Codemastersは、2023年にEA Sports WRCのさらなる拡張をリリースしないと発表し、ゲームの道の終わりをマークします。さらに、スタジオは将来のラリータイトルで開発を一時停止することを決定しました。
発表はEA.comを介して行われました。そこでは、コードマスターがオフロードレースでの旅を反映しています。 「私たちのWRCパートナーシップは、コリンマクレーラリーや汚れなどのタイトルを通じて数十年にわたるオフロードレースとのコードマスターの旅のための頂点の集大成でした」とスタジオは述べています。 「私たちはすべてのラリー愛好家のために家を提供し、境界を押し広げ、ぼろぼろのエッジで運転する爽快なスリルを届けようと努力しました。信じられないほど才能のあるレーシング開発者を集め、スポーツのアイコンのいくつかと協力し、ラリーへの愛を共有する機会がありました。」
ワールドラリーチャンピオンシップは、ソーシャルメディアに関するニュースを認め、WRCゲームフランチャイズの野心的な新しい方向性を示唆しており、すぐに詳細を説明しています。
Codemastersのラリーゲーム開発を停止するEAによるこの決定は、特に2020年にEAの英国に拠点を置くスタジオの買収に続いて、Motorsportsのファンにとっては残念です。この発表は、Respawn Entertainmentでの約100を含むEAでの300を超えるレイオフの報告と一致します。
Codemastersは、1998年のColin McRae Rally以来、ラリービデオゲームの先駆者です。シリーズは長年にわたって大幅に進化し、2007年にマクレーが亡くなった後、コリンマクレーラリーからダートに移行しました。注目すべきタイトルには、2009年のダート2が含まれています。
2023年にリリースされたEA Sports WRCは、2002年のColin McRae Rally 3以来、公式のWRCライセンスを特集した最初のCodemasters Rallyゲームでした。IGNのレビューによると、EA Sports WRCは、公式にライセンスされた世界ラリーチャンピオンシップフレームワーク内で2019年のDirt Rally 2.0の本質を首尾よく獲得しました。しかし、それは、その後の更新が対処することを目的としたスクリーンティアリングのような技術的な問題に苦労していました。
Company of Heroes has officially introduced an online, cross-platform multiplayer mode in its latest update, marking a major milestone for the acclaimed World War II real-time strategy franchise. This new feature allows players on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch to seamlessly join the same matches, fostering a more connected and inclusive multiplayer experience.
The cross-platform functionality was developed in collaboration with the game’s publisher, Relic Entertainment, and developer Sega, leveraging advanced matchmaking and anti-cheat systems to ensure fair and smooth gameplay across all supported platforms. Players can now team up or compete against friends regardless of their chosen console or PC, breaking down traditional platform barriers.
Key features of the new online multiplayer mode include:
True Cross-Platform Play: Join matches with players on any supported platform using a unified account system.
Dynamic Matchmaking: Intelligent pairing based on skill level, platform preference, and region.
Enhanced Anti-Cheat Measures: Built-in protections to maintain a fair and enjoyable experience.
Cross-Progression and Leaderboards: Track achievements and progress across devices.
Regular Content Updates: New maps, factions, and gameplay modes are being rolled out seasonally.
The addition of cross-platform multiplayer has been warmly received by the Company of Heroes community, with many praising the move for revitalizing the franchise and expanding its competitive scene. Relic has also confirmed plans for future support of VR integration and expanded esports initiatives.
Whether you’re commanding Allied forces on the Western Front or leading German panzers through the Eastern Campaign, the new online mode ensures that every battle is now more accessible—and more intense—than ever before.
Company of Heroes: Cross-Platform Multiplayer Mode is now live on all supported platforms.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza — that title sounds like a wild, genre-bending crossover that blends the gritty, emotional storytelling of the Like a Dragon series with the swashbuckling chaos of pirate adventure. While it’s not an official game as of now (as of 2024), let’s imagine what this fictional fusion might look like in full detail:
🎮 Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza
(An Imagined PlayStation 5 Exclusive)
Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG, Open World
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC (later)
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (Sega)
Release Date: 2025 (Fictional)
🌟 The Premise:
After being betrayed and exiled from Kamurocho, Ichiban Kasuga—the heart of the Yakuza world—flees across the Pacific in a stolen cargo ship, only to crash on a mysterious island chain known as The Crimson Isles. There, he discovers a forgotten legend: a secret pirate clan, the Kurozame, who once served as the "spiritual guardians" of the Yakuza, protecting ancient codes of honor from foreign corruption.
