Commander Fury

Let’s start the New Year’s celebrations off early with the announcement of the trio of PlayStation Plus games you’ll be able to enjoy on Tuesday, January 4. Available to add to your game library until Tuesday, February 1 are Persona 5 Strikers, Dirt 5 and Deep Rock Galactic. Let’s take a closer look at each. Play Video Persona 5 Strikers | PS4 Jump into the stylish world of Persona in an all-new story featuring the Phantom Thieves as they embark on an epic road trip across Japan. A summer vacation with close friends takes a sudden turn as a distorted reality emerges, thrusting you in an epic tale as you strike back against the corruption overtaking cities. Dynamically control your team during explosive action combat as you reveal the truth and redeem the hearts of those imprisoned at the centre of the crisis. Play Video Dirt 5 | PS4 & PS5 Conquer stunning global routes and drive an iconic roster of cars in an amplified off-road racing experience. Let loose in the boldest off-road racing experience ever, with a star-studded Career, four-player split-screen, online multiplayer*, Playgrounds creator mode and more. Blaze a trail on global tracks, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes. Race on over 70 routes across 10 global locations – from New York’s frozen East River, to the glimmer of Norway’s Northern Lights. Play Video Deep Rock Galactic | PS4 & PS5 Deep Rock Galactic is a 1-4 player* co-op FPS featuring badass space Dwarves, 100% destructible environments, procedurally-generated caves, and endless hordes of alien monsters. Work together as a team to dig, explore, and fight your way through a massive cave system filled with hordes of deadly enemies and valuable resources. You will need to rely on your teammates if you want to survive the most hostile cave systems in the galaxy. Last chance to download December’s PlayStation Plus games Remember: you’ve until the end of Monday January 3 to add not only Godfall: Challenger Edition, Lego DC Super Villains and Mortal Shell to your game library, but also the three bonus PS VR games**: The Persistence, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition and Until You Fall. *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* **PS VR headset, PS Camera for PS4 console, and PS4 or PS5 console required to experience VR functionality. PS5 console owners require a PlayStation Camera adaptor to use PS VR on the PlayStation 5 console (No purchase required. Visit here for details). DS4 wireless controller recommended. The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners and Until You Fall require PS VR and PS Move controllers. View the full article

Just like that, 2021 came and went. A veritable smorgasbord of great games is left in its wake. We fought through vicious timeloops, battled werewolves, leapt across colorful platforming worlds, and so much more. Throughout the year, PlayStation teammates selected their favorite titles to join the top-tier Editors’ Choice halls. To mark the end of a great year for game releases, we’re reflecting on several titles that were entered into the Editors’ Choice pantheon. Let’s dive in. Hitman 3 January 20, 2021 Agent 47 marks his return in IO Interactive’s excellent stealth assassination sequel. The adaptive operator lurks across a variety of colorful locales, from thrumming underground clubs to posh vineyards (complete with irresistibly lethal grape-pressing machinery). The Dartmoor stage is a standout – a murder mystery set within a sprawling mansion where Agent 47 can assume the role of detective. Whether your preference is free-style chaos or following subtle mission guidance, Hitman 3 keeps the sneaky experience fresh from start to finish. It Takes Two March 26, 2021 This asymmetrical co-op platformer hits the genre’s high notes: variety, a swift pace, and critical collaboration. One moment players are fighting off enemy squirrels aboard a toy plane, and the next they’re tossing nails like javelins to create a path for their partner. You might not expect laughs and light-hearted fun from a tale about two parents and their little one processing an impending divorce, yet Developer Hazelight delivers. Notably, developer Hazelight’s impressive accomplishment has been recognized with The Game Awards 2021’s Game of the Year award. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut March 30, 2021 Detective Harry Du Bois has hit rock bottom, and it’s up to players to guide his bumbling path through the tarnished sci-fi world of Revachol. Developer ZA/UM has crafted rich characters and immersive scenarios that are easy to get lost in. The story threads are diverse and rich, whether you’re helping Harry solve the central murder case, or pursing tangents with a passionate cryptozooligist. The PlayStation release of the game also features robust voice acting that further brings the unique world to life. If you love a memorable story, don’t pass up this gritty, introspective adventure. Returnal April 30, 2021 Housemarque wowed PS5 owners with this highly polished, highly replayable sci-fi roguelike. Precision controls, moody atmosphere, and challenging combat makes starting each new cycle more irresistible than the last. Protagonist Selene’s arsenal, from the humble-yet-potent pistol to the auto-targeting Hollowseeker are top-class proof points of the DualSense wireless controller’s immersive haptics and triggers. Returnal is a defining PS5 experience that all bold adventurers should embark on. Resident Evil Village May 6, 2021 Capcom’s next entry in the unstoppable survival horror series is an inspired evolution of RE7’s first-person gameplay and RE4’s iconic world design. Protagonist Ethan Winters risks life and limb to rescue his daughter, wielding and upgrading a range of powerful weapons, from shotguns that kick like mules to hand cannons that make short work of hulking wolf creatures. A rogue’s gallery of villains impede Ethan’s quest, from the intoxicatingly lethal Lady Dimitrescu to the gear-headed Heisenberg. Whether you’re a newcomer to the RE series or have been following it since the Spencer Mansion, this is one of the most exciting titles in the series yet. Chicory: A Colorful Tale June 10, 2021 Developer Greg Lobanov and his team combine the simple pleasures of coloring books with classic top-down action exploration. Wield a magical brush to splash life back into the world, solve environmental puzzles, and tackle some memorably challenging boss battles. Despite its cheery exterior, Chicory also tackles the deeper topic of imposter syndrome with a nuanced and heartfelt approach. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart June 11, 2021 Insomniac delivers a tour de force showcase of the PS5’s robust power. The super-fast SSD transports a set of heroic Lombaxes and their robotic companions across dimensions in a snap. The DualSense controller makes Insomniac’s signature weapons sing – you’ll feel the difference in the triggers and haptics whether freezing enemies with the Cold Snap or blasting off Void Repulsor rounds. Combine all this with striking character animations, richly detailed worlds, and a touching story of companionship, and you’ve got one of 2021’s most memorable games. Doki Doki Literature Club June 30, 2021 And now, a Doki Doki Literature Club Editor’s Choice poem from PlayStation’s Kristen Zitani: From schoolhouse hall to end o’ day poem In this Literature Club you will meet Four girls who stir hearts not with a low hum But with a terrible and creeping beat A visual novel but with a twist Building friendships and poetry writing Try to choose one but you cannot resist A subversive spin, so uninviting Adorable girls with rhyme schemes to match Gave way to darker narrative designs You should play more than once to truly catch Yourself in this indie’s digital vines Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Is a psychological horror must Hades August 13, 2021 Greek myth collides with roguelike game design to astounding effect. Supergiant’s latest release features buttery smooth gameplay, whether you wield Zag’s trusty blade, powerful bow, or any of his other legendary weapons. Player choice permeates the experience, from choosing boons (Athena’s deflecting dash for life!) to purchasing permanent upgrades like damage output or the ability to defy death. A cast of memorable, multifaceted characters with dizzying amounts of dialogue add depth and charisma to each run. Want to shoot the breeze with first boss Megaera? Go for it. Make sure you’ve got plenty of time to spare when you pick up the controller to play, because this is an Editors’ Choice pick that’s difficult to put down. Kena: Bridge of Spirits September 21, 2021 The debut title from indie developer Ember Labs immediately impresses with strikingly designed characters boasting intricate animations. The expressive (and highly collectable) Rot immediately tug at the heartstrings. Charming looks can be deceiving, though, as enemy encounters and boss battles with corrupted creatures force players to parry, counter, and dodge with accuracy. The beautiful-yet-challenging game rewards players with heartfelt story beats and relaxing exploration and puzzles to even out the experience. Psychonauts 2 August 25, 2021 Double Fine’s cerebral sequel is one of the studio’s best titles yet. Raz dives into the colorful minds of his teammates and adversarie alike, from tooth-riddled dental nightmares to a bowling-inspired city lousy with germs. Acrobatically exploring these creative worlds is a platforming joy. Raz’s abilities, like floating or rolling on a bouncing ball, feel smooth and responsive. Double Fine also weaves an engaging tale, balancing trademark humor with touching moments. While fans of the original Psychonaus and PS VR Rhombus of Ruin game will get lots out of this sequel, it’s also accessible and worthwhile to series newcomers – so be sure to dive in. Little Nightmares II August 25, 2021 The world of this side-scrolling horror title may be grimy and unnerving, but you’ll have trouble looking away until the credits roll. Tarsier Studios has crafted a variety of engaging environmental puzzles to keep the heart racing, from scaling book towers to escape a terrifying teacher to unlocking hidden doorways with the perfect chess move. The protagonist from the first title returns as an AI companion, who you can even hold hands with for a little extra comfort. You might need it, since this Editors’ Choice pick packs chills to spare. Life is Strange: True Colors September 9, 2021 Alex’s story in Life is Strange: True Colors is an emotional one. Not only is she trying to uncover the truth behind her brother’s death, but emotions also play a central role in the gameplay itself. Colorful auras offer information to players about whether a character is getting angry (red), feeling sad (blue), being joyful (gold), and so on. This vivid new mechanic and the story’s unexpected twists and turns blend into an unforgettable tale. Deck Nine’s narrative-driven adventure is a must-play for fans of nuanced characters and considered dialogue options. Tales of Arise September 10, 2021 The Tales series has long been known for its flashy battles and chatty ensemble casts. Tales of Arise doubles down on these traits with eye-popping effects that throw every color of the rainbow at the screen, then brilliantly contrasts those over-the-top confrontations with intimate interpersonal conversations between each party member. By the time you cross the 20, 30, even 40 hour mark, the entire crew feels fleshed out not only as individuals, but also as a unit. A moving story, solid battle system, and a cast you care about? Honestly, what more could you want from a JRPG? Deathloop September 14, 2021 Colt desperately wants to destroy the time loop he’s stuck in, but players might feel differently. Waking up for each new day on Blackreef is an exciting opportunity to gather new weapons, skills, and intel about the masterminds on Colt’s hitlist. Akrane Studios delivers a stylish, ‘60s-inspired world oozing with personality and opportunities to flex Colt’s tricks. Players can blink across gaps, go invisible, link enemies’ HP bars to deal group damage, and unleash all kinds of havoc upon unwitting foes. The sting of death is tempered by the promise of carrying over certain items and abilities, plus knowledge that might let you better get the drop on enemies next time. Just watch out for Julianna, who may invade your game as a player or AI-controlled hunter. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy October 26, 2021 Star-Lord, Drax, Groot, Rocket, and Gamora unite in a fresh vision from Eidos-Montreal. Players control Star-Lord, leader of the Guardians, dishing out damage with his elemental blasters while issuing commands to his (sometimes) trusty comrades. Want Groot to create a root bridge across a chasm, or Gamora to sever the tentacles of a monstrous foe? Their satisfying powers are at your fingertips. In addition to the spectacular action, stunning vistas, and engaging story, Peter Quills’ mixtapes are packed with ‘80s hits to set the triumphant mood. Death’s Door November 11, 2021 Who knew reaping souls could be such cozy business? Acid Nerve, the dev team behind Titan Souls, delivers an inviting adventure that expertly blends mellow exploration with demanding boss battles. If you’re struggling to take down an intimidating witch boss, scour the lands for hidden upgrades to health, projecticles, and abilities including a handy grappling hook. Combat in Death’s Door always feels fair, while remaining fast-paced and satisfying. Once the credits roll, you may find yourself looking for excuses to remain in the captivating world. What were your favorite games of 2021? Sounds off in the comments below. View the full article

