With God of War shipped and in the hands of our fans, I find myself contemplating the moments that helped define the new visual cinematic style we utilized for God of War. Each of these moments was a mental turning point, starting with “Can this be done with the tools we have?”, which moved onto “Can we pull this off without breaking our visual language?” and, mostly, ended with “I can’t believe we pulled this off.”

I’d like to share three of these moments, each of them defining a key cinematic milestone that paved the way moving forward.

Mother’s Knife

Cinematic challenge: Can we use traditional cinematic/visual storytelling when the disciplines required are cross-departmental while we don’t cut the camera?

Reading the first draft of the script, this scene drew my attention. Even though it went through quite a bit of iteration in production, the crux of it always struck me as pivotal. This is the last scene we experience before our heroes start the first leg of their epic journey. Establishing core empathy fundamentals and key tension points was critical. If not, why would we care about this journey in the first place? Our writers (Matt Sophos and Rich Gaubert) did a great job setting up these fundamentals and I wanted to make sure the message was delivered subtly, but in a clear and evocative manner.

• What’s the relationship between Kratos and his son? How do they feel about each other?
• How do they feel about the loss of the mother?
• How does Kratos feel about being a single father?

I decided to use the blue, cold, harsh tones of the “outside” to represent Kratos, Kratos as a father (at least at that point in the story) and the dangerous journey they have ahead of them. We used this light in sharp, high contrast for punctuation. We then chose the soft warmth of the indoors to define the rare safety the mother provided, using that to portray the softer emotions.

The challenge was staging the acting and camera to play against these two moods and to help define the core relationships and personalities, all without cutting the camera. Compounding these challenges were the technological limitations of creating sophisticated lighting models for real time rendered scenes. Our lighter (Greg Montgomery) did an amazing job balancing these assets.

Wide angle lens, emphasizing the environment, combined with the blue cold morning light. Atreus is outside, he’s in his father’s domain.

The door “wipes the shot,” revealing a body on the table. It’s lit in warm light, washing the interior with warm and safe mood. Atreus is still backlit cold.

The cold back light fades, Atreus is slowly enveloped by warm light. The lens slowly zooms, creating a sense of intimacy to partner with the lighting shift. Atreus is leaving the realm of his father and transitioning to the memories of his mother.

Soft warm light, tight lens, a sense of warm intimacy amidst tragedy. This is Atreus’ moment to mourn his mother. Kratos is no longer “in the picture.” Atreus is fully in his mother’s domain, where he has been all his life where he is comfortable… where he “belongs.”

Camera violently whips left, revealing Kratos, faceless, silhouetted in black against cold blue. The intimacy is broken. The image radiates “Pull it together boy, act like a man!”

Lens pulls back a little wider as Kratos takes over the scene. Just before he steps into the warm light of the candles, the camera orbits behind him, keeping him pooled in blue light. He just brought the “cold chill” into the room.

Atreus takes the hint; he musters up and collects himself, now washed in blue as well. He is no longer in the mother’s realm, he is now under the rule of his father. He wipes his eyes and steps off frame.

Atreus is no longer in the frame. Kratos is now alone. He no longer has to uphold the role of the stern father and he can now shift into the role of the mourning husband.

Camera orbits to give the sensation of “transition.” Kratos is wiped from cold blue to warm orange. He is still up lit, looking ominous. The emotion of the moment registers with him, but he is still the hard warrior, resisting giving in.

Kratos’ shell cracks, he leans into the light, the light is now soft, warm. He has entered the mother’s domain, revealing “softer” emotion for one of only three times he will do so in journey.

The brief moment is over. Kratos turns away from the warm light. We re-reveal Atreus, Kratos is back to being the stern father, his idea of what a relationship with a son is. They are both bathed in cold light. Back to the business at hand.

Two more beats resonated with me as I read the script for this scene. The lighting was strongly dictated by the environment at this point, so I chose to emphasize them in my framing and staging.

When Atreus drops the knife, we lose Kratos in the shot. The moment becomes all about Atreus and his need and deed. When Kratos is re-introduced into the scene, it’s with a gunslinger framing. A menacing shot, full of aggressive intent. Atreus looks at Kratos, his face reflecting that same doubt of “Uh-oh…” Then Kratos breaks the tension by leaning down, pulling a bandage off his own arm and bandaging Atreus.

We’ve seen how deeply Kratos cares about Faye, and how bottled up he is about his emotions. The funeral pyre is obviously deeply important to him. Here comes Atreus with his childish attachments, ruining everything. With this setup, my next instinct was “Kratos is going to hand him his a**!” But, Kratos surprises us and leans down to take care of Atreus’ burned hand. Whether he is trying to be fatherly, or merely making sure he can still function as a warrior, we don’t know. But that contrast struck me when reading the script and I wanted to emphasize it.

As Atreus comes back into frame, bow in hand, asking “what’s next?”, Kratos is out of focus. As Kratos responds, instead of shifting the focus back to him, we keep the focus on Atreus. Kratos speaks out of focus, lit by the warm light of the pyre, with a thousand-yard stare. He is not present. He is outwardly functional, giving Atreus commands, but his mind is elsewhere, mourning his dead wife. I felt it gave this moment that extra, subtle tension it needed.

Kratos is struggling with both the emotion of losing Faye and not knowing how to be a father to Atreus. He pushes Atreus into a world he better understands (“We’re going hunting”), though he is still in deep pain over Faye’s loss. The very end of the scene gave the perfect opportunity to emphasize this conflict.

Flying Boat Jump

Cinematic challenge: Changing point of view (from third to first and back) in order to push a sense of hallucination, while promoting empathy.

In this scene, Kratos is reliving a painful secret from his past: the moment he kills his father, Zeus. This display is part of Helheim’s mechanism to mentally torture its inhabitants. Kratos is hit by this vision two-fold; he is both internally struck by reliving it, and is shaken that his son is exposed to this part of his past, a part he has been struggling to hide from Atreus. On the other hand, Atreus himself is seeing his father, fully enraged and unrestrained for the first time — brutal, unbridled and violent. The challenge was how to do all the following without cutting the camera:

• Portray the brutality of the vision
• Portray Atreus’ reaction to seeing it
• Portray Kratos’ two-fold reaction to the event
• Bonus points: Portray it in a way that would evoke a sense of delirium, or being mentally off balance.

“Hell fog” rising from under the boat, leading Kratos’ attention away to a scene unfolding. Building up the tension, transitioning from current-day/older Kratos to a younger version of himself.

Kratos winds back a big punch; we use that body momentum to transition the camera to first person. We now are Kratos. Sharing in his moment of rage, reliving that moment from his past with him. This was also a good opportunity to pay homage to a very memorable moment from God of War III.

We use the momentum of the punches to swing the camera over and reveal Atreus; we’re back to the “real world.” Our empathy has shifted to experience this moment as a revelation to Atreus.

