            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/01/players-choice-vote-for-september-2024s-best-new-game/',
                'Players’ Choice – Astro Bot voted September 2024’s top new game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/f0b1bec384cb22d0d2c05e4cc9a9cf2929c09e27.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Your votes have spoken: Astro Bot’s platforming prowess wins Players’ Choice for September. Congrats to Team Asobi!</p>
<p class="">What games have you been playing in October? 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="">September had many games for the kid and the warrior in us all. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup? </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. </p>
<p class=""><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.</p>
<p class=""><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>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/01/silent-hill-2-new-gameplay-reveals-intense-flesh-lip-boss-fight-and-introduces-laura/',
                'Silent Hill 2: New gameplay reveals intense Flesh Lip boss fight and introduces Laura',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c00b5aa1cb1b8336c646d06019d67e5f570dd962.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The release of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/silent-hill-2/?smcid=ma">Silent Hill 2</a> is just around the corner on October 8. We’re honored to be able to share detailed information about Silent Hill 2 with PlayStation players. Konami and Bloober Team have focused on respecting the original 2001 Silent Hill 2’s storyline, emphasizing the emotional expressions of each character through the highly skilled performances of their respective actors, and modernizing the overall gameplay. We hope that this very clear comparison will show you which aspects of the original the production team has respected and emphasized, as well as which aspects have been improved upon.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-85"/>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size has-max-width-80 has-margin-bottom-25"><em><strong>Spoiler Alert: </strong>This article and video reveal some narrative and gameplay surprises within Silent Hill 2.</em></p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-85"/>
<p class="">For this episode of PlayStation Underground, Bloober Team partnered up with the SIE crew to bring you an exclusive look at James’ confrontation with Flesh Lip inside Brookhaven Hospital, presented in a head-to-head comparison with the same boss battle as it appears in the original game.</p>
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<img alt="Silent Hill 2: New gameplay reveals intense Flesh Lip boss fight and introduces Laura" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/dTOT8DwSFD0/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Join Bloober Team’s Mateusz Lenart, Creative Director, and Andrzej Mądrzak, Lead Writer, for a look inside Brookhaven Hospital.</em></p>
<p class="">In many ways, this boss fight, alongside its accompanying cutscene, exemplifies the approach we took when reimagining Silent Hill 2. It shows our reverence for the original game by staying true to its original design, while also expanding upon it using modern technology that allows players to feel more in control of James.</p>
<p class="">As you can see, the general set-up for Laura’s cutscene that predates the battle and the Flesh Lip encounter itself are quite faithful to the original game, but with a few key changes that enable us to take full advantage of current storytelling and combat design techniques.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake</em><strong> </strong></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Familiar characters come alive</h2>
<p class="">For Laura’s cutscene, the interaction between her and James maintains the same story beats as in the original. Both James’ and Laura’s personalities have been preserved, with the most significant changes coming in the form of more involved camera work and top-notch voice acting.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: The full cutscene between James and Laura from the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, without commentary.</em></p>
<p class="">Full-body motion capture, used in conjunction with detailed animation, has allowed us to make these characters come alive through subtle facial expressions and gestures. The performances of the actors were key in this respect, with both Evie Templeton and Luke Roberts really embodying the characters of Laura and James, respectively.</p>
<p class="">When it comes to the script itself, we wanted to avoid changing things for the sake of changing them. While minor deviations from the original game’s script can be expected, our main objective with this cutscene and all others was to capture the complex character dynamics that made the original Silent Hill 2 such a landmark in the history of interactive storytelling.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-396931"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/595d798d6ffb3841ac1ec5bd29ed5b4d949f6b63.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A boss battle for the ages</h2>
<p class="">The encounter with Flesh Lip is one of Silent Hill 2’s most startling moments. With its unique and unnerving look, Flesh Lip was groundbreaking in terms of integrating symbolism into the design of a monster. Doing this boss battle justice in the new game was a challenging but ultimately rewarding task.</p>
<p class="">Unlike the fixed camera system in the original Silent Hill 2, adopting an over-the-shoulder perspective brought with it a series of changes to the encounter’s design. For instance, the scale of the room where the fight occurs has been expanded to allow players more space to roam.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-396965"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/6sOw6bBTzvNA17qXep202vm63kTaWiBXF3DfJDDdOa78/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI2c093NmJCVHp2TkExN3FYZXAyMDJ2bTYza1RhV2lCWEYzRGZKRERkT2E3OCIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE4NDgsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.fuSo6tfiX_VNgSc0UG67zmb3cKoX4nwSjm59nblSvXyGk8pRXdftQ6bls7ZLNx6ZfdID5R2mcPfUGa_PkILpPrx3OoTDLhgefm8uLTvtqrn2NgCLhxE7WMH0eKYO_oM7VK2kZtjxSQQ1T4AlYIJBumwh4Rw2-3QbjmkLShsXQHi-b_9U-d8rECRkBNtiJG3SDXHz1yPEz2XzGzmKfxi5lJOllL25YiStVTpMko8MWBLl_3Zfyy0VY8aj_frO1Vbyw7RqSdtiMOYmJeC5JiH3sREJYxl-j_CGTd25NinqbrHxy_n6G1-NcHC4J8ebtObKCmKrA3_I8LJ--xLyFZ3Wcg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: <em>Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake</em></em></p>
<p class="">But the biggest change in the design of the boss fight has to do with Flesh Lip himself. Instead of facing two of them right from the start, the battle now begins with a single foe, but one who can dynamically move through the ceiling, ready to pounce on James at any point.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: The Flesh Lip battle takes on a new shape in the Silent Hill 2 remake</em><em><br/></em></p>
<p class="">Moreover, once players manage to bring Flesh Lip down to the ground, he unveils his second phase, adopting a menacing spider-like pose that greatly enhances his speed and range of attack. To counteract this, players will have to use a combination of melee and ranged attacks, while also dealing with Flesh Lip’s terrifying scream, which can temporarily stun them during the fight.</p>
<p class="">Once Flesh Lip is defeated, players will likely breathe a sigh of relief. But that’s when the battle’s final surprise arrives. A second Flesh Lip appears and instantly grabs James by the neck, dragging him further into the underbelly of Brookhaven Hospital. This functions as both a jump scare in its own right, and also as a kind of easter egg for fans of the original game. They will likely be taken aback by the appearance of a second Flesh Lip just as the battle wraps up.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-396933"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/65a3c1fabb938784caf0272f1a18f5d3892d786d.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final thoughts　</h2>
<p class="">As the new Silent Hill 2 remake inches ever closer to release on October 8, we wanted to take the time to present a head-to-head comparison depicting one of the game’s defining moments. We hope this manages to convey our approach towards the whole game, which emphasizes the original’s strengths and seeks to expand upon them while staying true to the game’s spirit.</p>
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                'None'
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/02/undisputed-launches-oct-11-how-body-scans-deliver-boxing-authenticity/',
                'Undisputed launches Oct 11 – how body scans deliver boxing authenticity',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/68826a79817c9f75afb9ab9a063d4b1e1145023a.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/undisputed/">Undisputed</a> launches October 11 on PS5, and has been in development for nearly five years, starting as the humble Esports Boxing Club and then evolving into the first major boxing game in over a decade. With over 70 of the most prestigious prizefighters on the roster, including Canelo Álvarez, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Roy Jones Jr. and Joe Frazier, it was our priority to make sure that they not only looked amazing, but that they moved in their own, unique, signature ways too.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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</div>
</div>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54024035553_8c847677e5_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54024035553_8c847677e5_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From scan to sculpt</h2>
<p class="">How do you get the longest reigning super middleweight world champion, Joe Calzaghe, to look as authentic and life-like as possible? It all starts with the scanning process. We work with a variety of scanning studios all over the world to create the most accurate reference images for us to work from. The Steel City Interactive art team then use this to sculpt the in-game models, recreating every muscle, vein, hair, and bead of sweat.</p>
<p class="">For our boxing legends, we also have a de-aging process. Players want to experience these fighters in their prime, so we try to recreate exactly what they looked like at that time.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-396988"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/15d5fc3866dbdda24f46ab9b5f220c7463f0ac49.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<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="">“One of the most challenging parts of bringing characters from the past to life is the de-aging process. Lots of things usually change with age: eye shape, lip volume, cheekbones, body fat, even ear size, but my aim is to get them back to their fighting shape, recreating the look of their greatest fights. First, I collect a lot of references from every possible angle to have an overview of what I want to achieve. Then, I check the model to understand what to keep and what to change according to the pictures and footage. I then work on the tone and symmetry, removing some fat, wrinkles, and imperfections from the body and face. After this, I sculpt the main muscles and tweak the facial features. Eventually I get to a point where the boxer is recognizable both from a distance and up close. When I’m happy with the result, I proceed to fix the textures as well.”</p>
<cite>– Francesco Primiceri, 3D character artist at Steel City Interactive</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Motion capture</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-396989"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/xJ5SzfnQy56FE5Ayf5zsxa4SSRalhGIbT018rC5bh5vA/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ4SjVTemZuUXk1NkZFNUF5ZjV6c3hhNFNTUmFsaEdJYlQwMThyQzViaDV2QSIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE4NDksImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.YIIx4S-L9NhyopsMaGr1IHEmfQTdiE-Ic2psQOZAsovdoZnOY2KBXp0lsDvjxr7Yw8-Fj3F7vm2X082ci1Xo4feRxL5AocoQYcTZt3ckZsHK1mDUbHhjXR2fxWM9tk0-mrjUiwITrWWxj9jTd1PFbp9sbtA6UwitPFxTEvUPTXbWoeuRLsNVRnipO3r2cGkQ1_gdIIbCcgTpLCrGAMLeglunB-ngbcH3MCxdchwlAQDXlCksrDcdYvmkcZCnHccoieaCs_akD_9lBPD39nVUyb8cwbGK7XZbyPmv18-jnvGEvu4PbpqU5w8PKtC4CtX7OuLoKl6IGISYe9IN5TEFMw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">We also try to get as many fighters as possible into our motion capture suits, so we can record their unique footwork, punches, slips, dodges – and even taunts! When you play as Oleksandr Usyk, we want it to feel like you are Oleksandr Usyk, so our art and animation teams spend days processing the output from the motion capture and then applying that to our detailed character models.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54024246660_f9198a0380_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54024246660_f9198a0380_4k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion, Dalton Smith, was one of the fighters we worked closely with to capture his boxing style. He also helped mimic some of the fighters who are no longer with us, studying their movements then performing them so we can immortalize them in Undisputed.</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="">“I am used to boxing in the ring or the gym, but throwing punches in a motion capture suit is a whole different ball game. I got suited up and spent a few days working with the team at Steel City Interactive to capture not only my own personal in-ring moves, but those of some of the old school boxers as well. You don’t realise how intense and detailed the process is until you’re throwing the same punches and performing the same blocks over and over again until it’s captured from every angle. Seeing the results in-game is incredible – my avatar really does look like me.”</p>
<cite>– Dalton Smith, British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Styles (and stats) make fights</h2>
<p class="">There’s a saying in boxing that ‘styles make fights’ and we think it’s really important that those styles are backed up with real life statistics too. There’s no point in having the undefeated legend of boxing, Rocky Marciano, in the game if we don’t also give him the punching power and stamina he was known for.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54022902677_e42873a391_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54022902677_e42873a391_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">That’s why we work with CompuBox to define each fighter’s ratings, statistics and behaviours. When you’re playing as a boxer with a fantastic knockout ratio, like Deontay Wilder, his ability to land KO’s in the game is boosted. And this works the same for the AI version of them too; each fighter has their own skills and abilities – taken from their real-life fight records – that will change the outcome of the fight in a meaningful way. It’s your job to figure out how to counter that!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rule the ring</h2>
<p class="">Undisputed has the most expansive and authentic licensed fighter roster of any boxing game yet, and we’re excited for you to experience that.</p>
<p class="">You can pick up the Undisputed Deluxe WBC Edition on October 8 on PS5 and play three days early. Undisputed Standard Edition launches on October 11 on PS5.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/03/metro-awakening-adapts-classic-gameplay-mechanics-for-ps-vr2/',
                'Metro Awakening adapts classic gameplay mechanics for PS VR2',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/324e827fc1d8ab582c3baacf45f2998e1b8fc84b.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone, it’s Samar Louwe here, game director at Vertigo Games. Just last week during <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/24/everything-revealed-in-state-of-play-september-2024/">State of Play</a>, we were thrilled to finally announce that <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/metro-awakening/">Metro Awakening</a> is coming to PS VR2 on November 7. Today, we’re excited to share another glimpse into the game with a new video showcasing extended gameplay on PS VR2.</p>
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<p class="">We’ve crafted a journey that intertwines gripping storytelling with deeply immersive gameplay. In Metro Awakening, you’ll confront the mysteries and dangers of a post-apocalyptic world, where survival and exploration are more critical than ever. As you navigate both familiar and new locations, each filled with supernatural threats, you’ll uncover the origin story of Khan, one of the Metro series’ most enigmatic characters. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Become what you fear…</strong></h2>
<p class="">At the heart of Metro Awakening lies the powerful story of Serdar—a doctor searching for his missing wife. Throughout his journey, Serdar undergoes a profound transformation that leads him to awaken as Khan, a mystic figure who plays a recurring role throughout the Metro series. Known for his deep connection to the supernatural, Khan appears at critical moments, offering guidance to Metro’s protagonist, Artyom, and all who dare to navigate the dangers of the tunnels.</p>
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<p class="">This standalone narrative was crafted by series creator Dmitry Glukhovsky and explores the events that shaped Khan into who he is, immersing players in the philosophical struggles defining his path for the first time. As a prequel to Metro 2033, it also serves as an excellent starting point for newcomers to the franchise, while offering longtime fans a story that complements the rich lore they have come to love.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Classic Metro mechanics</strong></h2>
<p class="">In Metro Awakening, we’ve translated the series’ iconic elements to VR. You’ll engage with classic mechanics, including the wristwatch, gas mask, flashlight, universal charger and lighter—each playing a key role in stealth and survival. </p>
<p class="">The watch not only shows whether you’re in the light or in the dark but also counts down the time until your gas mask filter needs replacing. The mask, in particular, requires constant attention; fogged lenses require you to physically wipe them during tense moments, while the watch’s timer beeps in a countdown, warning you before your filter clogs with radioactive dust, adding to the mounting pressure.</p>
<p class="">Charging your flashlight is also essential for survival. When darkness envelops you, you’ll need to wind it manually using the universal charger, increasing the stakes as every action pulls you deeper. The lighter is extremely important for burning through cobwebs.</p>
<p class="">These mechanics create a great immersive experience on PS VR2, making every interaction feel immediate and vital, and drawing you even more into the atmosphere of the Metro universe.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54025868226_c47d429293_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54025868226_c47d429293_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Elevating Metro Awakening with PS VR2</strong></h2>
<p class="">Immersion is the essence of both VR and the Metro series, and the PS VR2 elevates this experience.</p>
<p class="">As the story unfolds, you’ll dive into the mysterious, supernatural aspects of Metro. VR allows us to amplify these moments, enveloping players in eerie atmospheres and using spatial audio to draw you into the unknown.</p>
<p class="">Every shot fired is intentional. With adaptive triggers, you’ll add weight and precision to your actions. Combat isn’t just about pulling the trigger; it’s about survival. The subtle resistance of the triggers heightens the tension, making every shot count when resources are scarce.</p>
<p class="">Headset feedback introduces a new level of physicality to gameplay, immersing you in your environment. You’ll feel the impact of debris from explosions or when you’re hit by enemy attacks, amplifying your experience.</p>
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<p class="">Metro Awakening thrives on contrasts—light and dark, hope and despair. The PS VR2’s 4K HDR display brings this to life, especially in haunting locations. Dynamic lighting enhances the atmosphere. Using your headlamp to navigate dark tunnels or strategically shining it to sneak past mutants adds a tactical layer to gameplay. While visibility is key, mastering the shadows can give you a strategic edge in your encounters.  </p>
<p class="">We designed every interaction in Metro Awakening to feel natural and grounded. From wiping your gas mask to managing your backpack, every action in VR is a manual endeavor. With no on-screen UI to rely on, you must adapt and survive as you would in real life.</p>
<p class="">We can’t wait for you to step into Metro Awakening on PS VR2 starting November 7—or pre-order the Deluxe Edition to begin your journey early on November 5.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/04/share-of-the-week-astro-bot-levels/',
                'Share of the Week: Astro Bot Levels',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/cf4fe6b5151776198c0bebc08ce709654e10ef6e.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to showcase the best Astro Bot levels using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54039836346_fe945c16b1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54039836346_fe945c16b1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/NightmarexDoll/status/1840335523421778309"><em>NightmarexDoll</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a spooky level with a mansion and a smiling moon in the background. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54039836351_b18185b4a5_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54039836351_b18185b4a5_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/pavesoint/status/1841323564651458767/photo/4"><em>pavesoint</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a level in the clouds featuring a mechanical sun.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040089883_9727d11383_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040089883_9727d11383_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/SoundwaveXP/status/1841520317468180738/photo/1"><em>SoundwaveXP</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a level featuring a Japanese-style bathhouse and mountains. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040089878_b44a922697_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040089878_b44a922697_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/kanon06/status/1840846674241224959/photo/1"><em>kanon06</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a level in space with a giant meteor and space debris. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040165704_6cc8c5f3de_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040165704_6cc8c5f3de_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Jeff_Bytes/status/1841077254769476028/photo/4"><em>Jeff_Bytes</em></a><em> </em><em>shares an aquatic level featuring a row of birds sitting on a wire. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54038971357_3e7b26db36_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54038971357_3e7b26db36_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Boargs/status/1841331625109414053/photo/1"><em>Boargs</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a snow theme level with a snow slide and frosty vistas. </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/65535/54039836336_53ebfe239f_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54039836336_53ebfe239f_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Spooky Settings </p>
<p class="">SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 9, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, showcase where things go bump in the night with Spooky Settings. Highlight spooky settings for Share of the Week using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.</p>
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                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/07/metaphor-refantazio-hands-on-report/',
                'Metaphor ReFantazio: hands-on report',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/906a89f6f9745d2ce7ca2732e131e338a39383ee.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Anyone familiar with Atlus’s deep and involving role-playing games has been eager to see what the strange and magical Metaphor: ReFantazio has in store. And while it’s not directly connected to the popular Persona series, there are some intriguing touchstones across its aesthetics and mechanics to hook fans and newcomers alike. Let’s take a close look at some of these intriguing similarities and differences ahead of the October 11 release date.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397063"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/2d068d28f4cd5458efbe165c7dee41e6c36853a1.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Combat is unleashed</h2>
<p class="">Fans of Persona’s fast-paced yet detailed turn-based combat will find themselves at home here, but Studio Zero has given it a little twist, too. You can engage in real-time combat with low level enemies, taking them out with a handful of targeted strikes or even a single blow if your current level totally outclasses them.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397064"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/XdGnCz7wzFtQitOCjtP01GI00ZQv5TRFGe7AS3HNBd13I/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJYZEduQ3o3d3pGdFFpdE9DanRQMDFHSTAwWlF2NVRSRkdlN0FTM0hOQmQxM0kiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxODUzLCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.fCfyCeYEmu4XdmgWCeO_3h8ICBD9CnG25mNxugvFgi6rT-Tve6biUgjRhQHUlwbe5LgWZalzzjPRl2fv-rQEG3bEV5G9x4f62gRiR3xHZi0nfJOX4P7Y3aUBdMuYNpLWdmn3J2cpQEoRTJQBj0kgEsOO2_6nfWg1CyWogs19PO_zUg8u0kBnqFROfwW_ew4cyvbn8YZhz4ImvkJIMtj9DgyIQ0eakZ2UBt3o_5quP-aNeQXcrjv1KRwkhBh6ZPsw2HK86gLsH6ZJAlEUdvZ9VYt9ne48NChdwoKCHyqdRVnoxXH74g6bmAXAQpJ6lCErymvakRssa7C2w-GvGA16-A" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">There’s a dedicated dodge button to avoid their attacks if they see you before you can act, which is also handy for foes which are too tough to take out in real-time. In which case, you can initiate a turn-based battle after you’ve softened them up with an action strike – especially handy if you can catch an enemy off-guard first, giving you a free hit during the turn-based Squad Battle.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397065"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/1c2d565f7d6fa9fd0bc56f5a4f78367471aec7ee.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Real-time combat can be used to any monster’s advantage, too. During one instance I thought some vicious beasts were blocked by some barrels, but they smashed right through them, initiated the Squad Battle, and got a free hit on my party in the process. Lesson learned – I used the protagonist’s Fae Sight a lot more often from that point to be more aware of nearby enemies and have Gallica assess their threat levels. But if things are going really badly, you can also press L3 to restart the battle.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Time management is key</h2>
<p class="">As the game’s main plot develops, one of your aims becomes balancing tasks through the day to gain democratic popularity while completing other objectives to become more powerful, creating bonds with other party members or hitting certain story milestones. As in Persona, each of these consume time as you creep towards specific events, and not meeting deadlines for critical ones results in a game over.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397066"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/7a0a2975cc12a9ce1b6a30cfd4030f9c4b9bad27.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">So mapping out each day, knowing when to enter time-consuming dungeons and when to rest – or even kill time by doing more peaceful tasks – can make all the difference. Thankfully, all activities are clearly denoted with how much time they eat up, so you shouldn’t be caught off guard. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Exploring the United Kingdom of Euchronia</h2>
<p class="">Metaphor: ReFantazio wastes no time establishing that we’re not on our Earth… or in a particularly safe land. The game’s inciting incident comes from a savage act of regicide, and things only get wilder from there with its medieval fantasy setting exploring themes of bigotry and the value of imagination, especially when overcoming our own fears and anxieties.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397067"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/77391b04fe8c7eecfc0d982498d6ae6d8a935b4f.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Humans are far from human</h2>
<p class="">In fact, the term ‘human’ in the game is synonymous with often giant, grotesque monsters feared by the varied fantasy races of the game. Even our blue-haired protagonist – who arguably looks the closest to a traditional Persona character – is a rarity in a world full of the horned Clemar Tribe, elven looking Roussainte Tribe, fairies, and many other species.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397068"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/e5489110266fb10697adf5a7faa0bfdac5d26a8b.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The music is more operatic</h2>
<p class="">Persona is known for its<strong> </strong>eclectic range of tunes, from rock to acid jazz to electronic inspired beats. Given<strong> </strong>its setting, Metaphor: ReFantazio soundtrack leans towards the more orchestral, with tense strings, dramatic drums, and chants present in its wonderfully composed battle themes that are already subject to deservedly flattering memes. Fans of the parent series,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Megami_Tensei_III:_Nocturne"> Shin Megami Tensei</a>, might find their toes tapping in its sweeping tonal familiarity.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Less summoning or fusing, more transforming</h2>
<p class="">While Metaphor: ReFantazio’s powerful Archetype forms are similar toPersona’s summoning system, there are some notable differences. Archetypes are typically awakened when a party member confronts and overcomes a certain fear or anxiety, causing them to tap into a magical armored form capable of enhanced attacks and abilities.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397069"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/rvIxlM1sVSY6g00Cx2bxqYQz33J2Ij9TUWKKDRqDFeRc/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJydkl4bE0xc1ZTWTZnMDBDeDJieHFZUXozM0oySWo5VFVXS0tEUnFERmVSYyIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE4NTMsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.FE4YIpcxg55QkZoqsV-96ptQJd88tpGxIaweYB-5QVOIFZkfFeMMHsKwH6JPMdV8RPd2E83nDQRldB8wFwZypaMxDzv8c6l2KIDmzMnYFwhnEYDexOSxUQnYCS6P6ddTHJ4EQ6Z9smwXlFcPX8FMiMyC83vQP0mKMw0leR0-CSzseGSYggX1r2XKa2rBkUYV5tBolqpJLpiH9xAD4mxpgYlWxSYflYik5Sc-MWJqyfUruyt0fIr0g7Oy5V6DTgXVeNe5Cgei2ZOBtwjcr-dYYKDvBoa7mgn39_M8_wwXhUage4sTmnCqaNO1nQAzfpmQZ-U20FYMkDXL2bCMg6VTPA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">These transformed figures are part of a job system where your party members can switch between the 40+ differently skilled Archetypes, spread across 14 different lineages to suit your playstyle. For example, despite which characters you have in your party, you can put together a Saviour from the Healer lineage, a Ninja Thief and a Devil Summoner. Or a Magic Knight, Dragoon Gunner and Martial Artist Brawler. And with them create combos in battle via spectacular Synthesis Skills.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397070"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/98e60956c3d0f886d7fce04240058933e5477cf9.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Exploring a safe haven</h2>
<p class="">It isn’t long in the game before you’re transported to the mysterious Akademeia, by the equally mysterious More. This magical library is a spirit home where you can learn about Archetypes via books and lectures, and unlock additional aspects of their abilities. Initially you’ll not have much choice in going to Akademeia, but as the game progresses, you’ll be able to choose when you visit via the protagonist’s novel or More’s ghostly figure.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397071"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/4ce04e90a2a466221281478f767c0878ef1fc555.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">There’s much More to Akademeia than first appears</h2>
<p class="">While acting as an enemy-free hub to study and grow, Akademeia also gives space for Metaphor: ReFantazio to delve into the tale’s meta commentary, examining the power of imagination and the nature of storytelling. Without giving too much away, this is also tied to one of your very first acts in the game, where you as the player type in your own name. Oh, and there’s also a cute cat you can pet… which I often did. Priorities, right?   </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397072"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/b015f2be09643104e270438fd159ddb8dadbe8a4.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Persona’s not the only one with style</h2>
<p class="">Sure, you might have played medieval fantasy RPGs before, but have you played one as stylish as this? From its anime cutscenes to its fun battle chatter to its slick victory outros, Metaphor: ReFantazio rivals Persona for its sheer sense of flair. The UI also maintains a sense of familiarity without being a direct mimic, opting for a slightly more uniform aesthetic.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397073"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/cdbe14923f7a7891c883982fe2d480789264fa44.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Similarly, the game knows when to use a bold mixture of colors and when to opt for a more naturalistic palette, delivering an eye-pleasing blend of what we’d expect for a classic fantasy genre without sacrificing the Atlus panache and polish.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Your protagonist has a voice</h2>
<p class="">Perhaps the most notable aspect of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s cast is that your protagonist is voice acted in the same way the rest of the characters are. Although you can name him whatever you wish, as the bulk of the in-game dialogue is still delivered via text with occasional vocalizations.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A union of tribes</h2>
<p class="">Tellingly, every party member you develop throughout the game represents each of the main tribes of the land. For example, the stoic knight Hulkenberg is a Roussainte, while the rodent looking Eugief tribe is represented by Heismay, who awakens the thief archetype. And the diminutive but faithful fairy Gallica might not be able to fight, but offers valuable advice and guidance on your journey.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Creating bonds with Followers</h2>
<p class="">Romantic Persona fans won’t necessarily find the same starry-eyed connections in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but building relationships is still important. At various points you have the opportunity to interact with other party members and NPCs, and spending specific time with them forms a bond. In turn, this can help awaken new Archetypes, with deeper rapports unlocking further abilities.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Real life connections help, too</h2>
<p class="">Staying online with the game gives you the option to explore the handy Travellers’ Voices page. A press of the Touch Pad shows you what other players have done in the section you’re currently in. So if you’re stuck in a dungeon, you can check out what party formations others have used and what levels they cleared that area with, as well as changing your formation to match another player’s for a better chance of success.</p>
<p class="">Travellers’ Voices also works in towns as well, handily letting you know where players have spent their time most during the day. A nice little feature if you’re looking for a bit of guidance as to how to while away some free time in Euchronia.</p>
<p class="">Rich, constantly surprising and stylishly elegant, Metaphor: ReFantazio is not only a delight for fans of Atlus’s games, but will charm newcomers with its magic, too. If you’ve not already found out for yourself via the PS5 demo, you’ll get the chance when the full game launches October 11 on PS4 and PS5.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/07/onslaught-salvation-awaits-in-destiny-2-revenant-live-october-8/',
                'Onslaught: Salvation awaits in Destiny 2: Revenant, live October 8',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/87ff50303f093703a7c20def42764ecdd9414a79.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Wave after wave of enemy forces advance, seemingly without end. Attacks arrive from every angle at once. The lives of innocent Eliksni captives hang in the balance. In response, Guardians do what they do best: take up arms and run headlong into the fray.</p>
<p class="">One of the major features introduced in <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/destiny-2/?smcid=ma">Destiny 2</a>’s latest Episode, Revenant, is Onslaught: Salvation. A defensive wave-based activity that pits three-Guardian fireteams against increasingly intense waves of enemies, Onslaught also allows Guardians to purchase powerful defensive units to use against the invading hordes. In its original form (introduced in Destiny 2: Into the Light), Onslaught was a packed and intense mode, full of ratcheting tension and ‘Did you see that?’ moments. Now, with Onslaught: Salvation, the development team is raising the bar.</p>
<p class="">“There were a lot of great and constructive feedback from the community with the original Onslaught,” said Destiny 2 designer Clayton Kisko. “The one we heard most often was that they wanted Bungie to invest in the mode with new maps, new enemies, and new defenses, and that is exactly what we are doing with Onslaught: Salvation.”</p>
<p class="">From a thematic perspective, Onslaught: Salvation’s three new maps – Widow’s Court, Eventide Ruins, and Kell’s Grave – are leaning into the gothic horror that is fitting with Revenant’s chilling visual theme. If the original Onslaught was about protecting the Last City from the forces of the Witness, this time around the theme leans into slaying monsters, fighting evil, and saving the innocent.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class="">By their nature, Onslaught maps need to pack a lot of punch into some relatively tight spaces to provide maximum tension and action. The three new maps each have their own unique layouts, while also building on lessons learned from earlier Onslaught maps.</p>
<p class="">“This time around we were able to identify the design pain points early and got ahead of the enemy teleporting issues,” said Kisko. “We ensured that there were at least three wide lanes for each Advanced Defense Unit (ADU) location. For Eventide Ruins, the larger map, we took our learnings from Mothyards (from the original Onslaught) and set out to make sure enemy spawn locations were closer to the ADU to ensure a closer time-to-complete to the other two maps.” </p>
<p class="">Alongside the new maps, Guardians will be pleased to know that they’ll have new defensive countermeasures available this time around. The new Air Strikes will rain down retribution on humanity’s enemies and, for those who want to get a bit more hands on, there’s the Rideable Turret.</p>
<p class="">“The Rideable Turret is good at mowing down clumps of enemies or damaging a single heavy unit like those deadly Demolitionists who like to attack the ADU,” said Kisko. “It can overheat, though, so players will need to balance when they fire and for how long. The defensive upgrades increase the health of the turret and the damage. The final upgrade will add scorching rounds to the bullets. What is so cool about that is the sandbox team was able to design it so the turret will combo with any of the rider’s Solar fragments or buildcrafting around scorching rounds.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040673644_a4c333c92a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54040673644_a4c333c92a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">While defending the ADU is one of the key mission components in an Onslaught: Salvation game, it’s certainly not the only thing that will keep Guardians moving. Augmentation waves and bonus objectives will take players out of their comfort zones (and away from the safety blanket of relying on defensive countermeasures). This time, players will be infiltrating the Revenant Nest to free captured Eliksni. For one bonus objective, new shielded enemy units will appear, requiring Guardians to use special ether-light cannons to stop them.</p>
