Commander Fury

Board the Battle Bus on October 2 for a shot at the Fortnite PlayStation Cup and a share of the global prize pool. This solo, two-round tournament features six regional prize pools* exclusively on PS4 and PS5 consoles. Land at your favorite map location, then outlast or eliminate other participants for points. Head over to the Fortnite in-game Compete Tab to get the drop on the competition. There’s a grand prize waiting for first place on the Victory Royale screen, while many of the top ranked players will still glide away with their own cash prize. Regions The round 1 tournament times for each region are listed below and can be found in-game under the Compete Tab: North America East: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET North America West: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM PT Europe: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM CET Brazil: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM BRT Middle East: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM GST Asia: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM JST Oceania: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM AET Prizes and Format This free event features the same rules and scoring system as most Solo Fortnite competitions. Every player regardless of their rank, stats, or cosmetics starts with zero points. Round 1 is an open competition where you’ll have three hours to play a maximum of 10 games and earn as many points as you can. Each elimination is worth one point, while higher placements offer more. The top 100 players with the most points across all round one matches will advance to their region’s final round. Round 2 consists of six total matches and doubles the value of eliminations. Outscore the competition to take home one of the following prizes: North America East, North America West, Europe, Brazil Position Prize 1 $1,200 2 $1,100 3 $1,000 4 $800 5 $725 6 $600 7 $550 8 $500 9 $450 10-25 $400 26-50 $300 51-64 $200 OCE, Middle East, Asia Position Prize 1 $650 2 $600 3 $550 4 $500 5 $450 6 $400 7 $350 8-9 $300 10-20 $200 How to Enter The Fortnite PlayStation Cup is free to enter. Simply download Fortnite on your PS4 or PS5 console, enable two-factor authentication for your Epic Account, and reach level 30. You can then join the tournament in-game under the Compete Tab.** Practice your rotations, builds, and aim for the best shot at Victory Royale. Sign-up for the Fortnite PlayStation Cup by October 2 to take aim at the competition and the grand prize. Point Format The Fortnite PlayStation Cup point format allows players to excel no matter how they prefer to play. Go on the offensive and score points through eliminations or take a more defensive approach to gain more points at the end of every round. Here’s the full point breakdown: Victory Royale: 30 points 2nd: 25 points 3rd: 22 points 4th: 20 points 5th: 19 points 6th: 17 points 7th: 16 points 8th: 15 points 9th: 14 points 10th: 13 points 11th – 15th: 11 points 16th – 20th: 9 points 21st – 25th: 7 points 26th – 30th: 5 points 31st – 35th: 4 points 36th – 40th: 3 points 41st – 50th: 2 points 51st – 75th: 1 point Each Elimination: 1 point (Round 2 Eliminations are worth 2 points) Good luck, competitors and aspiring champions! *The Event in all parts is open to players from across the world, except as otherwise provided in this Section. The Event is not open to individuals wherever restricted or prohibited by applicable law or in any country where participation is prohibited by U.S. law. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Event is not open to individuals in the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Japan, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Turkey. **Players must be at least 13 years old (or such other age, if greater, as may be required in such player’s country of residence) to participate. If a player is under 18 years of age or the age of majority as defined in such player’s country of residence (a “Minor”), such player must have permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to participate in the Event. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/nkbbV5M4lVcView the full article

Venom is making his presence known. The fan-favourite Spider-Man character has already made a surprise appearance in a new trailer during this month’s PlayStation Showcase. And now he’s returning to the big screen by way of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. This symbiote-filled follow up to the 2018 box office smash sees Tom Hardy reprise his role as Eddie Brock (and voice his alien other half). The two will face off against another comic book icon getting a terrifying, live-action adaptation: Carnage, another alien symbiote whose human side, serial killer Cletus Kasady, is portrayed by Woody Harrelson. Directing this titanic clash is Andy Serkis, who’s not unfamiliar with breathing life into digital characters to critical acclaim: see his electrifying take as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, bringing pathos to Caesar in Planet of the Apes. His production company The Imaginarium specializes in motion and performance capture across movies, television and video games. Outside Hardy himself, Serkis is perhaps best suited to further ground and refine Venom’s live-action appearance. And that’s exactly what we talked about when I sat down with him (virtually) to discuss the movie sequel. Play Video You’ve a template of the Venom character to work with from the original. How have you approached the character in terms of design and movement for the sequel? One thing when I came aboard that I was very keen to do is to establish an entirely different physical vocabulary for Venom and Carnage. Venom really is, like, an American football player crossed with a 400 pound gorilla, crossed with a killer whale. There’s a directness to that: how he attacks, how he moves. For people who are really watching out, they’ll notice that there’s a lot more integration with the environment. He has weight. You see the musculature movements, secondary muscle movements. All that stuff really plays in when he’s climbing buildings. You see the damage – the footprint if you like. You’ve got much more sense of his weight. And Carnage? We wanted to create the opposite, which was to make him move in such a way that wasn’t so bipedal, was more left field, was a real kind of manifestation of the twisted and psychotic, idiosyncratic way that Kasady thinks and feels. Because that’s what [the symbiotes do]. They reflect the inner being of the host. We spent some time in the preparatory phase using performance capture with parkour artists, dancers. Finding different physical ways to move the body; sidestepping, swinging. That initial kind of movement driving tendrils so they would whip around after them, so we could add that animation afterwards to the movement that we’ve created. So we can get a real sense of it being much more like a slippery squid slash octopus. He uses the tendrils to move to pull and push with, he can weaponize them. So it’s a very different and formidable opponent. Because it’s not like two sumo wrestlers going up against each other. It’s a sumo wrestler up against a slippery octopus. Both Tom and Woody lend their voices to Venom and Carnage. Did you use any voice modulation tech and what was your guidance for them in how to best channel their other halves? Tom’s process in creating Venom full stop is through radio play. Before every single scene, we would record Venom’s voice. We’d just go into the corner of the studio, and he’d just run through a whole lot of takes of each line, and then we’d select a version of that. Then the sound operator would fire a line into Tom’s ear. So the whole scene was able to be played in sequence into Tom’s ear. And because Venom is an inside voice for a lot of this, Tom could really improvise and overlap with Venom. But then Woody would prefer to hear Carnage through big speakers, because he’s a bigger character. He was taller, and he wanted to feel [it was] more external, not like a voice in his head. But you want that continuity from hosts to symbiote, which is why they lent their voices to both characters. We used a pitch modulator for both Venom and Carnage’s [voices]. Is there any particular technology that you’ve used over the last few years, or developed for Venom specifically, that has made mixing digital characters with actors or practical sets easier? We didn’t use performance capture. We had a reference point, a very tall guy playing Venom, smashing through the ceiling when he stood up. That was a lighting reference. One of the most important things I wanted to achieve was the integration of these characters [into the world]. They’re quite unforgiving, as they look quite cartoony – they’re comic book characters. And this has a lot to do with two people: Bob Richardson, director of photography, obviously a master, three-time Academy Award-winning director of photography and visual effects. And Sheena Duggal, head of visual effects. So for instance, with a character like Carnage, who is so saturated, bright red. It’s a red that’s really important to get right. But you can’t have just that in a movie that doesn’t raise the saturation to meet that. The whole film in a sense was driven by the colour of Carnage. You’ll notice in this movie that the colours are a lot more saturated. You’re not celebrating the CG character; they’re just there in reality. You want to feel they’re real. That you’re catching them on camera, rather than everything being framed perfectly. This isn’t the first time you’ve had a hand in adapting an iconic character from page to screen. Did you feel the weight of expectation again? Of course. You always do. There are high expectations. People are very attached to these characters and they’ve all got their own opinions. They want to see their version they’ve had in their head for years come up on the screen. You have to imagine this Venn diagram of 1,000 different versions of a character that converge, then you’ve got your own version. I think what we managed to do feels pretty loyal. Then there’s the whole question of how dark you go, and the violence, whether this should be R-rated. There is a version where it could be. You could have gone down that route. But we’re doing these stories for the biggest audience. I think we pushed it about as far as we could possibly go, without being sensationalist, overly gory or gratuitously violent. We pushed it right to the wire. For you, what are the essential Venom traits that anyone working on the character should adhere to? There’s two things. There’s the physicality. Then there’s what makes up the relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom. Eddie Brock is a true antihero. He is flawed, narcissistic, selfish. He’s pretty much a liar to himself and other people. Whereas Venom, who has landed on this planet, has found the perfect match. There’s almost an innocent honesty to him. An upfrontness. He has no filter. And there’s something quite appealing about Venom. Yes, he bites people’s heads off, but he doesn’t choose to: that’s just his diet. There’s no value judgment there in a way. I think he is capable of anger and aggression, misplaced violence. But on the whole, he’s a truth teller. And in our movie, there’s this wonderful kind of comedic aspect to their relationship. It’s so complex. It’s kind of dysfunctional. But at the same time, they can’t be without each other. And they do love each other in a way, and they love what they give each other. Our story is a seven year itch moment. They’re getting on each other’s nerves, living in a small apartment. People who’ve been in lockdown can relate to that. It’s reached breaking point, but they know ultimately, what they give each other is certainly more important than what they can’t give each other. Venom: Let There Be Carnage launches exclusively in cinemas from today. Find out more here. Venom: Let There Be Carnage launches exclusively in cinemas on October 1 in North America. Buy your tickets here. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/StHDdc0ZxM8View the full article

