Commander Fury

Hello everyone! Hoplon Studio here, from Brazil, and we’re thrilled to announce that Heavy Metal Machines is arriving on PS4 (and playable on PS5) February 23. Play Video Heavy Metal Machines is a one-of-a-kind, free-to-play multiplayer vehicular combat game where players engage in 4v4 intense battles, controlling lethal vehicles in post-apocalyptic arenas, and I’m pretty sure you’ll love it. Heavy Metal Machine’s combination of unique vehicles, fast-paced combat, and post-apocalyptic sports arenas will take you to a whole new gameplay experience where two teams of four players fight to pick up a bomb and take it to the enemy base. Deliver the bomb 3 times to be the winner. Match your best skills with a role Ranging from a car-crushing Monster Truck, heavily armored Tank, blade-throwing Motorcycle, to a magnetic Tow Truck, each of the many vehicles has a different set of weapons and gameplay styles that bring a wide range of strategic possibilities to each match. Play as an Interceptor, to chase and destroy enemies, as Support to keep your allies safe, or as a Transporter to take and deliver the bomb to the enemy base. Become a metal gladiator You can play Heavy Metal Machines casually, or if you want to spice things up, join the Ranked Mode and aspire to become godlike. You can also create your Team and bring it to the Colosseum, an in-game Tournament, to battle for prizes and prestige. Golden tips for new players Try different Machines (vehicles), each one has very different mechanics and weapons, and find your favorites. Use the Training Mode to get to know a new Machine, or to learn and sharpen your skills with your favorite ones. Each vehicle has a role (Interceptor, Support, and Transporter). Play according to your vehicle’s role: Be wise when picking vehicles before each match, so that you have a balanced team with all three roles. Play for the team, considering the roles of each team member. Communicate with your team at all times using the quick chat or voice chat. Any vehicle can transport the bomb, however Transporters are the best fit for the job. Be very careful with the droppers, areas in the Arena where you lose possession of the bomb and enemy players can easily catch it. When you are low on health, escape from combat and look for a Repair Charge or an ally support. New content all the time New content is continuously added to Heavy Metal Machines, including new Vehicles, Arenas, Battle Passes (aka Metal Passes), and Seasonal Events. The game is free-to-play and not pay-to-win. Rest assured that there is no way to buy in-game items that give vehicles gameplay advantages. Every two and a half months a new Battle Pass (Metal Pass) season is released, bringing lots of new items to unlock and missions to accomplish. Special gift for PlayStation players As an early PlayStation player, download the game now and enjoy a Free Battle Pass Pack, a special gift available only until March 8, that includes the Battle Pass for the season, 3 characters and lots of cosmetic items. See you in the Arenas. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/wvUBpUPnMTUView the full article

Hello, explorers! Everyone here at Passtech Games are absolutely thrilled to launch Curse of the Dead Gods on PlayStation 4 tomorrow! We know our soul-corrupting, trap-avoiding, monster-slaying roguelite can be challenging, so we’ve assembled these seven essential tips to help you take your first steps into the twisting darkness of the Temple. Seek the light The walls of the Temple writhe under the shadows cast by your trusty torch. Most areas you traverse in Curse of the Dead Gods are filled with groups of enemies and traps hiding in the dark, so make sure to seek sources of light, or create your own by setting fire to braziers, cobwebs, or even enemies before equipping your weapons to fight. Remember: fighting in the dark will cause you to take more damage from every attack. The icon at the bottom center of your screen indicates if you’re fighting in the light or in the dark. Explore your surroundings Exploration is key to a successful run in Curse, despite the many dangers that lurk in the shadows. Maximize the amount of gold, weapons, and mystical relics that you find by searching everywhere, and keeping an eye out for hidden rooms. The risk is always worth the reward. Play with traps Traps can be deadly, but they will kill enemies too. Scout your surroundings to see what’s available, then push creatures into spikes and poison streams, lure them near a flame-spewing statue, or find other ways to utilize your environment. There are many ways to be creative in combat. Manage your stamina If you’ve played a lot of action RPGs, you’ll be familiar with the stamina mechanic. Little white pips under your character represent your stamina, and managing it is key to staying alive. Stamina is drained by performing combo finishers, ranged attacks, two-handed attacks, and dodging. Balance offense and defense, and keep some stamina in reserve, or you may not be able to avoid damage at a crucial moment. A perfectly timed dodge restores one stamina, and there are weapons and relics hidden throughout the Temple that can boost it, too. Practice your parry The parry is an extremely effective combat tool, for those who can master it. Tap the parry button just as an enemy strikes to deflect their attack, stagger them, and weaken their defenses. It even works on projectile attacks, does not cost any stamina, and restores two stamina, if successful. The timing can be difficult, but practice on enemies which attack patterns you know, or equip a shield to increase the window in which a parry will be successful. Manage your corruption Before the Temple takes your life, it might take your soul. The purple curse bar at the bottom right of your screen is your corruption. Taking damage from certain attacks, offering your blood to a shrine instead of gold to get bonuses, or entering a new room corrupts your soul: reach 100 corruption, and you’ll be inflicted with a random curse. Many curses are a double-edged sword, putting a twist on some gameplay mechanics. For example, one curse causes enemies to explode upon death: this forces you to be more careful, but you can also use the explosion to set off a chain reaction on the enemies. It’s up to you to let your greed for power kill or save you: the more corrupted you become, the more you will find powerful cursed weapons and relics… But reach five curses, and your life will start to slowly deplete. You can remove one of your curses by defeating a champion, but that may only delay the inevitable… Unlock Blessings and weapons When you die in Curse of the Dead Gods, you’ll lose all the weapons, relics, and gold you were carrying. Fortunately, you do keep treasures like Jade Rings and Crystal Skulls you’ve collected in a run. Crystal Skulls can be exchanged for permanent, powerful blessings that provide useful bonuses and effects. They allow you to create your own build, with great synergies, so make sure to experiment to find new powerful combinations. Jade Rings are used to unlock new weapons that you may find as you explore the Temple. Look for treasure chests in every dark corner for a chance to find your new weapons. We hope these tips serve you well, Explorers. We believe you are ready to face the depths of the Temple, so grab your torch and weapon, and take the plunge. The Gods of Wonder await you… http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/w7VcOQrwSM4View the full article

Pedestrians and tourists, take cover as the streets are about to get even more reckless! Jump into the cab and rush all around to pick up the craziest of customers, and drop them off as fast as you can. With Taxi Chaos we want to bring a throwback to a classic and almost forgotten arcade racing genre in video game history to PlayStation 4. Traffic rushing down the streets, pedestrians crossing the sidewalks and passengers of all kinds eagerly waiting for you to pick them up. Welcome to New Yellow City, a town where everybody has too many places to be, but never enough time to get there. The team has done everything within its power to create the perfect arcade city. Just like the classics, the gameplay in Taxi Chaos is centered around picking up passengers and bringing them to their destination of choice. Navigate through crowded streets, dodge pedestrians and power through the park to discover the fastest way to drop them off. To bring something new, we’ve also given players the ability to defy gravity and even jump over rooftops. The main challenge is to find the best shortcuts all around town, to get even faster and prevent time from running out. Designing New Yellow City Before the team started on the city design, we all asked ourselves: “What would be the best city to take as an inspiration for this spiritual successor?” It didn’t take long before the iconic taxi capitol New York City rose up as the obvious winner. We always begin by researching iconic key locations and city plans to decide what should be included. Simultaneously, we dive into similar titles for inspiration – in this case the classic taxi games. We first wanted to divide the city into two parts: one main island and a smaller island connected with two bridges. The goal for this was to make the player really think about what passengers they wanted to pick up based on their destination, as taking a trip across the bridge could endanger your time limit. Next, the idea was born to extend the bridges in a giant highway that would enclose the entire city. It would be hard to enter, but easy to jump down from. Ultimately, we let go of both ideas to focus on something new: a jumping taxi. 1: The original plan for the level design, 2: The final city map for New Yellow City As we started focusing on the main island, a few things became very important to us. First we wanted to bring that NYC feeling to the city, by including iconic landmarks but giving them an unique little twist. Players will be able to visit Freedom Park, Aeonian Square, Memorial Park and many other places (three guesses what their inspiration was). Next, we wanted to make sure the line of sight between them would be clear, so players can easily find them and learn the different routes throughout the city. The next step was to add secondary roads to give players the opportunity to take even more risk and find unique and insane shortcuts. When the foundation was set, we started experimenting with the jump mechanic, as what’s crazier than riding on top of buildings? We added ramps, low buildings you can directly jump on and various roofs you can traverse. Taxi driving will never be the same again. Curious where some good shortcuts are? Keep an eye out for green scaffolding on buildings, there might be a crazy opportunity there. Passengers with a personality Of course, just driving and jumping around is not all there is to New Yellow City. Just like it’s inspiration, it’s filled with unique citizens each with their own story. To bring the city to life, we decided to give all of them an unique voice and dialogue. There are also various special passengers you can pick up multiple times, to get to know them a little bit better each time you meet them. You can pick up a hipster, plumber, rockstar and many others. Make sure you visit each rooftop, as you never know who you’ll meet. We all hope you’ll join us on a cab ride of a lifetime as Taxi Chaos rushes to PS4 tomorrow. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/GxjWwEjQW_EView the full article

Hi, I’m Steve, Creative Director and Producer at Pixel Maniacs. We’re the developers of Can’t Drive This – our answer to the question “Why aren’t there any couch games anymore?”. And we have a big announcement to make: Can’t Drive This is coming to PS4 and PS5 on March 19! We’re also proud to say we partnered up with Perp Games (The Walking Dead: Onslaught, Creed: Rise to Glory) to bring Can’t Drive This to shelves as well! So if you have a PS4, or a PS5 with disc slot, you can get a physical copy of the game to add to your collection. As a fairly new studio, we’re suuuuper excited about this. Seriously, if you go back in time and tell the 12-year-old versions of ourselves, they’ll excitedly explode. One player drives. One builds the road. At the same time. In Can’t Drive This, one player drives a monster truck while another player builds the road. If the truck drives too slowly, it’ll explode in a big, fiery game-over. Basically the game is two in one: The driver plays an arcade-y racing game with ultra-realistic non-physics (if you can rotate an actual monster truck in the air, I’ll retract this statement, but please don’t try). The builder plays Pseudo-Tetris, where instead of Tetrimini, you get anything from an intersection, over a construction hammer, to a wind turbine designed to make drivers’ lives miserable. Tell me mode! There are four erratic modes, offering varying degrees of mind-melting, at-your-friend-yelling chaos. One even involves time travel! Dun dun dun. In Yardage, there is one builder. With their help, up to three drivers race to set the high-score. This is the pure, filtered Can’t Drive This experience. In Game of Drones (get it?) one builder, and 1-3 drivers collect all tokens in a level to advance to the next, more difficult level. Also, Drones! They drop EMP-Mines that temporarily disable your trucks. Capture the Egg (Yes, egg.) pits two driver-builder-teams against each other, in an epic match of Capture the Flag without the flag. Instead, you drive to the opposing team’s base to collect a 300lbs concrete egg. Deliver it back at your home base to score. Finally, if you have no friends around – in Lone Racer you alternate between both roles. Build the road as fast as you can. Then, when you switch to driving, time rewinds and past-you builds the road while present-you races on it. Multiplayer? Customization! In online multiplayer, team up with your favorite (or totally random) person online, to train your skills in Game of Drones, or climb the leaderboards in Ranked Yardage.But what good is a multiplayer game if you can’t show off your swag, right? That’s what we thought, which is why we added more than a Billion (with a B) customization options. Perform tricks and stunts to unlock new spoilers, noses, paint jobs, and more. No matter what you’re looking for, we have it all! Cat-ear-hairband? Check. Fox-tail-spoiler? Check. Pirate hat? Check. Pig-tailed, googly-eyed, triple-exhaust-rocking, kraken-themed Monster Truck? Okay, maybe we don’t have everyth… just kidding. Quadruple-check. You mentioned something about PS5? I did! We’re super happy to be bringing Can’t Drive This to PS4 and PS5! We’re especially excited about the DualSense controller. We really dig the adaptive triggers, because they just add so much to how the game feels. When playing as the builder, you rotate tiles with R1/R2 and L1/L2 before you place them. Here, the adaptive triggers will behave more like buttons, being super rigid at first, and releasing instantly when pressed hard enough. Playing as the driver, the R2-trigger always provides a certain level of force when driving, just like a gas pedal would. The faster you drive, the tighter it gets! Remember I mentioned monster trucks explode when driving too slowly? Well, before they do, they glow (because they’re getting hot, and it looks cool). On PS5, the R2 trigger will also start rumbling, telling you to get going! Finally, in Game of Drones, when you get hit by one of those nasty EMP mines, the trigger goes completely limp along with your truck, for as long as the truck is disabled. See you on the road! With all that said, I want to thank you for reading this all the way to the end. Or at least for scrolling to the end, and reading this last paragraph. I know this isn’t an award show, but before I head out, I’d also like to take a second to thank our amazing partners at FFF Bayern who helped fund the game (it wouldn’t have been possible without you), and our community for not giving up on us. Also big thanks to our friends at Massive Miniteam for helping with the PS5 version. If you have any questions at all, I’ll be floating around the comments section. Thanks again for taking the time, and we’ll see you on March 19! Take care, and lots of fun from the whole team! STAY SPEEDY, FRIENDS! *drops mic* http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/MdSEZv6Do3sView the full article

