Commander Fury

Hello! We’re back and continuing our conversations on both Monster Hunter: World and favorite fighting games, including Ryan’s early impressions of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. Tune in for a massive news recap, new release highlights, and a very normal Sid Shuman. Enjoy the show! Email us at blogcast@sony.com! Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Stuff We Talked About Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Monster Hunter: World Celeste Shadow of the Colossus Final Fantasy XIV Patch 4.2 Old-school fighting games Recent Episodes 278: It’s the Thrill of the Fight 277: Sneak Attack! 276: You’re a Wizard, Harry The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, SIEA Ryan Clements – Sr. Social Media Specialist, SIEA Kristen Titus – Social Media Specialist, SIEA Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

We’re only a few weeks in, but 2018 is already off to a promising start with great new games like Monster Hunter: World, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Celeste, and – just around the corner on Feb. 6 – Shadow of the Colossus. We’re especially interested to see how this year’s new batch of games is tapping into the power of PS4 Pro. Monster Hunter: World is a perfect example, offering PS4 Pro players three separate rendering prioritization settings — Resolution, Framerate, and Graphics – which empower players to choose the heightened experience that’s right for them. All three modes are impressive in their own way, whether you prefer dynamic 4K rendering on your 4K TV, a super-smooth framerate, or increased visual detail. Since PS4 Pro elevates your gaming experience, we wanted to similarly ‘elevate’ our new TV ad, our first for the console. Look out for Monster Hunter: World, along with God of War, Far Cry 5, and more featured in the new spot. If you’re interested in reading more about games that take advantage of PS4 Pro’s capabilities, check out our guide here. Give the new TV spot a watch, and let us know what you think in the comments below! View the full article

Hot off our 2017 PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards, we’ve been looking for new ways to recognize the very best games on PlayStation platforms. So we decided to ask the real experts: you! Today, we’re launching Players’ Choice, a new game-of-the-month award decided by players. How does it work? On the last day of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Seven days later, we’ll close the polls and announce the winner on PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners will throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. Time to get started! Tell us: what was the best game of January 2018? POLL: Players’ Choice: What Was the Best Game of January 2018? View the full article

February is a short month, so be sure to plan accordingly with all of these great games coming to PS Plus this month! First up, we have RiME. This single player puzzle adventure is set in a beautiful world where you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. Armed with your wits and a will to overcome, you must explore this mysterious island, reach the tower’s peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets. Next up is the family friendly adventure game Knack. Take control of Knack and his signature size-shifting abilities to protect the world from a dangerous threat – the invading Goblin Army. Knack is a fun-filled adventure that lets players wield fantastic powers and discover a uniquely vibrant world. This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup also includes: Spelunker HD, PS3 Mugen Souls Z, PS3 Exiles End, PS Vita Grand Kingdom, PS Vita (Also available on PS4) Just as a reminder, all PlayStation Plus members can get Starblood Arena as a bonus game through March 6. This arena combat game was built from the ground up to be played in VR with your PS VR headset*. Attack, evade, and move in any direction as you compete against pilots from across the galaxy. You’ll fight for glory, credits, and your life. Lastly, for all Gems of War fans, get your hands on the new PlayStation Plus Starter Pack starting February 13th through March 13th. The pack includes the Nobend Brothers troop, capable of causing all kinds of trouble on the gem board without even losing a turn. It also comes with 10 rare gem keys and 2,500 souls to level up all your new troops. Get started on your journey today! And there you have it. See you next month! * PlayStation 4 system, PlayStation VR, and PlayStation Camera are required to experience VR functionality. View the full article

Storied heroes and devious villians from across the Final Fantasy universe converge once more in a gorgeous, team-based brawler. Welcome to Dissidia Final Fantasy NT on PS4. Following in the footsteps of the original PSP fighter-RPG hybrids, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT celebrates the iconic characters of the franchise with spectacular battles. Wield blades, magic, and the summons themselves as you work to build your characters bravery and trounce the enemy. Tailored to the PS4, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT takes the fighting spin-off to new heights. For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy the Drop! New Releases: Week of January 30, 2018 Briks 2 PS4 — Digital Briks 2 is a classic retro arcade game with all new animated characters, new animated backgrounds, exciting new boss monsters, power-ups, and custom music. Collect bonuses and power your way through more than 100 new levels. Cold Iron PS VR — Digital There’s a new sheriff in town. Every enemy is unique, every duel is different, and every bullet counts. Cold Iron is a new genre for a new medium. Experience it exclusively in virtual reality. Dissidia Final Fantasy NT PS4 — Digital, Retail Choose from more than 20 legendary Final Fantasy characters and battle in a unique three-on-three arena. Call forth familiar summons like Ifrit, Shiva, and Odin to dominate the opposing side or to turn the tide of the battle in each match. EA Sports UFC 3 PS4 — Digital, Retail (Out 2/2) EA Sports UFC 3 revolutionizes authentic fighting movement with Real Player Motion Tech, a new animation technology that delivers the most responsive and authentic athletic motion in sports gaming. Feral Fury PS4 — Digital Long after humankind perished in the flames of the oil wars, the great panda empire is expanding throughout the galaxy as the new dominant power. With the old world in ashes and an endless need for bamboo, entire planets are turned into plantations, and the flames of war are lit once again. Frutakia 2 PS4 — Digital (Out 1/31) Frutakia is back and better than ever! Match three or more cute animals and level up! Go ahead and move any row up or down. We dare you to discover its ultra-addictive gameplay. Nightmares from the Deep 3: Davy Jones PS4 — Digital (Out 2/2) Play the final chapter of the fantastic pirate trilogy! Davy Jones and his undead crew appear once again to kidnap the museum custodian Sarah Black and force her daughter Cory to sign a dark pact. In order to save Cory, Sarah will travel through mysterious locations, solve plenty of puzzles, and learn the truth about the ghost of a beautiful young girl who roams Davy Jones’ island. Out of Ammo PS VR — Digital Out of Ammo is an intense virtual reality strategy game for PS VR that puts you in the commander’s seat against wave after wave of soldiers. The Pierhead Arcade PS4 — Digital Play classic coin-operated games. Compete on global leaderboards! Get digital toys at the gift shop using tickets you’ve won. Railway Empire PS4 — Digital, Retail Exploit the economic opportunities of the United States in an extensive campaign, working your way step by step from coast to coast across this great continent. Restless Spirit PS4 — Digital (Out 2/1) The spirit of a girl appears in front of a father whose daughter is lost. This man, filled with grief in his heart follows the guidance of the spirit, wandering ever deeper into the forest. Why has she shown herself? What is her purpose? The truth lies in the abyss of the forest. Strikers Edge PS4 — Digital Strikers Edge is a medieval dodgeball with weapons, ancient warriors, and special powers. Challenge your opponents in online and local multiplayer, ascend to the top of the ladder and become the best striker! Time Recoil PS Vita — Digital Time Recoil is a top-down shooter where you kill to slow time, experience amazing slow motion gunfights, and trigger spectacular special moves. Wulverblade PS4 — Digital Help Britannia defeat the Romans in Wulverblade — a hardcore side-scrolling beat ’em up inspired by classics such as Golden Axe, Sengoku, and Knights of the Round! Migos – Culture II Siddhartha Khosla – Runaways (Original Score) Mike Posner – i was born in Detroit . . . Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween Roman J. Israel, Esq. Wonder May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers- January 29 at 8/7c (HBO) Big Papi Needs a Job- January 31 at 8/7c (Fusion) 30 for 30: The Two Bills- February 1 at 9/8c (ESPN) The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