The Blockbuster Games promotion comes to PlayStation Store on Wednesday, September 29. For a limited time* you can enjoy steep discounts on a variety of big franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, The Sims and more. You can check out the full list of games in the promotion below. Then head to PlayStation Store when the promotion goes live to see your regional discount. You can check out the full list of games in the promotion below. Then head to PlayStation Store when the promotion goes live to see your regional discount. 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Season Pass ALVO VR Ash of Gods: Redemption Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Assassin’s Creed Triple Pack: Black Flag, Unity, Syndicate Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gold PS4 & PS5 Batman: Return to Arkham Battlefield V Bloodborne Complete Edition Bundle Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition Call of Duty: Ghosts – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Call of Duty: Modern Warfare CarX Drift Racing Online Catherine: Full Body Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled + Spyro Game Bundle Cuphead Cyberpunk 2077 Days Gone – Digital Deluxe Edition DE – PS5 Standard Edition Takeover Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Dishonored® Definitive Edition Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™ Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™ – Deluxe Bundle DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Add-On) DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Standalone) Dreams Family Feud® Farming Simulator 19 Farming Simulator 19 – Platinum Expansion Farming Simulator 19 – Season Pass Five Nights at Freddy’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Gang Beasts Gods Will Fall Gods Will Fall – Valiant Edition Gold Rush: The Game Green Hell Hunt: Showdown – 4000 Blood Bonds Hunt: Showdown – Gold Edition Jagged Alliance: Rage! Job Simulator Just Dance 2021 King of Seas Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack Knockout City™ Knockout City™ Deluxe Edition Kombat Pack L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files LEGO Marvel Super Heroes LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Season Pass LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition Let’s Sing 2020 Let’s Sing Country – Platinum Edition Little Nightmares II PS4 & PS5 Masquerade Skin Pack Metro Exodus: Gold Edition Middle-earth: Shadow of War Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Expansion Pass Monopoly Plus Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Expansion Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Deluxe Edition Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered New Gundam Breaker Nioh Nioh: Complete Edition One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 Overcooked! 2 – Gourmet Edition Overcooked! Gourmet Edition Project CARS 3 Rayman Legends Resident Evil 3 Returnal Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition Sackboy: A Big Adventure Digital Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Sackboy: A Big Adventure PS4 & PS5 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World™: The Game – Complete Edition Shao Kahn Shenmue III Shenmue III – Complete DLC Collection Shenmue III – Story Quest Pack SnowRunner Snowrunner – Season Pass SnowRunner – Year 2 Pass SRX: The Game STAR WARS™: Squadrons Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 Team Sonic Racing TESO: NEW PS5 Base Edition The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood CE The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood CE Upgrade The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood Upgrade The Escapists 2: Game of the Year Edition The King of Fighters XIV The Last of Us Part II The Sims 4 – Cats & Dogs Plus My First Pet Stuff Bundle The Sims 4 – City Living The Sims 4 – Discover University The Sims 4 – EP11 The Sims 4 – Get Famous The Sims 4 – Get to Work The Sims 4 – Get Together The Sims 4 – Island Living The Sims 4 – Seasons The Sims™ 4 Eco Lifestyle The Sims™ 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack The Survivalists – Deluxe Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Tourist Edition Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s The Division Franchise Bundle Tribes of Midgard Tribes of Midgard Digital Deluxe Turok Bundle Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition Watch Dogs Watch Dogs 1 + Watch Dogs 2 Gold Editions Bundle Watch Dogs 1 + Watch Dogs 2 Standard Editions Bundle Yooka-Laylee – Buddy Duo Bundle 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Season Pass Ash of Gods: Redemption Assassin’s Creed III Remastered Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered Assassin’s Creed Triple Pack: Black Flag, Unity, Syndicate Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gold PS4 & PS5 Batman: Return to Arkham Battlefield V Bloodborne: Game of the Year Edition Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition Call of Duty: Ghosts – Gold Edition Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® CarX Drift Racing Online Catherine: Full Body Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled + Spyro Game Bundle Cuphead Cyberpunk 2077 Days Gone – Digital Deluxe Edition DE – PS5 Standard Edition Takeover Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Dishonored® Definitive Edition Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™ Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™ – Deluxe Bundle DOOM Eternal: Year One Pass (Add-On) Dreams Farming Simulator 19 Farming Simulator 19 – Platinum Expansion Farming Simulator 19 – Season Pass Five Nights at Freddy’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Gang Beasts Gods Will Fall Gods Will Fall – Valiant Edition Gold Rush: The Game Green Hell Hunt: Showdown – Gold Edition Jagged Alliance: Rage! Job Simulator Just Dance 2021 King of Seas Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack Knockout City™ Knockout City™ Deluxe Edition L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files LEGO Marvel Super Heroes LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Season Pass Let’s Sing 2020 Little Nightmares II PS4 & PS5 Masquerade Skin Pack Metro Exodus: Gold Edition Middle-earth: Shadow of War Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Expansion Pass Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Expansion Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered New Gundam Breaker Nioh Nioh: Complete Edition One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 Overcooked! 2 – Gourmet Edition Overcooked! Gourmet Edition Project CARS 3 Rayman Legends Resident Evil 3 Returnal Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition Sackboy: A Big Adventure Digital Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Sackboy: A Big Adventure PS4 & PS5 Shao Kahn Shenmue III Shenmue III – Complete DLC Collection Shenmue III – Story Quest Pack SnowRunner SnowRunner – Season Pass SnowRunner – Year 2 Pass South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition SRX: The Game STAR WARS™: Squadrons Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 TESO: NEW PS5 Base Edition The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood CE The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood CE Upgrade The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood Upgrade The Escapists 2: Game of the Year Edition The Last of Us Part II The Sims 4 – Cats & Dogs Plus My First Pet Stuff Bundle The Sims 4 – City Living The Sims 4 – Discover University The Sims 4 – EP11 The Sims 4 – Get Famous The Sims 4 – Get to Work The Sims 4 – Get Together The Sims 4 – Island Living The Sims 4 – Seasons The Sims™ 4 Eco Lifestyle The Sims™ 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack The Survivalists – Deluxe Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Tourist Edition Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Standard Edition Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition Tribes of Midgard Tribes of Midgard Digital Deluxe Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition Watch Dogs Yooka-Laylee – Buddy Duo Bundle *Blockbuster Games promotion starts on PlayStation Store at 00.00am (local time) Wednesday September 29 until 23:59pm (local time) Tuesday October 13. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/gBYqg_zVdmwView the full article

A terrible incident has caused strange happenings in the town of Milton Haven. When psychologist Desmond Wales awakes in his office amidst a flooded city with strange chemical spills and nightmarish creatures lurking its halls, he begins to search for clues about the string of tragedies that have plagued the town, his recently deceased patients, and himself. Hoping to find a connection between the three, he begins to listen to the recordings of the sessions with his patients. This process transports him to different areas of Milton Haven where the environment, puzzles, and enemies are all themed after each patients’ darkest fears. Here, Desmond will need to fight monsters, solve puzzles, and scour this surreal depiction of Milton Haven before he succumbs to the same fate as his patients. Play Video The psychological nature of In Sound Mind combined with the power of the PlayStation 5 has allowed us over here at We Create Stuff to build a horror game that will continually challenge your expectations. To prepare you for the launch, we wanted to introduce Desmond and his four patients, whose psyche will make up the bulk of this journey through the mind. This blog does contain some minor spoilers for the characters and bosses of In Sound Mind, so skip to the end if you are interested in picking it up and exploring the game for yourself. Desmond Whales, PhD Desmond Wales. PhD (Age 39) is the resident psychologist of the small town of Milton Haven and our protagonist. As the city begins to spiral out of control, Desmond must act and navigate the mazes of his own distorted mind before he too suffers the same fate, uncovering a dark conspiracy in the process that led to the death of four of his patients. Backstory: Earnest and steadfast, he takes pride in his work, yet has let himself get consumed by it on more than one occasion. As further evidence of his dedication to his work, Desmond lives and works in the same building, where he has a modest one-bedroom apartment and across the hall from a small studio space which he converted for his psychology practice. Virginia / The Watcher Virginia Ruhl (Age 25) is the first patient we encounter in the game. Her monster, “The Watcher”, is a medusa-like manifestation of her social anxiety and shame. This creepy ghost haunts a ravaged Homa-Mart superstore, hides behind a mask, and becomes enraged when anyone looks at her. Desmond can exploit this fear with mirrors to get through the level and confront Virginia. Fortunately, he will encounter some unlikely companions that will assist him as he explores the various departments while avoiding the haunting figure. Backstory: When Virginia was a young girl, she joined beauty pageants until an accident occurred leaving her face disfigured. Therapy with Desmond began after her college roommate complained that she wouldn’t leave the dorm or take care of herself. Allen / The Shade Allen Shore (Age 38) is the second patient we encounter in the game. Allen’s monster, “The Shade”, is a terrifying moving sinkhole, a manifestation of his fear and fascination with the dark. While Allen was saved by the light, “The Shade” fears it and will do anything he can to remove all sources of light. It will be crucial for Desmond to use his flashlight and flare gun to thwart the darkness and get through the level to confront the Shade. Be warned though, as the light can be just as dangerous as the dark. The revolving red lighthouse bulb will shine a damaging light, so make sure you take cover if you see it coming your way. Backstory: For most of his life, Allen’s had nightmares about monsters swallowing him into the darkness, making him isolate himself in social awkwardness. He sought help with Desmond to help him overcome this fear. Max / The Bull Max Nygaard (Age 45) is the third patient we encounter in the game. His monster, “The Bull”, is part beast, part machine. It is a manifestation of Max’s anger and it’s ready to charge at anyone who gets in its way. This raging abomination charges his way through the old factory grounds and train tracks that surround it, pitting Desmond in close quarters against the beast. Lure him into open spaces before engaging. Backstory: Max is not happy to be going to Desmond’s session. In fact, his therapy sessions with Demond are court mandated after a dispute with his ex-wife results in her leaving him with their child, Madison. Lucas / The Flash Lucas Cole (Age 52) is the fourth patient we encounter in the game. Lucas’ monster, “The Flash” is a giant radio tower and is the manifestation of Lucas’ diagnosed PTSD resulting from his time in the military as a sniper and radio operator. The towering giant lurks in the forest surrounding Milton Haven, ready to shoot down anyone it deems an enemy. Desmond will need to be wary of the high powered rifle, hiding behind objects and using the radio device to uncover messages hidden in the night sky and on radio frequencies. Backstory: Lucas has been following a paper trail that eventually led him to Milton Haven. With countless moves and isolation, Lucas finds himself lonely and decides to seek therapy. The truth of what has happened to Milton Haven lies in each of their stories and Desmond is the only one who can uncover it and give peace to his patients and himself. Discover each of their stories and an all-original soundtrack by The Living Tombstone with In Sound Mind, available physically and digitally today on PS5. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/XGx941K0Cf4View the full article

Hi everyone! I’m Logan Robb, community associate at New World Interactive. I’m delighted to say that Insurgency: Sandstorm, our tactical co-op shooter, arrives tomorrow on PlayStation 4, and is available to pre-order now. It’s also playable on PlayStation 5, enhanced with 60fps and 4K resolution. Insurgency: Sandstorm is a hardcore FPS featuring dangerous run-and-gun moments where the low time to kill means teamwork and strategy are essential before any firefight. To get you battle-ready, we’ve prepared some tips for combat! Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. 1. Cooperate and learn While it may be tempting to dive straight into PvP, we recommend starting out with one of Insurgency: Sandstorm’s co-op game modes. Here you will join a team of fellow players in battling squads of AI to accomplish a variety of objectives. Still intense combat, but you’ll have a bit more room to get a handle on Sandstorm’s tactical gameplay. 2. Play your role When starting a match of Insurgency: Sandstorm, you have a wide range of classes to choose from. Each has its own gameplay style and role to play. For example, the Commander is a vital component of any team, able to use their map knowledge to call in fire support at the most optimal place and time. Another class, the Observer, should stay close to the Commander in order to defend them and take orders to call in strikes with their radio. These are very specific roles, but there are some more beginner-friendly options like… 3. Start with the Rifleman If you’re new to Insurgency: Sandstorm, the Rifleman is probably your safest class pick. The backbone of any team, the Rifleman’s versatile range of weapons and equipment means you can gear up for any type of engagement. You don’t have to worry about effectively using any important or unique gear with this class, so it’s a great way to learn Insurgency: Sandstorm’s basic gameplay, maps, and modes. 4. Start smoking Your smoke grenades are an incredibly useful tool in battle – a single smoke can make or break an engagement. Whenever you use one, remember that it is going to limit visibility for both sides. Try to throw it where you’re limiting the visibility of the enemy team, while still keeping options open for your own. Your teammates will be unhappy (and sitting ducks) if you throw smoke on your own position. 5. Save your RPGs RPGs are always fun to use, and they can be used to devastating effect on infantry in cover. Consider holding back until only the most opportune moments though, as they are one of the most effective ways of taking out the vehicles, which are otherwise immune to standard weaponry. 6. Control your fire Insurgency: Sandstorm features realistic weapon handling, which means you can quickly lose control by just holding down the trigger. Practice trigger control with each weapon, consider switching to burst fire when possible, and fire in short bursts for medium and long-distance engagements whenever your weapon is set to full auto. 7. Watch your weight When selecting your loadout at the start of a match, your carrying weight changes depending on what you’re bringing into battle. The less you’re carrying, the faster you can draw your weapon and traverse the map, so think hard about whether or not you really need that extra grenade. 8. Talk to your team Communication is important in any team game, but particularly in Insurgency: Sandstorm. There’s a lot of information to share that can benefit your allies, such as signaling a push for an objective, confirming your kills, or announcing incoming fire support. Voice chat is always best, but you also have access to a handy comms wheel if that’s more your jam. 9. Know your attachments You have a lot of options when building your Insurgency: Sandstorm loadout, and that extends to the wealth of weapon attachments. For recoil, you’ll usually have access to a grip and/or compensator – the grip is for lessening vertical recoil, while the compensator lessens horizontal recoil. Tracer rounds can also help for zeroing in on your target, but note that they will quickly reveal your position to friends and foes alike. 10. Play the objective Our final tip is probably the one your teammates will thank you the most for. In Insurgency: Sandstorm, it’s all about playing the objectives to best achieve victory. Have a plan, play your role, and try to keep up with your teammate’s movements. If you can do all that, no one will mind if your aim is a bit off sometimes. Insurgency: Sandstorm arrives tomorrow on PS4, alongside the Deluxe edition (including Year 1 Pass) and the Gold Edition (including the Year 1 and Year 2 Pass), and is enhanced for PlayStation 5 at 4K resolution and 60 FPS. In 2022, we’re planning to bring further PlayStation 5 enhancements – stay tuned for more info. See you on the battlefield! Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/V0MppVXE2OcView the full article

