In Little Nightmares III, players follow the journey of Low & Alone, two best friends looking for a way out of the Nowhere.
Trapped within the Spiral, a cluster of distorted areas within the Nowhere, they will have to work together to survive in a dangerous world full of delusions and escape the grasp of an even greater threat lurking in the shadows.
Little Nightmares III returns to Gamescom with a brand-new trailer, highlighting the synergies between the two characters and teasing new environments to explore!
Co-operative features and new puzzle-solving mechanics
Little Nightmares III is the first game in the franchise to feature 2 players online co-operation. The latest trailer shows some of the co-operative gameplay mechanics that will be useful when players play together in co-op, or solo with the other character controlled by AI.
Low and Alone, the two playable characters, are both best friends and very complementary. They each have an iconic item: the bow for Low and the wrench for Alone.
Working together will be key to progress in the game. For example, in the trailer we see that Low can bring down smaller enemies with his bow, while Alone has to finish them off on the ground with her wrench.
You can also see Low put his bow to good use at the end of the trailer, saving Alone from the petrifying glare of Monster Baby.
However, teamwork isn’t only about using items. It is also about clearing the way for your partner so they can help you move forward in turn. You’ll need to be proactive and take initiative for both of you to make it through.
“The relationship between the two characters is very strong, and we were keen to explore that bond in the game. It is even more relevant when we see them working together to escape the many threats that make up the Nowhere”, mentioned Wayne Garland, Little Nightmares III Game Director at Supermassive Games.
New settings, faithful to Little Nightmares’ atmosphere
Teamwork is at the heart of the trailer, but it’s not the only new thing players will experience as they play through the game’s compelling story. By including co-op, we wanted to offer something fresh for the players, unique to Little Nightmares III, while retaining the beautifully disturbing atmosphere of the series.
You’ll feel it in the new environments, which are full of mysteries and revelations. You’ll also find the same tension and suspense as these two charming new characters face even greater risks than before, searching for a glimmer of hope in a world filled with darkness.
Necropolis is a good example of a new type of location in the game. In spite of its abandoned state and warm desert colors, the city feels eerie and unsettling. Don’t be fooled by this windswept, brightly lit environment. Danger is everywhere, and Monster Baby is easily roused when new toys tumble into her crib…
In the trailer, you can also spot a variety of other regions of the Nowhere, each one more unsettling than the last. Some of them might be reminiscent of places you might have explored in previous Little Nightmares games, like dank and gloomy vents and the gears and pistons of pitiless machinery. Some are more unfamiliar, like a rickety Ferris wheel, a shadowy circus tent, or a massive, complex clockwork mechanism.
You’ll have to be patient before we can tell you more about these places and their inhabitants! More news about Little Nightmares III will be revealed in the near future, so stay together, little ones.
Little Nightmares III will be released in 2025 on PS5 and PS4.
Behold the reveal of a new locale submerged in scarlet colored water, new characters pivotal to the story, and of course, ferocious new monsters, all part of our 3rd trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds. We’re excited to share this first breakdown of the details below, straight to all our hunters on PlayStation.
Watch the brand-new trailer and read on to learn more about the Forbidden Lands, the inhabitants of hunters’ base camp in the Windward Plains, as well as the mysterious monster that stirred up a storm in our previous trailer.
Step into the Scarlet Forest and stand against a new foe
Together with members of the Research Commission, we step into a new locale in the Forbidden Lands and come face to face with the new large monster that calls it home. This new spider-like monster is part of the rare Temnoceran classification of monsters, which have been few and far between throughout the series.
The Scarlet Forest
Follow the river from the Windward Plains to enter the verdant Scarlet Forest, lush with tall trees and abundant water. This isn’t your ordinary forest, however. As the name suggests, the towering greenery above is offset by water colored with a deep red hue.
Lala Barina
New to Monster Hunter Wilds is the Temnoceran Lala Barina, which inhabits the Scarlet Forest. Normally covered in white fur, Lala Barina can unfold its thorax at will, revealing a dazzling yet dangerous blooming rose appearance.
Massive, ever-changing environments
The vast and dynamic environments of Monster Hunter Wilds can radically change on the fly. During the harsh Fallow period, hungry predators roam the diminished land for food, resulting in more aggressive and dangerous herds of monsters.
The Fallow period is typically followed by a locale’s Inclemency: a harsh ecological event which may drastically alter the ecosystem altogether. Expect to encounter the area’s dangerous apex monster during Inclemency. In the Windward Plains, the specific Inclemency is a great rolling sandstorm with thunder known as the Sandtide.
A semblance of harmony returns to the land following the end of Inclemency with the Plenty period, where the land teems with life once again.
Expect the unexpected in the dynamic locales of Monster Hunter Wilds, where no two hunts are ever the same.
Fallow period of the “Windward Plains”
In the “Windward plains,” an unusual Inclemency occurs, with thunderous Sandtides
The Plenty period of the “Windward Plains”
A Thunderous Apex Reveal
In each locale in Monster Hunter Wilds, apex monsters reign at the top of the ecosystem.
Rey Dau
While only briefly sighted in our previous trailer, the mysterious monster Rey Dau is no longer a flash of lighting, now appearing in full form. This flying wyvern reigns as the apex monster of the Windward Plains.
Rey Dau most often appears during the Sandtide Inclemency in the Windward Plains and is fully adapted to its harsh weather conditions. Accompanied by large-scale lightning strikes, Rey Dau possess a mastery of the elements by unleashing earth-shattering electrical discharge attacks of its own.
Beware its spectacular aerial dance as it takes to the sky to deliver destruction from above.
More new faces join the Forbidden Lands Research Commission
Olivia
Meet Olivia, a hammer-wielding member of the Hunter’s Guild who joins the Research Commission. She previously served the Guild by taking on special missions, and now joins the hunter and their crew into the Forbidden Lands.
If summoned, Olivia can also assist as a Support Hunter during quests.
Athos
Olivia is joined by her trusty long-haired Palico, Athos. Having accompanied her through many missions, this Palico is considered elite amongst its peers.
Hunt in a group, even in single-player
Like previous games in the Monster Hunters series, you’ll be able to fire off an SOS flare to request aid from up to 3 other hunters online.
However, if you’re looking to hunt in a group while playing in single-player, the new Support Hunter system is may be just what you’re looking for. New to Monster Hunter Wilds, you can now call-in aid from NPC Support Hunters while playing in single-player.
Support Hunter
SOS flare settings can be customized to be either “player only” or “support hunter” only, as well as the number of players in multiplayer. NPC support hunters can also join if no players have answered your SOS flare after a certain amount of time.
The Base Camp: your home away from home
Base Camp of the Windward Plains
The Base Camp of the Windward Plains serves as your base of operations. Prepare for hunts by visiting the smithy for new weapons and armor, buy items, prepare food, and more. At the base camp, you can communicate with members of the research commission.
Kunafa, Windsong Village
Areas in the Forbidden Lands contain established settlements inhabited by the local population for generations. Experience their culture and community that has been greatly shaped by their environment.
The Windsong Village, Kunafa, is one such settlement in the Windward Plains. The village is known as the home of the Seikret and is also renowned for the cheese produced by the milk of their livestock.
We hope you look forward to the interesting interactions between the members of the Research Commission and the villagers.
Explore and hunt in new ways
Larger and more dynamic locales mean new ways to hunt. Embark on Expeditions in Monster Hunter Wilds with multiple objectives in mind. Hunt seamlessly by targeting monsters on the field and attacking them to start a new quest. Keep in mind that some monsters cannot be set as targets during specific story progression situations.
Meals
Tasty food is a must in every Monster Hunter game, and Monster Hunter Wilds takes things to new heights by allowing you to cook anywhere, without returning to camp. Cook and eat delicious food while in the field by using a Portable BBQ Grill, increasing your strength and stats temporarily.
Portable BBQ Grills can also still be used to grill meat. Get your grill timing right to cook a well-done steak that will increase your maximum stamina and restore your health and stamina.
Pop-up camps
Keep an eye out in the field for places where you can set a Pop-up camp. A limited number of these camps can be created in fixed locations throughout the vast locales, allowing you to fast travel, manage your items and equipment, start new quests, return after fainting.
An Evolved Hunt
Monster Hunter Wilds retains the signature feel of the hunt, challenging hunters to master a wide variety of unique weapons and use everything at their disposal to achieve victory. Whether it’s taking advantage of the terrain, weather, endemic life, or items in your kit, every advantage is key while in a hunt. Monster Hunter Wilds further layers onto the core hunting mechanics with all new ones.
Power Clash
Clash in an intense power struggle when guarding against certain monster attacks. Go all out and push the monster back to make it stagger, then close in for a powerful follow-up attack.
Offset Attack (*available for some weapon types only)
When your attack clashes with a monster’s attack at the same time while using certain weapon types, an Offset Attack can occur. The attack will send the monster reeling, allowing you to follow up with a unique attack.
Be sure to visit the official Monster Hunter Wilds website to catch up on our videos summarizing the new Focus Mode, as well as our Weapon Overviews for all 14 types.
We hope you’ve enjoyed all the Monster Hunter Wilds details we’ve revealed today! Before we go, we’ve got two more details to touch on.
Your Palico is a dedicated partner that will support you in your hunt in various ways, from attacking to recovering your health, and more! Stay tuned in the future to learn more about their unique support behaviors.
It wouldn’t be a Monster Hunter game without lovingly crafted cooking scenes! The team has gone the extra mile to present food with as detailed and mouthwatering presentation as possible to make everyone say “So tasty!” We hope touches like these, alongside the rich world, story, monsters, and action show the level of detail and care being put into the game.
Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled for global release on PS5 in 2025! Be on the lookout for more news to come.
I’m hugely excited to announce Directive 8020 – an all-new sci-fi survival horror adventure coming in 2025 from Supermassive Games.
Directive 8020 is an all-new sci-fi survival horror adventure with all the immersive cinematic gameplay that you’d expect from a Supermassive game but now with even more features and player agency than we have ever done before.
So, first let’s start with the Story. Earth is dying and humanity is running out of time. 12 light years away the planet Tau Ceti f offers a small sliver of hope, but when the colony ship Cassiopeia crashes onto the planet the crew soon realize they’re far from alone.
Hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey, the crew of the Cassiopeia must outwit their pursuers to make it home alive. As they battle to survive, they are confronted with the hardest choice of all: to save themselves, they must risk the lives of everyone on Earth.
Naturally, as it’s a Supermassive horror game – things are not going to go to plan for our pioneering crew!
Across the game, you’ll explore the claustrophobic, stranded wreck of our recon ship, the Cassiopeia. A dark, terrifying location filled with horrors. Our game draws inspiration from different sci-fi horror films: from Alien through to Event Horizon. Like many of those movies, this game explores themes of sci-fi horror. We are adrift in space, insignificant and inconsequential compared to the vastness of space. The universe itself is uncaring and comfortless.
In space, death takes many forms
We also lean into body horror. Our alien entity has a grotesque design: warped flesh, bubbling, pustule-like eyes, and polymorphous form. Worse of all, it can reform its body to mimic any one of your crew. You must decide who to trust in a world where anyone could be a deadly alien impostor.
Over the course of the game you’ll control five crew members and play each of them multiple times – their fate rests in your hands as each crew member under your control lives or dies based on your actions. This is a branching horror adventure where your decisions shape the final outcome of the story. But it wont be easy – for the first time in a Dark Pictures game you will face real-time threats.
Intelligent, Hunter/Killer aliens which will track you down and murder you if you slip up. This is pure “on the sticks” gameplay and is completely new for the Dark Pictures. To survive, you’ll need to hide, evade, and overcome a variety of monsters. There is no comfort in exploration anymore – if you don’t keep your wits about you, it could spell the end for your character.
We’ve completely redesigned our character movement controls to support stealth. You’ll need to adapt to each new threat you face. There are many different stages of what we call ‘mimics’ in the game, from humanlike characters who act normally but are not human all, to a full blown hunter form where any attempt at mimicry has been abandoned in favour of brute force.
The DNA of the Dark Pictures is still present though – in fact, everything you love about the Dark Pictures is still here, from branching plotlines through to impossible choices. But as you’ll see, we’ve redesigned, polished, and amped up our gameplay from the ground up to lean more into sci-fi survival horror.
And finally, just like our previous games we’re super proud to have another amazing star feature in our cast. In Directive 8020 we have Lashana Lynch at the helm. You’ll recognize Lashana from movies such as 007 No Time to Die, The Woman King, Captain Marvel and Bob Marley: One Love. Lashana plays the role of Brianna Young, the pilot of the Cassiopeia. She is one of Earth’s best astronauts and the survival of the crew, and potentially Earth, is partly in her hands – and yours depending on how you play the game!
The launch of Sonic x Shadow Generations is coming fast this October, and everyone is curious to know more about Shadow the Hedgehog’s new Doom Powers!
The team just released a trailer all about the Doom Powers, highlighting each unique ability and how they provide new twists for Shadow’s platforming and combat. The trailer also showcased gameplay from new stages calling back to fan-favorites such as Chaos Island from Sonic Frontiers and Radical Highway from Sonic Adventure 2, as well as iconic boss challenges like Metal Overlord from Sonic Heroes. Eagle-eyed viewers might also catch a glimpse of the reimagined hub world, White Space, where players will get the opportunity to test out and master Shadow’s new moves while they explore, unlock stages, and uncover collectibles.
We got together with Sonic Team Creative Officer, Takashi Iizuka, to chat on why this game was the perfect opportunity to give Shadow new abilities, and how they offer new, action-packed ways of navigating different stages and boss battles.
Why are Shadow’s Doom Powers important to the story and gameplay?
Iizuka-san: In terms of gameplay, the team wanted to make Shadow Generations’ action more unique to differentiate it from what Sonic can do, so we added the Doom Powers. Shadow’s new powers are essential because they give him new ways to attack enemies and traverse the world, giving our team more to build upon in each stage’s level design. While we can’t share much about the story, the Doom Powers play an essential role in Shadow’s journey and development throughout his campaign, giving him more powers to save the world. Shadow receives these when he awakens to the power of darkness in the game, so players will see how closely they tie into the narrative when the game comes out later this year.
How did you choose the final selection of Doom Powers we see in the game? Why were these powers right for Shadow?
Iizuka-san: Shadow is a dark, anti-hero character, so the Doom Powers had to embody a sense of danger and mystery that can be seen in Shadow’s actions and movements. The level designers also incorporated many ways the Doom Powers can be used in this platform action game, so they are not just additional combat moves. Shadow can use Doom Powers to platform around the world.
How are these powers different from Shadow’s existing powers in previous games?
Iizuka-san: When designing the levels in Shadow Generations, we wanted to make the most of Shadow’s existing move, Chaos Control, which enables him to find new platforms to run through each stage and find new ways of attacking bosses. However, with only Chaos Control, the core of Shadow’s gameplay is very similar to what Sonic can do, so we introduced the Doom Powers to give the game more unique action. Not only does it increase the variety of things you can do in the platform action stages, but it also allows for great exploration and traversal abilities in the 3D White Space Hub World for Shadow.
What was the design process like when conceptualizing the idea and designing the look of each power?
Iizuka-san: The idea for the Doom Powers came up when we realized we needed to give Shadow new abilities and powers to create new gameplay formats. It was important to provide Shadow abilities that Sonic can’t do to make the action more enjoyable, while ensuring each power reflects his dark, anti-hero character. As the name suggests, the Doom Powers draw energy from Black Doom, so that was taken into consideration in the design of all the Doom Powers.
What Doom Powers are you most excited for fans to experience?
Iizuka-san: Doom Wing, the black wings that come out of Shadow in the Summer Game Fest trailer, was an impactful idea early in the design process, so we wanted to make it the coolest looking of all the Doom Powers. The wings that come out of Shadow make you think of a devil, which goes well with Shadow’s dark hero elements and allows us to present something cool and new, something we couldn’t do with Sonic.
Sonic fans – get ready to embrace Shadow’s dark side and use his new power to take on Black Doom and save the world! When the game launches this fall, be sure to try out all different kinds of paths and methods with each Doom Power to find new ways of completing each stage and battle.
Sonic x Shadow Generations is available for pre-order now starting at $49.99 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. To learn more about various pre-order incentives, head to PlayStation Store or Sonic x Shadow Generations official website. Fans who buy the Digital Deluxe Edition can play the game three days early and receive additional content.
The recent NBA offseason captured headlines with some of the league’s biggest stars shining overseas and others taking their talents to new teams via trade and free agency; as a result, you may be itching to play with your new-look squad in NBA 2K25’s Play Now mode. When you hit the court in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise September 4, 5am PST on PS5 and PS4, experience a bevy of enhancements across all of NBA2K25’s competitive game modes, including Play Now Online* featuring the return of Leagues, an overhauled leaderboard and ranking system, and more!
We also have first details on the PS5 Digital Edition – NBA 2K25 Bundle**, coming soon on September 4.
Whether you’re playing solo or with a friend, the classic Play Now mode is the quickest way to jump into the action and start throwing down thunderous dunks in a traditional head-to-head format. Choose from current NBA teams updated with active rosters, or pay homage to basketball’s legends with iconic rosters from the past. While you’ll immediately have the pick of the litter in offline Play Now, the rules of Play Now Online are slightly different.
The biggest change to Play Now Online is the return of Leagues, a five-level ranking system with Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and GOAT to determine your skill level. Every player will begin at the Bronze level and have all 30 current NBA teams to choose from, but in order to gain access to the expanded list, you’ll need to level up.
Bronze to Silver: Unlocks ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s eras teams
Silver to Gold: Unlocks 2000s era teams
Gold to Platinum: Unlocks 2010s era teams
Platinum to GOAT: Unlocks a GOATED Team (new GOATED team each Season)
To advance from Bronze to Silver and so on, you’ll need to accrue enough Victory Points by winning to move on. But there’s a catch: in NBA 2K25, you’ll only be able to use the same team once every five games, or until you level up to the next League. As much fun as it would be to dominate every game with the Boston Celtics, there’s an added incentive for using a lesser-ranked squad.
