Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Photo Mode detailed

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on PlayStation 5 is a stunning game, filled with jaw-dropping action sequences, breathtaking environments, and intense battles that are perfect for capturing glorious screenshots. With the Swarm Engine taking full advantage of the PlayStation 5 hardware, pushing it to its limits to display hundreds of enemies and rich sceneries all at once, you’ll experience what it means to be a soldier in the galactic war that is Warhammer 40,000 like never before. 

Capture yourself shredding Tyranids as towering structures fall in the background. Fight alongside the relentlessly courageous Imperial Guard as they defend the Recidious solar system. The Warhammer universe has never looked so rich. Whether you’re looking to immortalize a perfectly executed move or showcase the intricate details of your armor, Photo Mode is here to make it happen.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to become a master photographer in the grim darkness of the far future. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s PlayStation 5 Photo Mode is more than just a tool—it’s your canvas to create epic, dramatic, and awe-inspiring images. Start your journey as a Warhammer photographer!

Getting started with Photo Mode

You can enter Photo Mode directly from the pause screen during any single-player session. All you need to do is press the Square button and the game will automatically stop, giving you all the time you need to frame the perfect shot. Keep in mind that Photo Mode cannot be accessed during CGI or pre-calculated cutscenes, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial moments in the narrative.

Photo Mode offers a suite of intuitive tools to help you capture the perfect image, and it starts with the ways you can customize your Space Marines (and companions) to set them up just right before the money shot:

  • Character Visibility: Celebrating the sheer power and determination of Lieutenant Titus can sometimes require him to be the only subject of your screenshots, so you can choose to show or hide your AI companions with the Character Visibility function. That’s also true for Titus himself, if you’re looking to capture his battle-brothers Chairon and/or Gadriel.
  • Helmet Visibility: Some Space Marines among you like to feel the last breaths of their enemies on their skin during combat while others prefer the extra safety and the fierce look of a Primaris Marine’s helmet. Choose whether or not to equip it in your shots with the Helmet Visibility function.
  • Facial Expressions: Add some personality to all the Space Marines in your shots with customizable facial expressions. Along with the standard Default, Helmet, and a range of intense emotions like an angry stare, a satisfied grin and more are available for you to play with.

Camera controls

Mastering the camera is key to creating stunning images:

  • Free Camera Movement: Move the camera freely on all axes, but note that it cannot stray more than 10 meters from your character or clip through walls.
  • Rotation: Rotate the camera to find the perfect angle.
  • Vertical Movement: Adjust the camera height to get the best perspective.
  • Camera Roll: Turn the camera from -90 to +90 degrees around your characters.
  • Hide UI: Temporarily hide the Photo Mode interface for an unobstructed view.

If you’d like to revert all the changes and adjustments you made since entering Photo Mode, you may press Reset Changes to return to your original framing. When everything is to your taste, all you’ll have to do to snap your picture is hit the Share button and save it using the PlayStation 5 interface you know so well.

Lens adjustments

To achieve the cinematic look you’re after, Photo Mode includes several lens options:

  • Field of View (FOV): Adjust the FOV from 50 to 115 degrees. The default in-game setting is 73.7, but you can experiment with the full range to dramatically change the feel of your shot.
  • Depth of Field (DOF): Control the distance between the closest and furthest objects in focus, ranging from 0.3 to 50.0 (default is 5.0). This setting is crucial for creating those dreamy, blurred backgrounds.
  • Focus Distance: Set the distance at which objects are in sharp focus. The range is from 0.3 to 25.0, with the default set at 3.0.
  • Blur Intensity: Control the intensity of blur for out-of-focus objects, from 0% to 100%, with a default setting of 15%.

Image effects

Fine-tune the mood and style of your screenshots with a variety of effects. For those who may be new to Virtual Photography, there are a few important subtleties we’d like to explain to let you take full advantage of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Photo Mode.

