Commander Fury

I hope everyone’s been having a fanatic summing filled with many hours of great gaming! Today, we showcased three indie titles coming to PlayStation that we hope will encourage players to try something new. I hope you try everything from classic adventures to fast-paced action and imaginative worlds. 

The Plucky Squire | Coming to PS5 September 17

This world filled with imagination from All Possible Futures will be a day one PlayStation Plus title on Game Catalog, available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members, so don’t miss your chance to jump into this story literally. Join Jot in this platforming adventure on his quest to save his storybook fantasy and the world beyond. Switching between the 2D worlds found on items throughout the 3D environment of the desktop creates wonderful platforming challenges that use the creative powers you acquire on your journey.

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged | Coming to PS5 September 19

Adventure games are the foundation of many titles we enjoy today, and the original release of Broken Sword is a timeless classic brought back to life by the people at Revolution Software. The new enhanced version features over 30,000 animation frames and over 50 times the resolution than the original PlayStation version, with the graphics redrawn in 4K. It delivers a modern experience that brings its puzzles and adventure to new generations with updated modern controls. 

Sulfur | Coming to PS5 and PS4 2025

For our players who crave an adrenaline rush and the ability to flex their creativity in combat, Perfect Random has the perfect challenge in store. In this cartoony FPS, you’re given a lot of freedom in how you choose to approach combat, with over 35 million weapon combinations and modifications to fit any playstyle. With silly humor and the driving force to replay encounters with a new loadout, it’s a game for shooter fans and people who enjoy RPG elements.  

We hope you enjoyed this look at the upcoming titles joining the PlayStation indies library, until next time. 

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Welcome to the wonderfully twisted world of Sulfur – where every weapon is a canvas, and each modification adds a new layer of strategy and chaos. Today, we’re thrilled to dive into our FPS Roguelike’s weapon modification system – a feature as unpredictable and exciting as the game itself.

In Sulfur, weapon customization isn’t only about tweaking stats – it’s about creating your own combat experience. Our system is designed to let you experiment with a wide range of modifications, including attachments, magic scrolls, changing the caliber of guns, and a staggering variety of oils. Each choice can dramatically alter your weapon’s performance and how it fits into your playstyle. Expect to experience the action on PS5 and PS4 in early 2025.

Attachments: The basics

Let’s start with attachments. These can be added to any weapon at any time, without needing to unlock special slots. Attachments come in different main types:

• Scopes: Enhance weapons and improve long-range targeting, hopefully providing precision in your shots.
• Suppressors: Reduce the spread of your shots, helping you maintain accuracy during rapid fire.
• Barrel Extensions: Barrel extension and manage recoil, making your weapon more stable during sustained fire.

In addition to these there is a Gun Crank, making any weapon semi-automatic, and red-dot-sights providing precision even when aiming from the hip. Each attachment modifies your weapon’s stats, such as spread, recoil, and critical chance, allowing for a more personalized combat experience.

Improving Your Weaponry

As your weapons gain experience and rank up, they unlock additional slots for enchantments and oils. These modifications provide deeper customization, letting you tailor your arsenal to match your unique playstyle.

• Enchantment scrolls add elemental effects to your weapon, such as fire or ice, or other magic enchantments making your bullets explosive, or into flying rockets, making each shot more impactful and versatile.
• Oils offer a staggering variety of benefits and drawbacks, from increased damage to altered firing rates. With 180+ different oils, you can experiment to find the perfect combination for your needs.

From these core elements of Sulfur’s weapon modification system we get a lot of moving parts and manipulatable variables, all weapon combinations total to a staggering 35 million possible configurations. This isn’t just about adding attachments; it’s about completely re-chiseling your firearms into different calibers, such as 9mm, 12Ga, 5.56, 7.62, .50 BMG. Each caliber swap transforms your weapon’s performance, and by adding oils and enchantments you’re provided an almost endless plethora of tactical weapons!

Weapon Spotlights

We know the “35 million” combinations sounds like a hyperbolic number, and not all of them will make sense, but it illustrates the immense depth of customization available in Sulfur! With a large variety of weapons, combined with all the attachments, enchantments, and gun oils, the possibilities are practically limitless. To give you an idea of how these modifications can transform your arsenal, let’s look at a few standout weapons straight from the developers!

Weapon Spotlight: P38 Dirk, re-chiseled to .50BMG

P38 Dirk: This trusty starter-gun holds more potential than most people think. In this case my colleague upgraded it to Rank 3 and re-chiseled to fire .50 BMG rounds, which combined with a few kickback-reducing modifications reveals one of it’s hidden potentials!

• Ready Oil: Decreases both kick power and rounds-per-minute, ensuring more manageable recoil and slower but more deliberate firing.
• Modern Technology Oil: This oil reduces kick power for improved control while introducing a 10% chance that each shot consumes an additional bullet. It strikes a balance between reduced recoil and the risk of slightly increased ammo consumption.
• Less Recoil Oil: Further minimizes recoil, allowing for smoother and more stable shooting. This oil works synergistically with the Modern Technology Oil to ensure that each shot feels more controlled.
• 6″ Barrel Extension: Adds extra length to the barrel, reducing recoil, which improves control and stability during firing.
• Sniper Scope: Improves crit-chance of the. While it doesn’t affect aiming precision, especially with a strong recoil,  it boosts your chances of delivering high-damage hits.

With these modifications, the P38 Dirk becomes a powerful, long-range sidearm capable of delivering precise, high-damage critical hits. Its enhanced firepower and improved control make it a valuable asset in any high-stakes combat situation.

Weapon Spotlight: Drifter 9 –  Enchanted to an explosive cannon

When ranked up, oiled and enchanted, even the Drifter 9 becomes a formidable submachine gun with a lot for potential:

• Scroll of Explosions: Infuses your bullets with explosive elemental effects, causing them to detonate on impact and deal splash damage to nearby enemies.
• Elephant Oil: Enlarges bullets by +200% in scale and adds +2 projectiles per shot, making them more impactful. While this boosts bullet size and spread, it reduces damage by -25%, slows movement speed by -50%.
• Pool Oil: Significantly reduces your movement speed but grants the Drifter 9 the ability to bounce bullets off surfaces. This ricochet effect lets you hit targets around corners or in cover, adding a tactical edge to your shooting.
• Shredder Oil: Adds +1 projectile per shot and increases spread, making the weapon even more chaotic. However, it reduces damage by -20% and prevents the harvesting of organs from fallen enemies.

The combination of these modifications makes the Drifter 9 an explosive powerhouse with ricochet capabilities and a chaotic spread, perfect for players who enjoy a versatile and disruptive combat style.

Only on PlayStation – unique PlayStation DualSense Integration

To elevate your experience, we’re integrating the PlayStation DualSense controller’s features into Sulfur! We’re working on a unique experience through adaptive triggers and haptic sensations. Whether you’re firing a high-caliber weapon or making a reload, we’re utilizing the DualSense controller to add an extra layer of immersion, and making every shot and modification feel alive.

Wishlist and follow for more

In Sulfur, weapon customization isn’t just a feature—it’s a core part of the gameplay experience. From fine-tuning your loadout with attachments to experimenting with a vast array of oils and enchantments, every choice you make shapes how you interact with the chaotic world around you. Embrace the depth and complexity, and craft the perfect weapon to face the dark challenges ahead!

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Many of the Broken Sword fans that I meet today first discovered the series in 1996 when a demo of ‘Broken Sword – the Shadow of the Templars’ was included on the Official PlayStation magazine’s cover-mounted CD. I am thrilled that subsequent Broken Sword games have continued to be hugely popular on PlayStation platforms. 

A year or two ago, encouraged by enthusiastic fan communications which have continued over the thirty years since then, I decided that the time was right to undertake a substantially enhanced version of the game for PlayStation 5. We would redraw all the graphics in 4K – over 50 times the resolution of the original PlayStation version, and I was determined to ensure that the adventure gameplay felt utterly contemporary for a modern PlayStation audience.

With over 100 backgrounds, and 30,000 sprites (animation frames) creating this enhanced, or Reforged, version was always going to be a huge undertaking. 

The original backgrounds were hand drawn in pencil on A5 (or larger) sheets by extraordinarily talented layout artists who had worked for most of their lives at the Don Bluth animation studios in Dublin. I decided that the game’s ‘canon’ should be those original pencil layouts, and where the game screens varied for whatever reasons, we would base the new high resolution art on the pencil layouts. This allowed us to digitally repaint over the original linework in 4K, which we had scanned at very high resolution, with confidence using the original game screens as reference.

This does mean that there have been some changes where the original digital colourist took shortcuts – for example in a Parisian Museum, the layout artist had originally drawn a sphinx, but the colourist then chose to save time by using an image of a goddess – probably adapted from a photograph. The high resolution game screen now includes a sphinx as originally intended. We did get caught out once or twice where we painted background elements from the original pencil layout, only to find that dialogue lines referred to a different image that had been changed by the digital painter. In 4K there is now scope for so much more detail, which makes the backgrounds feel really crisp and visually exciting, and enhances the gameplay experience as players can better see what is relevant for solving puzzles.

Character animation sprites were redrawn, referencing the original character sheets to bring to life details that were just a mush of pixels in low resolution. Each sprite has taken our talented team of animators up to an hour to draw – often needing to improve animations which looked fine in low resolution, but didn’t look so good when viewed in high resolution. But it’s been absolutely worth it – it is wonderful to see super smooth animations, with subtle facial animation and expressions which look to the quality of a great adult animation.

We decided to undertake user testing early in development to determine how well the original point and click interface, and the whole user experience, would be received by a new generation of players. Whilst the reviews for the games both in the press and from users are consistently excellent, we found that some new players were confused by the interface, and found the gameplay frustrating when they got stuck. That caused us to take a radical rethink to our approach. Whilst the original Broken Sword had hugely innovated in the genre in the ‘90s (the control system used by most adventure developers is now named the ‘Broken Sword’ interface because this is what they are copying), it quickly became clear that it was time to innovate again – some younger players simply weren’t attracted to a gameplay experience that for many adventures simply hasn’t significantly changed over 30 years. People play adventure games because they love solving puzzles which drive the story forward and we were determined to ensure that the gameplay experience delivered a wonderful feeling of achievement. So we reviewed videos and comments from those users, and re-designed elements that they got snagged on. We iterated and sent back out for testing numerous times, and found that each time the user scores climbed until we were receiving the high user scores that we had originally hoped for. Certainly the HUD and user experience now feels much more innovative and contemporary. All the time we very much kept in mind that many people love the original approach, so we offer the player a choice between the traditional approach and a new story mode. 

