Commander Fury

First revealed in State of Play, and recently playable at Evo Las Vegas 2025, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, brings a fundamental shift to the tag-fighting genre. Arc System Works, Marvel Games, and PlayStation Studios have assembled to create a vibrant, stylized world, and after an intense 30-minute play session this past weekend, I’m counting down the days until I’m a Tōkon fighter again. Play Video Building a 4v4 team “The reason we went with 4v4 is actually because it’s something that’s never been done before in fighting games where players can switch characters,” says Kazuto Sekine, Game Director and Lead Battle Designer, Arc System Works. “We wanted to challenge ourselves to create a new tag fighter.” ​​ During my session, I had access to a set of all-star Heroes to create my team of four: ● Doctor Doom is slow but hits hard with magical and tricky range attacks. ● Ms. Marvel is quick with high-risk, high-reward attacks. ● Storm is an aerial threat with deadly crossovers., ● Iron Man keeps enemies at bay with anti-air and other punishing moves. ● Star-Lord was the most technical with his ability to switch between firearms and insane juggles. ● Captain America is a versatile all-rounder and a great entry point for new players. After some experimentation, I prioritized playing Storm and Star-Lord. I loved how their combos, personality, and flair were true to their characters (at one point, Storm sternly refers to Star-Lord as “Quill” when he’s goofing off, which I adored). Storm’s light and medium attacks are beginner-friendly and combo well into her Quick Skill, which is a character’s unique attack you activate by pressing R2. I also found success rushing in with Star-Lord, using quick blaster and melee combos right into his Ultimate, activated simply by pressing R1. The control scheme is pretty straightforward. Square, Triangle, and Circle are your light, medium, and heavy attacks, respectively, while X is the assemble button. All of your special attacks and skills are reserved for the triggers. L1 enables a quick dash, L2 is a quick Assemble ability, and R1 and R2 provide your unique attack and quick skills. How swapping between characters works Traditionally, in a tag fighter, you have to rotate through your entire team before the match is over, but in Tōkon your team shares one health bar. This means you don’t have to master the whole roster to be effective, and in that sense, can approach the game like a more traditional fighter if you choose to. At the start of the match, you can only control your lead character. As the skirmish progresses, you gain the ability to switch into your assist characters when you lose a round, performing a throw, or knocking your opponent into another section of the stage. It creates an interesting dance of being careful not to give your opponents more options to use against you while making sure you access your extended roster first, and who you would want as your first backup option. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image “Previously for all [tag fighters] in order to play them, you had to be able to control multiple characters,” says Sekine, “However, for our game, it was important for us to design it so that you would only actually need to be able to take control of one character. You only need to learn to play as one character in order to enjoy the game, and you can still see your other teammates coming in and out of the battlefield.” Where you would traditionally have a dedicated button to swap between your party, here you do it during assists. Once you successfully call in an assist you have a brief window to swap to them. This exchange creates a natural swap out in the chaos of battle and some stylish moments between characters. Tōkon cares about what is happening on screen at all times, so switching between characters in the middle of a combo, standing still, or even in the air creates unique animations, such as characters giving each other daps or quipping about needing to step in. Accommodating different players’ fighting styles As I was studying my opponent’s moves, they took a different approach, focusing on supers and trying to bring out their team for full-screen spectacles. Where each character performs a quick combo, sending your opponent airborne while smashing them to the ground, ending in what I can only describe as a superhero pose-a-thon. The methodical vs manic approach created a fun back-and-forth between us, but the game was accommodating of both approaches and provided its own sense of satisfaction. “When it comes to the game’s design, it was very important for us to make this something that’s easy to get into, but has depth beyond that initial entry,” says Sekine. “One thing that we were very careful about when designing the game was to ensure that there is not any kind of mechanic or attack that someone who’s just getting started would not be able to perform. It would impede on the experience of new players.” “When you press the Assemble button, depending on the situation and what’s going on in the match, the Assist will come out and perform a different action that’s suitable for that particular moment,” says Sekine. “By designing it in that way that we’re able to clearly communicate to the player when they should be calling in their assists, and make it easier for them to play.” Anime-inspired Heroes in action “At Marvel games, it’s really important for us to allow developers to put their own unique stamp on the Marvel Universe,” says Michael Francisco, Sr. Product Development Manager, Marvel Games. “In the case of Arc, it’s that fusion of Marvel and American comics with Japanese anime and manga, and you can see that reflected in the art style and the character designs.” All the characters ooze charm, but the backgrounds also pack a lot of exciting details. Eagle-eyed fans should keep an eye out for interesting signage referencing heroes and events, pedestrians reacting to on-screen action, and easter eggs scattered throughout. It’s obvious a lot of care was put into building this world. “It was very important for us to be able to create the visual excitement that should be entailed with [tag fighters],” says Takeshi Yamanaka, Producer, Arc System Works. “Since this is a 4v4 game, that means that we can have up to eight characters out on the screen at one time altogether, so we were careful when creating the visual composition of the screen to ensure that we convey that excitement.” The 4v4 fights begin next year MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is set to release in 2026, and while I’m excited to see all the heroes, combinations, and worlds the game will take us to,o I asked the team how they felt about creating something new that has never been done before in the fighting genre. “It’s both scary and exciting, exhilarating and terrifying, at the same time,” says Francisco. “From the beginning, we all want to honor and respect the rich history and legacy of Marvel, while also forging our own path forward to create something new and innovative. So, we just hope fans are excited to see what we’ve come up with as a collaboration between all three parties.” View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Kristen, Tim, Brett, and Sid are back this week to discuss Heretic + Hexen remastered by Nightdive Studios, the multiplayer reveal for Battlefield 6, and much more. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s releases: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II | PS5 Madden NFL 26 | PS5 Midnight Murder Club | PS5 Echoes of the End | PS5 Battlefield 6 — Multiplayer gameplay reveal, deep diving into multiplayer and the various character classes, modes, and other new features. Heretic + Hexen — Hack-and-cast action returns with this enhanced re-release for PS5 and PS4. Learn more about the return of the cult classic fantasy FPS games. NBA 2K26 — A detailed explanation of everything new this year including greater visual fidelity for players, crowd reactions, and realistic plays and shooting. Terminator 2D: No Fate — The developers share details on tuning the difficulty levels for this retro-inspired side-scrolling action game. The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE 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.] View the full article

This past week players took a vacation through their favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: dodgykebaab shares Astro taking a relaxing moment in the sun in Astro Bot. BBSnakeCorn goes jetskiing in Grand Theft Auto Online. mandylorian__ shares their space adventurer exploring a colorful planet in No Man’s Sky. snakemanuele shares Sam riding a coffin board through the desert in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach xenobitz shares a hunter with a giant beach ball in Monster Hunter Wilds. JacoBee___ shares a historical site in ancient Egypt from Assassin’s Creed Origins. Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Filter SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 13, 2025 Next week, pick a filter! Share moments from the game of your choice that have been stylized with a Photo Mode filter using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped last month’s download charts. July saw sports fans unite as College Football dominated the charts in the U.S., while Ready or Not broke into the top three for both the U.S. and EU for PS5. Newcomer Gorn 2 found itself with the number two spot for PS VR2 in the U.S. Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month? PS5 Games US/CanadaEUCollege Football 26Ready or NotReady or NotEA SPORTS FC 25Grand Theft Auto VREMATCHNBA 2K25Grand Theft Auto VCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Forza Horizon 5Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4MinecraftMLB The Show 25Clair Obscur: Expedition 33MinecraftWUCHANG: Fallen FeathersEA SPORTS FC 25NBA 2K25Forza Horizon 5Cyberpunk 2077DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACHDEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACHREMATCHF1 25Clair Obscur: Expedition 33It Takes TwoWUCHANG: Fallen FeathersCall of Duty: Black Ops 6PhasmophobiaAssassin’s Creed ShadowsMortal Kombat 11Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4Killing Floor 3Gran Turismo 7Holdfast: Nations At WarHoldfast: Nations At WarMortal Kombat 1Mortal Kombat 11Cyberpunk 2077Phasmophobia *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/CanadaEURed Dead Redemption 2Red Dead Redemption 2STAR WARS Battlefront IIEA SPORTS FC 25Batman: Arkham KnightThe ForestGrand Theft Auto VSTAR WARS Battlefront IIGang BeastsA Way OutCall of Duty: Black Ops IIIGrand Theft Auto VA Way OutUnravel TwoMinecraftBatman: Arkham KnightNBA 2K25Mafia: Definitive EditionMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarMinecraftInjustice 2Gang BeaststheHunter: Call of the WildDescendersDying LightNeed for Speed HeatNeed for Speed HeatThe Last of Us RemasteredMafia: Definitive EditionNBA 2K25Mortal Kombat 11Middle-earth: Shadow of WarMortal Kombat XWatch Dogs 2Red Dead RedemptionAssassin’s Creed OdysseyEA SPORTS FC 25Assassin’s Creed IV: Black FlagCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Mortal Kombat 11 *Naming of products may differ between regions PS VR2 Games* US/CanadaEUBeat SaberBeat SaberGORN 2Metro AwakeningArken AgeAlien: Rogue Incursion VRAlien: Rogue Incursion VRAmong Us 3D: VRJurassic World Aftermath CollectionJob SimulatorAmong Us 3D: VRFlight Simulator Delivery 2025 VRJob SimulatorGORN 2PavlovJurassic World Aftermath CollectionDrunkn Bar Fight 2Kayak VR: MirageMetro AwakeningDrunkn Bar Fight 2 *PlayStation Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included Free to Play (PS5 + PS4) US/CanadaEUFortniteFortniteRobloxRobloxTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X – Free AccessTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X – Free AccessMaximum FootballRocket LeagueCall of Duty: WarzoneCall of Duty: WarzoneRocket LeagueeFootballMarvel RivalsFall GuysFall GuysAsphalt LegendsAsphalt LegendsVALORANTApex LegendsStumble Guys View the full article

