Commander Fury

This latest E3 2018 trailer is the fourth for Death Stranding. The first teaser was released two years ago at E3 2016, with the second and third appearing at TGA 2016 and 2017. Death Stranding | Gallery Work on the first teaser started shortly after establishing Kojima Productions. At the time we were working out of a temporary office, recruiting was still ongoing, there wasn’t enough equipment to fit the bill and the game engine was still up in the air. We really had next to nothing. What we did have, however, was our bond (strand) with Norman Reedus, who immediately accepted the role as our main protagonist, and the idea of the game in my mind. Relying on just these two things, the teaser was created with my own hands in only two and a half months. I still remember the emotion I felt when, after 2 absent years, I was greeted by your warm welcome of cheers and the thunderous claps at the E3 reveal. At TGA 2016, we revealed the appearances of Mads Mikkelsen and my dear friend Guillermo del Toro in the game, in addition to our decision to use the DECIMA engine, which we are developing with Guerrilla Games. Then at TGA 2017, we showed you a cut scene from the early part of our game. As is the case for our latest trailer, all the scenes shown so far are directly from the game. This, of course, includes the scene where Sam (Norman) wakes naked on the beach surrounded by stranded whales, crabs and fish. When we revealed the first teaser, I said that “the game has already begun – a game of unravelling the mysteries of what kind of game Death Stranding will become”. There are some answers to the questions I posed two years ago hidden in this trailer. These are for you, the fans who have shown your tremendous ability to imagine, search for clues and wrack your brains to solve the mysteries. But, the answers here are still only part of the mystery. Our game is still in play. For this trailer, we’re showing quite a bit of gameplay (although the camera angle is altered in some spots). The first half and the last sequence in particular are most representative of the actual gameplay. There are some answers here too, as well as a chance to discover new mysteries. Some might have already picked up on this, but Sam is unlike any other hero you may have seen in games before. A typical hero is usually some sort of elite or someone with a military background. Sam is not. He is a working man of sorts — a hands-on professional. Someone with a skillset akin to a blue-collar worker. This is something you’ll intuitively understand once you play the game and control Sam. Herein lies our challenge, to create both a new form of gameplay and a hero that has never been done before. We also finally revealed our heroines. Two goddesses, Lindsay Wagner and Léa Seydoux. As you know, Léa is a world class actress from France. I’ve seen many of her films, but the film that made me a fan was Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. I was sniped by her aura as the female assassin. And I’ve grown to like her even more through our work together. Her intelligence and knowledge, her elegance and beauty, she is without a doubt a true French treasure. As for Lindsay, she holds a very special and irreplaceable place in my heart. She charmed the world with her role as Jaime Sommers in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. I was in my teens in the 70’s, and like viewers across the globe, I fell in love, and continue to be in love with her. She is a muse for all time. Out of necessity for our game, we undertook the process of recreating Lindsay’s younger self from her recent 3D scan data. Of course, some team members are too young to have seen her films or shows when they originally aired, but when I showed them Two People, The Paper Chase, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman for reference, the whole office fell in love. Her charm transcends time and generations. There are other cast members who we have yet to be revealed, but to be able to announce the two heroines of our game makes me happier than I can say. All of the cast who have been revealed to date, including Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, are people who I grew very fond of, and had a strong desire to work with. Having fallen for them, I pulled some strings (strands), and asked them to be in my game. I wasn’t motivated by marketing or sales, but simply driven by my creative inspiration. They’ve joined because they feel the same way, and as a result we’ve all grown closer, connected by our special bond. Although it wasn’t my initial intention, we now have a cross-generational, international cast. Mads, who is from Denmark, is a Nordic treasure; Norman is one of the most recognized American actors today, Lea is a top French actress and Lindsay is a muse from the golden 20th century. Across countries, time and generations, we have come together to realize this vision. Coincidentally, this theme is strongly connected with that of the game, and is a theme I strive to realize as a game creator. I want to deliver something for people around the world that transcends generations. I want all people to experience the entertainment medium of games, not only gamers, but fans of film, novels, comics, music and art. With the help of the bond (strand) we have with these four cast members (and those who we have yet to reveal), I believe that we will make this a reality. A serendipitous bond (strand) formed between myself and SILENT POETS, whose song is featured in the trailer. We had a number of performance capture sessions in Japan, and met some amazing people who were part of the catering staff. Not only was the food exceptional, their hospitality was outstanding. We, of course, requested their service many more times. One day, we found out that one of their members was a veteran musician. When we started talking, we learned that they were about to release an album for the first time in 12 years. When I listened to the sample they gave me, an image of Sam walking in the wilderness naturally popped into my head. It was the song Asylums for the Feeling from the album Dawn. Low Roar, whose song was featured in our first teaser, were also a chance discovery I made in a CD shop in Iceland, where I immediately fell in love with their sound. This game is being woven together through numerous strands and human connections, including strands with you: the fans. The picture that forms on this tapestry is already beautifully drawn in my mind, and is right now, being woven together with the utmost care. It is sure to form an image unlike any seen before. I hope that the strand with you will be a special one. SILENT POETS OFFICIAL SITE https://www.silentpoets.net/ View the full article

Ghost of Tsushima is an epic, open-world samurai adventure set during the Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274. We’re telling an original story set in the world of feudal Japan—a time of warfare, chaos, and violent change. You play as Jin Sakai, a powerful samurai warrior whose adventure draws on Japanese history and the iconic traditions of samurai cinema to craft a gorgeous tale of revenge, empowerment, and hope. What more could you ask for? Thus far, all we have shown about Ghost of Tsushima is the debut trailer from Paris Games Week back in October. That video gave you a glimpse into the world and story we are creating. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good story trailer or mysterious teaser video as much as anyone. But to get me really excited, and to understand the experience of a new game… Show me the gameplay, baby! Which is why I’m thrilled (or is that stress/anxiety/all of the above?) to share a taste of what Ghost of Tsushima is all about. We chose this particular sequence to capture a few of the essential visions we have for the game: a sprawling, beautiful Tsushima Island… brutal Mongol invaders… and katana combat that delivers on our target of “Mud, Blood, & Steel.” Of course this is just the beginning — and as time goes by we’ll talk more about the scope of the world, Jin’s progression and the game storyline… Meet Masako In this story, Jin fights alongside another samurai—a deadly onna-bugeisha named Masako. They joined forces to save their homeland from the Mongol invaders, but Masako’s tragic personal history drives a wedge in her relationship with Jin. As you’ve seen, this ends up forcing them into a duel at the end of the experience. Masako and her story are one of many side characters and quests that form the fabric of Ghost of Tsushima. These characters will play important parts in Jin’s main storyline, but most of them will also have side quests and stories for you to explore. In fact, the demo you just watched is part of Masako’s storyline, a side adventure off the game’s main path. A Window into Ghost This story offers a small window into Jin’s world and his journey to save his homeland from the Mongol Empire. The early moment when Jin overlooks his surroundings—the distant fires, sacred temples, and far off mountains—promises an island full of dangerous and stunning places to root out the invading Mongols. Even Jin’s outfit and how he chooses to fight are notable–foreshadowing some parts of Jin’s personal journey. He’s in a rain-drenched part of the world, so Jin has traded his traditional armor for a straw raincoat called a mino. And while he wields his katana with deadly skill, you can see he’s straying from his samurai ways to attack his enemies with the violent grace of a silent assassin. What does all this mean? It means there’s a much bigger story to tell—but that’s for another day. Chasing the Red Leaves As a final thought, watch the red leaves swirl around the final duel between Jin and Masako. The red leaves are a visual metaphor for this story in Ghost of Tsushima—but also for the path it takes to create a game. Ideas swirling around and can almost be overwhelming for me–and at the same time incredibly beautiful and exciting. The first task is identifying a clear vision—picking out the one red leaf among thousands. Once you find that idea, you set out to pursue it relentlessly as the wind carries it in exciting new directions. That single red leaf Jin picks up at the beginning of the story was a touchstone for the creation of this story. The leaf influenced the visual development of the adventure as well as the design of the temple. Those ideas lead to gameplay, and to dozens of iterations on this quest. Even today, as we write this blog post, the team is tweaking small details of the experience. Still chasing this particular red leaf. Just like in Jin and Masako’s duel, it’ll take a whole pile of red leaves to make Ghost of Tsushima something worth jumping into. But there’s lots left to do, so if you’ll excuse me, I gotta get on to chasing that next red leaf… View the full article

