Nintendo have confirmed in their latest Consolidated Financial Highlights that the Mario Kart Tour game is still scheduled for iOS and Android devices this summer (please note that this is anytime within the next eight weeks – 23 September).
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● The closed beta test for Mario Kart Tour is now live. I won’t be posting any spoilers here other than to say the game is in portrait mode, include at least 30 playable characters, and has a heavy gacha element.
● Pokémon Scramble SP (Pokémon Rumble Rush) is now available in most of the world on the Google Play Store with the App Store version to follow. Six new My Nintendo rewards are also now available and have been added to the REWARDS page.
● Square-Enix announced that Oni no Naku Kuni (Oninaki) will release for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on 22 August priced at ¥6,264. Check out the introduction video, box art, and early purchase benefits. here.
● A new ‘Spirit Shield Slowdown’ spirit event was announced for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate beginning this Friday, and where defeated spirits’ shields will spin slower after Spirit Board battles, and you get triple the SP!
● The third free Labo VR mini-game Sushi Board is now available on the Nintendo Switch News Channel if you have the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit Toy-Con.
● Konami announced retailer specific amiibo cards in Japan for Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu.
● Oizumi Amuzio have updated Tennis World Tour, adding the Roland Garros Pack for ¥2,500 which includes the players Rafael Nadal and Kristina Mladenovic, along with four new stadiums. Check out the promo video here.
● Square-Enix will release the third DLC ‘Modernist Pack’ for Dragon Quest Builders 2: Hakaishin Shidoo to Karappo no Shima next week (30 May) priced at ¥1,296. The pack includes more than 70 different recipes for modern-looking structures, hairstyles and clothing. Today’s livestream posted here.
● Screenshots for Ribrianne in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 for Nintendo Switch have been added to this post.
● JFi Games announced that JUSTDAN INTERNATIONAL will be publishing the action game Dusk Diver simultaneously world-wide this Fall with a PlayStation 4 version newly announced. Check out the PS4 announcement trailer and new screenshots at this post.
● Koei Tecmo Games have updated Atelier Lulua ~The Scion of Arland~ to Version 1.03 fixing bugs, and adding both Traditional and Simplified Chinese language support to the Switch version.
● Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order will be added to the games able to be purchased with the Nintendo Catalog Ticket (Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers) and will otherwise cost ¥7,538 and will require 13.2 GB of disk space.
● Epic Games have updated Fortnite to v9.10 adding Hot Spots (Randomly selected locations on the map that have a high loot rate with an increase of Supply Drops) and Limited Time Mode rotation (Sniper Shootout Duos, Unvaulted Squads, and Close Encounters Squads) in Battle Royale mode, and Fortnite x Jordan Downtown Drop LTM and a Haunted Hills Theme in Creative.
● And while no official announcement has been made yet, expect a FIFA 20 reveal soon as Amazon currently have it listed for 28 September release.
● Sting announced the macho man training game Macho de Pon！ZZ for release on the Japanese switch eShop next week (30 May) priced at ¥888. Check out the Switch version trailer here.
● KEMCO announced the turn-based RPG Asdivine Dios for release on the Switch eShop after July with a world-wide launch expected. Check out the promo video here.
● TROOOZE’s mystery game teased a few days ago is the multiplayer third-person shooter Bullet Battle Evolution which is now available to preload for ¥1,800, and launches next week (30 May).
● Flyhigh Works announced their first Switch game for a few weeks with a localisation of the puzzle platformer Typoman as Wordman. The game releases next week (30 May) and is available to preload now for ¥1,080 (the regular price is ¥1,200). Japanese trailer posted here.
● Teyon Japan announced the survival RPG Smoke and Sacrifice will release on the Japanese Switch eShop next week (30 May) with preloads now live priced at ¥2,000. Japanese trailer posted here.
● X.D. Network announced that the rhythm action game Muse Dash will release on the Switch eShop on 20 June priced at ¥3,240／$29.99. It’s not available to preload yet, but will launch with a 10% discount.
● Starsign’s latest localisation is for Dragon Pinball priced at just ¥300. Check out this week’s updated eShop line-up including artwork, prices, and descriptions at this post.
● Motion Twin released the “free” Dead Cells – Rise of the Giant DLC in Japan, although charged ¥100 for the privilege. Animated trailer posted here.
● Angry Mob Games also released a demo for the fighting game Brawlout on the Japanese Switch eShop just after posting yesterday’s update.
● Today’s demos also added Doraemon Nobita no Bokujou Monogatari (Doraemon Story of Seasons) from Bandai Namco Entertainment, Yumeutsutsu Re:Master from Kogado Studio, and Omori Gourmet Shokudo (Cafeteria Nipponica) from Kairosoft.
