PlayStation.Blog |
- Godfall: Challenger Edition launches December 7
- PlayStation Plus games for December: Godfall: Challenger Edition, Lego DC Super-Villains, Mortal Shell
- Final Fantasy XIV: PlayStation controller guide for DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers
- Watch the FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships World Finals this weekend
- Five delightful things to do in Solar Ash, out tomorrow
- What to expect in Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Season One
- Knockout City Season 4 starts December 7: Ride UFOs, brawl across an alien crash site
- One of Warframe’s biggest secrets revealed
- New Dreams update brings Ancient Dangers: A Bat’s Tale and DreamShaping 2.0
- Dauntless launches on PS5 December 2
| Godfall: Challenger Edition launches December 7 Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:45 AM PST Following the acclaimed Fire & Darkness expansion and free Lightbringer update in August, we're happy to announce Godfall: Challenger Edition, which allows new players to experience the game's trio of endgame modes, minus the story content of the base game and Fire & Darkness expansions, and grants existing players new exciting features and rewards to enjoy.. As you already may have heard , Godfall: Challenger Edition will be available on PlayStation Plus from December 7 through January 3.*  Let's jump right into what players can expect in Godfall: Challenger Edition – Instantly boost your player level to max levelAll players have the option to immediately jump to Player Level 50, which comes with a plethora of skill points and a spread of deadly weapons for your Valorplates.  Dive straight into the endgameUse your max level Valorplate to challenge Godfall's three endgame modes:
 New Boss rewardsAll existing Godfall players will receive The Challenger update for free, which adds new cosmetics for defeating the campaign bosses, as well as the ability to replay story missions. Quest system introduces new Challenges and Legendary rewardsThe adventure doesn't stop once you've faced Macros! All players will have access to the new Quests; an endless array of unique challenges that reward dedicated Valorians with legendary loot. All Challenger features are available to existing Godfall players in addition to Challenger Edition owners. Play with your fellow ValoriansGodfall: Challenger Edition's matchmaking and endgame co-op is compatible with all editions of Godfall and supports cross-gen play on PlayStation 4 and 5.  Easy upgrade to the Deluxe EditionWant to experience the story and campaign of Godfall? Godfall: Challenger Edition players can purchase the Deluxe Edition at any time to gain access to both the Godfall and Fire & Darkness campaigns, as well as a slew of weapons, items, and unlockable cosmetics. We are incredibly excited about the opportunity new players have to jump into the fray and get their hands on Godfall’s incredible endgame experience. We can't wait to see and hear about the moments you create as you challenge all those that dare oppose you in your fight against the enemies of Aperion. *PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms* |
| Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:30 AM PST December's PlayStation Plus lineup sees you battling through bright fantasy universes and grim worlds shattered by zealous foes. It asks you to play the hero or see yourself become the villain. You haven't long to wait in deciding to lose yourself to the looter-slasher hybrid of Godfall, the careful combat of Mortal Shell, or play bad in Lego DC Super Villains: all games will be available on Tuesday, December 7 until Monday, January 3. PlayStation Plus members will have until Monday, January 3 to add those titles, plus three bonus PS VR games to their game library. Let's take a closer look at each game.  Godfall: Challenger Edition | PS5 & PS4Godfall is a looter-slasher set in a bright fantasy universe filled with heroic knights and arcane magic. Embark on adventure in a fantasy action RPG that utilizes high-impact third-person melee combat to engage players as they hunt for loot, don legendary armor sets and defeat vicious enemies. The Challenger Edition focuses on three unique modes: Lightbringer, Dreamstones, and the Ascended Tower of Trials. All three are endgame-level content, but you'll be immediately equipped with a spread of deadly weapons and skill points, letting you team up with up to two other players* in co-op. Perfect your build and smash your enemies. Challenger Edition's endgame co-op is compatible with all upgraded editions of Godfall & supports cross-gen play. Godfall: Challenger Edition players can upgrade at any time to the Deluxe Edition gaining access to both Godfall and Fire & Darkness campaigns.  Lego DC Super-Villains | PS4It’s good to be bad… Embark on an all-new DC Lego adventure by becoming the best villain the universe has seen. Players will create and play as an all-new super-villain throughout the game, unleashing mischievous antics and wreaking havoc in an action-packed story. Set in an open world experience within the DC universe, the Justice League has disappeared, leaving Earth’s protection to their counterparts, who have proclaimed themselves as the ‘Justice Syndicate’. It’s up to you and a crazy group of misfits to uncover the intentions of Earth’s new, strange, wannabe superheroes. Joined by renowned DC Super-Villains: The Joker, Harley Quinn, and countless others from the Injustice League, players will set out on an epic adventure.  Mortal Shell | PS4Mortal Shell is a ruthless and deep single-player action-RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. As the remains of humanity wither and rot, zealous foes fester in the ruins. They spare no mercy, with survival demanding superior awareness, precision, and instincts. Track down hidden sanctums of devout followers and discover your true purpose. PS VR games**Continuing from last month and as part of PS VR's 5th anniversary, three bonus PS VR titles are still available to add to your game library. Survive the horrors aboard a procedurally generated spaceship in The Persistence, tackle zombies in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and showcase your sword skills in roguelike Until You Fall. These three games are available until Monday, January 3.  The Persistence | PS VR**The Persistence challenges you to survive aboard a doomed deep space colony starship in the year 2521. Stranded, malfunctioning and caught in the inexorable pull of a black hole, "The Persistence" is overrun with a crew mutated into horrific & murderous aberrations. It's down to you, a clone of security officer Zimri Eder, to make your way deeper in the decks of The Persistence to repair the systems and prevent the ship from being torn apart. Gather resources, upgrade abilities and fabricate an arsenal of weapons in this brutal sci-fi horror roguelike.  The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Standard Edition | PS VR**Face all the horrors that the living and the dead can offer in this new VR adventure in The Walking Dead universe. Travel through the ruins of walker infested New Orleans as you fight, sneak, scavenge, and survive each day unraveling a city wide mystery within the iconic quarters. Encounter desperate factions and lone survivors who could be friend or foe. Whether you help others or take what you want by force, every choice you make has consequences. What kind of survivor will you be for the people of NOLA?  Until You Fall | PS VR**Fantasy and synthwave collide in this physically active PS VR sword fighting game. Grow stronger as you battle through an awesome neon environment and strike down magic-infused monstrosities in this hack-and-slash roguelite. Move your arms and body to the synthwave soundtrack as you attack, block, cast spells, and dodge your way deeper into the heart of a neon fantasy world filled with magic-infused monsters. Equip yourself with a variety of gameplay-altering weapons as you continue to gain strength and strike down the monstrosities that lurk throughout this mystifying world. Last chance to download November's PlayStation Plus gamesPlayStation Plus members, this is your reminder to add Knockout City, First Class Trouble and Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning to your game library. All three titles will leave PlayStation Plus on Monday, December 6. *PlayStation Plus membership required for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms* |
