Commander Fury

Everyone’s favorite marsupial is in the process of getting enhanced, entranced, and ready to dance in HD graphical glory when he bursts back onto the scene in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. But don’t worry, because the process isn’t that painful for him. Well, it’s not anything that a couple of wumpa fruits won’t fix. We know Crash has plenty of fans out there, all eager for news about when he’s going to spin things up again. Your patience has paid off! Activision and the development team at Vicarious Visions have been hard at work updating this classic trilog, and they have some big news to share with you — as well as answes to some questions they’ve received from fans — so read on! When is the N Sane Trilogy Coming out?! June! 30th! (Yes, that’s 2017)! Can you believe it?! We can hardly believe it. Why did you wait until now to tell us? To torture you! No, seriously, from our point of view it’s about being confident in a schedule that allows us to deliver on the quality of games we all want. We had to ensure everything’s aligned to deliver it smoothly. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to know these things. — (Kara Massie, Producer) What has changed from the original games in the environment art? This is a great question and something that we’ve been working pretty hard on. The addition of real-time lighting in a PBR (Physically Based Rendering) engine, along with an increase in texture size, can sometimes make our environments look different than the originals. Generally, while we strive to recreate each level so it looks and feels like the original, we also want to make sure that environments are fun, colorful, and read well in the fast-paced action with the addition of the new technology we are using. — (Dustin King, Art Lead) What’s been your favorite level to make art for and why? I’ve enjoyed working on the prehistoric levels, and I found them to be a good case for reinterpretation. As I started working on them, I found that adding more greenery helped bring more of the earthy, prehistoric look that hearkens back to the illustrations in dinosaur books I loved as a kid. I also decided the path is more like shallow swamp water, since a tar pit would slow the player down. I like the contrasting mix of familiar elements of earth, fire, water, and plants, and it has been fun trying to effectively blend these elements. — (Aaron Trulson, Environment Artist) My favorite level to work on was Future Frenzy. This level was jam packed with lights, signs, and all of these cool futuristic shapes. It was really fun making the city look alive, with all of the neon signs and the flashing lights. Getting the reflections on the buildings to look just right was a lot of work for the engineering team, but I’m really excited with how it turned out. — (Jeffrey Lee, Environment Artist) My favorite levels to make art for have been Deep Trouble and Under Pressure. These underwater levels are full of colorful and exotic sea plants that bring the whole environment to life. I wanted to give more depth to these levels, so look out for a fuller looking ocean. — (Andrew Lee, Environment Artist) Is The N. Sane Crash wearing shorts or jorts or jeans? Wow, I actually had to look up ‘jorts’! Our version of Crash is wearing surfer shorts which we felt reads much closer to the shapes, colors, and forms in the original games, and is in line with the original concept art we started from that was provided to us by Sony. We feel it also speaks to his ‘90s era persona. — (Dustin King, Art Lead) Who are the Voice Actors? Fred Tatasciore (Dingodile, Koala Kong, Komodo) Debi Derryberry (Coco, Tawna) Greg Eagles (Aku Aku) Dwight Schultz (Papu, Lab Assistant) Maurice LaMarche (Nitrous Brio, Lab Assistant) John DiMaggio (Uka, Tiny Tiger) Jess Harnell (Crash Bandicoot, Pinstripe Potoroo, Ripper Roo) Corey Burton (Doctor N. Gin, Doctor N. Tropy, Baby Cortex) Lex Lang (Dr. Neo Cortex) Why did you remake the soundtrack compositions, instead of reusing the originals? We are recreating the original compositions to match the high-definition visuals and the updated look and feel of the game. The original music was brilliantly composed and arranged to get the most out of the memory and processing power of the original PlayStation. With much expanded resources, we are able to really improve sound quality and fidelity, while staying faithful to the original compositions. — (Justin Joyner, Audio Lead) Remaster or remake? It’s a remake isn’t it? It’s totally a remake? Please settle this. This is a AAA remaster. We’re giving this the love and attention to detail that we pay to all of our AAA games. We’re building it using the original level geometry so that it plays as close to the original as possible. We’ve also referred to this as a remaster plus, as we are adding new features that we think the fans are going to love! — (Dan Tanguay, Game Director) Did you see my idea? Did you read our thread / watch our video / get my letter? We actually do check online now and then, and we read all our letters. But honestly we’re really, really busy. Did you notice that date? It’s coming up very soon. Like you, we are really huge Crash fans, and we feel that we are taking very good care of what we know is precious to you. There is so much to explain, and we will, in time. For now, please know that we love you, and that we love and appreciate your kind words and support. — (Kara Massie, Producer) View the full article

Hey PlayStation Nation. We’re back with another free multiplayer weekend on PS4, but this time, the PS Plus team is extending it a full week. That’s right — one full week of competitive or cooperative play online! This should give you enough time to prestige at least once on Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, right? Starting this Friday, February 17, you, your friends, your next door neighbor — everyone — will be able to access the online multiplayer modes in any PS4 game that you own without a PlayStation Plus subscription. Free online multiplayer access begins February 17 at 12:01 AM Pacific and runs to Sunday, February 23 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Hop on to PSN during the free week with your favorite multiplayer game — no membership commitment is required during this period. More info on PlayStation Plus offerings, such as free PlayStation Plus monthly games, exclusive member discounts, online game saves, and more, can be found here. Enjoy! View the full article

Salut tout le monde! This is Alexandre Fiset, Co-founder of Parabole, a seven-person studio based in Québec, Canada. Today, on behalf of everyone involved in its creation, I’m happy to announce that Kona — a mystery survival game set in 1970’s Northern Canada — is coming to PS4 on March 17! Words cannot describe how it feels to be bringing our game to such an amazing platform. I grew up during the original PlayStation era and I feel lucky to now have the opportunity, eighteen years later, to contribute to its ecosystem. When I left my previous job to start my own studio, I remember that my associates and I were full of crazy ambitions. We wanted to create games with the help of local talents, featuring familiar local settings. We wanted these games to blend many genres in order to tell a story. We did not want them to take players by the hand. We wanted to do so many things, and to be honest, we never expected to have the opportunity to achieve so many aspects of our initial vision in such a short timespan. This is thanks to all our supporters, to all the people who said “Keep it up!†and to all our business partners who helped us make Kona a reality. As a team of gamers, we wanted to create a universe where immersive atmosphere, complex gameplay mechanics, and in-depth storytelling could coexist. We also thought it was safe to assume that the ones playing our game know how to move a first-person character and camera around. As a result, in Kona, you can expect to do many things, such as walking, driving, investigating, dreaming, and surviving. Not only did we want a diversified experience, we also aimed to create a game reflecting elements of our culture. Based in the province of Québec, Canada, our team is surrounded by more than 9,000 game developers. And yet, games produced here that feature familiar locations and cultural references are rare. There are so many places here to show the world that we felt we should do something about it — and so we did. Kona, a mystery set in the 1970s, was originally written and voiced in French (of course additional subtitle and voiceover languages are available). The story was written by writer David Bélanger and the original score was recorded by a local folk-rock band called CuréLabel. The result is a game that looks, sounds, and feels very authentic. In short, Kona is a vintage and atmospheric game that blends mystery, adventure, and survival elements that the PlayStation crowd can enjoy this March. We are eagerly looking forward to the game’s launch, and to reading all of your comments and reviews. Cheers from Canada! View the full article

