ps5 – PlayStation.Blog

First look at new images and UI of the Access controller for PS5, an all-new accessibility controller kit

Hideaki Nishino — Thu, 18 May 2023 08:00:23 +0000

While accessibility is an important topic year-round, May is always special as we celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day and recognize the strides made by the accessibility community and the games industry to make gaming more inclusive. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are committed to furthering that mission, so today we’re excited to share new details and images of the Access controller for the PS5 console.

New details and product images

First revealed at CES this year as “Project Leonardo,” the Access controller for PS5 is an all-new, highly-customizable accessibility controller kit designed to help many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods.

Developed in collaboration with accessibility experts, the Access controller will include a wide array of swappable button and stick caps so players can freely create different layouts that work for their unique strength, range of motion, and physical needs. Each Access controller will include:

Analog stick caps (standard, dome and ball stick cap)
Button caps in different shapes and sizes, including:
- Pillow button caps
- Flat button caps
- Wide flat button cap (which covers two button sockets)
- Overhang button caps (which benefit players with smaller hands as they are positioned closer to the center)
- Curve button caps (which can be pushed if placed along the top or pulled if placed along the bottom of the controller)
Swappable button cap tags for players to easily mark which inputs they map to each button

In addition, players can use the Access controller on flat surfaces, orient it 360 degrees, or easily secure the controller to an AMPS mount* or tripod. They can also adjust the distance of the analog stick from the controller.

Through the Access controller’s four 3.5mm AUX ports, players can integrate their own specialty switches, buttons or analog sticks.

You can read more about the Access controller’s hardware features in our original blog post. You can also visit our new web page here where you can sign up for email updates and be informed when preorders launch, so you can secure your controller at the earliest opportunity.

First look at the Access controller UI

Beyond the wide range of hardware customization options, the Access controller features a myriad of ways for players to create personalized UI settings and configurations that unlock new ways to play.

Button mapping & control profiles. On the PS5 console, players can select their preferred orientation for the Access controller, map different inputs to the various buttons, toggle buttons on or off, or even map two different inputs onto the same button. They can also create and store their favorite control profiles for different games or genres (such as “combat” or “driving”).

Controller pairing and analog stick adjustments. Up to two Access controllers and one DualSense (or DualSense Edge) wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller, allowing players to mix and match devices or play collaboratively with others. Similar to the DualSense Edge wireless controller, players can also fine-tune the starting position and sensitivity of input. The ability to adjust deadzones (the distance your analog stick moves before it’s recognized in a game) and stick sensitivity is particularly helpful for players to improve their fine motor control during gameplay.

Toggle mode. The Access controller also features a toggle mode, which allows players to adjust the behavior of any button to work like a caps lock key on a keyboard. For example, if you enable toggle mode for the acceleration input in a racing game, the Access controller will accelerate the car without you needing to hold the button down.

Players can enable toggle mode for any programmable input. As an example, if a game only allows you to sprint by holding down “L3” (the left analog stick), which can be physically challenging, you can change that input to behave like “click L3 to toggle sprint” by enabling toggle mode for the button you’ve assigned to L3.

Our journey of accessibility on PS5

Alongside new details on the Access controller, we’re excited to share a video today that highlights ongoing efforts across our product development and PlayStation Studios teams to make gaming accessible for more players on PS5. Hear from team members around the world about the work they’re doing to expand gaming accessibility on PS5 through our upcoming Access controller, console UI, and games:

We’ll have more to share about the Access controller for PS5, including more product and release details, in the months ahead. Thanks to all the players who’ve shared valuable feedback and inspire us every day to bring the joy of gaming to more people through innovation and collaboration with you – our community.

*AMPS is an industry-standard mounting screw pattern for attaching devices to equipment, including accessibility equipment.

(For Southeast Asia) You’re Invited: PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL)

Sid Shuman (he/him) — Thu, 18 May 2023 04:53:10 +0000

It’s almost time to see what’s next — PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL).