Brightness will control the overall brightness of the picture, meaning that all colors are affected at once as you brighten or darken your shot. On the contrary, Exposure will only affect the amount of light shining on your subjects and retain the colors’ true tones. Contrast allows you to increase or lower the colors’ sharpness of your shots, with either a clear difference between the bright light tones and deep dark ones or very little. Tweaking your screenshots’ Saturation setting lets you take a different approach. As with Exposure, you will be retaining the true nature of the colors and be able to play with their intensity, but an easy way to think about it is this: the more saturation you have, the less grey is in your colors and the more intense they’ll look. The less you have, the more colors will look faded and grey-ish versions of themselves.

You can also play with Bloom to blend colors at the edges of your characters and decor to obtain a blurry effect affecting your whole picture, making it distinct from the depth of field that really controls where you decide you set your primary focus and how deep you want it. Think of Bloom as how greasy do you want your camera’s lens to be  Let’s close this section with the Hue, Vignette and Film Grain settings. The first will allow you to shift all the colors in your shot at once while retaining their relative positions on the color spectrum. Your screenshots may look very different color-wise but all details will be kept. The second simply lets you add a dark tone at the edges of your picture that creeps inwards as you increase it. It’s a great way to focus people’s attention on the center of your frame while hiding some of the less interesting details around the sides. Finally, the last lets you add that authentic grainy look that you may know so well if you ever watch old motion pictures shot on film.

Filters and Overlays

In addition to the lens setting, the PlayStation 5 Photo Mode comes with a set of pre-set filters and customizable overlays:

  • Filters: Choose from Default, Monochrome, Sepia, Cold, or Warm filters to change the overall tone of your image.
  • Frames: Select from various frames like Letterbox, Bloody or Toxic to add a dramatic border to your shot.
  • Logos: Proudly display the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or the Saber Interactive logos.

Saving Your Presets

Once you’ve found the perfect combination of settings, don’t worry about losing them. Photo Mode automatically saves your adjustments within the same game session. So you can exit and re-enter without losing your hard work.

When your screenshots are ready

Share your screenshots of the 41st millennium with your PlayStation friends or show your undying bravery to the world by sharing your bloodiest, most gruesome executions with the Share button on your DualSense controller. You may even post your creations directly to your social media accounts for all of the Space Marine 2 community to see! Once you’re back in the action, enjoy stunning 4K resolution at locked 30 frames per second with Space Marine 2’s Quality Mode or opt for a smooth 60 frames per second with our Performance Mode. This combination of visual fidelity and fluid performance not only enhances the gameplay experience but also elevates the potential of Photo Mode, as you may switch between the two to increase the level of detail and overall quality.

We can’t wait to see what creations you’ll come up with, Astartes.

For the Emperor!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 releases on PlayStation 5 on September 9. Pre-order the Gold or Ultra Editions to play up to 4 days early and receive new cosmetics after release by purchasing the game’s Season Pass.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6  — hands-on report

Activision recently declassified a trove of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 intel, including hands-on with Multiplayer, round-based Zombies, and Warzone. I blasted across six new Multiplayer maps, the undead-infested Liberty Falls, and a Nuketown-inspired Resurgence map. Each Black Ops 6 mode also touts Treyarch’s new Omnimovement mechanic, adding slick fluidity to the series’ signature gunplay.

Black Ops 6 launches on PS5 and PS4 on October 25, but if you want a head start on the action check out full details on the upcoming Beta starting August 30.

Now let’s dig into the hands-on details.

Multiplayer

Omnimovement – Black Ops 6’s new marque mechanic is crackling with potential. You can now sprint and hold the Circle button to dive in any direction while maintaining 360-degree aiming control. By the time I wrapped my mind around the possibilities, and was diving down staircases and doing mid-air 180s to take out pursuers. Another favorite technique is to dive into an enemy-occupied room and gun them down before they can react. Better yet, Omnimovement is globally featured across MP, Zombies, and Warzone.

Global weapon loadouts and progression – Two huge quality-of-life improvements for Black Ops 6 make managing your arsenal smoother. Global weapon progression means you’ll have access to all the weapons and attachments you earn across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone. Additionally, any loadout or Gunsmith edits you make in one mode will be mirrored globally to the other modes.