Whether you’ve defeated all the Valkyries, conquered the daunting combat trials of Niflheim and Muspelheim, or simply accomplished your journey with Kratos and Atreus, here is one very strong reason to stay in the realm of God of War: New Game+. Since the launch of the game, from every social media and forum corner in this realm, the single most requested enhancement has been to add New Game+. It’s with our greatest pleasure to create this in honor of you – our fans. Have you ever imagined that first test of strength defying battle with Baldur while adorning the Valkyrie Armor on Kratos? You can with New Game+. How about a fully upgraded Leviathan Axe at the start of the game? That will also be possible, and quite frankly, you may need it, New Game+ won’t just be a sunny stroll through Midgard. In New Game+, you’ll start a new game with many upgrades you had from the completion of your last main quest, such as armors, pommels, talismans, and more…except your strength to open or kick down doors remains the same. And yes, when I mentioned it won’t be just a sunny stroll pulverizing Draugr’s and Nightmares like your weapons are on auto-pilot, the difficulty will be harder. We are currently developing New Game+ and will be making it available via a patch at a later date, not to mention plenty of more information about it. We know you probably have tons of questions and we’ve got some for you as well. Connect with us on Twitter @sonysantamonica. Thank you again for the incredible support and passion for God of War. View the full article

Over the past month, we have been showing a ton of new gameplay from Days Gone – giving more insight into who Deacon is, the state world, and what it takes to survive within that world. We have also been reading your comments and have noticed a common question continues to emerge: What is the release date for Days Gone? To answer that question we created a brand new trailer. Watch it at the top of this post, if you haven’t already. In addition to revealing the release date, the trailer introduces two new animal threats: mountain lions, or cougars, and infected ravens – called Criers in our world. We see another ambush event as Marauders torch an old vehicle and roll it onto the highway trying to knock Deacon from his bike. And the video ends with Deacon running out of gas out in the middle of nowhere – a quiet moment, perhaps, but maybe the deadliest of all. Most important, we introduce a new enemy human faction: Rest In Peace, or R.I.P., is a cult that worships the Freakers. Rippers, as they’re known, dress like Freakers – and kill anyone who isn’t a Ripper. While they’re important to the story, Rippers are also an important part of the in-game Freaker ecology: when you get a chance to take down a Ripper camp, try bringing in a Swarm and see what happens – Rippers refuse to kill Freakers, and the results can be very entertaining. Also, since we’re starting to introduce more of the characters you’ll meet in Days Gone, I want to formally introduce three characters you see in this trailer, two for the first time. William “Boozer” Gray was introduced in our first reveal trailer back in 2016, riding with Deacon on the broken road and keeping Deacon from bashing in the head of a dead Freaker. From their cuts we know they are both members – or ex members – of the Mongrels MC. So they are more than just friends — they are brothers. Boozer is played by the immensely talented Jim Pirri. For the role of Boozer, we needed a special actor who could help us tell the story. Boozer has to be tough, cynical, and a bad ass, but his friendship and brotherhood with Deacon has to come through as well. Jim has helped turn Boozer into a compelling and very human character. Alkai Turner (pronounced “alk-eye”) is the arms dealer at the Hotsprings survivor encampment, played by the talented Jonathan Joss. Ada Tucker is a former prison matron who now runs the Hotsprings camp, played by the inimitable DeeDee Rescher. These are just three of the dozens of characters you will meet throughout the Days Gone story – which we’ll be talking more about as we get closer to launch. Oh yeah – launch date. As promised and as revealed in our new trailer, we are excited to announce the release date for Days Gone: February 22, 2019 Bend Studio are bringing Days Gone to E3 this year with even more new gameplay, so keep an eye on this space for more news and information about the game! View the full article

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby it’s finally time! We here at ATLUS are happy to announce that the latest rhythm games based on the worldwide JRPG phenomenon, both Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight will be launching in the Americas and Europe early 2019! Both games will feature all of the songs included in their original Japanese versions, as well as a full English dub, dual audio options, and English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish subtitles. Both games come complete with dozens of fan-favorite songs from the original Persona 3 and Persona 5 by Shoji Meguro, composed by Ryota Kozuka, as well as all-new remixes by ATOLS, Lotus Juice, ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo / block.fm), Jazztronik, and more. You’ll start out with only a small selection of songs, but as you complete them, you’ll unlock more songs, dancers, partners, and costumes to customize your perfect performance. Screenshot Gallery Getting started in P3D/P5D is simple – choose a song, select a difficulty level, select your dancer(s), and get on with the show! After that, all you need to do is time button presses with the on-screen prompts in time with the music, and you’ll be jamming along with your favorite Persona series characters. There’s also an auto-play mode in case you just want to enjoy some catchy songs and expertly-choreographed dance routines (auto-play won’t count for progression, though). Want to take a break and connect with the members of SEES or the Phantom Thieves? As you complete specified songs and accomplish various objectives, you’ll start to unlock “Social” event scenes between characters. These scenes offer a fun look into character personalities and relationships with each other; some “Social” scenes will also unlock new items after they’re viewed! We’re really excited to share this alternate side of the Persona series with all of our fans in the West. Get ready, because life will change when Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight launch early 2019! View the full article

