Tag: Playstation 5

RUMOR: ‘Persona 6’ Eyeing Late 2024 Release, Next-Gen Only

The rumor mill surrounding Persona has been quite interesting, as there’s a variety of stories making the rounds. We’ve long been waiting for an announcement for the next mainline iteration of Persona, Persona 6, which has been quite absent. Even the 25th anniversary was surprisingly calm about the future of the franchise but there have been a variety of rumors making the rounds as of late in regards to the next numbered entry and a remake of Persona 3, which just recently got a remaster.

Now, it seems that Reseterra has become the source for any Persona rumor nowadays. It’s a surprisingly very selective environment that normally only allows things in that may have some truth to them. The latest comes by sharing a video of Nate the Hate, who has shared quite a few things in the past, and seemingly may have given us a tease of what’s to come.

Besides the already existing Persona 3 Remake rumor of appearing at the Xbox Showcase, he also seemingly stated that Persona 6 is going to be a PlayStation 5 exclusive moving forward. Atlus is seemingly embracing the next-gen console and it makes sense given the franchise generally has been a standard part of Sony’s line-up. Though, they state it might just be a limited release similar to Final Fantasy VII Remake, as we theorized with the P3 Remake rumors recently.

That’s not all, as he also seemingly states that they are eyeing a late 2024 release for the game. So, the set-up would be for the remake to hit multiple consoles sometime this year on all consoles but using Xbox as its main marketing source similar to the reveal of the previous remasters. It’s to highlight the step forward for the franchise and likely a hint that they will keep spinoffs or other adaptations for multiple console releases while the mainline series gets the PlayStation exclusivity.

Source: The Gamer, YouTube, Resetera

May 22, 2023
PlayStation Working on New Service to Rival Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass has changed the gaming landscape in big ways. Their subscriptions have grown at an astonishing level and offer players the opportunity to stream their favorite games without requiring a physical copy. While PlayStation originally used their PlayStation Now service to rival it, it wasn’t quite on par with the offerings. Microsoft proudly announced that many of their upcoming new releases will be available Day 1 on their subscriptions service. Well, it seems Sony is readying its own system to compete in the new market.

The always reliable Jason Schreier shared an exclusive on Bloomberg about this new service. It is currently in development under the codename “Spartacus” and will get established as a fusion of PlayStation Now and PS Plus. You’ll receive access to modern and classic games for a monthly fee if everything goes according to plan with a release in Spring. It seems that PS Plus will still remain due to it being necessary for online play.

So, the plan is that it’s available with three tiers. PS Plus covers the base one, PS4 and PS5 releases are in the second one with classic games getting included in the final tier. It’ll be interesting to see if it retains its Spartacus naming, or they might simply use the PS Plus as the naming benchmark. Here’s hoping we get a clearer picture and announcement in the coming months to see what the future has in store for Sony players.

Source: Bloomberg

December 3, 2021
Summer Game Fest: Hideo Kojima Reveals ‘Death Stranding: Director’s Cut’ for PlayStation 5

It looks like Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions aren’t quite done yet with Death Stranding, as they just revealed that an updated version is heading to the PlayStation 5 in the form of Death Stranding: Director’s Cut. The video reveal was actually quite clever by playing a prank on its viewers who thought they might get some Metal Gear Solid-inspired elements when Sam Bridges briefly jumps into a box just like Solid Snake used to. While it didn’t quite go that way and they didn’t reveal much, it seems like it’ll serve a similar role as Final Fantasy VII Remake: Integrade had. It was just an additional naming for the PS5 upgrade of the game which might include some new content.

Source: YouTube

June 10, 2021
What ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Can Learn from ‘Returnal’

I’ve been obsessed with the game Returnal as of late. You take control of Selene, a space traveler who crash lands on a strange foreign planet. As she faces the dangerous climate and fauna, she realizes that this isn’t her first trip. In reality, she is stuck in a time loop of some kind and repeats it every time she dies. It’s a simple premise that lends itself to a very challenging experience. Each death feels like the game is challenging you to do better and find a way to survive longer. It doesn’t hold your hands, and sometimes you won’t figure out how some mechanics work until your tenth run. The more I played it, the more I realized it had something that I believe Marvel’s Avengers needs at this point in its development: randomization.