● This week’s Japanese Switch preloads have also been added to this post headlined by GOD EATER 3.
● Arc System Works announced they will be removing Citizens of Earth Tatakae！Fukudaitouryou to 40-nin no Shimintachi！ from the Japanese 3DS eShop next week (31 May), although no reason was given for the removal.
● Three new DECO*27 themes are now available on the Japanese 3DS Theme Shop featuring the tracks 「Nocturnal Kids」「Otome Dissection」and「Ai Kotoba Ⅲ」 and each priced at ¥200. Check out a screenshot for Ai Kotoba Ⅲ and all three trailers at this post”.
● Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp saw the return of Digby’s hammock special furniture item. Check out images for it here.
● Fire Emblem Heroes saw Special Heroes Revival: Bridal Bloom featuring Ninian: Bright-Eyed Bride, Sanaki: Apostle in White, and Tharja: Obsessive Bride. Today also sees a Tempest Trials+ Log-In Bonus here.
● Ys Memories of Celceta：Kai was the best-selling game in Japan last week, opening with 13,895. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was number two with 8,507. Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console, but dropped to 32,564. Check out the full top 10 at this post.
● The only review score in Weekly Famitsu Issue No.1590 is Venture Kid with 28/40. As always, check out our REVIEWS page for the full list of Famitsu scores for Switch games.
● Nintendo Co., Ltd. shares increased by +300 (0.79%) in Japan today to close trading for the day at 38,280.00 JPY.
● Mortal Kombat 11 was the best-selling game for April in the United States according to NPD data including for Switch. Switch was the best-selling console for April and year-to-date with both unit and dollar sales.
● Nintendo announced that Dragon Quest Builders 2 will launch in North America and Europe on 12 July. The opening movie for Boy Builder here and Girl Builder here.
● Spike Chunsoft announced they’ll be releasing YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world on Switch, PS4, and Steam in the west on 01 October. Check out the trailer here.
● And PQube Games announced they’ll be publishing AeternoBlade II for Switch, PS4, and Xbox One this Fall. Check out the announcement trailer here.
● A live-action trailer for Team Sonic Racing here.
● A promo video for Psikyo Collection Volumes 1-3 here.
● A Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu promo video featuring the Yokohama DeNA team here.
● A third instructional video for Dragon’s Dogma：Dark Arisen here.
● A special feature video on Jinrui no Minasama he here.
● Vambrace: Cold Soul ‘Feature #2: Combat’ trailer here.
● And a Famitsu livestream for Arcade Archives IMAGE FIGHT here.
● Thanks to Naruki for more news tips again today!
● And thanks everybody for following. Please also check out my Toad fansite, follow me on Twitter and buy me a coffee!
Nintendo are still accepting applicants for closed beta test participants for the Mario Kart Tour mobile game that is due for release this Summer. Applications are open in Japan and the United States only and are for Android devices. Deadline date for applications is 07 May (8th in Japan) with the beta test between 22 May and 04 June (5th in Japan). Apply here in Japan or here in the US.
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Nintendo have opened up a webpage applications for closed beta of Mario Kart Tour for Android devices only for Japan and the United States. Applications are from today until 08 May (7th May in the U.S.). The beta runs from 22 May until 08 June, with the game still scheduled for Summer 2019 release.
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● In the nine months earning release ending 31 December 2018, Nintendo Co., Ltd. reported a 19.5% year-on-year increase for Nintendo Switch hardware and a 100.9% increase in software. In-spite of the optimistic outlook, President Shuntaro Furukawa revised the estimated number of Nintendo Switch systems sold this fiscal year from 20 million to 17 million (it currently stands at 14.49 million), and also for Nintendo 3DS systems from 4 million to 2.6 million (currently it’s at 2.31 million), with hardware decreasing by 60.5% year-on-year, and software 64.5%.
● Smart device related income saw an increase of 14.7% year-on-year, although Mario Kart Tour will not release this fiscal year as currently planned and is now scheduled for Summer 2019. Furukawa told Nikkei that Nintendo still plan on releasing two to three mobile games per year, although only managed the one (Dragalia Lost) this fiscal year. Furukawa aims to scale up the mobile business, which currently only accounts for 3% of Nintendo’s overall revenue.
● A separate Nikkei report states that Nintendo are planning a smaller, cheaper Nintendo Switch system for release in the next fiscal year (which ends on 31 March 2020), focusing on portable play but with less functionality. Nintendo declined to comment. Any admission that such a system exists would unlikely be publicly made until shortly before launch. Nikkei also report that Nintendo Switch Online will see additional services, likely paid, although no further information is available.
