Commander Fury

Last week, we asked you rewind back to the summer of 1995 and share moments from Lost Records: Bloom & Rage using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: call_me_xavii shares Swann, Autumn, Nora, and Kat crossing a forest log in the setting sun treeblazah shares Autumn and Kat blowing out dandelions. ​​ Beat_Minerz shares Nora sitting on a picnic bench with a skateboard sic.parvis.magna.sfd shares Kat with her concert makeup on MrioMoreno5 shares a picture perfect moment of Swann’s cat gazing at a bird in the window tlouphotographer shares a close up of Swann’s concert eye makeup 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: Monster Hunter Wilds SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 12, 2025 Next week, head out into the wilds with your Palico in tow. Capture rapturous moments in Monster Hunter Wilds using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Magic, monsters, and… metalwork? Epic action-adventure comes in many fantastical forms, but MercurySteam’s forthcoming voyage into an all-new world of fantasy-based peril has a particularly unique approach. Yes, there’s the mysterious and slightly brooding protagonist – Aran de Lira – on a quest to defeat a brutal, army-wielding queen hell-bent on destruction. Play Video And yes, there’s a plucky squire – Adso – acting as Aran’s studious companion, documenting your journey to the Royal Palace, while helping solve puzzles and offering enemy-defeating strategies and quips. But also, shining within this rich quest promising anything between 60 to 80 hours of gameplay is something that gives Blades of Fire its edge: blacksmithing. “We’ve been waiting for the opportunity to come back to the kind of fantasy [we explored in Blade of Darkness], a brutal, physical, tactical combat,” explains Enric Álvarez, CEO of MercurySteam, and Director of Blades of Fire. “When we created the premise where an evil witch queen is turning steel into stone, the hero has a problem. So you need to forge your own weapons. That simple thing is how we came up with the idea of the Forge.” The Forge of the Gods Enric refers to is a dark, brooding realm where Aran is given a chance to design and craft the weapons he needs to fight his way through over 50 enemy types, from Queen Nerea’s orcish-looking armored soldiers and deadly water elementals to terrifying trolls. Nerea’s curse on steel has no effect in the Forge, so by picking between seven different weapon families, including claymores and polearms, you can craft a dizzying array of variations. For example, a blade’s length can affect the damage it inflicts, while the type of steel changes the weapon’s laceration, defense, and durability. What type of cross-section will you choose for cutting power and resistance? A convex shape might give you more durability but less slashing damage, but a concave fuller might give you more penetration and speed. And what about the pommel, which affects the weapon’s balance? During my time with the game, the Forge already required a range of decisions, with a clear number of locked options—but what prevented it from becoming overwhelming was the handy stats-driven sidebar, which told me what was changing from my choices. Around 14 different stats display how effective my weapon is at blocking and parrying, with its stamina, weight, and slashing and piercing damage also visible. Of course, that’s not the end of the process. Once I’ve made my selections, the actual forging begins, which posed a gameplay challenge for MercurySteam. “I’m pretty sure there’s no other game that has a system like this,” says Enric. “So we had to create it with no references. We wanted the player to feel the strength, heat, and intensity of the forge, so when you strike the metal with your hammer, you’re moving the metal in one direction or another and shaping it.” The result of this consideration is a visualization which resembles graphic equalizer bars that trace along the red-hot divine metal of your prospective blade. You must match the bars closely to the weapon’s profile before striking the metal with the sacred hammer. But the more you hit the steel, the more properties it will lose, so balance is key. By the end of the process, your new weapon will get a star rating, representing the number of times you can repair it before it’s damaged forever and practically unusable – as weapons will degrade in battle and eventually break. “It’s easy to get a viable weapon, but it’s very hard to get a perfect one,” says Enric. “And in battle, you’ll feel the consequences of your decisions, as it’ll determine your combat style.” Enric’s not exaggerating, either. My playthrough sees me immediately realizing that Blades of Fire’s combat requires no small amount of timing and thought. Each face button is mapped to an attack for the left and right sides and the head and body. Not only are these important considerations depending on the sort of enemy you’re fighting, but you also have to choose between slashing, stabbing, and blunt techniques to bypass certain armor. Combined with the stamina bar to ensure you can’t rely on button-mashing or overuse, Aran’s dodge roll made for intricate and thrilling battles. Combat is slick, swift, responsive, and satisfying, especially once I discovered that well-aimed and well-timed attacks can lead to limbs and heads flying off everywhere, which can also be performed if you catch your enemy unawares. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Over time, weapons gain reputations to earn epic or legendary status, so taking good care of them is essential, but dying means having to retrieve your armament where you fell – which caused me no end of problems when I was taken surprise by a troll who swiftly turned Aran into paste with a couple of blows. Returning to the area, now repopulated with other enemies, caused an interesting dilemma in retrieving my sword… until I realized that leading the angry troll into the hapless enemy soldiers was an entirely valid tactic. Soon, there was fresh paste for all. Blades of Fire is shaping up to be another well-crafted adventure from MercurySteam. And don’t be fooled – while Aran is handy with a hammer, he doesn’t approach every problem as if it were a nail. There’s plenty of exploration and a dash of puzzle-solving to enjoy, too, as well as a detailed narrative inspired by the likes of John Boorman’s Excalibur, The Name of the Rose, and Frank Frazetta comics. “It’s a story about people cruelly separated by time and fate, only to reunite years later, irrevocably changed,” says Enric. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Get your blacksmith hands ready to discover it all for yourself when Blades of Fire launches on PlayStation 5 on May 22. View the full article

Commemorate The Last of Us franchise with a brand-new controller; here’s a first look at the DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition. Created in close collaboration with the creative team at Naughty Dog, this striking design features glossy trophy icons printed across the surface that call back to key moments, characters, and events from The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II. Play Video To share more about the controller’s design and inspiration, here’s Head of Studio and Head of Creative Neil Druckmann and Graphic Designer Megan Mehran from Naughty Dog: “We were excited by the chance to memorialize The Last of Us franchise in a controller that fans and our own team would love. We wanted to ensure that both installments of The Last of Us are represented, via trophy icons printed in black gloss across the controller body. Among the trophies, three particular images will immediately stand out for TLOU fans: The firefly, moth, and wolf. Players will recognize the Fireflies’ iconic spray-painted logo that originated in Part I, while the moth and wolf represent the intertwining lives and duality between Ellie and Abby in Part II.“ View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for $84.99 / €84.99 / £74.99. Pre-orders start on March 14, 2025 at 10am local time at direct.playstation.com (where available) as well as participating retailers, with launch on April 10, 2025. The exact launch date and availability for the controller may vary by country/region. We’re thrilled to share this new design with the community during an especially exciting time for new and old TLOU fans alike. In the coming months, PC players will be able to continue the acclaimed story of this iconic franchise with The Last of Us Part II Remastered, launching on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on April 3, 2025. Fans can also follow Joel, Ellie, and Abby’s emotional journeys in the highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us, premiering April 13, 2025, on HBO and available to stream on Max. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information Starting March 14, 2025 at 7am PT in the U.S., and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities. When ordering directly from PlayStation, enjoy free launch day delivery for eligible pre-orders – visit direct.playstation.com for more details. View the full article

