Commander Fury

Starting October 2, it’s time to master the art of starfighter combat in an authentic piloting experience with Star Wars: Squadrons. These five tips and tricks will take you from rookie pilot to galactic ace at lightspeed! Play Video Hone your power management One of the most fundamental concepts that aspiring starfighter pilots must learn is power management. This system enables you to quickly divert power to your ship’s various systems on-the-fly, giving you the ability to enhance the lasers, engines, or shields. Depending on the starfighter, you will have two or three power systems: Engine Power, Primary Weapon Power, and on certain ships, Shield Power. Using the D-pad to transfer power between the systems, will give you greater speed or quicker recharge for your primary weapons or shields. Just keep in mind that as one system gains an advantage, the performance of the other systems will be reduced. The system with added power will also begin to overcharge, eventually unlocking unique abilities such as boosting and drifting, dramatically increased destructive force, and an extra layer of shields. Choose the right starfighter for the situation There are four classes of starfighters in Star Wars: Squadrons: fighters, interceptors, bombers, and support – and they all have different traits and specializations. In a match of Fleet Battles – Star Wars: Squadrons’ signature mode – you’ll want to pick the right starfighter for the right moment. The beginning of each match is focused on dogfighting between starfighters. An interceptor or fighter might be the most natural choice here. Bombers will come in handy when it’s time to assault the enemy capital ships, and support starfighters are useful in any moment to keep your team alive and stocked up. The composition of your team is equally important as your individual choice. For example, a group of five bombers might not be the most efficient for taking on a capital ship. Having interceptors to strafe turrets and defend your bombers from enemy starfighters, or support ships to provide repairs and extra ammo, will greatly improve your odds of success. Customize your component loadouts Starfighter components allow you to tailor your ship to your preferred playstyle. Components are unlocked with Requisition points, which are obtained by simply playing the game and leveling up. Make your A-wing perfect for stealth tactics with a Reflec Hull that prevents your enemies from targeting you at long distances and use the Targeting Jammer to remain hidden for the last stretch. The Plasburst Laser Cannon will shred your targets at close range. Or, give your TIE fighter anti-capital ship abilities by equipping it with a Burst Cannon to bully your way through defending enemy starfighters, and a combination of both Ion and Proton Torpedoes to apply damage to the capital ship’s shields and hull. Play the objective Fleet Battles is a multi-stage contest between the five pilots on each side of the New Republic and the Empire. Each stage poses different goals and objectives. At the start of the battle, your goal is to engage in dogfights at the center of the battlefield and eliminate the enemy starfighters. Winning the skirmish pushes the front line forward and opens the opportunity to assault the enemy capital ships. When the capital ships are down, you will get a shot at your ultimate mission: to destroy the enemy flagship. The first team to destroy the enemy flagship wins the match. Knowing how to tackle each objective is often the difference between triumph and bitter defeat. Fly in style If you’re an ace pilot you’ll want to show it off, right? In Star Wars: Squadrons, you can customize and personalize all of your starfighters, cockpits, and pilots with cosmetic items from all corners of the galaxy. Cosmetics include starfighter paint jobs, flightsuits, helmets, items for your cockpit interior like an Ewok bobble head (!), and much more – all earned solely through playing the game. Star Wars: Squadrons is an immersive and authentic piloting experience, and it’s one you can bring to the next level with PS VR. So put your “pilot helmet” on, buckle up, take off, and enjoy the entirety – yes, both single-player and multiplayer – of Star Wars: Squadrons in virtual reality. You can pre-order the game right up until its release on October 2nd – more at PlayStation.com. Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2020 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. View the full article

Alongside a mind-bending Campaign and the next generation of Multiplayer combat, Black Ops Cold War will include another signature mode that’s part of Black Ops core DNA: Zombies. This four-person co-op mode is set to take veterans and newcomers alike on a bold and terrifying journey that expands on an iconic part of the Call of Duty franchise. Long-time fans will likely find something familiar with this new chapter, but that’s for players to discover on their journey… What’s canon is canon, but… with Black Ops Cold War, Zombies is starting fresh with a new narrative and a – shall we say, new? – cast of characters. The mode includes new ways to progress, classic fan-favorite Perks, and an arsenal of Cold War weaponry that will help survivors dominate the legions of undead. Play Video The Story of Black Ops Cold War Zombies – Die Maschine With more than a nod to “Nacht der Untoten” – the map that started it all – “Die Maschine” takes place in the early ‘80s, but its roots reach back even further into the past. As part of Requiem, a CIA-backed international response team led by Grigori Weaver from the original Black Ops story, operatives explore a World War II bunker that hasn’t only been ravaged by time… While fighting to suppress the unnatural phenomena at this graffiti-skinned, boarded-up bunker, Requiem team members investigate what lies beneath this structure that’s been left to crumble after decades of disservice. Should they succeed, Requiem may uncover a cache of decades-old secrets that upend the global order. At the same time, a Soviet-led division and rival to Requiem, the Omega Group, enters the fray. The Omega Group also has a keen interest in studying and harnessing the unexplained events and anomalies manifesting around the globe. Between Requiem and Omega Group, there are plenty of characters who may aid or hinder your journey, while others have separate, unknown agendas that will be up to players to discover. Among this cast, there is one particular contact – Sam – who seems eager to share intel discovered from deep within the KGB. Bolstered by various pieces of intel that players can track in-game, this incredible Zombies story will start to unfold in mysterious and unexpected ways… A Connected, Thrilling Experience Across Modes Whether you’re a long-time Zombies veteran who also plays Multiplayer, or a first-time Call of Duty player completely new to Zombies, expect to drop into the fun faster than ever before with friends and the greater community. Here are just some of the updates to Zombies in Black Ops Cold War: Battle Pass Progression and Loadouts Players will now advance through the Battle Pass with time played in Zombies, similar to Multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone. Requiem team members can also start the match with their Gunsmith-crafted weapon of choice via loadout support. Weapon Rarity In addition to the return of the Pack-a-Punch machine to transform your weapon, all weapons will now have a rarity associated with them. The higher the rarity, the greater the damage output and attachments for the weapon. For the first time, this will allow any weapon in the game to be sustainable in later rounds. This also adds more variety and fun to finding new weapons through Wall Buys and the Mystery Box. Field Upgrades Outside of weaponry, players can deploy Field Upgrades as proactive abilities that add another layer to squad-based tactics. Charge them up by killing zombies, then deploy them in times of desperate need. From offensive buffs to abilities that aid in evasion or healing and reviving, these Field Upgrades are made to fit numerous playstyles and situations. Equipment Around the map, you can craft and find lethal, tactical, and support equipment. Lethal and tactical equipment are similar to the equipment found in Multiplayer, like Frag Grenades, while support equipment is home to high-powered offensive weaponry. This slot could be where you deploy Grenade Launchers, Sentry Turrets, Explosive Bows and even Chopper Gunners – all tools that can deliver a massive power spike when your squad needs it most. Perks Classic Zombies Perks are back with a reimagined Cold War aesthetic, including the return of timeless favorites like Juggernog and Speed Cola. There’s no longer a limit to how many different Perks you can consume, so go ahead and crack open a six-pack, if you have the points to do so. Exfil Instead of perishing to the horde, Black Ops Cold War Zombies provides a new option to escape with your life when you’re feeling overrun… if you dare. If the whole squad is in trouble, you can opt to exfiltrate the undead combat zone via helicopter. Although zombie spawns will be dialed up to 11, you should expect to earn some rewards if your squad completes this final push to survive. Pre-Order Now on Digital Zombies is just one part of the full Black Ops Cold War experience, which is scheduled to launch November 13. Experience this next generation of global combat early through the game’s Multiplayer Open Beta. Weekend 1 – PlayStation Exclusive Oct. 8-9: PS4 Early Access Oct. 10-12: PS4 Open Beta Weekend 2 – PS4 Open Beta Oct. 15-19: PS4 Open Beta Visit PlayStation.com to digitally pre-order now and secure early access to the Open Beta**, first on PS4 and instant rewards like the Woods Operator Pack* for immediate use in Modern Warfare and Warzone. Execute the mission. *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare / Call of Duty: Warzone on pre-order platform required to redeem Woods Operator and Blueprint. Sold/downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by Nov. 13, 2021. ** Actual platform availability and launch date(s) of Beta subject to change. Limited time only. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Internet connection required. PlayStation®Plus subscription may be required. View the full article

We were so excited to announce that a voucher code for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will be included* with the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Ultimate Edition on the PlayStation 5 console. This is a full next-gen remastering of Marvel’s Spider-Man – the team has been carefully crafting the definitive version of the game with new assets, technology, and updates. We’re taking advantage of next-generation technologies that the PlayStation 5 console introduces, as well as bringing some additional features to the game, including three new suits. Let’s talk about graphical updates. The team has done the painstaking work of updating the city’s environment to take advantage of the new console. Beyond improved models and materials, one of the biggest things we have brought to the game is ray-traced reflections and ambient shadows. We now have true reflections on the windows of buildings, and it looks stunning with our new skies and weather. But it’s not just the environments; our characters have also gotten a huge upgrade. From higher fidelity skin, eye, and teeth shaders to individually-rendered strands of hair, the new tech and detail brings our characters and their performances to new life. This does bring us to one of the bigger changes. In order to bring the best performances to players with our next-generation Marvel’s Spider-Man games, we have recast the face of Peter Parker. We loved working with John Bubniak on the original game; however, to get a better match to Peter Parker/Spider-Man actor Yuri Lowenthal’s facial capture, we have cast Ben Jordan to be the face model for Peter Parker on the PS5 console. He looks incredible in-game, and Yuri’s moving performances take on a new life. Here’s a clip of one of our most powerful scenes from the first game, when Peter arrives to work to find his boss and mentor, Otto Octavius, working on the arms that will come to define him. Play Video Additionally, thanks to the power of the PS5 console, we’re now able to offer a high frame rate through Performance Mode, which targets a 60fps frame rate! This allows you to experience the beginning of the Marvel’s Spider-Man storyline like never before. It feels amazing to play. Here’s a quick clip. Play Video That’s not all! We take full-advantage of other next-generation PlayStation features like near-instant loading (don’t worry, you can turn back on those humorous fast-travel animations if you miss them), Spatial 3D Audio on compatible headphones, and the revolutionary DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. We’ve also brought new photo mode features to the game that we developed for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: you can now place lights in the environment and change your Spider-Suit after you’ve lined up your shot! Oh, speaking of Spider Suits… here you go: That’s right, The Amazing Suit has arrived as one of three new suits in the game. It’s the perfect suit to wear as you attempt to earn the Platinum trophy in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered. We hope this helps explain why we’re so excited for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered. Now, how do you get access to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered? As mentioned above, it’s available as part of the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition. Read on below for more options. Here are your various options for purchasing Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, as well as the pre-order bonuses we are offering. What’s in the package: The Standard Edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be available physically and digitally on the PS4 console and the PS5 console. It retails for $49.99/€59.99 MSRP. You can pre-order digitally here. The PS4 version of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers a free upgrade path to PS5 Standard Edition. And if you purchase or upgrade to the PS5 Standard Edition, you can take advantage of a paid-upgrade offer from the in-game menu to download Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered**. In addition, on the PS5 console we have the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition which includes a voucher code* to download Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. It retails for $69.99/€79.99 MSRP and you can pre-order it digitally here. In the US and Canada only, we have additional “launch” physical editions of the game for both Standard Launch Edition and Ultimate Launch Edition (Launch Edition includes a voucher*)! These copies are available in limited quantities only so don’t delay. The launch edition includes a voucher for early unlocks of two suits, including the T.R.A.C.K. Suit by Marvel Artist Javiar Garrón, and a suit we’ll reveal closer to launch. You’ll also receive an early unlock of the Gravity Well Gadget, and three Skill Points to get a jump start on your progression. For those buying digitally, or outside of the US/Canada, you also can receive those same early unlocks by ordering now. We’re very excited to offer a great pre-order bonus when you pre-order the game from a participating retailer or from PlayStation Store. That includes both suits, the Gravity Well gadget and three Skill Points. We can’t wait to see the photo mode shots the community creates! And we are so excited for you to experience the continuation of the Marvel’s Spider-Man storyline when Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales launches GLOBALLY on November 12, 2020. You’ll be able to download Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered at the PlayStation 5 console launch when you purchase the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition physically or digitally for $69.99/ €79.99 MSRP. We can’t wait to see the photo mode shots the community creates! *Account for PlayStation Network, and internet connection required for code redemption. Code expires 01/01/24. **Owners of the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 game disc can access this offer by inserting the disc into their PS5 console. PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to access this offer. View the full article