Get ready to feel the beat in the Soundwave Series. What is the Soundwave Series? It’s a series of concerts that will give the spotlight to different musicians from all around the world! The first artist featured in the Soundwave Series will be one that has already made an impact on Fortnite Radio, Egyptian Singer Mohamed Hamaki. Mark your calendars, as Hamaki’s concert will take place on October 1 at 11am Pacific Time. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to that showing because the concert will repeat non stop for 48 hours; the final showing will be October 3 at 11am Pacific Time. To enter the concert, head over to the playlist titled “Hamaki’s Musical Show” when it is time. This musical experience was crafted by community creators Team Alliance and TheBoyDilly. Hamaki’s concert will feature many of his well known beats, and for the first time ever Hamaki’s new song Leilt Elomr will be performed! Celebrate the debut of Leilt Elomr with its respective Emote that will be in the Shop on September 30, just a day before Hamaki’s concert. Even more to come from the Soundwave Series Hamaki won’t be the only one shining in the Soundwave Series’ spotlight. French Malian singer Aya Nakamura, Australian singer-songwriter Tones And I, Brazilian rapper Emicida, and Japanese pop artist and music producer Gen Hoshino will have their own concerts in the Soundwave Series. More details about these upcoming concerts will come in the near future. Can’t wait to see your moves at the first edition of the Soundwave Series! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/oE4xRPNwy0QView the full article

It’s time to crown the best of the best competitive players in MLB The Show 21. Our final tournaments of the year give eligible players the chance to win millions of StubsTM and compete in two events for $75,000 combined in total cash prizing. Play Video Fall Circuit The MLB The Show 21 Fall Circuit consists of three open qualifiers leading to a Grand Final with $25,000 in total cash prizing* on the line. The competitive cross-platform Fall Circuit is available to those 13+ in the U.S. and Canada. Eligible players will have three opportunities to qualify for the Grand Finals. Those who don’t place in the Top 16 on their first entry can try again in any of the remaining qualifiers. The first qualifier is on October 2, the second qualifier is on October 16, and the third qualifier is on November 13. Participants will compete in a Swiss tournament system and play six games on day one. The top 128 players will compete in a single-elimination bracket on day two. Open Qualifier Prizes: 1st Place: 1,050,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 2nd Place: 600,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 3rd – 4th Place: 300,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 5th -8th Place: 150,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 9th -16th Place: 67,500 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 17th -32nd Place: 24,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 33rd – 64th Place: 11,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs Every player who finishes their games will receive 5,000 Stubs, win or loss. The Grand Finals will feature a single-elimination bracket format with the top 64 players from the three open qualifiers. Come watch the final four competitors play in the Grand Finals on the San Diego Studio Twitch channel on December 5, where the 1st place winner will take home $15,000! Grand Finals Prizes: 1st Place: $15,000 USD 2nd Place: $5,000 USD 3rd Place: $3,000 USD 4th Place: $2,000 USD 5th -8th Place: 150,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 9th -16th Place: 67,500 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 17th -32nd Place: 24,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 33rd – 64th Place: 11,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs Those who make it to the Grand Finals broadcast will also win gift vouchers to the MLB Shop and authentic baseballs used in an MLB 2021 Home Run Derby. The Dynasty Invitational The Summer and Fall Circuits ignited our competitive spirit this year and we’re adding some final fuel to the fire. Following the Fall Circuit, we’re hosting one last competitive event to close out the year on December 18 and 19: The Dynasty Invitational. The MLB The Show 21 Dynasty Invitational is the first cross-platform MLB The Show Invitational of its kind, with $50,000 in total cash prizing** on the line. The Dynasty Invitational will feature the Diamond Dynasty elite of our community, highlighting the most positively impactful competitive players in our player base and top performers from the MLB The Show 21 Summer and Fall Circuits. The winner of the Dynasty Invitational will bring home $24,000. Sixteen invitees will face off online in a double-elimination bracket. The Grand Finals will be broadcast on the San Diego Studio Twitch Channel on December 19 to crown the first MLB The Show 21 Dynasty Invitational Champion. Dynasty Invitational Prizes: 1st Place: $24,000 USD 2nd Place: $10,000 USD 3rd Place: $3,000 USD 4th Place: $2,500 USD 5th Place: $2,000 USD 6th Place: $1,750 USD 7th Place: $1,500 USD 8th Place: $1,250 USD 9th -16th Place: $500 USD In addition to cash prizing, some Dynasty Invitational winners will receive Topps Now hobby boxes, a bobble head, gift vouchers to the MLB Shop, a custom MLB branded gaming chair, and authentic baseballs used in an MLB 2021 World Series game! See the official rules for a full breakdown on prizing. Stay tuned to TheShow.com for more information on The Dynasty Invitational as we get closer to the event to learn more about the competitors. Fall Exhibition Tournaments For those who want a more casual experience, we’re also hosting a gamut of Fall Exhibition Tournaments to keep the Stubs flowing all through Fall. 11 Exhibition Tournaments will run alongside the Fall Circuit from October through November. Fall Exhibition Tournament Prizes***: 1st Place Prize: 600,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 2nd Place Prize: 300,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 3rd – 4th Place Prize: 150,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 5th – 8th Place Prize: 67,500 MLB The Show 21 Stubs 9th – 16th Place Prize: 24,000 MLB The Show 21 Stubs Every player who finishes their games will receive 5,000 Stubs, win or loss. Let’s Play Ball To register, see the full schedules, and view all the prizes you can win during the Fall Circuit and Fall Exhibition Tournaments, head over to Battlefy. Additionally, make sure to check out the Competition Center, the home of all PlayStation competitive gaming content, and TheShow.com for more details on the game and tips to help you be the best in the Fall events. Tournament Tips The best tip we have for this tournament is to make sure you practice on the hitting and pitching difficulty set for your tournament (Legend for Fall Circuit and Hall of Fame for Exhibition Tournaments). Here are a few more tips to help you on game day: Diamonds in the Rough: Get a feel for all your favorite players and put the players you are most comfortable with in your tournament roster, not the players everyone else may be using. What works best for you might not be the same as everyone else, and could give you a unique advantage. Roster Strategy: Keep in mind you can change your tournament roster between games, and your pitchers’ stamina resets. If you feel like you need to rebuild your roster, as long as the new squad is tournament eligible, you can absolutely adjust your players around to get an edge. Friendlies: There are plenty of people trying to play friendly matches during the week to prepare for the tournaments. Join the MLB The Show Official Discord or the Battlefy Tournament Support Discord and find some friends to play practice games with. Sign Up Sign up now and best of luck this fall! *MLB The Show 21 Fall Circuit – Access to MLB The Show 21 game and corresponding console, system account, and online multiplayer subscription required. Must be 13+ and resident of the US, D.C., or Canada. Begins September 27 – Ends December 5. PayPal account required to claim cash prizing. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. See full rules: https://cdn.battlefy.com/mlb-the-show-21/fall-circuit-2021.pdf **MLB The Show 21 Dynasty Invitational – Access to MLB The Show 21 game and corresponding console, system account, and online multiplayer subscription required. Must be 13+ and resident of the US, D.C., or Canada. Begins December 18 – December 19. PayPal account required to claim cash prizing. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. See full rules: https://cdn.battlefy.com/mlbtheshow/dynasty-invitational-2021-official-rules.pdf ***MLB The Show 21 Fall Exhibition Tournaments – Access to MLB The Show 21 game and corresponding console, system account, and online multiplayer subscription required. Must be 13+ and resident of the US, D.C., or Canada. Begins September 27 –Ends December 11. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. See full rules: https://cdn.battlefy.com/mlbtheshow/fall-exhibition-2021-official-rules.pdf http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/3RD7tt-3IxoView the full article

We’re super excited to announce the newest update for Stranded Deep going live tomorrow – which includes co-op online. While players have enjoyed playing solo, the community has been asking for a Co-op Multiplayer mode since the game’s launch. It’s something we have wanted to deliver for the community and have been working hard with our partners for over a year. We’re very happy to announce the arrival of this feature which is available tomorrow, September 28! This is a free update for existing players and part of the game for new players getting stranded for the first time. You’ll experience crazy encounters against sharks, giant squid, and other sea creatures. Defend against attacks on land from wild boar, snakes, and other native threats. Hunger, thirst, and exposure will work against you as you brave the elements. It won’t (and shouldn’t) be easy… but if you survive through it all, you can escape – now with a friend! This has been a crazy journey for us here at Beam Team – just a small team from Brisbane, Australia creating our first game. Our community has already grown beyond anything we ever expected, and to know we have so many players that enjoy what we’ve created is what it’s all about for us. Getting the opportunity to self-publish on PlayStation has been a dream for us which still doesn’t seem real. A huge thank you for your support; we really hope you enjoy the new co-op multiplayer update as much as we enjoyed working on it. Stay Alive! Sam http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/3OlqAlDicsAView the full article