You did watch our Tetris Effect announce trailer as part of PlayStation’s Countdown to E3, right? Well just in case, or if you want to see it again, check it out above (make sure you watch it in 4K if you can). I’ll wait. …OK? OK! Hopefully you liked what you saw, but there’s a few things you might have missed: 1. Tetris Effect is coming to PS4 with optional PS VR support this fall Hopefully you at least caught this much! Tetris Effect is a brand new take on the legendary puzzle game coming to PS4 this fall (with optional support for PS VR as well), developed by a lot of the same folks that worked with me to make Rez Infinite and Lumines. So what’s it like? Well a big hint is in the name itself; if you Google “Tetris Effect research” you’ll discover it’s not just our game title but also a well-known phenomenon proven by many academic studies, which leads to my next point: Over 30 completely different stages are included, each with their own Tetrimino blocks, clear effects, music, sounds, etc. 2. Tetris Effect is designed to maximize the magical, scientifically-proven aspect of Tetris that it’s named after. That’s right, the Harvard study mentioned in the trailer voiceover is 100% real! Basically, researchers discovered that people who play Tetris a lot can start seeing images from the game in real life. Maybe you’ve even experienced this yourself after playing previous Tetris games (I know I have) — you see a bunch of bricks or crates stacked and unconsciously start imagining how to move them to fit together and “clear” them. Or while you stare at the ceiling about to fall asleep, you “see” those iconic Tetris shapes falling in your mind’s eye. That’s what researchers call the Tetris Effect. The idea behind Tetris Effect the game is to amplify and enhance that same magical feeling where you just can’t get it out of your head, and not just the falling shapes, but all the visuals, the sounds, the music — everything! How? By having each of more than 30 stages immerse you in a different fantastical world that reacts and evolves based on how you play: background elements, audio, special effects — everything, down to the Tetris pieces themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, make music, explode, etc. in perfect sync with how you’re playing. Hopefully our trailer gives a glimpse of what this looks and sounds like, but to really feel what it’s like it you just have to try it yourself. Speaking of the trailer… In addition to fan favorite modes like Marathon, Ultra, and Sprint, several new modes are coming as well. More on those later this summer…. 3. The entire trailer was made with in-game assets This isn’t a CG trailer of things unrelated to the actual game. Everything from this trailer was taken directly from the in-game assets: models, effects, animations, backgrounds, you name it. Even the Tetris Matrix and blocks at the end were captured from the game being played in real time! Of course we made some adjustments for the sake of the trailer (layered different stages at once, removed UI, reflected elements, etc.), but needless to say if you like what you saw here, you will love this game, whether on a standard display in beautiful full HD on PS4, or at 4K / 60 frames-per-second on a PS4 Pro, or in mind-blowing 3D thanks to the optional PS VR compatibility. 4. Tetris Effect is both the hyper-addictive puzzler you know and love, and at the same time unlike any Tetris — or any other game — you’ve ever seen before From deep beneath the ocean to the furthest reaches of outer space, Tetris Effect’s 30-plus stages are more than just backdrops; together with music, characters, and animations tailor-made for each level and triggered by your actions, they’re all meant to make you feel something — to convey a mood, or even provoke an emotional response. If this all sounds a bit ambitious or silly for this type of game, check out some reviews and social media posts about our most recent PS4 / PS VR-optional title, Rez Infinite. When it comes down to it, the core of Tetris Effect is still Tetris — one of the most popular puzzle games of all time — but like you’ve ever seen it, or heard it, or felt it before. 5. There’s a lot more to come! There’s a lot more Tetris Effect to show and talk about, both at E3 next week (a playable demo on the show floor and more to show the media behind closed doors) and through the summer, leading up to our Fall launch. Stuff like returning Tetris modes (Marathon, Ultra, Sprint), plus other original modes just for this game, and our all-new “Zone” mechanic, where players can stop time (and Tetriminos falling) by entering “the Zone” and either maneuver out of a potential game-over situation, or rack up extra line clears for bonus rewards. Ever cleared 12 lines at once in a Tetris game?! You can that and more by entering the Zone (if you’re good enough). Check out E3 coverage for details about how it works! Watch your favorite media outlets for more details and hands-on coverage, or try the game yourself if you can make it to the show! And for the 99% of you who can’t make it to E3, don’t worry; like I said we know full well that the best way to understand Tetris Effect is to play it yourself, so we’re working on a plan that will let you do just that. Watch PlayStation.Blog for news on a public Tetris Effect demo as we get closer to launch. In the meantime, sound off in the comments and tell us what you thought of the trailer! Have you ever seen Tetris blocks outside of the game yourself? Other favorite Tetris memories? Or maybe you’re new to Tetris and looking for a first game to play? We want to hear from all of you! View the full article

It’s June, the weather is warm, and school is out for the summer. I’m excited to announce some great deals on PlayStation Now to let you play all season long. We are also launching a great new batch of games available to stream for June, bringing the total number of games in the service to 650. This month we’ve got 12 great games, including PS4 upgrades of Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition and WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship, another great batch of PS2 classic games like Wild Arms 3, Okage: Shadow King, and Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, as well as PS4 racing games like Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo and Table Top Racing. Today also marks the start of our summer price promotion for PlayStation Now. From today through September 25, we are bringing back the $9.99 intro offer and 12-month subscription for a limited time. Get your first month for $9.99 (new subscribers only) or lock in another 12 months of PS Now for just $99.99. We’ve also got a great discount offer for PlayStation Plus members. We’re offering an exclusive three-month pass to PlayStation Now for just $29.99 ($44.99 regular price) to PlayStation Plus members, today through September 25. This offer is available to new and existing PS Now users alike. Here are all the new games available to stream on PS4 and PC starting today: Adam’s Venture: Origins Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits Firefighters: The Simulation Kinetica Okage: Shadow King Seasons After Fall Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo Table Top Racing Wild Arms 3 PS3 → PS4 upgrades: Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship Here are the most popular games on the service in May: Red Dead Redemption God of War 1 (Original) God of War 3 Remastered Mortal Kombat Fallout: New Vegas WWE 2K16 The Last of Us Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution NBA 2K16 Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion If you haven’t tried PlayStation Now yet, check out the seven-day free trial for PS4 and PC to experience the streaming service today. PS Now provides unlimited on-demand access to an ever-growing library with new games added every month, and no game downloads required. PS4 save data in PS Now is also compatible with PS Plus cloud saves, so you can upload/download save files to and from your own console. The introductory offer of $9.99 for the first month (new subscribers only), the 12-month subscription for $99.99, and the Plus-exclusive 3 months for $29.99, are all available for a limited time until September 25. So act fast. Note that in order to take advantage of the $9.99 intro offer, you will need to purchase that directly, as the seven-day trial will transition into the standard monthly subscription. Stay tuned for more updates on PS Now. Happy gaming! View the full article

With E3 2018 just days away, we’ve collected a bunch of info we think will come in handy for patrons of the gaming arts, whether you’ll be in Los Angeles or joining us via the magic of the internet. Here’s what PlayStation will be up to at E3 this year: Note: The details in this post are subject to change without notice, but if anything does change we’ll do our best to reflect it here. Countdown to E3 2018 Starting tomorrow at live.playstation.com, we’ll be revealing something new each morning at 8am Pacific, leading up to the PlayStation E3 2018 Showcase on Monday, June 11. First up: a first look at a new game coming to PS4 and PlayStation VR. Get the full details for Countdown to E3 here. PlayStation E3 2018 Showcase Monday, June 11 at 6pm Pacific, the PlayStation E3 2018 Showcase will begin. The one-and-only Shawn Layden has confirmed that we’ll get new looks at Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and more. Watch along live at live.playstation.com. Our pal Geoff Keighley will be up to his old tricks again, as well — he’ll be hosting the E3 Coliseum with new looks at upcoming games and some other fun treats. We’ll be co-hosting certain segments at live.playstation.com (are you sensing a theme, yet?), so don’t touch that URL bar. E3 Theater Experience Update: Tickets are live! Click here to get yours, but note that they are limited. If you don’t snag one, see below for more information about how you may still be able to attend. Select theaters in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile will see the return of the fan-favorite E3 Experience. Check the list here for a full rundown of participating theaters. Watch at Home Of course, we’ll also be streaming all the festivities at, you guessed it, live.playstation.com, from our five-day Countdown to E3 to the Showcase on Monday, June 11, then PlayStation Live From E3 2018 begins! More on that below. We heard you like free stuff, by the way, so there will be plenty of chances for you to earn rewards at live.playstation.com throughout the program. We’ll also be streaming on our Twitch channel, on Facebook, and at YouTube, so tune into your channel of choice and enjoy the show! PlayStation Live From E3 2018 Join our motley crew of returning hosts Sid Shuman, Ryan Clements, Meredith Molinari, Ramone Russell, Hollie Bennett and yours truly as we dive deep into two jam-packed days of gameplay sessions and developer interviews for more than 30 games, some of which have already been announced… and some of which haven’t. Here’s a super-broad schedule (all times Pacific); we’ll have more detailed ones available after Monday night’s Showcase: PlayStation Live From E3 Day One Tuesday, June 12 | 11am to 7pm PlayStation Live From E3 Day Two Wednesday, June 13 | 10am to 5pm Experience PlayStation App Download on: iOS | Android If you are attending E3 this year, download the Experience PlayStation mobile app (iOS link, Android link) then head straight to the PlayStation Booth! Here’s what the app can do for you: RSVP for select demos (space is limited) Unlock a reward: “Symbols In The Stars” PS4 Dynamic Theme PlayStation Live: See the schedule and add in your Itinerary Getting Started After you download the app and enter the E3 2018 event, you will automatically unlock a Reward. Go to the Quest section to claim your voucher code and download the “Symbols In The Stars” Dynamic PS4 Theme. RSVP Each day the Event section of the app gives you access to RSVP for select demos. Check the app to see when the next reservation window opens, as they fill up quickly. When it’s time for your appointment, show the staff your itinerary and enjoy your demo. PlayStation Live From E3 2018 Check the schedule in the app to see the live programing we’ll have on stage at the PlayStation booth. Use the schedule to set reminders so you don’t miss an interview or demo! PlayStation Merch Tent Looking for some PlayStation Gear to take home with you? Stop by the merch tent we’ll have set up in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center’s West Hall to snag some special new items and enjoy some live DJ sessions, thanks to our pals at Spotify. A few notes if you’re planning to buy some PlayStation merchandise at E3 this year: No badge required. All sales are final. Visa or Mastercard only, no cash. If you’re attending E3, there are new limitations on what you can bring into the halls. Items purchased at the store may need to be checked before entering the convention floor. And that about does it — see you in Los Angeles! View the full article