Use four wheels and racing skills to outsmart opponents and stay alive in a city out to stop you and challenge yourself to stalk the fine line between supernatural vigilante and unholy monster with this month’s PS Plus games. With both Need for Speed: Payback and Vampyr launching October 6, you won’t have long until you can turn speed demon or sink your teeth into a thrilling action horror. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect next month. Need for Speed: Payback Play Video Survive thrilling heist missions, partake in metal-crunching car battles, perform dazzling setpieces and more in this four-wheeled action blockbuster. Set in the fictional, corrupt gambler’s paradise of Fortune Valley, choose from three different characters – each with their own unique skills – customise your rides and take on an open world’s worth of events as you seek revenge on those who wronged you. Vampyr Play Video Life is Strange developer Dontnod Entertainment challenges you to embrace the darkness with this 1918-set, third-person action RPG with deep narrative choices. Play a doctor turned vampire ghosting through a London gripped by violence and fear. Use your supernatural abilities, as well as man-made tools and weapons to fight or flee the forces of evil and vampire hunters. Save the city’s populace or feed on them to become stronger, but giving in to your bloodlust can have grave consequences… Both games are available from Tuesday October 6 until Monday, November 2. Last chance to pick up September’s PS Plus games A new wave of titles means we have to wave goodbye to last month’s. So make sure not to miss out on adding Street Fighter V and PUBG: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to your PS4 library before both exit PS Plus on October 5. View the full article

We are thrilled to announce the release of Underground, the second season of Warface: Breakout! Available for free on PlayStation 4 starting today, this latest content update introduces a new map, a number of new game mechanics, seasonal rewards, and new quality-of-life updates. The biggest part of Underground update is the Slum District, a map that takes players through gloomy city streets, torn apart by war. It’s tailored to various combat styles, allowing for mid- and long-range engagements, close-quarters combat, and various sniper vantage points. We’re also implementing several new mechanics, including a progression system, elite challenges, callout pings, and seasonal leaderboards. You can now complete weapon-specific assignments to earn rewards like weapon stripes, ranging from bronze to gold, plus new and exclusive gold weapon skins. Underground also introduces the new 3D-ping system, allowing for better communication within the team. This lets you highlight any position on the map with a marker that’s only visible to your team. There are new ways to customize your characters too, with victory poses, bomb skins, and brand-new weapon stickers giving you the opportunity to customize your weapons and stand out a little more in combat. New and exclusive weapon and character skins can also be found in the Underground Cosmetic Pack, which includes exclusive content like the legendary Consigliere and Free Rider skins for (respectively) Reapers and Wardens, the epic Burst skin for the AUG A3 Hbar, the epic Gambler skin for the PKP Pecheneg, and the Anod knife. New seasonal events and features are coming beyond the launch of Underground, too! Players can look forward to a Halloween event, with cross-play support set to launch later this year. Players will also notice a few quality of life changes that were made throughout the last couple of months. The new movement system will ensure that the players are in perfect sync with each other meaning smoother movement and hit registration. The servers have also been upgraded to support the tickrate of 60, much needed for competitive play. Are you ready to go Underground? Don’t miss out on your chance to delve into a captivating tactical experience in the second season of Warface: Breakout! View the full article

The Games of a Generation promotion launches on PlayStation Store Wednesday, September 30, giving you the chance to discover some of the best gameplay experiences PS4 has to offer. That includes this year’s acclaimed open world samurai epic Ghost of Tsushima, which slashes a staggering 25% off its digital RRP. Below is just a selection of the PS4 games on sale during this new promotion, which runs until Wednesday, October 14*. Head on to PS Store when the promotion goes live on Wednesday September 30 for the full list! (North American players head here, European players, head here.) A Way Out Age of Wonders: Planetfall Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Deluxe Edition Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Premium Edition Apex Legends – Bloodhound Edition Apex Legends – Lifeline and Bloodhound Double Pack Apex Legends – Lifeline Edition Apex Legends – Octane Edition Apex Legends™ – Pathfinder Edition Assassin’s Creed III Remastered Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Batman: Arkham Collection Black Desert: Conqueror Edition Black Desert: Explorer Edition Black Desert: Traveler Edition Blasphemous Borderlands 3 Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition Conan Exiles Disintegration Dragon Age: Inquisition – Game of the Year Edition Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC Bundle Dragon Ball FighterZ Dying Light F1 2020 F1 2020 – Deluxe Schumacher Edition Far Cry New Dawn Ghost of Tsushima Ghost of Tsushima: Digital Deluxe Edition God’s Trigger Grand Ages: Medieval Hello Neighbor Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition Journey to the Savage Planet L.A. Noire LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham LEGO City Undercover LEGO DC Super-Villains LEGO Harry Potter Collection LEGO Marvel Super Heroes LEGO Marvel’s Avengers LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition LEGO The Hobbit Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Standard Edition Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition Monster Hunter: World MotoGP 20 Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden My Hero One’s Justice 2: Deluxe Edition One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 – Deluxe Edition Overwatch: Legendary Edition Payday 2: Crimewave Edition Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition Pure Farming 2018 Ride 3 Ride 3 – Gold Edition Sniper Elite 4 – Digital Deluxe Edition Sniper Elite V2 Remastered Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Stellaris: Console Edition Stellaris: Console Edition – Deluxe Edition Stellaris: Console Edition – Expansion Pass Two Strange Brigade – Digital Deluxe Edition Sudden Strike 4 Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection Surviving Mars Surviving Mars – Digital Deluxe Edition Surviving Mars – First Colony Edition Tekken 7 – Ultimate Edition The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Totally Reliable Delivery Service Totally Reliable Delivery Service – Deluxe Bundle Tropico 6 Tropico 6 – Spitter Tropico 6: El Prez Edition TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 Unravel Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – Digital Deluxe Edition WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship – Legendary Pack WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship: Deluxe Edition Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Deluxe Edition Zombie Army 4: Dead War – Super Deluxe Edition *The Games of a Generation PS Store promotion finishes Wednesday October 14 at 23.59pm local time. View the full article

Hey there! We’re happy to announce that in a new partnership with our friends at Doritos®, you will have the chance to win a PlayStation®5 console*. Our “Find All 4, Win a PlayStation®5” competition officially kicks off today, September 29, 2020 across select countries in Europe**. Purchase a promotional pack of Doritos® and enter your details on the promotion website to get a chance to win a PlayStation®5 console or one of 1000s of PlayStation prizes. But that’s not the only way to win! Doritos® are also offering you the chance to take part in an Augmented Reality quest with multiple prizes to be won. Your goal is to track down virtual Doritos® bags (“Bag Vatoms”) hidden around your local area***. Discovering bags will win you either one of 1000s of PlayStation instant prizes or could unlock one of the four iconic PlayStation symbols. Find all four chip symbols and you’ll win a PS5™. And entry couldn’t be simpler: Buy a pack of Doritos® featuring the below competition packaging: How to enter for a chance to win during the Instant Win Promotion period o Visit www.doritos.co.uk/PlayStation5 to enter your details and your pack promotional code which can be found in the backend seal of each promotional pack, then click on “enter now” to find out instantly if you have won a prize. How to enter for a chance to win during the AR Quest Promotion period o Visit the Doritos® Quest website at http://doritos-quest.com/playstation5 and create a Vatom wallet to be eligible to participate. Participants must either register directly or continue as a guest user to create a Vatom wallet. Click on the ‘How to Play’ and ‘FAQ’ Vatoms for more details. Users will be able to locate Doritos® Bag Vatoms by viewing nearby Vatoms on a map. As soon as a user finds a Vatom, they can tap on it to pick it up and claim the prize or collect the PlayStation® Shapes in order to try and collect all four PlayStation® Shapes. Be warned though: Participants and rewards are limited and there are only a finite number of PlayStation® Shapes to be collected****. So, you better be quick for a chance to enter and win. To find out more about the competition, as well as the full terms and conditions, including entry rules, please head here for UK & Ireland, here for Belgium, here for Netherlands, here for Nordics and here for Spain. *Winners will receive their console after the PlayStation®5 console launches in their country. **Competition available in: UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, from September 28 – December 31, 2020; Spain from November 2 – December 20 2020; Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland from November 2 – December 31, 2020. ***The AR Quest takes place in Belgium and Netherlands from October 12 to November 9, 2020, the UK from November 2 to November 30, Ireland from November 2 to November 23, and Spain from November 2 to November 30. ****AR Quest has a limit on participants (UK: 102,000; Ireland: 5,000; Benelux 22,000; Spain: 21,000) View the full article

It’s almost time! Sackboy will make his long-awaited return to PlayStation alongside the launch of the PS5 this November. I’ll be honest… the prospect of the game finally being released is a little bit scary…but also incredibly exciting! We have been making this game for a looooong time and even now just a few weeks from launch we’re STILL tinkering, making the final tweaks and applying the finishing touches. Play Video I’ve been so lucky to be part of this incredibly talented team who have a genuine passion for Sackboy. Each one of us has put so much into making this game and we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. We hope that shines through when you play the game at home! When we kicked off this project our goal was simple: to give players an amazing, 3D, co-op adventure. The video above gives some insight into how we went about that, starting with Sackboy’s controls, crafting the worlds he explores, designing gameplay with loads of variety and layering on top anarchic, slapstick co-op multiplayer*. We wanted every level in the game to feel unique and to continually surprise you with what comes next. In one stage you’ll be careening through a mountain pass on a runaway train, the next exploring a forgotten temple or facing off against a hostile baddie. We’ve mixed up the gameplay with a bunch of new power ups – including one which at one point quite literally turns the world on its head! And the game has an UN-BEL-IEV-ABLE soundtrack – there are moments where the music is sure to bring a smile to your face. As you’ll know if you have played a Sackboy game before he is a BIG fan of fancy dress. There are more than 60 costumes to discover and you can easily mix and match pieces from different costumes to create your very own custom Sackboy. But we haven’t stopped there, we have also created a full emote system so you and your friends can hug, chest bump, dance and play air guitar together. On the subject of co-op, this game is undoubtedly great in single player, but….. throw some friends into the mix and it’s an absolute blast with so many laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of fun griefing opportunities! Right, that’s enough of me waxing lyrical about the game. Now I’d like to give you a sneak peek at our Digital Deluxe Edition, available on both PS4 and PS5, and the limited Special Edition only on PS4, both of which include some frankly delightful content to accompany the game. Firstly, if you pre-order any edition, at a supporting retailer or through PlayStation Store you’ll get a copy of the digital comic, The Gathering Storm, in which you will discover the mysterious past of Scarlet, Sackboy’s mentor and Craftworld’s last remaining Knitted Knight. If all-digital is your thing, then check out the Digital Deluxe Edition. If you pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition, as well as the digital comic, you’ll also receive: A digital art book showcasing the beautiful, crafted worlds of Sackboy and the weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit them. A digital soundtrack featuring an eclectic selection of tracks from the game. 4 x Sackboy costumes of PlayStation icons which you can use to customise your Sackboy: Jin from Ghost of Tsushima Sam Porter Bridges form Death Stranding Connor from Detroit Become Human Deacon St. John from Days Gone 4 x Sackboy emotes based on each PlayStation icon mentioned above to show off to your friends. 20 x Sackboy avatars wearing different costumes from the game. Finally, there’s the Special Edition which features all of the great stuff in the Digital Deluxe Edition plus a physical copy of the Art Book and this… Look at him. Just look at him! Have you ever seen anything so adorable? When this gets to the studio there’s guaranteed to be some stuffing spilled in the ensuing kerfuffle! So, there you have it. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is going to be out in just a few weeks, and we’ll be sharing more information as we head towards launch. In the meantime, you can view the original launch trailer here and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. Play Video We have poured our hearts and souls into this game and we really hope that you enjoy playing it as much as we have loved making it. *Internet connection and PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PS Plus is a paid-for ongoing subscription with a recurring fee charged automatically at the frequency chosen by the consumer at purchase until cancelled. Full terms apply, see playstation.com/legal. View the full article