The show will run a bit over an hour, focusing on PS5 and PS VR2 games in development from top studios from around the world. Expect a glimpse at several new creations from PlayStation Studios, as well as spellbinding games from our third-party partners and indie creators.

The live broadcast starts next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL) on YouTube and Twitch. Hope to see you there!

Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

Please note that this web broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could possibly interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this stream.

If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

You’re Invited: PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time

Sid Shuman (he/him) — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:00:05 +0000

It’s almost time to see what’s next — PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time / 9pm British Time.

The live broadcast starts next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time / 9pm British Time on YouTube and Twitch. Hope to see you there!

Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

Inside the creative minds of Humanity developers Yugo Nakamura and Tetsuya Mizuguchi

Shuhei Yoshida — Tue, 16 May 2023 22:00:23 +0000

Shuhei Yoshida chats with Yugo Nakamura, creative director, art director, designer, and narrative designer for Humanity, and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, executive producer for Humanity, on how the title delivers a new puzzle game experience. They discuss the thought process behind the creation of Humanity as a new form of interactive experience and how they came up with the game’s main theme.

Humanity is available starting today as a Day 1 PlayStation Plus Game Catalog title.*

Inspired by the “flocking behavior of birds”

Shuhei Yoshida (SY): I heard that Nakamura-san likes to observe flocks of birds, and that’s where you found inspiration for Humanity. Can you tell us more about that?

Yugo Nakamura(YN): I specialize in Interactive Design, and I like to spend my time programming, sharing my work, and creating visual experiences; I enjoy these things and that’s why I do them for a living. I think a lot of people like me have used a simulation program called “Boids,” which essentially simulates the flocking behavior of birds. If you focus on just a single creature, you’re able to create very organic movements just by programming three simple rules and connecting them. But in the case of birds, the simulation looked so alive, and it was fascinating to see how organically the flock of birds moved, even though it was based on such a simple mechanism.

From there, I spent some time making a bite-size mobile game that used simple bird movements as motifs. It was like a racing game where you control a flock of birds.

SY: It’s the one where you try to progress further into the game, right?

YN: Yes. In a regular racing game, you’re only responsible for controlling one car, but in this game, you basically had to control 300 different cars. If you made a small mistake, you lost 100 birds, but then eventually gained back 200!

SY: Game developers like us are always looking to surprise people by creating something that goes above and beyond what you’d expect from a hardware’s capabilities. So when I saw your game, I felt something similar.

YN: I had similar thoughts as a consumer myself. I was shocked at how smoothly games ran back on the original PlayStation, and I thought that was such a great achievement. From there, I decided that since I already made a game with birds on a smartphone, next I wanted to create a system that controlled large groups of humans. That’s how the idea for Humanity was born.

SY: Birds’ movements are driven completely by instinct, but in the case of humans, a mix of intellect and social conventions come into play. What aspects did you focus on when designing the movement of crowds of humans?

YN: My first eureka moment was when I saw huge crowds of people at Comic Market (Comiket) in Japan, all properly lined up and waiting patiently. I was fascinated by how the movement of that many people was so controlled and regulated – I think this sort of behavior is unique to humans who are not just herded by instinct.

“Humanity is something special” – how development started

SY: How did you meet Mizuguchi-san?

YN: I’ve always loved games, and I’d seen Mizuguchi-san many times in gaming magazines since his time at Sega. I was a fan of his work. I once had a chance to meet him briefly, but then I saw him again at Unity Developer’s Delight – a developer event hosted by Unity. There, one of our engineers, Yama, showcased a human crowd simulator demo which was the prototype for Humanity. Mizuguchi-san was one of the judges there, and he later got in touch.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi (TM): I met Yugo once at the Japan Media Arts Festival, hosted by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, but to me he was like a superstar creator that produced so many unique and creative products. If you turned on the TV you’d see a show that he produced, and if you walked the streets of Ginza, you’d see UNIQLO ads that he had worked on.