In the early 90s, times were simpler. The internet was a baby. Phones were only used for phone calls. “Cutting-edge graphics” meant “256 colors.” And back then, a little company that called itself Silicon & Synapse came together around the simple idea of making the types of games that the people at the company liked to play. With that as a mantra, that small group of developers, over the span of just a few years, went about creating a string of games that ended up being pretty popular with players and critics alike. Those games were The Lost Vikings, Rock N Roll Racing, and Blackthorne. Today, we call ourselves Blizzard Entertainment and, in celebration of our 30th anniversary, we’re re-releasing those three original games for PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 through backwards compatibility—updated with the sort of modern conveniences, like rewinding and saving, that weren’t available back in the days of yore. We’re calling this epic little bundle the Blizzard Arcade Collection, and if you pick it up on the PlayStation Store as a standalone pack or as part of The Blizzard 30-Year Celebration Collection (which offers a sweet set of in-game goodies for Overwatch and Diablo III), you’ll be treated to an early and highly entertaining look at the colorful design, satisfying gameplay, and tongue-in-cheek humor that would soon evolve into our signature style of development and come to life in the games of the Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft universes and more! Play Video What are these classic games of which you speak? In The Lost Vikings, you (and a friend or two, if you like) assume the roles of Erik the Swift, Olaf the Stout, and Baelog the Fierce, three intrepid Vikings who must use their different abilities cooperatively (ring a bell, Overwatch players?) to solve hundreds of puzzles, evade their captor—the vile Tomator, defeat their enemies, and navigate a treacherous voyage back home. Originally released in 1993, The Lost Vikings highlights the creative ability-based teamwork that would resonate not just in Overwatch but in Blizzard’s overall approach to co-op multiplayer game design—seen today in everything from Heroes of the Storm (of course, considering it features the Lost Vikings as a playable Hero), to World of Warcraft, to Diablo III and more. Also originally released in 1993, Rock N Roll Racing puts you (and a friend or two or three, if you like) behind the wheel in an over-the-top demolition-racing experience. Each player chooses from a selection of drivers with different talents and takes their pick from a set of customizable cars—each equipped with an upgradeable arsenal designed to help them outmaneuver, and literally destroy, the competition as they navigate around a series of booby-trapped racetracks while rocking out to an epic rock-and-metal soundtrack. With its boisterous announcer (the one-of-a-kind Larry “Supermouth” Huffman, who supplied additional voiceovers for this release) and gladiatorial-style racing action, Rock N Roll Racing is an unabashed throwback to an earlier era in gaming that feels as relevant and compelling today as it did nearly 30 years ago—if for no other reason than that it’s Blizzard’s very first game to feature an orc, which would go on to become one of the central races in the Warcraft universe (+5 trivia points!). Blackthorne centers on the story of Kyle “Blackthorne” Vlaros, a lethal commando equipped with brute strength, animal cunning, a glorious mane, a mysterious past—and an increasingly powerful shotgun. As the eponymous lead character, you must fight to claim your destiny, dodging and blasting your way through a futuristic 2D alien world overrun by mutant monsters and goblin hordes, in a fierce effort to liberate its people. When it was first released in September 1994, Blackthorne won praise for its dark tone, detailed graphics, smooth action, and sophisticated gameplay, including the hero’s ability to “no-look” fire at enemies behind him. Blackthorne would be ported to PC a few months later, technically making it the first PC-game release developed by Blizzard (Blizzard separately established itself as a formal publishing label with Warcraft: Orcs & Humans® in November of 1994). Original Editions AND Definitive Editions? Go on . . . All three games in the Blizzard Arcade Collection come in their Original Editions and also upgraded Definitive Editions. Custom button mapping and the ability to rewind play up to 10 seconds is available across both the Original and Definitive Editions of each game. Each version of the games, with the exception of the Definitive Edition of Rock N Roll Racing, also includes the ability to save progress anywhere. One standout feature unique to the Original Editions of The Lost Vikings and Blackthorne is “watch mode,” which lets you watch a playthrough of the game and jump in to take control at any point. Beyond that, the Definitive Editions of each game take the experience even further. The Definitive Edition of The Lost Vikings brings together the best aspects of the different original console versions of the game, combining the superior audio and visual experience of the first release with the extra stages and cutscenes, and support for up to three players in local co-op, that were added in a subsequent version. The Definitive Edition of Rock N Roll Racing adds environmental effects, such as snow and rain, and lets up to four players, compared to two in the Original Edition, compete in local multiplayer. It also ups the racetrack count to 384 variations, supports 16:9 resolution, and adds actual recordings of songs from the game’s classic soundtrack—as well as new songs and new “Loudmouth Larry” voiceover clips for players to tear up the tracks to. Taking a cue from Blizzard’s real-time strategy games, the Definitive Edition of Blackthorne includes a “fog of war” map that uncovers as players explore each level, adding an even greater sense of suspense and achievement to Blackthorne’s adventure. Rounding things out, the Blizzard Arcade Collection contains a packed digital Museum with a bunch of great bonus materials, including game art, development assets, unused content, lore, developer interviews, and more. Nostalgia, refined Whether you’re a Blizzard-gaming veteran or just looking for a quick and compelling blast of fun, the Blizzard Arcade Collection provides three distinct and flavorful 90s console classics that have been long overdue for another look. Pick it up today at PlayStation Store—or if you’re an Overwatch or Diablo III player on PlayStation, The Blizzard 30-Year Celebration Collection might just be the best way to go, as it’ll net you the Blizzard Arcade Collection along with a bounty of in-game bonuses for both games, including a pet, transmog set, and wings for Diablo III as well as a legendary Reinhardt skin, a commemorative spray and icon, and Classic and Golden Loot Boxes for Overwatch. Whichever path to the past you choose, we think you’ll love what you find when you get there! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/_MW4x6XMV68View the full article

Last week, we asked to return to the reality-bending world of Control: Ultimate Edition and share moments fighting back The Hiss using #PSshare #PSBlog. From daring portraits of Director Jesse Faden to eerie shots of The Oldest House, here were this week’s highlights: Jesse’s weapon shifts for ultimate effect in this share by BarryPaust. Jesse observes the celestial Quarry in this share by William73318992. HStrangelove shared the ominous pink flamingo, teeming with unknown energy. Jesse takes aim down a glowing hall in this share by jmsan5. Sefwick shares a floating Federal Bureau of Control employee. Jesse wanders through the maintenance halls in this share by ameeba37. 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: Control: Ultimate Edition – The Oldest House SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on February 24 Next week, we’re staying in the reality-bending world of Control and highlighting the warped offices and halls of The Oldest House. Share your best shots of this ever-changing environment using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Want to share more of your epic photo mode moments? U.S. players can enter the Red Bull Capture Point competition* for the chance to win some thrilling prizes. See full details at redbull.com/capturepoint. *Red Bull Capture Point Official Contest Rules: THIS IS A SKILL CONTEST. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PS4/5 CONSOLE, PLAYSTATION™NETWORK, TWITTER® ACCOUNT, AND THE PARTICIPATING GAME(S). Starts February 1, 2021, ends May 21, 2021. Open to legal US residents, 18+. To enter, capture in-game image and share on Twitter with #RedBullCapturePoint and #contest. All entries must be submitted by May 2, 2021. Limit: 18 entries per person. For prize categories, judging information, restrictions, and Official Rules: redbull.com/capturepoint. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/J9QTtHzusFQView the full article

Welcome to MyTeam Season 5: Age of Heroes… Assemble your team of superstars from the Modern Age and Golden Age of the NBA in MyTeam, and unleash their powers. Available from today for NBA 2K21, Season 5 brings new players, challenges and rewards, plus all-new hero themed cards. Let’s take a closer first look at what’s in store. Play Video Season 5’s Challenge Activities PS5 is the best place to play through all the content available in Season 5: Age of Heroes, and there is a lot of content. But let’s start with the exclusive PlayStation Challenge Activities in MyTeam, only available to PS5 users. These challenges are updated every Season and Season 5 is bringing an iconic one featuring legends like T-Mac and Vinsanity. Take on the 2000 Raptors with your MyTeam and throwdown at least 10 dunks to earn your spot on the PS5 leaderboard! But it doesn’t stop there… the more dunks you earn against the 2000 Raptors the higher up the leaderboard you go! Completing the challenge earns you a Slasher Reward Pack which contains a shoe and a badge to improve your lineup’s slashing abilities. Hero-themed cards Let’s take a closer look at Season 5: Age of Heroes – start by building your own hero LeBron James – redeem his Sapphire Evo card at the start of the Season, complete agendas and watch him evolve into a Diamond. MyTeam is adding brand-new hero-themed cards which you can unlock, collect and compete with! There are 15 players to collect from the Modern Age of the NBA including future superstars Luka Doncic and Mitchell Robinson and 15 legends to collect from the Golden Age of the NBA including the Big Fella Shaq and Manu Ginobili. Complete the sets for a super-special reward… Season 5’s Signature Challenge: Michael Jordan Every Legend deserves a Signature Challenge, this time it is none other than 6x time NBA Champion, his Airness; Michael Jordan. Play through one of Jordan’s most iconic moments; THE LAST SHOT. A game-winning shot that gave MJ 45 points and the Bulls a second 3-peat and their 6th NBA Championship in the 90s. Complete the challenge to earn a Diamond Jordan shoe and Hall of Fame badge! If you don’t own a Michael Jordan card, redeem this locker code for your free MJ MyTeam card: JORDAN-LAST-SHOT Also this season… Complete Season Agendas and earn XP to progress through the Seasonal levels and unlock All-Star Dunk Champion Hamidou Diallo, 3PT king Joe Harris, 6x All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire and more. The Galaxy Opal Admiral – David Robinson awaits you as progress through MyTeam Season 5 to Level 40. There are also brand new players in the Exchange including Larry Legend and Khris Middleton, not to be missed for building your squad. And Triple Threat superstars rejoice, getting that 1000th win in Triple Threat Offline will earn you Galaxy Opal Peja Stojakovic. MyTeam Tournament Have fun and earn big rewards every weekend in MyTeam Limited. With new lineup requirements each week, every card in your collection is important. Earn wins to pick up a Championship ring each week. Collect all 5 rings to earn the Season 5 Limited Grand Prize: Galaxy Opal Pau Gasol. The $250K MyTeam Tournament culminates in Season 5 with 32 hopeful qualifiers from around the globe* competing on February 20 in a knockout Tournament hoping to make it to the Grand Finals on March 6 and take home the Grand Prize of $200K, with $50K for the runner-up! Not competing? Not a problem, take your skills to MyTeam Unlimited and climb up the ladder with your best lineup. Play your way through 9 Leagues to reach the top. In order to advance, you’ll need to win a certain number of games, with more and more wins required as you move up the league structure and earn rewards. Go 12-0 in Season 5’s Unlimited Opal League to earn Galaxy Opal Cedric Maxwell. New to MyTeam? Here’s what it’s all about Let’s look behind the scenes at how players are selected for two of MyTeam’s most popular themes and packs… In December, we debuted a never-before-seen set in MyTeam, Retro 2K. We have released two volumes of these collections; each with a unique combination of players inspired by cards from previous years of MyTeam. That’s right, we brought back some of the most influential player cards ever in MyTeam like Paul George’s NBA 2K15 Pink Diamond, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s epic 20th Anniversary card from NBA 2K19, and Michael Jordan’s Signature Limited Galaxy Opal (one of the rarest cards ever released in MyTeam). We’ve also revisited many of our community’s favorite cards from over the years, including Lonzo Ball’s Pink Diamond from the NBA 2K18 Pink Diamond Tournament and Andrei Kirilenko’s lockdown Diamond from NBA 2K19. We even brought back great Ruby cards stretching from current players like Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac, and Thon Maker, to the great Kobe Bryant’s card from NBA 2K15. Stars, niche favorites, and everything in between. The first Retro 2K Volumes have had a little bit of everything, for everyone! In the cases of the giant Sim Bhullar from NBA 2K16, or Isaac Bonga’s then-rookie NBA 2K19 card, we did make the decision to upgrade some card’s abilities from an era-accurate Bronze to an NBA 2K21 Ruby. Another series of cards where we ‘glitch’ a card’s attribute ratings is our aptly named Glitched collection. Accompanying every Flash release in NBA 2K21’s MyTeam, these cards feature fantasy elements including big men like Rudy Gobert and Tim Duncan expanding their range, or Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton going ABOVE the rim for some spectacular highlights. Unique to all Glitched cards is the ability to upgrade ALL badges on the card. Meaning you could theoretically upgrade your Glitched Diamond Zion Williamson to have all Hall of Fame badges, if you were able to earn them all! The Glitched collection really allows us to see “What If?” questions come to life in MyTeam. If you played a prior NBA 2K’s MyTeam and want to see your favorite card make a return, tell us your wishlist! Tweet @NBA2K_MyTeam or hit up the Ask a Developer section in MyTeam’s Community Hub, we love to hear our community’s suggestions. That’s all from us for now. Keep playing MyTeam on PS5 for tons of new content coming up in MyTeam Season 5! *Entry to the MyTeam Tournament available to players from the following countries: Countries 50 United States & D.C. (excluding AZ, CT, MD, and ND), Canada (excluding Quebec), Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/tIcEvfqY-TYView the full article