Leagues use overall ratings to group teams into three tiers to quantify how the Victory Points are awarded. Take a look below:
Tier 1 – Win with one of the top 10 overall-rated teams in the NBA to receive the smallest amount of Victory Points
Tier 2 – Win with teams ranked 11-20 overall to receive the medium amount of Victory Points
Tier 3 – Win with teams ranked 21-30 overall to receive the largest amount of Victory Points
The pursuit of victory is the ultimate goal in Play Now Online, but leveling up comes with its own set of bragging rights. Players who accrue enough points in the GOAT League will receive a VC prize, an All-time Team, and Prestige for completing the GOAT League. In addition, players who rank in the Top 100 players will receive an in-game logo, visible to all players, to show off their achievement.
Play Now Online in NBA 2K25 maintains the same authentic feel it always has, but this year it’s been refreshed with significant changes to add another layer of competitive fun for you to enjoy. The simpler, cleaner UI makes understanding the new progression system easy for all skill levels, and adds to the overall intuitive nature of Play Now.
We can’t wait for you to experience Play Now Online and all of the other enhancements in NBA 2K25 coming September 4 to PS5 and PS4.
PS5 Console – NBA 2K25 Bundle
We’re also excited to announce the PS5 Digital Edition – NBA 2K25 Bundle coming soon on September 4.
Experience on-the-court immersion made possible by the DualSense wireless controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Explore NBA 2K25’s more intimate City environment with 4K resolution***. Enjoy shortened load times and return to the action faster than ever with the PS5 console’s high-speed SSD. The PS5 Digital Edition – NBA 2K25 Bundle includes:
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
DualSense wireless controller
2 Horizontal stand feet
HDMI cable
AC power cord
USB cable
Printed materials
Astro’s Playroom (Pre-installed game. PS5 console may need to be updated to the latest system software version. Internet connection required.)
NBA 2K25 Standard Edition voucher1
1Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required to redeem voucher.
* PlayStation Plus subscription and internet connection required for online gameplay. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then-current PS Store price) at the frequency you choose until cancellation. Terms apply, see play.st/psplus-usageterms.
** The PS5Digital Edition – NBA2K25 bundle is available in US and Canada at select retailers only. Subject to availability. Available from 12am local time on September 4. NBA 2K25 purchased through a bundle will not be accessible until the official launch of NBA 2K25 on September 4 at 5 AM PST.
*** 4K and HDR require a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display.
Unbeatable is a stunning hand-drawn anime-inspired rhythm adventure game. Experience what it means to be a band on the run – music is illegal in this world, but you won’t let that stop you. Follow Beat & her bandmates through their journey of self-discovery blending live song performances, spectacular set pieces and quirky rhythm challenges.
Explore a detailed open world and engage in branching conversations with several unique characters. Featuring a 100% original soundtrack alongside guest tracks and musical collaborations.
After revealing the game this summer with the memorable track “Memorize” (You see what we did there?) We are now excited to highlight a brand new track here on the PS Blog.
Introducing “Future People”
How do we even come up with new songs like this? Well, best to ask Clara Maddux, who is one half of the band Peak Divide who provides all the music for the game.
Has anyone seen Clara?
Oh there she is!
“Hi hi!! I’m Clara! I focus on a lot of the songwriting for Unbeatable. Since the music for the game is inherently intertwined with the narrative, the sound team has made an effort to squeeze as much emotional juice as we can from our collective musical brains to compliment it.
For me personally, I’ll try to find something in my life that parallels a story beat I’m writing music for. Most of the noodling I do before a song takes form is honestly just figuring out what that connection is, but once I’m able to picture it in my head, it’s much easier to relate to a character and tap into what they might be feeling.
Sometimes I’ll even just make a song to process emotions and then suddenly, oops, it’s an Unbeatable song because we’ve found a way to tie it into the story. Hopefully that just means the songs turn out all the more meaningful!!”
– Clara Maddux, Composer & Musician, D-Cell Games
See! Clara knows about this stuff.
Anyway, Unbeatable isn’t just about cranking up the tempo and shredding through tracks—it’s about getting you into the rhythm. The newly dropped track “Future People” proves just that, by flipping the script with a slower, more melodic groove that expands the game’s killer soundtrack. This track isn’t just versatile—it’s a curveball that forces you to rethink your rhythm game strategy. Who says rhythm games have to be all speed and no soul? With “Future People,” it’s all about getting into the zone, savoring every note, and owning the moment.
That doesn’t mean you can’t kick it up a notch though, increasing the difficulty will keep you on your toes (and maybe make you break a sweat).
Just remember, playing on normal is perfectly fine, we’re not here to judge, we’re here to make you bob your head and make you feel something.
The world pulses to (the) beat
In Unbeatable, music isn’t just the soundtrack—it’s the lifeblood of the world. As Beat, the game’s relentless protagonist, you’re not just moving through a city— you’re completely in tune as every step is in sync with the underground rhythms that defy the silence imposed by the no-fun-allowed regime. The world around you doesn’t just echo with the beat; it drives you forward, like a rebellious marching band, that refuses to be silenced.
Sense the beat
You want special features? We’ve got special features! Feel the heartbeat of the city in your hands with the haptic feedback features of the DualSense controller.
Feel the heartbeat of the city in your hands with the haptic feedback features of the Duel Sense controller. You can literally (figuratively) keep your finger on the pulse during your playthrough for that extra level of (music notes emoji) Immersion (Music notes emoji).
The adaptive triggers also come into play during some of the mini-games, to really make you feel like you’re sticking it to the man. Or wall, like, when you stick posters on the wall, specifically.
This is of course only a glimpse of what we have in store for Unbeatable so keep an eye out for more killer (news) beats.
Silent Hill 2, a remake of the iconic 2001 PS2 survival horror game, takes players on a journey as the main protagonist, James Sunderland. Venture through the mostly deserted town of Silent Hill, a place filled with memories of his late wife Mary, as he comes to terms with these memories while encountering monsters and a cast of characters. The remake launches on PS5 October 8.
I recently had the opportunity to play the highly-anticipated remake. Join me for a chilling recap that stretches from the opening scene to the imposing boss encounter with Red Pyramid Thing (a.k.a. Pyramid Head).
The story begins in a grimy public restroom
The game begins with James recollecting the content of the letter he received from his deceased wife in the dimly lit public restroom of the observation deck at the outskirts of Silent Hill. Back in 2001, the level of dirt and detritus in this bathroom was a high-watermark for realistic, atmospheric visuals in games.
At first glance, I noticed that although the public restroom was almost proportionally identical to the original, it looked more detailed and realistic, with graffiti and scribbles on the walls, dirty floors, and a filthy toilet bowl. This instilled eeriness as if to foreshadow the grueling journey that James was about to embark on.
A new, immersive over-the-shoulder perspective
The first thing that struck me when I started the game was the new over-the-shoulder perspective. While the original’s overhead perspective felt like I was watching a movie, the remake’s updated view put me closer to James’ point of view, supporting greater immersion and the feeling of being in Silent Hill. 3D Audio also deepens the immersion, making swishing leaves and James’ footsteps feel audibly real.
Thickening fog shrouding James’ state of mind
In the original game, the observation deck in the opening scene was shrouded in fog, whereas in the view is clear in the remake. At first… As James approaches the town the fog grows denser, almost symbolizing his state of mind and evoking anxiety in the player.
The first area that James visits is the eastern district of Silent Hill. At first the in-game map didn’t look much different from what I had remembered in the original, but I was soon proven wrong. The houses, apartments, shops, and other buildings are dramatically improved, with intricate details that were not present in the original. The detailed chairs, flowerpots, abandoned trash, and other props all faithfully recreat the ambiance of the fog-shrouded streets of Silent Hill.
The more explorable buildings add more fun
As I was exploring the town, I was surprised to find that the remake boasted more buildings James could go into compared to the original. In some instances, he had to smash window panes to break into the building. Ammunition and recovery items were hidden inside, making exploration vital and, at the same time, more rewarding. However, the monsters lurking inside these buildings meant I had to stay vigilant and engaged, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game.
Intense, up-close-and-personal combat
Fighting the terrible creatures of Silent Hill feels entirely different from the original. Monsters in earlier stages of the 2001 original are rather passive and can bludgeoned to death without much recourse. In the remake, some enemies can now counterattack between player’s attacks. Successfully dodging these counterattacks and timing retaliation have adds a new engaging later to gameplay. The new, over-the-shoulder perspective also gives players a closer look at the grotesque foes.
Puzzles that challenge your wisdom and observation skills
I had a chance to play new puzzles where I had to collect multiple items to combine in order to solve them. Still, I encountered puzzles with clever references to the original, so I’m sure this will bring joy to fans of the original Silent Hill 2 and offer them something new to solve. It is also good to know, for those who are not avid puzzle solvers, that the difficulty level for puzzles can be set separately from that of game action elements such as combat level.
Newly renovated apartments
Remember the Wood Side Apartment and the Blue Creek Apartment from the beginning of the story? Well, their layouts have changed significantly from the original version. While the overall story remains the same, the locations where James finds items and puzzles and encounters enemies are entirely different, consequently challenging returning players to come up with a new approach for the remake.
Fans of the 2001 original remember loading screens when traversing between rooms. In the remake James can seamlessly move around the building. But be careful when dashing into a room. I was so focused on making progress that I was ambushed by a monster that made me jump.
Frantic Pyramid Head
The Pyramid Head encounter at the end of the apartment has also evolved significantly. James confronts the humanoid monster in a larger, more intense warehouse-like area than the original’s small room. Watching the iconic villain stalk towards you while dragging his massive, sparking blade across the ground is still an intimidating sight.
Pyramid Head’s movements and attacks are fairly slow. Staying calm is key to dodging its attacks or maintaining a safe distance. However, each blow from Pyramid Head is devastating, as I discovered when it swung its arm and sent James flying through the air.
As my time at the event was limited, I’m sure there must be some highlights that I missed. But for now, I will have to wait to explore every nook and cranny of the streets and buildings of Silent Hill until it launches on PS5 October 8.
Last week, we asked you to dive into your inventory to share essential items from your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
call_me_xavii shares Alan holding the angel lamp light clicker from Alan Wake II.
laya_photo shares a detailed close up of Kratos’ weapons in God of War Ragnarök.
sorathluna shares Jin’s katana blade held out near a butterfly in Ghost of Tsushima.
Valkyrion126 shares Eve holding a master core from Stellar Blade.
RhodWulfLeon shares a close up shot of Aloy’s Focus being used in Horizon Forbidden West.
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Teachers SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 21, 2024
Next week, we’re going back to school and shining a light on gaming mentors. Share moments with characters that teach or impart knowledge from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Greetings, Travelers! As Genshin Impact approaches its fifth year, we are excited to welcome the sixth major nation of Teyvat — Natlan, in the upcoming version 5.0 Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn going live on August 28. Known as the Nation of War or the Nation of Pyro where Saurians have lived alongside humans since time immemorial, Natlan and her people are distinguished from other nations not only by their unique tribal traditions and natural environments, but also by their agility and their unparalleled movement capabilities blessed by the power of Pyro. Today, we’ll share some useful tips to help you explore this new region like a local or in the form of a Saurian!
We would also like to invite all Travelers who have completed Archon Quest Prologue: Act III Song of Dragon and Freedom in Mondstadt to visit Natlan using an unlocked Teleport Waypoint located at its entrance. Travelers who reached Adventure Rank 28 or above who have completed the Archon Quest Chapter I: Act III A New Star Approaches in Liyue can move on to the Archon Quests in Natlan without having to first complete the prerequisite quests of other nations.
Become a Saurian
The dragons in Natlan are called Saurians, and they are the result of a long evolution and coexisting with humans. Located west of the Desert of Hadramaveth in Sumeru, Natlan has a varied panorama ranging from canyons and cliffs to flowing waters and hot springs, and even dangerous volcanoes. Version 5.0 will offer the opportunity to meet three of the six local tribes, the Children of Echoes, the Scions of the Canopy, and the People of the Springs, to discover how their members move in steep and difficult-to-cross landscapes thanks to their respective Saurians.
For reasons that are still unclear, Travelers are unable to unlock the power of the Pyro element upon their arrival in Natlan, but you will be able to transform yourself into a Saurian temporarily by indwelling them or their Spiritsconce to roam around during your adventure!
The first Saurian you may indwell is a Tepetlisaurus. They are faithful companions taken in by the Children of Echoes, the tribe known for its expert miners and talented dancers inside the canyon. Transforming into a Tepetlisaurus allows you to burrow underground and climb cliffs. By indwelling a Yumkasaurus, you will be able to move travel through mid-air swiftly, reach high places with ease, and experience for yourself why the Scions of the Canopy that hang from steep cliffs with ropes, adore these Saurians as extreme sports enthusiasts. If you approach the People of the Springs, a laidback tribe who is known for their hot springs, try indwelling the Koholasarus to take a dip in the water, hot springs, and even the flowing Phlogiston streams in the air.
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Use a new resource
In the Nation of Pyro, the Pyro element can materialize as a unique resource known as Phlogiston. Phlogiston comes in different forms and can be utilized by the locals as a brand-new resource in movement or combat. Once you indwell a Saurian, you may notice that your skills will consume a separate Phlogiston bar located to the right of your Saurian form. Natlan’s characters also have a Phlogiston bar which appears above their HP bar. Throughout your journey, you may come across Phlogiston, either as harvestable resources, or useful tools such as the Spiritways of flowing Phlogiston, offering fast tracks to the Koholasarus and warriors from the People of the Springs to travel.
Warriors of Natlan can further enhance their abilities through the ancient ritual of Phlogiston Engravings, and thus gain the Nightsoul’s Blessing. Glowing patterns will appear on characters under the influence of the Nightsoul’s Blessing, granting them an advantage in combat.
Team up with local warriors
As the Nation of War, Natlan has experienced countless crises and dangers in numerous battles in which both locals and Saurians have fought valiantly. The Ancient Names of brave warriors are passed down from generation to generation to honor their legacy. At the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, each of the six tribes designates a Champion from among the greatest warriors who make up its ranks, and we will have the opportunity to recruit three of them from the Children of Echoes, the Scions of the Canopy, and the People of the Springs. Each of these Champions is distinguished by unique traits and abilities reflecting their tribe.
Our first companion from Natlan is Kachina, a four-star Geo polearm wielder from the Children of Echoes. Not only will we meet her from the very beginning of our journey, we can even recruit her for free as a reward for completing Act I of Natlan’s Archon Quest. Kachina is able to summon Turbo Twirly and ride it to scale walls and cliffs in daily exploration, and also unleash ground-slam attacks to deal AoE Geo DMG in combat.
Kinich, famous for his hunting skills in the Scions of the Canopy, is a five-star Dendro claymore warrior who wields the grappling hook expertly, so as to swiftly swing through the air and easily reach great heights, or link to enemies and perform Loop Shots to deal significant damage. Interestingly, Kinich is accompanied by the Almighty Dragonlord, Ajaw, who is capable of unleashing dragon-breaths at intervals to deal AoE Dendro DMG when Kinich casts his Elemental Burst.
If you’re visiting the People of the Springs, Mualani, the owner of a watersports equipment store and a renowned local tour guide, is your ideal companion. Fond of watersports including swimming, surfing, and beach volleyball, this five-star Hydro catalyst wielder can mount her Sharky Surfboard and quickly move across water, liquid Phlogiston, and flat ground. In combat, as Mualani surfs around on her Sharky Surfboard, she can mark enemies in her path and inflict Sharky’s Bites on them, dealing increased Hydro DMG after multiple hits.
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Natlan’s three playable characters are able to locate and mark local specialties, which benefits their entire party while interacting with certain harvestable items: Kachina can restore Stamina, Kinich can increase Movement Speed, and Mualani can restore Phlogiston. In version 5.0’s Event Wishes, Mualani and Kachina will debut in the first phase along with Kaedehara Kazuha’s rerun, and Kinich’s debut will come with the Raiden Shogun in the later phase.
Try the Tribal Chronicles
To better unveil the history and heroic tales of each tribe, the Reputation System returns to Natlan through the Tribal Chronicles, a new series of three-act narrative quests for each tribe that weaves together traditions, stories, and people that replaces the Story Quests in Natlan. Visit each tribe’s Obsidian Totem Pole to unlock their Tribal Chronicles, as well as their Bounties and Supply Notices. Completing these Tribal Chronicles not only provides a deeper and immersive understanding of the customs and culture of different tribes but also earns Tribe Reputation EXP and rewards for the corresponding tribe.
In addition, World Quests, exciting stories, as well as Archon Quests await you in Natlan with many surprises and rewards. However, we will leave Travelers to explore all this new content at their own pace. The Sacred Flame burns with an incandescent glow, and ignites the hearts of the brave! We look forward to seeing you in-game when Genshin Impact version 5.0 goes live August 28!
Marvel’s diabolical despot Doctor Doom has seized a foothold on the Battle Royale Island after obtaining the devastating power of Pandora’s Box. Whatever it takes, Doctor Doom and his army of loyal henchmen must be defeated! JoinMarvel HeroesGwenpool, the Wakandan royal Shuri, and War Machine to defend against Doctor Doom’s legions in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 5 Season 4: Absolute Doom available today!
Battle against Doom’s domain
Take on Doctor Doom’s domains, and the legions guarding them, in new POIs stationed around the map.
Castle Doom emerges
Castle Doom casts dark shadows over the island, with its forge burning hotter as Doctor Doom’s empowered armor inches closer to completion. Time is of the essence, Heroes.
Battle at The Raft
Doctor Doom has summoned The Raft to the Island, in a bid to recruit like-minded allies amongst a prison of extraterrestrial threats and supervillains.
Explore Doomstadt
Doctor Doom governs over the Latverian village of Doomstadt from his castle on high, surveilling all within his dominion.
Doctor Doom’s henchmen have begun excavating the Island in search of artifacts. When downed, they can be persuaded to change their minds and fight alongside you. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Suit up, Heroes
Our heroes brought a whole lot of firepower to stop Doctor Doom’s assault.
Gauntlets vs Shield
Rain havoc from the palms of your hands with Doom’s Arcane Gauntlets, back and better than ever. A suitable counter is charging into battle with Captain America’s Shield, now unvaulted and updated with new capabilities.
Grab the Dual Micro SMGs
Embrace the spray to make quick work of foes with the Dual Micro SMGs, which comes in a potent pink Mythic version after a rendezvous with Gwenpool. Two guns are definitely better than one.
