            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/01/playstation-stars-campaigns-and-digital-collectibles-for-february-2024/',
                'PlayStation Stars Campaigns and Digital Collectibles for February 2024',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/dd11ac24178bb2b052ea766058ad07f6062c7d87.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Welcome to February, <a href="https://www.playstation.com/playstation-stars/?smcid=mablog">PlayStation Stars</a> members. This month brings a host of exciting challenges, Campaigns, and Digital Collectibles to elevate your gaming experience. Let’s delve right into some of the offerings for this month.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PlayStation Plus Game Catalog: Must-play this Month | Reward: 50 Points</h2>
<p class="">Available February 1 </p>
<p class="">Get into the Valentine’s Day mood by playing any one of these couch co-op games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Try any one of these titles and earn 50 Points.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Moving Out 2</li>
<li>Overcooked 2</li>
<li>Untitled Goose Game</li>
<li>Portal Knights</li>
<li>Resogun</li>
<li>Child of Light</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Campaign Name: Your PlayStation Monthly Games Await | Reward: 50 Points</h2>
<p class="">Available February 6  </p>
<p class="">New month, new PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup. Try any one of <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2023/12/27/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-january-a-plague-tale-requiem-evil-west-nobody-saves-the-world/">this month’s games</a> for 50 Points.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Campaign Name: Narrative Adventure Game Club | Digital Collectible: A Dark and Dusty Tome</h2>
<p class="">Available February 8</p>
<p class="">Experience dark, mature narratives and sleek presentations in these narrative adventure games. Playing any of these modern thrillers will earn you a shiny new Digital Collectible.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Detroit: Become Human</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners</li>
<li>Observer: System Redux</li>
</ul>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbnV0OTE2d3FoaWhpa3N3ZzFzOTIzaXVpOHk1anR1ZXNrNXUxNTR3biZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Vj6GCMDpxmbYClNNTe/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Campaign Name: Lunar New Year | Reward: 2 Points &amp; Digital Collectible: Red Envelope with Dragon</h2>
<p class="">Available February 9</p>
<p class="">Happy Lunar New Year! The Lunar New Year Campaign celebrates the Year of the Dragon with some good luck rewards. Play any game to earn 2 Points and a Red Envelope with Dragon Digital Collectible.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdDYwaHMxM2g2NnFmd3lkZ2pvdTl1Y2NjaHZ5Y2NqN2kzMXFzeW12eSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/tSZvRc6H4ji8GX1sb6/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PlayStation &amp; You: PS4 | Digital Collectible: PlayStation 4 console – Glacier White</h2>
<p class="">Available February 15</p>
<p class="">Available only to PlayStation 4 console – Glacier White owners. Play any game on PS4 or PS5 to unlock your Digital Collectible.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdW13ZGRpdzZzMmp1YmRvZG1mMHJ3emphb2toczl5anprbmRpMGJpdyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/kOwmPaV6zytZm0TkHW/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Campaign Name: Wind Down with PlayStation | Digital Collectible: Leap Year, Sleep Year</h2>
<p class="">Available February 21</p>
<p class="">Wind down and relax by playing any one of these PS4 or PS5 games to unlock your cozy Digital Collectible.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Saltsea Chronicles</li>
<li>Unpacking</li>
<li>Spirit of the North</li>
</ul>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZWJxN29td2hhdGcxOG93NW12cWd5YnU1YnEweWN0enhnaWY2dXllOSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/aCOXC6nA5TrUXZsKdQ/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Stay tuned to PlayStation App for all the latest updates throughout the month. Not a PlayStation Stars member yet? Learn more about PlayStation Stars and <a href="https://www.playstation.com/playstation-stars/">join for free here</a>.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/01/sonys-creator-to-creator-inside-marvels-spider-man-2-spider-man-across-the-spider-verse/',
                'Sony’s Creator to Creator — Inside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 & Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/91d72224aba62f34a6a32e86209b99396e3c8963.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><strong>Update:</strong> Part two of the Creator to Creator series featuring <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/marvels-spider-man-2/?smcid=mablog">Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</a> and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is available today. <strong>Spoiler warning</strong> ahead for those who haven’t seen or played these sequels yet.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/581cRQijVk4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">In this <strong>spoiler-filled</strong> follow-up, the panel of game developers and film directors dive deeper into their creative collaborations and shared history with Spider-Man. Intihar discusses adding mysterious, multi-dimensional Spider-Bot collectibles in the game and working with the Spider-Verse creators on this nod to the film. Powers talks about the significance of Miles as a character of color, who is as powerful as other Spider-Men but uniquely cool. Coddington and Rosemann also connect on borrowing strength from Spider-Man as a relatable Hero during challenging times growing up.</p>
<p class="">Thanks for playing, watching, and diving in deep with the creators of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">Today’s Spider-Man creators grew up adoring Marvel’s web-slinging Super Heroes. Beyond this shared love for Peter Parker and Miles Morales, these creative minds approach their craft in surprisingly similar and divergent ways. Exploring how creators of different mediums approach crafting unique stories featuring shared characters is endlessly fascinating.</p>
<p class="">That’s why we’re excited to reveal a new entry in Sony’s Creator to Creator series, featuring some key people responsible for <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/marvels-spider-man-2/?smcid=mablog">Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</a> and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This two-part series includes:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Bryan Intihar, Senior Creative Director, Insomniac Games</li>
<li>Jacinda Chew, Senior Art Director, Insomniac Games</li>
<li>Robert “Bobby” Coddington, Senior Animation Director, Insomniac Games</li>
<li>Bill Rosemann, Marvel Games Vice President &amp; Creative Director</li>
<li>Joaquim Dos Santos, Director, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</li>
<li>Kemp Powers, Director, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</li>
<li>Justin K Thompson, Director, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Part one of the Creator to Creator series dives into everything from authentically portraying Marvel Super Heroes in film and games to the parallel bonds between the Spider-Men and the creative teams that bring them to life.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zaL2oYPt6tc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">In part one, Coddington reflects on foundational lessons from Marvel artists and how to pose the Heroes dynamically. Thompson explains how technology has evolved so far that it’s no longer the main hurdle for telling visually complex stories, like those of the Spider-Verse. Chew reveals her excitement and sense of duty around creating convincing Symbiote tentacles in the game. Finally, Intihar discusses how the bond between Peter and Miles reminds him of growing alongside his fellow Insomniac developers.</p>
<p class="">We also had the opportunity to check in with the Insomniac Games team that participated in the Creator to Creator series, asking them to share what they learned and think will stick with them from these conversations:</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="">“It was inspiring to talk to another creative team working in the Spider-Man universe and discovering that we were all dealing with similar problems and challenges regardless of medium.”</p>
<cite>– Jacinda Chew, Senior Art Director, Insomniac Games</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<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="">“That’s our great responsibility… to make a place where someone young and insecure and doesn’t see a future for themselves say, ‘that’s mine.”</p>
<cite>– Robert “Bobby” Coddington, Senior Animation Director, Insomniac Games</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<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’m a better Insomniac and better creative director because of (Bobby and Jacinda). For me, the game represents what it feels like to be part of this team.”</p>
<cite>– Bryan Intihar, Senior Creative Director, Insomniac Games</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/01/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-and-warzone-season-2-full-details-revealed-out-february-7/',
                'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone Season 2 full details revealed, out February 7',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/72105f627bd659a35a20aa8d7e9e77bdfad97f50.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Prepare for a massive drop of new content with the arrival of Season 2 for <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii/?smcid=mablog">Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</a> and Call of Duty: Warzone. Introducing new maps, modes, weapons, a new Zombies story mission, the return of Fortune’s Keep, Resurgence Ranked Play, and more, there’s plenty to challenge players across all modes.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iKQEqvFtOvY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Season 2 of<a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii/"> Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II</a>I and<a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0002-PPSA01649_00-CODWZ2BUNDLE0001/"> Call of Duty: Warzone</a> launches on February 7 on PlayStation 4 and PS5.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Multiplayer Overview</strong></h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Core 6v6 Maps</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Departures (Launch):</strong> Deploy to Zakhaev International Airport in a competitive 6v6 map with areas for all playstyles. Battle in the main lobby, up on the mezzanine walkway, or take it outside by the airport drop off. This map is larger than Terminal, rewarding exploration with new routes and strategies.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Stash House (Launch):</strong> Prepare for chaos as battle erupts on this compact map featuring a luxury ranch home filled with cash. Explore the modern décor within or fight by the outside bar, hot tub, and driveway. For those who like tiny maps, this is for you.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Vista (Launch): </strong>Explore a mountaintop resort in Brazil in this classic three-lane map featuring tight interior spaces with long-ranged outdoor sight lines. Battle around the gift shops and restaurants or flank through the lowered jungle route away from the bustle of stores.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Das House (Mid-Season): </strong>The seminal small map returns with an all-new look as Operators navigate an under-construction skyscraper in the vicinity of Highrise. Looking for constant combat? This is it.</p>
<p class="">Plus, two more otherworldly-themed maps will join Tetanus, Sporeyard, and Satan’s Quarry for the Vortex Mid-Season Event: Airborne and Skidrow.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New War Map — Operation: Tin Man</h3>
<p class="">Compete in a new large-scale War map with Operation: Tin Man. Skydive to the roof of a skyscraper and crash into the inner lab in the search for enemy data. The attacking team must find a way into the building, complete the mission, and move onto extraction as the other side defends the building and attempts to run down the clock.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Game Modes</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Team Gun Game (Launch): </strong>Every player starts the round with the same specific weapon. Eliminate enemy Operators to progress through a set of eight predetermined weapons. Use Knife melees and Finishing Moves to deduct a point from the enemy team’s score.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Snipers Only (Launch): </strong>You’ll need a steady hand and quick reflexes in this playlist featuring long-ranged combat across a variety of maps. All weapons besides Sniper Rifles are restricted, including your Lethal and Tactical equipment.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Hordepoint (Launch): </strong>In this zombified version of Hardpoint, a portal opens whenever an Operator enters the objective boundary. Zombies pour forth, attacking everything in sight. Eliminated zombies have a small chance of dropping a power-up or a Pack-a-Punch weapon when eliminated.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Juggermosh (Mid-Season): </strong>Deploy as an armed Juggernaut and take on other hulking Operators. Grab armor from fallen enemies and gain increased damage for headshots. A one-hit kill Melee weapon lies at the center of the map, a powerful reward for whoever gets their hands on it.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Bounty (Mid-Season): </strong>In this twist on Team Deathmatch, the player with the most eliminations from each team will be marked as a high-value target. Earn extra points for slaying a high-value target.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Vortex (Mid-Season):</strong> Vortex returns with a stronger version of the Ray Gun plus an increased map pool and an update Vortex Mid-Season event.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Plus, Ranked Play: </strong>Compete in Ranked Play Season 2 at launch, featuring all-new Seasonal and Skill Division rewards.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Ninja Vest</strong></p>
<p class="">Equip the new Ninja Vest to eliminate your Operator’s footstep sounds and become immune to movement reduction effects. You will also spawn with bonus Shuriken or Throwing Knives and resupply them every 25 seconds.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Zombies Overview</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>New Rift, New Mission (Mid-Season): </strong>Operation Deadbolt must face a new anomaly in the Exclusion Zone as the Dark Aether Story continues within a new Rift. Escort expert Sergei Ravenov inside the Dark Aether with mercenaries on your tail. Face down the Infested Stronghold and get out before it’s too late.</p>
<p class=""><strong>New Challenges, Schematics (Mid-Season): </strong>As with Season 1, your Prestige Player Level unlocks more challenges to complete and Calling Cards to unlock. Season 2 also introduces new schematics:</p>
<p class=""><strong>Mags of Holding: </strong>When activated, your weapon pulls ammunition straight from your ammo stash, eliminating the need for pesky reloads.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Blood Burner Key: </strong>Acquire this valuable key to summon the Blood Burner Wonder Vehicle from anywhere on the map.</p>
<p class=""><strong>V-R11 Wonder Weapon: </strong>Turn enemies into allies with a schematic for the V-R11.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496836806_7ffcf66852_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496836806_7ffcf66852_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>New Warlord</strong></p>
<p class="">The Warlord Keres, a deadly and elusive chemical warfare specialist, has set up shop in the Killhouse at Orlov Military Base. Expect the fortress to be highly fortified with soldiers, snipers, turrets, traps, and her specialty, poison gas. Bring your gas masks and precision teamwork to eliminate the new enemy.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone Overview</strong></h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Welcome Back to Fortune’s Keep (Launch)</h3>
<p class="">The island has evolved since its first debut: Konni Group has set up a base of operations, conducting mysterious experiments in a new underground lab. Something’s gone wrong, releasing a massive explosion across the island and letting loose an unceasing, undead threat.</p>
<p class="">Fortune’s Keep is set to become your primary Call of Duty: Warzone destination at launch as you drop into Resurgence matches and challenge the best players in Ranked Play.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Gameplay Features</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Zombie Nests, Eradication Contract (Launch): </strong>Recent seismic events may be linked to increased undead activity across Fortune’s Keep. Activate the new Eradication Contract by investigating any corpse that you find and following the tracks to a Zombie Nest. Destroy the cysts and any Zombie HVTs within to complete the Contract.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Rogue Signal Public Event (Launch): </strong>When this Public Event activates, all squads will be given a 90-second objective-based mission such as “Get the most eliminations” or “Deal the most damage to enemy players.” The top three performing teams will receive in-game Cash rewards and the location of a special Reward Cache.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Zombies Power-Ups (Launch): </strong>Seven Zombies power-ups have made their way onto the island, found by opening certain caches and eliminating enemy Operators. The power-ups include Double Points, Full Armor, Max Ammo, Fire Sale, Looting Spree, Zarkour, and Undead Sight.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Extendable Bridges (Launch): </strong>Fortune’s Keep now features three Extendable Bridges built over gaps in the fallen roadways following the explosion. Interact with the nearby control panels to extend or retract them, creating strategic opportunities for preventing and gaining access across.</p>
<p class=""><strong>New Squad Elimination Streaks (Launch): </strong>Get on a roll. This new tracker — available on all maps outside of Ranked Play — displays how many enemy squads you have eliminated back-to-back. Keep eliminating squads before the countdown bar runs out to extend your Squad Elimination Streak and earn rewards along the way.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mid-Season Updates</h3>
<p class=""><strong>Research Vessel (Mobile Point of Interest): </strong>A large pontoon-style watercraft has been spotted in the waters off the coast of Fortune’s Keep. Certain to draw attention, the craft is large enough for combat to take place across the deck.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Bunker Buster (Killstreak): </strong>Use binoculars to designate a target structure. This Lethal Killstreak launches a missile that vertically decimates a building through multiple floors, blasting those within. The impact creates a long column of gas designed to force surviving enemies out of cover.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Personal Decontamination Station (Field Upgrade): </strong>An improved version of the Personal Decontamination Station (PDS) Field Upgrade joins the loot pool at mid-season, emitting a cloud of chemicals that counteract the corrosive properties of the circle gas, creating a temporary safe zone.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Resurgence</h3>
<p class="">Compete against the best with Ranked Play in Call of Duty: Warzone. Players must be at least Level 55 to access this mode, including the following parameters:</p>
<p class=""><strong>Party Size:</strong> Trios<br/><strong>Map:</strong> Fortune’s Keep<br/><strong>Game Mode:</strong> Resurgence<br/><strong>Public Event restrictions:</strong> Yes (e.g., No Fire Sales)<br/><strong>Vehicle restrictions:</strong> Yes (e.g., No Turreted Vehicles)<br/><strong>Restricted gameplay elements:</strong> Yes (e.g., changes to redeploy mechanics)<br/><strong>Buy Station Inventory Adjustments:</strong> Yes</p>
<p class="">Battle your way through seven standard Skill Divisions by performing well in matches and completing challenges to earn Stars and increase your Skill Rating. Earn seasonal Ranked Play and Skill Division rewards and claim your title as ruler of Fortune’s Keep!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Season 2 Combat Pack and other Store offerings</strong></h2>
<p class="">Look for the Season 2 Combat Pack, free for PlayStation Plus members in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone starting on February 14. Other upcoming Store Bundles include the Dragon Soul: Lunar New Year Bundle, the Call of Duty Endowment Direct Action Pack, the Zombies: Aether Worm Bundle, and more!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Season 2 launches February 7</strong></h2>
<p class="">Purchase Modern Warfare III on PlayStation to enjoy the benefits of two additional loadout slots, monthly exclusive Double XP events, +25% PlayStation Party Bonus XP, +5 bonus Battle Token Tier Skips with a BlackCell purchase, and a free in-game bundle each season with the Combat Pack. </p>
<p class="">Stay frosty.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/02/share-of-the-week-the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered-new-skins/',
                'Share of the Week: The Last of Us Part II Remastered – New Skins',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/4a63031ca1f382b1c5795f1b6af5879b59618598.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 new skins unlocked in The Last of Us Part II Remastered’s No Return mode using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502398777_f2c607ed00_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502398777_f2c607ed00_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/RevolutionAndre/status/1752329139971842393/photo/2"><em>RevolutionAndre</em></a><em> shares Ellie facing forward in the Astronaut skin</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503710960_c93164c51e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503710960_c93164c51e_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/secondcapture/status/1752028960555159787/photo/2"><em>secondcapture</em></a><em> shares Abby looking up through aviator sunglasses in the Bomber skin</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503434798_262fc6834d_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503434798_262fc6834d_c.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/W3bmast3r_vp/status/1751714017746272587/photo/2"><em>W3bmast3r_vp</em></a><em> shares Ellie with her gun drawn and a spore mask on in the Savage Starlight skin</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503284501_96948744eb_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503284501_96948744eb_c.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/Morph__1/status/1752879620775657481/photo/2"><em>Morph__1</em></a><em> shares Abby looking down in the rain in the Eighties leather jacket skin</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502398802_4c6e4f0269_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502398802_4c6e4f0269_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/jabivgp/status/1752473679861059874/photo/4"><em>jabivgp</em></a><em> shares Ellie wearing the red Plaid skin, looking at the camera with a spore mask on</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503434838_f06ccee6db_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503434838_f06ccee6db_c.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><a href="https://twitter.com/SneakyMikeVP/status/1752953319708893322/photo/1"><em>SneakyMikeVP</em></a><em> shares Abby looking over her shoulder in the Badlands skin</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/65535/53502398807_10bdb21b60_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502398807_10bdb21b60_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME:  Cool</p>
<p class="">SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 7, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re feeling cool. 😎 Share moments with an undeniably cool character 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/2024/02/08/20240208-hnpy/',
                '(For Southeast Asia) Happy New Play-Year promotion comes to PlayStation Store',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/1240b7e19b35ff7c65da37e1efbf7537ab0d0b94.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Help kickstart your February gaming sessions in style with the Happy New Play-Year promotion, in which acclaimed titles are the name of the game. You can enjoy discounts on a mixture of titles, which include ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON (30% off), EA Sports FC 24 – Standard Edition (65% off) and many more.</p>
<p class="">Head to <a data-id="https://store.playstation.com/category/cb7c164f-78c3-4e86-954f-2cdcf9f2d7e0?emcid=or-pl-502622" data-type="URL" href="https://store.playstation.com/category/cb7c164f-78c3-4e86-954f-2cdcf9f2d7e0?emcid=or-pl-502622" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">PlayStation Sto</a>re to find out your regional discount.</p>
<p class=""><em>* Happy New Play-Year promotion starts on Wednesday January 31 Asia local time and concludes on Wednesday February 14 Asia local time.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/05/until-then-unpacks-the-trauma-of-loss-in-this-narrative-adventure/',
                'Until Then unpacks the trauma of loss in this narrative adventure',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/12186c21474d835a0a2dad4a70fe8172becf892c.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Until Then is an indie game with unexpectedly profound things to say and a breathtaking art style set among Philippine-inspired landscapes. Don’t mistake its simplistic controls for a lack of substance—from its addictively mundane minigames to its meaningful look at healing from trauma. This game has the potential to stand among the classics in the narrative adventure genre.</p>
<p class="">Until Then unravels a bittersweet story of mystery and tragedy, unpacking the trauma of loss through the eyes of the main character, high school student Mark Borja. In a world still recovering from catastrophe, Mark and his friends navigate the joys and woes of another year of high school—piano practice, homework deadlines, and school drama— as you reminisce about the daily insecurities of high school life.</p>
<p class="">That is, until a fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark’s life. People</p>
<p class="">disappear, and memories prove unreliable. You’ll work to uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure as you race to unravel the mystery before it’s too late.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PQQgY2fVTOY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An emotional rollercoaster blending tearful moments with delightful fun</h2>
<p class="">Throughout Until Then, you’ll meet a diverse and achingly familiar cast of characters to converse with in person, over text, and through email. Watch how their personal stories unfold alongside yours as you get to know them, build relationships, and possibly flunk group projects.</p>
<p class="">Weave through familiar, busy corridors in your school uniform, wake to the roosters’ crows, and calls for Tahooooo! (a popular local sweet snack) and, of course, don’t miss the train for your morning commute. Immerse yourself in the sights and songs of the daily lives of Filipino students, barreling their way through high school in a rich and intricate city inspired by Metro Manila and the developers’ alma maters.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499410215_bb5dd22d39_w.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499410215_bb5dd22d39_w.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499293884_0662436c46.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499293884_0662436c46.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Attribution: Rizal Provincial Government</em><a href="https://www.rizalprovince.ph/pages/educationinrizal-educationinrizal-rizalsciencehs.html"><em> </em></a></p>
<p class="">The game confronts you with philosophical issues as you walk alongside Mark as he makes mistakes and struggles to heal his wounds and let go of the past. Decide how Mark grows and strives to improve throughout the story.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105082_39e00ad6ab_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105082_39e00ad6ab_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144048_22d995d842_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144048_22d995d842_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Moments of relief from tear-jerking topics come in the form of comical and engaging minigames that you won’t want to put down. Insert a flash drive—oh wait, wrong way—nope, it was right the first time. Help Mark practice for his piano recital. Enjoy minigames inspired by Filipino life as well: Fight your friend for more fishballs at the food stand outside. Get in the groove to pay for the jeepney, a unique local mode of transport. Until Then lets you lose yourself in little games you play in everyday life.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144118_d17461a7db_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144118_d17461a7db_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144083_bc5fdd387c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144083_bc5fdd387c_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Uncomplicated side-scrolling mechanics</h2>
<p class="">You are seamlessly guided through the world of Until Then as you walk your character through the environment and interact with items and people. The dialogue—chatting with friends or texting with your in-game smartphone—often drives the story forward with new information and context for the strange occurrences Mark starts to experience. You can also explore the depths of social media, where your likes and comments may pose consequences. Scrolling through social posts, emails, and webpages might reveal further hints and clues about the people and world around you, so keep your eyes peeled.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499294054_a784629079_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499294054_a784629079_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499293934_1c276ccf20_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499293934_1c276ccf20_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Investigating the mystery will take you to all sorts of places, from a warm evening playing games at the local fair to the ruins of a coastal town marred by catastrophe. Take your time to walk around, see the sights, and interact with the environment to discover more about this bright and vivid world.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105102_36b2d83dca_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105102_36b2d83dca_c.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498987906_e4411c375e_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498987906_e4411c375e_c.jpg"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Concept Art provided by Polychroma Games</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A love letter from the developers</h2>
<p class="">Polychroma Games is a team of talented developers based in the Philippines, entwining the interactivity of play and the power of stories. Until Then was born from our desire to create stories that only games can tell.</p>
<p class="">The game itself is a love letter to youth in the Philippines. From small details in the background to major motifs in the setting of the fictional cities of Liamson and Bonifacio, we wanted to show a world that would celebrate the rich and diverse culture that shaped our own lives.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105112_b1a464cc80_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53498105112_b1a464cc80_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a>​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144148_493441dbec_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53499144148_493441dbec_b.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Attribution: Google Maps</em></p>
<p class="">We also wanted emotions that would resonate—a story familiar to everyone, which would resound in anyone’s heart even after playing. We wanted to tell a story of growing up, navigating relationships as time changes us, and coming to terms with loss.</p>
<p class="">Creating this game and its story wasn’t easy. It involved quite a few leaps of faith, and trusting that people would see and feel the heart we put into it, that people would want to see a story about some random kids in a Philippines touched by tragedy. Prepare to be swept off your feet into immersive storytelling, stunning pixelated visuals, intricate plots, and unforgettable characters when you come face-to-face with the mysterious world of Until Then.<a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10004486"> Wishlist Until Then</a> now on PS5.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/05/players-choice-vote-for-januarys-best-new-game-2/',
                'Players’ Choice: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth voted January’s best new game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/8e98151f9b3eecf7910a1a625ed9bf444c05ba6d.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Say aloha to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the first Players’ Choice of 2024. Congrats to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio!</p>
<p class="">What games have you been playing in February? 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="">Welcome to the first Players’ Choice poll of 2024! Let’s welcome the new year by picking your favorite title for January among the heavy hitters, indie knockouts, and virtual bangers. </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. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year.</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? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will.</p>
<p class=""><br/><strong>How are nominees decided?</strong> The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted.</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["13309074-src"]="poll-oembed-simple";</script><script charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/13309074.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/06/ps5-beta-adds-dualsense-controller-sound-enhancements-and-share-screen-interactions/',
                'PS5 system update adds DualSense controller sound enhancements and Share Screen interactions',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/5164f26aa0ecdd0b6970f473dba924f56a69fe95.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><em>Update on March 13, 2024: the PS5 system software update is rolling out globally today. Additionally, later this month a PlayStation App update will enable users to enjoy Share Screen interactions on the app as well.</em></p>
<p class="">As the new year kicks into high gear with an amazing slate of PS5 game releases like The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Tekken 8 and Helldivers 2, along with FINAL FANTASY VII Rebirth later this month, we’re pleased to roll out another PS5 system software beta today with a number of quality-of-life enhancements and new features.</p>
<p class="">While beta access is limited to invited participants in select countries*, we plan to release the update globally in the coming months. If you’re selected to participate in the beta, you’ll receive an email invitation today when it’s available to download. Some features available during the beta phase may not make it into the final version or may see significant changes.</p>
<p class="">Let’s jump in to the newly added features:</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DualSense wireless controller built-in mic and speaker audio enhancements</strong></h2>
<p class="">We’ve updated the device software of the DualSense and DualSense Edge wireless controllers to improve their sound features.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Controller speaker enhancements.</strong> The controller speakers can now produce higher volume sound, allowing you to hear in-game sounds and voice chat audio more clearly.</li>
<li><strong>Improved noise cancellation.</strong> The mic input quality on these controllers has been improved, courtesy of a new AI machine learning model. Background noise from button presses and game audio are suppressed, resulting in a better voice chat experience. Install the system software beta and update the controller device software to enjoy enhanced clarity of your voice chat audio when using the controller mic.</li>
<li>With this update, you may feel that the sounds coming from your controller speaker may sound louder. You can adjust the controller speaker volume from the control center.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504054957_a1e1a94172_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="Image of a white DualSense wireless controller on a white background" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504054957_a1e1a94172_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Share Screen Interactions</strong></h2>
<p class="">Players watching Share Screen in full screen mode can now <strong>use pointers and emoji reactions to interact with the host’s gameplay.</strong></p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Viewers can move a pointer around, send a ping or draw a line on the shared screen, allowing them to highlight certain objects or areas to guide the host player more accurately.</li>
<li>Viewers can send emoji-based reactions to the host’s screen to visually encourage and celebrate gameplay actions.</li>
<li>Note: this feature is available by default but can be turned off by the host in the Share Screen settings. Both the host and the viewer must be participating in the beta to use this feature during the beta period.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53505363795_df791dc348_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="PS5 UI screenshot showing pointers and emoji reaction on the The Last of Us Part II Remastered gameplay screen" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53505363795_df791dc348_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Adjust Brightness of PS5 Power Indicator</strong></h2>
<p class="">You can now adjust the brightness of your PS5 console’s power indicator.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Go to [Settings] &gt; [System] &gt; [Beep and Light], and then select [Brightness].</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504940481_9834c571b9_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="PS5 UI screenshot showing PS5 console’s power indicator brightness options" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504940481_9834c571b9_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">A heartfelt thank you to our community for always providing valuable feedback and supporting our beta programs. We’re excited to hear your thoughts!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/06/mlb-the-show-24-showcases-negro-leagues-collectors-edition/',
                'MLB The Show 24 showcases Negro Leagues Collector’s Edition',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/bf743113614603bc751436e615ec44676f75ba72.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Before radios, television sets, and the internet, physical newspapers were the primary source of news and information. Black newspapers and the Black press not only documented Negro Leagues history, in addition, the newspapers were also a source of pride in the black community. (You can learn more <a href="https://baseballhall.org/discover/black-newspapers-preserved-negro-leagues-history#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Black%20press%20was%20the,psyche%20of%20the%20Black%20community.">here</a>)</p>
<p class="">Without these newspapers and the pioneering baseball writers, the Negro Leagues wouldn’t have survived. They preserved this often overlooked chapter of American and baseball history. This year’s collector’s edition theme is a tribute to those who helped give a voice to the voiceless.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/deQD-Q59XJw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><br/>San Diego Studio x Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</h2>
<p class="">We are also excited to announce our continued partnership with <a href="https://www.nlbm.com/">The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a> in Kansas City. MLB The Show will donate $1 for every Negro Leagues Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and MVP edition sold in the US until 12/31/24 to the <a href="https://twitter.com/nlbmprez?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a>. Donations will help the Museum continue its work, which is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. Visit www.nlbm.com to learn more. This purchase is not tax deductible.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503523271_7f2fc4c0b0_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503523271_7f2fc4c0b0_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Negro Leagues Edition (Retailers in the US and Canada)</h2>
<p class="">The Negro Leagues Edition is $124.99 USD/$164.99 CAD and is available at retailers in the US and Canada. Stock is limited, so be sure to get yours while supplies last.</p>
<p class="">Pre-order now at <a href="https://theshow.com/purchase/">https://theshow.com/purchase/</a>. Early access begins March 15, 2024.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Negro Leagues Edition includes:</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Full Game (Access to both PS4 and PS5*)</li>
<li>Limited Edition Physical Steelbook</li>
<li>Limited Edition New Era MLB The Show 9FIFTY</li>
<li>[4] Days Early Access – Begins March 15, 2024</li>
<li>Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 24)</li>
<li>[1] Barrier Breakers Diamond Choice Pack</li>
<li>[1] Legend Diamond Choice Pack</li>
<li>[5] Gold Choice Packs</li>
<li>[1] Equipment Pack</li>
<li>[1] Cover Athlete Bat Skin</li>
<li>[20] The Show Packs</li>
<li>[20,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 24</li>
</ul>
<p class="">This year’s limited edition New Era MLB The Show 9FIFTY hat and physical Steelbook are inspired by the newspapers and retro game posters of the 1930s and 1940s. Check out the pictures below.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53505113360_8c1fd85d4e_b.jpg" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53505113360_8c1fd85d4e_b.jpg"/></a></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503802582_a86795051b_b.jpg" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503802582_a86795051b_b.jpg"/></a></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502636602_5e72cf9bac_h.jpg" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53502636602_5e72cf9bac_h.jpg"/></a></figure>
<p class=""><em>Please note that The Negro Leagues Edition of MLB The Show 24 on PlayStation consoles includes a voucher code for the PS5 &amp; PS4 versions of the game, the Digital Deluxe Edition content, as well as a physical Steelbook case and New Era hat.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503829514_0fbabf3fc5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53503829514_0fbabf3fc5_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Digital Deluxe Edition (Digital Platform Stores / PlayStation Store)</h2>
<p class="">The Digital Deluxe Edition returns to the PlayStation Store for our digital fans. It is $99.99 USD/$129.99 CAD. For those of you who need packs, on packs, on packs, this is the edition for you.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Digital Deluxe Edition includes:</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Full Game (Access to both PS4 and PS5*)</li>
<li>[4] Days Early Access – Begins March 15, 2024</li>
<li>Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 24)</li>
<li>[1] Barrier Breakers Diamond Choice Pack</li>
<li>[1] Legend Diamond Choice Pack</li>
<li>[5] Gold Choice Packs</li>