Greetings, Travelers! It’s a great honor for me and the entire dev team to walk you through Version 2.4 Fleeting Colors in Flight, the first update of 2022 coming on January 5. As New Year is also approaching in the world of Teyvat, we’d like to invite you to Liyue’s Lantern Rite. Join Shenhe, Yun Jin, and our old friends in rebuilding the Jade Chamber, and gain rich rewards including 10 Intertwined Fates and a free four-star Liyue character of your choice. To add to the excitement, beneath the still waters around Watatsumi Island lies a new realm. Sealed away for thousands of years, the now-awakened Enkanomiya calls out for a hero. Rebuild and Rejoice at Lantern Rite As the biggest annual festival in Liyue, the Lantern Rite is a time for people to gather together to honor their heroes and embrace the future with their best wishes. On the day of the festival, the night sky of Liyue Harbor will be lit up with thousands of Xiao Lanterns released from every household, followed by a grand fireworks show. The bustling streets of Liyue will once again be lined with a variety of vendors and stalls, bringing a host of new festivities to those celebrating the holiday. You can try your hand at making sparkling fireworks or participate in the popular lantern riddle-guessing event. In addition to the grand celebrations, the Jade Chamber will also be given a new lease of life at this time. This magnificent airborne palace was destroyed to defeat the ancient god and sea monster Osial during the past Archon Quest. As Ningguang and many others are busy reconstructing the Jade Chamber, you can also pitch in to help retrieve lost items. Some can be salvaged with the Waverider, while others need to be retrieved from the Treasure Hoarders. You can hunt down elite Treasure Hoarders in their encampments, or intercept their transport balloons that are transferring supplies at sea. Reconnect with the People in Liyue Among those rebuilding the Jade Chamber, you will meet our new characters Shenhe and Yun Jin, as well as many old friends in Liyue. Some also get a new look with the upcoming update. Often mistaken as an adeptus, our new five-star character Shenhe actually comes from a family of exorcists. However, Shenhe had been raised by Cloud Retainer as her disciple at an early age, and she does not understand the intricacies of human relations nor the ways of the world. In combat, Shenhe wields the power of Cryo and a polearm. She can summon a Talisman Spirit and become a strong support to boost the team’s damage. Both Shenhe’s Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst can help her party deal increased Cryo damage. With her Elemental Skill and Passive Talent, you can further choose to boost all nearby party members’ Elemental Skill and Burst damage, or their Normal, Plunging, and Charged Attack damage. Our next new character Yun Jin is a four-star Geo polearm user, and she can be a strong support to those who favor Normal Attacks. Her Elemental Skill can shield herself and charge up for a more powerful strike. Her Elemental Burst will cause AoE Geo DMG and grant all nearby teammates a Flying Cloud Flag Formation, boosting their Normal Attack based on Yun Jin’s Defense. Meanwhile, the buff provided by the Flying Cloud Flag Formation can be further increased if you have a variety of Visions in your party. To better portray Yun Jin as an opera master, we’ve invited Peking Opera Artist 杨扬 (Yang Yang) to voice her opera performances, alongside excellent voice actors of different languages to deliver her dialogue in daily life. Shenhe and Yun Jin will be available in the first Event Wish, coinciding with Xiao‘s Event Wish. Zhongli and Ganyu will each have their own Event Wish open in the later stage of Version 2.4. To recruit more Liyue characters, complete certain requirements during the Lantern Rite and obtain one of the eight four-star Liyue characters including Yun Jin for free. In addition, Ningguang’s new outfit Orchid’s Evening Gown can also be redeemed for free during the Lantern Rite. Keqing’s new outfit Opulent Splendor will be on sale with a limited-time discount. Revealing the Truth Behind Enkanomiya Travelers who’ve visited Watatsumi Island may have heard of an underwater nation that has been sealed away for thousands of years. Legend has it that the ancestors of the island lived here before moving to the surface under the leadership of Orobashi, the serpent god who was later slain at Yashiori Island. You can obtain the Key of the Moon-Bathed Deep with Shrine Maiden Tsuyuko and explore the ruins of an ancient civilization that is older than any other ruin you can see on land. Unlike the other islands in Inazuma, Enkanomiya is a huge floating island located beneath the ocean. Though located on Teyvat, the depths of Enkanomiya are somehow disconnected from this world, constantly eroded by the Abyss. Deprived of sunlight, there was no day or night in Enkanomiya until the rise of an ancient civilization. Using advanced technology and help from Orobashi, the people of Enkanomiya created an artificial sun, Dainichi Mikoshi, which lit up the dark depths. Clues to this lost civilization are buried in the ruins of the abandoned library, shrines, laboratory, and the city’s remains. As you delve into the depths of Enkanomiya, the transition switch between day and night through Dainichi Mikoshi is the key to solving many puzzles. Also, beware of Bathysmal Vishaps and the new Abyss Lector on your quest. Bathysmal Vishaps are extremely dangerous predators living in the dark waters. Pack members hunt together and can take advantage of their surroundings in combat. The Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames can unleash Pyro attacks that deal delayed bursts of damage regardless if characters are shielded or not. Optimizations and More Before we conclude the sharing for Version 2.4, we would like to inform you that we have been improving Genshin Impact’s performance on console. With Version 2.4, you can customize the keys on the shortcut wheel of your controller. Since Version 2.3, we’ve also introduced a new technique to achieve softer shadows, which we hope will bring a more realistic visual perception and immersion in the game world. Soft shadows provide important cues about the distance between objects. When an object is further away from another object that its shadow is cast on, its shadow becomes softer and blurrier. For example, when sunlight falls diagonally across a door frame on the ground, the darker shadow cast by the door frame becomes lighter and softer as it extends to the further end. The distant tree casts an even blurrier shadow on the ground. Last but not least, we’d like to express our deepest gratitude to those who’ve been with us in the Lantern Rite last year, as well as to all of our new players who have just arrived in the world of Teyvat. We look forward to spending another year full of exciting adventures with every one of you! View the full article

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles, the video game adaptation of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime, is now on sale for the PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5! Post-launch Update for Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles added Rui, Akaza, Yahaba, Susamaru, Enmu, and Yushiro & Tamayo to Versus Mode as playable characters! ■Rui (Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama) Lower Five of the “Twelve Kizuki”, servants of Muzan Kibutsuji. He operates out of Mount Natagumo, and is a demon with a childlike appearance. He masterfully wields his sharp and sturdy threads of steel, while also maintaining control over his “family” through fear. Play Video ■Akaza (Voiced by: Akira Ishida) Upper Three of the “Twelve Kizuki”, servants of Muzan Kibutsuji. He’s a fighter who only wishes to reach the peak of his strength. He relishes battles against powerful opponents and greatly detests those he considers weak. Play Video ■Yahaba (Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama) A demon who teamed up with Susamaru to attack Tanjiro in Asakusa under Kibutsuji’s orders. He has eyes on both hands and can generate arrows that manipulate directional forces with his Blood Demon Art. Play Video ■Susamaru (Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu) A demon who teamed up with Yahaba to attack Tanjiro in Asakusa under Kibutsuji’s orders. She has the appearance of a young girl and unleashes devastating attacks when throwing her mari. Play Video ■Enmu (Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa) Lower One of the Twelve Kizuki, who serve under Kibutsuji’s direct command. He has a twisted personality and savors the sight of people’s sorrow and grief. After being granted blood from Kibutsuji himself, he attacked Tanjiro and the other Demon Slayers who went aboard the Mugen Train. Play Video ■Yushiro & Tamayo Tamayo researches demons with the hope of taking revenge on Kibutsuji, the man who turned her into one. Yushiro is a young man whose life was saved by Tamayo by turning him into a demon – her only successful attempt thus far in her research. Play Video ■Game Modes ＜Adventure Mode＞ In Adventure Mode, follow Tanjiro Kamado through the story from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime by diving in and taking control yourself! This game includes the events of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc where Tanjiro would begin his journey, join the Demon Slayer Corps and fight a variety of demons, as well as Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train where he was accompanied by the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku! The fights against the demons from the anime are given new life with incredible graphics! ＜Versus Mode＞ 12 characters from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime, including Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado, are joined by 6 characters from the series’ official spinoff, Junior High and High School!! Kimetsu Academy Story, for a total of 18 characters where you can choose any combination of 2 characters to take part in battles! Also, as part of free Post-launch Updates, Rui & Akaza (Update #1), Yahaba & Susamaru (Update #2), as well as Enmu & Yushiro/Tamayo (Update #3) were added as playable characters for Versus Mode. 【Specs】 Title: Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Genre: Demon-slaying Action Players: 1-2 (online mode available) Release Date：Available now Official Website: http://asia.sega.com/kimetsu_hinokami/en/ ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable ©DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES COMMITTEE ※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region. ※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice. View the full article

Nier’s universe is a weird and wonderful one. Born of what was initially thought a joke ending to 2003’s PlayStation 2 title Drakengard, Nier’s intricate story can be pieced together from delightful lore segments extending across guidebooks, novellas, concerts, and even stage plays. The Mermaid chapter, one of the brand-new additions to be found in the upgraded version of NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 is one such tidbit of lore, originally released as light novella to be found in the original game’s official guide. In this brand-new addition to the game, we follow the story of a young girl stranded on a shipwreck, a wonderfully-written melancholy segment that culminates in a breathtaking, action-packed boss battle. Always intrigued by Yoko Taro’s story-telling prowess, we had the opportunity to ask the creator a few questions about this chapter and his approach to lore in the NieR series… The Mermaid chapter is very reminiscent of The Little Mermaid novella in Grimoire Nier. Was this story meant for the original game in 2010? Can you tell us a little bit about how the creative process was when the story was originally written? Yoko Taro: We were planning to include this in the original game. But, due to budget constraints, we were not able to make it happen. As for the novella, I figured, ‘I did spend the time to come up with the idea, so maybe I can put it in as a bonus content in the concept book… Besides, unlike games, a novel doesn’t require you to think about budget’ and so I wrote it without thinking too deeply on it. But, little did I know, it would be turned into a game ten years later. Whether The Little Mermaid story originally meant as a novella or as a segment of the game, how do you go about converting something originally meant as a novella to gameplay, or vice-versa? Novels and games are media with different characteristics. For example, in a novel, it is understood that ‘anything that is not explicitly written is left up to the imagination,’ whereas in a game everything is visible, and so we’d have to depict things like ‘When character A is carrying on with this conversation, what is character B doing?,’ which requires additional resources. This time, as this was originally ‘a plot for a game that was scrapped’ that went from ‘novella’ to ‘being implemented into a game,’ it was relatively a smooth transition. But, generally speaking, it tends to be more of a hassle to go from ‘novel to game’ compared to ‘game to novel’… Or… at least that’s the kind of struggle that our young director, Mr. Saki Ito had to go through, while I munched on some snacks and took a nap. There are a few other novellas in Grimoire Nier, why did you choose to include The Little Mermaid story specifically? That is due to the other novellas not being intended to be included in the original game to begin with. Now, the other additional episode, ‘The Lost World,’ was originally created as a ‘backup plan if Square Enix rejected my idea to delete players’ save data.’ (But, at that time, it did not get rejected, so we didn’t include it into the previous version. And in ver.1.22… Producer Yosuke Saito told me ‘this is meant to be fan service, so put it in.’ I’m a slave of capitalism, so didn’t question it and did as I was told.) From the initial idea to its application throughout the very climatic phases of the boss battle, how did you go about planning the music for this particular segment? From the early stages of making Nier, I thought, ‘I want to make a game in which the music is very important,’ and so, I asked my friend Mr. Keiichi Okabe to create the songs. He’s a greedy composer, but at the same time he’s a wonderful artisan who would do anything if you pay him enough. As for how I make my requests, I would send him YouTube URLs and tell him ‘please make a song like this.’ My apologies that it’s nothing fantastical. For ‘The Little Mermaid’, I asked a young creator on the Nier Scenario Team, Mr. Wada, to select the song from YouTube. I think it came out well. By the way, Mr. Wada has the nickname ‘gentle world’. Aside from Grimoire Nier’s novellas, you’ve also contributed several stage plays, full crossovers with other games, and other forms of lore to be found in different media, most of which you’ve confirmed are canon. In general, how do you approach and expand upon Nier’s lore in other media? I try not to enforce the lore so strictly. We’ve made it public that the world of Nier is a multi-dimensional universe, and I believe the story and characters should fit into each medium appropriately. What’s important is the player’s experience, and not protecting the lore. Oh, I just said something really nice here, so, could you note this in bold letters? What’s that? Yes, that’s right, where I said: ‘What’s important is the player’s experience.’ Thank you kindly. A lot of your inspiration seems to stem from old fairy tale stories. Is there something specific to them that attracts you to adapting them? For NieR Replicant, its very initial concept was ‘a story of (existing) fairy tale villains.’ Perhaps there are remnants of that. SINoALICE came about when the producer said, ‘I want Alice to be a theme in this story.’ I’m sorry, for this interview, should I have been more artist-like and provided more stylish answers? If that is the case, then perhaps could the PS Blog writer please tweak the text with more difficult keywords… like, I dunno, ‘the tragedy seen through Shakespeare’ or ‘the dependency on existentialism’ – something that would make me sound more like a stylish and smart creator? Thank you kindly. NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 is currently part of PlayStation Store’s Holiday Sales promotion until January 7. Find out more here. Editor’s note: stylish and smart creator Yoko Taro’s interview answers have been kept unedited. View the full article