Equip War Machine’s Arsenal, Auto Turret & Hover Jets
Discover the latest in human-platform weapon systems. Unleash a hailstorm of bullets and rockets at your enemies with War Machine’s Arsenal, shoulder-mount War Machine’s Auto Turret for supporting fire, and turn the tide of battle from above with War Machine’s Hover Jets.
Stock up on firepower and Medallions
Your rivals best prepare for their… doom. Hit them with pinpoint precision by taking aim with the Monarch Pistol. Track down and eliminate the Doombot in the Castle Doom throne room to get your hands on the Mythic version. Be sure to also grab the Siphon Medallion, which grants health and Shield Siphon from eliminating opponents.
Thaw out the Striker Burst
The Striker Burst Rifle returns in moddable form. Recapture the Raft prison and claim victory over the pristine Emma Frost to earn the Mythic version and her Reveal Medallion. This Medallion occasionally reveals the location of nearby enemies!
Blast-away Shotgun
Also surgical when aiming down sight is the Sovereign Shotgun,a trusty boomstick for themid-range fight. Defeating Mysterio in Doomstadt will reward you the Mythic version and his Stealth Medallion, which gives temporary invisibility while crouched.
Carry-over weapons cache
Several weapons have been unvaulted for Absolute Doom. The Striker Burst Rifle, Shockwave Grenade, and more are at your disposal.
Jump into the action with the Absolute Doom Battle Pass
Earn XP across Fortnite Battle Royale, creator-made islands, LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival to unlock rewards in the Absolute Doom Battle Pass, available for 950 V-Bucks. You can earn up to 1,500 V-Bucks back by leveling it up, as well as some pretty super Outfits:
Gwenpool (unlocked right away!): “I played the Galactus Event. That makes me an Avenger, right?”
War Machine: Ace pilot, military veteran, and trusted armored ally of Tony Stark.
Peelverine: Nanamantium-infused skeleton with a ripen-eration mutant ability.
Emma Frost: A devious and brilliant mutant psychic with an unbreakable will.
Captain Jonesy: Take up the shield of justice.
Mysterio: An inventive supervillain with illusions of grandeur.
Shuri: The genius Princess of Wakanda and current Black Panther.
Doom’s Outfit will be earnable from Battle Pass Quests starting in September, where you can take up the mantle of the mad Doctor himself. The Absolute Doom Battle Pass will be available to progress in until November 1 at 11PM PT / November 2 @ 2 AM ET.
July saw the return of an iconic sports franchise along with the debut of exciting new IPs. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup?
How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog.
What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.
Every year, the team here at THQ Nordic puts months into crafting a Digital Showcase we think you’ll love, filled with news on previously announced games and teases of what you can expect from our dev teams in the future.
Variety defines what we do, and that has never been truer than in our 2024 broadcast – including a gorgeous hand-drawn adventure, a fender-bending destruction racer sequel, the much-demanded return of a legendary action-adventure series, and a whole lot more.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
We opened this year’s stream with the debut of an all-new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police.
As Goldman, with your trusty cane in hand, navigate a mysterious archipelago brought to life with painstakingly handcrafted 2D animation, each frame bursting with the passion that the team have injected into the game they have always wanted to make.
A sense of wonder and freedom to experiment are at the core of Weappy’s design philosophy, with a focus on rewarding players for their inquisitiveness about the world and platforming sections that are challenging but fair. The Eternal Life of Goldman begs you to discover the archipelago’s further reaches, each new ability and artifact you find adding new dimensions to your gameplay.
We can’t wait to tell you more later this year – for now, make sure to follow and wishlist the game at PlayStation Store to be among the first to receive updates.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
The time has almost come to pick up your brush and decide the fate of Wasteland! When Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed releases on September 24, the power to shape the world with paint and thinner will be in your hands.
Take control of Mickey Mouse in 3D platforming action, exploring a land peppered with beloved characters to meet and secrets to discover, including classic side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.
Rebuilt from the ground up by the team at Purple Lamp, and for the first time on PS5 and PS4, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a must-play for Disney fans of all ages, whether this is their first venture into Wasteland or a journey down memory lane.
Wreckfest 2
Create the car of your tire-screeching dreams, show it off online, and smash it to pieces in the ultimate range of wrecktastic events. Whether it’s giving it your all to be first past the finish line, hurtling through obstacle courses, or crushing your rivals in a destruction derby free-for-all, Wreckfest 2 is about letting loose in the ultimate playground of vehicular carnage.
PS5 hardware has given the team at Bugbear Entertainment the freedom to model higher crash fidelity than ever, with each chassis-crinkling impact realized in real time.
At the end of each event, your beaten-up vehicle will tell its own unique story – of traded paint, twisted steel, and grudge matches settled on the track.
Titan Quest II
Last year, we announced Titan Quest II with a trailer that set the stage for the battle against rogue goddess Nemesis and her hordes. Millions of views and thousands of comments later, we’re ready to show you more of the rich, verdant world that the team at Grimlore Games have been hard at work bringing to life.
In our debut gameplay trailer, you can get your first glimpse of the adventures that await you in the sun-drenched landscapes of Ancient Greece, and the godly powers you’ll claim as you take your place amongst the greatest legendary heroes. The team are hand-crafting an experience that encourages you to rise to the challenge, with epic battles against beasts of myth rewarding players with unique loot that changes the way you play.
This is your tale to tell, with deep customization options – from your hero’s appearance, to their combination of a vast range of modifiable skills and equipment loadouts. Whether you choose to embark on this odyssey alone or with friends, Titan Quest II will lead you on an unforgettable journey across a land unlike any other in the ARPG genre.
Gothic 1 Remake
Since we announced development of Gothic 1 Remake in 2020, the outpouring of support from Gothic fans around the globe, as well as the RPG community at large, has been immense. Every positive comment, each cry of “For Gomez!”, has bolstered the team at Alkimia Interactive as they work to deliver a game that is both a faithful love letter to the Gothic fandom and a welcoming experience full of wonder and fresh discoveries for newcomers.
In today’s trailer, we delved into how Alkimia are crafting a world that is an organism unto itself, with a thriving ecosystem and powerful factions competing for dominance – a world that seems to exist beyond the player, but is ripe to be shaped by your decisions.
Visuals and gameplay have also been completely rebuilt to meet modern standards, with more rewarding progression, more impactful combat, and diverse NPC routines and interactions.
Whether you join the ore-rich Old Camp in league with the King, the New Camp who plan to destroy the magical barrier surrounding the Valley of Mines, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper who put their faith in a mysterious new deity – the dark world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be yours to explore.
Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve
For the second year in a row, we’ve released a DLC for Way of the Hunter on the same day as our Digital Showcase.
Whereas last year we took the hunt to lush African grasslands, today’s release will let you explore a stunningly-realized Scandinavian landscape populated with lynx, arctic foxes, and a range of other unique wildlife, all with their own realistic behaviors.
Wander through vast magical forests that shimmer under gentle rain, sprawling meadows teeming with life, and snowy hilltops that inspired folklore of ages past. With each tranquil moment that passes in this fictionalized Scandinavian wilderness, so lovingly sculpted by the team at Nine Rocks Games, your harmony with your surroundings increases.
Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve is out now on PS5.
A new tale from Tarsier Studios
From the creators of Little Nightmares I & II comes an entirely new vision, unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Find out more at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase without just one more thing to tantalize you as we close out the stream…
The future of Darksiders
The ominous rumble of a chamber impossibly old. Scorching ash suspended in the air, spewed forth by roiling lava.
Three colossal stone heads, suddenly set ablaze with otherworldly flames. The Charred Council awake, and roar a single word in unison: Horseman.
We’ll have more news to share on where the world of Darksiders is going soon, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.
That’s it for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From all of us at THQ Nordic, as well as our dev partners spread around the world – thank you so much for joining us. We can’t wait to share more with you on each of these titles in the near future and see you soon in our digital worlds.
Last week, we asked you to share moments when game characters find themselves playing a game using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
lovers_nero shares Leon racking up the points in the shooting gallery from Resident Evil 4 Remake.
MrioMoreno5 shares Joel watching as Ellie stops to admire an arcade deck in The Last of Us Part I.
vp_louie shares Tim Drake spending some time at an arcade game in Gotham Knights.
Lny_Trpr_EE7 shares a game of dominoes being played across Abigail in Red Dead Redemption 2.
WarDaddyPlatine shares May and Cody about to journey across a ball pit in It Takes Two.
secondcapture shares Gary riding a mechanical bull-type machine in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Running SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 7, 2024
Next week, we’re stretching our legs and going for a run. Share moments where your favorite characters are running in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Relive all nine Star Wars films in Lego form, survive an overnight in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex and journey through a destroyed kingdom with August’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup. From August 6*, all PlayStation Plus members** can add Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga, Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights to their game libraries.
Play through all nine Star Wars saga films in a brand-new LEGO video game unlike any other. Experience fun-filled adventures, whimsical humor, and the freedom to fully immerse yourself in the LEGO Star Wars galaxy. Want to play as a Jedi? A Sith? Rebel, bounty hunter, or droid? LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga features hundreds of playable characters from throughout the galaxy. Whether on land or in space, a variety of vehicles are yours to command. Jump to lightspeed in the Millennium Falcon, fly the T-47 Airspeeder and battle TIE fighters in Resistance X-wings… it’s the ultimate LEGO Star Wars experience.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach | PS4, PS5
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is the latest installment of the family-friendly horror games from Steel Wool Games. Play as Gregory, a young boy trapped overnight in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy Fazbear himself, Gregory must survive the near-unstoppable hunt of reimagined Five Nights at Freddy’s characters – as well as new, horrific threats.
Unravel the mysteries of a destroyed kingdom in this dark fantasy 2D action RPG. Journey through the sprawling and hauntingly beautiful Land’s End, traversing a submerged forest, a sealed-off contaminated underground cavern, and a grand castle. Formidable bosses await that will gladly claim your life given even the slightest chance. Defeat these powerful foes and release them from their unending curse to recruit them as allies. Overcome the challenges before you and search for the truth with powerful knights at your side.
Last chance to download July’s games
*PlayStation Plus members have until August 6 to add Borderlands 3, NHL 24 and Among Us to their game libraries.
*All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on August 6 until September 2.
**PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup may differ in certain regions. Please check the PlayStation Store on launch day for your region’s lineup.
Ubisoft Massive is almost ready to let PS5 players become a notorious space scoundrel in the first open-world Star Wars game, coming to PS5 on August 30. Crash landing onto the lush yet dangerous moon of Toshara, I spent time as rookie rogue Kay Vess, meeting her little buddy Nix, discovering visual options inspired by the original trilogy, and taking jobs for crime syndicates.
Nix the lovable critter companion
Kay’s furry and all-too-cute partner Nix (“not a pet,” stresses his voice actor, Dee Bradley Baker) has already gained a dedicated and adoring following. Yes, the doe-eyed Merqaal is genuinely helpful, from distracting guards with cuteness (or causing explosions), and picking up weapons, to showing players interactive elements in the environment… but it’s Nix’s little touches that’ll win over fans across the galaxy.
Gain boosters for your speeder and Nix is forced to hang on for dear life, his little tail and hind legs flailing in the air. If you aim Kay’s blaster at him, he’ll impishly mimic being shot and roll over to play dead, causing Kay to chuckle and encourage his performance.
Star Wars at its most vibrant
Outlaws executes open-world Star Wars with flair, delivering a rich and responsive environment that’s lively and joyful to explore. Floating fishing nets ripple in the wind. Broken starship detritus is scattered across lakes, mountains, and moisture farms. And yes, you can pet the… well, animals far more exotic than dogs, and even feed some of the fauna native to Toshara.
Ubisoft Massive has also created discoverable vista points where you can stop and watch beautiful-yet-deadly world go by. The scenic views are striking enough to encourage players to seek them all out.
The Star Wars Outlaws team knows it’s a big deal to set its game between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and has gone the extra parsecs to make it feel authentic to its source material.
To that end, you can select a special 21.9 cinematic mode that creates a widescreen effect and replicates the lenses Lucasfilm used when shooting Episodes 4 to 6. The result is a gritty, nostalgic visual grain with a modern-day high-definition punch.
Variety is the spice of scoundrel life
Whether it’s overhearing the juiciest scoundrel scuttlebutt or hitting up gangland bosses for work, there are plenty of objectives to tackle across Outlaws.
One mission, New Tricks, involves hunting down an ion module for your blaster to disrupt some pesky electrical systems. The quest begins with a hunt for the right merchant, then spirals into an adventure through the bustling city of Mirogana and into the craggy wilds.
Meanwhile, a Hutt task demands you steal a client list, but at any time you can deviate from your current mission to sneak into an outpost, “slice” through encrypted info databases, race speeder bikes, infiltrate mysterious shelters, or help townsfolk repel gunslinging bandits (…or not. You’re an outlaw, after all).
Whether you’re eager to put your blaster to good use or prefer to venture across the Outer Rim, there are plenty of wretched hives of scum and villainy to explore when Star Wars Outlaws lands on PS5 August 30.
Hello, PlayStation players! We here at Auroch Digital have teamed up with Worldwalker Games to bring the critically acclaimed Wildermyth to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, launching on October 22.
Allow us to set the scene!
The Yondering Lands, where the game is set, is a richly layered papercraft world with every scene looking like it is straight out of a pop-up picture book. Reminiscent of tabletop roleplaying games, Worldwalker Games have paid loving attention in creating something truly unique, breaking moulds and exploring new ideas: forget orcs, elves, or goblins — how about telepathic insect-dragons and the clockwork undead instead?
Extreme character depth
Like the best tabletop roleplaying experiences, your characters and the choices you make are at the heart of Wildermyth. Each of your heroes has their own unique generated history, personality, and appearance, and will form relationships with your other heroes. All of these elements change and develop as characters age, encounter mysteries, and overcome challenges.
Choices that matter.
As your heroes journey from humble farmers to legendary warriors, you will encounter numerous events and situations that will present you with choices – some of which can have everlasting, character-defining effects.
…whether that’s in tactical battles against a myriad of malevolent creatures – using the right abilities to bolster allies or debilitate your enemies.
…or when you encounter one of the game’s many story events. Choosing to trust in the enigmatic wolf god may lead to some hair-raising changes in a hero’s appearance and combat abilities.
…and should romance blossom between your characters – further story developments and shared combat buffs may occur.
A new approach to death
There are, of course, times when the unthinkable may happen: character death. Should the worst occur, and a hero falls in battle, you’ll be presented with choices. Fall back and live to fight another day with permanent consequences or go out in a blaze of glory with one final strike and be remembered for generations to come.
No adventure can last forever, and as characters age and campaigns end, your heroes can be enshrined in a custom pantheon of legends, calling upon them in later playthroughs.
What’s new in Wildermyth: the Console Edition?
At Auroch Digital, we’ve been meticulous in ensuring that much loved experience from Wildermyth’s original release isn’t lost when optimizing it for consoles. With that in mind, we’ve redesigned the UI and controls with gamepad in mind, ensuring that in-game elements are easily readable and the controls feel intuitive for the best gaming experience.
Another new feature coming in Wildermyth: Console Edition is the Monster Compendium. This tactical tome provides an insight into the creatures you’ll face on your journeys through the Yondering Lands, as well as enchanting excerpts of lore and background information about the game’s various factions. We’re also introducing local cooperative multiplayer, allowing up to four players to take command of multiple characters and share in an unfolding story together.
If all of that wasn’t enough to get you excited, we have even more news to share!
Pick up the physical edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition and you’ll receive your very own Monster Compendium, the trusty tome made physical! Alongside this, you’ll also receive the Off-hand Item Skin Pack (DLC), which features a treasure trove of off-hand item skins, such as shields, torches, daggers and more!
Stay tuned for more news and updates and be ready to begin your Wildermyth adventure on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on October 22, 2024.
Well, Helldivers, we’re about to spark a galactic-scale inferno. Your new Premium Warbond is deploying to all active patriots on 8 August – codename Freedom’s Flame.*
Incinerate everything standing in your path with new weaponry almost too hot to handle; survive the heat of battle with lifesaving armor; and burn brightly across the cosmos with fresh emotes, capes, and skins.
Right now, swarms of disgusting bugs and packs of mechanized monstrosities are invading innocent worlds.
Stop them… destroy them… cremate them.
Let’s cook, Helldivers. Light it up in the name of liberty!
Firepower
Primary:
SG-451 Cookout Burn, baby, burn! A pump action shotgun that unleashes a burst of incendiary phosphorus pellets at your helpless enemies.
FLAM-66 Torcher A lightweight flamethrower shooting pressurized fuel through a nozzle into a roaring, open flame. Sounds safe. It isn’t. Watch where you’re standing.
Secondary:
P-72 Crisper A flamethrower that fits in your pocket for the Helldiver on the go! What will those guys think of next? This lovely compact handgun projects a jet of freedom flames over short distances.
Booster:
Fiery Drop – Firebomb Hellpods Scorch the earth (and anything else) below as you touch down with attitude and ignite the dropsite.
Armor:
I-09 Heatseeker Proudly display the burnished blood-red plates that were forged in righteous fire, like the heroes they were wrought to protect — a true vision of democracy.
I-102 Draconaught Ah, there’s nothing quite like those satisfying screeches as the enemies of freedom burn. Enjoy it all in this 14-cm sheathed silica fiber foam armor with an exclusive tube-to-ear feature.
Armor Passive Inflammable! Enjoy 75% damage resistance to fire as you run head-first into danger like the unstoppable legend your mum said you’d be.
Title: Fire Safety Officer You can now call yourself a Fire Safety Officer. Doesn’t come with a certificate.
Skin: Safety Orange Repaint your Shuttle, Hellpod, and Exosuit in striking Safety Orange.
Capes & Cards
Purifying Eclipse A heartfelt tribute to the Liberation of Choepessa IV in the First Galactic War, in which so much orbital ordnance was detonated that its sun was occluded by ash for an entire lunar cycle.
The Breach The final mission of the 361st Freedom’s Flame saw this storied unit deploy into the heart of a Supervolcano in a mission of heroic sacrifice. Triggering a huge eruption, this act of incredible bravery wiped out a massive Terminid swarm. As documented in the bestselling graphic novel ‘The Breach,’ it is available at all good book shops on Super Earth.