It’s not quite the designated Spooky Season yet, but there’s something about hot summer nights that makes the thought of body-chilling horror hit much harder. Fortunately for fans of the creepy, bloody, and frightening, there are noteworthy PS5 horror games on their way that’ll stick around in your nightmares. Still, true terror is a year-round experience. So, we’ll be looking at releases further forward as well—into the 2025 Halloween season, and even further beyond into the harsh, unforgiving winter months of 2026. Steel yourselves, players, because between atmospheric indies, classic reimaginings, and blockbuster sequels, the next several months will offer a harvest of the finest frights. Play Video Killing Floor 3 Release Date: July 24, 2025 Developer: Tripwire Interactive Publisher: Tripwire Interactive Sometimes, all you can do in the face of massive, encroaching horror is fight back with the biggest, baddest weapons and the bravest companions that you can. Gather a group of up to four friends (or play solo, if you’re brave) and take the role of one of six different types of specialists to lay waste to the hordes of monstrous Zeds. The enhanced M.E.A.T. (Massive Evisceration and Trauma) system makes every shot, slice, and stab interact with enemies and the environment in realistic, satisfying detail. Play Video Cronos: The New Dawn Release Date: September 5, 2025 Developer: Bloober Team Publisher: Bloober Team Time comes for us all eventually, but in the future of Cronos, it looks like humanity’s time is almost up. Surviving the attacks of the hideous, once-human terrors of this bleak future and ensuring their remains are incinerated before they merge into bigger threats is already a challenge, but the only glimmer of hope seems even more impossible: extracting the souls of those involved in The Change from decades ago into the future. As these souls aid and augment you, they also haunt you. Will you be able to endure an ordeal that transcends time? Play Video Dying Light: The Beast Release Date: September 19, 2025 Developer: Techland Publisher: Techland Kyle Crane, the protagonist of the original Dying Light, has a grudge—he’s still dealing with the aftereffects of years of unethical experimentation on his body. He’s left as something not quite human, but not quite undead, and he wants revenge on the Baron who did this to him. The monstrous hordes infesting the once-scenic Castor Woods aren’t going to make this easy for him, either—especially once the sun sets and they get really vicious. It’s up to you to use all of Kyle’s abilities to survive solo or in up to four-player co-op play. Play Video Silent Hill f Release Date: September 25, 2025 Developer: NeoBards Entertainment Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment The all-time great horror series re-invents itself with a new setting, but keeps all of the psychological horror you know and love. Travel back to the ’60s in fog-filled Ebisugaoka, Japan, where young Hinako Shimizu’s ordinary schoolgirl life has been taking some very disturbing turns. Famed visual novel writer Ryukishi07 has developed a setting and narrative that combines the classic atmosphere and madness of the Silent Hill series with the best of Japanese horror traditions. Longtime series fans and newcomers alike won’t want to miss this one. Play Video Little Nightmares 3 Release Date: October 10, 2025 Developer: SuperMassive Games Publisher: Bandai Namco Games The cult classic horror adventure game returns with a new duo of adventurers and a new realm of terror. Two youths, Low and Alone, find themselves in the Nowhere—a world that exists beyond human sleep and is filled with the abominations of our unconscious. Using Low’s bow and Alone’s wrench, you’ll need to figure out how to navigate this wasteland and conquer its threats. You won’t have to face these nightmares alone, however, as Little Nightmares 3 offers co-op play in a series first. Play Video Crisol: Theater of Idols Release Date: 2025 Developer: Vermila Studios Publisher: Blumhouse Games In the alternate-universe Spain of Crisol, faith and folklore have melded to create a realm of twisted devotion and idolatry. As the warrior Gabriel, you have been sent to the accursed island of Tormentosa, where wicked cults hold demonic ceremonies and beautiful yet horrifying graven images move in a mockery of life. Your blood acts as both your life force and your weapon ammunition, adding a terrifying twist to already intense combat. In the end, how will your blood be shed? Play Video Resident Evil Requiem Release Date: February 27, 2026 Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Ahh, Raccoon City, how we’ve missed you. The ninth entry in the trailblazing survival horror series goes back to where it all began, bringing back some classic storyline threads along with it. FBI intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft takes the starring role this time around. Her mother was murdered while looking for information on the mysterious Wrenwood Hotel, leading Grace into a life of her own investigation. When Grace revisits the Raccoon City incidents, what will she discover? Resident Evil Requiem is due out in February 2026, and we can’t think of a better anniversary celebration. Play Video Reanimal Release Date: 2026 Developer: Tarsier Studios Publisher: THQ Nordic Familial bonds are put to the test in Reanimal. Two young orphans are put through a living hell on a dark, isolated island, facing both mutated monstrosities and representations of their own trauma. Local and online co-op allows you and a companion to fight your way through this oppressive world together, and a dynamic camera designed to constantly ratchet up the fear and tension will keep you on your toes throughout. Play Video End of Abyss Release Date: 2026 Developer: Section 9 Publisher: Epic Games Deep underground lies a seemingly abandoned complex—but a strange message has emerged from its forgotten depths. The technician Cel goes down to investigate the source of the signal, only to encounter a dim, claustrophobic world of tunnels, eerie glows, and aggressive creatures that appear to be both organic and mechanical. The top-down perspective of End of Abyss allows for players to feel the weight of the atmosphere and the tension of exploration, as the mystery beckons them ever deeper. Play Video Directive 8020 Release Date: 2026 Developer: SuperMassive Games Publisher: SuperMassive Games Tau ceti f looked like a potential new home for humanity. Then the ship Cassiopeia crashed there, and our assumptions were proven extremely wrong. The latest in the Dark Pictures horror game anthology series, Directive 8020 puts five heroes with few defenses on an unfamiliar planet, where they’re pursued by a shapeshifting organism. The Turning Points feature allows players to rewind back to pivotal scenes and make different choices to see new outcomes, but will you have it in you to make the hardest choices of all? Play Video ILL Release Date: To be announced Developer: Team Clout/Mundfish Publisher: Team Clout A mysterious fort in a desolate world acts as the setting for the highly-anticipated horror-action game ILL. The narrative will draw you in, but the encounters will leave you shaking. As you explore the fort’s halls, you’ll come face-to-face with some truly unsettling creatures that look and move as though they were torn directly from your nightmares. You’ll need to use your limited resources wisely, wielding and crafting weapons before tearing the freaks apart in physics-driven, ultra-gory combat. Play Video Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival Release Date: To be announced Developer: Saber Interactive Publisher: Saber Interactive Hellraiser: Revival is a single-player, first-person action survival horror experience that will put you into the dark world of Clive Barker’s twisted imagination. Play as Aidan, the protagonist in the story who must fight with various melee and ranged weapons, and use the mystical powers of the Genesis Configuration to take down unholy enemies. Finding a way to survive your bargain with the infamous Pinhead and help your girlfriend Sunny escape is never as simple as it seems in a world filled with Cenobites, cultists, deviants, and the realm of torture and pain that is the Labyrinth. *Release dates shown are correct at time of publish but subject to change. View the full article

1994’s Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders and its 1995 sequel, Hexen: Beyond Heretic forged new frontiers in first-person shooter games. Experience these pivotal games today with Heretic + Hexen, a collaboration between id Software and Nightdive Studios bringing an enhanced re-release of Raven Software’s legendary games to a new generation of players. Play Video From demonic sci-fi to dark fantasy “As one of the original developers back in the ’90s, it’s honestly kind of surreal to see Heretic and Hexen coming back like this,” says Brian Raffel, studio co-founder and co-head of Raven Software. “We built those games on a heavily modified Doom (1993) engine and tried to push the boundaries wherever we could, adding things like character classes, inventory systems, vertical aiming…stuff that was pretty wild for the time. “We were also lucky to be working with our friends at id Software, especially John Romero and John Carmack. Their support and engine tech gave us the chance to build something different. There’s something cool about knowing these worlds still mean something to people after all these years.” Players embark on a journey through monster-filled halls, trap-laden arenas and arcane realms in a unique blend of classic FPS combat with dungeon delving inspired by fantasy tabletop role-playing games. “Both Heretic and Hexen hail from the kind of fantasy that was common in 80s and 90s PC gaming but had yet to be explored much in a first-person shooter,” shares Mike Rubits, Senior Programmer at id Software. “There were a lot of shooters with war, sci-fi, and aliens, but not a lot of maces and wands.” “It was actually Romero’s idea to add character classes in Hexen—a move that really took the franchise to the next level,” says Raffel. “At the time, that kind of RPG element in an FPS was almost unheard of. Each class had its own weapons, stats, and playstyle – that blend of shooter mechanics with fantasy roleplaying was risky, but it worked. It helped set Hexen apart from everything else out there and made the world feel richer and more personal. I think that’s a big part of why people still remember it so fondly.” Heretic + Hexen features include local split-screen and cross-platform online multiplayer modes, the option to toggle the enhanced “Tome of Power” soundtrack from Andrew Hulshult, all-new accessibility options and quality-of-life improvements, behind-the-scenes materials in the Raven Vault and more. That’s not all: in addition to previously released expansion packs for the original release, Heretic + Hexen also features brand-new content! New content for Heretic + Hexen “The two new episodes in Heretic + Hexen cover both games – ‘Faith Renewed’ is a new Heretic episode while ‘Vestigues of Grandeur’ was created in Hexen,” Rubits explains. “They followed in the spirit of the new episodes in our previous re-releases: a whole new experience that uses the original technology, but is not bound by having to run on 30-year-old computers with a very small amount of memory.” “During the planning phases, we figured we’d only have time to do one or the other,” says Xaser Acheron, Senior Developer at Nightdive Studios, “and it dawned on me that these are some of the fastest mappers in the West.” “I already knew there was going to be additional content for Heretic + Hexen, so I started making maps in my free time for fun,” adds Samuel “Kaiser” Villarreal, Level Designer at Nightdive Studios. “By the time the whole thing was greenlit, I had nearly a whole episode’s worth of maps done already.” “Sure enough, each mapper produced nearly an entire episode’s worth of content on their own, with community legend Not Jabba contributing a couple of gigantic maps to round out the set. I also got to sneak in one of my own,” says Xaser. “The gambit paid off, but in hindsight it’s really not that much of a surprise since those folks are absolute powerhouses.” Delve into the fantasy FPS classics today Whether you’re returning to the mystical realm of Cronos or setting foot in its shadowy halls for the first time, the combined teams at Raven Software, id Software and Nightdive Studios invite you to experience Heretic + Hexen and the legacy that helped define a genre. “To the fans—those who were there in the early days and those discovering these games for the first time now—thank you,” says Raffel. “Your enthusiasm, modding, memories and support have kept these worlds alive far longer than we ever imagined. Seeing the community still care about this work after all these years means more than I can say.” Heretic + Hexen releases today for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. View the full article