The Phantom Thieves are back! The Digital Deluxe Edition of Persona 5 Strikers is available now and launches for all players February 23 on PlayStation 4. In this PlayStation Underground episode, we take a look at exclusive Persona 5 Strikers footage on the PlayStation 5. We go through all the highlights that makes this hybrid-action combat gameplay great, check it out here: Play Video In Persona 5 Strikers, we’re exploring Jails instead of Prisons, releasing hearts instead of stealing them, and travelling across Japan instead of getting lost in the train stations of Tokyo. However, the same Phantom Thief crew has got your back! My favorite mechanic of the game is playing as any of the Phantom Thieves. As shown in the episode, you can wield an axe as Haru, execute All-out Attacks after leaping off ice sculptures as Fox, and Baton Pass back to Joker anytime mid-combat. You can explore the cities through platforming and solving puzzles, and it’s all wrapped up in flashy menus and over-the-top combat sequences. Lastly, the newest member of the group, Sophie, Humanity’s Companion, provides a new way to join the Phantom Thieves through yo-yo-slinging gameplay that you have to try out for yourself. Or, if you’d rather mow down enemies as the Morgana cat bus, we’ve got you covered: For the ATLUS and ω－Force developers, the best part of creating the game was working together to blend elements that give Persona 5 Strikers that ‘Persona’ touch, its story and setting, with an incredible action combat system! For both action and Persona fans alike, Persona 5 Strikers is a brand-new story. So, you’ll be able to jump in the camper and road trip across Japan with the Phantom Thieves just fine. Persona 5 Strikers officially releases on PlayStation 4 February 23. Check out what critics are saying about the Phantom Thieves in the new launch trailer: Play Video http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/s3uiCPreX1QView the full article

Today, we’re proud to present an exclusive inside look at Movers in Paradise, our brand-new DLC for Moving Out that offers 14 new story levels, 10 new arcade levels and four exclusive new characters. Also washing ashore are a number of new features, including: ziplines, vines and everyone’s favourite, the disgruntled goat! Movers in Paradise will be available on PlayStation 4 (and playable on PS5) from Thursday February 25. Read on to find out more about some of the design secrets that went into creating this new paradise – and the challenges within it. Welcome to Packmore Island In this busy world of bustle and beepers, there has never been a better time to slow… the… beat… down… We ask you to wave pavement and asphalt goodbye, to sail into paradise as we welcome you to Packmore Island! It’s likely you’ve never heard of this tiny, remote rock – and why would you? It’s been hidden beyond the mist of the great beyond for time immemorial. Well, not quite. But one can dream… In fact, that’s just how Packmore Island came to be. From concept to creation – here’s how Packmore Island sprang to life. An exotic isle playground In this tropical setting of soothing sounds and picturesque coastal calm, you’ll explore sights never before seen by Mover or beast alike. From cliff faces that stretch down beyond the depths of your imagination, to chasms that defy your sense of space and time, our beaches will beg you to sit and be still and our caves will beckon you with hidden delights. When it comes to creating games, there’s a delicate balance between gameplay and art; we have to make sure that the art supports the gameplay, rather than getting in the way of the fun! To example this, here’s one level that sees our Movers work through a gorgeous, waterfall-filled location. If you look at the concept art above, we had some really cool-looking waterfalls flowing from the top of the level. When it came down to it though, these elements blocked a lot of the play area, compromising visibility for the players. So many of our testers were falling off the edge into the water-filled cavern below and that wasn’t fun at all! So though they looked cool, they actually detracted from the level experience. At the end of the day, all the elements of the game need to work together to create the best experience for the player. We always want to keep the FUN, so sometimes cool-looking things don’t make the cut. The silver lining here is that Art and Design just work even more closely together to come up with super creative solutions! Packmore Island also gave us a great opportunity to adapt Moving Out’s wacky physics for water-based challenges. There were lots of funny tests with rafts that behaved in less than perfect ways. Some were too floaty; some not floaty enough. Some launched into outer space and some just didn’t float at all. But in the end we got it jusssst right! The perfect balance to create your own safe platforms and pathways to keep that furniture (and your tiny mover feet) dry. Curious creatures ready to tax your moving skills In this tropical paradise, it’s not just the flora that will enchant you – the fauna also commands your attention! In its isolation, the wildlife of Packmore Island have evolved quite unique and interesting… idiosyncrasies. We’re speaking of sneaky crabs with a taste for thievery and capricious scallywag goats boasting skulls thick enough to break through stone walls (and who’ll charge inattentive movers not respecting their space). Lemurs may try to be friendly, sharing their fruit and expecting you to play fetch, but their treasure is covered in spikes and heavy enough to knock you over. (Feel free to give them a taste of their own medicine and piff that prickly fruit back at ‘em!) We had a lot of fun inventing gamplay ideas built around our challenging yet charismatic wildlife. Take the Packmore Island’s Puffer Fish: originally you had to move reaaaaallllly slowly, in a shhhh-don’t wake the baby, kind of way – you don’t want to startle them! Then we had a revelation (which is obvious in hindsight…) Moving slowly is not at all what Moving Out is all about! We pivoted, and now you have to throw the puffer before it gets too big and spikes you! Hopefully your moving buddy is there to catch it before it hits the ground and pops! We had a similar breakthrough with the goats. In the beginning they were really just an annoyance, charging movers and knocking them about, but we wanted to find a way to harness their energy for good. That’s when we thought to give their charge the ability to break walls. It spawned a whole level in fact! Thanks to that simple tweak, players can lure a goat to charge. Coupled with a well-timed sidestep on nimble mover feet, players can forge new pathways to otherwise unreachable areas. Go forth, you intrepid explorer! Geysers, scubas, and more Now sampling the local fruit isn’t the only way to reach great heights – you can fly sky high on state-of-the-art Geyser Transportation SystemTM or hop a ride on free-range Scuba Tanks. Originally introduced to help control the local Fire Extinguisher problem, they’ve become a beast of their own, running rampant on our lands. Not that there are many people to notice, mind you. On that note, if you do happen to spot any shipwrecks, plane crashes or ancient ruins, please feel free to tell no one and kindly not report us to the Island Health and Safety Minister. That lot gives us a hard enough time already. I hope you’ve enjoyed this of our new DLC! Please enjoy your stay on Packmore Island, a realm unparalleled in this world of Movers and shakers. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/MaCQtdM6PG0View the full article

Every two years since 2013’s A Realm Reborn, Final Fantasy XIV has received a new expansion. Each of these huge updates introduced a wealth of new content for Square Enix’s MMORPG, with each release comparable to a full standalone JRPG. All packed in enthralling stories, new regions, missions and impressive boss fights, continually building out the game’s fantastical setting Eorzea. Last week, Square Enix debuted the fourth expansion. Like its predecessors, Endwalker promises new jobs, new areas to explore (we’re going to the moon!) and much, much more. And as with 2013’s reimagining and subsequent expansions, Endwalker’s development is headed by Naoki Yoshida. The director and producer has spent the last eight years reshaping Final Fantasy XIV into a critically-acclaimed MMO behemoth. This latest release marks the end of a decade-long storyline, one that stretches all the way back to the game’s original version, which launched in 2010. Yoshida-san is a busy man. Not only is he overseeing yet another feature-packed expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, he was recently announced as the producer for the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI. Yet between juggling two Leviathan-sized projects, he found the time to answer our most burning questions around that astounding Endwalker reveal. Endwalker will bring Final Fantasy XIV’s 10-year long story arc to its conclusion. How does it feel to finally close this long a chapter? When did you first envision how this chapter of FFXIV was to end and how much has the final version changed from that initial premise? Since the time of A Realm Reborn, the idea of the “Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga” already existed and was what we were working off of when creating the story. Being able to tell this story to its conclusion required Final Fantasy XIV to succeed as an MMORPG, and we were far from being able to declare the ongoing story as the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga even at the time of Heavensward’s release. Following the release of Stormblood and having seen the growing community and success of the game, I thought it was time to more fully flesh out the concepts of the story and think as to how and where this conclusion might take place. Back then, I felt 6.0 or 7.0 would be a good time to wrap things up, but with the excitement we saw with Shadowbringers being even higher than our expectations, I decided we shouldn’t draw the story out awkwardly, and continue the wave of excitement by concluding the story with Endwalker. I’m genuinely excited to bring the finale of this story arc to our players. I wouldn’t say I feel sad that we are concluding this story arc that spanned over a decade because I must think about the next story now… There is no end to my work! You have also confirmed that Endwalker would not be the game’s closing chapter, which was a huge relief to all the FFXIV fans! What is in the cards for what will come next? How do you expect your writing and narrative process to change after the story gets to such a cosmic scale and concludes, and you are finally able to take the next big adventure anywhere? Everything is still in very rough and preliminary stages, but I do have ideas of where to take the story after Endwalker even for the next few years. However, I am currently occupied with thinking of how to best deliver the first climax to FFXIV through Endwalker and the end of this story arc (laughs). You will have to wait until things have settled down some more before I can give you any more answers. What are some of the main themes you want fans to watch out for as they explore the new expansion and play through Endwalker’s story? When the players finally reach the end of 6.0 what do you want them to feel? In FFXIV, the story progresses without explicit boundaries defining good or evil due in part to my own tastes and preferences in storytelling. History is typically defined by the winners, and in these cases, it is the loser who is consistently depicted as evil. However, each side had something that they stood for, and the definition of good and evil shifted depending on the times, peoples’ values, education, and laws. I try to picture what would people believe despite such circumstances, or how people find hope in the face of inevitable despair. Personally, I don’t wish for players to feel a certain way as they play through the story. I say this because I believe people should have freedom in that aspect. I hope our players enjoy Endwalker! A lot of elements you have revealed from Endwalker are incredibly reminiscent of Final Fantasy 4. What themes from Final Fantasy 4 have inspired you in Endwalker? Can fans expect more similarities? What nods to other mainline Final Fantasy games might fans find in Endwalker? The previous lunar satellite, Dalamud, turned out to be a cage created by the Allagan Empire to imprison Bahamut. That begs the question: then what is the moon itself? It is true we are paying homage to Final Fantasy IV, but the main pillar of the story is undoubtedly FFXIV. Since we are concluding the Hydaelyn/Zodiark saga, I would encourage you to keep an eye out for how it all ties together. The first new playable job you have revealed, Sage, took a lot of people by surprise, and this iteration’s design is brand new to the Final Fantasy series! How did you decide to go for a brand-new XIV original and where did you find inspiration from? We had already decided in the early stages of development that one of the new jobs in Endwalker would be a healer, and there were several different ideas that the team proposed. If we chose an existing job from the Final Fantasy series, I felt it would not only be very difficult to differentiate it from the White Mage, Scholar, and Astrologian, [the three existing healers in the game] but also difficult to create a unique gameplay experience for the job. Rather than utilizing something that already exists in the Final Fantasy universe, I asked for brand-new job ideas from the team-that is when someone proposed the idea of a job that didn’t use weapons that were held in the character’s hands but were instead controlled magically. It was from that base idea that we moved forward in creating the Sage job. Endwalker’s cinematic trailer’s music sounds very different from past expansions, with a distinct grunge and shoegaze feel to it. Will Endwalker’s music have any specific themes to it, or follow any genres? From a musical perspective, the song in the teaser trailer is merely a teaser from [Composer] Masayoshi Soken and myself. How it will fully take shape is something to look forward to in the full trailer. That will be the first time we will get a true glimpse of what kind of sound Soken is aiming for in Endwalker… If you could tell newcomers just one thing to entice them to try out FFXIV, what would it be? When it comes to MMOs, many people immediately think, “I have to play for a very long time!” or “There’s a massive amount of content to play through!”. However, FFXIV is quite unique in that despite being an MMO, it is a heavily story-driven game. Imagine it like an interactive TV drama, in which you can experience the story and grow as the main character as you progress, with the narrative continuously propelling you forward. Since Endwalker is our fourth expansion, you can think of that as season four. You can totally catch up! Plus, you can get to season two for free with our Free Trial. (laughs) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/63ZWuky8mhYView the full article

