            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/27/20240628-concord/',
                '(For Southeast Asia) Concord Beta dates announced, Beta Early Access launching July 13',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/06/3097e3c60092bc17cf33cb526ad4b016905a8384.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">From the very first gameplay prototypes to getting the game ready before launch in August, playtesting<a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/05/30/concord-gameplay-revealed-launching-august-23-2024-on-ps5-and-pc/"> Concord</a> every day has been a defining aspect of development and core to our culture at Firewalk and our mission of delivering great-feeling multiplayer. There’s simply no substitute for getting your hands on a controller or mouse and keyboard, squadding up as a team, and experiencing the game for yourself.</p>
<p class="">That’s why we’re excited to share that your first chance to play Concord during our upcoming beta is just a couple of short weeks away! Here’s everything you need to know:</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Concord Beta Early Access dates for Southeast Asia (July 13 – 15) and Open Beta (July 19 – 22)</strong></h2>
<p class="">In Southeast Asia, the Concord Beta will kick off with an Early Access weekend on PS5 and PC* from Saturday, July 13 through Monday, July 15. For those that pre-order, this early access weekend will be your opportunity to be among the first to play Concord—and you’ll get to bring your own crew. Those that <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/06/20240607-concord/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pre-order any digital versions</a> of Concord will get five codes for Concord Beta Early Access: one for you and four of your friends.</p>
<p class="">Following the Early Access weekend, the Concord Open Beta in Southeast Asia will be available to all players on PS5 and PC beginning on Friday, July 19 through Monday, July 22.</p>
<p class="">No matter what platform you play on, the Concord Beta Early Access and Open Beta will allow you to team up with friends on either PS5 or PC through optional cross-play support.</p>
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<img alt="(For Southeast Asia) Concord Beta dates announced, Beta Early Access launching July 13" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/7jqQJhjf_3o/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Play the full 16 Freegunner roster</strong></h2>
<p class="">You won’t have to wait until launch to find your favorite Freegunner(s). During the Concord beta weekends, you’ll be able to play as all 16 of the Freegunners that will be available at launch. Whether you like to run and gun, lock down an area, lay down fire from afar, or back up your team, there are Freegunners for players of a wide range of playstyles and skill levels.</p>
<p class="">From familiar faces like Haymar, Vale, Lennox, 1-0FF, and Star Child from the reveal trailer to other members of the Northstar crew, like It-Z, Teo, Bazz, and more, you’ll get to experiment and learn how each character brings distinct strategic abilities, traversal and gunplay feel, and, most of all, your own personality to the battlefield.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Explore (and Battle Across) Multiple Planets and Modes</strong></h2>
<p class="">Throughout both Concord Beta weekends, you’ll be able to visit and battle across multiple worlds and maps in the Concord Galaxy.</p>
<p class="">During the Concord Beta Early Access weekend, you’ll have a chance to play on four maps:·  <strong>Freewater:</strong> Set in a fortified outpost on the sun-scorched planet of Glance, Freewater features intersecting perimeter lanes and a large central courtyard in the middle of the map that serves as a prime convergence point and inspires intense combat engagements. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53816315912_9aedf2035a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53816315912_9aedf2035a_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Water Hazard: </strong>On the stormy water-covered planet of Leviathan, a massive, armored eel, known as a Morack, has been caught and is being harvested on a large floating fishing rig. Players will fight across the platform and within the jaws of the Morack in a primary harvesting site.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53817576024_ed9f5da300_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53817576024_ed9f5da300_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Star Chamber:</strong> Located atop the tallest mountain on the planet Gloom sits an ancient observatory with narrow corridors and a meteorite at the center, which creates great opportunities for team fights and one-on-one battles.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53817576029_b91cac7958_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53817576029_b91cac7958_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Shock Risk: </strong>Located beneath a massive conductive kite in the sky that harvests lightning on the planet Leviathan, Shock Risk features multiple unique arenas for battling with rival crews with pathways that converge on a large center tower.</p>
<p class="">During the Open Beta weekend, a new world and fifth map will be introduced: Bone Mines on the planet Akkar.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Bone Mines: </strong>The remains of massive vastadons on the tropical planet Akkar have become the site of a lucrative Guild mining operation, where you will fight through the excavated bones and mining caverns in a mix of close-quarters and mid-range combat.</p>
<p class="">The Concord Beta will also have multiple modes to fit your mood, whether it’s to jump in for a quick match after work or to team up with friends for more coordinated and competitive play.</p>
<p class="">The Concord Early Access Beta weekend will launch with three modes:</p>
<p class=""><strong>Trophy Hunt: </strong>A respawn-based mode where you fight to take down members of the rival crew and collect their bounty cards to earn points for your team. The first team to reach the target score before time runs out wins the match.<br/></p>
<p class=""><strong>Cargo Run:</strong> A no-respawn mode where teams compete to retrieve the Blue Buddy robotic package delivery system, plant it at one of the zones, and defend it from the rival crew to win.<br/></p>
<p class=""><strong>Clash Point: </strong>A round-based, no-respawn game mode where teams compete to control a single capture zone at a central location on the map.</p>
<p class="">Then, during the Open Beta weekend, you’ll be able to try out a new mode: Area Control.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Area Control: </strong>A respawn mode where teams compete to control multiple capture and control zones around the map. Control two or more zones to increase your team’s score and reach the point threshold to win.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Witness the beginning of the Northstar Crew’s Story</strong></h2>
<p class="">Alongside familiarizing yourself with the Northstar crew through gameplay, you’ll also be able to see the beginning of their story. When you play the beta, you’ll be welcomed with the very first of our cinematic vignettes—brief cinematics that, when Concord launches, will premiere every week in game. When the Beta Early Access launches and then when the Open Beta starts, we’ll introduce new cinematic vignettes in-game to give you a small glimpse into how the Northstar crew’s stories will unfold each week.</p>
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<p class="">We can’t wait to see you all in-game during the Concord Beta to experience just some of the content that will be available when the game launches on August 24 (Asia time zone) and will grow over time through post-launch updates at no additional cost.</p>
<p class="">Be sure to stay tuned for more information about the beta, including pre-load and server availability timing, PC specs, and more, by following Concord on <a href="https://x.com/PlayConcord">Twitter/X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/playconcord">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://tiktok.com/@playconcord">TikTok</a>, as well as by joining the community in the <a href="https://discord.gg/concordofficial">Official Concord Discord</a>.</p>
<p class=""><em>*Account for PlayStation™Network and internet connection required. Beta terms and conditions apply.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/28/zenless-zone-zero-debuts-on-ps5-july-4-details-on-combat-new-area-and-characters-unveiled/',
                'Zenless Zone Zero debuts on PS5 July 4 – details on combat, new area and characters unveiled',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/06/aaab180f96fcba6a3ea8539012ce6ae281d773a2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello, Proxies! Greetings from the Zenless Zone Zero dev team. I’m Zhenyu Li, the producer of Zenless Zone Zero. After four years of development, three rounds of closed beta tests, and countless improvements, I’m thrilled that Zenless Zone Zero is officially launching July 4 on PS5! Hereby, I would like to share the most up-to-date game content with you in this blog post.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alluring narrative with distinctive characters</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040900_98670fadb9_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040900_98670fadb9_4k.jpg"/></a>
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<p class="">Zenless Zone Zero is a new urban fantasy ARPG by Hoyoverse, in which a calamity called Hollows – an abnormal spherical dimension that appears out of thin air and swallows everything it touches – destroys modern society. New Eridu, the last remaining metropolis, has risen against the odds amidst this destructive catastrophe and become the remnant of contemporary civilization. In the game, players assume the role of Proxy, accompanied by unique characters to explore Hollows, combat enemies, complete commissions, and reveal the mysteries behind New Eridu.</p>
<p class="">Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, the world of Zenless Zone Zero is filled with fascinating stories and dynamic characters. After encountering the odd-job agency Cunning Hares and the remarkable industrial group Belobog Heavy Industries in early chapters, you can unlock the Chapter 2 Interlude and Chapter 3 of the main story, in which Officer Zhu Yuan makes her official debut and members from Victoria Housekeeping disclose their true colors.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812603866_5aa2d11330_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812603866_5aa2d11330_4k.jpg"/></a>
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<p class="">On top of that, new characters Lucy and Piper from a faction in the outer ring of New Eridu known as Sons of Calydon are also prepared to join you in exploring the menacing Hollows as playable agents. Moreover, numerous newly designed Bangboos are under your command as companions with unique abilities in battle.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The bustling cityscape of New Eridu</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812603836_3b3b7cd31a_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812603836_3b3b7cd31a_4k.jpg"/></a>
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<p class="">In previous playtests, you may have seen Sixth Street, which is actually only a small part of New Eridu. In the global launch version, Lumina Square, the buzzing commercial district of New Eridu is ready for Proxies’ exploration. Strolling around the city, you will find adorable Bangboos in need of rescue, cargo trucks hidden in corners with various rewards and surprises awaiting.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040795_31a163d6cf_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040795_31a163d6cf_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">As the adventure commences, the legendary Proxy named Phaethon has also expanded the video store Random Play’s second floor where you can rest in bed, play music, or customize the photo walls to transcribe precious memories along the journey. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dynamic combat system</h2>
<p class=""></p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393602"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/XGGcwI739xM9bubvukgfcgqzSMeFmoINK4DxjJmJr7c/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJYR0djd0k3Mzl4TTlidWJ2dWtnZmNncXpTTWVGbW9JTks0RHhqSm1KcjdjIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY1NCwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.adVa7KKfmpc2qLtkHOmpYpjjhP286OJIOrpFKrt-TNHPXK0GRGi8546KsG45YwPKEqerSJOXbVt9yh8Gi8PZjkfNCl1iDEVwNxeNH5oRGHQteUo8mirUN8G_G5OUsABLff9quqlUwSJ1quXY4hcfD_s492HkHY4Q2B9iCrNxS3srWLrFK_hjsJrdaw0XCXRjZ-gjzTkOqXL_oPjJlY0GxiNloo5Nw46aQEK1cUIiDpY7iNWLTgZJZINJcM79evEhD4BW2uQUmqzaElSWUFTGMpTtotAQ2y1Sr_i35ijecpMeDMQrXWL2LAnEO9zlOKi8YKKUMGetFAZ7c4TgR937MA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Catering to both new and veteran players of the action genre, Zenless Zone Zero strikes a balance between accessibility and complexity. The consolidation of combat mechanics including Chain Attacks, Perfect Assist, switching characters, etc., offers players an opportunity to unleash their creativity and immerse themselves in the fast-paced combat.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53811676312_b1ea881608_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53811676312_b1ea881608_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">To satisfy players’ various preferences, newly implemented Combat Commissions allow combat-focused Proxies to dive in and start the battle right away. Meanwhile, avid action players can keep reinforcing their battle skills in combat challenges such as Hollow Zero and Shiyu Defense – find the Scott Outpost which overlooks the most massive and impactive Hollow existing in New Eridu to access them.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812937524_09884459e5_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812937524_09884459e5_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040810_da01d6ea15_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813040810_da01d6ea15_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">To celebrate the accomplishment of 40 million global sign-ups and to embrace the official launch of the game, we have prepared bountiful in-game rewards including up to 1600 Polychromes, 90 Master Tapes, 20 Encrypted Master Tapes, and 85 Boopons for global players. You can obtain all the rewards by advancing the in-game progress, participating in global launch activities, and experiencing numerous time-limited in-game events including Friendship Supervision and Watch Your Step.</p>
<p class="">Once again, as the launch date approaches, we want to express our sincere gratitude to all the players who’ve shown tremendous support and interest in Zenless Zone Zero. We can’t achieve any of this without you. Our joint journey begins when Zenless Zone Zero launches July 4 on PS5. Please stay tuned for more exciting details and stories we have conscientiously prepared for Proxies around the world. See you soon in New Eridu!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/28/dragon-ball-sparking-zero-battle-training-mode-gameplay-revealed/',
                'Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero – Battle Training mode gameplay revealed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/06/5101042789694571fb5eff80f49e10668c67f5eb.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Dragon Ball games have been making their mark in console gaming for over the last decade with the release of the Xenoverse series, Kakarot, and FighterZ.</p>
<p class="">Now, in 2024, Dragon Ball fans have gathered to celebrate the return of the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series. This action battle franchise was last released in 2007 on the PlayStation 2 as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 in the Americas and Europe and Dragon Ball Z: Sparking Meteor in Asia.</p>
<p class="">Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the next chapter in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, will launch on October 11, 2024, on PlayStation 5. This installment not only continues the series’ legacy but also unifies it under one global name, ‘Sparking Zero,’ bringing fans from all corners of the world together.</p>
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<p class="">Sparking Zero will have a battle system that continues the one-vs-one 3D battle formula pioneered by its predecessors. This formula allows fans to enjoy the full freedom to move in three dimensions and feel truly immersed in the world of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and its characters.</p>
<p class="">Whether you’ve been a loyal fan for years or you’re just starting your journey, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is designed with you in mind. It’s been over a decade since the last installment, and we’re thrilled to offer PS5 players a first look at the Battle Training mode, a feature that will prepare you for the ultimate Dragon Ball battle experience.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812272162_4223c354d5_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812272162_4223c354d5_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Training mode </h2>
<p class="">For players new to the franchise or veterans who need a refresher, there is a robust training mode between classic Master and Apprentice Piccolo and Gohan, with Goten also making a guest appearance. While the training mode covers the basic commands in the game, it also delves into intermediate and advanced techniques for players to explore and alerts players if they have successfully executed the actions covered in the instructions they are given.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beginning with basics</h2>
<p class="">Battle Training mode allows players to choose the level at which they want to start. Players can start at the beginner level, learning how to fly, using Ki Blasts and counters.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393612"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/kKtliozlR02QnwTyy00zNxN7eZqJ3NhY9S00gNYchTPReo/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJrS3RsaW96bFIwMlFud1R5eTAwek54TjdlWnFKM05oWTlTMDBnTlljaFRQUmVvIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY1NSwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.leFmAmb1Z-xgmNhs33-I9B1G-jo3M7XqEfCLyjPoVzmDYPZOw1MOUtNNLFzBwok57cq1mHkkC29TCDUUcWlD6zY30okR-h_0Ql85-rpHGXjAvmgUMe_KMaP9PNfBd9fV3IPIQGx3WJDfKvRu_UKSRVxqiV2-pCL3Rt-FhcnySPzBuTrqwev0yJulliTNc0vHLobGFz_8q-ek7OwwHsFihE1F4Lvl7CxaLG0Qv44J1rrLrcWuuxKBqBYKAkP1VCeEtQk-Ow3zNfVZEv2sqr7c9KP8hykQOS9-kDTCpS5INS9DNwVxhZH_ujD-lbN2miofEGIgkQUQ4BVJVOyut3ogEg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">You can also learn to use special commands, such as changing characters and transformations.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet in the middle with intermediate to advanced techniques</h2>
<p class="">Those who want to improve beyond the basics and advance into higher-level gameplay can enjoy learning how to execute intermediate and advanced techniques, such as Rush Chains, Vanishing Assaults, Advanced Counters, and more.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393614"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/c00yQNWiW5mSXsL2wVt2Q1KCDptWJVDz5Oe8iC74pDQM/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJjMDB5UU5XaVc1bVNYc0wyd1Z0MlExS0NEcHRXSlZEejVPZThpQzc0cERRTSIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE2NTUsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.izyhgAzbM1s9mZnOZN5tKUBf4si5Rc1PxVVZ2SUkrSjqJ2kkYXCEt4N-i02aKy1c0oSuLoUqYacphH5JdI7EzJr04igXtoQdD11LHlI95hqmhSKuYdl_9vn0MGMA9y0S0pcp9e3e7P0uTxOM26HO2X7WmxLHPhmr_CPUl6hNMOAtT8x_PL8vWdPuri6u-d7GWMsaADV-m1c_NlEunhNdWPEqMxnJURxvmKtcIcZ0yuFoQ5VtcCrGA0qcnZsITE7dggn7KD-LMYhZi3K8SVeLlOSC2krpHWZd4DXRNrpP80drGOh74GNtt5GeLjgD6WvaGPfdFYMYyi1L2ajf3yzkkw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Players can move 360 degrees but also charge and utilize their ki to use Dragon Dash to move rapidly around the battlefield. Players can use Dragon Dash to execute follow-up attacks after knocking back their opponent.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393615"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/q5GVUsLYYImsBbMz3L00lzN3ese7bgspIEaQoTWr5DTs/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJxNUdWVXNMWVlJbXNCYk16M0wwMGx6TjNlc2U3YmdzcElFYVFvVFdyNURUcyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE2NTUsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.jNXse6I8Xokgk8aYgpnRbG1qyXKSmaFTzEelYo3OxDq-PYtt3zMVucxTpkL6xiWICazECfx2qyWQg8aNH4Nl67QxsBsdqqKxD8JjfvuVlMZWohDmNufPHD4ZdNduflz5J1FBo-_KYcDacy3g53yOumiwPwRF7sdZCcvGesGLCW2e74RGnkiJhG5I7p-4pTjWY_VDvNZBI6h_IQi9bVxVBn_9lp1k7jxVkXAzxT5XIgB2XjBMih-F-QzMEMJ379V_I4zppXa76Ov2RkVmG9GOR_IeDztOEDlAHcXvN3DkUh1z1KJ-ZIvfjY9yURmz2wuoV2UHsU5Kj6mfk36HMyvEfg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Additionally, new gameplay reveals show how players might be able to access Vanishing Assaults to quickly gain the upper hand against unsuspecting opponents. This mode also reveals how players can follow up these attacks with additional movements and attacks to string into combos.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Counter and dodge opponents</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393616"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/aUv00jYuq7yEp5eQBWXwhOyKn02DnaTr2osxcTfVUI2pA/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJhVXYwMGpZdXE3eUVwNWVRQldYd2hPeUtuMDJEbmFUcjJvc3hjVGZWVUkycEEiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxNjU1LCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.dQVak9b2MGBfFGE2b1lMr7EC4CmNRtI5FA9jQD5M7Ff7ALnV3TYsRXAj1nxbcCwZ9fE1T-8flIPg8ojFHoxnTKq61RXQTtT1g3bZ7-vNQJ4OWJbNSm87o3KJyHoaUPNdMFtL01LpluKvJXXrNXaHfBJCM3mrU5Vqxdt6ITz9WIEhc8fF3To1cYcEISeCxg9zqAfp1QN8fKMJPrATDAMLj-O8edgq50bp3J5k2jxgs2pA-fCdTdEPRm0ggKGGRfnlKb_rajxpHT2Q0B27l2vBN3IHcLivao32l9pIqpFXVSpwLwa_hDx9psT_T6zU_pKCBzWBpLukD_Ja5ucb_eiZHA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Getting caught in your opponent’s attacks? Battle Training mode also goes in-depth on how to counter rush attacks by using Perception and Super Perception.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393617"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/J2VqOyJUACt7F00AjSK5IEfqUuqRxrGMDbRS5aUpYBro/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJKMlZxT3lKVUFDdDdGMDBBalNLNUlFZnFVdXFSeHJHTURiUlM1YVVwWUJybyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE2NTUsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.AGYhURr1K15MZIY05oScRv9dcA_N3SMhn-5_B_IX91dvNUqsXN74p_kPrm4UacsiPjBK8U0PfJLxetDvIKFjb_v6TtAuxbCFjPY7Y4pAC_MG-FXDhiN7cZFS7UfWOrleXEmY72K16Ogvef_dotbRfgxm3QCpjj0EP0uq0FtQjWKUP8_VSjPAhG7RuheTCg4CB2kLHbzlSfpoWLIxwJg9uHmmXFzHYOJuT9Cf_QCRNfucMuhedDqGpBRNB4HOr_OHV0uXLKz6eorJqn00FdNmvPaUTNJCm-6TWNhUr5fFZYDvHpn0cmvRUI-FleGAkAeYOv4tVnZiVNpuJVIBvRRQiw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Players can also dodge an opponent’s follow-up attack by utilizing Z-counters. Change up the flow of battle by using these defensive moves to your advantage.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maximizing all the moves</h2>
<p class="">Finally, true to Sparking Zero’s legacy, the mode also covers how players might charge their Ki and go into Sparking mode, which unlocks a powerful ability for each character (*Requires at least 1 Skill Count to enter the mode). </p>
<p class="">Once you’ve completed your training, the mode helps players combine what they have learned and teaches how to string together attacks, Vanishing Assaults, and Sparking mode to unleash a devastating combo onto their opponents.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393618"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/rA3BI1COFetJzX2501wzgNd6j2vNwotlDASV876benX00/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJyQTNCSTFDT0ZldEp6WDI1MDF3emdOZDZqMnZOd290bERBU1Y4NzZiZW5YMDAiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxNjU1LCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.ZiCDwh7gjqy1xcsOx6so42-Hl-8QNX4BgUW5PNGktDF2gKEp2pv2LVn0QIt8IldWb1uks3YavejDOynpjNlCD-OAiiJ-yXRTYwo9COuNny0GkUtYO7u4aJoXDpb1aFniNR3-6PYVbuinBbmYrea8LPp1NNB3hwtHtpNQxOxm2w2RMI2Esre-5xslK0EXRoh_TYCPBxiL7BA8VE0O9ASjJ0lOwEzp_NRpU1tfK25qXOygzqiOP8m9qIUxFikow3ClZVJG_8jJ8aQ_u62pAksjyOVZFxFotyL6J3h5CjpaVgaihl05asPZZzckjZug7rQIwZLuNnH-9t5Uj7R71GNeZQ" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">That concludes our first look at Battle Training mode in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. Prepare for the ultimate Dragon Ball battle experience by utilizing Battle Training mode to train for future fights and journeys.</p>
<p class="">Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will make its long-awaited launch on October 11, 2024, on PlayStation 5. Those who preorder the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition will be able to play the game three days early, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/dragon-ball-sparking-zero/?smcid=ma">so be sure to preorder today.</a></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/28/share-of-the-week-summer-3/',
                'Share of the Week: Summer',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/06/83bdf0f8c6f37d938829b51e4274a4e5ba263841.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to soak up the gaming sun and share gaming moments inspired by summer using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268550_97fbe64d44_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268550_97fbe64d44_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/supersaturnn/status/1805978529361739946/photo/1"><em>supersaturnn</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Astro wading in the pool with Kratos and Atreus in Astro’s Playroom</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820072798_0ae17b13d3_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820072798_0ae17b13d3_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/wingsforsmiles/status/1806028858904224091/photo/1"><em>wingsforsmiles</em></a><em> </em><em>shares the beach and boardwalk rollercoaster from Cyberpunk 2077</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820072783_5ae2624806_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820072783_5ae2624806_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/CaGamer_07/status/1805682387558236357/photo/1"><em>CaGamer_07</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Ichiban Kasuga swimming with a dolphin in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268495_670db21bd5_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268495_670db21bd5_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/NemesisNat/status/1805196101353369635/photo/1"><em>NemesisNat</em></a><em> shares a woman surfing near a vintage van in GTA Online</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268530_3ed586554e_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268530_3ed586554e_b.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Diesmo16/status/1805170846287184241/photo/1"><em>Diesmo16</em></a><em> shares Aloy sitting and smiling on a beach in Horizon Forbidden West</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820165239_abe1af2a86_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820165239_abe1af2a86_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/clerence_1993/status/1805088924907552799/photo/1"><em>clerence_1993</em></a><em> shares Tifa, Aerith, and Cloud in swimsuits on the beach in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268520_ed7a23ab1f_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820268520_ed7a23ab1f_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Fireworks<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 3, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re watching the gaming skies for bursts of color. Share in-game fireworks, sparks, or laser lights using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/01/players-choice-vote-for-june-2024s-best-new-game/',
                'Players’ Choice: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree voted June 2024’s top new game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/8bf48c314f62a430866a2061e4c4aaf91cecd8b7.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree delivers a new realm that once again captivates FromSoftware fans. Congrats to FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment for winning enough votes to become June 2024’s Players’ Choice title. </p>
<p class="">What games have you been playing in July? Share predictions on what will win for this month in the comments below.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">June saw a variety of monsters and mischief, from classic to modern horror and cute and cuddly creatures. What did you enjoy most about this lineup of titles? </p>
<p class=""><strong>How does it work?</strong> At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. <br/><br/><strong>What is the voting criteria?</strong> That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.<br/><br/><strong>How are nominees decided?</strong> The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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</div></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/03/gran-turismo-world-series-2024-series-round-1-takes-place-in-montreal-july-6/',
                'Gran Turismo World Series 2024 Series Round 1 takes place in Montreal July 6',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/b0aae9c9dbefa2fc39c5c7e6909c5ee8276efa1f.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Following the exciting Online Qualifiers in April and May, the best Gran Turismo racers in the world have been selected to take part in four live events between now and December. The action starts in Montreal, Canada where Round 1 of the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup start the live action.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830396973_fd31a6c3f7_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830396973_fd31a6c3f7_4k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Tickets to the Americas’ stop of the outstanding SIM racing series have sold out, but don’t worry, as here are the details of where and when to tune in to catch all the thrilling racing as 20 of the world’s fastest players battle it out in the historic Canadian city.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830396993_55acc51476_3k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830396993_55acc51476_3k.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Saturday, July 6</strong><br/><strong>Manufacturers Cup</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Local time (EDT) 17:00</li>
<li>UTC/GMT 21:00</li>
<li>Central European Summer Time (CEST) 23:00</li>
<li>Japan Standard Time (JST) 06:00* (*7 July)</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Nations Cup</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Local time (EDT) 19:30</li>
<li>UTC/GMT 23:30</li>
<li>Central European Summer Time (CEST) 01:30* (*7 July)</li>
<li>Japan Standard Time (JST) 08:30* (*7 July)</li>
</ul>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829241462_59d879b053_5k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829241462_59d879b053_5k.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Win big in Gran Turismo 7</strong></h3>
<p class="">To mark the event, Gran Turismo 7 players will benefit from in-game opportunities to win prizes and play a special Time Trial.</p>
<p class="">Clicking on the ‘Predict the Winners’ campaign banner on the GT7 World Map gives players the opportunity to win one million credits for each of the Nations Cup and the Manufacturers Cup with votes cast right up to the start of the final race of each.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830491204_8e01ea28e1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830491204_8e01ea28e1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Simply watching the broadcast in-game will also unlock 6-Star Roulette Tickets for viewers through the Viewers Gift campaign.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830156501_f74b270dc7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830156501_f74b270dc7_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">And finally, GT7 players will be able to enter a special Time Trial that will use the same car and track combination as the Nations Cup qualifying session so that they can see how they measure up to the pros.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830491209_db654baaf6_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830491209_db654baaf6_b.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Find out more</strong></h3>
<p class="">A special Gran Turismo World Series site for Montreal gives all the details of the competition and the drivers and <a href="https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/events/gtws2024/montreal/">can be seen here</a>.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Where to watch</strong></h3>
<p class="">If you are not watching in-game, you can view the streams live (or on-demand) on:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Gran Turismo website – <a href="https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/live/">https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/live/</a> </li>
<li>YouTube – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GRANTURISMOTV">https://www.youtube.com/@GRANTURISMOTV</a> </li>
<li>Twitch – <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/granturismoofficial">https://www.twitch.tv/granturismoofficial</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Follow the whole season</strong></h3>
<p class="">The calendar for the Gran Turismo World Series 2024 live events is as follows:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Round 1 – Montreal, Canada | Saturday, 6 July</li>
<li>Round 2 – Prague, Czechia | Saturday, 10 August</li>
<li>Round 3 – Tokyo, Japan | Saturday, 28 September 2024</li>
<li>World Finals – Date and location to be announced</li>
</ul>
<p class="">All the live events are open to the public and details of how to buy tickets will be posted on Gran Turismo social channels and <a href="https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/news/">gran-turismo.com</a>.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/03/revealing-clock-tower-rewinds-enhanced-scare-packed-new-gameplay-mode/',
                'Revealing Clock Tower: Rewind’s enhanced, scare-packed new gameplay mode',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/07/11426fd9ffcae5eaa16aa7bc96fc1bdf1967679b.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi! I’m Mariel Kinuko Cartwright, creative lead on Clock Tower: Rewind, and today I’m excited to share some new details about the game with you. Headed to PS5 and PS4, Clock Tower: Rewind is an updated release of the classic 16-bit survival-horror game Clock Tower, which was originally released in Japan in 1995. WayForward and Limited Run have partnered with Sunsoft and Capcom to finally bring the game to a global audience, where it’s had a dedicated fan following but never had an official release outside of Japan. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<img alt="Revealing Clock Tower: Rewind’s enhanced, scare-packed new gameplay mode" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/vvGtnsA4z-Y/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813773981_086ef1ef5c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813773981_086ef1ef5c_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The birth of a 16-bit horror classic</h2>
<p class="">Before we get into the new details of Rewind Mode, let’s unpack some of the chilling game’s history.</p>
<p class="">My own journey with Clock Tower started in my early teens, where I found the game completely by accident. I immediately found the graphics and setting compelling; the game follows Jennifer Simpson, a teenage orphan who has just been adopted along with three of her friends. Little does she know that her new home, a mysterious mansion owned by the Barrows family, holds many disturbing secrets. It wasn’t too long before I met our main villain: the terrifying Scissorman, who’s relentless in his pursuit of Jennifer! </p>
<p class="">I’ve personally always loved horror, even as a child, but I found Clock Tower so scary that I could only play it for a few minutes at a time. It remains one of the scariest games I’ve ever played even today, and the story, characters, and setting have made a huge impact on the way I think about games and storytelling. Wrapped up in a point-and-click package, with only one enemy pursuing you for the entire game, it’s a really poignant tale of discovery and tragedy, with many different ways that the story can play out. It’s been one of my favorite games since I first played it, and I know it’s held a special place in the hearts of fans all over the world as well. </p>
<p class="">It’s a huge honor to be a part of Clock Tower: Rewind, where we’re finally getting the opportunity to share this special game worldwide for the first time! With this new release, we’ve included the original 16-bit game, as it was in 1995, but also added a ton of fun extras to make Clock Tower: Rewind a new package for both new and existing fans alike. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393707"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/706a9ff79267e903e9274494b7f642a56f940daf.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Original Mode and Rewind Mode</h2>
<p class="">Clock Tower: Rewind will feature two main modes — Original and Rewind. Original mode is just what it sounds like: this is Clock Tower, ported straight from the 1995 version, with new translations in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. And then we have Rewind mode, which is an enhanced version of the original game. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814017453_cf81e0736c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814017453_cf81e0736c_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Today, we’d love to reveal more details about what Rewind mode entails.</p>
<p class="">The original Clock Tower actually had two releases — the 1995 16-bit version, and an updated version called Clock Tower: The First Fear, released on the original PlayStation in 1997. Clock Tower: The First Fear added new content, such as new scares, more story, and even additional enemies. Did you know there was a room you couldn’t access in the 16-bit game? Now you’ll find another bedroom that provides another place to hide from Scissorman. A new cutscene at a pivotal moment in the game will set up events in later Clock Tower games, too. And make sure you keep an eye out, as a certain corpse or haunted doll might come to life.</p>
<p class="">For Rewind mode, we’ve taken that new content from The First Fear and added it to the original version, allowing players to experience everything Clock Tower had to offer.  </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393708"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/hhinr6zBRZJgErrDV6zkDGbxZiQzbC02V0100nzh1qvJ3c/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJoaGlucjZ6QlJaSmdFcnJEVjZ6a0RHYnhaaVF6YkMwMlYwMTAwbnpoMXF2SjNjIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY2MSwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.XL1B-TOteOpjHV-Kc987Z2Qmbny1Nw8yDRS8pdC-TD93h4NmT5-2WwjefujKg9PV30U2kUTo6B9x2warkeeyuTCax2I-DrbZPrwaTFwYciiqsi1ZNhODMm4t3jGp9Ti3RiU8ch8VsiVy4H0nn48aJhe98Cx-7RsLFZubUOrrFVOjeJGzeorFdFzFUj6CL6bmdF_mOSu7SlAb3-xJwLJZiQRKGCfM42vUwrahnzcd8b558du2fNIkZXfBHurIjlutQYjh9z6ME20XJ-_pkzW69O1oaslG_vFgxueTIX-r0qFjhKklOB5wAwO6hhnTgFmMjmoPWIqXq-QLCyDUVg08KA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">We didn’t stop there, though. With Rewind mode, we’ve also included completely new features, such as an updated chase system, in which Scissorman can follow you into more rooms and hide in more places, dialing up the scares even more than before. Complementing that is better controls for Jennifer, allowing her to run on stairs, find new hiding places, and even use a few weapons. Add in a few bug fixes and quality-of-life adjustments, and we’ve made what we believe to be the ultimate version of Clock Tower for players to enjoy.</p>
