Commander Fury

Hi there, I’m Andrew Willans, Game Director on Hood: Outlaws and Legends. I’m incredibly excited to be unveiling our brand-new multiplayer game on behalf of the team here at Sumo Newcastle. What is Hood: Outlaws and Legends? Hood is a multiplayer heist game that blends combat, stealth, and strategy. You will assemble a team of Outlaws as you attempt to steal treasures from an oppressive government known as The State in a dark and gritty reimagining of the Robin Hood legend. This is a PvPvE game that pits two 4-player teams against each other as they attempt the same daring heist in environments populated with enemy AI guards. Without going into spoiler territory (this is a reveal, rather than a deeper dive – more to come soon), we have a wide range of game mechanics and features that can be used to help teammates or hinder rival players. Stealing a treasure chest from a State stronghold is your main objective, but locating and escaping with it will require teamwork and tactics. Our game world is realistic, with believable interactions and consequences. Treasure chests are heavy and must be carried. Ammo is limited to what you can carry, salvage, or recover from your fallen enemies. Noise attracts attention, both from the AI guards and rival players. Combat can be brutal and deadly, so using stealth can often be the optimal approach. Using the unique and varied playstyles of each outlaw will be key to your success. Some are specialised in ranged combat, while others are far more deadly up close in a melee brawl. It’s entirely up to you how you configure and combine your skills. This is a heist after all, and no heist would be complete without assembling the gang to discuss the plan before cracking the vault and making good on your getaway! Who is Hood? Hood is not one person. It is an idea. A symbol to the people. A legend. Because we are retelling a legend rather than being historically accurate, we have created our own version of Dark Ages Britain, a time when old world myth and superstition compete with man-made power. In this time of feudal law, a powerful authority known as The State is trying to bring order to the chaos. But this comes at great cost to people’s liberties, and many consider The State to be as brutal as the ruthless militia who are fighting against their rule. With any legend, the deeds and actions grow with each retelling and so it is with our game. So, while our version of Robin Hood does wield the classic longbow that you would expect, both he and other outlaws have some unique skills and abilities not found in the classic tales. We took inspiration from popular folklore, but introduced elements of grounded fantasy, which you’ll see in the locations, designs and characters imbued with magic. We’re eager for you to discover this gritty, brutal universe where myths seep into every corner. Beneath the Hood Hood is being developed at Sumo Newcastle, and we have been in production for a little over 18 months now. Our studio is a mix of highly creative industry veterans and the superstars of tomorrow. We started our journey as a tech studio that grew into a small, more multi-disciplined team focusing on cutting edge technologies. After releasing EVE: Valkyrie we continued to grow and became part of the Sumo family back in January 2018. Using our experience and passion for creating compelling team-based multiplayer games, we are incredibly excited to be announcing our first new title for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. We’ll have more details to share later on how the game will be optimised for each platform, but I’m sure you can guess that we’ll be making full use of the improved haptic feedback now possible with the DualSense controller. Creating intuitive inputs and empowering sensations between a player and their virtual bow just become a whole lot more achievable thanks to that new hardware. Back into stealth…for now You’ll have to wait a little longer before we drive deeper into the gameplay, but I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek. We’ll be back later in the year to share more details on the game, and when you can get your hands on it. For now, though, I need to slip back into the shadows and work on my bow skills. I hear there’s an angry sheriff looking for me concerning some stolen treasure. View the full article

The Pedestrian is a 2.5D puzzle platformer themed around the public sign system. You play as a 2D character moving through signs in a dynamic 3D world. You progress through the game by rearranging and connecting public signs to explore and advance through each environment. So now let’s take a look at the team behind the game… Meet Skookum Arts Hi! We are three friends in rural Ohio. Daniel Lackey is the artist, his brother Jed Lackey is the programmer and their childhood friend Joel Hornsby is the designer. Growing up together we enjoyed being creative and we were always exploring and dreaming up new ideas. In our early years, we were very much inspired by a lot of movies and games. As we got older we had to ask ourselves the inevitable question, “What do we want to be when we grow up?” We decided to pursue our dream and start our own game studio named Skookum Arts. Game Development With no previous knowledge or experience in game development, we began with the basics and learned as we went. This took a long time because we knew that we wanted to make something unique and high quality. In the beginning we did a lot of prototyping in an attempt to find our unique puzzle mechanic. We discovered while working in our puzzle editor that creating the puzzle was half the fun! So we took the core of our puzzle editor (moving and connecting signs) and turned that into our main mechanic. This created two distinct modes – playmode and puzzlemode. In playmode you control the main character, while puzzlemode allows you to edit the layout of the puzzle. With the main mechanic out of the way we focused on the visual language that would make the game standout. One way we did this was to follow the same concept as the public sign system; using symbols to represent information in a universal manner. We replaced traditional tutorials and menu items with simplistic icons. In addition, we designed the gameplay visuals to be approachable with simple shapes and clean lines to aid in the solution of more complex puzzles. Our sound engineer, Logan Hayes, spent years fine tuning the musical signature of the game, which further developed The Pedestrian into a pleasant cinematic experience. We then packaged everything together in a beautiful 3D environment where the character seamlessly flows through it. In order to achieve our lofty quality goals, we focused heavily on iteration and playtesting throughout the duration of development. We often had pizza playtesting sessions with friends and other game developers to help bring the game to another level. After working over six years to create The Pedestrian we are proud to finally present it to you in our release on PS4 and PS5. We’re so excited to see what you all think of it! View the full article

Since the launch, Auto Chess has had significant influence all over the world with its novel gameplay and strategic competitive features. It has also attracted tens of millions of players around the world. Each player can play with other players from different countries over the online chessboard and enjoy a brand-new gaming experience. In 2019, Auto Chess has won plenty of rewards including GooglePlay’s Best of 2019 Award in 17 countries and regions, Apple App Store’s The Pioneer of New Gameplay of the Local Game in China, etc. The game has multiple modes including Casual Mode, Ranked Mode, Fantasy Mode, Quick Mode, etc. with nearly a hundred pieces of different styles and tactical features for you to choose from. At the same time, you can also freely choose to switch the chessboard to change the battle scene of each game. The style is changing along with your ideas. Game Goal Develop strategies in order to deploy the ideal chess piece army to defeat the other players in the lobby. You use the chess pieces from a shared pool to create your own lineup, and then they enter the battle phase and fight each other automatically. You will be facing against seven other chess players during each match, while defending your own chess board. Starring-up Chess Pieces In order to form a lineup, your first step should be to strengthen your pieces. Since the pieces in the game have class synergy, and are divided into 1-star, 2-star and 3-star tiered units, you need upgrade your chess pieces’ level. The rule of upgrading is usually “3 for 1”, which means three 1-star pieces can be combined into one 2-star piece. Three 2-star pieces can be combined into a 3-star piece. Pick your favorite chess pieces in the Store and try starring them up! Lineup & Synergies To defeat your opponent, you also need to achieve the maximum profit with the lineup. In addition to star levels, chess pieces also have the race and class synergies. Different chess pieces with the same race or class will trigger the corresponding synergy which help to make your chess pieces stronger and more powerful. As more and more chess pieces enter the battlefield, the player can overlap synergies, and create their own unique chess lineup. In conclusion, this is a strategic competitive game that will bring you a completely fresh experience. We can’t wait to bring it to PlayStation 4 for you this October! At the same time, we will also prepare new game versions and various PlayStation exclusive items as a mysterious surprise for everyone, let us look forward to it! View the full article

Hopefully you enjoyed the Control AWE trailer that just debuted in State of Play! This is the second and final expansion to Control, to be released on August 27th, which is also Control’s one year anniversary. Our development team at Remedy has worked very hard to bring you something special. We managed to pack quite a few features into this expansion. First of all, what is an AWE? It’s short for Altered World Event, which occur when paranatural forces breach our world. Sometimes, AWEs are minor and go unnoticed. However, sometimes AWEs cause catastrophic events. Historically, the Investigations Sector was where the Federal Bureau of Control’s dangerous work of searching for AWE cases was coordinated from, and where evidence was stored… until things went horribly, horribly wrong, and the sector was sealed off years ago. Director Jesse Faden has to enter the sector to chase down a mysterious being that’s been stalking this long-abandoned area for years. In order to reclaim the Investigations Sector from the clutches of this creature of darkness, Jesse will need to explore the numerous Altered World Events investigated here, including one from the town of Bright Falls. Our team had a lot of fun with putting tons of little details around the sector for you to discover. We went for a moodier, more suspenseful approach for this expansion, so be careful. But don’t get too scared while you’re at it! To help, you can use a new Service Weapon form called Surge, in essence a sticky grenade launcher, which is great for blowing stuff up. You can do a lot of that in Control as you fight the Hiss, since Surge uses up to four explosives that can be remotely detonated. And you’ll need it to fight the new enemy type, the Hiss Airborne Ranger, which can fly and attacks Jesse with a shotgun. One of the most requested features from the community has been the ability to replay missions. While we can’t quite offer you that, there is an Altered Item that looks very much like an arcade machine, which resides in the Investigations Sector hub. It enables you to replay four boss fights from the campaign (as long as you have already completed them), as well as the much-loved Ashtray Maze. On top of that, you can also play a brand new horde mode, and the machine contains a few other surprises we won’t spoil here. There’s definitely some excellent rewards up for grabs, including a new outfit for Jesse. We also have a free August update coming for all Control owners that brings along a new ability upgrade, additional usability options, and more checkpoints added to some of the trickier campaign missions. Finally, you might have heard a certain Alan Wake narrating the trailer and showing up at the very end. Over the years, we have included Easter eggs in our games that related some of Remedy’s games to each other, as you have seen if you played Control… but what if they were not all just Easter eggs? What if there’s actually been a plan in place for over a decade on how some of our games are connected – a Remedy Connected Universe, if you will – and payoff for certain things is… down the line? Play AWE on August 27th to start uncovering those secrets, and find out what’s really been happening in the Investigations Sector. View the full article

Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series is a three-part experience that takes place on Mustafar, the lava-filled planet that is home to Darth Vader’s fortress. During your time on Mustafar, you traverse Vader’s fortress, uncover ancient secrets beneath the planet’s surface, and learn to master the Force. Vader Immortal holds a very special place in our hearts at ILMxLAB and we are very excited to be bringing this to PlayStation VR. This allows even more fans to experience the first Star Wars story designed exclusively for virtual reality. Being featured on State of Play allows us the opportunity to show some never-before-seen concept art that helped guide the direction of the final experience. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes in creating digital content and it’s nice to be able show the work that helps inspire the final vision. The PlayStation VR version is being developed by ILMxLAB along with Black Shamrock. Under normal circumstances, development can be challenging and difficult. Adding in a pandemic and shelter in place adds in another layer to the challenge. However, the teams have been working tirelessly to create an experience that won’t disappoint. We are all excited and can’t wait to share this with you in just a few short weeks! View the full article

Wow, you all have REALLY been talkin’ bout Bugsnax. We’ve had a fantastic time listening, watching, and reading everybody’s reactions to the game since our announcement, and it’s been so fun seeing people theorize and wonder what the heck Bugsnax is. As we get closer to launch on the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 this holiday, we wanted to show you a bit more about what you’ll be doing in our snak snatching, sauce splattering, mystery solving video game! In June we presented you with 3 important questions: What are these half-bug half-snack creatures, really? How do they affect the bodies of those who eat them? And most importantly, why do they taste SO GOOD!? We’re excited to announce we won’t be answering any of those! However, what we will tell you is that Bugsnax is a first-person adventure game where you must solve the mysteries of Snaktooth Island by observing, hunting, and capturing Bugsnax using an advanced array of Snak-catching traps you’ll discover on your journey. Shortly after arriving on the island and encountering Filbo Fiddlepie, the well-meaning interim mayor of Snaxburg. You’ll explore Snaktooth Island, meet the rest of the cast of furry puppet-like Grumpuses, who each possess clues to the puzzling disappearance of Elizabert Megafig. Each one of these eclectic characters has their own story to tell; they’ll require a little persuasion, often in the form of their favorite Busnax that you can help catch for them and yes, feed to them. Only then will they really open up to you, agreeing to interviews so you can learn more about these curious creatures called Bugsnax, and discover why each grumpus decided to join Lizbert’s expedition. Hopefully this sheds a bit of light on Bugsnax while also introducing a bit more intrigue! In addition to working on getting gameplay into the wild we’ve also been working with Kero Kero Bonito on a full official release of the definitive Snak-based song of the summer “It’s Bugsnax!” You should be able to find that on most streaming and music store services now! Thanks again for your overwhelmingly enthusiastic reaction to our game, we can’t wait to share more and look forward to you all encountering what’s awaiting for you on Snaktooth Island on this holiday. <3 Young Horses View the full article

We are ThinkingStars and in our game Anno: Mutationem we’re all about that mix. The game is a combination of 2D & 3D modes, action and adventure gameplay, sprites and polygons, while throwing in some RPG-elements and letting the whole thing come alive amid a bustling cyberpunk world. So how does this 2D and 3D fusion actually work? First, you take control of main character Ann, a lone wolf one-woman army who is supported by her hacker friend Ayane. When you start the game, you will be in what we call Exploration Mode, meaning you can play the game as if it’s your favorite an action RPG: you move around in 3D, talk to NPCs, and interact with the environment. No rush, it’s your world. As you proceed to the next section it will seamlessly switch to the 2D Battle Mode, which is where Ann busts out the broad swords, hand cannons, and that fast, lethal rhythm of battle. Combat is all about double-jumps, dodging, and well-timed ground-pounds. It plays like your favorite 2D action games, along with exciting platforming and huge boss fights. This dynamic looks cool and we hope you think so, too. Beyond stylish aesthetics, the gameplay works functionally, too. The pixel-graphics and 2D sprites are a love letter to the games we grew up playing. Today’s tech allows us to create huge cities and environments in a modern style that holds on to a hybrid vibe we feel is very fitting for cyberpunk. In the trailer you can see one of the major cities players can explore as they wish. They can roam the night streets thru throngs of people, choose to return to Ann’s apartment to take a rest and check her email, or go to one of the local stores for supplies. As with many ARPGs, you can buy, sell, and craft new gear or upgrade old favorites. Well-rested and supplied, you and Ann are ready for the next mission. Anno: Mutationem’s setting is decidedly cyberpunk, with all the familiar sights and neon lights you’d expect. However, our trailer showcases a hideous reptilian beast and a nightmarish scene with a blood-red sea and eldritch statues in the background. Our world reaches for something else too. Something the eerie and bizarre. The storyline conveys this surreal feeling, too, but we don’t want to spoil anything. Trust that the plot will be intricate, twisted, freaky, cause an occasional “OMG, OMG,OMG!” We hope that our players will enter this cyberpunk-world of ours and dig it. We want it to feel as if the world is your own., To remember the sights, situations, and characters you meet We want you to feel the thrill of battle during the action segments and immerse yourself in the unravelling story.. In short, we welcome all to the world of Anno: Mutationem. Bring a gun and a cybernetically enhanced arm. View the full article

Hello everyone! I’m here to introduce you to Aeon Must Die!, a brand new take on the beat ‘em up genre that blends slick action combat with an existential sci-fi epic across the galaxy. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover as we introduce the story, the fighting systems, and everything in between. Let’s get started. You play as the new host for Aeon, the symbiotic and recently overthrown emperor of the universe. After wrestling for control over your body, you and Aeon must go on a violent journey across the stars; you must save the last of your species, while Aeon seeks revenge. It’s a pastiche of classic films like Road Warrior, Yojimbo, with more modern influences like Gurren Lagann. With Aeon and your trusty sentient Bike by your side, you will have to negotiate, battle, and/or betray the four warring factions and their generals. Aeon’s invincible armor is the only way you will be able to tear a path to your goal. That’s right, the armor is indestructible, meaning you cannot die (at least, not in the traditional sense). You will have to use a mixture of normal and special moves to fight and combo enemies into oblivion. Normal moves heat up Aeon and specials, although devastating, cool him down. Overheating Aeon gives you free reign to unleash as many special moves as you want without the heat cost, but a single hit spells defeat. Cooling down too much causes Aeon to reach his drained state, where he cannot use special moves, and will be defeated in one blow. Every defeat you experience leaves you with an important choice: Will you get up and fight again? Or will you die with honor? Standing up to fight once more will chip away at your mental barrier, letting Aeon closer into your heart. He will start manipulating your choices, affecting your decisions and letting the pieces fall where he wants. Choosing to die means restarting your adventure, but keeping all the upgrades and progression you’ve unlocked. Sounds tough? Well, there is a third option… but we won’t reveal that just yet. We are extremely excited to get Aeon Must Die! into the hands of PlayStation 4 players in the coming year. We’ve got a ton of information to reveal over the next few months, so, to stay tuned. View the full article

Hey everyone! This is Zhenzhong (ZZ for short) from miHoYo and I wanted to first thank you all for your continued support and feedback. We’ve been working hard to improve and polish Genshin Impact based on the feedback of our avid beta testers and we’re really excited to confirm the game’s worldwide launch on PS4 this Fall. Here’s a first look at our new trailer! Elemental 101… In the world of Teyvat, you have control over seven natural elements—Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Anemo, and Dendro, to name a few. Through unique relics called Visions, characters have unique powerful abilities that you can unleash to take powerful foes head-on and interact with the world. There’s No “I” in TEAM… You’ll have complete freedom to customize a party of up to 4 characters, mixing and matching their different elements. You can swap between your party members mid-combat to combine different elemental effects, causing powerful elemental reactions (yes, think chemistry class, but bigger). We wanted to create a game that could embody the spirit of discovery and experimentation. The more you know about the elements and use them to your advantage, the more they will reward you in your adventure. You can anticipate a roster of over 20 unique characters this fall (with plenty more on the way). We know you will come up with really cool team compositions and new ways to use elemental powers that even our designers didn’t think of! While you have full control over your entire party playing solo, we wanted to give you the option to go co-op with up to 3 other friends (we love options). Playing co-op means more teamwork, more elemental reactions, and more challenges to overcome. And for that… we’ll have fully supported crossplay (PS4/PC/iOS/Android). We’ll be revealing much more in the upcoming weeks and with some special goodies in store for PlayStation players. We look forward to meeting you in Teyvat, Travelers! Thanks again for your support! ZZ View the full article