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is just two weeks away and in anticipation of its March 20 launch on PS5, we’ve released 20 minutes of new gameplay showing Naoe and Yasuke infiltrating Nijo Palace, the castle complex (also known as a tenshu) in Kyoto, a major city in the larger region of Yamashiro. Play Video Castles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are strongholds, filled with hostile guards, valuable resources, and one precious loot chest. Conquering a tenshu means eliminating any Samurai Daisho on the premises, which unlocks the loot chest, giving you powerful gear. You can see the contents of these chests when you hover over the castle icon in the map. Castles are just one of many activities in Assassin’s Creed Shadows that you can complete to increase your Knowledge Rank, which gives you access to higher level abilities and upgrades. Completing them will also earn you experience and mastery points, which you can use to directly upgrade Naoe and Yasuke’s abilities. Additionally, Castles are full of resources that you can claim for your hideout. Smaller resource bundles can be picked up manually, while larger stockpiles can be tagged by Naoe and Yasuke to be picked up and delivered to your hideout by scouts at the changing of the seasons. Naoe stealth approach Our walkthrough begins with Naoe’s stealthy approach at night. After dispatching a perimeter guard with her Hidden Blade, she quickly takes to the rooftops with the help of her grappling hook and begins to scout out nearby patrols. Unlike recent games in the series, in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you won’t have the ability to call upon an avian ally to scout from the skies for you. Instead, you’ll hold L2 to use the Observe mechanic and focus Naoe or Yasuke’s vision on an enemy/objective/loot to tag it. While scouting, Naoe spots a Samurai Daisho, an elite guard that will have to be eliminated to conquer the tenshu and claim its ultimate reward. With her tanto blade equipped, Naoe can double assassinate targets, but the Samurai Daisho’s ample health means she can’t take him out with one hit…yet. Shadows’ gear not only offers distinct stat bonuses but unique engravings that can change your strategy at any moment. In this case, Naoe swaps her headgear to a piece that gives bonus damage on air assassinations — enough to take out the Samurai Daisho in a single blow. Further into the castle, Naoe calls for help from one of her recruited allies, Gennojo. He’s able to stun a pair of nearby enemies allowing Naoe to close the gap and take them both out. Gennojo is just one of several recruitable allies that can be called up in the open world for help (fun fact, each ally is summoned with a different bird call). Once those guards are taken out, Naoe uses Eagle Vision to scope out the interior of a nearby building. Hostile enemies appear in red in eagle vision, while civilians will cast an orange silhouette. Be warned, however: just because civilians won’t attack you, that doesn’t mean they won’t raise the alarm if they spot you. Thankfully, Naoe is able to utilize a host of new stealth features to avoid detection. She starts by extinguishing a nearby lantern, cloaking herself in darkness. She then uses her grappling hook to pull herself up to the ceiling to avoid a patrol before dropping down and assassinating a second Samurai Daisho through a shoji door with her katana. Yasuke stealth approach Now, let’s flip to Yasuke as he approaches the palace. Yasuke may be a one-man army in Shadows, but he’s still capable of sneaking around. Without a grappling hook, he uses a nearby low-hanging tree to take to the rooftops before pulling out his bow to silently take out a guard from range. Then, while crouching, he sneaks up on another guard and dispatches him with a brutal assassination with his long katana. It’s not as inconspicuous as a Hidden Blade, but hey, it gets the job done and doesn’t alert anyone else in the area. Yasuke’s infiltration takes place during the daytime, so he doesn’t have the benefit of hiding in the shadows that Naoe did, but by sticking to the rooftops and using the geometry of the pitched roofs, he can stay hidden while crawling prone. Here, Yasuke calls upon another ally, Oni-Yuri, a poison specialist who can knock multiple enemies unconscious. As he moves into the next courtyard, Yasuke spots a bell tower that can alert the entire tenshu to his presence should he be noticed, but with his bow (or Naoe’s shuriken or kunai), he can disarm the bell tower. Now, it’s time to go loud and make an entrance to take out the final Samurai Daisho. Yasuke starts by shooting a gunpowder barrel with his bow, taking out a nearby guard, before switching out his bow for a massive kanabo club. The hulking weapon’s blows overwhelm the Samurai Daisho, earning Yasuke another mastery point. Naoe combat approach Swapping back to Naoe for a combat approach, we see just how skilled a fighter she can be. This begins by exchanging her stealth gear for a more combat-focused headgear and armor that allows her to vault enemies by sprinting at them and knock them down by sliding into them. Finally, her tanto is replaced with a legendary kusarigama that increases damage to enemies over three meters away. The kusarigama is Naoe’s long range melee weapon, great for crowd control and fighting multiple enemies at once. It also enables Naoe to rush assassinate her targets (rush assassinate is a passive ability that is possible whenever the kusarigama is one of Naoe’s two equipped weapons and does not cost adrenaline to use) by wrapping one end of the kusarigama around them and using it to fling herself forward for the killing blow. Once Naoe gets to an elevated position, she realizes that a servant that spotted her earlier has returned with reinforcements. Rather than dealing with them herself, she calls her ally Yaya, a hulking brawler, to take care of them for her. With the reinforcements handled, Naoe is able to use the Observe mechanic to scout out Takahashi Shiro, a member of The Twisted Tree family she’s been tasked to assassinate. This time around, Naoe’s air assassination attempt only does partial damage, meaning she has a fight on her hands. Using a combination of smoke bombs and her kusarigama, she makes quick work of the weaker guards as she dances around Shiro, dismantling his armor before going in for the killing blow. With her target assassinated and the Samurai Daisho eliminated, Naoe is free to scale Nijo Tenshu and open the chest, earning a new legendary armor set for Yasuke. Her run ends with her scaling the tenshu for a synchronization point, using the Observe mechanic to scout our nearby points of interest. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Yasuke Combat Approach We end the walkthrough with Yasuke’s bread and butter, combat. As with Naoe, it begins with a gear swap as the katana and kanabo are replaced with a naginata and teppo (a single-shot rifle). Yasuke’s last armor was ideal for stealth as it provided a 200% damage bonus to ranged weapons while out of combat. This approach, however, will be loud so he needs a new armor set and thanks to a unique engraving, the new set allows him to parry unblockable attacks (red glowing attacks that can usually only be dodged). The armor pairs especially well with the accompanying helmet which grants 50% damage to the attacker on parry. Not only can Yasuke parry any attack now, but he’ll reflect 50% of that damage back on the attacker. It’s not often you can go in “guns blazing” in an Assassin’s Creed game, but that’s exactly what Yasuke does, smashing down the door before executing the closest guard with his teppo. With Yasuke’s size comes a certain boldness (he can take and dish out more damage than Naoe in a straight up fight) and he sprints straight through the courtyard to confront Takahashi Shiro. Wielding his naginata and parrying nearly every attack thrown at him, Yasuke quickly dispatches all the guards, and even takes out Shiro without too much difficulty. He may not be the climber that Naoe is, but Yasuke still ascends the tenshu to claim the prized chest and conquer Nijo Palace. Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ two distinct heroes offer up dramatically different abilities, weapons, and playstyles, but Naoe and Yasuke are versatile enough to change up their approach, allowing you to sneak or fight on the fly. Smash through the front door or lurk in the shadows for yourself on March 20 when Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on PlayStation 5. Enhanced for PS5 Pro As the first Assassin’s Creed game built solely for current generation hardware, Assassin’s Creed Shadows can be played at up to 2160p and 60 FPS on both PS5 and PS5 Pro in Performance mode. PS5 Pro is the only console that supports extended ray tracing, which offers ray traced reflective surfaces throughout the world. Check out the full breakdown of specs below. PS5 – Performance Mode 2160p upscaled, 60 FPS, Selective* Ray Tracing PS5 – Fidelity Mode 2160p upscaled, 30 FPS, Standard** Ray Tracing PS5 – Balanced Mode (requires 120/240hz display and HDMI 2.1) 2160p upscaled, 40 FPS, Standard Ray Tracing PS5 Pro – Performance Mode 2160p upscaled, 60 FPS, Standard Ray Tracing PS5 Pro – Fidelity Mode 2160p upscaled, 30 FPS, Extended*** Ray Tracing PS5 Pro – Balanced Mode (requires 120/240hz display and HDMI 2.1) 2160p upscaled, 40 FPS, Extended Ray Tracing *Selective Ray Tracing used to compute global illumination for diffuse lighting in the Hideout portion of the game. ** Standard Ray Tracing used to compute global illumination for diffuse lighting throughout the game world. ***Extended Ray Tracing includes full support of ray tracing to compute global illumination for diffuse lighting and reflective surfaces throughout the game world. View the full article

