Commander Fury

Iconic LEGO themes are about to collide in a brick-battling game that’s full of customization, unlockable content, and action-packed brawling for the whole family. As we gear up for the release of the new light-hearted brawler on PS5 and PS4 on September 2, 2022, the dev team behind LEGO Brawls takes us through the game with exclusive insights. Play Video Infinite customization There are some distinct features that make LEGO Brawls a first for the genre. The biggest: LEGO Brawls lets players create their own, fully customizable brawler. You’ll compete with customizable minifigures and load-outs tailored to your personality, preference and play style. And you’ll unlock new content through gameplay for even more possibilities. “Infinite” may be a bit of an exaggeration. In fact, we did the math: there are 77,289,215,065,920 minifigure customization options available at launch to be exact… and that’s not including the 2,737,000 possible custom load-outs. In true LEGO style, you can choose any combination of LEGO minifigure faces, skin tones, torsos, legs, hats, melees, power-ups, emotes and names to build your perfectly unique brawler. “The minifigure customization is by far my favorite part of the game,” says Dustin Andrew, senior software engineer for Red Games Co., the independent studio that developed and published LEGO Brawls in partnership with LEGO Games. “There are literally trillions of possible crazy combinations. I could spend hours just coming up with fun brawlers.” “There are endless goofy combinations to create, and it is fun to see players expressing themselves in different ways,” adds Alex Medes, QA lead for the game. Dustin’s go-to brawler: a scruffy-looking scallywag. Trent Burke, an engineer behind the game, opts for an old and seasoned Super Legend who uses whatever weapon he can find (a plank of wood works just as well as a sword). What brawler would be complete without a personal load-out? Power-ups range from light to heavy, and can be anything from chickens to hot dog shooters to a flying rocket shaped like a fist. “My favorite power-up is the saxophone unlocked by the Punk Pirate champion,” says Alex. “It heals me and nearby allies, and gives them a temporary damage increase as well.” “My favorite power up is definitely the cactus because it makes you invincible for a short period of time,” adds Victor Rios, an animator for the game. Dustin’s favorite? “Hands down Pigsy’s Food Truck. It has saved my bacon so many times. It’s a super power-up with the ability to push players off a point or over the edge of a cliff. Also the endless rain of sausage firepower is hilarious.” Once you’ve built your brawler, that’s when the real mayhem begins. Epic LEGO themed-levels Levels are centered around LEGO themes, ranging from classics like Castle and Western to fan-favorite IPs including Jurassic, Ninjago and Monkie Kid, each with different game modes, unique challenges, and win conditions. At the start of a match, all players will vote on which theme to play. “We never wanted the various levels to be the same, just with different art,” says LEGO Brawls’ producer, Rae Reynolds. “Each level has its own unique hook – anything from level-specific power-ups, various ways to traverse, or gaining control of big characters to completely different objectives and team structure. Some levels have a special twist, like being able to control the T-Rex in Jurassic World, or the Mech and Wojira in Ninjago.” Each level can be picked up and played, but over time you’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of that level’s distinct traits and form your own winning strategies. “Discovering new power-ups and weapons is my favorite part of LEGO Brawls,” says Trent. “It’s exciting because there are so many, it adds variety and new strategies for each one you get.” Game modes You can choose to brawl online, matched with allies and opponents across platforms, or host or join private games to party with friends. The assortment of levels provide a variety of game modes—some are more focused on casual teamwork or collection, while others present a more intense individual challenge. In a Control Point game, you team up and compete 4v4 to capture and hold a control point. When your team alone is on the control point, you generate points for your team’s Vict-o-meter. Fill the Vict-o-meter to win. In Collect Mode, you’ll gather collectibles (like peaches in the Monkie Kid level or crystals in Blacktron). The first player or team to collect and hold enough items wins. In a Brawl Royale, it’s every minifigure for themself. The player who defeats the most opponents in this chaotic kerfuffle will be crowned the victor. In a Free-For-Brawl, the last player standing wins. In this fast-paced competitive mode, defeating another player will fill up your health, giving you the chance to catch up. In Party Mode, you can host or join private games with friends locally for a 4-player free-for-brawl or online in a 4v4 match. With cross-platform support, you can invite your squad to a party, regardless of the platform they play on. “We wanted to make sure that players could enjoy brawling with friends online or get that competitive couch co-op experience when together in a room like so many great games in the past used to have,” says Rory Aguilar, lead engineer for the game. Collectable content You can select a main theme that not only changes your home screen appearance, but also sets you on course to unlock theme-based collectables through gameplay. Your success in a match impacts the amount of studs you earn to collect new minifigures and power-ups. (For those less familiar with LEGO jargon, “studs” are the bumps on a LEGO brick that connect one another. They’re also the means to unlock new content in the game.) “There is a mix of predictability and mystery when unlocking items,” says Rae. “You can work towards your goal content by selecting a theme, but there is also a surprise element when getting bonus unlocks.” Avid collectors and completionists may opt to complete entire content tracks before switching to a new theme, which you can do at any time. One thing is for certain: LEGO Brawls truly is a game for everybody – whether you’re a LEGO fan that’s in it for the collection, a true competitor building your way to the top of the global leaderboard, or a casual player who simply wants to take down your friends and family with a baguette. It’s the sort of game that brings people together, and it’s not outrageous to suggest that’s what we all need right now. View the full article

Name: Nope_32 jumps out of his skin #shorts Category: Urgent Fury Date Added: 06/18/2022 Submitter: Commander Fury Nope_32 jumps out of his skin #shorts Nope_32 jumps out of his skin #shorts

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here Howdy! This week the team shares their top three PlayStation exclusives over the years, and share thoughts on interactive horror game The Quarry. Stuff We Talked About Sonic OriginsCapcom Fighting CollectionResident Evil VillageA whole bunch of PlayStation exclusives we’ve loved over the yearsThe QuarrySlay the Spire The Cast Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, 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 we asked you to capture your favorite characters in silhouette using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s shadowy highlights: coalabr14 shares a silhouette of Jessie in Control. Nim_VGP shares Aloy entering a Cauldron in Horizon Forbidden West. Philt43_Yewone shares a silhouetted combat sequence from Sifu. LukeKasinger shares Ellie silhouetted against the snowy backdrop in The Last of Us Part II. starfall_vp shares Delsin blasting as a shadow through Infamous Second Son. sirevanztheduke shares Batman silhouetted against the Bat Signal in Batman: Arkham Knight. 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: Sand SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 22, 2022 Next week, we’re headed to sandy shores and deserts. Share gaming environments steeped with sand using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Attention all heroes of Overwatch! Overwatch 2 is coming October 4 on PS4 and PS5 as an always on, free-to-play experience. Team up with friends on PlayStation and enjoy the reimagined 5v5 gameplay featuring all new content rolling out on a seasonal basis. Daily challenges and frequent updates means there is always something new to play. Let’s break it down. Take a look at what’s coming to the game, starting in October. Overwatch 2 Roadmap October 4 – Season 1 3 new heroes: Sojourn, Junker Queen, and a yet to be revealed Support Hero6 new maps: Toronto, New York, Rome, Monte Carlo, Portugal and RioNew mode: Push30+ new skinsNew Mythic skin December 6 – Season 2 New Tank heroNew map30+ new skinsNew Mythic skinNew Battle Pass 2023 and On New heroesNew mapsNew modes100+ new skinsPvE begins Seasons full of new content Overwatch will continue to evolve and expand with regular seasonal content rolling out every nine weeks. And, beginning in 2023, we’ll be delving more into the world of Overwatch and the heroes that inhabit it with new narrative experiences and PvE gameplay updates. With the new Battle Pass system, you’ll be able to unlock themed cosmetic items and complete weekly challenges for unique rewards. Instead of relying on Loot Box luck, you’ll be able to choose how you want to invest and progress toward new content throughout each season. With cross-progression enabled, all of your unlocks, progression, and accolades will seamlessly transfer over to whatever device you’re actively gaming on. Take the fight to new destinations Overwatch 2 will be a true globetrotting experience. Toronto, New York, Rome, and Monte Carlo will arrive in game on October 4, along with two brand new maps. Fight on the streets of Rio, the iconic Brazilian city and home base for everyone’s favorite DJ Lucio. And travel to Portugal, a new Push map that transports players to another vibrant and inspired environment to experience the new game mode. Overwatch 2 will be rolling out more maps on a regular basis so there will always be somewhere new to battle. Competitive 2.0 Along with aesthetic updates, Overwatch 2 will also launch with a reworked competitive play. A reimagined scoreboard system will provide players with more detailed information throughout the matches as well as an after action report once a match concludes. Skill ratings will no longer immediately update after every game but rather wait until seven wins to assess and update. And instead of a numeric skill rating, each skill tier will contain five sub tiers ranked from highest to lowest. Are you in it for the glory? Stay tuned for more details surrounding Competitive 2.0. Overwatch 2 Beta Can’t wait until October? Starting June 28, immerse yourself in the Overwatch 2 Beta. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or wield your axe and solidify your reign as Junker Queen. Battle to propel your robot into the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Make global destinations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo, and Rio your battlefield with new maps. The Overwatch 2 Beta is available on PS4 and PS5, allowing players to experience all of the above plus the fully reimagined 5v5 gameplay. Head on over to playoverwatch.com/beta to opt-in! Each account can only opt-in once; choose your preferred platform to request access. PlayStation players can find more information here about selecting your region to opt-in. Get a head start with the Watchpoint Pack You can get a head start with the Watchpoint Pack, featuring everything you need to hit the ground running with Overwatch 2 on Day 1. With purchase of the pack, you’ll get access to exclusive content such as Legendary Hero skins and Overwatch 2 player icon, as well as immediate access to the Overwatch 2 Beta launching June 28. Let’s get you back in the fight. Pre-purchase the Watchpoint Pack today and take a look at what the pack has to offer below: Arrive in Style with two (2) Overwatch 2 Legendary Hero Skins Kick-start your Overwatch 2 collection with a set of two (2) new Legendary Hero skins–Space Raider Soldier 76 and Space Raider Cassidy. Premium Battle Pass for Season 1 Overwatch 2 will operate as a live game service that brings more new maps, features, and modes to the fight in a seasonal format. Hit the ground running with the Premium Battle Pass for Season 1, which offers unique cosmetics and early access to new Heroes and will launch alongside Overwatch 2 Early Access on October 4. Gear up with 2000 Overwatch 2 Virtual Currency Overwatch 2 will have a new in-game shop experience centered around player choice. With the Watchpoint Pack, receive 2,000 Overwatch 2 Virtual Currency to level up on your Battle Pass or gear up with new cosmetics for your favorite heroes. Pre-purchase Exclusive: Overwatch 2 Player Icon Purchase the Watchpoint Pack before October 4 and receive an exclusive Overwatch 2 Player Icon to use at launch. Overwatch: Legendary Edition Included Get started on Overwatch now with Overwatch: Legendary Edition. Customize the appearance of fan favorite Overwatch Heroes with five (5) Epic and five (5) Legendary skins included in the Watchpoint Pack. See you on the battlefield. Cheers, love! View the full article

