Commander Fury

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

All of us at Insomniac Games say thank you for your support of Ratchet & Clank across the last 19 years and four generations of PlayStation consoles. It’s been an incredible journey so far and we’re excited to share the next chapter with you soon. How soon? We have been working hard to ensure that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, is a showpiece game and exclusive for your PlayStation 5 console. We’re thrilled to confirm that the game will launch on June 11th, 2021. Play Video Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a brand-new full-length adventure. When the evil Dr. Nefarious uses a device that can access alternate dimensions to find a galaxy where he always wins, Ratchet and Clank are separated. As they try to re-unite, they will meet a new Lombax resistance fighter, explore new and familiar locales (but with new dimensional twists!), and wield a whole new arsenal of out of this world weapons. If you’ve never played a Ratchet & Clank game before, this is an excellent one to start with as the adventure is a stand-alone storyline, but longtime fans of the series will find deeper layers of connection to previous games. We’re also here today to reveal new artwork for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This beautiful new piece speaks to the game’s theme of duality. Ratchet and Clank are the personification of opposites forming a more powerful whole and this theme is expanded even more through alternate-dimension counterparts of characters and worlds. Pre-orders start today too! Here’s a look at the digital content you can unlock early when you pre-order the Standard Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game: That’s right, two fan-favorites will make their way into Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart that players who pre-order will be able to unlock early. The Carbonox armor from Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003) is now updated with high-definition materials, lighting responses, and ray-traced reflections. Players who pre-order will also receive an early-unlock of the Pixelizer weapon, the retro-blaster from Ratchet & Clank (2016), also updated visually for the PS5 console. The Digital Deluxe Edition is available on PlayStation®Store to pre-order*. In addition to the Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart game, you’ll receive the following content: 5 additional armor sets, 20 Raritanium to get a head start on upgrading your weapons, a sticker pack to use in Ratchet & Clank’s first ever photo mode, as well as a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack. The Standard Edition of the game is available on PlayStation®Store to pre-order*. Early unlock bonuses will only be available to players who pre-order the game. If you pre-order the digital version of the Standard Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition on PlayStation Store, you will receive the early-unlock items automatically. If you purchase a physical or digital Standard Edition from a game retailer, you will need to check if they are offering the pre-order incentive. And yes, we know you are asking for the new Lombax’s name. And it’s not fair that we put her in the art-work and aren’t telling you yet. Hang in there, you’ll be feeling rosy soon. We’ll see you in the omniverse on June 11th, 2021. *Check PlayStation Store for local pricing. All of us at Insomniac Games say thank you for your support of Ratchet & Clank across the last 19 years and four generations of PlayStation consoles. It’s been an incredible journey so far and we’re excited to share the next chapter with you soon. How soon? We have been working hard to ensure that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, is a showpiece game and exclusive for your PlayStation 5 console. We’re thrilled to confirm that the game will launch on June 11, 2021. Play Video Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a brand-new full-length adventure. When the evil Dr. Nefarious uses a device that can access alternate dimensions to find a galaxy where he always wins, Ratchet and Clank are separated. As they try to reunite, they will meet a new Lombax resistance fighter, explore new and familiar locales (but with new dimensional twists!), and wield a whole new arsenal of out of this world weapons. If you’ve never played a Ratchet & Clank game before, this is an excellent one to start with as the adventure is a stand-alone storyline, but longtime fans of the series will find deeper layers of connection to previous games. We’re also here today to reveal new artwork for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This beautiful new piece speaks to the game’s theme of duality. Ratchet and Clank are the personification of opposites forming a more powerful whole and this theme is expanded even more through alternate-dimension counterparts of characters and worlds. Pre-orders start today too! Here’s a look at the digital content you unlock early when you pre-order the Digital Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition: That’s right, two fan-favorites will make their way into Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The Carbonox armor from Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003) is now updated with high-definition materials, lighting responses, and ray-traced reflections. Players will also receive an early-unlock of the Pixelizer weapon, the retro-blaster from Ratchet & Clank (2016), also updated visually for the PS5 console. We also will have a Digital Deluxe Edition of the game available digitally on PS Store for $79.99 USD / $99.99 CAD. You’ll receive five additional armor sets, 20 Raritanium to get a head start on upgrading your weapons, a sticker pack to use in Ratchet & Clank’s first ever photo mode, as well as a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack. As with other recent games, at participating retailers in the US and Canada, we will have special physical Launch Editions of the game for $69.99 USD/$89.99 CAD MSRP. The Launch Edition will include early unlocks to the Carbonox armor and Pixelizer weapon packed in on a voucher* inside the box (while supplies last). Also, you can pre-order the Standard Edition digitally on PlayStation Store for $69.99 USD /$89.99 CAD MSRP to receive early unlocks to these items or check with your local game retailers to see if they are offering the pre-order incentive with the Standard Edition. Also US and Canadian customers who pre-order get a $5 discount** off official merchandise on PlayStation Gear online store after the game launch!*** Can’t wait until June 11 to pick up some gear? We have a new Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart shirt debuting today on PlayStation Gear store: And yes, we know you are asking for the new Lombax’s name. And it’s not fair that we put her in the art and aren’t telling you yet. Hang in there, you’ll be feeling rosy soon. We’ll see you in the omniverse on June 11, 2021. *Voucher code expires June 11, 2024. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation™Network required to redeem. **Available for US and Canadian customers only. Offer expires June 10, 2021 @ 11:59 PM PT. Limit one discount code per PSN ID. ***Discount code will be sent via email after product launch. Limit one per purchase; not valid on sale items. All of us at Insomniac Games say thank you for your support of Ratchet & Clank across the last 19 years and four generations of PlayStation consoles. It’s been an incredible journey so far and we’re excited to share the next chapter with you soon. How soon? We have been working hard to ensure that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, is a showpiece game and exclusive for your PlayStation 5 console. We’re thrilled to confirm that the game will launch on June 11, 2021. Play Video Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a brand-new full-length adventure. When the evil Dr. Nefarious uses a device that can access alternate dimensions to find a galaxy where he always wins, Ratchet and Clank are separated. As they try to reunite, they will meet a new Lombax resistance fighter, explore new and familiar locales (but with new dimensional twists!), and wield a whole new arsenal of out of this world weapons. If you’ve never played a Ratchet & Clank game before, this is an excellent one to start with as the adventure is a stand-alone storyline, but longtime fans of the series will find deeper layers of connection to previous games. We’re also here today to reveal new artwork for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This beautiful new piece speaks to the game’s theme of duality. Ratchet and Clank are the personification of opposites forming a more powerful whole and this theme is expanded even more through alternate-dimension counterparts of characters and worlds. Pre-orders start today too! Here’s a look at the digital content you unlock early when you pre-order the Digital Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition: That’s right, two fan-favorites will make their way into Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The Carbonox armor from Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003) is now updated with high-definition materials, lighting responses, and ray-traced reflections. Players will also receive an early-unlock of the Pixelizer weapon, the retro-blaster from Ratchet & Clank (2016), also updated visually for the PS5 console. We also will have a Digital Deluxe Edition of the game available digitally on PS Store for $79.99 USD / $99.99 CAD. You’ll receive five additional armor sets, 20 Raritanium to get a head start on upgrading your weapons, a sticker pack to use in Ratchet & Clank’s first ever photo mode, as well as a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack. As with other recent games, at participating retailers in the US and Canada, we will have special physical Launch Editions of the game for $69.99 USD/$89.99 CAD MSRP. The Launch Edition will include early unlocks to the Carbonox armor and Pixelizer weapon packed in on a voucher* inside the box (while supplies last). Also, you can pre-order the Standard Edition digitally on PlayStation Store for $69.99 USD /$89.99 CAD MSRP to receive early unlocks to these items or check with your local game retailers to see if they are offering the pre-order incentive with the Standard Edition. Also US and Canadian customers who pre-order get a $5 discount** off official merchandise on PlayStation Gear online store after the game launch!*** Can’t wait until June 11 to pick up some gear? We have a new Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart shirt debuting today on PlayStation Gear store: And yes, we know you are asking for the new Lombax’s name. And it’s not fair that we put her in the art and aren’t telling you yet. Hang in there, you’ll be feeling rosy soon. We’ll see you in the omniverse on June 11, 2021. *Voucher code expires June 11, 2024. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation™Network required to redeem. **Available for US and Canadian customers only. Offer expires June 10, 2021 @ 11:59 PM PT. Limit one discount code per PSN ID. ***Discount code will be sent via email after product launch. Limit one per purchase; not valid on sale items. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/AxJTjEMejl4View the full article