| Final Fantasy XIV: PlayStation controller guide for DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers Posted: 01 Dec 2021 07:00 AM PST For newcomers, Final Fantasy XIV can seem daunting. Not only does the MMO boast a rich world of adventure, sidequests, captivating characters and more, but it comes packaged with extensive control options to help you to interact with it all. The game's development team has found an elegant solution for controller-favouring players, one that matches the versatility of the keyboard and mouse scheme. Yes, you can use that pairing for FFXIV on PlayStation, but you'd be missing out on one of the most satisfyingly polished controller setups created. With a few button combos, you can take down world-ending leviathans, race across the vast plains of Thanalan or break out an elaborate dance sequence for the entertainment of others. Read on for a step-by-step guide to tailor your controller – DualSense or DualShock 4 – to best suit your needs. This is written from experience: these beneficial shortcuts have been learnt from nearly a decade of playing FFXIV with a controller. The basics: navigating the menus and controller setupNavigating the menusFFXIV's menu system comes in two styles: one tailored for a controller, the other suited to mouse and keyboard. The first (above) will be familiar to long term PlayStation owners: it's similar to the PS3's XMB (Cross Media Bar) main menu. You're free to choose which one you prefer. Everything – from character gear to system customisation – can be accessed from here. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > UI Settings > General)
To navigate through whichever menu format you chose, you'll want to press Options to first open it, then the D-pad to navigate through the menu options. Key information will by default appear on your UI overlay while playing. This includes your mini-map, quest lines, chat window and more. You can move between these with a press of the Touchpad. You can customise their layout, size, position and whether they appear on the screen. (You'll find this setting in the main System > HUD) Setting up your controllerFirst of all you'll want to get comfortable with your basic controller setup. If you're the kind to enjoy custom button configuration, you'll be able to change button mapping to your liking. By default, Triangle will have you jump, Square will open the mini-map, Cross will be used to target things around you and otherwise confirm, and Circle will be used to cancel. You can decide to swap these to your liking. (You'll find this setting in System Configuration > Gamepad Settings > Button Configuration) There is also an option to reverse X or Y axes for those who prefer to play with inverted controls. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > General > Camera Controls > Gamepad) Once you've made sure the controller responds however you prefer, let's start looking into movement. Moving around EorzeaThere are two types of movement: Legacy and Standard. In Standard, your character will always orientate themselves towards the direction you move the camera, their back to you. In Legacy, the character isn't locked. You can move the character and camera independently, though the latter will always be locked to the former, so your character will always be at the centre of the screen. While Standard allows you to make more subtle and immersive moments – backstepping, side-stepping – it can slow you down in combat. If you want to stay nimble, you may find that Legacy will allow you to dodge attacks quicker. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > General > Movement Settings) You can choose the camera's distance from your character, zooming in and out, by holding L1 and using the joystick to adjust camera distance. This has benefits for combat, adjusting your field of vision to keep track of your surroundings, as well as telegraphs of where your enemy's next attack might land in an arena. There is also an option to go first-person if you zoom in fully. Good for checking out a friend's new glamour (outfit) up close, but not so much for anything else. You'll probably want to disable this in combat unless you want to see death up close. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > General > Camera Controls) It's still possible to switch to first-person by pressing R3 afterwards, if you ever want to! Eorzea is a big place. By default, you can activate autorun while moving on foot or riding a mount by first holding the left joystick in the desired direction, and then pressing L1, which leaves you to only worry about steering. You'll disable autorun with another press of L1, or by bringing the joystick to the opposite direction you're running to. (You'll find this setting in System Configuration > Gamepad Settings) Once you've reached a certain point in the game, you'll be able to use mounts to soar through the skies and swim underwater. You'll have two take off options to choose from when you want to fly, Auto or Manual. Auto means you'll need to press the jump action once to fly, while Manual will have you jump twice to take off. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > General > Flying Mount Takeoff) The intricacies of targetingThe basics of targetingThere are many different options you can choose from when it comes to targeting. In general, you'll want to use the D-pad. Navigating left and right will toggle between available targets on the screen from one side to the other. Navigating up and down will toggle between the allies in your party list, if you currently have one. There are a lot of ways to customize these rules to best fit your needs, so let's dive in. As you start targeting things around you, you'll notice there are two levels of targeting. We call these Temporary targets ("soft targeting") and Selected targets ("hard targeting"): Soft targeting means the target you are currently navigating to will be highlighted and pressing an action button will perform that action to that target but return to your hard target straight after if you have one. Alternatively, pressing Cross on a highlighted target will confirm that target and make it your new hard target. When in combat or if your weapon is drawn, hard targeting an enemy will activate the auto-attack, a continuous stream of basic attacks at regular intervals determined by your weapon. Soft targeting can come in handy when you need a spot heal on an ally, but want to keep auto-attacking your main target. It's an invaluable technique that's worth learning. With experience, you'll seamlessly use both soft targeting and hard targeting as you go about your Eorzean adventure. Targeting alliesSome time into your adventure, you'll start pairing up with other players in a variety of ways – randomly matched for dungeons or chosen allies from your friends list. The easiest way to keep an eye on your allies, and select them during combat, is your party list. The party list is a menu that sits on your UI, displaying your party members, their current class/job, HP, and more.
