Commander Fury

When Sabotage creative director Thierry Boulanger was eight years old, his grandfather gave him a copy of Ninja Gaiden II. This event sparked a lifelong interest in telling stories and creating his own dream video game. About 25 years later, The Messenger, an 8-bit ninja platformer that blossoms into a 16-bit metroidvania, was released to critical acclaim, earned the Game Award for best Debut Indie Game of 2018 and was even praised by the Ninja Gaiden creators themselves. In The Messenger, players take the role of a young ninja tasked with carrying a magic scroll across a cursed world in order to save his clan besieged by a demon army. While, on the surface The Messenger might look like a simple homage to the classic platformers, you’ll quickly discover that the game plays with your expectations to surprise you with its modern game design approach, clever writing and super tight controls. The cast of memorable characters as well as its fourth wall and the inclusion of a few mechanics from other game genres also contribute in making The Messenger a truly unique gaming experience. While the game is considered fair compared to platformers of the early 90s, it still proves very challenging even to hardcore players with its 45 optional Power Seals to collect as well as its unique New Game+ system. We also designed The Messenger with the speedrunning community in mind from the beginning and we make a point to wholeheartedly support the scene in any way we can. Ever since The Messenger was announced, fans have been asking us to bring it to PS4. Well, the wait is over, and we are very excited that the PlayStation family can carry the scroll and do the thing with a DualShock controller starting March 19. But that’s not all. This summer, the story of The Messenger will take an unexpected turn with the release of a free expansion entitled Picnic Panic. This resolutely silly adventure will test your skills even more as our ninja heads to Voodkin Island in order to thwart Barma’thazël’s wicked plan. Sabotage is a Quebec City based indie studio mostly made up of veteran developers with a deep passion for retro games and the punk attitude. We hope that you will enjoy The Messenger as it was created with a lot of love to bring back those memories of gaming from another era while keeping you on the edge as truly modern games do so well. View the full article

When Sabotage creative director Thierry Boulanger was eight years old, his grandfather gave him a copy of Ninja Gaiden II. This event sparked a lifelong interest in telling stories and creating his own dream video game. About 25 years later, The Messenger, an 8-bit ninja platformer that blossoms into a 16-bit metroidvania, was released to critical acclaim, earned the Game Award for best Debut Indie Game of 2018 and was even praised by the Ninja Gaiden creators themselves. In The Messenger, players take the role of a young ninja tasked with carrying a magic scroll across a cursed world in order to save his clan besieged by a demon army. While, on the surface The Messenger might look like a simple homage to the classic platformers, you’ll quickly discover that the game plays with your expectations to surprise you with its modern game design approach, clever writing and super tight controls. The cast of memorable characters as well as its fourth wall and the inclusion of a few mechanics from other game genres also contribute in making The Messenger a truly unique gaming experience. While the game is considered fair compared to platformers of the early 90s, it still proves very challenging even to hardcore players with its 45 optional Power Seals to collect as well as its unique New Game+ system. We also designed The Messenger with the speedrunning community in mind from the beginning and we make a point to wholeheartedly support the scene in any way we can. Ever since The Messenger was announced, fans have been asking us to bring it to PS4. Well, the wait is over, and we are very excited that the PlayStation family can carry the scroll and do the thing with a DualShock controller starting March 19. But that’s not all. This summer, the story of The Messenger will take an unexpected turn with the release of a free expansion entitled Picnic Panic. This resolutely silly adventure will test your skills even more as our ninja heads to Voodkin Island in order to thwart Barma’thazël’s wicked plan. Sabotage is a Quebec City based indie studio mostly made up of veteran developers with a deep passion for retro games and the punk attitude. We hope that you will enjoy The Messenger as it was created with a lot of love to bring back those memories of gaming from another era while keeping you on the edge as truly modern games do so well. View the full article

Modern Warfare Remastered brings this classic back in full HD for a new generation of console gamers delivering the epic action, visceral gameplay and immersive experience that only Call of Duty can deliver. It’s fortunate then, that key operatives have six helpful tips listed to help you survive and thrive in combat zones from Ambush to Wet Work, and any map in-between: Movement Sensitivity Change your Horizontal and Vertical Sensitivity. Long-range engagements are common in Modern Warfare Remastered, so if you find yourself over-compensating your aim, it may help to reduce your sensitivity until you have your aim dialed in. COD Modern Warfare Remastered | PlayStation Store Reload Cancel Manually cancel your reload as soon as the bullet icons appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen (by double-tapping triangle), instead of waiting for your weapon to finish reloading. This allows you to bring your weapon to bear more quickly, and with a full clip or chamber. Evasive Maneuvers Make yourself more difficult a target to hit. Instead of jumping about, try strafing from side-to-side and — once in a while — use the “dropshot” technique (during frantic close-quarter fights). That is, dropping into a prone position while moving and firing at a foe, to make yourself harder to hit. Use the Tactical button layout when employing this trick. Window Jumps Instead of climbing (AKA mantling) through open windows, attempt to jump and crouch as you pass through a window. It’s slightly faster and keeps your weapon poised for firing. Use Cover Correctly Reduce your exposure to other players by utilizing cover (behind low walls, barrels, and jutting environmental scenery), thus making yourself more difficult to hit. Conversely, lob in a grenade if a foe is hiding to flush them out. More Haste, Less Speed Sprinting blindly around a corner is foolish, as you’re likely to run into an enemy waiting for you; when you approach corners with no knowledge of what’s on the other side; then don’t be reckless; instead you should slow down, step out, and then deal with threats. This can reduce your deaths. Juggernaut and Stopping Power Both these perks should be at the top of your list: Juggernaut allows you to take more damage, and is good for beginners learning the layout of maps (as you can survive for longer), while Stopping Power grants you more damage to your weapons; perfect for one-shot kills with more powerful weaponry. Whether you’re visiting Modern Warfare Remastered for the first time, or reliving your chaotic campaign time with Captain Price, Gaz, and the crew, our tips only scratch the surface regarding the deeper tactics present. Choose and perfect your preferred weapons, combine them proficiently with appropriate perks, learn every alleyway and lookout spot on every multiplayer map, and earn the optimal XP as you aim to unlock Prestige Mode. These are all part of the Modern Warfare Remastered experience. Now gather up your ghillie suit, sharpen your skills, and we’ll see you on the battleground. View the full article

The fate of the nation’s capital is on the line, and it falls to a team of elite agents to neutralize an imposing new threat. The Division 2 launches Friday, March 15, with a new campaign set in a 1:1 recreation of Washington DC, a bevy of weapons and gear to pursue, and a robust, ever-evolving endgame that will ensure players have plenty to keep them busy well past the end of the main story. For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop! The Arcslinger PS VR — Digital (Out 3/13) Get yer trigger finger ready for the fast-shootin’ VR world of The Arcslinger. Entrusted with the mythical gun Angelheart, you must take down the villainous Gold Smoke and his dastardly gang. Do you have what it takes to become The Arcslinger? Blood Waves PS4 — Digital (Out 3/15) Repel the attacks of the living dead using traps, defensive barricades, and close and long-range combat. Destroy zombies, get cash, and prepare yourself for the next wave. Choose the optimal strategy to survive. The Caligula Effect: Overdose PS4 — Digital, Retail School is back in session! The Caligula Effect: Overdose boasts enhanced visuals and gameplay, including new characters, new scenarios, new endings, and the mysterious ‘Forbidden Musician Route!’ Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Free Edition PS4 — Digital You can play part of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT for free. You can play online and offline battles with pre-selected characters that change weekly, and battle online against users from the full version. The Division 2 PS4 — Digital, Retail (Out 3/15) The fate of the free world is on the line in Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. Lead a team of elite agents into a post-pandemic Washington, DC, to restore order and prevent the collapse of the city. Gold and Ultimate Editions available March 12. Ghost of a Tale PS4 — Digital You are Tilo, a courageous minstrel Mouse on a perilous quest to find his true love. Use stealth and cunning as you explore Dwindling Heights Keep–from its tallest towers to its deepest dungeons, evading its dangers and discovering its most ancient secrets. One Piece World Seeker PS4 — Digital (Out 3/15) Leave your compass behind and join Luffy as he embarks on a brand new action-packed adventure where you can experience the powers of the legendary Gum-Gum fruit to uncover hidden secrets on an original, never-before-seen island! Time to set sail! Rico PS4 — Digital Two cops, one case and only 24 hours to take them down… face off against criminal gangs in an exciting procedurally-generated action movie FPS. Join forces with a friend, online or locally, and take down those crooks in true buddy-cop style! The Wizards: Enhanced Edition PS VR — Digital Become a powerful sorcerer with a host of mighty spells at your fingertips and protect the realm of Meliora! The Wizards is an acclaimed action-adventure game with a unique gesture-based spellcasting system, designed for PS Move controllers. The information above is subject to change without notice. For Honor Playlist Captain Marvel (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Juice WRLD – Death Race for Love Mary Poppins Returns Holmes and Watson Second Act Don’t miss the 4-part documentary series starting Sunday, 3/10 at 9/8c on HBO PlayStation Vue has your favorite sports, news and must-watch shows. The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