<li>[1] Equipment Pack</li>
<li>[1] Cover Athlete Bat Skin</li>
<li>[20] The Show Packs</li>
<li>[20,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 24</li>
<li>MVP Edition (Digital Platform Stores / PlayStation Store)</li>
</ul>
<p class="">The MVP Edition returns for MLB The Show 24. For those of you looking for a head-start on your first pitch, the MVP edition is for you. The MVP Edition is $84.99 USD / $109.99 CAD (MSRP).</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The MVP Edition includes:</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Full Game (Access to both PS4 and PS5*)</li>
<li>[4] Days Early Access – Begins March 15, 2024</li>
<li>Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 24)</li>
<li>[1] Barrier Breakers Diamond Choice Pack</li>
<li>[1] Equipment Pack</li>
<li>[1] Cover Athlete Bat Skin</li>
<li>[10] The Show Packs</li>
<li>[10,000] Stubs for MLB The Show 24</li>
</ul>
<p class="">We are excited about MLB The Show 24, which will be released soon on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch consoles. Be sure to get your copy today, and gather your friends for a new class of Legends and new ways to play.</p>
<p class="">Pre-order now available for MLB The Show 24 at PS Store. Early access begins March 15, 2024.</p>
<p class="">For the latest updates about MLB The Show, check TheShow.com, sign up for The Scouting Report, and follow our <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBTheShow">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mlbtheshow">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mlbtheshow/?hl=en">Instagram</a> accounts. Additional detailed information on MLB The Show 24, including an important update on year-to-year savings and more, can be found on our announcement <a href="http://theshow.com/faq">FAQ</a> here.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size">*Includes PS4 &amp; PS5 voucher code (no disc included). An internet connection is required to redeem download code.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/07/world-of-tanks-modern-armor-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary-with-new-tanks-challenges-and-more/',
                'World of Tanks Modern Armor celebrates its 10th anniversary with new tanks, challenges, and more',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/43387ff35d219d47dc42061bbc3f6ccd7b4c95bc.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Can you believe it? Ten years of tanks! The game known today as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.playstation.com/games/world-of-tanks/?smcid%3Dma&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1707303244433512&amp;usg=AOvVaw0chrggFauxl76F7BqgCDw_">World of Tanks Modern Armor</a> officially made its debut in the console arena on February 12, 2014.<br/><br/>As one of the first free-to-play titles available on consoles, WoTMA (or just “World of Tanks,” as it was known then!) helped lay the foundation for experiences that PlayStation players would enjoy over the next decade. Of course, the game couldn’t have come as far as it has without the support of a thriving community… or without the efforts of a dedicated staff.<br/><br/>In fact, several of our Wargaming staff members who were present for the game’s early days are still part of the team today. Together, they’re taking a look back at the game’s history and a sneak peek at what’s ahead during the year-long event we’re calling Celebrations.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The past</strong></h2>
<p class="">It takes more than a few people to bring a game like World of Tanks to market, but five who made the game what it is today are:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Andy Dorizas, Art Director</li>
<li>Valerie MacCracken, Director of LiveOps Operations</li>
<li>Ben Crawford, Senior Player Experience Manager</li>
<li>JJ Bakken, Senior Producer</li>
<li>L. Daniel Burr, Live Game Director</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Any of them will tell you that hard work and scrappiness were key to their efforts. Valerie MacCracken, who started at Wargaming in 2011 in a customer support role, drives the point home, saying, “The first North American office was brand new when I joined, and there were only maybe fifteen employees; I recall that on one of my first days, we assembled furniture for the lobby area!”<br/><br/>Physical infrastructure for various offices wasn’t the only challenge; there were technical challenges in developing the game, too. According to Andy Dorizas, who was Lead Artist at Day 1 Studios before it became Wargaming Chicago, “We had to trim things down just to get it to run on early hardware. Art assets had to be shrunk or compressed. Levels had to be simplified… It was a seriously large mountain to climb.”<br/><br/>JJ Bakken, who joined the Chicago studio as an Associate Producer in 2013, adds another issue the team faced: the novelty of what Wargaming was doing! “This was the studio’s first time developing a free-to-play game, and it was early in the days of F2P on console platforms,” he says. “Figuring out a new genre and a new way to connect with game players is always challenging, but exciting at the same time.”<br/><br/>How did they do it? MacCracken says that the process was gradual, “with the alpha, beta, [a] soft launch in certain regions, and then [the] full launch happening, back-to-back.” She also ran what she calls a “super-secret” forum, available only to early testers. “When I saw the passion that the game was creating among our early testers, many of which are still around today, I knew we had something good going.”<br/><br/>Bakken echoes this: “…there is always extra trepidation on launching a live-service game (will the servers perform, etc.), so we were hopeful all our technical efforts would be rewarded. Spoilers: it went pretty well and here we still are, ten years later!”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504288292_b5617aa876_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53504288292_b5617aa876_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The future</strong></h2>
<p class="">Ben Crawford, who started with Wargaming Europe ten years ago as a Customer Experience Manager, is excited about the changes he sees in WoTMA’s technology and services, saying, “The evolution is evident in the updated portal [website], new support tools, expanded capabilities outside the game, and enhanced in-game features.”<br/><br/>Daniel Burr, who began at Wargaming as a Solution Architect managing network services, notes, however, that development brings new opportunities, and not just for Wargaming: “Ten years ago, the F2P space on consoles was very new, and so there were no console-specific best practices upon which to lean. Today, F2P on consoles is a much more thoroughly understood model, and new F2P games take full advantage of that.”</p>
<p class="">So, progress and challenges alike lie ahead, but WoTMA is prepared to embrace it all, starting with the Celebrations event!</p>
<p class="">At the heart of Celebrations is a dedicated website that will allow players to track their progress in each season throughout 2024, starting with the Lunar New Year-themed Year of the Dragon season that launched on January 30. Players will also be able to compare and share stats with their friends and work toward not one but two special reward tanks that will be awarded when Celebrations ends.</p>
<p class="">That’s not all. February brings players opportunities to claim two new 10th anniversary tanks, the Lago M38 and the MBT-B, complete the first Celebrations Monthly Challenge (as an Anniversary event with shared community goals and rewards), and so much more.</p>
<p class="">In the end, every aspect of Celebrations is intended to commemorate what makes WoTMA special: not the tanks (as much as we love them), but the people. “Not very many industry folks can say they’ve been at the same company for over a decade, but we have this stability that allows us to build bridges not only between each other, but between us and our community as well,” says MacCracken.</p>
<p class="">The game’s big ten-year anniversary is underway. Join us for the Celebrations!</p>
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/07/how-skull-and-bones-takes-advantage-of-immersive-ps5-features-out-february-16/',
                'How Skull and Bones takes advantage of immersive PS5 features, out February 16',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/484e9a4fdbb3144252795d4fd5808bfe51697c68.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Thar be no room for landlubbers here. Get ready to start a golden age pirate’s journey taking you from shipwrecked nobody to kingpin when <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/skull-and-bones/?smcid=ma">Skull and Bones launches February 16 on PlayStation 5</a>, with an Open Beta running from February 8-11*. The development team at Ubisoft Singapore has been hard at work ensuring that the Skull and Bones experience is as immersive as possible on PS5, thanks to features like 3D audio, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and more.</p>
<p class="">We sat down with Skull and Bones Technical Director Jussi Markkanen to find out how these features are utilized to make Skull and Bones such a unique adventure on the PS5, where the only thing missing is the smell of the salty sea.</p>
<p class=""><strong>What is the backstory behind the title of Skull and Bones beyond the infamous Jolly Roger reference?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Markkanen: </strong>Skull and Bones is set in an unforgiving environment, during the tumultuous Golden Age of Piracy, in a world inspired by the Indian Ocean. Here peril awaits at every turn, and you will need to leverage every opportunity available to endure and flourish in this harsh world.</p>
<p class="">The title Skull and Bones reflects the gritty approach that we’re bringing to the pirate fantasy, as you begin your journey a shipwrecked nobody, and have to plunder and outsmart your way to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin.</p>
<p class=""><strong>How are the DualSense controller’s haptics used in Skull and Bones?</strong></p>
<p class="">In Skull and Bones, naval combat is at the heart of the experience. You are able to equip a multitude of powerful weapons to outgun other ships, attack forts, and take down legendary sea monsters.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYXpmYnI5MDJxcXdoaWEyYmlmYWNtbTNxMHVzaTlkeGM5MDg5dmg5bCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/7vQy4muGaFa9AKGZY3/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">On the PS5, naval combat really comes alive with the DualSense wireless controller when using the adaptive triggers. From sea fires and giant ballistae, to rocket launchers and mortars, you will be able to experience the different tensions of the triggers as you fire a variety of different weapons.</p>
<p class="">For example,<strong> </strong>faster-firing arsenal such as ballista or carronade require only a light pull on the adaptive triggers. The weight of the long guns or sea fire are communicated through a stronger resistance, while the adaptive triggers translate the heft of your heaviest arsenal, such as of bombards or rockets, ensuring that every shot you fire is Skull and Bones feels satisfying and unique.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNmMxZWpvaGhzdWJmdDFtbXYwcDl2Y3A5NWd0NzNxM3J2YXNzdGY4dCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/UohcdXxjNRTjGVvZ9B/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">The controller also rumbles in specific locations based on where your weapons are firing and where you’re taking damage. When an enemy launches a volley of cannons at your starboard, you’ll feel the intensity of the attack in your hands as you see it on screen.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Do you have any setup recommendations for players using the customizable DualSense Edge wireless controller?</strong></p>
<p class="">One option could be mapping the spyglass shortcut! An important tool in any pirate’s kit is their spyglass. It allows them to glean more information about the world, including scoping out enemy weaknesses and identifying new opportunities such as bountiful trade routes.</p>
<p class=""><strong>How was PS5’s 3D Audio implemented into Skull and Bones’ gameplay?</strong></p>
<p class="">3D Audio has allowed us to push boundaries in how you hear our game. For example, you can pinpoint the arc of incoming mortar fire, letting you decide whether to dodge or brace for impact against these powerful attacks.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMmNyeXVmMHRneTFzc3U0ZnZjNzFkeHFwMzFucGpoc3dxbG9kaHQwMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/v88N7B77k3mbxjNBCV/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Be sure to pay attention to your crew as well, who will often call out loot floating in the water – thanks to 3D Audio, you’ll never have to wonder exactly where that loot is.</p>
<p class="">Also, did we mention that they’ll sing sea shanties on command? Because they will! Map it to your quick action wheel and with a tap of the D-Pad you’ll hear one of 30 shanties sung in Bahasa Indonesia, Malagasy, English, and French!</p>
<p class=""><strong>How does PS5’s SSD speed add to the pirating adventure in Skull &amp; Bones?</strong></p>
<p class="">In Skull and Bones, you’ll chase the horizon across everything from clear blue-water shoals to violent raging storms as you sail from the coast of Africa to the East Indies. Made solely for current-generation consoles, Skull and Bones allows you to explore its vast open world in 4K at a targeted 60fps.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOHFkNGI5NXl6aGpjaXhvemFibmluNjVxMTl5OXQxMDd6YXAwbDc2aiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/kDxDMiKlWb2cSGX3nr/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">With the ultra-fast SSD, players will be able to transition from outposts and dens, to the vast Indian Ocean even faster! This will help create an even more immersive experience on the high seas, as players will be able to set sail, explore, and engage in epic naval battles seamlessly.</p>
<p class=""><strong>What is one example of a super granular, nerdy detail about pirate culture that you want to make sure players know about?</strong></p>
<p class="">For Skull and Bones, we wanted to reinject the defiance, tension, and brutality of piracy back into the genre. Pirates were survivors, ordinary men and women who wanted to challenge the status quo and decide their own fate. Based on our research, the pirates in the Indian Ocean were also enterprising in nature, building their trade throughout the region for intel and seizing resources for their own gain. They came from all around the world including from the Indian Ocean, interacting with locals from different regions; which is something we sought to portray in our game.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Skull and Bones’ release date has changed a few times. What’s an example of a specific gameplay feature you’re thankful the team had more time to work on or a new gameplay feature that extra development time has allowed you to create?</strong></p>
<p class="">Creating a new IP is as fulfilling as it is challenging and takes time to fully develop.</p>
<p class="">We’ve been iterating on the version you’ll see on February 16, by working closely with our community through the Insider Program and regular user tests. The community feedback we received has helped us to improve the game, especially in our co-op, naval combat, and gameplay variety.</p>
<p class="">Our game already has an amazing solo experience, and the time has allowed us to make additional investments in enhancing the co-op experience. This includes ensuring the entire game can be played in co-op and adding the Call for Help feature, just to name a few.</p>
<p class="">We’ve continued to add depth to our weapon system and further enhance naval combat, making each weapon choice feel unique, and encouraging different playstyles.</p>
<p class="">Additionally, we were able to expand our gameplay variety with more fantastical activities for you to enjoy, such as ghost ships, and sea monsters.</p>
<p class="">Finally, you can also look forward to new events and features in our seasonal post-launch.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pre-order the Premium Edition to start playing up to three days early </h2>
<p class=""><a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0001-PPSA02202_00-SBULTIMATE000000">Pre-order Skull and Bones on PlayStation Store today</a>. Those who pre-order the Premium Edition will get to play the game up to three days early starting February 13, and will get access to the Premium Bonus Pack, two extra missions, a Smugglers Pass Token, Digital Artbook, and Digital Soundtrack.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/08/inside-look-rise-of-the-ronins-recreation-of-late-1800s-japan/',
                'Inside look: Rise of the Ronin’s recreation of late 1800s Japan',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/ccf446bd2d3a8f10dab748fbecc4ff9d274fc8f7.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Coming to PlayStation 5 on March 22, <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10003386?smcid=ma">Rise of the Ronin is a combat-focused, open-world action RPG</a> from Team Ninja, the developer of Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. The game will immerse you in a story set in the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, known as Bakumatsu, where you can experience different play styles and battle in simple yet profound combat as a Ronin, using an array of weapons and equipment – melee weapons as well as ranged weapons like firearms and thrown weapons.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The resurrection of three major cities of the Edo Era in Team Ninja’s open-world</h2>
<p class="">The story takes place in Bakumatsu, Japan, a period of great change triggered by the arrival of the Black Ships. In this era of mayhem, the story first unfolds in Yokohama, then in Edo (today’s Tokyo), and finally in Kyoto. These three major cities are each built as an open world where the non-homogeneous mixture of newly introduced Western culture and traditional Japanese beauty is dramatically depicted in detailed quality with new-generation graphics technology.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Yokohama</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315191_f274383648_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315191_f274383648_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The first major city the protagonist visits is Yokohama. In the Kannai area of Yokohama, where the East meets the West, you’ll explore Yokohama’s landmarks, such as the U.S. Consulate, Chinatown, the Yokohama State Guest House, the lighthouse, and even brothels. As you travel the outskirts of Yokohama, you’ll find yourself in a series of inn-towns along the Tokaido Road, the most important route of the era in Japan, linking Kyoto, the imperial capital, with Edo, the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515748055_42e3d150a7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515748055_42e3d150a7_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kannai – Yamashita</h2>
<p class="">An area overlooking the ocean in southeast Kannai, while Yamate designates the bluff and upper town, Yamashita designates the lower town. In accordance with provisions set out in the US-Japan trade treaty, it is the site of the Foreign Settlement, where soldiers from various nations are stationed. Yamashita Park, one of the popular tourist spots today, was built with reclaimed rubble from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and formally opened in 1930.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683261_8b5293161f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683261_8b5293161f_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683241_68404128bc_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683241_68404128bc_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>Photo of Yamashita today: Yamashita Park, now a tourist attraction, was created by reclaiming rubble from the Great Kanto Earthquake and opened in 1930.(*)</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kannai – Motomachi</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860148_09662adb8a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860148_09662adb8a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">An area in southeast Kannai that saw a significant population boom after the port of Yokohama opened to foreign trade. Visitors to the area’s Chinatown would find various trinkets for sale and unique architecture characteristic of Chinese culture, such as the grand Kanteibyo Temple, a colorful temple dedicated to the ancient Chinese hero, Guan Yu. The current Kanteibyo Temple is the fourth rebuild of the temple, after being devastated and destroyed several times by unforeseen events, like the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II, and remains to serve as the heart of Yokohama Chinatown.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860143_92a56d23a4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860143_92a56d23a4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>Photo of Motomachi today: The Guan Ti Mausoleum, the symbol of Chinatown, was lost several times due to the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II, and its modern form is the fourth generation.(*)</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Edo</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636119_710317ba1c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636119_710317ba1c_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Edo is a megacity that serves as the base of the Edo Shogunate. The Kojimachi district is where the samurai residence surrounds and protects Edo Castle. You can also roam around the townsmen district of Asakusa to find Sensoji Temple and Azuma Bridge; the Nihonbashi district to check out its famous Nihonbashi Bridge and rows of merchant houses, and other cultural districts—like the Senzoku district—to feel the bustling energy of the Yoshiwara brothels.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430232_faa32222d4_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430232_faa32222d4_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asakusa</h2>
<p class="">The heart of the city’s unique shitamachi culture, home to landmarks such as Azuma Bridge and Sensoji Temple, has often been the subject of celebrated woodblock paintings. The area’s bustling energy remains unchanged today, making it one of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430317_25d5eb1bf7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430317_25d5eb1bf7_k.jpg"/></a>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512798787_140dca0164_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512798787_140dca0164_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>Photo of Asakusa today: Asakusa remains as bustling as ever and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Japan.(*)</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nihonbashi</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514121655_5f526ee5ea_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514121655_5f526ee5ea_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The bridge to which it owes its name was built in 1603, marking the starting point of five major roads. For this reason, it drew large crowds, contributing greatly to the popular culture of Edo. It has been the subject of countless artworks, perhaps most notably The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido, a series of woodblock prints created by Utagawa Hiroshige. The bridge, Nihonbashi, can be found today, still serving as the starting point of Japan’s road network.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kyoto</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430217_bbc5864b8a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430217_bbc5864b8a_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">For 1,000 years, Kyoto served as the political and cultural heart of Japan’s capital. The Gosho District is located in the north of Kyoto, where a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate called the Kinmon Incident erupted. To the west is the Horikawa district, where orderly structured streets stretch alongside Nijo Castle, and the Mibu district, where the Roshigumi’s headquarters, Mibudera Temple, is located. To the east is the Gion District, where teahouses and stores are housed, and the Higashiyama District, where Kiyomizu-dera Temple and other well-known sites take their presence. However, you’ll also notice that some areas of the imperial city have lost their former glory to the turmoil arising from the Bakumatsu and have become neglected and abandoned. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430212_03baa9b17d_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430212_03baa9b17d_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gosho</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514121620_3c69d07ed6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514121620_3c69d07ed6_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">A tract of land comprising the emperor’s palace and the manors of the most esteemed aristocratic families. Aside from personal living and sleeping apartments, the emperor’s palace also contained lavish gardens and buildings dedicated to religious rites and learning. Occasionally ravaged by fires and subsequently rebuilt by the twilight years of the shogunate, it had been in continuous use for over five hundred years. Most of the structures that remain in present-day were rebuilt in 1855, preserving the original form of the Imperial Palace today.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mibu</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683156_d4268fd7e3_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513683156_d4268fd7e3_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">An area located south of Nijo Castle and northwest of Nishi Honganji Temple. In the center stands Mibu Temple, which belongs to Buddhists of the Risshu sect. The name Mibu dates back hundreds of years, to when it was spelled with different characters, meaning wetlands. Mibudera Temple was used as a training ground for the Shinsengumi members. Today, a bronze statue of Commander Kondo Isami and a tower enshrining some of his hair stand within the temple precincts and a grave site for the regimental soldiers.</p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860058_1cb9a5c401_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513860058_1cb9a5c401_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>Photo of Mibu today: Mibu-dera was used as a training ground for the Shinsengumi troopers, and today there is a bust of Isami Kondo, the chief of the Shinsengumi, in addition to the graves of the troopers. (*)</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Traverse as you please with a grappling rope, horse, or glider</h2>
<p class="">Apart from running through cities and their surroundings and swimming through rivers and oceans, you can explore the vast open world of Bakumatsu<em> </em>Japan by utilizing grappling rope to move vertically or by horse and glider for a thrilling traversal.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grappling rope</h2>
<p class="">You can quickly ascend and traverse when you throw the grappling rope at a latching point. It allows you to move to higher ground and can also be used in combat to grab foes during battle scenes.  </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430297_31be0d1d18_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430297_31be0d1d18_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Horses</h2>
<p class="">You can call a horse when you blow into the Horse Flute. You’ll travel much faster and more efficiently to your faraway destination than running. As the game progresses, you’ll gain access to additional riding equipment and a more comprehensive range of higher-performance horses.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636084_a92968efc0_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636084_a92968efc0_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gliders</h2>
<p class="">After acquiring the glider, you can deploy it as you fall from a high point to glide through the air. You can fly a long distance by keeping it at a certain angle. The glider also comes in handy when infiltrating an enemy’s territory from a high altitude without getting noticed.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515483558_66f424e362_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515483558_66f424e362_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The glider’s design was based on Ikkansai Kunitomo’s blueprint of Avicula. Kunitomo is an inventor and gunsmith of the late Edo period best known for having built Japan’s first reflecting telescope. His invention of Avicula is also believed to be the oldest airplane blueprint in Japan.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512798687_8ec073e461_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512798687_8ec073e461_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fast Travel between Veiled Edge Banners</h2>
<p class="">Fast travel points, or Veiled Edge Banners, are scattered worldwide, allowing you to instantly travel from one Veiled Edge Banner to another unlocked banner. Not only will banners allow you to replenish consumable items by contact, but you can also update your party members and equipment during a mission. It also serves as a gateway for other players to jump in for online multiplayer.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430197_4583fd628d_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514430197_4583fd628d_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Encounters and discoveries that await the Ronin on his journey</h2>
<p class="">As you traverse the vast world, you will meet locals to take on different events and collect loot from challenging activities.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grass Roots Missions with locals</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636019_2680967b99_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515636019_2680967b99_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Somo describes those who are not samurai, including those who have abandoned their social status as samurai and become wealthy farmers, wealthy merchants, and local merchants. During Grass Roots missions, you will be given special tasks by those locals if you have specific items in possession or foster a certain level of relationship with them.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chance Encounter</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315071_9bc901252e_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315071_9bc901252e_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">During play, you’ll encounter random in-game events called Chance Encounter. Depending on where or when it occurs in the game, you may not experience the same event twice. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Public Order</h2>
<p class="">Defeating rogues improves the security of the bad areas. As you improve public order, you will establish extended connections within the locale and its people.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Activities</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315021_d8095b2e99_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515315021_d8095b2e99_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">As you go deeper into the story, you’ll unlock various activities in different locations and have a chance to collect rewards according to how well you perform in these activities. In training, you can visit dojos in various regions and battle with characters that you’ve encountered previously. Other activities include Yabusame (horseback archery), Artillery Training, and Cat Collecting, in which you will have to find cats hiding in unexpected places.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Obstacle courses</h2>
<p class="">In each area, some places cannot be reached by the standard method of traverse. You’ll need to skillfully use your grappling rope or gliding device to reach the finish line, where you’ll find a special reward for the activity, like a treasure chest, a shrine, or a cat.</p>
<p class="">Rise of the Ronin will be available for PS5 on March 22. </p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>(*) Photos: Pixta</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/08/ed-boxes-his-way-into-street-fighter-6-on-february-27/',
                'Ed boxes his way into Street Fighter 6 on February 27',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/2262a3f9a83e98fd9b23321bf4036d65abdafd3a.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Entering the ring on February 27 in <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/street-fighter-6/?smcid=ma">Street Fighter 6</a> is the troubled protégé, the bad boy of boxing, the Young Commander, Ed. With psycho power imbued within, Ed beats down his enemies with a flurry of fists to prove that he’s the true high-def picture of strength.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/neuJS2_WPYI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">First appearing in Street Fighter V, Ed was initially to be used as an alternate body for M. Bison, but rejected the idea and managed to escape. Coming into his own confidence, he formed Neo Shadaloo with a group of other experiments, intending to help others like them. In present-day Street Fighter 6, he senses movement in the shadows from the remnants of Shadaloo. Ed soon discovers they have a twisted goal and need his unique abilities to achieve it.</p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511853519_8c046ed831_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511853519_8c046ed831_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“Ed is a high-speed boxer. We designed his lower half so that you can clearly see his nimble footwork and added some volume to his upper body to make his punches look impactful,” according to Game Director Takayuki Nakayama. “ We also hope you take notice of the emblem on his chest and the design on his back. His attack animations have also changed significantly from Street Fighter V. To respect his background as a traditional boxer, all his attacks are now punches (except for his Level 2 Super Art). His kick buttons have been designated to various flicker attacks.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511967375_92228ab336_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511967375_92228ab336_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Find the brazen boxer in World Tour on the subway fighting the Mad Gear Gang. Like all the Year 1 Characters, you can increase your bond with Ed and learn his psycho-powered moves (hot-headed attitude not included). Bring those moves into Avatar Battles in the Battle Hub to see what new combos you can create.</p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511965430_0bd6e692f5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511965430_0bd6e692f5_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We’ve seen comments asking how Ed will work with Modern Controls since his inputs were already simplified in Street Fighter V. We decided to keep his simplified inputs and incorporated them in his Modern Controls while creating expanded inputs for his Classic Controls. Ed now has quarter-circle and dragon-punch inputs for his special moves in Classic. What an edge lord, right?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511852824_c5d183b891_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511852824_c5d183b891_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511967075_64d99bfa31_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511967075_64d99bfa31_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510640042_684399f4ea_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510640042_684399f4ea_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Ed is still the psycho-powered boxer you know and love, imbuing his fists with chaotic force and master boxing techniques. Scouring the lands to help other ill-fated experiments has significantly upgraded Ed’s usage of psycho power. Psycho Blitz gives Ed another 1-2-3, but in a single special move, Ed unleashes a series of punches cloaked in Psycho Power.</p>
<p class="">The new and improved Psycho Flicker is vital in Ed’s ability to control space. Performed on its own, Ed releases a quick flicker jab from a distance in one of three directions to catch the opponent off-guard. If you hold this button down, Ed will use his Psycho Snatcher from Street Fighter V to pull in opponents with psycho-powered tendrils.</p>



​​<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510639777_7c4d1d20ed_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510639777_7c4d1d20ed_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511966600_00c9957e29_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511966600_00c9957e29_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Kill Rush is a new special move that resembles Psycho Swing and Smash from <em>Street Fighter V</em>. Ed either advances forward or performs a bob and weave backward. From the forward version, Ed can follow up with two moves. Kill Switch Break is a short, useful uppercut for closing distance. Kill Switch Chaser sees Ed unleash a powerful uppercut that sends the opponent spiraling in the air, making it easy to follow up with a combo.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511966430_7c70f1663e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511966430_7c70f1663e_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511852449_d4ecfb6b9b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511852449_d4ecfb6b9b_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">Ed’s Level 1 Super Art, Psycho Storm, sees him striking opponents with high-speed flicker jabs. His Level 2 Super, Psycho Cannon, should look familiar to Street Fighter V fans. Previously, in his V-Trigger I, Ed generated a multi-hitting ball of psycho power that moved forward.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851899_f8c896b635_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851899_f8c896b635_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Finally, in Ed’s Level 3 Super Art, Psycho Chamber, he turns opponents into his own personal punching bag by tying their limbs and pummeling them in the name of Neo Shadaloo.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510639082_c410092c75_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510639082_c410092c75_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Coming with Ed is a new stage: Ruined Lab. Step into the aftermath of Shadaloo’s fall as their laboratory lies in shambles featuring now-defunct test subjects. Year 1 Ultimate Pass owners will automatically receive this stage on February 27.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510638472_6b7df023c3_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53510638472_6b7df023c3_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Ed will be unlocked on February 27 for owners of the Year 1 Character Pass, Year 1 Ultimate Pass, Deluxe Edition, or Ultimate Edition. When he arrives, Ed’s Outfit 2, inspired by his Story Outfit from Street Fighter V, will also be available.</p>
<p class="">With the Ed update, we will also add some quality-of-life features. The game’s PC version will now have the ability to switch button displays to PlayStation buttons.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511531831_05186308c4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511531831_05186308c4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">An Extra Lighting feature will be added to Photo mode, making capturing dark places easier and illuminating characters for better shots.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851589_a03e9dd2d7_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851589_a03e9dd2d7_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851364_4d3f2f3650_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53511851364_4d3f2f3650_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Celebrate Ed’s incoming entrance with the Ed Arrives! Fighting Pass. Active right now until he releases on February 27. Until then, prepare to make way for the leader of Neo Shadaloo.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/09/share-of-the-week-cool/',
                'Share of the Week: Cool',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/2ba6b4ca209cef0ce2ce619bbfe8ffd24a33b2b2.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked to see the coolest characters from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s extremely cool highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840129_cfd573cfb6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840129_cfd573cfb6_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/wingsforsmiles/status/1755247030962618566/photo/4"><em>wingsforsmiles</em></a><em> shares Johnny Silverhand sitting back with one leg up in Cyberpunk 2077</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840134_414212322f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840134_414212322f_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/BitarHector/status/1754577267655946423"><em>BitarHector</em></a><em> shares Aloy smiling in the morning sunlight in Horizon Forbidden West</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840119_df280cd5f1_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517840119_df280cd5f1_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/Taser9001/status/1753936953731437048/photo/3"><em>Taser9001</em></a><em> shares Tifa rushing forward with a sparking attack in Final Fantasy VII Remake</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516634937_9748cce9b1_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516634937_9748cce9b1_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/sorathluna/status/1755117950632362343/photo/4"><em>sorathluna</em></a><em> shares Sam side-eyeing the camera wearing futuristic sunglasses in Death Stranding</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517524736_1fe2a35a01_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517524736_1fe2a35a01_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/juniaxe/status/1753774872453620120/photo/3"><em>juniaxe</em></a><em> shares Ada taking deathly aim in the rain in Resident Evil 4</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516634902_de8280400b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53516634902_de8280400b_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/FrameCaptureVP/status/1755048585568432588/photo/1"><em>FrameCaptureVP</em></a><em> shares Jin looking out from a broken kitsune mask in this black and white portrait from Ghost of Tsushima</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517690448_7f04e7782d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517690448_7f04e7782d_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME:  Romantic</p>
<p class="">SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 14, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re feeling the love. Share romantic moments or characters 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/2024/02/09/official-playstation-podcast-episode-478-what-weve-been-playing/',
                'Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 478: What We’ve Been Playing',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/1d76f26b4240cd9262a141ef0aa18da2e1f7464e.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1742274006&amp;show_artwork=true&amp;maxheight=166&amp;maxwidth=1032" title="Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 478: What We''ve Been Playing by PlayStation" width="1032"></iframe>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Email us at <a href="mailto:PSPodcast@sony.com">PSPodcast@sony.com</a>!</h3>
<p class=""><em>Subscribe via <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/official-playstation-blogcast/id483223024?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5TKjBWPgeb96EpWIDVsjF1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or </em><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/playstation/episode_478.mp3" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">download here</a></p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>