Since the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017, Aloy has lived in the hearts of our players, and her story of survival, self-discovery, and sacrifice resonated with many. That story is set to continue in the upcoming sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, which takes place six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy has travelled west to investigate a mysterious and deadly blight. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and encounter ever more deadly machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this new frontier to find the answers she needs to save life on Earth. Spoiler Alert: Please note this article contains some spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn and its storyline. Aloy’s story, woven from love and loss, makes for a very compelling adventure. People from all over the world have shared with us the impact Horizon Zero Dawn has had on them, and they want more. After revealing Horizon Forbidden West’s gameplay trailer late May, fans were ecstatic to see Aloy again, fighting against machines and raiders, and even reuniting with her old friend Erend. From outcast to heroic Machine hunter Guerrilla’s Narrative Director Ben McCaw understands these reactions well. “In Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy goes from being the least important person in the world – a humble outcast – to the most important. Not only does she become the greatest machine hunter in the land, she discovers that she is the key to understanding Earth’s past and saving its future. Along the way, she gathers key allies to her side, like Varl, a kind Nora hunter who lost his sister in the Proving; Erend, a strong but sensitive Oseram Vanguard; and the Carja Sun-King Avad, an enlightened ruler trying to rescue his people from their bloody past. ‘But Horizon Zero Dawn ends with Aloy’s job only half-finished,” Ben continues. “One threat has been vanquished, but another looms in the form of a strange red blight that’s strangling the land. So in the six months between games, she has been on a mission to discover how to stop this insidious infection. Fans can get a glimpse of her journey in the five-issue Sunhawk collection from Titan Comics. This mission has been tough. She’s had to travel fast and leave a lot of her gear behind. Even so, she has pursued the mission with the same determination, strength, and drive that she showed in the first game. In that sense, she hasn’t changed a bit.” A hero, a hunter, an explorer… Aloy carries a lot on her shoulders as she continues to face challenges and dangers in these lands. From a narrative perspective, it was important to convey Aloy’s strength and emotional intelligence, and to provide her with lessons and experiences throughout the game to develop further as a real and relatable protagonist. “Born and raised as an outcast, Aloy has a unique perspective on the world,” explains Ben. “She is deeply compassionate towards those who suffer, and highly driven to punish powerful oppressors. Although she has made many friends during her adventures, she still feels like an outsider, and the truth is, she has no real home. These aspects of her character will be explored in depth as she ventures into the mysterious frontier of the Forbidden West. ‘This goes for the story as well. It starts with the same Aloy that players fell in love with during Horizon Zero Dawn. But we’ve added new tribes, new companions, and new complications, all of which will force Aloy to change. We don’t want to spoil how, but there are some big surprises along the way! We have no doubt that players will enjoy watching her evolution.” Horizon Forbidden West doesn’t just show an evolution of Aloy’s character, but also offers more freedom in the way she moves through and experiences the world. “In Horizon Forbidden West, we wanted to keep and expand everything that made Aloy such a great and engaging character, but also add much more. She’s still the same nimble and accurate machine hunter, but we’ve added tons of depth to the combat system. It’s still exciting to explore the world with her, yet we’ve made traversal more varied with tools like the Pullcaster and Shieldwing, both of which were on display in our gameplay trailer,” says Ben. Concepts and collaboration Aloy’s transformation throughout her journey is not only done through the narrative team’s brilliant writing; it’s a collaborative effort between various teams at Guerrilla, from concept art to animation to audio and more. Ben agrees. “Multiple teams have invested countless hours in her every aspect: her combat moves, her animations, her gear, her hair, and her dialogue. Not to mention Ashly Burch’s inspired voice performance. All of this effort makes Aloy feel real. It also makes her a great fit for all kinds of players: those who want to fight, to explore, to engage with tribes and NPCs, or simply to just take in her presence in a beautiful world. So many people work hard to make all this possible.” One of these people is Bastien Ramisse, Lead Character Artist at Guerrilla who’s been heavily involved in Aloy’s character since day one. “Bringing a character to life is always an exciting process,” he starts. “From a creative perspective, we often experiment with multiple design sketches and proposals. This is also when we start discussing how to develop and build a better understanding of the character and its subtleties.’ ‘With Aloy, a long period of gestation and collaboration with talented artists happened to reach the unique and iconic look we all know of her today. As character artists, the team is mainly focusing their attention to always improve the quality and fidelity of the models. So it’s the involvement of multidisciplinary team members such as narrative, concept art, rigging, animation, audio and lighting (to only name a few) mixed with our perseverance and effort which is the true magic that creates fictional characters. It allows them to become a believable and inspirational hero for everyone.” Aloy is well known for her wavy red braids and agile warrior build, but what truly drives the design is the authenticity and practicality of placing and experiencing the characters in the world they live in. “The team always designs her outfits with the intention to allow graceful and fluid movement over heavy and impractical costumes. We also believe that meticulously placed details are part of immersion and tell an often unspoken story. At Guerrilla, we are always eager to explore and expand the identities and cultures of our tribes. While the Utaru tribe was briefly included in Horizon Zero Dawn, they feature more heavily in Horizon Forbidden West, with an updated design, grounded fashion construction, and expanding the use of materials to create practical clothing to fit their day-to-day activities, environment and hierarchical diversity.” More detail than ever before The development and subsequent launch of the PlayStation 5 console has given teams at Guerrilla even more means to aim for high quality and visual benchmarks we are so passionate about, and brings an added layer of detail and authenticity to the game. “Each generation of consoles brings extra power that lets us add even denser polygons to our character models, so we can create finer details such as peach fuzz, smooth contouring, or finer texture details and accurate materials expression, to name a few. And not only do visual aspects benefit from the new PlayStation 5 hardware — we have also increased the number of skeletal joints to bring our deformations and facial expressions to a whole new level for more credible and immersive character performance. All in all, a dream come true for both players and developers!” Just because the team has been pushing the boundaries on the PlayStation 5 version of Horizon Forbidden West, doesn’t mean that the PlayStation 4 version will be compromised, notes Bastien. “We actually developed and tested the game simultaneously on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, because it’s very important to us as a studio to ensure PlayStation 4 players get an equally immersive experience. With our knowledge from Horizon Zero Dawn, we knew that we still had some unexplored resources that could push the realism and quality of our character assets forward; it’s great to now be able to tap into that knowledge and experience for the sequel.’ ‘From an artistic point of view, Horizon Forbidden West really stands on the shoulders of a successfully established design foundation in Horizon Zero Dawn,” Bastien continues. “The most noticeable differences and improvements for Aloy in terms of technology is the push of facial and body capture accuracy, allowing more realistic shapes and surface details on characters as well as the careful increase of polygon density to capture handmade and used outfits.” And Horizon Forbidden West will have a range of outfits for Aloy to benefit from; similar to and perhaps familiar from the first game, outfits allow for protection against a variety of dangers that Aloy encounters and can be purchased from Merchants or found in the world. A new addition to the system is that outfits in Horizon Forbidden West have skills attached to them, so players can boost their abilities in different ways. Maximizing these skills happens through a new and improved Skill Tree, something we will tell you more about some other time… Evolving the Cosplay Guides The efforts that go into Aloy’s outfits (and those of the characters she meets during her journey) do not go unnoticed in the Horizon community. Cosplayers have been exploring these characters for years, bringing them to life in their own way and using that high level of authenticity from within the game to inform their material choices for their own costumes. To make their design process easier, Guerrilla loves to provide extensive Cosplay Guides with highly detailed renders and explanations on materials used. “Aloy’s Utaru Harvester outfit, which she wore in the recent gameplay trailer and is featured in our newest Cosplay Guide, is a successful cocktail of old applied rules to preserve the look and feel of Aloy, with a pinch of new exploration of the Utaru tribe. The outfit uses a wide variety of natural materials such as reed, jute, rattan, linen and leaves found within the surrounding area of Plainsong.” Bastien hopes that, through the material library the team uses throughout development, the details and realism of tribal materials such as hide, leather, suede and wood will be useful and inspirational references. “At Guerrilla, we are always so honored to see dedicated cosplayers investing so much time and passion in the hard labor of crafting real life costumes of our digital version of Aloy. From artists to artists, we understand that such a creative project is an often uncharted and sometimes tedious path, so we are hugely excited and can’t wait to discover your newest creations after the game hits the shelves.” Ben attests to that sentiment: “We’re excited for players to experience many of the game’s new features. Our new traversal tools. Underwater exploration. Enhanced combat. Spectacular machines. But most of all, we can’t wait to see how players react to all the characters Aloy will meet in her journey across the frontier of the Forbidden West. From old friends to new comrades and tribes, she will experience many highly personal stories… and these will affect her quite a lot. It’s safe to say she will never be the same!” For more information on Horizon Forbidden West, please visit here. We’ll be back soon with another developer blog! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/2MfaI1odx-IView the full article

Hi, everyone! It’s been over a year since we released The Last of Us Part II, a major chapter in the growing The Last of Us universe. It’s that same world that we’ve been privileged to celebrate with the incredibly passionate and ever-growing fanbase for eight years! When we planned this year’s event, we aimed to make this day super engaging so we can celebrate the diverse and talented The Last of Us community on a global scale. We’re very fortunate to have a great relationship with our community and The Last of Us Day is one of our favorite days to share and engage in back-and-forth dialogue with our fans. Whether you use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, use the hashtag #TLOUDay to spread the cheer and good vibes. Share your art, cosplay, creations, Photo Mode shots, or even special memories of your experiences with The Last of Us universe. We’re looking forward to having you all join in on celebrating The Last of Us Day – we’ll be active on social all day! To cap off the day, please check back at NaughtyDog.com at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST for a The Last of Us Day wrap up note to you — the amazing fans. Let’s chat about what we got cooking! The Last of Us Part II: Covers and Rarities Now Streaming and Limited Edition Vinyl by Mondo Attention audiophiles and collectors: time to warm up your record players! Working in close collaboration with our friends at Mondo, we’re excited to finally announce pre-orders for The Last of Us Part II: Covers and Rarities vinyl. This limited edition vinyl features stunning, exclusive artwork by Dani Pendergast, and a special message by The Last of Us Part II’s Director, Neil Druckmann. This special release has been a huge fan request, and we’re excited to present this EP featuring tracks sung by Ashley Johnson (Ellie) and Troy Baker (Joel) and guitar by Chris Rondinella. Pre-orders open today, September 26, at 10AM PST exclusively on Mondo’s website. For those of you that might want to take Joel’s rendition of “Wayfaring Stranger” and Ellie’s serenade of “Take On Me” with you wherever you go, we’ll also be releasing Covers and Rarities online – and it will be available globally on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, and all major global streaming outlets today at 9 PM PST. The Last of Us Part II Joel Statue by Dark Horse In partnership with Dark Horse Direct, we’re proud to present a new, limited edition 14.25” Joel statue from The Last of Us Part II. This limited-edition statue is crafted in stunning detail, and he comes fully equipped, wielding his gun and guitar. This statue is available for pre-order until October 29 at 5PM PST via Dark Horse’s website and will ship May – July 2022. PlayStation Gear Store – We Got That Exclusive Merch! The goods! We have some stunning brand-new merch going up on the PlayStation Gear Store. New offerings include a waxed canvas backpack for here, there and everywhere, and an awesome Stormtech Waterfall Insulated Rain Jacket with a laser engraved patch that’s perfect for the changing seasons. We’re also excited to announce exclusive merchandise to live out your best troubadour experiences – such as new Taylor straps and picks. By popular fan demand, we’re also pleased to offer The Last of Us Part II GS Mini and 314ce guitars, which is exclusively available on the PlayStation EU* Gear Store site. Joining the PlayStation Gear Store lineup is Insert Coin’s meticulously crafted W.L.F Bomber jacket so you can channel Abby. On top of all this, we’re pleased that pre-existing The Last of Us merchandise will see a 20% off discount through September 30 on the PlayStation Gear Store** and The Last of Us Remastered, The Last of Us: Left Behind and DLC will see a 50% reduction on PlayStation Store through September 27. * Ships to Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. ** Discount cannot be combined with any other ongoing offer/promotion/discount. The Triumphant Return of Photo Mode We absolutely loved seeing everybody’s creativity run wild with last year’s Photo Mode contest. There were so many incredible submissions (and several very sweet messages!). We wished that we could share even more with the community, so, this year, we’re expanding the Photo Mode event! Starting today until October 29, we’re kicking off a month of community captures, with different themes each week as we make our way through October. Post your Photo Mode shots to Twitter with the hashtag #TLOUPhotoMode and tag @Naughty_Dog to enter. Not only will we re-tweet several of our selects daily, but we’ll also keep an ongoing scrapbook of those Photo Mode shots on the Naughty Dog blog, reminding us to always endure and survive – together. Whether you are ready to flex your Photo Mode skills or want to check out some amazing talent, join us on Twitter. By tagging your screenshots with #TLOUPhotoMode and tagging @Naughty_Dog by October 28, 2021, you give SIE and @Naughty_Dog permission to share your content on SIE and Naughty Dog websites and social media channels. Posts must not contain personal information or content that is defamatory, harmful, offensive or otherwise violates the rights or interests of SIE or third parties. First and foremost, this day is for celebrating you, the incredible community! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get all the latest updates and activities! On behalf of the studio, thank you for celebrating The Last of Us with us year-round — and especially today. Happy The Last of Us Day! ✌️ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/DxoAa_X09akView the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here On this week’s PlayStation Podcast, Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at developing the September system software updates. Stuff We Talked About Gran Turismo 7 Last Judgment Death Stranding Director’s Cut Psychonauts 2 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Toem Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy The Cast Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/0ULWA-c0OyIView the full article

Last week, we asked you to share how you travel through your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. From boat and horseback to futuristic rovers, here are this week’s highlights: lunar9p shares a shot of the Mako on a dusty red planet in Mass Effect Legendary Edition. gamography_ shares Jin atop his horse in Ghost of Tsushima. geekrikk shares Noctis out for a drive with the boys in Final Fantasy XV. SP_Al3xis01 shares Kratos and Atreus paddling a boat through Alfheim in God of War. jpvp_1 shares Ellie and Dine bracing from the cold atop their horses in The Last of Us Part II. krawzoscreen barrels their car down a road in Far Cry 5. 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: Kena: Bridge of Spirits SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on September 29 Next week, we’re exploring the beautiful world of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Share Kena’s journey helping troubled spirits find peace alongside adorable Rot companions using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/_qj9Wz3dwsgView the full article