<p class="">None of this would be possible without the Clock Tower fan community, who we collaborated with to bring Rewind mode to life. Much of what we achieved with Rewind mode was built upon their work, and it was a joy to work with fans who know the game inside and out. </p>
<p class="">Clock Tower: Rewind also includes additional new content outside of the game, such as new original music by Dale North (with two different vocal songs, one featuring Mary Elizabeth McGlynn of Silent Hill fame and the other featuring Emi Evans of Nier), beautifully animated motion comics with brand new VO, an animated intro directed by yours truly, and more.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393709"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/67e5ad614176ea0959a634cf1a69caaf4ad469ce.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Clock Tower: Rewind lands worldwide this fall on PS5 and PS4. Make sure to grab your copy to experience a classic, genre-defining survival horror title.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/03/introducing-new-playstation-studios-collectible-figures-from-spin-master-launches-starting-this-august/',
                'Introducing new PlayStation Studios collectible figures from Spin Master, launches starting this August',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/253709c11043fa66a238cc00b470c756e291683c.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">At Sony Interactive, we’re always looking for opportunities to bring our players closer to some of PlayStation’s most beloved games – and that includes bringing to life collections of physical products to add to your home decor.  Today we are pleased to reveal a new collaboration with Spin Master, a leading toy company, to introduce The Shapes Collection – a new line of collectibles, based on our hit PlayStation Studios titles. This includes iconic characters from God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ghost of Tsushima.  </p>
<p class="">The highly detailed figures deliver the interactive storytelling element of these titles in an all-new way, extending the gaming experience from digital to physical. This creative line takes inspiration from details in each game, with interchangeable accessories and dozens of points of articulation to pose and display each figure in your collection of memorabilia.</p>
<template data-audience="352703" data-goal="" data-parent-id="bde45cfb-715b-4189-8840-78b8f608dfda">
<p class="">The first in the collection to launch is a 6-inch deluxe figure of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West, which is <a href="https://gear.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">available for pre-order now on PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y?maas%3Dmaas_adg_F34A5BFF31ADD15B2D80526CE5076DB5_afap_abs%26ref_%3Daa_maas%26tag%3Dmaas&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1720029109345009&amp;usg=AOvVaw3X_ujgJ84rYOXPCL6AiaNm">Amazon in US</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Playstation-Forbidden-Accessories-Collection-Collectors/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y">Australia</a>.</p>
</template>
<template data-audience="202360640" data-goal="" data-parent-id="bde45cfb-715b-4189-8840-78b8f608dfda">
<p class="">The first in the collection to launch is a 6-inch deluxe figure of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West, which is <a href="https://gear.eu.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">available for pre-order now on PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y?maas=maas_adg_F34A5BFF31ADD15B2D80526CE5076DB5_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Amazon in US</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Playstation-Forbidden-Accessories-Collection-Collectors/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y">Australia</a>.</p>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830457533_a28798e444_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830457533_a28798e444_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Shapes Collection </h2>
<p class=""><strong>Deluxe Figure 6-inch Aloy, Horizon Forbidden West</strong></p>
<template data-audience="352703" data-goal="" data-parent-id="54ef9ecd-98f5-40ce-8eac-615efe0e72e8">
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Deluxe collector grade figure with 42 points of articulation and 12 different accessories including multiple face plates and alternative hands</li>
<li><a href="https://gear.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">Pre-order on PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y?maas=maas_adg_F34A5BFF31ADD15B2D80526CE5076DB5_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Amazon in US</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Playstation-Forbidden-Accessories-Collection-Collectors/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y">Australia</a> starting July 3<sup>rd</sup>, shipping beginning August.</li>
</ul>
</template>
<template data-audience="202360640" data-goal="" data-parent-id="54ef9ecd-98f5-40ce-8eac-615efe0e72e8">
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Deluxe collector grade figure with 42 points of articulation and 12 different accessories including multiple face plates and alternative hands</li>
<li><a href="https://gear.eu.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">Pre-order on PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y?maas=maas_adg_F34A5BFF31ADD15B2D80526CE5076DB5_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Amazon in US</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Playstation-Forbidden-Accessories-Collection-Collectors/dp/B0CT8N9T2Y">Australia</a> starting July 3<sup>rd</sup>, shipping beginning August.</li>
</ul>
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<p class=""><strong>Core Figures 6-inch Kratos and Atreus (God of War Ragnarök), Varl (Horizon Forbidden West), Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima)</strong></p>
<template data-audience="352703" data-goal="" data-parent-id="57c09ba0-1791-451f-875c-a0a65012707e">
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Deluxe collector grade figures with 24-34 points of articulation and 2-4 accessories (varies by character)</li>
<li><a href="https://gear.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">Pre-order PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and Amazon in US and Australia starting July 15, shipping this September.</li>
</ul>
</template>
<template data-audience="202360640" data-goal="" data-parent-id="57c09ba0-1791-451f-875c-a0a65012707e">
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Deluxe collector grade figures with 24-34 points of articulation and 2-4 accessories (varies by character)</li>
<li><a href="https://gear.eu.playstation.com/Browse/SPIN">Pre-order on PlayStation Gear</a> (where available) and Amazon in US (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8M17JV?maas=maas_adg_3CA13FE19B35B52560016B8CA0C96FF9_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Kratos</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8LWV74?maas=maas_adg_C94B4D94783204A56A4DB4ADDED2BF57_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Atreus</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8M12V2?maas=maas_adg_D6E0B6B07A10550BC104A075E4D4C7E9_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Varl</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT8NX7X1?maas=maas_adg_9131D19C90A488B761D9A0189092F8F1_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas">Jin Sakai</a>) and Australia starting July 15, shipping beginning September.</li>
</ul>
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<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/d071c2eb1f64d62d7123697e5a696077db08f82a.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/1c5b84c7138dc69f8fe53326d1b9eccf42aafeec.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/55af4e32124f95ae3414b51ac6e6a139bb2ba28f.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">PlayStation Studios developers have closely collaborated on this new creative lineup from Spin Master, and share details they are most excited about with the PlayStation community.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote ps-author-quote has-max-width-75 has-margin-top-65 has-margin-bottom-65 is-style-default has-max-width-75 has-margin-top-65 has-margin-bottom-65 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class=""><em>“It was a great pleasure to work on the Aloy and Varl figurines together with Spin Master.</em><br/><br/><em>They are based on the actual digital sculpts used for the game, something you can really see in the final result. We made sure the many articulation points made sense and even the finest textural detail shows up on the figures.</em><br/><br/><em>A personal highlight was the ability to provide different facial expressions for Aloy, which, together with those many articulation points (even her hair has some!), make her a very poseable figure. Also, the technique used to apply color to the faces meant we were really able to maintain the likeness of actual models, something that was very important and adds a lot to the appeal of these figures.”</em></p>
<cite>– Arno Schmitz, Lead Character Artist, Guerrilla</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830650790_a4dff8a77b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830650790_a4dff8a77b_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote ps-author-quote has-max-width-75 has-margin-top-65 has-margin-bottom-65 is-style-default has-max-width-75 has-margin-top-65 has-margin-bottom-65 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class=""><em>“We’re excited to have a new action figure version of Jin that fans can keep on their shelf to protect their home. Jin’s Ghost armor has so many beautiful details, including intricate fabric patterns and overlapping armor plates that are integral to the design of his character. In addition to his katana, it’s also always important to us to see all of his various Ghost tools represented to capture his different fighting techniques.”</em></p>
<cite>– Jason Connell, Creative Director, Sucker Punch</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830551934_55795e30e3_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53830551934_55795e30e3_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829302627_68f8fb88ae_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829302627_68f8fb88ae_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/05/share-of-the-week-fireworks/',
                'Share of the Week: Fireworks',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/b98e03b9b2f8f570b9bd95a1b71d2a71c3520a26.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to share fireworks bursting in games of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833713055_f7f68a5287_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833713055_f7f68a5287_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/clerence_1993/status/1807775576335495235/photo/2"><em>clerence_1993</em></a><em> shares Cloud and Tifa sharing a moment with firework bursting in the sky behind them</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833616349_a86a3b9a34_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833616349_a86a3b9a34_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/secondcapture/status/1808124412287209679/photo/3"><em>secondcapture</em></a><em> shares sparks flying behind Ratchet in a way that looks like fireworks in Ratchet &amp; Clank: Rift Apart</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833519748_947827c41c_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833519748_947827c41c_b.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/call_me_xavii/status/1808541652719710584/photo/1"><em>call_me_xavii</em></a><em> shares Aloy in her Elisbeth outfit staring up at fireworks</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833616389_c3c7864249_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833616389_c3c7864249_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/xenobitz/status/1808342318157631847/photo/4"><em>xenobitz</em></a><em> </em><em>shares fireworks bursting in Naraka: Bladepoint</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833519758_49ab24737a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833519758_49ab24737a_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/jdbolzan/status/1808161439527428389/photo/3"><em>jdbolzan</em></a><em> shares fireworks bursting over the Eiffel Tower and the not-yet-gifted Statue of Liberty in Assassin’s Creed Unity</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833713015_c34a22ec10_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833713015_c34a22ec10_b.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/GM04v/status/1807760495312806196/photo/1"><em>GM04v</em></a><em> shares a ronin posing in front of fireworks in Rise of the Ronin</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833275581_7f70e194ad_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833275581_7f70e194ad_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Tourist<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 10, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re using games to travel the world. Share real world locations or landmarks that players can visit in the game of their choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/08/astros-playroom-second-update-is-now-available-hiding-a-new-special-bot-in-game/',
                'Astro’s Playroom second update is now available, hiding a new Special Bot in-game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/63fedba9b368af1e3a98e54362d98b4801a1e17b-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone! We hope you are getting ready for a good summer and have enjoyed the last few weeks of gaming news. <br/><br/>As we gear up for Astro Bot’s launch on September 6, we wanted to let you in on a few surprises we have been reserving for our community.<br/><br/>In Astro Bot, you and Astro go on a mission to rescue the 300 bots crew who got scattered all over the galaxies. Many of the bots making up the crew are cameo characters that have marked the PlayStation history. There are over 150 to collect, each with their own funny animations relating to the game they originally came from.<br/><br/>To add a spice of fun, we’ve been hiding 4 of these Special Bots inside Astro’s Playroom, which came pre-loaded in every PS5 console. By unlocking these 4 hidden characters in Astro’s Playroom, you will be able to take them with you into the new game, Astro Bot, and add them to your starting crew. Are you following so far?<br/><br/>On June 7, we dropped in the first of these 4 Special Bots. Being cheeky robots ourselves, we thought it would be fun to turn this into a treasure hunt riddle and see how long it would take anyone to figure it out. What a big surprise to see it took the community less than 3 hours to clear that riddle. That was quite incredible. If you have missed it, here is a quick rundown of what you have to do.<br/><br/>We hid a secret capsule in the first area of GPU Jungle (Render Forest). To make it appear, you must stand on top of a big plant near the edge of the level, just behind the Bloodborne Hunter Bot. Inside the capsule, another Special Bot (Lady Maria) appears to be trapped and needs rescuing.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833421029_b97e4ab341_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833421029_b97e4ab341_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">On the capsule itself, we included a small hint showing the image of a clock. But what could that mean? Looking carefully around the level nearby, you will find a similar clock symbol carved into one of the trees up above. It takes a few jumps to get there. It is at the back of a tree, the furthest away.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833324698_03388b6a9f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833324698_03388b6a9f_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">That’s when things get trickier (or so we thought!). Standing on that spot, you have to pause the game by pressing the options button. Instead of the normal pause, that makes a special Astral Clock screen appear. By entering the number 24.11.2015 (or November 24, 2015, the original release date of the Bloodborne DLC featuring Lady Maria), the hands of the clock magically turn and…</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518950_26c416fe38_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518950_26c416fe38_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">The capsule opens, letting our Special Bot free. Well done, let’s celebrate with a trophy!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518985_d78754d50a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518985_d78754d50a_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Once freed, Lady Maria will wait for you in the Mission Room, ready to be transferred to Astro Bot when you are ready.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832170357_e0dd0a6f17_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832170357_e0dd0a6f17_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Just a few days ago, we added a second Special Bot, Selene, from the PS5 title Returnal. Once again, working together, you were able to crack the riddle and free her to make it 2 out of 4.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518925_a718609d43_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833518925_a718609d43_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">We hope you enjoy these updates as much as we had fun making them! In addition to these Special Bots, the PlayStation Labo received an update, so we invite you to check it out and add new artefacts to your collection. <br/><br/>That’s all for now. But the treasure hunt does not end here! We will be back soon with 2 more riddles on the run-up to the release of Astro Bot. And by the looks of it, we might have to make the next ones even harder. <br/><br/>Thank you all for playing along with us, and we will see you soon!<br/><br/>Team Asobi out.</p>
</div>',
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/08/cygni-all-guns-blazing-redefining-the-shoot-em-up/',
                'Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/ea3d8a12fd74bec958c5be54d13445605282ce91.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The journey of developing Cygni hasn’t been easy, especially as a start-up<strong>,</strong> with this being our debut game. Nevertheless, every step of this journey has been filled with passion.<br/><br/>Our inspiration was sparked by the enjoyment we found in playing shoot’em ups on arcade machines in our youth – a fun experience that brought joy to all, regardless of high scores. We aimed to recreate this exhilarating experience using next-gen technology, with the power of the PlayStation 5. This has allowed us to deliver a fresh take on the shoot-‘em-up, with an epic story, and innovative gameplay features for a new generation of gamers.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ava’s fight for survival</h2>
<p class="">Cygni, a planet colonized by humans, thrives on ancient technology found in ruins left by an unknown civilization. These remnants serve as a vital power source and catalyst for technological progress. Our protagonist Ava, a recent recruit in Cygni’s Air Force, pilots the Orca in a desperate struggle against a sudden, potent attack by bio-mechanical aliens— potentially Cygni’s original inhabitants. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond the bullets</h2>
<p class=""><strong>Energy Management:</strong> Switching between shields (health) and weapons (more firepower and missiles) on the fly. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393786"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/93dbb138b55ab989cce7aadcbbb103bc869d1810.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class=""><strong>Combat:</strong> Air-to-air and air-to-ground combat includes a real-time crowd system—not just a background prop; they are gameplay-related, where players can interact with allied forces on the ground. This mutual assistance is not only crucial for gameplay but also aids in obtaining pickups and increasing your score.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393811"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/sJpjy501u01KivcnwzAnTqJpgIb300RCQWJ6fhXEvH5Y0100/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJzSnBqeTUwMXUwMUtpdmNud3pBblRxSnBnSWIzMDBSQ1FXSjZmaFhFdkg1WTAxMDAiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxNjY1LCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.Lab_wjFQ35aH3_3Zzld28dtaD-WSGC1InBNsZfUlyyUis9ZWdikYiLOVkdHDqgTs74MAVK28eLc65Ae0ArrB7YDRZ7_sWp2eYowFJb6HuyJqZpTdKE50Z76R5FQi8q4F_MPGDOAV8MQhZ0TuYQI1U_e0Hs7mdn-Uf2CbIZmjiUc4yUs13vN_E6V6xF1-GVmsgZkGzW4TX0v2lr0kl_m6vQhJ771qSRBDCaP_0vI5jVche0CLTKGmmfpPs2df-dUo2KUElaRrMZJ6rHqyg-GDJO_aEjrTWR2rp-skwqCDkZGeW6TUHu-8lSNR8ZaMgHzkroM1fggyVPcIVWkjG7YTrg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class=""><strong>Weapon Enhancement:</strong> Upgrade and prepare weapons – even equipping your ship with two additional side-drones – before engaging in battle.<br/><br/><strong>Designer Mode:</strong> Allows players to create, save, and manage projectile patterns on the go. This feature adds a layer of customization and strategy, enabling players to toggle between saved patterns on the go.<br/><br/><strong>Three Difficulty Modes: </strong>Easy (being more accessible, by having 3 lives per level) Normal and Hard. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393787"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/465ea19cba38015a08f520fe9fd60b72733fd5c6.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class=""><strong>Local Co-Op:</strong> Players can revive each other at the cost of sacrificing shield points, while enjoying double the firepower.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393788"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/29cbd9ab65a3190fb5a95e276eeb7dd763b7dcbd.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class=""><strong>Arcade Mode:</strong> Tailored for high-score enthusiasts. Players start from Level 1 and continue to the game’s end without any interruptions or cutscenes, but with only one life. This mode caters to those who enjoy a relentless challenge, and the highest scores can be recorded on global online leaderboards.<br/><br/><strong>Colossal Bosses:</strong> Cygni features large bosses each with their own unique combat mechanics, providing players with challenging and memorable battle experiences.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393789"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/Upp02ghLGd1Yy81EsrB7uvehZ8LPFjya6DWTO02pQJ02ng/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJVcHAwMmdoTEdkMVl5ODFFc3JCN3V2ZWhaOExQRmp5YTZEV1RPMDJwUUowMm5nIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY2NSwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.bFYKtJVU89tnukIB_1yVWT0bJC9EL3fk8MkQGiKMKTpnujHqNA9MLpdo7w8ZQGGMhujsqyDW_sg436GNh157Jj3ladcHmd8iQRX8MwVE3VqmBsxwhPDrfp2j5mypKH7rI49hqIYQRGDjUSHo1m0PbGN0gH6g0RXH2QND8g0RQj2wIA540xkqXRJPT7-RGsJKBV8s6KyfX4qovhLdz8bPbRi-SGCROa6n9aJ_PcPLBqk7RHB4Ty_-FhKuqi8uxPDOosmRuFb9PmMF0dD6UDo4YKPPAZbNNwBcfgKIEhibOgPluGyeqdI6FueggRed-MLZNLv9vIvrzMCl_8pdb6DlcQ" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Innovation with indie passion</h2>
<p class="">Using our past experiences in filmmaking and animation, we wanted to push the visual storytelling boundaries in Cygni without compromising gameplay. This includes short cutscenes in-between levels and creating full scale high-quality CG cinematics (Intro and Outro to the game), uncommon to most indie games, and the genre. Cygni takes full advantage of the PS5’s power and its SSD allowing for crisp visuals, fast loading times and a smooth experience running at 60FPS/4K.<br/><br/>We wanted to create a shoot’em up that’s not entirely a bullet hell experience – sometimes you WILL get hit, but that’s OK. The core gameplay mechanic of balancing your ship’s power between its weapons and shields means you can strategize your offensive vs defensive gameplay (firepower vs. shield). We have utilized the DualSense controller’s directional haptic feedback to help elevate and enhance this in a tactile, but logical way. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Behind the bullets</h2>
<p class="">With indie roots at our core, it’s been essential to stay connected to our community who’ve been patiently supporting Cygni from the start. From two people working on the game in their spare time, to signing with Konami, we wanted to share our story for all those eager to learn about us and our journey. Introducing our Behind-the-Scenes short series, and you can watch Episode 1 right now!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<img alt="Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/WwjwUOIXkSw/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">Cygni: All Guns Blazing launches on PS5 next month on August 6.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/09/playstation-store-june-2024s-top-downloads/',
                'PlayStation Store: June 2024’s top downloads',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/e660b314dd5f1f19d923be85fdc0dab196f6272d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. The launch of the huge new expansion Shadow of the Erdtree catapulted Elden Ring back up the PS5 charts across US and Europe, while the PS VR2 list saw Beat Saber rocking back to the top of the chart in the US and European regions.</p>
<p class="">Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS5 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>ELDEN RING</strong></td><td><strong>ELDEN RING</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td><td><strong>Sea of Thieves</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sea of Thieves</strong></td><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>MLB The Show 24</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>V Rising</strong></td><td><strong>V Rising</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege</strong></td><td><strong>It Takes Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td><td><strong>F1 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>HELLDIVERS 2</strong></td><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</strong></td><td><strong>Assassin’s Creed Mirage</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mortal Kombat 1</strong></td><td><strong>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game</strong></td><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td><td><strong>Cyberpunk 2077</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td><strong>Gran Turismo 7</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td><td><strong>HELLDIVERS 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>It Takes Two</strong></td><td><strong>Mortal Kombat 1</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Cyberpunk 2077</strong></td><td><strong>Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus</strong></td><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em><br/><em>*Upgrades not included</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS4 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Firewatch</strong></td><td><strong>Firewatch</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td><td><strong>THE FOREST</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Watch Dogs 2</strong></td><td><strong>Watch Dogs 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>THE FOREST</strong></td><td><strong>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Bloodborne</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>Unravel Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Injustice 2</strong></td><td><strong>Assassin’s Creed Odyssey</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Far Cry 5</strong></td><td><strong>Assassin’s Creed Origins</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td><td><strong>Bloodborne</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands</strong></td><td><strong>Far Cry 5</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>STAR WARS Battlefront II</strong></td><td><strong>Sid Meier’s Civilization VI</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>God of War</strong></td><td><strong>God of War</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</strong></td><td><strong>STAR WARS Battlefront II</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege</strong></td><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS VR2 Games*</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td><td><strong>Kayak VR: Mirage</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Kayak VR: Mirage</strong></td><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doctor Who: The Edge of Time</strong></td><td><strong>Crossfire: Sierra Squad</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td><td><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Crossfire: Sierra Squad</strong></td><td><strong>The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>cyubeVR</strong></td><td><strong>Shave &amp; Stuff</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PSVR Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td><td><strong>Sniper Elite VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td><td><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td><td><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td><td><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Creed Rise to Glory</strong></td><td><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sniper Elite VR</strong></td><td><strong>The Guy VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>SUPERHOT VR</strong></td><td><strong>DOOM 3: VR Edition</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine</strong></td><td><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>MultiVersus</strong></td><td><strong>MultiVersus</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td><td><strong>Stumble Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Stumble Guys</strong></td><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td><td><strong>eFootball 2024</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Destiny 2</strong></td><td><strong>The Sims 4</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Sims 4</strong></td><td><strong>Destiny 2</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/09/meet-2xkos-newest-champion-braum-plus-first-details-on-ps5-playtest-starting-august-8/',
                'Meet 2XKO’s newest champion Braum, plus first details on PS5 playtest starting August 8',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/895e1be572ebcbf1c18556b421565e5b8758b49c.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hey everyone! I’m Shaun “Unconkable” Rivera, game director on 2XKO. 2XKO is our new free-to-play, team-based fighting game featuring champions from League of Legends, releasing in 2025. Fight solo or with a friend in intense 2v2 battles, and master powerful abilities, assists, and combos to outplay enemies.<br/><br/>Our team is led by <a href="https://www.evo.gg/events/las-vegas">Evo</a> founders Tom and Tony Cannon here at Riot Games—the studio behind League of Legends and Valorant—and is composed of developers who have deep connections with the fighting game community, including former professional players, creators, and tournament organizers. <br/><br/>2XKO is currently in development. We’ve just revealed a new champion and announced Alpha Lab, the game’s first at-home playtest. <a href="https://alpha.2xko.riotgames.com/en-us/#registration-masthead">Sign up</a> for a chance to play starting August 8. </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Meet Braum, the Heart of the Freljord</strong></h3>
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<img alt="Meet 2XKO’s newest champion Braum, plus first details on PS5 playtest starting August 8" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/yhz3mNIUFe0/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">2XKO’s newest playable character is Braum, a beloved hero blessed with mighty biceps and an even bigger heart. He joins the previously announced roster of re-imagined League of Legends champions, which includes Ahri, Yasuo, Ekko, Darius, and Illaoi. <br/><br/>Since 2v2 combat and playing with your friends is at the core of 2XKO gameplay, the team was eager to design a champion who would thrive as a support character. Braum’s protective abilities make any duo partner shine. </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Stand behind me</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667882_0e498af2c4_6k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667882_0e498af2c4_6k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Early concept art of Braum with his shield</em></p>
<p class="">Braum’s design is centered around his massive shield, which was once the unbreakable door to an ancient treasure vault. With it, he protects allies from incoming damage. Braum excels at disrupting opponents and blocking their attacks, making space for his team to land devastating combos. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667887_4734ef99c2_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667887_4734ef99c2_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Defense is key to Braum’s gameplay design, but he still has strong offensive options. He gains a unique buff called Unbreakable when he lands certain abilities, which coats Braum’s shield in ice and makes his special moves deal more damage. <br/><br/>His kit also introduces a unique freeze mechanic to 2XKO. By activating the magic of his shield, Braum can gain extra armor and stop opponents cold.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Fluffs of fury</strong></h3>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832921779_2b5625f624_3k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832921779_2b5625f624_3k.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Early concept art of Braum’s beloved poros</em></p>
<p class="">Braum’s warm and infectious personality has fostered his friendship with poros—magical creatures who hail from the frozen Freljord, Braum’s home region.  </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667877_2234a88b23_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53831667877_2234a88b23_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Braum’s little friends are ready to assist him however they can, whether it’s by flying through the air to stop fleeing enemies, or by coming together to form a massive ball of fluff that deals tons of damage.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sign up for 2XKO Alpha Lab</strong></h3>
<p class="">For a deeper dive into Braum’s kit and more information on his gameplay, be sure to check out his Champion Introduction dropping tomorrow, July 10 on the 2XKO YouTube channel. <br/><br/>To try Braum and 2XKO on PlayStation 5, register for a chance to be part of Alpha Lab—our first at-home playtest—starting August 8 in select regions. Those who are selected to participate will receive an invite code for a friend. Sign up and get more details on the <a href="https://alpha.2xko.riotgames.com/en-us/">Alpha Lab website</a>. <br/><br/>2XKO will also be playable at Evo 2024. Follow our social channels for the latest news and live coverage of the event. <br/><br/>Thanks for reading. We’re excited to hear what you think of 2XKO.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/10/ps-vr2-frenzies-revealed-new-metro-awakening-gameplay-details-wanderer-the-fragments-of-fate-in-depth-look/',
                'PS VR2: Frenzies revealed, new Metro Awakening gameplay details, Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate in-depth look',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/07/79256ae1f7e09c4179e99cede5c94b168708a7ac.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last month, <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/04/skydances-behemoth-hands-on-report/">Skydance’s Behemoth</a> put us through our paces with the first taste of the combat heavy, dark fantasy VR adventure that’ll launch later this year on PS VR2. Now we’re turning the spotlight on three other immersive experiences also coming to the platform soon. <br/><br/>Frenzies is a brand-new title debuting today, which fuses Synapse creator nDreams’ award-winning gunplay with neon-infused multiplayer arenas. Announced earlier this year, Metro Awakening VR is a return to the post-apocalyptic world of Dmitry Glukhovsky’s survival horror series. Developer Vertigo Games takes us on a trip to the underground, illuminating us as to how it’s adapting the franchise to VR, while keeping this new entry authentic to what’s come before. Finally, Mighty Eyes gives us an update on Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate with an exclusive, in-depth look into the time-traveling title.  <br/><br/>And remember, starting on August 7, you’ll be able to have even more content options for PS VR2, by way of a PC adapter. Players will have access to buy and play Steam’s expansive library of thousands of VR games, including fan favorites like Half-Life: Alyx, Fallout 4 VR, and War Thunder. Find out more <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/03/playstation-vr2-players-can-access-games-on-pc-with-adapter-starting-on-august-7/">here</a>. <br/><br/>Now, onto the games, as introduced by their creators. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frenzies</strong></h2>
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<p class="">“We’re thrilled to be bringing Frenzies to PlayStation VR2!  As you can see from the debut gameplay trailer above, Frenzies fuses nDreams’ award-winning gunplay with the mayhem of multiplayer, throwing you into neon-soaked arenas for a winner-takes-all showdown with a twist. </p>
<p class="">“Each five-round match in Frenzies is a chaotic lucky dip of randomized round types, maps, and teams that ensure no two matches are ever the same. Fun to play yet challenging to master, we think Frenzies will leave you smiling from ear-to-ear every time you step into the arena. We look forward to showing you more soon!”</p>
<cite>– Paul Mottram, Head of Studio, Near Light: an nDreams Studio</cite></blockquote>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/10/frenzies-is-a-neon-soaked-wildly-chaotic-multiplayer-shooter-coming-to-ps-vr2/">Read more about the gameplay mechanics and modes from Frenzies in a dedicated PS Blog post. </a></em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Metro Awakening </strong></h2>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53842983897_4c95e492f6_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53842983897_4c95e492f6_k.jpg"/></a></p>
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<p class="">“We’re excited to reveal all-new screenshots and an exclusive glimpse into our upcoming VR survival horror title, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/metro-awakening/">Metro Awakening</a>. The game has been created in collaboration with original series author Dmitry Glukhovsky and is a standalone installment in the franchise, set before the events of the original game Metro 2033 and featuring a very, very personal, emotional story for our protagonist.</p>
<p class="">Metro is renowned for its unique immersive world, and Metro Awakening takes this to a new level. We’ve focused on making VR interactions as immersive and diegetic as possible, utilizing features like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to enhance the experience, while maintaining the series’ stealth-combat dynamic.</p>
<p class="">We hope you’ll join us in this thrilling new Metro experience. Mark your calendars—pre-orders start this September, giving you the opportunity to be among the first to step into the eerie, atmospheric world of Metro Awakening before it launches later this year.”</p>
<cite>– Creative Director Martin de Ronde and Game Director Samar Louwe, Vertigo Games </cite></blockquote>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/10/metro-awakening-adapting-the-post-apocalyptic-survival-horror-for-ps-vr2/">Read more about how Vertigo Games is adapting the series to PS VR2 in our exclusive interview. </a></em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate</strong></h2>