<p class="">Hey y’all! With nasty colds circulatin’, bomb cyclones droppin’, and 2024 kicking off with a bang, the PlayStation Podcast crew has struggled to record a show for a few weeks now. Today, they get off their keisters to review some key details from the recent State(s) of Play and then talk about what they’ve been playing….</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tekken 8 – PS5</li>
<li>God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla – PS5</li>
<li>Alan Wake 2 – PS5</li>
<li>Cocoon – PS5</li>
<li>Jusant – PS5</li>
<li>Tchia – PS5</li>
</ul>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-default-font"></h3>
<p><!-- /wp:columns --></p>
<p><!-- /wp:playstation/game-table-row --></p>
<p><!-- wp:playstation/game-table-row --></p>
<div class="wp-block-playstation-game-table-row game-table-row"><!-- wp:columns --><p></p>
<div class="wp-block-columns">
<p><span style="color: var(--global-font-color);font-family: var(--global-font-family)">Thanks to </span><a href="http://dormilon-music.com/" style="font-family: var(--global-font-family)">Dormilón</a><span style="color: var(--global-font-color);font-family: var(--global-font-family)"> for our rad theme song and show music.</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"has-default-font"} --></p>
<p class="has-default-font"><em>[Editor’s note: PlayStation game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.</em></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> </div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/12/foamstars-the-tech-that-made-its-dynamic-persistent-foam-possible/',
                'Foamstars: the tech that made its dynamic, persistent foam possible',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/46990f3a63260b5453ca9c7c737c7389e2ba2363.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello, I’m Chikara Saito (a.k.a. Rickey), director of Foamstars. As the name suggests, <a href="https://playstation.com/games/foamstars">Foamstars</a> is a game that features copious amounts of soft, fluffy foam. However, the path that we took to actually represent that foam in digital space was much longer and tougher than we initially thought it would be.</p>
<p class="">Our experience of bringing the foam in Foamstars to life was anything but soft and fluffy, and today, I would like to tell you the tale of our trials and tribulations in the world of foam!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514094290_06a367fce4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514094290_06a367fce4_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">The first obstacle that we ran into when we started developing Foamstars was the processing power required.</p>
<p class="">In Foamstars, players can fire off as much foam as they like, and that foam flies off as fluffy bubbles throughout the whole space.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513832643_1822fe025f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513832643_1822fe025f_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">This is a huge part of what makes the game so unique, but bear in mind that up to 8 players playing together online can fire off foam at the same time – some of them in separate places, quite far away from one another – so we had to be able to sync up each instance of foam in real time.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcXVvbXY4M3JjcHh5a2twYzlqcmJtZWZnbzlqeHZvODRrbDVpNjVnYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/O5ycYQ8dh6KbCe21Cv/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">This alone accounted for a considerable amount of load on the CPU, but on top of that, we also realised another game mechanic that is crucial to Foamstars’ gameplay: foam remaining in place and piling up to change the stage’s topography. These things together put an enormous burden on the CPU.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513832618_17cdb0a83b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53513832618_17cdb0a83b_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">This meant that in the first test build of the game, we could only make about 10 shots worth of foam remain on the ground, and I can still clearly remember the feeling of disappointment as I thought to myself, “This isn’t enough to make a fun game.”</p>
<p class="">But just as I was facing this pressure to alter the direction of the game to account for these limitations, the programming team stepped in and showed me a better way!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512771617_b4a8a21d1d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53512771617_b4a8a21d1d_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">They had the fantastic idea to dynamically alter Unreal Engine 4’s Landscape tool!</p>
<p class="">This system was originally designed for sculpting rugged terrain ahead of time, but thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of the programming team, we were able to dynamically alter the Landscape tool so that it could be influenced by player interactions during actual gameplay.</p>
<p class="">Thanks to this system, we didn’t have to manage and express each instance of foam on an object-by-object basis, but rather, we could handle the foam as vertex data instead.</p>
<p class="">This significantly reduced the load on the CPU, and made it feel much more thrilling as an actual game as well.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514094310_40b214e8a6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53514094310_40b214e8a6_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">The test map began as a single, flat plane stretching out ahead of you. As I watched it transform dynamically due to the actions of the players, I realised that we created an experience that could only come from a medium of entertainment where worlds are interactive. It was like a jolt of lightning that reached me in my pit of despair – I can still remember that sensation clearly to this day.</p>
<p class="">All PlayStation Plus members can redeem, download and play Foamstars at no extra cost from now until March 4 on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Join the foam-blasting frenzy!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/12/ultros-dev-interview-karmic-cycles-in-a-demonic-space-labyrinth-out-tomorrow/',
                'Ultros dev interview: Karmic cycles in a demonic space labyrinth, out tomorrow',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/e3953e478ba39c50c12c44462a4027a1ed7f8ace.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Indie games are known for their daring and often groundbreaking approaches to visuals and storytelling. Ultros is a new indie title coming to PS4 and PS5 on February 13. The game is a twisted, time-looping sci-fi adventure. It’s packed with high-stakes action, clever twists on classic game design ideas, intriguing, and often unsettling environmental storytelling, and crazy-colorful pop-psychedelic visuals that makes you wonder if the game came with its own built-in blacklight. </p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaHVlcG52aXBvNGlnb3c3OGljYmJqMGd4a3FhdnRrZm96ODIzeHczNyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/vgH6vOZdmPQsQKsEut/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">This eye- and mind-dazzling adventure comes to PlayStation courtesy of Sweden-based developer Hadoque. It tells the story of a spacefarer trapped in a nightmare time-cycle within a bizarre, seemingly demonic black-hole acting as a womb for an unspeakable cosmic horror–the titular Ultros. </p>
<p class="">In the words of game director Mårten Brüggeman, “It’s a psychedelic sci-fi platforming adventure, a combat- and gardening-driven experience. It also asks a lot of existential questions if you dive into it, as you explore the  sarcophagus spaceship and try to understand what it is a metaphor for and what is dwelling inside.” </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fight or foster</h2>
<p class="">Ultros is fundamentally a search-action game where you explore an ever-expanding map that opens up further and further as you acquire more abilities for navigation and combat. It’s a popular indie game genre, and Ultros expands on it with some unique gameplay twists centered around the ideas of karmic cycles: creation and destruction, nurture and killing. </p>
<p class="">“It’s a game about choices,” explains Brüggeman, “where you can choose to play in a destructive or constructive way, and  the choices you make change your interpretation of your in-game actions.”</p>
<p class="">The environment oozes with otherworldly threats, requiring skillful combat to neutralize the assorted hostile lifeforms. Variety is a big emphasis here. Ultros encourages you to use a diverse arsenal of moves in fun and creative ways to dispatch foes: dodge-and-strike attacks, jumping strikes, and even launching foes into the air to turn them into a living projectile weapon. </p>
<p class="">“We want to combat to feel intimate and visceral to emphasize destruction, ruining the balance of disruption and construction within the current cycle. We focused on movements, forcing you to be near them to fight them are integral to what we wanted to do, the intensity and intimacy of one-on-one combat.”</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMTZjeXA4dHMxeWRkejlsdW44dm9keDIyenc4dGc4NmtvYnpsdmxuZCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ZBimtJFZ2BuOWsfm2j/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">As your foes fall before you, they drop all manner of edible offal–which varies in quality depending on how skillful your killing blow was. Eating these remains isn’t just a health restore: it provides you with valuable nutrients, which allow you to access skill tree upgrades at save pods, which enhance your movement, fighting, and navigational abilities. </p>
<p class="">But if eating mystery meat makes you feel a bit queasy, there’s another way to obtain sustenance: raising the seeds you find scattered around in gardens, then partaking of that plant’s fruit. Aiding you in your horticultural pursuits is your Extractor, a special device that gains numerous abilities throughout the game. </p>
<p class="">The plants that grow over time will leave behind assorted benefits, like creating platforms to alternate routes and making planning and tending to your gardens an essential part of gameplay. Brüggeman elaborates: “The seeds all have different abilities and rules of how they grow. Part of beginning your garden is getting to know how these different plants work and how they affect each other and the world around them.”</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeTUzeHR4ajFoNTRnMHBtMXR0bXhzYjNleGQ5NndkZDQwdWM3ZTJlbiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/VsjaJda1mJdpSUb3Ik/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Brüggeman continues. “With these in-game resources, you can eat everything you find, and it builds up your nutrition, like an experience point system. But it’s also the economy of how the game ecosystem works. When you take something from a plant, you’re sort of stealing from it. But you can give back by planting seeds. When you kill creatures like a typical game hero, you steal both their life and from the ecosystem. We wanted to give a choice in our game not to be that kind of hero.”</p>
<p class="">Oh, yes, there’s one more critical element to gardens: they stick around even when a time loop wipes everything and sends you back to square one.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s do the time warp again</h2>
<p class="">Yes, Ultros is a game built around a time loop, and there’s only so much you can do before you’re forced to begin anew. You may have been fortunate to keep a few skills from the previous loop. But more importantly, you’ve got the knowledge you gained from your last attempt. And hey, those plants you took care of? You might be surprised to see what’s become of them.</p>
<p class="">“One of the core concepts we’ve built the game around is the philosophy of a karmic cycle: What you do in one life makes up what your next life will become. In this game, we have a time loop mechanic that is the rebirth of our character and world. So, one of the major choices you can make in the game is whether or not you nurture the world you’re in. If you build it up, the garden becomes a part of the world you’re inhabiting, and tending to these plants is the way you can make the game world evolve.”</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdnlnZnh1OGI5OXd0NWkyMDNoYmFoY2VtZXViZnRiaG11aHFlMGJtOSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qPfoj9JfM9v28x9N7h/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">The presence of player choice among these time cycles hints at multiple conclusions to Ultros’s story. When I asked Brüggeman about it, he said, “There are multiple endings, I can say that much. The time loop is more story-driven than mechanics-driven, so you can explore a ‘what if I do this instead’ scenario, also tying into the philosophy of a karmic cycle. We want players to re-experience events and scenarios but get to see them from different perspectives. You’re given the chance to make the choice again, but from another perspective.”</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A whirling universe of color</h2>
<p class="">The game’s trademark art style comes from art designer El Huervo, who is well-known for his work on the classic indie series Hotline Miami. The visuals are packed with contrasts, both in color and in theming: in one area, you’ll be surrounded by an environment teeming with goopy, pulsating viscera-like growths, yet only a ways away, you’ll discover a place that looks not unlike an elegant European cathedral. </p>
<p class="">“I would describe Ultros’s art style as a Renaissance painting meets comics meets Jackson Pollock,” says Brüggeman. “El Huervo’s style has developed over the years. He’s very inspired by French artist Moebius, but also German zoology scholar and artist Ernst Haeckel.”</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNnlud2FxenFuZDhuZDVjOXJ2bDNzeDVoYXEzOGJ4cWlieGxiOWM2dyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/mRW4MrQWpbnPeQnVU9/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">The visuals also play a big part in the story and atmosphere. “As you explore during the game, you learn what the sarcophagus was used for and what happened to it. You’ll try to understand who its original inhabitants were and how that relates to the dark being held in there.” </p>
<p class="">Suppose you’re ready for a visually stunning adventure with intense combat, loads of exploration, environmental world-building, and a time loop that challenges how you approach action-adventure games. In that case, you’ll want to venture into the Sarcophagus. Ultros makes its debut on February 13.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/13/playstation-store-january-2024s-top-downloads/',
                'PlayStation Store: January 2024’s top downloads',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/a7bd10e20d8a8109e330c49e914a91f50f067c0f.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. New release blockbusters and vintage fan favorites are included in January’s PS5 list with Tekken 8 and Grand Theft Auto V both breaking the top five. The PS VR2 list saw Beat Saber rock and roll to the top of the list with the most downloads in both US and EU regions.</p>
<p class="">Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS5 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec table-first-column-width-50"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>TEKKEN 8</strong></td><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td><td><strong>TEKKEN 8</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Baldur’s Gate 3</strong></td><td><strong>Baldur’s Gate 3</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td><td><strong>Gran Turismo 7</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td><strong>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gran Turismo 7</strong></td><td><strong>Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</strong></td><td><strong>The Last of Us Part II</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Last of Us Part II Remastered</strong></td><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hell Let Loose</strong></td><td><strong>It Takes Two</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>UFC 5</strong></td><td><strong>Prince of Persia The Lost Crown</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth</strong></td><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mortal Kombat 1</strong></td><td><strong>ARK: Survival Ascended</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>God of War Ragnarök</strong></td><td><strong>Cyberpunk 2077</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora</strong></td><td><strong>The Crew Motorfest</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Granblue Fantasy: Relink</strong></td><td><strong>ELDEN RING</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Prince of Persia The Lost Crown</strong></td><td><strong>Need For Speed Unbound</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>ARK: Survival Ascended</strong></td><td><strong>Assassin’s Creed Mirage</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em></strong><br/><strong><em>*Upgrades not included</em></strong></p>
<p class=""></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS4 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td><td><strong>Minecraft</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td><strong>Need for Speed Heat</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Need for Speed Heat</strong></td><td><strong>Red Dead Redemption 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td><strong>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mortal Kombat X</strong></td><td><strong>Need for Speed Payback</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td><td><strong>Batman: Arkham Knight</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>A Way Out</strong></td><td><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Injustice 2</strong></td><td><strong>Mortal Kombat X</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td><td><strong>CarX Drift Racing Online</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hogwarts Legacy</strong></td><td><strong>Battlefield V</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Overcooked! 2</strong></td><td><strong>Gang Beasts</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Black Ops III</strong></td><td><strong>WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>God of War III Remastered</strong></td><td><strong>LEGO Marvel Super Heroes</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Resident Evil 6</strong></td><td><strong>Goat Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>God of War</strong></td><td><strong>STAR WARS Battlefront II</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>CarX Drift Racing Online</strong></td><td><strong>Resident Evil 6</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>    </strong><strong> </strong><strong></strong><strong> </strong><strong><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em></strong></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS VR2 Games*</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2</strong></td><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Among Us VR</strong></td><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td><strong>Horizon Call of the Mountain</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Pavlov</strong></td><td><strong>Moss: Book II</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Moss: Book II</strong></td><td><strong>Ultrawings 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Horizon Call of the Mountain</strong></td><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Vertigo 2</strong></td><td><strong>Kayak VR: Mirage</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Ultrawings 2</strong></td><td><strong>Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine 2</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong><em> *PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included</em></strong></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PSVR Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td><td><strong>ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>SUPERHOT VR</strong></td><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Beat Saber</strong></td><td><strong>SUPERHOT VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Job Simulator</strong></td><td><strong>Batman: Arkham VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality</strong></td><td><strong>Moss: Book II</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Arizona Sunshine</strong></td><td><strong>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Borderlands 2 VR</strong></td><td><strong>VR Ping Pong Pro</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fruit Ninja VR</strong></td><td><strong>Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Dead Land VR</strong></td><td><strong>Titanic VR</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Free to Play (PS5 + PS4) </strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table table-first-column-width-50 is-style-ps-product-spec"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th><strong>US/Canada</strong></th><th><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fortnite</strong></td><td><strong>Roblox</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>THE FINALS</strong></td><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Call of Duty: Warzone</strong></td><td><strong>THE FINALS</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td><td><strong>Fall Guys</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Rocket League</strong></td><td><strong>Fortnite Battle Royale</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>The Sims 4</strong></td><td><strong>The Sims 4</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>War Thunder</strong></td><td><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>LEGO Fortnite</strong></td><td><strong>eFootball 2024</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/13/mlb-the-show-24-unveils-storylines-the-negro-leagues-season-2/',
                'MLB The Show 24 unveils Storylines: The Negro Leagues Season 2',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/84bb9cf436a2e834b0437f6c407f2273aa30a45d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Get ready to experience another slice of history in the playable micro-documentary, Storylines: The Negro Leagues Season 2, narrated by <a href="https://www.nlbm.com/">Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a> President Bob Kendrick. Season 2 continues our multiyear partnership with the NLBM and our shared mission to educate, enlighten, and inspire by celebrating the rich history of the Negro Leagues. We are so grateful and excited to introduce ten new Negro League legends to MLB The Show 24. Storylines combine immersive gameplay moments, historical footage, and more as we bring these incredible true stories to life.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IbJMXBf2CtA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Season 2 roster for MLB  The Show 24 at launch includes:</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>Josh Gibson – The Black Babe Ruth</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53524208982_ba32a2224e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53524208982_ba32a2224e_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class=""><strong>Buck Leonard – Baseball’s Greatest Fastball Hitter</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53525281238_7c92a25072_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53525281238_7c92a25072_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class=""><strong>Hank Aaron – The Hammer</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53524208987_f2a0a20435_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53524208987_f2a0a20435_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class=""><strong>Toni Stone – The Trailblazer</strong></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53525539180_02f03ccf78_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53525539180_02f03ccf78_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We will reveal additional players included in Storylines: Negro Leagues Season 2 at a later date. The next set of three Negro Leagues players will arrive in a content drop in early April, and the last three players will arrive in an additional content drop at the end of May. These will all be available via a free download. An internet connection is required to download and play content at launch and obtain updates after launch. In addition, all the players from Season 1 of Storylines will be included in MLB The Show 24 at launch.</p>
<p class="">To learn more about Storylines: Negro Leagues Season 2 and additional details on the mode, be sure to tune into our upcoming Feature Premiere livestream on <a href="https://theshow.com/">theshow.com</a> on February 15, 2024 at 3 pm PST / 6 pm EST. If you can’t make it live, catch the recap video afterward to keep up with the latest info. See you then.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">San Diego Studio x Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</h2>
<p class="">In our continued partnership with <a href="https://www.nlbm.com/">The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a> in Kansas City, MLB The Show will donate $1 for every Negro Leagues Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and MVP edition sold in the US until 12/31/24 to the <a href="https://twitter.com/nlbmprez?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a>. Donations will help the Museum continue its work, which is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. Visit www.nlbm.com to learn more. This purchase is not tax deductible.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519581408_e500d508ac_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519581408_e500d508ac_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Negro Leagues Edition (Retailers in the US and Canada)</h2>
<p class="">To celebrate the Negro Leagues, don’t forget to pre-order the limited edition collector’s edition. The Negro Leagues Edition is $124.99 USD/$164.99 CAD and is available at retailers in the US and Canada. Stock is limited, so be sure to get yours while supplies last.</p>
<p class="">Pre-order now at <a href="https://theshow.com/purchase/">https://theshow.com/purchase/</a>. Early access begins March 15, 2024.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Negro Leagues Edition includes:</h2>
<p class="">●  Full Game (Digital, access to both PS4 and PS5*<br/>●  Limited Edition Physical Steelbook (no disc included)<br/>●  Limited Edition New Era MLB The Show 9FIFTY Hat<br/>●  [4] Days Early Access – Begins March 15, 2024<br/>●  Double Daily Login Rewards (For the life cycle of MLB The Show 24)<br/>●  [1] Legend Diamond Choice Pack*<br/>●  [1] Barrier Breakers Diamond Choice Pack*<br/>●  [5] Gold Choice Packs*<br/>●  [20] The Show Packs*<br/>●  [1] Equipment Pack*<br/>●  [1] Cover Athlete Bat Skin*<br/>●  [20,000] Stubs  for MLB The Show 24*</p>
<p class=""><em>Please note that The Negro Leagues Edition of MLB The Show 24 on PlayStation consoles includes a voucher code for the PS5 &amp; PS4 versions of the game, the Digital Deluxe Edition content, as well as a physical Steelbook case and New Era hat.</em></p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*An internet connection is required to redeem the download code.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/15/no-mans-sky-universe-opens-to-newcomers-for-limited-time-with-new-omega-expedition-launching-today/',
                'No Man’s Sky universe opens to newcomers for limited time with new Omega expedition, launching today',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/57170bb4b21e1044161aa6fc71d4fff0fe58abc3.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello! Last year was a busy one for the small team at Hello Games, with lots of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/no-mans-sky/?smcid=ma">No Man’s Sky</a> updates and the announce of Light No Fire.</p>
<p class="">We have big plans for 2024, and we’re starting the year off with a very different kind of update. We’re calling it Omega, and for the first time No Man’s Sky will be available to play for free!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GUMVVS4ADfM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">For the first time, we are inviting <em>every</em> PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation VR and VR2 owner into our universe to play the latest No Man’s Sky expedition, even if they don’t own the full game, no purchase necessary. There are no microtransactions, no free-to-play mechanics, just a huge universe to explore for free with your friends.</p>
<p class="">Expeditions in No Man’s Sky have become one of the most popular ways to play the game. They bring all players together to the same planet for an interstellar, shared experience. This weekend we are allowing everyone, whether you own the game or not, to join the Omega Expedition.</p>
<p class="">This represents a moment for new players to try No Man’s Sky, and existing players to welcome them into the community. </p>
<p class="">The Omega update also brings a complete overhaul of expeditions, new on-planet missions, a new pirate dreadnought to own, and much more.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519846024_9cdc02ff6c_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519846024_9cdc02ff6c_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Until now expeditions have been their own game mode, but we wanted to fully integrate them into our main game. Now, our new expedition system allows travellers to join expeditions with bespoke provisions, bring along their favourite starships or custom multi-tools and return to their main save with loot and exciting rewards.</p>
<p class="">We have revisited the Atlas Path, allowing players to commune with the Atlas and honor it with a new Atlas staff, jetpack and helmet.</p>
<p class="">On planets we have introduced a huge array of procedurally generated quests. Talking to alien lifeforms results in quests specific to an alien lifeforms locale, climate and personality.</p>
<p class="">For the first time, take on the universe with a fleet of frigates led by a dreadnought capital ship. If players can defeat pirate freighters in combat, travellers can board the dreadnought to demand control.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519845859_1eafc665ef_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519845859_1eafc665ef_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">At the core of this update is the Omega Expedition, which has been built from the ground up as a thorough introduction for new players, but with some of the best rewards in any expedition to date, including a gorgeous new starship to explore the universe with.</p>
<p class="">In the almost eight years since launch, through over 25 free updates, the No Man’s Sky universe has become at times overwhelming in breadth and depth. Through a series of quick missions and milestones, the Omega expeditions will guide you through the fundamentals of base-building, trading, space combat, lore and much, much more. Any progress you make will be retained in case you choose to purchase the game and continue your journey.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519694543_b3e1125767_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519694543_b3e1125767_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Omega Expedition runs for 2 weeks from Thursday February 15 and is free to play for the first weekend until Monday February 19.</p>
<p class="">Whether you’ve been on the journey with us for a while, or you’re a lapsed player looking for a way back in, or a newcomer who’s always wanted to take a peek at what No Man’s Sky has to offer, everyone is welcome and there’s never been a better time to join in.</p>
<p class="">Our journey continues.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/15/how-a-toxic-world-inspired-forever-skies-a-first-person-sci-fi-survival-game/',
                'How a toxic world inspired Forever Skies, a first-person sci-fi survival game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/5eebb9554aabbad0e0a84beffc72c8f8754aa54f.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">A state-of-the-art airship hovers above a vast toxic dust cloud, shrouding an ecologically devastated Earth. That’s what most people notice when they see <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/forever-skies/?smcid=ma">Forever Skies</a> for the first time. And while this creates an interesting and unique premise to explore, it’s one that was inspired by rather somber real-world circumstances.</p>
<p class="">Read on to learn about the inspiration behind this first-person post-apocalyptic survival game, coming to PS5 this year.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jNrhydUfH_I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">While our team is from around the world, a significant portion of us are based in Poland. For decades now, our country has been notorious for its poor air quality, particularly during the winter months. Iconic Polish cities such as Krakow or Wroclaw are frequently ranked alongside massive megacities like Beijing, Delhi, or Lahore. But these are massive metropolises with 10 or even 20+ million people living in them. Cracow or Wroclaw don’t even exceed 700,000 people and yet we regularly get public warning announcements to stay indoors because of the current air pollution levels.</p>
<p class="">Some studies even suggest that to breathe clean, unpolluted air, people would need to go 100 meters above the cities. And so the first spark of inspiration that kicked off our entire world design was found.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062610_8e80793232_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062610_8e80793232_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062570_c900b5a646_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062570_c900b5a646_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062590_2e52e6e6a5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062590_2e52e6e6a5_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517951149_20956102fa_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517951149_20956102fa_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">We envisioned a scenario where humanity confronts an irreversible ecological catastrophe of its own making by erecting towering highrises above the toxic dust clouds as a last-ditch effort to survive. But all this did was delay the inevitable societal collapse. Decades later, a select group of humans who fled into orbit dispatch a research team back to Earth to rediscover the world, marking the beginning of the story in Forever Skies.</p>
<p class="">At your side will be a high-tech airship that you can pilot, upgrade, and fully customize. In a world where the ground is no longer safe, this floating base will become your home, lifeline, and greatest tool for survival.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636121_fed60667a0_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636121_fed60667a0_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636031_1aebfb946f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636031_1aebfb946f_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517951064_92fad6cd6b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517951064_92fad6cd6b_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636001_38dd74b03f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517636001_38dd74b03f_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a>
<p class="">You will need to scavenge for supplies and resources, use science to research new tools and equipment, and eventually descend below the toxic dust to pursue your research mission. But nature has mutated and evolved immensely under these harsh conditions and is no longer hospitable to humans.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517802353_0f62e9a863_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517802353_0f62e9a863_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517635901_af2293b3d6_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517635901_af2293b3d6_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517950899_acbd5f0d59_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517950899_acbd5f0d59_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517802268_e94f955b9a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53517802268_e94f955b9a_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">We do not overly push an ecological message in our game because the setting does it on its own. The consequences of humanity’s actions are shown to you and now you must survive in this environment. And that is something we always wanted to do. To not preach, but simply show and give people the space to think about this crucial topic.Forever Skies makes its console debut exclusively on PlayStation 5 in 2024 and will let you play in single-player or up to 4-player co-op. Thanks so much for reading.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062350_70dd145348_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518062350_70dd145348_h.jpg"/></a>
</p></div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/15/beat-the-beats-vr-lets-you-groove-like-a-boxing-champ-on-ps-vr2-february-27/',
                'Beat the Beats VR lets you groove like a boxing champ on PS VR2 February 27',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/fb69106606cd96f8cb7bbc795183ce09c9f03a47.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello! I’m Josef, one of the creators of Beat the Beats VR, coming out February 27 on PlayStation VR2. It is a rhythm VR game you play with your fists and all about learning actual boxing moves like jab, dodge, and uppercut.</p>
<p class="">In this article I would like to share with you how the natural feeling boxing moves in our game came to fruition.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcTlyeHQ3ZmtnbHpvd2lpZXA5ZTB1ZGJlMGZ3dTI0ejBoODU5NGt3YiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zNIm1C0vsRmtdB6UhM/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">At Parallel Circles, we’re huge rhythm game fans. And VR? We love it. It immerses you like nothing else. I’ve always been captivated by the agility, coordination, and precision of boxers. So, blending these passions felt like a no-brainer. Thus, Beat the Beats VR was born.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boxing greenhorn to boxing champion</h2>
<p class="">Pulling off energetic boxing moves in real life takes years of training. But in Beat the Beats VR, we wanted players to feel like pros from the get-go. Jabs, hooks, uppercuts — they should all flow naturally. </p>
<p class="">After lots of experimentation, we realized the traditional rhythm game approach didn’t quite fit boxing’s fluidity. So we switched it up. Instead of the “notes” (we call them beats) coming straight at you, they come from different directions in arcs challenging you to move exactly in the same way you would in a boxing fight.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOTZhdmN6bGx4MHExNHZ1aW56djEwbXl2dDN4YmFodHJiNW52cnIwdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/vT2SYh1mRBmeWzg7Al/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">You can’t help but make perfect jabs for beats from the front, hooks from the side, and uppercuts for ones coming from above.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Punching through the whole game</h2>
<p class="">As soon as we nailed the boxing punches we brought other aspects of the sport into the game. You can also evade (called a “roll”) and block beats.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNXYxOW9zZnkzMzV3b24ycmZzejVjZHlheXZoaHR0cTV5aTBtN3VkYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/QUfdA4gqsfwiaKHYHT/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExem8wNGZydmNwM3d4MjZlbWNzejFsMGlib29qY2tvd2Z0bjEyYWRvNiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/sxacUnUoqSlANkG7sK/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>You can also unlock new levels/albums by punching them.</em></p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdjJvb2Nsa2xkcnF1ajJrYzl1dHJleWhhYTlwcXNhMnhobGV5N3VsYiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/5smdQfcOWkWvp6tUiD/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Mix all of the boxing action with some exhilarating music and you have a rhythm game that’s the best of both worlds: a fun experience for casual players and a full-throttle workout for the ones that want to go the extra mile.</p>
<p class="">We hope you have as much fun with our game as we had creating it. Maybe you’ll sweat as much as we did, too. Beat the Beats comes to PS VR2 on February 27!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/16/tales-of-kenzera-zau-creator-interview-finding-the-beauty-of-creation-in-grief/',
                'Tales of Kenzera: Zau creator interview — Finding the beauty of creation in grief',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/ef7c0ecc316584c090fcd314a5c5f5e6a1c03e5b.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">I recently had the pleasure to speak with Abubakar Salim, founder of Surgent Studios and creative director of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/tales-of-kenzera-zau/?smcid=ma">Tales of Kenzera: Zau</a>, about founding his gaming studio and how his childhood, grief, and becoming a father were essential building blocks in the development of Tales of Kenzera: Zau coming to PS5 April 23. Listen to the full interview below.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-soundcloud wp-block-embed-soundcloud"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1748580957&amp;show_artwork=true&amp;maxheight=166&amp;maxwidth=1032&amp;secret_token=s-DJ7wz1VFj0U" title="Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 479: Abubakar Salim Talks Tales of Kenzera: Zau by PlayStation" width="1032"></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p class=""><strong>PlayStation Blog: We’ve been curious about your game ever since you announced it on stage at The Game Awards. How do you feel now that all of it is out there in the open?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Abubakar Salim:</strong> Terrified, absolutely terrified. It’s one of those things where we’ve been building it behind the scenes for so long, and you reveal it to people, and everyone’s like, ‘Oh, wow, you’ve been building this. It looks so great.’ And you’re like, yes, so much blood, sweat, and tears went into this, but I’m super happy that it’s being received so well.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Tales of Kenzera: Zau is your first game. You’re originally more of a gamer, so what was the journey there?</strong></p>
<p class="">I got into video games from my father. Essentially, he introduced me to them, and he would play a lot. Well, he would watch me play a lot, and he would dive in now and then. It’s always been my medium of taking in stories. I didn’t know you could have a career or work in games. It was this thing that you put a CD in a PlayStation, and gremlins work their magic inside. </p>
<p class="">It was one of those where it didn’t cross my mind that you could do it as a career. So I went into acting because I’ve always loved telling stories. Then, I started working in games, and Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first game that I did. I was a massive fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. So then, to be in it was mind-blowing. And that gave me the behind-the-scenes of, oh, wow, there are actual people making this stuff.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbjdqcmlqeTlqemZsdDdmZ2txYXBsYzJ4ZDB1aTdsYXhuaXRnaTdleSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/o8WfHhkJuiNdeOQTyy/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class=""><strong>You’ve said the game’s gated exploration is well-suited to discussing grief. Can you explain that?</strong></p>
<p class="">The beauty of these Castlevania or Metroid-like games is you throw the player into a map that they have no idea about, that they’re lost. They’re trying to gauge an idea of what it is, and the longer they spend in it, the more comfortable they feel, but at the same time, it’s still dangerous. And I think that is, to me, the perfect explanation or personification of grief. </p>
<p class="">You learn to live with it, and it’s not a bad thing. You then find your boundaries, and you play with them. I’ve accepted that, yeah, I will sometimes feel sad, and sometimes I feel angry. But sometimes, I’ll feel an element of relief and freedom, and that’s okay. At first, it’s a bit alien, but after a while, it’s like, Alright, cool. Let’s play. </p>