<p class="">Jonathan To, narrative lead for Destiny 2, said the team has worked hard to include narrative hooks in Onslaught: Salvation to keep things moving from a story and character standpoint.</p>
<p class="">“The main writers for Onslaught: Salvation created some excellent character-building and exchanges between Spider, Crow, Eido, Eramis, and others. Crow is figuring out a new role for himself in the City, Eido is the player’s partner this Episode in a role we can’t wait to share more about, and who knows what Eramis will be up to when she returns, having both helped and fought against us in the past. Fans of the Eliksni and the saga of the Fallen up to this point in Destiny will love what the team has done here.”</p>
<p class="">Onslaught: Salvation is playable with the release of Destiny 2: Revenant, starting October 8.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/08/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii-interview/',
                'Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Interview',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/ab4d3f627048917d8f4116ac5d6385ff1bede9fd.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Scheduled for release on February 28, 2025, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii/">Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii</a> is a sequel to action adventure <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth/">Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth</a>. This new title features the series’ fan-favorite, Goro Majima, as the sole protagonist. I recently had a conversation with Mr. Masayoshi Yokoyama, RGG Studio Director and the Like a Dragon Series Executive Producer, along with Mr. Hiroyuki Sakamoto, the Like a Dragon Series, RGG Studio Chief Producer, about the game’s highlights and the behind-the-scenes stories of its development.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042176793_467c121876_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042176793_467c121876_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042248979_1e48d15219_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042248979_1e48d15219_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class=""><strong>PlayStation Blog: As a fan of the series, I’m most curious about why you chose Majima and pirates. How did this title come about in the first place?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: Around June or July 2023, long before the release of Infinite Wealth, the dev team was already mulling over the idea of an Infinite Wealth spin-off. Even if we were to make Like a Dragon 9, we knew that wouldn’t be enough to capture and tell the story. During the end of the Infinite Wealth development, we began percolating the idea of a spin-off that stars characters who are not Ichiban Kasuga. It was almost as if we were creating a blown-up sub-story for Infinite Wealth. For quite some time, I wanted to make a game called Like a Dragon: Tuna, where Kazuma Kiryu, as a tuna fisherman, sets off to sea to fight against fishing boats. Long story short, it never came to fruition, but keywords like “ship,” “sea,” and “fighting,” which had since then been engraved in my head, evolved into the concept of pirates.</p>
<p class=""><strong>PSB: The series is known for starring different characters as the protagonists. For instance, Kazuma Kiryu takes the lead in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name while Majima steps into the spotlight in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. I must say one of the perks of spin-offs is the freedom of starring new characters who are not just Ichiban Kasuga.</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: I agree. As the protagonist changes in spin-offs, you can follow the same story from a different perspective. Also, spin-offs are perfect in size for adults. The Like a Dragon series is like an all-you-can-eat restaurant where you can choose from meat, seafood, and anything else you want and eat however much you like. But as you mature, you start to appreciate well-balanced, good-proportion meals. Spin-offs are like that.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54041923981_04181a19e0_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54041923981_04181a19e0_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>PSB: Can you describe who Majima is?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: He masks his feelings and hides his true self. His past is mentioned throughout the series, yet the true Majima remains a puzzle. He feels the need to live up to the image that others have of him and adeptly go along with them. However, in this entry, he suffers from amnesia, exposing his true self as the story unfolds.</p>
<p class=""><strong>PSB: Does that mean we will finally find out who the true Majima is?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: You’ll understand who he is through his interactions with a boy called Noah. It turns out he’s just a tough dude who likes to fantasize a lot [laughs]. In Gaiden, while remembering his past, Majima looks at himself objectively and realizes who he really is. This is a novel story development.</p>
<p class="">However, Majima is not the most conventional choice for a protagonist. His unpredictability, while not the norm, is what sets him apart and makes him intriguing. When a character like Majima becomes the protagonist, it creates a discrepancy between actions and emotions; when you get frustrated in a scene, but Majima does not even look bothered, you may feel confused. </p>
<p class="">To avoid that, we would need a neutral character who could act the way players anticipate from a protagonist. But the downside is that we’d end up with a boring protagonist. We gave Kiryu and Kasuga additional personalities to build them into protagonists, but if we did that to Majima, he’d turn out to be a boring guy. To make him a protagonist, we only had two options: amnesia or travel back in time. Without amnesia, Majima wouldn’t have worked as a protagonist.                  </p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042376345_4832feb822_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54042376345_4832feb822_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54041059252_2577065acc_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54041059252_2577065acc_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class=""><strong>PSB: Next, I’d like to ask you about the battles. This time, Majima switches between two battle styles: Mad Dog and Sea Dog. Could you tell us about them?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Sakamoto</strong>: In Gaiden, Kiryu also uses two different battle styles. We thought two was the right amount in order to keep battles from being too complicated. Since Majima uses nimble moves, we wanted to simplify his battle moves. Players can execute exhilarating moves by merely pressing the buttons. The Mad Dog Style is based on Majima’s battle style that executes combos, jumps, and other responsive actions.</p>
<p class=""><strong>PSB:I played the demo version at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 and experienced some dynamic fights. What was the intention behind introducing jumping?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: Introducing jumping changes the gameplay drastically. In fighting games, for example, players jump even when there’s no need to. Also, you’re defenseless while jumping, so if you get hit, you’ll be blown away. For that reason, in action games, you’re often invincible while jumping, but that can cause problems. Simply introducing jumping changes the game design, so we’ve avoided it until now.</p>
<p class="">However, the team decided to incorporate jumping into the game because the character Majima looks good while jumping. This is the first time players can control the character’s ability to jump, rather than it just being a part of heated battles. It’s not a regular jump action but a form of jump incorporated into a combo.</p>
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<p class=""><strong>Yokoyama</strong>: Incorporating two battle styles in a game is quite complicated. If one style becomes way more entertaining, players will stop using the other one. It’s easy to label the battle styles under different characteristics, but it’s difficult to make them both equally enjoyable. The Sea Dog style turned out to be more interesting in this case and everyone ended up choosing this style. To top it off, the Sea Dog style has some fun costumes.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Sakamoto</strong>: In the early stages of development, the Mad Dog style felt a bit plain, and no one was using it. So, we brainstormed ways to make this style more appealing, and we’re now in the fine-tuning stage to achieve the perfect balance between the two fighting styles.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii/"><em>Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii</em></a><em> launches Feb 28 2025 on PS5.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/08/beat-saber-britney-spears-music-pack-launches-today-features-11-songs/',
                'Beat Saber: Britney Spears Music Pack launches today, features 11 songs',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/10/152c9c9528ba063d55bdd0d7951bd4158f1da85f.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Explore the new Britney Spears Music Pack, filled with Britney’s best hits everyone knows by heart, when it releases today on PS VR2 and PS VR. You bet you don’t want to miss it.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gNXJ2IGMTag" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="">Britney Spears is one of the most influential musicians, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. Now, you can experience her music in a whole new way in this energizing pop music pack. Slash and dance through some of her epic bangers and sing along with us.</p>
<p class="">Full track list:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>“…Baby One More Time”</li>
<li>“Circus”</li>
<li> “Gimme More”</li>
<li> “I’m A Slave 4 U”</li>
<li> “Me Against the Music” (feat. Madonna)</li>
<li> “Oops!…I Did It Again”</li>
<li> “Overprotected”</li>
<li> “Scream and Shout” (will.i.am feat. Britney Spears)</li>
<li> “Till the World Ends”</li>
<li> “Toxic”</li>
<li> “Womanizer”</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Pssst… everyone knows that Britney’s music videos are so iconic thanks to her timeless choreography. Our beatmapping team turned those unique moves into the levels you will have so much fun with. Check the tracks ‘Oops!…I Did It Again’, ‘…Baby One More Time’, and ‘Circus’ for an ultimate Beat Saber party. Which one will you play first?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54025229877_a9e6a53ef6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54025229877_a9e6a53ef6_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Britney Spears Music Pack comes with a beautiful new environment with unique light shows for each level. All levels feature Arc &amp; Chain Notes and you can play them in multiplayer. Who will you challenge in this musical dance-off?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54026450544_043ab4c292_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54026450544_043ab4c292_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Beat Saber players can get the full music pack for $13.99 or purchase individual songs for $1.99, and those who don’t have Beat Saber yet can get a discounted Beat Saber + Britney Spears Music Pack bundle for $39.99.</p>
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                'None'
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/08/playstation-store-september-2024s-top-downloads/',
                'PlayStation Store: September 2024’s top downloads',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/466468d180b066c3b20f9ff0456588a274bec5bb.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. </p>
<p class="">New releases stormed the charts with <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/nba-2k/">NBA 2K25</a>, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/astro-bot/">Astro Bot</a>, and <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/warhammer-40000-space-marine-2/">Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</a> entering the top five of September’s PS5 list in the US and EU. <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/EP2907-PPSA23650_00-0333380899762521">Into the Radius</a> claimed the top spot on September’s PS VR2 list in the US and EU.</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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K25</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</strong></td><td><strong>ASTRO BOT</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td><td><strong>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>ASTRO BOT</strong></td><td><strong>NBA 2K25</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Black Myth: Wukong</strong></td><td><strong>Black Myth: Wukong</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Palworld</strong></td><td><strong>Palworld</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS College Football 25</strong></td><td><strong>The Crew Motorfest</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td><strong>Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Star Wars Outlaws</strong></td><td><strong>Star Wars Outlaws</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>The Casting of Frank Stone</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>The Casting of Frank Stone</strong></td><td><strong>Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Crew Motorfest</strong></td><td><strong>Sea of Thieves</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Vampire Survivors</strong></td><td><strong>Vampire Survivors</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sea of Thieves</strong></td><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>HELLDIVERS 2</strong></td><td><strong>ELDEN RING</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td><td><strong>Among Us</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePOP</strong></td><td><strong>No Man’s Sky</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class=""><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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Crew 2</strong></td><td><strong>The Crew 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics</strong></td><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</strong></td><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K25</strong></td><td><strong>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td><td><strong>Far Cry 5</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mafia Trilogy</strong></td><td><strong>Unravel Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td><td><strong>Mafia Trilogy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Watch Dogs 2</strong></td><td><strong>The Crew Motorfest</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Far Cry 5</strong></td><td><strong>Middle-earth: Shadow of War</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops III</strong></td><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td><td><strong>Need for Speed Payback</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td><td><strong>The Forest</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>Watch Dogs 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25</strong></td><td><strong>God of War</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Injustice 2</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class=""><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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Into the Radius</strong></td><td><strong>Into the Radius</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td><td><strong>Survivorman VR The Descent</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>MADiSON VR</strong></td><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gun Club VR</strong></td><td><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td><td><strong>MADiSON VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Survivorman VR The Descent</strong></td><td><strong>Gun Club VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Waltz of the Wizard</strong></td><td><strong>Prison Boss VR</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class=""><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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><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>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td><td><strong>Sniper Elite VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td><td><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sniper Elite VR</strong></td><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td><td><strong>Prison Boss VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>Lethal VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>SUPERHOT VR</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Creed Rise to Glory</strong></td><td><strong>The Guy VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine</strong></td><td><strong>Kill It With Fire 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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>UNDEFEATED</strong></td><td><strong>VALORANT</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>VALORANT</strong></td><td><strong>Asphalt Legends Unite</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td><td><strong>eFootball</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Asphalt Legends Unite</strong></td><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td><td><strong>Stumble Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The First Descendant</strong></td><td><strong>UNDEFEATED</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/10/star-wars-episode-i-jedi-power-battles-launches-jan-23-on-ps5-ps4/',
                'Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles launches Jan 23 on PS5 & PS4',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2084/10/58623b7a28d364e2dc2c8350ddcb49b1a7cbf695.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Prepare yourselves, Jedi! The Force is calling you back to exhilarating lightsaber action! We’re excited to announce that Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, offering nostalgic thrills for returning Jedi and a gripping experience for new padawans.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iEt5s3spgXY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A long-awaited battle is back in full force</h2>
<p class="">Originally released in 2000, get ready to battle your way through iconic locations from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Whether you’re fighting to take back the Theed Palace from the Trade Federation or facing off against hordes of battle droids, destroyer droids, and deadly assassins, you’ll need all the skill and precision of a Jedi to succeed.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54033777166_27030d6087_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54033777166_27030d6087_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In Jedi Power Battles, the power of the Force is in your hands. Grasp your lightsaber and cut through enemies in fast-paced, side-scrolling arcade action. The game allows you to play as beloved characters from the prequel trilogy, including Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme, Panaka, Plo Koon, Adi Gallia, and Qui-Gon Jinn.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Celebrating 25 years with all new features</h2>
<p class="">The 2025 release includes new and improved features that enhance the gameplay experience:</p>
<p class=""><strong>Lightsaber Toggle: </strong>For returning players who remember playing each Jedi with a distinctive color to their lightsaber, you may also remember those sabers not matching their looks in the films.</p>
<p class="">For example, the original game showcased Mace Windu with a blue Lightsaber.</p>
<p class="">For this release, we added a toggle that allows you to swap between his iconic purple saber or the classic blue saber. This also applies to Ki-Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, &amp; Adi Gallia’s classic saber colors.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034231055_31126ca50f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034231055_31126ca50f_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>All secret characters and levels unlocked at the beginning: </strong>Experience the full game right from the start, with all the original secret characters and levels unlocked, allowing you to dive straight into the battle without delay. Beyond the original lineup, we’ve introduced 13 newly unlocked playable characters! You’ll find the Rifle Droid, Staff Tusken Raider, Ishi Tib, and Weequay, ready to jump into the action, and more character announcements are coming before launch day. Who else is joining the roster? We’ll all find out soon enough.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54033777121_23516cff5a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54033777121_23516cff5a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Gameplay improvements and expanded game modes:</strong> We’ve made enhancements to the character models, environments, and game modes based on the expanded post-PlayStation release, while also preserving elements of the original PlayStation UI. Enjoy smoother jumps, better balance, and new main menu art that transforms your battle from all of the original versions of the game. Additionally, we’ve included in-game UI toggle options for greater customization, and we’ve brought back Vs Mode and Training Mode from the expanded post-PlayStation release, adding depth and variety to your gameplay.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034109219_dfbe6ef457_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034109219_dfbe6ef457_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Classic couch co-op:</strong> The entire 10-level campaign, along with additional bonus mini-games, can be played with a friend in local co-op mode. The joy of teaming up with a buddy to take down waves of enemies is a core part of the Jedi Power Battles experience, and it’s back in full force.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Cheat codes and unlockables:</strong> Classic cheats like Big Head Mode, Big Foot Mode, and Lightsaber cheats are ready to be claimed! Additionally, unlock character progressions (combos, stats) by achieving high scores to keep the gameplay fresh and rewarding. Lastly, brand-new for the first time, the Loader Droid Boss is playable via cheat code!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034109249_c426a6d6df_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034109249_c426a6d6df_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ready to join the battle?</h2>
<p class="">Whether you’re a returning player or new to the battle, get ready for an adventure in the Star Wars galaxy. We’ve brought this classic back out of our deep love for Star Wars, and we hope you find joy in every lightsaber swing and every battle won.</p>
<p class="">May the Force be with you—always. Get ready to join the battle on January 23, 2025!</p>
<p class="">Prepare by pre-ordering Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles on PS5 &amp; PS4 today. </p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/10/neva-nomada-studio-shares-a-deep-dive-into-the-design-and-dualsense-features-of-its-gorgeous-ps5-platformer/',
                'Neva: Nomada Studio shares a deep dive into the design and DualSense features of its gorgeous PS5 platformer',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2084/10/2272538620648746700c57694fba80d235cb3372.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Neva is the next game from Nomada, the studio behind Gris. In it, the<strong><em> </em></strong>hero Alba forms a bond with a teenage wolf. Over time<strong><em>,</em></strong> the wolf will grow bigger and stronger, and the duo’s relationship will evolve.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mTwJe_m4Vt4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">You’ll be able to play Neva on PlayStation 5 soon, and we have implemented a number of features designed especially for the console.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-398407"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/VWcDZr4Ri4hYHQQlnxiela8wDXYK8smwzspNyGUYM14/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJWV2NEWnI0Umk0aFlIUVFsbnhpZWxhOHdEWFlLOHNtd3pzcE55R1VZTTE0IiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTg2Mywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.DiBlohN54AjGjJ47mmIOadt0_uTlF5WyDtSTDHFBCJPzQ-GRLqvvT7eFgWSnfkFWtF9CeIwPq5uVVtB93OsyBI8ejgZJTWRm0P_CBsi7PFoKWxfIn3yYquO-fwKGO114EGBMrUdtVvRLVslVagkmd3Js4x72Dm0pNLiinG68Wfw-ivIEZCsSlafsINLKyn3jr8wCGrDQdTjs0PliaXEqMqOpcEelt40RZ7T45Y9-EA0EXvq2qUKf3tppjOuSvy8EaE_J5FTCqDRv2S6ywVl0UTPSYQ2pjT96CoJkRthkIlKh_C9d2EDjoy4jXp7hMB4pYfGiXbJLdkZ8sPrOuHNg0w" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The game’s original concept was about two human characters then morphed to an animal – including a bear – before settling on the wolf cub that the team felt will provide a more interesting relationship and striking visual.</em></p>
<p class="">Neva will make full use of the unique features of the PS5, including utilizing the DualSense controller to draw you deeper into the game’s hauntingly beautiful world. We want you to be as immersed as possible in Neva’s story as Alba and her wolf, Neva, forge their bond and work together to defeat the strange creatures confronting them.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-398403"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/zPSagwo11DLTp01EhfZKmDuLjWqw3lz143Carolts5o00/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ6UFNhZ3dvMTFETFRwMDFFaGZaS21EdUxqV3F3M2x6MTQzQ2Fyb2x0czVvMDAiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxODYzLCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.eRYX7Cz3Q5GQNLywPaCY5njVbUlwFbVOFPiBH_jwXou0z2uVIt5GXJnS-aAWUDHkm1s24ASd_71o_t2Nh8CycBtw21QlD8M6XiOz0nfUXO9e5cwCIz-A6uX54gJl68gNgoWF6Mu7xTNf9OZoLi8-8Fvhe4gzly00iMobOUpSCi_md_L_ePTQx_eWcK96vFLuZrIyOtzfXgIvO2dN_gqyd53RwVlpPsdI0n5pcGB4elDN62gtM5C4CrMUwKqoGKq4wi47TCGQ6dmGbEUfT8Sp4XE7BwPnC4-dBZU8VgvjMj3wH1iyn-wKbbI72ShCzybKgIFrbcONUVAfWcoZ4SuMNg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There was a lot of gameplay testing to understand what sort of attacks would be interesting without getting in the players’ way. Neva doesn’t always auto-attack, as she grows and becomes more capable Abla will be able to direct her attacks using the thumbstick and adding a more strategic approach to combat and even puzzles.</em></p>
<p class="">In combat, Alba can command her wolf companion Neva, to attack enemies that she can’t handle on her own. When the wolf lunges at a foe and unleashes a fury of teeth and claws, you’ll feel the full kinetic force of the attack through the DualSense’s haptic triggers.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-398408"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/dj5xkH91qR67QCp21n9W4hBf028stcBu8vXoXpU7ZjgM/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJkajV4a0g5MXFSNjdRQ3AyMW45VzRoQmYwMjhzdGNCdTh2WG9YcFU3WmpnTSIsImF1ZCI6InYiLCJleHAiOjE3MzgwMjE4NjMsImtpZCI6IjRMNXlPY2pyVjFOVXFWemNVdkpCbjF3VG00ZVRHRzlNaDAyMDFZazVqdTlOQSJ9.IGEl4lUIKX30vJu8vz90crIno_e9o_KZVEqXQMUUo5wHZGTt7L8axp094PUVcQCZSsCrMhwGekTQRp2tuiND6TfeeucWU7ouBzQNbuDyISOUw77NAp9tyM9HKItoZYM-VM8epeynZHJ83HdMo43Zp1AZfQPQejzUgcJMHFs4lI4t_kDcOqg7HsYL44h6sJIm-WDEnqVy8fo4e5cDBq6wiyzEOnKmhKmhllAuZN4pRh_bXopKAy1vRefumjQVvk48_NmO0DIKj5FvgeFgxcLWQCCdhJIgI3z6gyvGW2g40xqFURRKmGAx2KtbjDi0z-sAtTec6yR_48o1jGLB1HG0VA" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Alba is a woman of few words, but whenever she calls for her furry friend, you’ll hear her shout out Neva’s name. On PS5, her voice will echo through the DualSense controller’s built-in speaker. When Neva is a young cub, the mischievous wolf will be easily distracted, and you’ll have to call out his name to make him stick by your side.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-398413"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/6pW027564v7N01u1HYF8OYU2aAa99FGSLVDoJmCusv01PU/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI2cFcwMjc1NjR2N04wMXUxSFlGOE9ZVTJhQWE5OUZHU0xWRG9KbUN1c3YwMVBVIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTg2Mywia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.JxIdSnN_F1YDqzMUctOgG7eZjJe5vljiVvPDUGo9ldj9rs88J8oFKqc6H4BNLppQEx1cFZWBhfbWVqSuqL5Y2ofxVF_f_lJwhkt6x_iq9ZVyH5anb6FuWLbGFq0RBtQzBZnFYUwoRVw1AgrvX_C9deEZmxp0Fa3e7_vvaHz0tKvP88dOBKjsR6VKcM5fvEwfZPd_9I9xcJBg7J7IEQlsH7vT3ocjSXUenXYLtpguYhpXbfPOLdU7-2MlC9E9wxvNy_uWiUOsSn-cwC0NMlirxh0FW50MVNTtazm7A2QX_aNWHSBpH50XXSrlCLDF_g0wjDDyWkdwvS2qUnblgDuNAw" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Early in the story when Neva is just a cub there will be tender, sweeter moments where she is a bit nervous about jumping over chasms or by the world around her so Alba will need to call to her, encourage her, or give her a comforting pet to reassure Neva of her capabilities.</em></p>
<p class="">Neva is, as you can see from the screenshots, a vibrantly colorful game, and each lovingly hand-crafted level has its own distinctive palette. As you progress through Alba’s journey on PS5 , the light bar on the DualSense controller will change to reflect the current stage’s colors. So if Alba and Neva suddenly plunge into a part of the world lit with an atmospheric crimson red glow, your DualSense will shift hue to match it.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-398409"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/7gvkAkipn00dMZG01YXK00Qk2yFNiFm00I77oBeKS02XW89A/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI3Z3ZrQWtpcG4wMGRNWkcwMVlYSzAwUWsyeUZOaUZtMDBJNzdvQmVLUzAyWFc4OUEiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxODYzLCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.QoC8aFe_LIeiTGWjMm4RizrBNAhJwCmABHJI3RG16J0G2cion6EqpLtzwa91sqlWItUoEK1KhANLqqc17cPgLBprsuC921GTqe2iLyeHdQ8NDoCl2xMXdGmnc0dkX0y8XrrHRtgs22E_kp6-dzBScV9BUb91qTVn51a6kxGTtTwKuj4M55B68O-dMLs63Pl2_a5EPgangR2QNx_edsaQSqYLi8F5whWbHRNZho71PJ8wG5yfpmwRSjKeFIbhrvkbyBbN16n9mFcbgn_sSH_wfUHBosv0b1wRN_g5W_6M-HBl1qhu0V5YGEDUH3qler41XadGNlb4Rz0CjabrzGEk5A" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>This is a world being overrun with an unnamed evil, often taking form of ‘infected’ fauna that stand in the way of Neva and Alba. Almost everything is organic to the world so it was important to the team that this evil was present in once beautiful places and creatures and it’s the mission of Neva and Alba to cleanse the world of this evil and return the beauty that lies within these corrupt animals.</em></p>
<p class="">Neva will also take advantage of the power of the PS5’s hardware to run at 4K and 120fps out of the box, making its lush artwork really sing on your TV. Neva features a minimal UI, delicate art, high-quality traditional animation, and an elegant musical score, all of which will come beautifully to life on PS5. We can’t wait for all you PlayStation players to lose yourselves in our story and world and enjoy Alba and Neva’s adventures together.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/11/tomb-raider-iv-vi-remastered-launches-feb-14-2025/',
                'Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered launches Feb 14, 2025',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/0ece30b13910a58dbb3da7f30ee6881befafdd48-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">25 years ago, we were shocked with the image of Lara Croft hanging from a cliff inside an Egyptian tomb, as the credits rolled on Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation. It’s time for Tomb Raider players to re-experience the next remastered chapters of Lara Croft’s darkest adventures.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DOdgb6R_zYo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Continuing the legacy of Lara Croft’s iconic adventures and following the success of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics are thrilled to bring Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on February 14, 2025!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Her Legacy lives on: announcing Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered</strong></h2>
<p class="">Tomb Raider began with Core Design’s vision for Lara Croft’s adventures, culminating in the first six iconic games, taking fans on globe-trotting adventures with friends, foes, supernatural beings, and so much more…<br/><br/>Aspyr &amp; Eidos partnered to bring all 6 of the Core Tomb Raider games to Mac computers back in the ‘90s, and we’re proud to partner again with Crystal Dynamics / Eidos to complete the hexalogy on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Thank you to the entire Tomb Raider community</strong></h2>
<p class="">Aspyr &amp; Crystal Dynamics thank the amazing Tomb Raider community for all of the love and support you have poured into this franchise. Your dedication has inspired us to bring these classic Core Design adventures back in the best possible way. We’re grateful to share this remastered collection with you, and we can’t wait to see how you’ll relive—or discover for the first time—Lara’s darkest adventures.<br/><br/>Thank you for being part of her legacy!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lara Croft’s darkest adventures return</strong></h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation</strong></h3>
<p class="">Lara travels to Egypt in pursuit of the Amulet of Horus…</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037151611_1754af01bd_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037151611_1754af01bd_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">By taking the amulet, she unleashes an ancient God, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of his return to plunge mankind into darkness!<br/><br/>For dedicated fans, the level design brings bigger challenges, more intricate puzzles, and for the first time, the ability to rope-swing.<br/><br/>Will Lara escape the Great Pyramid of Giza alive?</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tomb Raider: Chronicles</strong></h3>
<p class="">Presumed dead, Lara’s friends reminisce about her past adventures, each revealing untold secrets.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605635_0d34ae15ff_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605635_0d34ae15ff_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Chronicles centers around four separate stories told through flashbacks. <br/><br/>New gameplay mechanics like stealth and tightrope balancing are sure to keep newcomers and seasoned players on their toes!<br/><br/>Will Lara’s body be found?</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness</strong></h3>
<p class="">Accused of the murder of her one-time mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605640_73b9656827_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605640_73b9656827_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">A series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a sinister Alchemist from the past, and a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. <br/><br/>Experience the final chapter of the Core hexalogy!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Key features expanded</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Classic &amp; Remastered Visuals: </strong>Experience Lara Croft’s adventures as you remember them, or toggle to modern, remastered graphics that bring new life to the environments, characters, and artifacts. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397249"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/e0d5d77caa4b540e372250dfe23b3f082bb02e7e.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Global adventures: </strong>Journey with Lara across the globe, from the ancient tombs of Egypt in The Last Revelation to the shadowy streets of Paris in The Angel of Darkness.<br/></li>
<li><strong>Uncover dark secrets: </strong>Dive into the darkest chapters of Lara’s life as she uncovers long-buried secrets and confronts sinister forces. This remastered collection ensures that the story of Lara’s disappearance and subsequent return is more mysterious than ever.<br/></li>
<li><strong>Classic and Modern controls: </strong>Players can choose between the original tank-style controls, offering the authentic Tomb Raider experience, or opt for modern controls inspired by later entries in the series, providing smoother movement and camera control. </li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605690_5c0718a607_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605690_5c0718a607_o.jpg"/></a>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Boss Health Bars: </strong>This feature provides valuable feedback during tough encounters, helping players strategize more effectively without detracting from the game’s original challenge.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54036291522_2d53c86e28_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54036291522_2d53c86e28_o.jpg"/></a>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>150+ Trophies: </strong>We’ve packed this remaster with over 150 trophies, including nods to iconic moments from the series. These trophies provide both seasoned veterans and new players with plenty of content to explore and achieve.<br/></li>
<li><strong>Photo Mode: </strong>A fan-favorite feature is back! This collection will contain all photo mode poses from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered as well as new ones!  Share your favorite moments and the beauty of the remastered environments with the community.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605650_9036f4d8e8_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54037605650_9036f4d8e8_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Pre-order now and rediscover Lara’s darkest adventures</strong></h2>
<p class="">We can’t wait for you to experience Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.<br/><br/>Stay tuned for more updates and join us on February 14, 2025, to celebrate the legacy of Lara Croft.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/11/share-of-the-week-spooky-settings/',
                'Share of the Week: Spooky Settings',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/f98e0c98820ab136578573e6b4ace335787d814a.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to venture into spooky gaming settings and share hair-raising locations using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54055444907_0ebfbd1ebc_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54055444907_0ebfbd1ebc_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/call_me_xavii/status/1843994213253517784/photo/4"><em>call_me_xavii</em></a><em> </em><em>shares James wandering through the foggy streets of Silent Hill 2.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764520_07f332d846_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764520_07f332d846_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/m_nt_13/status/1844064701627629976/photo/1"><em>m_nt_13</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a wall of eyeballs peering out in Stray.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056313076_670ed0655d_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056313076_670ed0655d_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/JLunarTraveler/status/1843992835823124585/photo/2"><em>JLunarTraveler</em></a><em> </em><em>shares skeletal figures rising in a graveyard from Hogwarts Legacy.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056313086_a940b8c2f7_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056313086_a940b8c2f7_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/wingsforsmiles/status/1843983643292868838/photo/4"><em>wingsforsmiles</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Alan rushing away from an evil force in the subway tunnels of Alan Wake 2.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764515_54653a7d97_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764515_54653a7d97_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/DexM_ds/status/1843963311693738252/photo/4"><em>DexM_ds</em></a><em> </em><em>shares body bags hanging in a waterlogged cellar in Resident Evil Village.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764535_7b8d112a66_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056764535_7b8d112a66_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/FranTGP/status/1843364811230589200/photo/2"><em>FranTGP</em></a><em> </em><em>shares an ominous chained up figure in A Plague Tale: Requiem.</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/65535/54056557683_5005bda788_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54056557683_5005bda788_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Scared<br/><br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 16, 2024 <br/><br/>Next week, we’re ready to be frightened. Share moments where characters looks scared from the game of your 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/2024/10/14/new-dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake-gameplay-focuses-on-one-of-the-games-optional-quests/',
