With its previous update, urban open world NTE added an entire fantasy RPG mode – and I continue to be flabbergasted by Chinese dev Hotta Studio’s ongoing support for this title.
Its next PS5 update, due out on 19th August, includes a dizzying array of new activities – including a beach volleyball minigame, jet ski races, construction work, and a new island centred around Initial D-style drift racing.
Two new playable characters will be added to the gacha: Zankou and Linko. In addition to their unique combat kits, unlocking them will also add their personal interactions to the sandbox’s social gameplay.
Furthermore, both newcomers – alongside several existing units – will be getting new outfits. These will be unlockable through gameplay, purchasable using in-game credit, or part of a new blind box gacha, which will also include the aforementioned jet ski vehicle.
Jet ski races will be added to the open world as a new event, while the sandbox will be extended with a new island, built for cars.
Here you’ll be whipping around hairpin bends and engaging in various street races; all of the collectibles in this part of the map will be accessible via vehicle, so you won’t necessarily need to get out and explore on foot. (Although you can if you want to.)
If that’s not enough, the abovementioned beach volleyball minigame has surprising depth: you’ll need to select partners and then level up their skills as you play together, adding depth to the mode. Weekly tournaments will also be added to the game’s list of activities, earning you in-game currency, Fons.
In addition, construction work will give you a new way to spend your City Stamina, with a variety of different minigames designed around building up the urban metropolis of Heathereau.
The previous update’s fantasy RPG mode will be getting a combat focused update, as you work your way up a ladder of increasingly difficult skirmishes.
There’s also a new property you can buy using in-game currency which includes a garden, where you can grow your own crops to sell.
Meanwhile, other highlights include the continuation of the main storyline involving The Scarlet Letter, a new bicycle vehicle available to purchase in-game, and a random outfit toggle for every character, allowing you to keep the gameplay fresh for units with a lot of costumes
Frankly, I’m staggered by the amount of content in this update. These gacha games always go hard with their pipelines, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.
The team also teased that its next major update, due out later in the year, will add in the theme park location glimpsed on the horizon of the open world. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of new activities and minigames get added as part of this.
[source youtube.com]
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As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.