Something grabs Atreus’ attention. He runs back to Kratos, back to first person, back to us. We are again in Kratos’ head space, taking the moment in, taking in the fact his son has just seen one of the darkest moments of his past.

Atreus tells Kratos to snap out of it and point towards danger. We transition from first to third, experiencing Kratos’ struggle to break out of his reverie, adding to the sense of “delirium.”

It takes Atreus being in mortal danger for him to snap back into action.

Ogre Intro

Cinematic challenge: Motion capturing a high action, high physical interaction scene with characters of different scale.

The previous two challenges were more about defining our emotional, cinematic language and how to execute it without cuts in a real-time engine. This challenge was more technical and helped define our approach to action. It helped us define which tools we’d need on set, and how far we could push real-time performance capture for characters with vastly different scales.

Large scale enemies are a core part of God of War’s visual language. Hence we wanted to address this key challenge early on.

Once I’m done staging the scene on paper, we move to rehearsing the action in “real space.” This step was critical in order to test whether or not the paper breakdowns were actually achievable and also gave us a chance to see all the “players” involved internalize the choreography and pacing of the scene. It’s interesting to see how “slow and safe” we took things at first.

Each actor played their role in their own “scaled space,” acting against props representing the other actors in the scene. This is why internalizing the choreography beforehand was critical.

Our roles:

• Bruno (our Animation Director) played Kratos
• Erica ( our Cinematic Animation Lead) played Atreus
• Mehdi ( our In-Game Animation Lead) played the Ogre
• Myself (Director of Photography) Staging, pacing callouts and “shooting”

All action was in sync, actors physically responding to each other, even though they had no real world contact. A well-oiled execution, the pre-planning and rehearsals paid off in spades. Ability to shoot multi-scale, single shot action scenes in real time… check!

As you can see in the clip, I shot this scene by looking at our on-stage monitors, using a stick to represent the camera. This test led to the realization that we needed to develop a far more sophisticated virtual camera system.

Going over these scenes, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come. From exploring methods and ideas on how to execute Cory Barlog’s concept of a no-cut camera, to a clear, well-oiled, sophisticated and clearly defined visual language. At the risk of sounding cliché, it really does take a village.

View the full article

Are you the type of person who thinks that Halloween is better than any other holiday? Do you listen to John Carpenter soundtracks while making breakfast or foresee peril upon finding a dusty old VHS in the attic? Then you’re in good company. I’m Ryan Bousfield from Wolf & Wood, and in anticipation of the launch of Chapters 4 and 5 on PS VR I’m here to shed some light on what makes The Exorcist: Legion VR such a dark and foreboding horror experience.

Late shift

It all starts on the late shift in the Boston Police Dept. with a narrative that picks up from The Exorcist III movie. Putting you in the role of detective, it is up to you to hone your skills by following clues and making deductions to build up a picture of who your character really is. Once you’re comfortable in the precinct, a call comes through on the radio: it’s dispatch, and you’re needed on scene at a local church to investigate the apparent murder of the resident priest.

Your case soon spirals from criminal to something more sinister: an inexplicable presence whispers from the darkness, you realize that statues and paintings are defaced, and eventually the whole chapter erupts as church pews are thrown up into the rafters. Someone, or something, is warning you not to continue.

Design and demons

Although the demons are trying to push you away from the investigation, as designers we’re doing everything we can to pull you in and lead you forward. Ultimately you are the protagonist: you control the camera and you decide where you want or don’t want to go. Our job is to guide you and we hide clues in everything, but we only take you part of the way; the rest is up to you.

The Devil’s in the details

Even the smallest clue is intricately detailed; a notebook once belonging to the priest is handwritten and held together by sticky tape, which combined with other evidence pertains to his wider story of unofficial exorcisms. Everything across the five chapters is meticulously placed to offer clues on both the ever present demonic threat and to reveal why the possessed would be vulnerable to the influence of malevolent forces.

The clues are embedded in a variety of ways across the six unique environments. If there are signs of a struggle and blood stains lead to a door you should take out your crucifix and be prepared for what awaits on the other side.

Idle hands

We feel that VR isn’t just a leap in visual technology: by using controllers that are tracked in 3D space (which is very exciting to develop for), simply reaching out and grabbing objects feels truly immersive. We’ve made much of the world interactive and items just beg to be played with. This opens up the story to be told through more unusual means, for example the toys in the dolls’ house of Chapter 3 pose questions about the home’s real occupants.

The interactions go way beyond inspection. Using the exorcism tools, and other interactive items found throughout the game, you will be throwing holy water capsules into the fiery pits of hell, dodging anything that the demon Baal in Chapter 4 can throw at you, or pulling a makeshift raft into the tomb of Chapter 5.

What you don’t see

A good detective can make deductions, fill in the blanks and build a picture of what happened; horror works much in the same way, but on a visceral level. With just the creak of a floorboard your mind can conjure up images of what might be lurking in the shadows. We use positional audio to make the world come to life: subtle sounds hint to the next objective and if you listen carefully you might hear a soft lullaby in the next room… but that’s enough from me – it’s really up to you to go in there.

Tuesday October 9 will see the culmination of the story when we release the final two chapters – with the biggest threats ready to be faced.

• Chapter 4 – Samaritan. A failed quarantine zone in Haiti has been racked by an unknown plague, and a slew of health worker deaths has led to the collapse of efforts to control the mounting victim toll.
  
  
• Chapter 5 – The Tomb. Located deep in the mountains of Upper Mesopotamia, the demon Pazuzu lies in wait, and he’s prepared to test you on everything you’ve learned so far.

In addition to these final episodes, we have implemented Spanish and Japanese localization, and made some upgrades to the calibration system, as well as additional comfort settings to give players the most immersive experience possible.

Chapters 4 & 5 can be purchased individually for $6.99 on October 9, or the Complete Series is currently available for $29.99.

View the full article

We launched The Last of Us five years ago and, later that year, began what would become one of our favorite traditions: celebrating Outbreak Day. Every year on September 26, we’ve had the opportunity to celebrate The Last of Us community and share our appreciation for the love and passion you have for this world, these characters, and their stories. This year, to commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of Outbreak Day, we’re excited to share a new collection of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II merch, content, and special promotions. This is our biggest Outbreak Day lineup yet–and it’s all available right now at thelastofus.com/outbreakday.

We’re excited to continue our collaboration with Mondo with a new The Last of Us-inspired poster for 2018 designed by Sam Wolfe Connelly. Once again, this year’s Outbreak Day poster will only be available as a timed-edition release. You’ll only have until this 9:00am PT this Saturday, September 29 to get one. After that, it’s gone! We’re also teaming up with Mondo to re-release the original The Last of Us soundtrack on vinyl in two volumes, the first of which is available today. Ever since the soundtrack was originally released as a box set in 2015, we’ve heard your requests for a re-release and we’re thrilled to be able to make it a reality!

