Friday, April 30, 2021

PlayStation.Blog

PlayStation.Blog


Returnal gameplay: Dev details and more in nearly 30 minutes of new footage

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 03:30 PM PDT

In less than 24 hours, PlayStation 5 players will be able to step into the hostile and mysterious world of Returnal. From unsettling alien creatures to haunting musical themes, Selene's journey through Atropos is one you won't soon forget.

But what exactly is the flow to this cyclical adventure? You may have seen trailers and other gameplay clips that show a hectic run and gun, arcade-style adventure, while other footage looks a bit slower-paced and focused on exploration. The short answer is, Returnal is all of the above – and hopefully today's deep dive from developer Housemarque helps drive this point home.

Returnal gameplay: Dev details and more in nearly 30 minutes of new footage

Mikael Haveri, along with narrative director Gregory Louden, and game director Harry Krueger narrate a handful of typical "runs" through Atropos, where modular aspects of the levels change but certain progress persists. This video picks up still fairly early in the process, where Selene has unlocked a melee weapon and made some initial inroads into the ruins. From there we get a glimpse of the first real "boss," and then onto the Crimson Wastes, the second region of the game.

As you'll see in the video, you can get back to certain areas even after dying and starting a new cycle – but given how tough some of the enemies can be, do you want to rush back, or take your time powering up your weapons and consumables? The choice is yours, which helps reinforce the whole "is it a shooter or is it an adventure?" question above. Take your time, or rely on fast reflexes to survive… up to you!

Returnal lands on PS5 April 30, which may very well be "today" for many of you!

Grab your crew – Among Us drops on PS4 and PS5 this year

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:21 PM PDT

Think you can trust your friends? Think again!  Our social deception game, Among Us, is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 later this year. Hop aboard the spaceship with 4-10 players via online play and get to work. Just don't forget there may be one or more impostors on board ready to sabotage your work and take a deadly swipe at you.  

Among Us originally launched as a teeny, local, mobile only game, and we're so blown away by how far it's come. Now we're even more excited to say it'll be coming to PlayStation! Wahhh?! We can't wait for even more people to join our space crew… and potentially eject some of them. With all four maps available to play – from the Skeld to the Airship – it's going to be a chaotically fun time together. 

Our game was partially based off a game one of our cofounders, Marcus, used to play as a kid where you'd draw role cards and roam a house aimlessly while another person secretly "killed" players by drawing a finger across their neck. He especially loved the idea of someone trying to blend in with everyone. That core idea is still present in Among Us, but we wanted to alleviate the need for an interesting house layout and boring wandering, so we made it space themed and added tasks. The game underwent a ton of design changes to get it to where it's at, and we're happy it has resonated with so many of you. 

There is a lot we could say about Among Us, but truly the best part has been seeing the community gather around our indie title. From doodles to entire live action movies and countless streams, we've seen a lot of love pouring out for our little space beans. Thank you. We hope we can continue giving back that same energy! There are lots of updates we have planned for Among Us, and we can't wait to take our PlayStation community along for the ride.  

Thanks for reading, and we'd love to hear about your excitement over the PS4 and PS5 launch, coming later this year!

All-new Subnautica: Below Zero gameplay revealed in State of Play

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:20 PM PDT

Hello everyone. I'm Donya, Community Manager at Unknown Worlds. We were delighted to be included in PlayStation's State of Play and showcase some of the incredible work that the team has been doing on Subnautica: Below Zero to get it ready to launch on PS4 and PS5 on May 14.

All-new Subnautica: Below Zero gameplay revealed in State of Play

The sequel to the award-winning Subnautica, Below Zero plunges even the bravest of explorers into an underwater world, filled with all-new and vast biomes to explore, and mysterious and unfamiliar creatures lurking in the depths of the planet. As you continue to investigate the mysterious circumstances that brought you planetside, you’ll be challenged to survive in the harsh, arctic conditions, as well as avoid the looming threat of discovery by Alterra, who have all but abandoned 4546B in their haste to evacuate.