As detailed in both State of Play and Opening Night Live, Death Stranding Director’s Cut delivers a truckload of new enhancements and content to Kojima Productions’ genre-defying adventure. From helpful new delivery equipment to expanded areas to explore, there is a lot for new and returning players to dive into starting today on PS5. Play Video The enhancements and new content introduced to Director’s Cut can be experienced right from the beginning of the game. In addition to the adjustments made to guides and hints, new weapons and equipment, such as the “maser gun” and “support skeleton”, have also been introduced to help immerse players even further into the world of Death Stranding. The team at Kojima Productions is excited to introduce these new elements to Director’s Cut, which they hope will be useful not only to those who are new to Death Stranding Director’s Cut, but also to those who will be transferring their save data from PS4. Spoiler alert: This section does not touch on story spoiler elements, but it does describe the orders and maps up to Episode 3. Early route planning in the game One of the delivery orders in the beginning of the game is to the local incinerator. Before heading to the destination, it is recommended to check the map first. Going straight to your destination without referencing the map could result in taking a route that is far more dangerous than the other routes that might be available. Director’s Cut now offers several recommended “route guides” to aid you in reading the terrain and plot the right course before you start your delivery. Please refer to this guide to plan in advance what route is best for you, and use it as a guide to help you reach your destination and complete your mission safely. Route guides will not be shown in later missions, but if you learn how to search for routes earlier in the game, you will surely find it more fun to plan your own optimal route as you progress. Maser gun and Firing Range Lethally disposing of MULEs (a delivery-obsessed enemy who attacks Sam to steal his packages), could result in a huge explosion called a “voidout”, or also referred to as, an anti-matter annihilation. Voidouts can change the surrounding terrain, which can greatly impact delivery routes. Neutralizing enemies with non-lethal weapons will help minimize voidouts from occurring. The newly added “maser gun” is a weapon that can disable enemies in a variety of ways, with a headshot resulting in immediately incapacitating the enemy, while a continuous electric shock will stun them. The maser gun can be obtained when you receive the mission “Order No. 77: Utilize the maser gun to recover the package found at the factory site,” which is unlocked in Episode 2. After completing this mission, you’ll be able to make your own maser gun and do some shooting practice with it at the Firing Range. These additional elements give you the option to use weapons in combat earlier than in the PS4 version of Death Stranding, giving you more ways to deal with MULEs. The Firing Range is a facility that offers an array of simulations where you can practice using the weapons that you’ve unlocked. Enjoy testing your weapons against a variety of targets and elevate your skills to improve your top score. Whether you’re a veteran Porter or just starting out, you can earn rewards for clearing Firing Range exercises and participating in regular ranking events. The “blood grenade” is an anti-BT weapon that is given to you at the beginning of the game and is extremely effective against BT’s. The Firing Range is a good place to practice and get more familiar with how to use it. Ruined Factory, new missions, and the support skeleton In Death Stranding Director’s Cut, new facilities and missions have been added. “Request No. 77: Utilize the maser gun to retrieve the package found at the factory site,” is one of the new missions and can be accessed at the K2 West Distribution Center. This mission can be played as early as Episode 2 and will provide deeper context behind the mystery of the Ruined Factory. The mission to unravel the mystery of the Ruined Factory is a little different from the usual delivery missions. There is an element of stealth required as you will have to infiltrate the factory without being detected by the enemy. Be sure to lookout for periodic updates from Die-Hardman as you progress! “Support Skeletons” are the intermediate between “Power Skeletons”, which can carry heavy loads, and ” Speed Skeletons”, which can move fast. These skeletons are not as good as the skeletons that specialize in each function, but there are cases where this intermediate performance is better suited, so try to use each skeleton according to the characteristics of the route and the cargo you will be carrying in each mission. This equipment can be obtained by clearing the “Request No. 77: Use the maser gun to recover the cargo found at the factory site.” Located south of the Timefall Farm, stands a Terminal for a “Racetrack” that someone envisioned building, but was unable to finish its construction. After clearing “Order No.35: Deliver the Prototype to K4 South Distribution Center”, you can restore the Racetrack by adding the necessary amount of Chiral Crystals, Metals, and Ceramics to the Racetrack Terminal. These materials can be acquired from other players or facilities, or gathered in the field, to complete the construction, and then you can enjoy racing on the Racetrack! Also introduced in Death Stranding Director’s Cut is the “Roadster,” a new vehicle designed specifically for racing. Low in height, this vehicle is not suitable for driving on rough terrain or uneven roads, but it will show its performance on restored racetracks and national roads. In addition, you can compete with other players for the best time at the “Racetrack” in periodic ranking events. We can’t wait for you to get behind the wheel of the new Roadster and test your driving skills on the Racetrack! Completing races at the Racetrack and exercises in the Firing Range will also raise Sam’s Porter Grade. Raising your Porter Grade will improve Sam’s abilities and make subsequent missions easier, so be sure to take advantage of these facilities as well. Players can also choose the music they want to play during a race as well, including new songs that were specifically made for the Racetrack. New music tracks will also be discovered as you play through Death Stranding Director’s Cut. Half-Life and Cyberpunk 2077 specific content Death Stranding Director’s Cut will also feature Half-Life and Cyberpunk 2077-themed accessories, equipment and vehicles for Porters to discover. Some of these items have special functions, such as hacking and disabling sensors in enemy areas, offering even more ways to take on enemies and complete delivery orders. BB pods can now be customized in new ways as well. This feature can be unlocked by completing the mission assigned to Sam in the beginning of the game, in the Eastern area. You can also customize your backpack by adding new design patches (unlocked in the Central Area). These are just a few of the additional features that appear before Episode 3. As you progress further into Death Stranding Director’s Cut, you’ll discover even more exciting additions, such as the Buddy Bot, which will assist you in carrying cargo, a Cargo Catapult that enables you to shoot cargo over longer distances, and a Manoeuvre Unit [Lv.3] that allows you to land safely when descending from high places. These additional elements in Death Stranding Director’s Cut will add more ways to explore the world, open up more delivery routes, introduce alternative ways to overcome obstacles, as well as offer new ways to solve difficult missions. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/4hCpRQsPBuoView the full article

Last Wednesday, PlayStation’s product development teams introduced new system software updates for PS5, PS4 and the PS Remote Play App. I sat down with Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience, to get the scoop behind some of the new features, including 3D audio for built-in TV speakers and M.2 SSD storage expansion on PS5. We also discussed mobile app updates like Share Screen on PS App. (Note: this feature has started rolling out as a phased release on Android devices. We are coordinating closely with Apple on rollout timing for the iOS update and will share an update with players when it’s live.) Listen to our full interview on the Official PlayStation Podcast here for insights on how the features came together, or read on for some key excerpts, edited for brevity and clarity. PlayStation.Blog: Can you give us a little sense of what you do as SVP of Platform Experience? Nishino-san: Here at SIE, I work for hardware, system software, and network platform products and services. I don’t contribute to the games or studio teams, but everything other than the games side of things. PlayStation.Blog: Congrats on the launch of the September system update on PS5. Are there a couple features you found particularly important? Nishino-san: We launched many features with the September Update, but one I’m personally enjoying is the trophy tracker. Of course, I want to get more trophies and show them off. The trophy tracker allows me to easily pin the trophies I’m tracking down. PlayStation.Blog: A lot of people have been asking, when are we going to get an update on 3D audio coming through the TV speakers (in addition to headsets). Nishino-san: Yeah, absolutely. 3D audio has been a key part of our vision for PS5: delivering a really immersive experience not just through visuals but audio as well. When I turn on 3D audio for TV speakers, it sounds different. It’s difficult to describe, but I hope everybody will try it and experience it. It feels like the sound is coming from around my ears and from the front as well. So, it’s definitely giving you a different experience. I’m really proud of the team that delivered this 3D audio experience. PlayStation.Blog: I think a big feature for many people is the ability to expand PS5 storage [through M.2 SSD]…What does adding a new feature of this magnitude represent for the team? Nishino-san: As we have many PS4 users today, we saw various console usage patterns. We launched PS5 in two forms: one comes with the disc drive and one comes without. We really wanted to provide customer choice — that was the concept. We knew any capacity we put into the machine as storage, one day you’ll hit the capacity. We wanted to provide options. It was important for us to enable upgrade capability for users. We designed the M.2 SSD feature back in 2018. At that time, we were not sure if Gen4 SSDs were coming up or not, but we believed they were. With [lead system architect Mark Cerny], we debated and discussed. We finally decided, ‘yeah, let’s do this.’ This will open the door for users to expand and improve the capability of the PS5. So, that’s the behind-the-scenes conversation we had internally, and I’m glad we can deliver this now for the holiday season. Play Video PlayStation.Blog: What is the design process like for a system update? How do you put it all together? Nishino-san: This is just the second major update for PS5. Just to wind back the time here. With the PS4, I think it’s already been eight years. We learned a lot through PS4 and continue to learn about how players are using the system and how games are behaving. We know what is most accepted and most popular; what features are not used. So, we had a gigantic list of things before PS5 launch that we wanted to do. Actually, we dreamed of doing everything. Did I digest the whole list? I don’t think so, yet. But, there are interesting, exciting, fantastic ideas on the list. At the same time, we launched PS5. So, we are receiving a bunch of feedback from the community through social networks or system telemetry, as well as the media, my family, my friends. We have tons of lists of the feedback. Our updates aren’t just about the [major] firmware updates. If you carefully look at the PS5 system, over the network we are changing the UX behavior quite often. Sometimes we do some customization for a certain group of people to see how these features are used. So, it’s dynamic now. PlayStation.Blog: Accessing Share Screen through the PlayStation App is a big upgrade. PS Remote Play is also now playable over mobile networks. Was it a conscious thing to focus on the mobile experience? Nishino-san: PS Remote Play is more coming from a utility point of view: the best use of the PS5 and PS4 systems when you’re not in front of your TV. During the pandemic, I work from home. I don’t have a PS5 in my office; it’s sitting in the living room. But, I need to check the PS5 UI for work and sometimes for play. So, I do PS Remote Play from my desktop PC. And when I want to play PS5 in my backyard on a sunny day, I bring my iPad outside. Even when you’re not in front of your TV, with PS Remote Play, the experience is ubiquitous. Now with mobile data, you can bring it outside the home as well. I just want to make sure users can enjoy their games in more ways. On the flip side, there’s Share Screen. I love single-player games. Because of the pandemic, I tried to play Bloodborne. It’s a challenging game to me. I was speaking to my friends about how I can’t go through this [particular] stage. People said, ‘how is that difficult, you can do it.’ So on a Friday night, we had five people in a party chat. I could Share Screen from my PS5. People were laughing when I failed or died and respawned. [Through Share Play], I tried to hand over the controller to the guy who said he already went through the level easily. He died there. I said, ‘what are you doing here, you’re not the best.’ The other three people continued to laugh and chat – it was like a connected couch moment through Share Screen. PlayStation.Blog: It reminds me of the days, 20 years ago, when couch co-op was so big. It kind of brings some of that feeling back. Nishino-san: The exciting thing is, before the September Update, you needed to be in front of the PS5 to see the visuals. Now with your mobile phone, you can join these sessions from anywhere. So, recreating the ‘old days’ moments with your friends in front of the TV playing together – that moment is coming back. PlayStation.Blog: So, what are you folks working on next? Can you give us the scoop? Nishino-san: As I said, when I look back at the list of things we need to do, there’s a lot. There’s a lot the community is asking for as well. I want to say in the Japanese way, I’m diligently working on these lists and there will be more coming out in the future. I also want to say thank you to the community. We are not just whiteboarding our desired features. We work for customer needs. We really want to solve the problem in a delightful manner. That’s our core passion. We are here for the PlayStation [fans]. I’m always amazed by the feedback, how much the community loves PlayStation. It’s really great to hear player feedback, and at the same time, we get great feedback from creators as well. I believe this firmware update is not just about us doing it; it’s the whole community doing things. So, I’m really excited to hear more from the community. And I [and my team] will diligently deliver the new features in an exciting way. * The Android version of Share Screen on PS App is a phased release and may take one week until the update is available on your mobile device. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/abZ2KeqD5sIView the full article

In Adventure Mode, follow Tanjiro Kamado through the story from the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” anime by diving in and taking control yourself! This game includes the events of “Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc” where Tanjiro would begin his journey, join the Demon Slayer Corps and fight a variety of demons, as well as “the Movie: Mugen Train” where he was accompanied by the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku! The fights against the demons from the anime are given new life with incredible graphics! Intro trailer for Adventure Mode – Asakusa Arc Play Video Intro trailer for Adventure Mode – Tsuzumi Mansion Arc Play Video 【Specs】 Title: Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Genre: Demon-slaying Action Players: 1-2 (online mode available) Release Date: Coming 14th October 2021 Official Website: http://asia.sega.com/kimetsu_hinokami/en/ ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable ©DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES COMMITTEE ※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region. ※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/FV7OvN-qfFgView the full article

