Commander Fury

After a number of years closely collaborating on several games together, including The Playroom (PS4) and The Playroom VR (PS VR), I couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Firesprite to the PlayStation Studios family as our 14th studio! Quite a few members of Firesprite come from SIE’s Studio Liverpool and we’re thrilled to welcome them back. Firesprite is a creative and ambitious studio that is exceptional at building incredible experiences that truly showcase the potential of our hardware. The team’s technical and creative capabilities will be paramount to growing our stellar catalogue of exclusive games, and I think you’ll be excited for what’s to come. Welcome to PlayStation Studios, Firesprite! Today is an incredibly exciting day for Firesprite as we join PlayStation Studios with the backing of Hermen and the entire PlayStation Family. We are very much looking forward to the next part of our journey! Firesprite, headquartered in Liverpool in the North-West of the UK, was founded in 2012 with the vision of creating games that bring new innovations to any experience we develop. The North-West is steeped in gaming history, producing many iconic developers, publishers and games such as WipEout. Many of our ‘Sprites developed and shaped titles from this era and we are very proud of those roots! We’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented developers and publishers across the industry and PlayStation in particular has been a friend and co-development partner for the best part of a decade, collaborating together on many exciting projects including The PlayRoom, Run Sackboy! Run and The PlayRoom VR. PlayStation also gave us the opportunity to create our own IP, The Persistence, and we were given the creative freedom to explore, innovate, and release a survival horror game we are immensely proud of. Now, as a first party studio, we know we have the full support of PlayStation in furthering our heritage of combining creativity and technical innovation to offer some truly unique experiences for PlayStation fans. I firstly want to thank PlayStation and their community for the warm welcome into a family of incredible creators. I’d also like to thank all of our ‘Sprites, past and present, who have helped shape the Firesprite we see today. I’m proud of the talent we have at Firesprite and you’ll continue to hear and see more from us all very soon! We can’t wait to show you what we have been working on……we’re just getting started 😊! – Graeme Ankers, MD of Firesprite http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/XJFat7rJoHUView the full article

Hello, PlayStation fans! The Riftbreaker launches October 14 on PlayStation 5. It’s been an incredible pleasure bringing our latest game to life on the next-gen hardware, and we hope you will have a lot of fun discovering all of its secrets next month! The Riftbreaker is a base-building strategy game with elements of survival, exploration, and action-RPG. As Captain Ashley S. Nowak your job is to jump through a one-way portal to Galatea 37, a distant planet in the far reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy. Once you’re there you must singlehandedly prepare the planet for further colonization. Luckily, thanks to the power of PS5 we could fully realize our vision and expand on it with unique features that will immerse you in the world of The Riftbreaker even further. The DualSense controller gave us entirely new avenues of communicating with the player. For instance, the Adaptive Triggers become harder to push when the player runs out of ammunition, giving them instant feedback. The Triggers also start pulsating every time the weapon is ready to release a powerful, charged-up shot, increasing player effectiveness during combat. Thanks to DualSense’s haptics, players can feel a tangible connection with the world of Galatea 37. While exploring the vast jungle, players will feel raindrops hitting the controller, as well as different types of terrain beneath their feet. The feeling of the controller changes between biomes – you will feel the shifting sands in the desert dunes, the rubble of rocks in the volcanic zone, as well as many others. But haptics aren’t limited to nature. While using tech gadgets, such as the Geoscanner or Geiger Counter, the DualSense controller will vibrate in correlation to the strength of the readings from those sensors. However, The Riftbreaker on PlayStation 5 offers much more than that. When we started working on this project back in 2018 we already knew that we wanted to deliver a truly next-gen experience for our players. We enhanced our custom game engine, The Schmetterling 2.0, with cutting-edge features and technologies that allow us to fully take advantage of the next-gen hardware. First of all, you will be able to play The Riftbreaker on PS5 with ray traced shadows. Thanks to the use of RT shadows we can ensure that every scene in the game will feature beautiful, dynamic soft shadows that are entirely accurate in every frame. This technology also allows to include additional shadow casting lights like for example a comet flying above the player’s head or a burning fire golem that illuminates its surroundings with precise shadows being cast by every blade of grass. None of that would matter if we had to compromise the game’s performance. Luckily, thanks to the power of PlayStation 5 and the use of AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution technology, we can tell you right now that you will be able to play The Riftbreaker in 4K with ray tracing enabled. We always strive to deliver the best performance possible while maintaining visual fidelity at the highest possible level. The world of Galatea 37 will greet you with high-resolution textures, dynamic vegetation, and amazing spectacles of light and shadows. The Riftbreaker is a very open-ended game. There is no right or wrong way to play. If you prefer a more action-oriented approach, you can limit base-building to a bare minimum and take on the hordes of Galatean creatures head-on. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay inside your fortress most of the time, you can spend hours designing the most optimal layout and enhancing your economy. Both paths will eventually lead you to success, and both approaches are equally valid – everyone has their preferences, after all. That is also why we offer you two control schemes. You can either play using the DualSense controller or by plugging in a USB keyboard and mouse into your console. Both options offer full customization of all available buttons. Play the way you like. We hope that playing The Riftbreaker on PS5 will be an amazing experience for you. We are thrilled to see your reactions and hear your feedback on the game. Your mission to Galatea 37 begins on October 14. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/NLGyoyPyOZIView the full article

Greetings Mercs! This is Daeron Katz, Senior Community Manager for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. I’ve been a huge fan of the BattleTech franchise and MechWarrior games since the 1984 BattleDroids tabletop game. Despite the wealth of board games, novels, and MechWarrior games that bring the world of BattleTech to life, PlayStation fans haven’t had a proper MechWarrior experience since the time-tested classic, MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, released for the original PlayStation in 1995. All that changes today. I feel honored to be able to formally announce that both MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC will be heading to PS4 and PS5 on September 23. In terms of differences, the PlayStation 5 version supports adaptive triggers and advanced haptics with the DualSense controller. This will also be the first time MechWarrior will be on a PlayStation console in over 20 years! For strangers to the world of MechWarrior, here’s the TLDR: The year is 3015 and humanity has colonized thousands of systems across space. The battlefields of the future are dominated by MechWarriors (that’s you!), elite mercenaries for hire who pilot gigantic engines of war known as BattleMechs. As the leader of a growing mercenary company, it’ll be up to you to take on assignments from various factions across the universe — and expand your team of MechWarriors and BattleMechs over the course of the game. Whether you’re more of a solo player and want to focus on building up your mercenary squad of AI-controlled MechWarrior mercenaries in the single-player PvE campaign or are looking for more teamwork focused Instant Action with 4-player co-op, there’s lots to enjoy and discover as you level cities and lay waste to rivals on your own or with friends. The dev team at Piranha Games is already super excited about how MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is shaping up for its PlayStation debut. The base game benefits from over a year’s worth of additional development work and comes stacked with tons of gameplay, systems, and quality of life improvements – many of which are based directly on fan feedback. One of the more noteworthy features PlayStation players can look forward to is the ability for players to switch between any of the AI Lance BattleMechs during a mission. For the initial release, manual control was limited to the player’s main BattleMech. This seemingly small update makes a huge impact, allowing players to instantly bounce between all their friendly BattleMechs, with full control over movements and attacks, at any time. The extra precision over control all the BattleMechs in your squad also allows for more strategic and thoughtful positioning with full control of weapons and movement in real-time, adding a whole new layer to each and every mission in both MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC. Other improvements, like extreme weather visual effects, updates to the user-interface/HUD, a new campaign story introduction, and balancing changes bring an extra layer of polish to the already awesome experience. But that’s just the beginning! While both MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and Heroes of the Inner Sphere feature campaigns that can be completed on your own, MechWarrior is best experienced in the company of friends – and thanks to four-player PvE and co-op cross-play for all supported platforms, there’s never been a better time to party-up with fellow mercenaries around the world. Plus, with the same-day release for the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC on PS4 and PS5, MechWarrior’s return to the PlayStation will bring more MechWarrior action than ever before. As an added bonus, our team wanted to take a more generous approach when it comes to accessing DLC content, even if you don’t own it yourself. That’s why we made it possible for players to experience the entirety of the Heroes of the Inner Sphere campaign, as long as the host owns the DLC. The more mechs, the merrier! Thanks to a huge and worldwide playerbase with cross-play, DLC sharing, and also over a year’s worth of development time dedicated to gameplay, AI, balancing, and quality of life improvements, both longtime fans like myself and strangers to the MechWarrior franchise will have a lot to enjoy and discover when MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC head to PlayStation on September 23! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/k48Pd--Tc2QView the full article

