Big changes coming to BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle with version 1.30

A new patch is coming to BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle on Sept. 11, 2018, that will shift the balance of Arc System Works' tag fighting game.

Version 1.30 will bring changes to both BBTag's system, altering which system mechanics affect red health as opposed to normal health along with changes to Clash Assault, Resonance Blaze and Cross Burst.

In addition, each character in BBTag will see balance tweaks, although the number of those changes varies from one or two to more than 10.

Currently, the patch will be ready on Sept. 11 for the PlayStation 4 version of BBTag; there is no information about a Nintendo Switch or PC update at this time. Readers can check out the full list of changes on the official Arc System Works website.

Launch trailer for Tekken 7 Season 2 shows off classic outfits for Lei & Anna, UI changes and more

As we are hours away from Tekken 7 Season 2 arriving, the latest trailer shows off what we should expect after updating the game and getting the first two characters.

For those who prefer not using the latest default outfits for Lei Wulong and Anna Williams, the two have their classic attire as customization options. Other outfits for the first two downloadable characters include a tactical suit for Lei and a pirate-themed dress for Anna.

The trailer also shows off a tease of the balance update, the wall bounce mechanic and the combo assist mode. The user interface also gets improvements such as cleaner character and stage select screens as well as a meter to see your current progress in ranks.

Tekken 7 Season 2 is set to kick off on Sept. 6, 2018, with Lei and Anna available through the season pass or separately. The latter four characters, including Negan, will be coming at a later time.

The trailer can be found after the jump!

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Vulcano Rosso & Pullum now available for free as part of Fighting EX Layer version 1.1.0

Two more Arika-designed characters are now available to play in the company's latest fighting game, along with a new update.

Fighting EX Layer has been updated to version 1.1.0 (app version 1.0.4) which adds Street Fighter EX series characters Vulcano Rosso and Pullum Purna to the current cast. Both characters are available for free as part of the update along with two new stages.

Adjustments were made to the characters, Gougi system and general mechanics as core features of version 1.1.0, along with bug fixes and quality-of-life additions. A full breakdown of the update can be found after the jump.

Fighting EX Layer is available now digitally on the PlayStation Store. A physical version has been announced for the Japanese market with no current plans for the West.

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Next Dissidia character to be revealed on Sept. 11

The next DLC character coming to Dissidia Final Fantasy will be announced on a Square Enix stream in early September 2018.

According to SE, the character will be a male from the later half of the series that has not previously appeared in the Dissidia series. This character will be the fourth of six DLC additions to the cast, joining Vayne Carudas Solidor, Locke Cole and Rinoa Heartilly.

The unveiling will take place on Sept. 11 at 20:00 JST (4 a.m. PDT, 7 a.m. EDT) with an official broadcast from the Square Enix YouTube channel. The stream will also serve as a celebration of the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy arcade game's second anniversary.

If the other characters are any indication, players can look for this new character to be released sometime in October 2018. Dissidia Final Fantasy is currently available in Japanese arcades and on the PlayStation 4 as Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.

Season 2 balances changes for Tekken 7 released

The gameplay changes coming to Tekken 7 when its second season of content launches on Sept. 6 are now live in both Japanese and English. 

There are changes for every character in the game, and the lists range from only a few attacks being affected to large swaths of a fighter's move set being altered.

Currently, both websites are down due to the influx of visitors trying to see what changed for their character, and The Hadou has stated that the U.S. site will likely be hard to use until the morning. Fortunately, Flying Wonkey and KodeeVu have compiled notes on several characters and are sharing information other players screencapped before the sites went down. And for those who can read Japanese, IPLAYWINNER's ThePhantomnaut has uploaded the Japanese PDF to Google Drive for viewing.

Tekken 7 Season 2 begins on Sept. 6, 2018, with the release of the balances changes, Lei Wulong and Anna Williams.

New SNK game to be announced on Sept. 10, 2018

SNK has unveiled a countdown clock that is leading to the reveal of a new game from the company.

The countdown website will expire early in the morning of Sept. 10, 2018, for U.S. audiences and features the tagline "A NEW DAWN RISES."

Rumors have circled in the last couple years about SNK continuing classic franchises with new titles, but nothing concrete has ever materialized up to this point. For now, players are left to guess about what the company will announce in a week's time.

Rayman joins Brawlhalla as first crossover character, releases on Nov. 6

During a Ubisoft stream at PAX West on Sept. 2, it was revealed that Rayman will be joining the cast of Brawlhalla early in November 2018.

Rayman will join the game on Nov. 6, the same day that Brawlhalla will be released on Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.

There is no other information about Rayman or his appearance in the game at this time. Brawlhalla is currently available for Steam and PlayStation 4.

New footage shows off Arcana Blood's console characters

Three new characters will debut as part of the Million Arthur: Arcana Blood cast when it arrives this fall on PlayStation 4, and a recent stream gave players the first glimpse at them in action.

