Final Fantasy 7 fans have been clamoring for more details after last month’s announcement of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, a remaster of 2007’s Crisis Core, and today Square Enix’s Twitter gave us a tiny taste of what we can expect to see in the full game.

According to Square, the Zack Fair-centric game will differ from the original in several ways including an improved camera and character models.

In last month’s trailer, we got a glimpse at the fast and frantic combat as well as the much-improved character models. The game is using the new designs for Aerith and Zack from Final Fantasy 7 Remake as well as improving other character models.

Players will also get an optimized UI as well as a new menu-based battle system. While details on the battle system haven’t been revealed yet, the glimpses we’ve gotten of the battle system don't appear to be too far off from the original and still include the slot-machine-like DMW system.

The Final Fantasy 7 compilation has always included some great music, and the Crisis Core remaster will include new background music arrangements by Takeharu Ishimoto. The remaster will also feature voiceovers in scenes that were previously text only.

Crisis Core originally released back in 2007 on the PSP. It serves as a prequel to Final Fantasy 7 and follows Zack Fair on his journey to find missing SOLDIER Genesis Rhapsodos. In our original review we gave it an 8.5/10 and said, “Crisis Core is a great PSP game -- no question. It honors Final Fantasy VII's legacy."

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion will release this winter and is now available for preorder.

Casey is a freelance writer for IGN. You can usually find him talking about JRPGs on Twitter at @caseydavidmt.

Rockstar Games reportedly shelved planned remakes, including Red Dead Redemption and GTA 4, to focus on the upcoming GTA 6. This is after Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition was released to negative reviews from critics and fans alike,

According to a prominent leaker and reported by Kotaku. Both Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto 4 remasters were "on the table a few years ago, but Rockstar chose not to proceed with the projects in mind."

However, according to Kotaku, these projects weren't fully canceled and could possibly see a return to development after GTA 6 releases.

As per a reliable source with clear accuracy on Rockstar plans, remasters of GTA IV & RDR1 were on the table a few years ago, but Rockstar chose not to proceed with the projects in mind.

The poor reception of the Trilogy DE might be a reason behind that decision.#GTAIV #RDR1

— Tez2 (@TezFunz2) July 4, 2022

Tez attributed the cancellation of these remakes to the especially poor reception of last year's GTA Trilogy remaster, which received a 5 in IGN’s review for its sloppy redesign and "straight-up broken" mechanics.

The studio is now focusing on GTA 6, which was confirmed to be in development earlier this year. Though it's already been announced, fans shouldn't expect a wave of news about the title for a while, as Rockstar plans to reveal details about the game on its own schedule. It's possible that GTA 6 won't come out until 2024 or 2025, and even then, it'll reportedly have a smaller size with plans for post-launch updates to help eliminate crunch.

Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.

It was reported yesterday that the trademark for the Intellivision Amico had been abandoned, spurring speculation that development on the console has ceased. Now, the company's CEO says work on the system is ongoing and that the trademark is very much alive.

In an email sent to IGN from Intellivision CEO Phil Adam, the company says that it is "still working on the console" and that the United States Patent and Trademark Office "is usually pretty slow in updating."

Adam provided IGN a screenshot of the Intellivision Amico trademark listed as "live" as of this morning, which IGN confirmed. The filing date for the trademark is listed as June 30, 2022.

The Intellivision Amico is a successor to the Intellivision home console from the 1980s. The new system will utilize a remote control style interface with a touchscreen and charging dock. The plan is for the system to feature a library of new, family-friendly games, some of which are developed by teams who created games for the original Intellivision.

However, the console has faced numerous delays since it was announced in 2018, and original CEO Tommy Tallarico stepped down earlier this year with former chief revenue officer Phil Adam taking over the position.

But for now, at least according to the company, the Intellivision Amico is still in the works.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Additional reporting by Joe Skrebels.

Ubisoft has been a bit quiet this summer, but the company plans to return to the spotlight when it debuts a Skull and Bones Ubisoft Forward in July followed by another showcase in September with new reveals and updates on several games its studios have been working on.