                'New Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake gameplay focuses on one of the game’s optional quests',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/5595f3b6e301756531ce9bf6efe8570869615110-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is just a few weeks away.<br/><br/>For those who haven’t been following development, this is a full remake of the classic Dragon Quest III – one of the most beloved and influential RPGs of all time. It includes everything that made that adventure so magical, but enhances it with new features and new content – all created with the eye-catching HD-2D visual style made famous by games like Octopath Traveler and Live A Live.<br/><br/>But what does it look like in action? Well, today we’re happy to introduce seven minutes of extended gameplay, focusing on one of the optional quests in the game. Check it out:  </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tH2Oo6Lj1jQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">To complement the video, we thought we’d add some additional detail about what you’re seeing. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The sleepy village of Norvik</h2>
<p class="">The world of Dragon Quest III is large and full of things to discover. There’s a real sense of exploration and discovery, and exploring every nook and cranny of these beautiful lands is strongly encouraged. After all, who knows what an inquisitive adventurer might find? <br/><br/>Naturally, you may discover gear, items, and other valuables, but exploring can also open up new questlines for you to explore. <br/><br/>An example of this is shown in the new gameplay footage. If you venture north after traveling to Romaria, you may find the sleepy hamlet of Norvik – and when we say ‘sleepy,’ we mean that literally.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54048129242_4d35af9036_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54048129242_4d35af9036_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Due to events that you’ll discover yourselves (he said, dancing elegantly around spoilers), the village is afflicted by a terrible curse, which has made the residents fall into a deep slumber that they are unable to wake from.<br/><br/>One of the few still active inhabitants begs your intrepid hero to save the settlement by returning an artifact called the Dreamstone to the fairies. Of course, the first step is actually to find the thing.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Underground lake</h2>
<p class="">Another area is shown – the Underground Lake. Here, you’ll uncover the Dreamstone you need to save Norvik from its eternal naptime. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438295_81b2a4d4d4_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438295_81b2a4d4d4_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">It’s a treacherous trek into a delightfully dank dungeon full of dangerous monsters and alluring loot. It also showcases how the beautiful HD-2D visual style of the game enhances classic areas from the original game to give them new life and depth.<br/><br/>By combining 3D backgrounds, detailed 2D sprites, and modern lighting techniques, it creates powerful scenes that hearken back to the game’s original pixel art, while feeling fresh and modern. Not to mention breathtakingly beautiful.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Time for battle</h2>
<p class="">As inviting as exploring the world of Dragon Quest III is, it’s not without its risks. Monsters roam these lands, and you’re going to have to face them in battle.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049240778_4646489151_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049240778_4646489151_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">The new gameplay footage gives you an up-close look at how battles play out. In classic Dragon Quest style, combat is turn-based and tactical – you give orders to your party, and then they carry out your strategy.<br/><br/>It’s a simple system, but it offers enormous depth. You have many different abilities and spells, which only grow as the adventure progresses. Understanding how to use them to damage foes, depower threats, and strengthen allies is the key to coming out alive.<br/><br/>Each character in your party is assigned a vocation, which determines their attributes and abilities in battle. For example, in the new footage, you can see Dorothy is a mage. This gives her access to powerful spells like Bang, which damages all foes with a small explosion.<br/><br/>There are multiple vocations in the game, from heavy hitters like Martial Artist and support-focused Priest to more unconventional roles like Gadabout. There’s even an entirely new vocation for this remake – Monster Wrangler!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Power to the player</h2>
<p class="">Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake has a range of features that let you customize the combat experience. For example, at the top of the screen, you’ll notice the option to change the speed of battles with the press of a button.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438220_f13720f31e_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438220_f13720f31e_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">You can cycle between normal, fast, and ultra-fast settings. Normal is great for following the flow of combat, particularly during tougher scraps like boss battles. But if you want fights to fly by, such as when taking on weaker enemies, or trying to strengthen your party for the challenges ahead, the faster settings are there to make things more convenient and enjoyable.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438205_d7f63bd98b_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54049438205_d7f63bd98b_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">You can also set behaviors for your party to allow them to act independently of your orders in battle. You can make them ‘Act Wisely’ for a balanced approach, ‘Conserve MP’ to ensure they don’t throw out wasteful spells, ‘Show No Mercy’ to launch a full-power assault, and more. If you want your allies back under your command, simply switch to ‘Follow Orders’, and they’ll be under your full control once more. These many options mean you can play the game how you like – full control or partial control, or even let the game take care of combat for you. It’s entirely up to you.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recruiting monsters</h2>
<p class="">One more new feature exclusive to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is shown in the video – recruiting monsters.<br/><br/>Not every monster you meet wants to give you a beating – some are friendly. In these cases, you can recruit them to fight for you in one of the many monster arenas around the world. Many of these monsters are hidden away, so you’ll need to be alert and explore thoroughly to find them.<br/><br/>In the video, you can see the party discover a nervous Spiked Hare. After calming it down, the hero and his party send it on to Monty’s monster menagerie. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54048987936_5c2457cc69_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54048987936_5c2457cc69_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">When you visit an arena, you can sign up a party of recruited monsters for a tournament. If they triumph over the opposition, you’ll be rewarded with money and valuable items. <br/><br/>As you can see, there’s a lot to do in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, from exciting battles to entire optional questlines to discover and undertake. Of course, what we’re showing here is only the tiniest hint at the adventures to come. You’ll discover all kinds of stories and secrets in the full game when it launches on November 14 for PS5.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/14/squirrel-with-a-gun-launches-tomorrow-first-look-at-upcoming-free-updates/',
                'Squirrel With a Gun launches tomorrow – first look at upcoming free updates',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/47ec50c9d8ba0f1772879b4912b913c7fc7a03bb.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Get ready, <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10010627">Squirrel With a Gun</a> will be available on PS5 on October 15! That’s right, your favorite armed mammal is almost ready to clean up the town by taking down those pesky suited-up Agents. And just when you thought Squirrel With a Gun couldn’t get any more packed with squirrely goodness, we have a whole set of free updates planned and incoming. Today we’ll give you a taste of two major updates, the new Photo Mode releasing October 15 and the Boss Battle update coming in the near future. Who knew that a single squirrel would have so much to do, ey?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050550005_5b1ecace04_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050550005_5b1ecace04_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Serve squirrely lewks with Photo Mode</h2>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gG_VKwHwuh0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Get ready to capture your most epic squirrel moments with the new Photo Mode! Whether you’re pulling off a daring escape, doing something wicked-cool mid-air, or making new friends in the neighborhood, you can now snap and save all those unforgettable moments. The best part is that there are plenty of modes to help you create the perfect shot. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050550070_dd5cee4e73_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050550070_dd5cee4e73_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">First up is the classic Cam Adjust Mode, which helps you control the camera like a pro. Move the camera around, rotate it, and even give it a dramatic Dutch angle for some serious flair. Zoom in and out with the Field of View (FoV) slider to frame your perfect shot, whether you’re up close and personal or catching the action from afar.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050432974_d311a2947d_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050432974_d311a2947d_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Next up is the Focus Mode. Add a touch of photography magic by playing with the camera’s focus. Choose the Player setting to keep the focus on you (because let’s face it, you’re the star), or go full-on creative with Manual Mode, where you control the focal distance for that perfect screenshot.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050355978_166cbe3878_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050355978_166cbe3878_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">And finally, the Filter Mode. Why settle for ordinary when you can add a touch of whimsy to your photos? With 15 unique filters to collect, such as the cute kawaii-esqe filter, or the timeless and still oh-so relevant awesome meme face filter, you can turn every snapshot into something truly memorable or hilarious.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397298"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/143c9d4361252e52d9a7910ce2dd1e2d34102c6d.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prepare to face a legendary boss</h2>
<p class="">Coming in one of our later updates, a new boss and boss battle are slowly brewing behind the scenes. Your foe is the legendary Ratatoskr, the squirrel of Norse legends. Forcibly allied with the Agents, you must climb to the heavens and battle this mythical rodent so it won’t destroy the neighborhood.</p>
<p class="">This boss fight is unlike any of the other battles you will face. This squirrel moves fast, has a variety of ranged and melee attacks, and is a considerably smaller target! Fortunately, you will be granted a special SMG with a magazine of infinite bullets for this grandiose occasion.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397299"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/8c42e4aefc1cffc22165b249c73388f2de4d9f2a.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Now that’s not all that’s coming to the neighborhood. You can expect new outfits, a whole new level, new furs, and perhaps even a game-changing gadget from the lab that can alter gravity itself! All of these updates are coming to Squirrel With a Gun free of charge. We want to keep the fun going as long as we can!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050356033_6abaf495b9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54050356033_6abaf495b9_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Squirrel With a Gun is coming to PS5 on October 15!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/15/announcing-playstation-the-concert-world-tour-2025-2026/',
                'Announcing PlayStation The Concert – World Tour 2025-2026',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/9bbca060e24a65a32400f956a7b7b4df3e1e026b.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><strong>Update:</strong> The list of cities on the tour has been updated as of Dec 3, 2024.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">Whether you realize it or not, music is connected to some of our strongest gaming memories. Whether it’s the rousing choir of the God of War games or the delicate flutes of Ghost of Tsushima, the PlayStation soundscape has created some of the most emotional moments I’ve experienced in entertainment. </p>
<p class="">I suspect I’m not alone in this. And so for the many live music lovers in our community, I’m pleased to share that the teams here at PlayStation have been working together with RoadCo Entertainment, and GEA Live to develop a groundbreaking <a href="http://www.playstation.com/theconcert">live music event</a> that brings our most iconic gaming soundtracks to life under the PlayStation banner for the first time. With a state-of-the-art production, this show will merge thrilling music, cutting-edge visuals, and legendary video game titles into an unforgettable experience.  </p>
<p class="">PlayStation The Concert transports fans into the epic worlds of God of War, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon franchises amongst many others that reflect our 30 years of making games that have not only captivated players but are celebrated for their breathtaking and immersive soundtracks too.  </p>
<p class="">With innovative technology and world-class production, fans will experience a stunning fusion of multi-layered visuals, immersive surround sound, and an all-star ensemble blending classical and modern instruments. The legendary scores from composers like Gustavo Santaolalla (The Last of Us), Joris De Man (Horizon), Ilan Eshkeri (Ghost of Tsushima), and Bear McCreary (God of War) will reach new heights, offering fans a unique, deeply immersive live concert experience. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pOy-rESYWHA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">With video game music stepping into the global spotlight,<em> </em>PlayStation: The Concert is poised to redefine what a music experience can be. This is more than just a show; it’s the ultimate video game concert experience, embodying PlayStation’s innovative spirit and pushing the limits of what’s possible; from your console to stages around the world. </p>
<p class="">The global tour launches with a world premiere on April 19, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland, before heading to more than 200 cities across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and beyond. Whilst we are only announcing European dates at this time, be assured we’ll be announcing other world locations very soon.  </p>
<p class="">The 2025 tour schedule so far includes: Dublin, Ireland – Glasgow, Scotland, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, UK – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paris, Amnéville, France – Brussels, Belgium – Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Leipzig, Munich, Oberhausen, Germany – Zurich, Switzerland – Bologna, Italy – Budapest, Hungary – Sofia, Bulgaria – Vienna, Austria – <s>Bratislava, Slovakia</s> – Prague, Czech Republic – Lodz, Poland – Copenhagen, Denmark – Gotenburg, Sweden – Oslo, Norway.</p>
<p class="">We don’t want you to miss out on this extraordinary event so our partners are giving the PlayStation community first opportunity to score tickets through the early access code PLAYCONCERT24 which will be usable from 7am PT tomorrow Wednesday, October 16 2024. Tickets are expected to go fast! </p>
<p class="">For more information on tickets, show and future tour dates please visit www.playstation.com/theconcert. Join the conversation with #PlayStationTheConcert.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/15/wayfinder-unveils-brand-new-area-the-crucible/',
                'Wayfinder unveils brand-new area The Crucible',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/3675ecdb3438b7f1d860f106a1f9521217c3449d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Wayfinders! I’m AJ, an Executive Producer at Airship Syndicate and I’m incredibly excited to talk about the upcoming release of our game, Wayfinder! Today we’re focusing on two big new additions coming alongside our October 21 launch!</p>
<p class="">For those that might not know, Wayfinder is an ARPG where players assume the roles of various Wayfinders to push back a hostile force called the Gloom. With a single player campaign that can be played solo or with up to two friends, as well as endless replayability through randomized dungeons and end game activities, Wayfinder is packed with content for you and your friends to enjoy; all for one price with no microtransactions. </p>
<p class="">Our 7 Wayfinders are distinct &amp; different, each with their own backstory, gear, abilities and (pun intended) ways-to-find new experiences across the world. You start out with one hero and quickly rescue the full roster from the Gloom so you can level, customize, and swap between them at will. But you don’t need to fight alone! Two others can join you for 3-player online, drop-in cross play co-op as you fight through Evenor collecting over 3,000 weapons, armors, housing decorations and more! </p>
<p class="">We’ve been in Early Access for the past year, fine-tuning the game based on player feedback we’re seeing from our super engaged community.  I want to give a huge thank you to Wayfinders old and new from all of us at Airship– you make the game better each update. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RdALb3nS2yA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Leaving Early Access and moving into the game’s full release will bring a ton of new content to the game. A brand new playable character, new Lost Zones (our version of repeatable, and randomized dungeons), new armor styles and loot to collect and a whole lot more. </p>
<p class="">But today we’re here to talk about a huge brand new open world area– The Crucible! This lush, yet dangerous area has quests, mini bosses, and is packed with secrets (and monsters!) lurking around every corner. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397327"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/b5606b8144de87fed1da62049dfd3c0c33ef5aaf.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">The final battle begins in The Crucible. The Eldren have occupied a shattered region known as The Crucible—a city-sized machine built by The Architects, reclaimed by nature and lost to time. In search of a powerful secret at The Crucible’s center, the Eldren intend to finish the war their gods started, and pen the world a dark fate.</p>
<p class="">Players may have a mount already, but the Crucible is enormous and filled with verticality &amp; multiple areas to explore. With that in mind, we developed an entirely new traversal tool: the Hookshot! We think you’ll love this thing. It’s super fun to use, and allows you to easily get around the massive new area, as well as avoid dangers in situations you may find yourself in when exploring the Crucible! </p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397328"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/6qs2102swyn81hhlsd01cZTOKHo7Q01DHnDOT9BDXohFoI/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI2cXMyMTAyc3d5bjgxaGhsc2QwMWNaVE9LSG83UTAxREhuRE9UOUJEWG9oRm9JIiwiYXVkIjoidiIsImV4cCI6MTczODAyMTg2OSwia2lkIjoiNEw1eU9janJWMU5VcVZ6Y1V2SkJuMXdUbTRlVEdHOU1oMDIwMVlrNWp1OU5BIn0.aGJ2Ccs9toSJ_Ce5xOUG0XkneE64mck_qs2qosEfOnXXU30ot_gPyfiIMXZUgLfnz0g2Ow1-POncxJNiEIhVxe_D3fHLQIw-Ib5WpOH6tseAzcmrxhgeW2DvFjiUQ-qWd1yJbjDIpVsJenuviukT5hxChuCvCtp_R674z2VEYCrGZugB_A68s5wOaBPYc2x0N4d3FyIrzVooiqwKEenRAUKJgxmTGlbXtQkIAWos9GeLD-EhL58pmd3lV_5D98hPGl-H6aeCs6Kk0SjT98UnSnwbypK-q_3yTpHXTYthkGcNgip2hdD3-CbNkfBAstFfVEdqBKOptG0YC264OK4c5A" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Alongside the game’s release, we’re also introducing The Critical Role Supporter Pack, which brings the world of Vox Machina into Wayfinder with over 50 unique items. This Supporter Pack directly supports Airship Syndicate and Critical Role, two indie companies bringing their worlds to life with the help of their passionate player base. This pack will go on sale October 21,  but we’re thrilled to show off the first in-game teaser featuring Venomess as Vex! Can you spot all the Critical Role inspired items?</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397329"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/629c5e035ccf8e44161454d82c2760ab73a4c29b.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">“We are huge fans of Critical Role, so we’re super excited for this collaboration, which we hope is the first of many.” said Joe Madureira, CEO of Airship Syndicate and Marvel Comics alum. “From the start, we wanted the Vox Machina personas to feel uniquely Wayfinder, while still capturing the magic that makes these beloved heroes of Exandria so special.  Our team of artists and animators were very passionate about making it happen, and I think it shows.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54052020627_7814385744_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54052020627_7814385744_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54053216699_511a95ddd5_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54053216699_511a95ddd5_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Wayfinder has changed for the better so much over the last year in Early Access! Our fans have told us that the experience today is more polished, more rewarding and most importantly, more fun. We can’t wait to welcome all the new PlayStation 5 Wayfinders on October 21!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/16/astro-bot-new-speedrun-level-and-special-bots-out-tomorrow/',
                'Astro Bot: new speedrun level and Special Bots out tomorrow',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/402f95cf48daffaece3002bbda25a6862b017e57.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone, it’s my pleasure to update you on some brand-new <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/astro-bot/?smcid=ma">Astro Bot</a> content that will be arriving this month. <br/><br/>First, on behalf of Team Asobi, I would like to say a big thank you to all the Astro Bot players. We couldn’t be happier seeing the reactions from players, both young and old(er). It’s warmed the hearts of all the little crew Bots here at Team Asobi HQ. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/usCNGwBazs8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">We have read so many great reviews and received so many positive comments, and it’s been amazing. However, if there was one piece of feedback that came through loud and clear, it was that you wanted more. So rather than put our little robotic feet up just yet, we have been busily beavering away, and we have some new surprises ready for you.<br/><br/>As announced in the recent State of Play trailer, starting on October 17 we will be releasing the first of our brand new speedrun levels, Building Speed. These levels will test your platforming skills and alongside an online leaderboard, will give you the chance to compete against all your PlayStation friends.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54060356270_1853ac62e6_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54060356270_1853ac62e6_k.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="">In Building Speed, with the help of Barkster, the bulldog booster, you will blast your way through a sky-high city. Dodge cranes, smash through crates, and even speed through a flying car wash on the way to rescue your stranded crew.<br/><br/>Following on from this we will release a brand new speedrun level each week, so by the time you have perfected every jump, hover and spin in one level, a new challenge will await you. </p>
<p class="">The release schedule is as follows:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Oct 17: Building Speed<sup>  </sup></li>
<li>Oct 24: Let it Slide </li>
<li>Oct 31: Spring-loaded Run </li>
<li>Nov 7: Helium Heights </li>
<li>Nov 14:<sup> </sup>Rising Heat</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Note: All Astro Bot updates* from October 17 to November 14 will be available every Thursday at 6:00am PT, 2:00pm BST, and 10:00pm JST. <br/><br/>What’s more, each of these new levels contains two brand-new Special Bots for you to rescue. That’s 10 new beloved characters to add to your crew. We gave a sneak peek of Eve from Stellar Blade and the Helldivers. However, as for who is next, well that’s for you to find out. So, get busy rescuing.<br/><br/>Lastly, the best thing, it’s all at no extra cost.<br/><br/>We want to thank you again for all the love and support you have given to Astro Bot, it means the world to us. That’s all we have for today, however watch this space as there may be even more surprises coming soon.<br/><br/>Team Asobi out.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Internet connection and Astro Bot game required for update.</em> <em>Speedrun levels available after game completion.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/16/introducing-the-cast-of-clair-obscur-expedition-33/',
                'Introducing the cast of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/1689ad71d2c6658ec631b39ef277b472461ce9de.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone, I’m Jenn, Lead Writer and Voice Producer on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.</p>
<p class="">Since revealing the game in June, we’ve been blown away by its reception (and impressed by the eagle-eared listeners who identified the voices in the trailers). It brings us great pleasure to finally reveal our English voice cast and share some more information about our characters and their world.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LE8szRyPldI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">We’ve lived and breathed these characters for the past few years, so it was surreal and an honor to witness our incredible voice cast bring them to life.</p>
<p class="">The actors were phenomenal to work with (and just all-around great people). We had a lot of fun during the recording sessions. The cast beautifully conveyed the complexity of the characters, who have each been shaped by the harshness of their world. Every character has been affected by deep and constant loss and has dealt with this in their own way.</p>
<p class="">Previously, we introduced four of the characters.</p>
<p class="">Charlie Cox (Daredevil) is the voice of Gustave, the lead engineer of Expedition 33. Gustave grew up in Lumière under the Paintress’ shadow and has devoted his life to safeguarding the city. With his final year ticking away, Gustave is hell-bent on defeating the Paintress and reclaiming a future for Lumière’s children.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806740_b3831b827f_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806740_b3831b827f_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Jennifer English <em>(</em>Baldur’s Gate 3<em>)</em> plays Maelle, a shy loner eager to escape the constraints of Lumière. Orphaned as a child, Maelle has always felt like an outsider. Her only connection is with Gustave, her foster brother. She is the youngest member of the Expedition, at 16, and sees this as her chance to finally explore the world beyond.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806695_e4f51d1dc5_5k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806695_e4f51d1dc5_5k.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class="">Kirsty Rider (Sandman) voices Lune, the chief researcher of the Expedition. Lune is intensely driven in her quest to defeat the Paintress and complete the work of her parents. She feels keenly the weight of responsibility and the gravity of the stakes involved.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069681304_777f3d0fa9_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069681304_777f3d0fa9_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Shala Nyx (The Old Guard) voices Sciel, a calm and cheerful warrior unfazed by the obstacles ahead. Overcoming her past has allowed her to accept the odds against them. They will do all in their power, and it will either be enough or it won’t.</p>
<p class="">In our latest trailer, we introduce two new characters.</p>
<p class="">Many of you astutely identified the voice of our beloved Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), who plays Verso, a dangerous stranger tracking the Expedition’s every move.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069681309_d75c32c932_3k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069681309_d75c32c932_3k.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="">We asked Ben how he’d describe Verso, and he said, “lost, lonely, and dangerous,” and that he expects players to feel “every emotion imaginable” as they get to know his character.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069603818_bfaad24fa5_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069603818_bfaad24fa5_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, Black Panther) plays the role of Renoir, a man relentlessly driven to save his family. He knows that victory demands sacrifice, and he’s ready to pay the price.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806755_458f0a5d8e_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54069806755_458f0a5d8e_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We also have the wonderful Rich Keeble and Maxence Cazorla playing two of our favorite characters. We’ll share more about them soon.</p>
<p class="">Developing the characters was a multi-part process, which included charting a detailed history of Lumière and each character’s family history and thinking through how prior generations responded to the Paintress. These factors all played a role in who each character is and what they are trying to overcome.</p>
<p class="">In many ways, the process of writing is the ultimate RPG. It’s an extended thought experiment where we place our characters, with their backstories, in these particular situations, and step into their shoes. What do they do? How do they feel? How have their past experiences shaped them, and how does that influence their choices today?</p>
<p class="">Cast and characters aren’t the only new elements in this trailer. Attentive fans may have recognized new locations, alongside new enemies. Golgra and The Tisseur are two fearsome adversaries who will test your reflexes in our reactive turn-based combat.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397377"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/b203ad339dcf1d17eff458880b5f7934fa6265ef.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1920 / 1080;"></video></figure>
<p class="">We’ve also highlighted more traversal elements within the game. The pictos-powered grapple allows members of the Expedition to summit heights and clear gaps, increasing the speed at which you can explore the world.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397378"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://stream.mux.com/4BC2DhsYwBGDtDZzBVaCZwW02v9GiCG6rHSN700Uc3Kr8/capped-1080p.mp4?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiI0QkMyRGhzWXdCR0R0RFp6QlZhQ1p3VzAydjlHaUNHNnJIU043MDBVYzNLcjgiLCJhdWQiOiJ2IiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4MDIxODcxLCJraWQiOiI0TDV5T2NqclYxTlVxVnpjVXZKQm4xd1RtNGVUR0c5TWgwMjAxWWs1anU5TkEifQ.GtXkGgm1iuz-BX6Y1Ci5Ahw59ZpSjfzAFjNY5jbd4-kAn7MYwP-U5NopTSNThF9lYtXLiWZWFMIeEU-Tdw8JRd5ARA8QznM-t9SoziHZyKPLp8tLyONHP93QuT3E8q2UXnr5l8QmLZViOankI7eQG8bkiECFEwwKFaS72RMYPwLujJh4TZ4RoR6cqy2wtEvgKtzKpnOv5BltPzS-JdusF230sWAf1A7zaEDWyqgnUzz4Xwr8sLKbWhLrYJftKMh470ugRKGjLZYcvR4z2i-9Zv_JHTkBIRNJZUfEZMewizbl-S-s5qxZlC9VCnboH5L9EOp-1nAmylM-H4oNMlv8yg" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1920 / 1080;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Developing the world, the story, and the characters has been deeply satisfying (and fun and engrossing and maddening). We are proud and excited to share the game with everyone when it releases in Spring 2025.</p>
<p class="">We hope you enjoyed today’s reveals! Stay tuned for more information about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We have a great deal more to show you, including elements about the world, the gameplay, other characters, and sneak peek Behind the Scenes.</p>
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/17/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-a-deep-dive-into-its-enhancements/',
                'Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: A deep dive into its enhancements',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/6ad91798541cd8a0205902566cb4228840780f86.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hey everyone, you may be familiar with Nixxes as the developer behind PC ports of PlayStation games, but behind the scenes we have also been hard at work on a project of a very different nature. Working closely with our friends at Guerrilla, we set out to create <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/horizon-zero-dawn/">Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered</a> for both PS5 and PC.</p>
<p class="">In our <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/24/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-is-coming-to-ps5-pc-october-31-2024/">announcement last month</a>, we shared details of improved features and technology, such as the completely revamped sound mix by Guerrilla’s audio team, support for DualSense controllers, and new motion capture for conversations. Today, I’d like to introduce you to some of the team members at Nixxes to give you more insight into some of the enhancements that have been made in the remaster.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Overhauling nature</h2>
<p class="">Foliage plays a big role in portraying the lush, overgrown ruins of a long-lost civilization in the world of Horizon. Our team of Environment Artists considered the foliage in Horizon Zero Dawn to be an industry standard, and Horizon Forbidden West added to that with significant improvements in visual quality. For the remaster, the team wanted to give the foliage the same care and attention.</p>
<p class="">Patrick Blankenzee, Senior Environment Artist: <em>“To bring the foliage in the remaster up to the same level of quality as in Horizon Forbidden West, we enhanced the shaders, textures, geometry and foliage interaction. We assessed all the foliage assets in Horizon Zero Dawn and upgraded them with all these new features. We did this for hundreds of plants, bushes, flowers and trees.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We looked at the biomes in the original game and compared them to the concept art. We found places that we could enhance and bring closer to the original intent, with the rainforest biome being a good example of this. With powerful procedural technology, we injected new foliage and raised the quality and density to new heights. The riverbanks have also been upgraded with more biodiversity to bring them closer to the original intention as seen in the concept art.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470488_e051871a8f_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470488_e051871a8f_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Julian Hofman, Environment Artist:<em> “Working with the original team over at Guerrilla, we were able to ask questions</em><em><s>,</s></em><em> and directly compare their latest work on Horizon Forbidden West to the work we were doing for the remaster. This gave us some very specific goals to work towards, like the fresh generation of moss that you can now see Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“For me, the foliage changes make the game feel more alive and make it live up to the incredibly high standards of the Horizon games. The result is a coherent world to replay or experience for the first time.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470463_f7cebf7b0f_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470463_f7cebf7b0f_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Enhancing the living world</h2>
<p class="">The Design team at Nixxes made several key improvements to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. One of the most significant changes is the enhancement of the living world.</p>
<p class="">Brian van Nunen, Senior Technical Game Designer: <em>“To achieve this, we reviewed all villages, outposts and cities, identifying areas that felt empty or where we could improve realism and immersion.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“Building the game for PS5 allowed us to leverage the increased amount of memory available, enabling us to significantly boost the number of non-player characters. We added many more places for NPCs to stand, sit, work and fulfil their needs. We gave them more varied schedules to increase movement and liveliness in different areas. We also tried to make creative use of existing animations. For example, there is now a woman feeding geese at the well in Meridian, reusing an existing sowing animation. Additionally, on the bridge to Meridian, we’ve made significant strides in improving the atmosphere and sense of activity.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54065343747_8fcfe12c44_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54065343747_8fcfe12c44_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Improving terrain and building blocks</h2>
<p class="">Our Tech Art team used the library of next-gen materials that were created for Horizon Forbidden West to enhance the quality of assets used for terrain, objects and buildings significantly in the remaster.</p>