A Japanese Square Enix stream from Aug. 31 replayed the trailers for Koume Sakiyama, Yamaneko (Wildcat) Arthur and Iori Yagami and then also demonstrated the basic gameplay options for each character including movement, special moves and supers.

Readers can check out the video after the jump, which starts in progress with the character trailers. Footage of the three starts roughly one hour and four minutes into the archive.

Million Arthur: Arcana Blood arrives on PlayStation 4 in Japan on Nov. 29, 2018.

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Are Raphael and Cervantes joining Soul Calibur VI?

[Update 9:16 p.m. CDT]: It looks like the photo is real, as footage of the characters in action has appeared online. Check out the video after the jump.

Two more classic Soul Calibur characters are joining the SC6 roster, if a new image leaked online is to be believed.

Avoiding the Puddle posted the image, which was apparently taken from a build that will be used at Melbourne Esports Open on Sept. 1-2, 2018. Raphael sports his classic non-vampire look while Cervantes appears much more undead than he did in earlier Soul Calibur appearances.

It's hard to be sure if this image is real, because both Raphael and Cervantes are characters expected to make the game's roster in one way or another. If the information is correct, however, players should expect an official announcement from Bandai Namco in the coming days, either during Melbourne or at PAX.

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Equinox Gaming signs Joey Fury

Fighting game sponsor and apparel company Equinox has taken another step into the fighting game scene with its addition of Joseph "Joey Fury" Bennett to the team's roster.

Joey Fury has been a mainstay in the upper echelons of Tekken 7 in the U.S. since its release. Through his tournament success he was able to make it to the Tekken World Tour finals in 2017, and he is currently one of only two U.S. players to crack the top 20 in 2018's standings.

Joey is known for his Jack-7 and Paul play, and he joins fellow Tekken player Ji-myung "Dimeback" Jeon as part of EQNX.

In a video for the signing, Joey Fury said he's excited to represent his new team and that Equinox is changing his life because he wouldn't be travel to these different events without the organization's support. Joey had previously been part of Circa Esports, which ceased operations after Evo 2018.

Readers can check out the promo after the jump.

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to receive special edition, Pro Controller

Nintendo has revealed the North American special edition for its upcoming brawler, and the game-themed controller that will come packaged with it.

Details are scarce at the moment, but Nintendo's website shows the game coming in a SteelBook case along with the Smash Bros. version of the Switch Pro Controller. According to Shoryuken, Best Buy currently has the package priced at $139.99, and the Pro Controller will be sold separately as well.

This is a decidedly different take from the European special edition of the game, which will be packaged with a GameCube controller and GameCube controller adapter.

It's odd that Nintendo would offer Smash fans a brand-new controller style when the community plays the game on GameCube controllers, but perhaps Nintendo is hoping to court new fans with Ultimate. 

Cult of personality: Azwel joins Soul Calibur VI

First shown off as part of the game's story mode, the "leader of humanity" Azwel joins the playable cast of characters in SC6.

Azwel fights with the weapon Palindrome, which allows him to create weapons to assault opponents. He also seems to have other mystical abilities which are shown in his move set.

Readers can check out Azwel's trailer after the jump. Soul Calibur VI releases for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on Oct. 19, 2018.

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Thief Arthur of Million Arthur joins SNK Heroines as DLC

[Update Aug. 25, 12:07 p.m. CDT] NIS America has tweeted that Thief Arthur will be available on Sept. 13, 2018.

One of the character from Square Enix's Million Arthur franchise will be making her SNK fighting game debut when she joins the cast of the company's upcoming female brawler as DLC.

Thief Arthur looks to be a close-range fighter with a super very similar to Ibuki's Yami-Shigure in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.

Readers can check out Thief Arthur's trailer, courtesy of NIS America, after the jump (the trailer was first available thanks to Twitter user MechaGS).

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Million Arthur to feature Iori, other guests when it comes home Nov. 29

SNK's Iori Yagami will join the cast of Million Arthur: Arcana Blood when it launches for PlayStation 4 on Nov. 29, 2018, in Japan.

According to Anime FGC News, he will be joined by Lord of Vermillion 4's Koume Sakiyama, Yamaneko (Wildcat) Arthur from the phone MMO HanGyaku-Sei Million Arthur and assist character Akira Oono from High Score Girl. 

The game will come to console a year after its arcade release and cost players 6,980 yen (roughly $62). 

Readers can check out the Iori trailer, courtesy of Twitter user MechaGS, after the jump. There is currently no information as to a North American release for the game at this time.

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New SNK Heroines video shows off various customizations

A recent Japanese stream of the forthcoming all-women SNK fighter showed more of what players can expect from the game's customization mode upon release.

The stream for SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy featured the voice actresses of Love Heart, Mai Shiranui and Shermie as well as the game's Mysterious Benefactor. During the 25-minute clip uploaded by SNK, the guests showcase various pieces of clothing and dress their fighters, then battle it out in matches.

