{"rewrite":{"id":"r_41534d6fc004d547f82559eb","clusterId":"c_789dc1f6d953d7546d49a73a","slug":"this-week-in-games-ffxiv-evercold-details-xenoblade-2-update-and-more","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"This Week in Games: FFXIV Evercold Details, Xenoblade 2 Update, and More","summary":"This week's gaming roundup covers a wide range of announcements and updates. Final Fantasy XIV's Evercold expansion received new details from the EU Fanfest in Belgium, including two crossover raids with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Final Fantasy VII, a new ranged tank class called the Bastion, and a non-linear story structure with automatic enemy scaling. The expansion is slated for January 2027. Meanwhile, Monolith Soft released an update for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Switch 2, adding 60 FPS and 4K resolution in handheld mode, a new Merc Assault mode, new outfits for Pyra and Mythra, and a new Blade from Xenosaga, M.O.M.O., whose inclusion has sparked speculation about Nintendo acquiring the Xenosaga rights. Other stories include Cyber Connect 2's mobile port of Fuga: Melodies of Steel, a first look at Chronoscript: The Endless End, and several smaller releases and announcements.","whyItMatters":"The absence of Bandai Namco's copyright on M.O.M.O. in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, combined with Xenosaga's removal from Bandai Namco's IP list, has fans speculating about a possible acquisition and future remake, though the trademark remains valid through 2030.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThis week\u0026#39;s column from Anime News Network covers a broad slate of gaming news, headlined by Final Fantasy XIV\u0026#39;s Evercold expansion details from the EU Fanfest. The expansion introduces two crossover raid series: Ghosts of Desire with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Beyond the Lifestream with Final Fantasy VII, featuring battles against Sephiroth. Producer Yoshi-P appeared cosplaying as the new Bastion class, a ranged tank with shield-mounted pikes and thrusters. The story will be non-linear, letting players choose dungeon order with automatic level scaling.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMonolith Soft\u0026#39;s Xenoblade Chronicles 2 update for Switch 2 adds 60 FPS and 4K handheld rendering, a Merc Assault mode where players control Blades, new outfits for Pyra and Mythra, and the Xenosaga character M.O.M.O. as a new Blade. The update\u0026#39;s copyright info notably omits Bandai Namco, fueling speculation about Nintendo acquiring Xenosaga rights, though the trademark remains valid through 2030.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther items include Cyber Connect 2\u0026#39;s mobile port of Fuga: Melodies of Steel with a Dummy Soul DLC, a preview of Chronoscript: The Endless End with art by Mari Shimazaki and music by Yasunori Mitsuda, and smaller releases like Suika Game on PS5 and Steam, Exstetra on PS5 and Switch, and The Prince of Tennis Sweet School Festival on Steam and eShop.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Fantasy XIV: Evercold\u003c/strong\u003e: New details: Evangelion and FF7 crossover raids, Bastion class, non-linear story, January 2027 release\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eXenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition\u003c/strong\u003e: Update adds 60 FPS, 4K, Merc Assault mode, new outfits, and Xenosaga\u0026#39;s M.O.M.O. as a Blade\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFuga: Melodies of Steel\u003c/strong\u003e: Mobile port with DLC and a Dummy Soul for US$19\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChronoscript: The Endless End\u003c/strong\u003e: 2D Metroidvania with Souls-like elements, aiming for Autumn release\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSouten Koihime: Dawn of Sovereignty\u003c/strong\u003e: Visual novel localization announced for Steam\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuika Game and Suika Game Planet\u003c/strong\u003e: Now on PS5 and Steam for US$2.99 each\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExstetra\u003c/strong\u003e: Releasing on PS5, Switch, and Switch 2 on September 3\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Prince of Tennis Sweet School Festival\u003c/strong\u003e: Remakes available on Steam and Nintendo eShop with English translation\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFantasy Maiden Wars\u003c/strong\u003e: Touhou strategy game on Switch, US$30 through August 12\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBishoujo Mangekyou Complete Collection\u003c/strong\u003e: Compilation of six adult visual novels, releases October 30\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"Xenoblade 2's new Blade M.O.M.O. drops Bandai Namco's copyright, and Xenosaga fans are reading the tea leaves. Trademark's still valid through 2030, though. Don't count your turkeys before they hatch.","twitterPost":"FFXIV Evercold is getting Evangelion and FF7 raids, a ranged tank called Bastion, and a non-linear story. Yoshi-P showed up in cosplay. January 2027 can't come soon enough.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"This week's gaming roundup: FFXIV Evercold's crossover raids and new class, Xenoblade 2's Switch 2 update with a Xenosaga cameo, and a mobile port for Fuga. Plus, a first look at Chronoscript.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-games/2026-07-30/final-fantasy-xiv-evercold-new-stuff-is-pretty-cool/.240034\",\"title\":\"This Week in Games: Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold's New Stuff Is Pretty Cool\"},{\"source\":\"GAME Watch (Impress)\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2129230.html\",\"title\":\"I Drank 'FFXIV' Original Craft Beer Next to a Real Aetheryte\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":12806,"outputTokens":1532,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785840210,"createdAt":"2026-08-04T10:33:39.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-04T10:37:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T10:33:39.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_789dc1f6d953d7546d49a73a","canonicalTitle":"This Week in Games\nFinal Fantasy XIV: Evercold's New Stuff Is Pretty Cool","representativeArticleId":"a_e71b6e100820bef095cac9fd","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Final Fantasy XIV\",\"Xenoblade Chronicles 2\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":true}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-30T15:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-31T14:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T10:37:24.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-games/2026-07-30/final-fantasy-xiv-evercold-new-stuff-is-pretty-cool/.240034","title":"This Week in Games\nFinal Fantasy XIV: Evercold's New Stuff Is Pretty Cool"},{"source":"GAME Watch (Impress)","url":"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2129230.html","title":"リアルエーテライトの側で、「FFXIV」オリジナルクラフトビールを飲んできた"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Final Fantasy XIV","Xenoblade Chronicles 2"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":true},"keyFacts":["Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold expansion is slated for January 2027, with a Switch 2 version releasing August 4 including Dawntrail.","Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Switch 2 update adds 60 FPS and 4K resolution in handheld mode, plus a new Merc Assault mode.","The new Blade M.O.M.O. from Xenosaga appears in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 without Bandai Namco's copyright info, sparking speculation about a rights acquisition.","Fuga: Melodies of Steel mobile port costs US$19 and includes a Dummy Soul that lets players fire the Soul Cannon without a sacrifice.","Chronoscript: The Endless End features character designs by Mari Shimazaki and music by Yasunori Mitsuda, aiming for an Autumn release."]}