● Nintendo’s three major Nintendo Switch titles in Q4 registered impressive sales with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate selling a massive 12.08 million units as of 31 December and will likely overtake Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (which is at 15.08 million) as the best-selling Switch game of all-time by the end of the 2019 calendar year. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!／Eevee! amassed 10 million units sold by 31 December, with Super Mario Party surpassing most expectations with 5.3 million units.
● So much other sales anecdotes to report with Nintendo saying a total of 20 million-sellers for the period including third parties: Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze has outsold the Wii U original selling 2.08 million as opposed to 1.98 million on Wii U.
● The Nintendo Switch version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker has sold 1.05 million units (I don’t have Wii U data to hand) as of 31 December.
● The Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit has sold 1.06 million as of 31 December, with the second and third kits marking subsequent drops.
● Mario Tennis Ace(s) is another first-party success, selling 2.53 million as of 31 December rounding off the last of this fiscal year’s games to open above one million.
● In the evergreen category: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is at 15.02 million, Super Mario Odyssey is at 13.76 million, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is at 11.68 million, Splatoon 2 is at 8.27 million, 1-2-Switch is at 2.86 million, and Kirby Star Allies is at 2.42 million.
● In the release schedule for 2019: Fire Emblem Three Houses is still listed as Spring 2019, the untitled Pokémon RPG is the second half of 2019 on the Japanese document and late 2019 on the English. Both Animal Crossing and Luigi’s Mansion 3 are listed as 2019, with both Bayonetta 3 and Metroid Prime 4 listed as TBA.
● Nintendo have opened up a Smash Bros. Dojo Twitter account for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players to post photos with the hashtag #スマブラ画. The first theme is festival, with entries open until 07 February at 23:59 JST. Winning entries will be retweeted with comments from Masahiro Sakurai to be added later.
● Both Jiren and Videl are now available for Dragon Ball FighterZ priced at ¥540 for each character or ¥2,700 for the FigherZ Pass 2 set which will also include Broly (DBS) and Gogeta (SSGSS), along with two fighters yet to be revealed. Nintendo have the dates of the remaining fighters as 25 April, 25 July, 26 September, and 28 November, although these could just be placeholders. Introduction videos for both Juren and Videl posted here.
● Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that worldwide sales for Boku no Academia: One’s Justice (My Hero One’s Justice) have surpassed 500,000 across all platforms. To celebrate, the game is now 30% off on the Nintendo Switch eShop, reduced from ¥8,208 to ¥5,700 until 13 February. There’s a huge Bandai Namco Winter Sale going on that I’ll endeavour to post about in full tomorrow!
● Ancient Games have opened up the teaser website for the third Gotta Protectors game Susume！！Mamotte Knight – Hime no Totsugeki Serenade.
● And Spike Chunsoft have opened up the teaser website for AI：The Somnium Files. Still no update on a release window.
● Further to our report yesterday that Darksiders Warmastered Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch, THQ officially confirmed it today, releasing in the West on 02 April. It’ll be interesting to see whether Worker Bee (who have localised several THQ Nordic games for Japan) will also localise this. Switch trailer posted here.
● With the Boke vs. Tsukkomi Splatfest due to start in Japan this weekend, North America and Europe will see a Pancakes vs Waffles Splatfest begin on 08 February (the 9th in Europe).
● Nicalis announced that Crystal Crisis have been delayed to 28 May in the West. The Japanese release (published by Pikii) is still listed as ‘Spring’.
● A Pokémon music pack DLC is coming to Taiko no Tatsujin Nintendo Switch Version! on 07 February priced at ¥432, containing the three tracks, Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee Game Music, Pokémon Sun & Moon Anime Opening – Future Connection, and Pokémon Anime Opening – Mezase Pokémon Master ~20th Anniversary~.
● Mighty Craft announced that Super Real Mahjong PV will no longer release in late January (as should be obvious in that it the 31st) with no alternate release date at present. No word on the other planned game for January (Touhou Sky Arena: Gensokyo Kuusen Hime -MATSURI-CLIMAX).
● Only Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn and the Japanese only title Mobile Ball are listed on the Nintendo release schedule from earlier today in the upcoming games section for 3DS (the U.S. is still to see the localisation of Yokai Watch 3. Shortly after, Atlus added to this by announcing a localisation go Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth for release on 04 June with a physical version planned. Check out the opening cinematic at this post.
● Mario Kart 7 managed to sell an impressive 1.07 million units in the last nine months of 2018 and now stands at 18.11 million units sold worldwide, making it the best-selling 3DS game to date.
