Commander Fury

If you know Frostpunk – an acclaimed city-builder survival sim about the frozen apocalypse – you also know there is snow everywhere in the game. But with the upcoming The Last Autumn expansion, launching on July 21, we flipped the table and messed up with the core visual elements from the base game. Green leaves replaced white snow, and since we never imagined Frostpunk without it, it proved to be more challenging than just changing the weather. Play Video At 11 bit studios, we are making games in which art amplifies the design message. In Frostpunk we used the art design to establish that grim, unforgiving, and palpable bleakness that echoes throughout the events we portray. Lighting and colors, stylized parts of UI, particles, or even architectural forms – all those served that purpose. Royal and steel shades of blue dominate Frostpunk’s palette, and all colors are cold and bleached. Every morning in the game’s daily cycle serves as a ray of hope, so we made those a bit different and uplifting. But then minus 60 degrees comes in and everything is back to being desperately normal. Meanwhile, dark UI splashes in the Book of Laws or at story events screens, which can resemble coal which is, after all, the main resource in the game, were stressing the gloomy tones. And details like dirt on the buildings, frozen edges of the screen, sharp shards floating in the air proved to be very useful in maintaining the mood. All those aspects have to click together, and they did in Frostpunk. That’s why the decision to make The Last Autumn a prequel story in which players oversee the construction of the Generator from the main game, was such a big leap into something different. Being snowy is, right next to being steampunk-ish, Frostpunk’s core visual identity. Players see the game screenshots and immediately recognize them, and we were about to drop that ingredient. At least for some part of The Last Autumn story, since winter is a looming threat and delicate snowdrops are starting to hit at some point. Like I’ve stated before – during the main game development, we had never imagined “green” Frostpunk, but tweaking the palette was only a minor task. Most importantly, the whole environment, all 2D illustrations in the game, and all buildings had to be adjusted to their “autumn” versions. In fact, the weather changes in the game are relying on delicate and complex smoke and mirror tricks. The conditions change during storms, but despite that, we’re still moving inside the winter. Because of that, the removal of snow, which might not seem like a big deal, required quite a bit of work. Just like making it appear again since we know what the outcome will be and have to address that as well. Basically, Frostpunk was crafted by a lot of custom systems and it’s not as flexible as we would like. Take rooftops for example. Red rooftops nicely cut off from the whole picture and green terrain, but in the base game, we didn’t have rooftops in buildings models at all, since they were all covered with snow. We also didn’t have many terrain types besides the snowdrifts since we simply didn’t need them. Also, new types of buildings like the dock for ships, that come ashore and as the main source of resources in The Last Autumn, had to be faithful to the art style and visual structure of the game. And staying close to an already paved visual identity does not mean restraining creativity. Knowing your game boundaries can stimulate it even more. That happened during The Last Autumn development, and we think of it as a huge achievement for the 11 bit studios art division. But The Last Autumn isn’t the only Frostpunk expansion debuting on July 21. Albeit The Rifts and On the Edge aren’t as distinguishable in terms of visuals, since both are properly snowy, they also introduce new interesting gameplay mechanics. The Rifts add a new map for Endless mode and bridges, a new type of construction to gather resources scattered across islands. On the Edge narratively follows the events after the Great Storm so from the ending of the base game. Players are tasked with building and maintaining an outpost outside of the city, without the Generator, to extract resources from recently discovered military warehouses and maintaining trade routes with other survivors’ settlements. All three Frostpunk expansions will launch on PlayStation 4 on July 21. The Last Autumn, On the Edge and The Rifts, are available separately or as a bundled Season Pass. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/KTKnBxqAh-UView the full article

To celebrate the upcoming 2021 NBA Finals, PlayStation is proud to partner with the NBA to find the top scorers on the digital court in an NBA 2K21 online fan tournament tipping off later this week. The NBA 2K21 PlayStation Tournaments: NBA Finals will virtually mirror the teams facing each other in the 2021 NBA Finals, putting fans in the shoes of Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks in NBA 2K21. There will be two separate tournaments for PS4 and PS5 players, giving our fans across both platforms the opportunity to take part and compete for prizes including a PlayStation 5 console, PS Store Credit, and other cash prizes. Open qualifiers Starting now, PS4 and PS5 players based in the United States and Europe* can sign up for the NBA 2K21 PlayStation Tournaments: NBA Finals Qualifiers taking place on July 9. Find PS4 sign ups here, and PS5 sign ups here. The winner of each free, single-elimination qualifier bracket will go head-to-head in the finals. Finals The NBA 2K21 PlayStation Tournaments: NBA Finals will take place on July 10, where players and spectators can expect fast-paced best-of-3 matches, all competing for the top spot. The finals matchup will be broadcasted live on the PlayStation Twitch and YouTube channels, so you can tune in for all the action. PS5 NBA Grand Final Prizes are: 1st place: $500 Cash and 250 PS Store Credit 2nd Place: 200 PS Store Credit 3rd Place: 50 PS Store Credit PS4 NBA Grand Final Prizes are: 1st place: PS5 and 250 PS Store Credit 2nd Place: 200 PS Store Credit 3rd Place: 50 PS Store Credit We look forward to seeing you on the court! Are you going to take part in the tournament? Let us know in the comments! *Active PS Plus membership required. Must be 16+ and a resident of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. See full rules for PS4 tournament and full rules for PS5 tournament. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/YqXwqHE_BaMView the full article

Hi everyone, I am Jehanne Rousseau, CEO and lead writer at Spiders. Today, we are very happy to finally unveil the gameplay of SteelRising, and to share with you the creative process that led us to this new project. In the early production stages on SteelRising, we looked at our previous games, The Technomancer and GreedFall, to help define our vision. Our games have always included a mix of action and role playing elements, most often to fulfil combat and character/story purposes. But what if for this next game we focused and expanded on action in particular? This was our starting point: designing an action-RPG with a strong emphasis on fast-paced combat. Play Video The idea of playing as Aegis, an agile automaton, caught on quickly, and our next step was to define our setting. As a Paris-based studio, we have always been influenced by our European roots, and have always had a taste for the baroque, the strange, the eerie. After a few iterations, the pieces started to come together, and we set SteelRising in an alternate timeline based on the French Revolution of 1789. To tame the flames of revolution igniting Paris, King Louis XVI unleashes a deadly army of clockwork robots on the people. You are Aegis, a mysterious automaton, bodyguard to Queen Marie-Antoinette, and the Revolution’s last hope against a king gone mad. Aegis was originally made to be a dancer, and wasn’t initially designed for combat. Considering each opponent you face is a literal killing machine, defeating them won’t be easy. You will have to make good use of your inherent grace, think fast, stay on your toes, and strike at the right moment to come out in one piece. You can also adapt Aegis to your own play style thanks to a flexible levelling system, and a wide variety of different weapons, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses. If you have ever played a Souls-like, SteelRising will feel familiar to you. And this is one of the reasons why we wanted you to play as an automaton: Aegis is much more acrobatic than any human could be. She brings great agility and verticality to any fight. What’s more, throughout your adventure you will unlock various tools, opening new paths to explore as well as new gameplay possibilities during combat. That’s a wrap for today, and while we still have some work ahead of us, we can’t wait to share more details with you about SteelRising, before it releases on PlayStation 5 in 2022. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/KYdTtuC3XdUView the full article

We’ve seen Cole’s head-spinning powers in action before, but this Thursday we’ll get a nine-minute look at Deathloop’s time-twisted world as part of a new State of Play. The show kicks off at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 11pm CEST, viewable on Twitch or YouTube. In this extended gameplay sequence, we’ll see Cole use his abilities to stealthily skulk across rooftops… or go in guns blazing to create a whole lot of mayhem. Lots of options available on Blackreef Island. In addition to this long look at Bethesda’s violent adventure, we’ll have updates on some exciting indie and third-party titles. The full show clocks in around 30 minutes. This showcase will not include updates on the next God of War, Horizon Forbidden West or the next generation of PlayStation VR. Stay tuned throughout the summer though, as we’ll have more updates soon. See you Thursday! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/p8PWtHyqY94View the full article

There’s a robust lineup of games joining PlayStation Now this month. There’s a Western epic with Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2, intense yokai action in the form of Nioh 2, while Judgment serves up a compelling psychological thriller. Enjoy cooperative hijinks with hilarious sim Moving Out, and give in to your competitive nature with both Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Nascar Heat 5. And also welcome back the acclaimed adventure of Kratos and Aterus as God of War returns to PlayStation Now. *Phew*. It’s an epic month. Let’s find out more about what awaits you when all these games join PlayStation Now tomorrow, July 6. Play Video Red Dead Redemption 2 From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sprawling tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. Also included is Red Dead Online: forge your own path as you battle lawmen, outlaw gangs and ferocious wild animals to build a life on the American frontier. Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PlayStation Now until November 1, 2021 exclusively via PS4/PS5 download. Play Video Nioh 2 Master the lethal arts of the samurai as a mysterious half-human, half-supernatural Yokai warrior, in this challenging action RPG sequel. Explore violent Sengoku-era Japan and the deadly Dark Realm, both plagued with grotesque, merciless demons. Unsheathe your deadly weapons and cut down all enemies in your path using a revamped combat system and the ability to transform into a full Yokai to unleash devastating paranormal powers. Play Video Moving Out Moving Out is a ridiculous physics-based moving simulator. As a newly certified Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician, you’ll take on moving jobs all across the town of Packmore. Grow Smooth Moves to brave new heights, recruit colourful customisable characters, and save your town from furniture peril. Play solo or co-op and move your way through sleepy suburbs, frenzied farms, haunted houses, virtual reality and lands beyond! Play Video God of War This staggering reimagining of God of War combines all the hallmarks of the iconic series – epic boss fights, fluid combat, and breathtaking scale – and fuses them with a powerful and moving narrative that re-establishes Kratos’ world. His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus behind him, Kratos now lives in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. As mentor and protector to Atreus, a son determined to earn his respect, Kratos is forced to confront and control the rage that has long defined him. It’s in this harsh, unforgiving world that Kratos must fight to survive, and teach his son to do the same. Play Video Judgment From the team that brought you the critically-acclaimed Yakuza series comes a gripping psychological thriller. Haunted by his past, disgraced attorney Takayuki Yagami takes up arms as a private detective, clawing his way through Kamurocho’s underground crime network to investigate a string of grisly murders. Track suspects, discover clues, and bring evidence to court. Take advantage of two unique battle styles to take down adversaries in electrifying encounters. Judgment is available on PlayStation Now until October 4, 2021. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 This is the official video game for the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020. It includes more than 15 Olympic Games events such as Athletics, Aquatics and Ball games across realistically reproduced venues, such as the Olympic Stadium and Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Every event offers online multiplayer, letting you challenge players from all over the world. Nascar Heat 5 This official video game of the world’s most popular stockcar racing series puts you behind the wheel of these incredible racing machines and challenges you to become the 2020 Nascar Cup Series champion. Features all the official teams, drivers and cars from the three Nascar National Series as well as the Xtreme Dirt Tour, racing on 39 authentic tracks. The immersive Career is complemented by Quick Race, a new Test Session mode and multiplayer, both online and split screen. *Certain games featured on PlayStation Now may be made available in the library on a limited-time basis only. Games included in the subscription (and their features) are subject to change. PlayStation Now games may not provide the same features or be identical to the original formatted or other versions of the same-titled games. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/l42-joWbMroView the full article

Last week, we asked you to return to Midgar and share daring moments from Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade using #PSshare #PSBlog. From intense battle shots to detailed portraits, here are this week’s highlights: Jake_Bellamy92 shares Cloud in the heat of battle. TysonaterVA shares Yuffie holding up some Materia. Anthonyisback33 shares Barret ready to fight. DehDehPs5 shows Aerith unleashing some magic. mnaxer shares Cloud standing through the fog. BarryPaust shares Yuffie striking. 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: Summer SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on July 7 This week, we’re heating up with the summer sun! From sun-drenched shores to clear skied nights, share places and moments that make you think of summer from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/kuH4a4nuPn0View the full article