Flash Sale, anyone? Don’t mind if we do. This weekend PlayStation Store is delivering Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition, Hitman 2, and more — all for up to 40 percent off. Spend some quality time with your friends and survive Don’t Starve Together, flop around surreal dreamscapes with Human: Fall Flat, or keep it solitary while customizing your cell in Prison Boss VR. As always, check out the full list of titles below and don’t delay. PS Store’s Flash Sale ends March 11 at 8 AM PT. PS4 Games Title $Sale $Original 428: SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE $24.99 $49.99 BLAZBLUE: CENTRAL FICTION $23.99 $59.99 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 $38.99 $59.99 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 – DIGITAL DELUXE $84.99 $99.99 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 – DIGITAL DELUXE ENHANCED $109.19 $129.99 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 SEASON PASS $39.99 $49.99 DEATH MARK $24.99 $49.99 DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN – ENHANCED EDITION $9.99 $39.99 DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN 2 – DEFINITIVE EDITION $35.99 $59.99 DON’T STARVE TOGETHER: CONSOLE EDITION $5.99 $14.99 FIST OF THE NORTH STAR: LOST PARADISE $29.99 $59.99 GENESIS ALPHA ONE $20.99 $29.99 GUILTY GEAR XRD REV 2 $15.99 $39.99 HELLFRONT: HONEYMOON $4.99 $9.99 HITMAN 2 $35.99 $59.99 HITMAN 2 – GOLD EDITION $59.99 $99.99 HUMAN FALL FLAT $7.49 $14.99 LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS $29.99 $59.99 LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS DELUXE EDITION $44.99 $74.99 LITTLE DRAGONS CAFÉ $23.99 $59.99 MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS – SPECIAL EDITION $17.49 $49.99 MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS – THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME $13.99 $39.99 MUTANT YEAR ZERO: ROAD TO EDEN $24.49 $34.99 PIXELJUNK MONSTERS 2 $7.49 $14.99 PRISON BOSS (VR) $11.99 $19.99 RED MATTER (VR) $19.99 $24.99 SMOKE AND SACRIFICE $9.99 $19.99 STYX: MASTER OF SHADOWS + STYX: SHARDS OF DARKNESS $14.99 $59.99 THE JACKBOX PARTY PACK 4 $9.99 $24.99 THE JACKBOX PARTY PACK 5 $11.99 $29.99 TOKYO XANADU EX+ $17.99 $59.99 UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH EXE:LATE[ST] $19.99 $49.99 VANE $17.49 $24.99 WARHAMMER – VERMINTIDE: THE ULTIMATE EDITION $34.99 $49.99 WARHAMMER: VERMINTIDE 2 $20.99 $29.99 WARHAMMER: VERMINTIDE 2 PREMIUM EDITION $31.49 $44.99 WE HAPPY FEW $35.99 $59.99 Note: All pricing is for U.S. only and subject to change. View the full article

Last week, we asked you shine a spotlight on your favorite female characters. You sent us warriors, heroes, villains, survivors, champions, and everything in between using #PS4share and #PSBlog. Here are just some of ladies we admire: Ellie takes sanctuary in water in this The Last of Us share by @seekers_sanctuary. We got a LOT of truly amazing shots of Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn this week…but this one shared by @SebastianoCatig definitely got points for creativity. This share by @Raffu42 perfectly captured Senua’s vulnerability in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Kasumi is ready to fight in Dead or Alive 6, shared by @Mistress_Quinn. Kassandra poses gracefully in the Master Artemis armor set from Assassins Creed Origins, shared @ilikedetectives. Elizabeth is mysterious as ever in the Bioshock Infinite: Buried at Sea DLC, shared by @deepak7kumar. Search #PS4Share and #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in next week’s Share of the Week? Theme: Devil May Cry 5 Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, March 13 Time to get downright demonic. This week, join Nero, Dante and V as they fight off a demonic invasion in style. Share your wildest moments using #PS4share and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Friends, Rivellonians, Godwoken — lend me your eyes! We’re excited to tell you that we’ve just sent you our first Gift Bag! These content updates are coming over the course of the year, and the amount of content is increasing each time. We know a lot of you reroll characters and start new adventures in Divinity: Original Sin 2, and we wanted to make that experience more enriching each time. Within these Gift Bags are free content that’ll be patched directly into the game, with a new option on the main menu letting you activate or deactivate each Gift Bag as you desire coming with, Gift Bag #2. Gift Bag #1 launches today and contains a host of new visual options for your character. There are new faces for every race, plenty of new hairstyles to choose from and an eclectic mix of additional facial features to help roll a Godwoken like never before. Why not share some screenshots of your new characters with us? But our Gift Bags won’t just be visual! For Gift Bag #2 we’ve been inspired by our active modding community, and so we’ve created a bunch of content based on the most popular mods for Divinity: Original Sin 2, so you can enjoy new ways of playing the game. These will be specially prepared compatible versions for you to try out, so now you too can play with Free Petpal for all characters or Infinite Spirit Vision. There’s lots more to be excited for in that pack, but we’ll share more details closer to the time. Crossover characters, unique armor sets, a very special weapon (hint: DIY) and lots more are coming over the next year, and we can’t wait to see what you make with them. We can’t wait to see your screenshots, hear your stories, and read your reactions as they roll out over the coming year. Thanks for your support, and we hope you continue to enjoy your foray into Rivellon! View the full article

