Commander Fury

We’re getting ready for the continuation of Aloy’s story, a journey which will be filled with a storm of threats and dangers. But thankfully, she’ll be joined by old friends and exciting new allies. Join us as we sit down with our talented returning cast, featuring Ashly Burch as Aloy, Lance Reddick as the enigmatic Sylens, John MacMillan as Aloy’s loyal friend Varl, and John Hopkins as the affable Oseram warrior Erend. And get a sneak peek at two of the new characters in Horizon Forbidden West’s expanding cast: Noshir Dalal as the Tenakth warrior Kotallo and Carrie-Anne Moss as the mysterious and secretive Tilda. Play Video Aloy will get to know these characters and many more as she strives to stop the red blight and save humankind. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes snapshot now, then venture into the Forbidden West on February 18! View the full article

The next chapter of Aloy’s story begins on February 18, and she’ll face a storm of new threats: a world-ending blight, Regalla and her rebels, Sylens and his machinations… plus many new dangers that have yet to be revealed. But as she ventures into the frontier of the Forbidden West, Aloy won’t face these perils alone. She’ll be joined by companions both fresh and familiar, including stalwarts like Varl and Erend, along with new allies like Zo, Alva, and Kotallo. Today we’re proud to present our new story trailer, which offers an exciting peek at what lies in store for Aloy and her friends as they venture into the Forbidden West. Play Video On top of that, we’re thrilled to show you our new key art, pitting Aloy’s crew against Regalla, her rebels, and some of the most dangerous machines the west has to offer. It also features Sylens, Hekarro, the Chief of the Tenakth tribe, and Tilda, a mysterious new character with a special connection to the ancient past. Can Aloy and her companions overcome the dangers of the wilds and the sins of the past to save a dying planet? Get a glimpse of their epic journey now, then discover the answer on February 18! View the full article

“As you ascend from your shelter after the long long years, a brave new old world awaits you. A world inhabited with nasty and vile creatures. A world with no other human soul to be seen. A world with nature in its reigns now. A world that’s about to get even worse.” This is how Dysmantle begins. The world might be getting worse, but the team at 10tons wants you to be able to relax and enjoy it. Post-apocalyptic survival games are usually dark and grim, but we wanted to do something different. If you are tired of starving to death in a bleak landscape, you can start Dysmantling! Your basic action is to tear down everything you see. Might be you need a bigger hammer for that sweet radiator you found, but eventually you’ll get them all. In true post-apocalyptic fashion, you’ll have to sometimes run or fight for your life. In addition to dismantling everything, there’s a lot more you can do. You can fish, farm, explore, fight, craft, build, hunt, cook, and even tame animals. You can build a completely satisfying and relaxing post-apocalyptic life inside Dysmantle. Personally I enjoy fishing in real life. And there are many opportunities for that in Dysmantle, too. You’ll obviously need a fishing rod first. There are a few additional items you can craft, but after that it’s mostly about finding the best locations. After reeling catches in, you can cook up powerful items with the rarer fish. No trolling allowed – either on the internet or with a fishing line… In addition to fishing, you can also tame animals (which isn’t a skill yours truly possesses). In Dysmantle you can befriend the animals running around the wilderness with the skill Animal Friend. Each skill level makes the animals less and less afraid of you, and also unlocks some new interaction features. You can also craft animal treats to feed the animals. Once fed, you might find you’ve become quite popular with the animals as they follow you around. You can expand your selection of animal treats, and can lead a whole flock wherever you fancy. These are just two of many post-apocalyptic leisures you can do in Dysmantle. There’s also local co-op, so you can enjoy all these activities with a friend. Maybe you both have a following soon. We’re also happy to say that the game will be in great shape when it arrives on PS4 and PS5. We’ve developed the game in “early access” mode on PC for over a year and we’re ever-thankful to our early access players. We’re so proud to be releasing the robust PlayStation version , which already has all the bells, whistles, and polish. Dymantle is a new type of game from the 10tons team: A vast open world with dozens of hours of gameplay. It took us four years to get here and we’re happy with the result and we hope you enjoy it too! View the full article

If you’re reading this story, chances are you’ve already heard the work of Hitoshi Sakimoto. His larger-than-life orchestral scores breathe life into the world of Ivalice — the setting of games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII — and are just as tied to these games’ identities as the characters within them. In celebration of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age joining the PlayStation Now library this month, I had the rare opportunity to ask Sakimoto-san about his work on the legendary JRPG franchise, as well as his philosophy on composing for games and where he thinks the medium is headed. Read on for the full interview, then load up Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age to hear a master at work. PlayStation.Blog: If I were to describe the music of Final Fantasy XII in a single word, it would be “grand.” What was your approach when envisioning the overall sound for the game all those years ago? Hitoshi Sakimoto: If I were to add a few other words, I think it could be described as dazzling, or vivid. For the overall direction of the game, the aim was to create an orthodox entry in the main Final Fantasy series. Speaking more specifically about the music, I centred on chord progression and orchestration that felt bright and colorful right at the heart of the compositions and tried to make sure that the layers of the songs wouldn’t stray too far from this focal point. The theme song for Final Fantasy XII that is used during the opening movie where Rasler dies in the war between Archadia and Dalmasca demonstrates these characteristics best. Additionally, I tried to avoid negative emotions overall. For parts where those negative emotions had to be included, I made sure to intentionally build in some “pathways to positivity” within the music. In terms of composition, Final Fantasy XII appeared to include some sci-fi elements, but I decided to disregard that for the music, treating it as pure fantasy. PSB: When Square Enix approached you to revisit the soundtrack of FFXII for The Zodiac Age on PS4, what was the overall goal of that project and how did you achieve it? HS: In the original game, I regretted that we could only have the opening and ending songs performed live due to the budget. That’s why, when working on The Zodiac Age, I asked to be able to switch all the music out for live performances. Orchestration had already been completed at the time of the original game, so my aim was to preserve the atmosphere of these originals, whilst creating a live performance that exceeded the previous version. Some tracks use a sound pattern that sounds particularly good with a synthesised orchestra, so to create the sheet music for these songs, I either had to change those particular parts or just try playing them live to see how they would turn out, discussing options with the conductor and musicians as I went. The tricky part was the sheer volume of work, and there was just so much to do that creating the sheet music, the recording and the mixing all felt like a long, drawn-out battle, haha. PSB: One of your biggest breakthrough soundtracks was for Final Fantasy Tactics, which was our introduction to the world of Ivalice (where Final Fantasy XII takes place). Do you compose Ivalician music with specific themes, motifs, or even specific instruments and compositional techniques in mind? Does Ivalice have a “sound”? HS: Ivalice’s “sound” was born in Final Fantasy Tactics, so I think the most important characteristics are contained within the melody of the main theme. These characteristics are the same as those for Final Fantasy XII, as mentioned in my previous answer. For the composition, I decided to use pure orchestral sound. I suppose that’s because I think that’s what “fantasy” should sound like. Before Final Fantasy Tactics, I worked on a game called Tactics Ogre. This game depicts an altogether crueller and harsher world, which I reflected in the music. You could perhaps call Final Fantasy Tactics a Square Enix take on Tactics Ogre, but it does carry the Final Fantasy name. I made sure to align with a more orthodox trajectory, so as not to besmirch that Final Fantasy name, haha. I think that’s why the music ended up being more popular. PSB: Have you experimented with 3D/spatial audio? If so, how does it change your production workflow and what new compositional possibilities does it create? HS: I’ve always used 3D audio in step with the advancements in technology, but for orchestral music, the effect always sounds a little underwhelming and doesn’t really stand out – and I don’t think it should stand out. When creating music, I proceed through three phases: writing the music (the score), the arrangement (composition), and mixing (the acoustics). In general, I personally don’t return to a previous phase once it’s been completed. So, the ideal is to not change the musical notes being used or the composition from an acoustic approach. There are a lot of other ways to create synergy with the score. If we were to take, as an example, using the distinctive sound of a certain instrument – you would just need to build that in during the arrangement stage. I think the most important role at the music writing phase that a composer has is to create a piece that has merit as a score – where the quality shines through the score without relying on anything other than the musical notes themselves. Furthermore, to utilise the characteristics of 3D audio, you really need a lot of empty space. It’s not a technique that’s well suited to a large ensemble. It’s also a technique that’s more appropriate for sound effects, so my policy is to not blatantly use 3D audio in the background music in a way that would obstruct that effect. PSB: What do you predict will be the next big technical advancement in video game music? HS: Definitely automated creation of sound (music, sound effects, voices). This is the area that I’m most interested in at the moment, and on which I spend most of my time. PSB: What’s your favorite soundtrack/score in the last few years, and why do you think it’s so effective? HS: In terms of film soundtracks, it would be ”It”. The film creates a really unique atmosphere, and the musical quality is as high as that of the cinematography. I’m not very good with horror, but for this film, I managed to keep my eyes open and watch it the whole way through to check how the music was being used. I was at my limit though, haha. PSB: Are there any up-and-coming composers you’ve got your eye on? What do you think makes them stand out? HS: I don’t know if you could call her up-and-coming, but recently I’ve enjoyed the Battlefield 2042 soundtrack by Hildur Guðnadóttir. I’m a huge fan of the theme songs for Battlefield 3 and 4, but the music in 2042 broke down these previous songs – and it’s hard to say whether it’s in a respectful way or not! But I think that’s a good thing in its own way. It’s also the kind of thing you can’t achieve without changing the composer. The song gives the impression that she’s a composer trained in the field of modern music, and also quite familiar with synthesiser and echo effects alongside very distinctive instrumental performances. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the song is the sense of boundless melancholy, haha. I’d be interested to hear this composer’s take on a more charming and sweet song. When I review music, I try to not gain any information other than from the music itself. I don’t actually know anything about Hildur Guðnadóttir other than her name. With talented people like her, you’ll end up hearing information about them from somewhere or other eventually. I like to just enjoy listening to their music for a while, wondering what kind of person they might be – and then I also enjoy the surprise when I find out the truth. ——— Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is now available in PlayStation Now, joining other Final Fantasy titles VII, VIII Remastered, IX, and X/X-2 HD Remaster. View the full article

