Commander Fury

Fresh off the streets of Evo 2022, two more characters have been announced for Street Fighter 6, the next evolution of the Street Fighter franchise, launching in 2023. Juri returns with her playfully sadistic ways along with new ninja Kimberly! We sat down with Game Director Takayuki Nakayama to ask him how Kimberly and Juri were designed along with quick bios for the duo. Play Video A new era is here Bust out some beats and shake up your spray cans to welcome the newest ninja to Street Fighter 6. Kimberly invited herself to become Guy’s student, who is the 39th Successor to Bushinryu after defeating his master Zeku, the 38th Successor. Kimberly had an ordinary upbringing, but she’s a prodigy who graduated college early and now wants to be a full-fledged ninja. She is infatuated with ’80s pop culture when the portable cassette player was at its peak popularity, hence why she always carries one with her. Takayuki Nakayama: In terms of Kimberly’s design, we aimed to create an outfit suitable for her speedy and acrobatic movements since she excels in sports like track-and-field and cheerleading. Pair her brightly colored gi with sneakers suitable for moving around quickly, and you have Bushinryu-like ninja attire, don’t you think? We tried to make her hairstyle and outfit beautifully showcase her striking silhouette since she is an expert at running and airborne attacks. The spray can and portable cassette player on her waist are also used for special moves. The music she listens to originates from a certain person, but you will have to wait for the story to find out who that is. Let’s see how Kimberly, the Ninja + Pop Star = Ninja Star, performs. 　 According to Nakayama, Kimberly’s arsenal of techniques make use of her high physical strength and allows her to open up opponents in various ways. Being a spunky new ninja, Kimberly incorporates an urban twist to reimagine what Bushinryu means to her. She uses Genius at Play to stock up on a spray can, which can then be thrown to the ground as a Shuriken Bomb. During Hidden Variable, Kimberly conceals herself in colorful smoke before instantly appearing in front of an opponent for a surprise attack. Finally, she has the trademark ninja Sprint, which can be followed up with kick options or Arc Step where Kimberly launches herself off from the opponent. Something wicked is coming First appearing in Super Street Fighter IV, Juri remains a sadistic thrillseeker who enjoys the suffering of others, taking immense joy in obliterating her foes. Previously, her main motivator was revenge against M. Bison, but since his fall in Street Fighter V, she now whittles away her time in a gloomy haze. What lies in store for her now? Takayuki Nakayama: For Juri, this costume retains the image from her Super Street Fighter IV one, but has been rearranged to fit the Street Fighter 6 aesthetic. There is also a change in the hairstyle, which I think gives it extra personality. Underneath her jacket, black tape that imitates the appearance of a spider covers her body. The colors of her Feng Shui Engine are purple, black, and white, and accented with emerald green. Also, please pay attention to her helmet, as you may have seen in the trailer when she appears on her motorcycle, since it matches her design. Her smart phone also reflects her personality and style, don’t you think? Fans of Juri will be wickedly pleased to know she retains many of her past moves with different properties now. Fuhajin returns where Juri performs an upwards kick and stores Fuha stocks upon completion. Saihasho, Ankensatsu, and Go Ohsatsu are newly named special moves, but may be visually familiar in the form of the low projectile or jumping axe kick. While these can now be performed without having to expend Fuha stocks, they can be chained together and powered up if a Fuha stock is available. Finally, Juri’s Shiku-sen, a flying dive kick, returns from Super Street Fighter IV, which can be followed up with a series of flashy airborne kicks. This opens up more creative options for Juri’s playstyle and can catch an opponent off guard. Here come two new commentators If you missed it, Street Fighter 6 has a new Real Time Commentary Feature where notable names in the fighting game community lend their voices to commentate your matches. Previously, Vicious and Aru were revealed to be the first two Play-by-Play Commentators back in June. Now, we can confirm two more legendary commentators. Play Video First, we want to go into more detail on the Real Time Commentary Feature. In tournaments, there are usually two commentators working in tandem: the Play-by-Play Commentator, who specializes in describing the action with articulate and rapid delivery, and the Color Commentator, who gives further insight and analysis into the match. We mirror this concept in Street Fighter 6 where you can select both a Play-by-Play Commentator and a Color Commentator in the settings! Joining Vicious and Aru as a Play-by-Play Commentator is Tasty Steve, who brings his trademark energy, charisma, and hype to his performance. Our first Color Commentator reveal is no other than the fighting game historian, James Chen. We’re honored to have these two legends be a part of Street Fighter 6 history and can’t wait for you to hear them in-game. We’ll reveal more voices in the future! This completes our Evo 2022 announcements. We’re excited to have Kimberly and Juri bring their unique personalities to the character roster while James Chen and Tasty Steve lend their voices to Street Fighter 6. We’ll see you later in the year for our next reveals! Any guesses? View the full article

Last week, we asked you to get up close and personal with the furry feline protagonist of Stray using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: ZenoCrach shares lights reflecting in the eyes of the Stray. MDSP777 shares the Stray wandering around a tree town. PhoenixRedVP shares the Stray standing in front of some TVs with a cat icon. RB_SKKN shares the Stray meowing. M_Joe_Hort shares the Stray in front of a neon noodle shop sign. viciousvyt shares the Stray reaching up to scratch its claws on something. 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: Disguise SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 10, 2022 Next week, we’re looking for characters shrouded in mystery. Share a character from the game of your choice dressed in a disguise or costume using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Hot on the heels of its world premiere reveal, we’re here to take you even deeper into the brutal world of Meet Your Maker. Let’s start with a quick recap of the game itself, coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in 2023. Meet Your Maker is a new first-person building-and-raiding game set in a dark post-apocalyptic future. Gameplay revolves around the creation and infiltration of stand-alone levels called Outposts, as players seek to protect or steal the world’s most precious remaining resource from each other. Play Video Building is focused on strategic, block-based design, where players will draw from a highly customizable toolbox of traps and guards to mastermind deadly maze-like Outposts. Raiders, on the other hand, will suit up for methodical, lightning-fast combat as they enter and attempt to overcome other players’ creations. The experience is one truly driven by user-generated content, and every single Outpost in the game is designed by players, for players. While the unique gameplay of Meet Your Maker takes center stage at first glance, similar to Behaviour’s long-running multiplayer horror hit Dead by Daylight, there’s also a rich mythology waiting to be discovered. Welcome to the Chimera Project Communicate with the Chimera via a unique psychic bond. “Humanity has been facing extinction ever since a genetic disease swept the globe hundreds of years ago,” explains Joe Dermo, Meet Your Maker’s lead narrative designer. “Desperate nations waged war over resources, riots broke out, and societies collapsed. However, humanity didn’t roll over and die. “There was an era where several gifted world leaders proposed Sanctuaries—highly advanced research labs across the world that could work independently and cooperatively on world-saving initiatives. One such initiative was the Chimera Project, which would create hybrid-humans by distilling uncorrupted genetic material through those who have shown resistance to the disease. “After hundreds of years, the project continues towards its goal, though the evolution of the Chimera has gone down an unexpected path…”. Protect what’s yours, take all you can A harvester loads genetic material into the shipping station for transport back to the Sanctuary. Players will assume the role of the Custodian, a clone tasked with seeking out the remaining uncorrupted genetic material and either defending or stealing it. You are the last hope for completing the Chimera Project – but gathering this coveted resource won’t be easy. “Uncorrupted genetic material is exceedingly rare due to this disease that’s swept the world, yet it’s the one thing needed to complete the Chimera Project and hopefully bring about a cure, “continues Joe. “As it dwindles in supply, Sanctuaries led by Chimera have begun to fight over it.” The fight in question takes place within Outposts built by players to extract genetic material. The heart of each Outpost is its extractor cube, filling canisters with the precious resource. Builders will need to tap into their most devious impulses, creating a gauntlet of traps and monstrous guards designed to lure, outwit, and tear trespassing players limb from limb. Raiders will need sharp reflexes, anticipation, and perseverance to not only fight their way to the extractor cube and steal its canister, but also escape with it in hand. “The scarcity of genetic material really drives the two sides of the game in Meet Your Maker,” shares Ash Pannell, the game’s Creative Director. “Making the building blocks of life the driving narrative concept helps to raise the stakes. It allows us to create gameplay themes that are morally grey, asking the question, ‘What is humanity? The physical stuff we’re made out of – or something more?’” In good company Speak with any of the Sanctuary’s five Advisors, your only allies in an unforgiving world. Between building and raiding sessions, players will return to the Sanctuary, their hub and base of operations. In addition to the Chimera, the Sanctuary also houses five Advisors; clones who run the facility. Progression is achieved by supplying both them and the Chimera with genetic material which unlocks new traps, guards, suits, weapons, perks, and even lore for those eager to peel back the layers of this dying world. “Speaking to your Advisors is a great way to learn about the world’s lore,” explains Joe. “Occasionally, they’ll mention something that touches on the greater history and hints at upcoming stories for them. And for those looking to deep dive into the mythology of Meet Your Maker, our ever-growing Codex has a history of every item and character in the game.” Through new content and an ever-expanding toolbox, this is a game that will only get bigger over time, and fans can rest assured its mythology will continue to expand alongside it. “Though a lot is still in the planning phase, we’ll be looking at ways that players can actively seek out lore and uncover new – and sometimes shocking – information about the world and characters they interact with.” Meet Your Maker releases in 2023 on PS4 and PS5. View the full article