We’d like to share an important update on compatible devices for PlayStation Now. On August 15, 2017, we will be discontinuing the service on the following devices: PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV All 2013, 2014, 2015 Sony Bravia TV models All Sony Blu-ray player models All Samsung TV models Additionally, 2016 models of Sony Bravia TVs will be discontinued on April 1, 2017. After thoughtful consideration, we decided to shift our focus and resources to PS4 and Windows PC to further develop and improve the user experience on these two devices. This move puts us in the best position to grow the service even further. If you use any of the above devices, we want to give our heartfelt thanks for your support, and we hope you’ll continue with us. Remember that all of your PS Now cloud game saves can easily be accessed on both PS4 and Windows PC. If you do not wish to continue your subscription, please remember to disable auto-renewal in your account settings so that your subscription ends by April 1, 2017 on 2016 Sony Bravia TVs, and August 15, 2017 on all other devices. For 3 months subscribers, depending on when you joined the service, your subscription may auto-renew a month or two before the service discontinuation date if you do not turn it off. View the full article

A big hello once again to the PlayStation community. James here from Sumo Digital, ready to bring you some fang-tastic news about our upcoming, physics-based puzzle platformer, Snake Pass. It gives me great pleasure to announce that Snake Pass will be slithering onto PS4 March 28! Jungle BeatsThat’s right, our serpentine adventure — accompanied by a meticulously crafted original soundtrack composed by none other than audio legend David Wise — is set to launch on PS4 at the end of next month. This will be one of the first times players have been challenged to truly Think Like A Snake as they take on the role of hero, Noodle. Accompanied by his best friend Doodle the Hummingbird, players will be setting out on a puzzle-filled adventure where it’s up to them to solve the mystery that has beset the ancient land of Haven Tor. Supercharged!But wait, there’s more! I’m also excited to announce that Snake Pass will feature PS4 Pro enhancements on launch day. Ever since we showcased Snake Pass at PlayStation Experience back in December and had the chance to see PS4 Pro in action ourselves, it quite quickly became a no-brainer for us. Snake Pass is already a visual pleasure, but adding PS4 Pro support has given us a chance to add another level of depth to the vivid and lush world of Haven Tor. For those of you on a 4k monitor, your PS4 Pro will let you take advantage of all the sights and sounds that Snake Pass has to offer. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you guys on a normal, high definition display. Viewed on a 1080p monitor, Snake Pass will feature a whole host of performance improvements that make the game stand out so much more. Those of you that have invested in HDR televisions will instantly notice the world pop just a little bit more. It’s honestly a sight you need to witness yourselves. P.S. We Love You XOXOSince our unveiling last year, we never in our wildest dreams expected to receive as much support from the community as we have done to date. For those that came to hang out and meet the team at PlayStation Experience — thank you. We hope you love the game as much as we have loved making it. Snake Pass will be available for PS4 on March 28 in the US. View the full article

Hello PlayStation fans! My name is Petr Ciesarik from Grip Digital, and we’ve teamed up with Joe Mirabello from Terrible Posture Games (Tower of Guns) to bring you a new, fast-paced FPS called Mothergunship. We’ve been working together for about a year now, and we’re excited to share a little bit about our game. Mothergunship is a game where we push the player to his or her limits with action. At its heart, the game is a straightforward concept: fight your way through the invading armada of alien ships, destroying each one from the inside, as you work your way through to the final Mothergunship boss. Sounds simple, right? Except the levels are randomly generated, the game throws wall after wall of bullets at you, the levels are littered with hazards, and mammoth bosses await you at the end of each ship. We’re not saying much more than that regarding the story just yet, but it’s as ridiculously over-the-top as the gameplay. As a quick teaser, it’s highly likely you’ll be able to play as a mad scientist, a fish, and a Scottish terrier (a very underserved niche in gaming). This is a game focused on blowing up weird looking machines, and to do that you’ll need all the firepower you can get. So let’s talk about crafting. Crafting is one of the core concepts behind Mothergunship. It doesn’t involve finding components and recipes like a lot of crafting mechanics in games. In Mothergunship, crafting is a fast and fun process — a bit more like playing with building blocks. Throughout your adventures you find a variety of pieces: barrels, splitter parts, special “cap†pieces, etc. You can combine these pieces in any way you like, grafting barrels all over the place and building up a gun with the stats you want. We’ve seen modular crafting systems like this in slower-paced space games where you can build out component-based spaceships, but we believe this is the first time an FPS has incorporated this kind of crafting into their guns, and the result is delightfully ludicrous; twelve-barrel lightning guns, shotguns that fire rockets, etc. It’s a system that’s very fun to play and encourages experimentation. These crazy guns and impressively challenging arenas are only a part of the picture for Mothergunship. We’re also building this game to be playable co-op; that means you’ll be running through these crazy ships with a buddy, blasting robots and admiring each other’s impractical (but completely devastating) guns. There’s more to it than just that, but for now I’ll keep it brief. It’s been a fun game to build so far, and we look forward to telling you more about what makes Mothergunship unique. View the full article

In Prey, you’ll laugh at sharp dialogue, question reality, and fight for your life — all in the first 60 minutes. The team at Arkane (Dishonored) wants to enthrall you from the moment you wake up in the posh, sun-soaked apartment of protagonist Morgan Yu. Even as the story spirals into the abnormal, those opening moments will shake you, shock you, and even blow your mind. Here are a few of the many things we loved about the first 60 minutes of Arkane’s sci-fi thriller, set to launch May 5 on PS4. 1.) The Whole Opening Sure, we’re cheating a little with this one, but the spectacular opening sequence of Prey as a whole is enough to get serious hooks into you. As a new employee of the TranStar Corporation, Morgan Yu takes an helicopter ride through a dazzling cityscape to undergo routine testing at a facility operated by her brother. But as you know, “routine†is hardly a lasting assurance, and soon the very nature of Morgan’s life and memory is called into question. Arkane crafts this entire sequence with aplomb, introducing a variety of gameplay mechanics while setting the stage for a mind-bending story to unfold. 2.) Even the World Has Something to Say Environmental storytelling is an invaluable tool to video game developers, and the Arkane team has leveraged it with its latest campaign. Morgan can hack into terminals and read private email threads that reveal key events in the Talos I space station catastrophe. The station’s on-site museum outlines the history of the structure, complete with dramatic lighting and sparkling plaques. Even the bodies themselves, frozen and twisted in agony, help craft the grisly story of TranStar and what’s at stake for the Earth below. 3.) Build Your Own Platforms (BYOP) The crux of Prey’s gameplay systems? Empower you with as much choice as possible. This philosophy is exemplified in the GLOO Cannon, a device that fires a fast-acting, expanding adhesive. You can use this to slow enemies down and close the distance for a melee attack, or build platforms up to hard-to-reach areas. Or you can ignore the Cannon entirely. Up to you. 4.) 0451 Yes, the legendary numeric string made famous by System Shock, Deus Ex, and countless others is on full display. Prey embraces its predecessors with a smile. 5.) The Mimics The Talos I is consumed by a Typhon alien infestation. These dangerous, ghostly threats take many forms. Literally. The Mimic, a small creature with startling speed, can take on the shape of almost any object on the station. Now every discarded mug or small trinket could be danger in disguise. Morgan, as it turns out, can also unlock these abilities… for a price. 6.) Skill Trees Expect to spend many wonderful, anguishing moments picking the perfect skill to unlock as you progress through Talos I. By finding Neuromod’s scattered throughout the environment, you can expand Morgan’s library of talents, from repairing broken elevators and turrets to hacking valuable terminals. The Arkane team wants to make sure that any choice you make is rewarded and valuable, with a variety of applications that fit any play style. So by all means, swing that wrench until you’re blue in the face. Or slink down the hallways undetected. In Prey, you have all the choice in the world. But that’s no guarantee you’ll survive it. View the full article