Welcome to the mining conglomerate crew! Deep Rock Galactic is a sci-fi, co-op* first-person shooter in which you play as badass space dwarves assigned to various mining missions on the rich, but deadly planet Hoxxes IV. Explore procedurally-generated cave systems and navigate 100% destructible environments as you carry out your mission and fight endless hordes of alien monsters. We’re excited to dive into some of the features players can experience in the PlayStation 5 version of the game, specifically the immersive DualSense wireless controller features. Dig this: The PS4 and PS5 versions of Deep Rock Galactic are available to PlayStation Plus members until February 1. Haptic feedback & adaptive triggers Deep Rock Galactic is all about immersion, from the Dwarves digging into the planet to the way the DualSense controller sucks players into the game. Feel detailed haptic vibrations, hear in-universe audio on your controller’s speaker, and experience weapon feedback via the adaptive triggers. Each weapon has been given a more distinct feeling based on its firepower and mechanisms. The haptics and triggers also enhance the contrast between heavier and lighter weapons, such as feeling the intense, rapid recoil of Thunderhead Heavy Autocannon or the softer, longer micro missile volleys of the Hurricane Guided Rocket System. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. The haptic feedback immersion extends beyond gunplay, too. Approaching erupting Morkite wells and beating Dreadnaught eggs makes the vibration increase in scale with a continuous pulse. Riding aboard the Drop Pod as it drills through terrain sends a continuous pulse to the controller perfectly timed as the grinder chews through rocks. We’ve also tapped into the adaptive triggers to further bring the dwarven tools and weapons to life. Feel added tension on the trigger while reloading a weapon, or experience zero tension when the weapon clip runs dry. Mining squashing bugs has never felt this good! Motion sensor With the DualSense controller’s motion sensors we have been able to implement gyro aiming, an option which offers players some extra aiming nuance. Players also have the option to set the turning axis of the gyro to either using the yaw or roll depending on their preference. Depending on how you play, the gyro aiming may be the difference between life and death. Furthermore – as a bonus feature in the options menu – you can activate saluting with the motion sensors. Raising the controller up in the air with one hand makes your dwarf perform the Rock and Stone salute. Integrated speaker The mining conglomerate’s profits depend on your mission, so assume Mission Control is always watching. By default, you’ll hear the all-business voice of Mission Control through your controller speaker, selling the experience of a comms link. Listen up for info on incoming enemy waves, mission developments, or maybe when you’ve had a little too much fun back at base kicking barrels into the launch bay… For extra satisfaction, you’ll also hear the sweet, sweet sound of collected minerals tinkle via the controller speaker. Touchpad The in-game, 3D Terrain Scanner map is an integral part of the Deep Rock experience. This map reveals collectable items and helps players navigate dark cave networks. With a simple click on the touchpad you can bring the map up, then use your fingers to rotate, move, and zoom in on points of interest. You can also swipe up on the touchpad to throw flares into the darkness, or swipe down to call your trusty mule, Molly, for a mineral deposit. Swiping left and right on the touchpad also lets you quickly scroll through equipment. DualSense controller light In Deep Rock Galactic, the duality between light and darkness is a huge part of the experience. With the DualSense controller we’ve strived to mimic that by dimming the controller’s light by default. The controller light will then dynamically intensify when you toss a flare in-game. It also reflects your shield and health status. We’re thrilled that Deep Rock Galactic is available on PS4 and PS5, and plan to support it with new free updates throughout the rest of the year. The next update introduces a brand new season, including new secondary weapons and more! Thanks for reading. PlayStation Plus members should be sure to deposit this gem into their libraries before February 1. Rock and Stone, Miners! *PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms* View the full article

Face off against old friends and foes in the P-1 CLIMAX and experience the action-packed continuation of the Persona 4 Golden story. About Persona 4 Arena Ultimax The stakes are Ultimate, the tension is Maximum, the fight is… the ULTIMAX! Experience the latest entry into the beloved Persona 4 series with a thrilling fighting twist. Join the heroes as they combat an army of Shadows in the P-1 CLIMAX! The stakes are Ultimate, the tension is Maximum, the fight is… the ULTIMAX! Experience the latest entry into the beloved Persona 4 series with a thrilling fighting twist. Join the heroes as they combat an army of Shadows in the P-1 CLIMAX! Key Features include: • Ultimax Version – Includes all previously released Persona 4 Arena Ultimax content, including the original Persona 4 Arena story • A Deep Roster of Playable Characters – Persona 3 fan-favorites and “Shadow” versions offer a range of fighting styles to choose from • Dual audio – Choose between Japanese and English VO For more information on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax visit: https://atlus.com/p4au/ Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Screenshots Persona 4 Arena Ultimax March 17, 2022 PlayStation 4 Title Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Release Date March 17, 2022 Platforms PlayStation 4 Languages Japanese/English Voiceover English, French, Italian, Spanish, German Subtitles Website https://atlus.com/p4au/ Copyright ⒸATLUS. ⒸSEGA. All rights reserved. ATLUS and SEGA are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ATLUS, the ATLUS logo, PERSONA and PERSONA 4 ARENA ULTIMAX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ATLUS Co., Ltd. or its affiliates. SEGA is either a registered trademark or a trademark of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here This week the team shares some good couch co-op games for new gamers to dip their toes into, and share highlights from a team session playing Deep Rock Galactic.video gamesplaystation Stuff We Talked About Top Downloads for 2021 Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach It Takes Two Overcooked Moving Out Little Nightmares Tales from the Borderlands Deep Rock Galactic The Cast 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

