PlayStation announced that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will come to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 27. The PC port was a collaboration between Insomniac Games and Nixxes Software.
This version features ray-traced reflections with varying quality levels, as well as ray-traced shadows for natural light in outdoor areas in the game. Additionally, there are different aspect ratios to support ultra-wide and triple monitor set-ups such as 21:9, 32:9, and up to 48:9 resolutions.
There are also unlocked framerates and players will be able to choose from different upscaling options, including NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR2, Intel XeSS, and Insomniac’s own Temporal Injection. Both NVIDIA Reflex and NVIDIA DLAA are supported too.
We’re thrilled to partner with our friends at @NixxesSoftware to bring Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to PC! Experience the iconic duo on PC for the first time in the franchise’s history on July 26th! #RatchetPC#Ratchet20
As for the controller aspects, the game supports full mouse and keyboard support along with customizable controls. Controllers are also supported and the DualSense’s haptic feedback can be felt when hooked up with a wired connection.
Those who preorder will get early access to in-game Carbonox armor and Pixelizer weapon items. The five armors from the Digital Deluxe Edition and 20th-anniversary armor pack are included in the PC version too, as well as five additional armors based on the previous games in the franchise.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was first released on June 11, 2021, for PlayStation 5. In IGN’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart review, we said: “Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a stunner. It not only gives the latest generation of consoles a game that looks as beautiful as the improved tech promised, but it’s also a fantastic experience to play.”
Playing Diablo IV gave me a real case of the “have I changed, or have the games changed?”, and I think the answer is “yes”. For the uninitiated, Diablo forms one of the jewels in Blizzard’s crown (maybe a smaller one, just offset to the Warfcraft centre stone), an action-RPG series that’s like if the kind of 90s metal album cover that has a skeleton on it asked to be turned into a game where you explode many hundreds of near-identical monsters to get incrementally better loot. This is a spoiler-free review of the latest greatest addition, following 2012’s Diablo III, but a Diablo game’s story is sort of unspoilable, both because a) paying attention to it is of passing importance to playing, and b) the plot of them is always basically the same anyway.
To wit: Sanctuary, a high-fantasy world with a low-fantasy vibe, and where so much as going to the next town over will be a brush with some horrible little goblin rat called a Flesh Thresher, was created as a respite from the eternal battle between heaven and hell. After X number of years of relative peace, one (or many) of the Lords Of Hell is doin’ some bad stuff. Usually Diablo, I’ll grant you. In this case it’s Lilith, a kind of Dante’s Lady Dimetrescu, who’s making people horny for being stepped on power. Diablo games have always had a Grand Canyon sized gulf between the cinematics (epic; luscious; brutal) and the game in practise (clicking). IV is no different. And you know. It’s fine.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom players are using the game’s new Ultrahand ability to create some ridiculously elaborate traps to stay one step ahead of the pesky Yiga Clan.
These sneaky baddies roam the map dressed up as normal NPCs before launching an attack on Link out of the blue. Thanks to the power of respawning, however, the player is able to get one step ahead of the undercover attacker.
Though this was also a trend in predecessor Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom players like Fareeha on Twitter (below) are using the new mechanics to essentially create death traps for the poor Yiga Clan members.
Fareeha put together a remotely detonated lava shower, triggered by a bomb when the Yiga Clan member jumps out to attack. This enclosed the NPC in a box before lava spewed down from above, making short work of the enemy (though Fareeha admitted they “spent way too long on this thing”).
“I’m going to kill Ganon with a shower,” they added. All’s fair in love and war, of course, and the Yiga Clan definitely started this fight. Tears of the Kingdom players are also taken by the clan’s obsession with Link, as their hideout holds unflattering drawings of the Hyrulian.