In a blog post, Ubisoft announced that on July 7 there will be a Skull and Bones spotlight with in-depth look at the upcoming open-world pirate game. Then on September 10 at 12 pm PT/3 pm ET, a new Ubisoft Forward "returns in full force, ready to reveal updates and news on multiple games and projects from Ubisoft teams around the world."

While Ubisoft has been ramping up the launch of Skull and Bones, we know there are still several franchises and games we haven't heard from in a while, including Assassin's Creed. The latest reports suggest Ubisoft is working on creating a live-service, evolving Assassin's Creed game.

There are also other franchises like Far Cry, Watchdogs, Rainbow Six, and more that we could potentially hear from at the event, as well as the delayed-again Prince of Persia Remake.

Ubisoft already revealed the next Mario + Rabbids at the latest Nintendo Direct. For everything else announced over the summer, check out IGN's Summer of Gaming hub.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Games With Gold program will no longer include Xbox 360 games starting in October.

In an email to users (as reproduced on Reddit), Microsoft says, "Beginning October 1, 2022, the monthly games provided to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live Gold members via Games with Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 titles.

"We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalog; however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month. This will not impact any Xbox 360 games that you downloaded before October 2022. Any Xbox 360 titles that you redeem via Games with Gold before that time are yours to keep on your Xbox account, regardless of whether you continue your subscription."

Games With Gold usually contains two Xbox One games and two Xbox 360 games that subscribers can download for free each month. However, during some months, one of the Xbox 360 games is replaced with an original Xbox title, such as July 2021 did with Conker: Live & Reloaded.

Whether the company substitutes the two Xbox 360 games with two additional Xbox One games, or simply downsizes Games With Gold to just two Xbox One titles is currently unknown.

Microsoft has slowly been consolidating its subscription services – Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes Xbox Live Gold, for example. Back in 2020, Microsoft confirmed that it had no plans to discontinue Xbox Live Gold despite putting an end to 12-month subscription options.

This month's Games With Gold line-up includes Beasts of Maravilla Island, Relicta, Thrillville: Off the Rails, and Torchlight.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey

Google has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit with small app developers who alleged the tech giant violated federal antitrust laws.

As reported by Reuters, Google will pay $90 million, to be split between US-based app developers. The lawsuit claimed that the Google Play Store's policies forced developers to use the storefront's billing system, which imposed a 30 percent fee on all transactions As a response to the lawsuit, Google announced back in 2021 that it would only charge developers a 15 percent fee on the first million dollars of revenue earned from the Google Play Store each year.

In a blog post detailing the settlements, Wilson White, Google VP of Government Affairs & Public Policy, notes that the $90 million Google agrees to pay to settle the lawsuit would be put towards a fund. Should the court approve the proposed settlement, access to the fund will be made available to app developers that generated $2 million or less in annual revenue between 2016 through 2021.

"A vast majority of U.S. developers who earned revenue through Google Play will be eligible to receive money from this fund, if they choose," White notes in the blog post. "If the Court approves the settlement, developers that qualify will be notified and allowed to receive a distribution from the fund."

The lawsuit follows a similar one aimed at Apple, which was settled in August 2021, where the iPhone maker agreed to pay $100 million to US app developers. That settlement also saw Apple clarifying its policies, allowing iOS developers to now reach out to customers and inform them about payment options offered outside of the App Store (and bypassing Apple's 30 percent App Store fee).

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

EA's Battlefield series will seemingly return to including single player campaigns, according to a new job listing at the publisher's Seattle-based studio.

While we already knew that Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto was leading a Battlefield universe project at the Seattle studio, the job listing for a design director specifically mentions the creation of "a new Battlefield campaign".

As reported by VGC, the design director will be responsible for "creating a best-in-class single player campaign experience" with a "player-first mentality, motivated by a passionate aim to understand and serve the players who are engaged with the game". The ideal candidate must have a "passion and understanding of single player campaigns and how to innovate within that space."

