Commander Fury

Thanks for tuning into our in-depth look at the modes and features of Gran Turismo 7. You can view the full VOD below, which contains more than 30 minutes of new gameplay footage, insight into various modes, and more. Play Video As you can see, there’s a lot going on in GT7 and there is something for everyone regardless of whether you are a new player, or an existing fan of the franchise. This is the purpose of GT7, it was produced to celebrate the idea of car culture in the modern day and inspire people to want to be a part of it, whether you are interested in racing, scapes and photography, livery design, tuning, or collecting cars. Now let’s get into the detail. Once you get behind the wheel on March 4, how do the modes seen in State of Play reveal themselves as you play? Here’s a quick rundown of what you will experience when you first access the game. Music Rally The first thing you’ll do is hop into a Porsche Carrera Speedster ’56 and race through the Music Rally. On the surface, it’s an arcade-style race where you enjoy some motivating, up-tempo tunes while trying to reach checkpoints before time runs out. For new players, this is also a way to experience GT’s driving simulation gameplay and an opportunity to set your steering and pedal operation type and driving assist presets (Auto Brakes, Braking Zones, Driving Lines, etc.). Purchasing a car As seen in State of Play, the World Map is your home base in the resort-themed world of GT7. The first task to complete is using some provided in-game credits to purchase a used car of your choice (in this case, a Toyota Aqua S ’11). With a set of wheels at your command, stop by the Garage and then head to the new Café. Café This comfy locale offers you “Menu Books” of activities to complete for new cars and other game-progression goodies.* The first Menu Book request is to acquire three Japanese compact cars, one of which you already purchased earlier. So that’s one down… but how do you obtain the other two? By winning them from specific races called out in the Menu Book. Venture out to those courses in the World Circuit area of the map, fulfill the placement requirements (3rd place or higher in this case) and voila, new cars are yours. License Center Next you unlock the License Center, featuring rigorous driving tests know to GT veterans all over the world. Luckily, obtaining the initial B license isn’t too demanding, so even novice players can tackle this in time, and obtain the B license. Getting B, A licenses (and so on) will teach you valuable skills you can apply throughout your GT7 journey. Tuning With a handful of cars now in your garage and new skills at your command, a Café menu will direct you to the newly opened Tuning Shop. As you can imagine, this place is loaded with parts of all shapes and sizes (peep some of them in the full VOD), with even more to be unlocked as you play. As you acquire new cars, for instance, you build up your Collector Level, and hitting level 4 unlocks the “Club Sports” category in the Tuning Shop. So race, collect, unlock, tune… whatever you do, you’re probably helping build out some other element of the game. The Café Menu will also guide you to new areas and modes, so fulfilling those is a great way to ensure you’re taking advantage of all the sights & sounds of GT7. All this content is experienced within the first hours of the game (depending on winning races, fulfilling Menu Books and so forth), at which point you’re off to a special championship event at the High Speed Ring. This will open the Brand Central, where you can purchase brand-new vehicles from over 50 car manufacturers and tuners. This is just the tip of the iceberg though, as you progress through the game you will open many more features to explore, such as the GT Auto where you can dress up your cars and perform maintenance, the Livery Editor, Scapes, Race photos, and more. Watch the full State of Play VOD for more information. I hope having seen this update into Gran Turismo 7 you are as excited for this latest installment as we have been to make it! Releasing on March 4th, you can pre-order Gran Turismo 7 at the PlayStation Store for either PS4 or PS5. And the 25th Anniversary Edition not only includes the PS5 version but also comes with the digital code for the PS4 version, so it’s perfect for those who only have a PS4 now but are thinking of purchasing a PS5 in the future. *Internet connection required for game progression to access most vehicles, races, and tuning features. View the full article

Hot on the heels of this week’s news that Bungie will be joining PlayStation, I had a chance to chat with Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios, to learn more about how the developer collective might collaborate with the celebrated studio. We also touched on Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 (State of Play tonight!), and MLB The Show 22. See below for a transcript, edited for length and clarity, or listen to our chat in full. Sid: So Hermen, it’s official – Bungie is joining PlayStation. Not exactly something I would have predicted a few weeks ago, but spectacular nonetheless. Hermen: Exciting news, right? It’s a really good surprise. We like surprises. Let me just say that I’m so pleased that we could make this happen because Bungie is truly a world-class developer. Sid: Yeah, absolutely. Just a legendary developer, really. I don’t think that’s overstating it. They’ve been around for a long time, about 30 years…. I was curious, what are some of the ways you’ve seen Bungie influence the gaming medium over the past few decades? Hermen: It’s actually an amazing story, when you look at it. As you said, they’ve done many genres on many different platforms. And of course their work on Halo was phenomenal, in my mind some of the best shooters in history. Halo also had a very strong component. And then there’s Destiny, a series still going strong after eight years, I think. Many people have tried to build a successful live service, and failed. Because it’s really hard. So Destiny’s success is very special. I’m also impressed by the production values from them, in terms of technology, graphics, performance capture, sound and music…all of that is really top-class at Bungie. Sid: They’re trailblazers. Halo: Combat Evolved — it’s been, what, 20-something years since that came out? But they laid the groundwork for first-person shooters on console, and a lot of those ideas have endured over that time, whether it’s grenades, melee, sticky aim was an innovation of theirs, having a recharging health bar… and all the things you pointed out with Destiny and the live service element, making this game that evolves over time. Very innovative studio. Hermen: Yes, everyone in gaming knows that Bungie’s gameplay is one of the benchmarks. It always feels fluid, it’s always very responsive, easy to pick up and hard to put down. They’ve either started or perfected so many innovations in their games. I follow their design choices very closely since, obviously as you know, I was working on Killzone while Bungie was developing Halo. Sid: Moving forward, how do you see PlayStation Studios partnering with Bungie? Do you envision a close working relationship with them? Hermen: Absolutely. And obviously it’s still early, the deal itself needs to be finalized before we can officially start discussing detailed collaboration. But I’ve spent a lot of time with folks like Jason Jones and Pete Parsons, and some of the senior team over at Bungie. And let me tell you that everyone’s very excited for Bungie and PlayStation Studios to share ideas, share some of our battle scars as well. And really, just learn from each other. Sid: Sounds like a dynamic time to be a game designer at PlayStation. With all this news, the last 12 months for PlayStation Studios has been really interesting with interesting Housemarque and Bluepoint and others… kind of a crazy time. Hermen: Well, exciting times. We have a few very good months coming up for PlayStation fans. Horizon Forbidden West is only a few weeks away. I’ve been playing it for a while now, and it’s everything that I know Guerrilla wanted it to be. We actually began the game back when I was still at Guerrilla, and I’m just amazed at the scope, the depth, and the sheer quality that the team has achieved. You know, I think they’ve actually gotten a bit better since I left them, so really proud of that team. And in March, we will have Gran Turismo 7. And there’s a State of Play about to hit, so later today you’ll be able to see a lot more of this game. I know that GT fans have been waiting to see what Polyphony can do on PS5, and I think they’re going to be quite happy with that. It’s beautiful, as you would expect. But I’m really impressed with how Polyphony has used the DualSense controller. We all know that Kazunori [Yamauchi] is fanatical about recreating that driving experience for players. In that context, the DualSense is just perfect. And then there’s MLB The Show 22 in April, of course. We gave an update on MLB The Show this week unveiling our cover athlete, the amazing Shohei Ohtani. We also announced that this year, MLB The Show will be on Nintendo Switch, as well as PS4, PS5, and Xbox. San Diego Studio is doing such a great job on this series, it just keeps getting better. Sid: Thanks for joining us – always a pleasure to hear from you! Hermen: Thanks for having me, Sid. View the full article

Shohei Ohtani was our unanimous choice to be on the cover of MLB The Show 22, but we wanted to do something special for the Collector’s Edition(s). You might not know this, but Shohei is a big fan of manga and anime; he has been since his years attending Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan. His passion for baseball has always been high but his love for a specific manga series made him love baseball more. Play Video Shohei Ohtani put together what could be considered one of the greatest single seasons in MLB history. One could say it was superhero like, we sure did. With that in mind and knowing Shohei’s love for manga and anime the decision was clear. A normal Collector’s Edition cover wouldn’t suffice— we needed to take it to the next level. We heard through the grapevine that famed manga artist, director, and writer Takashi Okazaki (Afro Samurai, Batman Ninja) was a huge fan of Shohei Ohtani. We all thought how cool would it be if Takashi drew an anime version of Shohei for the Collector’s Edition cover of MLB The Show 22? Shohei is a once in a generation athlete with superhero like abilities on the field. What better way to bring that to life than to have worlds collide on a truly unique cover? We are thrilled to share the results of this collaboration. Cover Art not representative of in-game art. Now you’re wondering, “What’s in the Editions?” First, we’re very excited to announce that Early Access is back for anyone that purchases either the MVP Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition of MLB The Show 22. Early Access in MLB The Show 22 begins April 1, to give you a four day head start. Pre-order now at PlayStation Store and be ready for action by receiving a Gold Choice Pack for use in MLB The Show 22 just for pre-ordering (Prices in graphic below in USD). Note: The MVP Editions of MLB The Show 22 on PlayStation consoles include both a PS4 (disc) and a PS5 (voucher download code) entitlements*. If you purchase MLB The Show 22 physical Standard Edition, you will only have access to that version of the game and will not be able to upgrade later. However, if you purchase the digital version of the Standard Edition (PlayStation or Xbox) you can upgrade for $10 USD. MVP Edition (Retail or PlayStation Direct) The MVP Edition is $84.99 USD / $109.99 CAD (MSRP). This limited-edition Steel Book (physical version only) is available for Pre-order now at retail or through PlayStation. (Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a $99.99 physical Collector’s Edition this year. While we understand this is disappointing, we are pleased to offer this anime edition of Ohtani-san drawn by Takashi Okazaki that honors the influence it’s had on his phenomenal career.) The MVP Edition on PlayStation includes: The Game Access to both PS4 and PS5*, Limited Edition Steel Book [4] Days Early Access Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 22) Additional Items: [1] Diamond Choice Pack [2] Gold Choice Packs [1] Ballplayer Pack [10] The Show Packs [10,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 22 Shohei Ohtani Bat Skin Digital Deluxe Edition (PS Store) For our biggest digital fans, you know who you are… the Digital Deluxe returns to the PlayStation Store. The Digital Deluxe Edition is $99.99 USD/$119.99 CAD. For those of you that need packs on packs on packs… on packs, this is the edition for you. Digital Deluxe Edition includes: [4] Days Early Access Access to both PS4 and PS5 Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 22) Additional Items: [1] Diamond Choice Packs [1] Cover Athlete Diamond Choice Pack [5] Gold Choice Packs [1] Ballplayer Pack [20] The Show Packs [25,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 22 Shohei Ohtani Bat Skin Continued partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) through SIE PlayStation Career Pathway Program Sony Interactive Entertainment, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and San Diego Studio are happy to announce for the second year in a row, every MLB The Show 22 Collector’s Edition sold in the US (MVP Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition’s only) PlayStation will donate $1 to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. (Through December 31, 2022) The Jackie Robinson Foundation has been narrowing the achievement gap in higher education for 49 years. The JRF’s holistic approach measurably impacts the lives of young people destined to become impactful leaders. You can learn more about the Jackie Robinson Foundation here. We could not be more excited for MLB The Show 22 coming out on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles! Look forward to a new class of Legends, new ways to play, including with your friends! Check TheShow.com and follow our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 22. For more detailed information on MLB The Show 22 including an important update on year to year saves and more please read our announce FAQ here. *Includes PS4 Disc & PS5 Voucher (PS5 console with disc drive required). View the full article