The polls are open! What was your favorite new game last month? Living the cat life in Stray? Pitting heroes vs. toons in MultiVersus? Fighting to save Gilly’s in Arcadegeddon? None of the above? Hit the poll below and cast your vote — we’ll tally ’em up early next week and share the winner as an update to this post. 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. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. 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? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Demon’s Souls and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. View the full article

Roll7’s upcoming skater-shooter, Rollerdrome, is our first to feature a fully original soundtrack, featuring dark retro-futuristic synth beats by the incredible Electric Dragon. I spoke to Ian, the artist behind Electric Dragon, to discuss the process of working on the project and creating this all-new album. Jemima Tyssen Smith: Hello Ian! I had the pleasure of working with you while you created the incredible all-new music for Rollerdrome. This was such an exciting project for Roll7 because it’s the first time we’ve had a totally new soundtrack made just for one of our games. What was it that drew you to the project? Electric Dragon: You summoned me! Haha – it’s true! Yes, I was actually the first person to reach out to you – we initially wanted just the one track, right? Yes, that’s just it – I didn’t know the full details of the game at the time, but what I saw was super interesting to me, and I actually offered to do some original work at that point. After that I had a meeting with some of the team and we talked through what was needed in more detail. I’d been in a rut with the album I was working on, and talking to the folks at Roll7 really gave me a burst of inspiration. I think it just all came together really well for everyone involved, actually. I’d always wanted to work on a game soundtrack, and Rollerdrome is an incredible game to be involved with. Play Video I think when you spoke about the possibility of original tracks that felt perfect for us since we wanted such a specific vibe to the soundtrack. Could you talk a bit about that? Yeah, so the energy we were after was a soundtrack with the power of synthwave but a distinct 70’s flavour. It felt like it might be quite tricky to balance as we really wanted to avoid going too disco as well – the game has a darkness to it that needed to be echoed in the music. In the end it actually came together quite naturally, though. I basically tackled the soundtrack as if it was sort of from the angle of the 70’s looking forward – very BBC ‘Tomorrow’s World’, you know? And then I was inspired a bit by lots of different things really: 70’s pioneers like Vangellis, Wendy Carlos, Philip Glass, Giorgio Moroder, Tangerine Dream… lots of inspiration from lots of places! Seeing all of the cool kit you have is so inspiring – it’s all really interesting stuff. What was it that drew you to music and to synthwave in the first place? I used to have a Commodore 64 as a kid, and my uncle bought me some software for that which was called ‘Utilisynth’. It was very complicated, but I managed to make some awesome wibbly-wobbly noises, and from there on I was sort of hooked! I went on to play guitar, I DJ’d house music in the 90’s, I was even in a death metal band for a bit… but in time I returned to synth. And we’re very glad you did! This project is obviously quite different to working on an album that’s not attached so closely to a game and a concept – how did that work for you? Yeah, since the tracks need to fit with the gameplay I couldn’t really do breakdowns in the same way I might have done on a totally free-form album, so that was a really interesting challenge to work around. I also needed to strike a balance between the dystopian narrative and the thrilling gameplay – the tracks needed grit, but they also needed a sense of fun in there, too. I think those moments of positivity really help make the dark parts of the game darker, which I really like. One thing I did love about the process – and this might seem silly – is that the narrative really helped me to pick track titles. I always find naming tracks a bit tough, so it was a real relief to have content already there to pull titles from! Lastly, I have to ask – where does the name ‘Electric Dragon’ come from? It’s from a 2001 Japanese film – Electric Dragon 80.000 V. It’s about two rivals who get electrocuted and then end up with superpowers… and they also play seriously guitar-wrecking solos. That sounds so cool! I’m adding it to my watch list as we speak. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat to me today and for making this epic soundtrack. I just can’t wait for people to experience it in-game. Me neither! Rollerdrome is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 August 16. View the full article

It’s August and things are really heating up—and we don’t just mean outdoors. There’s a tidal wave of new indie titles coming to PS4, PS5, and PS VR this month*, covering a wide variety of genres and playstyles. Here you’ll find wacky sports action, death-defying stunts, alien words, and even a terrifying “vacation” to a secluded cabin… all without the risk of sunburn. Take a look at some of this month’s indie highlights to plan your next adventure. Play Video Gigabash It’s time to cause some combat carnage on a gargantuan scale. Passion Republic Games is debuting Gigabash, an all-new multiplayer arena brawler for PS4 and PS5. Humanity has screwed up big-time by uncovering ancient forbidden technology that’s caused massive monsters to pop up across the globe. They’re looking to brawl and party in the only way they know: by causing massive destruction. Fight as a giant mech or monster with up to three other players. Utilize quick movement and unique skills to prove your might, repurpose buildings, landmarks, and infrastructure as your personal beatdown tools, then use your amassed Giga Energy to morph into the ultimate S-Class monster. Come August 5, no city is safe. Release Date: August 5, 2022 | Publisher: Passion Republic Games | PS4, PS5 Play Video Cult of the Lamb When a helpless little lamb finds itself saved from doom by a mysterious stranger named “The One Who Waits,” they are awakened to a newfound religious zeal for their savior. Now, they must build their own flock of devoted followers. This dark and humorous action/adventure/strategy game from Massive Monster sees your cult-leading sheep traversing the world in search of potential converts. As you spread your gospel, you’ll need to deal with numerous threats, both environmental and from rival religious leaders. Gather your followers, build houses of faith, perform sermons and rituals, and show no mercy to the false prophets who sully the hearts of minds of the populace. Find your calling when Cult of The Lamb comes to PS4 and PS5 on August 11. Release Date: August 11, 2022 | Publisher: Devolver Digital | PS4, PS5 Play Video Inscryption A wise man once said to “trust in the heart of the cards.” This is extremely good advice for Inscryption, the latest from Daniel Mullins Games, because your life is held hostage within a bizarre card-game world. Trapped in a cabin with no idea who you are or how you got there, you find yourself at the whims of Leshy, a mysterious being who offers you salvation through playing his card game. With the aid of a handful of friendly card-beasts, you’ll need to build decks to conquer this dark game and find a way to escape. Unique features like controller-speaker sound and mood lighting enhance the horror, and PS5 players get additional haptic feedback for more… intense moments. Fall into deck-building darkness on August 30. Release Date: August 30, 2022 | Publisher: Devolver Digital | PS5 Play Video Rollerdrome Skate… or die! The developers at Roll7 follow up their hit skating adventure OlliOlli World with a darker take on the world of rollersports. In a retro-dystopian future, the world’s population needs distractions from the social and political strife around them, so they turn to 2030’s hottest sport: Rollerdrome. Slide into the skates of would-be Rollerdrome superstar Kara Hassan and prepare to test your wits, guns, and style. Learn how to impress the cheering crowds with tricks while evading heavily-armed foes and returning fire with your own personal arsenal, and use PS5 features like 3D Audio and haptic feedback to enhance your combat prowess. Prepare to enter the arena on PS4 and PS5 on August 16. Release Date: August 16, 2022 | Publisher: Private Division | PS4, PS5 Play Video Cursed to Golf When Dante Alighieri wrote his afterlife-examining masterpiece The Divine Comedy, he accidentally left out the part in Purgatory where one must atone through golfing. Thankfully(?), in Chuhai Labs’ Cursed to Golf on PS4 and PS5, you can take your very own 18-hole tour of Golf Purgatory… without having to die in real life. Charmingly creepy 2D pixel visuals guide you through the challenge of procedurally generated hellish holes packed with all kinds of bizarre hazards. Use Ace Cards from the ghostly golf shop Eterni-tee to supernaturally supercharge your swings and make friends with the souls of Legendary Caddies. Get ready to tee off in the hereafter on August 18. Release Date: August 18, 2022 | Publisher: Thunderful Games | PS4, PS5 Play Video I Was a Teenage Exocolonist We all know that being a teenager is tough, but living out your most awkward years on another planet entirely? That’s hard mode for sure! I Was A Teenage Exocolonist from developer Northway Games is a genre-bending hybrid of RPG, strategy, visual novel, and deck-building card game set in a far-flung sci-fi future. On this beautifully illustrated alien world of Vertumna, you’ll attempt to navigate all of the highs and lows of your teen years. And you’ll do so through a unique collectible card-based system. Your card choices influence making friends, learning life skills, getting jobs, and even falling in love for the first time. How will the decisions you make affect your colony? Can you survive? With 29 endings and 800 unique story events, even death doesn’t mean game over. A strange time-loop has you reliving your life with your memories intact. Can you save those you love while navigating the perils of youth? Find out when I Was A Teenage Exocolonist releases August 25. Release Date: August 25, 2022 | Publisher: Finji | PS4, PS5 *Game content and release timing subject to change without notice. Based on U.S. release timing. View the full article