In Call of Duty: Vanguard’s gripping Campaign, PlayStation players will witness the birth of Special Forces. In Multiplayer, you are the Special Forces. Prepare for tactical combat with a focus on a global cast of Operators, all deeply integrated for a new era of Multiplayer. We’re excited to give you a view of the massive offering that Call of Duty: Vanguard is bringing to Multiplayer on November 5. You won’t want to miss it, and fortunately PlayStation players won’t have to wait long to squad up and dive in. Call of Duty: Vanguard Multiplayer is ready to rise on every front. Here’s your first look at the action ahead: Play Video Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta dates Before the game launches on November 5, you’ll have the chance to play Multiplayer through the Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta, and for PlayStation players that chance is right around the corner. The Beta takes places over two weekends: Weekend 1 – PlayStation Early Access Available to those who pre-order Call of Duty: Vanguard for PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4, this first weekend takes place from Friday, September 10 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST to Monday, September 13 at 10 AM PT / 6PM BST.* That’s this weekend, so to make sure you’re ready you can head to the PlayStation Store to pre-load now. There’s a robust MP experience waiting in weekend one: play the new Champion Hill tournament mode or go classic with Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Kill Confirmed. Also try Patrol, a new Multiplayer mode featuring an objective that’s constantly on the move. Weekend 1 features three Multiplayer maps: Hotel Royal, Red Star, and Gavutu, which span three different fronts of WWII and three distinctly different environments. Weekend 2 – PlayStation Open Beta Then, keep the action going during Vanguard’s second Beta weekend, which is completely Open for PlayStation players**. This second weekend lasts from Thursday, September 16 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST to Monday, September 20 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST. Stay tuned to the Call of Duty social channels for more info as we get closer to those dates. In addition to being among the first to try out the core Call of Duty: Vanguard MP experience, those who participate in the Multiplayer Beta (either in the Early Access weekend and/or the Open Beta weekend) and who reach a Level of 20 will receive a bonus Weapon Blueprint for use in Call of Duty: Vanguard at the game’s launch on November 5 and in Call of Duty: Warzone when the new map launches later this year. Finally, in most cases, a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required to play the Beta, in either weekend.*** And while the Multiplayer Beta is sure to give players a great look at what they can expect on November 5, it is still just a small slice of the full MP experience that Call of Duty: Vanguard will bring with it at launch. Play Video What lies ahead: The full multiplayer experience A massive day one offering At the outset, PlayStation players are going to notice one thing – – in terms of sheer scale, Call of Duty: Vanguard will deliver a massive day one core Multiplayer offering. With sixteen maps designed for traditional core play plus four maps encompassing the Champion Hill experience, there is going to be no shortage of environments to explore, lanes to charge, combat zones to conquer. That is what players can expect on day one for Vanguard’s Multiplayer – these maps take place across a wide variety of different global environments and are ready to host an abundance of game modes. Brand New Modes: Champion Hill, Patrol In addition to Champion Hill – a fast and frenetic tournament for Solo, Duos, and Trios – Vanguard will introduce another new game mode: Patrol. Based on Hardpoint, this objective-based mode features a scoring zone in near-constant motion, forcing Operators to stay on the move. These modes are in addition to classic offerings like Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Domination, Search & Destroy, and more. Play how you want with combat pacing A brand-new feature to Call of Duty, the Combat Pacing system gives you control over how you want to play by breaking up the pacing into three distinct categories: Tactical, Assault, and Blitz. For the classic 6v6 player experience you know and love, pick Tactical. If you want to up the ante, go Assault. Need it fast and frenetic? Blitz is your got to, jamming in high player counts for non-stop action and mayhem. You can also set Combat Pacing to “All” to experience all three throughout your play session. The choice is yours. Squad up with Clans and Group Rewards Gain more agency over your squad through the all-new Clan system. Clans will feature their own progression, emblems, and even Battle Pass-related rewards unlocked for your entire group, giving you and your squadmates all a share in the loot. Create-a-Class and Gunsmith An evolution of a system first introduced in Modern Warfare (2019), Gunsmith will now feature up to ten attachment slots on certain weapons, allowing for thousands of additional possibilities to help with nearly every combat scenario and playstyle. Riot Shields are also making a return in addition to two melee options: a standard-issue knife at launch and a bayonet charge for weapons that can equip the underbarrel blade. Akimbo is also available on select weapons for a high power, close-range option. Reactive environments, new combat maneuvers Reactive gameplay environments are coming to Call of Duty: Vanguard, so expect to blast through designated weak points, break down doors and windows, destroy tiles, and generally whittle down the environment throughout the match. Watch, too, as dust kicks up in the air during a firefight from bullets hitting different surfaces. The cover system also allows for new strategies: the first is mounting, which returns from previous games, though Operators can move their weapons across vertical and horizontal surfaces as well. The other is blindfire – at the sacrifice of accuracy, take shots at your enemies without exposing yourself to imminent danger. Perks and Proficiencies Operator Perks and Weapon Perks – now known as Proficiencies – are making a return. Pick Lightweight for faster movement speed, or equip the Weapon Perk Gung-Ho, allowing Operators to fire with the weapon while sprinting. Prepare for Field Upgrades, too. Become the original Special Forces The Operators of Call of Duty: Vanguard represent a global cast of countries, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life. Through Sledgehammer’s diverse writing team and an expert World War II historian, these fictional characters are brought to life like never before. Extended Operator backgrounds and Quips Get to know each character’s personal story through an extended background for each Operator. Expect more unique dialogue from these characters via an expansion of the Quip system, bringing out their personalities like never before. Operator leveling and weapon favorites Earn Operator XP – separate to regular, weapon, Battle Pass, and Clan XP — to unlock new cosmetics, skins, calling cards, finishing moves and more just by playing matches with a specific Operator. New to Call of Duty, each Operator also has a Favorite Weapon; equip this weapon for added bonuses like additional earned XP. Mark your calendar Ready to join the fight? Pre-order today, Pre-load now and get your hands on Call of Duty: Vanguard Multiplayer during the PlayStation Early Access Beta weekend starting this Friday, September 10. Rise on every front. *Actual platform availability and launch date(s) of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only, while Early Access Beta Codes last, at participating retailers. Internet connection required. **A nominal fee is required for PS4™ and PS5™ owners in Japan. ***PS4™ and PS5™ owners in Germany will need a PS Plus subscription due to the game’s age rating. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/mvGV5bqGt-YView the full article

Hello, People of the Fog!   If one were to create a Mount Rushmore of 80s horror icons, you’d be hard-pressed not to include Hellraiser’s Pinhead on the side of that cliff. Even though, let’s face it, he’d be an absolute nightmare to sculpt. Few villains can claim to be as memorable, prolific, and downright original as this staple of horror cinema. All the more reason it was so important to do Pinhead justice as we welcomed him into Dead by Daylight. We tapped our creative team to shed some light on the process, the pleasure, and the pain of taking everything that makes Pinhead unique… and translating it into a video game. The Hellraiser Chapter is available now in Dead by Daylight!  Play Video That Cenobite vibe Calling Pinhead “recognizable” is an understatement, and no matter how fun the apex Cenobite might be to play, if the look and feel isn’t right, the fans’ connection to the character is lost. Getting it right starts with the source material. “We watched and rewatched that original movie again and again to try and make sure our movements and behaviors in-game rang true with Pinhead,” shared Animation Director, David Prenoveau. “After discussion with the design and art teams, we tested these movements on an existing Killer – The Trapper – to make sure we could actually feel that very specific Cenobite vibe coming through even on another character model.” It’s said that during production of the original Hellraiser, explicit direction was given to Pinhead to subdue his movements and gestures. The goal was for the character to maintain an aura of complete control at all times. The challenge then fell to David and his team to translate that same essence into Dead by Daylight, where Killers need to be very mobile. “Pinhead is very stoic in the first two movies. His movements are restrained and effortless,” explained David. “We just couldn’t imagine him doing things like kneeling down to pick up Survivors and tossing them over his shoulder. Afterall, he’s the high priest of Hell, he shouldn’t bend a knee for any reason!” “In DbD we have a basic set mechanics that are common to all Killers like picking victims up and tossing them onto hooks. For every single one of these we asked ourselves ‘how can we make sure this really feels like Pinhead?’ Our answer ended up being to use his chains and hooks as an interaction tool. As the player you control Pinhead’s chains and use them to manipulate Survivors in ways other Killers need to do by hand. We’re hoping this touch makes the player feel even more powerful when they’re playing as Pinhead!” Tearing souls apart When it comes to animating a Killer in Dead by Daylight, every character poses their own unique set of challenges. According to David, challenges for Pinhead started with his most basic of movements and went all the way to his most brutal animation. “Just having him walk around was a challenge at first because in the movies he’s not a very fast character but in the game, he needs to move with speed,” pointed out David. “In the end we came up with a compromise that both worked visually, and served the gameplay.” “Our final challenge was the Memento Mori: Pinhead’s unique killing animation. Using Frank Cotton’s demise in the original movie as inspiration, we incorporated that same body horror into our Mori as chains pierce and stretch the skin of the Survivor’s body and face as they’re dragged away into the Cenobite dimension.” Playing as Pinhead With the looks, movements, and key animations locked in, the task then fell on the game design team to weave that same authenticity throughout Pinhead’s gameplay. Game Design Director, Matt Spriggens broke down the approach to creating the Hell Priest’s powers and perks in Dead by Daylight and what players can expect when playing as Pinhead. “The main themes touched on in the original Hellraiser movie were bondage, torture, pleasure, and pain, so it was up to our amazing design team to figure out how to incorporate these into Dead by Daylight mechanics,” explained Matt. “Pinhead’s chains were really the key for us in creating that authentic experience. We incorporated them into almost every aspect of the character from his power to his main weapon to his Mori. It helped bring a sense of thematic harmony to both gameplay and aesthetics.” Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Pinhead’s power: Summons of Pain In Dead by Daylight, Pinhead’s main power is called Summons of Pain. Players can open a gateway, summoning a chain from the depths of Hell which they control and guide towards a Survivor, latching onto them and slowing them down. “This unique power lets players bring an aspect of control to a ranged attack since they get to guide their own projectiles. The biggest challenge for players then becomes mastering the strategies and mind games of where and when to place the gateway to launch the chain,” continued Matt. “One great aspect of this power players might not think of immediately is that you can open a gateway without actually summoning a chain allowing you to scout info without committing to a physical presence in certain areas of the map.” The game design team then turned their attention to making sure that those same classic Hellraiser themes of pain and torture were well represented in each of Pinhead’s perks for players looking to torment Survivors to the fullest. Pinhead’s perk: Deadlock Deadlock crushes the Survivor’s hopes by blocking the generator with the most repair progress any time another generator is completely repaired. Pinhead’s perk: Hex: Plaything Hex: Plaything ratchets up a victim’s suffering by cursing a Survivor when they’re first hooked. The curse applies the Oblivious status effect, meaning that they don’t hear a heartbeat when Pinhead approaches, creating extra tension. Pinhead’s perk: Scourge: Gift of Pain Scourge: Gift of Pain creates several Scourge Hooks around the map that apply negative status effects, Mangled and Hemorrhage, to any Survivor who is removed from one of these hooks. After being healed, their repair and healing speeds are reduced until they’re injured again. Solving the puzzle box: One of the most unique elements of Hellraiser lore has always been the infamous, enigmatic Cenobite puzzle box, also known as the Lament Configuration. The Pinhead experience in Dead by Daylight just wouldn’t be complete without it playing a major role in gameplay. “We always wanted the puzzle box to be a big part of the Chapter,” shared Matt. “It’s the whole catalyst for the Cenobites coming to Earth after all! Finding a fun, organic way to integrate it into our gameplay while respecting the mythology was the challenging part.” Whenever Pinhead is part of a trial, the Lament Configuration puzzle box will spawn somewhere on the map waiting to be found by either a Survivor… or The Cenobite. “As the trial progresses, Survivors come closer and closer to triggering a Chain Hunt. The only way to postpone that threat is if a Survivor picks up the puzzle box. This results in them being threatened by chains until they decide to solve it. If The Cenobite reacts quickly enough, they can teleport directly to the Survivor who has it,” added Matt. “If Pinhead finds it first, he can trigger a Chain Hunt for all remaining Survivors in a trial. It should be an interesting element of gameplay for both Killers and Survivors to engage with, and it came from exploring a bunch of different motivations for why players would not just want to interact with the puzzle box, but also solve it. We’re really happy with where things ended up as we feel it ticks all those boxes. Pun intended.” The Hellraiser Chapter will be available in Dead by Daylight today for PS4 and PS5.  See you in the Fog! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/HHZFGazGh3IView the full article