With our huge Days of Play promotion about to kick off and E3 around the corner, there’s never been a better time to be part of the PlayStation family. Our new campaign is called “Play Fearlessly,” and it’s an invitation to come play in our world. The TV spot, which just debuted, tells a unique story about something we can all relate to: the exhilaration and pure joy we all feel when we get an opportunity to play. For some of us, play is nostalgic. For others, it is something we prioritize every day of our lives. In either case – we think play is fundamental to who we are. “Play Fearlessly” is our rallying cry for everyone to come play in the incredible, epic world of PlayStation. We hope it inspires everyone to play just a little bit more. See you at E3! View the full article

Hey, it’s almost E3 again! PlayStation’s got plenty of updates to share — so many, in fact, that we’re going to start the party a little early. The main course will be served at the PlayStation E3 2018 Showcase, which starts Monday evening, June 11, at 6:00pm Pacific. But we’re preparing some tasty appetizers to hold you over until then. Starting Wednesday, June 6 at 8am Pacific, join us at live.playstation.com, Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook as we count down to E3 with new game announces and updates each day leading into Monday’s Showcase. PlayStation.Blog will have expanded coverage and videos each day as well, but if you watch live at 8am Pacific you’ll be the first to know! Here’s our Countdown to E3 schedule: Wednesday, June 6 at 8am Pacific Announce: New PS4 Game With PS VR Support Thursday, June 7 at 8am Pacific Release Date for an Upcoming Worldwide Studios Title Friday, June 8 at 8am Pacific Announce: New PS4 Game Saturday, June 9 at 8am Pacific Announce: New PS VR Game Sunday, June 10 at 8am Pacific Details: An Eagerly Anticipated Game Comes to PS VR Stay tuned! PlayStation’s E3 2018 Showcase is just one week away… View the full article

You are Dr. Jonathan Reid. Returning to London after the Great War, Reid is attacked in the street and awakens with unnatural powers… and a thirst for human blood. Welcome to the dark story of Vampyr on PS4. Developed by Life is Strange creator Dontnod, Vampyr forces players to balance Reid’s need to drink with his moral obligations as a doctor. Each life taken to empower Reid is an innocent person lost. How will Reid survive, and save London from a mysterious plague festering beneath the lamplight? For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop! Awkward! PS4 — Digital (Out 6/7) Play at your own risk! At the end of the 1800s the government declared a global ban on this legendary card game due to an increase in bar fights, divorces, and family feuds. BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle PS4 — Digital, Retail An unrivaled clash of explosive proportions! Created through an all-star collaboration between BlazBlue, Atlus’ Persona, French Bread’s Under Night In-Birth, and Rooster Teeth’s hugely popular RWBY web series, Cross Tag Battle celebrates the fighting genre for pros and newcomers alike! The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset PS4 — Digital, Retail Join more than 10 million players in the award-winning online multiplayer RPG, and experience limitless adventure in a persistent Elder Scrolls world. HomeStarVR PS VR — Digital (Out 6/6) Full celestial planetarium! A starry sky extended right down to your feet. Experience a sense of depth and feeling of immersion only possible with VR. The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker PS4 — Digital You are a psychiatrist trying to solve a murder whilst treating the unusual patients of the recently deceased Doctor Dekker. Ask any questions and collect the evidence as you uncover the identity of the randomly generated murderer whilst trying to figure out the chaos that was left behind. MotoGP 18 PS4 — Digital (Out 6/7) Become the star of the 2018 MotoGP season! Pursue your career as a professional rider starting from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup up to the Premier class of the MotoGP. Onrush PS4 — Digital, Retail Onrush is a new breed of high-impact, adrenaline fuelled off-road arcade racing! It’s about speed, takedowns, and teamwork with high-tempo thrills that focus on the fun, the excitement and the spectacular. Perils of Baking PS4 — Digital Perils of Baking is a 2D platformer akin to the retro games that inspired it. You play as the younger of two brothers, famous for their baking. It’s up to you to stop your brother’s evil plans as he has given in to a dark artifact. Riddled Corpses EX PS4, PS Vita — Digital Riddled Corpses EX is a twin-stick shooter made in the style of 8/16 bit arcade games. Travel through diverse locations packed with danger and huge bosses. RollerCoaster Legends II: Thor’s Hammer PS4 — Digital RollerCoaster Legends II: Thor’s Hammer transports you to the mythical land of Loki and Thor. Travel to Asgard on the rainbow Bifröst before flying through the home of the Elves in Alfheim. Shape of the World PS4 — Digital Shape of the World is a serene and surrealist first-person explorer. You’ll travel through dream-like forests, aquatic caves, and peaceful shores accompanied by psychedelic wildlife. Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn PS4 — Digital, Retail A vessel floating down a river contains an orphaned baby boy. He is found and adopted. As he grows, he learns of his true identity and destiny of greatness. Vampyr PS4 — Digital, Retail London, 1918. You are newly-turned Vampyr Dr. Jonathan Reid. As a doctor, you must find a cure to save the city’s flu-ravaged citizens. As a Vampyr, you are cursed to feed on those you vowed to heal. Ben Howard – Noonday Dream Big Freeda – 3rd Ward Bounce Ghost – Prequelle Finale Tuesday June 5th at 10:30/9:30 c on TBS Premiere Monday June 4th at 9/8 c on AMC Returns Tuesday June 5th at 10/9 c on AMC PlayStation Vue has your favorite sports, news and must-watch shows. The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

Last week, we asked you to send in your favorite portraits and moments with Atreus in God of War. Whether he was drawing his bow in combat or being called after by Kratos, you shared your best shots of “Boy!” using #PS4share and #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: Atreus gets a target in his sight in this intimate share from @abeltomass98. @in__the__frame shared this cheeky portrait of Midgard’s best archer. Atreus attacks from above in this daring action shot from @lucidofficinale. @gatirosho shared a moody portrait of Atreus. 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: Final Fantasy XIV Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, June 6 Next week, we’re taking on Final Fantasy XIV. From the harsh, freezing landscapes of Coerthas to the tropical climes of Costa Del Sol, the world of Hydaelyn is home to endless photographic opportunities. Set sail to Kugane to take Japan-inspired architecture shots, or pose for a quick selfie in the vast, open Churning Mists. Final Fantasy XIV takes an interesting approach to its photo mode (invoked with the /gpose command), letting you freely place up to three light sources in the environment and around your subject. Experiment with its unique capabilities to frame dramatic portraits, wide-angle shots, or anything else you can think of and share with us using #PS4share and #PSBlog. View the full article

Email us at blogcast@sony.com! Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Welcome back! Tune in for a slightly more intimate show with Sid and Justin, headlined by an interview with the crew behind apocalyptic biker survival sim Days Gone. Plus, Justin shares his “not-quite-finished-but-at-the-very-end-of-the-game” impressions of Detroit: Become Human. No spoilers in the episode, but spoiler: it’s a really good game. Stuff We Talked About Detroit: Become Human Days Gone FFXIV (A listener started it this time, I swear!) Onrush Shaq-Fu Recent Episodes 294: Road to E3 2018 293: There You Have It 292: E3 Showcase Preview The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Justin Massongill – Social Media Manager, 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