I hope that you enjoy this new version of the original game, Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged. We have built on a game that was hugely popular when it was originally released in 1996, has retained a passionate following since that time, and can stake a claim to be one of the most popular adventure games of all time. I am very proud of our incredible team who have carried forward the passion and dedication to produce a game that delivers everything that the original did, and so much more, in 4K.

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Finally, the heroic tale of brave warrior Jot is ready to be told! We are thrilled to announce the release date of The Plucky Squire, which will be coming to PlayStation 5 on September 17. This means you’ll be venturing into the game’s colorful, adventure-filled storybook world – and beyond – in just a month. Woah! Here’s a shiny new launch trailer to tide you over until then.

But wait, there’s more big news! We’re also very excited to reveal that The Plucky Squire will be available for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members as part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog at launch. So, if you have a membership, you’ll be able to dive right into the game when it releases. We’re looking forward to inviting PlayStation players to the land of Mojo to help Jot embark on his incredible multi-dimensional quest.

In The Plucky Squire, Jot can leap from the pages of his storybook world into a three-dimensional realm beyond. But wherever he travels, danger awaits—whether it’s a terrifyingly huge insect in the 3D world, or one of cruel wizard Humpgrump’s monstrous minions in the storybook. Luckily, a friendly shopkeeper named Martina is here to lend a helping hand.

As you explore The Plucky Squire’s twin realms, you’ll encounter inspiration in the form of lightbulbs. Whack trees, cut bushes, or slay enemies, and these illuminating collectibles will drop, which can then be traded for stuff at Martina’s many shops. You’ll want to gather as much inspiration as you can, as they’ll let you unlock a series of super cool, and super effective, combat moves for Jot.

One of these moves lets Jot throw his sword at distant enemies—and if you spend more bulbs to upgrade it, you can throw it even further. This lets you attack foes from a safe distance, and if you lose your sword or get it stuck in a wall, you can draw it back to you—like magic!

Another move lets Jot unleash a powerful spin attack. He’ll swing his sword in a circular flurry and, if used at the right time, damage multiple enemies at once. Use this power in the midst of a group of foes for maximum damage—and if you upgrade it, you can even add a second spin to the mix.

You can also buy a neat jump attack for Jot, which lets him leap majestically into the air and come crashing down with his blade to devastating effect. Not only that, but you can upgrade your regular sword attack to deal more damage as well. Humgrump’s lackeys won’t know what hit ‘em.

Inspiration can also be spent on art scrolls, which reveal more about how the land of Mojo was created—including concept art, early versions of levels, and other artistic nuggets. Art scrolls can be found hidden around the game world too, but the ones you buy are exclusive to Martina’s store.

This is just a taste of what awaits you on the pages of The Plucky Squire. You can experience this dimension-hopping adventure for yourself when the game launches on PlayStation 5 on September 17.

Will brave Jot be able to defeat the wicked Humgrump and restore peace to the land of Mojo? The fate of the realm is in your hands…

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You’ve spent dozens of hours in Tartarus, you’ve maxed out numerous social links, and you’ve finally conquered all of the challenges Persona 3 Reload has to offer–or so you thought. In the upcoming Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis DLC coming to PS5 and PS4 on September 10, you’ll meet a new companion, face a new onslaught of threats, and tie up many of the loose ends of the story. At the heart of it all stands Aigis, an android who has come to know human feeling and the grief of loss.

A wrap gone awry

At the end of your challenging, emotionally fraught journey in Persona 3 Reload, you put the embodiment of death to bed and ended an unforgettable school year–at great cost. Now it’s March 31st, a few weeks post-graduation day, and all of the former S.E.E.S. members are getting ready to pack their bags and leave the dorm for good. At the low-key but somber goodbye dinner gathering, android Aigis reveals she’s going back to the lab that originally built her. 

But as soon as the clock strikes midnight, the day starts over. It’s discovered that nobody can leave the dorm. And then, a strange assailant attacks the remaining S.E.E.S. team out of nowhere…

A disastrous family reunion

The strange assailant turns out to be another android named Metis, and she seems to be of a similar model to Aigis. So similar, in fact, that she’s claiming she’s Aigis’ sister. She also makes it clear that she is very attached to and protective of her “sibling” — in fact, that’s why she attacked the dorm: to protect Aigis.

This is all news to Aigis, who has been encountering her own strange occurrences lately, capped off by a trip to the famous Velvet Room after repelling Metis’s initial attack. When she wakes up back in the dorm, she’s got new armor, a new Persona, and a massive problem in the form of a combination time loop, barrier from the outside, and huge mystery door in the dorm’s floor.

These ominous doors lead into the Abyss of Time, the cause of all these bizarre happenings. First stop is the Desert of Doors, a place that looks exactly like the name suggests. And who’s that strange figure seen entering one of the doors? Only one way to find out: make a party and make chase. 

A door to mystery

The focus of Episode Aigis is on the heroic android. She assumes the leading role easily, taking center stage on the title and status screen, and assumes the Persona-changing power of the Wild Card herself with ease. Being stuck in the dorm means she won’t be able to go out and do activities or forge Social Links, but there’s still plenty of story and character development to dive into throughout the DLC’s roughly 30-hour runtime as Aigis and the S.E.E.S. members face the emotional baggage their initial adventure left behind.

After playing through Persona 3 Reload, you are probably familiar with the flow and feel of the game’s dungeons, and Episode Aigis continues to build on that foundation. Unlike the original protagonist, Aigis wields firepower as her weapon, making her method of getting the jump on enemies different: she’ll try to snipe them at a distance before they fully realize her presence. Unfortunately, gunfire is quite loud, so if there are several enemies in a small area her bullets may alert them to the party’s presence.

As the new bearer of the Wild Card, Aigis can gather and change Personas freely (in combat, you’re still limited to one swap per turn) as well as make use of synergistic Persona Theurgies. Because the rest of S.E.E.S.’ members haven’t been in combat recently, they are a smidge rusty, so their levels and stats don’t quite match up to where they were at the end of P3R’s story.

Metis assumes parts of the party role Aigis previously held, including the use of the special Orgia mode that grants her combat benefits at the cost of being stunned when the boost ends. Metis’s Persona, Psyche, wields ice and physical skills, making her a strong offensive companion.

We only got to play through one of the DLC dungeons in our session, which was about 8 floors deep, and battled the fierce shadow lurking at the bottom. But as Aigis and her friends re-emerged in the Desert of Doors, it became very clear that there are still plenty of trials for the team to overcome–and some very big mysteries to unravel. Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis will be available to experience September 10 on PS5 and PS4. That’s not far off, so hold tight–all of your questions will be given the answers you seek.

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It’s almost time to get your crew and queue up to play Concord*. Along with our launch, we’re also excited to share with you all the accessibility offerings that will be available. Making a game that has something for as many people as possible to enjoy was not only important to the team, but always on our mind throughout the development process. While we created many in-game offerings, like maps, modes, Freegunners, cosmetics, playstyles, lore, and more, it was also important to us that as many people as possible could enjoy these experiences. Which is why we made sure to include an array of offerings from text size to outline thickness.

Here are the current accessibility offerings that will be available for everyone to use on PS5 and PC, both digital download and disc.

Beyond the Menu

Ping System

Our ping system will let you pinpoint areas of the map to alert your teammates. The ping will also create an icon in the world, play directional vibrations towards the location of the ping, and play character voice over.

Playable Training experience

We’ve created a training experience that teaches you the basics and core mechanics of Concord. We’ve also made it repeatable, so it can be revisited and replayed so you can refresh on the basics any time.

How to Play

We’ve created an in-game menu that will give you robust details on all aspects of the game.

Character optimization

We’ve designed certain characters to have abilities and weapons that consider players who may experience motor barriers.

• Lark: Lark’s gameplay focuses on moving around the map and placing spores to create an extended area that buffs your teammates and debuffs your enemies, rather than engaging in direct combat.
  
  Also, Lark’s weapon does not rely on precision or require a direct line of sight to the enemy to be effective. It fires a projectile that hangs in the air, and then bursts into homing projectiles when a target comes close.

• Jabali: Jabali’s weapon and both of his abilities have a strong homing component, which may reduce the amount of precision required to hit targets. His Life Pulse Orb also stays in the world after he throws it, so even if you miss, your allies can still retrieve it.

• Daw & Kyps: Both Freegunners have kits that can focus on placing supportive elements around the map, allowing you to support your team without engaging in direct combat. They also have burst weapons, which may reduce the amount of fine aiming needed while shooting.

General Menu Navigation

Modified Settings

• Whenever you change one of your settings, the change will be highlighted in each screen.
• Each tab can be filtered to show only modified settings.
• Each setting will include what the default value was and can be reset to default individually or by an entire tab

Controls

General

• Invert vertical/horizontal axis: Enables inversion of the look stick.
• PC Only: Mouse invert.

Sensitivity

• Double Pressing Sensitivity: Lets you adjust the timing needed between quick button presses needed for an action to count as a “double press.” For example, in Concord, the default action to perform a dodge uses the double press so you can adjust the timing needed in-between each press. This can also be set separately on PC for keyboard vs controller.
• Stick Sensitivity Settings: Lets you adjust the sensitivity of using the Look Stick on your controller.  You can adjust vertical and horizontal sensitivity separately for Look and Look while Aiming Down Sights
  • PC only: Mouse sensitivity can be adjusted separately for Look and Look while Aiming Down Sights

Input

• Controller Binding Presets: Choose between several control schemes for both stick layout and button layout. This is only available when using a controller. Also includes a preset for motor accessibility that aims to minimize holds and includes default bindings for auto-move and recenter camera.
• Custom Full Input Binding: Allows you to rebind an input’s button and the action required (i.e. press, double press, toggle, hold). Available for both controller, as a custom preset, and for keyboard

Accessibility-specific Binding options

• Enable/Disable Auto Move: Automatically moves the character forward (also works with sprint). Using the Move stick will automatically disengage.
• Recenter Camera: Sets your camera back to the center of the screen, facing forwards.

Gameplay

General

• Camera shake: Turns on or off the camera shake during gameplay.
• Weapon Bob Strength: Adjusts the amount of movement on the weapon when running or sprinting.
• Minimap Orientation: Lets you pick between rotating the map around the player, with the player icon always facing up, OR keeping the map static and moving the player icon.