Hey everyone, this is Mike Tucker, Design Director and Programmer at Bitmap Bureau. We hope you’re all excited for Terminator 2D: No Fate, coming October 31, 2025. On behalf of everyone at the Bitmap team, we’re thrilled to reveal the new Gameplay Overview Trailer! The trailer gives an in-depth summary of T2D’s various gameplay systems, including info about game modes, pickups, the scoring system and more. Play Video Difficulty levels explained Beyond what’s covered in the trailer, we thought this blog would be a great chance to delve into the game even further, specifically covering the different difficulty settings. Hopefully this overview will help you decide which difficulty to choose when picking up the game for the first time. First things first, when you start the game, you’ll be asked to choose your preferred difficulty setting. From easiest to hardest, the difficulties are: Easy Money No Problemo Hasta La Vista Judgment Day (Unlocked only after completing Mother of the Future Mode. Completing Story Mode on Judgment Day unlocks the Cheats Menu.) These difficulty settings are available for all game modes, but for Story Mode in particular, the choice means that the complete T2D story can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of skill level. We recommend first-time players start with the No Problemo difficulty setting for the most balanced experience, while those more experienced with the genre can try their hand at Hasta La Vista; that’s the one most of us here at Bitmap use as our Normal difficulty. Broadly speaking, the differences between the difficulties revolve around enemy placement and damage output, the number of continues and whether the time limit is turned on. The Easy Money difficulty features no time limit (except for one level) and unlimited continues. However, there are more specific differences between the difficulties, affecting enemy placement, environmental trap timings and more. While it would be impossible to go over all of these changes in the span of this blog, below are a few examples to help you get a sense of the kind of differences you can expect between difficulties. The Cyberdyne Factory level is a little different from the more run n’ gun levels in the game, testing players’ platforming and timing abilities with various environmental hazards. This level, set within a top-secret Cyberdyne facility, features automated welding arms, used by Cyberdyne in their early terminator experiments. These arms periodically drop down and ignite their torches, causing damage to the player if they come into contact with the sparks created by the arms or the arms themselves. These arms are scattered throughout the level, but how many of them are active will depend on the difficulty the player has chosen. ​​ This isn’t the only difference between difficulties in this level, however. There is also a section of the level in which flames will periodically shoot out of jet engines. The player must evade these flames to avoid taking damage, and time their upward jumps in the periods in which the flames are inactive. You can see below that choosing harder difficulties increases the number of active jet engines and reduces the period of time between bursts of fire, greatly altering the level of challenge. Here is an example from another level, Freeway Chase, a recreation of the classic chase sequence in Terminator 2: Judgment Day in which John, Sarah, and the T-800 are trying to escape from the T-1000 piloting a stolen police helicopter. In this level, the encounter with the helicopter alternates between two gameplay sections, driving and shooting. In the shooting section, there is a crosshair visible which illustrates the helicopter’s weak spots. As the difficulties get harder, the size of the crosshair gets smaller, meaning that the player has to be much more precise with their aiming to do damage. Your choice in difficulty will also result in differences in the game’s boss fights, including changes to attack patterns, tighter timing windows and more. At the end of the first Future War level, the player will have to battle a Centurion, a behemoth Hunter-Killer quadruped built by Skynet. Below, you can see that in harder difficulties, the Centurion’s ground-sweeping machine-gun attack moves faster, meaning quicker reactions are needed to avoid taking damage. These are just some examples of the kind of the differences you can expect to see between Terminator 2D: No Fate’s difficulties. When developing the game, we aimed to give it a sense of challenge that would feel authentic to the feeling of old-school arcade games. However, we realise that controller-smashing difficulty isn’t for everyone, so we implemented these difficulty choices to ensure that everyone can pick their desired level of challenge, regardless of skill level or experience. Whichever way you choose to play, thank you for reading and we hope you look forward to Terminator 2D: No Fate, coming October 31, 2025. View the full article

Ding ding! Time is up and we’re ready to pull our final party game creation out of the oven for a piping hot reveal. Cookie Haus is the fifth and final party game coming this fall in The Jackbox Party Pack 11. Play Video Welcome to Cookie Haus Cookie Haus is a brand new drawing game that puts an emphasis on silliness and simplicity. In this game, you are a decorator at a bakery undergoing some creative chaos. Patrons come in to give you their decoration requests and you have a limited amount of time to design a cookie that fits their needs. Player designs are then pitted against each other while everyone votes for their favorite. It’s one of our most approachable drawing games yet. Players will be able to customize their icing tools and draw simple designs on pre-shaped cookies. Did we mention there will be sprinkles? Because, boy, do we have sprinkles! And the timer is ticking! You’ll need to get frosting on those cookies before the situation crumbles. “I can’t wait for folks to meet the ridiculous customers and check out the fresh, but familiar drawing tools,” says Chase McClure, Director of Cookie Haus. “But really, this is a simple drawing game about decorating cookies and I’m excited for people to see how fun, funny, and satisfying that is to do in this game.” Meet the rest of Party Pack 11 Cookie Haus is one of five entirely new party games in The Jackbox Party Pack 11. If you’re a fan of joke writing games like Quiplash or Survive the Internet, you’ll want to check out Doominate, a fast-paced, hilarious party game with killer style! In Doominate, players are given a wholesome situation that they have to destroy with their response. Players work on both of their prompts for the round at the same time (as opposed to writing one and then tackling the next after you’re finished, like you do in Quiplash). This way, they can go back and edit before submitting. “We’ve found that it has led to some inspired answers and hopefully relieves some of the pressure that comes with those writing moments,” says Brooke Breit, Director of Doominate, “Players will also get a chance to save some scenarios from disaster in a heavenly final round.” Fans of audio-focused games like Earwax or Dodo Re Mi can expect to see a new twist on the genre with Hear Say, a game that provides a prompt and then asks players to make sound effects or record dialogue in response. In a Jackbox first, players will use their phone’s microphone to record themselves before it is played back for the group. “Recording your voice is an exciting, raw and unusual thing to do in a game. Seeing it played as a soundtrack to delightfully absurd characters and videos expands everyone’s humor, and allows you and your friends to discover new sides of yourselves together,” says Alina Constantin, Director of Hear Say. We’re taking trivia to a new world in Legends of Trivia, a fantastical game that asks players to work together to defeat monsters using their wits and smarts. “Cooperative trivia is a new feature that we’re excited to debut,” says Warren Arnold, Director of Legends of Trivia, “A lot of our games require players to communicate and interact with each other and I think it’s going to be a fun and different experience to incorporate into a Jackbox trivia game.” If you enjoy games like Quixort or You Don’t Know Jack, this could be the game for your group! Rounding out the pack is Suspectives, a detective-inspired game that asks you to interrogate fellow players based on what you know (or don’t know) about them. “Suspectives takes that social-deduction-game moment of ‘questioning each other to see who’s hiding something’ and opens it up, allowing for everyone to signal whether they’re buying an explanation or not,” says game director Tim Sniffen. “A player can really get a sense of whether they’re losing the room or have everyone on their side – I can’t wait to see people try it out!” Fans of Fakin’ It, Push The Button or Role Models should feel right at home in the world of Suspectives. The Jackbox Party Pack 11 releases on PS4 and PS5 this fall. View the full article

NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic commentary and captivating pageantry—let’s get into it. Player fidelity ​​ The weight of the moment combined with the wear and tear of each dribble, foul, and collision takes a physical toll over the course of a game. In NBA 2K26, the evolution of player fidelity is more noticeable thanks to a new shader that brings out the subtleties of each player’s skin. Get up close and see the sweat stream down the pores on players’ faces, the cracks in their lips from dehydration, and the improved muscle definition after a thunderous dunk. This new shading technology makes uniforms and shoes look even more detailed and stunning. The curvature of embroidered names on the back of jerseys boasts increased accuracy—you can even see the ultra-fine stitching. These minute details bring you closer to the action than ever before. Arena visuals Take in the grandeur of these larger-than-life NBA arenas with improved lighting, floor shading, and team-specific features in NBA 2K26. Improved arena lighting The lighting in NBA 2K26 has been redesigned to improve light intensity and color correction. Coupled with the new skin shader, the players shine and reflect like the stars they are as they dazzle under the bright lights of the arena. Improved court floors In addition to the new skin shaders, new floor shaders have been introduced to add more life and sheen to every court. The meticulously polished courts in 2K26 invite you to step on the hardwood and observe the uniqueness of each team’s home court. Depending on the camera angle you prefer, there’s a distinct contrast in wood grain color based on a higher or lower view. Team-specific features From the shape of each arena’s overhead spotlights to the Clippers’ towering “Wall,” all 30 arenas in NBA 2K26 have been designed to closely match their real-world counterparts. Teams around the league have different pregame rituals, like how they create specific patterns with their light shows or how they illuminate the court with team colors. For the teams that rely on pyrotechnics to fire up the crowd, a thin haze will fill the arena and progressively dissipate as the game gets underway. Dedicated fans of these teams will appreciate the level of authenticity and effort that went into capturing the true essence of every arena, like the Detroit Pistons’ courtside lounge behind the baseline. Arena atmosphere Feel the palpable energy of an NBA arena in NBA 2K26. Interact with diverse fanbases as a player and quiet the hecklers with sensational plays. Even the entertainers are putting on a show—mascots, hype crews, and national anthem singers are raising the bar during pregame and in between timeouts. Crowd variety & interaction Crowd variety and interactions were a big focus this year, and received major improvements and upgrades. Variety was greatly expanded with twice the number of unique character models, including more body types and heads. This represents a wider range of sizes, shapes, and ages. Clothing options are also expanded and now include current and historic player jerseys that feature a player’s name on the back of the jersey. We’re talking about over 60 historic players such as Jordan, Bird, and more; many of the top current players in the game have been included, as well. Fans in the crowd have been given rally towels, foam fingers and even rubber chickens to show their team spirit. Expect to see these deployed in key moments of special games, think NBA Cup and Playoffs games. Each fan will also wear an arena provided LED wristband that’s used to create light shows for player introductions, after big plays, and more. In MyCAREER, particularly passionate fans may heckle your MyPLAYER during the game. Listen to their chirps and use it as motivation to silence them with your skills on the court. In-arena entertainment During breaks in the action, new performers and entertainment will take the floor. From mascots on pocket bikes to choreographed dances, and more. There will never be a dull moment. All-new renditions of the U.S. and Canadian national anthems will be played pregame, prior to tip-off. Player interactions Player interactions in 2K26 set the scene before the game with an updated lower-bowl experience. Pregame shootaround includes fresh animations; players and trainers can be seen conducting drills and getting warmed up ahead of the game. When there’s a stoppage or break in the action—timeout, coach’s challenge, end of a quarter—players will see refreshed bench and huddle animations, as you make substitutions and draw up plays. Some players may even make their case to the officiating crew about potential foul calls. Late-game commentary Add to the memory of your clutch moments with eloquent commentary captured by the talented play-by-play and color commentary of the NBA 2K broadcast team. In the waning moments of a game, especially when it’s tightly contested, there will be a noticeable shift in tone from the commentators. As the clock ticks down and the intensity ratchets up, the heightened energy will feel much different from a blowout. Broadcast voices Returning to the broadcast booth in NBA 2K26 are the talented, iconic, and insightful crew of Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Stan Van Gundy, Shams Charania, and more. In addition to this distinguished cast, new PA announcers, international correspondents, and the incredibly savvy Tim Legler have joined the mix. Tim Legler: Known for his high basketball IQ and deep Xs and Os knowledge, Tim Legler is in-game to provide game breakdowns and basketball analysis. PA Announcers: All-new talent that represents the real-world arena announcers for almost every team. For example, the electrifying sound of Shawn Parker’s voice has been recorded for Charlotte Hornets games. International: Team China features play-by-play announcer ZeYuan Guan and analysts Jian Yang and Qun Su, and Spanish commentators have recorded new audio as well. Big moments NBA history is defined by iconic individual seasons and clutch performances in big moments. NBA 2K26 is designed to capture the magnitude of these awards and moments by drawing you in with the pageantry and spectacle of it all. Dynamic banners Celebrate your championships properly with dynamic banners in NBA 2K26. As you win titles, you’ll see banners from those championship victories raised into the rafters, where they’ll hang to commemorate your milestone achievements. Year after year, as you add to your storied legacy, these banners will be a constant reminder of your place in NBA history and a crowning achievement of your success. NBA Cup Presentation now has full integration for the NBA Cup, including more detailed overlays in Cup games that educate you on the groups and how many points teams need to advance in this unique format. In addition, custom highlight reels will be played before NBA Cup games, featuring signature NBA Cup thematic music and special NBA Cup branding to make every moment feel more significant. Replays will utilize the unique ‘matrix cam,’ which shows a 360-degree replay that orbits around highlight moments. NBA Awards Celebrate your achievements with all 7 NBA regular season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Clutch Players of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Your trophy will be presented to you in your first home game after winning the award. If you won more than one award, you’ll even see them presented together. Instant replay Capture your favorite show-stopping highlights with Instant Replay, Photo Moments, and Highlight Builder features. In NBA 2K26, you can now save filter presets for easy access when creating highlight reels. Put an artistic touch on your gravity-defying plays to give them a cinematic look and feel. From the rafters to the hardwood, and everything in between, NBA 2K26’s presentation enhancements raise the intensity inside the arena and make every game feel like it’s primetime. Pre-order NBA 2K26 Superstar or Leave No Doubt Edition and experience all of these authentic features for yourself during Early Access*, starting August 29! *Early access only available for NBA 2K26 Superstar and Leave No Doubt Editions (Digital) only available on PlayStation 5. Availability restrictions apply. View the full article