Kill Order mode – This new mode has both teams protecting their own High-Value Target while hunting down the enemy’s HVT. Treyarch has found a slick balance between chaotic TDM-style action and a light layer of strategic, objective-based play. It’s definitely entering my regular rotation.

Body shields – Got the drop on an enemy? A new body shield mechanic lets players grab an unaware enemy for some extra protection. For a diabolical touch, Treyarch has activated proximity chat across teams to exchange words. Mind your sportsmanlike conduct! 
Best Play – Celebrate your team’s game-winning display or examine your downfall with the return of Best Play cams, which mark the end of the match with a third-person camera flourish.

Shoot doors to open them – A nice hands-free touch.

Treyarch’s MP design philosophy – Black Ops 6 marks a return to the studio’s MP bread and butter: small, fast, three-lane maps. The move away from large, expansive maps means you’ll always be around the corner from some combat. Prepare for 16 all-new maps at launch.

New Multiplayer Maps – I fought across six of the upcoming Core 6v6 maps during the hands-on event. 

  • Scud – A massive, downed radar dish acts as a map reference point. Deep winding trenches, underground passages, and explosive red barrels are scattered around the map for plenty of unpredictable action.
  • Rewind – Firefight through a U.S. city street, with the map’s namesake being a ‘90s-era video rental store within a strip mall. Close-quarters combat breaks out amidst piles of VHS tapes, with a fast-food restaurant across the road for more intense encounters.
  • Skyline – A ritzy condo atop a city skyscraper. A narrow upper-floor hallway became a central point of conflict, where plenty of ranged firefights broke out, complete with a swimming pool below to dive down into when things get heated. Watch out for the perilous elevator shafts at the map’s bottom.
  • Babylon – These crumbling, sandy ruins are a paradise for anyone craving intimate battles in tight spaces. Pack an SMG or shotgun to help clear corners.
  • Derelict – Abandoned train cars fill a shattered trainyard, creating jagged pathways through the map with unique lines of sight that will keep your head on a swivel.

Round-based Zombies

Round-based returns – Treyarch resurrects to the roots of Zombies mode with players surviving waves of progressively stronger monstrosities, demanding steady progress through the map and powering up weapons to survive. The two launch maps include the claustrophobic Terminus and colorful new Liberty Falls…

Liberty Falls map – This launch map is a slice of necrotic Americana. Blast through waves of undead while exploring the small town’s vehicle-cluttered streets, the lanes of a bowling alley, motel, comic book shop, otherworldly church, and more locations. Ziplines connect the rooftop destinations of the town, creating a layer of twisty-turny paths to learn.

Shared Door Buys – Players can now pool funds to open doors and progress through Zombies maps, which means more money for powering up your gear.

Exfil or die – Risk and reward reign in round-based Zombies. Exfil offers an opportunity to end your run on a high note, or you can go down fighting in new dramatic game over outros that change dynamically depending on where and how you die. I botched my exfil, failing to clear out the zombies swarming the landing zone in time. My resulting game over involved an armored zombie grabbing onto my escaping chopper and punching it to smithereens.

Melee Macchiato Perk – This new drink powers up your punch to send zombies flying across the map with a click of R3.

Wonder Weapons – Demolish the dead with the Ray Gun, Beamsmasher, and devastating Thrustodyne Model 23. The latter is a massive, repurposed jet engine that vacuums up zombie packs and shreds them to ribbons.

Directed Mode – Need a guide through the zombie hordes? Treyarch is releasing a new Directed Mode post-launch with Season 1, which will assist players in the Main Quest up through wave 15.

Warzone

Area 99 – The launch of Black Ops 6 is accompanied by a new Resurgence map. Area 99 is the birthplace of the iconic Black Ops map, Nuketown. An abandoned facility with a decrepit retro ‘60s vibe makes for a fresh Warzone addition.