To help add a little more The Last of Us to your digital life, we’ve also released a new set of The Last of Us Part II wallpapers and launched The Last of Us Stickers for Apple devices. Pop over to the App Store and show off your infectious personality with help from Ellie, Joel, the infected, and other The Last of Us iconography illustrated by Lily Nishita.

We’ve released a new theme song from The Last of Us Part II called “The Last of Us (Cycles)” by the one and only Gustavo Santaolalla. You may have seen Gustavo perform it live at the E3 2018 PlayStation Showcase, but now, the studio version is here and ready for you to listen to on repeat. To go along with it, we’ve also released a new The Last of Us Part II dynamic system theme for PS4 and collection of PS4 avatars that are available for free from now until 9:00am PT, September 27, at PlayStation Store. PS Store is also offering Outbreak Day discounts on The Last of Us Remastered and other The Last of Us DLC through October 2.

For those that want to wear their fandom on their sleeve, our friends at Insert Coin Clothing have created a new shirt for Outbreak Day featuring Ellie’s tattoo from The Last of Us Part II.

But this is just a quick overview of what we’ve cooked up for this year’s Outbreak Day. Head over to The Last of Us website for all things Outbreak Day and, as always, be sure to follow Naughty Dog on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates.

Happy Outbreak Day!

View the full article

We’re already getting into the Halloween spirit, and we’ve got a great line up in store for you this month. So let’s just jump right in!

First up, we have Friday the 13th: The Game. Players can take on the role of a teen counsellor or Jason Voorhees. As a teen counsellor, you and up to six other unlucky souls will do everything possible to escape and survive while a masked killer tracks you down. Survival is entirely up to the player as you either hide from Jason or work together to either escape or bring the fight to Jason. How will you play?

Next up, we have Laser League. This all new multiplayer experience is easy to pick up and incredibly fun to play. What starts out as a simple test of your reflexes becomes a strategic competition with deep team tactics. Developer Roll7 (OlliOlli series and NOT A HERO) brings their approach to a near-future competition.

This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup also includes:

• Master Reboot, PS3
• The Bridge, PS3 (Cross Buy with PS4 and PS Vita)
• Rocketbirds 2: Evolution, PS Vita (Cross Buy with PS4)
• 2064 Read Only Memories, PS Vita (Cross Buy with PS4)

As a reminder, PlayLink and PlayStation VR bonus games are still available for download as part of your PS Plus membership!

In Here They Lie for PlayStation VR*, explore a nightmarish city inhabited by strange, malevolent creatures in this first-person horror game, where unsettling encounters and environments come to life. Here they Lie is available for PS Plus members until October 2.

In the PlayLink game Knowledge is Power, this party game is sure to entertain as you outsmart your opponents with a massive variety of trivia questions and tactical challenges. Be sure to have a compatible mobile device and companion app and you’ll be all ready to play! Knowledge is Power is available through November 6.

Finally, for fans of H1Z1, we have the PlayStation Plus Blueshift Pack. This pack is perfect for new players and pros alike, and includes the Blue AR-15 schematic, Pro Gamer Hoodie, and Marine Blue Offroader – all free for PS Plus members.

*PlayStation 4 system, PlayStation VR, and PlayStation Camera are required to experience VR functionality.

View the full article

Do you remember how your favorite toy made you feel as a child? Those little bursts of enthusiasm and happiness when you imagined it to be alive?

I always saw my toys as my friends each with their own character. I created whole worlds that were rooted in my imagination. While I played, I slowly shifted into other galaxies full of adventure. Time didn’t matter.

With Squishies we wanted to evoke this feeling again. We wanted you to be closer to your inner child and slooooow doooown while experiencing another world. That’s why we chose to use PS VR to make it even easier to get lost in the Squishies universe when it launches on November 20.

As some of you may know, we created a game called Typoman, a dark and morbid 2D platformer. We loved making Typoman, but working for years on a depressing world of letters and monsters left us wanting to do something entirely different (overcompensating?). Squishies is a joyful, relaxing experience, full of color and life… of course, there’s a little bit of peril, too.

Your goal is to help stranded Squishies find their way back home. You do this by using your superpower – which is pushing & pulling Squishies around with the help of your transdimensional Alien Fish friends (PS Move controllers).

To complete each level, you need to roll the Squishies to giant alien gates, ensuring them a safe route home. When the environment gets too hazardous you’ll need to use power-ups, alien technology and helpful creatures to get by (and don’t forget, you’ll need your little superbrains as well).

While helping this tubby species you’ll forget that you are actually still sitting in your living room looking like a Power Ranger petting small animals (yes, you do!).

Aside from the extra adorable look of those creatures and the ingenious challenging gameplay, we wanted you to experience the huge fun we had while creating all these levels. That’s why we implemented the same tool that we used during development, so you can have the same experience that we had.

The level editor makes it possible for you to bring your own imagination into the game world. We also wanted to give you the opportunity to share your masterpieces with other players all over the globe. Because we all know, sharing is caring, right?

To end my (obviously very objective) monologue about the awesomeness of our new game, we, as a team, want to state that we cannot wait to see your creativity and imagination being shared with the community. We are really looking forward to see what you guys will create with the power of your minds!

View the full article

We’re pleased to announce that latest free content update for GT Sport, patch 1.28, will be available for download for all players starting today (Internet connection required for update). Alongside a selection of brand-new vehicles to take to the track, we’ve added a fan-favorite course set against a spectacular backdrop, a selection of new League events and more.

New Vehicles

New in at Brand Central this month are nine new vehicles, including classic Porsches and iconic BMWs.

• Alfa Romeo GIULIA TZ2 carrozzata da ZAGATO CN.AR750106 ’65
• BMW M3 GT (BMW Motorsport) ’11
• Mazda RX500 ’70
• Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster ’60
• Honda NSX Type R ’92
• Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX TwinTurbo 2seater (Z32) ’89
• Porsche 911 GT3 (996) ’01
• Porsche 911 GT3 (997) ’08
• Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe ’06

New Track – Fuji Speedway

Japan’s famed high speed circuit at the foot of grand Mt. Fuji has played host to countless international races on its tarmac since opening in 1961.

Following Fuji’s famed 1.5km straight, the first half is a high speed section consisting of tight corners, followed by a technical second half running on a challenging incline. In addition to the classic Fuji Speedway F layout, the Fuji Speedway GT shortcut layout has also been included, and both variants are playable in reverse.

GT League

This month, we’ve added three new GT League events for beginner to veteran drivers, including:

• The Passion of Dr. Wankel – Beginner League
• Real Circuit Tours – Amateur League
• Group 1 Cup – Professional League

Finally, the pit lane of the new Fuji Speedway course can be used in Scapes mode, and The Red Bull Ring from last month’s content update has been added to the circuit experience.

