Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - All Cultural District/Harbor Park Photo Rally Locations
Written by William ParksGame of Thrones: Mermaids, Explained
Written by Joshua Kristian McCoy
Nier Reincarnation, the story-driven mobile RPG set in the popular Nier universe, will have its services ended this April. While the game will continue to receive support until then, its final story campaign will serve as its last big hurrah.
Reincarnation first launched on July 28, 2021 for iOS and Android and takes place within an unspecified point in the Nier timeline. Like the previous titles, Reincarnation is an RPG set within a mysterious prison world called The Cage, with players controlling different protagonists divided across multiple story arcs. The game has also hosted several crossover events with games such as the remake of Nier Replicant, Final Fantasy XIV, and Persona 5.
The shutdown news came the same day as the launch of the latest chapter of its final story arc, The People And The World, dubbed Act II: The Return. Check out the trailer below.
In a shutdown notice, Square Enix states,
We regret to inform you that NieR Re[in]carnation will be ending service with the conclusion of The People and the World. The final chapter of The People and the World is planned to be released Mar. 28, 2024. The game will run for a month following the final chapter’s release until Apr. 29, 2024 22:00 PST when service will officially end. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our players for your patronage over the 2.5 years since we launched on July 28, 2021. Until the end of service, we will continue to add content and characters, as well as hold various events and campaigns, so we hope you will continue to enjoy NieR Re[in]carnation until the end.Until service concludes, Square Enix will offer 10 free summons per day, weekly gem gifts, and other perks. Sales of items on the Premium Shop have ceased. You can read the full rollout of final updates and events in Square Enix's blog post.
Former editor Jason Guisao was impressed with Nier Reincarnation, hailing it in an opinion piece as one of the strongest mobile titles available, writing that "Lengthy narratives and skill-based gameplay loops have come in console/PC-ports like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile. Nier Reincarnation, however, employs a happy medium. Heartfelt plotlines with striking visuals, Keiichi Okabe’s mesmerizing score, unintrusive microtransactions, and simple, but rewarding, combat controls establish Reincarnation as one of the best console-like games on mobile devices."
The Legend Of Zelda, Super Mario Composer Koji Kondo To Be Inducted Into AIAS Hall Of Fame
Written by Wesley LeBlanc
Koji Kondo, longtime composer for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises, will be inducted into the Academy of Interactvie Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame at this year's D.I.C.E. Awards. The presentation will take place at the 27th annual D.I.C.E. Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the ceremony on Thursday, February 15, at 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET.
"I am deeply thankful for being selected by D.I.C.E. for this important award," Kondo writes in a press release. "It is a true honor to be recognized this way, and I am extremely humbled. Thanks to the help from the many people surrounding me and the support from our customers and fans, I was fortunate enough to be involved in game music development for decades. I am grateful for everyone who helped and supported me.
"I will continue my efforts in the music and sound aspects of development to hopefully make everyone's game experience even more enjoyable for years to come."
Meggan Scavio, president of AIAS, says Kondo's musical work is timeless and impactful, spanning multiple generations of fans across the world. Scavio adds, "For over 39 years, he has delighted us all in the industry with sounds and songs that are recognized by so many fans and became a pop culture phenomenon. We are honored to be able to induct Kondo-san into the Hall of Fame."
Kondon was born on August 13, 1961, in Nagoya-City in the Aichi-prefecture of Japan. He began working for Nintendo in April 1984 after graduating from the Osaka University of Arts, according to a press release. At Nintendo, Kondo was responsible for sound programming, music, and sound effects for the company's now-two biggest franchises, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
Kondo's portfolio includes musical composition for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Sunshine, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and last year's Super Mario Bros. Wonder, amongst others. Today, he is the senior officer of Nintendo's entertainment planning and development division.
After his induction into the AIAS Hall of Fame, Kondo will join the likes of Ed Boon, Tim Schafer, Connie Booth, Todd Howard, Hideo Kojima, Leslie Benzies, Bonnie Ross, Dan and Sam Houser, and Tim Sweeney, to name a few.
For more about the composer and the music he's created, read Game Informer's interview with Koji Kondo from last year here, and then check out this story about an upcoming Legend of Zelda orchestral concert Nintendo is uploading to YouTube next month. After that, read Game Informer's Super Mario Bros. Wonder review.
What's your favorite Koji Kondo song? Let us know in the comments below!