Devil May Cry 5 is now live on PS4! In celebration of the legendary demon-slaying series’ fifth installment, we reached out to producer Matt Walker of Capcom to get answers to a few devilish questions before we settle in for a weekend of rocket-riding, motorcycle-wielding, air-juggling action. PlayStation.Blog: Devil May Cry helped popularize the idea of an over-the-top action-combat-RPG way back in 2001. What’s it been like to see this genre mature (well, maybe that’s not the right word…) over the past couple decades, and how did the team look to push it further with DMC5? Matt Walker, Capcom: It’s been amazing to see action change and evolve since the first Devil May Cry. There have been action games that have pushed the genre with open world elements, there are those that have implemented gear-based approaches like Monster Hunter, and there are even action games that have lifted storytelling in video games to rival what you see in longer established mediums like movies. Itsuno-san’s main concept for DMC5 has always been to bring the focus back to “pure action” – he wanted to show the world that the essence of what makes action games fun hasn’t changed in the last 30 years – that game loop of coming up against a good challenge, and then feeling an immense sense of accomplishment by overcoming that challenge. With DMC5 we pushed this further by adding a 3rd playable character with a completely different approach in V, and further differentiating Nero’s gameplay with the Devil Breakers. PSB: What do you think are the biggest, most important changes to have happened to DMC’s combat system across its various installments? What are some of the most important things that haven’t changed? MW: The first Devil May Cry really established the template for stage-based 3D action games – I personally think it was the first one to translate the fun of side-scrolling 2D action games well to 3D. It literally defined Devil May Cry by introducing air combos and launchers, as well as the concepts of the Devil Trigger and the Style Rank. In DMC2 we added a new playable character for the first time, as well as the ability to change weapons on the fly. In DMC3 Itsuno-san fully took the reins and put his own spin on the story, the character design, and added fighting game like styles to give Dante even more options for playing. In DMC4, we introduced Nero and the Devil Bringer, which gave him a completely new approach for combating enemies by pulling them in, as well as awesome throw/grapple moves he could perform on different enemies. We also introduced style switching in real time, which really solidified Dante’s gameplay as seamless. As mentioned previously, DMC5 brings in Nero’s Devil Breakers and new character V, which will provide a brand new approach to gameplay for the series. PSB: How drastically did the introduction of Devil Arms and Devil Triggers affect the overarching systems at play here? Did the dev team have to go back to the drawing board to see how that all fit in? MW: One very interesting thing about the way Itsuno-san makes games is that he never deviates from the original concept he had when starting out development. Another way to put that is that he’s vetted his initial design so thoroughly before beginning development, that he never has to make any major changes to realize the final product. That being the case, although we had instances where we tuned various parameters along the way, we never had any instances where we had to completely rethink or overhaul a mechanic to make it work. PSB: In a game where you wield a motorcycle as a weapon and break dance fight – what is one idea the team thought was way too crazy to get into the final game? MW: One of the ideas we had for Dante was a figure skating weapon. At the time, figure skating was pretty big in Japan, and we thought it might be outrageous to see Dante figure skating. At the time we couldn’t think of a way to make it work quite right, so we shelved it. PSB: What can you tell us about Nico? MW: She’s a badass. She’s the granddaughter of Nell Goldstein, the Gunsmith who created Ebony & Ivory. She’s the one who devised and created Nero’s Devil Breakers, and she’s Nero’s partner, who drives around the DMC Motorhome with him. PSB: Everyone knows about Dante’s mainstay weapons (Rebellion, Ebony & Ivory), but we’ve got some new toys to play with in DMC5. What’s the deal with this hat weapon? What about literally using a motorcycle as a melee weapon? MW: The hat is called “Dr. Faust,” and it’s a throwback to an enemy from Devil May Cry 4. We thought it would be interesting to implement a risk/reward mechanic involving Red Orbs where you would use them, but could get back even more in return if you’re good. The motorcycle is called “Cavaliere” – we’ve wanted to give Dante a motorcycle he could fight with since Devil May Cry 2. When revisiting the concept for Devil May Cry 5, one of the series animators provided a piece of concept art where Dante had the two pieces of the motorcycle in both his hands as he was dual-wielding chainsaws – it was right then and there we said we HAD to do it. PSB: The developers have described DMC5 as having a certain “adolescent sense of cool” about it. What, in your mind, is the best example of a sense of style that only DMC can bring? MW:I think Devil May Cry is the only series that can combine PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) graphics with swords, guns, lasers, explosions, one-liners – and do it in a way that comes off as both sincere and AAA. View the full article

The charts are in! February’s launch of Respawn’s free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends took players by surprise, landing them top honors on the F2P list this month. BioWare’s shared-world shooter Anthem led the charge on PS4, and Beat Saber slashed through the competition to secure a win on the PlayStation VR side. This year’s just getting started, though! March has some big ones lined up, including MLB The Show 19, The Division 2, Devil May Cry 5, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and more. Stay tuned to see who comes out on top! PS4 Games 1 Anthem 2 Jump Force 3 Grand Theft Auto V 4 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 5 Kingdom Hearts III 6 Far Cry 5 7 NBA 2K19 8 Far Cry New Dawn 9 FIFA 19 10 Red Dead Redemption 2 PS VR Games 1 Beat Saber 2 Superhot VR 3 Job Simulator 4 Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality 5 PlayStation VR Worlds 6 Creed: Rise to Glory 7 Astro Bot Rescue Mission 8 Borderlands 2 VR 9 Until Dawn: Rush of Blood 10 Farpoint Free-to-Play Games 1 Apex Legends 2 Realm Royale 3 Fortnite 4 Warface 5 H1Z1: Battle Royale 6 Brawlhalla 7 Switchblade 8 Paladins 9 Warframe 10 DC Universe Online Free-to-Play PS Vita Games 1 God of War: Collection PS Vita 2 Persona 4 Golden 3 Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition 4 Jak and Daxter Collection 5 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games 6 Drowning 7 Shiren The Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate 8 Undertale 9 Stardew Valley 10 Mind Zero PS4 Themes 1 Legacy Dashboard Theme 2 Astonishing Cosmos Dynamic Theme 3 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – New Dynamic Theme 4 Star Valley Dynamic Theme 5 Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Dynamic Theme 6 4K Surreal Sunset Theme 7 The Last of Us Part II Ellie Theme 8 Endless Expanse 4K Dynamic Theme 9 Pizza Cats from Space HiQ Dynamic Theme 10 Monster Hunter: World – Theme PS Classics 1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2 Bully 3 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 4 The Warriors 5 Resident Evil 2 6 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis 7 Resident Evil Code: Veronica X 8 Twisted Metal: Black 9 Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Special Edition 10 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy View the full article

Hi PlayStation.Blog, this is Paweł Lekki, co-founder of Exor Studios. I want to announce that our new game, The Riftbreaker, is coming to PS4. It’s a fresh combination of hack ’n’ slash gameplay, base building, and survival on an alien planet. The main character’s name is Captain Ashley S. Nowak. She is a Riftbreaker — her task is to travel through a one-way portal to a distant planet to establish a base that will support a two-way portal for further colonization. Ashley’s only friend in this distant world is her AI-controlled Mecha-Suit which she calls Mr. Riggs. Even though Ashley is a trained scientist, she is also a hot-tempered elite soldier. Although it might seem that the fighting is done with Mr. Riggs’ hands, he is usually the voice of reason in this duo. The game’s action takes place on Galatea 37, a distant planet in the Sycorax Belt of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is an uncharted planet full of unknown minerals, strange plants, and exotic creatures. Ashley will have to gather samples to research new technologies, buildings, and invention blueprints. New weapons, special items, and upgrades for Mr. Riggs can be crafted using various materials that are found across the planet. Some of these materials provide unique properties while others may increase durability, attack power or other characteristics. In order to survive in this hostile environment, you’ll have to build up a base and start gathering resources. You’ll be able to construct various types of mines, refineries, pipelines for transporting liquids, factories for building weapons and multiple kinds of power facilities. Some rare elements won’t be available near your base so you’ll have to travel across the planet to construct remote outposts. Gathering enough energy to power up the rift back home is going to require a really large base… Galatea’s creatures won’t be happy with your interference in their environment. You can expect them to attack your base as you expand your activities. But don’t worry; you won’t have to fight all of them on your own. You’ll be able to construct defense towers, walls, and traps that will keep them off your perimeter. The Riftbreaker is our third game based on the Schmetterling engine. We’ve been building this technology for more than 10 years. We started creating it with our first independent game, Zombie Driver, and enhanced it further with the development of X-Morph: Defense. We’re now officially calling it the Schmetterling Engine 2.0. It is custom-tailored for the Riftbreaker and allows us to make the game that we really want to make without any compromise. We’ll have a lot more to share with you in the coming months so stay tuned! View the full article