Update: Tickets are live! Click here to get yours, but note that they are limited. If you don’t snag one, see below for more information about how you may still be able to attend. E3 is almost here and I’m excited to announce that the PlayStation E3 Experience is returning! Join us on Monday June 11th in theaters across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and – new this year – Chile! This is the fifth year we’re broadcasting our E3 Showcase live to theaters. Experiencing the excitement of E3 alongside the PlayStation community brings a new dimension to the event, which is difficult to fully explain… this video might help. Attendees this year will take home an exclusive poster and some other goodies. Want more than just physical swag? We’ve got you covered — everyone will also get a digital gift basket chock-full of treats. This year digital goods will be distributed via the Experience PlayStation app, so make sure to download it before you arrive at the theater if you want to redeem them immediately. Sounds great, how do I attend? Tickets are free and will be available at starting on Tuesday, June 5th at 11:00 AM PDT while supplies last. Check back here for the link. I highly recommend setting a reminder, because once the tickets are gone – they’re gone. This year tickets for all regions will be available at the same ticketing site. Registering for a ticket will reserve your seat as long as you check in at the theater 30 minutes before show time. If you don’t check in by this time your seat will be released to non-ticketed fans (who have queued for a seat) on a first-come first-served basis. Please note: Attendees must be 17 years of age or older to attend this event (18+ in Brazil). A valid form of ID providing age will be required to enter. I didn’t get a ticket, what now? Those without tickets can queue at the theater starting two hours before showtime. You will not be able to line up earlier than this. Open seats will be given out to those in the queue on a first-come first-served basis starting 30 minutes before the show starts. Check below for the full list of theaters. UNITED STATES Century City 15 Los Angeles CA LA Live 14 Los Angeles CA Meadows 12 Lone Tree CO Avenues 20 Jacksonville FL Waterford Lakes 20 Orlando FL Hollywood 24 – N I-85 Chamblee GA Boise Stadium 22 Boise ID River East 21 Chicago IL Galaxy 14 Indianapolis IN Fenway Stadium 13 Boston MA Eagan 16 Eagan MN Kansas City 18 Cinemas Kansas City MO Brier Creek Stadium 14 Raleigh NC Village Square 18 Las Vegas NV Union Square 14 New York NY E-Walk 42nd Street 13 New York NY Transit Center 18 Plus Imax Williamsville NY Georgesville Square 16 Columbus OH Tinseltown USA Oklahoma City Oklahoma City OK Lloyd Center 10 Cinema Portland OR Riverview Plaza 17 Philadelphia PA Opry Mills 20 Plus Imax Nashville TN Houston Marq*E Stadium 23 Houston TX Salt Lake City 16 Salt Lake City UT Scotiabank Theatre Toronto Toronto Ontario Scotiabank Theatre Chinook Calgary Alberta Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis Burnaby British Columbia Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg Winnipeg Manitoba Scotiabank Theatre Montréal Montreal Quebec Cineplex Odeon Sainte-Foy Cinemas Ste-Foy Quebec Cineplex Odeon Brossard & VIP Cinemas Brossard Quebec MEXICO Cinepolis Perisur Anillo Periferico Sur 4690 Loc 700, Col. Jardines Del Pedregal, Cp 04500 Cinepolis Universidad Av. Universidad 1000, Col. Santa Cruz Atoyac, Cp 03310 Cinepolis Forum Buenavista Eje 1 Norte Mosqueta 259, Int. Cine Col. Buenavista, Cp 06350 BRAZIL Eldorado Av Rebouças, 3970 Pinheiros Market Place Av. Dr. Chucri Zaidan, 920 – Vila Cordeiro ARGENTINA Village Cines Avellaneda Autopista Dr. Ricardo Balbín km 8,5, Parque Comercial Avellaneda, 1872 Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Village Cines Pilar Au Panamericana Km. 50, Pilar, Buenos Aires Village Cines Recoleta Vicente López 2050, C1113 CABA CHILE Hoyts La Reina Av. Ossa 655, La Reina, Región Metropolitana Hoyts Parque Arauco Las Condes, Santiago Metropolitan Region View the full article

What a month! Not only did we finally get our hands on Quantic Dream’s insanely ambitious Detroit: Become Human, but unique new experiences like Moonlighter, Laser League and Gorogoa have made bold debuts on PS4 over the past few weeks. We also finally got a sequel to PS3’s beloved PixelJunk Monsters, and 8-bit tribute Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon set the stage for Koji Igarashi’s upcoming Ritual of the Night. Of course, only one game can be called the best, but far be it from us to make that call. The power to decide May’s best game lies in your hands. What will you choose? Don’t dawdle — polls close Sunday night. How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify (Editor’s note: Sorry, Dark Souls). Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted. Players’ Choice: What Was the Best New Game of May 2018? View the full article

Hello, PlayStation fans! After being extremely coy about our release date at PAX East, we are so happy to finally announce that Spearhead Games’ next action-adventure game, Omensight, will be released on May 15th. The game will be part of Totally Digital and pre-orders will start tomorrow… with a 20% discount for PS Plus members! We’re thrilled to share the brand-new trailer to mark this very special occasion. Omensight takes the branching narrative structure of Stories: The Path of Destinies and spins it in an interesting new direction. In Stories, our focus was to let players explore all the choices available to them. But in Omensight, we decided that choices should matter more, since the objective is tied to solving a murder mystery leading to the end of the world of Urralia. You will need to pay attention to the hints and clues provided by fellow companions, who are all involved in the murder of the Godless-Priestess Vera in some way. This will help you make the right decisions to progress in your investigation. Our writers, Nadim Boukhira and Genese Davis, with support from Chris Avellone, spent countless hours crafting an intricate story of conspiracy, mythology, and time-loop for Omensight. They really focused on giving each of the major characters their own distinct personality and motivations, making sure their dialogue included vital clues about the identity of the murderer. Speaking of characters, we are so honored to have worked with a fantastic cast of voice actors. Julian Casey, who gave a tour-de-force performance as the narrator in Stories, returns to voice the menacing Indrik, Emperor of Pygarian Empire. Patricia Summersett, who’s appeared in multiple Ubisoft games and voiced Zelda in Zelda: Breath of the Wild recently, plays the honorable General Draga and the always-helpful Witch. Leda Davies really brought out the witty, playful side of Ratika, leader of rebels. And last but not least, Lateef Martin is Ludomir in the game and in real life, a big guy with a heart of gold. We hope you’ll enjoy the story and the characters of Omensight as much as we enjoyed bringing them to life when the game releases on May 15th! View the full article

We are extremely pleased and proud to announce today, that after four years of passionate crafting, Detroit: Become Human has officially gone gold! During these four years, we have gone through all possible states and emotions that the development of such a challenging project induces: the pride of working on something special and unique, the doubt of attaining all our creative and technical goals, the hope when publicly releasing scenes and trailers and seeing players’ positive reactions, the fear of not having enough time and resources to make everything perfect, the joy of finally seeing all parts of the puzzle come together, scene after scene, and finally being able to play the game from start to finish. And today, I guess it is with a mixture of all these feelings that we stand in front of you. Detroit: Become Human is no longer our game. Instead, it will soon become yours. Yours to play, to own, to hopefully cherish. The fate of Connor, Kara and Markus is in your hands, along with the fate of all other characters in the game. Through your decisions and actions, you will have the opportunity to become the writer, the director and the main protagonist of the most branching story we have ever created. A story made of hopes, fears, sadness but also of joy and happiness. A story as much about us, humans, as it is about androids. David Cage, the entire team and myself are proud of the work we have accomplished during these four years. We are grateful to all our wonderful actors, composers, artists and partners around the world who have lent their talent to making Detroit: Become Human the very special experience it has become. We are also extremely grateful to our fans around the world. We have read all of your emails, all of your letters, all of your tweets and messages. Each of them has given us the inspiration to make the best possible game for our fans. Last but not least, we are extremely thankful to Sony and the whole PlayStation family for believing in us and enabling us to make our dreams come true. To celebrate this milestone, and to help you pass the time as you hold on just a little while longer for the game’s release on May 25th, I am extremely happy to announce that the very first scene of the game, Hostage, will be available for download on the PS Store starting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24 at 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time. As part of the Hostage demo experience, there’s also an extended Alexa Skill! Properly named “CyberLife,” the Alexa Skill will provide you guidance and additional intel about this near future android filled world. As you take on the role of Connor, a hostage negotiator android sent to take control of this high-stakes situation, the CyberLife Skill will help guide you in your decision making throughout the investigation process, while giving you a deeper look at the various characters involved within the Hostage demo. It will also give you insights on how you can best alter your decision within the experience that could result in a different ending outcome. With the CyberLife Skill, you’ll be able to learn more about the world of Detroit: Become Human: Tell Me About – Get more details as you examine every piece of the crime scene. Try saying: “Alexa, ask CyberLife to tell me about the fish?” What’s Their Story? – Uncover the truth behind any character you find within the demo. Try saying: “Alexa, ask CyberLife to tell me about the Phillips Family?” Alter the Course of History – Using the Flowchart at the end of the demo, use the skill to discover alternate endings. Try saying: “Alexa, ask CyberLife why Connor failed to reach Daniel in time?” To get started, all you need is the following: 1. Download the Detroit: Become Human Demo from the PS Store on PS4 2. Have access to any enabled Amazon Alexa Device 3. Download the Detroit: Become Human CyberLife Skill by saying “Alexa, enable CyberLife” or by doing a search for Cyberlife with your Amazon Alexa app (requires Alexa app and Wi-Fi internet connection). Click here for more information on the Hostage Demo, CyberLife Skill, or Pre-Order incentives. View the full article

