Square Enix is set to release first three 'Final Fantasy' pixel remasters on July 28

Square Enix

On July 28, PC players can get their hands on the pixel remaster versions of the first three Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II, and Final Fantasy III are coming to Steam first and then Android and iOS the day after, on July 29. You can now pre-purchase the games individually, with pricing starting at USD 12 (around CAD 15), or via a bundle of all six games for around USD 96 (around CAD 119).

There will be three soundtracks and two unique wallpapers for each pre-purchased title. But Square Enix hasn't revealed when the fourth to sixth installment will come out. But they are scheduled for sometime this year.

You can expect completely new graphics and "improved ease of play" with a modernized UI and auto-battle options. There will be extra features like a bestiary, a music player, and an illustration gallery. The soundtrack has been rearranged, but its process was overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Source: Engadget

Valve to hold 'Steam Next Fest' in June

Valve has just rebranded the Steam Game Festival into the Steam Next Fest. It will take place from June 16 to June 22. You can expect tons of demos, discounts, and game streams from six-day event. The event will happen almost simultaneously as the all-digital E3 2021, which is happening from June 15 to 17.

Why the name change? Valve's announcement reads: "We've renamed the Steam Game Festival to more directly communicate its focus. Explore and play hundreds of game demos, watch developer livestreams, and chat with the teams about their games in progress, coming soon to Steam."

Source: Games Radar

Steam adds expanded Xbox controller support

A beta update for Steam offers gamers who use Xbox controllers additional features. Those who use the Xbox Elite controllers can use Valve's software to bind the controller's rear paddles in controller configurations, offering more flexibility when using extra inputs on the accessory.

Users can also bind the Series X gamepad's share button in controller configurations and use more than four Xbox controllers on the platform simultaneously. Games that use the Windows.Gaming.Input API also gets support for trigger rumble now.

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'Wattam' will no longer be an Epic exclusive, comes to Steam on Dec. 18

Wattam, a whimsical, friend-making game, will no longer be an Epic Games Store exclusive come December 18. The title from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi will debut on Steam just a little over a year after it first came out on EGS.

The game is a bit unusual as you play the Mayor, who aims to befriend over 100 characters, including animate and inanimate objects (think noses, toilets, phones, etc.). The gameplay is varied, too. You're expected to do everything from dancing to exploding, with a drop-in, drop-out co-op mode that lets you share this experience with others. As Engadget points out, it seems timely to reintroduce this game to a new audience as we try to look for connection in the middle of a pandemic that keeps a lot of us isolated.