In our 10/10 review of the game, IGN said: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up, expanding a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”
And for help with everything Tears of the Kingdom, take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide about making your way through Hyrule. In fact, you can start here:
When I previewed an early production sample of the Crucial T700, the theoretically fastest drive in the PCIe 5.0 SSDs vanguard, I said the price must be right for launch. Here was a drive that didn’t really move gaming performance beyond the best SSDs of the PCIe 4.0 generation, but could boot general read and write speeds into the stratosphere. That could be worth upgrading to, if the T700 itself stayed within reach of most PC owners.
Developer Matthias Linda has taken to Steam to detail an upcoming update for the excellent RPG Chained Echoes.
Out now for Steam and launching for other platforms in the enxt “1-2 weeks”, the V.1.2 update will add a New Game + mode to the main menu once players have cleared the game once.
Tetris gobbled up so much of my time during the early years of university, partly because it functioned as a quick break between writing essays. Those quick breaks soon became trances though, as my eyes stayed unblinking and my fingers snapped across the keyboard with a mind of their own. The best game of all time, some might argue. Professional procrastinators can now rejoice as there’s a new way to play the blocky puzzler: Setris, or Tetris with sand.
Explore the worlds of two unique, narrative-driven games this June with Games with Gold! On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, sticking to one critical moral decision is harder than you think in the poignant Adios, and then starting on June 16 listen closely as you try the outside-of-the box audio driven adventure The Vale: Shadow of the Crown.
Xbox Live Gold members will have exclusive access to these games for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. So will Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, who receive all the fantastic benefits of Gold plus access to hundreds of high-quality games with Xbox Game Pass.
One choice can change everything. You are a pig farmer in Kansas who has finally had enough of your role helping the mob dispose of bodies on your farm. Your hitman friend tries to convince you to change your mind as the two of you go about the errands of the day. He knows what saying no means. This is a meditative thoughtful game that reflects on morality and spirituality with compelling writing and phenomenal voice acting. Will this be goodbye?
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown
You can close your eyes and listen. This is one of the most unique adventures you’ll experience that leverages sound and haptic controller feedback in an audio-based adventure. Break down the barriers between you as the player and your character as you feel your enemy’s breath, listen to the crunching of footsteps or the clang of weapons. Combat is intense and very different than other combat and fantasy games.
Read more about our Games with Gold program here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all the latest news on Xbox. Like we said before, if you are an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, hundreds of high-quality games you can play on console, PC, and across devices from the cloud, and access to EA Play at no extra cost. New games are added all the time, so you’re never without something new to try when you’re looking to find your next favorite game. If you’re new, or if you’re an existing Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for Console member, join or upgrade today.
Adios is a cinematic first-person game about sticking to a complicated decision.
You’re a pig farmer in Kansas. It’s October. Cold, crisp mornings are the norm, and you have decided that you’re no longer okay with letting the mob use your pigs to dispose of bodies. When your old friend – a hitman – arrives with his assistant to deliver another body, you finally screw up the courage to tell them that you’re done.
Your friend doesn’t want you to stop. He knows that there’s no such thing as quitting, so he’ll try to convince you that you’re making a mistake. You spend the day together, doing chores and exploring the nooks and crannies of an authentic environment in the American Midwest alongside the man who will be forced to kill you, if he can’t convince you to stay.
How you respond will determine the rest of your life.
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is a story driven, action-adventure that utilizes the full potential of 3D audio and haptic controller feedback to deliver visceral gameplay that shatters the barrier between player and character. As an audio based game, The Vale sets out to breathe new life into medieval combat and provide a truly novel experience for visually impaired and sighted gamers alike.
This year, we are celebrating an incredible milestone of 30 years at Bend Studio! Time sure does fly by when you’re having fun. Since 1993, we’ve had the privilege to develop video games for three decades in beautiful Central Oregon. From the early days of puzzle games to the iconic Syphon Filter series, Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Days Gone, we are motivated to continue the evolution of Bend Studio with our next game to go another 30 years and beyond.