You’ve probably seen a music biopic movie or tv show: a story of the rise-to-fame of some band you know. You’ve probably heard songs by a virtual band, animated characters playing music recorded by real creative artists. We Are OFK is both of these things. OFK is our virtual band, with real songs on streaming services, like any other band you like.We Are OFK is a video game about the origin story of our band. With me so far? Okay so we’re kinda making a biopic about ourselves. An auto-biopic, for you word nerds… The story of a music biopic usually goes like this: A small-town artist works hard, isn’t appreciated, and almost gives up. Then they meet a record label executive who “gets it”, or they impress somebody famous at a bar, and that person launches them into stardom. They record an album! They go on tour! They see the world! Sex! Oh no, drugs! …They hit rock-bottom. Their friends are angry or sad or whatever, and some combination of these terrible things motivates the artist to turn their life around. They rediscover their love for music and remember why they do this in the first place. I like these stories! They’re inspiring, but they’re so big. Do you know how many artists become megastars? It’s not a lot. Most musicians never “make it”, and making music does not pay a living wage. But still, tons of people make music, no matter whether they get paid or not. Those big pop-star stories are inspiring, but I think the people just trying to make anything… that’s magic to me. Same thing with virtual bands. They’re so glamorous and imaginative, but they’re larger than life. For all of us on Team OFK… we don’t know anyone like that, really. We’re mostly hanging out on couches, doodling, eating sandwiches in a park, or ordering delivery noodles again. We Are OFK is our indie-sized experiment at making a smaller biopic. A smaller virtual band. An imagined group, created by artists, musicians, and game designers who all know how hard it is to just make something, finish it, and put it out into the world, because we still struggle to do that most days. What would it look like to create virtual musicians who watch performances of these pop-stars on their laptops in bed, and know they’re probably never going to play a stadium concert? We wanted to tell that story – how hard it is to make music, to write even one song, to record another video to post online, and hope someone leaves a nice comment. Getting through day jobs, loneliness, awkward group chats, someone at a party who won’t stop talking to you… all of it. We made our biopic as a game, because we feel close to this band, our band, and we want you to, too. You’ll decide things they say, what texts they send, how they express themselves as they go through their smaller journey of trying to make something they can be proud of. I know we’re proud of this game / band / episodic series… the whole thing! We Are OFK premieres August 18 on PS5 and PS4, and then every week after that, until you have all our episodes, featuring all OFK’s new songs from their debut EP. Not a full album yet, because hey making stuff is hard! We all have to start small. View the full article

Greetings to all of our dedicated Let It Die fans. I am super excited to announce that Deathverse: Let It Die is launching on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 Fall 2022! Since our announcement on PlayStation’s State of Play last year, we received lots of great comments from our community. On May 28 and June 5, we also had an open beta test called Limited-Time Open Beta: Destroy the Server! Players from all over the world participated, and the test ended with great success thanks to all of you. Our game was originally announced for Spring 2022, but due to the results from the open beta, the game’s release was postponed. Now, our team here at Supertrick Games is working hard to make this game the best it can be. We are also incorporating the feedback from the open beta survey, so we hope everyone will look forward to the game’s launch. What is Deathverse: Let It Die? The game is set after the events of our previous game, Let It Die, where players fight for stardom in the survival TV reality show, “Death Jamboree”. The show takes place in a virtual world known as Deathverse, which was created by the Yotsuyama Group as a destination for people’s souls. Upon participating in Death Jamboree, all contestants will be outfitted with a special “Wilson” unit, a robotic device that assists you in combat. Wilsons can transform into either a weapon or shield to assist players in combat and is considered a must-have item by well-to-do consumers everywhere. If you want to learn more, check out this PS Blog article from our first PlayStation Blog, published right after PlayStation’s State of Play in October 2021. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Dev team discusses outlandish weaponry If you participated in our open beta, players may remember the five weapons that could be used in the matches. The game’s Director, Shin Hideyuki and the Art team provided some exclusive details behind the game design and artwork about each weapon. “The design of the basic weapons in Deathverse does not just function to cut or punch opponents but adds a layer of horror as a torture device. All the weapons have a common design, where they have a tank (the shiny blue part) that contains a substance called ‘SPLithium’.” Machete “We designed this weapon with the standard movement and action of Deathverse in mind. This weapon can be held with one hand, has variations in speed for certain actions, and is incredibly well-balanced in its ability to go on offense and defense. Its normal attacks are of a 3-hit combo, and players can activate its special attack to destroy opponents’ shields and leave them defenseless for the kill.” Hammer “While retaining key elements of traditional hammers, Deathverse combines their heaviness with jet power to create a new type of weapon that pairs speedy action with great visuals. “Despite its slow speed, this weapon has immense destructive power. Its normal attacks can be chained to create an endless combo and, when charged up, can release a large and powerful shockwave that destroys your opponents’ shields instantly. “It may throw people off as it deviates from the concept of a hammer in typical action games.” Katana “We wanted to keep the original design of the beloved Japanese katana in the game, so this weapon has the least Deathverse-like elements compared to other weapons. Despite being extremely weak against shields, players can parry attacks and launch combos that give them the upper hand in battle.” Arms “This weapon has a lot of special functions that help it stand out from other weapons. Its attacks are powerful enough to destroy opponents’ shields with just normal attacks. Its normal combo can deal up to two hits, and an additional third attack can mean the difference between your victory and defeat. This weapon also allows players to fly in the air to attack opponents from above, as well as put up a barrier to shield from opponents’ attacks.” Buzzsaw “This weapon is designed to look ferocious and to be handled with unique movesets. Unlike the basic attacks of slashing and smashing, this quirky weapon can be nasty in its ability to pull off powerful multiple combos and death blows against opponents. Though these attacks require proper timing and accuracy, its versatility in pulling off special attacks and deathblows can be challenging for opponents to go against.” I also received some comments on the Rex Bone skins that were released during the beta! About the Rex Bone skins “We purposely deviated from the concept of a Wilson transforming into a weapon and chose the motif of ‘bones’, as it represents the wild or wilderness of ancient times. These Rex Bone skins feature claws, fangs, and other frightening bone-like elements to portray ‘strength’.” _____________________________________________________________________________________________ I also have a special concept art of the game for our devoted readers who read until the end! About the Concept Art “The concept of the battle area is based on the image of a red sea polluted by SPLithium and the mysterious ruins. The thickness of the trees and the ruins covered by their roots, the white appearance of sea salt, and the design that looks as if this stage has been shaped over many years, are part of the set of the TV show.” That’s all for today. Stay tuned for more on Deathverse: Let It Die leading up to its launch on PS5 and PS4 this Fall. View the full article