Old loyalties bite the dust as our Operators form new factions in search of riches beyond their wildest dreams. Money talks in Mercenaries of Fortune, the fourth season of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone, bringing with it a host of new content, including new maps, new weapons, new Operators, 100 Tiers of Battle Pass content, and more. Play Video In this winner-takes-all arena, will you come out on top? Find out when Mercenaries of Fortune launches on PlayStation on June 22. Warzone adds Fortune’s Keep map, Caldera updates, Vehicles Play Video Fortune’s Keep A mercenary hideout built atop an otherwise peaceful town with a rich history, Fortune’s Keep is a completely original Resurgence map created by High Moon Studios. It is roughly the same size as Rebirth Island and features four distinct points of interest: Town Inspired by colorful Mediterranean villages, this seaside community is littered with cobblestone alleyways and flat rooftops to traverse. An old fortress sits in the town’s center, inviting Operators in for intense combat with its bell tower that commands this section of the map. Smuggler’s Cove True to its name, Smuggler’s Cove is loaded with supplies, including Gas Masks that can be helpful in case of a circle collapse. Be prepared to explore the twisting Sea Caves, Grottos with sunlight shining in from above, a small collection of fishing huts, and a lighthouse. Keep The island’s namesake, the Keep is a medieval fortress converted into a mercenary headquarters and hideout. Walk on the ramparts and take to the watchtowers to defend the area from invaders, but know that they can also easily fly over the walls using nearby Redeploy Balloons or sneak into the area using the island’s tunnel system. Winery A laid-back complex inspired by traditional three-lane maps, the Winery provides plenty of scavenging opportunities. Head to the Cellar to stock up on supplies, or travel to the nearby Camp, which contains a helipad and multiple military tents. Fortune’s Keep also brings new challenges. Accept a Black Market Run Contract for the chance to purchase items not available at normal Buy Stations like the Sequencer Grenade and the Nebula V Minigun. In Cash Extraction, ambush a mercenary group and grab their gold before they take it off the island for good. New Caldera POI — Storage Town Originally in Verdansk, Storage Town comes to Caldera and is located between the Mines, Airfield, Village, and Dig Site. Search the sprawling complex for Contracts and items and use its newfound verticality to quickly traverse the map. Expect over a dozen other Point of Interest changes across Caldera, partially due to new mercenary camps cropping up. Could they be searching for the rumored Mercenary Vaults? Armored SUV (In-Season) Hop into the new Armored SUV when you need to travel through enemy-occupied territory. This vehicle features a mounted driver’s weapon, a dedicated rooftop turret seat, the ability to drop proximity mines, and a Nitro Boost for rapid acceleration. ATMs Hit up ATMs in Plunder game modes to acquire bags of gold that periodically spawn nearby. Gold will spawn up to a maximum amount. EMP Grenade Disable vehicles and disrupt enemy players and AI using the EMP Grenade, a nonlethal tool that creates a short-lived area of effect when it explodes. Affected players are stripped of their HUD information, while vehicles are momentarily powered down. New maps, Blueprint Gun Game in Multiplayer USS Texas 1945 (Launch) A reimagining of the USS Texas map from Call of Duty: WWII, USS Texas 1945 is a medium-sized map that’s moved from the white Cliffs of Dover to the waters around Caldera. Fight it out on a battleship designed for tense long-range engagements on starboard and port, and get plenty of close-quarters action amid its many confined interior locations. Desolation (In-Season) Deploy to a Pacific listening post in this small-to-medium-sized map set in a dense village littered with destruction. Large mountains and a vast landscape engulf the environment as you battle around the central building and along its creekside fortifications. New Game Mode — Blueprint Gun Game Gun Game makes its Vanguard debut this season in a new variant utilizing various Weapon Blueprints. Be the first Operator to progress through all 18 weapons to win the match. Eliminate an enemy to cycle to the next weapon. Melee an enemy to set them back one weapon and get the final Throwing Knife elimination to secure victory. No Perks, Killstreaks, or custom Loadouts allowed. Mercenaries of Fortune also brings a fresh season of Ranked Play. Climb the ladder as you battle other competitors and earn new seasonal rewards for your efforts. Shi No Numa brings back classic round-based Zombies Following its original release in Call of Duty: World at War, the Zombies map Shi No Numa returns in the first classic round-based experience for Vanguard. Team up and survive the swamps in this updated version, featuring new quests, a Wonder Weapon, fresh intel, and more. Experience the map through Vanguard’s unique features like the Altar of Covenants and the Tome of Rituals. New Battle Pass, new weapons The Mercenaries of Fortune Battle Pass offers 100 Tiers of new content, including two new free weapons: the Marco 5 SMG and the UGM-8 LMG. Marco 5 This is the perfect SMG for aggressive players who stay on the move. Best when fired in close range from the hip, it’s also the first SMG in Vanguard to feature the Akimbo Proficiency. Now we’re really talking. UGM-8 The UGM-8 combines mobility with firepower for Operators to keep pace with their teammates while offering suppressive fire. Use Gunsmith to further lean the weapon toward power or speed and find the balance that works for you. Purchase the Mercenaries of Fortune Battle Pass to get Task Force Immortal Operator Captain Butcher instantly at Tier 0. Appearing later in the Store are the other two Immortal Operators, Callum Hendry and Ikenna Olowe. Earn two more weapons — the Push Dagger and the Vargo-S Assault Rifle — by completing their in-game challenges or by purchasing their corresponding Store Bundles later in the season. Get the PlayStation Exclusive Combat Pack Gear up with the Mercenaries of Fortune Combat Pack, free for PlayStation®Plus members in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone. This season’s Combat Pack includes the Legendary Overprepared Operator Skin for Isabella, the Legendary Expeditionary Force and Ancient Ruins Weapon Blueprints, an Epic Watch, a Charm, an Emblem, a Sticker, a Calling Card, and a 60-minute Double XP Token. Mercenaries of Fortune launches June 22 Prepare for all this and more, including the Mercenaries of Fortune event, the Golden Plunder limited-time mode, plus the midseason arrival of two very special action icons, when the new season arrives on PlayStation on June 22. Rise on every front. View the full article

Hey everyone, the team at Lucid have been hard at work on Destruction AllStars over the past few months and it’s been great to see the lasting impact our huge January patch has had on the game and our community! Off the back of the recent announcement that Destruction AllStars is available on PlayStation Plus for Extra and Premium/Deluxe members as part of the new Game Catalog benefit, we’re here with a brand-new trailer to announce the next exciting new seasonal content for the game!* Play Video On June 22, we’ll be releasing a host of new content for Destruction AllStars to coincide with Europe’s launch of the new PlayStation Plus service in the same week. We kick off with a new event called Rise, which includes a brand-new game mode, new challenges and an exciting new AllStar Pass. We can’t wait for our community to get their hands on all this new stuff and join us in welcoming new players to the game. The new PlayStation Plus service recently launched in Asia, North and South America and it’ll be coming to Europe and Australia on June 23, just in time to dive straight into Rise with the rest of the community. If this is your first time playing Destruction AllStars, or if you’re coming back after some time away, Destruction AllStars is the global spectacle where stars and cars collide! Carnage and destruction is guaranteed as AllStars compete on foot and behind the wheel in front of a crowd of millions, battling it out to see who will come out on top as the champion! If this will be your first-time diving into the Destruction AllStars arena, we’re here to help get you suited up and ready for your first game! Our brand-new trailer has all the information you need to know as well as a sneak peek at what’s coming with our first event, Rise, so be sure to check it out. Let’s start off with the brand-new seasonal content in Destruction AllStars and how our next patch is changing things up. Events are brand new to Destruction AllStars and they last for six weeks, they also come packed with content with rapid delivery. Events will always launch with a new game mode or playlist along with a brand new AllStar Pass. These passes contain a bunch of cosmetic content and currency rewards for you to deck out your AllStars and get them looking their best for their moment in the spotlight. Events will also contain rotating challenges that can be completed for a variety of rewards including currency, XP and brand new cosmetics. We’re ready to lift the curtain on the first three events you can expect over the coming months: Rise, Unite and Survive, with a more detailed look at our first event arriving June 22. Rise will be launching alongside the launch of the new PlayStation Plus service in Europe this June. This event will also play host to our first community challenge where the entire community can work together towards a shared goal, unlocking exclusive cosmetic rewards for the whole community to enjoy. You’ll find all this and more in our latest trailer, we’d recommend giving it a watch. Our first event is also adding a brand-new game mode called Jumpshot to Destruction AllStars. It’s a team-based game mode that requires you to think fast on your feet and behind the wheel as you score points with the help of your team. Check out the trailer for your first look at this brand-new mode. In our upcoming patch, we’re not just adding loads of new content but we’re giving some of our existing game modes a bit of an upgrade. Let’s look at Blitz, our competitive game mode, where we’re introducing competitive seasons for the first time! Within our competitive system, we’ve revamped the ranking system to better track your skill level and match you up with opponents of similar skill. We’ve also added brand new and prestigious cosmetic rewards which you can earn exclusively from the Blitz playlist, letting all the other AllStars know just who came out of a competitive season as a reigning champion! Blitz is available on weekends in Destruction AllStars and each competitive season lasts for six weeks, it’s all about making a lasting impression in a short amount of time if you want to get the crowd on your side. As we get ready to welcome in a bunch of new players and to commemorate our joining the Game Catalog library in PlayStation Plus, the team at Lucid wanted to make sure we rewarded players who have been supporting the game since our launch last year. To that end, we’re thrilled to announce that everyone who has played the game before the launch of the new PlayStation Plus service will receive a founders pack as our way of saying thank you. You’ll be able to claim this reward for free from the in-game store and it’s got some exclusive cosmetics to help you show off your skills and experience. All of this and more will be arriving on top of the huge patch we already released in January earlier this year. Our January patch was an absolute monster for the game, we really dived into a lot of the core systems like collisions, networking, slam and points scoring to really tighten up the gameplay experience. Not only that, but we also enhanced the look and feel of the game too, with a brand-new main menu experience along with awesome new VFX to compliment all of your actions in the arena, such as evading, slamming, double jumping and much more! On that note, I think my favorite change was giving AllStars the ability to double jump at all times! It was done as part of a wide-reaching balance pass on all 17 of our AllStars and it really enhanced how fluid and agile you can be in the arena. It’s an exciting time for the game and our community as we arrive on PlayStation Plus and get everything ready for our newest event, Rise, launching June 22. We really hope you can join us in wrecking some vehicles and trying out our brand-new game mode, Jumpshot. It’s all in our latest trailer, with more news and information on the way! *Availability of Game Catalog varies over time 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