The Critics’ Choice promotion returns to the PlayStation Store on Wednesday, February 2. Featuring critically acclaimed games, along with some of the biggest and most popular titles you can buy at PlayStation Store in a massive promotion at the start of February. That includes Call of Duty: Vanguard – Standard Edition, Far Cry 6 – Standard Edition and F1 2021 PS4 & PS5. The full list of games is below. Head on over to PlayStation Store when the promotion begins* to find out your local discount. The full list of games is below. Head on over to PlayStation Store when the promotion begins to find out your local discount. A Hat in Time A Plague Tale: Innocence Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Deluxe Edition Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition Alan Wake Remastered Amnesia: Collection Amnesia: Rebirth AO Tennis 2 Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Season Pass Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gold PS4 & PS5 Back 4 Blood: Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Back 4 Blood: Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 Baller Edition Bundle Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Batman: Arkham Collection Biomutant Blair Witch VR Blair Witch VR Deluxe Edition Blizzard® Arcade Collection Bloodstained – Iga’s Back Pack Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Borderlands 2 VR Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Bus Simulator 21 Bus Simulator 21 – Extended Edition BUTCHER Butcher – Special Edition Bundle Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Digital Deluxe Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle PS4™ & PS5™ Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition Capcom Arcade Stadium Packs 1, 2, and 3 Carrion Chess Ultra Chorus Civilization VI Anthology Upgrade Code Vein – Deluxe Edition Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bundle 2021 Anniversary Crash Bundle 2021 Quadrilogy Crysis Remastered Darkwood Darkwood – Special Edition Day of the Tentacle Remastered DE – PS5 Standard Edition Takeover Dead by Daylight: Ultimate Edition DEATHLOOP (GAME) Death’s Door DEMON SLAYER : KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles Deluxe Edition Destiny 2: Forsaken Pack Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Diablo® II: Resurrected™ – Standard Diablo® Prime Evil Collection Diablo® Prime Evil Collection – Upgrade Dishonored 2 Don’t Starve Mega Pack 2020 DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Add-On) DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Standalone) Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Deluxe Edition F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 Fallout 76 Fallout 76: Brotherhood Recruitment Bundle FAR CRY®6 Gold Edition FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition FF7R EPISODE INTERmission (New Story Content Featuring Yuffie) Final Fantasy VII Remake Final Fantasy VII Remake – Digital Deluxe Edition FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Digital Deluxe Edition First Class Trouble Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted – Bundle For Honor – Marching Fire Edition Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS5 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS4 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Upgrade Goat Simulator: The GOATY God of War Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition Greedfall Grim Fandango Remastered Guilty Gear -Strive- Deluxe Edition Guilty Gear -Strive- Ultimate Edition Hades Hell’s Rangers Content Pack HITMAN 3 – Deluxe Edition Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ – Collectors Edition Hunt: Showdown – Deluxe Edition IMMORTALS FENYX RISING – GOLD EDITION PS4 & PS5 Immortals Fenyx Rising™ PS4 & PS5 Indie Collection – SPOM -AMD – CODG Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition Insurgency: Sandstorm Iron Harvest It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ Jurassic World Evolution 2 Jurassic World Evolution 2: Deluxe Edition Just Dance 2022 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Digital Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Kena: Bridge of Spirits PS4 & PS5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Royal Edition Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning L.A. Noire LEGO City Undercover LEGO Harry Potter Collection LEGO Jurassic World LEGO Marvel Collection LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Season Pass LEGO Marvel’s Avengers LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Season Pass LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition Lemnis Gate Let’s Sing 2021 Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition – OST Combo Life is Strange: True Colors – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 & PS5 Little Nightmares II Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 LOST JUDGMENT Lost Judgment Digital Ultimate Edition Madden NFL 22 (PS4) Madden NFL 22 (PS5) Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Trilogy Marvel’s Avengers Marvel’s Avengers: Exclusive Digital Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 & PS5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition Megalodon Shark Cash Card Metro Saga Bundle Monster Energy Supercross 4 – Special Edition Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne Master Edition Monster Truck Championship Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate + Injustice 2 Leg. Edition Bundle Mortal Shell MotoGP 20 NBA 2K22 NBA 2K22 Legend Bundle NBA 2K22 NG Legend Bundle Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition NHL™ 22 Deluxe Edition Bundle (PS4) NHL™ 22 Deluxe Edition Bundle (PS5) Observer: System Redux Oddworld: Soulstorm OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 Overwatch: Legendary Edition Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition Peril on Gorgon Persona® 5 Strikers Digital Deluxe Edition Poker Club PS4 & PS5 Project Warlock Psychonauts Pure Chess – Complete Bundle Pure Pool Snooker Bundle Pure Pool™ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Digital Deluxe Edition Red Dead Online Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2: Story Mode Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition OST Combo Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 3 – Raccoon City Edition Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – Season Pass Resident Evil Triple Pack Resident Evil Village Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Resident Evil: Deluxe Origins Bundle Ride 3 Ride 3 – Gold Edition Riders Republic – Gold Edition Riders Republic – Standard Edition Riders Republic – Year 1 Pass Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – Digital Deluxe Edition Sakura Wars Scribblenauts Showdown Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Shadow of Mordor GOTY + Shadow of War Definitive Edition Shenmue III: Digital Deluxe Edition Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Snooker 19 Snooker 19: Gold Edition SnowRunner – Premium Edition SpeedRunners Spike Volleyball Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS5) STAR WARS™: Squadrons Streets of Rage 4 Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition SUPERHOT SUPERHOT – Mind is Software Bundle SUPERHOT ONE OF US BUNDLE SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Tales of Arise PS4 & PS5 Tales Of Arise Ultimate Edition PS4 & PS5 Telltale Batman Shadows Edition Tennis World Tour Tennis World Tour: Roland-Garros Edition TESO: NEW PS5 Base Edition The Blizzard® 30-Year Celebration Collection THE COMPLETE SUPERHOT BUNDLE The Dark Pictures Anthology: Triple Pack The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition The Heavy Rain & Beyond: Two Souls Collection The Jackbox Party Pack 3 The Jackbox Party Pack 5 The Jackbox Party Trilogy 2.0 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Digital Deluxe Edition The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame The Long Dark The Medium The Medium Deluxe Edition The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds Expansion Pass The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos The Sims 4 The Sims 4 – Backyard Stuff The Sims 4 – Bowling Night Stuff The Sims 4 – Cats & Dogs Plus My First Pet Stuff Bundle The Sims 4 – City Living The Sims 4 – Cool Kitchen Stuff The Sims 4 – Discover University The Sims 4 – EP11 The Sims 4 – Fitness Stuff The Sims 4 – Get Famous The Sims 4 – Get to Work The Sims 4 – Get Together The Sims 4 – Island Living The Sims 4 – Jungle Adventure The Sims 4 – Kids Room Stuff The Sims 4 – Laundry Day Stuff The Sims 4 – Luxury Party Stuff The Sims 4 – Moschino Stuff Pack The Sims 4 – Movie Hangout Stuff The Sims 4 – My First Pet Stuff The Sims 4 – Outdoor Retreat The Sims 4 – Parenthood The Sims 4 – Perfect Patio Stuff The Sims 4 – Realm of Magic The Sims 4 – Romantic Garden Stuff The Sims 4 – Seasons The Sims 4 – Spa Day The Sims 4 – Spooky Stuff The Sims 4 – StrangeVille The Sims 4 – Tiny Living Stuff Pack The Sims 4 – Toddler Stuff The Sims 4 – Vampires The Sims 4 – Vintage Glamour Stuff The Sims 4 Plus Cats & Dogs Bundle The Sims™ 4 – GP10 The Sims™ 4 Eco Lifestyle The Sims™ 4 Nifty Knitting Stuff Pack The Sims™ 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack The Sinking City: Necronomicon Edition The Spectrum Retreat The Walking Dead Onslaught The Walking Dead Onslaught: Digital Deluxe The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Tourist Edition The Walking Dead: Season Two The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Season Pass The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Expansion Pass The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone The Wolf Among Us – The Complete First Season Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 TowerFall Ascension Tribes of Midgard Tribes of Midgard Digital Deluxe Tricky Towers Ultimate Chicken Horse Unravel Vacation Simulator Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition Vanguard – PS5 Cross-Gen Edition Vanguard – PS5 Ultimate Edition Vanguard – Standard Edition Vanguard – Ultimate Edition Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown Main Game ＆ DLC Yakuza Pack Void Bastards: DeLUXe Bundle V-Rally 4 Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Warhammer: Vermintide 2 – Premium Edition Wasteland 3 Colorado Collection Watch Dogs: Legion – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Watch Dogs: Legion – Ultimate Edition PS4 & PS5 Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition PS4 & PS5 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Deluxe Edition Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Super Deluxe Edition A Hat in Time A Plague Tale: Innocence Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Deluxe Edition Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition Alan Wake Remastered Amnesia: Collection Amnesia: Rebirth AO Tennis 2 Apex Legends™ – Champion Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Season Pass Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gold PS4 & PS5 Back 4 Blood: Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Back 4 Blood: Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 Baller Edition Bundle Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Batman: Arkham Collection Biomutant Blair Witch VR Blair Witch VR Deluxe Edition Blizzard® Arcade Collection Bloodstained – Iga’s Back Pack Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Borderlands 2 VR Borderlands 3 PS4™ & PS5™ Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Bus Simulator 21 Bus Simulator 21 – Extended Edition BUTCHER Butcher – Special Edition Bundle Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Digital Deluxe Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle PS4™ & PS5™ Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition Capcom Arcade Stadium Packs 1, 2, and 3 Carrion Chess Ultra Chorus Civilization VI Anthology Upgrade Code Vein – Deluxe Edition Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bundle 2021 Anniversary Crash Bundle 2021 Quadrilogy Crysis Remastered Darkwood Darkwood – Special Edition Day of the Tentacle Remastered DE – PS5 Standard Edition Takeover Dead by Daylight: Ultimate Edition DEATHLOOP (GAME) Death’s Door DEMON SLAYER : KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles Deluxe Edition Destiny 2: Forsaken Pack Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Diablo® II: Resurrected™ – Standard Diablo® Prime Evil Collection Diablo® Prime Evil Collection – Upgrade Dishonored 2 Don’t Starve Mega Pack 2020 DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Add-On) DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Standalone) Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Deluxe Edition F1® 2021 PS4 & PS5 Fallout 76 Fallout 76: Brotherhood Recruitment Bundle FAR CRY®6 Gold Edition FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition FF7R EPISODE INTERmission (New Story Content Featuring Yuffie) Final Fantasy VII Remake Final Fantasy VII Remake – Digital Deluxe Edition FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Digital Deluxe Edition First Class Trouble Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted – Bundle For Honor – Marching Fire Edition Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS5 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PS4 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Upgrade Goat Simulator: The GOATY God of War Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition Greedfall Grim Fandango Remastered Guilty Gear -Strive- Deluxe Edition Guilty Gear -Strive- Ultimate Edition Hades Hell’s Rangers Content Pack HITMAN 3 – Deluxe Edition Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ – Collectors Edition Hunt: Showdown – Deluxe Edition IMMORTALS FENYX RISING – GOLD EDITION PS4 & PS5 Immortals Fenyx Rising™ PS4 & PS5 Indie Collection – SPOM -AMD – CODG Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition Insurgency: Sandstorm Iron Harvest It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™ Jurassic World Evolution 2 Jurassic World Evolution 2: Deluxe Edition Just Dance 2022 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Digital Deluxe PS4 & PS5 Kena: Bridge of Spirits PS4 & PS5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Royal Edition Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning L.A. Noire LEGO City Undercover LEGO Harry Potter Collection LEGO Jurassic World LEGO Marvel Collection LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Season Pass LEGO Marvel’s Avengers LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Season Pass LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition Lemnis Gate Let’s Sing 2021 Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition – OST Combo Life is Strange: True Colors – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 & PS5 Little Nightmares II Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 LOST JUDGMENT Lost Judgment Digital Ultimate Edition Madden NFL 22 (PS4) Madden NFL 22 (PS5) Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Trilogy Marvel’s Avengers Marvel’s Avengers: Exclusive Digital Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 & PS5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition Megalodon Shark Cash Card Metro Saga Bundle Monster Energy Supercross 4 – Special Edition Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne Master Edition Monster Truck Championship Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate + Injustice 2 Leg. Edition Bundle Mortal Shell MotoGP 20 NBA 2K22 NBA 2K22 Legend Bundle NBA 2K22 NG Legend Bundle Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition NHL™ 22 Deluxe Edition Bundle (PS4) NHL™ 22 Deluxe Edition Bundle (PS5) Observer: System Redux Oddworld: Soulstorm OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 Overwatch: Legendary Edition Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition Peril on Gorgon Persona® 5 Strikers Digital Deluxe Edition Poker Club PS4 & PS5 Project Warlock Psychonauts Pure Chess – Complete Bundle Pure Pool Snooker Bundle Pure Pool™ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Digital Deluxe Edition Red Dead Online Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2: Story Mode Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition OST Combo Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 3 – Raccoon City Edition Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – Season Pass Resident Evil Triple Pack Resident Evil Village Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Resident Evil: Deluxe Origins Bundle Ride 3 Ride 3 – Gold Edition Riders Republic – Gold Edition Riders Republic – Standard Edition Riders Republic – Year 1 Pass Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – Digital Deluxe Edition Sakura Wars Scribblenauts Showdown Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Shadow of Mordor GOTY + Shadow of War Definitive Edition Shenmue III: Digital Deluxe Edition Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Snooker 19 Snooker 19: Gold Edition SnowRunner – Premium Edition SpeedRunners Spike Volleyball Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS5) STAR WARS™: Squadrons Streets of Rage 4 Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition SUPERHOT SUPERHOT – Mind is Software Bundle SUPERHOT ONE OF US BUNDLE SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Tales of Arise PS4 & PS5 Tales Of Arise Ultimate Edition PS4 & PS5 Telltale Batman Shadows Edition Tennis World Tour Tennis World Tour: Roland-Garros Edition TESO: NEW PS5 Base Edition The Blizzard® 30-Year Celebration Collection THE COMPLETE SUPERHOT BUNDLE The Dark Pictures Anthology: Triple Pack The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition The Heavy Rain & Beyond: Two Souls Collection The Jackbox Party Pack 3 The Jackbox Party Pack 5 The Jackbox Party Trilogy 2.0 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Digital Deluxe Edition The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame The Long Dark The Medium The Medium Deluxe Edition The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds Expansion Pass The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos The Sims 4 The Sims 4 – Backyard Stuff The Sims 4 – Bowling Night Stuff The Sims 4 – Cats & Dogs Plus My First Pet Stuff Bundle The Sims 4 – City Living The Sims 4 – Cool Kitchen Stuff The Sims 4 – Discover University The Sims 4 – EP11 The Sims 4 – Fitness Stuff The Sims 4 – Get Famous The Sims 4 – Get to Work The Sims 4 – Get Together The Sims 4 – Island Living The Sims 4 – Jungle Adventure The Sims 4 – Kids Room Stuff The Sims 4 – Laundry Day Stuff The Sims 4 – Luxury Party Stuff The Sims 4 – Moschino Stuff Pack The Sims 4 – Movie Hangout Stuff The Sims 4 – My First Pet Stuff The Sims 4 – Outdoor Retreat The Sims 4 – Parenthood The Sims 4 – Perfect Patio Stuff The Sims 4 – Realm of Magic The Sims 4 – Romantic Garden Stuff The Sims 4 – Seasons The Sims 4 – Spa Day The Sims 4 – Spooky Stuff The Sims 4 – StrangeVille The Sims 4 – Tiny Living Stuff Pack The Sims 4 – Toddler Stuff The Sims 4 – Vampires The Sims 4 – Vintage Glamour Stuff The Sims 4 Plus Cats & Dogs Bundle The Sims™ 4 – GP10 The Sims™ 4 Eco Lifestyle The Sims™ 4 Nifty Knitting Stuff Pack The Sims™ 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack The Sinking City: Necronomicon Edition The Spectrum Retreat The Walking Dead Onslaught The Walking Dead Onslaught: Digital Deluxe The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Tourist Edition The Walking Dead: Season Two The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Season Pass The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Expansion Pass The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone The Wolf Among Us – The Complete First Season Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 TowerFall Ascension Tribes of Midgard Tribes of Midgard Digital Deluxe Tricky Towers Ultimate Chicken Horse Unravel Vacation Simulator Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition Vanguard – PS5 Cross-Gen Edition Vanguard – PS5 Ultimate Edition Vanguard – Standard Edition Vanguard – Ultimate Edition Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown Main Game ＆ DLC Yakuza Pack Void Bastards: DeLUXe Bundle V-Rally 4 Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Warhammer: Vermintide 2 – Premium Edition Wasteland 3 Colorado Collection Watch Dogs: Legion – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Watch Dogs: Legion – Ultimate Edition PS4 & PS5 Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition PS4 & PS5 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Deluxe Edition Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Super Deluxe Edition *Critics’ Choice promotion runs on PlayStation Store from Wednesday, February 2 at 00:00am local time, and ends Wednesday February 16 at 11.59pm local time. 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With February 4 just around the corner, only a few days remain until the release of Dying Light 2 Stay Human on PS4 and PS5. Soon, you’ll get to explore its vast, post-apocalyptic open world and all the challenges within. But before that—let us take you on a tour of the ways Techland’s innovative FPS gameplay will make your journey to The City one to remember. (Reminder – act fast if you don’t want to miss out on the game’s pre-order bonuses—the Reach for the Sky and Reload packs.) Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Parkour Parkour has been one of the main mechanics since the original Dying Light, and Dying Light 2 Stay Human generously builds on it, doubling the amount of parkour moves you’ll be able to learn and master as you progress through the game. There are twenty-four parkour skills to unlock in the parkour skill tree, and each of them will significantly increase both your speed and agility. Some places, however, will need a little bit extra effort to reach, requiring a mix of parkour and paraglider skill. Combat and Weapons Dying Light 2 Stay Human constantly encourages creativity throughout every aspect of your journey, and just as you can combine parkour moves with your tools, such as the paraglider, you can also combine them with your combat skills. Not to mention all the different ways you can approach fights—will you be silent and stealthy? Will you attack from a distance with a bow? Or will you go all in and make some noise? The choice is yours. Add to it a large variety of weapons, mods, and upgrades, and you can be sure that each encounter will be unique. Look for the Craftmaster in the main HUBs, facilities, and settlements to modify and upgrade your weapons and blueprints. Accessories are also upgradable, including your molotov, throwing knives, or decoys. Want to get the most mileage out of your consumables? You can also improve lockpicks, medicines, and boosters. Your suite of Nightrunner tools can also be enhanced, including the paraglider, grappling hook, and your UV flashlight. Day and Night Activities The day and night cycle, well-known from Dying Light, comes to Dying Light 2 Stay Human in an even richer form. The general rules during the day are similar—monsters hide in the buildings, and the main source of danger in the streets are bandits. At night, however, things get a little bit different. There are two completely new activities you can stumble upon while roaming The City after sunset—Night Chases and the GRE Anomalies. As soon as you get spotted by a Howler, he will alarm other Infected in the vicinity, and a night chase begins. To survive, you must stay on top of your game, especially if Virals enter the chase. These monsters are faster and much more agile, and they can even climb onto the roofs to follow you, so be careful. The longer you’re chased, the more dangerous creatures will join, until you’re faced with the ultimate challenge—Volatiles. Your only chance to escape? Hightail it to a safe zone and hide under a UV lamp. The GRE Anomalies are special areas corrupted by the Revenants, powerful monsters who can reanimate the dead around them. Their lairs are extremely dangerous, but you’ll only find them there at night. If you’re planning to take one on, make sure you prepare carefully for a tough fight. Should you manage to emerge victorious, however, you’ll be able to loot some inhibitors. Is the risk worth the prize? You’ll decide for yourself. The City Vast, vertical, alive—The City is one of the last bastions of humanity, and even though civilization has fallen back to the Dark Ages, its relics are still to be found all around the streets. Murals, old letters, notes, or even audio recordings will constantly remind you about The City’s past. Now, people are trying to regain their routine, find themselves in this new world set between the modern and the medieval, bringing elements of both eras together. But The City keeps changing, and you’ll play a crucial role in shaping its landscape. One of the ways to do it is with the Abandoned Structures—old, deserted buildings, waiting for you to restore them and decide which faction you want to hand them to. Depending on whether you assign an area to the Peacekeepers or the Survivors, your choice will be reflected in the Abandoned Structures’ appearance, the NPCs you’ll meet inside, and the quests available for you there. Embark on multiple playthroughs to discover all of The City’s secrets and challenges. There’s always more to find. Choices and Consequences In Dying Light 2 Stay Human, your choices and actions shape the world of the game, its story, relationships between the characters, and even the landscape of The City. As Aiden, you’ll be trying to fulfill your own agenda, but you’ll also be given opportunities to help those around you and influence their future. Who you align with, who you trust, who you help—all these decisions will change the world of the game. Curious to see how alternative actions and decisions shape The City differently? Drop into a friend’s game in co-op to see how their world differs from yours. You can even share your opinion when it comes time to make big choices, though the final call will always be theirs. Of course, you can invite friends to your world to do the same. These are just a few exciting examples of big shakeups to the first-person action of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. Ready up and dive in when it launches on PS4 and PS5 on February 4. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. View the full article