• Player and object outline thickness: Changes how thick the team-color outlines are around players and objects.

Vibrations

• Adaptive Trigger Resistance (DualSense Only): Enables or disables trigger resistance for the DualSense controller.
• Turn off ALL controller vibrations.
• Cinematic dialog to vibrations: Will represent all spoken dialog during cutscenes with controller vibrations (DualSense only).
• Ability to adjust the strength of groups of vibrations

Vibration sub-groups

The following vibration groups will be available:

Weapons and Abilities

• Weapons: Firing, reloading, ready, stow, and melee actions.
• Additional Weapon Feedback: Additional weapon-related feedback, such as Haymar’s weapon charging, 1-0FF’s Industrial Vacuum filling up, Bazz hitting an enemy with her knives, etc.
• Abilities: Vibrations related to activating character abilities, like throwing grenades, placing deployables, etc.

Player State

• Incoming Negative Effects: Damage, nearby detonations, and negative status effects (like Burning caused by Haymar’s Flame Wall.)
• Incoming Positive Effects: Healing, shields, and buffs, like Stealthed or Mobility Up.
• Health Alert: A continuous vibration that plays when you are not at full health.
• Sprint Footsteps: Vibrations for your character’s footsteps while sprinting.

General Gameplay

• Pickups: Vibrations that play when automatically picking up various objects in the game like Player Bounty Cards in Trophy Hunt, ability charges, and Blue Buddy.
• Interact Prompts: Vibrations for using in-game prompts: when you start interacting, ongoing interaction, stopping interaction, completed interaction.

Spatial Awareness

• In-world ability locations: Vibrations for when you enter an area related to a game object like Daw’s dome or heal pad, or if an object was placed near you.
• Interacts nearby: Pulsing vibration that plays when a nearby interact prompt is available to use.
• Ping and callout haptics: Vibrations that play in the world where an ally pings.

UI Vibrations

• Menu Navigation: Vibrations that play when you are selecting and confirming menu items.
• Character Select: Vibrations that alert you when it’s your turn to pick a character, or that you are running out of time to pick.
• Galactic Guide: Vibrations associated with the Galactic Guide.

Match Status Updates

• Zone States: Vibrations related to objective zones. Like when you enter or exit a zone, a zone has been flipped to the opposing team’s control, etc.
• Global Mode States: Vibrations related to global states in the match, such as a zone becoming unlocked, overtime, etc.

Interface

• Subtitles: Can toggle on or off. Subtitles also include speaker names.
• In-game Language selection

• HUD Scale: Adjusts the scaling of the in-game heads up display (HUD). Does not affect the reticle.
• PC Only: UI Aspect Ratio – sets the aspect ratio of the game’s UI.

• Use minimum font size and minimum text size value: forces text to be at least the minimum text size selected. This includes subtitles and speech-to-text. Text size range is from 18 to 40pt.
• High Contrast Text: Enabling this will add a contrasted color outline to all text.
• Use Alternate Font: Swaps in-game text between default and alternative fonts for preferred text clarity.
• Color Options: Choose your own colors to assign to various in-game visuals, including
  • Enemy, friendly, and neutral colors
  • Positive vs negative options (for example, full vs low health, valid position vs invalid position),
  • Alerts are specific to your player
  • HUD elements
  • Reticle color
  • Elements that may create a white flash on screen by default
    • The blind status effect from Haymar’s ability
    • The full screen hit effect that happens when you melee someone

Audio Settings

• Separate volume controls for all audio, including music volume, sound effects volume, and dialogue volume.
• Speech to Text for Voice Chat: Enables speech-to-text narration for in-game voice chat. This appears just below where subtitles appear on the screen.
  • PC only: Audio output device which will let you choose the output device.
  • PC only: Audio performance which will let you balance audio latency with resource use.

Graphics

• Brightness: Adjust your level of brightness to your liking.
• Motion Blur: Turns on or off motion blur in world and on movement.
  • PC only: Resolution, VSync, and FPS Limiter, Field of View (FOV) Scale.

Post-launch support

This is just the starting point for our accessibility options for Concord. We are continuing to work on other settings to be announced at a future date and will be sure to provide updates to you as we can.

While we’re glad we can have these offerings available on day one, we’re committed to continuously refining and improving accessibility in Concord post-launch.

To make our accessibility considerations the best they can be, we need your feedback! So, as you and your crew head into the galaxy on your own adventure, please send us your feedback and suggestions to our Player Support team or drop them in our official Community Discord server. We’ll make sure we share that feedback with the rest of our team so that we can continue to iterate and improve the experience for all our Freegunners around the world.

We’ll see you in Concord very soon!

*Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required. Paid for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) required on PS5.

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Embark on a legendary dark fantasy adventure, mix tech and monsters for thrilling hunts, build a community of woodland worshippers, compete in two-wheeled races and more with August’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup! The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Wild Hearts, Cult of the Lamb, Ride 5 and more titles are playable from August 20 for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members*. We’re also announcing new classics – including the legendary TimeSplitters series – and PS VR2 game offerings coming to PlayStation Plus Premium.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the new game announcements. 

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | PS4, PS5

You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world. The PS5 version of the game has been enhanced with numerous visual and technical improvements, including vastly improved level of detail, faster loading times, a range of community created and newly developed mods for the game, real-time ray tracing, 3D audio support, and more. 

Wild Hearts Standard Edition | PS5

Wild Hearts is a unique twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against fearsome beasts infused with the ferocious power of nature itself. Take on these creatures alone or hunt with friends in seamless co-op. Developed by Omega Force, the Japanese studio behind the Dynasty Warriors franchise and in partnership with EA Originals, Wild Hearts takes you on an epic adventure set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan.

Cult of the Lamb | PS4, PS5

Cult of the Lamb casts players in the role of a possessed lamb saved from annihilation by an ominous stranger who must repay their debt by building a loyal following in his name. Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland worshippers and spread your Word to become the one true cult. Explore a sprawling, randomly generated world, fight off hordes of enemies and defeat rival cult leaders in order to absorb their power and assert your cult’s dominance.

Ride 5 | PS5

Rev up your engine and get ready to hit the track with RIDE 5. An adrenaline-filled gaming experience that is so authentic it will make you feel like you’re truly racing at break-neck speed. Find your favorite bikes and check out new ones in the ultimate motorcycle game! Race on over 35 tracks and collect more than 200 bikes from world-renowned manufacturers, each element is designed to feel like you’re riding a real bike.

Watch Dogs 2* | PS4

Play as Marcus Holloway, a brilliant young hacker living in the birthplace of the tech revolution, the San Francisco Bay Area. Team up with Dedsec, a notorious group of hackers, to execute the biggest hack in history take down ctOS 2.0, an invasive operating system being used by criminal masterminds to monitor and manipulate citizens on a massive scale.

*PlayStation Plus re-release.

Sword Art Online: Last Recollection | PS4, PS5

The culmination of the Sword Art Online game series, Last Recollection features the largest roster of SAO playable characters and sub scenarios! Based on Sword Art Online’s War of Underworld anime arc, a new story unfolds with tough challenges that await our beloved hero, Kirito, and his new friends. Players will unmask the Dark Knight and find out if Kirito and the crew will survive the relentless battling against the forces of the Dark Territory.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker* | PS4

The Naruto franchise is back with a brand new experience in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker. This new game lets gamers battle as a team of 4 to compete against other teams online! Graphically, Shinobi Striker is also built from the ground up in a completely new graphic style. Lead your team and fight online to see who the best ninjas are!

*PlayStation Plus re-release.

Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris | PS4

Set in Underworld, an expansive world introduced in the Sword Art Online anime, Kirito sets out on adventure in the series’ latest RPG. Enjoy seamless, action-packed real-time battles using a combination of sword skills, sacred arts, and your favorite SAO characters. 

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet | PS4

Experience an original story where you are the protagonist in the world of Gun Gale Online. Create your own avatar and explore devastated lands while experiencing exciting third person shooting in this action RPG. Encounter enemies and run into new and familiar faces from the Sword Art Online series. Journey through a world of guns where after a chance encounter you’ll gain the help of a very rare AI, ArFA-Sys.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization | PS4

2026, Sword Art: Origin, a new VRMMORPG has emerged. Kirito meets a mysterious NPC and receives a cryptic message. This game, though familiar to him, is not the same as the one he escaped years ago. Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization features a massive expansive world, multiplayer mode to enjoy the game with three other players online, and embodies its MMORPG origins thanks to its MMORPG-like interface, 16-character teams and fierce raid Boss battles.

PlayStation Premium | PS VR2 & Classics

Vacation Simulator** | PS VR2

The year is 2060. Following record enrollment in the Job Simulator, robots set out to uncover what else humans did besides ‘job’. After years of balancing buoyancy levels, cataloguing campfire chronicles, and securing ski slope safety protocols, their research led to the creation of a rough approximation of ‘not jobbing’: the Vacation Simulator. The latest VR sensation from the creators of platinum hit Job Simulator! Welcome to the Vacation Simulator: a rough approximation of vacation inspired by real human NOT JOBBING. Reallocate your bandwidth and get ready to splash, s’more, snowball, and selfie your way to optimal relaxation. 

**PlayStation Plus Game Catalog version includes the PS VR2 and PS VR versions of the game. 

TimeSplitters | PS4, PS5

TimeSplitters is a renowned PS2 first-person shooter series that plunges players into an epic battle against the malevolent TimeSplitters, a race dwelling outside of time and space. The game features a rich 18 level single-player campaign, taking players through pivotal historical moments, from ancient civilisations to futuristic landscapes, battling the TimeSplitters to alter history’s course. The game also includes an exhilarating local multiplayer mode for up to four players. 

TimeSplitters 2 | PS4, PS5

This PS2 sequel expands on every front, offering faster-paced action, richer storytelling, and diverse graphical styles across nine thrilling time-traveling adventures. From the lawless Wild West to the neon-lit streets of Neo Tokyo, each era boasts its own atmosphere and challenges. Choose from over 100 characters, including original favorites, historical figures, and new personalities bursting with charm. Immerse yourself in a captivating single-player and local cooperative story mode, and enjoy 2-4 player split-screen action. Engage in frantic battles across dynamic maps and game modes, whether cooperating in missions or competing in intense deathmatches. 

