While we know a good amount about next generation consoles, the exact release date and price for both still allude us. After a final, major leak, Microsoft decided to pull back the curtain on Xbox Series S in the middle of the night (Eastern Time), on September 8th, 2020. Now we know that Xbox Series S and X are launching November 10th, 2020. We know the price, and we know that preorders open September 22nd. Time for Sony to drop their own details. Time For Sony to Speak Up! We’ve been waiting for these final details on next generation consoles, and for a time it seemed Microsoft and Sony were waiting to see who would blink first. The last of many major leaks about the second Xbox console seemed to be the tipping point for Microsoft. They admitted defeat and sent out a tweet in the early hours of the morning for U.S. folks, confirming the Xbox Series S and announcing a $299 price point for the budget console. ? Let’s make it official! Xbox Series S | Next-gen performance in the ˢᵐᵃˡˡᵉˢᵗ Xbox ever. $299 (ERP). Looking forward to sharing more! Soon. Promise. pic.twitter.com/8wIEpLPVEq — Xbox (@Xbox) September 8, 2020 While immensely less expensive than I think anyone was expecting, this is going to be a limited experience compared to the Series X or PS5. It still makes promises like raytracing, 1440p, 120FPS, and other features, but it’s also digital only (no disc drive), and the included SSD is only 512GB. We already know Microsoft will offer some sort of expandable solution for memory, but this small amount of space seems to indicate the Series S could be focused on streaming via xCloud. Microsoft also decided to reveal the Xbox Series X release date and price, which is November 10th, 2020 and $499 respectively. All of this on the 25th anniversary of the PlayStation’s original release, no less! I can’t imagine we’ll be waiting long for PS5 news, so stay tuned! Article by – Bradley Ramsey Insert date – 9/8/2020
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Preview – Dimension Hopping
Ratchet & Clank was a huge part of my formative gaming years. I remember reading an issue of PlayStation Magazine back when those things came in the mail, and it had a feature called Ratchet & Clank vs Jak and Daxter. As time went on, Naughty Dog left their duo behind, but the Lombax and his robot pal have endured. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was a surprise announcement at Sony’s PS5 reveal event, but we also got an extended look at gameplay recently during Gamescom Opening Night Live. How does the series look and play on PS5? Let’s find out! Check Out Our Highlights From The Ratchet & Clank State of Play on April 29th! Sony is hosting a State of Play stream with a primary focus on Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on April 29th, 2021! Watch the full stream here and stay tuned for our highlights on this page throughout the event! The State of Play opens with a dive (pun intended) into Subnautica: Below Zero, coming to PS5 with confirmed 4K and 60 FPS support, along with haptic feedback from the DualSense Among Us is also coming to PS4 and PS5 with Ratchet & Clank skins later in 2021. We’re on to Ratchet & Clank with a look at a cutscene featuring the female Lombax, Rivet.Next is gameplay with Ratchet looking for Clank in a futuristic city that takes place in a different dimension. In an interesting twist, this dimension seems to be a parallel universe where Doctor Nefarious found a lot more success. Ratchet also runs into Ms. Zurkon, who will be selling us weapons in the new game. We also learn that Rivet herself has taken Ratchet at this point in the game. The new game focuses on enhanced momentum, with the ability to run on walls and dash now, alongside other familiar moves. The Rift Tether also allows you to move around quickly using dimensional rifts in the environment. DualSense features include adaptive trigger support that allows for different firing modes based on whether you pull the trigger halfway or all the way down. Haptic support is also in as well.
