Octopath Traveler has blazed a trail for Japanese role-playing games, with its flashy HD-2D style and branching storytelling. That trail has led the franchise to cell phones and tablets, as Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent brings the story of Orsterra to mobile devices in a new prequel story.

This new mobile Octopath Traveler launches today, July 27, on both iOS and Android devices. To learn more, we spoke with three key members of the development team: global producer Hirohito Suzuki, composer Yasunori Nishiki, and scenario writer Kakunoshin Futsuzawa about the franchise’s move to mobile.

We spoke about free-to-play mechanics, the HD-2D art style’s proliferation, the differences in the battle system, and more. We also touched on if characters or locations from the original game might impact this new game, and what players can expect from the three branching stories as they play.

This interview was conducted via email.

GameSpot: Why was mobile the platform of choice for a return to Octopath Traveler? What does the platform offer for this experience that consoles/PC do not?

Hirohito Suzuki: Hello, this is Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Producer Hirohito Suzuki. Thanks for having me!

The team’s mission is to deliver Octopath Traveler to as many people as possible. To this end, we decided to release this game as a free download for mobile devices, which has grown into the platform with the largest player base.

That said, our goal is to deliver the same kind of experience as a console or PC game with a mobile device and not about what the mobile platform offers for this experience that consoles/PC do not. As such, unlike a typical mobile game, there are no social elements, nor do we intend on having limited-time events for the most part.

I hope you enjoy our Octopath Traveler title that can be played on a mobile device.

This game’s battle system doubles the amount of heroes on the screen at one time. What went into the decision to increase the player’s hero count, and how did this choice affect the battle system?

Suzuki: The motivation behind this was due to the large cast of characters, and I wanted to provide them a moment to shine together.

What’s unique about the battle in this title is that players will use characters positioned forward or in the rear. BP will accumulate for all eight party members, so players can enjoy a speedier battle than the first game.

Additionally, there are abilities that activate based on whether your character is placed as a forward or a rear guard, so it makes for strategic battles as well.

What sort of free-to-play elements will be included in Champions of the Continent? How will they affect the player’s experience?

Suzuki: The title’s basic gameplay is free. We’ve adjusted it so that players can get through the first ending to the main story, which is about 60 hours of content, for free as well.

The characters that join a player’s roster will largely depend on luck, but it would make me happy if players can enjoy the process of figuring out how to best utilize the characters available to them.

Explain how in-app purchases have been implemented. How important are microtransactions to Champions of the Continent and what sorts of purchases can players make?

Suzuki: Fundamentally speaking, players can perform a summon from a pull and unlock characters if they choose to do so. In this game, the characters’ abilities may provide an advantage when advancing through the main story and battle content, but those are not necessarily mandatory. However, if you want to delve further into the scenario of a favorite character, you will have to obtain that character to play on.

How challenging did you find designing a “free-to-play” ecosystem without making it too reliant on using real-world currencies? Do you think you’ve achieved the right balance in this regard?

Suzuki: As mentioned earlier, the purpose of the game is to deliver Octopath Traveler to as many people as possible and so the adjustments we made allow for basic gameplay to be free for everyone. Because of this, unlike typical mobile games, we made sure perspectives like ecosystems or business models did not influence the game systems too much.

This decision was very hard to make as a producer, but my aim is for people to first play this title for free and fall in love with the game, then based on that, they can choose to make a purchase out of their desire to collect their favorite character.

The game’s art style has become a subgenre of RPGs in its own right, with Live A Live and the Dragon Quest III remaster as notable upcoming examples. Are there any other games in Square Enix’s library you’d like to see get the HD/2D treatment?

Suzuki: This is strictly my personal opinion, but I would love to see some of the pixel art Final Fantasy titles done in HD-2D. Octopath Traveler was heavily influenced by them, so I believe they would come out wonderfully.

However, as a creator myself, I’d also like to think about making new games in the HD-2D style and not just focus on remakes.

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent’s hero roll screen

How does your composition process change when working with a mobile title? Are there any limitations you’ve found in writing music for this game, or is the process the same as the previous game?

Yasunori Nishiki: I think it can be said that music production for recent mobile games has virtually no difference or limitations from that of console games. However, certain implementations that could put a heavy load on a device’s CPU, such as interactive music, or long pieces of music/high fidelity music file formats, could cause issues with download capacity, and may be somewhat affected by limitations.

Of course, if a mobile game is meant to offer a different gameplay experience than its console counterpart, then the way in which the music is created must change to follow suit; however, our concept for this game was to provide our players with gameplay experience that does not pale in comparison to a console game. As a result, I made sure to maintain the feeling of the first game for the music as well.

The previous game’s soundtrack was widely praised back when the game’s launched. Do you find a sort of pressure in trying to recreate that success for this game, or are you approaching this as its own separate challenge?

Nishiki: The first title depicted the story of eight protagonists and each of their journeys and so the music was created to focus on that aspect. For this game, the story revolves around diabolical yet appealing villains; as such, the music is created with them in focus.

Of course, I did feel a sort of pressure that I can’t disappoint those who thought so highly of the first game, but I also remember being excited about how I can present these fascinating villains with music.