Hi everyone! We’re the Skyforge Team, and today we have something really exciting to share with you. We’re deeply honored to give you the opportunity to become part of “the chosen†and discover what it means to fight until the end, again and again (and again)! In the free-to-play action MMO Skyforge, you receive the gift of immortality and enlist to protect your home planet Aelion — a gorgeous but scarred world terrorized by alien invasions. Aelion is a planet littered with ancient technology and powerful magic for you to throw back in the face of the invaders. RPG fans can look forward to 14 wildly different classes that you can switch between on demand, and action fans will find combat mechanics you won’t come across in just any other MMO. Skyforge offers a unique mix of sci-fi and fantasy, action and role play elements that will keep you hooked for hours. It’s a universe filled with campaigns, player-versus-player action, and raids to best with your friends. Become ImmortalSo how did you end up on Aelion? The planet was under the protection of the great guardian god Aeli who built a protective structure around the planet. He kept an ever-watchful eye on the mortal citizens of the planet and would descend when and where he was most direly needed. But Aeli mysteriously disappears. This is where you step in and receive the gift of immortality from Aeli. Create a unique looking character, sliders and all, and take your watch in protecting the citizens of Aelion. Action and ClassesUnlock more classes and switch between them at anytime. If the fight calls for a chainsword-wielding Berserker, become one; if your friends need an Alchemist to buff them, become one. Combat is not a static affair, either; dodge attacks and shoot or hack the weapon out of the claws of your enemies and use it against them. Your enemies will know your name in no time! Even More Gifts!We are happy to announce that there are more gifts to help you protect Aelion and look great while doing it. Register now to receive your exclusive Immortal Pack when the game launches — for free! The Immortal Pack contains a Cyber Costume, Halo, and Glowing Eyes, that are exclusively available in this pack. Additionally, if you are a PlayStation Plus player we will add a whole set of extra rewards when you first log in, including the Wings of Vows — a cosmetic item that will make you stand out in any crowd as one of the first Immortals. This offer is only available now, so don’t miss your chance! To claim your Immortal Pack simply visit the official Skyforge PS4 website and register with your PSN account. The items will be in your account when the game is officially launched in Spring 2017. We can’t wait for you to stand next to us in battle, fighting together against the invading hordes in Spring 2017! See you all on Aelion — and remember; we are the first, and only, line of defense! View the full article

Ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls and all you gun-hungry space rebels – I’m Jay and this is STARBLOOD ARENA! Our pilots and their ships are queued up to launch into the arena on April 11 and we’re here to show all you boom-thirsty fans how business is done in the ARENA. To give you a little insight into StarBlood Arena we’ve brought on the illustrious Scott Campbell to break down the tasty little teaser that we first revealed at PSX 2016. If you’re like me and can’t wait to get in line for day one, we’ve got some special candy for those of you who take the pre-order plunge! The ancestors of the Arena come alive in the StarBlood Arena Legends Pack! Pilots and ships get sweet new kicks with: The Steel Hercules skin for The Baron – A veteran of the arena, Steel Hercules will head-lock and body-slam his way to victory! Oh yeah! The El Diablo Azul skin for Buck – This mysterious masked champion’s appetite for battle is matched only by his hunger for snacks! The Granny Granny Boom Boom skin for Alice – She’s dusted off her explosives and is out to teach the young whippersnappers a lesson – and she’s tougher than any hard-candy! On top of that, you’ll be earning BloodBux while you fight in the Arena, but our Legends Pack starts you out with a nice cozy stash of 10gs to get you rolling in style for buying stuff that we haven’t even revealed yet! ! Now, whatcha gonna do with all that cheese? That’s just the tip of this asteroid we’ve got hurtling through space, and you’re gonna get to strap yourself in starting on April 11. Keep your channel locked right here to PlayStation.Blog and www.starbloodarena.com for the latest in missiles and mayhem! View the full article

Thanks to our development friends at Panic Button, Rocket League will soon officially support the PlayStation 4 Pro! On February 21, we will release a new update that allows Rocket League to run at both 1080p (on a standard PS4) and 4K (on PS4 Pro) at 60 frames per second in all arenas for single and two-player split-screen modes. Three and four-player split-screen modes will offer 60 frames per second in most arenas at the same resolutions. In addition to the new visual optimizations we’re making, our next update will also bring… Hot Wheels premium DLC cars, Twin Mill III and Bone Shaker (sold separately). Additional free Hot Wheels-themed post-match item drops, including both Toppers and Antennas. A new fan-voted “Player’s Choice†Crate filled with some of the community’s favorite items. PS4-specific technical improvements. Multiple performance optimizations and bug fixes. This is just the first of many planned content updates for Rocket League in 2017, so be sure to keep an eye out for even more from Psyonix HQ as the year moves on. See you soon! View the full article

Heill ok sæll, PlayStation fans! Some of you may remember the announcement of Vikings — Wolves of Midgard back in June 2015, and I’m here today to share new, fresh details. Firstly, we’re excited to announce that the wait is almost over as Vikings — Wolves of Midgard will launch March 28 on PS4. Vikings — Wolves of Midgard is a combat-focused action RPG set in the shadow of Ragnarok — the end of days. When the Jotan begin to unite the Fire and Frost Giants under their flag in preparation for their march on Asgard, they cross paths with an outcast clan of Vikings called the Ulfung, the Wolf Clan. You arrive from the winter hunts to find your village in ruins and under attack from the Jotun. The old chieftain lies dead in the aftermath of the conflict and only a handful of survivors remain, leaving you to rebuild your home while fighting against the forces of evil that would doom the nine realms to oblivion. To challenge the endless evil forces, your fully customizable Viking warrior or shieldmaiden will have to master several weapon styles and magical abilities as you battle increasingly challenging enemies and boss encounters. Combat styles include sword and shield, two-handed hammer, staff, bow, and dual axes. You’ll also collect resources and special runes on your adventures. Use the game’s in-depth crafting system to upgrade your equipment. Dedicated explorers will also be able to find fragments of legendary armor and weapons tucked away in each of the levels to unlock the most powerful gear in the game. Alongside items and resources, the other key resource you’ll be harvesting is blood, used to level up and earn Gift points, which in turn unlock special powers called Gifts of the Gods. Arguably the most important ability in every player’s arsenal is Rage mode, where you descend into a bloodthirsty rampage, enhancing many of your stats and abilities and granting several other bonuses. Just like your other abilities and weapons, Rage can also be upgraded for added effects, like ignoring enemy defenses, rendering you immune to environmental hazards, or increasing the rate of critical hits. Enemies of all shapes and sizes are tough enough, but the boss encounters will force you to think tactically, with quick reflexes and perfect management of your abilities required to win. Even the environment is against you — freezing cold, poisonous fog, and scorching heat are just some of the hazards that can cause damage, slow your movements, and other detrimental effects. We call this the Exposure system, and to combat it you’ll need to find safe zones to balance out your vitals — such as campfires when exploring colder climes. If all that is sounding like the odds are stacked against you, then you’ll be glad to know that we’ve also included support for two-player online co-op, which we’ve found is great for redirecting the blame when it all goes wrong. Aside from the main campaign, we’ve included New Game+ mode so that you can progress your character to the maximum of their abilities, master all the available weapon sets, and collect every last bit of gear. And then there’s The Trials of the Gods, a mode where you can earn extra special rewards like new equipment and runes by surviving against waves of monsters and bosses. We’re in the final stages of development with Vikings — Wolves of Midgard, and we’re doing everything in our power to make the game the best it can possibly be. We’d love to hear what you think, so please do get in touch in the comments below! View the full article