If you're a healer, you'll have to keep an eye on your party's HP regularly, so you might want to organise your party list according to your needs. For example, you can customise your settings so that your tanks and fellow healers will always appear on top of your list, with the DPS in your party appearing in the bottom part. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > UI Settings > Party List > Party List Sorting) You can navigate through your party list from either the top or the bottom with the up and down buttons on the D-pad, so you're always a few button presses away from your desired target, regardless of where they are on the battlefield as long as they're in range of you. You can also pick a different order depending on which class you’re in, and have your party sorted differently depending on if you're healing, tanking, or DPSing! Targeting enemiesFirst of all, when it comes to targeting enemies, your targeting options will be different depending on if your weapon is sheathed or drawn, which you can toggle between by pressing L3. For example, when you have your weapon out, pressing the D-pad horizontally could toggle between all enemies around you from left to right or right to left, but when your weapon is sheathed, the number of selectable targets around you will also include friendly NPCs, allies, and all objects you can interact with. This offers more precision in combat, skipping over targets you're unlikely to need while fighting. NPCs will thank you! You can customise the groups of targets you want selectable for each stance (sheathed/unsheathed) individually. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > Filters > Target Filter Settings) Advanced techniquesIn combat, there are a few more targeting techniques to select enemies in a pinch that can be useful. Ultimately, it will come down to personal preference and you might only use your favourites, but it's good to know all of them exist. First, holding L2 or R2 then tapping R1 (or L1) will cycle through the targets in your view from left to right (or right to left). If you're currently hard targeting an enemy, this will switch your hard target to the enemy directly to their left or right, depending on the button combination you use. This shortcut is particularly useful to quickly switch to an adjacent target. If you're tanking or otherwise involved in enmity (aggro) management, holding L1 and pressing up and down on the D-Pad will highlight targets straight from your enemy list, a UI element that lists the hostile enemies currently engaged with you that also displays an enmity meter. If you're tanking and notice that one of the enemy's enmity indicator has gone green (which means you no longer hold aggro over it), you can select it straight from there and quickly remedy that. Finally, if you really want a fully customised system to target anything you want straight away, you can also set up custom target filter settings. To use these, you'll need to hold L1 followed by circle, cross, triangle or square. Each will give you access to a unique targeting group that you can customise for yourself. For example, you can choose for your default mode to target engaged enemies, other enemies and NPCs, and by selecting one of these custom groups, seamlessly switch to a mode that only targets engaged enemies. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > Filters > Target Filter Settings > While weapon is drawn.) Oh, one last thing! There's an option to disable targeting pets and minions when in battle. You might want to turn that on! (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Control Settings > Filters > Target Filter Settings) Sorting out your actions with cross hotbarsWhat's a cross hotbar?Cross hotbars are Final Fantasy XIV's controller version of classic hotbars. You get a total of 8, each featuring 16 slots for skills and actions. That means a grand total of 128 slots. Sounds like a lot, right? But you're very unlikely to need them all, and each hotbar is quickly selectable with a tap of a button combination. By default, holding L2 or R2 will highlight one side of your main cross hotbar, and pressing any of the directional or face buttons will activate the related skill.
Instead of holding L2 or R2, you can also elect to press it once and toggle your main hotbar on and off. (You'll find this setting in Character configuration > Hotbar Settings > Cross > Cross Hotbar Controls) Cross hotbars are your shortcut to essential combat skills, like your unique party Limit Break, which when activated, could annihilate a boss, protect your party or resurrect the fallen. But they aren't just for combat. You can fill them up with a variety of menu options, items, shortcuts, and macros: call your chocobo, wave to a friend, teleport back home. All of these aren't directly combat skills, yet can be accessed straight from your hotbars, and sorted in whatever order you want. Even though we'd suggest separating your combat skills from your QoL skills, ultimately, it's your choice and whatever sorting logic feels comfortable to you will suit you best.  Navigating between your hotbarsBy default, you'll always have one cross hotbar on your screen at all times, but remember, you've got 8 of them! To swap from one hotbar to another, you'll need to press R1 and follow-up with any of the directional or face buttons. Each button will lead you to a separate hotbar, and the button's corresponding hotbar number will appear on the screen as you hold L1.