Hey guys! My name is Matej Zajacik, co-founder of Fatbot Games, creators of the steampunk dungeon crawler Vaporum. Vaporum is a modern first-person, single-character, grid-based dungeon crawler in an original steampunk setting, releasing April 9 in 11 different languages. The game revolves around combat, puzzle solving, character development, exploring an environment filled with mysteries and secrets, and uncovering a sinister story. Vaporum uses a unique system where you develop your suit, instead of the human inside, by installing gadgets that grant various skills and bonuses. Who We Are We are a small indie company based in Slovakia, Central Europe, founded by Tibor Repta and myself. We worked on the first prototype as roommates in his small flat while burning through our savings. Vaporum was developed by four industry veterans (former colleagues and long-time friends) with 43 years of combined experience in the game development business and we’ve grown to six members since launch. We believe in polished games with strong storylines and high production value in terms of both visuals and gameplay. What inspired us A great inspiration for Vaporum was a game that has basically created its own genre: Dungeon Master (1988). Not only a genre-defining game, it was also one of the best, and was followed by many others like it. One example of these successors is Eye of the Beholder (1991), which we paid homage to in this video. In 2012, Almost Human revived the genre by releasing Legend of Grimrock. The grid-based movement can work well with modern audio-visuals and brings the gameplay of the old titles back to our screens. Vaporum in Detail Combat Combat takes place in real time. Each enemy type has a distinctive set of strengths and weaknesses, and various kinds of attacks and defense mechanisms, so you must employ different tactics to beat each one. Weapons differ in terms of damage, but also because each weapon type has a certain unique bonus or behavior other weapons don’t have. This adds more depth and requires some thought when choosing which weapons to equip. You wear an exoskeleton rig, which you will enhance with many types of gadgets: direct attacks, area attacks, offensive & defensive buffs, and more. While these gadgets are powerful, they also drain your energy, and some enemies are immune to certain types of attacks. So, you will have to figure out the best way to deal with every encounter. Puzzles Most mechanics in Vaporum are very simple. However, combining these mechanics creates intriguing puzzles where you must use both your wits and reflexes. While most puzzles and riddles are contained within a single room, progression objectives can span an entire level or even multiple levels. Character Progression Instead of increasing the abilities of your character, you will improve the exo-rig itself. You have four types to choose from. The system combines a “you are what you wear” aspect with the long-term development of your exo-rig. The gadget-based system allows you to equip various gadgets to help you define your own playstyle. You can change your gadget loadout at any time, giving you a great deal of flexibility to deal with various situations. As your exo-rig improves, you get to unlock useful circuits on it, gaining significant permanent attribute bonuses and strong passive skills. These two approaches result in a ton of customization and plenty of viable character builds, all at your will. Storyline Uncover the mysterious storyline via written notes and recorded audio-diaries. Find out what happened to the giant structure in the middle of an ocean, its inhabitants, and most importantly, to you. View the full article

Email us at blogcast@sony.com! Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here This week, we welcome Astro Gaming VP of Marketing Aron Drayer for a chat about their upcoming C40 TR PS4 controller. Plus, the gang talks managing their gaming time, Sid shares his latest Days Gone impressions, Justin talks burning calories with Beat Saber… and we take an introspective turn to share our happy places. Enjoy! Stuff We Talked About Days Gone The Astro C40 TR PS4 Controller Managing our gaming time Beat Saber The Division 2 Our happy places The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, SIEA Kristen Zitani – Social Media Specialist, SIEA Tim Turi – Senior Social Media Specialist, SIEA Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Who among us has never wanted a superpower? In Rage 2, your lifelong dream of heroic powers will finally be fulfilled. You’ll experience what it’s like to be a real wasteland superhero when Rage 2 launches on PS4 on May 14 — but for now, get a taste of that R-rated superhero life that you’ve previously only seen in short-lived Netflix originals with this brand-new trailer. You’ve Got the Power(s) Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear super high-tech body armor and decorate themselves in the blood and entrails of their enemies. (Trust us, you’re not pulling off a Slam from high altitude without getting some person-paste on your shoes.) But what kinds of powers are in a wasteland superhero’s arsenal? “We went through a number of iterations to ensure that we got abilities that complement and synergize with the weapons, not replace them,” explains Lead Combat Designer Peter Johansson. “In the spirit of id-style combat, we wanted abilities that support the aggressive, push forward, close- to mid-range combat we are creating. The key to survival in Rage 2 is to get up in your enemies’ faces, and the abilities are designed as tools to encourage that.” Slam Rain destruction from above with Slam, a devastating ground-pound attack. The effectiveness of Slam is based on height; the higher up you are, the more powerful the Slam. Grab some air with a double-jump and smash your enemies into a chunky red paste. Shatter When you absolutely need to get people out of your face, hit them with Shatter, a lethal kinetic blast that forces enemies away from you and sometimes just outright makes their heads explode. Vortex Vortex lets you pull your enemies out of their comfort zone. Aim and toss Vortex near a crowd of enemies to yank them all toward one spot, leaving them primed for a well-timed grenade, rocket or other area-based attack. Barrier Toss out your own portable shield with Barrier. Block incoming fire and instantly kill pretty much anything that comes into contact with your Barrier. A well-timed Barrier and Vortex combo will drag your enemies directly into your killer shield. And More… Those are just some of the abilities you can pick up, but between those four, Rush, Dash, Grav-Jump, Overdrive and more, you’ve got the makings for a master of the battlefield. Don’t Forget the Upgrades All abilities in the game have numerous upgrades to help you become the ultimate badass. Even the Rush ability (an extra speed boost you can trigger while sprinting) has some sweet tricks, like double sprinting speed and temporary invisibility. There are over 70 upgrades for abilities alone, some of which offer a cooldown decrease or a damage increase, while others add entirely new functionality. “Traversal is very free and versatile in the game, and it becomes even more so the more you upgrade,” explains Yan Knoop, Gameplay Programmer. “If you master things like Dash, Grav-Jump, Float, Vortex jumps, and Rush, you can really master any space and keep your enemies constantly dizzy.” Some of the favorite upgrades from the combat team at Avalanche Studios include: Vortex’s anti-gravity field — an excellent way to control the battlefield and hold your enemies in the air, making them easy pickings; Grav-Jump’s Float upgrade, which allows you to hover in place while aiming down your weapon sights; and the Touch of Death upgrade to the Barrier, which turns enemies that pass through it into meat cubes. “All abilities have some sort of basic usage that’s either for offensive, defensive or traversal purposes,” says Knoop. “But most also have additional functions that really unlock their true potential beyond its original purpose. This is where the abilities really shine and enable you to be extra creative.” Put Them All Together and… …You’ll unlock Overdrive. As you fight, you’ll fill up your Overdrive meter. When triggered, Overdrive pushes your weapons and abilities well beyond their limits and grants them unique attributes. Some guns may gain a homing functionality, or the always-hilarious ability to juggle enemies in the air with a barrage of bullets like a sick party trick. Also while in Overdrive, the cooldown for your abilities will be reduced. Combining all of your abilities in interesting ways fills your Overdrive meter faster, which could mean the difference between life and death. “Overdrive represents the climax of a streak of aggressive, adrenaline-fueled play,” says Johansson. “It gives the player a nod that they are playing well and rewards them with a boost. It plays a central role in the core combat loop. In addition to the frenzy-like effects, you move faster, kill quicker and regenerate your health. If you learn how to master Overdrive, it can quickly become an integral part of combat, allowing you to take on harder enemy locations with less powerful equipment. On higher difficulties, playing in a way that charges Overdrive fast becomes a key to survival.” Rage 2 is coming to PlayStation 4 on May 14, 2019. Pre-order to receive the exclusive Cult of the Death God mission and don Nicholas Raine’s legendary armor and Settler Pistol. The Rage 2 Deluxe Edition is also available for pre-order. View the full article