Hello PlayStation.Blog friends, welcome to another season of MLB The Show! For anyone who grew up collecting baseball cards (I did!) or dreamed of managing a Major League Baseball team (I wish!), you may want to spend a little more time in Diamond Dynasty this year. And even if you didn’t collect baseball cards as a kid, Diamond Dynasty still provides a variety of great experiences for gamers, especially those who love strategy. In addition to talking about the awesome new things we have for Diamond Dynasty this year, we’ve also put together a Diamond Dynasty guide below to help jumpstart newcomers to the game mode. Building the Perfect TeamAt its core, Diamond Dynasty is all about building the best 25-man team possible. With more than 2,000 players to choose from, you’ll have the opportunity to select players from the pages of baseball history — from legendary greats like Jackie Robinson to the brightest stars of the modern era like Ken Griffey Jr. — to answer some of baseball’s greatest questions… Would a fly-ball ever drop in the gap with an outfield consisting of Billy Hamilton, Kenny Lofton, and Kevin Kiermaier? What if Ichiro’s rookie year was in 1997, and Ken Griffey Jr and Ichiro were united? What if Mike Schmidt came three decades later and formed an infield with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard? Now, to answer these questions, you’ll need to find and collect these players. And, fortunately for you, Diamond Dynasty offers an incredible wealth of options and features that will satisfy your building and collecting needs: Items — including players — are rewarded to you just for playing games in MLB The Show. Items and players do not have contracts; if you find an item, it’s yours to keep and utilize as you see fit. Weekly Missions and Programs reward you with items when you complete specific challenges. The Community Marketplace allows you to play stockbroker, as you can buy and sell items in this completely dynamic, player-driven economy. Our pack offerings in game and in our various editions allow you to acquire items at your own pace. Our in-game currency, Stubs, is rewarded to you throughout your gameplay experience. Playing With Your TeamIt’s time to take that team from your dreams and turn it into a reality. Diamond Dynasty provides a multitude of different modes and play experiences that will keep you engaged as you continue to build, collect, and evolve your team. Here are the primary ways to play in Diamond Dynasty: Ranked Seasons: Compete against other players online in head-to-head (PlayStation Plus required to play online) action as you attempt to climb the ranked leaderboard in order to acquire unique rewards. We’ll be running new seasons every few weeks, so you’ll have a fresh new challenge and a new set of rewards to strive for. Events: Events enter Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 17 and challenge you to build a team based on themed Event rules. Speedsters, sluggers, and switch hitters will have their moments to shine in these rotating, time-limited Events. Be strategic with your lineup decisions, field your best team, and take on opponents to earn Event rewards based on your hot streaks and overall win totals. Conquest: Assert your team’s dominance across North America as you attempt to conquer each MLB team in this single-player, strategy-focused, experience. Battle Royale: Battle Royale is the most challenging and competitive game mode Diamond Dynasty has ever seen. In this player-versus-player experience, you’ll be challenged to draft a team and outlast opponents in a double-elimination tournament to acquire unique rewards. And Much More: Play casual, unranked, games against other players online, play with your friends in custom challenges, play against any of the 30 MLB teams, or play against another players’ Diamond Dynasty teams controlled by the CPU. Keeping it FreshStay tuned for updates from MLB The Show, as we’ll have a steady stream of additional content dropping throughout the year. Diamond Dynasty will see the addition of new players (legends, flashbacks, and more), daily attribute updates for current-day MLB players, new Missions and Programs, updated rewards in many of our modes (Ranked Seasons, Battle Royale, Events, Conquest), and promotional packs and store items. Thanks for reading, and we’re really excited to see you out on the field with the team of your dreams. Stay tuned for more updates, and make sure to pre-order your copy of MLB The Show 17, launching on March 28! And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the most up to date information on The Show 17. View the full article

Today, we are releasing an exciting new musical experience for PlayStation VR. In partnership with award-winning violinist and Sony artist Joshua Bell, we’ve brought to life a live studio performance of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 1 in full 360-degree VR. With adaptive audio and positional tracking, the Joshua Bell VR Experience will transport you into the session and allow you to immerse yourself completely in the performance from every direction. The Experience is available now at PlayStation Store as a free download for PlayStation VR. Joshua Bell is a celebrated, Grammy award-winning violinist with a career spanning more than 30 years as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and conductor. Generally regarded as one of the finest classical musicians of this generation, he just completed a critically-acclaimed residency at the Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts and National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. He is also a technology enthusiast. When he tried an early PlayStation VR prototype a few years back, he was overwhelmed by its potential. He wondered how it could be used for classical music. At the same time, our group here in the UK happened to be researching new techniques for filming live events, particularly with music, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to work together and collaborate with some of our other Sony companies. We filmed at Air Studios’ Lyndhurst hall in London. Not only is it one of the best rooms in the world for recording orchestral instruments, but it also provides a stunning background for the performance. Lyndhurst Hall has been used to record the soundtracks to many famous movies and it is often used for our PlayStation games, too. Using a number of Sony FDR-X1000V cameras, we filmed a high quality 360 degree video of Joshua’s brilliant performance with his accompanist Sam Haywood. Now with most 360 videos, you can only watch from a fixed point in space, but PlayStation VR provides positional tracking, allowing the player to not just look around, but move around within the virtual world. Even the smallest amount of movement helps to create the sense of presence, convincing your brain that you are actually there. After some further development using techniques normally only found in Hollywood’s special effects, we were able to render out the entire scene in 3D. We maintained the correct shape, size and scale of the scene, including all the subtle surface details, so you could enjoy the performance as if you were there. We also added positional audio tracking. The PS VR’s binaural audio processing always provides amazing directional surround sound, but the audio in this experience now responds to proximity; move close to Joshua to hear all the detail of his violin; move back, and the natural reverb of the hall takes over. Providing free movement around a live action VR scene is cutting edge and normally involves cumbersome camera and playback equipment. The new approach we used for the Joshua Bell VR Experience allowed us to capture the informality of a real recording session without the constraints of a special studio. It also played to the strengths of the PS4s processing capabilities. To learn more about the process, check out this behind the scenes video we captured while in development. We’re all really happy with the results and felt that the full VR experience brought to life elements of the performance that could not be conveyed using the music on its own. Creating this experience was an enormous technical challenge and our next steps are to make everything easier to do so that we can capture many more performances. All types of music, theatre or even sport, could benefit from this technology. View the full article