Battlefield 2042 - the latest game in the series that has had a fairly turbulent post-release period - didn't feature a campaign at all, while other recent entries such as Battlefield V have opted for shorter single player portions or multiplayer-blended campaigns.

The job listing therefore suggests that EA will be backtracking on this somewhat, though it is still unclear exactly what this new project will entail. According to the job listing, the Seattle studio, which was only founded in late 2021, "is focused on building rich, exciting stories with memorable characters and powerful experiences all in the Battlefield universe."

This matches sentiments from Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella in December that EA is now looking to create a "connected Battlefield universe" that explores different routes and business models - perhaps one of which is a dedicated single player project.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan will be the cover star of NBA 2K23's special editions and 2K is bringing back the iconic Jordan Challenges to celebrate. The publisher also confirmed a September 9 release date and announced the six-time NBA champion will grace the covers of the aptly named Michael Jordan Edition and the limited Championship Edition.

Jordan was chosen not only because 2K23 matches his iconic jersey number but also, 2K said, because his spirit matches the theme of this year's MyPlayer campaign mode: Answer the Call. "After making 23 the most recognizable number in sports, it was only fitting that for NBA 2K23 we introduce the Michael Jordan Edition," said Alfie Brody, vice president of global marketing strategy for NBA 2K.

While the prices of these editions wasn't revealed - nor the standard edition's cover star - last year's special edition (likely the Michael Jordan edition tier) was $99.99 compared to the standard's price of $59.99/$69.99 depending on the console generation.

The Championship Edition, however, is a brand new tier of NBA 2K editions that comes with a year's subscription to NBA League Pass, which grants access to every actual, real-life NBA game on TV. Given this is $50 by itself, those looking to buy this most expensive edition should expect a hefty price hike.

2K hasn't revealed too much else about what comes in each edition but did confirm that the iconic Jordan Challenges from NBA 2K11 will make a return in this year's game. The Jordan Challenges were a series of ten, well, challenges where players had to recreate defining moments of Jordan's career.

There will be a slight upgrade of 15 different challenges in 2K23, however, pulling moments from Jordan's NBA career with the Chicago Bulls alongside his Team USA playtime. All ten original challenges will be rebuilt from the ground up and feature alongside the remaining five in their own game mode.

2K23 will mark Jordan's fourth appearance on an NBA 2K cover, first appearing in 2K11 (alongside the original Jordan Challenges), then 2K12, followed by the 2K16 Special Edition.

2K promised that more details will arrive soon, while a deeper look at the Jordan Challenges will be released sometime this summer.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

The second round of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in July has now been announced. Included in the new selection is Watch Dogs 2, As Dusk Falls, MotoGP 22, Inside, Torment: Tides of Numenera, and Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation.

This latest selection of titles adds to the previous wave of games get introduced into the Game Pass library earlier in the month, including Far Cry 5, Yakuza 0, Last Call BBS, and more. You can see everything included on Xbox Game Pass in July below.

As Dusk Falls Is On Xbox Game Pass From July 19

As Dusk Falls is coming to Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, and cloud gaming on July 19. It is a Day One release for the service, and you can read IGN's full 9/10 review here.

"As Dusk Falls is a masterwork of branching storytelling that makes the best out of its comic book-style animations, which end up giving you the opportunity to fill the negative space with your imagination – and this works surprisingly well during some of the more intense scenes."

Everything Coming to Xbox Game Pass This Month

This is the complete list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in July 2022.