I am very happy to announce that Spelunky 2 is launching on PS4 on September 15, 2020! It feels great to be able to share this news with you… game development is a complex and hard-to-predict process, so it always feels like a minor miracle when we get to this point. Thankfully, our fans have been supportive and patient (thank you!) and Spelunky 2 has been one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on, something that I feel is reflected in the game itself. Spelunky 2 is big. Our State of Play trailer, directed by Derek Lieu, does an excellent job of conveying how much more expansive and well-connected the world is compared to the first game. The time it takes to complete a successful run, however, hasn’t increased that much – instead, the journey has become much more dense and varied, with lots more to do and try with each time you venture into the caves. Our hope is that all this new content is going to be fun for new players as well as existing Spelunky fans. Not only is there more to see and do, but there will be more opportunities to find a playstyle that suits you best. And as you to explore the game world and unravel its secrets, you’ll be building a community of characters, old and new, who will support you on your journey and make your adventure feel richer and more interconnected. Justin Chan has done a wonderful job illustrating these characters and helping to bring them to life based on my little sprites. Of course, Spelunky 2 will keep Spelunky’s multiplayer traditions alive with cooperative and versus modes. Thanks to BlitWorks, you’ll be able to go online next month and play these modes with friends and family around the world! As with Adventure Mode, we’ve also expanded Deathmatch into something bigger called the Arena, which includes Deathmatch and a new competitive mode called Hold the Idol. You might have heard me say before that I felt Deathmatch was an underrated mode in the original game – well, in recent years I’ve heard from quite a few fans who loved competing with their friends and family in this mode. With the improved interface, new features, and extended customization, I’m excited to see how players feel about this side of the game, especially with online multiplayer as an option! As we barrel toward our release on September 15, I’ve been spending more and more time enjoying the game “as a player” and despite the thousands of hours we’ve put into making Spelunky 2, I’m still finding myself continuously surprised by what happens in the game. On our development channels we’ve had a great time sharing stories and strategies, close calls and hilarious deaths. In the end, that’s what Spelunky is all about… it’s not just a “game to beat”, but an experience to share with others and to bring people together. Through challenge. Through mystery. The time is almost come! From all of us on the Spelunky 2 development team: “See you soon… on the Moon!” View the full article

As we approach launch, I am excited to reveal more details about the design of The Pathless and exactly what kind of game it is. I’d like to share with you more about how the game plays, and some unique, exciting design choices we’ve made that I think give its open world design a fresh spin. The Pathless is all about finding your own way forward, so an open world design fit the experience and themes perfectly. We wanted to encourage players to explore organically and develop an understanding of the space as they play, which led us to break convention with most open world games in a few key ways: There’s no fast travel, there’s no map, and there’s no game over. These common design elements work great in many games- but for ours, we didn’t like how they pull you out of the world and remind you that you are in a game. We made the choice early on to remove these elements to sharpen the sense of immersion and atmosphere. It launched us on a multi-year long journey to figure out new ways to address the issues those mechanics normally solve. Fluid, dynamic movement is at the core of The Pathless. The Hunter moves fast, bounding through the forest at high speeds. Shooting talismans- ethereal, floating targets scattered across the landscape- will fill your dash meter. Chaining shots will let you keep your speed up, and each successful shot will give you a mini turbo boost, even in the air. It’s a satisfying, moment to moment action that keeps you engaged with the space, and can even become meditative when you get in the rhythm. The eagle is also central to movement – its ability to carry you while flying is a key component of the way you get around. As you glide, the eagle slowly loses altitude- but you can use a flap to gain a quick burst of upward lift. As you discover secrets in the world, you will collect crystals- which let you upgrade the amount of times you can flap in the air. This allows you to reach higher areas and glide further- as you increase the area of the world you can traverse, your ability to traverse it also increases. This means that fast travel is never really needed. Combine that with the archery dashing mechanics, and traveling even great distances is a rewarding, joyful experience. The cursed island that you explore in The Pathless is large- many kilometers across- and covered in dense forests. So how do we get away without a map? The answer- which took us years of design iteration to discover- is the spirit mask. The Hunter has a magical mask that lets her see into the spirit world. It overlays a “heatmap” that illustrates where you have been directly on the terrain, and highlights distant points of interest like a sonar ping. Since it is in the world, how much navigation information you can gather from it depends on your vantage point and how much you can see. Getting up higher above the trees lets you see further, and therefore see more landmarks with spirit vision as well. This creates an interesting loop in gameplay where you cycle between elevations: When you are up high, you get more navigation information and can fly further; when you are on the ground you can explore the detailed ruins and forests to discover secrets. Spirit vision does away with a traditional map and makes navigating an immersive experience that ties into exploration and happens directly in the world itself. But as you explore, there is a threat to contend with: giant cursed spirits that are the source of the dark curse that plagues the world. They are invulnerable, fiery beasts that will stalk you and try to separate you from the eagle. Only by returning light to the obelisks within their domains will you be able to turn the tables and take them on. When you do, you will have to chase them down through the forest, and corner them in an epic final battle to return light to the land. But what about game over? How can you have a game with giant cursed spirit bosses that stalk you through the forest and not have it? A traditional game over design will reset your progress back to some checkpoint when you lose an enemy encounter. It works because it creates stakes- you are scared to get a game over because it will cost you your time as a player, a valuable resource. To make the cursed spirits feel powerful and scary, we needed to create stakes, but we wanted to avoid the immersion-breaking timeline resets of the standard game over design. So we changed the resource you risk to lose: instead of your time, you stand to lose the crystals you’ve collected. If the cursed spirits get the better of you, they will knock your crystals out of you, hampering your progress towards future flap upgrades. It creates real stakes and makes encounters tense and engaging- without resetting the timeline or breaking the atmosphere. We’ve spent years experimenting, designing, and crafting The Pathless, and I’m proud of the unique experience we have made. When you play, I hope you forget you are playing a game and are fully transported to a mythic world. View the full article

As revealed in today’s State of Play video, we’ll be releasing Braid, Anniversary Edition in early 2021 on PS4 and PS5. Braid was originally released in 2008, and since then many things have changed. The original game ran in 720p, which seemed like a pretty high resolution back then; but if you tried to play a 720p game on a 4k TV today, it would look very blurry! So, the graphics in the game are being hand-repainted by original artist David Hellman. It’s not just an image-by-image repaint, though: we’re reimagining some areas to make them more special, now that we are running on higher-powered machines; we’re adding extra animations to the character, so that movement feels more fluid and responsive; and just going over the whole game, improving the fit and finish on many fine details. We’re also doing a pass over the sound, making it richer and more-detailed. The sound is being worked on by Martin Stig Andersen (who worked on Control, Inside, and several other notable games) and Hans Christian Kock (who worked on Max: The Curse of Brotherhood as well as having an extensive background in film and TV). To see the difference between the old and new graphics and sound, you’ll be able to switch back and forth at any time while playing. So if you’re feeling nostalgic you can play through the 2008 version of the game for a while. On top of all this, we’re adding developer commentary. Since Braid is considered a classic by many, we wanted to make sure we do a good job providing the information people want to know, at a much more thorough level of detail than video games usually do. So, we’ll be talking about programming, art, design, video game history, and many other things, using in-game hyperlink portals so you can jump between levels to follow the various conceptual threads. We’ll be covering this stuff in very deep detail — deeper detail than you’d get from blog postings, or gaming news sites, or the usual kind of in-game commentary. Much of the commentary will be arranged in a progressively-refined way: you can get an overview of how the time-rewinding works at a technical level, and if you’re interested in hearing more, you can dig in to get more of the story; and if you’re interested in some smaller aspect of that story, you can dig further to get even more detail. We don’t yet know how many hours of commentary there will be, total — we’re still writing and recording it — but it’s going to be a lot. We look forward to telling you more about the game as we roll closer to release! View the full article