<p class=""><strong>The game is inspired by Bantu mythology. Can you tell us more about that mythology and why you chose it? </strong></p>
<p class="">It comes from the stories that my dad would tell me as a kid. My grandfather was a nganga, which is a traditional sort of healer. And my dad would tell me all these wild stories of what he would do and talking to spirits and whatnot. He also told me of the different types of spirits and genies and all this jazz, and I realized that it all comes from Bantu myth.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbWh2MXdlb3oxaXM5ODB3enVwNXBub25kNmZ5YjVuZGtoN3B0dGt0dSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/OrM8O6KOusMvF89xvO/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Bantu is essentially all these different cultures within Africa, like the Zulu, taking a lot from their stories of creation or cosmology, and it’s so rich and vibrant. They have all these incredibly artistic stories that all have a lesson to them, as wild as Greek mythology and Norse mythology to a degree. It felt right paying homage to my father, what he would share with me, and his way of telling stories. It’s just a different perspective that I feel very lucky to have been exposed to.</p>
<p class=""><strong>The game is about getting over grief, but the world is colorful and vibrant. Was it to simply contrast to grief, or was there more to it regarding the art direction?</strong></p>
<p class="">When I was pitching this to EA, and even to the team, I wanted to tell the story of grief, but I wanted it to be vibrant, colorful, and reactive. I remember feeling, after my father passed away, like the shutters were just open. Everything turned vivid and loud. And I remember it was almost like I was exposed.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYzVtNm9icTczemgwZHZzd29lNHJ6empnN3d6OXhtcWN1ejRhNmh0dyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/QAOjif0NseqFHsbY6H/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Even though there is beauty and a celebration of these different cultures and colors, you’re experiencing them through a kid who is grieving. It doesn’t change the world outside, and that’s part and parcel of it all. Zau still has to do his thing to get to where he needs to, and he needs to react to a world that continues to spin, even though he is in a different mindset.</p>
<p class=""><strong>The theme of fatherhood reminds me of Cory Barlog’s God of War. How has becoming a parent affected the game? </strong></p>
<p class="">A lot of the time, what grief can do is make you feel quite insular, makes you think about yourself, and now, being a dad, I joke about this with my friends. I’ve never felt the impulse to jump in front of a train for someone who doesn’t really know me for the first few months of their life. It’s such an animalistic love and care that it helped shape the world of Tales of Kenzera. </p>
<p class="">The game originally had these health pickups that you would go to, and it would increase your health, and since having Syrah, my daughter, the inspiration of actually, instead of them being these casual health pickups. What if there were just moments of reflection? What if there were moments of talking about how you feel? </p>
<p class=""><strong>Can you tell us about the music? </strong></p>
<p class="">Nainita Desai and Rob Brown have conjured something magical. We brought Nainita on very early when I was going to explain the game. It’s about this young shaman’s journey, but it’s a story within a story. So you’ve got these two different kinds of cultures clashing and two different perspectives clashing, and she ran with it. </p>
<p class="">This whole experience has been surreal. I started this journey with this mentality of I want to make a game, and deliver what I feel is honest and true to me. And the fact that now I’m talking to PlayStation. I’m like, what, this is nuts. This has been really, really magical. Thank you very much.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528135690_fa26070d5e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528135690_fa26070d5e_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Tales of Kenzera: Zau will be available on PS5 on April 23.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/16/ps-vr2-fps-hubris-introduces-arena-game-mode-in-todays-free-update/',
                'PS VR2 FPS Hubris introduces Arena game mode in today’s free update',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/1305617ed6e8461a375e5257eb055b9c359f9624.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">We’re excited to announce a new free addition to <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10007202/?smcid=ma">Hubris, now available at PlayStation Store</a> for PlayStation VR2. Introducing a thrilling Arena mode where you’ll encounter multiple rounds of Uron invaders and have to navigate through a closed combat map, all set in a never-before-revealed environment. </p>
<p class="">Players will have to shoot, jump, climb and move through a map, set in a training ground deep in OOO (Order of Objectivity)-controlled territory. While you’ll encounter diverse combinations of enemies familiar from the game’s core experience, the revamped setting and enemy encounters provide an entirely fresh gameplay experience. And if you want to challenge yourself even more the new game mode has three different difficulty tiers to play through.</p>
<p class="">But that’s not all – we’ve dialed up the gameplay by adding some weapon powers and upgrades which can be earned by completing waves. </p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53520042715_0f9d6de003_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53520042715_0f9d6de003_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931884_fb4d2b3acd_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931884_fb4d2b3acd_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">This adventure unfolds outside the main storyline and enables us to push the boundaries. This game mode gives players access to upgrades that would typically break the game’s balance. Grenades are also newly added to this game mode so you have a better way to deal with grouped enemies, and let’s be honest – there is no better feeling than throwing a well-placed grenade to blow up a huge amount of enemies in one blow.<br/></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931269_782b34c1b7_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931269_782b34c1b7_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><br/>New mode details from developer Hubris</h2>
<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-medium-font-size has-max-width-75 has-margin-top-65 has-margin-bottom-65 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="" style="font-size:16px">“We recognized the potential in the mechanics we integrated into Hubris and seized the opportunity to offer our fans something new, exciting, and fresh. When designing the levels for Hubris, our focus was on ensuring they were understandable and accessible. Our goal was to guide the player from point A to point B in an engaging manner, with a clear flow, while also maintaining a balanced level of challenge.<br/><br/>But this custom-built level forces players to move, climb and jump in all directions, reach a defence point and eliminate enemies before succumbing to their attacks. The new game mode starts off relatively easy but quickly escalates with Uron threats emerging from various directions. Only the most skilled players will survive more than a couple of waves especially on hard difficulty. This level is designed with numerous pathways and options for maneuvering between points A and B, emphasizing the importance of strategic movement in overcoming the obstacles posed by the Uron forces.“</p>
<cite>– Elie Van Ravels, Game Designer, Cyborn BV</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<p class=""></p>



​​<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZnk2YXdsMWVnajlkcXFjcXc5OWdsdHp1OWh5aHp0aWN6cjAweWRqOSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/EH3UWL7oAsixXPhXpr/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Looking ahead, we’re looking into ways to further expand this game mode, allowing players to experiment with combining upgrades, adding more maps and possibly more enemy types. However, our primary focus right now is gathering player feedback to refine this new gameplay experience, which stands alongside our current, multiple-hour story-driven campaign.</p>
<p class="">In addition to introducing the new game mode, we’ve fine-tuned existing features based on player feedback. From tweaking weapon mechanics, aim and knockback to ironing out gameplay flows and resolving some last remaining bugs, we’ve strived to enhance the overall gaming experience.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931354_5f143580a9_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519931354_5f143580a9_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518722907_f42e9395e5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53518722907_f42e9395e5_h.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="">As we roll out this update, we’ll closely monitor player reactions to determine the course for future expansions. </p>
<p class="">Hubris is just the beginning of a grand narrative, and we’re committed to unraveling the mysteries of the OOO, the Uron, and special agent Cyana.</p>
<p class="">Furthermore, we’re thrilled to announce that, in partnership with Perp Games, players can now also purchase a physical copy of Hubris for PS VR2.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/16/share-of-the-week-romantic/',
                'Share of the Week: Romantic',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/4228c44561d6152864d0ff64439d6ddba536d2a7.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you share romantic moments from a game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985163_2ff7e0d853_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985163_2ff7e0d853_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/bluegreenherb/status/1757220896165831125/photo/1"><em>bluegreenherb</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Tifa and Aerith each holding one of Cloud’s arms in Final Fantasy VII Remake</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528901577_f0fde3b97d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528901577_f0fde3b97d_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em><a href="https://twitter.com/Amianan_NiRaGuB/status/1757468383686406199/photo/1">Amianan_NiRaGuB</a> shares Astarion lovingly gazing up at the player character who romanced him in Baldur’s Gate 3</em></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529797046_9c95b332fe_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529797046_9c95b332fe_c.jpg" width="1920"/></a></p>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/DEX_exiled/status/1757358969570447585/photo/2"><em>DEX_exiled</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Zo and Varl from Horizon Forbidden West sharing a sweet kiss</em></p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53530226330_c786cb522d_c.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53530226330_c786cb522d_c.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/JarrinWasHere/status/1756385356092510231/photo/1"><em>JarrinWasHere</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Garrus pulling Shepard into a dramatic dip in Mass Effect Legendary Edition</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985028_f1b6e0f790_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985028_f1b6e0f790_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/K_Alien121/status/1757522926234915139/photo/2"><em>K_Alien121</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Dion and Terence holding each other close in Final Fantasy XVI</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985148_e2b7086ea8_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529985148_e2b7086ea8_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/Lny_Trpr_EE7/status/1756394184209052069/photo/1"><em>Lny_Trpr_EE7</em></a><em> </em><em>shares Catwoman and Batman sharing a moment in Batman Arkham Knight</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/65535/53529796876_3b8ebe4209_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53529796876_3b8ebe4209_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME:  Best Friends<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 21, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week, we’re shining a light on gaming besties. Share a pair of gaming best friends or close companions 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/2024/02/21/how-final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-harnesses-immersive-ps5-technology/',
                'How Final Fantasy VII Rebirth harnesses immersive PS5 technology',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/f1ace42d936efef89c8cd4556fad5efb2741da75-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Your adventure beyond Midgar begins in just over a week when <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth/?smcid=ma">Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on PS5 February 29</a>. You may have taken your first steps into that wider world already, thanks to the recent demo, or marveled at that expanse <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/06/state-of-play-recap-final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-demo-out-today-11-minutes-of-new-gameplay-revealed/">via the State of Play dedicated to the game</a>. And what sights there are. Sprawling, densely detailed open areas and cityscapes, redesigned character models, reimagined threats and new enemies, side-quests and mini-games galore. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth packs a <em>lot</em> in. </p>
<p class="">To understand how this evocative experience is being achieved on PS5, we turned to the action RPG’s creators, which include the majority of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s development team. Looking under the hood with us? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Director Naoki Hamaguchi, who has been on the FFVII Remake project since the start, to talk us through how the studio brought the world of FFVII Rebirth to life. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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</div>
</div>
<p class=""><strong>As a developer, what were your first impressions of the technology of the PS5?</strong></p>
<p class="">With SSDs improving data loading speeds and allowing necessary resources to be loaded instantly, we felt that significant changes were needed in the system design to ensure a smooth gaming experience without any loading times for players. In fact, to take advantage of the high-speed SSDs in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the graphics pipeline and asset streaming system have been revamped from those of the previous title.</p>
<p class=""><strong>What learnings did you take from developing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade to help you develop Final Fantasy VII Rebirth? </strong></p>
<p class="">From the beginning, we were conscious of the disc size for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and we made it an absolute requirement for the disc size to be within 150G— even including the world map—while still allowing for cinematic locations to exist as they did in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. (Intergrade has a disc size of about 80GB.)  For texture compression, experiencing the practical use of Oodle Kraken* and Oodle Texture** in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was very helpful in planning the disc size for this game. While the PS5 is equipped with an SSD which dramatically improves loading speed, there is still a limit to the size of the original disc that can be read, so this technology is truly indispensable.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was created as a PS5 game first and foremost, so how did you take advantage of the hardware when it came to the graphics and the gameplay? </strong></p>
<p class="">To create a sense of density within the world map, rather than simply polishing how it looked within a single screenshot, we focused on increasing the actual “quantity” of assets to enhance the feeling of a well-populated map. PS5 has implemented a new PrimitiveShader as its own geometry pipeline, and in combination with the ComputeShader, the rendering pipeline was designed to be able to render a large quantity of assets. This approach also matched well with the SSD, which could load a large number of assets instantly. Through this, players can expect a beautiful, diverse, and expansive world to explore in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.</p>
<p class=""><strong>How did you leverage the PS5 SSD’s capabilities in this game? </strong></p>
<p class="">The PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake had to be preloaded due to loading speed constraints, which squeezed the memory capacity and compromised assets. Streaming was also necessary, as we knew that the seamless world we needed to build for this game would be even more demanding in terms of memory usage compared to previous games. One of the challenges we found with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was that, in most cases after loading, the CPU processing time required to expand memory for additional space was too time-consuming, due to the high speed of SSDs. For this title, the CPU load for memory expansion is set to be as close to zero as much as possible, and the file format is designed to be a memory-allocated layout to take advantage of the high loading speed of SSDs. In particular, the pipelines for rendering and streaming background models were newly designed. The performance of PS5’s high-speed SSDs was incredibly helpful in loading assets in much finer increments, enabling us to render objects in a highly detailed manner when they’re up close, and more roughly when they’re in the distance.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4P8oFphLXFo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class=""><strong>Character models in both Final Fantasy VII Remake and the PS5 upgraded version Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade were – and still are – visually impressive. Did PS5 allow you to add any additional details to the returning cast’s designs?</strong></p>
<p class="">The characters in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, including Cloud, were created based on the PS4 generation of consoles. This time, the models have been changed to meet the specifications of the PS5, and the main characters have been completely redesigned, from their hair to their outfits. In addition to the renewed character’s expressions during close-up shots, I’d love for people to take a close look at their detailed hair and skin as well. I believe you’ll be able to palpably feel the enhancement in physical textures and details. </p>
<p class="">Besides modeling and textures, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also features enhanced shading, animation, and lighting, and the overall character visuals that combine these various components greatly exceed those of Final Fantasy VII Remake, so please look forward to it.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Similarly, the cast expands with the arrival of Cid, Cait Sith and Vincent. Did you apply the same creative process as the Final Fantasy VII Remake’s cast when reimagining these characters with modern technology?  </strong></p>
<p class="">New characters were created using essentially the same process, but I can say that this flow has been refined since Final Fantasy VII Remake. The majority of the development team from the previous title has continued working on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, enabling us to start production with prior experience already gained and allowing us to really polish the physical textures and details of the new characters, Cid, Cait Sith, and Vincent. We hope you will take a closer look at these characters when you play the game.</p>
<p class=""><strong>PS5 developers have offered players the option to enjoy their games in either a Graphics mode that prioritizes 4K graphics, or Performance mode that prioritizes smooth action at 60FPS. Can you share what we can expect from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and why you decided on these options? </strong></p>
<p class="">In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, there is also a Graphics Mode that emphasizes 4K graphics and a Performance Mode that emphasizes 60 FPS, which users can freely select within the option menu. Selecting between these two modes has become a trend among players of PS5 games, so we felt it was an essential feature for this title as well.</p>
<p class=""><strong>The DualSense wireless controller’s unique features such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers can immerse players more fully into the experience. How did you leverage these features for the game?  </strong></p>
<p class="">We’ve actively incorporated haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in battles and cutscenes— game segments with strong action elements and cinematic presentation— so that everything conveyed through the graphics is also directly synchronized with the controller too. In addition, because there are many minigames for this title, we plan to utilize the DualSense function for each minigame. In addition to haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, you can also experience a wide range of features, such as the motion sensor, built-in microphone, and touchpad.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UiTWwsyYnlI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class=""><strong>How did you utilize 3D audio?</strong></p>
<p class="">This title makes full use of Tempest3D audio. This allows for most of the voices, sound effects, and background music in the field to come from each object and character, with the sound varying according to its distance from the camera and the surrounding space. The 3D audio system also actively responds to verticality, and in some areas, we’ve placed different sounds above players for them to experience movement and objects within that dimension of space as well. We look forward to you experiencing the realistic and immersive ambiance that comes from this 3D audio, such as the Shinra helicopter flying over the field, or the various ambient noises within the vast Grasslands area, or the background music from the sky when you’re exploring the Gold Saucer. The recent SDK version upgrade also supports the Dolby Atmos output, so if you have a soundbar, speaker system, or other compatible devices in addition to headphones, you can enjoy this output as well.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade included a Photo Mode: is this feature returning in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and has it had any changes? </strong></p>
<p class="">Photo mode is, of course, implemented in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. A photo frame function has been additionally implemented for this title as well, making it possible to select a frame of your choice for all of your favorite snapshots. In addition, Photo Mode itself is integrated into the game’s worldview, with side content featuring a photo enthusiast character named Snaps, who asks Cloud to snap pictures at various photo locations around the world map. Completing these requests will unlock additional photo mode features, so please look forward to those as well.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Is there any particular scene, location, moment of feature in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that you feel really encapsulates what you’ve been able to achieve thanks to PS5? </strong></p>
<p class="">To be honest, every scene utilizes so much of the PS5’s specs that it could not be realized without it… but if I had to pick one, it would be the town location. Towns require a large number of NPCs to be placed, while also increasing the density of assets in general. Crafting a sense of vibrancy and life for the NPCs in the town is something we put special care into, and I think you will be able to fully experience the PS5’s capabilities by walking through the streets. Personally, I love how the town of Junon is depicted during the inauguration parade of President Rufus, so I hope you can experience that for yourself in the game as well.</p>
<p class=""><strong>What other PS5 games have impressed you? From a developer’s point of view, how did you feel that they took advantage of the PS5’s capabilities?</strong></p>
<p class="">Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was a game that let me experience the capabilities of the PS5 the most out of the titles released in 2023. Utilizing SSDs truly sped up Spider-Man’s web-swings and wall runs, enhancing my exhilaration as I played. In addition, the fast travel feature was jaw-dropping, and I almost felt moved by how there was virtually no wait time when traveling via the map screen. Even from a developer’s perspective, I felt this was a game that could not have been actualized without the PS5’s high-speed SSD. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class="">Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on PS5 February 29. </p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Oodle Kraken is a data compression technology developed by RAD Game Tools, designed specifically for reducing the size of video game assets and improving loading times without sacrificing visual quality. </em><br/><em>**Oodle Texture is a component of the Oodle suite that focuses specifically on texture compression. It employs innovative techniques to shrink texture file sizes while preserving their visual fidelity.</em></p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-75 has-margin-bottom-10"/>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-light-font-family has-normal-font-size has-satin-blue-color has-text-color has-max-width-70 has-margin-top-5 has-margin-bottom-15 has-light-font">More on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth</h2>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-75"/>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/06/state-of-play-recap-final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-demo-out-today-11-minutes-of-new-gameplay-revealed/">State of Play Recap: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo out today, 11 minutes of new gameplay revealed</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/01/29/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-square-enix-discusses-reimagining-iconic-characters-sephiroth-and-aerith/">Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Square Enix discusses reimagining iconic characters Sephiroth and Aerith</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2023/09/20/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-hands-on-report-playable-sephiroth-chocobo-exploration-junon-and-more/">Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hands-on report – playable Sephiroth, Chocobo exploration, Junon and more</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2023/09/14/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-developer-interview-reveals-fresh-gameplay-details-as-new-trailer-debuts-at-state-of-play/">Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: developer interview reveals fresh gameplay details as new trailer debuts at State of Play</a></li>
</ul>
<p class=""></p>
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                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/21/pulse-elite-wireless-headset-launches-starting-today-the-starters-guide-to-playstations-latest-line-of-innovative-audio-products/',
                'Pulse Elite wireless headset launches starting today: the starter’s guide to PlayStation’s latest line of innovative audio products',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/5d5d1b851d64f31a3ef78062a58ba19f17df45e3.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Launching today, our latest wireless headset, Pulse Elite, brings crisp, immersive audio to the gaming experience on the PS5 console; to PlayStation Link supported devices including PS5, PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portal remote player; and to Bluetooth compatible devices such as smartphones and tablets. Pulse Elite follows the launch of our first wireless earbuds, Pulse Explore, with both audio devices featuring planar magnetic drivers to further enhance the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. When combined with PlayStation Link, the planar drivers precisely deliver the output of the 3D audio algorithms directly to the player’s ear without loss, and nearly no distortion or delay. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eSTY66H8Tsc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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</div>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Learn more about all the features to expect from the Pulse Elite wireless headset.</em></p>
<p class="">Here’s our quick-start guide on setting up and using the Pulse Elite wireless headset, along with Pulse Explore wireless earbuds.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539753574_7801b5211c_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539753574_7801b5211c_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Set up and use sidetone and 3D audio features on PS5</h2>
<p class="">A tour of the headset appears when you first connect the Pulse Elite wireless headset or Pulse Explore wireless earbuds to your PS5 console via the included PlayStation Link USB adapter. Before diving into a game, I recommend personalizing 3D audio settings and adjusting sidetone volume (changing this adjusts how loudly you hear your own voice in your ear when you talk). It’s also possible to create a custom name for the headset, with standard letters, symbols, and even emoji.</p>
<p class="">After the tour, you can change settings at any time while the headset is connected by navigating to the Settings menu and selecting Accessories, followed by Pulse Elite wireless headset. </p>
<p class="">Both the Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds also support Mono Audio when connected to a PS5, which can be toggled within the Settings menu.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539427661_2485e62f9a_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539427661_2485e62f9a_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Access the Sound Quick Menu on PS5 with a one-button shortcut</h2>
<p class="">For an even quicker way to access settings within a game, press the PlayStation Link button three times in quick succession to access the Sound Quick Menu. The PlayStation Link button can be found on the right side of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/support/hardware/ps-accessories/?category=audio&amp;subCategory=elite">Pulse Elite’s headband</a>, or on the bottom of either <a href="https://www.playstation.com/support/hardware/ps-accessories/?category=explore&amp;subCategory=parts">Pulse Explore earbud</a>. Within the Sound Quick Menu, you can make adjustments to features like Equalizer and Game Chat Balance (which adjusts the voice chat volume against the in-game volume).</p>
<p class="">For Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, you can set up to three custom equalizer presets in addition to the Standard, Bass, and Shooter premade presets. Once it’s configured on the PS5 console, equalizer and sidetone settings carry over from the PS5 to all other devices including PlayStation Portal, Mac, and PC (via PlayStation Link), Bluetooth devices, and also devices connected to Pulse Elite’s 3.5mm audio jack.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538548587_7c630f2f93_5k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538548587_7c630f2f93_5k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Take advantage of all the microphone features</h2>
<p class="">The Pulse Elite wireless headset has a retractable, adjustable boom mic that pulls out of the left side of the headset. Here, you’ll notice that we included the iconic PlayStation Shapes as a design detail on the mic – and it actually functions as a grippy surface for you to quickly pull the mic out. The mic mute can be controlled from either the DualSense controller’s mute button, or the mute button on the Pulse Elite headset. The LED located on the boom mic allows you to quickly check if you are currently muted as well.</p>
<p class="">The microphones on both the Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds feature AI Noise Rejection, which does a fantastic job of filtering out background noises. We’ve tested this with various activities like eating crunchy chips, vacuuming the room, turning up a loud fan, and opening up the window to loud outdoor traffic, and the player on the other end has always been able to hear us clearly and without background noise. Give it a try! </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538548577_340a43be4b_b.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538548577_340a43be4b_b.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Connect and switch seamlessly between the PS5 console, PlayStation Portal remote player, and PC/Mac</h2>
<p class="">Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds can switch seamlessly between your PS5 console, PlayStation Portal remote player, and PC/Mac using PlayStation Link wireless audio technology.</p>
<p class="">You can do this by simply pressing the PlayStation Link button for about one second (until you hear two distinct sounds) then releasing. </p>
<p class="">When you switch to the PS5 console with a PlayStation Link USB adapter, a “PS Link device found” notification pops up on screen, and pressing the PS button on the DualSense controller and selecting “Connect” on screen will then connect the audio.</p>
<p class="">When you switch to the PlayStation Portal remote player, pressing the PlayStation Link button on the device connects the audio.</p>
<p class="">When you switch to a PC/Mac that also has a Playstation Link USB adapter, pressing the PlayStation Link button on the USB adapter connects the audio.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539849945_af699c248a_5k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539849945_af699c248a_5k.jpg"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Set up the included charging hanger for storage and display</h2>
<p class="">Inside your Pulse Elite wireless headset box, you’ll also find a charging hanger for convenient storage in between gaming sessions. The hanger has a port to connect the included charging cable, and can be mounted* nearby on desks, tabletops, or on the wall.  We also have CAD files available <a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/elite-hanger-3d/#3d">here</a> for you to download and create your own charging hanger mount with a 3D printer.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RM7EWKRZr10" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Caption: Hear about the innovative audio technology behind Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore from audio experts on the SIE development team, Audeze, and Insomniac Games.</em></p>
<p class="">We hope you enjoy our newest line of PlayStation audio devices with Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. Enjoy!</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Additional mounting hardware (such as screws) not included.</em></p>
</div>',
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            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/21/arranger-a-role-puzzling-adventure-revealed-for-ps5/',
                'Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure revealed for PS5',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/97880ea296219e257faef9eb4bb7c2b8bf5ab3ce.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello! Nick Suttner here. You may have seen my name on PlayStation Blog before in various guises (most recently, as the writer behind Carto), but I’m super excited to be coming to you today as co-founder of the small studio Furniture &amp; Mattress, to reveal our debut PS5 game Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsl_hY1V_38" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="">What the heck is <em>role-puzzling</em>, you may ask? Well, we’ve spent the past few years building the kind of world that you’d expect to find in a role-playing game: curious towns and moody wilderness areas to explore, quirky characters to meet, and weirdo monsters to battle in dungeons. But in Arranger, everything is expressed through the language of a puzzle game. Hence: role-puzzling!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539410716_db33a493fe_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539410716_db33a493fe_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The entire game world exists on a sprawling, interconnected gameplay grid, and as our protagonist Jemma moves around, everything on the same row or column moves with her. She can also loop herself – or other objects – from one edge of the grid to the other. Over the course of our 8-10 hour, single-player adventure, we regularly twist and subvert these simple mechanics in a host of interesting ways, trying to keep things breezy while still providing some satisfying head-scratchers. (And several assist options to skip past them if you’re not in the mood.) </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539410666_82ee2bd184_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539410666_82ee2bd184_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Of course, no RPG would be worth its mettle without a satisfying story. And like our puzzles, we’ve tried to craft something fun and light-hearted, with some challenging themes and ideas if you’re open to them. Foremost, it’s a journey of self-discovery, as small-town misfit Jemma heads out beyond the confines of her hometown for the first time – only to find an exciting, yet divided world, overrun by the immovable force known as static. Can she disrupt a stagnating world, and shake things up a bit?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539736824_57583a5e41_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539736824_57583a5e41_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Admittedly, we didn’t keep <em>all</em> of the RPG tropes. We don’t have any XP to accrue, or new powers to unlock that gate progression – instead, we supply a regular stream of new ways to test your understanding of the mechanics. And there’s no in-game inventory to manage, either – everything you’ll need to interact with exists on the grid alongside Jemma. So if you find a locked door, well, you’ll need a key of course – but in <em>Arranger</em>, you’ll need to figure out how to move it there one tile at a time, down sometimes twisty paths and past unexpected obstacles.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538531487_3f63cc990f_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538531487_3f63cc990f_4k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Lastly, if the art looks at all familiar to you, there might be a good reason. That’s because the game is art directed by my co-founder David Hellman, artist behind the modern classic puzzle-platformer Braid. It’s his first full game as lead artist since, and along with a small crew of super talented artists to support him, they’re striving to create something visually striking and unique. David also leans on his background as a comic artist for our cutscenes, creating evocative comic-style panels to express many of our most important story beats. Along with my other co-founder Nico Recabarren, designer of fan-favorite Ethereal, and the incredibly talented composer Tomás Batista, we’re bringing decades (!) of game-making experience to the sensibilities of a tiny team, to craft you something special.</p>
<p class="">Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure launches Summer 2024 on PS5, and we couldn’t be more jazzed that we can finally reveal it to you. Thanks for checking it out!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/21/star-wars-battlefront-classic-collection-ps4-ps5-features-reveal/',
                'Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection PS4 & PS5 features revealed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/2b9915c3a279e62d4ea9c4d1d42db125f40a6cce.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Aspyr is proud to announce, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the beloved Star Wars Battlefront series, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 will soon be able to play the classic Star Wars Battlefront games online and offline in a complete collection.</p>
<p class="">On March 14, PlayStation players can get back online and fight in iconic battles from across the Star Wars galaxy.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN3lvaXI3Z3BjMWI1eTJpM2p6NGJsZDc2ZW50aDY5YWV1aGcxOTUybSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/MHSJBw70KYSkDpAhs5/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Classic Games, Bonus Content, And much more</h2>
<p class=""><em>What’s included? Let’s take a look:</em></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Star Wars Battlefront (Classic)</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Includes Bonus Map: Jabba’s Palace</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Star Wars Battlefront II</strong></h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Includes Bonus Maps: Bespin: Cloud City, Rhen Var: Harbor, Rhen Var: Citadel, and Yavin 4: Arena </li>
<li>Includes Bonus Heroes: Asajj Ventress &amp; Kit Fisto</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Bonus content!? That’s right. Classic bonus content has been restored, included, and is premiering for the first time on PlayStation.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519512281_275d72c166_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519512281_275d72c166_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We welcome Jedi General from the Clone Wars and member of the Jedi High Council, Kit Fisto as a playable hero. Kit’s special abilities are Saber Throw and Force Orb, making him a fierce contender in Hero Assault for hybrid ranged/melee players.</p>
<p class="">Villains fans, don’t feel left out. We’ve also brought the Linksaber wielding Sith assassin, Asajj Ventress. Asajj’s special abilities are Star Blades and Force push, making her a great choice for close-ranged encounters and quick escapes.</p>
<p class=""><em>With all original maps and the new bonus maps, we are packed with fan-favorite planets from across the Star Wars universe.</em></p>
<p class=""><strong>Battlefront Classic</strong>: 17 total maps<br/><strong>Battlefront II</strong>: 22 ground maps, 6 space maps, and 9 more space maps exclusive to the single-player campaign and galactic conquest</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExb2NocngzenA3MHY0bzV6dWw0Mmhxem4za2ZxMDVvcHhjcTdib21raCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/s7aP5fHDKbWurodkYN/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">(Up to) 64 Player Online Multiplayer is Back</h2>
<p class="">We’re excited to announce that cross-gen multiplayer is supported, so whether you’re playing on PlayStation 4 or PlaySation 5, get ready to jump in.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Conquest</strong>: Capture control points and deplete the enemy resources</p>
<p class=""><strong>Capture the Flag (CTF)</strong>: Play with 1 or 2 flags, on the ground or in space</p>
<p class=""><strong>Hunt</strong>: Clear the battlefield as soldiers or defend your planet as native species (yes, you can play as an Ewok)</p>
<p class=""><strong>Assault (Space)</strong>: Pilot legendary starships: TIE fighters, X-wings, and more in space and air dogfights</p>
<p class=""><strong>Hero Assault</strong>: Originally only available on Tatooine, hero assault pits heroes against villains in an arena battle for the highest score. We’ve expanded Hero Assault to be playable on all ground maps, which means you can face off on the Death Star, Kamino, Naboo, and many more locations.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519512261_379cf4ac48_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53519512261_379cf4ac48_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking for an Offline Solo Experience?</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>XL mode premiers on PlayStation </strong></h3>