Deathloop Preview – Deadly Déjà Vu
Time loops are perhaps my favorite type of story structure in movies, but they’ve only recently been implemented into games. The Outer Wilds is an amazing example, but Deathloop from Arkane Lyon seems to take the concept to another level. How does the new PS5 title from the developers of Dishonored and Prey look? Let’s find out! Two Assassins, One Loop Deathloop is a new first-person action adventure that takes place in the “Black Reef,” which is caught in a never-ending cycle. As part of this loop, two assassins keep killing each other over and over again over the course of each loop. While the game originally had a launch window planned for PS5 in 2020, it has since been pushed back as per an announcement on the game’s Twitter page: To the community, an update on DEATHLOOP: pic.twitter.com/XveoG6AgoT — DEATHLOOP (@deathloop) August 18, 2020 Given the ambitious nature of the title and the ongoing global pandemic, it wasn’t difficult to see this coming. The game seems to offer a large open area with plnety of guns and possibly even powers as well. The abilities look like the kinds of things you saw in Dishonored or Prey and allow you to enhance your traversal or your attacks in various ways. Beyond the two assassins, it also appears that other enemies will play into the experience and further complicate matters. As with other Arkane games, the developers promise a lot of freedom in how you approach things, and also guarantee their signature level design, which is often extremely detailed and unique. Gameplay looks very similar to Dishonored with some flavors of Bioshock thrown in there. The weapons seem to have multiple firing modes as well, and the promise of playing as either assassin gives you some variety in both the story perspective and in the abilities available to you. I think the Dishonored formula could certainly benefit from a time loop structure, and the addition of other targets based on the latest PS5 gameplay trailer means you won’t always be fighting a single other assassin. The new release window for Deathloop is Q2 2021, so while we wait for more information, let us know how you like the look of Arkane’s next title in the comments! Article by – Bradley Ramsey Insert date – 8/24/2020
Black Myth: Wu Kong Turns Heads With a Stunning 13-Minute Gameplay Video
While outsourcing to Chinese studios is common among AAA game development, these developers are starting to make games of their own. In August of 2020, the developers at Game Science released a 13-minute gameplay demo for Black Myth: Wukong, which looks to be an action RPG sporting some truly stunning next-gen visuals. Take a look: Apparently this is an alpha version of the game, but plans are to eventually release it on “all mainstream hardware.” It could be a while before we see the full release, but the story seems to be inspired by the clasic Journey to The West myth, which has been featured in games before like Monkey King and Enslaved: Odyssey to The West. What do you think of this early gameplay? Let us know in the comments! Article by – Bradley Ramsey Insert date – 8/20/2020
As Microsoft Delays Halo Infinite, Sony Goes all in on Exclusives For PS5
After the PS4 left the Xbox One in the dust this generation, Microsoft managed to turn things around with the introduction of Game Pass, which is an insanely good deal. However, Sony still has them beat in exclusives. Microsoft sought to remedy this with a huge string of acquisitions, and we saw some interesting new announcements during their July showcase, but it was Halo Infinite that seemed to be garnering the most hype for launch, even if the graphics left people less than impressed. Unfortunately, Halo Infinite will no longer be launching in 2020, which means that Microsoft lost one of its most promising titles for the launch window. Meanwhile, it seems Sony is going all in on exclusives, and making some offers of their own. Let’s dive in! Halo Infinite Delayed into 2021 Leaves Microsoft in a Weird Spot The announcement on Halo Infinite’s delay came in the middle of the day on August 11th, 2020, but it quickly gained traction on social media. It’s understandable that things are being delayed due to COVID-19, but I think we all assumed something as big as Halo would find its way out at launch no matter what. It’s a sobering reminder of the times we live in. Of course, this doesn’t stop people from delivering their takes on the news. No matter how you slice it, it deals a big blow to Xbox Series X for it’s launch, which was also confirmed today to be in November of 2020. The full statement is below: It’s understandable that things are being delayed due to COVID-19, but I think we all assumed something as big as Halo would find its way out at launch no matter what. It’s a sobering reminder of the times we live in. Of course, this doesn’t stop people from delivering their takes on the news. No matter how you slice it, it deals a big blow to Xbox Series X for it’s launch, which was also confirmed today to be in November of 2020. How does Sony and PS5 fit into this story? Well, as it turns out, Sony is already pushing to further their selection of exclusives on the new console. Sony Approaches Third-Party Studios With Exclusivity Deals While not confirmed by Sony, Imran Khan, who is known for cohosting at Kind Funny Games and freelancing in the game industry, revealed inside information recently that Sony has been approaching third-party studios. Specifically, he weighed in on a ResetEra thread about the topic, saying: There isn’t a major third party out there Sony failed to approach asking what kind of deals they could work out. Some had content, some had games, some had content and games. It is not like Microsoft was not willing to offer, they just didn’t want to pay the asking price, because Sony approached with pretty high numbers in the first place. That “PlayStation Advantage” branding and “Console Exclusive” wording are both going to get a lot of use in the next few years.” … Read More
Watch The August 2020 State of Play Stream Right Here!