We’ve been watching the excitement around Destruction AllStars building since the game was announced, along with a good number of questions about the game itself. Today, we want to pull back the curtain to show you what the team at Lucid have been working on, coming exclusively to PS5 at launch this November. Play Video Destruction AllStars is a global sports entertainment event where stars & cars collide. Become one of 16 different AllStars and get behind the wheel to the sound of a roaring crowd as you wreck your way to the top. Can you master the mayhem? Jump into the arena solo or with your teammates and run to your vehicle of choice. There’s a variety of different vehicles with unique speed and handling characteristics. Whilst you might have a particular favourite, it takes a true AllStar to master them all! While behind the wheel, you’ll want to react to the match as it unfolds around you. Driving into opponents’ vehicles will do plenty of damage, but a well timed slam will annihilate them. Master using slam attacks to wreck, dodge and boost your way through the competition. When wrecked, you’ll have to master a whole new set of skills as you’re thrust into the action from a different perspective. On foot, our AllStars might look vulnerable, but they have the athletic and heroic skills to evade opponents, take their vehicle and cause maximum damage. The arenas have been designed to harness mobility and destructive action. Vehicles have enough track to navigate at maximum speed, whilst AllStars on-foot can seek temporary safety in suspended platforms above. Using their parkour skills to jump, climb, grab and vault, they can collect items and lure opponents into hard hitting traps. All of this takes place in the first minute of every game. If you compete hard, be fierce and stay in the action, you’ll be rewarded with an AllStar’s ultimate skills: their character ability and hero vehicle. An AllStar’s character ability gives them an edge above the competition, whilst their hero vehicle can really shake up the game. Character Abilities Snapshot Shyft – Uses cloaking technology to go invisible and take over vehicles before his opponents notice. Ultimo Barricado – Become invulnerable to incoming attacks, from vehicles and characters. Lupita – Drops trails of fire that causes burning damage to vehicle and KO characters. Boxtop – Spawns parcels that buff team mates and deal explosive damage enemies. Hero Vehicle Snapshot Sabre (Hana’s Vehicle) – Deploy a blade along the length of the vehicle and slice opponents in half. The Undisputed (Ultimo’s Vehicle) – Activate an immense shield and become an unstoppable force in the arena. Callisto (Genesis’ Vehicle) – Ignite rocket boosters for a burst of speed, causing massive damage to your opponents. Mr Sparkles (Tw!nlkeR1ot’s Vehicle) – Enter Rampage as you hit harder with every Slam. Meet the AllStars We’ll tell you more about this bunch of diverse, charismatic, and heroic AllStars in a future Blog post. So that gives you a general idea of what you’ll be doing in the game, no matter what mode you’re playing. Destruction AllStars has a lot to offer, however you choose to play the game. Global Custom built Arenas for Multiplayer and Singleplayer Destructive Gameplay Action in and out of vehicles A large, diverse roster of Heroic Characters Cinematic rivalries exploring our AllStar’s motivations Enough cosmetics for you to stand out amongst the crowd But it doesn’t end here. After launch, we’ll be adding new modes as well as exciting twists on others. We’ll also be adding new features to help you get the most out of your Destruction AllStars experience. You can expect these additions as part of a post-launch roadmap, absolutely free, to ensure you have new ways to play, wreck after wreck. Hopefully that gives you a taste of what Destruction AllStars is all about. We’ve got a brand new trailer launching soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that! We’re still hard at work on the finishing touches before launch and the team can’t wait for you to get your hands on the game. We’ll be listening out for your feedback and want to take you all on a wild ride as we continue to grow the game post launch. However you choose to start your AllStars career, we’ll be ready for you on the starting platform this November! The Digital Deluxe edition contains: 1 Legendary Character Skin and Vehicle Skin – Embrace the darkness and become The Crow. 1 Dance Emote for Lupita – Lupita shows the AllStars how it’s done in Rio! 4 Banners and 5 Avatars – Add some variety to your player profile, right from the start! 10,000 AllStar Currency – Kickstart your AllStar customization! AllStar Currency can be earned through online play. This boost should give you a head start on customizing your racing stripes whilst you earn the rest! View the full article

Today is the day! The IllFonic team has been hard at work all summer, locked in our makeshift home offices, to bring you this update. We have heard you and we’re excited to show what we have in store for our largest free update yet: a new Mode and new Map for Predator: Hunting Grounds. That’s right; you’re not only getting a new playground, but also a new way to play, a full-on PVP mode called Clash. Clash is the ultimate 4v4 PVP that puts players in an all-out, no-holds-barred war. We wanted this new mode to take the high tension of Hunt and turn it into an unpredictable, high-octane battle to see which team is king of the jungle. Lasting roughly fifteen minutes, two Fireteams will spawn on one of the four Predator: Hunting Grounds maps with one goal: to capture a location before the next capture area spawns – think a deadly game of king of the hill. With each location captured, a point is awarded until none are left and a victor is crowned. All this might sound easy, but not so fast. While each team battles it out to claim territory, every point gained and enemy killed fills up your team’s Predator meter. Once filled, the Predator mode is unlocked and one person on your team will become the extraterrestrial hunter. But I’ll warn you all, even with a Predator on your side you must keep your head up and your eyes peeled. The Predator can do some serious damage, but this time there is no second wind or target isolation like there is in Hunt. There is no mudding up for fire teams either – it’s go mode! If you die, you respawn – there is no downtime, and as they say, “Failure is not an option.” Here’s a hint from the QA team: load up on your smoke bombs, use your UAV gear, and pace yourself. This new mode will provide players with a chance to test their combat skills. After all, humans are less predictable and much smarter than AI. With the new map “Excavation” we really hope to challenge player’s skill sets as it brings the need for hand to hand combat to the forefront. Lore has it this map is ground zero for a unique dig site that was once a thriving scientific hive seeking artifacts deep in the caves of the Predator jungle. Now overrun by the Stargazer mercenary fleet, the scientists are gone… but missions, Easter eggs, and the ultimate game of cat and mouse remain. This map still features the iconic jungle – but will force both the Fireteam and Predator to think vertically and spatially as they traverse through an intricate multi-level cave system. A word of warning: don’t get caught alone… there are enemies at every turn as your team works through missions that force you into potentially compromising and claustrophobic conditions. Predkour is obsolete within the labyrinth cave system, forcing the Predator to attack from the ground or seek out a perfect perching place. With so many possible choke-points, the new map will force you to ask, “How skilled are you in face-to-face combat?” Other highlights new to Predator: Hunting Grounds include a new quickplay menu that prompts players to choose Hunt or Clash. And last but not least, with all the cool options for loadouts we are expanding the current loadout from five to ten – giving everyone more choices. See you in the caves! View the full article

Greetings, Champions! Schell Games’ Community Marketing Specialist Adam Kuta here once again with another deep dive into the dangerous world of Until You Fall. Long ago, the Calamity struck, destroying Rokar, our home, and unearthing vicious monsters known as the Unraveled. They must be stopped. Only you, brave Rune Knight, have the power to defeat these vile creatures and defend Rokar! We believe everyone can become a mighty Rune Knight. From the vast array of weaponry and magical abilities to the variety of approaches to vanquish foes, we designed Until You Fall to allow all players to feel like a powerful Sword God in their own unique style. Beyond weapons and abilities, we’ve balanced the various difficulty settings to allow Rune Knights to play at their own individual skill and comfort levels. The game has three primary difficulty levels: Relaxed, Challenging, and Relentless. However, some say they’ve encountered an even more dangerous setting in their nightmares! By default, all players start on Challenging Mode while they learn the basics of becoming a Rune Knight. After completing the tutorial, however, players can choose what difficulty level they want to play and change at any point from the hub world: the Runeforge. Each difficulty level affects the stats and behaviors of your enemies. As the difficulty increases, so too does their ability to coordinate attacks and perform even more complex attack patterns. The mode also factors in additional challenges, such as adjustments to attack speed, guard and health points, and even what types of opponents will appear. For example, you’re much more likely to encounter the dreaded Empowered Spellweavers, earlier and more frequently, while taking on Relentless Mode. On the other hand, the higher the challenge, the greater the reward. Players are awarded in-game currency Aether, based on their progress in a run. It can be used to transform runes into new weapons or to upgrade the power of your weaponry. It’s a valuable resource (and pretty, too!). Champions will earn more Aether for their victories based on the difficulty mode – increasing it by up to 20% in the most daunting setting. Relaxed mode We created Relaxed Mode for Rune Knights who want a slightly more forgiving experience or a quick ‘warm up’ to focus on the fundamentals of combat. In Relaxed Mode, the enemies you face are slightly slower and generally less aggressive. Additionally, as a bonus, players will regain one Health Crystal at the end of each encounter. However, don’t let this mode fool you! The Unraveled are still monsters and a terrible force to be reckoned with. It is “Relaxed Mode,” not “Easy Mode.” So, don’t let your guard down! You’ve been warned. Challenging mode Challenging Mode sets the basis for what to expect in Until You Fall: fast-paced action, strategic positioning, formidable enemies, and the feeling of power for taking them all down! Enemies are fast, unforgiving, and will press the advantage in combat if given the chance. Rokar is a dangerous place, Champion. But, I know you can handle it. Relentless mode Relentless Mode amps up the difficulty from Challenging Mode. Players at this level have mastered the basics, but now the Unraveled have learned, too. They will attack faster and more aggressively, often coordinating amongst themselves in hopes of overwhelming you with relentless (see what I did there?) attacks. Nightmare mode Only proven Champions will be able to take on the hardest task of the game: Nightmare mode. Unlocking this hidden difficulty level only occurs after a completed run on another difficulty level, meaning you’ll have to best the powerful final boss before you can test your true strength as a Rune Knight. Once you do, prepare for the onslaught of powered up enemies with increased numbers, aggression, and guard resistance. Only the strong will survive. Do you have what it takes to unlock and complete Nightmare Mode? Put your skills to the test and join the fight when Until You Fall comes to PlayStation VR today! Stay strong and press the advantage, Champions! View the full article