Ready yourself for a new quest to defeat the evil Mormo! The Swords of Ditto is coming to PS4 on April 24, bringing with it a colorful tale fit for the whole adventuring family. Developed by One Bit Beyond, The Swords of Ditto follows you (And a friend!) on a thrilling quest through dangerous dungeons, thick forests, and more. The game changes with every new hero that arrives on the island, making for a gorgeous roguelike you can play with your partner, siblings, or kids. For a full list of new games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop! Cluster Tumble PS4 — Digital Cluster Tumble is a fast-paced game of skill. Complete over 100 puzzles as the pieces tumble down the screen rotating and moving them into the correct position. Code 51: Mecha Arena PS VR — Digital 2040 A.D. The world continues to deteriorate. Fighting for very limited living resources, World War III had broken out among the major forces. Cosmic Star Heroine PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) Three exotic planets to explore. Aliens. Robots. Magic. Forbidden technology. Long-lost secrets. Conspiracies. A galactic threat. And one brave heroine to make things right. Cosmic Star Heroine is an exciting new RPG from the creators of Cthulhu Saves the World. Dead Secret PS VR — Digital Dead Secret is a first-person horror mystery set in rural Kansas in 1965. Who killed Harris Bullard? A reclusive man with a mysterious past is dead, and it’s up to you to crack the case. Death Road to Canada PS4 — Digital (Out 4/25) Death Road is built for replay value. Everything is randomized: locations, events, survivor appearances, and personalities. There’s a different story every time you play, set in a world that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Devious Dungeon PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) Set in the Dark Ages, Devious Dungeon is a medieval focused action platformer title. Only a true champion will be victorious! Dream Angling PS VR — Digital (Out 4/26) This is a story about looking for memories in a dream. By completing a series of angling challenges, players experience the inner feeling of the main character. Emily Wants to Play Too PS4 — Digital Emily Wants to Play Too offers tons of fun new survival horror gameplay and strives to creep you out. Jolt Family Robot Racer PS4 — Digital Jolt is a fast-paced racing game. At its core it’s a competitive platformer that’s all about maintaining momentum with skillful navigation. Just In Time Incorporated PS VR — Digital Just In Time Incorporated is not a regular insurance agency and you are not a normal agent. With the power of our hyper-glove technology, you can move at ten times the speed of a regular human. MLB Home Run Derby VR PS VR — Digital (Out 4/26) Can you crush it in the most immersive and authentic Home Run Derby VR game presented by Major League Baseball? Pic-A-Pix Color PS4, PS Vita — Digital (Cross Buy) Pic-a-Pix are exciting logic puzzles that form whimsical pixel-art pictures when solved. Challenging, deductive and artistic, this original Japanese invention offers the ultimate mix of logic, art, and fun while providing solvers with many hours of mentally stimulating entertainment. Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly PS Vita — Digital, Retail (Out 4/27) Awakening in a mysterious mansion, her first, frantic thoughts are: “Where am I? And more importantly, who am I?” She encounters several young men in the same predicament trapped and missing their memories. To survive they must hunt black butterflies and claim kaleidoscope shards from the horrific monsters surrounding them. Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality PS VR — Retail Rick and Morty have teleported into your living room for a cutting-edge VR adventure. Solve puzzles, step through portals into strange dimensions, get yelled at by Rick, fight aliens, drink detergent, press buttons, and more! Spacejacked PS4 — Digital (Out 4/26) Build. Shoot. Survive invasion by filthy alien scum. Can you, Space Technician ace Dave Paprovsky, defend your spaceship against a relentless horde of aliens? Survive Mr. Cube! PS4 — Digital (Out 4/26) Survive! Mr. Cube is an rogue-lite action game with the story of a man called Mr. Cube who has to escape from an unknown world in order to get his life back. The Swords of Ditto PS4 — Digital The Swords of Ditto is a compact action RPG that creates a unique adventure for each new hero of legend in the relentless fight against the evil Mormo. To Leave PS4 — Digital To Leave is a hard game. Every element in To Leave – from its very opening all the way to its conclusion – has been crafted to challenge your skills, your wits, your intuition, and your perceptions. Most importantly, To Leave seeks to stir interpretations. Although much will be indecipherable to you from the onset, be assured that everything in this work is deliberate, everything is relevant. Bishop Briggs – Church Of Scars Lord Huron – Vide Noir Thievery Corporation – Treasures from the Temple Fifty Shades Freed Batman Ninja Chaos takes control. Westworld returns for Season 2 Sundays at 9PM, starting 4/22 only on HBO Returns Sunday April 22 at 10/9c on AMC PlayStation Vue has your favorite sports, news and must-watch shows. The information above is subject to change without notice. View the full article

Hello! After sharing our unending excitement for God of War, Sid and I dove into why I can’t get enough of Night in the Woods and its hilarious and relatable storytelling. Other topics include Monster Hunter: World, Overcooked, and a spiraling tangent on the resurgence of nostalgia (strap in, folks). Email us at blogcast@sony.com! Subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here Stuff We Talked About Night in the Woods Crossing Souls 80’s nostalgia God of War Monster Hunter: World The Cast Sid Shuman – Director of Social Media, SIEA Kristen Titus – Social Media Specialist, SIEA Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Last week we asked you to whip out your PS VR headsets and explore the lush world of Moss. That’s right, you can use the Share button even while playing in VR! While you worked to solve puzzles with the most adorable partner, Quill, you shared your magical moments using #PS4share and #PSBlog. Here are the shots that caught our eye: @foolishoptimism showed off the lush and mysterious forest you and Quill can explore. A moment of triumph captured by @VenileJuju. Quill has a magical moment, as shared by @TantFuriosa. @RichPadaon shows that there are much larger creatures roaming around Quill’s forest home. 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: God of War Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, April 25 That’s right. Venture into the world of Norse myth alongside Kratos and Atreus and share your most thrilling shots using #PS4share and #PSBlog. Make sure to utilize the Immersive HUD setting to have an unobstructed frame while sharing! View the full article