Hello, future Master Builders! I’m Chris Rose, Associate Producer at TT Games working on Lego Worlds. As you may have heard, Lego Worlds is coming to PS4 in March! My amazing team here at TT Games and I have been hard at work to bring you this unique Lego experience where you’ll be able to explore and create vast worlds made entirely from your favorite building bricks! I don’t know about you, but I have been dreaming of bringing my love for Lego bricks and building to the digital space. Well, I’m overjoyed to report that we have done it! Nearly anything you can build in real life with Lego bricks, you can build digitally here in Lego Worlds. You have an entire galaxy of unique and colorful worlds with limitless landscapes and terrains for you to customize. Imagine a Lego Creator toy set with “unlimited†bricks… to me, that means unlimited possibilities! Want to be a farmer that chases away skeletons from his land? Sure! Want to skateboard on the clouds and/or drive a giant driller into a mountain? Affirmative! Want to ride a dolphin while exploring the vast ocean or fly a dragon while shooting fireballs at a wizard below? You got it! Want to take photos like a tourist or shoot pies out of launcher? Yes and yes again! Lego Worlds has a diverse roster of Lego characters, vehicles, and creatures that bring the worlds to life alongside an array of unique weapons and tools. Discover hidden treasures through light story experiences and quests to upgrade your rocket ship and travel to new and bigger worlds full of adventure. Just make sure you don’t let those pesky Troublemakers get near it! They chew the wiring and smell funny. Build brick-by-brick with confidence and populate worlds with a variety of structures to create a masterpiece, as you embark on your creative adventure to become a Master Builder. Have you ever wanted to build an entire castle for your pet T-rex? Or a vast water park that defies gravity where you can ride and play with your pet shark? No? Well, now you can anyway! Part of the Lego Worlds experience is being able to do all of this with a friend. We wanted players to be able to share their creations with each other, have fun adventures, and even create together. We’re proud to say we have made this possible, too! Invite friends into your worlds and play together, either through Couch Co-Op or Online Multiplayer. Are you ready for your mission? For PS4, we are taking a selection of your favorite Lego Agents heroes, villains, vehicles, and weapons, and placing them directly into your Worlds. You’ll be able to create, discover, explore and go on new adventures together with your friends as you create your own secret agent missions, take action in cool new vehicles, and thwart the plans of the evil mastermind Dr. Inferno. We look forward to seeing your worlds! Until next time. View the full article

Between an impressive cosplay scene and massive fan art community, few outside of Guerrilla Games’ could imagine the instant popularity of Horizon Zero Dawn‘s heroine straight out of the gate. Aloy’s rise has been incredible to observe, given that for most of the world she didn’t even exist until June 2015. It’s a testament to her excellent design (something Horizon Zero Dawn is lavished with on a whole) — but like many iconic characters, there’s a distinct feeling that Aloy wasn’t so much created as she was discovered. “In the initial concept art there was this young hunter with red hair,†says John Gonzales, Lead Narrative Designer. “And in one particular image she’s seated on a hillside looking out at this valley which has these ancient ruins… it seemed like she stepped out of the concept art and said ‘I’m going to be the lead character in this game'â€. Laying the Foundation of an IconIntegration between character, narrative, and gameplay is something vital to any story driven title. But Guerrilla didn’t just have the creative muses pushing the charismatic hunter to the fore — it also had a valuable and fundamental game design trick up its sleeve: the three pillars of what Horizon is about. “Aloy was the first,†explains Mathijs de Jonge, Game Director. “Then she had to contrast against the other two: beautiful, lush nature, and the machines. It was really important to make the whole thing feel coherent and deliver a unique experience to the player. “At the beginning of the project we didn’t exactly know what the rules of the world would be, so between these pillars, Aloy had to be a very agile and fluid character, and the combat mechanics and stealth system had to be tight.†Giving VoiceSo, with the environment and scenario set, and Aloy’s visual presence emerging, there was another vital aspect in crafting the heroine’s personality — her voice. Enter BAFTA and Emmy nominated actress Ashly Burch. “We were especially fortunate to find Ashly,†says John. “Her voice transmits the three qualities we needed for Aloy. “First is her incredible toughness and grit, that feeling of someone of substance and someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. Then there’s an intelligence and articulate wit that’s realized in Ashly’s voice. And finally there’s an underlying vulnerability and woundedness based on Aloy’s experiences growing up as an outcast, being out in the wild. “Aloy is somebody who couldn’t help but dream of being accepted and belonging to a community, but at the same time hating that same community for the treatment she’s experienced — there’s that conflict in herself about wanting to belong. And those are complexities that we as writers tried hard to understand, and to write it in subtle ways — but it wouldn’t work if we didn’t find an actress who could pull that off.†Character and ConsequenceOf course, even with all of these important elements, there’s still one part which is vital to forging Aloy’s steely personality — you. The narrative driven flashpoints let you define Aloy by choosing her reaction to particular events. Essentially, you’re emoting through her, which can affect certain elements by the end of the game. So, choose wisely… One of the first flashpoints is deciding how to react to Bast, a young boy who injuries Aloy with a rock during her formative years as an outcast. You can decide whether to retaliate with your own stone, discard your primitive missile, or disarm Bast from throwing another rock. And although Guerrilla has noted that most people seem to go for the last option, the team was not so quick to turn the other cheek. “When it came to Bast, the thing which came most naturally to me was to whip the rock back at his head,†laughs John. Managing Director, Hermen Hulst, agrees: “I’ve tried all the choices Aloy has to make through the game, but I admit I disliked the young Bast so much that I was actually harsh on him!†he chuckles. “I accepted the consequences of my actions!†While not the main antagonist of the story, there’s clearly an important role for Bast which will be revealed as you play. And appropriately, just as Aloy is immediately likeable, Bast’s nasty qualities help create a classic contrast to heighten her charm, as noted by Art Director Jan-Bart van Beek: “When my girlfriend played that part of the game she immediately said that Bast was like Malfoy from the Harry Potter books,†he laughs. “I didn’t realize, but then said that I can kinda see that! There’s something instantly dislikeable about him.†A Tribe Called AloyRegardless of how you define Aloy against characters like Bast, it’s clear that she will remain one of the main things most players will take away from Horizon Zero Dawn. Which is a remarkable achievement for a new property, and something Guerrilla is especially proud of. “We focused really hard on creating the best possible character we could,†says John. “We never thought that it would be a selling point that we’re having a female protagonist, we thought it would be more a selling point that you’re being the best possible person and character to play as in this world. People who have played the game so far seem to really enjoy being Aloy.†And being Aloy is definitely something people want to be, as proved by the growing number of them attending conventions, eagerly awaiting the game’s launch and exploring Guerrilla Games’ studio, waving and chatting to the team who created her. “Things like the cosplayers gives us this feeling that Aloy is a character that people really want to become,†smiles John. “There’s something about her that they find in terms of visual design, abilities, and story that they want to immerse themselves in. That’s really exciting and inspiring.†View the full article

