Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo now available on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox

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Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know the demo is finally out! It covers the first two chapters, and the best part is, any progress you make will carry over when the full game launches. Big thanks to Nova Crystallis for giving me the heads-up! If you’re curious about how the game might look on the Switch 2, check out James’ thoughts on it – I’ve linked it here. You can download the demo now on Xbox and Switch 2 (it’s available in both Europe and North America).

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Nintendo Switch 2 release is shaping up to a pretty good start, going by the demo

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Let’s clarify a few things first. We only had a chance to play the game in handheld mode before the demo came out, so our initial thoughts are based on about half of the total experience. However, we believe no handheld device will consistently run the game above 30 frames per second, even with streaming, and the Switch 2 seems to perform surprisingly well given that. We did notice some minor slowdowns in towns, but generally the game maintains its 30 FPS target during key moments. Importantly, despite aiming for 30 FPS, the game’s controls feel very responsive. Having recently played a similar game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which had noticeable input lag, we were impressed by how well Rebirth handles this.

Raidou Vs Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Special Live concert announced for Japan

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Tickets are now available through a lottery system until May 10th at 11:59 PM Japan Standard Time. Visit the official website for more details. The concert will be held at Yokohama Bay Hall on August 23rd, followed by a separate fan meeting event. Please note these are two distinct events happening on the same day. You can watch the announcement video for the Raidou Vs Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Special Live concert below.

Store fights Pokemon scalpers with a mandatory quiz

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Okay, so I just heard about this and it’s amazing! If you’re planning to flip Pokemon cards at Bic Camera in Ikebukuro, you’re going to have to prove you’re a real fan first. Someone named Ryo Saeba shared a picture of a notice saying they’re making everyone take a Pokemon quiz before they can even buy the cards. It’s a great way to stop scalpers, honestly!

Bitmine’s Ethereal Plunge: 5M ETH and a Sea of Red Ink

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Bitmine, with the fervor of a lepidopterist chasing a rare moth, has amassed its hoard of ETH at an average price surpassing $3,600 per token. Meanwhile, Ethereum, like a wayward comet, orbits the market at a mere $2,300. The gap, one might say, is as wide as the chasm between a poet’s ambition and his bank account.

Xenosaga: Pied Piper launches April 30 for Steam and Nintendo Switch in Japan

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The game Xenosaga: Pied Piper is now available as part of the G-Mode Archives+ collection. Originally released in Japan for Vodafone flip phones in July 2004, it later came to the i-mode platform in July 2006. The game is a prequel to Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, taking place a hundred years earlier, and features the character Ziggy. You can watch the trailer for Xenosaga: Pied Piper below.

Japan’s Yen Rises, Bitcoin Falls: A Tale of Two Currencies

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The Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision on Tuesday, a masterclass in bureaucratic indecision, has sparked wild speculation about a rate hike by the end of the second quarter, much to the delight of market analysts who thrive on such chaos. The yen, that most fickle of currencies, is now dancing with glee, while Bitcoin, ever the tragic figure, laments its woes.