Emotes
Big Stretch, Deep Reflection, and Thoracic Collision Exultation Manoeuvre Co-emote. If you’re going to win. Win in style.
Freedom’s Flame is rolling out to your Destroyer’s Acquisitions panel on 8August.
So ramp up the temperature to fry up some tasty justice, served with a side order of delicious grilled democracy. Tonight, we dine – and dive – in hell.
See you planetside.
*Requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock. PSN account required.
Hi everyone! It’s a pleasure to be back here to make another Astro Bot-related reveal.
If you have been following Astro news as of late, then you know Team Asobi have been hard at work on a brand-new game coming out on September 6. The game features over 50 planets, new powerups, lots of enemies, secrets and PlayStation-infused characters to collect. And it also features a DualSense wireless controller turned into a living character and helping Astro on his mission.
Today, it is an immense pleasure to announce that you will be able to charge into Astro’s new supersized adventure along with the cool new DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition.
We know many of you were hoping for this after seeing the game trailer. So, we quickly asked our lovely bots to engineer this beauty and tada! No, no, I’m just kidding; it had been in the making for some time, carefully crafted by the amazing teams at SIE. And what splendid work they did.
The controller’s design features Astro’s signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad. It is a true work of art, and we could not be happier with the end-result at Team Asobi.
With this dynamic addition to your set-up, a supersized space adventure awaits…
The DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition will be available in limited quantity in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam for SGD 114 / MYR 399 / IDR 1,449,000 / THB 2,690 / PHP 4,590 / VND 2,299,000 and will launch on September 6, day-in-date with the launch of Astro Bot
Pre-orders will be available through local retailers starting from Friday, August 9, 2024.
I will take this chance to summarize some of the cool things this new Astro Bot game does with the DualSense wireless controller
First, as many of you expect from an Astro game, you can feel the surfaces that Astro runs and slides on, from grass, sand, metal to more squishy textures or water. That was already the case with Astro’s Playroom, but we have increased the number of textures you can feel through the controller.
Next, we doubled down on the adaptive triggers combined with haptic feedback, by tying them tightly to Astro’s new powers. For example, when using Barkster, the bulldog Jetpack, you can feel the thruster ratting against your finger in synch with the animation, giving a very dynamic and immersive feeling. Every new power up has been given that same special treatment so you will be able to experience various expressions through your fingers.
Finally, given the number of enemies and boss battles we added to this new adventure, it was important to work on battle and impacts by combining all of the above. Whether it’s stretching, pounding or pummeling hard surfaces, there are many new types of impacts that can be experienced in Astro Bot.
And of course, we could not finish this post without mentioning the Dual Speeder, one of Astro’s most recurrent gadgets, allowing him to fly into various planets. The Dual Speeder makes full use of motion control, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Here is a piece of very early concept art and how it looks in the final game.
That’s all from us! We’ll be back soon for more news around Astro Bot. Until then, please tell us in the comments what you think of this cool DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition!
Astro Bot is out on PS5 on September 6, we are waiting for you all to join Astro for his first big new adventure.
In Unholy Alliance, the next major update for Cult of the Lamb, we’re giving our holy hero a playmate: the Goat. Summoned by blood and born in corruption, this wicked new ally can join the Lamb in local co-op. Crawl dungeons, slay heretics, build your cult, and seek new powers—together.
In co-op, one player will inhabit the role of the Lamb and the other will take on the mangy mantle of the Goat. Together, this unholy pair can indulge in new two-player twists on existing minigames like fishing and Knucklebones, as well as discovering and equipping a selection of corrupted weapons, tarot cards, curses, and relics to aid them on their epic cooperative crusades.
That alone is worth your undying worship, but there’s more to Unholy Alliance than just co-op. The update also introduces a vast array of new follower traits to the game, making your flock more diverse, charismatic, and unpredictable than ever before. Cultists can be insomniacs, bust law-breaking friends out of prison, enter a catatonic state after the trauma of a resurrection, wake everyone up with their demonic snoring, or become afflicted with a curse.
Followers sent on missions may return with their mental state altered. They could be inspired by their success, spreading positivity among the flock. Or the horrors they’ve endured may have been too much, leaving them frozen with fear. Followers can even be polyamorous, meaning they’ll never get jealous if the Lamb marries someone else – while others may become jealous enough to kill.
These are just a few of the new follower traits in the Unholy Alliance update, which will make your flock a true cult of personality. As the cult grows and more followers join its ranks, even more quirks, flaws, and eccentricities will emerge. If you thought they were a handful before, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Unholy Alliance also adds two new structures to the game. You can build a nursery to care for three babies at once, but be warned: they’re still gonna poop a lot, and you’re still gonna have to clean it up. Hey, at least you’ll never be short on fertilizer. When a baby reaches 14, they’ll outgrow the nursery, opening up a space for more offspring to be nurtured.
Then there’s the new Knucklebones arena. You can only have one of these in your cult at a time, letting you play one match of Knucklebones a day against a follower of your choosing. The difficulty of the match is based on the follower’s level, and winning against them will level them up instantly.
We haven’t forgotten about crusades, either. Unholy Alliance throws a heap of new relics and tarot cards into the mix—some of which have been designed with co-op in mind. The Lamb and the Goat can swap weapons, deal extra damage when fighting back-to-back, or deal a critical hit if their attacks are in sync.
The Ashes of the Mercurial Mun relic detonates a ring of explosives that surrounds both players, while the Wishbone of the Marbais relic grants one player 10 seconds of invincibility – if the other takes damage. Equip the Rivals tarot card, and you’ll both deal 2x weapon damage if you’re fighting far apart. Or how about the Bonds of Battle card, which connects the Lamb and the Goat with a beam of unholy energy that will damage any enemies who stray into it?
Experience all of this and more—including new quests and quality of life improvements—when the free Unholy Alliance update brings the Lamb and the Goat to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on August 12.
Hi everyone! It’s a pleasure to be back here to make another Astro Bot-related reveal.
If you have been following Astro news as of late, then you know Team Asobi have been hard at work on a brand-new game coming out on September 6. The game features over 50 planets, new powerups, lots of enemies, secrets and PlayStation-infused characters to collect. And it also features a DualSense wireless controller turned into a living character and helping Astro on his mission.
Today, it is an immense pleasure to announce that you will be able to charge into Astro’s new supersized adventure along with the cool new DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition.
We know many of you were hoping for this after seeing the game trailer. So, we quickly asked our lovely bots to engineer this beauty and tada! No, no, I’m just kidding; it had been in the making for some time, carefully crafted by the amazing teams at SIE. And what splendid work they did.
The controller’s design features Astro’s signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad. It is a true work of art, and we could not be happier with the end-result at Team Asobi.
With this dynamic addition to your set-up, a supersized space adventure awaits…
Starting Friday, August 9 at 7am PT in the U.S. and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Portugal, players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition through direct.playstation.com, as well as from select retailers. Pre-orders will also be available through select retailers in other global markets on the same day. The DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for $79.99/ €79.99 / £69.99 / ¥11,980 and will launch on September 6, day-in-date with the launch of Astro Bot.
I will take this chance to summarize some of the cool things this new Astro Bot game does with the DualSense wireless controller
First, as many of you expect from an Astro game, you can feel the surfaces that Astro runs and slides on, from grass, sand, metal to more squishy textures or water. That was already the case with Astro’s Playroom, but we have increased the number of textures you can feel through the controller.
Next, we doubled down on the adaptive triggers combined with haptic feedback, by tying them tightly to Astro’s new powers. For example, when using Barkster, the bulldog Jetpack, you can feel the thruster ratting against your finger in synch with the animation, giving a very dynamic and immersive feeling. Every new power up has been given that same special treatment so you will be able to experience various expressions through your fingers.
Finally, given the number of enemies and boss battles we added to this new adventure, it was important to work on battle and impacts by combining all of the above. Whether it’s stretching, pounding or pummeling hard surfaces, there are many new types of impacts that can be experienced in Astro Bot.
And of course, we could not finish this post without mentioning the Dual Speeder, one of Astro’s most recurrent gadgets, allowing him to fly into various planets. The Dual Speeder makes full use of motion control, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Here is a piece of very early concept art and how it looks in the final game.
That’s all from us! We’ll be back soon for more news around Astro Bot. Until then, please tell us in the comments what you think of this cool DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition!
Astro Bot is out on PS5 on September 6, we are waiting for you all to join Astro for his first big new adventure.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming RPG and the first release from French development team Sandfall Interactive. The game’s unique design combines fantasy and the French historical period of Belle Epoque. Currently, the stylish game is slated for a 2025 release on PS5, check out the reveal trailer if you haven’t already.
To get a deeper dive into what’s going into this promising game, I spoke with Guillaume Broche, founder & creative director at Sandfall Interactive about the game’s unique approach to classic, turn-based RPG gameplay, classic inspirations, and even the unqiue game title itself.
What’s in a name?
One aspect of intrigue for the game is its title, so I asked Broche about the inspiration behind it.
“‘Clair Obscur’ refers to the real-world artistic and cultural movement in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,” says Broche. “It influenced the game’s artistic direction, and also refers to the overarching world of the game.”
“Expedition 33 reflects the Expedition group led by the protagonist Gustave to destroy the Paintress,” says Broche. “The members of Expedition 33 are the protagonists of the game, and players will get to know each member of the Expedition in their journey. For years, the Paintress has painted a number on her monolith and erased everyone of that age in an event known as the Gommage, and each year a new Expedition ventures out to try to destroy her and stop the cursed cycle.”
Other characters, such as the mage Lune, the genial warrior Sciel, and the young explorer Maelle are also part of the team, and you’ll be learning a lot about them and their histories throughout the game.
Respecting the classics
In the reveal trailer we got a glimpse of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s eye-catching graphics. Broche explains that the graphics are one of the focal points for the developers.
“There hasn’t really been any attempt at making a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics for a good while,” he says, “and that left a deep hole in my gamer heart. We took it upon ourselves to make something to fill that void.”
Broche doesn’t hesitate to tell us about the many classic games that have served as inspiration for this effort from both a visual and gameplay standpoint.
“At Sandfall Interactive we all have a love for JRPGs like Final Fantasy, the Tales series, Lost Odyssey, and Persona with its awesome UI, rhythm, and dynamic camera,” he says. “We all have a lot of nostalgia and love for these kinds of games, but also want to see something fresh done with the genre.”
“In terms of narrative, we also took inspiration from a French novel called La Horde du Contrevent, which is a fantasy novel about a group of explorers traveling the world,” says Broche. “In general, stories about venturing into the unknown despite incredible risks, like the anime/manga Attack on Titan, have always been very appealing to me.”
One thing that sets Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 apart from the games that inspired it is its implementation of real-time elements into turn-based combat.
“We were inspired by action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, and their rewarding gameplay was something we wanted to bring into a turn-based setting,” says Broche. “When you play those games, you have to learn the attacks, timings, and weaknesses for each enemy encounter, and we wanted to translate that challenge into a new genre.”
Getting into the rhythm of battle
Combat is one of the elements that Broche and his team are most proud of, so we discussed some of the unique mechanics they implemented and the inspiration behind them.
“The battle system is what we call reactive turn-based,” he explains. “You can take time during battles to establish your strategies, but during the enemy’s turn, you will have to react in real-time to dodge, jump, or parry enemies to trigger a powerful counterattack. You will also be able to increase the effectiveness of your skills by mastering attack rhythms. Players will also be rewarded for their skill–it’s even possible to do a no-damage run if you master all the enemies’ patterns.”
“I kept thinking about ways to make turn-based battles more engaging,” Broche continues.”The attack rhythm system is a mix of different inspirations–we wanted to make something fast paced to fit the vision we had for battle. As soon as I finished the first prototype of the defense system, I knew it was something special.”
Broche also dives into what players can expect when they jump into the game themselves.
“I’d say dodging and parrying are the most common things players will need to get to grips with as they play,” says Broche. “The timing is pretty important, but the payoff is always really rewarding. Also, you can aim your ranged weapons at enemies too–hitting exposed weak points to do some extra damage, for example. Expedition 33 features some huge boss battles too that’ll really put players’ skills to the test. And, just like any great RPG, you can also build your character to take advantage of different things in battle, including these real-time mechanics. We’re all looking forward to players finding out more about how the game feels as we work towards the game’s launch next year.”
Finally, I asked if Broche had any messages for future players.
“We’re glad to see so many fans are excited for the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! As our first title, we’re thrilled with the reception we’ve seen so far and we can’t wait to show more in the lead up to launch next year.”
Last week, we asked you to shine a light on Alan Wake 2 and the recent release of its photo mode using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s haunting highlights:
arashikagesshares Alan standing at the center of black swirling handprint motif splattered on a hotel’s walls
Yuric83shares Saga moving through a distorted section of forest
jdbolzanshares diner waitress Rose in control during the Night Springs DLC, holding a rifle in front of a banner in town
CamisGuishares the sunlight fading as FBI agent Alex Casey takes in a crime scene
hazelgreen_vpshares a portrait of FBI agent Alex Casey sipping on coffee
denisjurisonshares a black and white portrait of Alan staring out the lake house window
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Summer SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 26, 2024
Next week, we’re celebrating the warmth and sun of summer. Share moments from your favorite game filled with summer vibes using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
After a long wait, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree launches tomorrow on PS5 and PS4. With a massive new world to explore, weapons to be found, skills to master and, of course, bosses to face, FromSoftware’s latest expansion could seem like a daunting undertaking. But fear not, Tarnished, as our tips – spoiler-free and covering the first few hours – will help set you on the right path. To begin, a crucial step: what’s required to enter the Shadow Realm.
Entering the Shadow Realm
If you’ve ever played a FromSoftware expansion, you’ll know that gaining access is never a straightforward process. Shadow of the Erdtree continues this tradition. In order to enter the Shadow Realm, you’ll need to complete a few tasks in the base game.
On your journey through the Lands Between, you’ll firstly need to have defeated Starscourge Radahn, a notoriously challenging boss. To face him, traverse Redmane Castle in Caelid during the Radahn Festival and take the elevator down to fight him on the beach.
You’ll also have to have bested Mohg, Lord of Blood. He can be found at Mohgwyn Palace, reached by following Varré’s questline or using a Waygate hidden in the Consecrated Snowfield. Mohg is known for being a particularly tough fight, but other Tarnished have been setting up summon spots next to the battle to help shepherd fighters through and open the DLC.
At the back of the Mohg boss arena you’ll discover Miquella’s cocoon. If both foes have been conquered (and expansion downloaded) a new interaction option will appear when you stand by the cocoon. Accept, and you’ll enter the Shadow Realm and begin your journey into the Shadow of the Erdtree.
Navigating the world
If you put dozens of hours into Elden Ring’s base game, it’s easy to forget that you originally had to collect map fragments in order to build up a picture of the world around you. In Shadow of the Erdtree, this feature returns, meaning when you first enter the Shadow Realm, your map will be blacked out, with one exception; a single bright spot somewhere in the darkness.
One of your first objectives should be to navigate to this point, where you will find a map fragment beneath a tall obelisk. Collecting this will reveal the region’s map, but be warned — Shadow of the Erdtree’s world design uses verticality on a scale unlike almost anything seen in the Lands Between, meaning there is still so much more to be discovered – both above and below – what the map can show you.
This world is dense with secrets, so be sure to explore every nook and cranny. You’ll no doubt be rewarded with weapons, spells and items for your effort.
Making friends and enemies
The starting area of the Shadow Realm is full of friendly (and not-so-friendly) characters who can help fill you in on the story, point you in the direction of hidden areas, send you on missions or challenge you to a duel.
You’ll come meet warriors, tribesmen, worshipers and devotees among others within your first hour or so of gameplay. Speaking to them, bringing them items they require, or taking the correct action in front of them can help progress their story arc within the overall narrative. And of course, they may reward you with items, join you as companions in battle and more.
Using Shadow Realm Blessings
While you can still level up your character as before, within the Shadow Realm, character progression comes in the form of special blessings. Two new consumables, Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, can be found around the world and used at a Site of Grace to buff your character and their skills, so seeking them out during your first few hours is a worthwhile endeavor.
Scadutree Fragments: These increase both damage negation and attack power for your character, meaning you receive less damage from enemy attacks and deal more with your own.
Revered Spirit Ashes: These have a similar purpose but apply to your Spirit Ashes, granting your summons more survivability and power, so you can beef up your Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche before facing that next boss. (Other Spirit Ashes are available…)
Note that both of these special blessings only apply to the Shadow Realm, and therefore will have no effect in the base game.
Managing new discoveries
Like all FromSoftware games, Elden Ring is chock-full of items and consumables, some useful, others mysterious. Alongside Shadow of the Erdtree, Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team have introduced a new quality of life feature that allows you to more easily explore the recent commodities you’ve discovered on your adventure.
This new feature, which is turned off as standard, will highlight new pick-ups with a “!” in your inventory, making it easier to survey your collection. It also offers an optional Recent Items Tab, where everything you’ve found recently is collated into one easy-to-understand menu. Both of these features make it simpler to uncover the use of the many new items in Shadow of the Erdtree, but the choice of whether to use them or the original system is entirely yours.
If you wish to turn these features on, they can be found under the Display section of the Settings menu. Here you can turn on either Mark New Items or Show Recent Items Tab, or use both together.
These tips should help you enter the Shadow Realm and make smooth progress during your first few hours. But there is still so much to be discovered when Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree launches tomorrow, June 21.
Rusted Moss is an action-exploration game developed by solo individuals (not part of any development studios) that revolves around its unusual method of traversal: an absurdly bouncy grappling hook. We won’t lie: the physics-based grappling will bring you both great pain and great joy. But the triumph once you master it — you’ll practically fly through the game while blasting enemies with your arsenal of guns when Rusted Moss comes to PS5 on June 20.
In this melancholic world, humans prepare for an invasion by capricious fairies from another realm. You play as Fern, a changeling determined to put an end to the war. As you uncover the story behind the world, you’ll eventually choose a side: fae or human?
With the PS5 release, we are also adding in seven to eight hours of additional content — approximately as much content as the base game itself. This includes new zones (ranging from moderate to very difficult), a boss rush, and an additional playable character.