Before we reveal our new official merchandise to celebrate our anniversary, read a few words from various members of our studio that have played a critical role over the years in creating the games we all know and love. To every past and present developer that contributed to a Bend Studio game, thank you for your hard work:
“As we celebrate Bend Studio’s 30th Anniversary, I am filled with a profound sense of accomplishment and pride. Reflecting on the remarkable journey over these past three decades I am truly grateful for the opportunity to witness the growth and success of the studio that has allowed me to work with an incredibly talented cast of team members that have all, in their own individual way, created the formative DNA that is the foundation of Bend Studio today.”
– Christopher Reese, Head of Bend Studio
“From Syphon Filter to Days Gone, Bend Studio has always excelled at creating compelling adventures in realistic worlds. Bend Studio applied vision, grit, ingenuity, and technical innovation to bring a city to life around the subway station in the original Syphon Filter, and that same alchemy produced an entire ecosystem in Days Gone. I can’t wait for the world to see what this ambitious team has in store for us next.”
– Connie Booth, SVP Head of Internal Production, PlayStation Studios and Executive Producer, Syphon Filter
“As much I love the games that I’ve been fortunate enough to work on, Bend Studio to me has always been about the people I’ve met on this journey.”
– Darren Yager, Manager, Design
“I have been at Bend Studio for 19 years now, and while it has tripled in size, and some of the faces have changed, its strength remains in the talent and passion of its developers. We have accomplished more than anyone could have expected from a team our size, and it’s because we love what we do and we have a fierce desire to make memorable experiences for our players.”
– Darren Chisum, Tech Director, Gameplay
“After shipping titles on PSP, such as Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow and Resistance: Retribution, we rose to the challenge of adapting the Uncharted series to PS Vita as a launch title in Japan and the US. Being able to take an iconic franchise to create a new game with new characters on a new platform as a launch title was very rewarding and memorable.”
– Gerald Harrison, Director, Art
“When I joined the Bend Studio team over 17 years ago, I was moving back to Bend, my home town. I feel lucky to be living in the town where I grew up–to have the privilege of working with such a smart, experienced, and creative team and at the same time being able to ski, bike, and enjoy the quality of life that Bend is famous for. While developing Days Gone, I’ll never forget the first time I drove the bike along a ridge, stopped, and watched a spectacular sunset over the mountains where I grew up skiing and backpacking–it was a truly incredible experience to recreate the natural beauty out my office windows in a game!”
– John Hoffman, Director, Programming
“Happy 30 years (three decades)! I feel so incredibly honored and proud to be a part of this studio. I’m looking forward to what we’re going to accomplish and wow the world in the next 30 years. There’s something truly special about Bend Studio and I am truly grateful to be on this journey with our dedicated, passionate, and extremely talented team!”
– Julie O’Leary, Senior Producer
“I feel honored to have spent the last five years at Bend Studio as it holds a special place in my heart, being the first game studio I’ve ever worked at. Everyone here has drive, compassion, and hospitality that has made my move across the country well worth it. Happy 30th Bend! I’m so excited about the direction we’re heading, and I can’t wait to keep growing as a dev here.”
– Laura Reilly, Programmer
“Thank you for celebrating this 30-year milestone with us! For three decades, Bend Studio has strived to deliver memorable experiences through both thrilling adventures and captivating stories. Our games represent our commitment through rich worlds, heartfelt characters, and immersive gameplay. As we embark on this next chapter of our journey, we promise to continue pushing the boundaries of gaming, and use our passion and dedication to bring you the best games we can. Here’s to the exciting adventures that lie ahead!”
– Marlena Hanne, Senior Narrative Designer
“With more than a decade here at Bend, I am extremely humbled by the talent and ability of this team as well as the commitment of the studio leadership and PlayStation to the well-being and happiness of each one of us throughout the years. We are a family that is working towards a unified goal to create rich and rewarding experiences for both our fans and the members of the team. Happy 30th Anniversary to Bend Studio, I can’t imagine being anywhere else and I look forward to the next 30!”