Many aspects of Deathloop have gone through changes since we started this project, but through this entire process, we’ve had our main characters, Colt and Julianna, to serve as our guiding lights. From the earliest stages of the development, we knew who we wanted them to be and how we wanted them to act and react. We created their personalities, quirks and flaws. And, of course, we crafted absolutely badass designs for them. Remembering where we come from The first thing we think about when starting research on a new project is what we want to retain from our previous titles and what we want to push in other directions. Many people know us for the Dishonored franchise and its unique and identifiable art style. We strive to constantly keep our artistic style evolving and maturing, while still maintaining what makes it unique and “Arkane-y.” In the case of Deathloop we wanted to keep some stylized cloth and anatomy, but we also wanted to introduce more realistic proportions and push the realism of our anatomy. We want our characters to feel like part of the world. They have a past and carry some heavy stories. Our style aims at highlighting our characters’ personalities, while idealizing certain proportions. We maintain clear shapes and readable lines and avoid visual noise, high frequencies and unnecessary details. We usually invest several months in the early stages of the project into finding the right balance between stylized and realistic when it comes to volumes, textures and materials. We want the characters to be readable from a distance, yet detailed and rich when you get close to them. Viewing the 1960s through the Arkane lens When Art Director Sebastien Mitton suggested grounding Deathloop in the 1960s, the idea resonated with the team straight away. We had spent a decade in the Victorian era with the Dishonored series, and this was a refreshing change for the studio. We saw the 1960s as a fantastic playground to develop new visual ideas. However, each of us have our own visual culture and understanding of the 1960s. It took some time and absorbing conversations to grasp how we wanted to design an Arkane take on the 1960s. We gathered hundreds of references and looked at important figures from the fashion world of the 1960s. Courrèges’ clothing, Pierre Cardin’s vibrant colors, Vidal Sassoon’s distinctive hair styling, and many, many more. We developed some specific types of materials representative of the 1960s, like the glitter material you can see on certain weapons and characters, or the translucent plastic from some of the sculptures present on the island. The birth of Colt and Julianna Julianna and Colt were conceived as a stylish fighting duo. We knew from the beginning that the characters would have tons of dialogue and interaction with one another, and we wanted them both to look equally elegant and engaging. Colt’s primary outfit is straightforward and immediately tells you part of his story. We knew early on that we wanted him to be a veteran pilot from the military. He wears an old pilot leather jacket he cherishes (or he would if he could remember why he was wearing it), and heavy leather gloves. Thanks to his background, he knows his way around firearms and how to behave on a battlefield. Even despite his amnesia, his military-trained reflexes will save his life more than once. Below you can see an example of an early concept with a bomber jacket, but we ended up going for the leather one that was unanimously loved by the team. Julianna’s jacket is purposely loose and oversized. She is dressed in tight elastane pants to be free of movement, implying she is fast and agile. The gloves she wears are inspired by archery gloves to evoke the fact she’s a hunter. Her headband and earrings bring some nice pop/60’s elements to her global image. Julianna’s outfit keeps visual noise to a minimum, as we decided to gather most of the intricate details into her signature weapon the Sepulchra Breteira. Everything tells a story We believe that every small detail we add to a design has to purposely communicate the situation, intention and action of the character. Every patch, badge and pin on Colt’s jacket has been created in collaboration with the narration, concept and character art teams. Looking at Colt and Julianna in detail will reveal some of their motivations and background. We would like to invite the players to have the pleasure of discovering things for themselves. Here are a few examples: Jean-Luc Monnet (Associate Art Director & Lead Concept Artist) and his concept art team produced lots of different outfit options before settling for the final ones you see in the game, especially for Julianna. Each one told a story about who these characters are and we liked some of them so much that we decided to use them as alternative outfits for the characters. For example, Julianna’s catsuit skin reflects the fact she’s agile, athletic and nimble, with a little bit of a Charlie’s Angels vibe. Her blue dress look operates on contrasts: she looks well-behaved and courteous, but she is in fact your fiercest opponent in the world of Blackreef. This duality resonates really well with the way she addresses you. She’s always witty and taking the piss out of Colt. While we didn’t end up using either look for her main appearance, we did pull elements from both. With Colt’s skins, we designed for a variety of moods. From as a super stylish killer in his Mike Jagger-y pink suit, to the self-tattooed hero that references the memory loss-themed thriller, “Memento.” Like with Julianna, each of his outfits highlights one of his character traits. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/1Zcvg_AZGTMView the full article

Epic adventures, fantastical lands, daring heroics and thrilling combat awaits PlayStation Now members this month, with a mammoth new selection of titles available to play starting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 7. Let’s check out each of the games in turn. Play Video Tekken 7* Discover the epic conclusion of the Mishima clan and unravel the reasons behind each step of their ceaseless fight. Tekken 7 features stunning story-driven cinematic battles and intense duels that can be enjoyed with friends and rivals alike through innovative fight mechanics. Love, Revenge, Pride. Everyone has a reason to fight. Values are what define us and make us human, regardless of our strengths and weaknesses. There are no wrong motivations, just the path we choose to take. ● Tekken 7 available until February 28, 2022 ​​ Play Video Killing Floor 2 Combat vicious threats solo, or team up online in this first-person shooter. A failed experiment has given rise to monstrous creations that have torn through Europe. With governments collapsing, volunteers and mercenaries have banded together to protect the populace from the growing bio-threat,called Zeds, heading into hot zones to wipe them out and save civilization. Play Video Final Fantasy VII Relive the original version of the RPG classic that revolutionised the genre. Our adventure begins when a cold-hearted mercenary named Cloud Strife is hired to take part in a series of raids on ‘Mako’ energy reactors which his eco-warrior employers believe are draining the planet’s life-force. In the chaos that ensues, Cloud will make a discovery that will change his life, and the world, forever. And remember, Final Fantasy VII is the first of five Final Fantasy titles coming to PlayStation Now over the coming months. Play Video Windbound Shipwrecked alone on an uncharted island, explore, adapt and navigate the land and perilous seas to stay alive. Scavenge the islands’ untamed terrain for resources that you can use to craft a full range of tools and weapons to hunt wildlife and upgrade your boat. Carefully craft your own custom sailing vessel to take on the treacherous waters, traversing from one island to the next. Design your boat to battle tempestuous winds, monstrous waves, and deadly sea creatures. ​​ Play Video Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition Explore and conquer with your party the Stolen Lands of Golarion, a world rich with history, mystery and conflict featuring real-time combat or optional turn-based fights in this single-player RPG. Expand your Kingdom, build new towns and community. Conquer new regions and claim them as yours, Create heroes and customise your character choosing from more than 1000 different abilities, skills, and feats. ​​​​ Play Video Moonlighter Moonlighter is an action RPG with rogue-lite elements following the everyday routines of Will, an adventurous shopkeeper that dreams of becoming a hero. His village Rynoka sits at the site of an ancient set of Gates, which lead to different realms and dimensions. Adventure into them, battling monsters and bringing back loot and treasures to outfit your shop and restore your hometown. *Tekken 7 is already available in the PS Now library in North America and Canada. **Certain games featured on PlayStation Now may be made available in the library on a limited-time basis only. Games included in the subscription (and their features) are subject to change. PlayStation Now games may not provide the same features or be identical to the original formatted or other versions of the same-titled games. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/ePi_3mz99_oView the full article

Hey everyone, I’m Pete Bottomley, Designer at White Paper Games, and I’m excited to be back on PS Blog with some big news. We’re thrilled to announce that Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View is launching on PS5 and PS4 on November 2! Play Video For those of you unfamiliar with our latest game, Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View is a gripping observational thriller set in 1950s England. When 8-year-old Charlotte May is reported missing from Dahlia View, retired detective Robert Conway searches for the truth behind her disappearance, observing his neighbours from his apartment window and questioning their behaviour. As suspicions escalate, Conway launches his own investigation into Charlotte May’s disappearance, following leads, uncovering new evidence, and piecing the case together on an unpredictable path to the truth. We designed Conway around three core gameplay loops to observe and profile suspects: Observation, Search and Evidence Review. During the Observation sequences, Conway observes the Dahlia View estate through the lens of his camera to watch his neighbours and photograph suspicious activities. With the DualSense Wireless Controller’s adaptive triggers, you’ll be able to feel the satisfying snap of a 1950’s camera as you photograph evidence and search Dahlia View for clues. When the investigation leads Conway into his neighbours’ homes to follow up on leads and search for evidence, the DualSense’s haptic feedback will let you feel the texture and bumps of different surface types, like old cobblestone streets and creaking floorboards, adding to the immersion and suspense of Dahlia View. The PS5 version will include two visual modes: a native 4K resolution mode for pin-sharp image quality and a Ray Tracing mode to experience the world of Dahlia View with enhanced fidelity. Lastly, the fast loading times offered by the PS5’s SSD combined with Unreal Engine’s Zen Loader technology will let you hop in and out of the Dahlia View estate to continue your investigation at the touch of a button. Our goal was to make the most of the latest features available on PS5 to ensure the pacing and tension of our narrative thriller are maintained without having to wait for long load times. Thank you for reading. We can’t wait for you to start your investigation when Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View releases on the 2nd of November 2021! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/y_5VwWJrxCgView the full article

Hey, Furtizen! Torch City is a big, magnificent place, but it is also full of secrets and riddled with dangers at every corner. A host of different factions such as the All Fur Society, the Legion, the Rat Gang, the Resistance all fight each other over and under the table for supremacy. If you just waltz in there without knowing a thing, you’d be like a moth flying towards a torch. Toasted! If you want to survive Torch City, I’ve got some good advice for you. 1. Carry a map and keep an eye on it at all times Torch City’s maze-like structure has made it impossible to chart completely. Until now. You’ll be challenged by one of its citizens to be the first to map out every corner of this metropolis. Exploration will continually add to your own map, giving you an ever-growing understanding of the sprawl, and which as yet unseen avenues to head to uncover next. 2. Learn and try out every skill Like they say, “you can never have too many skills”, and it’s the same in Torch City. The All Fur Society recently renovated a batch of the Legion terminals and gave furtizens access to learn mechanical skills. Just a small fee to pay for running costs. Extra Data Disks are also required to learn Advanced skills. You should pick up a few moves from these terminals when you see them, because they’ll definitely come in handy later on. You can even try to come up with your own style of combos. 3. Build up SP to unleash SP Skills By the way, there are some special mechanical powers called “SP Skill.” SP skills are very powerful and can be mixed in with combos to add more variety to your fighting style. SP skills use up SP, but you can build SP up again by performing combos against the enemy. Collect Data Disks and use your SP skills with pride! 4. Don’t forget to grab some Carrot Juice You are bound to get roughed up along the way. Take a drink of Carrot Juice to be right as rain again! You can buy it from Wang at the foot of Torch Tower. Aside from Carrot Juice, you might find that there are also other useful auxiliary devices. Use them well and you will go far. 5. Acquiring new weapons is key to becoming powerful Your Fist seems unstoppable but is not the only weapon in the city. The Legion has their own invention, and you could be the first furtizen to find and master it. Once you’ve acquired both Drill and Whip, you’re free to switch between them at any time. Get creative with combos and don’t give your enemy respite. 6. Weapons are not just for fighting Remember, weapons can have uses outside of combat. There’s some Kung Fu master in Torch City who brags about punching through the Legion’s mechanical doors or smashing through metal plates with his “Power Punch.” If he could do it, no reason why that big metal fist of yours can’t. Speaking of versatile weapons, the Legion’s Drill has it all. The drill can separate into different segments like a propeller. Once powered on it can knock down doors, and when coupled with strong gusts of wind can propel you to higher spots. It can even act as a propeller underwater. Use your weapon well, and it’ll open new doors for you. 7. Find and use the Parry power I talked a lot about offense, but sometimes, defense is critical too. The Legion has a mechanical power called “Parry” hidden somewhere in Torch City. They’ve also developed something called the “Shock Baton”, an auxiliary device that can temporarily simulate the “Parry” effect. Parrying an enemy’s melee attack can often leave them exposed; Parry can even send bullets back where they came from! Finding these powers will make you stronger! 8. Shake down Piggy’s “Secret Stash” Piggy, the President of the Piggy Bank, is the richest man in Torch City. He might be the president of a bank, but he is paranoid about security. Instead of depositing his money in his own bank, he hides them around Torch City in “Secret Stashes.” If you see a secret stash, hit it as hard as you can. The more you hit, the more money you get. So yeah! Hit it hard! 9. Urso’s hobby The eight tips so far should be enough to help you survive around Torch City. But… Well… You are a tad plain looking. Find Urso the mechanic. He really likes watching movies and has been collecting movie posters. Bring some posters to Urso, and he might give your fist a touch-up. And it’s not just him. Other furtizens of Torch City may also have their own hobbies. Chat with them and find out… Start your adventure in F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch on September 7, 2021, available on PS5 and PS4. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/9CGsJTGonekView the full article