After an unreal amount of submissions, we’re diving headfirst into The Matrix Awakens and highlighting your hyper-realistic cityscape shares: NemesisNat shares Kena wearing a spirit’s fox mask in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. coalabr14 poses their character in Demon’s Souls stoically. toko_luke95 shares an action pose from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. PS5Gamephoto shares a painted portrait of Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil: Village. killshot_studio shares Sam walking a rampway in Death Stranding. adambomb2mk shares a galactic view from Chorus. 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: Round SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on January 14, 2022 Next week’s theme is taking shape! Share round or curved objects and settings in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Tomorrow on January 14, God of War (2018) launches on PC. To ensure you’re ready, we’ve released our PC system requirements and features – be sure to check them both out. Ultrawide trailer One of the unique PC features that we’re very excited about is the 21:9 ultra-widescreen support that will allow you to play the game with an incredibly unique theatrical feel. Take a look below: Play Video We can’t wait to see your ultrawide screen shots! Nine Realms survival guide With our release on the PC, we’re hoping that many new players will be able to experience Kratos and Atreus’ story for the first time. To help you get started, we’ve put together some beginner tips that will prepare you for the journey to come. Don’t forget your Boy Atreus may be young, but he’s one of your best assets in combat. As your journey progresses, Atreus will grow stronger and gain access to abilities that can make all the difference in your toughest fights like being able to stun monsters, bring Kratos back from the brink of death, and unleash powerful magical abilities along with his bow attacks. Atreus has three different gear sets that can synergize with your playstyle. Make sure you’re equipping him to best support Kratos’ needs in combat. At their first tier, the sets have the following effects: Sharpshooter Garb: Lower the Talon Bow recharge time. Aimed shots fired at enemies in the air deal extra damage. Fighter Tunic: Boosts melee damage and exposes enemy weakness. Choked enemies will take increased damage. Runic Vestment: Increased recovery speed from enemy attacks and provides Healthstone assistance. When Kratos is injured, Atreus has a chance to find Healthstones. Upgrading Atreus’ abilities and equipment will be as important as upgrading Kratos, invest in his progression early and often! Friendly Favors In God of War, there are side quests called Favors. Some let you get to know your allies better, like helping the blacksmith brothers Brok and Sindri, while others will let you journey deeper into the rich Norse mythology of the world. All offer rewards that will help you in battle. Alongside the XP you’ll earn, many of the Favors will also give you equipment and ability upgrades. Earn XP with the Labors of Kratos Labors are tracked activities that will reward you for interacting with the world and playing the game. Completing them will grant you a big chunk of XP, so they’re great for leveling up. They’ll also encourage you to switch up your playstyle, try out new tactics, and explore the world. Labors come in four different categories: World: Engaging with the world by completing activities like closing Realm Tears and finding Hidden Chambers. Crafting: Crafting and upgrading your gear. Skill: Killing enemies in a specific way, like lighting them on fire or performing parries. Kill: Defeating a certain amount of an enemy type. Bestiary combat tactics Atreus will keep notes of all the enemies you face in the Codex. Not only is it a great way to track the information you learn on important figures and the realms themselves, the Bestiary section will also provide helpful gameplay tips on the weakness of monsters. Enemies are not one-size-fits-all, if you’re having difficulty with a certain type of creature, make sure you check Atreus’ notes for tips on how to dispatch them. Understand your Gear stats Your combat style can greatly benefit from the gear that you equip. Once you figure out the type of gameplay you like, there will be gearsets that help you excel in that area. Whether you want to focus on standard attacks, your runic abilities, or a mix of both – understanding your gear stats will help you decide which pieces to invest in. Strength: Increases the damage for all standard attacks. Runic: Increase both Runic Attack and Elemental Damage. Defense: Reduces all damage taken. Vitality: Increases maximum health and decreases the severity of hit reactions from enemy attacks. Luck: Increases Perk activation chance. Increases XP and Hacksilver gains. Cooldown: Reduces recharge time of Runic Attacks, Runic Summons, and Talismans. Certain gearsets will also be better for a specific playstyle, make sure you find the one that works best for you!If you would like to pre-purchase God of War for PC, it is available on both the Steam and Epic Game Store. View the full article

We are really happy to finally be able to show off RPGolf Legends, releasing Jan 20, 2022 for PS5 and PS4 with cross-buy support! I’m Riccardo Castelnuovo, the founder of ArticNet which is the team behind RPGolf Legends. The core team is very (very) small… just me and another developer (hi, Guillaume!). In total we have been working on RPGolf Legends for a little over two years. The idea that brought RPGolf Legends to life comes from the 8-bit golf games I played when I was a kid. I loved them but every shot I took I could not help but wanting to explore those beautiful fields where the character was playing golf (back in the day, those pixels looked so beautiful). So that is where the idea of the open-world golf game originated. What’s the best thing to do while exploring a golf course, besides playing golf? Fighting monsters, of course! And that is how the whole thing came to life. While designing RPGolf Legends there were many challenges we faced, but the hardest was definitely trying to achieve a good balance between the golf, fighting, exploration, and RPG elements. Making sure that the game felt natural was really hard when two genres like golf and RPG are mixed together. It was also especially hard because we thought that focusing on one aspect or the other should be entirely up to the player so that everyone can enjoy the game as they see fit, paying more attention to the aspect they like the best. There are many things players can do, but I personally like the crafting the most. Once you get a blueprint for a new item/golf set/dish/etc, there is nothing more gratifying than searching for all the materials and finally crafting the item. I think players will feel like they earned the item after a long quest. When it comes to fighting, special boss battles take place at the last hole of every area. The main character, Aerin, has to complete the hole in order to defeat each boss. To do so, she first has to fight the boss, stun it, and take a shot before it gets back on his feet. The biggest advice I can give is to try to stay close to the ball, because when you finally stun the boss, there will not be much time to take a shot! Being close to the ball will make everything a lot easier. Each monster and boss is directly inspired by the area the character is exploring. For example in the first area (the forest), Aerin will face a giant evil tree blocking her path. The tree can perform attacks close to his character (leaf storms, root attacks and so on…) and to defeat him, paying attention to the patterns is vital! I know we will have players who have played the first RPGolf, as well as new players who are first approaching the saga. For the former: we listened to your feedback. We got a lot of great ideas and reviews from gamers all over the world and we tried our best to improve, refine and add to the game concept. We also assure new players that you don’t need to play the first game in order to enjoy this, as the two stories are completely separate. Play Video We introduced a lot of new concepts: a new, larger world map, a new fighting system that feels way more natural than before, an improved golf, classes, quests, crafting, tournaments, and a lot more. We hope that our fans will appreciate all the hard work we put into improving the game and new players will enjoy this unique action-rpg-golfing experience. We are really excited for everyone to start playing RPGolf Legends from next Thursday. View the full article