The biggest event of the year is BACK. No? Alright, the… flashiest event of the year? Oh, fine – our favourite event of the year returns. It is, of course, the annual Impy Awards, which celebrates the very best of Dreams and its brilliant coMmunity from the past year. It’s an excellent excuse for us to replay some amazing creations, ask favours of all our cool friends across the game industry (thanks again!), and hand out awesome Golden Imp Trophies.* As ever, we’re putting on a big stage show to reflect on the year of fun we’ve had together in Dreams, and to announce the winners of the Impy Awards 2022 – some judged by us with the help of the aforementioned cool friends, some voted for by the coMmunity. Come watch it live on February 27 at 9am PT / 5pm GMT on our Twitch and YouTube channels! It’s loads of fun, honest. Minimal chaos, depending on your definition of ‘minimal’. We’ve also been hard at work making this year’s Impys hub, a celebration space that will be available to download and play in Dreams ahead of (and during! And after!) the show. Not to give too much away, but it is truly ambitious and very special – and quite different to the Hollywood glamour of the Impy Awards of yesteryear. Because you’re a pal, we’ve decided to entrust you with this sneak peek ahead of its release on February 18. A little look at a small section of this year’s playable Impys hub. Oooh, mysterious. And yes – there will be new imps. All you have to do is log into Dreams between 4:00pm PT on February 17 / 12:00am GMT on February 18 and 3:59pm PT / 11:59pm GMT on February 28, and you’ll unlock these three bobby-dazzlers. The three new imps we’ll be releasing for this year’s Impys: Avery, Gerry and Luna. But back to business. Which talented Dreams coMmunity members made the final shortlist for this year’s awards? Firstly, a reminder that the following categories are coMmunity-voted, meaning YOU will decide who gets to take home the trophy. CoMmunity Star Most Helpful Dreamer CoMmunity Collaboration Breakthrough Dreamer Don’t forget to vote for your winners via this survey by Monday, February 7 for your vote to be counted! And now, the nominees: Excellence in Art Direction Lullaby for a Beagle – ghostfruit64 Triangle is Sentient – ItsMeJuvy The Idyllium – ZIIQ, Helekosi and Bevis2 ASCENT REMASTERED – payoffwizard Tales from Dark Town: Red Zone – DirtyFlusher and dinox11 Excellence in Environment Art The Time Looper – IansaneArtist NOGUCHI’S BELL Episode 1 – Cyber Sheep Films Tales from Dark Town: Red Zone – DirtyFlusher and dinox11 The Finalist demo – Paulo-Lameiras go. – ghostfruit64 Excellence in Narrative Tales from Dark Town: Red Zone – DirtyFlusher and dinox11 Making the Leap – keenardo The Vengeful Eyes 2 – InsaneAlphaBeta OPEN-WORLD BOXING GAME – hipporick The War to End All Wars – DerAnder_96 Excellence in Sculpture Camille the chameleon – julio_grr MEDUSA – FunK_97_ITA Realistic Horse Showcase (Playable) – willow_the_bob Search – ghostfruit64 Joy – GoGoSaint Music Track of the Year SLEEP PARALYSIS – TheRedProphett, Dj_Frags-_-, lugadi, kaifraz4048, and ineap09 Ethlx – sacboy2003 A Beautiful mud – M-molecul Big Bad Bass – orionvalentine, MCalchemist42, blackcat_tracks and lugadi Starlight – Prince_Tahra Musician of the Year Prince_Tahra Gianni_no_Mitaka duckenomics VinceKully RAKeogh Excellence in Animation Solar Blast – Paulo-Lameiras Ultimate Platformer Kit Demo – MitterMak Super Duper Fruity Juicy Juice – Byvsen NOGUCHI’S BELL Episode 1 – Cyber Sheep Films Stylized Character / Face Animations – willow_the_bob Excellence in Gameplay Starfighter Gemini – BOTheGrand, Drummin7Jeff and OkieDoKees TRIA-GONE – Angelotje Claustrofactory – Aecert, PieceOfCraft and duckenomics Solar Blast – Paulo-Lameiras Master Blaster – payoffwizard Most Original Gameplay Impressionable – Entropy-Tamed The Path of Illusions – Todu Commonote – FeyzPS Dungeon Roulette – oooDORIENooo Nine Equals – danikaka, cutaia_net and Pixel_Gorilla Excellence in Curation Pookachoo TRIX9 LyzLdy NaturiumCreepy UglySofaGaming Excellence in Character Design 九尾－The NineTail Fox – a-tziluth STRETCH – Kermideus Grub Knight – icecreamcheese CAVEBOT 977 – Canadian__Jedi Commonote – FeyzPS Excellence in Audio Design Solar Blast – Paulo-Lameiras The Idyllium – ZIIQ, Helekosi and Bevis2 Fragments (#AutisticaPlayJam) – OptimusCries, NikoJaXs and thyon The Vengeful Eyes 2 – InsaneAlphaBeta Claustrofactory – Aecert, PieceOfCraft and duckenomics Excellence in Innovation The Path of Illusions – Todu DreamsFest 2021 – DreamsFest Team Stylized Character / Face Animations – willow_the_bob Nine Equals – danikaka, cutaia_net and Pixel_Gorilla Frontier – sanderobros and SDorin CoMmunity Star D-Generationl oooDORIENooo Keduko_ SNRG_Driven KeldBjones Excellence in Voice Acting CAVEBOT 977 – Canadian__Jedi NINJA CAT III Episode 1 – YuMex196, SmurfsX3, mgs61794, xxRehab_Rejectxx, HIKOOSEN, EmilyJrulz, Esuki, eustoma and KL-05y Red and the Cursed Isles – RedSeiktasu Cosmic Tale 2 – Bohalaa, Prince_Tahra, SaucelessOne, NinjaMicWZ, Sekulic0, kimerakii OPEN-WORLD BOXING GAME – hipporick Most Helpful Dreamer SNRG_Driven EntropyTamed TapGiles VinceKully SakkusMind Contribution Beyond Dreams Elca_Gaming Made in Dreams Nicco555 & Computer_Cat UglySofaGaming SakkusMind Excellence in VR the RESTLESS DARK Demo – s-001 TRIA-GONE – Angelotje Imagination VR: Dinosaurs – LifeAsNeil Frontier – sanderobros and SDorin Metro Street Racer – California Coast – atheistsw and animeboy0021 Evolving Experience Ultimate Platformer Kit Demo – MitterMak liminal mystery box – JohnnyBiscotti and MrCaseyJones Splatty’s Adventure – RDKatrell42, pbgamer96, NiloFranck, Sliverscreen, SoInDiverse The Web – cat135 Final Hour: Prelude to Prologue – DownerIsland CoMmunity Collaboration DreamFlix – KeldBjones Speed Create – InfiniDreams TOTS2: TP Spree – Pookachoo DreamsFest 2021 – DreamsFest Team Marble Multiverse – Entropy-Tamed Breakthrough Dreamer fluximux Sprattla-Art StAnKHaNk Hipporick Keenardo Creator(s)/Team of the Year ghostfruit64 payoffwizard DreamsFest Team Cyber Sheep Films Paulo-Lameiras fluximux Aecert Dirtyflusher Entropy-Tamed SDorin & sanderobros Creation of the Year Solar Blast – Paulo-Lameiras liminal mystery box – JohnnyBiscotti and MrCaseyJones DreamsFest 2021 – DreamsFest Team Tales from Dark Town: Red Zone – DirtyFlusher and dinox11 The Idyllium – ZIIQ, Helekosi and Bevis2 Frontier – sanderobros and SDorin NOGUCHI’S BELL Episode 1 – Cyber Sheep Films ASCENT REMASTERED – payoffwizard Claustrofactory – Aecert, PieceOfCraft and duckenomics Triangle is Sentient – ItsMeJuvy Whether you made it to the final shortlist or not, a massive well done to everyone who submitted their creations or themselves for consideration. We were blown away by the quality of this year’s contenders, and it was a real struggle to narrow down the nominees. You’re a credit to the Dreamiverse! So, in summary: very talented Dreams players. Exciting playable hub coming soon to Dreams. And a virtual party on February 27 where we can all cheer on the nominees, congratulate the winners, and celebrate the coMmunity with silly jokes and some very special guests. A picture of one of our much-coveted Impy trophies. In the meantime, why not send us a message on our social channels? A nice one, preferably. You can use the hashtag #ImpyAwards if you want to talk to us about the upcoming show! We’re on Twitter, Instagram – even Tiktok, now. It’s wild over there. * (Disclaimer: The trophies are not real gold. They’re still pretty great, though. And HEAVY. About the same weight as senior coMmunity manager Tom Dent’s cat – and he’s a powerful beast. The cat, we mean. But also Tom.) View the full article