The Holiday Sale promotion comes to PlayStation Store on Wednesday December 22. For a limited time* you can save on a huge (and we mean huge) selection of games and add-ons. That includes titles such as Call of Duty: Vanguard Cross-Gen Edition, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Far Cry 6, FIFA 22 and NBA 2K22. The list is so big, we can’t cram it all in here, so find a selection of delectable games that are discounted below, then head over to PlayStation Store when the promotion begins to find out your regional savings. And check back here on January 5, when even more games join the promotion! • Alan Wake Remastered • Aliens: Fireteam Elite • Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition • ARK: Genesis Season Pass • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla PS4 & PS5 • Back 4 Blood: Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 • Battlefield 2042 • Biomutant • Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare • Call of Duty: Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition • Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition • Chivalry 2 PS4 & PS5 • Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy • Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time • Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled • Cuphead • Cyberpunk 2077 • Dark Souls: Remastered • DayZ • DEATH STRANDING Director’s Cut Digital Deluxe Edition • DEATHLOOP • DEMON SLAYER : KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES • Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles Deluxe Edition • Destiny 2: Legendary Edition • Diablo® II: Resurrected™ – Standard • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 • Dying Light – Platinium Edition • F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 • FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition • FIFA 22 (PS4) • FIFA 22 (PS5) • FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE • Fortnite – Dark Reflections Pack • Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS5 • Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS4 • God of War – Digital Deluxe Edition • Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition • GTA Trilogy PS4 & PS5 Digital Bundle • Hades • Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition • HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ • Insurgency: Sandstorm • It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ • Jump Force • Jurassic World Evolution 2: Deluxe Edition • Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 & PS5 • Little Nightmares II PS4 & PS5 • Madden NFL 22 (PS4) • Madden NFL 22 (PS5) • Mafia: Definitive Edition • Mafia: Trilogy • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy • Marvel’s Avengers • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 & PS5 • Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition • Metro Exodus • MLB® The Show™ 21 PS4 • MLB® The Show™ 21 PS5 • Monster Hunter: World • Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker • NBA 2K22 • Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition • Need for Speed Payback • Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered • NHL 22 • NHL 22 (PS5) • NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… • No Man’s Sky PS4 & PS5 • OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 • Overwatch: Legendary Edition • PGA TOUR 2K21 • Psychonauts 2 • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart • Red Dead Redemption 2 • Resident Evil 3 • Resident Evil Village PS4 & PS5 • Riders Republic – Standard Edition • Rust Console Edition • SCARLET NEXUS PS4 & PS5 • Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI • Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 • SnowRunner – Premium Edition • Spyro Reignited Trilogy • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order • Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 • Tales of Arise PS4 & PS5 • The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition • The Last of Us: Remastered • The Outer Worlds • The Sims 4 • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition • Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy • Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 • UFC® 4 • Watch Dogs: Legion – Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 *The Holiday Sale promotion runs from 00.00am (local time) Wednesday December 22 until 23.59pm (local time) Wednesday, January 19. Some titles leave the promotion on January 4: please check the product page on PlayStation Store. The January Sale promotion comes to PlayStation Store on Wednesday December 22 . For a limited time* you can save on a huge (and we mean huge) selection of games and add-ons. That includes titles such as Call of Duty: Vanguard Cross-Gen Edition, Guardians of the Galaxy, Far Cry 6, FIFA 22 and NBA 2K22. The list is so big, we can’t cram it all in here, so find a selection of delectable games that are discounted below, then head over to PlayStation Store when the promotion begins to find out your regional savings. And check back here on January 5, when even more games join the promotion! • Alan Wake Remastered • Aliens: Fireteam Elite • Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition • ARK: Genesis Season Pass • ARK: Survival Evolved – Founder’s Edition • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla PS4 & PS5 • Back 4 Blood: Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 • Battlefield 2042 PS4 • Battlefield 2042 PS5 • Biomutant • Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ • Call of Duty: Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition • Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition • Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® • Chivalry 2 PS4 & PS5 • Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy • Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time • Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled • Cuphead • Cyberpunk 2077 • Dark Souls: Remastered • DayZ • DEATH STRANDING Director’s Cut Digital Deluxe Edition • DEATHLOOP • DEMON SLAYER : KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES • Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles Deluxe Edition • Destiny 2: Legendary Edition • Diablo® II: Resurrected™ – Standard • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 • Dying Light – Platinium Edition • F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 • FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition • FIFA 22 (PS4) • FIFA 22 (PS5) • FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE • Fortnite – Dark Reflections Pack • Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS5 • Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS4 • God of War – Digital Deluxe Edition • Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition • GTA Trilogy PS4 & PS5 Digital Bundle • Hades • Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition • HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ • Insurgency: Sandstorm • It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ • Jump Force • Jurassic World Evolution 2: Deluxe Edition • Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 & PS5 • Little Nightmares II PS4 & PS5 • Madden NFL 22 (PS4) • Madden NFL 22 (PS5) • Mafia: Definitive Edition • Mafia: Trilogy • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy • Marvel’s Avengers • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 & PS5 • Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition • Metro Exodus • MLB® The Show™ 21 PS4 • MLB® The Show™ 21 PS5 • Monster Hunter: World • Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker • NBA 2K22 • Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition • Need for Speed Payback • Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered • NHL 22 • NHL 22 (PS5) • NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… • No Man’s Sky PS4 & PS5 • OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 • Overwatch: Legendary Edition • PGA TOUR 2K21 • Psychonauts 2 • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart • Red Dead Redemption 2 • Resident Evil 3 • Resident Evil Village PS4 & PS5 • Riders Republic – Standard Edition • Rust Console Edition • SCARLET NEXUS PS4 & PS5 • Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI • Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 • SnowRunner – Premium Edition • Spyro Reignited Trilogy • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order • Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 • Tales of Arise PS4 & PS5 • The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition • The Last of Us: Remastered • The Outer Worlds • The Sims 4 • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition • Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy • Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 • UFC® 4 • Watch Dogs: Legion – Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 *The January Sale promotion runs from 00.00am (local time) Wednesday December 22 until 23.59pm (local time) Wednesday, January 19. Some titles leave the promotion on January 4 and new ones are added: please check the product page on PlayStation Store. View the full article

Happy anniversary to the original Final Fantasy! The very first game in the long-running (and in hindsight somewhat misnamed) series launched December 18, 1987. That very first adventure really shook up the industry – its innovative battle system, expansive world and incredible music continue to inspire developers today. It was, quite literally, a game-changer. Now, 34 years later, its spirit lives on in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. This brutal new action-RPG by the combat maestros from Team Ninja at Koei Tecmo Games (Nioh, Ninja Gaiden) is directly linked to Final Fantasy, with a story, characters, locations and more that directly call back to that original game. To show you what we mean, we asked key developers from Square Enix and Team Ninja to explain some of these connections, and the secrets behind them… Garland Well, the cat’s out of the bag by now – protagonist Jack is destined to become the sinister figure known as Garland. In the original Final Fantasy, Garland was the main antagonist – a powerful dark knight who threatened to plunge the land of Cornelia into chaos. He’s a beloved (and iconic!) villain, but outside of some brief dialogue we’re never told all that much about him. Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin will directly address that and reveal how this once brave hero was brought so low. But why focus on the villain? Many villains appear in the early Final Fantasy titles, but their backstories weren’t depicted that often. I believe a good antagonist should have a clear reason as to why they became a villain in the first place, so I felt digging deeper into that aspect of Garland would be interesting. In Final Fantasy I, you see him from the start of the game as a knight who has embraced the darkness, but the story never elaborates on why he went down that path. We thought we could expand upon the lore of the original game through Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Originby portraying one possibility as to why Garland ended up as he does. We see the story of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Originas an “alternate retelling” of Final Fantasy I. It’s probably easiest to think of it as taking place in a parallel universe that sits alongside that original game. To be honest, focusing on a villain who’s iconic to not just one game, but the Final Fantasy series as a whole, means there’s a lot of added responsibility. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with extraordinary staff like Tetsuya Nomura, scenario writer Kazushige Nojima, and Team Ninja on the development side, so I think this will be a game we can deliver with our heads held high. Jin Fujiwara, Producer, Square Enix Even though Team Ninjahad handled action gameplay for Garland before in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, this game felt different. We had a greater sense of responsibility because we were handling Garland as a protagonist, and also delving into his true nature in the story. Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer, Team Ninja at Koei Tecmo Games Since Jack’s path to becoming Garland serves as the foundation to the story, we decided to take his destructive impulse – which we don’t see in other Final Fantasy protagonists – as a core concept and translated it into various action elements. The first that we laid out as a concept was “Soul Burst.” We originally considered a more gory presentation, but we ended up going with a crystallization visual, to combine that exhilarating presentation with Final Fantasy-esque beauty. Additionally, Garland in the Dissidia series has an ability called “Soul of Chaos”, which makes him stronger as he keeps on fighting. Nobumichi Kumabe, Director, Koei Tecmo Games Crossing the Northern Bridge Early in the original Final Fantasy, the Warriors of Light cross the northern bridge of Cornelia. It’s a cutscene that fans remember dearly – it marks the first steps towards adventure… and in many ways signals the beginning of the series as a whole. Stranger of Paradise recreates this iconic opening – as Jack and his companions cross the bridge and their epic journey begins. This scene is very important, as it signaled the start of the adventure in Final Fantasy I. We definitely wanted to incorporate it into Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin as well. Hearing the Final Fantasy theme gets me excited and makes me feel like something great is about to begin – I felt exactly the same way when I heard the theme being played during the Olympics earlier this year! I wanted to instil that same feeling in those playing Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin as well. Daisuke Inoue, Director, Square Enix The original northern bridge scene left a lasting impression, so for this recreation, we synced closely with Square Enix on the creation process – from storyboards to sharing references from work-in-progress stages, as well as the lighting and final visuals. The modelling of the northern bridge was quite the challenge since it was not fully depicted in the original. The overall scene composition for the final cut also took quite a bit of effort. Since no one had created a model of the bridge before, the Square Enix team provided us with a rough idea of what the castle and Cornelia should look like in this title. We translated that into a model design sketch and then proceeded with the bridge design too. In order to make the composition closer to the original 2D version, we actually positioned some models in a way that wouldn’t be realistic in 3D. However, given the camera would actually move in the final version, we did take a few creative liberties and moved things around so things wouldn’t seem off, even with those 3D movements. I hope we’ve successfully made this seem like a modern-day version of Final Fantasy I! Hiroya Usuda, Director, Koei Tecmo Games The world of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is built as science-fiction. We worked under the premise that what’s happening may seem impossible at first glance, but under special circumstances it could happen, even in the real world. The northern bridge and Cornelia Castle are very much the heart of the original, so we aimed to bring out an evolved and hybrid feel, combining their fantasy-like silhouettes with the addition of some modern details. Nobuhiro Goto, Art Director, Square Enix Pravoka and Pirates After crossing the northern bridge, the Warriors of Light reach the town of Pravoka. In the original Final Fantasy, this town has a bit of a pirate problem – and these are more “crunch your bones and take your booty” pirates than your “yo-ho-ho” types. They’re led by Captain Bikke, and it’s up to the heroes to teach him the errors of his ways. Left: Bikke as he appears in Final Fantasy I, and Right: as he appears in Strange of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. Both Pravoka and Bikke make a return in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, though you may see a few changes from the original… The battle with Bikke and his gang of pirates, as it appears in Final Fantasy I. Whenever I play Final Fantasy I, I can’t help but feel the urge to head to Pravoka as soon as I cross the northern bridge. When it comes to the beginning of the story for Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, I consciously tried to follow the flow of the original game and decided to incorporate the key theme of pirates for this area. For example, when thinking about how the characters would move from Cornelia to the next major location, we decided we should use a pirate ship, just like the original. We weren’t necessarily trying to faithfully recreate Final Fantasy I completely though. For example, in Final Fantasy I, the protagonists take on Bikke and his pirates in the city, but for some odd reason, it seems the pirates in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin have their hideout in a cave… Daisuke Inoue, Director, Square Enix The Royal Family Captain Bikke’s not the only Final Fantasy I character to make an appearance in the new game. The King of Cornelia and Princess Sarah also return – much more detailed and fleshed-out than in the original. Left: King of Cornelia, as he appears in Final Fantasy I, and Right: as he appears in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Left: Princess Sarah, as she appears in Final Fantasy I, and Right: as she appears in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin That’s not all – there are also new members of the Royal Family for fans to meet, including Queen Jayne and Princess Mia. Queen Jayne (left) and Princess Mia (right) as they appear in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. As you might expect, designing the Royal Family was difficult as we had to create 3D versions of these characters from scratch. After gathering what information we could, we’d inject our own Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin lore into it, but it was definitely a challenge to flesh out the overall concept. As we were aiming for a mature Final Fantasy game, we didn’t feel we could go full-on fantasy. Furthermore, I personally wanted to ensure that I had a justification and explanation for every element of these characters. Even as an alternate retelling, we need the characters to be designed in such a way as nothing seems strange or unbelievable. For example, Sarah is more like her mother, while Mia takes after her father in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. In addition, we also faced a challenge in how much we could diminish the fantasy tones – as we envisioned this story taking place in the real world, in a future not so far from now, we tried to make the characters’ head-to-body ratio closer to modern humans, and also made other elements such as skin texture and wrinkles very detailed for a more realistic finish. As well as photo-realistic details, we wanted to bring out the “super-technology” feel and dark gothic tones, so we took inspiration from such design styles as gothic Lolita and punk. Additionally, since white is the base color for Cornelia Castle, we told designer Roberto Ferrari that we wanted to incorporate it into the Royal Family’s costumes too. Nobuhiro Goto, Art Director, Square Enix Tiamat – The Fiend of Wind The multi-headed Tiamat is one of the Four Fiends in the original Final Fantasy and acts as a terrifying foe for the Warriors of Light. The Fiend of Wind also appears in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin… and trust us when we say it’s even more imposing. Left: Tiamat as he appears in Final Fantasy I, and Right: as he appears in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. The designs for the Four Fiends were particularly important for Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, so we asked Takayuki Takeya to handle their creation. He has a great reputation for his creature design, even by Tetsuya Nomura! Of course, if we just translated the Four Fiends from the original game in a standard way, they’d lack something special. So, while we maintained certain important elements of Tiamat’s design (for example, the number of heads on Tiamat), we also incorporated our own ‘Final Fantasy Origin’ elements in the designs – for example, the beast-like fiends are in a somewhat humanoid form as well! I can’t go into detail about the person trapped in Timat’s chest (spoilers!) but this depiction of the embedded body was the result of us considering how we could depict the effect most realistically. Mr Takeya also works as a sculptor, and his designs were very precise – they translated very well into CG graphics. Nobuhiro Goto, Art Director, Square Enix Since the nature of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origindiffers from the original Final Fantasy, the experience of facing off against Tiamat is different as well. However, since Tiamat in the original game is known for its various elemental attacks, we’ve incorporated these as breath attacks. From that concept, we then constructed a battle in which players would aim to defeat Tiamat as they cut off its heads! Nobumichi Kumabe, Director, Koei Tecmo Games A Life-long Love Affair As you can tell, the developers have an enormous amount of love for the original Final Fantasy, and that passion comes through in all the details of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. As we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the genre-defining Final Fantasy I (and series… coming up on 35 years – wow!), let’s share some final words from the developers: The first game in the series that I played was Final Fantasy IV – I didn’t play Final Fantasy I when it first came out. I later played the PlayStation version of that game and I remember being moved, not only by the iconic main theme, but also the fact that the RPG elements Final Fantasy is known for were so firmly established in that game. I ended up playing all the games in the series, and certain things happened because of that. With Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, I forgot to go to school, and with Final Fantasy XIV Online, I almost forgot to go to work! On a more serious note, I think it’s quite astounding that Final Fantasy has remained a series which has never feared change over 35 years. I’m proud to have been able to work on Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin and show an alternate retelling of the original game. Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer, Team Ninja What does Final Fantasy I mean to me? It is both the Origin and the goal. Final Fantasy is a series that has continued for 35 years after the release of the first game. I hope the same will happen with Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin as well – for it to become a title that’ll be talked about even for years to come, and even become the starting point for its own series to continue into the future. Jin Fujiwara, Producer, Square Enix Many thanks to all the developers who joined us to celebrate two very special games. Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin will release on March 18, 2022 and is available to pre-order now. Anyone who pre-orders the Digital Standard or Digital Deluxe Editions of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Originvia the PlayStation Store will receive 72-hour early access to the full game, an original PS4™ theme, the Braveheart weapon and Lustrous Shield and, as an early-purchase bonus, the Rebellion weapon. View the full article