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect | PS4, PS5

Play as Sergeant Cortez, embarking on a time-bending journey across past, present, and future to thwart the sinister TimeSplitters in this PS2 sequel of the acclaimed series. Explore diverse environments from ancient temples to futuristic cities, each with unique challenges and visual splendor. Local multiplayer shines with cooperative and competitive modes, offering classic deathmatches, objective-based challenges, and innovative gameplay that tests strategy and reflexes. 

Sword Art Online: Lost Song | PS4

Journey into the world of ALfheim Online for the very first time! Join Kirito as he ventures online to explore Svart Alfheim, a brand-new area of ALfheim Online, the floating world comprised of continents led by The Floating City of Ryne. This PS3 title’s original storyline includes new and returning characters and exclusive environments in the ultimate Virtual Reality universe! Sword Art Online: Lost Song features all-new Aerial Battles and plenty of customization features. Link Start into the Sword Art Online world and join your favorite dual-wielding player, Kirito, on the greatest adventure yet!

*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup may differ per region. Please check your PlayStation Store when the lineup releases.

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It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. The collegiate gridiron made its glorious return with the newly released EA Sports College Football 25 snagging the most downloads on July’s PS5 list in the US region. The VR platformer Stilt bounced its way to the top of the PS VR2 chart in the US and EU regions. 

Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?

PS5 Games

US/Canada	EU
EA SPORTS College Football 25	EA SPORTS FC 24
Grand Theft Auto V	Grand Theft Auto V
ELDEN RING	ELDEN RING
NBA 2K24	EA SPORTS College Football 25
EA SPORTS FC 24	The Crew Motorfest
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III	Hogwarts Legacy
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege	Sea of Thieves
Mortal Kombat 1	NBA 2K24
Sea of Thieves	F1 24
MLB The Show 24	No Man’s Sky
Hogwarts Legacy	It Takes Two
The Crew Motorfest	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
UFC 5	The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
No Man’s Sky	Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Baldur’s Gate 3	F1 Manager 2024
It Takes Two	Nobody Wants to Die
HELLDIVERS 2	Baldur’s Gate 3
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2	UFC 5
TEKKEN 8	Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Mortal Kombat 11	Mortal Kombat 1

*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included

PS4 Games

US/Canada	EU
Minecraft	Minecraft
Red Dead Redemption 2	EA SPORTS FC 24
Grand Theft Auto V	Grand Theft Auto V
Batman: Arkham Knight	Red Dead Redemption 2
NBA 2K24	Batman: Arkham Knight
Need for Speed Payback	Need for Speed Payback
theHunter: Call of the Wild	Need for Speed Heat
Need for Speed Heat	Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Game of the Year Edition	The Forest
EA SPORTS FC 24	Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Game of the Year Edition
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III	Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs 2	Supermarket Owner Simulator: Business
Gang Beasts	theHunter: Call of the Wild
Mortal Kombat X	Mortal Kombat X
The Forest	The Last of Us Remastered
Castle Crashers Remastered	NBA 2K24
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege	Outlast
Dying Light	Dying Light
Injustice 2	Unravel Two
Stardew Valley	Hogwarts Legacy

         *Naming of products may differ between regions

PS VR2 Games*

US/Canada	EU
Stilt	Stilt
Beat Saber	Beat Saber
Towers and Powers	Horizon Call of the Mountain
Among Us VR	Towers and Powers
Pavlov	Among Us VR
Horizon Call of the Mountain	Operation Serpens
Job Simulator	Pavlov
Arizona Sunshine 2	Job Simulator
Ultrawings 2	Arizona Sunshine 2
Waltz of the Wizard	Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition

 *PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included

PSVR Games

US/Canada	EU
SUPERHOT VR	SUPERHOT VR
ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission	Batman: Arkham VR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR	Sniper Elite VR
Job Simulator	Job Simulator
Creed Rise to Glory	Creed Rise to Glory
Batman: Arkham VR	Beat Saber
Beat Saber	Titanic VR
Sniper Elite VR	Cooking Simulator VR
The Walking Dead Onslaught	Goalkeeper VR Challenge
Borderlands 2 VR	All-In-One Sports VR

Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)

US/Canada	EU
The First Descendant	The First Descendant
Zenless Zone Zero	Asphalt Legends Unite
Roblox	Roblox
Fortnite	Zenless Zone Zero
Asphalt Legends Unite	Fortnite
Call of Duty: Warzone	eFootball 2024
Fall Guys	Stumble Guys
Rocket League	Fall Guys
MultiVersus	Rocket League
XDefiant	Call of Duty: Warzone

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Welcome back, friends and fans! In 2015, Until Dawn solidified itself as a genre-defining game that captured many of our hearts, whether that was because of its web of interconnected decisions, diverse branches, memorable characters or an engaging and often terrifying story. Once again, we invite you back to spend the night on Blackwood Mountain.

As a team of Until Dawn fans and horror lovers, our intention has not been to alter the events of that fateful night. Instead, we have focused on giving the original game a cinematic update, offering the player a more intimate experience by enhancing the visual storytelling. 

Overhauled visuals rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5

Our new Until Dawn experience has been built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5. We have updated character models, environments, interactable props, visual effects, and animations, all designed to maximize the Until Dawn experience on both PS5 and PC.

We have completely relit the game to take advantage of Unreal Engine 5’s rendering features, including raytracing and enhanced materials, focusing on a more atmospheric and “modern horror” experience.

One of our key visual improvements for Until Dawn has been around revisiting the character models and bringing them in line with modern advances in character modeling and rendering. Improvements to textures, materials, rendering and animation performance have all contributed to higher fidelity characters who we hope will resonate with both new players and existing fans of the game.

We’ve used modern pre-rendering simulation techniques to create more realistic real time fluids and you can see all the gory glory of this particularly in our updated character deaths. We’ve also updated our injury mask system which allows us to add elements like cuts, bruises, tears, snow and water to the character’s bodies. 

Revised cinematography, production design & new camera control mechanic

By using a combination of fixed and over-the-shoulder camera views, you can now see the world of Until Dawn from entirely new perspectives. Blending the cinematography of the original with the introduction of a modern third-person camera, we hope to bring new life to characters and locations. The camera’s flexibility allows us to place new emphasis on important moments and tell the story from a view closer to the characters.

Reworked prologue

Although we have committed to keeping the original narrative intact, we felt the Prologue would benefit from some adjustments to its narrative pacing. We’ve given the Washingtons extra screen time to explore their close family bond and get to know them a little better. We have also reframed some of the original scenes and developed the context around the infamous prank. We hope this enhances its emotional impact.

New collectibles

For the collectors and explorers among you, keep your eyes peeled because we’ve relocated all the original totems to be found all over again.  We’ve also added Hunger totems, a special new type of totem that holds a different kind of vision to the others. The game has also been sprinkled with new interactions and small new areas that hold them. This adds extra context and detail to the world of Until Dawn and rewards player exploration.

Customizable settings

We are proud to implement new accessibility and usability settings that will help more players enjoy the game. Additionally, we’ve created a new optional alternative for the Don’t Move mechanic called Stay Calm. Stay Calm is for third party peripherals that do not feature a gyroscope or for players who prefer a different challenge. 

We can’t wait for you to experience the horrors of Until Dawn when it launches on PS5 console and PC October 4, 2024*! Pre-order from August 21.

*PC release 8am PDT worldwide. Please check local time zone for day of release. Account for PlayStation Network required on PC.

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With Concord’s launch next week on August 23, we wanted to take a moment to talk about the adventure that lies ahead. We see launch as just the beginning. The beginning of not only the vision we’ve set out for Concord, but also the beginning of how we support and grow the game with our players.

The base game is a foundation for us to build upon over time, through systems that will expand the universe, introduce new ways to play and master each character, give you hundreds of unique rewards to earn and unlock, and narratives to unfold week after week, alongside seasonal updates that will introduce new characters, new maps and worlds, new modes, new stories, new features, and more.*

As we look ahead to launch, here’s a glimpse of what’s to come in Concord:

Concord Season 1 launching this October

From the very beginning, we wanted Concord to be a complete experience, where all core content is available to you on day-one and moving forward—not gated behind paid expansions or a Battle Pass. We take your investment in the game seriously and want to ensure that we bring all players along for the journey.

Our first major content drop will arrive in October with the launch of Concord Season 1: The Tempest. Season 1 will mark the introduction of a brand new playable Freegunner, as well as a brand-new map, new Freegunner Variants, more earnable cosmetics and rewards, and a new season of weekly Cinematic Vignettes that will continue the story of the Northstar crew.

With season 1, we’ll also be introducing an in-game store for those looking to personalize their Freegunners further with additional customization items and to continue to support the game. These will supplement the hundreds of rewards earnable through progression and will be solely cosmetic, optional, and have no gameplay impact.

We’re also hard at work on future seasons, beginning with Season 2 launching in January 2025 and more seasonal drops throughout year one of Concord. We can’t wait to fully unpack what we have in store for Season 1 ahead of its launch in October.

The continuous evolution of your crew

When we first formed Firewalk, we thought a lot about the type of game that we wanted to make and what we could add to the multiplayer FPS genre. We knew we had to focus on the fundamentals that can make an FPS game great: precise, responsive gunplay and fast, fluid mobility. Those qualities had to be the bedrock of everything.

However, we also wanted that special spice provided by character abilities. Beyond the impact their abilities, roles, and kits could have in moment-to-moment combat, we saw exciting opportunities to add strategic layers to how and when you choose to deploy them throughout a match. In effect, we wanted to infuse the theorycrafting of a deck builder with a PVP first-person shooter. This became the root of our Crew Builder system.

Crew Builder allows you to create Custom Crews of Freegunners that you bring into a match. Every Custom Crew offers 12 configurable slots, which you can fill with characters from what will become a growing roster of Freegunners and their Variants. Each Freegunner will have multiple Variants, which are unique versions of each character that have special modifiers to their base abilities and can be unlocked by completing various in-game challenges.

Each Custom Crew must have five unique Freegunners, but you can stack up to three copies of any given Freegunner’s Variants, empowering you to really focus on specific characters that you like to play as and that align best with the broader makeup of your team, the modes you’re playing, or your general playstyle.

However, while Crew Builder enables you to hone your own unique approach to combat strategy, it’s also meant to inspire experimentation with different characters as well. Each Custom Crew comes with four Back Up slots, which are randomly populated with Freegunners not otherwise in your Custom Crew.