Welcome back! It’s a new year, which means 12 new Players’ Choice champions. January is usually on the slower side release-wise, but we still had a few fun drops. Deep Rock Galactic was a smashing success as part of your PlayStation Plus membership, Wanderer and Zenith: The Last City are fine new additions to your PS VR library, The Artful Escape made its PlayStation debut, and more. Let’s dive in and pick our first winner, shall we? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Demon’s Souls and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. View the full article

Today I am happy to announce Bungie will be joining the PlayStation family. First off, I want to be very clear to the community that Bungie will remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher. As such, we believe it makes sense for it to sit alongside the PlayStation Studios organization, and we are incredibly excited about the opportunities for synergies and collaboration between these two world-class groups. I have spent a lot of time with Pete Parsons, Jason Jones, and the Bungie management team to develop the right relationships where they will be fully backed and supported by Sony Interactive Entertainment and enabled to do what they do best — build incredible worlds that captivate millions of people. Bungie’s world-class expertise in multi-platform development and live game services will help us deliver on our vision of expanding PlayStation to hundreds of millions of gamers. Bungie is a great innovator and has developed incredible proprietary tools that will help PlayStation Studios achieve new heights under Hermen Hulst’s leadership. Here are a few words from Hermen about this exciting acquisition and what it means for gamers. “I am absolutely thrilled to announce a new member will be joining the PlayStation family! I’ve been a fan of Bungie for many years. I have admired and enjoyed the games that they create – and have great respect for their skill in building worlds that gamers want to explore again and again. Bungie makes games with outstanding technology that are enormously fun to play. They also have unmatched dedication to the communities that play their games, and everyone at PlayStation, and PlayStation Studios, will be excited about what we can share and learn from them. I have spent a great deal of time with the senior team at Bungie and it is clear their experience and skills are highly complementary to our own.We will be ready to welcome and support Bungie as they continue to grow, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this incredible team.“ – Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios Here are a few words from Pete Parsons, CEO of Bungie. “We believe games have limitless potential, and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people. In Sony, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, Sony believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums. Today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company. CREATIVE FREEDOM “Since taking flight in 1991, Bungie has always charted the future with our own star map – a path that is driven by our people and for our community. We are continuing that journey with new worlds in development, and we can’t wait to share them with you. With Sony, the potential for our universes is unlimited. Our future games will take bold steps into unexplored spaces for Bungie, continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, and will always be built on a foundation of creating meaningful, lifelong friendships and memories. We remain in charge of our destiny. We will continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games. We will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community. Our games will continue to be where our community is, wherever they choose to play. With Sony’s support, the most immediate change you will see is an acceleration in hiring talent across the entire studio to support our ambitious vision. If this speaks to you, and you want to help us put a dent in the universe, we are hiring across all disciplines for Destiny 2 and for all new worlds beyond. THREE DECADES AND COUNTING “What makes our worlds come to life is our community and our people in the studio. Our people are the soul of Bungie. Empowered by our people, we have pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible and transformed who we are as a company. Over the past 30 years, the inviting worlds we’ve built have turned into thriving communities, and that community is the true magic. These communities have taken Bungie beyond games. They have forged life-long bonds, and humbled us with the real, meaningful good they drive within us and the world. More than anything, Sony understands that our people and our community are both the priority, and the heart of our success, and are willing to stand alongside us as we continue to use our platform to drive action towards a more welcoming and equitable world. Our goal is to build a place where the world’s most creative and talented people can come and do their best work, no matter who they are, where they are from, or how they identify. That’s the real dent in the universe we want to make — the one we want to last beyond us. Be a part of this future with us. See you Starside.“ – pete View the full article