With all of the new tools and vehicles to craft, and lovingly crafted biomes to marvel at, Below Zero provides a unique spin on the familiar setting of Subnautica's unforgiving planet. Players can look forward to added cold mechanics to explore, creatures great and small to discover — and, in some cases, avoid — and far, far more about the lore of the Subnautica universe to uncover.

As announced during State of Play, we've been hard at work utilizing the PS5 DualSense controller for Below Zero. With the haptic feedback system, you'll receive visual and audio cues linked to key game moments, or when you're using tools and vehicles. We're excited for you to try Below Zero with this additional integration, which has enhanced some already terrifying and tense moments!

We've also heard all of your queries and questions about the upgrade path for players who already own the first Subnautica on PS4. We're pleased to confirm that if you own a physical or digital edition of the game you can upgrade to the digital PS5 version at no additional cost. Similarly, those who purchase Below Zero on PS4 will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free.*

As always, we want to thank you, our incredible community, for your feedback and excitement as we got Below Zero ready to launch. We can't wait for you all to play and experience the adventure.

You can pre-order Below Zero for PS4 and PS5 today for $29.99 USD. Below Zero launches on both platforms on May 14.

*To upgrade your PS4™ disc version of the game to the PS5™ digital version, you need a PS5 console with disc drive.

Predator: Hunting Grounds comes to Steam with April update

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:44 AM PDT

One year! It’s been one year since we jumped out of the chopper onto the jungle floor. One year since we slid among the trees using infrared to spot our next trophy spine. It’s been one wild year of hunting and being hunted. 

When the hunt began last April, we promised it was just the beginning. Since then: Dutch has arrived, filling you in on lost time with tapes of his whereabouts; five different Predators (Viking, Samurai, Valkyrie, Jungle Hunter, and City Hunter) have watched your every move; new classes for the Predator and Fireteam have made the game more challenging; a new mode was introduced allowing friends (4v4) to CLASH, literally; countless guns, skins, loot, easter-eggs, and trophies have been found/dropped/won; you can host private matches that give you the capability to modify how you want to play; and there are four, actually now…5 maps to test your skills on. You could say IllFonic’s quarantine has been a productive one. 

Before we jump into what’s next, we want to thank everyone who has played, wrote, vlogged, and supported our team. We do this for you. Keep the comments and feedback coming.

NOW… We have BIG NEWS and lots to cover: New platform play, a new map, and lots of additions/updates. And all are available to enjoy from today.

New platform play

We are on Steam! You can purchase Predator: Hunting Grounds on Steam today. To get all Steam players caught up, we will be offering a DLC Predator Package – all four Predator DLC skins and abilities: Viking, Samurai, Valkyrie, and City Hunter; plus early access* to three additional masks and six war paints. (This DLC package is available on all platforms starting today as well, if you have been waiting to add to your Predator collection.) Lastly, good news, Steam players do not fret; our game is crossplay friendly and allows for crossplay invites. One thing to note, all progress in-game is stored on a per-platform basis and is non-transferable. 

New Airstrip Map

Deep in the jungle, the Stargazer mercenary fleet has an airstrip they use to smuggle goods in and out of the area. The Airstrip map will challenge the player’s skills once again; not only will it push your vertical limits fighting on hangar roofs and run-down radio towers, its open areas will leave you feeling vulnerable. Guerilla snipers wait to pick you off one-by-one, and broken sight lines leave you easy prey as Fireteam. The Predator is forced to calculate its every move as entering this space forces you into hand-to-hand combat without an easy escape to the trees. There are places to hide, but if you seek shelter in a plane and the Predator sees you, just know you’re not getting past it unless it wants you to. 

The Airstrip map took our team about seven months to develop from concept to creation. It will offer 12 different missions that will have you dodging bullets as you weave through homes, radio towers, multiple Stargazer encampments, airplane hangars, and an airstrip littered with planes and choppers, all scattered throughout the thick jungle. 

The new map also brings a killer fight to CLASH. Multiple points within the map make for merciless battles. Our QA team points to the radio tower as an exciting place to defend. With multiple choke points, it’s a calculated yet claustrophobic race to secure the location while your enemies are emerging from all directions making this an incredibly intense battle. 