With Season 2 kicking off and the start of the Tekken World Tour right around the corner, 2025 looks like it’s going to be another amazing year for fans of Bandai Namco’s legendary Tekken series. As one of the earliest fighting games on the original PlayStation, Tekken has a unique link to the consoles, with the series evolving its gameplay and narrative alongside the platforms. Let’s take a look back at the saga of the Mishima family and all the havoc they’ve caused throughout the years for PlayStation players. Play Video Bloodline beginnings The original Tekken was one of the first fighting games to debut on the original PlayStation, launching in early 1995 in Japan and in fall elsewhere. Besides introducing the diabolical Mishima family and establishing many of the series’ base mechanics, such as the four-attack-button control scheme, Tekken also set a new high watermark for future home ports. Up until this point, players were used to home ports of arcade games compromising for weaker hardware with downgraded visuals and sound and missing content. However, since Tekken’s arcade release was on advanced hardware very similar to the PlayStation, the port was arcade perfect. But Namco went the extra mile and added content not in the original: Ending movies, playable sub-boss characters, even a hidden unlockable character who would play a very big role in future games–that you’d need to master Galaga as the game loaded to discover. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Tekken 2, which came to arcades in late 1995 surprised players by shifting the focus to the deposed patriarch and previous villain of the original Tekken, Heihachi Mishima, while also bringing in fresh faces Jun and Lei. It also introduced a wealth of additional characters that unlocked over time, encouraging players to come back and try out newly-debuted characters. In 1996, Namco brought the game to PlayStation with a port that was a marked improvement. Tekken 2’s PlayStation-exclusive CG intro movie and endings were stunning and established the series’ reputation for high-quality cutscenes. It also added new gameplay modes: Team Battle, Time Attack, Survival Mode, and a Practice Mode. For many fans, Tekken 3 was their introduction to the series. It was both massively popular in arcades and a best-selling smash hit worldwide when it debuted on PlayStation in 1998. Moving the story ahead 20 years, the mantle of leading man switched to Jin Kazama, the son of Kazuya and Jun, and many returning characters were either older (though not always wiser) or replaced by a successor. New characters were introduced that would quickly become fan favorites going forwards, including Hwoarang, Bryan, Eddy, and Xiaoyu. To better take advantage of the 3D arenas, Tekken 3 added sidestep dodges for all characters to use. The PlayStation version added two gameplay modes: The sidescrolling beat-em-up style Tekken Force, and beloved party favorite Tekken Ball, as well as additional characters: Anna Williams, Dr. Bosconovich, and Tekken’s first-ever guest character, the tiny dinosaur Gon. Vengeance, powered by Emotion Engines When it came time to debut the PlayStation 2, it felt natural that a Tekken title would launch alongside it. Tekken Tag Tournament came to the console in 2000 with massively improved visuals over its arcade counterpart, showcasing the visual fidelity that players could come to expect from the PS2. TTT changed up combat the formula: rather than playing one character, you’d form a team of two fighters and be able to swap between them in battle. The roster was also significantly expanded to contain a host of characters from across the series, including pre-story-timeskip characters. Finally, we got another wild mini-game in the form of Tekken Bowl. Tekken 4 would emerge a little over a year after TTT’s PS2 debut, reintroducing Kazuya to the story and changing gameplay up quite a bit. Previously, all stages in Tekken had been “infinite” stages with no set boundaries. Tekken 4 switched things up by introducing stages with uneven ground, walls, and other obstacles–which would bestow extra damage and combo opportunities when opponents were slammed against them. Movement was also adjusted, altering some popular movement strategies seen in T3 and TTT. Tekken 4 also emphasized the story to a greater degree than previous games: console additions were a full-fledged Story Mode as well as a greatly expanded Tekken Force sub-game. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image It would take a few more years before Tekken 5 would step into the ring. Picking up directly where Tekken 4 left off, with Heihachi Mishima seemingly dead and Jin’s devil side more prominent, Tekken 5 would become a fan favorite. Namco dialed back some of the movement and stage design changes of Tekken 4 in response to player feedback. Asuka, Feng, and Raven joined the roster, along with the ability to customize characters with cosmetic items earned and bought in-game. The original Tekken 5 would see a PS2 port, where the boss Jinpachi was made playable and Jin Kazama’s struggle took center stage in the action-based, story-driven Devil Within mode–along with playable ports of the arcade Tekken 1, 2, and 3. This wouldn’t be the last we’d see of Tekken 5, however. Devils emerging from a CELL A 2006 arcade revision of Tekken 5, Dark Resurrection, would introduce players to combatants Lili and Dragunov, change up some visuals, and further fine-tune the gameplay. The first port of Dark Resurrection would actually come to the PSP in mid-2006, bringing with it the new Tekken Dojo mode, which let players share AI-controlled “ghosts” of their gameplay online for others to download and battle against. While the game was well received on PSP, players still wanted a console version, so some months later T5DR was made a downloadable game on the PlayStation Network. An update would follow in mid-2007 allowing for online matches to be played. To this day, T5DR is one of the most beloved Tekken titles among fans. Later that year, Tekken 6 would emerge in arcades, introducing new faces Bob, Zafina, Leo, and Miguel. Things were now getting wildly out of hand among the Mishimas, with Jin and Kazuya both in control of massive corporations waging all-out-war against each other and Heihachi unaccounted for. Bloodline Rebellion, a late 2008 update, would further complicate the family struggle by introducing Heihachi’s forgotten son Lars and weapon-wielding mecha-maiden Alisa to combat. Gameplay additions include the Rage mechanic–where players deal more damage when at low life–as well as the combo-extending Bound system and interactive background elements like breakable walls and floors. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The PS3 version, based heavily on Bloodline Rebellion, released in 2009 and featured the biggest story mode yet in the form of Scenario Campaign. It followed the duo of Lars and Alisa as they lead a band of rebels against the Tekken Force and the Mishima Zaibatsu. Tekken 6 also released on the PSP, and while it lacked the Scenario Campaign, it did offer some of the best visuals on the platform and ad-hoc multiplayer. It would be a few years before Tekken’s return, and in the meantime, Bandai-Namco released Tekken Hybrid in 2011. This set offered an HD remaster of Tekken Tag Tournament with an original CG film, Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a demo of the then-new arcade title Tekken Tag Tournament 2. True to its title, TTT2 brought back the tag-match gameplay and expanded the selectable roster. The PS3 port, which launched in late 2012, added several legacy characters, a new stage and music track from famed musician Snoop Dogg, CG ending cinematics for the whole cast, and some additional cast members and character variants. Another interesting spin-off emerged after TTT2: Tekken Revolution, a free-to-play version of Tekken focused on online matches. By playing, players could earn in-game currency to unlock further characters, as well as use earned Skill Points to enhance character attributes. Tekken Revolution received frequent updates to add characters and gameplay features throughout its life, eventually ending service in 2017. The struggle continues Tekken 7 took its time coming to the PlayStation 4, finally reaching players in 2017, two years after its arcade release. During that time, arcade Tekken 7 received updates–including Fated Retribution, which famously brought Street Fighter’s Akuma into the roster. He wasn’t alone, however–Lucky Chloe, Josie, Katarina, Claudio, and Shaheen all joined the fray as well, alongside several new stages and system changes. Taking into account some of the feedback from Tekken Revolution, T6’s bounds were adjusted and reduced, being supplanted by new screw combo starters. The Rage system was further developed as well, creating new Rage Drive and Rage Art skills that could be used at low health–but only once per round, and at the cost of Rage’s damage boost. Upon reaching the PS4, Tekken 7 received a console-exclusive, lengthy story mode–but, perhaps more importantly, it was given a full slate of DLC updates for years afterwards, tweaking character skills and adding plenty of new stages, music, and characters over time. Besides re-introducing old favorites left out of the original roster, the Tekken 7 DLC also brought in new characters Leroy and Lidia–and, most memorably, several additional surprise guest characters: Geese Howard from Fatal Fury, Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, and Neegan from The Walking Dead. As Tekken 8 marked its first anniversary on PS5 this past January, fans can look forward to plenty of further surprises. Season 2 of DLC promises that even more new, beloved, and unexpected characters will be joining the roster, and the most recent free story update leaves off on a cliffhanger that promises yet more high-stakes inter-family drama between the Mishimas in the future. Play Video View the full article

The birdman returns in the next-gen remake of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, coming to PS5 and PS4 on July 11. The legendary skateboarding series first launched on the original PlayStation in 1999, and the shred’s not dead. It’s back and better than ever. Skate the original content rebuilt from the ground up joined by new skaters, parks, tricks, music, and more, including enhanced creation tools and New Game+ to keep the grind going. Play Video Here’s what’s coming down the halfpipe: Prepare to shred Skate through two challenge-filled tours in Career, chase high scores in Single Sessions and Speedruns, or take your time nailing tricks and exploring each park in Free Skate. Bring your skate friends along, too. Cross-platform online multiplayer supports up to eight skaters at a time. Go head-to-head in competitive game modes or skate every surface together in multiplayer Free Skate. Whichever mode you play, the game’s smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls will have you grinding and landing tricks in no time. Classic and new parks, New Game+ Skate the original parks from THPS3 and THPS4 remade in 4K resolution and given streamlined goals in the two-minute format along with some new parks to expand your skating options. Tackle dozens of challenges to earn in-game cash and unlock new gear including new skate decks, grip tapes, wheels for your board, and extra apparel for your skater. Shred harder than ever in New Game+, retaining your skater’s stat growth achieved in the first playthrough as you work toward true mastery over each of the parks. Waterpark In the new Waterpark map, skaters drop into the Mojave Desert in an abandoned theme park that’s seen better days, its slides rusted, graffiti on the walls, and a drained-out lazy river… creating the perfect skate obstacle for circling the park. Skip the line and head straight to the top of several huge water slides, testing your grind balance and vert abilities on the way down. New skaters, tricks, songs Hit up the park with new skaters joining the original lineup or create your own skater with in-depth customization options for hair, tattoos, makeup, and more. Pick your skater’s name, hometown, skating style, and get out there with your arsenal of new and classic tricks. If you’re feeling rusty, the in-game tutorial led by Tony Hawk will get you started with lessons on the all-important ollie, kickflips, vert tricks, grinds, reverts, manuals, special tricks, and everything you need to become a high-score skater, all set to songs from the original soundtrack expanded with new music. Skate the Foundry Demo Preorder THPS 3 + 4 to skate in the Foundry Demo in June featuring two playable skaters, two parks, and a selection of songs from the soundtrack. Players who preorder the game also gain instant access to the in-game Wireframe Tony Shader at launch. Digital Deluxe Edition: Early Access and more Purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition to join the Early Access period starting three days before the game’s official July 11 launch date. Plus, get access to some sick in-game extras: Extra skaters: Get evil with Doom Slayer and Revenant. Both skaters include a pair of unique special tricks for some truly sick moves suited to their demonic style. Extra tracks: Expand the in-game soundtrack with a selection of headbanging tunes inspired by a classic video game. Extra skate decks, apparel: Get additional skate decks including designs inspired by Doom Slayer and Revenant, plus extra apparel options for your skater. Collector’s Edition: limited-edition skate deck The Collector’s Edition is for the most dedicated skaters including a limited-edition full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck with a reissued version of the Wings graphic and a printed Tony Hawk autograph. The Collector’s Edition includes a physical copy of the game with a voucher giving access to all the Digital Deluxe Edition benefits. Get shredding Preorders are now available for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, which launches on PS5 and PS4 on July 11. Stay tuned for more information to come. View the full article