Last week, invited you to explore the sights of Iki Island in Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut using #PSshare #PSBlog. From flowering vistas and harrowing mountain peaks, here are this week’s highlights from the new region: We wouldn’t mind sharing a day on these beachy shores, shared by CDAsebastien203. The sun frames a younger Jin in this red-strained shot by calisarah1998. Jin stands beneath a beautiful blooming tree, shared by photomodeoftsu1. An enemy is thrown through the air in this stormy shot by justinphotomode. record_photo shares one of the Iki Island monkeys. Jin climbs to a mountain peak, shared by posts_ghost. 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: Ghost of Tsushima: Legends SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on September 8 Next week, we’re celebrating the standalone launch of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. Gather your clan and share daring moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/JnHfOseRvNoView the full article

The Outlast Trials was one of the more surprising announcements made during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live Show. Reconfiguring the horror thrills of the first-person survival series into a cooperative multiplayer experience may be an unexpected direction for the series’ third entry, but according to developer Red Barrels – behind every game to date – it’s in keeping with the studio’s drive to challenge itself with each new iteration. Here, it sheds some more light on the upcoming title, coming to PlayStation in the future. What is the Tweet-length elevator pitch for this game? In The Outlast Trials, you’ve been abducted by the Murkoff Corporation to go through unethical experiments that will modify your psyche and behavior. Whether you go through the trials by yourself or in teams, if you survive long enough, Murkoff will happily let you return into society… but will you be the same? What would you consider the new key gameplay innovation for this title, and what sets it apart from other games in the team-based multiplayer horror genre as well as the previous Outlast entries? This time, you can choose to survive with friends. If the previous games could be compared to movies, The Outlast Trials is more like a TV Series. Your journey to freedom will be a long one. Why is now the right time for this reveal? We simply wanted to give our fans an update and the unfortunate news that we have to delay the release into 2022. We’re getting closer than ever, but we need more time to refine the game. With each game, we try to give ourselves a new challenge and The Outlast Trials is no exception. “There are a dozen warehouses, connected by underground tunnels. Inside the warehouses, Murkoff has constructed heightened lift-sized models of real-world environments.” What do you hope players will feel when playing this game? Whether they play alone or with friends, we want players to feel like they’re fighting for their lives and their right to freedom. But can you have freedom of the body without freedom of the mind? How would you describe the game’s art design, and what were some of the inspirations behind it? The approach used is the same as the previous Outlast games… twisted realism, decadence, and in-your-face gore. How are you designing the main characters in a way that will appeal and connect with players? Iconic nemeses are part of the Outlast DNA, and this time we have more variety than ever. Players will get to know many weird, dangerous, and violent characters. Although they’re also victims of Murkoff, most of them are definitely more than happy to prevent you from completing the program. What game engine is this being built in, and what advantages does that give you? Outlast 1 and 2 were made in Unreal Engine 3. This time, we’re using Unreal Engine 4. UE4 definitely played a big part in our prototyping phase. We were able to test new ideas and iterate pretty quickly. “In between the trials, Reagents return to the Sleep Room, where Murkoff takes good care of them. Reagents can interact with Murkoff employees to obtain the items that they’ll need for their next trial.” Tell us about yourselves – the creators of this game, where you’re based, and how your collective development history influences this new project? We’re based in Montreal. David Chateauneuf, Hugo Dallaire and I co-founded the studio back in 2011, after working on big AAA games like Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell and Uncharted. Outlast was our first project as Red Barrels. We made the first game in 14 months with a team of 10 people. For Outlast 2, we doubled the studio staff. This time, we’re a little more than 40 people and we’re working on a much bigger game than before. Growing the studio in size during a pandemic hasn’t been easy, but we’re getting there. Are there any key PS5 gameplay features such as DualSense wireless controller haptics, triggers, motion, etc you can discuss? We haven’t thoroughly investigated all these options, but we’re definitely excited by the possibilities. Hopefully, we’ll have more to announce soon. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/7DEP5XeNPtYView the full article

Chad Cannon (left) Bill Hemstapat (right) photo by Justin Fields It was a tremendous pleasure to reunite with Chad Cannon to compose new music for Iki Island, the new territory included in Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut. Chad and I worked very closely while arranging and orchestrating Shigeru Umebayashi’s “Tsushima Suites” for the game’s original release and really enjoyed that collaboration. As was the case with the original score, we were incredibly fortunate to have some of the best musicians in Japan, China, Nashville, and Los Angeles contribute to these new pieces. Many of these talented individuals are featured in this blog, speaking about their performance and the instruments used on the recordings. We hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the music. A deeper dive on Jin Sakai The story of Iki Island is personal, focusing on a traumatic chapter from Jin Sakai’s past. With this in mind, we wanted to make sure that the music was reflective of the heart and soul of the character, Jin himself. Ilan Eshkeri wrote an incredibly emotional and iconic theme for Jin. The piece served as a “call to adventure” for the players of the original game to immerse themselves in the world and for Jin to begin his journey towards becoming The Ghost. With the Iki Island story, both Chad and I sensed an opportunity to add a greater dimension to Jin Sakai by exploring different ways of adapting and expanding Ilan’s brilliant theme. The result of our exploration is the piece “The Tale of Clan Sakai,” which represents Jin, his father, and other Samurai with the Sakai name. It explores the very heart and soul of the emotional baggage Jin has to carry; not only is he the last samurai on Tsushima, but the last of the entire Sakai clan. The piece features the Biwa, an instrument used by Ilan in “Heart of the Jito” in the original game. Although, in this new version of Jin’s theme, we are using the Chikuzen-style Biwa instead of the better-known Satsuma-style Biwa. Chikuzen-Biwa was traditionally performed by Buddhist monks instead of the Samurai. The monks used it for storytelling and ceremony rather than for practicing discipline. From Chad: “Bill and I were super excited to involve a Chikuzen-style Biwa player from Fukuoka named Cyouka Ogata. Ogata Sensei was really happy to be involved in the Tsushima score, having grown up around the Mongol invasion sites. She introduced Bill and me to her instruments over Zoom and then worked with us over a couple of months, sending us samples of her playing different ideas, trying things out, etc. Check out her video! She went and played the Jin Sakai theme on the Hakata beaches, where some of the Mongol fights took place!” Play Video A rustic take on the music The fictional version of feudal Iki Island in Ghost of Tsushima is a wild, lawless land of raiders and criminals, and the people on this island are a unique menagerie of fishermen, pirates, and travelers that govern themselves. The disorder was inspiring for Chad and me, and we wanted the music to reflect this rustic land. Thus, we leaned into more folk-inspired writing that focuses on traditional Japanese music idioms. Essentially, we just wanted to do something more – for lack of a better word – “wild” than the original version of Ghost of Tsushima. Lightning in the Storm and Eternal Blue Sky, two pieces that play systematically throughout Iki Island, illustrate this rustic approach. In these pieces, you can hear the folk-inspired Japanese instruments played by Kinya Sogawa, Yutaka Oyama, and Akemi Yamada on the Shakuhachi, Tsugaru-Shamisen, and Koto, respectively. The Shakuhachi, as you may know from the original game, is one of the most iconic sounds in Japanese traditional music. Play Video Oyama-san’s Tsugaru-Shamisen performances are featured in the Fune’s Refuge area, where you will spend a lot of time connecting with the Iki-islanders. Play Video And lastly, the opening statement from “Lightning in the Storm” features a Koto solo that serves as the theme of Iki Island. Play Video It was an honor to work with these incredible musicians on Shigeru Umebayashi’s “Tsushima Suites,” and we were thrilled to have them back for the Iki Island expansion. Unfortunately, however, the global pandemic presented us with the challenge of recording musicians remotely across the Pacific Ocean with a 16-hour time difference. As a result, our recording process became a collaborative effort between Tokyo-based recording engineers Mary Shinohara and Yuhi Kawamura (both also worked on the original game), Rio Sato from Plugnote (providing translation and video conferencing services), and our PlayStation Studios music engineers Kellogg Boynton and James Probel. Thanks to them, we were able to collaborate safely and effectively. Play Video The new mysterious villain With the new story comes a new villain: Ankhsar Khatun, or “the Eagle.” Chad came up with a musical identity for her which can be heard in “Ankhsar Khatun, The Eagle,” “Face the Judgment of Your Ancestors,” and “Sacred Medicine.” From Chad: “The Eagle is very mysterious and dark, exercising her mystical powers over the minds of her followers. On the original Ghost of Tsushima score, we had this awesome Tuvan throat singer named Radik Tyulyush, whose voice you can hear all over Tsushima island when you’re near invader camps, etc. When Radik was visiting LA for that recording, I remember him saying how female throat singers are definitely in the minority and how, even though there were exceptions, historically it was considered very taboo for women to throat sing. Apparently, there was even a belief that a woman performing throat singing could cause harm to come to male relatives. He also mentioned that shaman music is very off-limits for regular throat singers. So, while it may seem culturally insensitive in some ways to combine these two worlds of female throat singing and shamanism, we felt it might enhance the Eagle’s theme, giving her a kind of “heresy.” Through my manager Lei Zhang in Beijing, we were able to find a performer from Mongolia named Talin Tuya. In addition to her throat singing, she plays the khomus (jaw harp), which you can hear during some of the trippy sequences when the Eagle is around. I just love her voice and hope you will too! It’s otherworldly and powerful. We also recorded a horsehead fiddle player named Zhang Duo, who gets highlighted on some of the Eagle tracks. My favorite part comes during some horse riding combat sequences, where Bill and I wrote this “horse whinny/neigh” effect that imitates something Mongolian players sometimes do, mimicking horses on the Asian steppe. I find it satisfying that we recorded this material in Beijing because the city first gained real prominence when Kublai Khan made it his winter capital, then called Dadu, in 1271. The orders to invade Japan were issued from Dadu and then carried out by armies of Mongolian, Korean, and Chinese conscripts departing from Korea and Ningbo on the central China coast. So, with artists coming together from Beijing, Fukuoka, Tokyo, etc., the musical journey we take in the score hopefully feels rooted in the actual history, geography, and cultures involved.” The clash and infusion of two cultures In the climactic story moment of Iki Island, we brought together Japanese and Mongolian instruments, with soloists from Japan and China sharing the spotlight while chaotic orchestral textures and rhythms provide the musical anchor. We can hear this musical battle in “The Battle for Iki Island” and “The Eagle’s Curse.” And, of course, no battle sequence in Ghost of Tsushima would be complete without the thunderous sound of the Taiko ensemble. Unfortunately, with pandemic-related restrictions still in effect, the number of players permitted in a studio was limited. However, Isaku Kageyama, a Los Angeles Taiko ensemble leader who also performed on the Ghost of Tsushima Legends expansion, was up to the challenge. We put together a three-person ensemble along with Kaz Mogi and Blaine O’Brien at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, with a massive array of Taiko drums. And through the magic of overdubbing combined with the mixing skills of scoring mixer Kellogg Boynton, we were able to magnify the performance of these three incredible musicians, creating an epic backdrop to the Iki Island battle sequences. Play Video Left to right – Chad Cannon, Bill Hemstapat, Isaku Kageyama, Kazunori Mogi, Blaine O’Brien Final statements From Chad: “I find it SUPER cool that the game has had real-world, positive impact for Tsushima Island, with a Shinto shrine restoration project crowdfunded by the fans, for example, and I love that Jason Connell and Nate Fox were named official Tourism Ambassadors for Tsushima Island. It’s hard to overstate the sense of relevance this kind of thing provides for small, rural, remote locations like Tsushima in Japan. These tiny communities are rapidly aging, with many young people moving to the big cities and never coming back. Cultures, local dialects, and even musical performing styles are dying off. But a phenomenon like the Ghost of Tsushima game can help breathe life back into these areas. So really, kudos to the fans and to the creators of the game for pulling this off!“ Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut would not have been possible without an incredible team effort. So, I would like to thank a few people who have made this possible: Our score producer and my workplace mentor Peter Scaturro for encouraging us to dig further into traditional Japanese music and expand the musical landscape of Ghost of Tsushima. Our PlayStation Studios music lead for Ghost of Tsushima Andrew Buresh, my music editor colleagues Sonia Coronado and Adam Kallibjian, and our engineers Kellogg Boynton and James Probel for their selfless dedication to the project. Without them, the vision that we had as composers would never have come to fruition in the game for the players. And lastly, Nate Fox, Jason Connell, Brad Meyer, and everybody at Sucker Punch for your continued support to have music play such an important part in your story. I hope all the players out there enjoy this game and its music as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you for reading, and please stay safe out there! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/M7pLzd6d584View the full article