With today’s release of Actraiser Renaissance on PlayStation Store, players around the world* can experience frantic-yet-methodical platforming action as well as the ability to build and simulate their own cities in this dual-genre adventure on PS4 and PS5. More than 30 years after its original release, this remaster of a retro classic comes with an HD graphical overhaul, a re-arranged soundtrack by composer Yuzo Koshiro, and additional content, including the new real-time strategy “Settlement Siege” mode, more stages, and a new boss to cut down to size. Not sure what Actraiser Renaissance is, or why people are so excited to see this beloved classic make its return? Never fear, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know. What WAS Actraiser? First released over 30 years ago, Actraiser was a platformer and city-builder sim where players took on the role of the Lord of Light, a benevolent god who has awakened from a long slumber, only to find the world beset with evil and chaos. With a trusty angel companion and the faith of his believers, the Lord of Light must lead the people of the world to salvation by destroying monstrous creatures, building safe havens, and ultimately defeating the ringleader of it all: The Evil One. During the city building segments, players assumed the role of the Lord of Light’s trusted angel, and would guide a new civilization to prosperity and salvation by controlling the elements and performing miracles. Were monsters to attack, your angel could shoot them with arrows and signal to the Lord of Light where to send miracles, such as bolts of lightning and earthquakes to keep the hordes at bay. Alongside these city-building segments were action-platforming sequences, where players took on the form of a human-like statue brought to life by the Lord of Light. In these tense side-scrolling sections, players would need to strike down the creatures and boss monsters that laid in wait while navigating perilous traps. By mastering both disciplines, players would be able to vanquish The Evil One once and for all, bringing peace to the world of Actraiser. What IS Actraiser Renaissance? Simply put, Actraiser Renaissance is a bigger, bolder, and lovingly remastered version of the game that became a cult classic all those years ago. Actraiser Renaissance brings back many of the features that made the original so beloved, plus brand-new content and enhancements to make it easier to pick up and play. Actraiser Renaissance comes with beautiful HD graphics, allowing the monsters you fight and the cities you grow to look even bigger and better than before. It also has a new auto-save feature, meaning that whether you’re holding off the forces of evil in city-building or trying to slay them in the action sequences, there’s plenty of opportunity to attempt new tricks and tactics without the fear of losing too much progress. Become humanity’s salvation The city-building has been given even more love with brand-new features, such as an enhanced development phase that allows for more customisation of cities and your budding civilisations. These allow you to place new structures for the settlement siege, as well as new types of homes being built depending on how advanced your city has become. City defence strategies have opened up even more as well, thanks to an overhauled miracle system which allows Lord of Light to cast larger, more powerful miracles in order to bestow more divine interference on enemies below and to better protect your followers. Even more content comes in the form of a new area known as Alcaleone, which comes with its own extensive map, allowing players to expand their civilisations even further. There’s also the new “Settlement Siege” feature, which brings an additional genre to the fold in the form of real-time strategy battles, where you’ll be charged with protecting your cities from incoming hordes of enemies. By laying down different forts and defences such as magehouses and blockhouses, you can hold the minions of evil back from attacking your place of worship, and through commanding the heroes of the realm, you can instruct them to lay waste to the monsters in their path. How will you build your civilisations to maximise both their prosperity and their defences when the monsters invade? Become evil’s devastation The side-scrolling action sequences also have some new features for players to sink their teeth into. Not only are there new levels to take on, but there’s also a new boss to bring justice upon. When building your realms, there’ll now be opportunities to take down monster lairs with your sword and your wits, with success seeing the lair destroyed and your followers that little bit safer. Players who manage to defeat the final area, an already formidable task as they’ll need to take down multiple bosses in a row as well as Tanzra, The Evil One, will also come across one more challenge to conquer… The soundtrack has also received a boost in the form of new songs and arrangements from the game’s original composer, Yuzo Koshiro (whose other credits include Ys, Shenmue, and Etrian Odyssey). Returning to the project after 30 years, he’s breathed new life into his original compositions and also composed 15 brand-new tracks to enjoy while cutting down foes and building new civilisations. Fans of the original songs, or those who want to discover them for the first time, will be able to do so easily, as Actraiser Renaissance also provides the ability to select between the classic tracks and their rearrangements at will. That’s not all… To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original’s release outside of Japan, players who purchase Actraiser Renaissance before November 1st** will receive two sets of rewards in the form of a themed wallpaper and five remastered songs composed by Yuzo Koshiro. * The release time of Actraiser Renaissance may vary across regions. Please check the current status at your respective PlayStation Store. ** Incentives will no longer become available after Nov 1st 8:59am PST/3:59pm UTC/ Nov 2nd 0:59am JST. The early purchase incentive distribution period is subject to change without notice. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/U79aBR0grokView the full article

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars was officially announced today, and the demo is now available at PlayStation Store. The full game will release digitally on PS4 on October 28, but what’s the deal with this unique card-based RPG from Square Enix? Here’s everything you need to know. Loads of talent behind the scenes Fans of NieR and Drakengard rejoice! Creative talent from both of these beloved series have come together to create a brand-new tabletop-style RPG. The talent behind Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars includes Creative Director Yoko Taro (Drakengard series, NieR series), Executive Producer Yosuke Saito (NieR series) and Music Director Keiichi Okabe (Drakengard 3, NieR series), as well as Character Designer Kimihiko Fujisaka (Drakengard series). Play Video An exciting new story at the heart of the game In Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, the Game Master (voiced in English by Todd Haberkorn) will narrate and guide players through a story set in a world shrouded with mystery. Players will join our protagonist and his companions and set off on a journey to defeat a recently reawakened Dragon that threatens the land and its people. Throughout their journey, players will face many battles and make many choices, which can change the outcome of their quest. More screens and character art A club of interesting characters Our main protagonist is a bounty hunter who hopes to secure an immense reward for slaying the dragon. He’s joined on his travels by his companions: Mar, a monster very attached to him, and Melanie, a black witch with a grudge against the Dragon. Along the way, they will meet an array of unique characters including Wynifred of the Ivory Order and her silent soldier, Berwyn, and Heddwyn, her sage and mentor, as well as the Queen of Castle Advent, who rules over this vast land. More character art A mixture of elements makes gameplay shine Every element of the game is presented through beautifully illustrated cards, from the characters you meet and the battles you face, through to the items you purchase from the armorer or the skills you acquire. As you move your avatar across the board (with terrain also depicted by cards) you’ll come face-to-face with a menagerie of monsters and must take them on in a tactical turn-based battle system using skills, weapons and the roll of the dice. Fans eager to dive into the world of Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars can download the free demo at PlayStation Store. The demo acts as a prologue to the upcoming release and features events that unfold in the lead up to Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, as the Ivory Order search for stolen royal treasure. Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars will be available digitally on PS4 on October 28. Fans who pre-order the game will receive the “Golden Dragon Pattern,” which swaps the reverse card design to an original design by Kimihiko Fujisaka as well as a “Traditional Avatar,” which allows them to change the design of the game piece on the field into a traditional craftwork. Fans of the NieR series will also be able to enjoy theming their adventure with a special bundle set, which includes the game, the Pixel Art Set DLC, and seven more DLC themed after NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, including: Dress of the Bereft Emil’s Pattern Emil Avatar Emil Dice Grimoire Weiss Board Library Desk Devola’s Music More DLC images We hope you look forward to playing the game and leave you with a comment from Creative Director Yoko Taro, himself! Hello. I’m Yoko Taro, the producer of Voice of Cards. That’s a lie. Creative director is my real job title. The job of a creative director is to have younger members create lots of different things and then say things like, “that’s pretty good, isn’t it?”, while sitting back on a cushy sofa, but recently, I don’t really get a chance to sit on that sofa. It’s all because of this work. Work is loathsome, work is loathsome, work is loathsome!! The fact that I’m in this situation at all is entirely the fault of Kimihiko Fujisaka, who creates the illustrations for this game. No, doing things like talking about members of the dev team is so inside-joke-like, which I really hate, but I just can’t go without sharing this one story, so please hear me out. A few summers ago, I visited the home of Fujisaka-san, who lives overseas. The place? Hawaii. Fancy, upscale apartment, wonderful pool, amazing nature… a mansion worthy of being lived in by someone who’s made it in life. No, I’m usually joking around all the time when I’m writing these, but it’s true. I’m dead serious. The lifestyle of a celebrity, enough to dazzle the eye. Fujisaka-san and I worked together on a project called Drakengard. We were supposed to be kindred spirits aspiring towards the same dreams… and yet, why? Where was it that the disparity between us grew so wide? I ground my teeth in frustration, so much so that I ended up getting two canker sores as a result. Six months after leaving my oral health in shambles, I received an email from Fujisaka-san out of the blue. What was written there was… oh, now that I think of it, I’ve just remembered that I was told, “Please provide a comment in about 500-600 characters,” by Square Enix, who is releasing this game. It seems that once again, I’ve worked too much. Please allow me to tell the rest of this story at a different opportunity, somewhere else. Until we meet again. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/_cmhPl7WvNgView the full article

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since you last heard from us regarding new merch, and we have been hard at work doing just that. While The Last of Us Day — our annual community celebration — isn’t until September 26, we wanted to kick off the weekend with a couple products we think you’ll love. In addition to the merch below, we will be revealing some all-new content on September 26 at 9:00am PT/ 6:00pm CET. Be sure to come back and check it out on TheLastofUs.com/TLOUDay. With that, let’s dive in! North and South America | Europe The Last of Us Part II Abby Tee To get us started, we have our first official Abby t-shirt. This 100% ringspun tee features the formidable Abby in a painterly watercolor and inked portrait on a strong stone white shirt. North and South America | Europe Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Knit Beanie – Gray North and South America The weather can be a bit chilly during certain times of the year, especially if you’re living in Jackson or Seattle. Grab this cuffed knit beanie before you go on patrol to keep cozy! Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay The Last of Us Part II Flannels North and South America: Charcoal Plaid | Red Plaid Europe: Red Plaid If you’re looking for a classic, lumberjack button-up, like you have been living in Jackson for years, well, you don’t have to leave the safety of the town walls to get this one! In a red and black plaid with a leather detail tag, you will be ready to go out on the town or chop down some resources. Joel sports a pretty great plaid shirt in The Last of Us, and we’ve got one inspired by his style. This charcoal plaid flannel features hints of blue and is finished off with a leather detail tag. The charcoal is available only in US, Canada, and other select countries*. (Pre)order starts Thursday September 23 @ 8 AM PT Estimated ship date September 30, 2021 Red* Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. Charcoal* Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay. The Last of Us Part II Stormtech Rain Jacket North America | Europe Don’t get caught in a torrential downpour without a raincoat like Ellie and Abby when they traverse the ruins of Seattle! Weather the storm with this Stormtech Waterfall Insulated Rain Jacket that includes a laser engraved leather patch. This jacket also features adjustable snap cuffs, laser cut back vent, front zipper with snap closures, and attached hood with adjustable drawstrings. Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. Washington Liberation Front Bomber Jacket Americas | Europe Ready for assignment? PlayStation Gear Store officially has Abby’s Bomber Jacket by Insert Coin available to purchase. In close collaboration with Naughty Dog and using official in-game files, Abby’s Bomber Jacket is crafted with meticulous detail and attention to the unique characteristics. Preorder starts Thursday September 23rd @ 8 AM PT Estimated ship date Jan. 2022 Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Cord Organizer North America | Europe To survive in the world of The Last of Us, it’s good to be well-organized and know your resources. Use this waxed canvas and leather strapped pouch to keep all your cords, pencils, and other useful supplies in one place. Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Leather Valet North America | Europe Every capable survivor knows carrying too much in your pockets drags you down. Put some of it down in a convenient place so you know where everything is. This valet is made from leather and has 4 pinch-snap metal corners to store your keys and odds and ends in one place. Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Canvas Backpack North America | Europe Going out on a patrol for the day? Don’t forget your bag with supplies. This waxed cotton canvas is lightweight and dependable. With a secure zipper pocket on the outside and padded laptop pocket on the inside, you can safely carry all your everyday needs. Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. Additionally, we worked with our friends at Taylor Guitar to bring you all-new accessories inspired by the world of The Last of Us Part II. The Last of Us Part II Taylor Wings Distressed Leather and GS Mini Guitar Strap Wings Distressed Leather Guitar Strap: Americas | Europe GS Mini Guitar Strap: North America | Europe Inspired by the Taylor 314 CE Guitar featured in-game and The Last of Us Part II GS Mini guitar, play in style with two new guitar straps designed for each guitar, respectively. The rustic, multilayered Taylor Wings Distressed Leather Guitar Strap is embossed with the fern from Ellie’s tattoo. The second black strap with white details is inspired and made to fit The Last of Us Part II GS Mini Guitar. Both will perfectly round out your collection, whether you’re getting back to lessons or want to jam out at home. (Pre)order starts Thursday September 23 @ 8 AM PT Estimated ship date December 2, 2021 Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Taylor Guitar Picks Onyx Set: North America | Europe Ember Set: North America | Europe We’re also excited to announce the second, all-new Taylor Guitar products: The Last of Us Part II-inspired guitar picks in Onyx and Ember. The Onyx set features the moth and Washington Liberation Front (WLF) emblems, inspired by Ellie and Abby’s respective journeys. The deep ember pick, is inspired by Joel’s guitar that he gifts to Ellie, featuring the same inlaid moth found on his guitar. (Pre)order starts Thursday September 23 @ 8 AM PT Estimated ship date December 2, 2021 Ships to USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. The Last of Us Part II Guitar GS Mini: Europe The Last of Us Part II Guitar 314 CE: Europe We’re proud to announce that our iconic The Last of Us Part II Replica Taylor 314ce and The Last of Us Part II GS Mini guitars will be available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Music plays a major role in The Last of Us Part II’s story and characters, and we wanted to share that love of music with everyone we possibly can. The Last of Us Part II Replica Taylor 314ce is the ultimate collector’s item, featuring a beautiful rich tobacco sunburst top and a custom moth fretboard inlay. The limited-edition The Last of Us Part II GS Mini guitar features Ellie’s distinctive tattoo in a beautiful black finish and The Last of Us Part II logo displayed on the headstock. (Pre)order starts Thursday September 23 @ 8 AM PT and will run until November 1. Estimated ship date March 31, 2022 Ships to Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and UK. Lastly, in appreciation of The Last of Us Day, all previously released The Last of Us products on PlayStation Gear store will be 20% off, from September 23 through September 30.* Make sure to grab your resources before they’re gone! *Discount cannot be combined with any other ongoing offer/promotion/discount. That’s everything we have new available on PlayStation Gear Store for this year’s The Last of Us Day! We truly hope you have a great start to your The Last of Us Day and come back and celebrate with us on September 26. Cheers. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/G1SkXhOFGecView the full article