We hope you enjoy this month’s free update, and remember you can find all the latest GT info here on PlayStation Blog and on the official Gran Turismo website. Until next time, drivers, we’ll see you out on the track.

View the full article

Following a comprehensive evaluation process, SIE has identified a path toward supporting cross-platform features for select third party content. We recognize that PS4 players have been eagerly awaiting an update, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience as we have navigated through this issue to find a solution.

The first step will be an open beta beginning today for Fortnite that will allow for cross platform gameplay, progression and commerce across PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac operating systems. We see the beta as an opportunity to conduct thorough testing that ensures cross-platform play is best on PlayStation, while being mindful about the user experience from both a technical and social perspective.

For 24 years, we have strived to deliver the best gaming experience to our fans by providing a uniquely PlayStation perspective. Today, the communities around some games have evolved to the point where cross-platform experiences add significant value to players. In recognition of this, we have completed a thorough analysis of the business mechanics required to ensure that the PlayStation experience for our users remains intact today, and in the future, as we look to open up the platform.

This represents a major policy change for SIE, and we are now in the planning process across the organization to support this change. We will update the community once we have more details to share, including more specifics regarding the beta timeframe, and what this means for other titles going forward.

In the meantime, please stay tuned for more information via PlayStation.Blog and social channels, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

View the full article

Yes, PlayStation Blog readers, it’s true. You’ve been asking us, and we’ve listened. Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood is coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 via digital download on 26th October 2018. That’s only one month from today!

As you might’ve guessed already, Requiem will bundle together two classic Castlevania games; Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night. Both games are closely related by characters and plot, focusing on the stories of vampire hunter Richter Belmont and Dracula’s son Alucard respectively.
Originally released as a Japanese exclusive in 1993, Rondo of Blood is known as one of the best side-scrolling, action games of its time, picking up plenty of praise for its level design and rewarding difficulty. Both of which still stand the test of time. Just in case you were wondering.

On that subject, Symphony of the Night is quite simply one of the best games ever made. Don’t take our word for it though. The critical praise received at the time of its release and the plaudits it continues to receive speak volumes about its quality. Check any greatest games of all-time list and you’ll find Symphony of the Night up there. A sequel to Rondo of Blood, Symphony follows a similar formula to its predecessor, but expands on things with the introduction of RPG elements and some mind-blowing, genius level design.
Both games are the originals emulated for the PlayStation 4, with several updates that take advantage of the new hardware. This includes 4K/1080p upscaling, multiple high resolution backgrounds, different rendering options such as smoothing and full Trophy support. Word of warning though, that Platinum will be tough to get. Elsewhere, Requiem will make use of the DualShock 4’s vibration, analog stick and speaker, with the latter meaning you’ll hear a cool little chime when you pick up an item.

Just look at those screenshots! Playing these classics is sure to bring back some good memories for Castlevania veterans. On the other hand, if you’re new to the series and fancy some retro goodness, then you can’t go wrong with this amazing bundle. Just be ready for a challenge!
Good news! You can pre-order Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood now on the PlayStation Store.

View the full article

We are thrilled to announce that a new white version of the Gold Wireless Headset will be joining the lineup this October in North America, just in time for the holidays. With the same enhanced comfort and performance of the new Gold Wireless Headset, gamers can stand out a bit more with this new crisp white color.

As always, it’s the connection to games that makes our headsets great, and we are happy to announce more titles with audio mode* support through the headset companion app** for both Gold and Platinum headsets. These audio modes, tuned by the developers themselves, let you experience the game as the developers intended. Dive into densely populated jungles, markets, and bustling city hubs, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, or relive the iconic sounds of the dragon realms with Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

3D Audio***, our enhanced deep immersion audio function for the Platinum Wireless Headset, gets new supported titles as well. We look forward to an incredible new RPG experience from EA’s Anthem, and the brutal test of survival in Days Gone.

Are you excited for the new white version of Gold Headset? Let us know in the comments.

*Audio mode is available only with PS4 system.
**Sony Entertainment Network account and Internet service required.
***3D audio is available only with Platinum Wireless Headset on PS4 with select titles.

View the full article

Hi everybody, this is Nicolas Doucet, Creative Director of Astro Bot Rescue Mission over at Japan Studio. I hope you guys are getting ready for our new action platformer landing on PS VR on October 2. Not long to wait now!

Today I’m back to share with you one of my favourite aspects of Astro Bot Rescue Mission: enemies and big, bad bosses!

Any great action game needs its roster of bad guys and we put extra care into designing enemies that complement the VR gameplay to create a thrilling action platforming game.

In the video above, I catch up with Tuyen Ngo, the Programmer behind the bosses, as well as Sebastian and Jamie, respectively Art Director and Lead Animator who gave them life.

You and Astro will come across a wide range of enemies from cannon fodder lashing at Astro to more advanced enemies, such as electric, splitters, spiky, stompers all requiring various techniques to defeat. Though they are deadly foes, they all benefit from a precise character design making them feel very tangible in VR.

As a VR player, you also exist in this world in first person and larger enemies will not hesitate to attack you, occasionally causing damage to your visor or blocking the view, exposing Astro to new dangers. Using your body, you will need to dodge incoming attacks by leaning, distribute a few headbutts, and use your deadly DualShock 4 gadgets to put an end to them.

And of course, Bosses will stand in your way at the end of every world. These bosses are huge and create an amazing sense of scale in VR. Defeating them will not be a small affair though and your platforming and gadget skills will be put at use. Every one of them features a unique finale with a special mention for the final boss. And you’ll have to play to find out!

That’s all from me! Enjoy this video and we’ll see you very soon with more Astro news as we near launch on October 2. See you around!

View the full article

Gear.PlayStation.com: A New Beginning

Hi, PlayStation Gear fans. If you’ve followed Gear Comms since its inception this past July, then you’ve probably picked up on the persistent, underlying theme that guides our vision of how we develop merchandise: “PlayStation merchandise is our way of celebrating the rich universe of PlayStation in our everyday lives.” We have an affinity for PlayStation, just like so many of you. But we realize that PlayStation Gear as a lifestyle extension inextricably calls for a specialized store in which to shop for that gear; a store that further delivers on our commitment to encapsulate merchandise as a lifestyle complement.

That’s why earlier this year we made the difficult decision to temporarily close the doors on the gear.playstation.com e-tail site. So many of you have commented that you want the store back. We’re anxious too. It’s coming, but in a more defined way. We don’t want to spoil any of the surprises we have in store, but you can expect new features, new product categories, and new ways to celebrate the rich universe of PlayStation! If you’re hankering for the store’s debut as much as we are, then you’ll want to subscribe at the PlayStation Gear website for an exclusive invite to the store’s opening.