You can also do a single press of the R1 button to toggle to the next hotbar in order, although you'd have to go through all 8 (those completely empty excepted) to get back to your main one. Most of the jobs available in Final Fantasy XIV will only use up to two full cross hotbars' worth of skills at their maximum level, and even if you decide to level every single one of the jobs available, you don't have to worry about running out of space; hotbars are linked to jobs. Switch from white mage to ninja, and the hotbars you've created for one will be switched out for the set you created for the other. One important setting that will optimise your hotbar use is shared hotbars. This setting will let you assign some of your cross hotbars to be shared between all classes, while the rest are separate and class/job-specific. For example, you can set up a shared hotbar filled with evergreen command shortcuts, such as sprint, teleport, mounts and menu options. The remaining hotbars would feature your job skills, and would automatically swap as you change jobs. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Hotbar Settings > Sharing > Shared Hotbar > Cross Hotbar) Expanded controlsAnother quick trick you can take advantage of is to activate the expanded hold controls. This will allow you to access another cross hotbar, or rather, two half cross hotbars, from the R2 to L2 input and L2 to R2 (holding one, then the other). Of course, you can customise which hotbars you want these inputs to lead to. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Hotbar Settings > Custom > Expanded Hold Controls (Cannot Use Toggle Type) > Enable expanded controls with L2+R2) W cross hotbarsThe W cross hotbar (WXHB for short) is a setting that allows the display of a full secondary cross hotbar on your UI, on top of your main cross hotbar. As you level up your jobs to the level cap, the amount of skills you will need in combat will go up, and having this option turned on will become increasingly important so that you can display and keep track of all your combos, procs and cooldowns. (You'll find this setting in Character Configuration > Hotbar Settings > Cross > W Cross Hotbar Display Settings)
To get the maximum benefit from this setting, you'll also want to activate the WXHB access by double tapping L2 and R2 and make sure to enable directional buttons. (You'll find this setting in Character configuration > Hotbar Settings > Custom > W Cross Hotbar Display Settings) To access this secondary hotbar, you'll need double tap L2 or R2. You can also adjust the double tap timer to determine how fast or slow your input needs to be to register. Adjust, and select what you're most comfortable with. You can also choose where to position this new hotbar on your UI independently from your main cross hotbar. (You'll find the display settings in Character Configuration > Hotbar Settings > Cross > W Cross Hotbar Display Settings, and the customisation settings in Character Configuration > Hotbar Settings > Custom > Enable WXHB with simultaneous L2 and R2 double tap.) By customising hotbars and practicing the button combos, you'll soon be able to toggle between different skills at a lightning-fast pace. Automating with MacrosA note about macros on controllerMacros have near unlimited uses in FFXIV! You get 99 macro slots in your personal macro window that you can fill with anything you want. However, as a controller player, there are a few things they can help you do. Perhaps you might want a macro to quickly communicate to your team that it's your first time in an encounter? There's a macro for that! Perhaps you want to change the design of your UI depending on which job you are playing? There's a macro for that! Perhaps you want to create an elaborate dance composed of a string of 20 emotes and use that every time you defeat an opponent? Unfortunately for your party, there's a macro for that! All of these macros you can create and assign to your hotbars for quick access. (You'll find this setting in System > User Macros). There are plenty of very complete macro guides out there and an infinite amount of macro possibilities, so have fun and be creative!
Last but not least, did you know that you can assign macros for the L3 and R3 buttons? The last two slots of your macro allowance, 98 and 99 specifically, can be attributed for direct access from the button configuration menu. You could use L3 to set your current target as a Focus Target, for example, displaying their health and other information in a dedicated UI element! A personal favourite trick of mine is to create a macro to use the Sprint action, and allocate it to L3, as it provides me with a universal access to sprint across all my jobs on a button that makes for a very console-like experience. (You'll find this setting in System configuration > Gamepad Settings > Button Configuration) There's plenty more combinations possible. Once you're comfortable, you can dive into the world of macros, HUD customisations and much more. The above should set you on the right path to mastering the sublime, genre-defining controller implementation of Final Fantasy XIV. See you in Eorzea, adventurer! |
| Watch the FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships World Finals this weekend Posted: 01 Dec 2021 06:00 AM PST The 2021 iteration of the FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships reaches its climax next weekend (December 3-5) with the World Finals set to be broadcast live from PlayStation and Gran Turismo YouTube and Facebook pages. It's a special event, as this marks the last occasion the series, started in 2018 in partnership with the FIA, will take place on GT Sport ahead of the launch of Gran Turismo 7 on March 4, 2022. The level of competition and the standard of driving has continued to impress audiences and PDI since the inaugural World Tour event that took place in May 2018 at the Nürburgring. This year we have not been able to host physical events, but the intensity of the on-track battles and the skill of the drivers have been fantastic to watch during all of the World Series broadcasts. Competitors compete from home all over the world, and we bring them together online via a studio-based production that is broadcast in seven different languages.  So, let's get to the World Finals…. In total, 58 competitors from 23 different countries will take to the track over the course of the three days. The World Finals action begins with the single-make Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup this Friday, December 3.