Although Sony has showed us most of their hand when it comes to the PS5, there are still some crucial details we don’t know about. Namely: price and release date. Now that Sony has announced a State of Play stream this week, we’ll finally get some more gaming news, but is it the news we’re looking for? Let’s find out. All the Highlights from Sony’s August 2020 State of Play Stream! New details on Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Keeps the classic look and feel. New platforming elements like wall running, rope swinging, and grinding. New skins to unlock as well. Quantum masks also give you new abilities like slowing time or flipping gravity. Play the entire game as Crash or Coco. Other characters to play as throughout. New visual mode lets you play with remixed visuals and styles that change gameplay. New updates on Hitman III. PSVR mode included! Play the entire trilogy in VR. Braid: Anniversary Edition announced with remastered visuals, improved gameplay, and developer commentary. Releasing in 2021. New PS5 footage of The Pathless. An open world mythic adventure game set in a vast forest. You’re a master archer. Fill your dash meter by shooting talismans in the environment. Focused on timing over aiming so you can move quickly. Use your eagle companion to navigate through the air and hunt for secrets. Finding crystals gives you upgrades. Solve puzzles as well in ancient structures. No map, but you look at the spirit world to find landmarks. Coming holiday 2020. Spelunky 2 updates. Online multiplayer is in. Build a community in the game by rescuing characters. Explore and interact in new ways. Hidden passages and branching paths.Coming September 15th, 2020 Genshin Impact looks like a slick new RPG coming this holiday to PS4.
Game Preview Leaks New ‘Activities’ Feature For PS5 Before Being Taken Down
While we’ve seen the PS5, and the new dashboard was teased, we’re still in the dark on new features. Thanks to a new game preview that was taken down shortly after publication, we now know about something called “activities” on PS5. Color us intrigued, let’s find out what it does! Taking The Resume Concept to The Next Level All of this comes from a preview posted by Gamereactor for a WRC 9, a racing game that’s coming to both current and next-gen consoles. In the article, we heard about this new PS5 system-level feature called “Activities.” It’s described as “an instant deeplink to specific races directly from the console’s menu.” While the article revealing this was taken down, Gematsu managed to screenshot this excerpt and tweeted it out: Gamereactor preview article for WRC 9 mentioned an unannounced #PS5 feature. Article was here but was taken offline: https://t.co/BIKFZEAhnL Archive: https://t.co/zVtjk94ux0 pic.twitter.com/5VdNwyEPpQ — Gematsu (@gematsucom) July 28, 2020 Given that this was an official preview, and that the article was promptly taken down, I’m thinking we can assume this is a real leak. While the PS4 did have a “rest” mode that could let you resume where you left off, this is something entirely different, and objectively better. In this case we’re talking about races, but it seems developers could possibly program other things into the experience. Think of it like an instant chapter select that doesn’t require starting the game at all. An example I’ve see is the ability to jump into a multiplayer queue for a specific mode without ever seeing the main menu. All-in-all pretty exciting stuff. How would you like to see this feature used in PS5 games? Let us know in the comments and tell us which other features you’d like to see in the new PS5 interface! Article by – Bradley Ramsey Insert date – 7/29/2020
Sony Plans to Double PS5 Production in Response to Increased Demand
While the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, production has largely resumed in the eastern parts of the world. As a result, Sony may be less concerned about stock issues for the PS5 launch this holiday season. According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review, both Sony and Facebook are ramping up the output of their gaming devices this year. This means that the PS5 production would go from around 5 million units in production, to 9 million units. Let’s dive deeper into this report and see what it means for the inevitable PS5 Preorders. More PS5 Consoles at Launch? Yes Please! There has been a noticeable increase in demand for gaming devices and software since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge is due to lockdowns, and if you’re anything like me, because you need a distraction. Sony is looking at this as a sign that they should have more consoles available at launch to avoid long lines of people who probably aren’t social distancing. Of course, these orders could change as we move forward, and it’s not certain whether the extra units will be ready in time for launch. Some stock may not arrive on shelves until the beginning of 2021. While Sony declined to comment on the report, the source here is a reputable one. I would argue that they are indeed shooting for more consoles at launch, if only to prevent a lack of supply to meet demand. What do you think? Will the increased PS5 production make it easy to find at launch, or will preorders sell out? Let us know in the comments! Article by – Bradley Ramsey Insert date – 7/15/2020