Season Two of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone live on February 25 on PlayStation, and with it comes a whole lot of new content. Let’s take a look: Play Video Outbreak: A new Zombies experience Interconnected with the Dark Aether storyline, Outbreak tasks players with objective based play across the largest Multiplayer maps in Black Ops Cold War. Hunt down elite enemies using a satellite tracker, escort a Rover that detects dimensional portals, or hold out against the zombies in confined Dark Aether regions — complete your objectives and get to Exfil. Will you escape via the chopper or take your chances in the Dark Aether portal for extra rewards? There are new abilities and upgrades as well. Activate the new Frenzied Guard Field Upgrade to force all undead creatures to attack the user for 10 seconds, during which time only Armor will take damage. Turn Heavy Zombies into mincemeat using the explosive Shatter Blast Ammo Mod, and earn the new Refined and Flawless Aetherium Crystals to upgrade your Skills to Tier IV and V. Earn six free new weapons Season Two brings some serious firepower with the addition of six new weapons: FARA 83 (free at Tier 15) – This rapid-fire assault rifle is devastating in the hands of capable Operators who can control its reliable accuracy and slower handling. LC10 (free at Tier 31) – A well-rounded fully-auto SMG that competes into the mid-range due to its solid accuracy and extended effective damage range. Unlock four more weapons — the R1 Shadowhunter, Machete, bolt-action ZRG 20mm sniper rifle, and the military tri-fold shovel E-Tool — by completing in-game challenges to earn the free base weapon or by purchasing a bundle with the Blueprint from that family when it appears in the Store. New multiplayer maps and game modes Apocalypse (6v6, Launch Week) Descend into a Lao jungle cartel base in the heart of the Golden Triangle in Apocalypse, a small-to-medium sized map built for aggressive fighting in and around the temple fortress. Golova (Multi-Team,In Season) What appears to be a picturesque Russian village in the Ural Plains is really a testing ground for the expansion of the Numbers Program designed by Nikita Dragovich. Engage in heated combat throughout the sleepy town, from its massive church to the homes and industrial park. Mansion (2v2, 3v3, In Season) Set in Havana, Cuba at the Hefe Mansion (last seen in the Campaign’s “End of the Line” mission), this new Gunfight and Face Off map features sprawling courtyards around a central wrapped room with an exposed balcony that can serve as a risky power position. Miami Strike (6v6, In Season) With the sun glistening off the colorful murals of Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, Miami Strike will focus the action into a smaller daytime rendition of the original map. Whether it’s a white-knuckle game of TDM or a tense Hardpoint battle, the heat is always on in the streets of Miami. Season Two offers other new game modes, like the fan-favorite Gun Game. Progress through a set of 20 weapons – starting with a pistol and ending with a Knife – to win the match: set your enemies back a tier by eliminating them with a melee attack or Finishing Move. You can also collect and deposit dog tags in Stockpile, or prepare for epic combat in the new squad-based, multi-team Hardpoint. Get more on PlayStation — exclusive* content for Black Ops Cold War Battle in the new Onslaught map: Apocalypse Playstation 4 and Playstation 5 players get a new map in the Sony exclusive* two-player Onslaught mode: Apocalypse. Slay zombies and feed the Dark Aether Orb as it moves through the picturesque village in the Ural Plains that’s crawling with the undead. Can you survive the close quarter waves of zombies and take out enough elite enemies to obtain the coveted Gold ranking? Grab a friend and find out. New game modes, points of Interest in Warzone The new season brings a fresh loot pool to Warzone, including the new Season Two weapons and Operators. Plus, play new game modes and explore two new points of interest in Verdansk. In Exfiltration, players must locate a portable radio within Verdansk and hold onto it for a set period of time to win the game. The player holding the radio is marked on the Tac Map along with a timer indicating how much longer until they win. Gear up for a frenetic fight in Rebirth Island Resurgence Extreme, a limited-time mode supporting up to 90 players. As for the new points of interest, Operators are still gathering intel on what they found deep below Verdansk’s surface, in addition to rogue radar signals of a strange cargo tanker that was reportedly lost at sea. Although further reports on these new areas have yet to be declassified, all Operators have been given the directive to explore them at their own peril. Live February 25 Season Two of Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will be live on PlayStation this February 25. Experience all this and more with a fresh Season Two Battle Pass, four new playable Operators — Naga, Maxis, Wolf, and Rivas — new prestige levels, the Death Machine Scorestreak, Outbreak vehicles, a new set of Multiplayer and Zombies challenges, and more. See you online. *Not available on other platforms until November 1, 2021. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/INJ2mjsQOtIView the full article

We are pleased to announce that, following the PlayStation Gear Store’s North America launch in 2019, we are expanding to several countries in Europe, offering a fantastic range of items for PlayStation fans to choose from. And just in time for this expansion, Guerrilla’s very own merchandise brand, Horizon Raw Materials, is releasing a line-up of brand-new items available online in all regions where the PlayStation Gear Store ships to. PlayStation Gear Store expands to additional territories Now available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK, PlayStation Gear Store provides a one-stop shop for fans to choose from a wide range of PlayStation-inspired gear. In addition to PlayStation-branded items, we’ve worked closely with our studios to incorporate some of our popular games into your everyday lifestyle. Below, you’ll find a sample selection of the fantastic offerings available through PlayStation Gear Store in the newly launched countries- including apparel, drinkware, home decor, and more. A selection of PlayStation Gear Store items Available in newly launched territories PS5-inspired Quilted Bomber Jacket A jacket perfect for PS5 and DualSense wireless controller fans and gamers alike. Custom designed with DualSense wireless controller interior lining. This durable, diamond quilted jacket comes equipped with metal zippers, slash pockets and ribbed cuffs. Comes in both men’s and women’s sizing. Available for pre-order Debossed DualSense Wireless Controller Beanie Cozy accessory with a “leather” flair. Acrylic knitted beanie with custom designed debossed DualSense wireless controller patch on one side and embroidered PS5 logo on the other. Women’s Iridescent Semi-Crop Shirt Your new favorite long sleeve crop with a shimmer of PlayStation. Pre-shrunk sizing makes this an everlasting accessory, perfect for layering. PlayStation Backpack Inspired by Original Logo A backpack style with a classic color combo inspired by the original PlayStation logo. This Timbuk2 roll-top pack is loaded with cool features that allow you to take your belongings on the go with ultimate comfort. Includes a special pocket that accommodates a laptop up to 38cm and the versatile nylon material ensures it stays dry in the rain. Available for pre-order Pearlized Symbols Water Bottle Featuring the PlayStation symbols and a sleek, pearlized matte finish, quench your thirst with this 828mL aluminum bottle with screw-on lid and flip-up straw. The Last of Us Part II Ellie T-Shirt Ellie takes focus in this graphic design from Naughty Dog. Combed ringspun cotton, fine-knit jersey. The Last of Us Firefly Hat Top off your look with this Firefly hat from The Last of Us. This comfortable cap is made of pure-cotton twill and features a metal clasp on the back. Funko Pop! Games – The Last of Us Part II – Ellie The Ellie vinyl figure from the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II features details like Ellie’s iconic tattoo and stiletto switchblade. It is the perfect addition to your Funko collection. The collectible vinyl figure stands approximately 10cm tall. Available for pre-order Ghost of Tsushima Samurai Hoodie Your wardrobe’s last line of defense. This quarter-zip hoodie lets you take on the day, like Jin Sakai, ready to brave the roughest of elements at any time. The 65% cotton/35% polyester blend keeps you warm while the two-ply hood keeps you dry. Funko Pop! Games- Ghost of Tsushima- Jin Sakai Introducing the first Ghost of Tsushima Funko POP! Jin Sakai has set aside his samurai traditions and become the feared Ghost of Tsushima, outfitted here in his Ghost armor complete with his deadly katana and tanto. Jin will proudly stand alongside your Funko collection to defend your home. Figure measures approximately 10cm tall. Available for pre-order Brushed & Inked Kratos Tee Pay homage to the God of War. Incredibly soft, this 90% cotton/10% polyester tee is laundered to help reduce shrinkage. Rib-knit collar. God of War Compass Water Bottle Head in the right direction with the durability and style of this stainless-steel bottle. The double-wall design features copper vacuum insulation and an attached, threaded lid. Hand washing recommended. Horizon Raw Materials available on PlayStation Gear Store Guerrilla’s very own merchandise brand, Horizon Raw Materials, has released a line-up of brand-new items available online. The new range includes stylish t-shirts featuring original Horizon Forbidden West artwork in three different colours, as well as new drinkware with gorgeous new designs showing off some fan favorites of the series so far. Also on PlayStation Gear Store, we added some previously released Horizon Raw Materials products; including a copy of the original graphic novel, The Sunhawk with an exclusive PlayStation Gear Store cover; Horizon Zero Dawn: the Board Game; and the Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete OST on vinyl, so you can immerse yourself into Aloy’s world. We’re excited to have this fantastic collection on PlayStation Gear Store, which is available in all locations where PlayStation Gear Store ships to, including: Austria, Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, U.S., the UK and Uruguay. A selection of Horizon Raw Materials Merchandise Available in countries where PlayStation Gear Store ships Horizon Forbidden West Aloy Profile – Black Tee Make a colorful statement that exudes strength and willpower! This gorgeous black tee features Horizon Forbidden West’s protagonist Aloy in profile. Horizon Forbidden West Focus – Navy Mug There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee or tea to help you focus. This navy thermos mug features the iconic Focus device, so you can enjoy Aloy’s experiences for yourself. Double-wall vacuum insulated mug comes equipped with a cork base and push-on lid. Horizon Zero Dawn – The Sunhawk This original graphic novel is set after the events of the critically acclaimed, award-winning video game Horizon Zero Dawn and features a new adventure with Talanah and Aloy! Featuring an exclusive cover especially designed for our PlayStation Gear Store fans! Horizon Zero Dawn – The Boardgame Answer the Hunter’s Call, and bring down the most dangerous of machines. Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game is a semi co-operative tactical action game for 1-4 players designed in the rich and unique Horizon Zero Dawn universe. We’ll continue to add new products to PlayStation Gear Store from your favorite games, as well as iconic designs from the PlayStation brand. Items may vary by regions. Check back regularly at gear.playstation.com. All products are available while supplies last. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/dda0lGSTYtQView the full article