For the first time ever, fans and newcomers alike can battle it out in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R! Exclusive to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the limited-time demo features two modes – Online PvP and Practice Mode – and four iconic JoJo characters including Jonathan Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, DIO, and Jolyne Cujoh. Get in on the action starting today, June 16, until June 22. Catch a first look at what players can expect in the demo: What’s new in All-Star Battle R Originally released in 2014, All-Star Battle R is far more than a simple remaster of a fan favorite fighter game. Character models and voice overs have been redone to match the ever-popular JoJo Anime to create an authentic JoJo experience. You’ll also find new mechanics, like assists, enthralling players in modern, fast-paced gameplay. Caption: Jolyne and her Stand, Stone Ocean, come to the assist. Limited to a finite amount of uses per match, assists allow for players to strategically amplify their attacks and combos or defensively disrupt their opponents. With 50 uniquely designed characters to choose from, players will be able to mix, match, and optimize to their playstyle. Tips for the Demo Want to quickly climb to the top in online matchmaking? Here are some quick pointers to hit the ground running. Take advantage of easy beat mode: By spamming your light attack button, your fighter will complete a combo of light, medium, and heavy attacks. If you have at least 1 bar of gauge, it will activate the fighters HHA (a mini super move). Caption: DIO may have all the time in The World, but he could still use an assist. Use your assists when you’re in a bind: Getting pummeled? You can feel the pressure of a super move (GHA) being charged? Send in your assist to disrupt them and even the playing field. Assault Assists: Different actions are performed by each character, such as rush attacks, long-range attacks, and installation traps. If they can be successfully incorporated into combos, they can do a lot of damage. Reversal Assists: When defending or taking damage, the assisting character jumps in and cuts off the opponent’s attack. Recovery of the assist gauge is slower than when used during an assist attack. Flash Cancel to go on the offensive: Flash Canceling cuts short your combos and immediately allows you to start a new one – but be careful! Flash Canceling costs one full meter which can leave you high and dry when you could have been saving up for a game changing super move (GHA). Caption: Four iconic JoJo characters are playable during the demo but 50 characters will be available in the full game. Want more JoJo now that you got a taste of the battle? JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R launches on September 2, 2022. Pre-order is now available from the same page that you can download the demo. View the full article

Hello PlayStation fans! We have an exciting new update for our free editing app, Share Factory Studio for PS5. We have been hard at work to bring you our brand-new feature called Bits, and it’s life starting today. Bits is a simplified way to personalize and share your gameplay clips and screenshots to your friends on PS5. Choose from one of the many curated Bit styles to quickly create your own version of a familiar or trending meme. If you have your own idea for a Bit, use the easy Quick Edit mode to realize your vision. Either way, the new easy editing mode is ideal for both novice and pro editors. Bits is also the perfect companion to the recently released Game Captures feature in the PS App. All of the Bits you create in Share Factory Studio can be automatically accessed from your phone and then shared out to your favorite social apps. The new Bits editing experience includes the following features: A brand-new editing mode with quick and easy access to all editing features and fresh content that can be added to your Bit.Ability to create bite-sized entertainment that ranges from short three second rebounds to up to one-minute custom Bits.New Bit styles that will update regularly from our Bits Live Service. Bit styles will refresh based on the day of the week, special events, holidays, seasons, and trending content.Brand new sets of animated stickers that include sound and even text personalization options.A new doodle feature which allows for creating freeform doodles using the DualSense wireless controller.A new voiceover feature with the ability to add filters that change your voice to your voice recording. Our goal with Bits is to make it super easy and fun for PlayStation gamers to create and share short-form gameplay videos for sharing cool achievements, jokes, stunts, and any other type of eye-catching content. Some of our personal favorite Bits include Taco Tuesday, Sitcom Ending, Get Well Soon, and of course – Oh No Laugh. Play Video Share Factory Studio is available for free for all PlayStation players. If you have not installed Share Factory Studio yet, you can use the search feature on your PlayStation main menu to find and install the app. We hope you enjoy the new Bits feature for Share Factory Studio on PS5. We can’t wait to see the different Bits that the community will create. Happy sharing! View the full article

Back in 1996, Red Earth – one of 10 titles in the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection – first appeared in coin-operated arcade cabinets in Japan. Featuring a fantasy setting and a cast of colorful characters, Red Earth was unique in delivering a single-player RPG-like experience called Quest Mode where players would choose one of four characters and take on a series of bosses. After defeating each boss, the player would get experience points to spend on improving their attack, defense, or to gain new moves entirely. During battle, bosses may drop food, which players can use to replenish their health. As common as it was in Japan, this classic game was never officially released outside of arcades until now with Capcom Fighting Collection. In fact, Red Earth was the first game the team decided to include in the collection! How did this unique take on fighting games come about? Takashi Sado, one of the producers of Red Earth at the time – and still at Capcom – started working on the proposal for Red Earth in the mid-90s. Since fighting games were growing increasingly popular at the time, he followed this trend and initially planned to make Red Earth just a fighting game. However, he was feeling that the skill level between fighting game players was growing where more casual players couldn’t keep up with more top-tier players. In order to bridge this skill gap, his team wondered if they could get creative and compensate for it by changing parameters, equipment, or other facets of the genre. Also during this time, Sado was drawn to fantasy action games such as the Capcom-developed Magic Sword and The King of Dragons. Both of these beat‘em-up games had character progression systems that powered up the player-controlled character. With fantasy games in mind and an urge to address the growing skill gap amongst fighting game players, the unique RPG-like character progression system was created for Red Earth. Red Earth was also the first game created with the CPS-3 arcade system board, which brought out the best of Capcom’s technology at the time. Due to the success of the new hardware, the Street Fighter III series was also created on CPS-3 before being discontinued as Capcom’s final proprietary system board. Although this is Red Earth’s first release outside of arcades, its legacy has been part of other Capcom games like a belt in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen and as a costume for Alex in Street Fighter V – both giving a nod to the lion king, Leo. Speaking of Easter Eggs, some of the games in Capcom Fighting Collection had secret characters that could only be unlocked under certain conditions. While they can still be unlocked using the authentic inputs or methods, you can now unlock these characters with a simple menu toggle in-game. Other secret characters include Akuma in Hyper Street Fighter II; Oboro Bishamon in Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire; and Hutizil and Pyron in Darkstalkers. How you want to play these secret characters is up to you. We hope you enjoyed this peek behind the curtain for Red Earth. Capcom Fighting Collection arrives on June 24 on PlayStation 4 and includes 10 different games, including all five Darkstalkers, Red Earth, Cyberbots, Hyper Street Fighter II, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, and Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix. View the full article

In 1996, the survival horror genre was established with the release of the first Resident Evil for PlayStation, and the series has brought chills and thrills to every generation of consoles since. Earlier this year, we announced that Resident Evil 7 (2017), Resident Evil 2 (2019), and Resident Evil 3 (2020) are making their way onto PlayStation 5, and that current owners of the PlayStation 4 versions of these games will be eligible for upgrades at no additional cost through the PS4 to digital PS5 upgrade option. I’m happy to announce that the PS5 versions of all three titles will be available at PlayStation Store today. These upgrades include features such as ray traced visuals, 3D Audio and DualSense wireless controller support that will offer deeper levels of immersion, and we’re really excited for you to get your hands on them. In this blog, I’ll be reflecting on some of the things that made these games so special. A new perspective on fear On its release in 2017, Resident Evil 7 biohazard completely stirred up the biohazardous pot, we focused on the fear aspect, as the fast-paced gameplay and the third-person perspective of the modern Resident Evil games was transformed into a slower-paced, dread-filled first-person experience that essentially put you in the shoes of the main character, Ethan Winters, as he explored the dark nooks and crannies of the Baker estate. Our goal with reimagining the gameplay of Resident Evil for this title was to focus on the fear of the unknown – just like when players got their hands on the first game all those years ago and had no idea what to expect, this new setting, character and the first-person perspective made for completely unfamiliar ground and a truly new kind of horror. That said, we also made sure that the game felt like a real Resident Evil game in many ways, preserving the critical survival horror element of escaping dire situations, from the “mansion”-like Baker house to those familiar herbs. This game also marked the debut of the then-new in-house RE Engine, which meant that we could bring the audio-visual quality of the game to a whole new level on PlayStation 4, with photogrammetry techniques used to bring high-resolution scans of real-world models, textures and surfaces into the game. With visuals now enhanced with the power of PlayStation 5, you can experience the terror anew! A horror legend reborn As the development of the RE Engine was coming together, allowing higher levels of visual representation, the development team felt the time was right to finally revisit classic RE titles for which we had received countless requests from fans to remake for the modern age. The first title we chose was Resident Evil 2. As fans of the legendary original game ourselves, we wanted to approach this remake with the utmost care and respect, not just for the work of the original development team but for what the game has come to mean to players. It was difficult and at times contradictory to balance bringing new and fresh ideas that would modernize the game while keeping it faithful to the original, but with the power of the RE Engine and PlayStation, fans were able to step into Raccoon Police Department once more as Leon and Claire. While every aspect of the game’s visuals was revamped to create an atmosphere that surpassed the fans’ memories, making the dark, abandoned corridors of the police station more atmospheric than ever before, the zombies in particular were something we focused on making terrifyingly realistic. Let me just say that the glistening, wet gore of a zombie bite has never looked more convincing! An old Nemesis returns After the Resident Evil 2 remake, we set out to revisit the next chapter in the series which once again saw Raccoon City face disaster. In Resident Evil 3 (2020), players got to experience Jill Valentine making her last escape from a doomed city, vividly reimagined by the RE Engine – but with constant fear on the side during gameplay, there isn’t much time for sightseeing! When it comes to Resident Evil 3, we have to talk about the iconic Nemesis. The team was able to build on our work based on Tyrant, “the ultimate B.O.W” from Resident Evil 2 in bringing the Nemesis character to life. Combining all our experience using motion capture and photogrammetry for Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Resident Evil 2, meant that this new version of Nemesis may be one of the most terrifying enemies in the series and indeed in videogame history. Whether you’re a PlayStation 4 version owner who’s upgrading, or are experiencing these games for the first time on PlayStation 5, I’m sure you’ll enjoy every minute of these modern horror classics. View the full article