Hello PlayStation fans! My name is Kuba, and I am the Game Director at Flying Wild Hog. Today, we wanted to tell you more about our upcoming game Shadow Warrior 3, including some huge news – we can finally reveal the Shadow Warrior 3 release date! So let’s start with what we love seeing the most, which is a nice, chunky pre-rendered trailer, and then let me tell you more about what this game is all about! Play Video Shadow Warrior 3 is a fast-paced first-person love letter to katanas, guns, and self-expression. High octane, adrenaline-fuelled action, crazy explosions, and spectacular free-running movement all served in a colourful, orient-inspired fantasy world. It’s all designed to let your action juices flow like water through a busted dam. And the flow is fast. Real fast. Shoot first, ask questions later, because most of the time, the answer is “Boom!”. The premise of our game is simple. You are an ex-Yakuza mercenary, whose lightning combat skills are matched only by your sharp one-liners. The story begins following the apocalyptic climax of Shadow Warrior 2. By nearly bringing the world to its untimely end, you accidentally opened a multi-dimensional prison cell holding a huge, world-eating dragon. Now, finding yourself in the middle of an apocalyptic hellscape, and, more importantly, with your mojo lost, are forced to team up with your arch nemesis, the ex-billionaire Orochi Zilla, and newly recruited sorceress supreme Motoko, to right your wrongs. However, the road to redemption is spiked not only with ultra-malevolent Yokai demons but also with equally damning distrust between your team of discount heroes. In order to defeat this badass dragon, you need to awaken a power trapped in an Ancient Artifact. Unfortunately, the Ancients were devoured by the dragon during the apocalyptic event, but there’s one last item that can still be used to pierce through the dragon’s impenetrable scales – Hoji’s mask, an heirloom of your late and only friend. To awaken that power, the duo must request help from Motoko, the last remaining sorceress of the Kumo Brotherhood, an organization so secret no one knows what they do, why they exist, or where they keep their clubhouse. And that racoon that you saw in the trailer? It’s a Tanuki – a representation of Motoko’s power, a guardian spirit. Cute as it is, it fights like a demon, smells like a trashcan, and will eat pretty much anything. Oh and wait till you see the gameplay. It’s freedom galore; take whichever approach tickles your fancy the most. Want to go full-frontal with guns blazing? Sure. Find yourself in a brawling mood and wanting to reduce monsters to minced meat with a katana? Knock yourself out. No holding back, just go bonkers! Actually, why not combine them all and start off with your guns, then go for the chi-blast, grapple your way into safety, and spice it up with some awesome finishing moves? Once you master combining all these styles you’ll become a force to be reckoned with! The upgrade system gives you even more opportunities to go nuts on the monsters when it comes to combat. The arenas in which you’ll be fighting were specifically designed to encourage you to use all the aforementioned combat styles, in any combination. The only thing that’s limiting you is your imagination and the classic levels allowed us to maintain consistency in the plot. So thank you for checking out our trailer, and for joining me in this post. I hope that you like what you saw and that Shadow Warrior 3 tickled your fancy – even a little bit. Shadow Warrior 3 is coming to PlayStation on March 1st. For real! We can’t wait to see how you’ll take care of those pesky demons. And whatever you do, do not forget about that dragon! View the full article

Shohei Ohtani’s 2021 season was one for the ages. Hitting 46 home runs, 100 RBI’s, and stealing 26 bases while also having a 9-2 record on the mound with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts. It has been said, “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” Ohtani might seem like an overnight success here in the US but he’s been climbing the impossible mountain since his teenage years attending Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan. After having one of the greatest seasons in the history of Major League Baseball, Shohei Ohtani was really the only obvious choice to grace the cover of MLB The Show 22. Play Video Today, we are thrilled to announce that MLB The Show 22 launches on April 5th, 2022. The Standard Edition on last gen consoles is $59.99 USD/$79.99 CAD. The Standard Edition on current gen consoles is $69.99 USD/$89.99 CAD. For Nintendo Switch, the Standard Edition is $59.99 USD/$79.99 CAD For the second year in a row, MLB The Show is expanding to a new platform and will give fans a new way to play! MLB The Show 22 will be available on Nintendo Switch for the first time, adding to the console lineup on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. This is a very exciting moment for all of us, as the storied franchise continues to welcome more players. We would like to thank everyone at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Xbox, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association, and the San Diego Studio for making this happen. Cross-Platform Play, Cross Saves and Cross Progression Expands to include Nintendo Switch for MLB The Show 22 Nintendo fans can now join in with Xbox and PlayStation fans to play against each other online with cross-platform play in MLB The Show 22*. In addition, cross progression allows you to earn and use any earned content on any platform or generation (this excludes PS5 and Xbox Series X|S exclusive features like Stadium Creator). With cross saves you can transfer a save file for Road to the Show or Franchise mode to a different console.** MLB The Show Account, Account Linking & The Scouting Report With MLB The Show 22, you now can easily move from platform to platform and keep access to your entire inventory of cards, and the MLB The Show Account allows you to do so. Just create your MLB The Show Account on TheShow.com and link your PlayStation, Xbox, and/or Switch and you are all set. While you are creating your new linked account, make sure you sign-up for The Scouting Report, so we can send you all the latest MLB The Show 22 information and subscribers also get an exclusive pack each month starting in April. So head over to www.theshow.com to get your account setup. MLB The Show 22 Feature Premieres Schedule Feature Premieres return to give our fans a deep dive into what’s new and what has changed in MLB The Show 22. You can watch episodes on Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Live or watch them on-demand at your own convenience as we get closer to launch. For MLB The Show 22, we are developing several Feature Premiere episodes, so be on the lookout on TheShow.com for episode schedule and information. Pre-order now on PlayStation Store and be ready for action by receiving a Gold Choice Pack for use in MLB The Show 22 just for pre-ordering. Collector’s Edition Reveal February 2 We’re sure some of you are wondering, where’s the Collector’s Edition? On Wednesday, we will reveal the Collector’s Edition(s) for MLB The Show 22 and all its content. Please note: All Collector’s Edition(s) of MLB The Show 22 revealed on February 2 include dual entitlement***. If you instead plan on purchasing the Standard Edition of MLB The Show 22 on PlayStation 4 and have plans of upgrading to the PlayStation 5 version, you will need to purchase the digital edition to take advantage of the $10 USD upgrade offer. We could not be more excited for MLB The Show 22 coming out on PlayStation, Xbox, and now Nintendo Switch! Look forward to a new class of Legends, new ways to play, including with your friends! Check TheShow.com and follow our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 22. For more detailed information on MLB The Show 22 including an important update on year to year saves and more please read our announce FAQ here. *Online multiplayer features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription. ** Cross-platform progression requires an internet connection and for each platform you play on: 1) a copy of the MLB The Show 22 game compatible with your console (other platform versions sold separately); and 2) platform network account linked to your MLB The Show account. *** Physical edition includes PS4 Disc & PS5 Voucher (PS5 console with disc drive required). View the full article

Iconic open worlds, strategic adventures and multiplayer puzzlers await in PlayStation Now from tomorrow as February’s lineup launches. Enter the criminal underworld of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition, play a tycoon in Little Big Workshop, take part in the resistance in Through the Darkest of Times and solve puzzles in Death Squared. Let’s find out more about each of the games. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition Play the genre-defining classic of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City updated for a new generation, now featuring across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, high-resolution textures, increased draw distances, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more, bringing this beloved world to life with all new levels of detail. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition is available until Monday, May 2 Play Video Little Big Workshop Play a factory tycoon in charge of your very own tabletop factory. Organize the factory floor, manage your workers, purchase machinery, and design efficient production lines – all within the time-limit and to your client’s satisfaction. Start out with just a small workshop and expand to a desk-filling factory. Unlock ever fancier machines, add even more production methods, and most of all, more room. Soon enough you’ll be running multiple production lines, producing hundreds of advanced products each day, and watching with joy as your cute workers do the actual work. Through the Darkest of Times You are the leader of a small resistance group in 1933’s Berlin in this historical resistance strategy game. Your goal is to deal with small blows to the regime – dropping leaflets to spread awareness about what the Nazis are really up to among the people, painting messages on walls, sabotaging, gathering information and recruiting more followers. And all of that while staying undercover – if the regime’s forces learn about your group, the life of each member is in grave danger. Play Video Death Squared Get together with a loved one, a group of friends or even the whole family and guide teams of two or four robots through increasingly-complex levels to their color-coded goals. But beware! The path through each level is littered with cunning death traps that quickly send the automatons to the big scrapyard in the sky. To progress, players must work together to learn each stage through trial and error, putting newly-gained knowledge into action to survive and succeed. In addition to the two-player story mode, Death Squared includes insane ‘party chaos’ challenges specifically designed for groups of four. A single-player can also enjoy the traditionally two-player story mode, and two-players can tackle ‘party chaos’, by controlling two robots with one controller. *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. View the full article

The first 2022 State of Play arrives later this week, and we’re all revved up for just over 30 minutes of new PS5 footage and gameplay details for Gran Turismo 7. Watch live February 2nd on Twitch or YouTube starting 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 11:00pm CET. See you Wednesday! Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD) Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music. View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here This week, the gang talks a surprising amount about roguelite deck-builder Slay the Spire. Plus, Final Fantasy Origin, Zenith on PS VR, and a spirited discussion about ability-granting potions. Listen in! Stuff We Talked About Slay the Spire Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin M. Night Shyamalan Zenith for PS VR Which potion we would choose The Cast Sid Shuman – Senior Director, Content Communications, SIE Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE Justin Massongill – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Last week, we asked you to unravel some mysteries in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. From shadowy figures to questionable items, here are this week’s highlights that sparked some mystery: Gamography_ shares an ominous pile of clocks in Control. foxghost181 shares a shadowy portrait from Red Dead Redemption 2. Alien_K121 shares Leon searching for clues in the morgue in Resident Evil 2 Remake. lovers_nero shares Aloy learning more about GAIA in Horizon Zero Dawn. Yuric83 shares the mysterious statue puzzle in Resident Evil Village. Girlwyelloweyes shares Atreus looking at looming statues in God of War. 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: Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 2, 2022 Next week, dive in to Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection to share unforgettable adventures using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