New Points of Interest – Area 99 packs 10 tantalizing spots to land. Here are a few I fought through:

  • Pod Dormitory – These retro-futuristic multicolored dorms are made of offshoot pod-like capsule apartments. A great spot to land and possibly snag some loot, privacy, and a vantage point.
  • House Factory – A destination filled with half-constructed prefabricated houses, resulting in some interesting and unexpected sightlines. This point of interest even includes a tiny replica of the iconic Nuketown map. Cute!
  • Nuclear Reactor – Take it from me – do not jump into the glowing green irradiated coolant. 
  • Mannequin Assembly – Piles of damaged mannequins are scattered all around this facility, presumably destined for a weapons testing site somewhere.. Watch out for the hydraulic press above the conveyor belt, which is still active…
  • Other Points of Interest – Look forward to also looting Nuketown Shipping, Test Site, Bunker, Loading Bay, Cooling Towers, and Warehouse.

The weapon inspect animations are undeniably cool.

Treyarch and the rest of the COD devs have something special in store here for Black Ops fans especially, and Omnimovement is a gameplay innovation that makes the storied franchise player extra fresh once again.

But don’t just take my word for it. If you pre-ordered Black Ops 6, you’ll be able to dive into the early access beta starting tomorrow, August 30. The full game launches on October 25.

Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Everything you need to know about the Black Ops 6 beta and more, straight from Call of Duty: Next.

For Black Ops 6, Treyarch revisited the standard Multiplayer core modes, added key improvements for Domination and Hardpoint, and the brand-new Kill Order mode you can play during the Beta. Let’s get into all the Multiplayer beta information, plus new gameplay details for round-based Zombies and Warzone.

Black Ops 6 Beta dates


Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Weekend one: August 30 – September 4  

Weekend one is available to players who have pre-ordered the game and starts on August 30 at 10am PT, ending September 4 at 10am PT.

Weekend two: September 6 – 9  

The second Beta weekend is available to all players and is scheduled to begin on September 6 at 10am PT, ending on September 9 at 10am PT.

Black Ops 6 Beta rewards

Earn cosmetic rewards by reaching Player Level milestones throughout the Multiplayer Open Beta that persist through the launch of Black Ops 6 when it releases on October 25***.  

Pre-order digitally and get the Reflect 115 Camo Pack

Pre-order Black Ops 6 and you’ll receive a variety of pre-order benefits, including the brand-new Reflect 115 Camo Pack for Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone.

Pre-order the Digital Edition to receive the following:

  • Reflect 115 Camo Pack
  • Woods Operator Pack*
  • Early Access to the Open Beta**

Pre-order the Vault Edition and receive the previous rewards as well as the following:

  • Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack
  • BlackCell Season 1
  • Mastercraft Weapon Collection
  • GobbleGum Pack

Players who pre-ordered the Vault Edition can gain access to the Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack, as well as the Mastercraft Weapon Collection, during the Black Ops 6 Beta.

The Reflect 115 Camo Pack includes the Reflect 115 Mastery Camo, usable in Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone. In addition, you receive three Flawless Aetherium Crystals, three Legendary Aether Tools, and three Ray Gun Weapon Cases for immediate use in Modern Warfare Zombies. 

COD Next gameplay details 

Omnimovement

Treyarch boosts player mobility options across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone with new Omnimovement mechanics. The new feature allows players to seamlessly chain combat maneuvers together, like sliding, diving, and a newly enhanced supine prone, all with a full 360-degree range of motion.

Black Ops 6 Zombies


Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Every Zombies map coming to Black Ops 6 – including Terminus and Liberty Falls at launch and additional maps throughout upcoming Seasons – includes a multi-stage Main Quest. Whether you’re hunting through the Liberty Lanes bowling alley for a delicious can of Stamin-Up or visiting Olley’s Comics for a Quick Revive (as well as the exciting first issue of the Aetherella graphic novel), you’ll have access to the same thirst-quenching Perks found in Terminus at launch.

Call of Duty: Warzone – Area 99 Resurgence map

Welcome to the birth of Nuketown. Call of Duty: Next brought the very first live gameplay of the all-new Warzone map, Area 99, coming to Season 1 later this year. Designed by Treyarch to optimize movement flow and visibility, let’s take a closer look at a Resurgence Map set firmly in the Call of Duty: Black Ops world.