<p class="">Storm the sandy beaches of Kashyyyk, survive the dusty dunes of Geonosis, or relive the iconic Hoth battle, complete with AT-ATs, snipers, mounted guns, snowspeeders, and tow cables.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The return of Galactic Conquest</strong></h3>
<p class="">Craft your own Star Wars story in Galactic Conquest. Devise your strategy, recruit your troops, and execute your tactical vision for conquering the galaxy. Will Luke Skywalker kneel to the might of the Empire? Will Mace Windu defeat Lord Sidius? The galaxy’s fate is in your hands.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>And the classic single-player campaigns</strong></h3>
<p class="">Relive iconic battles from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,  Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in Star Wars Battlefront I’s campaign mode, where you’ll be at the center of the galaxy-shaping events. </p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PLUS</strong></h3>
<p class="">Join the elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers and experience the rise of Darth Vader in Star Wars Battlefront II’s campaign mode. </p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExb2RzNGE3ajFsNmY3eGExMGd1YmcybWxzaHRnZ2J4bW41aDltd2xzYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/TuVrr6lOL72h4RnnCy/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A few final details</h2>
<p class=""><strong>Offline 2-Player splitscreen is included</strong>. Cozy up on the couch because 2-player splitscreen is included. And it feels like an offline blast from the past.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Trophies are included</strong>! A personal favorite is Execute Order 66: Defeat a Jedi hero by knocking them off the map in Battlefront II</p>
<p class=""><strong>Thank You for 20 Years! </strong>We hope you enjoy reliving iconic battles from across the Star Wars galaxy. We’ll see you online March 14.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHdmMmF1cnZtYWhpYnB1YXcyN2J4MTJyeWo0NHdldDl5em5zOHAzciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/YMSYT43w2pgA7qzfu3/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class=""><strong>​​</strong></p>
</div>',
                'None'
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/21/marvels-spider-man-2-update-adds-new-game-plus-and-new-suits-on-march-7/',
                'Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update adds New Game Plus and new suits today',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/7af41a2d68f944e994fc0ab2158d6e6f088a3827-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">A quick update! We’re pleased to announce that as of this morning two game updates have been deployed for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2<em> </em>to enable the features detailed below in this blog. If you are playing version 1.002 – you have them both! These updates include New Game+, Mission Replay, the ability to change time of day and brand-new accessibility features like Screen Reader, Audio Descriptions and more. We also added the Hellfire Gala suits for Peter and Miles – both of which are free for all players. And we added the ability to purchase the Gameheads Fly N’ Fresh Suit Pack – which benefits Gameheads*.<br/></p>
<p class="">Here’s Sam Schaffel, Accessibility Design Researcher at Insomniac Games, on the brand-new accessibility features that 1.002 adds to the game nominated for Best Innovation in Accessibility at The Game Awards:<br/></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="" style="font-size:16px">“We’re so excited to bring all of these accessibility features and improvements to you – thank you for your patience and support as we prepared for the 1.002 update,” said Schaffel. “With our first-ever Screen Reader, we cover not only the settings but the FNSM App and all the Touch Pad menus including comprehensive map, skill tree, tech readouts and more.</p>
<p class="" style="font-size:16px">Robust cinematic caption and customization options cover off-screen sounds, emotional music cues and key gameplay sounds – written concisely so they can be easily read during calm scenes or intense set pieces. All these features, along with over 60 others, were crafted with love and care to add to player’s experiences. We hope you enjoy these accessibility features whether it’s your first-time playing <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em>, or if you’re returning to check out New Game+.”</p>
<cite>– Sam Schaffel, Accessibility Design Researcher, Insomniac Games</cite></blockquote>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity has-max-width-40"/>
<p class=""><br/></p>
<p class="">Haven’t had a chance to download yet and want to see a bit more? Here’s an amazing new Game of the Year trailer the team put together to celebrate <em>Marvel Spider-Man 2</em>’s multiple nominations (including Game of the Year) at several industry award shows like The Game Awards, D.I.C.E., GDCA, and many more. It also shows off many of the new features in the update!<br/></p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class="">We’re also thrilled to give you your first look at the Fly N’ Fresh Suits in motion – check out the trailer here:<br/></p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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<p class=""><strong><br/></strong>1.002 title update is available now – download it today for <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 </em>and get web-swinging!</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">We cannot explain to you how grateful we have been for everyone who has picked up <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 </em>over the holiday season. Everyone here at Insomniac Games is proud of the game, and we’re very excited to share details with you about the major title update that will hit your PS5 console on March 7</p>
<p class=""><em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em> version 1.002 will bring New Game+ to the game. We know many of you have been eager to replay the game on a harder difficulty, with all your suits and abilities carrying over. Or perhaps you want to just replay a favorite mission or two – you can do that, too! And there’s more to unlock – with Ultimate Levels, Golden Gadget styles, and more!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53531338101_1dff14cfdf_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53531338101_1dff14cfdf_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Speaking of styles: we’ve added suit styles for several of Peter’s symbiote story suits in the game, allowing you to further customize your look if you play and unlock them via New Game+ Ultimate Levels. And yes, you’ll be able to set which color your symbiote abilities are as well. But we couldn’t just stop at new styles – we know how much you all love when we add suits with no additional cost to the game. You’re in luck – we’ve brought Marvel’s Hellfire Gala suits to the game for both Peter and Miles. Peter sports the design created by Russell Dauterman, and Miles gets his iconic look from Bernard Chang’s gorgeous Hellfire Gala variant cover for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8.</p>
<p class="">And you’ll want to show those looks off as much as possible with our updates to Photo Mode – including action figure mode and stickers. You’ll also be able to change the time of day once you complete the story, allowing you to get all those cool Photo Mode shots with just the right lighting. Make sure you share them with us on social by using the #InsomGamesCommunity hashtag!</p>
<p class="">This update also contains some major updates for Accessibility. We’ve added Audio Descriptions** and Screen Reader** to the game. We know that these features were highly anticipated, and we’re thankful to the community for giving us a little extra time to ensure they were polished and ready to be released. We also have additional features like Cinematic Captions and High Contrast Outlines, among <a href="https://support.insomniac.games/hc/en-us/articles/19834163921037-What-Accessibility-options-does-Marvel-s-Spider-Man-2-feature-">several new features</a> added to this update.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
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</div>
</div>
<p class="">We’re also excited to announce two new suits for <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em> that Insomniac Games, Marvel Games, and Gameheads have partnered to create. Early access to the Fly N’ Fresh suits will be available for $4.99. Starting March 7,2024 and continuing through April 5, 2024, PlayStation will donate $4.99 (100% of the purchase price) of each Fly N’ Fresh Suit Pack in the United States to <a href="https://gameheadsoakland.org/">Gameheads</a>, up to $1 million*. We appreciate your help in supporting Gameheads’ mission of empowering low-income youth and youth of color to thrive in the video games industry. Don’t worry, we don’t plan to start charging for suits in <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2; </em>the Fly N’ Fresh Suit Pack will be available for at no additional cost to all players at a later date.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53531654174_85f42125a3_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53531654174_85f42125a3_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>Fly N’ Fresh Suit Pack includes;</strong></p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Fly Suit for Peter</li>
<li>Fresh Suit for Miles</li>
<li>10 photo mode stickers</li>
<li>2 photo mode frames</li>
</ul>
<p class="">Working with Gameheads as part of our efforts to increase representation in the videogame industry is an important cause to us. Insomniac Games President Ted Price shares more in this video:<br/></p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A033vWtOu2c" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">To talk more about our collaboration with Gameheads, I sat down with Malia Atta, Insomniac’s Manager of Culture and Belonging, Damon Packwood, Director of Gameheads, and Eric Monacelli, Senior Director, Product and Franchise Development at Marvel Games for more insight.</p>
<p class=""><strong>What is Gameheads?</strong></p>
<p class="">Damon Packwood: “We develop diverse talent and bold new voices in gaming, train students for the tech ecosystem and prepare them for college, career and civic life. We serve low-income students, and underrepresented students (ages 15-25) in 15 different states with expansions to Honolulu and Atlanta.  </p>
<p class=""><strong>What is the origin of the Gameheads and Insomniac partnership?</strong></p>
<p class="">Malia Atta: “Gameheads has been a partner of SIE for many years; however, the partnership with Insomniac Games began when we brought on three apprentices in our Core Technology, People Experience, and Design departments. Each apprentice made meaningful contributions to the game, and we saw an awesome opportunity to support and elevate the Gameheads Mission by asking their artists to design suits for <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em>.”</p>
<p class=""><strong>That sounds really great – what’s the goal?</strong></p>
<p class="">Malia Atta: “The partnership benefits both Insomniac and Gameheads by providing our teams with opportunity to mentor, coach, and develop emerging talent who then infuse fresh ideas and energy into our games and culture. This partnership also makes way for more people from different backgrounds to gain access to the industry.</p>
<p class="">From a bigger picture, Insomniac Games is focused on creating a supportive, vibrant, and diverse environment that reflects our players and communities. We are currently focused on uplifting and amplifying the voices of our devs and allowing them to bring their unique voices and gifts to how we make games.”</p>
<p class="">Eric Monacelli: “Our creative collaboration with Insomniac values fostering a world of belonging via our characters in our video games. The Gameheads initiative is a real-world manifestation of this. Marvel has always been about reflecting the world outside one’s world authentically, especially in ways that make creative endeavors and Marvel storytelling more accessible, diverse, and inclusive.”</p>
<p class=""><strong>What was the process like collaborating and iterating on the suit designs?</strong></p>
<p class="">Damon Packwood:  “We had a great time working with (Insomniac artists) Bobby Hernandez, Johnson Truong and Davison Carvalho. We had six of our students creating iterations for the suit and stickers over the summer. The process was pretty professional. Our students went through 1-2 week sprints, showcased their artwork to the Insomniac team, got feedback and after a few weeks we settled on a concept. Once the concept was approved, each of the students picked a different aspect of the suit (shoes, texture, mask, web shooters) and we finalized the suit and the stickers in August.”  </p>
<p class=""><strong>Tell us more about the final Fly N’ Fresh designs:</strong></p>
<p class="">Damon Packwood: “The inspiration for Miles Morales’ Fresh Suit design was a 90’s b-boy. Peter Parker’s Fly Suit design was inspired by 90s television’. Marisa Diaz, who designed the suits, was just having fun. We never expected Insomniac to like it but it was definitely fun to design. Our designers had fun being silly and the older folks, me and the Insomniac crew, had fun reminiscing on our 90’s fashion choices.” </p>
<p class="">That’s all for now! Thanks to everyone for all of your support, and we can’t wait to see you swinging back through Marvel’s New York in your Hellfire Gala and Fly N’ Fresh suits while checking out New Game+!</p>
<p class=""><em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em> is available now, only on the PS5 console.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong><em>*</em></strong><em>PlayStation will donate $4.99 per pack sold in the United States </em><em>from March 7, 2024  through April 5, 2024 </em><em> to Gameheads up to $1 million via its fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives. This purchase is not tax deductible. Community Initiatives is tax exempt.</em> <a href="https://communityinitiatives.org/"><em>https://communityinitiatives.org/</em></a><em>.   Gameheads is not tax exempt. </em><a href="https://gameheadsoakland.org/"><em>https://gameheadsoakland.org/</em></a></p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>**Only available in English, Spanish (LATAM), Spanish (Spain), Italian, German, French and Japanese</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/23/rise-of-the-ronin-inside-team-ninjas-diverse-weapons-and-combat-styles/',
                'Rise of the Ronin: Inside Team Ninja’s diverse weapons and combat styles',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/6d07002537c919a9907040ca108cfc0332ca1308.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Since the mid-90s, the developers at Team Ninja have earned consistent praise for their precise, satisfying combat. Look no further than the Dead or Alive franchise’s dynamic fighting system or Ninja Gaiden’s lightning-fast combat for prime examples. The developer aims to continue and expand that legacy of satisfying melee mechanics in Rise of the Ronin.</p>
<p class="">Rise of the Ronin allows players to battle through a storyline set in the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, known as Bakumatsu, where they can enjoy an accessible but deep combat system using different play styles combining melee weapons and firearms. This involves draining enemies’ Ki, mastering Martial Skills, and becoming proficient with multiple fighting styles. Mix and match to find your approach on PlayStation 5 on March 22. </p>
<p class="">To help players get ready to battle through historic Japan, Team Ninja shares a new behind-the-scenes developer diary diving into the combat of Rise of the Ronin.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<div class="youtube-video has-agegate" data-title="" data-youtube-id="M2mp5VXf4BE">
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<img alt="Rise of the Ronin: Inside Team Ninja’s diverse weapons and combat styles" height="1080" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/M2mp5VXf4BE/maxresdefault.jpg" width="1920"/>
<div class="youtube-video__iframe"></div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ki-depleting battle actions</h2>
<p class="">In Rise of the Ronin, Team Ninja combines its signature combat action with Katanas, spears, other melee weapons, and ranged weapons like foreign firearms. As a Ronin, you will battle foes utilizing these two types of weapons. </p>
<p class="">The basic combat strategy involves performing melee attacks with Square, defending yourself from foes’ attacks with L1 to guard and Circle to dodge. When your foe’s Ki is completely depleted, they will become vulnerable and incapacitated, making it easier to deal massive damage with critical hits.</p>
<p class="">Similarly, when your Ki is exhausted, you temporarily won’t be able to attack or run, so pay attention to your Ki as you battle.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Using Counterspark and Martial Skills to damage Ki</h2>
<p class="">When facing formidable foes, effectively parrying with the Counterspark action and utilizing Martial Skills can lower their maximum Ki, making it easier to defeat them.</p>
<p class="">Counterspark is an action that parries enemy attacks. To Counterspark, press Triangle to rotate the melee weapon in a large arc to counter the foe’s attack. When you use Counterspark to evade damage from attacks that you cannot guard yourself against, your foe’s Ki reduces, and they will be stunned briefly. This can create a window to deal even more damage to reduce their maximum Ki.</p>
<p class="">Martial skills (holding down R1 while pressing Square/Triangle) inflict more significant damage. They are also highly effective against strong foes.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdDB4b2t6aWVzYWx2bDZpczRlMGNxdW1qN3dzaHIyejZ0cGVteGRsdiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zYCPFZJkrCMY44pN8u/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Know your foes, weapons, and combat styles </h2>
<p class="">Each Japanese and Western weapon—Katana, spears, dual blades, bayonets, and sabers—has its own capabilities and attack actions. As you build bonds with characters you meet, you will acquire new combat styles and further evolve their capabilities to enhance your battle experience.</p>
<p class="">As you battle your foes, knowing which one of the three combat styles, Ten (Sky), Chi (Earth), and Jin (Human), is advantageous against their weapons and can help you gain the upper hand in battle—and parrying them with the proper combat style will knock them back significantly.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539789084_82dfbfa2d8_4k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539789084_82dfbfa2d8_4k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Main combat styles</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mumyo Style</h3>
<p class="">Originating in the Kurosu Clan from an unknown master, it is a versatile martial art combat style performed in pairs. Those who mastered the style were called Veiled Edge.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcjR3d24xNWxpbzNyaXI3d3gxbW95Yzh0ZjBjbDByOGFrcGFscnRkNiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/py8P4Szzea8JDCGJLN/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hokushin Itto Style</h3>
<p class="">This style of swordsmanship, founded by Shusaku Chiba in the early 19th century, is used to overwhelm foes with a series of attacks. Their teaching is rational, emphasizing the mastery of techniques through training performed by an attacker and a defender. Their dojo, established in 1822 in Edo (today’s Tokyo), remains operational today. </p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeXI0M3hvd252emFwbnVsNmcyb3p5amZweWNlaXI1N2lpbjUydHU0ZiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/US78cndGpQUgHy9uHc/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Yagyu Shinkage Style</h3>
<p class="">The renowned military instructor of the Tokugawa clan founded this swordsmanship style. Starting with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun, generations of shoguns and the Tokugawa clan are known to have studied this swordsmanship.</p>
<p class="">Nine weapons will be available for battling enemies, including dual blades, Oxtail Swords, great swords, and Odachi.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ2VxcWp0enhocnJzZDhtaXU5bDd1bHJtdXNzb2Znend3dmhhaWJmMCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/vbyHEDqPSJfzOdaaCE/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Long-ranged weapons</h2>
<p class="">Bows and firearms require careful aiming to attack from a distance. Leveraging silent weapons like bows, you can perform a stealth takedown on unaware foes. While firearms are powerful, the gunfire will give away your attack to your enemies. </p>
<p class="">The timed firing of a handgun will stun foes for a prolonged period. It can be used as an attack opportunity to reduce the foe’s Ki cap limit.</p>
<p class="">Fire Pipes blow powerful flames. You can use this long-range weapon to set a group of enemies ablaze or ignite a gunpowder barrel to explode.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ingenious grappling rope actions</h2>
<p class="">You can throw the grappling rope at a latching point to gain leverage in a flash. You can also wield it to pull distant enemies in during combat. Keep the grappling rope in mind to take control of the battlefield from afar.</p>
<p class="">You can hold down R2 to wield a grappling rope to grab a nearby gunpowder barrel and throw it at enemies. The barrel will explode, setting the enemies on fire and inflicting epic damage.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWs3bGtqNDk4MHBudnY5OGJqaTRqajRuYnd3czZkcjU1MHY4b2JwdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/VpkS5hUj1nROxmAdm3/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class="">There is no right or wrong way to approach combat with the multitude of options in your arsenal. Experiment with gear and master the many styles Rise of the Ronin has to offer on March 22.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/23/share-of-the-week-best-friends/',
                'Share of the Week: Best Friends',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/ac039461696e1676e75daa8d3eca427b3071a6bd.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you to shine a light on gaming best friends using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53545904488_da66f69480_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53545904488_da66f69480_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><em><a href="https://twitter.com/KenKenVega1/status/1759258533407695173/photo/1">KenKenVega1</a> shares Ratchet &amp; Clank from Ratchet &amp; Clank: Rift Apart</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544844752_fdf5647603_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544844752_fdf5647603_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/K_Alien121/status/1760054108839424245/photo/1"><em>K_Alien121</em></a><em> shares Clive and Gav sharing a drink in Final Fantasy XVI</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544844747_18f32228bb_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544844747_18f32228bb_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/jdbolzan/status/1760313026970853780/photo/2"><em>jdbolzan</em></a><em> shares Boozer and Deacon in Days Gone</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546151755_fa2565cb45_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546151755_fa2565cb45_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/Lny_Trpr_EE7/status/1760268381423362376/photo/1"><em>Lny_Trpr_EE7</em></a><em> shares the titular Stray and robot friend B-12</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546151760_4efae0c979_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546151760_4efae0c979_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/scottoka1/status/1759827162251796871/photo/2"><em>scottoka1</em></a><em> shares the Persona 3 Reload protagonist and companions</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53545904443_e5f679a04b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53545904443_e5f679a04b_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/HomuraChihiro/status/1759736546075222481/photo/3"><em>HomuraChihiro</em></a><em> shares the Hunter and their eagle companion in The Pathless</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/65535/53546151735_a5fac415c8_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546151735_a5fac415c8_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">THEME:  Comfort<br/>SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 28, 2024</p>
<p class="">Next week’s theme is all about games that bring you comfort. Share a moment from your go-to comfort game 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/2024/02/26/foamstars-new-season-groovy-disco-begins-on-march-8/',
                'Foamstars new season Groovy Disco begins on March 8',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/d37dfc70ef8b35d994025375901a90df01fd451e.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Foamstars released on February 6 as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game, and we’re elated that so many players have tried out the game. It’s not too late for PlayStation Plus members to add it to their library before March 4.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDeluqIY9LI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">In Foamstars, each season will last about 5 weeks, so we’d like to share details on the new season, Groovy Disco, which begins March 8.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaHRpMGM1bWN0YTUzcG9zZGswZ2JkeWRqcXI0cWxsZXhiemEzZnlhNyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/1LmWmcUAbXr1aZqHUy/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Foamstar – Coiff Guy</strong></h3>
<p class="">Groovy Disco features the new Foamstar, Coiff Guy. Coiff Guy can use a rocket launcher-style foam gun to take down enemies from a distance, while his skills include an up-close body slam inspired by his background as a pro wrestler.</p>
<p class="">Coiff Guy can be unlocked by progressing the Season Pass to Tier 31. He may also be unlocked immediately for users who purchase the Premium Pass.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546060864_590bf8b56a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546060864_590bf8b56a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544864167_0152bd2d15_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544864167_0152bd2d15_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New season Groovy Disco – Season Pass details</strong></h3>
<p class="">Earn XP via online matches, completing missions or clearing Challenges to progress through the Season Pass tiers and unlock new items. In the Groovy Disco Season Pass, on top of the new Foamstar Coiff Guy, Foam Gun skins for multiple characters and a Character skin for The Baristador are also available for free.</p>
<p class="">By purchasing the paid Premium Pass, you can unlock even more glorious rewards. Players will immediately unlock any rewards up to their Season Pass Tier at time of purchase.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMXRkYnk1eThsNjg0M2t6b2JtMWtkamZnaTlrN3FqcmE5aXVhYTMwcCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/fuP59CMSntwEYZM3wr/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Solo Missions added</strong></h3>
<p class="">Missions 4 through 6 will be added to the current Foamstar Missions.</p>
<p class="">In Mission 6, Dark Ramzey will appear, offering a harder challenge compared to the previous bosses.</p>
<p class="">Please try to use what you’ve learned thus far to beat it!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546060859_e29ae8c108_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546060859_e29ae8c108_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ranked Party – Compete for World Rankings</strong></h3>
<p class="">Compete solo in Ranked Party Lonestar or with a team in Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe. Both events will be available to play in Groovy Disco.</p>
<p class="">Ranks in Foamstars are categorized into seven tiers: Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star, Platinum Star, Diamond Star, Superstar, and Party Legend. Once enough Rank Points (RP) have been attained, you will be able to partake in Rank Up Trials which if completed successfully, allow you to progress to the next Rank.</p>
<p class="">The Ranked Party Lonestar action kicks off starting March 11 PST (March 12 UTC), and Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe begins on April 4 PST (Aril 5 UTC).</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaHdqMHQzNm4yand4dWJjbmpkcTk3eno5NG9sbW42dDVmaXh5bjE0cSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/GGRF4HYOpQXJDcdksT/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWRwenAwOTFscmIyOWsxNzZ2c2FjeXdqMnpqM3BlOGZkM3JicTl2cyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/3QGqqYMz1nWGezUCEC/giphy.gif"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Extreme Party – New limited-time events</strong></h3>
<p class="">Extreme Party will be held twice during Groovy Disco. In the first event – All Coiff Guy Party – every player will join the fun as Coiff Guy.The second event, Super Duel Party, will introduce intense 1-on-1 battles. Please see below for the schedule and join these events!</p>
<p class="">The All Coiff Guy Party kicks off on March 22 PST (March 23 UTC), and the Super Duel Party begins on March 30 PST (March 31 UTC).</p>
<p class="">All PlayStation Plus members can redeem, download, and play Foamstars at no extra cost until March 4 on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/26/how-the-star-wars-dark-forces-remaster-devs-nightdive-studios-enhanced-the-classic-fps/',
                'How the Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster devs Nightdive Studios enhanced the classic FPS',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/a92b9232043d2c99860b92c857b2a8464d8b9630.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last year, it was revealed that the masters of remasters at Nightdive Studios have taken on the task of bringing the beloved 90s classic Star Wars: Dark Forces to modern audiences. The remaster is set to release February 28 on PS5 and PS4, nearly 30 years after the release of the original game from LucasArts in 1995.</p>
<p class="">Similar to Nightdive’s previous endeavors with titles like Quake II and Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered, <a href="https://store.playstation.com/concept/10008369?smcid=ma">Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster</a> honors the strong foundation of the original while updating it for modern consoles through the studio’s proprietary KEX engine, allowing the game to run at up to 4K resolution at 120FPS on PlayStation 5.</p>
<p class="">With this, fans of the original as well as a whole new generation of gamers, will be able to experience Star Wars: Dark Forces and appreciate what made it such an essential title within LucasArts’ (now Lucasfilm Games) impressive catalog. Further honoring the work that went into its initial development, it’s been revealed that Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster will feature a special Vault jam-packed with never-before-seen content from the making of the 1995 original!</p>
<p class="">With improved spritework and remastered cutscenes, those looking to dig deeper into a truly unique story within the Star Wars galaxy will be able to enjoy a visually pleasing narrative experience as they join protagonist Kyle Katarn, a defector turned mercenary for hire working for the Rebel Alliance, in foiling the Galactic Empire and its secret Dark Troopers Project.</p>
<p class="">As much as we’d love to continue gushing over why this has been such an exciting project for Nightdive and must-play title for fans and newcomers alike, let’s dive deeper into the fascinating history and behind-the-scenes work of breathing new life into Star Wars: Dark Forces with Nightdive’s Project Lead and Producer, Max Waine.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546302689_e8dc061091_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546302689_e8dc061091_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Exploring The Vault</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>PlayStation Blog: What was the most exciting challenge you faced while working on Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster?</strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Max Waine:</strong> For me, it was bringing something new and worthwhile to existing fans of the game. Our way of tackling that was by bringing in The Vault. It was imperative that I find and present interesting snapshots of the development of the game. From there, it was a lot of coding to make it all work, conversion of various assets to be able to load in the remaster, and a great deal of text to write for the titles and descriptions; balancing being informative of what I <em>did </em>know from the development files without drifting into speculation proved exceptionally difficult.</p>
<p class=""><strong>When diving into the Remaster, what details about the original LucasArts spritework stood out to you from a historical development perspective?</strong></p>
<p class="">From a development perspective, Dark Forces seemed to have a relatively typical way of approaching sprites for the time and genre. A combination of touched-up scanned models, hand-drawn sprites, and rendered 3D models (from 3D Studio) are ordinary fare. The software they used for spritework, DeluxePaint Animation, was also seemingly pretty standard. One interesting detail is that many of the human sprites seemed to be mostly hand-drawn but would use incredibly basic models to provide things like poses and such.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546302684_3de605526b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53546302684_3de605526b_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Design and assembly</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>What about the game’s cutscenes? Can you share insight into the work Nightdive has done to remaster these?</strong></p>
<p class="">I integrated the new cutscenes into the game itself, with the help of Daniel Albano to allow for supporting different languages within the cutscenes. Outside of setting up the video player, I created a text-based format that could change the music in-sync with the video the same way the original did.</p>
<p class="">I’ll be paraphrasing Brendan McKinney here, who was our 3D maestro on the cutscenes. Beside Brendan, development was done with paintings of the new characters by Ben Chandler, ship models by Daniel Andersson, and guidance from Lucasfilm Games’ David Yee.</p>
<p class="">Due to the original cutscenes blending of different types of assets, the process of updating the cutscenes proved difficult. Initially the approach was to try to recreate the same cutscenes at a higher resolution, but this resulted in greater scrutiny being drawn to the differences in the disparate types of assets that could be provided in a cutscene.</p>
<p class="">The approach that was ultimately taken was to embrace the mixed medium spirit of the originals while still narrowing the divide so that, even at higher resolution, everything fit comfortably together.</p>
<p class="">This is where Ben Chandler came in, doing painted versions of characters like Crix Madine and Jabba, who were based on or fully taken from stills of the films respectively for their depiction in the original. Brendan recreated the environments in 3D, painting over them afterward to bring the composition nearer to Ben’s character work. The space sequences were approached with the intent to keep things simple, matching the feel of the original work.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExc3B4ZnRqbzg3ZTkxaHl5ZzBtZm4xdDhlNDdnZ3EzN3RzNzRlNzZzbSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/8g5O7v20d34P4csYGv/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class=""><strong>Is there a weapon design unique to Dark Forces that you specifically like? What makes it interesting from a development POV?</strong></p>
<p class="">It’s gotta be Kyle’s trusty sidearm, the Bryar pistol. The weapon just really looks the part. A lot of the weapons were rendered out from 3D models, and for some it can chafe against the technical limitations of the time, but the Bryar pistol just looks absolutely perfect as-is.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Adding to this, what can you share about the Phase 02 Dark Trooper character model from a developer standpoint?</strong></p>
<p class="">The Phase 02 Dark Trooper as a character seemed to go through a fair bit of iteration from initial conception to what ended up present in the final game. Renders of the character model definitely appear to be what is used in both the original cutscenes and as a basis for the spritework. I can’t be exactly certain how they animated pre-rendered cutscenes with the Dark Troopers though, as we don’t have a significant amount of the 3D-related assets.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZGFmeTM4MmlsZGVtdmxqNmNjNnVxdzV2ems3YzQ5MTA5dWpicHhmbSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/kiLVbV3ZrznAaBSadV/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Honoring the original Dark Forces</strong></h2>
<p class=""><strong>What’s the most impressive feat accomplished with this game based on the time it was created?</strong></p>
<p class="">Dark Forces is greater than the sum of its parts, and while I <em>will </em>point out key impressive aspects of the game, I want to emphasize just how strong it is as a cohesive whole. There are two things that jump out at me the most for the time period: support for 3D environments that allow for room-over-room, which was something that the Doom engine was not capable of; seamless integration of fully 3D objects within the environment (like Kyle’s ship, X-Wings, Mouse Droids, etc.).</p>
<p class=""><strong>Lastly, what do you think Dark Forces did to move the budding FPS genre forward during its time?</strong></p>
<p class="">At a time where FPSs were largely abstract in locales, Dark Forces pushed the tech forward enough to be able to successfully realize familiar and more realistic environments. In addition to that it was able to tell a cohesive story, complete with fully voice-acted cutscenes. The sum total of this is a game that really pushed forward just how immersive FPSs could be.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOG13YTVldms3NHh0bHhkNXhuemsyaHF4em42NGZsZGptam5qcmRxdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/hU91rRSOANLHFYog8D/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">We want to thank Nightdive’s Max Waine for the blast from the past experience we’ve had learning about the work being put into Star War: Dark Forces Remaster, including how it features The Vault, which packs in a wealth of behind-the-scenes visual content from the development of the 1995 original!</p>
<p class="">Additional features fans can look forward to with Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster are visual improvements, including advanced 3D rendering with realistic lighting and atmospheric effects, and up to 4K at 120FPS on PlayStation 5. Not to mention action-packed, first-person ground combat with 10 weapons and 20 enemy types!</p>
<p class="">Can’t wait to play the Remaster? Keep an eye out for Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster later this month when it releases on PS5 and PS4 on February 28.</p>
<p class=""><em>Co-editing credit for this article goes to Nightdive Studios Community Manager, Morgan Shave</em>r.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/29/gran-turismo-7s-1-43-update-features-three-new-events-new-cars-and-cafe-menu/',
                'Gran Turismo 7’s 1.43 update features three new events, new cars, and Café Menu',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/02/38d73c54032cc326b4ea3c523360123e8dc2b41d.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Gran Turismo players! Update 1.43* for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of Wednesday, February 28 at 11:00pm PST / February 29 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ZeveErIq0A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 new cars added this month</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547943046_d7b7210011_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547943046_d7b7210011_k.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Audi TTS Coupé ’09 </h3>
<p class="">(Can be purchased at Brand Central or Used Car Dealership)</p>
<p class="">A high-performance model aggressively evolved from the TT. </p>
<p class="">The TTS is the high-performance version of the TT, which first debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January of 2008. The powertrain combines a 268.2 BHP @ 35.7 kgfm 2 L direct injection turbo engine with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission. Though it has the same displacement as the standard 2L turbo model, the TTS features a bespoke engine block, pistons, and connecting rods, and the turbocharger has been improved to increase performance. It produces 71 BHP more power and 7.2 kgfm more torque than the normal 2L turbo unit in models such as the 2.0 TFSI quattro. As a result, the 0-62.1 mph acceleration time is 5.2 seconds for the S-Tronic model, and 5.4 seconds for the 6-speed manual transmission. </p>
<p class="">Aside from the standard coupe body, a convertible ‘Roadster’ model was released in certain regions. On the mechanical side, the car is equipped with the ‘Audi Magnetic Ride’ variable dampers system as standard. When selecting the sports mode from the switch on the console, the ride height drops by 10 mm, allowing for more dynamic handling. This also provides a more aggressive ride befitting the TTS name.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131603_e23724f344_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131603_e23724f344_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380210_1aa493e988_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380210_1aa493e988_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275119_400fb584a9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275119_400fb584a9_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547943031_35b5855b48_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547943031_35b5855b48_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR GSR ’06 </h3>
<p class="">(Can be purchased at Brand Central or Used Car Dealership)</p>
<p class="">The ‘9.5’, the final 4G63 powered Lancer Evolution. </p>
<p class="">The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR GSR is the 2006 update of the ‘Lan Evo’ IX GSR which debuted in 2005. On first glance, the car appears to be almost identical to the previous model, but numerous refinements have been made across the entire car. For example, while the maximum power and torque numbers of the 4G63 engine remain the same, the MIVEC variable valve timing system has been retuned, the standard specification turbine wheel has changed to a titanium-aluminium alloy, and the compressor inlet diameter has been downsized. Along with other minor improvements, this resulted in sharper engine response and faster acceleration. The suspension has also been upgraded, employing high spring rate Eibach coils combined with Bilstein dampers, and the electronically controlled ‘Super AYC’ 4WD system has been reprogrammed to focus on cornering ability. </p>
<p class="">There have also been refinements to the aerodynamics with the shape of the front bumper being changed to reduce lift. The ‘MR’ of the model name stands for ‘Mitsubishi Racing’. Throughout the company’s history, this designation has been given to the highest performance sports models. For the Lancer Evolution, MR models first appeared in the VIII line-up, making this IX the second MR model in the car’s history.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380185_97e4669887_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380185_97e4669887_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380170_578e8f141a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380170_578e8f141a_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547067862_ddd7d6eeab_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547067862_ddd7d6eeab_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131558_bbaae9b6e3_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131558_bbaae9b6e3_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Renault R4 GTL ’85 </h3>
