FINAL
FANTASY and DRAGON QUEST in Full Force with Hands-On Demos; Hands-On
for Just Cause 3, Multiple Panels on Upcoming Games and a Lara Croft GO
Launch Party
LOS ANGELES (August 20, 2015) – Square Enix® today announced its lineup for
Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime 2015, coming to Seattle Aug. 28 – 31, 2015. This year’s lineup features
stand-out titles, including the first US playable demo for
Just Cause® 3 - Avalanche Studios' vast open-world action adventure experience, the soon to be released
Lara Croft® GO - the latest puzzle experience from Square Enix Montréal, and the continuing episodic experience,
Life is Strange™. Fans will be able to get hands-on with some of the publisher’s biggest titles, including
FINAL FANTASY® XIV: Heavensward™, FINAL FANTASY XV –EPISODE DUSCAE™- 2.0, FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS® and
DRAGON QUEST HEROES®: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below™. All games in the lineup will be playable at Booth #3646.
SQUARE
ENIX will also host a number panels, giving fans the opportunity to
interact and converse with the talented teams behind each game.
Let’s GO! Going from Hitman® GO to Lara Croft GO
Cerberus Theatre from Noon to 1 p.m., August 28
Join moderator Greg Miller and key developers behind
Hitman GO and
Lara Croft GO as they take a deep dive in the process of crafting innovative mobile
games from big AAA franchises. They will discuss the challenges of
distilling the complex universes of well-known PC/console games and
transforming them into unique experiences for completely different
platforms. Panelists will include three members of the Square Enix
Montreal team: Daniel Lutz, Game Director, Antoine Routon, Lead
Engineer, and Thierry Doizon, studio Art Director.
Just Cause 3 - A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND OF CREATIVE DESTRUCTION
Sphinx Theatre from 3 to 4 p.m., August 28
Join
Avalanche Studios’ Fred Hooper (Lead VFX artist) and Niklas Norin (Lead
AI Designer) alongside Havok's Cormac O'Brien as they reveal how their
technology and expertise combines to create the incredible destruction
and chaos that lies at the heart of Just Cause 3. Hosted by Greg Miller,
you'll learn exactly how they created the beautiful 400 square mile
sandbox packed with possibility, compelling enemies and the largest,
most realistic explosions and destruction ever seen in a videogame.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided® – Bringing Adam Jensen to life
Sphinx Theatre from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., August 28
Greg
Miller hosts Jean-Francois Dugas, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête and Elias
Toufexis, respectively Executive Game Director, Executive Art Director
and the actor for Adam Jensen on Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. They will
provide insight on what it takes to fully realize a character such as
Adam Jensen, an augmented covert agent, on the new generation of
consoles and PC. While Elias will share his thoughts on doing mocap and
recording dialogues, our developers will dive into his story and design,
as well as their goals for the experience of playing as Adam Jensen in
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. You will also get the opportunity to ask them
questions about the game and their careers in the video game industry.
HITMAN - THE ART OF ASSASSINATION
Hydra Theatre from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., August 28
Twitch:
www.twitch.tv/SquareEnixPresents
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/SquareEnixPresents
Join
HITMAN Art Director Jonathan Rowe and Lead Writer Michael Vogt for an
hour long journey into the design philosophy behind the visual and
narrative universe of the world of assassination. Hosted by Game
Informer’s Mike Futter, the pair will delve into the process behind the
creation of the trademark living, breathing world of HITMAN and give
numerous insights and examples into the design process for visual and
narrative storytelling in a world where the main character says very
little. How does art direction and story design impact the player
experience in a complex game like HITMAN? The panel will end with a
playthrough demo of the ‘Showstopper’ mission from the upcoming HITMAN
game as well as a moderated Q&A.
FINAL FANTASY XIV®: Koji & Soken’s Wild Ride
Grand Hyatt Seattle Hydra Room 12:00 p.m. – 1:00p.m., Saturday, August 29
Twitch:
http://www.twitch.tv/finalfantasyxiv
Join
FINAL FANTASY XIV Sound Director Masayoshi Soken and Localization Lead
Michael-Christopher Koji Fox as they discuss the music and lore of FINAL
FANTASY XIV! What does Soken have up his sleeve? You won’t want to miss
out.
FINAL FANTASY XV Active Time Report LIVE
Grand Hyatt Seattle Hydra Room 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saturday, August 29
Twitch:
www.twitch.tv/SquareEnixPresents
Fans
will be in for a treat as FINAL FANTASY XV Director Hajime Tabata will
be taking the stage in North America for the first time at PAX Prime as
part of the ongoing Active Time Reports. In addition to sharing a few
personal stories about the development of the game, he will be sharing
some insights into the recently revealed trailer. Join us on Saturday as
we discuss one of the most highly anticipated games from Square Enix.
Lara Croft GO Launch Event
There will be a
launch party at the Hard Rock Café co-hosted by IGN on Friday, August 28 starting at 7 PM to celebrate the recent launch of
Lara Croft GO.
PAX Prime attendees can check out the game and chat with the Square
Enix Montreal development team while visiting the Lara Croft GO fan art
contest gallery, organized in collaboration with Child’s Play. While
you’re there, why not grab a traditional Montreal poutine!