Hi everyone! Sega is excited to reveal all the details of the additional content found in the Digital Deluxe and Digital Ultimate Editions of Lost Judgment, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s upcoming action noir thriller launching September 24! Quick-Start Support Pack First up we have the Quick-Start Support Pack. This useful kit comes with all pre-orders and will be available at launch so you can hit the ground running. Inside you’ll find handy health items to assist you in battle while you practice using the new Snake style, as well as some impressive Extract recipes that you can use to create temporary combat buffs. The included Wayfarer’s Lucky Cat not only looks great on display in Yagami’s office, but it’ll also pad your wallet with extra yen the farther you travel in-game. Detective Essentials Pack Pre-order the Digital Deluxe or Digital Ultimate Editions to also receive the Detective Essentials Pack at launch. Fans of the new detective dog pal will be able to “adopt” an additional three colours of shiba inu to choose from: white, black, and rust. Retro gaming fans will also be pleased to see four additional Master System games to play. Adding Global Defense, Alien Syndrome, Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa, and Sagaia brings the total up to twelve classic SEGA titles to reminisce over! This pack even includes the futuristic Hover Drive hoverboard to get around town accompanied by a new outdoor skate park. Just make sure you save your most impressive moves for later as you might want to take one of the three new additional characters on a date that come with the Detective Essentials Pack! In the combat department, Yagami will be able to craft six new Extracts that grant temporary boosts with extraordinary abilities such as telekinesis! Additionally, Shin Amon becomes a new opponent in The Gauntlet challenge mode. Test your might! School Stories Expansion Pack Coming October 26 for those who pre-order the Digital Deluxe or Digital Ultimate Edition, the School Stories Expansion Pack enriches your school club experience. Spar with Yagami’s associates—Kaito, Sugiura and Higashi—in the boxing ring, and take a new bike gang motorcycle (including new parts), for a spin on the new race course. Strut your stuff with a fresh new dance costume, as well as learning some new moves to take your dance team to the top! If you’ve still got some energy left after all that, head over to the Robotics Club where a new Yagami-bot awaits your command. As if that wasn’t enough, take your newfound boxing talent from the ring to the streets with a fourth fighting style that joins Yagami’s base martial arts styles – Boxing! The Kaito Files Story Expansion This is a big one! In spring of 2022, those who pre-order the Digital Ultimate Edition can play as Kaito in an independent story expansion, The Kaito Files. There’s approximately 10 hours of new story content with his own signature, full-power fighting style. Lost Judgment launches worldwide on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on September 24, and if you pre-order the Digital Deluxe or Digital Ultimate Editions, you can launch into action three days early on PlayStation Early Access starting September 21. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/GMKir7vK6jkView the full article

Just a week after we announced Marvel’s Midnight Suns at Gamescom we’re excited to share more details as well as a first look at gameplay. In today’s trailer you get a glimpse at our turn-based tactical combat as well as at a number of other gameplay features that empower you to interact with iconic Marvel characters in ways that you never have before. Play Video All of the Marvel characters in Midnight Suns have new looks, but if you’re a Marvel fan I’m sure you recognized most of them right away. One that you won’t be familiar with though is our protagonist, the Hunter, who is an all-new, customizable hero created specifically for this game. Today’s gameplay trailer alludes to the Hunter’s deep backstory, and you can uncover more of it by exploring the grounds of the Abbey, a centuries-old fortress hidden in Salem, Massachusetts that serves as the Midnight Suns’ secret base. While spending time at the Abbey between missions you can pay a visit to Tony Stark and Doctor Strange. Between them there’s not much they don’t know about engineering and the supernatural, and with the right resources they can create all manner of upgrades for you and even for the Abbey itself. Forging friendships with members of the Midnight Suns is also an important part of the game. Invite allies to hang out with you and, depending on how they feel about your choice of location or activity as well as your responses during conversations, you can unlock powerful combo abilities and passive bonuses that come into play when you fight alongside them. Turn-based tactical battles in Midnight Suns are very different to those in our XCOM games, and not only because you’re controlling a team of superheroes. One of the features that we’re most excited about is the way that we’ve mapped the heroes’ powerful abilities to cards. Being dealt a new hand of these cards every turn forces you to think on your feet, and outside of battles there are opportunities for you to customize each hero’s combat deck. Furthermore, cards can be upgraded and modified to include new effects or create synergies with different heroes. Factor in choosing which heroes you want to take into each mission and the possibilities are endless! If you were paying close attention to the gameplay trailer you might also have noticed that character positioning and interactive environments have important roles to play during battles. When Wolverine uses his Power Slash attack, its Knockback effect creates an opportunity to cause extra damage to the target provided you’re able to send them careening into something. Better yet, if you cause your target to forcefully collide with another enemy they’ll both take damage! Environments also include items that you can interact with without playing a card – boxes and such can be thrown or pushed depending on their size and, just to give you a fun example, you might occasionally have an opportunity to topple a lamppost so that it lands on multiple enemies. We can’t wait to share more Midnight Suns details with you in the coming weeks and months ahead of its early 2022 release on both PS4 and PS5. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/o0VvSaG-Lk0View the full article

Relive the excitement from the worlds of Final Fantasy in some of the franchise’s most iconic adventures. Starting next week, we’ll be adding a chapter of this beloved RPG series to PlayStation Now each month, beginning with Final Fantasy VII (the original game!) on September 7. Every month until January 2022, we’ll add another chapter of the Final Fantasy series to PlayStation Now, so you can download or stream these titles on your PS4 or PS5 console, or stream on PC. Take a look at the full lineup below. Final Fantasy VII | September 7 Mako—the discovery of this natural resource drawn directly from the planet’s life force marked the dawn of a new era, and now the energy sustains the lives of people across the world. However, the Shinra Company has monopolized mako production, and in doing so established a powerful hegemony–its influence reaching the far corners of the globe. Cloud, a former member of Shinra’s military organization, SOLDIER, joins the anti-Shinra resistance group AVALANCHE, despite caring little for their motives. During one of the group’s attempts to stop the company, they learn of the return of Sephiroth, Cloud’s nemesis, and that with his reemergence, the planet is in greater danger than anyone had expected. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered | October 5 It is a time of war. The Republic of Galbadia, under the influence of the sorceress Edea, mobilizes its great armies against the other nations of the world. Squall and other members of SeeD, an elite mercenary force, join hands with Rinoa, a resistance fighter, to fight against Galbadia’s tyrannical rule and to prevent Edea from fulfilling her ultimate goal. Final Fantasy IX | November 2 Strange events transpire on the Mist Continent, one of the four main lands of Gaia. The kingdom of Alexandria, ruled by Queen Brahne, begins their invasion of other nations under orders of Kuja, the “angel of death” from Terra. An accidental encounter in Alexandria brings Zidane, Vivi, and Garnet together, and they set out on a journey that leads them to discover the secrets of their past, the crystal, and a place to call home. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster | December 7 First released on PS2, relive two of the greatest RPGs of their generation widely acclaimed for their moving stories, endearing characters, and memorable adventures. Final Fantasy X takes you to Spira―a world terrorized by the supernatural monster Sin. The temple of Yevon teaches that the monster is a physical manifestation of mankind’s sins, and following the temple’s teachings and atoning could purge it. Yuna, a young woman from Besaid, is a summoner who embarks on a pilgrimage to defeat this terror. Tidus, a young man from another world, joins her as her guardian. The mysteries revolving around Sin unfold as they set off on a journey to save the world. Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age | January 4, 2022 Enter an era of war within the world of Ivalice. The small kingdom of Dalmasca, conquered by the Archadian Empire, is left in ruin and uncertainty. Princess Ashe, the one and only heir to the throne, devotes herself to the resistance to liberate her country. Vaan, a young man who lost his family in the war, dreams of flying freely in the skies. In a fight for freedom and fallen royalty, join these unlikely allies and their companions as they embark on a heroic adventure to free their homeland. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/rws8wvhK2cYView the full article