Announced during today’s State of Play showcase, HITMAN 3 will include PS VR support at launch in January 2021. We’re incredibly excited to share this news! We’ve been keeping it a secret for a long time now and it’s a great feeling to finally talk about HITMAN in VR. From the breathtaking start in a Dubai skyscraper to the final campaign mission of HITMAN 3 and the dramatic conclusion to the entire trilogy, it can all be enjoyed in first-person VR. Play Video HITMAN 3 is the end of the trilogy, but it’s only the beginning when we talk about HITMAN in VR. We’re proud to announce that we are bringing VR support to every location from all three games. That’s right! Every location from the World of Assassination trilogy can be played in VR, when you play them in HITMAN 3. We’re working to finalize the specifics for how PSVR owners can enjoy Hitman in VR, and we’ll have more details to share in the months ahead. As a reminder, it will be possible to ‘import’ locations that you own from the previous two HITMAN games into HITMAN 3, essentially putting all 20+ locations from the entire trilogy in one place. HITMAN 3 VR will change the way you play the game by giving you a first person view and allowing you to get truly immersed into the rich and detailed locations that the series is known for. Whether you’re in disguise and walking down the catwalk at a fashion show in Paris, enjoying the seaside in Sapienza or infiltrating a bank in New York, HITMAN in VR literally gives you a brand new perspective in first person. You’ll stand face-to-face with your targets and look them in the eyes, blend-in to a busy crowd and hear the chatter and conversations happening around you and interact with items using your hands. For example, you can swing a frying pan in whatever angle you want to knock out a guard – and then use it to deflect any bullets that are fired at you as you make your escape! We can’t wait to welcome new players to our World of Assassination and see how our community can use VR support to create unique and interesting ways to play our game. The launch of HITMAN 3 in January 2021 can’t come soon enough! More HITMAN 3 news will be coming your way before launch, so stay tuned! View the full article

As Toys for Bob broke down during State of Play, Crash and friends are bending their multiverse’s reality to pull out all the stops for Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, coming this fall to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. Here’s everything that was revealed today ahead of the game’s October 2 release date: Dingodile is Back… And He’s Playable! Imagine, if you will, a simple man – scratch that – half dingo, half crocodile, who decides to retire his old ways of singeing and exploding bandicoots for nefarious needs in favor of living out a lifelong dream: Opening a diner. But alas! Our poor Dingodile’s prized possession is destroyed before his very eyes, and our villain-turned short-order cook is sucked into another dimension! Well, it’s about time for him to find out what went wrong. In addition to Neo Cortex, you’ll be able to play full levels and alternate timelines as Dingodile. While Cortex turns enemies into platforms and gelatinous blobs with his blaster, Dingodile takes a more… brute force approach. Having turned in his flamethrower for a vacuum gun, Dingodole can suck up TNT barrels and launch them with expert precision, blowing up anything that stands between him and his ticket home. This is all in the name of retribution for his ill-fated diner, so help him out and he’ll happily shove right back off to his retirement. Earnable Skins (er… furs?) to Show Off Your Achievements During the original trilogy, Crash and Coco sometimes donned outfits to blend into their time period or environment. For example, if our marsupial had to race a bunch of rough biker folk, he would suit up in his most menacing leather jacket, as he may have stuck out like a sore, furry, orange thumb if he went in au natural (including his shorts and shoes, of course). For It’s About Time, Toys for Bob have combined the fun cosmetic changes for Crash and Coco with the challenge of earning gems or completing specific tasks. Now, Crash and Coco have dozens upon dozens of costumes and wacky outfits to wear across any level, adding another level of zaniness to the N. Sane nature of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Consider these marks of achievement within the game; whenever you earn a skin, it’s a sign of accomplishment for the skill it took to outfit Crash or Coco with it. And speaking of achievements… N. Verted Mode Completing Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time – from collecting Time Crystals to Gems and more – is an achievement in of itself… But there is one ace in the hole that Toys for Bob, in collaboration with Beenox, has for truly testing out Bandicoots: N. Verted Mode! N. Verted mode takes the concept of mirror mode and phase shifts it into another dimension. Perspective isn’t the only thing that changed; when playing in a dimension on N. Verted mode, that dimension may involve splattering paint to see your path forward, or keeping up with an old timey film reel that cranks up gameplay speed just as fast as it puts the picture on the screen. Once you unlock this mode, all the game’s levels are repayable with this new art style, game feel, and challenges, allowing for the true completionists at heart to further challenge themselves for even more rewards, or for anyone who is curious about how their favorite levels get N. Verted. Pre-Orders Live Now – Get Time Shattering Skins First on PlayStation On top of digital customers getting the Totally Tubular Skins for Crash and Coco, which puts them in some radical 90s swag, PlayStation owners will also receive two more sets of skins for both Crash and Coco: Go way back in time with the Marsupus Erectus Skins or embrace your inner cyborg with the Serious Upgrade Skins. The aforementioned skins will be available after the completion of the second level of the game. These time-shattering skins are arriving first on PlayStation, so prepare to cross over into this fashionable dimension early on this platform! View the full article

Sucker Punch’s epic open world adventure Ghost of Tsushima claimed the PS4 top spot in PlayStation Store’s top downloads last month for Europe and the US. Iron Man VR soared into first place for its US PS VR charts debut, while Fortnite continued to perform strongly across the DLC and F2P charts, claiming first place in both Europe and US for the former, and only being pipped by Call of Duty: Warzone in North America’s F2P charts. Keep reading to see the full charts, and hit the comments to let us know how you think August will shake out. See you then! PS4 Games US/Canada EU 1 Ghost of Tsushima Ghost of Tsushima 2 Minecraft Far Cry 3 Classic Edition 3 Grand Theft Auto V Far Cry 5 4 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare F1 2020 5 The Last of Us Part II Minecraft 6 Far Cry 3 Classic Edition Grand Theft Auto V 7 Far Cry 5 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8 Marvel’s Spider-Man Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 9 The Forest Sherlock Holmes : The Devil’s Daughter 10 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege The Last of Us Part II 11 Madden NFL 20 The Forest 12 Call of Duty: Black Ops III Marvel’s Spider-Man 13 EA Sports FIFA 20 ARK: Survival Evolved 14 Need for Speed Heat Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 15 MLB The Show 20 EA Sports FIFA 20 16 Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 17 Cuphead Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag 18 Dragon Ball FighterZ The Last of Us Remastered 19 ARK: Survival Evolved Middle-earth: Shadow of War 20 Skater XL Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition PS VR Games US/Canada EU 1 Marvel’s Iron Man VR Beat Saber 2 Beat Saber Marvel’s Iron Man VR 3 Superhot VR Superhot VR 4 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 5 Gorn Job Simulator 6 Job Simulator Blood & Truth 7 Astro Bot Rescue Mission Gorn 8 Arizona Sunshine Creed: Rise to Glory 9 Creed: Rise to Glory Astro Bot Rescue Mission 10 Moss Until Dawn: Rush of Blood Free-to-Play Games US/Canada EU 1 Call of Duty: Warzone Fortnite 2 Fortnite Call of Duty: Warzone 3 Apex Legends Brawlhalla 4 Brawlhalla Apex Legends 5 Destiny 2 Destiny 2 6 Racing Bros eFootball PES 2020 Lite 7 Dauntless Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Lite Version 8 Smite Racing Bros 9 Cuisine Royale Warface 10 Fantasy Strike Fantasy Strike DLC and Expansions US/Canada EU 1 Fortnite Fortnite – The Yellowjacket Pack 2 Fortnite Fortnite – Metal Team Leader Pack 3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Call of Duty: Warzone – Starter Pack 4 Fortnite Fortnite – Shadows Rising Pack 5 Fortnite Fortnite – Summer Legends Pack 6 Rogue Company Rogue Company: Starter Founder’s Pack 7 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – CDL Champs 2020 Pack 8 NBA 2K20 NBA 2K20 MyCareer Bundle 9 Apex Legends Apex Legends – Octane Edition 10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Modern Warfare – Atlanta FaZe Pack View the full article

Warface: Breakout was always designed as an evolving experience. With players getting to grips with battles between the Wardens and Reapers since launch and throughout Season 1, we’re already looking ahead to an even bigger, better future. My.Games and Allods Team recently revealed the 2020 roadmap for Warface: Breakout, spanning three Seasons with free content updates from now until the end of the year. As well as planned aesthetic and technical improvements, including a 60-tick server update, we’re also bringing in several new maps, daily quests and challenges, new game modes, and seasonal events for Halloween and Christmas. We’ve already rolled out new features like Ranked Matches in Season 1, so the launch of Season 2 in September will see another raft of big features rolling in! We’ve got crossplay in our crosshairs around this time, aimed at bringing down barriers so you can fight it out with friends as early as during Season 2, no matter which system you’re playing on. With weapon progression missions you’ll be able to get new skins and challenge cards for selected weapons, and very soon you’ll track all your player experience in a detailed profile. Support for a clan system will also follow at the end of the year, with a Spectator Mode rounding out the year when Season 3 lands in December. You can check out the full list of planned features and new content in our Roadmap for 2020, as seen above! New to Warface: Breakout? It’s a tactical FPS set on a near-future Earth ravaged by war, where two mercenary factions — Wardens and Reapers — are locked in a battle for supremacy. It features gunplay-focused combat, ‘defuse the bomb’ objectives, and the ability to adapt your loadout at the beginning of matches. Warface: Breakout has already undergone a lot of changes since launch, and we can’t wait to bring you even more throughout the rest of 2020. If you want to join the fray, you can save 20% on the Standard or Deluxe edition of Warface: Breakout in the PlayStation Store Summer Sale until August 19. See you in the field, mercs! View the full article