<p class="">(Can be purchased at Brand Central or Used Car Dealership)</p>
<p class="">The world’s first hatchback found great success through utilitarian design. </p>
<p class="">The Renault 4 (often called the ‘Quatre’ from its French name) is a compact car that debuted in 1961 to replace the best-selling Renault 4CV. Though its predecessor featured an ‘RR’ layout, which puts both the engine and drive wheels at the very rear of the vehicle, the Renault 4 featured a front-engine front-wheel drive (FF) configuration. The car would prove to be a massive success and served as the people’s car for many years to come. The car’s most notable design element is its packaging which formed the basis of the modern hatchback. The FF configuration allowed for a more spacious interior and the 4 also featured a large and lightly usable luggage space behind the back seats. </p>
<p class="">The mechanicals of the car are also unique. For example, although it features torsion bar suspension, which uses the elastic force of twisting a metal bar in place of a spring, it uses 2 different torsion bars in parallel for each of the rear wheels, which displaces them slightly and results in a different wheelbase on the left and right of the car. Additionally, as the transmission has been placed at the very front of the car, ahead of the engine, gear changes are operated by a long rod which reaches over the engine and protrudes into the cabin. The driver changes gears by pushing and pulling the rod in and out of the dashboard.</p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275044_cd3dfb98cc_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275044_cd3dfb98cc_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380125_998cb68148_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380125_998cb68148_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<p class="center"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380110_49f246884a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380110_49f246884a_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380115_2df28aa6a9_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548380115_2df28aa6a9_k.jpg" width="47%"/></a></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Café / Extra Menus </h2>
<p class="">The following Menu has been added:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Extra Menu No. 36: Lamborghini (Collector Level 43 and above)</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131588_34bbee14cd_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548131588_34bbee14cd_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">World Circuits (Event)</h2>
<p class="">The following new events have been added to World Circuits:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sunday Cup Classic – Tsukuba Circuit</li>
<li>Japanese Clubman Cup 550 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca</li>
<li>European Clubman Cup 600 – Tsukuba Circuit</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547067917_67947f078c_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547067917_67947f078c_k.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scapes </h2>
<p class="">Pyrenees has been added as a featured curation in Scapes</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275024_bc739cc589_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548275024_bc739cc589_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update. </em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/01/playstation-stars-campaigns-and-digital-collectibles-for-march-2024/',
                'PlayStation Stars Campaigns and Digital Collectibles for March 2024',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/29b3557461ed00271dc2fdc2ad1b56aec8fa4bbf.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hello PlayStation Stars members! This month introduces more exciting Campaigns, from earning Points on acclaimed titles to celebrating award-winning franchises and fan-favorite games. Let’s dive into the featured Campaigns awaiting you in March.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Campaign: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 </strong><strong><em>“Exterminator” Trophy Hunt </em></strong><strong> | Digital Collectible: Symbiote Canister</strong></h3>
<p class="">Available March 7</p>
<p class="">Ready for a challenge? Play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and earn the “Exterminator” trophy. When you do, you’ll unlock the Symbiote Canister Digital Collectible.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN3d2ZzNwa2wxdnd3cjh0aWI0MWFnY2N3NGs2amg2YWY3aXcyaHltbCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/y0xMrysyd88kZwpEEl/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Campaign: MLB The Show 24 Launch Day | Digital Collectible: </strong><strong>MLB The Show 24 | Slugger</strong></h3>
<p class="">Available March 15</p>
<p class="">MLB The Show 24 is almost here. To complete the PS Stars Campaign, play MLB The Show 24 on PS4 or PS5 before July 31 to get your  MLB The Show 24 | Slugger Digital Collectible.</p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdDNwZHI4eXZtOTFrY2V1dnI0Y3MxaDlmbGhuYzE3ejllOTRveGtjdyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/yXrunswMgrpA0Vh626/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Campaign Name: 20 Years of Far Cry</strong></h3>
<p class=""><strong>Digital Collectible: Boomer, Available March 19</strong><br/><strong>Digital Collectible: Chorizo, Available March 24 </strong></p>
<p class="">Happy 20th anniversary, Far Cry! Celebrate the award-winning franchise with a Boomer or Chorizo Digital Collectible. Play any one of the games below to unlock your Digital Collectible. Many of these titles are in the Ubisoft+ Classics collection.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Far Cry 5 </li>
<li>Far Cry 6 </li>
<li>Far Cry Primal </li>
<li>Far Cry New Dawn </li>
<li>Far Cry 3 </li>
<li>Far Cry 4</li>
</ul>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZHJ2bXRzMGVqcGR4N3d4MTlwcDJuZ2Jic2lkb3JqaHFvNDNocDR6cCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zcKzpKBXKlWaANaP3h/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaGc0eTd5bTFhcHl0cDI0bHkyMnY0dXk4MjlydWp6NTQ3bGFjdHNkMCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Nql4BQn94E52hHIOlQ/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Campaign: We Got the Beat | Rock Music Games| Digital Collectible: Melancholy and the Finite Sadness</strong></h3>
<p class="">Available March 21</p>
<p class="">Celebrate the perfect blend of music and gaming. Play any one of these music-infused titles to earn your Digital Collectible.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Drums Rock</li>
<li>Rock Band 4</li>
<li>Ragnarock</li>
<li>The Artful Escape</li>
</ul>



​​<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaW1yeXZ4cWRkd3R6Z24yNnN3dG83cnN4NjF4YzJvbGI4N3Q0bDNwMSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/p4GEFRZ3InVdOEVhmJ/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PlayStation Plus Game Catalog: Must-play this Month | Reward: 50 Points</strong></h3>
<p class="">Available March 1</p>
<p class="">We’re shining a spotlight on six titles in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Whether you’re diving into them for the first time or revisiting these treasured titles, playing any one of the following games will earn you 50 Points.</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Shadow of the Tomb Raider</li>
<li>Kena: Bridge of Spirits</li>
<li>Control: Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Sea of Stars</li>
<li>NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…</li>
<li>Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Campaign Name: Your PlayStation Monthly Games Await | Reward: 50 Points</strong></h3>
<p class="">Available March 5  </p>
<p class="">Sifu is one of the <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/02/28/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-march-ea-sports-f1-23-sifu-hello-neighbor-2-destiny-2-witch-queen/">PlayStation Plus monthly games</a>. Test your skills and reward your perseverance. Try any one of this month’s games and earn 50 Points.</p>
<p class="">Head to PlayStation App to see all PS Stars campaigns throughout the month. Not a PlayStation Stars member yet? Learn more about PlayStation Stars and <a href="https://store.playstation.com/sky/qrcode/?smcid=Social%3ABlog%3Aloyalty-banner%3Ajan24">join for free here</a>.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/01/share-of-the-week-comfort-game/',
                'Share of the Week: Comfort Game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/767cba94c48df9b37e10c6ca99f3477e5b201845.png?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Last week, we asked you share moments from your go-to comfort game using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559537991_560c953e27_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559537991_560c953e27_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/Gwyn_VP/status/1762794579063919043/photo/1"><em>Gwyn_VP</em></a><em> shares a view from of the wilds of The Witcher 3</em>.</p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559537946_cd27f507a5_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559537946_cd27f507a5_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/wingsforsmiles/status/1762867664563626422/photo/1"><em>wingsforsmiles</em></a><em> shares Aloy surrounded by sunny flowers in Horizon Forbidden West</em>.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867659_c60a840c83_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867659_c60a840c83_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/RhodWulfLeon/status/1762870115480096880/photo/1"><em>RhodWulfLeon</em></a><em> shares an action shot in the middle of the ring in WWE 2K23</em>.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867684_ca16ebd92a_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867684_ca16ebd92a_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/sorathluna/status/1762726571205402741/photo/3"><em>sorathluna</em></a><em> shares Aerith holding Marlene’s hand in Final Fantasy VII Remake.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53558678192_ca946cca12_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53558678192_ca946cca12_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/jdbolzan/status/1762174494276280347/photo/2"><em>jdbolzan</em></a><em> shares a kitty curled up with its Spider-Man toy in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.</em></p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867619_a442421ff2_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559867619_a442421ff2_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://twitter.com/TerezaBlhov13/status/1761130939843854711/photo/1"><em>TerezaBlhov13</em></a><em> shares Max and Chloe holding hands, facing the unknown in Life is Strange.</em></p>
<p class="">Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/01/no-rest-for-the-wicked-revealing-new-details-on-combat-crafting-town-building/',
                'No Rest for the Wicked: Revealing new details on combat, crafting, town-building',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/21caecdd2e81528c2bd8390da8e514b0a52a783e-scaled.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">You wake up as the survivor of a shipwreck, with nothing more than the ragged clothes on your back to your name. A short trek away lies the dying captain of the vessel, who mentions the place he was trying to reach– a place called Sacrament. And so, your long and difficult journey begins.</p>
<p class="">No Rest for the Wicked is the newest game from Moon Studios, creator of the Ori series. First announced at last year’s Game Awards, this PS5-bound action RPG is as visually luscious as their previous work but wrapped in a darker, mature narrative. We sat down with the team for an early preview of the game to discover more about its central gameplay mechanics and world design.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1fFsLcqGaY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="">In the harsh world of No Rest, suffering comes on two fronts: political maneuvering by well-connected royals and religious figures in the wake of the King’s death, and a horrific curse called the pestilence that transforms the humans it claims into unholy abominations. As all this happens, the populace is turning to more desperate and illicit means of survival.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A world of great beauty and unspeakable suffering</h2>
<p class="">Moon Studios is well known for its ability to create compelling worlds and stories, and No Rest for the Wicked explores new territory for the developer. “After having made both Ori games, our next goal was to create our own huge fantasy universe,” says Thomas Mahler. “With Ori, we always relied on using allegory. We told stories that touched people, but we used fantasy creatures that, in essence, had to deal with very human problems. This time, we wanted to actually use humans and craft a Shakespearian tale with very strong human themes like family, trust, betrayal, comradery, and so on.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560334513_4875d47878_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560334513_4875d47878_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">To that end, No Rest offers up a very different feel from that of Ori’s warm, inviting natural environments: dilapidated, crumbling fortresses, barren, scarred landscapes, and vicious-looking foes — human and non-human alike — populate the tumultuous land of Isola Sacra. With each sword-slash, you see blood and viscera, illuminating the brutal, painful reality of life here. </p>
<p class="">Yet among it all is a strange and compelling beauty, captured in the gorgeous stylized visuals Moon Studios specializes in, the studio seemingly not missing a step with the switch from 2D to 3D: every frame looks like a painting come to life.</p>
<p class="">“We’re just very much set in not being yet another studio that tries to go for a photorealistic style,” Mahler continues. “We think paintings age less quickly than trying to pursue photorealism. When I see a Caravaggio painting, I’m still amazed by what he was able to accomplish just using oils 500 years ago.”</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Humble beginnings</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560135351_21c5862148_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560135351_21c5862148_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Starting up the game, you have next to nothing on your person. That changes quickly as you discover a worn one-handed sword and some discarded tools, likely the scraps the nearby bandits didn’t bother looting from their victims. Taking up the blade and using some found materials to cook up a basic stew, you prepare to fight through the area under the bandits’ control to try and reach Sacrament.</p>
<p class="">There are many ways to engage foes–barging in head-first, or trying to get the jump on them with a sneaky ambush–but once you engage them, you’ll need to fight smartly, as your stamina meter makes sure your every move counts. A careless sword swipe, a bad dodge, a failed parry, or a broken guard can quickly get extremely painful. If you’re in a pinch, a well-placed Rune attack might help you turn the tables, but at the cost of focus.</p>
<p class="">Fortunately, you have a variety of gear on your side–which you’ll either find, buy, or craft– and a stat-building system that lets you invest points where you choose on level up. Unlike many action RPGs, which have you pick a class very early and restrict your gear based on that choice, you grow into a class in No Rest for the Wicked more organically. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559278127_c8c0ae5cd9_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559278127_c8c0ae5cd9_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">“We just wanted to give players an extremely diverse set of gear they can find to fulfill all their fantasies of the characters they’d like to play within an RPG,” notes Mahler. “We start the player out with pretty simple movesets, but as they progress further and further, they’ll be able to advance those movesets, and combine various combos, special attacks, and spells together. As for leveling and stat-building, in general, our methodology was that we wanted things to be as active as possible. We believe that players want all progress to be felt instead of just seeing some numbers go up that might not immediately affect your playstyle.”</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shaping your adventure</h2>
<p class="">The overhead view of the action helps the environments in No Rest for the Wicked feel epic and atmospheric while also giving you subtle hints about out-of-the-way paths or hidden nooks and crannies. Background objects may be more destructible than first assumed, often yielding some precious loot as a reward for our experimentation. Pushing against odd-looking walls and bits of geometry that seemed a bit off may reveal passages filled with valuable treasures–and sometimes also their guardians.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560577125_e5ce08a9d5_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560577125_e5ce08a9d5_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Besides combat gear, there are plenty of other items to be acquired–bits of food for cooking, wood and ore for crafting, and assorted other sundries. With tools like an axe or pickaxe, we can chop down trees and harvest ore–though you’ll want to make sure the area is clear from hazards first. Otherwise, a flaming projectile to the face might interrupt your gathering session.</p>
<p class="">The harvesting and crafting elements become more and more pronounced as the game progresses, and eventually, you can choose to engage in the reconstruction of Sacrament. “We have so many different mechanics all mashed into this one game, which we then had to all make work together, “explains Mahler. “The idea is simple: We create certain needs for players and then we provide a lot of tools on how to fulfill those needs. For example, if players choose to farm and engage in housing, crafting, etc., they’ll then be able to take the outcome of those interactions back into the battle.”</p>
<p class="">“The ultimate goal here is once again to fulfill that RPG fantasy and ultimately craft a game that is not just about slaying enemies. We want you to have a diverse set of things you can do at all times. Tired of being in combat? Well, go and get some resources instead. Or go and help rebuild Sacrament. Or engage in housing and build yourself a dream home that constantly produces resources for you. Or go fishing. There should be no end of ‘Or’s’ in this game.”</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560576995_72321c46a8_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560576995_72321c46a8_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The first few steps on a long road</h2>
<p class="">The demo ended with a boss battle against the pestilence-infected Warrick, who has been warped and transformed beyond recognition. It’s not an easy struggle, but learning the parry cues makes the fight more manageable, turning the corrupted creature into a sitting duck for a precious few seconds. So ends the beginning of what’s likely to be a very, very long journey.</p>
<p class="">Thomas Mahler hopes players will enjoy the game his team has spent many moons crafting. “During development, we looked at what current ARPGs offer players. Our goal was to take all the aspects from all these games we love, mix that together, and create a new recipe that ultimately becomes the game we always wanted to play!”</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/04/players-choice-vote-for-februarys-best-new-game-3/',
                'Players’ Choice: Helldivers 2 voted February’s best new game',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/8731287c7a6d528b895f5cbca28278a960228b73.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">It looks like everyone did their part to secure Super Earth’s victory. Congrats to Helldivers 2 and Arrowhead Game Studios!</p>
<p class="">What games have you been playing in March? 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="">February had no shortage of options to choose from, no matter your gaming preference. Did you spend endless hours in multiplayer or take on a solo quest? Do your part and let us know in the poll below.  </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. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year.</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, while remakes are reserved for 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 and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted.</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["13432574-src"]="poll-oembed-simple";</script><script charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/13432574.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/05/horizon-forbidden-west-complete-edition-pc-specifications-revealed-out-march-21/',
                'Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition PC specifications revealed, out March 21',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/03/3cbe2a360e23d581a4bf296c56b1d0be03b3330a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Hey everyone, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is coming to PC soon!<a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/01/25/horizon-forbidden-west-complete-edition-comes-to-pc-on-march-21/"> Last month,</a> we detailed the main PC features and now that we are getting closer to launch on March 21, we can share the system requirements and give you more details about some of the customization options that we have added to the PC version.</p>
<p class="">To ensure the game runs on a wide variety of PC hardware, including portable gaming devices, we’ve included graphics presets ranging from very low to very high. This allows gamers with the latest hardware to push their systems, while also providing a great experience on less powerful PCs. Below you’ll find an overview of the specifications we recommend for a variety of presets available in the game.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-ps-product-spec"><table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Minimum</th><th>Recommended</th><th>High</th><th>Very High</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Preset</strong></td><td>Very Low</td><td>Medium</td><td>High</td><td>Very High</td></tr><tr><td><strong>AVG Performance</strong></td><td>720P @ 30 FPS</td><td>1080P @ 60 FPS</td><td>1440P @ 60fps / 4K @ 30 FPS</td><td>4K @ 60 FPS</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Processor</strong></td><td>Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X</td><td>Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600</td><td>Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X</td><td>Intel Core i7-11700 or AMD Ryzen 7 5700X</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Memory</strong></td><td>16GB RAM</td><td>16GB RAM</td><td>16GB RAM</td><td>16GB RAM</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Graphics</strong></td><td>NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500XT 4GB</td><td>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700</td><td>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800</td><td>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900XT</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Storage</strong></td><td>150GB SSD space</td><td>150GB SSD space</td><td>150GB SSD space</td><td>150GB SSD space</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS</strong></td><td>Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)</td><td>Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)</td><td>Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)</td><td>Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="">If you prefer to tweak settings and visuals to your own liking, you’ll find plenty of options in the launcher and in the game menus. Next to individual quality settings for textures, level of detail, shadows, water, terrain and more, you can use sliders to adjust the field of view and visual effects like motion blur and film grain. You’ll also find toggles to adjust full screen effects like radial blur, lens flares, bloom and vignette to taste.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559500852_8a85e701f1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53559500852_8a85e701f1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class=""></p>
<p class="">On behalf of the teams at Nixxes and Guerrilla, we are excited and looking forward to bringing Aloy’s latest adventure to a new audience on PC. You can wishlist and pre-purchase the PC version of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition now on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. The Complete Edition includes the base game and the Burning Shores expansion and the following bonus content:</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560684229_7a870f1ac1_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560684229_7a870f1ac1_k.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/05/mlb-the-show-24-unveils-road-to-the-show-women-pave-their-way/',
                'MLB The Show 24 unveils Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/9dc6dbb5c17ee0253735561b19d499b02cd39f80.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class=""><a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/mlb-the-show/?smcid=ma">MLB The Show 24</a> proudly announces Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way. A brand new addition to the Road to the Show mode.</p>
<p class="">For the first time, you can create and play as a woman ballplayer, with a unique Road to the Show story that evolves with the player over the course of your career. Experience a personalized story where players can interact and build their baseball careers. This path will include all existing features of Road to the Show with the addition of a unique-to-women storyline following a lifelong friendship as it develops in professional baseball.</p>
<p class="">We had the opportunity to hear from Mollie Braley, Narrative Designer, and Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman player in an MLB Partnered League, member of the Women’s USA Baseball National Team, and 2022 USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year. </p>
<p class=""><strong>Ramone Russell: What was the inspiration for creating Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way? Describe the mode, and what are some new features players can look forward to? </strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Mollie Braley: </strong>This feature was inspired by the stories of women in baseball. Throughout history, women have been making waves in the sport. These include legends such as Toni Stone, who was one of the first women ever to play professional baseball, and has a new Storyline in MLB The Show 24. Our team wanted to create something where dreams become a reality, and we felt like adding this to Road to the Show was the perfect opportunity that gave our players the option to experience this.</p>
<p class="">This addition to RTTS gives players the option to create and play as a woman ballplayer in a way that includes all features of the existing RTTS mode, while also providing a unique path about breaking barriers in baseball. We wanted the scenarios and characters in this new experience to feel as authentic as possible, so we went straight to the source, interviewing and drawing inspiration from some of the most successful women in baseball, such as Kelsie Whitmore. </p>
<p class="">We learned about the immense importance of community and support amongst the small but ever-growing group of women in baseball. This is one of the main reasons we chose to include a buddy character in RTTS for the first time ever. Mia Lewis, your RTTS player’s childhood friend and fellow ballplayer, represents the camaraderie professional players like Kelsie Whitmore have said is so important to their success on and off the field. Mia is a sounding board, a support system, and a competitive player in her own right, and your relationship with her in-game will grow and evolve throughout your career. </p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mnS4q5jNJTI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class=""><strong>What does the mode and this project mean to you? </strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Mollie: </strong>This project means the world to me, and it was such a pleasure to work on. I’m so happy to have a hand in growing and evolving MLB The Show 24 with this new inclusion.</p>
<p class="">This is a feature that goes beyond simply allowing players to create a woman ballplayer in the game. It’s also meant to highlight the strength, tenacity, and resilience that it takes to break into the sport; but not shy away from the struggles that many have faced. Through this feature, we can help shine light on the amazing community, support, and talent that have also been part of the journey. This story of adversity and triumph, one that we started telling with Negro Leagues Storylines, is one that so many people can relate to, and reflecting this in a video game is something I care very deeply about and am proud to work on.</p>
<p class=""><strong>Kelsie Whitmore: </strong>This new gameplay experience is a unique pivot in the baseball world that will encourage, inspire, and motivate individuals to chase their dreams. There has been a lot of deep thought, meaningful conversations, and the best intentions going into this. I am proud of MLB the Show for taking a chance of applying real life change into the game. To me, this project is a great opportunity for the world to be informed of women who play baseball and that taking their skills to the next level is possible. My hopes for this project is to educate others that women/girls do play baseball and that they are capable of competing in this game at every level.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562476780_c7ec76ec32_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562476780_c7ec76ec32_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class=""><strong>What are you most excited to experience in Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way? </strong></p>
<p class=""><strong>Mollie: </strong>The things I’m most excited about experiencing playing as a woman character in RTTS are the evolving interactions with Mia Lewis as her career unfolds alongside mine and all the ways the in-game world responds to my player as she makes her way to the big leagues. </p>
<p class="">I already talked about the new character we’ve added to the RTTS experience if you choose to play as a woman, but there are so many different scenes to discover with her, and her career path may change with each playthrough. That kind of narrative variation is really fun to me and I hope other players will enjoy creating their own unique experiences as well. </p>
<p class="">We also have a ton of new commentary, MLB network segments, and other fun things that relate specifically to your player and your progress that create an immersive experience as you break barriers on your way to the top. </p>
<p class="">MLB The Show 24 hits PS5 and PS4 on March 19.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/05/revealing-5-india-hero-project-games-coming-to-playstation/',
                'Revealing 5 India Hero Project games coming to PlayStation',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/947768ff409c3e430f0649f6a3cf38bdb9216956.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">PlayStation has been part of India’s vibrant gaming scene for over two decades. In May 2023, we embarked on an ambitious journey with the India Hero Project. We aimed to unearth and empower India’s brightest game development talents to share their unique visions with gamers globally. The response was spectacular, with an avalanche of entries that showcased the rich tapestry of Indian culture, innovation, and storytelling.</p>
<p class="">Today, we’re excited to unveil the inaugural cohort of the India Hero Project at our landmark first developer conference in India – Develop India. Join us in celebrating their achievements and the exciting future they represent for gaming. This marks not just a milestone for these talented developers, but a leap forward in our journey to bring extraordinary gaming experiences from India to the world.</p>
<p class="">Get to know the upcoming India-developed games coming to PlayStation below, and stay tuned for future information regarding release timing.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meteora: The Race Against Space Time</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Developer: Big Boot Games</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562253538_6467059530_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562253538_6467059530_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Shoot yourself into the nebula and join a race for survival. In this arcade combat racer, you’re not just a meteor but a force of nature. Cascade your way through a volatile universe of awe and wonder as you outmaneuver, pursue, and obliterate rival meteors in a dazzling display of strategy and skill.</p>
<p class="">Harness the power of the cosmos, level up your abilities, and climb the leaderboard in an experience that’s as thrilling as it is unforgiving. Your adventure awaits on PlayStation 5, PS VR2, and PC. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fishbowl</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Developer: imissmyfriends </h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562502645_6899c1169e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562502645_6899c1169e_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Fishbowl is a slice-of-life story that takes players on a journey of nostalgia and melancholy, exploring themes of grief, connection, and self-discovery, set in the cultural landscape of urban India. The world is filled with crafted pixel art and an original Lofi soundtrack that forms the backdrop of our game. Fishbowl weaves together a multigenerational narrative, following the aspirations of Alo as she embarks on her first job in a new city, although working from home. </p>
<p class="center"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdWdldmI0YjBhNDN2bTVjODJtMGJtZDZhdGx0cTQ0czJ1YzE1cXFibiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/XTSj243oLuzLtY77Uf/giphy.gif" width="1920"/></p>
<p class="">Your decisions throughout the game will shape Alo’s journey, leading to moments of reliving the past and coming to terms with the present through a month of challenges and discoveries with Alo. Prepare for Fishbowl’s robust storytelling and immersive gameplay, coming soon to PlayStation 5 and PC.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mukti</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Developer: Underdogs Studio</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562388619_c4290445da_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562388619_c4290445da_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Mukti is a first-person story exploration game set within the immersive environment of an Indian museum, delving deep into a critical social issue: human trafficking. In Mukti, players embark on a journey of discovery as they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the museum, uncovering the harrowing truths and hidden narratives behind the scourge of human trafficking. Through rich storytelling and immersive gameplay mechanics, Mukti invites players to confront the realities that victims and survivors face, shedding light on this pressing global issue.</p>
<p class="">Drawing inspiration from authentic narratives and meticulously researched historical contexts, Mukti aims to raise awareness, provoke thought, and inspire action. Each interaction within the game is designed to provoke empathy, spark dialogue, and ignite change.</p>
<p class="">Launching on PlayStation 5 and PC, Mukti offers an impactful gaming experience that enlightens and empowers. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Requital: Gates of Blood</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Developer: Holy Cow Productions</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562382554_e18d9f9dd4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562382554_e18d9f9dd4_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Requital: Gates of Blood is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer inspired by Egyptian mythology set in the mystical underworld of Duat. Players assume the role of Zahrah, traversing the afterlife to defeat the mighty guardians of the Gates of Duat. Through a series of intense boss-rush-like encounters, players confront powerful gods, demons, and beasts.</p>
<p class="">Embark on your journey of retribution from the celestial Nile, delving into the dark and twisted realms of the Duat. Engage in the immersive interactions with entirely hand-drawn characters and environments as you unravel the lore that permeates this enigmatic underworld.</p>
<p class="">Launching on PlayStation 5 and PC, traverse the Gates of Duat and forge a path through the afterlife.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Suri: The Seventh Note</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Developer: Tathvamasi</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561198647_efe6d705c4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561198647_efe6d705c4_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Suri: The Seventh Note is a 2D action-exploration game set in the enchanting backdrop of mythical India. A world brimming with captivating Indian mythology-inspired narratives, vibrant characters, and mythical locales, from the floating temples in the Himalayas, the lost forts of Rajasthan, ancient jungles nestled in the Western Ghats, and many more. Platforming meets a unique musical dimension as the game’s world synchronizes seamlessly with an enigmatic beat. </p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562382519_92bb3c7fbb_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562382519_92bb3c7fbb_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">Uncover the connection between rhythm and the mystical realm of Ragamandala as you traverse its landscapes and unravel its secrets. This journey promises to transport players to a realm where every step is accompanied by the pulsating heartbeat of the game’s universe. </p>
<p class="">Get ready to embark on this extraordinary adventure, coming soon to PS5 and PC.</p>
<hr class="ps-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<p class="">Stay tuned for more information on the India Hero Project and all the games in development as we work to bring new gaming experiences to players worldwide.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/05/outcast-a-new-beginning-prioritizes-action-adventure-freedom-on-march-15/',
                'Outcast – A New Beginning prioritizes action-adventure freedom on March 15',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/66c968420410c871dbd51d7dfa57210df9328e8f.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Every choice we made when developing Outcast – A New Beginning had, at its core, one motivation: freedom. It was important to us not to limit where players could go at any point; instead, we gave them the tools to navigate the detailed open world we’ve spent the last few years crafting.</p>
<p class="">We’re incredibly proud of Outcast’s world and want players to share its richness with us. As players set out across Adelpha, we want to reward them for their curiosity and sense of adventure.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7uLSflB2uEM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Whether it’s blitzing through an invader base and unlocking a new weapon module, zipping through gliding challenges to earn jetpack upgrades, or simply taking in the sights, we’ve strived to make every second spent on the planet of Adelpha feel meaningful to players.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Traveling in style</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562320065_8886cc2fe0_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562320065_8886cc2fe0_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Knowing that players would be spending a lot of time in Cutter Slade’s boots, it was important to us that it felt fun to maneuver him through the world. Open-world games often ask players to cross great distances, and it’s our job as developers to ensure that you always feel invigorated by navigating the wilds of Adelpha.</p>
<p class="">When designing how Cutter moved through the world, we didn’t want to gatekeep fun traversal abilities for later in the game. From early in Outcast – A New Beginning, you can take advantage of Adelpha’s teetering precipices and deep valleys with your gliding suit, swooping across the alien landscape.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561015392_97022f84a2_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561015392_97022f84a2_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">As you progress, you’ll unlock abilities that make exploration on the ground feel fluid, too – Cutter’s jet sprint lets you skim across land and water. The jetpack’s boost ability can help you dodge enemy attacks, leap over tricky terrain, and rain down fiery justice on the invading forces.  </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meaningful questlines</h2>
<p class="">By offering players the choice to go anywhere at any time, we knew that we had to make Adelpha feel like a cohesive ecosystem, which extended to how our quests work. The sense of deep exploration we’ve aimed for with Cutter’s movement extends to how we designed our quests, with each of the game’s seven villages possessing a story at their core, waiting to be unraveled.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562070673_7c23145694_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562070673_7c23145694_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">We didn’t want to restrict players to a single path – naturally, helping Adelpha’s native Talans can take several routes. The coastal village of Sappa, the story you can experience in our currently live PS5 demo, gives a great example of how Outcast’s quest system works.</p>
<p class="">From talking to the fishertalans of Sappa, you’ll find out that the local ventilope tamer has gone missing. As a village who rely on the winged ventilopes for travel and fishing, they’ve fallen into crisis. You can choose how to start helping Sappa – provide a temporary solution by skimming over the water with your jetpack to rustle up fish or make a beeline to the nearest invader base to rescue the tamer.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874846_be6f14b000_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874846_be6f14b000_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Once you’ve rescued Sappa’s resident ventilope expert, you’ll find yourself sent down a path that takes you to the far-flung reaches of other villages in a quest to harness an airborne squadron of ventilope bombers that you can call on in combat.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rewarding exploration</h2>
<p class="">This kind of meaningful progression is at the heart of Outcast- A New Beginning – a tangible reason for players to seek out Adelpha’s further reaches.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874836_120cd935dd_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874836_120cd935dd_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">As you beat back the off-world invaders and navigate across the verdant – but sometimes hostile – world of Adelpha, you’ll come to trust your arsenal above all else. Rather than give players a fixed selection of weapons, we opted for a nigh-endless selection of modules to fit their playstyle. You can swap out your modules on the fly to suit the situation, customizing your weaponry for each encounter with over 100,000 possible combinations.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874526_65ee5628cd_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53561874526_65ee5628cd_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">It isn’t just conventional weaponry that Cutter has at his disposal – with each village you liberate, you’ll gain access to a new ancient power to help you in your quest to liberate the Talan people.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honoring patient fans</h2>