The stage of history is set, does your soul still burn? Soulcalibur is back with its unique weapon-based combat as new and returning characters battle it out against gorgeous 16th century fantasy settings. Today we are detailing the return of Kilik, Xianghua, and Nightmare, as well as a brand-new fighter, Grøh, entering the fray. Kilik After being abandoned as a child, Kilik was raised by the monks of the Ling-Sheng Su temple where he was raised to be a proficient fighter. While never knowing his true family, Kilik befriended another orphan named Xianglian and a bond formed between them stronger than even the closest of siblings. They grew into proficient warriors, and their efforts were rewarded with each of them being chosen to inherit one of the temple’s three sacred treasures. However, on the night before the official handover ceremony, fate began to stir… Kilik is proficient in the fighting style of the rod. Among the many rod styles surviving in China today, the techniques of Ling-Sheng Su are said to be among the most refined and powerful. The rod is a large and difficult weapon to master, however, the freedom of movement, effectiveness at any range, and offensive and defensive capabilities make it an appealing choice over other long weapons such as the spear. Xianghua Xianghua’s mother was from the prestigious Chai family in Beijing, and taught Xianghua swordsmanship from a young age, treating her with a firm but loving hand. Xianghua sensed these moments held some deeper significance than her mother was letting on. Perhaps it had something to do with her father, a man she never knew and was told had passed away. Two years after her mother’s death, she decided to focus on the way of the sword. With every passing day, her passion burned stronger than before. Xianghua learned how to wield a sword from her mother and from a young age was enraptured by the beauty of her mother practicing the sword. Xianghua’s personal style relies less on taking her opponent down with head-on attacks and more on feints and landing a decisive blow only after her opponent has left an opening for her to exploit. Nightmare Appearing from out of the shadows like the advent of nightfall, this barbaric knight in azure armor reaps the souls of the living as if they were mere stalks of corn. His name came to represent fear and desperation to all who heard it. Those who found out that the rumors were true, that he was no fairytale villain, would be struck down in a single blow before they could even open their mouths to scream. Nightmare carries the demon sword Soul Edge, a blade that has been part of many battles and retains the memories of those who wielded it, and those who faced them. Such memories influence the fighting style of the blade’s current master, so even if its wielder lacks experience in combat, they can battle like a seasoned warrior. When facing Nightmare, one must never forget that he is able to at least partially unleash the power of the sword. If he does, be prepared for a blow designed to kill in one fell cut. Grøh The mysterious Aval Organization was a secret group with origins rooted in ancient times. They say the group came to be when a king used the spirit sword to defeat its cursed counterpart, and with his dying breath, entrusted them with both the blade and his unfinished mission. Each new generation has taken on the group’s mission to rid the world of “Outsider” — those connected with the cursed sword. One such member was Grøh, about whom little is known save for that he was a fearsome warrior. Though his fighting style is shrouded in mystery, he is believed to have wielded two swords. Some also say he kept a certain technique close to his chest… Grøh utilizes the Aval Twinblade Swordsmanship that often employs multiple consecutive slashes. This has a major disadvantage in that a careless practitioner runs the risk of injuring themselves. As such, it takes a lot of practice to use this style effectively. Dual-swordsmanship also allows for the swords to be split in two and wielded separately. This tactic is one of the many ways a wielder can use to surprise their opponent, giving them the opportunity to string together a series of blows that lead to a final, deadly slash. Let us know what you think about these new characters for Soulcalibur VI and who else you would like to see added to the game’s roster. We can’t wait to share more information for Soulcalibur VI before its release later this year! View the full article

When remastering an experience as legendary as Shadow of the Colossus, you have to make a decision. Do you keep everything as close to the original version of the game as possible, or smooth out some of the source material’s rough edges? During our recent trip to Bluepoint Games in Austin, TX, we asked where exactly the team drew that line: “The changes that come across in the game are very thoughtful changes,” says Randall Lowe, producer on the new Shadow of the Colossus. “We worked hard to preserve the way the game felt, while making the control scheme more comparable to the Uncharteds and the Horizons of the world. “There are things we decided we weren’t going to change,” Lowe continues. “For instance, Wander standing still to fire a bow. Everything about Shadow is very deliberate. The way Wander moves throughout the world is heavy. It’s not light and fast and arcadey. He carries the burden of his actions in how he moves. “Making the game the way you remember it is the most important mission we have, regardless of everything else.” Playing Shadow of the Colossus on PS4 Pro features two modes: Cinematic and Performance. Learn how they work here. “We have a lot of passionate debates,” adds Peter Dalton, technical director on the new Shadow. “We ask ourselves: what does the user find endearing about this game, and are the changes that we’re making enhancing that feeling of nostalgia and love, or is it going against that sort of feel?” Mark Skelton, art director on Shadow of the Colossus, looks to a different kind of fan for validation. Taking a measured approach to a remaster — or in the case of Shadow of the Colossus, a full-on rebuild — is a good strategy, agrees studio president Marco Thrush: “We listen to the fans. What issues did people originally have with the game? What are the biggest complaints? What are the biggest bugs that slipped through in the original release? What are the things we can fix?” He goes on to offer an example of technical improvements having unintended consequences: “Originally, as a side effect of the framerate increase on the PS3 version of Shadow, a mistake was exposed where the third Colossi became more difficult. So, now we’ve had the chance to fix those kinds of things that slipped through initially. It gave us a second chance.” The game’s iconic visuals have also received a monstrous overhaul. Take the fur — something you’ll be staring at quite a bit as you struggle to scale each of the game’s massive creatures. “Obviously, the whole crux of being on a Colossus is being able to grip that fur and move through it, so a lot of time and effort was spent getting that perfect,” explains Mark Skelton, the game’s art director. “We spent a lot of time on the fur tech, trying to make the fur lay and clump just right, getting the shading right and making sure it moves right when you’re climbing through it.” Fun fact: this fur is not actually an “art asset” by traditional means — it’s dynamically generated on the fly by the game’s engine, making it feel that much more organic as Wander clings to it for dear life. Shadow of the Colossus on PS4 features a full suite of Photo Mode controls, allowing for the creation of some impressively dramatic scenes. Learn more about it in our SotC Photo Mode reveal story. Speaking broadly, Bluepoint’s goal with any project is not just to recreate a game as faithfully as possible at higher resolutions. Thrush explains: “To me, it’s about preserving the memory of how a game was originally meant to be played. There’s the saying about rose-tinted glasses: you perceive it like it was better than it actually was, right? “With Shadow of the Colossus we’re working on a remake — it’s not really a remaster. One, because we already did the remaster. And, two, it’s getting to the point where, like, going from PS2 to PS4, there are certain expectations. Just re-releasing it the same way we had on PS3 just wouldn’t have done the title justice. It deserves more. We’re lucky that Sony agreed with our stance on that.” Bluepoint’s ground-up rebuild of Shadow of the Colossus is right around the corner, launching February 6 on PS4. Now, be on thy way. View the full article