● The Wii Shopping Channel has now closed and you are unable to purchase software or additional content. Re-downloading existing purchases is still possible however.
● Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp saw the Pelly’s Flight of Passion gardening event begin along with the Candy Cluster Muster seasonal event, See pictures from both events at this post.
● Dragalia Lost saw the new raid event, Skyborne Spectacle begin which includes the new adventurer, Su Fang. Also today is the Springtime Spree summoning event with featured adventurer: Lin You, featured dragon: Long Long, and featured wyrmprints: Warrior Maiden and Kung Fu Masters.
● Fire Emblem Heroes saw the Voting Gauntlet: Mothers and Sons begin with first round matches of Ethlyn vs Leif, Lissa vs Owain, Church vs Gerome, and Mikoto vs Corrin.
● Check out this week’s Nintendo-only Famitsu Most Wanted with Animal Crossing dominance here and this week’s Famitsu software and hardware charts here.
● Nintendo Co., Ltd. shares increased by +2.05% today to close trading at 33,830.00. Please note that this does not reflect on the third quarter financial results. That will be reflected in Friday’s numbers. U.S. stock is down -4.57% as of press-time, likely reflecting the new revised hardware numbers.
● In site news: I opened up a page looking at all Nintendo hardware sales. I’ve included the Virtual Boy, Game & Watch, and Color TV-Game that aren’t on the Nintendo homepage.
● And in other sales numbers: Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition and Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition recorded total sales of 5.83 million units in the last nine months of 2019. I’ll add these systems to the hardware page once a breakdown of sales is made available.
● Three Nintendo Switch My Way commercials from Nintendo of America with Super Mario Odyssey & Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (here), Final Fantasy VII & Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (here), and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (here). Final Fantasy VII is listed as ‘coming soon’ btw!
● A Lulu character trailer from Made in Wario Gorgeous (WarioWare Gold) here.
● The all participants trailer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from Nintendo HK here.
● An additional chibi DLC costume introduction video for Fate/EXTELLA LINK here.
● A ‘Keep the Faith’ theme song video for Dusk Diver here.
● Introduction videos for Nora to Oujo to Noraneko Heart 2 -Nora, Princess, and Crying Cat.- here.
● The Japanese trailer for Necrosphere Deluxe here.
● The Broken World DLC trailer for Victor Vran Overkill Edition here.
● The 17th Episode of Dragalia Lost ‘Radio Castle’ here.
● The Downwell Nintendo Switch launch trailer here.
● The Dragon Marked for Death Nintendo Switch launch trailer here.
● And the latest four hour Arks Winter Challenge livestream for Phantasy Star Online 2 here.
● Thanks to Naruki for thr Super Real Mahjong PV news!
● And thanks everybody for following. Please also follow me on Twitter @japanese3ds and please buy me a coffee!
“In the smart-device business, Mario Kart Tour was scheduled to be released this fiscal year, but in order to improve quality of the application and expand the content offerings after launch, the release date has been moved to summer 2019.”
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Nintendo Co., Ltd. have posted numerous job listings for game(s) on smart devices at their Kyoto headquarters including ‘Director of game management’, ‘Game development engineer’, ‘Promotion Director’ and ‘Customer support manager’. There’s no hint as to what game(s) these are for. The only confirmed future mobile title is Mario Kart Tour although a mobile entry in The Legend of Zelda series has long since been rumoured.
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Japanese ‘Street Go-Karting’ company MariCAR Corporation have applied for a ‘MariCAR TOUR’ trademark, as well as ‘TOUR MariCAR’ and ‘MariTOUR’ variations for multiple purposes including ‘home video game toys’. The company won a lawsuit against Nintendo Co., Ltd. last year (source). It’s unknown if, or indeed how, Nintendo will respond to these latest trademark applications which are close to their upcoming mobile game ‘Mario Kart Tour’.
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Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for three Mario Kart Tour trademarks (’MARIOKART TOUR’, ‘マリカーツアー’ and ‘MK TOUR’) for purposes related to an electronic game program, renting of vehicles, providing electronic publications online and provision of amusement parks etc. I’ve added the actual MARIOKART TOUR application below (all three are essentially the same)…
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The DeNA CEO Isao Moriyasu has revealed that Mario Kart Tour will be free-to-start. The company also revealed no current plans to enter the console market.
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Mario Kart Tour announced for mobile
Nintendo have announced Mario Kart Tour for smartphones. It is scheduled for release between April 2018 and March 2019. Nintendo have said: “We will announce further details at a later date.”
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● President Tatsumi Kimishima announced Mario Kart Tour for smartphones. It is scheduled for release between April 2018 and March 2019 with further details being revealed at a later date.