– Nate Weikert, Supervisor, Design
A milestone of this magnitude deserves new official Bend Studio merchandise for our players to rep our new logo for the first time! Good news, it hits the PlayStation Gear Store today!
First, we have an original poster by Oliver Barrett featuring multiple characters across all Bend Studio games. Third person action-adventure games have been the bread and butter for our team across this amazing journey, so what better way to encapsulate our past games than with a poster featuring the characters that impacted us along the way. We are very proud of each game we’ve created during our 30 year journey, and this poster is a perfect way to highlight our games in one epic presentation that represents the history of Bend Studio.
Caption: Print size: 18” x 24”
Our main goal for this poster was to develop a concept that players will want to proudly display in a prominent spot on their wall, while providing that Bend touch. Oliver’s style and approach immediately drew us back to his work to provide a special poster to highlight the 30th Anniversary. If you remember, Oliver was also the one who designed the vinyl cover for the Days Gone – Original Video Game Soundtrack.
You’ll notice Deacon St. John speeding toward us on his Drifter bike with a trail of smoke behind him made up of characters from Syphon Filter, Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Days Gone. If you look closely, you may see some nods to our unique location in Bend, Oregon too, but we won’t spoil it yet. On the left-hand side is a subtle timeline including all the games we’ve developed over our 30 years. This is a must-have if you’re a fan of any of our games!
Next up is an original Days Gone t-shirt design created in-house at Bend Studio. This unique design features Deacon St. John on the back of a black t-shirt next to the 30th Anniversary logo all in one slick look. Represent Bend Studio with a red colorway logo stamped on the front! Our new Days Gone t-shirt is a thank you letter to our community for the love and support you have shared for our game since we launched in 2019 on PlayStation 4. Like Deacon and Boozer with their Mongrels cuts, we hope you will wear this shirt with pride!
Pre-orders for both the poster and t-shirt are available today on the PlayStation Gear Store with an expected ship date of July!
If you’re looking to experience some of Bend Studio’s legacy titles to see where it all began, you can play Syphon Filter, Syphon Filter 2, Syphon Filter 3, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, and Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow on PlayStation Plus via the Classics Catalog right now!
Thank you for 30 years of playing our games and sharing your love for our worlds! Whether you’ve been with us from the Syphon Filter days, or recently joined our community from Days Gone, we hope you will continue to embark on this remarkable journey with us as we head into an exciting future at Bend Studio.
If you pick up the new merchandise we announced today, let us know on Twitter and Instagram by using #Bend30 to join the celebration with us!
The Tears of the Kingdom community has discovered a new time saving trick that allows players to solve select Korok puzzles in a matter of seconds using Link’s weapon fuse ability.
Pointed out by Twitter user aquatic_ambi (below), the Korok puzzles that have Link find a missing rock to complete a pattern on the ground can be completed using a rock-fused weapon. By performing a jump attack at the location of the missing pebble using said weapon, or by otherwise positioning the rock end in the gap, the puzzle will be considered complete.
“You have done us all a great service today. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to recover from my mind getting blow by this,” said one of the many Twitter users responding to the video highlighting the trick.
“Excuse me what? I swear this game just has way too many things that I haven’t discovered yet,” commented another excited player. “It counts?!,” digitally shrieked another, “What the heck have I been doing”.
Regardless, it’s a timesaver in a game packed with exciting things to do, and represents yet another way that players are making use of Link’s new abilities to get one over on and generally torment the woodland folk.
Take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide for more tips and tricks to help you make the most of your adventure through Hyrule. In fact, you can start right here:
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
Developers Iron Gate have been receiving questions about Valheim mods, and “what we as a company approve of – as well as what we don’t approve of.” So the team decided to clear up their stance on mods, and most notably, their stance on paid mods which is what they’ve been asked about the most.