On January 30, players can experience The Resistance, Call of Duty: WWII’s premiere DLC Pack, first on the PlayStation 4. This pack includes three new maps, a new War Mode experience, and a new chapter for Call of Duty: WWII’s Nazi Zombies, The Darkest Shore. We’re all very excited for The Resistance to come out, especially as we recently kicked off The Resistance community event. One of the things we are particularly excited about in this DLC Pack is the new War Mode mission: Operation Intercept. And we have an exclusive top-down view of the Operation Intercept map that we’d like to share with you here at PlayStation.Blog. Operation Intercept takes place outside of St. Lo, France, and leads us on an urban rescue mission to save Resistance fighters being transported by train. The first objective on the Allied side is to make it to the two cells where your Axis foes are keeping the fighters prisoner. Once rescued, you’ll be tasked with the destruction of key communications equipment before continuing your mission. If you’re able to destroy every last piece of the gear, then you’ll continue on and escort a tank in order to try and stop an Axis train loaded with munitions. On the flipside, the Axis forces need to try and keep the Allies from rescuing the Resistance fighters, protect their comms gear, and keep the tank from reaching the trainyard. The real hotbed of this map comes in trying to protect the communications gear. There are both upper and lower radio rooms, and Axis soldiers can repair damaged radios, which make this objective very challenging. With both outside and inside areas to skirmish in, multiple lanes, the ability to repair radios and close doors on train boxcars to stop the Allied forces, Operation Intercept provides a ton of new challenges for Call of Duty: WWII. In addition to Operation Intercept, let’s take a look at the three new Multiplayer maps in The Resistance: Anthropoid – Based in Prague, Czechoslovakia, this map is inspired by Operation Anthropoid – the famous assassination attempt on a high-ranking German officer during World War II. This map features a center lane divided by a river, with long-flanking paths that can be used by snipers for ranged attacks. Occupation – In this remake of a classic Call of Duty map, players battle through the streets and shops of German-occupied Paris during WWII. Long side streets encourage mid-range combat, with nearby homes and storefronts lending defensive positions for ambush and recovery. Valkyrie – Located in the Masurian Woods, East Prussia, this map was inspired by The Wolf’s Lair – Hitler’s Eastern-front headquarters during Operation Barbarossa – the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. This is a medium-sized map with gameplay focused around a dangerous center lane covered by multiple overwatch positions and mounted machine guns. The Resistance is available to preorder now at PlayStation Store, and players can also take part in The Resistance community event right now until February 27 to earn free Supply Drops, new gear, experience new modes, and more! Vive la Résistance! View the full article

Hello friends and foes, I’m Seb, lead dev at Motion Twin, a french indie studio currently developing Dead Cells, which we are very proud to be bringing to PS4 players later this year! At first glance, Dead Cells looks a lot like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night wrapped in a rogue-lite, stuffed in a souls-lite and cooked in sweet pixelart sauce with permadeath, randomness and challenging combat at the core of the experience. However, I feel like this mashup doesn’t entirely convey what we’re trying to achieve with Dead Cells. What we’re really trying to do is empower the player, right from the get go. Dead Cells is designed to be a challenging experience. You won’t be breezing through the game on your first go, unless you’ve got some outrageous Jedi-like reflexes. But difficulty for difficulty’s sake makes no sense, so each challenge should feel tough but not insurmountable. This has been a core design principle since the beginning, and we always make sure you have the tools you need to overcome the challenge. Right off the bat, you feel fast and fluid when you move. You’ve got access to all of your equipment slots, double jump, a blistering stomp attack and your dodge: a roll during which you’re invincible. The challenge is not in acquiring more abilities, but in mastering those you already have. We want you to feel rewarded by your own progress, the strength of your character being equal to the extent of your skills, not feel like your progression is being artificially restrained by the game. This is why we’ve put so much time and energy into making sure the controls are responsive as hell. They should feel like something you’ve played before, like old friends. If you’re not a fan, we’ve also made everything customizable, so the controller should always feel like an extension of your arm rather than another painful obstacle. Each mechanic of the game is designed to move in the same direction. Plenty of weapons and items allow you to try a variety of playstyles and find ones you enjoy and are efficient with. Alternate paths to the end often mean you can skip a level you’re not equipped for (damn RNG) or have some trouble passing, leaving it for later when you’re more at ease with the game. Eventually, you will feel like an unstoppable killing machine blasting your way through the levels, and it will be because you’ve improved, not because we will have made your character super overpowered. We think this is a far more fulfilling experience. Reaching this level of proficiency, however, may take a bit of time. That’s why we’re also striving to offer a meaningful sensation of progression throughout the game, even when the run ends earlier than you would have liked. That’s the role of the metagame. While you’re busy sharpening your skills, you will also unlock new weapons, new levels and new perks which will give you new things to experience and new objectives for your next runs. I really hope my not-so-brief introduction of Dead Cells sparked your curiosity about our project. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments. Cheers! Seb View the full article