<p class="">Sander Bronkhorst, Senior Technical Artist: <em>“We began by replacing all the Horizon Zero Dawn terrain materials with their new Horizon Forbidden West counterparts. This was only the first step, as the sequel’s terrain materials didn’t always align with the original aesthetics. To address this, we carefully tweaked and polished each individual terrain material to closely match the look and feel of the original game, while maintaining the visual fidelity of the terrain materials in Horizon Forbidden West.”</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066212276_93474eba99_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066212276_93474eba99_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54065343737_d3386dd7cd_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54065343737_d3386dd7cd_o.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class=""><em>“In addition to updating all the terrain textures and materials, we incorporated features like deformable snow and sand. Snow deformation was first introduced in the Frozen Wilds expansion, but in the remaster, you will find this feature outside that area as well.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“In settlements like Meridian and Daytower, the ground required a more unique aesthetic. Previously, Guerrilla used custom meshes and materials for the floors in these settlements, exclusive to these locations. For the remaster, we initially followed this approach, exploring the possibility of increasing texture resolution and adding parallax mapping to areas such as brick floors. However, after initial tests we concluded that in these specific cases this wasn’t going to give us the visual quality that we were aiming to achieve. Therefore, we decided to completely remake the floors in Meridian and Daytower from scratch. This involved creating new high-resolution textures, setting up new materials, painting blend maps, and creating new high-resolution geometry supporting the shapes from the textures used in the material.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470518_c261017e6c_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470518_c261017e6c_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""> <em>“Another aspect of the upgrades to the game environment in the remaster are Building Blocks. To give a bit of context here: Building Blocks are the individual assets that are used for set dressing the world of Horizon Zero Dawn. Think of objects like rocks, plants, utensils and even buildings.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“Building Blocks can be divided into two categories: natural and man-made. For both types, we increased the resolution of the textures and adjusted the level of detail (LOD) ranges to ensure higher mesh fidelity.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We performed a separate pass on all the man-made Building Blocks, creating new high-resolution geometry for assets that would benefit from this. We found that buildings greatly benefited from having more detailed geometry, as most were using brick-like textures on the walls without the shape of the bricks being reflected in the geometry.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“To address this, we developed custom tools for generating more detailed geometry for these buildings. The artists used these tools to create new geometry, then manually tweaked and adjusted each individual building for the best visual result.”</em></p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470528_90d4cb5fa9_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470528_90d4cb5fa9_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lively conversations</h2>
<p class="">A big change in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is the addition of over 10 hours of additional motion-capture data for characters, directed and captured by Guerrilla at their motion Capture Stage in Amsterdam, making the game’s conversations much livelier and in line with those in Horizon Forbidden West. Implementing this additional data was handled by our technical artists and animators.</p>
<p class="">Mark Bazelmans, Senior Technical Artist: <em>“Horizon Zero Dawn has almost 300 conversations and well over 3100 dialog options, so we needed to find a way to easily integrate this huge number of updated animations into the conversations. We created a tool with Python to process the almost 2500 mocap files that Guerrilla provided to replace the original animation in the conversations, removing deprecated events and replacing those with the mocap and setup.”</em><em>“We then focused on creating a pipeline in Maya for our animators to easily load, edit and re-export the individual mocap files for any other edits that were needed, such as finger animation, art direction feedback and fixes. Animators could select the conversation and subsequent dialog option from a list which created the scene from scratch, or simply opened it if it already existed.</em><em> </em><em>Our tool referenced the characters and imported the dialogue audio, so the animators could time the movement better and create the camera cuts and layout. Later, we extended this pipeline to also include existing animations for both conversations and cinematics, as some of these also required edits. Our animators could then go into Guerrilla’s DECIMA engine and edit or change the updated conversation.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542114_301b6253e2_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542114_301b6253e2_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Alexander Georgiev, Animator: <em>Since all mocap footage comes from actors with different height or gender, there was a lot of data that needed to be covered and checked. For example, characters looking up or down too much, shoulders not matching the rest of the pose, arms clipping though clothing and fingers that are too static.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“To solve this efficiently, we created tools to help us. With these tools we visualized helpers that brought a closer connection between working in Maya and the DECIMA engine. One example was that we could not see the eyes moving the same way as in the DECIMA engine, as that was a complex, automated system. With the toolset we created a head and eye aim helper that made it clearer where the characters were looking, and with that we knew how much we should adjust the head of a certain character.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We made small, automated scripts to fix shoulders and arms clipping. All these tools gave the animators a way to focus more on enhancing the acting of the characters to support what they want to say. By developing these tools, we created a strong workflow and were able to significantly speed up our iteration time per conversation.”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066675385_fc9a65ec66_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066675385_fc9a65ec66_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Mark Bazelmans, Senior Technical Artist: <em>“Alongside the updated body animation, new facial animations were captured for the conversations. Initially this was deemed a straightforward ‘overwrite and replace’, but after seeing some of the results we decided to build a pipeline to be able to edit the updated facial animations.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We created tools in Maya that could process a facial animation file in proprietary format into a Maya scene with literally a talking head including audio. We also wrote our own exporter that could then export a Maya scene back to the same proprietary format.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“Next to updating the animations in conversations, we did a pass on the camera and lighting setup for both conversations and cinematics. For the cameras, we batch updated the camera setup and values. In most conversations, the automated pass didn’t quite give the desired result because the contrast between the original movement and the new mocap was too big. The new body animations allow broader movements, often leading to characters stepping out of frame or being completely offscreen. Therefore, a manual pass was done by our Camera Layout Artists, aided by our custom DECIMA tools to easily edit cameras and settings.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We updated the lighting toolset to be closer to that in Horizon Forbidden West, which allows for editing settings of character and environment lighting across similar shots using a visual representation of shots. Lighting was controlled by a single setup for each character in a conversation that would apply to all dialog options in a conversation. Then our lighting artists could do their magic on a particular shot type and all similar shots of that character would be lit the same, with of course room to edit individual shots if needed. This way lighting had maximum control with as little tweaks as possible.”</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shining new light on Horizon Zero Dawn</h2>
<p class="">The work for world lighting and cinematic lighting was divided between Guerrilla and Nixxes Lighting artists, with Guerrilla providing direction and technical support. The Atmospherics team at Guerrilla recreated the sweeping cloudscapes from Horizon Zero Dawn in the new Nubis cloud system from Horizon Forbidden West. The cherry on the cake was the creation of the set piece volcano cloud in the Frozen Wilds expansion, using a combination of the latest innovations in voxel cloud rendering, first pioneered in the Burning Shores expansion for Horizon Forbidden West, and traditional particle VFX.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542124_473afdbd78_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542124_473afdbd78_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">It was important to retain the strong mood lighting in <em>Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered</em>, ensuring a seamless transition when playing both games back-to-back. Nixxes’ Senior Lighting Artists Myvanwy Broers, Niels Iburg, and Lighting Artist Thomas Schrama talk about their approach and workflow:</p>
<p class=""><em>“A lot of the world lighting had to be rebalanced or re-lit from scratch to reach the same mood and to bring it in line with the slightly updated art direction. Horizon Forbidden West has some workflow improvements that we used for the remaster, making the process quite enjoyable!”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“To use the improved features to their fullest potential, we revised all the atmospherics settings that control the biomes within the game world. This included changing the light intensities to Physically Based Rendering values. This is true for the sun and the moon itself, but also detail</em><em>ed</em><em> lighting in areas such as caves and ruins that players can explore. Think of fog, the color of the sun, glow intensities and so forth.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“This meant that after rebalancing the light intensities into PBR, it was necessary to relight entire areas to create the best visual fidelity possible. It was a joy to revisit these iconic environments to do so!”</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542144_499a0bd5f0_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066542144_499a0bd5f0_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><em>“To speed up our workflow, we used Guerrilla’s prefab system – an object which contains geometry, particles, sound, and lights that we can place anywhere. All these assets exist as referenced content within a prefab, which means that if the value of a torch light needs adjustment, this will simultaneously happen for every torch in the world. This enables large scale changes, and high iteration speed.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“Light bakes are an important aspect of the lighting – a system that is versatile enough for each time of day, yet providing the detailed light bounce that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered needs. The quality of such bakes is adjustable per volume that we set as lighters, which is great when we require the light bounce to be more detailed in an area without affecting the rest. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered uses the improved baking system from Horizon Forbidden West, resulting in at least twice as much detail in the light bounce compared to the original.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“With lighting in cinematics and conversations, we wanted to match the art direction and visual quality of Horizon Forbidden West. This, combined with all updated animations, motion-capture and camera shots, meant we built all the cinematic lighting in the remaster from scratch. We used a lot of new technology and workflow that was created for the cinematic lighting in Horizon Forbidden West.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“Horizon Zero Dawn used a lighting rig around each character with roughly two lights. For the remaster we used the upgraded lighting rig from the sequel, which uses five lights in total: one key-light, two profile-lights and two rim-lights. These lights are then tweaked on a per shot basis changing position, orientation, color and intensity.”</em></p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470493_8e80e6e8e2_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54066470493_8e80e6e8e2_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Detailed characters</h2>
<p class="">Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered features significant upgrades to character models and how they react to lighting. Many enhancements in areas such as detail, skin tones, hair quality, and outfits have been carried over from Horizon Forbidden West.</p>
<p class="">Patrick Blankenzee, Senior Environment Artist: <em>“Working on the varied cast of characters in the remaster was a big undertaking. We enhanced various shaders to improve the visual quality and made changes to ensure the models react better to the new lighting in the remaster. We gave Aloy’s model – both adult and child – the full cinematic treatment, including peach fuzz, upgrades to hair, eyes and materials.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“We looked at the original concept art of Aloy as a child and aimed to make changes to her outfit, hair and skin, to match the look envisioned in the concept art, as well as bring the model up to par with the quality of the improved model for adult Aloy.”</em></p>
<p class=""><em>“In Horizon Zero Dawn, only the character model for Aloy reacts to environmental elements like weather. For the remaster we wanted to give all companion characters the same level of interaction to bring that cinematic feel to the whole world. For example, you will now see both Aloy and her companions react to warm and cold weather.”</em></p>
<p class="">On behalf of the teams at Nixxes and Guerrilla, we cannot wait for you to experience Aloy’s journey (again) with all the visual enhancements, upgraded features and tech improvements.</p>
<p class="">Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is available for pre-order now and launches on October 31 on PS5 and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). Account for PlayStation Network required on PC.</p>
<p class="">Existing owners of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition can upgrade to the digital version of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for $9.99. Check out the <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/24/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-is-coming-to-ps5-pc-october-31-2024/">previous announcement PS Blog post</a> for all the upgrade details.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/18/share-of-the-week-scared/',
                'Share of the Week: Scared',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/93e4368f74341be9855662ad6c1d0ac233a90621.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to show your favorite gaming characters cowering in fear using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s scared highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073479683_8cf0f3ba68_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073479683_8cf0f3ba68_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Javik_12/status/1844922327265407304/photo/1"><em>Javik_12</em></a><em> shares Astro shaking with fear in a spooky themed level of Astro Bot.</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073479608_c5939f1bfe_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073479608_c5939f1bfe_b.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/SithMorrison/status/1844788499658014821/photo/1"><em>SithMorrison</em></a><em> shares Joel’s daughter Sarah looking shaken in The Last of Us Part I.</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072340072_bb4fc5b42f_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072340072_bb4fc5b42f_b.jpg" width="50%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/JLunarTraveler/status/1846568503882416395/photo/1"><em>JLunarTraveler</em></a><em> shares Talion leaning back and yelping in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073678950_9e43a51a2b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073678950_9e43a51a2b_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/silentgear1/status/1846409458320396374/photo/2"><em>silentgear1</em></a><em> shares Ashley hiding her face as she moves through a dark space in Resident Evil 4.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073678945_858989dd10_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073678945_858989dd10_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Defalt368/status/1845890493386793344/photo/1"><em>Defalt368</em></a><em> shares a orange and black cat reacting in horror in Gori: Cuddly Carnage</em>.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073552309_bc0bf72f40_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073552309_bc0bf72f40_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/lunar9p/status/1846197383727927596/photo/1"><em>lunar9p</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Amicia and Hugo fending off rats with fire in A Plague Tale: Innocence</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/65535/54073479603_e14b847751_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073479603_e14b847751_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Costumes<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 23, 2024 </p>
<p class="">Halloween’s around the corner and we’re looking for inspiration. Next week, share characters that would make a perfect costume from 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/2024/10/21/awaken-astral-blade-an-inside-look-at-sci-fi-inspiration-out-tomorrow/',
                'Awaken – Astral Blade: an inside look at sci-fi inspiration, out tomorrow',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/26526d33d1c6da36c429b7aac6d948f068343ed7.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello everyone! I’m honored to share more on Dark Pigeon Games’ new game, Awaken – Astral Blade. Tian Yuan, Producer at Dark Pigeon Games, and I will share an overview of what players can expect when playing Awaken – Astral Blade, what inspired the deeply intriguing sci-fi world it is set within, and more.<br/><br/>First and foremost, Awaken – Astral Blade is a platform adventure that marries invigorating and challenging combat with a wondrous and fascinating biopunk setting.<br/><br/>“We want to create a mysterious and exhilarating fantasy world that deeply immerses the player, where they experience the growth and transformation of the protagonist while facing challenges head-on,” says Tian. “So, we have drawn inspiration from many excellent films and literary works to enrich our design. For example, the fantastical mutated plants from the movie Annihilation (2018), the fusion of technology and magical elements seen in the sci-fi horror film Pandorum (2009) and neo-noir Blade Runner 2049, and the imaginative works of Neil Gaiman have all been important sources of our inspiration.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073315853_2048058a93_o.pngr" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073315853_2048058a93_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">The game begins as you’re sent out by Dr. Herveus to search for and rescue a missing Investigation team in the rainforest of Horace Islands and slowly uncover the dark, sinister mystery of what happened to the land and its inhabitants. Players will take control of Tania, one of Dr. Herveus’s bioengineered creations made from unique DNA samples from the Horace Islands. To develop the best Tania, he combined data provided by Gaghti, a Bionic created during the Jacha City era and the AI leader of the indigenous people, with the DNA of Molla, an ancient warrior, and Karpas energy. This resulted in a highly intelligent and physically powerful combatant.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397482"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/8dc0c4c00059f6d05dc457860465822920251288.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Tania’s diverse capabilities translate into the combat design, influenced by various games from the Castlevania series to Devil May Cry. Players deeply value game feel, and the development team’s efforts mirror that importance. You take on your foes with a wide range of combos, parry enemy attacks to gain an advantage, dash into enemies while they’re attacking to slow the world around you, and gain damage immunity. Only using your abilities and combo attacks will help you break through and defeat even the most challenging bosses. And, of course, we have a skill tree in the game — you can enhance Tania’s combat abilities and strength or spend it on valuable skills for various situations. The desire for a positive game feel extends beyond combat as well.<br/><br/>“Our primary goal is to make the gameplay experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible for all players,” says Tian. “We’ve incorporated several features that allow for fast travel, such as teleportation points, sprinting, super jumps, and good placement of entrances and exits from the levels. On paper, these should seem appealing, but players will get a real idea of how fluid and fun Awaken – Astral Blade is once they get the controller in their hands and start playing.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397483"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/94d36be5ea95c0bd000ee546488c8aeb2317cfe2.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">What kind of world does a motivated team build with such expressive and distinct inspirations across gaming, film, and literature? One with a profound lore, for one. About two years ago, we at ESDigital Games started looking for new projects for the publishing house, and we eventually came across the incredible Dark Pigeon Games team. We’re honored to witness their enthusiasm and huge potential with Awaken – Astral Blade, which you can see in the effort put forth building this story.<br/><br/>“What can I tell you about the game world? So, so many things, but we truly don’t have enough space, heh,” Tian says. “On the Horace Islands, a mysterious alien ship crashed, unleashing the arcane Karpas energy. This energy, with its transformative power, turned the islands’ ecosystem into a marvelously diverse landscape. The native inhabitants, influenced by this energy, built an impressive civilization, but it was eventually torn apart by civil war. Over time, this lost world was buried deep in history, forgotten until it was rediscovered by modern explorer Professor Loir.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072176242_de5429a3e5_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072176242_de5429a3e5_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Awaken – Astral Blade is a dark fairy tale where players’s decisions throughout the game will not only affect the final ending itself, but also shape the very fabric of the game’s narrative. The game is relatively linear, but players will find various pieces of information to expand on the backstory and reveal new sides to some characters. We could share so much more here, but it is better for you to pick up and play when it releases tomorrow, October 22, for PS5.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/21/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-oct-25-launch/',
                'Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Everything you need to know ahead of Oct 25 launch',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/20917a2f1509b94bb63fb82d3bcfbb90e1036816.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Rejoice PlayStation players, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-6/?smcid=ma">Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</a> is almost here. In fact, we’re so close to launch that starting today, if you’ve pre-ordered the game – you can begin pre-loading to make sure you’re ready for day one.</p>
<p class="">Ahead of launch, we wanted to go a little deeper today into MP and Zombies to make sure there are no details you’re missing.  Let’s break down some key components around what to expect.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318832_b08d676eea_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318832_b08d676eea_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The multiplayer experience</h2>
<p class="">From new maps and modes to new weapons and equipment, Black Ops 6 gameplay will be an experience unlike any other. There will be the core 6v6 modes you’ve come to know and love from Call of Duty, plus an all-new core 6v6 mode, Kill Order, where you must eliminate the enemy High Value Target (HVT) while protecting your own. In addition to these, jump into 2v2 Gunfight, as well as Face Off Alts of several of the 6v6 modes. Finally, looking for a challenge where your matches only have a limited HUD, friendly fire is enabled, and your health is lowered significantly? Then, prepare for Hardcore, scheduled for launch on certain playlists.</p>
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<p class="">We will have 16 brand-new maps at launch split into two main categories: twelve brand-new Core 6v6 maps and four brand-new, compact-sized Strike maps designed to be played in either 6v6 or 2v2 configurations. We know you got to see several of the maps in the Beta, such as Scud, Rewind, Skyline, Babylon, and Derelict, but you can expect to find incredible action-packed moments on maps you have yet to experience. </p>
<p class="">There’s Lowtown, a dockside neighborhood with a boat house, fishing shed, lattices to climb, and a canal to swim in. There’s also Vault, a large, lush playspace set within a desert landscape adorned with monuments, sculptures, a central palace, and even an opulent atrium. And this just scratches the surface, there are many more maps to explore from October 25 and on, not to mention the bevy of maps coming in post-launch seasons. </p>
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<p class="">There are over 20 Black Ops 6 Operators to choose from at launch, with some allied to the Rogue Black Ops Faction, and others allied to Crimson One. To give you a little background on these operators. Rogue Black Ops is on the run and being hunted by their former employers. This team seeks to uncover the truth regarding the infiltration of the CIA and expose the conspiracy. As they no longer have state backing, much of their equipment is either improvised, supplied by contacts from other intelligence services, purchased from criminals, or supplied on the promise of IOUs. </p>
<p class="">They know who’s hunting them and refer to them as “Crimson One.” Crimson One represents the CIA operation initiated to hunt down the Rogue squad. The team is officially sanctioned by the CIA and has access to all intel and tools to complete the job.</p>
<p class="">By now, you should have heard plenty about <a data-id="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-hits-ps5-on-october-25/" data-type="link" href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-hits-ps5-on-october-25/">the brand-new Omnimovement system</a> coming to Black Ops 6, the most fluid boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty movement system to date. Omnimovement will go across all game modes, but make sure to utilize it in Multiplayer to live out those spy-thriller action-hero moments you’ve always dreamed of.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Weapons &amp; equipment</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074653595_ab317cbccf_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074653595_ab317cbccf_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">When it comes to the weapons you’ll be using in Multiplayer, it all starts where you choose your loadouts: the Weapons Menu, which has been streamlined in Black Ops 6 for an approachable, intuitive experience as you level up your weapons over time. Black Ops 6 is set to bring an exceptional arsenal of weaponry and equipment to the game – including returning favorites from the Black Ops universe and weapons all new to the franchise. The primary and secondary weapons slots are going to be your bread-and-butter, but for the first time you have a dedicated third slot to equip a melee weapon, so that knife or bat is always an option when things get heated in close-quarters combat. </p>
<p class="">Finally, Perks and Wildcard slots in your loadouts will change the way you play, so make sure you’re thinking strategically as you make your choices. Then, tactical and lethal equipment, as well as Field Upgrades and Scorestreaks will round out your arsenal with an array of choices unlocking as you level up and progress, with some new options such as the exciting War Cry Field Upgrade that rallies your team, improves nearby teammates’ movement and health regen speed for a short time. Get ready to gear up!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Zombies </h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074198561_e2b3320d76_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074198561_e2b3320d76_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Round-Based Zombies is back in a massive way, with Treyarch delivering the goods across gameplay, narrative, and maps in Black Ops 6 Zombies.</p>
<p class="">Check out <a data-id="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/08/29/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-hands-on-report" data-type="link" href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/08/29/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-hands-on-report">the previous PlayStation Blog post </a>for the full details of Round-Based Zombies, but there are a few key things we wanted to remind you of. There’s a dedicated crew that are the heart of the story for Black Ops 6 Zombies, which continues the Dark Aether storyline that started in Black Ops Cold War. While you can jump into Zombies with any MP operator you’d like, the characters of Weaver, Grey, Carver, and Maya make up the Terminus team, drive the narrative forward, and are the gateway to the most robust experience you can have with this mode.</p>
<p class="">Then there are the maps, which are basically characters unto themselves. There will be two Round-Based maps at launch, Terminus and Liberty Falls, with additional maps coming in the post-launch seasons. We also went into details on these maps <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/08/28/full-details-on-the-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-beta-live-august-30/">in a previous Blog post</a>, so check that out for more details, but know there will be no shortage of unique and harrowing environments as you and your squad battle into higher and higher rounds.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318712_642197f286_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318712_642197f286_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Finally, the zombie-fighting tools at your disposal will be robust as ever with the return of Perk-a-Colas, Field Upgrades, Wonder Weapons, GobbleGums, Ammo Mods, and the introduction of Augments, which allow you to customize your Perks, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades.</p>
<p class="">One more thing! For the first time in Call of Duty Zombies history, if you’re playing Zombies solo you can elect to save your solo match at any time and return to it later, provided you’re at full health, aren’t downed, dead, or actively engaged in an exfil. (A relief for many, to be sure).</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Progression &amp; prestige</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318357_f1dda264e0_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073318357_f1dda264e0_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class=""> Black Ops 6 marks the anticipated return of a more traditional Prestige system, back in Call of Duty and bigger than ever. Players who reach and complete Max level 55 can choose to Prestige and restart their Leveling over again (while losing some already unlocked items), but this time with the chance to earn exclusive rewards along the way – – we know it’ll be worth the effort. But Prestige isn’t the only Progression system that’s gotten a major upgrade this year. </p>
<p class="">The Treyarch team has set out to build the most rewarding Progression and Challenge systems ever delivered in a Call of Duty game in Black Ops 6 and there’s a ton of unlockable content packed into the game on Day one.  Earn XP from by performing well, playing the Objective, earning Medals, and completing challenges, like Calling Card challenges and Reticle challenges. </p>
<p class="">Additionally, brand new for Black Ops 6, every Weapon, Equipment, Field Upgrade, and Scorestreak in your loadout has a set of MP and Zombies Master Badges to progress through as you master each piece of Gear.</p>
<p class="">Those are some of the high-level details you can expect for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Don’t forget to pre-order and pre-load starting today so you can hop right in on October 25 and experience it for yourself.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/22/vendetta-forever-ps-vr2-features-detailed/',
                'Vendetta Forever: PS VR2 features detailed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/dcfcacad8f8cb168a54cb4d146e5dc9e2088f8df.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The wait is almost over and we’re beyond excited for PlayStation VR2 players to seize their Sense controllers and dive into the explosive world of Vendetta Forever on October 24. The debut game from visionary indie developer Meatspace Interactive, published by nDreams, this frenetic puzzle-shooter pays bombastic homage to classic action cinema, set to a pulsing synthetic soundtrack. Alongside what makes Vendetta Forever so special, today we want to show off some new PS VR2 gameplay and reveal the features players can enjoy when the title launches this Thursday on PS5.</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Come on baby, do the Lo-Kill-Motion</strong></h3>
<p class="">Shoot to kill. Kill to move. Lo-Kill-Motion is the new mechanic that propels players acrobatically through Vendetta Forever’s maze-like arenas. Take down enemies, seize their weapons in mid-air, and take their place. Rinse, repeat, and reload. Each scene is loaded with iconic weaponry, spanning the all-time classics to the deviously improvised. Whether you’re scoped in with a sniper rifle or flinging a humble pencil (seriously), you’ll always have an outrageous arsenal at your disposal.</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Harnessing the immersion of PS VR2</strong></h3>
<p class="">We loved digging into the possibilities of the PS VR2 hardware and Vendetta Forever is full of features to maximise your stylish shooting immersion. Feel subtle differences between some of the least subtle weapons in the business. Every weapon in the game – from agile silenced pistols to hefty rocket launchers – will handle differently thanks to the Sense controller’s adaptive triggers. Immersion is maximized through the Sense controller haptics and headset feedback, allowing you to feel incoming damage and death-defying explosions. PS VR2 players can enjoy a few visual perks as well. Your view is mirrored on the TV at 4K, with a stabilized camera for optimal spectating and streaming your wildest moments. In-game you can enjoy real-time shadows, dialed-up lighting, and post-processing. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54076622416_8b5496d874_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54076622416_8b5496d874_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>A behind-the-scenes peek at some early scene compositions</em></p>
<p class="">Vendetta Forever comes from the idiosyncratic game design brain of MeatSpace Interactive’s founder and solo indie developer, Zander Dejah. Zander’s well familiar with the power of PlayStation hardware. Having worked on Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, he’s experienced at crafting immersive VR worlds. For Vendetta Forever, this is a labour of love that goes all-in on gunplay purity. It’s unapologetically the game this VR fanatic dreamt of making – focused entirely on making the player feel really damn good.</p>
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<p class="">“From day one, the goal with Vendetta Forever was to craft all-action scenes that put player power at the centre of everything, rather than lengthy cinematics or dialogue scenes. This game is about fulfilling that ultimate player fantasy of starring in their own action movie show-stopping vignettes. It’s fast-paced, rewards strategic thinking on the fly, and achieves that sense of shooter flow state in VR.</p>
<p class="">After working on some narrative heavy hitters in the past, this game has really been the opportunity to make the hyperactive shooter experience I’ve always wanted to play. It’s VR-first and when it comes to immersion, ‘feel’ beats ‘real’ for me. I think it’s an experience frenetic shooter fans have been craving and I can’t wait for PS VR2 players to dive in.”</p>
<cite>– Zander Dejah, MeatSpace Interactive</cite></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10% off pre-orders with PlayStation Plus</strong></h3>
<p class="">Get prepped for cult action paradise with a 10% pre-order discount, exclusively for PlayStation Plus members! Come launch acrobatically blast your way through 60 unique scenes with 20 modifiers, 50+ iconic weapons, and 50+ achievements to shoot for. Vendetta Forever launches on October 24 on PS VR2.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/22/legacy-of-kain-soul-reaver-1-2-remastered-first-look-at-bosses-new-map-details/',
                'Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered – first look at bosses, new Map details',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/47e21ced0b4680d996deddb645a30c8a7ae7db88.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’re deeply grateful for your enthusiastic support following our announcement of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 &amp; 2 Remastered. Your passion and dedication have been instrumental in revitalizing this beloved series, so today we wanted to share some new information on the game, with a first look at the game’s bosses in their remastered glory, as well as more details on the game’s brand-new map system which is a collaboration between us, the original creators and the community.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Remastered Boss updates and reveals</h2>