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<p class="">“Firstly, a bit of bad news, the game’s delayed with a new release date of October 31. But, let’s not despair too long…here’s a bucketload of new content to get stuck into! </p>
<p class="">“Discover more about some of the people you’ll become and the incredible places you’ll visit as we present the above exclusive footage, offering an in-depth look into the diverse worlds and stories in <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/tag/wanderer-the-fragments-of-fate/">Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate</a>. Meet some of our key characters as you step into their shoes and get a glimpse into the role they play in shaping the future – every decision influencing the course of history. Immerse yourself in rich and awe-inspiring worlds as we journey across the globe visiting Mayan jungles, war-stricken Germany, flooded Boston and the breathtaking surface of the moon in an unparalleled gaming experience. </p>
<p class="">Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate releases October 31 2024.”</p>
<cite>– Sam Ramlu (she/her), Executive Producer at Mighty Eyes</cite></blockquote>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/10/metro-awakening-adapting-the-post-apocalyptic-survival-horror-for-ps-vr2/',
                'Metro Awakening: adapting the post-apocalyptic survival horror for PS VR2',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/030cc5b8c5d76debdcc5db1df30c3683ab95315a.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The post-apocalyptic survival horror Metro series – based on the best-selling sci-fi novel series of the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky – plunged players into an oppressively dark and dank underground network and the ruins beyond.<br/><br/>Highly immersive and critically acclaimed, the franchise has spawned three games to date. Before year’s end, that count will reach four. <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/01/31/metro-awakening-is-coming-to-ps-vr2/">Announced at State of Play this past January</a>, Vertigo Games – creator of Arizona Sunshine and After The Fall – revealed it has spent the last few years working on an all-new game built for PS VR2. Metro Awakening is a standalone story set prior to the events of the original title – Metro 2033. I sat down with Creative Director Martin de Ronde and Game Director Samar Louwe to discuss more about how this world has been adapted to VR and how they’re keeping the title authentic to the series.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The game’s story has been created in collaboration with the original author</strong></h3>
<p class="">“One of the first things that we did when we embarked upon this project was to reach out to Dmitry [Glukhovsky],” explains de Ronde. “For us almost like, we were expecting him to come in and come up with another story for the game that was in line with the other Metro games. But instead, he came up with a very, very personal, emotional story for a new character. […] It also meant that our focus started to shift from taking a straightforward approach to a more story-heavy and story-driven approach in this particular game. And of course, the Metro series has always been known for the story that differentiates from other first-person shooters out there, but this time around, I think Dmitry really wanted to make sure that the story and the development of the characters was even more important.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844735225_63573edde0_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844735225_63573edde0_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>It’s still going to stick close to the playstyle of the mainline games… </strong></h3>
<p class=""><strong>“</strong>Part of our onboarding process for every team member is to play the games, of course,” explains Louwe. “And so we look at what the strengths are of the franchise, and specifically on which of those strengths are translatable to VR. And some of the things that we noticed is the dynamic that they have between stealth and combat. And always making sure that you’re on your toes, and that you are never really sure when people are going to spot you. That’s something that works very, very well in VR. There’s just something about creeping up on enemies, listening to what they’re talking about. Of course the nature of VR, you can physically sit behind cover, maybe you can peer through a hole in the cover, and then you can spy on your enemies.”<br/><br/>“But rest assured for everybody that is a little bit more trigger happy,” interjects de Ronde. “There’s plenty of classic Metro action in the game.”<br/><br/>“I think it’s also good to say that the mainline games, of course, have Artyom,” Louwe continues. “After the first game he becomes a Spartan. But in [Metro Awakening], our protagonist is not necessarily a combat expert. So with that in mind, it also fits better to have a bit of a slower pace to the combat versus narrative than the original Metro series.”</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>…and keep close to their look and feel, thanks to original developer 4A Games</strong></h3>
<p class="">“We were very happy that 4A helped us fantastically well with supplying all the assets that they have from those games,” explains de Ronde. “We were able to either use some of those assets directly or use them as a reference for most of the stuff that we built in the game… it’s helped ensure that the game looks the way it looks. <br/><br/>“There are assets that we looked at, and we wanted to use them specifically because they play a role on the mainland series, we wanted to reuse them again. In our game, you want to also make sure that fans recognise those elements. And then there was obviously stuff that serves the purposes as reference. And then there’s stuff that we’re almost regressing in terms of what would have looked like, X number of years before the events in the mainline series.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844296731_81bd648a67_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844296731_81bd648a67_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>You’re still going to feel the pressure of your bullet count</strong></h3>
<p class="">“You’re basically constantly looking for ammo,” chuckles Louwe when asked if, like the previous games, sourcing bullets is going to be an ongoing concern. “We have this beautiful environment, we have this beautiful world, our art is made sure that there’s detail to explore. But you also need a reason to explore. And the main reason to explore every nook and cranny is to just find bullets. We figured it would be best to hide those in small packets. So you won’t necessarily find full clips all the time. Instead, you will be finding single bullets out here, a couple of bullets there. And we’ve also made an effort to make sure that in some cases that there’s a bit of environmental storytelling around how that ammo got there, and something that triggers your imagination.<br/><br/>“The philosophy that we’ve taken along for this is also that basically, if you look everywhere, you’re probably going to have enough bullets to get through your combat encounters. If you just look on the critical path, you will probably have to be a better shot. And if you don’t scavenge at all, then you’re gonna have a hard time. Of course, you can always fall back to stealth. If you’re successful at that, then that’s always an option.”</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Translating the tactile nature of Metro to PS VR2</strong></h3>
<p class="">Wiping your gas mask clean, pulling out maps, peering at ammo counts on guns rather than UI helped immerse you in Metro. I ask whether that makes for an easy VR adaptation. Vertigo’s research proves it can’t be a like for like.<br/><br/>“It’s an interesting point you bring up about wiping clean your gas mask… because Metro is such a tactile world it was obviously for us something that we definitely wanted to try and incorporate in the game. We tried to come up with an alternative way of wiping clean your gas mask that I think fans will very much still appreciate, even though it’s a slightly different version and wiping it when you have it on your face.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844560318_19b29f7fc8_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844560318_19b29f7fc8_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“We chose to keep a lot of our UI and interactions as diegetic as possible,” continues Louwe. “For example, if you want to see how many bullets you have left in your gun, we could have put a counter on it. But we didn’t do that. Instead we opened up the clip, so that you can actually see how many bullets are in there. So if you want to know how many bullets are in your clip, you have to pull it out. It’s just a bit more immersive when you go into a combat encounter and you’re like “okay, let’s prepare, I’ll pull out my clip, check. That’s going to be enough for this one” then you snap it back in. If you want to put on your gas mask, we put it on a backpack. So you pull out your backpack by grabbing it from your shoulder. The gas mask is hanging from it. You just grab it from there and put it to your face, and then you stick it on. Those are the types of interactions that we were very keen on just making them as diegetic as possible.<br/><br/>“The adaptive triggers are a great example of how you can boost the immersion even further, because they give you just a tiny little bit of extra feedback as you fire your weapon. And our weapon designers actually had a lot of fun implementing it, and tweaking it for each weapon. It seems like a really small thing but it is kind of like those subtle elements that make you forget that you’re playing a game when it’s just there, right? Another example is the haptic feedback. It gives you that little bit of added experience to make the intense things that will happen to you in this game, to make them that bit more visceral.”</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The game’s Comfort settings</strong></h3>
<p class="">“We want to focus on immersion,” states Louwe. “So our default locomotion setting, we’re offering two presets, so we have Comfort and we have Immersion. In Immersion, the default locomotion setting is continuous stick movements with snap rotation. Of course, we also offer settings you can just change in the Settings menu to make something even more immersive, such as continuous rotation. If you want to have a bit of a more comfortable experience, then you can set your locomotion settings to teleportation. That said, we are not really shying away from pushing the boundaries of VR when it comes to creating a visceral experience. So in Immersion mode, you can also expect to be moved around a bed or knocked over to wake up unconscious on the floor or, or even be thrown off a rail car for example.”</p>
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<p class=""><em>This version of the interview was condensed for brevity. You can listen to a fuller version of the interview on the PlayStation Podcast, dropping this Friday. Metro Awakening will launch later this year on PS VR2.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/10/frenzies-is-a-neon-soaked-wildly-chaotic-multiplayer-shooter-coming-to-ps-vr2/',
                'Frenzies is a neon-soaked, wildly chaotic multiplayer shooter coming to PS VR2',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/07/cf561bb7d985bdd420421625446e334e8a9f0a06-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Welcome to Frenzies, the wildly chaotic and stylishly slick multiplayer shooter, coming to PS VR2!<br/><br/>I’m thrilled to share some more information about Frenzies following its unveiling. If you missed that, here’s our announcement trailer that gives you a taste of Frenzies’ unique blend of fun and chaos: </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Make friends, break friends</h2>
<p class="">In Frenzies, you’re thrown into a winner-takes-all showdown across five rounds with a randomized, lucky dip of round types and maps that ensures no two games are ever the same. Frenzies’ mixture of solo and team-based round types means one minute you’ll be forging friendships and working together to pick up a win, and the next you’ll be trying to take those friends down in a frenetic free-for-all.</p>
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<p class="">Right from when we first started working on Frenzies, we wanted it to have a real sense of fun. We didn’t want to create a straight-faced, military sim and instead took our inspiration from bombastic arena shooter classics such as Quake and Unreal Tournament. We felt that by taking the essence of those games and sprinkling in a dose of unpredictability, we’d landed on something that’s easy to play, challenging to master and leaves you with a big grin on your face every time. We think that there’s something for everyone in Frenzies and even experienced VR shooter fans will have their skills tested in new ways.</p>
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<p class="">Our round types also play a huge role in building this sense of fun. Alongside traditional modes like Team Deathmatch, we got creative to build new round types around some interesting concepts that make great use of VR. My personal favorite is Glitter Pig, where you’re running around trying to grab hold of this giant, squealing pig. You’ve got to be the one holding the pig for the longest time throughout the round but that’s easier said than done when your opponents can easily track you down and your big porky friend.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VR pedigree that’s made for multiplayer</h2>
<p class="">Across nDreams’ family of studios, we’ve been pioneering VR game development for over a decade, including the acclaimed ‘Run-and-Cover’ gameplay that featured in the award-winning Fracked and Synapse.’ Run-and-Cover’ feels satisfying and tactile but also highly intuitive thanks to the power of VR and we wanted to bring it into multiplayer with Frenzies.</p>
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<p class="">Multiplayer works incredibly well in VR – you’re in a shared physical space with other players, able to collaborate, compete, and interact with each other and the environment in many ways.  <br/><br/>One of my favorite ways that we’ve really leaned into this with Frenzies is through gestures, replicated 1:1 in-game. Gestures enhance both the tactical depth and the social interaction of each match. For instance, you can communicate with your team-mates using hand signals, taunt opponents with certain ‘expressive’ gestures, or even engage in a quick game of rock, paper, scissors. We’re excited to see these types of interactions play out in Frenzies.   </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Express yourself</h2>
<p class="">In Frenzies, everything is dialed up to 11, from the neon-soaked arenas to the oversized weapons and you’ll need to match this energy when you step into the arena. Unpredictability reigns supreme in this game and humility will get you nowhere so flaunting your victories and taunting your rivals isn’t just allowed – it’s encouraged.</p>
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<p class="">Showboating only works if you look good doing it and nothing screams bravado more than the ultimate killer suit – the onesie. Our onesies are colorful and playful, and you can choose from dozens of designs to customize your onesie and express yourself through a unique visual identity. Team your onesie with a digital face, gloves, and kicks to create a look that will turn heads in the arena… right before you land that perfect headshot.<br/><br/>We’ve got so much more to share in the coming months so be sure to wishlist the game now on PlayStation Store. Until then, start picking out your dream onesie and we’ll see you in the arena soon.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/11/concord-beta-early-access-preload-and-server-times-pc-specs-and-more-detailed/',
                'Concord Beta Early Access: Preload and server times, PC specs, and more detailed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/e042e8f653fe5a3bb9d24e39962a47896449bd6a.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Concord’s Early Access Beta is almost here! All of us at Firewalk are so excited to finally be able to welcome you all into the Concord galaxy. We can’t wait to hear who your new mains and favorite Freegunners are, or what combos and strats will cook up as you build your crew. Most importantly we can’t wait to queue up and play right alongside you!<br/><br/>Before we head into both our Early Access and Open Beta weekends, we wanted to share some more important information with you like, when you can pre-download, when the servers go live, some goodies you can earn from participating, and more. So, let’s dive in!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Concord Beta Early Access (July 12 – 14) and Open Beta (July 18 – 21)¹</strong></h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848690270_1f8e9b0b8e_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="This image shows the global release times for Concord''s Early Access beta for PS5 and PC:

July 12

10am PDT
1pm EDT
2pm BRT
6pm BST
7pm CEST

July 13 

2am JST
2am KST
3am AEST" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848690270_1f8e9b0b8e_4k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">The Concord Beta Early Access weekend on PS5 and PC will begin tomorrow, Friday, July 12, at 10am PDT. If you are playing on a PS5, you can pre-download the Concord Beta starting today, Thursday, July 11 at 10 am PDT.</p>
<p class="">Pre-ordering any edition of Concord will grant you access to the Beta Early Access weekend, as well as four extra codes you can share with friends so you can squad up with your own crew and take on rival crews together. Your extra codes will be for the same platform you pre-ordered on. Additionally, we’re excited that PlayStation Plus is also inviting all members to participate in the Beta Early Access weekend. Just look for the option to download and play the beta when you boot up your PS5.</p>
<p class="">Our Open Beta will begin next week, from Thursday, July 18, at 10am PDT, through Sunday, July 21. You will also be able to pre-download on PS5 starting Wednesday, July 17 at 10 AM PDT.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Get to know the Concord galaxy </strong> </h2>
<p class="">During the Early Access and Open Beta, all 16 of our launch Freegunners will be unlocked and available to play and customize. Whether you want to snipe from afar, lock down an area, provide support for your teammates, or… just dive head-first into the fight, our roster of Freegunners has something for everyone. It’s been a minute since we’ve checked in with the Freegunners of the North Star, so we’ll also be sharing our first Vignette during our Early Access Beta and can’t wait for you to learn more about the crew and their tidy ship.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848514948_1167f4a268_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="This image shows what you can play come the Early Access weekend on July 12 - 14:

4 Maps - Freewater, Star Chamber, Water Hazard, Shock Risk
3 Modes - Cargo Run, Clash Point, Trophy Hunt
All 16 Freegunners.

Open beta Weekend runs July 18 - 21 and includes all Early Access content plus new map Bone Mines and mode Area Control." height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848514948_1167f4a268_4k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">We will have three modes, Clash Point, Trophy Hunt and Cargo Run, available to play during the Beta Early Access weekend. It was important to us when developing Concord to make sure we had modes for everyone, so whether you are looking to queue up for a quick round of Trophy Hunt or want to prove you and your crew have the best strats to retrieve Blue Buddy in Cargo Run, there’s something for everyone. There will also be four maps you’ll get to explore and play on: Freewater, Star Chamber, Water Hazard, and Shock Risk.<br/><br/>Once we head into our Open Beta next weekend, we’ll also add a new mode, Area Control, and new map, Bone Mines. Check out <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/27/concord-beta-dates-announced-beta-early-access-launching-july-12/">the original announcement of the beta</a> to learn a little bit more about each of the maps and modes available during our Beta weekends.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Beta Rewards</strong></h2>
<p class="">If you plan on joining us for both Early Access and Open Beta, your progress will carry over between the weekends. However, please keep in mind that your progress from either Beta will not carry over to our official launch on August 23.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848252726_dfad264122_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848252726_dfad264122_4k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Life as a Freegunner is all about taking high-stakes jobs with your crew and reaping the rewards, so as a thank you, you’ll receive a few goodies for just participating: a Frog Weapon Charm (Frog, stands for “From Orbit to Ground”, and is the name of the Northstar’s drop ship, not a literal frog, everyone’s favorite amphibian), a Star Flare Icon and Business Card.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Beta PC specs and features </strong> </h2>
<p class="">The Concord Beta Early Access weekend and Open Beta weekend will support cross-play so you can play with your friends across both PS5 and PC. For players on PC, we’re excited to share the system specifications and just some of the supported features for the Concord Beta on PC:</p>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th></th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">MINIMUM<br/>1080P / 60FPS</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RECOMMENDED<br/>1080P / 60FPS</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PERFORMANCE<br/>1440P / 60FPS</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">ULTRA<br/>4K / 60FPS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>GRAPHICS</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Low</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Medium</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">High</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Ultra</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Windows 10 64Bit<br/>(Creators Update)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Windows 10 64Bit<br/>(Creators Update)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Windows 10 64Bit<br/>(Creators Update)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Windows 10 64Bit<br/>(Creators Update)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>CPU</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intel Core i7-8700KAMD <br/>Ryzen 7 2700X</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intel Core i7-8700KAMD <br/>Ryzen 7 2700X</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intel Core i7-10700KAMD <br/>Ryzen 7 3700X</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intel Core i7-10700KAMD <br/>Ryzen 7 3700X</td></tr><tr><td><strong>MEMORY</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">8 GB DDR4</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">16 GB DDR4</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">16 GB DDR4</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">16 GB DDR4</td></tr><tr><td><strong>GPU</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 6GB<br/>AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super<br/>AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080<br/>AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070Ti<br/>AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT</td></tr><tr><td><strong>STORAGE</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">30 GB SSD</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">30 GB SSD</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">30 GB SSD</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">30 GB SSD</td></tr><tr><td><strong>CONNECTIVITY</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Broadband</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Broadband</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Broadband</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Broadband</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OTHER</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Full Directx 12 Compatibility</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Full Directx 12 Compatibility</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Full Directx 12 Compatibility</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Full Directx 12 Compatibility</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="">The Concord Beta will also support:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>4K*</li>
<li>Ultrawide 21:9*</li>
<li>Uncapped Framerate*</li>
<li>KBM and DualSense Controller Support</li>
<li>Custom Key Mapping</li>
<li>FSR 3**</li>
<li>DLSS 3.7**</li>
</ul>
<p class=""><em>* Compatible PC and display required.</em><em><br/></em><em>**Compatible PC and graphics card required.</em></p>
<p class="">Please note these system specs and features are for the Early Access and Open Beta. Be on the lookout for more details about Concord on PC, including final specs and additional features, in the lead-up to launch in August.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">We can’t wait to play with you all this weekend, and we’re excited to hear who your new mains are and see all your hype clips and fan art. We will have more information about Concord in the coming weeks, like our accessibility settings. So be sure to follow Concord on <a href="https://x.com/PlayConcord">Twitter/X</a>,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/playconcord/"> Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@playconcord">TikTok</a>, and join the community in the <a href="https://discord.com/invite/concordofficial">Official Concord Discord</a> so you can stay up to date on all things Concord.</p>
<p class=""><em>¹ Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/11/flintlock-the-siege-of-dawn-discover-the-gods-youll-battle-july-18/',
                'Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – discover the gods you’ll battle July 18',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a868a52a43462836326e33e4a0b1504dc0131a1f-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello everyone, this is Simon Dasan, A44’s creative director on Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Today we shed some light on one of the most mysterious aspects of our upcoming game, set for release on July 18 – the gods that have taken over the world of Kian. To do so we’ve released a brand new story trailer and are giving more information below!</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Before the Siege</h2>
<p class="">Before the Door to the Great Below was abruptly torn open, the people of Kian saw the ancient stories of gods and magic as nothing but myths. A new age fueled by black powder technology brought previously bickering nations closer together. Even the most conservative of places such as Three Peaks began to abandon the old ways in pursuit of the riches both trade and technology had to offer.</p>
<p class="">The Door to the Great Below itself remained as the one, grim reminder of the old world. Once upon a time, the city of Dawn had been<em> </em>built around it by those who struggled to let go of the dead. In modern times the Door had become an unexplainable curiosity, a landmark for a city that was forgetting its past.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829000696_67108d75ba_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829000696_67108d75ba_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Siege of Dawn</h2>
<p class="">Ten years before the events of the game an unprecedented disaster struck Kian; the Door opened and the Dead themselves marched into the world of the living, overrunning the unsuspecting city of Dawn. By the time there was any understanding of what had transpired the city was lost entirely, those lucky enough to escape the massacre having abandoned the city by the thousands.</p>
<p class="">The Dead threatened to overrun the entire world. The Coalition was thrown together to answer them, volunteers from many nations gathering themselves into a makeshift army. At tremendous cost, they pushed their enemy back, but ultimately failed to progress further than containing the Dead within the city walls. The Door to the Great Below remained open – and The Siege of Dawn had just begun.</p>
<p class="">Ten years later, black powder technology has finally advanced far enough to convince Sama, Field Marshal of the Coalition, to sign off on a mission behind enemy lines. Sama entrusts her unit of Sappers with the task of blowing the Door shut and ending a decade of suffering. However, the mission has overlooked a crucial detail; even after all these years, the Coalition remains in the dark concerning exactly how the Door opened… and who opened it.<br/><br/>The Sappers make it deeper into Dawn than any before them, only to walk straight into the lair of a god. Face to face with a creature straight from the pages of legend, the truth descends on them all at once. It was not only the Dead that walked through the Door on that fateful day 10 years ago, but the gods themselves, intent on claiming a world that had forgotten them.</p>
<p class="">The Sappers’ interference has drastic consequences. The gods are now truly loose on the world – each of them intent on shaping it into their own understanding of perfection.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The gods gone awry</h2>
<p class="">Accustomed to independent domains in the Great Below, the gods have carved up the living world in the same fashion. Each god dominates their own part of Kian.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dukmar</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53828088327_0a40492af6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53828088327_0a40492af6_h.jpg"/></a>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333289_56e6aeafb5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333289_56e6aeafb5_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Dukmar controls Wanderer’s Rest, an ancient region that was once Kian’s cradle of civilization and is now the center of learning.</p>
<p class="">A self-proclaimed God of Knowledge, Dukmar’s understanding of the world is skewed by larger-than-life stories passed onto him by the souls of the Great Below. Unfortunately, the characters from these stories tend to be conquerors and tyrants, inspiring him to seek the same kind of dominance.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393949"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/5aa0a77e8ea457252f892c959338bef082ef12ae.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Freedom to wreak havoc on the Great Above is exactly the kind of opportunity Dukmar has always wished for. Arrogant and ambitious, he wastes no time seizing an entire city and taking its population hostage to build monuments to himself.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Rammuha</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438495_aea874adb4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438495_aea874adb4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333394_8a71e7a117_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333394_8a71e7a117_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Rammuha controls Three Peaks, taking advantage of the conservative beliefs of its people to rule over the region without needing to reveal herself directly.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393950"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/cd0b32d3b4a18a74e161fb6004e5480dcc37b52e.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">A Goddess of Order, her understanding of the world is fueled by flawed mortal ideas of rules and justice. Rammuha has always existed in the shadow of more powerful gods in the Great Below, forging her into a cunning and resourceful adversary.</p>
<p class="">Lacking brute force, she has become adept at manipulating others to get what she wants. She knows exactly how to turn the piety of the Knights of Three Peaks against them to turn a once faithful order into her personal army.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Inaya</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438490_40ce117286_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438490_40ce117286_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438640_a7b2e2afc4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829438640_a7b2e2afc4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Inaya, The Goddess of Life, works tirelessly in her role to keep the natural order of the world intact. Unlike the other gods, she is devoted to her duties and has no interest in the invasion of the Above.</p>
<p class="">Of all the gods, Inaya shares the closest relationship with Enki. Outside the natural order, he may be the only thing that matters to her.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Uru</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53828088332_91b433968d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53828088332_91b433968d_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Uru controls Dawn itself, never letting the Door to the Great Below out of his sight.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829001256_55bf96bf53_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829001256_55bf96bf53_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333319_876ffa6dae_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829333319_876ffa6dae_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Uru the Ravager is the most powerful of the gods, burdened with controlling the Door between life and death itself.</p>
<p class="">All the other gods, even Enki, fear Uru’s power. The only force capable of restraining him is the Door itself, which he cannot venture far from.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393952"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/e1f4e88d8ecfe250ed9d81d467a4efb3faf8b067.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829242108_a40a0d6574_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829242108_a40a0d6574_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">That’s it for a look at the gods of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn! We hope this sneak peek at their history and motivations leaves you wanting to see and discover more… And thankfully you don’t have to wait too long! <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10004425">You can pre-order Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn on PlayStation 5 now</a> (with a 10% discount for PlayStation Plus members), ahead of its launch on July 18. A Deluxe Edition, including additional cosmetics for Nor, is also available.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/11/exhausted-man-crawls-onto-ps5-and-ps4-july-25-full-details-on-movement-mechanics/',
                'Exhausted Man crawls onto PS5 and PS4 July 25 – full details on movement mechanics',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/c46a325ce9a24e0179a79587c3f34cdb3c20d465.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello! I’m one of the developers who made Exhausted Man, an absurd sitcom depicting an exhausted life coming to PS5 and PS4 on July 25. In this game, the protagonist can only crawl and does everything while lying down. You can see that in the teaser trailer below.</p>
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<p class="">Today, I want to tell you how I designed such weird characters.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Origin</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318498_18dc891f52_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318498_18dc891f52_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">It all started with a phrase: running out of energy, which became the theme of a respective game jam. I like to participate in such events, as making a game from scratch in 48 hours is a great way to relax.</p>
<p class="">Based on the theme, I came up with the idea of “people running out of energy” and built a simple character who was slumped on a couch. I posted a screenshot of it and got a lot of likes – not because of my modeling skills, but due to the resonance of exhaustion the character exuded.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393960"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/01LJmq6sqolBk8d6LQz5Rua9BepEmK4Xsx01AO2Te0175I/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIwMUxKbXE2c3FvbEJrOGQ2TFF6NVJ1YTlCZXBFbUs0WHN4MDFBTzJUZTAxNzVJIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY3Mywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.LC0Pd6cj2Bbcy_BVfKL8z68nH5NQ1JJyQnFWaBVWMSmX4gR93GSKYPJVvIzbBCyNh5q21Tb5Nstnj6M2rLk712-n8SAFEsEBtTF5oYUvRkjTrWXQPeX4M8UiSJ4Z9lp0M_jVMB6EwaKxJf-dRESvvCsfoC3TDYPi6ZY1CV2ilhNCEo-LSJKpn8D8h0jERKcegKdCrhqjQ7xzO7RnmmgjIheIFfiJZSfg1vUmAjCiFH5iy8eX82aCb_ncGJdbqPKekBg_8PPtFoWq5Jx0aT3XxGg91OscNXzuNfIypKZJn6rUJE3s4sxRmERQqNwNquKcoJ-30uYQO-g9A4XrrlQYew" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">I decided to make a game with this exhausted character – so he couldn’t just stay slumped on the couch, he needed to move. We’re all familiar with how our bodies feel when we’re extremely tired, standing up was not an option, so I made him crawl on the floor.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393961"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/ZyokxGuUmZ88KkA00eBIHlovGwMz5A64eLBItNsFvXkg/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJaeW9reEd1VW1aODhLa0EwMGVCSUhsb3ZHd016NUE2NGVMQkl0TnNGdlhrZyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE2NzMsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.Z7pQyJFrp9i9vAuwNAcR_fROh-2BFoBX2sZOEzC_lduLj5IRar_IyIQFTDDxaLucWjeRA1Osuf1oIGOTHkDby_xhkKG5ubnJ8zcRJi3Hth6vf3LdzC_ZGHmFlAM7nK31rWH2xdUUHmsPtKZUm_Rd748WugCV2WEpJoyptvm7NV31GK05P2oJ4MQRaN1KuNG3YDlEPxk24B8axYo-QbCqR3sQeqtOid2fldaGnGI2vpydhzd1T6GodrwBKTFr9Vl0mMkA1cYyk6wQ4ctKEWDppZ1YnRYIef8ilj_vCfksQ9h1XUjIm76EdwXnAtibKPAPP5JczuEd4sbe53DEcigjGQ" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">This crawling animation got even more likes. I tested the crawling maneuver on the ground in real life and it hurt all over. But since people liked it, I kept it.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crawling like a bug</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393962"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/GJVUj9lwbN5CGIMnSLNsOWprtIjJqrk4g00JUyRZHsYw/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJHSlZVajlsd2JONUNHSU1uU0xOc09XcHJ0SWpKcXJrNGcwMEpVeVJaSHNZdyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE2NzMsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.Lcvk_9cuASupND3iAsF7wHerBy8rjwPj0dc1FFrCoFVKK5ejJY2cKWRVMvusFl2kVuZpoASAHbeg3z1kQGr00HBA666x2lGy6TOgDrig3GwxLxP3fUwP52sykLZpUc6iWg6SRtjXGzMN8CpM7hcXEo4z-oqj4XXFAFchIKc1RLUuzTpz1BlHTBOLcf5ktyLSbUHgjFCHl7XJHQoBTi5rSTTwQMVYX6wzfGP3ftGdeyBJd-W50j-X6glqxVWQWijYY2hmx0uflBlRwrBjv-PIW3kPHPU2ctQ9oHyyAuJUG_BOIeqcbu5p9vPzaMvJjHAdUgL2EW_XR2kgZi5qGJMdQA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">To crawl, especially on walls, humans need to learn from bugs. First, we made a ladybug that can crawl on any surface in a 3D environment.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393963"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/oPht01coicpN00FjFvE7cx52vnwitdS8pC02W4GYNuQSgc/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJvUGh0MDFjb2ljcE4wMEZqRnZFN2N4NTJ2bndpdGRTOHBDMDJXNEdZTnVRU2djIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY3Mywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.Q_UYzGxBZfmQCdGxG3JoMg78L3FLk1fPCFWLJJMqHrf3vIs3m7IirxTyrV5f1w9b0xzIxOvJ9nYIoOLWi1aOejHMYwEe18W_bUh5BjspYHKlp34zpC2iwW-8p7G1zNhZ8R4SwLU7s8F_yEmL8E3q_N4D1y43Hv-leTWmTtp7SdferNxx9JAHf6KKw4KZvSUL8z2SSfd8Yrni8L2xWfpd0btYPuXlj_I9jm88qUJC4LOtiDWcbEAfNB2sdf5MNFvjubQYhY_LxEoK-2BV-0E-DLrTYluy5z7o744TxTL_M-HxbFgI2fNIhLA_gd6ltgilPUXKATXiiPzg_fv7fOzl_Q" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">The character’s head could copy the way the ladybug moves, but there was still a long body behind the head to account for. What bug is like that? Caterpillars. So, we implemented a feature named caterpillar bones, responsible for anchoring the body to the environment based on the head’s position. So, when you see a person crawling in the game, it’s actually based on the inner workings of a crawling caterpillar.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Soft as noodles</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318523_af902a3845_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318523_af902a3845_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">For a long time, the character’s body was like a normal person’s, with bendy arms and legs split in two. Although he could only crawl, he was at least somewhat human. Until our artist drew some promo art.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318528_00d2ce1b9f_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53833318528_00d2ce1b9f_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We liked the art so much that we thought it was okay even if it wasn’t so human-like – after all, he’s exhausted, right? So, we broke each bone into small pieces, giving the character’s limbs a noodle-like flexibility. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Variable energy states</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-393965"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/AWZ5avr00Pd8Na008WaNRSYIxK8fYZrRF3MHilckkcvb00/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJBV1o1YXZyMDBQZDhOYTAwOFdhTlJTWUl4SzhmWVpyUkYzTUhpbGNra2N2YjAwIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTY3Mywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.ZJ-KDj_23PP72gzas7IxsUXF8o92lO_XexYh_dnHRnFxROk6nKEfuiknuSKaQBEbWmgIirCXbrO_bEeanGrbL8RqgZi154X5f_cyjqwkATyyN3k0iD1BCXHAXCP0L6D8j1dwW2EPcQip1bf_bhevK8IV2pSLMx_qqnOKADM4E5fVdBOXKe4ICbueQpx2kgFDt5cfTWU1Wb6gEBywkqNGwXORIU4oFq9wGHZ4czlKqu3LUlUPqEzx5eiqsbu-434YugW4v5LUFMJZeyeySK9P4STche-nQ-CNeO37pwkj0lNpvMqEGjr4vQU78Umx7jwLHM4e_jmwej8FbArP0JFONw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">The protagonist needs to complete various events to achieve the goal of the night, and his energy state will change accordingly. For example, eating something raises energy. After eating, the character’s head will shine gold and they’ll gain more speed and strength. On the other hand, when the character fixes a game bug it takes on the opposite effect. The character’s face will become haggard and start to yawn a lot. Yawn bubbles will also knock the character to sleep.</p>