Welcome back! We’re opening up the ol’ Players’ Choice polls once again, and you’ll have until Monday to get your votes in before we tally them up next week. June saw the release of delightful new adventures in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and the impossibly charming Chicory, plus the return of a long-running 2D fighter in Guilty Gear Strive. There’s also Doki Doki Literature Club Plus… something seems weird about that one, but I’m sure there’s nothing dark or sinister lurking under the surface there. Which one is getting your vote this month? Let us know in the comments! How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/HfraRsh0vjQView the full article

What a year it’s been! As we approach the one-year anniversary of Ghost of Tsushima, we are so grateful for the outpouring of love you’ve sent us since launch. It means so much to see how Jin’s story has resonated with all of you, and we feel incredibly lucky to have such dedicated and supportive fans. We’ve thought a lot about how to expand Jin’s story, and we’ve also spent the last year poring over all of your feedback about how we could improve the experience of playing Ghost of Tsushima. We’ve been hard at work on a brand new edition of the game, which not only includes a new chapter in Jin’s journey, but also some new updates that are a direct response to some of the community’s most-requested features. We’re happy to announce that on August 20, we’ll be releasing Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on both PS5 and PS4 consoles. This new edition comes packed not only with the original game and every piece of additional content we’ve released to date, but a brand-new adventure for Jin alongside a bunch of new features that we’re excited to reveal. Play Video Iki Island If you’re a history buff, you may know that in addition to Tsushima, the neighboring island of Iki was also invaded during this time period. Today we’re excited to reveal that a whole new chapter in Jin’s journey is coming and will take place on Iki. In this new story, Jin travels to the island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence. But soon, he finds himself caught up in events with deeply personal stakes that will force him to relive some traumatic moments from his past. We’ll have more to share about the story of Iki soon, but today we can confirm that beyond a whole new story and new characters, this new island also features tons of new content including brand new environments to explore, new armor for Jin as well as his horse, new mini-games, new techniques, new enemy types, and much more. There are even new animals to pet! On both platforms, Director’s Cut will also offer new Trophies to unlock for the new Iki content. A stunning vista from Iki Island PS5 exclusive features While Director’s Cut players on both PS4 and PS5 will be able to experience the Iki Island content, PlayStation 5 players will have access to a few additional new features. We’ve heard your feedback about the lack of Japanese lip sync in the original version of Ghost of Tsushima, and it’s something we worked hard to address in this new release. Thanks to the PS5’s ability to render cinematics in real time, cutscenes in Ghost of Tsushima and on Iki Island on PS5 will now offer lip sync for Japanese voice over. We’re also happy to confirm that Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, and the new Iki Island expansion will all take advantage of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the Director’s Cut. There will also be enhancements to 3D audio* on PS5, as well as drastically improved load times, 4K resolution options** and framerates targeting 60 FPS. Above screenshots from Ghost of Tsushima on PS5 Transferring your progress If you already own Ghost of Tsushima on PS4, you’ll be able to transfer your save to PS5 to pick up where you left off. For new players, the new Iki Island content will be available beginning in Act 2 of Ghost of Tsushima, after you’ve made your way to the Toyotama region. Jin explores the beautiful Iki Island Other updates Alongside the Director’s Cut, anyone who already owns Ghost of Tsushima will be able to download a patch containing some new updates. Once again, many of these updates are directly thanks to the constant stream of feedback you’ve been providing us since launch, which we’re extremely appreciative of. All players will receive a patch with some new photo mode updates, new accessibility options for controller remapping, as well as the option to enable a target lock-on during combat. And for the person who tweets at us all the time asking for an option to hide your quiver during gameplay: yes, we’ll be adding that, too! Finally, for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends fans, we’ll also be releasing some new updates, including an all-new mode that we’re excited to detail in the weeks to come. All Ghost of Tsushima: Legends*** updates will be available at no additional charge to owners of any version of Ghost of Tsushima on either platform. Pre-orders and upgrades Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut will launch on August 20 for $69.99 USD on PS5 and $59.99 USD on PS4. You’ll be able to pre-order digitally at PlayStation Store, or physical versions from various retailers. If you pre-order at participating retailers, you’ll receive a digital mini soundtrack with tracks from the original Ghost of Tsushima as well as two new songs from Iki Island, and a digital art book featuring a selection of art from Ghost of Tsushima as well as 10 new pieces of Iki Island concept art. Pre-order at PS Store any time before launch and you’ll get access to download the PS4 version of Ghost of Tsushima immediately, so you can start experiencing the main game early and transfer your progress to pick up where you left off when the Director’s Cut launches in August. Jin pauses to practice his flute on Iki Island If you already own Ghost of Tsushima on PS4: You can pre-order an upgrade to Director’s Cut on PS4 for $19.99 USD. This upgrade will become available starting on August 20. Starting on August 20: If you bought Director’s Cut PS4, you’ll be able to upgrade to Director’s Cut PS5 at any time for $9.99 USD You can also upgrade directly (from original Ghost of Tsushima PS4) to Director’s Cut on PS5 for $29.99 USD Additional details about upgrades will be available at PlayStation Store closer to launch. Thank you again to everyone for making this such a special year. We can’t wait to share more about Iki Island with you soon! *3D audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB) **4K display required ***PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus membership is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/lHEp6Rvejk0View the full article

What a year it’s been! As we approach the one-year anniversary of Ghost of Tsushima, we are so grateful for the outpouring of love you’ve sent us since launch. It means so much to see how Jin’s story has resonated with all of you, and we feel incredibly lucky to have such dedicated and supportive fans. We’ve thought a lot about how to expand Jin’s story, and we’ve also spent the last year poring over all of your feedback about how we could improve the experience of playing Ghost of Tsushima. We’ve been hard at work on a brand new edition of the game, which not only includes a new chapter in Jin’s journey, but also some new updates that are a direct response to some of the community’s most-requested features. We’re happy to announce that on August 20, we’ll be releasing Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on both PS5 and PS4 consoles. This new edition comes packed not only with the original game and every piece of additional content we’ve released to date, but a brand-new adventure for Jin alongside a bunch of new features that we’re excited to reveal. Play Video Iki Island If you’re a history buff, you may know that in addition to Tsushima, the neighboring island of Iki was also invaded during this time period. Today we’re excited to reveal that a whole new chapter in Jin’s journey is coming and will take place on Iki. In this new story, Jin travels to the island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence. But soon, he finds himself caught up in events with deeply personal stakes that will force him to relive some traumatic moments from his past. We’ll have more to share about the story of Iki soon, but today we can confirm that beyond a whole new story and new characters, this new island also features tons of new content including brand new environments to explore, new armor for Jin as well as his horse, new mini-games, new techniques, new enemy types, and much more. There are even new animals to pet! On both platforms, Director’s Cut will also offer new Trophies to unlock for the new Iki content. A stunning vista from Iki Island PS5 exclusive features While Director’s Cut players on both PS4 and PS5 will be able to experience the Iki Island content, PlayStation 5 players will have access to a few additional new features. We’ve heard your feedback about the lack of Japanese lip sync in the original version of Ghost of Tsushima, and it’s something we worked hard to address in this new release. Thanks to the PS5’s ability to render cinematics in real time, cutscenes in Ghost of Tsushima and on Iki Island on PS5 will now offer lip sync for Japanese voice over. We’re also happy to confirm that Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, and the new Iki Island expansion will all take advantage of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the Director’s Cut. There will also be enhancements to 3D audio* on PS5, as well as drastically improved load times, 4K resolution options** and framerates targeting 60 FPS. Above screenshots from Ghost of Tsushima on PS5 Transferring your progress If you already own Ghost of Tsushima on PS4, you’ll be able to transfer your save to PS5 to pick up where you left off. For new players, the new Iki Island content will be available beginning in Act 2 of Ghost of Tsushima, after you’ve made your way to the Toyotama region. Jin explores the beautiful Iki Island Other updates Alongside the Director’s Cut, anyone who already owns Ghost of Tsushima will be able to download a patch containing some new updates. Once again, many of these updates are directly thanks to the constant stream of feedback you’ve been providing us since launch, which we’re extremely appreciative of. All players will receive a patch with some new photo mode updates, new accessibility options for controller remapping, as well as the option to enable a target lock-on during combat. And for the person who tweets at us all the time asking for an option to hide your quiver during gameplay: yes, we’ll be adding that, too! Finally, for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends fans, we’ll also be releasing some new updates, including an all-new mode that we’re excited to detail in the weeks to come. All Ghost of Tsushima: Legends*** updates will be available at no additional charge to owners of any version of Ghost of Tsushima on either platform. Pre-orders and upgrades Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut will launch on August 20 for SGD97.90 / MYR299 / IDR1,029,000 / THB2,290 / PHP3,490 on PS5 and SGD79.90 / MYR249 / IDR879,000 / THB1,990 / PHP2,990 on PS4. You’ll be able to pre-order digitally at PlayStation Store, or physical versions from various retailers. If you pre-order at participating retailers, you’ll receive a digital mini soundtrack with tracks from the original Ghost of Tsushima as well as two new songs from Iki Island, and a digital art book featuring a selection of art from Ghost of Tsushima as well as 10 new pieces of Iki Island concept art. Pre-order at PS Store any time before launch and you’ll get access to download the PS4 version of Ghost of Tsushima immediately, so you can start experiencing the main game early and transfer your progress to pick up where you left off when the Director’s Cut launches in August. Jin pauses to practice his flute on Iki Island If you already own Ghost of Tsushima on PS4: ● You can pre-order an upgrade to Director’s Cut on PS4 for SGD26.90 / MYR89 / IDR289,000 / THB690. This upgrade will become available starting on August 20. Starting on August 20: ● If you bought Director’s Cut PS4, you’ll be able to upgrade to Director’s Cut PS5 at any time for SGD18 / MYR50 / IDR150,000 / THB300 ● You can also upgrade directly (from original Ghost of Tsushima PS4) to Director’s Cut on PS5 for SGD40.90 / MYR129 / IDR439,000 / THB990 Additional details about upgrades will be available at PlayStation Store closer to launch. Thank you again to everyone for making this such a special year. We can’t wait to share more about Iki Island with you soon! *3D audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB) **4K display required ***PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus membership is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/f2bOkqLCG10View the full article