Over the years, many of you have participated in various beta programs across Sony Interactive, which has helped us deliver the best possible gaming experiences to gamers around the world. And we’re truly grateful for your participation. That’s why I’m pleased to introduce the Beta Program at PlayStation initiative. It’s an easier, more consolidated way for gamers to sign up to participate in future PlayStation betas across a wide range of PlayStation experiences. The Beta Program at PlayStation will create an easy, centralized place for you to register your interest in a range of future PlayStation betas. A single registration for Beta Program at PlayStation will allow you to express interest in gaining beta access to test participating games for the PS5 console and PC, new PS5 console features, PlayStation App features, and even user experience features on PlayStation.com. You only need to sign up once to express interest in these various betas, and if you receive an invitation to a specific beta, it’s up to you to decide whether you’d like to participate or not. Here are the requirements: Players must have a valid account for PlayStation Network in good standing with a current email address. Accounts with restrictions or violations may not be eligible for participation. Players must live in the region where Beta Program at PlayStation is available. Players must meet the legal age requirement for their region. It’s free to join and registration will begin to open up globally starting today at playstation.com/beta-program-at-playstation/. Please check back later if the page is not yet available in your region. Additionally, while we try to include as many players as possible in our beta programs, sometimes we may get more interest than we can accommodate. By joining this program, it enables you to be considered for beta participation, but it doesn’t guarantee selection for a beta test. Just something to remember! And again, a big thanks to those of you who have participated in all of the betas we’ve offered across Sony Interactive over the years. It’s about to get easier and more convenient. View the full article

Last month was a time of love for video games. What game from last month’s lineup won over your heart? Some of the big new releases included Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. 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. View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, O’Dell, Kristen, and Brett discuss some of the newest releases, including Monster Hunter Wilds and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1, and break down the official LEGO Horizon Adventures playset. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s release highlights: Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars | PS5, PS4 FragPunk | PS5 Split Fiction | PS5 Two Point Museum | PS5 War Robots: Frontiers | PS5, PS4 Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall | PS5 LEGO Horizon Adventures playset Gran Turismo 7 1.56 update Midnight Murder Club early access Terminator 2D: No Fate reveal Monster Hunter Wilds post-launch roadmap India Hero Project Blog Bloody Boots Lokko PlayStation Plus Monthly Games March Dragon Age: The Veilguard Sonic Colors: Ultimate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Marvel Rivals Monster Hunter Wilds The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, 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.] View the full article

Last week, we asked you to set sail and share swashbuckling moments as a pirate in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: call_me_xavii shares leaping into the action in Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii MrioMoreno5 shares a council of pirates in Return to Monkey Island. JLunarTraveler steers the pirate ship in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag xenobitz shares a wrestler donning a Luffy/One Piece costume in WWE 2K24 doodlecep shares Astro Bot in a pirate outfit and Captain Pincher. fsantos1697 shares the seafaring crew in Sea of Stars. 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: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 5, 2025 Next week, we’re capturing 90s summer memories in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Share unforgettable moments from Tape 1 using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

For those of you who have been waiting for the opportunity to jump into PlayStation VR2 and experience what this generation’s innovative virtual reality system has to offer, we are happy to share some great news! Starting in March, we’re reducing the suggested retail price (SRP) of PS VR2. Below are the new PS VR2 prices. The starting date of the new prices and bundle availability may vary by country/region, so be sure to check your local retailer for details. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation VR2 SGD 649 / MYR 2,099 / IDR 7,799,000 / THB 15,990 / PHP 24,990 / VND 12,999,000 suggested retail price. Includes PS VR2 headset, PS VR2 Sense controller, and stereo headphones View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle SGD 649 / MYR 2,099 / IDR 7,799,000 / THB 15,990 suggested retail price. Includes PlayStation Store voucher code for Horizon Call of the Mountain, PS VR2 headset, PS VR2 Sense controller, and stereo headphones With recently released hits like Alien: Rogue Incursion, Skydance’s Behemoth, and Metro Awakening VR, and exciting new game launches on the way including Aces of Thunder, Dreams of Another, Hitman World of Assassination, and The Midnight Walk, it’s never been a better time to jump into the action with PS VR2. Using the PS VR2 PC Adapter, players will also have access to browse, buy and play thousands of virtual reality games on Steam. Title release dates and regional availability may vary. In addition, with a recent update to PS VR2, it now supports low-latency hand tracking, which allows developers to create games that tracks a player’s hand position and movement through the cameras embedded on the PS VR2 headset. Through this new feature, players will be able to experience intuitive controls in supported games such as Waltz of the Wizard. It’s a fantastic time to dive into the exciting world of PS VR2, with more immersive experiences still to come. What’s your favorite PS VR2 game so far? View the full article

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are committed to fostering innovation and creativity in game development across the globe. As part of our continued effort to support emerging talent, we are thrilled to announce a new set of indie games from the India Hero Project, featuring two exciting and ambitious titles: Bloody Boots and Lokko, both coming to PS5. With these new titles the India Hero Project continues to shape the boundaries of storytelling, gameplay innovation, and artistic expression within the Indian gaming industry. Our goal is to not only support these developers in bringing their unique visions to life but also to help them reach a global audience on PlayStation. Bloody Boots | Developer: Weloadin Bloody Boots is a high-voltage third-person action-adventure game set in Crank Town, a dystopian entertainment hub powered by junk-punk advancements in biotech. This town thrives on illegal gambling and savage acts that push the limits of morality with twisted and chaotic activities. Play as a fugitive teen trapped in Crank Town’s lawless mayhem. In a playground of ruthless mutants, mech-enhanced supervillains, and savage bosses. Fight to get your ticket out! Prepare for adrenaline-pumped action, in development for PS5 and PC. Lokko | Developer: Appy Monkeys Lokko is a unique cross-platform 3D platformer where fun meets creativity. Players can create and share their custom characters, enemies, levels, and tracks using an intuitive in-game editor. The game features seamless integration with cross-platform features, allowing limitless play on PlayStation 5, PC, and iOS. Help Lokko defeat the evil Goobol corporation to deliver the world’s best pizzas. Challenge other players’ best runs, unleash your creativity, and leverage the power of DualSense on all three platforms. Players can trade their creations, compete against each other, and be the one who makes the most fun, unique, and creative level. Endless fun and possibilities await! Lokko is in development for PS5, PC and iOS. Play Video Join us in celebrating the next wave of incredible talent from India and stay tuned for more news about the India Hero Project! View the full article

Hunters, the time to start your expedition to the Forbidden Lands on PS5 is nearly here! To get ready for the hunt, we’ve got one more trailer to share, giving you a look at the game’s compelling narrative as well as revealing the new Monster Hunter Wilds rendition of “Proof of a Hero.” Play Video Monster Hunter Wilds aims to deliver a satisfying story campaign from start to finish that puts your hunter in the center of an ecological mystery, all set in the seemingly uncharted Forbidden Lands. As the lead hunter of the Expedition Team’s Avis Unit, you’ll unravel a mysterious quest full of danger, compelling characters, and a fully realized world brings you face to face with a long-forgotten threat. Your hunter, who’s fully voiced for the first time in the series, will perform heroic feats and hunt seemingly unstoppable monsters in the Guild’s quest to bring balance to an unstable ecosystem. Whether you’re a newcomer looking for a new story adventure to experience or a Monster Hunter series veteran with many hunts under your belt, we hope you’ll enjoy the ride that Monster Hunter Wilds will take you on! In case you missed it, have one more look at our launch trailer, which gives you a look at the exciting hunts on the horizon. It also shares a peek at the game’s first Free Title Update, which introduces the graceful leviathan Mizutsune to the Forbidden Lands. Play Video Each of the locales in Monster Hunter Wilds features a powerful apex predator that reigns at the top of the ecosystem. These four monsters, Rey Dau, Uth Duna, Nu Udra, and Jin Dahaad – all brand new to the series – are shaped by the harsh environments around them, and present unique challenges for hunters. The game’s flagship monster with chain-like appendages, Arkveld, plays a vital role in the game’s story. Although some of you have already hunted Arkveld in the second Open Beta Test, there’s still plenty more to discover and learn about the monster they call “The White Wraith.” It wouldn’t be a Monster Hunter game without the return of some series favorites. Expect to take on monsters from the series history, all of which have new behavior and twists in the vast and unique world of Monster Hunter Wilds. If you’re a veteran, we hope these encounters find a way to keep you on your toes! Experience the most refined action in the Monster Hunter series to date, with a new Focus Mode that adds further depth to each weapon and allows you to aim and reposition your attacks, letting you set up devastating Focus Strikes to destroy wounds on monsters. It’s all set in a truly seamless world across multiple locales that are bigger than any in series history, and where loading screens are kept to a minimum. To traverse this world, hop on the back of your trusty Seikret mount. Its ability to quickly navigate perilous terrain, avoid monster attacks, and store helpful items and even a second weapon you can switch to, will all prove key to your hunts in the Forbidden Lands. And of course, there’s a compelling cast of characters to meet, from your handler, Alma, the smithy, Gemma, the mysterious young boy Nata, and more, we hope you look forward to meeting your fellow members the Forbidden Lands Expedition Team, all with their distinct personalities, backstories, and motivations for embarking on this quest. If you’ve played the recent Open Beta Test, thanks for joining the hunt! The team has been working hard on the final game to implement adjustments and improvements based on your feedback. The full version of Monster Hunter Wilds features adjustments to hitstop to make your attacks feel more impactful, significant changes to weapons – like bringing back the Insect Glaive’s Vaulting Dance – improvements to performance, and much more. Speaking of performance, in the full game, Hunters on PS5 can choose from three graphical modes: Prioritize Resolution at 30 FPS, Balanced mode at 40 FPS – great for players with displays capable of outputting 120hz, and a Prioritize Framerate mode which delivers smooth gameplay at 60 FPS. If you’re looking to get even more immersed into Monster Hunter Wilds, we’re happy to share that the game will be PS5 Pro enhanced, leveraging the system’s advanced Ray Tracing capabilities and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for improved visuals and performance. Prioritize Resolution and Balanced mode display visuals with raytracing at 30 FPS and 40 FPS respectively, while Prioritize Framerate delivers smooth gameplay at 60 FPS. All three modes benefit from PSSR with improved image quality, so choose the one that meets your preference! Play Video Play Video With 20 years of Monster Hunter behind us, we want to share our thanks to our partners at PlayStation, and you: the PlayStation community! With the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, we mark the start of a new beginning. And launch doesn’t signal the end, as the hunt will continue to evolve with new free content on the way. We can’t wait to embark on this journey with you all. We hope you enjoy exploring everything the Forbidden Lands has to offer. See you in the Wilds and happy hunting! Online multiplayer in the full version requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. Broadband Internet access is required. View the full article