<p class="">But no matter the energy state of the character, they’ll never stand up! Exhausted Man launches July 25 on PS5 and PS4. Can you help the poor sleepy protagonist make it through the night?</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/12/evo-2024-get-to-know-the-fighting-games-headlining-the-tournaments/',
                'Evo 2024: Get to know the fighting games headlining the tournaments',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/74cb0cc870b2ef9e5533741b2b57d0405e527f38.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The eve of Evo, the world’s biggest celebration of fighting games, is almost upon us. This massive event in Las Vegas Will host over 10,000 participants in 2024, making it officially the biggest esports event yet on record. Prepare for plenty of world-premiere announcements, upcoming game showcases, and the main draw: tournaments for eight carefully selected fighting games.</p>
<p class="">Are you unsure what’s on the roster or what to expect from the different games? We’ve assembled a handy primer on what makes each game special and what to look out for. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/street-fighter-6/">Street Fighter 6</a> </h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom</p>
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<p class="">The newest installment of Capcom’s legendary, genre-defining fighting game series. Released last year, it quickly became (and remains) Evo’s biggest game.</p>
<p class="">Street Fighter 6’s gameplay is built around the all-new Drive gauge. By spending Drive, players can perform all sorts of advanced techniques: the momentum-shifting Drive Impact, the defensive Drive Parry, a fierce Drive Reversal counterattack, the aggressive Drive Rush dashing movement, and the special-move enhancing Overdrive. Drive management is crucial to strategy: running out of Drive puts a competitor in a very bad Burnout position, restricting their Drive usage and inflicting other disadvantageous effects. </p>
<p class="">Street Fighter 6, having the largest pool of competitors, is undoubtedly going to have some major upsets in the brackets. Plenty of the biggest names in the Street Fighter series’ competitive scene will be in attendance, but just because you’re a big name doesn’t mean you can’t be caught off-guard by a fresh-faced player who happens to be really good and with two recent DLC character additions, fan favorites M. Bison and Akuma, a lot of surprises could happen. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/tekken-8/">Tekken 8</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment | Developer: Bandai Namco Studios Inc.</p>
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<p class="">Bandai-Namco’s Tekken 8 is the most popular 3D fighting game on the planet right now. It’s also one of the newest games at Evo, released in January of this year.</p>
<p class="">Tekken 8 is a game built around skillful movement, big launchers into flashy combos, and the newly-introduced Heat system. Each character can enter Heat mode once per round, and it lasts a short while. It’s built for aggression since it gives character attacks additional damage and other new enhancements, but you’ll also see skilled players using the powerful cinematic Heat Smash special attacks and the Heat Dash to cancel their Heat mode into even more intense pressure.</p>
<p class="">The last few years have been interesting for Tekken. For a long time, Korean players dominated the scene. However, a few years ago, the Pakistan Tekken community began traveling internationally to compete and wowing everyone with their amazing gameplay, and now plenty of other skilled players across the globe are eager for their shot at the crown. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/guilty-gear-strive/">Guilty Gear Strive</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Arc System Works  | Developer: Arc System Works</p>
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<p class="">The premiere anime fighting game is known for flashy visuals, fast-paced and highly technical gameplay, and some of the most awesomely weird character designs in the genre.</p>
<p class="">The Guilty Gear series is known for being a smorgasbord of gameplay mechanics. Alongside classic returning features like the series-trademark Roman Cancels and the offense-interrupting Burst. The Wall Break mechanic is new to Strive, which can send a cornered and comboed opponent flying into a completely new arena in spectacular fashion. </p>
<p class="">Guilty Gear Strive has evolved a lot since its initial release (and initial Evo tournament debut), adding numerous characters with unique mechanics. The game’s enduring popularity has given it a big pool of dedicated, high-level players from across the globe. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/mortal-kombat-1/">Mortal Kombat 1</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Warner Bros. Games | Developer:  NetherRealm Studios</p>
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<p class="">The infamous fighting franchise has recreated its timeline once again, bringing a host of new and old faces to its famously dark and gory supernatural martial arts universe. </p>
<p class="">Mortal Kombat has gained fame (and infamy) for numerous reasons, but MK1’s gameplay depth is more than skin-deep. The Kameo Fighter system is the newest shake-up to the gameplay, introduced in this installment. Fighters pulled from across the entire MK series, are chosen alongside the main fighter, and can be called to assist in various situations, adding extra layers of strategizing.</p>
<p class="">Mortal Kombat developer Netherrealm Studios frequently updates their games, meaning that shifts in Mortal Kombat 1’s meta happen often. The best players are quick to adapt their gameplay and strategies to the changing environment.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/granblue-fantasy-versus-rising-standard-edition/">Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: CyGames  | Developer: Arc System Works</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832342934_3f50be9a50_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832342934_3f50be9a50_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">It is a beautifully rendered fighting game featuring a host of characters from Cygames’s massive Granblue Fantasy game and media series. Rising, released late last year, is a significant overhaul to the Versus series, adding new mechanics and characters.</p>
<p class="">Granblue Fantasy is known for its varied cast, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising builds on this to give every character a distinct playstyle. It’s more subsystem-heavy than games like Guilty Gear Strive or Under Night In-Birth, but offers a lot of similar aesthetics and movement. If you feel lost or overwhelmed trying to process everything that’s going on in other fighters, you’ll appreciate the pacing and style of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. </p>
<p class="">The relative newness of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and strong support from publisher Cygames in balance patches make it exciting to watch, as players have been on their toes reacting to changes and creating new strategies. Players agree that the character Nier is particularly strong, but don’t count the rest of the cast out.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10005045">Under Night In-Birth II Sys: Celes</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Arc System Works | Developer: French-Bread</p>
<p><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832342959_75f63b63be_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53832342959_75f63b63be_o.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class="">The name might be a mouthful, but Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys: Celes is the latest installment in the fan-favorite fighting game series.</p>
<p class="">Under Night In-Birth is beloved by its fans for its unique spins on standard fighting game systems. One of these elements is the Grind Grid, or GRD, a meter that rises and falls in reaction to the player’s actions. When the GRD’s cycle timer circle fills, the player with the most GRD blocks enters the Vorpal state, granting them access to a host of benefits and special skills until the next GRD cycle. Combine this with defensive options like Shield, the incredibly powerful Veil Off state, and a cast of beautifully drawn and animated characters with wild gameplay, and you’ll see why UNI2 gets the love that it does. </p>
<p class="">The GRD acts like a miniature tug-of-war: Players not only try to land successful attacks but also want to gain an edge through their actions, which leads to many interesting strategies and gameplay depth unique to UNI2. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/the-king-of-fighters-xv/">The King of Fighters XV</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: SNK | Developer: SNK</p>
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<p class="">The most recent installment of SNK’s world-famous team-based fighting game featuring many of the company’s most popular characters.</p>
<p class="">King of Fighters is known for its 3-versus-3 battles. Competitors will assemble a team of three characters from the large roster and play against each other: when one fighter falls, the next character on the team jumps in to continue. This adds a lot of unique strategies in team construction and the character’s place on the team. </p>
<p class="">Famous SNK faces Terry Bogard, and Mai Shiranui were recently announced as guest characters in Street Fighter 6, so if you want to see them (and plenty of SNK’s other delightful characters), be sure to check this out. The pacing is different from other fighters, leading to exciting moments like single-character victories: knocking out all the other team’s fighters using the starting character or–even cooler–a player being down to their last character and making a comeback. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10009938">Street Fighter III: Third Strike</a></h2>
<p class="">Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Developer: Capcom</p>
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<p class="">One of the foundational games of Evo, Street Fighter III Third Strike, has been a player favorite for over 25 years. To celebrate two of its big anniversaries, it joins the lineup as an Evo Throwback game.</p>
<p class="">Some of the finest 2D animations ever seen in games combine with incredibly technical gameplay, resulting in an all-time classic: Evo moment #37, aka the “Daigo Parry.”</p>
<p class="">This happened at Evo in 2004, 20 years ago. It’s an incredibly exciting moment in Evo’s history that highlights the incredible level of skill that Street Fighter III Third Strike allows. In the 20 years since this famous moment, Third Strike’s devoted fans have kept on playing, raising the skill ceiling even higher. </p>
<p class="">At over 1000 entrants, this is the largest Third Strike tournament ever, so you’re bound to see some offbeat character picks and unexpected upsets.</p>
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<p class="">Don’t see your favorite game here? Evo will also be hosting plenty of tournaments besides the eight main games, both officially sanctioned and community-run, like Bandai-Namco’s official DragonBall FighterZ World Tour Evo event. Follow the <a href="https://www.start.gg/tournament/community-showcase-at-evo-2024/details">Evo Community Showcase</a> to find your faves.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/12/share-of-the-week-tourist/',
                'Share of the Week: Tourist',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a82f7fadf7e9f535098213d6fc7801cf09beda4d.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we players to travel the world through their favorite games, and highlight real-life tourist locations using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847400187_9f50b4220e_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847400187_9f50b4220e_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/call_me_xavii/status/1811068060348076212/photo/1"><em>call_me_xavii</em></a><em> shares Aloy taking in the Golden Gate Bridge in Horizon Forbidden West.</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847400132_e947a0b12d_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847400132_e947a0b12d_b.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/BBSnakeCorn/status/1810482969062084752/photo/3"><em>BBSnakeCorn</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Ellie navigating the Seattle public transit system in The Last of Us Part II.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645649_3bc7d6a6e9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645649_3bc7d6a6e9_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Amianan_NiRaGuB/status/1810876811250913610/photo/1"><em>Amianan_NiRaGuB</em></a><em> </em><em>shares the Palace of the Green Dome in Assassin’s Creed Mirage.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848725120_f5e093ab2b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848725120_f5e093ab2b_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/krazydriver88/status/1810572151218692542/photo/2"><em>krazydriver88</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Delsin gazing up at the Space Needle in inFAMOUS Second Son.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645624_620323aefb_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645624_620323aefb_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/gra_o_pada/status/1809735367727210514/photo/1"><em>gra_o_pada</em></a><em> shares Deacon looking out at Wizard Island in Days Gone.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645634_a2e4e6528c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848645634_a2e4e6528c_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Couch_Gamer2k23/status/1810789933826855363/photo/4"><em>Couch_Gamer2k23</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Jin riding through the beautiful forests on the island of Tsushima in Ghost of Tsushima.</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848549493_6e8f1f14b7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848549493_6e8f1f14b7_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Sailing<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 17, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, get your towels ready, it’s about to go down. Share moments sailing on a boat in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/16/the-outlast-trials-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-project-lupara/',
                'The Outlast Trials: a behind-the-scenes look at Project Lupara',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a50e9c45d1cdebbd1ee1545d000fa4bfab118f85.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The team at Red Barrels is extremely excited to dive deeper into our very first seasonal update, Project Lupara. For any newcomers, The Outlast Trials is a cooperative PvE experience where up to four players, known in-game as Reagents, participate in experiments that push their psyches to the absolute limit. Our imminent (and free) update, Project Lupara’ packs a major wallop, including a brand-new story trial (it’s gross), a brand-new map (even grosser), and a brand-new Rig. </p>
<p class="">On top of all that, we’re proud to introduce what all our Reagents have been fearfully waiting for: The sniffling, whining, bloodthirsty Franco ‘Il Bambino’ Barbi. The first of his kind, Franco hunts players with his beloved Lupara, a sawed-off shotgun that gives him range beyond any Outlast villain thus far.</p>
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<p class="">The perverse son of New Orleans mafia don Salvatore Barbi, Franco is driven by craven entitlement, greed, and psychosexual violence fueled by his impotence and insecurities, a freakish “big baby” obsessed with his Pacifier the titular boom stick he suckles on when he’s not using it to blow some poor unsuspecting Reagent to smithereens (including all that fun gore and viscera you’ve come to expect from us). With a face even his mother couldn’t love, players will be introduced to Franco in the new story Trial, Poison the Medicine, which will transport Reagents to The Docks, a brand-new map, and Barbi’s home turf.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844777729_edfc00cc31_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844777729_edfc00cc31_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Can’t get enough Barbi? During the four weeks following the release of the update, the fine folks at Murkoff have taken it upon themselves to shuttle Franco around to the other trials in the Bambino special event. Mother Gooseberry and Sergeant Coyle have promised to play nice, though I’d continue to keep my distance if I were you.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844860535_d33410157c_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844860535_d33410157c_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Escalation Therapy, a new game mode being introduced alongside this update, will allow hardcore Reagents to partake in a seemingly never-ending experience that will pit them against a series of randomized Trials, with randomized variations, and randomized upgrades. No playthrough will be the same, but each one will have you clawing your eyes out until you beg for mercy. And just when you think it’s over, the cycle begins anew. Start with nothing, survive as long as you can, and reap your rewards.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844777609_c6910003da_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844777609_c6910003da_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">If that wasn’t enough, Easterman has signed off on adding another distraction to the Sleep Room. Alongside arm wrestling and chess, Reagents will be able to challenge each other to the Stroop Test. The Stroop Test is a classic challenge based on hastily choosing between mismatched colored words. It sounds easy, but this mind-liquifying test quickly becomes a classic Outlast head trip. Who said Murkoff never did anything nice for its Reagents?</p>
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<p class="">We’ve heard the pained moans of our Reagents from behind the triple-reinforced glass, and so we took the time to give all of our menus a facelift. Browse the new Catalogs to find all sorts of player rewards and sickening cosmetics. Expect Trial Boards to refresh regularly, making Weekly Programs easily accessible for Reagents looking to dive back into their favorite Trials… With a twist or two. Speaking of Trials, this update will also include a wider range of difficulty settings, starting from Introductory going all the way to Psychosurgery. Furthermore, the new Tasks system will allow Murkoff to give the particularly meticulous Reagents special objectives to tackle as they go through their Trials. Alone or together, the chances to reap more rewards have never been more bountiful.</p>
<p class="">Last but not least, Reagents can gain access to the new Barricade Rig. Use it to block the path behind you or to troll your friends. Pursuers will have to bash their way through or take the long way around to catch up. Like the other Rigs, The Barricade comes with its own set of upgrades that can be unlocked to bolster Reagents even more in their absolute moment of need. Nothing can stop you.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53843527332_2da0408bea_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53843527332_2da0408bea_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">For those looking for that immediate staycation, The Exotica Pack will include exclusive outfits and Cell decoration items that are sure to warm even the frailest, beaten-down Reagent. The Exotica Pack will be available for purchase for $19.99  and offers a treasure trove of new cosmetics.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844420011_794ae5ea86_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="The Exotica Pack includes all of the following:The Larva Drinker Suit, The Trenchmouth Suit, The Largo Decay Suit, The Ezekiel Suit, Tiki Party cell item, Jula Girl cell item, Coconut Drink cell item, Tiki Mask cell item, Ukulele cell item, Totem cell item, Beach Walls cell item, Palm Trees cell item, Stony Beach cell item, 4 Exclusive E.S.O.P.s, 3 Exclusive cell posters, 3 Exclusive player icons" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53844420011_794ae5ea86_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We can’t wait for you to discover what Murkoff has been cooking up for you with Project Lupara. This is only the beginning of the Sinyala Facilities expansion. There will be many more surprises for our loyal Reagents in the not-so-distant future. So what are you waiting for? Begin your rebirth today, but in the meantime, enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at how we come up with this filth.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/16/champions-and-challengers-what-to-expect-at-evo-2024/',
                'Champions and challengers: What to expect at Evo 2024',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/3767399cb071e9a15bc7d1670cec4e1b1ec6f6e3.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) returns to Las Vegas this weekend, from July 19 to 21. Every summer as the temperature rises, so does the competition. Fans and competitors from the fighting game community head to Las Vegas to celebrate the games that bring us together. Champions will return to defend their titles while new blood tries to make their mark on Evo history. </p>
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<p class="">For the second year, Evo 2024 broke the world registration record for an in-person esports event, with over 10,000 registrants and over 50,000 attendees from 63 countries around the world. As the fighting game community continues to grow, Evo is heading to a new, bigger venue: the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees will experience an expanded show floor alongside an arena finals experience for all eight Evo tournaments. The lineup this year is epic: Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, The King Of Fighters XV, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, and Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New and returning show floor experiences</h2>
<p class="">This year’s event features brand-new show-floor attractions, alongside the return of fan favorites like the Free Play Arcade, Arcade Stick Museum, Cosplay Competition, and hands-on demos of upcoming games.<br/><br/>Evo attendees will also get a hands-on look at new and highly anticipated fighting games, including 2XKO, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Rivals 2, Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and HunterxHunter NenxImpact.<br/><br/>Make sure to check out the debut of the Evo Art Gallery, a celebration of fighting game history. The Gallery will feature over 100 pieces, including illustrations, promotional posters, and more. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858113149_4597434776_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858113149_4597434776_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Evo Cosplay Competition will showcase world-class cosplayers dressed as characters from your favorite fighting games.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53856849487_dc90269cdc_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53856849487_dc90269cdc_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Arcade Controller Museum highlights the brands and communities of fighting games. Experience the history of the arcade controller and check out a vast collection of Evo controllers, community pieces, game-licensed fight sticks, and more. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53857992128_439bde0290_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53857992128_439bde0290_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The popular Free Play Arcade is back with more games and an expanded footprint. There are more games this year than ever before, from vintage FGC classics to modern cabinets. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Catch up with PlayStation at Evo</h2>
<p class="">The PlayStation Booth will be on the floor with exclusive demos, competitions, and gear. Fans can play a demo of the upcoming Astro Bot and test their skills in Gran Turismo 7 Time Trials. New and exclusive merch will be available onsite at the PlayStation Gear Store. Players can drop in and practice their skills on all eight Evo titles.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858908503_2f5a3fc479_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858908503_2f5a3fc479_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858909268_3b324235df_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858909268_3b324235df_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">During Evo, there will be major fighting games on discount as a part of PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale. Head to<a href="https://store.playstation.com/pages/SummerSale?emcid=or-pl-511312"> PlayStation Store</a> when the promotion goes live on July 17.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Watch Evo this weekend</h2>
<p class="">You can tune in to live coverage of Evo on twitch.tv/evo and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@playstationesports"> the PlayStation Esports YouTube channel.</a> Event Badges for this year’s record-breaking Evo will be available right up to the weekend of the event at<a href="http://www.evo.gg/"> evo.gg</a><br/><br/>Evo is defined by the fans. Your passion for fighting games makes this event something special, and we’re grateful for that support. Stay tuned for more Evo news and announcements soon. See you at Evo 2024.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/16/playstation-stores-summer-sale-starts-july-17/',
                'More games join PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/f4ad56e58bbf94dda735702c6476ea2bdd4724c9.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">You can now enjoy a wave of new games joining PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale today! Critically-acclaimed RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 (20% off), action adventure Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (50% off), and the sports entertainment thrills of WWE 2K24 (50% off) join many, many more titles, as well as add-ons in this huge promotion*.</p>
<p class="">Once more, we can’t fit every addition to the Summer Sale here, so browse a selection of titles below, <a href="https://store.playstation.com/pages/SummerSale?emcid=ow-pl-511311">then head to PlayStation Store</a> to find out your regional discount.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Summer Sale promotions direct from PlayStation</strong></h2>
<p class="">The Summer Sale promotion now extends to hardware and peripherals discounts direct from PlayStation! Be sure to check direct.playstation.com (available in select markets) as offers and promotion dates may vary by region**.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>A Plague Tale: Innocence</li>
<li>A Way Out</li>
<li>A.O.T. 2: Final Battle</li>
<li>Ace Attorney Anthology</li>
<li>Achilles: Legends Untold Group</li>
<li>AEW: Fight Forever</li>
<li>After the Fall® – Complete Edition</li>
<li>Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case</li>
<li>Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express</li>
<li>Age of Wonders 4: Premium Edition</li>
<li>Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Alien: Isolation – The Collection</li>
<li>Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Into The Hive Edition</li>
<li>Alone in the Dark – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Amnesia: The Bunker</li>
<li>Among Us VR</li>
<li>Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey</li>
<li>Ancient Dungeon VR</li>
<li>Anno 1800 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>AO Tennis 2</li>
<li>Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy</li>
<li>Arizona Sunshine® 2 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed III Remastered</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Mirage – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Syndicate</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection</li>
<li>Assetto Corsa</li>
<li>Asterigos: Call of the Paragons</li>
<li>Asterigos: Curse of the Stars</li>
<li>Asterix &amp; Obelix – Slap Them All!</li>
<li>Asterix &amp; Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir</li>
<li>Asterix &amp; Obelix XXXL : The Ram From Hibernia</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza: Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atomic Heart – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Autobahn Police Simulator 3</li>
<li>Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Back 4 Blood: Deluxe Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Baldur’s Gate 3</li>
<li>Batman: Return to Arkham</li>
<li>Batman: The Enemy Within – Season Pass</li>
<li>Batman: The Telltale Series – Season Pass</li>
<li>Battlefield 1 – Revolution</li>
<li>Bayonetta</li>
<li>Bendy and the Dark Revival</li>
<li>Bendy and the Ink Machine</li>
<li>Beneath the earth – Backrooms</li>
<li>Berserk and the Band of the Hawk</li>
<li>Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions</li>
<li>BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition</li>
<li>BioShock Remastered</li>
<li>Blasphemous 2</li>
<li>Borderlands 3 Next Level Bundle PS4™ &amp; PS5™</li>
<li>Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition PS4™ &amp; PS5™</li>
<li>Borderlands Legendary Collection</li>
<li>Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Borderlands: The Handsome Collection</li>
<li>Braid, Anniversary Edition</li>
<li>Bramble: The Mountain King</li>
<li>Bratz: Flaunt Your Fashion</li>
<li>Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake</li>
<li>Builder Simulator</li>
<li>Bus Simulator 21</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Ghosts – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered</li>
<li>Call of Duty: WWII – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III – Vault Edition</li>
<li>Call of the Wild: The Angler™</li>
<li>Cars 3: Driven to Win</li>
<li>Cartel Tycoon</li>
<li>Chants of Sennaar</li>
<li>Chef Life – Al Forno Edition</li>
<li>Chivalry 2 Special Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Civilization VI Platinum Edition</li>
<li>Classified: France ’44</li>
<li>Clone Drone In The Danger Zone</li>
<li>Cocoon</li>
<li>Company of Heroes 3</li>
<li>Conan Exiles</li>
<li>Construction Simulator</li>
<li>Contra: Operation Galuga</li>
<li>Control Standard Edition</li>
<li>Cooking Simulator</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</li>
<li>Cricket 22</li>
<li>Crime Boss: Rockay City</li>
<li>CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION</li>
<li>Crusader Kings III: Royal Edition</li>
<li>Crysis 2 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis 3 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis Remastered</li>
<li>Cult of the Lamb</li>
<li>Cyberpunk 2077</li>
<li>Cyberpunk 2077 — Phantom Liberty</li>
<li>Dakar Desert Rally</li>
<li>Dark Light</li>
<li>Darksiders Genesis</li>
<li>Darksiders III</li>
<li>Darksiders Warmastered Edition</li>
<li>Darksiders: Fury’s Collection – War and Death</li>
<li>Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle PS4</li>
<li>DayZ</li>
<li>Dead Cells: The Bad Seed</li>
<li>Dead Island 2 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Dead or Alive 6</li>
<li>Dead Space – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>DEATHLOOP</li>
<li>DEMON SLAYER : KIMETSU NO YAIBA THE HINOKAMI CHRONICLES</li>
<li>Demon’s Souls Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Deus Ex: Mankind Divided</li>
<li>Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition</li>
<li>Devil May Cry HD Collection</li>
<li>Diablo III: Eternal Collection</li>
<li>Diablo® II: Resurrected™ – Standard</li>
<li>DIRT 5 PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Dishonored 2</li>
<li>Dishonored® Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Disney Classic Games: ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Lion King’</li>
<li>Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Don’t Starve Together: Console Edition</li>
<li>Don’t Starve: Console Edition</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal Standard Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen</li>
<li>DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing – Rally Edition</li>
<li>DREDGE – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>DRIFTCE</li>
<li>DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Empires</li>
<li>Dysmantle</li>
<li>eFootball™ 2024: Leo Messi Edition</li>
<li>Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Eternights</li>
<li>Evil Dead: The Game</li>
<li>Exoprimal Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Expeditions: A MudRunner Game – Year 1 Edition (PS4 &amp; PS5)</li>
<li>Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Fallout 4: Season Pass</li>
<li>Fallout 76</li>
<li>Far Cry 4</li>
<li>Far Cry 5</li>
<li>FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse</li>
<li>Fate/Samurai Remnant</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY I–VI Bundle</li>
<li>Final Fantasy VII Remake – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Fishing: North Atlantic</li>
<li>Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise</li>
<li>Food Truck Simulator</li>
<li>Forspoken Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Frostpunk: Complete Collection</li>
<li>Garden Life – Garden Party Edition</li>
<li>Gear.Club Unlimited 2 Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Generation Zero®</li>
<li>Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered</li>
<li>Ghostrunner</li>
<li>Ghostrunner 2 Brutal Edition</li>
<li>Ghostwire: Tokyo</li>
<li>Gigantic: Rampage Edition</li>
<li>Gloomhaven Gold Edition</li>
<li>God of War Ragnarök Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Gotham Knights Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto V (PS4™ &amp; PS5™)</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition &amp; Great White Shark Card Bundle</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition &amp; Megalodon Shark Card Bundle</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition &amp; Whale Shark Card Bundle</li>
<li>GRANDIA HD Collection</li>
<li>Graveyard Keeper</li>
<li>Green Hell VR</li>
<li>Hades</li>
<li>Handball 21</li>
<li>Have a Nice Death</li>
<li>Hell Let Loose</li>
<li>HELLDIVERS™ 2 Super Citizen Edition</li>
<li>Hello Neighbor</li>
<li>Hello Neighbor 2</li>
<li>Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue</li>
<li>Hi-Fi RUSH Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Horse Tales</li>
<li>HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ 2 – Turbocharged PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Hotel Renovator</li>
<li>Human: Fall Flat</li>
<li>Hunting Simulator 2</li>
<li>IMMORTALS FENYX RISING PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Injustice 2: Legendary Edition</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm</li>
<li>JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE ALL-STAR BATTLE R DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION</li>
<li>Journey</li>
<li>Jumanji: Wild Adventures</li>
<li>Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection</li>
<li>Jurassic World Aftermath PSVR</li>
<li>Jurassic World Evolution – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Jurassic World Evolution 2: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Just Dance 2024 Edition</li>
<li>Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition</li>
<li>Killer Frequency</li>
<li>Killer Klowns from Outer Space: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</li>
<li>Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package</li>
<li>Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-reckoning – Fatesworn</li>
<li>LEGO DC Super-Villains – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel Collection</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel’s Avengers</li>
<li>LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Worlds</li>
<li>Let’s Sing 2024 with International Hits – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Little Nightmares Complete Edition</li>
<li>Little Nightmares II Deluxe Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>MADiSON</li>
<li>Mafia II: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Mafia III: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Martha Is Dead</li>
<li>Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy</li>
<li>Marvel’s Midnight Suns Digital+ Edition</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</li>
<li>Mass Effect: Andromeda – Standard Recruit Edition</li>
<li>METAL GEAR SOLID MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience</li>
<li>Metal Slug Anthology</li>
<li>Metal Slug XX</li>
<li>Metal: Hellsinger</li>
<li>Metro Exodus: Gold Edition</li>
<li>Miasma Chronicles</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of War</li>
<li>Monopoly Family Fun Pack</li>
<li>Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6 PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne Master Edition Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Morbid: The Lords of Ire</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 1 – Premium Edition</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat XL</li>
<li>Mortal Shell</li>
<li>Moss: Book II</li>
<li>MotoGP™24 PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Moving Out 2</li>