Bonjour! I am Jordi Asensio, Lead Game Designer on Streets of Rage 4. I worked on the game’s design system, character integration, level design, and game modes. Today I would like to introduce the new Survival mode, as well as the new characters that will be playable in our DLC, Mr. X Nightmare – available on July 15. Play Video Streets of Rage 4 developers offer an insightful walkthrough of Mr. X Nightmare’s Survival mode in a new episode of PlayStation Underground. Introducing Streets of Rage 4’s Survival mode We always wanted a Survival mode for Streets of Rage 4, but we decided to focus on the campaign first so as not to sidetrack production. It was a tough decision, but we knew it was the right one. With the game released, we could focus on a post-launch expansion. I started poring over previous ideas we had as well as player feedback. I noticed that fans wanted, in addition to new content, new ways to play. So we tackled the challenge on two fronts: gameplay (characters and mechanics) and content (enemies, stages). I also wanted to use this opportunity to inject a sense of power progression into our core gameplay experience , without overloading players with overelaborate RPG elements that’d negatively impact the game’s rhythm. That’s how the idea to use Perks came in. We made sure that our first Perks were built on existing gameplay systems. This early batch was pretty simple: increasing the character’s strength, defense, and speed, and giving them weapons. We then added more unusual stuff – elementary effects (fire, thunder, poison). Once we moved forward with this concept, we added new ideas – for example, cursed Perks with both positive and negative effects. We also identified synergies between Perks to create surprising combinations. After this came months of testing and balancing. Estel hits hard. Facing the simulation In Streets of Rage 4’s Survival mode, the player uses the remnants of Mister X’s brain to enter a simulation. This simulation produces waves of enemies in trap-filled arenas. After a wave is beaten, you can choose between two Perks that remain active during your entire run. There’s no selectable difficulty. We instead designed runs around three phases: early, mid, and endgame. To pull this off, we worked diligently on the relationship between the difficulty curve and player power. In the early game, the player starts shaping their build and approach to the run based on Perk selection. The average player will face a good challenge, while more advanced players will focus on building momentum for what is to come, thanks to combos and scoring which rewards players with Star moves. Midgame is where the curves synchronize – the player’s skill will be determinant here. Endgame is where a player’s skill and use of perks will determine how long they can survive.. In order to keep every session engaging, we had to create a system to generate enemy waves – one where randomness helps create crazy situations but still built up on specific rules. Enemies are divided into categories: Fodder goons: enemies that occupy the screen more by their numbers than their strength. Advance goons: enemies with specific attacks. You’ll need to use smarts to beat them. Elite goons: these are game-changers requiring you to adapt your strategy and not put a foot wrong. With these in place, the game can design waves just like we did for the main campaign and create interesting combinations: 4 fodder goons + 2 advanced, 8 fodders + 1 elite, 2 elites, etc. Each enemy has a rank value, every level a value cap (as example, level 4’s rank cap is 400).To keep advanced players challenged, procedural generation can exceed that cap. A rubberband system balances things though: hit 450 in a level and the next starts at -50. The reverse is true, so be careful! Gladiator biome variants Creating new levels and new enemies The mode features arenas that are completely new. We wanted to create a feeling of oppression, that sense of survival, pushing players to their limits. We brainstormed new biomes and unique traps for each. Concepts for traps in the factory biome Having new playable characters but no new enemies would have been a missed opportunity! So while the art team was busy crafting all of the playable characters, I decided to select sprites from the original games. A total of 30 retro enemies are integrated into SoR4, including a couple of bosses that still give players nightmares. Even though I tried to align most of them to the spirit of the original game’s AI, they still had to be adapted to the SoR4 game system. For example, some retro enemies kept using invincible attacks, so we replaced them with armor attacks. This means that they can absorb a few punches while still seeing their health bar impacted. Adding new playable characters and new moves As soon as the team got the green light for a DLC, we started working on Max, Shiva, and Estel. Demands from fans were very strong for this trio and we already had a head-start since their character design was done and some animations were already integrated. Max is a grappler, of course. He is a slow character in SoR2, but experienced players can be very fast with him, so I needed to keep this in mind while adapting him to the new game’s system. For Estel, we had carte blanche so we decided to give her a unique, very direct and hard-hitting style compared to the other two characters. We also added explosives and incapacitating grenades to her regular move list. I wanted to build the Shiva character around his combos.. For Shiva’s alternative moves list, I was inspired by his special attack as a boss in Streets of Rage 4. I was able to create a lot of techniques based on the creation of clones. Teaching classic characters new tricks Perks are a key element of rogue-lite games, and we searched for inspiration and elements that could be used in the SoR4 game experience. After the release, I created for fun an alternate version of Axel with a brand-new set of moves using animations and art that already existed. I then added some FX on it. This is how the idea came about to permanently unlock new moves as a reward in Survival mode. Since you can fully customize your character’s move set, this DLC gives players plenty to discover. And once you’ve unlocked everything, you’ll want to try every combination yourself in order to get the highest score. Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare launches July 15 on PlayStation 4. Play Video http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/HpWn1jNfga4View the full article

Beginning next week, Warframe players can battle against their very own high-tech adversary known as the Sisters of Parvos in the new Corpus Lich system, help the new Warframe Yareli save the Ventkids of Fortuna, and collect an expansive amount of new loot in the upcoming Sisters of Parvos game update. Coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on July 6. Here’s a quick preview of what we’ve been up to and some of the new content being released with this game update: New accessible water-bending Warframe Yareli New in-game comic-book quest with K-Drive Challenges New Corpus Lich System with boss battles and rewards Play Video Confront the Sisters of Parvos as a new water-bending Warframe In Warframe’s next game update, we’ll be extending the storyline of the greedy Parvos Granum and his latest creations, the Sisters of Parvos. Following her introduction in our most recent game update, Call of the Tempestarii, the new adversary, Vala, will return with the “sisters Parvos never had” as well as their new mechanized Hounds. Sisters can be encountered through our new Corpus Lich System which will include boss battles and rewards. Additionally, with the aggressive Corpus expansion led by Parvos, players will be called upon to return to the open-world hub of Fortuna and complete challenges across the Orb Vallis to protect the vulnerable Ventkids and earn the latest Warframe, Yareli. The new wave-riding, orphan-saving, comic hero of Fortuna, Yareli Beginning next week players will be able to unlock Yareli, the 47th Warframe we’ve released and one of our most accessible yet. Yareli is legendary in Fortuna for her selfless heroism against the oppressive Corpus regime. She strikes fear into those who oppress using an arsenal of graceful – yet powerful – aquatic Abilities. With Yareli, players can wield the powers of water to create blades of ice, powerful geysers and even an aqua board to traverse the battlefield. New players will enjoy the fast, fun, cooperative action of Warframe as they level-up and progress towards unlocking Fortuna, so they too can quickly earn Yareli. Active players will return to the Orb Vallis and complete challenges to earn Yareli by collecting comic resources that reveal more of her story. To ensure that as many players as possible can ride the wave when Sisters of Parvos releases, we suggest players complete Vox Solaris before the update to unlock K-Drive functionality. Unique to Yareli, her second Ability will actually summon her own K-Drive, Merulina — a living sea creature. The selfless savior protecting the Ventkids from Corpus Oppression We know how much our players enjoy the open world of the Orb Vallis, and it’s perfectly placed in our universe so that even new players can get in on the action. Players who have already completed Vox Solaris will receive an invitation from Roky to unlock the Waverider Quest, a comic-based series of K-Drive challenges in the Orb Vallis that will award Yareli’s Main Blueprint. Research the rest of her components from the new Bash Lab Dojo Room and bring the Ventkids’ beloved hero to life! Fun-flying, free-wheeling K-Drives in the open world of Orb Vallis Players should spend some time mastering the K-Drive by advancing their riding skills so that they can accomplish the new open-world stunt challenges in the Orb Vallis and unlock Yareli as quickly as possible. Warframe is known for the Bullet Jump, and sure, it’s a blast, but the K-Drive adds an exhilarating dimension to movement offering additional combat and traversal options… not to mention, it’s fun to bust out a trick and impress friends every once in a while. With a K-Drive, players can shred their way through the vast lands of the Orb Vallis with force, speed and now… style. Yareli’s Merulina is part of her unique playstyle, and knowing how to handle a K-Drive on the battlefield will definitely give players the opportunity to combine movement and Abilities in all-new ways. Confront a new state of the art Adversary For our active players wanting new challenges and new loot to customize and personalize their experience, the new Corpus Lich System brings more boss battles and with it, more rewards. True to their high-tech status, the Sisters of Parvos have been outfitted with eight of the most advanced Weapons in the Corpus arsenal for players to unlock. See you on the slopes, Tenno. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/TVm3__MvywAView the full article

The PlayStation Plus July lineup packs in thrilling firefights, wrestling superstars, intense horror, and martial arts action. Whether your tastes lie with first-person shooters (Call of Duty: Black Ops 4), over the top arcade punch ups (WWE 2K Battlegrounds), third-person survival horror (A Plague Tale: Innocence) or battling your way up global leaderboards (Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown), PlayStation Plus next month has something for you. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, and A Plague Tale: Innocence are available to add to your console library starting Tuesday, July 6 until Monday, August 2. And if you missed it last month, Virtua Fighter is available on PlayStation Plus for a second month, and is available to PlayStation Plus members until Monday, August 2. Let’s take a closer look at each. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | PS4 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 delivers a trio of action-packed multiplayer-modes* for first-person shooter fans. First there’s the series’ iconic multiplayer experience pitting players against each other worldwide. Second, is the fan-favourite Zombies experience, letting you and friends battle the undead. Last but not least is Blackout, an intense large-map mode inspired by battle royale. Blackout brings together characters, locations, weapons and gear from across the series in all-out survival combat – all with a unique Black Ops twist. WWE 2K Battlegrounds | PS4 The world of WWE is your battleground with over-the-top, arcade action as your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends battle in interactive environments around the world. Play through a new story mode while unlocking unique characters and Battlegrounds. Compete using special abilities and power-ups in match types like Steel Cage, Royal Rumble, and more! Compete in Online Tournaments or stake your claim as King of the Battleground against players from around the world!* Plus, battle it out in local multiplayer and dominate your friends. A Plague Tale: Innocence | PS5 version only** The critically acclaimed adventure releases on PS5 with 4K native resolution***, targeted 60 FPS, highly improved visuals, and fast loading – and makes its debut onto PlayStation Plus. Follow the tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history. Hunted by Inquisition soldiers and surrounded by unstoppable swarms of rats, Amicia and Hugo will come to know and trust each other. As they struggle to survive against overwhelming odds, they will fight to find purpose in this brutal, unforgiving world. These three new releases are also joined by Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, as Sega’s beat’em up enjoys its second month on PlayStation Plus. If you missed it in June, here’s what you need to know: Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown | PS4 Sega’s iconic one-on-one battler gets remade for a new generation by Yakuza and Judgment developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. This console exclusive allows both VF veterans and newcomers to experience the intense martial arts combat, deep strategy, and intricately balanced gameplay of the groundbreaking 3D fighter in stunning HD. New online features* – like custom tournaments supporting up to 16 players and live spectating – join classic modes like Rank Match, Arcade, and VF5’s famously robust Training to deliver the definitive Virtua Fighter experience. Last chance to download PlayStation Plus games for June As some games join, others leave. You’ve until Monday July 5 to add Star Wars: Squadrons and Operation: Tango to your game library. Make sure not to miss either! *Online multiplayer requires PS Plus subscription; fees recur until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms. **Benefit not applicable for A Plague Tale: Innocence on PS4 consoles. ***4K display required. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/Aid0FxdD5EkView the full article