About 13 years ago, Demon’s Souls launched on PlayStation 3, intriguing, challenging, and captivating players. Directed by FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, the action-RPG specialized in deliberate combat, unpredictable environments, and mysterious storytelling. FromSoftware has continued to evolve its formula, from Dark Souls to Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice, inspiring throngs of fellow game makers in the process. Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware’s latest creation, Elden Ring, innovates on the core Souls formula in exciting ways. The forlorn open world of the Lands Between invites players to explore in any direction. A summonable mount allows for faster, more vertical traversal. Famed author George R.R. Martin has even partnered with FromSoftware to dream up the fantasy world players will delve into. It hits PS4 and PS5 February 25. Lucky for us, Miyazaki-san took some time away from Elden Ring’s final stretch to chat about the game itself, his thoughts on accessibility and artistic collaboration, and even a bit about his time with the co-op fun of It Takes Two. Gameplay footage in this article captured from Elden Ring Closed Network Test on PS5 PlayStation Blog: Congratulations on the warm reception to Elden Ring’s Closed Network Test! What reaction from fans and press stood out to the team most following this extensive hands-on test? Hidetaka Miyazaki: Thank you! Overall, we saw some relatively good reactions from the network test, which was nice. I don’t tend to look at the raw user reactions; that can be a little scary. I typically get filtered feedback that comes down through various sources on the team, both on our side and the publisher side, so I get to look from a more holistic view. As to what was particularly valuable, we mostly found things that we tend to take for granted as game developers and might consider obvious. Stuff that the users found difficult to figure out or didn’t gel with them immediately were helpful pieces of feedback. For instance, regarding the new summon pool mechanic, users can place their signs and have them collected into a group of available players to summon. Things like this weren’t immediately apparent to players, so this sort of feedback was beneficial in fine-tuning these features. What’s one element about Elden Ring that you want to ensure isn’t overlooked by fans/press before the game launches? There’s not one specific area from the network test that players overlooked or a part of the game that we want to push on them. Mainly, we want players to feel the importance of the level of freedom that we’re focusing on this time. We want them to enjoy the game in their own way and feel liberated in this new open world that they can explore at their own pace. If possible, we want players to try and steer clear of spoilers or guides and go in with a completely fresh, open mind and enjoy that initial sense of adventure. That’s how we’d want to experience the game if we were going into it for the first time. And that’s how we hope our players can experience the game comfortably at their own pace with this new sense of wonder. A look at the open-world of the Lands Between What were your biggest lessons learned in making a sprawling open world game? There were two major challenges we faced developing Elden Ring. The first was expanding upon the level of freedom. More so than our previous games, Elden Ring has a vast world with an open overworld, so we were faced with the ordeal of how we maintain our gameplay style while offering a renewed sense of openness. So with elements like balancing the player’s exploration alongside boss fights, the order of progression that players go through the game, and the progression of the events themselves throughout the map–trying to expand on player freedom while balancing all of this was a significant challenge. But we learned many great lessons attempting to achieve this. Another challenge making an open world game is the tempo and pacing of the player’s progression, essentially trying to balance how the player paces themselves as they explore this vast open-ended map and how that factors into the scope of freedom and progression they provide. So we also learned some valuable lessons while making adjustments in that regard. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice by FromSoftware and Activision In what ways have Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice impacted your philosophy on developing Elden Ring? I’d have to say that, considering Sekiro’s development overlapped with Elden Ring’s to an extent, there’s nothing that directly came through from that project. But there were several indirect examples there. For instance, the enemy stance break mechanic in Elden Ring is similar to Sekiro’s successful posture system. We even referenced Sekiro’s player traversal for the horse mounting system and how you traverse the map in Elden Ring. Also, in terms of the narrative and how we tell character stories, Sekiro was a lot more direct than our previous Souls-like titles. While we’re still maintaining Elden Ring’s world with a sense of depth and a fragmented narrative–we’re still upholding our storytelling philosophy–there’s more focus on human elements and drama than before. We definitely took some inspiration from how Sekiro handled that and tried to apply the good parts to Elden Ring. Is there any advice you have for newcomers coming into Elden Ring, whether that’s a suggested class or playstyle? In general, I’d like new players to feel unpressured and that they can approach the game at their pace. I don’t want to enforce any playstyle or particular route because I’d like them to experience that sense of freedom. And I realize that while we offer games with a high level of challenge, we design them in a way that feels fulfilling to overcome. But I don’t want new players to worry or stress about that difficulty too much. This time in Elden Ring, we have many options at the player’s disposal to confront challenging situations and use their cunning to outsmart enemies and bosses. They can come back to something later when they’re at an impasse so that they can have this freedom of progression and not have to bang their head against a wall over and over. They can figure out what to do and how to approach it again, at their own pace. Like our previous games, we have multiplayer elements, but the barriers to entry have lowered to make it a lot more accessible. So we hope players take full advantage of that. As for a starting class, it’s entirely up to the player. It’s an RPG, and they can approach it however they like and choose whichever looks the coolest to them. But I would recommend against choosing the naked one (known as the Wretch). As before, it’s probably the most difficult starting class! How has the ongoing discourse around game difficulty and accessibility impacted the way you’ve tailored and maintained FromSoftware’s trademark difficulty in Elden Ring? Was this something your team has been trying to be more mindful of? Yes, we have. It’s a valid discussion. I feel like our approach to these games, not just Elden Ring, is to design them to encourage the player to overcome adversity. We don’t try to force difficulty or make things hard for the sake of it. We want players to use their cunning, study the game, memorize what’s happening, and learn from their mistakes. We don’t want players to feel like the game is unfairly punishing, but rather that there’s a chance to win a difficult encounter and make progress. We understand that Souls-like games are regularly associated with impossible levels of difficulty with high barriers to entry. But we try to design the games to make the cycle of repeatedly trying to overcome these challenges enjoyable in itself. So we hope that with Elden Ring and the new options it provides, it will be a success in that respect. In Elden Ring, we have not intentionally tried to lower the game’s difficulty, but I think more players will finish it this time. As I mentioned, the player’s level of freedom to progress through the world or return to a challenge later are all elements that I feel will help people get through the game at a more leisurely pace. Also, there isn’t a focus on pure action. The player has more agency to dictate their approach against, for example, the field bosses in the overworld and how they utilize stealth in various situations. We’ve even reduced the number of hoops that you have to jump through to enjoy it in multiplayer. So we hope the players embrace that idea of receiving help from others. And we feel like the overall clear rate will go up this time because of these things. Elden Ring seems more lush, bright, inviting, and adventurous than anything I’ve played by From Software. Is this intentional, and does the game ultimately descend into much darker territory overall? Yes, this was intentional, though not necessarily to make the game brighter. But giving it a splash of color was necessary this time, particularly considering Elden Ring has a vast open world to explore. We wanted to give a sense that a Golden Age has passed through this world and that the player can still see traces of it. We wanted to provide the world with a much more painterly look to invoke a high fantasy feeling as a theme. Also, in such a large open world, to have it be dark all the time would be too oppressive. So we’re trying to use the broadness of the lands in-between to show the appeal of both sides. You can have these brighter, more colorful moments, but you can also have darker, more intense situations from previous FromSoftware titles, so we hope that players will look forward to that dark side as well. Can players expect fan-favorite FromSoftware features like New Game Plus and multiple endings in Elden Ring? Yes, both New Game Plus and multiple endings will be intact in Elden Ring. In previous interviews, you’ve said you aim to balance beauty and grotesqueness in boss design. Can you explain how you tackle this using one of the revealed bosses of Elden Ring? What you’re referring to in that balance between otherworldliness and a sense of beauty is most associated with Dark Souls’ boss characters. In Elden Ring, we wanted to take a slightly different approach because we had these brand new characters that George R.R. Martin wrote alongside the setting and mythos he provided for the world. He created these very heroic and grandiose designs, essentially these demigods from the history of Elden Ring’s world. So we wanted to take what he provided us and create a new core for these characters and how we design them. From the boss designs that we’ve revealed so far, the one that I feel is a good match for how we take a heroic concept and twist and misshape it due to the power of the Elden Ring shards is Godrick the Grafted. He is an excellent example of this because he encompasses that feeling of sadness and frustration when a Lord comes to the end of his reign, trying to cling desperately to the power he still has left. In this way, Godrick is a great embodiment of that new design approach. Let’s change gears a bit. Do you get much time to play games these days, and are there any new releases that grabbed your attention from the past few years? I haven’t had a lot of time to play video games lately, but I try to dedicate some time when I can. One game that stuck with me recently was It Takes Two. I managed to play that one from start to finish with a friend online in three days across three sittings, and it was a great time. That game really left an impression on me, so yes, that’s one that I’ve managed to finish, at least! Video games aside, I’ve always loved more analog games like tabletop and things like that. And one I do enjoy is a game called murder mystery. Not so much these days, unfortunately. It’s challenging to organize remotely and get people together, but yes, these more analog games are ones I greatly enjoy. It Takes Two from EA and Hazelight Studios What stood out about It Takes Two that made it unique or memorable for you? It didn’t let up throughout, and it never let me get bored. The art and gameplay are different in each stage, and the game encourages you to cooperate across its entirety yet still maintains that artistic element. It’s continually fun to play and felt extremely fresh to me right up until the end, which was impressive to me as a fellow creator. Honestly, I didn’t have that much interest in it at first. But when I gave it a go with my friend, it finally clicked. And with a small child of my own, the narrative resonated with me, which was most interesting in the end. FromSoftware collaborated with legendary fantasy author George R.R. Martin to craft the world of Elden Ring. If you could collaborate with another influential creator (writer/game developer/movie director, etc.) on a FromSoftware game, who would it be? That’s a difficult question. Even with the George R.R. Martin collaboration, this is something I didn’t even imagine would be possible. And yet, here we are. It’s not something I’ve given a great deal of thought to generally, to be honest. But let me see if I can think of something… *Pauses* I don’t think I would choose a fellow game creator. Honestly, one of the major appeals of working with George R.R. Martin was how the medium he works in is such a different style. Games and books are vastly different forms of media, after all. So if I were to choose, it would be someone who can provide that same level of stimulation that’s impossible for us to achieve as game developers. It could be someone who works in books, art, music, or anything that gives that impetus and can drive us as fellow creators but in an entirely different genre. I think that would have to be it–it’s very challenging to pinpoint a specific person or studio! Is there anything else you wanted to mention for the players? Any other closing thoughts? I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who’s following Elden Ring and watching us so closely. We appreciate all the support we’ve received throughout its development and campaign. We design these games to be challenging yet fulfilling, which will be very much intact in Elden Ring. But, as we touched on earlier, we want players to concentrate on the sense of adventure the game provides. We hope players discover the simple joy of exploration when playing and that they can approach it in their own way at their own pace. That’s what I hope! View the full article

Announced during the ESO 2022 Global Reveal, Tamriel’s adventurers will soon have an opportunity to explore a location never-before-seen in an Elder Scrolls game. With the upcoming new chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle (part of the Legacy of the Bretons year-long saga) the ESO development team wanted to take players somewhere brand new and tell a different kind of story from those they might have experienced in 2020 and 2021. This year, the team is focusing on the Breton race and diving deep into their medieval-style culture and history. “We chose High Isle as the location for our next chapter because it’s a large departure from anything we’ve done over the last few years,” explains Rich Lambert, ESO’s creative director. “High Isle is the epitome of the chivalric Breton culture–a resort-like island for their nobility, with towering cliffs, pristine beaches and loads of ancient ruins to explore.” Play Video “In addition to the unique biome and aesthetics, this island chain has never been explored before in any Elder Scrolls game, so having the opportunity to add to the rich lore of Elder Scrolls and explore a completely new location is really exciting!” To fully dive into and explore Breton culture, the team decided to develop a fresh setting for this year’s adventures: the Systres Archipelago including the islands of High Isle and Amenos. For ESO’s art director CJ Grebb and his team, this all-new location was an opportunity to create something unique. “We always strive to make sure each new chapter has a signature look, and with High Isle, that became a little easier when we were told that the Systres is sort of the resort island for the upper crust of Breton society,” explains Grebb. “With this in mind, we took inspiration from the beautiful sands and rolling hills of the Mediterranean coast.”” Explore a beautiful-but-dangerous new world Eroded sandstone, bleached cliff faces, and stunning turquoise water accents became the starting point for the art team. From there, they folded in the nautical history of the island while focusing it through the lens of Breton culture, with their unique castle architecture and stonework. “We were also tasked with creating an abundant, overgrown biome for the prison Island of Amenos, and with that work came figuring out the mysterious local druids and their ancient ties to the entire archipelago,” says Grebb. “We went with a lot of broad-leaf flora for this area, concentrating on lush ferns and overgrown ivy and moss as much as could be afforded.” Discover the medieval society of the Bretons The result is a colorful, expansive zone to explore, with its own unique aesthetics and challenges, as well as a powerful and ancient connection to the Breton people. It is this unique setting that forms the bedrock for this year’s adventures and stories to come. “With High Isle and the Legacy of the Bretons, the team is going back to its story-telling roots,” explains Lambert. “We will be focusing on exploring Breton culture and telling a more grounded, politically charged tale rather than the ‘world-ending apocalypse-type’ story that we’ve done the past few years. It’s an exciting tale that fits extremely well with the Bretons–they are a feudal society where nobility and courtly politics are the norm.” Mysterious new foes rise This year, you’ll have the opportunity to truly dive deep into the history and culture of the Breton people as you explore the Systres Archipelago, but you’ll quickly discover not all is well within this medieval island retreat. It’s up to you and your fellow adventurers to confront a secret knightly order and uncover a dark conspiracy at the heart of Breton society itself—good luck. The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle launches June 21 on PS4 and PS5 consoles. Pre-purchase The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: High Isle now to get immediate access to the base game and all previous Chapters in addition to the Palefrost Elk mount, limited-time Palefrost Elk Fawn pet, and even more pre-order rewards at launch—we’ll see you in Tamriel! View the full article

