Square Enix lifts its PC Game prices to $70

Square Enix hikes PC game prices to €80

Square Enix is leading the charge into a new base pricing model for PC releases: €80 for new releases, and that's for standard editions without any season passes or extra content like DLC and soundtracks.

Major publishers started changing their pricing models when the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles launched last year, citing increasing development costs.

• Publishers blame higher development costs
• Digital distribution is said to be getting more expensive
• Steam prices range from $60, $40, $30, $15, $4 on the top sellers
• Square Enix has a somewhat chequered history when it comes to PC ports

New standard: Both Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Forspoken will cost €80 at launch, with the Digital Deluxe Edition of Forspoken going for €105.

Exclusive deals: Final Fantasy VII Remake was a timed PlayStation exclusive and will now be a timed Epic Games Store exclusive.

Reader's opinion: We'd love to hear your thoughts on the price increases, do you feel it's justified, would you be willing to pay $70/€80 for new releases on PC, or will you be waiting for sales across digital platforms? Reach out to us and let us know, we'll be sharing your thoughts on Twitter today.

Which Battleborn character had a theme tune performed by Steam Powered Giraffe?

a) Kid Ultra
b) Montana
c) Oscar Mike
d) Thorn

The answer will be revealed at the bottom of today's issue. Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss what the answer could be.

Final Fantasy VII Remake comes to PC

Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally makes its debut on PC, exclusively on the Epic Games Store, alongside Xbox exclusive sci-fi action adventure The Gunk.

Thursday – December 16th

• Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo for PC
• Alien: Isolation for iOS, Android
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for PC
• Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach for PC, PS4, PS5
• The Gunk for PC, XBO, XSX
• Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth for NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX

Pokémon Go & Pokémon Unite Holidays

Niantic has published the full event calendar for the Pokémon Go holiday celebration, which starts on December 16th and lasts until New Year's Eve. Expect avatar items, stickers, and bundles from December 15th.

Go dates: Pokémon Go Holidays: Part 1 between December 16th and 23rd features costumed encounters. December Community Day on both December 18th and 19th, followed by Holidays Part 2 between December 23rd and 31st.

Pokémon Unite also celebrates the spirit of the season with two Unite licenses introducing melee all-rounder Tsareena for free between December 9th and 31st, while Dragonite will make an appearance on December 20th.

Unite gifts: There are also new challenges between December 15th and January 16th, a new 4-on-4 quick battle map, and special log-in gifts between December 24th and January 1st.

Brave Browser rewards you for surfing

Maybe your internet connection is fast, but what about your browser? The Brave Browser is built from the ground up for speed, privacy and providing an ad-free Internet.

You can opt-in for ads that respect your privacy, and even earn rewards. It’s quick and easy to use, featuring the same comforts and conveniences you expect from a modern browser.

Century: Age of Ashes Giveaway

Like soaring through the skies? Like roasting things with your flame breath? Then you should saddle up your dragon and play Century: Age of Ashes, Playwing's free-to-play dragon'em-up!

It's Friday, so that means we can now announce this week's winners:

• Indru Maiorescu
• Isaac Shepherd
• Kenneth Akintola
• Stefanie Vlcek
• Bob McBoberson

• The Nintendo 64 version of Banjo-Kazooie is coming to Switch Online in January next year
• Sony acquires Valkyrie Entertainment, making the Seattle-based studio the 17th member of PlayStation Studios
• New trailer for first-person horror game Scorn alongside release date announcement
• Rebellion has unveiled Sniper Elite 5 with a neck-stabbing, head-exploding announcement trailer
• Sony has revealed new DualSense wireless controllers and PS5 cover colours, with Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple joining the galaxy-inspired color offerings next month
• Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss interview about The Matrix Resurrections and the Unreal-powered tie-in game

Which Battleborn character had a theme tune performed by Steam Powered Giraffe?

ANSWER: Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion!

Oh, Battleborn, we hardly knew ye. Despite sporting a unique fusion of MOBA and FPS design, it was mercilessly trampled by Overwatch. Gearbox clearly did its best, designing a wide array of heroes including the big-gunned and tiny-headed Montana – who even got his own theme song.

He's just one out of 25 heroes, but unlike them, he's got Steam Powered Giraffe singing a country tune about how awesome he is. Unfortunately, not even oddball musical crossovers could save Battleborn and the servers eventually got shut down. Pour one out for Montana and listen to his theme tune one last time.

Today's issue of DailyBits was written by Gavin Herman, Erlend Grefsrud, Simon Priest, and Jamie Davey. If you have any feedback or news tips for the team, please email us!