Set against the unrelenting heat of the Nevada desert, Area 99 – or more specifically, the Echo Ridge Weapons Station – was a top-secret government site constructed in the 1950s, concealed from the public just miles away from the original Nuketown testing site. Designed to push the bounds of radiation testing, Area 99 was subsequently abandoned and erased from government records after an unfortunate reactor leak.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on PS5 and PS4 on October 25. The Truth Lies.

*Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III / Call of Duty: Warzone on the pre-ordered platform required to redeem Woods Operator Pack and Reflect 115 Camo Pack. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.

**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of Open Beta subject to change. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. PlayStation Plus subscription may be required for MP Beta.

***Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately.

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for September: Quidditch Champions, MLB The Show 24, Little Nightmares II

Take flight into the wizarding world when Quidditch Champions launches September 3, making its debut as part of September’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup. That same day*, all PlayStation Plus members** can also enjoy the thrills of making themselves a sporting legend on the diamond with MLB The Show 24, or attempt to survive a horror-themed adventure with Little Nightmares II. 

Let’s take a closer look at each. 

Quidditch Champions* | PS4, PS5

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Quidditch by playing solo or sharing the magic with friends and family.

Live your Quidditch fantasy: take to the sky as one of the classic positions – Chaser, Seeker, Keeper or Beater – each with their own unique play style. Soar into legendary Quidditch arenas and new maps that showcase never-before-seen areas of the wizarding world. Take on Career Mode to progress from backyard battles in the Weasley Burrow to high-stakes showdowns at the Quidditch World Cup. Rise to become a champion either solo or in online co-op with teams of up to three friends, and launch into exhibition matches where you’ll set your teams, map and difficulty and play alone or on teams of up to three in online co-op. Or select player vs player to test your skills in competitive online matches against other Quidditch teams.

MLB The Show 24 | PS4, PS5

Swing for the fences, experience game-deciding moments, become a legend and live out your baseball dreams. Set out on the road to baseball greatness – whatever it is you want to achieve, MLB The Show 24 has got you covered.

Earn your call up from the minors to the big leagues and prove you’ve got what it takes at the top. Learn about known and unsung legends of the sport and take inspiration from their heroics. Hold your nerve when it matters and earn the right to be called World Series champions. Chalk up the wins, pick yourself up after the losses. Whatever happens, know you left nothing in the dugout. Everyone has a moment to own. Everyone has a story to tell. Unlock your moment. Own The Show. 

Little Nightmares II | PS4, PS5

Discover the sinister secrets of The Signal Tower in this horror-themed platform adventure where you control Mono, a young boy trapped in a distorted and broken world. Joined by Six, the raincoat wearing hero from the original Little Nightmares, only you can help her from fading away into nothingness. As the relationship between Mono and Six grows, the duo must work together using a combination of stealth and an array of items to overcome tricky puzzles and horrifying enemies. Muster your courage and begin your journey in the face of terrible threats in a mission to stop the source of evil that’s spreading throughout the land.

Last chance to download August’s games

PlayStation Plus members have until September 2 to add LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga, FNAF Security Breach and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights to their game libraries.

*All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on September 3 until September 30.

**PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup may differ in certain regions. Please check the PlayStation Store on launch day for your region’s lineup.

New Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gameplay – fighting and exploring the Flying Waters region

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG incorporating real-time elements, focusing on a unique journey to stop The Paintress from ever painting death again. In this early preview of the game’s initial stages, PlayStation fans will get a first look at gameplay in Flying Waters, a mysterious region where Gustave and Lune search for their missing companion, Maelle. 


New Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gameplay – fighting and exploring the Flying Waters region

Each environment within Expedition 33 offers something distinctive. Flying Waters, for example, defies conventional physics, presenting a setting that is both underwater and not. This surrealistic approach is central to the game’s design, aiming to immerse you in a world where the impossible becomes possible. Inspirations from surrealist art are woven throughout, creating a striking experience that constantly keeps you on the edge of discovery. 

In Flying Waters, you will navigate environments filled with remnants from past expeditions, such as destroyed structures, worn paths, and other telltale signs of previous groups that met untimely ends. Expedition 68 perished here, and by closely examining the area, you can piece together how they met their tragic end. 