Crew Builder also incentivizes you to populate your Custom Crews with characters of different roles. Unlike traditional archetypes, like Tank or Support, each Freegunner in Concord is meant to deliver high-DPS and be effective in a gunfight. Instead, our characters are defined by one of six distinct roles and the impact they can have in combat—whether that’s locking down an area, dominating long sightlines, or flanking enemies.

Balancing your crew with Freegunners of different roles can give you an edge through special in-match benefits called Crew Bonuses. When you deploy Freegunners of different roles for the first time during a match, you’re granted special bonuses that can increase mobility, improve weapon recoil, reduce cooldown times, and more that apply to any character you deploy from that point on.

When you combine all of these systems—Crew Builder, Back-Up Slots, Freegunner Variants, and Crew Bonuses—there’s so much depth to how you can craft, refine, and master your builds in Concord as your experience grows. It also allows the meta to evolve continuously in exciting new ways, as you unlock new Freegunner Variants and new Freegunners and Variants are introduced over time with each season.

Ultimately, when we step back and think about what drew us to make Concord and what we love most about multiplayer games, it’s exactly that: the potential for continuous evolution. It’s the thrill of the potential possibilities of where we can take the experience moving forward. And it’s the sense of adventure of finding out, together.

Prepare for launch

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Concord galaxy and see how you learn and master each Freegunner and all of our systems in new and exciting ways, beginning with Concord’s Early Access launch for Digital Deluxe Edition owners on Tuesday, August 20 and followed by our global launch on Friday, August 23. Pre-load for all editions on PS5 will begin today, Tuesday, August 13.

Servers for Concord’s Early Access launch on August 20 will go live at 10:00am PDT | 7:00pm CEST | 2:00am (August 21) JST.

For all the latest on Concord, be sure to follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as by joining the community in the Official Concord Discord.

*Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required. Paid for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) required on PS5.

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Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

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Howdy folks! This week the PlayStation Podcast gang returns with a quick episode to discuss this week’s news and new releases on the horizon. Plus the team talks Darkest Dungeon II, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, and Shadow the Hedgehog.

Stuff We Talked About

• Upcoming releases:
  • Madden NFL 25 | PS5, PS4
  • Cult of the Lamb: Unholy Alliance | PS5, PS4
  • Dredge: The Iron Rig | PS5, PS4
• Dead by Daylight Update Blog
• God of War Ragnarök PC Specs Blog
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies Blog
• Jak and Daxter
• Darkest Dungeon II
• Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

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The Cast

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Thanks to 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.]

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Last week, we asked you to get characters on their feet and share moments where they are running #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

secondcapture shares an armored Ratchet running in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

WarDaddyPlatine shares Amicia running from the rats in A Plague Tale: Innocence

SeeyoulaterHihi shares their V and a cat running next to a watery landscape in Cyberpunk 2077.

laya_photo shares Aerith, Cloud, and Red XIII running along a railroad track in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

shimo_ps shares protagonist of The Cub running through a blue and purple landscape

MrioMoreno5 shares players running and celebrating on the pitch in eFootball 2024.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Essential Items
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 14, 2024

Next week, we’re diving into your inventory. Share items or artifacts that are essential to the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. 

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Calling all students of Beauxbatons, Hogwarts and Durmstrang! We are excited to reveal the Triwizard Quidditch Cup in Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.

Featuring the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute for Magical Learning, the Triwizard Quidditch Cup will be included in the game’s Career mode. This tournament marks the first adaptation of the iconic international schools from the wizarding world. We could not be more excited to show off this exclusive look at the pitches and give some insight into what players can expect to see when the game launches digitally September 3 on PS5 and PS4.  Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be available at no extra charge for all PlayStation Plus members as a Monthly Game from Sept 3 to Sept 30!

We knew from the beginning that we wanted to leverage the fact that Quidditch Champions is not limited to Hogwarts, or locations we have seen in the films. Quidditch is an international sport enjoyed by witches and wizards worldwide, and it is natural for students of every wizarding school to play the sport in their own unique way.

While progressing through the game’s Career mode, players eventually reach the Triwizard Quidditch Cup where they select one of the three international schools to represent in the cup. Players may choose to represent Hogwarts, where they line up next to the school’s very best such as Cedric Diggory, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. When competing against Beauxbatons, players may find themselves in a high-speed chase for the Golden Snitch next to Fleur Delacour. While in a high intensity match against Durmstrang, players should be sure to watch out for Viktor Krum, who was skilled enough to play as a Seeker for the Bulgarian National team at 19 – in the World Cup Finals no less. 

Of course, a large part of the inspiration came directly from the Goblet of Fire film, which gives us the only visual glimpse into the students and cultures of two of the greatest magical schools in Europe. It left us wondering, how would students from these schools approach Quidditch? We imagined Beauxbatons students on finely crafted brooms, flying with perfect form and showmanship over a beautifully manicured pitch, and the students of Durmstrang running drills on sturdy brooms in harsh conditions. 

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic sits among the Pyrenees mountains in the south of France. The descriptions of the ice sculptures and fountains in the school bring to mind Baroque architecture and gardens. The grass is perfectly manicured, surrounded by reflecting pools, and the audience views the sport from elaborate and ornate stands. 

By contrast, Durmstrang Institute is located in the far northern reaches of Europe. Contrasting the scenic daytime weather of Beauxbatons, we set Durmstrang’s pitch at night, under the light of aurora borealis. Viking-inspired architecture can be seen surrounding the pitch, with minimal flames to preserve the secrecy of the school. The pitch itself is a way off from the school for the same reason, and the iconic ship the students use to travel is docked beside the pitch, which is surrounded by water. The surface of the pitch is frozen-over black stone, ensuring that athletes who fall off their broom learn from every mistake.

We can’t wait for players to experience the Triwizard Quidditch Cup in Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions when it launches September 3 on PS5 and PS4.

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Welcome to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies. Coming to PS5 on October 25.

Purely focused on the round-based Zombies action coming to the game, the following Intel Barrage features extensive comms direct from the Treyarch Zombies Team, and includes a detailed gameplay overview and deep dive into all the pre-game preparations you can undertake, full details on what to expect when you’re engaging hordes of undead during a match, and a terrifying look at the dark bestiary of the undead currently haunting Terminus Island.

Warning: Light spoilers ahead 

Please note that the contents of this blog include information about gameplay systems, enemy types, areas of the Terminus map, and other information that could be deemed as spoilers. Proceed at your own risk!

Terminus Overview: Outpost Escape, Philippine Sea

Located in the Philippine Sea is the remote Terminus Island complex. Historical data indicates a pre-WWII coal mining operator on the island, abandoned around 1932. Ten years later, Terminus became a forward U.S. Naval base. Mothballed until 1965, the CIA converted it into a Top-Secret outpost used for the detention of [REDACTED]. In 1984, [REDACTED]. In 1986, Project Janus took over the island, building a laboratory in the subterranean mining caves.

After Peck and Maya break the Requiem crew out of their prison cells, they soon learn this is a bio-research station for Project Janus. Your handlers are Peck and Strauss, and for the richest story experience, you’ll want to choose your Operator crew from Grigori Weaver, Elizabeth Grey, Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Carver, and Maya Aguinaldo – the dedicated crew of characters featured throughout Black Ops 6 Zombies’ storyline.

Get ready to play this round-based Zombies map at the launch of Black Ops 6 on October 25, along with the Liberty Falls map.

Liberty Falls Overview: Almost Hell, West Virginia

Footage from an incursion at a once-quaint, now-overrun West Virginian town also gives you the first glimpse at the second launch map. Seemingly the epicenter of a Dark Aether outbreak, chaos is crawling through Liberty Falls, with much of the local population now succumbing to the results of a second, simultaneous dimensional breach. 

The essence of Zombies: gameplay overview

An Introduction to round-based gameplay

Black Ops 6 Zombies is purely focused on creating the finest, most rewarding round-based experience Treyarch has ever made. Many of the gameplay systems you’ll be reading about will be familiar to veteran Zombies players, while others are designed to grow the Zombies community, and allow newer players to explore more of the Main Quest more easily.

At its most basic level, one of the first Black Ops 6 round-based Zombies maps involves you (and optionally, up to three additional teammates) exploring and eventually breaking out of a maximum-security prison complex called Terminus Island, with waves (or “rounds”) of undead foes to dispatch as you discover and complete objectives.

Delve a little deeper, and you realize your chances of survival are greatly enhanced by adept avoidance of the crowds of wandering corpses as you line up your killing blows, and just as importantly, by managing the main currencies of the game: Essence and Salvage.

Zombimovement

With movement being redefined across the entirety of Black Ops 6, for the first time in Zombies, players can sprint, slide, and dive in any direction (forward, sidestepping, and backpedaling), seamlessly chaining combat maneuvers together, all with a full 360-degree range of motion. This is Omnimovement, and the extra dexterity this brings to your maneuvers is nothing short of game-changing.

As veteran players will attest to, using your dexterity is the key to dodging a crowd of incoming undead in a narrow play space, and perfecting Omnimovement allows a full range of action-hero stunts, whether it’s sprinting backward from the a horde, diving sideways through a window away from a mauling, or automatically mantling low fences or scenery thanks to Intelligent Movement (which you can optionally set to automatic) as you expertly circle-strafe your foes.

If you really want to see your new moves in action, try out the ability to switch from first- to third-person perspective (and the shoulder you’re watching while in third-person mode) for the first time in round-based Zombies! Check your settings to change perspectives on the fly at any time during a match.

Heads Up: Display Options

The Heads-Up Display (HUD) that appears on your screen is designed to offer deep customizable experiences, across almost all aspects of the interface.

Pre-game preparation

Augments: Customizing Perks, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades

Evolving from the Skill progression system in Black Ops Cold War, Augments provide a rich and innovative customization experience, allowing you to invest into research between matches, unlocking Augments for every Perk, Ammo Mod, and Field Upgrade in the game.

Weapons and Loadouts

Neutralizing the frothing undead requires more than harsh words and bravado. You’re fortunate to be able to count on an extensive armory from which to perfect your anti-zombie armaments before the battles begin. Let’s get to the Gunsmith and find out more about perfecting your pre-game Loadouts.

Stats and Camos: Naturally, each of these Loadout elements have Zombies-related Challenges and Badges related to them, and the weapons have Camos to grind for. This includes four highly-desirable Mastery Camos in Zombies – more information to come!