Subscribe now at gear.playstation.com to secure your invite.

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game

It’s board game night. Let’s check off the prep list… Snacks? Check. Drinks? Plenty. Friends? Inbound, but we’re excluding Bob this time. He was a sore loser last game night. Okay, everything is set, except… What are we going to play? No, not that same old game where you repeatedly circle the board buying up all the real estate properties you can in an effort to render your party guests broke and humiliated. My friends are modern. Sophisticated. They want something cooperative and fraught with peril.

Enter Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game. Created by the ever-capable folks at Steamforged Games Ltd. (and pictured at the top of this post), this new board game promises all those things and much more. 1-4 players assume the roles of a Banuk Survivor, Carja Warrior, Nora Outcast or Oseram Forgesmith hunters as they embark on a treacherous journey, earning Sun tokens signifying the glory one only achieves in the thrill of the hunt! Think you will be the one to earn all of the glory? Play to find out!

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game is currently only available on Kickstarter as a crowdfunded project, but fear not HZD fans. Pledges for the board game have already far surpassed the funding goal and are busy earning bonus content, so it’s coming to a table near you – if you pledge before time runs out that is!

September 9, 1995: The Birth of a PlayStation Nation

The year was 1995. It was the year that the Internet was completely privatized, the year where companies like AOL gave us a browser so we could begin to “surf” the web, and the year where we would embrace a PlayStation controller for the very first time. For many, yeah the Internet is cool and arguably the greatest advancement in human collective knowledge, but that console though!

In celebration of our 23rd year of entertaining North America, we honor one of our favorite products born out of one of our favorite games to ever grace the tray of that still-stylish Original PlayStation form factor: Twisted Metal’s Sweet Tooth Exclusive Edition statue by Gaming Heads. Is it just me or is he devilishly winking at us?

Inside PlayStation: Meet Gary Barth, Collectibles Creative

If you’ve visited the PlayStation Gear event stores in recent time, there’s a good chance you’ve glimpsed or even longingly gazed at a Gary Barth collectibles concept. Gary has ideated countless PlayStation collectibles for nearly 24 years. From Uncharted to The Last of Us to just about anything imaginable in the PlayStation Universe, Gary has been hard at work for you, the PlayStation fan. You may have even stood next to one of his more elaborate projects without even realizing it, such as the incredibly lifelike scale Sam Porter Bridges from the upcoming Kojima Productions game, Death Stranding.

We asked Gary about his time at PlayStation and what he enjoys most. Here’s what he had to say:

“In my time here at PlayStation, I’ve held a few different jobs and I’ve enjoyed them all. I love learning new things and every day I’m doing something different at this company. Sometimes it’s helping design a merchandise line, or building a realistic display for an event, or a costume for a live action commercial… and sometimes it’s something as small as making the holiday ornaments that we gave out last year. I really enjoy being involved with all these projects and when someone compliments the projects I work on, I really want them to know it was a group effort.”

Gary’s latest project is an exceptionally intricate statue from the upcoming PlayStation exclusive game, Days Gone. The prototype for this incredible piece debuted at this year’s PAX West.

Gary is working on an all-new collectibles product line coming to the PlayStation Gear store. Stay tuned for more news and sneak peeks!

View the full article

Welcome to the Vanguard, recruit! Consider this your field guide to surviving the intense bullet-hell action of Evasion, which launches October 9 on PS VR.

Even if you are a grizzled FPS veteran, there’s plenty of challenge in store for you when you square off against the Optera. The development team assembled these tricks and tips to give you your best shot at survival. Good luck out there.

Essential Tips For Surviving Your First Mission

• Move or Die: Standing still in Evasion is a death sentence, especially as the game escalates in difficulty. We made sure there’s a locomotion option for every playstyle, so it’s worth going through the tutorial to find the one that suits you best.
• Get to Cover: The Optera are relentless and will come at you from every direction, from both land and sky. Find cover early and take advantage of that crouch function.
• Max out your Blaster’s Energy Level: Your blaster has three energy levels. You want to hoover up those power cores so you can be at max level as much as possible. Not only will your blaster pack more punch, but you will have access to powerful finishing moves called Surge Attacks that can wipe out swaths of Optera in one go.
• Watch Your Health: Get in the habit of regularly checking your health, which is displayed on the top of your blaster, and the health of your teammate during major encounters. Perform Surge Attacks on enemies to increase your odds of extracting a health core, and when it activates, make sure you are standing inside the healing pool.
• Turn It Up: In addition to getting to hear some fun banter and the game’s epic soundtrack, many enemies can be heard before they can be seen, which will give you a definitive tactical advantage.
• Use That Tether: The tether can be used to heal teammates, as well as perform class-specific buffs. But it can also be used against Optera to perform a tether lash, which is a great way to finish off an enemy and guarantees a core drop. Review the class selection panel in the main hangar for a detailed description of each classes tether ability, then try them out in the shooting range to find the one that you like best.
• Mix and Match: Find a friend and strategically pair your classes to make you into an unstoppable destructive force. The Surgeon and the Warden make a classic healer/tank duo, for example. The Striker and the Engineer are also an effective pair.
• Unleash Surge Attacks: Each hero class packs a unique and devastating Surge Attack that can be activated once your energy level and health are maxed out. Boss encounters and digging the enemy out of entrenched fortifications are ideal times to deploy a Surge Attack; however, your weapon’s energy level will steadily deplete as you unleash an attack, so you want to use them strategically.

If you heed these tips, you will have a fighting chance (even in the Survival challenges!) when the Optera descend on October 9. We also highly recommend trying Evasion out with the AIM controller; holding the rifle in your hand really lets you feel the kickback from each shot.

Got a question about Evasion’s gameplay, classes or locomotion options? Drop us a comment in the space below. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

View the full article

Nickelodeon Kart Racers is a kart racer featuring characters and slime-filled tracks from iconic Nickelodeon shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and more) that’s meant to be accessible for younger kids while also remaining a challenge for nostalgic, older players. It’s a classic kart racer, but has quite a few innovative features that have been fun to work on and are even more fun to play.

Though our team had not worked with these characters before in a game, our whole team knows and loves them. Our group ranges from 22 to 45 years old, so we all have fond memories of the same iconic characters.

Did You Know?

Double Dare introduced the first messy Slime-y physical challenges to kids and families in 1986!

This game is a mixed-universe game and that kind of game needs something to glue the different IPs together (pun intended)! A great symbol of Nickelodeon’s irreverent humor and crazy antics is the iconic green slime. I remember seeing someone slimed for the first time, during the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Watching celebrities get unexpectedly slimed is one of the most exciting parts of the show and how can that not be a great game mechanic?