The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) is back in Las Vegas from August 5-7 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of the most exciting fighting game community (FGC) tournaments in the world. PlayStation will be live at the show with exciting events and special coverage. Read on to learn about Evo 2022 and how you can join PlayStation for the experience. 20 Years of Creating FGC Champions For two decades, Evo has contributed to the evolution of the FGC worldwide. Players have honed their skills, competed in their favorite fighting games, and watched and learned from the best. Evo 2022 will celebrate the return of competition with intense showdowns in the following titles: Street Fighter V: Champion EditionGuilty Gear -Strive-Mortal Kombat 11 UltimateTekken 7The King of Fighters XVMelty Blood: Type LuminaDragonball FighterZGranblue Fantasy: VersusSkullgirls: 2nd Encore Competitors and spectators will spend the weekend engrossed in legendary games to see who comes out on top. Competition streams will take place throughout the weekend, along with streams from publishers and developers. To find more info about your favorite games, visit the Evo events page. Streams for different tournament and title events will be available on YouTube and Twitch. For those looking for an exclusive look into the stories and triumphs of Evo, PlayStation will be hosting a live show covering all of the exciting Evo moments, along with peeks into what’s ahead for the FGC. Learn more about the PlayStation Tournaments: Evo Lounge below and watch it on Twitch.tv/PlayStation and YouTube.com/PlayStation. Watch the PlayStation Tournaments: Evo Lounge—Your Source for Evo Content PlayStation will celebrate the return of Evo with the PlayStation Tournaments: Evo Lounge, a live show dedicated to covering all the competition’s exciting events and content. The show is hosted by players and commentators who live and breathe the FGC. Viewers will be able to stay updated with the latest at Evo and watch exclusive content that won’t be available elsewhere. The Evo Lounge will feature top-shelf curated show coverage, bracket updates, interviews with players, and exciting content and reveals from developers and publishers, such as Arc System Works, Warner Bros. Games, Capcom, SNK, and Bandai Namco Entertainment, as well as all the latest from the scene with pro players and casters. Viewers will be treated to the latest news for our favorite games and a few sneak peeks of what’s ahead. It’s every spectator’s source for Evo and FGC intel. You can tune into the show on YouTube and Twitch on August 5 and 6, streaming live from Las Vegas. Explore Everything Evo 2022 Has to Offer With PlayStation Get ready for the ultimate FGC championship and follow along as we provide updates and content from the floor. We can’t wait to see you there. Stream the PlayStation Tournaments: Evo Lounge on Twitch.tv/PlayStation and YouTube.com/PlayStation. View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here We’re back with another episode of the Official PlayStation Podcast, this time with an emphasis on games with heroes that roller skate or meow. Plus, an in-depth chat with Dre of Roll7 about the studio’s upcoming arena skater-shooter, Rollerdrome! Stuff We Talked About Rollerdrome (interview begins at 16:39)PS VR2YakuzaStrayPS Vita memories The Cast Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and 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, after being bombarded by the cuteness of your real life cats, we asked you to explore the world of Stray using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s purrfect highlights: Record_photo shares the cat hopped up on a desk to chat with a robot. i_nofum_i_Game shares the cat crawling underneath a car. VP_adventurer shares the cat and its cat friends walking in a perfect line. ranelledr shares the cat exploring a neon-lit robot city. _AlexisSP_ shares the cat napping on a friendly robot. Gamography_ shares a cat friend taking in the rain at the beginning of the game. 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: Stray – Cat Closeups SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 3, 2022 Next week, we’re continuing our adventure with the adorable feline hero of Stray. Share closeup moments of the cat using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Skate or die. Record the quiet calm of a strange world. Take a feline approach (and perspective) to a cybercity. Intriguing premises are PlayStation bound over the next year thanks to the inventive minds of independent game developers the world over. And these adventures promise to be all the more immersive as the creatives harness the features of PlayStation 5. From the coarseness of a grind vibrating through the DualSense wireless controller to 3D Audio pinpointing incoming threats, here’s how a selection of studios intend to reinforce their moment-to-moment gameplay with the power of PS5. Stray Dev: BlueTwelve Studio | Release Date: Out now Swann Martin-Raget, Producer: Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set in a mysterious cybercity. We made full use of the DualSense controller’s capabilities to immerse the player in the feeling of being a cat. Players can press the Circle button at any time to meow in the game and the sound will come out of the game and the controller’s speaker. The adaptive triggers have a satisfying amount of pressure to push down on as the cat scratches surfaces like sofas and rugs. When objects like glass bottles are knocked down, players can feel the impact of the cat’s little paws through the controller’s haptic feedback. Players can even feel the cat purr through the controller when he is sleeping. The DualSense controller makes being a cat even more fun, and we hope that players enjoy exploring and interacting with Stray’s world using it. Rollerdrome Dev: Roll7 | Release Date: August 16, 2022 David Jenkins Head of Q/A: I really love the DualSense controller and the great little bits of feedback we’ve worked to give the player through it. From different types of vibration based on what’s happening to Kara (landing, grinding, dodging, getting hit), or the audio cues that tell you when your ammo is running low or you’re about to get taken out by Sniper, to the different levels of resistance you get when pulling the trigger on each of our weapons (charging the Z-11 in particular). It all really helps the player to feel like they’re skating around the arenas, dodging rockets, grinding rails and picking off House Players, in a way that other controllers simply can’t. Everything has this great sense of weight and physicality – especially when something particularly heavy drops into play. Season: A letter to the future Dev: Scavengers | TBC David Boily, Technical Director: Season: A letter to the future is an immersive sensory experience where you travel through, unravel, and record the strange world around you. Players will feel each pedal when biking, feeling the steepness of the hills using the adaptive triggers. We’ve paired this feeling using DualSense controller’s haptic feedback as it emulates the roads and trails you will discover on your journey. And breathe in and record every detail of the world’s rich soundscapes using 3D Audio. This really comes together when making your way downhill and can just rely on the momentum of the bike to move you, all while feeling the fresh air go past your ears. These are some of our favorite tools we use in development to invite our players to get immersed in the mysterious world of Season. Tchia Dev: Awaceb | Release Date: Early 2023 Phil Crifo, Game Director: We wanted Tchia’s gameplay to feel as smooth and intuitive as possible, but we also wanted to build mechanics that players who are super invested would be able to master and become really good at. Tchia’s slingshot is a versatile tool that lets players nudge things around the open world and during enemy encounters, but we also have dedicated shooting range challenges in the game. The DualSense controller’s motion control technology allowed us to implement a motion-controlled aim-adjustment feature that lets players move the controller to finely adjust Tchia’s aiming. We hope this system can be useful to people with reduced finger/thumbs mobility who are unable to execute fast and precise joystick movements. We also find that it is a great feature for people who are less familiar with game controllers or just want an extra level of aiming precision. Animal Well Dev: Shared Memory | Release Date: Q1 2023Billy Basso, Solo Developer: Animal Well is a game filled with secrets, some more or less obvious than others. Despite its deceptively simple pixel art style, it’s highly detailed and atmospheric. PlayStation 5’s GPU enables both the creepy shadows that obscure the landscape as well as the light that shows you the way. The DualSense controller can alert you to subtle cues that your eyes might miss. Perhaps something is lurking in the tall grass. Or seemingly dense growth is actually hollow inside. The 3D Audio may give an indication of a threat—or a hidden secret—nearby. You must rely on all of your senses to uncover all of the mysteries of Animal Well. View the full article

Hi PlayStation players! Exciting news straight from the goat’s mouth, Goat Simulator 3 has a launch date! Pilgor and friends will be crashing onto PlayStation 5 November 17. We’ve heard that a lot of people are getting confused by the naming of our game, Goat Simulator 3. Here at Coffee Stain Publishing we wanted to set the record straight and answer the question of why it’s called Goat Simulator “3”… Unfortunately we’ve not managed to get a straight answer from our friends over at Coffee Stain North, the creators of the game. Which isn’t totally surprising as they are a bit of a strange bunch. But in the spirit of transparency and since you asked, here’s what we were told by various members of the team, we’ll let you decide what to think. “There were three goats on the box art” – Rasmus Björk, Community Manager & Cinematographer“Wait? We didn’t make a Goat Simulator 2?” – Olivia Follin, Programmer“It’s been such a long time since Goat Simulator 1 came out that Goat Simulator 2 as a title just didn’t encapsulate all the advancements in simulation technology that we’ve implemented.” – Sebastian Zethraeus, Game Producer“No one likes a sequel” – Driton Gashi, Designer“Baaaaaaaaa” – Pilgor “There was a reason… but I’ve forgotten..” – Philip Bretschneider, 3D Artist“Someone from the Publishing team said it and we didn’t want to correct them” – Judith Radnitz, Game Producer“God of War: Ragnarök was already taken” – Santiago Ferrero, Creative Director“Well it would’ve been weird if we called it Goat Sim 4” – William Birgersson, Art Director & Level Designer“It’s still just a typo” – Helena Lindström, Community Manager“The numbers Mason, what do they mean?” – Stuart Docherty, Sound Designer“None of the above” – Sebastian Eriksson, CEO“Pilgor does what Gordon’t” – Joar Hedvall, Programmer What we do know is that Goat Simulator 3 is officially coming out on November 17 and you can pre-order the standard edition now on PlayStation 5 here for a jiggly ‘pre-udder’ surprise or pick the Digital Downgrade Edition which comes with a selection of remastered items from Goat Simulator. We’ve also revealed a special collector’s Goat In A Box Edition (currently available for pre-order in EU and ANZ regions only) for the ultimate goat enthusiasts. Pre-order now and you’ll get your own little Pilgor toy to cuddle or keep in pristine condition in the attic and hope it will become valuable someday (Warning: It won’t). Sorry again for the lack of clarity, to make up for it we’ve got a couple of new exclusive screenshots from the game in the hopes that you’ll forgive us <3 Aggressively assert your own personal style, whatever the occasion. When you feel the need – the need for speed, Goat Simulator 3 has you covered. View the full article