Primary Weapon, Fists, and Melee

Your main method of eliminating the undead consists of a primary weapon, your fists (until you find a second weapon in the match) and a dedicated melee weapon (either sharp or blunt) for when the situation gets even messier, as an alternative to a melee strike with the butt of your gun.

Primary Weapon: Choose from any available Assault Rifle, SMG, Shotgun, LMG, Marksman Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Handgun, or Launcher

Melee Weapon: Choose from the available Melee armaments

Further Improvements and In-Game Access

Weapons can also be:

• Purchased with Essence at Wall Buys (with a higher rarity than your loadout weapon) or in Mystery Boxes (randomized, with a higher rarity). 
• Dropped and swapped between teammates.
• Improved with damage-increasing rarity powers, found at Arsenal machines.
• Improved with different Ammo Mods, found at Arsenal machines.
• Improved significantly with damage, sometimes hidden effects, and additional ammunition reserves, at the Pack-a-Punch machine.
• Using the Zombie Build system: Found in a Wall Buy or Mystery Box as one of your own personal weapon builds, provided you’ve saved the custom build and assigned it to be accessible at a Wall Buy or Mystery Box, in the Loadout Menu before a match. This will even implement the camo, charm, and stickers you’ve applied to your Zombie Build weapon.

Field Upgrades

Each member of your squad is bringing a piece of specialized equipment known as Field Upgrades, a powerful device that offers a chargeable, impressive elemental ability, followed by a cooldown period when the Field Upgrade recharges and is ready to be used again. You’ll earn more charges simply by eliminating enemies, not with the passage of time.

At launch, expect to choose a familiar Field Upgrade from past Zombies games:

• Aether Shroud: Phase into the Dark Aether, becoming hidden from enemy detection.
• Frenzied Guard: Repair armor and force all enemies in the area to target you. During this time, kills repair a portion of your armor.
• Healing Aura: Summons beams of energy down on yourself and allies to instantly revive and heal to full health.
• Energy Mine: Create a mine of pure energy that detonates in rapid succession, dealing lethal electric damage.

In addition, expect a brand-new Field Upgrade know as Dark Flare, offering a new and impressive offensive capability:

• Dark Flare: You generate a massive energy beam that deals lethal shadow damage. The beam penetrates everything in its path.

Further Improvements

• Field Upgrades can be made even more powerful with the use of Augments.
• Field Upgrades cannot be dropped, but now for the first time in Zombies, you can swap to a different Field Upgrade at any time during a match by using the in-game menu. Note that your cooldown will reset upon switching to a different Field Upgrade.

Field Upgrade Example: Additional pieces of Dark Flare

With some promising mass takedowns during previous matches, you begin focusing on researching the Dark Flare Field Upgrade between matches, and start to unlock the Minor and Major Augments, adding yet more power to future uses of this Field Upgrade. Once fully researched, you have the following three Minor Augments, and three Major Augments to choose from.

Before your next match, you simply choose one Minor, and one Major Augment, depending on your specific needs, and can swap between other Augments between Matches.

Tacticals, Lethals, Support Equipment (Crafting Table)

Unlike Black Ops Cold War, you’re facing down zombie hordes with a choice of Tactical and Lethal Equipment that you can bring into the Infil with you.

Tactical Equipment (Crafting Table)

Tacticals offer the use of an additional, non-lethal advantage to partner with a more devastating attack (from a Lethal or another Weapon). Current Loadout Tacticals include Concussion or Decoy Grenades, or the ever useful Stim Shot.

Once in-game, you can use Salvage you’ve acquired from dropped zombies (Ground Loot) to construct a wide variety of Tactical Equipment, each with a different cost (in Salvage). Craft tacticals including concussion grenades, stim shots, shock charge traps, and more.

Lethal Equipment (Crafting Table)

Lethals are usually utilized when masses of writhing undead appendages are threatening to overwhelm you or your team. Choose Frag, Sticky, or Thermo Grenades, the Combat Axe, or the new Blast Trap, a small missile strapped with an improvised explosive. These lethals can include frag or sticky grenades, Molotovs, C4, Blast Traps, Combat Axes, and more.

Support Equipment (Crafting Table)

Between bouts of undead culling, access the Crafting Table and you’ll be able to spend Salvage to construct an impressive array of Support equipment, which also occasionally drops as ground loot. Some examples include Self-Revives and Sentry Turrets.

New Support Equipment: Mutant Injection

One of the Support items you can craft is the Mutant Injection which allows you to transform into, and temporarily wreak havoc as, a Mangler! Once you inject yourself with the serum, you grow an additional three feet taller, become clad in plated armor, and can throw your weight about with a vicious Melee Swipe, ranged Mangler Cannon attack, and a zombie-killing barging sprint, all with some seriously impressive damage upgrades. Your new form even allows [REDACTED]. 

GobbleGums: Custom Packs (GobbleGum Machine)

Crack your teeth as well as the skulls of the undead with a variety of custom GobbleGum Packs, based on your stored reserves of this killer candy! Pick a single Pack to bring with you; with each Pack containing five different single-use GobbleGums that you’ve chosen to access during a match via a special confectionary machine that holds each GobbleGum in your pack and spits out one randomly once you interact with it. 

The GobbleGums you can choose are based on the collection you have in your inventory. One of the ways to continuously keep your GobbleGum collection filled is by earning them in-game (see below). GobbleGums are single-use items and are permanently removed from your inventory once received in-game.

Mr. Peeks is only too happy to provide you with an in-game confectionary machine from which to extricate your gobstopper. Simply interact with it (no Essence required) and a GobbleGum is randomly dropped, ready for pickup. The machine then cools down on a timer or will be immediately reset on the next round. Grab the sweet, and then it’s added into your inventory and HUD. You can store up to three unique GobbleGums at once, and use one, two, or all three of them at once as well. This may very well add many new dimensions to combat as these GobbleGum effects interact with your fellow teammates and other augmentations and powerups….

Meat the enemy

Know your Terminus Zombie: Hordes of the undead

Almost all the residents of the maps you visit in round-based Zombies appear to have gone through a horrifying transformation, becoming a rotting host, shambling into a crowd of walking cadavers, each with sunken glowing eyes now reborn with a relentless purpose; to hunt you down and consume your still-twitching corpse!

Consult the following Bestiary to learn more about the foul forms encountered throughout the Terminus map. Remember: These entities do not represent the full miscellany of Black Ops 6 Zombies enemies you should expect to face in the game. 

Zombies

Zombies are relentless. They will follow you, crowding into a swarm-like horde, intent on your demise. If they can’t reach you to claw you to death, they rip a portion of their own form and use it as a revolting meat projectile.

Armored Zombies 

These are a zombie variant that have protective coverings, and also take reduced damage from projectiles and explosive damage. Focused fire on a particular appendage is a possible effective plan here.

Heavy Zombies

Armored Zombies clad in greater protective armor and are even better protected from projectiles and explosive damage compared to their lightly armored brethren.

Grotesques and Tormented Horrors 

Quite how scuttling, spiderlike human heads and bloated bile sacks with wings have evolved to join the zombie throng is yet to be determined, but be prepared to be attacked by eldritch things arguably more grotesque than a mere animated corpse.

Vermin

Vermin are large, spider-like ravenous scuttlers with a central thorax that seems to take the form of a screaming human head. Relatively weak individually, they become more dangerous in packs, and sometimes appear after “detaching” from a fallen zombie host: In a spray of blood, the head and some internal organs rip free of the skin and sprout legs. Keep your head on a swivel, lest you’re dropped on. Vermin sprint and jump to inflict damage, mouth wide-open with a wet growl. They’ve also been known to spit a caustic substance, but this is the least of your worries.

Vermin also have the potential to evolve into another form, emitting gas, elongating their skull thorax and changing into an airborne terror, the Parasite.

Parasites

Parasites are horrific flying creatures consisting of a toothy head attached to spindly membrane-like wings, and a bulging sack of flesh as an abdomen. They seem to possess a level of cunning, preferring to remain at a distance, harassing you with a pelting of acid-bile projectiles spat from the maw.

Manglers

A new Mangler suit variant has been greenlit by Project Janus, now armed with an Aetherium-augmented cannon and prone to extended bouts of primal rage. It is these bipedal tanks that now roam parts of the island, threatening all with a cannon that shoots multiple shots, and a vicious melee that anyone should steer well clear of. 

Amalgams

The zenith of the body horror aesthetic, the Amalgam is a form of fleshy deviancy that until now has defied explanation. Roughly over eight feet in height, and retaining a general humanoid mass, this appears – to put this politely – to be the combined DNA of multiple individuals. It has multiple appendages, including heads, all growing from seemingly random locations. 

Higher-Round Hordes

For those advanced players hoping for a challenge, get ready to pull out all the stops and learn a few new tricks as the round numbers climb. Zombies start to move with an increased swiftness, from shamble to run, to sprint. It becomes even more critical to learn escape and circular routes as well as every zombie spawn nest, lest you’re hemmed in and overwhelmed in seconds. The horde itself grows as the rounds increase, as does the frequency of Armored and Heavy Zombies, Manglers, the more revolting parasitical entities, as well the grotesque Amalgams. 

Players should also expect a higher level of difficulty in general when it comes to high-round play, as Treyarch has limited the number of Self-Revive purchases to three per match. Coupled with the risk vs. reward nature of Augments (rather than relying on five tiers of permanent Weapon Skill upgrades in Black Ops Cold War, for example), players will need to make some tough choices to plan for their survival compared to more recent Zombies experiences.

Operators and Handlers: Meet the Terminus Team

As a longstanding veteran of the broader Call of Duty: Black Ops storyline, Grigori Weaver is no stranger to the ever-evolving nature of war and conflict—and the gray area it frequently inhabits. Despite the guilt he feels for his perceived “failure” as the team’s commander, he is more than determined to confront and expose his former Director’s duplicity and agendas—whatever they may be. He’s done playing politics and is willing to burn the whole house down to expose the corruption that has led them to their current situation.

Elizabeth Grey is no longer the meek and somewhat naive scientist who was so thrilled to be invited to work with Requiem that she was somewhat blind to the realities of the Dark Aether threat… and the dubious ethics of those who sought to control its power. These qualities had already changed with the loss of Samatha Maxis, but the injustice of her imprisonment brought out a tougher side she never even knew existed within her. Thanks to Carver’s mentorship and training, her transformation has made her more than capable of facing any threat head on.

