Square Enix has big plans for PAX Prime 2015 including half a dozen panels and playable demos of seven games.
A playable demo of Just Cause 3 will make its North American debut at the Square Enix booth (#3646), where it will share floor space with demos for Final Fantasy XV (Episode Duscae 2.0), Final Fantasy Explorers, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, Dragon Qest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below, Lara Croft Go, and Life Is Strange.
The publisher also plans to set up a “pop-up barber shop” in their booth to give fans of the Hitman franchise the chance to share Agent 47’s signature look. For every head they shave, Square Enix will donate $47 to the GameChanger Charity, which supports children with cancer. The shavee will even receive a Steam code for Hitman: Absolution. Though anyone who wants to donate their own money (and keep their hair) can do so at 47vsCancer.org.
Finally, Square Enix’s series of panels will fly in developers from all over the world to talk about Hitman, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Just Cause 3, and more. The publisher even plans to host a “Final Fantasy XV Active Time Report Live” panel with Director Hajime Tabata.
The PAX Prime expo will be held from August 28-31 in Seattle, Washington. More details about all of Square Enix’s panels and playable demos can be found after the break.
Panels
Let’s Go! Going from Hitman Go to Lara Croft Go
Cerberus Theatre from Noon to 1 PM, August 28
Join moderator Greg Miller and key developers behind Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go as they take a deep dive in the process of crafting innovative mobile games from big AAA franchises. They will discuss the challenges of distilling the complex universes of well-known PC/console games and transforming them into unique experiences for completely different platforms. Panelists will include three members of the Square Enix Montreal team: Daniel Lutz, Game Director, Antoine Routon, Lead Engineer, and Thierry Doizon, studio Art Director.Just Cause 3 – A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND OF CREATIVE DESTRUCTION
Sphinx Theatre from 3 to 4 PM, August 28
Join Avalanche Studios’ Fred Hooper (Lead VFX artist) and Niklas Norin (Lead AI Designer) alongside Havok’s Cormac O’Brien as they reveal how their technology and expertise combines to create the incredible destruction and chaos that lies at the heart of Just Cause 3. Hosted by Greg Miller, you’ll learn exactly how they created the beautiful 400 square mile sandbox packed with possibility, compelling enemies and the largest, most realistic explosions and destruction ever seen in a videogame.Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Bringing Adam Jensen to life
Sphinx Theatre from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, August 28
Greg Miller hosts Jean-Francois Dugas, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête and Elias Toufexis, respectively Executive Game Director, Executive Art Director and the actor for Adam Jensen on Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. They will provide insight on what it takes to fully realize a character such as Adam Jensen, an augmented covert agent, on the new generation of consoles and PC. While Elias will share his thoughts on doing mocap and recording dialogues, our developers will dive into his story and design, as well as their goals for the experience of playing as Adam Jensen in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. You will also get the opportunity to ask them questions about the game and their careers in the video game industry.Hitman – THE ART OF ASSASSINATION
Hydra Theatre from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, August 28
Join Hitman Art Director Jonathan Rowe and Lead Writer Michael Vogt for an hour long journey into the design philosophy behind the visual and narrative universe of the world of assassination. Hosted by Game Informer’s Mike Futter, the pair will delve into the process behind the creation of the trademark living, breathing world of Hitman and give numerous insights and examples into the design process for visual and narrative storytelling in a world where the main character says very little. How does art direction and story design impact the player experience in a complex game like Hitman? The panel will end with a playthrough demo of the ‘Showstopper’ mission from the upcoming Hitman game as well as a moderated Q&A.Final Fantasy XIV: Koji & Soken’s Wild Ride
Grand Hyatt Seattle Hydra Room 12:00 PM – 1:00PM, Saturday, August 29
Join Final Fantasy XIV Sound Director Masayoshi Soken and Localization Lead Michael-Christopher Koji Fox as they discuss the music and lore of Final Fantasy XIV! What does Soken have up his sleeve? You won’t want to miss out.Final Fantasy XV Active Time Report Live