Enhance helps navigate the complexities of game design

SY: Nakamura-san’s “tha ltd.” isn’t a game development studio. How does the collaboration between Enhance work?

YN: We aren’t a game studio, but our expertise lies in design and tech for interactive experiences. Even though we didn’t know much about video game design, we were overly optimistic at the beginning, and decided that our team will be responsible for development, and Enhance will take on the role of publisher and producer.

However, the deeper we went into development, we realized that game development was not at all like we had imagined. I realized rather early on that creating a fun gaming experience is not something an amateur can easily pull off, so I spoke to Mizuguchi-san to have seasoned game designers oversee our work. From there, we had staff from Enhance join our development as well.

The fun and terror of collectivized humanity

SY: I felt like the game’s title, Humanity, is ironic in a sense that it reflects how humanity as a concept can be perceived. Heaps of people walking around in hordes almost reminds me of a totalitarian society. I was really curious as to whether you developed the game with such irony in mind, or whether you were just genuinely interested in people. When creating a game, you have to implement a lot of rules, which may cause the game to end up becoming something that was not originally intended. Did you face any dilemma like that?

YN: Actually, the inspiration behind the game title is a T-shirt that I own with a logo that says “Humanity” – I thought that was a cool logo and the word itself had a nice ring to it. But when you think about it, Humanity has a very deep meaning, and when I reflected on how humanity plays a role in my daily life, many thoughts came to mind. Each and every one of us is generally kind and rational, and not many of us are inherently mad or crazy. However, this all changes drastically when it comes to ‘groups’. Politics, war, cancel culture on social media – people tend to go to extremes when they are part of a larger group. The title, Humanity, embodies the idea that humans gain a new trait when they come together.

When we view human beings as a cluster, and not as individuals, we may associate them with the totalitarian and homogenous image you mentioned earlier, and the fear and extremities that derive from that are certainly an important motif in the game.

SY: Visuals of the game evoke fear as well.

YN: It was even more terrifying and ruthless at the earlier stages. When you looked at a single human from a group’s perspective, they looked like a speck of dust or even a tiny piece of trash. Mizuguchi-san provided us with some guidance and we went in a more gentle direction.

Expanding the community with the Stage Creator

SY: What was the idea behind Stage Creator?

YN: Originally, the development team was working on a tool for level design, and we thought it would be fun to make it public. However, it was quite a challenge to develop it into something that users could play with a controller.

When we previously released the demo, I saw users creating stages that went far beyond our expectations, so I felt reassured that we made a good decision

SY: I felt the same with LittleBigPlanet and Dreams. It’s nice to see players leveraging the games in ways that the creators never imagined, and sharing their creations with other gamers. Humanity’s UI is also very well designed. Stages with high user ratings and recommendations are showcased at the top, allowing users to quickly discover fun and interesting community-made content.

The world of Humanity in PS VR2

SY: In my position, I must bring up the fact that the game is compatible with PS VR2. The team at Enhance has produced VR masterpieces such as Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect: Connected, so I imagine it was a familiar process for Mizuguchi-san. What was your impression of VR as a medium, Yugo?

YN: I enjoy VR so I have been playing around with it since the early days, but I had an impression that the majority of VR content was immersive first-person experiences. When Mizuguchi-san suggested trying out VR, I didn’t think it would be a good fit for this game, but there were so many discoveries when I gave it a try. I didn’t realize VR was capable of capturing extremely detailed 3D human movements in such high resolution. We were able to utilize VR in a unique way, where the player can watch over small crowds of people walking around in an elaborate diorama, as if you’re observing a swarm of ants.

TM: Most of the VR games I have worked on so far are immersive first-person experiences, but I had a feeling that Humanity would be interesting to play from a third-person perspective – sort of like Sim City where you can walk around and get a bird’s eye view of everything. At first, members of the team were a little skeptical, but when we tried it out, everyone agreed that it was a good idea. The development went smoothly from there.