Reinforcements have arrived in Modern Warfare Season Six, following the collapse of the Armistice – Nikolai and Farah. The pair make a game-changing discovery in Verdansk: Al-Qatala and Mr. Z have been traveling discreetly in Verdansk via an underground Subway Station. With this new intel, the “Metro” opens up for all Operators in Warzone and the remnants of the Armistice become that much closer to ending the ongoing conflict in Verdansk. Play Video The Warzone Metro Travel around Verdansk quicker than ever courtesy of the new subway system in Verdansk. Players can go underground to access seven stations throughout key areas on the map to quickly fast travel. The train has seven stations (stops) all with identical layouts for easy exploration. Players will find loose items and Supply Boxes at the stations in addition to this new transportation system. Trains will arrive frequently at each station during their journey around the map in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion through the following locales in order: Verdansk International Airport Lozoff Pass Verdansk Center Downtown Tavorsk District Barakett Shopping District Verdansk Train Station Torsk Bloc Players should note that the subway system boasts incredible safety standards. It will not travel to a station that falls outside the safe area during Battle Royale matches, nor move a single inch if there is any conflict aboard its cars. So, if you’re in a fight with the enemy take them down, so you can move to the next station. Four Multiplayer Battlegrounds Station (Gunfight) – A tactical battlefield set at a Kastovian train station. Mantle on top the boxcars throughout the map to gain verticality over your opponent while you risk exposure or duck behind objects for covers and wait to strike. Mialstor Tank Factory (6v6 and 10v10) – A large factory with interior and exterior spaces that’s zone of combat changes in size depending on the number of players infiltrating. In 6v6, the tank factory and a warehouse can both become hot zones of combat as both are centrally located and feature accessible rooftops. Verdansk Riverside (Ground War) – Mostly identical to the Warzone map section of suburbs adjacent to the Gora River across from the Verdansk International Airport. If you want to battle in both interior and exterior, consider carrying a shotgun as a secondary to quickly blast way foes “playing” in the house. Broadcast (6v6) – Known to franchise newcomers as BCH TV Station, Broadcast is a large Multiplayer map first introduced in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This map will prove familiar territory for many players and is versatile to accommodate essential every weapon class in the Modern Warfare arsenal. Tips for Broadcast: 1. Parts of the Broadcast map roof is accessible, allowing for unique verticality or a surprise drop down on an enemy below. If you make your way up here, make callouts to your teammates and reposition often as you’ll likely become a target after you eliminate the first enemy player. 2. The central building is likely to become a hot bed for action in Deathmatch games. However, consider spending some time in objective modes to get to know all areas of map and the flow of combat. Then take that knowledge back to TDM and get to work. 3. The stairs connecting the hallway and lower roof are crammed in a small space, perfect for shotgun users to blast enemies at close range. In Domination, consider the route between the stairs to find foes and the C Flag, and try to avoid getting pulled into long-distance engagements in the main broadcasting room or the parking lot. Free Weapons and War Tracks in the Season Six Battle Pass System Season Six adds two new weapons, both free in the Battle Pass system, to Modern Warfare’s already impressive arsenal the: SP-R208 marksman rifle and the AS-VAL assault rifle. SP-R208(Tier 15) – a bolt action marksman rifle that’s extremely accurate and can be lots of fun for sharpshooters. Explore its wide range of customization items in Gunsmith that include alternate ammo types and bolt assembly changes. AS-VAL (Tier 31) – Built for accuracy and stealth with a native (pre-equipped) integral suppressor, the AS-VAL is a rare Soviet powerhouse. It also boasts a high rate of fire and subsonic 9x39mm ammunition. Ride through Warzone with fresh tunes by earning new War Tracks, free in the Battle Pass system. This Season features four War Tracks bundles including past Modern Warfare hits, licensed EDM songs that may already be on your playlist, and some epic tunes from the Black Ops franchise. Here’s the hits from the War Track Pack: Hip Hop Edition: Jack Harlow’s “Whats Poppin’” DMX’s “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” Clipse’s “Grindin’” Players can purchase the Battle Pass to also unlock Operator Farah (instant unlocked at Tier 0); Edward, the pet bat Finishing Move, (Tier 20); Halloween-themed vehicle skins, like the “Flight of the Torment” helicopter; Operator Nikolai (Tier 100); and up to 1300 Call of Duty points. PlayStation Season Six Content Survival comes to Hovec Sawmill This picturesque Eastern European town is now the latest Survival map, available *exclusively on PlayStation. While the focal point of the village is the Sawmill, in Survival discovering a safe haven on map will help you outlast the waves. Its multi-level barn, near the maps’ center, offers long sightlines, contained entrances, and easy access to the roof if you need a quick exit. Get Gulag Threads in the **Exclusive Warzone Season Six Combat Pack Survive the Gulag in Warzone or fight to secure the victory in Multiplayer bundle that is free for all Playstation Plus subscribers. Download the Pack by going to the Franchise section of the Store and scroll down to the Miscellaneous section. The bundle includes the following: Epic Rodion ‘Red Death’ skin (This skin unlocks the Operator, if not already owned) Epic ‘Shivvie’ Melee Weapon Epic ‘Slipshod’ Handgun Weapon Blueprint Epic ‘Ball and Chain’ Charm Epic ‘Don’t Back Down’ Calling Card Epic ‘Gulag’ Emblem Epic ‘Inside Job’ Sticker 60 Minute Double XP Token Turn the Tides and Earn the *Exclusive Tide Pool Blueprint A sniper designed for players who lock down lanes in Multiplayer and can eliminate squads escaping the circle collapse in Warzone. The blueprint is earned in a five-step mission set, found in Missions, that requires use of multiple weapon classes and in-match skills. The weapon has a shorter barrel that other sniper rifles but can still go the distance thanks to a quality scope. Build a complete loadout with an agile and strong-secondary like the GS or Renetti and perks that help you withstand damage like Battle Hardened and EOD until the job is done. Tips for Sony Exclusive Content 1. Sawmill Survival: If you’ve got a strong squad, creating two strongholds on the map divides the enemies and can relieve pressure. Consider the house overlooking the bridge a quality second basecamp to the central barn. Depending on your team’s playstyle it may prove even better. Just keep in mind your exits in case you need to move shot quickly. 2. A Fighting Secondary: The Slipshod, available in the Season Six Warzone Combat Pack, is a highly mobile silenced sidearm. If you play stealthy, it could come in handy in Multiplayer matches when your primary runs dry and you need to finish up a job. 3. Rise with the Tide Pool: The Epic Tide Poll blueprint features fast reload to tackle an entire Warzone squad even if your clip runs out and a lighter stock to help you reposition in a long-range fight. Pair this with the Spotter Scope to identify enemies without the glint, then aim and fire. Season Six Download Intel Please note that the Season Six update will have a download size of 19.3 GB on PlayStation for owners of the full version of Modern Warfare and free-to-play Warzone, who are up-to-date with the latest update. The initial 19.3 GB update can be pre-downloaded, but not accessed prior to the Season Six update. At Season Six launch players who wish to play Multiplayer or Special Ops must download a 7.8GB Compatibility Data Pack. To access Survival mode, players must download a 5.8GB Survival Data Pack. Season Six of Modern Warfare is live on PlayStation on September 28 at 11 PM PST. * Timed Exclusive content until Oct.1, 2020 **Warzone Season Six Combat Pack Timed Exclusive content until Dec. 1, 2020 View the full article

Hi everyone, VR developers Survios here. Tomorrow marks a very special day for the studio – the official digital release of The Walking Dead Onslaught! We’re thrilled to have you step into the world of AMC’s The Walking Dead in a way never experienced before, and to help you prepare we’re sharing some tips every survivor should know before entering the VR apocalypse. The Walking Dead Onslaught is Survios’ 6th PS VR title that takes many of our best mechanics and learnings from past titles, such as Raw Data, Creed: Rise to Glory and Sprint Vector. In The Walking Dead Onslaught, players will fight as Rick, Michonne, Daryl and Carol to gather needed resources to rebuild the Alexandria safe zone, restore society, and prepare for an onslaught of walker-slaying mayhem. Read on to uncover our eight The Walking Dead Onslaught tips: 1) Choose your loadout wisely There are 24 weapons at your disposal, ranging from powerful single-fire weapons like Daryl’s legendary Crossbow to close-quarters melee weapons like Michonne’s Katana to scavenged makeshift weapons like crowbars and shovels. While you have full control over what weapons you choose to equip in your loadout, it’s often best to keep a balance of melee and ranged weapons to handle any walker encounter you face. 2) Pay attention to your surroundings You may think you’ve cleared an area, but you can never know for sure. Always watch your back and listen carefully for walker growls to avoid ambush in new and unchecked locations. If the growls of a walker herd start to grow louder it means you’ve overstayed your welcome and it’s time to move, fast. 3) Harder difficulties yield higher rewards The Walking Dead Onslaught’s Veteran difficulty is not to be taken lightly, but if you think you have what it takes, you can reap the rewards and collect maximum resources to bring back to Alexandria. You can always head back to Alexandria to upgrade buildings and weapons in your armory, which will boost your chances at survival in even the toughest situations. 4) Get physical with melee combat This game utilizes VR combat physicality, meaning harder melee actions such as swings, bludgeons, decapitations, and impalements will be more effective and deal higher damage based on the speed and velocity of your real-life motions. The Walking Dead Onslaught does not feature an in-game stamina system, however melee combat will test your physical stamina so do remember to take frequent breaks and don’t overexert yourself! 5) New to VR? Experiment with settings and find your fit We realize everyone’s comfort level in VR is very different, and have included plenty of locomotion, turning and comfort settings for players both new and seasoned to VR gameplay. Not sure if your original options are working for you? Feel free to open the in-game menu and swap your settings until you find the perfect fit, or take it back to the start and replay the opening tutorial. 6) Position yourself to gain combat advantage Taking out one or two walkers at close-range is a simple task, but run head-on into a horde and you’ll soon realize the dire consequences. When you are faced against a large number of walkers, it’s always best to keep out of grappling distance and gain the positional upper-hand. Try finding choke points to limit how many walkers you need to focus on, or take down multiple walkers at once by herding them around explosives. 7) When push comes to shove, try both When walkers come in too close for comfort, you can always use your non-dominant hand to grab, slap, push and shove walkers. When dealing with multiple walkers, try giving the closest walker a nice shove into the others, staggering them all and giving yourself some time to gain some distance. 8) Grab everything you can find All the resources you collect when embarking on Scavenger runs and Campaign chapters are brought back to Alexandria and can be used to reconstruct buildings, upgrade your armory, and boost your community’s population. There are a number of different resources ranging from common food to rare one-time pickups, and they all play a crucial part in rebuilding Alexandria so try not to leave anything behind! Bonus Tip: Want a more immersive experience? We’ve got a setting for that too! Try out our Minimal HUD and Phantom Limbs options in the menu. Toggling these settings will hide certain game UI and the player’s “ghost” hands to allow for a more immersive experience. However, hiding these elements is not recommended for new players and we do suggest you familiarize yourself with the game first before choosing these settings. The Walking Dead Onslaught will be available in Standard and Deluxe editions, starting with a digital-first release tomorrow, followed by a physical disc release in October. Today’s the last chance to pre-order for exclusive content on the official PlayStation store. From everyone here at Survios, we’re so excited to have you play The Walking Dead Onslaught tomorrow and we can’t wait to see how you’ll choose to fight your fears head-on in the VR apocalypse. Good luck out there! View the full article