Sophie Neuenmuller has been such a magical character to me since we first introduced her six years ago in Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book, and I know that many fans reading this feel the same way. When I was thinking about what we could do for the 25th anniversary of the Atelier series, I thought about a game that retains the Atelier-like feel of the series but is also an evolution of the series, and came up with the idea of Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream – having Sophie return as the protagonist. This game throws Sophie into a mysterious, dreamlike world as she sets out on a heart-warming adventure to find a lost friend, and I think it’s a great storyline and adventure that our passionate fans have been waiting for. Along her journey, Sophie meets a collection of characters who join her quest, both in the storyline and battle. We’ve changed things up a bit with battles this time — for the first time in the Atelier series, combat begins seamlessly without any load times or separate screens. In Atelier Sophie 2, battles consist of up to six party members that are split into two teams: the assault team which consists of the three members in the front, and the back-up team which features the three members at the back. While there are times characters can be moved between the teams during battle, each character has their own strengths and weaknesses to consider for battle placement. Play Video Before the game hits PlayStation 4 on February 25, I wanted to give everyone a quick look into the six key characters, showcasing how each of them complement each other in combat Sophie Neuenmuller The leading lady of the title, Sophie, is an alchemist. Her playstyle is suited to using items and assisting allies in battle. Her passive skills increase her resistance to status effects and allow her to recharge the power of any item she uses – so using crafted alchemy items is best. Most of her skills consist of magical attacks, with a few allowing her to strengthen her allies. Her health and defense stats are rather low, but her MP and speed stats are higher to account for this. Plachta Also an alchemist, Plachta is skilled at using items – particularly with debuff effects which can enhance. Her skills mainly focus on inflicting status effects on enemies, making her great at hindering foes. Her health and speed stats are low, but she is a rather unique character because she has a mix of high MP and defense. You’ll want to ensure Plachta is on-hand to lower the abilities of very tough enemies. Ramizel The final alchemist on the team, Ramizel is a versatile character with high attack and well-balanced stats. She not only uses skills that make her physical attacks stronger, but can also restore allies’ health and reverse their status effects. Like our other alchemists, she’s well suited at using items, with a support specialization. She’s an invaluable character to have on your team to ensure that the party is kept at full health. Alette Alette might possess low attack skills, but she makes up for it in speed. Her skills allow her to make an effect last over several turns and allow her to play both the attack and support roles. I suggest trying her as both an attacker and supporter to find how she works best for you. Olias Of all the party members, Olias has the highest attack stats. As an attacker, his passive skill increases his attack stats every time he defeats an enemy. Like Plachta, he is good at dealing debuffs to enemies, though with reduced potency. I recommend assigning Olias as a damage-dealer, with other characters healing and buffing him. Diebold Last, but not least, is Diebold. This tank has superior health and defensive stats compared to other characters, but his MP and speed are lower. His high defense helps him withstand attacks that would crush other characters. He can even lure enemies and lower their attack strength when in his proximity. Diebold acts as a great, damage-absorbing shield in battle, but make sure to keep other characters healing him up. To me, experimenting with the various battle formations and character setups is one of the most fun new aspects of the game. I’d love to hear from fans about their favorite setups when Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream launches next month. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to Sophie’s big return. You can pre-order Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream on PS4 from today! View the full article

We have some exciting news for you all: we are thrilled to announce that Horizon Forbidden West has gone Gold! This means we are all set to start printing and distributing the game, ready for you to experience Aloy’s journey into the Forbidden West for yourselves in less than a month. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on the team for what we have achieved together and the community for their continued support and excitement as we’re preparing for launch. An authentic, vibrant world on PS5 and PS4 consoles` In the past few months, we’ve shown you a selection of our brand new machines in action, as well as some of the locations and settlements of the vibrant tribes inhabiting the world of Horizon, all captured on the PS5 console. Today you get a first exclusive look at gameplay that we captured on the PS4 Pro console. The Utaru tribe make their home in Plainsong, although the lands they live in have been heavily affected by the mysterious red blight. In this clip, you get a glimpse at their way of living in the massive thatched canopies, built atop Old World radar dishes – both serene and defensible. Clamberjaws are a dangerously agile enemy, who will keep you on your toes throughout a fight. Take a look at what you can expect when you come across them in the wilds, in this extended clip. Remember the Bristlebacks shown in our announce trailer? They make for a worthy opponent, especially when found in herds as encountered in this clip. Whether you will be playing on your PS4 or PS5 console, our team has made sure you get to enjoy the best experience on each platform. We can’t wait for you all to head to the Forbidden West on February 18! View the full article

Lunar New Year promotion comes to PlayStation Store on 26 January! Enjoy up to 80% off on a huge range of incredible PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 until 9 February. Highlighted titles include FIFA 22 Ultimate Edition, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles, Call of Duty®: Vanguard – Cross-Gen Bundle and It Takes Two. Also, you can save 50%* on a 3-month PlayStation Plus subscription on PlayStation Store! Head to PlayStation Store to enjoy savings now! Enjoy playing online with friends even you are not PlayStation Plus members during our Free Online Multiplayer Weekend**! *Offer ends 9 February. Limit one per user. Not available to existing subscribers. Terms apply. **Live 5-6 February, 2022 for PS5 and PS4 games with online mode. Internet and PSN account required. Games shown sold separately. View the full article

The wait is finally over, and we welcome you all to join us on an action-filled adventure in the expansive and beautifully stylized fantasy open world of Zenith: The Last City, the first full-scale MMO for VR, launching on January 27 for PlayStation VR. Combat – Designing a visceral combat system All of the classes in Zenith can be played as the roles of DPS, tank, and support. However, we still wanted them to have unique play styles that leverage the extra physicality that VR affords. This was especially important since, unlike traditional MMOs, we also have more intelligent AI for players to contend with that can actively dodge or block attacks. For our two launch classes, we chose Blade Master, a dual sword-wielding warrior designed for visceral close-quarters gameplay, and a mid-ranged magic-wielding Essence Mage that can cast spells and channel bolts of energy through their launchers. Combat for Blade Master is primarily focused on physically swinging swords to attack with powerful strikes and performing combos of swings to trigger abilities. Getting into a rhythm, carefully timing attacks, parries, and dashing to dodge will be vital to mastering this class. Essence Mage combat is range-focused, with players having a variety of spells at their disposal ranging from hand-thrown fireballs to AoE spells initiated through simple hand gestures. To complement casting, Essence Mages are also equipped with a pair of essence channeling projectile launchers and a teleport ability to help them maintain safe positioning. Traversal – Movement reimagined Zenith has always been intended to be an open-world that’s a step beyond anything currently available in VR, so one of our earliest goals was to create a custom suite of traversal mechanics to bring that lofty dream to life. Players can climb almost any surface in Zenith, allowing levels of freedom not usually seen in classic MMOs. From climbing small trees to pick fruit to scaling a mountain just to take in the view it’s truly up to you, and to aid your safe descent; we’ve created an incredibly immersive gliding mechanic. Simply take to the air by stretching out your arms and walking or jumping from an elevated position, and control your flight with a gentle tilt of your wrists. Combined with our motion-based swimming, these mechanics helped us provide a deep layer of immersion freedom. Crafting – Cooking delicious dishes in VR As with our approach to combat and traversal, we wanted to provide a tactile VR-centric experience for our first life skill and we found cooking was the perfect fit, providing the fun mini-game-styled physical interactions we were looking for, and a new skill tree and recipes for players to unlock. Each recipe requires its own set of cooking steps and physical prep, ranging from simmering ingredients to just the right temperature, chopping up veggies or flipping patties to keep them from burning, and while the cooking itself is fun, the dishes produced also provide a variety of benefits in the form of timed buffs like faster healing and increased stamina. So, keeping well fed when adventuring can be an essential element of success. Content – Two designers, one massive world Filling a game with content can be challenging at the best of times, but these challenges only increase with a small team and a game as expansive as an MMO like Zenith. To ensure our tiny team of just two designers could implement the content needed for an engaging game world and ensure consistency throughout, we needed to work smart by leveraging a multilayered approach. We started by defining the core content features that we wanted to include, such as mobs, quests, public events, and collectibles, and determined which features could also be used as repeatable content, then prioritized features based on how critical we considered them to be to the overall gameplay experience. With these defined, we then implement features one by one across all of the zones, often starting at either end of the world and meeting in the middle to increase efficiency. By working in this way, we could quickly add broad passes of content, test each new feature as we layered them in, and ensured that we had a viable playable game throughout development. Post-launch – Exciting plans for the future It’s important to state that the launch of Zenith is just the beginning; we have lots of exciting new additions and updates planned that we’ll be rolling out over the coming weeks, months, and even years. We also pride ourselves on our community engagement and will be continuing to make quality-of-life improvements and refinements based on our players’ feedback. View the full article

Houston, we have lift off! Get your time traveling moon boots (and PS VR headsets) ready as Wanderer releases tomorrow. Immerse yourself in beautifully detailed worlds as you navigate through time to restore humankind. Everything you knew about our real world has been flipped on its head. It’s up to you to change the course of history. Playing as Asher Neumann you find yourself in an alternate, apocalyptic timeline. Begin the search for your grandfather’s lost apartment and discover the mysterious artifacts that are hidden within including an unusual wrist watch which helps you unlock the power to traverse time and space. You’ll need all the help you can get so we’ve pulled together some of our top tips to help you traverse through history as you attempt to prevent the collapse of civilization. No pressure! Is that an antiquity fragment I see? There are some unique objects you’ll find through your travels. These antiquity fragments are embedded with the memory of another time and act as your link to that era. Combine them with the watch’s counterpart and see the world change right before your eyes. Keep a look out for temporal shards These shiny collectibles can be found throughout your journey. They’re not always the easiest to find so make sure you search high and low. They’ll help you upgrade Samuel the watch so you can carry even more items with you while traveling – crucial as you discover more and more places and items. Don’t overlook random items and scene setters You’ll find a lot of items as you explore in Wanderer – some are just props to create our fully immersive worlds while others are crucial in solving puzzles and to advance in the game. However, there are some that serve a more interesting purpose – giving your newfound companion a bit of a makeover. Find the right combinations and you’ll soon be traveling in style. The whole is often greater than the sum of its parts You never know when two, seemingly unrelated, objects may come together to create a useful tool that unlocks a piece of the puzzle or helps you in your quest. Some are obvious, like this bow and string while some need a little out-of-the-box thinking. Try it out, you have nothing to lose, except time of course. Not just a pretty watch face If you find yourself a bit stuck and unsure what to do (or where and when to go) next, there’s a talking hint system right there alongside you. He certainly has a lot to say but Samuel the watch may be able to help with a hint or two. Simply set him free by a quick click of a button and he may just offer up a way forward…or a witty comeback. Either way, it’ll be worth your time. Weapon of choice Readying for a fight? In Wanderer almost anything is up for grabs and there are many ways to fight your way out of a sticky situation. There are the usual, more obvious choices – including a pistol or a bow and arrow. But there are also some alternatives – that nerf gun sure can come in handy on stage, a golf club is a fun way to tackle some crafty new tech, or why not give the angle grinder a try. The characters can help guide you Throughout your adventures you’ll meet some interesting and colorful characters. Not only do they play an integral part of the story, they can also give you some helpful insights and clues. Make sure to engage with them so you don’t miss a vital piece of the puzzle. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be much better equipped to take on your time traveling duties. Can you navigate the secrets of the past and prevent the collapse of civilization? View the full article