• Far Cry 5 (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Last Call BBS (PC) — Available Now
• Yakuza 0 (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Yakuza Kiwami (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• DJMAX Respect V (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Matchpoint (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Road 96 (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Escape Academy (Console, PC) — Available Now
• My Friend Peppa Pig (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• Overwhelm (PC) — Available Now
• PAW Patrol The Movie (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• PowerWash Simulator (Console, PC, Cloud) — Available Now
• As Dusk Falls (Cloud, Console, and PC) — July 19
• Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation (PC) ID@Xbox — July 19
• Watch Dogs 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) — July 19
• MotoGP 22 (Cloud, Console, and PC) — July 21
• Torment: Tides of Numenera (Cloud and Console) — July 21
• Inside (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox — July 29

Watch Dogs 2 Is Coming to Xbox Game Pass Soon

Watch Dogs 2 is the latest Ubisoft game to hit Xbox Game Pass, and continues a trend of Ubisoft titles coming to game subscription services like Game Pass or the new PS Plus tiers. Watch Dogs 2 will hit consoles, PC, and cloud gaming from July 19.

Every Yakuza Game Is Now Back On Xbox Game Pass

Now that Yakuza 0, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 are back on Xbox Game Pass, that means that the entire Yakuza catalogue is now back on the service. Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon are all available to play on Xbox Game Pass right now. With this new reunion, it's now much easier to jump in and play the entire Yakuza series with ease.

Everything Leaving Game Pass in July 2022

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library by July 31, so if you want to keep playing them you'll need to finalise a purchase before they leave.

• Atomicrops (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Carrion (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Children of Morta (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Cris Tales (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lethal League Blaze (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Dodgeball Academia (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Katamari Damacy Reroll (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lumines Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Omno (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Raji: An Ancient Epic (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Best Game Pass Deal Right Now: 2-Years of Game Pass Ultimate for $135 (Save $224)

First up, your Game Pass subscription must not currently be active - I repeat, you must not have an active Game Pass for this to work. Once you're confident, proceed to the next step.

Next, you need to invest in up to 3-years worth of Xbox Live Gold. You can easily buy 12-month Xbox Live Gold codes from Amazon or other retailers, costing $60/£50 depending on your region.

I Recommend Stacking 2-Years of Xbox Live Gold

The maximum amount of stacking for Gold subscriptions is 36-months (costing $180), any more than that will be lost. So, to keep things safe for those who currently have a Gold membership, I recommend sticking to just 2-years' worth (costing $120/£100).

Now, here's the fun part. Once you've redeemed these codes and stacked your Xbox Live Gold membership up to your liking, you can then convert this time to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at a 1:1 ratio.

Head to the Xbox Live Gold upgrade page and proceed to convert the time you've paid for directly into Game Pass Ultimate. If you've never used the upgrade feature before, this will cost $1/£1 (total cost coming to $121/£101). If you have used this before, it will instead cost you $14.99/£10.99 to upgrade.

Overall, at most, you'll be paying only $135 for 2-years of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (instead of $359). If you manage to pull off a 3-year conversion, at most you'll be paying $195 instead (instead of $539). Now that's a big discount. Once you're done, just make sure you turn off auto renewal as well.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Dark Horse Comics continues to expand on the characters and world of Cyberpunk 2077. The publisher recently debuted their newest spinoff comic, dubbed Cyberpunk 2077: Blackout, and now IGN can debut an exclusive preview of the second chapter.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at Blackout #2, from writer Bartosz Sztybor and artist Roberto Ricci:

Blackout follows a beleaguered protagonist named Arturo, who works as a braindance repairman. The wealthy citizens of Night City pay good money for these customized dreams, but when a citywide blackout leaves all braindance machines on the fritz, Arturo finally snaps and hatches a scheme of his own. Can a technician who literally makes dreams come true launch the ultimate heist?

Here's Dark Horse's official summary of Cyberpunk 2077: Blackout #2:

Arturo's heist scheme is set in motion-all he needs is a team-a trusted cyberpunk, the best driver in Night City, and an unlikely ally within one of the city's most corrupt institutions. Choices have consequences, but this time, the choice is his.

Cyberpunk 2077: Blackout #2 is priced at $3.99 and will release in print and digital forms on Wednesday, July 6.

The Cyberpunk franchise continues to expand in other directions in 2022. The anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners hits Netflix in September, and we recently got our first look at the intro sequence. There's even a board game in the works called Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.