Travelers, adventure beckons! Genshin Impact is available to play for free on PS4 starting today! So pack your bags and get ready to embark on an adventure through an elemental world, battling powerful enemies, uncovering long-lost secrets, and meeting a host of faithful companions along the way. Play Video But before you rush out the door swinging your sword, perhaps we should take a moment to cover some of the adventuring basics to help ensure that your journey gets started on the right foot. Adventuring 101: Basic controls The controls in Genshin Impact were designed to give players intuitive control over their characters while navigating the world of Teyvat. The control scheme makes extensive use of DualShock 4’s functionalities, so be sure to have a glance at the controls before jumping into the fray. After a little practice, you’ll be climbing mountains, attacking monsters, and unleashing elemental magic in no time. Your world to discover Exploration is at the heart of every adventure. In Genshin Impact, you will find a vast open-world before you, full of cities and uncharted wilderness waiting to be explored. A key concept to remember while exploring is your character’s Stamina. Performing actions such as sprinting, climbing, and swimming will cause your character to consume Stamina. Be careful not to let your Stamina run out while performing these actions, as the consequences can be quite dire! But don’t fret, you will soon find that there are ways to make your characters stronger, ready to climb to greater heights and soar over longer distances. As you journey further into the heart of Teyvat, you will discover lofty statues protruding from the landscape, emitting rays of light towards the sky like beacons in the wilderness. These are the Statues of The Seven. Visiting these statues will not only help illuminate new areas of your trusty map but can heal your party and even grant your characters increased Stamina limits. And just like waypoints, unlocking Statues of The Seven will allow you to “fast travel” across the vast lands of Teyvat, making these statues key destinations along your journey. But such blessings do not come freely. Statues of The Seven require offerings of elemental oculi in order to grant intrepid adventurers strength anew. Elemental oculi are scattered high and low across the lands and will appear on your mini-map as you draw near to them. Completing quests, opening chests in the wild, and visiting Statues of The Seven will contribute towards increasing your Adventure Rank. The higher your Adventure Rank, the more quests you will be able to accept and more areas will become available to explore. Also, each time your Adventure Rank increases, there will be a variety of rewards for you to collect. Of course, with greater strength comes a greater challenge, so be prepared to face even tougher opponents and more perilous realms as your Adventure Rank increases. Speaking of tough opponents, let’s talk a little bit about combat in Genshin Impact. Wielding the elements: Combat basics There will be many foes who will cross your path throughout your journey. It’s best to be ready for a fight. Each character in Genshin Impact possesses unique fighting abilities, but there are some basics that will serve as a strong foundation for learning combat. All characters can perform Normal Attacks, which are common moves your character can use to attack an enemy. Though Normal Attacks may not be very powerful, they do not consume any Stamina, and can be performed in longer strings of attacks. Some characters, however, excel at using heavier Charged Attacks. These are attacks that consume Stamina, but hit with much more of a punch, often sending your opponents hurtling through the air. But battles are not won by strength alone — you must harness the powers of the elements if you are to gain victory over powerful enemies. In addition to Normal and Charged Attacks, characters also possess unique Elemental Arts that can be used to create a variety of effects during battle, whether it be unleashing gale-force winds to blow away your opponents or spinning shards of ice that leave them frozen where they stand. Elemental Arts will quickly become the foundation upon which you select characters and determine your combat strategy. Using your characters’ skills will affect enemies with different elemental effects. The seven different elements are Anemo, Cryo, Dendro, Electro, Geo, Hydro, and Pyro. The effects of these elements can be combined to create powerful elemental reactions, resulting in devastating damage, weakened defenses, or various other effects that will prove indispensable in battle. With all these different elements at your disposal, it’s vital to understand how they interact with each other. Here’s a handy list of elemental reactions for reference: Crystallize (Geo + Cryo/Electro/Hydro/Pyro) Electro-Charged (Electro + Hydro) Frozen (Cryo + Hydro) Melt (Cryo + Pyro) Overloaded (Electro + Pyro) Superconduct (Cryo + Electro) Swirl (Anemo + Cryo/Electro/Hydro/Pyro) Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro) Burning (Pyro + Dendro) To identify if an opponent is affected by an element, simply look for any corresponding element icons appearing above the opponent. Some opponents you encounter may already be affected by a particular element by default. One of the most useful elemental reactions you will discover at the outset of your journey is Swirl. This elemental reaction occurs when Anemo is combined with Cryo, Electro, Hydro, or Pyro and increases the area of the elemental effects, making it a versatile reaction that is easy to trigger against a variety of opponents. A more “explosive” example would be the elemental reaction Overloaded. This reaction occurs when Electro is combined with Pyro, resulting in an intense explosion that deals Pyro damage to the unfortunate opponent. Explore the other combinations of elements yourself to see what reactions and effects they create. Welcome to the party A key component of combat in Genshin Impact is deploying the unique team members that make up your party. By pressing a direction on the D-pad, you can quickly swap between different characters and unleash your arsenal of skills to create elemental reactions and efficiently defeat opponents. Combining the brute strength of Normal and Charged Attacks with elegantly timed Elemental Skills and Bursts is key to creating chains of attacks and elemental reactions that will sweep the battlefield clean. You may experiment with different combinations of characters and skills to discover unique play styles and clever solutions to different challenges. There is no task too great for the elements to solve — you may find that the elements are useful for much more than just combat. This is only the beginning The official release of Genshin Impact is only the start of your adventure in Teyvat. New content will continue to be brought to the PlayStation platform in game updates to provide players with the best-possible gameplay experience. Genshin Impact is available to download for free at PS Store today! Of course, none of this exciting project would have been possible without the support of our fans and community. Once again, we would like to express our sincere gratitude towards those who have been supporting us throughout the development and testing of Genshin Impact. We hope that these next few days will be your first steps towards a memorable journey across Teyvat. May the wind guide you, Travelers! View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Hoo boy! Last week was quite a ride, and we’re back with a new episode reflecting on the excitement coming out of the PS5 Showcase, from the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI to a deeper look at Demon’s Souls combat. We also discuss upcoming PS4 releases Crash 4, Star Wars: Squadrons, and chat about what we do when we’re in between playing big games. Stuff We Talked About PS5 Showcase(!) Demon’s Souls Final Fantasy XVI Star Wars: Squadrons Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time Diving into personal backlogs The Cast Tim Turi – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Last week, we asked you to lace up your skateboarding shoes and drop in to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 to show us your best tricks using #PS4share and #PSBlog. From grinding challenges to custom build parks, here are this week’s highlights: the_nmac took on a skatepark challenge and won. beergogglez69 dropped in for some heavy hitting combos. scottokta1 shared this shot of the Hawkman himself. Search #PS4share and #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: One Color Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, September 30 Next week, choose a color! Share shots made up of primarily one shade from the game of your choice using #PS4share and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

We’re thrilled to finally release Mortal Blitz: Combat Arena on PlayStation VR October 8. Thanks to your feedback on the Open Beta that we held in August, we were able to make lots of improvements to the final product. Mortal Blitz was one of PlayStation VR’s top downloads when it originally launched in April 2017. Now, we have created an online, free-to-play PvP version that exists in the same universe as the original. Free to play PVP Experience various weapons and fast, dynamic battles for free. You can experience these real time battles in Quick match mode (PvP) with up to four players, or hop into Mission Mode (PvE) for some single-player action. PlayStation Plus users will get access to special Arena packs, which include costumes and items. PS VR Aim Controller and DualShock 4 supported Combat Arena is optimized for the PS VR Aim Controller! Using the Aim Controller, you can engage in more realistic battles. Of course, DualShock 4 also offers optimized play! You can fully enjoy the game either way, but using the Aim controller will definitely surprise you. PVP, PVE Battle: Strategic Map Whether playing in Quick Match (PvP) or Mission (a PvE story mode playable after purchase of the Standard Edition), players will employ different strategies and tactics to overcome tense battles across different maps. Use height and surrounding terrain to your advantage, avoid enemies’ fire and attack from behind when possible. Unique weapons In Mortal Blitz: Combat Arena, you’ll employ weapons like miniguns with a fast fire rate, shotguns that excel in short-range encounters, rocket launchers that deal extensive damage, and rail guns with a narrow spread but huge damage potential. In particular, Rampage, which can blow up a barrier and an enemy with a single bullet, is the most powerful weapon in the Combat Arena. Seek to acquire this weapon early on and you can control the battlefield with terrifying power! But don’t forget: if you’re too strong, you’ll become prey for all. Customized items You can obtain a variety of custom items by opening Arena Packs, which can be obtained through a battle pass or store purchases. Try wearing costumes, boosters, and weapons in the customize menu. The higher the rating, the more splendid the appearance! Season 1: Geist The Combat Arena runs on a seasonal basis and will be also updated within the season. Experience more PvP maps, various weapons, and even new modes! Purchasing the Standard Edition enables you to have daily, weekly, and seasonal missions, plus additional rewards are given by raising the tier of the battle pass upon completion of the mission. If you purchase a season battle pass, you can earn more premium rewards. Items that can only be acquired in a battle pass will make you shine even more. Androids and competitors around the world are waiting for you. Enter the Combat Arena and claim victory! View the full article