SY: Performance, such as framerate, can be a concern on VR. Did you run into any issues around that?

YN: It was quite challenging optimizing for PS VR, but we had a lot of leeway with PS VR2. I think we were able to achieve the level of detail we were aiming for, with the resolution of the PS VR2.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s take on the potential of PS VR2

SY: As a developer, how do you feel about PS VR2 overall – not just limited to Humanity?

TM: Compared to the original PS VR, the overall quality has improved dramatically, and I think it is an amazing generational leap forward. As a developer, I’m particularly interested and see a lot of potential in the new eye tracking feature.

Also, you may think that we at Enhance are obsessed with haptics – well, we are haha – but we are interested in building experiences that involve haptics. In that sense, the inclusion of haptic feedback in the headset is very significant. What I found out when I created the Synesthesia Suit for Rez Infinite, for example, is that when there is distance, you can experience the world through the senses of your whole body. You can feel the sensation of objects passing by or the alternating beat of the music. What only existed in the palm of your hands is now extended to the headset, so there are so many new possibilities.

A perfect chemistry of puzzles and narrative that make it worth playing till the end

SY: It’s been five years since development started. How do you feel looking back?

YN: We were struggling the whole time basically (haha). I mentioned earlier that the game was an extension of an interactive design we worked on, and there were parts of the process that were exactly as we had imagined and parts that were completely unexpected. The basic aspects of development were what we had expected, but the process of refining the game to make it more fun and enjoyable was very unique.

Extensive playtesting and listening to various user feedback is common practice in the game industry. Even when there were opinions I thought were okay to ignore, we diligently repeated the process of resolving them. We would eliminate even the slightest stress, and the end result would be a game that is pleasant and comfortable to play, even if you can’t quite complete it.

SY: Indeed, there is no stress when playing Humanity. You can retry immediately if you fail, and it drops you right back into the middle of what you have been doing. I felt that the game was being accommodating to the user and made them feel comfortable during gameplay.Players from around the globe enjoyed the demo released in February, and now the full version is available as part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.How do you feel about that?

YN: In one word, I am terrified! The content I usually produce lasts five to 15 minutes at most. With videos, I only need to grab the attention of the viewer for that short amount of time, so I can focus on that and make it happen. Games, however, can take up to several tens of hours, so I cannot help but wonder if our game is really worth that amount of players’ time. As the creator, I don’t have that much objective confidence, and because I’ve been a part of the game’s development for so long I can’t say I’m objective anymore.

SY: Do you have a message for those who haven’t played Humanity yet?

YN: There may be people who don’t enjoy puzzles or are not too fond of it as a game genre, but I hope people will see past that and give it a try. Of course the puzzles are fun, but I encourage gamers to jump in and play around as if it’s a playground; move the crowds in various ways and experiment by making them do different things. You’ll see a lot of interesting behaviors and results. We put work in creating a game that you won’t get tired of.

It is part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, so if you are already a member, you can play it whenever you feel like it. I’ll be delighted if everyone could give it a try.

TM: Humanity is a game that delivers a whole new experience. If you ask me what genre it is, I would probably say it is a puzzle game. I think it is easy enough for anyone to pick up – from children to the elderly, even our parents’ generation. Everything that happens is a spectacle, and that alone is interesting, but I think the game is about experiencing the narrative, and immersing yourself in the story of Humanity.

It’s a fun game that can be enjoyed on your own, or have family and friends with you helping to solve the puzzles. You can also treat it like a party game where everyone beats the game together. I hope players enjoy the game in their own way, and are able to witness the end that we prepared for them.

*Humanity is available now on PS4, PS5, PS VR, and PS VR2. It’s also included with the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog with PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium memberships.