Thanks to the new Apple TV+ offer, I’ve been catching up on some terrific TV shows and movies over the past month – Ted Lasso, See, and Greyhound just to name a few. This Friday, Apple TV+ will see arguably its most ambitious entry yet with the premiere of Foundation, an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s legendary sci-fi novel series. Foundation is about as big as it gets – a towering tale of how humanity survives the end of civilization. I caught up with showrunner, writer, and executive producer David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) to learn more about how the accomplished writer/director planned to tackle this monumental new series. The book series Foundation is legendarily difficult to adapt due to its epic scope… its plot spans many thousands of years. What appealed to you about tackling something so huge and complex? DG: Hubris! [laughs] I was weaned on Foundation. My father introduced it to me when I was 13 years old, he said it was the greatest science-fiction work ever written. I first read it in my 20s… I didn’t completely get it. I read it again [once] I was a father, and I understood more how important and revolutionary it was. Also, twice before in my career I was given the opportunity to adapt it as a feature [film], and I turned it down because I didn’t think it was possible to condense everything down into two or three hours. It was only in the past six or seven years…when some of these giant streaming shows started happening, like Game of Thrones and others. You saw these big novelistic adaptations, and I thought that maybe the audience and the medium had matured to a place where Foundation might be possible. For the first time, we weren’t talking about having to condense everything – in success, we were talking about the possibility of being able to expand. So the idea of telling this story across 70 episodes, or 80 episodes, that was really appealing to me. We don’t even get all the way through the first book in the first season. We can take our time, and really dig into the characters. The books were light on emotion, they were more about ideas and philosophy. But I think when people watch these shows, what hooks them are the emotion and the characters. So I had to figure out ways to take Asimov’s themes and embody them in characters. And that’s what led me to create the Genetic Dynasty, which is not an idea that exists in the book. In the book, the Empire is resistant to change, it’s monolithic and rigid. And I thought, what’s the craziest expression of that? How do you take that to 11? Well, what if the Empire is the same Emperor cloning himself again and again and again, and imposing his ego across the galaxy? That was my way of exploring Asimov’s theme. And that led to all these interesting character things we could do with the Emperor. It allowed me to depict the Emperors as monsters, but also these sympathetic figures who were desperate to individuate themselves, who were living in the shadow of Cleon I. That approach was kind of, in a microscope, my approach to the series writ large. Asimov’s writing style is famously straightforward. Did you feel like you had a wide opening to leave your own creative fingerprints on this universe? A little bit… I was a fan of the books, so I approached it as a fan. I don’t think it would be successful if I hadn’t liked the books. One of the first things I did was try to identify all the themes and elements of the books that I thought were essential. I reached out to the Asimov estate and I said, “this is what I have identified as what makes Foundation, Foundation. Do you agree with what I’ve identified?” And they said, “Yep, those seem like the most important elements.” When Asimov was writing these books, he was using them as a mirror to reflect back on contemporary society. But that society was 70 years ago, it was a post World War II environment. We’re 70 years removed from that, so if I’m going to shine a mirror back on society, then I also need to be writing about today. I don’t want to preach to people, but subtly I want to be talking about today. Did you have a creative breakthrough in terms of capturing the essence of this famously complex series for a modern audience? Was there a moment when you said, “I know how to do this?” Yeah, it actually started with Gaal. So in the original trilogy, Gaal is the point-of-view character. Asmiov was very clever with what he did. When we pick up Gaal, Gaal is just arriving at Trantor having made a journey through space…[Gaal] can be the audience’s eyes and ears. You don’t have to have read the books, or know about psychohistory, or the Empire… you don’t have to know what it’s like to take a journey through space, to fold space. What’s cool about that is, then you can just ask yourself, what is it like for that country mouse who’s leaving a parochial world and going to the big city for the first time? Emotionally, what is it like to get on a spaceship, to be in zero gravity, to be terrified when space is folding and you’re breaking time and space? Then I thought about the shape of the spaceships. We say folding space, but the Empire is kind of this patriarchy. They don’t think about folding space, but cutting space, cleaving space. That brings to mind the idea of a blade. So I said I wanted the Empire’s ships to look like knife blades that are literally cutting space. Everything comes from story, from character. If Gaal is our gateway to Foundation, and Gaal doesn’t know much about the universe that we’re exploring… that’s a real gift for the storyteller, and hopefully a gift for the audience. In the book, the reader quickly learns that civilization’s downfall is guaranteed, with humanity left to stumble for eons through a dark age. It’s a grim premise – how do you keep viewers emotionally invested in a show where the stakes are so unfathomable? That’s a good question. At the end of the day, Asimov was an optimist.… he had a lot of faith in humanity, in ingenuity, in technology, in rationalism. Later on, in the 70s and 80s, science fiction got much more dystopian and dark. Lord knows, in my career I’ve done a lot of dark projects! I think after [becoming] a father, I liked the idea of doing something that had high stakes, but fundamentally was a message of hope and optimism. If we work together, we can get through the dark times. That was an important message for me to convey, as a dad. When I started the project, it was before the pandemic had hit. And everything became eerily more relevant once we were in post production. Making the show was incredibly hard during the pandemic, the cast and crew were all isolated for over a year. We couldn’t go home. At certain points in the filming, I would show the cast and crew scenes that we were doing. And I think we all felt like we were making something worthy, and something that might give people a sense of hope in these dark times. There are a lot of wild concepts in Foundation: mathematics, sociology, psychohistory… how do you integrate all of that in a way that’s faithful but isn’t a college lecture? A perfect example of that is our approach to math. Famously, Hari Seldon develops this mathematical formula for predicting the future [ed note: “psychohistory”]. On the surface, for people not into math, that could seem dry or academic. I was terrible at math when I was in school. Even with a tutor, I got Ds. I always had a block. Math was boring to me, but I wanted to depict math as beautiful. And so I said to my design team, I want to find a way to visualize math that’s different from anything we’ve seen before. I know this will sound funny, but I want math to look like the language of angels. I want it to almost be this mystical experience. So we did a lot of development into the math, a lot of concept art, previsualizations, and beta testing with the visual effects. And we came up with this visual expression for math, and I think it is beautiful. And I said, great. Now we need to do that with every single thing in the show. Are there any other epic TV series or film series that you’re using as a North star to help guide the production? Um… there aren’t many TV shows. I would say the one TV show, and I know this will sound funny, is Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul. I love the storytelling on those shows. I love the way Vince Gilligan takes his time, the way that a huge plot device can hang on something tiny that you introduce in a prior season. He really trusts in his audience. I love the shades of grey that Gilligan writes in. I’m not interested in black and white, I love shades of grey, and that’s something we’re certainly exploring in this show. So even though it’s a crazy science fiction show, I would say Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are definitely the things I talked about the most in the writers’ room. Is there anything in our contemporary moment that in some way maybe parallels Seldon’s predictions and the Empire’s reaction to them? I mean, obviously the pandemic. All the scripts were written prior to the pandemic, it’s not something we could have predicted. But the fact that we went through a pandemic 100 years ago, and sadly it seems like we didn’t learn a lot of the lessons from that pandemic even 100 years later. That’s very topical right now. I think the way that science has gotten politicized, things that seem like objective facts are kind of up for grabs. That’s something that Asimov was very interested in. Climate change also occurred to me… For sure, for sure. Climate change was something we were thinking about when we were writing the show. But since we wrote the show, in the three years since, it seems like we’ve reached this inflection point we weren’t quite at when we first were adapting the show. PS5 console owners can enjoy six months trial access to Apple TV+ for no additional cost. Click here for full details, terms, and Frequently Asked Questions. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/9LHpMZUVIoIView the full article

Hi I’m Howard, the team lead of Muse Games, the developer of Embr – a frantic co-op firefighting (plus other side-jobs) game set in a hyper-capitalist alt reality where traditional emergency services are a thing of the past! Game jam in traffic jam – How Embr got its spark Stuck in a horrendous traffic jam back from MAGFest showing Guns of Icarus, we had nothing to do, so what better way to spend time than to jam on game ideas. We started tossing ideas around, and all of a sudden we remembered the Brave Firefighters arcade game that we all loved. In a moment of inspiration, we started dissecting what made that game so fun, and we realized that there hadn’t been an attempt in co-op firefighting in a long time. The idea of exploring the mechanics and theme took root that day. When we started grey boxing the core mechanics of firefighting and creating procedural fire, we knew we wanted to imbue it with a message, something meaningful and drawing an emotional response. As the LA fires were raging, we read about celebrities saving their mega-mansions with private firefighters. We read about the consequences of municipal budget cuts and the plight of gig-economy workers. It all struck an emotional chord, and we decided that this is it. We felt an imperative to shape the game as a satire aimed at venture capitalism and the gig economy, making fun of what rampant privatization at the expense of human condition could do to public services such as firefighting. Fight fires, take on extra gigs, and make money Embr is a frantic co-op firefighting experience where players are pitted against an amorphous, constantly evolving, and procedurally generated enemy – fire – in close quarters. While Embr pays homage to the few pioneering forays such as Burning Rangers and Brave Firefighters, we innovate by forging deeply interconnected material systems and interactions, exploring the endless chaos that these systems create whilst focusing on teamwork. As a team of Embr Respondrs, private gig firefighters, you will rush into burning buildings, and will be confronted with an array of deadly and dangerous hazards. Fire burns around you, spreading through flammable materials, eating oxygen and moisture from the environment as it goes. But it’s not your only risk. As Embr Respondrs, you have to keep your eyes open for dangerous gas leaks, electrical shocks, and deadly explosions as well. Profitable Respondrs have to balance five-star ratings, tool upgrades, and new vehicles against their own health and safety. During beta, Embr’s services have expanded from private firefighting to food delivery, box delivery (because everyone needs more boxes), to cleanup and demolition (clients need that insurance claim for a brand new start sometimes). As your own boss, you have complete agency and freedom of choice to follow objectives, or flaunt them. How you choose to play, or make money, is entirely up to you. Frantic cross-platform online co-op We’re excited to announce that Embr is coming to PS4 on September 23! Launching on PlayStation has been a dream come true for us. It’s an online co-op experience where the bond of friendship is forged by fire. If you have friends on PC or Xbox, Embr comes with cross-platform play so you can make money with them together. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/LLvrvjWU7sMView the full article

We’re so excited to announce that First Class Trouble is coming to PlayStation 5. Let the chaos in space begin! Play Video Developed by Invisible Walls, First Class Trouble is a social deduction party game where six people play together aboard a luxury space cruiser. At the start of each game, four players will be randomly selected to be Residents, cooperatively trying to shut down a rogue A.I. at the heart of the ship. The other two players will be Personoids, who will lie, deceive, and do whatever it takes to stop them! Teamwork is the key to survival, but who can you trust? When development originally began on First Class Trouble, it actually looked nothing like the game you see today. It took place in the snowy wilderness of Cainwood, and you couldn’t throw a single champagne bottle. THE HORROR! After extensive playtesting and feedback from our community, one by one, we began implementing new gameplay mechanics. Soon, Project Cainwood became a thing of the past, and First Class Trouble was born, now taking place aboard a luxury space cruiser during an alternative 1950s timeline. With First Class Trouble making its PlayStation 5 debut, let’s talk about the cool new features exclusive to this version! Thanks to the PS5 controller’s haptic feedback, you’ll be able to feel and experience the chaos in the palm of your hands. Squeeze the trigger to spray a fire extinguisher, and the controller rumbles and emits audio that corresponds with it. Or how about the water pistol? Feel the resistance as you pull the trigger, which stops once you squeeze past the trigger point. Throwing bottles in First Class Trouble is a real crowd pleaser! When bottles smash near you, the controller will emit audio and corresponding haptics. What’s really cool is that the intensity will fall off based on distance from the point of impact! Environmental hazards, like blazing fires and electrical malfunction, have a similar effect. Get too close to a live wire and you’ll feel the shocking results! In-game proximity chat will enhance your interactions and experiences as you hear muffled screams, shouts for help, or bogus attempts at accusing someone else of a vile act. It’s a core element to First Class Trouble where social deductions and deceptions will help you strategize and conspire with other players. Additionally, First Class Trouble supports Fast Boot, so after your first game, you can skip right to the main menu every time you play afterwards. We look forward to welcoming you aboard! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/803T7FcW2kQView the full article