Hey everyone, this is Mike Tucker, design director and programmer at Bitmap Bureau. On behalf of our team, we’re thrilled to reveal Terminator 2D: No Fate, an officially licensed 2D action side-scroller is launching September 5 on PS5 and PS4! Our team poured its passion into crafting adrenaline-fueled arcade gameplay and stunning pixel art—the very elements that make games special to us. As our first licensed game, we wanted to do justice to the Terminator 2 legacy. Play Video I feel Terminator 2D: No Fate is a love letter to ‘80s/‘90s arcade games, and my mission was to create the T2 side-scroller we should have had in our youth. Players control Sarah Connor, John Connor, and the T-800 in arcade-style missions that retell Terminator 2: Judgment Day while expanding its narrative. Sarah Connor Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Our team are massive fans of the film—especially Sarah Connor, one of the greatest action heroes of all time. We knew playing as her would be special, so we worked hard to make her playstyle feel authentic. Sarah is agile and reactive, mirroring her paranoia and intense training. She excels in melee combat, sliding into enemies for direct attacks, reflecting her fearlessness. We also gave her a laser sight, inspired by the iconic Miles Dyson scene. It locks the player in place but significantly boosts damage. John Connor Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. One of the most exciting parts of development was designing the Future War missions, where players control an adult John Connor leading the Resistance. Since T2 only gives glimpses of John’s leadership, we had fun expanding his lore. His gameplay emphasizes strategic mid-to-long-range combat, using a plasma rifle, pipe bombs, and three ammo types. He’s less agile than Sarah but can execute a tactical roll to evade attacks. T-800 Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Few characters in cinema match the sheer presence of the T-800. We made him move deliberately to emphasize his weight and power, most evident in his devastating shoulder barge. He compensates for slower speed with high durability, taking significant damage before going down. The T-800’s segments were a blast to create, especially recreating iconic moments like the Corral bar brawl and the motorcycle escape from the T-1000 in a 2D arcade style. T-1000 Of course, the T-1000 is one of the most legendary villains of all time. Robert Patrick’s unforgettable performance—his slow, intimidating walk and relentless sprint—was crucial for us to capture. Bringing his liquid metal abilities to life in pixel art was a real challenge, but our animators nailed his menace. Players will feel it when they face him in-game. Working on a title connected to such a revered film has been a huge honor. Terminator 2’s characters are among the most beloved in cinema, and we hope players enjoy playing them as much as we enjoyed bringing them to life. Terminator 2D: No Fate launches on PS5 and PS4 September 5. View the full article

Welcome back to the Midnight Murder Club. Here at Velan Studios, we’ve been toiling away in the shadowy halls of Wormwood Manor, coming up with fresh, new ways for you to hunt your friends in the darkness. We’ve got a new game mode to announce and a new way to get your friends in on the fighting! Midnight Murder Club is a first-person shooter/party game where you and five friends hunt each other in the pitch-black rooms of the mysterious Wormwood Manor.* Armed with only a revolver and a flashlight, search the shadows for every flicker of light and every bump in the night as you stalk your prey. The tension turns to hilarity as you discover just how tricky it is to navigate and shoot in complete darkness! You sprint toward your friends’ shouting voices echoing through the mansion, only to bump into someone else hiding in a dark corner! Shots ring out, luring the other hunters to your location. Every flash of light is the promise of a deadly firefight. New game mode: Wildcards On top of the existing Free for All, Thief in the Night, Team Deathmatch, and Headhunters modes, we’re excited to introduce a new mode that lets you break the rules like never before! In the new Wildcards game mode, players play cards from their collection that change the rules for everyone in-game in wild new ways. From hijacking the toys that appear in vendors, to giving everyone super speed, to exploding into flames when you die—use these cards to show your wild side. Then, when the dust settles and the match is over you’ll be gifted new cards to add to your collection, giving you even more ways to change the game. In the new Wildcards game mode, it looks like chaos is in the cards! Play at no additional cost with the Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition We know that playing with friends is the best way to play any game and with the Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition, it’s easier than ever. Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition allows your friends to join your game and play for no additional cost! To put it simply: If one person buys the game, they can invite up to five Guest Pass Edition players to play together for no additional cost in public or private matches, in all current game modes, as much as you want. We’re really excited about the Guest Pass Edition because Midnight Murder Club is a great party game to play with friends. Now players can simply invite their friends into the club and let the mayhem begin. Burning the midnight oil To sum it up, we’re adding the new Wildcards game mode and introducing a new way to play with friends with the Guest Pass Edition. That’s a lot of new development work! Because of that, we’re going to need a little more time, so we’re pushing our Early Access launch date to March 13th, 2025. The full version of the game will be available in Early Access for $19.99 (or equivalent in your region), and the Guest Pass Edition will be launching on the same day for no additional cost. As a member of the Midnight Murder Club, your opinion on the direction the club should go matters! We’re determined to evolve this game with the community as we continue developing through Early Access. We want your opinions and ideas, which will help shape our roadmap (which we’ll be sharing before launch!). With these major changes and much more to come, we can’t wait to dive back into the darkness and haunt the hallowed halls of the Wormwood Manor with you. Prepare yourselves for Midnight Murder Club coming to Early Access on PS5 and Steam on March 13. See you in the shadows! *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. View the full article

For those of you who have been waiting for the opportunity to jump into PlayStation VR2 and experience what this generation’s innovative virtual reality system has to offer, we are happy to share some great news! Starting in March, we’re reducing the recommended retail price (RRP) of PS VR2. Below are the new PS VR2 prices. The starting date of the new prices and bundle availability may vary by country/region, so be sure to check your local retailer for details. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation VR2 $399.99 / €449.99 / £399.99 / ¥66,980 recommended retail price (includes tax for EUR, GBP, and JPY) Includes PS VR2 headset, PS VR2 Sense controller, and stereo headphones View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle $399.99 / €449.99 / £399.99 / ¥66,980 recommended retail price (includes tax for EUR, GBP, and JPY) Includes PlayStation Store voucher code for Horizon Call of the Mountain, PS VR2 headset, PS VR2 Sense controller, and stereo headphones With recently released hits like Alien: Rogue Incursion, Skydance’s Behemoth, and Metro Awakening VR, and exciting new game launches on the way including Aces of Thunder, Dreams of Another, Hitman World of Assassination, and The Midnight Walk, it’s never been a better time to jump into the action with PS VR2. Using the PS VR2 PC Adapter, players will also have access to browse, buy and play thousands of virtual reality games on Steam. Title release dates and regional availability may vary. In addition, with a recent update to PS VR2, it now supports low-latency hand tracking is now supported, which allows developers to create games that tracks a player’s hand position and movement through the cameras embedded on the PS VR2 headset. Through this new feature, players will be able to experience intuitive controls in supported games such as Waltz of the Wizard. It’s a fantastic time to dive into the exciting world of PS VR2, with more immersive experiences still to come. What’s your favorite PS VR2 game so far? View the full article

Team up and defy the gods, hit supersonic speeds, and enjoy some bodacious battles against the Foot Clan with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for March! Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sonic Colors: Ultimate and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection will be available to PlayStation Plus members from March 4*. Let’s take a closer look at the games. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Dragon Age: The Veilguard | PS5 Unite the Veilguard and defy the gods in this immersive single-player RPG where you become the leader others believe in. When a pair of corrupt ancient gods break free from centuries of darkness, the vibrant land of Thedas needs someone they can count on.Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight back and lead your team of seven companions, each with their own rich story. Together you will become The Veilguard. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sonic Colors: Ultimate | PS4 The evil Dr. Eggman has built an interstellar amusement park – but he’s powering it with a captured alien race called “Wisps.” Use Sonic’s speed to free the Wisps and gain their amazing powers as you explore six unique worlds, filled with hurdles to overcome. Now with stunning upscaled visuals, additional features, a new game mode and enhanced gameplay – it’s the Ultimate Sonic Colors experience. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection | PS4, PS5 13 classic Konami TMNT games are assembled in one incredible package! Experience 13 immensely popular and influential TMNT games in a totally radical collection from Konami. These retro nostalgia trips come with a range of new quality-of-life features, including online play for certain games and local couch play, the ability to save anytime and rewind, button mapping, unique development art & sketches, historic TMNT media content and more! All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on March 4 until March 31. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to download February’s games PlayStation Plus members have until March 3 to add Payday 3, High on Life and Pac-Man World Re-Pac to their game library. View the full article