“I want one English subtitle track that mirrors what the English actors are saying, but I want a second English subtitle track that would accompany the Japanese audio. Can we do that?” I asked a room full of Japanese developers via teleconference. A moment of silence passed that felt like an eternity. There was clearly some confusion. “We can probably do that, but… why?” I’m Scott Strichart, localization producer for the Yakuza series, and this is the story of why our upcoming game, Judgment, has two audio languages and two English subtitle tracks (on top of the French, Italian, German, and Castilian Spanish subtitle tracks). It’s been about 13 years since we’ve had an English audio option in a Yakuza game. Despite having some incredible talent playing key roles, that dub just… wasn’t very well-received. We’ve only had Japanese audio as an option ever since, but with Judgment introducing a completely fresh cast, we figured now would be a great time to try this whole English thing out again, while of course offering the original Japanese audio if that’s what you’d prefer. But what I really want to talk about is how no matter which audio language you select, you’re getting a subtitle track specifically crafted to that language, and we’re one of the first games ever to offer that. Have you ever played a game with a dub and selected the Japanese audio, only to have the English dub’s subtitles appear, despite clearly not matching the length or maybe even the intensity of the line? People call those “dubtitles,” and they happen because the English audio is generally treated as the lead language, for obvious reasons, and the Japanese audio acts as simply a bonus feature for the enthusiast crowd. But for a game as steeped in Japanese as Judgment and its Yakuza legacy is, this was not an acceptable concession to me. So we localized the story twice. And I had to convince some people to let us do that. I brought up examples of some pretty big films that did this. Even some anime on streaming services does this. So why haven’t games? Well, the simple answer is because games have a lot more text, so I want repeat that first sentence to make sure it carries the appropriate amount of weight: We localized the story twice. Essentially, we took a base translation and then pushed it out into two different directions for Japanese audio and English audio. The Japanese audio got our traditional “Yakuza” pass, listening intently to each line and crafting the dialog to suit it. The English script was written for actors to perform it, with more of a focus on making sure it sounded like things people would actually say in English. Sometimes, the two versions are totally the same! Others, it’s totally different. Both languages ebb and flow differently by nature, and this allowed us to play to each one’s strengths, rather than let the English be hampered by Japanese sentence structure, or the Japanese to have dubtitles that are clearly not what the speaker is saying, even to the untrained ear. It also allowed us to do scenes like this, that arrive at the same idea via different paths. In the Japanese, the previous line is “Fair warning…” whereas in English, the previous line is, “You still wanna sue?” Both versions stage the threat differently, but Yagami sounds like a bona fide badass in both versions, which is ultimately what we set out to accomplish. Watching the two trailers we’ve made, you’ll hear a few more little differences between the two as well. If you’re worried, the English is still a faithful localization of the story, and the Japanese subtitles were still crafted with all the considerations for a good read that always goes into a Yakuza title localization. So while I know some of our longtime fans are going to put on the Japanese audio and never look back, while others will simply prefer English because that’s their first language, I do hope that after your first playthrough, you’ll give the other language a shot! It’s not like you’re going to find all the hidden cats in one playthrough anyway. What we’ve accomplished here feels like a pretty monumental achievement in game localization, and I hope you all are willing to give us feedback on if it ends up working for you, because it certainly wasn’t easy! I dream of a day that efforts like this will put the whole subs versus dubs debate to rest — both are valid ways to experience any media, as long as they’re both treated with equal care. “We can probably do that, but… why?” the dev team asked. “Because it’s the right thing to do,” I said. Judgment launches June 25 on PS4 in Japanese and English audio and English, French, Italian, German, and Castilian Spanish subs, (which are based off the Japanese audio sub track.) All physical copies include a reversible cover and a Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio sticker, and digital pre-orders include a static theme featuring Judgment’s protagonist Yagami and early access to the full game on June 21. Thanks everyone! View the full article

For game director Takuya Yamanaka, The Caligula Effect: Overdose was an opportunity to introduce new audiences to the game while continuing to explore the real-world themes that were present in the previous release. In this exclusive interview with NIS America, Yamanaka shares his insights on developing this re-release and discusses the deeper, darker side of the story inside Mobius. Many people recognize “Caligula Effect” as the title of the game, but not everyone is aware that it is also a psychological term. In your own words, what is the “Caligula Effect” and how does it manifest in the game? “Caligula Effect” means “the guilt and excitement that comes with doing something that you shouldn’t do.” I wanted people to experience that while playing this game, a sense of immorality. In this game, [defeating] the symbolic cute vocal software idol µ (Mu) and the guilt of doing so is what I wanted players to experience. Throughout the game, players are given opportunities to dive into the psyches of the various characters. Is there a character that strongly resonated with you in some way? I try to treat all the characters equally in the game. Since I study psychology, I meet many people, and these characters all reflect people that I have met in some way. So for each character I created, I treated them like my own children. But if I were to directly answer the question, then I spent the most time on Shogo Satake, since his background is very involved with the flow of the main story. The Caligula Effect: Overdose introduces a female protagonist. When developing this alternate playthrough, were you surprised at how it affected the other characters? Actually, I wanted to make the original The Caligula Effect with both a male and female protagonist, but due to hardware restrictions, I was unable to do so. The [voiceover artists] for the male and female protagonists are actually brother and sister in real life; Chiharu Sawashiro is the male, and Miyuki Sawashiro is the female. It’s the first time they actually worked together. In Japan, having both sexes available for the protagonist was received very well. In the game, there is a character who is afraid of males, so depending on which protagonist you play as, her interactions with you will also change. That’s something to look forward to in the game! A lot of titles don’t get a chance to be re-released with new content. What were the most important features you wanted to add or exclude? Were these saved from the original release? What is your favorite addition to this new release? Betrayal is one of the biggest plot points that was added to this game. A person who you thought had your back now turns their back on you. Scenario writer Tadashi Satomi and I took care in adding this part to the game. Satomi-san is someone I’ve highly looked up to since I was young, so working with him on this project together was an intense opportunity. I didn’t simply want to add new content right on top of the game, so I took care in weaving the new characters into the scenario, which turned out to be a big challenge. This re-release has given you an opportunity to expose a wider audience to The Caligula Effect. Is there a message you would like to convey to new players that will be experiencing this game for the first time? The problems that characters have in The Caligula Effect: Overdose are very realistic within Japanese society, and I would like people in Western cultures to have the opportunity to experience these problems present in modern-day Japan. The Caligula Effect: Overdose is different from its original title in that the character can choose to leave the world µ creates (Mobius) or stay in that world. I want people to take their time to think of their own choice, and I am excited to see everyone’s decision! The Caligula Effect: Overdose will be available for PS4 on March 12. View the full article