Resident Evil Village, the latest in the critically acclaimed survival horror series, launched in 2021 and has already sold over 6 million copies worldwide. The blend of a wide variety of unique characters, such as Lady Dimitrescu, an action-oriented game system, and the story of Ethan Winters who embarks on a journey to search for his kidnapped daughter continues to be enjoyed by long-time Resident Evil fans and newcomers alike. There were many requests for additional DLC, and we announced that additional story content was in active development in June last year. Finally, we’re happy to announce that the highly anticipated DLC, Winters’ Expansion, is coming on October 28. Today, I would like to explain a little about the three contents included in this DLC. If you have not yet experienced Resident Evil Village, we’re also offering a bundle that includes the base game and the Winters’ Expansion! Resident Evil Village Gold Edition will also be available on the same date. Third-Person Mode The first piece of content is the Third-Person Mode. This will allow you to play the main story mode in a third-person perspective. This new viewpoint will let you see Ethan as he faces off against his enemies. Those of you who are new as well as those of you who have yet to experience Resident Evil Village can experience the story in this fresh perspective. The Mercenaries Additional Orders Next is The Mercenaries Additional Orders. The arcade-like action shooting experience returns with additional stages and new playable characters such as a fully prepared Chris Redfield, Karl Heisenberg, who wields a giant hammer and possesses the ability to control magnetic forces, and Alcina Dimitrescu who is over nine-feet tall. Each one of them are unique on their own, so we are sure that you will enjoy it! Shadows of Rose And Finally, Shadows of Rose. Players saw Rose as a baby in the main story of Resident Evil Village. This DLC will show her story of survival 16 years after the original campaign. We have some screenshots as well as an overview of Shadows of Rose, and we hope you enjoy imagining what this new story will entail. The setup for Rose’s story 16 years after the events of Resident Evil Village… Rosemary Winters, Ethan’s beloved daughter, has grown up and is now struggling with terrifying powers. In search of a way to break free from her curse, Rose enters the consciousness of the Megamycete. Rose’s journey takes her to a mysterious realm where memories of the past return to create a warped and twisted world of nightmares. In addition, Resident Evil Re: Verse, which was a bonus content for Resident Evil Village, will start service at the same time as the Winters’ Expansion on October 28. We hope you will enjoy this action-packed game as well. For more information regarding Winters’ Expansion and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition, please look forward to future announcements. View the full article

Last week we asked you to return to Blackreed and snap stylish shots using Deathloop’s newly released Photo Mode. From portraits to haunting dystopian settings, here are this week’s highlights: sparkling_Port9 shares Colt casually breaking into a stylish split. Comput_ART shares this sixties-style black and white picture of Julianna. kimchitraveler captured the neon lights of Blackreef. penrosetiling shares the unsettling design of Blackreef, Yuric83 shares a cheeky poster-like image. KenKenVega1 used the photo mode filters to create a haunting effect. 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: Silhouettes SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 15, 2022 Next week, we’re searching for silhouettes. Share a shadowy silhouette from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here Hey y’all! The team is back to recap the slew of news you could use if you so choose from State of Play and Summer Games Fest. Stuff We Talked About State of Play!The QuarryResident Evil 4StraySeason: A Letter to the FutureStreet Fighter 6Final Fantasy XVIThe Last of Us Part IUnpacking The Cast Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE Brett Elston – 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

Well hello, mister fancy pants. Evil Dead: The Game was the most-downloaded game in last month’s US/Canada PS5 chart, with NBA 2K22 leading the EU list. Other high performers for the month include Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Elden Ring, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (gotta get ready for that just-announced sequel!), MLB The Show 22, and Sniper Elite 5. Where did your top picks for May land on the download charts? What do you think will take top honors in June? Hit the comments and let us know! PS5 Games US/CanadaEU1Evil Dead: The GameNBA 2K222NBA 2K22LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga3ELDEN RINGStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order4MLB The Show 22Sniper Elite 55LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaEvil Dead: The Game6Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderELDEN RING7Ghostwire: TokyoIt Takes Two8Sniper Elite 5The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe9Salt and SacrificeAssassin’s Creed Valhalla10Trek To YomiFAR CRY 611The Stanley Parable: Ultra DeluxeSalt and Sacrifice12It Takes TwoGRAN TURISMO 713GRAN TURISMO 7Trek To Yomi14Mortal Kombat 11Cyberpunk 207715WWE 2K22Ghostwire: Tokyo16Tiny Tina’s WonderlandsAmong Us17Horizon Forbidden WestGrand Theft Auto V18Call of Duty: VanguardHorizon Forbidden West19Cyberpunk 2077Metro Exodus20NHL 22Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/CanadaEU1NBA 2K22NBA 2K222MinecraftMinecraft3Grand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto V4MLB The Show 22The Forest5Red Dead Redemption 2The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt6ELDEN RINGStar Wars Battlefront II7Evil Dead: The GameRed Dead Redemption 28The ForestMarvel’s Spider-Man9Injustice 2The Sims 410Batman: Arkham KnightThe Crew 211Star Wars Battlefront IIStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order12The Sims 460 Seconds! Reatomized13Marvel’s Spider-ManFall Guys: Ultimate Knockout14Friday the 13th: The GameTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint15Gang BeastsGang Beasts16LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaAmong Us17Call of Duty: VanguardLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga18The Crew 2Friday the 13th: The Game19The Witcher 3: Wild HuntAssassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag20Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIA Way Out *Naming of products may differ between regions PS VR Games US/CanadaEU1Beat SaberBeat Saber2Job SimulatorJob Simulator3Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR SeriesSniper Elite VR4SUPERHOT VRVader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series5The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VRArizona Sunshine6Astro Bot Rescue MissionDOOM 3 VR7Sniper Elite VRSUPERHOT VR8DOOM 3 VRSwordsman VR9The Walking Dead: Saints & SinnersRick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality10Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityAstro Bot Rescue Mission Free-to-Play (PS5 + PS4) US/CanadaEU1FortniteRoller Champions2Roller ChampionsFortnite3Vampire: The Masquerade – BloodhuntVampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt4Apex LegendseFootball 20225Call of Duty: WarzoneApex Legends6Rocket LeagueCall of Duty: Warzone7Rec RoomRocket League8Destiny 2Rec Room9BrawlhallaGenshin Impact10Genshin ImpactBrawlhalla View the full article

Ten years ago, I helped co-found Day of the Devs alongside my good pals at Double Fine and iam8bit. The aim was to create a festival for games that put developers at the forefront, spotlighting the most unique, creative, and artistic indie games we could find from around the globe. It’s a celebration of what games can be and the creators behind them. Since then, we’ve helped promote over 500 titles through both our tentpole free public event in San Francisco as well as our digital showcases, including standouts from last year such as Death’s Door, Toem, and Axiom Verge 2. Today we’re back with our latest crop of games for Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition. It’s another incredible lineup of games of all shapes and sizes. Here’s a look at some of the highlights coming to PlayStation. ——— Time Flies Play Video This whimsical game is part open world and part flight simulator – and you play it as a fly! You are provided with a bucket list that you can complete before you die. But the life of a fly is short – and the list is long! Go ahead and learn an instrument, become rich, read a book, go on tour, find yourself, get drunk, make someone laugh or enter the art world! And if you don’t feel like pursuing your life goals, just hang, clean your wings and watch television. Make the best of the time you have! Because we are all going to die. – Michael Frei & Raphael Munoz, Playables Release Date: 2023 | Developer: Playables | PS4, PS5 ——— Naiad Play Video Immerse yourself in a relaxing, minimalist and colorful exploration adventure. Flow with Naiad across a mysterious river and interact with its fauna and flora to discover little secrets. Enjoy a wholesome experience with a dreamy and original visual style. Learn to swim like a duck, dive like a fish, dash like a frog and meet other adorable friends like butterflies, rabbits, turtles, snakes, and crocodiles!. Help them find their way and avoid obstacles. A journey in 16 episodes that will take you through beautiful and strange places like a deep forest, a dark cave, a joyful creek, a calm lake, and more… until you reach the sea. A very personal and unique game created with love by a solo dev. – Elwin, HiWarp Release Date: October 1, 2022 | Developer: HiWarp | PS4, PS5 ——— Animal Well It can be tough to talk about a game filled with secrets to uncover without spoiling some of the surprise. Animal Well is, on its surface, a puzzle platformer exploration game, but that description belies the deeper mysteries lying within. Some puzzles will be straightforward. Others a little harder to find. And yet others may not even seem like puzzles at first glance—or may take a community of players to solve. – Billy Basso, Solo Developer, Shared Memory Release Date: Late 2022 or early 2023 | Publisher: Shared Memory | PS5 ——— Escape Academy Congratulations! You’ve been accepted to Escape Academy, an educational institution dedicated to the art of Escape. As a promising new student at the Academy, you will train under our spirited faculty to become the ultimate Escapist. Begin your lesson in single-player or bring a friend! Escape Academy is entirely playable through two player cooperative play, in local or online splitscreen. In between lessons, don’t forget to explore the campus of Escape Academy and meet the colorful cast of characters, each an expert in the art of Escape, and some with secrets yet to be uncovered… Do you have what it takes to complete a series of feverishly designed challenges that are surprising, delightful, and quite often lethal? There’s only one way to find out! Play over a dozen hand crafted escape rooms created by the real life escape room designers at Coin Crew Games when the Semester begins July 14 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. – Wyatt Bushnell, Co-founder, Coin Crew Games Release Date: July 14, 2022 | Publisher: iam8bit | PS4, PS5 View the full article