Warning: spoilers for Westworld Season 1! Attention PlayStation Vue subscribers! Westworld, one of my favorite HBO series, returns on April 22. That’s this Sunday! Before the character-driven drama and twisting mysteries continue, we wanted to refresh you on the happenings of the extraordinary first season. In the Loop We begin with the story of Dolores Abernathy, the daughter of a rancher. She believes that everything around her, even the seedy town of Sweetwater, is a beautiful place with something new to discover every day. But in actuality, she is the oldest android “host” of Westworld, where “newcomers” pay top dollar to play out their deepest desires with zero consequence. Hosts’ core coding prevents them from harming newcomers and are also reset to their “loops” so that the memories of their interactions are erased. Glitches are starting to pop up around the park with a new update of “reveries” by park founder Robert Ford and lead programmer Bernard Lowe. The biggest glitch shows up in Dolores’ father, Peter Abernathy. Peter finds a photo of a woman from outside of Westworld and it awakens something inside him. He suddenly remembers his past narratives, and in a panic whispers “These violent delights have violent ends,” a quote from Romeo and Juliet. The glitch is caught by the programming team, and Ford decides to remove Peter, deactivating him permanently from Westworld. As for Dolores, the line of Shakespeare is still rattling inside her brain, but she reveals nothing to the programmers upon their inspection of her. The Making of the Man in Black Over time, Dolores fully strays from her loop and meets William and Logan, two newcomers with very different views of Westworld. It’s William’s first time in the park, but Logan is all too familiar with Westworld and wants a couple of nights of debauchery with his eventual brother-in-law. He also lets William know that Delos, his father’s company, is looking to buy the park. Against Logan’s wishes, William wants to help Dolores find a church that she keeps dreaming of from a past narrative and is later told, in the town of Pariah, that she needs to find The Maze to get what she’s looking for. Meanwhile, Logan decides that a deal with Pariah’s army of Confederados is in his best interest, but the deal turns sour. William and Dolores abandon Logan in search of the church. Soon enough, they find the church and fall in love, with William deciding he wants to bring Dolores back to the real world with him. Logan, returning alongside the Confederados, is enraged with William, explaining that he can’t love a host and also marry his sister. Logan pulls out a picture of his sister, which happens to be the same picture that caused Peter to glitch. He then restrains William and stabs Dolores, but she winds up fleeing to the church, where she finds an abandoned Westworld office in the basement – the origin of Ford’s work on the park. Losing Dolores sets off William, who kills the Confederados and ties up Logan, stranding him in the park on horseback. In a desperate search, William finds Dolores in Sweetwater, but instantly realizes her memory has been wiped and she doesn’t recognize him. Heartbroken, William takes his frustrations out on the park and, over time, becomes the infamous Man in Black – board member and majority shareholder of Delos. As the Man in Black, William is searching for a way to awaken the hosts and make them self-aware. His ultimate goal is to make Westworld a more chaotic place where actions breed consequence. Spreading The Glitch Peter Abernathy is a Patient Zero of sorts. He passes on his glitch to Dolores by whispering to her, “These violent delights have violent ends,” who soon after passes it on to Maeve, the owner and proprietor of the Mariposa Saloon in Sweetwater. Soon, Maeve begins to dream, remembering a past narrative of her and her child in a storyline of the park in its early days. They are both attacked and killed by the Man in Black, frightening her and, in turn, waking herself up. But she isn’t in her room at the Mariposa. Maeve awakens naked on a table outside of Westworld and wanders around only to find other hosts being worked on. She is eventually found and brought back into the park, but the memory of men in hazmat suits begins to haunt her. The visions start to swirl with the ones of her daughter, and Maeve sets out to find the truth about her existence. Wanting to return to the operating table, she keeps finding ways to kill herself, eventually colliding with Lutz, a “butcher” at Westworld that runs maintenance on the hosts. She threatens Lutz and his coworker Sylvester with death if they don’t boost her intelligence, knowing that this action will be the key to unlocking her self-consciousness. The Dev Team Ford wants to keep pushing the envelope with a new “reveries” update that allows the hosts to pull from previous instances to simulate real emotions and gestures, but the update seems to be the origin of the glitch. Ford explains to Bernard that his former partner Arnold was the architect behind the reveries, but Arnold was killed in a tragic accident – the only instance of death in Westworld. Theresa Cullen of the Quality Assurance team sees this as a red flag. She believes that Ford has gone far enough and that the updates could pose a threat to the attendees of the park. Stuck in the middle, Bernard decides to monitor the park for any problems and soon discovers unregistered hosts in an abandoned section of Westworld. Bernard finds a cabin filled with early hosts made by Ford that resemble his family. Bernard decides to be honest with Theresa and takes her there to investigate. Theresa finds a door that leads to a basement and the two find designs for hosts. But one looks a little too familiar. Theresa shows paperwork to Bernard of a host resembling himself and Ford enters to explain that Bernard is a host of his own design. Ford then orders Bernard to kill Theresa to keep his secret. The Grand Narrative At this point, the stories converge. Maeve decides to use her added intelligence to use the Westworld system on her own and grants herself the power to control other hosts. Her ultimate goal is to escape the park and to do so, enlists the help of hosts Hector Escaton and Armistice – bandits who rob the Mariposa every loop. She also gets access to Bernard, whom she identifies as a host and orders him to find out his origins to become self-aware. Bernard then coerces Ford into unlocking his self-conscious so that he can find the clues to who he is inside his mind. He reaches the answer – Ford created Bernard in the image of Arnold to continue their unfinished work on the reveries since other programmers were unwilling to update the hosts. That unwillingness was actually what got Arnold killed. Right before the park was to be opened, Arnold added a host’s mind, called Wyatt, into Dolores and incited a massacre of all the hosts, ending with Dolores shooting Arnold. Ford then orders Bernard to shoot himself and leaves to join Westworld board members at a park gala to reveal his newest narrative “Journey into Night.” Maeve finds Bernard, repairs him with the help of Lutz, and uses Hector and Armistice as diversions to escape to a train leaving the park. But right before the train departs, the memory of her daughter keeps her from following through and Maeve heads back to Westworld. At the Gala, Ford marks a new age of the park, and Dolores kills Ford in the same spot she killed Arnold all those years ago. From the trees, hosts from cold storage descend upon the gala. The Man in Black is shot in the arm, signaling that all the hosts are capable of killing. Don’t Forget These Faces There are plenty of other narratives in the park and Season 2 will pit these characters against each other in the war between man and machine. Teddy Flood Dolores’ robo-beau, who helped her escape the clutches of the Man in Black in the final episode. Teddy is loyal to Dolores in his core code and will end up following her in her quest to liberate Westworld. But does Teddy share the same desire to kill so willingly? Charlotte Hale Hale is the Executive Director of Delos. In Season 1, her ultimate goal was to be rid of Ford so that the company could roll back hosts and make the park more profitable. She was also working with Theresa to smuggle the hosts’ data out of Fords hands so he couldn’t destroy the park. That data is stuck in the mind of… Peter Abernathy Yep. Every piece of information needed to run the park and likely restore the hosts to their original builds lies in the head of a host. Peter was released from cold storage in Maeve’s escape plan and Hale will surely stop at nothing to ensure his capture. Clementine Pennyfeather Maeve’s best friend was the unfortunate host used in Hale’s first attempt to oust Ford from the park which led to Clementine being lobotomized and sent to storage. Now that she’s released, her brain seems to only understand death. She could be a powerful instrument for the hosts. Logan Let’s not forget the scorned brother-in-law. Logan was last seen on a road to nowhere in his birthday suit. Expect the story of Logan losing the company to William to unfold in time. Maybe an older Logan will eventually emerge to challenge the Man in Black? Ashley Stubbs Stubbs is Westworld’s Head of Security who played second fiddle to Theresa during Season 1. He is now tasked with finding a way to bring order to the park. Stubbs is also suspicious of Bernard and may know of his true identity as a host. Shogun World In the final episode, Maeve’s great escape brings them into Shogun World, another park seemingly set in Japan and filled with samurai. We’ve seen glimpses of Maeve walking through the park in some trailers, so don’t be surprised if she decides to bring sword-wielding reinforcements to Westworld. The Robo-Rebellion The core code has been compromised and the park is in jeopardy. Will Westworld fall to Dolores and her host army? Is Maeve going to try and control the park from the outside and will she ever reunite with her daughter? Could the Man in Black’s hopes of a more dangerous park mean his end? Westworld returns with its Season 2 premiere on HBO on April 22. Watch live on PlayStation Vue, or catch up with every episode available now on demand. View the full article