On Saturday, December 4, the scene is set for a tense finale to the Manufacturer Series.
We then have a special treat in store during the stream on Sunday, December 5. We will host the Nations Cup finals and also have a special unveiling from Porsche for its Vision GT.
All the action can be followed on the Gran Turismo YouTube channel, Facebook page, and more information is available on www.Gran-Turismo.com
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| Five delightful things to do in Solar Ash, out tomorrow Posted: 01 Dec 2021 05:00 AM PST Solar Ash is a game that is, at its heart, about traversing with great speed through a massive world to discover its secrets. The protagonist Rei skates over wild cloudscapes, eerie landscapes, and great ruins. She's a stranger in a strange and dangerous land – out of her depth, but pushing forward with incredible will and commitment. Here are five amazing things you can do in Solar Ash… 1. Take down a giant lava-bird-monsterRei encounters a wide variety of aggressively large creatures in all manner of forms, such as an enormous bird-like monster that resides in the lava biome in the north. Why does it live in the burning heat of such a volatile environment? Perhaps you'll find out. Victory will require great speed, careful balance, and precise timing all while soaring through the air high above the dangerous flow of lava. The oozing heat tempts the foolish to leap. Only the skilled survive. 2. Build out your suit collectionAs she glides, jumps, and flies across the world of Solar Ash, Rei can grab multiple pieces of gear from hidden or hard-to-reach spots strewn about the world. These will net you rewards in the form of suit parts that can be assembled to unlock new bonus powers. These may be well worth your time to find and build out and succeed on your journey through the Ultravoid. Patience, vigilance, and exploration will be rewarded. 3. Rail-grind up an ancient ship graveyardThe universe of Solar Ash contains a great host of desolate, abandoned structures that Rei can glide over and through. Find the derelict fleet floating above the clouds, highlighted by the uncanny glow of the sky. Grind, slash, and platform up this ominous scrapyard. Perhaps there's something, or someone, at the end of this once-great heap to greet you? Sometimes decrepit ruins belie great rewards. 4. Collect lots of space blood (and other trinkets)Traveling mostly alone through a harsh, foreign landscape can be a dicey proposition. Fortunately, the game is full of collectables, including Plasma, which Rei can use to upgrade her shields. Players will also find a wide array of investigatable objects, easter eggs, and side-quest-related items that unlock backstory elements of each of the worlds consumed by the Ultravoid. Guide Rei through uncovering what happened to each, the awful fates that have befallen their peoples, and the intricate mysteries surrounding the places themselves. Savor the small moments of storytelling and lore. 5. Take a moment to recite a poemIt can't all be spooky architecture and destructive behemoths. Throughout her journey, Rei encounters some eccentric characters. Talk to Ahrric, who shares an ancient poem used for speaking with the "Elders". Sure, buddy. Whatever you say. Do you commit the poem to memory? Or dismiss it as the strange gibberings of an even stranger, melodramatic creature? The little things that most neglect may be more important than you think. There's so much more to Solar Ash. Find out for yourself when it hits PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on December 2! |
| What to expect in Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Season One Posted: 30 Nov 2021 10:16 AM PST With the recent launch of Call of Duty: Vanguard, we're only days away from the start of Season One, bringing with it the launch of the new map Caldera in Warzone Pacific. Caldera marks a new era of pulse-pounding tactical combat on a massive scale. Beginning December 8 with the start of Season One, Vanguard players get 24-hour early access to Caldera before it opens for everyone else on December 9. Featuring a dedicated Playlist with new vehicles, the introduction of Vanguard weapons, and more, there's a whole lot to look forward to as we kick off another epic year of free content.  Introducing CalderaThis is one big island. Caldera comprises 15 huge, distinct areas to explore and fight across, including hundreds of points of interest to investigate and use to your advantage. We've highlighted just three to give you an idea of what's ahead: Naval Arsenal This sprawling shipyard on Caldera's northern coast features a strategic mix of interior and exterior combat opportunities, including unusual fighting locations like the deep drydock basins and radar array. Farther inland is a cluster of large buildings housing plentiful loot. Clear Water Lagoon An old lighthouse overlooks a shallow bay with bamboo huts alongside a quaint coastal community with more-recently constructed homes. Traverse the lagoon to uncover its secrets, including what remains of Captain Butcher's plane. Caldera Capital City Set into a huge natural basin along the southern shore of the island, Caldera's main city features a variety of historical structures built on either side of a working tramway system. Hillside suburbs and a lighthouse offer space and height compared to the bustling downtown, while coastal developments south of the city offer a luxurious beachfront yacht club and bar. There's the central volcano, too, after which the island is named. Only the fiercest Operators can hope to face its perils.  Season One Brings Vanguard IntegrationWhen Season One launches on December 8, all Call of Duty: Warzone players will gain access to Vanguard content, including 40 new weapons, over a dozen new Operators, plus Vanguard Calling Cards, Emblems, and more. Cross-progression between Vanguard and Warzone will also be enabled, allowing you to rank up through Seasonal Prestige and unlock new content through the Battle Pass system, Challenges, and in the Store via new Vanguard content across both games. Try the new content on Rebirth Island, too, as Season One brings Vanguard to the entire Battle Royale experience. Duke It Out in Vanguard RoyaleJump into Vanguard Royale, the leading Featured Playlist at Season One launch. Including a fresh set of vehicles like fighter planes and the 4×4 all-terrain vehicle, plus a streamlined loot system exclusively supporting Vanguard weapons, it's the best way to get the World War II experience on Caldera. Experience in-game events at each collapse and discover