You’ve probably spent many restless nights awake wondering, “I wonder what Coach is doing right now…”. Well, we’ve got news for you! Not only is Coach back, but he has a new best friend: Fernando Tatis Jr. Every Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of February we will be releasing a new Coach and Fernando Tatis Jr. video that showcases a different area of the game. These fun videos will give you some important nuggets of information about various improvements for MLB The Show 21. These will lead you up to the more in-depth and future looking (next-Gen) reveals. So, for those in the community who are looking for a deeper dive on improvements and new features coming to MLB The Show this year have no fear, we have plenty of content on the horizon for you. Play Video Tailored and focused Gameplay The first video in Coach and Fernando’s series talks about tailored gameplay. New in MLB The Show 21 are gameplay styles that allow you to tailor the type of gameplay experience you are looking for at any given moment. Are you looking for a casual experience where you can put up some runs? Or are you looking for a more traditional experience that plays more intense and truer to life? Maybe you want a true test of your skills on the sticks, where your abilities with the controller are paramount. Tailored gameplay is just the tip of the iceberg. The team has invested significant development time working on other areas of gameplay— our biggest focus being fly ball catches, at the wall catches, (jumping/reaching/rob home runs, crashing in to the wall, etc.), and catches that come off the z axis (which means if you are taking a route that’s not exactly perfect, we have a lot of new catches you’ll see play off the axis you’re running. It feels great and we cannot wait for everyone to try it out). For pitching, we’ve introduced a brand-new mechanic… but more about that and the other gameplay improvements in March. MLB The Show 21 Technical Test Starting on February 23 and ending about a week later, a limited number of users* can participate in the MLB The Show 21 Technical Test. What is the Technical Test? We need your help to stress test: the servers, online match-making, cross-platform play, as well as gather feedback on gameplay. You can sign up here on February 10. The Technical Test will be closed, so we ask that you read rules before signing up and we will see you on the servers soon. MLB The Show 21 Feature Premieres This year we will be rolling out Feature Premieres, which will be broadcasting simultaneously across Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Live. Much like our livestreams in previous years, Feature Premieres will give an in-depth look at the new features and changes that we’ve been working on that makes this year’s game better than its predecessor. Clear your afternoon schedules on Thursday afternoons as a new Feature Premiers will air every Thursday at 3 PM PT starting on March 11. Feature Premier Schedule Tailored Gameplay, Pinpoint Pitching, and Hitting engine updates Complete Fielding Overall (yes we are specifically talking about plays at the wall 😊) Ball Player introduction, more variety, and ways to play and ever before Franchise and March to October empowers you to make decisions for the future MLB The Show goes Next Gen Diamond Dynasty streamlined with new paths to rewards We could not be more excited for MLB The Show 21 coming out on PlayStation and Xbox consoles! Look forward to a new class of Legends, new ways to play, including with your friends! Check http://www.theshow.com/, and follow our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 21. For more detailed information on MLB The Show 21 including an important update on year to year saves and more please read our announce FAQ here. *Users signing-up to participate in the Xbox platform Technical Test will need to be among the first 50,000 sign-ups to participate due to capacity limits. Registrations for the PlayStation platform Technical Test are not capped. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/ez6MSQyXnckView the full article

Ah, hello again. It’s good to see you. Come, join us, we were just getting started. The world of Little Nightmares is quite like exploring a child’s bad dream about the realm of grownups, but with all the distortions and misunderstanding made completely real. Adults tower over you menacingly. They are utterly powerful and full of secret intentions. There are rules that are never explained to you which must be followed to the letter. And yet, you are never permitted to wake up. Play Video When the team approaches creating a new adventure in the world of Little Nightmares, this is where we begin, with a strange world that isn’t made for the children trying to navigate it. Each adventure leads the visitor through a system that acts in accordance with a basic principle or concept, challenging you to overcome both puzzles and horrors that will stalk and capture you if you wander too close. One of our main design principles is that, to help you feel the same level of confusion and struggle that a child feels, the game explains very little. You must find solutions and learn about your environment through careful observation. In the original Little Nightmares, we were trapped in The Maw, which operates on the principle of hunger – not just the physical sensation, but other concepts that are related, like greed and over-consumption. In Little Nightmares II, we travel to the Pale City and its surroundings, an area that entices and threatens us with escapism. Let’s talk about how that theme touches the main areas of the game. The natural beauty of the Wilderness might seem a tonic to the idea of things that one must escape. Quickly, we can notice that we might not be alone in this beautiful forest. Traps and snares are everywhere; someone is intent on capturing anything that dares move. The Hunter, who mutters and snarls beneath his mask like a pack of hounds, is the embodiment of a threat you can’t fight. Your only hope with the Hunter is to run faster, think quicker, and look for a way to turn the tables. It’s a very primal version of escapism that shows us the roots of the behavior. Keep your eyes open for others who were lost to the hunt as you trek through the Wilderness. Sometimes, not even digging into the ground can save someone in the Hunter’s sights. Then, across the cloudy sea, on the outskirts of the Pale City, you have the School. This twisted learning institute is home to other predators who are also fond of setting traps. Bullies rove the halls looking for anything weaker than them to torment, but they are not at the top of this food pyramid. Even the wildest Bully wouldn’t dare to so much as twitch without permission when they’re inside the Teacher’s classroom. In this school, conformity isn’t a choice, it’s survival, and everyone is looking for a moment of escape. Even the Teacher needs to step away from her duties from time to time, and if you’re clever enough, you might catch her dabbling in her own form of artistic expression. We’ve already discussed how the Hospital’s Patients are seeking to escape from their humdrum lives by looking for a medical source for their boredom. They run willingly into the Doctor’s waiting room and become part of his search for the perfect expression of his techniques. Even though his methods are horrific, his perfectionism is also a bit of procrastination – forever fiddling with details rather than finishing his creations, hiding away from the possibility that the final product won’t be as good as hoped. And then, we come to the Pale City itself. Here we have a population of Viewers who have given up everything to tune in to the sweet promises of the Transmission. What might look like useless static is a siren’s song that lures these Viewers with whatever their hearts desire. The more they watch, the deeper they fall under its control. They develop a dependency on the Transmission, violently destroying anything that interrupts their connection to its cool, heartless glow. Eventually, the Transmission leeches away everything that makes them unique. Their faces soften and blur, their limbs quiver in time with the commercial breaks. They become desperate to get closer to the screen, as if they’re bathing in its light. It becomes harder and harder to tell where they end, and the television begins. Finally, in a state of televisual rapture, they quietly slip all the way in to the signal, leaving behind only a suit of empty clothes. Mono, and his new abilities, can be seen as a threat to these systems of escapism. He can use the televisions scattered around the city to move freely where others cannot. He can attack things straight on, cutting through the static. When he frees Six from her captivity, he’s also freeing her from her own fixation. The music box that she endlessly plays while locked in the Hunter’s shack is another form of escapism – rather than continuing to struggle to break out, she’s become entranced with this music to the point where it’s pacified her until Mono comes along. But Mono also isn’t immune, as he seems to have a mysterious connection to the Transmission. More than once, Six saves him from becoming entranced by the twisting corridor that opens to him when he comes across an active television. Their partnership is their only hope to shake the city free from the Transmission’s grip, and in doing so, perhaps escape the terrible fate of all children who find themselves in the world of Little Nightmares. Please join us tomorrow, when Little Nightmares II slips into our waking world. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/yvzlpcTAdacView the full article

Hello PlayStation Guardians! Ever since the release of Beyond Light in November, everyone here at Bungie has been working hard on Destiny 2. It’s been awesome to watch players unlock the awesome elemental power Stasis, explore the secrets of our newest destination on Europa, and to uncover incredible new gear all while working to take down the Fallen Kell of Darkness, Eramis. If it’s been a while since you’ve played Destiny, right now is a fantastic time to jump back into the action. In addition to all the awesome content introduced in Beyond Light, we’ve been working on a brand new Season, one that continues our always-evolving storyline and also introduces some great new loot to earn! Season of the Chosen kicks off today, so let’s take a closer look at what you can expect. Season of the Chosen In Season of the Chosen, Guardians will answer the call to battle. This new Season brings with it a host of thrilling new activities and features to enjoy, including a brand new matchmade activity, three additional strikes (including one brand new strike), the return of Umbral Engrams, a new Seasonal hub that will offer players a streamlined seasonal gameplay experience, and more. There’s a lot to experience and it starts with the introduction of a new character to the Destiny universe. Play Video Prove your Honor The Cabal Empress Caiatl has arrived and seeks an arrangement with the Vanguard in her bid to defeat the Hive and rebuild her empire. After talks break down, Guardians are thrown into the conflict, serving as champions of the Last City in Battlegrounds – a new matchmade activity for up to three players where players will face down Caiatl’s fiercest lieutenants. Season of the Chosen will also welcome three additional strikes to the game – two legacy strikes available right away and a new strike called Proving Grounds, which will debut later in the Season. Focus your Gear Season of the Chosen has lots of options for gear collectors to dig into, including new Exotic and Legendary weapons. In addition, Umbral Engrams are returning to the game. These special engram drops give players the ability to better select the kinds of rewards they wish to receive. After collecting Umbral Engrams, you’ll take them to the Prismatic Recaster and Decoder to focus the engrams on the rewards you’re chasing. This time around, you’ll be able to focus engrams across three different Tiers of rewards, including focusing on different gameplay archetypes (such as close- or long-range weapons), specific armor slots (like chest or gauntlets), and on armor that focuses on specific stat bonuses. To focus the Umbral Engrams, you’ll be collecting Prismatic Lenses. These items allow you to focus an Umbral Engram on the bonus you want and can be earned by completing certain objectives in the game, such as getting a certain number of kills with a weapon type. For instance, if you really want the close-range weapon engram, you could get the requisite number of kills to earn the Prismatic Lens that will unlock the ability for you to focus on that archetype. These objectives will be visible to players at the Prismatic Recaster itself, so you’ll be able to keep tabs on your progress. We’re excited to bring back Umbral Engrams to the game and give players the opportunity to tailor their gear towards their playstyle more than ever before. Now let’s talk about where players will be doing all of this recasting and decoding. Let’s take a tour of the H.E.L.M. A seat at the War Table Season of the Chosen will introduce a new Seasonal hub, one that will live throughout Year 4 of Destiny 2. Known as the H.E.L.M. (Hub for Emergency and Logistical Maneuvers), this new private space will be a Guardian’s go-to launching spot for playing Seasonal content. In this new space, you’ll be surrounded by the familiar faces of the Vanguard and be privy to their conversations as the narrative events of Season of the Chosen (and later Seasons) continue to unfold. In addition to offering quick access to Seasonal vendors, players will be able to access the Vault, Postmaster, as well as the Prismatic Recaster and Decoder for those Umbral Engrams. As new Seasons are introduced to the game in Year 4, new areas of the H.E.L.M. command center will become available. For Season of the Chosen, the central feature of the H.E.L.M. is the War Table, where you’ll launch new quests, monitor the ongoing conflict with the Cabal, and interact with Vanguard characters. The War Table will also introduce a new pursuit item – the Hammer of Proving. Guardians will wield this mighty hammer to smash the chests that await them at the end of Battleground events, full of great rewards to enjoy. By completing events like strikes, Crucible, and Gambit, players will earn Cabal gold which they can use to forge a variety of medallions to slot into the Hammer, which can be used to customize the chest rewards they receive. Season of the Chosen is turning out to be one of the most jam-packed Seasons in Destiny to date, and we can’t wait for players to discover all the great adventures and features that await. If you’re ready to jump into the adventure, Destiny 2: Beyond Light is currently available at a 33% discount as part of the Critic’s Choice Sale (through February 17). http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/TNyrPjStAVAView the full article