A unique grappling hook
During a show-and-tell with indie developers, Emlise (the main dev) showed a grappling hook that worked like a bungee rope or rubber band. She performed incredible, crazy maneuvers that made traditional platformer abilities like double jumps and dashes seem so limited. I had never seen anything like that — grappling hooks in most games either just pull you to the anchor point or swing the player in static arcs.
It looked so polished that I was sure she would develop it into a full game. But she had no plans to. She saw it as a programming exercise to learn about verlet integration (a numerical equation used to calculate trajectories).
“Players would find it too difficult. It takes some time to get used to,” says Emlise.
Each of us then carried out our duty as friends and peer-pressured her into continuing development. My sister and I also joined her, forming our 3-person development team. It was strange because we had no intention of making a game together before that moment.
Rusted Moss was made to bring this mechanic to life, not for the sake of making a game or to go full-time on indie dev (my sister and I work day jobs outside the game industry).
I think its origin gave a purity to Rusted Moss’ foundation because there was no doubt as to what kind of game it could become. Everything would revolve around just one core mechanic — the grappling hook.
Please break our game
Synergy with the grappling hook became the focus of Rusted Moss’ game design. The abilities you gain all enhance the physics-based traversal — whether it’s a charge jump that lets you fall further, or the kickback from your guns.
This maximizes the opportunity for player expression and creativity. Progression is not based on a simple lock-and-key solution, which is a design pattern often found in other action exploration games.
With these synergistic abilities, we’ve seen the same platforming challenge solved in five different ways. If a player is creative, determined, and skilled enough, they can “break” our game and show us moves we didn’t even consider during Rusted Moss’ development.
We took this philosophy to the extreme during our quality assurance testing period. One tester found a bug that gave them an unintentional movement ability. Rather than fix it, we added a visual effect when that ability is active. We love seeing our players discover this “secret ability” in-game.
Unusual children
The main character, Fern, has a sharp and acidic personality. Women are often pressured to be nice and think about what “nice” means to the people interacting with them. Based on our experiences as an all-female dev team, Fern is a power fantasy that opposes that narrative, sometimes to an extreme. She says what she thinks, which is often quite nasty and honestly… hilarious!
This aligns with her identity as a changeling — a fairy that has replaced a stolen baby. In folk tales, children who acted strangely were identified as changelings and treated cruelly. Nowadays we might think of them as neurodivergent or unusual in some other way. We wanted to explore themes around children turning out to be something the parents did not want or expect.
Prepare to learn all the tricks at Fern’s disposal and maybe discover some new ones when Rusted Moss launches on PS5 June 20.
When we developed the PlayStation Portal remote player, our goal was to bring high-quality console gaming experiences to the palm of your hands, even when you aren’t in front of the TV. We continue to evolve the experience on PS Portal, and we are happy to announce that the latest system software update for our first dedicated remote play device will start rolling out tomorrow – adding a few new user enhancements.
Sign-in screen support for select public Wi-Fi networks
While we recommend PS Portal to be used in your home as you have control over the quality of the Wi-Fi, it can also be used outside of the home in places where a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection is available – and we’ve seen many players take advantage of this.
With this new update, PS Portal will also connect to a range of public Wi-Fi networks* that may require additional validation steps beyond entering the network password. This includes Wi-Fi networks with sign-in screens that can often be found in hotels, cafes, and airports.
To connect to these public Wi-Fi networks, PS Portal will display a QR code for you to scan with your smartphone or tablet. Once scanned, you’ll be able to use your mobile device’s web browser to complete the additional validation steps on behalf of your PS Portal. As a reminder, PS Portal requires a Wi-Fi connection with at least 5Mbps, and for a better play experience a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended.
New visual feedback for touchpad areas
The emulated touch pad on PS Portal’s vibrant 8-inch screen is getting an update. We’ve added new visual feedback to the touch pad areas. The new effects will be displayed when using the touch pad areas during remote play.
Display battery level in percentage
You now have the option to display the remaining battery level percentage on the status bar at the top right corner of your screen. To use this feature, open the quick menu, go to [Settings] > [System] > [Battery], and then turn on [Show Battery Percentage].
Since the initial launch of PS Portal last November, we’ve been overwhelmed with the enthusiastic reactions and the variety of ways our community has been enjoying gaming on PS Portal. While Remote Play for PlayStation has been available since the PlayStation 3 generation, we’ve built upon this technology with PS Portal to elevate the Remote Play experience to another level by integrating key features of the DualSense wireless controller with a vibrant 8-inch LCD screen.
We’re excited to see that PS Portal has introduced many more gamers to the Remote Play feature on PS5, with over 60 percent of PS Portal owners using the feature for the first time**. What’s more, PS Portal is making it easier for many players to access their games, with the average PS Portal owner’s engagement on PS5 going up within the first 8 weeks of using their PS Portal.
We’ve also seen a wide range of games proven to be popular on PS Portal, from single player adventures including God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Astro’s Playroom to multiplayer titles including Fortnite, Rocket League and EA Sports FC 24 – all being some of the most played games on PS Portal within the first 3 months of its launch***.
We’re always grateful to the PlayStation community for embracing our journey as we continue to explore different ways to bring new player experience. Check out the official website to learn more about PS Portal and let us know what you think in the comments!
*To connect to public networks, make sure that the initial setup for your PS Portal is completed. Authentication requires use of another device that can connect to the public network, such as a smartphone. Public networks that operate at 5GHz are not supported. **Internal Data from Nov 2020 – April 2024 ***Internal Data from Nov 15 2023 – Feb 15 2024
With Still Wakes the Deep releasing on PS5 tomorrow, we wanted to highlight some of the inspirations for the environments of the upcoming first-person narrative horror. Early on we decided that Still Wakes the Deep would be set on an oil rig and the team wanted to play on different fears and phobias. One of the main fears is the ocean itself; another is being isolated.
One of the first levels I worked on from the ground up was a space inside the engineering section of the rig, with a lot of machinery inside these four echoey, metal walls.
I wanted to try and play with the fear of claustrophobia, which in hindsight was an odd thing, because it’s a fear that is very vivid for me due to my own personal experiences. In the end I found it quite useful and intriguing to use my own triggers to build an environment that might in turn trigger the same emotions within players.
I pulled from my core childhood memory of claustrophobia a lot while we were developing Still Wakes the Deep.
I remember being at an event with lots of kids outdoors and they put out this big wooden crate with lots of little wooden compartments for the kids to play and crawl through.
As I got halfway through, I remember the twists and turns becoming narrower and the angles becoming harder to navigate.
My heart was racing, and I started to hyperventilate. I still remember the feeling of the wood under my fingers, the sounds, the smells.
When our main character Caz enters the engineering sections of the oil rig, you immediately feel trapped. The halls are narrow, the ceiling is low, every surface is metal and there’s a lot of heat and moisture trapped in the air around you.
Since there are no windows, you lose that sense of where you are. Now imagine moving through this space, while you’re up to your knees in a mix of water, oil, rust, and dirt, and you realise there’s something else in there with you. All you want is to get back to the open top of the rig for a breath of fresh air, but the only way through is by entering even narrower spaces.
The audio team did the brilliant job of capturing these vivid nightmarish sounds of horror.
In trying to trigger certain emotions with dark eerie visuals and audio I started to imagine how terrible it must feel to have all that moisture in the air with oily, dirty water seeping into your overalls.
You have a constant mix of these engineering sections like hot pipes and machinery but then every time you come outside you have terrible cold weather, cold steel. I wouldn’t say it’s comforting but I think it will make for a thrilling story.
There lie the strengths of The Chinese Room. On one side, we have people that love storytelling, whether it’s through movies or writing, and on the other we have musicians and audio technicians all from different walks of life.
Would I say that working on Still Wakes the Deep has conquered my fears? Probably not. If anything, it’s intensified fears of what’s lurking in the shadows! Still Wakes the Deep launches tomorrow on PS5.
Hey y’all! We’ve got a full show for you all this week, starting with a recap of the teams’ hands-on experiences at Summer Game Fest. Plus, we got to sit down with Riot Games Production Director Arnar Gylfason to discuss Valorant coming to PS5 and the Limited Beta starting today.
Stuff We Talked About
PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for June: Monster Hunter Rise, Football Manager 2024, Crusader Kings III, After Us and more
Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE
Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
With the release of Hogwarts Legacy’s new photo mode, last week we asked to see your most magical shares using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s magical highlights:
OKPopJustinshares a student flying over the lake on a hippogriff, with Hogwarts castle in the background
Defalt368shares students playing a game of Summoners Court
f0rgottengirlshares a masked wizard casting a blue-colored spell
CowboyDbop92shares a wizard wearing a pumpkin mask casting a red spell toward a troll
NemesisNatVPshares a character wearing the Azkaban Set looking over a ridge at Hogwarts in the distance
Dande_Lion55shares a portrait of a house elf with colorful bokeh lighting in the background
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Alan Wake 2 – Photo Mode SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 19, 2024
Next week, we’re shining our flashlights on Alan Wake 2 and its new photo mode. Whether exploring the main game or the new Night Springs DLC, share heart-racing moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Back in 2018, Monster Hunter World’s immediate success propelled the game, and the Monster Hunter franchise, into the global spotlight. Its lush maps, deep combat, and memorable monsters helped it become one of Capcom’s most successful projects ever. Today, millions of players now eagerly await 2025’s follow-up, Monster Hunter Wilds.
New footage from State of Play and Summer Game Fest has given players lots to dissect, from new monsters and abilities to harsh, dynamic weather. But a recent hands-off presentation during Summer Game Fest allowed me to see live gameplay, and crucially how the game’s new features impact the experience.
In just those 30 minutes of demo gameplay, I saw several things that got me stoked for Wilds. The new map is much more detailed, particularly regarding verticality. Some maps in World were pretty dense and could overlap or even turn back on themselves. Perfect for a monster’s den, but sometimes confusing for players. This time around, between the map and new UI elements that tell you which direction the target monster is (and how far away they are), it’s much easier to keep track of your targets.
The target monster was the Doshaguma, new to Monster Hunter Wilds. In Wilds, players can select a monster on their map and begin a quest by engaging that monster in combat out in the field (Capcom did not confirm other ways players can begin quests, or other quest types in the game). Upon that first hit, an incredible piece of music swells to usher in the quest with full orchestral might and a driving, dramatic sense of conflict. As the hunt goes on, the sand leviathan Balahara appears with a deep pit that pulled Doshaguma down. They brawl in a classic Turf War scrap, with smaller monsters scurrying all around. Chaotic and intense, and about to escalate even further.
Not long into the battle, an imposing wall of dust and sand forms on the horizon. It soon blankets the area with a blue/black darkness, illuminated by stray lightning strikes. These weather events change which monsters may appear on the map, including a mysterious new Apex creature that fires lightning right out of its head.
Immediately following the demo, I was able to speak with the game’s leadership trio for more on what I just saw: Series Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, Director Yuya Tokuda, and Art Director/Executive Director Kaname Fujioka.
PlayStation Blog: Monster Hunter World was a huge success when it launched in 2018. How did its unprecedented success inform your approach to Monster Hunter Wilds?
Ryozo Tsujimoto: What we did for World, both the base game and the expansion, really impacted Monster Hunter Wilds. Our approach to keeping players continuously interested in World helped us learn what players wanted to see in the future. That doesn’t just mean things we wanted to improve within the game, but also how we release information to players, and how to ease them into the game as well.
Speaking of easing players into the game, Monster Hunter Wilds features a lot of quality-of-life improvements. For example, the map seemed much more detailed and useful to navigate. Things like tracking quests and monsters, where items are located, and the great sense of verticality to the map. Any other new things that returning players could look forward to?
Yuya Tokuda: You’ve picked up on how much easier it is now to get to monsters, and finding monsters on the map. We received feedback that they were kind of difficult to get to sometimes, especially in maps that are very vertical where you have lots of different geographical elements. And, with the introduction of the Seikret, it’s easier for players to figure out where to go, and where to find monsters on the field.
In terms of things we improved on, one example is that it’s much easier now to select items. We really put an eye to giving more options for players with different kinds of item preferences, because selecting and navigating through items was something that can be difficult in the moment of a hunt. But hopefully, by giving players more options and more customization, we’ve improved this experience for returning players.
The phrase “living breathing ecosystem” was used to describe Monster Hunter World. The maps were large and full of life, you could get monsters tangled in vines, creatures would interact with each other, and so on. How are you expanding on that idea, and make it feel even bigger and more interactive?
Kaname Fujioka: We’re focusing on designing monster herd behaviors that are really tuned to each environment and their ecology. So, we want to have well designed, detailed monster behavior as they move in these larger packs. How the player interacts with them during their hunt is our first little step there toward enhancing the livable, beautiful environment.
I noticed in the demo, the hunter used both the Great Sword and Heavy Bowgun. So you’re able to take two weapons into a quest now. Previously a player would have to commit to a weapon, take it into a quest, that’s your weapon. How did this change come about for Wilds?
Yuya Tokuda: One of the big things about Wilds is that the environments themselves are so much more dynamic and adaptable. Things are changing so often, and even the monsters that are available to hunt can change moment to moment. It was important for us to give players the ability to adapt to that, and switch their own kind of playstyles. So they can carry different weapons, or the same weapons but with different elements for those kinds of situations. We’re really designing the game around allowing players to adapt to the environment.
Focus Mode and wounds are new for Wilds. Can you talk a bit about how these work, and how / when a player might want to engage with these systems?
Yuya Tokuda: So, you don’t need to be in Focus Mode to create wounds. Attacking the monster naturally causes damage or wounds to happen. As long as you’re attacking the wounds, you’ll be doing more damage to the monster.
Entering Focus Mode does highlight monster wounds so you can target them a lot easier, and there are special attacks you can perform in Focus Mode that do more damage to wounds. But, Focus Mode isn’t really just for targeting wounds.
A cursor that appears on the screen allows you to aim your attacks and also to aim your other moves like guarding and blocking attacks. The real merit of Focus Mode is to help players in their positioning and their distancing from monsters, so that even players who are maybe not as experienced with action games, or games similar to Monster Hunter, have an easier time honing in their attacks.
To wrap, if you could say anything to Monster Hunter World players who were really into it, but maybe they fell off years ago and they’re curious about Wilds, what would that be?
Ryozo Tsujimoto: We’re really just trying to make an amazing game for everyone. We hope Wilds is going to be the experience that tops anything before in the Monster Hunter series, and really gaming in general.
Yuya Tokuda: For players that didn’t gel with the action [of World], we’re planning a really thorough support system for players to learn about the game and play it from start to finish. We’re hoping that allows players to experience the best that Wilds has to offer.
The hunt begins when Monster Hunter Wilds comes to PS5 next year.
It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. F1 24 is off to the races in May’s PS5 list by entering the top 3 of most downloads in the EU region, with Sea of Thieves ascending the list in both the US and EU regions. The PS VR2 list saw new release Madison VR enter the fray of most downloads in May.
Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?
PS5 Games
US/Canada
EU
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves
Madden NFL 24
Grand Theft Auto V
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
F1 24
HELLDIVERS 2
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Grand Theft Auto V
HELLDIVERS 2
NBA 2K24
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
MLB The Show 24
TopSpin 2K25
Stellar Blade
Fallout 4
Fallout 4
Who’s Your Daddy?!
Who’s Your Daddy?!
Stellar Blade
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Grounded
It Takes Two
Another Crab’s Treasure
NBA 2K24
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Among Us
NHL 24
Grounded
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Rise of the Ronin
Resident Evil 4
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Gran Turismo 7
WWE 2K24
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
ELDEN RING
The Crew Motorfest
*Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included
PS4 Games
US/Canada
EU
Minecraft
Minecraft
Red Dead Redemption 2
A Way Out
Fallout 4
Red Dead Redemption 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
The Forest
A Way Out
Fallout 4
Gang Beasts
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Madden NFL 24
Gang Beasts
Batman: Arkham Knight
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
The Forest
Batman: Arkham Knight
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Grand Theft Auto V
Fallout 76
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered
Grand Theft Auto V
Far Cry 5
Mortal Kombat X
Firewatch
Stardew Valley
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Mortal Kombat X
Far Cry 5
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Mad Max
Resident Evil 6
RESIDENT EVIL 5
RESIDENT EVIL 5
MLB The Show 24
Mad Max
Resident Evil 6
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
*Naming of products may differ between regions
PS VR2 Games*
US/Canada
EU
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition
MADiSON VR
MADiSON VR
Beat Saber
Job Simulator
Job Simulator
Beat Saber
Legendary Tales
STRIDE: Fates
Waltz of the Wizard
Pavlov
Pavlov
Swordsman VR
Jurassic World Aftermath Collection
Legendary Tales
STRIDE: Fates
Among Us VR
Among Us VR
Arizona Sunshine 2
*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included
In recent years, we’ve partnered with Discord to introduce more ways for players to connect with their friends and communities across Discord and the PS5 console. Since we first introduced Discord voice chat on PS5, players have joined a Discord voice chat on PS5 more than 290 million times to hang out with friends in Discord voice channels while gaming.
Today, we’re pleased to share that we’re starting to roll out the ability for PS5 players to join Discord voice chat directly from the PS5 console, without relying on the Discord PC or mobile apps to initiate the connection.
How to join Discord voice chat on PS5
To start, select the Discord tab in Game Base within the PS5 Control Center and choose the Discord server or DM group you’d like to join. Then, select your preferred voice channel. This will reveal more details, such as who is already in the channel chatting. You’ll also receive a PS5 console notification when another Discord user calls you, allowing you to join right away.
This update will make it easier than ever to quickly hop into Discord conversations with other gamers. It will gradually roll out over the coming weeks, starting with players in Japan/Asia, followed by Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and the Middle East, and finally the Americas.
Please note that you will need to update your console to the latest system software, and your accounts for PlayStation Network and Discord must be linked. If you haven’t yet linked accounts, you can learn how to do so here.
Profile Share also begins rolling out next week
Starting next week, we’re also rolling out the ability for you to share your PlayStation Network profile on any messaging or social app. To begin, select “Share Profile” from PlayStation App or the PS5 console to generate a shareable link or QR code. When the recipient opens the link, they’ll have the option to add you as a friend once they’re signed in to PlayStation Network:
We’re passionate about making it as easy as possible for you to find and connect with new friends and communities, whether you enjoy playing with other friends on PS5 or hopping into crossplay games. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Attention, PlayStation players and Call of Duty fans — Black Ops is officially back! After four years, Treyarch and Raven are ushering in the next chapter in the vaunted Black Ops franchise with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, releasing on Friday, October 25. We’ve got intel on some of the modes and features coming to the game and more on items such as pre-order benefits you can earn between now and launch.