● Kimishima also confirmed Nintendo are working with Illumination Entertainment on an animated Super Mario movie with Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto producing and Universal Pictures distributing worldwide. Expect a release around 2020.
● Nintendo will launch the paid service for Nintendo Switch Online in September 2018 with it remaining free to use until that time. ‘Attractive’ content is planned for the paid service.
● Playism announced they are bringing the 2D side-scrolling action game Kero Blaster to the Switch (they have just published TorqueL and will also publish both Croixleur Sigma and Detention).
● The retail version of VOEZ sold just 1,122 in its first week according to Dengeki data.
● ARMS has been updated to Ver.5.1 adding a new Tournament Mode, a Gallery feature, new Badges, Party Crash additions, plus bug fixes. The next Party Crash is on 9 February too with Springtron vs. Kid Cobra.
● The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been updated to Ver.1.5.0 on Switch where adding Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and Korean language support (voice will still be Japanese however), plus “Various fixes to improve gameplay”.
● The niconico Switch app has been updated to Ver.2.00 and now allows players to watch niconico official live broadcasts.
● The Arowana Mall will be added to Splatoon 2 at 11:00 JST tomorrow (tonight in North America).
● Resident Evil Revelations (Biohazard Revelations in Japan) has sold around 250,000 worldwide on Switch according to Capcom.
● Dragon Quest XI: Sugisarishi Toki o Motomete was amongst the list of some of the other publisher titles to be released moving forward on Nintendo Switch in today’s presentation slides.
● The PriPara: All Idol Perfect Stage! website has now fully opened up (here).
● Shigeru Miyamoto said Nintendo’s ultimate goal is for the console to be “one-per-person.”
● Kimishima wants the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan to be more than five to six years, and aims to continue evolving the ways people play games.
● Kimishima said Nintendo are “continuing to develop new software” for Nintendo 3DS and that they “intend to continue the Nintendo 3DS business separately and in parallel [to Nintendo Switch]”. 3DS is being “positioned as an affordable product for budget-conscious consumers” moving forward.
● Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp saw Lottie’s Gothic Rose Festival begin and is much like Rover’s Garden Safari except with Roses and Bats. More details here. Presentation slides today revealed approximately 77% of players are female.
● Fire Emblem Heroes Choose Your Legends: Round 2 Results saw Celica win the Women’s division with Veronica as the runner-up, and Hector win the Men’s division with Ephraim as the runner-up. Nintendo are also planning a TV commercial for the game.
● Super Mario Run is still being played by approximately 20 million monthly active users according to Kimishima.
● PQube announced they are bringing the Switch visual novel game Song of Memories over to the West in 2018. Website with trailer here The game doesn’t yet have a release date in Japan.
● Former Rare developers Team17 are bringing the classic beat ‘em up Raging Justice to the Switch this year. Announcement trailer here.
● Landfall Games announced Stick Fight: The Game is coming to the Switch.
● Wales Interactive will publish Typoman on Switch on 22 February with pre-load now live.
● Ratalaika Games announced Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition for Switch.
● Wired Productions announced they are bringing The Town of Light: Deluxe Edition to Switch this Spring.
● And Mixed Bag Games are bringing both The Wardrobe and Detective Gallo to the Switch.
● Kimishima announced the global sell-through of the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom (including Western SNES variants) is at four million.
● Square Enix will host a Dragon Quest Builders “Builders 100 Landscapes Contest: The Road to Builders 2” broadcast on 16 February at 20:00 JST.
● Sega will have a panel at SXSW on 16 March discussing last year’s Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces, plus where Sonic will go next.
● Watch the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 The Game launch trailer here.
● The Shingeki no Kyojin 2 (Attack on Titan 2) battle trailer here.
● The first trailer for the new Hototogisu Tairan game Fujoki Tairan -1553 Ryuuko Aiutsu- here.
● A character video for Veronica from Anata no Shikihime Kyouikutan (Your Four Knight Princesses Training Story) here.
● A TorqueL -Physics Modified Edition- promo video here.
● And an ‘Amazing Creatures Have Been Discovered across the Planet!’ Pokémon Go video narrated by Stephen Fry here!
● Thanks again to Nirbion for the awesome new headers!
● Thanks to Contra Network for a lot of the worldwide news.
● Thanks to RiruKiria for the Song of Memories news.
● Thanks to toutoune for pointing out that I posted the wrong Attack on Titan video.
● And thanks everybody for following!
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Nintendo have announced Mario Kart Tour for smartphones. It is scheduled for release between April 2018 and March 2019. Nintendo have said: “We will announce further details at a later date.”
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