Get ready for a gaming revolution! This week’s lineup is packed with surprises, exclusives jumping ship, and titles that could redefine your playtime. But here’s where it gets controversial: Sony’s grip on exclusives loosens as Square-Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally lands on Xbox Series and Switch 2 for just £40. PS5 loyalists, don’t fret—an update on launch day (January 22nd) introduces the ‘Streamlined Progression’ mode, making the game more accessible for everyone. And this is the part most people miss: while Final Fantasy VII steals the spotlight, SEGA quietly drops SEGA Football Club Champions across mobiles, Steam, and PS5/PS4, powered by the Football Manager engine and boasting over 1,500 licensed players. Pre-registrations? A modest 2 million—but that’s peanuts compared to Arknights: Endfield, which has already racked up 35 million sign-ups across PS5, PC, and mobile. Is this the next big free-to-play sensation?
Meanwhile, the creators of League of Legends and Valorant are bringing 2XKO, a free-to-play 2D fighter, to consoles. Will it live up to the hype? For sci-fi fans, MIO: Memories in Orbit lands on Xbox Game Pass at launch, while Escape from Ever After promises a Paper Mario-esque fairytale adventure. And let’s not forget Mavrix, a mountain biking sim by Matt Jones that’s turning heads. But here’s the real question: Can niche titles like EBOLA VILLAGE or Hextreme Void carve out a space in this crowded market?
Switch owners, rejoice! Alongside Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Switch 2, you’re getting retail releases like Operation Night Strikers Assault Edition and The Good Old Days, a Metroidvania with a dash of Earthbound nostalgia. Is Nintendo’s hybrid console becoming the go-to platform for diverse gaming experiences?
Trailers are dropping for all the big hitters, from Arknights: Endfield to Look Mum No Computer, a pixel art shooter with music-making twists. Which one will you watch first? And if you’re craving variety, check out the multiformat releases like Horror Tale 1: 4k Remaster or Tropicalia. PSN and Xbox Store also have their share of gems, from SEGA Football Club Champions to The Monty Mole Collection. But with so many options, how do you choose?
Looking ahead, next week’s releases include Code Vein 2, Speedball, and UFOPHILIA. Which one will dominate the charts? Let us know in the comments—what are you most excited for? And here’s a thought: With exclusives becoming less exclusive, is the console war losing its edge? Share your take below!