(For Southeast Asia) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 prequel comic announced for Free Comic Book Day

Jon Paquette — Wed, 10 May 2023 06:52:50 +0000

Saturday, May 6, is Free Comic Book Day —and to celebrate, we teamed up with Marvel to release a comic that will serve as a prequel to the upcoming game Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

When we initially sat down with the team at Marvel, we explored a few different ideas about what kinds of stories we could tell in a prequel comic. But we kept coming back to the same core premise—What if Peter, Miles, and MJ had to team up against a new Super Villain whose powers they didn’t understand? Additionally, we wanted to make sure that we could get a peek into what this heroic trio has been doing since the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. What is Pete up to now that there are two Spider-Men in the city? How is Miles doing in school? And how is MJ’s journalism career going?

In this story, their lives collide as Peter, Miles, and MJ attempt to balance their responsibilities to the city, and each other. They keep coming back to one of the main themes of the comic: is magic real? Because in this action-packed issue, a beloved Super Villain makes their first appearance in our universe and appears to have supernatural abilities that defy mere webs and fists: none other than The Hood!

To find the answers to these questions we collaborated with the experts: Writer Christos Gage (who was also one of the writers on Marvel’s Spider-Man), and Artist Ig Guara. In celebration of Free Comic Book Day. Fans in the US can visit a participating comic book store or download the comic digitally on the Marvel Unlimited app* or Marvel.com starting on May 6. The comic will be available digitally worldwide through the Marvel Unlimited app at a later date! And one more thing…

We know you’ve all been patiently waiting for news on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and we thank you for hanging in there with us. Today we have one more piece of news: a standalone release of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PS5 console!

On May 4, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will become available for a standalone purchase on PlayStation Store. This title was previously only included as part of the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition.

On top of that, when the game becomes available, there will be an upgrade program for owners of the original Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 console. Whether you have a disc or a digital copy of the PS4 game**, you will be able to upgrade to Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on the PS5 console for SGD 12.49 / MYR 40 / THB 300 / IDR 150,000. Owners of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales can still obtain Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered by upgrading to the Ultimate Edition through the main menu of the PS5 version of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

For those who don’t fall into either of those categories, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered can be purchased on PlayStation Store for SGD 67.90 / MYR 209 / THB 1,690 / IDR 729,000. We hope you’ll take a chance to revisit the original Marvel’s Spider-Man in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered ahead of Marvel Spider-Man 2’s release this fall.

That’s all for now, as always you can find all the latest on the Insomniac Games Twitter and Instagram pages, or you can join our Discord channel!

* For more information about Marvel Unlimited including terms and system requirements, please see here

**Owners of PS4 disc copies must insert them into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital version. PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to get the PS5 version for the discounted price.

PlayStation Plus members who claimed any edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man via their subscription are not eligible for the PS5 upgrade.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for May: GRID Legends, Chivalry 2 and Descenders

Adam Michel — Tue, 02 May 2023 15:29:13 +0000

Today we’re happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for May. The Monthly Games lineup of GRID Legends, Chivalry 2 and Descenders will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, May 2 until Monday June 5.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the games in turn.

GRID Legends | PS4, PS5

Welcome to GRID Legends: a high-stakes driving experience that combines thrilling and unpredictable motorsport, incredible race variety and an immersive narrative that puts you at the heart of the action. Take the spotlight in an engrossing racing story, brought to life by a world-class cast including Ncuti Gatwa in a ground-breaking extended reality production. Face fierce personalities, paddock politics, on-track drama and the infamous Ravenwest Motorsport, as a fly-on-the-wall documentary captures every moment.

Chivalry 2 | PS4, PS5

Return to the ultimate medieval battlefield in this multiplayer first person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles. Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era – experience large-scale conflicts in sprawling medieval environments ranging from Tournament grounds to full-scale castle sieges. Pick your playstyle with 4 classes and 12 subclasses, each with their own unique weapons and abilities and much more then charge headfirst into stunning 64-player cinematic battles. The PS5 version runs in 4K at 60fps.