This will be signature Black Ops across a cinematic single-player Campaign, Multiplayer, and the epic return of Round-Based Zombies. Get ready for a mind-bending narrative and to go beyond the rules of engagement in all three modes. In Black Ops 6, you’re never sure who to trust and what’s real – – but this blog is real, so let’s dive in!
It’s the early ‘90s – a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. While the Gulf War commands the global spotlight, a shadowy clandestine force has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA, branding anyone who resists as traitors. Exiled from their agency and country that once hailed them as heroes, Black Ops veteran Frank Woods and his team find themselves hunted by the military machine that created them. They are forced to go rogue, partnering with the criminal underworld to stay one step ahead of their own corrupted government. They’ll do whatever it takes to bring down the real traitors and clear their names — even if that means crossing the same lines as their enemies. There is no going back.
With the Campaign taking place in the years after the Cold War, longtime fans will recognize that this timeframe is directly connected to the 1980s flashbacks revealed during Black Ops 2 – the aftermath of which has left our heroes in dire circumstances.
In this new chapter, we see a different side of Frank Woods following his traumatic injury at the hands of Raul Menendez. His protege is Troy Marshall, who has been making a name for himself in the field. Marshall is a reluctant leader, driven by a strong moral compass.
Marshall and Woods are working with another new face in Black Ops 6: CIA handler Jane Harrow. She is a born leader, fearless and brilliant, and helps manage their relationships within the agency.
When an operation goes wrong, Woods and Marshall are suspended and ultimately forced to go rogue, and they soon realize they must trust each other to really get to the bottom of what’s going on. They must build their own team of rogue agents, recruiting two intriguing new characters in Felix Neumann, a technical genius, and Sevati Dumas, a mysterious assassin.
With a mixture of new and old faces, a legendary wildcard also returns to the fight – Russell Adler. While his allegiances and motivations remain unclear, this former ally may have become a new and daunting enemy.
Leading the development of the Black Ops 6 Campaign is Raven Software, and with this Campaign, their goal is to deliver more: an increased variety of mission structures, additional focus on player choice, and more options to finish each mission, with dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay throughout.
Mission variety is a key component of what PlayStation players can expect. From a map standpoint, some locations are more ideal for stealth, and some are more appropriate for large-scale battles, and the Campaign has a balance of both. These range from storming a palace to pulling off a heist in an opulent, southern European casino. Within the Campaign missions gameplay can unfold in multiple ways, giving the player the freedom to navigate through them as they see fit. This includes combat as well as conversation, as operatives talk, barter, and manipulate their way into different outcomes.
There are many more Campaign details that fans can find across Call of Duty channels, including details on enemies, equipment, the return of the Safehouse, and more.
A taste of what’s to come with Multiplayer and the return of RBZ
Treyarch is leaving no stone unturned in the development of both Multiplayer and Zombies. Many more details are coming later in the year on each of these modes but there are a few key things we can share now.
In Black Ops 6 Multiplayer, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. Many of these maps feature innovations on the classic three-lane map design, with quick time to engagement, and coming in the small to medium-sized range for the right amount of complexity. This allows for meaningful player choice, keeping the action flowing and the pacing optimal. A key point for Treyarch is that maps intentionally support gameplay variety.
But that’s not all. It’s time to rejoice, Zombies fans! Round-based Zombies is back in a massive way. Players will be able to take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch in the return of this fan-favorite mode. Players will experience the continuation of the Dark Aether storyline that started in Black Ops Cold War, with each map containing a curated mix of elements both new and familiar to discover.
And of course, in Black Ops 6’s post-launch seasons, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
Across the entire game, players will push beyond their limits with several new global innovations, including Omnimovement, the most fluid boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty movement to date. Movement has been a consistent area of focus and innovation across Call of Duty – and with Black Ops 6, Treyarch is redefining movement in a big way.
For the first time ever, players can sprint in any direction (forward, sidestepping, and backpedaling) and move like a true Black Ops action hero. This innovation immediately allows the player to move like never before and seamlessly chain combat maneuvers together, like sliding, diving, and a newly-enhanced supine prone, all with a full 360 degrees range of motion.
With Omnimovement – and core player movement in general – it’s not just about making the player move faster. This is Treyarch’s holistic approach to redefine what Black Ops movement really means. The upcoming Multiplayer Beta will be a perfect opportunity for PlayStation players to try it out for themselves.
There are many other exciting innovations and features coming to Black Ops 6, including the return of a more traditional Call of Duty Prestige system, but for now, let’s turn our attention to how you can get involved in the action.
Pre-orders now available at the PlayStation Store
Get yourself ready to dive into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 by pre-ordering either of the digital editions on the PlayStation Store today: the Cross-Gen Bundle, which includes the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions of the game, or the Vault Edition, which includes the Cross-Gen Bundle plus additional premium content.
Pre-order either digital edition and get Early Access* to the Open Beta, dates to be announced soon. Plus, pre-order either digital edition and get the Woods Operator Pack** – immediately unlock the Classic Woods Operator Skin in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone. Plus, get access to unlock the Zombie Woods and Numbers Woods skins by completing in-game challenges.
Black Ops 6: Vault Edition
Players who pre-order the Vault Edition from the PlayStation Store can expect the following premium content, in addition to the game itself:
Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack, including Operator Skins for Adler, Park, Brutus, and Klaus
Mastercraft Collection, featuring 5 different Mastercraft weapons
Season 1 BlackCell, including content, tier skips, Call of Duty Points, and more***
GobbleGum Pack for Zombies, including 12 GobbleGums of high rarities
Be on the lookout for more information about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 soon. And never forget, the truth lies …
*Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. PlayStation Plus subscription may be required for MP Beta.
**Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III or Call of Duty: Warzone on PS4 / PS5 required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.
***Battle Pass and BlackCell will be accessible in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 once the Season 1 Battle Pass is made available in game. Battle Pass / BlackCell redemption applies to one Season of Black Ops 6 Battle Pass only.
PlayStation fans! We’re back again with another exciting look at Monster Hunter Wilds, coming to PlayStation 5 in 2025. In the trailer just revealed at Summer Game Fest 2024, we’re sharing how we’ve evolved the hunting experience to seamlessly connect the tense storyline and gameplay, resulting in the most immersive and cinematic hunting experience in the series.
If you haven’t yet, take a look at our latest trailer below, which we’re calling “The Hunter’s Journey.” It shares a peek at an intense narrative-driven hunt through the Windward Plains and introduces brand new monsters making their debut in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Take a look at our newly released artwork! Here we see a hunter encountering a fearsome pack of Doshaguma in the vast Windward Plains, providing a taste of the harsh environments and ferocious monsters you’ll be confronted with in the world of Monster Hunter Wilds.
A new Leviathan slithers into Monster Hunter Wilds
This leviathan uses its serpentine body to slither through the normally impassible jagged landscape with ease. The Balahara secretes a slick substance that allows it to greet any creature unfortunate enough to wander into its territory with a salvo slung from afar.
Ever the cunning predator, the Balahara will often burrow into the smooth desert sand and coil itself in wait, using its flexible body to create a pit of quicksand that will ensnare its prey.
The Forbidden Lands are an unforgiving region–Sparse in resources and plentiful in those competing for them. Violent clashes over territory are an everyday occurrence in the desert and not just between the titans that inhabit it.
In the released footage, a pack of Balahara can be seen attacking a large Doshaguma, and we can see a Chatacabra under attack from a group of small monsters. Yes, even small monsters can be observed defending themselves against larger predators if they feel threatened. Knowledge of this type of behavior can be used to your advantage. Be sure to keep a keen eye on your surroundings so you can act appropriately when the time comes.
Immersive, seamless connection between story and gameplay
The development team is working to craft a story unlike anything seen before in the Monster Hunter series, blending a compelling and intriguing narrative with interesting characters to meet during your journey.
Here’s a glimpse of the story told through a few cutscenes and gameplay segments.
Hunters can brandish their weapons while mounted atop their Seikret to deter an approaching pack of predators, or the Seikret can be directed to avoid monsters automatically.
The Balahara tracks down the hunter and the battle begins.
A mysterious large monster approaches…
The Windward Plains is a locale that showcases a rich and vibrant ecosystem full of monsters, contrasted by the harshness of nature. During your adventures, you’ll discover the mysteries of this land and the monsters that inhabit it.
Amongst these harsh conditions, you’ll need to be wary of the Sandtide, a violent sandstorm rife with lightning. Also in the trailer, there was a scene where a large mysterious monster was attacking a Doshaguma with lightning.
Monster Hunter Wilds promises to deliver the most cinematic and immersive story in the series’s history, where story and gameplay are seamlessly connected. We’ll have plenty more to share with you in the future, so we hope you stay tuned ahead of the game’s launch on PS5 in 2025.
We’re so excited to reveal that the electrifying, creative, and action-packed gameplay of Valorant is now coming to PS5. We can’t wait for you all to join us for our Limited Beta, which begins June 14!
Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS, where precise gunplay meets unique Agent abilities. Valorant is more than just guns and bullets… I mean don’t get us wrong, you can definitely do some crazy outplays with your guns (five bullets, five enemies, five one-taps… no problem), but Valorant is so much more than that. In every game of Valorant you’ll get to choose an Agent from our continually growing, unapologetically global roster, and each Agent is armed with unique abilities.
Creativity meets clutch
Every Agent has a different kit that allows you to create opportunities for your gunplay to shine. No two Agents will play alike, just like no two montages will look the same in Valorant. When we initially began thinking about bringing Valorant to PS5, it was never about the technical aspects of building a new game on new platforms—it was about preserving the feeling of what it’s like to play Valorant. Once you start playing Valorant and get more familiar with the gameplay, there’s a special moment that will just click. Moments where you stand alone and outnumbered, but you find a way to overcome the odds and win the round while your teammates watch in silence—before erupting into cheers. These are the moments that make Valorant special, where creativity meets clutch. And we’re so happy that we can bring that experience to PS5 and welcome more players to our community.
The playing fields
In addition to unique Agents, abilities, and gunplay, Valorant also features an array of maps. Each one is a playground for you to showcase your creative thinking. There’s also different modes for you to try out, whether you want to play a quick match or climb the ranks, there’s something for everyone. Currently, for competitive queue, we have a map pool that changes every few months. But all of our existing maps are available in non-competitive modes. All the content that is currently available on Valorant PC, will be available on PS5, and whenever we ship a patch, we’ll be shipping it for everyone at the same time. So when a new map or Agent launches, everyone who plays Valorant will get it at the same time.
For the Beta
While we want to have everyone playing the same Valorant, we also know that with all the different modes, maps, Agents, and guns, there’s a lot to learn. So we’ll be releasing the following modes and maps during our Limited Beta to catch everyone up to speed.
Unrated, Swiftplay, Deathmatch:
June 14: Ascent, Bind, Haven, Abyss
June 25: Patch 9.00, Sunset
July 9: Lotus
July 23: Icebox
Team Deathmatch
All TDM maps
Customs
All maps
How to sign up
Valorant is all about how you want to play. From the Agents you pick, the gun you default to (we prefer the Vandal), to how you customize your collection. We’re excited to welcome you into our community, can’t wait to see all your creative clips, and are so ready to put Valorant in your hands.
Our Limited Beta will begin on June 14 in the following regions: USA, Canada, parts of Europe, and Japan. Throughout our Limited and Open Beta more regions will be made available and we’ll continue to update availability throughout each phase. You can sign up to join the Limited Beta now at beta.playvalorant.com. If your region isn’t listed, we encourage you to still sign up to show your interest, as we’ll be adding new regions over the course of our Beta.
That’s all from us for now. We can’t wait to see you in-game on June 14!
In Alan Wake 2, the titular writer is trying to escape the Dark Place, a shifting, nightmare version of New York, by penning pages and pages of different escape attempts. And some of those stories are set in… Night Springs.
Night Springs… a fictional town, full of the thrilling and bizarre, where the familiar turns strange. Night Springs… a TV show Alan Wake once wrote for. Night Springs… the first expansion to Alan Wake 2, Remedy Entertainment’s award-winning survival horror, is out tomorrow, June 8, on PlayStation 5!
In its three self-contained episodes, the Night Springs expansion presents three ways Alan Wake attempted to find his way out of the endless loops of the Dark Place. You will get to play as three characters from the world of Alan Wake.
While they will be familiar at first glance, they are Night Springs echoes of themselves, archetypes based on characters players have already encountered.
Put yourself in the shoes of the Number One Fan, who bears a striking resemblance to the waitress Rose Marigold, and fight the shadows in pursuit of truth and love with your trusty shotgun by your side. As the Actor, who may be called “Shawn Ashmore” in some realities and “Sheriff Timothy Breaker” in others, you will take on the mantle of the Time Breaker and defeat the villain hunting for you. And in the North Star episode, unravel coffee-based secrets and cosmic caffeine mysteries as the Sibling, who may seem familiar to those who know Jesse Faden, director of the Federal Bureau of Control.
In Night Springs, players will fight and puzzle their way through familiar, yet transformed locations. Expect more dream logic, twists and turns that only a sci-fi adventure written by Alan Wake can provide, and even more experimenting with different types of media, like a playable arcade game and a comic book.
Trophy hunters and completionists can look forward to 12 new challenges in Night Springs. Share your progress with us on social media using the #NightSprings hashtag!
Night Springs will be available with the Alan Wake 2 Expansion Pass, which is included in both the digital Deluxe Edition and the upcoming physical Deluxe and Collector’s Editions of Alan Wake 2. PlayStation players who would like to pre-order either of the physical editions can do so starting June 8. If you own the digital Standard Edition, you have the option to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition to access the expansions.
Night Springs is, however, not the end. The Lake House, the second and final expansion to Alan Wake 2, tells the story of a mysterious government facility on the shores of Cauldron Lake, and the time the secret research conducted there went terribly, terribly wrong. Look forward to the Lake House expansion later this year!
Also available tomorrow – Photo Mode! Everyone who owns Alan Wake 2 will get it as a free update. In the story of the game, Alice Wake, Alan’s wife, is a photographer, and as such the settings of the Alan Wake 2 Photo Mode – such as f-stop, focal length, etc. – have been taken from the art of photography and use photographic values.
As a team, we’ve learned a lot from developing photo mode for Control, and as a result we’re very happy to be able to offer players new features in Alan Wake 2’s Photo Mode. You can now play around with lighting and use several types of lighting such as a spotlight, the flashlight from the game, and of course the inevitable and classic camera flash. This gives all you virtual photographers the tools to create shots that can have a dramatically different mood and look to the aesthetics of what you see in the game.
Of course, we couldn’t overlook the chance to embrace the visual themes from the game in Photo Mode as well. You will have several presets at your disposal that you can quickly select, including ones that enable you to recreate the look of the evidence photos you can find on Saga’s Case Board. The Photo Mode comes with several different filters and frames, including postcard frames from different locations around the game.
Look around and capture your impressions of the Pacific Northwest and the rainy, night-time New York City of the Dark Place. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what you’ll come up with! Tag your shots with the #AW2Photomode hashtag on social media to share them with the community.
Sonic and Shadow speed onto PlayStation consoles this October, offering players high-speed action and platforming challenges only possible in the Sonic universe.
Today, we unveiled the release date and pre-order information for Sonic x Shadow Generations, the Sonic the Hedgehog platformer remastering the beloved Sonic Generations with modernized visuals and extra bonus content, while adding a brand-new journey featuring never-before-seen abilities for the Ultimate Life Form – Shadow the Hedgehog.
The trailer released today shows a glimpse of Sonic and Shadow’s respective adventures and intense challenges, including a first look at exciting new levels and Shadow’s newfound powers. Sonic x Shadow Generations is sure to be a high-speed, heroic experience.
The return of Shadow also brings the return of his nemesis, Black Doom, who threatens to take over the world once more. You must harness Shadow’s new powers and journey into the past in his own standalone campaign to battle enemies and complete blistering platforming challenges to thwart Black Doom’s evil plans. Players will witness Shadow’s dark origins and explore an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers by gaining new powers and uncovering hidden secrets throughout the area.
Sonic Generations also receives a graphical upgrade and remains a greatest-hits collection for Sonic fans, old and new, combining nostalgic 3D and 2D versions of Sonic stages from throughout the generations with upgraded visuals and cinematics. You can also enjoy new collectibles, bonus content, and more, including a Chao rescue mission in every level and the return of high-energy pinball gameplay in the Casino Nights Zone.
Sonic x Shadow Generations will be released on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, coming in both a standard and a Digital Deluxe version. The Digital Deluxe edition gives fans the chance to play the game three days early. It also offers iconic extra music tracks from Sonic and Shadow’s earlier games, a Terios skin based on Shadow’s original concept, behind-the-scenes art, an additional Shadow level and skin, and more.
You can also pre-order Sonic x Shadow Generations ahead of launch to receive a legacy skin for Sonic based on his look from Sonic Adventure. In addition, players who pre-order the Physical Day One Edition will receive Gerald Robotnik’s Journal, a 28-page logbook recording Gerald’s innermost thoughts and drawings while creating Shadow and the Ark Space Station – a must-have for fans hoping to learn more about Shadow’s backstory! Exclusive to PlayStation, players who buy the game on PS4 or PS5 will also receive bonus extended prologue animations with never-before-seen deleted scenes.
This ultimate celebration of Sonic and Shadow gaming is on its way and brings unique challenges like never before. Pre-order Sonic x Shadow Generations today and stay tuned for more to come later this year.
During today’s Summer Game Fest showcase, we announced the brand-new action adventure game, LEGO Horizon Adventures, to be launched during the 2024 Holiday season on PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Co-developed by Guerrilla and Studio Gobo, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a playful and light-hearted story inspired by the events of the world of Horizon.