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game? 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. View the full article

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles. ​​ The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features a first look at new gameplay environments and characters, including new monsters and friends of the orphaned siblings. Their relentless journey to survive a hellish gamescape features a rich narrative and online and couch co-op multiplayer so players can share the scare. ​​ In more light-hearted gaming updates, the pre-order program for SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is now live. Confirmed for release on PS5 on November 18 of this year, this all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom allows players to play as both Patrick and SpongeBob to the song-stylings of the one and only David Hasselhoff. The ability to switch from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again has been a long-time request from SpongeBob gamers. Preorder any edition and receive the Natural Costume DLC free. The Ghostly Digital Edition includes the Tidal Season pass, also available separately. For the SpongeBob Collector, get all SpongeBob games and DLC in the digital Bikini Bottom Bundle or head to your favorite retailer for the Ghostly Edition featuring an exclusive Steelbook, collectible patch, keychain & lenticular prints. One genre we simply cannot get enough of at THQ Nordic is role-playing. Remaking the classic RPG Gothic is a true passion project for our Alkimia Interactive. Gothic 1 Remake is built for today’s most discerning RPG enthusiasts, including thoughtful expansions architected with Gothic veterans in mind. Starting today, gamers everywhere can return to the Valley of the Mines in the Gothic 1 Remake demo. Dive into the Nyras Prologue to experience the thrill of entering the Colony for the very first time — without encountering any spoilers. This demo will not be included in the final game. THQ Nordic will also release the Gothic Classics, 1, 2, and 3 for PS5 in 2026. Our all-new gameplay trailer for Eternal Life of Goldman reveals at least one life shattered by our protagonist Goldman. The vibrant yet dark platformer demands precision while encouraging exploration and a sense of discovery throughout the game world. Complex scenes and rich characters create The Eternal Life of Goldman’s layered story that is perfectly balanced to platform-style play. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Tides of Tomorrow developer Digixart, the team behind Route 96, revealed new insights on the all-new asynchronous gameplay feature as part of today’s Showcase event. Tides of Tomorrow combines rich story-telling and collaborative gameplay for a first-of-its-kind experience. The colorful, post-apocalyptic universe is in the player’s hands as decision-making will determine the fate of the game world and all its inhabitants. The Wreckfest franchise is one of my favorite stress relievers. BugBear Entertainment is working on a long-awaited sequel to the high-octane, no-rules demolition derby and racing game. Made famous for its realistic damage model and unique blend of arcade and simulation style, the Wreckfest franchise requires that every driver drive hard to die last. Wreckfest 2 is racing to PS5 in 2026. We’re working on a sequel to another celebrated role-playing game – Titan Quest II. The ARPG best known for combining hack-n-slash combat, loot-based progression, and deep character customization in a rich, mythological setting is coming to PS5 in 2026. With a class-less character system, players can choose two masteries from a variety of options and freely combine them to create their own hero inspired by ancient mythology. Explore the realms of ancient Greece, visit places where no mortal has ever ventured, and face legendary creatures — and even gods themselves. Titan Quest II promises an adventure worthy of its own myth. The Burnout series was a favorite for PlayStation gamers for more than a decade. The team behind that racer have combined arcade racing with a toolbox full of customization options in a giant open world with Wreckreation. Players can choose from 60 different vehicles and use the Game DJ to change in-game parameters like music, vehicles, weather, time of day, traffic, and game world. And the best part? Players can instantly switch to the live mix building mode in real-time, constructing their own highways — complete with crazy jumps, loops, and hundreds of objects placed anywhere in the game world. Ever wanted to race your car over a dinosaur’s head? Wreckreation has got you covered. The new gameplay trailer shows off in-game racing and stunt challenges that can be created and shared with friends. Wreckreation is coming to PS5 later this year. We like to think we have something fun for just about every PlayStation gamer and can’t wait to give players a chance to play many of the games we previewed today at Gamescom in a few weeks. View the full article

Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan. Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from her upset father. Silent Hill f utilizes the same over-the-shoulder perspective as Bloober Team’s 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, allowing players to move the camera with the right analog stick. Sharing a similar perspective to Hinako adds to the immersion and tension of the game. When you look around the forest surrounding her, you become acutely aware of the danger closing in and feel the overwhelming sense of isolation and entrapment. Navigate the fog-enshrouded town and survive the deadly horrors from an over-the-shoulder perspective The sky darkens as Hinako approaches a row of houses along the forestline, and a mysterious fog descends. The authentic 1960s Japanese town, depicted in vivid 4K visuals, evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia. However, things take a turn after you meet Hinako’s childhood friends. The fog completely engulfs the town, and “higanbana” (red spider lilies) begin blooming from the ground. Worse yet, tentacle-like plants begin creeping and overflowing from the walls. The town’s dramatic transformation enthralled me. Navigating the maddening, twisting streets of Ebisugaoka Ebisugaoka features an array of narrow streets intertwining between clustered houses. Blind corners and varying verticality create a complex, maze-like layout. Unlike Silent Hill 2, there are no radios or items to warn you of approaching enemies, so you must remain vigilant and alert to every sound. Puzzles closely tied to the story Puzzles are a defining feature of the Silent Hill series, and they feature prominently in this title. During our playthrough, we were able to try out a variety of puzzles inspired by Japanese culture, such as locating the correct “ema” (small wooden prayer tablets) or finding scarecrows that matched certain criteria. Many of these puzzles are deeply connected to the story written by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, and it was intriguing to find out how they were linked to the characters’ emotions and identity. Close-range combat demands quick-thinking and strategy Hinako is an average Japanese teenager, so unlike previous titles in the series firearms aren’t an option here. Instead, Silent Hill f has a heavier focus on melee combat. During our demo we got our hands on an iron pipe, a sickle, a dagger, and a naginata polearm. Combat features a new Sanity mechanic and counterattacks to target vulnerable enemies. Pressing the R2 button during combat openings combat activates a counter. This doesn’t consume stamina, and if successful, the enemy will get knocked down. You’ll see a special effect appear on the enemy when you can execute the counter. Although Focus mode consumes Sanity, this state can slow down time and create a longer opening, making it easier to deliver a surprise counter. Also, when Hinako’s Focus gauge fills up she can unleash a powerful Focus Attack with the R1 button, which inflicts significant damage. However, the current Max Sanity will decrease, making it harder to go into Focus mode, so you’ll need to determine the prime moments to take advantage of this attack. Keep an eye on weapon durability Weapons in Silent Hill f have levels of durability and will break faster the more they’re used. Make sure you carry spare weapons or toolkits to repair their durability. However, weapons like the dagger and naginata, which can only be used in the Otherworld, have no durability and can be used to your heart’s content. Face-to-face with a formidable shrine maiden monster The demo concludes with an intense battle between Hinako and a grotesque monster dressed as a shrine maiden. Hinako calls this monster “Sakiko” when she confronts it in the Otherworld. The shrine maiden’s attacks span a wide range and will keep you on your toes from long range. The monster launches a long-distance attack that makes Hinako flinch while it simultaneously vanishes to cut down her Sanity. However, if you’re able to locate the monster right after it reappears you’ll have a chance to dash and strike while it’s vulnerable. I walked away from my time with Silent Hill f eager to confront more terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles, as well as explore new areas of the map when the game launches September 25 on PS5. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. View the full article

Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare modes, to smaller, close-quarters battles. The franchise heads back to its roots with Battlefield 6, serving as a sort of spiritual successor to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. It uses a modern setting of 2027 and, like the games it draws inspiration from, sees the return of character classes to the series—but with new twists on the old formulas. Battlefield 6 hits PS5 on October 10, but you don’t have to wait that long—there are also open beta weekends this August so you can try out the game’s new tricks yourself. Here’s everything from my boots-on-the-ground experience in Battlefield 6. Character classes Battlefield 6 brings back the class system that players know and love, but with adjustments that let you further dial in your specialty. The new Training system is Battlefield 6’s take on subclasses, expanding on the Specializations of Battlefield 3 and Field Upgrades of Battlefield 4. Classes also get buffs as you “level up” through a match by supporting teammates, defeating opponents, and playing objectives, which further amp up the things that make them unique. Eventually, they can charge up a special ability that’s specific to their Training. Assault — The run-and-gun class wields an assault rifle and combat stims, and with the Frontliner training, gains faster health regeneration, more stimulants, and more accuracy while moving. Recon — Best known for long-range shots and spotting enemy movement. The Sniper training marks enemies seen through your scope more quickly and for longer, while sniper shots stop enemy healing. Meanwhile, headshots drop enemies with a single round, without the possibility of being revived by a teammate. Engineer — The only class that can repair vehicles can also be a real menace to them, as well as to other infantry. The Anti-Armor training lets you wreck vehicles with extra rockets that also reduce their repair effectiveness. Support — The classic defensive class is a little more than a revive machine in Battlefield 6. Specializing in light machine guns, you can also place temporary cover and drop ammo for your teammates. The Combat Medic training also lets you dish out health for allies and regenerates health while you’re reviving teammates. Closed and open weapons — Classes get a signature weapon and specific gadgets, but whether weapons are open or closed depends on the playlist you’re playing. On closed playlists, you can only use certain weapons with certain classes. But on open playlists, you can swap to anything that works for you. Tactical destruction Map destruction is one of Battlefield’s defining features, but in Battlefield 6, destroying chunks of the map is part of your strategy and a weapon to use against the enemy. Blast a path — Thin obstacles like doors or windows can be crashed through or blasted apart to open a line of fire. You can also level walls with grenades or a handy sledgehammer. Emphasis on “tactical” — Thomas Andersson, Creative Director of the Battlefield Franchise, explained that destruction in Battlefield 6 is meant to be somewhat predictable so you can make use of it in firefights. Destroying the floor beneath your opponents or bringing a building down on their heads are viable strategies that are satisfying to pull off. Bring down the house — Standing in a building that’s coming down around you is shockingly loud and intense, but I couldn’t look away from Battlefield 6’s beautiful devastation. The best part, though, is finding cover in the rubble to continue the fight as the map changes around you. Kinesthetic combat Battlefield 6 makes firefights more dynamic and adaptive with the addition of the Kinesthetic Combat System. Peek and lean — Walk up to any corner in Battlefield 6 and you’ll get a contextual prompt that lets you hold R1 to lean out and fire, and lean back into cover when you let go, providing new tactical options in close-quarters engagements. No one left behind — Reviving comrades isn’t just a matter of holding down the Square button and hoping nobody shoots you. Now you can drag a downed teammate out of the line of fire while you revive them. As a dedicated medic fan, being able to pull a buddy out of danger saved my own life a few times, too. Hitch a ride — Vehicles never seem to have enough seats, but you can grab onto the outside of tanks or trucks to hitch a ride and stick with your squad. Fight the recoil — Battlefield developers said they know a lot of players don’t really know how to compensate for the recoil of most guns, but it’s a skill that can win firefights. Kinesthetic Combat telegraphs information about recoil by tilting your gun in the direction it moves as it fires, so you can learn to keep your shots on target—possibly without even realizing the game was teaching you. Maps The four maps I fought through gave a sense of Battlefield 6’s scale, as well as the intensity of its smaller locales. Battlefield 6’s more massive maps include locations within them called Combat Zones, which are smaller, carefully designed engagement areas that can also function as maps on their own for the game’s different modes. Liberation Peak — An enormous mountainside battlefield that’s great for vehicles of all kinds and excellent for snipers, especially once you start leveling buildings to create new, tough-to-spot positions. Siege of Cairo — A dense city where the fighting is fierce, and buildings are constantly at risk of being reduced to rubble. Siege of Cairo is big enough for tanks and vehicles, but also packs a Combat Zone where you’ll need to check your corners and keep on the move. Empire State — This infantry-only map takes the fighting to the streets of Brooklyn, pushing squads into open streets and tight alleyways. A shotgun is excellent for tight interiors, but make sure you’re checking the floors above you. Iberian Offensive — Gibraltar is home to some winding streets and quaint shops that make for hardscrabble advances through tight pathways, but with plenty of walls to wreck to expose the enemy. Modes The modes I played were broken up across Battlefield’s classic All-Out Warfare modes and two modes designed for smaller maps. Squad Deathmatch — Four squads compete in close-quarters combat on smaller maps in this revival of the mode from Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Working together, balancing your classes, and staying in constant communication are essential. Domination — Infantry battle over three control points, making for a series of push-and-pull firefights in close quarters. Conquest — Battlefield’s iconic All-Out Warfare mode finds two teams fighting to control points across the map, with huge armies and all available vehicles. Things can get chaotic and overwhelming, but just remember: Play the objective. Breakthrough — Attackers try to push forward across Battlefield 6’s big maps in this All-Out Warfare mode, dominating it sector by sector, while defenders do everything they can to stop them. With Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios and EA are revitalizing some of the best elements of the series, while dialing up the devastation to levels it’s never reached before. You really haven’t played Battlefield until you’ve watched a tank shell collapse a building while you’re standing in it. But you can experience it all for yourself, and soon. You can join Battlefield 6’s open beta on two weekends this month: August 9-10 and August 14-17. The full game launches on October 10. View the full article

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project! If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel that never saw the light of day. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is that long-lost sequel. The original production ended in 2004, leaving the game only half finished – but the story didn’t end there. A long-lost genie adventure Twenty years later the original Shantae Advance team was reunited thanks to WayForward and Limited Run Games. We opened our archives, dove into old files, and set out to complete the project in its original code base using the tools of a bygone era. It was a labor of love, preservation, and improvisation. Now, the project is finally complete after over two decades, and will be “Ret-2-Go” on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. So, is Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution an old game or a new game? Is it game #2 in the series? Or game #6? Great questions. First and foremost, this is a brand-new, never-before-released Shantae game that was completed in 2025. But canonically, it’s the 2nd game in the series. The story takes place directly after the events of Shantae 1, but before Risky’s Revenge. The overall play style builds on lessons learned from all previous Shantae efforts. Combat and platforming are quick and snappy, writing and humor are on point, and quality-of-life elements are in line with the modern series. As for features, the game contains three stand-alone experiences; First, there’s the modern version built for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which contains high-resolution portrait artwork, UI, and cinematics. Second is Classic Mode, which preserves all of 2004-era pixel artwork in its original resolution, and can be played as a stand alone game – effectively bonus content. Third is Battle Mode, which is a two-to-four player local party game in which players try to clobber each other and collect power ups, while navigating a rotating arena. Play Video Shanae’s new costumes But wait, there’s more. All of the above is included in the Standard Edition, but we’re also offering a Deluxe Edition, which contains three exclusive costumes made especially for fans. See Shantae as you’ve never seen her before – in her Relic Hunter Costume, High Voltage Costume, and Sizzle Armor Costume. Not only do these costumes change Shantae’s in-world sprites, but they also change her high-res dialogue portraits and the properties of her magic attacks. With the Deluxe Edition, all three of these costumes are available from the get-go. Let’s dig in: The Relic Hunter Costume is inspired by Uncle Mimic’s old geezer friends, the Relic Hunters, who feature prominently in the game. For this costume we wondered what would happen if Shantae cosplayed as Uncle Mimic. She’d definitely want to make some adjustments of her own. What do you think? Wearing this adventurous getup grants a permanent power-up to Shantae’s Pike Ball Magic. The High Voltage Costume grants hyper energy to Shantae’s electrical Storm Puff magic. The modern style and holographic ponytail are as nonsensical as it gets – right down to the “1994” graphical text on the pant leg – signifying the year that Shantae was created. We thought it would be fun to give her a techwear-inspired outfit with dayglow colors. Last – and in this case, least – is the Sizzle Armor Costume. This impressive “swimsuit” of armor provides a significant boost to Shantae’s Fireball Magic. This design is inspired by 1980s anime bikini armor, with fluorescent reds, dragonslayer-esque plating, and gleaming gemstones and baubles. Shantae’s ponytail even changes into a fire-whip. So there you have it – all the details on the all-new Deluxe Edition content for Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition will be available to purchase and download on August 19 – less than a month away. After waiting 20 years to get this game into your hands, I can hardly believe it’s finally about to happen. I hope you all are as excited to play the game as we are. Thank you for supporting this series. View the full article

Play Video Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, and emotional commentary. What was the inspiration behind the Hollow Walker enemy designs and the strange blue Haze (around 1 minute in)? There’s no singular inspiration. I look more to creating themes that we want to explore. So we wanted the enemies to be a physical manifestation of human emotions, and I then started thinking about how those emotions behave. Hazes are expressions of the emotions, using Robert Plutchik’s emotion wheel as inspiration for their colours, and the Hollow Walkers are white and emotionless, acting as a sort of facsimile of a human being that is emotion’s anchor. We could have just made regular monsters that were expressions of emotion, like a rage monster, but I thought it would have been a little cliché. What if it was more cosmic horror, something unexplainable? How many types of Hollow Walkers can we expect in the game? There are five types – the Primeval, the Feral, the Protector, the Artillery and the Negator – each having three tiers, so a total of 15 variants. And then there are the Hazes, which are four emotions – grief, ecstasy, rage and terror – each with three tiers as well, which makes 12. So that gives us 27 enemies in the game. Which ones are you most fond of? So the Primeval, which is kind of the more basic and humanoid one, is the most iconic. I quite like it because it looked really cool in the early concept art. The Feral is cool too, because I’m always going to remember the motion capture sessions. They walk on these pointy, weird arms, so we hired dancers for them who literally had stilts on their hands for the mocap, which was really interesting. The Negator also has these weird ears that are actually his legs, and the way that he attacks with them is quite clever, but yeah, I think the Primeval is our little baby Hollow Walker, so that’s my favourite. Can you tell us a bit more about the Hollow Walker with multiple Hazes we see at the end of the trailer? It’s definitely one of the most memorable moments of that specific dungeon. The game isn’t really about typical bosses as such, but more about meaningful fights at key moments in the story. When multiple Hollow Walkers are connected to one Haze, we call it a Herder, but what we have at the end of the trailer is a Fervent, where a Hollow Walker – a Protector in this case – is attached to multiple Hazes. What you see at the end of the trailer is the end of Act One. That Act is very much about grief, so you’re going through all the stages of grief, with each Haze having a name based on those stages. The combat loop is that these Hazes split out after you kill one, a bit like enemy slimes from RPGs, and the final one goes inside the Protector, which you then have to kill. In the trailer we also see a dungeon which incorporates water wheels, while one is more like a mountain mine. Can you expand on the ideas behind these specific dungeons? Each dungeon has a theme, and they’re related to a specific emotion as well. That’s also tied to the story of why this particular place exists. What was very important for me at the beginning of the project was having dungeons which weren’t contemporary even though the game takes place in a contemporary setting. I wanted them to be these impressive, fantasy things that feel out of this world. And we wanted to have fun with the types of puzzles that we couldn’t have had in a realistic, contemporary dungeon, like an abandoned factory or metro station. Some of the dungeons have a lot more puzzles than others, some are more about combat, and some have a lot of environmental changes, like the one in the trailer where you have to play with the water levels and things like that. So they’re all different and tied to lore, which you sometimes need to understand in order to solve a puzzle. One of our themes is ‘history always repeats itself’, and even though you figure out these artefacts from ages ago, you realize that it relates to what’s going on right now. There’s lots to discover and play around with. What other details would you encourage players to take a closer look at in the trailer? So at around the 1.45 mark there’s a huge pile of something which you should maybe pay attention to. See what’s there. And then imagine how many things this represents. Because you could just think it’s a rocky hill in the middle of the dungeon, but if you pay attention to what it actually is, you start to ask questions. How did this happen? How did they create this? What was the machinery around this? It could be quite horrific, but interesting. There’s symbolism everywhere. Hell is Us launches on September 4. View the full article

