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ID@Xbox, Microsoft’s indie games wing, is teaming up with Twitch to host its first Indie Showcase on March 26. Xbox is promising over 100 games at the event including new debut trailers and gameplay for titles like STALKER 2, Second Extinction, and more.

The ID@Xbox Indie Showcase will premiere on Friday, March 26 at 9 am PT/12 pm ET and will be hosted exclusively on Twitch. Xbox is promising over 100 games total from indie developers worldwide, including from well-known developers like Devolver Digital, DrinkBox, Curve Digital, and more.

Over 25 game reveals and gameplay trailers will also be at the event, though Xbox only names a handful like STALKER 2, Second Extinction, The Ascent, The Wild at Heart, Voidtrain, and Exo One. Though Xbox’s promo image includes games like 12 Minutes.

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This is an indie-focused event, and while some notable titles like STALKER 2 will be present, there will not likely be any reveals from Xbox Game Studios or the newly-acquired Bethesda here. Xbox confirmed there will be a summer event that will have more news from Bethesda, so hold tight.

ID@Xbox is responsible for bringing some of Xbox’s more beloved indie and AA titles to the platform including games like Outlast, Superhot, and Warframe. And with titles like STALKER 2 announced to be at the show, there could be some big surprises still.

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Matt T.M. Kim is News Editor at IGN.

Alongside revealing that Scarlet Nexus will be released on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on June 25, 2021, Bandai Namco has announced that there is currently a Scarlet Nexus anime in development as well.

Bandai Namco shared a trailer focused on Kasane Randall with this news, which gives another glimpse at one of the two playable characters in Scarlet Nexus. As previously revealed, Kasane and the other protagonist, Yuito Sumeragi, will each have their own campaign that will let players experience the story from two different points of view.

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Kasane is a “mysterious scout whose power and skill has gained notoriety among the OSF,” while Yuito is “an energetic recruit from a prestigious political family.”

The Scarlet Nexus anime is set to release worldwide this summer, and will feature both Yuito and Kasane. The series is being produced by Sunrise Inc. and will be broadcast in the US on Funimation.

“Link your minds, unlock the future. In 2020 of the solar calendar, grotesque organisms called Others have begun eating people,” The official description reads. “To take down this new enemy, the Other Suppression Force is formed. Saved by this elite team as a child, psychokinetic Yuito enlists, bravely withstanding the training. On the other hand, prodigy Kasane was scouted for her abilities. But Kasane’s dreams tell her strange things, dragging the two into an unavoidable fate.”

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For more on Scarlet Nexus, check out our first-look preview and and how the game looks to use RPG elements alongside action.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Square Enix’s surprising side-step into the world of battle royale with Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier is an effort to reach out to players who are not traditional fans of the JRPG series, says FF7 Remake creative director Tetsuya Nomura.

Talking to Famitsu, Nomura said “the fan demographics for long running IP series do tend to become quite fixed, making it something of a challenge for us to appeal outside of that existing fan group.”

“I think that many in the core audience for [the battle royale genre] will not know about FFVII or maybe even never have played a Final Fantasy game at all,” he continued. “I do want people to discover an interest in the world of FFVII from this game.”

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Nomura admits that Square Enix has no real experience in the battle royale field, but intends on ensuring that The First Soldier is done with “no half measures”. He notes that the project’s producer, Shoichi Ichikawa, is a big player of battle royale games and will provide the expertise, while Nomura himself will only provide “inexpert feedback”.

“I can safely make my reckless proposals, knowing that [Ichikawa-san] is there to keep them in check,” he said.

From Nomura’s perspective, the main focus of The First Soldier will be on gameplay and balance. While little is known of the details of how The First Soldier will play, Nomura reveals that it uses a Job system, influenced by classic Final Fantasy games. These job “styles” will provide unique skills and abilities, and so sound akin to the characters of Apex Legends.

For more from Final Fantasy 7, check out Nomura’s latest comments on plans for FF7 Remake DLC, as well as the reveal of the PS5 version, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

The hunting game The Hunter: Call of the Wild, from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studio’s sister developer Expansive Worlds, is adding a hunting dog as DLC. The Bloodhound dog is coming soon to the hunting game across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC as a $4 USD DLC pack.

Known for its excellent sense of smell and tracking instincts, bloodhounds have been used in real-world hunting for a long time. In the game, the hound will help you track animal blood as you hunt down prey.

Expansive Worlds boss Sacha Karsenty said in a statement that adding a hunting dog was one of the top-requested features from fans since the game launched in 2017.

“With the Bloodhound DLC, we’re incredibly excited to bring one of the most requested features to life, and give players the opportunity to hunt alongside this gentle, yet incredibly effective scent hound,” Karsenty said.

Expansive Worlds recorded the movements of “fantastic real-life dogs” in a studio using motion-capture technology to make the bloodhound look as real as possible in the game.

“Thanks to their amazing performances, we’re able to bring animations to life with even more realism and deliver the experience our players have come to expect,” Karsenty said.