Grand Hyatt Seattle Hydra Room 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Saturday, August 29
Fans will be in for a treat as Final Fantasy XV Director Hajime Tabata will be taking the stage in North America for the first time at PAX Prime as part of the ongoing Active Time Reports. In addition to sharing a few personal stories about the development of the game, he will be sharing some insights into the recently revealed trailer. Join us on Saturday as we discuss one of the most highly anticipated games from Square Enix.Playable Demos
Just Cause 3
Platform: PC, PlayStation4, Xbox One
Developer: Avalanche Studios
ESRB: RP
Available: 12/1/15
The Mediterranean republic of Medici is suffering under the brutal control of General Di Ravello, a dictator with an insatiable appetite for power. Enter Rico Rodriguez, a man on a mission to destroy the General’s hold on power by any means necessary. With over 400 square miles of complete freedom from sky to seabed and a huge arsenal of weaponry, gadgets and vehicles, prepare to unleash chaos in the most creative and explosive ways you can imagine.LARA CROFT Go
Platform: Android, iOS
Developer: Square Enix Montreal
ESRB: TBD
Available: 8/27/15
Lara Croft Go expands the turn-based puzzle gameplay and takes you on an adventure set in a long-forgotten world. Explore the ruins of an ancient civilization, discover hidden secrets and face deadly challenges as you uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom. PAX Prime attendees will witness a never-before-seen take on the iconic franchise featuring challenging gameplay, gorgeous visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack, all at your fingertips.LIFE IS STRANGE
Platform: PC, PlayStation3 system, PlayStation4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Developer: DONTNOD
ESRB: RP
Available: Now Available (Episodes 1 – 4)
Developed by DONTNOD Entertainment, the Paris-based studio who released their debut game REMEMBER ME™ last year the game takes place in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where senior student Max Caulfield returns after a 5 year absence. Reunited with her former friend Chloe, the pair begin to uncover the uncomfortable truth behind the disappearance of fellow student Rachael Amber.DRAGoN QUEST HEROES: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below
Platform: PlayStation4 computer entertainment system
Developer: Omega Force from Koei Tecmo Games
ESRB: T for Teen
Available: October 13, 2015
DRAGoN QUEST, one of the most iconic RPG series from Japan, will be transformed into a full-scale action RPG in the West. Players must rise up against insurmountable odds, challenge swarms of enemies and conquer gigantic monsters. It is filled with characters and monsters designed by world-renowned artist Akira Toriyama. Also, Yuji Horii, director and creator of DRAGoN QUEST, and Koichi Sugiyama, the renowned composer closely tied to the series, are closely involved in bringing this title to life. Fans can stop by the “Slime Wall,” a physical wall on display at the booth, where fans can squash and defeat the horde of slimes. In addition, the demo area allows fan to take on and challenge the all-mighty monster, Gigantes.Final Fantasy EXPLORERS
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: January 26, 2016
Final Fantasy EXPLORERS focuses on cooperative play with friends and utilizes a refined party system allowing Explorers to master over 20 new and familiar jobs—including Knight, Monk, Black Mage and White Mage—to defeat the realm’s mightiest monsters and even recruit them for battle. Players will have the ability to call upon the powers of eidolons like Ifrit and Bahamut, as well as transform into other legendary characters from the Final Fantasy series via the Trance feature.Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Platform: PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: T for Teen
Available: Now
Face off against one of the new bosses in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward – Ravana- in the Primal Battle Challenge and win an exclusive “I BEAT RAVANA” T-shirt. Heavensward expands the critically acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy XIV with a an all-new storyline surrounding the city of Ishgard and the Dragonsong War, a brand new race, new jobs and more.Final Fantasy XV
Platform: Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation4 computer entertainment system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: Now
The update to the Final Fantasy XV -EPISODE DUSCAE- demo features improved mechanics, fresh character interactions, new team combo attacks, additional side quests and a battle with the monstrous catoblepas, Final Fantasy XV -EPISODE DUSCAE- 2.0 follows the journey of crown prince Noctis and his trusted party as they wander the unpaved, expansive Duscae region in search of a way to Cauthess.
