Maximilian discusses Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’s recent patch and what it could mean for the future

Is a new age of heroes on the horizon, or is this just the final nail in the coffin?

Last Tuesday, following months of complete radio silence from both companies, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite received its first patch since last January, which curiously weighed in at a whopping 16GB for the Xbox One version, 10GB for Steam, and only 421MB for PlayStation 4. This brings the game up to version 1.07.

The Japanese MVC:I website simply noted that “some system changes were made,” while making sure to emphasize that it was nothing that would alter the game’s current balance. There were also a series of release candidate branches, with the first happening 29 days ago, that have now been made public, indicating that some form of development has been happening with the title.

Taking all of that into account, Maximilian has made a recent video discussing what exactly this updates means for the game, based on the information that we have, and what it could mean for the future of the franchise. Most notably, the Denuvo digital rights management (DRM) anti-piracy software — that is used to encrypt the code of Unreal Engine 4 titles like Tekken 7, Injustice 2, and Dragon Ball FighterZ, in order to make them more difficult to crack and/or pirate — has been completely removed. (The previous “Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: Denuvo Anti-tamper” notice has also been completely removed from the title’s Steam page.) This appears to have made booting and loading times faster across the entire trio of platforms, though there’s a chance it could be a placebo effect.

You can hear more about why Capcom may no longer need anti-piracy software for the game, how its removal on PC could have a trickle-down effect to the console versions, as well as Max’s personal hopes and predictions for Infinite’s future below.

Source: Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Steam page; MVC:I Japanese website; Maximilian Dood

FGC Twitter user HiFight created a gold mine of fighting game GIFs and highlight clips

Categorizing this under “Things you never knew you wanted but desperately need,” HiFight developed a new platform to enjoy fighting game media. It’s a gold mine of GIFs; everything from goofy Street Fighter V matches, Evo moment 37, to the many iconic moments from streams.

HiFight’s website organizes his extensive clip and Twitter library into a few sections. The front page shows a random GIF and their Twitter stream. The “Players” tab is a small library of world’s top SFV players like PG|Infiltration, Echo Fox|Tokido, and Hx.Twitch.CYG BST|Daigo Umehara. Clicking the “GIFs” section goes to display just GIFs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that there’s a way to share them from the site.

I’ve relived the “Daigo Dance,” a hilarious moment in SoulCalibur VI where a Kilik player rings himself out, and Ogawa’s divine pressure on Machabo in Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2. Check out HiFight’s GitHub website and their Twitter account for plenty of hilarious and memorable FGC GIFs.

Source: HiFight

– Champions of Titan Announced with MOBA / MMO Crossover Action

IDC/Games has announced a new hybrid game called Champions of Titan. According to press information, Champions of Titan features a unique crossover experience for players who love both MOBAs and MMORPGs. “Players can enjoy the best of both worlds with an intense and fast-paced combat system” as well as both PvP and PvE challenges.

SNK to reveal more details, and answer questions about the NEOGEO Mini this June

Recently, SNK announced the miniature arcade/console hybrid, the NEOGEO Mini. But there was still a lot more that the company hadn’t revealed about it, until now — it looks like we’ll finally get to know more about the miniature cabinet soon. Next month, to be precise, according to SNK’s announcement via Twitter:

As part of this, they are asking fans to send in any questions about the device that they want answered. Interested parties can do so by replying to the above tweet.

Some of the unanswered questions regarding the NEOGEO Mini include the exact game titles that will be included in it, whether or not it will accept modern arcade sticks (or if it’ll have its own controllers), as well as when the miniature console will actually be released.

Hopefully, these questions will get addressed during this presentation.

Source: SNK (Twitter)

SoulCalibur VI Yoshimitsu HD screenshots highlight the mechanical ninja and a new port stage

“Tonight, a demon runs wild!”

Namu! Yoshimitsu is officially confirmed with the latest SoulCalibur VI reveal. This zany character’s trailer shows off an expanded repertoire of helicopter-blade moves, some interesting form of energy stealing, and Critical Edge and Soul Charge mechanics.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the latest SoulCalibur VI screenshots of “The Original Mechanical Ninja” in the gallery below:

Click to view slideshow.

yoshimitsuselectscreen

His armor has plenty of ornaments and is heavy on traditional Japanese symbolism of folklore and demons. Additionally, in case you missed in the original trailer, the fights take place on a brand new stage, a ship port. Cervantes is bound to show up soon!

In case you missed it, take a look at Taki SoulCalibur VI screenshots as well.

Source: Famitsu; Bandai Namco

Datamined voice clips reveal special intros with unrevealed DLC characters in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle

Data-mining of the Nintendo Switch version of BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle’s recently-completed online beta has unearthed a lot about the upcoming tag-team title. From the nine currently-unannounced DLC characters who will fill out the full 40 character roster, to a pair of potential guests from the Senran Kagura franchise.