Helloooo, PlayStation fans! It’s Janet Hsu, localisation director of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, here today to talk a little about the localisation of this long-awaited game that I’ve been wanting to share with you for so many years. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d have the privilege to bring out such a beautiful, HD version of this title to the PlayStation 4, but here we are! It’s truly been an honour for me. My guiding philosophy for the localisation of this title was “Authentic, yet Accessible”, and I thought I’d expand on that a little more here. I’ve long thought that unlike medical or legal translation, translating and localising for video games is a sort of art: a balancing act of faithfulness to the literal words of the original text and correctly conveying the intentions behind them in a way that the audience can connect with. This also means each game – or any piece of entertainment media – has its own needs and limitations: What sort of game is it? Action? Adventure? Who is the intended audience and what should they be expected to know going in? etc. As with any form of art, what’s considered “best practices” also changes over time as they are based on contemporary cultural sensibilities. Therefore, the concept of “Authentic, yet Accessible” can mean different things in different contexts. For example, I was reading an English translation of real life Japanese author Soseki Natsume’s I Am a Cat the other day and I was taken aback by one of its feline characters talking about his owner making “a penny a tail” and having collected “about half a crown” off of his hard work catching rats. But the British English translation I was reading is from 1972 and was primarily for a Western audience with no access to the internet. Therefore, it would seem that back then, even simple things like monetary values were localised to ensure that the reader could more readily grasp a sense of the amount of money being discussed, despite the story’s Japanese setting. And while this is something most translators wouldn’t do nowadays because best practices have changed over time, the funny thing is, even with the slight loss of authenticity, converting Japanese monetary values into British ones has held up remarkably well in one respect as a localisation choice: it made the English translation more accessible to me as a reader in the year 2021 – over 40 years later – because of my familiarity with Victorian monetary values (thanks, period dramas!). Having read Soseki’s original 1905 novel in Japanese as well, I can tell you I had no idea how much 5 sen or 1 yen 50 sen is worth off the top of my head, and neither does the average Japanese person it would seem. To me, this is a case of favouring accessibility over authenticity, which is certainly one way to assign weight to these two opposing elements. These sorts of balancing decisions are made all the time whenever a piece of work is translated, let alone localized. But I have a feeling that even Soseki himself wouldn’t have minded these sorts of liberties being taken with his work. In fact, there’s a pretty famous story about our favourite moustached cat novelist and his own translation philosophy! In Episode 6 of the Escapades, we have this recounting of the well-known tale. So what’s wrong with the answer Ryunosuke provided? Well, let’s have Professor Soseki explain his thinking to us. And as Sholmes rightly points out, ‘Tsuki ga kirei desu ne’ is hardly what your textbook would tell you to translate ‘I love you’ as. Still, there is a very good reason. “Bad Sholmes!” indeed! Because the underlying message Soseki was trying to convey is that in translating something, you have to take the cultural sensibilities of the target language into account as well. In this case, the more suitable “localisation” in his mind is the more oblique and poetic one that better aligns with the Japanese spirit of the time in its rendering of such a declaration. In doing so, he not only preserved the romantic nature of the phrase but also made it accessible in a way that his fellow countrymen would prefer. So you see, he too would have to have made such calculations between authenticity and accessibility in his translations over 100 years ago. But wait! That’s not all there is to this particular in-game passage. So let’s buckle up for a little “locali-ception”! You’ll notice that Ryunosuke’s answer was ‘“Aishiteiru” or “Suki desu”’, but as those of you who are already familiar with the legend of Soseki and the Beautiful Moon know, it’s often said that the translation he told his student to use is 我、君ヲ愛ス (Ware, kimi wo aisu). In fact, that’s what the original Japanese text of this scene said. So then, why did we even change that in the English if it’s meant to be a Japanese phrase? Well, this is because of two big factors: 1) To use a phrase that some people in our audience might possibly recognize thanks to anime or Basic Japanese 101 class as opposed to something no one would know unless they’ve had extensive Japanese training (or were a Soseki mega-fan) 2) To set up two big wordplays that are coming up by defining these words in advance for people who don’t know any Japanese at all In my greed, I wanted to make sure that the phrase was still Japanese to keep it as authentic as possible. But with the direction the dialogue ultimately goes in, it wouldn’t have mattered what I wanted if I couldn’t figure out a way to translate this passage for people with no knowledge of Japanese; it was also important to me that they, too, could understand the little jab Sholmes takes at ‘suki’ and ‘tsuki’ by saying it’s merely a clever bit of wordplay, which was a joke in the original Japanese text. So I used Ryunosuke’s line as a way to set up what’s to come. As for the ‘aishiteiru’, well that comes up again a little bit later in the Escapade… (This entire episode was a nightmare of an exercise in localisation. I even had to sketch out how all the wordplay is linked and how to tackle them beforehand. Why did you do this to me Takumi-saaaan…?!? ><; ) But this also brings up an interesting dilemma I had this time around. The mainline games feature a character by the name of Phoenix Wright, but this new game’s protagonist didn’t even have an English name yet. What was I to do? On the one hand, I could’ve continued with the approach I’d used for the mainline games and gone the complete localisation route, completely favouring accessibility over authenticity, but instead, I chose to go in almost the complete opposite direction and favour authenticity over accessibility because the needs of the narrative willed it so. Here was a character whose identity and story is entirely grounded in his Japanese nationality. So while it was already my preference to keep him Japanese, the situation left me with no doubt in my mind that he had to be Ryunosuke Naruhodo. With his name squared away, the next question to answer was, “Will he still be Phoenix’s ancestor?” to which my immediate response was, “Yes, of course!” Perhaps you’re wondering how I could reconcile the two characters’ backgrounds so easily, but as an Asian American, the answer couldn’t be plainer! Why couldn’t Phoenix have Japanese ancestry when he lives in such a multicultural country in the first place? In a way, in reconciling the American setting of the first game with the Japanese elements I had to keep in the subsequent games, I suppose the America of Ace Attorney has become something of a more idealized version of itself for me, and maybe there’s a part of me that wishes I could’ve grown up in such a place as well, as it reflects a bit of my lived experiences in its unique blend of East meets West. As you can see from just these few examples, this is why I find it very hard to directly compare one localisation’s approach to another. Due to external factors surrounding the localisation itself such as the target language and culture or the era in which it’s being made, and the philosophy of the translator or localiser, each localisation is crafted in a way that best caters to its goals and needs. It’s the reason why things like the American versions (or localisations, if you will) of TVshows like The Office and Shameless exist, despite the originals being in English, and why modern translations of Shakespeare exists since time has changed the English language itself so much that his works have become inaccessible in some ways to the average modern reader. But enough philosophy! Let’s take a look at a few more in-game examples! Japanese English ■ナルホド‥‥あの。ホームズさん。これ、なんですけど‥‥ ■Ryunosuke Um, Mr Sholmes, what do you make of this? ■ホームズしッ！　黙って。 ■Sholmes Shh! Quiet! ■ホームズ‥‥ボクはね。スイリに夢中になると、なにも目に入らなくなるのですよ。 ■Sholmes When I’m ruminating in the course of my deductions,nothing must disturb my mind. ■ナルホドあ‥‥す。スミマセンでした。 ■Ryunosuke Oh… So sorry… ■ホームズ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥カレーライス、かな。 ■Sholmes………Ah, an Indian curry, perhaps… ■ナルホド（‥‥ヒルごはんの献立を　スイリしているみたいだな） ■Ryunosuke (What’s he ruminating about?The lunch menu?) So this is an interesting example of localising intent while staying authentic to the story and character. In the Japanese, Sholmes guesses that perhaps they’ll be having curry rice for lunch. However, the translators flagged this as strange since curry rice is what we in the West would call a distinctly Japanese dish. It also seemed out of character for Sholmes to reference it so offhandedly as an Englishman. The thing is, curry rice has a bit of an interesting history: it was the British who first introduced Indian curry to Japan in the mid-19th century, but it didn’t become the popular dish it is today until the early 20th century after its formal adoption by the Japanese army and navy. That’s when it really took off and evolved into the altogether Japanese dish it is today. So when a Japanese player reads Sholmes saying he deduces that today’s lunch will be curry rice, the idea being presented is that he’s thinking of a non-Japanese food that’s commonly considered “Indian” in their minds. But without this cultural background, it’s hard to see why Sholmes would suddenly mention curry rice. That’s why in the English version, we’ve gone with Indian curry since that is the actual roots of the curry rice mentioned in the Japanese version, and fits better with the image of Sholmes as a British man to an English-speaking audience. Here’s another interesting example of adding a little authenticity to the British setting for the English version. Japanese English 有罪、無罪、有罪、無罪、有罪、無罪、 有罪、無罪、有罪、無罪、有罪、無罪、 Nibble nobble guilty bobble, nibble not guilty out. Nibble nobble guilty bobble, nibble not guilty out. ‥‥おそらく。『花うらない』のようなものではないでしょうか。 …Perhaps it’s akin to fortune-telling with flower petals like people do back home? （ドビンボー博士の運命が、１本の　’もろこし’にたくされるとは‥‥） (So Professor Harebrayne’s fate is to be decided by a cob of corn…) Similar to “Eeny meeny miny moe”, this little ditty that the country girl sings as she typewriters her way through Colonel Cob is based on the English schoolyard counting song “Ibble obble”. The Japanese text simply has the girl repeating “guilty, not guilty” over and over, but with this simple addition, the translators added a little London flavour and turned her “guilty, not guilty” chant into an even more mysterious set of words to Ryunosuke and Susato’s ears, thus making their confused response all the more fitting. By the way, the flower fortune-telling game ‘花うらない’ (hana uranai) Susato mentions is actually remarkably similar to the “he loves me, he loves me not” flower game in the West, and just like its English counterpart, is said to have originated from the French game, “effeuiller la marguerite”. On the topic of adding more authentic English flavour, the translators did an absolutely amazing job of adding touches that I, as an American, would never have been able to do no matter how familiar I am with all things British. From the outset, I’d told the translators that they could write as Britishly as they pleased, and I would be here to dial things like grammar and phrasings back as necessary to ensure accessibility to a wider international audience. So beyond just witty quips, you can bet there are pun runs and alliterations galore! On the flip side, for the episodes set in Japan, we tried to preserve the original Japanese flavour and I even went so far as to keep the graphics untouched. Instead, I asked the programmers to implement a special “subtitle system” for the Court Record so that when you mouse over pieces of text that are meant to be legible for a Japanese player, a translation will pop up on-screen as a subtitle. This is only possible thanks to being on current gen hardware as there definitely would not have been enough system memory to pull this off in previous versions. We also use the honorific “-san” and the English titles Mr and Miss to differentiate when characters are thinking or speaking in Japanese versus English. In this way, I strove to bring out the turbulent “clash of cultures” feel of the Meiji era that was present in the Japanese version. To bring out the period feel even further, we took cues from the Japanese text where complicated or period kanji characters were often used and then labelled with a modern reading above it in smaller furigana characters to keep the text accessible to the player. Restaurants were literally “occidental food halls” (洋食堂/yoshokudo) but the kanji characters are labelled with a furigana reading that spells out the modern word “resutoran” (レストラン). Another thing the Japanese did was use more dated speaking patterns. One notable example is the way Ryunosuke says “I wonder” in Japanese. In modern Japanese, ～かしら (kashira) is a construction that pretty much only women or people who wanted to sound feminine will use, but back in the Meiji era, it was used by anyone and everyone. (One of our Japanese team members this time actually wrote this up as a bug because it’s such an unusual phrase for a male character to say in a modern game. Needless to say, it was a little surreal when it was me who had to school him by sending the bug back with “It’s period appropriate!” lol.) The game’s writer and director Mr Takumi talked about this once in an interview where he mentioned how he had to balance real Meiji era speak with what would be fun to read for a modern audience, ending up with a sort of “faux-Meiji” middle ground style. In this way, the translators and I set out to construct our own “faux-Victorian” style by doing things like using mostly Victorian-era words and grammar, and “he or she” in place of singular “they” when a character’s identity was unknown (which turned out to be a lot harder to do because we were all so used to singular “they”!). Japanese names were also written in English order: first name, surname. This is because back then, this would’ve been the expected way to write a Japanese name in English. But what about the way we chose to spell their names? Well, of course we used an internationally recognized Romanisation convention to represent Japanese sounds with Latin alphabet letters, but did you know that there are multiple “Romaji” systems? Many people throughout time have tried their hands at creating one, but the predominant system used today is known as the Hepburn system, developed by James Hepburn in the 1860’s. This is perhaps the one you learned in your Japanese class, but even within this system, there are a number of standardized deviations. We chose to go with a variant of Modified or Revised Hepburn for a number of reasons, but the four big ones were 1) conserving space, 2) increasing readability for people who are unfamiliar with Japanese words and how to pronounce them, 3) avoiding font support issues, and 4) preserving the intent of the original Japanese dev team who spelled the characters’ names in the same the way we’ve presented them in the final English version. Perhaps those of you who know Japanese have looked at how Ryunosuke and Asogi are spelled and thought, “What happened to the extra ‘u’s that should be in there? Why were they dropped?” The answer is simply that in the variation we chose, we’re supposed to drop unpronounced vowels such as the ‘u’s in this case. This more streamlined style, which is used by the Japanese government itself for English information signage around Japan, makes it a ton easier for people who don’t know what that extra letter’s real function is, and increases the chance that they’ll pronounce it correctly on their first try. It also saves us a letter on-screen, where every usable pixel is a big deal. “But then why not use macrons and spell their names as Ryūnosuke and Asōgi instead?” is probably your next question, I’ll bet. This is where the technical side of things comes into play. Not every typeface comes with every glyph or letter that’s used in European languages. This is especially true of Asian language-based fonts. In fact, just to use the en-dash, the UI designer and I had to merge that glyph into the main text font from another typeset that was similar looking enough to pass muster. (You do NOT want to know how many fonts I had to look through on that day in search of one tiny dash… *shudder*) It’s also the reason why, ultimately, we had to go with “Esmeralda” instead of “Esméralda” for Madame Tusspells since one of the fancier fonts in the game doesn’t contain the é (e-acute) letter. Speaking of UI troubles, there were a ton of other changes we had to make, not the least of which was to speed up the typewriter text here and there due to the sheer number of letters we needed to display. But increasing the speed of the text caused the tail end of the typewriter sound effects to get clipped, so I had new custom ones made for the English version. If you’ve got good ears and are familiar with the Japanese version, you just might be able to hear what I’m talking about when you play the game for yourself. Phew, I talked about a lot today, but I’ve really only scratched the surface of what went into the localization of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. I hope I’ve shed some light on just a few of the choices we had to make and that you’ll check it out for yourself when it comes out on July 27, 2021 for PlayStation 4. Until then! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/UCK35QBcir8View the full article