HITMAN: Put a Hit on Cancer
Square
Enix, HITMAN, and GameChanger are partnering up to put a hit on cancer,
and need PAX attendees to become Agent 47®. Come to the pop-up
barbershop at the Square Enix booth where you can shave your head to
resemble Agent 47’s iconic bald look. For each head shaved at the show,
Square Enix will donate $47 to GameChanger Charity and their mission of
supporting children battling cancer.
For those who want to
participate but prefer the hair-keeping role of a handler, you can still
put a hit on cancer and receive a free Steam code for Hitman
Absolution® by simply making a donation of at least $1.00 to GameChanger
Charity.
Visit
www.47vsCancer.org to make your donation, receive your game code and join Agent 47 in support of children with cancer.
Additionally,
limited quantities of the FINAL FANTASY XIV “Before the Fall” original
soundtrack and the “From Astral to Umbral” arrangement album will be
available for purchase at the booth.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: BEFORE THE FALL Original Soundtrack
Event SRP: $50 (Sales Tax included)
The “Before the Fall” soundtrack features music from
FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 2.2 through 2.5 and includes a bonus code for an exclusive in-game “The Primogs” minion, a set of five musical moogles.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: FROM ASTRAL TO UMBRAL
Event SRP: $40 (Sales Tax included)
Popular songs from
FINAL FANTASY XIV have been transformed into splendid band and piano arrangements in this
album. This is the first official arrangement album for the title.
The full lineup of titles from Square Enix include:
JUST CAUSE 3
Platform: PC, PlayStation®4, Xbox One
Developer: Avalanche Studios
ESRB: RP
Available: 12/1/15
Summary: The Mediterranean republic of Medici is suffering under the brutal
control of General Di Ravello, a dictator with an insatiable appetite
for power. Enter Rico Rodriguez, a man on a mission to destroy the
General’s hold on power by any means necessary. With over 400 square
miles of complete freedom from sky to seabed and a huge arsenal of
weaponry, gadgets and vehicles, prepare to unleash chaos in the most
creative and explosive ways you can imagine.
LARA CROFT GO
Platform: Android, iOS
Developer: Square Enix Montreal
ESRB: TBD
Available: 8/27/15
Summary: Lara Croft GO expands the turn-based puzzle gameplay and takes you on an adventure
set in a long-forgotten world. Explore the ruins of an ancient
civilization, discover hidden secrets and face deadly challenges as you
uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom. PAX Prime attendees will witness
a never-before-seen take on the iconic franchise featuring challenging
gameplay, gorgeous visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack, all at your
fingertips.
LIFE IS STRANGE
Platform: PC, PlayStation®3 system, PlayStation®4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Developer: DONTNOD
ESRB: RP
Available: Now Available (Episodes 1 – 4)
Summary: Developed by DONTNOD Entertainment, the Paris-based studio who released their debut game
REMEMBER ME™
last year the game takes place in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay,
Oregon, where senior student Max Caulfield returns after a 5 year
absence. Reunited with her former friend Chloe, the pair begin to
uncover the uncomfortable truth behind the disappearance of fellow
student Rachael Amber.
DRAGON QUEST HEROES: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below
Platform: PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system
Developer: Omega Force from Koei Tecmo Games
ESRB: T for Teen
Available: October 13, 2015
DRAGON
QUEST®, one of the most iconic RPG series from Japan, will be
transformed into a full-scale action RPG in the West. Players must rise
up against insurmountable odds, challenge swarms of enemies and conquer
gigantic monsters. It is filled with characters and monsters designed by
world-renowned artist Akira Toriyama. Also, Yuji Horii, director and
creator of DRAGON QUEST®, and Koichi Sugiyama, the renowned composer
closely tied to the series, are closely involved in bringing this title
to life. Fans can stop by the “Slime Wall,” a physical wall on display
at the booth, where fans can squash and defeat the horde of slimes. In
addition, the demo area allows fan to take on and challenge the
all-mighty monster, Gigantes.
FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: January 26, 2016
FINAL
FANTASY EXPLORERS focuses on cooperative play with friends and utilizes
a refined party system allowing Explorers to master over 20 new and
familiar jobs—including Knight, Monk, Black Mage and White Mage—to
defeat the realm’s mightiest monsters and even recruit them for battle.
Players will have the ability to call upon the powers of eidolons like
Ifrit and Bahamut, as well as transform into other legendary characters
from the FINAL FANTASY series via the Trance feature.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward
Platform: PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: T for Teen
Available: Now
Face
off against one of the new bosses in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward –
Ravana- in the Primal Battle Challenge and win an exclusive “I BEAT
RAVANA” T-shirt. Heavensward expands the critically acclaimed MMO FINAL
FANTASY XIV with a an all-new storyline surrounding the city of Ishgard
and the Dragonsong War, a brand new race, new jobs and more.
FINAL FANTASY XV -EPISODE DUSCAE- 2.0
Platform: Xbox One® the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: Now
The update to the
FINAL FANTASY XV -EPISODE DUSCAE- demo features improved mechanics, fresh character interactions, new
team combo attacks, additional side quests and a battle with the
monstrous catoblepas,
FINAL FANTASY XV -EPISODE DUSCAE- 2.0 follows the journey of crown prince Noctis and his trusted party as they
wander the unpaved, expansive Duscae region in search of a way to
Cauthess.