<p class="">Each boss encounter in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 &amp; 2 Remastered is designed to challenge the player’s mastery of Raziel’s abilities. Our goal with the character models was to improve the textures as much as we could while ensuring that they blend in with the apocalyptic world. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086106568_fd4c4d18cd_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086106568_fd4c4d18cd_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Melchiah received a full texture overhaul with darkened skin and a slimier body-feel. The bones and skeletal mapping are now more realistic and gory and his eye color was adjusted to match the original look.</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Melchiah–</strong>The first of Kain’s lieutenants Raziel must defeat. This battle takes place in the Necropolis where Melchiah chases Raziel down while phasing through gates, making the spectral realm no longer safe. Strategically use the environment to expose Melchiah’s vulnerabilities and use his own devices against him.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086194604_04b2400110_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086194604_04b2400110_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Zephon was too desaturated, so we’ve completely repainted his face.</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Zephon–</strong>Fought in a dilapidated cathedral, Zephon has evolved into an insect-like creature, fusing with this towering structure. You’ll need to ascend to the highest chambers and become willingly ensnared to be able to confront him. Search the room for any elemental advantages which could aid you in this endeavor.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084984707_3928575510_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084984707_3928575510_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Rahab’s head has been remodeled, so the eyes now have a reddish glow which gives him a menacing look. We’ve also altered the fangs to look more vampiric and made his skin color a little more gray.</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Rahab–</strong>This battle occurs in a flooded abbey. Rahab is fully immune to water, which is lethal to Raziel. Use Raziel’s agility to avoid Rahab’s deadly close-range and long-range attacks by jumping and make use of your newly gained Telekinetic projectile ability to exploit Rahab’s extreme vulnerability to sunlight.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086106593_a5442cd59b_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086106593_a5442cd59b_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Dumah’s armor is now a lot dirtier and has patches of mold and blood all over it (considering he was impaled for centuries).</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Dumah–</strong>In a desolated fortress, Dumah awaits reanimation. Just like his other brethren, Dumah is invulnerable to any attacks, so Raziel has to be cunning and lure him to a flame powerful enough to melt even the hardest metal, all while avoiding tremendous earthquakes caused by Dumah’s incredible strength.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084984697_ce865f8839_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084984697_ce865f8839_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The models for Kain in both Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 needed to be completely re-designed to mitigate textural issues. With the increased polygon count we felt it was important to bring his look a lot closer to the Kain we got to see in the original FMVs, which was a lot more detailed and showed more-or-less what the original intent was for the character. The original model in SR1 was especially limited so now both games have a Kain that looks consistent between the two titles.</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Kain–</strong>Raziel first confronts Kain at the Pillars where he must be swift and strike Kain three times to gain the Soul Reaver. The second encounter takes place in the Chronoplast, where the tiered arena makes evasion even more challenging. Track your target’s movements closely and make haste to strike him with the Soul Reaver. If you cannot reach him in time, use your Telekinetic projectile to stop Kain from using his powerful lightning attack. The encounter is intense and dramatic, but we won’t spoil how it concludes. Pre-order to find out!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Map &amp; Compass details &amp; gameplay</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073836599_0c3edbe19d_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073836599_0c3edbe19d_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In the original versions of the games, players often found themselves wandering the vast, twisting landscapes of Nosgoth, relying heavily on memory and environmental cues to navigate. </p>
<p class="">The introduction of the Map and Compass marks a thoughtful enhancement that blends modern gameplay conveniences with the preservation of the explorative experience the original titles were known for. The Compass gently nudges the player in the right direction without giving away specific details of where to go or what to do next and the Map is more of a reference tool than a guide.</p>
<p class="">We also included a collection tracker for any Health and Energy power-ups so that you know if you’ve gotten all of the collectibles within each area. All of the major Nosgoth features are present and accurately condensed based on the setting and gameplay. </p>
<p class="">For fans who might feel that these additions are a major departure from the original games, we’ve made sure to incorporate a toggle-off function for the compass. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073965230_ee5c15bd4c_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073965230_ee5c15bd4c_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In addition to its gameplay utility, the map is also a wonderful art piece that was created in collaboration with our development team, community advisors, artists, and designers at Crystal Dynamics. We knew accuracy was paramount, so we worked hard to pull from the original source art, design documents, and clues from game lore. We also incorporated community reviews to ensure nothing had been missed.</p>
<p class="">Thanks to these efforts, the map is accurate enough to feature in the new lore reader bonus menu – identifying the location of each lore entry. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073836609_5dd4925d89_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073836609_5dd4925d89_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">For design direction, Crystal Dynamics designers used a heavily inked approach that sits beautifully with the existing art, creating a stunning new way to visualize the world of Nosgoth. </p>
<p class="">The Map and Compass are there to serve as welcome tools for exploration, ensuring that the remastered versions remain both a tribute to the classics and a modernized, more player-friendly experience.</p>
<p class="">The Aspyr Team looks forward to sharing more information before the launch of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 &amp; 2 Remastered on December 10, 2024!</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/23/20241024-mhw/',
                '(For Southeast Asia) An Open Beta Test for “Monster Hunter Wilds” has been announced! A deeper look into the newly revealed trailer #5!',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/5be7920437f31e82815ebc2e24a282679fa34541-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’ve got some adventurous announcements to make for those who are eagerly awaiting the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28!</p>
<p class="">First, we invite you to participate in the Open Beta Test in October to traverse the dynamically-changing locales, examine the diverse ecology, and test your hunting skills on PlayStation®5. We will also be offering special bonuses to those who participate.</p>
<p class="">PlayStation®Plus subscribers will have early access to the Open Beta Test from Tuesday, October 29 at 10:00am GMT+7 / 11:00pm GMT+8 until Thursday, October 31 at 9:59am GMT+7 / 10:59am GMT+8.</p>
<p class="">Those who are not PS Plus subscribers can also participate in the Open Beta Test from Friday, November 1 at 10:00am GMT+7 / 11:00am GMT+8 to Monday, November 4 at 9:59am GMT+7 / 10:59am GMT+8.</p>
<p class="">Today, we’ll be sharing information about the newly released trailer, as well as special experiences you can enjoy on PlayStation®5. Make sure to watch until the end!</p>
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<p class=""> Monster Hunter Wilds: 5th Trailer | The Black Flame| PlayStation®5</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New locale – Oilwell Basin</strong></h2>
<p class="">The Oilwell Basin is a new locale where the expedition team arrives. As the name implies, the area is brimming with oil wells, which will periodically burst into violent flames.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/4ccc2ed987e0f033a3298b199d5cb06f4b71da6e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/251ae48a28f1d0079ecdf98330eb06d2da08a979-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class=""><strong>Azuz, the Everforge</strong></p>
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</figure>
<p class="">In the Oilwell Basin, there’s a community that has settled around a large fire forge, where people skilled in the art of forging reside. Please look forward to what stories await you in Azuz.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/5b4b7bdfbdc819e56cf23884e94a42bbab74ee17-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/969e79dd2a04a7bc2d9d53804a68d1b8b03b50a3-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New monsters with unique ecology to discover in the Oilwell Basin</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>The Black Flame</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/8b8fcba71b389a5997e492be5d195f13faea60c3-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/a47cc27a93816bf07e355bba215e85efb6a56716-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">A mysterious monster the people from Azuz call the “Black Flame.” </p>
<p class=""><strong>Fanged Beast, Ajarakan</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/fffef84d48abc9edc916e89bd98feb34cfda4003-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/2171b26650e83a6eef66614795195fb24d6af66f-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">With a distinct well-developed shell that covers its back, Ajarakan is active during the Inclemency of the Oilwell Basin, the Firespring, and turns into a sweltering red when it rubs its shell against itself.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Brute Wyvern, Rompopolo</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/e3f95698ee7ce1e3cf4e4603d99ae1f8f156fdbf-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/4865e0a77f35a84f4b64fa13bd99ca4d64e56dc8-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">A monster that inhabits areas with deep oil silts. </p>
<p class="">As you may have noticed, monsters in the Oilwell Basin have adapted to the changing environment with their unique ecological anatomies.</p>
<p class="">What did you think of the new trailer?</p>
<p class="">What will the hunter and the expedition team witness in this area? Expect new findings, deeper mysteries, and a story that will expand into the vast reaches of the land.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/03f03e3174d548c5ee70fa8a483340d456d8d674-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/fe1ff94c94ce907368b955fd1ac709b75a5c7165-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/1c995ab17c2d374b23e6f02da48050c77606a62e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/ab303950735cae334c5fca4439b76da916049e5f-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What you can experience in the Open Beta Test</strong></h2>
<p class="">The Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Test includes three pieces of content: Character Creation, the Story Trial, and the Doshaguma Hunt. Traverse the Windward Plains to experience a changing ecosystem rife with opportunity.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Character Creation</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/2e34b46dd741922e74d28f2c2f60da5a7092a279-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/462325fc60b1f624f7434a47de171c4535212819-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/27c68940ab3efb00015a8976fb01f527be5517d5-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/3c8250f753110e5bb9a5460e19d0d2063b474a95-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/9fcea1c675b295cddf6300b222c5d442f6271a5b-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/fe97136ec8f4abbd2a66d3c72d1f18fc1d3b03a6-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<p class="">Identical to the full release, Character Creation in the Open Beta Test allows players to select their physique and other characteristics (physique does not affect the player’s ability to play the game). Character designs created in the Open Beta Test can be carried over to the full release of the game (game progress will not be carried over). During the Open Beta Test, you can redo Character Creation as many times as you like, so why not take this opportunity to create your favorite Hunter and Palico?</p>
<p class="">Story Trial / Doshaguma Hunt</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/b4c41b5431f86d36b8ae188e58645e4e187a4e07-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/12220bd5329e61feb17107bc46919b0a12b81a8f-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">In the Story Trial where you can experience the opening of the game, you will play through the beginning of the story in an uninterrupted and seamless experience to defeat Chatacabra, which also includes a basic tutorial.</p>
<p class="">In the Doshaguma Hunt, take on the titular Doshaguma (alpha) that leads the herd.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/5a28fd7a6e7a22096bf6f49b9fcabcc639e40141-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/d8e022a22bee050b0244fdaf858a5d58a580738d-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">Both quests can be enjoyed in multiplayer using an SOS Flare to connect with other online players. If players are unable to gather, up to three NPC support hunters will join to assist in the hunt.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/0ea6a1d6996545d203c6435fb7fc2143fac5ccb5-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<p class="">The quest counter, which can be accessed by talking to Alma, the Handler, allows you to set the number of multiplayer players and other conditions in detail. You can set the number of players to four, or you can call one NPC support hunter and hunt alongside a Palico, etc.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/b312e6fb7ac8c1b9350d2e50b6a038df8b21d277-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/6de01c0c7adba9caf1bcfb2a6cc8d807ddded182-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Open Beta Test Bonus</strong></h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/a42c2d104117d56bc25e8a45ac4b5cf8cd99acca-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/01b51158866a934d4e330814ca507226aef04896-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">By participating in the Open Beta Test, players will receive a Pendant and item pack that can be used to decorate their weapons and Seikret in the full release. These bonuses will be available as downloadable content. Enjoy decorating your weapons and Seikret in the full release of the game on February 28.</p>
<p class="">Now let’s review the Open Beta Test schedule!</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/1224f78fa90f929d57afbc71f5e7884a3180312e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/68e889ca7dd94cc090be95b6caf00781cc6379fe-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">PlayStation®5</p>
<p class="">PlayStation®Plus subscribers will have early access to the Open Beta Test from Tuesday, October 29 at 10:00am GMT+7 / 11:00pm GMT+8</p>
<p class="">A minimum of 18 GB of free space is required on the PlayStation®5.</p>
<p class="">All PlayStation™Network account holders</p>
<p class="">(Those who are not subscribed to PlayStation®Plus can also participate.)</p>
<p class="">Date: Friday, November 1 at 10:00am GMT+7 / 11:00am GMT+8 until Monday, November 4 at 09:59am GMT+7 / 10:59am GMT+8. </p>
<p class="">Pre-downloading is scheduled to begin at 10:00am GMT+7 / 11:00am GMT+8 on Thursday, October 31, 2024. </p>
<p class="">A minimum of 18 GB of free space is required on the PlayStation®5.</p>
<p class="">Start times may vary.</p>
<p class="">For more information, please visit the official Monster Hunter Wilds website.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Discover a special experience with PS5®.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p class="">Today, we are also happy to reveal the DualSense wireless controller – Monster Hunter Wilds Limited Edition. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1707" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/a681bd6e7a76a55a36fb5542b0232ce657fede94-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> </figcaption></figure>
<p class="">Starting on November 22, 2024, players from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam will be able to pre-order the controller from select retailers for SGD 119 / MYR 419 / IDR 1,549,000 / THB 2,890 / PHP 4,890 / VND 2,399,000. </p>
<p class="">The DualSense wireless controller – Monster Hunter Wilds Limited Edition will be available from February 28, 2025, day-and-date with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. Availability may vary by country/region, so be sure to check your <a href="https://www.playstation.com/local/retailers/">local retailers</a>.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DualSense® Wireless Controller</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>Haptic feedback</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c98d0a24136a96b46a444a6a06bfdca80f25149e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/f2ba108b1d16d25ce2bfdd9d25d2536b4a7c5e8f-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">Feel every moment in your hands with haptic feedback, which allows you to enjoy precisely expressed vibrations in a variety of scenes, from natural phenomena such as lightning strikes to the roar of a monster.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Integrated speaker</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c02e5bd1a18db42c5e357bb1e3d509f62f459a41-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<p class="">The controller’s Integrated speaker emits the sounds of the Seikret and other endemic life. You can hear the breath of nearby living creatures.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Supports Tempest 3D audio technology</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/58184fe98fbc3f7baf21289ee7e440dac4d5d314-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/b2518a150f850723913fef81b19aa4773c7c2105-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">With state-of-the-art acoustic technology, you can hear the pulse of nature and life as if you were surrounded by it.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Adaptive triggers</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 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/2024/10/ab2013037dac015df86395032948830e2b1298e4-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="576" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/650d6e7400487c21ef3b64c2efac8cb4f4aba5f8-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024" width="1024"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">Another supported feature is adaptive triggers, which change the button resistance depending on the situation. The adaptive resistance allows players to zoom in and out of the map more intuitively and improves usability while exploring vast locales.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Motion sensor</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/a3bad29041eacaf0b3065f4a36718698909c76d9-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/a1b0b4348c6e4af0b417c9bf6c2a4064fd3902b0-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">The accelerometer and gyroscope allow intuitive camera operation. This improves maneuverability during Focus Mode and long-range weapon aim, making it easier to target monsters.</p>
<p class="">Expect an immersive experience that only the PlayStation®5 version of Monster Hunter Wilds can provide.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Summary</h2>
<p class="">That is all for today!</p>
<p class="">Although gameplay in the Open Beta Test will be limited, we hope you will be able to experience the seamless immersive experience, the dynamically-changing environment, and realistic monster ecology.</p>
<p class="">Monster Hunter Wilds is now available for pre-order. Make sure to get the Hunter Layered Armor, Guild Knight Set, and Hope Charm.</p>
<p class="">Pre-ordering at PS Store will also include the PlayStation®Store exclusive pre-order bonus Monster Hunter Wilds Digital Mini Art Book.</p>
<p class="">Hunters around the world, we’ll see you in the Open Beta Test! Monster Hunter Wilds will release on PlayStation®5 on Friday, February 28.</p>
<p class=""></p>
<p class=""><em>Online multiplayer in the full version requires a PlayStation®Plus subscription. Broadband Internet access is required.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/23/towers-of-aghasba-launches-into-early-access-november-19-first-look-at-new-gameplay-with-dev-insights/',
                'Towers of Aghasba launches into Early Access November 19 – first look at new gameplay with dev insights',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/203cb600c8a4ba30932e654d834b7c9126863284-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Building a living space like a home or town, gathering and utilizing resources, and expanding and discovering new ways to interact with your environment are themes that have universal appeal and many players find tremendously satisfying. Now, independent developer Dreamlit Inc. is readying a fresh new take on the building genre with Towers of Aghasba, launching into Early Access on November 19 on PS5. Towers of Aghasba is a visually stunning game in a vibrant, fantastical environment that combines open-world exploration, combat, and adventure with the building and resourcefulness of life sims. We recently got the chance to preview new gameplay and gain some insight from devs on this upcoming enchanting adventure.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/31zMYmS3m9I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Withering heights</strong></h3>
<p class="">A long time ago, the Shimu people were forced from their ancestral land–the titular Aghasba–by a destructive force called the Withering. Fate has intervened with a shipwreck on Aghasba, and the time has now come for the Shimu to reclaim what was taken from them. Stepping into the shoes of the tribe’s Junior Architect, you have many roles to fill: adventurer, hunter, explorer, archaeologist, crafter, fisherman, planner, gatherer, and builder. All of these skills (and more) will be necessary to learn about the Withering and to put an end to the dark force once and for all.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083345417_673ad9a885_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083345417_673ad9a885_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">While there are dark forces and belligerent creatures in these lands, you are not thrust into combat, but instead taught the ways of cultivation and construction. By revitalizing the world’s ecosystems and building communities, you work to take back the Withered lands and create new places filled with color and life.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Rebuilding your way</strong> </h3>
<p class="">You start small by choosing a parcel of land and planting seeds. The first seed you plant sprouts a strange, small plant creature alongside a Colossal Tree. The tree and numerous plants that grow–over 120 different varieties–bring in other kinds of life and provide resources to build and craft with. By bringing in and planting different seeds, you can cultivate a local ecosystem, and from there build towns and agricultural establishments. The way these lands transform is entirely decided by your actions.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397575"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/7b0f581df2619e607bdd4043737e7ca6d84062d8.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">Player agency and choice are the guiding principles behind much of Aghasba. Besides choosing what you plant, you can decide how to interact with the world’s fauna through acts like hunting, fishing, feeding wildlife, rebuilding towns, and making a wealth of customization items.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video wp-video-397576"><video autoplay="" controls="" data-src="https://blog.playstation.com/uploads/2024/10/c90c4cdfc08154cc1577abed810024c7e2ce610b.mp4" loop="" muted="" playsinline="" preload="metadata" style="aspect-ratio: 1280 / 720;"></video></figure>
<p class="">As you explore and cultivate, you begin to find remnants of the old Shimu society, and hints as to why the people had to abandon this land.”There is a narrative around the group of people you arrive with,”  explains Towers of Aghasba designer Dave Nguyen. “You are all trying to restore the land together, and along the way, there will be branching of quest lines and many optional quests as well as freedom to explore. Through NPCs and by discovering relics scattered across the land, the player will uncover bits and pieces of history around this land and the older civilization that once was.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084469638_ecc2e78425_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084469638_ecc2e78425_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">It’s not all rebuilding and exploring, however. Sometimes you will be forced into conflict, be it through the need to hunt for supplies or to battle creatures corrupted by the Withering. At the start of the game, roughly 70% of the world is covered by the Withering’s blight, leaving you plenty of work to do to reclaim it. Whether you want to take your time rebuilding to craft gear and items before trying to tackle the Withered monsters or attempt to conquer these areas ASAP is, as typical for this game, up to you.  </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Aghasba the beautiful</strong></h3>
<p class="">One of the most striking elements of Towers of Aghasba is its visuals. The enchanting environments, strange creatures, and mysterious structures that dot the landscape create a world rich in appeal and intrigue. The best part is that you’re free to explore it as you please.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084226641_fbb8dd9adc_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084226641_fbb8dd9adc_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The team behind the game discussed many of their inspirations behind the graphic design in our preview session. Ancient civilizations from Africa, as well as the Aztecs and the Jomon peoples, were referenced to give the game’s visual identity a distinct feel. The team also expressed their great admiration for the beloved anime films of Studio Ghibli, especially Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke. In fact, there’s a direct connection to Studio Ghibli in Towers of Aghasba: Many of the game’s textures were hand-painted by Ghibli artist Yoichi Nishikawa.</p>
<p class="">PS5 gamers can also take heart in knowing that they’re getting an especially optimized sensory experience. The 3D spatial audio has received particular attention, immersing you in the world as you explore. “You’ll hear bugs flying around and the waves crashing along the shorelines, and you can turn your camera around and really get a good sense of where sound’s coming from,” notes Nguyen. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084557544_6b2458f02e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084557544_6b2458f02e_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Players can also expect the DualSense wireless controller to play a key part in the Aghasba experience. “We use the controller lights to indicate low and critical health. Haptic feedback is used during combat and many events that will pull the player into an immersive experience, such as being near a large creature’s footsteps or feeling the power behind their roar. Adaptive triggers are also used to give a sense of weight behind swinging different melee weapons and also during the drawback of a bow,” Nguyen continues.</p>
<p class="">Towers of Aghasba is one of the handful of promising titles to launch in Early Access on PS5 this November 19, with further content and updates regularly.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/23/no-mans-skys-halloween-expedition-the-cursed-is-out-today/',
                'No Man’s Sky’s Halloween expedition, The Cursed, is out today',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/71387ead7bedda53e0573e34def09d507a1c8d80.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello, our tiny No Man’s Sky team has a Halloween treat for our PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation VR players.</p>
<p class="">Our last update saw players enjoying a nice chill time, as we added fishing to No Man’s Sky. Our next update couldn’t be more different. As we approach Halloween, we want to scare and surprise players, and The Cursed is an unexpectedly creepy update for No Man’s Sky.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yem4YoPS-YA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">The Cursed is a weird and unsettling gameplay event, where you’ll fight to keep a grip on reality while haunted by visions and voices from another dimension.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083367228_0acc080d35_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083367228_0acc080d35_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Taking place in a sort of twilight universe, The Cursed straddles the boundary between one reality and the next. Here, time can shift unexpectedly, spinning from day to night at a vertigo-inducing rate.</p>
<p class="">The new Boundary Herald Starship is your safe haven in this haunted universe. Our first flying saucer, is a gorgeous Giger-esque coil of tubes, pipeworks, and engines.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083367008_61fc2c60b3_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083367008_61fc2c60b3_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Players must protect themselves against the weakening of the boundaries of reality. Your exosuit comes fitted with a specialized Anomaly Suppressor – maintaining this is the key to surviving while the universe begins to break down around you.</p>
<p class="">As players struggle to navigate these haunted worlds, they may come face to face with the ghostly beings that drift across the boundaries. Sometimes these spectral anomalies merely observe, and sometimes they can turn much more hostile. These encounters provide players with new challenging enemies and boss battles, at a scale not seen before in No Man’s Sky.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083366968_264462aab7_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083366968_264462aab7_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Travellers will not have access to hyperdrive technology, meaning no warping between star systems. Instead, interstellar travel requires careful planning and use of the ancient portal network.</p>
<p class="">Haunting voices, leaking through from another dimension, will provide guidance, information, strange blueprints,and mystery. It is up to you to decide who these voices belong to, where they are coming from, and if they are to be trusted.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083118036_711213ff68_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083118036_711213ff68_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">The Cursed brings with it a host of exclusive spooky rewards, including a Cthulhu-esque Horror Exosuit customization, bioluminescent pets, and the ultimate reward, retrieved from the reality collapse, the UFO-like Boundary Herald Starship.</p>
<p class="">Travel beyond the boundaries and fortify your mind against spectral anomalies – or succumb to the call of the world of glass. The expedition begins today, free for existing PlayStation players and will run for approximately two weeks. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083118011_fe24cc1d42_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54083118011_fe24cc1d42_o.png"/></a>
<p class="">Our last update Aquarius, brought fishing to No Man’s Sky and proved very popular. For us, 2024 continues to be one of our most popular years since launch. In the coming weeks, we have several more surprises, including a specific release to take advantage of the incredible power of the PlayStation 5 Pro at launch.</p>
<p class="">Our journey continues.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/23/monster-hunter-wilds-open-beta-test-launches-on-ps5-next-week/',
                'Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Test launches on PS5 next week',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/60139b4ae185d1f8c25022081e7c9a627ff34683.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’ve got some adventurous announcements to make for those who are eagerly awaiting the release of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/monster-hunter-wilds">Monster Hunter Wilds</a> on February 28!</p>
<p class="">First, we invite you to participate in the Open Beta Test in October to traverse the dynamically-changing locales, examine the diverse ecology, and test your hunting skills on PlayStation 5. We will also be offering special bonuses to those who participate.</p>
<p class="">PlayStation Plus members will have early access to the Open Beta Test from Monday, October 28, 8pm PT / Tuesday October 29 3am GMT, 12pm JST until Wednesday, October 30 at 7:59pm PT / Thursday October 31 2.59am GMT, 11.59am JST. </p>
<p class="">Those who are not PS Plus members can also participate in the Open Beta Test from Thursday, October 31 8pm PT / Friday November 1 3am GMT, 12pm JST to Sunday, November 3 at 6:59pm PT / Monday, November 4 at 2.59am GMT, 11.59am JST. (Time adjusted for Daylight Savings Time.)</p>
<p class="">Today, we’ll be sharing information about the newly released trailer, as well as special experiences you can enjoy on PlayStation 5. Make sure to watch until the end!</p>
<p class=""></p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9p4uj0mHBQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class=""><strong>New locale – Oilwell Basin</strong></p>
<p class="">The Oilwell Basin is a new locale where the expedition team arrives. As the name implies, the area is brimming with oil wells, which will periodically burst into violent flames.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217186_3287ce9e01_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217186_3287ce9e01_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Azuz, the Everforge</strong></p>
<p class="">In the Oilwell Basin, there’s a community that has settled around a large fire forge, where people skilled in the art of forging reside. Please look forward to what stories await you in Azuz.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075541314_496a877cd9_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075541314_496a877cd9_o.jpg"/></a>  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New monsters with unique ecology to discover in the Oilwell Basin</h2>
<p class=""><strong>The Black Flame</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473963_aa73a0728a_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473963_aa73a0728a_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">A mysterious monster the people from Azuz call the “Black Flame.” </p>
<p class=""><strong>Fanged Beast, Ajarakan</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667765_6d2843483f_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667765_6d2843483f_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">With a distinct well-developed shell that covers its back, Ajarakan is active during the Inclemency of the Oilwell Basin, the Firespring, and turns into a sweltering red when it rubs its shell against itself.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Brute Wyvern, Rompopolo</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473948_d3d870bbe6_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473948_d3d870bbe6_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">A monster that inhabits areas with deep oil silts.</p>
<p class="">As you may have noticed, monsters in the Oilwell Basin have adapted to the changing environment with their unique ecological anatomies.</p>
<p class="">What did you think of the new trailer?</p>
<p class="">What will the hunter and the expedition team witness in this area? Expect new findings, deeper mysteries, and a story that will expand into the vast reaches of the land.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667785_9fde6cee1c_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667785_9fde6cee1c_o.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What you can experience in the Open Beta Test</h2>
<p class="">The Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Test includes three pieces of content: Character Creation, the Story Trial, and the Doshaguma Hunt. Traverse the Windward Plains to experience a changing ecosystem rife with opportunity.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Character Creation</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473928_770a7da859_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075473928_770a7da859_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Identical to the full release, Character Creation in the Open Beta Test allows players to select their physique and other characteristics (physique does not affect the player’s ability to play the game). Character designs created in the Open Beta Test can be carried over to the full release of the game (game progress will not be carried over). During the Open Beta Test, you can redo Character Creation as many times as you like, so why not take this opportunity to create your favorite Hunter and Palico?</p>
<p class=""><strong>Story Trial / Doshaguma Hunt</strong></p>
<p class="">In the Story Trial where you can experience the opening of the game, you will play through the beginning of the story in an uninterrupted and seamless experience to defeat Chatacabra, which also includes a basic tutorial.</p>
<p class="">In the Doshaguma Hunt, take on the titular Doshaguma (alpha) that leads the herd.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217161_b0f8dc25f9_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217161_b0f8dc25f9_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Both quests can be enjoyed in multiplayer using an SOS Flare to connect with other online players. If players are unable to gather, up to three NPC support hunters will join to assist in the hunt.</p>
<p class="">The quest counter, which can be accessed by talking to Alma, the Handler, allows you to set the number of multiplayer players and other conditions in detail. You can set the number of players to four, or you can call one NPC support hunter and hunt alongside a Palico, etc.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Open Beta Test Bonus</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217191_3a6bbc4079_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075217191_3a6bbc4079_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">By participating in the Open Beta Test, players will receive a Pendant and item pack that can be used to decorate their weapons and Seikret in the full release. These bonuses will be available as downloadable content. Enjoy decorating your weapons and Seikret in the full release of the game on February 28.</p>
<p class="">Now let’s review the Open Beta Test schedule*!</p>
<p class="">PlayStation 5</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>PlayStation Plus members only: Early Access</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dates: Monday, October 28, 8:00pm PT / Tuesday October 29 3am GMT, 12pm JST – Wednesday, October 30 at 7:59pm PT / Thursday October 31 2.59am GMT, 11.59am JST. </li>
<li>Pre-downloading is scheduled to begin at 8pm PT on Sunday, October 27, 2024 / 3am GMT, 12pm JST Monday, October 28. </li>
<li><em>A minimum of 18 GB of free space is required on the PlayStation 5.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>All PlayStation Network account holders</strong></li>
</ul>
<p class="">(Those who are not subscribed to PlayStation Plus can also participate.)</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Thursday, October 31 8pm PT / Friday November 1 3am GMT, 12pm JST – Sunday, November 3 at 6:59pm PT / Monday, November 4 at 2.59am GMT, 11.59am JST.</li>
<li>Pre-downloading is scheduled to begin at 8pm PT on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 / 3am GMT, 12pm JST Thursday, October 31. </li>
<li><em>A minimum of 18 GB of free space is required on the PlayStation 5.</em></li>
</ul>
<p class="">*Start times may vary. For more information, please visit the official Monster Hunter Wilds website.</p>
<p class="">Discover a special experience with PS5 with the DualSense Wireless controller: </p>
<p class=""><strong>Haptic feedback</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074336842_cbfe3aa6de_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074336842_cbfe3aa6de_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Feel every moment in your hands with haptic feedback, which allows you to enjoy precisely expressed vibrations in a variety of scenes, from natural phenomena such as lightning strikes to the roar of a monster.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Integrated speaker</strong></p>