The jungle is heating up this summer with new Predator: Hunting Grounds updates coming your way! The hottest new arrival is one we know fans have been patiently awaiting… She is finally joining Dutch in the “Choppa”… Alice Braga has lent her voice to bring Isabelle to the game’s world. This new update will not only showcase our ninth DLC since launching last year, but it will also unleash a new playground – the Headquarters Map. That’s right – nine DLC’s and six maps later, IllFonic keeps thinking of ways to challenge players in the jungle. Our paid DLC pack for this summer re-introduces a fan favorite to the Predator: Hunting Grounds world, and it’s available today. Help us in welcoming 2010’s Predators character Isabelle to the game. A sniper in an elite defense force, Isabelle was selected by the Predator menace as worthy prey to be hunted on an off-world game preserve. One of two survivors in a group of eight specialized killers, she managed to escape and returned to Earth. After joining the OWLF, it was determined that “Izzy” had more confirmed Predator kills than any other human…aside from Dutch. Now you, too, can harness her immense power as one of the fiercest competitors in the jungle. She not only carries specializations that are tailored to her like sniper, rushdown, scavenger [and more], but she is a real glass cannon. Izzy is a heavy hitter but watch your health; she pairs best with a medic teammate. QA says if you feel like your team is incomplete, she is that missing piece to a well-rounded crew. Izzy would be lost without her sniper rifle, and lucky for you, she never leaves home without it. This DLC will get you early access to the NRV-E, AKA the Ultimate Sniper Rifle, is the exact thing you need to pick off Predators and enemies alike (it will be unlockable to all via gameplay by August 2021). What makes this tech so substantial is its Pred Shells that explode on contact. With this rifle, the sharper and steadier you are, the more damage you will do. The further you are from your target, the more destruction you will cause. Think splash damage effect with exploding rounds. They will never see it or you coming. What fun is a new character without a new playground? This month’s free update is one our team has been working hard to bring you, another map: Headquarters! That’s right; you now have six maps to play through. This is the most complex, spacious, and difficult map yet, and that statement is coming from our QA team!. Deep in the jungle, atop a large waterfall, the Stargazer fleet built their headquarters, a strong military base to facilitate their proxy wars while trying to draw the Predator to Earth. HQ comprises multiple bases, facility structures, and cabanas that sit atop the most challenging terrains the game has showcased yet. The Headquarters, at first, will feel like a multi-floor labyrinth, with lots of turns forcing players into close-quarters combat. Anyone up for an elevator battle royale? With so many hiding spots and nowhere to perch, HQ really is a Predator death trap for most, but there may be one that can survive. A highly skilled Trapper Predator could be stealthy enough to beat the fire team. But most that have played this new map make mincemeat out of the enemy. If the Headquarters is the “burial grounds” for our Yautja friend, then the Cabanas are where the Fireteam could meet their demise. It’s a predkour paradise. With 12 different missions for the Fireteam to conquer; they will often traverse the area. This map also showcases new missions unavailable to other maps. Fireteams will be faced with an all drone mission, these act as mobile alarm systems that will alert your enemies if they spot you. Take them out before they see you, or a constant stream of Stargazer guerillas will be coming after you. Or try your hand at the Maiden’s Treasure; this mission will send teams on the ultimate treasure hunt to unveil unexplainable Predator technology. These missions and others will be the key to unlocking bonus XP. As I said, what makes this map incredibly challenging isn’t just the missions or problematic fighting areas; it’s the terrain. This map showcases the most water-to-land ratio in the game yet. This means if you can lure the Predator to the water, you’ll have your chance to short out the Predator – since water will wreak havoc on its electrical systems; however, you are a sitting duck by water as the jungle is all around you. Remember that you will be met by sheer cliffs and a rocky climb back up to HQ if you play in the water. The trek isn’t the most difficult part. Watch the cliffs, as they are a prime hiding spot for the guerillas who are ready to snipe you down. The team is really proud of this map, and it has become a favorite of ours. We hope you all like it as much as we do. Also, we did hear the community ask for more background lore. Now you can uncover new insights on Stargazer and Keyes with Series 2 of the OWLF tapes! Lastly, new trophies, loot, masks, and fresh faces are hitting the jungle soon. Keep your eyes out on our social media for more information on our updates and patch notes. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/2Tz1BuBjbvsView the full article

Hey everyone! I’m Pawel Gaida, marketing director at Kluge Interactive, and I’m delighted to share that our game, Synth Riders, is finally coming to PlayStation VR on July 27. Immerse yourself in our freestyle dance rhythm game with a variety of music and customizable experiences that will keep you on your toes. Let’s dive into what’s coming next month. Play Video Synth Riders was conceived in 2017 when our creative director, Abraham Aguero, embarked on a journey to explore the potential of the still-emerging VR technology. Working with programmer Jhean Ceballos they built a prototype based on the idea of “riding” beams of light (we call them “rails”) in time to the music. With tons of positive feedback, this small passion project turned into the development of a full game. Four years later and we are deeply grateful to see the game is feature-rich, offers music from recognizable artists, and gathers a community of fans all over the world. To this day, feedback from players is our north star. We have kept “following the fun” by refining the core rhythm mechanics of the game: catch the orbs with your hands, follow the rails of long notes, and avoid the walls. Fans of Synth Riders love how the game activates the entire body and makes you dance. Our team is hand-crafting maps for each song with a clear goal in mind – to connect players with the music, make them move to the beat, and make them break a sweat in the process. Most recently we’ve introduced Experiences – unique, artistically-driven visuals created to match perfectly with songs, providing a special blend of sight, sound, and physical actions. So far we’ve released them for two add-on songs: “Come Out And Play” by The Offspring and “Algorithm” by Muse. While bringing the game to PlayStation VR, we’ve made sure that it looks great inside the headset and plays great with PlayStation Move controllers. The freedom of PS Move controllers was key to providing the signature freestyle-dancing gameplay of Synth Riders. The game takes place inside thirteen retro-future-inspired worlds, weach with its own artistic character. Giant spinning mechanisms, futuristic cities, giant synthesizers, synthwave sunsets; there’s plenty to choose from. Our team went above and beyond to provide diversity in content and features. Single player will welcome you with two main modes – Rhythm and Force with individual playstyles. We’ve also prepared Party Mode to let you pass the headset to friends and family. The game comes with five difficulty levels so everyone should feel at home. No matter which Mode you play, you can choose from a selection of additional modifiers to spice up the experience. One of my favorite modifiers is Spin Mode – it makes notes come from different directions within a 90° angle which requires you to concentrate and move even more. We are happy to bring the entire Synth Riders music library to PS VR, including 55 free, licensed songs and over 20 tracks available as purchasable music packs featuring Muse, The Offspring, Parov Stelar, and more. Music is very important to our team, as our creative director is a former DJ, and our CEO Arturo Perez was an editor of a music magazine. We always want to make musical choices that are diverse and interesting. It’s exciting switching from Synthwave to Electroswing to EDM to Rock. In fact, many players mention how Synth Riders became their music discovery source. For example, Electroswing is a genre that gets many players excited and really gets them to dance! Following the positive reception of the “Electro Swing Essentials” music pack, we are preparing to bring more electrifying tunes to the game soon, so stay tuned. We can’t wait to let you dance the night away with Synth Riders and we look forward to welcoming you all to our community on July 27. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/5aOiERcZQXIView the full article

Today I’m thrilled to welcome a new member to the PlayStation Studios family! I have been a fan of Housemarque since the studio’s early days when they introduced Super Stardust HD to PlayStation fans. Housemarque’s recent release of Returnal proves the studio is one with incredible vision, capable of creating memorable new games that resonate with our community. This addition enhances the creative force of PlayStation Studios, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Housemarque. Welcome to the family, Housemarque! From Ilari Kuittinen, Co-founder and Managing Director, Housemarque: Today is a big day for Housemarque and it has been over 26 years in the making. Our strong partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment started with Super Stardust HD on PS3 and since then we have made arcade inspired games for all of the PlayStation platforms. With Returnal for PS5, our most recent release, our biggest foray into third-person action gaming solidified our voice and brand in the industry as delivering unique and quality player experiences. We are so excited to finally join the PlayStation Studios family! This gives our studio a clear future and a stable opportunity to continue delivering on gameplay centric approaches, while still experimenting with new methods of narrative delivery and pushing the boundaries of this modern artform. Locally here in Helsinki, this also means that we will officially expand the PlayStation family to a growing industry hub and secure the legacy of the oldest game studio in Finland. Finally, what this means for our fans? We at Housemarque are gamers, and we have grown from the need to perfect and tinker with facets of games that we have found most fascinating. We are also not known for shying away from running our own course and trying out new combinations. With the backing of SIE and its family of studios supporting us, we can truly grow into our place in the industry and show what Housemarque can create with no limitations. We can’t wait to show everyone what will be in store in the upcoming years, and we hope to usher in more lasting memories and exhilarating titles for the next quarter century and beyond. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/RVTFJ2KwpbMView the full article

Hi everyone, I’m Jehanne Rousseau, CEO and lead writer at Spiders, here to give you some tips if you are jumping into GreedFall for the first time, or if you are returning to Teer Fradee to discover a new area full of intrigues in The De Vespe Conspiracy, our brand new expansion releasing on June 30. For those of you on PS5, we’re also releasing GreedFall and GreedFall: Gold Edition – including base game and new expansion – bringing 4K UHD resolution, enhanced performance, and fast loading. The de Vespe Conspiracy is a full story arc with player choice and an epic conclusion, featuring new characters, enemies, gear, and areas to explore. We can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into this brand new journey. Without further ado, here are seven key things to know for your journey in GreedFall and its DLC. Play your way GreedFall is a freeform RPG experience before anything else. Besides your family name, anything is customizable, including your gender, looks, starting talents, and skills. As you venture deeper into the island and its web of quests and storylines, unlock more than 80 skills to combine to create your playstyle. Choose to specialize in weapons for fighting in close combat, magic that is as lethal as it is varied, or even traps to control the battlefield. Your talents also affect the way you engage with the island, be it through diplomacy, crafting or your ability to find treasure in the wild. Exploration is (still) key The Island of Teer Fradee is full of wilderness and different environments to explore. Cities, forests, mountains, and now an ancient volcanic land in the DLC, all provide their share of characters, tribes, quests, creatures and intrigues. Don’t be afraid to embrace your adventurer’s spirit and set out in the wild to find equipment, loot, magic upgrades and all kinds of surprises. Three’s a party As you progress in the story, up to five companions will be allowed to join you on your journey. Only two of them, however, can be in your party at once. Choose wisely as each of them has their own archetypal style, links to specific factions, opinions and as a consequence will impact both combat and diplomacy differently. Experiment and work on developing your relationship with them because who knows, early friendships might blossom into something else entirely. Also, find out more about your companions’ lore in hidden documents scattered around the DLC region. In the wild, keep your eyes (and ears) open When out journeying in the various regions of Teer Fradee, learn to recognize the creatures and tribes that can present a threat to your party and plan accordingly. In the De Vespe expansion for example, a previously volcanic area is now home to a fierce species of predators: The Egsregatt. This feline creature is as furtive as it is deadly, capable of pouncing on its victims from a great distance, or even dropping in on them from high reaching trees. Even if no Egsregatt is in sight, don’t assume your party can lower its guard. New difficulty setting: Discovery In GreedFall, you can change the difficulty setting at any time, ranging from the hardcore and stat-heavy RPG experience, to the new Discovery mode that allows you to enjoy the adventure without having to develop your character’s skills and equipment. Your character instantly gains increased resistances and damage stats, becoming almost invincible and able to dispatch the majority of enemies with ease. Perfect for those who wish to experience the adventure without constraints. Be prepared against Aurélia’s Spadassins In the DLC’s story arc, you will have to deal with a new character’s personal bodyguards: The Spadassins.These fearsome foes have unique abilities that involve smokescreens, magical displacement, and poison. They will never fight fair and will require sharp wits and even sharper combat skills to be defeated. Think twice before engaging them in battle. If you do manage to defeat them, however, you might come across a range of unique new armor and weapons to craft and discover, some of it themed around the Spadassins and the De Vespe family. Many choices, multiple endings On Teer Fradee, conflicts between factions are neither unusual nor new, constantly threatening native clans who used to live in harmony, undisturbed. The diplomatic game is affected by faith, economy and even culture. Depending on your talent choices, different actions and quests will have different outcomes, culminating in multiple possible endings to the main game experience, and two very different ones in the DLC. We hope these few tips will serve new and returning GreedFall players alike. We’re thrilled to welcome you all back into the mysterious world of GreedFall, enhanced for PlayStation 5 with a free upgrade and save migration for existing PS4 owners. The upgraded Gold Edition is also enhanced with improved visuals, resolution, and performance, and includes The De Vespe Conspiracy expansion. For existing GreedFall owners, the expansion is also available as a standalone purchase. See you in Teer Fradee on June 30. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/oEqQqfgNETkView the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here This week, the team celebrates 30 years of Sonic the Hedgehog, and interviews Suzie Yeung and Aleks Le, the voices of Yuffie and Sonon in Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode Intermission. Stuff We Talked About Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Hades Ratchet & Clank Scarlet Nexus Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode Intermission (interview begins at 14:09) Sonic the Hedgehog Chicory: A Colorful Tale 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/ZcwXTqp8yv0View the full article