When you die in Returnal, you don’t go through the same motions as before. The only thing that remains the same is the opening area where your ship crashlanded while the rest of the game’s map cycles through a variety of different layouts. Even the enemies get switched up regularly. So, while you think you know where they will spawn, there is always a chance something even more dangerous may appear. It adds a level of progression that plays on your ability to react to the change. In contrast, Crystal Dynamic’s Avengers offers you a handful of missions that get switched up weekly, but they don’t change at their core. The goals are always the same, AIMs bots stay consistent, and you know what you expect.

I have spent countless hours in the game and still enjoy every single content drop that has come out to varying degrees. The only issue is that once I played through the new content, there is no real reason to return. Even their latest Red Room Takeover event consisted only of five special gauntlets that repeat the same enemy rollout. Grinding your mission chains or gear becomes monotonous after a certain amount of time. Of course, you should take breaks when it comes to these ongoing experiences, but it would add an incentive to play more.

There is one random element in Returnal that I think a game like Avengers can benefit from. When you run through the game, you might randomly end up in a room with a pool of water or a floating ball of liquid mysteriously in the center of the room. The discovery of these random areas has been one of my favorite moments. It lets me piece together their significance in this world. You don’t figure out their relevance until later. It’s a creative way to build up the world organically in the game. Avengers does attempt it, as we get some great moments in Future Imperfect’s Wasteland’s usage of broken Kree sentries. Yet, I want to uncover a secret room that is the last refuge of a Kree soldier that got left behind. Perhaps we see some runes from the Woken who are preparing a ritual at the behest of Loki. It could even be a minor tie-in to the upcoming Disney+ series.

We know we’re getting some more information at E3 on their next expansion. So, why not give players a tease of what is heading our way with Black Panther. Have a Dora Milaje randomly appear in the Helicarrier, who is supporting some of the feeling Inhumans. I want to see the game make use of its comic history as it continues to grow. We know more is coming, but I also want to experience the change in the game. Clint being in his room between Taking Aim, and his operation had me excited to see how the story continues. Give me the temporary effects on the world that make it feel organic and not let your prisoner randomly vanish without a word. It doesn’t have to be a massive update, but minor changes to the world with hints at an ever-expanding story could truly make Marvel’s Avengers the gaming equivalent of living in the Marvel Universe.

June 4, 2021
RUMOR: Square Enix and Team Ninja Developing a ‘Nioh’-Inspired ‘Final Fantasy’ Spin-Off

Square-Enix has started to expand its franchises with Marvel’s Avengers, Tomb Raider, Nier, and many more. Still, at the heart of the companies history lies the iconic Final Fantasy franchise. It has seen a resurgence as of late with the help of last year’s Final Fantasy VII Remake release and the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI. As E3 is just around the corner, we are seeing various rumors hit the web and one that may hint at one more entry in the classic franchise getting added to the latest console generation.

Fanbyte revealed that a spin-off titled Final Fantasy Origin is in development alongside Team Ninja, who are the masterminds behind Ninja Gaiden, Nioh, and another Final Fantasy spin-off Dissidia NT. It is described as a Souls or Nioh-inspired game that’ll be They also go on to say that it’ll be an exclusive entry for PlayStation 5 and will be released on PC later. They claim even the logo and demo plans have leaked that would confirm its release at E3. The demo is currently titled “Stranger in Paradise,” which is common for gaming titles to avoid it leaking early. There are also plans to release a public alpha this summer.

It is uncertain how far along the game is, but if there is a demo ready they might be eyeing a 2022 release. The 16th entry in the franchise might need some time as they promised an ambitious story. Now, the title also could hint at an action-RPG retelling of the original first two entries that were published under the Final Fantasy Origins banner on the original PlayStation. It would be an interesting idea to bring the original games into the modern age. Yet, it could also just be the franchise’s return to its fantastical roots. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait for too long.