In fact, I was able to incorporate various music genres I didn’t use in the first game, so it was a great opportunity to experiment.

Additionally, because this is a live-service title, I wrote music at the beginning without knowing how the story would conclude, so that was quite thrilling, too (laughs).

How does Champions of the Continent fit into the overall story of Octopath Traveler? We know it’s a prequel, but how far back in time are we headed?

Kakunoshin Futsuzawa: This game takes place a few years before the events of the first game. The same towns and characters will be referenced as well. People who are playing an Octopath Traveler game for the first time can still enjoy this game without any issues, but those “travelers” who have experienced the first game may enjoy the journey a bit deeper.

How, if at all, will the characters from the original game–whether they be the playable heroes or NPCs–factor into this story? Will we see any familiar faces in our travels?

Futsuzawa: At times the characters may appear as a friend or at times they may stand in the way of your journey. I’m afraid I am unable to go into details, but many of the characters from the first game will definitely make an appearance, so I hope you look forward to seeing them again!

The story so far revolves around three characters in Herminia, Tytos, and Auguste. Will we see these three stories intertwine, and if so how extensively?

Futsuzawa: These three are the “ultimate evil,” so to speak. The story takes place in the vast land of Orsterra, but considering the sheer evil–and three of them, at that– there is no way these three would not be somehow connected.

The Octopath Traveler series involves stories of many different people, and so I am very careful of these characters, their stories, and how they connect to each other. This is all I can share right now, however, I would love for you to take the journey to the world of Octopath Traveler and experience how the stories are a bit different and darker than the first game.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Torchlight Infinite is looking to translate the addictive dungeon crawling and loot farming of the well-known console and PC ARPG franchise to iOS and Android devices. Currently in closed beta, Torchlight Infinite developer XD Inc. recently announced the free-to-play, mobile ARPG will be releasing into open beta this fall. At the same time, XD also revealed the game’s sixth playable launch hero, Oracle Thea.

As Blizzard’s recently released Diablo Immortal has shown, translating a formerly PC-centric ARPG to mobile can be a challenge. While it’s impossible to say if Torchlight Infinite succeeds on that front just yet, it’s clear XD’s take on the franchise is looking to draw in both new players as well as established fans of the series. Set 200 years after Torchlight II, it will include familiar abilities, classes, and environments to fans of the franchise, but there are plenty of new characters and systems for fans to discover as well.

Though Torchlight Infinite is being made with mobile in mind, it will also release on PC. In an email interview with GameSpot, producer Liu Heng said Torchlight Infinite will allow for cross-progression. Players will be able to link their data under one account and jump between mobile and PC without losing progress. The PC version will also feature a few additional upgrades beyond the mobile version including more camera options, wider views, and additional control options.

A major question for any free-to-play experience, especially a loot-based one, is how the game is monetized. On that front, Heng explained that purchases in Torchlight Infinite are broken down into two categories. Features like more bag space, talent resets, and auto-looting functionality will be what Heng described as “pay-for-convenience.” New heroes, as well as various cosmetics, will also be available for purchase and fall under what Heng said is “pay-for-content.”

Torchlight Infinite will not sell gear or crafting materials for real money, Heng said. Those items will be “strictly grind-to-get” to ensure a fair experience for all players. Heng made it clear that Torchlight Infinite won’t have any stamina meters or systems that limit player progress either, and said players will have the “freedom to start and end their grinds at will.”

It’s a tricky line to walk. Diablo Immortal, which Torchlight Infinite will likely be compared to, was heavily criticized at launch for its pay-to-win mechanics, even as it reportedly made more than $50 million in its first month. More recently, players have complained about how Diablo Immortal’s MMO structure punishes solo players, with many unable to find the additional players required to complete the dungeons or raids essential to progression.

When asked what lessons XD Inc. has learned from Diablo Immortal’s launch, Heng didn’t mention the game’s controversial microtransactions, but instead said many of Diablo Immortal’s issues came from a failure to properly manage player expectations.

“From our perspective, the public was most unhappy about their expectation of how Diablo Immortal was presented as an ARPG game, but instead was released as an ARPG MMO,” Heng said.

Heng said Diablo Immortal’s progression systems and build options are much more narrow than Diablo III as a result, and that could have misled players looking for a traditional Diablo experience.

“If the game didn’t use the Diablo IP, its performance might have been vastly different in our opinion,” Heng said.

Heng said the team, from the very beginning of development, has made it clear that Torchlight Infinite is strictly a loot-based ARPG, one with a huge number of possible builds thanks to the game’s various systems like hero traits, talents, skills, and gear affixes.

Mobile games come with the expectation of regular content updates, and Heng said that Torchlight Infinite will introduce new seasonal expansions every three months. Seasons will introduce new gameplay mechanics, and Heng teased that XD has a “line of new heroes” waiting to be added to the game’s character roster as well.

Unlike previous Torchlight games, players will be playing as specific characters rather than a generic class. Torchlight Infinite, for example, includes a Berserker character, but it won’t be exactly the same as the Berserker from Torchlight II. That’s because this Berserker is their own unique character, Rehan, who has their own backstory and unique traits compared to the Torchlight II version of the class.