Descenders | PS4

Descenders is a fast-paced extreme downhill biking game that’s easy to pick up, but difficult to master, featuring an in-depth physics system that lets you control every subtle movement of your rider. Take on different jumps, slopes and hillbombs every time you play with procedurally generated levels. Earn special mutators each time you play, and work out which abilities work best for your riding style and earn new bikes and threads as you build your online Rep system.

Last chance to download April’s Monthly Games

PlayStation Plus members have until Monday May 1 to add Meet Your Maker, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Tails of Iron to their game library.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®5 FINAL FANTASY XVI Bundle Available from 22nd June 2023

Ian Purnomo — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:39:44 +0000

Following this month’s 25 minutes all new FINAL FANTASY XVI gameplay and recent announcement of pre-order date for physical editions of FINAL FANTASY XVI, we are happy to announce that two versions of “PlayStation®5 Console FINAL FANTASY XVI Bundle” will be available on 22nd June 2023.

The PS5 Digital Edition Bundle will be available at a suggested retail price (SRP) of SGD 759 / MYR 2,339 / IDR 9,079,000 and PS5 with Ultra HD Blue-ray™ disc drive will be available at SGD 889 / MYR 2,769 / IDR 10,579,000 / THB 20,790.

Each type of bundle includes a PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console (Digital version or disc drive version), a DualSense™ Wireless Controller, and PS5 software Final Fantasy XVI Voucher Card (Terms and Conditions Apply) and digital bonus items: “Braveheart” Weapon, Gil-boost Accessory “Cait Sith Charm”, Exp-boost Accessory “Scholar’s Spectacles” (Digital bonus items may be available for purchase at a later date.). The bundles will be available at PlayStation® Authorized Dealer, Sony Stores and authorized retailers on 22nd June 2022 onward.

You can check the store locations here.

*Please note that design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Find out more about the game here and how FINAL FANTASY XVI harnesses PS5’s power and how it was optimized and developed for PS5 here.

PlayStation 5 consoles are now available at all authorized retailer stores, while the PlayStation®5 FINAL FANTASY XVI Bundles and FINAL FANTASY XVI game will be released on 22nd June 2023.

FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

(For Southeast Asia) State of Play debuts 25 minutes of all-new Final Fantasy XVI gameplay

Sunil Godhania — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:43:30 +0000

In just over two months, players will finally get their hands on Final Fantasy XVI, the next mainline installment of the Final Fantasy series. The game follows Clive Rosfield as he harnesses powerful Eikons to overcome his tragic destiny.

Today’s State of Play not only explores intricate details of the story and world lore, but also gives a first glimpse into the game’s party combat and colossal battles with new Eikons.

You can watch today’s Final Fantasy XVI State of Play in 4K above.

We hope today’s broadcast was exciting for everyone, both for fans keeping up with Final Fantasy XVI updates, and those who are hearing about the game for the first time. Some highlights from today’s show:

Clive’s Hideout

Clive’s Hideout, which serves as his base camp throughout the game, was revealed at State of Play. The footage showcased Clive preparing for upcoming battles by crafting items with gathered materials or tackling training modes.

Players can also complete a variety of side quests as well as Mob Hunts, that allows you to take on stronger enemies. Mob Hunts can be accepted from the Hunt Board where you’ll spot a familiar face from the series – Moogle!

Loresman Harpocrates and Vivian Ninetales

Loresman Harpocrates appears in Clive’s Hideout. He studies the history and customs of Valisthea, researching the local climate, folklore, religion, and traditions.

Harpocrates is very curious about Clive’s stories he takes home from his adventures. As Clive shares his past experiences, Harpocrates gains new knowledge as a researcher. And the Thousand Tomes in which he keeps records of his knowledge, will become more and more complete.

You can read up on everything about Valisthea if you visit Harpocrates and unravel the Thousand Tomes for yourself. Don’t forget to talk to Harpocrates when you stop by the Hideout during your travels.

Vivian the Military Scholar is well versed in the affairs of the countries of Valisthea and gives Clive lectures at various points in the story. You can talk to her in the Hideout as well.