This past week marked the one year anniversary of The Last of Us Part II. To celebrate, we asked you to share unforgettable moments alongside Ellie and Abby using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: Photoingame shares Ellie basking in the sun. Emilli96 shares Abby wearing her emotions on her sleeve. BiggestInsanity shares a solemn moment at Joel’s house. AloyUltra shares Abby living in the moment. gamingbyframe captured Joel bathed in shadow. ElliotDBrown shares Ellie breaking some glass. 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: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on June 30 Next week, we’re headed back to Midgar to rejoin the Avalanche crew. Share daring moments taken in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/x8_taDOjJGcView the full article

Cadets, prepare to deploy! Scarlet Nexus is available today, June 25 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. We’re excited to share the experience of the Scarlet Nexus universe and the stories of our two protagonists, Yuito Kisaragi and Kasane Randall. As the new cadets of the OSF, you will lead a small team of psionically gifted allies as you tackle The Others: monstrous lifeforms that threaten the people. In addition to showcasing the game’s anime-inspired visuals in native 4K at 60 FPS, Scarlet Nexus utilizes the PS5’s DualSense controller to add a more realistic, physical dimension to your gameplay. You will feel each of Yuito and Kasane’s psychokinetic actions amplified by the enhanced sensations of the DualSense controller haptics. The movement of each psychokinetically manipulated object is amplified with haptic vibrations, and lifting objects responds with dynamic tension in the adaptive triggers to simulate the sensation of weight and resistance in real life. Play Video As we want to share the most optimal experience of Scarlet Nexus with you, owners of Scarlet Nexus on PS4 will receive a free upgrade to the PS5 digital version. To help you on your journey on Scarlet Nexus, we created this brief tips and tricks guide. From here, learn about the Struggle Arms System (SAS), bonding with allies, The Others, and more. Hopefully, these tips will help you on your journey with Yuito and Kasane. The Struggle Arms System (SAS) Unite with Your Fellow Allies: By combining your powers with allies through the SAS, you can take down stronger enemies, hit their weaknesses, or avoid certain attacks. You have a limited time to borrow their power so use it wisely. Don’t worry too much as it will recharge over time. Finding Secrets: You will find glowing objects such as walls, doors, or devices that draw your attention. If you use the appropriate SAS, something may happen. Bonding with Allies Better Friendship, Stronger Support: As the bond level with your ally increases, allies will more proactively engage in support actions such as healing and reviving. Bond levels increase by deepening bonds with your allies through actions such as progressing through Bond Episodes, giving gifts, and fighting alongside each other. It also enhances SAS effects that your allies provide. Pick the Perfect Gift: You can give gifts to allies at the hideout, which are mainly obtained from the shop’s Exchange. Bonds will strengthen more if you give them something they like. Gifts you give will also be displayed at the hideout, so your allies’ areas will become more festive. Battle Gameplay Psychokinesis Follow-Up Attack: Perform a psychokinesis attack while connecting with a weapon attack for a psychokinesis follow-up attack. The bigger the material, the stronger the psychokinesis attack will be. The Others can be staggered by the psychokinesis attack depending on how large the item is, but it will cost more. Offense and Defense: A good defense goes a long way. Dodging away from enemies’ attacks will give you time to recharge your psychokinesis and use items. If you dodge just before the attack, you can execute a perfect dodge where time slows down, and you can quickly counterattack. Fighting The Others Finding The Other’s Weakness: Check the bios of The Others in the library if you’re having difficulties with them. The library will give you tips on how to use their attack patterns to help you avoid big attacks that you may be unfamiliar with. Dealing with Status Ailments: Enemies can inflict a variety of status effects on Kasane and Yuito. To counter, try equipping Plug-in equipment that can offer resistance against various status ailments. Status ailments include Burning, Shocked, Oil, Soaked, and Confused. Environmental Awareness Traces of Others: Unique patterns sometimes arise in the areas where Others live. They appear on walls and the ground in many shapes. You’ll find them all over if you’re looking for them. An Object’s Strange Movement: When revisiting a location, you may notice some objects could be placed at a different position. The Others have been observed to collect and move objects. Revisiting certain spots may lead to new rewards Want to put these tips to the test? You can play the Scarlet Nexus’s Demo for free at PlayStation Store. Play both Yuito and Kasane’s paths and save your data to get additional DLC rewards from the demo to score cosmetic items and plug-in to increase your attack and defense. Choose the Deluxe Edition to obtain the Brain Punk Bundle, additional costumes, outfits, and three additional SAS Plug-in Variations to further boost your abilities in earning experience as well as combat. We hope you enjoy the world of Scarlet Nexus and we’re looking forward to you joining the Other Suppression Force today. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/pmNIBH1EH8UView the full article

Since launching in May 2020, the PlayStation Tournaments Open Series has brought players together from across the globe to compete in and enjoy their favorite competitive games. Players earned respect through hundreds of monthly Open Series Tournaments around the world and found community during hundreds of hours of Open Series broadcasts. We are excited to help even more players elevate their competitive play to the next level as we welcome three new titles to the Open Series in July. PlayStation Tournaments: Open Series Summer Win-a-thon The Summer Win-a-thon is a celebration of persistence and perseverance throughout July and August honoring the community’s most successful players. Win more games in any of the thirteen Open Series titles for a spot on the leaderboard and more than just bragging rights. The top 8 participants that have the most wins at the end of the contest will win a PS5, while the top 1,000 earn at least $10 in PS Store Credit.* Increase your chances by experimenting with additional titles and tournaments, but play at your own pace. Monthly Final rounds do not count toward your total number of wins. Participating Open Series competitions include: Auto Chess BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War FIFA 20 FIFA 21 FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Guilty Gear Strive Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate NBA 2K21 SoulCalibur VI Tekken 7 Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] Warface Stay tuned to the Competition Center for weekly updates to the standings. Track your wins and rank, then learn how to improve before jumping back into tournaments. Explore more details like the full prizing breakdown on the Competition Center. PlayStation Tournaments: Open Series Summer Win-a-thon The Summer Win-a-thon is a celebration of persistence and perseverance throughout July and August honoring the community’s most successful players. Win more games in any of the thirteen Open Series titles for a spot on the leaderboard and more than just bragging rights. The top 8 participants that have the most wins at the end of the contest will win a PS5, while the top 1,000 earn at least $10 in PS Store Credit.* Increase your chances by experimenting with additional titles and tournaments, but play at your own pace. Monthly Final rounds do not count toward your total number of wins. Participating Open Series competitions include: Auto Chess BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War FIFA 20 FIFA 21 FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Guilty Gear Strive Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate NBA 2K21 SoulCalibur VI Tekken 7 Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] Warface Stay tuned to the Competition Center for weekly updates to the standings. Track your wins and rank, then learn how to improve before jumping back into tournaments. Explore more details like the full prizing breakdown on the Competition Center. Three New Open Series Titles Join the Roster The Open Series catalogue continues to make competitive gaming more accessible to all players through increasingly diverse events. Join free competitions for three brand new Open Series titles every week starting in July through the Competition Center or on your PlayStation 4 console. Tournaments can be intimidating, so we set incentives to encourage you every step of the way. Play all four Swiss qualifier matches per title for rewards such as exclusive themes and avatars, then outperform other players to win greater prizes like $400 in the Monthly Finals. Auto Chess The first strategy game featured in the Open Series, Auto Chess lets you build a unique army to conquer the board as you battle players around the globe. Methodical movement, anticipation, and multiple counters to every tactic make victories in this competitive strategy battler worth bragging about. In addition to the traditional Open Series prizes, Auto Chess offers unique rewards like in-game cosmetics and currency. Head over to the program page for more information, including the rules and registration.** Sign up to make your opening gambit: https://playst.cc/3zCusGn Guilty Gear Strive Experience the newest iteration of this classic 2D, anime fighter. For over 20 years, Guilty Gear continues to redefine smooth, flashy animation. With 15 characters at launch and more on the way, now is the best time to get ahead of the competition. Discover new tech, rivals, and training partners as you fight for a featured spot on the first Monthly Final broadcast on August 1. Sign up to fight for glory**: https://playst.cc/3cPaBtL Tekken 7 Tekken 7 is still thriving for anyone itching to join one of the longest-running competitive communities. Pick up one of this 3D fighter’s 50+ characters and prove you’re the next king of the iron fist. Sign up for your chance to become the next champion**: https://playst.cc/2SF2Mju To play, watch, and learn more about your favorite competitive games, and to see more information on the complete Open Series offerings in your regions, visit compete.playstation.com. *Open to legal residents of the US and Canada who are at least 16 years old and play in a participating PlayStation Tournament Open Series Qualifier between 7/1/21 at 12:01AM PST – 8/31/21 at 11:59PM PST. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Other terms apply; see Official Rules: https://playst.cc/summer-win-a-thon-rules. PlayStation Tournaments require access to a PS4 console, compatible controller, a copy of the tournament game, and a PlayStation Plus subscription. *Open to legal residents of the US and Canada who are at least 16 years old and play in a participating PlayStation Tournament Open Series Qualifier between 7/1/21 at 12:01AM PST – 8/31/21 at 11:59PM PST. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Other terms apply; see Official Rules: https://playst.cc/summer-win-a-thon-rules. PlayStation Tournaments require access to a PS4 console, compatible controller, a copy of the tournament game, and a PlayStation Plus subscription. **Access to PS4, game title, and active PS Plus membership required. Must be 16+ and a member of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. See full rules. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/aQhoJLC3K48View the full article