Fairy Tail released last week, and we couldn’t be happier with the response from fans and gamers alike. So, we decided to add to the magic, releasing all-new costume DLC today, which includes 48 outfits along with the highly anticipated photo mode (via a free update) to help them shine. In the coming weeks fans will also be able to look forward to the addition of Lyon Vastia, Levy McGarden, Lisanna Strauss, and Elfman Strauss to the already stacked roster, along with all-new dungeons to explore and high-level quests to take their favourite party members on. But that’s not all, as we were lucky enough to celebrate alongside Fairy Tail creator and mastermind, Hiro Mashima, picking his brain about everything from his art style to video games. Here’s what he had to say in this exclusive PlayStation Blog interview… Kikuchi: When I was young, I knew I wanted to be a video game designer. How about you? When did you know you wanted to be a manga artist? Mashima: I loved drawing since I was really young, so becoming a manga artist just seemed natural. I would sit down and copy my favorite comics, imagining who would win in a fight between the characters while I drew them. That’s the moment I knew I wanted to pursue this profession. I loved fantasy and battle-focused series when I was young, so I would always draw things like that. It’s more fun to use your imagination. If I were to draw a car or a building, something from real life, you can’t really make up what it looks like. People would say “that’s a different car,” or “that’s a different building,” whereas with fantasy-themed drawings, you can just say, “this is what I came up with” and you don’t have to worry about being wrong. So that’s why I still love fantasy to this day. More images from Fairy Tail Kikuchi: Ever thought of jumping into video game design? Mashima: It was an option I considered early on. I used to take the role of game master and create different characters out of paper, and then my friends would move them around. It was like we were playing a tabletop RPG without any dice. Kikuchi: That’s funny because when I was young, my parents wouldn’t buy me a video game console, so I would go over to my friend’s house and look at the characters on TV until I burnt a hold through the screen. (laughs) I’d go home and redraw the characters dot by dot to match their pixel art and then cut them out of the paper. Mashima: That’s amazing! I designed stages when I was young, too. I would redraw the characters from games and move them around to play with, just not in pixel form like you. Kikuchi: Amazing how all these years later, both our dreams have come true and now we have collaborated on this game. While promoting the game to media and fans, so many people have asked me about the similarities between the series and the game, and to me, it all comes back to “creating bonds with your party members.” Did you have this in mind while developing the game with us? Mashima: Creating bonds with party members was definitely something I had in mind during the development process. You see, I don’t really have a lot of friends (laughs), so when I was writing the manga for Fairy Tail, I would always think about the kinds of friends I wanted and then incorporated that wish into the story. Kikuchi: When making Fairy Tail, I realized one aspect that was definitely the most different from the manga was the feeling of the “tempo.” A game has a large goal, along with middle range and smaller goals, and the structure of the game is created around repeating those goals, but a manga has episodes that can be of various lengths, right? For your manga series, what do you take into consideration when coming up with the size of each episode? Mashima: It really doesn’t have a specific structure at all. (laughs) At the beginning, there aren’t a lot of characters so it’s really easy to put everything together in a nice little package. So one episode, or story arc, could be about 1 to 3 volumes. However, as the number of characters continues to increase, you have to draw a lot of different scenes, so when you realize that one part of the story is over, it ends up being five to six volumes without much problem at all. Personally, I like to be able to condense everything into shorter stories, but I think the story getting longer and longer is the fate of all manga series. Kikuchi: So when we first sent you an early build of the game and you saw Natsu moving around on screen for the first time, what did you think? Mashima: When I was actually walking around Magnolia in the game, I felt like one of my dreams had come true. I’m not really the kind of manga artist to create plans or blueprints, everything is just in my head, so when I actually saw Magnolia in the game, I was really surprised about how great it came together in 3D. Kikuchi: It actually took us about six months to create Magnolia. We studied a lot of different angles from every anime and manga we could get our hands on. Mashima: Every time you read or inspect the manga, though, the city is always a little different. Sorry about that. (laughs) Kikuchi: We received a lot of feedback from you during the development process of the game, and you always looked at everything through the viewpoint of “what would make the fans happy.” Mashima: I really put a lot of emphasis on that, didn’t I. Kikuchi: One great thing about the game and something we’re sure will make fans happy is enabling them to mix and match their own dream team party, some of whom we’ve never seen team up in the series. What considerations did you take when having an enemy character join the main group when you were writing the story? Mashima: When you look at Gajeel and Juvia, I didn’t consider having them join the main team at the beginning. In fact, both of them were considered temporary characters. However, I became very fond of both of them so I thought it would be a waste to not have them join the party. I thought it would be really unexpected if they joined the main team, so I had them become part of the group. Weekly published manga series really do grow a lot throughout their lifespan, so the reactions of the readers and the ideas of the writer really change as the story goes along. Kikuchi: You seem to have a knack for making charming enemies. Mashima: The thing is, every time a new enemy shows up, it has to be even stronger than the last one. I would constantly try to think of new variations, just to make sure every enemy didn’t turn out the same. I would think to myself, “this time I want the villain to be really intimidating,” or “I want this enemy to have a cackling laugh.” Kikuchi: So how about when you play the game? Any specific party you have in mind? Mashima: I’d like to put together an all-female party: Lucy, Erza, Wendy, Juvia, Mirajane. That would be spectacular. I really want fans to have fun with their own specific combination of characters in their party, and with photo mode added in now, I hope that players around the world post pictures of their parties. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the pictures, but most of all, I hope everyone has fun playing Fairy Tail! View the full article

Hey there PlayStation Nation! We hope you are all doing well and staying safe out there, and want to thank you for all the support you’ve given to us with Street Fighter V over the years. Today we’re excited to reveal upcoming content for Street Fighter V: Champion Edition with the “Street Fighter V Summer Update!” Join SFV Director Nakayama-san, SFV Producer Matsumoto-san, and special guests as they deliver news about Street Fighter V! We know you’ve all been waiting for info on new content coming to Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. We appreciate your patience, and we hope you’re all as excited as we are about these new additions to the cast! Now that you’ve seen the video, let’s dive in to the characters that were revealed today with the help of the SFV Dev Team! Dan Yahoo! Returning to Street Fighter V is the Master of Saikyo Style martial arts, Dan Hibiki! Dan’s origins go all the way back to Street Fighter Alpha as a hidden character, and he’s made multiple appearances in other Street Fighter and Capcom titles in the years since. His last appearance was in Street Fighter IV, but he’ll have some new tricks up his sleeves in Street Fighter V. Play Video Could some of his unique taunts and antics be tied to his V-Skill or V-Trigger? The SFV Dev team has more on Dan: Dan has always had a dominating and unique fighting style with the “Saikyo-ryu” style and his trademark “Taunt.” He’s also known for his quest to avenge his father, Gou Hibiki, who was defeated by Sagat. You may have spotted his sister, Yuriko Hibiki in the in-game store! Dan’s new special move is “Danretsuken,” a multiple punch attack which debuted as one of Dan’s moves in Ultra Street Fighter IV’s Omega Mode. Finally, Dan’s “Taunt” has evolved, making it much more useful in battle! We look forward to showing you more in the future. Rose A fan-favorite and highly-requested character, Rose also makes her triumphant return from Street Fighter IV and the Street Fighter Alpha series. Rose has made multiple appearances in Street Fighter V – notably in Menat’s story. At long last, she’ll be playable in SFV in Spring 2021! Here’s some info on Rose from the SFV Dev team: Rose, a Fortune Teller working in Genoa, Italy, is able to utilize her unique Soul Power. She’s also Menat’s Master and teacher. Originally from the Street Fighter Alpha series, Rose has a mysterious connection with M. Bison. Her fighting style was originally designed to have strong anti-projectile and anti-air attacks. Please look forward to how she has changed for SFV when she’s added to the game in the future! We also remember that the Soul Satellite was pretty strong back in Street Fighter IV, so please tune in for more information on that as well! Oro The mysterious hermit with superhuman strength, Oro makes his long-awaited comeback in Street Fighter V next summer! But, he’s already been around for a while, hasn’t he? Have you noticed Oro making appearances in Street Fighter V? Quick note from the SFV dev team: Oro’s age is over 130 years old and, apparently, he refers to Dhalsim as “Youngster.” Oro originally appeared as a brand new character in Street Fighter III: New Generation, and quickly became a fan favorite. With one of the most unconventional playstyles in Street Fighter history, Oro uses only one of his arms to fight by utilizing various unorthodox attacks, including balls of light and pulling rocks from the ground to orbit around him as a shield. Although you can see he has both arms out in this sketch, one of them is holding… a turtle! This is actually a part of Oro’s fighting style, as he challenges himself to keep the turtle in his hand balanced during the fight. How will this affect his moves in Street Fighter V? We’ll find out soon enough! Akira Did we catch you by surprise? We’re thrilled to share that the fourth character in Season V is Akira Kazama from the Rival Schools series! This will be Akira’s first appearance in a Street Fighter game, but it’s not her first foray against members of the Street Fighter cast. Akira has previously faced off against Sakura, who appeared as a guest character in Rival Schools: United by Fate. A quick note from the SFV Dev Team: We are currently developing Akira so that we utilize Rival School’s originality as well as incorporating new ways to play. We can’t wait to share more on how Akira’s playstyle will evolve for Street Fighter V! In addition to the four characters we’ve announced today, there is one final character that will be added to the star-studded SFV roster. We will reveal more information when we are closer to that character’s release in Fall 2021! Street Fighter League – Season 3 We’re excited to announce that we will be extending Street Fighter League to a global scale in its third season, bringing the best of the best around the world to compete! We’ll have more info to share in the near future, so stay tuned! For now, please check out the new trailer below. Free Trial and Sale For aspiring fighters out there, we are holding a Free Trial on PS4 going on now through August 19. All 40 characters will be available during this trial, so it’s a great chance to try them all out and find a favorite! Street Fighter V and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition are also currently on sale on PlayStation Store! Now’s the perfect time to begin your journey towards ruling the ring! Once again, we want to thank all the fighters out there who have supported us over the years, and we hope you’re as excited as we are for all the new characters and content coming in Season V. For a full rundown of all the content and release schedule, here is our latest development roadmap: Stay safe and keep fighting! View the full article