But now, the Kurozame are hunted. Their leader, Captain Hekigan, has vanished. Their ships lie in ruins. And a sinister new power—the Black Galleon Syndicate—is enslaving islanders and siphoning the land's spiritual energy.
Ichiban, now a "pirate in spirit," must survive, fight, and reclaim his honor not with swords and fists alone—but with friendship, music, and the unbreakable will of a man who believes in second chances.
🔥 Key Features:
Dynamic Pirate Combat System:
Fight with a mix of traditional Like a Dragon brawler mechanics and nautical chaos—boarding enemy ships, swinging from rigging, using cannon fire, and even summoning sea monsters through ritual songs.
The "Soul of the Sea" Gauge:
A new meter that builds through storytelling, friendship, and musical performances. When full, Ichiban can unleash legendary "Spirit Raids"—epic, cinematic battles where he dances through waves and attacks like a storm.
The Crew System:
Recruit eccentric pirate crewmates with unique skills:
Kaito, a rogue samurai-turned-pirate who fights with dual katanas and a voice like a hurricane.
Miyako, a former geisha who uses fans to control wind and summon storms.
Captain Fudo, a grizzled veteran with a mechanical arm and a heart full of grudges.
Island Towns & Open World:
Explore lush jungle islands, underwater ruins, and floating bazaars. Every town has its own theme—hip-hop port cities, gothic pirate forts, and even a secret island where yakuza and pirates once held "brotherhood duels" in honor of peace.
Fishing, Cooking, and Music Minigames:
Yes, you can fish for mythical sea eels, cook seafood risotto on a beach, and perform live on the deck with a guitar made from a stolen violin.
The "Yakuza Code on the High Seas":
Moral choices affect your crew’s loyalty. Help a starving village? Gain honor. Betray a friend for treasure? Unlock dark "Pirate Ghost" forms.
🎵 Music & Tone:
The soundtrack blends traditional Japanese folk, pirate sea shanties, and jazzy saxophone riffs reminiscent of Yakuza 0.
Iconic theme: "The Wind That Carries the Name of a Man" — a haunting ballad sung by a mysterious woman who may be a spirit from Ichiban’s past.
🎮 Gameplay Moments:
Battle Scene: Ichiban fights a giant, cursed kraken made of yakuza swords and cursed pachinko machines, screaming, "I only fight for my friends!"
Emotional Climax: After losing his best crewmate, Ichiban sings a lullaby to a storm-ravaged village, calming the seas and awakening the island’s ancient guardian spirit—an enormous, glowing crane made of paper and light.
Final Boss: The Black Galleon’s leader isn’t a pirate at all—but a corrupted version of Daisuke Arakawa, a former yakuza councilman who believed honor was obsolete.
💬 Quote (Ichiban, in a pirate hat, grinning):
"I may not have a ship. I may not even know how to sail. But I’ve got heart, and a crew that’s more family than gold. And that… is the real treasure."
🚨 Why It Works:
Like a Dragon has always explored themes of redemption, loyalty, and found family. Pirates are the ultimate metaphor for outcasts and rebels—perfect for Ichiban’s journey.
The blend of Eastern honor and Western adventure creates a fresh, emotional, and wildly fun experience.
Fans of One Piece, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Yakuza would all feel at home.
🎮 Verdict (Fictional):
If Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza ever released, it would be a cultural phenomenon—more than a game, it’d be a legend in the making, with more heart than any ship ever built.
🏴☠️ “The sea doesn’t care about your past. But your crew does. And that’s enough.”
— Ichiban Kasuga, Captain of the Kurozame, 2025
Would you play it? 🏴☠️💥