Vivian is very knowledgeable about present day Valisthea, as well as its history. She will be happy to bestow you with knowledge of the past. With her help, you can explore the details of ever-changing character relationships and world affairs during specific time periods. Whenever you want to review the story so far or determine where Clive should go next, her knowledge will surely be of great help.

We hope you take advantage of their extensive knowledge to further immerse yourself in the story of Final Fantasy XVI!

New Combat Showcase

The latter half of the show was focused on combat. The show revealed new footage of Clive’s action gameplay, titanic clashes between the Eikons themselves, and epic Eikonic abilities.

The show also unveiled many other details and characters for the very first time, so keep your eyes peeled!

In the new State of Play, we provided an in-depth look at the combat system, support system, and RPG elements that we have not been able to share with you until now. We hope you enjoyed all the new updates and stay tuned for more information as we draw closer to the Final Fantasy XVI’s June 22 release.

We are excited to announce that the Asia pre-orders for FINAL FANTASY XVI physical editions (Standard, Deluxe and Collector’s Edition) will start on 20th April 2023. Physical pre-order customers will receive a B5 Notebook. Please check with local retailers for details of the physical pre-order mechanic.

Digital Pre-Order is available on PS Store. Pre-order on PS Store and receive Scholar‘s Spectacles (EXP up Accessory) DLC. Moreover, all pre-orders (both physical and digital) will receive pre-order bonus: Braveheart (Weapon) DLC and Cait Sith Charm (Gil Boost Accessory) DLC.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for April: Meet Your Maker, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Tails of Iron

Adam Michel — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:05:10 +0000

Today we’re happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for April. The Monthly Games lineup of Meet Your Maker, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Tails of Iron will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, April 4 until Monday May 1.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the games in turn.

Meet Your Maker | PS4, PS5

Meet Your Maker is a post-apocalyptic first-person building-and-raiding game where every level is designed by players. Switch between roles as you mastermind devious Outposts filled with traps and guards, then gear up for methodical fast-paced combat raiding other players’ creations, gaining an edge by choosing the right loadout (melee, ranged, defensive), perks, and consumables to match your challenge or playstyle. Combine your creativity and build with a friend or join forces to raid Outposts as a team of two.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure | PS4, PS5

Iconic PlayStation hero Sackboy bursts back into breathtaking action with a huge, fun and frantic 3D multiplayer platforming adventure. Go solo in an epic race against time stuffed with danger and peril or enjoy local or online party play, creating teams of two to four adventurers as you work together to overcome nefarious tasks however you can imagine, including unmissable co-op only levels.

Tails of Iron | PS4, PS5

Set in a grim land plagued by war, Tails of Iron is a hand-drawn RPG Adventure with punishingly brutal combat. As Redgi, heir to the Rat Throne, you must restore your broken Kingdom by banishing the merciless Frog Clan and their ferocious leader, Greenwart. As you explore the deceivingly charming world, you’ll encounter a cast of unique companions, ready to aid you in your adventure. And you’ll need all the help you can get, whether that’s new meal recipes, blueprints to forge deadly weapons and armor, or even a land-chugging, armor-plated mole mobile!

Last chance to download March’s Monthly Games

PlayStation Plus members have until Monday April 3 to add Battlefield 2042, Minecraft Dungeons and Code Vein to their game library.

(For Southeast Asia) Atomic Heart is available on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 starting February 21, 2023

PlayStation Blog Staff — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 01:42:30 +0000

The long-awaited release of the immersive action-RPG game Atomic Heart from Mundfish studio, which takes place in the mad utopian world of the alternative history of the USSR of the 1950s, is available now for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5! Get ready for the game’s release by learning important gameplay details that will help you immerse yourself in the game and survive a deadly technological nightmare!