Nier: Automata is less than a month away, coming out on March 7 in the US. What better way to compliment the excitement than by showing off more of what awaits you in game! PlatinumGames is adding to its pedigree of action games with Nier: Automata, but let’s not forget that there are also elements in this game that any RPG fan can appreciate, combined with unique twists in this incredible, post-apocalyptic world. Questing The 14th Machine War is upon us, and that means other androids need help. Things break, things go haywire, and as a member of the elite YoRHa squad, it’s part of your job to aid the Resistance and do what’s necessary to win the war. Aside from the main storyline, you will find hubs that provide plenty of side quests to enrich your experience as you attempt to reclaim the planet for mankind. Exploring The world is in ruins, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hidden caches strewn across the harsh, dystopian landscapes. The game is open world, and with double jumps, mid-air dashes, and super speed, 2B can reach heights and treasures that no mere human ever could. Mankind has fled to the moon… but life is not completely gone. Yes, don’t forget about the wildlife that inhabits Earth! Using special items to lure them, you can mount creatures to traverse the world and even attack your foes until they’re scrap metal. Battling I’ve always loved games that let you dual wield weapons. Sure, sword and board is nice and classic, but there’s just something so awesome about carrying two deadly weapons and swinging them carelessly at your enemies. Players can interchange freely between four different weapon types during battle. The scope of action goes even deeper by switching between weapon sets and charging your attacks. Powering Up Being what you are, an infantry android who’s programmed to destroy machine lifeforms, you are able to power yourself up in a multitude of ways. Powering up means more than just leveling. The higher level you are, the bigger the boost to your hit points, defense, and attack power. But, with plug-in chip upgrades, 2B can gain new skills that you’ll need to survive against the machines. Living, Dying, Living Again You are an android. So when you die, what happens? Your memory and data are uploaded into a new body and redeployed into the fray. If you return to where you died previously, you will encounter your former body. At this point players can do one of two things: Retrieve the body for a bonus, or… Attempt to repair the body. If players attempt to repair, they could be successful and reactivate the body to help in battle. Players can also be unsuccessful, as the body may have become corrupt, causing it to become hostile. If players defeat their former selves, they gain an enhanced bonus. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed watching us play Nier: Automata on PlayStation Underground. If you want to try it right away, you’re in luck! There’s a free demo live at PlayStation Store for you to play to your heart’s content. We want you to know we’re reading all your messages and we’re extremely excited for you to play the game! In the meantime. Our friends at PlayStation.Blog EU have even more details on Nier coming later this week! Don’t miss it. View the full article

A cataclysm has laid waste to the world’s civilizations, sending humanity hurtling towards total ruin. From the charred remains of once great nations, three factions rise up to reclaim their glory: the knights, vikings, and samurai of old. Ready your blade; For Honor launches next week on PS4. For Honor is designed with brutal, intimate combat in mind. Choose a unique hero from one of the three warring factions and master his skills and weapon of choice to dominate the battlefield. The Art of Battle combat system gives players a remarkable level of control over their hero’s actions, and fuels the exhilarating battles found in For Honor’s competitive modes. For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy the Drop! New Releases: Week of February 14, 2017 ACA NeoGeo Neo Turf Masters PS4 — Digital (Out 2/16) Neo Turf Masters is a golf game released by SNK in 1996. Players can choose from a total of six golfers with different abilities and play on courses located around the world such as Australia and Germany. Players can test out their golf skills against friends with game modes such as Stroke Play and Match Play. Battle Islands: Commanders PS4 — Digital Dominate the battlefield! From the creators of the popular WWII strategy game Battle Islands comes an explosive, head-to-head combat game! Take part in major WWII battles in Battle Islands: Commanders, from the sandy dunes of North Africa to the bitter cold of the Eastern Front! Bridge Constructor PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) Become an appraised bridge engineer and architect in Bridge Constructor. Create and design your own constructions and watch the cars and trucks pass over them — or see them fall and crash while your inferior creations collapse due to weight and the laws of physics! Your budget is the only limit. Flywrench PS4 — Digital Flywrench is a frenetic action game from the makers of Nidhogg about piloting an aerobatic ship through the depths of space. For Honor PS4 — Digital, Retail Enter the chaos of war as a bold Knight, brutal Viking, or deadly Samurai, three of the greatest warriors of legend. In For Honor, wield your blade like never before with the innovative Art of Battle combat system that puts you in total control of your warrior. iO PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) iO is a physics platformer in which you control a ball. By growing or shrinking the ball you can influence its speed and weight. Use these mechanics to gain momentum and make your way through the levels. Toy with the laws of physics, solve the puzzles, and reach the exit as quickly as possible. Monster Loves You! PS4 — Digital Live the life of a Monster, from birth in the slime vats to elderhood and beyond, making decisions that affect the world of Monsters and Humans in this story-book adventure. MX Nitro PS4 — Digital Adrenaline overload, break-neck speed: welcome to MX Nitro, a world of thrill-ride motocross racing. Risk bone-breaking stunts to get the Nitro you need to win. Ride fast and high, rack-up death-defying trick combos. Grab your bike, nail its controls, you’re on a journey through tons of tracks in breath-taking locations. Ride 2 PS4 — Digital, Retail Discover, transform, and test out the fastest and most iconic motorbikes in the world’s largest digital garage! More than 170 bikes, new models and categories. Collect them all! Travel around the world in an unforgettable and extraordinary sequence of events. Semispheres PS4 — Digital Semispheres is a unique 2D puzzle game that places dual realities at the heart of its challenge. Each analogue stick controls a different avatar in dual, interconnected environments. Using portals and other abilities to avoid sentries, devise and execute your plan, reuniting the parallel worlds of Semispheres. Sky Ride PS4 — Digital (Out 2/15) An action game in which a player will ride on a high speed bike and defeat a large group of approaching enemies. The player will fly over the ground, in the sky and various fields and fight utilizing 4 weapons. Sniper Elite 4 PS4 — Digital, Retail Discover unrivalled freedom in the largest and most advanced World War II shooter ever built. Experience tactical third-person combat, gameplay choice, and epic longshots across gigantic levels as you liberate wartime Italy from the grip of Fascism. Starry Nights Helix PS4 — Digital (Out 2/16) The retro-style, side scrolling shooter with a vivid storyline depicts the stories of four fully realized protagonists. Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found PS4 — Digital Toy Odyssey is a Metroidvania style action-platformer that takes you back to a world made from the nightmares of your childhood. Join Brand, an action figure come to life, in his fight against the darkness to save his owner, Felix. Nightmares are only the start of his troubles… Vertical Drop Heroes HD PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) Vertical Drop Heroes is a procedural platformer RPG hybrid with roguelike elements, where your hero adventures through randomly generated stages. Armed with a variety of skills and traits, you must use your cunning and reflexes to survive the dangers of each stage, until you face the final boss and uncover the truth behind the game! Tina Guo – Game On Rag N Bone Man – Human Rationale – Vessels Moonlight Doctor Strange (plus bonus features) Allied The Walking Dead- February 12 at 9/8c (AMC) Humans- February 13 at 10/9c (AMC) Planet Earth II- February 18 at 9/8c (BBC America) The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