With the polls closed and your votes counted, PlayStation Blog’s Game of the Year 2021 winners can be revealed. Another huge turnout saw heated voting across multiple categories, with many games going neck and neck for top spots throughout the voting period, while last minute twists kept category placements changing right up to the close of the polls. A big thank you not only to everyone who voted and made this year’s counts a compelling watch, but to all the studios nominated for bringing us another excellent year of gaming. Now, on to the winners! Best New Character Lady Dimitrescu | Resident Evil Village Rather fittingly, Countess Alcina Dimitrescu’s vote count overshadowed other nominees in one of the most popular categories this year. In a franchise already rich in captivating – and terrifying – villainy, Lady Dimitrescu stood tall. From stalking players through the hallways of her lavish homestead, to cutting them to the core with retractable claw-like nails and tongue-lashings, she was an unforgettable presence. Rivet | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Tenzo | Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Alex Chen | Life is Strange: True Colors Best Story Resident Evil Village From the Baker family’s moldy bayou abode to the treacherous lands surrounding Castle Dimitrescu – Ethan Winters simply can’t catch a break. The story of Resident Evil Village begins with deceptive simplicity: a man, his new family, and a tragic past colliding with a troubled future. Capcom does a wonderful job gradually building upon the scope and bombast of Ethan’s quest for his daughter. Once the embers fade on the explosive finale, you may find yourself wondering how this tale began in a quiet home. Life is Strange: True Colors Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Best Art Direction Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart The voting race for Best Art Direction was a nail biter, but Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart takes the top prize. Insomniac Games has been refinding the vivid intergalactic art style of Ratchet & Clank since the PS2, and it shines in this premiere PS5 outing. Ratchet and Rivet’s expressive faces shine with new levels of detailed animation. The PS5’s super-fast SSD creates a kaleidoscopic collision as artistically contrasting dimensions quickly collide. Despite the scale of the adventure, Insomniac still manages to fluidly transition from frantic gameplay to cinematic cutscenes. Little Nightmares II takes second place with its unnerving locales, and It Takes Two secures third thanks to its irresistible little-people-big-world aesthetic. Little Nightmares II It Takes Two Hades Best Soundtrack Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy The infectious exuberance of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy extends beyond its snappy dialogue and eye-popping alien vistas. Eidos-Montréal crammed a real who’s-who of 1980s chart-toppers to convey, with music, the same over-the-top excitement found in its gameplay – and then went the extra mile to create a fictional ‘80s metal band that could easily slot into a metalhead’s modern playlist. And let’s not forget the sweeping, adventurous score… just an audio treat to behold. Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island expansion Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 Best Multiplayer Experience It Takes Two A moving story about divorce and reconciliation, a wise-cracking talking book, and an army of militarized squirrels are just a few of the highlights found in It Takes Two, but these take a backseat to the incredible gameplay. Hazelight Studios’ genre-spanning adventure is built from the ground-up with two player co-op in mind, so whether you find yourself shooting nails into walls for your partner to swing from, reversing time to save them from certain death or riding frogs through the garden together, you’ll always have a buddy by your side during this joyous adventure. An instant multiplayer classic. Call of Duty: Vanguard Battlefield 2042 Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Best Sports Game FIFA 22 EA’s FIFA 22 promised a true next-gen football experience and it did not disappoint. Its HyperMotion technology brought us a more authentic and fluid football experience, while the use of 3D Audio – pulling us further into the match than ever before – paired with the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, letting us feel the game in our hands as it played out on the pitch. EA truly delivered FIFA’s most true-to-life football experience to date. Hot Wheels Unleashed Riders Republic NBA 2K22 Best Accessibility Features Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut As well as the numerous other updates made to Ghost of Tsushima for the Director’s Cut, Sucker Punch also made significant improvements to the game’s accessibility. Four new pre-set control layouts, larger text and subtitle sizes, the option to lock on to enemies, and directional haptics on the DualSense for the Guiding Wind brought the stunning adventure to more players than ever before. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Far Cry 6 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Best Use of DualSense Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Few gameplay features make the DualSense wireless controller hum like a creative arsenal. For fans of the Ratchet & Clank series, it may come as little surprise that Rift Apart is an excellent showcase of the controller’s haptics and adaptive triggers. You can truly feel the difference, whether blasting the humble Burst Pistol or unleashing the rumbling devastation of the Negatron Collider. Insomniac Games takes it a step further, allowing players extra finesse depending on how far they press the R2 adaptive trigger (e.g. press 50% to display throw arc, fully press to fire). From immersive gameplay to increased control, the proof is in players’ hands. Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut Returnal Resident Evil Village Best Graphical Showcase Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart According to the fans, Insomniac Games stuck the aesthetic landing by taking home both Best Art Direction and Best Graphical Showcase this year. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s Photo Mode is a wonderful way to appreciate the studio’s attention to detail, zooming in on the tiny Lombax hairs across Ratchet’s incredible face to the texture of his little brown nose. Even more, spectacular visual effects and lighting help sell the game’s innovative weaponry. Few players will forget the first time they fired the Topiary Sprinkler at a massive boss, and watched in disbelief as the creature was instantly covered in countless tiny leaves. All these elements meld into a delightfully hypnotizing visual. Resident Evil Village Far Cry 6 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Best Re-Release Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is more than a standard re-release. Sucker Punch’s gorgeous adventure returns with a brand new story chapter, a whole new island to explore and updates to riotous multiplayer Legends. That’s before even mentioning its DualSense features, super fast loading, 3D audio and resolution and frame rate options that only PS5 can offer. Ghost of Tsushima was always a breathtaking experience, but the Director’s Cut introduces changes that elevate it to another level. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Mass Effect Legendary Edition Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 Independent Game of the Year Kena: Bridge of Spirits This category witnessed the closest race of the awards, as two games remained neck and neck during the voting window. In the end though, Kena: Bridge of Spirits snagged the Platinum, with Hades earning a well-deserved Gold. With Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! and Disco Elysium bagging Silver and Bronze respectively, this category showcased the high calibre – and diverse experiences – of independent studio output this year. Hades Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Disco Elysium – The Final Cut PS VR Game of the Year Hitman 3 Bringing Agent 47 to PS VR resonated with fans: Hitman 3 dominated voting for this category. Adapting the world of assassination to the platform allowed players to appreciate IO Interactive’s densely populated, richly detailed sandboxes – and discovering the inventive takedowns within – in a whole new way. And as an unexpected bonus, VR support extended to the first two games as well. Doom 3 VR Edition Sniper Elite VR I Expect You To Die 2 PS4 Game of the Year Resident Evil Village Satisfying gunplay, memorable encounters, plot twists aplenty. There was much to commend in Capcom’s continuation of Ethan Winters’ story. And that’s even before you appreciate the studio’s daring yet successful jigsawing of four distinct horror subgenres – one for each of the four Lords you’ll face – and amalgamating them into one cohesive whole. Everyone would find something to fear in Village: everyone who played found another incredible installment to the Resident Evil canon. It Takes Two Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Far Cry 6 PS5 Game of the Year Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ratchet & Clank’s return was a celebration not only of the beloved duo, but of the cutting edge tech under the hood of the PS5 and immersive features of the DualSense controller. The dimension and planet-hopping adventure packed in thrilling and increasingly creative combat (Rifts and Topiary Sprinkler FTW) platform challenges, mini-games and more. And of course, we were introduced to Rivet and Kit, who quickly became new PlayStation icons. Resident Evil Village Returnal Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Studio of the Year Insomniac Games Considering its Super Heroic feats late last year, you’d have understood if Insomniac would have had a quieter time of its these past 12 months. Instead, the studio barely broke its stride heading into 2021, delivering not only a PS5 showcase title in the shape of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, but bookending its year’s accomplishments by teasing its Super Heroic future. Little wonder then it took the top spot as Studio of the Year. Square Enix Capcom Bandai Namco View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here The team is back to round out the year with a lengthy Game of the Year discussion. Plus, we chat with Celia Schilling from Yacht Club Games about Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon. Stuff We Talked About New DualSense colors and PS5 console covers Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Valhalla OlliOlli World Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon (interview begins at 10:16) Our personal Game of the Year picks! The Cast Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Sid Shuman – Senior Director, Content Communications, SIE Justin Massongill – 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: PS5Photographer shares a portrait of a sunglass-wearing hero. SindyJ_B shares the sunlight streaming down city streets. kimchitraveler shares a colorful render of the city skyline. adambomb2mk shares the experience’s lead standing in the streets. YuriyKovalchuk shares some traffic. RyanSkursky shares some downtown architecture. 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: Share of the Year SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on December 31, 2021 2021 is almost over, so let’s see your best shots! Share the gaming moment you are most proud of from this year using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured in the Share of the Year round up. View the full article