Upgrade weapons and manage resources

As you progress, you will be able to gain access to 12 unique types of weapons, including melee weapons, firearms and energy weapons. Using melee weapons, you are constantly accumulating a charge for an energy weapon, and using a mix of those will always allow you to fight even if you run out of ammo for firearms. In order to increase your level of lethality, you will need to thoughtfully upgrade your arsenal. And that will also give you an access to a special additional attack of certain types of weapons. For example, an energy weapon is capable of releasing an EMP-impulse via special attack, and a Zvezdochka melee weapon can release rotating saws in front of it. Also, for example, having gained access to a special attack of the PM gun, you will be able to spend 4 bullets to make a sniper shot that deals crushing damage and instantly headshots some enemies. And do not forget to use special cartridges for weapons with elemental effects to make an additional damage effect on enemies in the form of fire or, for example, freezing.

To upgrade weapons, you will need to look for recipes and use them with the NORA crafting machine. Some of them are available from the very beginning, and to understand where to search for new ones, the location of the recipes will be indicated within the NORA machines’ interface. Also, in the rooms with a NORA, you can save your progress and pick up items from the warehouse. You will be able to send items for storage at any time, while those that can’t fit into the inventory will be sent there automatically. Manage your items carefully to be ready to change your approach to fights at any time.

Use the abilities of the polymer glove wisely

To deal with opponents more effectively, you will be able to combine the use of weapons together with the special abilities of your polymer glove CHAR-les! You will have 5 abilities at your disposal: Shocker, Telekinesis, Frostbite, Polymeric Shield and Polymeric Jet. The Shocker will be available for permanent use, while out of the remaining 4 you will be able to additionally activate 2 more abilities at the same time. This system will allow you to take a unique approach to fights with different types of opponents. You can change the set of active skills at any time to deal with unexpected combat conditions.

Thus, look for the best approach and thoughtfully combine a mix of weapons, elemental cartridges, special attacks and, of course, the abilities of the glove. As an example of a combat situation – if you suddenly find yourself surrounded by opponents from all sides, you will be able to freeze those who are behind with a glove, then use the Dominator energy weapon to discharge the accumulated energy into those who are in front, then turn back again and smash frozen enemies with melee weapons, thus accumulate an energy for “Dominator” and finally discharge additional energy shots to finish the remaining enemies in front. Use your imagination without limits!

Benefit from consumable items

Do not forget to constantly use consumable items, which are an integral part of the gameplay and are scattered around the world. Be aware that Condensed Milk – increases outgoing damage, Vodka – increases the level of protection, adrenaline – gives acceleration of movement and a small regeneration of health, and, of course, first aid capsules – basically restore health. At critical moments, consumable items will be able to help you deal with a situation that could have seemingly ended in death.

Strategically upgrade the skill branches

In total, you will have 7 skill branches available for upgrading. 5 of branches relate to the active skill sets, which are actually upgrades of the polymer glove abilities: Shocker, Telekinesis, Polymeric Shield, Frostbite and Polymeric Jet. The 2 remaining branches relate to passive skill sets: character skills such as speed of movement and branch of energy upgrades. Keep upgrading your skills and become more and more invincible!

You will be able to reset all skills at any time absolutely free of charge and restore the polymers spent on them in order to assemble a new build of skills. You will be able to create more than 300 different combinations of all the branches’ skills. Experiment and look for new approaches to opponents, whose vulnerabilities differ from type to type!

Enjoy the DualSense wireless controller features while playing on PS5

Part of the advantages of playing on the PS5 – is an access to the immersive sensations that the DualSense wireless controller provides. You will feel the recoil from adaptive triggers while firing weapons, and this recoil will differ depending on the weapon used. You will also experience particular vibrations while using certain special attacks of some weapons or when the glove’s abilities are overheating. Also, you will be able to listen to the Chirper’s audio through the controller speaker, which will additionally contribute to the overall experience. Play the Atomic Heart with a full immersion and enjoy exploring its amazing and deadly world!

Atomic Heart is available on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 starting February 21, 2023, and you will have the opportunity to finally look behind the veil of mystery surrounding the occurring technological nightmare and find out what an Atomic Heart actually is!