But now we have new evidence that further points to the eventual inclusions of BlazBlue’s Nine The Phantom, Izayoi and Mai Natsume, Persona 4 Arena’s Mitsuru Kirijo, Akihiko Sanada and Labrys, as well as Under Night In-Birth’s Merkava, Yuzuriha Sougetsu and Mika Returna. The evidence? Data-mined audio clips of Ruby Rose, Linne and Yukiko Amagi reveal their portions of team-specific intros, outros and victory conversations with a variety of DLC fighters.

Additionally, Colors 14-16, which were not purchasable in the beta’s Color Shop, were found for Ruby, which AceKombat notes are shared palettes that will be available to the entire cast. There has also been a Boss theme found among the files, which carries an ominous tune that’s hopefully befitting to whatever over-the-top final enemy we’ll face in Episode and (perhaps) Survival Modes. You can see everything below:

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle will be released on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam PC in Japan and Asia on Thursday, May 31st, with a North American release on those same platforms following on Tuesday, June 5th. A European release for PS4 and Switch has also been confirmed for Friday, June 22nd.

Source: XxAceKombatxX (Twitter); Kiazouwar

Streaming and event information for Canada’s eclectic major Toryuken 7: May 19-20 in Toronto, Ontario

One of Canada’s largest events, Toryuken, is launching into its 7th iteration over the weekend. There’s a lot on the line across a wide variety of events: Toryuken is a Capcom Pro Tour Ranking event, it’s a part of the Super Street Fighter II Turbo Tournament Of Legends series, SNK has provided bonuses for Samurai Shodown V Special, The King Of Fighters XIV, and Garou: Mark of the Wolves, and the Windjammers event is apart of Windjammers Flying Power League.

toryuken 7

And that doesn’t even cover the massive list of games players will be competing in:

  • Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4)
  • Tekken 7 (PS4)
  • Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition (PS4)
  • Super Street Fighter II Turbo (CPS2)
  • Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite (PS4)
  • Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 (PS4)
  • Injustice 2 (PS4)
  • Samurai Shodown V Special (PS4)
  • The King of Fighters XIV (PS4)
  • Sailor Moon S (SFC)
  • BlazBlue: Central Fiction (PS4)
  • Under Night In-Birth: Exe:Late[st] (PS4)
  • Garou: Mark of the Wolves (PS4)
  • Windjammers (PS4)
  • Mortal Kombat 9 (PS3)
  • Mortal Kombat XL (PS4)
  • Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS4)
  • SoulCalibur II HD (PS3)
  • SoulCalibur V (Ps3)

You can find brackets here, and the full schedule here. The games will be split across these two streams below:

Watch live video from TorontoTopTiers on www.twitch.tv

Watch live video from torontotoptiers2 on www.twitch.tv

Source: TorontoTopTiers

“Ultra Heavyweight Champion” Zangief powers his way into Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition’s Extra Battle mode

Another powered-up CPU challenger arrives.

It’s the second week of the Extra Battle challenge to obtain the Astaroth Crossover Costume for M. Bison in Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition; but the dictator brought along some extra muscle in the form of a new Extra Battle boss challenge: the Ultra Heavyweight Champion.

As was the case with prior Extra Battle bosses, each attempt costs 1000 FM; beating this CPU-controlled powered-up version of Zangief will earn you a unique title, and awards 10,000 EXP for subsequent victories, so you might be able to earn some extra Fight Money if you can get ‘Gief’s number with a low-level character or two. He’s available to fight now — but only for two more days.

Source: Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

RED BULL CONQUEST hits Seattle for the second qualifier in Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, & Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2

The battle to RISE, RALLY, and CONQUER continues!

This Saturday, May 19, sees the second qualifying stop in the RED BULL CONQUEST circuit arrive at Seattle, WA to find the strongest players in Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 that the city has to offer! From the press release:

Seattle is home to some of the fighting game community’s most prominent athletes, including Street Fighter V pro-athlete and professional bodybuilder Danny “DRDANNYPHAM” Pham, who is the leader of a healthy living movement in the FGC and also surprised the community with an astounding upset and 3-0 win over SFV superstar Daigo at last year’s Red Bull Battle Grounds.

FGC luminaries Persia and Yipes will be hosting the event, guiding the audience through each match, sharing insight on competitor strategies, unexpected upsets, fan-favorite players and more, up through the final matches where 3 competitors will be crowned as the chosen ones who will rep Seattle against 14 other regional teams at the Red Bull Conquest National Finals in Washington, D.C. this November.

You can catch the action starting with pools at 2:00 p.m. PT — with the top 4 expected to begin at 6:00 p.m. PT — on twitch.tv/redbullesports.

RED BULL CONQUEST poster

Source: Red Bull Esports [press release]