When NieR Replicant launched in 2010, one of the most memorable facets of the PS3 action RPG was its soundtrack, masterfully created by Keiichi Okabe. Since then, the 51 year old Japanese composer has revisited that haunting sci-fi world on multiple occasions. Outside working on arrangement albums and live concerts, he returned for acclaimed series’ sequel NieR:Automata in 2017. And in a few short months we’ll hear modern-day reimaginings of those classic tracks, created especially for an updated version of the original entitled NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… In anticipation of that game’s release on April 23, we had the chance to ask Okabe-san about revisiting that seminal work over a decade on and find out how the game’s ethereal soundtrack is being reinterpreted for this new version. Alongside discussing those rerecording sessions, the composer also gives insight into his creative process behind select game tracks, both original and new. You have created music for a vast number of games before composing for NieR, one of the works you are most known for. In what ways was composing for this game a unique challenge at the time? Previously, I was involved more with arcade games, rather than console games. So, often I would be asked to create flashy music with a momentum to excite you for battle. However, with NieR, I placed heavier emphasis on the music fulfilling its role of expressing the unique world or conveying the emotions of a particular character and the feelings trapped in their heart. The music did not clearly envision happiness, anger, sadness or levity, but instead, was created to give the listener a sense of all the emotions swirling around in the nooks and crannies of their heart—like the faint glimmer of hope amidst the sorrow, or sadness mixed with bitterness. “We recorded a youth choir for this song, and I remember it was quite a difficult endeavour compared to recording an adult choir.” Empathy is perhaps the most important theme of NieR. How do you translate this feeling into music? I, myself, love music that evokes a lot of emotion. So, it wasn’t too big of a struggle to express that in my work. However, incorporating that flavor into most of the songs, and still giving it some variety, plus having to create the large number of songs, was what I struggled with. Rather than the backing track, I try to inject emotion into the melody, and I feel that might be inspired from old movie scores. “The piano in the background repeats a similar arpeggio, but the melody develops throughout the song.” One of the unique aspects of NieR’s score is the presence of vocals on most of the background tracks. Were there any significant challenges to composing video game music with so much vocal work back then and, if so, how did you make it work? Whenever we included vocals into music intended for video games or cinematic pieces, I would always get feedback such as, the vocals overlapping with the character’s voice would make it hard to hear dialogue, or that the lyrics would cause things to be unintentionally implied making it feel intrusive. As such, whenever Yoko-san makes a request for voices, like a vocalist or choir to be included, I try to go for more delicate, breathy tones with their own atmosphere, rather than going for someone with more power. This is so that the vocals won’t stand out in a negative way. Additionally, one of the main characteristics of the sound of NieR is the echo. By making the effects of the echo a bit deeper, I feel it allows for the vocals to blend into the space better, so to speak, and make it sound airier. This helped give it a more unique sort of presence, as opposed to typical vocals. “In the original, we had a Japanese boy soprano sing this song, but this time around, we recorded someone in Hungary, so I encourage you to listen and compare the wonderful points of each version when released.” How much did you know about NieR when jumping into the project 10 years ago? What aspects of NieR and its story did you take most inspiration from when writing? When I first started writing songs for the original NieR Replicant, the game itself was still in its prototype stage and going through various trials and errors. So, I tried to strike a balance between what Director Yoko Taro requested and the music I wanted to create, while not being able to visualize it. Before I even worked with Yoko-san in a creative capacity, we were friends, since we graduated from the same college. And so, even when we first worked on the production together, I could provide input and ask questions without having to hold anything back. As such, it was easy to grasp the intent behind the requests he would make. I was informed by Yoko-san early on that the music was going to be a substantial element in the presentation of the game, so that was something I definitely kept in mind. For example, “Song of the Ancients / Devola” is set up so that you only hear the vocals when you approach the singing character, but otherwise it’s an instrumental track without vocals. There are the types of stipulations I would run into. From creating the first song, all the way to finishing up the last song, I worked on it little by little over the course of a very long time. As more progress was made in the game development, I received more information and tried to strike a balance from there. https://open.spotify.com/track/0kWuzk9F0RGxKKkEaCoHEV?si=3d6e282d02db4ab3 “Out of all the dark songs in NieR, this song is one of the darker, and more claustrophobic, songs.” NieR’s soundtrack was met with tremendous acclaim. Since its original release, there have been arrangement albums, live concerts around the world, and so much more… How has this legacy impacted how you create music today? It is my role and mission to quietly move along composing and arranging music, record those songs in the studio, incorporate that music into the game content, and deliver that to you, the players, via the medium. The only way I can find out what kind of impact my work is making on the recipient is by looking at the reactions I find on the internet and trying to imagine it in my head. However, being able to hold concerts, and seeing fans’ expressions from the stage, or having meet and greets where I can communicate directly with people, has allowed me to get a real feel for everyone’s sentiment. That was very refreshing for me, and it has made a lasting impression. There is no doubt that the experience contributes to my motivation to continue creating even now. “While NieR has many songs with a dark tone, this one is unusual, and is meant to give you the feel of an expansive, open field.” Can you tell us a little bit about the direction you took when re-recording the score for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…? The music for the original title was created not just by me, but a few of the creators of Monaca alongside me. And for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, rather than creating the arrangements myself, I took more of a Music Director position and instructed our creators. Play Video “The newly arranged tracks are meant to bring out the colors of each participating artist through their arrangements. This way, I feel that even those familiar with the songs can enjoy a new take on them.” We re-recorded all the vocal elements that include Emi Evan’s vocals and the choir singing, as well as replaced many instrumental elements that were done on a machine with actual instrument performances, so I believe the sound is much richer this time around. For those playing NieR Replicant for the first time in April next year, which song are you most excited for them to experience? It is difficult to choose just one. This time around, everything is more robust, including the recorded instruments, and I think one of the biggest changes can be observed in the battle songs that involve a fairly large, orchestra-like setup. Especially for those familiar with the original, I hope you enjoy listening for the differences. Play Video “Due to the detailed editing that went into this track, this is a significantly different version from the track that is in the game. I think it can be enjoyed with a fresh perspective.” Play Video “We were able to combine two versions of the original song with differing tempos, giving this version more oomph and making it more dynamic.” http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/qzryBspK4-MView the full article

The year was 2005. The game was Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse. The console? Not the PlayStation 2… whoops. 15 years later, Aspry would like to make things right the best way we know how: reanimating that classic on PlayStation 4 and 5. Better late than never, right? For the authentic 2005 Stubbs experience, we’ve brought the game back exactly the same as it was back then. Same gameplay, same graphics, same UI. Okay, we also added modern resolution support, improved controls and key bindings on modern controllers, and nifty new Trophies. But other than that, it’s the same! Play Video Since Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is new to PlayStation, we figured we’d give you a look into what the game is all about. Retro-meets-future It’s 1959 and the city of Punchbowl, PA, is a beacon of progress and ideal living. The perfect combination of classic 50’s style and futuristic technology. Kind of like what we’re doing here with an old school game on cutting edge consoles. As Stubbs, you’ll wreak havoc on the idyllic and retro-futuristic city of Punchbowl. Brains, brawn, and good looks The trick to a hostile takeover of a town like Punchbowl? Take your enemies out for a bite and add them to your zombie horde. The more the scarier, after all! In your quest to reunite with the love of your life, you’ll explore several of Punchbowl’s most impressive locales. Each self-contained location features new mechanics, challenges, and (of course) new Punchbowl citizens to gnaw on. Ever wondered if a crazed farmhand’s brains taste different from a ray gun-wielding, jetpack joyriding barbershop quartet member’s? Now’s your chance to find out! Eat brains and add unwitting Punchbowl citizens to your loyal horde. In Stubbs the Zombie, there’s more to being a zombie than just eating brains, building a horde, and terrorizing a city. It’s all that plus unholy flatulence, gut grenades, and sputum heads. Here’s the lowdown on all of Stubbs’ special abilities: Unholy Flatulence: The foes you hit with unholy flatulence might not agree, but I think it’s a gas. You’ll come up smelling like roses while you knock down your enemies. Gut Grenades: Always trust your gut, especially when you can use it as a grenade. All you have to do is look inside yourself, rip out your guts, and lob them at the closest clump of adversaries. Sputum Head: No leader of a ragtag zombie hoard would be complete without a good head on their shoulders. Of course, it’s just as useful as a weapon. Bowl over enemies with the Sputum Head special attack. Idle Hands are a Zombie’s plaything We know, we know, waiting a month to get your hands on Stubbs after waiting patiently for 15 years is going to be tough. If you’re hungry for more Stubbs the Zombie while you wait, follow @aspyrmedia on Twitter for the latest scoop on all things Stubbs. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/8ayT3ppXGZYView the full article

Hello PlayStation fans! I’m honoured to be here today to talk about Natsuki Chronicles, which is out on PlayStation 4 February 18. Natsuki Chronicles is an old-school bullet hell side-scrolling shooter with slick visuals, fast-paced gameplay and some innovative new gameplay and narrative hooks that revitalise this classic genre. We work for boutique japanese studio Qute Corporation and like to consider ourselves shmup specialists. For Natsuki Chronicles, we’re thrilled to partner with Rising Star Games to bring this incredible title to PlayStation platforms. With that in mind, we took this opportunity to talk about what – for us –makes for a great modern day bullet hell title. Meet the shmup specialists We’ve been developing shmup titles since the days of the WonderSwan Color. Judgement Silversword was released, back in 2004 and after a 7-year hiatus, Eschatos came next, releasing in 2011 on console then PC in 2015. With a 90% rating on Steam, it’s been on shooter fans’ radar for years. Ginga Force and Natsuki Chronicles are our latest titles, taking on all the previous experience we’ve garnered to create two standout examples of the vertical and side-scrolling shooter genres. This new game is both prequel and sequel to Ginga Force Shooter fans amongst you may remember the cult classic vertical-scrolling shooter Ginga Force, which came to PlayStation 4 in September of last year. Just like that title, Natsuki Chronicles has a big emphasis on story, in fact it takes things even further being at once a prequel and sequel to Ginga Force, with an intersecting narrative whereby the story takes place over two timelines, one from Natsuki’s past as she remembers her training in the RDF, while the other timeline is set during the war over Septonium, set at the same time as Gonga Force’s events. In the story you’ll play as rookie RDF (Rapid Defense Force) pilot Natsuki, as she is tasked with protecting her home planet Seventier from eco-terrorists hell bent on stealing its cache of the energy rich element Septonium. While you don’t need to have played Ginga Force to get the most out of Natsuki Chronicles, if you’re a shooter fan, then these games form an awesome partnership from a narrative and gameplay angle; with one being a side scroller, and the other being a vertical scroller. Introducing the Bullet Trajectory Display Natsuki Chronicles also innovates in its gameplay and visuals, taking the shooter genre to new heights in the process! One of our key gameplay mechanics is the “Bullet Trajectory Display”, a new system in the shooter genre that reveals the predicted trajectory of oncoming projectiles. It’s designed to give you a little additional help navigating through the bullet hell that Natsuki Chronicles throws at you. It’s an awesome system that balances a small amount of accessibility with opportunities for incredible feats of piloting. In traditional bullet hell games, avoiding bullets was largely dependent on the player’s dynamic visual acuity. We hope that this system will help adapt to very hard difficulties and ultimately turn Natsuki’s Chronicles’ bullet hell into their bullet heaven! 60fps, 4K visuals on PS5 and PS4 Pro Never ones to underestimate the power of PlayStation, we’ve tailored the game to make the most of modern hardware. Expect colourful, razor-sharp 3D visuals that truly bring the series to life in vivid detail. Enemies are larger than ever, with truly screen-filling bosses that will challenge your piloting skills like never before. Natsuki Chronicles also has a dynamic camera that zooms in and out of the action on the fly, always framing the action in the most cinematic way possible, while giving the finer details in the visuals a chance to shine. It serves to heighten the intensity of the experience, showing off the best sequences throughout the campaign and rewarding the player when they are playing well. It all comes to you at a rock solid 60fps with a resolution of 1080p on PS4 and 4K on PS4 Pro and PS5. Compete with pilots worldwide with online leaderboards Natsuki Chronicles also includes a high score chasing Arcade Mode. This mode tailors the game to a new playstyle, with points, combos and bonuses awarded for high level play. It of course comes complete with online leaderboards, letting you compete with ace pilots across the globe. Unlock new equipment and customise your ship The game also has a load of customisation options, so your ship can be equipped with a variety of weapons including some unimaginably over the top ones that are so typical in this genre. By designing these weapons, we had an array of 3D models which we think really added to the originality of this game’s visuals. There’s also a huge amount of secrets and equipment to be found throughout the campaign, adding tons of replay value as you build up a vast collection of cool stuff to trick your ship out with. The art of shipbuilding Speaking of ships, we put a huge deal of work into making sure Natsuki’s ship’s design was faithful to the style of a traditional 2D horizontally scrolling shooting games, but with a modern twist that would suit the ultra high definition 3D visuals we are pushing for. As a result, we think we ended up with something that is unique to this game, that feels tangible without going for a realistic look. We’ve added a few concept sketches with some notes on how we ended up with our final look: This was our first sketch, we wanted to try and create a ship that had additional detail in it to make use of the high resolution visuals. But we found it lost the slick, anime look we were going for, looking too boxy and generic. Our second sketch went too far the other way, where we pared everything down too much so the ship itself looked too svelte. The weapons looked unbalanced and had more detail in them the rest of the ship. Our third sketch essentially combined both aesthetics, ensuring we had the sharp, anime lines that make the silhouette look classic. While within that silhouette adding additional details to really highlight how much we can show off in 1080p and 4K resolutions. It’s almost like this is how all our ships look, but you’ve just never had the ability to see it before. And here is a close-up 3D render of the final design, complete with colours, lighting, etc: We are so grateful that gamers continue to have an unwavering passion for the shooter genre, as it works in tandem with us as developers. A final thank you From a player standpoint, the shooter genre is pure gameplay distilled into its simplest form. Inputs, pattern recognition, twitch reflexes and rapid visual stimulus that deliver instant appeal. From a developer standpoint, the shooter genre is all about quality game design, rock-solid mechanics, highly responsive controls and very stable code in order to keep the experience running at an unwavering framerate. The genre highlights the essence of why people like to play games and why making them can be so invigorating and challenging. As a company, we always like to add some additional flavour to our shooters, emphasising strong narratives to carry the player through the experience, interesting characters to resonate with and exciting new elements to move the genre forward. We want to thank you all so much for allowing us to continue to create new titles and push for innovation. Natsuki Chronicles is available on February 18 for PlayStation 4 and also plays great on PlayStation 5. On behalf of everyone at Rising Star Games and Qute Corporation we want to thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy Natsuki Chronicles. Until next time! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/2Te51FN9H5MView the full article