I am thrilled to introduce Backbone One – PlayStation Edition, an officially licensed mobile controller for iPhone users. The look and feel of the Backbone One – PlayStation Edition was brought to life by our design team in collaboration with the brilliant minds at PlayStation. The elegant colors, materials, and finishes are all inspired by the design of the PS5 console’s DualSense wireless controller, all the way down to the transparent face buttons and its visually distinctive, floating appearance. It feels right at home with the other products in the PS5 lineup, like the Pulse 3D headset, which you can connect directly to the Backbone One – PlayStation Edition. Play Video Backbone One is the gaming essential for PlayStation on iPhone. If you have access to broadband internet and a PS5 or PS4 console, plug an iPhone into the Backbone One and instantly start playing your PS5 and PS4 games with the power of the PS Remote Play app—whether that’s out and about or even elsewhere in the home*. See the PlayStation Remote Play website for more information: https://www.playstation.com/remote-play/ Backbone One also works wonderfully with App Store games and other game streaming services that support controllers, including Genshin Impact, Fantasian, Call of Duty: Mobile, and more. Players can download the Backbone App for a customized PlayStation experience. Inside the app, you’ll see various PlayStation integrations, such as custom glyphs representing the iconic PlayStation shapes and the ability to browse hundreds of game titles. Players will also find a dedicated row inside the Backbone App with new releases and updates from PlayStation. Backbone One is powered by your iPhone device, so charging is not required. For more information about Backbone One – PlayStation Edition, please check out: https://playbackbone.com/playstation. We are thrilled to release Backbone One – PlayStation Edition and can’t wait for PlayStation fans worldwide to get their hands on it. The Backbone One – PlayStation Edition will be available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom at launch, with more countries to follow. We hope you’ll enjoy it. *A PS4 or PS5 console, the Remote Play App and an account for PlayStation Network are required to stream your games to other devices. Remote Play can be used with a mobile data connection or Wi-Fi. Broadband internet with at least 5Mbps is required. For a better Remote Play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended using either Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Titles that require PlayStation VR or other peripherals such as PlayStation Camera are not compatible with PS Remote Play. Availability of DualSense features such as audio output and haptic effects vary when using remote play on Android®, PC, Mac®, iPhone®, or iPad®; some features may not be available. View the full article

Since PS5 launched, we’ve been listening to your feedback and working every day to bring you more community-requested features. Today, we are rolling out a new PS5 system software beta that includes 1440p support, gamelists, and additional updates to enhance your gaming experiences and make connecting with friends easier on PS5. While beta access is limited to invited participants in select countries*, our goal is to bring these updates to our global community later this year. If you’re selected to participate in the beta, you’ll receive an email invitation when it’s available to download today. As always, some features available during the beta phase may not make it into the final version or may see significant changes. Here’s a look at some of the new features: New Gameplay and Personalization Options 1440p HDMI Video OutputThe PS5 beta introduces support for 1440p HDMI video output, enabling players to choose an additional visual setting on compatible PC monitors and TVs.**If the game you’re playing supports 1440p rendering you can experience native 1440p output on your display. Or, if you’re playing a game with a higher native resolution like 4K, then you may benefit from improved anti-aliasing through supersampling down to 1440p output.You can check if your HDMI device is compatible by selecting “Test 1440p Output” under “Screen and Video” options within system settings. GamelistsIn your Game Library you can now create gamelists, which make organizing your games even easier.To start, go to the [Your Collection] tab and select [Create Gamelist]. Choose games to add to your gamelist, then decide what to name it.You can have up to 15 gamelists and 100 games per gamelist. All games under the “Your Collection” tab of your Game Library can be added to a gamelist, including disc, digital and streaming titles.*** You can also add the same game to multiple gamelists. Compare 3D Audio and Stereo AudioYou can now listen to and compare the difference between 3D and stereo audio on the same screen, and then choose your preferred setting. Easier Access to In-progress ActivitiesWhen resuming a game, in-progress activities are often shown prominently at the top of the game hub to make it as easy and as fast as possible to get back to where you left off. New Social Features Request Share ScreenYou can now request party members to start Share Screen to watch their gameplay. Go to the voice chat card, select the party member you want to send the request to, and then select [Request Share Screen]. Joinable Game NotificationWhen you join a party and a party member is playing a game you can join, you’ll now receive a notification. You can join the game directly from the notification. View New Friends’ Profiles When you accept a friend request in the [Received] list, you can now view your new friend’s profile in [Accepted Requests]. Send Stickers and Voice Messages in Game BaseIn the Game Base card, you can now send stickers and voice messages to your groups. We’re always grateful to our beta community for helping us take new console features for a spin. Thanks to all our players for your support and feedback! *PS5 beta access will be available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France (same countries as our last system software beta). **1440p compatible TV or PC monitor required. Results may vary depending on the game being played. Please note: VRR on PS5 supports 1080p and 4K video output but not 1440p. ***Streaming only available in select countries/regions with PlayStation Plus Premium. For details see here. View the full article

The acclaimed Yakuza series, incorporating the Kazuma Kiryu saga and latest entry Yakuza: Like A Dragon are coming to PlayStation Plus in 2022. Anyone who’s been intrigued by Sega’s long-running series will be able to experience its signature mix of crunchy combat, explorable districts, mini-games and fascinating storylines starting next month. Yakuza: Like a Dragon joins the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup in August. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can begin Kazuma Kiryu’s epic journey through the criminal underworld with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 when the titles launch as part of the August Game Catalog lineup. Then later this year, for Extra and Premium members, Kiryu’s story concludes with Yakuza 3 Remastered, Yakuza 4 Remastered, Yakuza 5 Remastered and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Let’s take a quick look at each title in turn. Out next month as part of PlayStation Plus Monthly Games and Games Catalog lineups… Yakuza: Like a Dragon | August | PlayStation Plus Essential / Extra / Premium Level up from underdog to dragon in this action RPG. Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, returns to society after serving 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Uncover the truth behind his family’s betrayal while exploring – and fighting – your way across a modern-day Japanese city. Build a party from a ragtag group of society’s outcasts, spending time with them to unlock new abilities and combo skills. Take time off from your quest to immerse yourself in go-karting, arcade games or 50 substories. Yakuza 0 | August | PlayStation Plus Extra / Premium The glitz, glamour, and unbridled decadence of the 80s are back in Yakuza 0. Fight like hell through Tokyo and Osaka with protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and series regular Goro Majima. Play as the former to discover how he finds himself in a world of trouble when a simple debt collection goes wrong. Then, step into the silver-toed shoes of Goro Majima and explore his “normal” life as the proprietor of a cabaret club. Yakuza Kiwami | August | PlayStation Plus Extra / Premium The first Yakuza title debuted in 2005 on PS2. This PS4 remake rebuilds that experience from scratch. Follow the early days of Kazuma Kiryu as he returns to the streets of Japan after serving a decade-long prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit to save his best friend. Yakuza Kiwami 2 | August | PlayStation Plus Extra / Premium Yakuza’s sequel receives the remake treatment, not only updating the original but expanding it with a playable adventure starring Goro Majima set before the events of the main game. A year after the events of the first Yakuza, an assassination pulls Kazuma Kiryu out of a peaceful life to broker peace between rival clans and face off against Ryuji Goda, known as the Dragon of Kansai. Coming later this year as part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog… Yakuza 3 Remastered | PlayStation Plus Premium Kazuma Kiryu had earned his retirement. Yet he’s ripped from his new life as caretaker of an orphanage when a shadow from his past threatens to entangle his new life with that of his old clan and the political world. Adventure through the sleepless city of Kamurocho, Tokyo and the tropical lands of Okinawa to help rescue his new wards. Yakuza 4 Remastered | PlayStation Plus Premium The Yakuza story expands as the first time in the series you’ll control multiple protagonists, four souls – a loan shark, a death-row inmate, a corrupt cop and legendary former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu – are drawn together to solve a murder. Unravel a hidden battle over money, power, status, and honor as well as the mysterious woman at the center of it all. Yakuza 5 Remastered | PlayStation Plus Premium Multiple perspectives once again shape a sprawling story as peace between the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance disintegrates. Play as five different characters, including Kazuma Kiryu, across five major cities whose stories are interwoven as the yakuza organizations go to war. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life | PlayStation Plus Extra / Premium The conclusion of Kazuma Kiryu’s epic story sees the Dragon of Dojima take on the responsibility of foster father as he seeks to protect his young ward Haruto and discover the mystery behind the grevious attack on Haruto’s mother. Explore Onomichi, Hiroshima and with the help of some unlikely friends, delve back into a merciless criminal underworld, outwit the clans seeking Haruto and find the answers you seek. Game library varies over time, region/country and plan. See https://www.playstation.com/Plus for details and updates on PS Plus offerings. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then-current PS Store price) at the frequency you choose at purchase until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms View the full article