Making these environments fun to explore was something key for us. So, we built them to be nonlinear, with a layer of verticality and full of mysteries and secrets. There are multiple tools at your disposal to reach every hidden area: a grapple, climbing hooks left by previous expeditions, ropes… Exploring a level fully will always be very rewarding and you may find secret bosses, items or even entire secret levels by being meticulous in your exploration.

 Combat in Expedition 33 blends traditional turn-based mechanics with reactive real-time elements. During battles, timing is key—whether initiating attacks or defending against incoming strikes. The battle system requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. While commands are inputted in a turn-based format allowing you to take as much time as you need to establish your strategies, you must also react swiftly during enemy attacks to defend effectively.

Basic attacks in the game deal minimal damage, so you must rely on skills and special abilities to topple powerful enemies. Many skills come with timed commands that enhance damage or provide other bonuses. As battles progress, you will see the turn order displayed on the left side of the screen, giving you a clear understanding of when to expect attacks and when to prepare your counters. You will be able to dodge using Circle and parry with R1. Dodging allows for a larger timing window, letting you evade attacks completely, while parrying demands more precise timing. A perfectly executed parry not only negates damage but can also trigger a powerful counterattack if the entire combo of an enemy is parried. And yes, this means that in theory, you can beat any enemy of the game at level 1. Good luck with that.

Each party member in Expedition 33 has their own unique playstyle, featuring abilities that can change how you approach combat. Gustave can charge his mechanical arm, building up his Overcharge to unleash a devastating special move. The longer the charge, the more spectacular and damaging the resulting attack. Lune, on the other hand, can infuse skills with elemental affinities using her ability called Stains, enabling you to exploit enemy weaknesses with devastating effects!

In battle you can also use the Free Aim system to shoot at an enemy’s weak points. The Demineur, for example, is accompanied by floating sea mines, and targeting and detonating these before you approach them will cause a chain reaction.

After battle, you can level up and allocate points to various stats and customize each character’s build. Skill Points earned in battles can be spent unlocking new abilities in each character’s unique skill tree, allowing for further specialization and strategy customization. We also have other progression systems that allow you to make really crazy builds that we can’t wait to reveal in future updates.

Bosses in Expedition 33 are powerful and usually have an element that adds to their strength in combat. Goblu is surrounded by flowers that grant it potent buffs, which can quickly turn the tide against the party. In these cases, the free-aim system becomes crucial, allowing you to target and disable these flowers, weakening Goblu and shifting the battle in your favor. Identifying and exploiting these unique boss mechanics will be vital to your victory.

This preview has offered just a glimpse into the world of Expedition 33, and we’re excited to share even more in the future. Our team is small and incredibly passionate about games in this genre, and we are dedicated to creating an experience that both honors classic RPGs and pushes boundaries in new ways that haven’t quite been done before. Our dream is to make a game that will profoundly touch players as much as the classics impacted our lives. And hey, even if we fail, we lay the trail for those who come after, right?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on PS5 in 2025 – Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

See you soon, Expeditioners!

NBA 2K25 hands-on report – Learn 2K teaches the fundamentals

NBA 2K25 launches September 4 and packs in enhancements and features aimed at both seasoned hoop gamers and rookies alike. To prepare for tip-off I got some hands-on time with the new Learn 2K mode, which is perfect for newcomers like myself. The beginner-friendly mode teaches mechanics like Rhythm Shooting and Signature Go-To Shots, and the practice boosted my confidence to hold my own on the court. 

Master the fundamentals

As the NBA great Larry Bird once said, “First, master the fundamentals.” With the hands-on event being hosted at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame I decided to do as the greats do, kicking off the experience with a deep dive into basics in the new Learn 2K mode.

Though tutorial modes are present in some past NBA 2K games, Learn 2K is a comprehensive tutorial into nearly every facet of the game from shooting to off-the-ball movement and defense. This year’s tutorial mode breaks each category of gameplay down into three difficulty levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, giving the player full control over how deep they want their arsenal of moves to be. While getting my practice reps in, I learned how precise directional analog stick movement must be to execute these effortless-looking moves on the court.

