest update brings Popstar Amy, Idol Shadow, and new community challenges!

Here is the breakdown on the latest update:

  • A Team that Races Together, Wins Together!

    • Community challenges are now available – work together with the rest of the Sonic Racing community to clear objectives and unlock big rewards.

  • Popstar Amy and Idol Shadow Join the Fun

    • Two new characters enter the race! Players can now unlock Popstar Amy through time trials and unlock Idol Shadow through the new community challenges.

Sonic Racing also had a few updates earlier this year that included new racers Rockstar Rouge and DJ Vector, the addition of time trials, and team combos, which allow players to use special team setups to get powerful abilities like super drift, bonus XP, and more.

Sonic Racing is available now exclusively on Apple Arcade and is playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.

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Hatsune Miku and Godzilla rolls into Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble + Free 2.00 Update Coming On November 26

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SEGA has announced that virtual singer idol, Hatsune Miku, and the King of the Monsters, Godzilla, will be the next set of playable DLC characters for Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. Players can smash the competition as Godzilla, with banana pickups replaced by trains, or groove through various stages as Miku, collecting musical notes instead of bananas. Along with the character DLC, a free 2.00 update will be available to enhance players’ experiences with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. The new features in free 2.00 update will include:

  • NIJSANJI Outfit Set – For Virtual YouTuber fans, the outfit set will include a NIJISANJI UKIUKI Cup logo t-shirt, monkey ball with the NIJISANJI UKIUKI Cup logo emblazoned on it, and costume inspired by Saegusa Akina from NIJISANJI.
  • Super Punchy Brawl – A new multiplayer game that will be added to Battle Mode as part of the 2.00 update. Here, players can send their opponents flying by knocking them off the map with a big boxing glove! Players can use panels scattered around the stage to buff their boxing gloves up to two times to make punches even stronger, increasing the amount of damage caused. They can also store damage from an opponent’s punch up to two times – the more damage stored, the easier it is to knock opponents away. The player with the most points at the end of the round wins! Furthermore, a new stage has been added to the existing Banana Hunt game.
  • Time Attack will now include a new Banana Bonus option where the players can collect bananas to reduce their overall time.
  • The No Miss Challenge tests players to see how far they can survive in Adventure Mode with only one life.
  • Super Speed makes players’ balls roll even faster. Don’t fall off the Stage!
  • Step into the world of your character with Monkey See, where players can see the world from inside their ball!
  • The bravest monkeys can show their skills with even more difficult courses in Ultimate EX stages.
  • Quick retry feature has also been added that allows players to immediately restart a stage without pausing the game. Plus, when you’re playing Adventure Mode with friends, you won’t have to disband your room anymore when going between Worlds.

Hatsune Miku, Godzilla, and the free 2.00 update will all be available on November 26th. Watch the Hatsune Miku and Godzilla reveal trailers by clicking the highlighted links and the next section of the article for screenshots.

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Phantasy Star Tabletop Roleplaying Now Available For Pre-Order + New Details

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If you have been following up with the news on the upcoming Phantasy Star Tabletop Roleplaying game since its announcement, Skydawn Game Studios has now announced a special-pre-order offer for the game. Pre-order your copy today and receive a free PDF of the book and a bonus starter adventure”: The Search for Luveno. This adventure provides a quick-start tutorial on how to play the game and comes with four pre-generated characters from the original Phantasy Star.

Here are some details on the Core Rules for the upcoming tabletop role playing game:

Origins

  • Choose from a range of planetary origins from utopian cities to frozen wastelands or remote space colonies.
  • Shape your lineage and culture from a variety of galactic species such as Human, Newman, Android, Beastkin, Dezolian, or Motavian.

Professions

  • Each persona is trained in one or more professions. Slay marauding bio-monsters as a Hunter. Become an Esper and channel ancient spells and rituals. Or wield specialized tools and techniques as an Agent or Scientist.
  • You can also choose from one of many other available professions such as the Guardian, Warrior, Thief, and more.

Pre-orders for Phantasy Star Tabletop Roleplaying is now available on the website for $69.99 and set to be release for Summer 2025.