Sony Teases New PS5 Dashboard: ‘No Pixel Untouched’
While I know it looks a lot different than we’re used to, I personally love the PS5 design. The sleek look, the use of color, the way it matches the controller, I love all of it. Another thing I think we all noticed during the PS5 reveal was the teaser of the new dashboard. It was a sleek looking home screen with some pleasing music. It seems this is another element Sony is hoping to really revamp. New Information on The System OS, Straight From The Source While it seems to have disappeared from LinkedIn, The Verge reported on a LinkedIn thread where Sony’s VP of UX design at PlayStation, Matt MacLaurin, said the new operating system is a “100 percent overhaul of the PS4 UI and some very different new concepts.” He shares more details, saying: As it’s UI, it’s practical first, but it’s a whole new visual language and a complete rearchitecturing of the user interface. It’s more subtle than flashy, but no pixel is untouched.” For those wondering what teaser we’re talking about, check it out below: Sony’s small PS5 UI teaser there pic.twitter.com/D7m6SrVfCk — Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 11, 2020 MacLaurin also went on to talk about custom hardware designs for the PS5. We’ve seen plenty of the mock-ups others have done (which look amazing), so what can we expect here? He said that a black version is a “maybe,” but also said there will be a special edition for everyone. All I can say is bring it on! Cannot wait to see what else Sony has to reveal. What do you think of the PS5 design? Would you want a custom system? Let us know in the comments!
The PS5 Has Been Revealed: All The Highlights and Trailers
The PS5 Reveal event was an amazing and bombastic stream that really felt like an E3 conference. I loved every second of it, but you’re here for the big reveals, so let’s take a look! All The Reveals From Sony’s PS5 Reveal Event Lets start with the big finale. Here is the trailer for the PS5 console, with a full reveal at the end: Spider-Man: Miles Morales Coming Holiday 2020 Next up, we have Spider-Man: Miles Morales announced for Holiday 2020! This looks to be the follow-up to PS4’s Spider-man game, starring Miles from the looks of it. A full game or just an expansion? Not sure yet. Gran Turismo 7 Announced! Gran Turismo 7 announced with a sleek new trailer. Gameplay showcases photo-realistic graphics. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Announced! Ratchet & Clank are back! Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart featuring a female Lombax! The way they are able to move to so many different environments so quickly is a testament to that SSD. Project Athia is teased from Square Enix and Luminous Productions Project Athia is a new title from Square Enix and Luminous Productions that looks like an excellent fantasy epic! Stray from Annapurna Interactive Announced looks to be a unique new title staring a cat possibly? I can dig it, looks like humans have been wiped out and robots are the new thing. Housemarque’s new exclusive Returnal Announced Returnal looks to be a sci-fi horror exclusive with a third-person shooter gameplay experience. Sackboy: A Big Adventure Announced Sackboy: A Big Adventure from Sumo Digital gives the character his own platformer. Destruction AllStars Announced Destruction All-Stars brings some chaotic driving and on-foot action to a competitive futuristic sport. It’s looking pretty fun! Kena: Bridge of Spirits Announced Kena: Bridge of Spirits combines excellent looking gameplay with a charming world and stunning graphics. Reminds me of something you would see from a studio like Pixar or Dreamworks. Goodbye Volcano High Announced Goodbye Volcano High offers up a beautiful style and a heartwarming story in 2021. Every shot is animated and unique, which is incredible given the art style. It has a focus on being cinematic and high-end in quality. Oddworld: Soulstorm Announced Oddworld is back! Soulstorm keeps the classic side-scrolling gameplay and gets a fresh coat of next-gen paint. Ghostwire: Tokyo shows off gameplay on PS5 Ghostwire: Tokyo looks to be terrifying in every form of the word. First-person combat seems to have plenty of slick moves. It’s coming 2021. Jett: The Far Shore comes holiday 2020 This new indie game seems to be quite beautiful, with a focus on space exploration. Godfall shows gameplay for its release in holiday 2020! We’ve heard about this before, but here’s what it looks like in motion! Solar Ash from the creator of Hyper Light Drifter is coming in 2021 A little bit of gameplay, and some excellent art reminiscent of Journey. Looks interesting! Hitman III coming January 2021 to PS5! The Gameplay shown was in Dubai with some excellent visuals. … Read More