Horizon Forbidden West is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles on February 18, 2022! We were ecstatic to finally be able to share the release date with you last week during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, and to see everyone’s reactions to our news. Pre-orders for the game are available now across the globe, so we wanted to share more details about the various editions that you can get your hands on. Play Video Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy, a machine hunter, has travelled west to investigate a mysterious and deadly blight. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and encounter ever more deadly machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this new frontier to find the answers she needs to save life on Earth. Now, let’s take a look at the pre-order options you have available for Horizon Forbidden West. By the way, if you pre-order any physical edition from participating retailers (region specific*) or any digital edition anywhere, you will receive the Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear to use in the game. You will be able to redeem these items via PlayStation Store. The cross-gen Digital Deluxe Edition is exclusively available on PlayStation Store, in addition to Horizon Forbidden West, you’ll receive the following content: Horizon Forbidden West (Digital) PS4 and PS5 versions 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 (more on Strike in the FAQ) Exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint Digital Art Book Digital Soundtrack Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel Next up is the Special Edition, a gorgeous SteelBook with a physical disc copy for either PS4 or PS5, which also features the digital soundtrack (via voucher), as well as a mini art book. You can pre-order the Special Edition here. Please note this Edition is available in limited quantities. Meet the Collector’s Edition! Packed to the brim with special goodies, this one is a real must-have. Aside from a digital copy of the game (entitling you to both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions), you’ll find the following: 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 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel You can pre-order the Collector’s Edition here*. Please note this Edition is available in limited quantities. Last but by no means least, we have the Regalla Edition! A more menacing take on the Collector’s Edition, this contains the following items: 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 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel You can pre-order the Regalla Edition here*.Please note this Edition is available in limited quantities. If you start playing Horizon Forbidden West on PS4 then later wish to continue your progress on PS5, your PS4 save games will be transferable to PS5. Please note: For players looking to have access to both the PS4 & PS5 versions of Horizon Forbidden West, please purchase the Digital Deluxe, Collector’s, or Regalla Editions. Dual entitlement does not apply to the standard and Special Editions. For any additional questions you may have about pre-ordering the game, please check out this FAQ here! Once again, from all of us at Guerrilla, thank you for all of your support and enthusiasm! You can expect more regular updates about Horizon Forbidden West in the coming months. Stay safe, and get ready to explore the Forbidden West… *Specific regions exclude North America and Canada. **Please note that for all digital downloads, you need an internet connection and a PSN account to access the content. ***Depending on your region, it may take some time for physical editions to appear. Please check with your chosen local retailer for listings and availability. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/z-Eay33r1HQView the full article

Horizon Forbidden West is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles on February 18, 2022! We were ecstatic to finally be able to share the release date with you last week during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, and to see everyone’s reactions to our news. Pre-orders for the game are available now across the globe, so we wanted to share more details about the various editions that you can get your hands on. Play Video Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy, a machine hunter, has travelled west to investigate a mysterious and deadly blight. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and encounter ever more deadly machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this new frontier to find the answers she needs to save life on Earth. Now, let’s take a look at the pre-order options you have available for Horizon Forbidden West. By the way, if you pre-order any physical edition from participating retailers (region specific*) or any digital edition , you will receive the Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear to use in the game. You will be able to redeem these items via PlayStation®Store. The cross-gen Digital Deluxe Edition is exclusively available on PlayStation Store, in addition to Horizon Forbidden West, you’ll receive the following content: Horizon Forbidden West (Digital) PS4 and PS5 versions 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 (more on Strike in the FAQ) Exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint Digital Art Book Digital Soundtrack Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel You can pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition here. Next up is the Special Edition, a gorgeous SteelBook with a physical disc copy for either PS4 or PS5, which also features the digital soundtrack (via voucher), as well as a mini art book. Meet the Collector’s Edition! Packed to the brim with special goodies, this one is a real must-have. Aside from a digital copy of the game (entitling you to both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions), you’ll find the following: 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 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel Last but by no means least, we have the Regalla Edition! A more menacing take on the Collector’s Edition, this contains the following items: 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 Digital Version of The Sunhawk, the first Horizon Zero Dawn graphic novel If you start playing Horizon Forbidden West on PS4 then later wish to continue your progress on PS5, your PS4 save games will be transferable to PS5. Please note: For players looking to have access to both the PS4 & PS5 versions of Horizon Forbidden West, please purchase the Digital Deluxe, Collector’s, or Regalla Editions. Dual entitlement does not apply to the standard and Special Editions. For any additional questions you may have about pre-ordering the game, please check out this FAQ here! Once again, from all of us at Guerrilla, thank you for all of your support and enthusiasm! You can expect more regular updates about Horizon Forbidden West in the coming months. Stay safe, and get ready to explore the Forbidden West… *Specific regions exclude North America and Canada **Please note that for all digital downloads, you need an internet connection and a PSN account to access the content. ***For Asia, physical editions pre-order details will be revealed in the near future. Please stay tuned. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/W46bPXXTAYUView the full article

Hey there, interdimensional travelers! It’s been an incredible two months since launching Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and we’ve been truly humbled by your kind responses to our game. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was designed as a showpiece for your PS5 console that delivers our signature blend of fun and over-the-top gameplay, all wrapped in a thrilling cinematic package. One way we accomplish this is through animation, so let’s discuss the work our animators did to bring our characters and world to life! Our Heroes It’s no secret we love a hero at Insomniac, and we have quite a few in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Not only does the game star our titular duo, Ratchet and Clank, but it also introduces Rivet, a new Lombax fighting with the resistance, and nanobot hacker Glitch, as playable characters. Glitch posed an interesting challenge for our animators. Because she’s navigating uneven terrain during her hacking missions, our animators worked closely with programmers on procedural locomotion to make her animations look natural with the environment. When she goes up a wall, her spider legs respond accordingly to the surface. Introducing Rivet While the animators had a rich history to reference for Ratchet, Clank, and Dr. Nefarious, we faced a much larger challenge creating a new hero that players would embrace in Rivet. With a powerhouse vocal performance from Jennifer Hale, it was up to animation to match it. Our animators ran with this challenge and built a facial pose library and model sheet to keep the animation of Rivet intact. This proved especially beneficial as it streamlined our processes by allowing us to quickly snap expressions on Rivet, which let us know very quickly we had an endearing new hero in our franchise. Personalities The goal of the animation team is to keep the personality in each character with clear reads for every state. Therefore, we have multiple conditions for our characters in the game. For instance, Goons will celebrate with a selfie if they manage to strike our hero. The Grunthors, who are often asleep, are instantly ready for a fight when approached, which shows their aggressive nature. This applies to non-combative NPCs too: they’ll quiver in fear if they’re in the vicinity of a fight or run away. Living Worlds Designing each distinct area with purpose is crucial to our players’ experience, and it has its fair share of challenges. For example, the parade-goers would be too heavy for rigged characters. As such, they’re made with a vertex animation that manages to plunge players into the world, making them feel like they’re part of the celebration. Combat Heavy Combat is a staple of the Ratchet & Clank series. Featuring a destructive arsenal at your disposal, it’s paramount that players connect to the world through weapons and gadgets. In combination with the character animations, the weapon animations make combat feel more dynamic and thrilling. These weapons are powerful, and we show it in multiple ways. The Ricochet, for example, helplessly knocks enemies around with each impact. Meanwhile, the Topiary Sprinkler stops foes in their tracks, turning them into beautiful front lawn decorations and leaves them vulnerable to attacks. And the Lightning Rod will make enemies convulse as electricity rapidly courses through them. Capturing Spectacle Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart often throws players for a loop. One of the greatest lessons in crafting interesting experiences is setting players on a predictable path and then interrupting it with something unexpected, such as The Fixer sequence on Molonoth Gulch. The behemoth, who you originally sought help from, is now on a trail of destruction firing lasers at Rivet and toppling the environment around her. We also get up close with The Fixer to really show how massive he is in comparison to Rivet, adding a sense of scale to the action. Rigging Animations Rig is the backbone to our projects from character rigs to dynamics, to blend shapes and simulations. Think of rigging like a skeleton: it’s what keeps the animations together and dictates how characters move, including head swivels, arm motions and more. When you see armor chipping away and flying off characters, that’s rig doing the work. The Cinematic Experience Cinematics place detailed animations at the center of the experience. The animators greatly enhanced the cinematics of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on the PlayStation 5 console. Take the Zurkie’s scene with Rivet and Clank for example. There are a ton of background details: Emperor Nefarious’ assistant eavesdropping, characters dancing, the electric rodeo ride, Zurkon Jr. taking orders, and so on. These cinematics are denser and more alive than was previously done. Raising the Bar Our goal was to produce film-quality cinematics in Rift Apart that took advantage of PS5’s features. Rigging improvements gave animators even more control over facial performances, and the improvements to lighting, fur, and raytracing helped deliver the best cinematics in the franchise while also telling a deeper, richer story. Seamless Transitions We pushed to have seamless transitions from cutscenes to gameplay, and vice versa. Our introduction is a great example: one moment Ratchet is inside a room talking to Clank about his worries, then we reveal a grand celebration in honor of our hero packed with parade-goers. This is the first time we give the player control, so we added a few prompts like “Grab the Wrench” to let them know it’s time to play! We also wanted to support the vanity system, so we came up with a solution for armor and helmets that allowed us to show the players’ armor choices in cutscenes. We also animated helmet removals so we can keep our facial animations in the game while still respecting players’ aesthetic choices. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart brings together over 25 years of Insomniac’s animation knowledge on PlayStation 5. So, while you’re blasting through hordes of troopers in Nefarious City or grinding through the Fixer’s trail of destruction, take a moment to admire our animators’ handy work! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/a_BmLYfbFc0View the full article

You’ve been awfully patient, and we thank you for that. And now we’re looking forward to showing you what we’ve been working on. Tune in next Thursday, September 9 at 1:00pm Pacific Time / 9:00pm BST / 10:00pm CEST for a look into the future of PS5. The Showcase will weigh in at around 40 minutes and include updates from PlayStation Studios and some of the industry’s most imaginative developers, for games releasing this holiday and beyond. And stick around after the presentation to get more updates from some of the studio teams featured in the Showcase. One thing to note: PlayStation’s next generation of VR won’t make an appearance this time. But there will still be plenty of great PS5 games from developers large and small. We hope you can join us! You can watch live on YouTube and Twitch. See you next Thursday! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/vFuO6vHz7mIView the full article