<p class="">The controller’s Integrated speaker emits the sounds of the Seikret and other endemic life. You can hear the breath of nearby living creatures.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Supports Tempest 3D audio technology</strong></p>
<p class="">With state-of-the-art acoustic technology, you can hear the pulse of nature and life as if you were surrounded by it.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Adaptive triggers</strong></p>
<p class="">Another supported feature is adaptive triggers, which change the button resistance depending on the situation. The adaptive resistance allows players to zoom in and out of the map more intuitively and improves usability while exploring vast locales.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Motion sensor</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667740_30c1c883d0_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075667740_30c1c883d0_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The accelerometer and gyroscope allow intuitive camera operation. This improves maneuverability during Focus Mode and long-range weapon aim, making it easier to target monsters.</p>
<p class="">Expect an immersive experience that only the PlayStation®5 version of Monster Hunter Wilds can provide.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Summary</h2>
<p class="">That is all for today! </p>
<p class="">Although gameplay in the Open Beta Test will be limited, we hope you will be able to experience the seamless immersive experience, the dynamically-changing environment, and realistic monster ecology.</p>
<p class="">Monster Hunter Wilds is now available for pre-order. Make sure to get the Hunter Layered Armor, Guild Knight Set, and Hope Charm.</p>
<p class="">Pre-ordering at PlayStation Store will also include the PlayStation Store exclusive pre-order bonus Monster Hunter Wilds Digital Mini Art Book.</p>
<p class="">Hunters around the world, we’ll see you in the Open Beta Test! Monster Hunter Wilds will release on PlayStation 5 on Friday, February 28.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Online multiplayer in </em><em>the full version </em><em>requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. Broadband Internet access is required.</em></p>
</div>',
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/24/10-great-horror-games-available-with-playstation-plus/',
                '10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c33d383fe9f04c4891cb35252eb45f8f7a56772f.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">‘Tis the season for demons – Halloween is the only time of the year where we can indulge the ghastly glee of throwing on a ghoulish costume and frightening the daylights out of each other without calling the authorities.</p>
<p class="">Of course, sometimes you just want to experience the fun that comes with a great scare entirely within your own safe, four walls. Which is the perfect time to let your PlayStation transport you to a variety of otherworldly settings that will leave you clammy, spooked and smiling.</p>
<p class="">There are plenty of bloodcurdlingly brilliant horror games across PS4 and PS5 that will do the trick or treat, but here’s a selection of our favorites which are currently available on PlayStation Plus that will deliver a wonderfully wild Halloween experience straight into your home…. no cursed video tape required.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dead Space | Electronic Arts</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5</li>
<li>Essential, Extra, and Premium (available until Nov 4)</li>
</ul>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="Y2-_0bZHJOs">
<button class="youtube-video__load-button">
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<title></title><path class="icon-primary-color" d="M0 1.75v17l20-8.5z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg>
<span class="screen-reader-text">Play  Video</span>
</button>
<img alt="10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y2-_0bZHJOs/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Sci-fi survival horror was given a new lease of blood-flecked life when EA’s instant classic originally space walked onto PS3 way back in 2008. Since then it’s had several spin-offs and sequels, but the 2023 remake on PS5 reconfirmed how atmospheric, tense and well-crafted Dead Space has always been. Staying alive against the terrifying Necromorphs of the dread ship Ishimura is an unforgettable experience, but remember: not all headshots will earn the expected results. You have been warned.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! | Serenity Forge</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS4</li>
<li>Essential, Extra, and Premium (available until Nov 4)</li>
</ul>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="94CECR1-xwQ">
<button class="youtube-video__load-button">
<svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--play icon--26 icon--play icon--blue" focusable="false" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20">
<title></title><path class="icon-primary-color" d="M0 1.75v17l20-8.5z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg>
<span class="screen-reader-text">Play  Video</span>
</button>
<img alt="10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/94CECR1-xwQ/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">With its breezy anime style and colorful high school setting, you’d be forgiven for thinking this visual novel is innocent and even a little saccharine. But if Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! had a voice, it would be sinisterly laughing at such an understandable yet utterly misguided assumption. Beneath the cheery surface is an inventive, dark, fourth wall breaking psychological horror that spins its story in directions I promise you’ll never see coming. Seriously – this is not for the faint of heart.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Resident Evil 2 (2019) | Capcom</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS4</li>
<li>Extra and Premium</li>
</ul>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="jdlvKQjTuLo">
<button class="youtube-video__load-button">
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<title></title><path class="icon-primary-color" d="M0 1.75v17l20-8.5z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg>
<span class="screen-reader-text">Play  Video</span>
</button>
<img alt="10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/jdlvKQjTuLo/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Returning to the zombie-infested Raccoon City might have filled rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and student Claire Redfield with fear, but the rest of us couldn’t wait for the stunning remake to hit PS4 and PS5. Capcom’s impressive dedication to updating the original’s visuals and gameplay while maintaining its jump scares and tension pays off, with Resident Evil 2 masterfully threading the eternally tricky, bloodstained needle of satisfying old and new survival horror fans alike.<br/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS4</li>
<li>Extra and Premium</li>
</ul>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="uAn7OxLub9Y">
<button class="youtube-video__load-button">
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<title></title><path class="icon-primary-color" d="M0 1.75v17l20-8.5z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg>
<span class="screen-reader-text">Play  Video</span>
</button>
<img alt="10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/uAn7OxLub9Y/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Roguelike deck-building games aren’t typically the first genres that spring to mind when it comes to horror, but Inscryption mixes things up with intense narrative interludes and a shadowy dealer inside a claustrophobic cabin, creating a supremely unsettling atmosphere. Inscryption uses a sense of mystery and minimalism to not only draw you in, but also to keep you on edge – because it’s never just about the blinking, fluttering, oddly alive cards you’re playing with… </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dead by Daylight | Behaviour Entertainment</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS4</li>
<li>Extra and Premium</li>
</ul>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="ecLOYwPVnmQ">
<button class="youtube-video__load-button">
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<title></title><path class="icon-primary-color" d="M0 1.75v17l20-8.5z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg>
<span class="screen-reader-text">Play  Video</span>
</button>
<img alt="10 great horror games available with PlayStation Plus" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/ecLOYwPVnmQ/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Cat and mouse games are always more engaging when they’re played with friends, so Dead by Daylight leans into that concept in a brutal 4vs1 multiplayer horror set-up. Four of you take the role of survivors trying to escape the lone killer player in procedurally generated environments. If you’ve ever wanted to be in a playable slasher flick, Dead by Daylight delivers an abundance of gory glee. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dredge | Team17</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS4</li>
<li>Extra and Premium</li>
</ul>
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<p class="">Even from its first few minutes of boat sailing gameplay, there’s something deeply unnerving about Dredge. After playing it for longer, you’ll soon realize what it is – pretty much everything. From its subtly eerie soundscape to the memorably odd characters you encounter, this off-kilter fishing adventure isn’t strictly a horror game but expertly plays with your imagination. A masterclass in building tension, Dredge dares you to explore its eldritch fever fringed world… and then entraps you with its compelling narrative. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Last of Us Part I | Sony Interactive Entertainment</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5</li>
<li>Extra and Premium</li>
</ul>
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<p class="">Due to its world-beating TV adaptation, The Last of Us has become a multimedia phenomenon, but seeing where it all started it’s easy to see why its story has become such a powerful mainstay. Remaking the original and its expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind, this Naughty Dog action-adventure pulls no punches in a world ravaged by infected humans… and worse – uninfected, morally devastated people. A heartbreaking, genre-defining title. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Siren</strong> <strong>| Sony Interactive Entertainment</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS4</li>
<li>Premium</li>
</ul>
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<p class="">Ghost stories are especially effective in video games, with Siren a testament to that – outmatching many big screen equivalents with its creeping tension and haunting horror. The stealth game’s secret weapon for scares is the ‘Sightjack’ ability, letting you see the world through the eyes of others, including the monstrous Shibito while you attempt to survive the cursed mountain village of Hanuda. It also means you can suffer a first-hand view of own gruesome demise if you’re not especially careful.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Walking Dead: Saints &amp; Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution | Skydance Interactive</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS5, PS VR2</li>
<li>Premium</li>
</ul>
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<p class="">There’s something terrifyingly intimate about horror games in virtual reality, so entering the already ruthless undead-laden world of The Walking Dead via PlayStation VR2 only ups the stakes. Naturally taking the form of a first-person shooter, this chapter opens up New Orleans for you to explore and survive in, whether it’s against the walkers, unhinged humans or the mythical serial slasher only known as the Axeman. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Doom 3 | Activision</strong></h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>PS4</li>
<li>Premium</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54058107513_7a84d227ed_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54058107513_7a84d227ed_c.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Acting as a more story-driven reboot of the original game, Doom 3 tosses you into a Hell-spawn ravaged Mars research facility, armed with a flashlight. Okay, and some instantly recognisable weapons, too. Switching the series to a slightly more measured, atmospheric tone compared to its more fast-paced roots, Doom 3 is the survival horror first-person shooter which helped inspire an entire genre, and still holds up many years after its initial release.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/24/helldivers-2-truth-enforcers-warbond-launches-oct-31/',
                'Helldivers 2: Truth Enforcers Warbond launches Oct 31',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/366e497d1234eef59a21be7c71690a0efede902d-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">If there’s one thing we love here on Super Earth, it’s the truth. We’ve even got a whole Ministry dedicated to the creation, fine-tuning, and wide distribution of it. It’s about time we gave our Helldivers some Ministry of Truth-approved equipment to match our deep, enduring love of and commitment to the Truth. With these tools, you will become one of Super Earth’s official Truth Enforcers.</p>
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<p class="">Being a Truth Enforcer means showing your allegiance to Super Earth’s superiority as the arbiters of truth. The best way to demonstrate loyalty? By carrying the PLAS-15 Loyalist plasma pistol. Come on, it’s got “loyal” in the name already. It also allows you to shoot semi-auto style, or you can charge it up for a shot with more kick.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086973784_28d4651f74_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086973784_28d4651f74_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We have two infallible primary weapons available in Truth Enforcers, too. First up is the SG-20 Halt: a pump-action shotgun, similar to the Punisher, that can alternate between stun rounds and armor-penetrating flechette rounds. You can stun foes with accuracy and pierce through their lies with little arrows of veracity. If that’s not enough raw sincerity to take them out, you’ve also got the SMG-32 Reprimand, which is a heavy SMG. It also has a cool slap reload, just like in the accurate, true-to-life movies you love. </p>
<p class="">It’s not enough to signal your Enforcer status with weapons alone, however. You’re also going to need some new Helldrip. For our light armor-loving comrades, you can tap into your bureaucratic spirit with the UF-16 Inspector in crisp, stain-free white with red accents and a coordinating cape, the “Proof of Faultless Virtue.” It’s giving overseer. Squad Leader.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54085765677_48c43fef90_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54085765677_48c43fef90_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">But let’s say you want something a little more hefty and protective, in which case I recommend the UF-50 Bloodhound medium armor and the “Pride of the Whistleblower” cape, picking up on those deep, official-looking reds. And because we want our Helldivers to stand strong against all who oppose the truth, both of these armors have the Unflinching passive, which reduces staggering when hit.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086888603_af19eebf9e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086888603_af19eebf9e_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Truth Enforcers also includes new cosmetic patterns for your hellpods, exosuits, and Pelican-1. The Inconspicuous Black Pattern looks as mysterious as it does ceremonial. Equip these and you’ll bring immediate order to the chaos of other divers in your squad. To fully walk the walk and demonstrate your commitment to Super Earth’s order to the team, you can equip the new player title, Free of Thought.</p>
<p class="">You’ll also be able to secure the At Ease emote, giving your Helldiver a stoic, commanding, order-following vibe. This Enforcer isn’t the type to laugh at all these pull-my-finger emote jokesters on the squad. You know they need proper clearance and permits for that.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086973789_bc5bc6c384_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54086973789_bc5bc6c384_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Don’t worry–we didn’t forget about the booster, either. Have you ever wanted just a little bit more stamina on the battlefield? Have you ever thought, while being chased by a Terminid horde, I’d die to have just a bit more gas to go the distance. If that sounds like you, Helldiver, then I have some good news: the new Dead Sprint booster may drain your health once your stamina is at zero, but it will enable you to keep outrunning the enemy.</p>
<p class="">The spread of truth and justice across the galaxy is a big job, Helldiver, but a real Truth Enforcer has the tools and the talent to do it. The Truth Enforcers Premium Warbond* lands on October 31!</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/25/phasmophobias-ps-vr2-features-detailed/',
                'Phasmophobia’s PS VR2 features detailed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c962348ffd5f669f3ffc7c31839ecfe67870bcaa.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Gather your friends, grab your EMF Reader and prepare for spine-chilling ghost hunts because Phasmophobia is finally coming to PS5 and PS VR2 on October 29, 2024. Just in time for Halloween! Whether you’re an experienced ghost hunter or a new recruit eager to join the supernatural fray, we can’t wait to welcome everyone on PS5 and PS VR2, especially the latter. If you’re up to the task, ghost hunter, you’ll find a genuinely haunting and immersive experience waiting for you in virtual reality. Here’s a look at some of the standout features you can expect when you put on your PS VR2 headset. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Foveated Rendering: Frights with performance in mind </h2>
<p class="">One of the key advantages of Phasmophobia on PS VR2 is the inclusion of foveated rendering. This innovative technology allows the game to deliver a higher, more stable framerate, ensuring that the intense moments of supernatural suspense stay smooth and immersive. How does it work? The PS VR2’s eye-tracking system detects exactly where you’re looking and focuses its processing power on rendering that area in full resolution. Everything in your direct line of sight is sharp and clear. This strategic allocation of resources leads to a significant boost in performance, meaning you can enjoy fluid, responsive gameplay even during the tensest ghost encounters.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084661432_92114771cc_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54084661432_92114771cc_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crystal clear visuals at native PS VR2 resolution </h2>
<p class="">In addition to the performance boost from foveated rendering, Phasmophobia on PS VR2 benefits from the headset’s native resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye. That’s a lot of pixels packed into your ghost-hunting goggles! The game also runs at a 60Hz refresh rate with 120Hz reprojection, ensuring smooth visuals as you explore every eerie hallway, attic, and basement in search of evidence. Whether you’re identifying ghosts from EMF spikes, deciphering spirit box responses, or watching for ghostly apparitions, the added sharpness and clarity help bring each investigation to life in terrifying detail. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A tool belt designed for ghost hunting </h2>
<p class="">One of the features exclusive to the PS VR2 version on the console version of Phasmophobia is the tool belt, which is designed to make ghost hunting more intuitive and streamlined in VR. Managing equipment is crucial to success, and with the tool belt, you’ll have access to up to three pieces of gear at a time. Need to swap out your EMF reader for a camera while holding on to a crucifix for protection? No problem. With the tool belt, swapping gear is as simple as reaching down, grabbing what you need, and staying focused on the paranormal activity around you.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090663126_64bdf28027_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090663126_64bdf28027_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cross-play with PS5 Players </h2>
<p class="">Ghost hunting is always better with friends, and Phasmophobia on PS VR2 makes sure you won’t be ghostbusting alone. PS VR2 players can team up with those on PS5 or PS5 Pro, creating a seamless cross-play experience for console gamers. Whether you’re diving into the investigation in VR or playing on a flat screen, you’ll be able to coordinate with your team, track evidence, and outwit dangerous ghosts together. The ability to play with friends across different PlayStation systems ensures that no one has to miss out on terrifying ghost hunts. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Coming October 29, 2024 </h2>
<p class="">Mark your calendars, because Phasmophobia is bringing its blend of cooperative ghost hunting and hair-raising horror to PS5 and PS VR2 on October 29, 2024. Gather your friends, prepare your equipment, and get ready for the fright of your life! <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10005673">Add Phasmophobia to your wishlist today</a>. </p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/25/share-of-the-week-costumes/',
                'Share of the Week: Costumes',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/c89758ff994aff6d48208c621b93d445eb54b8af.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 gaming characters you’d like to dress up as for Halloween using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089553077_0859c1cd58_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089553077_0859c1cd58_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/ForgottenJasmin/status/1849092434325807555/photo/1"><em>ForgottenJasmin</em></a><em> shares a katana-riddled samurai with a basket for a helmet from Ghost of Tsushima: Legends.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880445_9bdc4285cd_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880445_9bdc4285cd_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/sorathluna/status/1848971734994850281/photo/1"><em>sorathluna</em></a><em> shares a red-headed witch wearing an owl mask from Hogwarts Legacy.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880440_9e4baf44fc_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880440_9e4baf44fc_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/AkiraAoyama_VP/status/1848844817645621483/photo/1"><em>AkiraAoyama_VP</em></a><em> shares the quirky janitor Ahti from Control.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090427041_094dbb2e1b_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090427041_094dbb2e1b_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/BitarHector/status/1849092803843834059/photo/1"><em>BitarHector</em></a><em> shares Aloy striking a pose in one of the Oseram blue and red beaded armors from Horizon Forbidden West.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089553122_fcb1022477_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089553122_fcb1022477_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/juniaxe/status/1848543318118105148/photo/4"><em>juniaxe</em></a><em> shares Claire Redfield in her classic red leather jacket in Resident Evil 2.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880475_2032bed4c7_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880475_2032bed4c7_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/Kirill_Skulkin/status/1847978494304649726/photo/2"><em>Kirill_Skulkin</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a hulking blue Space Marine armor set from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.</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/65535/54090880490_dc4d605e9f_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090880490_dc4d605e9f_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Ghosts and Ghouls<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 30, 2024 </p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re ready to get haunted. Share ghastly ghosts and (non-gory) ghouls from 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/2024/10/28/alien-rogue-incursion-ps-vr2-hands-on-report/',
                'Alien: Rogue Incursion PS VR2 hands-on report',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/51648d1ac3aba3a18a18022ae9ecf1f5a7776c2f.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The Alien franchise has left a long, deep acid burn on the video game medium ever since the release of the first film in 1979. Whether hiding in lockers in Alien Isolation, blasting waves of creatures in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, or guiding a Marine squad to tactical victory in Aliens: Dark Descent, the series’ rich legacy has left plenty of room for creative interpretation.</p>
<p class="">With <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/alien-rogue-incursion/">Alien: Rogue Incursion</a>, celebrated VR developer Survios is aiming to make another major contribution to the Alien gaming legacy. This big-budget, immersive PlayStation VR2 experience promises to make players feel like they’re actually inhabiting the dark, brooding world of the films, from navigating the shadowy hallways to wielding authentic Marine firepower against the titular threat.</p>
<p class="">Ahead of the game’s launch on PS VR2 this December, we went hands-on with a pre-release build of this single-player survival-horror adventure. Here are some highlights of our experience.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092417964_5d950d9b3c_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092417964_5d950d9b3c_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>An immersive VR Alien fantasy </strong></h3>
<p class="">Survios set out to make players feel firmly planted in the oppressive Alien universe, so don’t expect a cakewalk. Ammo and healing items are scarce, xenomorphs can deliver fatal one-hit blows, and hissing steam vents keep you on edge throughout. Rogue Incursion’s high-fidelity VR presentation is a knockout, with a level of visual detail and polish that puts it among the upper echelon of VR titles. You’ll know what we mean when you stare an encroaching alien in its dripping face and it feels like it’s mere inches away. </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The perfect organism</strong></h3>
<p class="">Xenomorphs behave how you’d expect: they’re ominous and unpredictable. Sometimes they’ll slink through a doorway, upright and imposing. At other times they’ll drop to all fours, scuttling forward malevolently. They’re also highly mobile and seemed to take different routes depending on our position, clambering along walls and ceilings or dropping down from vents behind us. Knowing these threats can hit from any angle will keep your head swiveling as you scan the murky environments for threats, keeping your M41 pulse rifle trained on suspicious shapes lurking in the shadows. It all looks and feels ultra faithful to the first two films.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092417959_c3f37a69bd_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092417959_c3f37a69bd_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>On-body inventory</strong></h3>
<p class="">The stakes are high, but Survios has you covered with a slick on-body inventory powered by the PS VR2’s Sense controllers. Reach over your right shoulder to grab your pulse rifle, clutch a healing stim from your left wrist, or draw a revolver from the holster on your hip. In just a few minutes, the intuitive inventory system became second nature, allowing us to keep our attention focused on encroaching hostiles and staying alive for a little while longer.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>There’s something moving and it ain’t us</strong></h3>
<p class="">While there’s plenty of alien-blasting action, Rogue Incursion leaves ample room for quiet, tense moments where we bypassed locked doors or reprogrammed security discs to proceed further. Luckily, we were armed with the iconic Motion Tracker from the second film, and it’s something we quickly came to rely on. Reaching to our right bicep equipped the device, allowing us to track enemy (and ally) movements as we prowled the darkened corridors. This life-saving device can even be placed onto a surface to act as an extra set of eyes as you explore or reload your weapon. Don’t go off-world without it!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092540260_d2db700557_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092540260_d2db700557_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Welcome to the retro-future</strong></h3>
<p class="">The Alien universe’s technological aesthetic was solidified from the first moments we saw the Nostromo’s CRT computer monitors, chunky keyboards, and assorted analog gear. Survios pays thoughtful tribute to this tech, so expect to get up close and personal with plenty of 80’s-style gadgets in Rogue Incursion. The PDA tablet is a perfect example. Retrieved by reaching to your right arm, this handheld device can help you save your game and can be slotted into computers to download data. It also clunkily unfolds to reveal a large virtual touchscreen map, which in a clever touch can be scrolled through using your in-game finger. </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Elevator action</strong></h3>
<p class="">Our hands-on session culminated in a frantic battle against waves of aliens as we waited for an elevator to arrive. We called on all of our gear and skills to hold the line. We blasted flammable barrels to ignite xenomorphs, under the watchful eye of our strategically placed Motion Tracker device. There were many intense close calls, usually forcing us to flee and heal or fumble fresh shells into our shotgun. Suddenly, a spiked tail burst through our chest, ending our game. But we didn’t dread a restart because the unpredictable actions of the aliens made each new attempt feel fresh and interesting.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54091214132_a872592bf9_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54091214132_a872592bf9_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Devils in the details</strong></h3>
<p class="">Survios’ VR expertise was on full display throughout our play session. We were wowed by some of the small, thoughtful details that made the world feel complete, such as using your hand to wipe blood from our eyes or off a computer monitor. The game’s physicality is a huge asset, and as we grew accustomed to removing and replacing weapons and gear from our body, muscle memory took over and the feeling of reality crept in. Reloading a revolver? Press the Circle button to eject the cylinder and shake out the empty casings before reloading each individual bullet. Firing a pulse rifle? Be sure to stabilize the stock with your other hand, or the 10mm explosive-tip caseless rounds will launch into the ceiling instead of at the approaching alien. </p>
<p class="">Needless to say, we were impressed. Get ready to step into the boots of space marine Zula Hendricks when Alien: Rogue Incursion deploys on PS VR2 on December 19.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/28/redacted-launches-october-31-meet-some-of-black-iron-prisons-deadliest-foes/',
                '[Redacted] launches October 31 – meet some of Black Iron Prison’s deadliest foes',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/2b48cef8d734f55501781af3b87b67a89c1a10dc-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">When reimagining Black Iron Prison for a fast-action roguelike dungeon crawler, one of the first things we did was really let our designers run wild with the creatures in the game. We wanted a mix of familiar creatures from TCP and new baddies for players to battle — but everything had to make sense in the crazy comic-inspired future-punk world of [Redacted], which launches on October 31 on PS5.</p>
<p class="">We’ve crammed [Redacted] with enemies, so I’m just gonna share some of the studio’s favorites.</p>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7z1t5BoFFJk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="">First up are Danglers, these guys originated in The Callisto Protocol but we took [Redacted]’s big comic book paintbrush to them.  </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092351787_1e5a0c5ff8_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092351787_1e5a0c5ff8_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Danglers usually spawn in packs and crawl toward you, exploding when they get close and dealing serious damage. They’re weak, so stronger weapons can one-shot these guys, and you can use the GRP or kick to knock them into other enemies. Sounds easy right? </p>
<p class="">Well, In early rooms they’re easy to clear, but they will definitely sneak up on you when things get hectic. And they come in four different flavors. The basic Danglers do an area of effect damage, but the Lightning, Fire, and Cryo versions get a bit tricky – when they’re killed they explode and leave a large electrical, fire, or cryo hazard in their wake. Make sure you don’t box yourself in. </p>
<p class="">Next there’s the Cybernetic Switcher. They’re completely new for [Redacted].  </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093473193_fe24622fe8_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093473193_fe24622fe8_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We dreamed these guys up to force players to change their tactics on the fly. Cybernetic Switchers are fast melee enemies that attack in groups. The catch is that they can alternate blocking melee and ranged attacks – forcing you to change up your combat approach mid-fight. Or, you know, you can just kick them off a ledge, that works too. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093552364_8e7d6c8a4e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093552364_8e7d6c8a4e_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Dasher, as the name suggests, dashes. It’s one of our fastest enemies, dashing from point to point while unleashing melee attacks. There’s also a variant that foregoes melee attacks and leaves grenades in its wake. Their speed makes it hard to pin down and defeat them, so keep moving to avoid their attacks and bully them into submission when there’s an opening. You can also use the GRP to stagger them and get in close to finish them off quickly. </p>
<p class="">The next three enemies we haven’t even shown before and are located in the final levels of the game, so you know they’re gonna be challenging. And they all work in concert to make those last rooms a hell of a battle – but we’ll give you some tips to get you ready. </p>
<p class="">The Crazed Prisoners inhabiting the prison are physically weak opponents – but they aren’t necessarily there to hurt you directly as they actively create distance from you. They spread chaos by lobbing gravity grenades into the thick of battle that suck you toward the epicenter which allows other enemies to focus their attacks on a single point. That single point is you.  </p>
<p class="">Dash to break free of the effect or face defeat. I recommend you take these enemies out quickly, but watch your back because the next two enemies we’re looking at are likely there too. </p>
<p class="">The Robot Shaman isn’t <em>actually </em>magic but it can feel that way sometimes because it buffs surrounding enemies by granting them shields that you have to get through before damaging them.  </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093552434_1bf9809ea1_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54093552434_1bf9809ea1_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">But the Robot Shaman isn’t without damage-dealing powers. It deploys a large electric dome that deals damage if you’re caught inside. You’ll need to quickly balance handling the newly shielded enemies, staying within striking distance to damage the shaman but not so close you’ll be caught in its electric dome. </p>
<p class="">And finally, one of the other big bads from The Callisto Protocol, the Two-Head. They’re slow but big and deadly. We tweaked these heavily throughout the game’s development. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092351807_a544403ff4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54092351807_a544403ff4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Two-Head evolved from a melee-focused character to a deadly ranged enemy that creates a large area of effect damage with additional damage over time. Oh, and it disorients you for a few seconds. Dodge their ground-pound attacks and get behind them to deal heavier backstab damage to take them down quickly.  </p>
<p class="">I wish I could tell you about all the enemies because we’re just scratching the surface, but there are too many to go over here. The great thing is, if you pre-order for PS5, you can discover and experience them for yourself right this second. Otherwise, [Redacted] launches on October 31 on PS5.  </p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/29/mighty-morphin-power-rangers-ritas-rewind-remixes-90s-arcade-games-out-december-10/',
                'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind remixes 90’s arcade games, out December 10',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/1d458aad35f9af5f9bd5e7c35edf96dfb1fd3fb8.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">“Let’s make a 90’s arcade game!” This sounded like a pretty good idea to us at Digital Eclipse back in 2022, when the first seeds of <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10009198">Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind</a> took root. </p>
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<p class="">Arcade gaming was firing on all cylinders when MMPR debuted in 1993. The 16-bit home era was well underway and the original PlayStation was still a year from its release in Japan, so coin-operated games still raked in tons of tokens. So if we wanted to give the Power Rangers the high-energy arcade game they always deserved but never got, let’s make the ultimate version of the game that never existed. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54099909973_4b0e9e8d00_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54099909973_4b0e9e8d00_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The result is Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, a love letter to the franchise which launches on December 10 on PS5 and PS4. We hinted that the game was more than merely a brawler when we announced the project this past summer, and with about 70% of the gameplay focused on beating up Rita Repulsa’s army of Putty Patrollers, anyone looking to clean house with melee attacks and combos should feel very comfortable. The remaining gameplay takes inspiration from Sega’s innovative super-scaler games, like Space Harrier and Out Run. Before polygons ruled the earth, these games simulated 3D movement with a series of fast-moving 2D sprites. These are designed to deliver fast, in-your-face scrolling action, and we thought they’d be a perfect way to let MMPR fans take down some of the Rangers’ most famous foes. </p>
<p class="">Case in point: Players can expect to travel through the canyons and rooftops of Angel Grove in the first segment of Rita’s Rewind, learning about the twisty time-travel plot and encountering enemies that simply shouldn’t appear this early in Rangers history. But after brawling and defeating Goldar, Rita Repulsa predictably throws her magic wand down from her lunar palace to give her champion a second chance – and turn him into a skyscraper-sized behemoth.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54098792547_639e785b16_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54098792547_639e785b16_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">That’s where the super-scaler gameplay comes in. Each Ranger jumps into their appropriate Dinozord and charges into the Z-axis in hot pursuit, blasting all obstacles and enemies with powered-up weapons like missiles and dual lasers. This gameplay really draws on that Sega legacy, throwing back to games like Galaxy Force and After Burner – constant movement, waves of insistent enemies, and powerful attacks to take them out of your way. </p>