Throughout the DLC, your dog will earn experience points that can be spent on improving tracking skills and other “companion attributes.” Forming a bond with your dog is important, too. Petting it, giving it treats, and being nice to it will help strengthen your bond. What’s more, the dog can be male or female and you can customize its coat. In total, you can have more than 20 dogs in your roster.

Help me out here for some market research. Q: Would you be interested in buying an Xbox Mini-Fridge if we made one for sale?

— Aaron Greenberg 🙅🏼‍♂️💚U (@aarongreenberg) October 28, 2020

Scarlet Nexus is coming on June 25, according to a new trailer from Bandai Namco, but that’s not the only way you’ll be able to access the sci-fi world. Alongside the release date, Funimation announced an anime spin-off coming this summer as well.

The game’s release date was announced in a new Kasane story trailer. That will be the date for the game on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

The end of the trailer, as well as a separate anime trailer, notes that it will have a simultaneous release with the TV animation, so the June 25 date goes for the anime as well.

The anime series will be available on the Funimation service in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, and Ireland. France, Germany, Russia, and Nordic countries can access it through the Wakanim service, and Australia and New Zealand will find it on Animelab.

Scarlet Nexus is an action-RPG revolving around dual protagonists Yuito and Kasane, who use a blade and kunai, respectively. The anime appears to explore both characters’ pasts as they started their training to become a part of the Other Suppression Force, and the paranormal things that happen to them in the process.

GTA Online‘s latest update is all about arena combat for the next week, as players will be able to bank double the amount of cash, Reputation Points, and Arena Points for engaging in legalized mayhem. Every Arena event from Bomb Ball to Wreck IT will pay out double rewards according to Rockstar’s latest blog post, and Arena Workshop owners can also add the Vertical Jump ability to any Arena vehicle free of charge this week.

Double Rewards in Rhino Hunt

Rhino Hunt is a simple game of survival, provided that you can endure three minutes of pursuers in off-road vehicles hurling sticky bombs at your heavily-armored tank. Taking part in this event this week will result in players from both sides of the competition earning double the usual payout of cash and Reputation Points.

Double rewards on special vehicle work

Players who complete a series of Vehicle Cargo Missions can access the SecuroServ computer in their office, which gives them access to a series of special vehicle work missions. Complete these before March 24 and you’ll walk away with double rewards for all your hard work.

Unlock the Brute Heavy-Duty Tee

Jump into GTA Online this week and you’ll unlock a free Brute Heavy Duty T-shirt.

On the podium this week: Pfister Comet SR

If the odds are in your favor, you can stop by the Diamond Casino & Resort’s lobby to spin the Lucky Wheel. You’ll stand a chance to win cash, Reputation Points, and possibly even the grand prize of a Pfister Comet SR sports car.

GTA Online Weekly Deals

This week’s discounts include savings on Arena workshops, upgrades, and a selection of high-performance vehicles for use in the deadly pit of the Arena such as the Annis ZR380 and the Western Deathbike.

• Arena vehicle vertical jump upgrade — Free
• Arena HVY Scarab — 30% discount
• Arena Bravado Scarab — 30% discount
• Arena Vapid Slamvan — 30% discount
• Arena Declasses Impaler — 30% discount
• Declasse Tulip — 40% discount
• Benefactor Schlagen GT — 40% discount
• Schyster Deviant — 40% discount
• Weaponized Dinghy — 40% discount
• Mammoth Squaddie — 40% discount

Rare’s swashbuckling pirate adventure game Sea of Thieves continues to set records. The game has now passed 20 million players since its release three years ago this month, Microsoft has announced.

In a blog post, the developer said Sea of Thieves is only just getting started, with plans for 2021 to be the game’s biggest year yet. The developer did not elaborate on its plans, however.

While you have to wait for that, the final update for Sea of Thieves season one is out now, and it features a new Vault Raiders event that kicks off on March 25. There is also a new ROFL emote that players can pick up for free, while there will be an Emporium sale to mark the anniversary.

Additionally, Rare is celebrating the milestone and the game’s third anniversary with a series of freebies and events. Everyone who logs in between now and March 25 will get the Prosperous Captain’s Sails as a free gift for their ship. Game Pass members will get the Jump for Joy emote if they log in between now and March 21.

In another nice perk, Game Pass Ultimate members will receive the Ocean Crawler bundle, which they can claim anytime between now and June 18.

For those who haven’t started with Sea of Thieves yet, they can grab the game for half-off this weekend only, running March 18-21. The game is also included with Game Pass on PC and console.

What’s more, Rare is holding a “Gold and Glory Weekend” event that runs March 19-22, during which players will earn double gold and Trading Company reputation, as well as extra seasonal renown.

Finally, the last of the season one bonuses for Twitch partners are now available, until March 23. These include more Gilded Phoenix equipment and a new Hornpipe dance emote.

Although Sea of Thieves is three years old, the game is still growing. In fact, January 2021 was the game’s biggest month ever in terms monthly active users.