Gran Turismo players! Update 1.56* for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of today, Wednesday, February 26 at 10:00pm PT / February 27 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST. *Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update. Play Video 3 new cars added this month 1/3Now showing slide 1 of 3Show all BMW Z4 3.0i ‘03 (Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image An elegant convertible hides an inline-6 engine under its elongated bonnet. At the 2002 Paris Motor Show, the Z4 debuted as a convertible sportscar, replacing the Z3. Initially the engine lineup included a 2.5 L and 3 L inline-6, a step up in class in comparison to the Z3 which started out with only a 4- cylinder engine. The styling strongly reflected the unique style of Chris Bangle, the chief designer of BMW. The flowing lines and the z-shaped press line in front of the doors are prominent features that identify the car. As the chassis and body were a new development from the platform level, optimum front/rear weight distribution was achieved, at 50.3 to 49.7 respectively. It is also amazing that in comparison to the Z3, twisting rigidity is three times as high, while the weight is 25 kg lighter. The basic format of the suspension – utilizing struts in the front and multi-links in the rear – is inherited from the 3 series at the time (E46), and it is said that this was because testing was already completed in this regard and it would facilitate smoother development of the model. No corners were cut in featuring the latest technologies from the company research labs, including BMW’s first electric power steering, DTC – a supplementary feature of the traction control – and DDC, which changes the steering feel and throttle relationship in sports mode and normal driving. The transmission was made available in MT, AT, and a semi-AT called the SMG. In the same manner as the Z3, it is manufactured at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, United States. The motorsport competition version of this model is active in several races such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Mercedes-Benz Unimog Type 411 ’62 (Can be purchased from Legend Cars) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The byword for multipurpose high mobility vehicles. The Unimog is a commercial truck produced and sold by Daimler Truck. With its ladder frame construction and robust all-wheel drive system, the Unimog became a popular choice across a wide range of fields such as agriculture, slow ploughing, cleaning, high altitude work, disaster response, logistics, railways, airports, mining, construction, and many others. Its long history and performance record cemented its reputation as the go-to multipurpose truck. The history of the Unimog began in 1945, when the former head of Daimler-Benz aircraft engine production, Albert Friedrich, began drawing up plans for a ‘universally applicable motorised machine for agriculture’. Even at this early stage, it was already being designed as a multi-purpose vehicle, able to change between a number of different tasks by simply changing the attachments. This rational and economical concept lead to over 70 years of support from users. Full-scale production started in 1948. It was originally built by machine tool manufacturer Boehringer, but all production moved over to Daimler-Benz in 1950 where it was modified for mass-production. In 1953, the new 401/402 series core models arrived. The 411 series was the next model after, released in 1956. It was a developmental upgrade featuring a more powerful engine and a reinforced chassis. The line-up featured three different wheelbases and several body types for a total of 12 different models which could be further modified to fit the purpose of use through utilizing various attachments. Peugeot 205 GTI ‘88 (Can be purchased from Used Cars) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image A masterpiece hot hatch from France that became a rally legend. In 1983, after being in production for over 15 years, the Peugeot 104 handed over the compact hatchback position in the line-up to the new 205 model. The body of the 205, with its transverse engine, was designed by Peugeot’s in-house design team and soon became a best seller thanks to its modern looks and comfortable interior. The story of the 205 doesn’t end there though. At the debut of the 205, Peugeot also announced the 205 Turbo 16 for competition in the World Rally Championship’s Group B category which was running at the time. Peugeot concluded that they also needed a sports-grade model to embody the prowess of the 205 Turbo 16. This led them to the creation of a hot hatch known as the 205 GTI. The greatest attraction of the 205 GTI is its high-powered engine. Though just 3.7 m long and weighing 900 kg, this compact car features a high-revving 1.6L SOHC engine with a 5-speed manual transmission. In 1986, the engine displacement was further increased from 1.6L to 1.9L to produce 128.2 BHP. It also features an excellent suspension setup with struts on the front wheels and trailing arms on the rear wheels. On winding roads, it displays a high level of performance that rivals even the ‘king’ of hot hatches, the Golf GTI. Brand Central / Mazda View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image A new base color has been added for the MAZDA 3 Gr.4, which is currently available for purchase from the Mazda showroom. Café / Extra Menus The following Menu has been added to the Extra Menus section: Extra Menu No. 44: Peugeot (Collector Level 36 and above) World Circuits (Event) The following new events have been added to World Circuits: Sunday Cup Classic: Red Bull Ring Short Track European Sunday Cup 400: Grand Valley – South Reverse European FR Challenge 550: Autodrome Lago Maggiore – East Gran Turismo Sophy The next-generation racing AI agent, Gran Turismo Sophy is now available on the following courses. Look for the GT Sophy icon in the Quick Race menu on each track to test your skills against Sophy. Autodromo Nazionale Monza View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sardegna – Road Track – B View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Scapes View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Panning has been added as a featured curation in Scapes. View the full article

Hey, everyone! At Annapurna Interactive, we’re fortunate to work with some of the world’s best development teams around the world, supporting them to help bring unique game experiences to PlayStation. Today, we premiere a new Annapurna Showcase, highlighting some of these teams, sharing exciting news and updates about previously announced games that are coming very soon. Play Video Sayonara Wild Hearts The critically-acclaimed rhythm game Sayonara Wild Hearts is coming to PlayStation 5 today. Experience a brand-new PS5 exclusive Remix Arcade game mode chasing high scores in endlessly replayable levels set to a selection of songs from the game’s iconic soundtrack. Sayonara Wild Hearts also features upgraded 4K visuals, runs at up to 120 FPS, and supports haptic feedback on PS5. Those who own the game on PlayStation 4 can upgrade their copy to the PlayStation 5 version for free as long as both platforms are linked to the same account. Play Video Lushfoil Photography Sim Explore diverse landscapes, play with camera settings, and capture the perfect shot in Lushfoil Photography Sim. Featuring breathtaking locations, from the picturesque Italian countryside to the saltwater beaches of West Australia, Lushfoil Photography Sim delivers the premier digital photography experience, ramping up your favorite in-game photo modes to 11. We’re excited for PlayStation players to experience the delight of travel photography when the game launches April 15, 2025 on PlayStation 5. Play Video To a T Led by esteemed Katamari Damancy creator Keita Takahashi, to a T is a charming, colorful adventure game about a teen navigating life in a small town with their cute dog companion. Play as a teenager (Teen), with a unique posture just trying to live a normal life in a small coastal town. Explore the town along with the help of Teen’s loyal dog and loving mother. While going to school and contending with bullies, Teen discovers a new ability granted to them by their extraordinary posture, as they start to uncover more about their mysterious lineage. PlayStation players can be charmed and delighted on May 28 when To a T launches on PlayStation 5. The latest trailer for the game features an original track, “The Giraffe Song,” performed by Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe, Adventure Time). Wheel World Wheel World is a single-player bicycle racing adventure where you’re tasked with preventing the world from collapsing. You are Kat, a young cyclist with one mission: save Wheel World from total collapse. Explore a stunning world filled with impressive vistas, hidden secrets, and races that will test your skills. Customize your bike with an endless array of parts, from sleek speedsters to off-road beasts—there’s no limit to how you can ride. Customize your ride, explore, and compete in this cycling journey with original music from the electronic music label Italians Do It Better when it launches this summer on PlayStation 5. That’s all for the Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2025. We hope you are just as excited about the upcoming releases as we are. We can’t wait to get these games in your hands but for now make sure to follow and wishlist the games on the PlayStation Store to be among the first to receive the latest updates. From all of us at Annapurna, as well as our developer partners – thank you so much for joining us. View the full article

Have you ever had the chance to surprise someone you truly admire? I recently got that chance – to surprise Nicolas Doucet with congratulations (and a cake!) celebrating his and Team Asobi’s well deserved Game of the Year win at The Game Awards for Astro Bot! It was such a fun moment… Neither of us are experienced talk-show hosts and I got to bust in on him when he was nervously recording his own intro for this entry in Sony’s Creator to Creator series. But while that was a super fun bit, it also kind of broke the ice – and gave us the chance to really just enjoy talking to one another about our personal experiences making games…. About the principles we use to try to shape the design and tone of our work. While our teams at Team Asobi and Sucker Punch Productions make games that appear on the surface to be very different – we discovered how many shared values we have, and how much our teams have in common. Play Video Nico shares lots of insightful thoughts about how Team Asobi crafts their games, how they think about the blend novelty with difficulty, and even how they designed some of our Sucker Punch characters into their games. Then he turned the tables on me and we got to talk about how nervous we both were making our first games for Sony, some of the lessons learned when developing Ghost of Tsushima, and which moments from the game stood out the most. I left our conversation feeling super inspired, and appreciative to have the chance to have spent this time talking to Nico and learning from him. I hope you enjoy this Creator to Creator half as much as I did surprising and chatting with Nico! Enjoy! View the full article