Nickelodeon shows have featured slime for over 30 years and it has never lost its popularity and appeal. My eight-year-old daughter was watching slime-making videos on the internet before we started on this game. It jumped out at us as a way that the game could scream Nickelodeon, have a super fun device for game mechanics and attract a younger audience that loves slime.

Did You Know?

In 1990, Nickelodeon Studios opened in Orlando, Florida. Visitors are greeted by a Slime Geyser that erupts with Slime every 15 minutes.

Bright green slime is a great visual and it shows up throughout the tracks, making them interesting and varied, while still being intuitive. Slime fills your kart’s turbo meter, which can activate a speed boost so getting slimed can really determine who wins the race. The karts can even sail like a jet ski on top of slime pools! That creates a change in mechanics and visually looks awesome. Slime pickups and triggers give players secondary objectives and, of course, in true Nickelodeon fashion, you can’t stand on the winners’ podium without your racer getting covered in slime! The Vector Unit game engine supports water racing, so we saw that as a great opportunity to introduce a different racing experience. Your kart will transform into a jet ski and it’s easy to get turbo charged when sailing on slime. Plus, the areas are wide open, so you can go really fast.

Did You Know?

In 2010 Katy Perry received one of the most epic Slime-ings in history while presenting at the Kids Choice Awards. The pressure of the blast was so high; it knocked her off her feet.

The important thing that kids have quickly figured out in play-testing is that slime helps the player; in their feedback, they’ve given the slime more importance than any other feature. They enjoy how it looks, behaves and is used in the game which makes us feel great because that’s what we have strived for.

We were super worried that slime would be a big challenge to technically embody so we used Nickelodeon’s special slime recipe to make a few gallons of slime for real, which was a lot of fun. Kids are no fools and they know the difference between slime and green water, so we had to study every element of the goo to truly capture the slime in-game.

Our FX and graphics programmers spent a crazy amount of time perfecting the virtual slime. There are over ten different kinds of slime art, including wavy slime pools, puddles, pipes, spray, splashes and more. Most are done with a mix of procedural particles, shaders and textures, sprites and UV maps. The extra effort was worth it; we’re really proud of the result.

View the full article

Today, we’re excited to announce the Red Dead Redemption 2 PlayStation 4 Pro Bundle, launching alongside Rockstar’s highly anticipated game on October 26.

This bundle includes a 1TB Jet Black PS4 Pro system, a DualShock 4 wireless controller and Red Dead Redemption 2 on Blu-ray disc. This bundle will be available across the U.S. and Canada for $399.99 (MSRP) / $499.99 CAD (MSRP). Pre-orders start today.

On PS4 Pro, 4K HDR TV owners will benefit from enhanced graphics and optimized performance for a stunningly sharp and detailed look (when compared to a PS4 system), as you live, ride and fight to survive as an outlaw in a notorious gang. HD TV owners will benefit from increased image clarity through the PS4 Pro’s Supersampling Mode (you can turn on Supersampling Mode in the PS4 Pro system settings menu). Meanwhile, if your TV supports high-dynamic range (HDR), you’ll experience the picturesque scenery of Red Dead Redemption 2 with an even more vibrant and dynamic range of colors (HDR features also available on PS4 system).

If you have yet to experience everything the most advanced PlayStation system has to offer, Red Dead Redemption 2’s epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age provides a great opportunity to get a PS4 Pro. Be sure to check out the Red Dead Redemption 2 PlayStation 4 Pro Bundle, launching next month!

View the full article

FIFA 19 delivers a champion-caliber experience on and off the pitch.

Developed by EA Vancouver, FIFA 19 introduces a number of new gameplay innovations such as Timed Finishing, Active Touch, Dynamic Tactics, and 50/50 Battles. The UEFA Champions League, the biggest club competition in world football, has been interwoven throughout the game. Also, experience the dramatic final chapter of Alex Hunter’s story.

For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop!

The information above is subject to change without notice.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Soundtrack

Prince – Piano & A Microphone 1983

Machine Gun Kelly – Binge

Uncle Drew (plus Bonus Features)

Skyscraper

Hotel Transylvania 3

Premieres Sunday, September 23 at 9PM ET/PT on CNN

Season 3 Premiere Tuesday, September 25 at 9/8c on NBC

Season 3 Premiere Thursday, September 27 at 8/7c on NBC

View the full article

Starting today at PlayStation Store, save up to 40 percent on games like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Deluxe Edition, Dark Souls: Remastered, Star Wars Battlefront II and more!

Check out the full lineup of titles below, but don’t wait too long – this flash sale ends September 24 at 8 a.m. PT.

<-- Swipe left on mobile for full table

Note: All pricing is for U.S. only and subject to change.

View the full article

Last week, we asked you to catch Spider-Man doing what he does best, swinging through the city streets in Marvel’s Spider-Man. You shared spectacular shots of Peter swinging and leaping using #PS4share and #PSBlog, and we picked our favorite death-defying shots. Here are this week’s highlights:

@MahmoudHamo1 captured Spider-Man swinging through the hazy sun-lit city.

@JohnTambanillo shared Spidey swinging in the Scarlet Spider suit.

Spider-Man moves through some dramatic lighting in this share from @InglouriousHugo.

@PhotoModeGamer shared this well-framed vertical shot.

@Eazels shared Spidey leaping off the page in this vintage cel-shaded shot.

Spider-Man swinging into the night in this share from @chococriespy.

Search #PS4Share and #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in next week’s Share of the Week?

Theme: Marvel’s Spider-Man – Villains
Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, September 26

Next week, we’re turning the lens on Spidey’s biggest foes. Share shots of your favorite villains in Marvel’s Spider-Man using #PS4share and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

View the full article

The season for fall blockbuster games is in full swing, with recently launched hits like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Destiny 2: Forsaken. To guide us through this season, we’ve brought back a fan favorite: our mysterious PlayStation Store Merchant. You might have already seen him in several ads this month, including cameos in our Countdown to Launch campaign and in Marvel’s Spider-Man launch campaign. Today, we’re dropping a new PlayStation Store ad, “Bazaar,” and wanted to pull back the curtains a bit more to give you a look behind the scenes.

In Bazaar, the Merchant gives you a tour of his limitless marketplace, designed to represent the boundless games and content that can be found on PlayStation Store. In reality, the actual filming took place inside a decommissioned aluminum plant. Built from scratch, the entire set was carefully designed to look like a huge bustling outdoor market, with extensive lighting rigs used throughout the highest catwalks inside the building.

The creative minds in the art department also paid careful attention to detail when building out other parts of the set, including the office building where Marvel’s Spider-Man makes an appearance, and a vast soccer stadium bursting with fans. They also included a fully functional pink tank and a forge. A whopping 30 tons of sand were also used throughout the set.