powerful items in the world and as rewards for completing Contracts. Return to Rebirth IslandTo celebrate the launch of Season One, experience special one-day-only Rebirth Island Playlists — Resurgence and Mini Royale — right at the start of the season on December 8, before everything shifts to Caldera for the week of the third. During the season, Featured Playlists will include returns to Rebirth Island for Resurgences and other game modes, and new limited-time modes will focus on Caldera, such as Vanguard Plunder, Vanguard Resurgence, and other festive surprises. Innovations to the Warzone ExperienceKeep Your Gulag Equipment: Players who win their Gulag match will now drop back into the map with the equipment given to them prior to the duel. Deal with the enemy efficiently and return to Caldera with more tools at your disposal. Balance Adjustments: To prepare for the launch of Warzone Pacific, Raven Software looked closely at a range of balance changes. Dead Silence is being nerfed. Stopping Power Rounds are gone. Stun Grenades, Heartbeat Sensors, and dual-wield melee weapons are also being adjusted. Expect buffs too, particularly for Lethal and Tactical equipment. Pacing Adjustments: Players will only be able to purchase Loadout Drop Markers from Buy Stations after the Loadout Drop event occurs in the match, increasing the importance of the looting gameplay loop while slightly shifting back the power curve balance of the match. Gas Mask Changes and New Gas Canisters: Gas Masks won't interrupt as many actions as before, so you can focus on the action at hand when fighting in and around the circle collapse. Season One also introduces the Gas Canister, which on detonation releases the same noxious vapors, though within a smaller radius. Shallow Waters: The shallow waters in areas like the Lagoon make it harder to see enemy footprints, even with the Tracker Perk equipped. Operators who crouch in knee-high water also gain the effects of Cold Blooded. Finally, fire-based equipment now emits smoke when hitting water, offering new layers of tactics when traversing through shallow pools. Contracts and Public Events: Caldera introduces fresh contracts like the Supply Drop Contract and the Big Game Bounty. Public Events like Restocks and Resurgences from Rebirth Island are also coming to Caldera. Explore Caldera in Secrets of the PacificFrom November 24, uncover vital intel on Caldera through the Secrets of the Pacific limited-time event across Warzone and Vanguard. Drop into Verdansk in its final days to secure and extract intel on Caldera's points of interest, and earn in-game rewards for use when Season One debuts on December 8. Stay tuned for more about all the free new content coming in Season One, like new weapons, a new Operator, new Vanguard Multiplayer maps, and more. See you online. |
| Knockout City Season 4 starts December 7: Ride UFOs, brawl across an alien crash site Posted: 30 Nov 2021 09:04 AM PST I'm Zack Hiwiller, Lead Designer on Knockout City. I'm here to tell you that things are getting tense in Knockout City. First, we had an AI start taking over everything (Why can’t Perennial Labs just make AIs that, I dunno, help you find somewhere to go for lunch?), and now? You wouldn't believe me if I told you. It's better if you just… watch. Here, check it out in this trailer:  One of the benefits of developing a live service game like Knockout City is that you can constantly try new things. If these things work for players, you build on them. If not, you try something else. The cycles can be really rapid. We want to constantly update game content and keep each experience fresh; we packed Season 3 with events, and you can expect more where that came from in Season 4. We have four two-week events planned for a twelve-week season which starts with our Conflict Escalation Playlist on December 7 and ends, as always, with a week of Midnight Madness at the end of February. The start of Season 4 will also feature our new map: Alien Smash Site.  The level design process on Knockout City gives us the flexibility to focus on centering each level around a specific unique mechanic. For instance, at the Holowood Drive-In, we have movie vignettes that change every minute, significantly changing the level geometry throughout the match. In last season’s Lockdown Throwdown, we added menacing-looking turrets that shoot cage balls at you if you get caught in a Security Drone's spotlight. This Season, we're taking brawlers to Alien Smash Site, located on a peaceful farm hovering high above the ground on the outskirts of town. It was a peaceful place in Knockout City until recently, when the Knockout City Defense Force shot down UFOs directly on top of it. It has a full range of combat spaces: tightly enclosed barns, big open gaps (more on that in a bit), and places to flank and drop into an ongoing battle. This is Knockout City’s biggest level so far, so it needs something to help with traversal. Luckily, the aliens have left around a bunch of little saucers that you can hover around on and zip from place to place, even using its tractor beam to suck up balls (or players in Ballform, before you chuck `em into the nearest pit). For me, using the saucers is the most fun in our Basketbrawl mode as you can ride the saucers to dunk opponent balls through the hoops. Hovering is a great benefit because there are a bunch of pits in the level that are difficult to traverse otherwise. Of course, getting hit with a dodgeball above a pit might knock you off your ride, so you have to be careful. As always, we try to pair benefits with drawbacks so that every choice is situational. Riding a saucer makes you faster and gives you more traversal options, but you become a more visible and vulnerable target. There’s a lot of verticality on this map to deal with. Alien Smash Site is a lot of fun, but nowhere near all we have going on. We have a new 100-level Brawl Pass filled with all kinds of rewards, a new Season of Deep Space Dispatches (our ongoing audio transmissions revealing the story behind the season), and of course, a suite of alien-themed cosmetics (which you now have more time to complete, including those shiny Diamond contracts at the end). As always, you earn enough Holobux in each Brawl Pass to buy the next season’s Brawl Pass, so you never miss out on those exclusive cosmetics. And, to top it all off, we now have a native PlayStation 5 version (with a free upgrade for PlayStation 4 owners) for even better graphics and an option for 120fps. You can still get the game for free on PlayStation Plus through the December 6. Download now, so you'll have access to Season 4 when it launches the next day!  Just like our alien… friends… we are always listening and making changes based on your feedback. Join our Discord server and let us know how you're enjoying everything Season 4 has to offer! We’ve brought back Team KO in League Play by popular demand and we have a lot more great stuff in the works that I can’t tell you about yet. The aliens won’t let me mention… *painful scream* I mean, uh, I’m limited by my development contract. Yeah, that’s it. Heh. |