<p class="">Once Goldar is caught, the gameplay shifts again, this time to a first-person fighting game, where the Power Rangers form the mighty Megazord to slug it out directly with the boss. It’s his face versus your fists, once again utilizing that 2.5D visual approach found in vintage arcade games. Each player gets a chance to wear the boss down, contributing whatever they can to the cause and ultimately defeating the bosses with the Power Rangers’ ultimate weapon: teamwork. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54100112040_deab1757ff_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54100112040_deab1757ff_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Mixing all these different genres felt like the right thing to do to keep Rita’s Rewind perpetually fresh, but it was a heck of a lot of fun for us, too. We love brawlers, but they can get repetitive; we’re hoping that mixing in racing, blasting, and punching will make Rita’s Rewind a thrill for players who have always dreamed about what Jason, Trini, Zack, Billy, and Kimberly’s game would have been like had they walked into an arcade in the mid-1990s.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54100112035_ba2b75b28d_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54100112035_ba2b75b28d_b.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">In fact, one of the concepts that drives a lot of what we do at Digital Eclipse is the desire to make games the way you remember them playing, even if your memories have made those experiences a little sweeter and cooler than they might have actually been back in the day. Our goal with Rita’s Rewind is to make a game that could have existed, and certainly should have existed, but probably wouldn’t have existed with all this variety in one place. Since we have the benefit of looking at arcade gaming in the rearview mirror for 30 years, we’ll take advantage of that to try to deliver something better than you would have remembered.  </p>
<p class="">Rita’s Rewind will debut on PS5 and PS4 on December 10, and you can pre-order it now. When that day comes, we hope you enjoy heading back to the 1990s with us, both in terms of Power Rangers history and arcade gameplay – even if it’s your first visit. </p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/30/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-launches-tomorrow-nixxes-details-the-collaboration-that-upgraded-aloys-first-adventure/',
                'Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered launches tomorrow: Nixxes details the collaboration that upgraded Aloy’s first adventure',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/5600f679220b6848aa475e75b3b8d93f557cc8cd.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’re excited to launch <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/221727/">Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered</a> on PS5 and PC* tomorrow. We can’t wait for you to discover the visual enhancements and new features that take full advantage of the PS5 and compatible PCs. We also look forward to seeing all of your Photo Mode creations, whether you are revisiting your favorite locations and characters, or discovering the world of Horizon for the first time.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102818762_28742f7d95_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102818762_28742f7d95_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54104022714_045bc6c030_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54104022714_045bc6c030_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">A lot of love and effort went into the making of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/17/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-a-deep-dive-into-its-enhancements/">In a previous blog</a>, developers talked extensively about various enhancements that Nixxes and Guerrilla collaborated on. Today I’d like to introduce you to Linda Burgers, Principal Producer at Nixxes, to share more about how this project came to be:</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>Before we began working on Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, we set out to assess what was possible. At the time, Horizon Forbidden West had been announced, but was still in development. Guerrilla gave us the privilege of getting an early look at the sequel. The stunning visuals and overall quality we saw in Horizon Forbidden West proved to be a huge opportunity for an enhanced version of Horizon Zero Dawn.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>From terrain, foliage, density, the set dressing in settlements, clouds, lighting and facial animation, to the overall cinematic quality, we saw a huge delta when we made comparisons.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>In addition, we went back to the original concept art of Horizon Zero Dawn, to get a sense of the original intent. Especially the density of foliage stood out. Based on what we saw in the concept art, Nixxes Art Director Oscar Stegehuis started making paint-overs of Horizon Zero Dawn screenshots, to outline and emphasize the opportunities and the vision that was forming for the remaster.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>The shared vision of Nixxes and Guerrilla was not to just upgrade the existing world of Horizon Zero Dawn, but to overhaul the visuals to match those of Horizon Forbidden West, without losing the original intent and identity of the first game. To achieve this, we were in constant contact with the art direction, animation, and lighting teams at Guerrilla. Since the studios’ offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht are close to each other, we had people from Guerrilla visit on a regular basis to give direction in person and help solve complex problems with various aspects of the production.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>With the incredible efforts, talent, and dedication of the teams at Nixxes and Guerrilla, and the additional support from our co-developers at Weaseltron and Stellar Entertainment, I believe we have succeeded in making this a reality.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>The talented software developers from Weaseltron have been instrumental to the project’s infrastructure, technical art wizardry, rendering pipelines, remaster tools and the bulk of the work on the PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>A group of skilled artists from Stellar Entertainment worked with us on remastering the ambience, lighting, clouds, and landscape assets. Their engineers also brought over many of the accessibility features from Horizon Forbidden West into the remaster.</em></p>
<p class=""><em>I could not be more proud of the entire team! The talent and dedication that everyone put into this project made our shared vision a reality.</em>“</p>
<cite>– Linda Burgers, Principal Producer, Nixxes</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Launch details</h1>
<p class="">Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered launches on PlayStation 5 on October 31 at midnight local time. For release timing on PC, check out the PC Launch Map below.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102386568_81948a86bc_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102386568_81948a86bc_4k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Existing owners of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition can upgrade to the digital version of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for $9.99. Check out the <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/24/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-is-coming-to-ps5-pc-october-31-2024/">announcement PS Blog post</a> for all the upgrade details.</p>
<p class="">New fans can purchase the game for $49.99 on PlayStation Store, Steam, or Epic Games Store. For PlayStation 5, a physical version is also available. </p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>* Account for PlayStation Network required on PC.</em></p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/30/death-note-killer-within-launches-nov-5-as-part-of-the-playstation-plus-monthly-games-lineup/',
                'Death Note Killer Within launches Nov 5 as part of the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/10/8966fa82538cb62091168d0413a7e0f11d85ae8c.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hi everyone! Today, we are thrilled to announce Death Note Killer Within, a brand new online social deduction game for up to 10 players where you can play as iconic characters from the Death Note franchise. The key to this game is the Death Note, for the human whose name is written in this note shall die! But beware, this deadly note lies hidden among you and the other players, setting the stage for a thrilling game of strategy and deception. Play as Kira and judge other players with the Death Note or play as L and gather clues to arrest the killer. Get ready to uncover the truth and outsmart your opponents to win.  </p>
<p class="">Death Note Killer Within is coming to both PS5 and PS4 on November 5, <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/30/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-november-hot-wheels-unleashed-2-turbocharged-ghostwire-tokyo-death-note-killer-within/">and is included in the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for November</a>. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game overview</h2>
<p class="">In Death Note Killer Within, there are four unique player roles: Kira, Kira Follower, L, and the Investigator. Players can select their desired role at the start of the game, but depending on various selection factors, the system will assign each player a final role based on availability. Players will be split into two teams: team Kira and Kira Follower, whose primary objective is to eliminate L, or team L and the Investigators, whose goal is to arrest Kira. </p>
<p class="">The game progresses through two main phases: a cycle of Action Phase, where players can gather clues and complete their respective tasks, and a Meeting Phase, where players come together to discuss and attempt to arrest Kira based on suspicious behaviors during the Action Phase. </p>
<p class="">If L is eliminated during the Action Phase, team Kira wins. However, if Kira is arrested during the Meeting Phase, the Death Note will be disposed of and Team L wins. Alternatively, by completing various objectives during the Action Phase, players can contribute to leveling up their team Progress gauge and the first team to max out their Progress gauge will win the game.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090770953_d5f5699697_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090770953_d5f5699697_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090852949_d92e3287f2_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090852949_d92e3287f2_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player roles</h2>
<p class="">If you are “Kira”, you will start with the Death Note and use it to eliminate NPCs and other players. However, to judge a player, you need an ID with the player’s real name. You can obtain this by staying close to a target for a short amount of time, but don’t act too suspicious or you will be questioned during the Meeting Phase.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102843849_0643a10c7e_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102843849_0643a10c7e_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">As a “Kira Follower”, your job is to steal Investigators’ IDs and work secretly together with Kira, communicating privately with a Transceiver. In addition, the Death Note can be transferred between Kira and a Kira Follower so even you can become the next Kira! Make the transfer at the right time to deceive other players.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102756288_d0a961ccbb_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102756288_d0a961ccbb_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“Investigators” play an important role in identifying the real Kira as they gather clues to support the deduction. Be aware of suspicious players who get too close to you as your ID might get stolen if they are Kira or a Kira Follower. Investigators also carry out objectives such as asking NPCs for testimonials, which helps reveal information about Kira. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102756293_39c81cb5a3_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102756293_39c81cb5a3_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">If you become “L”, unlike normal investigators, he has special actions that enable him to obtain valuable information during the Action Phase, such as commanding other players to investigate and setting up surveillance cameras. L can also facilitate discussion in the Meeting Phase to narrow down suspicious players. Strategically use your special actions to take one step closer in uncovering the truth and arrest Kira.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102499246_a279545f64_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102499246_a279545f64_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">To win, you must work together</h2>
<p class="">Death Note Killer Within encourages players to work together as a team to accomplish their goals. Each of the four roles has its own gameplay characteristics. Depending on your assigned role, a wide range of strategies can be formulated, and each randomized scenario develops into a high-stakes game of tactics.</p>
<p class="">For example, the Death Note can be transferred between Kira and Kira Follower, allowing them to misdirect investigators. L can narrow down suspects by giving instructions during the Action Phase and guiding discussions during the Meeting Phase to efficiently advance his team’s deductions.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089648322_97140ce54b_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089648322_97140ce54b_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089648307_afbc4961be_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54089648307_afbc4961be_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investigate and deceive in style</h2>
<p class="">Customize your game avatar with hats, glasses, masks and various accessories to stand out from the crowd. But that’s not all, you can even choose a custom nameplate and select special animations to be displayed during key moments in the game.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090522411_707f4c5fcd_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090522411_707f4c5fcd_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090976225_d81bf362ee_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54090976225_d81bf362ee_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s get the deduction party started!</h2>
<p class="">Death Note Killer Within is coming to both PS5 and PS4 on November 5, 2024 and will support both online cross-play and voice chat. Invite your friends and challenge each other in different roles to see who has the wits to successfully deceive other players and win the game.</p>
<p class="">On launch day, the game will also be available to PlayStation Plus members as part of November’s Monthly Games, so be sure to check it out! </p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/01/share-of-the-week-ghosts-and-ghouls/',
                'Share of the Week: Ghosts and Ghouls',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/e490be7290ab40b4a049eea2b1f2636ba942434b.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to highlight ghosts and ghouls haunting your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s spooky highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106908498_07c2e7e332_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106908498_07c2e7e332_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/crisg_art/status/1851719494324081070/photo/2"><em>crisg_art</em></a><em> shares the Turtle Treasure’s Spirit from Black Myth: Wukong.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102980_dfa5f93912_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102980_dfa5f93912_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/call_me_xavii/status/1851592311639253463/photo/4"><em>call_me_xavii</em></a><em> shares a ghastly face from Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102960_f7eae2198f_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102960_f7eae2198f_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/lunar9p/status/1851281376034619417/photo/1"><em>lunar9p</em></a><em> shares a ghost with long hair and a hat dressed in white from Ghostwire: Tokyo.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102975_f3f8af095b_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102975_f3f8af095b_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/DexM_ds/status/1851586492218380705/photo/3"><em>DexM_ds</em></a><em> shares an undead skeletal archer from Demon’s Souls.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106991034_0ff052bc07_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106991034_0ff052bc07_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/secondcapture/status/1851233103273967984/photo/2"><em>secondcapture</em></a><em> shares a red-hooded skeletal figure from Mortal Shell.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102985_c0e90ff9b0_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107102985_c0e90ff9b0_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://x.com/AkiraAoyama_VP/status/1850254818687758596/photo/1"><em>AkiraAoyama_VP</em></a><em> </em><em>shares a floating Hiss from Control.</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/65535/54106991039_27419c696a_o.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106991039_27419c696a_o.png" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on November 6, 2024 </p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re Focusing in on Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Share epic moments from Aloy’s original adventure 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/2024/11/04/20241104-deadoralive/',
                '“Venus Vacation PRISM – DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme -” Coming March 6th, 2025 & Available for Pre-order',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/ef50ecb7b4104443faafdb9c41cfc8328aa3985a.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The new immersive romantic adventure game for consoles, “Venus Vacation PRISM – DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme,” is set to be released on March 6, 2025. Pre-orders for both the physical version and the digital version have begun today. More information about the Digital Deluxe Edition is available on the official website.</p>
<p class="">The recently released First Trailer showcases the six beautiful girls featured in the game, their intimate interactions, and heartwarming date scenes – all packed with charm into this unforgettable adventure.</p>
<p class="">Additionally, we have announced a collaboration with the popular illustrator “Yom.” In the Digital Deluxe Edition, players can enjoy costumes designed by Yom, and special episodes. To celebrate the release of this title, we have also unveiled original illustrations of Misaki and Nanami.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PR_tYjVX0NQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Experience true romance and a thrilling sense of closeness!</strong></h2>
<p class="">As the boss on the Venus Islands, where summer is everlasting, you will interact with the girls you encounter there. Your story with the girls will unfold based on the choices you make, resulting in a variety of outcomes. The heart-fluttering sensation caused by casual gestures, the thrill felt as you draw closer to your love interest, the worry about which girl to choose… Are you ready to experience true romance on the islands of everlasting summer?</p>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/584935fa6efe83a6e74b7b95fc7d2b97f7f66e6e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/94f60f4239c4139fbdb14921c18ef068d126ef3c-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/83ce54dc223fb408e8034489995a1d5650b1e89b-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/0922ac31ab5224cba45debb2ec2c8e39dcc9ab1a-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">The following are the 6 girls featured in this title.</p>
<p class="">・Misaki, the shy part-time staff, always by your side.</p>
<p class="">・Honoka, the comforting laid-back schoolgirl with a secret.</p>
<p class="">・Tamaki, the tempting mature and sexy beauty.</p>
<p class="">・Fiona, the love-struck naive princess.</p>
<p class="">・Nanami, the natural cool beauty that effortlessly draws attention.</p>
<p class="">・Elise, the strict yet cool and beautiful supervisor.</p>
<p class="">A wonderful romance awaits you at the Venus Islands.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="2560" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/1165c770d415a9224c8ad29afb9a10c7d66dc152-scaled.jpg" width="2318"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="2560" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/6436196dcff75f35cfb5ef707bbf5a9321feef86-scaled.jpg" width="2308"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1832" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/e70bf93cb4dec9aac341776061d7d02cf6de49e1-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="2560" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/a5249734ef3820ed94320f9f852cd3d659a4f454-scaled.jpg" width="2304"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="2560" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/677958a28674847b4be1c17fdceea0be7d63d84b-scaled.jpg" width="2309"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="2560" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/69efd6b39e794dad5e431dbb22b9f70d0b46ecb2-scaled.jpg" width="2304"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">Having multiple interactions with each of the girls will sometimes get you invited on dates. Gorgeous, vivid visuals and fully-voiced animations will make each date an enjoyable experience, as if the two of you are in your own world. The smiling face of a carefree girl, her profile as she watches the ocean waves in the evening, her eyes as she looks shyly up at you—each of these random moments can be photographed by you during your dates! Remember to keep your absolute favorite photograph as a memento of your date.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/b053d5f8fda708150a9c7f136168b1703ec24a3e-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/b73e66017ffa7f9988328b94cc63cde92118ceef-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/3bb81852013662e135b6a26a43a21da9bb72941f-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" height="1440" src="https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/c6f917e5b0e9d7523fbd7eeba60d10f6efc4a7ab-scaled.jpg" width="2560"/></figure>
</figure>
<p class="">　More information will become available on the official website and on our social media channels. Please follow us for upcoming announcements!</p>
<p class="">Platform　　　PlayStation®5/PlayStation®4　</p>
<p class="">Genre　　　Immersive Romantic Adventure</p>
<p class="">Release Date　　　March 6<sup>th</sup>, 2025</p>
<p class=""><strong><em>©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD./KOEI TECMO TAIWAN CO., LTD. All rights reserved. </em></strong></p>
<p class=""></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/04/as-seen-in-astro-bot-10-playstation-vip-bot-cameos-and-the-games-that-inspired-them/',
                'As seen in Astro Bot: 10 PlayStation VIP Bot cameos and the games that inspired them',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/5998228bde17402147f00bb770ebef72e0b4ebb0.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Having a blast with <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/astro-bot/?smcid=ma">Astro Bot</a>? I’m sure many of you are still working hard to rescue every last bot from the deepest reaches of space. I’m also sure that many of you have spotted a few PlayStation VIP bots that definitely look familiar… but maybe there are a few that you know you’ve seen before but either can’t quite remember where or are unaware of the historical context behind them. And maybe there are a couple that you don’t recall at all.</p>
<p class="">Astro Bot is packed with loving tributes to the global history and legacy of PlayStation spanning thirty years, so there were bound to be some deep cuts– so don’t feel too awkward if there’s a VIP you don’t recognize. What’s great is that, with a huge library of classic games available on PlayStation Store or PlayStation Plus Premium, it’s fun and easy to take an interactive history lesson to learn more about that oddball bot that caught your eye. Let’s take a look at some of the references of Astro Bot–and how you can play the games in the classic callbacks. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600807_2276bd3b06_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600807_2276bd3b06_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ape Escape</h2>
<p class="">Just when you thought you’d rounded up all those darn dirty apes forever, they’re up to their old tricks again in Astro Bot! <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA31964_00-SCUS944230000000">Ape Escape</a> was an action/adventure game released in 1999 that made use of the recently introduced DualShock controller on the original PlayStation console. You were tasked with rounding up a gaggle of intelligent (?) apes causing mischief throughout time, and the DualShock was crucial to this, allowing you careful movement to approach and capture the naughty monkeys. Apes On The Loose – the Ape Escape-themed level at the end of the Gorilla Nebula – apes (pun intended) this gameplay quite nicely, requiring you to strategize how to capture all the stage’s raucous primate-bots effectively. </p>
<p class=""><em>Play the original </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA31964_00-SCUS944230000000"><em>Ape Escape</em></a><em> at PlayStation Store and as part of PlayStation Plus Premium. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102805044_eb3319fdea_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102805044_eb3319fdea_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Loco Roco </h2>
<p class="">Released on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2006, the strikingly colorful LocoRoco stood as one of the system’s marquee titles. The LocoRoco are a blob-like species that live in bright, singing harmony with the planet. When a malevolent force threatens this natural wonder, the LocoRoco fight it off the only way they know how–by rolling along with a smile and a song. When you reach the Going Loco level in Astro Bot at the end of the Camo Cosmos , you’ll be treated to a stage built to resemble Loco Roco’s signature rolling gameplay as you tilt and bounce your way through hazards–you can even press R2 to split into many tiny Astros and fit through small areas, just like in the original. </p>
<p class=""><em>If you missed this series, fear not– the </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA06090_00-UCUS986620000001"><em>original</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA06091_00-UCUS987310000001"><em>Loco Roco 2</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32639_00-0000000000000000"><em>LocoRoco Midnight Carnival</em></a><em> are available at PlayStation Store and as part of PlayStation Plus Premium.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600797_394c7d357e_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600797_394c7d357e_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Patapon</h2>
<p class="">Hidden away in one of the Lost Galaxy levels are some unique-looking VIP bots modeled on the Patapon, from the 2007 PSP game of the same name. Patapon (and its sequels on PSP) delivered a unique mix of rhythm and real-time strategy. The Patapons, a civilization of intelligent cyclopian creatures, have been long banished from their ancestral home. With the aid of their patron deity’s powerful warm drum, they march to reclaim their land from their enemies. By entering a series of button commands to the pounding drum rhythm, you command the Patapon tribe to attack, fall back, rush ahead, and more. </p>
<p class=""><em>Both </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA06171_00-UCUS987110000001"><em>Patapon</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA07321_00-UCES011770000001"><em>Patapon 2</em></a><em> are available at PlayStation Store and as part of PlayStation Plus Premium.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102460286_39e6c1fe2c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102460286_39e6c1fe2c_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Everybody’s Golf/Hot Shots Golf — Pro Golfer</h2>
<p class="">Golf is a game that can seem very intimidating, even in video game form. Developer Camelot took a different approach, eschewing the complexity and over-realism of other golf games for a pick-up-and-play experience that was easy to learn, played smoothly, and proved plenty fun in multiplayer. Everybody’s Golf (originally carrying the moniker of Hot Shots Golf in North America) proved to be a massive global hit, and developer Clap Hanz would take the reigns from from the sequel onwards. </p>
<p class=""><em>The latest installment is</em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA04687_00-EVERYBODYSGOLFUS"><em> available at PlayStation Store and on PlayStation Plus Game Catalog,</em></a><em> and it’s as enjoyable a golf experience as it ever was–but if you want that retro touch, you can always check out </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32006_00-SCUS941880000000"><em>Hot Shots Golf</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32473_00-SCUS944760000000"><em>Hot Shots Golf 2</em></a><em> as well, both available on PlayStation Store and as part of PlayStation Plus Premium.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804989_0df8a3efb6_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804989_0df8a3efb6_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mister Mosquito — Robotic Sucker</h2>
<p class="">Eliminating pests is often a part of playing video games, but in the unique PlayStation 2 title <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-PPSA22948_00-SLUS203750000000">Mister Mosquito</a> from developer Zoom, you get to play the role of pest yourself! As the titular Mister Mosquito, you need to plan ahead to survive through the winter, and you’ve found a nice family home with plenty of fresh blood for the sucking. Unfortunately, the residents aren’t very happy about your freeloading. You’ll try to evade their notice and keep them calm–but be ready for grueling mosquito-versus human combat if you’re spotted! The PS2 is often remembered as a golden age for quirky, unique titles, and Mister Mosquito is definitely a fine example.</p>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-PPSA22948_00-SLUS203750000000"><em>Mister Mosquito</em></a><em> is available at PlayStation Store and as part of PlayStation Plus Premium.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804979_93842d8a28_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804979_93842d8a28_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Intelligent Qube </h2>
<p class="">I.Q.: Intelligent Qube stands as one of the original PlayStation’s most memorable puzzle games. A mysterious power wishes to test you, and so you stand on a mysterious grid as huge, intimidating cubes roll forward to push you into the abyss. You must predict how the cubes will approach and mark spots on the floor to eliminate them.  This novel concept came from outside of the typical game development pipeline, as it is the brainchild of Professor Masahiko Sato of the Tokyo University of the Arts. The amazing, epic-sounding music also deserves note–just don’t let it distract you from cube-busting.  </p>
<p class=""><em>Both </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32015_00-SCUS941810000000"><em>I.Q.</em></a><em> and sequel, </em><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32012_00-SCES020090000000"><em>Kurushi Final: Mental Blocks</em></a><em>, are available at PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus Premium. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804959_210ad0ce85_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102804959_210ad0ce85_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jumping Flash — Leaping Lapin</h2>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32017_00-SCUS941030000000">Jumping Flash</a>, released in 1995, was many a lifelong PlayStation gamer’s first experience with the console (myself included). This unique first-person platformer tasks you with controlling Robbit, a super-powered machine built for jumping to absurd heights. He’s out to stop the devious Baron Aloha, a mad scientist whose scheme involves cutting up a planet for space resort development. Developers Exact and Ultra used the original PlayStation’s polygon-pushing power to create amazing environments, and the use of clever camera angles to make it easy to see where the high-jumping Robbit was landing made the game fun and approachable for those not used to navigating 3D space.</p>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32017_00-SCUS941030000000"><em>Jumping Flash</em></a><em> is available at PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus Premium. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600727_2e58bb2b30_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600727_2e58bb2b30_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vib-Ribbon — Ribbon Rider</h2>
<p class="">Who’s this jaunty monochrome fellow modeled after? This bot takes after the odd little vector-line rabbit Vibri from the original PlayStation classic Vib Ribbon, released in Japan and Europe. Developed by esteemed rhythm game producer Masaya Matsuura and his team at NanaOn-Sha, Vib Ribbon was a novel action game that could take any music CD you inserted into a PlayStation and turn it into a challenging auto-scrolling action game with loop-de-loops, spikes, and other hazards. Since the game relies heavily on physical CDs, it’s not available digitally, but you can check out other great NanaOn-Sha classics like <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA01555_00-SCUS971670000001">Parappa the Rapper</a>. (He’s rockin’ out in Astro Bot, too.)</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600732_14fe5a6cb2_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54101600732_14fe5a6cb2_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wild Arms — Dream Chaser</h2>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA32009_00-SCUS946080000000">Wild Arms</a> was one of the earliest RPGs to make a splash on the PlayStation. It debuted in 1996 from developer Media.Vision and spawned a series with <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA34855_00-SCUS944840000000">multiple</a> <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA02197_00-SCUS972030000001">sequels</a>. It’s remembered for its unique Western-fantasy hybrid settings, strategic turn-based combat, and phenomenal soundtrack. The Dream Chaser bot represents the game’s hero, Rudy, who has the ability to control ancient weaponry known as ARMs. Together with his companions, the mercenary Jack and the princess Cecilia, Rudy goes on a quest through the world of Filgaia to stop the revival of an ancient mechanical monstrosity. If you’ve got a pang of nostalgia for classic PlayStation RPGs, keep your eyes peeled for call-outs to other titles like Suikoden and Alundra, too. </p>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/product/EP9000-CUSA32010_00-SCES003210000000"><em>Wild Arms</em></a><em> is available at PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus Premium. </em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102460266_10c72dc0db_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54102460266_10c72dc0db_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Devil Dice — Little Devil</h2>
<p class="">One of the deepest cuts in Astro Bot has an interesting story behind it. Devil Dice, known in Japan as XI (pronounced “sai”), was a game concept that came from a contest held in Japan from 1995 to 1999 called Game Yarouze. Thus, independent developer Shift was given development and publishing assistance. Their game, Devil Dice, is a challenging 3D puzzle game where a little character in a funny devil suit matches sets of dice to clear them from the field. Between this and Intelligent Qube, puzzle cubes were something of a trend on the original PlayStation–for good reason, because both games are well worth checking out for puzzle game fans. You’ll see the clear nod to Devil Dice when rescuing the related VIP Bot in an isometric room filled with dice hidden away in Serpent Starway’s Slo-Mo Casino Stage.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/04/ps5-pro-50-enhanced-games-available-at-launch-november-7/',
                'PS5 Pro: 50+ enhanced games available at launch November 7',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/54eb69f3897b12835bbe0013b52ff308c113606d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">On November 7 <a href="https://www.playstation.com/ps5/ps5-pro/">PlayStation 5 Pro</a> unleashes a new era of impressive visuals. The console enables graphical enhancements like advanced ray tracing, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, and silky smooth framerates of 60hz or 120hz through an upgraded GPU (depending on your TV). </p>
<p class="">Of course, crackling new power means little without immersive games to get lost in. This list is a sample of more than 50 games boasting PS5 Pro enhancements at launch, with many more to follow. </p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Alan Wake 2</li>
<li>Albatroz</li>
<li>Apex Legends</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Mirage</li>
<li>Baldur’s Gate 3</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</li>
<li>EA Sports College Football 25</li>
<li>Dead Island 2</li>
<li>Demon’s Souls</li>
<li>Diablo IV</li>
<li>Dragon Age: The Veilguard</li>
<li>Dragon’s Dogma 2</li>
<li>Dying Light 2 Reloaded Edition</li>
<li>EA Sports FC 25</li>
<li>Enlisted</li>
<li>F1 24</li>
<li>Final Fantasy VII Rebirth</li>
<li>Fortnite</li>
<li>God of War Ragnarök</li>
<li>Hogwarts Legacy</li>
<li>Horizon Forbidden West</li>
<li>Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered</li>
<li>Kayak VR: Mirage</li>
<li>Lies of P</li>
<li>Lords of the Fallen (2023)</li>
<li>Madden NFL 25</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</li>
<li>Naraka: Bladepoint</li>
<li>NBA 2K25</li>
<li>No Man’s Sky</li>
<li>Palworld</li>
<li>Paladin’s Passage</li>
<li>Planet Coaster 2</li>
<li>Professional Baseball Spirits 2024-2025</li>
<li>Ratchet &amp; Clank: Rift Apart</li>
<li>Resident Evil 4</li>
<li>Resident Evil Village</li>
<li>Rise of the Ronin</li>
<li>Rogue Flight </li>
<li>Star Wars: Jedi Survivor</li>
<li>Star Wars: Outlaws</li>
<li>Stellar Blade</li>
<li>Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown</li>
<li>The Crew Motorfest</li>
<li>The Finals</li>
<li>The First Descendant </li>
<li>The Last of Us Part I</li>
<li>The Last of Us Part II Remastered</li>
<li>Until Dawn</li>
<li>War Thunder</li>
<li>Warframe</li>
<li>World of Warships: Legends</li>
</ul>
<p class="">To learn more about PS5 Pro, head to <a href="https://www.playstation.com/ps5/ps5-pro/">playstation.com</a>. What will be the first game you play on PS5 Pro?</p>
<p class=""><em>*Update: PS5 Pro enhancement for Arma Reforger and The Callisto Protocol will be scheduled after November 7.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/04/players-choice-vote-for-october-2024s-best-new-game/',
                'Players’ Choice – Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero voted October 2024’s top new game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/fa55ddc42dc2e3a405f4689f103e7a98445ada0c.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Your votes have spoken: Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero powers up to win Players’ Choice for October. Congrats to Bandai Namco Entertainment and Spike Chunsoft!</p>
<p class="">What games have you been playing in November? 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="">October had many spooky and epic adventures. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup? </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. </p>