In Season 5, the Rogue Black Ops team tracks down the final Pantheon moles to finish what they’ve started. Battle across new Multiplayer maps plus check out the thrilling conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline. In Verdansk, the Stadium is blown wide open, with high-tech secrets hiding within. The new content goes live in Black Ops 6 and Warzone starting August 7. Multiplayer Overview New Maps Runway (Launch): Following a destructive pursuit in the Arzak Provincial Airport, wreckage and chaos have engulfed the terminal and the surrounding area. Exchange (Launch): Set in a vibrant Avalon marketplace, crash the party and unleash havoc on this small-sized three-lane map centered around the Deli. World Motor Dynasty (W.M.D.) (Launch), Remaster: First introduced in the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, W.M.D. is back as the reimagined World Motor Dynasty luxury Italian car manufacturer in Avalon. Jackpot (Mid-Season), Inspired by Black Ops 4: Using elements from the original Casino map from Black Ops 4 and partially inspired by the Heist mission from the Black Ops 6 campaign, this extensively reworked map takes place on the Casino Luttazzi floor. New and Returning Multiplayer Modes Aim High (New, Launch): Across a variety of game modes headshots land instant eliminations while full body armor minimizes damage dealt anywhere below the neck. Eliminate enemies and receive brief speed and health regeneration boosts. Snipers Only (Returning, In-Season): Operators spawn with only a Sniper Rifle in hand – Equipment, Secondary Weapons, and your Dedicated Melee Weapon are restricted. Cranked Moshpit (Returning, In-Season): Eliminations give you speed Perks and activate a bomb countdown on your Operator. Refresh the bomb timer with chain eliminations and earn twice the score for your team. Play Video Zombies Overview New Round-Based Zombies Map: Reckoning (Launch) The massive Janus Towers that dominate the Project Janus Headquarters are teetering on the verge of collapse. Face the final chapter of the Black Ops 6 Zombies story as the crew and Richtofen face off against S.A.M. in a race against time. New Elite Enemy and Other Entities The greatest new Project Janus threat is the Uber Klaus – a hulking robot encased in a tough, bulky exoskeleton, packed with lethal efficiency and super strength. Once the outer protection is shattered, a second form known as Uber Klaus Core appears. Keep an eye out for waves of daunting Kommando Klaus units, robot enforcers heralded by a mysterious red mist. These machines are programmed to seek and destroy, self-destructing upon contact. New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex Buried deep within the Janus Towers is the Gorgofex, a grotesque new Wonder Weapon. This bio-aetheric weapon pulses with fungal, insectile, and floral traits and supports multiple variants for those willing to discover them. Additional Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks Summon the deadly and distracting bunny to bust out the moves and bash undead brains to a disco beat. Call of Duty: Warzone Overview Abyss Protocol Activated: Stadium Compromised Recon teams have uncovered the existence of a covert military base hidden inside the National Acropolis Arena, tied to the highly secretive Abyss Protocol. A looming threat may be buried within – Operators are advised to prepare for an imminent Stadium breach. New Contract: Satellite Hijack (Launch Window, Week One) Explode your way into the stadium with the multi-step Satellite Hijack Contract, available only during the first full week of the season. New LTMs Stadium Resurgence LTM (In-Season, Week Two): Operators will be able to access the Stadium via new rooftop entry points and participate in a fast-paced Resurgence mode with a seven-circle collapse General Overview New Weapons: In the Battle Pass, unlock two new free base weapons: the PML 5.56 LMG and ABR A1 Assault Rifle. Plus, earn additional new weapons via seasonal events. New Attachments: Bring the power to your favorite pistol with the 9mm PM Skull Splitter attachment available in the Battle Pass. And unlock an additional attachment at mid-season. Season 5 Battle Pass, Store Content Purchase the Battle Pass to immediately unlock rewards including a seasonal 10% Battle Pass XP Boost, the Stogie Sims Operator, the Infernous Legendary Blueprint for the Kilo 141 Assault Rifle, and more, providing access to over 110 pieces of unlockable content. Plus, Purchase BlackCell for the premiere Battle Pass Upgrade. Season 5 Launches August 7 Black Ops 6 is available now on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of round-based Zombies! View the full article

Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals and soaked in a gritty 1980s horror atmosphere. I also want to take you a little deeper into how we’re using sound as more than just atmosphere. In I Hate This Place, silence isn’t simply golden — it can mean the difference between life and death. But first, let’s take a look at the gameplay trailer: Play Video These creatures hunt by sound As you probably noticed in the video, the world of I Hate This Place is filled with a lot of nightmarish, otherworldly creatures from a rather eerie and distorted world. But what might not be so clear is that many of these hulking monstrosities can barely see. Instead, they stalk their prey (you) by sound, so all your actions and movements need to be thought out. Every footstep, every gunshot, every clang of metal can give off your location. So whether you’re creeping through overgrown woods or navigating decrepit facilities, the surface beneath your sneakers matters. A slow, crouched shuffle across grass will likely be ignored. A careless stomp on broken glass, not so much. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Making visual noise To take this system further and make it more clever to players, we also made sound into a visual language, where noise is color-coded. It’s a unique visual system inspired to tie in with the game’s comic book art style. For example: Green footsteps mean you’re quiet, crouched, moving slowly, minimizing risk Yellow signals you’re walking at a normal pace and making moderate noise Red means you’re running or being loud, and you’re a beacon for danger This color-coded feedback system doesn’t just apply to footsteps, though. Gunfire, thrown objects, even the howls and attacks of enemies all follow the same noise-visibility rules, helping you judge just how much noise all of your actions are creating. Sound as a weapon Just as sound can get you killed, it can also be used to your advantage and become your most useful weapon. With a bit of strategy and planning, you can lure monsters away from key areas or into your cleverly laid traps. Tossing an empty can down a hallway or into the underbrush might attract a nearby creature, giving you the opening you need to escape. With a bit more planning and thought, you can try to herd enemies together into the perfect spot to then toss that grenade or molatov cocktail you happened to scrounge. Stealth is your friend Combat in I Hate This Place is about choosing your battles wisely. Many of the creatures you’ll encounter are brutal, and even more so when night falls. Going in guns blazing is doable, but maybe not always the right move. Ammo is scarce, noise is dangerous, and enemies are unforgiving. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. So the next time you feel tempted to sprint across an open field or you think firing off a shotgun blast in a tight corridor is a good idea, think twice. In I Hate This Place, it is not just what you do, it is how loud you are when you do it. Instead, you can rely on stealth, movement, and manipulation. Using the terrain, sound cues, and enemy behavior against them becomes second nature as you learn to navigate the environment and survive it. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. That’s it for today’s deep dive about our combat and potentially sound-induced paranoia! Thank you so much for reading. View the full article

Battle macabre puppets in a twisted soulslike take on well-known children’s tale, use your wits to survive sprawling maps filled with threats and relive an iconic anime first-hand with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August. Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be available to PlayStation Plus members from August 5. PlayStation 15th Anniversary Avatars As we announced a couple of weeks ago, the PlayStation Plus 15th anniversary celebrations are still going strong, and we’re excited to reveal a few more surprises! Starting August 5, PlayStation Plus members can claim a special set of 15th Anniversary Avatars, featuring fan-favorite titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, God of War Ragnarök, and Twisted Metal, all available at no additional cost. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Lies of P | PS5, PS4 This macabre Soulslike draws its inspiration from an unlikely source: The Adventures of Pinocchio. In this grim reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s treasured tale, Pinocchio is trying to find the mysterious Mr. Geppetto. His journey takes him to Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired city whose humanity has been lost to madness and killer puppets. Pinocchio must battle for survival using a range of weapons and swappable Legion Arms with special abilities. He will also encounter non-hostile characters, but you will have to help him lie to fulfil his dream of becoming human. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Day Z | PS4 DayZ is a hardcore survival game where up to 60 players must strive to endure a post-apocalyptic world populated by frenzied infected and other survivors. DayZ includes the original iconic map of Chernarus and Livonia – the dense 163 km2 map which lets players experience the hardcore survival hit in a whole new environment. With no checkpoints or saves, when you die, you lose everything and have to start over. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4 My Hero One’s Justice 2, the over-the-top follow-up to the smash hit 3D arena fighter My Hero One’s Justice, makes its heroic debut! Make full use of characters’ Quirks as you clash head-to-head in epic battles across huge arenas! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add PlayStation Plus Games for July to your library PlayStation Plus members have until August 4 to add Diablo IV, The King of Fighters XV and Jusant to their game library. View the full article

The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) returns to Las Vegas from August 1-3, hosting players from more than 60 countries around the globe for a weekend of high-stakes competition. Tens of thousands of the most passionate members of the fighting game community will reunite at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second year in a row to celebrate the games that unite them – with only the top competitors bringing home the championship title. With an expanded lineup of hit fighting games, insightful play-by-play commentary from veteran hosts, and first looks at upcoming games and hardware, this year’s Evo has more for fans to engage with than ever before. Expanded game lineup and showfloor experiences Over the past few years, Evo has continued to expand its gaming lineup and experiences. This year’s event is branching out with an expanded competition lineup now featuring 16 titles, including Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Guilty Gear -Strive-. Photography: Robert Paul Attendees will have plenty of exciting activities to choose from throughout the weekend, including industry panels, hands-on demo experiences, and various activities at gaming publisher booths. There will also be a Cosplay Contest, an Artist Alley with over 100 vendors and creators, and an Evo Museum with exhibits that showcase historic fighting game artwork and memorable arcade controllers. Photography: Robert Paul First playable experience for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at Evo 2025 Attendees can go hands-on with MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at the Arc System Works booth from August 1 to 3. The showfloor demo will be made available to play using a variety of controllers, including the DualSense wireless controller, Razer Kitsune all-button arcade controller, as well as NACON Daija Arcade Stick. Slated for release in 2026, this 4v4 tag team fighter is a collaboration between ​​PlayStation Studios, Arc System Works, and Marvel Games, featuring iconic heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe. Be sure to also check out the Developer Combat Panel with key members of the Arc System Works and Marvel Games teams, taking place on Friday, August 1 at 8pm PT on the Evo Showcase Stage (players at home can also tune into Twitch.tv/Evo or PlayStation Esports’ YouTube channel). Learn more about MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls activities at Evo 2025. Be one of the first to see the FlexStrike wireless fight stick on display Announced during the June 2025 State of Play, FlexStrike is the first wireless fight stick designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It uses PlayStation Link technology to deliver wireless connectivity with ultra-low latency for fighting games. At Evo 2025, the FlexStrike wireless fight stick will be on display only* for the first time – visit the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth for a first look at the fight stick and included sling carry case. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image *Display unit does not reflect final product design, which is subject to change PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale and deals directly from PlayStation As part of PlayStation’s Summer Sale, running now through August 13, there will be amazing savings off top fighting games, including titles featured in Evo 2025’s lineup: TEKKEN 8 – Advanced Edition – 50% off Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition – 60% off Guilty Gear -Strive- Blazing Edition – 20% off FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves – Special Edition – 40% off Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – 61% off UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes – 50% off Players attending Evo in Las Vegas will get 15% off select PS5 Accessories at direct.playstation.com from July 29 at 12:00AM until August 4 at 11:59PM (while supplies last). Offer includes popular items such as DualSense Edge wireless controllers, Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, Pulse Elite wireless headsets, fight sticks, racing gear, storage drives, and more. When ordering directly from direct.playstation.com, players can enjoy free standard shipping and free returns on eligible orders. EVO attendees will have access to the discount code at the event, which must be entered at checkout to take advantage of this exclusive offer. Where to watch Evo Vegas 2025 For those who will be watching the show from home, visit Twitch.tv/Evo or head to PlayStation Esports’ YouTube channel to witness the world’s best players in competition, see the latest fighting game reveals, and connect with fellow fighting game fans. Photography: Robert Paul Whether players are tuning in from home or experiencing the thrill of the fight in-person from the Las Vegas Convention Center, there’s a lot to look forward to at Evo 2025. Enjoy! View the full article