In a distant future, the land is made of LEGO bricks and incredible dinosaur-like machines roam the Earth. Aloy, the game’s leading hero, is found in a cave as a baby and raised by a grizzled huntsman called Rost, who teaches her the way of the wilds. One day, Aloy embarks on a quest to discover her true destiny. Guided by a thousand-year-old hologram of a scientist called Elisabet, Aloy must confront Helis, the leader of a group of sun worshipers who bow to an Ancient Evil shrouded in mystery. There’s much more in store for Aloy and her friends, as their adventure sends them across the tallest mountains and deepest cauldrons — all beautifully recreated in LEGO elements.
Follow your own adventure or share the fun with another player via couch or online co-op*. LEGO Horizon Adventures has been designed for two-player action without the need for split-screen, providing an opportunity for family and friends to develop connections through collaborative play.
There’s plenty of brick-based fun to be had too. Give the village of Mother’s Heart a makeover, decorating it in delightful ways to unlock unique LEGO buildings and ornaments. You can even dish out hilarious outfits for your friends to wear!
Follow Guerrilla on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for all the latest Horizon news and updates. To learn more about the game, please visit www.legohorizonadventures.com.
*Online subscription required for console players.
The Drive to Diamond in MLB The Show 24 pulls into Cooperstown for a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame to celebrate the start of Season 2. Play new programs, unlock never-before-seen cards, and build your best Diamond Dynasty squad.*
Head start rewards
Unlock Head Start Rewards of packs and XP right away when you log in on June 7 afternoon PT. If you have completed all five head start goals, you will have enough XP to earn your first Wild Card slot from the Season 2 XP Reward Path. Then, you can slot in your favorite player from your Season 1 cards to join your new Season 2 squad. Don’t forget to open your Diamond Cornerstone Captain pack to build your team around his Captain boosts.
There’s so much to do as Season 2 begins. Play new Team Affinity to find your favorite team’s rewards. Build your best squad to take on head-to-head opponents in Ranked or join your friends on a 2v2 or 3v3 Ranked co-op game.
Double XP
You will earn Double XP all weekend long to give you a fast start in Season 2. From fresh Moments to 3-inning games to 9-inning games, play your way and earn all new XP Path rewards, including Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr., Roy Halladay, and Chipper Jones.
Season 2 collection
As you make your way through all the amazing content that Season 2 in MLB The Show 24 has to offer, be sure to collect Season 2 Legends and Flashback player items in the Season 2 Collection to earn the Collection Boss Choice Pack featuring Hall of Fame Series Derek Jeter, Frank Thomas, and Bob Gibson. Having any of these amazing athletes in your lineup, let alone all 3, will make any team a force to be reckoned with in MLB The Show 24.
Coming soon in June
Play the new Architects Program dropping on Tuesday, June 11, as reinforcements arrive for your Captain-themed squad. As you play through the program, you will earn four Diamond players that fit the new Season 2 Cornerstone Captain team builds.
2024 All-Star Game
Another big stop during Season 2 will take us to Texas for the 2024 All-Star Game in mid-July. If you’re in attendance in Arlington, TX, be sure to stop by the MLB The Show booth to get hands-on experience with MLB The Show 24, and, maybe, walk away with some MLB The Show prizes that will make you the envy of all your friends.
For those of you who can’t make it out, don’t worry because MLB The Show 24 has you covered with new content from the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, MLB Draft and the must-watch MLB Home Run Derby.
Hall of Fame programs
After the All-Star festivities, get ready to relive some of the most exciting careers of Hall of Famers in MLB The Show 24. Play Moments and Missions as we celebrate this year’s Class of 2024.
*Internet connection required for updates and rewards. Online multiplayer features require an internet connection and a console-specific online multiplayer subscription.
Howdy folks! This week the team recaps some of the biggest news from last week’s State of Play and talks some of 2024’s best indies so far. Plus: Which videogame worlds do you think smell the best/worst? The team nose dives into this topic and more.
Stuff We Talked About
V Rising Blog
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance enhanced gameplay Blog
Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
Last week we asked you to share sneaky hidden moments from your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s hidden highlights:
TakaSanGamesshares Ellie hidden in the bushes in The Last of Us Part II.
BarryPaustshares Wander crouching to hide from a Colossus in Shadow of the Colossus.
thwippipshares a face-painted Aloy hiding behind leaves in Horizon Forbidden West
marka_gameshares Jin blending in with the scenery in a unique way in Ghost of Tsushima
Photoingameshares a Na’vi blending in with blue water in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Defnotanthonyfrshares the cat from Stray blending into the cluttered surroundings to take a nap
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Hogwarts Legacy – Photo Mode SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 12, 2024
Next week, a new photo mode feature casts a spell on Hogwarts Legacy. Share moments from your magical journey using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Dear Trailblazers, greetings from the Honkai: Star Rail dev team. Today, we are excited to share the details of Honkai: Star Rail version 2.3, Farewell Penacony. This update introduces the highly anticipated Stellaron Hunter, Firefly, as well as a significant figure from the IPC, Jade. Additionally, under the guidance of Mr. Screwllum, the new update in the Simulated Universe – Divergent Universe – will be unveiled as well.
After inheriting the Watchmaker’s Legacy and embarking on the new Path of Harmony, Trailblazers awaken in the real world following the climactic battle with Mr. Sunday. Now, the abrupt termination of the Charmony Festival has left The Family’s reputation in tatters, with numerous delicate issues urgently demanding attention. In response, aside from the Oak Family, the major lineages are preparing their strategies to address the aftermath. In the version 2.3 Trailblaze Mission, the Express Crew will be invited aboard the Radiant Feldspar, soaring into the skies above Penacony to witness crucial Family discussions firsthand.
Meanwhile, aboard the Radiant Feldspar, a new project within the Simulated Universe, Divergent Universe will be conducted under the guidance of Mr. Screwllum, utilizing technology from his home planet to bring gameplay improvements. For instance, the Arithmetic Mapping function in the Divergent Universe testing removes character download limitations. If a character’s level is below the current Equilibrium Level Cap, it will automatically increase to meet the cap. The update also introduces the Equation feature, where combining buffs from two different Paths grants corresponding combat abilities once the required amount is achieved. Additionally, when facing defeat in the Divergent Universe, Trailblazers can now restart challenges without needing to force-stop the game. With the new Restart Challenge option, players can regroup and give it another shot.
In the upcoming version, Origami Birds will also make their way onto the Radiant Feldspar, bringing a new mini-game. In this arcade challenge, Trailblazers must achieve eliminations within a set number of moves to boost the birds’ Combat Power. During the Origami Bird Clash event, Trailblazers can not only participate in Story Challenges, but also freely battle friends from across the universe!
After venturing alongside the Trailblazers for a time, we will uncover more about Firefly in version 2.3. Firefly is a member of the Stellaron Hunters, originating from the long-destroyed world of Glamoth. Once a prosperous and expansive empire, Glamoth was left thrashed and devastated by the calamity brought on by the Swarm. Firefly, a young girl encased in mechanical armor known as SAM, was created as a weapon against the invasion. Unfortunately, she suffers from Entropy Loss Syndrome due to genetic modification. Driven by the quest to find meaning in life and to defy fate, she joined the Stellaron Hunters to further her goals and calling.
As a 5-star Fire-Type character, Firefly possesses an immense power. After using her Technique, she can summon her SAM armor and leap into the air, moving freely, with SAM attacking all enemies within a set range to enter battle. Each wave of enemies can have Fire Weakness forced upon units without Fire Weakness, lasting for a set number of turns. In the heat of battle, SAM will be operating in two forms. In the initial form, using her Skill consumes HP but simultaneously replenishes her Ultimate energy. The less HP Firefly has, the less damage she sustains. Furthermore, when activating her Ultimate, SAM transforms into its second battle form — the dazzling Complete Combustion state! Alongside more potent Basic Attacks and Skills, her Speed and Weakness Break efficiency are also heightened. The Break DMG dealt by SAM is increased until the countdown for Complete Combustion ends. An aspect worth mentioning is that this state not only displays SAM’s might, but also provides players with a unique perspective from within the cockpit of the SAM mech. In this perspective, Firefly’s unwavering gaze is an embodiment of her fiery spirit, capable of setting the starry seas ablaze.
Another Quantum-Type 5-star character, Jade, is set to make her distinguished debut. As a senior manager in the IPC Strategic Investment Department and one of the Ten Stonehearts, she is recognized by her Cornerstone, Jade of Credit. Cold and elegant, Jade is a skilled moneylender with a keen understanding of the human heart. Her personal hobby, Bonajade Exchange, highlights her patience in waiting for high-value acquisitions through accepting pawning of assets and her ability to extract value from seemingly destitute clients.
Jade’s Skill allows her to forge a binding agreement with a single ally, making them her Debt Collector and bestowing upon them enhancements. Interestingly, if she selects herself as the Debt Collector, the only part of the enhancement will be applied. Each attack launched by Jade or her Debt Collector accumulates Charges for Jade. Once fully charged, Jade unleashes a follow-up attack against all enemies. Her Ultimate, however, enforces the terms of the agreement with unyielding precision, dealing damage to all enemies while also enhancing her follow-up attack.
It’s worth noting that the limited 5-star characters — Ruan Mei and Argenti — will make their appearances in event warps during the first and second halves of version 2.3, respectively. Their formidable strength ensures they will remain powerful allies in your future adventures.
That wraps up our insights on Version 2.3. While there are still more surprises in the wings, we’ll keep this update brief and delightful. We hope you’re enjoying your cosmic adventures, that Firefly and the new Simulated Universe will bring surprises to everyone, and look forward to rendezvousing with you in the next one.
Today is my lucky day because I get to talk about Tomba with legendary creator Tokuro Fujiwara. Before leaving Capcom to develop Tomba, Fujiwara worked on many games, including some you might have heard of, like Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Commando.
Tomba is a colorful action platformer originally published by Sony Computer Entertainment and beloved by hardcore PlayStation fans. In an era where side-scrollers were being left behind for polygon-pushing 3D gameplay, Mr. Fujiwara decided to do something different: a beautiful blend of old and new, something truly unique.
Now, after almost twenty years, Tomba returns to PlayStation on August 1 with new features as Tomba Special Edition
Alena Alambeigi: In 1997, when you made Tomba, most developers focused on making 3D games like Tomb Raider or Crash Bandicoot. You instead decided to mix 2D sprites with perspective-shifting 3D environments. Why?
Tokuro Fujiwara: Tomba runs on 3D technology, with gameplay designed around 2D principles. This is why it’s described as a 2.5D game. I think 2D games have a certain kind of charm that 3D doesn’t. I also wanted to push the limits of what could be done. To bring my vision to life, I needed to use 2D principles along with 3D CG visuals. This allowed me to create something that felt new on the PlayStation.
There were times when I wondered if I should go 3D instead, 3D games have a very clear sense of space. In 2D, all the action takes place on a flat plane, and multiple layers provide a sense of depth. This means you have to design the game in creative ways so that the different layers don’t conflict. This results in something interesting that can only be achieved with 2D.
Alambeigi: What do you hope new players will take away from Tomba Special Edition?
Fujiwara: Tomba has many side quests. These come in different varieties and are hidden throughout the game. I encourage players to seek them out. Various items allow players to learn new moves, expanding how levels can be beaten. I hope players search and seal away the Evil Pigs scattered throughout the world, which will unlock even more to see! There are many discoveries to be made. I hope players can relax and enjoy the world of Tomba.
Alambeigi: Speaking of genre-bending gameplay. Tomba feels like an open world despite being described as a side-scrolling platformer. This was largely due to how nonlinearly the levels could be played. Was this done intentionally, or was it something that just happened through development?
Fujiwara: I had envisioned this open-feel game from the very beginning. It was all a blur when things started, but as development progressed, it began taking shape.
You could consider Tomba an open-world title, a term that was rarely used back then. There’s a wide area with a lot of different content in it. You encounter, discover, and collect various things as you move around. For example, you have to complete certain tasks in Tomba, but you can wander around freely and complete them however you like. Some tasks and main objectives can even be skipped entirely. Many of the ideas I envisioned for Tomba back in the day were ideas we see in open-world game design today.
I initially wanted to include 100 quests, but the final game exceeded that. It was hard work for the team to fit it all together on a timeline. What started out as vague ideas in my head ballooned into an amount of content so large it blew my mind!
Alambeigi: The original PlayStation was a massive leap in gaming technology. What was it like to experience it back then?
Fujiwara: Game development is an ongoing battle against technology growth. This was the case back then and is still true today. I felt that the PlayStation was such a remarkable improvement in terms of hardware, allowing for greater possibilities. Games went from being rendered in pixels to CG. Game developers had to learn many new skills. Expectations ballooned along with the scope of game ideas. Development environments evolved, which made things challenging but exciting for developers. The introduction of the PlayStation and the advancements from that era still impact games today.
Alambeigi: Finally, why do you think it’s important to bring Tomba back now?
Fujiwara: Tomba has been around for a long time, but continues to be loved by many. I’ve long wished that the game could be accessible to more people on modern systems. Now that the opportunity is here, I think PlayStation fans today will get a ton of enjoyment out of Tomba
Tomba Special Edition leaps onto PlayStation 5 on August 1, with PS4 to follow.
Hello PlayStation Stars members. June is almost here. We’re excited to share this month’s updates, which include special Days of Play Campaigns, new Digital Collectibles you can purchase with your Points, and a few other surprises. Here’s what you need to know.
Days of Play Display Case
Now Available
Change the scene on your Display Case to celebrate Days of Play and showcase your Digital Collectibles.
Campaign: Dredge | Days of Play 2024 | Digital Collectible: DREDGE Boat
Now Available
Don’t miss your opportunity to play Dredge, which is now in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Embark on your own journey to find fish and mysteries and earn the “Introductions” trophy to haul in the Dredge Boat Digital Collectible.
Campaign: PlayStation Plus Game Catalog: Must-play this Month | Reward: 75 Points
Now Available
To celebrate Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, play any one of these games from the catalog to earn 75 Points.
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2
Gotham Knights
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
GigaBash
Campaign: Your PlayStation Plus Monthly Games Await | Reward: 75 Points
Campaign: Destiny 2: The Final Shape | Digital Collectible: A Light to Accompany the Darkness
Available: June 4
It’s time to save the universe from the Witness’s twisted designs. Journey into the Traveler, rally the Vanguard, and end the War of Light and Darkness. You are our last beacon of hope. Play Destiny 2: The Final Shape on PS4 or PS5 to earn a Digital Collectible.
Campaign: PlayStation VR2 Games | Days of Play 2024 | Digital Collectible: A Flip of the Virtual Coin
Available: June 6
Check out this lineup of new PS VR2 games and step into a new reality with PlayStation Plus Premium. Play any one of the games noted below to get a celebratory Digital Collectible!
Ghostbusters Rise of the Ghost Lord
Walkabout Mini Golf
Before Your Eyes
Campaign: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition | Days of Play 2024| Reward: 50 Points
Available: June 7
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition is now part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Celebrate with us by earning the “Getting Started” trophy to earn some Points.
Campaign: PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog | Days of Play 2024 | Digital Collectible: Coin of the Classics
Available: June 11
The PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog continues to grow. Play any one of the newly added games below and earn yourself the Coin of the Classics Digital Collectible.
Tomb Raider Legend
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus
Campaign: Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Comes Home | Digital Collectible: Mini-Puft Mischief
Available: June 18
They’re back! The Spengler family teams up with the original Ghostbusters to save the world from a second Ice Age. Celebrate the home release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Play any game on PS4 or PS5 to get your Mini-Puft Mischief Digital Collectible.
Also, don’t miss your chance to redeem a Slimer Digital Collectible, now available in the Rewards Catalog.
Head to PlayStation App to see all the PlayStation Stars Campaigns throughout the month. Learn more about PlayStation Stars here.
Last week we asked you take a leap in the game of your choice and share using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s jumping highlights:
DexM_dsshares Celene leaping over obstacles in Returnal.
sorathlunashares Jin leaping from his horse in Ghost of Tsushima
Hedronikshares Eivor making a leap of faith in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Dario_OtherEyesshares Yuffie leaping in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.
Tigas_VPshares a Cal leaping down to strike the Spawn of Oggdo in Star Wars Jedi Survivor
secondcaptureshares the ballerina doing a graceful backflip in Bound.
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Hidden
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 5, 2024
Next week, we’re going into sneak mode. Share moments where characters are hidden in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
We are delighted to finally announce the launch date for Silent Hill 2. Since our first announcement in 2022, we have been met with passionate expectations from fans across the globe. In order to meet such high expectations, we have taken ample polishing time and carefully decided on when we would be able to deliver the game with confidence. This game is at its best, a remake with respect toward the original. We have revealed one gameplay movie and one new trailer to accompany the start of pre-orders, so please give it a look.
The 13-minute gameplay footage that we revealed during the Silent Hill 2 Transmission showcases exploration in the town and the hospital so that players will have a better idea of what actual gameplay will be like. The new trailer revealed during the PlayStation broadcast includes scenes with Angela and the Otherworld.
Next up, Bloober Team Creative Director Mateusz Lenart talks through new gameplay and narrative details for Silent Hill 2.
Silent Hill 2 Remake – What to expect
The original Silent Hill 2 ignited our imaginations. When we set out to create the remake, our main goal was to recapture that same spark by fully fleshing out Team Silent’s original vision using cutting-edge technology.
So how exactly does our remake compare to Konami’s original game? Let’s take a closer look under the hood to find out from the point of narrative and gameplay.
Narrative and gameplay
Story and characters
Silent Hill 2 is known for its gripping and multilayered storytelling, and that’s something we wanted to preserve in the remake. The setting of some events may change, but their impact on the story will remain the same. Even when new locations are introduced, we’ve sought to refer to the original whenever possible so that returning players will feel right at home when they venture out into the foggy streets of Silent Hill again.
The central characters from the original story, James and Maria, are at the heart of our remake as well. Their emotional arcs have been preserved, with great care being given to showcasing their emotions with motion capture technology. This allows us to employ “show, don’t tell” techniques more often, which is why some of the dialogue has been slightly altered to add an extra layer of nuance to the character dynamics.
As many fans are already aware, we did not use the original voices to create the remake. This was due to many factors, both creative and technical. Relying solely on preexisting dialogue would’ve been limiting and would mean that many gameplay improvements, such as player guidance, could not be introduced. Instead, we’ve decided to employ an all-new cast of voice actors who’ve brought their A-game to channel the performances of the original game. We believe that Luke Roberts and Salóme Gunnarsdóttir were born to play James and Maria, respectively, and both have approached their roles with the kind of care and nuance that the original characters deserve.