| One of Warframe’s biggest secrets revealed Posted: 30 Nov 2021 07:18 AM PST We've been developing Warframe now for nearly nine years strong, working diligently to create an experience that is much more than a looter shooter with fast, frenetic, and visceral action combat. Warframe boasts a dramatic cinematic storyline that we've spent years crafting, and often spent just as much time strategizing how we hide its epic plot twists and shocking turns that our players really value to this day. For years, players have been guided through Warframe by the Lotus, their Space Mom, but the true nature of their relationship has been highly guarded. As Warframe continues to evolve with the upcoming launch of our biggest cinematic expansion to date, The New War, on PS4 and PS5 December 15, we're taking a moment to reflect on Warframe's biggest plot twists and openly discuss pivotal moments in this blog that are key to understanding the stakes of The New War and the players' relationship with the Lotus. Spoiler Alert: Major Spoiler Warning  Secrets of The Second DreamSince we introduced The Second Dream in 2015, we've been extra cautious of spoilers — being careful not to spill our cup of secrets so that new players can discover the excitement of our story for themselves. We've gone out of our way on the development side to ensure the integrity of our plot twists remain unscathed — in 2019 we unveiled Creator Mode, which helped keep spoilers out of streams and VOD by hiding certain dialogue and transmissions when Warframe is being broadcast. Our community of players who have since completed The Second Dream Cinematic Quest in-game have also joined us in our mission of keeping this pivotal moment under wraps, hiding intimate details from other players in-game, following certain unspoken rules for interacting with new players, and even shutting down forums that threaten to virally spread news of our longest-standing question: who is behind the Warframe? Behind the WarframeUntil The Second Dream, the nature of the Warframe is never questioned. Players control fearsome suits of futuristic armor, warriors of blade and gun, to cut down enemy onslaught and complete various missions to level up their Mastery Ranks while working across an intricate Star Chart. But from the beginning we've deliberately left breadcrumbs for players to pick up on that allude to more — starting with when Ordis first greets the players as "Operator" inside their Orbiter. So what is, or who is, an Operator? The Operator is the actual player, a young human child whose Void powers are the source of their Warframe's powerful Abilities.  Once this truth is revealed, we've really shaken things up for players. They've learned that this entire time, the Warframe they are controlling isn't the center of the story but is a scientifically advanced biomechanical warrior being operated and mind-controlled by a sleeping child and their dreams. The narrative continues to evolve alongside the action with Quests like The War Within, but this single pivotal moment in Warframe dramatically changes the player's perspective in-game, creating an emotionally charged shift that sets the stage for Warframe's following story arcs. Revealing the SurpriseYou might be wondering why we've decided to proactively dish out one of Warframe's best-kept secrets in our new trailer. For over five years, our development team and community of players have established a symbiosis of sorts and have gone to extensive lengths to keep this out of general gamer purview. Players in-game have hidden their Operators from other players and we have danced around questions from the media on the subject time and time again. As we near the launch of The New War on December 15, we feel that it is critical to not only be able to engage with our veteran community more openly, but also communicate to new potential players that there is so much more to Warframe than they may think. While we may be publicly revealing one of Warframe's biggest plot twists for the first time in this trailer, we're opening the door to give players more context for the next chapter ahead while still leaving room for other secrets to be uncovered — and there are a ton! When The New War arrives on December 15, players can expect some of their longest standing questions to be answered, but new questions will arise that will leave them in mystery of what comes next.  Be ready for more epic plot twists and turns when The New War arrives for PS4 and PS5. Players will find themselves experiencing Warframe like never before as they work through three acts and control new playable characters for the very first time. Prepare to discover who is friend and who is foe and learn more about your past and future. While The New War will conclude many existing story arcs, this is a new chapter in Warframe that will open the door for so much more. |
| New Dreams update brings Ancient Dangers: A Bat’s Tale and DreamShaping 2.0 Posted: 30 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST Hold onto your buttresses – the dungeon-crawling, monster-slaying, castle-crashing Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale is out now! Exclusively available to play in Dreams, Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale is a third-person dungeon crawler made by Media Molecule and designed to test the skills of only the bravest adventurers. Whether you're after frantic combat against strange and silly foes, puzzles to tickle your brain cells, or a showdown against a dragon with huge teeth (and an even bigger ego), Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale has you covered.  A screenshot from Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale, featuring orc twins Scoria and Gabbro running up the stairs in a dungeon towards a group of ravenous plant enemies. Fight solo as heroic orc Scoria in single-player mode – or bring along a friend to play as Scoria's twin, Gabbro, in local co-op mode (local co-op play still requires an internet connection). Challenge yourself to top the scoreboards by clashing with enemies and activating your Berserk chain to maximize those sweet, sweet points.  