Whether you’re here following our Summer Games Fest announcements or just catching up on the latest news from the studio, we’re excited to share what’s in store for the future of The Last of Us. Many of you have expressed how strongly The Last of Us series resonates with you, and we’re humbled by the community’s outpouring of passion and excitement towards the series’ growing and evolving world and characters. We’re happy to share that The Last of Us Part II has sold through more than 10 million copies globally, as of this Spring. Knowing the support we have, our studio continues to see exciting, new avenues to introduce curious audiences and galvanize fans. With those opportunities in mind, let’s talk about the immense future of The Last of Us. Standalone Multiplayer It’s no secret that many of you are not only drawn to The Last of Us’ stories but also the game’s original Factions multiplayer. Since The Last of Us Factions’ release almost a decade ago, dedicated players have been vocal about an expansion upon that offering. However, we can finally announce that we’re creating something much larger than a mode. We’re thrilled to share a piece of concept art from our upcoming multiplayer experience, which is an extremely ambitious undertaking. We’re growing our studio significantly to ensure we build this full-scale, standalone game, with its massive scope and immense world, in a way that fans have come to expect from The Last of Us and Naughty Dog. We aim to make our newest entry into multiplayer inviting to new players while still a thrilling challenge for more of our seasoned fans. There will be more news to come next year, and we cannot wait to introduce you to the team behind this new experience! The Last of Us on HBO From the onset, our original vision for The Last of Us’ story was cinematic and character driven, and HBO enthusiastically continued the spirit of that same vision to bring this story to TV screens worldwide. Helmed by Craig Mazin, Creator and Writer of Chernobyl, in tandem with Executive Producer Carolyn Strauss and Neil Druckmann, the incredible cast and crew strove to ensure a faithful retelling of the story and its intricately detailed world. In the spirit of collaboration and authenticity, Neil has taken on the roles of Executive Producer and Writer and also directed a full episode. Bringing The Last of Us to life has been a deeply creative collaboration between our studio and HBO. The worlds of video games and television continue to overlap as Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, Ellie and Joel’s in-game actors respectively, join the cast in major roles. We cannot wait to see them on-screen along with new and longtime fans of The Last of Us. The Last of Us Part I The Last of Us released almost a decade ago on the PlayStation 3 console, and it’s left an indelible mark on our studio. Joel and Ellie’s story continues to be powerfully evocative with players worldwide, and we’re humbled these characters continue to leave an impression. With leaps in technology and hardware that allow us to push the limits of the visual fidelity and interactivity, we’re thrilled to announce this complete remake of The Last of Us, releasing September 2, 2022 for the PlayStation 5 console and in development for PC. Play Video We’ve implemented modernized gameplay, improved controls, and expanded accessibility options in this single-player experience to allow even more individuals to enjoy the game. Effects, exploration, and combat have all been enhanced. Leveraging the PS5’s powerful hardware, we also implemented 3D Audio*, haptics, and adaptive triggers. Both returning fans and new players alike will have the opportunity to experience both The Last of Us Part I and its prequel story Left Behind in a whole new way. For this rebuild, Neil has passed the directorial baton to Game Director Matthew Gallant and Creative Director Shaun Escayg to bring this project to life. Matthew joined our studio a decade ago to work on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. He rose to Lead Systems Designer on The Last of Us Part II and co-headed the charge for over 60 accessibility features. Shaun started as Lead Cinematic Animator on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Shaun would later go on to become the Creative Director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. With their deep creative and technical expertise with the series, they’re the perfect fit to helm this project, and you’ll be hearing even more about The Last of Us Part I from them soon. Along with the trailer, we’re also pleased to announce that you may pre-order The Last of Us Part I for PS5 today at 4PM PT**. We partnered with PlayStation to develop multiple editions of the game: The Last of Us Part I Standard Edition ($69.99 USD MSRP/ $89.99 CAD MSRP/ €79.99 EUR MSRP/ ¥7,900 JPY MSRP). The Last of Us Part I The Digital Deluxe ($79.99 USD MSRP/ $99.99 CAD MSRP/ €89.99 EUR MSRP/ ¥8,900 JPY MSRP) includes an early unlock of the following in-game items: Increased Crafting Speed Skill Increased Healing Speed Skill 9mm Reload Speed Increase Upgrade Rifle Clip Capacity Increase Upgrade Explosive Arrows Gameplay Modifier Dither Punk Filter Speedrun Mode Six Weapon Skins: Black Gold 9mm Pistol, Silver Filigree 9mm Pistol, Rubber Tactical Shotgun, Sculpted Oak Shotgun, Arctic White Bow, Carbon Black Bow The Last of Us Part I The Firefly Edition ($99.99 USD MSRP), available in the US via direct.playstation.com only starting later today, includes the in-game early unlock bonuses featured in the Digital Deluxe Edition as well as a SteelBook® display case and The Last of Us: American Dreams Comics #1 to #4 with new cover art for each comic. If you pre-order** any edition of The Last of Us Part I for PS5, you’ll receive the following in-game items***: Bonus Supplements to upgrade your skillsetBonus Weapon Parts to upgrade your arsenal We are looking forward to sharing even more over the coming months leading up to the release of The Last of Us Part I. Your love and passion for our games are truly inspiring, and we’re immensely proud to share this experience with you. Endure and survive! __ *3D Audio via built-in TV speakers or analog/USB stereo headphones. Set up required. **Depending on your region, it may take some time for physical editions to appear. Please check with your chosen local retailer for listings and availability. ***Pre-order bonuses are not available in some regions. Please check with your chosen local retailer for availability. View the full article

Ever since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Shredder’s Revenge was announced, fans across the world wondered: “What about Casey Jones?”. We can now reveal that the goalie-masked crimefighter will be slashing and bashing his way through New York starting June 16! Casey Jones is available as an unlockable playable character for you and five other friends. That’s right, for the first time, 6 players can take on the Foot Clan! Play Video Casey Jones joins the roster Since Shredder’s Revenge is a true-blue beat-em-up it was unthinkable for us to work on this game without bringing in New York’s premier sports-themed vigilante. Even though the athletic ace is mostly absent from the 1987 animated series, Casey is one of the Turtles’ most memorable allies, beloved by fans of all incarnations. It was a true honor to bring ‘87 Casey Jones into the 2020s! Always ready for crime-busting, Casey carries a sports bag filled with tricks, granting him a wide variety of offensive maneuvers. Shredder’s Revenge game designer Fred Gemus tells: “He might be slower than other fighters but his repertoire of sticks and clubs gives him not only a variety of attacks but also a whole lot of range and power.” Like a good goon, Casey Jones enters the game ready to put the hurt on his adversaries! First concept sketch of Casey Jones with his weapon arsenal Whether it’s on the street, in the field or on the ice, Casey Jones is ready for action! Animation supervisor for Casey Mathieu Godet tells us: “We quickly arrived at the idea of Casey’s almost “magical” Golf bag, where he can pull any sports equipment from, whether it’s a club, metal baseball bat or a hockey stick.” 2D animator, Aaron Manzano explains: “Casey’s mask posed a challenge for his expressions at first, so we had to make him more expressive throughout his gestures and I feel we’ve done a good job of that! We also wanted him to feel heavier and stronger than the Turtles, without sacrificing his athletic agility.” Godet adds: “We also thought that, like Raphael, Casey would also borrow a couple of moves from pro wrestling. We’ve given him an elbow drop where other characters do a dive kick.” Whether it’s a slam or a combo-finishing elbow drop, the crop-topped crusader fights like there’s no referee watching! It was important for the character’s no-holds barred intensity to come across his athletic move set. Casey gives it his all! Mathieu Godet further adds “Since he comes from New York City, we even gave him some of his hometown’s colors when he executes his super slam dunk move.”. The shell-tastic six The multiplayer factor has always been a very special part of playing TMNT games. Game designer Fred Gemus insists that a six-player experience was planned from the beginning: “We wanted to bring as many people as possible into the action. Every aspect of the game, from ratio to character and level sizes have been designed to support that decision.”When you and your friends start using team moves and the various Ninja Power attacks, there is no doubt the half-shelled heroes and their teammates will win the day! Shredder’s Revenge will be playable with up to four players locally and six players online. For the online multiplayer, each player would need its own console and version of the game to play. As soon as you beat the game for the first time, the masked vigilante gets off the bench and joins Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo, Master Splinter and April O’Neil into the action. We’re thrilled to bring this beloved bruiser to the brawl and looking forward to fans unleashing their own type of athletic mayhem on the Foot Clan when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Shredder’s Revenge releases June 16th on PlayStation 4. Play Video View the full article

When Marvel’s Midnight Suns launches on October 7, players from around the world will get to dive into the darker, supernatural side of the Marvel Universe alongside the Midnight Suns. As Earth’s last line of defense, this team of legendary Marvel heroes must band together to stop Lilith, Mother of Demons, from resurrecting the elder god Chthon. Play Video To prepare for the fight ahead, the team at Firaxis were excited not only to design updated suits for the iconic heroes, but also to give them a signature, supernatural Midnight Suns look. When creating these new suits we obviously wanted them to look unique, but it was also important to retain certain characteristics so that the heroes are easily recognizable even during intense combat sequences. Our early designs for the Midnight Suns combat suits had a somewhat Arthurian medieval look, but ultimately we opted for a sleeker combination of old and new that speaks to the potent combination of Stark technology and Doctor Strange’s magic. Strange’s glyphs appear on golden filigreed armored plates that are used alongside sections of black ballistic plastics from Stark. On top of that, the new suits emanate magical Hellfire! Our goal was to make them look as though they’re radiating supernatural power—a modern twist on the traditional superhero suits. Below are examples of how we approached designing suits for some of the Midnight Suns, along with hints at the abilities that the new Stark- and Strange-powered suits unlock in-game. Spider-Man Our color blocking of red and blue sections goes a long way to ensuring that Spider-Man is instantly recognizable. We also made sure to get the webbing design just right; it has a certain shape, design, and rhythm. This applies to his animations as well, which have a distinct acrobatic style and incorporate amazing, extreme poses. To fit the Marvel’s Midnight Suns aesthetic, we added sharp, dagger-like designs to the chest, back, and arms of Spider-Man’s suits and used similar shapes when designing his spider symbol. Even in his black-and-gold combat suit, Spider-Man is unmistakable as he uses his signature Midnight Suns ability—buffing himself while leaping into the air and hitting iconic poses with a burst of Hellfire behind him. Magik For Magik’s suit, which has a punk style, we looked to comics like 1992’s Ghost Rider & Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance series for inspiration. Magik didn’t appear in those comics, but her supernatural ability to teleport through space and time would’ve made her a great fit. To make her look consistent with that of the original team featured in those comics, we added a black leather studded vest, belt, and bracelet to her New Mutants suit. Magik’s black-and-gold Midnight Suns combat suit takes cues from the magical Eldritch Armor she wears in The New Mutants and other comics. It transforms her into a medieval, high-fantasy heroine, very much aligning with her Soulsword weapon of choice. Wearing this suit unlocks Magik’s powerful Darkchylde ability, letting her simultaneously taunt all enemies and temporarily become invulnerable. Wolverine We chose to base Wolverine’s suit on his brown-and-tan leather getup from the ’90s because we hadn’t seen it represented in many other games. The most important aspects of his look that we wanted to nail were the shapes of his classic claws and helmet wings, which along with his bulkier body type set him apart from the rest of the Midnight Suns. For Wolverine’s Midnight Suns combat suit we added sharp silhouette-breaking shapes to the shoulderpads, forearms, and boots. We also flared out the helmet wings and added pointed shapes to the panel lines on his ribcage. The resulting look is suitably ferocious, and matches the ability Wolverine gains access to in this suit: his feral nature comes to the fore as he engulfs his claws in flames and attacks multiple enemies in a frenzied rage. Ghost Rider When designing Ghost Rider’s look in Marvel’s Midnight Suns, we were inspired by the aforementioned Spirits of Vengeance comic series as well as his appearance in the All-New Ghost Rider series with Robbie Reyes that launched in 2014. His head is transformed into a metal skull that simulates the lines of his classic muscle car, while his suit is based on those worn by racing drivers. With its exaggerated Ghost Rider symbol and silhouette-breaking gold armor, Robbie’s Midnight Suns combat suit makes him look even more like a demonic Spirit of Vengeance. It also unlocks his terrifying Penance Stare ability, which allows him to take over an enemy’s mind before blasting them with Hellfire. Iron Man Believe it or not, one of our main inspirations for Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit was an iconic Italian sports car from the ‘80s, which given Stark’s flashy attitude and penchant for expensive automobiles isn’t nearly as crazy as it sounds. The resulting sharp, pinched edges and large air vents give our Iron Man suit a distinctive look, but crucially don’t make it any less recognizable. Stark’s Midnight Suns combat suit, on the other hand, is designed with exaggerated features to highlight his abilities. We punched up the armor silhouette by flaring out the forearms, hips, and legs, plus we have flames erupting from his Arc Reactor that turn into a massive column of Hellfire when he uses the suit’s Midnight Suns ability to target multiple enemies with a powerful beam. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed hearing about some of the hero’s new suit designs in Marvel’s Midnight Suns as much as we’ve enjoyed working on them. We’ll be sharing more details about the Midnight Suns roster in the coming weeks over at the official Marvel’s Midnight Suns website, and we can’t wait for you to take the fight to Lilith on October 7 when the game launches on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5! View the full article