Hello again! Following last week’s reveal of the December charts, we’ve collected PlayStation Store’s most-downloaded games for the entire year of 2021. Sports titles were the big winners on PS5, but there’s a surprise or two waiting in there too, like Among Us hitting #6 in the EU despite launching in December — nice! Check the full charts below and let us know in the comments where your faves landed. Have a great year! PS5 Games US/Canada EU 1 NBA 2K22 FIFA 22 2 Call of Duty: Vanguard Call of Duty: Vanguard 3 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales FIFA 21 4 Madden NFL 22 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 5 Battlefield 2042 Battlefield 2042 6 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Among Us 7 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Kena: Bridge of Spirits 8 MLB The Show 21 FAR CRY 6 9 Resident Evil Village It Takes Two 10 Far Cry 6 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 11 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla F1 2021 12 FIFA 22 Resident Evil Village 13 Among Us NBA 2K22 14 Mortal Kombat 11 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 15 NBA 2K21 Next Generation Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 16 It Takes Two TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX | SIEGE 17 FIFA 21 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition 18 DEATHLOOP Diablo II: Resurrected 19 Returnal DEATHLOOP 20 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Mortal Kombat 11 *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/Canada EU 1 Grand Theft Auto V FIFA 22 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Grand Theft Auto V 3 Minecraft Minecraft 4 NBA 2K22 FIFA 21 5 Call of Duty: Vanguard Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 6 Madden NFL 22 The Crew 2 7 NBA 2K21 Red Dead Redemption 2 8 Red Dead Redemption 2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition 9 MLB The Show 21 Call of Duty: Vanguard 10 Mortal Kombat 11 The Forest 11 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout 12 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Gran Turismo Sport 13 FIFA 22 ARK: Survival Evolved 14 THE FOREST Need for Speed Heat 15 Need for Speed Heat NBA 2K21 16 UFC 4 Gang Beasts 17 ARK: Survival Evolved TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX | SIEGE 18 Gang Beasts eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE 19 Rust Console Edition Among Us 20 NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Assassin’s Creed Valhalla *Naming of products may differ between regions PS VR Games US/Canada EU 1 Beat Saber Beat Saber 2 Job Simulator Job Simulator 3 SUPERHOT VR SUPERHOT VR 4 GORN Creed: Rise to Glory 5 Swordsman VR Swordsman VR 6 Creed Rise to Glory The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 7 Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series GORN 8 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners RICK AND MORTY: VIRTUAL RICK-ALITY 9 Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series 10 The Walking Dead Onslaught ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission Free-to-Play (PS5 + PS4) US/Canada EU 1 Fortnite Fortnite 2 Call of Duty: Warzone Rocket League 3 Rocket League Call of Duty: Warzone 4 Splitgate eFootball 2022 5 Apex Legends Genshin Impact 6 Genshin Impact Apex Legends 7 Destiny 2 eFootball PES 2021 LITE 8 Rec Room Brawlhalla 9 Brawlhalla Destiny 2 10 Rogue Company Splitgate View the full article

The iconic best-selling manga series Attack on Titan, whose award-winning anime adaption just entered the second half of its final season, is coming to Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone Pacific as part of the games’ first major update of 2022. In this bundle to be released as part of the midseason update, Daniel Yatsu will don the legendary Survey Corps gear.. This epic collaboration will officially become available on January 20, following a midseason update for Vanguard and Warzone Pacific that will include a new Operator, a new weapon, additional content for Zombies, various bug fixes, and more. The Vanguard update will be downloadable on January 11 at 9 PM PT, while the Warzone Pacific update can be downloaded starting January 12 at 9 PM PT. These will prepare both games for the first full day of Season One’s midseason update on January 13 at 9 AM PT. The Tracer Pack: Attack on Titan — Levi Edition Bundle In celebration of Attack on Titan’s final season, Vanguard and Warzone Pacific players can become a Survey Corps member through the Tracer Pack: Attack on Titan — Levi Edition Bundle. (Available via the in-game store for 2,400CP, equivalent to $19.99 USD / £16.79) This 10-item Store Bundle is not just for superfans of the franchise; it has the style and firepower to become a leader among soldiers, just like Levi Ackerman. One of the most notable additions to this Bundle is the “Titan Piercer,” a Weapon Blueprint that models the very blade that can slay Titans. Made of ultrahard steel, the only material that can cut through Titan flesh, this one-edge blade is more than capable of slicing through squads with ease. Also available in the Bundle is the Legendary “Steel Cut” Finishing Move, as well as the Vanguard-exclusive “Vertical Maneuver” Highlight Intro and the “Ultrahard Steel” MVP Highlight. The other two weapons in this Bundle are the Legendary “Historia” SMG and “Ymir Curse” Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprints, two firearms that are great additions to your Warzone Pacific or Vanguard Multiplayer and Zombies Loadouts. “Ymir Curse” is built for Operators who pride themselves on accurate shots downrange. With a nine-attachment configuration, near-zero horizontal recoil, and almost-maximum effective range and bullet velocity, this Legendary Weapon Blueprint is phenomenal at a distance, especially when an Operator is mounted. As for the “Historia,” it suits the run-and-gun Operator who wants to throw out accurate shots from the hip while sprinting. The included smaller-caliber magazines offer better speed and fire rate, perfect for Gung-Ho strategies across Multiplayer or Warzone Pacific. Although any Operator can wield these weapons, Sgt. Daniel of the Hellhounds will be fully geared up for battle with the “Survey Corps” Operator Skin included in this Bundle. Fashioned in the style of Survey Corps gear worn by Captain Levi Ackerman, this new outfit is perfect for leading your squad to victory in Caldera or elsewhere, like the incredibly skilled, yet humble badass Levi is. Superfans will also recognize the other elements of this Bundle and what they reference: a “Secret Keeper” key Weapon Charm to unlock the world’s mysteries, the “Wings of Freedom” Emblem worn with pride by Survey Corps members, and, of course, a “One Hot Potato” Sticker, in memoriam of a special person who we all hold very dear to our hearts… Give your heart soldier. View the full article