Happy New Year, drivers! We’re thrilled to announce that 2018’s first major update for Gran Turismo Sport – Patch 1.11 will be live tomorrow, bringing with it 10 new cars, new tracks with eight different layouts and four exciting new GT League events. You can read the full list of updates right here, and with plenty more free content still to come, be sure to stay tuned to PlayStation.Blog for the latest news straight from the track. Patch 1.11 – Features New Vehicles Rolling into Brand Central this month are 10 unmissable new cars, including fan favorites like the Toyota Supra RZ and legendary Ferrari 330P4 and Jaguar XJ13. Plus, for the connoisseurs among you, we’ve also added the Toyota 2000GT. Check out the complete line-up: Dodge Viper GTS Ferrari 512 BB Ferrari 330 P4 Ford GT Jaguar XJ13 Lamborghini Diablo GT McLaren F1 Toyota 2000GT Toyota FT-1 Toyota Supra RZ New Tracks Next up, the famous classic high-speed track Autodromo Nazionale Monza finally makes its debut in GT Sport and we’ve added a total of eight challenging layouts to master, including three non-GP versions of the Autodrome Lago Maggiore – Centre, East and West. GT League Events Finally, following the launch of GT League with update 1.10, we know you’ve been itching for more category races in which to test your racing mettle. So this month, we’re providing just that with the addition of four exciting new events, including: F150 Raptor Survival J-Sport Meeting La Festa Cavallino Gr.3 Endurance Series Remember: you can stay up-to-date with all the latest GT news here on PlayStationBlog, and over on the official Gran Turismo website. From all of us here at PlayStation – enjoy the new update, and we’ll see you out on the track. View the full article

A big part of what makes Shadow of the Colossus such a memorable experience is its soundtrack, composed by Kow Otani. We recently had a chance to sit down with Otani-san and ask him about the game’s beloved score, gaining insight into the subtle ways the new remake enhances the musical presentation: “When it came time to update the music, while we were unable to redo every track, we wanted to add more depth to the opening and ending, so we increased the number of musicians and added more string instruments to the original recordings. The goal of this recording was less to change the track themselves and more to make the sense of scale even bigger.” He also offers some insight into the inspiration behind the soundtrack’s haunting style: “The music feels like you might have saved someone you love, but you couldn’t save everyone you loved. For example, in the track “End of the Battle,” you would think the music would be triumphant after winning. But as a whole, this soundtrack has more in common with a prayer or a requiem.” Watch the full video for more details about the music of Shadow of the Colossus! In order to celebrate this amazing musical score, we’re teaming up with iam8bit on a special 35-track Shadow of the Colossus 2-LP vinyl soundtrack, now available for pre-order at iam8bit.com for $40. The soundtrack features composer Kow Otani’s score of sweeping, transcendent and awe-inspiring music on 180-gram translucent colored vinyl. The soundtrack is expected to ship in Q2 2018. View the full article

Hold on to your butts! Blasters of the Universe is smashing into PlayStation VR on February 27! Are you ready for an intense VR battle against nerd-turned-evil-genius-turned total cry baby, Grand Master Alwyn? While his dated insults may not exactly sting, his hordes of weaving minions and spiraling waves of projectiles will have you fighting for your virtual life. Blasters of the Universe is going to be unapologetically difficult in PlayStation VR — here’s what you need to know if you want to reign victorious. Take back VR from Grand Master Alwyn Grand Master Alwyn (formerly Allen Fitzpatrick) is an insecure man-child who was once the undisputed king of the local arcade. He uploaded his consciousness into virtual reality in the 90s and constructed a vast virtual universe in his own likeness. For decades, he’s been ruling VR with a pixelated fist, backed by the crude army of minions he created, waiting for anyone who dares challenge him. Waiting for anyone… to just talk to. Join the VR battle The Blasters mission is to take back VR. Pick and choose from tons of parts and modifiers to make a weapon of your own in the Armory before you head into battle. Whether you have an offensive or defensive style of gameplay, you have the freedom to make weapons that suit your style. As you progress in the game, new pieces will unlock, allowing you to continue to adapt how you play. Blasters of the Universe will require two PlayStation Move controllers, used to wield a classic shield and weapon loadout that can be customized in over 130,000 unique ways. No one combo is perfect, so experiment and try new configurations and shields as you take on Grand Master Alwyn and his hordes of enemies / best friends. Enemies and tactics If you are going to survive, you’d better be ready to move. Thousands of intricate bullet patterns and enemy behaviours will push you to the limit, forcing you to use every inch of your available space. A lot of focus has been put on complex 3D bullet patterns. Find the sweet spot in the patterns to avoid being hit and take out the deadliest enemies before they begin their volley of bullets. Identifying the unrelenting onslaught of enemies quickly is key. Generally, the bigger the enemy the more dangerous it is, so keep moving. If you prefer a less intense VR shooter experience, opt for the all-new Casual mode which reduces the difficulty of enemies and their attacks. Intense gameplay There are three different game modes; Campaign, Endless, and Challenge Mode. Campaign Mode combines a compelling narrative with physical gameplay. You’ll learn Grand Master Alwyn’s story and face a unique boss and different challenge through each of the four levels. Figure out which weapon combination works best, unlocking new ones as you battle for glory. If you want to set a high score, play Blasters of the Universe in Endless Mode. It’s a classic arcade-style environment that ramps up in difficulty and requires skill and endurance to get a high score. While playing defensively might help you live longer and get you a better score, if you are not able to clear enemies quickly enough they will build up to a point that no defense can withstand, dooming you to annihilation. Challenge Mode will force you out of your comfort zone. New objectives will change weekly and have you dodging 1,000 bullets as fast as you can, or choosing two shields instead of a gun and a shield. Regardless of how you play, there is something new every week to discover in Blasters of the Universe. We know this is the unforgiving VR shooter you guys have been dreaming about, and we can’t wait to unleash it on you. Check it out at PlayStation Store February 27. View the full article