A huge part of Torchlight Infinite is the game’s skill system, which features over 230 shared skills across each of the game’s six heroes that can be modified with various support skills. This makes for a huge number of customization options, especially when combined with Torchlight Infinite’s talent system and the actual bonuses of equipped gear. Players will be able to trade and sell gear with one another using what Heng described as a “duty-free” and “player-made economy.”

Torchlight Infinite enters open beta this October, with a specific date yet to be announced. Pre-registration for the beta on iOS devices is available now.

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Netmarble has added XV Shermine as a playable character to its mobile game, The King of Fighters Allstar. In addition to the new character, players can also enjoy new content such as battle card events and more.

XV Shermine is a red element and Balance type playable EX fighter in-game. With her attributes, she can increase a fighter’s ATK to 60%, her special skill allows her critical rate to be increased by 15% for three seconds after she lands an attack, and it’ll reset when a critical hit is landed. In addition to that, she’s also immune to freeze and petrify and activates her Standing Spin Kick when her targets can’t be grabbed.

Lady Choi Bounge has also been introduced as an EX fighter and is a green element and defense-type character. Her attributes increase a fighter’s ATK to 30% and gain 5% power when an enemy is killed. Her special makes her immune to bleed and fear, and when she’s attacked, there’s a 30% chance of fear being applied to the attacker for two seconds. When she lands a lower skill, there’s a 40% chance her active skill cooldown will reset

Players can now use new battle cards such as the Shermie and Lady Choi Bounge Special Card in-game, giving a fighter a special skill when equipped. The card will also increase the ATK by 2%, active skill DMG by 4.5%, critical DMG by 6%, and recovers HP by 8% upon usage.

The Collection Room is now available to players, who use it to view exhibit badges and items they’ve earned in-game.

To celebrate the latest update, they’ll have various events in-game. Players who participate in the events can earn the following special rewards:

King of Fighters Allstar 4th Anniversary Festival: Those who log in to the game daily can receive various bonus and in-game rewards.’Angel’s Road Trip’ Mini Game: Players can enjoy a mini-game to earn rewards based on their final score.Challenge Dungeon’ Band of Sisters’: The dungeon will be available when the players obtain ‘XV Shermie’ or ‘Lady Choi Bounge.’ ‘Band of Sisters’ Dungeon can be played from stage 1 to 30, and players can get a clear reward once each stage has been cleared.3 Line Bingo!: Complete 3 rows to achieve bingo and get various rewards.Shermie’s Crafting Event: Collect Shermie’s Coins to craft a BoS Star/Moon Imprint Stone Special Box or special battle cards.Additional Events: Players can participate in events like Event Codex, Rush Dungeon, etc.

For more mobile gaming news, check out these stories:

Before Your Eyes Is On Mobile Via NetflixToday’s Wordle Answer (#402) – July 26, 2022New Game Of Thrones Mobile Game Lets You Hatch Your Own DragonThe King Of Fighters Mobile RPG Adds Krohnen And More In Latest UpdateRead MoreGameSpot – Game News

Activision has announced Call of Duty’s World Series of Warzone tournament is returning, and while the battle royale’s most notable competitors will be attending, anyone can sign up to fight for their share of the $600,000 total prize pool.

This year’s World Series of Warzone will be played on Warzone‘s Caldera map, and the prize pool is up from last year’s $400,000 to $600,000, which is money split between the North American and European regional finals.

This World Series of Warzone tournament is played in trios, and any team can sign up and compete in the in-game open qualifier on August 12 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET. During this time, the “WSOW BR Trios” playlist will go live in Warzone, and the qualifier will run until August 15 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET. In order to be eligible, teams must register on the GameBattles website before the playlist ends to earn points based on their top 10 match performances. Points are earned based on both kills and final placement. There will even be a leaderboard to allow players to see where they stack up in the competition.

The top 40 teams will each advance into regional qualifiers, where the trios will play in a five-match series in custom lobby matches between August 20 and August 21. From there, the top 20 qualified teams will join 20 other invited trios at the EU and NA finals, who are usually a mix of top Warzone content creators and Call of Duty pro players.

The regional finals will take place on September 6 for Europe and September 7 for North America. Each final will have a five-match series with a $200,000 prize pool for each region. Each region will also feature a $100,000 “SoloYolo Drop” after their final, where finalists will compete in a winner-takes-all solo match.

Spectators will be able to tune-in to livestreams of both the regional WSOW Qualifier matches and the finals on the official Call of Duty Twitch account.

Additionally, a free “WSOW Battle Pack” will be available on September 2 through Prime Gaming. This is a cosmetic bundle featuring an operator skin, two weapon blueprints and more. Prime members just need to link their Amazon account with Call of Duty to claim the content.

In other news, Warzone is set to receive a mid-season update on July 27, which includes a new weapon, operator, and a zombie-themed mode for Rebirth Island. Here are all the details for Warzone and Vanguard’s Season 4 Reloaded updates.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News