<li>MudRunner</li>
<li>MXGP 2021 – The Official Motocross Videogame</li>
<li>My Hero One’s Justice 2</li>
<li>Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Road to Boruto</li>
<li>Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker</li>
<li>NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja Storm CONNECTIONS</li>
<li>NBA 2K Playgrounds 2</li>
<li>NBA 2K24 – Baller Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed</li>
<li>Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Payback – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Rivals</li>
<li>Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered</li>
<li>NEW SUPER LUCKY’S TALE</li>
<li>Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 – Standard Edition</li>
<li>NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…</li>
<li>NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection</li>
<li>Oddworld: Soulstorm</li>
<li>Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game™</li>
<li>ON THE ROAD – The Truck Simulator</li>
<li>One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3</li>
<li>Outcast – A New Beginning</li>
<li>Outer Wilds</li>
<li>Overcooked! 2 – Gourmet Edition</li>
<li>Overcooked! All You Can Eat</li>
<li>Pacific Drive: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Paladins Gold Edition</li>
<li>Paw Patrol: On a Roll!</li>
<li>Payday 2: Crimewave Edition</li>
<li>PAYDAY 3: Silver Edition</li>
<li>Penny’s Big Breakaway</li>
<li>Pentiment</li>
<li>Peppa Pig: World Adventures</li>
<li>Persona 4 Golden</li>
<li>Persona 5</li>
<li>Persona 5 Tactica</li>
<li>Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection</li>
<li>Persona®5 Strikers</li>
<li>PGA 2K23 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Pinball FX – Indiana Jones Key</li>
<li>Pinball FX – Marvel Pinball Collection 1 Key</li>
<li>Pinball FX – Star Wars™️ Pinball Collection 1 Key</li>
<li>Pinball FX – Star Wars™️ Pinball Collection 2 Key</li>
<li>Pinball FX – Starter Bundle</li>
<li>Pinball FX -Marvel Pinball Collection 2 Key</li>
<li>Planet Coaster: Premium Edition</li>
<li>Planet Zoo</li>
<li>Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare</li>
<li>Police Simulator: Patrol Officers</li>
<li>POSTAL 4: No Regerts</li>
<li>Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator</li>
<li>Prey: Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Prince of Persia The Lost Crown</li>
<li>Prison Boss VR</li>
<li>Prison Simulator</li>
<li>PROJECT ZERO: MAIDEN OF BLACK WATER</li>
<li>Propagation: Paradise Hotel</li>
<li>Quake 1 &amp; 2 Bundle PS5</li>
<li>Quake II – PS4</li>
<li>Railway Empire 2</li>
<li>Red Dead Redemption &amp; Red Dead Redemption 2 Bundle</li>
<li>Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Red Matter</li>
<li>Remnant 2 – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Remnant: From the Ashes</li>
<li>Resident Evil</li>
<li>Resident Evil 0</li>
<li>Resident Evil 2</li>
<li>Resident Evil 3</li>
<li>Resident Evil 4</li>
<li>Resident Evil 5</li>
<li>Resident Evil 6</li>
<li>Resident Evil 7: Biohazard</li>
<li>Resident Evil Code: Veronica X</li>
<li>Resident Evil Revelations 1 &amp; 2 Bundle</li>
<li>Resident Evil Triple Pack</li>
<li>Resident Evil Village Gold Edition PS4</li>
<li>Resident Evil: Deluxe Origins Bundle</li>
<li>Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Reveil</li>
<li>RIDE 5</li>
<li>Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration</li>
<li>Road 96</li>
<li>RoboCop: Rogue City</li>
<li>Rogue Company: Rogue Edition</li>
<li>RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures Deluxe</li>
<li>Ronin Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rubber Bandits</li>
<li>Ryu Ga Gotoku KIWAMI</li>
<li>Ryu Ga Gotoku KIWAMI2</li>
<li>S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Prypiat</li>
<li>S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl</li>
<li>Saints Row Gold Edition</li>
<li>SAND LAND</li>
<li>Scorn</li>
<li>Sea of Thieves: Premium Edition</li>
<li>Secret Neighbor</li>
<li>Session – Year One Complete Edition</li>
<li>Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Shadow Warrior 3</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes Chapter One</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes The Awakened – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Sifu – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Skater XL</li>
<li>Sleeping Dogs – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Slime Rancher</li>
<li>Smalland: Survive the Wilds</li>
<li>Smurfs Kart</li>
<li>Smurfs Mission Vileaf</li>
<li>Sniper Elite 4</li>
<li>Sniper Elite 5 Complete Edition</li>
<li>Sniper Elite V2 Remastered</li>
<li>Sniper Elite VR</li>
<li>Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2</li>
<li>Snooker 19</li>
<li>SnowRunner – 1-Year Anniversary Edition</li>
<li>Sonic Frontiers PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Sonic Origins</li>
<li>SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>South Park: The Fractured but Whole</li>
<li>SpiderHeck</li>
<li>Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>STAR WARS™ Republic Commando™</li>
<li>STAR WARS™: Dark Forces Remaster</li>
<li>Steelrising – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Steep – X Games Gold Edition</li>
<li>Stellaris: Console Edition – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Stray</li>
<li>Streets of Rage 4</li>
<li>STRIDE: Fates</li>
<li>Subnautica</li>
<li>Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Sudden Strike 4</li>
<li>Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Supermarket Owner Simulator: Business</li>
<li>Supermarket Simulator Manager</li>
<li>Surviving the Aftermath</li>
<li>SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Swordsman VR</li>
<li>Syberia – The World Before</li>
<li>Synapse</li>
<li>Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Tales of Arise PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator</li>
<li>Teardown</li>
<li>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection</li>
<li>TEKKEN 8 Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Telltale Batman Shadows Mode</li>
<li>Temtem</li>
<li>Tennis On-Court</li>
<li>Terminator: Resistance Enhanced</li>
<li>The Ascent</li>
<li>The Chant</li>
<li>The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR</li>
<li>The Elder Scrolls Online</li>
<li>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition</li>
<li>The Escapists + The Escapists 2</li>
<li>The Escapists 2</li>
<li>The Evil Within</li>
<li>The Evil Within 2</li>
<li>The Forest</li>
<li>The Game of Life 2</li>
<li>The Inquisitor</li>
<li>The Jackbox Party Pack 10</li>
<li>The Jackbox Party Pack 9</li>
<li>The Last of Us Part II</li>
<li>The Last of Us Part II Remastered</li>
<li>The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame</li>
<li>The Order: 1886</li>
<li>The Outer Worlds: Board-Approved Bundle</li>
<li>The Outlast Trials</li>
<li>The Pathless PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>The Persona Collection</li>
<li>The Quarry – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>The Settlers : New Allies</li>
<li>The Sinking City PS5</li>
<li>The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone</li>
<li>The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe</li>
<li>The Talos Principle 2</li>
<li>The Testament of Sherlock Holmes</li>
<li>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series</li>
<li>The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt</li>
<li>The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Expansion Pass</li>
<li>The Witness</li>
<li>theHunter: Call of the Wild</li>
<li>Thief: Master Thief Edition</li>
<li>This Bed We Made</li>
<li>Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh</li>
<li>Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: Next-Level Edition</li>
<li>Titan Quest</li>
<li>Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Operator Edition</li>
<li>Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy</li>
<li>Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2</li>
<li>Tormented Souls</li>
<li>Tour de France 2024</li>
<li>Townsmen VR</li>
<li>Trailmakers</li>
<li>TramSim: Console Edition Deluxe</li>
<li>Transport Fever 2 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Trilogy Bundle 3.0</li>
<li>Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy</li>
<li>Tropico 6 – Next Gen Edition</li>
<li>Truck &amp; Logistics Simulator</li>
<li>Truck Driver</li>
<li>TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3</li>
<li>Twelve Minutes</li>
<li>UFO ROBOT GRENDIZER – The Feast of the Wolves</li>
<li>Ultros</li>
<li>Unicorn Overlord</li>
<li>Unravel</li>
<li>Unravel Two</li>
<li>Untitled Goose Game</li>
<li>Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice</li>
<li>Vertigo 2</li>
<li>VISAGE</li>
<li>Wanted: Dead</li>
<li>Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters – Purifier Edition</li>
<li>Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin</li>
<li>Watch Dogs 2 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Watch Dogs: Legion – Standard Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>We Were Here Friendship</li>
<li>We Were Here Together</li>
<li>Welcome to ParadiZe</li>
<li>What Remains of Edith Finch</li>
<li>Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?</li>
<li>WILD HEARTS™ Standard Edition</li>
<li>Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord</li>
<li>Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: Alt History Collection</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: Resistance Bundle</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: The New Order</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: Youngblood</li>
<li>Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™</li>
<li>World War Z: Aftermath</li>
<li>Worms W.M.D</li>
<li>WRC 10 – Deluxe Edition PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>WRC Generations – The FIA WRC Official Game – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Wreckfest: Drive Hard. Die Last.</li>
<li>WWE 2K Battlegrounds</li>
<li>WWE 2K24 Cross-Gen Edition</li>
<li>XIII</li>
<li>Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition</li>
</ul>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale runs from 00.00am  PDT/BST/JST Wednesday, July 17, until 23.59pm  PDT/BST/JST on Wednesday, August 14. Some games will be removed from the promotion early. Check a game’s PlayStation Store page for its end date.</em><em>**Deals on select direct from PlayStation hardware and peripherals runs from 30 July – 14 August (in Europe) and 29 July – 5 August (in US).</em>]</p>
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/17/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-and-warzone-season-5-invite-wwe-royalty-live-july-24/',
                'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone season 5 invite WWE royalty, live July 24',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/69489958dd4c51539f9b0aa6a246537efc1b38cb.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The competition heats up in season 5, introducing wrestling royalty as WWE superstars join a packed roadmap of content including new Multiplayer maps and modes, the final Zombies story mission, the return of the Atlas Superstore, and much more across Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone.</p>
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<p class="">Season 5 of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii/">Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</a> and <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0002-PPSA01649_00-CODWZ2BUNDLE0001/">Call of Duty: Warzone</a> launches July 24 on PS5 and PS4. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Multiplayer overview</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New core 6v6 maps, cel-shaded variants</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Bait (launch):</strong> Catch a win in the Sunshine State deploying dockside on this mid-sized map featuring poolside tiki floats and a central boat house.<br/><br/><strong>Yard (launch):</strong> Crush your enemies in this small cel-shaded map set in a junkyard in the Sonoran Desert.<br/><br/><strong>New Variants: </strong>At launch, play new cel-shaded map variants Toonoxide (Rust) and Celship (Shipment). At the mid-season, battle amongst the bold outlines of Ink House (Stash House).</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Slam Deathmatch and other new modes</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Slam Deathmatch (in-season):</strong> Earn points by downing and then eliminating opponents with a Finishing Move during the WWI SummerSlam event. All Finishing Moves will be randomized WWE Finishing Moves.<br/><br/><strong>COD Warrior (launch): </strong>Compete 2v2v2 in a series of randomized, quickfire minigames. Every round win awards one point, and the first team to reach five points wins. Adapt quickly: with 15 minigames in all, you never know what’s coming next.<br/><br/><strong>Arcade Playlist (in-season): </strong>Power up with new abilities including increased jump height, the Ground Slam, and Forcefield while fighting for possession over five new power weapons like the Sledgehammer with increased knockback ability and Akimbo Dragon’s Breath pistols.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Zombies overview</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The final story mission (mid-season)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Face the ultimate challenge and confront the Entity in a new area of the Dark Aether. Avoid the horde using Aetherium launch pads to soar through the air and survive the climactic final boss battle to unlock a cinematic and acquire the first piece needed to access the new Dark Aether Rift.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Dark Aether Rift, Schematics (mid-season)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Be alert for clues to opening a lucrative and lethal Dark Aether Rift. Earn powerful new rewards including permanent unlocks for completing the perilous challenges within. Discover three new Schematics to aid you along the way:<br/><br/><strong>Disciple Bottle: </strong>Spawn a friendly Disciple to wreak havoc against your foes.<strong> </strong><br/><br/><strong>Grenade Bandolier: </strong>Replenish your Lethal and Tactical Equipment over time, allowing you to regularly bombard enemies. <br/><br/><strong>Stash Increase: </strong>Increase your stash size to 30.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Call of Duty: Warzone overview</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Superstore POI (launch)</h3>
<p class="">The iconic Atlas Superstore is coming to Urzikstan. South of the Orlov Military Base, the Superstore fulfills all your shopping needs whether that’s new weapons, a perk set, armor plates, or other useful items. Prepare to fight across the aisles as other squads seek out these same goods.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859388886_bdea43a965_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859388886_bdea43a965_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New modes, features, and public events</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Supreme Resurgence (mid-season): </strong>Deploy to a Rebirth Island filled with exceptional ground loot including meta-inspired Weapon Blueprints plus other changes to the Resurgence formula. Win your first match to unlock a new weapon camo.<br/><br/><strong>Bounty Contest (launch): </strong>When this public event activates in Resurgence, every squad is given a Bounty Contract. Survive the target on your back and earn cash for every completed bounty.<br/><br/><strong>Redeploy Drone (launch): </strong>Redeploy on your own terms with the portable R.D.B. Field Upgrade. Throw out a line for the whole squad and reposition fast.<br/><br/><strong>Elite Contracts (mid-season):</strong> Seek out Elite Contracts to earn bonus rewards including an elite cache providing one of the following: the Foresight Killstreak, multiple Redacted Weapons, Specialist Perk Package, or an Advanced UAV.<br/><br/><strong>Recon Flyover (mid-season): </strong>In two waves, a squadron of Advanced UAVs highlight scanned Operators as red player arrows on the map. Prepare for imminent battle.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">General overview</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Season 5 Combat Pack for PlayStation Plus members</h3>
<p class="">PlayStation Plus members, don’t forget to grab the season 5 Combat Pack. This pack grants Élodie “Lockpick” a new Operator Skin: Apotheosia.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859808805_33939714dd_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859808805_33939714dd_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">PlayStation Plus members will also receive the following: the Colosseum Vanquisher weapon Blueprint, the Pantheon Pummeler weapon Blueprint, the Augustan Assailant Large Decal, the Corinthian Conqueror weapon Sticker, the Golden Lion Charm, and the Aegis Emblem.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New challenges and events</h3>
<p class="">Rule the ring and unlock new content across Weekly Events like the WWE SummerSlam; prove your championship status by completing challenges across all game modes to unlock rewards including an Operator Skin mastery reward. <br/><br/>Earn more rewards across a variety of in-game events, including the Conquest Event plus new Field Rep events like Wildlife Most Wanted, Emotional Overdrive, and Echo Endo Live!</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Store content: WWE Superstars, Toon Force 141</strong></h3>
<p class="">Superstars Cody Rhodes “The American Nightmare” and Rey Mysterio “The Ultimate Underdog” join new Tracer Pack Bundles alongside other Store offerings like Tracer Pack: Toon Force 141; take down your enemies, comic book style.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season 5 launches July 24</h2>
<p class="">Expect more content in the season, like six new Aftermarket Parts and four new weapons, including a new SMG and assault rifle plus a spear and compound bow. Compete in new Ranked Play challenges across Multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone, disrupt enemy electronics with the EMP Grenade, and progress through a Battle Pass featuring highlights like Operator Skins for Rhea Ripley AKA “Mami” and Ivan Alexxeve, leader of Konni Group.<br/><br/>Purchase Modern Warfare III on PlayStation to enjoy the benefits of two additional loadout slots, monthly exclusive Double XP events, +25% PlayStation Party Bonus XP, +5 bonus Battle Token Tier Skips with a BlackCell purchase, and a free in-game bundle each season with the Combat Pack. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858497797_acfa848ac3_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53858497797_acfa848ac3_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Stay frosty.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/17/neverness-to-everness-gameplay-showcases-supernatural-urban-open-world-rpg-coming-to-ps5/',
                'Neverness to Everness gameplay showcases supernatural urban open-world RPG, coming to PS5',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a3426904d25668a0391f6c6e3a7cd929ece0f5b8.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello everyone, I’m Kee Zhang from Hotta Studio. I’m incredibly excited to introduce our brand new title, Neverness to Everness, to PlayStation players today!</p>
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<img alt="Neverness to Everness gameplay showcases supernatural urban open-world RPG, coming to PS5" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/yvkrcqoq1HQ/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">Neverness to Everness (NTE for short) is a supernatural urban open-world game set to release for free on PS5. You will step into the shoes of an Appraiser, embarking on an extraordinary supernatural adventure in the bustling metropolis of Hethereau.</p>
<p class="">Let’s dive into what makes this game unique.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846212_b655cc1e25_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846212_b655cc1e25_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Welcome to Hethereau, a city beyond the ordinary</h2>
<p class="">You’ve probably played many city-based games, but Neverness to Everness offers a Hethereau that is both familiar and bizarre, yet convincingly real. In this open world, every moment is an adventure as you explore and live in this unique city.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848093649_52974dabb7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848093649_52974dabb7_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In Hethereau, you’ll encounter TV-headed otters, skateboarders creating graffiti on the street at midnight, and countless supernatural phenomena we call Anomalies. The origins of these anomalies are varied and remain unexplained. Encountering an anomaly in Hethereau is as common as breathing—hopefully, your first encounter won’t scare you.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172255_5676866b27_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172255_5676866b27_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Hethereau is also a living city. </p>
<p class=""><strong>Operational shops and businesses:</strong> A complete business management system lets you purchase vehicles and property to enhance your city life.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998893_c7904e10a7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998893_c7904e10a7_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Dynamic NPCs: </strong>The streets are filled with realistic pedestrians who have destinations and genuine actions. Most NPCs follow traffic rules, but if you disrupt the order, expect different reactions from them.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172225_a4c9174661_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172225_a4c9174661_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Authentic vehicles:</strong> You can modify and drive them, wreak havoc on the roads, or participate in races.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846142_436483bb4c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846142_436483bb4c_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846112_e77cb0bc0b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846846112_e77cb0bc0b_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anomalies: light comedy with a twist</h2>
<p class="">A great open-world game needs a compelling story, and Neverness to Everness revolves around these anomalies. </p>
<p class="">As the protagonist, you’ll debut in this anomaly-filled city as an appraiser at the antique shop “Eibon”, beginning an extraordinary daily life by nullifying and containing various anomalies.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998833_6565cd25b9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998833_6565cd25b9_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Seeing anomalies in the city is like hearing a discordant note in a symphony—they stand out and offer rich, explorative content. We tell the story through episodic narratives with a light comedic touch, aiming to deliver vivid, nuanced storytelling and distinct character portrayals. Our goal is to spark players’ curiosity, maintain immersion, and drive a continuous desire for exploration.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172175_6f80d74c19_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172175_6f80d74c19_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet companions, battle with supernatural abilities</h2>
<p class="">While exploring this urban open world, you’ll meet companions with various supernatural abilities to help you solve upcoming events. These abilities, known as Espers, are awakened powers in ordinary humans—some can utilize anti-gravity to climb high-rise buildings, unlocking new urban perspectives, while others can destroy environments, enhancing immersive realism.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172120_718110bb8c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848172120_718110bb8c_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">These abilities also shine in combat, creating “Esper Reactions” that are easy to master and make battles more exciting. With great Esper comes great responsibility—the safety of Hethereau relies on you and your companions.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998798_9b6d731417_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847998798_9b6d731417_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Building Hethereau with cutting-edge technology</h2>
<p class="">Hethereau combines cutting-edge technology with the latest trends. To achieve our desired effects and make the city scenes more realistic, we used Unreal Engine 5 to construct the city’s framework and leveraged Nanite virtualized geometry technology to significantly enhance scene realism. We will also continue optimizing for the PlayStation platform to ensure an exceptional player experience.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848093569_a11630f909_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53848093569_a11630f909_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Neverness to Everness has been in development for a while, and Hethereau has been built from scratch. This city will continue to grow, with more residents and features added over time. </p>
<p class="">Thank you to every player who has followed our journey, stay tuned for more news about Neverness to Everness.</p>
</div>',
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/18/schim-how-the-shadow-jumping-adventure-prioritizes-accessibility-out-july-18/',
                'Schim: How the shadow-jumping adventure prioritizes accessibility, out July 18',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/9e410a9d264d6700f2942b3a3aeeab36d5599540-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Accessibility is a very important element in any game, as games are amazing and should be able to be enjoyed by as many as possible! We are super excited about the release of Schim and wanted to shed some light on the way we have included accessibility in the design process from the start of the project.</p>
<p class="">With this article we would like to give you some insights into the thoughts and challenges we (Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman) faced along the way. We will split them up into a couple of different angles.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862011832_14a21c4314_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862011832_14a21c4314_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Visuals</h2>
<p class="">Schim has a distinct art style, which is also feedback we hear from players. The art style itself was heavily influenced by the fact that Ewoud has a form of color blindness. He had a clear vision of how he wanted the game to look. The visual style is built up out of multiple custom-made shaders. Ewoud originally wanted to create one color palette for the full game. This would make it easy for him, since color is challenging for him. We did eventually test multiple color palettes and playtesters responded really well to those, so we added a unique one for each level. They are all contrasting which makes the shadows and thus the platforms pop and easy to read. </p>
<p class="">The line thickness can also be adjusted in the settings. Ewoud made a tool in the engine so we could easily create and load color palettes. This tool made its way into the game. So anyone who feels the need or the urge to make their own color palette can fulfill that. The custom color palette tool can be brought up in any level in the game. The touchpad on the PlayStation controller makes it super convenient and fun to change the hue to a desired color.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862011892_5c1fb18fa4_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862011892_5c1fb18fa4_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Text, language, and interface</h2>
<p class="">As we developed the game we decided on rules we should follow for Schim. Potentially, the most challenging of all these rules was our desire to create a game with little to no words on screen. We love games and movies where animation tells everything you need to know, so we wanted to tell Schim’s story this way. The challenging part was that creating the story required a lot of testing different variations to find the best way to convey it. </p>
<p class="">We purchased a motion capture suit and spent many hours recording custom animations. The benefits of having as little text as possible is that younger audiences don’t have issues with language. Visually impaired players also don’t have to focus on corners of the screen without heads up display. We ended up having only 291 words in the game. This made it very feasible to localize the game in a total of 32 languages and we will explore adding more.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863160693_207bdb315b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863160693_207bdb315b_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Controls</h2>
<p class="">The core of the game was clear from the first month of development – the player jumps from shadow to shadow. The jump button and steering the schim character are the primary things. The jumping itself is forgiving and control input is never hectic or stressful. Every level can be achieved with a decent interval between jump and interact inputs. A player can finish the game by inputting their actions one by one. </p>
<p class="">After the jump button, the secondary action the player can perform is interact, which will activate the essence of the shadow the player is in. These interactions can trigger something the player can use to progress in a level, at other times it activates a fun animation or a sound that causes interaction in the scene. Some examples are a car horn,  a parasol that launches the player, a trash can that spills out trash.</p>
<p class="">All the buttons in the game can also be remapped. In any level in game R2 can be used which will pan the camera to the closest goal. The player can always check where to go next in case they feel lost.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863273169_402fd3dde1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863273169_402fd3dde1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Audio</h2>
<p class="">The audio of important objects can also be spotted by visual cues. The player can trigger shadows that generate a sound. This can be heard and seen by a musical note above the triggered object. Characters around the object will respond to it if they hear it as well. This can create new paths. And of course, you can also adjust the levels of the different audio elements.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863160668_205b5a088f_3k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863160668_205b5a088f_3k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Limitations and challenges cause the need for creativity. We are excited to share the game with the world.</p>
<p class="">Thanks for reading and have fun in Schim. Schim is available on PS4 and PS5.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/18/splitgate-2-portals-over-to-ps5-and-ps4-in-2025/',
                'Splitgate 2 portals over to PS5 and PS4 in 2025',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/0852af80090e28566a035b677956b90bfa76ba1a.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">In the summer of 2021, when we released Splitgate on PS4, we didn’t know what to expect. We certainly weren’t ready for the millions of people who hopped online wanting to play our take on a first-person shooter. I think most developers start with the intention of making the game of their dreams but time, tech, experience, and a ton of other factors often get in the way. With Splitgate, we made a game we loved and that our awesome community embraced, but we didn’t make the game of our dreams.</p>
<p class="">I truly believe Splitgate 2 is the game I dreamed of making when Nicholas Bagamian and I got together in a Stanford dorm and decided to put portals in a shooter.</p>
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<p class="">We’ve been working on Splitgate 2 for so long, we’re excited to tell you more about it – but not quite yet. We’ll have a lot more to share in August.</p>
<p class="">For now, I can share the basics. Splitgate 2 is a multiplayer first-person shooter made in Unreal Engine 5. It’s free-to-play, it has a faction system, and it’s coming to PS5 and PS4 in 2025. Oh, and it has portals, of course.</p>
<p class="">We launched the original Splitgate with 20 people, none of whom had ever made a game. Thanks to passionate players, the early success of Splitgate led us to investments that have enabled us to grow our team. I’m proud to work alongside seasoned industry veterans from Riot, Ubisoft, and many other developers responsible for some of my favorite games. 1047 Games is no longer a handful of college grads hoping the servers don’t crash again. We’re a team of seasoned gaming veterans making a AAA shooter that we hope will surprise, amaze, and excite you.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852163775_4a3c9e858a_o.jpg[" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852163775_4a3c9e858a_o.jpg["/></a>
<p class="">While it was incredibly hard to stop development on Splitgate in 2022, after a lot of reflection with the team, I realized that the right path to the best possible version of the game required a true sequel. We had to start fresh, in some ways. That meant building from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, with completely new character models, new maps, new weapons, and even new portal walls and portals.</p>
<p class="">Though we’re a multiplayer-only shooter and we don’t have a single-player campaign, we hired an amazing narrative writer to build out our universe. If you want to explore the rich lore of Splitgate 2, you can start now with free Splitgate 2 comics in our mobile app. You can also expect more cinematics and other surprises in the future that go beyond the game. Join our incredible community on Discord and be the first to know all the latest Splitgate 2 developments.</p>
<p class="">One of the reasons we wanted to make Splitgate 2 in Unreal Engine 5 is to make sure we have some seriously sick character skins and weapons. That goes for the free base skins and weapons too, which I made certain to look better than anything in our first game. From visuals to audio design to game modes, our goal was to deliver excellence to players.</p>
<p class="">We had another couple of goals when we started development on Splitgate 2. One was “How do we keep this fun all year round?” That goal was closely followed by a key objective: “Build a game that can last a decade or more.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852087639_d8cc14e6c0_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852087639_d8cc14e6c0_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">That means we’ve been thinking for a long time about how to keep Splitgate 2 fresh and alive long after launch. It’s not just about making sure we have lots of content ready when we launch. It starts from the very foundations of design. Though the first Splitgate was inspired by classic arena shooters, we realized that to make a modern game that lasts, we had to develop the tools for a deep and satisfying gameplay loop.</p>
<p class="">That really starts with our faction-based multiplayer, which we’re not ready to share details on right now. But, you can see a lot of it on display in our announcement trailer. </p>
<p class="">There’s a lot more to show with Splitgate 2 coming to PS5 and PS4 in 2025. Wishlist now to make sure you don’t miss anything.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/18/concord-open-beta-gameplay-tips/',
                'Concord gameplay tips: Crew Roles, Skillful Loops, recommended Freegunners and more',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/755f8ff9c7f65d46afb247c96786a29e06613b50.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Freegunners, Concord’s Open Beta launches today, granting you a weekend’s worth of galactic action on PS5 and PC. Jump aboard the spaceship Northstar, meet the Freegunners, then head planetside to take on rival crews across multiple different game modes. Open Beta gives you a chance to try out the 16-strong character roster, and get to grips with Crew Builder, the Job Board and more.</p>
<p class="">You’ll find additional gameplay details, tips and lore in the ‘How to Play’ section of the Open Beta’s main menu. To bolster that info and arm you with additional gameplay tips ahead of launch, we sat down with Firewalk Studios’ lead gameplay designer Claude Jerome and lead character designer Jon Weisnewski to dig into the intricacies of the multiplayer shooter’s gameplay mechanics and systems.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A Freegunner for everyone</strong></h2>
<p class="">Concord’s 16-strong character roster offers a lot of variety from the off. But there are certain Freegunners in the lineup that are a good fit for certain players based on their experience in the multiplayer shooter genre.</p>
<p class="">“We actually have a number of characters that are designed specifically to be entry points for players who feel anxiety or stress that come into a game like this,” says Weisnewski. “For that player who’s never played a shooter before, I’d recommend Lark. Lark was designed from the ground up to be inviting [to those players]. Their weapon, the Razor Pod Launcher, blasts out this little sphere that floats in the air. When an enemy gets close to that sphere, it detonates and spawns little homing projectiles that will track down the enemy and do damage… so right out the gate, we have a gun that doesn’t require players to be precise with their aiming.</p>
<p class="">“One of Lark’s Abilities is to drop a Spore Seed. It creates an area that buffs your team and debuffs the enemy team – you’ll get faster mobility, a little bit of damage resistance. That Spore has a high uptime, so you can be constantly planting. You’ll help your team by running around the map and planting Spore Seeds in key locations. Their other Ability is the Transplant Pod. On first activation they create this little plant, and on second, they teleport back to it. There’s a ton of high level strategic play, but [for newcomers], they have a weapon they don’t have to aim, an Ability that always helps their team and if they get stressed during combat, they can teleport out.”</p>
<p class="">“Kyps is similar,” Jerome continues. “She’s a spy robot that can plant surveillance traps, she can go into stealth [on dodging]. She can be an effective help for the team in this low anxiety way. The traps can spot people behind walls.</p>
<p class="">“That feeds into a dynamic of our philosophy – brains versus aims. We want both to matter. It matters if you have thumb skill, but we also want this cerebral approach to combat. Be thoughtful of every move you make, to feel like it matters to the outcome of the match.”</p>
<p class="">“For the highly competent shooter player, someone who is already very, very skilled at these games, just wants to pick it up and, and be effective right out the gate, I would recommend Teo,” concludes Weisnewski. “Teo was intentionally designed to feel familiar to people who have played shooters. He’s got a very military-inspired loadout: a Guild Guard Rifle, a side arm pistol he can swap to. He has Cluster and Smoke Grenades. He’s got a double dodge. He’s quick. If you’ve played any shooter, he should just feel immediately familiar.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862974207_6253f75e45_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862974207_6253f75e45_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Crew Roles</strong></h2>
<p class="">Rather than traditional archetypes, each of the 16 Freegunners fall into one of 6 Roles – Anchor, Breacher, Haunt, Ranger, Tactician and Warden. Each has been defined and designed around play styles, with further variety found in the characters that fall within those Roles. “We have three different Rangers,” examples Weisnewski. “Each has a distinct feel to them. We have a more support-leaning character, a defensive-leaning character and a more traditional offensive-leaning character… we hope players will gravitate to one that actually feels like it was made just for them and how they want to play.”</p>