The team here at Counterplay Games has been working hard on Godfall to create an experience for players where they can truly embrace an engaging combat experience while fighting with intensity and finesse, as they dominate the battlefield. We want players to put their own fingerprint on the game with how they play. That said, we created a number of ways to approach and defeat the enemies you’ll face in Godfall. Recently, we debuted a combat trailer that showcased a closer look at the Water Realm and some of the challenging enemies you will encounter there. With that trailer, we focused on a couple specific things, one of which is exploiting the Weakpoints in enemies. Weakpoints are one of the many combat features in Godfall that we want to dive deeper into with you today as we break down some of the different combat techniques you’ll have at your disposal when the game launches on PlayStation 5 on November 12. Targeting an enemy’s Weakpoints Valorian knights can use their Valorplates to reveal hit locations of particular vulnerability on their enemies. This allows skilled knights to take advantages of the imperfections and weaknesses of an otherwise daunting foe. An enemy’s Weakpoint will typically reveal itself after they attack, and there are also a few additional unique triggers for Weakpoints that you will find while you play. With Weakpoints, we want to reward players who approach the game with patience and accuracy. Once an enemy’s Weakpoint is revealed, you will need to aim for a direct hit to deal bonus damage. Additionally, there will be loot traits tied to some weapons that will give added benefits to hitting Weakpoints (e.g. healing, detonating elemental explosions, etc.). Breaching an enemy As you fight your way through the World of Aperion, you will come across heavily armored enemies. You will need to breach these enemies in order to do effective damage against them. So how do you breach an enemy? The most effective way is to hit them with a heavy attack (R2) and then follow-up quickly with light attacks (R1). Using Heavy attacks on their own can also be effective. Once you fill up the enemy’s breach bar, the enemy will be stunned and become vulnerable to takedowns. Finish an enemy with a Soulshatter Every Valorian knight learns to affect their opponents’ internal Aetherium – the very fabric of their spirit. As a Valorian strikes their foes, they make small rends in their enemies’ spiritual fabric. Then, at the right tactical moment, a powerful strike is delivered that will turn these fractures into a large internal detonation. When performed correctly, this move will utterly destroy a being. Soulshatter finishes are a fantastic way to dispose of enemies in your path. As you deal damage to an enemy, you accumulate a bank of damage that can be consumed with a heavy attack (R2). If that bank of damage is larger than the enemy’s remaining health, you will soulshatter the enemy. Soulshatters also serve as an additional trigger to traits you may have on individual pieces of loot. As you finish your enemies off with a soulshattering blow, you will see various payoffs as you utilize those triggers. In addition to the already beautiful explosion of your enemy, you may see additional payoffs such as shooting elemental projectiles from the shatter, triggering secondary explosions, and more. Utilize Polarity Attacks to increase your potential As you utilize both your weapons at your disposal, there is a bonus for players who swap their weapons mid-battle. Players can charge up a Polarity Attack by hitting enemies with their weapon. When fully charged, a weapon swap unleashes a shockwave that boosts your weapon’s damage by 20% for 30 seconds. The potential shockwave damage can be increased as you level up specific player attributes. Players who want to maximize their damage completely will find themselves swapping between weapons mid-combat. Similar to Weakpoints and Soulshatter, Polarity Attacks are tied to loot effects. A simple example is increasing the damage for the shockwave or increasing the charge rate. Some examples of exotic loot traits you may find include inflicting an ailment whenever you use your Polarity Attack or applying a debuff on enemies hit by the shockwave. Shields are made for offense Sure, you can use your shield for defense, but it is an equally capable offensive tool. Here are some ways you can utilize your shield to defeat your enemies: Parrying – You can test your reactionary skills in battle by parrying an enemy’s attack (L1). A successful parry right before an enemy attack lands leaves the enemy vulnerable for a short time. Shield Throw – Need to get an enemy out of your way or maybe they’re just too far across the fight from you? Hold L1 to aim your shield, and then throw it at the enemy by pressing R2. Throwing your shield can damage and knock them down. Just remember that your Shield Throw has a short cooldown, so utilize it wisely. Stomach Punch – Up close and personal and just want to knock your enemy on the ground? Once unlocked from your skill grid, players will be able to utilize a Stomach Punch with their shield to knock down enemies. Flat Bash – Once unlocked from the skill grid, players can utilize a Flat Bash that can interrupt an enemy’s Red Power Attacks (non-interruptible attacks), and petrify the ones Breached by it. Petrified enemies will be turned into obsidian that can then be smashed into pieces across the battlefield. Shield Ground Slam – Once unlocked from the Skill Tree, players can perform a Shield Ground Slam to cause area-of-effect damage. This attack will also petrify enemies Breached by it. Petrified enemies will be turned into obsidian and can then be smashed into pieces across the battlefield. Shield Catch Area Blast – Once unlocked, give yourself room to breathe by causing a large Shield Shockwave. Press L1 right as your Shield Throw returns to you to release a blast of energy. Shield Zoom Attack – Want to get up close and personal with your weapon but the enemy is just too far away? Once unlocked, press L1 right as your Shield Throw hits an enemy to dash quickly to their location and start swinging away. Archon Mode Archon Mode is the ultimate showcase of what your Valorplate can do. We want players to discover and try all the archon modes as they play. At a high level, you will fill up your archon bar as you fight enemies around you. Once completely full, press down on both analog sticks (L3+R3) to activate your Archon Mode. Alongside an ability (like summoning three allies to fight alongside of you), you will receive buffs that have triggers attached to them. Trigger those effects to immensely escalate your destruction potential. We can’t wait to see how high players can rachet up their damage output. Weapons in your arsenal In a previous blog post, we shared some of the unique combat features of the Dual Blades and Longsword. We wanted to touch on the final three weapon classes with you today. You saw the Warhammer and Polearm used in the Combat Trailer, but we’re also going to give you a look at the Greatsword in action. Warhammers Because Valorians are frequently outnumbered or outsized on the battlefield, the great Warhammers were developed to take advantage of the strength give to wearers of Valorplate. These heavy-duty weapons the hardest armors and scatter multitudes of smaller enemies with each strike. Wield the Warhammer to inflict slow, but big area-of effect blasts as part of its standard combos. Outside of your normal light and heavy attacks, Warhammers gain charge over time. You can gain charge faster by attacking enemies. When the charge is completely full, you can perform one of your two weapon arts. The first technique is massive energy discharging slam in an area around the player. Your other option is to aim and slam your Warhammer to send a directional shockwave that deals bonus damage at the end of its travel. Polearms The term Polearm, as it applies to Valorians, encompasses a class of weapons with a long reach designed to keep enemies at bay. Because the Valorian martial style is predicated on attack, Polearms are typically used to drive back opponents with their superior area control rather than as weapons meant to receive charges. The Polearm is a fast precision weapon with lots of thrusts and aimed stabs to deal high damage to a single target. Beyond your normal light and heavy attacks, Polearms have a charge bar that charges overtime. When the bar is blue, you can perform one of your two weapon arts. Utilize your first weapon technique to jump quickly forward and perform an area-of-effect slam that deals moderate damage but gets you in the middle of the fight and staggers nearby enemies. Your second technique is a powerful javelin throw. This attack is perfect for a precision strike from distance. Aim it at an enemy’s Weakpoint to inflict massive damage. Greatswords Like the Warhammers, the Valorian greatswords require the incredible strength granted by your Valorplate to properly wield. Greatswords exist to give knights the striking power of the Warhammer, but the precision of a Longsword. Depending on the weapon, these swords are just as capable of smashing as they are of actually cutting. Your Greatsword has a charge bar that fills whenever you hit or are hit by enemies. The charge gradually empties over time. While the bar is red, you can perform either of the Greatsword’s unique weapon techniques. The first technique at your disposal is one that launches yourself forward in a whirlwinds hitting nearby enemies. The second technique requires more precision as you aim and launch your Greatsword to deal damage to enemies in its path. We hope you have enjoyed a deeper look into some of the combat features that Godfall has to offer. We can’t wait to see the amazing ways players come up with to dispatch enemies in front of them as they ascend to fight the mad god, Macros. Keep your eyes open as we’ll be sharing even more information with you as we get closer to our launch on November 12. View the full article

60 players. 24 levels. 5 rounds. 1 crown. Without a doubt, our entire global team has been enraptured by the zany and frenetic energy of battle royale platformer Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Whether we’re bouncing through the colorfully inventive levels or facing the absurdity of being defeated by someone in a hot dog costume, we’ve all been jumping in round after round to grasp at glory, no matter how many tails we have to steal to get it. Even more impressive is how despite our varying tastes, different members of our team have their own reasons for gifting Fall Guys the Editors’ Choice crown. Here’s a taste of why we can’t stop playing: Shuhei Yoshida Favorite Level: Slime Climb Slime Climb has been known as “The most difficult level in Fall Guys,” I, for one, fell to the goo pit repeatedly when the game came out. However, once you get the hang of each leg of the climb, this becomes a joy to play. The chances are many players will drop off, leading you to the final round glory faster. Just be aware you may eventually meet a devious Guy that may stand on the yellow pipe to block your path or try to push you down at the end of the level. It’s awful, but it is a legit play. Hardest Level: Hex-A-Gone I cannot jump one hex at a time. I cannot jump one hex at a time. I cannot jump one hex at a time! However many times I tried, I just cannot. I’m too old for the concentration needed to execute rhythmic, beautiful jumps that many good players show me off. So my strategy is to RUN, RUN, RUN the hexes near the “one hex at a time jumpers” so they will lose hexes to jump on! Amazingly, this seemingly desperate strategy has worked many times, even making some observers say “the jumpers are timid players of this level.” As a result I’ve got the name “The Hope of Runners.” Very proud of it. Kristen Zitani Favorite Level: Door Dash There’s something immensely satisfying about waddling your way to the front of the pack, choosing a door at random, and feeling it miraculously break down to let you pass. Weirdly even more amusing is when I am decidedly not at the front of the pack and jam myself through one of the discovered openings like a fish frantically swimming upstream. Some of this level is just left up to timing and chance but it never fails to make me laugh. Hardest Level: Tail Tag If one more person steals my tail, I’m going to scream! One day I will master the art of bobbing and weaving through the masses and keeping my furry appendage intact. Until then, I will continue to ride on my teammates’ coattails to victory in the Team version of this level. Tim Turi Favorite Level: Hex-A-Gone Turns out king of the hill-style gameplay is way more tense when the hill is constantly disappearing. I’m no pro at Hex-A-Gone, but I love the tension of carefully navigating precarious platforms while keeping my head on a swivel for rivals. Similar to Shu, my early approach was sprinting around and hoping for the best. I definitely haven’t won as many matches as him, but I’ve enjoyed developing an intentional, almost meditative hop approach to Hex-A-Gone. The extra time to plan your next move (or controlled fall) is worth it. Find the zen among chaos. Hardest Level: Egg Scramble The team games of Fall Guys are the most frantic, and I struggle to find my role. The nonstop feeding frenzy of Egg Scramble epitomizes this, with throngs of players stumbling over each other to collect those precious orbs. I derive much joy ripping eggs from the grasp of other players like a ruthless parent at a Black Friday retail dash, but the match results are usually a crapshoot. Egg Scramble is pretty hard boiled for me. Andy Yen Favorite Level: Hex-A-Gone I love Hex-A-Gone because it encapsulates the Fall Guys experience into one sweaty-palms inducing level, balancing skillful play with randomness. Like Shu, I refuse to jump one hex at a time, but my reasoning is because jumping on one hex at a time is just. Too. Boring. I love running quick, aggressive routes that cut my fellow Fall Guys off from paths, especially those gingerly hopping onto each block (Sorry, Tim!). Nothing gives me more of a rush than taking the inside hex lane in a foot race, making some daring sharp turn jump dives to reach safety while my opponents sadly tumble into the goo. Hardest Level: Royal Fumble Even though two of my crowns (not to brag) have come from some major POG highlights in the last seconds of Royal Fumble, I still find this level infuriatingly difficult. For the life of me, I still haven’t figured out how to consistently grab a tail in any game mode, while every one of my opponents is invariably a skilled tail thief. Add that to the uncommonly small number of contestants in this final showdown where I can’t coast on teammates’ coattails, and you’ve got my personal nemesis of a Fall Guys level. Masayuki Sanada Favorite Level:Hex-A-Gone Hex-a-gone is a straightforward stage where the floor gradually disappears beneath you, so it’s really important for players to get their play tactics as well as movement technique on point. Your adrenaline is sure to be pumping as it is the final round of the show. I noticed my hands gripped the controller tightly as tiles disappeared beneath my steps at an overwhelming pace. In the end, it’s all worth it — there’s no better feeling than becoming the sole survivor of this round! Hardest Level:Tip Toe On this level, space comes at a premium as the finish line gets closer and closer. You see, players must find a safe path through trial and error, keeping an eye out for tiles that fall away when stepped on. It’s no easy task to lead the pack and avoid getting pushed off by opponents at the same time. There is no greater heartbreak than getting in sight of the finish line, only to be pushed off at the last second. When I played the level, I summoned my courage and broke ahead of the group, forging my own path ahead – something I’m very proud of. This of course, often resulted in me falling and returning to the start line. I always had company though, rejoining all the other jellybeans standing in shock of how to navigate this tricky round. Aoi Ogasawara Favorite Level: Hex-A-Gone Hex-A-Gone is a perfect mix of skill-based strategic gameplay and chaotic fun. You can drop to the lower layers first and erase many tiles to set up “traps” for other players. Or, you can try to stay at the higher layers as long as possible with some well-timed skillful hopping. You can run towards other players to pressure them, or, you can try avoiding contacts as much as possible. There are so many great strategies you can choose from and whatever playstyle you chose, you will have so much fun! Hardest Level: Hoarders I was never good at football when I was a kid so naturally all the minigames that require you push around huge soccer balls are going to be difficult for me… So why is Hoarders the most difficult one out of the three ball-based minigames (Hoarders, Rock n’ Roll, and Fall Ball)? Well, it is simple math. The more balls there are in the stage, the harder the minigame. Rock n’ Roll has three, Fall Ball has two, and Hoarders has a whopping SEVEN balls in the stage! Chaz Conopo Favorite Level: Dizzy Heights It is simple and effective. Run across the platforms that are spinning, dodge the oncoming spheres and simply not forget there is a gap to jump across near the end. A proper race to the finish challenge that every time it comes around something dramatic always happens. Newest tactic I’ve found is when you are climbing the hill near the end, grabbing the opponent in front to the point they will fling away from you, if the timing is just right they will collide with a ball and get knocked all the way down again. Sorry….. not sorry, the victory is all mine and it feels good. Hardest Level: Fall Ball Get the ball into the goal. Ok it sounds easy, BUT it definitely ranks up the frustration meter when you are up against what seems to be the best football players on the pitch literally jumping up for the ball and knocking it into the direction of your team’s area as soon as the game starts. What is this magic?! I’m a tiny bean compared to the ball I’m trying to direct in a particular way towards the opponent’s goal, dodging, diving and shouting unplesantries at the TV screen. Before long my team is down by 5 points and all I can do now as a last resort is entertain the crowd by using the chicken emote in the middle of the field. Do I get bonus points for that? Sad face. View the full article