Amy from Survios here, popping in with some big news: Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is launching on PS4 and PS5 this October 5! In addition, we’re offering Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey as a cross-buy title, meaning every PS4 purchase will automatically come with the PS5 version of the game at no additional cost. Play Video Bubble popping takes a turn with spacial puzzle solving We’re so excited to celebrate Bub’s 35th anniversary with our very own “spin” on the iconic and beloved franchise, and we took it quite literally. Building the world in a 3D space introduces a new layer of complexity, and puzzles spin when being hit. In addition to color-matching, players will need to take depth and physics into account when solving each level. Left: Flat-screen gameplay | Right: VR gameplay Play your way with PlayStation Cross-Reality Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is Survios’ first true Cross-Reality title, supporting PS4, PS5, or PS VR gameplay. A big goal for us was giving as many Puzzle Bobble fans access to the game, and the agency to choose how they wanted to play. This led to creating a game that can be fully experienced with or without a headset, and seamlessly swapped in-game for those who want to approach puzzles from a different perspective! When using the PS VR headset, players can step into the role of Bub; With the PlayStation Move controllers, they will be able to physically harness his trusty Bubble Cannon like a slingshot, as well the Paintbrush, Spin Orb, and Chili Bomb power-ups. Balancing 100 progressively difficult puzzles Our Story Mode offers 100 3D bubbles puzzles with configurations that increase in difficulty as you progress. One of our biggest challenges was designing a game that was accessible and fun for anyone to pick up and pop, while still delivering a challenge for those who were more seasoned and wanting to test their wits. As players progress deeper into Story Mode, players will cross new specialty bubbles that can aid or hinder, and introduce variant puzzle challenges where different strategy is required to meet the win conditions. Like the original Puzzle Bobble, most levels are scored based on how many shots you take – fewer shots, higher score. We believe this is where we’ll see the most significant skill difference among puzzle poppers. In addition to Story Mode, Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey offers an endless Infinite Mode for those of us who want to kick back and pop bubbles till we drop, and an online versus Duel Mode that supports matches across PS4, PS5 and PS VR. Duel Mode We can hardly believe that Bub – the adorable star of Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey – is turning 35 this year. It just goes to show that the secret to staying young is a positive attitude, an appetite for adventure and, of course, lots of non-stop bubble popping! Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey bursts onto PS4, PS5 and PS VR October 5. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/CK0CdN1xW00View the full article

It’s almost time! We can’t wait to welcome PS5 and PS4 players into the loop next week when Lemnis Gate launches. Lemnis Gate is the time-manipulating, turn-based strategy FPS prizing skill and smarts. Your ability to flex your brainpower through creative thinking, as well as your mastery of seven uniquely talented Operatives who each come with their own signature weaponry, will be the difference between victory and defeat. Here’s how it works. Time loop Lemnis Gate pits players against each other within a 25-second time loop. The aim is simple: pick your Operative, enter the loop, and then execute your plan. This might mean killing an enemy, protecting a teammate, or destroying an objective. When those 25 seconds are up, the next loop begins. Essentially, each loop stacks upon the previous one. These progressive layers let you build ingenious strategies over five thrilling rounds. Every teammate you see on the map is you from a previous round. That means bustling, ten-Operative matches are comprised of just two players, populating the battlefield with past instances of themselves. Winning requires ample forethought as you plan four-dimensionally to create subversive, unorthodox strategies. Ghost mode So, what happens when you die? In Lemnis Gate, death is not the end. Lose your health, whether through bullets, explosions, or any other damaging effects, and you’ll continue the round as a ghost. Now you’re executing the actions you would take if you were alive. Should the enemy who killed you die, your previously eliminated Operative is brought back to life, and the actions you took as a ghost are enacted. For example, let’s say you’re playing as chemical weapons expert Toxin. Set a trap of noxious sludge on the ground and die, and that sludge will cease to exist. But if you kill the Operative who killed Toxin, the sludge will reappear, along with Toxin. Since the present can directly alter the past, you must think multiple moves in the future. This means you can always come back from a losing position. Reconnaissance drone After you’ve taken your turn, your opponent will take theirs. Now, you’ll monitor the situation with your aerial drone as your opponent attempts to counter your moves. Your drone not only helps you keep tabs on everything happening in the match, but also enables you to place strategy markers to highlight points of interest. See a vulnerable target you want to take out in the next round? Place a marker on them. The drone is there to inform your strategy as you survey the battlefield between turns. Ways to play There’s a multitude of ways to play, both online and offline. Enter the time loop separately with turn-based rules, or enter together and battle simultaneously within the same turn in both 1v1 and 2v2 games. For local gameplay, there’s also a “pass-the-controller” option allowing players to strategize alongside each other in person. Within these match types there are four familiar game modes to enjoy, including Seek & Destroy, Domination, Retrieve XM and Deathmatch. For those with a competitive streak, ranked play pits players against well-matched opponents, allowing them to rise up the ranks and claim a spot on the leaderboard for ultimate bragging rights. While unranked matches offer players a chance to hone their tactical thinking and mastery of the game in friendly matches. PS5 features Lemnis Gate takes advantage of PS5’s innovative hardware. Feel every action with unprecedented precision, from bullets whizzing past your head to the visceral slide of your boots in the dirt. The greater the impact, the more your DualSense responds, putting you right in the heart of the action thanks to PS5’s haptic feedback, which channels high-fidelity tactile audio directly into the palm of your hands. PS5 outputs at up to 4K UHD with 60 FPS offering stunning clarity and slick gameplay. From lime green lava oceans bubbling against black volcanic rock to frozen landscapes featuring towering ice shards and a biting blizzard, an immersive backdrop is invariably at your fingertips In addition you can get into the action quicker thanks to fast loading, because just like in Lemnis Gate, every second counts. Lemnis Gate launches on September 28 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/tARpUu0YfjwView the full article

Following the release of the Gran Turismo 7 trailer from the PlayStation Showcase last week, we are excited to finally share details of Gran Turismo 7 pre-order items and the 25th Anniversary Edition! Pre-Order Items and 25th Anniversary Edition Pre-order at any participating retailers including PS Store and get a pre-order bonus of the following in-game items: Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) Porsche 917K Living Legend 100,000 in-game Credit (CR) 25th Anniversary Edition PS5, PS4 (Retail) This includes a limited-edition SteelBook case (with physical versions only), and is available for pre-order now at retail. Following the release of the Gran Turismo 7 trailer from the PlayStation Showcase last week, we are excited to finally share details of the Gran Turismo 7 25th Anniversary Edition and the bonus items you get with Launch Edition*! Bonus Items and 25th Anniversary Edition Buy the Launch Edition at any participating retailers including PS Store and PS Direct and get the following bonus in-game items*: Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) Porsche 917K Living Legend 100,000 in-game Credit (CR) 25th Anniversary Edition PS5, PS4 (Retail or Direct from PlayStation) This includes a limited-edition SteelBook case (with physical versions only), and is available for pre-order now at retail or Direct from PlayStation. Following the release of the Gran Turismo 7 trailer from the PlayStation Showcase last week, we are excited to finally share details of the Gran Turismo 7 25th Anniversary Edition and the bonus items you get with Launch Edition*! Bonus Items and 25th Anniversary Edition Buy the Launch Edition at any participating retailers including PS Store and PS Direct and get the following bonus in-game items*: Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) Porsche 917K Living Legend 100,000 in-game Credit (CR) 25th Anniversary Edition PS5, PS4 (Retail) This includes a limited-edition SteelBook case (with physical versions only), and is available for pre-order now at retail. Includes PS5 Game Disc and Voucher for PS4 Game** In-Game Credits – 1,100,000 CR Toyota GR Yaris with country specific Livery 30 Manufacturer / Partner Avatars The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) Porsche 917K Living Legend Again, this is a limited-edition physical release so be sure to pre-order your 25th Anniversary Edition while supplies last. 25th Anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition PS5, PS4 (PS Store) For those looking to get a jump start with their car collection, those that purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition through the PS Store before March 4, 2022 would get the Pre-Order items, including: Dual PS4 + PS5 Entitlement In-Game Credits – 1,600,000 CR Toyota GR Yaris with country specific Livery 30 Manufacturer / Partner Avatars The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) Porsche 917K Living Legend The Pre-Order offer ends when the game launches on March 4, 2022, so make sure you don’t wait. Lastly, for those looking to upgrade their PS4 Standard Edition of Gran Turismo 7 to the Gran Turismo 7 PS5 Digital Standard Edition, there will be a $10 digital upgrade option at the time of release*. We could not be more excited to deliver Gran Turismo 7 to everyone on March 4, 2022. Stay tuned as we have lots of more exciting news and information to share with in the coming months. *To upgrade your Gran Turismo 7 PS4 Standard Edition game on disc to the PS5 Digital Standard Edition, you will need a PS5 console with a disc drive. PS4 game discs can’t be used with the PlayStation®5 Digital Edition. ** Digital version. Redeemable on PlayStation Store. Account for PlayStation™ Network and internet connection required for voucher redemption. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/VtSD2f9YRSQView the full article

Following the release of the Gran Turismo 7 trailer from the PlayStation Showcase last week, we are excited to finally share details of Gran Turismo 7 pre-order items and the 25th Anniversary Edition! Pre-Order Items and 25th Anniversary Edition Pre-order at PS Store and get a pre-order bonus of the following in-game items: • Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra • Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) • Porsche 917K Living Legend • 100,000 in-game Credit (CR) You can pre-order the Digital Standard Edition here. Asia physical editions pre-order details will be revealed in the near future. 25th Anniversary Edition PS5, PS4 (Retail) This includes a limited-edition SteelBook® case (with physical versions only). Asia physical editions pre-order details will be revealed in the near future. • Includes PS5 Game Disc and Voucher for PS4 Game** • In-Game Credits – 1,100,000 CR • Toyota GR Yaris with country specific Livery • 30 Manufacturer / Partner Avatars • The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack • Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra • Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) • Porsche 917K Living Legend Again, this is a limited-edition physical release so be sure to pre-order your 25th Anniversary Edition later while supplies last 25th Anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition PS5, PS4 (PS Store) For those looking to get a jump start with their car collection, those that purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition through the PS Store before March 4, 2022 would get the Pre-Order items, including: • Dual PS4 + PS5 Entitlement • In-Game Credits – 1,600,000 CR • Toyota GR Yaris with country specific Livery • 30 Manufacturer / Partner Avatars • The Music of Gran Turismo Official Soundtrack • Toyota Castrol TOM’S Supra • Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) • Porsche 917K Living Legend The Pre-Order offer ends when the game launches on March 4, 2022, so make sure you don’t wait. You can pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition here Lastly, for those looking to upgrade their PS4 Standard Edition of Gran Turismo 7 to the Gran Turismo 7 PS5 Digital Standard Edition, there will be SGD18 / MYR50 / IDR150,000 / THB300 digital upgrade option at the time of release*. We could not be more excited to deliver Gran Turismo 7 to everyone on March 4, 2022. Stay tuned as we have lots of more exciting news and information to share with in the coming months. *To upgrade your Gran Turismo 7 PS4 Standard Edition game on disc to the PS5 Digital Standard Edition, you will need a PS5 console with a disc drive. PS4 game discs can’t be used with the PlayStation®5 Digital Edition. ** Digital version. Redeemable on PlayStation Store. Account for PlayStation(™) Network and internet connection required for voucher redemption. **For Asia, physical editions pre-order details will be revealed in the near future. Please stay tuned. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/JLpurUqv3MgView the full article