<p class=""><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/><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">
<script>var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["14598025-src"]="poll-oembed-simple";</script><script charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/14598025.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/05/apex-legends-turns-back-the-clock-to-2019-with-launch-royale-out-today/',
                'Apex Legends turns back the clock to 2019 with Launch Royale, out today',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/bb9f19cdb2b6b96e9fc56ed92f8800cb7fbc8ea7-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’ve come so far, and there’s still so much ahead of us. <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/apex-legends/?smcid=ma">Apex Legends</a> From the Rift rewinds the clock with the new nostalgic LTM Launch Royale, takes you to the original World’s Edge, revives Lifeline to new limits, and rekindles that first drop feeling from season one. It all starts November 5, 2024, including support for PlayStation 5 Pro when the console launches November 7.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s launch royale</h2>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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</div>
</div>
<p class="">It’s 2019, Apex Legends has just launched, Kings Canyon is the wild frontier, and battle royales were never the same. This new LTM drops you right into that original experience, complete with original everything: weapons, Legends, abilities, ruleset, and map. Conquer Launch Royale Challenges to unlock Legends and earn rewards like Apex Packs and more.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107088350_ceb224c151_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107088350_ceb224c151_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Evo Armor and Ability Upgrades? Nope, not here. Just a blast from the past for those who were here on day zero and a brand-new experience for those who missed out. There’s never been a better time to jump in and see where Legends were born.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lifeline revived</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106976379_036791d54d_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54106976379_036791d54d_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“We’re in this together. Memba that.”</p>
<p class="">Lifeline’s habit of getting caught up in chaotic events may have caught up with her, but she’s always got your back. It’s the Ajay Che you know and love, now fully revived, recharged, and ready to drop directly into the action with her aggressive new kit:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Combat Glide: Hold Jump mid-air to use to D.O.C. to briefly glide, and deploy D.O.C. to revive teammates, leaving Lifeline free to defend.</li>
<li>D.O.C. Heal Drone: D.O.C. heals nearby allies. D.O.C. can be assigned to follow allies once deployed.</li>
<li>D.O.C. Halo: throw D.O.C. to activate Halo Shield System. All players inside use Health &amp; Shield consumables faster.</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Good support never surrenders to the sidelines. And this Lifeline? She’s not just saving lives—she’s fighting her way to the Champions Podium.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rift Relics</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107088345_08e8dfd9ae_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107088345_08e8dfd9ae_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Forming from the unstable Rift in the sky, Rift Relics disrupt our reality to bring enviable items from seemingly nowhere. Pick up the EPG-1 Launcher with splash damage and rocket-jumping capabilities, and unleash exotic Hop-Ups like Lifesteal, which heals with every hit. If survival is more your gameplan, then lookout for the new survival item: Boost Kits.</p>
<p class="">Rift Relics will spontaneously appear across many rounds in each match. But be quick. They’re easy to spot for allies and enemies alike. Whoever gets there first will reap the rewards by destroying the Rift Relic and have their presence announced to the surrounding area. Then it’s all fun and games until the Ring starts—objects from the rift may be more stable than they appear.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Support Class Perks</h2>
<p class="">Our next class gets a set of perks. Legends in the Support class will now have their own duo of perks to select from to amplify their areas of expertise: Heal Expert and Revive Expert. There are no bad choices here—just go with your gut and heal it later.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Heal Expert</strong></p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Move at full walk speed while healing</li>
<li>Healing amount from small meds is doubled<br/></li>
</ul>
<p class=""><strong>Revive Expert</strong></p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>25% faster revives and grant health regen on a successful revive</li>
<li>Banner Crafting and ally Death Boxes now spawn a Mobile Respawn Beacon (which Support Legends will be able to spot inside)</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Support Legends will maintain access to their extended supply bins, but some updates will be made to their upgrades, and banner crafting will now be accessible to all Legends.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New universal melee: Raptor’s Claw</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54105770952_c36cecf143_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54105770952_c36cecf143_o.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Up the ante with the new Raptor’s Claw. This universal melee cosmetic can be used by any and all Legends to add some flare while you’re taking down the enemy. Grab the latest addition to your collection in the Void Mercenary Store until January 7, 2025. After acquiring this karambit-style weapon, you can then unlock the Crystal Chamber Death Box, as well as 5 other deadly variants and their matching Death Boxes. </p>
<p class="">Play Apex Legends for free* now on PS5 and PS4, now with support for PlayStation 5 Pro when the console launches November 7.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Applicable platform account and platform subscription (sold separately) may be required. A persistent internet connection and EA account required. Age restrictions apply. Includes in-game purchases.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/07/getting-started-with-playstation-5-pro-out-today/',
                'Getting started with PlayStation 5 Pro, out today',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/cd841e7da1a555d16c0b87855572793c79d83e11.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><a href="https://www.playstation.com/ps5/ps5-pro/">PlayStation 5 Pro</a> launches worldwide today, November 7. <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/10/welcome-playstation-5-pro-the-most-visually-impressive-way-to-play-games-on-playstation/">Revealed on September 10</a>, PlayStation 5 Pro is our most advanced and innovative console hardware to date, with key performance features such as an upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pmzfmoe7Jmw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">The console is available directly from PlayStation and participating retailers globally. Whether you have decided to transfer to the new console from a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, or are entirely new to the PlayStation family (welcome!), here’s what you need to know to get prepped for – and started with – your new PS5 Pro. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS5 Pro measurements </strong></h2>
<p class="">Out of the box, the PS5 Pro console is approximately 388mm x 89mm x 216mm (width x height x depth) and weighs in at around 3.1kg. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS5 Pro input/output ports </strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Input/Output</strong><br/><strong>Front of Console</strong></td><td>1 x USB Type-C port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps)<br/>1 x USB Type-C port (High-Speed USB)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Back of Console</strong></td><td>2 x USB Type-A port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Networking</strong></td><td>Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be<br/></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="">A Disc Drive for PS5 can be purchased separately, allowing you to use PS5 and supported PS4 physical discs, and play 4K Blu-ray and DVD discs.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Transfer your data from PS4, PS4 Pro or PS5 to PlayStation 5 Pro</strong></h2>
<p class="">If you own a PS5, PS4 Pro, or a PS4 console, you can transfer your data to your new console. Before you start the transfer, make sure your original console is updated to the latest system software and you’ve synced your trophy information. On both your original console and your PS5 Pro, sign in on your PlayStation Network account . You can transfer your user information, games downloaded to your console’s hard drive or SSD, save data, and select console settings if both consoles are connected to the same network. Go to Settings &gt; System &gt; System Software, select Data Transfer &gt; Continue then follow the on-screen instructions. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X24BzyzQQ-8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Enable PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play </strong></h2>
<p class="">While you can have your account on multiple consoles, you can only designate one console for Console Sharing and Offline Play at a time. When you first sign into your new PS5 or PS5 Pro console, Console Sharing and Offline Play will automatically be enabled.</p>
<p class="">If you sign in to a PS5 console that is not enabled as Console Sharing and Offline Play, you can still access and play purchased games from your account as well access some of your PlayStation Plus benefits – as long as you are signed in with your account. It won’t be accessible through other accounts that may be using the same console.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sync your DualSense controller, DualSense Edge controller, Pulse Elite Headset, Pulse Explore, and PlayStation Portal with your PS5 Pro </strong></h2>
<p class="">Whether you’re using the new DualSense controller included with your PS5 Pro, or one you already own, you’ll need to pair these to your new console. Use the supplied USB-C cable to plug these into the console, and power the controller on. </p>
<p class="">For the PlayStation Portal, from the home screen of your PS5 console, select Settings &gt; System &gt; Remote Play, and then turn on Enable Remote Play. Sign in to your PlayStation Network account on your PlayStation Portal, and follow the on-screen instructions to sync it to your new console. </p>
<p class="">For your PlayStation Pulse Elite Headset, plug the supplied USB adapter into one of the rear USB Type-A ports on your console and press the PlayStation Link button on your headset. </p>
<p class="">For the PlayStation Pulse Explore, make sure both of your earbuds are docked in the charging case, insert the USB adapter into one of the USB Type-A ports on your console, remove both earbuds from the case to connect them to your console.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Transfer your M.2 SSD from PS5 to PS5 Pro </strong></h2>
<p class="">If your original PS5 has a M.2 SSD installed, you can insert it into your PS5 Pro, following <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/">this guide</a>. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Set up a PS5 Pro with a PS5 Disc Drive </strong></h2>
<p class="">If you’ve purchased a separate PS5 Disc Drive to install onto your PS5 Pro, you can follow <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/hardware/ps5-disc-drive-set-up/">this handy guide</a>. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Pair your PS5 Pro with the PlayStation App </strong></h2>
<p class="">You can download games while away from home, manage console storage if you don’t have enough space and start a game on the app so it’s ready to pick up the controller and play. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Play Astro’s Playroom </strong></h2>
<p class="">As with all PlayStation 5 consoles, PS5 Pro comes bundled with Astro’s Playroom pre-installed on its console storage, which is a fantastic introduction to Team Asobi’s wonderful platform franchise, and also to the DualSense wireless controller’s immersive features. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Check out some PS5 Pro Enhanced Games</strong></h2>
<p class="">Transferring from a PS5, or new to PlayStation, <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/04/ps5-pro-50-enhanced-games-available-at-launch-november-7/">there’s a selection of titles with updates that will take advantage of PS5 Pro</a>, which launch alongside the console. Here’s just some of them:</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class=""></p>
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                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/07/no-mans-sky-ps5-pro-update-new-cross-save-support-detailed/',
                'No Man’s Sky PS5 Pro update, new cross-save support detailed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/d3d39ec0148f7e8fa069151b4f3d36d82d18c9c3-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello,</p>
<p class="">This year has already been a very busy one for <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/no-mans-sky/">No Man’s Sky</a>, with 6 updates already this year, including the huge Worlds Update. <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/23/no-mans-skys-halloween-expedition-the-cursed-is-out-today/">Our last update, The Cursed</a>, dropped just a couple of weeks ago, and players have been loving the spooky Halloween vibe. </p>
<p class="">In game development some features take weeks or months, and others take years. Today we are releasing some features that have been years in the making.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PlayStation 5 Pro</strong></h2>
<p class="">PlayStation 5 Pro releases today and is an incredible feat of engineering. We were so excited to get our hands on it from early days of development. We couldn’t wait to see what was possible in No Man’s Sky with so much power at our disposal! </p>
<p class="">We’re excited to be able to share an enhanced version of No Man’s Sky for PlayStation 5 Pro with players at launch. Bringing even more detail and higher image quality than ever possible on console before.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116389414_6c5e26deeb_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116389414_6c5e26deeb_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) allows for incredible upscaling to provide crisp 4K resolution at 60fps. No Man’s Sky will also be an early supporter of 8k resolution, with the universe looking incredible in 8K at 30fps.</p>
<p class="">As well as a much sharper resolution at higher framerates, the increased power of the PlayStation 5 Pro has enabled us to ramp up the graphical quality across the board. Players on PlayStation 5 Pro will see improved lighting, with ultra quality reflections and higher quality ambient occlusion in all modes. Explore the most beautiful and detailed alien worlds No Man’s Sky has to offer, for the first time on console.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54115195567_c325a5458e_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54115195567_c325a5458e_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Not only this, but all of these improvements also come to PS VR2! With our most stunning virtual reality imagery offering an even more immersive experience for Travellers amongst the stars.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116516505_217e165d53_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116516505_217e165d53_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cross-save</strong></h2>
<p class="">Starting from today we are rolling out cross-save support on all platforms. This has been a huge undertaking, and is one of most requested features.</p>
<p class="">No Man’s Sky now supports cross-play and cross-save between a huge number of platforms including last and current generation consoles (including PlayStation 5 Pro – see below), and PS VR &amp; PS VR 2.</p>
<p class="">Adding the ability to transfer saves between platforms via a server is especially difficult for No Man’s Sky, as the work involved increases with each platform supported and how long folks have already been playing for. Both those numbers are large for our tiny team. </p>
<p class="">It’s very common for players to rack up thousands of hours of saves exploring across space, building elaborate bases and cataloging their discoveries, with incredibly detailed saves. Adding cross-save for us is a little bit like moving house, the longer people have lived there the more complicated it is to move them! We also have players who played once at launch, eight years ago, suddenly loading up that save on a platform that didn’t even exist back then!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Normandy returns</strong></h2>
<p class="">Everyone here at Hello Games is a huge sci-fi nerd. One of our absolute favorite series is the incredible Mass Effect games. To join in Mass Effect’s annual N7 celebrations, we are pleased to welcome the legendary SSV Normandy SR1 back into No Man’s Sky! </p>
<p class="">It was back in 2021 that the Normandy made its first appearance in one of the first expeditions we ever ran. The limited-time expedition culminated in players being able to claim the Normandy for their fleet.</p>
<p class="">In the intervening years since that event, we have welcomed a huge number of Travellers. Many of these new players have envied those who proudly displayed their Normandy in their frigate collection.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116324858_eb9cd818b0_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116324858_eb9cd818b0_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Mass Effect fans know that this legendary freighter only appears when it is most needed! Today, and for the next two weeks, as a love-letter from one science fiction game to another, we are giving everyone another chance to encounter the Normandy in an overhauled version of the original mission and add it to their collection.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116324853_ed0291199b_o.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54116324853_ed0291199b_o.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Huge thanks to our friends at Electronic Arts and Bioware for helping make this happen.</p>
<p class="">It has been a momentous year for No Man’s Sky in a number of ways. We’re so grateful to be able to continue this journey with you.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/07/announcing-season-1-of-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-and-warzone-live-nov-14/',
                'Announcing Season 1 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, live Nov 14',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/5ea76a529f89a43882e1a0627ff0faf1e47f458f.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Power shifts as a faction within Avalon seeks to topple the Luttazzi Crime Family in the massive Season 01 update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Deploy across new territory in Multiplayer, Zombies, and Resurgence, wield new weapons and Loadout items, test your competitive skills in Ranked Play, and much more.</p>
<p class="">Season 01 of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-6/">Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</a> and <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/call-of-duty-warzone/">Call of Duty: Warzone</a> launches November 14 on PS5 and PS4.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QQXnO5kyOTU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Multiplayer overview</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Core 6v6 Maps</strong></h3>
<p class=""><strong>Hideout (Launch):</strong> Master Omnimovement in this training site including target practice, an obstacle course, and vault.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Extraction (Launch):</strong> Battle across the landing pads and buildings of D’Avalon Héliport. Occupy the air traffic control tower for premium views.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Hacienda (Mid-Season):</strong> Return to the infamous vineyard estate first seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Fight in the two-story mansion or around the prestine grounds.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Nuketown Holiday (Mid-Season):</strong> Get festive as we celebrate CODMAS later in the season, including a Holiday-themed Nuketown!</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New 2v2/6v6 Strike Maps</strong></h3>
<p class=""><strong>Heirloom (Launch):</strong> Enter a fine art museum that has been vandalized with paint. Navigate the sculptural centerpiece read up on some Avalon art history.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Racket (Mid-Season):</strong> There’s been a break-in in this labyrinthine bank vault. Fight around the bulldozer and ambush enemies at every chance.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWiAlDIlIfM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Multiplayer modes</h2>
<p class=""><strong>Ransack (Launch):</strong> Loot gold bars from crates scattered around the map and bring them back to your team’s stash. Raid the enemy team’s stash and protect your own.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Prop Hunt (Launch): </strong>The fan-favorite party mode returns! Blend into the landscape as a prop or be the Hunter, tracking down anything that looks out of place.</p>
<p class="">Plus, expect more Limited Time Modes as we get into the holiday season with Season 01 Reloaded!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/msV4zBbDZEU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Multiplayer Ranked Play</strong></h3>
<p class="">The definitive Ranked Play experience arrives in Season 01, starting later in November. Compete and climb through the Skill Ranks using the same competitive settings, maps, modes, and weapon restrictions as the Call of Duty: League. Earn new Ranked Play rewards and prove your standing as top Operator!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Zombies Overview</h2>
<p class="">Major new Zombies arrives, here’s a preview of what’s coming:</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Directed Mode for Terminus, Liberty Falls (Launch)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Witness the horrific human experiments being conducted on Terminus Island and assemble the LTG for the mysterious Dr. Panos in Liberty Falls. Directed Mode offers more guidance in completing objectives with a maximum round cap of 15.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Map: Citadelle des Morts (Mid-Season)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Weaver, Maya, Carver, and Grey travel to an abandoned castle in Europe, a “citadel of the dead” introducing a medieval village full of ghoulish horrors and tantalizing secrets.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><br/><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone Overview</strong></h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Resurgence Map: Area 99 (Launch)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Deploy to a brand-new Resurgence map inspired by the fast-paced action of Nuketown. Enter a blistering desert environment surrounding the central “bullseye” Reactor along with other points of interest like the Mannequin Assembly plant, an underground Bunker, and a sprawling Factory and Loading Bay where pre-fab Nuketown dwellings were once constructed.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-oNAqeu5Bs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Returning Maps and Modes</strong></h3>
<p class="">Return to Urzikstan and Rebirth Island arriving one week after Season 01 launch. Play Battle Royale and Plunder on Urzikstan, and Resurgence on Rebirth Island and the new Area 99.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play (Mid-Season)</strong></h3>
<p class="">Ranked Play arrives during the Season 01 launch window! Outsmart, out-maneuver, and outlast the competition while earning exclusive Ranked Play rewards along the way.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Full Black Ops 6 Integration</strong></h3>
<p class="">Season 01 brings the Pick-3 Perk system, weapons, Wildcards, Omnimovement, global weapon builds, and much more as Black Ops 6 fully integrates with Call of Duty: Warzone. Plus, keep an eye out for the rare Specialist Perk Package, granting all Perks plus Irradiated and Shrouded on pickup!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120205868_8c459d4eef_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120205868_8c459d4eef_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season 01 launches November 14</h2>
<p class="">Black Ops 6 is available now. Experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of round-based Zombies experience! <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-6/">Click here to Purchase Black Ops 6</a>.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/08/dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake-interview-how-the-classic-rpg-was-revamped-for-its-ps5-debut/',
                'Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake interview: how the classic RPG was revamped for its PS5 debut',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/fe06665251101043ea291f8eba47d8846b17e8d0.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">The launch of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is fast approaching on November 14. We had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with the game’s producer, Masaaki Hayasaka, to chat about this stunning remake that brings back the iconic masterpiece in HD-2D.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120855406_8f245498b0_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120855406_8f245498b0_k.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>Masaaki Hayasaka<br/>Producer, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How HD-2D graphics draw out the full potential of this retro classic</h2>
<p class=""><strong>PlayStation Blog:</strong> <strong>HD-2D has become much more popular since games like Octopath Traveler. What are some of the unique characteristics of this visual style?</strong></p>
<p class="">In a nutshell, HD-2D is a visual style that combines pixelated characters with 3D backgrounds. Personally, I think this style works better in retro titles. When the original game first came out, players roamed the world while picturing how beautiful the landscapes must be. HD-2D actually brings that world to life.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121312275_2375a92af1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121312275_2375a92af1_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Even though the game adopts HD-2D, it is still immediately recognizable as Dragon Quest III. What do you think are the most important aspects needed to achieve the iconic Dragon Quest-style?</strong></p>
<p class="">The most obvious is the color palette. Dragon Quest games are characterized by rich, vivid colors, so we aimed to fully embrace that in the remake as well. If you compare the original game and the HD-2D remake side-by-side, the graphics will look completely different. Even so, the color palettes are similar so it shouldn’t feel far off from what OG players remember.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bd8bBGZWCCM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Built in tandem with Yuji Horii</h2>
<p class=""><strong>What sort of discussions did you have with Yuji Horii (creator of the Dragon Quest franchise), during development?</strong></p>
<p class="">We connected regularly from the early phases of planning till the very end of development. We exchanged a lot of details. We discussed everything from new features like the Monster Arena and additional narrative episodes, to the game balance of battles, and even the size of the character pixels.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Did you make any changes based on Yuji Horii’s recommendations?</strong></p>
<p class="">He made a comment around the blurring of the game background, and I find that particularly memorable. Background blur in games is usually referred to as depth of field, which is a technique also used in photography. In HD-2D, depth of field is extremely important. We had previous experience working on HD-2D games, so we thought we’d already mastered the sense of implementing background blur. However, when we showed it to Horii-san, he said that the blur was far too intense, and it made him feel like there was something wrong with his eyes. He then asked us to dial back the intensity. We were quite shocked, in a good way, by his suggestion from a player’s point of view. However, as a result, this change made Dragon Quest III stand out from other HD-2D titles, so his recommendation was on point.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121126443_273f9de9de_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121126443_273f9de9de_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>So, different games leverage HD-2D in various ways?</strong></p>
<p class="">Absolutely. The only common thread between all HD-2D titles is that they place pixelated characters in a 3D world. Otherwise, every title is completely unique.  For example, Octopath Traveler incorporates pixels in the background as well, but Dragon Quest III does not. The characters’ body proportions and pixel size also vary depending on the title. Dragon Quest III is the first-ever HD-2D title to integrate a world map where players can actually wander around.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120855416_f6fd63f9fc_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120855416_f6fd63f9fc_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Is the distance between towns the same as the original?</strong></p>
<p class="">The layout of the buildings is exactly the same, but the scale of the map and distances have been changed. The most difficult part of the development process was scaling the map. If we had made the map as dense as the original, the game would have felt too compact in both volume and appearance. On the other hand, if we made the map too large, it would lose its perfect pacing and slow down the game. We spent a lot of time adjusting to find the ideal balance in terms of both look and feel. If you watch the teaser trailer that was released at the time of the announcement, you will notice that the scale is completely different from the finished version.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120005397_ed0a0d9e8e_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54120005397_ed0a0d9e8e_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The passion behind the new character customization feature</h2>
<p class=""><strong>In the remake, players can customize the appearance, like hair color, of party members. Why did you decide to add this new feature?</strong></p>
<p class="">In the original, when you changed a character’s vocation from Martial Artist to a Mage, the young man suddenly turned into an old man and there was no way to alter it. I personally felt that was a bit strange. Character creators or customization is very common in modern games, so I thought players would find it a bit confusing if we kept it like the original. Character customization was intended to make the game feel more modern.</p>
<p class="">To tell you the truth, out of all the new features we added in the remake, I’m most passionate about the character customization. I proposed it to the development team, and even when they refused, saying it was unnecessary, I kept pushing that it was absolutely crucial [laughs]. I spent about three months working on it, so it would mean a lot to me if players spent some time creating their own distinct characters.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Even though you can change their appearance, the main colors for each vocation are the same as the original. How did you decide what to change and what to leave untouched?</strong></p>
<p class="">I believed it was important to respect the vocation colors that Akira Toriyama originally designed. We didn’t change any of the main colors, so it’s easier for players to distinguish between each vocation at a glance. However, we wanted to give players the freedom to play around with hats and hairstyles as a fun new feature.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121312305_ff18e76491_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54121312305_ff18e76491_k.jpg"/></a></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/11/08/playstation-store-october-2024s-top-downloads/',
                'PlayStation Store: October 2024’s top downloads',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/11/f8dcfbb3193a8f882e4eaab4ba563f00c8d621be.jpg?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. October saw fists and bullets flying with Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, Undisputed, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 entering the top five of PS5 list in the US. Arizona Sunshine Remake claimed the top spot on October’s PS VR2 list in the US and EU.</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 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">EU</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Undisputed</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>SILENT HILL 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>SILENT HILL 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NBA 2K25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Phasmophobia</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Undisputed</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Dragon Age: The Veilguard</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Palworld</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Palworld</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>It Takes Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Metaphor: ReFantazio</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Dragon Age: The Veilguard</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Phasmophobia</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Black Myth: Wukong</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS College Football 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Metaphor: ReFantazio</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NHL 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ASTRO BOT</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NEW WORLD: AETERNUM</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Black Myth: Wukong</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Resident Evil 4</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ASTRO BOT</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NBA 2K25</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NEW WORLD: AETERNUM</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Cyberpunk 2077</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em><br/><em>*Upgrades not included</em></figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS4 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">US/Canada</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">EU</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Minecraft</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Forest</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Minecraft</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Forest</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>A Way Out</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops III</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Kingdom Come: Deliverance</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Dying Light</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Need for Speed Payback</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Pacify</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Dying Light</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Mafia: Trilogy</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Mafia: Trilogy</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>A Way Out</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Unravel Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 25</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Need for Speed Heat</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Alien: Isolation</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Injustice 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Middle-earth: Shadow of War</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Need for Speed Heat</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Pacify</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>DayZ</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>DayZ</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>   </strong><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em></figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS VR2 Games*</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">US/Canada</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">EU</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Arizona Sunshine Remake</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Arizona Sunshine Remake</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Metro Awakening</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Rush VR Highway Car Traffic Racing Simulator</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Grand Rush VR Highway Car Traffic Racing Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Metro Awakening</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Into the Radius</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Pavlov</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Pavlov</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Into the Radius</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Legendary Tales</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Crossfire: Sierra Squad</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em> *PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included</em></figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS VR Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">US/Canada</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">EU</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Exorcist: Legion VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Sniper Elite VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Walking Dead Onslaught</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Exorcist: Legion VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Titanic VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>SUPERHOT VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Marvel’s Iron Man VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Ghost Giant</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">US/Canada</th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">EU</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>THRONE AND LIBERTY</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>THRONE AND LIBERTY</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Fortnite</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Fortnite</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Roblox</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Roblox</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Rocket League</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Rocket League</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Asphalt Legends Unite</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Asphalt Legends Unite</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>VALORANT</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>eFootball</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>VALORANT</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>eFootball</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Stumble Guys</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class=""></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