<p class="">“One of our philosophies we’re talking about is this concept of like recipes versus ingredients,” explains Jerome. “Recipes are this authored, crafted thing that you have to play <em>this</em> way, right? We just give you a bunch of tools and you can pick the way you want to approach combat.” You’ll see each Freegunner’s Role displayed on the Character Select screen.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Character Abilities and Skillful Loops</strong></h2>
<p class="">Every Freegunner has two unique Abilities, mapped to L1 and R1. Not all recharges are built around cooldown time: they differ per Freegunner and are built around the most fun, effective way to reinforce that character’s personality. It’s a resource model Firewalk coin as “Skillful Loops” or “Sloops” for short. “I think Jabali was the pioneer of sloops,” says Weisnewski, the concept successful enough to inspire the studio to apply it all Freegunners. “Take a character like Lennox, a precision shooter. A character with a lot of trust in their thumbskill will have an extremely higher DPS than others. So that’s the skill we’re trying to encourage, train and reward. So Lennox gets his Throwing Knife Ability back on landing a kill.” In contrast, 1-Off’s Trash Bomb recharges by vacuuming up projectiles or items in the world. Find out more about the Ability conditions for each Freegunner in the Character Select screen or in the Freegunners section of the main menu. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Crew combos</strong></h2>
<p class="">“This goes back to that recipes versus ingredients analogy,” says Jerome. “Combos are these implicit combinations of actions and status effects” with Freegunner combative options pairing nicely together. “DaVeers’ Burnite grenade launcher leaves these purple chemical splashes where its projectiles hit. If they hit those with their Ignition Dart, they’ll ignite and explode. But if another character like Haymar uses her fire abilities, it’ll also ignite those chemicals.” Start experimenting during matches and get a feel for complementary skillsets.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Support items</strong></h2>
<p class="">Some Freegunner Abilities are permanent, deploying an item into the combat space that can help your crew or hinder rivals. Examples include Daw’s Heal Pads that top up an ally’s energy bar, or Duchess’s Construct Walls which block paths or provide cover. These will remain even between match rounds, or until the enemy team does something about them. So for multi-round matches, there’s value in long-term strategy by populating the map with useful gear. “It allows you to take advantage of characters beyond their lifespan [during a match],” explains Jerome.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864236479_168693e986_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864236479_168693e986_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Crew Builder and rolling over Role Perks</strong></h2>
<p class="">Each of the six Freegunner Roles has a Crew Bonus. Rangers, for example, have Improved Weapon Recoil, Tacticians, faster reload speed. In Concord, if your next deployed Freegunner has a different Role, the previous character’s Role-specific perk stacks on top of theirs, ultimately letting you play a much more capable combatant infused with the buffs of 6 Roles. It’s an extra layer of strategy played out over a match as you play through Freegunners to adapt to the situation at hand. Crew Builder, selectable within the Freegunners option on the main menu, allows you to build custom team compositions, deck builder style, to take into specific modes. There’s more details in the “How to Play” menu. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Complete Jobs, get paid</strong></h2>
<p class="">Freegunners are mercenaries, guns-for-hire who roam the galaxy and do high-stake jobs to keep them going. “We want each match to [feed into that fantasy],” says Jerome. “So that shows up in our progression system. The Job Board shows all the different things you can be rewarded for doing in that match. That could encourage Ability usage, kill combinations… when you complete those jobs, those challenges, that gives you XP. Your payout. That unlocks more options, more customisation for your characters.”</p>
<p class=""><em>Concord’s Open Beta is available on PS5 &amp; PC July 18 – 21. You can listen to an extended interview with Firewalk in the Official PlayStation Podcast, the new episode of which drops tomorrow. </em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/19/share-of-the-week-sailing/',
                'Share of the Week: Sailing',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/1cf01fb17e484be804cc9cd6bacab5a548e353a0.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to share moments sailing through your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862028982_9db74524e2_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862028982_9db74524e2_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/shimo_ps/status/1813037579513786407/photo/1"><em>shimo_ps</em></a><em> shares sailing on a schooner in Windbound</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932126_d4c7d5ca41_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932126_d4c7d5ca41_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/WarDaddyPlatine/status/1813273071874097369/photo/3"><em>WarDaddyPlatine</em></a><em> shares Nathan sailing through chaos in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932071_dda8081fd3_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932071_dda8081fd3_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Dario_OtherEyes/status/1813461606262608134/photo/2"><em>Dario_OtherEyes</em></a><em> shares an aerial view of Bayek and his skiff in Assassin’s Creed Origins</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862028867_c7d7011a51_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862028867_c7d7011a51_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/MrioMoreno5/status/1813213477026038118/photo/1"><em>MrioMoreno5</em></a><em> sails through the skies in The Artful Escape</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863290614_af5993da0a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863290614_af5993da0a_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/spec_arc/status/1813388044247908670/photo/1"><em>spec_arc</em></a><em> shares Jin tossing a grappling hook from the deck of a ship in the rain of Ghost of Tsushima</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863341945_2d6537ec30_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863341945_2d6537ec30_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/RhodWulfLeon/status/1812555227091915132/photo/1"><em>RhodWulfLeon</em></a><em> shares Kratos and Freya rowing in God of War Ragnarök</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932096_1f4820d5d9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862932096_1f4820d5d9_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 24, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, humanity makes their last stand. Share epic moments exploring Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/22/tower-of-fantasys-first-anniversary-brings-summer-events-and-a-new-companion/',
                'Tower of Fantasy’s first anniversary brings Summer events and a new companion',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/f5d5dc06b3a577bf3847b5484f40389958d6473d.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello, everyone. I’m Sky, the lead designer from Perfect World Games’ Hotta Studio. It’s hard to believe that <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/tower-of-fantasy/?smcid=ma">Tower of Fantasy</a> launched on PlayStation nearly a year ago. We are immensely grateful for your support and love for the game.</p>
<p class="">To celebrate this significant milestone, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming Version 4.2 update, packed with exciting new content. And, of course, we have special anniversary rewards! By participating in in-game events, you can earn up to 299 draws, 1,000 Dark Crystals, free vehicles, Shirli’s Haute Couture, and more. We can’t wait for you to join in the festivities.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seaside summer bash</h2>
<p class="">Summer is here, and we’ve got exclusive summer events just for you, set to launch soon. </p>
<p class="">Cheers! Summer Dance Off!: Join the yacht party where DJ Miss Anka will keep the energy high with her electrifying music. Stay long enough, and you’ll be treated to random gifts as a special guest!</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599485_a3b3bdc349_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599485_a3b3bdc349_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553184_2db53c5da1_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553184_2db53c5da1_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class=""><strong>Fruit Attack: </strong>The scorching sun has driven the fruits mad, and they’ve started diving into the sea, terrifying the nearby beachgoers! Head to the beach, hunt down these crazy fruits, and save the day while collecting refreshing fruit slices.</p>
<p class=""><strong>A Song of Water:</strong> Engage in a thrilling survival battle, dodging water balloons and showcasing your strategic skills.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Aesperia Volleyball Match:</strong> Get ready for intense volleyball matches that will rival the blazing sun and crashing waves.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599480_3ea509de8f_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599480_3ea509de8f_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288757_4227f769ef_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288757_4227f769ef_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">We’ve also prepared plenty of event rewards. Authorizers can earn the Rocktooth Shark Vehicle, accessories, name cards, and more by participating in these events.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599320_9bca4015a6_o.jpg[" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599320_9bca4015a6_o.jpg[" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553169_fb44627cea_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553169_fb44627cea_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brand new simulacrum: Nola</h2>
<p class="">In the previous plot, Authorizers encountered the phantom thief group, Wednesday. In Version 4.2, you’ll dive deeper into Nola’s story.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288852_746fba9430_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288852_746fba9430_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Nicknamed Fang, Nola has swiftly dismantled various underground gangs in Aesperia, causing surrounding forces to be on high alert. Her sharp judgment has been crucial to the success of the “Wednesday” Phantom Thief group, establishing her as the undisputed boss. However, she has a significant void in her life—besides her name, Nola, she has no previous memories. Finding out about her past has been her primary pursuit.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553309_61bfa91f77_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553309_61bfa91f77_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Nola wields a unique weapon called Rumble, which has an Altered Damage attribute and combines a motorcycle and a greatsword. In non-combat situations, Rumble can change its elemental type, allowing Nola to choose from five different attributes, offering great versatility in team compositions. Additionally, in the open world, using the dodge skill Sonic Skyrider, Nola can instantly kill non-boss monsters after a certain time, greatly facilitating exploration.</p>
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<p class="">Nola’s Haute Couture Swimsuit, Windswept Coast, will debut on August 20. Her long hair flows in the sea breeze, and the sheer fabric on her body flutters in the wind, making it seem as though she is dancing with the sea waves.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553284_f7f58391f7_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553284_f7f58391f7_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Anka’s swimsuit, Whimsy Fruit Punch Night, and the Authorizer’s swimsuit, Summer Special, will also be available starting from August 6, adding an extra touch of summer coolness to Astra Coast.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181601_9ec363f9f6_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181601_9ec363f9f6_o.jpg"/></a>
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<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860431143_c1aaea09b1_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860431143_c1aaea09b1_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599385_081f605887_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599385_081f605887_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New interactive system: Dorm Gameplay</h2>
<p class="">After the version update, Authorizers can enter a specific room via the Dorm option in the simulacrum interface, immersing themselves deeply in her daily life. By actively participating in the Dorm gameplay and the accompanying Splendid Residence activities, Authorizers can use rewards to accelerate unlocking Dorm features, ensuring intimate and unforgettable moments with the simulacrum.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288747_e1d9f26469_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288747_e1d9f26469_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599425_04e5ca14dc_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599425_04e5ca14dc_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553114_fee42f5f9b_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553114_fee42f5f9b_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bustling Central District ready to open</h2>
<p class="">The Aesperia Central District map is coming soon. This area embodies administrative, commercial, and residential functions. Aesperia’s largest commercial hub, Sylvia Business Street, the vibrant Azure Coast with its abundant water activities and tourists, and the renowned company Schuder Electronics famed throughout Aida, are all located here, awaiting your visit. More importantly, it boasts the tower-shaped energy-guiding device, Tower of Fantasy, which has brought a bright future to Aesperia. Let’s explore the heart of this sci-fi metropolis together!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553234_5012f2a420_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860553234_5012f2a420_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288762_82ee3a02ba_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288762_82ee3a02ba_o.jpg" width="31%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181586_9abbf60af8_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181586_9abbf60af8_o.jpg" width="31%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599380_cebfe6ff6b_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599380_cebfe6ff6b_o.jpg" width="31%"/></a></p>
<p class="">After the August 6 update, the main storyline Behind the Neon Lights will officially launch! Interactive devices will be available across the entire map, and the new world boss, Ground Controller<strong>,</strong> is ready to challenge the Authorizer.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599310_1cdc7a613a_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860599310_1cdc7a613a_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181501_12bee01ed2_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860181501_12bee01ed2_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anniversary rewards</h2>
<p class="">We’ve prepared a variety of free rewards as well! By participating in in-game events, you can earn up to 299 draws, 1,000 Dark Crystals, and even Nemesis Haute Couture Shirli and weapon appearance White Dwarf, Jetpack Skin Neon Mech Wings, Head Accessory Tata’s Ultimate Support Blue Dolphin Sunglasses, and more. We are looking forward to your participation.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288827_95832df907_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53859288827_95832df907_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860431083_80dc015f55_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53860431083_80dc015f55_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Tower of Fantasy version 4.2 will bring even more exciting content. We look forward to meeting you in the new version and exploring a brand new world of adventure together.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/23/helldivers-2s-biggest-update-yet-escalation-of-freedom-drops-august-6/',
                'Helldivers 2’s biggest update yet, Escalation of Freedom, drops August 6',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/07/ea6dda32c000332adce014107790ebb43fcd3100.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Welcome to the Escalation of Freedom, Helldivers. We’ve taken the time to gather feedback from our players on the front lines, and we’re bringing greater variety to our content. From missions and objectives to enemies and planets, we’re delivering lots of new content for both our veteran players and brand-new Helldivers on the battlefield. Get ready for our biggest update yet!</p>
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<img alt="Helldivers 2’s biggest update yet, Escalation of Freedom, drops August 6" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/pQl2BmhSCsA/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">Our community continues to show us how strong we all are when united against the mindless Automatons and the scourge of the Terminid. As we stand here, on the eve of the Escalation of Freedom, we reflect on the 6 months since launch. We could never have predicted how far this game would go and how many Citizens would answer Super Earth’s call to arms!</p>
<p class="">We’ve watched our forces expertly handle every conflict and challenge we’ve thrown their way, from flying enemies to the Terminid Control System, to saving the children of Super Citizen Anne’s Hospital. Now for this major update, it’s time for us to give back something big to the community and welcome in even more players to the Helldivers universe.</p>
<p class="">Helldivers, this is escalating quickly.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go on a Super Helldive</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864934036_8490a3fe3f_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864934036_8490a3fe3f_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Go up against the new supersized bot fortresses.</em></p>
<p class="">Something that continues to amaze us is our players’ insatiable desire for more bugs, more bots, more liberation, and more destruction. We thought nine levels of Helldiving difficulties would be enough, but in the Escalation of Freedom we’re turning it up to 10… Combat Rating 10 that is.</p>
<p class="">CR 10: Super Helldive is our most challenging, most relentless dive difficulty level yet, and we hope that this is going to give players the intensity they’re looking for on the battlefield. And with a great challenge comes greater rewards.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864934026_8a71ac5ca7_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864934026_8a71ac5ca7_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The larva retrieval mission has the Helldivers babysitting a bug.</em></p>
<p class="">But a new difficulty level isn’t the only thing the community wanted. We’ve also heard your desire for mission variation, which is why we’re bringing you new mission objectives and bigger enemy outposts for both bots and bugs that offer brand new Super Sample rewards. These outposts will be heavily fortified, and require players to coordinate and strategize in order to take them out.</p>
<p class="">And if you’re new to Helldivers 2, you don’t have to worry about missing out on all the fun until you unlock Super Helldive, because many of our new mission objectives will be playable on other difficulty levels.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Enemies &amp; Dangerous Swamps</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864027012_814060856e_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864027012_814060856e_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The Impaler returns!</em></p>
<p class="">Escalation of Freedom is unleashing some new threats to our liberty that will take some serious strategizing from the Helldivers to take down. </p>
<p class="">Back by popular demand: the Impaler! This big guy from the original Helldivers creates some new challenges. No longer can you run from the bugs when the Impaler is around–big, imposing, and destructive, it demands to be dealt with.</p>
<p class="">Also new among the Terminid ranks is the Spore Charger. As if the regular old Charger wasn’t scary enough, the Spore Charger is shrouded in fog to obscure its location until it’s right up on you, Helldiver.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865287144_2e2ddf00ba_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865287144_2e2ddf00ba_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The new Spore Charger in the fog.</em></p>
<p class="">Lastly, the Terminid Alpha Commander, which is a supercharged Brood Commander that’s bigger, meaner, and doesn’t hesitate to call in other bugs for backup.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865287104_837d28f640_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865287104_837d28f640_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>You thought the regular old Brood Commander was bad? Think again.</em></p>
<p class="">Don’t think we forgot about the Automatons. Their ranks are growing, too, with the addition of the formidable Rocket Tank, as well as some other bot surprises we’ll be throwing your way.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53867829365_a2e93e2129_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53867829365_a2e93e2129_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The Automaton uprising continues.</em></p>
<p class="">Explore the swamps but not as you know them, with rolling fog and the untamed flora, the blackened trees obscure the light and the air itself feels haunted. Keep your flashlight handy, as visibility is limited and light is key. The enemy could be hiding anywhere amongst the undergrowth.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865180688_bcea9b0fac_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865180688_bcea9b0fac_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Get spooked, Helldivers.</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Under the Hood</h2>
<p class="">The last addition I want to highlight about the Escalation of Freedom update is that we’re making changes to mitigate the problem of grief kicking in Helldivers 2. While it’s our hope that players engage with the game in good faith and sportsmanship, we do recognize that some players are using the team kicking to grief others.</p>
<p class="">To help improve this we have implemented a system where if a player is kicked, they will spawn into a new session as the host with all of the team’s loot from their previous session. All items can now be picked up by the player before extraction. The squad doing the kicking will see a message in the chat widget that a player has been kicked, yet their loot remains unchanged.</p>
<p class="">With these changes, all players have the opportunity to leave with all loot collected on mission, with no one Helldiver losing out. We’re committed to making changes that will improve the player experience and encourage healthy, cooperative gameplay.</p>
<p class="">Along with this, we’re also releasing other quality of life upgrades with Escalation of Freedom, including major fixes to the social menu to make diving with your friends easier.</p>
<p class="">Overall, we think this escalation is going to be packed full of awesome additions, long-awaited improvements, and a ton of surprises to discover! Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom is launching on August 6!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/24/new-ps5-beta-rolls-out-tomorrow-with-personalized-3d-audio-profiles-and-new-remote-play-settings/',
                'New PS5 beta rolls out tomorrow with personalized 3D audio profiles and new Remote Play settings',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/395941301afb16042e31ea672b1872ce85234502.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Thanks to feedback from our PlayStation community, we’ve introduced many new features and refinements over the past few years to enhance your gaming experiences on PS5. Starting tomorrow, we’re happy to roll out a new PS5 beta that introduces personalized 3D audio profiles for headphones and earbuds, as well as the ability to limit Remote Play access for individual users. Additionally, PS5 beta participants using the<a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2023/10/10/new-look-for-ps5-console-this-holiday-season/"> latest, slimmer PS5 model</a> will be able to test adaptive charging for their controllers.*<br/><br/>While beta access is limited to invited participants in select countries**, we plan to release the update globally in the coming months. If you’re selected to participate in the beta, you’ll receive an email invitation tomorrow when it’s available to download. Some features available during the beta phase may not make it into the final version or may see significant changes.<br/><br/>Here are the key highlights from this beta:</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Personalized 3D audio profiles for headphones and earbuds</strong><strong> (available for all PS5 models)</strong></h2>
<p class="">In this generation, 3D audio is one of the key ways that creators have enhanced the immersive quality of games. As individuals, we all hear sounds differently based on the size and shape of our head, ears, and ear canals.<br/><br/>We’re pleased to introduce a feature that lets your PS5 console create a personalized 3D audio profile just for you. With a set of headphones or earbuds like the<a href="https://www.playstation.com/accessories/pulse-elite-wireless-headset/"> Pulse Elite wireless headset</a> or<a href="https://www.playstation.com/accessories/pulse-explore-wireless-earbuds/"> Pulse Explore wireless earbuds</a>,  you can run through a set of sound quality tests to analyze a vast number of factors to create an audio profile that best fits your hearing characteristics. For example, your personalized 3D audio profile may enable you to better sense the positions of characters and objects in a game world more clearly than before, making the experience more immersive.***</p>
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<p class="">To create a personalized 3D audio profile for your headphones or earbuds, go to [Settings] &gt; [Sound] &gt; [3D Audio (Headphones)] on your PS5 console, and follow the steps displayed on the screen. Your audio profile will be saved on your PS5 per user, and you can also still select from 3D audio presets like before.<br/><br/>This feature builds on the 3D audio enhancements we’ve introduced to PS5 since launch, including 3D audio support for built-in TV speakers and support for compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled audio devices. These features give you additional options to immerse yourself more deeply in the rich variety of soundscapes in PS5 games, powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868466125_b07f79aecb_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868466125_b07f79aecb_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech was tested and refined using audio rig setups like the one depicted here, featuring PS Blog’s very own Sid Shuman.</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Enable Remote Play for individual users </strong><strong>(available for all PS5 models)</strong></h2>
<p class="">You can now adjust Remote Play settings per user and choose who is allowed to connect to your PS5 console using Remote Play. So, if your friends or family members come over and sign in to your PS5 console with their account for PlayStation Network, you can easily modify who can continue to access your PS5 console using Remote Play when they leave.<br/><br/>To adjust these settings, go to [Settings] &gt; [System] &gt; [Remote Play] &gt; [Enable Remote Play], and choose which user you want to enable access to your PS5 console through Remote Play.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868103380_3f635dfebc_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="PS5 UI screenshot showing the settings menu with four usernames and individually adjusted Remote Play settings" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868103380_3f635dfebc_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Adaptive charging for your controller (available for the</strong><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2023/10/10/new-look-for-ps5-console-this-holiday-season/"><strong> </strong><strong>latest PS5 model</strong></a><strong>)</strong></h2>
<p class="">Adaptive charging for the DualSense wireless controller, DualSense Edge wireless controller, PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, and Access controller is now available for PS5 beta participants using the latest PS5 model, when the console is in rest mode. Adaptive charging helps save power by adjusting the length of time that power is supplied to your controller based on its battery level.<br/><br/>To use adaptive charging, go to [Settings] &gt; [System] &gt; [Power Saving] &gt; [Features Available in Rest Mode], and then select [Supply Power to USB Ports] &gt; [Adaptive]. After your PS5 enters rest mode, if a controller isn’t connected, the power supply to the USB port will stop after a certain period of time.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53867938488_351965d5c1_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="PS5 UI screenshot showing adaptive charging option in the settings menu" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53867938488_351965d5c1_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We look forward to hearing our beta participants’ response and introducing new features to our global community in the months ahead. Stay tuned for additional details, and as always, thanks for your valuable support and feedback.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Adaptive charging works with the DualSense wireless controller, DualSense Edge wireless controller, PS VR2 Sense controllers, and Access controller when connected to the USB Type-C port on the latest PS5 console (CFI-2000 model group – slim) using the USB Type-C cable included with your PS5. PlayStation Portal remote player does not support adaptive charging.</em><br/><em>**PS5 beta access will be available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France (same countries as our previous system software betas).</em><br/><em>***Personalized 3D audio profiles are not supported during PS5 cloud game streaming. 3D audio is not supported during Remote Play.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/24/gran-turismo-7-update-1-49-brings-six-new-cars-updated-physics-simulation-model-and-more-on-july-24/',
                'Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49 brings six new cars, updated physics simulation model, and more on July 24',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/fce0e46c1550fb77cd73a50b69c9c27ddbc868f9.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Gran Turismo players! This month’s Update 1.49* for Gran Turismo 7 will be available as of July 24 at 11:00pm PST / July 25 at 7:00am BST / 3:00pm JST.</p>
<p class="">Let’s dive into what’s new.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Updated physics simulation model</strong></h2>
<p class="">A major update has been introduced for the car physics simulation model. This update mainly affects the suspension physics model and tire physical calculation model resulting in much more natural weight shifting during cornering. Tire response has also been improved, along with more realistic tire heating and wear. Look forward to more dynamic car movement and a further polished driving feel.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267214_a48e002f67_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267214_a48e002f67_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159173_1fba8e466b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159173_1fba8e466b_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">French tire maker Michelin has been added.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916156_2061f8f132_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916156_2061f8f132_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916151_336b591cd5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916151_336b591cd5_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6 new cars added this month</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BMW M3 ‘97</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Used Cars</em></p>
<p class="">From race car to luxury grand tourer, the 3.2L second generation M3.</p>
<p class="">The 2nd generation M3 was introduced in 1992, 2 years after the introduction of its base model, the 3rd generation ‘E36’ 3-Series. The original ‘E30’ M3 was a racing homologation model made by heavily modifying the standard 3-Series, in a stark contrast, the E36 M3 took the line in the direction of a grand tourer. It featured a more mature look, with understated aero parts. Performance, however, was still very much at the forefront of the design. The 3L inline-6 engine produced 282.1 BHP with 32.7 kgfm torque. With this engine at its heart, the car was able to accelerate from a standing start to 62 mph in just 6 seconds and could continue to accelerate up to 155 mph before hitting the speed limiter. </p>
<p class="">A minor model change in 1995 brought with it a 3.2L engine producing 316.6 BHP and 35.7 kgfm torque, and replaced the 5-speed manual transmission with a 6-speed unit, along with several changes to the chassis to sharpen the overall handling. 1997 saw the introduction of a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013947_df54274680_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013947_df54274680_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916291_8dc250adde_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916291_8dc250adde_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ferrari 430 Scuderia ‘07</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars</em></p>
<p class="">A road-going racer that greatly improved upon the performance of the F430.</p>
<p class="">The 430 Scuderia was announced in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, introduced as a high-performance version of Ferrari’s V8 series ‘F430’. It also served as the successor to 360 Challenge Stradale, a road-legal version of the 360 Challenge one-make race car that appeared in the 360 Modena era. </p>
<p class="">It is powered by the same 4.3L V8 DOHC engine as the standard F430, further tuned to produce an extra 19.7 BHP / 0.5 kgfm to produce a total 502 BHP / 47.9 kgfm. A streamlining of the interior fittings allowed for a roughly 100 kg weight reduction to 1,350 kg. These improvements resulted in a power-to-weight ratio of just 2.48 kg/BHP. The transmission is a 2-pedal manual ‘F1 Superfast 2’ which allows for gear changes as fast as 0.06 seconds. The running gear itself also has a direct impact on driving and lap times, and a number of F1 derived technologies have been implemented here as well, such as the F1-Trac combined traction and stability control system, and the electronically controlled ‘E-Diff’ differential.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916121_4a0f25a368_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873916121_4a0f25a368_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159113_d9101e51cb_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159113_d9101e51cb_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Brand Central</em></p>
<p class="">The racing version of the Gran Berlinetta adorned with aerodynamic parts.</p>
<p class="">The Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept is the most emotional expression of Athletic Elegance in the Genesis portfolio. It is a racing derivative of the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept, with increased downforce achieved by the impressive wings, active aerodynamic flaps, flat floor, front and rear diffusors, canards and gurneys. While the drag coefficient increases according to wing configurations, the increased downforce allows better lap times. </p>
<p class="">The X Gran Racer Concept is powered by a front mid-mounted race-spec Lambda II V6 engine, electrically assisted by Genesis E-SC technology. The hybrid race-spec drivetrain delivers a combined 1,540 HP (1,539.4 BHP) and 1,015 ft-lb (140.3 kgfm) of torque. The V6 screams at 10,000 rpm while delivering a maximum output of 870 HP (869.8 BHP) and 790 ft-lb (109.2 kgfm) while the front E motor generates an additional 670 HP (669.6 BHP) and 225 ft-lb (31 kgfm).</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326255_222c9de95c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326255_222c9de95c_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013797_cb98cdbcaa_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013797_cb98cdbcaa_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ‘08</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars</em></p>
<p class="">No longer the baby Lambo; the Gallardo outgrew its nickname with top-tier performance.</p>
<p class="">Debuting in 2003, the baby Lambo ‘Gallardo’ underwent many improvements over the course of a five-year span, including several high-performance evolutions. Then, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, a model debuted that would outshine all of its predecessors. On the surface, the new Gallardo, or ‘LP 560-4,’ looked as if it had simply taken stylistic cues from the limited-edition Lamborghini Reventón. But in truth, it had undergone some major modifications. The most prominent of such modifications was the enlargement of its V10 engine displacement, from 4,961 cc to 5,204 cc. With additional intake and exhaust upgrades, and increased compression, the engine produced 552.3 BHP and 55.1 kgfm of torque, which was a 39.4 BHP and 3.1 kgfm improvement from the original Gallardo model. </p>
<p class="">The drivetrain employed the same full-time 4WD transmission and viscous coupling as its forebearers. As for the car’s name, the ‘560’ was taken from its maximum engine output, and the ‘4’ stood for its 4WD system. The car also inherited a 6MT, or ‘6-speed, 2-pedal manual transmission,’ the E-gear in particular being greatly upgraded, its shifting speed shortened by 40% in the sporty ‘CORSA’ mode. Many thorough weight-reduction efforts were also made, resulting in the vehicle weighing in 20 kg lighter than previous models, at 1,410 kg.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159103_b3e572214e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159103_b3e572214e_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159158_9bf6faeb09_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159158_9bf6faeb09_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RUF RGT 4.2 ‘16</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Brand Central</em></p>
<p class="">The ultimate naturally aspirated flat 6. A meticulously crafted machine made by RUF.</p>
<p class="">RUF is a company that continues to create unique sports cars based on Porsches, infused with their own philosophy and craftsmanship. One of their continuing model lines include the “RGT”, based on various 911 GT3 models. At the very core of the RGT is a concept to polish the performance of the GT3 model even further, while miraculously bestowing it the comfort of a road car. And at the 2015 Geneva show, RUF added a new model to this family tree: The RGT 4.2, based on the type 991, 911 GT3. </p>