It’s nearly Beta day for those of you who have pre-ordered Marvel’s Avengers! You’ll be among the first in the world to Embrace Your Powers prior to our September 4 launch. We built the Marvel’s Avengers Beta to give you a slice of the full game experience: single-player content from the original campaign, co-op War Zone missions, hero and world progress, and even more. For context around each of the unique missions included in the Beta, check out the PlayStation Blog’s July War Table recap. If you’re already up-to-speed, read on for tips and tricks from some of the foremost experts at our studio, all of whom have an impressive hour-count in Marvel’s Avengers. You can also test your mastery with some unofficial challenges our team uses to take AIM out in style. The Light that Failed (Hero Mission) Protip: “In the Taskmaster vs Black Widow Bullfight, a single bullet landing will interrupt Taskmaster’s triple power attack sequence. This prompts him to immediately raise his shield and charge you. Dodging and repeating this tactic can shave off his health, spare some of your own, and give you the time and distance to find your bearings in this exciting encounter.” – Courtney Hunt, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: – As Iron Man, see how many enemies you can shoot while in the flight sequence. – As Iron Man, see if you can destroy all three laser turrets with one Unibeam. – As Cap, see how many enemies you can take down with a targeted throw of your shield. – As Widow, see how many times you can punch Taskmaster while flying on his back. – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics To Find Olympia (Hero Mission) Protip: “Hulk can smash some weakened walls with a Power Attack. What he finds stashed in this area might just give him an edge against the enemies ahead.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “Practice your Dodges. Abomination is significantly easier to destroy if you have your dodge timings down. Make sure to practice on the tougher enemies as you make the climb up the Archive’s interior.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “Gear up! You should get some gear with special Perks in this level. See if you can make the Perks work to your advantage against tougher enemies, like Abomination. You are granted Gamma gear that procs extra green/gamma damage on Light Combo finishers — and if you’re lucky you might get Pym gear that does the same.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “Abomination hits hard and exudes a cloud of gamma gas that will harm Hulk when standing too close. Use Hulk’s Intrinsic ability ‘Rage’ to heal and deal damage simultaneously to counteract its effect.” – Hannah Ballard, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “See if you can destroy an entire wave of enemies with a perfectly located Thunder Clap.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Help Dr. Banner (Hero Mission) Protip: “This is the first time you’ll have access to the helicarrier in the Beta. Feel free to roam around and explore your new base of operations. It has definitely seen better days, but you’ll be able to upgrade it as you progress through the full game.” – Andy Wong, Community & Social Media Manager Protip: “Can you find and steal a comic from one of your fellow Avengers’ collections?” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Missing Links (War Zone Mission) Protip: “This is the first proper War Zone mission so you may be surprised at the amount of open space there is to explore. Use Tactical Awareness to locate Points of Interest in the area, such as optional challenges and special strongboxes containing powerful new gear.” – Hannah Ballard, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “Heroics and Ultimates should be used – not saved! You will likely level up once during this mission, and all of your Heroics will refresh when that happens. Don’t save them up and waste the opportunity — YOLO!” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “See if you can win the Domination event beneath the satellite tower at 100% (meaning you never leave the domination circle). – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics HARM Training Rooms Protip: Make sure to beat all three HARM training rooms! Once you do, you’ll earn a Nameplate that carries over to the full retail version of the game. Fortnite fans will also unlock the Hulk Smasher Pickaxe and bonus Hulkbuster style – more info on that collaboration here. – Meagan Marie, Sr. Community & Social Media Manager Protip: “Since HARM Room Challenges take place in smaller confines, take down the flying or ranged enemies first before tackling on the melee ones.” – Matthew “Pie” Zanini, Software Engineer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “See if you can avoid any damage in the fight against multiple waves that ends this mission!” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Condition: Green (War Zone Mission) Protip: “Start learning the various ways of opening locked facilities and rooms throughout this level. Sometimes, there are pressure panels to stand on, sometimes you need your ranged attacks, and sometimes a good old Hulk Smash will get you in.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “There are a TON of flying plague drones on this level. See how many you can take out with a single throw (Hulk’s ranged attack arcs, so it’s a math problem!)” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Stark Realities (War Zone Mission) Protip: “Use Tactical Awareness to spot extra supplies in the map. These provide additional gear to give you more options and level up more efficiently. Not all the rewards are marked with beacons.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “If you play solo, your companions are going to want to do the Domination fight outside of the AIM facility. Make sure you don’t forget to take on the High Value Target just a few hundred meters away before you go inside.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Enter: The Avengers (War Zone Mission) Protip: “If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, remember that taking out turrets and flyers first sometimes reduces the overall, consistent damage you are taking. Clean up those minor annoyances, so that you can focus on the bigger enemies.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “This contains the hardest Hack mission in the Beta. See if you and your team can take it on at the highest level of difficulty.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics To Tame a Titan (War Zone Mission) Protip: “This large boss fight takes place in a more open environment. Use a flying character, such as Thor or Iron Man, to take advantage of this open space and easily reach the higher weak points.” – Dan Olmos, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “In the first fight here, it is easy to get overwhelmed (especially if you are trying the mission before you are at the recommended Power Level). Learn to jump into and out of combat and let your fellow players (or AI companions) take some of the heat.” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Dev Challenge: “Never Touch the Ground: If you are playing as Iron Man, see if you can complete this boss fight without getting knocked out of the sky by the various missiles flying your way. It’s tough, but not impossible!” – Dallas Dickinson, Executive Producer at Crystal Dynamics Alpha-Threat Training Complex (Drop Zone Mission) Protip: “This is a very short mission. To get the most out of it, look for a chest with gear before you use the terminal.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Exo Hydraulics Foundry (Drop Zone Mission) Protip: “Close quarters combat provides the perfect opportunity to practice your area of effect (AoE) abilities and hone your melee combo moves.” – Cory Butler, Senior Producer at Crystal Dynamics Character Leveling & Combat Pro-Tips Hero progression is one of Marvel’s Avengers main systems, and the Beta gives a taste of earning experience to level up your unique Hero. You’ll have access to the starting Skill page for each hero and as you earn experience/level up, each level will grant you a Skill Point. You can then spend these to unlock Skills and shape what each of your Avengers can do. You can reach up to a Hero Level of 15 and a Power Level of 45 in the Beta. Protip: “Resources to boost your gear can be found in crates scattered across every mission. Be sure to regularly boost your equipment’s Power Level in the Gear menu, as the equipment you’re granted from strongboxes and mission rewards are leveled based on your current loadout.” – Hannah Ballard, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “In Brutal Mode, playing defensively (counters, parrying, evasion) is key to surviving.” – Kim Lane, Associate Brand Manager at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “The bar beneath an enemy’s HP bar is their stun meter. Once you attack an enemy enough to fill it, they will be open to a Takedown, which is a powerful attack that is unique to each Super Hero.” – Matthew “Pie” Zanini, Software Engineer at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “You can cancel out of attacks with jumping, dodging, or using a Heroic. This is useful for attacks that have long wind-ups like certain power attacks.” – Laeth Sammour, Workplace Solutions Assistant Protip: “You don’t have to use your heroics as soon as they are available. Instead, find a good opportunity to use them against a tough enemy or group, or when your willpower is low. Also be aware that some enemies can drain your heroic energy even when the meter is full.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “If you are playing War Zones solo, don’t forget to play as each of the heroes. The AI companions will use the Skills, Gear and Outfit you selected for them. This approach will make your Strike Team more formidable.” – Cory Butler, Senior Producer at Crystal Dynamics Hulk Protip: “Hulk’s Stranglehold heroic can be held down, delaying the start of his charge for a few seconds. During this time he’s immune to damage, so use it to help aim the charge or tank a few attacks before he starts barreling through some AIM baddies! Hit the R1 button again to slam his fist down and pop foes up into the air for an easy grab attack.” – Chris San Diego, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “Grab enemies and use them as weapons against the enemies who block your normal attacks.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Iron Man Protip: “When playing co-op as Iron Man, help the more grounded characters out by focusing primarily on the flying enemies such as drones and Sky Dogs. Defeating them, or at least pulling their aggro, prevents the heroes on the ground from getting attacked at all angles and helps keep the fight at a more even playing field.” – Dan Olmos, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Protip: “As you level up make sure to try each of Iron Man’s weapon systems. Each has benefits in different situations. The active weapon type is highlighted below your energy meter.” – Matthew Gaston, Senior Technical Designer at Crystal Dynamics Kamala Khan Protip: “Kamala’s light attacks have a wide range and can hit multiple enemies. Meanwhile, her heavy attacks can knock enemies up into the air, where you can follow up with a quick combo. Alternate between light and heavy attacks mid-combo based on what you think is best for the given situation.” – Chris San Diego, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics Black Widow Protip: “Grapple, grapple, grapple! Black Widow’s grapple move is the quickest and most satisfying way to close gaps between a hero and enemies in the game. You can pull yourself up to flying Drones and dropkick them out of the sky, or counter a Stiletto Riot Bot from a distance before zipping across the battlefield to finish them off.” – Hannah Ballard, Development QA at Crystal Dynamics The Beta is big, but only a sample of what’s to come. Marvel’s Avengers will feature a full-length campaign, over 80 War Zones/Drop Zones, more than 50 enemy types, regularly updated configurations of HARM rooms and challenges, and even more later game mission types. On top of that, you get six heroes with the game at launch, each with more than 50 skills to upgrade, and gear and outfits to earn and unlock. The longer you play the game, the more it grows and evolves as we add new characters like Hawkeye, and new story content and regions – all at no additional cost. We can’t wait for you to dive into the world of Marvel’s Avengers. View the full article