<p class="">We’ve been fortunate enough to have an incredibly dedicated fanbase since 1999. Though our game may be called A New Beginning, we wear our history on our sleeve. Many of us at Appeal have been here since the original Outcast broke new ground, and it’s been one of the greatest adventures of our careers to bring Cutter Slade’s journey to current-generation hardware in a way that pays homage to our past with references and easter eggs for the most diehard Outcast fans out there.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562071028_a4ba4b75e7_k.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53562071028_a4ba4b75e7_k.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Making Outcast accessible to a new generation of players has been equally important to honoring the series’ legacy. With each step of the design process, we questioned how newcomer-friendly our world was while ensuring we celebrated the history we were building on by bringing Outcast back in 2024.</p>
<p class="">Outcast – A New Beginning releases on March 15, and you can play the game today with a free demo. We hope we’ll see you in Adelpha!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/06/turbo-golf-racing-tees-off-april-4-on-ps5/',
                'Turbo Golf Racing tees off April 4 on PS5',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/c2ba00d072231660cd1d8335248583974073795f.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Are you ready for the ultimate fusion of racing and golf? Well warm up your engines and polish your golf balls because Hugecalf Studios is proud to announce that Turbo Golf Racing hits PS5 on April 4!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Fvk2xYpHio" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Turbo Golf Racing revolutionizes the traditional sport of golf by introducing turbo-charged cars as the means to putt the ball. Compete in golf or race game modes across over 80 fantastical levels, unlocking a selection of more than 500 cosmetics as you progress.</p>
<p class="">Race mode brings adrenaline-inducing speed to the fairways. Compete against seven opponents in a race to putt your ball first. Equip unique Power Cores, which grant special abilities or passive effects, such as a Magnet that can pull your ball closer or Hyper Glider which increases your cars gliding speed. Collect pick-ups such as Air Strike or Frost Beam to hinder the progress of your rivals in your bid to become the ultimate Turbo Golf Racer.</p>
<p class="">For those who favor a traditional golfing experience, take a moment to unwind in Golf mode, where accuracy outweighs speed. Victory is awarded to the player who putts in the fewest shots, so make every shot count, there’s little room for error.</p>
<p class="">Feel like practicing? Take on Time Trials, a way to learn the maps, refine your skills, and compete in the online leaderboards.</p>
<p class="">Hang out with your friends and play at your own pace in Custom Games. You can line up your favorite maps and customize the cores and pick-ups available.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53543943733_7fd91a3b96_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53543943733_7fd91a3b96_h.jpg"/></a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Launch party</h2>
<p class="">We’ll celebrate Turbo Golf Racing’s launch with a season full of party rewards! For a limited time after launch players can earn our 2 new car bodies: Jester, our clown car, and Bassline, a car equipped with DJ decks and speakers. Other goodies include party shades, musical boosters, and pork pie wheels, totaling over 35 seasonal rewards.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544088234_0a2177612b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544088234_0a2177612b_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Golf mode</strong></h3>
<p class="">Alongside a season of content, Turbo Golf Racing will feature a new game mode, allowing players to compete in Golf mode with up to seven opponents. This new fast-paced take on golf is only for the most skillful of players. Out of bounds will trigger penalties, so if you want to score an eagle, albatross, or the infamous hole-in-one, you’ll need to be precise with every shot!</p>
<p class="">We’re excited to see you all on the starting line, so mark the 4th of April on your calendar, let the launch party commence!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/07/helldivers-2-new-warbond-launches-march-14-first-look-at-new-weapons-armor-and-more/',
                'Helldivers 2 new Warbond launches March 14, first look at new weapons, armor, and more',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2054/03/3eea3509d29fe9982d36bac4ed9fdd8fbcc95199-scaled.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Greetings, fearless heroes of galactic democracy! Steel yourself for the next big push against the disgraceful enemies of freedom with our new Warbond – Cutting Edge*.</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ps--hQiSXA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Packed with high-voltage vibes, Cutting Edge gives you the chance to enhance your loadout of liberty with ultra-futuristic armour, guns that spit lightning, super stylish capes and epic emotes.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Earth R&amp;D experiments</h2>
<p class="">Helldivers… we need your help. The brainiacs in Super Earth Research &amp; Development have some cool experimental armor ready to be field-tested. This is where you come in, you’re just the right people for the job.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The EX Series Prototypes</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568367321_36c40ccd88_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568367321_36c40ccd88_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EX-03 Prototype 3</strong></h3>
<p class="">Includes a rubber underlayer for insulation. Handy, really, as this prototype’s wires operate at a shocking 400,000 volts.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EX-16 Prototype 16</strong></h3>
<p class="">Warning: Electric arc generates a strong magnetic field. Avoid use while near stapled paperwork.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EX-00 Prototype X</strong></h3>
<p class="">The end result of several billion Super Credits and 12 years of research into creating “the Soldier of Tomorrow”. Show us it was worth it.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Expanded arsenal</strong></h2>
<p class="">R&amp;D didn’t stop at armor, though. They’re also rolling out a new series of alien-splitting weapons with electrifying perks!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568807735_f216629b0b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568807735_f216629b0b_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>LAS-16 Sickle</strong></h3>
<p class="">A sweet laser rifle that fires in short bursts. And it doesn’t need reloading. Just watch for overheating or shove a new heatsink in there.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SG-8P Punisher Plasma</strong></h3>
<p class="">Exploding plasma rounds sound deadly… because they are, to aliens and allies! This modified Punisher shotgun is as fun as it is fearsome.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ARC-12 Blitzer</strong></h3>
<p class="">Project an arc of close-range lightning. Good for taking out multiple targets and giving you more time to pick a celebration emote.</p>
<p class="">And you can unlock a new stun grenade, the G-23 Stun, and the LAS-7 Dagger pistol.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568688834_0655ece492_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568688834_0655ece492_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">I know what I’ll be doing… equipping the LAS-7 Dagger <em>AND </em>LAS-16 Sickle at the same time, turning my Helldiver into a real live wire and melting the foes of Managed Democracy on sight.</p>
<p class="">But we’ve got to do this with a touch of style, right? Get creative and accessorize your armor sets with three new capes, featuring matching colors and designs.</p>
<p class="">My favorite is the Botslayer: a light tan cape that will no doubt look great soaked in Automaton oil.</p>
<p class="">There are even matching player cards for each cape, as well as three new emotes.</p>
<p class="">Cutting Edge is rolling out to your Destroyer’s Acquisitions panel March 14, soldiers.</p>
<p class="">Get ready to spill some oil in style. Prepare for deployment.</p>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*PSN account required</em><strong><em>. </em></strong><em>Content shown requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/07/beat-saber-daft-punk-music-pack-out-today-full-tracklist-revealed/',
                'Beat Saber Daft Punk music pack out today, full tracklist revealed',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/141e30bd2a3145f84242f94642c06a92d4e67b5d.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Few artists have been more requested by our community than our latest release, Daft Punk. The wait is over, we are excited to announce the Daft Punk Music Pack is now available on <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/beat-saber/?smcid=ma">Beat Saber for PS VR and PS VR 2</a>!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ct0tVzx9rBY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">Formed in Paris in 1993, the duo quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the most influential electronic music artists of all time, spanning genres and inspiring the global music industry for many years. The iconic helmets and robot personas they adopted allowed more focus on their music and craft, and became an undeniable part of Daft Punk’s image and brand.</p>
<p class="">The Daft Punk Music Pack brings 10 of the band’s top hits so we can all celebrate their work through their almost 30-year history. We’re sure that everyone will find their favorites in our packed selection.</p>
<p class="">The tracklist includes:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Around The World</li>
<li>Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger (Live 2007)</li>
<li>Da Funk / Daftendirekt (Live 2007)</li>
<li>Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers)</li>
<li>Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger</li>
<li>Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)</li>
<li>One More Time</li>
<li>Technologic</li>
<li>The Prime Time of Your Life (Live 2007)</li>
<li>Veridis Quo</li>
</ul>
<p class="">What’s even more exciting is that for the very first time ever, we’re launching live music in the game, bringing select high-energy tracks from the legendary live show Alive 2007. If you’re up for a challenge, this music pack features the longest song ever released on Beat Saber – The Prime Time of Your Life (Live 2007) – it’s 10 mins and 23 seconds long!</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568327684_a1328ef34f_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568327684_a1328ef34f_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The music pack is accompanied by a new custom in-game environment in gold/silver color palette,  inspired by the band’s iconic triangle stage look from their live shows. We took it to the next level and created a beautiful space-y environment, surrounding the player with stars (some even orbit around you). The environment brings captivating new tech for lasers like physics and length.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568327659_efc020195b_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53568327659_efc020195b_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Beat Saber players can get the 10-song Daft Punk Music Pack for 12.99 USD / 12.99 EUR, or if they don’t have Beat Saber just yet, they can jump in with a discounted bundle that includes the Beat Saber base game plus a full music pack for 39.99 USD / 39.99 EUR.</p>
<p class="">Let’s lose ourselves to dance!</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/08/playstation-store-february-2024s-top-downloads/',
                'PlayStation Store: February 2024’s top downloads',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/fee96021b88d9d1ff13d81bab070c37e582087a8.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. February’s PS5 list saw players doing their part to save democracy and humankind from extinction with new releases Helldivers 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth storming the top three in both US and EU regions. The bone-crushing new release Legendary Tales surged the PS VR2 list breaking the top three of most downloads in both US and EU regions.</p>
<p class="">Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS5 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table 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"><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>HELLDIVERS 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>HELLDIVERS 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NBA 2K24</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>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</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>SKULL AND BONES</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>SKULL AND BONES</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Persona 3 Reload</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</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>TEKKEN 8</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ARK: Survival Ascended</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Baldur’s Gate 3</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>TEKKEN 8</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</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>Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Pacific Drive</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Need for Speed Unbound</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>God of War Ragnarök</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Persona 3 Reload</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>It Takes Two</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Cyberpunk 2077</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ARK: Survival Ascended</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Crew Motorfest</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em><br/><em>*Upgrades not included</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS4 Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table 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"><strong>EU</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><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>Red Dead Redemption 2</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>Minecraft</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Madden NFL 24</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</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>NBA 2K24</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>Need for Speed Heat</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>Batman: Arkham Knight</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>Grand Theft Auto V</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1</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>Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Batman: Return to Arkham</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>Overcooked! 2</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>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III</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>Unravel Two</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>Batman: Return to Arkham</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Mortal Kombat 11</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Last Of Us Remastered</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>EA SPORTS FC 24</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>NBA 2K24</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Last Of Us Remastered</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>theHunter: Call of the Wild</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>God of War</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>STAR WARS Battlefront II</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>Overcooked! 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Wobbly Life</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*Naming of products may differ between regions</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PS VR2 Games*</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table 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>Legendary Tales</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>ForeVR Bowl</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>Among Us VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Legendary Tales</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>Arizona Sunshine 2</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>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Ultrawings 2</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Ultrawings 2</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>Job Simulator</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Moss: Book II</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>Job Simulator</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included</em></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PSVR Games</strong></h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table 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>The Walking Dead Onslaught</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>Creed Rise to Glory</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>Beat Saber</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>Batman: Arkham VR</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>Sniper Elite 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>Job Simulator</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Creed: Rise to Glory</strong></td></tr><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>Moss: Book II</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Borderlands 2 VR</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Lethal 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>Goalkeeper VR Challenge</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>DOOM 3: VR Edition</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>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>Apex Legends</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>Fall Guys</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>HAWKED</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>THE FINALS</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>Rocket League</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Apex Legends</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>HAWKED</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>eFootball 2024</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Fortnite Battle Royale</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>THE FINALS</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Overwatch 2</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>The Sims 4</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/11/fortnite-chapter-5-season-2-brings-the-powers-of-the-gods-to-battle-royale/',
                'Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2 brings the powers of the gods to Battle Royale',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/a4b4f9a7fd70934f1eefe4bd72d46c5b3dfb8059.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Pandora’s box has been opened, unleashing the myths and mortals of <a href="https://www.playstation.com/games/fortnite/?smcid=ma">Fortnite</a> Chapter 5 Season 2! Olympian legends — like thunder god Zeus and Hades king of the underworld — now rule the Battle Royale Island with otherworldly rage. Turn the tides against them like Poseidon in Chapter 5 Season 2: Myths &amp; Mortals, out now!</p>
<div class="shortcode shortcode--youtube">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZyZLH7kpB4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Locations of legend</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Grim Gate awaits</h3>
<p class="">Brave enough to take on the horrors of The Underworld? Make your way to the west of the Island to Grim Gate,<strong> </strong>one of the ways to gain entry. But be wary of Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards this location. Will you best him in combat?</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569437872_42f6599db1_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569437872_42f6599db1_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Enter The Underworld</h3>
<p class="">Welcome to the home of Hades: The Underworld.<strong> </strong>This dilapidated land is as barren as Hades’ heart.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570491858_136c3b58fb_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570491858_136c3b58fb_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The glorious Mount Olympus</h3>
<p class="">Home of Zeus, Mount Olympus is the opposite of The Underworld — vast structures and monuments grace the great mountain. Take in all its glory, but keep your eyes peeled for opponents.</p>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569437972_981d7a7a09_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569437972_981d7a7a09_h.jpg"/></a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">It’s a Brawler’s Battleground</h3>
<p class="">Ares, the god of war, is always hunting for his next challenge. Venture south of Mount Olympus to Ares’ Brawler’s Battleground arena. (Heads up to all the Ares enthusiasts out there: he’ll be the Outfit of April 2024’s Fortnite Crew Pack).</p>
<p class="">Feel free to marvel at the locations that the gods have brought with them, but don’t forget what else has emerged from Pandora’s box…</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Unleashing chaos upon the land</h2>
<p class="">Harness the weapons and powers of the gods to carve your path to victory. Here’s a quick look at what you can wield in Myths &amp; Mortals:</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Zap opponents with the Thunderbolt of Zeus</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731420_b3b2bfff4d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731420_b3b2bfff4d_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Bring a storm down on your opponents with the Thunderbolt of Zeus. Unleash this power to rise into the air and hurl lightning bolts like Zeus himself. You can throw three lightning bolts total with a cooldown in between, so use this power wisely. To claim this Mythic power as your own, defeat Zeus or find it across the Island.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Grab the Warforged Assault Rifle</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570294901_c593aec26a_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570294901_c593aec26a_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Warforged Assault Rifle<strong> </strong>is a powerful yet unruly assault rifle forged for battle-hungry gods.With its high damage and rate of fire, no wonder it’s a favorite of Ares. Find one by exploring the Island or by defeating Ares for the Mythic version.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Go crazy with the Gatekeeper Shotgun</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570618419_bfc5eef1fa_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570618419_bfc5eef1fa_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Gatekeeper Shotgun fires three aggressive rounds at a short range, perfect for close combat. Forged for Cereberus by Hephaestus, this shotgun packs a bite almost as strong as Cereberus’. Defeat him to claim the Mythic version, or explore the Island to collect a normal one.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Herald danger with the Harbinger SMG</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731425_fd839f29c4_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731425_fd839f29c4_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Harbinger SMG is almost as unforgiving and relentless as Hades himself. This SMG has increased recoil and bloom the longer you fire it, so be precise! Become the harbinger of doom by defeating Hades for the Mythic version, or simply be a harbinger of chaos by finding a regular version on the Island.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hunt for the Huntress DMR</h3>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731485_3fee6e574d_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731485_3fee6e574d_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Craving the hunt, the goddess Artemis prefers to keep distance between her and her prey. Created to punish mortals, the Huntress DMR is no slouch against the gods either. Take down Zeus to claim the Mythic version or find a normal version across the Island.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Take flight with the Wings of Icarus</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570491908_8bc7f786c3_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570491908_8bc7f786c3_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">The Thunderbolt of Zeus isn’t the only Olympian power! Soar through the skies and dive-bomb your enemies with the Wings of Icarus. Spreading your wings for too long will cause your wings to burn up, as will taking too much damage, so don’t get too carried away! (What’s that saying about flying too close to the sun?) This Mythic power can be found across the Island.</p>
<p class="">Not enough power for you? Later in the season, the Chains of Hades Olympian power will become available. It’s sure to pull you in so be on the lookout!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Myths &amp; mods</h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731480_5baf3b5185_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570731480_5baf3b5185_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">Supernatural beings tend to be fans of advanced techniques. The new Thermal Scope mod can be attached to any scoped weapon, which doubles the scope view and adds a thermal effect that can be toggled on or off. Want to be quick like Hermes? With the Speedgrip mod, your movement speed while aiming will increase.</p>
<p class="">Mods can be found at Mod Benches, which are now located in Weapons Bunkers. The unchained bunkers will unlock in the middle of the match, so raid them for mods and weapons when the time comes!</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Myths &amp; Mortals Battle Pass</h2>
<p class="">Alongside Chapter 5 Season 2 comes the<a href="https://www.fortnite.com/battle-pass"> </a>Myths &amp; Mortals Battle Pass. With the Battle Pass, unlock rewards in Fortnite by earning XP across Fortnite Battle Royale, creator-made islands, LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. Among these rewards are Outfits of some of the legends above, including Zeus and Artemis!</p>
<p class="">Purchase the Myths &amp; Mortals Battle Pass for only 950 V-Bucks and earn up to 1,500 V-Bucks back by progressing in it.</p>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570618489_572e117e55_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53570618489_572e117e55_h.jpg"/></a>
<p class="">With the Myths &amp; Mortals Battle Pass purchase, you can unlock these Olympian Outfits:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Cerberus <em>(unlocked immediately)</em>: Rise from The Underworld.</li>
<li>Aphrodite: Lead with your heart.</li>
<li>Poseidon: King of the beach.</li>
<li>Medusa: Humanity’s stone-hearted defender.</li>
<li>Zeus: Warrior-king of the gods.</li>
<li>Artemis: All must respect the natural laws, even the gods.</li>
<li>Hades: The overseer of The Underworld.</li>
</ul>
<p class="">The gods aren’t the only ones known for controlling the elements. Later in the season, unlock the Avatar Korra.</p>
<p class="">With Pandora’s box open, it’s time to become a myth of your own. Take up the weapons and powers of the gods in Chapter 5 Season 2: Myths &amp; Mortals.</p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/11/the-finals-season-2-first-details-on-hacking-themed-season-2-live-march-14/',
                'The Finals Season 2: first details on hacking-themed season 2, live March 14',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/397ad6b7bcfd4d7bf915c3640011a567af5e9047.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Season 2 of The Finals arrives on March 14 and strange things are happening in the free-to-play arena. The game show has been compromised by the rogue hacking collective CNS, and showrunners are scrambling to decipher their cryptic messages — but one thing is clear: the show must go on!</p>
<p class="">On top of new weapons to spice up the loadout of each class, viewers and contestants alike can keep an eye out for game-changing additions that are likely to disrupt the game show. The hacker collective has infiltrated the source code to add gadgets and abilities, alter maps, and even enter unauthorized contestants.</p>
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<p class="">Throughout this jam-packed season, contestants can expect to experience the hacked and voxelized new map, several limited-time game modes, an all-new 5v5 game mode, and the new Hacker Playstyle. Contestants can step into the shoes of CNS, with a set of gadgets &amp; a new specialization that can be mixed and matched with the existing toolset. Raise barriers, remove walls, defy gravity, tunnel across the arena, and transform items — become the glitch in the system, the ultimate cyber tactician, and bring a new dimension to the game.</p>
<p class="">Let’s take a closer look at the gadgets and abilities CNS has hacked together:</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Dematerializer for Mediums</strong></h3>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcDRmNDFyYnNzd2Nxem1mNGxzeHR6cTM5OWk0em5wZXBvcTZ3Y3U4cCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/xRus1iGpmpOxLwT8vG/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class="">A specialization that temporarily erases physical surfaces, like walls and ceilings — allowing contestants to see, shoot, and pass through them. Create new passageways and close them back up again as contestants turn every obstacle in their path into an open door.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Anti-Gravity Cube for Heavys</strong></h3>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdjVrOXhxYnBrY2VubHMwcnNuYXIzODE5bGxwZDNtNGJna3I0YTY3diZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ibc6XxdskhVSvdrDRX/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class="">A deployable cube that manipulates gravity in its immediate area, lifting contestants and objects upwards. Is it a traversal tool? Or a defensive gadget? It’s up to each contestant.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Gateway for Lights</strong></h3>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaG9oZ212bmZyaWh1NHZwZjZqaGN1a2UxNHB3MHIwbzh4NHV6NmI0eiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/xCIsm2cPkPr0mo3ABh/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class="">A pair of limited-range deployable portals. When both are thrown and activated, contestants and objects can move between the two locations. Anyone can use a portal, but players can’t see or shoot through them! Perfect for a quick getaway, when things get hairy.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Data Reshaper for Mediums</strong></h3>
<p class="center"><img alt="" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbHRxNzI2NDRwbzF6YnQ1ejhvaWlsZjF3YTR3ajk1MnE5Mm92d2VxdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/2FhaacGnE1xKgw9yfF/giphy.gif"/></p>
<p class="">A gadget that changes enemy fortifications (or any random objects for that matter) into something else entirely — like turning an enemy mine into a chair. Or an enemy turret into a table. Great for breaking through enemy defenses.</p>
<p class="">This and much more is coming in Season 2. So what are you waiting for? Head into the arena, join CNS, and disrupt the fabric of the arena in Season 2, arriving March 14.</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/11/rise-of-the-ronin-hands-on-report-team-ninjas-first-open-world-is-a-wandering-swordsmans-playground/',
                'Rise of the Ronin hands-on report: Team Ninja’s first open-world is a wandering swordsman’s playground',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/c6f11841b2c60278d99acf36789caaf497933d08.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Team Ninja has become synonymous with best-in-class action gameplay. From Ninja Gaiden to Nioh 2, the fundamental act of swinging a sword or spear (or any number of deadly weapons) is reliably complex and satisfying, often with a challenging-yet-rewarding learning curve.</p>
<p class="">That Rise of the Ronin carries on this tradition is hardly a surprise—but, their latest work on PlayStation 5 offers <em>so much more </em>than satisfying combat. Team Ninja jumped katana-first into the crowded open-world space, and delivers something uniquely compelling.</p>
<p class="">I had a chance to play the game’s opening hours, and am excited to share details about the eclectic sights, sounds, combat, and traversal of Bakumatsu-era Yokohama. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A whole new world</strong></h2>



​​<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575805369_5593beba17_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575805369_5593beba17_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">After finishing the linear prologue, the events of which I won’t spoil here, I soon found myself thrust into the game’s vast open world—a first for Team Ninja. Armed with a katana, Western-style saber, musket, and trusty steed, I took the long route to Yokohama, scouring the countryside for crafting materials, climbing rooftops to pet cats (one of the game’s hidden collectibles), and freeing villages from the clutches of bloodthirsty bandits. Rise of the Ronin does a fantastic job of always keeping something curious in view—finish one side activity, and there’s usually another just out of reach to catch your eye.</p>
<p class="">Of course, the bustling port city of Yokohama is the centerpiece of this open-world environment (and, later, Edo and Kyoto), and it’s here that the game fully comes into its own. Yokohama in the late 19th century is caught between worlds, having recently been subject to American “gunboat diplomacy.” This is evident in the city’s eclectic mix of influences: guns and swords; top hats and kimono; and a fascinating tapestry of traditional Japanese dwellings and imposing brick structures.</p>
<p class="">The upshot is that this place is dense with opportunities to explore, and Team Ninja gives the player several tools to take advantage of the city’s verticality. Climbing up (or using a grappling hook) to scale buildings, and then using your prototype glider to soar across the rooftops, is a breeze. Rise of the Ronin drew me in for its uniquely textured world as much as the game’s razor-sharp combat.</p>
<p class="">I also acquired lodging in the city, where I was able to not only hang out, chat, and give gifts to visiting companions, but also rearrange furniture, customize my ronin’s appearance, and freely reset skill points.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Parry and riposte</strong></h2>
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<p class="">For those familiar with Team Ninja’s recent run of modern action classics, Rise of the Ronin places a much greater emphasis on the duel<em> </em>itself. The game achieves this by prioritizing parries, called Countersparks, that drain your enemy’s Ki (stamina), which in turn makes them vulnerable to gruesome critical hits. Optimal play seems to emphasize staying within striking distance and timing your opponents’ attacks to counter, rather than the attack-and-dodge routine typical in games of this type. The combination of metal-on-metal clangs and bright sparks flying gives these duels a very cinematic feel—as does the speed with which you can slay your foes following successful Countersparks. Critical hits are varied and brutal, replete with detached limbs and massive blood sprays, making Counterpsarks worth the significant risk to pull off.</p>
<p class="">Some additional gameplay details that stuck out to me:</p>
<p class="">●  <strong>Gruesome stealth kills and critical hits will terrify your opponents’ companions</strong>, thus lowering their Ki and making them easier to dispatch. In a similar way, slaying the more resilient enemy leaders first will lower the Ki of their weaker henchmen.</p>
<p class="">●  <strong>The grappling hook can be used to hurl explosive barrels and other hazards</strong> into your opponents, as well as pull archers down from irritating vantage points (among other uses).</p>
<p class="">●  <strong>Parrying incoming bullets sets your sword aflame</strong>, giving your attacks a temporary damage boost.</p>
<p class="">●  Rise of the Ronin affords the player a ton of <strong>flexibility in how they approach combat encounters</strong>, whether you want to whittle down the horde by landing headshots from afar, or first prey on vulnerable sentries with stealth strikes. You can even carry out surprise attacks while gliding overhead.</p>
<p class="">●  On certain missions, you’re able to <strong>bring along companions</strong> with whom you’ve established Bonds. While they will of course attack on their own, you can also take control of these other characters as you wish.</p>
<p class="">I also got to experience two of the game’s Combat Styles, movesets for each weapon that unlock and evolve as you progress through the game (and there appear to be dozens to discover). Each Combat Style holds advantages and disadvantages against certain weapons, and you can swap them on the fly to give you a leg up against your foes.</p>
<p class="">Finally, it’s worth noting that the game’s strength, dexterity, intelligence, and skill trees can also unlock new dialogue options. In one instance, I was able to intimidate a group of pesky officials before initiating a brawl, consequently lowering their Ki gauges at the start of the fight.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Flight of the Ronin</strong></h2>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575921955_9d0698824e_h.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575921955_9d0698824e_h.jpg" width="1920"/></a>
<p class="">My time with Rise of the Ronin concluded with an aerial base infiltration, gliding through the air with three companions to take on a boss and retrieve inventor Igashichi Iizuka’s rudimentary camera. This climactic mission challenged me to use all the tools at my disposal, flinging environmental hazards and picking off enemies at range before facing off in a duel against a club-wielding brute. But before putting the controller down, standing among the bloody wreckage of my first major battle, I took a moment to pet a stray cat.</p>
<p class="">This is just a slice of the adventure players can unsheathe in Rise of the Ronin when it hits PS5 on March 22, 2024.</p>
</div>',
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/12/helldivers-2-how-arrowhead-turned-the-twin-stick-shooter-original-into-a-bombastic-ps5-sequel/',
                'Helldivers 2: how Arrowhead turned the twin-stick shooter original into a bombastic PS5 sequel',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/aadde46492c7346879ad61434c299f8f3aee871d.jpeg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
<p class="">Helldivers 2 has exploded onto the gaming scene in a massive way. This co-operative third-person shooter packed with danger, action, humor, and surprises has already become one of this year’s most talked-about games. What some people may be less familiar with though is its progenitor. The original Helldivers, which debuted in 2015 (and is still active) is a co-op, multiplayer overhead twin-stick shooter packed with action, intensity, and plenty of challenging situations that a player might find themselves in.</p>
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<p class="">We asked Johan Pilestedt, CEO &amp; Creative Director at Arrowhead Studios about the process of adapting the original overhead-view gameplay of Helldivers into the third-person format–after first congratulating him for the rip-roaring success of the game. We asked how the team felt about the positive reception. “Overwhelmed and ecstatic! Over the last 15 years, we’ve seen a keen interest in the types of games we make and it was great to see our work recognized at this scale.”</p>
<p class="">He then elaborated on the process of choosing to go third-person view. “After the successful launch of the original Helldivers, we knew we wanted to test the game design philosophy in first- or third-person. Our stance has never been about ‘only top-down.’ However, a lot of the things we are aiming for when we make games lend themselves to perspectives that are a bit more “removed” from play, such as our commitment to draw inspiration from real life and pop culture. We tried this by pulling down the camera in Helldivers. We wound up feeling really excited by the viscerality of the combat, which made us committed to exploring what Helldivers would be like in third-person.”</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class=""><strong><em>“A good co-op game forces players to play together, but a great one makes players want to play together”</em></strong> </p>
</blockquote>
<p class="">Maintaining a persistent sense of danger and chaos was crucial to both games. “Maintaining the sense of chaos was one of the largest challenges we had in creating Helldivers 2. In a top-down perspective, everyone knows what the team members are doing and shares the same reality. But in Helldivers 2, each player has their own perception of events that have unfolded. You gain some and lose some from both approaches.</p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The launch trailer for the original Helldivers, showing many elements that’ll be familiar to players playing the PS5 sequel today.</em></p>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>The launch trailer for Helldivers 2.</em></p>
<p class="">“Since Helldivers is fundamentally a game where collaboration and cooperation is key, we struggled with this early on. The key thing that resolved this was the need for the “watering hole” which encourages players to gather in certain locations. We created these locations dynamically by making the shared resupply stratagem, players dropping sample containers upon death, and through reinforcement Placement. I believe that a good co-op game forces players to play together, but a great one makes players want to play together. Helldivers 2 should feel like when you are going into a dark basement – You want a friend by your side. And we could only achieve this by creating the sensation that no single person can do this alone–even though some crazy people out there have done so!”</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class=""><strong><em>“Feeling human is a key part to the Helldivers experience.”</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="">How did the team reference the first Helldivers’ core gameplay mechanics and progression loop when creating Helldivers 2? “Initially we went further away from the original Helldivers,” explains Pilestedt. “Our philosophy is always “don’t mimic, understand deeply and go from there”. Helldivers 1 took a lot of inspiration from real life and military-sim experiences – merged with combat against extraterrestrials. The distance in top-down viewpoints, however, does not allow for more immersive experiences. We also had pivotal functions that we knew we wanted to include: The viscerality and intensity of combat, the haphazardness and friendly fire. We always knew we wanted the juxtaposition between the fragility of humans with overpowered tools versus physically superior foes only vulnerable to heavy weapons. Feeling human is a key part to the Helldivers experience.”</p>
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<p class="">Which brings us to another major element of both titles: friendly fire always being turned on, and all of the headaches and hilarity that ensues. Pilestedt described the logic behind its inclusion. “The most important thing when we make games is believability. Things should be consistent in the game world and therefore, we must have friendly fire. If your bullets can kill enemies, and the enemies can kill you, then logic dictates that your bullets must also be able to kill your friends. This kind of design is inherently systematic, where we create a rule set that applies to everything in the game world, with minor exceptions.”</p>