Today we’re pleased to share the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for August. From August 2 to September 6 PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium members can add Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and Little Nightmares to their game library. Let’s take a closer look at the titles. Yakuza: Like A Dragon | PS4, PS5 Level up from underdog to dragon in this action RPG. Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, returns to society after serving 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Uncover the truth behind his family’s betrayal while exploring – and fighting – your way across a modern-day Japanese city. Build a party from a ragtag group of society’s outcasts, spending time with them to unlock new abilities and combo skills. Take time off from your quest to immerse yourself in go-karting, arcade games or 50 substories. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 Cross-Gen Deluxe Bundle | PS4, PS5 Drop back in with the most iconic skateboarding games ever made. Play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in one epic collection, rebuilt from the ground up in incredible HD. All the pro skaters, levels, and tricks are back and fully remastered, plus more. Skate to songs from the era-defining soundtrack along with new music, hit insane trick combos, or shred all the original game modes by going head-to-head with local 2-player modes! Strengthen your skills by taking your sessions online and competing against players from around the world in multiplayer modes and live leaderboards. Play as skaters from the original roster (Tony Hawk, Kareem Campbell, Bucky Lasek, and more) or slide into the new roster made up of Olympian skaters (Nyjah Huston, Aori Nishimura, Leticia Bufoni, and more.) Little Nightmares | PS4 Immerse yourself in Little Nightmares, a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears! Help Six escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal. As you progress on your journey, explore the most disturbing dollhouse offering a prison to escape from and a playground full of secrets to discover. Reconnect with your inner child to unleash your imagination and find the way out! Last chance to download July’s PlayStation Plus games PlayStation Plus members should be sure to add the following titles to their game library by August 1: Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Man of Medan and Arcadegeddon. Also, check out our PlayStation Plus monthly games-inspired playlist on Spotify, which will be refreshed with new songs every month. View the full article

FIFA 23 is on the way, and EA is not only looking to make it the most expansive title of the series to date but the most realistic as well. To do this, EA has upgraded its HyperMotion motion capture system to HyperMotion 2 and improved its machine learning algorithm. Both tools capture and put together data to make virtual football as authentic as possible. Said data even comes from actual football matches by the team in Zaragoza, Spain, shot on Xsens technology. All this works together to create the most visually authentic entry in the series thus far. Real football brought to your PlayStation FIFA 23 utilizes Advanced 11-v-11 match capture, meaning that actual football players came together for full-on matches using Xsens suits. This year’s game draws from two matches featuring professional teams, including a women’s match (a series first). That capture was then combined with EA’s new machine learning algorithm to make players and the environments around them more lifelike. Various visual and mechanical enhancements further amplify FIFA 23’s faithfulness to the sport. Players’ limbs now react to the impact of the ball, and fully-3D nets even move when the ball or players make contact with them. Other extra touches like new animations and (over 500) chants for crowds liven up a match’s physical and emotional energy. Upgrades to the gameplay formula HyperMotion 2 and the new machine learning algorithm have a hand in various innovations coming to FIFA 23’s gameplay. EA presented several features made possible thanks to this innovative technology. Full Team Authentic Motion ensures that no two plays are identical. Star-specific run styles, improved technical dribbling, female athlete-specific animations, and left-footed skill moves are now made possible with these advancements. Now more than ever, football matches look and feel more like they do in real life. More detailed and more authentic animations lead to more depth and control in the game itself. For example, Power Shots are a new skill-based risk-reward mechanic that unlocks yet another layer of strategy. To use them, you must carve out the perfect space and aim precisely, pressing L1 and R1, then shoot to activate. If performed correctly, you can score goals with more power and accuracy. However, the longer animations and the need for precision introduce a higher risk. Defensive areas of the game aren’t left out either. You can lie down behind the wall to block low shots. The new motion capture data also allows players to perform clearance slide, physical, and back heel tackles, which aggressively counter offensive abilities, such as added shooting types like chesting, backspins, and downward volleys. There are even more ways to pass, including the always smile-inducing bum bumping. EA is aiming for authenticity with FIFA 23, and every piece of the game is building toward that goal. You can experience this true-to-life football title when it releases on PlayStation 4 and 5 on September 30. View the full article

Gran Turismo players! The July update for Gran Turismo 7 arrives today July 27 at 11:00pm PDT* (June 27 at 7am BST / 3pm JST). Play Video Nissan Skyline Super Silhouette Group 5 ’84 An extraordinary Skyline that stood out in races of the 1980’s. The Skyline Super Silhouette is one of the most iconic cars from this series, with a look that is far from ordinary to say the least. Sporting a chin spoiler that extends far forward of the car almost scraping the tarmac, fenders expanded to extreme levels in both the front and rear, combined with a large rear wing, it was powered by a 2.1 litre 4 cylinder turbocharged racing engine called the LZ20B. Often spitting flames out of its exhaust located just below the left hand door, it was an incredible presence on the track that completely mesmerized car enthusiasts and race fans of its day. Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder ’54 A beautiful streamlined 2-seater sportscar that won the Gran Turismo Trophy. Every August in the U.S., the most beautiful cars from throughout all of car history are gathered for the world famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The 2014 winner of the Gran Turismo Trophy, just one of the awards available, was this Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder, chassis No. 2078. The A6 was the designation for a series of 6-cyclinder racing cars developed by Maserati from 1947 to 1956. The GCS, intended for sports car championship competition, started out resembling a 2-seater version of the classic cigar shaped grand prix cars. However, after regulations changed in 1953, a number of coachbuilders began to fashion their own designs for the tubular frame. Porsche 918 Spyder ’13 This super sports car is a reinterpretation of the glorious Carrera GT as a plug-in hybrid. The Porsche 918 Spyder is a supercar introduced by Porsche in 2011. A successor to the Carrera GT, production was limited to 918 cars. The most notable aspect of the car is that it is actually a plug-in hybrid. A 599 BHP 4.6L V8 engine based on the engine from the RS Spyder prototype race car is mounted in the mid-ship position with a single electric motor in the rear, resulting in a total system output of 873 BHP. This incredible performance when combined with the optional Weissach Package allows the car to reach 62.1 mph in 2.6s, 124.3 mph in 7.2s and 186.4 mph in just 19.9s. Advertised as having a top speed of 214.4 mph, it was able to set a lap time of 6:57 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Be sure to stay tuned to official GT and PlayStation channels as there are plenty more updates to come from the team. Until then, happy racing! * Internet connection required for update. Game progression required to access vehicles. View the full article

Happy DreamsCom, folks! Today is the day – DreamsCom ‘22 has officially opened its (virtual) doors and players across the Dreamiverse are already exploring what’s on offer at this year’s show. A playable show floor With over 200 booths created by the wonderful Dreams coMmunity, this year’s show is bigger and better than ever, showcasing everything from the latest music to the most exciting new games the community has to offer. The team at Media Molecule have put their hearts into a show that you won’t soon forget, with a brand-new look and feel for the show. There are plenty of exciting things around each and every corner. Ready to jump into DreamsCom ‘22? Then all you need to do is click these words right here. You can also add it to your Play Later queue, so it’s ready and waiting for when you’re at your console. Check out a few screenshots of the show floor below: The illustrious DreamsCom ’22 show floor entrance A shot showing the DreamsCom ’22 photo booth. The Impsider area of DreamsCom ’22, with stream schedule board. A glorious exterior view of the DreamsCom ’22 building. Some of the many many MANY booths you’ll find at DreamsCom ’22 – is that an ice cream stand we spy? A wondrous DreamsCom ’22 booth themed for an American diner. Interviews with Media Molecule and coMmunity creators Throughout the week, we will be live on Twitch from 4PM BST each day, chatting to a selection of coMmunity creators and getting some behind-the-scenes knowledge and insights on their work. For today’s (Tuesday 26th) stream, we’ll be bringing on some of the Media Molecule team to hear updates on their various projects – from exciting partnerships, to upcoming updates to our Create tools! A free downloadable magazine Away from your PlayStation but want to get involved in the DreamsCom celebrations? Check out our DreamsCom 22 companion magazine from The Impsider to read up about this year’s event and our creators, hear from a bunch of Molecules and solve a few puzzles along the way! DreamsCom is all about celebrating the creativity and passion within the Dreams coMmunity, and we hope you enjoy this year’s show. Whether you’re exhibiting or exploring, there’s something for every type of Dreamer! View the full article