America’s hero is back! Guile returns in Street Fighter 6 when it launches in 2023 – and brings his endless swagger with him. As a U.S. Air Force pilot who fights for his country, Guile succeeded in dismantling Shadaloo and avenged his friend Charlie Nash. Although he enjoys living the family-man life, a new mission now awaits. Play Video Guile’s move set in Street Fighter 6 combines his signature moves with fresh additions. He is one powerhouse of a character who retains his ability to keep opponents at a distance. Splatters of green and yellow paint cover the stage when Guile utilizes the Drive System, harkening to the colors of his classic look. Guile’s Sonic Boom and Somersault Kick (Flash Kick) are set to make their triumphant return in Street Fighter 6. What would Guile be without them, right? Sonic Boom is Guile’s main projectile ability and travels across the stage while Somersault Kick is an instant upwards move that can protect from airborne attacks. Guile’s Sonic Blade from Street Fighter V returns as a Special Move rather than a V-Skill and sees him placing a stationary aerial slash in front of him. Sonic Blade can then be turned into a two-hit projectile if combined with Sonic Boom. Let’s go over all three of Guile’s Super Arts, which reflects his journey as one of the most well-known World Warriors! Sonic Hurricane (1 Stock) – Introduced in Street Fighter Alpha 3, Guile fires a massive aerial slash directly ahead. If used with a Heavy Punch, the aerial slash fires diagonally upwards as a good anti-air option. An extremely versatile move that can be used in combos, to counter projectiles, or as a way to turn the tables when being pressured. Solid Puncher (2 Stocks) – Introduced in Street Fighter V as Guile’s V-Trigger I, Solid Puncher is now a Super Art. Guile envelops both arms in aerial slashes and enables the use of Sonic Break, where a flurry of small Sonic Boom projectiles can be unleashed simply by pressing the punch buttons. Crossfire Somersault (3 Stocks) – A brand new Super Art, Guile puffs his chest and fires a massive aerial slash that launches the opponent into the air before following up with a brutal Somersault Kick. In previous games in the series, Guile’s iconic stage was at a base on the ground. For Street Fighter 6, put on your lifejackets, because his stage now takes place at an anchored aircraft carrier at sea. Complete with mid-flight planes, a multicultural collection of flags, and a posse of cheerful onlookers, Guile’s stage has undergone a revamp to match the new era it takes place in. How does his stage fit into his story this time? That’s it for now when it comes to our coverage of Guile – who remains a Chad! Street Fighter 6 is scheduled for landing in 2023 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. View the full article

No good hitman retires forever. Pistol Whip Contracts is here to make you an offer you can’t refuse, just sign on the dotted line and let the hunt for your targets begin. Your assignment: elimination. Explore a whole new way to take down your enemies and reap the rewards with Contracts, a rotating daily, weekly, and monthly challenge system built to keep even the most experienced assassins on their toes. Want to rack up some quick kills and get out of dodge? Step up for the Daily Bounty; a single scene that refreshes every day. For those looking to boast about completing a more dangerous mission, the Weekly Raid is available; a multi-scene operation that refreshes once a week. And for the veterans, experts, and those who have no fear, there is nothing more deadly than attempting the Monthly Ultimatum; a gauntlet of up to five scenes that refreshes at the beginning of every month. Endless gameplay customization options are available through Pistol Whip’s Styles System, providing players with an extensive list of weapons and modifiers. But we hire you to kill, not to think, and sometimes a mercenary just wants to grab a gun to finish their assignment without a fuss. Enter Contracts. It’s never been so easy to jump directly into the action. The nature of Contracts is to provide pre-arranged combinations of styles, weapons, enemies, and scenes so that a shooter of any skill level can experience a wide, ever-changing variety of challenges. “Contracts use our wide variety of gameplay ingredients, plus a few new surprises, to serve up delicious layer-cakes of revenge, every day.” Says Joel Green, Game Director. “The optional multi-scene endurance contracts are something we’ve long wanted to add, and the designers are thirstily anticipating the inevitable suffering of our more audacious players.” When a contract deadline is up, players will receive an emblem marked with their ranking, prominently displayed for others to see. There may even be a rare coin payable to those assassins who achieve the number one position – but will they try to dominate one board or rule them all? Also included in this update are several Styles menu adjustments to provide smoother user accessibility, as well as new modifiers for faster bullets, slower bullets, and reinforced player armor. Pistol Whip Contracts is slated for release on PS VR on June 16, bringing rotating daily, weekly, and monthly assignments into the pulse-pounding action of the Pistolverse. Mercenaries all over the globe will be getting back into the game, and we expect you’ll be among them. No compromise. No mercy. Just get the job done. View the full article

Calling all PlayStation players! The sequel to 2019’s blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is almost here. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will kick off a new era for the franchise when it releases worldwide on October 28 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. PlayStation players will witness and experience what made Task Force 141 become the legendary squad that it is as the action picks up following the harrowing and breathtaking action from the 2019 game. Play Video Developer Infinity Ward has left no stone unturned to create a new heart-pounding experience for players. Task Force 141’s next global Campaign. Immersive, world-class Multiplayer. An evolved Special Ops experience. All carefully crafted with gameplay and technical innovations that will introduce PlayStation fans to the new era of Call of Duty. Campaign and Special Ops Task Force 141 faces its greatest threat yet — a newly aligned menace with deep, yet unknown, connections. In a direct sequel to Modern Warfare (2019), familiar heroes return and new allies are formed as the globe-trotting operation spans Europe, Asia, and the Americas.. This Campaign is set to be an incredible experience on numerous levels: offshore sieges with underwater combat, all-out explosive assaults from 30,000 feet above enemy strongholds, and high-stakes, low-profile stealth missions. Deploying alongside you are iconic squadmates: Team leader Captain John Price; seasoned sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick; the lone wolf himself, fan-favorite Simon “Ghost” Riley; fearless Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish; as well as the newest team member, Colonel Alejandro Vargas, an incorruptible Tier 1 Operator and member of the Mexican Special Forces. After the Campaign, PlayStation players can join up with their duo for an evolved Special Ops experience, the tactical co-op mode that advances your team-building skills and sets the table for the near endless hours of gameplay you can experience in Multiplayer. Multiplayer: Next Generation Innovations Those who drop into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Multiplayer at launch will be the first to try out and level up multiple base weapons, explore a wide range of maps and modes, meet an international cast of Operators, and more. With new ways to play and numerous gameplay innovations, including a revamped Gunsmith that offers more customization than ever before, Modern Warfare II will hit the ground running on day one. PlayStation players who jump in right at the start will also be well-prepared for an incredible post-release calendar, set to include a massive amount of free post-launch content drops featuring new maps, modes, and blockbuster special events that players won’t want to miss. Modern Warfare II — Technical Upgrades Modern Warfare II will be the most advanced Call of Duty in history, with a truly immersive experience with stunningly realistic sound, lighting, and graphics. Navigate more lifelike environments via the game’s enhanced rendering and photogrammetry technology. It will be a treat to experience this game on PlayStation 5 with incredible visual fidelity, 3D Audio and DualSense support that heightens the experience overall and will make you feel you’re right in the middle of the action. The game also features a new advanced AI system. Enemies and friendlies alike across Campaign and Special Ops act tactically using combat and cover maneuvering techniques that would be second nature to a Tier 1 Operator. Warzone in the next generation for Call of Duty Development on an all-new, dynamic Warzone experience is also being led by Infinity Ward along with Raven Software. The new, free-to-play battle royale Warzone also features the same technology powering Modern Warfare II, so both titles leverage the Call of Duty engine that first debuted with Modern Warfare (2019), providing the most seamless and advanced Call of Duty experiences ever. The new: Warzone is scheduled for release later this year on PS5 and PS4. Pre-orders Available Now Pre-order your copy of Modern Warfare II today at PlayStation Store or via the in-game Franchise Store in Warzone, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, or Modern Warfare (2019). All pre-order versions grant access to the full game at launch and to Open Beta Early Access, first on PlayStation. Now onto the pre-order editions: Vault Edition Day One Operators: On Day One, Vault Edition owners will receive four playable Multiplayer Operators — Ghost, Farah, Price, and Soap — each wearing a special masked outfit for each. All of them are themed around the legendary mercenary Ghost, custom-made to get the job done. FJX Cinder Weapon Vault*: The ultimate weapon is team, and great teams need the right tools for the toughest missions. We plan to share more details on the FJX Cinder Weapon Vault and the new Gunsmith closer to Modern Warfare II’s launch. Season One Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips**: Following the launch of Modern Warfare II, Vault Edition holders will receive the Season One Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips (or its equivalent) for free. Ghost Legacy Pack***: Get the Ghost Legacy Pack featuring 20+ items for immediate use in Modern Warfare (2019) and Warzone. This pack contains a collection of previously released Modern Warfare Bundle content crafted to celebrate the Task Force 141 icon, including 12 Ghost Operator Skins and 10 Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprints. Double XP: Pre-order from the in-game Franchise Store in Warzone, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, or Modern Warfare (2019), and receive 10 hours of Double XP Tokens and 10 hours of Double Weapon XP Tokens for use in Modern Warfare II. Hit the ground running on launch day. The Vault Edition is the highest tier of Modern Warfare and is available for $99.99 (MSRP) or your regional equivalent. Cross-gen Bundle and physical copies With the pre-order of the digital Cross-Gen Bundle, you’ll get access to the base game at launch, early access to the Open Beta, and other instant rewards to be revealed later. The Vault Edition and Cross-Gen Bundle give players access to Modern Warfare II on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. If you prefer a physical disc copy of Modern Warfare II, preorder the physical Cross-Gen Bundle for PlayStation 4 or the next-generation version for PlayStation 5. These digital and physical versions are available for $69.99 (MSRP) or your regional equivalent. Preorder and get Early Open Beta Access**** Every digital and physical edition pre-order of Modern Warfare II includes early access to the game’s Open Beta, first on PlayStation. Beta-specific dates and details will be revealed in the coming weeks. Stay frosty. *Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch. **Battle Pass and Tier Skips, or equivalent versions, will be accessible in Modern Warfare II once the Season 1 Battle Pass, or equivalent system, is made available in-game. Battle Pass redemption applies to one season of Modern Warfare II Battle Pass, or equivalent system, only. ***Call of Duty: Modern Warfare / Call of Duty: Warzone required to redeem Ghost Legacy Pack. Sold/downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 28, 2023. ****Actual platform availability and launch date(s) of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only, while Early Access Beta Codes last, at participating retailers. Online multiplayer subscription may be required. View the full article