Transport yourself to Shibuya this week and get a taste of what awaits you in the Reapers’ Game —the Neo: The World Ends with You demo is coming to PS4 this Friday, June 25! You’ll be able to experience the first two days within the Game, playing as protagonist Rindo as you undertake missions, fight in stylish and groovy combat, and listen to some banging tunes in the dazzling streets of Tokyo. Your progress made in the demo can carry over to the full game when it releases on July 27, so get a head start on collecting pins and leveling up your party! A new trailer was revealed ahead of the demo release showcasing a slice of what Shibuya and the Game has to offer: check it out below! Play Video The “Noise” now occupy the streets of Shibuya, and you’ll need to fight smart to take them down as you attempt to uncover the mysteries of the Reaper’s Game. Worry not—we brought Hiyoruki Ito, Director of Neo: The World Ends with You, to talk about the new combat system for this title and how you can best prepare for the fight ahead. Creating a unique battle system for a modern Shibuya The original The World Ends with You’s combat system was unique and widely enjoyed by players. In reflecting back, Ito notes that, “the combat system in the original The World Ends with You provided players with a new experience. Each attack was activated independently depending on the input gesture, which was very unique back in 2005, which was a time when even smartphones didn’t exist.” The team wanted to keep things fresh and exciting with Neo: The World Ends with You and have created a thrilling new system that keeps things action oriented, but with a stylish twist. Ito and the development team tried different approaches to capture the spirit of the original’s gameplay using controllers. To that end, Ito remarked, “first, we tested a system that would limit button controls as much as possible, and instead, incorporated gestures to be picked up by the DualShock 4 controller’s gyro to activate attacks. However, we concluded that this would make the game difficult until players got used to the system and would not be suitable for everyone. We went back to analyze what made the original so addicting and we distilled it down to the instant feel of attack inputs striking enemies. As a way to adapt this to button controls, we decided to allocate one character to each button, which led to this new yet ‘TWEWY-esque’ edgy combat.” It was also important to refine the core combat loop, as Ito says, in an effort to “make them addictive yet not something you would get bored of. We needed to make this element coexist with a fun ‘configuration’ system that allows players to customize their attack methods, while also incorporating a new element you don’t see anywhere else, which is always a difficult challenge.” The configuration element of course refers to NEO: The World Ends with You’s hundreds of collectible pins, each of which unlocks a unique psych ability. Battling the Noise in Shibuya As you progress through the game, a number of colorful cast members will join Rindo to form the group of misfits known as The Wicked Twisters—you’ll control multiple members of your party simultaneously (three in the demo!) and unleash psych attacks depending on which pins you have equipped on each character. Getting into the groove of battle is easy—each party member’s attack is assigned to a button, and you can instantly perform attacks with one press. Time your button presses to attack consecutively or all at once. Ito adds, “most psych abilities will track targets automatically, so there is no need for you to be too conscious of your characters’ positions or movements. The simplicity of not having to be too conscious of the characters’ positions makes it possible to control multiple characters simultaneously. As a result, I believe we were able to realize a new experience in which anyone can control the whole party at a high speed, no matter who is playing.” Once you get more comfortable with the controls, you will find that you can freely move around the battlefield with the character with who attacked last. This creates a greater skill ceiling for you to position yourself for your next attack, or dodge enemy attacks. The other party members will avoid attacks automatically! Ito also notes that the game camera intelligently focuses and moves your viewpoint according to the type of attack it is. “In fact, a camera angle that gives the best view of the attack is prepared for each pin, and the camerawork connects these angles one after another to create a fast-paced effect.” There is a lot of freedom to how you attack, so string together combos or perform simultaneous attacks any which way you like! Just don’t button mash too hard…each pin has a gauge, and once depleted it must recharge before you can use that character’s attack again! Once you get into the swing of things, you can pull off some combos—hitting an enemy under the right conditions will bring up a circular Beatdrop gauge on the enemy. Strike while the gauge is shown to initiate a Beatdrop combo, and the Groove displayed at the top of the screen will increase. Once your Groove reaches 100% or more, you can unleash a Mashup—a super psych with impressive range and power—to erase your foes in one fell swoop! The basics are simple, but there is a lot of room for customization and depth through the 300+ pins in the game! Plentiful Psych possibilities with Pins Pins also make a return in Neo: The World Ends with You, and with hundreds of pins to choose from, you can find endless combinations that fit your playstyle and deliver some wicked combos. On the variety of pins, Ito notes, “the important aspect of pins is to make all of them attractive so that you would want to swap between various kinds. We discontinued buff-only pins in this title, so with that, a wide variety of Psychs, with even more variety than the original, have been allocated to each of the 300+ total pins.” There are many different attack types depending on the pin. Here are a few you can try out in the demo: Rapid-tap: Unleash an attack with each button press. Charge: Hold down the assigned button and release—the longer the charge the more powerful the attack. Hold: Hold down the assigned button to continuously attack—but watch the pin’s gauge before it depletes! As you battle against the Noise, you can level up and even evolve your pins to gain new, powerful psychs. Try out and level up the various pins you net from monsters to find the pin combinations that work for you. Ito further guides that, “each pin has its set control button allocation and combo meter display timing, which are elements that tie in with combos between multiple characters.” Give yourself a greater challenge As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock various difficulty levels, which you can switch to at any time—give yourself an added challenge! Ito notes that, “initially, our aim was to have the players enjoy the game freely at their preferred difficulty without being limited to just the level design that the creators prepared. We took this functionality and made it into a means for players to enjoy collecting pins. I hope players first enjoy the game up to the ending at the difficulty that suits them to appreciate the story. After completing the game, they can go back to collect powerful pins as they raise the difficulty and lower their level to increase item drop rates.” In the demo, you’ll play on the standard difficulty, but in addition to difficulty settings, you can also lower your party’s level temporarily—your HP will drop, but you can increase the item drop rate for winning battles. On top of that, you can also engage in a series of battles by touching multiple Noise before starting combat, which further increases drop rates—use these tactics to increase your chance for items or pins from enemies. However, enemies will grow stronger the higher the chain, so be careful! Prep for The Reapers’ Game NEO: The World Ends with you is available for pre-order now on PlayStation Store! Snag some cool in-game bonuses and PS Avatars if you order before launch on July 27! We hope this helps get you prepped and excited for the Reapers’ Game! Let us know what you think of the demo after you give it a try, and to wrap things up, here are some final tips from Hiyoruki Ito: “In the demo, you’ll be introduced to a few party members as well as a few pins, but I believe you’ll also be able to get a sense of the game’s unique control sensation, speediness, as well as the strategy of selecting pins. Aim to attack when Beatdrop is active and find combo patterns unique just to you. If possible, I hope you save the game right before the final boss battle of day 2, and fully explore the available area inside the demo. Furthermore, you can carry over the demo’s save data to the full game, so please give the demo a try if you are interested.” http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/nDg6wf2PVasView the full article

The wonderful thing about the future is that it hasn’t happened yet – and so, theoretically, anything is possible with enough effort, imagination, and collaboration. That’s the thinking behind Mercedes-Benz’s latest initiative, which is designed to create a conversation around one idea: “Let’s imagine futures together”. Play Video If there’s one thing we love to do here at Media Molecule, it’s to imagine. So when we heard about the project – which began in 2019 at Mercedes and SXSW’s me Convention, a lifestyle festival and ‘future lab’ at which experts and convention goers drafted, sketched and modelled their sustainable and community-minded visions of the future – we knew we wanted to be part of the dialogue. We knew the perfect tool for it, too: Dreams, of course! Imagination and collaboration are at the heart of our creative platform, and we figured that – with the help of our fantastic coMmunity – we could build our own interactive concept for a better future, and broaden the project’s reach to game fans all over the world. “As a forward-thinking brand we always encourage collaboration and creativity. With Media Molecule we found an excellent collaboration partner to take our engagement within the gaming community to the next level. Dreams offers the perfect space for gaming enthusiasts to design desirable visions of the future” says Bettina Fetzer, Vice President Marketing at Mercedes-Benz AG. “This collaboration stands for a new way of exploring and creating favourable futures for next generations from all over the world.” “Dreams and Mercedes” is the result, a gorgeous, narrative-based 2D platformer that presents one possible future: a world in which AI takes care of all the work, and humans are free to nurture their connection to creativity, the natural world, and to one another. Based on a concept from AI expert Alexandre Cadain and with input from the wider team at Mercedes-Benz, it was brought to life through the direction and talent of Dreams community creator Scott Vanderburgh (known in-game as [the_burgervan), plus support from developers here at Mm. “The best collaborations are those that result in something new, unexpected, and exciting,” says Siobhan Reddy, our studio director here at Media Molecule. “Mercedes-Benz has been an inspiring partner for our first Mm Co-Labs Project. Throughout development, the Mercedes team has encouraged us to let our minds wander and imagine the future. We have enjoyed seeing our Dreams Specialist, Scott Vanderburgh, bring a completely different style of game to Dreams. Thank you to Mercedes for being our first partner on an Mm Co-Lab Project – we hope this is the first of many.” You’ll be able to play Dreams and Mercedes very soon: it’ll be released in Dreams under the title “Dreams and Mercedes-Benz” on July 8, 2021. We hope it inspires you to imagine your own vision of the future… especially as we’ll be further collaborating with Mercedes-Benz to launch a game jam around the theme of ‘Imagined Futures’, which will run in-game as a Community Jam from July 13 to July 28, 2021! We can’t wait to see what you’ll make. We’ll be keeping an eye on the social media hashtag #letsimaginefuturestogether, too, so feel free to post it alongside your ideas, thoughts and finished jam creations around this theme. We’re looking forward to it! (Is that a “future” pun? Well, we’re taking credit for it, anyway.) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/ByeBOfa_YY4View the full article