Horizon Zero Dawn presents a distant future in which pockets of humanity survive in primitive tribes, while strange machines hold dominion over the Earth. Only the bravest of tribespeople dare hunt these machines – and only the finest hunters live to tell the tale. In the following vignettes, four of Horizon Zero Dawn’s larger and deadlier machines are explored in detail: Thunderjaw The combat-class Thunderjaw is one of the deadliest machines encountered in Horizon Zero Dawn. A formidable beast equipped with cannons, disc launchers and a mouth laser, its powerful ranged attacks will quickly cut down any hunter foolish enough to alert it. Space permitting, it can also unleash with a devastating range of melee attacks such as charges and tail swipes. Snapmaw An acquisition-class machine, the Snapmaw is frequently found basking in or near bodies of water, where it gathers valuable minerals from the sediment. It can move with surprising ferocity when alerted, lashing out with an array of melee attacks that include powerful lunge bites and tail swipes. For ranged attacks, it fires off cryo mortars that freeze the target on impact. Stormbird Soaring through the sky at high altitude, the fearsome Stormbird is a combat-class machine that can swoop down and attack its prey with tremendous force. It is just as dangerous on land as it is in the air, with a variety of swift and powerful attacks that range from wing blasts to claw slashes. Its enormous metal wings are capable of collecting and discharging the electricity in the air. Behemoth The Behemoth is a huge, rugged transport-class machine that uses anti-gravity technology to transfer precious cargo from smaller acquisition-class machines into its stomach container. When provoked, it may charge at the enemy or use its anti-gravity unit to hurl heavy objects. It is also equipped with a set of grinding drills that allow it to grind and propel rock projectiles. Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be a machine hunter? Find out when Horizon Zero Dawn launches on February 28, and stay tuned to the official PlayStation Blog and Guerrilla’s own Facebook and Twitter pages for all the latest news on Horizon Zero Dawn! View the full article

Subscribe via iTunes, Google or RSS, or download here Mass Effect Andromeda and Psychonauts in The Rhombus of Ruin for PS VR take center stage on this week’s show! Special guests include Bioware General Manager Aaryn Flynn and Double Fine’s Tim Schafer and Chad Dawson. We also discuss all the finest things in life: Darkest Dungeon, OLED TVs, and PlayStation VR. Stuff We Talked About Mass Effect Andromeda Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin For Honor Sniper Elite 4 Flywrench Nioh Sid’s impossibly thin new OLED TV John Wick: Chapter 2 Recent Episodes 236: Hashtag Jacket Cat 235: Born to be Wildlands 234: Demolition Men The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, SIEA Ryan Clements – Sr. Social Media Specialist, SIEA Send us questions and tips! blogcast@sony.com Leave us a voicemail! (650) 288-6706 Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

The year 2016 marked an important moment in the history of modern science-fiction, as fans of Star Trek everywhere celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series. As we know, Star Trek became a cultural touchstone for people all over the world. It introduced new terminology to the cultural vocabulary with warp drive, cloaking devices, and transporters. It brought social issues such as racism, sexism, and war to the forefront of public consciousness. The theme of an optimistic future, where all people on Earth are united in a quest of exploration, resonated in the tumultuous times of the late 1960s and had just as much bearing then as it does today. The Star Trek Online team is proud to be part of that forward-thinking culture and the year-long 50th Anniversary celebration through our Agents of Yesterday expansion on PS4. We began designing Agents of Yesterday in early 2015 for a release on PC in mid-2016 and the team couldn’t have been more excited to dive into that fantastic era from Star Trek: The Original Series. We have people on the team that watched the show as kids when it originally aired, others while it was in syndication, and some who binged the entire three-season series when it was released on streaming services. When and how people watched the show gave them different perspectives on which episodes were the best, which had the most social impact, and which provided the best themes for us to explore in the expansion. There were many animated (and sometimes heated) debates over which episodes and locations we would bring to life in Star Trek Online, but in the end, we were able to agree on some of the most iconic themes and sets from the show. Selecting episodes for inspiration was only one part of the development process for the Agents of Yesterday expansion. Star Trek Online takes place in the early 2400s. While we’ve done some time travel missions to the timeframe which Star Trek: The Original Series takes place, we knew we would have a lot of work ahead of us to capture the feel of that era. We had whole environments to create, from starship interiors, to a new Earth Space Dock, to the craggy mountains of Vasquez Rocks that are such a famous part of Star Trek. There were new abilities and weapons that required visual effects that fit with the 1960’s aesthetic we were hoping to capture. New starships and some enemy groups had to be conceived from scratch while still being true to the classic source material. All of these challenges were met with excitement from the team because, more than creating a great expansion, we knew we were on track to create a fitting tribute to the series that started a pop culture phenomenon. For some of us this expansion was the fulfillment of a childhood dream, to others it was a true expression of our passion for this franchise. But for the entire development team, Agents of Yesterday was a way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary with our entire community. This expansion was incredibly well received in its PC launch, and I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy it when it launches February 14 on PS4. View the full article

For Honor launches February 14 on PS4, but if you’re eager to get a head start on swinging steel as a knight, samurai, or viking before then, the open beta is free to all players on PS4 today through February 12. And it packs in more features than any of the tests before it. The open beta features nine playable heroes (out of a total 12 available at launch), as well as a new game mode, Elimination, which pits two teams against each other in a best-of-five, four-on-four match with no respawns. Teamwork — and moving quickly to revive downed players — is an essential part of victory here, so we strongly encourage you to stay in constant communication with your teammates. It’ll also give you an edge in the other available modes: Duel (1v1), Brawl (2v2), and Dominion, a four-on-four match in which two teams fight for control of a huge battlefield. If this is your first time playing For Honor, adjusting to the unique flow of the Art of Battle system may take a little time — but we’ve got a few useful tips to help you get started: Switch Stances Frequently You can raise your weapon to automatically block attacks from the top, left, or right — and your enemies can do the same. Keep an eye on your opponent’s stance (indicated by the arrows hovering over them) and match it to block attacks, or quickly switch to a different stance to cut around their guard. Different Heroes, Different Abilities Each of the nine available heroes in the open beta have a different feel, different attack combos, and special abilities that make them an asset to their teams. The Warlord, for example, can keep enemies at bay by blocking in all directions at once, while the Peacekeeper can cut foes so they bleed out gradually. Also, bear in mind that the Peacekeeper and Orochi only maintain their stances for a few seconds, so stay engaged and keep their guard up if you’re playing as them. Communication is Key This is especially true in four-on-four matches. Players who coordinate attacks on territories in Dominion matches and call out for help when they’re outnumbered have a better shot at victory than those who bunch up or strike out on their own. Use the Environment Are you locked in combat near a cliff? Maneuver your enemy near the edge, break their block, and throw them to their doom for a quick victory. Also, keep an eye out for spiked walls and other hazards, which can deal damage or instant kills if you shove an opponent into them. Don’t Forget Feats Each Hero comes with a selection of Feats, special items and abilities that you earn through combat. Some of these are passive buffs, but others can blind enemies, heal your wounds, and call down arrow or catapult strikes to immediately turn the tide of battle. Keep an eye on which ones have unlocked and use them when you can. The open beta will also continue the War of the Factions competition started in the previous closed beta. The War of the Factions is a metagame that asks you to declare allegiance to one of the three factions at the outset, and then counts every battle you fight and victory you win toward your faction’s eventual success. The Vikings are in the lead now, but if you can wrest their victory away (or ensure it) when the open beta ends, you and your faction will win in-game rewards that will carry over to the full version of For Honor when it hits PS4 on February 14. The open beta action starts today, so sharpen your steel and get ready to charge. View the full article