The set took many weeks to prepare for a four-day shoot, with roughly 40 talent, 150 background extras and 150 crew members. Nearly 200 different looks were created for the actors and extras to bring to life the bustle of the magical bazaar. This included integration of games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and FIFA 19, just to name a few.

As an homage to games, this video reflects some of the amazing content coming to PlayStation Store this fall. There are all kinds of Easter eggs in the ad – what do you spot?

View the full article

September has been full of amazing game launches, and Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk is no exception! This game tells the story of the Dusk Witch, Dronya, and her apprentice Luca, who arrive in a quiet town known as Refrain. The inhabitants seem to go about their days doing one routine after the next, but beneath this cozy little town filled with honest folk lies a deep, dark labyrinth filled with alluring secrets and deadly dangers.

Those of you unfamiliar with this game will be excited to learn that it was made by the same developers responsible for the critically-acclaimed Disgaea franchise. Today, we’re here with the developers to ask some questions from fans.

How would you say the story for Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk differs from Disgaea 1 Complete?

It’s a story focused on a witch that has supernatural powers, but the environment of this game is much more realistic and multi-dimensional when compared to Disgaea. On top of that, the story and the theme of the game are a little more profound. In that sense, this title is probably more similar to The Witch and the Hundred Knight than Disgaea.

Personally, I thought the story was heartwarming, but after hearing the opinions of those who played it, it seems that people didn’t find the story as heartwarming as I thought!

What were some of the improvements made to the game when it was released
on PS4?

The PS Vita version of this game was released to high praise, so for the PS4 version we only made minimal changes by maintaining the good and leaving out the sharper-edged aspects of the game.

That being said, there were many requests to “expand the options for character-making” so we added new character illustrations and voices.

So with that in mind, the character-making in this game is much more expansive than the Vita version.

Also, though the Vita has a beautiful screen, due to the screen size and resolution it was hard to see the enemy character graphics for all the characters.

One thing to look out for in this version is the details in the enemy graphics.

Some RPGs have a reputation for being extremely difficult at times and are not so accessible to the “casual gamer.” With that in mind, how would you place Labyrinth of Refrain on the scale of “easily accessible” to “hardcore”?

In terms of difficulty, we believe that this game is balanced so that any non-core gamer can beat this game. With that being said, we realized that some people may want to play the game at an easier difficulty so this is an in-game option available to the players.

We have an easy setting for the casual gamers that may want to enjoy just the story, and a hard mode that should be a fulfilling experience for the more hardcore players.

Following up from the previous question, would you say that someone who hasn’t played any first-person RPGs before would enjoy this game? What elements of this game do you believe make this a must-play?

When making this title, our concept was to not categorize this as a certain type of game, but rather, create an RPG that is enjoyable. Moreover, we want inexperienced players as well as people who disliked this “genre” of game to play this game.

People may be surprised by the world in this game, but once they get into it, this is a game that could be cleared without any major obstacles.

One desirable aspect of this game is that the title has no branching points in the story, which allows the user to enjoy a story-centric experience.

For you who wandered into this world, we’d like you to experience a unique adventure as the Tractatus de Monstrum.

What kind of advice would you give fresh RPG gamers who pick up Labyrinth
of Refrain?

We made this game with beginners and advanced players in mind by implementing many different things into the game. We created the world and story of this title not only with the cutscenes but with an all-encompassing approach that is unique to games. The items, game systems, and the trophies all contribute to the story.

This title doesn’t feature state-of-the-art technology or immense content but it was made with tons of passion.

We hope you’re all looking forward to your adventure in Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk, available now! Join Dronya and her apprentice Luca—along with your brigade of puppet soldiers—and discover the secrets within the labyrinth of Refrain!

View the full article

Email us at blogcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

Listen in to this week’s Blogcast for our first thoughts on PlayStation Classic, as well as a #SpiderManPS4 post-launch interview with creative director Bryan Intihar. Enjoy!

Stuff We Talked About

• PlayStation Classic
• Marvel’s Spider-Man interview w/ Bryan Intihar
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s new Blackout mode
• Creed: Rise to Glory
• Hollow Knight
• Valkyria Chronicles 4

The Cast

Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA
Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, SIEA
Kristen Titus – Social Media Specialist, SIEA

Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

View the full article

We are excited to announce that starting today, you will be able to stream as well as download PlayStation Now games to your PS4 system so that you can play both locally and offline, all with a single subscription. Almost all PS4 games in the service, including Bloodborne, God of War 3 Remastered, NBA 2K16, and Until Dawn, will be available for download, in addition to the PS Now lineup of classic PS2 games remastered for PS4. This feature will be gradually rolled out to PS Now subscribers over the next couple of days, so if you don’t see the feature on your PS Now today, make sure to check back again soon.

Downloaded PS Now games will support all user-purchased DLCs, microtransactions, and add-ons, as well as PS4 Pro enhancements for subscribers using a PS4 Pro system. And remember, you do not need a PlayStation Plus membership for online multiplayer on PS Now – which stays the same for both streaming and downloaded games.

If you’ve already started a game via streaming on PS Now and want to continue playing locally on your PS4, you can transfer your save file from the PS Now cloud to your console with a PS Plus membership (sold separately). This is done by transferring the save file from the PS Now cloud to your PS Plus cloud storage, then transferring it from the PS Plus cloud storage to your PS4 system. Check out this page for step-by-step instruction videos on how to transfer your game saves.

Note that you will need to connect your PS4 system to the internet every few days to verify your PS Now subscription, even if you’re only playing downloaded games.

A quick reminder that there are a few days left to get in on our summer price promotion, which ends September 25. Try PS Now for a full month at just $9.99 (new subscribers only) with our special intro offer, or get a full year for just $99.99 USD. And if you’re a PS Plus member, you can take advantage of the exclusive discount on the 3-month pass for PS Now for just $29.99 ($44.99 regular price). Although note that in order to take advantage of the $9.99 intro offer, you will need to purchase that directly, as the 7-day trial will transition into the standard monthly subscription.

This is a great time to catch up on PS4 games that you missed or discover new franchises through PS Now. Let us know what you’re going to be streaming or downloading in the comments below!

View the full article

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is less than one month away. In just a few weeks, this highly anticipated game will be in the hands of PlayStation 4 players around the world. Developer Treyarch has shared its plans to support the community with an active calendar of events and variety of free content once Black Ops 4 is released.

We are excited to announce that in our continued partnership with PlayStation, following the launch of the highly-anticipated game, PS4 players will get to play new Black Ops 4 content first on PS4. This means all the playable content coming to the Black Ops universe after the game’s release will come first to PS4, including new specialists and maps, as well as seasonal events.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches worldwide on October 12th. Following its release, Activision and Treyarch are planning an active calendar of events and variety of free content – across all three epic modes – Multiplayer, Zombies and Blackout – that will come to PS4 first.