Crash, Coco and friends are back like never before with new powers, new worlds to explore, larger-than life boss battles, and a whole wumping lot more: welcome to Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, releasing for the PlayStation 5 starting March 12. A brand new, multi-dimensional adventure Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time marks the first new installment in the Crash series in over a decade! Taking place directly after the events of Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time sets Crash and Coco against Neo Cortex and Doctor N. Tropy’s evil quest to dominate the multiverse. Embark on this all-original time-shattering adventure as Crash or Coco featuring new gameplay mechanics like wall running, rail grinding, and rope swinging. The addition of Quantum Masks gives the bandicoots even more abilities to stop Neo Cortex and save the multiverse. Experience the same over the top action platforming the series is known for, including modern additions like quality-of-life improvements, visual upgrades, and the choice between Modern and Retro mode to match the appetite of both new players and longtime fans of the series. Enhanced for PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 brings It’s About Time to new heights with unparalleled visuals, supporting 4K at 60 FPS. Crank up your speakers and swim in the crisp, dynamic enhanced 3D Audio. And it doesn’t just look and sound great, it feels great, too! The PS5’s DualSense wireless controller brings adaptive triggers to your fingertips. Feel the DNA change in objects hit by Neo Cortex’s blaster and feel the grip of Tawna’s Hookshot. Lou Studdert, Creative Producer at Toys for Bob, is especially excited for the new release of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on PlayStation 5. Here Lou shares his thoughts on Crash fans and the benefits of playing Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on PlayStation 5. What fan reaction to a specific detail/moment in Crash 4 surprised you the most? Honestly, the attention to detail and the instantaneous knowledge shown by the fanbase has been a delight. We kept thinking ‘oh no one is going to notice that” or “haha, it’ll be weeks, months, years” before they notice that… But no, it’s instant. Things like the Crash of the Titans tattoo pattern on the surfboard in N.Sanity Beach being noticed when it was only on a trailer for a split second just blows my mind. Aside from the level of detail, the wonderful reaction to some of the new directions we took some of the characters in has been really cool to see. Dingo’s attempt at running a restaurant and Tawna’s new adventurous spirit have really resonated with a lot of people. What gameplay or speedrun techniques have you seen emerge in the Crash community that have surprised you? Folks have been doing something called a slide spin – where you initiate a slide and immediate spin while in the slide which allows for them to glide across the ground at high speeds and sometimes over small gaps. Seeing this “slide spin” technique paired with the unlockable “Triple Spin” move which provides a speed boost when used is insane. It’s like watching a tornado rip through a level in rapid time. That combined with the perfect timing and the absolute precision of these players is like nothing I’ve ever seen. What N. Verted stage-type do you see emerging as the fan favorite, and why? That is tough to say since there are so many different flavors of N.Verted dimensions! But I think the one that comes up a lot is the “painting” mode present in the Salty Wharf dimension. Seeing our normally colorful worlds presented in stark black and white really beckons players to spin and spray the world with paint. Seeing the explosion of paint caused by breaking crates is just such a fun interaction. While more details are on the way, what would you say is the biggest benefit to playing Crash 4 on PS5? There are several features that different players can really benefit from when playing on the PS5, but I love the native 4k resolution paired with the 60 frames per second. Seeing the amazing art and animation that the team has pulled off for this adventure presented in 4K/60 is just incredible. It’s crisp, it’s buttery smooth… it’s just outstanding. Suggested Retail Pricing and Upgrade Paths Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will be available for purchase on March 12 through the PlayStation Store at the suggested retail price of $59.99 USD / £59.99 GBP / €69.99 EUR SRP for PlayStation 5. Get the game digitally and receive the Totally Tubular Skins (available upon completion of the second level), which put Crash and Coco into some digs that shows off their radical 90s roots. Can’t wait until March 12? Players who purchase or already have Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on PlayStation 4 will be able to receive an upgrade to PS5 at no cost (except in Japan) starting on March 12. *Players who own a disc version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time must own a PlayStation 5 console that has a disc drive to upgrade. Owners of a PS4 disc copy must insert it into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital version. For full details, visit the FAQ page. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/drFUzO2LfcgView the full article

Surprise! We just released the first game in the We Were Here series on PlayStation Store today for PS4, and it’s free to download for a limited time! The rest of the We Were Here series will also be coming to PlayStation 4 on February 23 (and of course all three games are playable on PS5 as well)! It’s a perfect opportunity to try out the game and see if you vibe with our brand of online co-op puzzle solving in a sinister castle. So, just what are you getting into? If you don’t know, our games are cooperative first-person puzzle adventures where your goal is to escape, and all you have is a pair of walkie-talkies. You and your partner will be challenged to work together on the same wavelength in order to solve puzzles and explore. Each game is two player online co-op only, in which players take the roles of Antarctic explorers. The first two games We Were Here and We Were Here Too see players forced to seek cover by a blinding snowstorm, when they come across Castle Rock – a mysterious medieval castle in the wastes of Antarctica. Upon entering, you become separated from each other – can you and your friend escape Castle Rock? Play Video Inside Castle Rock you might occasionally see the other player from a balcony or on the other side of bars, but often your only direct interaction will be speaking via walkie-talkie. We find that this actually makes the game more intimate, not less – you really have to listen to your partner, or you’ll never escape. As you explore your part of the castle, describe everything to your partner, and try and see where you can combine knowledge to work together and progress towards the exit. While the first two games are set entirely within Castle Rock, for our third game We Were Here Together we figured that it was time to change things up. That’s why you start out playing alongside your partner in a new base camp area – close enough to touch! This means you can explore side by side. We’ll give you a hint though… you’ll still need to split up in order to solve the puzzles – it’ll just be by choice! It’s a more cozy introduction than you get in the earlier We Were Here games! The expedition base camp is a sharp contrast to the earlier We Were Here games, which see you thrown straight into Castle Rock. In We Were Here Together we really wanted to expand the world, and let players explore beyond the halls of Castle Rock. The base camp is a warm, well-lit space which opens out onto a pretty Antarctic scene with a seafront view. Too bad you have to venture forth to track down the source of a distress call which will ultimately lead you to Castle Rock. There’s beauty in the icy, snowy outdoor scenes, but things get darker and more threatening as you progress towards the castle. Socially distanced fun In times of separation, We Were Here connects people! It’s not only possible to play the We Were Here games remotely, it’s necessary for the best experience – which is helpful in these times of Covid-19. Nearly every puzzle in the game revolves around you and your partner sharing information and observations. You might not be physically together, but playing We Were Here games is still an intimate experience! You have to think along together — as they say, great minds think alike! How well you communicate will determine if you escape… or will remain trapped forever. You’ll need to talk to each other, but the walkie-talkies in-game allow for complete immersion – although you can also play with any other voice chat system you might like. That said, we’d highly recommend you use the in-game walkie-talkies, to set the mood and for some extra challenge. Remember that walkie-talkies only have one channel so you can’t send and receive at the same time – so try not to talk over each other when things get exciting. Over! The rest of the series arrives on February 23… Castle Rock is no ordinary castle, and there’s more than one story to be told here. Aside from being in Antarctica (how?) something clearly isn’t right. While you’re looking out for clues on how to escape, maybe you’ll discover hints about the past of this sinister citadel. Have you claimed your free copy of We Were Here, and completed it? Do you want more? Well you won’t have to wait for long! The two sequels will be released on February 23, both offering more puzzles and advancing the story of Castle Rock. There will also be a bundle deal containing all three games! While it’s nice to play them in order, every We Were Here game is a complete experience in itself. Think of it like a TV series where the episodes are individual stories, but also tie together in the longer term. In the same way, you can return to the first two games after playing We Were Here Together and still discover new details about the backstory of Castle Rock. Don’t forget that while anyone can claim the game, you’ll need a PlayStation Plus subscription to play since it’s an online co-op experience. So that’s the We Were Here series in a nutshell! We hope you’ll take the chance to explore Castle Rock while We Were Here is available to claim for free. Maybe you’ll even be able to escape… together? http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/Ti5G7j65oUQView the full article