Hello hunters! This is Yuya Tokuda, director of Monster Hunter: World. As I write, we have just wrapped up the third beta test of the game on PlayStation 4, where we added the terrifying Nergigante. Did you get a chance to take him on? How did you fare? He’s a pretty tough cookie, but I’ve seen plenty of great players take him down! And if you didn’t manage to defeat him, don’t worry – in the main game you’ll be able to craft your own gear and take him on again! The three beta tests we carried out were just a taste of what’s in store in Monster Hunter: World. Outside of the quest-based action, there’s so much you can do in the game! Now that the game is almost out, I thought I’d share some of the things you couldn’t do in the beta that you can look forward to in the game! Customise your character…and cat! To make it easy to get started quickly in the beta, we provided a selection of pre-baked hunters and Palico sidekicks for players to choose from, but the full game features an incredibly rich and detailed character creator. Not only can you make your ultimate hunter, you can also customize your Palico to your heart’s content. Will you create a hunter who looks like you in real life, or make your own imaginary avatar character? It’s up to you! Craft items, ​​weapons and armour If you tried the beta you may have noticed that you could carve materials from defeated monsters, and also gather various things from different places around the maps. While there wasn’t anything you could do with them in the beta, the full game has a deliciously addictive gameplay loop of questing, gathering and crafting in store. Gathered items like herbs can be crafted into more useful items like potions, while monster materials can be combined to create awesome-looking armor sets and weapons. Finally getting that last piece you need to craft the set you’ve been lusting after is one of the greatest feelings you can have as a hunter! Explore ​​the Research Commission HQ Monster Hunter: World features a base area called Astera, which you and the rest of the Research Commission call your home in the New World. In Astera, you can buy useful items, upgrade your canteen options, take on quests to progress the story and more. Before you head out for a hunt, be sure to take a look around here! Explore the game’s maps without a time limit The beta featured a short time limit on each quest, but not only is the time limit on quests longer in the main game, you can also freely explore each of the game’s maps without any restriction on time. Take some time to find the various environmental creatures, native Lynians, and the NPC characters carrying out their own research in the field. If you help them out, you may make new discoveries! Join a Gathering Hub The beta featured a simplified menu-based system for joining other players, but in the full game, every time you enter the Astera base, you’ll be matched with up to 15 other players (you can use your privacy settings and filters to limit matching to just your friends, or just go it alone if you like!). You can use voice and text chat to communicate with the players in your session – and you can also create Squads of up to 50 members to further ease communication and meeting up. Head to the Gathering Hub in the upper floor of Astera and you’ll see the other 15 players’ hunters (and their Palicoes!) on-screen. Mingle with the crowd, compete for the fastest time in an Arena Quest, or even arm-wrestle another player to prove your strength! You can easily invite your registered PSN friends into your Gathering Hub from the in-game menus, so if you meet someone in a Hub who you’d like to play with in future, why not add them to your PSN friends? You’ll have a bustling circle of hunter buddies in no time! Of course, there’s much more to do in Monster Hunter: World, so these are just some of my favourite things I wanted to call out here for you. I hope you’re looking forward to the game, and maybe we’ll see each other online! Happy hunting! View the full article

Hello PlayStation fans! We’re Long Hat House, and we will be launching Dandara on PS4 in just two weeks, on February 6, 2018. This is our first game on the PS4, and we’re celebrating early with you by giving you the first look at our new trailer! Dandara is our unique take on a side-scrolling action-RPG platformer. You play as Dandara, a heroine born from the Crib of Creation into the world of Salt — a once peaceful, dreamlike place now wracked with oppression. Under threat by the Eldarian Army, Dandara must travel and fight to bring order to this directionless world. What makes Dandara stand out from others in the genre is the fluid, boundless nature of movement throughout the game. You don’t walk or run, but jump everywhere you go. Traverse across floors, walls, and ceilings alike, and at times flip the entire world on its side as you move. Inputs are seamless and easy, making it possible to bound through entire stages rapidly. Or with lightning quickness. Speedrunners, take note. As you play, you start with a charged three-pronged attack that travels in the same direction you aim your movement; this can, of course, be upgraded as you explore the world and uncover its secrets. However, there are also several other weapons to unlock, like the Jonny B. Missiles that can pack a wallop from much farther away, and others that we won’t spoil for you. Dandara was inspired by the real-life Afro-Brazilian heroine from the 17th century who fought to save her people from oppression as well, and includes many visual references to our home town of Belo Horizonte in Brazil. We’ve worked very hard to get here, and are so ecstatic to finally be able to share it with the world. We hope you like Dandara and can’t wait to hear your thoughts when it launches on February 6! View the full article

Hello there PlayStation folks! It’s with great pleasure that we write our first blog post here. A quick introduction: we’re a small team who have been working on games for more than 10 years. We have a few titles on the market, but this is our first experience developing for PS4. Our last game was an action-oriented survival horror game that we really enjoyed making, but when we finished it, we wanted to create something different. Our new game is called Those Who Remain. It’s been in production for about a year, and is scheduled for release later in 2018. It’s been a long way, and the time has finally come to show the world what we’ve been doing. Those Who Remain is a psychological thriller that takes place in Dormont, a small fictional town in the US. Dormont appears to be a typical place at first glance, but the town is actually under a curse that has shrouded everything in darkness. When our protagonist arrives in Dormont, he soon learns that he has more to face than his own inner demons. Mysterious entities roam through the dark, taking any who wander too close. In order to survive, you must stay in the light. Light means safety. Darkness equals death. The darkness is not the only abnormal thing in Dormont. There are strange portals connecting our world to another dimension. A dimension similar to ours, yet different — a kind of dark reflection of our own world. And just like reflections, actions in one dimension are mirrored in the other. These two mechanics allow us to create a surreal place with lots of possibilities, but we wanted more than just cool mechanics. We’re taking great care to create a gripping narrative; without spoiling anything, we’ll just say that a kid — a victim of bullying because she’s different — is at the center of the story. A tragedy occurs, followed by a series of unfortunate events, and a series of bad choices eventually leads the main character to Dormont. Speaking of choices, there are some to be made during the game. We had so much fun discussing the plot that we couldn’t decide exactly how the game would end. So why not include all the endings that were discussed? There are some situations where the player has to decide a course of action. What you decide will affect the ending and the fate of the characters. This is all that we can reveal for now. Thank you for reading, and from all of us at Camel 101: hope to see you in Dormont! View the full article

With the impending release of Shadow of the Colossus on PS4, we’re working with Bluepoint Games to create some new high-res desktop and mobile wallpapers. There’s just one problem: there are lots of colossi to choose from! So, we’re leaving it to you. Vote below for the colossus you’d most like to see a wallpaper for. We’ll tally the votes on January 29, and Bluepoint will get to work. Then, starting January 31, we’ll release the top five reader-voted wallpapers as we count down the days until the ground-up rebuild launches on PS4. POLL: Which Wallpaper Should We Make? View the full article