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who has been playing LEGO Horizon Adventures — seeing the community share their stories and experiences with the game has been incredible! If you’ve played LEGO Horizon Adventures, you know that everything in the game is made entirely out of LEGO elements. Now that same creativity and attention to detail have been brought into the real world with our official Aloy & Varl vs. Shell-Walker & Sawtooth set! With only a couple days left until the set releases in stores on March 1, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes look into how we brought the game’s vibrant world to life in physical form. Watch the video below or read on to see how it all came together! Play Video Stephane Varrault, Design Director at Guerrilla reflects on the collaboration with Studio Gobo and The LEGO Group: “Working with LEGO bricks and trying to replicate all the machines in this universe forces you to think about abstraction, and abstraction is good for a designer because you start to think about the essence of fun. It’s about going back to the essentials.” With that design concept in mind, Senior Model Designer Joseph Kyde at The LEGO Group went to the drawing boards to figure out the design for fan and developer-favorite machine, the Shell-Walker. Figuring out the inner workings of the crate with precious cargo that Shell-Walkers keep on their back was no easy feat. “The hexagonal cargo pod was an extremely challenging build to make out of LEGO elements and it was one of my favorite examples of a problem-solving exercise for this set,” Joseph points out. He remembers starting with a crate that closely resembled the in-game version but quickly realized it needed to be simplified for easier building. After days of trying out multiple iterations and different ideas, he ended up on a design with two symmetrical components that come together with a satisfying *click*. The Shell-Walker is not the only machine included in the set. “I’m super excited for the fans and builders to get this set, because you can build the Sawtooth!” Guerrilla’s Senior World Artist, Lucas Bolt exclaims. “They are very detailed, and you can also pose and animate them.” With its articulated design, the Sawtooth makes a formidable opponent to include in your own adventures. “Having that ability to make your own storylines from this incredible LEGO set is a brilliant opportunity, and I’m so incredibly honored that it’s coming out of LEGO Horizon Adventures,” says Kat Woolley, Senior Producer at Studio Gobo. All adventures need their heroes, and this set includes Aloy and her loyal ally and friend Varl! “Including Aloy was a no-brainer,” expresses Frédéric Andre, Creative Lead at The LEGO Group. Aloy’s minifigure features incredible detailing, from her signature outfit to a more expressive face that perfectly captures her playful character in the game. And she’s not alone. “Varl has the same amount of detail as Aloy. He has all the decoration to make him a fantastic minifigure!” Frédéric adds. With both of these heroes, the machines and some environmental pieces in the set, you can bring even more dynamic storytelling to your LEGO Horizon Adventures experience. Whether you’re reenacting your favorite moments from the game or coming up with brand-new stories, there are endless possibilities to get creative. After all, if Varl can rebuild a Sawtooth and give it a stylish new look with some extra LEGO flair, who’s to say what you might come up with? We can’t wait to see what you build, so be sure to share your photos, videos, and stories with us by tagging Guerrilla on social media when you get the set! The Aloy & Varl vs. Shell-Walker & Sawtooth set is available from March 1, 2025 via LEGO.com and selected retailers around the world. Make sure to follow Guerrilla on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for all the latest news and updates about Horizon. Happy building! View the full article

Last week, we asked you to climb into Lara Croft’s shoes in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: ​​ call_me_xavii shares a close up shot of Lara with sunglasses on. DopeAFD shares Lara standing in front of a tomb entrance flanked by statues ​​ Maurice_II shares Lara contemplating crossing lava. call_me_xavii shares Lara crossing a rope highlighted by a helicopter spotlight ​​ Maurice_II shares Lara leaping towards an enemy with guns drawn 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: Pirates SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 26, 2025 Next week, we’re hitting the high seas. Share swashbuckling moments with pirates from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Run amok, PlayStation fans! It’s every outlaw for themselves in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 2: Lawless. Looting reaches a whole new level as you go from job to job — heisting Fletcher Kane’s train transports, plundering his riches from bank vaults, or targeting his armored caravan. Here, the hustle never stops: Big Dill drops the beat and high-value Dill Bits, Midas returns later in the season, but the real score? The outlaw life. There are plenty of ways to make a splash in some cash, so let’s dive into it! Play Video Havens for heisters Go for broke in your mission to be rich! Prized Bars saturate the Island more than normal, but your dreams of living the high life can be snuffed out as public enemy number one Fletcher Kane is in the running to take all the riches for himself. To get ahead of the competition, scope out the potential hauls in these new locales: Welcome to Crime City Corruption and deceit are the name of the game in Crime City. Peruse the Wise Guys Bookstore, Hostile Hotel, or the Launder Mat to build your stash, but don’t linger here too long. Swindling outlaws — a.k.a. other players — are itching to stop your hot streak. An Outlaw’s Oasis Even heisters need a chance to relax! Outlaw Oasis’ luxurious facilities provide just that, giving you a zen environment to plan your next major raid. Shiny Shafts Feel like making your claim to highly sought-after wealth? Make a hustle to Fletcher Kane’s Shiny Shafts, the mining source that puts the Bars in his banks. Lonewolf Lair Cause some chaos at Lonewolf Lair, Fletcher’s mansion hideout that has some rigid security to sneak past (or fight head-on if you’re brash). Kingpin of cunning There isn’t any place in town that the baron Fletcher Kane doesn’t have his paws in. He always seems to appear when you least hope him to, mainly to snatch the loot you just took. But if you have the guts to challenge the Island’s mob don, you can earn the Mythic Fletcher Kane’s Double Down Pistol and the Unstoppable Medallion that increases sprint speed and allows for bashing enemies while sprinting. Remember: Try to keep a low profile! If you have a Medallion, your enemies will be able to keep an eye on your location on their mini-map! The more Medallions you have, the more precise the radius of your exact location. Pickle on the beat Big Dill is the newest rap artist on the scene in Fortnite. He’s a mean, green, hot-tempered outlaw aiming to be the grittiest gherkin in the jar. Big Dill & The Brat make up the dynamic duo known as the Tasty Bois. Their new single Runamok drops on Soundcloud February 21 and is available as a Jam Track in the Battle Pass now. Big Dill is “borrowing” from banks, launching music, and creating his own currency in-game: Dill Bits (more on that in a second). Who knows what he’ll do next… maybe launch a podcast? Your checklist to hit the jackpot Strike it rich by taking advantage of these golden opportunities to put you ahead of the craftiest of rogues: A surge of gold Coming under the effect of a Gold Rush will boost your speed, plus the speed of your Pickaxe swing and how much structure damage it does. Speaking of your Pickaxe, you can also gain Gold Rush by mining Bar-filled Gold Veins! Grow your wealth big-time with Dill Bits, a coin created by the notorious Tasty Boi rapper Big Dill. The value of Dill Bits are reaching levels that Bars* can never hit, but make sure to use them during your match as they don’t transfer to the next! *Big Dill has more strikes than he does tracks worth listening to, please do not take financial advice from a rapping pickle. Don’t squander your wealth Lay down your Bars and Dill Bits to buy Boons and Legendary items from one of the three Black Markets around the map. Don’t worry about how the Black Markets acquired them — some details are better left unknown. Convoys of treasure No Bars move around the Island without Fletcher Kane being involved. He’s transporting valuables around the map with his Armored Transport convoys, and they pack a punch. If your plan is to “borrow” these valuables, be ready for a fight with Kane’s henchmen. The loot is yours for the taking after that! Setting your eyes on a higher prize? Feel free to try your hand at raiding Fletcher’s Armored Train. However, this is well-known for being the most dangerous job in town. Hop aboard the train, destroy its turrets, and blow the vault door wide open to bring it to a screeching halt! A boon of boons Season refresh, Boon refresh. Venture to Black Markets or come across Rare Chests to find a new slate of Boons! These persist beyond elimination in the same match (meaning you’ll keep your Boons if you get rebooted in the same match). The Boons in Chapter 6 Season 2 are: Vulture Boon: Reveal where enemies are eliminated on the map for a short time. Gold Rush Boon: Opening or destroying Chests grants Gold Rush. Adrenaline Rush Boon: Gain the Slap effect (short-term unlimited Energy regen) upon mantling, hurdling, and wall jumping. Gold Ammo Boon: Gain ammo when picking up Bars. Greed Boon: Find extra Bars from eliminations and opening containers. New, nefarious munitions Get into trouble… And stay there with these new tools! Vault crackin’ at its finest These vaults are tough and the only way to crack them is with Thermite, a powerful explosive found stashed away around the map. After you’ve planted it, damage the vault’s weak points to expedite your robbery. The Plasma Burst Laser works great for this, as does the Rocket Drill, coming later this season. The tools for mayhem Make your “withdrawals” look effortless with the new Collateral Damage Assault Rifle and Falcon Eye Sniper. Also, keep an eye out for the formidable Outlaw Shotgun dropping in a later update! If your style’s a little more ambidextrous, the dual-wield Pump & Dump, coming in a later update, is your new best friend. Occupying a single weapon slot, hold a Pump Shotgun in one hand and an SMG in the other. Aim for the knees A staple for ne’er-do-wells everywhere, take a crack at The Kneecapper! It’s not just good for giving enemies a whack — it also reduces the Energy cost of sprinting while increasing sprint speed and jump height. Security in the way? No problem New utility items like the protective Port-A-Cover and enemy-detecting Pulse Scanner can be found around the map. Both are tremendously useful for holding off henchmen. There are henchmen and enemy players crawling all over the Island, but it’s all about knowing the tricks of the trade. The Med-Mist Grenade helps heal in a pinch, and Gold Splash grants Gold Rush and heals 20 Health! (It’ll heal 20 Shield if you’re at full Health already.) Slay frosty Your enemies are about to be on thin ice. The cold-blooded cryomancer Sub-Zero has arrived on the Island and can be recruited to your cause! Be sure to pick up Sub-Zero’s Kombat Kit, which empowers you to ice slide into opponents and unleash a flurry of frosty fists. It’s good to be bad with the Lawless Battle Pass Get the Lawless Battle Pass to instantly unlock the Cassidy Quinn Outfit. Like with the other Passes in Fortnite, you can unlock and claim free and premium rewards in the Battle Pass by earning XP in any Fortnite experience! To claim the premium rewards as you earn XP, purchase the Pass for only 1,000 V-Bucks or get it through Fortnite Crew! There are several Outfits included as premium rewards in the Pass: Cassidy Quinn: She’s all in. (Cassidy Quinn is claimable right away upon purchasing the Battle Pass!) Joss: It’s not magic. It’s chemistry! Fletcher Kane: What’s yours is his. Valentina: Get in, get the goods, and get out with style. Big Dill: The original Tasty Boi. Keisha Cross: She rules the road. Sub-Zero (MK3): The Lin Kuei cryomancer of legend. The fallen king with a heart of gold is finding his way back to the Island. The Outlaw Midas Outfit will be unlockable from Battle Pass Quests in March, completable in any Fortnite experience! The Battle Pass will be available to progress in until Chapter 6 Season 2 ends on May 2, 2025 Eastern Time. Let’s go, space cowboy! Prefer stopping criminals? Complete Cowboy Bebop Quests starting March 1 to rake in XP that can go towards Cowboy Bebop Bonus Goals! Meeting these Bonus Goals will unlock the Cowboy Bebop Wrap and Bebop Legends Loading Screen. The Quests and Bonus Goals will be available until March 18. What if we said you can complete these objectives as the famed bounty hunters themselves? The Spike Spiegel Outfit and Faye Valentine Outfit will be in the Fortnite Shop starting February 28 Eastern Time! Fortnite Battle Royale: Lawless ends May 2. Blow that vault door wide open! View the full article