A screenshot from Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale, featuring orc twins Scoria and Gabbro raising their swords to the sky to enter Berserk mode. Lightning is shooting out of the swords. Will Scoria and Gabbro find the herb they need to cure their grandmother's terrible snoring? Can their wise-cracking bat pal find his way home? And is there a reasonable explanation as to how a dragon learned the noble art of floristry? All these questions and more possibly answered within.  A screenshot from Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale, featuring orc twins Scoria and Gabbro looking towards the camera with puzzled expressions. To celebrate the launch of Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale, we're treating you to five glorious new imps, based on some of the most memorable characters from Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale. Get a load of these. But that's not all. This latest update also brings a significant overhaul to DreamShaping. Dreamshaping
Screenshots of some of the new DreamShaping templates in action. For the uninitiated: DreamShaping is the name of the Dreams create mode. Since launching Dreams, we've found that DreamShaping can be overwhelming for new players. With our new template system, and a reworking of the DreamShaping UI, we hope this huge update will help make getting started making games in Dreams quicker, easier and more fun than ever before. The new version of DreamShaping includes handy game templates and brand-new elements for making a 2D platformer, a dungeon crawler, a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up, mini golf and more besides – including a dedicated template for Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale, which features a huge kit for your creative delectation. Objectives and pointers throughout templates guide you through and explain the process, helping development feel more like a game in itself! And if you find yourself feeling stuck at any point, then indreams.me is here to help – just head over to our Templates section to find any extra info or support you may need. We've also made some changes to the DreamShaping UI to help you find exactly what you're looking for – and faster.  A screenshot of the new Start Creating scene. On the new Start Creating screen, you'll be able to access the overview page for each template. We've indicated the difficulty of each template (and in some cases the parts within each template) for varying experience levels. Beginner templates are all about letting you get comfy with creating by letting you simply stamp in elements, medium-difficulty templates introduce the idea of wiring things together, and more advanced templates cover techniques such as how to optimise your game. You'll also find new sections to promote quality elements to use in your creations, high-level and award-winning Dreams creators to follow, and community events – plus a raft of new help pages that link to online support via QR codes.  A screenshot of the new help pages linking to online support via QR codes. What's more, the type of content you'll see on your DreamShaping page in-game will now be tailored to you, based on the time you've spent creating in Dreams! If you're a new player, you'll see stuff that'll help you get acquainted with the basics. If you're a little more experienced, you'll be served our curated recommendations for some of the best building blocks the community has to offer. That's not to mention the many other things this overhaul brings – you can find much more detail in our update notes here. Phew! Just a small update, then. Only joking, it's enormous. Enjoy! We can't wait to see you on the Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale leaderboards, and dreamers old and new rediscover the joys of creating in Dreams. Ancient Dangers: A Bat's Tale and the DreamShaping update are available via a downloadable patch (internet required). Internet required to access full Dreams content. |
| Dauntless launches on PS5 December 2 Posted: 29 Nov 2021 10:00 AM PST Hey PlayStation Slayers, I'm here with exciting news – Dauntless is coming to PlayStation 5 on December 2! This new native version of the game, launching alongside our "Call to Arms" content update, includes significant graphical upgrades, much faster load times, DualSense controller and 3D Audio support, and much more.  With the native PS5 version of Dauntless, we've taken the opportunity to upgrade visuals across the game. In addition to dynamic 4K resolution targeting 60 frames-per-second, there are enhanced environmental textures and detail across all our islands, including upgraded trees, grass, and water. We've also got higher-quality lighting and materials, new volumetric fog, and improved visual effects across the game. The Shattered Isles have never looked so good!  Of course, we couldn't come to PS5 without supporting the DualSense controller. You'll feel your character's stamina and empowered Repeater ammo through trigger resistance, hear radio callouts through the speaker, and see applied elemental effects in the lights. You'll also be able to use the microphone built into the DualSense to chat with your party and we've added support for immersive 3D Audio. Together with the PS5's SSD, load times have been significantly reduced, getting you into the hunt faster than ever. If you've already been playing Dauntless on PS4, you'll be able to pick up your progress automatically on the PS5 version. You can also jump between the two and play with your friends with cross-play and cross-save. To celebrate everything we've added to Dauntless since our initial PS4 release two years ago, the "Call to Arms" update launching December 2 adds 36 new Trophies for you to collect in the PlayStation 4 version of the game. On PlayStation 5, there's a whole new set of Trophies to unlock, including a Platinum.  Also arriving in the Shattered Isles as part of the "Call to Arms"update is the razor-sharp new Behemoth, Sahvyt, a gameplay refresh for our Chain Blades weapon, the new Krolachi Warlords Hunt Pass, new quests and challenges, and a host of other additions and improvements. Stay tuned to PlayDauntless.com for more details as we approach launch. You can download and hop into Dauntless right now on PS4 and PS5 (backwards compatible), and we're excited for you to enjoy the new native PS5 version and all our other new content on December 2! Clear skies, Slayers. |
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