Hello everyone, our tiny team is excited to let you know that our first free update for 2021, the Companions update, is available to download from today, free for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 players. The creatures you find on alien planets in No Man’s Sky have always been a highlight for us. Ever since launch we have wanted to tame and train the exotic animals you encounter on your travels. Companions is a huge update focused on these strange alien life forms. Play Video A galaxy of new Companions The infinite and varied creatures you find roaming the universe can now be tamed and adopted as your companions. Once bonded to you, your new friends can be summoned anywhere – even aboard the Space Anomaly. Raise a new generation Creatures that have been well-cared for will lay eggs! Incubate the egg in your Exosuit until it’s ready to hatch into a brand-new lifeform. Explore together Creatures can be trained to perform chores like scanning for resources, marking hazards, providing torchlight, hunting hostile creatures, locating buildings, digging up valuable treasures or even deploying their own shoulder-mounted mining lasers. Play together Use specific command gestures to issue orders to your co-explorer. When your companion meets other players, creatures or companions they might become inquisitive, playful – or even aggressive, depending on their personality. Unique personalities A creature’s personality is unique and shaped by their species and ecosystem role. Their personality influences how they behave as well as how they think and communicate. Alien neuro-translation The creature harness has a neural link with the Exosuit, enabling rudimentary translation of their thoughts and wishes. Finally, you can talk to the creatures you meet! Form your bond Nurture your companion by playing with them, feeding them, and giving them attention. Companion customisation Accessorise your companion with a range of functional and decorative adornments. Accessories can be recoloured and customised with decals. Nurture the young Baby creatures will inherit looks and traits from their parent – but they are never exactly the same! They will need your care as they grow from spawn to maturity… Gene re-sequencing Genetic material can also be taken to the new Egg Sequencer aboard the Space Anomaly. The Egg Sequencer allows players to remix the genetic material of their growing eggs to produce unique, never-before-seen creatures. Genetic trading Players who have found particularly rare or desirable creatures may wish to trade eggs from their prized companions with other players. Performance optimisations On top of all the new features, the Companions update will bring significant improvements to load and warp times for PlayStation 4 players. It has been a few months since rounded off a busy year by welcoming PlayStation 5 players to the No Man’s Sky universe with the launch of our Next Generation upgrade, free to existing PlayStation 4 owners. For a game that is now five years old, we feel humbled to be one of the most downloaded games on PlayStation 5 since launch. It makes us excited to go even further. Speaking of which this January we released a patch which brought significant visual improvements to PlayStation VR. If you haven’t put your headset on with PS5, yet maybe now is the time to do so. We have lots planned for No Man’s Sky this year and are excited to share more with you very soon. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/d136mrvZN_4View the full article

Wednesday February 17 marks the start of PlayStation Store’s PlayStation Plus Double Discounts promotion. For a limited time* a range of PlayStation games are available at a reduced price, with the discount doubled if you’re a PlayStation Plus member! Below are just a selection of titles available in this promotion. To see the full list as well as your regional discounts, head here (for Europe) and here (for US). ARK: Survival Evolved Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Origins – Gold Edition Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition eFootball PES 2021 Season Update Standard Edition FIFA 21 Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition & Great White Shark Card Bundle Marvel’s Avengers Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Expansion PGA TOUR 2K21 Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Deluxe Edition Star Wars: Squadrons * PlayStation Plus Double Discounts promotion ends March 3rd at 11:59pm local time for your region. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/cQhTurA9LZkView the full article

Welcome back, True Believers! With 2020 behind us, we’re excited to kick off the new year with our newest post-launch hero, Clint Barton as Hawkeye and his own Operation: Future Imperfect! We know how many members of our community are looking forward to Hawkeye and have heard their calls ever since our initial reveal at E3 2019. Now, we can finally answer where Hawkeye is! We first met Clint in Kate Bishop’s Operation, Taking AIM, where she brought him back from the brink of a huge AIM conspiracy involving the manipulation of time itself. Operation Hawkeye: Future Imperfect marks Chapter 2 of Season One, where we continue diving into the consequences of the Tachyon Project and come face to face with a possible future where all hope is lost. Play Video Clint Barton is the original Hawkeye: a peerless marksman, master swordsman, and proud dog parent. Clint first appeared in Tales of Suspense (1954) #57, and his first solo comic series was Hawkeye (1983) #1. From his humble heroic beginnings in the circus troupe that taught him how to handle a bow and sword, to his life as a crime-fighter operating out of his New York apartment, to a secret SHIELD agent, and, finally, to a member of the Avengers, his skill and devotion to justice earned him recognition, opportunity, and friendship among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. However, despite his impressive skillset and the trust of his teammates, he found himself grappling with feeling like he couldn’t make a meaningful contribution to the super-powered, superhuman Avengers team. In Future Imperfect, a storyline inspired by Marvel Comics’ Old Man Hawkeye series and the Hawkeye (2012) “My Life as a Weapon” storyline, you will be taking Clint on a perilous journey to a future Earth and stepping into a new biome known as the Wasteland to find the missing Nick Fury, come face-to-face with the villain Maestro, and save the world. Did we mention his canine pal Lucky will also be featured in this Operation? As Kate Bishop’s mentor and close friend, Clint and Kate have similarities in their skillset due to being mentor and protégé, but nevertheless, they are two different fighters each with their own style. Clint’s bow skills are second to none in the Marvel Universe, and we took inspiration from his Ronin period to create his sword abilities, which makes him a powerful melee and ranged hero. Whereas Kate blinks around the battlefield as a blur of never-ending strikes to multiple foes, Clint is the steadfast hunter, taking down his foes with powerful, precise hits one at a time until he’s the only one left standing. Clint’s Quick Reflex Intrinsic Ability allows him to sidestep enemy attacks and parry with a fast-staggering bow shot. His Dead Eye Skill allows him to focus his aim on a single target, increasing damage and reaction with razor arrows. With Ranger’s Momentum, snap to targets instantly and zero-in on weak points. Clint’s ranged arsenal makes him a one-man-army with many different unique arrow types. Grapple Arrows let Clint traverse the environment with ease and is also an intrinsic heavy attack, reeling into enemies before slashing them with his sword. His intrinsic attacks include Boomerang Arrows that seek out targets before returning. Use Implosion Arrows to cluster enemies together or draw them away from you. Tripwire Arrows stagger weaker enemies and push back larger foes with a spread of projectiles tethered together with energy. Parry enemies with Rocket Arrows, which attach to targets, sending them airborne! Pulsar Arrows attach to surfaces and build up energy before exploding. The more they build up, the bigger the boom! Clint’s Heroics are themselves three different arrow types. His Assault Heroic uses Nightstorm Arrows: launch it into the air and rain down projectiles to decimate areas of the battlefield. Just as important, his Recovery Arrow Support Heroic unleashes nanobots that swarm nearby allies and restore their willpower. The Hunter’s Arrow Ultimate Heroic is an AI guided projectile that flits across the battlefield, piercing through targets. Once upgraded, fire two at once, add explosive charges, or focus damage on player-targeted foes. Count on Hunter’s Arrow to dish out an aerial assault with damage equal to a fleet of arrows, punishing enemies all over the fight no matter who Clint has in his sights. And for when you want to get up close and personal with enemies, take out Clint’s katana to dish out powerful melee damage. His light attacks are swift, decisive cuts to strike at his foes. His heavy attacks put his full strength behind each blow, sending out powerful slashes meant to strike several enemies in front of him at once. He can use his light attacks in-air to combo airborne targets, or his heavy attacks to quickly slam down onto foes, smashing them into the ground. He has several sword attacks meant to launch enemies into the air so that he can juggle them while they’re vulnerable. By the time they come back down, getting back up isn’t going to be an option. Like Kate, Clint comes with loads of outfits and emotes to express himself. Keep an eye on our social media for sneak peeks at some of his cosmetics! Clint shoots into Marvel’s Avengers on March 18. Share with us your awesome fan content—we love seeing the incredible shots from our super talented video game photography community, your different powerful builds, your exciting reaction videos, and, as always, your consistent feedback! We look forward to seeing you there! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/KXbfqU2B8LoView the full article

The world’s color has vanished, and it’s up to you to restore it! Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a coloring-book adventure game from the talent behind award winning indie titles such as Wandersong, Celeste, and Night in the Woods. Play Video Lead creator of Chicory, Greg Lobanov (Wandersong), started prototyping the game with one idea in mind. After playing a lot of games with drawing in them over the years, he realized he had never actually seen one where it was the main mode of interaction for the player. With his past work in the adventure game genre in both his professional and personal gaming experience, he started questioning whether he could take a player on an adventure while emphasizing the creative aspects rather than just strict problem-solving so common in the adventure and puzzle genres. “At the outset, I was just wondering if you could make a game where the main player interaction was drawing,” Lobanov explains, “but this game felt like the ultimate opportunity to engage an audience with their own creativity, and to tell a story that intersected with all that too.” Your options for personalizing the world of Chicory constantly expand as you strengthen your bond with the magic paintbrush. You gain new abilities throughout your adventure, like glow in the dark paint, which illuminates previously inaccessible caverns and lets you explore new places. Discover hidden stamps and texture brushes to personalize your painting style. Every world looks unique, since every player can color it as much or as little as they want. Even the main character looks unique since players can change and color their outfits. Best of all, you can do this with your nearest and dearest because Chicory: A Colorful Tale has local co-op, so two players can explore and color the world together. Chicory: A Colorful Tale was stitched together by a team of development veterans and new voices to the industry. Led by Lobanov, Chicory’s engaging mechanics have been molded and fine tuned by a small team of collaborators. Award-winning composer Lena Raine (Minecraft, Celeste, Guild Wars 2) arranged for live performances from musicians across the whole sprawling soundtrack. Sound designers Em Halberstadt (Night in the Woods, Untitled Goose Game, Wandersong) and Preston Wright lent their talent to the game by coming up with not just all of the satisfying gooey sounds that paint makes but also the full range of sound that makes Chicory’s world feel truly alive. Chicory’s art and animation team are both new to the industry. Alexis Dean-Jones created all of the characters and animation in the game. And you can thank her for letting you sit on every chair you come across! Madeline Berger drew all the environments, with wiggly lines and creative shapes that are just begging to be colored in no matter where you explore. Chicory: A Colorful Tale is launching with multiple language support and the team is excited to let fans experience the game in a more accessible way. “We got to work with some really amazing localizers who cared a great deal about my previous work and put a lot of heart into the translations for Chicory,” said Lobanov. “Although, I’m excited to have the game in Russian so that my mom–who was born and raised in Russia—can play it in her native language.” You will be able to play Chicory: A Colorful Tale in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian on launch. Chicory is being published by Finji (Night in the Woods, Overland, Wilmot’s Warehouse) and will be coming to PS5 and PS4 in 2021. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/uzInm7lLR70View the full article

New Year, New Mode, and a whole lot more…Happy New Year from IllFonic! To ring in 2021, we wanted to do something special; we wanted to give you exactly what you want by giving you control – Custom Private matches are in this Free Update. We also are continuing our dive into Norse lore with the newest Predator class in our Paid DLC. All of that, paired with some upgrades, and you’ll be ready to take on anything in the jungle in the new year. As we discovered in October, the Viking Predator can be traced back to when the Viking raiders managed to draw the attention of the Yautja. As the legends of this mighty creature spread, Norsemen saw an opportunity to gain an honorable death by way of this wanderer, so they continued to pursue glory. Few even relished over a Yautja death, which angered the Predators, so they sent in their fiercest warrior – the Valkyrie. This newest Predator class’ sole purpose is to choose the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Many fought against her in search of glory, but none could best her. So beware, if you were able to bring a Viking Predator down, she is coming for you in this DLC pack. Along with her cunning, this hit and run character will wreck your house. She carries with her a mighty two-handed Norse Hammer that deals crippling close-range damage. The secondary attack provides a heavy overhead swing with increased damage to any prey unfortunate enough to stand in her path. This Hammer is Predator’s interpretation of Odin’s vision for superior god-like weaponry mixed with Yautja ancestry and is available for early access* with this new paid DLC. Also with this update, the Rocket Launcher is now unlockable for all at level 85. As we said, New Year… New Mode. You now have full control with the new Custom Private mode for both Clash and Hunt. With an abundance of match styles, you can tweak, adjust, add, or omit to your hearts’ content. This mode has a few hidden gems sure to make everyone happy. You can modify actions under a range of categories: Clash, Hunt, Fireteam, HUD, Predator, Weapons/Gear, and General Gameplay. We even added in fun modes; why so serious after all? The takeaway is we want to give you, the community, the power through an array of different modifiers and modes to find the perfect way to play with friends. As you adjust for the perfect play, you and your comrades will find all XP is 25% of typical play with one exception. Hardcore Hunt: a favorite of the IllFonic team. Have your mics on as survival rests on your team’s ability to communicate. You will need to keep an eye on your team’s health in this mode; there will be blood. With reduced health, a minimal HUD, and limited abilities (such as no target isolation), you’ll need to make use of the visible wear and tear on your body to track your health and stay alive. HH is not only a gritty, pure, and realistic mode; it rewards players with full XP for each match. Other fun modes and modifiers to try out: Big Head Mode – big heads, say no more. Lunar Shooter – do you still have your eagle eye and steady hand in low gravity. The Floor is Lava – Predator bursts into flames when touching the ground – hope you have been practicing your Predkour. And for Clash Stabbers Only – because yes, you’re the guy that brings a knife to a gunfight. We can’t wait to see how you build out your Custom Private Matches! A few other things to look forward to… Field Lockers are more personalized based on what you still need cutting down on duplicate items so that you can finish that collection! Mask drops abound; keep an eye out on our socials to see what’s coming next. Lastly, If you are looking for a sneak peek at the next Predator class drop, be sure to listen closely to your Dutch tapes… as he always has the answer. *Norse Hammer unlockable to all via gameplay by April 2021. Internet connection and PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately) required for online multiplayer. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/hK0tELRzKmkView the full article