QA Play Tip – if you want a ridiculously fun CLASH, try the following in a private modified match. Use bottomless mags, crank up explosion range, greatly increase speed, and slightly decrease gravity. Have everyone use rocket or grenade launchers and watch the absurdity. It’s a Pyromaniac’s delight. For extra hilarity, add in Big Head Mode; just be sure to record your play; we want to see the show.

New Updates

We have given the Fireteam new toys and a lot of specializations this past year. Now it’s the Predator’s turn. Found in field lockers, a massive amount of cosmetics are coming, including armor and weapon skins. And let’s not forget the trophies coming, including some easter-eggs. We will only give one away right now; you’ll have to find it yourself or look to our social for hints for the rest. The pauldron on Dutch is now finally a mask for the Predator, you asked, and we delivered; this mask is part of the early access release when you purchase this month's Predator Package DLC.

Specializations have been a hit, so there is a long list of Predator specializations coming your way with perks correlating to each Predator. To see the complete list, check out our detailed patch notes, but we will highlight a few: 

  • Hunter/Jungle Hunter: Tracker – Target isolation ignores mud. 
  • Scout: Ghost – Melee attacking from cloak deals additional damage. 
  • Berserker: Savage – Claiming restores health. 
  • Alpha: Wrathful – After receiving enemy fireteam damage from behind, your next melee attack deals increased damage. 
  • Elder: Vicious – Opponents, you bleed out faster while downed and take longer to revive. 

What's Next

As we successfully hit the one-year mark, it doesn’t mean we are done. We have a lot left to bring you. Maybe we will release new Predators, characters, maps, and more. Who knows?! I guess you’ll just have to keep looking at our socials, forums, and here to find out more.  

Internet connection and PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately) required for online multiplayer.

*Additional masks and war paints unlockable to all via gameplay by December 2021.

15 mins of new gameplay for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Hey everyone,

Today we’re stoked to share with you a special preview of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on State of Play. This episode will have updates on a couple of other titles before giving you 15 minutes of never-before-seen gameplay footage, new reveals, and updates from Creative Director Marcus Smith.

15 mins of new gameplay for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a brand-new full-length standalone adventure that is great for both returning players and newcomers alike. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this a showpiece exclusive game for your PlayStation 5 console as you jump between dimensions, handle an explosive arsenal (made even more visceral by the DualSense wireless controller), and strive to save the galaxy from the evil Nefarious.

In today's episode we gave you our most in-depth look yet. The power of the PS5 shines with amazing visuals from Nefarious City and Rivet’s home base on the alternate dimension Sargasso. The game was built for the next-generation and shows it! 

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's dimensional chaos wouldn’t be possible without the SSD either, thanks to near-instant loading. And today’s State of Play showed some of the various ways that dimensional aspect changes gameplay with the Rift Tether, dimensional shifts, and pocket dimensions.

We also illustrated some of the new gameplay traversal mechanics, like Phantom Dash and wall-running, and showed how Ratchet and Rivet can utilize these new abilities and the Rift Tether in both combat and traversal. 

Weapons are at the heart of any Ratchet & Clank game and we showed how we are taking advantage of the PS5’s DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to create the most immersive Ratchet & Clank weapons yet. This included a longer look at previously revealed weapons and a taste of a brand-new weapon, the NegaTron Collider.

We touched on Accessibility Options, including a toggle-able Game Speed mode we’re very proud of. We’ll share more details on all the game’s accessibility options soon.

Lastly, we gave you a brief look at the many other features in Rift Apart: New open levels to explore, Clank puzzles, Glitch combat, arena challenges, aerial combat, and the first ever Ratchet & Clank Photo Mode will give you all sorts of ways to show off all the various armor pieces you can find during your adventure.

We’re so excited for everyone to experience Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for themselves on June 11, 2021. In case you missed it earlier this week, we released a new gameplay trailer that gives you a taste:

15 mins of new gameplay for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

As well as a look at the five additional armor sets you get with the Digital Deluxe Edition.

If you have an… uncontrollable urge to pre-order, here's where you can do that.

That’s all for now, we can’t wait to hear what you think of today’s State of Play.

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