With 29 years of experience in game development, Bend Studio has had a rich legacy in video games. From the iconic Syphon Filter series to Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Days Gone, we strive to provide our players with high-quality experiences that create a lasting impact. As we reflect on our past and look toward the future, we are thrilled to unveil the new Bend Studio logo to you all. “The wordmark and symbol were designed to be graphic and bold, so that we utilize numerous variations in colorways and stylised treatments of the symbol (exampled below), while still maintaining an identifiable brand identity. Because the Bend Studio logo is split into a symbol and a workmark, we have more flexibility with the symbol.” – Shay Casey Our new Bend Studio logo represents an abstract and modern interpretation of the studio’s history, location, and lifestyle. Located at the base of the beautiful Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon, Bend provides us with a unique lifestyle where we can work in tech, but live life analog. After a day in the office, we like to plug into adventure and use our extra life to shred the slopes at Mt. Bachelor, drag a line in the Deschutes River, or take a long hike in the wild. “We set out to create a new identity that would be cutting-edge, abstract, and minimalist. It should feature simple, high-tech geometry but also represent the constant motion of creativity. Ideally it would be the kind of logo that is recognizable to gamers on the street without the need for a wordmark. Over time it should be easily identified as a symbol of gaming just like a certain swoosh is of sportswear. With those objectives in mind, we are illustrating Bend Studio’s technical innovation with a forward directional look. The letterforms are cut to run parallel to the leading edge of the outer symbol triangle but still maintain the stability of our mid-weight non-italicized font. The Cascade icon in the center of the symbol is an abstract representation of the many mountain peaks that are the center of our lives in Central Oregon and define our skyline. Additionally, there is a small break in the “I” that represents one of the lumber mill smokestacks that speaks to Bend’s history as a logging town before its current existence as an outdoor enthusiast destination.” – Shay Casey Associate Art Director (Branding & UI) “The new logo allows us to be creative with stylised treatments. We had a lot of fun concepting the above.” – Shay Casey 1993: Origins of Bend Studio Bend Studio traces its origins to 1993, under the name of Blank, Berlyn and Co. The company released several puzzle games for the Apple Newton, including Columbo’s Mystery Capers, Dell Crossword Puzzles, Motil, and Notion (List Maker). Shortly after, we hired Christopher Reese, the current Studio Head at Bend Studio, who helped release the first of a series of sports games, starting with Live Action Football in 1993 on PC. Following these releases, the company had the ambition to evolve and push into the world of console gaming. 1995: Learning the 3D Landscape In 1995, the founders renamed the company to Eidetic. Shortly after, the eight-person development team released its first console and 3D game, Bubsy 3D. From a technical standpoint Bubsy 3D was one of the few original PlayStation games that launched with a higher resolution and increased draw distances. Eidetic’s first title put the company on Sony’s radar. It proved we could develop a game on the newer PlayStation console, and that we already had an built-in engine that could run the next game. That next game was Syphon Filter. Eidetic Logo (1995-2000) 1999: Gabe Logan’s First Mission Syphon Filter is a third-person shooter and stealth-action game starring the character of special agent Gabe Logan. Syphon Filter released shortly after Metal Gear Solid and secured its place in the stealth genre. Bend Studio is known for its third-person action games, and that DNA began with Syphon Filter. We made sure that the camera’s angles were smooth, adapting to the player’s movement around obstacles in missions or while taking cover behind a building. While taking cover, Gabe’s head would also become invisible, giving the player a slight edge on an approaching enemy. Syphon Filter (Original PlayStation, 1999) Syphon Filter was all about the weapons and gadgets, giving the player multiple options to complete levels through a combination of both action and stealth. Syphon Filter offered a wide array of weapons in Gabe’s arsenal to help take down enemies. The most popular amongst them was the infamous Air Taser. It was a one-of-a-kind weapon that had infinite rounds, able to electrify enemies and even send them into flames. The taser was designed to provide the player an option when they were low or out of ammo and be effective during stealth approaches. Syphon Filter was the beginning of a legacy, not just for the IP, but also for Bend Studio. Syphon Filter (Original PlayStation, 1999) The team grew from eight to thirteen people during the development of the first Syphon Filter game, which hit the shelves in February of 1999 to critical praise. It immediately became a fan-favorite for years to come. After the success of Syphon Filter, Sony acquired Eidetic in 2000 and gave it the name you know today, Bend Studio. Bend Studio Logo (2000-2022) 2000 – 2007: Legacy of Syphon Filter In seven years, Bend Studio developed six additional Syphon Filter titles spanning across three PlayStation platforms. With the release of Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain the series jumped platforms to PlayStation 2, following the releases of Syphon Filter 1, 2, and 3. Syphon Filter 2 (Original PlayStation, 2000) In 2006, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror drove the team to the portable world of PlayStation, followed by Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow and Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, which also released on PSP. Both Dark Mirror and Logan’s Shadow were later ported to PlayStation 2 after their initial release. The formula of Syphon Filter continued to evolve through story, design, gameplay, and tech. With each release came more unique missions, providing the player with new challenges and problem-solving puzzles. Starting with Dark Mirror, Syphon Filter’s graphical detail and variety noticeably improved. Each character model’s clothing had tags and buckles, along with variation in footwear. Those same details were applied to the different environments scattered throughout the game. From seeing footprints left in the snow, to dust clouds in Peru, our team took full advantage of the PlayStation Portable’s (PSP) technical capability and pushed the game to its limit, displaying what the platform could do for a player’s experience. The team turned it up one more notch with the epic finale of Gabe Logan’s storyline in Logan’s Shadow. Logan’s Shadow was the culmination of the Syphon Filter series and displayed the smooth controls, improved gameplay elements, and the deep multiplayer system that continued from Dark Mirror. Bend Studio still regards it as the best Syphon Filter experience. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (PS2, 2007) Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror – Refinery Concept (PS2, 2007) Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (PSP, 2007) Underwater combat introduced for the first time in the series Gabe Logan’s underwater attire Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow – Bitar’s Dam – Concept Art (PSP, 2007) ‘Shadowed’ is a bonus mission where Gabe’s infiltration is seen from Trinidad’s perspective. This mission is unlocked by completing the story on Hard difficulty mode. 2009: A New Direction For the first time in ten years, Bend Studio reached beyond the Syphon Filter series to develop Resistance: Retribution for the PSP. Resistance introduced a new protagonist to the series, James Grayson, offering newcomers an entry point to the established series. Grayson immediately became a fan favorite with his stylish bomber jacket, which takes on a deeper meaning for players who finish the engaging single-player campaign. Resistance: Retribution – Luxembourg Lower Tunnels – Concept Art (PSP, 2009) Resistance: Retribution – Chrysalis Lair Birthing Chamber – Concept Art (PSP, 2009) Mission: Retribution Lost – final level in the campaign Resistance: Retribution (PSP, 2009) In Resistance: Retribution, we applied our expertise in creating third-person action games to the traditionally first-person Resistance franchise. We further smoothed and improved those controls with added features, such as the Aim Assist box. This feature aimed to give players an accessible playing experience by snapping the weapon’s reticle directly to an enemy located inside the Aim Assist box. One of the best features implemented in Resistance: Retribution was the PlayStation 3-like multiplayer system on the PSP. It provided a deep playing experience to share with friends, using the PSP to put up to eight player matches into the palm of your hand. The goal was to take the quality of the single-player campaign and merge it with the online system to create one polished experience for the player. 2012: Uncharted on the Go At Bend Studio, we always push technological boundaries to bring unique experiences to our players. With Uncharted: Golden Abyss, we were one of several PlayStation studios that participated in demonstrating the capabilities of the PlayStation Vita, helping to shape the early development of the portable device. To evaluate some of these early ideas for Uncharted-style puzzle solving and aim assist options, our team had to get creative. Early on, this included duct taping together prototype OLED screens with cameras and a DualShock 3 controller. These early experiments helped our team shape and implement the key features that Uncharted: Golden Abyss is known for, such as holding the PS VITA up to a bright light to reveal a mystery from a piece of parchment paper in-game. Bend Studio Team (2012) Uncharted: Golden Abyss also gave the studio an opportunity to refine our skills in performance capture. We wanted to bring the same level of quality and fidelity to the PS VITA that Uncharted was known for on console. During this development process performance capture was still relatively new, but we were able to learn from and build on the expertise of our friends at Naughty Dog and PlayStation Visual Arts Teams. Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PS Vita, 2012) Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PS Vita, 2012) Uncharted: Golden Abyss – Concept Art (PS Vita, 2012) 2019: Days Gone Bend Studio’s first original IP after Syphon Filter produced our most ambitious game yet – Days Gone. Following the launch of Uncharted: Golden Abyss on the PS VITA, the team embraced our next big challenge by creating a dynamic open world with varied systems that launched on the PlayStation 4. Developing a brand-new IP on the next generation of consoles took time, but it showed the capability and talent of our Central Oregon team. Bend Studio Team (2019) In Days Gone, the bike was a huge developmental shift on how the team approached the entirety of the game. How do you get from point A to point B? What random encounters can you face along the way? If the road is blocked by abandoned cars, what paths can you take off-road to maneuver around it? These were a few of the early questions that we answered while developing this large open world. Days Gone – Drifter Bike Concept Art (PS4, 2019) One of the biggest features of Days Gone was the hordes. The hordes pushed the limitations of the PlayStation 4, displaying an impressive number of enemies on screen at one time while showing our advancements in AI. When we shared Days Gone to the world in 2016, we highlighted the largest horde of them all, and it immediately grabbed player’s’ attention. Reactions ranged from “how am I going to face that?” to “wow, that looks like so much fun!” Those emotions were exactly what we were aiming to evoke from players, and where the tagline, “This world comes for you,” stemmed from. Days Gone – Old Sawmill Concept Art (PS4, 2019) Days Gone (PS4, 2019) 2022: Future of Bend Studio First off, we want to thank our players for all your support over the years. From the Syphon Filter series to Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss to Days Gone, your passion for our games continue to inspire us to create and bring new experiences to you. We carry each game we have developed as a badge of honor that reflects our past accomplishments and builds an even better future. The new Bend Studio logo is just the beginning of Bend Studio’s future. As part of the PlayStation Studios family, we promise to continue bringing you quality experiences that aim to leave an everlasting impact with you. Today, we are excited to share just a snippet of news on our current project. We are currently working on a new IP that includes multiplayer and builds upon the open-world systems of Days Gone, but brings you a whole new world that we are extremely excited to craft for you. We cannot wait to reveal it to you when the time is right. Come join our growing team and help shape the future of Bend Studio! We are hiring across multiple departments, including options to be fully remote. Visit bendstudio.com/careers to learn more! View the full article