Greetings, everyone! Matt “Bayohne” Hilton here from the Final Fantasy XIV community team, hoping you enjoyed our first ever Announcement Showcase! While we weren’t able to see everyone in person at our Fan Festival events this year, we are all very excited to have been able to bring you a first look at Endwalker, our fourth expansion pack! Before we dive into the details, check out the Endwalker teaser trailer which just had its worldwide premier at the showcase: Play Video Alisaie and Alphinaud (finally!) get their turn in the spotlight, and it looks like Alphinaud changed jobs for the occasion. The Warrior of Light seems to have shaken off the darkness from Shadowbringers and is sporting some well-worn Paladin armor as well—but we can’t ignore the fact that he’s on the moon! There is a lot packed into that teaser, but we still have much more to share. Left: Sage, the newly revealed healer job, will support allies on the battlefield. | Right: The tale of Hydaelyn and Zodiark that began in A Realm Reborn will reach its conclusion in Endwalker. During the showcase, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida shared a lot of details about Endwalker. We’re back on the Source following our adventures in the First, but as might be expected, an even greater calamity was brewing in our absence. Endwalker will feature the climax of the long-running Hydaelyn and Zodiark story arc, which is not only exciting for our veteran players, but also means it’s a great time for new players to jump in and enjoy the amazing story leading up to Endwalker’s release! In addition to the new story, adventurers can look forward to multiple new jobs, an increased level cap, vast new areas, adjustments to the battle system, as well as a variety of new battles (face off against Anima!), crafter and gatherer content. Warriors of Light will finally get to journey to Garlemald, and many other new locales… Many exciting pieces of content are coming with Endwalker—here are some of the new features Yoshida announced during the showcase: Journey to Thavnair, the imperial capital of Garlemald, and even the Moon! New Jobs: Sage and more Level Cap Increase from 80 to 90 Expansive new areas, including Garlemald, Thavnair, and the city of Radz-at-Han. A New Tribe: the Arkasodara New threats, including Anima. New Dungeons Secrets Revealed in a New Alliance Raid Series New Small-scale PvP Mode An Additional “Trust” ally: Estinien Wyrmblood A New Residential District: Ishgard Updates to the Gold Saucer Relaxing Fun in Island Sanctuary New Gear and Crafting Recipes Expanded Horizons via the Data Center Travel System Endwalker also introduces Island Sanctuary, a new way to slow down and relax in-game. Live off the land, raise animals and cultivate the earth, all while soaking in the sights of this beautiful paradise. Play Final Fantasy XIV Online on PS5 Yoshida also confirmed that Endwalker will be releasing on PS5 this fall, but luckily you won’t have to wait very long to jump into adventure in the PS5 version! The PlayStation 5 version of Final Fantasy XIV Online arrives on April 13 with the launch of an open beta, with the full version launching soon after. New and veteran adventurers will be able to play the full experience (all of the updates through Shadowbringers) with all of the upgrades and enhancements PS5 users have come to expect—the perfect way to prepare for Endwalker! The PS5 version will feature significantly improved frame rates, faster load times, 4K resolution support and more! Players whose FFXIV service account has a registered license for the PlayStation 4 version may download and play the PS5 Upgrade Version at no extra cost, and any new players on the PS5 can join in the fun through the Free Trial, which lets you play all of A Realm Reborn and Heavensward up through Patch 3.56—two full games worth of content! The full version of the game will be available for purchase following the conclusion of the open beta. You can get a first look at FFXIV on PS5 right here: Play Video The Announcement Showcase gave us quite a bit of info, and even more will be coming your way in May, when we host our first ever digital Fan Festival. Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival 2021 is coming your way May 14-15 and will be available to stream for free. More details will come closer to the event, so stay tuned, and see you in game! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/Gs2hXlefL-YView the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Welcome back! This week Sid and Brett share the joys of causing some damage in Destruction AllStars, and roll the dice on sci-fi strategy game Tharsis. Stuff We Talked About Little Nightmares II Red Bull Capture Point photo mode competition PlayStation Wrap Up 2020 Destruction All Stars The Nioh Collection Tharsis The Cast Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/XDSXPoC4SYYView the full article

Last week, we asked you to move through the world as Agent 47 and share dramatic moments chasing targets in Hitman 3 using #PSshare #PSBlog. From moody portraits to witty disguises, here are this week’s highlights: Agent 47 peers out into the rain in this share by SuperMario_1990. Disguised as a detective, Agent 47 tries to crack the case in this share by MindofMarvelous. Sarokeye shared the stunning view from the Dubai map. Agent 47’s piercing gaze from under the moonlight, shared by stevanfatty. XNikoN23 shares this dance with Agent 47. Agent 47 takes aim in this share by ifadefk25. Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Destruction AllStars SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on February 10 Next week, do some damage in the colorfully chaotic arena of Destruction AllStars. Hop behind the wheel or move around on foot to share delightfully destructive moments using #PSshare and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Want to share more of your epic photo mode moments? U.S. players can enter the Red Bull Capture Point competition* for the chance to win some thrilling prizes. See full details at redbull.com/capturepoint. *Red Bull Capture Point Official Contest Rules: THIS IS A SKILL CONTEST. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PS4/5 CONSOLE, PLAYSTATION™NETWORK, TWITTER® ACCOUNT, AND THE PARTICIPATING GAME(S). Starts February 1, 2021, ends May 21, 2021. Open to legal US residents, 18+. To enter, capture in-game image and share on Twitter with #RedBullCapturePoint and #contest. All entries must be submitted by May 2, 2021. Limit: 18 entries per person. For prize categories, judging information, restrictions, and Official Rules: redbull.com/capturepoint. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/Y-Ruf33HQQMView the full article

Feels like 2021 just got started and here we are already looking back at January’s top downloads across PlayStation Store. Those four weeks flew by largely thanks to an amazing lineup of games to keep us busy! Black Ops Cold War made a strong showing all through the charts, with FIFA 21 taking the top PS5 spot in Europe. Even with a late January release date, Hitman III infiltrated the list at second place in both regions – well done, Agent 47. The full January roundup: PS5 Games US / Canada Europe 1 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War FIFA 21 2 Hitman 3 Hitman 3 3 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 4 Madden NFL 21 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 5 NBA 2K21 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 6 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Mortal Kombat 11 7 FIFA 21 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 8 Demon’s Souls Immortals Fenyx Rising 9 Mortal Kombat 11 Demon’s Souls 10 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege No Man’s Sky 11 Sackboy: A Big Adventure NBA 2K21 12 Immortals Fenyx Rising WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship 13 Godfall Sackboy: A Big Adventure 14 No Man’s Sky Madden NFL 21 15 Watch Dogs: Legion Dead by Daylight: Special Edition 16 Dead by Daylight: Special Edition Borderlands 3 17 Borderlands 3 Watch Dogs: Legion 18 Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition Planet Coaster: Console Edition 19 Dirt 5 Godfall 20 Temtem Dirt 5 PS4 Games US / Canada Europe 1 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 2 Grand Theft Auto V Grand Theft Auto V 3 Minecraft Minecraft 4 The Forest FIFA 21 5 Red Dead Redemption 2 The Forest 6 Madden NFL 21 The Crew 2 7 ARK: Survival Evolved Red Dead Redemption 2 8 NBA 2K21 ARK: Survival Evolved 9 Gang Beasts Gran Turismo Sport 10 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout 11 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition 12 Mortal Kombat 11 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint 13 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Gang Beasts 14 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 15 Ghost of Tsushima Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 16 Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker Tekken 7 17 Hitman 3 eFootball PES 2021 Season Update 18 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Marvel’s Spider-Man 19 Jump Force The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 20 UFC 4 Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled PS VR US / Canada Europe 1 Beat Saber Beat Saber 2 Job Simulator Job Simulator 3 Superhot VR Superhot VR 4 Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 5 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series 6 Gorn Arizona Sunshine 7 The Walking Dead Onslaught Creed: Rise to Glory 8 Creed Rise to Glory Astro Bot Rescue Mission 9 Arizona Sunshine Blood & Truth 10 Gun Club VR Gun Club VR Free to play games (PS4 + PS5) US / Canada Europe 1 Rocket League Rocket League 2 Call of Duty: Warzone Call of Duty: Warzone 3 Fortnite Fortnite 4 Vigor eFootball PES 2021 Lite 5 Apex Legends Vigor 6 Rogue Company Rogue Company 7 Genshin Impact Genshin Impact 8 Rec Room Apex Legends 9 Destiny 2 Destiny 2 10 Spellbreak Rec Room http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/U-PKRfN7omUView the full article