<p class="">As the name implies it is powered by a 4.2L flat 6, increasing the displacement from the stock 3.8L of the type 991, 911 GT3 by 400 cc. But the increased displacement is not the only point of note. The RGT 4.2 engine is not just a tuned 911 GT3 engine, but uses the “Mezger engine” with the GT1 crankshaft as a base; an engine that has seen many successes in racing since the air cooled days of the flat 6. The car produces 123.3 BHP per litre, for a maximum power output of 517.7 BHP. On the exterior it is equipped with aggressive riveted overfenders, and the interior sports the integrated roll cage that the RGT series is known for. Combining competition blood with the grace of a road car, this is another fine example of a RUF, the ultimate car for a gentleman driver who enjoys both the track and daily use.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326375_f0dc4213c2_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326375_f0dc4213c2_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326380_e576a57a8e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326380_e576a57a8e_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Subaru Impreza Rally Car ‘98</strong></h3>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Can be purchased from Legend Cars</em></p>
<p class="">Subaru’s triple race winning Impreza World Rally car from the 1998 season.</p>
<p class="">Subaru’s Impreza had been competing in the World Rally Championship since 1993 and had claimed the Manufacturers championship title in 1995 and 1996 under Group A regulations. Then in 1997, under ‘World Rally Car’ regulations, they were able to win the Manufacturer’s championship title again, making for a stunning 3- consecutive season run. The 1997 ‘World Rally Car’ specification Impreza, dubbed the WRC97, used the 2-door coupe model as a base, tuning the existing engine to produce 295.9 BHP and 48 kgfm torque. </p>
<p class="">The suspension geometry was also reconstructed and body widened as far as regulations would allow to 1,770 mm in order to provide maximum handling ability. The WRC98, introduced in 1998, implemented further modifications upon the previous model, adding a computer controlled active differentials in the front, rear and centre couplings. In the 1998 season, Subaru unfortunately missed out on the championship title and a chance to extend their winning streak. However, the car was more than able to prove its worth as a World Rally car as Colin McRae took it to victory in Round 4 Portugal, Round 6 Tour de Corse, and Round 8 Acropolis.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267244_8bf35e788c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267244_8bf35e788c_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267224_1699b8396b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874267224_1699b8396b_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New GT Circuit</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The return of Eiger Nordwand</strong></h3>
<p class="">Return to the Kleine Scheidegg, in this revival of a classic GT Original Circuit, situated just below the north face of Eiger, one of the most famous locations in the Swiss Alps. Running past the Jungfrau Railway station at 2,016m above sea level, this technical layout features a series of tight hairpin corners twisting left and right. With very little room to maneuver, and constant elevation changes, running a clean lap will require the utmost concentration and driving technique. A pit area in the tunnel at the end of the course means this track is also set up for full-scale races.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159083_49fafa0c38_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159083_49fafa0c38_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159298_e3947390d4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159298_e3947390d4_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159318_adea869d6b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159318_adea869d6b_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013982_e6bccacb1a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873013982_e6bccacb1a_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GT Mode Updates</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Café / Extra Menus</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The following Menu has been added:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Extra Menu No. 40: McLaren (Collector Level 50 and above)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<a href="//live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159078_22a27c589e_h.jpg”" rel="noopener" target="”_blank”"><img alt="””" src="//live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159078_22a27c589e_h.jpg”"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>GT Auto</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>New Pokal wheel brand added.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326330_3fe22f76c6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326330_3fe22f76c6_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>World Circuits (Event)</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The following new events have been added to ‘World Circuits’:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>European Sunday Cup 500 – Eiger Nordwand</li>
<li>Jimny Cup – Eiger Nordwand</li>
<li>World Rally Challenge Gr.B – Autodromo Nationale Monza</li>
<li>World Touring Car 600 – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159218_f67ba90a87_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159218_f67ba90a87_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Gran Turismo Sophy</strong></h3>
<p class="">The next-generation racing AI agent, ‘Gran Turismo Sophy’ is now available on the following courses. Look for the Sophy icon in the ‘Quick Race’ menu on each track to test your skills against Sophy.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Nurburgring 24h</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326295_f8ff46ddae_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326295_f8ff46ddae_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Autodrome Lago Maggiore – Full Course</strong></h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326300_931e1cf029_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874326300_931e1cf029_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Scapes</strong></h3>
<p class="">The Eiger has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159273_068c67e1f5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874159273_068c67e1f5_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""> We hope you enjoy the updates and best of luck on the track.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/24/empire-of-the-ants-marches-to-ps5-november-7-details-on-crafting-a-realistic-microscopic-world/',
                'Empire of the Ants marches to PS5 November 7: Details on crafting a realistic microscopic world',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/14abaa50601b0aef3d4d48615beda4448d4f45fb.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">With the new real-time strategy game Empire of the Ants set for release November 7 on PS5, players will be able to fully immerse themselves in the surprising world of insects, thanks to near-realistic graphics built in Unreal Engine 5. In this article, we will show you how Tower Five, a young studio based in La Rochelle in France, achieved such a naturalistic result!</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A meticulous inspirational work by Tower Five</strong></h3>
<p class="">An adaptation of Bernard Werber’s famous novel, which vividly portrays the daily life of these incredible insects, Empire of the Ants naturally opted for a realistic artistic direction. “While it’s sometimes necessary to bend reality a bit to better serve the narrative or gameplay, we generally aim for a very authentic rendering of the settings and characters,” explains Jean-Charles Schaeffert, lead artist at Tower Five.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864520056_442f594502_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864520056_442f594502_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">To accomplish this ambitious goal, the 15-person team began with extensive research. Regarding environments, the studio spent a week in the Fontainebleau Forest, southeast of Paris, observing nature and taking photographs. The forest also inspired the developers in terms of level design, so much so that those familiar with the location will recognize certain levels. Finally, Tower Five even used a 3D scanner to capture real objects: roots, tree stumps, and even iconic elements of Fontainebleau like the Bilboquet rock!</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394285"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/f925903ce46b07f41fcd8ae59e8d30fb983b2a66.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Equally meticulous effort went into realistically representing the various characters—ants, termites, soldier beetles, scarabs, and many more. The team amassed a large photo library and frequently consulted encyclopedias like the Delachaux Guide to Insects of France and Europe. “We even have some real specimens preserved in resin blocks,” Jean-Charles adds, “allowing us to observe them under a magnifying glass from every angle.” The objective: to be as close to reality as possible.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394286"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/8761f800124f49a849577f7e9a048f743fd675a2.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Advanced 3D techniques with Unreal Engine</h3>
<p class="">Once back at the studio with all these inspirational elements, the team sat down at their computers to recreate our world in three dimensions. Jean-Charles notes that Tower Five focused on several key points, such as the resolution of the models for maximum detail—our heroine 103,683rd, for instance, consisting of over 50,000 triangles. The consistency of lighting, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions, was also a major consideration. Not to mention the texture definition, for a crystal-clear rendering even up close, as well as reflections, particularly on water surfaces.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864764358_61f71402f1_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864764358_61f71402f1_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Although Empire of the Ants will be Tower Five’s first photorealistic game, the studio boasts experienced developers (like Jean-Charles, who has nearly 20 years in the field), who have previously worked on similar projects. Unreal Engine 5 has been a true asset for the developers, with features like Nanite allowing for an almost unlimited increase in triangles, or Lumen, which almost perfectly mimics the behavior of light. Jean-Charles doesn’t mince words: “A project like this, with so much realism and detail, wouldn’t have been possible without Unreal Engine 5. Ten years ago, it was still science fiction; the techniques I used in advertising and cinema are now in real-time because the tools are finally ready.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864874699_ede763763c_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864874699_ede763763c_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Thus, thanks to Tower Five’s attention to detail and the latest technologies, players will be able to dive into the world of Empire of the Ants on November 7 as if they were really there. To enjoy these sumptuous visuals, it won’t be necessary to have the latest graphics card— Empire of the Ants will release on PS5. Add it to your wishlist on <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10007652">PlayStation Store</a> to ensure you don’t miss this immersive experience!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/24/explore-the-top-choices-in-rise-of-the-ronin/',
                'Explore the top choices in Rise of the Ronin',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/8406b93f49290fefe5699c0fd7078b8ac4ba6f42.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello everyone. This is Fumihiko Yasuda, Development Producer/Director from Team Ninja , the creator of Rise of the Ronin, an open-world action RPG set during the end of 19<sup> </sup>century Japan.</p>
<p class="">We are very pleased that so many players have been enjoying the game since its release on March 22, 2024. We have collected fun play data from all over the world. Here’s a sneak peek at choices players have made while playing Rise of the Ronin.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Story Choices</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862056427_e6263f15dc_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53862056427_e6263f15dc_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="//live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863369580_45d712a357_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863369580_45d712a357_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The event after the battle with Gonzo is the first time players are faced with making a decision. Either choice have their own benefits, why don’t you explore both options?</p>
<p class="">I thought that the choices at Mibu-dera Temple would be dominated by the pro-Shogunate faction, due to the activities of the Shinsengumi, but it seems that many players chose anti-Shogunate faction. At the beginning of the story, players meet many characters from the anti-Shogunate faction, including Ryoma Sakamoto, so I think many of them have progressed to the anti-Shogunate faction from there.</p>
<p class="">If you are curious to explore different outcomes, you can re-visit past missions through the Testament of the Soul available in the Longhouse. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Forging your fate</h2>
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<p class="">One of the important themes in this game is bonding. Strengthening a bond with a character will give you various benefits, such as acquiring new combat styles and opening new dialogue with characters, allowing you to get to know them on a deeper level.</p>
<p class="">Also, the Veiled Vow is a special relationship status that can only be built with certain characters. Some players may have formed a Veiled Vow with only one character, while others may have formed a Veiled Vow with multiple characters.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Combat</h2>
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<p class="">While the use of Countersparks can disrupt the opponent’s posture, it can also put you at a disadvantage if the timing is off. It acts as a double-edged sword, with both an advantage and a disadvantage. I’m sure many of you have used it in battles against powerful opponents. I was surprised to hear that more than 1.9 billion countersparks have been performed.</p>
<p class="">We wanted as many players to enjoy Rise of the Ronin, so we included a selection of difficulty settings. We are very happy to see that a wide range of difficulty levels are being enjoyed across the community. The highest difficulty setting, Midnight, is unlocked after clearing the main story. You can enjoy challenging battles, so please give it a try.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">World Exploration</h2>
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<p class="">Some of you who have completed the cat collection trophy may be sad that you can no longer meet new cats while exploring the world, but you may be able to meet them again at various shrines and at Usugumo Dayu’s place. In the latest update, we have made it possible to pet the collected cats near Usugumo Dayu as often as you want, so please continue to enjoy searching for cats.</p>
<p class="">The fugitives are not just enemies but skilled characters who lived during the Bakumatsu era (late 19th-century Japan) with various backgrounds, just like a ronin. Our development team has carefully designed each fugitive, from their names to their weapons and combat styles, and put a lot of thought into their placement in the game. When facing them, we hope you will pay attention to the details that went into making these fugitives.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Free demo now available</h2>
<p class="">After collating player data, we realized that many of you around the world have been enjoying Rise of the Ronin. For those who have already completed the first playthrough, we hope you will continue to enjoy the game by seeing alternate paths when accessing the Testament of the Soul, or when challenging yourself through higher difficulty settings and Midnight. </p>
<p class="">A free playable demo of Rise of the Ronin is now available for download on the PlayStation Store. You can enjoy the battle with Gonzo, which was mentioned at the beginning of the article, and your save data can be carried over to the full game. For those of you who have not yet played Rise of the Ronin, we encourage you to explore its vast and beautiful world.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*These results are as of June 20, 2024 </em><br/><em>*This is data for players who are connected online.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/24/arranger-a-role-puzzling-adventure-launches-july-25-devs-detail-boss-design/',
                'Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure launches July 25, devs detail boss design',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/17c49ff95a4006b86c76715983b7e5ed7de28464.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The world of Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure takes place on a sprawling, interconnected gameplay grid, on which characters, objects, puzzles, and exploration all follow the same logic: when player character Jemma moves, the world moves too. And when you step off the edge of the grid in any direction, you “loop” around to the other side. With these mechanics in mind, and being a game without a failstate, we certainly had our work cut out for us when it came to designing our boss fights!</p>
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<p class="">We started by laying down some structural ground rules about the game world, to keep our scope in check and put a rough template in place to design around. Each town has two roughly delineated dungeon areas, which at some point introduces the elements required to solve a larger puzzle at the end of the town, which we frame as our boss fights. Though they may (and should!) feel intimidating, our bosses are ultimately just larger puzzles that have more at stake in the context of the story.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Some early sketches of the second boss by our artist David Hellman. Featuring eyes, monsters, water, and a small identity crisis.</em></p>
<p class="">In a more traditional game, you’d have to worry about losing health if you get hit, or even dying and having to restart the fight. That’s not the case in Arranger, but your progress will still be limited until you can find a way to solve the challenge.</p>
<p class="">The dangers – or rather, the obstacles – that Jemma has to face are always connected to a strange force we call “the static,” which we represent in the game with a glowing purple aura around objects. The static objects aren’t affected by Jemma’s powers, and stay in place when she moves. This is true for all puzzles in Arranger, but it’s expressed in the most explicit way in these boss battles: the raw form of the static becomes a static beast, and Jemma has to find creative ways to defeat them, using all sorts of strategies introduced in earlier puzzles throughout the game.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865318385_645219dc4f_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865318385_645219dc4f_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The final stage of the first boss may look complicated, but you’ll develop all the skills required to defeat that long static boy by the time you get there!</em></p>
<p class="">Finding different ways to represent these beasts was a real challenge. We really wanted to express how the scale of the bosses was getting larger and larger as you progressed through the story, to convey that the risks were larger and that you were getting closer to the source of the problem.</p>
<p class="">Given the nature of the design and our primary goal of keeping the game experience breezy, a lot of these elements are represented not by the difficulty of the puzzle, but instead emphasized through the story context and art. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865259294_9329587dbd_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865259294_9329587dbd_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>One of our comic-style cutscenes that introduces the first boss!</em></p>
<p class="">The first boss is something Jemma can work out herself – a worm getting larger and larger, with more static debris appearing after each phase, making the usable grid smaller each time. Whereas the second and the third bosses are actually the opposite: the grid becomes larger, giving more room for movement, but the steps to damage the boss become more complex, so you have to use everything you’ve learned (and Jemma may even have to get some help from other characters!). So it’s always a balance between giving players the right amount of space to maneuver around, depending on how much complexity and constraint we want to introduce.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865153208_586c97f85d_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865153208_586c97f85d_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>You’d better use those birds if you want to poke all those eyes at the same time..!</em></p>
<p class="">It’s been really interesting for us – and we hope for players as well – to see how these elements evolve throughout the game. It may feel like a natural evolution, but it took a lot of (exhaustive) iteration and (fun!) exploration to get it feeling like we wanted it to. Just like Jemma, we had to go through a lot of chaos and make a big mess, before the dust settled on the other end to reveal the game’s true nature.</p>
<p class="">Thanks so much for checking out Arranger. We hope it slides right into your heart!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/25/world-of-tanks-modern-armor-gets-loud-with-motorhead-and-rob-zombie-july-30/',
                'World of Tanks Modern Armor gets loud with Motörhead and Rob Zombie July 30',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/b22c81e235254b32ef9978a6c59822f165120cdb.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">How do you make a second act spectacular? Turn the volume up even higher.<br/><br/>This summer, World of Tanks Modern Armor gets loud as Motörhead and Rob Zombie take the stage for Metal Fest, the central event of our new Heavy Metal season!</p>
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<p class="">Just like all the best music festivals, Metal Fest has become an annual event. Anyone who missed our 2023 headliners (Sabaton, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden) is in luck; for a limited time, we’ll be bringing back last year’s content in all of its guitar-shredding glory.</p>
<p class="">But you don’t want to just relive last year’s epic moments. You want to hear about the new stuff. So let’s talk about what it took to make this year’s event happen with the legendary Motörhead and Rob Zombie!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Motörhead</strong></h2>
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<p class="">Motörhead blasts its way into battle with new content that includes:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Thunder Chief Object 452K tank</li>
<li>The “Bomber” Skin for the FV107 Scimitar</li>
<li>2D Commanders representing band members Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell, and Mikkey Dee</li>
<li>3D Commanders modeled after Lemmy and the band’s mascot, Warpig</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Motörhead is one of the true vanguards of heavy metal. Their lifestyle and legend remains fiercely popular, and founding father Lemmy (who passed away in 2015) continues to be revered in the community.</p>
<p class="">But as well as leading Motörhead to deafening global popularity, Lemmy was also an avid gamer, and the band was actively involved with concepts and ideas for Tanks’ new content. Talking about the Lemmy 3D Commander, the band states, “Modern technology has enabled us to have Lemmy fully integrated into the game, which felt appropriate given that this is exactly the sort of game he played and avidly enjoyed.” </p>
<p class="">It’s a legacy that the Motörhead superfans in Tanks’ design and development crews took seriously. “We did a ton of visual research to make sure we were making the most authentic version of Lemmy seen in any video game ever, and I think we achieved that,” says Andy Dorizas, Tanks’ art director. “I wanted to make sure we honored him as the amazing guy he was.” </p>
<p class="">This dedication is reflected not only in the Commanders but in the Motörhead tank and skin (“the back of the tanks, the amps—you will know if you know,” says Dorizas) as well as the Warpig 3D Commander. According to Dorizas, “We even have Warpig carrying the bomb from the Bomber album cover into the game when you choose him in the UI.”</p>
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<p class="">In fact, this marks the first time that fans will get to hear Warpig’s voice, a responsibility that fell to another Motörhead fan: Brendan Blewett, Tanks’ audio director.</p>
<p class="">“Motörhead provided clear goals and direction for Warpig in that they wanted a character that was a cross between a wild, free-wheeling-no-rules biker and an English bulldog,” Blewett explains. “I had to think about how to achieve this, and I decided that interpolating recordings, in combination with modulating a human voice recording against a different recording of dog vocalizations, was going to be my method.”</p>
<p class="">So, who was chosen to assist with this iconic role? “My sister-in-law has a puggle named Ollie, and he is a legendary vocalizer when it comes to snorting and breathing and grunting and whatnot, so the solution presented itself,” says Blewett. “The whole of every line is a human voice being directly modulated by dog vocalizations.”</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868226888_542f92d4aa_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868226888_542f92d4aa_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868226893_156f1a7d48_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868226893_156f1a7d48_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Sometimes you go to great lengths to make rock and roll happen.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Rob Zombie</strong></h2>
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<p class="">Rob Zombie thunders onto the battlefield with new content that includes:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Dragula T-55AGM tank</li>
<li>The “Superbeast” Skin for the M53/55</li>
<li>2D and 3D Commanders modeled after the man himself</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Zombie is an unmatched creative force who, with the 1998 release of Hellbilly Deluxe, solidified his status as a ruler in the realm of shock rock. The Dragula T-55AGM acknowledges this with a design that pays tribute to the album’s lead single.</p>
<p class="">But Zombie’s career extends far beyond that, which meant that his 3D Commander in particular had to reflect all his accomplishments and interests.</p>
<p class="">“We made two designs of his 3D commander,” says Dorizas. “Rob chose the one that was more authentic to Rob and not tied to any one album theme … a bad-ass tanker with evil style and some serious menace.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875858762_6d5f5af4ea_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875858762_6d5f5af4ea_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">No matter which act is your favorite, this year’s Metal Fest aims to thrill. Motörhead and Rob Zombie were among players’ top five most requested acts, and we’re honored to bring them you.</p>
<p class="">So crank it up. We’ll see you on the battlefield for Metal Fest starting July 30 on PS5 and PS4!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/25/evo-2024-hands-on-report-with-new-fighting-game-content/',
                'Evo 2024: Hands-on report with new fighting game content',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/8420a9ceb5b0255ea80bcb006c7f413cfebf213e.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/16/champions-and-challengers-what-to-expect-at-evo-2024/">Evo 2024</a> is down in the books, and what an event it was. When the eyes of the entire fighting game community are in one place, it’s also the ideal location to showcase new information about updates: gameplay balances and additions, character DLC, and much more — and the announcements at Evo this year packed one heckuva punch. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising elevates its game even higher</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875722879_7becec4e04_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875722879_7becec4e04_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">GBVSR had a very strong showing at Evo this year, but it looks like it’s only the beginning of this game’s run as a community favorite. The beautiful yet terrifying Versusia was unveiled near the start of Evo, and she was playable at the CyGames booth. Versusia exudes an aura of raw power, with attacks that look and feel downright cataclysmic. She will be released on August 20, and it will be interesting to see how she affects the game’s dynamic. She’ll be accompanied by various gameplay adjustments, a new Grand Master rank, and additions to the game’s single-player story mode. </p>
<p class="">Also announced but not playable was Vikila, whose bubbly personality and smaller stature stand in stark contrast to Versusia’s chaos. She’ll be available in October of this year, with a gameplay reveal almost certainly coming before her debut. Vikila and Versusia round out the Season 1 DLC characters, but a season 2 teaser — along with a brief glimpse of beloved character Sandalphon — was enough to get the Evo arena jumping with excitement over what’s to come.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Guilty Gear Strive brings us something old, something new, and something very different</h2>
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<p class="">Guilty Gear Strive continues to thrive as one of the most beloved fighting games out there, and this year’s Evo grand finals were a perfect showcase of why this game brings so much passion from its players. Those fans have plenty to look forward to in the near future, as developer and publisher Arc System Works announced their full slate of upcoming DLC characters for Guilty Gear Strive’s fourth season.</p>
<p class="">Returning to the arena will be longtime series staples Dizzy and Venom, with new looks and, in Queen Dizzy’s case, a proper royal title. Details are sparse on the brand-new addition, Unika, but she’s a character that will prominently feature in the upcoming Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime.</p>
<p class="">Perhaps the most surprising announcement, however, was that of Guilty Gear’s first guest character from a completely different franchise. Lucy from Cyberpunk Edgerunners will step into the arena next summer, and it’s going to be interesting to see how she fits in among Guilty Gear’s famously eclectic cast. </p>
<p class="">Also coming to GG Strive: a 3-on-3 battle mode. It’s still under development, but you’ll be able to try out the open beta of the mode today, July 25. New stages and character colors will also be added into the mix, so fans have plenty to look forward to over the next year.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hunter X Hunter Nen Impact packs a punch</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875722884_90f522f3d4_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875722884_90f522f3d4_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The upcoming anime-based title from Marvel vs Capcom 3 developers Eighting and publisher Arc System Works was playable and received quite a warm reception. While the inputs for special attacks are simplified compared to other team-based fighters, the feel of the gameplay is still as frantic and strategic as ever, and the over-the-top personalities and techniques of the beloved Hunter X Hunter cast shine through beautifully. Merurem, the fierce insectoid warrior, was both announced and playable at Arc System Works’ booth. Who else will be revealed before Hunter X Hunter Nen Impact’s debut this winter? Only time will tell.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SNK showcases Fatal Fury: City of Wolves and continues King of Fighters XV support</h2>
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<p class="">SNK’s flagship franchise fighter King of Fighters XV, had another excellent year at Evo with a strong cross-national turnout, and they’re still working to keep the game fresh and fun. Two beloved characters were announced to be returning to the arena in December: the beautiful and deadly Vice and Mature.</p>
<p class="">Fatal Fury: City of Wolves had a huge showcase at the event. A booth offering demos of the game proved to be very popular throughout the weekend, and an exhibition featuring top players from the community showcased just how exciting and explosive the game could be, even at this early stage in development. A new but familiar character for FFCOW was also revealed at the event: Kevin Rian and his young buddy Marky make their return to the ongoing Fatal Fury storyline in their hunt for justice.</p>
<p class="">Finally, SNK had one more surprise: A re-release of the famous Capcom crossover fighter SvC Chaos is now available on PS4 and PS5 with rollback netcode.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Street Fighter 6 gives us a taste of Terry</h2>
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<p class="">Speaking of crossovers, Capcom gave fans a sneak peek of famous SNK and Fatal Fury fighter Terry Bogard’s look and gameplay in Street Fighter 6 right before Top 6. Terry’s coming from the streets of his native South Town to tackle the fiercest combatants in Metro City, and if this trailer is any indication, things are going to get quite rowdy indeed!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tekken 8 reveals Heihachi Mishima… is alive.</h2>
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<p class="">By the time you read this, you might already be playing as Lidia in Tekken 8, who featured prominently at Bandai Namco’s Tekken stations on the Evo show floor. Lidia’s announcement at Evo Japan was met with a lot of fanfare, but things are about to get even wilder in the world of Tekken.</p>
<p class="">You didn’t think Tekken 8 would <em>actually</em> kill off its eternal patriarch, did you? In a stunning trailer, the Tekken Project team revealed the next DLC fighter: Heihachi Mishima, a man so powerful and unkillable that he has once again re-emerged to wreak havoc on all of his accursed bloodline. </p>
<p class="">Supporting Heihachi’s re-emergence from the fires of hell will be a new, free single-player story DLC that adds the DLC fighters into the ongoing saga — however, this DLC will be free for all players, so there’s no need to buy the DLC to enjoy it. Both Heihachi and the new story content are tentatively scheduled to be released this fall. Also announced were the dates and location of the 2024 Tekken World Tour finals, which will have its culminating event in Shibuya, Japan. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes delivers a creepy new combatant</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875375671_364a82cfa3_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875375671_364a82cfa3_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Uzuki, the be-hatted and be-spectacled young lass, is the first DLC character from UNI2’s season pass. She will be available today, July 25 for all players. Uzuki was playable at publisher Arc System Works’ booth, where I got to try her out. She’s brimming with personality: besides having a host of macabre normal attacks packed with range and strength, she’s also got a bunch of tricks up her sleeve for special moves: a random item toss, a coffin full of chaos, and oh-so-many skeletons. Expect further information on the next two DLC characters, Ogre and Izumi, later this year.</p>
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<p class="">With more Evo events planned globally in the coming years, the hype won’t be stopping, and you can expect plenty more announcements and surprises to accompany the competition.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/25/meet-the-concord-crew-with-new-animated-shorts-and-gameplay-trailers/',
                'Meet the Concord crew with new animated shorts and gameplay trailers',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/67146de44d8d45d8c0f5cc7ef7b7125cc21137ad.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">With each of the Freegunners in Concord, our team has focused on taking a holistic approach to development by working across all disciplines–from gameplay design to narrative to art and beyond–to ensure that they’re not just fun and engaging to play, but that they feel like fully formed characters. From their core gameplay to the way they move and the performances of our cast, every detail is meant to feel like extensions of their personalities, backstories, and journey through the Concord galaxy.</p>
<p class="">This past weekend during the Open Beta and with the Early Access Beta earlier this month, you were able to experience a small slice of the game and each of our characters for the first time.</p>
<p class="">As we look ahead to launch in August, we’re excited to further unpack our launch roster of 16 playable Freegunners, including a limited animated series called Concord: Freegunner Adventures. The first episode drops today with Concord Freegunner Adventures: Crew First, which features Teo, Jabali, and It-Z taking a high-stakes job and going up against a rival crew: </p>
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<p class="">In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll also be launching new gameplay trailers for each Freegunner in the launch roster, giving you a deeper look at their abilities and gear. Each episode of Concord Freegunner Adventures and gameplay trailer will launch on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playstation">official PlayStation YouTube channel</a>.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Introducing the DualSense Wireless Controller – Concord Limited Edition</h2>
<p class="">Additionally, we were excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with PlayStation to develop a special Concord-themed version of the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, which features a custom design inspired by the vibrant and colorful universe of Concord. The design draws inspiration and graphic elements from our vision of faster than light travel and the Galactic Guide—a vast in-game map of the Concord galaxy and its worlds that expands and unlocks new narrative content as you play and progress.</p>
<p class="">The DualSense Wireless Controller – Concord Limited Edition will be available for players in the U.S. and available for pre-order on Thursday, July 25 at 7am PT / 10am ET on direct.playstation.com. It will be available in limited quantities in the U.S. only for $84.99 and will launch on August 23, day-in-date with the release of Concord.*</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*DualSense Wireless Controller and Concord game sold separately.</em></p>
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<p class="">For all the latest on Concord, be sure to follow us on <a href="https://x.com/PlayConcord">Twitter/X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/playconcord">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://tiktok.com/@playconcord">TikTok</a>, as well as by joining the community in the <a href="https://discord.gg/concordofficial">Official Concord Discord</a>.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/26/share-of-the-week-flintlock-the-siege-of-dawn/',