With Yurukill: The Calumniation Games less than a month away from release, we’re happy to announce that the demo is available for free download starting today at PlayStation Store. Given the unique blend of genres, we wanted to shed some light on how everything flows together to create a cohesive and exciting experience. Also, if you pick up Yurukill: The Calumniation Games on PS4, you can upgrade your copy to the PS5 version digitally for free. Play Video What are the Calumniation Games? Calumniate (verb): to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about. ca·​lum·​ni·​ate | kə-ˈləm-nē-ˌāt Yurukill: The Calumniation Games centers around Sengoku Shunju, a man who wakes up in a prison cell with no recollection of how he got there. A masked woman named Binko suddenly appears before him and explains the situation at hand: “Prisoner, Sengoku Shunju: convicted of murder! He’s serving a 999 year sentence! That’s far and away the longest sentence out of all our Prisoners!” You must survive the various “attractions” in a certain “amusement park.” If you succeed, your crimes will be pardoned. “No, you’ve got it all wrong, I’ve been falsely accused! I’m innocent!” Sengoku asserts that he is innocent of the crimes he’s accused of, but what complicates matters is the appearance of the victim of one of his alleged crimes: a woman named Rina Azami. “Sengoku Shunju. A name I will never forget. You killed my entire family. For that, I will never forgive you.” Sengoku is charged with arson and murder—for the death of 21 people by immolation, including Rina’s family. And now he finds himself in Yurukill Land, the aforementioned ‘amusement park’ where accused criminals (Prisoners) and the victims of their crimes (Executioners) must pair up to face its twisted attractions and trials. Besides Sengoku, there are four other groups of Prisoners and their respective Executioners who find themselves in Yurukill Land: the Death Dealing Duo, the Crafty Killers, the Sly Stalkers, and the Peeping Toms. There are six Prisoners and five Executioners taking part in the games, comprising five teams total. The Prisoners hope to overcome the challenges so that they may be pardoned. But should the Executioners win, their wishes will be granted, and at long last they will be able to avenge their loved ones. Along the way, all manner of secrets will be unearthed as the teams face each attraction. Life or death awaits everyone who plays the game. Who will survive the cruel, twisted place that is Yurukill Land? Mystery meets action Yurukill presents a unique blend of mystery solving and intense shooter action. Players will move back and forth between cinematic moments of intense dialogue and high-octane shooting sections that will put both their minds and their reflexes to the test. Though each stage presents its own twists and turns, the following trials are typically present in each of them: Escape Adventure: Explore the attractions and find clues and evidence to prove your innocence.High Speed Quiz: Dive into the details of your alleged crimes as you fly through a futuristic sub-space.Shoot ‘Em Up: Put your piloting skills to the test as you destroy enemy ships, dodge attacks, and gather power-ups, all while continuing to unravel the details of the case as you fly along.Prejudice Synapse: Use the evidence you acquire during the adventure sections to destroy the prejudices lurking in their heads, and free them from the notion that you, the Prisoner, are guilty.Mind Maze: Complete the sentences relating to each incident and clear a way through the labyrinth of thoughts.Boss Battle: Survive your Executioner’s interrogation and prove your innocence. Blast your way through defenses and weapons generated by the Executioner’s doubts, assumptions, and force of will in order to prevail and unveil the truth! The creators of Calumniation Of course, the unique offerings of Yurukill would not be possible without a team of talented minds and creators. The multi-layered story writing comes courtesy of Homura Kawamoto, known for his work on the manga Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler, and Hikaru Muno. Together, these two expertly weave a web of mystery and intrigue punctuated by intense exchanges of dialogue between complex characters that players learn to both root for and condemn. The shoot ’em up (“shmup”) gameplay is just as engaging, with renowned developer G.rev taking the helm for these sections. Formerly of Taito (G-Darius, RayStorm), the team at G.rev have quickly carved out a name for themselves with a formidable catalog of high-quality shmup titles, and bring that same level of commitment and excellence here. Anyone who enjoys arcade-style top-down shooters that test your reflexes will feel right at home in Yurukill. Ready to play? Yurukill: The Calumniation Games flies onto PS4 and PS5 on July 5, 2022. View the full article

Ready to be the boss in the world’s most thrilling motorsport? F1 Manager 2022 comes to PS5 and PS4 from August 25. Players can pre-order right now, and doing just that with the digital version will mean you can play five days early, ahead of the official launch on August 30. Not only that, but if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you’ll also get a 10% discount. Not too shabby, right? Play Video It’s incredibly exciting for the whole team at Frontier Developments to be working on a title for a sport that continues to surge in popularity. With a new generation of drivers, gripping storylines, and sensational on-track action taking F1 to new heights, we’re delighted to be giving everyone the chance to enter this thrilling world of motorsport. More people than ever are interested in not just the cars and drivers of an F1 team, but the entire team and process that go into the ground-breaking performance we see on the circuit. Using Frontier’s experience of designing deep, nuanced, rewarding management experiences, we’re allowing players to see the sheer detail of what goes into running a successful constructor, and then giving them the keys to control it all as the Team Principal. Whether it’s putting together a race strategy for your drivers, using your budget to expand your facilities and develop your car, or scouting the database of real-world drivers and staff for new recruits, the fate of your team will rest solely in your hands. As you can tell, there is a lot to get stuck into with F1 Manager 2022 – far too much to cover in one post! For now, let’s shed some more light on the role you will play during the race weekend. Whilst you’ll spend plenty of time as a Team Principal handling matters away from the circuit, you’ll also control many factors of the on-track aspect of F1 – all within an authentic, broadcast-quality experience, allowing you to watch the drama unfold from every angle. Taken your seat on the pit wall? Then let’s begin… Getting to grips Every F1 race weekend begins with practice sessions, beginning on a Friday. This is valuable track time for your team, particularly your drivers, to prepare for the weekend ahead. Just like in the real sport, every time your cars are on track in F1 Manager 2022 is a chance for you to gather data and turn the odds in your favour. Over three practice periods, run your cars to assess their performance, increase your drivers’ familiarity with the circuit and any new parts you’ve installed, and receive feedback about each car’s setup. As your team will also include a reserve driver slot, you can even choose to put that backup driver in one of your cars for a Practice session, to help boost their development. The art of the flying lap Here’s where things get more competitive. F1 qualifying sessions establish the grid for the race, and any slip-ups here can seriously hinder your optimal strategy for Sunday. Qualifying is all about giving your drivers the best possible chance to record the fastest possible times – which is easier said than done… With nine other teams vying to avoid elimination, you’ll be tasked with ensuring your cars are out on track at the right time. Once you’ve chosen tyres and fuel loads, you’ll need to watch the session timer, gauge the on-track traffic, grip levels, and even the weather conditions to ensure you’re not caught out. If you nail all of this, and your drivers are confident behind the wheel thanks to all that practice running, you’ll have a good shot at qualifying in a strong position. Race day: strategising for success A strong qualifying session means you’re in good shape for Sunday’s race, but there’s some more prep to be done. Use the data and knowledge you’ve gathered to formulate a race strategy for your drivers, covering pit stops, tyre selection, and even dictating how hard your drivers should push during each stint. During all on-track action in F1 Manager 2022, you’re provided with an array of information and options, delivered in authentic broadcast-quality presentation, to keep on top of the action. Cycle between on-board and track-side cameras of every car, watch the live timings of the entire field, keep an eye on track conditions, and so much more to help guide your team to the finish line. Instruct your Race Engineers to deliver specific instructions to your drivers, such as going easy on their tyres, staying off the kerbs, and avoid battling their team-mate. Many of the real-world drivers and engineers in F1 Manager 2022 even have real-world audio calls that you’ll hear as the action unfolds. Your race strategy can be tweaked at any time – which may well be vital, as each race can deliver unpredictable moments that Team Principals must react to. From a sudden rain shower, to a crash that brings out the safety car, a reliability issue, or even a red flag that halts the race, you will need to be ready to adapt your approach on the fly when an incident occurs. Handle all of that, and make use of all the options we haven’t even scratched the surface here, and you might just end the event watching your drivers celebrate on the podium. Drive every decision Plotting a path to glory on race weekends is just the beginning of your role as Team Principal in F1 Manager 2022. Between the races, you’ll be in charge of expanding your team’s HQ, developing new car parts, maintaining team morale, scouting and hiring top talent, keeping the board happy by hitting expectations and much, much more. In the exhilarating world of F1, success is the objective for everyone – but how you try to achieve that in F1 Manager 2022 is up to you. We can’t wait to see the paths you take and the stories you create from August 25. View the full article