Here’s just a sampling of what’s in store for the entire community for free following launch:

• Nuketown: This fan-favorite map returns in November in an all-new take.
• Specialists: The first of several new characters will debut in December.
• Blackout: Launch day is only the start; Blackout will continue to evolve after launch with regular map updates, expansions and new Blackout modes.
• Events: Seasonal, weekly, and time-limited events bringing new game modes and content to players.

View the full article

It’s been a little under a month since we launched Torn, and we’ve been thrilled with the reception from fans and critics. Every developer wants positive reviews, but when you see quotes like, “Torn is one of the better puzzlers in gaming. Full stop.” from Shacknews, it’s extremely exciting. Our goal with Torn was to drop you into a mysterious world and make the player figure out the rules. Neill Glancy, our creative director, led the project.

“Early on in Torn’s ideation, we knew we wanted to create a super premium VR experience,” Neill says. “We had to combine a deep and interesting story with AAA graphics and physics simulation, all driven by a world-class score.” And when it came to crafting that score to match Torn’s atmosphere and tone, it would have been impossible without Garry Schyman’s stunning soundtrack composition.

Neill worked very closely with Garry over the course of development.

“Sound and music can sometimes be underestimated in games projects, but I’ve always felt it’s at least one third of the product,” Neill says. Constructing the audio elements, however, was no simple task since the game’s narrative and score were composed simultaneously. We knew we would need themes for Talbot, Rena, the title sequence and individual rooms, so we scored these first knowing they were unlikely to change. This afforded us the time to address and iterate on the compositions that may have shifted gears as the game developed.

The music sets the tone for our fantastical world, where you want to explore deeper. There’s always a looming sense of darkness and mystery, an underbelly beneath the mansion and within Talbot’s heart.

“Garry’s music brings the ‘breath of life’ to exploring the mansion, as well as the story’s more tense and dramatic moments,” Neill recalls. As more and more players discover the secrets within the mansion, we hope they’ll go back and listen to the soundtrack. When they close their eyes, we hope they’ll get that tingle in their spine as they’re warped back into that experience. “Good music at the right time and with the right tone immerses the player emotionally inside the fantasy of Torn’s world.”

The relationship with the player in VR is about as close to implanting memories as you can get. Playing the game isn’t just entertainment, it’s a fully-lived experience.

“Some of the instruments that were used in the performance were extremely rare and valuable, and I would like to take this moment to thank all the musicians who worked so hard to bring the score to life,” Neill praises. “We hope players enjoy the presence and emotion that the music brings to the game. Behind the scenes it was a lot of work, but we are very proud of the final result.”

View the full article

We would like to thank our CBT and early access participants. We owe it to your efforts and feedback that allowed us to be more thorough and efficient in the last stages of development.
As such, we see no reason to delay the release any longer. Warface is now available at PlayStation Store, with all-new content added!

Meet the fast-paced PvP mode Blitz

Everyone’s familiar with Plant the Bomb and Team Deathmatch — after all, these are the bread-and-butter of PvP gameplay in most games. How about mixing them up a bit? That’s when you get an awesome, one-of-a-kind hybrid: Blitz!

Just like in Plant the Bomb, the action is focused around an explosive device, but in Blitz, the clock is ticking as soon as the round begins. With the bomb planted and activated, two sides face off for a tension-filled 90-second match: attackers need to defuse the bomb and avert disaster while defenders need to make sure it explodes.

Blitz is a game mode always packed with dynamic gunfights and plenty of room for tactical gameplay and teamwork — you’ll always be on the edge of your seat!

As for the mode’s setting, we’re introducing a new map which includes chokepoints and numerous access paths, which makes defense non-linear and every scenario unique. Welcome to Hawkrock.

Introducing new PvP map Hawkrock

Hawkrock will be the first map to feature this game mode. The action unfolds in a countryside estate, hidden within which is the bomb location, containing the transmitter and crates carrying stolen prototypes.

Despite the size of the map, there are a dozen of access paths, elevations, underground passages, vantage points and crossings to leverage for an advantage! Some paths are gated, but these obstacles prove futile against a solid C4 blast, so a sudden assault is always an option.

But this isn’t the only new map we’re introducing. Other preexisting game modes are getting new locations.

An all-new PvE raid: Earth Shaker

If you’re more into PvE, you’ll definitely like our new raid Earth Shaker. This one is a true test of skill and will take a tight-knit, well-organized team to complete — especially when tackling the new mission in our insanely difficult Nightmare level!

This time, the Warface squad is deployed to Sector H26, at the foot of an active volcano somewhere in Africa. First you take the approximate whereabouts of a Blackwood research facility, then you add suspicious—and most importantly, unnatural—seismic readings, and you’ve cause for worry.

Satellite scans proved futile and UAVs are deterred or disabled on sight, and that justifies a ground covert op.

Intel suggests the research site is well-guarded and employs highly-advanced defensive turrets. Each of these “marvels of engineering” carries different equipment and thus different danger, and when deployed you’ll have to adjust your strategy.

Some turrets will require you to stay away and use cover, others will force you to be quick on your feet and overwhelm them with suppressive fire.

PlayStation Plus perks

As we have announced during early access, a PS Plus subscription will not be required to play Warface on PS4. Nevertheless, an active subscription will have its benefits! To start with, it will provide the owner with a VIP Booster, which increases your experience and other in-game currency gains in PvE missions and PvP matches. Apart from that, players with an active subscription will be eligible for various gifts that will be released in future updates.

View the full article

Almost 25 years ago, the original PlayStation was introduced to the world. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was the first home console in video game history to ship 100 million units worldwide, offering consumers a chance to play games with real-time 3D rendered graphics in their homes for the first time.

Today, we are excited to announce that we are bringing back the original PlayStation experience in a new miniaturized version – PlayStation Classic! The console will come pre-loaded with 20 classic titles, including fan-favorites such as Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms.

The mini console is approximately 45% smaller than the original PlayStation, and it emulates the original’s look and feel by featuring similar controllers and packaging. Long-time fans will appreciate the nostalgia that comes with rediscovering the games they know and love, while gamers who might be new to the platform can enjoy the groundbreaking PlayStation console experience that started it all. All of the pre-loaded games will be playable in their original format.

Available for pre-order at select retailers across the US and CAN, each unit will also come with an HDMI cable to connect to their TV, a USB cable, and two controllers for local multiplayer within compatible titles. PlayStation Classic will be available for $99.99 USD (MSRP) / $129.99 CAN (MSRP) on December 3, 2018 – a historic date for all of us at PlayStation.

Visit PlayStation.com for more details on regional availability, and stay tuned to the Blog for the full lineup of titles coming to PlayStation Classic. There are more fan favorites, and we can’t wait to share more details in the coming months.

What are your favorite original PlayStation memories? Share in the comments below!

*AC adaptor sold separately

View the full article