Hey dudes, Mike from Berzerk here with some fresh blogpost for y’all. With Infernax coming February 14, the day of love, we figured we’d let you in behind our velvet curtains to show you what makes this retro action-RPG tick. Play Video Sugar Rush Part of what made us want to do Infernax in the first place was to create a game the closest to something we would’ve played back when we were but wee childs. To be more exact, we wanted to have a game that looked like it was straight out of the 80s but would have never been released, a mythical game you’d talk about in the school courtyard, a game that had everything you wanted in your child’s mind. So we went with that premise, instead of going with a 100% accuracy we decided to design the game around the imagination of a sugar powered kid; we took a skeleton of a few games we liked and powdered that with a ton of “no way” moments. What if the game remembered what you did, what if it had way too many secrets, what if it was also disgustingly gory; it’s all of those things. The story is all built on your decisions, and those decisions guide what upgrades you get, what quests become available to you. Making old new again Fun part about that process is that most of the things we’d speculate games to be able to do (and by speculate I really mostly mean we’d lie our asses off for a moment of glory during recess) ended up in modern game design. What we ended up doing was creating an evolutive narrative that took the player’s choices into consideration, every choice they’d make would move the story forward in one way or another. That in turn created a fun new dynamic that people would want to replay the game to see what would have happened if they did something different, and true to our younger selves we decided it would be hella rad if when they did, it actually changed how they’d play the game, because nobody wants to do the same thing twice just for a blurb of text. Could be that saving this one guy from hooligans gives you a different spell, or maybe some brigands you chased come back for you later on, what if you joined them instead, maybe they’d split the spoils with you? So that snowballed pretty fast and we ended up with like, over a handful of different playmodes that you unlock every time you finish the game, or that you can unlock via a code. Oh and blood. Gallons of blood. Several truckloads of blood. Gory bits and everything in between. Because there’s no way that would’ve passed the counsel of video games back in the 80s. Old vs. New One of the biggest hurdles we’ve had, I mean other than defying the whims of whoever is running this simulation, was trying to expand a small cryptic experience to a more accessible longer experience without losing what made it special. Our game was initially only an hour or two long, it was designed to be a short, but hard experience. Playing the knife game is fun for 10 seconds, but 7 hours straight might be a bit pushing it. It was always meant to be difficult, punishing, unforgiving, that was the design; that was the original selling point, the vision. We wanted to divert from the conventional mold, not feed the player the solution but rather let them feel smart for figuring it out. But that’s pretty much fighting against 30 years of established game design, with arrows pointing the direction you need to go, or magical creatures whispering sweet nothings in your eardrums. On the other hand, we did want a wide variety of humans to be able to enjoy Infernax, not everyone is a thirty-something masochist that enjoys having to dig through dusty tomes to find what hidden block holds a chicken. Accessibility and old school design go hand in hand about as well as anchovies on a pizza; yeah I said it, fight me. So we made some concessions to expand the game’s world without feeling tedious. We changed some expected irritants to make them more palatable: a well placed save point will go a long way. We implemented a new difficulty setting that adds a few in dungeons for those who don’t enjoy the thrill of failure, so they don’t have to learn perfect execution. We also made the decision that some parts were going to make you feel like the game hates you, and that’s okay. On top of that, we remembered a little something we’d used to do as kids when a game was too hard for us: cheat, cheat the hell out of it. We already had the code system implemented to modify the game in some way, why couldn’t it work like it actually did back then? We added various game modifiers through these codes that help the player through harder parts if they need to, people are going to cheat anyway, might as well help them do it right. The result is something unique, and something we’re very proud of. We hope you like it as much as we had fun making it. So yeah, this Valentine’s Day of 2022, show your loved one you’d die for them, over and over and over in Infernax! View the full article

Hey, I’m Don Schmocker, co-founder and lead artist at Okomotive and today I’m really excited to announce that FAR: Changing Tides is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on March 1. FAR: Changing Tides is an atmospheric vehicular adventure that follows the story of a boy who must journey across a flooded, post-apocalyptic landscape at the helm of a unique ship. Play Video Following the release of our debut game, FAR: Lone Sails, we had a lot of feedback from fans that spoke to how the meditative, reflective nature of the game resonated with them. For FAR: Changing Tides, we wanted to ensure that we captured that same familiar, meditative atmosphere whilst offering players a fresh, thought-provoking experience. We’ve expanded on the setting seen in Lone Sails but instead of sun-scorched, dusty plains, players will face stormy waters and submerged cities. We hope that this new environment combined with new puzzles and ship mechanics will bring an exciting experience to fans of the series and new players alike. Like FAR: Lone Sails, the narrative of FAR: Changing Tides isn’t told but instead must be found. Players will discover sunken items, images, and buildings – victims of the floods – all of them relics to the past, all of them telling a story. This environmental storytelling presents a very different type of game design, but we feel it helps to build a close bond between the world and the players, as they choose how much of the story to seek and engage with. With Lone Sails, we found ourselves defining and building elements of the story throughout development, which became increasingly difficult. For Changing Tides we wrote the majority of the story and world-building during pre-production, this gave us better direction and allowed us to plan and design the environments together with the story. One of the key differences in FAR: Changing Tides is the verticality added by the flooded landscape and how that adds a whole level of exploration for players. The earth has been covered with water and so it makes sense that there’s a whole other world to traverse below the surface. This new landscape required a change to one of the key game mechanics – the vehicle. The vehicle is one of the most important elements in a FAR game, we almost think of it as a second protagonist! In Lone Sails, although the vehicle had a sail, it was entirely land-based, which suited the dusty, desolate plains. In FAR: Changing Tides, the player’s journey takes place almost entirely on the water, both above and below the waves, and we wanted to create a vehicle that could stay with them for all of that. The sails and oars are perfect for navigating the world above the surface, and these can be retracted and the engine engaged for exploration beneath the waves. As the player progresses through the game, they will see a relationship develop between the protagonist, Toe, and the ship. The relationship is a symbiotic one, the ship won’t sail without Toe to control the sails or oars, and Toe can’t overcome certain obstacles without the ship. We hope that everyone is as excited about this next installment in the FAR series as we are and we look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback when the game launches on PS4 and PS5 on March 1! View the full article

Everybody knows the holidays are a perfect time to expand your game library and dive in. The charts are in for December 2021’s top downloads, so let’s take a look at what PlayStation owners tucked into last month. The holidays are also apparently the perfect time to engage in sci-fi hijinks with friends and family. The hidden identity chaos of Among Us takes top prize for December across regions and PS4/PS5, followed by a range of top-quality titles. Where did your favorite game land on the list? PS5 Games US/Canada EU 1 Among Us Among Us 2 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales FIFA 22 3 Call of Duty: Vanguard Call of Duty: Vanguard 4 Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 5 NBA 2K22 F1 2021 6 Madden NFL 22 Knea: Bridge of Spirits 7 Battlefield 2042 It Takes Two 8 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach 9 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Battlefield 2042 10 It Takes Two FAR CRY 6 11 FIFA 22 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 12 Far Cry 6 NBA 2K22 13 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy 14 Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order 15 DEATHLOOP Farming Simulator 22 16 Mortal Kombat 11 Resident Evil Village 17 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT 18 STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX | SIEGE 19 NHL 22 DEATHLOOP 20 Back 4 Blood Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/Canada EU 1 Among Us Among Us 2 Call of Duty: Vanguard FIFA 22 3 Grand Theft Auto V Call of Duty: Vanguard 4 Madden NFL 22 Grand Theft Auto V 5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Marvel’s Spider-Man 6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 7 NBA 2K22 Minecraft 8 Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach F1 2021 9 Minecraft Gran Turismo Sport 10 FIFA 22 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 11 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 12 Red Dead Redemption 2 Need for Speed Heat 13 Battlefield 2042 Farming Simulator 22 14 JUMP FORCE Red Dead Redemption 2 15 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship 16 theHunter: Call of the Wild Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach 17 ARK: Survival Evolved NBA 2K22 18 UFC 4 ARK: Survival Evolved 19 Mortal Kombat 11 JUMP FORCE 20 God of War Assassin’s Creed Valhalla *Naming of products may differ between regions PS VR Games US/Canada EU 1 Beat Saber Beat Saber 2 Job Simulator Job Simulator 3 SUPERHOT VR SUPERHOT VR 4 Swordsman VR Creed: Rise to Glory 5 Creed Rise to Glory Swordsman VR 6 Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality Marvel’s Iron Man VR 7 GORN Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality 8 After the Fall DOOM 3: VR Edition 9 Batman: Arkham VR DOOM VFR 10 Arizona Sunshine PlayStation VR Worlds Free-to-Play (PS5 + PS4) US/Canada EU 1 Fortnite Fortnite 2 Call of Duty: Warzone Rocket League 3 Rocket League Call of Duty: Warzone 4 Rec Room eFootball 2022 5 Apex Legends Genshin Impact 6 Genshin Impact Rec Room 7 Destiny 2 Brawlhalla 8 Brawlhalla Apex Legends 9 eFootball 2022 Destiny 2 10 Dauntless Dauntless View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Happy new year! The team settles into 2022 by sharing what they played over the holidays, and their favorite T-rated games. Stuff We Talked About PlayStation Blog Game of the Year 2021 winners PS Now January lineup PlayStation VR2 and Sense Controller Horizon Call of the Mountain Final Fantasy V Diablo II Resurrected Mega Man X Back 4 Blood Darkwood Multiple Resident Evils T-rated gaming recs The Cast Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, 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