<p class="">“What this does, and maybe most clearly noted by friendly fire, is create a complexity to the gameplay where players have to actively think during combat sequences – not in a “solve the puzzle” way but instead in a very primal creative problem solving way. Also, the chuckles that happen when you accidentally carpet bomb your friends allows for a playfulness that in reality would be a tragedy – but within the self bounds of games we can explore the dark humor of these situations. And finally,, the friendly fire element makes the players a true interactable part of the game world that plays a great part in positioning and helps with team play.”</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class=""><strong><em>“Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a mech?” </em></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="">Another element that appears in both games are the stratagems, powerful tools that can be accessed using a special code and called onto the battlefield when needed. We asked how the concept emerged, and how they developed between the two games. “Generally, stratagems are based on real world examples. We’re interested in both war movies and pop culture, so in some cases the concept may be inspired by a pop-culture reference, but realism is added by taking real world guns and applying them to the mechanics.”</p>
<p class="">“All-in-all, stratagems are generally designed in an iterative and sprint based fashion. We play the game and get bored by the current selection, so we add another one. Maybe a designer that has an idea, such as the walking barrage, or something more advanced. The Exo-44 Walker that came about by the team saying “Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a mech?” Then the process started. What would a mech be like in this universe? What would the armament be? What would be the strengths and weaknesses of a mech? It all comes back to believability.”</p>
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<p class="">Helldivers II looks to have a long and prosperous future ahead of itself, so we wanted to know what players can expect in the future. “So much! The game is designed from the ground up to be an expandable universe. We have grand plans, but we do not want to make any early announcements as we love to surprise and delight players with new stuff. What I can say is that we have a massive list of quality of life improvement ideas that we source from the community.”</p>
<p class="">And any advice for new Helldivers? “Come in with an open mind, be kind and do your part. This is a fun community where everyone is on the same side. We’d love to have you spread some democracy with us. You never know what’s going to happen – login to Helldivers 2 and help create the history of Super Earth and the Galactic War.”</p>
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            INSERT INTO articles (url, title, cover_image, content, youtube_link) VALUES (
                'https://blog.playstation.com/2024/03/12/essential-picks-promotion-comes-to-playstation-store-7/',
                'Essential Picks promotion comes to PlayStation Store',
                'https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2024/03/42f60ee8383a84875acecd4d70677f8845bbd387.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart',
                '<div class="post-single__content single__content entry-content">
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<p class="">Add some Essential Picks to your game collection with PlayStation Store’s latest promotion. Enjoy discounts on a selection of titles, from EA Sports FC 24 (80% off the PS4 and PS5 versions), Dead Island 2 (45% off, The Crew: Motorfest (50% off) and many more.</p>
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<p class="">You can check out the full list of titles included in the promotion below. <a href="https://store.playstation.com/category/9d01f039-7058-43e2-93c2-e462d977dc63?emcid=or-pl-506822">Head to Playstation Store</a> when the Essential Picks promotion starts* to find out your regional discount.</p>
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<p class="">You can check out the full list of titles included in the promotion below. <a href="https://store.playstation.com/category/14224c15-0cad-4175-93d5-b3a88dfa032b?emcid=or-pl-506822">Head to Playstation Store</a> when the Essential Picks promotion starts* to find out your regional discount. </p>
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<li>Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends &amp; the Secret Fairy Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Season Pass</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza Season Pass ‘Kurken Island Jam-packed Pass’</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza: Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atlas Fallen</li>
<li>Avatar – Frontiers of Pandora</li>
<li>Avatar – Frontiers of Pandora Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance</li>
<li>Axiom Verge</li>
<li>Bad Dreams</li>
<li>BAD DREAMS – DO NOT FALL INTO MADNESS</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham Knight</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham VR</li>
<li>Batora: Lost Haven</li>
<li>Battlefield Hardline Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Bayonetta</li>
<li>Beyond a Steel Sky</li>
<li>Beyond: Two Souls</li>
<li>Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions</li>
<li>Black Clover: Quartet Knights</li>
<li>Blade of Darkness</li>
<li>Blood Bowl 3</li>
<li>Brawlhalla: All Legends Pack</li>
<li>Brewmaster – Beer Brewing Simulator</li>
<li>Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty Ghosts &amp; Season Pass Bundle</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Digital Pro Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 4</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Ghosts – Digital Hardened Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Ghosts – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Legacy Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered</li>
<li>Call of Duty: WWII – Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: WWII – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle PS4™ &amp; PS5™</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Call of the Wild: The Angler™ – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Catlateral Damage</li>
<li>Cave Digger</li>
<li>Cave Digger 2 : Dig Harder</li>
<li>Chef Life – Al Forno Edition</li>
<li>Clue/Cluedo Black Adder Edition</li>
<li>Coastline Flight Simulator</li>
<li>Cocoon</li>
<li>Construction Simulator – Spaceport Bundle</li>
<li>Control – Expansion Pack 1 ‘The Foundation’</li>
<li>Control Expansion 2 “AWE”</li>
<li>Control PS4</li>
<li>CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story – Full Game</li>
<li>Cosplay Slayer Master Collection</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition Deluxe</li>
<li>Crisis Brigade 2 reloaded</li>
<li>Criss Cross</li>
<li>Crysis 2 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis 3 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis Remastered</li>
<li>CUSTOM MECH WARS ULTIMATE EDITION</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Color of Madness</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Shieldbreaker</li>
<li>Darksiders III</li>
<li>Darksiders III – Season Pass</li>
<li>Darkwood</li>
<li>Days Gone</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: A Nightmare on Elm Street™ Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Alien Chapter Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Ash vs Evil Dead</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: ECLIPSE Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: EP1</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: EP2</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Ghost Face®</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: KEPLER Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Leatherface™</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Macabre Tales Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Nicolas Cage Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Old Wounds Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: ORION Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Silent Hill Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Special Edition</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: The Halloween Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: The SAW Chapter</li>
<li>Dead Island 2</li>
<li>Dead Island 2 Gold Edition</li>
<li>Dead Island: Definitive Collection</li>
<li>Dead Island: Riptide – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Dear Esther: Landmark Edition</li>
<li>Death Road to Canada</li>
<li>DEATHLOOP</li>
<li>Deceive Inc. Black Tie Edition</li>
<li>DEEEER Simulator: Your Average Everyday Deer Game</li>
<li>Demon’s Souls Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Destroy All Humans! 2 – Single Player</li>
<li>Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory</li>
<li>Digimon World: Next Order</li>
<li>Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>DiRT Rally 2.0</li>
<li>DiRT Rally 2.0 – Year One Pass</li>
<li>Disco Elysium – The Final Cut</li>
<li>Disgaea 1 Complete</li>
<li>Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless</li>
<li>Dishonored &amp; Prey: The Arkane Collection</li>
<li>Dishonored 2</li>
<li>Donut County</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal Standard Edition</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One (Add-On)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One (Standalone)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two (Add-On)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two (Standalone)</li>
<li>DOOM Slayers Collection</li>
<li>DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom</li>
<li>Dragon Age: Inquisition – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC Bundle</li>
<li>DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT Legendary Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Quest Builders</li>
<li>Dragon’s Lair Trilogy</li>
<li>DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue</li>
<li>Dysmantle</li>
<li>EA Sports FC 24 – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Earth Defense Force 5 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>EARTH DEFENSE FORCE:WORLD BROTHERS Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Earthlock</li>
<li>Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising</li>
<li>Emily Wants to Play</li>
<li>Emily Wants to Play Too</li>
<li>Everybody’s Golf</li>
<li>FAR CRY 3: BLOOD DRAGON CLASSIC EDITION</li>
<li>Far Cry 3: Classic Edition</li>
<li>Far Cry 5 – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Far Cry® 6 – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition</li>
<li>Fearmonium</li>
<li>FIA European Truck Racing Championship</li>
<li>Final Fantasy Type-0 HD</li>
<li>Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY XVI</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY XVI Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Firefighting Simulator – The Squad</li>
<li>Fishing Planet: Congo Discovery Pack</li>
<li>Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted – Bundle</li>
<li>Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach</li>
<li>Flashback 2</li>
<li>Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed</li>
<li>Ghostwire / DEATHLOOP bundle</li>
<li>Gloomhaven Mercenaries Edition</li>
<li>God Eater 2 Rage Burst</li>
<li>Godfall Challenger Edition</li>
<li>Gold Rush: The Game</li>
<li>GORN</li>
<li>Greak: Memories of Azur</li>
<li>GreedFall – Gold Ed.</li>
<li>GRID Legends</li>
<li>Gun Club VR</li>
<li>Gundam Versus</li>
<li>GYLT</li>
<li>Handball 21</li>
<li>Hole io</li>
<li>HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™</li>
<li>HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Hotline Miami</li>
<li>Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number</li>
<li>How to Survive 2</li>
<li>Humankind PS5</li>
<li>Hunting Simulator</li>
<li>Hunting Simulator 2 Bear Hunter Edition</li>
<li>Iconoclasts</li>
<li>Immortals Fenyx Rising™</li>
<li>Indivisible</li>
<li>Indivisible – Razmi’s Challenges</li>
<li>Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai</li>
<li>Injustice 2: Legendary Edition</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Year 1 Pass</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Year 2 Pass</li>
<li>Jagged Alliance 3</li>
<li>Journey to the Savage Planet</li>
<li>Journey to the Savage Planet: Hot Garbage</li>
<li>Judgment</li>
<li>Judgment: All In One Pack</li>
<li>Jump King</li>
<li>Just Dance 24 Standard Edition</li>
<li>Just Dance 24 Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Katamari Damacy REROLL</li>
<li>Kena: Bridge of Spirits</li>
<li>Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition</li>
<li>KeyWe</li>
<li>Killzone Shadow Fall</li>
<li>King of Seas</li>
<li>KINGDOM HEARTS III</li>
<li>King’s Bounty II Lord’s Edition</li>
<li>KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series</li>
<li>Kona 2 – Koch</li>
<li>Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris</li>
<li>Lara Croft Go</li>
<li>LEGEND BOWL</li>
<li>LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham</li>
<li>LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Season Pass</li>
<li>LEGO City Undercover</li>
<li>LEGO Jurassic World</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens</li>
<li>LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Season Pass</li>
<li>LEGO The Hobbit</li>
<li>Let’s Sing 2024 with International Hits</li>
<li>Let’s Sing 2024 with International Hits – Platinum Edition</li>
<li>Let’s Sing ABBA</li>
<li>Let’s Sing Queen</li>
<li>LittleBigPlanet 3</li>
<li>Madden NFL 24</li>
<li>Martha Is Dead</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Mass Effect: Andromeda – Standard Recruit Edition</li>
<li>Math World VR</li>
<li>MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA</li>
<li>MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA バンドル</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain</li>
<li>Metal Slug 3</li>
<li>Metal Slug Anthology</li>
<li>Metal Slug XX</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON</li>
<li>Monster Energy Supercross 5 – Special Edition</li>
<li>Monster Energy Supercross 5 – The Official Videogame</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 11</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle</li>
<li>Mortal Shell</li>
<li>MotoGP™22</li>
<li>Mullet Slayer Master Collection</li>
<li>Mundaun</li>
<li>MXGP 2020 – The Official Motocross Videogame</li>
<li>My Time at Portia</li>
<li>Narita Boy</li>
<li>NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed</li>
<li>Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Payback – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Rivals</li>
<li>Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered</li>
<li>NEO: The World Ends with You</li>
<li>Neon Abyss</li>
<li>Neon White</li>
<li>New Gundam Breaker</li>
<li>NHL 24 X-FACTOR EDITION BUNDLES</li>
<li>Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered</li>
<li>No More Heroes 3</li>
<li>ONE PIECE ODYSSEY</li>
<li>One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows</li>
<li>Onee Chanbara Origin Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission</li>
<li>Outer Wilds</li>
<li>Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition</li>
<li>Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye</li>
<li>Overcooked!</li>
<li>Overcooked! + Overcooked! 2</li>
<li>PAC-MAN MUSEUM PLUS</li>
<li>PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC</li>
<li>Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul</li>
<li>Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Payday 3</li>
<li>Payday 3 Gold Edition</li>
<li>PEAKY BLINDERS: THE KINGS RANSOM VR</li>
<li>Persona 5 Tactica Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Planet Coaster: Console Edition</li>
<li>Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville</li>
<li>Portal Knights</li>
<li>Powerwash Simulator</li>
<li>Prey</li>
<li>Prince of Persia: The lost Crown – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Prince of Persia: The lost Crown – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Prison Simulator</li>
<li>Pure Farming 2018</li>
<li>Puyo Puyo Tetris 2</li>
<li>Q.U.B.E. 2</li>
<li>Q.U.B.E. 2 Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Quake</li>
<li>Quake 1 &amp; 2 Bundle</li>
<li>Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR</li>
<li>Railway Empire 2 | Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rainbow Six Extraction Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rayman Legends</li>
<li>Remnant 2 – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rezzil Player</li>
<li>RIDE 4</li>
<li>RIDE 4 – Special Edition</li>
<li>Riders Republic – [Bundle] Skate Plus Pack</li>
<li>Riders Republic – Complete Edition</li>
<li>Riders Republic – Standard Edition</li>
<li>RoboCop: Rogue City Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rogue Lords</li>
<li>Roguebook</li>
<li>Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>R-Type Final 3 Evolved</li>
<li>Ruined King: A League of Legends Story™</li>
<li>Ruined King: A League of Legends Story™ – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>RWBY: Arrowfell</li>
<li>Saints Row</li>
<li>Sakura Alien</li>
<li>Salt and Sacrifice Standard</li>
<li>SAMURAI MAIDEN DELUXE EDITION</li>
<li>SERIAL CLEANERS</li>
<li>Serious Sam 4</li>
<li>Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem</li>
<li>Session: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Shantae and the Seven Sirens</li>
<li>Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes The Awakened</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments</li>
<li>Shredders – 540INDY Edition</li>
<li>SIGNALIS</li>
<li>SkateBIRD</li>
<li>Slender: The Arrival (Anniversary Edition)</li>
<li>Smurfs Kart</li>
<li>Smurfs Mission Vileaf</li>
<li>Sniper Elite V2 Remastered</li>
<li>Sniper Elite VR</li>
<li>Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2</li>
<li>SnowRunner – 3 Year Anniversary Edition</li>
<li>SnowRunner – Year 2 Pass</li>
<li>SnowRunner – Year 3 Pass</li>
<li>Solar Ash</li>
<li>Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story™</li>
<li>Sonic Origins Plus</li>
<li>Soul Hackers 2</li>
<li>South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition</li>
<li>South Park: The Stick of Truth</li>
<li>Space Engineers</li>
<li>SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake</li>
<li>STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE</li>
<li>Star Ocean: First Departure R</li>
<li>Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness</li>
<li>Star Ocean: The Last Hope – 4K &amp; FHD Remaster</li>
<li>Star Ocean: Till the End of Time</li>
<li>Startenders</li>
<li>Stranded: Alien Dawn</li>
<li>Stray</li>
<li>Stray Blade</li>
<li>Streets of London Pack</li>
<li>Styx: Shards of Darkness</li>
<li>Subnautica PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>SUPER BOMBERMAN R 2</li>
<li>Super Mega Baseball 4 (PS4)</li>
<li>Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania</li>
<li>Survivor – Castaway Island</li>
<li>SWAT DLC</li>
<li>SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris</li>
<li>SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris Premium Pass</li>
<li>Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet</li>
<li>Sword of the Vagrant</li>
<li>Syberia – The World Before</li>
<li>Synth Riders: Complete Music Collection</li>
<li>Tactics Ogre: Reborn</li>
<li>Tales of Berseria</li>
<li>Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Telling Lies</li>
<li>Temtem</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour – Legends Edition</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour 2</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour 2 Ace Edition</li>
<li>Tetraminos</li>
<li>The Artful Escape</li>
<li>The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut</li>
<li>The Beast Inside</li>
<li>The Complex</li>
<li>The Crew: Motorfest</li>
<li>The Crew: Motorfest Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>The Dark Pictures Anthology: Season 1</li>
<li>The Division 2 : Warlords of New York Expansion</li>
<li>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition</li>
<li>The Endless Dungeon</li>
<li>The Escapists + The Escapists: The Walking Dead Collection</li>
<li>The Final Evolution of DEEEER</li>
<li>The Forest</li>
<li>The Game of Life 2</li>
<li>The Interactive Movie Bundle</li>
<li>THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION</li>
<li>The Last Maharaja Missions Pack</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure</li>
<li>The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails</li>
<li>The Order: 1886</li>
<li>The Pathless PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>The Settlers : New Allies</li>
<li>The Settlers : New Allies – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>The Surge</li>
<li>The Surge 2</li>
<li>The Surge 2 – Season Pass</li>
<li>The Vanishing of Ethan Carter</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: Season Two</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season</li>
<li>THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>theHunter: Call of the Wild™ – Greenhorn Bundle</li>
<li>Thief: Master Thief Edition</li>
<li>Titanfall 2: Standard Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Deluxe Edition 2021</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Gold Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Year 2 Gold Edition</li>
<li>Touhou Luna Nights</li>
<li>Tribes of Midgard</li>
<li>Trine 5</li>
<li>TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2</li>
<li>Turnip Boy</li>
<li>Twelve Minutes</li>
<li>Twin Mirror</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Close Encounters</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Exhibition Items Pack</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Off the Grid</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Retro Items Pack</li>
<li>TY the Tasmanian Tiger™ 2: Bush Rescue™ HD</li>
<li>Ultimate Custom Night</li>
<li>Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection</li>
<li>Unravel</li>
<li>Unravel Two</li>
<li>Unspottable</li>
<li>Valkyria Revolution</li>
<li>VALKYRIE ELYSIUM</li>
<li>Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition</li>
<li>Vanguard – PS5 Cross-Gen Edition</li>
<li>Vanguard – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Vanquish</li>
<li>Victor Vran</li>
<li>Victor Vran: Overkill Edition</li>
<li>VR Pigeons</li>
<li>Warframe®: Angels of the Zariman Chrysalith Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Angels of the Zariman Emergence Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Power Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Sanctum Supporter Pack</li>
<li>Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr</li>
<li>Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin</li>
<li>Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times</li>
<li>Warm Snow 暖雪</li>
<li>Wattam</li>
<li>We Were Here Friendship</li>
<li>We Were Here Together</li>
<li>What Remains of Edith Finch</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: Youngblood</li>
<li>Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™</li>
<li>WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship</li>
<li>WRC 2023 (PS5)</li>
<li>WRC 5 eSports Edition</li>
<li>Wreckfest</li>
<li>Wreckfest – Season Pass 2</li>
<li>Wreckfest: Drive Hard. Die Last. – Season Pass</li>
<li>WrestleQuest</li>
<li>Yakuza 6: The Song of Life</li>
<li>Yuppie Psycho: Executive Edition</li>
<li>Ziggurat 2</li>
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<li>hack//G.U. Last Recode</li>
<li>Accel World VS Sword Art Online</li>
<li>Ad Infinitum</li>
<li>AK-xolotl</li>
<li>Aliens: Dark Descent</li>
<li>ALVO – VR</li>
<li>Amnesia: Rebirth</li>
<li>Amnesia: The Bunker</li>
<li>Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs</li>
<li>Anthem</li>
<li>Ashen</li>
<li>Ashen: Nightstorm Isle</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Mirage – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Odyssey</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Origins</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Origins – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Syndicate</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Jack The Ripper</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Season Pass</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Steampunk Pack</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Valhalla</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Complete Edition</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla – Season Pass</li>
<li>Asterix &amp; Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir</li>
<li>Astro Bot Rescue Mission</li>
<li>Astro Miner</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza – Ryza’s Costume ‘Summer Adventure!’</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends &amp; the Secret Fairy</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends &amp; the Secret Fairy Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends &amp; the Secret Fairy Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End &amp; the Secret Key Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza 3: Season Pass</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza Season Pass ‘Kurken Island Jam-packed Pass’</li>
<li>Atelier Ryza: Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Atlas Fallen</li>
<li>Avatar – Frontiers of Pandora</li>
<li>Avatar – Frontiers of Pandora Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance</li>
<li>Axiom Verge</li>
<li>Bad Dreams</li>
<li>BAD DREAMS – DO NOT FALL INTO MADNESS</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham Knight</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham VR</li>
<li>Batora: Lost Haven</li>
<li>Battlefield Hardline Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Bayonetta</li>
<li>Beyond a Steel Sky</li>
<li>Beyond: Two Souls</li>
<li>Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions</li>
<li>Black Clover: Quartet Knights</li>
<li>Blade of Darkness</li>
<li>Blood Bowl 3</li>
<li>Brawlhalla: All Legends Pack</li>
<li>Brewmaster – Beer Brewing Simulator</li>
<li>Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty Ghosts &amp; Season Pass Bundle</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Digital Pro Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 4</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Ghosts – Digital Hardened Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Ghosts – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Legacy Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered</li>
<li>Call of Duty: WWII – Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Call of Duty: WWII – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle PS4™ &amp; PS5™</li>
<li>Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Call of the Wild: The Angler™ – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Catlateral Damage</li>
<li>Cave Digger</li>
<li>Cave Digger 2 : Dig Harder</li>
<li>Chef Life – Al Forno Edition</li>
<li>Clue/Cluedo Black Adder Edition</li>
<li>Coastline Flight Simulator</li>
<li>Cocoon</li>
<li>Construction Simulator – Spaceport Bundle</li>
<li>Control – Expansion Pack 1 ‘The Foundation’</li>
<li>Control Expansion 2 “AWE”</li>
<li>Control PS4</li>
<li>CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story – Full Game</li>
<li>Cosplay Slayer Master Collection</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition</li>
<li>Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition Deluxe</li>
<li>Crisis Brigade 2 reloaded</li>
<li>Criss Cross</li>
<li>Crysis 2 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis 3 Remastered</li>
<li>Crysis Remastered</li>
<li>CUSTOM MECH WARS ULTIMATE EDITION</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Color of Madness</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court</li>
<li>Darkest Dungeon: The Shieldbreaker</li>
<li>Darksiders III</li>
<li>Darksiders III – Season Pass</li>
<li>Darkwood</li>
<li>Days Gone</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: A Nightmare on Elm Street™ Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Alien Chapter Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Ash vs Evil Dead</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: ECLIPSE Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: EP1</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: EP2</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Ghost Face®</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: KEPLER Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Leatherface™</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Macabre Tales Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Nicolas Cage Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Old Wounds Pack</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: ORION Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Silent Hill Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: Special Edition</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: The Halloween Chapter</li>
<li>Dead by Daylight: The SAW Chapter</li>
<li>Dead Island 2</li>
<li>Dead Island 2 Gold Edition</li>
<li>Dead Island: Definitive Collection</li>
<li>Dead Island: Riptide – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Dear Esther: Landmark Edition</li>
<li>Death Road to Canada</li>
<li>DEATHLOOP</li>
<li>Deceive Inc. Black Tie Edition</li>
<li>DEEEER Simulator: Your Average Everyday Deer Game</li>
<li>Demon’s Souls Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Destroy All Humans! 2 – Single Player</li>
<li>Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory</li>
<li>Digimon World: Next Order</li>
<li>Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>DiRT Rally 2.0</li>
<li>DiRT Rally 2.0 – Year One Pass</li>
<li>Disco Elysium – The Final Cut</li>
<li>Disgaea 1 Complete</li>
<li>Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless</li>
<li>Dishonored &amp; Prey: The Arkane Collection</li>
<li>Dishonored 2</li>
<li>Donut County</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal Standard Edition</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One (Add-On)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One (Standalone)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two (Add-On)</li>
<li>DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two (Standalone)</li>
<li>DOOM Slayers Collection</li>
<li>DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom</li>
<li>Dragon Age: Inquisition – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC Bundle</li>
<li>DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT Legendary Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Quest Builders</li>
<li>Dragon’s Lair Trilogy</li>
<li>DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue</li>
<li>Dysmantle</li>
<li>EA Sports FC 24 – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Earth Defense Force 5 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>EARTH DEFENSE FORCE:WORLD BROTHERS Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Earthlock</li>
<li>Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising</li>
<li>Emily Wants to Play</li>
<li>Emily Wants to Play Too</li>
<li>Everybody’s Golf</li>
<li>FAR CRY 3: BLOOD DRAGON CLASSIC EDITION</li>
<li>Far Cry 3: Classic Edition</li>
<li>Far Cry 5 – Gold Edition</li>
<li>Far Cry® 6 – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition</li>
<li>Fearmonium</li>
<li>FIA European Truck Racing Championship</li>
<li>Final Fantasy Type-0 HD</li>
<li>Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY XVI</li>
<li>FINAL FANTASY XVI Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Firefighting Simulator – The Squad</li>
<li>Fishing Planet: Congo Discovery Pack</li>
<li>Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted – Bundle</li>
<li>Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach</li>
<li>Flashback 2</li>
<li>Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed</li>
<li>Ghostwire / DEATHLOOP bundle</li>
<li>Gloomhaven Mercenaries Edition</li>
<li>God Eater 2 Rage Burst</li>
<li>Godfall Challenger Edition</li>
<li>Gold Rush: The Game</li>
<li>GORN</li>
<li>Greak: Memories of Azur</li>
<li>GreedFall – Gold Ed.</li>
<li>GRID Legends</li>
<li>Gun Club VR</li>
<li>Gundam Versus</li>
<li>GYLT</li>
<li>Handball 21</li>
<li>Hole io</li>
<li>HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™</li>
<li>HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Hotline Miami</li>
<li>Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number</li>
<li>How to Survive 2</li>
<li>Humankind PS5</li>
<li>Hunting Simulator</li>
<li>Hunting Simulator 2 Bear Hunter Edition</li>
<li>Iconoclasts</li>
<li>Immortals Fenyx Rising™</li>
<li>Indivisible</li>
<li>Indivisible – Razmi’s Challenges</li>
<li>Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai</li>
<li>Injustice 2: Legendary Edition</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Year 1 Pass</li>
<li>Insurgency: Sandstorm – Year 2 Pass</li>
<li>Jagged Alliance 3</li>
<li>Journey to the Savage Planet</li>
<li>Journey to the Savage Planet: Hot Garbage</li>
<li>Judgment</li>
<li>Judgment: All In One Pack</li>
<li>Jump King</li>
<li>Just Dance 24 Standard Edition</li>
<li>Just Dance 24 Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Katamari Damacy REROLL</li>
<li>Kena: Bridge of Spirits</li>
<li>Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition</li>
<li>KeyWe</li>
<li>Killzone Shadow Fall</li>
<li>King of Seas</li>
<li>KINGDOM HEARTS III</li>
<li>King’s Bounty II Lord’s Edition</li>
<li>KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series</li>
<li>Kona 2 – Koch</li>
<li>Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris</li>
<li>Lara Croft Go</li>
<li>LEGEND BOWL</li>
<li>LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham</li>
<li>LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Season Pass</li>
<li>LEGO City Undercover</li>
<li>LEGO Jurassic World</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens</li>
<li>LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Season Pass</li>
<li>LEGO The Hobbit</li>
<li>Let’s Sing 2024 with International Hits</li>
<li>Let’s Sing 2024 with International Hits – Platinum Edition</li>
<li>Let’s Sing ABBA</li>
<li>Let’s Sing Queen</li>
<li>LittleBigPlanet 3</li>
<li>Madden NFL 24</li>
<li>Martha Is Dead</li>
<li>Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Mass Effect: Andromeda – Standard Recruit Edition</li>
<li>Math World VR</li>
<li>MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA</li>
<li>MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA バンドル</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain</li>
<li>Metal Slug 3</li>
<li>Metal Slug Anthology</li>
<li>Metal Slug XX</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON</li>
<li>Monster Energy Supercross 5 – Special Edition</li>
<li>Monster Energy Supercross 5 – The Official Videogame</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 11</li>
<li>Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle</li>
<li>Mortal Shell</li>
<li>MotoGP™22</li>
<li>Mullet Slayer Master Collection</li>
<li>Mundaun</li>
<li>MXGP 2020 – The Official Motocross Videogame</li>
<li>My Time at Portia</li>
<li>Narita Boy</li>
<li>NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed</li>
<li>Need for Speed Heat: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Payback – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Need for Speed Rivals</li>
<li>Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered</li>
<li>NEO: The World Ends with You</li>
<li>Neon Abyss</li>
<li>Neon White</li>
<li>New Gundam Breaker</li>
<li>NHL 24 X-FACTOR EDITION BUNDLES</li>
<li>Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered</li>
<li>No More Heroes 3</li>
<li>ONE PIECE ODYSSEY</li>
<li>One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows</li>
<li>Onee Chanbara Origin Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission</li>
<li>Outer Wilds</li>
<li>Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition</li>
<li>Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye</li>
<li>Overcooked!</li>
<li>Overcooked! + Overcooked! 2</li>
<li>PAC-MAN MUSEUM PLUS</li>
<li>PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC</li>
<li>Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul</li>
<li>Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Payday 3</li>
<li>Payday 3 Gold Edition</li>
<li>PEAKY BLINDERS: THE KINGS RANSOM VR</li>
<li>Persona 5 Tactica Digital Deluxe</li>
<li>Planet Coaster: Console Edition</li>
<li>Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville</li>
<li>Portal Knights</li>
<li>Powerwash Simulator</li>
<li>Prey</li>
<li>Prince of Persia: The lost Crown – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Prince of Persia: The lost Crown – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Prison Simulator</li>
<li>Pure Farming 2018</li>
<li>Puyo Puyo Tetris 2</li>
<li>Q.U.B.E. 2</li>
<li>Q.U.B.E. 2 Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Quake</li>
<li>Quake 1 &amp; 2 Bundle</li>
<li>Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR</li>
<li>Railway Empire 2 | Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rainbow Six Extraction Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rayman Legends</li>
<li>Remnant 2 – Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rezzil Player</li>
<li>RIDE 4</li>
<li>RIDE 4 – Special Edition</li>
<li>Riders Republic – [Bundle] Skate Plus Pack</li>
<li>Riders Republic – Complete Edition</li>
<li>Riders Republic – Standard Edition</li>
<li>RoboCop: Rogue City Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Rogue Lords</li>
<li>Roguebook</li>
<li>Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>R-Type Final 3 Evolved</li>
<li>Ruined King: A League of Legends Story™</li>
<li>Ruined King: A League of Legends Story™ – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>RWBY: Arrowfell</li>
<li>Saints Row</li>
<li>Sakura Alien</li>
<li>Salt and Sacrifice Standard</li>
<li>SAMURAI MAIDEN DELUXE EDITION</li>
<li>SERIAL CLEANERS</li>
<li>Serious Sam 4</li>
<li>Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem</li>
<li>Session: Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>Shantae and the Seven Sirens</li>
<li>Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes The Awakened</li>
<li>Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments</li>
<li>Shredders – 540INDY Edition</li>
<li>SIGNALIS</li>
<li>SkateBIRD</li>
<li>Slender: The Arrival (Anniversary Edition)</li>
<li>Smurfs Kart</li>
<li>Smurfs Mission Vileaf</li>
<li>Sniper Elite V2 Remastered</li>
<li>Sniper Elite VR</li>
<li>Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2</li>
<li>SnowRunner – 3 Year Anniversary Edition</li>
<li>SnowRunner – Year 2 Pass</li>
<li>SnowRunner – Year 3 Pass</li>
<li>Solar Ash</li>
<li>Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story™</li>
<li>Sonic Origins Plus</li>
<li>Soul Hackers 2</li>
<li>South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition</li>
<li>South Park: The Stick of Truth</li>
<li>Space Engineers</li>
<li>SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake</li>
<li>STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE</li>
<li>Star Ocean: First Departure R</li>
<li>Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness</li>
<li>Star Ocean: The Last Hope – 4K &amp; FHD Remaster</li>
<li>Star Ocean: Till the End of Time</li>
<li>Startenders</li>
<li>Stranded: Alien Dawn</li>
<li>Stray</li>
<li>Stray Blade</li>
<li>Streets of London Pack</li>
<li>Styx: Shards of Darkness</li>
<li>Subnautica PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>SUPER BOMBERMAN R 2</li>
<li>Super Mega Baseball 4 (PS4)</li>
<li>Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania</li>
<li>Survivor – Castaway Island</li>
<li>SWAT DLC</li>
<li>SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris</li>
<li>SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris Premium Pass</li>
<li>Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet</li>
<li>Sword of the Vagrant</li>
<li>Syberia – The World Before</li>
<li>Synth Riders: Complete Music Collection</li>
<li>Tactics Ogre: Reborn</li>
<li>Tales of Berseria</li>
<li>Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Telling Lies</li>
<li>Temtem</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour – Legends Edition</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour 2</li>
<li>Tennis World Tour 2 Ace Edition</li>
<li>Tetraminos</li>
<li>The Artful Escape</li>
<li>The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut</li>
<li>The Beast Inside</li>
<li>The Complex</li>
<li>The Crew: Motorfest</li>
<li>The Crew: Motorfest Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>The Dark Pictures Anthology: Season 1</li>
<li>The Division 2 : Warlords of New York Expansion</li>
<li>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition</li>
<li>The Endless Dungeon</li>
<li>The Escapists + The Escapists: The Walking Dead Collection</li>
<li>The Final Evolution of DEEEER</li>
<li>The Forest</li>
<li>The Game of Life 2</li>
<li>The Interactive Movie Bundle</li>
<li>THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION</li>
<li>The Last Maharaja Missions Pack</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV</li>
<li>The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure</li>
<li>The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails</li>
<li>The Order: 1886</li>
<li>The Pathless PS4 &amp; PS5</li>
<li>The Settlers : New Allies</li>
<li>The Settlers : New Allies – Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>The Surge</li>
<li>The Surge 2</li>
<li>The Surge 2 – Season Pass</li>
<li>The Vanishing of Ethan Carter</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: Season Two</li>
<li>The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season</li>
<li>THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE Digital Deluxe Edition</li>
<li>theHunter: Call of the Wild™ – Greenhorn Bundle</li>
<li>Thief: Master Thief Edition</li>
<li>Titanfall 2: Standard Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Deluxe Edition 2021</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Gold Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands – Year 2 Gold Edition</li>
<li>Touhou Luna Nights</li>
<li>Tribes of Midgard</li>
<li>Trine 5</li>
<li>TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2</li>
<li>Turnip Boy</li>
<li>Twelve Minutes</li>
<li>Twin Mirror</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Close Encounters</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Exhibition Items Pack</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Off the Grid</li>
<li>Two Point Hospital: Retro Items Pack</li>
<li>TY the Tasmanian Tiger™ 2: Bush Rescue™ HD</li>
<li>Ultimate Custom Night</li>
<li>Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection</li>
<li>Unravel</li>
<li>Unravel Two</li>
<li>Unspottable</li>
<li>Valkyria Revolution</li>
<li>VALKYRIE ELYSIUM</li>
<li>Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition</li>
<li>Vanguard – PS5 Cross-Gen Edition</li>
<li>Vanguard – Standard Edition</li>
<li>Vanquish</li>
<li>Victor Vran</li>
<li>Victor Vran: Overkill Edition</li>
<li>VR Pigeons</li>
<li>Warframe®: Angels of the Zariman Chrysalith Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Angels of the Zariman Emergence Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Power Pack</li>
<li>Warframe®: Sanctum Supporter Pack</li>
<li>Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr</li>
<li>Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin</li>
<li>Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times</li>
<li>Warm Snow 暖雪</li>
<li>Wattam</li>
<li>We Were Here Friendship</li>
<li>We Were Here Together</li>
<li>What Remains of Edith Finch</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: Youngblood</li>
<li>Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™</li>
<li>WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship</li>
<li>WRC 2023 (PS5)</li>
<li>WRC 5 eSports Edition</li>
<li>Wreckfest</li>
<li>Wreckfest – Season Pass 2</li>
<li>Wreckfest: Drive Hard. Die Last. – Season Pass</li>
<li>WrestleQuest</li>
<li>Yakuza 6: The Song of Life</li>
<li>Yuppie Psycho: Executive Edition</li>
<li>Ziggurat 2</li>
</ul>
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<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>*The Essential Picks promotion starts 00.00am PDT/BST/JST/Asia local on Wednesday March 13 and concludes</em> <em>11:59 PM PDT/BST/JST/Asia local on Wednesday March 27.</em></p>
</div>',
                'None'
            );

            