The road to launch for PlayStation VR2 is in full swing, and we can’t wait for you to try the exciting new games and experiences you’ll be able to explore with our next-generation virtual reality headset. As we continue with our launch efforts, today, we’d like to offer a quick peek at some of the user experience features you’ll discover on PS VR2. Let’s take a look. See-Through View With PS VR2, you can see your surroundings while wearing the headset with our new see-through feature. It comes in handy when you want to easily check where the PS VR2 Sense controllers are in your room without taking the headset off. Thanks to PS VR2’s embedded front cameras, users can press the function button on the headset, or use the Card in the Control Center, to switch between viewing your surroundings, or viewing the content on PS VR2. The Card in the Control Center also gives quick access to other PS VR2 settings, such as adjusting your play area. The see-through view is just for viewing only, so there’s no recording option. Broadcast Yourself While Playing A new broadcast feature for PS VR2 will allow you to film yourself while playing, by connecting a PS5 HD Camera to the console. It’s a great way to show your movements and reactions during a boss battle and share your reactions with your fellow gamers as it happens! Customized Play Area The play area for PS VR2 can be customized by using the PS VR2 Sense controllers and the embedded cameras. The cameras will allow you to scan the room, while the PS VR2 Sense controllers allow you to expand and further customize the play area to fit your play style and room environment. While playing, if you get close to the boundary you have set up, you will receive a warning that you are closely approaching the play area boundary. You can modify your settings at any time while PS VR2 is connected. Once you set up your play area, the settings will be saved unless you move into a different play area. VR Mode and Cinematic Mode In VR Mode, players can enjoy VR game content in a 360 view in a virtual environment. Content will be displayed in 4000 x 2040 HDR video format (2000 x 2040 per eye) with 90Hz/120Hz frame rate. In Cinematic Mode, players can view the PS5 system and UI and all non-VR game and media content on a virtual cinema screen. Content in Cinematic Mode will be displayed in 1920×1080 HDR video format with 24/60Hz and also 120Hz frame rate. PS VR2 game developers will begin to access the latest user experience for PS VR2 in a new system software release coming soon as part of the ongoing development. There are lots of exciting things to look forward to for PS VR2, and we can’t wait to share more details about our next-generation virtual reality headset that takes a dramatic leap forward in gameplay innovation. We’ll share more information soon, including launch date and additional games coming to the platform. Design and specification within the images are subject to change without notice. View the full article

Have you ever wondered what the 21st century would be like if a few little things turned out differently? What if, for example, flat-screen monitors were never invented, and the popularity of roller sports kept growing until it became the most popular athletic event on Earth. And maybe things like streaming, social media, and eSports never emerged, leaving televised stunt-filled roller-sporting a predominant form of entertainment. And what if, perhaps, our society’s collective tastes had transformed to make all our sports more bloodthirsty. That’s the reality that developer Roll7 is pitching with its latest game, Rollerdrome. Play Video Roll7 Lead Game Designer Andreas Yiannikaris joins the team for an in-depth look at the high-octane gameplay combining high-flying tricks with intense firefights. Setting the stage Rollerdrome puts you in the skates of red-hot up-and-coming sports star Kara Hassan. It’s the year 2030, but things look very different: no smartphones, internet—not even video games. Instead, consumers are flocking to watch the world’s most popular new arena sport: the titular Rollerdrome. Kara’s got the spunk, charisma, and talent that could make her a megastar in the Rollerdrome world. Conveniently, that’s what corporate mega-conglomerate and Rollerdrome league sponsor Matterhorn wants to see. The blood and strife in the arena take the world’s mind off the blood and strife the company’s subsidiaries are fueling in the streets. But what is Rollerdrome, exactly? Picture a well-crafted skate park, where you can get serious air and wow onlookers with crazy stunts, tricks, and grinds. Now picture that well-crafted skate park filled with bat-wielding hooligans, carefully placed snipers, armored warriors with rocket launchers, riot-gear-clad landmine experts, and teleporting laser-beam-slicer robots (just to name a few). These are the House Players, and to win, Kara has to take them all down with a small arsenal of weaponry, all while keeping the crowds entertained through stunning skating stunts. Momentum and quick reflexes Playing Rollerdrome is genuinely chaotic. You will learn very quickly that standing still is an invitation to be annihilated in a blistering hail of sniper fire and guided-missile explosions. You have to move, and keep moving, and never stop moving. Skate like your life depends on it because it does. If you enjoy games with speedy, fluid movement, you’re going to love the flow of Rollerdrome from the get-go. Wheeling around is only half of it—you’ve also got to eliminate the House Players, which, as you’re rolling around ramps and slopes at high speed, can be difficult. Fortunately, Kara has a target-focus ability called Reflex Time that she can activate by holding the L2 button. This slows down time for a few seconds, allowing her to aim more carefully, activate special weapon effects, rapid-fire through enemy defenses, and see threats clearly. Chaining enemy takedowns increases a score multiplier, and high scores mean higher grades when finishing a level (and higher ranks when registering on the leaderboards). Weapons offer different tactical strengths, though some are more effective than others in certain situations. For example, the mighty Grenade Launcher is great for taking out a packed-together group but not particularly strong against foes that can shield against its blast or targets that zip away immediately after being hit. Juggling an arsenal of guns and tricks There’s a catch to these weapons, however—they have limited ammo, and it’s easy to blow through a full clip, even just trying to take down the lowest-level House soldiers. (You’ll feel a horrifying, rapidly intensifying clink clink clunk through the DualSense controller as your ammo stock runs ever-lower.) There are no ammo pick-ups either, so to replenish your weaponry, you must reach into your bag of tricks and start stunting, big-time. Yes, your weapons refill by performing sick stunts to wow the enthralled crowd. The longer and cooler the maneuver, the more ammo you’re rewarded. Developer Roll7 puts their experience in making trick-heavy titles like OlliOlli World on full display here, giving you access to a variety of maneuvers performed by using different button and environmental combinations. (And if you forget how to do any, the comprehensive Trickipedia is mere button-presses away.) But constantly performing stunts in Rollerdrome is not an easy task since while trying to show off your spins, wall slides, and grinds, you’re still marked for elimination by the House. Needless to say, a sniper bullet to the back can really ruin the satisfaction you feel from that stylish grind-into-a-720-grab you just pulled off. Balancing the need to continuously stunt with the necessity to shoot and survive makes for a unique and innovative challenge that will prove formidable to even the most seasoned veterans of extreme sports and action games. Fortunately, you can dodge with the circle button—press it, and Kara will immediately stop what she’s doing to take an evasive roll or aerial dodge. Evading attacks when you’re zooming around the arena is tough, but learning how to do it well is a literal life-saver—plus, dodging hazards with perfect timing will also grant you ammo and bonus points. Try perfect-dodging during Reflex Time for even more style, enemy damage, and rewards! The PS5’s functionality is leveraged to offer additional beacons to help you survive, as approaching enemy attacks produce distinct sensations in the DualSense controller’s body—and 3D Audios’ positional sound can help you determine where enemies lie when you can’t see them easily. The thrill of building your skill What’s particularly great about Rollerdrome is how much you grow and learn the more you play it. Things won’t be easy at the start—at first, you’ll struggle with ammo management, chaining opponent takedowns, and evading hazards. Each new arena showdown will feel oppressive, a struggle for simple survival against overwhelming odds. But as you keep playing Rollerdrome, returning to those stages that gave you trouble and trying to complete their list of challenges, you’ll notice something: you’re learning. You’re getting better. You can recognize the patterns of enemies, dodging them effortlessly. You can bend the layouts of the levels to your will, stunting and shooting and sliding around like an untouchable god on wheels. You’ll see your scores go up and the challenges fall to your sheer skill. And that’s the core of what makes Rollerdrome such a fresh, exhilarating experience. With loads of stage challenges, online leaderboards, and a myriad of ways to move and style on the House, Rollerdrome offers a fresh challenge chock-full of replay value and an infinite supply of Share-button-worthy moments. The Rollerdrome Arena opens worldwide on PS4 and PS5 on August 16. All challengers are welcome to leap into the fray and see if they have what it takes to conquer the championship—and once you get rolling, you won’t want to stop. View the full article

