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Final Fantasy XI Online Reaches Twenty

SQUARE ENIX® celebrates the highly anticipated 20th anniversary milestone of the long-running MMORPG FINAL FANTASY® XI Online (“FFXI”), which originally released in Japan on May 16, 2002. In addition to the recent May version update, SQUARE ENIX launched a special 20th anniversary website, the first part of an interview series with FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, and announced an upcoming Reddit AMA for fans.

The May version update was also recently released, featuring the following additional content and updates to players:

The Voracious Resurgence – Chapter 8, Part 1 of the latest story arrives, as the beastmen begin to hear whisperings of despair— and fear for a future of misery. New Foes in Ambuscade – This month’s Ambuscade battle updates include the return of Pteraketos and Mamool Ja. May Login Campaign – From May 10 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) to June 9 at 7:00 a.m. (PDT), players can receive various rewards by logging in each day and collecting points to exchange for prizes, with May’s campaign featuring a Noble Chocobo mount.

Additionally, a new version of the “Vana’diel March” song has also been composed by FFXI composer Naoshi Mizuta for the 20th anniversary. The title for this new song is “We Are Vana’diel.” In honor of the new track, FFXI producer Akihiko Matsui stated, “It’s an uplifting melody that stirs your sense of adventure! It’ll play when you’re in the start menu, so be sure to give it a listen!”

Full details for the May version update can be found by clicking on one of their paid advertisements.

SQUARE ENIX also opened a new digital art gallery website as part of the 20th anniversary of FINAL FANTASY XI Online. The website is a digital tribute to celebrate 20 legendary years of adventure and features curated artworks from the fan community around the world which cover the rich history of the beloved title, from key characters to defining moments.

Continuing the celebration of FINAL FANTASY XI Online’s 20th Anniversary, players can enjoy a new behind-the-scenes look into the game via the WE ARE VANA’DIEL® special site, which explores the world of FINAL FANTASY XI Online, its development and history throughout the years. In the latest installment in the ongoing behind-thescenes series, WE ARE VANA’DIEL sits down with FINAL FANTASY XIV Online’s Producer and Director, Naoki Yoshida. In the first release of this four-part interview, Yoshida discusses his involvement with FINAL FANTASY XI, how he came to join SQUARE ENIX and his perspective on FINAL FANTASY XI as the division lead.

New Crusader Kings Flavor Pack

The land is divided by language, religion and culture, but those with the vision to understand it see a land rich in opportunity. What if the energy devoted to squabbling over towns and titles could be focused on unity or coexistence? But vision is not enough. A strong hand, a taste for intrigue and a deft touch with diplomacy are all required. This is a question for generations, a problem to be solved over time. Only the patient and prudent can settle the Fate of Iberia.

Fate of Iberia is the latest flavor pack for Crusader Kings III. Available today, this addition to Paradox Interactive’s award winning medieval grand strategy role-playing game gives you a new way to live out the history of Spain and Portugal through the middle ages. A centuries long Struggle will force you to rethink how to achieve your goals, as a variety of interested and competing parties fight to impose their will on the Iberian Peninsula.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia include:

Struggle system: Entirely new system for historic conflict, available to modders and other content creators. Decide the Fate of Iberia: Choose the path of conciliation or the path of conquest as you unite Spain or, alternately, agree to a peaceful division of spoils. New content: Two new Legacy tracks (Metropolitan and Coterie), new cultural traits emphasizing special historical characteristics of the Iberian peninsula, new friendship interactions and duels over the chessboard. New Events: Dynamic historical events related to the struggle for Iberia. New Art: New character art reflecting Iberian cultures of the medieval era, new unit designs, new 3D models of holdings and artifacts and a host of new art for backgrounds, events and loading. New Music: Additions to the Crusader Kings III soundtrack.

Fate of Iberia includes an update free for all Crusader Kings III owners that adds new options and features for all players. This update will add a new faction type to challenge your ruler, Heads of Faith that can be shared by different religions, vassal contracts for clans, and, of course, a new starting bookmark that highlights interesting Iberian characters for the 867 start date.

Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia can be purchased for a suggested retail price of $6.99/£5.19/€6.99. It is included with the Crusader Kings III expansion pass and Crusader Kings III: Royal Edition.

New Expansion for Hearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron IV is getting another expansion, one that adds new paths and potential for some of the defining conflicts of the wartime era. Explore new alternate histories for Italy and Ethiopia, as well as one of the leading neutral powers, Switzerland, in Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone.

This expansion to Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy wargame about the Second World War continues the tradition of offering players a range of new stories and possibilities, allowing new histories of the war to be written in every session.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone include:

New Italian Focus Tree: Follow the historical path of Mussolini’s Italy or rewrite history by restoring power to the monarchy, leading a Communist revolution or promoting democracy. New Ethiopian Focus Tree: Defy the odds to defeat the Italian invader or resist the conqueror from abroad using unique Government in Exile abilities. New Swiss Focus Tree: Surrounded by France, Germany and Italy, the mountain nation of Switzerland finds strength in its neutrality, balancing competing factions and overtures from the great powers. New Peace Conference Options: Demilitarize zones of the map or entire nations, bid on the capital ships of defeated powers, or claim control of enemy resources or factories as reparations. Aircraft Designer: Design and build your own planes, from nimble interceptors that prioritize speed to durable bombers crafted to unload tons of destruction from high above. Unit Medals: A log of each division’s accomplishments lets you track their performance, and even allow you to award medals to those that have performed well. Embargo Interaction: Embargo your enemies with a new diplomatic interaction, preventing them from trading with you if they have generated enough world tension. New Unit Models: More than 20 new pieces of unit art for Italian, Ethiopian and Swiss armies.

NEW “NEPHTHYS” Gate added to Solo Mode and Selection Pack on MAS-

New Plane Models: 67 new plane models. 12 New Music Tracks

This expansion for Hearts of Iron IV will be available later this year. It will be accompanied by a major

TER DUEL

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KONAMI) has today announced that new content is available now for its hit digital card game Yu-Gi-Oh! MASTER DUEL. The update includes a Solo Mode Gate based around the Nephthys monsters, and a Selection Pack including Exosister monsters.

The new “Worshippers of the Sacred Phoenix” Solo Mode Gate tells the story behind the iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) card Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys. The Gate is available to play now, featuring new missions to complete and special rewards to unlock.

Additionally, Exosister monsters make their debut in the new Valiant Wings Selection Pack. Duelists can use them to repel monsters and save their souls with powerful Xyz Summons. The Valiant Wings Selection Pack is available to acquire now.

Yu-Gi-Oh! MASTER DUEL features beautifully rendered Duels in 4K resolution*, more than 10,000 cards to collect**, an extensive single-player Solo Mode, online Duels, events and more.

The game has achieved more than 30 million downloads worldwide to date.

Yu-Gi-Oh! MASTER DUEL is free-to-play with in-game purchases on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android, and it’s available now.

*On supported devices