Source: Fanbyte

May 24, 2021
RUMOR: PS5’s ‘Silent Hill’ Game Still in Development at New Studio

Silent Hill fans have been through a rollercoaster in the last year. Quite a few rumors were pointing to a brand new title being in development for Sony. Around six months ago, a group of well-known insiders leaked various info on a “Project 0” that may be in some form of development at Sony’s Japan Studio. There was mention of a reveal at last year’s The Game Awards that sadly never got realized. The new entry would be a PlayStation 5 exclusive, as Sony had full creative license over the Konami franchise. Keiichiro Toyama, the first game’s director, was returning alongside the second game’s composer Akira Yamaoka. In a way, it seemed almost too perfect before news on it sadly died down.

New starting piling up that made the rumors seem rather unlikely. Toyama left Sony and founded a new studio at the tail end of last year with Bokeh Game Studio. He is working on a new horror game and wants to keep his creative vision, which may be the reason he left Sony behind. On top of it all, Sony closed down its Japan Studio squashing any potential for the franchise to make a grand return.

Well, it seems that there might be some hope after all. Resetera leaker KatharsisT, who brought us the last bit of news on the game, has revealed that the game is still in some stage of development. He claims that the lack of announcement may be tied to the new studio taking over. He is hesitant to reveal which one.

Japan Studio was only rumored and never confirmed. We’ve seen studios co-operate in networks on games. So, the secondary studio could’ve taken over. Sadly, we still have to take this with a grain of salt, as there is no official word on Konami working closely with Sony or even an announcement of a new Silent Hill game being in development. We’ll hopefully get some kind of information this year if these rumors turn out to be true.

Source: PC Games Insider, Siliconera, Games Industry, GameRant (Silent Hill), GameRant (MGS)

April 20, 2021
Chloe Frazer is the Future of Naughty Dog’s ‘UNCHARTED’

Our last adventure in the world of Uncharted was nearly four years ago, but the drought is almost over. Sony is working on a film adaptation starring Tom Holland later this year. It will serve as a sort of prequel to the games. Also, Naughty Dog may be developing a new installment in the franchise, despite previous comments that the series had concluded. While it’s not surprising that Naughty Dog might have lied about putting the kibosh on Uncharted, the ending (and title) of 2016’s A Thief’s End made it pretty clear that protagonist Nathan Drake’s journey had come to a close.

So, if a new treasure hunting escapade is genuinely on the horizon, it would stand to reason that Drake won’t be at the center of it. Luckily for fans and the developers, the world already has a shining example of what Uncharted could look like without a ruggedly handsome man on the cover. 2017’s DLC-turned-spin-off The Lost Legacy put Nate’s former flame and fellow explorer, Chloe Frazer, on the front lines. Led by a stunning performance from Claudia Black, the character rose to the occasion with such exhilarating independence that one would be forgiven if they forgot Nate existed in the first place. If they want to see the franchise succeed into the future, Naughty Dog should consider Lost Legacy as the blueprint and make Chloe Frazer the new face of Uncharted.

We first got introduced to Chloe in 2009’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Her character was a bond girl figure in Nathan Drake’s life. She was the sweat-inducing and morally ambiguous foil to Nate’s goody-two-shoes persona. Plus, she was the obvious losing option in a temporary love triangle between her, Drake, and Elena Fisher. Chloe seemed to be a fairly one-dimensional character at the time. Although she appeared to be a one-off character, her immense popularity with fans led to a short return in Uncharted 3, before her lessening importance in Nate’s life caused her exclusion from the series finale. The epilogue of Uncharted 4 revealed that Nate and Elena would eventually have a spirited daughter. Many of us assumed that Cassie Drake could become the franchise’s future focus. Not long after, Lost Legacy flipped everything on its head.