People of PlayStation the world over, God of War is launching April 20, 2018. I would love to write a long blog post here but, apparently, I have a game to get done by 4/20 so I gotta get back to work as soon as possible. God of War | Gallery First, let me say that this is my favorite release day of my entire career. If I live to be 100, I do not think I will be able to top this release day. There has been a long journey just to reach this point, so it’s a little bittersweet to think that we are only a few months away from that journey finally coming to an end. While I am sad, I am also excited because it means everyone will get their hands on this crazy adventure we have been crafting for nearly five years! Speaking of trailers. Yeah, I just lost interest finding an elegant way to get here from the last paragraph so I just went for it. That is just how I roll. I really am ecstatic that I can finally show you this beautiful trailer we have been cooking up in the creative kitchens of Santa Monica Studio headquarters. It will give you more insight on why Kratos and Atreus are going on their journey as well as provide a glimpse at some new bits of action. I love this trailer. After I saw it, I pre-ordered the game. So, April 20, 2018…mark the date on your calendar, people. Clear that schedule, tell your significant other they are wonderful, because that is always a nice thing to do, and then wonder what you will do with all that free time you have now that you don’t need to keep asking me when the release date is. Thank you everyone for your continued support of our game-making addiction. I will do my best to keep sharing information as we head towards launch. …But wait, there’s more! I’m proud to share our limited Collector’s Editions and Digital Deluxe Edition, whose every component is connected back to the Norse universe and story of our game. Pre-Order Offer I should first mention, if you pre-order any edition (or already did) at a supporting retailer, you’ll acquire these three legendary shield skins (which you’ll need internet connectivity to access!) for Kratos to bash and defend against all manner of creatures we created in the brutal Norse wilds. If you pre-order any edition at GameStop or EB Games, you’ll also receive the Luck of Ages XP Talisman which improves the wearer’s luck, providing: Increase XP gain Increase Hacksilver gain Increase the ability to trigger Perks Collector’s Edition | $129.99 USD/$169.99 CAD The 9’’ statue was crafted by our team in collaboration with the incredible folks at Gentle Giant. The cloth map is a unique companion to your journey, and an art piece on its own. The Huldra Bros carvings pack as much detail as their personas do in game. Just a few of the highlights, not to mention the digital items as well! Stone Mason Edition | $149.99 USD/$199.99 CAD (EB Games Exclusive in Canada) Available in the US and Canada only, this edition includes everything in the Collector’s Edition along with four very distinct, rare items directly from the game. You might recognize Atreus’ wooden Horse and Troll carvings from our E3 2016 debut. They complete the collection with the Huldra Bros, btw. The Stone Mason Ring is a finely crafted piece of jewelry, whose story we won’t spoil. The talking Mimir Head keychain may be your personal favorite after you interact with him in game. Massive credit to Gentle Giant capturing the exquisite detail of these! Digital Deluxe Edition | $69.99USD/$89.99 CAD If digital only is king for you, we didn’t forget. Adorn the legendary Death’s Vow Armor Set to increase your strength, and honor the solemn promise that sends Kratos and Atreus on their journey through the Norse wilds of Midgard and beyond. The digital comic book from Dark Horse, Issue #0 starts to unearth the story of Kratos before his quest with Atreus begins. Not to mention both the digital comic and mini art book will come with exclusive creator commentary tracks. Finally, available to addresses in the US and Canada only, pre-order this Digital Deluxe beauty to get a sweet, exclusive, shiny, limited-run God of War physical pin. Mark your calendars for God of War’s release on April 20! If you’re not convinced yet, watch that trailer one more time or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more development updates! View the full article

Supermassive Games is really excited to open the doors to the Blackwood Pine Sanatorium today, and I want tell you a bit more about how we built the dark and mysterious world of The Inpatient. The branching storyline is one of the game’s stand-out elements, and it’s something we are proud of. We tested different outcomes to make sure it was truly effective on every branch and felt seamless regardless of what decisions a player makes. The team invested a significant amount of our initial development time looking at the different ways it could work, so even the simplest of decisions can have profound effects on the story. It was important to us that even the smallest detail was considered — something as small as turning left or right down a corridor can have dramatic consequences on your experience. Because the choices you make shape what happens to you, we felt it was important make it clear to players when they had made a particularly important decision. So we have brought back the Butterfly Effect from Until Dawn to highlight that the actions you take have real consequences, both for yourself and the characters around you. One of the great things about PlayStation VR is the way it immerses you and places you in the heart of the action. It was super important to us that players felt like they were inside Blackwood Sanatorium themselves, so we decided to make it possible for players to select their gender. This is one of the first choices you make when you begin and the selection you make actually affects the way that characters in the game interact with you throughout, helping you feel even more drawn in as you play. From a development perspective, this was one of the more challenging aspects for us to manage. It is a challenge we relished, though, and we’ve been able to present a richer, more believable experience because of it. So we’ve talked about the impact of the decisions you make in the game, but to create something that would really draw the player in we had to make the story itself compelling — players have to want to uncover the mysteries they are presented with. Writing a linear narrative is an art form in itself, but writing a series of narratives that take the story in different directions depending on the player’s choices? That’s something else. So we were excited to once again work with Until Dawn writers Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick to bring The Inpatient to life. Virtual reality is such an immersive platform and we knew that along with stunning visuals, the story needed to be fulsome and gripping. As Hollywood scriptwriters, the Larry and Graham naturally added nuance and detail to the characters that make you want to play on and understand what’s happening. We worked together to find new ways for the story to take twists and turns that would increase the tension, while building characters that players could genuinely engage with. With the storyline in place, we wanted to create an atmosphere that reflected the bleak and unsettling environment inside the Blackwood Sanatorium. You will notice elements such as uneaten sandwiches resting on tables, smashed plates under the beds, and graffiti scrawls across the walls of the Sanatorium cells. These were added to create a bleak and unsettling atmosphere, whilst other additions play an important part in guiding the player to the next stage of the game. Of course, The Inpatient also has links to Until Dawn. Fans of that game will see some familiar characters and have the opportunity to find out a bit more about the staff and patients. That’s all from me for now. We hope you enjoy the new trailer and are looking forward to unravelling the mysteries of The Blackwood Sanatorium. We’ll be opening the doors today… View the full article

Hi PS Blog! I’m Rhod from Dakko Dakko, and I’m very proud to show you our newest game, coming exclusively to PlayStation VR. It’s called Pop-Up Pilgrims. We’ve long been all about 2D gaming at Dakko Dakko, and at first it seemed like the recent arrival of VR gaming wasn’t likely to affect our development plans. Fortunately, I had the chance to try a friend’s VR kit quite early, and the moment I put the headset on my mind started racing with ideas for what our games might be like in VR. Within a couple weeks we had gone from never really thinking about virtual reality to having a specially adapted version of one of our PS Vita games – Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims – playable in a VR space! The incredible impact of seeing a 2D game exploded out into multiple layers in VR instantly convinced us that our games have huge potential in this area. The player could look anywhere on the stage at any time, no scrolling required! Characters could be moved between 2D layers and the player could easily and accurately tell which layer they were on! Characters could lurch right out of a 2D scene! We were convinced, and Pop-Up Pilgrims was born! Pop-Up Pilgrims is a new kind of action game where you use your PS VR headset to guide a group of intrepid adventurers on a 2D-in-3D quest. The pilgrims need your help to cross treacherous pop-up islands and contend with a cast of peculiar demons as they try to reclaim their god’s source of power. Using PS VR’s head-tracking capabilities, you need only look where you want a pilgrim to act, and with the press of a button the nearest pilgrim will eagerly leap toward your cursor to do your bidding! It’s simple to control, but once your pilgrims start to wander in different directions things can get pretty crazy! You’ll have to move carefully in and out of the game’s layers to guide each and every pilgrim safely to the exit. We’re very excited to announce right here that you’ll be able to play Pop-Up Pilgrims very soon indeed! It’ll be available to download from PlayStation Store on February 13th. View the full article