Fortnite’s Joy Ride update launches on PS4 today, giving you the freedom to ride in style! Wherever you find yourself on the Island, jump behind the wheel with your squadmates and venture out to seek your opponents. Before you get in the driver’s seat, here’s a run-down of the first drivable cars you can find around the Island. As long as the car isn’t booted, the keys are already in the ignition. Islander Prevalent: The spirit of responsibility. Victory Motors Whiplash: It’s not just a name. It’s a warning. OG Bear: Don’t poke the bear. Titano Mudflap: Own the road. Need some jams for your joyride? Blast some tunes on your favorite channel with all-new radio stations. (And if you’re a Content Creator, remember that you can disable Licensed Audio in the Audio settings.) Also, some advice to help you outlast your opponents: if you aren’t near a Gas Pump, you can fuel up with one of the throwable Gas Cans scattered around the Island. These can be refilled at any Gas Pump you arrive at later. Buckle up! View the full article

PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale continues to heat up with an influx of new titles joining the promotion from Wednesday, August 5. See the iconic city of Midgar in a whole new way with action RPG Final Fantasy VII Remake. Tackle Hell’s toughest soldiers in Doom Eternal. Survive an undead apocalypse in World War Z. Gear up for an intense reimagining of a classic series in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. These four games are joined by many more titles which are now available for less for a limited time. Head on over to the Summer Sale on PlayStation Store (European players, head here, and US players here) to see your local discounts. Act fast though: the promotion only runs until Wednesday, August 19 at 11.59pm local time. View the full article

* Timed Exclusive content until Oct. 1, 2020 The Shadow Company, an elite PMC group within the Allegiance faction, has arisen to take the ongoing conflict into their own hands. Fight alongside them in Season Five of Modern Warfare featuring four new Multiplayer maps and new additions to Warzone like an opened Stadium and Transit Station, plus a moving freight train that travels across the map. The Free-to-Play Warzone Map Gets Bigger The already massive free-to-play map of Verdansk just got some updates. The Shadow Company’s explosive arrival has cracked open the Stadium and inside the match is on. Want to battle on the go? Hop aboard a moving freight train to get around the map and fight while you ride. Don’t forget to grab your tickets at the expanded Train Station. Stadium – Don’t land on the roof; go through it. More than just a pitch, move through rows of seating, discover the underground parking structure, and rethink your strategy for a match at Stadium. Don’t get distracted at the concession stands. Train Station – Get a ticket and explore this expanded area near Promenade. With new rooms, interior spaces, and more opportunities for gunplay and gear, expect the fight at Train Station to be different than you remember. Moving Freight Train – All Aboard. Travel with your squad and pick off enemies as you go on the moving freight train. Use the track to escape the gas, take a load off, or get to a new location stealthier, without the noise of a vehicle engine. Warzone Map Tip: The Three S’s of Interior Combat. Shotguns, SMGs, and sidearms are all built to excel in CQB scenarios, which will be commonplace in both Stadium and Train Station. While the other weapon categories can find their place here, it may be worth carrying a close-quarters option in your loadout, if only to be prepared when trekking through these new areas or other interior spaces. More Multiplayer Battlefields Four new Multiplayer maps join the rotation across Gunfight, 6v6 Multiplayer, and Ground War. Read a brief overview of all, plus tips for Suldal Harbor. Livestock (Gunfight) – Small pastoral map features a central barn for fast and frenetic tactical opportunities in Gunfight. Verdansk International Airport (Ground War) – Don’t let this tarmac be your final resting place as this popular Warzone destination makes it way to Ground War. Utilize both the interior and exterior spaces to find success. Mind the tanks. Petrov Oil Rig (6v6) – Fight aboard an operational oilrig featuring five distinct sections within a versatile map design where all playstyles can shine. Suldal Harbor (6v6) – Likely not the safest place to dock your vessel, this bustling harbor will see players weaving between fish markets, shipping areas, and weather-beaten administrative areas. Tips for Suldal Harbor Chokepoint Ambushes. The long lanes between the fish market and the shipping village could be ideal for CQB players, or for those that want to set lethal equipment traps. On the Flank. Especially in objective game modes where key areas have multiple points of entry, those using weapons for close-quarters play could use cover and longer flanking routes to potentially surprise their enemies. Shadow Company Rises in the Season Five Battle Pass System This Season’s Battle Pass system is themed to fit the explosive and dark tone of the elite PMC, Shadow Company. Instantly unlock Shadow Company’s leader, Marcus “Lerch” Ortega at Tier 0 with purchase. Also at Tier 0 players can unlock three War Tracks – a new customization item allowing you to listen to specific songs while you drive a vehicle. Earn Two Free Weapons in the Battle Pass System Play and progress through the tiers to add a new SMG and assault rifle to your arsenal. ISO SMG (Tier 15) – Lightweight and reliable, the ISO is a precision crafted, fast-firing SMG. AN-94 Assault Rifle (Tier 31) – Featuring a unique hyperburst where the first round is followed by an instantaneous second with little to no recoil, master this unique mechanism to deal efficient and deadly damage in every match. Purchase the Battle Pass to unlock up to 100 tiers of content including 10 Operator skins and Missions, Legendary weapon blueprints, the raven ‘Nevermore’ Finishing Move, up to 1300 Call of Duty points, and more. Advance through the Battle Pass system just by playing the game. Get More on PlayStation: Sony *Exclusive Modern Warfare Content Survival Crash A familiar Crash site is the locale for the newest map playable in the PlayStation *exclusive Survival mode. Take advantage of long sightlines or head to the rooftops and lock down a building to outlast waves of enemies. Get Killstreaks, freshen your loadout, and restock your ammo between rounds to equip your foursome with the tools to survive on Crash. Call of Duty: Warzone Combat Pack – Season Five Complete your gooaaallll of placing first in a Warzone match or earning the Juggernaut in Multiplayer while you rock this jersey skin for Zane in a soccer-themed 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 Zane ‘The Footballer’ skin (This skin unlocks the Operator, if not already owned) Epic ‘On the Volley’ Weapon Blueprint Epic ‘Injury Time’ Watch Epic ‘The Sparks’ Charm Epic ‘Stunning Strike’ Calling Card Epic ‘Sparks Pride’ Emblem 60 Minute Double XP Token The Combat Pack will be available to download on PlayStation starting August 5. Earn An *Exclusive Weapon Blueprint and More in Missions The Grand Rapids weapon blueprint is available to earn in Missions. View your Missions in the Challenges tab and complete each task in the multi-step objective to earn the Grand Rapids. The blueprint has a metallic frosty blue shine with multiple attachments including No Stock for a mobile and agile playstyle. Pick up XP and other rewards as you complete the objectives on your way to earning the Grand Rapids. Tips for Conquering the Battlefield with Sony *Exclusive Content 1. Crash in the Restaurant. For the benefit of your Survival, you may want to take solace in the Restaurant towards Crash’s center. The sightlines from here can lead to waves of enemies rushing towards you, only to fall at the hands of your long-range weaponry. Just be wary of enemy helicopters who will come prepared to chop you down from the high ground with heavy fire. 2. Squad Goals. On the Volley, the blueprint included in the Combat Pack, is an SMG kitted for more mid-range engagements. If you would like to specialize in this type of fighting, don’t hesitate to use this and an assault rifle or LMG in your Loadout Drops, as the SMG and AR/LMG ammo pools are separate within Warzone. 3. Rolling on the River. The Grand Rapids blueprint, part of the Sony *Exclusive Challenge, is configured for closer medium-range engagements, so feel confident with it when challenging others with CQB weapons. The hybrid optic also allows you to compete at longer ranges, but should you do so, it may be wise to mount this weapon in order to control its recoil. Season Five Download Intel PlayStation Owners of the full version of Modern Warfare and free-to-play Warzone will have a decrease in overall footprint. Please note that the Season Five update will have a download size of 33.9 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. Once the new Season of content has been integrated into your game, and provided you had the update prior to Season Five installed, there will be a decrease in overall footprint. A reminder: players can also choose to uninstall/remove other data packs if no longer needed for a smaller overall file size. Season Five of Modern Warfare is live on PlayStation on August 4 at 11 PM PST! View the full article