As it turns out, Chloe is a far more complex character than any of us thought. Much like Nate, she began adventuring to continue the legacy of a deceased parent. Her cocky attitude turned out to be a mask shielding a softer heart that she’s been hiding from the world. As such, her newly-disclosed Indian heritage immediately impacted the tone of the franchise by eliminating the age-old “white savior” factor from play. Instead of a white man entering foreign lands to steal its treasure or even save the indigenous people from the sins of somehow-even-whiter bad guys, we got a woman of color giving her country its property back.

This direction was a wildly refreshing take on the genre. It was a form of representation sorely needed in an entertainment industry usually dominated by the Nathan Drakes, Indiana Jones, and even Lara Crofts of the world. Luckily, Chloe’s story doesn’t have to end with Lost Legacy, which gave her a new outlook on life and a potentially fruitful partnership with former mercenary Nadine Ross. Naughty Dog would be smart to use this as a soft reboot of Uncharted, re-framing the story as a Robin Hood-inspired tale with Chloe at the heart of it. Should the developers insist on making a Drake part of the story, they could always make Frazer the mentor of a rebellious teenage Cassie or make Sam Drake a recurring partner with a looser moral compass.

Naughty Dog may want to bring back Nathan Drake to form marketing synergy with the aforementioned upcoming film. There is no doubt a desire at Sony to launch a franchise with the big-budget movie, and with a star like Holland attached to play Nate, it’s obvious the character won’t be disappearing anytime soon. However, Nate isn’t the only protagonist from the games getting translated to live-action. Up-and-coming actress Sophia Ali is reportedly set to bring Chloe Frazer to life in the film. Dialogue from Among Thieves, and a non-canon comic book, indicates a long history between Nate and Chloe dating back several years. We never got a clear timeline on how their relationship developed. So, the writers and Ali have plenty of room to explore the character’s past. It wouldn’t necessarily betray the information presented in the video games.

Linking what we learn about Chloe as a supporting role in the films with what we uncover about her as the lead in future digital sequels would be an exciting way to keep Holland around while Frazer continues to shine. For example, Tati Gabrielle‘s mystery role could be a romantic or villainous connection to Frazer, who comes back into play in a Lost Legacy follow-up. Ultimately, Sony and Naughty Dog have quite a few options moving forward. They can’t deny the increasing hold Chloe’s exposure is sure to have over the fandom. There isn’t a character in the series’ envelope who deserves it more. So, the companies should lean into the tide and double down on her leading qualities until her journey reaches its natural conclusion, just as Nathan Drake did not that long ago.

Source: IMDb

April 14, 2021
‘Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade’: Daman Mills To Voice Weiss the Immaculate

Final Fantasy 7 Remake surprised fans when they suddenly revealed that its upgrade to PlayStation 5 was just the beginning. The next generation of consoles will also offer a brand new DLC storyline focusing on Yuffie Kisaragi. It will be titled Intergrade. We’ll get a brand new look at Midgar and how the rest of Avalanche operates. It will include a variety of new characters.

The new DLC will also keep us busy until the next entry in the Remake franchise is released. At the tail end of the trailer, we got the reveal of a very familiar face. Weiss the Immaculate will make an appearance in the story, and his voice actor, Daman Mills, took to Twitter to share his excitement and a brand new look at the iconic character.

Words fail to describe my gratitude. I’m crying. This was my BIGGEST goal when I aimed to become a voice actor.

I’M. SO. HONORED to join the cast of #FinalFantasyVIIRemake as Weiss the Immaculate!!!! ⚔️

Thank you for bringing me to Midgar, @SquareEnix! 🤍 #FF7RIntergrade pic.twitter.com/RmOn15CfCW

— Daman Mills (@DamanMills) April 13, 2021

It is our closest look at Weiss in his Remake outfit. He is also standing in a familiar stance to players of Dirge of Cerberus. There are some hints that Weiss might have a bigger role than we initially expected. The character made their debut in the 2006 spin-off that explored the story of a secret organization known as Deepground. They planned on reawakening the Omega creature. Weiss was one of the main antagonists you faced in the game.