It’s a special time of year for fighting game fans and competitors gearing up for the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) in Las Vegas this weekend. To kick off this exciting week, we’re pleased to share new images and the official name for Project Defiant, now called FlexStrike wireless fight stick. Play Video As announced during the June 2025 State of Play, FlexStrike is the first fight stick controller designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Compatible with PS5 or PC via a wired connection or wirelessly with PlayStation Link, our innovative ultra-low latency wireless technology, FlexStrike wireless fight stick features mechanical switch buttons and toolless swappable restrictor gates. These include square, circle, and octagon restrictor gates that fit into the fight stick’s built-in storage compartments alongside the included PS Link USB adapter. Players can easily and securely transport the fight stick, all of its components such as the included USB-C cable, and more to a local fight night, a friend’s house, or a tournament with the included sling carry case, and stay ready to play with the built-in rechargeable battery. Here are additional features that players can expect from PlayStation’s first fight stick: Simultaneous PlayStation Link audio: On PS5, FlexStrike wireless fight stick offers a seamless fighting game experience. Players can use a single PS Link USB adapter to connect the FlexStrike wireless fight stick and a Pulse Elite wireless headset or Pulse Explore wireless earbuds simultaneously on PS5, for an ultra-low latency audio and voice chat experience in the heat of battle. FlexStrike wireless fight stick will feature an updated PlayStation Link USB adapter that is compatible with USB-C ports. Dual FlexStrike wireless fight stick connections: On PS5, connect two FlexStrike wireless fight sticks via a single PS Link USB adapter for couch competition or co-op. Durable and ergonomic design: The FlexStrike wireless fight stick features a unique, ergonomic design with comfortably angled surfaces and a non-slip base for a firm foundation. It also has a high-quality custom-designed digital stick. DualSense controller connectivity: You can keep your DualSense wireless controller on PS5 connected at the same time as the FlexStrike wireless fight stick, if you’d like to use it as an additional controller for navigating menus between fights. Adjustable controls and DualSense inputs: The FlexStrike wireless fight stick features the same game control inputs found on the DualSense controller**, plus a touchpad. There’s also additional customization options – you can switch directional inputs with a built-in lever mode switch, or lock in the layout and prevent accidental inputs during a match with a dedicated lock button. For players who choose to connect just the FlexStrike wireless fight stick to their PS5, a quick press of the PS button can also wake the connected PS5 console once synced. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image At Evo 2025 in Las Vegas from August 1 to 3, FlexStrike wireless fight stick will also be on display only* for the first time – visit the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth for a first look at the fight stick and included sling carry case. The FlexStrike wireless fight stick arrives in 2026 – stay tuned to PlayStation.Blog for more details and visit PlayStation.com/FlexStrike to sign up for the latest email updates about the upcoming controller. *Display unit does not reflect final product design, which is subject to change **Directional pad controlled with lever, and mute button not included View the full article

Last week, we asked you to share the friendly and villainous side characters of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: youarerexam shares Neil with his gun raised moving through shadows EmperorHal shares Tomorrow tossing an apple in the air carletto0809 shares a nightmarish version of Dollman sorathluna shares Fragile playfully posing for a picture calisarah1998 shares Rainy basking in the nighttime air sicparvismagna_vp shares a portrait of baby Lou Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Vacation SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 6, 2025 Over the next two weeks, we’re heading on vacation. Share places and spaces from the game of your choice that you would love to vacation at using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

Hi there. Square Glade Games here! We’re excited to share that we’re bringing Outbound, our cozy open-world exploration game, to PlayStation 5. Alone or with up to four players, Outbound starts you off with an empty camper van and sets you off on a journey to scavenge, craft, and build up your dream home as you adapt to the changing environment. I’m Marc Volger, co-founder of our studio, and I’m here to introduce Outbound to our wonderful PlayStation community, giving a deeper look into what you can do in our title, along with help from my fellow co-founder, Tobi Schnackenberg, who will share a bit about the inspiration behind our upcoming game. Outbound is a “cozyvival,” a term our team started using after Alpha testing when we stepped back and took a look at what players found enjoyable. We found that they fell in love with the satisfying survival mechanics, like managing energy, gathering materials, and growing food, paired with the cozy, low-pressure vibe of living in the van. Other titles tend to lean further into one end of the spectrum or the other, but we feel cozyvival perfectly expresses that balance our players enjoy — that’s the sweet spot where Outbound is found. Chill solo adventure or cheery multiplayer road trip? As a solo player, Outbound gives you a wonderful off-grid feeling, where you’re gathering resources and building up your camper van at your own pace. You’re the captain of your own ship, so to speak, and it gives you a sense of calm and empowerment. Outbound can also be played with up to three other friends; however, it changes the DNA of the experience in a significant way. With others along for the ride, friendly cooperation can turn Outbound into more of a high-energy road trip, very much like when you go on road trips with friends in real life. We loved to see that energy change, so while not required, multiplayer is a key addition from our perspective. We also recognized, as we brought Outbound over to PS5, that we had an opportunity to take advantage of the PlayStation Portal, as the PlayStation ecosystem doesn’t require any optimization to be Portal ready. We absolutely love the idea of a group of friends sitting together with Portal devices, playing together. The ease of carrying it with you (on a road trip, maybe) is something we hope our players will cherish. Grand fields of inspiration “Part of the inspiration for Outbound came when I was on a road trip of my own from Germany to the Netherlands,” says Tobi. “And I saw a beautiful old-school camper van as it drove by a field of solar panels and windmills. We were in the prototyping stage at that point, and this moment sparked the idea of building it around an electric van with sustainability in mind.” “Thus, sustainability is a huge theme that we’ve woven into the design,” Tobi continues. “The sun, wind, and rain are key sources of energy, and recycling litter earns you new blueprints for van upgrades. Those are merely a couple of ways Outbound shines a light on sustainability through gameplay, and we inject that energy aesthetically, as well, like how we show sailboats on the horizon as opposed to massive tankers and cargo ships.” Pet that good pup For the dog fans out there, you do have one with you on your Outbound journey, and, yes, you can pet the dog. This functional companion, which you adopt and name yourself, brings another layer to the cozyvival experience — players can teach them to fetch resources, carry them back to the vehicle, and more. They’re not there just to be an incredibly cute face. Video games are often platforms that catapult us into far-reaching fantasies, dropping us into glorious worlds where we take on fantastic creatures with weapons and magic. Other adventures tap into fantasies that are a bit more grounded in our reality, and that is where Outbound lives. We’re looking forward to setting you all off on a glorious adventure when Outbound comes to PlayStation 5. View the full article

On behalf of the team at The Game Kitchen, we’re thrilled to share that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is ready to go and will launch next week on July 31! To celebrate, we’d like to look back on the project’s creative journey and share a glimpse into how the game’s art style was developed, refined, and ultimately brought to life. When Dotemu approached us to create a new entry in Team Ninja’s iconic 2D Ninja Gaiden series, pixel art felt like the natural choice. It allowed us to honor the look of the original trilogy while drawing on The Game Kitchen’s own experience with the medium. Yet pixel art is incredibly versatile, capable of conveying very different aesthetics: from the dark baroque atmosphere of Blasphemous to the minimalist style of The Last Door. We knew Ragebound required a distinct visual identity, different from anything we’d done before. The last installment of the original 8-bit Ninja Gaiden series was released in 1991, featuring character designs and cover art that shared the same aesthetic as the anime OVA launched that year. As our mission was to bring the series back to its roots, we asked ourselves: What if Ninja Gaiden had continued into the mid-90’s as a 2D series? This idea became the foundation to define Ragebound’s visual style: vibrant, high-quality pixel art inspired by the 16- and 32-bit era, combined with the bold, dynamic designs typical of 90’s seinen anime. To share how we brought this vision to life, two members of our team, Jesús Campos and María Lozano, discuss their creative process below. Jesús “Nerkin” Campos, is a senior pixel artist at The Game Kitchen, acclaimed for his environmental art on the Blasphemous series. As the Art Director for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (and avid retro game lover), he took inspiration from classic 16- and 32-bit games to create vibrant, fluid pixel art full of energy and action. While honoring the legacy of the original Ninja Gaiden titles, Jesús also wanted to elevate the visuals to modern standards, blending traditional graphics with current quality and techniques. Pushing pixel art to new heights has become one of The Game Kitchen’s trademarks, he states. Discussing the creative process, Jesús shares that one of the biggest challenges was dealing with limited colors and detail due to the low resolution, while still managing to convey the mood of each moment in the adventure and the atmosphere of every zone. He explains that to overcome this, the team put great care into selecting precise color palettes, designing texture tiling and layering decorative elements and parallax effects to bring depth and vibrancy to the environments. Jesús also states that the most critical aspect of art applied to level design was ensuring clarity and readability. Given that the game was an action-platformer, it was essential for characters and enemies to stand out distinctly from the background so players could immediately identify and engage with them. He noted that the geometry of the levels (including floors, ceilings, and platforms) had to remain clear and recognizable, allowing players to fight and navigate without confusion while subtly guiding them toward their next objective. Finally, Jesús emphasizes how much the team enjoyed adding decorative details and animations to bring the game’s world to life, making it feel organic and immersive. María “Maiku” Lozano, is a concept artist renowned for her character designs across multiple indie games and her work as a cover illustrator for Spanish gaming magazines. For Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, she worked closely with Jesús to develop character concepts for heroes, bosses and enemies, as well as to create the storyboards for all of the cut-scenes. María emphasizes the importance of designing clear silhouettes that instantly convey danger or unique traits, which is crucial in pixel art where fine details can easily be lost. Achieving the final designs often required numerous iterations, experimenting with clothing, hairstyles, and color schemes until each character’s identity felt right. In designing protagonists Kenji and Kumori, María focused on strong visual and personality contrasts to make them stand out as narrative opposites like day and night. Kenji features loose, flowing fabrics in bright colors and wind-swept, voluminous hair, radiating a vibrant and determined energy typical of a central hero. In stark contrast, Kumori’s sleek, angular clothing with metallic accents, sharper edges, and a cooler palette, combined with perfectly straight hair, conveys precision and a more urban, calculated demeanor. Even textures and movement, like Kenji’s fluttering scarf, were designed to highlight these differences, making Kenji feel warm and organic while Kumori appears controlled and cool. When creating monsters and enemies, María drew inspiration from mythology, nature, art, and real-life imagery, aiming for designs that feel unique and emotionally resonant. She believes each creature should carry narrative or symbolic meaning, adding depth to the world. While cultural or folklore motifs often spark ideas, she prefers to reinterpret them creatively rather than replicate them directly, ensuring her designs stay fresh and original. Creating Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has been an exciting challenge and a true honor for our team. Bringing this classic series back to life meant staying faithful to its roots while trying to push an already amazing formula to new heights and, thanks to the talent and dedication of artists like Jesús and María, we believe we’ve managed to create a new chapter worth playing. We’re eager for players to dive in when the game launches on PS4 and PS5 on July 31, and we hope fans old and new will find plenty to enjoy. View the full article