Readers can check out the footage after the jump. SNK Heroines comes to Switch and PlayStation 4 in North America on Sept. 7, 2018.

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The remaining arcade-exclusive customization items coming home for Tekken 7 Season Two

While players can expect six characters as well as a balance patch in Tekken 7 Season Two, players who get the upcoming season pass will also receive some added bonuses.

Those bonuses include additional customization items that were previously exclusive to T7's arcade counterpart: Tekken 7 Fated Retribution. The most notable addition is the inclusion of clothing, hair, player panels and other accessories from Bandai Namco Entertainment's PlayStation VR game Summer Lesson. New hit effects such as one featuring characters in a dot character format and another featuring various chicken sprites will also be added.

Exclusive to the season pass are promotional clothes for the Tekken World Tour. Most characters, sans Kuma and Panda, are able to equip t-shirts featuring the TWT logo. The bears will have some TWT-style accessories though. While not planned with this season pass, Noctis will get a TWT-branded version of his Fighting King's Rainment outfit in the coming future.

This is confirmed at least for owners of the home versions of Tekken 7 in Japan. Judging by the arcade items included for free during Tekken 7's one year anniversary on home platforms, it's very likely owners outside Japan will get the Season Two bonuses. For pictures on what to expect, check Avoiding the Puddle's post on it.

Tekken 7 Season Two will begin on Sept. 6, 2018, with Lei Wulong, Anna Williams and a balance patch immediately available.

Nacon announces Daija Arcade Stick for PS4 at Gamescom 2018, coming Fall 2018 in Europe

[Update Aug. 23 2:00am PDT]: The Daija stick does carry Sanwa Denshi parts according to Kayane.

European peripherals manufacturer Nacon is joining the arcade stick fray with its own design.

Called the Daija Arcade Stick, this product is a change for Nacon, who is more commonly associated for its third-party controllers for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as PC accessories. This will work for PS4, PlayStation 3 and PC.

The stick has a box-like aesthetic with a noticeable hand rest just below the main panel as well as a grille pattern on the side. The main panel seems that it can be customizable to allow custom artwork. The right side, which includes special controls, also features a red button that likely allow players instant access to the Daija's internals. It also features headset support. As for the stick's parts, it's currently unknown what it will offer but the box does hint that the Daija will possibly be using those from Sanwa Denshi.

This was announced at Gamescom 2018 in Cologne, Germany. Along with promotion from Nacon themselves, French player Marie-Laure "Kayane" Norindr was also promoting the stick.

According to Kayane, the Daija Arcade Stick is planned for a Fall 2018 release in Europe for €199.99. She also mentioned that there are plans to release it outside the region.

Are you happy now? Tira joins the cast of Soul Calibur VI as DLC

[Update Aug. 22, 6:43 p.m. CDT]: According to Bandai Namco, "Tira will be included in the Season Pass as a bonus character whenever you purchase it, and she will also be available as a day-one standalone DLC." She will not be a preorder bonus.

The stance-changing master of the Ring Blade will yet again fight on the stage of history, but this time as downloadable content for Soul Calibur VI.

According to Avoiding the Puddle, Tira will be available both as a preorder bonus and as part of the game's season pass, so players will have multiple ways to get ahold of the character. First appearing in SCIII, Tira's swapping between "Jolly" and "Gloomy" stances made her a very interesting addition to the SC cast.

Readers can check out Tira's trailer after the jump. Soul Calibur VI launches on Oct. 19, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

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New arcade location test footage of SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy from Aug. 18-19

With SNK's all-female tag team fighting game nearing its early September release date on home platforms, footage of the arcade version's second location test in Japan has appeared.

Fukuoka-based arcade G-Stage Nanakuma streamed hours worth of SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy. They were one of the four chosen places to be part of the Aug. 18-19 test. Despite the rough game capture, the stream archives did show how Japanese players were treating this game so far. You can find the videos after the jump.

Other locations from the test included Sapporo's MAXIM HERO, Tokyo's Taito Station Ikebukuro West and Kobe's Playground Magical. Location test participants received a special promotional card.

SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy will be available for Switch and PlayStation 4 on Sept. 7, 2018. The release date for the arcade version is to be determined but will be powered by Taito's NESiCAxLive 2 digital distribution arcade service.

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Leifang and Hitomi announced for Dead or Alive 6

The "T'ai Chi Ch'uan Prodigy" and "Fist of Innocence" will make their returns in DOA6 as the two were officially announced by Koei Tecmo on Aug. 20.

Hitomi returns for her fourth game, joining the cast in Dead or Alive 3, while Leifang has featured in every game in the DOA series. Both will be featured along with a new stage at Gamescom in Germany on Aug. 21- 25, 2018.

Readers can check out the trailer for both characters below. Their additions bring the total number of characters revealed for DOA6 to 10 at this time.

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