For Carver, his lifelong belief in the military—not to mention his own distinguished career—has been shattered. He is understandably aggrieved, but not bitter. On the surface, it may seem that he has “run out of [[REDACTED]] to give,” but instead he is more dedicated to his friends and colleagues than ever, and believes that with determination, they will right this terrible injustice.

As for Strauss, not only has he not fared well under the strain of incarceration and intense interrogation, his age and increasingly eccentric personality mean he is deeply reliant on his colleagues—not just for his own physical wellbeing, but also his sanity. 

Events take an explosive turn when Maya Aguinaldo, a young Filipina smuggler, arrives on the island in pursuit of her own (and very personal) agenda related to the disappearance of her own brother. More significantly for our team, she is accompanied by a familiar, but far from welcome face…

There are many profanities that could be used to describe Dr. William Peck, but even the most offensive ones would fail to adequately do justice to just how detestable he is in the eyes of our heroes. 

Get to know Terminus Team and the undead threats they face when Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on PS5 October 25.

*Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III / Call of Duty: Warzone on the pre-ordered platform required to redeem Woods Operator Pack. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.

**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of Open Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Online multiplayer subscription may be required.

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God of War Ragnarök is coming to PC* on September 19. To prepare you for your journey back into the Nine Realms, check out the system requirements below. 

God of War Ragnarök PC system requirements 

	MINIMUM	RECOMMENDED	HIGH	PERFORMANCE	ULTRA
GRAPHIC SETTINGS**	1080p @ 30 FPS AVG Low Settings	1080P @ 60 FPS AVG Medium Settings	1440P @ 60 FPS AVG High Settings	4K @ 60 FPS AVG  High Settings	4K @ 60 FPS AVG Ultra Settings
GPU	NVIDIA GTX 1060 AMD RX 5500 XT	NVIDIA RTX 2060Super AMD RX 5700	NVIDIA RTX 3070  AMD RX 6800	NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti  AMD RX 6900 XT	NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti  AMD RX 7900 XT
CPU	Intel i5-4670k  AMD Ryzen 3 1200	Intel i5-8600  AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel i7-7700K  AMD Ryzen 7 2700X	Intel i7-7700K  AMD Ryzen 7 2700X	Intel i5-11600K AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM	8 GB	16 GB	16 GB	16 GB	16 GB
OS	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit
STORAGE	190 GB SSD	190 GB SSD	190 GB SSD	190 GB SSD	190 GB SSD

 **Native Resolution. No upscaling technology was used.

Graphics Technology 

We’re also happy to confirm that God of War Ragnarök on PC supports all major graphics card manufacturer technologies, including:

• Nvidia DLSS 3.7 
• AMD FSR 3.1 
• Intel XeSS 1.3 
• Frame generation for all technologies utilizing that feature 

These technologies will allow you to play at higher resolutions with superior framerates on all types of hardware. 

Inhabiting the Nine Realms are a vast array of diverse locations and creatures. From the lush jungles of Vanaheim to the snowy mountains of Midgard, a beautiful world awaits you!

---

Pre-purchase God of War Ragnarök on PC to get access to the Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic (cosmetic)***

***Unlock in-game items via story progression.

Head to Steam or the Epic Game Store to secure the Risen Snow set before launch on September 19.

*An account for PlayStation Network is required.

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Relive the original storyline and spin up a new tale of the Jura Tempest Federation in the first action-RPG based on the popular animated series. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles is available today on PS5 and PS4!

The game has a plethora of elements offering a unique experience for fans and newcomers alike, such as thrilling battles and new storylines directed from the series’ original author. We’re excited to share an in-depth look into the city building features that give you the ability to grow your community from a small village to a great nation.

Create your own Jura Tempest Federation

To quickly recap the series, the Jura Tempest Federation was founded by Rimuru Tempest and was originally a small goblin village before expanding into a great nation that many species called home. In this game, you will be able to create your own Jura Tempest Federation alongside a lively cast of characters.

As you progress through the main storyline and recruit new allies, you can unlock a variety of buildings that can be placed in your own community. There are also unique buildings inspired by Rimuru’s memory from the world before his reincarnation (into a Slime!) that you can choose from as you plan out your city’s development.

Choose from a variety of building types

As you expand your Jura Tempest Federation, take advantage of Tempest Resonance which gives different facility effects that boost character stats for you and your allies as you construct various types of buildings. Facility effects range from increased attack power, reinforced defensive stats, enhanced luck rates, and more. While there’s a variety of buildings to choose from, here are a couple of options that may help you in your adventures.

The Kaijin Weapon Shop and other Kaijin-affiliated buildings like the Weapon Stand and Weaponry all provide an increased ATK boost for you and your allies, giving you the extra strength needed to finish off challenging foes in your next battle.

The Hot Springs enhances the Luck for one character randomly between you and your allies, determined by different conversation patterns within the Hot Springs. Improving your Luck rate will increase your chances to obtain more luxurious items from treasure chests during exploration. Also, who wouldn’t want Hot Springs in their own city if they had the chance?

Gain helpful resources for your journey

Along with facility effects that boost character stats, some buildings provide an additional benefit of producing goods and materials that can be sold, allowing you to earn more gold to construct other buildings.

The bee farm, also known as the Royal Apiary, not only provides a facility effect that boosts Luck rate, but also regularly produces honey which can be collected and sold for gold.

Similarly, there are farms and ranches that produce wheat and beef worth selling for gold to help fund your construction plans for the next building.

Forge your city with a playful spirit

You can’t have a great nation without having some fun! Add unique locations like Veldora’s park to your Jura Tempest Federation which has an amusement park look to it along with other locations such as the Game Pavilion and Rimu Burger for residents to enjoy. Don’t worry, these buildings aren’t just for show, they also provide Luck boosts to your character and allies for a higher chance at luxury treasure chest items in your next exploration.

As you progress further into the story and develop your city, there are several sub-quests that reward you for constructing specific buildings. In the Cinema sub-quest, Gabiru and his team need your help to build the nation’s first cinema – build the Tempest Cinema and receive a generous reward of level experience and gold!

Are you ready to start building your own Jura Tempest Federation?

Enjoy the reincarnated life of an all-powerful Slime as you expand your Jura Tempest Federation and work together with allies to make the nation a better place for all its residents. Start building your own nation today in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles on PS5 and PS4.

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Hello to all Monster Jam fans out there! We know you’ve been waiting for a while, but the most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels will soon land on PlayStation in a whole new guise. I’m Federico Spada, Monster Jam Showdown Game Director, and I’m here to sweeten the wait by taking you through the discovery of career mode, our single-player campaign also known as the Showdown Tour. 

The Showdown Tour will be the pillar of your journey, with over 130 events combining speed and skills. From the outset, this variety has been an important element in terms of design. Developing a game with Monster Jam trucks is way different from working on any other racing title, as this is a one-of-a-kind discipline that expands the competition beyond pure racing. When we designed the Showdown Tour, our goal was to leverage this uniqueness to create the most tailored gaming experience and exalt the strengths of each player. To do that, we came up with a sandbox-like design where you will be free to enjoy the events you prefer without a given order.

You’ll compete in 8 different game modes and explore 3 original environments

To welcome different playstyles, we grouped the events into three categories: Stunt, Short, and Racing. Once a certain event has been played, you will unlock new events in the same category as the one just played. This way, you will constantly find new challenges akin to your preferences, but nonetheless, you’ll get plenty of variety as events from the same category will cover several game modes and take place in all three original environments we developed. 

Importantly, the locations of the Showdown Tour are wild and out of the ordinary, the perfect place to push your Monster Jam trucks to the limit and unleash their full power even beyond what you see in live events. Whether it’s a stadium, an open-air arena, or an actual circuit, the environment will put those mechanical beasts to the test, from the glaciers of Alaska to the scorching desert of Death Valley and the forests of Colorado. Following our free-progression approach, you’ll get to race these untamed landscapes from the very first minutes of play simply by navigating a map with all the events, which will gradually appear as you progress. For instance, after completing a Freestyle event in Colorado, you might find a new Freestyle contest in another region of the map as well as a different game mode, such as a Best Trick match. 

Showdown Events are epic boss battles that unlock new Monster Jam trucks and paint outs 

By earning victories in the same event category, you will collect medals which will grant you access to Showdown Events, which are special challenges that unlock higher-difficulty competitions within the same category. In Showdown Events, you will have to prove to be the worthy owner of some of the most iconic Monster Jam trucks by competing against their previous driver. If you succeed, you will become the official driver of that truck and it will be added to your collection. But beware – Showdown Events are not just simple 1v1 races; to win, you don’t just have to come first, but you also have to please the crowd by performing a spectacular run. That’s why you’ll see the layout of the circuits changing at every lap in these races and will find even more destructible objects or bigger ramps to boost your run.  

This design will leave you completely free to decide at any time whether to progress within the same category by playing the most difficult events or to test yourself in something different. In one case, you’ll maximize your skills in your favorite game modes and unlock the associated trucks. However, to fully complete your career and collect all 66 vehicles* and over 140 paint outs, you’ll have to master all categories. I’m sure both kids and adults will give their all to have each of the fan-favorite Monster Jam trucks in their private collections.  

You can think of the Showdown Tour as the elite Monster Jam competition. Only the best trucks can join this championship, which pushes both vehicles and drivers to the limit in a series of extreme and unconventional clashes that broaden the action of real-life Monster Jam events. By beating the best trucks on the planet, you will make your way to the victory of the Showdown Tour and eventually become the ultimate Champion of the toughest Monster Jam competition ever. 

If you do think you have what it takes, get ready to step on the gas and kick off your career as Monster Jam Showdown will release on PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 on August 29, 2024, with Early Access available from August 26, 2024.

*40 trucks will be included in the base game and 26 will be available through free or premium DLCs

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There have been many firsts for Dead by Daylight’s Killer Design team in recent years. The introduction of a third-person camera for a smaller Killer. A Killer with AI-controlled guards. A Power that consists of multiple different spells. Finding new ways to inflict pain and suffering remains an exciting challenge, and the arrival of Castlevania’s Dracula introduces yet another innovation: shapeshifting.

The vile denizens of the woods serve The Dark Lord, and he can take their forms as he chooses. Players can cycle between his Vampire form, his Bat form, and his Wolf form, with each one excelling at a different role.

Vampire form is Dracula’s base form, with the Flaming Pillar being his primary means of damaging Survivors. The attack can even traverse through obstacles, including Pallets and Windows. Wolf Form offers a third-person perspective and reduced mobility, but increases your efficacy at hunting and tracking. Bat Form is Dracula’s most stealthy form, with no Terror Radius and a snappy teleport ability.