Hello, friends! We have a lot to celebrate today. Not only are we observing Puyo Day (because in Japanese, 2-4 sounds like “Pu-Yo!”), and a brand-new update to Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, which we’ll get to in just a moment, but we are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the entire Puyo Puyo series! That’s right, fellow old-timers like myself, Puyo Puyo was first released way back in the ancient era of 1991. Since then, the series has had a rich history of appearing on a wide variety of platforms, including every single PlayStation console. Fans may have spotted the series in our other titles, like Yakuza and Judgment, as one of the playable arcade machines. Over the past couple of PlayStation generations, Sega has also brought full Puyo Puyo series games to Western audiences through Puyo Puyo Tetris and Puyo Puyo Champions. Then just last month, we brought Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 players! It’s been a long journey to this point, and we’re not slowing down. As part of our Puyo Day celebrations, we’re proud to announce that the second in our series of free post-launch updates for Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is now available! Today’s update ushers in a variety of fresh content for players, including four new playable characters – Serilly, Rafisol, Possessed Klug, and Yu & Rei; 3 new background music tracks for players to enjoy as they play, (revisiting some of Puyo Puyo’s past hits); 20 new avatars for players to customize their in-game profiles with; and Color vision accessibility settings that include adjustments for color saturation that can be toggled on or off at any time. Additionally, all six Challenge modes that were previously only available offline in single-player mode can now also be enjoyed online with up to three of your friends/foes! As we did last month, we’d like to provide a short introduction to each of those new characters I mentioned, along with what they bring to the table for the game’s Skill Battle mode where you’ll use unique character skills and special Item Cards to defeat your opponents. Serilly is a timid mermaid who is kind of a crybaby. She has highly effective buff and debuff skills in her arsenal. While she did appear as a playable character in Puyo Puyo Champions, this update marks her debut in the Puyo Puyo Tetris series! Next is Rafisol, a mysterious being from an unknown world hiding a hideous power with the ability to, among others, change the shape of the Tetrimino in your possession. Those who may have been following along last year would know that Rafisol was added as a secret unlockable character in Puyo Puyo Champions just two days before we announced Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, so this feels particularly special. Yu & Rei are ghostly twins with a chilling degree of pun and trivia knowledge who have a skill that removes up to 32 pieces of incoming Garbage Puyos, which can prove critical in a pinch. Although Yu appeared in Puyo Pop Fever as a playable character, her twin brother, Rei, makes his first appearance in the West. Finally, we have Possessed Klug, an evil crimson spirit that has taken over Klug’s body, with a powerful skill that can set up a powerful T-Spin attack. In my opinion, this is an especially notable addition to the character roster because this marks the first time that Possessed Klug has been made playable in a Puyo Puyo game outside of Japan. Moreover, he hasn’t been playable since the Japan-only Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary game, so something tells me Puyo Puyo fans will be excited about this one! Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is available right now on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 both physically and at PlayStation Store. Be sure to download this latest free update to enjoy all the amazing content we’ve added to the game. In case you missed it, we also added Sonic the Hedgehog as a playable guest character and a new online Boss Raid mode, which you can read about in our previous blog post. Lastly, make sure to follow the official Puyo Puyo accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/eVafDE_eF6EView the full article

Greetings yokai hunters! I’m excited to finally announce the long awaited Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition and The Nioh Collection are available tomorrow! To celebrate this moment, for a limited time we’re offering a chance for our samurai and Ninjas to try on some new exclusive armor sets. All of the players that own Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition or the base game for Nioh 2 can receive the Sohaya Deserter Garb and the Ornate Golden Armor just by playing the game from February 5 to February 26 and going to the “Boons” section of the menu to redeem them*. These Limited Time Bonuses will only be available during this period, so don’t miss this opportunity to get your hands on both items! I wanted to use this opportunity to talk about what you’re getting with tomorrow’s releases, but also talk about how Nioh has been shaped by its passionate community of players, and offer up some tips for newcomers. Play Nioh 2 in dynamic 4K and 120 FPS on PS5 The epic adventure of Nioh 2 has truly been an exciting experience. And for all of us at Team Ninja we’re thrilled to present to the players a key to venture through the entire journey, including all three of the DLC expansions in dynamic 4K and 120 FPS on PlayStation 5** in Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition. Even if you have already tackled all there is to experience in the Nioh 2 base game, we hope you can look forward to taking on some of the most fearsome yokai and foes from the Sengoku period, leading up to three action-packed adventures that will take you back to the past! Through the DLC expansions of The Tengu’s Disciple, Darkness in the Capital, and The First Samurai, the protagonist is brought back to Japan’s ancient history, to the Heian period, where they will unravel all of the remaining mysteries of the Nioh 2 story and journey to the “land where yokai reside.” In addition to Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition, The Nioh Collection will give players remastered versions of both Nioh and Nioh 2, including all of the DLC expansions for both titles. You can find the full run down of the different versions here. A balanced combat system shaped by fan feedback Looking back, I’m so happy that the battle system for the Nioh series has received a lot of praise from our community. This system featured a large variety of weapons to choose from, along with spectacular skills to unleash on your yokai foes, all the while gaining new loot drops from enemies and bosses you defeat along the way. The loot drop system was inspired by the hack and slash genre and has become a staple of the franchise. We have also implemented many updates to both games over the years, which were influenced by fan feedback, to ensure all of our samurai out there have the most balanced experience possible. Interested to know exactly how? Find out here (for the original game) and here (for Nioh 2). The large number of different builds players can create based on their unique playstyles, gives you the freedom to play your way. Apart from the battle system, fans were also very receptive to the new character creation system that was introduced in Nioh 2. Players have enjoyed the level of detail that we’ve put into this feature, and we have personally seen countless numbers of awesome character designs from all around the world being shared by community members with one another! Let’s not forget the attractive photo mode feature which also allowed gamers to capture still pictures of their original character in cool poses or during heated battles. A community of seasoned yokai hunters The franchise has also benefited from excellent multiplayer options*** that have allowed the community to take on all that Nioh and Nioh 2 have to offer as a badass band of yokai hunters! Our players have enjoyed the fact that people can join in during their adventures to assist with tough bosses, adding even more options for how players wish to tackle each challenge presented to them throughout their journey. We really feel it helps the community stay active, and continue slaying yokai demons together for hours on end! With that said, we certainly hope that new players can experience all of the memorable aspects of the Nioh series that our fans have enjoyed throughout the years. The Nioh franchise would not be where it is today without our dedicated fans and all of their support. Combat tips for Nioh and Nioh 2 You may be coming to our series fresh. If today marks your first time joining our yokai hunter ranks, then be sure to check out these essential combat primers to both games: 25 tips to defy death in Nioh Survive Nioh 2’s opening hours with these 9 gameplay tips A final word… To conclude this blog, my producer and director for Nioh 2, Yasuda-san, would like to send a personal message to all of our samurai and yokai hunters today! “The Nioh series was born when it was first announced in 2005. After many development twists and turns spanning over 10 years, Nioh was finally released in 2017, followed by the sequel Nioh 2 in 2020. Thanks to all of the feedback we have received from fans through the beta demos for each title, all of your input has greatly affected the development of the Nioh franchise, a series which is very near and dear to both KOEI TECMO and Team Ninja. On behalf of myself and everyone on the Nioh 2 development team, we are truly grateful for your support and dedication to the Nioh series. We put in all of our effort to bring both the full Nioh 2 story through Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition as well as the entire series in The Nioh Collection. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy all that the Nioh franchise has to offer.” – Fumihiko Yasuda *Requires downloadable patch. Internet connection required. **Requires 4K and 120fps compatible display ***Online multiplayer requires internet & PlayStation Plus subscription. PlayStation Plus fees recur until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms *Requires downloadable patch. Internet connection required. **Requires 4K and 120fps compatible display ***PlayStation Plus is required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription with recurring fees until cancelled. Users must be over 7yrs and users under 18 require parental consent, except that users in Germany must be over 18yrs. Full terms apply, see: www.playstation.com/legal/ps-plus-usage-terms http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/DTlZ_mKb2qQView the full article

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first player to break Baseball’s color barrier, which blocked players of color from entering Major League Baseball. A true historic trailblazer in sports, broadcasting, business, and the civil rights movement, Jackie was the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 following an illustrious professional baseball career in MLB and the Negro Leagues. Jackie stood for class, the love of the game and, of course, equality. He was a powerful force of positive change, altering the landscape of sports and the world forever. Jackie stood for principles that are more relevant and important today than ever before. While Fernando’s cover celebrates the future of the game, we also wanted to pay respect to baseball’s history and its most powerful forces for positive change. We can think of no one who better represents that, both on and off the field, than Jackie Robinson. To celebrate Jackie, PlayStation and San Diego Studio are happy to announce that PlayStation will donate $1 to the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) for every MLB The Show 21 Collector’s Edition sold in the US, including the Jackie Robinson Edition, the Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition and the Digital Deluxe Edition from when pre-orders open through December 31. The donations will establish the JRF MLB The Show Scholars supported by PlayStation Pathways program. Scholars will receive four-year scholarships and extensive support services, including career guidance and internship placement. It’s important for us to write more than just a check. The partnership with JRF will also include mentorship with PlayStation/SDS employees as well as an internship to get real world, on-the-job experience. We couldn’t be more excited to launch this partnership with Jackie’s family and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Jackie Robinson Foundation has been narrowing the achievement gap in higher education for 47 years. The JRF’s holistic approach measurably impacts the lives of young people destined to become impactful leaders. You can learn more about the Jackie Robinson Foundation here. For anyone interested in applying to be a JRF MLB The Show Scholar, stay tuned to the official PlayStation and MLB The Show channels in November 2021 for more information. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Program Now you’re wondering, “What’s in the Editions?” First, we’re very excited to announce that Early Access is back for anyone that purchases any of the Jackie Robinson Collector’s Editions. Early Access in MLB The Show 21 begins April 16 to give you a four day head start. Pre-order now and be ready for action. Retailer Pre-order Items PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store 1 Gold Choice Pack NOTE: If you want access to both the current and next gen versions of MLB The Show 21, please ensure you purchase a Collector’s Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition on the platform of your choice. For the physical Jackie Robinson Edition or physical Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition, these editions will include both current gen (disc) and next gen (voucher download code) entitlements on the given platform. If you purchase MLB The Show 21 Standard Edition, you will only have access to that version of the game and will not be able to upgrade at a later date. Jackie Robinson Edition (Retail or PlayStation Direct) The Jackie Robinson Edition is $84.99 USD / $109.99 CAD / €84.99 EUR (MSRP). This limited edition Steel Book (physical version only) is available for Pre-order now at retail or through PlayStation Direct. The Jackie Robinson Edition includes: The Game Next Gen Game Access via download code Limited Edition Steel Book [4] Days Early Access DLC Items: [1] Diamond Variety Pack [2] Gold Choice Packs Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 21) [10] The Show Packs [10,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 21 Immediate Access to digital Jackie Robinson Bat Skin Digital Deluxe Edition (PS Store) For our biggest digital fans, you know who you are… the Digital Deluxe returns to the PlayStation Store. The Digital Deluxe Edition is $99.99 USD/$129.99 CAD/€99.99 EUR. For those of you that need packs on packs on packs… on packs, this is the edition for you. Digital Deluxe Edition includes: [4] Days Early Access Current and Next Gen Game Access DLC Items: [2] Diamond Variety Packs [5] Gold Choice Packs [1] Ballplayer Equipment Pack Double Daily Login Rewards [10] The Show™ Packs [25,000] Stubs™ for MLB The Show 21 Immediate Access to digital Jackie Robinson Bat Skin The Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition (Retail or PlayStation Direct) Your favorite MLBTS Collector’s Edition is back! This edition is $99.99 USD/$129.99 CAD/€99.99 EUR (MSRP) While this edition include a ton of digital goods and four days of Early Access, it is headlined by the must-have limited edition New Era MLB The Show 9FIFTY Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition Cap. This limited edition Steel Book (physical version only) is available for Pre-order now at retail or through PlayStation Direct. The Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition: Physical Items: New Era MLB The Show 9FIFTY Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition Cap Limited Edition Steel Book [4] Days Early Access Current Gen Game on Disc Next Gen Game Access via download code DLC Items: [1] Diamond Variety Pack [2] Gold Choice Packs Double Daily Login Rewards [10] The Show™ Packs [10,000] Stubs™ for MLB The Show 21 Immediate Access to Digital Jackie Robinson Bat Skin Digital New Era Cap (use in Diamond Dynasty in-game) We could not be more excited for MLB The Show 21 coming out on PlayStation and Xbox consoles! Look forward to a new class of Legends, new ways to play, including with your friends! Check TheShow.com and follow our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and Discord accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 21. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/M4wAu-Z17X4View the full article