The end of the year is upon us once again! As we reflect on 2021 and look forward to 2022, the PlayStation.Blog team wants to thank you for your support all year. As is tradition, we’ve rounded up season’s greetings cards from some of our talented friends and colleagues across the industry. So before you dive into your backlog, grab a mug of hot chocolate, and read on for some holiday cheer! 2K (NBA 2K22) ❅ 2K (PGA 2K21) ❅ Activision (Call of Duty) ❅ Bandai Namco (Scarlet Nexus) ❅ Bandai Namco (Tales of Arise) ❅ Behaviour Interactive ❅ Bend Studio ❅ Blue Mammoth Games ❅ Bungie ❅ Ember Lab ❅ Finji ❅ Firesprite ❅ Gearbox Publishing ❅ Guerrilla ❅ Hazelight Studios ❅ Housemarque ❅ Insomniac Games ❅ Koei Tecmo ❅ London Studio ❅ Lucid Games ❅ Media Molecule ❅ Mediatonic ❅ Naughty Dog ❅ NetherRealm Studios ❅ Nixxes ❅ Pearl Abyss ❅ Pixelopus ❅ Player First Games ❅ Polyarc ❅ Polyphony Digital ❅ popagenda ❅ Private Division ❅ Psyonix ❅ Respawn Entertainment ❅ Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio ❅ San Diego Studio ❅ Santa Monica Studio ❅ Sega ❅ Sega (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles) ❅ Spike Chunsoft ❅ Square Enix ❅ Steel Wool Studios ❅ Sucker Punch Productions ❅ Superbrothers ❅ Supermassive Games ❅Tarsier Studios ❅ Team ASOBI ❅ tinyBuild (Secret Neighbor) ❅ tinyBuild (SpiderHeck) ❅ tinyBuild (Tinykin) ❅ Turtle Rock Studios ❅Ubisoft ❅ Ubisoft (Rainbow Six Siege) ❅ Warner Bros. Games ❅ Zoink Games Insomniac Games Guerrilla Housemarque Santa Monica Studio Naughty Dog HazelightStudios Team ASOBI Bend Studio Sucker Punch Productions Mediatonic Respawn Entertainment Ember Lab Firesprite Polyphony Digital NetherRealm Studios Bandai Namco Tales of Arise Polyarc Square Enix London Studio Media Molecule Pixelopus 2K (NBA2K22) Turtle Rock Studios Ubisoft Pearl Abyss Steel Wool Studios Supermassive Games Finji Bungie Sega Gearbox Publishing Spike Chunsoft Blue Mammoth Games San Diego Studios Ubisoft (Rainbox Six Siege) Superbrothers Koei Tecmo Zoink Games Tarsier Studios popagenda 2K (PGA 2K21) Nixxes Behaviour Interactive tinyBuild (Secret Neighbor) Player First Games Bandai Namco (Scarlet Nexus) Private Division Warner Bros. Games Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Activision (Call of Duty) tinyBuild (SpiderHeck) Psyonix Sega (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles) tinyBuild (Tinykin) https://gfycat.com/fantasticgleefulbassethound View the full article

Winterfest is back in Fortnite! Running from December 16 at 6 AM PT to January 6 at 6 AM PT, Sgt. Winter will be handing out 14 Presents — including two festive outfits — for you to unwrap. Here’s a peek at what the Presents are in addition to the two outfits: two Pickaxes, two Wraps, a Glider, Contrail, Emote, Lobby Track, Loading Screen, Emoticon, Spray, and Banner. Play Video Welcome Back to the Winterfest Lodge Sgt. Winter and your presents will be waiting for you at the Winterfest Lodge. To enter the Lodge, head over to the snowflake tab in the Lobby. If you miss any days of opening Presents, you can always come back and open them before Winterfest ends. We don’t wanna spoil all the gifts you’ll be receiving, but we’ll at least reveal the outfits. One is Krisabelle, a festive take of the community-inspired Isabelle, and the other is Polar Peely, one cool banana (literally). Ice Cold Armory Cool cosmetics aren’t the only gifts Sgt. Winter is bringing to the Island. He’s opened an armory full of familiar icy items. Give your opponents (or yourself) ice block feet with Chiller Grenades. Launch explosive snowballs with Snowball Launchers. Disguise yourself with the Sneaky Snowman. And up your loot game with the Holiday Presents throwables. In the Item Shop: Spider-Man and MJ from Spider-Man: No Way Home (Plus More Outfits) There’s classic Spider-Man of the Chapter 3 Season 1 Battle Pass, and soon No Way Home Spider-Man and MJ will be coming to the Item Shop for Winterfest. (Just in time for the movie’s release!) The Spider-Man (No Way Home) and MJ (No Way Home) outfits will be in the Item Shop starting December 16 at 4 PM PT. Put on and take off No Way Home Spider-Man’s mask with his built-in Emote! More new outfits will be rotating into the Shop throughout Winterfest, including those inspired by June’s Concept Royale winners @lbdart_ and @AltaCalls. This Concept Royale was our callout for two exceptional, wintry concepts to be transformed into outfits. Returning winter outfits will be rotating into the Shop during Winterfest as well. Sgt. Winter and his trusty Red Nosed Ranger chauffeurs will be roaming around the Island, spreading the holiday joy by throwing out Holiday Presents. Don’t do something to get you on the Sergeant’s naughty list, though, or else he and the Rangers will go from joyful to hostile quick. So stay nice, unwrap your presents in the Lodge, and have a happy Winterfest. View the full article

On February 18, Aloy will venture into the dangerous frontier of the Forbidden West, confronting a huge variety of deadly new machines. You saw many of these steel beasts revealed last week at The Game Awards, but today Guerrilla offers a closer look at the armored Rollerback, the graceful Sunwing, and the acid-spitting Slitherfang, plus several more. Some serve as guardians of the natural order, while others are built only to kill. Even worse, the power to control them has fallen into the wrong hands… Play Video We hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the machines of the Forbidden West, but remember – it’s only the beginning. The western wilds conceal new threats around every turn. View the full article

We are not sure where 2021 went, but it feels as if it just flew by and the holiday season is already upon us. We are so thrilled to see this community continue to grow and thrive in the jungle with us! In this month’s Paid DLC we wanted to bring a great group of Hunters to the game for the holiday season. We have heard some chatter in the community asking for it and we are happy to announce that December’s DLC is the Hunting Party. The Hunting Party includes Falconer, Captured, and Mr. Black Predators. This fearsome trio is sure to raise heart rates in the jungle over the upcoming holiday break. (Note the Falconer and Mr. Black include the bodies only since the masks have already been released in-game.)* These three members of the Yautja race have been roaming the world for some time. Mr. Black, also known as a super, or berserker, Predator, was identified by Isabelle Nissenbaum while stranded on the Game Preserve Planet, and was involved in the first known instance of Predator subspecies conflict. Falconer, also part of the breed of Super Predators, employs unorthodox tactics and masterful reconnaissance on the hunt, but has shown a willingness to face his enemy on an even field. And then there’s the Captured Predator, a prisoner and victim of the evident blood feud happening on the game reserve planet, he is rumored to have belonged to the same clan as the original Jungle Hunter. An unfortunate encounter with this group of super Predators led to this Yautja being held captive, with a tarnished mask. December’s free update includes the release of the Exiled Predator’s hook weapon from October. In addition, we all know that Yautja are not invincible, and these new cosmetics show that they can definitely bleed. This update also contains the Predator Mask Scars cosmetics. We are pretty certain that the Predators wear their scars with pride. Now you can choose which war wounds to show off too. All of us here at IllFonic want to wish you a wonderful holiday season! We hope to see you in the jungle over the break! And as we round the corner into 2022 and make our way to the 3rd Anniversary of Predator: Hunting Grounds we are honored to continue hunting next to you all! We have more coming in the New Year and cannot wait to share details in the future. *Cosmetic masks shown on Falconer Predator and Mr. Black Predator may also be purchased in-game with earned currency. View the full article

Hello PlayStation community! I’m Jemima, a writer here at Roll7, and I’m super excited to bring you all some exclusive insights from a few of the amazing folks who are currently working on OlliOlli World. New art, new design A bold new art direction is inspiring the design team at Roll7 to improve and innovate the mechanics of OlliOlli World. “Our previous OlliOlli titles were 2D,” says Co-Director John Ribbins. “But now with a 3D art style we have the ability to move the camera in and out as the player progresses through levels, which means more space for super gnarly huge airs – and that means more time for tricks and combos. As a result, we’ve been able to include grabs in the game for the first time ever. Grabs feel pretty rad on their own, but they also make existing mechanics like spins way more interesting and versatile.” “One addition that I’m particularly fond of is being able to do Firecrackers, which is when the player performs a Manual down a staircase,” says Senior Level Designer Sam Robinson. “This ties into new ways of skating because in this game, the player has more opportunities to recover from their mistakes. If they miss a jump and are about to land on a staircase, the player has the opportunity to save themselves by performing the right trick as they land to carry on through the level.” “There are also wallrides now,” adds Ribbins. “Not really for any particular reason, we just all thought they were cool.” (They really are.) Player choice “The visual and audible presentation of the game is joyful, vibrant, and welcoming to audiences – and this has also been reflected in the game’s design,” says Robinson. And, while this game is much less punishing to inexperienced players than previous OlliOlli titles, it still retains the incredibly high skill ceiling that enables players to come back time and again as they work to improve their scores. “This ultimately means that the player will experience more of the game, rather than get stuck early on – and then they can return and replay the levels later to improve their score, complete challenges, or discover new routes through levels,” explains Robinson. Narrative Designer Lizz Lunney also emphasizes what a huge impact the zany new art direction and mechanics have on their own work: “The concept design, by Germán Reina Carmona, really worked hand-in-hand with the narrative and the gameplay to bring this world to life. I also worked closely with (former Lead Game Designer) Craig Thomas, to ensure that the story blends seamlessly with the gameplay. Ideally after a few hours spent playing OlliOlli World you’ll not only be dreaming about the flow state of the game,” says Lunney, but you’ll also get “a sense of true skate culture – one that is not so much about competing but more about hanging out with your mates, celebrating each other’s tricks, going on epic road trips, and meeting weird new people along the way.” Taking an alternate path will provide a fresh challenge for seasoned players to sink their teeth into, as skating off the beaten path will reveal routes with a bit more risk… and, if they play their combos right, possibly a few more rewards too! Pre-orders OlliOlli World launches Feb 8th on PS4 and PS5, and you can pre-order now. View the full article