Hunt, cook and assassinate: take your pick of profession with September’s PlayStation Plus lineup. Play one of sci-fi’s most enduring icons in Predator: Hunting Grounds, whip up culinary chaos in Overcooked: All You Can Eat! or puzzle out inventive takedowns in Hitman 2. All three games will be available from Tuesday, September 7 to Monday, October 4. Let’s take a closer look at each title. Play Video Overcooked: All You Can Eat! | PS5* Overcooked!, Overcooked! 2 and all additional content are blended together and remastered in this delicious definitive edition. Enjoy hundreds of levels of cooperative cooking chaos both local and online**, across increasingly perilous and obscure kitchens. Players can enjoy campaign, survival and practice modes, and new to All You Can Eat – assist mode! The game contains features to allow as many players as possible to join in the food frenzy, with scalable UI, dyslexia friendly text and colour blindness options all available. Play Video Predator: Hunting Grounds | PS4 Hunt or be hunted in this asymmetrical multiplayer** shooter that pits man against Predator. As part of a four-person Fireteam, complete challenging missions before the Predator finds you Or be the Predator and hunt your prey, using deadly alien weaponry – such as the shoulder-mounted Plasma Caster, Combistick and more – to stalk your prey. Learn different classes and styles of play no matter what side you choose. Play Video Hitman 2 | PS4 Travel the globe and track your targets across exotic sandbox locations, from sun-drenched streets to dark and dangerous rainforests. Nowhere is safe from the world’s most creative assassin, Agent 47. Prepare to experience the ultimate spy thriller story your mission is to eliminate the elusive Shadow Client and unravel his militia, but when 47 learns his target’s true identity and the truth about his past, it changes everything. Hitman 2 introduces new ways to play, new game modes and new features, including the new Sniper Assassin mode with franchise first co-op play**. Last chance to download July’s PlayStation Plus games August’s games lineup is making way for September’s new arrivals, so you’ve until Monday, September 6 to add Hunter’s Arena: Legends, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, Tennis World Tour 2 to your game library. *PS5 version only. Benefit not applicable for Overcooked: All You Can Eat! on PS4 consoles. **Online multiplayer requires PS Plus subscription; fees recur until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/lRKIyZAlzj4View the full article

Salutations! We have officially opened the polls for the month of August 2021, which means it is now your sacred duty to click the little button next to the game you think most deserves the title of Players’ Choice. You’ve got plenty to choose from this month — the three highlighted in the image above, plus Madden 22, Fracked, Hunter’s Arena: Legends, I Expect You To Die 2, Recompile, and more. We’ll keep the polls open until Sunday at 11:59pm Pacific, so finish your deliberations and cast your vote before then. Once you do, don’t be afraid to tell us why your chosen game deserves to be this month’s champion. See you in the comments! How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/MlRPsOLshmQView the full article

Hello, On August 9, the 5th anniversary of our PlayStation launch, we teased our 17th update, Frontiers. Today, we are pleased to let players see what we’ve been working so hard on. It’s a huge update, with a focus on improving base building and introducing occupied settlements on planets. Play Video PLANETARY SETTLEMENTS Clusters of pioneering aliens have banded together to build planetary settlements. These little communities, bustling with life and promise, can now be found on all inhabited planets across the galaxies. FOUND YOUR OWN SETTLEMENT Submit your management credentials to become overseer of a settlement, rename it, and assume leadership over its citizens. The settler population will look to you for town planning, treasury management, policy decisions and conflict resolution. Every settlement is procedurally generated, with unique buildings, neighbourhood layouts, colour schemes, and interior and exterior decoration. HELP SETTLEMENTS GROW Ungoverned settlements start off small and modest, with a sparse population and only a few buildings scattered around their town centre. Provide resources to construct new buildings and transform your ramshackle collection of dwellings into a flourishing town! RESOLVE CITIZEN DISPUTES Settlement life is not always harmonious! As overseer, you will occasionally be called upon to help resolve disagreements between settlers. Fair and compassionate judgements will result in happier citizens! HUNDREDS OF NEW BASE PARTS Construct your own settlement-inspired bases with a huge array of new base parts. New structural sets of timber, stone and alloy pieces create a tremendous range of possible building shapes. Over a hundred new decorative parts create all-new ways to add personal character to bases. NEW EXPEDITION SEASON This community adventure has a different feeling from previous expeditions. Travellers will begin their journey with a technologically unique starship, featuring an advanced waveform engine and powerful frameshift catapult. BREATHTAKING NEBULAS Interstellar clouds have gathered in deep space to form spectacular multi-coloured nebulas, making space skies more beautiful than ever. ENHANCED EFFECTS Almost all of the game’s visual effects have been revisited, revamped and improved. Weapons and explosions feel much more punchy and add a new visceral element to combat. BASE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS Introducing a clean, minimal, contextual HUD to place, scale, rotate and recolour base parts. See all your building parts in an easy-to-parse grid. You’ll notice some you forgot about! You can now pick up and move base parts you’ve placed, duplicate parts, or build impossible new structures in free place mode. TWITCH CAMPAIGN Coming soon, another round of in-game No Man’s Sky rewards will be available to earn by watching streamers play the game on Twitch. Frontiers represents another major milestone in the No Man’s Sky journey and we’re thrilled that PlayStation players the world over continue to be absorbed by the ever-evolving universe that we have created. Our journey continues. Sean http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/0aRbmfx48fUView the full article

Celebrate the start of a new month with some PlayStation Store discounts! Starting this Wednesday, September 1 for a limited time* a number of PlayStation games are available at a reduced price. That includes fantastical co-op adventure It Takes Two, galaxy-spanning epic No Man’s Sky and thrilling race sim F1 2021. You can find the full list of games below, then head over to PlayStation Store to find out your regional discount. You can find the full list of games below, then head over to PlayStation Store to find out your regional discount. ABZU Additional Costume Set Additional Horse Set Additional Scenario Set Adr1ft Apex Legends – Bloodhound Edition Apex Legends – Lifeline and Bloodhound Double Pack Apex Legends – Lifeline Edition Apex Legends – Octane Edition Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition Apex Legends™ – Gibraltar Edition Apex Legends™ – Pathfinder Edition Assassin’s Creed Legendary Collection Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Ultimate Edition Assassin’s Creed Origins Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Assetto Corsa Assetto Corsa Competizione Asstto Corsa – Ultimate Edition Batman: Arkham Collection Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Biomutant BioShock 2 Remastered BioShock Remastered Blizzard® Arcade Collection Bloodstained – Iga’s Back Pack Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Book of Demons Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3 Season Pass PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Season Pass 2 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Bugsnax PS4 & PS5 Bundle of 15 Lunchboxes Bundle of 15 Pet Carriers Bundle of 40 Lunchboxes Bundle of 40 Pet Carriers Bundle of 5 Lunchboxes Bundle of 5 Mr. Handys Bundle of 5 Pet Carriers Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Call of The Sea Capcom Arcade Stadium：Ghosts ‘n Goblins Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions – Deluxe Edition Case of Nuka-Cola Quantum Catherine: Full Body – Digital Deluxe Edition Child of Light – Ultimate Edition Chivalry 2 PS4 & PS5 Chivalry 2 Special Edition PS4 & PS5 Control: Ultimate Edition Cooking Mama: Cookstar Cooler of Nuka-Cola Quantum Crash Bandicoot Bundle – N. Sane Trilogy + Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bundle 2021 Anniversary Crash Bundle 2021 Quadrilogy Crate of Nuka-Cola Quantum Cris Tales Days Gone Dead by Daylight: Silent Hill Edition Dead by Daylight: Special Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Dead by Daylight: Ultimate Edition Dead Island: Definitive Edition Detroit: Become Human – Digital Deluxe Edition Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Deluxe Edition El Hijo – A Wild West Tale F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 F1® 2021: Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 FAST & FURIOUS CROSSROADS: Deluxe Edition Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Collector’s Edition Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour + Quad Lake Pass Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour + The Catch: Carp & Coarse For Honor: Complete Edition Ghostrunner God of War – Digital Deluxe Edition Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition HITMAN 3 – Standard Edition Homefront: The Revolution Hood: Outlaws & Legends Hood: Outlaws & Legends – Year 1 Edition PS4 & PS5 How to Survive 2 How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition Indivisible Injustice 2: Legendary Edition It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ Journey to the Savage Planet Journey to the Savage Planet: Hot Garbage Journey: Collector’s Edition Just Cause 4: Complete Edition Just Dance 2020 Last Day of June LEGO DC Super-Villains – Deluxe Edition LEGO Harry Potter Collection LEGO Marvel Collection Let’s Sing 2021 Let’s Sing Queen Little Big Workshop Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Trilogy Megalodon Shark Cash Card Memories of Mars Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne Master Edition Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate PS4 & PS5 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle Moving Out My Time at Portia Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Deluxe Edition Necromunda: Hired Gun Necromunda: Underhive Wars Need for Speed Heat: Standard Edition Neighbours back From Hell No Man’s Sky No Man’s Sky PS4 & PS5 Overcooked! 2 Payday 2: Crimewave Edition Persona 5 Royal – Digital Deluxe Edition PGA TOUR 2K21 Digital Deluxe Portal Knights Red Dead Online Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2: Story Mode Refrigerator of Nuka-Cola Quantum Resident Evil 2 Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Sakura Wars Skyrim Special Edition + Fallout 4 G.O.T.Y. Bundle South Park: The Fractured but Whole South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition South Park: The Stick of Truth South Park: The Stick of Truth + The Fractured but Whole Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Deluxe Edition (PS5) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Deluxe Upgrade Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starlink: Battle For Atlas – Deluxe Edition SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris Terraria The Blizzard® 30-Year Celebration Collection The Catch: Carp & Coarse – Collector’s Edition The Crew 2 – Special Edition The Dark Pictures: Little Hope & Man of Medan Pre-order The Disney Afternoon Collection THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV ULTIMATE EDITION The Last of Us Part II: Digital Deluxe Edition The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds Expansion Pass The Sims 4 – Deluxe Party Edition The Sims 4 Plus Cats & Dogs Bundle The Survivalists The Yakuza Origins Digital Bundle The Yakuza Remastered Collection Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Year 1 Pass Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Standard Edition Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Warlords of New York Ultimate Edition Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 Train Sim World 2020: Collector’s Edition Truck of Nuka-Cola Quantum Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Unturned Valkyria Chronicles 4: Complete Edition Virginia Watch Dogs 1 + Watch Dogs 2 Gold Editions Bundle Watch Dogs 2 Watch Dogs 2 – Deluxe Edition Watch Dogs: Legion – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Watch Dogs: Legion – Gold Edition PS4 & PS5 Wreckfest – Complete Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition PS4 & PS5 ABZU Additional Costume Set Additional Horse Set Additional Scenario Set Adr1ft Apex Legends – Bloodhound Edition Apex Legends – Lifeline and Bloodhound Double Pack Apex Legends – Lifeline Edition Apex Legends – Octane Edition Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition Apex Legends™ – Gibraltar Edition Apex Legends™ – Pathfinder Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Ultimate Edition Assassin’s Creed Origins Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Assetto Corsa Assetto Corsa Competizione Asstto Corsa – Ultimate Edition Batman: Arkham Collection Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Biomutant BioShock 2 Remastered BioShock Remastered Blizzard® Arcade Collection Bloodstained – Iga’s Back Pack Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Book of Demons Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3 Season Pass PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Season Pass 2 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Bugsnax PS4 & PS5 Bundle of 15 Lunchboxes Bundle of 15 Pet Carriers Bundle of 40 Lunchboxes Bundle of 40 Pet Carriers Bundle of 5 Lunchboxes Bundle of 5 Mr. Handys Bundle of 5 Pet Carriers Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Call of The Sea Capcom Arcade Stadium：Ghosts ‘n Goblins Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions – Deluxe Edition Case of Nuka-Cola Quantum Catherine: Full Body – Digital Deluxe Edition Chivalry 2 PS4 & PS5 Chivalry 2 Special Edition PS4 & PS5 Control: Ultimate Edition Cooking Mama: Cookstar Cooler of Nuka-Cola Quantum Crash Bandicoot Bundle – N. Sane Trilogy + Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bundle 2021 Anniversary Crash Bundle 2021 Quadrilogy Crate of Nuka-Cola Quantum Cris Tales Days Gone Dead by Daylight: Silent Hill Edition Dead by Daylight: Special Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Dead by Daylight: Ultimate Edition Dead Island: Definitive Edition Detroit: Become Human – Digital Deluxe Edition Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition Devil May Cry HD Collection & 4SE Bundle Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Deluxe Edition El Hijo – A Wild West Tale F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 F1® 2021: Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 FAST & FURIOUS CROSSROADS: Deluxe Edition Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Collector’s Edition Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour + Quad Lake Pass Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour + The Catch: Carp & Coarse For Honor: Complete Edition Ghostrunner God of War – Digital Deluxe Edition Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition HITMAN 3 – Standard Edition Homefront: The Revolution Hood: Outlaws & Legends Hood: Outlaws & Legends – Year 1 Edition PS4 & PS5 How to Survive 2 How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition Indivisible Injustice 2: Legendary Edition It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ Journey to the Savage Planet Journey to the Savage Planet: Hot Garbage Journey: Collector’s Edition Just Cause 4: Complete Edition Last Day of June LEGO DC Super-Villains – Deluxe Edition LEGO Harry Potter Collection LEGO Marvel Collection Let’s Sing 2020: Platinum Edition Let’s Sing 2021 Let’s Sing Queen Little Big Workshop Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Trilogy Megalodon Shark Cash Card Memories of Mars Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne Master Edition Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate PS4 & PS5 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle Moving Out Musashi My Time at Portia Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Deluxe Edition Necromunda: Hired Gun Necromunda: Underhive Wars Need for Speed Heat: Standard Edition Neighbours back From Hell No Man’s Sky PS4 & PS5 Open Country Overcooked! 2 Payday 2: Crimewave Edition Persona 5 Royal – Digital Deluxe Edition PGA TOUR 2K21 Digital Deluxe Portal Knights Red Dead Online Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2: Story Mode Refrigerator of Nuka-Cola Quantum Resident Evil 2 Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Sakura Wars Skyrim Special Edition + Fallout 4 G.O.T.Y. Bundle South Park: The Fractured but Whole South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition South Park: The Stick of Truth South Park: The Stick of Truth + The Fractured but Whole Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Deluxe Edition (PS5) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Deluxe Upgrade Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starlink: Battle For Atlas – Deluxe Edition SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris Terraria The Blizzard® 30-Year Celebration Collection The Catch: Carp & Coarse – Collector’s Edition The Crew 2 – Special Edition The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope & Man of Medan Bundle The Disney Afternoon Collection THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV ULTIMATE EDITION The Last of Us Part II: Digital Deluxe Edition The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds Expansion Pass The Sims 4 – Deluxe Party Edition The Sims 4 Plus Cats & Dogs Bundle The Survivalists The Yakuza Remastered Collection Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Year 1 Pass Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Standard Edition Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Warlords of New York Ultimate Edition Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 Train Sim World 2020: Collector’s Edition Truck of Nuka-Cola Quantum Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Unturned Valkyria Chronicles 4: Complete Edition Virginia Watch Dogs 2 Watch Dogs 2 – Deluxe Edition Watch Dogs: Legion – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Watch Dogs: Legion – Gold Edition PS4 & PS5 Wreckfest – Complete Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition PS4 & PS5 *Essential Picks promotion runs from Wednesday, September 1 at 00.00am (local time) until Wednesday, September 15 at 11.59pm (local time). http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/rDNyH1YWxKMView the full article