The Critics’ Choice promotion comes to PlayStation Store! Starting February 3, take your pick from a selection of acclaimed games, the digital editions of which are available at discount for a limited time. Play for glory on the pitches of FIFA 21 Champions Edition PS4 & PS5, become a winged demi-god in Immortals Fenyx Rising PS4 & PS5 or trick your way onto the leaderboards of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. These join many more titles on sale until February 17, 11.59pm (local time). See a selection of the heavy hitters below, then head onto your local PlayStation Store (European players, head here and US players, here) when the sale begins to see the full listings and your regional savings. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gold PS4 & PS5 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Doom Eternal Standard Edition FIFA 21 Champions Edition PS4 & PS5 God of War Digital Deluxe Edition Grand Theft Auto V Premium Online Edition Immortals Fenyx Rising PS4 & PS5 Madden NFL 21 PS4 & PS5 Need for Speed Heat Deluxe Edition Red Dead Redemption 2 Resident Evil 3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Game of the Year Edition Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 UFC 4 Watch Dogs: Legion – Standard Edition http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/EnXw8LTo9lkView the full article

Hello, Alexandre Pernot Lopes here, co-founder and creative director at Trebuchet. We are the team behind Prison Boss VR, a game about crafting and selling contraband which released on PS VR in December 2018. Prison Boss VR was all about designing a game in a limited playing space, hence the prison theme. For our next game, we wanted to roam freely, and this is exactly what you will be able to do in Winds & Leaves, our upcoming title set to release this Spring as a PlayStation VR exclusive. Play Video Winds & Leaves is a game about regrowing a world’s flora. The fantasy we set ourselves to recreate was to be able to take your shovel, dig a hole in the ground, plant a seed, and witness magnificent trees grow to maturity. After repeating that a few times, you would turn back and realise you just created a whole forest. The world of Winds & Leaves is born from merging various inspirations. The general mood and pacing were heavily influenced by The Man Who Planted Trees, an old French-Canadian animated short film about a hermit spending his entire life growing forests all alone, one tree at a time. The art style of Winds & Leaves uses simple shapes and a colorful palette inspired by traditional animation ink-and-paint backgrounds to represent the contrast between barren lands and the lush forests the player creates. Walking on stilts Early in development, we started thinking of ways to make this engaging in VR. We wanted to make a peaceful experience, but not a passive one. There comes our unique locomotion system, the Stilts, allowing you to feel each step you take with your PS Move controllers. You can raise or lower them to adapt your pace, or to reach fruits higher in your trees. Stilts can also retract to let you climb at the top of any tree to survey your surroundings. Making a barren world blossom We wanted the game to be non-linear, so the regrowth process could feel more organic. Therefore, you can plant anywhere you like, given you have the right fruit to fit the soil conditions. When trees start growing, the grass on the ground starts to spread. The landmarks you’ll encounter can give you access to new fruits or equipment upgrades. They all need to be activated growing the right vegetation at the right place. We wanted you to feel like you were the missing link that can spark the rich flora buried under the barrenness. PS VR allowed us to design a simulation experience that is both a contemplative and hands-on simulation game. Grabbing your tools and picking your fruits rapidly become second nature with the PS Move controllers in your hands. With the adaptive soundtrack that reflects the region you are traversing and the amount of vegetation around you, the whole world literally comes to life. Winds & Leaves is the largest project we ever made. It was an incredible and bumpy ride to work on this game. As if a pandemic wasn’t enough, we had to deal with an office fire (we didn’t need it anyway I guess), another fire at my house (ended up okay, but don’t make garlic bread), the CEO losing most of its teeth after a bike fall (always wear a helmet) and our level designer’s dog fled during a meeting (he found it after interviewing the whole neighbourhood). On the bright side, we have welcomed a bunch of new faces in the studio to help make this game a reality and I am very proud of what our awesome team crafted, the last year entirely from home. We’ll share more of Winds & Leaves in the coming months as we are working towards finishing the game. Follow us to stay tuned and soon, we will be growing this world back to life together! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/b8I_lbGvym8View the full article

PlayStation Now’s February lineup is here! This month’s huge roster packs in action, thrills and horror across six titles, all of which are available to play today. Let’s take a closer look at each game. Call of Duty: Black Ops III Play Video In the dark future of Call of Duty: Black Ops III, the lines are blurred between humanity and the technology we’ve created, a world where cutting-edge military robotics define warfare. Tackle Treyarch’s story campaign solo, or squad up with another player in local split-screen or online. When you’re ready for something different, switch cybernetic foes for supernatural enemies with the cooperative Zombies mode, or put comradeship aside for the competitive action of Multiplayer mode. Both can be played either in four-player local split-screen or online. ● Available on PlayStation Now until April 29, 2021 WWE 2K Battlegrounds The world of WWE is your battleground with over the top, arcade action as your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends battle in interactive environments around the world. Play through a new story mode while unlocking unique characters and Battlegrounds. Compete using special abilities and power-ups in match types like Steel Cage, Royal Rumble, and more! Compete in Online Tournaments or stake your claim as King of the Battleground against players from around the world! Plus, battle it out in local multiplayer and dominate your friends. ● Available on PlayStation Now until August 2, 20201 Detroit: Become Human Play Video Decide the fates of three lives – and maybe even the future of an entire city – in this narrative-driven sci-fi thriller. Confront tough moral dilemmas and thought-provoking situations faced by a trio of human-like androids – Connor, Markus and Kara – as their stories play out against the backdrop of a near-future America. In this branching narrative, every choice you make has consequences. Darksiders Genesis Play Video Embark on an action-packed quest to take down a demonic king in this isometric dark fantasy adventure. Freely switch between the dual gunplay of Strife or wield the sword of War when journeying solo, or have the two Horsemen unite their powers when playing in local or online co-op. Explore, solve puzzles and battle enemies to uncover a conspiracy that threatens to unravel all of creation. Little Nightmares Play Video Immerse yourself in Little Nightmares, a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears. Help Six escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal. As you progress on your journey, explore the most disturbing dollhouse offering a prison to escape from and a playground full of secrets to discover. Reconnect with your inner child to unleash your imagination and find the way out. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Play Video Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is the brutal conclusion to the Hotline Miami saga, set against a backdrop of escalating violence and retribution over spilled blood in the original game. Follow the paths of several distinct factions – each with their own questionable methods and uncertain motivations – as unforeseen consequences intersect and reality once again slips back into a brilliant haze of neon and bloodshed. *Certain games featured on PlayStation Now may be made available in the library on a limited-time basis only. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/s42E1LZ3u18View the full article