 

 

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Topgolf Sonic the Hedgehog Game Launching in Topgolf U.S. Venues

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Attention Sonic the Hedgehog fans and golf players! Sonic are friends are coming to all Topgolf U.S. locations starting Friday, November 15, 2024 with the official launch of the new game, Topgolf Sonic the Hedgehog. Play golf with friends head-to-head in iconic virtual Sonic environments like Green Hill Zone and Sky Sanctuary, while hitting springs, collect rings and destroy Dr. Eggman’s badniks.

The game will be exclusively available for play at Topgolf venues across the U.S. and Glasgow and will roll out across additional Toptracer-enabled franchise venues around the globe in Q1 2025. Developed by Topgolf in partnership with SEGA®, the game is the first venture into the golf entertainment space for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

Check the next section of this article to read the press release for more information on the Topgolf and Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration.

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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – New Game Details, Naval Combat Info Revealed

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SEGA’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has released new details for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, providing a closer look at combat elements such as “dark instruments,” as well as more insight on life on the high seas, including ship customization and tips for emerging victorious in battle!

Taking place after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the game follows Goro Majima as he reclaims his memories, forms his own pirate crew, and conquers the open sea in search of legendary treasure.

Check out the next section of the article for further details and screenshots on battle styles, navel combat, and dark instruments.

Pre-Order on Amazon

Standard Edition: PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X

Collector’s Edition: PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X

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Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Demo Available Today on Steam and PlayStation

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Today ATLUS announced that a free demo for the demon-collecting RPG Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is now available on Steam, and will also be available for PlayStation today at 9pm PT.

In the demo, players can choose between two story paths, the brand-new story “Canon of Vengeance” or the original story from SMTV “Canon of Creation”. Explore a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, now reduced to an expansive wasteland called Da’at that is torn apart by a conflict between angels and demons. Progression from the demo will carry over to the full game, so players can continue their journey right from where they left off. Both story paths can be experienced for those interested in exploring each.

The free demo release follows the patch released earlier this month on all available platforms that includes the following.

  • New Demon Kishin Marici

  • Addition of Fan-selected Demon Navigators (Hell Biker, Idun, Fionn mac Cumhaill, Mothman, Mara, and Cleopatra)

  • The New Elite Difficulty for the Virtual Trainer

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive version of the critically acclaimed RPG, which introduces a new storyline, brand-new characters, a new area to explore, a new dungeon, more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences and currently has a metascore of 90 (PC) and 87 (PS5) on Metacritic as of today.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows.

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SEGA and Louis De Guzman Announce Sonic the Hedgehog Collection

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Today, SEGA announced a new collaborative collection with artist Louis De Guzman in celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog, which will debut this month.

The collection will include a range of apparel and merchandise including t-shirts, a work jacket, fleece sweatshirts, kids tops, a tin lunchbox, and a printed throw pillow. Alongside these goods, the collection will include hyper limited fine art screen prints and collectible sculptures standing at 11.5” tall.

The collaboration will bring an activation to ComplexCon Las Vegas on November 16-17, and will also be included in a retail/gallery pop-up in Chicago from December 10 to 17 where fans can meet the artist, view Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired paintings, take pictures with life size sculptures, and play SEGA’s latest Sonic game, SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS™.

Hit the next section of the article to check out press release and screenshots of the Louis De Guzman x Sonic the Hedgehog collection.

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SEGA Plans to Delist SEGA Classics Games starting December 6th

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This news might be disappointing for SEGA fans who care about the preservation of the companies’ rich history of video games ranging from arcade to consoles, including myself and fellow SEGAbits writers. As of now, SEGA plans to delist a selection of games and bundles from virtual stores across gaming platforms including Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation starting on December 6th at 11:59pm PST.

If you happen to own the games on the following platforms, they will still be available in your library. You can still get them all for very good prices, so be sure not to miss out on the opportunity. Do you all think that this is a bad decision from SEGA or do you think they might have something planned for the titles down the line? Let us know in the comments below and hit the next section of the article to see the list of games that are planned to be delisted.

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