Phew – what a night! Thanks to everyone who came along to the 2nd Annual Impy Awards, to help us celebrate all of our incredible nominees, and party with us on Dreams’ 1st birthday. Who knew a giant mechanical whale could move like that? Not us. And we made the thing that made it! Don’t worry if you missed our puppet-powered, made-in-Dreams awards show – you can catch up with the rebroadcast right here. Quite apart from all the cake-eating and imp-shaking, however, there was the small matter of crowning this year’s winners. We’d like to say a huge thanks to our very special guest judges from around the industry, who helped us with the monumental task of picking a single winner in each category. The final shortlists were just a tiny slice of all the amazing stuff that’s happened in Dreams over the past 12 months. A big shout-out to everyone who’s been playing, creating and sharing their heart out this year. But without further ado, here are the cherries on top, the crème de la crème – the winners of the 2nd Annual Impy Awards: Funniest Creation Push to Open – ParsleyGuy_Alex Scare of the Year Trauma – NauticalSquatch Best Art Direction The Snowgardens – HalfUp Best Sculpture Pumpkin Spice – SootyPinions Best Animation The Snowball – byvsen Best Character A very Plane character – icecreamcheese Best Narrative The Snowball – byvsen Best Gameplay Press X to Puzzle – Pixel_Gorilla Best Music Grey Song a Day Album – SaucelessOne Best Audio Design Vineland – ZIIQ Best Innovation IMPCEPTION – cgCody Best VR Experience Jungle Bill VR – Nbeyeler Best Voice Acting SKINNYCHAD in Shuffleboard Favourite Video Creator SakkusMind Favourite Streamer KeldBjones Hidden Gem Dream Binary Bash – danikaka Hidden Gem Creator Zypher755 Best Curator LadyLexUK Most Improved Dreamer YLedbetter10 Most Helpful Dreamer TAPgiles Community Star KeldBjones Creator of the Year Pixel_Gorilla Creation of the Year LOCK – Pixel_Gorilla So much good stuff. If you fancy checking it out for yourself, you can simply boot up Dreams or download the free demo to explore our playlists of winners, nominees and honourable mentions. Oh, and our glitzy and glamorous Impys hub is still live in-game (we’ve had the Imps clean it up since last night’s wild party, never fear) – you can browse all of this year’s winning entries, meet a few familiar faces and even sniff out some secret prizes. Here’s a hint to get you started: try chatting to one of the puppets working in the gallery… We hope you had as much of a blast as we did, and enjoyed some of our cheeky nods to the coMmunity. Thanks to everyone who tuned in and visited the hub, and to all those who went the extra mile to help us make this event really special. Let us know via the usual social channels what you thought about the changes we made this year based on your previous feedback. We’re already busy sorting through a bunch of ideas for the next show. (Did we hear ‘Mechawhale dance party’? No? Pretty sure we did…) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/F-Z9VScYIKEView the full article

Last week, we asked you to move through the world as Agent 47 and share dramatic moments chasing targets in Hitman 3 using #PSshare #PSBlog. From moody portraits to witty disguises, here are this week’s highlights: Photoingame shares a victory pose. Everything goes sideways in this share by Photoingame. JRPyznar flips the competition. JRPyznar stays airborne in this victory pose. 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: Control: Ultimate Edition SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on February 17 Next week, we’re heading back to the Oldest House and uncovering the mysteries behind Control: Ultimate Edition. Share your favorite reality-bending moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Want to share more of your epic photo mode moments? U.S. players can enter the Red Bull Capture Point competition* for the chance to win some thrilling prizes. See full details at redbull.com/capturepoint. *Red Bull Capture Point Official Contest Rules: THIS IS A SKILL CONTEST. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PS4/5 CONSOLE, PLAYSTATION™NETWORK, TWITTER® ACCOUNT, AND THE PARTICIPATING GAME(S). Starts February 1, 2021, ends May 21, 2021. Open to legal US residents, 18+. To enter, capture in-game image and share on Twitter with #RedBullCapturePoint and #contest. All entries must be submitted by May 2, 2021. Limit: 18 entries per person. For prize categories, judging information, restrictions, and Official Rules: redbull.com/capturepoint. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/bG1HSFDH7lcView the full article

We’re halfway through the second month of 2021. And even while we continue to mop up side-quests and collectables, lose ourselves in multiplayer matches or battle our way to the endings of our most recent wave of games, we already have one eye on what titles are coming over the horizon for PlayStation in the months and years ahead. And who better to ask what’s exciting them the most than the creatives behind the very games we’ve been enjoying over the past year? Here are the upcoming PlayStation games that leading voices of the gaming industry can’t wait to play*. Deathloop Play Video As chosen by… “Deathloop seems like a game that has an original concept and gameplay, very well tailored artistic direction and fast paced action. On top of that it’s made by a french studio!” – Cyrille Imbert, Executive Producer, Dotemu – Streets of Rage 4 “It looks like a title with a great sense of style. I’m a big fan of the 70s retro aesthetic. And it’s going to be fascinating to see how the game blends competitive multiplayer with a story-driven campaign.” – Ned Waterhouse, Designer Sumo Digital – Sackboy: A Big Adventure “Dishonored is one of my favourite games of the last decade, and because of Dishonored, I now trust Arkane Studios with my life. Everything I have seen of Deathloop so far has made me excited to play it, from the combat to the style to the pace to the central conceit. I’m in.” – Anthony Pepper, Senior Designer, Mediatonic Game – Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout “Deathloop really intrigues me. I love the over-the-top action and funky 60’s/70’s tone of it all. I don’t quite know how it all fits together with all the time looping and the dual protagonists, but I’m also excited by that unknown quality at this point. It seems really unique. Pair that with the always distinct and creative first-person action that Arkane is known for delivering and I am onboard.” – Louis Studdert, Producer, Toys for Bob – Crash Bandicoot 4 “Deathloop! A big fan of Dishonored. Won’t say no to more stealth + superpowers.” – Jason Chuang – Senior Product Marketing Manager, miHoYo – Genshin Impact “It looks like such a cool premise, and I love the style. The timeloop genre is so hot right now, and I’m excited to see the Dishonored team have a crack at it. I’m always excited to learn more about that game with every trailer, it could really be something special!” – Kurt Margenau, Co-Game Director, Naughty Dog – The Last of Us Part II Elden Ring Play Video As chosen by… “I don’t think people realize just how poised for greatness FromSoftware is with their next title. Since the original Demon’s Souls launched a decade ago, this prolific Japanese studio continues to hone its craft while consistently innovating along the way, and now stands as one of the most important game developers in the world. Although we all know little about Elden Ring, I have a hunch that FromSoftware is preparing something extremely special, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.” – Ryan Payton, Director, Camouflaj – Marvel’s Iron Man VR The next God of War As chosen by… “I need to know what happens in the saga of Kratos and Boy. It’s rare that I finish a game and still feel excited by the prospect of more, but that’s God of War 2018 for me. There are so many worlds left to visit, so many mythological beings to axe, so many grumbly dad jokes to tell! I don’t know when exactly that’ll be, but I’m vibrating in anticipation of finding out.” – Kevin Zuhn, Creative Director, Young Horses – Bugsnax “It’s not an easy task to reinvent a beloved franchise like God of War, and the 2018 game exceeded expectations, delivering a personal story about father and son, a stunning world and incredible mechanics. I can’t wait to see how the characters grow and how they build on the amazing foundation of the first game with the power of PS5.” – Brian Horton, Creative Director, Insomniac Games – Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales “Playing God of War in 2018 was a great experience for me. That series has always had amazing action and combat, but the emotional depth Santa Monica brought to Kratos’ story as a father was very memorable – especially since my son was only a little bit older than Atreus when I played it. So to see and hear the reaction to that tiny glimpse we unveiled at the PlayStation Showcase last September was very exciting. I can’t wait for people to see what Santa Monica is making.” – Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios Gran Turismo 7 Play Video As chosen by… “Racing games are always the easiest way for players to feel the true capabilities of next generation gaming. I’m extremely excited to see what next generation experiences this title will offer. Hurry up and release it already!” – Hideaki Itsuno, Director, Capcom – Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition Horizon Forbidden West Play Video As chosen by… “I loved Horizon Zero Dawn and I can’t wait to see how the team at Guerrilla evolve such a masterpiece.” – Shaun Escayg, Creative Director, Crystal Dynamics – Marvel’s Avengers “As the announcement trailer for Horizon Forbidden West was really stunning (and featured underwater scenes, which all devs dread), I am looking forward to seeing how much this sequel pushes the series forward on PS5!” – Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer, Team Ninja – Nioh 2 “Horizon Zero Dawn was such an inspirational game to play because Guerrilla created a complex and beautiful new IP. That’s tough to do and they made it look easy. I loved Aloy’s journey in Horizon Zero Dawn and now that I have my PS5, I can’t wait to jump back into that well-crafted world.” – Jason Connell, Creative Director & Art Director, Sucker Punch – Ghost of Tsushima “I fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn last year (I had a huge backlog of games during the production of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla) and I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next. “ – Benoit Richer, Co-Dev Game Director, Ubisoft – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla “I can’t wait to get back to that universe and see where Guerrilla is going to take this franchise. What i’ve seen so far looks amazing and my expectations are really high.” – Rafael Grassetti, Art Director, Santa Monica Studio – God of War “Horizon Zero Dawn, the first game of the franchise, left a huge impression on me as a game creator. I was taken by the deep immersive experience provided by the unbelievable graphics as well as the unique world I found myself in, a future where civilization has collapsed. “In the sense that the next title is expected to evolve even further, Final Fantasy VII Remake, which I’m in charge of is expected to do so the same way. For that I have a personal affinity for Horizon (laughs). As a fan, I’m very much looking forward to Horizon: Forbidden West.” – Naoki Hamaguchi, Director, Square Enix – Final Fantasy VII Remake Kena: Bridge of Spirits Play Video As chosen by… “I guess I’m not allowed to say Resident Evil Village ;-). Jokes aside, I’m really looking forward to Kena: Bridge of Spirits. I really love the art direction and it looks like it’s turning out to be a fun adventure game that I can share with my family.” – Peter Fabiano, Producer, Capcom – Resident Evil 3 Little Devil Inside Play Video As chosen by… “I really love the concept of a 19th century explorer hunting down monsters with an old professor alongside. Great art style with what look like wonderful worlds to explore. Can’t wait to see what adventures that story will take us on. After playing so much Demon’s Souls and continually being bested in 2020, I’m looking forward to 2021 when I will explore beautiful worlds that aren’t always trying to kill me.” – Gavin Moore, Creative Director, SIE Worldwide Studios – Demon’s Souls Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Play Video As chosen by… “The PS2-era R&C games along with the Jak & Daxter trilogy were and still are important to me. Insomniac is a studio I very much look up to, and I can’t wait to see what they have accomplished with the new hardware. The 2016 reimagining of the first Ratchet & Clank is an amazing game and I’m excited to get back into that universe again.” – Henri Markus, Game Designer, Housemarque – Returnal “There are so many great games to look forward to in 2021. One that I can’t wait to explore together with my son is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. I love the unique and gorgeous world they created. We’re currently replaying the latest Ratchet game while we wait for the next one to come out.” – Angie Smets, Studio Director, Guerrilla Resident Evil Village Play Video As chosen by… “I’m looking forward to Resident Evil Village! I’m on a huge Resident Evil kick right now. After playing through Resident Evil 3, I started on Resident Evil 7 to make sure I’m ready when Village finally arrives. It’s definitely one of my favorite horror series now, in any form of media!” – Derek Yu – Spelunky 2 “I’m looking forward to playing a horror game that takes full advantage of PS5’s features.” – Masayoshi Yokoyama, Designer & Writer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio – Yakuza: Like A Dragon And similarly to our Best PlayStation Games of 2020 feature in December, some developers found it an impossible call to choose between their most anticipated titles of the coming year and beyond. Horizon Forbidden West and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart As chosen by… “It’s a toss-up between Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Horizon: Forbidden West. Horizon is my favorite game of the PS4 era because of its super original setting and world as well as its unique and satisfyingly strategic combat. I beat all four of the PS2 Ratchet and Clank games, so I’m a big fan of the series, and ever since that insane gameplay demo showing off the new portal mechanic and the crazy level of fidelity in the game. I’m super stoked to get back into that series. The PS5 is an absolute beast, can’t wait to see what these franchises are like on it.” – Anthony Newman, Co-Game Director, Naughty Dog – The Last of Us Part II Deathloop and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart As chosen by… “I love it when development teams take risks and those two games are definitely doing that. Deathloop is such a cool concept and the Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart team at Insomniac is really flexing their muscles in the way they are approaching creative game mechanics on PS5.” – Ramone Russell, Product Development Communications and Brand Strategist, San Diego Studio – MLB The Show 20 *The views and opinions expressed are those of the persons appearing in the blog and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sony Interactive Entertainment. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/-NTvEMRCB94View the full article