Hey everyone, Destruction AllStars is finally here on PS5, full game available at no additional cost to PlayStation Plus* members, and we’re thrilled for players to be able to jump into the arena! Before you dive in we wanted to pass on a few tips and tricks to help get your AllStar career off to a flying start! Whilst the game is easy to pick up and play, there’s depth to the destruction and our AllStars are far more capable than they first appear. Play Video 1. Vehicles are disposable In Destruction AllStars, you’re better off not getting too attached to any one vehicle. During a match, you’ll want to be looking out for the best time to eject and look for a new ride. Mix things up and change your strategy on the fly. Grab one of the heavy vehicles to tank some serious damage or get behind the wheel of one of the smaller, more nimble cars to dodge out of the way or deal out some precision hits! Even your hero vehicle is ultimately disposable as you can get the chance to call it in multiple times during a match. Don’t overstay your welcome behind the wheel. 2. Use the Arena to your advantage When on foot, you’ll want to be aware of your surroundings as you plan your next move. Our arenas have a lot of verticality with suspended platforms that offer temporary safety from enemy vehicles. Staying light on your feet as you wall run between platforms is crucial for finding a brand new car or getting ready to pounce on one of your enemies vehicles. 3. Use Pickups to turn the tide Whilst you’re exploring our arenas, you’ll find a variety of pickups that can help charge up your breakers (abilities). Collecting shards from platforms and wall runs will charge your Hero Vehicle and Hero Breaker. Use these to get a head start early on in the game or top off that final charge to get your breakers ready for action! You can also collect Breaker pickups. Collecting five of these pickups will fully charge your team’s Hero Vehicles, making them ready to be called in. This allows you to coordinate some devastating attacks or come back from an early loss. 4. Dodging is more effective than jumping When an enemy vehicle is driving towards you, performing a dodge (circle by default) can be more rewarding than simply jumping. If you perform a successful dodge, you’ll have the option to jump on top of their car and try to either take or wreck their vehicle! You can use this to secure a new ride as fast as possible or to get a wreck. 5. Team games are built for coordination In Stockpile and Carnado, coordination and communication will separate the winners from the true champions. In Stockpile, defending your banks is just as important as collecting gears. Choose the right AllStar to stand their ground with their Hero Breaker and push your opponents off the banks. In Carnado, Hero Vehicles can store more gears than regular vehicles. Keep an eye out for your opponent’s Hero Vehicles and give them a wide berth. Pick your moment to strike to deny them a lucrative deposit for their team! 6. Practise Mode If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by some of the tips above, you can visit practise mode to try out all 16 of our AllStars in the single player environment of our Practise Mode. In this mode, you can learn the rules of our four multiplayer game modes whilst getting to grips with the unique abilities of each AllStar. Practise getting around the arena as well as trying out new tactics until you feel ready to take on the world in our online multiplayer. 7. Challenge Series Our Challenge Series are a way to learn a bit more about a character’s back story whilst competing in unique single player challenges against their Rival. Each event has multiple challenges to complete beyond just winning the match, giving you more reasons to replay a Challenge Series to unlock all of its rewards. The first pack you can pick up is Ultimo’s Challenge Series! Be sure to bring your game as you face off against his Rival, Jian, culminating in a final showdown! That’s all for now but hopefully that’s plenty to get you started! As we launch we’ll be closely monitoring community discussions and engaging with you all to ensure player feedback is integrated through any updates as we expand Destruction AllStars through content drops, Seasons, events and more! Thank you so much for your support and see you in the arena! *Access to game at launch is only available with a PlayStation Plus subscription (sold separately) until 04/05/2021. Internet connection required. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/5bPc4xIIFJIView the full article

From Dreams in February to the launch of the PlayStation 5 console in November, there was a lot of gaming to celebrate in 2020. To commemorate our collective journey, we’re pleased to bring back our year end wrap-up report, so you can reflect upon your many 2020 gameplay accomplishments. Through March 2, 2021, PS4 players* can access their PlayStation 2020 Wrap-Up report and share their details with others, including trophies earned, top played games, play hours, and more. If you are a PS4 player and also played on PS5* in 2020, you can see a few general stats from your PS5 experience. This year, you’ll also see some stats achieved collectively by PlayStation users in 2020, such as enemies collapsed in fear in Ghost of Tsushima, total hours played in The Last of Us Part II, and total home runs in MLB: The Show 20. Here are a few examples from my 2020 wrap-up: A free dynamic theme featuring PlayStation Shapes is also available to PS4 owners. For those who qualify**, you’ll receive your year-end wrap report via email, so be sure to check your inbox. You can also check the PlayStation 2020 Wrap-Up page for more details. *Users need to have a registered PSN account in their region, be age 18 years or over, have played games on a PS4 console for at least 10 hours between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Users in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australasia, India and Russia must have allowed us to collect “Additional Data,” and can check their settings on PS4 at [Settings] > [Device Data/Health & Safety] > [Device Data]. ** Users need to have opted in to receive marketing emails via the Notifications Settings on their PSN account. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/M6GJOZ_yq58View the full article

The entire PlayStation team could not be more stoked to be officially working with Red Bull, as we partner up to showcase some of the best in-game photography talent in the U.S. Starting today, PlayStation users in the United States can play, capture, and submit in-game photos of select PS4 and PS5 titles to compete to win some spectacular prizes with the launch of Red Bull Capture Point – our brand new competition* aimed at highlighting the creativity of PlayStation gamers. Contestants can submit photos captured from Demon’s Souls, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us Part II to participate in Red Bull Capture Point. Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts with the top creators winning a PS5 with accessories, an unlock of a yet-to-be-released PlayStation Studio game upon release, and a chance to win “Best in Show” cash prizes. Once the winners are chosen, these works will be curated into a digital gallery event experience for all to check out (more details coming soon). For a limited time, participating Walmart and 7-Eleven stores are also offering activation codes that unlock PlayStation Network avatars with the purchase of Red Bull cans**. These avatars feature characters from the select PlayStation titles drawn in a classic cartoon style. Check out the Red Bull Capture Point trailer below! Play Video Ready to get snapping? Below are details on how to submit, along with a link to the official rules to get you started! Submission Process From February 1 through May 2, users can take and submit up to 18 in-game photos across five, award-winning PlayStation titles using each title’s in-game photo mode and the Share button. Submissions must be taken directly on console and uploaded to Twitter using the hashtags #RedBullCapturePoint and #Contest hashtags. Judging In May, each submission will be curated and judged by a committee of top video game creatives and developers from each of the participating studios. The top-rated pieces per category will then be announced and showcased in a dynamic and engaging digital art gallery experience at the end of the month where the Best in Show winners will be awarded. Rewards Category Winners Each Category Winner will receive the following prizes: PS5 console and various accessories One PlayStation 5 Console (with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive) One DualSense Wireless Controller One DualSense Charging Station One Pulse 3D Headset One 12-month PlayStation Plus Subscription One 12-month PlayStation Now Subscription Unlock one copy of five yet to be released PlayStation Studio Games upon release Red Bull Trophy Advancement to Best of Show competition at the Capture Point Digital Gallery Experience Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $1300 Best in Show Winners The top three (3) Overall Winners will receive the following prizes: First Place $1,500 “Best in Show” plaque Second Place $1,000 “First Runner-Up” plaque Third Place $500 “Honorable Mention” plaque Participating Games and Studios Red Bull Capture Point features five award-winning PlayStation titles: Demon’s Souls – PlayStation Studios Ghost of Tsushima – Sucker Punch Productions God of War – Santa Monica Studio Horizon Zero Dawn – Guerrilla The Last of Us Part II – Naughty Dog *Red Bull Capture Point Official Contest Rules: THIS IS A SKILL CONTEST. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PS4/5 CONSOLE, PLAYSTATION™NETWORK, TWITTER® ACCOUNT, AND THE PARTICIPATING GAME(S). Starts February 1, 2021, ends May 21, 2021. Open to legal US residents, 18+. To enter, capture in-game image and share on Twitter with #RedBullCapturePoint and #contest. All entries must be submitted by May 2, 2021. Limit: 18 entries per person. For prize categories, judging information, restrictions, and Official Rules: redbull.com/capturepoint. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. **Walmart and 7-Eleven Capture Point Promotions. Walmart: OFFER AVAIL. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, PURCH. REQ’D. TO UNLOCK AVATARS. NO PURCH. NEC. TO ENTER SWEEPS. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATING GAME(S) (God of War®, Ghost of Tsushima™, The Last of US® Part II, Demon’s Souls™, Horizon Zero Dawn®), RED BULL ACCT., AND ACCT. FOR PLAYSTATION™NETWORK. Ends March 31, 2021. Open to legal US res., 18+. To redeem in-game rewards, make eligible purchase and upload receipt at redbull.com/capturepoint-walmart, find PlayStation redemption code from email, and redeem on PlayStation™Network or PlayStation™Store. Receipt must be uploaded by April 7 ,2021. Eligible purchase is any (1) Red Bull 8.4oz 12-pack. First eligible purchase: 3 rewards; second eligible purchase: 2 rewards; add’l eligible purchases: 1 sweeps entry/purchase. 5 different rewards available across all Red Bull Capture Point promotions. In-game rewards expire August 31, 2021. Limit: 5 rewards per customer regardless of promotion/retailer affiliation. Standard data rates apply. Offer non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot combined with other offers. To enter Sweepstakes, make additional eligible purchases as noted above, or to enter without a purchase, send hand-written 3×5 index card with req’d info (name, email, phone number) to Sponsor at Capture Point Grand Prize Entry, Attn: Consumer Affairs, 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 by March 31, 2021. Limit: 5 Sweepstakes entries per consumer regardless of method. Odds vary for Sweepstakes. Add’l details and Official Rules: redbull.com/capturepoint-walmart. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. 7-Eleven: OFFER AVAIL. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, PURCH. REQ’D. NO PURCH. NEC. TO ENTER SWEEPS. MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATING GAME(S), 7-ELEVEN APP, AND RED BULL AND PLAYSTATION® ACCTS. Ends February 23, 2021. Open to legal US res., 18+. To redeem in-game value, make eligible purchase, scan 7-Eleven app, find PlayStation redemption code from email and redeem on PlayStation™Network/PlayStation™Store. Eligible purchase is any Red Bull can or multipack. 1 reward per eligible purchase; 5 different rewards available across all Red Bull Capture Point promotions; each add’l eligible purchase after first 5 results in 1 Sweeps entry. Go to redbull.com/capturepoint-7eleven on or after February 1, 2021 to redeem promotional code for in-game reward. In-game value expires August 31, 2021. Limit: 5 rewards per customer regardless of promotion/retailer affiliation. Standard data rates apply. Offer non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot be combined with other offers. To enter Sweepstakes, make add’l eligible purchases or send hand-written 3×5 index card with name, email, and phone number to Capture Point 7-Eleven Promotion, Attn: Consumer Affairs, 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 by February 23, 2021. Limit: 5 Sweepstakes entries per consumer. Odds vary for Sweepstakes. Add’l details and Official Rules: www.redbull.com/capturepoint-7eleven. Not sponsored/administered by 7-Eleven. Sponsor: Red Bull North America, Inc., 1740 Stewart St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/9vpyZuiSK3YView the full article