Hey everyone! It’s been a few months since we launched The Last of Us Part II in June, but we’ve been keeping busy. In August, we launched our free Grounded Update*, which added new features like Permadeath Mode, Grounded Difficulty, and other bonuses to the game. We’ve also been hard at work on preparations for The Last of Us Day, our annual community celebration, which kicks off tomorrow September 26. We have a lot of exciting content lined up, which you’ll be able to find on TheLastofUs.com/TLOUDay tomorrow starting at 9:00am PT / 6:00pm CET, but we wanted to give you a little preview in the meantime. Let’s get right to it! The Last of Us Part II Original Soundtrack 2XLP Vinyl + Limited Edition Posters We love our good friends at Mondo and the incredible artists they collaborate with. We’ve created some special things together for The Last of Us Day in the past, and this year, we wanted to go even bigger. Tomorrow, Mondo will be debuting a special vinyl release of The Last of Us Part II Original Soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla and Mac Quayle and debuting not one, but two new screenprinted posters. Renowned illustrator Tula Lotay designed the stunning album art for this special 2XLP release, as well as two beautiful new The Last of Us Part II-inspired posters. All will be revealed and available for pre-order tomorrow starting at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET/6:00pm CET. The vinyl will be available while supplies last, but the posters will be timed editions with pre-orders that end on 9:59pm PT on Wednesday, September 30 (1:59am ET / 9:00am CET Thursday, October 1). In other words, after pre-orders close, they’re gone and won’t be printed again. Keep your eyes on MondoShop.com for more information and don’t miss out! Announcing The Last of Us Board Game Tabletop gamers, rejoice! The Last of Us Board Game is coming. We’re excited to announce our new partnership with the talented team at CMON, makers of Bloodborne: The Board Game and God of War: The Card Game, to develop a brand new board game for The Last of Us. Our love of games–digital, card, board, or otherwise–knows no bounds, and we couldn’t be more excited to be bringing the characters and world of The Last of Us to a tabletop format. Development is already underway, and we can’t wait to share more info with you when the time is right. For more info, be sure to check out the full announcement over on CMON.com. The Last of Us Part II Abby Cosplay Guide Each week on our social media channels, we spotlight the meticulously crafted costumes, props, and makeup created by The Last of Us cosplay community. We’re continually in awe of the level of thought and care that goes into representing our characters, which is why, last year, we wanted to share our support by releasing an official cosplay guide for Ellie. The response was incredible, and we’re proud to follow it up with an official cosplay guide for Abby. This downloadable PDF features high-resolution renders of every facet of Abby’s design, including detailed shots of her clothing, weapons, equipment, and hair style. You can also find information about materials, color reference, and more. We’ve already received some incredible Abby cosplay submissions in the months since launch, so we can’t wait to see what you can do with this additional reference. Be sure to share your cosplay and other creations with us via naughtydog.com/ugc. New The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II Premium Statues For all of the collectors out there, we have new The Last of Us statues to add to your display cases! First up, we’ve collaborated once again with Gaming Heads — makers of the Clicker statue we revealed for The Last of Us Day 2015 — to produce a new 16” Ellie statue from The Last of Us Part II that is available in three unique editions. In the base version, Ellie stands at the ready with her machete, while the Stealth Edition adds interchangeable arms and a head piece that allow you to alter Ellie’s expression and swap out her machete for a bow. A special Hunter Version offers everything in the Stealth Edition, but features a special paint finish. All three can be pre-ordered starting today and more info can be found via GamingHeads.com. Next, for the fans that have been with us from the beginning, we have a brand new modular statue from Mamegyorai Collectibles. Sculpted and painted by Masato Ohata, these two individual statues of Ellie and Joel stand at 1/9th scale and can be displayed individually or adjoined to form a unified scene. The set is available for pre-order via Mamegyorai’s website and will ship in March of next year. Free New The Last of Us Part II PS4 System Theme As we thought about introducing players to the experience of The Last of Us Part II, we wanted the main menu to symbolize the journey you were about to take and, once finished, the one you’ve taken. For The Last of Us Day, we wanted to take that final parting image of the boat washed ashore with the waves gently rolling onto the beach and make it into a dynamic system theme, so that you can enjoy it anytime you load up your PS4 system — and we’re making it available to everyone for free. Get it now at PlayStation Store. To top it off, we’re also making all of our existing The Last of Us Part II themes and avatars free on PlayStation Store from now until Monday, September 28 at 11:59pm PT. Don’t miss out. Save on The Last of Us Remastered, Left Behind, and on The Last of Us merch Oh, we’re not done! Rounding out our celebrations for The Last of Us Day, PlayStation Gear Store is introducing new items to their The Last of Us collection, including the Joel Funko Pop! (while supplies last) and a brand new t-shirt and mug available tomorrow. There will also be a limited number of the special edition The Last of Us Part II Taylor 314ce and GS Mini guitars back on the store for The Last of Us Day — for one day only — so if you missed an opportunity to grab one in July, you’ve got another shot. Existing The Last of Us merch not added for The Last of Us Day will be discounted up to 40% on PlayStation Gear Store and PlayStation Store will be hosting a The Last of Us Day Sale with a 50% discount on The Last of Us Remastered, The Last of Us: Left Behind, and select The Last of Us Remastered Factions Bundles all weekend. The Last of Us Day PlayStation Gear Store and PlayStation Store sales start today and end on Monday, September 28 at 11:59pm PT! The Last of Us Part II Photo Mode Contest With every Photo Mode post we receive on social media, we get to see our own game through a new lens — yours. The way you’ve been able to capture the characters, landscapes, and emotions of The Last of Us Part II in Photo Mode is so inspiring and for The Last of Us Day, we wanted to share our appreciation. That’s why, we’ll be kicking off a brand new The Last of Us Part II Photo Mode Contest for the month of October. Each week, we’ll select winners that will receive a coveted Ellie Edition and runners up that will earn a The Last of Us Part II Limited Edition DualShock 4. To enter, all you have to do is capture your masterpiece in The Last of Us Part II’s Photo Mode and share it with us via NaughtyDog.com/ugc and include your name, address, and date of birth between Thursday, October 1 12:01am PT and Thursday, October 29 11:59pm PT. We’ll be selecting one winner a week every Friday starting on October 9 until Friday, October 30 and featuring the winners on Naughty Dog’s social media channels. The contest is open to fans who are 18 years or older and legal residents of the United States (excluding Arizona) and Canada (excluding Quebec). Void in Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and overseas military installations and where prohibited or restricted by law. For full T&Cs, visit naughtydog.com/TLOUDayContest. We can’t wait to see what you create! We’ve covered a lot here, but we have a few other things up our sleeves for tomorrow’s The Last of Us Day festivities. Be sure to check TheLastofUs.com/TLOUDay and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get all the latest updates. *Available via patch 1.05. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation Network required. View the full article

Our seasonal updates within Killing Floor 2 have a central place in the ongoing support of the game since launch and given the horror inspirations for Killing Floor, Halloween has always had a special place in our hearts. From the dreamlike terrors of Nightmare in 2017, the festive celebration to horror icons of the past in Monster Ball in 2018, or the cerebral spookiness of Ashwood Asylum in 2019, we knew we needed to take the player somewhere new for 2020 that felt in-line with the Halloween spirit. The initial idea for Hellmark Station came out of Killing Floor’s strong connection to London and horror films. In the first Killing Floor, West London was one of the most iconic maps of that game, so we knew we had a great opportunity to return the player to that environment, but we didn’t want to settle for just doing a remaster of the original map and take the player somewhere new. In our research, we came across the iconic King’s Cross station and were impressed by the latticed glass roof ceiling of the entrance and the large sweeping arches of its train platforms. We knew it was something extraordinary that would provide a unique gameplay space for the player to explore. As a lot of us on the team are occult fans we went with the Hell-themed idea in the end and started to look into the layout of the map and location for it as we knew early on that we wanted to have the map be inspired by a real place to ground the map in reality and to give players a connection its layout and design. We wanted the Station to look like it was in the process of being overtaken. By incorporating organic shapes, stone obelisks, and lava, we were able to bring new elements into the environment and find fun ways of blending the two themes. When thinking about the lore of the map for how it connected to the wider Killing Floor universe, we initially brainstormed various ideas of tying its previous events and characters explored in objective mode maps, but ultimately the fantastical elements of the infernal setting made it difficult to settle into the official canon; especially if we didn’t intend to develop these plotlines in future updates. For all of the awesome lore-heads out there, the hidden internal narrative we settled on is the Patriarch having beef with the demonic invaders that suddenly emerge within London. In his never-ending quest for world domination, they were stepping on his territory. This unspoken lore is why we chose the Patriarch to be the Trader VO for the map. As we began to flesh out Hellmark’s design, we decided to add some unique gameplay elements that could tie into the seasonal objectives, provide a deeper layer of strategy, and some variety to the standard Killing Floor 2 experience. To do so, we added the idea of a “demonic pact” with the three obelisks placed inside the map, which offer a great risk/reward. Interacting with obelisks lets players trade some health and their ability to heal (temporarily) for a momentary damage and speed power-up; creating the classic Killing Floor 2 power fantasy of efficiently and ruthlessly dispatching Zeds. We’ve found that the obelisks really encourage frenzied gameplay, and we love a good frenzy. We then added numerous hell portals throughout the map to provide an environmental context of where the invaders were able to enter the station, but also provided a lot of gameplay opportunities to control the flow of combat. If they study the positions carefully, players will be able better anticipate where Zeds will be emerging and set up strong defensive positions. After we had the core framework of the map laid out and constructed, we spent considerable time testing, tuning, optimizing, and refining until it was ready to deliver to the masses in tip-top shape. We hope you enjoy this brief dive into the development of the Hellmark Station map and that you enjoy playing the map as much as we enjoyed making it. The Hellmark Station map is a free part of the Infernal Insurrection update launching September 29 for Killing Floor 2 on PS4. View the full article