I’ve been counting the days until I could dig deeper into the post-apocalyptic world of Days Gone (note: it’s been 288 days). I talked Bend Studio into setting me loose in an updated build of the PS4 survival-action game due out on PS4 April 26. My hands-on time proved there’s more (much, much more) here than meets the eye. My trek through Farewell, Oregon kicked off about an hour into the game. As biker-mercenary Deacon St. John, I stepped into a deadly open world populated by flesh-eating Freakers and roving bandits. A plethora of activities awaited me: bounty hunting, clearing out Freaker nests, investigating the fate of Deacon’s wife, and settling old scores. These missions fit into threads dubbed, fittingly, “Storylines.” Storylines are Days Gone’s answer to the well-worn “quest” structures found in other open-world adventures. Tired of chasing a quest thread? Just hop to another Storyline and be on your way — the other stuff will be waiting for you when you’re good and ready. In a nice touch, you can access your Storyline progress anytime via a quick swipe across your DualShock 4’s touchpad. Days Gone | Photo Gallery Bend Studios’ decision to set the game in the developer’s backyard, the US Pacific Northwest, was a wise one. The snow-capped mountains, sprawling trails, vast forests, and sand-swept high deserts are almost otherworldly in their beauty. But danger is always close. I’m a few minutes into my play session, cruising the open road. I catch a flash of movement — the telltale red flicker of a laser sight — and before I can inhale I’m knocked off my bike by a marksman hidden in a tree ahead. As Deacon climbs to his feet, a crew of hatchet-wielding bandits close in to finish the job. This was no scripted encounter, but a reminder that in Days Gone’s unpredictable world, threats can emerge in surprising ways. (postscript: I kicked their asses). Later, I’m clearing out an ambush camp, using my SMG, Molotovs, and stealth kills to methodically take out the marauders lurking within. It’s routine stuff. I wipe out the lead baddy, grab his tire iron to redeem for a reward, and start to loot the immediate surroundings. So far, so good. That’s when five, then 10, then 20, then 50 Freakers leap up directly in front of me, drawn in by the commotion. I stumble backward, blinking in disbelief as I blindly fire my SMG at the ever-growing crowd — effectively channeling every bad guy in every zombie movie moments before they’re ripped to pieces. I realize my only hope is to run for it. I sprint for my bike and have a moment to curse myself for parking it facing a wall before I’m instantly overcome by a tidal wave of snapping jaws and flailing limbs. It’s an epic ending to an otherwise routine mission. In Days Gone, there’s no such thing. A few other details that caught my eye: Have an escape plan. You’ve got a gun, a bike, and a mission. Now all you need is a bug-out plan for when a Freaker horde descends like a swarm of locusts. Where you park your bike — and which direction it’s pointed in when you do — is often more important than your weapon loadout. And remember: your bike is your save point! A quick note on weapons. Weapons come in five different flavors, ranging from Level 1 (“Junk”) to Level 5 (“Special Forces Condition”). Days Gone gives generous and on-the-fly stat comparisons, but it won’t always pay to go for the highest DPS. Bullet penetration takes on life-or-death importance in Days Gone, letting you blast through Freaker ranks without burning through all your ammo. Don’t kill time. You know the routine, honed over countless open-world games. You clean out an enemy outpost, then slowly tour the carnage, picking up every spare bullet, bandage, and crafting item that isn’t bolted down. In Days Gone, this approach can end in tragedy thanks to a roving Freaker swarms, infected wolves, or “Rager” bears. Be ready to grab whatever’s handy, and make a clean getaway at the first sign of trouble. CQC basics. Melee scraps in Days Gone feel desperate and wild-eyed, with blows carrying real weight. You tap R2 to land knife slashes and axe swings on nearby melee combatants; Deacon auto-targets nearby foes, but you’ll need to press R1 to roll-dodge past incoming attacks. Throughout it all, you’ll need to monitor Deacon’s stamina bar. The care and fueling of bikes. Bike reality #1: You’ll need to keep it gassed up. Duh. In a pinch, you can usually find gas cans around houses and buildings, or inside marauder camps. Of course, it’ll pay to upgrade your gas tank ASAP. Bike reality #2: your bike isn’t invincible; bang it up enough and it’ll stall out, forcing an emergency field repair. Drive safe, people! Let’s get physical. Speaking of bikes, Days Gone isn’t trying to be an offroad motorbike simulator, but you’ll want to master its physics system so you can get the hell out of Dodge when the Freaker hordes descend. Rule #1: When making a jump, try to keep your bike parallel to the ground to minimize damage. Hunting and gathering. You can hunt for food — deer, wolf, and more — then trade the meat in at encampments to earn credits and trust. You’ll want to build trust at encampments to unlock more potent upgrades for your bike and weapons. Touching interface. You can access all critical menus (map, skills, Storylines, etc.) by swiping the touchpad across the four cardinal directions. It’s a futuristic touch, and one I’d love to see other games adopt. Another immersive touch: emergency radio transmissions broadcast via DualShock 4’s internal speaker. Skills and experience. Advance Storylines and drop enough enemies, and you’ll gain skill points that you can invest across three skill trees: ranged combat, melee combat, and survival. I became a more formidable fighter with skills that let me quickly execute enemies after breaking free from grapples, repairing damaged melee weapons, and gaining damage boosts. That’s just small sample — the skill trees looked pretty beefy. It’s clear Bend Studio has been hard at work on the presentation, too. Days Gone shows off meticulously detailed rustic environments on PS4 Pro, complete with lush foliage, crumbling bluffs, and dust-choked roads. Look closely, and you’ll even see the individual pine needles that carpet many outdoor locations. Bend Studio has leaned into the unpredictable threats and encounters that honeycomb this menacing open world. A powerful weapon, a fast bike, and a stock of supplies will only get you so far — you need to expect the unexpected if you want to survive when Days Gone hits PS4 on April 26. View the full article

Hey, PlayStation Nation, I’m Lars Bakken from Bungie, here on behalf of the entire team that worked on Season of the Drifter. We can’t wait for you to jump in and experience everything we’ve created for this new season of gameplay and rewards. You may have seen the videos from our reveal, but there are some crucial details that will give you a leg up on the competition. Boost Your Power to 640 On day one of Destiny 2: Forsaken‘s new season, you’ll find the Drifter in the Annex near Ada-1. If you didn’t maximize your potential in Season of the Forge, he’ll have a fistful of bounties you can use to accelerate your progression to 640 Power. These bounties will send you many destinations to experience action in everything from Public Events to the Crucible. We think it will take you a few hours to get caught up to the rest of the community. Build the Ideal Gambit Prime Teammate There are four new combat roles for you to discover in Gambit Prime, and each of them has a specific armor set with perks that will equip you for each. As you earn these armor pieces, you can become the master of a specific role or mix and match them to invent a whole new combinations of strengths. The Guardian you bring on the field in Gambit Prime can be as unique as you are! Gambit Prime Is Just the Beginning There is a whole calendar of events and activities that we’re looking forward to releasing. The Reckoning is our first PVE activity that will bring four players together through matchmaking. You’ll see our first ever spring event in Destiny, returning you to a familiar forest in bloom with new rewards. There are even secrets that you won’t find on our gameplay calendar. Destiny will continue to be a game that surprises you and challenges you in new and exciting ways. We hope to you see out there in the wild. Thanks for playing. We look forward to the community chatter about the new content. The Drifter will see you now! View the full article

March To October is a brand new game mode for MLB The Show 19. In March To October you will take the controls only for your team’s most key games and moments. As you advance through the season, unique narrative commentary content will progressively and dynamically unfold the essential story of your chosen MLB club’s campaign. User performance in these games will really count, as the outcomes of the games you play will swing a “team momentum” factor, influencing how your team performs between each played episode and the next. You will be delivered from episode to episode with maximal action and intrigue, and minimal menu interfacing. It’s all about getting your team to the postseason and beyond. Can you elevate your performance to meet the increasingly big moments that emerge down the stretch? Your poise under pressure will determine the fate of your chosen team’s season. March to October comes with more than 100 unique, team-themed rewards,* earned by winning the World Series with your team of choice. The harder the difficulty, the bigger the spoils. Are you up to the challenge in March To October? Be sure to check out Thursday’s Twitch live stream for more information on one of the brand new features: March To October. This is an especially exciting year for us here at PlayStation. We’re thrilled to welcome a new class of Legends to the team, including some all-time greats, and even more excited to show you what else we have in store in MLB The Show 19! In the meantime, please make sure to watch The Show Nation, our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts between now and March 26 for the latest updates. *Internet connection required View the full article

We’re delighted to finally come out of top-secret development mode to announce our new game: American Fugitive! It was born out of a simple but captivating concept: Imprisoned for a murder you didn’t commit, you escape from jail and embark on a hunt to find the real culprit. We’re huge fans of 80’s movies, TV shows and games, and our intent was to create a game that paid homage to those thrills, while still being contemporary and fresh. Although it’s clearly quite a different game compared with our last PlayStation title (Quell Memento for PS Vita), as individuals we have a solid pedigree of developing action titles (including TimeSplitters, Crysis, Black, and Goldeneye 007: Reloaded), so this project certainly feels like a return to our development roots. American Fugitive is nearly ready to break out of its cell! We’re really proud of the open-world sandbox experience we’ve created, which has been built on three core gameplay foundations: 1: Breaking and Entering Redrock County is a charming slice of rural America. We wanted to give the player free reign to break into any of the buildings across the area, in order to steal items to fence, change appearance, or find clues to the killer’s identity. Be warned: House-breaking is unpredictable and fraught with risk, but the payout can be oh so lucrative! 2: Driving Wheels are of course integral to the American way of life, and no prison break is complete without a crazy carjacking spree! For us, there’s nothing more fun than skidding around dirt roads in a high-powered muscle car, and who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned cop-chase? 3: Combat As you’d expect, the cops will stop at nothing to see you back behind bars — or in the morgue — so you may be inclined to grab a gun to help enforce your constitutional rights. Of course, this isn’t going to help your case much, but they’ll have to catch you first, right? We’ve created a world of fun and exciting activities, including stunt-jumps, time-trials, loot stashes, and collectibles. These sidelines complement the narrative, which sees you embedded with a motley cast of law-breakers, mercenaries and shady characters, trying to unravel the mystery of your incarceration. Seriously, it gets crazy! Anyway, we better go. Got a bit more polish to add. We can’t wait get American Fugitive into the hands of PlayStation gamers around the world! View the full article

