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Square Enix announces PAX West lineup, activities

As usual, Square Enix has no shortage of wares to show off and panels to attend at PAX West, which will take place from September 2nd – 5th, 2016 in Seattle, WA. The latest and greatest upcoming and recently released titles in the Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Deus Ex, Kingdom Hearts and Tomb Raider franchises will all be present in one way or another.

See the lineup below for the event schedule and games scheduled to be on display.

Hands-on demos, previews and panels are just a few of the exciting activities offered from SQUARE ENIX during this year?s PAX West, taking place from September 2-5. The hands on experiences featured at the booth will include: FINAL FANTASY XVDRAGON QUEST BUILDERS, FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY , HITMAN, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration and Valentino Rossi: The Game.

FINAL FANTASY XV will have a dedicated booth at #2309 where fans can get their hands on with the game, experience the Warp Strike, take part in the mini-games featured in-game, and get FINAL FANTASY XV-themed T-shirts.

The Square Enix Members team will also be on the show floor running sweepstakes throughout the entire show for exclusive Square Enix Members Rewards.

Square Enix will host a number of panels at the show giving fans an opportunity to get the latest development updates and converse with the creative minds behind the games.

DEVELOPING RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION
Friday 1:30-2:30 Wyvern Theater
Join members of the Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration development team as they chat about the latest title and the features that celebrate 20 years of Lara Croft. Culminating with Lara?s landmark achievement of 20 years of an icon in gaming and pop-culture, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration releases later this year with nostalgic throwbacks like Croft Manor, classic outfits, and complex puzzles only those worthy of the Croft name can solve. Watch a sneak peak of the all-new PlayStation VR capabilities to explore Croft Manor, and have a look at Co-Op Endurance, a new mode where players can team up to survive the wilderness and gather relics and artifacts.

Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Noah Hughes, Franchise Creative Director; Chad Armstrong, Senior Designer; Alisha Thayer, Designer; Meagan Marie, Senior Community Manager

THE DEUS EX GO PUZZLE RUMBLE
Friday 3:30 ? 4:30 – Hippogryph Theater
Hosted by Greg Miller and the Kinda Funny Crew, the Deus Ex GO: Puzzle Rumble won?t be your typical PAX Panel. Your favorite gaming personalities and members of the Deus Ex community will be tested in a challenge of speed and smarts with the most difficult puzzles the Square Enix Montreal team could come up with. Come scream and cheer as they attempt the toughest challenge of their lives under very special conditions.

In addition to the panel, join the team for their Deus Ex GO launch event and a Kinda Funny meet & greet. Come eat some poutine, meet the devs and win cool prizes.

DEUS EX GO & KINDA FUNNY PARTY
Friday September 2nd
8pm until 2am
Hard Rock Caf? Seattle ? 2nd Floor
116 Pike St. Seattle, WA

FINAL FANTASY XV
Saturday, September 3, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ? Wyvern Theater at Westin Seattle
Join Director Hajime Tabata as he dives into the gameplay and battle mechanics of how this generation?s action RPG, FINAL FANTASY XV will come to life.

EIDOS-MONTR?AL PRESENTS: DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED
Saturday 3:00 ? 4:00 – Hydra Theater
Join Elias Toufexis (Actor, Adam Jensen) and other special guests for a unique discussion around Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, recently released on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Get your first look at the upcoming narrative DLC, which will see the return of? Find out in the panel!

WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY
Saturday, September 3, 6:00-7:00 p.m. ? Hydra Theater
Join game director Hiroki Chiba and other guests as they delve into the whimsical and magical WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY.

The full lineup of titles from Square Enix include:

DEUS EX GO
Platform: iOS and Android
Developer: Square Enix Montr?al (a Square Enix studio)
Age Rating:  Pending
Available: Now
Deus Ex GO is a turn-based infiltration puzzle game set in a stylized interpretation of the Deus Ex Universe?. As double agent Adam Jensen, you?ll use hacking, combat, and augmentations to solve the most challenging puzzles of the entire GO series. Work alongside your allies in TF29 and the Juggernaut Collective as you infiltrate locations to unravel the conspiracy behind a terrorist plot.

DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED
Platform: PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Eidos-Montr?al (a Square Enix studio)
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: Now
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution?, builds on the franchise?s trademark choice and consequence, action RPG based gameplay, to create both a memorable and highly immersive experience. Players will once again take on the role of Adam Jensen, now an experienced covert agent, and will gain access to his new arsenal of customizable state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations. With time working against him, Adam must choose the right approach, along with whom to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy.

DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS
Platform: PlayStation 4 system (physical and digital), PlayStation Vita handheld entertainment system (digital only)
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Available: October 11
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS is a block-building RPG where players must recapture the continent of Alefgard from the Dragonlord. After the world is destroyed by the evil Dragonlord, players must rebuild by exploring the land, gathering materials and piecing back together the kingdom.

FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS
Platform: iOS, Android
Developer: Square Enix / gumi Inc.
Available: Now Available
FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS is a brand new turn-based FINAL FANTASY adventure made for mobile devices and aimed at a worldwide audience. The game uses classic battle systems with a simplified mobile interface and a throwback pixel art style fused with rich 3D graphics. Adventures will begin their quest for a highly-coveted crystal, shortly meeting two knights from Grandshelt, and a young girl. Well-known FINAL FANTASY characters also appear in this game. The free-to-play mobile title has been downloaded over five million times worldwide (outside of Japan?s 6.5 million players) in the first month following its launch.

FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE
Platform PlayStation 4 system
Developer Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available 2017
FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE improves upon the 2006 classic FINAL FANTASY XII, now more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The HD remaster introduces a reconstructed battle design and a revamped job system. With updated trophies and share functionalities, as well as stark visual and sound improvements, players both returning and new to the game will experience a grand adventure through the world of Ivalice in an entirely new and improved way.

FINAL FANTASY XV
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4 system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: T (Teen)
Available: November 29, 2016
FINAL FANTASY XV is the highly anticipated action RPG serving as the 15th installment in the landmark series. The game tells the engaging tale of Crown Prince Noctis and his comrades, out on the road and fending for their lives after the armed forces of Niflheim launch a surprise assault upon the Kingdom of Lucis. Featuring an open-world environment, a captivating cast of characters, breathtaking visuals and real-time combat, FINAL FANTASY XV is the ultimate experience for series veterans and newcomers alike. The game?s universe is expanded with KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV, the fully CG animated movie from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) featuring the voices of Aaron Paul, Lena Headey and Sean Bean, along with an anime series titled BROTHERHOOD FINAL FANTASY XV. Fans who complete the demo will receive an exclusive t-shirt.

HITMAN
Platform: PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Io Interactive (a Square Enix studio)
ESRB: M
Available: Now, New episodes throughout 2016
HITMAN will see players perform contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations around the world, from the highly fashionable Paris and sunny coast of Italy to the dust and hustle of the markets in Marrakesh in this creative stealth action game. Gameplay focuses on taking out targets in huge and intricate sandbox levels with complete freedom of approach. Where to go, when to strike and who to kill – it is all up to you. And for the first time HITMAN will lead with a digital release inviting players into a world of assassination.

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
Platform: PlayStation 4 system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: December 2016
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a compilation that brings the popular KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance to the PlayStation 4 system platform remastered in high definition. The newly improved title features brand new content with KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep ? A fragmentary passage ?, a playable episode that is played from the perspective of Aqua taking place after the storyline of KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep and links to the upcoming KINGDOM HEARTS III. The title also includes KINGDOM HEARTS ? [chi] Back Cover, a new HD movie that tells the mysterious story of the Foretellers and connects to the earliest parts of the series? history.

RIDE 2
Platform: PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Milestone
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: 2016
The second edition of Milestone?s innovative racing game is focused on the relationship between the rider and motorcycle, bringing the connection between man and machine even closer with career mode and other new features. Players can race the motorcycle of their dreams, thanks to unprecedented customization options for both rider and bike ? and create the ultimate ride down to the finest detail. RIDE 2 offers more than 220 motorcycles from the most respected manufacturers, and new bike categories with the introduction of the Two Strokes, Supermotards and Caf? Racers added on top of the current list of bike types available, including the Nakeds, Supersports and many more.

RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER: 20 Year Celebration
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
Developer: Crystal Dynamics (a Square Enix Studio)
Available: October 11, 2016
Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix continue to celebrate 20 years of Lara Croft, the gaming world?s iconic heroine, with Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. This new version will include the award-winning Rise of the Tomb Raider game; a completely new story chapter entitled ?Blood Ties?, new co-op Endurance gameplay, PlayStation VR support for ?Blood Ties?, all of the previously released DLC, more outfits, weapons, and Expedition Cards. With the exception of VR support, all of the new content in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will also be available for Xbox One and PC players. Current Season Pass owners on Xbox One and PC will automatically receive the content for free, and moving forward the existing Season Pass will be updated to include the new content. There is no Season Pass on PlayStation 4, as all of the content is included in the initial release.

VALENTINO ROSSI: THE GAME
Platform: PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Milestone
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: Now
VALENTINO ROSSI: THE GAME brings the exciting worlds of MotoGP and VR|46 together in the most immersive and feature-packed motorcycle racing experience ever. Participate in the official 2016 MotoGP championship and discover the world of Valentino Rossi, with unique modes and all-new challenges dedicated to the career of the 9-time World Champion.

WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY
Platform: PlayStation 4 system, PlayStation Vita system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: E10+
Available: October 25, 2016
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY combines classic RPG gameplay mechanics with fresh and imaginative visuals in an adorable adventure. As a brand-new addition to the FINAL FANTASY franchise, this game can be enjoyed by both fans and newcomers to the series as it expands FINAL FANTASY lore to a new generation of gamers. Players will lead a pair of twins through varied FINAL FANTASY worlds to collect, raise and take into battle the adorably familiar monsters including the Cactuar, Tonberry, and Behemoth. WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY dual-sided posters will be given away at the booth.

Paul Bryant

Staff Writer

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