Only 19 of the ‘05 NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune were produced by Nissan’s performance division. Nineteen. With some mathing, that’s one of Z-tune R34 for every 424,315,789 humans on Earth. If you happen to be one of the ridiculously few, good for you. For the rest of us, we have the free Update 1.61 from the Polyphony team. In addition to being able to drive the grail-status Z-tune the ’22 Honda N-ONE RS and ’22 Nissan Qashqai Tekna 190 2wd e-Power are also available in this free update. Play Video Three new events, a new Lone Pine location added to Scapes, and a ’17 Lexus RC F GT3 with the “ANEST IWATA Racing 2025” livery in the Lexus Showroom are additional content for the month. The Sophy AI racing agent will be available to battle against on the High-Speed Ring circuit. Update 1.61 for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of today, Wednesday, July 23 at 10:00pm PT / July 24 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST. NEW CARS** ’22 Honda N-ONE RS (Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image This “hot” model boasts the first front-wheel drive turbo, 6-speed manual transmission combo is a kei car. The N-ONE was introduced as a new basic car featuring motifs from the original N360, Honda’s first kei regulation passenger car. The first generation was released in 2012 and found critical and commercial success for its charming looks and driveability. In 2020, the N-ONE entered its second generation. Though the body frame was overhauled, requests from fans to not change the car’s looks led to the body panels from the first generation model being carried over and reused. Instead, subtle changes were made to the shape of the grille and bumper to tastefully express the evolution of the model. The second-generation sports model was dubbed the “RS,” standing for “Road Sailing.” While this grade also existed for the first generation, the 2nd gen. model featured the first combination of a front-mounted turbocharged engine with front-wheel drive paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, which made it even more of a joy to drive. The RS features an exclusive exterior design with black trim parts, but its most interesting feature is probably the 6-speed transmission. Designed for the enthusiast, it uses a close-ratio gear set as in the S660. The 2nd and 3rd gears feature heavy-duty synchros, and the clutch also uses heavy-duty parts. On the other side of the coin, it also features many assistance functions like any other modern manual car—from the peak torque limiter, which reduces shift shock when suddenly releasing the clutch, to automatic brake hold, which makes things like hill starts much easier. Thanks to its compact size and light weight at just under 1,000 kg, the driving feel is much more direct than one would expect from a car of this type. Overall, it makes for a very attractive package which brings the joy of sports driving closer to home. ’05 NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune (Can be purchased from Brand Central) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The second wave GT-R finishes with the ultimate complete tuned car. In 2004, Nismo (currently Nissan Motorsports & Customizing) celebrated the 20th anniversary of their founding. To mark the occasion, they decided to create the ultimate road car as a culmination of their 20 years of experience. The result of this passion project was the Nismo R34 GT-R Z-tune. However, production of the R34 model Skyline GT-R, which formed the base of this project, had already ceased by this time. To get around this, Nismo selected 20 used cars that met a strict set of requirements and dismantled all the bodies so they could be carefully reconstructed by hand. Naturally, every part that was added was of the highest level, befitting of the “Z” label. At its core sits the RB26DETT Kai-Z2 engine. Starting with the same 2.8L setup as the contemporary GT500 class GT-R race car, every component—from the pistons to the block to the conrods—was selected for strength and reliability. The turbochargers are IHI-made units, which had seen success in the 2004 Nürburgring 24-Hour race. Meanwhile, the exhaust is constructed from titanium, increasing catalyzer performance and exhaust flow rate. To increase chassis rigidity, extra spot welds were added around areas like the door frame, while areas more prone to distortion from the heat of welding were reinforced with molded CFRP parts. The suspension features specially tuned bolt-on dampers produced by SACHS, a company with a proven track record in GT500. In order to achieve the target of 1.6G braking force on semi-slick tyres, bespoke brake parts were developed in conjunction with Brembo. The exterior also received a number of refinements focused on weight reduction, cooling, and aerodynamics. In particular, on the front end, the bumper, fenders, and bonnet were all replaced with CFRP parts. In the end, only 19 cars were produced, including the prototype, but the R34 GT-R Z-tune is almost certainly Nismo’s greatest contribution to the second wave of GT-R models. ’22 Nissan Qashqai Tekna 190 2wd e-Power (Can be purchased from Brand Central) View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Nissan’s Compact SUV Is Even Better with e-Power. The Qashqai is a compact SUV that occupies the C-segment in Nissan’s lineup. The first model was released in 2006, with a second-generation model introduced in 2013. The model presented here is the third-generation incarnation, which debuted in 2021. The third-gen Qashqai features a styling overhaul to go along with its new, larger body. The sharp lines of the bold exterior design converge upon Nissan’s emblematic V-Motion grille. The car uses the latest CMF-C/D3 platform, which provides improved ride comfort and handling. Looking toward the powertrain, along with more traditional gasoline engines, the Qashqai is also available with Nissan’s proprietary e-Power series-hybrid system. This system uses the engine to power a generator, the electricity from which is sent to electric motors that turn the wheels. What’s more, Nissan’s electric-generating engine is the world’s first mass-produceable variable compression ratio engine. Its excellent thermal efficiency also offers great improvements in CO₂ emissions. ‘Tekna’ refers to the model grade. The Tekna offers a wealth of equipment, with larger wheels, ambient lighting, and a head-up display included as standard. World Circuits (New Events) The following new events have been added to “World Circuits”: Lightweight K-Cup: Nürburgring Nordschleife Japanese FF Challenge 450: Alsace – Test Course Race of Turbo Sportscars: Fuji International Speedway Gran Turismo Sophy The next-generation racing AI agent, ‘Gran Turismo Sophy’ is now available on the following course. Look for the Sophy icon in ‘Quick Race’ and ‘Custom Race’ on each track to test your skills against Sophy. High Speed Ring Scapes “Lone Pine” has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes. Brand Central: Lexus Added a new base color “ANEST IWATA Racing 2025” for the ’17 Lexus RC F GT3 on sale in the Lexus Showroom. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image *Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update. **Credits (paid or via game progression) required to purchase vehicles. View the full article

Many PS5 peripherals, including the DualSense wireless controller, are designed to support a variety of devices beyond PS5 including PC, Mac, and mobile devices. We believe enabling compatibility of our peripherals across multiple platforms creates a more flexible and seamless gaming experience. As part of this effort, we’re excited to announce that the latest PS5 system update beta will preview a new feature that allows DualSense wireless controllers and DualSense Edge wireless controllers to be paired across multiple devices simultaneously, making it easier to switch between them without needing to pair each time. Additionally, we’re also sharing new details on Power Saver for games – a new mode that enables supported PS5 games to run with lower power consumption and reduce environmental impact – which will be available at a later date. While beta access is limited to invited participants in select countries*, we plan to release the update globally in the coming months. If you’re selected to participate in the beta, you’ll receive an email invitation tomorrow when it’s available to download. Some features available during the beta phase may not make it into the final version or may see significant changes. Here are the details of each features: Pairing a DualSense wireless controller across multiple devices Until now, pairing was required each time you connected a DualSense or DualSense Edge wireless controller to a different device such as PC, Mac, and mobile devices. With this update, you can now register up to four devices simultaneously, and easily switch between them directly from your controller. For example, you can take your controller which you use with your PS5, then seamlessly switch connection to a PC to play PC games, or connect it to a smartphone to enjoy Remote Play from your PS5. With this enhanced flexibility, you can enjoy gaming more freely across multiple devices. View and download image "Image of DualSense wireless controller on a white background" Download “Image of DualSense wireless controller on a white background” close Close Download this image How to pair your controller to multiple devices By pressing a combination of the PS button and one of the action buttons (triangle button/circle button/cross button/square button), you can assign a device to your desired slot. If a USB cable is connected to your controller, disconnect it before pairing. Make sure the light bar and player indicator on your controller is off. If they’re turned on, press and hold the PS button until they turn off. Press and hold one of the action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, or square) and the PS button for over 5 seconds. The light bar and player indicator flash two times. Turn on Bluetooth® on your device, and select the option to add Bluetooth® devices. Your device detects nearby Bluetooth® devices. Select your controller from the detected devices. The light bar lights up, and the player indicator’s lights blink according to the slot number. How to switch devices Once the device is registered on your controller, you can switch between devices by pressing the PS button and the action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, or square) corresponding to a slot. You can do this when the controller is turned on or off. Turn on the device you want to connect to. Press and hold one of the action buttons and the PS button for about 3 seconds. When the light bar and player indicator blink, release both buttons. The light bar lights up, and the player indicator’s lights blink according to the slot number. Slot numberButton usedPlayer indicator lightsConnected Device (Example)**Slot 1PS button and Triangle buttonOne light onPS5Slot 2PS button and Circle buttonTwo lights onPS5 ProSlot 3PS button and Cross buttonThree lights onWindows PCSlot 4PS button and Square buttonFour lights oniPhone **Example of devices that can be connected to each slot. See here for the list of devices and OS versions that support Bluetooth® connections with DualSense wireless controller and DualSense Edge wireless controller. On the horizon: Power Saver for Games At SIE, we are committed to Sony’s ‘Road to Zero’ environmental plan, launched in 2010, which includes achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040***. We are always exploring how we can contribute to these goals through our products and services. With this update, you may notice a new option in your settings menu called Power Saver. While this feature won’t be available during the beta phase, once it officially launches, supported PS5 games will scale back performance**** and will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption when the feature is enabled optionally by gamers. If not enabled, or if games do not support the feature, the performance will not be scaled back and power consumption will not be reduced. We’ll share more details on this new option as we get closer to launch, including supported PS5 games and estimated impact, so stay tuned! Thank you to all our fans for sharing your suggestions, ideas and feedback. Beta participants will begin receiving emails starting tomorrow – so keep an eye out! *PS5 beta access will be available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France (same countries as our previous system software betas). ***Sony Group commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by FY40 from a FY18 base year, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). For more information on our organizational impact and our SBTi approved commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, see the Sony Sustainability Report 2024. ****While Power Saver is active, VR mode is unavailable. Also, some gameplay features may be limited. View the full article