Hello fellow survivors! Left Alive launches today, and we’re excited to hear how everyone is playing through the game. You may be thinking: “What do you mean by how everyone is playing through the game?” In Left Alive, the goal is to survive, and players will need to challenge themselves to overcome overwhelming odds. There are multiple ways to play, and players must evaluate the situation, strategize, and learn the ropes to determine the best way to make it out alive. Again, how you play and how you survive through the game is up to you, but here are some tips from us you may find useful. Difficulty Levels: For your first playthrough, we recommended playing in “Light.” If you feel it’s too easy at any point, you will be able to adjust the difficulty settings throughout the game. Approach: In many cases, the objective will be to “reach the designated destination.” As the means for combat can be extremely limited (especially early on in the game), where possible proceeding while avoiding enemy encounters may be the best method. In the cases where you might feel it’s impossible to proceed without being found by enemies, or if you are suddenly discovered by enemies, the key will be to prepare and secure resources beforehand, and evaluate when to use them. Options: Often, the path and method to overcome certain situations will be left to the player’s discretion. While some situations may seem very difficult, you will come across many instances where the solution may surprise you; even including methods that don’t require fighting. If you ever feel as though you’re in a pinch, we recommend taking a minute to assess your surroundings and environment to find another method of survival. New Game+: You will receive approximately 10 points for each chapter you have completed before starting New Game+. The first time, you’ll have around 10 perks unlocked up front that you can choose from. Each time you complete the story, you will be able to unlock additional skills and purchase them using points accumulated from playing the game in the New Game+ Shop, including: Handgun Mastery – Increases Handgun Strength Bulletproof – Reduces the amount of damage taken Ninja – Harder for unengaged enemies to notice you Homeostasis – Decrease chance of bleeding and reduce time to recover from immobility Additional Armor – Increased defense when piloting a Wanzer Vodka Bender – Drinking vodka will increase your damage output for a time The more times you complete the game, the more points you will have to spend when you start over and more perks will be made available. For example, later playthroughs will have perks that make ammo appear more often. Survivor Missions: The survivor missions vary on difficulty level as well. During your first playthrough it is recommended to only complete 1 or 2 to get a feel for them, as they may use up your limited resources when you are at your weakest. As you continue to play the game through New Game+ and become stronger, you will be able to save more survivors and see additional endings. This will ultimately allow you to learn more about the world and political issues in the game. There are a variety of ways each mission can be completed, so be sure to discuss with other players what may have worked best for them. Hopefully we have helped you on your journey through Novo Slava and uncovering the truth about the invasion. Left Alive is something brand new for Square Enix and we can’t wait to see how fans will embrace the challenge of surviving the deadly war. View the full article

Hello, PlayStation Now fans! Spring is officially here, and today we’re adding a dozen new games to the PlayStation Now library of more than 750 games in all, including hits from 2K Games, EA, and Konami. Check out NBA 2K18, WWE 2K18, Battlefield 4, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot, and more, available starting today! Run the neighborhood with NBA 2K18 for PS4 (available for download or stream), featuring collectible cards, a new motion system for improved animation, special guest commentary from Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, as well as All-Time franchise rosters and 62 of the NBA’s greatest teams from the past. Build your career in NBA games, hit the courts in The Playground, join the Pro-Am circuit, explore the open neighborhood setting, and much more. If wrestling is more your style, check out WWE 2K18 for PS4 (download or stream). With new eight-man matches, a new and improved rendering engine, the ability to build your own WWE superstar in MyCareer and fight your way to WrestleMania, and the competitive online Road to Glory mode, WWE 2K18 has everything a wrestling fan could ask for. We’ve also got three of EA’s biggest PS3 franchises available to stream starting today. Experience the intense and cinematic Battlefield 4, journey across space and discover the source of the Necromorph outbreak in the terrifying two-player co-op Dead Space 3, and jump from dizzying heights in the stylized and fast-paced Mirror’s Edge. In Konami’s epic Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, become a battle-weary Solid Snake and travel through the Middle East, South America, and Eastern Europe in a battle-scarred future where huge conglomerates employ mercenary armies in a struggle for supremacy. Also, this month marks the 25th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls franchise! Stream the classic The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, or download The Elder Scrolls Online to your PS4 and prepare for the Wrathstone DLC launching next week (sold separately) and the Elsweyr expansion upgrade coming in June (sold separately). Here is the full list of the twelve games joining PS Now this month to download (PS4 and PS2 games) and stream (all games): A Bastard’s Tale (PS4) Battlefield 4 (PS3) Black Knight Sword (PS3) Black Mirror (PS4) Dead Space 3 (PS3) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot (PS3) Mirror’s Edge (PS3) Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 (PS4) NBA 2K18 (PS4) Pool Nation (PS3) Red Faction (PS2) WWE 2K18 (PS4) Here are the most played PS Now games during the month of February: For Honor Mortal Kombat X NBA 2K16 Mafia III WWE 2K16 Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited Red Dead Redemption Sniper Elite IV Prey If you haven’t tried PlayStation Now yet, now’s the perfect time to give it a spin with the seven-day free trial for PS4 and PC. (Terms apply. New Subscribers only. Credit card required. See here for details.) Stay tuned for more updates on PS Now. Happy gaming! View the full article

Live as of today — patch 1.34* is available for all GT Sport drivers to download and enjoy! This month’s free content update features a selection of stunning vehicles, from elegant European supercars to the return of Toyota’s flagship Supra. Players will also get to experience a gorgeous new circuit nestled in the mountains of Japan’s southwestern island. New Vehicles Five new vehicles are gracing the tarmac at Brand Central this month, including the new Toyota GR Supra RZ ’19 which made its debut at this year’s prestigious North American International Auto Show. Toyota GR Supra RZ ’19 Pagani Huayra ’13 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ’09 Mazda Eunos Roadster (NA Special Package) ’89 McLaren F1 GTR – BMW (Kokusai Kaihatsu UK Racing) ’95 New Track — Autopolis International Racing Course The picturesque Autopolis is a challenging race track located in the middle of a mountain range on the southwestern island of Japan. While sector one is a simple high-speed section, complex consecutive corners of all speed ranges await players in sectors two and three. With a maximum upward slope of 7.2% and 10% downward, there are plenty of ups and downs on this track, and driving a full lap without mistakes requires high concentration. GT League This month, to celebrate the release of the Supra RZ ’19, we’ve added a dedicated league event which pits old versus new, as well as updated five existing events with new rounds. New Event: Supra Legend（Amateur League) Beginner League Updates: 2 new rounds added to the Mazda Roadsters Cup Amateur League Updates: 2 new rounds added to the Mazda Roadsters Cup + Professional League Updates: 2 new rounds added to the Premium Sports Lounge 2 new rounds added to the All Japan GT Car Championships Endurance League Update: 1 new round added to the Gr.3 Endurance Series Finally, in Scapes mode, this month’s new track, Autopolis has been added, allowing players to capture stunning new shots of the premier racing circuit against a gorgeous mountainous backdrop. We hope you enjoy this month’s update and remember you can find all the latest GT info here at PlayStation.Blog and on the official Gran Turismo website. Until next time, drivers, we’ll see you out on the track. *Internet connection required. View the full article