When the Steel Wool development team was given the opportunity to work on Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, we dug deep for inspiration from our childhoods, high school jobs, and parental party planning duties to build the most fantastic pizzeria to ever exist. We decided the best course of action was to begin with the star and central figure of this particular pizzeria, Glamrock Freddy. Everything in the Mega Pizzaplex revolves around Freddy and the new glam rock band. Just like the original game, Freddy deserved a main stage surrounded by pizza and party tables filled with fans. However, this new state of the art animatronic band would need even more room to move and perform. We decided to add elaborate stage lifts to raise Freddy and the gang above the audience flanked by stadium-sized concert monitors. The stage would be as updated as they are. Now that we had a concert venue as the centerpiece, we needed to surround it with activities and attractions of every type. We wanted a putt putt golf course, go-karts, laser tag, retro arcades, modern arcades, dance floors, a movie theater – everything. However, Five Nights at Freddy’s is not a series about set design, it’s about the horrific animatronic stars. So we decided to design a character specific attraction for each member of the band. Due to the ongoing adventures of Freddy in Space, we immediately went to work on Glamrock Freddy’s Fazer Blast lasergame. It was the first set mock up completed in the entire game. Not only did we want to honor the source material, but we really wanted to include solid references to Scott’s super fun side-scrollers. Everyone in the studio looked at Roxanne Wolf and just knew she was meant to be a racer. She would become the brutally competitive go-kart champion of Roxy Racers. The art team had a blast making her a trophy winning daredevil in the raceway’s surrounding art. Not only was the location heavily inspired by Roxy’s rebellious look, the raceway art then informed her elitist personality and VO performance. She is the best and will let the losers know it. Montgomery Gator inspired the Monty’s Gator Golf indoor putt putt golf course. Toxic barrels of brightly colored ball pit balls flow through a blacklight course of wooden shacks, water hazards and rock n’ roll iconography. We wanted Monty’s to have arguably the worst hazards of any course ever. Have you ever tried golfing while surrounded by ball pits? Finally, we had to put ourselves in the mindset of Fazbear Entertainment. What do they want? What are they really after? Does anyone know for sure? What we do know is that they want to squeeze as much money as possible from every visitor! We looked at a lot of real world references to develop a Fazbear appropriate list of money making schemes throughout the building. Real world experience The Mega Pizzaplex has very personal ties to me. I was a child of the ‘80’s in Tacoma, WA where I grew up hiding from the rain in movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, and indoor malls. There were also several quirky pizzerias and fun centers in the area. As a teen, I became an usher/projectionist at my local multiplex. All of the “client facing” areas were flashy, shiny, neon, and impressive. However, if you go behind the scenes like I did, then you witness the disgusting underbelly where the teen work staff lives. Working in filthy concession stands, cleaning bathrooms, storing boxes of soda syrup in chain link storage pens, hydraulically compacting stacks of cardboard and garbage bags, and sweeping piles of oily popcorn behind movie screens during busy weekends are some of the best real-world experiences I could have had to prepare for this project. Reference image – The Tacoma, Washington Pizza and Pipes burned down in 1999. Reference Arcade Maintenance – Picture courtesy of the Ruckus Room – Bellingham, WA Insider knowledge: the importance of carpet My brother, Collin, owns an arcade called the Ruckus Room in Bellingham, Wa. Throughout the development of the game, he was a great source of insider industry information on the actual Family Fun Centers (especially while all the fun centers were closed during Covid). He told us all about the importance of decorative carpet tiles! Apparently, new carpet designs are one of the hottest items at Family Fun center conventions. Armed with that knowledge, we knew that the Mega Pizzaplex had to have the best carpet squares in the world. So, if you look closely, every themed area has multiple personalized Fazbear carpet designs in various colors and imagery which reflects the theme of the zone. Carpet tile design reference example – picture courtesy of the Ruckus Room – Bellingham, WA. There is certainly more to discuss about the design of the building, than we can cover in one blog post. You are going to have to experience the Mega Pizzaplex yourself to truly understand the scope of the building. View the full article

Hi everyone,on behalf of everyone here at Dotemu, we are very happy to finally announce the release date for Windjammers 2! Play Video Windjammers 2 will be available on January 20, 2022 for PlayStation 4 (PlayStation 5 via backwards-compatibility). Developing this sequel to the 1994 classic was quite the journey for us and we’re thrilled to only be weeks away from seeing you play it. Thanks to the game community’s feedback, including from our PlayStation beta in August, we’re now ready to offer the sequel we’ve dreamt of making since we worked on the port of the original game back in 2016. This is the first game we’ve developed entirely in-house, so it’s extra special for us. To celebrate the release date announcement, we’ll talk a little bit about how we approached this sequel. A sequel from the ground up When working several years ago on the port of the first Windjammers game for PlayStation, we used our own emulation technology to provide an authentic experience for new players. This was not without challenges though, as it was our very first online game. Porting the game gave us a glimpse of how the gameplay was built. It was always our intention to work on a sequel after the port, so we pushed our investigations even further. First, we tried to analyze the game frame-by-frame in order to recreate the movements of the characters and the disc, and most importantly the game feel. But our development team felt that they were missing some subtleties that were impossible to recreate this way. The solution then was to disassemble the original code and try to understand how it worked, in order to find answers – or as my colleagues called it, ‘archaeologist work’. Deciphering code from 1994 was key to capturing the essence of Windjammers! We also got help from the French Windjammers community, who tested our different builds to confirm that we were heading in the right direction for capturing the fun and authenticity of the original game. This graph shows the disc-speed data for every character, depending on the player’s timing. The later you throw the disc back, the slower the disc-speed. Creating new content Initially we considered working with our engine on a ‘carbon copy’ of the first game and then adding further content and mechanics. But we ended up working on both things simultaneously in order to have everything implemented the right way and with the right balance. For example, it was quite tempting to add a lot of visual effects to the players’ shots, but we knew that visibility at all times was an absolute necessity. A closer look at Sophie De Lys, one of the new characters in Windjammers 2. The first thing our production team did was develop new characters. We started with a French player (obviously!) called Sophie and then tweaked the existing roster’s stats to create new and interesting characters with their own abilities. Afterwards, new moves were added for every character: for example, in Windjammers 2 you can now jump to catch a disc while it is in air, or do slapshots and dropshots to catch your opponent off guard. With deeper gameplay than ever, no two matches are the same. We took a similar approach to the courts. Going from 4:3 to widescreen allowed us to create even bigger courts – it was then up to us to mix up all of the different court features to create the best-possible levels. A personal favorite of mine is one of the new levels, the casino. Before each kick-off, the casino randomly selects the disc’s value: from one point up to… eight! This changes the course of the game quite dramatically, and timing your special attack here is critically important. In sum, here is everything you’ll find in Windjammers 2: 10 playable characters, including returning champions and new faces New gameplay mechanics for even more depth 10 courts with different shapes and features An epic arcade mode with bonus games and challenging matches Online modes: play casually with friends or climb the leaderboard in the ranked league Over the years, we’ve postponed Windjammers 2’s release multiple times to ensure it’s the ultimate sequel that the original game deserves. We are so thankful to our community for their continued support and we’re looking forward to seeing all of you on the court in a few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays and let’s start 2022 with a bang when Windjammers 2 comes to PlayStation 4 on January 20. View the full article

Call of Duty is celebrating the holidays in a big way on PlayStation with the Festive Fervor event taking over Vanguard and Warzone Pacific starting December 17. Get in on the fun with new holiday-themed modes, Bundles, challenges, and more. Here’s what’s in store throughout the event: Play Video Vanguard brings cheer to Multiplayer and Zombies In honor of the holidays, Vanguard will roll out several limited-time Multiplayer features, all in the name of good cheer. Let’s kick things off with a closer look at some festive foes you’ll encounter in the field, and where the development team drew their inspirations. Elf Team Six: Seek out and destroy the fabled Elf Team Six, hidden around Vanguard’s Multiplayer maps, to earn Killstreak progress and extra match score. Find them before they disappear…and stay on your guard when approaching. Developer Insights: The new tradition of hiding an elf for people to find is something that the team at Raven wanted to poke fun at. The team feels some people who deal with that tradition would rather blow that annoying elf away! SO they decided to let you do that. Elf and Seek development was fun to put together at the Studio. Having fun on the new map, finding little nooks to place the elves, making people explore and see that pesky elf is a fun experience, and to some, terrifying. I mean, they’re creepy! We are very excited to have some fun rewards tied to destroying the elves for players. We placed them all over the Caldera, and we hope you have some fun finding them and taking them out however you want to. Krampus: Campers beware! The folk-horror figure Krampus will appear in designated Multiplayer matches to hunt down those who ignore the objective. No time on the Hardpoint? Haven’t taken a single Domination flag? Then you can bet he’s coming for you. Developer Insights: Ever since the devs at Raven learned about the Krampus after getting caught eating chocolates, they’ve been fans of this mythical and downright terrifying Anti-Santa. When the opportunity came up to get Krampus in Warzone, they could NOT wait. Raven’s goal was to create gameplay that would show players what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a Bounty Contract carried out by a demon! As the team developed Krampus, they dug deep into how it would stalk, attack, and choose its victims. They tested those decisions with playtests and got to see firsthand what was the most exhilarating for players. Raven created a robust NPC system for Krampus, and they hope you enjoy taking him down…or you know the latter. For those Krampus hunters out there, there is a hidden gift for you. Armageddon: Stuff your stockings with Care Packages in this twist on Team Deathmatch. Appearing as Drop Zone in previous titles, this mode sees teams fighting for control of a designated area, where Care Packages will continuously drop for the taking. Open your Killstreaks and help spread the cheer. The mischievous Elf Team Six and vengeful Krampus aren’t contained just within Multiplayer, either. Keep reading to learn about the roles these wintery warriors play in Warzone Pacific. Plus, Shipment becomes Shipmas, a winter wonderland of chaos and cheer, and other seasonal visuals are coming to game modes like Domination and Hardpoint, and even to the wintery home base of Stalingrad in “Der Anfang” in Zombies. Extra gifts for Vanguard owners In the spirit of giving, all those who purchase or have already purchased Vanguard by December 31 will receive the following rewards: 10 Season One Battle Pass Tier Skips; a 10% boost to all earned Player, Weapon, and Battle Pass XP; a free Warzone Vehicle Skin; and all 24 Vanguard Tiers that were featured in the prelaunch Season Six Battle Pass. Get your Festive bundles Get into the Festive Fervor spirit with new holiday-themed Bundles for use in Vanguard and Warzone Pacific. From naughty to nice, we’ve got you covered with these four Bundles: Santa’s Slay Bundle: Deck the halls with new Legendary Weapons featuring red-and-green Tracers and a Finishing Move that uses a helpful Elf companion. Plus, humiliate your foes as you win with Lucas in his ugly-sweater “Yarn Burner” Skin. Krampus Unleashed: Drape Roland in Krampus’s unholy threads in this Bundle featuring the “Vinderblood” Operator Skin. You’ll also get the Legendary “Krampusnacht” Marksman Rifle Blueprint, as well as the “Reindog Rampage” Finishing Move to bring your enemies to a festive end. Secret Santa: Surprise your opponents with this Bundle featuring two Legendary Weapon Blueprints: one for a pump-action Shotgun and another that turns a Marksman Rifle into a full-auto beast. Broken Resolutions: This nine-item Bundle will soon have you forgetting any broken resolutions for the year. Get two Battle Pass Tier Skips on top of Legendary and Epic Operator, Armory, and Player Profile pieces. Of note is the “Pop Bottles” Finishing Move, the sleek “Midnighter” Operator Skin for Beatrice, and the “Cover Charge” Assault Rifle. Complete Challenges, get rewards Throughout the Festive Fervor event, all players will have the chance to complete Vanguard Multiplayer challenges in exchange for free rewards, including the Epic LMG Blueprint if you complete all six challenges in Vanguard Multiplayer or Warzone Pacific. In Vanguard, the challenges include eliminating holiday nuisances across all Multiplayer modes, playing Shipmas, and opening Care Packages like presents under the tree. Rewards include a Battle Pass Tier Skip, a Double XP Token, and cosmetic rewards for your weapons and Player Profile. Spreading cheer in Warzone Pacific, too Outside of Vanguard, Caldera and Rebirth Island will host their own limited-time celebrations. Festive Fir Trees: In Caldera, see the specially marked Festive Fir Trees spread throughout the island. Squads that remain within the Fir Tree’s proximity for the allotted time will be rewarded with several Supply Boxes, including Holiday Crates that may contain Legendary items, limited-time rewards, or even coal for Operators on the naughty list. Developer Insights: Deck the Halls Like many families during the holiday season, incredible battles happen under the tree. Raven just took it to the next level in Warzone. Players will battle for resources under the trees, and the devs want to reward that tenacity by leveling it up. Also, snowballs are in those chests, and who doesn’t love throwing snowballs? Raven hopes that gathering under the tree to capture these points of interest will spark some fun player stories, similar to holding Domination points. Their advice is don’t be too greedy, though. If you get hit by coal in a crate because you’re naughty, you’re next for Krampus. The team wanted to have Krampus connected with this and make a player pause to think…”do I want to open that chest?” Beware Krampus: Spending his holidays across Caldera and Rebirth Island, Krampus hunts Operators for sport in both maps. He especially prefers hunting those who receive coal from Holiday Crates. The creature will spend a limited time hunting each target before moving to the next, until he’s taken out, offering a special permanent match reward for the squad that eliminates him. Elf and Seek: Krampus isn’t the only one at home on Caldera and Rebirth Island. Find and destroy these holiday gnomes to receive rewards like a Double XP Token or Calling Card. Those seeking extra rewards can also complete six unique challenges in Warzone Pacific, each with a reward like a Battle Pass Tier Skip, Double XP Token, and more. 12 Days of Deals in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Over six seasons of content, Black Ops Cold War brought a variety of Bundles for players to use in Black Ops and Warzone. For those who missed out, now’s your chance to make amends with 12 Days of Deals. Starting on December 14, a selection of Bundles from Black Ops Cold War and Warzone are returning with holiday discounts. Each day leading up to December 25, five Black Ops Cold War Bundles will become available in that game and in Warzone Pacific. Most are returning classics with special discounts, though expect one new Bundle: the “Battle Pass Vault Pack Greatest Hits,” a collection of late-Tier content from the first three Black Ops Cold War Battle Passes. Support Veterans this Holiday season The holidays are finally here, and the Call of Duty Endowment is honored to be one of the 14 beneficiaries of this year’s Jingle Jam. Back for its 10th Anniversary, Jingle Jam is one of the biggest charity events in the gaming industry, having raised over $20M since 2011. This is the third year that the Endowment will be featured. Tis the season of giving, and you can show your support for veterans by tuning-in and donating here.If you’re feeling in the holiday spirit, you can also support the Endowment by purchasing the Call of Duty Endowment Timeless Pack in #Warzone and #Vanguard with this pack featuring 9 new items, including 2 weapon blueprints. Now get out there and enjoy the Festive Fervor, starting December 17 across Vanguard and Warzone Pacific. See you online. View the full article