Hello, lovely people! I hope you enjoy our Valentine’s Day gift to you — a new game from us at Messhof, the creators of Nidhogg! Flywrench launches on PS4 February 14! Flywrench is a tough-as-nails, masorcore-ish game that’s somewhere between a platformer and a physics puzzle. We’ve been working on it since 2007 if you can believe it — you might even have played Mark’s early prototype version of the game! If you play games like Team Meat’s Super Meat Boy (actually, Flywrench was a playable character!) or Roll7’s OlliOlli, then this is right up your alley. Your character is a white line. No, seriously, you are a tiny white line. You are a tiny white line ship. If you don’t press anything you will drop to the bottom of the level and explode! Don’t do that. You can flap to stay aloft. Left and right adds momentum each way. You can do a barrel roll or 10, but you won’t be able to control your ship in this mode. Each move changes you color — while flapping, you’re red. If you’re rolling, you’re green. If you aren’t doing either, you’re white. Obstacles come in a bunch of different colors, but if they’re one of the three that you can switch to then you can phase right through it untouched. It’s a little different, but you’ll get the hang of it right away. At AGDQ this past year there were some incredible Flywrench full story runs that were nearly flawless! There are 199 levels and they come at you with the quickness. Flap, spin, and bounce through all kinds of tricky color coded obstacles and into the exit. We spent a lot of time tuning the controls just right, so when you die (Which you will… often) you’ll know it was all your fault. Bad gamer, bad! In addition to the main campaign, we’ve also included a Time Trial mode so that you can race against players globally. Also — and this is only available on PS4, we’ve included a whole new pack of “Asteroid†levels in Time Trial. They’re fierce. I may be a bit biased, but this is pretty much the best game soundtrack ever, so far (We are working on some killer music for Nidhogg 2!). Daedelus, who we were lucky to work with on OG Nidhogg, wove together an awesome soundtrack from some of the best producers around like Machinedrum, Baths, Dntel, Sweatson Klank, and many more. You can actually listen to the soundtrack in-game through an old school “Sound Test†screen. Okay, that’s enough from me. I super duper hope you check out our game! If you’re afraid of hard games, don’t worry, we baby you for a bit until you learn how to control your ship… but not for long. View the full article

Hey PlayStation Nation. It’s February, and you’re all probably well into your resolutions for the year. One of my resolutions is to play even more games — and to make sure that you and your friends get the chance to as well. I’m happy to share that from February 12 through February 25, you can pick up the new, slimmer PS4 in either the Uncharted 4 PlayStation 4 bundle, or the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare PS4 bundle for $249.99. Additionally, if you order the exclusive Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare PS4 bundle in Glacier White through Walmart.com, you’ll also receive this price promotion for $249. Here are the options to choose from: The Uncharted 4 PS4 bundle includes the slimmer PS4 model with a 500GB HDD, a DualShock 4 wireless controller, and the critically acclaimed Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare PS4 bundle comes with the slimmer 500GB PS4 and a DualShock 4 wireless controller, along with the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Blu-ray disc, and a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered download voucher. The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare PS4 bundle in Glacier White comes with the slimmer Glacier White 500GB HDD PS4 and matching Glacier White DualShock 4 wireless controller, along with the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Blu-ray disc and a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered download voucher. The promotional price for this bundle is available exclusively at Walmart.com. With incredible titles like the recently released Resident Evil 7 biohazard from Capcom, Guerrilla Games’ upcoming open-world action RPG Horizon Zero Dawn dropping later this month, and EA’s Mass Effect: Andromeda coming soon, now’s the time to jump on a new PS4. Enjoy! View the full article

Hi everyone! My name is Jehanne Rousseau and I’m the CEO at Spiders. We’ve been hard at work on the PS4 version of GreedFall, our latest RPG. Here’s our first teaser trailer! GreedFall is set in a fantasy world with magic, adventure, and 17th century weaponry. We’re looking for a very unique visual aesthetic inspired by Baroque art from 17th Century Europe, complete with grandiose sceneries and environments in warm, muted colors, and dark undertones. Explore a new world as you set foot alongside other settlers, mercenaries, and treasure hunters on a remote island seeping with magic, rumored to be filled with riches and lost secrets. A grand journey awaits as you find yourself in the middle of ever-increasing tensions between the invading settlers and the locals protected by supernatural beings and manifestations of the island’s earthly magic. GreedFall is an RPG at its core: it follows our experience in building intricate worlds filled with mysteries to discover. By weaving deep character interactions, and offering players multiple options and paths to accomplish quests and objectives (you can explore combat, diplomacy, deception, or stealth), this is going to be our biggest game yet! The island of GreedFall is a living, ever-evolving world. Your actions, from seemingly trivial choices to the most important political decisions, will influence and affect its course as well as the relationship between the different factions established on the island. GreedFall is planned for launch in 2018. We will reveal more about the game in the weeks and months to come. Stay tuned! View the full article

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is heading to PlayStation VR on February 21, in a new standalone chapter of the Psychonauts saga that takes us back into their mysterious and paranormal world for the first time in more than ten years. As we’ve previously mentioned, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin continues the story where it left off back in 2005, with Raz, Lili, Sasha, Milla, and Coach Oleander flying off to rescue Truman Zannotto, the Grand Head of the Psychonauts. We’ve designed this new adventure to be as fun for long time fans of the series as it is for new players — meaning there’s no need to know what happened to these characters before now. Naturally though there are some parts of the story that will make more sense if you’re already a fan, and so we wanted to give everyone the chance to catch up… Thanks to a little help from our friends at PlayStation, we’ll be giving everyone who pre-orders Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin the original PS2 Classic Psychonauts, now on PS4, for free! PS Plus subscribers will also receive an additional bonus 10% off the full price of $19.99. The pre-order starts today, so you can get your free copy of Psychonauts! Then on February 21 you’ll be all caught up and ready to embark on a daring rescue mission straight into the heart of the Rhombus of Ruin — a mysterious part of the ocean as deadly as two Bermuda Triangles back to back. Watch our brand new launch trailer to get the best glimpse yet into our new puzzle-adventure game, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin. View the full article