When the original Trine released almost a decade ago it introduced the world to innovative, three-character puzzle platforming action. Since then, millions of gamers have enjoyed the series’ unique gameplay solo and co-op. Now in fall 2019, the Trine series returns to its 2.5D roots bigger and better than ever with Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince as a standalone game, and Trine: Ultimate Collection as your one-stop shop to experience the complete series. In Trine 4, you’ll be rejoining our three iconic heroes — Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight — for a brand-new story as they embark on a thrilling quest through fantastical fairytale landscapes. Our three heroes have been tasked with returning the wayward Prince Selius to the Astral Academy. If you’re a fan of Frozenbyte’s other work, you may be familiar with this forlorn prince from his appearance in the co-operative blast’em up Nine Parchments. Prince Selius suffers from intensely dark dreams that have begun manifesting as monstrous nightmares in the waking world. A completely revamped combat system will have you facing off against these foes and new, epic bosses on your way to saving the world from being engulfed by the Nightmare Prince’s shadows. To accomplish this task, you’ll need to make use of your trio of adventurers’ unique abilities to overcome dynamic, physics-based puzzles with up to four player co-op for the first time in series history. You may find yourself swinging to hard-to-reach locations with Zoya or smashing through obstacles with Pontius’ shield in order to make your way forward on the path to recovering Prince Selius. As the biggest and most complete entry in an already storied franchise, with more puzzles, action, and even co-op friends than ever before, Trine 4 is a game you won’t want to miss this fall! Both Trine 4 and Trine: Ultimate Collection are available to pre-order and come with some awesome bonus content. View the full article

Email us at blogcast@sony.com! Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Welcome back! This week, Apex Legends continues to capture Sid, Kristen and Tim’s hearts, while a listener letter asking about golden eras in gaming send us on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Stuff We Talked About Chicken pot pie Devil May Cry 5 Apex Legends Resident Evil 2 Anthem Sid’s dark past with Diablo II The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Kristen Zitani – Social Media Specialist, SIEA Tim Turi – Senior Social Media Specialist, SIEA Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Capcom’s long-running demon-slaying series makes a stylish return this week with the launch of Devil May Cry 5. Built on Capcom’s stunning RE Engine, the newest entry in the high-octane action franchise looks better than ever. With three characters to play as — series mainstay Dante, younger hunter Nero, and mysterious newcomer “V” — DMC5 promises an impressive variety of gameplay styles. And hey, you can ride around on a rocket arm! What’s not to like? For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop! Attack of the Earthlings PS4 — Digital Attack of the Earthlings combines turn-based combat and stealth in a dark comedic single player campaign, where you take control of the native alien race to defend your home world from the invading humans. Beat Cop PS4 — Digital A retro, pixel art style adventure in New York, inspired by ’80s cop shows. Stay vigilant and quick-witted but remember that if this won’t work, you can always do some old school jaw wrecking. It’s the ’80s after all! Bonds of the Skies PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy) A fantasy RPG with a story of friendship between humans and gods. The young Eil and the Air Grimoa, Nogard, enter a pact and set off to find the demon who cast their town into a sea of flames. Caretaker PS4 — Digital Caretaker is an immersive first-person horror experience. You’re an investigative journalist who’s “hungry” for a flashy news story. You heard about a caretaker in this industrial facility who has gone insane… Crash Dummy PS4 — Digital (Out 3/4) Crash Dummy is a challenging 2D platform game. Blast, burn and freeze your way through each level. Jump long distances and do some stylish ninja action wall-runs in this story-driven adventure with a unique set of endearing characters. Crimson Keep PS4 — Digital Descend into the Crimson Keep, an ever-changing labyrinth full of monsters, traps, and treasure. Discover the sunken remains of an ancient castle and cleanse it of evil. Uncovering secrets of great power could be your only hope of escape. Devil May Cry 5 PS4 — Digital, Retail (Out 3/8) The threat of demonic power has returned to menace the world once again in the latest entry to this over-the-top action series, blending its signature high-octane stylized action and otherworldly & original characters. Doom & Destiny PS4 — Digital (Out 3/4) Four nerds, drawn into a fantasy world and mistaken for heroes, have to battle their way through a massive, crazy adventure and defeat a preposterous villain! Journey through an unpredictable story filled with parodies and cameos. This is Doom and Destiny, the flying-spaghetti fantasy adventure! Eternity: The Last Unicorn PS4 — Digital Eternity: The Last Unicorn is a full-featured action RPG inspired by tales from Norse Mythology with classic game mechanics. Travel through mesmerizing locations, meet fantasy characters and fight to protect Elven immortality. Ghoulboy: Dark Sword of Goblin PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy) Ghoulboy is a retro-inspired style action platformer that combines the action-RPG genre with hack ‘n’ slash gameplay. Slay as many monsters as you can, collect loot, avoid dangerous traps and defeat menacing bosses. I and Me PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross-Buy) I and Me is a puzzle platformer. To play the game, you control two cats simultaneously, who perform the same action. Manage both of them at the same time and coordinate their actions to complete the adventure. Left Alive PS4 — Digital, Retail Left Alive tells a human story of survival from the perspective of three different protagonists during the devastating invasion set in war-torn Novo Slava in 2127. Experience the massive power gap between man and machine. Move or Die PS4 — Digital Move or Die is an absurdly fast-paced, four-player local and online party game where the mechanics change every 20 seconds. The very definition of a perfect friendship-ruining game! Night Trap – 25th Anniversary Edition PS Vita — Digital Originally developed by Digital Pictures in 1987 and released in 1992, Night Trap has been completely rebuilt for the PS4, bringing it to a level of video quality never before seen. The Occupation PS4 — Digital, Retail The Occupation is a first-person, fixed-time, immersive sim and investigative thriller set in North West England on October 24, 1987. You play as a journalist in a detailed, systems-driven world where people react to your actions. Paraiso Island PS4 — Digital Paraiso Island is a free-to-play island life sim. Explore a cheerful tropical island, meet wacky animal residents, go fishing, or just relax and enjoy the scenery. Features a real-time day/night cycle, special events, and more surprises! Puyo Puyo Tetris PS4 — Digital Puzzle game juggernauts Tetris and Puyo Puyo collide to create a fast-paced, competitive party game like no other! The game offers tons of gameplay styles — from single-player Adventure and Challenge modes to ferociously competitive Arcade modes — for tons of Tetris/Puyo variety. R.B.I. Baseball 19 PS4 — Digital R.B.I. Baseball 19 takes the field delivering heightened authenticity for a genuine MLB experience. We’ve added hundreds of new animations, updated player models, every official 2019 uniform, more player gear, improved ball physics and environments, and more! Summer Funland PS VR — Digital (Out 3/7) Get ready for the awesome VR experience that is Summer Funland! A crazy rollercoaster, hilarious mini-games, an incredibly fast-paced motorcycle ride through Gotham, underwater voyage and space trip — there’s never a dull moment in Summer Funland! Unknown Fate PS4 — Digital You wake up, alone, with no memories of your past. Unknown Fate is a single-player first person puzzle-adventure with a mysterious story, puzzles to solve and enemies to defeat. Will you be able to find out who you really are? Verti-Go Home! PS VR — Digital (Out 3/8) Verti-Go Home! is an endless runner, set in a 90s space western universe. Fly through (and above) a tunnel that you steer with your head, to avoid collisions with bizarre and dangerous obstacles. This is VR. The doors of perception are open. Your Toy PS4 — Digital Your Toy is a 3D first-person horror room escape game that features an advanced non-repeat puzzle system with challenging riddles, heart-pounding escape sequences and a mysterious narrative that dives deep into your darkest subconsciousness. The information above is subject to change without notice. 2 Chainz – Rap or Go to the League Hozier – Wasteland, Baby! Offset – Father of 4 Aquaman (plus Bonus Features) Liz and the Blue Bird (aka Rizu to aoi tori) Ben Is Back Season Premiere Sunday, 3/3 at 9AM PT on Discovery Channel PlayStation Vue has your favorite sports, news and must-watch shows. View the full article