2021 may be over, but we are still blown away by the incredible photo mode pictures and creative captures players shared throughout the year using #PSshare #PSBlog. Before the year was up, we asked you to share your favorite gaming moments of the year: MdeavorVP shares Selene fighting through the world of Returnal. Photoingame shares a portrait of Ratchet detailing his fur from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. NemesisNat shares a moment burning up in Red Dead Redemption 2. JRPyznar shares a striking pose from Mortal Shell. cryptic_vp shares a view from the top in Ghost of Tsushima. justinphotomode shares a spirited combat encounter from Kena: Bridge of Spirits. danvzrc shares a gray landscape from Death Stranding Director’s Cut. SindyJ_B shares some downtown architecture from The Matrix Awakens. DotPone shares a red-tinged portrait from Far Cry 6. 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: New Years Game SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on January 12, 2022 New year, new games to play! Share a moment from the first game you started playing in 2022 using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

The next chapter of Aloy’s story begins on February 18, and as she crosses into the frontier of the Forbidden West, she will encounter tribes both strange and familiar. From the border settlements of the Carja and Oseram, to the blighted fields of the Utaru in Plainsong, to the battle-worn Clan Lands of the Tenakth, new alliances and deadly enemies await. Join us as we take a closer look at the denizens of the frontier, their lands, and their customs – but do not expect to learn all their secrets. As Aloy will discover, the only way to unravel the mysteries of the Forbidden West is to explore it for yourself. Play Video View the full article

Pre-order for PS5 and PS4 software “Gran Turismo® 7” physical editions, which will be released on 4th March 2022, will be available from 7th January 2022 at all PlayStation Authorized Dealers and Sony Stores. Customers who pre-order any edition of “Gran Turismo® 7” physical edition will receive digital contents of 100,000 CR (in-game credit) and a Three-car pack*1, and stand a chance to receive physical premium – “Metal and Leather Keychain” by pre-ordering either the Standard Physical Edition or 25th Anniversary Edition (while stocks last). Please check with local retailers for details of the physical pre-order mechanic. The suggested retail price of Standard Physical Edition and 25th Anniversary Edition (PS5 & PS4) will be available at special prices as followed: Country Standard Physical Edition PS5 Standard Physical Edition PS4 25th Anniversary Edition PS5/PS4 Singapore SGD 97.90 SGD 79.90 SGD 123 Thailand THB 2,290 THB 1,990 THB 2,890 Malaysia RM 299 RM 249 RM 379 Indonesia IDR 1,029,000 IDR 879,000 IDR 1,329,000 Philippines PHP 3,490 PHP 2,990 PHP 4,490 Vietnam VND 1,799,000 VND 1,499,000 VND 2,299,000 Digital version pre-orders for “Gran Turismo® 7” are now available on PlayStation™Store (PS Store). You’ll have the option to choose between the Standard Digital Edition (PS5 / PS4) and 25th Anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition (PS5 & PS4) – both of which include the full game and the bonus incentives digital contents of 100,000 CR and a Three-car pack*1 for pre-order purchase. Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-sg/games/gran-turismo-7/ Pre-order any edition of “Gran Turismo® 7” to receive: 100,000 CR (in-game credit) *1 Three-car pack, including:*1MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT Stealth Model Porsche 917 LIVING LEGEND ’14 Toyota Supra GT500 ’97 (Castrol TOM’S) Standard Physical Edition PS5 / PS4 (Retail) Pre-order Bonus (Physical Premium): Metal and Leather Keychain Content: “Gran Turismo® 7” (Physical) PS5 or PS4 version Suggested Retail Price as followed: Country Standard Physical Edition PS5 Standard Physical Edition PS4 Singapore SGD 97.90 SGD 79.90 Thailand THB 2,290 THB 1,990 Malaysia RM 299 RM 249 Indonesia IDR 1,029,000 IDR 879,000 Philippines PHP 3,490 PHP 2,990 Vietnam VND 1,799,000 VND 1,499,000 25th Anniversary Edition PS5, PS4 (Retail) Pre-order Bonus (Physical Premium): Metal and Leather Keychain Content: “Gran Turismo® 7” PS5 Disc with PS4 Game Voucher*2 Exclusive SteelBook® case 1,000,000 CR (in-game credit) FIA Gran Turismo Championships World Series Model – Toyota GR Yaris with country-specific livery 30 manufacturer & partner PSN Avatars The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack Country Standard Physical Edition PS5 Standard Physical Edition PS4 Singapore SGD 123 SGD 123 Thailand THB 2,890 THB 2,890 Malaysia RM 379 RM 379 Indonesia IDR 1,329,000 IDR 1,329,000 Philippines PHP 4,490 – Vietnam VND 2,299,000 – Standard Digital Edition PS5 / PS4 (PS Store) PS5 Standard Digital Edition: Content: “Gran Turismo® 7” PS4 & PS5 PS4 Standard Digital Edition: Content: “Gran Turismo® 7” PS4 Country Standard Physical Edition PS5 Standard Physical Edition PS4 Singapore SGD 97.90 SGD 79.90 Thailand THB 2,290 THB 1,990 Malaysia RM 299 RM 249 Indonesia IDR 1,029,000 IDR 879,000 25th Anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition PS5, PS4 (PS Store) Content: Dual PS4 + PS5 Entitlement In-Game Credits – 1,500,000 CR Toyota GR Yaris with country specific Livery 30 Manufacturer / Partner Avatars The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack Country 25th Anniversary Edition PS5 Singapore SGD 123 Thailand THB 2,890 Malaysia RM 379 Indonesia IDR 1,329,000 Furthermore, there will be a digital upgrade option for upgrading from PS4 Standard Edition of “Gran Turismo®7” to the “Gran Turismo®7” PS5 Digital Standard Edition at the time of release*3 (SGD 18 / MYR 50 / IDR 150,000 / THB 300) *1 Internet connection required to download. *2 Digital version. Redeemable on PS Store. Account for PlayStation™ Network and internet connection required for voucher redemption. *3 To upgrade your “Gran Turismo®7” PS4 Standard Edition game on disc to the PS5 Digital Standard Edition, you will need a PS5 console with a disc drive. PS4 game discs can’t be used with the PS5 Digital Edition. View the full article