Lost Sphear, the second title from Tokyo RPG Factory, will be released on January 23rd, and I am very excited to deliver this new RPG for fans to play. Many people played our first title, I am Setsuna, and we received a lot of feedback. We thoroughly reviewed that feedback during the development process for Lost Sphear and used it to examine how to improve various elements of the game. Some of these improvements include the freedom of movement in battle, a Spiritnite customization system, the ability to converse with your party at any time, a diverse variety of locales to explore, over 40 hours of gameplay, and the fact that we now have inns (lol)! We wanted Lost Sphear to deliver something players may have not experienced, so we made “memories” a central theme. The story and game mechanics revolve around this theme, and I believe fans will enjoy this new twist for an RPG. Another new feature is the addition of “Vulcosuits” – mechanized armor that can be equipped by your characters. Each Vulcosuit has unique abilities and can be used to traverse obstacles throughout the game, but most impressive are the special attacks known as Paradigm Drives that you can unleash in battle! Try out all of the different Vulcosuits you acquire on your journey! We paid careful attention to detail as we developed this title in order to power up in all aspects of the game, but there were many challenges we had to face. One of the interesting challenges was when we decided on the name of the title: Lost Sphear. Not only did we gather ideas amongst the development team, but we gathered input from team members across the globe and came up with “Lost Sphere” as one of our potential names. However, we wanted it to be a bit more unique, and as we pondered how to achieve this, CEO Yosuke Matsuda suggested “why not change the ‘Sphere’ in ‘Lost Sphere’ to ‘Sphear’?” According to what Mr. Matsuda looked up on his smartphone, he said that despite “Sphear” being an archaic way of spelling it, it does have the same meaning as “Sphere.” Now, I tried to look it up as well and have not found any information of the sort. Ultimately, we reached a consensus with the Western offices and finalized the name as “Lost Sphear.” Since then, we’ve referred to Mr. Matsuda’s smartphone as a “magic smartphone” (lol). Just the topic of deciding on the name brings up this much to talk about, which goes to show there was so much stuff that happened during the production that I could never run out of things to say. Thanks to that, I firmly believe this game will be something many people will enjoy. I would love for you take this game in your hands and enjoy it. Your support is greatly appreciated. Lost Sphear Director Atsushi Hashimoto View the full article

If you know me, you know my game never stops. Whether I’m at home or on the road, I’m always playing on my PS4, which is why I’m excited to announce my official collaboration between Nike Basketball and PlayStation with the PG-2 “PlayStation” colorway. Nike PG-2 “PlayStation” Colorway | Image Gallery Just like basketball, I’ve had a knack for video games since I was a kid. When I was 8 or 9, I used to amaze my uncle and all his friends by consistently beating them in all the sports games we’d play. And if I saw something cool while I was playing, I’d go outside and try it out on the court or the field. So in a way, sports and video games were always feeding off one another to me. This collaboration has been a long time coming. Ask me what my favorite PlayStation memory is and I’ll tell you it’s when my dad got me a PS2 for Christmas. I’d been dropping hints left and right because I knew that was it. That was the next big thing. You could say the same with Nike. As a kid, I’d make sketches of what I wanted my Nike shoes to look like because it’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of. Now I have the opportunity to make something very special and personal to me with the help of two of my favorite brands. Working with designers from both Nike and PlayStation, we took inspiration from the console’s DualShock 4 controller and the iconic symbols that have been a part of every PlayStation product to create a colorway that honored my game both on and off the court. A few interesting things that you should know about the colorway: The tongues of the shoe sport the PG and PlayStation logos, which illuminate and pulsate blue just like when turning on the console The back heel of the left shoe has a unique barcode that contains a PSN voucher code, which can be redeemed at PlayStation Store for a Paul George Dynamic Theme for your PS4 The colors of the sneaker pay homage to the buttons on the DualShock 4 controller The iconic PlayStation symbols are embossed in patent leather on each shoe The look of the PG Dynamic Theme is reflected in the sock liner on each shoe I consider myself one of the biggest gamers in the NBA. Ever since getting my PS2 for Christmas as a kid, my game has gone with me wherever I go, so working with PlayStation was something that felt inevitable. The PG2 “PlayStation” colorway drops globally on February 10, 2018. For more information on the release, download the Nike SNKRS app. View the full article

A sprawling world! Towering monsters! Ferocious weapons! Delicious food! The beloved action RPG returns with Monster Hunter: World, launching January 26 on PS4. Select your favorite weapon and hurdle into the dangerous wilds of Monster Hunter: World. Stock up on items and hunt down monsters as they roam the verdant and varied environments in game. Only the most dedicated, well-prepared hunters will fell the beasts of Monster Hunter: World and reap the rewards, crafting even better gear for the next adventure. Good luck in your search, and never hunt on an empty stomach! For a full list of new releases coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop! New Releases: Week of January 23, 2018 The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human PS4 — Digital Explore the ruins of humanity in this mesmerizing underwater action-adventure. Discover thriving wildlife, encounter monstrous beasts, and let curiosity guide you through an inevitable voyage of extinction. Celeste PS4 — Digital (Out 1/25) Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall. Dragon Ball FighterZ PS4 — Digital, Retail (Out 1/26) Dragon Ball FighterZ is born from what makes the Dragon Ball series so loved and famous: endless, spectacular fights with all-powerful fighters. Iconoclasts PS4, PS Vita — Digital Robin just wants to be a mechanic and help people, but without a license she’s a sinner in Mother’s eyes. Ever since picking up her wrench, the world has been going nuts and she’s wanted to bolt it back together. Now Penance is raining down on everyone she loves and One Concern agents are after her. But something big is going on — bigger than droughts of Ivory fuel and personal conflicts — and Robin’s in the thick of it. The Inpatient PS VR — Digital, Retail Discover who you are before it’s too late in The Inpatient, a PS VR exclusive set in the Blackwood Sanatorium, over 60 years prior to the award-winning Until Dawn. Laws of Machine PS4 — Digital (Out 1/25) There is a corporation called Robotech, which was established by Professor Sharpey. He developed the system of artificial intelligence based on neurospheres, which was recreated during his experiments with lunar type soil. Lost Sphear PS4 — Digital In the remote town of Elgarthe, a young man named Kanata awakens from a devastating dream to find his village is disappearing. Facing an ominous power that threatens the fabric of reality, Kanata and his friends set out on an adventure to use the power of Memory to save the world from being lost forever! Monster Hunter: World PS4 — Digital, Retail (Out 1/26) Welcome to a new world! Take on the role of a hunter and slay ferocious monsters in a living, breathing ecosystem where you can use the landscape and its diverse inhabitants to get the upper hand. OK K.O.! Let’s Play Heroes PS4 — Digital Based on the hit Cartoon Network show, this game stars pint-sized hero K.O. as he punches, slide-kicks, and power-moves his way through hordes of evil Boxmore robots on an epic quest to save Lakewood Plaza Turbo from the maniacal Lord Boxman. Wild Turkey Hunter PS4 — Digital (Out 1/24) Come experience interactive hunting at its best! Enjoy matching wits with America’s most elusive game bird the wild turkey. Fall Out Boy – M A N I A LANCO – Hallelujah Nights Dave East – P2 A Bad Moms Christmas Batman: Gotham by Gaslight Only the Brave The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