Assassin’s Creed games have been massive dives into major moments of human civilization, with each title seldom crossing paths. Outside of Easter eggs and mentions of the heroes who helped shape history, the major protagonists of Assassin’s Creed have never shared the same spotlight, but Ubisoft is about to change all that with its very first Crossover Story. Launching tomorrow, this free DLC will be available to download and play with one story in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and one in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Here’s everything you need to know and how Ubisoft designed it to bridge the gap between two of its most popular Assassin’s Creed games. Every Assassin’s Creed game is headlined by distinctive characters, heroes who continue an age-old conflict with their own sense of style, personality, and a talent for acrobatic anarchy. While every fan has their favorite Assassin, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more popular than Assassin Creed Odyssey’s Kassandra, a straight-talking and hard-hitting mercenary from ancient Greece. Never afraid to get her hands dirty, Kassandra’s journey in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was the stuff of legend, cementing her position as one of the best protagonists in the entire series. That epic trek through the myths and legends of Greek culture raised the bar for the Assassin’s Creed franchise in 2018. But if you’re one of the many fans who’ve longed to see more of Kassandra, we have good news: She’s making a comeback. “When we look at all the Assassin’s Creed content released, they are all connected by characters, lore, locations, and moments in history. Even after the games are released there are stories to tell, questions to be answered,” says Ubisoft Quebec Associate Creative Director Clémence Nogrix. “When we looked at the most recently released games and their place in the overall world timeline, we saw an opportunity to bring back the spotlight on a very unique character in the brand, with Kassandra. With her immortality starting in 431 BCE, the notion of connection with other games started there, and we needed to kickstart her new journey, a unique odyssey in a way by asking ourselves ‘What did Kassandra do when she became immortal?’ So we started with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and seeing as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was the most recently released game, it was an opportunity to bridge both of them and answer the question ‘’What happens when two Assassin’s Creed protagonists meet?’’. Tomorrow, players can experience this ambitious crossover event firsthand, one which bridges both the worlds of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla to tell a new story. Filling in one of the many gaps of Kassandra’s century-spanning life–play the Odyssey expansion to find out how she accomplished that feat — the Those Who Are Treasured DLC sees Kassandra on the hunt for an Isu artifact that has world-changing potential. Taking place after the events of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Kassandra (or Alexios if you played the game as her brother) has decided to take a well-earned rest, spending their days drinking fine wine and their nights gazing at the stars. That break from exploring old tombs and battling ancient monsters comes to an end though when old friends come calling, and a new quest to recover a dangerous relic of the past sets the hero on a new quest that takes them all over the world. That journey eventually brings Kassandra (you won’t see Alexios making this journey) to the Isle of Skye in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s crossover story, A Fateful Encounter, where she runs into Eivor. That first encounter will see the two warriors fight out their differences on the battlefield. While Valhalla’s part in the Crossover Story keeps you firmly in the boots of Eivor, Kassandra’s influence plays a major part in the story. Having lived for centuries, Ubisoft wanted the fan-favorite character to show how much she had grown over the ages, without losing any of her charm along the way. “We had to keep in mind that Kassandra is over 1,300 years older,” says Nogrix of Kassandra and Eivor’s first encounter in the crossover. She has traveled the world and seen the rise and fall of the roman empire. We wanted to make sure that players felt she had learned and seen a lot, but that she was able to stay the same at heart. It was challenging in a way that we were attentive to each hero’s personality, but we made sure they both showed what they were made of on the battlefield. The team did an amazing job with that encounter scene.” Assassin’s Creed’s Crossover Stories launches on PS5 and PS4 on December 14. View the full article

A year after it first launched, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has delivered on its promise of providing a grand Viking experience. Eivor’s journey saw the warrior unite the feuding kingdoms of England, foil an insidious druidic plot in the emerald isle of Ireland, and dethrone an emperor after a quick trip to France. Between the base experience and expansions, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has grown with new modes, challenges, and authentic festivals that brought some merry entertainment to Eivor’s settlement. Year Two: Gods & Crossovers Ubisoft’s only getting started, though, as Year Two of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla kicks off with an ambitious crossover event with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey this month, as fan-favorite character Kassandra journeys to England and crosses paths with Eivor. Then in March, fans can prepare for an epic clash of the gods in Dawn of Ragnarok, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s next major expansion. Dawn of Ragnarok leans heavily into the Asgard fantasy that played a vital part in Valhalla’s first year, aiming to provide over 35 hours of new content across a collection of Norse realms that are roughly one-third the size of England. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was more than just a historical dive into the age of Vikings when it launched last year, as Ubisoft’s game opened up the realm of Asgard to players and saw Eivor remember their past life as Odin, king of the gods and protector of the realms. Eivor will once again slip into a deep slumber that allows them to relive their previous life as Odin, who faces a new threat to Asgard from the combined forces of the Jotunheim frost giants and the demonic forces of Muspelheim led by the Allfather’s greatest nemesis, Surtr. With the odds stacked against him and his son Baldr held captive by the Jotnar, Odin will have to travel to Svartleheim to enlist the aid of the Dwarves if he’s to save the nine realms from all-out destruction. “We based our design of the dwarven realm on the Norse Sagas in order to create a documented mythological fantasy,” explains Ubisoft Sofia Producer Mariana Gosteva of the new locale. “The scale of Svartalfheim is indeed vast – we created a strong setting allowing us to expand the story of Odin in their quest to save their beloved son Baldr. But there is even more to that – one of our key objectives from the very beginning when designing the world was to offer to the players the opportunity to explore and investigate, to provide them with a playground where they can engage with a world very different from what they have enjoyed in the main game so far, and to experiment with all the fresh new ingredients we are adding to the gameplay.” The greatest artisans in the land have been driven into exile by Surtr’s armies, so it’ll be up to you to find them. While Odin is no slouch when it comes to combat, the king of Asgard will need to unlock new godly powers in his war against Surtr, and thanks to the Hugr-Rip bracer that he acquires, he’ll be able to blend Assassin’s Creed’s trademark stealth and covert backstabbing techniques with the game’s more physical and brutal combat systems to tear through enemies. “In the expansion, we introduce an entirely new gameplay system which will allow the players to harness the powers of their enemies,” Gosteva explains. “This new system promotes the fantasy that you play as the god Odin; it emulates the core pillars of the game and offers to the players multiple opportunities to experiment and strategize. This system is a fresh and unique addition to the combat system of Valhalla. It refreshes the whole fight experience and adds a brand-new layer of fun.” One of the more fascinating powers that Odin wields is the ability to shapeshift into a raven and sneak up on enemies, catching them unaware when he transforms back into his godly form and delivers a killer blow. Expect to unlock new abilities and weapon classes that will transform Odin into a one-god-army who can demolish any obstacle in his way. “We, on our end, are extremely excited to see how the players will discover and experiment with the Powers,” says Gosteva. They will have the chance to work on and adapt their strategy to upgrade and use the Powers in many unique and ingenious ways!” “In Dawn of Ragnarök, we’re introducing a new weapon class with a specific combo system, and it is super exciting to play with it. It was one of our goals to give the players different opportunities to fight their enemies in a fresh new way from what they have experienced in Valhalla.” Odin’s battle against rebellious realms is just the start of his journey, as he’ll be able to test his mettle in the Trials of the Valkyrie. This new arena will push your skill to the breaking point, but if you survive, you’ll be rewarded with some of the finest loot to outfit Eivor and Odin in. For veteran players who went to the effort to collect ancient relics such as Thor’s armor or the mighty Excalibur sword, details on how those ancient artifacts were forged will be revealed in the expansion. “We have expanded on all the core pillars of Valhalla – from combat to stealth, and from puzzle to exploration,” says Gosteva. “We have made sure the expansion offers something fresh and new for players of all playstyles. The new gameplay system which allows Odin to acquire the powers of their enemies provides great opportunities to diversify and refresh the whole experience; the Powers open an entirely new way to play and enjoy the game.” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok launches on PS4 and PS5 March 10, 2022. View the full article

Hey folks! Nick Guérin, creative director of Spiritfarer here. It’s a bittersweet time for the team today as we’re launching the final content update for Spiritfarer, the cozy management game about dying. In today’s Jackie and Daria Update, you’ll help our heroine Stella soothe a troubled mind and bring a dilapidated hospital back to its former glory. It’s a lovely curtain call for the game as well as a great show of gratitude to the fans who’ve supported us since the day we announced the project – we hope you love it! Play Video Yes, it’s the end of a long journey for Team Spiritfarer. Today, since we’re closing the book on the game for the foreseeable future, we’re adding the “Farewell Edition” subtitle to Spiritfarer. It’s a victory lap of sorts for a game near and dear to us, one that we never dreamed would be embraced by one-million players and counting. I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about how we got here. As we shipped Spiritfarer, our cozy management game about dying, during a global pandemic in August 2020, we felt a whirlwind of doubts and joy, a maelstrom of anxiousness and relief. Early reviews were good – dare I say great! But especially surprising were the emails, letters, and direct messages bearing heartfelt, kind words. Words of gratitude. Gratitude for how Spiritfarer had made them feel, think, or behave. For the role it had played in soothing the grief wrought by the pandemic. And even for how it had rekindled their passion for their jobs as healthcare professionals or their duties as caregivers. All this was absolutely heart-melting. Clearly, fans had truly connected with the game. And although the team was quite pleased with the version of Spiritfarer at launch, we knew there was more we still needed to do. Beyond that, as we delved into everything we had accumulated to craft the original game, it became clear that the team still had a lot of stories to tell in this world. First and foremost, we wanted to make sure we were telling Stella’s story properly. We didn’t want to leave players puzzled as to what exactly happened in the story – so with our first content update, we added Lily, Stella’s sister, to help flesh out the story elegantly and close that main narrative loop. Next, we turned to the characters we already knew intimately, that we’d created early on but were unable to bring into the original game – still patiently waiting for their time in the spotlight, to have their stories written and told. Hence were born Beverly, the diminutive-yet-adorable owl spirit from our summer update. Now, what can you expect in today’s update? Stella sets sail for Overbrook Island, where problems abound at the dilapidated local hospital. Stella will first befriend the hyena spirit Jackie, a well-meaning but dispirited lug who is overwhelmed by everything that must be done to keep the facility running. Stella will lend a helping hand by providing new resources for the hospital, as well as by understanding the workings of the mysterious Charon Vending Machine. Stella also meets and befriends Daria, a bat spirit and particularly troubled patient of the facility. As the story unfolds and Daria starts playing a major role in Overbrook, she’ll spur Stella into completing an all-new rhythmic platforming challenge, in a kaleidoscopic level seemingly conjured straight from Daria’s agitated mind. In the end, players will be pleased to discover that the Jackie & Daria Update plays into the evergreen Spiritfarer themes of caretaking and saying goodbye. The new friends introduced here will pass on too, once Stella has done her faring duty. But it was especially important to the art team that the protagonist’s world-affecting kindness be communicated visually in this final update. On Overbrook, Stella’s passage literally brings color and life back to the island and its buildings, as is evident in the before-and-after concepts shown here. I’m extremely proud of what the team has accomplished in crafting the suite of updates, culminating in today’s launch. I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am to the team, the public, and everyone involved in making Spiritfarer what it is today. But it is time now to bid farewell to this world, to let it rest and remember it as the bittersweet beacon of love we had hoped it would be, and how much more it became. Thank you all, and Farewell. View the full article