If you look closely in the first trailer you can see some soldiers in the Deepground uniform. He had close ties to Vincent Valentine, who was a no-show in the first trailer. They could be setting up his character as well through this additional story DLC. He and Yuffie were optional characters to unlock in the original game, which may be a reason they get the focus through additional DLC before they join the rest of the gang.

Source: Twitter, Square-Enix

April 13, 2021
Sony PlayStation’s Future at a Crossroads as Japan and the West Struggle for Control

Just recently, we covered a story regarding internal strife over at Sony PlayStation. Bloomberg had revealed how the focus on blockbuster games created a problematic environment within the company. It looks like it has also been splashing over on their relationship with the Eastern market, as a Reddit-verified AMA has led to some rather curious internal developments. The anonymous employee revealed that the relocation of their headquarter was just the beginning of a power struggle from the West that has become rather one-sided at this point. He states the following:

PlayStation is a historically Japanese brand. In the time since PlayStation debuted, America has grown to be the largest video game market. There’s been a lot of internal competition for the ‘control’ of the PlayStation brand and over the past several years you can clearly see where America has been winning. Relocation of HQ, shutdown of most of Japan Studios, and the DualSense’s X default confirm (as a final ‘f*** you’) are some of the notable examples off the top of my head.

We’ve seen the first development when they shut down the Japanese developers, who worked on smaller titles like Gravity Rush. Japan Studio has a long history with Sony, and most of its development staff were let go. Asobi Team did become a new home for some developers but is claimed to be a move due to the production studios’ lack of profitability. However, the 1993-founded studio has quite an extensive history with the brand and represented their Eastern market. They even assisted the development of Days Gone and the PlayStation 5 launch title, Demon’s Souls. It might be something to keep a close eye on as the company continues to face PlayStation 5 delivery issues and Xbox’s growing competition through their Gamepass options.

Source: Reddit via PlayStation Lifestyle, Game Industry

April 11, 2021
New ‘Uncharted’ Game and ‘The Last Of Us’ Remake In Development as Sony Faces Internal Strife

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier took a closer look at Sony’s recent issues adapting to the market and their strong focus on Blockbuster-level games. It looks like an internal shift at the company led to the company’s Sony’s Visual Arts Service Group to take a more active hand in game development. It ended up leading to some unrest with the various departments of the massive cooperation.

There are also some game-related reveals in this report. It seems Sony is working on a PlayStation 5 remake of 2013’s The Last of Us for their next-gen console. It looks like a secretive team was working on it before it got passed back to the franchise creator, Naughty Dog. The problem was that this team was never fully supported and led Michael Mumbauer, the founder of Visual Arts Service Group, to leave the company after founding this small team. This revelation also confirms that Sony’s conservative approach to its game development may hurt them in the long term. It seems at one point they wanted to remake the first Uncharted but realized that the modern game would’ve been easier to produce, but if their work would’ve been successful, they would return to their initial pitch.

Their strong focus on only allowing successful or proven studios to take the reigns on massive projects has led to some internal strife. Santa Monica, Naughty Dog, and Guerrilla Games have become their go-to choices. Their niche teams and studios have seen a high turnover, such as the Japanese office seeing massive departures. The teams behind Gravity Rush and Everybody’s Golf are no more, as the studio moves away from niche projects that aren’t 100% proven profitability worldwide. This development proves a point made by Iron Galaxy Studios founder Dave Lang.

The people funding the work are often risk-averse, and if they have to pick between a team that’s done it before, and someone trying to do it on their own for the first time, I can see why some people pick the prior developer over the latter.

The Sony Bend division has also seen the results of this new direction. Their pitch for a Days Gone sequel was canceled due to the initial game’s decent sales and mixed reviews. Now the studio is split to help Naughty Dog with a multiplayer game, which many still believe to be part of the initial The Last of Us 2 release. The other half of their team is working on a new Uncharted game. Naughty Dog will supervise the project. Yet, it is uncertain at what stage this project is at the moment. Sadly, the small team led by Mumbauer has pretty much disbanded, and these decisions are opening up a lot of questions about Sony’s future approach in the gaming market.

Source: Bloomberg

April 9, 2021