It’s great to be here once again after the debut of our gameplay trailer for Sniper Elite VR! We’ve been working closely with our friends at Just Add Water to bring the Sniper Elite experience to VR. The idea of Sniper Elite in VR has always seemed a no-brainer (Kill Cam pun intended) but it’s taken a lot of hard work to make it a reality. All that hard work has culminated in an authentic, thrilling World War 2 sniping experience for VR – one you’ve never experienced before. Check out that trailer below then read on for 7 things you need to know about Sniper Elite VR! Play Video 1. All first-person Sniper Elite VR will be the first exclusively first-person entry in the Sniper Elite series. You’ll always be looking out of the eyes of the hero, whether you’re staring down the sights of your rifle or looking for the perfect vantage point for your next target. Sniper Elite VR is an immersive shooter experience that’s perfect for PlayStation VR. 2. Truly elite sniping The Sniper Elite series is renowned for offering the best sniping experience in gaming. Sniper Elite VR will live up to those high standards. We’ve got the best-in-class scope occlusion and zoom mechanics that feel extremely realistic. You’ll feel like you’re staring down the sights of a real sniper rifle. Sniper Elite VR offers a fantastic, thrilling test of your long-range skills. 3. Three control methods On PlayStation VR you’ll be able to play Sniper Elite VR in three different ways. For those who want to feel the weight of a rifle in their hands and the scope up against their eye, the PSVR Aim controller offers highly intuitive controls. Or you can go with PS Move controllers and immerse yourself in the WW2 shooter experience. Use Move gestures to bring rifles to eye level, replace rounds, grab and throw grenades and more. Finally, if you prefer a more traditional gaming experience, Sniper Elite VR fully supports DualShock too. Playing it feels great, whichever control method you choose. 4. Move the way you want to We know different players prefer different ways to traverse landscapes in virtual reality. Sniper Elite VR offers both free movement and teleport movement options, and plenty of options to help ensure the game feels comfortable to play whether you’re seated or standing up. 5. Full single player campaign Sniper Elite VR is designed to keep you entertained for many hours. The story campaign takes you to the heart of World War 2 and the same time period as featured in Sniper Elite 4. You are a new hero in a brand new story as you fight as part of the Italian Resistance against fascist occupation. Sniper Elite VR features 18 challenging missions across different scenarios and stunning backdrops. From firefights across the streets of picturesque Italian villages to chaotic bunker raids, we’ve got a very generous campaign on offer here. And Sniper Elite VR isn’t designed to be played just once. We offer additional challenges, mission rankings and more. So there’s that extra incentive if you want to take the Nazis down all over again. 6. Feature-full Sniper Elite gameplay Sniper Elite fans will instantly recognize the core gameplay that they know and love from the series. You’ll be able to use sound masking, set traps, create distractions, and perform stealth and melee kills. You’ll set your sights on a variety of targets including front-line soldiers, officers, snipers, Jäger troopers, tanks and patrol boats. And as you progress through the campaign you’ll be able to master your weapons and fine-tune a diverse arsenal of WW2 armaments. 7. The Kill Cam returns, adapted for VR One thing you won’t have seen in the gameplay trailer but you may be excited to learn: Sniper Elite VR delivers the iconic X-Ray Kill Cam, now adapted for virtual reality! We’re really proud of the work we’ve done to ensure it delivers that bone-shattering, organ-piercing drama in VR while remaining a completely comfortable experience – and, as ever, it’s a completely optional thing if it’s just not for you! We know loads of you have been waiting very patiently for Sniper Elite VR. We’ve been working closely with our friends at Just Add Water in these extraordinary times to get it into your hands and onto your headsets. I hope to have more news for you about that soon so keep your eyes peeled! But most of all stay safe. View the full article

Ten years ago, YOKO TARO (Director), Yosuke Saito (Producer), and Keiichi Okabe (Composer) would introduce the world to a unique, ambitious action-RPG by the name of NIER – or as it was known in Japan, NieR Gestalt. Its alternate version, titled NieR RepliCant (Released April 22, 2010), never made it to western shores. In 2017, the same all-star development team would reunite to create the sequel, NieR:Automata, which exploded onto the scene like so many dismembered machine lifeforms and quickly established itself as a modern gaming masterpiece. Assisted by series newcomers, Toylogic Inc., that original team has returned to the roots of the series in triumphant fashion –NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is poised to arrive on PS4 on April 23, 2021 to deliver the narratively complex, action-packed prequel that western NieR fans have been clamoring for. In producer, Yosuke Saito’s own words: “We planned for this title to align with NieR’s 10th anniversary, and we tried our darndest to release it during the 10th anniversary. Well, we didn’t make it in time!! But, because of that, I believe that it has turned out to be that much better. I hope you are excited for it.” For those who need a little refresher on the series – who better to lay it out than YOKO TARO himself? “Hello, YOKO TARO here, and I’m Creative Director of NieR Replicant Ver.1.22474487139… Um, so, SQUARE ENIX asked me: >Please provide a comment to introduce this title primarily to those who have never played Replicant, making sure to include points like how it differs from NIER (the Western version of NieR Gestalt), where this title fits in the storyline of the NieR Universe and what the story is about, as well as how it relates to Automata, etc. And I was, like… “whaa? I have to explain all that? On top of that, there are so many elements!” …so, I’d like to answer it using a Q&A format. Q: What is NieR Gestalt/Replicant? A: A while ago, we tried to make this game called “NIER.” It had a boy as a protagonist, you see. But I heard from the folks at the US SQUARE ENIX office that “in the US, a father figure would resonate better,” so for the West (North America and Europe), we created “Gestalt,” a version where the protagonist is a father, and “Replicant” for Japan, in which the protagonist is a boy. These two titles are the predecessors to NieR:Automata, but… it’s all starting to get confusing, right? It is for me, too. So, if you could just think of this as a brand-new title that is totally unrelated. Q: What is the relation between Replicant and Automata? What kind of story is it? Where does this fit in the NieR Universe? A: Replicant takes place way before the events of Automata; um, a few hundred, or was it a few thousand years ago… I’ve forgotten. Well, it’s a long, long time ago. That being said, it takes place far into the future from the time we live in. There, a young girl falls ill to this sickness – the Black Scrawl – that causes these black letter-like things to show up on your body, and her older brother has to save her. Then, a lot of things happen, then it eventually connects to Automata. But there’s just so much that goes on that it’s impossible to explain it all here, so… if you could just think of this as a brand-new title that is totally unrelated. Q: A comment regarding this title to Automata fans who have never played Replicant. A: During the production of Automata, I was thinking “I have to get both new audiences and Replicant fans to enjoy this title,” and wracked my brains for interesting twists in the designs. But, Replicant never really had Automata players in mind when it was designed. Because of that, it might feel like there are less twists in the gameplay and story, compared to Automata. So… if you could just please think of this as a brand-new title that is totally unrelated! In any case, just forget about everything in the past! That’s it from me!!” The development team was just featured on a NieR series stream for Tokyo Game Show Online 2020: The “We Have a Decent Amount of New Info” Show. You can watch the new trailer they debuted there below: Play Video We will finally be able to experience the NieR story origins from the point of view of the protagonist as a brother, along with many updates and improvements. Plus, it’s available for pre-order today! Also, check out the White Snow Edition, exclusive to the Square Enix online store. There’s lots more to learn about this game and reveals to look forward to in the coming months – we hope that you’re just as excited as we are for the return of NieR! View the full article

After two and a half years of development, the time has come to share Mafia: Definitive Edition with the world. Creating this game has been a fascinating journey for the team here at Hangar 13. For the veterans who worked on the original, it’s been a real nostalgia trip. Our newest developers (some of whom were in kindergarten when the first game launched) have learned about the heart and soul of the Mafia franchise. For me personally, this project has been the culmination of more than a decade spent making Mafia games, as well as an awesome opportunity to revisit one of my all-time favorite games. Our goal since the outset has been to celebrate Mafia by creating a new version that everyone can enjoy. Of course, we wanted returning fans to find a familiar adventure, refreshed yet true to the spirit of the original. But just as important was helping new players discover the game in the same way we did back when we first played it nearly 20 years ago. That involved not only modernizing the gameplay, but also understanding what made Mafia so special in the first place. The core of every Mafia title is its story, and the first Mafia in particular set a new benchmark for cinematic storytelling. At a time when high-quality narrative in games was a rarity, Mafia proved that games could tell mature stories to rival film and television. The rags-to-riches tale of Tommy Angelo’s career in the Salieri crime family is just as compelling today as it was back when the original game first released, but we’ve given the whole narrative experience a makeover. The script has been given a full rewrite, every performance newly captured, and every cinematic reshot. We’ve given key characters, such as Tommy’s love interest Sarah, more time on screen and expanded their backstories. We’ve added new details through notes, newspapers, and radio commentary to better ground the story in its 1930s period setting. In fact, I’d say we used every tool at our disposal to ensure that Mafia’s narrative still impresses in 2020. It’s also important to remember that Mafia was visually stunning when it was first released. Ensuring that the remake shared that quality was at the top of our priority list. Our art team created many beautiful period-authentic cars, mission environments, and character models, but they put special effort into the visual overhaul of Lost Heaven, the Chicago-like city where Mafia: Definitive Edition takes place. Using almost exactly the same city map, every district has been revisited and upgraded, with more detail in everything from the trash on the street through to the architecture of the buildings themselves. The end result is phenomenal, and I have no doubt that players will be wowed by Lost Heaven once again. Remaking a game with such a devoted fan base is a big responsibility. I’ve heard countless testimonies from fans (including many developers on our team) describing how playing the original Mafia was a seminal gaming experience for them. Many still play Mafia religiously to this day. We hope that our new take on Mafia not only fulfils the high expectations of our community but also delights every player, old and new. It has been inspiring to hear the outpouring of love for Mafia since we announced the remake, and it’s been a privilege to work alongside developers willing to go to the mat for a game that they care so deeply about. Restoring this classic crime adventure has been a labor of love for all of us at Hangar 13, and we are hugely excited for Mafia fans to finally get their hands on the game. View the full article

Thank you guys so much for supporting our first expansion of Nioh 2, The Tengus’s Disciple. We’ve been hard at work to bring you the next exciting chapter in the Nioh 2 saga, and I’m happy to announce today that the second DLC pack, titled Darkness in the Capital will be available on October 15! While I‘m sure many of you are engrossed in the current campaign and well on your way to becoming a formidable Yokai hunter in feudal Japan, brace yourselves as even more perilous adventures and insurmountable enemies await you within the capital of the kingdom in this thrilling new chapter. Without further ado, let’s get into the new details for the brand-new quest awaiting all of our warriors. Darkness in the Capital features new storylines, overwhelmingly powerful new bosses, tricky new Yokai, new Guardian Spirits, skills, Ninjutsu, Onmyo Magic and Soul Cores. And to top it all off, this new chapter will present electrifying new armor sets and a weapon that fans of hand-to-hand combat will surely relish. Now I’d hate to leave you guys completely in the dark on this upcoming DLC expansion. So, let me throw out some clues and story details to give you a taste of what’s on the horizon for this next installment. In order to unravel the mysteries surrounding the history of the Sohayamaru, our protagonist ventures to Kyoto City and discovers a shrine furnished with an old worn-out box. Upon inspection, the Sohayamaru once again shines brilliantly and the protagonist is whisked away to the middle of the Heian Period, landing in an ancient version of the capital. Contrary to its name “Heian Palace,” which means peace and tranquility, ancient Kyoto was terrorized by countless Yokai during this time period. However, there existed many heroes who were brave enough to oppose these demons. Among them were the most preeminent demon slayer and the strongest sorcerer in history, along with their subordinates and colleagues fighting at their side. Our protagonist joins forces with these famous heroes in order to quell the unrest and destruction caused by the Yokai hordes, while learning more about the connections between an even more distant past and the present time period from which they came. Well, there you have it. A brief overview of what’s to come. Please be on the look-out for more exciting details in the near future as we hope to shed even more light on Darkness in the Capital. Until that time, best of luck battling all of the fearsome Yokai in the Tengu’s Disciple and crafting a unique build that best suits your own playstyle. As many of you are well aware, you’ll need every advantage you can get to take on the menacing enemies lurking in the distant past. So, stay strong and stay safe out there samurai! *Nioh 2 required to play The Tengu’s Disciple and Darkness in the Capital (both sold separately or as part of the Nioh 2 Season Pass). View the full article