Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier is a battle royale prequel for the seventh game that is a new adventure on mobile platforms. This move wasn't the biggest hit for some, but a recent interview with Tetsuya Nomura reveals more on why this project was important for the franchise and what it will have to offer, in addition to more details about Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis. 

Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier

In a recent piece by Famitsu, Nomura mentioned that First Soldier is an attempt to widen the gaming audience beyond just fans of the Final Fantasy series. As translated using a free translation tool, "The First Soldier isn't limited to "FFVII, but the long-lasting IP fanbase has been fixed, and on the contrary, to be able to appeal to other fanbases has become an issue for us. I have a strong feeling that I can't get fid of the big sign 'FFVII' and I am developing Final Fantasy VII: The First Solider with the spirit of participating in the hottest genre as a full challenger." 

He also added that this isn't meant to be just a mobile grab, the team that worked on Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier wants to have an enjoyable and visually stunning mobile experience that goes beyond what we know about this beloved franchise. Will it be for everyone? No, battle royale games will never be everyone's cup of tea, but it does aim to introduce new players into the realm of Final Fantasy while also offering up a different way to experience this universe. 

The First Soldier will integrate elements from the Final Fantasy franchise in terms of "jobs" to suit different playstyles within this series. Each style has its own unique set of abilities and skills and these can be prepped ahead of every battle in First Soldier. 

There is a closed beta test for First Soldier in the near future, but dates haven't been revealed at this time. 

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis 

Regarding the other mobile experience, Ever Crisis, Nomura confirms that every chapter will be free-to-play but that there will be microtransactions in-game for weapons and equipment.

Since Ever Crisis is a single-player experience that is meant to cover the entire FFVII timeline, there is a lot of ground to cover (especially from the original version of the game) which means the story has been compressed in some ways.  He added that the original Final Fantasy VII storyline is summarized in "about 10 chapters" and will have the escape from Midgar happen in chapter 3. Ever Crisis will also have original episodes from Final Fantasy VII as well as an expansion on the story behind First Soldier. This is an added component to the Final Fantasy VII experience while staying true, in many ways, to the original stories told. 

More information about Final Fantasy VII: Remake Part 2, Intergrade, Ever Crisis, and Future Soldier will be coming out in the coming months. What are you the most excited to see? Are you feeling warm on the mobile experiences? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

[Source: Famitsu via Nibel]

The Xbox Game Pass is a phenomenal (and affordable) subscription service that gives players immediate access to a plethora of titles at no additional cost. That being said, a common complaint is that the Xbox Game Pass on PC is severely lacking when comparing it to its original console counterpart. Luckily for PC Game Pass holders, that's about to change because over 60 EA titles are making their way onto the Xbox Game Pass PC library starting tomorrow. 

EA Play has already integrated previously with Xbox and Steam, but now it's converging with the PC version of Xbox Game Pass as well. Starting tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Pacific, Xbox Game Pass PC and Ultimate members will be able to enjoy EA Play on Windows 10 at no additional cost outside of the Game Pass monthly fee. 

So what does this mean for you, dear player? Well, it means that over 60 EA titles are making their way into your library for free, including the well-received Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order single-player experience from Respawn, Star Wars: Squadrons, The Sims, a wide variety of sports games, Titanfall 2, and more. 

There will also be rewards each month for your favorite games. For March, these rewards include: 

• Gold Team Fantasy MUT packs for Madden 21
• EA Play Celebration Pack for Madden 21
• An N7 Weapon Charm for Apex Legends
• And a few unannounced surprises

Members-only content will also be available for Game Pass owners, including challenges, rewards, and special discounts on games and DLC. Early access trial periods will also be available, much like they have been in the past for EA Play members. 

Don't have Xbox Game Pass yet? Here's why you should look into it: This service has grown immensely since its launch, and the value is unparalleled in the gaming-verse. There are two options to choose from, with the standard Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass is $9.99, whereas the Ultimate version includes Xbox Live for $14.99. The Xbox Live membership includes monthly free games and exclusive sales on games. 

What do you think about the integration of EA Play for Xbox Game Pass PC? Does this change your mind at all regarding the PC-specific membership? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

[Source: Xbox]

Activision Blizzard

Yesterday, news broke that Activision Blizzard layoffs impacted many employees as the company shifts away from being "dependant" on live events concerning its esports division. Part of the severance includes 90 days' pay, health benefits for the year, and a $200 battle.net gift card. Today, investors are once again looking at the CEO and his salary in relation to a history of preventable layoffs under his leadership. 

CEO Bobby Kotick has been in the headlines in the past for his leadership practices and inflated salary, especially back in 2019. During that time, Activision Blizzard laid off more than 800 employees despite a profitable year, only to be revealed that his salary came in at $30 million. Now that a new round of layoffs has occurred, citing COVID-19's impact on goals regarding the Call of Duty and Overwatch pro leagues, the CtW Investment Group has issued a statement regarding Kotick. The below statement made to GameSpot from the director of executive compensation research, Michael Varner, is as follows: 

While the increase in Activision's stock price is somewhat commendable, as we stated last year and continue to assert, this achievement alone does not justify such a substantial pay outcome for the CEO. There are many factors that may contribute to a rise in this particular company's stock price that may not be directly attributable to Robert Kotick's leadership. The use of video games as one of the few entertainment options available amid the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has been a boon to many companies in the gaming industry irrespective of executive talent or strategic decisions.

This investment group has spotlighted Activision Blizzard and EA for a while now, with a special focus on top-level executives. With both EA's Andrew Wilson and Kotick being named among the top of the most "overpaid" CEOs in the business, personnel loss doesn't add up. 

Previous conversations regarding Kotick's payout centered on a loophole created to be more profitable for him as an executive with the "Shareholder Value Creation Incentive." This allows for him to gain the full performance payout from previous years, whether milestone markets are hit or not. While this has had a positive impact on company shares, it has also become a cause for concern as layoffs become more of a norm in the Activision Blizzard culture. 

Back in 2017, Kotick netted $28,698,375 even after a pay cut, which is around 300 times more than the average employee. While a massive pay increase is nothing normal for a person in a CEO position, eliminating 800 employees only to immediately turn around and say, "Just kidding, we need 2,000 more to fill those spots" is not normal. At least, it shouldn't be. 

[Source: CtW Investment Group via GameSpot]