Heya I’m Spencer Yip, the director and programmer on Fallen Legion Revenants. We’ve been developing a JRPG with heart-pounding tactical battles and a story where your choices count. It’s coming to PlayStation 4 on February 16 in North America and February 19 in Europe. We have a demo on PlayStation Store that contains the complete first chapter, and your save data from the demo can be imported into the full game. Fallen Legion Revenants takes place in a world covered in miasma where a floating castle is mankind’s last refuge from mutated beasts lurking below. Lucien, a magnetic politician protected in the castle walls, discovers an ancient book where he learns of the Exemplars, weapons that can turn into sentient soldiers. He joins forces with Rowena, a revenant determined to find a way to come back to life to raise her living son. The two reluctantly make a pact to overthrow Ivor, the mad tyrant controlling Welkin. How did you write the story? Geoffrey Golden, Narrative Director: Early on, we knew Rowena would be a ghost warrior and Lucien was a social manipulator. Those elements were crucial to the core game loop. Since their mechanics were so different (combat vs. social), I liked the idea of Rowena and Lucien having opposing personalities. Rowena is tough, honest, and plain-spoken. Lucien is charming, duplicitous, and witty. They’re forced to work together, so their scenes had plenty of interpersonal conflict, and that’s fun to write. Let those sparks fly! Since the first Fallen Legion was about making tough moral choices, Spencer and I wanted to push that idea further. To make the obstacles the characters face gut wrenching for them – and hopefully, the player! The story tests what Rowena and Lucien are willing to do for the greater good, and for the people they care about most. How did you come up with the designs for Rowena and Lucien? Leon Marcello Sutanudjaja, Art Director: Rowena’s spirit lingers because she wants to save her son so we picked blue as her color theme to represent a mix of sadness and sincerity. In battle, Rowena casts spells with a magic staff she uses to channel her energy. The staff has a curved metal design to show how fate spirals and the many paths she can end up in. In contrast with Rowena’s cool temperament, Lucien has a warmer color palette to match his charismatic, but secretive nature. We emphasized this in his signature thinking pose where he smiles while his hand is under his chin. Later on, we gave Lucien long hair to make his movements and animations livelier. You play as both Lucien and Rowena, so we wanted to highlight these personality differences in their artwork. How does Rowena fight monsters? Spencer: Rowena commands a team of three Exemplars and each button controls a different character. You can slash a monster with Zulfiqar by pressing square and combo right into a blunderbuss blast with Jacquine by pressing circle. Striking enemies fills up Rowena’s mana which lets you cast spells using the triangle button or unleash deathblows by holding R and pressing one of the Exemplar buttons. Enemies don’t wait for their turn to retaliate in Fallen Legion Revenants. You can hold down the L button to block or if you block right before an enemy strikes you can parry their attack. A well-timed parry sets Rowena’s team up for a counterattack and can even reflect projectiles back at foes. You can also move Rowena on the grid to dodge attacks, escape debuffs, or walk over to a healing buff. Some deathblows like Zulfiqar’s Rushing Sentry can knock enemies backwards into a different tile and the strongest attacks only target specific tiles. A good way to inflict heavy damage is to use one character to push or pull an enemy into a tile where you can hit it with a powerful deathblow. What does Lucien do while Rowena is battling specters and venomous pigs? Dedee Anderson Ganda, Producer: Lucien uses his wits to wheel and deal with politicians in Welkin. We designed Lucien’s scenes so there are multiple ways you can play them. If Lucien wants to pass a bill, you could ask his allies to support his proposal or blackmail rivals to force them to join your side. Since Rowena and Lucien’s storylines happen at the same time, Lucien also helps Rowena by mixing potions or gathering information. Sometimes, Lucien needs to sneak past patrolling guards to gather what he needs. Guard behaviors are a key element in our stealth design. Some guards only move in one direction while others quickly turn around to catch Lucien. I tried to hide secrets when designing levels so keep an eye out for sparkling items on the ground and hapless guards holding treasure chests. What do my choices do in the game? Spencer: Choices are a huge part of Fallen Legion Revenants. The way Lucien talks to people in Welkin changes his relationships with everyone around him. The friends or enemies you make alter what Lucien can do in the future. Rowena also makes decisions and the choices both characters make affect the story. The first Fallen Legion had many story routes, but only one ending. We made sure to change that for Fallen Legion Revenants. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say there are *a lot* of endings to discover. We spent one voiceover session with Erika Harlacher (the voice of Rowena) and Joe Zieja (the voice of Lucien) just recording ending lines. If you talk with the Oracle, you can use the Scry option to go back to an earlier chapter and make different decisions. Scry is kind of like “New Chapter+” you get to keep all of the Exemplars, weapons, and battle items you found when you replay a chapter. The Fallen Legion series started right here when it was announced on the PlayStation Blog. We wanted to show our appreciation for the PlayStation community and drew this just for you. We hope you enjoy our game as much as we enjoyed making it! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/wTZvQnr9HsoView the full article

Hey there PlayStation Nation! Are you ready for new info on Season 5 of Street Fighter V? Speaking of five, did you know Street Fighter V is about to become five years old? February 16, 2016 was the original release of Street Fighter V, but that was just the beginning. Now, thanks to your continued support, going beyond the battle with every round of every match, SFV has become one of the most robust and competitive fighting games of this generation. So, thank you for joining us in this five year journey so far! But we’re not done yet! We’re starting the 5th anniversary celebration with Season 5, so get ready for a breakdown of some of the latest news from our Street Fighter V Winter Update, including upcoming characters Dan, Rose, the new V-Shift mechanic and more! For a full rundown, check out the Winter Update video below: Play Video Dan Hibiki makes his flashy return Dan Hibiki, the master of Saikyo, returns to Street Fighter V to show who’s the best! Dan comes equipped with new moves and mechanics that will give him an offensive edge over his opponents. For Dan’s returning special moves, we have his classic fireball the “Gadoken” as well as his uppercut, the “Koryuken.” Of course Dan also has his “Dankukyaku” kicks that can close the gap. New to Dan is the “Danretsuken,” a multi-hit punching move that sends the opponent flying. The EX version can send them into the air for more combo potential! Dan lets out a flurry of punches with the Danretsuken! V-Skill I V-Skill II Now, onto V-Triggers! Dan’s V-Trigger I has him throwing his huge “Haoh Gadoken” fireball. It can even be charged for extra damage! You’ll also notice that Dan’s V-Trigger I is unique in that it is the only V-Trigger in the game that has only one bar of V-Gauge. Dan’s patented “Haoh Gadoken!” Fully charged it can guard crush or wall bounce! And his V-Trigger II powers up his fireball and uppercut special attacks! Dan’s Uppercut gets Stronger! As does his fireball! So try mixing and matching them all to see which fits your style when Dan releases on February 22! Rose’s future is in Street Fighter V Rose makes her foretold appearance in Street Fighter V with a slew of new abilities! We just showed off Rose’s move set for the first time featuring a handful of new and returning moves, so let’s talk about it. One of Rose’s new anti-air moves is “Soul Bind” where she throws her scarf into the air to snatch jumping opponents. And now, she can execute her “Soul Spark” projectile in the air, giving a new dynamic to her offensive playstyle. Rose’s new Soul Bind Rose can now use Soul Spark in the air! Brand new to Rose, her V-Skill I “Soul Fortune,” allows her to summon tarot cards that will provide different benefits to herself and negative effects to her victims. And her popular “Soul Satellite” returns as her V-Skill II in Street Fighter V, allowing her to keep pressure onto her opponents. Soul Fortune allows Rose to use Tarot cards! Soul Satellite makes its return to SFV! Rose’s V-Trigger I, “Soul Dimension,” is a new teleportation move giving Rose new offensive setups. V-Trigger II is her popular “Soul Illusion” from the Street Fighter Alpha series giving her access to unique combos that deal heavy damage. With these new attacks and abilities for Rose, you can now choose a more mix-up combo heavy approach or a defensive “zoning” style of play! Rose will be released this Spring! V-Shift – A new defensive mechanic in Street Fighter V Releasing as a free update on February 22 is the new V-System mechanic in Street Fighter V called “V-Shift.” This new defensive mechanic allows you to get out of tough situations. It can be executed at virtually any time in a match at the cost of one bar of V-Gauge and if timed correctly, will allow you to execute a fully invincible backdash that slows down time for a short period and allows you to plan your next move against to counter your opponent’s attack. This move is also invincible to throws, so it’s an incredibly effective defensive option during many situations! If you successfully time a V-Shift, you will regain half of your used V-Gauge bar. V-Shift will give you more defensive options. You can follow it up with an attack called a “V-Shift Break,” which has your character do a forward moving attack, shifting your opponent’s momentum to turn the tides of battle! V-Shift Break executes a forward moving attack to halt the opponent’s momentum V-Shift will give you yet another way to utilize your V-Gauge in battle, in addition to V-Triggers and V-Reversals. Now with V-Shift, V-Reversal, and V-Trigger, that makes a total of three different uses for your V-Gauge in a single match! We look forward to seeing how you will use this new mechanic to turn the tides in your favor. New free Stage: The Grid Alternative You may have noticed the training stage looks a bit different when we showed off V-Shift. This training stage is called “The Grid Alternative” and will be free for all players with the Season 5 update on February 22! Battle Balance Update Also releasing for free is an upcoming Battle Balance Update! There will be a large number of balance changes for ALL 40 existing characters in the game to coincide with the release of Dan and the new V-Shift system. Look out for the full list of changes on February 22 when Season 5 begins. BONUS CONTENT for Season 5 Pass owners – Eleven Surprise! We’ve snuck in one more gameplay feature to kick off Season 5. Eleven will be released as a BONUS with a purchase of the Season 5 Pass, also arriving when Dan releases on February 22. Eleven is a prototype version of Street Fighter III’s Twelve, and was created by Gill’s secret organization. Eleven acts as a mimic character, randomly transforming itself into any character that you currently own in SFV. This transformation occurs as you load into battle, and will also choose a random V-Skill and V-Trigger for you. The mimicked character will retain Eleven’s color scheme while still performing exactly like the character being duplicated! Eleven can take on the form of ANY fighter you own! The character will retain the color of Eleven. Take a chance and roll the dice with Eleven being released as a BONUS if you purchase either the Street Fighter V Season 5 Character Pass or Premium Pass! Season 5 Character Pass and Premium Pass Speaking of Character and Premium Pass, here’s what’s included with each of them: Free Trial And to kick off this major update, we wanted to give all of you a chance to get you hands on Street Fighter V with a Free Trial! Running now through February 24, the Free Trial for Street Fighter V: Champion Edition includes all characters from Seasons 1-4. And there you have it! Season 5 starts February 22, and we can’t wait to see how you’ll shake up the ring with Dan, Eleven, the new V-Shift mechanic and the upcoming Battle Balance update. And don’t forget we still have Rose, Oro, Akira, and one more mysterious character coming with Season 5. Once again, thank you for all your continued support. And keep an eye out for more Street Fighter V Season 5 news coming soon! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/pIamBSyNG90View the full article