Dear readers of PlayStation.Blog, Ours is a time of quiet despair. One out of five humans have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, and though many others have not (yet) been stigmatized with any one diagnostic label, chaotic states of consciousness – such as anxiety, panic, lethargy, dissatisfaction, suicidal ideation, and depression – are increasingly becoming part of everyone’s day-to-day life. Nowadays an exasperating, yet politely suppressed, existential scream of terror seems to contaminate our minds. To Leave is a hardcore game about manic-depressive illness, social alienation, and the burning desire to bring all inner and outer pain to an end. The game’s main character, Harm – a manic-depressive young man in possession of a magical, flying door – has finished orchestrating a plan to solve all his troubles – and all the troubles of his world – once and for all. In To Leave, players will experience what it feels like being Harm at this crucial moment of his life: a deeply conflicted, half-lucid, half-insane teenager with muddled thoughts but with one very clear intention in his heart: peace for himself, and peace for his world. To that effect, To Leave makes use of several points of view and game-genres to convey that experience. The game is categorized as “Unique” at PlayStation Store*, and with good reason: at Freaky Creations we have not been afraid to stray into experimental territory. At the start of the game throughout the first chapters, To Leave is quite easy to play and could very well be played by even those who have seldom, if ever, played any games. But To Leave progressively (and conscientiously) ramps up its difficulty. Challenges are not random, nor are they unfair: by the time a player reaches a challenge, he or she will be more than capable to face it. One of our ideologies in Freaky Creations is that games should respect players, both their grit and their capacity to grow and improve. In that light, To Leave will challenge you. Yes, it is addictive, and it is fun, but it isn’t easy. Once you’ve finished it, however, you will come out of the experience elated, and without any trace of regret. Be careful: Harm’s Door is delicate. Touch anything and you’ll be thrown back! To Leave is Freaky Creation’s first game, and is the culmination of a six-year-long development and research process. It has been tested by hundreds of players with different levels of experience. To Leave is also one of the first Ecuadorian games to launch on a PlayStation platform, and we’re quite proud of this achievement. To Leave is coming to you on April 24, 2018, but you can pre-order it now for some extra perks and a discount! Sincerely yours, Estefano Palacios T. Creative Director, Freaky Creations *This categorization was neither suggested nor set by Freaky Creations. View the full article

“Your new name is ‘Mid-Boss.'” Ah, what a memorable moment 15 years ago from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. And now, it’s back! The original Disgaea adventure is getting a complete makeover in Disgaea 1 Complete for PS4! Disgaea 1 Complete will show fans the origins of this critically-acclaimed strategy RPG series that took the West by storm back in 2003. For those of you who are new to the Disgaea franchise, this is the true beginning of it all and definitely a game you won’t want to miss. The story begins as Laharl awakens from a two-year slumber when Etna, one of the castle’s (devious) vassals, informs him that his father (King Krichevskoy) has died. The young prince realizes what he must do and vows to reclaim the throne. Along the way, he meets Flonne, an angel trainee who was sent from Celestia to assassinate the already-dead King Krichevskoy, but instead follows Laharl and Etna to see if demons are truly heartless. With its rag-tag team of unlikely heroes, this zany and over-the-top story illustrates just why the series is renowned in the West for being “uniquely Disgaea.” And now, the original is back and better than ever! With classic elements of gameplay combined with modern HD graphics, players can get lost in the fast-paced strategy RPG action and roller-coaster storyline. Over-the-top level caps (Up to 9999!) and damage upwards of hundreds of millions await. Not happy with how things are going in your game? Vote in the Dark Assembly to change the rules of the Netherworld, or obtain nostalgic items like the Horse Wi… Actually, we’ll let you finish that sentence. Disgaea 1 Complete arrives on PS4 this fall. If you’re feeling rusty on the Disgaea madness, you might want to check out Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance to get a taste of the chaos before the original makes its triumphant return. Each game in the series builds on the Disgaea lore in its own unique way, so we highly recommend coming back to its roots to see how it all began. For more information about Disgaea 1 Complete, be sure to check out the official website as well. We look forward to seeing you in the Netherworld that started it all, dood! View the full article

Hey PlayStation gamers! Alex Nichiporchik here from tinyBuild. We’re excited to bring Phantom Trigger, the hardcore neon slasher developed by Bread Team, to PS4 tomorrow. But wait. What the heck is a “Bread Team?” What does a “neon slasher” even mean? Read on! Phantom Trigger is the second game we’ve worked on together with Bread Team. They are Victor Solodilov and Denis Novikov, a two-man dreamteam living in Ukraine and Russia. Three years ago, we released Divide By Sheep, their game about slicing sheep in half, and it was this offbeat sensibility combined with experimental, addictive gameplay that drove us straight into working on their next game together. Inspired by the difficulty of Dark Souls, the plot twists of Fight Club, and the combat of Devil May Cry, Bread Team created Phantom Trigger, a pulsing combat game that’s rewarding and punishing in turn. You begin the story as Stan, a man living an ordinary life until he’s struck by a mysterious illness. When he falls sick, he opens his eyes to a strange neon world, where he is the Outsider. A warrior with no memory, the Outsider fights with three different weapons: a green Whip that can pull enemies, a blue Sword to slice and dice, and red Gauntlets with a powerful punch. Both obstacles and enemies respond to the weapons in different ways, and the weapons themselves combine to perform devastating combos and spells. You’ll have to stay nimble as you dash between enemies and learn how to pull off the combos. If not, you’ll find the neon world quite unforgiving. Featuring a rich combo system, a spiraling story with multiple endings, and slick action, Phantom Trigger is a title you don’t want to miss. View the full article

Bogdan Iliesiu here, CEO of Angry Mob Games. We’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of our party-fighter, Brawlout, on PS4! We knew we couldn’t be the only ones with fond memories of sitting with the buddies, sprawled across college dorms or sunk into comfy rec rooms. For those with an ingrained love of fighting games, this one’s for you. And by you, I also mean us. Brawlout is a fighting game built for fast-paced matches and action-oriented play by eliminating shielding and defensive tactics. By focusing on aggressive mechanics, new players will be able to easily nail impressive combos while not feeling overwhelmed by friends who’ve had a bit more practice. It’s easy to learn and difficult to master, which we think is a good way to appeal to both casual players and gamers looking to dedicate the time to honing their skills to become pros. We’ve got seven original fighters to choose from, but add in variants to those characters and it swells up to eighteen, in addition to the three indie guest characters we’ve teleported in from Hyper Light Drifter, Guacamelee, and… currently undisclosed! Want an agile, deadly, assassin-type? Sephi’ra is a good bet (and my personal favorite). For close combat, nothing beats a grappler like Paco, while if long range projectiles are your thing, Chief Feathers, or even better, his Condor X variant covers most of the battleground with carefully placed mines, bombs, or even guided missiles. “Isn’t this just another Smash clone?” is something we’ve heard a lot during development. In some ways, yes, we do have elements that people loved in Smash. Character movement, Ledge grabs and even some character power sets are reminiscent of the Nintendo classic. But at its core, Smash Bros. wasn’t where we dove for inspiration when thinking about the type of core mechanics we wanted to include in Brawlout. Our game more closely reflects our love for the traditional fighters like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. You really feel the weight of your punches and kicks-in-the-face! Plus combo-breakers! We wanted an aggressive, combo heavy game, not something that was just full of blocks and defensive stand-offs. We’re beyond excited to bring Brawlout to PS4; we’re confident that it’s an experience not previously available for console. With the PS4’s stellar online capabilities, it was immediately one of the goals we set for ourselves when developing Brawlout. Its visuals got a huge boost, too – plus it’s PlayStation Pro enhanced, with crisp 4K fighting. Feel free to challenge the team online this summer! View the full article