Game Designer Jason Guzzo was tasked with bringing the legendary character into The Fog, and designing a Power that honored Dracula’s otherworldly abilities. The Castlevania team at Konami Japan were equally thrilled to see their iconic character come to life in-game, providing their knowledge and expertise at every step.

“Shapeshifting is a vital and unique part of the Dracula experience,” explains Guzzo. “It’s part of who he is, and it’s not necessarily something people focus on.”

Once the team decided on the Power’s direction, it was time to make it functional in-game. Of course, the unprecedented nature of Dracula’s abilities presented a few design challenges, particularly with the animal forms. Not to mention the fact that it would mark the first time this version of Dracula transformed into a wolf. Luckily, the Castlevania team was quick to give their seal of approval.

“There are limitations while designing animal characters,” explains Guzzo. “A bat can fly, but due to the balance of Dead by Daylight, it can’t fly over low obstacles. Unfortunately, that’s a concession we had to make. It takes some getting used to, but we must abide by our internal rules. Having a character that can fly over any obstacle would be entirely game-breaking.”

Building on the foundation laid by previous Chapters, which featured the arrival of a quadruped character (Alien) and a third-person Killer camera (Chucky), the design Team worked fleshing out each of Dracula’s three forms.

“Each form is basically a micro-killer, and we wanted players to use them however they liked, without needing to change if they don’t want to,” continues Guzzo. “On the Survivor side, we wanted facing Dracula to feel like a boss fight, where he can be anywhere at any moment with a tool to use against you.”

The Dark Lord’s forms

Dracula’s forms break down as follows: Vampire, Wolf, and Bat.  “Vampire is basically your core form,” explains Guzzo. “He moves at 4.6 meters per second, making him effective at loops and chases. He’s also got the Flame Pillar, which is one of my favorite Killer abilities to use in the game.”

“The Wolf Form moves a little slower, but you have enhanced senses and a pounce attack,” he continues. “When Survivors are sprinting, every so often they’ll drop a Scent Orb. Those Orbs give you information on the direction they’re going, and collecting them grants you a small speed boost. The idea is to simulate a hunt, where a wolf picks up a trail and quickens its pace.”

“We wanted the Bat to be the most effective traversal form, so it moves very fast – 6 meters a second, with extra stealth on top of that,” details Guzzo. “To compensate, the Bat can’t attack or see Survivors, Scratch Marks, and Pools of Blood. The main reason we did this was to balance the endgame, where Bat form was extremely potent at covering both Exit Gates.”

“Bat Form has another cool ability, which allows it to teleport a short distance, including through Vault points and Pallets,” explains Guzzo. “It also invites players to consider their choices. As a Survivor, downing a Pallet may come back and haunt you when Dracula gains a new teleport spot. Dracula players will have to grapple with the same decision, as losing a potential teleport option can hurt you in the long term.”

The end result is a dynamic Power that incentivizes exploration while providing an immersive experience befitting The Dark Lord. It’s also worth noting that the Castlevania icon was designed with new players and Dead by Daylight veterans in mind.

“When we’re working with a beloved licensed character like Castlevania’s Dracula, we want the skill floor to be relatively accessible,” reveals Guzzo. “That way, fans of the franchise can use the Chapter as an entry point to Dead by Daylight and have a fun experience off the bat. We do aim to keep the skill ceiling high, so players who connect with the character can build their skill and find exciting ways to develop it even further.”

Dead by Daylight: Castlevania launches August 27. The Chapter includes a new Killer, Dracula – The Dark Lord, and new Survivor Trevor Belmont.

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July saw the return of an iconic sports franchise along with the debut of exciting new IPs. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup? 

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. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

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? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

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Every year, the team here at THQ Nordic puts months into crafting a Digital Showcase we think you’ll love, filled with news on previously announced games and teases of what you can expect from our dev teams in the future.

Variety defines what we do, and that has never been truer than in our 2024 broadcast – including a gorgeous hand-drawn adventure, a fender-bending destruction racer sequel, the much-demanded return of a legendary action-adventure series, and a whole lot more.

The Eternal Life of Goldman

We opened this year’s stream with the debut of an all-new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police. 

As Goldman, with your trusty cane in hand, navigate a mysterious archipelago brought to life with painstakingly handcrafted 2D animation, each frame bursting with the passion that the team have injected into the game they have always wanted to make.

A sense of wonder and freedom to experiment are at the core of Weappy’s design philosophy, with a focus on rewarding players for their inquisitiveness about the world and platforming sections that are challenging but fair. The Eternal Life of Goldman begs you to discover the archipelago’s further reaches, each new ability and artifact you find adding new dimensions to your gameplay.

We can’t wait to tell you more later this year – for now, make sure to follow and wishlist the game at PlayStation Store to be among the first to receive updates.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

The time has almost come to pick up your brush and decide the fate of Wasteland! When Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed releases on September 24, the power to shape the world with paint and thinner will be in your hands.

Take control of Mickey Mouse in 3D platforming action, exploring a land peppered with beloved characters to meet and secrets to discover, including classic side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.

Rebuilt from the ground up by the team at Purple Lamp, and for the first time on PS5 and PS4, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a must-play for Disney fans of all ages, whether this is their first venture into Wasteland or a journey down memory lane.

Wreckfest 2

Create the car of your tire-screeching dreams, show it off online, and smash it to pieces in the ultimate range of wrecktastic events. Whether it’s giving it your all to be first past the finish line, hurtling through obstacle courses, or crushing your rivals in a destruction derby free-for-all, Wreckfest 2 is about letting loose in the ultimate playground of vehicular carnage.

PS5 hardware has given the team at Bugbear Entertainment the freedom to model higher crash fidelity than ever, with each chassis-crinkling impact realized in real time. 

At the end of each event, your beaten-up vehicle will tell its own unique story – of traded paint, twisted steel, and grudge matches settled on the track.

Titan Quest II

Last year, we announced Titan Quest II with a trailer that set the stage for the battle against rogue goddess Nemesis and her hordes. Millions of views and thousands of comments later, we’re ready to show you more of the rich, verdant world that the team at Grimlore Games have been hard at work bringing to life. 

In our debut gameplay trailer, you can get your first glimpse of the adventures that await you in the sun-drenched landscapes of Ancient Greece, and the godly powers you’ll claim as you take your place amongst the greatest legendary heroes. The team are hand-crafting an experience that encourages you to rise to the challenge, with epic battles against beasts of myth rewarding players with unique loot that changes the way you play.

This is your tale to tell, with deep customization options – from your hero’s appearance, to their combination of a vast range of modifiable skills and equipment loadouts. Whether you choose to embark on this odyssey alone or with friends, Titan Quest II will lead you on an unforgettable journey across a land unlike any other in the ARPG genre.

Gothic 1 Remake

Since we announced development of Gothic 1 Remake in 2020, the outpouring of support from Gothic fans around the globe, as well as the RPG community at large, has been immense. Every positive comment, each cry of “For Gomez!”, has bolstered the team at Alkimia Interactive as they work to deliver a game that is both a faithful love letter to the Gothic fandom and a welcoming experience full of wonder and fresh discoveries for newcomers.

In today’s trailer, we delved into how Alkimia are crafting a world that is an organism unto itself, with a thriving ecosystem and powerful factions competing for dominance – a world that seems to exist beyond the player, but is ripe to be shaped by your decisions.

Visuals and gameplay have also been completely rebuilt to meet modern standards, with more rewarding progression, more impactful combat, and diverse NPC routines and interactions.

Whether you join the ore-rich Old Camp in league with the King, the New Camp who plan to destroy the magical barrier surrounding the Valley of Mines, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper who put their faith in a mysterious new deity – the dark world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be yours to explore.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve

For the second year in a row, we’ve released a DLC for Way of the Hunter on the same day as our Digital Showcase. 

Whereas last year we took the hunt to lush African grasslands, today’s release will let you explore a stunningly-realized Scandinavian landscape populated with lynx, arctic foxes, and a range of other unique wildlife, all with their own realistic behaviors.

Wander through vast magical forests that shimmer under gentle rain, sprawling meadows teeming with life, and snowy hilltops that inspired folklore of ages past. With each tranquil moment that passes in this fictionalized Scandinavian wilderness, so lovingly sculpted by the team at Nine Rocks Games, your harmony with your surroundings increases.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve is out now on PS5.

A new tale from Tarsier Studios

From the creators of Little Nightmares I & II comes an entirely new vision, unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Find out more at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.   

Of course, it wouldn’t be the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase without just one more thing to tantalize you as we close out the stream…

The future of Darksiders

The ominous rumble of a chamber impossibly old. Scorching ash suspended in the air, spewed forth by roiling lava. 

Three colossal stone heads, suddenly set ablaze with otherworldly flames. The Charred Council awake, and roar a single word in unison: Horseman.

We’ll have more news to share on where the world of Darksiders is going soon, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.

That’s it for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From all of us at THQ Nordic, as well as our dev partners spread around the world – thank you so much for joining us. We can’t wait to share more with you on each of these titles in the near future and see you soon in our digital worlds.

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Name: XBox - Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - Launch Trailer
Category: Gaming Industry Videos
Date Added: 07/25/2024
Submitter: Commander Fury

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - Launch Trailer

XBox - Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - Launch Trailer

Name: XBox - Monster Jam Showdown – Challenge Trailer
Category: Gaming Industry Videos
Date Added: 07/25/2024
Submitter: Commander Fury

Monster Jam Showdown – Challenge Trailer

XBox - Monster Jam Showdown – Challenge Trailer

Name: XBox - Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III with Game Pass on July 24
Category: Gaming Industry Videos
Date Added: 07/25/2024
Submitter: Commander Fury

Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III with Game Pass on July 24

XBox - Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III with Game Pass on July 24

Name: XBox - Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III Now with Game Pass
Category: Gaming Industry Videos
Date Added: 07/25/2024
Submitter: Commander Fury

Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III Now with Game Pass

XBox - Play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III Now with Game Pass

Name: XBox - Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus | Launch Trailer | Out on Xbox Series X|S
Category: Gaming Industry Videos
Date Added: 07/25/2024
Submitter: Commander Fury

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus | Launch Trailer | Out on Xbox Series X|S

XBox - Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus | Launch Trailer | Out on Xbox Series X|S