Aeterna Noctis, our team’s action-exploration game, launches on PlayStation 5 December 15. The game takes full advantage of the power of PlayStation 5 and the DualSense wireless controller. Aeterna Noctis feels like an action and exploration game from start to finish offering a large world to discover made up of 16 different and interconnected areas, presenting a diverse weaponry and a large skill tree that will delight players. Let’s take a closer look at the weapons and abilities you’ll wield in Aeterna Noctis. Play Video Weapons of Aeterna Noctis The weapon roster of the King of Darkness, the main character of this adventure, includes several ranged and melee tools created to defeat hordes of enemies and legendary bosses. Sword The trusty melee weapon of the King of Darkness. This is one of the most versatile weapons in the game. A devastating blade with high speed and movement varieties. Perfect for almost any combat situation. Scythe Called “The Bloodthirsty Weapon” according to the game’s lore, it’s a weapon that speaks for itself. This huge two-handed scythe decimates enemies upon impact in a bloody flourish. Splattered life essence helps the King of Darkness heal. Axe The heaviest weapon of the list, and can be found a few hours into the adventure. Players can charge up a powerful swing to crush enemies. Perfect for cleaving through large groups of enemies. Spear Death from above. The King of Darkness can pierce foes with the spear when jumping or falling from high up. Katana One of the most versatile melee weapons of Aeterna Noctis. The King of Darkness’s katana allows the player to charge attacks, destroy enemy projectiles, perform special combos, and teleport behind enemies In addition to these deadly implements, the King of Darkness also wields various projectiles and ranged weapons. Shuriken This sharp throwing star chases enemies and causes them to bleed — another great opportunity for the King of Darkness to leech some health back. Arrows The King of Darkness attacks with a range of projectiles, which can activate certain switches, help solve puzzles, and avoid hazards. Players will learn to use a range of arrows, including light, darkness, and blood. The light on the DualSense controller even indicates which arrow is currently equipped, like yellow to indicate light. Look forward to feeling the impact of these magical arrows thanks to the DualSense controller’s haptics. Innovative teleport arrows let the King transport themselves wherever the projectile hits, a great example of abilities that have puzzle-solving and combat utility. Aeterna Noctis also features classic exploration abilities like dash and double jumping. Power gems These precious stones let players enhance weapons and abilities. By combining these gems and the different skill tree builds, players can enhance the King of Darkness to suit their play style. And don’t worry, you can easily reset the King’s skills to create a new build. We’re so excited for players to venture into the gorgeous, hand-drawn 2D world we’ve created when Aeterna Noctis launches on PS5 December 15. View the full article

Today we are pleased to reveal the newest colors to join the PS5 family of color accessory offerings: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. Adding to the previously released Cosmic Red and Midnight Black DualSense wireless controller colors, the latest galaxy-inspired colors will launch globally starting from 14 January, 2022 in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam for SGD107 / MYR369 / IDR1,359,000 / THB2,590 / PHP4,290 / VND 2,099,000. Play Video We’re also introducing new PS5 console covers to match all of the galaxy-inspired DualSense wireless controller colors in Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple for SGD79.9 / MYR259 / IDR939,000 / THB1,890 / PHP3,090 / VND 1,499,000. These new console covers are beautiful and easy to use — simply remove your original white PS5 console covers and click your new ones into place. The PS5 console covers will be available for both the PS5 with the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition and are sold separately from the PS5 console and DualSense controller. Play Video The Midnight Black and Cosmic Red PS5 console covers will become available starting from 21 January, 2022 at Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and coming soon in February 2022 at the Philippines. The Nova Pink, Galactic Purple, and Starlight Blue PS5 console covers will also launch in these locations during the first half of 2022. We plan to launch the PS5 console covers in additional territories during the year, and we’ll announce those details as they become available. The exact launch dates for both the new DualSense wireless controller colors and the new PS5 console covers in select regions may vary by location, so be sure to check your local retailer for availability. We hope you enjoy the look of the new colors. Find out more about the DualSense controller colors here and PS5 console covers here on PlayStation.com. View the full article

Today we are pleased to reveal the newest colors to join the PS5 family of color accessory offerings: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. Adding to the previously released Cosmic Red and Midnight Black DualSense wireless controller colors, the latest galaxy-inspired colors will launch globally starting in January 2022 at participating retailers. Play Video We’re also introducing new PS5 console covers to match all of the galaxy-inspired DualSense wireless controller colors in Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. These new console covers are beautiful and easy to use — simply remove your original white PS5 console covers and click your new ones into place. The PS5 console covers will be available for both the PS5 with the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition and are sold separately from the PS5 console and DualSense controller. Play Video The Midnight Black and Cosmic Red PS5 console covers will become available starting in January 2022 at participating retailers in the following locations: USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines. The Nova Pink, Galactic Purple, and Starlight Blue PS5 console covers will also launch in these locations during the first half of 2022. We plan to launch the PS5 console covers in additional territories during the year, and we’ll announce those details as they become available. The exact launch dates for both the new DualSense wireless controller colors and the new PS5 console covers in select regions may vary by location, so be sure to check your local retailer for availability. We hope you enjoy the look of the new colors. Find out more about the DualSense controller colors here and PS5 console covers here on PlayStation.com. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information In the US, UK, France, and Germany, a number of these new products will be available via early access for direct.playstation.com customers. The DualSense wireless controller in Galactic Purple will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 14 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 11. Additionally, the PS5 console covers in Midnight Black and Cosmic Red will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 21 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 18. Stay tuned to direct.playstation.com for more information. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information In the US, UK, France, and Germany, a number of these new products will be available via early access for direct.playstation.com customers. The DualSense wireless controller in Galactic Purple will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 14 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 11. Additionally, the PS5 console covers in Midnight Black and Cosmic Red will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 21 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 18. Stay tuned to direct.playstation.com for more information. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information In the US, UK, France, and Germany, a number of these new products will be available via early access for direct.playstation.com customers. The DualSense wireless controller in Galactic Purple will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 14 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 11. Additionally, the PS5 console covers in Midnight Black and Cosmic Red will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 21 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 18. Stay tuned to direct.playstation.com for more information. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information In the US, UK, France, and Germany, a number of these new products will be available via early access for direct.playstation.com customers. The DualSense wireless controller in Galactic Purple will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 14 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 11. Additionally, the PS5 console covers in Midnight Black and Cosmic Red will be available on direct.playstation.com starting January 21 (while supplies last), and will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 18. Stay tuned to direct.playstation.com for more information. View the full article

Pre-order for “Horizon Forbidden West” physical editions (Release Date: 18th February 2022), will start from 14th December 2021 at all PlayStation®Authorised Dealers and Sony Stores. Customers who pre-order any edition of “Horizon Forbidden West” Blu-ray Disc™ Version will receive the Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear to use in the game which can be redeemed via PlayStation™Store. Additionally, physical pre-order customers will stand a chance to get one of the 3 different physical pre-order incentives: “Focus Keychain”, Horizon Forbidden West Cap or “Tremortusk 3D Puzzle”. Please check with local retailers for details of the physical pre-order mechanic. PS4 PS4 PS5 PS5 PS5 PS5 Countries Standard Physical Edition Special Edition Standard Physical Edition Special Edition Collector’s Edition Regalla Edition Singapore 79.9 97.9 97.9 109 279 359 Malaysia 249 299 299 339 839 1,099 Thailand 1,990 2,290 2,290 2,590 6,490 8,390 Indonesia 879,000 1,029,000 1,029,000 1,179,000 2,899,000 3,799,000 Philippines 2,990 3,490 3,490 3,990 9,990 12,990 Digital version pre-orders for “Horizon Forbidden West” are now available on PlayStation™Store. You’ll have the option to choose between the Standard Digital Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition – both of which include the full game and the Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear as bonus incentives for pre-order purchase. Learn More Physical Premiums (please check local retailers for details and availability): Focus Keychain, Horizon Forbidden West Cap, and 3D Puzzle STANDARD PHYSICAL EDITION Pre-order Bonuses: Digital in-game bonuses (unlock via story progression) o Nora Legacy Outfit o Nora Legacy Spear Content: • Horizon Forbidden West (Physical) PS4 or PS5 version Country PS5 PS4 Singapore SGD 97.90 SGD 79.90 Malaysia MYR 299 MYR 249 Thailand THB 2,290 THB 1,990 Indonesia IDR 1,029,000 IDR 879,000 Philippines PHP 3,490 PHP 2,990 SPECIAL EDITION Pre-order Bonuses: Digital in-game bonuses (unlock via story progression) o Nora Legacy Outfit o Nora Legacy Spear Content: • Horizon Forbidden West (Physical) PS4 or PS5 version • Horizon Forbidden West SteelBook Display Case • Mini Art Book • Digital Soundtrack Country PS5 PS4 Singapore SGD 109 SGD 97.90 Malaysia MYR 339 MYR 299 Thailand THB 2,590 THB 2,290 Indonesia IDR 1,179,000 IDR 1,029,000 Philippines PHP 3,990 PHP 3,490 COLLECTOR’S EDITION Pre-order Bonuses: Digital in-game bonuses (unlock via story progression) o Nora Legacy Outfit o Nora Legacy Spear Content: Horizon Forbidden West (Digital) PS4 and PS5 versions Horizon Forbidden West SteelBook Display CaseDownload code for the game will be supplied via voucher in the box. A custom sculpted Tremortusk and Aloy statueStatues will require some assembly; detailed instructions will be provided with the box Mini Art Book 2 Special Outfits (Carja Behemoth Elite and Nora Thunder Elite) 2 Special Weapons (Carja Behemoth Short Bow and Nora Thunder Sling) In-game Resources Pack including ammunition, potions, and travel packs In-game Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike Piece Exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint Digital Soundtrack*1 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel Country Collector’s Singapore SGD 279 Malaysia MYR 839 Thailand THB 6,490 Indonesia IDR 2,899,000 Philippines PHP 9,990 REGALLA EDITION Pre-order Bonuses: Digital in-game bonuses (unlock via story progression) o Nora Legacy Outfit o Nora Legacy Spear Content: Horizon Forbidden West (Digital) PS4 and PS5 versions Horizon Forbidden West SteelBook Display CaseDownload code for the game will be supplied via voucher in the box. A Regalla-themed, custom sculpted Tremortusk and Aloy statueStatues will require some assembly; detailed instructions will be provided with the box Replica Focus and custom stand 2 Art Print Cards Replica Sunwing and Clawstrider Machine Physical Strike Pieces Mini Art Book Canvas Map 2 Special Outfits (Carja Behemoth Elite and Nora Thunder Elite) 2 Special Weapons (Carja Behemoth Short Bow and Nora Thunder Sling) In-game Resources Pack including ammunition, potions, and travel packs In-game Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike Piece Exclusive Photo Mode poses and face paints Digital Soundtrack*1 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel Country Regalla Singapore SGD 359 Malaysia MYR 1,099 Thailand THB 8,390 Indonesia IDR 3,799,000 Philippines PHP 12,990 Pre-order digital incentives (all SKUSs) are provided by voucher within package. Voucher expires 17/2/2024. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation™Network required to redeem voucher. Full game voucher, Digital Soundtrack and Digital Deluxe incentives are provided by voucher within package. Voucher expires 17/2/2025. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation™Network required to redeem voucher. View the full article