Let quick reflexes, dice rolls or skillful management shape your fate with February’s PlayStation Plus lineup. Do you enter the octagon in EA Sports UFC 4, storm castles in Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure or build parks in Planet Coaster: Console Edition? All three games join PlayStation Plus February 1. Let’s take a closer look at each game in turn. EA Sports UFC 4 | PS4 No matter how or where you play, EA Sports UFC 4 puts you at the centre of every fight. Develop and customise your character through a unified progression system across all modes. Go from unknown amateur to UFC superstar in the new Career Mode, or challenge the world in new Blitz Battles or Online World Championships* to become the undisputed champ. Fluid clinch-to-strike combinations offer more responsive and authentic stand-up gameplay, while overhauled takedown and ground mechanics deliver more control in those key phases of the fight. Play Video Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure | PS4** Smash skeletons, defeat dragons, and battle giant golems in this first Wonderlands adventure inspired by Borderlands. Experience the acclaimed 2013 quest that started it all in this standalone campaign jam-packed with fantasy, fun, and mountains of magical loot! Pick from six unique Vault Hunters, each with their own signature abilities and powerful builds, and jump into chaotic fantasy battles in solo or co-op*. Use souped-up firearms to blast your way through treacherous forests, spooky crypts, and fearsome fortresses. Be warned though: your journey can change in an instant on account of Tina’s gleefully chaotic whims. Play Video Planet Coaster: Console Edition | PS5*** Surprise and delight crowds as you build the coaster park of your dreams and manage a truly living world with unparalleled attention to detail. Whatever your skill level, bring your ideas to life. Take advantage of Blueprints to quickly place over 700 pre-made objects, including coasters, facilities and scenery; build from the ground up with detailed piece-by-piece construction; or transform the ground itself with terrain-altering tools. Running your park is just as easy. Guests react in realtime as you set prices, place scenery, and install exciting new attractions. Keep them entertained so attendance figures – and profits – skyrocket. Looking for inspiration? Discover the Frontier Workshop and harness the world’s best designs in your expanding empire. Download coasters, scenery, buildings, and entire parks, or grow a following by uploading your own creations. From stunning firework displays to sprawling cruise ships, there’s no limit to the creativity. You’ll have until Monday, February 28 to download them. Last chance to download January’s PlayStation Plus games Remember: you’ve until the end of Monday, January 31 to add Persona 5 Strikers, Dirt 5 and Deep Rock Galactic to your game library. *Online multiplayer requires a PlayStation Plus membership. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms. ** PlayStation Plus benefit not applicable for PS5 version of Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure. ***PS5 console only. PlayStation Plus benefit not applicable for PS4 version of Planet Coaster: Console Edition. View the full article

Hey everyone, Justin Forrest, Design Director at Lab42, here! All of us at Lab42 Games are very happy to partner with Paradox Interactive in bringing Crusader Kings III, one of the world’s most popular PC strategy games to the PlayStation 5. And we are now ready to announce the date for the release. You will be able to build your own royal dynasty on PlayStation starting March 29. Play Video Crusader Kings III is an innovative strategy role-playing experience. Released on PC to wide acclaim in 2020, this is a game about personalities as much as politics. You lead a family from generation to generation, assuming the character of whoever holds the noble title you have chosen. So you may start with a warlike duke, but play, in succession, a scheming duchess, a miserly king, and a saintly emperor as you accumulate power in a richly researched and lively medieval landscape. When we refer to Crusader Kings III as a “grand strategy” game, what we mean is you will have a wide range of strategic tools available, suited for long-term planning. Sometimes the map isn’t conducive to a traditional game of conquest, so it makes sense to bide your time and strengthen your finances. Other times, you may have a ruler who excels at plots and deviousness, making slander and assassination effective tools of power. And, this being the Middle Ages, you must always be aware of the religious implications of your activities. The archbishop may smile on wars against your neighbor, but not look fondly on tossing your troublesome brother from a parapet – if you get caught. Long loading times were one of my pet peeves with previous generation consoles, so it was important to me that we address this head on. The power of the PS5 has allowed us to let players quickly jump into gameplay. Ambience is key to the immersion of Crusader Kings games and the PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller’s haptics have allowed us to enhance this aspect of the console adaptation, with key in-game events providing subtle haptic feedback that syncs seamlessly with the in-game music. Examples include haptics and controller speaker feedback changing depending on the map terrain and other in-game events. The adaptive triggers also indicate when you’re pushing against your character’s wishes too much, exhibiting greater resistance as they’re getting stressed. Each level of stress will mean more pushback from your controller, reminding you that you will need to take action to handle your character’s mental distress. We’ve also taken great care to ensure the learning process is smooth for those without much experience in grand strategy games. The PS5 version is bringing along the deep tooltip system Paradox pioneered in Crusader Kings III, as well as taking advantage of the PS5 controller’s ability to quickly switch between screens so you are never confronted with an overwhelming fullscreen menu. Activities and Game Help also provide assistance to the player on their journey of discovery through the Crusader Kings world. Crusader Kings III is a grand medieval adventure that challenges you to see the world and the map through the eyes and interests of dozens of different characters over the span of a game. Choose your starting character from any of thousands of historical figures. Play through viking raids, the Crusades, the dissolution of empires and the emergence of new powers on a map stretching from Iceland to India, from Scandinavia to West Africa. We’re close to the finish line with development and are just adding that extra level of polish for the smoothest experience possible. We are excited to share Crusader Kings III with you on March 29. View the full article

While the Dynasty Warriors franchise is known for its electrifying 1 vs. 1,000 musou action, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires adds some more strategic and tactical elements to the gameplay, forcing gamers to not only outfight their enemies, but to outthink them on the battlefield. And while the full game launches February 15, the free demo is available for everyone to download right now on both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4! I’m excited for fans in the West to finally get a chance to play Empires and experience the thrill of the evolved castle sieges we’ve added to the gameplay. We’ve been working hard on this title the past few years, so to make sure everyone gets the most out of the demo, I wanted to take the time to breakdown what you can expect, as well as provide some quick combat tips to help your training. The demo features both Invasion Battles, where you must capture enemy castles, and Defensive Battles, where you must defend your castle from invaders. But watch out, the Castle Sieges in this demo are set to a higher difficulty level than in the final version of the game (where you can set the difficulty to your liking), so there is definitely a learning curve, whether you’re on the offensive or defensive side of the attack. Don’t worry, though, as we’ve included tutorials throughout the demo to help every virtual warlord out there come to grips with the new features as quickly as possible. Speaking of warlords, the demo stages can be played with a selection of familiar officers from the Dynasty Warriors series or with a Custom Officer of your own creation! Edit Mode, a staple part of the Empires entries, will allow you to create your own officer, with a wide range of in-depth customisation options available. Custom Officers that are made in this demo can be carried over to the full game at launch, so I hope you enjoy creating your dream characters and taking them into battle. Whether you’re creating a historical figure, a celebrity, or even just yourself, I am certainly excited to see what creations the community comes up with and can’t wait for everyone to share pictures of their favorite officers on social media. But before you storm Twitter with pics, it’s time to storm the battlefield! To help in your first attack, check out these helpful hints … Catapult to Greatness Catapult Bases will be set up across the battlefield, and it’s important to seize these locations as soon as possible. These bases will automatically attack the other enemy bases on the map, so prioritizing their acquisition will give you an advantage at overthrowing opposing forces. Ability to Lead Make the most of the Accompany and Secret Plan abilities in battle. Approaching an allied officer on the battlefield and selecting the Accompany command from the D-Pad will make your Military Unit change to the accompanying officer’s. They will also come equipped with their own Secret Plans that you can take advantage of, such as the ranged Incinerate attack (fire!) or the Make Camp ability (which recovers health). When battling enemy officers, be sure to use an accompanying unit with an advantageous Army Affinity to put the odds in your favor. Each unit type has its strengths and weaknesses (Infantry > Cavalry > Archer > Infantry), so make sure to keep this in mind. Fight Smarter, Not Harder I know it might sound stupid to say, but some people just need to hear it: Try not to attack an enemy base with a high concentration of enemy forces! Not only will the area take much longer to capture, but it will also negatively affect other battle situations as allied bases might be overrun behind your back. Instead, focus on attacking areas with weaker enemy military strength, and controlling more of the battlefield. This will help flip the battle situation in your favor, which is key to victory. Charge! Make the most of Trigger Attacks and Guard Counters. Trigger Attacks allow you to send even the most powerful enemies flying into the air, and charging these attacks will drastically increase their power. When guarding against attacks, the Reactive Attack marker will appear, allowing you to perform a Guard Counter. Doing so will greatly reduce the enemy’s break gauge. Charging up Trigger Attacks and using Guard Counters will be more effective than repeatedly pushing the attack button. So there you have it. Time to storm the castle and see what you’re made of. These tips, alongside the in-game tutorial, should give you everything you need to become a powerful force out on the battlefield. Remember, in Empires, it’s not just about being faster with the sword, as you’ll have to implement sound strategy to ultimately be successful (although it never hurts to have a quick sword as well). That combination of might and mind is where you’ll find your place as the one true ruler of the land. You can download the Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires demo now. You can also pre-order Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires at PS Store starting today. View the full article

We are now just a few months away from the release of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, which releases on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on March 18. In preparation, Square Enix have just revealed an action-packed final trailer for the game, which includes tons of new info on the story, characters and more! Check out the new trailer here: Play Video We’ve also got our hands on some additional information about the game, with a deeper look at some of the monsters Jack and his comrades will face off against, the areas they’ll explore, and some of the various combat styles you’ll have them master in their quest to defeat darkness. You’ll have noticed some of the incredible monsters Jack and the team are up against in the trailer, here’s a closer look at some of the game’s truly terrifying Fiends. Kraken “You dare brandish your blade at the Kraken!? You forget your place!”​ The Fiend of Water, Kraken attacks ferociously with long tentacles and rush attacks. It uses abilities that steal buffs, and water-element attacks that make use of the surrounding environment. Lich “A foolish dream. No matter how much you wish it, that season will never come” The Fiend of Earth. Adept at slinging spells and attacks that inflict status ailments. It’s a tricky opponent that can inflict Curse, which saps the upper limit of the Break Gauge, or summon forth skeletons. Job System The new trailer doesn’t hold back on showing off the visceral combat that we can expect from Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. The game’s job system allows users to switch up their fighting style, seamlessly jumping from hand-to-hand combat to spell or sword swinging, and much more. Leveling up these jobs will allow users to unlock more advanced jobs with even more distinctive combat styles, and even the ability to dual-wield. We have further details on three of the advanced jobs: the Red Mage, Berserker, and Samurai. Red mages can wield both black and white magic, allowing them to both attack enemies and support teammates. The red mage’s unique action chainspell allows them to cast spells in very quick succession. The Berserker has a host of unbelievably powerful attacks, allowing you to utilize axes and greatswords for the direct approach. The Samurai is adept at MP recovery, allowing you to recover precious points while assailing your enemies. Locations The quest to defeat darkness will take you to a variety of locations. Here we take a look at two newly revealed locations. Could this mysterious light be the lifeforce of the planet that the facility extracts? This high-security structure on the ocean floor is controlled completely by machines, and it’s brimming with water energy. An underground cavern, thick with earth energy. All kinds of traps obstruct those who would enter. Strewn with the dead, it resembles a vast tomb. What could be slumbering in the very depths of the cavern, far beneath the earth…? There’s tons more to discover and unpack in the new trailer and screenshots, which we hope whets the appetite for the impending release. Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is available to pre-order now on PS5 and PS4. View the full article