We put a lot of ‘new’ in Final Fantasy X. It was the first game in the Final Fantasy series to be built in full 3D, we introduced new types of presentation, a new battle system… it even came out on new hardware. It also spawned the first direct sequel in the series’ history – Final Fantasy X-2. This game was similarly fresh, and had a very different style, tone, and structure to the rest of the series. I worked as producer on Final Fantasy X and its sequel. With both available on PlayStation Now in Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster, I thought I’d share some memories of working on these very special games. Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X was the first game in the series to be developed for the PS2. There are always challenges and decisions to be made when working with new hardware, and that was certainly the case for Final Fantasy X. The PlayStation 2 effect One key decision we faced was around the visuals. Even though the PS2 offered a big increase in power from the original PlayStation, there was still a limit to the hardware specs, so to depict the new graphical style, we had to choose whether to prioritize resolution or the number of colors. Initially, we thought it would be beneficial to use more colors – we thought that would help us really depict the world of Spira in a vibrant way. However, when we looked at the trends in other companies’ games released while we were working on development, it became increasingly clear that fans were hoping for higher resolution next-gen games. As a result, we switched from focusing on the number of colors to making the game as high resolution as possible – and we did this about six months before the master deadline! This meant we had to make major modifications to the game we’d made so far, which was a big risk in terms of the schedule. Fortunately, our excellent programmers and designers did a wonderful job. In the end, a ‘high-res’ Final Fantasy X was born, and we were able to achieve the sort of high-end visuals you’d expect from a next- gen console. An in-Spira-ing world The new visual style added other challenges too. For example, Final Fantasy X was the first game in the series to not include a world map – this is because the game was built in full 3D, and that’s expensive! As game creators, we sometimes have to make decisions that balance game design with ballooning production costs. In this case, dropping the overworld map was the most realistic solution we had available. Our prior games, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII had been set in steampunk and science fiction-inspired worlds respectively, so we wanted to do something different. This might be also the reason why Art Director Yusuke Naora came up with the concept of having a world with an Asian feel to it, and that became the inspiration for Spira. New battle plans That wasn’t the only break from tradition introduced in Final Fantasy X either – we also reinvented the combat system. The previous few games had used the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, in which players could take actions whenever a bar filled in real-time. For the new game, we wanted to create battles with greater strategic depth than ever before. The designer who worked on the battle system had also worked on Front Mission, and he was very skilled at creating strategy games, so we moved to a turn-based system instead. We also changed how character progression works by introducing the Sphere Grid. This let players manually improve their characters by choosing upgrades from a grid. I’ve been a great fan of board games for a long time, and I wanted to recreate that analogue sensation of moving pieces and filling up the board with them. Making our voices heard One new feature that I was personally very passionate about was the introduction of voice acting. I mentioned this in my last blog, but I felt a bit dissatisfied with the fact that Final Fantasy VIII wasn’t voiced. We achieved more realistic visuals and sounds, but when I think about the scenes in that game, I believe they would have been even more emotional if there had been voice acting included. That was the driving force to make it happen for Final Fantasy X. Of course, this was the first time we’d ever recorded voiced lines, so it was a lot of work to get it to come to fruition. Nowadays, it’s the norm to get each cast member to go into the recording booth one at a time, and then record all their lines separately. However, back in the day we got multiple cast members to go into the studio at once and record the conversation scenes together. Because of this, I think that we were able to bring out natural performances, despite this being our first time doing it. Final (Fantasy) thoughts Ultimately, I’m proud of what we achieved with Final Fantasy X. I think it’s a landmark game – in terms of the scenario, graphics, camera work, sound, voices, and motion capture, it achieved the ideal cinematic quality that the Final Fantasy series had been aiming for. I think that the style perfected here helped to establish the look of future Final Fantasy games. One of which was Final Fantasy X-2. Final Fantasy X-2 After Final Fantasy X, we started to feel like we didn’t want the world of Spira and its characters to be over in one chapter, and we wanted to let them take center stage and flesh them out even more. That’s why we started production on Final Fantasy X-2 – the first direct sequel in the series’ history. We decided to explore a world that had become peaceful after the events of the previous game and tell a different kind of story. Rather than the theme from the previous story that delves into particular relationships, such as between a man and woman or parent and child, we wanted a bright and light-hearted narrative that would give the game a cheery tone. The Gullwings assemble That upbeat attitude was reflected in the game’s playable characters. Unlike previous games in the series, Final Fantasy X-2 has an all-female party: Yuna, Rikku and a new character, Paine. Many games at the time, not just Final Fantasy, had male protagonists and I wanted to tell a story with Yuna as a strong female character. I thought that would strike a chord with even more players. The tone is further reinforced by the structure of the game. Unlike the Final Fantasy X, in which you follow the drama in a linear fashion, the quests in Final Fantasy X-2 can be accessed in any order. To increase the variety even more, we increased the number of minigames available in the game. I recall that the most challenging to make was Sphere Break – a strategically deep coin game. A single game designer working on the game everything, including the programming, single-handedly! Dress to impress When it came to combat, Final Fantasy X-2 moved to a new version of the ATB system, which let players time their attacks for combos and more effective attacks. You may be wondering: why the change from the prior game’s systems? It’s because the designer for the battles changed! The assistant game designer from Final Fantasy X became the lead for its sequel, and he wanted to use a different system. A big element of the new system were dresspheres, which allowed the party to seamlessly switch between different roles in combat. For example, Yuna could change from a damage-dealing Gunner to healing White Mage, a Thief or many more options in the heat of combat – each accompanied with a flashy outfit change. This system came about partly as a result of the story of the original Final Fantasy X. In that game, Summons end up disappearing from the world, so the transformations were a way to work in the spectacular visual effects players had come to expect. For the animations themselves we looked to a genre of kids’ TV shows in Japan, in which the heroes transform or take on a new form. The best part of each episode is when the character transforms with a dynamic performance, and we took inspiration from this. What’s in a name? It may sound odd, but one of the biggest challenges we faced when making Final Fantasy X-2 was what to call it. Having a sequel to a mainline game was unheard of, and when we suggested “X-2” the company was initially worried that it would be mistaken for Final Fantasy XII and turned it down. Since then, they’ve grown fond of it of course. Ultimately the game proved more divisive than other Final Fantasy games – I suspect that’s due in part to the fact that its bright and poppy direction gives it a very different flavor to other entries in the series. But I think the way that Final Fantasy games try to break away from preconceived ideas is something truly wonderful about the series – and Final Fantasy X-2 is a perfect example of that. Both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 are available to stream and download with PlayStation Now. View the full article

With only a few more weeks to go until Horizon Forbidden West (launching February 18, 2022), we’re thrilled to reveal that we’ll soon be journeying back out into the wilds in a brand-new adventure, with Horizon Call of the Mountain. Created for PlayStation VR2, this unique experience has been designed to push hardware technology, innovation, and gameplay. The stunning visuals and brand-new PS VR2 Sense controllers give a new meaning to being fully immersed into the world of Horizon. We don’t want to reveal too much just yet, but this story will be told through the eyes of an entirely new character. You will also meet Aloy, other familiar faces, and new characters along the way, and we’ll be introducing you to the protagonist of Horizon Call of the Mountain soon. We’re looking forward to welcoming VR fans into our wonderful Horizon community, and giving you all an unforgettable experience. Horizon Call of the Mountain has been proudly developed with the team at Firesprite, and we’ll soon be revealing more about what you can expect from the game. Until then, check out the teaser trailer! View the full article