We’re officially one month away from launching Marvel’s Avengers on PlayStation 4 – less than that if you count Early Access! Being huge Marvel fans ourselves, these past few weeks have been packed with a quiver of reveals that we have been eager to talk about for a long time, but we wanted to take this chance to go more in-depth about a few more elements of the game: Community Challenges and cosmetics. Community Challenges Although they may have their individual stories, the Avengers always work together as a team to take on threats around the world – with a little help from their superpowers and advanced training, of course. Although we might not be able to summon lightning or drop a gamma bomb in unparalleled rage, we can all still take a page from their comic book and work together for the better of all! That’s where Community Challenges come in. Community Challenges are goals that the community must reach as a whole to gain rewards for everyone. Although we won’t go into detail now on the exact goals and rewards, we can tell you that there will not be a difficult barrier of entry, so everyone can pitch in to reap the benefits of the reward. Each month, a new Community Challenge will take place with different goals to keep you on your feet. Stay tuned for more information closer to launch on the first challenge! Avengers Cosmetics As new Super Heroes join the team post-launch, including the recently announced Hawkeye and his “sea of emotions,” they’ll each have their own narratives, skills, gear, outfits, emotes, nameplates, and takedowns to fully flesh out their character and your experience with them. This is especially true for different cosmetics as we know how important alternate outfits are to these iconic characters given their multiple looks throughout Marvel’s rich history. Cosmetic items also have their own rarities like Uncommon, Rare (Blue), Epic (Purple), and Legendary (Gold). Many of these can be obtained over the course of the story campaign, by deciphering patterns earned in missions, from various vendors, the Marketplace, and more. An example of a Legendary Outfit is the Champion Outfit for Hulk, which is inspired by his look in the Planet Hulk storyline in 2006 where he was sent into space due to being deemed too dangerous. His ship lands on the planet Sakaar, where he’s forced to partake in gladiator battles. It’s legendary storylines like these that make up a good chunk of our Legendary Outfits! Takedowns are cosmetic abilities that allow Super Heroes to perform a high-damage move under certain circumstances in battle. Each Takedown showcases a Super Hero’s unique personality and are among the flashiest moves you can equip. One of Ms. Marvel’s Epic Takedowns shows her channeling her inner Hulk and “Kamala-SMASHING” an enemy from one side to another like the true Avengers fan she is. Cosmetics don’t provide any additional advantage to gameplay. True to its name, they are only there for cosmetic purposes for you to personalize each Super Hero. If you’re feeling regal, equip Thor’s Royal Aesirian Outfit. If you want some nostalgia in your travels, equip his Asgard’s Might Outfit. Furthermore, if you’re playing with a team of companion A.I., they’ll be donning the outfits that you currently have equipped to them, meaning it will truly be your team, the way you want it. We can’t wait to see what your team of Avengers looks like! We previously stated that we’re huge Marvel fans, but we’re also PlayStation fans. We are honored to be working with them to provide additional advantages to PlayStation players. PlayStation players will have exclusive access to certain Community Challenges, where the PlayStation Nation will work together to accomplish a goal in order to gain rewards specific to them. Even More PlayStation Advantages When it comes to cosmetics, PlayStation players will have 30-day exclusive access to a Legendary Outfit, Legendary Emote, Epic Takedown, and nameplate for each Super Hero as they are released – this is also for the six launch heroes. In addition, we also have rewards for those with a PlayStation Plus subscription. For each Super Hero added to the game post-launch, Hawkeye included, all PS Plus members will receive a free bundle that contains a Rare Outfit, nameplate, and 100 Credits to celebrate the addition of another Avenger to the roster. At launch, we’ll have a free bundle for Ms. Marvel available for PS Plus members to embiggen our love for Kamala! PlayStation 4 players will be the first to play the Beta! The Beta for those who pre-ordered on PS4 will take place from August 7-9 with pre-loading available on August 6. Following that, the Open Beta for all PlayStation players will be available from August 14-16 and August 21-23. You also do not need PlayStation Plus to participate in the Beta, so all your friends are free to join! For more information on the contents of the Beta, please see our previous PS Blog. Learn early details about how Crystal Dynamics is bringing its own spectacular version of Spider-Man to Marvel’s Avengers, exclusively on PlayStation. The countdown to launch has begun! We’re excited to see you all in the Beta and to help you complete Community Challenges in-game. You never know, you might be playing with a member of the development team – and if you are, show us your favorite emote and outfit! Marvel’s Avengers launches on September 4 for PlayStation 4 and later on PlayStation 5. Players who purchase the PS4 version will get the PS5 version for free! View the full article

Welcome to West of Dead! Here at Upstream Arcade, we are a small indie team of four, and we are delighted that with the support of Raw Fury we have been able to bring this title to PlayStation. West of Dead is a game that combines a gothic comic book look and a new style of action game where you use cover and light (and weapons, lots of weapons) to overcome danger all around you. Purgatory, Wyoming 1888 West of Dead is set in a strange, shifting world, built on the memories of the dead. It’s filled with good souls, and bad, all trapped. You will explore and bring balance, helping the good ones move ‘east’, and sending the bad ones ‘west’, whether or not they want to go. Slide, Dive, Crouch and Shoot Your flame-headed, poncho-wearing hero will have to out-manoeuvre and out-draw the scary denizens of Purgatory. Using a system that we like to call 360-cover combat, you’ll be able to dive, slide into and over cover to make sure you’re always positioned well. Cover is critical, protecting you from incoming fire, and giving you the chance to reload and think. Even if you’re surrounded, as long as you’re not outsmarted you can succeed. Light and shadow One more thing that you have on your side is light. As befits the visual style, enemies will often hide in the dark, emerging to attack. You’ll be able to turn the tide by igniting lanterns, letting you see what you’re up against and also briefly stunning your foes. Death is only the start of the story As befitting Purgatory, every run is different. We’ve adopted a ‘Rogue-Lite’ structure, meaning that every time you start a new game, you start from the ‘beginning’, making you grow your character, explore new paths and meet new dangers on the way. You get further by sharpening your skills, but Purgatory will aid you too, granting you new abilities that you keep when you start a new game, no matter how many times you have died. We’ve loved making West of Dead, and we hope that you have a great time playing it. View the full article

Turn the world into your weapon, shape a world’s destiny by your actions and have your combat skills challenged as three new titles join PS Now this month. Hitman 2, Greedfall and Dead Cells are all playable from today. Let’s take a closer look at each below. New to PS Now? Find out more here. Hitman 2 Travel the globe and track your targets across exotic sandbox locations in Hitman 2. From sun-drenched streets to dark and dangerous rainforests, nowhere is safe from the world’s most deadly assassin, Agent 47. Explore hugely complex sandbox environments, everything can help you plan and execute the perfect assassination – use stealth, sabotage and more to turn your creativity into a deadly weapon. Available until February 1, 2021. Greedfall Play Video In this stunning action RPG, explore uncharted new lands as you set foot on a remote island seeping with magic, and filled with riches, lost secrets, and fantastic creatures. You’ll have complete freedom to shape your abilities, spells and skills and decide whether to complete objectives with combat, diplomacy, deception, or stealth. Forge this new world’s destiny, as you befriend or betray companions and entire factions. Dead Cells An interconnected world, branching paths and unlockable skills with the constant adrenaline-pumping threat of permadeath beckon in this sublime roguelike action platformer. With no checkpoints, you either vanquish the final boss in one go or try again. Tough but fair combat, responsive controls, challenging foes, and of course, the emergency panic roll to get you out of trouble make for a visceral and cathartic action game. Available until 1st February 2021. View the full article