Whew, is January over already? 2021 kicked off with a bang, with everything from the thrilling return of Agent 47 in Hitman 3, to the return of side-scroll cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The game, and new adventures like Olija and Cyber Shadow. We’ll keep the polls open until Sunday night at 11:59pm Pacific, so be sure to get those votes in before then. Feel free to wax poetic on why your choice should win in the comments! How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners 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. Ambitious, 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. Players’ Choice: What Was January 2021’s Best New Game? http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/bemw2hBaa8QView the full article

Hi all, I am excited to talk to you all about Control Ultimate Edition on PlayStation 5. The power of the PS5 opened up a lot of opportunities for us at Remedy, and we did our best to enhance the Control experience in ways which were not possible before. Let’s start from literally the beginning. The initial loading of the game, where you see the logos and legal text, now takes approximately 4-seconds and from that it’s a short hop to get into the main menu. In addition to that, the load times in-game are a significant improvement compared to the PS4, so fast-traveling around the Oldest House is a lot more enjoyable. You also have the choice between Performance and Graphics mode. In Performance mode, the game targets 60FPS performance, while in Graphics mode the action runs at 30FPS, but with ray tracing effects. In both modes the rendering resolution is set at 1440p, which is then upscaled to 4K. All this is running on Remedy’s own Northlight engine, which has undergone important upgrades since we first released Control back in 2019. Ray tracing in Control Ultimate Edition brings improved image quality and realistic reflections to the environments in the Oldest House. These changes are most visible on non-transparent reflective surfaces across the game, as well as on transparent materials such as glass. This enables Control’s award-winning art direction to look and feel even more striking. We hope PS5 players will find new inspiration for taking shots with Control’s Photo Mode with all those gorgeous looking, ray-traced reflections. It’s worth mentioning that the impressive visual features of ray tracing are achieved without sacrificing one of Control’s key features – advanced physics which enable a high level of environmental destruction. We encourage you to use the Launch ability to hurl around objects and hey, why not pile them up, too? It’s a great way to get to hard-to-reach areas and find secrets and loot. Feeling it After getting our hands on it and exploring its features, we’re especially excited about being able to take advantage of the DualSense. You’ll definitely “feel” when the Pierce Service Weapon form is fully charged up through the vibrations of the right trigger. When using the SMG-like Spin, you can feel every bullet you spray through a very slight vibration. We especially like how subtle you can make some of these effects on the DualSense, which feels cooler than just aggressive rumble. The forms of the transforming Service Weapon feel even more distinct to use than before and give you a much more “hands-on” feel of what it’s like to be the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control. Even the Director needs help sometimes Control is set in the Federal Bureau of Control’s mysterious HQ, the Oldest House, which is, as we say, a shifting place. Despite the Bureau’s best attempts to map out the labyrinthine space, it can sometimes be a challenge to navigate, even with a transforming Service Weapon and a slew of supernatural abilities on Jesse’s side. This is partly by design, but the good news is that there’s help if you need it. Control Ultimate Edition supports the PS5’s Game Help feature, so if you feel like you’re stuck on any part of Jesse’s journey to find her brother and control the Hiss threat, there are videos and textual hints available for all main missions. Some of the Help text and videos explicitly tell you what to do, and in some instances it’s more about giving hints as to what you should consider. You access Help through Activity cards, which we think are awesome. We had a great time choosing the artwork for these. Activities are a great way to check your progress in a mission and give you an idea of how long they take. You can also see exactly how many steps away you are from unlocking a Trophy. Control is available for PlayStation Plus members starting February 2. We welcome all new players entering the Oldest House for the first time! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/LFhMaPxK_dgView the full article

The MLB 2020 season had a different look to it but, one thing remained consistent; the play was as epic as ever. It was a year in which new talent announced itself to the world, flipping bats, dancing and bringing plenty of electric moments to the game. Arguably, no one did this better than the MLB The Show cover athlete Fernando “El Nino” Tatis Jr. MLB® The Show™ 21 launches on April 20, 2021. The Standard Edition on current gen consoles is $59.99 USD/$79.99 CAD/£59.99 GBP/€69.99 EUR MSRP, and on next gen consoles is $69.99 USD/$89.99 CAD/£69.99 GBP/€79.99 EUR MSRP. We’re excited to share that, with our announced extension with the MLB® and MLB Players, MLB The Show 21 will be available for players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. This is a very exciting moment for all of us as the storied franchise will be accessible to more gamers than before. We would like to thank everyone at PlayStation, Xbox, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association and the San Diego Studio for working diligently to bring MLB The Show to more users. Cross-Platform Play and Cross Progression Comes to MLB The Show! That is right, users can play against each other online with cross-platform play in MLB The Show 21. In addition, cross progression allows you earn and use content on whichever platform and generation you choose.* MLB The Show 21 Feature Premieres To keep everyone safe as we continue to adapt to the current global pandemic, we have had to make some changes to how we reveal and share all the new features and updates to the game. This year we will be rolling out Feature Premiere, which will be broadcasting simultaneously across Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Live. The Feature Premieres will be a great opportunity for us to show our fans what we have been working on that makes this year’s game better than its predecessor. For MLB The Show 21, we plan on posting around six Feature Premieres with the first one being released in March. Pre-order now and be ready for action. Retailer Pre-order Items PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store 1 Gold Choice Pack MLB The Show 21 Standard Edition The MLBTS21 Standard Edition comes with the game and 5,000 stubs. Standard Edition includes: The Game DLC Items:5,000 Stubs MLB The Show 21 Next Gen Standard Edition The MLBTS21 Next Gen Standard Edition comes with the game, [10] The Show Packs and 5,000 stubs. Next Gen Standard Edition includes: The Game DLC Items: 5,000 Stubs [10] The Show Packs Collector’s Edition Reveal February 3rd I am sure some of our die-hard fans are wondering, where’s the collector’s edition? Wednesday we will reveal the collector’s edition(s) for MLB The Show 21 and all its content. Please note: There will be no standard edition upgrade path from current gen to next gen. If you are interested in having access to the game on both current and next gen platforms, please wait for more info about the collector’s edition. We could not be more excited for MLB The Show 21 coming out on PlayStation and Xbox consoles! Look forward to a new class of Legends, new ways to play, including with your friends! Check TheShow.com and follow our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 21. For more detailed information on MLB The Show 21 including an important update on year to year saves and more please read our announce FAQ here. *Cross platform progression excludes purchased Stubs. A copy of PS4 or PS5 game version, Account for PlayStation and PlayStation Plus subscription, and an account, online multiplayer subscription, and compatible copy of the game for the corresponding console platform required. Active PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/mTIcYsLkMWsView the full article

Last week, we asked you to partner up and share thrilling moments where characters worked together in your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. From battle ready buds to dynamic bot and bird companions, here are this week’s highlights: Cloud and Tifa stand ready to face anything in this Final Fantasy VII Remake share by YouJustGotArfed. Deacon and Boozer go for a ride in Days Gone, shared by gameman13. MentorCaptures shared Raven and Xii working together in Gravity Rush 2. Kassandra sets sail with her trusted advisor Barnabus in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, shared by Amianan_NiRaGuB. Sefwick shares a gripping shot of Kal and BD-1 escaping in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Abby pets a WLF pup Alice in The Last of Us Part II, shared by Comput_ART. Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Hitman 3 SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on February 3 Next week, slip into the many disguises of Agent 47, and share daring Hitman III moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/cg7u3I9gw78View the full article

It’s gametime! The NFL and Rocket League are preparing for Super Bowl kickoff next week with our latest in-game event: the NFL Super Bowl LV Celebration. The event is bringing the brand new game mode, Gridiron, plus new Event Challenges and the return of the NFL Fan Pack. It all starts February 2 and will be live until February 8. Hit the Gridiron Huddle up! Champions Field has been transformed, complete with hash marks and the NFL logo at the 50-yard line. But before you hoist the trophy in victory, you have to learn the rules. Here are the rules of Gridiron: The standard Rocket League ball has been replaced with an American football in this 4v4 mode. Touching the ball attaches it to the roof of your car. If any player touches the ball, that player becomes the ball carrier, setting up the opportunity for hand-offs to teammates or steals by the other team. The carrier can single jump, but double jumping drops the ball. You can also pass the ball by dodging. Each goal is 3 or 7 points: 7 points are awarded if the ball is attached to a player when entering the opponent’s goal, and 3 points are awarded if the ball is passed in or if the ball is loose. All own-goals are worth 3 points whether the ball is attached or it’s loose. Demos require Supersonic speed just like in standard modes. Stay in bounds! You’ll fumble the ball if you cross the line marked on the Arena wall. Now throw on your pads, get out there, and have some fun. Plus, we’re adding three Event Challenges that can be completed to unlock the Gridiron Guru Player Title, NFL Wheels, and 20,000 XP. These Challenges and the Gridiron LTM Playlist are live from February 2 through February 8. To round out the festivities, the NFL Fan Pack will return to the Item Shop. In case you missed it when it was available, this pack contains Octane Decals for all 32 NFL teams and is available for 800 Credits. Equip your favorite team’s Decal, hit the Gridiron, and be sure to share some of your wild highlights. Hut hut hike! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PSBlog/~4/ULgYmNPMsekView the full article