Happy New Year everyone. It is my great pleasure to start off 2022 with news on our next generation virtual reality system for the PS5 console, starting with the official name: PlayStation VR2, and our new VR controller, PlayStation VR2 Sense controller. PlayStation VR2 takes VR gaming to a whole new level, enabling a greater sense of presence and allowing players to escape into game worlds like never before. With the headset on and controllers in hand, players will feel a heightened range of sensations unlike any other – thanks to the creativity of the game worlds being built by our world class developers, and the latest technology incorporated into the hardware. Building upon our innovations from PS5, PlayStation VR2 adds a true next-gen experience with high-fidelity visuals, new sensory features, and enhanced tracking – along with a simplified single-cord setup. Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering. With an OLED display, players can expect a display resolution of 2000×2040 per eye and smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz. Headset-based Controller Tracking: With inside-out tracking, PS VR2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the VR headset. Your movements and the direction you look at are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera. New Sensory Features: PS VR2 Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions from the player. It’s created by a single built-in motor with vibrations that add an intelligent tactile element, bringing players closer to the gameplay experience. For example, gamers can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, or the thrust of a vehicle as the character speeds forward. Additionally, PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech makes sounds in the player’s surroundings come alive, adding to this new level of immersion. Eye Tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 detects the motion of your eyes, so a simple look in a specific direction can create an additional input for the game character. This allows players to interact more intuitively in new and lifelike ways, allowing for a heightened emotional response and enhanced expression that provide a new level of realism in gaming. All of these advancements in PlayStation VR2, combined with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers from the PS VR2 Sense controllers, enable players to feel and interact with games in a much more visceral way. PS VR2 will also have a simple setup process — with a single cable connected directly to PS5, you can immediately jump into the VR experience. Today we are also pleased to reveal that one of the biggest exclusive franchises on PlayStation will be coming to PS VR2 – Horizon Call of the Mountain from Guerrilla and Firesprite. This original game is being built specifically for PS VR2 and will open the doors for players to go deeper into the world of Horizon. I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s exciting updates. Just remember, this is only a taste of things to come, and I can’t wait to share more details with you about PS VR2. In the meantime, below is the list of official specifications. PlayStation VR2 Specifications Display method​ OLED Panel resolution​ 2000 x 2040 per eye Panel refresh rate​ 90Hz, 120Hz Lens separation​ Adjustable Field of View​ Approx. 110 degrees Sensors​ Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)​ Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor Cameras​ 4 cameras for headset and controller tracking​IR camera for eye tracking per eye Feedback​ Vibration on headset Communication​ with PS5 USB Type-C® Audio​ Input: Built-in microphone​Output: Stereo headphone jack PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers Specifications Buttons​ ​ PS button, Options button, Action buttons (Circle / Cross), R1 button, R2 button, Right Stick / R3 button ​ ​ PS button, Create button, Action buttons (Triangle / Square), L1 button, L2 button, Left Stick / L3 button Sensing/ Tracking Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope + three-axis accelerometer) Capacitive Sensor: Finger Touch DetectionIR LED: Position Tracking Feedback ​ Trigger Effect (on R2/L2 button), Haptic Feedback (by single actuator per unit) Port USB Type-C® Port Communication​ Bluetooth® Ver5.1​ Battery​ Type: Built-in Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery​ View the full article

PlayStation Now is kicking off the new year with six distinct games, all playable starting tomorrow, January 4. Let’s get straight in with a closer look at each title. Play Video Mortal Kombat 11 Enter a new era of kombat with the 11th installment of the iconic fighting franchise – and reveal the consequences of Raiden’s actions dating back to the dawn of the bone-crunching series. Witness the manipulation of time itself as new characters enter the fray with the power to twist the flow of the battle, buy themselves precious seconds, and get the upper hand. Battle-hardened warriors encounter their former selves, Time Quakes shake up matches, and everything you thought you knew about Mortal Kombat will be challenged as the all-powerful force behind the brutal tournament reveals herself. Play Video Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Enter an era of war within the world of Ivalice. The small kingdom of Dalmasca, conquered by the Archadian Empire, is left in ruin and uncertainty. Princess Ashe, the one and only heir to the throne, devotes herself to the resistance to liberate her country. Vaan, a young man who lost his family in the war, dreams of flying freely in the skies. In a fight for freedom and fallen royalty, join these unlikely allies and their companions as they embark on a heroic adventure to free their homeland. Play Video Fury Unleashed Shoot your way through the pages of an ever-changing comic book in this fast-paced roguelike. Play solo, in local or online co-op, expand your weaponry, and upgrade your hero with each run. All that to find out why your creator has lost his faith in you and to prove him wrong. Unturned Assume the role of a survivor in the open world sandbox, zombie-infested ruins of modern-day society. Work with your friends and forge alliances to remain among the living. Find weapons and supplies to survive against the zombies and gain experience points which can be used for upgrades while you progress through the game. Survive online and battle together with up to 24 friends thanks to dedicated servers or share the adventure at home in split-screen multiplayer. Play Video Super Time Force Ultra Super Time Force Ultra is an action-packed platformer with a time-traveling twist! You’re in control of time itself, bending and stretching it to your advantage on the battlefield. Rewind time and choose when to jump back into the action, teaming-up with your past selves in a unique single-player co-op experience! Take control of up to 19 unique characters, and battle across six different time periods, from the long-ago past to the far-away future. Play Video Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics. Launch your Kerbal crew into orbit and beyond (while keeping them alive) to explore moons and planets in the Kerbol solar system, constructing bases and space stations to expand the reach of your expedition. View the full article

Alright gang, let’s do this one more time. The polls have officially opened for the final Players’ Choice poll of 2021! You’d be forgiven for assuming December was a quieter month, but we were graced by the release of long awaited titles like Among Us, Solar Ash, Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach, Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker, and more. We’ll close the polls at 11:59pm Pacific on Sunday, January 9, so get your vote in before then. Welcome to 2022! How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Demon’s Souls and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. View the full article

Hello everyone, how was your 2021? For me, 2021 has given me opportunities to play more games than in previous years, as having access to PlayStation 5 has not only removed most of the wait time to get into the games I want to play, but also their loading times thanks to the console’s blazingly fast SSD. Throughout the year, we have seen lots of amazing, charming, beautiful and totally engaging indie games on PS4, PS VR and PS5. Here are 12 of my personal favourites. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights This beautiful yet oppressive Japanese explorative platformer has an interesting approach to combat: discover downed knights and cleanse their souls to have them fight for you, while defeating certain enemies allows you to adopt their abilities for your own use. Play Video Chicory: A Colorful Tale At first glance Chicory may seem like an interactive coloring book, yet at its heart lies an engaging adventure. The story’s themes – self-doubt, redemption – are universally relatable. Play Video Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Of all the games I’ve played this year, this one left the biggest mark. It’s also the one game I can’t reveal much about without spoiling some of the huge twists and turns that await you. I’ll say this only: don’t be deceived by its dating sim-like appearance. Play Video Puzzling Places This photogrammetry-powered puzzler challenges you to recreate various real-world places by picking up – and putting together – their fragmented parts like a jigsaw puzzle in VR. Play Video F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch A game featuring a heroic rabbit with a huge mechanical fist attached on his back needs to offer satisfying melee combat, and this delivers. (And the dieselpunk Shanghai-inspired aesthetic is beautiful.) Play Video Hades Everything about Supergiant Games’s roguelike is sublime: razor-sharp combat, superb gameplay mechanics, captivating characters, amazing voice-acting… you cannot stop playing. It’s a perfect game. Play Video Kena: Bridge of Spirits A third person action-adventure game with beautiful character animation and engaging combat. You collect “Rot” – cute little creatures – to aid you in combat and puzzle solving. Play Video Song in the Smoke A PS VR game set in a prehistoric era in which staying alive hinges on your ability to craft, hunt, and fight. Encounter fearsome creatures and soak in the sights of this atmospheric survival sim. Play Video Jett: The Far Shore The first 30 minutes of this game is the most cinematic opening of any game released this year and perfectly sets up your role as your civilisation’s chosen one who is tasked to survive in a new colony. Play Video Death’s Door This isometric action adventure mixes varied combat scenarios with light puzzles for an engaging story set in the afterlife. Play Video Solar Ash Glide across clouds and grind on rails in a fantastical sc-fi world. Between combating foes and defeating leviathan-sized bosses, exploration will yield collectables and deepen the story of this world’s past. Play Video Among Us One of the most fun multiplayer experiences I’ve had this year. Try and work out who on your spaceship crew is helping prep for launch, and who are imposters intent on killing you all. View the full article