Camera and combat
Overall, we wanted players to feel more in control of James in our remake, while maintaining the pervasive feeling of dread that characterizes the original. Therefore, we decided to go with an over-the-shoulder camera that supports greater gameplay immersion and the feeling of being in the game’s space.
However, this does not mean that we are changing the style of the game itself. Players will still be afraid to venture out into the fog, where limited visibility provides ample cover for a variety of monsters lurking outside the player’s field of vision. Meanwhile, James’ radio builds tension and creates a sense of uncertainty about what is out there, waiting for them in the dark, and also provides helpful audio cues for players to base their movements on.
The combat in this remake is designed to allow for a wider variety of approaches – the player’s arsenal of actions has been expanded, while also preserving the feeling of playing as an inexperienced everyman. James is not a skilled fighter and he doesn’t feel overpowered. His range of attacks is very limited, so he must use more prudent tactics, stay mindful of his surroundings and, if necessary, run instead of fighting. The way he deals with enemies is never a flashy spectacle, but rather a desperate struggle for survival.
Giving James more opportunities led to changes in how the enemies he encounters fight as well. He will still have to deal with familiar opponents from the original game, but returning players will notice how their movements and attacks have been fleshed out in order to make them more distinctive and unpredictable in combat scenarios. For instance, going against the frantically aggressive Nurse will pose a completely different challenge than a skirmish with the silent and stealthy Mannequin.
Puzzles
The puzzles in the game have been slightly altered to present a new spin on their original designs, but still maintain their eerie connection to the game’s overall theme and narrative. We’ve taken great care to build upon the memory of the original Silent Hill 2 by sometimes twisting and confounding player’s expectations with regards to certain puzzle solutions, in a kind of a tribute to the inventiveness and playfulness of the original game.
We believe that this approach, alongside the numerous and often surprising references to the original present in the game, will bring joy to fans of the classic Silent Hill 2, while at the same time offering them something new and interesting to solve. We like to think of it as our way of expressing love for the original game – by enriching the experience, while still being mindful of preserving its essence.
Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition details
The deluxe edition includes various DLCs, such as a digital artbook full of concept art for the town of Silent Hill and its monsters, a digital soundtrack with tracks by Akira Yamaoka, and a Pyramid Head mask made from a pizza box (Note: The digital artbook and soundtrack will be distributed in the form of a bonus application. The contents will not be available for download in specific audio formats, such as MP3.). The Pyramid Head mask is available as a cosmetic item for in-game characters.
If a pre-order is placed, the standard and deluxe editions will include a Mira the Dog mask and a Robbie the Rabbit mask (*PlayStation 5 exclusive) DLC as pre-order bonuses. Likewise, each mask can be used as a character’s cosmetic item. Deluxe edition pre-orders also come with 48-hour early access. These are great deals full of content, so we recommend pre-ordering and purchasing through the PlayStation Store.
We will be revealing more information for Silent Hill 2 as the launch date approaches, so stay tuned. Our other titles, Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill 2f, are also currently in development. We will follow up on these games when the time comes, so please look forward to more.
Today, as part of State of Play, we are excited to reveal a first look at the gameplay, universe, and characters of Concord, as well as how and when you’ll be able to get your hands on the game–starting with a beta planned for later this year, followed by Concord’s global launch on PS5 and PC* on August 24, 2024.
Concord is a 5v5 character-driven, first-person multiplayer shooter set in the Concord galaxy.
We built Concord as a love-letter to aspirational sci-fi adventure, inspired by our favorite art, anime, films, and TV series. Combined with our deep love of multiplayer, we’re dedicated to creating those had-to-be-there, down to the wire moments with your friends and creating a sense of adventure as you discover more about the galaxy, the characters you play as, and the worlds you visit every time you log on.
Freegunners: They’re not heroes, they’re professionals
In Concord, you play as the crew of the Northstar—a group of guns-for-hire known in our galaxy as Freegunners. The Freegunners roam the stars taking high-stakes jobs on worlds across Wild space, where they face other fiercely competitive Freegunner crews. From match-to-match, you’ll form your team of Freegunners with other players and battle it out with rival crews to take home the reward across a variety of maps and modes.
Freegunner code: Crew first, job second
From the very beginning, we wanted to make a tight, well-balanced FPS that feels great to play from the moment you pick up the controller.
While our core gunplay will feel familiar to shooter fans, the versatility and variety of each Freegunner and their abilities makes it so aim and thumbskill alone aren’t always enough to come out on top. Each Freegunner’s abilities are designed to make it so that players of a wide range of skill levels and play styles can be effective—even those that are new to the genre—while providing additional challenge and depth for those looking for high-stakes, high-sweat competitive play.
From powerful mystics and towering robots to skilled gunslingers and snipers, we want each Freegunner’s personality and gameplay abilities to come alive in every element of how they play and the strategic considerations they create. Some Freegunners’ abilities are made for in-the-moment tactics, including casting walls of fire, throwing exploding knives, or lobbing trash bombs. Others can have an enduring impact on a match, like deployable walls that can block entire lanes, explosive traps, bullet-blocking domes, speed-granting spores, and more that persist across rounds and respawns.
Inspired by some our favorite fighting and strategy games, all of these abilities and mechanics come together to create a unique asymmetry to the characters and opportunities for improvisation that make every fight and every match-up a chance for something different and unexpected to happen.
Alongside getting to know the crew of the Northstar through gameplay, you’ll also have an opportunity to see their stories unfold through cinematic vignettes that will premiere in-game, starting weekly from launch. These brief cinematic vignettes will feature ongoing narrative arcs that grow the characters’ stories, relationships, and unpack the broader Concord galaxy and life as a Freegunner.
An evolving universe
The Concord galaxy is full of danger and adventure, and we’ll be unwrapping more in the coming weeks and months. At launch, Concord will have a roster of 16 distinct Freegunners to learn and master, and the Northstar crew will grow over time through regular, free post-launch updates that introduce new playable Freegunners, maps, modes, cinematic vignettes, and more.
We built Firewalk to deliver awesome multiplayer games, and we’re excited to get Concord in your hands. Beginning next week, we’ll share more details about Concord’s editions for PS5 and PC and launch pre-orders, which will give you and four friends early access to our beta later this summer.
*Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required. Paid for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) required on PS5. PlayStation Plus membership subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.
The latest State of Play packed in a lot. If you were unable to watch the show when it debuted, you can find it in full below.
Alongside that, you’ll find all the individual trailers and announcements, collected together in one handy list. Enjoy!
Astro Bot
Astro is back in a super-sized space adventure, his biggest to date. In this brand-new game, you will explore 6 galaxies and over 80 levels in search of Astro’s scattered crew. The game launches this September 6, with pre-order beginning June 7.
Today’s State of Play revealed the first look at the gameplay, universe, and characters of Concord, as well as how and when you’ll be able to get your hands on the 5v5 character-driven, first-person multiplayer shooter. A beta is planned for later this year, followed by Concord’s global launch on PS5 and PC on August 23, 2024.
God of War Ragnarök will be coming to PC on September 19, 2024! From Santa Monica Studio and brought to PC in partnership with Jetpack Interactive comes an epic and heartfelt journey that follows Kratos and Atreus as they struggle with holding on and letting go. Pre-purchase now to receive in-game rewards, including Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic. All editions also include access to the God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla DLC for no additional cost!
Get a new look at the seminal horror classic, which has been rebuilt and enhanced for PS5 and PC. When eight friends return to the isolated lodge where two of their group vanished a year prior, fear tightens its icy grip, and their mountain retreat descends into a nightmare with no escape.
Skydance’s Behemoth
Skydance’s Behemoth is Skydance Games’s next monumental offering for PS VR2 and its follow-up effort to the award-winning The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners games. It is a first-person action-adventure VR title launching this Fall that combines brutal physics-based hand-to-hand combat with player traversal, environmental puzzle-solving, and larger-than-life boss battles.
Path of Exile 2, the next generation free-to-play action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, will be coming to PlayStation 5 with a great new feature: couch co-op! Join Early Access later this year.
A new trailer for the upcoming action-RPG details the rich, living world you’ll be able to explore when it releases on PS5 in 2025. In a dedicated PS Blog post, Capcom introduces some of the monsters and characters, as well as more info on the hunter’s new mount.
Silent Hill 2 launches October 8 on PS5. The creators behind this psychological survival horror remake delve deeper into the new gameplay and narrative details on PS Blog.
Omega Force unleashes the largest battles ever seen in a musou game in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, coming to PS5 in 2025. A new hero emerges to fight for survival in intense Three Kingdoms hack-and-slash warfare.
Infinity Nikki is an open-world dress-up adventure game coming to PS5, with a beta test due later this year. Alongside Nikki, awaken the magical powers hidden within various outfits and embark on a journey filled with fun.
Path of Exile 2, the next generation free-to-play action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, will be coming to PlayStation 5, and now with a great new feature, couch co-op.
Path of Exile has always been a game that plays great with your friends, but until now, you needed multiple devices to play it on. For Path of Exile 2 though, we really wanted to bring the experience of playing together to the couch.
Players can play collaboratively on a single account, or log in with two separate Path of Exile accounts on the same console.
In addition, Path of Exile 2 is introducing full cross-play and cross-progression. Play with your friends without losing any progress!
Key features
Twelve character classes
Path of Exile 2 features twelve character classes, two for every combination of Strength, Dexterity and Intelligence. While each of the class variants focuses on a different playstyle, they’re just a starting point. You can combine skills from many classes together to create your ideal character build.
Each of the twelve character classes has its own three Ascendancy specialisations, resulting in a total of 36 Ascendancy Classes to pick between.
New Skill Gem system
Path of Exile 2 features 240 Skill Gems that grant devastating active skills, and 200 Support Gems that modify their behaviour. Earn the Gems as you play through the Campaign and combine them together to create your perfect build.
This is the next generation of Path of Exile’s famous skill system. Support Gems are now socketed directly into Skill Gems, removing many of the frustrations present in the old system while maintaining all the previous depth. It’s now possible to six-link every skill your character uses.
Dual-specialise your Passive Skill Tree
Path of Exile’s iconic Passive Skill Tree has made a return, with 1,500 skills that allow you to completely customise your gameplay experience. It now features Dual Specialisation, the ability to allocate some passive skill points to two different sets of skills. They engage whenever the appropriate weapon or skill type is used. For example, you can have some points allocated to both daggers and traps, or ice and lightning, and as you swap between attacks, the appropriate skill points will apply. This lets you specialise in multiple areas without opportunity cost.
Uncover all-new items
Path of Exile 2 features 700 equipment base types and every single one has its own unique item you can find. You can augment your arsenal with new weapons such as Spears, Crossbows and Flails, as well as supplementary items like Focuses, Traps and redesigned Sceptres.
Encounter unique bosses
In Path of Exile 2, every area of the Campaign contains a boss encounter. There’s over a hundred bosses to fight as you make your way through the Acts and they all have unique mechanics to learn.
Explore a new endgame
At the conclusion of Path of Exile 2’s six-act campaign, you’ll gain access to its endgame. Each of the more than 100 endgame maps has its own boss encounter! We’ll reveal more details of the surprises that await you in Path of Exile 2’s endgame in the leadup to release.
Fair-to-play. Never pay-to-win
Path of Exile 2 is a separate game to the original Path of Exile. We will continue to offer expansions for both games going forward. They are completely free-to-play and will never be “pay to win”. Purchases are shared between the two games.
Join Early Access on PlayStation 5 later this year.
Hi! My name is Beralt Lyu, the Producer from Everstone Studio and I’m delighted to announce that our title Where Winds Meet will be coming to PlayStation 5. We have dedicated 5 years to crafting our epic Wuxia open-world action-adventure RPG game, so we’re really looking forward to bringing it to all you PlayStation fans. Wuxia is a genre of fiction and cinema featuring warriors from ancient China often shown using superhuman martial arts feats – think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or House of The Flying Daggers. Then, think of you, as a young swordsman or swordswoman, getting the chance to master these amazing Chinese martial arts, to enhance your combat prowess or, more intriguingly – to solve puzzles and traverse our vast landscape.
Your character might use the mystical power of Qinggong to run up sheer cliffs or across the shimmering surface of water at high speed or use the power of Chi to stun enemies from a distance, or grasp objectives from far out of reach. Martial arts skills can also be acquired from observing and mimicking the behavior of animals. Breath fire like a dragon, leap like a giant toad or roar like a lion – all skills that can prove incredible useful when faced with an array of foes, whether human or maybe with that giant bear you accidentally provoked!
Where Winds Meet, is set in the period in Chinese history known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. For us, this historical period offers an exciting opportunity – because it was a time of great turbulence and change and represents the perfect setting for our young hero to carve their path and discover their destiny. There is of course a narrative to unfold and reveal as the game progresses, for example, you will uncover the mystery of your own identity, discover the historical backdrop of this epic adventure, enjoy intriguing encounters with captivating characters, then, quite possibly, battle with them!… But we won’t say too much about this now – it remains to be discovered!
It’s really the game’s open world that we can’t wait for you to experience. It’s a vast and seamless open world, that will unfold before your eyes revealing breathtaking landscapes. You’ll venture through different regions, rich in historical and cultural features, interacting with diverse local NPCs and reveling in the Wuxia influence, so evident in the puzzles and plots, the narration and of course the “Wuxia stories”. Whether it is individuals like the erratic behaviour of a villager in the Qinghe region, or the machinations of various factions at play, we think you’ll be intrigued to dive deeper into the narrative thread underlying our martial arts saga.
Where Winds Meet has an oriental martial arts theme, and we attach great importance to the presentation of martial arts (Wuxia) elements in the game. Weapons are an important part of the player’s combat ability. We try to restore a variety of unique weapons in Wuxia martial arts in the game such as Spear, Sword, Fan, Dual Blades, Umbrella, and Glaive.
In addition to weapons, there are also some equally important fighting capabilities in the game, which is an inheritance and extension of the traditional Chinese martial arts, kung fu. It includes some real-life fighting moves, and others that appear to defy the laws of physics adding a romantic and fantastical element to the combat system.
We hope to introduce players around the world to the unique charm of wuxia martial arts combat. Players can use Accupoint Hit to temporarily freeze their opponents or use Chi Grip to disarm their opponents and launch a counterattack. There will also be some powerful enemies waiting for you to challenge. It is this breadth of strategy and variety of weapons and skills that make Where Winds Meet so compelling, we think, and we hope that PlayStation fans agree!
We hope you find the setting intriguing, rich, challenging and refreshingly different. We will, of course, be optimizing the game control for PlayStation and for the PS5 DualSense controller, allowing users to navigate the martial arts mysteries and moves for a seamless and unforgettable adventure.
Please stay tuned for more news about Where Winds Meet for PlayStation 5.
Mountaintops loom in the distance. Wind whips across your ears, muffling the crunch of snow from your footsteps. Then you feel it–a rumble beneath your feet. Rhythmic. Growing. The vibrations rattle through your legs up to the sword in your hands.
Something big is coming.
Skydance Games set a new standard for grounded, gritty VR combat with our previous title, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. For our next game, the team wanted to tackle new challenges. We believed there was an experience of grand scale that only VR could achieve. How far could we push that?
We designed this dark fantasy to stretch the boundaries of what’s possible inside a headset, creating a grim new world teeming with mystery and dangers great and small. When you enter the Forsaken Lands, one thing is clear: You are not welcome here. Everything and everyone wants to kill you. Are you bold enough to forge ahead?
The Forsaken Lands are epic. Bones of a once-great civilization jut out from unforgiving terrain. Sprawling mountains on the horizon cast shadows on the lands below. Colossal towers hang over your path as you hunt for a Behemoth’s hidden lair.
“Everything in this game is designed relative to the Behemoths. It’s important that players are awed by the size and scale of each boss. You’re literally fighting a mountain.”
Brian Murphy, Game Director, Skydance’s Behemoth
The Forsaken Lands are your gauntlet and your hunting ground. Equipped with a grappling hook and unnatural grip strength, you’ll climb, zip, and reel to ascend or descend walls, towers, and cliffsides. Surmount barriers hindering your path, explore nooks and crannies to claim hard-to-reach items, or grasp onto unsuspecting foes and cast them into the abyss.
But don’t get cocky. One step in the wrong direction can spell disaster for you. Push too hard against the Forsaken Lands, and they will push back.
Hunt or be hunted
Although desolate at a glance, the Forsaken Lands are populated by marauders and zealots. To them, you are an outside threat, a rival that must be executed. You cannot reason with them, so you must carve your way to victory by any means necessary.
Skydance’s Behemoth puts a new twist on our signature physics-driven melee combat system.
“Building on our work on The Walking Dead games, we have continued to push our gore-tech and dismemberment systems in a way that players should find truly satisfying.”
Peter T. Akemann, Chief Technologist, Skydance’s Behemoth, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
Your foes are not mindless zombies, they’re skilled, strategic warriors. Stay on your toes. Avail yourself of every weapon you can grasp. Block, parry, hack, and slash to wear their strength down. Then crack skulls, drive blades through hearts, sever limbs and cleave everything in between.
These tortured denizens have succumbed to the ancient curse that ruined their former kingdom, the source of the bloodlust that plagues the Forsaken Lands.
That same curse grants you bursts of supernatural strength that can turn the tide in battle. Why? That is a mystery to you, for now. But it is an advantage you will need against those enemies who tower above all others…
Conquer mighty Behemoths
You have come to the Forsaken Lands to end this terrible curse before its wrath devastates the world beyond. The Behemoths are evil made flesh, their size and strength matched by their rage. The only way to end the curse is to slay them.
“I can’t overstate what it feels like to fight a Behemoth in VR. We talked a lot about the “pucker factor” of each encounter. When the Seal swings that flail and it smashes to the ground, your adrenaline spikes. That’s what we were after, a visceral response from our players.”
Brian Murphy, Game Director, Skydance’s Behemoth
Many hunted Behemoths before you. They all died trying. When you fight these mountainous monsters, every skill you’ve honed over miles of harsh terrain and many (many, many) buckets of blood is put to the test. Face your fears, push yourself beyond limits, and you just might kill the unkillable. Only then will the darkest secrets of the Forsaken Lands be revealed…
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