Switchblade is an intense high octane action combat game with an ever shifting array of strategic choices as the battle unfolds. Switch seamlessly between different heavily armed vehicles on the battlefield to create endless tactical choices. The closed beta opens to players on January 22nd and will only be available for a short period of time, so make sure to sign up here. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the game, we have a short Q&A below with Switchblade’s Project Director (Jeff Lewis) and the Creative Director (Craig Howard). How would you describe Switchblade to a newcomer in a single sentence? Jeff: It’s an awesome vehicle action game with MOBA rules. Craig: You play in a team of five and you just have to take out the rival teams bases to clear a path to their core before the time is over then it’s a knockout and you win the game. What are the rules in Switchblade? Jeff: You must disable the towers first by escorting exploding mobs to them, but the enemy team has the same objective. Everyone can take two vehicles into a match and switch between them at any time by calling a dropship. Where did the idea for Switchblade come from? Craig: We wanted to push the concept of vehicle combat games further than anything out there. The idea of a vehicle-based sport where strategy, as well as reactions, was key to winning and our focus as we feel compelling sports need both of these. What kinds of strategies tend to be most effective during a Switchblade match? Craig: The vehicles all have a unique range of skills that are better for different roles such as support and attack. As the game progresses it really does pose different strategic challenges for the team, such as when to defend or when to just hold ground. We have been playing the game internally for over a year, and even now no two games are ever the same. The range of tactics and action is something we are really excited about. Why did you decide to have cars be able to switch roles at any time? Craig: Switchblade is not just a three-minute-a-round game. With the constant ebb and flow of the battle, we felt that it would be more exciting for the player to be able to switch their vehicle as they switch tactics and weapons. Why did you decide to go free-to-play? Craig: It is a risk for us, but with Switchblade we want to create a new sport, and going free to play takes down any barrier for gamers to play our game. Even PlayStation owners who don’t have PS Plus can go online and play competitively. I must stress that it is not pay to win — skill is the only currency that you need to win a season in our game. Who, or what, inspired you creatively while working on Switchblade? Jeff: A lot of guys at Lucid used to work at Bizarre Creations, and the last game they worked on there was Blur. At first, we were considering a sort of a sci-fi update of that. Slowly, and from very small beginnings, it’s evolved into what we have today. Almost all that’s left from those days is that you drive a vehicle, it can shoot and you can switch to a different vehicle at any time. What’s next for Switchblade? Jeff: More vehicles are coming really soon. Further down the line are more maps, more game modes, and our own little twist on audience participation. How are you looking to capture E-sports fans’ attention? Craig: E-sports are something that we are very interested in supporting with Switchblade. It is a game based on pure skill and great teamwork. However, we cannot just assume it will become a popular E-sport, that is down to the players and its popularity. In the meantime, we will support it by featuring special broadcast modes so people can commentate on the action — along with some other features that we are not revealing yet. When will Switchblade leave beta? Craig: We are aiming for the end of Q1 2018, although like any beta we will be listening to the players and refining the game as we go along. We’ve only scratched the surface on what’s available in Switchblade. You can find out more by signing up for the closed beta today. Be on the lookout for exciting content updates and new maps coming soon! View the full article

Shadow of the Colossus has long been admired for its breathtaking landscapes and amazing vistas, not to mention the colossi themselves. As we rebuilt the visuals for the game from the ground up (literally), one of the things we decided we had to include was a Photo Mode. We found ourselves spending more and more time with Photo Mode as the system took shape, grabbing photos we thought captured moments that were unique and awe-inspiring. Take a look below at some of the photos the Bluepoint team captured during development. The thing that makes Photo Mode stand out is its power and flexibility. It’s an entire photo adjustment suite built into the game for you! Everything that I had access to as the Art Director, you have access to as the player. You can start with a filter and adjust all the way down to color balancing the shadows, midtones and highlights. Then on top of that, control the depth of field ranges and amounts, in addition to the vignette. That’s an amazing amount of control. Adjusting the camera to get that perfect shot is super easy. Being able to switch the camera from the player to the horse offers up a ton of possibilities. Letting the team loose with it was incredible. The amount of different looks you can achieve is limitless. To top it off, being able to rotate the camera 90 degrees either way to generate portrait images means that lots of photos will be used as cell phone wallpapers! That’s not all: you’re able to leave some of the filters running as you play, giving you exciting degrees of control over how the game looks in motion. I look forward to getting this in the hands of the community and seeing the awe-inspiring things you come up with! Just a little bit longer until the release of Shadow of the Colossus on February 6! View the full article

Hello from the PolyKnight team! Our first game, InnerSpace, is out today at PlayStation Store, and we have to say, this is a very different kind of flying game. InnerSpace takes place in the Inverse, a universe of inside-out-planets where gravity pulls outward instead of in. This dying realm is home to ancient structures of a lost civilization, and flying inside these tight spaces is going to be a challenge. To compensate, we built flying mechanics that encourage agility and experimentation. Here are a few of our favorite moves. Enjoy! Drifting lets you survey your surroundings and look for entrances to structures as you glide around them. It also lets you change direction quickly. Tight spaces ahead. Drifting allows you to avoid walls and make quick decisions. Eventually, you’ll have the skills to make some epic trench runs. If you want to survey the area from a new angle, fly towards the center of the chamber. Then, drift to get your bearings and plan your next flight path. Depending on how much space you have, you can yaw for a wide turn or roll into it for a tighter maneuver. Your wings are pretty rugged, so don’t be afraid to scrape them against walls and see what might come tumbling down. After surfacing, you can spread your wings to take… or just enjoy falling back to the ocean in a majestic Dolphin Dive. These are some of our moves, but we’re most excited to see what you come up with. We hope you enjoy InnerSpace, available now at PlayStation Store for $19.99, with 10% off for PS Plus members. Your greatest journey is within! View the full article