Hello, PlayStation Nation! It’s that time of year when we get to unpack all the exciting gameplay enhancements and new features coming your way with NBA 2K22! We had an ambitious feature list that we wanted to tackle this year: faster-paced gameplay, tighter and more responsive movement, more skill-based offense, and big changes to the player builder. We made a strong push to ensure that we were delivering the same quality gameplay upgrades on both PS5 and PS4, so no matter which version you run with this year, you’re going to get a brand-new experience. Defense The primary goal for defense was to give gamers the tools to be able to really change the outcome of the game on the floor and at the rim. If you were a great perimeter defender who anticipated well, we wanted you to be able to clamp up the dribbler and force a pass. If you were a rim protector, we wanted to give you the ability to send away weak shot attempts at will. The shot contest and blocking systems were completely rebuilt, leading to several new snatch blocks and volleyball spikes that never happened before. The shot contest rewrite removed the “ghost contests” that many complained about, and this year, being out of position or not getting a hand in the shooter’s face will lead to some easy buckets for the offense. On the other hand, properly crowding shooters with good contests will result in plenty of bricks and airballs, as they should. Play Video Next-Gen Defending For floor defenders, body-up rides and bumps feel much more rewarding; particularly for those using the PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller, thanks to the haptic feedback. Shifts, launches, stops, and cuts all feel much tighter, and PS5 players will see a lot less sliding on both ends of the floor as a result of improvements to foot-planting. Defense was also a major focus on the next-gen AI front. New on-ball defensive positioning logic gives defenders more consistency in their positioning, regardless of their distance from the basket. This, along with motion improvements, allowed us to tighten up general defensive positioning, which means PS5 players will feel more defensive pressure on-ball than was present in last year’s game. Dribbling This year, the goal was to marry the Basic Size-ups and Signature Size-ups together and give each player a unique feel and rhythm when sizing up, while also giving the gamer complete control over how the series plays out. The speed stick that we introduced on PS5 last year also returns. So, flicking the stick quickly results in quicker dribbles while slower flicks give you more rhythmic ones. There are around 50 unique signature size-up packages and 32 unique dribble sequences to choose from. Make sure to give all of them a try to find out which one best suits the rhythm of how you like to play. From the movement to the new moves and combos, they’ll be identical between PS5 and PS4! Post Play Now a little treat for the bigs. We spent a lot of time upgrading post play with loads of new content, including new movement and a new arsenal of back-to-basket moves. Similar to face-up ball handling, many of the new moves are cancels and aborts. For example, start a post spin by twirling the Pro Stick, then immediately move the left stick in the opposite direction for a spin back. There are also new R2 fakes that keep you engaged in post, allowing you to chain multiple fakes together without disengaging. Shooting Shooting has undergone many changes for NBA 2K22. There’s a new shot meter with a dynamically resizing make window. This window will expand when you’re taking high-quality shots with good shooters, but will shrink when heavily contested, shooting with a low-rated shooter, or fatigued. The major emphasis for shooting success this year is Shot IQ. The teams that work for open looks and take smart shots are going to see much more success than the teams that force up bad shots. We’ve heavily focus-group tested the new shooting mechanics with players of all skill levels and believe this is the best that shooting has ever felt in NBA 2K. Finishing We’ve revamped the blocking system in NBA 2K22 and we’re now giving rim protectors more tools to make great stops at the rim. On top of that, on PS5, we’ve added timing meters to both alley-oop and aggressive skill dunk attempts. When an alley pass is in the air, you’ll need to press the Shot Button at just the right time to finish off the oop. And on the dunking side, holding Sprint and pulling straight down on the Pro Stick will trigger the aggressive skill dunks. Builds, Badges, and Takeovers In NBA 2K21, we debuted a brand-new player builder on PS5 that allowed you to set up your attribute caps however you saw fit. We’ve made a lot of adjustments to the system this year, including significantly increasing the amount of badge points at your disposal, and making it easier to identify the available badges, the cost at each tier, and the attribute thresholds required to hit each tier. There’s also a new MyPLAYER upgrade that’s exclusive to PS5 called Takeover Perks. These are modifiers that you can unlock and equip to strengthen your existing Takeover abilities! We won’t list them out because we want them to be a surprise, but it’s a great upgrade to the Takeover system that adds a layer of depth and strategy to how you compete online. From the outset, our goal was to create fun and competitive gameplay for all. The community’s passion for 2K is what drives us, and many of our features come directly from you. So, have a great time with NBA 2K22, and we can’t wait to read your feedback, watch your videos/streams, and continue to work with you to mold the best basketball game on the planet! Tip off on September 10. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/0q6IkNzG1pwView the full article

Previously, we shared our roadmap and the time has come to share details for August. We are excited to bring both a Paid DLC and a Free Update to the community this month. Cleopatra joins the powerful Yautja race for this month’s Paid DLC character, bringing with her a passion of collecting trophies from only the most worthy. In this month’s Free Update, Isabelle’s tapes can now be unlocked and friendly Fireteam Bots join the battle in the jungle. While encounters with Predator females have been rare, Predators of Cleopatra’s prowess are rarer still. As the only Predator to defeat Dutch in combat, she’s also the only Predator known to spare an armed opponent. Was it mercy or a threat? Perhaps it was just professional courtesy from one hunter to another. Do you have what it takes to step into this powerful Yautja’s shoes or will you be worthy of going toe-to-toe with her in the jungle? Cleopatra brings with her a special skin for the smart disc. By purchasing this DLC you will get early access to this new weapon skin variant. This month’s Free Update brings the NRV-E (Unlock at Level 100) to all players. In addition, we are expanding the lore of the universe again with additional tapes. Have you wondered what Isabelle has been up to, where she has been, or how she got back to earth? There are now four level unlocked tapes featuring Isabelle telling her story (Unlocks at 1, 10, 20, 40). The community has been asking and we have been hard at work on it, we are so excited to bring friendly Fireteam Bots to the jungle. These Fireteam Bot members will fight alongside you in the jungle. They’ll also play a support role throwing ammo and health packs when you’re low; They’ll revive you if you’re downed; and if you are killed you can take over an Bot with your loadout. Now you never have to enter the jungle alone! We have heard the requests for more Yautja and modes, and while we can’t share any details yet – be sure to keep an eye on our social media handles and forums! We have more in store in the months ahead and we cannot wait to share more information with you. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/x4AR4NbD9VEView the full article