The Mid-Year Deals promotion returns to PlayStation Store this Wednesday, June 23 and brings with it up to 60% off a mix of exciting titles. That includes Outriders PS4 &PS5 and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, with these and many more games discounted for a limited time*. Check out the full list of games below, then head to PlayStation Store to find out your regional discount. Check out the full list of games below, then head to PlayStation Store to find out your regional discount. 428: Shibuya Scramble Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Deluxe Edition AI: The Somnium Files Alien: Isolation Alphadia Genesis Anthem ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Mosasaurus Skin ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Parasaur Skin ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Quetzal Skin ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Raptor Skin ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Stegosaurus Skin ARK: Survival Evolved – Bionic Trike Skin Ary and the Secret of Seasons Asdivine Dios Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla + Immortals Fenyx Rising™ Bundle Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla + Watch Dogs®: Legion Bundle Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Ultimate Edition Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Triple Pack: Black Flag, Unity, Syndicate Assassin’s Creed Unity Assetto Corsa Assetto Corsa – Season Pass Batman: Return to Arkham Ben 10: Power Trip Big Bud Pack Blood & Truth Borderlands: The Handsome Collection Bravo Team Call of Duty: WWII – Digital Deluxe Challenger MT700E Field Viper Challenger MT800E Field Python Challenger MT900E Field Anaconda Chasm Cold Sun cosmetic pack Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars Control Control – Expansion Pack 1 ‘The Foundation’ Control – Season Pass Control Expansion 2 “AWE” Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled + Spyro Game Bundle Crystar Crystar – 4 Panel Comic Collection Crystar – Clothing Swap Collection Crystar – Holiday Collection Crystar – Second Summer Collection Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online Danganronpa 1-2 Reload Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Dark Rose Valkyrie De Blob de Blob 2 Death Squared Deemo -Reborn- Deemo -Reborn- Aioi Collection Deemo -Reborn- Classic Song Packs Season Pass Deemo -Reborn- Cytus Selection Vol.1 Deemo -Reborn- Cytus Selection Vol.2 Deemo -Reborn- Egoist Special Selection Deemo -Reborn- Eshen Chen Collection Vol.1: Transmission Deemo -Reborn- Knight Iris Collection Deemo -Reborn- Knight Rosabell Collection Deemo -Reborn- M2U X Nicode Collection Deemo -Reborn- MILI Collection Deemo -Reborn- N.M.S.T. Collection Deemo -Reborn- Rayark Selection Vol.1 Deemo -Reborn- Rayark Selection Vol.2 Deemo -Reborn- Rayark Selection Vol.3 Degrees of Separation Deluxe Kit Detroit: Become Human Detroit: Become Human – Digital Deluxe Edition Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Digital Deluxe Edition Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition – Demon Hunter Bundle Devil May Cry HD Collection & 4SE Bundle Dishonored & Prey: The Arkane Collection Dishonored® The Complete Collection Don’t Starve: Reign of Giants Console Edition Dragon Ball FighterZ – Android 17 Dragon Ball FighterZ – Bardock Dragon Ball FighterZ – Broly (Dragon Ball Super) Dragon Ball FighterZ – Commentator Voice Pack Dragon Ball FighterZ – Cooler Dragon Ball FighterZ – FighterZ Pass Dragon Ball FighterZ – FighterZ Pass 2 Dragon Ball FighterZ – Gogeta (SSGSS) Dragon Ball FighterZ – Goku Dragon Ball FighterZ – Goku (GT) Dragon Ball FighterZ – Janemba Dragon Ball FighterZ – Jiren Dragon Ball FighterZ – Kefla DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – Master Roshi Dragon Ball FighterZ – SSGSS Goku and SSGSS Vegeta Unlock Dragon Ball FighterZ – SSGSS Lobby Avatars Dragon Ball FighterZ – Stamps: Girls Pack Dragon Ball FighterZ – Vegeta Dragon Ball FighterZ – Vegito (SSGSS) Dragon Ball FighterZ – Videl Dragon Ball FighterZ – Zamasu (Fused) Earth Defense Force 4.1: Wing Diver The Shooter Earth Defense Force 5 Earth Defense Force 5 – Additional Mission Pack 1: Extra Challenge Earth Defense Force 5 – Additional Mission Pack 2: Super Challenge Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS Season Pass EARTH DEFENSE FORCE:WORLD BROTHERS El Hijo – A Wild West Tale Elite Forces cosmetic pack Euro Fishing: Urban Edition Everybody’s Golf VR Extinction: Deluxe Edition Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force Fallout 4 Fallout 4 – Season Pass Farming Simulator 15 Farming Simulator 15 – Official Expansion (Gold) Farming Simulator 15: Complete Edition Farming Simulator 17 Farming Simulator 17 – Platinum Edition Farming Simulator 17 – Platinum Expansion Farming Simulator 17 – Premium Edition Farming Simulator 17 – ROPA Pack Farming Simulator 19 – Alpine Expansion Farming Simulator 19 – Anderson Group Equipment Pack Farming Simulator 19 – Bourgault DLC Farming Simulator 19 – CLAAS Dominator 108 SL Maxi DLC Farming Simulator 19 – CLAAS Torion 1914 Dev Mule DLC Farming Simulator 19 – GRIMME Equipment Pack Farming Simulator 19 – John Deere Cotton DLC Farming Simulator 19 – Kverneland & Vicon Equipment Pack Farming Simulator 19 – Mahindra Retriever DLC Farming Simulator 19 – Platinum Expansion Farming Simulator 19 – Rottne DLC Farming Simulator 19 – Season Pass Farpoint FAST & FURIOUS CROSSROADS FAST & FURIOUS CROSSROADS: Deluxe Edition Fendt 900 Black Beauty FIFA 21 Champions Edition PS4™ & PS5™ Fighting Road: NJPW 2017 Junior Heavyweight Fire Pro Wrestling World – Digital Deluxe Edition Fire Pro Wrestling World – Entrance Craft Fire Pro Wrestling World – Fighting Road: Champion Road Beyond Fire Pro Wrestling World – World Wonder Ring Stardom Collaboration Fire Pro Wrestling World – World Wonder Ring Stardom Collaboration Part 2 Fire Promoter DLC Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Big Fish Lure Pack Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Collector’s Edition Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Giant Carp Pack Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Lake Nelson Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Lough Kerr + Talon Fishery Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Quad Lake Pass Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Tackle Box Equipment Pack Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour – Tournament Bass Pack Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour + The Catch: Carp & Coarse Five Famous Swords Set DLC FUSER™ Ghostrunner Gigantosaurus: The Game Holmer DLC Hood: Outlaws & Legends Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition Hunt: Showdown – Blood and Bone Bundle Hunt: Showdown – The Uncanny Bundle Illusion of L’Phalcia InnerSpace ITRunner JankBrain JCB Journey: Collector’s Edition Jumanji: The Video Game Just Cause 3: XXL Edition Just Cause 4 – Black Market Pack Just Cause 4 – Expansion Pass Just Cause 4: Reloaded Katamari Damacy REROLL Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story Kerbal Space Program Enhanced Edition Complete Killing Floor 2 Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack Knack Knockout City™ Knockout City™ Deluxe Edition Kuhn Equipment Pack Labyrinth Life Lamborghini Nitro 120 LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Premium Edition Lethal VR Let’s Sing 2020 Let’s Sing 2021 Life is Strange 2 – Complete Season Little Big Workshop Little Nightmares Little Nightmares II Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 Lock’s Quest Mad Rat Dead Madden NFL 21 PS4™ & PS5™ Mark of the Ninja: Remastered Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Deluxe Edition Mascot Costume Collection Masquerade Skin Pack Mega Dimension Neptune VIIR Mega Man 30th Anniversary Bundle Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1+2 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Monster Hunter: World – DLC Collection Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack 2 Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Expansion Moss Soundtrack Moss Theme Motorbike Racing Bundle Murdered: Soul Suspect MXGP 2019 – The Official Motocross Videogame Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Deluxe Edition Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Season Pass Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Season Pass 2 NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Season Pass 3 Necromunda: Underhive Wars – Cawdor Gang Necromunda: Underhive Wars – Van Saar Gang Necrosphere Deluxe Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition New Holland Next Up Hero NHL™ 21 Deluxe Edition NHL™ 21 Great Eight Edition Ninjin: Clash of Carrots Niva Omega Quintet One Piece: World Seeker – Deluxe Edition OUTRIDERS PS4 & PS5 Overcooked! + Overcooked! 2 Override 2: Super Mech League Override 2: Super Mech League Ultraman Deluxe Edition Override: Mech City Brawl – Super Charged Mega Edition Overruled! PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay Peddler Collection Persona 5 Royal – Digital Ultimate Edition Persona 5 Royal – Persona Bundle PERSONA 5 THE ROYAL Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy PixelJunk Monsters 2 PixelJunk Monsters 2 – Danganronpa Pack PixelJunk Monsters 2 – Deluxe Edition PixelJunk Monsters 2 – Season Pass Planet Coaster: Premium Edition Premium Cosmetic Bundle Project CARS 2 Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 PS4 & PS5 Race With Ryan Road Trip Deluxe Edition Raging Justice Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne Rebel Cops Remothered: Broken Porcelain Resident Evil 3 – Raccoon City Edition ROBOTICS;NOTES DaSH ROBOTICS;NOTES DOUBLE PACK ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break Ryu ga Gotoku 5 Saints Row: The Third Remastered Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – Digital Deluxe Edition Sakura Wars Season 1 cosmetic pack Shao Kahn Shenmue III Shenmue III – Complete DLC Collection Shenmue III – Story Quest Pack Skater XL Skully Skyforge: New Horizons – Collector’s Pack Skyforge: Starter Pack 2.0 Skyforge: Starter Pack 3.0 Sleeping Dogs – Definitive Edition SnowRunner – Clasico Pack Snowrunner – DLC 1 Snowrunner – High Roller Pack Snowrunner – Loaded Dice Vinyl Wrap Snowrunner – Scorched Vinyl Wrap SnowRunner – Season 1: Search & Recover SnowRunner – Season 2: Explore & Expand SnowRunner – Season 3: Locate & Deliver Snowrunner – Season Pass Snowrunner – True Colours Vinyl Wrap SnowRunner – Western Star 49X Soulcalibur VI – Deluxe Edition Standard Cosmetic Bundle Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Steins;Gate Elite Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace Stifled Street Fighter V STREET FIGHTER V – Capcom Pro Tour 2016 Pack STREET FIGHTER V – Capcom Pro Tour: 2017 Premier Pass STREET FIGHTER V – Capcom Pro Tour: 2018 Premier Pass STREET FIGHTER V – Capcom Pro Tour: 2019 Premier Pass Street Fighter V – Capcom Pro Tour: 2020 Premier Pass Street Fighter V – Champion Edition Upgrade Kit Street Fighter V: Champion Edition Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris Deluxe Edition The Catch: Carp & Coarse – Jezioro Bestii The Crew 2 The Crew 2 – Gold Edition The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope The Dwarves The Jackbox Party Pack 6 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III: Digital Deluxe Edition The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Digital Deluxe Edition The Midnight Sanctuary The Outer Worlds: Board-Approved Bundle The Sims 4 The Surge – A Walk in the Park The Surge – CREO Special Employee Kit The Surge – The Good, the Bad and the Augmented The Surge 2 – Jericho’s Legacy Gear Pack The Surge 2 – Public Enemy Weapon Pack The Surge 2 – The Kraken Expansion The Surge 2 – URBN Gear Pack The Survivalists – Deluxe Edition The Witch and the Hundred Knight – Wicked Bundle The Yakuza Remastered Collection Thief – Including ‘The Bank Heist’ DLC Mission Tiny Metal Tokyo Dark: Remembrance Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Torn Tractor Pack DLC Trails of Cold Steel IV: Standard Costume Bundle Train Sim World – Amtrak SW1000R Loco Add-on Train Sim World – Caltrain MP15DC Diesel Switcher Train Sim World – Caltrain MP36PH-3C ‘Baby Bullet’ Train Sim World – Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr: Duisburg – Bochum Train Sim World – Main Spessart Bahn: Aschaffenburg – Gemünden Train Sim World – Northern Trans-Pennine Train Sim World – Peninsula Corridor: San Francisco – San Jose Route Train Sim World – Ruhr-Sieg Nord Train Sim World – Tees Valley Line: Darlington – Saltburn Train Sim World 2020 – Rhein-Ruhr Osten: Wuppertal – Hagen Train Sim World 2020: Collector’s Edition Train Sim World® 2: Arosalinie: Chur – Arosa Train Sim World® 2: Caltrain MP15DC Diesel Switcher Train Sim World® 2: Caltrain MP36PH-3C ‘Baby Bullet’ Train Sim World® 2: Clinchfield Railroad: Elkhorn – Dante Train Sim World® 2: Collector’s Edition Train Sim World® 2: DB BR 101 Train Sim World® 2: Deluxe Edition Train Sim World® 2: Great Western Express Train Sim World® 2: Haupststrecke München – Augsburg Train Sim World® 2: Hauptstrecke Hamburg – Lübeck Train Sim World® 2: Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr Train Sim World® 2: Isle Of Wight: Ryde – Shanklin Train Sim World® 2: LGV Méditerranée: Marseille – Avignon Train Sim World® 2: Main Spessart Bahn: Aschaffenburg – Gemünden Train Sim World® 2: Northern Trans-Pennine Train Sim World® 2: Peninsula Corridor: San Francisco – San Jose Train Sim World® 2: Rhein-Ruhr Osten: Wuppertal – Hagen Train Sim World® 2: Ruhr-Sieg Nord Train Sim World® 2: Southeastern BR Class 465 EMU Train Sim World® 2: Southeastern High Speed: London St Pancras – Faversham Train Sim World® 2: Tees Valley Line: Darlington – Saltburn-By-The-Sea TRANSFORMERS: BATTLEGROUNDS Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia Two Point Hospital: Close Encounters Two Point Hospital: Exhibition Items Pack Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition Upgrade Two Point Hospital: Off the Grid Two Point Hospital: Retro Items Pack Underground Cosmetic Pack Unravel Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen UTAWARERUMONO: PRELUDE TO THE FALLEN – DLC Valentino Rossi The Game Valkyria Chronicles Remastered + Valkyria Chronicles 4 Bundle Valtra T-Series – Cow Edition Wanderer Set DLC Warface – 10,000 + 1,000 Kredits Warface – 2,500 + 125 Kredits Warface – 5,000 + 375 Kredits Warface – Godfather Luxury Pack WarframeⓇ: Deimos Hive Supporter Pack WarframeⓇ: Deimos Neophyte Supporter Pack WarframeⓇ: Deimos Swarm Supporter Pack Warlocks vs Shadows WWE 2K20: Deluxe Edition XING: The Land Beyond Yakuza 3 Remastered Yakuza 4 Remastered Yooka-Laylee – Buddy Duo Bundle Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Attachments Bundle Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Digital Deluxe Edition Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA – Avatar Pack YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World Zanki Zero: Last Beginning *Mid-Year Deals promotion starts Wednesday, June 23 at 00:00 AM PDT / 00:00 AM BST and ends Wednesday, July 7 at 11:59 PM PDT / 11:59 PM BST. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/5AM3cJQHvn0View the full article

There’s so much to play this summer, including the newly released games on PlayStation Now for June like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (available until September 6, 2021), Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, Sonic Team Racing, and more. And as we head into the summer season, we wanted to look back at some of the most-played games (based on global playtime hours) on PlayStation Now during the spring time frame*. Without further ado…. PlayStation Now most-played games on PS4 and PS5 console: (via download*** and streaming) Marvel’s Avengers (available until July 5, 2021) Horizon Zero Dawn Call of Duty: Black Ops III (previously available through April 29, 2021) F1 2020 (not available in Japan) WWE 2K19 PlayStation Now most-played games on PC: (via streaming) Bloodborne Horizon Zero Dawn The Last of Us Marvel’s Avengers Detroit: Become Human PlayStation Now has a regularly refreshed library of games available** to stream or download***, so be sure to check out titles like Marvel’s Avengers, Jump Force (available until August 2, 2021) and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, before they leave the service. If you want to find out more about the wealth of experiences that await you, keep up to date with the hundreds of PS2, PS3, and PS4 classics and latest blockbuster titles in PlayStation Now’s game library with a handy list here. Also, be sure to stay tuned to PS Blog for our monthly PlayStation Now announcement, detailing the latest games joining its library. Happy gaming! *Data between March 1, 2021 – June 1, 2021 **Certain games featured on PlayStation Now may be made available in the library on a limited-time basis only. Internet connection and PlayStation Now subscription required. ***PS4, PS3, and PS2 games available to stream and PS4 and PS2 games available to download in U.S., Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. PS4 and PS3 games available to stream and PS4 games available to download in Japan. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/9GnE3sAbe68View the full article