SEGA is gearing up for the February 21st release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5! Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii places Goro Majima as the sole main character of the story set after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Set on the tropical waters and islands of Hawaii, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers an unpredictable assortment of high seas thrills. Sail aboard the Goromaru and enjoy hot-blooded battles, a treasure trove of minigames. Meet a charismatic cast of new characters, brought to life by star-studded actors, including First Summer Uika, Kenji Matsuda, Munetaka Aoki, Ryuji Akiyama, Ayumi Tanida, and Shunsuke Daitoh! Story View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image After losing his memory, Goro Majima, a once-feared legend in the yakuza world, sets sail in search of treasure. Half a year after teaming up with Kiryu for a massive battle in the Millenium Tower, Goro Majima washes up with the wreckage of a boat on the shore of a remote, sparsely populated island. With no memories—not even his own name—Majima joins forces with Noah, the young islander who saved his life, and embarks on a search for clues to his forgotten past. However, what waits for them is a powder-keg world where scoundrels vie for a legendary treasure. Push Combat to the Extreme with Two Battle Style View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image In addition to his signature Mad Dog style, which is all about speed, Majima can also use his Sea Dog style to wield a cutlass and other buccaneer gear. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image With his Mad Dog style, Majima blends together a combination of punches, kicks, and knife strokes to make quick work of his enemies. Additionally, you can swap to Sea Dog style, a swashbuckling fighting style befitting a pirate at sea. With a pair of cutlasses and three sidearms at his disposal, Majima can easily make shark bait of his enemies. Using the Madness Gauge, Majima can summon dark deities capable of turning the tides of battle. Conjuring them requires treasures known as Dark Instruments, which you’ll need to plunder from the ships of defeated rival pirate crews. Pirate Battles The game takes place on and around the islands of Hawaii, where different motives collide. As you sail across the Pacific, foster bonds with your maties and battle against the scoundrels that roam the high seas! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Captain the Goromaru as you explore the vast ocean! During your voyages, you’ll discover lighthouses, treasure islands, and various other locations. However, don’t forget to ready your cannons, as you may have to go to pirate battle with the dangerous marauders that lurk in wait! Maneuver around enemy bombardments and send volleys of cannonballs into their ship’s hull! Once it has taken enough damage, board their ship with your crew and brawl it out to secure victory! To really kick ass in pirate battles, you’ll need to modify your ship, strategically deploy your forces, and power up your crew! Meet over 100 recruitable seafarers and modify your ship with options that range from different designs and decorations to armor and stronger cannons! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Minigames You can also have fun with Karaoke, Dragon Kart, Outfits, and many other activities! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Product Information: TitleLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiRelease DateFebruary 21, 2025 (Fri)PlatformPlayStation®5 / PlayStation®4LanguagesSubtitles: Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese (Traditional, Simplified)Websitehttps://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/pirate/asia_en/SEGA Asia Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/sega.asia.ENCopyrightⒸSEGA View the full article

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a sequel to the action-adventure Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, is due to set sail tomorrow, February 21 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. We recently had a conversation with Masayoshi Yokoyama, RGG Studio Director and the Like a Dragon Series Executive Producer, about what went on behind the scenes during the development of the Pirate Battle system, as well as why he thinks Goro Majima remains a fan-favorite to this day. Masayoshi Yokoyama A narrative-driven game design Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii introduces a new combat system called Pirate Battles, where players can engage in cannon battles aboard their ships. Was it your plan all along to create a game that was vastly different from the rest of the series? How did the idea come about? To be honest, we weren’t sure where the game would end up when we first kicked off development. We had a story that we wanted to tell, and we started from there. There were still a number of unanswered questions after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, like what would happen to Hawaii and how the former yakuza, after their complete dissolution, would continue with their lives. We thought the best way to answer these questions was to create a spin-off game. That being said, at the start of development, we had no idea that we’d end up implementing Pirate Battles into the game. Did you develop the Pirate Battle system from the ground up, specifically for this game? Yes. The Like a Dragon team excels at reworking existing assets to build new systems, but we did create the Pirate Battle system from scratch. The canon battle that is part of the Pirate Battle is essentially a shooting game, and shooters can end up being too complex and difficult for players who aren’t used to action games. We ideated various concepts to avoid increasing the difficulty too much, like creating a mini-game where you shoot enemy ships from a 2D bird’s-eye view. However, our development team worked hard to implement realistic 3D pirate ships that the player can steer to engage in cannon battles. It did make the game slightly more challenging though, so we spent extra time making sure the difficulty level was just right for a Like a Dragon game. It’s easy to make something as effortless as possible, but if it’s not challenging or rewarding, it’s not a lot of fun. In the end, we decided to make naval battles in the main story easier to play, and at the same time came up with the Pirates’ Coliseum, an arena perfect for players looking to challenge themselves with back-to-back fights with powerful enemies. There are only a few battles that are required to progress the main story, but we also wanted to cater to players looking for a challenge. This is similar to what we did with the Coliseum in Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, so we’ve taken this kind of dual approach more often with our recent games. My dream is for the Pirate Battle to be embraced by players all over the world and for us to create an online battle mode. However, I understand the game will need to be super successful for that to happen. If the Pirate Battle system is well-received and players ask for a game focused on it, that feedback will most certainly impact the games we make in the future. Majima’s confidence in his powers allows him to make big life-altering decisions Did your impression of Majima change throughout the game’s development? Majima shows a different side of himself when he meets a boy named Noah in this game. Majima suffers from amnesia and has forgotten who he is, but deep down he knows he probably spent his life as a good-for-nothing hoodlum. Then he meets Noah and develops a paternal bond with him, wishing to help fulfill his dreams. You certainly see Majima through a different lens in this game. Noah suffers from chronic asthma, and his father, Jason, forbids him from leaving their island over concerns about his well-being. Never having left the confines of his island, Noah yearns to see the rest of the world. That’s where Majima comes in, after getting washed up on the island’s beach. Noah and Jason both struggle with their suppressed emotions, but Majima swoops in and helps break them out of their hardened shells. The game begins with Majima embarking on his journey with Noah and Jason by his side. His lack of memories does not stop Majima from throwing himself into anything that piques his interest. He is the sort of guy that can make life-altering decisions that others will find extremely difficult. Some may call him shortsighted, but Majima is able to accomplish all of this because he is fully confident in his strength and capabilities. Although he has no recollection of his past, he takes action because he knows he has the power to protect Noah no matter what. Throttle your enemies with Majima’s signature Mad Dog Style Could you tell us what went on behind the scenes during the development of Majima’s two fighting styles, the Pirate and Mad Dog styles? We settled on the concept for Pirate Style fairly early on. We started brainstorming ideas like his pirate costume, cutlass, and flying weapons, and it all came together very quickly. On the other hand, the Mad Dog Style was a challenge. Majima is usually not a playable character, so we didn’t have much experience developing fighting motions and movements tailored to him. We did, however, have a lot of experience developing Majima as the antagonist, so we had to expand on that. Another challenge was that the moves Majima used in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth were far too powerful for a playable character, but we also knew that players would want to experience Majima’s signature fighting style. So, we spent a lot of time mulling over how we could adapt Majima’s unique moves for a playable character, and how we could rework them to be appropriate for a fighting action game instead of an RPG. We ended up spending nearly three times more working on the Mad Dog Style compared to the Pirate Style. However, the Mad Dog Style ended up less flashy and spectacular compared to the Pirate Style, so maybe it wasn’t the most effective use of our time and energy (laughs). Still, I am glad that we went with two battle styles, because I saw many players trying out the Mad Dog Style at hands-on events, probably because it best represents Majima and his scrappy ways. I personally prefer the Pirate Style because I like AOE attacks, but both are different and super fun. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on PS5 and PS4 February 21. View the full article