                'Share of the Week – Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/68d88ecc54dcf2d5c596a31e4febada3673863a6.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you journey to the world of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn and share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881481445_bd8225263a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881481445_bd8225263a_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/secondcapture/status/1815901647140250006/photo/2"><em>secondcapture</em></a><em> shares a detailed look at the back of Nor Vanek, including her tattoos, hair, and gun holster</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881481415_fd40d2b902_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881481415_fd40d2b902_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/m_nt_13/status/1816161833759179153/photo/2"><em>m_nt_13</em></a><em> shares Nor Vanek leaping upward, leaving behind a trail of purple sparks</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881304883_0c43a9e004_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881304883_0c43a9e004_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/spec_arc/status/1815907699525103847/photo/2"><em>spec_arc</em></a><em> shares Nor Vanek standing in a cave, ax drawn</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065871_a9646908b3_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065871_a9646908b3_k.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/GioWayne86/status/1814617778633969999/photo/1"><em>GioWayne86</em></a><em> shares an image looking up at Nor Vanek in a red outfit, ax drawn and in focus</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065901_be6c33f17c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065901_be6c33f17c_h.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Horizon_VP/status/1813946274225471828/photo/1"><em>Horizon_VP</em></a><em> shares Nor Vanek standing in a stone archway that frames a fortress in the distance</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53880166567_c2e3a7d3c1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53880166567_c2e3a7d3c1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/VivaceVivianV/status/1816254865607143677/photo/2"><em>VivaceVivianV</em></a><em> shares Enki the fox standing to the right of a glowing red obelisk</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065866_5be7496a04_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881065866_5be7496a04_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Games within Games<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 31, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we turn the spotlight on games within a video game. From sports to cards, or challenges to races, share your favorite characters taking part in an in-game game using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/visions-of-mana-new-details-on-three-elemental-vessels-plus-deep-dive-video/',
                'Visions of Mana: new details on three Elemental Vessels, plus deep dive video',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/ce7695b28803fcd8ebf2ff89190fbbc3d4536a6f.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Visions of Mana, an upcoming action-RPG from Square Enix releases August 29 on PS5 and PS4. It features a thrilling action combat system, where you take on hordes of monsters with weapons, spells and a host of awesome abilities. It’s fast-paced and tests both your reflexes and strategy.<br/><br/>At the heart of the experience are the Elemental Vessels. These tools, imbued with elemental power, allow you to perform incredible actions in combat – from freezing time to dishing out damage with style. What’s more, equipping them to one of the five playable characters will change the character’s class, opening up all new options in the heat of battle. See some of them in action here.</p>
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<p class="">In that presentation, we revealed three of these Elemental Vessels, representing Earth, Light and Darkness. For this accompanying blog, we asked Visions of Mana’s producer Masaru Oyamada and director Ryosuke Yoshida to reveal a little more about each – and the combat system as a whole!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Capturing the (elemental) spirit of the Mana series</h2>
<p class="">While Visions of Mana is intended to be a fresh start for the series, with no prior experience needed, the team still wanted to capture the series’ very distinct identity through the combat. But what defines the combat of a Mana game?</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Masaru Oyamada (producer)</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">From the start of the series, the Mana games have featured multiple weapons and magic spells for the player to wield – as well as enjoyable RPG character growth systems. So, it was important that people feel those elements strongly in Visions of Mana too!</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ryosuke Yoshida (director)</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">One of the most important elements of Mana games is that feeling that you’re interacting with the elementals (spirits that control elements like wind, fire or darkness).</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">That’s at the core of the design of Visions of Mana and something that was really important to me. It’s such a vital part of that distinctive Mana series identity, and if the battles didn’t capture it, there would be no point to the game at all!</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">In Visions of Mana, we focus the flow of battle around the use of the Elemental Vessels – potent weapons infused with elemental magic. These artifacts use the Elemental’s powers to manifest mysterious primal forces, such as trapping the foe in water bubbles or pinning them in the air with wind blasts. </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The effects they create can also be changed in various ways through the player’s actions, which creates a fun dynamic where it feels like you are interacting with the Elementals as you fight. </p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Getting to the core of combat</h2>
<p class="">The combat in Visions of Mana is very fast and fluid. You’ll have consider lots of different aspects, from positioning to the abilities you unleash, but you’ll soon be able to take down foes in spectacular style. <br/><br/>There’s a lot of amazing powers to use in combat, especially when you start using Elemental Vessels, but before they could get into that, the developers had to make sure the basics of battle were rock solid.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ryosuke Yoshida</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">When we were thinking about how to design the battle system, we didn’t just look at the combat in isolation. Instead we tried to make it something that tied closely into the overall concept that was decided for the game.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Central mechanics like switching between three party members in battle, using ring menu and shortcut bindings are inspired by elements from past Mana games. However, I had a strong desire to put more weight on switching between different characters during combat. </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">One way we did this, for example, was through the Elemental Vessels and the gameplay options they offer. You have a party of three characters and can equip each one with a different Elemental Vessel that manifests different effects. It’s possible to follow up after you use one of these effects by switching and using a different elemental power to create an even more potent compound ability. </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">In this way we create motivation and benefits for the player to switch between different characters in battle.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">That said, we took care not to make it so important that switching became compulsory. To that end, we avoided creating enemies that can’t be defeated unless you jump between characters.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Elemental Vessels</h2>
<p class="">As mentioned, the Elemental Vessels are central to both combat and traversal in the game. These artifacts, bestowed on the player by the eight elementals over the course of the game, offer you new ways to get around the world, and special powers to use during battles.<br/><br/>This was a core focus for the game and sits at the heart of the experience. Naturally, that meant it was something the team were very careful to make as satisfying and exciting to use as possible.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ryosuke Yoshida</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">I felt it was very important to have a consistent feel across the whole game, with a design that tied both the battles and the exploration to the core concept of interacting with the elementals as sentient beings.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The tools that let us realise this concept practically are the Elemental Vessels. </p>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Masaru Oyamada</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The Mana series has always featured eight distinct elementals with each embodying one of the core forces that shape the world. Naturally then, there would be eight vessels that house each of their powers. We came up with lots of interesting ideas for different objects to use, but ultimately aimed to create designs that would best capture the interesting aspects of each elemental.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vessel of Earth: Gnome Shovel</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878852630_2dcd2357e0_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878852630_2dcd2357e0_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In the video, we show three Elemental Vessels: Earth, Light and Darkness. Producer Oyamada and director Yoshida offered some insight into the creation of these vessels – and the associated abilities.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Oyamada</strong></h3>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size">The concept for the Vessel of Earth was ‘defense’. When used, it surrounds the player in a solid, rocky shield that protects against attacks.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Yoshida</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">It took a little trial and error to get right though! Originally, it created a gigantic wall of earth which would protect the player from attacks. Unfortunately, we found that summoning a huge barrier into the battle area obstructed the player’s vision. Plus, enemies attack from multiple angles anyway, so it didn’t really protect them at all. So, we switched the current idea, where the vessel creates a dome-like shield out of semi-transparent rocks!</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vessel of Light: Lumina Lantern　</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878852610_c4c6740a79_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878852610_c4c6740a79_k.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Oyamada</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The concept behind this one was ‘reflection’. Using the Lumina Lantern, the player can link enemies together with rays of light, reflecting the damage from one enemy to another!</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vessel of Darkness: Shade Sight</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878785214_37ff19b2fa_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878785214_37ff19b2fa_k.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Oyamada</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The idea behind this vessel was ‘gravitation’. When the elemental is unleashed, it creates a black hole, which draws in enemies. </p>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Yoshida</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Our battle director innocently brought up that he was curious about what would happen if there was a lake or river close by and suggested the water should be sucked up along with the enemies. However, there aren’t many battle areas which are next to lakes in the first place, and if we were going to do this, it would have created a heap of problems, such as when would the water come back! </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">So, understandably, we soon abandoned that particular idea (<em>laughs</em>).</p>
</blockquote>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Class acts　</h1>
<p class="">Equipping an Elemental Vessel to a character changes their class, giving them new abilities, weapons, and even costumes. Every vessel can be equipped to every character, which makes for a lot of variety regarding how you customize your party.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Yoshida</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">We came up with the specifications for the different weapons and classes alongside those of the Elemental Vessels. </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">We did so because we knew from the start that future balancing would be needed to ensure that none of weapons and actions paired with the vessels would break the system.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">This meant that by the time we reached the prototyping stage, all the vessel’s basic effects were already decided and we could focus on the final balancing between the classes. Not only that, but we could also make up for any areas where a class was less distinct by adding unique abilities and altering their parameters.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Oyamada</strong></h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Once we decided that there would be eight different elements, we designed ideas for each character’s classes based on combinations of the different Elemental Vessel effects and weapon types.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Of course, these still went through changes over development. For example, we originally went with more of a succubus-style appearance for Careena’s darkness-based class, but our character designer Haccan proposed a great idea which swayed us in a different direction. I think this turned out great and captures her cheery personality too!</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53877541642_1f99236160_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53877541642_1f99236160_k.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Visions of Mana releases August 29 on PS5 and PS4. The game is available to pre-order now at the PlayStation Store.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/clair-obscur-expedition-33-devs-discuss-classic-turn-based-rpg-inspiration-and-real-time-mechanics/',
                'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs discuss classic turn-based RPG inspiration and real-time mechanics',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/2360cacb75209cbf4f05558a1846cab928e2e15d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming RPG and the first release from French development team Sandfall Interactive. The game’s unique design combines fantasy and the French historical period of Belle Epoque. Currently, the stylish game is slated for a 2025 release on PS5, check out the reveal trailer if you haven’t already. </p>
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<img alt="Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs discuss classic turn-based RPG inspiration and real-time mechanics" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/-qgOZDRDynw/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">To get a deeper dive into what’s going into this promising game, I spoke with Guillaume Broche, founder &amp; creative director at Sandfall Interactive about the game’s unique approach to classic, turn-based RPG gameplay, classic inspirations, and even the unqiue game title itself.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s in a name?</h2>
<p class="">One aspect of intrigue for the game is its title, so I asked Broche about the inspiration behind it. <br/><br/>“‘Clair Obscur’ refers to the real-world artistic and cultural movement in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,” says Broche. “It influenced the game’s artistic direction, and also refers to the overarching world of the game.” </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865227908_394eb9e57a_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865227908_394eb9e57a_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“Expedition 33 reflects the Expedition group led by the protagonist Gustave to destroy the Paintress,” says Broche. “The members of Expedition 33 are the protagonists of the game, and players will get to know each member of the Expedition in their journey. For years, the Paintress has painted a number on her monolith and erased everyone of that age in an event known as the Gommage, and each year a new Expedition ventures out to try to destroy her and stop the cursed cycle.” <br/><br/>Other characters, such as the mage Lune, the genial warrior Sciel, and the young explorer Maelle are also part of the team, and you’ll be learning a lot about them and their histories throughout the game. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Respecting the classics</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864981131_374ee8d8c6_3k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864981131_374ee8d8c6_3k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In the reveal trailer we got a glimpse of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s eye-catching graphics. Broche explains that the graphics are one of the focal points for the developers. <br/><br/>“There hasn’t really been any attempt at making a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics for a good while,” he says, “and that left a deep hole in my gamer heart. We took it upon ourselves to make something to fill that void.”<br/><br/>Broche doesn’t hesitate to tell us about the many classic games that have served as inspiration for this effort from both a visual and gameplay standpoint. <br/><br/>“At Sandfall Interactive we all have a love for JRPGs like Final Fantasy, the Tales series, Lost Odyssey, and Persona with its awesome UI, rhythm, and dynamic camera,” he says. “We all have a lot of nostalgia and love for these kinds of games, but also want to see something fresh done with the genre.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865227888_bca729c982_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865227888_bca729c982_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“In terms of narrative, we also took inspiration from a French novel called La Horde du Contrevent, which is a fantasy novel about a group of explorers traveling the world,” says Broche. “In general, stories about venturing into the unknown despite incredible risks, like the anime/manga Attack on Titan, have always been very appealing to me.”<br/><br/>One thing that sets Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 apart from the games that inspired it is its implementation of real-time elements into turn-based combat. <br/><br/>“We were inspired by action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, and their rewarding gameplay was something we wanted to bring into a turn-based setting,” says Broche. “When you play those games, you have to learn the attacks, timings, and weaknesses for each enemy encounter, and we wanted to translate that challenge into a new genre.”</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Getting into the rhythm of battle</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865394230_562fba5347_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53865394230_562fba5347_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Combat is one of the elements that Broche and his team are most proud of, so we discussed some of the unique mechanics they implemented and the inspiration behind them. <br/><br/>“The battle system is what we call reactive turn-based,” he explains. “You can take time during battles to establish your strategies, but during the enemy’s turn, you will have to react in real-time to dodge, jump, or parry enemies to trigger a powerful counterattack. You will also be able to increase the effectiveness of your skills by mastering attack rhythms. Players will also be rewarded for their skill–it’s even possible to do a no-damage run if you master all the enemies’ patterns.” <br/><br/>“I kept thinking about ways to make turn-based battles more engaging,” Broche continues.”The attack rhythm system is a mix of different inspirations–we wanted to make something fast paced to fit the vision we had for battle. As soon as I finished the first prototype of the defense system, I knew it was something special.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864981181_5448db5e6a_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864981181_5448db5e6a_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Broche also dives into what players can expect when they jump into the game themselves. <br/><br/>“I’d say dodging and parrying are the most common things players will need to get to grips with as they play,” says Broche. “The timing is pretty important, but the payoff is always really rewarding. Also, you can aim your ranged weapons at enemies too–hitting exposed weak points to do some extra damage, for example. Expedition 33 features some huge boss battles too that’ll really put players’ skills to the test. And, just like any great RPG, you can also build your character to take advantage of different things in battle, including these real-time mechanics. We’re all looking forward to players finding out more about how the game feels as we work towards the game’s launch next year.”<br/><br/>Finally, I asked if Broche had any messages for future players.<br/><br/>“We’re glad to see so many fans are excited for the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! As our first title, we’re thrilled with the reception we’ve seen so far and we can’t wait to show more in the lead up to launch next year.”</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/first-look-astro-bot-limited-edition-dualsense-wireless-controller/',
                'First Look: Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a1b0ecbf0c9e33cfaf1fe1206b1e544ad6e1428c.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone! It’s a pleasure to be back here to make another Astro Bot-related reveal.</p>
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<img alt="First Look: Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/GaElJ75QQJQ/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="">If you have been following Astro news as of late, then you know Team Asobi have been hard at work on a brand-new game coming out on September 6. The game features over 50 planets, new powerups, lots of enemies, secrets and PlayStation-infused characters to collect. And it also features a DualSense wireless controller turned into a living character and helping Astro on his mission.</p>
<p class="">Today, it is an immense pleasure to announce that you will be able to charge into Astro’s new supersized adventure along with the cool new DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878618443_aef4bb528a_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53878618443_aef4bb528a_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We know many of you were hoping for this after seeing the game trailer. So, we quickly asked our lovely bots to engineer this beauty and tada! No, no, I’m just kidding; it had been in the making for some time, carefully crafted by the amazing teams at SIE. And what splendid work they did.</p>
<p class="">The controller’s design features Astro’s signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad.  It is a true work of art, and we could not be happier with the end-result at Team Asobi. </p>
<p class="">With this dynamic addition to your set-up, a supersized space adventure awaits… </p>
<p class="">Starting Friday, August 9 at 7am PT in the U.S. and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Portugal, players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition through direct.playstation.com, as well as from select retailers. Pre-orders will also be available through select retailers in other global markets on the same day. The DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for $79.99/ €79.99 / £69.99 / ¥11,980 and will launch on September 6, day-in-date with the launch of Astro Bot.       </p>
<p class="">I will take this chance to summarize some of the cool things this new Astro Bot game does with the DualSense wireless controller</p>
<p class="">First, as many of you expect from an Astro game, you can feel the surfaces that Astro runs and slides on, from grass, sand, metal to more squishy textures or water. That was already the case with Astro’s Playroom, but we have increased the number of textures you can feel through the controller.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video aligncenter wp-video-394451"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/8ajpPjz02c02Ol6hSiVHSGRCnoqSNf1vHOYOay5pBeSfA/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI4YWpwUGp6MDJjMDJPbDZoU2lWSFNHUkNub3FTTmYxdkhPWU9heTVwQmVTZkEiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxNzA2LCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.MQQahnVk3dftQeF4nzUZYBrFMA1oOXVHgWoU7v6ghwT9HTLGjHIbp_Shov9JlVDrqdxHNQTtHbuHYEDF3D5HF5lY79PKQqfvo117iz8ea6fqDsRi4JH1VPfu90GODL2CKUqfNmgw7qkFPqbImTqbzYpUXKyeshY8CES7ZtqmkulrNfw8BJnCPfbu0i1t7eREWoA5ivC6k4pRgz7Zln1ZsyjIBokjXlYcKSjVOOWASSfniyAwcgiB1naQvBVtxvg0Uf1cvy9KsCrPCXybmMZkzmR7XG_VxSC4nR3BbKBzPwb-oWSlrZuUnyeZJpSmwL1JnRWPL4GRG3UoJFBCIY17zw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 720 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Next, we doubled down on the adaptive triggers combined with haptic feedback, by tying them tightly to Astro’s new powers. For example, when using Barkster, the bulldog Jetpack, you can feel the thruster ratting against your finger in synch with the animation, giving a very dynamic and immersive feeling. Every new power up has been given that same special treatment so you will be able to experience various expressions through your fingers.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video aligncenter wp-video-394452"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/sUVWHngI3gwQBnuTOkd1tBF5w4ZUVx00DnjMjIz2JYOU/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJzVVZXSG5nSTNnd1FCbnVUT2tkMXRCRjV3NFpVVngwMERuak1qSXoySllPVSIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE3MDYsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.Jn8Yh66GfFTWexQAn_vokOf3VPDT44BLwgjzEETjEHOcsZ2weOTjnvCgndj-CC7CipG-1HI_brDQ2BV4Zqe62AnxfCNm7FbmCrsQxVuBJrSMvo1AKbT4TmMnpX5ymjzD4LRZQRejbAJnwSm5eYaPxyz6eQxgDLOk4jeSZ7S47ePmZtxk7i4DM-sE6k_Z7yLIR-6nJit6ob3Y6q4IUaXoJKvQ84dfiULfKG36U1nkIzfJdZV6R6wxJlM2iH3CkonL7mXZXuLpaRSK77DHGsx4CytIj1h7AqyInLYsF44xVg5qohqeigmjRWbXpDQmxuDmFPvedg36YrQwfuZEN7onmw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 720 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Finally, given the number of enemies and boss battles we added to this new adventure, it was important to work on battle and impacts by combining all of the above. Whether it’s stretching, pounding or pummeling hard surfaces, there are many new types of impacts that can be experienced in Astro Bot. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video aligncenter wp-video-394453"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/oXQmZeCU3GK3VoYfdcUyaQIKmsCFLIUKBvjnon9pPiw/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJvWFFtWmVDVTNHSzNWb1lmZGNVeWFRSUttc0NGTElVS0J2am5vbjlwUGl3IiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTcwNiwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.fDbNGYFZR1w6_5XVuDUvypZ9Uvin5c0CjtaAfDdxpboV6FhYXfB84uYj8TwWuFAPsf67ZM8e48UwXR2489FbDBJz55MfPdFiT_qUvqC6rRus5i4oM9As8ONQ-Em6ENEYb5dLK234TTfi632w9StFYI_KIqQg1xvhkbH14TZgRiRdeld7zKtIgoaCoCvmvFVCbT234OL5jhihinJXhtKy2-i4qPOrpKZPqI8bI93NO6VguIU-Yu_VAgRAJe4oYmBRqgyZ80WmcRmmzJa0CCf_SO62wPymRjJJDlIYuiL0eI7qGc38ZHqiweNb_bEUlREJcrVlxuC6E2P8nZR4XNHt5w" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 720 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">And of course, we could not finish this post without mentioning the Dual Speeder, one of Astro’s most recurrent gadgets, allowing him to fly into various planets. The Dual Speeder makes full use of motion control, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Here is a piece of very early concept art and how it looks in the final game.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881060351_7081be6a2a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881060351_7081be6a2a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881060396_f368d2e95b_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53881060396_f368d2e95b_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">That’s all from us! We’ll be back soon for more news around Astro Bot. Until then, please tell us in the comments what you think of this cool DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition!</p>
<p class="">Astro Bot is out on PS5 on September 6, we are waiting for you all to join Astro for his first big new adventure.</p>
<p class="">Team Asobi out.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/devolver-divulges-deeper-cult-of-the-lamb-unholy-alliance-details-out-august-12/',
                'Devolver divulges deeper Cult of the Lamb: Unholy Alliance details, out August 12',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/5b5ab7a03337f724dd075a3b3617db3274025fb9.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">In Unholy Alliance, the next major update for Cult of the Lamb, we’re giving our holy hero a playmate: the Goat. Summoned by blood and born in corruption, this wicked new ally can join the Lamb in local co-op. Crawl dungeons, slay heretics, build your cult, and seek new powers—together.</p>
<p class="">In co-op, one player will inhabit the role of the Lamb and the other will take on the mangy mantle of the Goat. Together, this unholy pair can indulge in new two-player twists on existing minigames like fishing and Knucklebones, as well as discovering and equipping a selection of corrupted weapons, tarot cards, curses, and relics to aid them on their epic cooperative crusades.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394461"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/VGnKp5cMt7LNaggAmQlqnWa8nWDiVhXSgGrs58zLIKI/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJWR25LcDVjTXQ3TE5hZ2dBbVFscW5XYThuV0RpVmhYU2dHcnM1OHpMSUtJIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTcwNywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.WkvXE63hmp2_Yee_hl3JD6R2ybWcmFvSSHOiT5sQ0pB9OYig8s_J589FGgDSKsaub5t8fKqD022GkSYqLMqWZsKxq2vxhXnyUJbCQVkxuxdvp3adOUoHbLDzoBJof9CGBVI26HOfnMRVq0kkKUh7qzZfwCauneMyp6suWBwLqqXpyTK9yIXaqKgIS63TLFtIMa5FMOkLUP20tU0Bqu5zSeBnUUOjrvgDS3mD5dFRVyaas5zMR1yNFjUXWP2HPOdZ7iMTynNw6rH4PTUdhTt3FiFQAJt-P2gctvIUC-JKOn_GoqYj0MNbYPyuSnEVRKIX-MCeEBi3pqbkuKDU7qU21w" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">That alone is worth your undying worship, but there’s more to Unholy Alliance than just co-op. The update also introduces a vast array of new follower traits to the game, making your flock more diverse, charismatic, and unpredictable than ever before. Cultists can be insomniacs, bust law-breaking friends out of prison, enter a catatonic state after the trauma of a resurrection, wake everyone up with their demonic snoring, or become afflicted with a curse.</p>
<p class="">Followers sent on missions may return with their mental state altered. They could be inspired by their success, spreading positivity among the flock. Or the horrors they’ve endured may have been too much, leaving them frozen with fear. Followers can even be polyamorous, meaning they’ll never get jealous if the Lamb marries someone else – while others may become jealous enough to kill.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394462"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/JoXq13Veaej5XNIr1kaT4ISEzwQfyQjmpYal00F85las/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJKb1hxMTNWZWFlajVYTklyMWthVDRJU0V6d1FmeVFqbXBZYWwwMEY4NWxhcyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE3MDcsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.DOPgNqt73C-hCk9_m7in-gnaf8sNeGd2197aFheMcQQfIwnYhZ4sxo01qvxAvhSrtIqPEicxBEY8e-h3G2KyDrQ4DtUkA7VXtRBEnNg7faU98CqGLYEJlHK6bQKKI8qlp7xJNKT2m_H_T_MM14YkrxmB2wJoiJQMh-mtTt6oQMYNzgdBYDjTyyqFum9NrKbnIqKvcROPV1RVB8ymD91rE3IqPE5iUe00nyoMB0iGLCi3aiXx9LJ4JN_pzdwdKLlodUWUwPOO9taaznPymoCDBg2vKV5Ln_kGQHzSZtN81wgCvgKTW5FPePA68rGTD2BmgzQlogI92MXMioBiqiwTZg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">These are just a few of the new follower traits in the Unholy Alliance update, which will make your flock a true cult of personality. As the cult grows and more followers join its ranks, even more quirks, flaws, and eccentricities will emerge. If you thought they were a handful before, you ain’t seen nothing yet.</p>
<p class="">Unholy Alliance also adds two new structures to the game. You can build a nursery to care for three babies at once, but be warned: they’re still gonna poop a lot, and you’re still gonna have to clean it up. Hey, at least you’ll never be short on fertilizer. When a baby reaches 14, they’ll outgrow the nursery, opening up a space for more offspring to be nurtured.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394463"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/R4nNZHKiIMDYmNObQy02H00EtUynkPpvBTJFZjmrkINYc/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJSNG5OWkhLaUlNRFltTk9iUXkwMkgwMEV0VXlua1BwdkJUSkZaam1ya0lOWWMiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxNzA3LCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.EiF6EGalnm3hOV5ElARkP6zjj852NJWZTwHp9Phu7Y2uR7GxRJlzUeqF1dlw9s3a9gn4mwPV6Sg9KW_Ubx8ClOJ13xHy0qdfBLOnqUKAONaQHZry9UPraH9OKHVVAtRkkCtvP-KTxZJomjA8zdH0sj2D1heavweKcaYQ3Tys9SzuuJtL_rIfJBOR-v4NGb1h62E-jEzWUrKBbxsC4Uu2MV6zeTAlV74i090QQnUD0_pohFWN-8Ed8Akh3srZgOjeOn7Hh38DB9EJjM_ZPUvHyKVDCuSMu78dMDuJPZt-vJU5Ii5MesmTMLttIXSQp0aaADtOZUwdbFplGO_yrB-naQ" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Then there’s the new Knucklebones arena. You can only have one of these in your cult at a time, letting you play one match of Knucklebones a day against a follower of your choosing. The difficulty of the match is based on the follower’s level, and winning against them will level them up instantly.</p>
<p class="">We haven’t forgotten about crusades, either. Unholy Alliance throws a heap of new relics and tarot cards into the mix—some of which have been designed with co-op in mind. The Lamb and the Goat can swap weapons, deal extra damage when fighting back-to-back, or deal a critical hit if their attacks are in sync.</p>
<p class="">The Ashes of the Mercurial Mun relic detonates a ring of explosives that surrounds both players, while the Wishbone of the Marbais relic grants one player 10 seconds of invincibility – if the other takes damage. Equip the Rivals tarot card, and you’ll both deal 2x weapon damage if you’re fighting far apart. Or how about the Bonds of Battle card, which connects the Lamb and the Goat with a beam of unholy energy that will damage any enemies who stray into it?</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-394464"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/07/6bb4882eb20a260615f1b8be669c59236b757f57.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Experience all of this and more—including new quests and quality of life improvements—when the free Unholy Alliance update brings the Lamb and the Goat to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on August 12.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/20240730-astrobot/',
                '(For Southeast Asia) First Look: Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/07/a1b0ecbf0c9e33cfaf1fe1206b1e544ad6e1428c.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone! It’s a pleasure to be back here to make another Astro Bot-related reveal.</p>
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<p class="">If you have been following Astro news as of late, then you know Team Asobi have been hard at work on a brand-new game coming out on September 6. The game features over 50 planets, new powerups, lots of enemies, secrets and PlayStation-infused characters to collect. And it also features a DualSense wireless controller turned into a living character and helping Astro on his mission.</p>
<p class="">Today, it is an immense pleasure to announce that you will be able to charge into Astro’s new supersized adventure along with the cool new DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition.</p>
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<p class="">We know many of you were hoping for this after seeing the game trailer. So, we quickly asked our lovely bots to engineer this beauty and tada! No, no, I’m just kidding; it had been in the making for some time, carefully crafted by the amazing teams at SIE. And what splendid work they did.</p>
<p class="">The controller’s design features Astro’s signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad.  It is a true work of art, and we could not be happier with the end-result at Team Asobi. </p>
<p class="">With this dynamic addition to your set-up, a supersized space adventure awaits… </p>
<p class="">The DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition will be available in limited quantity in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam for SGD 114 / MYR 399 / IDR 1,449,000 / THB 2,690 / PHP 4,590 / VND 2,299,000 and will launch on September 6, day-in-date with the launch of Astro Bot</p>
<p class="">Pre-orders will be available through <a href="https://www.playstation.com/local/retailers/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">local retailers</a> starting from Friday, August 9, 2024.</p>
<p class="">I will take this chance to summarize some of the cool things this new Astro Bot game does with the DualSense wireless controller</p>
<p class="">First, as many of you expect from an Astro game, you can feel the surfaces that Astro runs and slides on, from grass, sand, metal to more squishy textures or water. That was already the case with Astro’s Playroom, but we have increased the number of textures you can feel through the controller.</p>
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<p class="">Next, we doubled down on the adaptive triggers combined with haptic feedback, by tying them tightly to Astro’s new powers. For example, when using Barkster, the bulldog Jetpack, you can feel the thruster ratting against your finger in synch with the animation, giving a very dynamic and immersive feeling. Every new power up has been given that same special treatment so you will be able to experience various expressions through your fingers.</p>
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<p class="">Finally, given the number of enemies and boss battles we added to this new adventure, it was important to work on battle and impacts by combining all of the above. Whether it’s stretching, pounding or pummeling hard surfaces, there are many new types of impacts that can be experienced in Astro Bot. </p>
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<p class="">And of course, we could not finish this post without mentioning the Dual Speeder, one of Astro’s most recurrent gadgets, allowing him to fly into various planets. The Dual Speeder makes full use of motion control, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Here is a piece of very early concept art and how it looks in the final game.</p>
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<p class="">That’s all from us! We’ll be back soon for more news around Astro Bot. Until then, please tell us in the comments what you think of this cool DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition!</p>
<p class="">Astro Bot is out on PS5 on September 6, we are waiting for you all to join Astro for his first big new adventure.</p>
<p class="">Team Asobi out.</p>
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