During a vacation from school, Takuma Momozuka finds himself in an unexpected adventure when playfully investigating a historical landmark after a mysterious earthquake. Digimon Survive is a visual novel with elements of tactical battles where you follow and guide Takuma through his perilous journey. Your choices will reflect in the story that you experience. They can affect Karma, Affinity, and Digivolutions. As Digimon Survive producer, Kazumasa Habu, gave his perspective in our recent Anime Expo Summer Showcase Panel: “In the Digimon Survive setting, Digimon are basically the reflection of what is inside the human heart. And the bond between the Digimon and the human partners are being tested in this sort of dangerous situation. Because of that, each choice you make will have a great impact on how the Digimon will evolve.” We’re here to give you a better understanding of what this means as we explain the Karma system. Are you ready to see what Karma can do for you and your Digimon? Karma In Digimon Survive, Takuma will be faced with many decisions and it will be up to you as the player to make them. These decisions could be as simple as what you decide to do in the morning or a choice of fight or flight in a dire situation. Several of these decisions you make will affect your Karma score. While every choice is valid, your Karma score will directly affect certain aspects of the game. Your highest Karma score will also affect the growth of Takuma’s Digimon, Agumon. There are three types of Karma: Moral, Harmony, and Wrathful. Each score is represented by a color and will always be in the same position when you’re prompted. Moral Decisions that increase your Moral score can range from a focus on justice, sacrifice, or even prudence. Moral is represented by yellow and will always be the choice on the lefttop. If Takuma pursues the life of Moral choices, he’ll find common ground with Digimon of the Vaccine attribute. Harmony Compassion, co-operation, and peace are some of the sentiments that comprise a choice that increases your score in Harmony. This score is represented by green and will always be the choice on the right. Those with a high score of Harmony will be most compatible with Digimon of the Data attribute. Wrathful Bold, direct, and objective-driven. Wrathful is represented by red and will always occupy the choice that is on the topleft. These strong personality traits are most attractive to Digimon of the Virus attribute. Attributes The attributes of Digimon are directly linked to their personality, much like Takuma’s Karma decisions are indicators of his personality type. Along your adventure, you’ll have several opportunities to recruit other Digimon. In Free Battle mode, you’ll have a chance to “talk” to other Digimon, like Biyomon, to have a chance at recruiting them in your party. You’ll be quizzed on a few questions that relate to their personality. If successful, you can either try to recruit them or request an item. Having a high Karma score to their corresponding attribute will increase your chances at recruitment. The attribute of the Digimon also plays a significant role in combat. Digimon Survive employs a rock-paper-scissor combat mechanic where Vaccine > Virus > Data > Vaccine. Keep in mind that these will not be direct counters but a rule of thumb when determining efficacy of attacks. Additionally, Takuma’s highest Karma score will dictate the Digivolution path that Agumon can unlock. For example, if Takuma’s score in Harmony is highest, Agumon will unlock its Data branch of Digivolutions. With all these decisions being recorded and measured, rest assured that there is no wrong or right answer to these choices. Like life, you’ll simply need to make your decisions based on your own personal compass and find your own unique stories and endings. Guide Takuma through his journey on Friday, July 29 on PlayStation 4 when Digimon Survive releases. View the full article

Last week, we asked you to celebrate the launch of Stray by sharing a glimpse at your real-life gamer cats. We cannot stress how hard it was to pick which kitties to highlight, and highly recommend scanning through #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter and Instagram to see the full feline friend roundup. Until then, sink your toe-beans into these selected highlights: __segimo__ SuliemanAyub DexM_ds kitten_theChips ROADDOGGYDAVE HomuraChihiro A_Gamers_Diary haru_kojyu alleycats_1984 scintillawolf EinmanaEnsom TheRaduCernica ellie7652 C_Wicked Parko1878 R11Jango Muhribo XIII_Lightning_ J_ManYGO Murder_Mama Mdmusick Link345_1 JokerNarukami Jamsch101 xCaidra 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: Stray SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 27, 2022 Next week, we’re sinking our claws into Stray. Share purrfect moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Midnight Fight Express is a high-intensity 3D brawler that brings the player back to the heyday of ‘80s action cinema and gaming. The title is developed mostly by one man, Jacob Dzwinel, and is published by Humble Games for release on PS4 August 23. To help bring the game’s dynamic battles to a new level, Dzwinel enlisted the help of Kratos’s stuntman himself, Eric Jacobus, who brought together an action team at his Las Vegas-based SuperAlloy Interactive studio to design and perform motion capture for the game’s unique combat engine. Play Video Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. What makes the game different Dzwinel’s love of ‘80s entertainment inspired him to design combat with exciting counter-attacks, a variety of weapons, brutal (and sometimes funny) finishers, and a unique multi-direction combat system. What makes this game truly unique, though, was how Dzwinel and Jacobus collaborated to bring the action style to life. A match made in Humble Long before he came on board MFE, Jacobus had been watching the game’s progress through a series of posts made by Dzwinel showing the core loop of the gameplay engine. Jacobus told his business partner and executive producer Zac Swartout, “We gotta work on this game. Let’s contact this guy.” The problem was, Dzwinel, a lone developer in Poland, seemed to be almost unreachable, so Jacobus gave up the hunt. But then one day, Humble Games contacted Jacobus asking if he’d be interested in doing motion capture on a game they were publishing. When he found out it was Midnight Fight Express, Jacobus jumped at the opportunity. Motion capture in session After an introductory call, Jacobus and Dzwinel decided on a four-day mocap shoot during which the team would pull off a planned 300 shots including combos, parries, finishers, environmental attacks, and enemy moves. When shoot day began, Jacobus and Dzwinel realized there had been a miscommunication: each move had to be performed against an enemy to the north, south, east, and west. There weren’t 300 shots; there were 1,200 shots to be done over the course of 4 days. “No matter,” said Jacobus, who was performing with long-time stunt associate and friend Fernando Jay Huerto. “Jay and I have worked together for decades. We’ll just have to get every shot on the first take.” Over the course of four days of intense motion capture, the team would narrowly pull off the necessary 300 shots for each day. The Action Design Process Dzwinel organized the combat with loose parameters: hero engages enemy, hero does a finisher, enemy dies. Jacobus and his team were allowed to fill in the rest. Dzwinel Skyped into the shoot via a laptop to ensure that the mocap team stayed within the confines of the combat system. When designing the action, Jacobus knew the tone had to be fun. “The audience has enough super-serious action games and movies. MFE can be the cathartic release they need, not only with physically exciting movements, but also verging on the ludicrous.” Jacobus and Huerto would suggest their ludicrous ideas, and Dzwinel would say whether it was too long, too short, too crazy, or (more often) not crazy enough. Mocapping 300 action shots per day Jacobus and Huerto knew they were hard pressed for time. With a goal of 300 shots per day, this gave them only 1.6 minutes per shot to look at the shotlist, choreograph the movement, confirm the move with Jacob, slate the shot, run mocap, perform the take, and cut. They sped up the creative process by making a system for the cardinal directions: north side involved brawling since it was head-on; west side was Taekwondo, Eric’s first martial art style, since it involved his good kicking side; south side was Muay Thai, which was better for being attacked in a blind shot; and east side was a mix of Hapkido, another style Eric knew, and wrestling, Huerto’s specialty. Know thy combat engine After the initial four-day motion capture shoot, Jacobus and team were commissioned to perform 40 more finishers for the game’s pistol and shotgun weapons, this time in a four-hour motion capture shoot, giving them six minutes to complete each shot. Despite a more relaxed schedule, Jacobus devised over 50 finishers in advance to ensure they could complete them all, involving cool pistol tosses, acrobatic disarms, and fancy melee attacks with the shotgun. Unfortunately, Jacobus soon discovered another unexpected curveball: the MFE engine pins the weapon to the right hand, but all of Jacobus’s finishers involved the weapon leaving the right hand. So once again, Jacobus thought quick on his feet, and he and Jacob rethought all 40 finishers and completed ahead of schedule. The key takeaway? Know the combat engine before you do previs! Putting it all together The motion capture process now over, Dzwinel had to integrate all the motion capture animations into MFE. Dzwinel had hand-animated combat moves, but now he had over 1200 animations to play with. When integrating the animations, Dzwinel says it was a simple process. “The process of integrating all the animations from the mocap sessions was so easy that I could simply put them in the game, cut the animations to the necessary lengths, and have them working within a few minutes. I had a lot of them so I could choose from the best takes and have a lot of variety in my combat system.” A bright new future for action games Jacobus believes that games like MFE are signs that there’s a sea of change underway in game development. “In the past, developers didn’t cede much control to the action team. Now we’re integrated into the project like a development house. In fact, our action team was bigger than the entire development team!” Dzwinel notes the importance of variety in Midnight Fight Express. “The multitude of animations is what makes Midnight Fight Express so exciting. It was a great experience for me to have a chance to work with Eric and his team. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without his help. We did something special together, and I hope people will enjoy the variety of things they can do in Midnight Fight Express.” Jacobus notes how Dzwinel laid the foundations for a collaborative experience. “He created a process that allowed us to come up with as many ideas as possible, and the crazier it was, the better. After our main shoots were over, I would secretly capture miscellaneous moves and combos and send them over to Jacob. I never wanted the mocap process to end. If Humble hadn’t asked me to stop, I’d still be mocapping this game today.” Midnight Fight Express launches on PS4 August 23. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. View the full article