Nintendo has officially confirmed that its EAD and SPD divisions have merged. In the wake of news about the company’s new president and plans for “a large-scale” restructure, it was assumed that the two sides would be combined.
Here’s what Nintendo says about the merging of EAD and SPD:
Establishment of the Entertainment Planning & Development Division
We will integrate personnel who are involved in the development of software for Nintendo platforms and smart devices in addition to work associated with effective utilization of character IP, and in order to create a structure that operates efficiently and rapidly, the Entertainment Analysis & Development Division and the Software Planning & Development Division will be consolidated into the newly established Entertainment Planning & Development Division.
Nintendo is also establishing two new divisions: the “Platform Technology Development Division” and “Business Development Division”. These two are primarily involved with hardware and business/IP respectively.
Nintendo shared the following information about both divisions:
Establishment of the Platform Technology Development Division
We will integrate personnel responsible for the technology development essential for Nintendo’s hardware formation such as hardware, OS, development environment and network, and in order to create a structure in which we can more broadly and efficiently conduct technology development necessary for new products and services, the Integrated Research & Development Division and the System Development Division will be consolidated into the newly established Platform Technology Development Division.
Establishment of the Business Development Division
We will newly establish the Business Development Division, a division with the aim of refining the business model for the dedicated video game system business, and creating and making profitable the smart device business and the new business that utilizes character IP.
Nintendo has released some additional screenshots from Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water. Find them in the gallery below.
Cardfight!! Vanguard G: Stride to Victory! is in development for 3DS, Famitsu revealed today. Further information is included in this week’s issue of the magazine, which will be available tomorrow. We should have more details soon.
Nintendo’s latest Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer focuses on K.K. Slider. Check it out below.
This week’s Famitsu review scores are as follows:
Dragon Quest VIII (3DS) – 9/9/8/8
Octodad (PS4) – 8/8/8/9
Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen (PS4/PSV) – 8/8/8/8
Genkai Tokki Moero Crystal (PSV) – 8/8/8/8
Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul (PS4/PS3) – 8/7/7/8
Teikoku Kaigun Koi Bojou Meiji Yokosuka Koushinkyoku (PSV) – 6/7/6/7
The latest issue of Game Informer shares a preview of Xenoblade Chronicles X. In the article, we learn about a couple of noteworthy details for the western release.
Game Informer confirms that all character DLC will be included in the overseas edition at no extra cost. Additionally, Lin Lee is 15 years-old in the game. In the Japanese version, Lin is 13 years-old.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is due out in the west on December 4.
The weekly Famitsu previews just confirmed that SEGA’s upcoming 3DS game 7th Dragon III code: VFD is getting both a demo and DLC.
The demo will be available on September 30th and will allow you to play through the first chapter of the game. DLC will also be made available for the game at some point after its launch.
We will have more concrete info once we have the full issue of Famitsu later this week.
A Western release date for 7th Dragon III code: VFD has not yet been announced.
Level-5 have announced that Yo-Kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version will be released in Japan on December 5th.
You will be able to purchase either the regular edition with just the game for 4,662 yen or the Wii Remote Plus Set, which comes with a Wii Remote Plus, for 7,236 yen. Both version of the game will include a Captain Bully Song Medal, which can be scanned via the Wii U GamePad.
Following the announcement of the various new Zygarde forms and Ash-Greninja, a trailer has now been published for the new season of the Pokemon anime, called Pocket Monsters XY & Z, where they will be seen for the first time. At the moment we don’t know how and when these Pokemon will appear in any of the games, but it’s likely just a matter of time. The Pokemon series’ 20th anniversary is next year and a new mainline Pokemon game would not exactly be a huge surprise.