Back to the playground

In addition to the Freestyle, Scrimmage, and Practice Plays modes typically grouped into tutorials, NBA 2K25 adds a fresh way to test your fundamentals with the new Mini-Games mode. Practicing your skills competitively while under less pressure makes Mini-Games a novel addition.

The Shooting Frenzy mini-game gives you an open court to freely practice your jump shot to rack up points. The Knockout mini-game took me back to my playground hooping days, adding a bit more pressure to make three-pointers on the first try. Fail, and you’re “knocked out” by the player behind you if they make their shot first.

One of the most challenging but rewarding mini-games was Dribble Speedrun, where you play as De’Aaron Fox with the goal of sprinting while performing dribble moves on command. The mini-game’s difficulty made for a tense but amusing time, and finally nailing Fox’s tight handles on cue is truly satisfying.

Rhythm of the game

I finished the hands-on experience with QuickPlay. I set up a battle of the California coast with the Golden State Warriors vs. the LA Lakers. The opening animations and gameplay depict the player’s faces and movements faithfully, with Pro Play using real-life game footage to translate into the game. In-game, some of the new mechanics I learned made my game feel formidable.

The new Rhythm Shooting mechanic is stimulating. Hopping into an actual game made me realize the need to learn the rhythm of each player’s shot to be successful. Once getting used to the quick release of Steph Curry, the tempo-based mechanic became intuitive and made me comfortable firing off shots from any range.

Signature Go-To Shots are another new mechanic that gives beginners a fluid way to put dribbling combos and shots together. By holding the right analog stick up, each player performs their unique dribble move that transitions into a jump shot. As a 2K rookie this feature let me easily mix up my offensive tactics, making me harder to guard. Before long I was seamlessly blending up opponents to put points on the board. 

NBA 2K25 goes deep for basketball strategists but gives entry points for newcomers to work on their game. After nearly six hours of playtime, the new Learn 2K mode and gameplay mechanics made greatness feel graspable. Mastering the fundamentals is key, and you’ll have your chance when NBA 2K25 launches September 4 on PS5 and PS4.

The evolution of Astro Bot’s adorable character design

From the moment he popped out of our transformed DualShock DualShock 4 wireless controllers in Playroom VR, it was clear that Astro Bot was going to charm hearts across the galaxy. Eight years later, this amazing character is truly ready to step into the spotlight via his titular PS5 adventure – Astro Bot. So we sat down with Team Asobi’s studio director Nicolas Doucet to get into the nuts and bolts of the origins and evolution of this iconic PlayStation mascot-in-the-making.

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The Playroom

Birthing baby robots

The very first conception of Astro Bot emerged from Team Asobi’s desire to experiment with the DualShock 4 controller connection with the PS4 camera, crafting a demo provisionally titled Little AR (Augmented Reality) Men. The main characters were initially tiny robots that you could interact with on your living room floor.

“That was really the starting point,” says Doucet. “At the time we didn’t have any art, so we made prototypes out of primitive shapes. The characters were just robots made up of cylinders with little eyes. Eventually we renamed them to AR Bots.

“We worked with artists to bring these characters to life, but we only had five months to implement the demo into The Playroom. So to make them sci-fi looking within such a short period of time, we gave them a Sony robotics style. But it was also important that they were endearing, so we gave them big cute eyes and made them waddle like toddlers, so they kinda became baby robots.”

The Playroom VR

From AR Bots to Astro Bot

As the AR Bots became customized as part of The Playroom’s evolution into The Playroom VR, Astro Bot himself emerged needing a more central character to control for a VR platformer prototype, which became the Robots Rescue mini-game.

“We internally called him Captain Astro,” explains Doucet. “We added a PlayStation blue livery and more parts to have him stand out from the environment, gave him the ability to hover and modified his hands to grab things.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission

“He also had to feel tangible for VR. We looked at him as if he was a real-life robotics product – it’s a character you can take apart and understand how his joints come together.”

It wasn’t until 2018’s solo PS VR platformer, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, that Astro officially claimed his name – and with it came with the help of animation and art talent from other development teams, including Gravity Rush and The Last Guardian.

A cache of the minutiae

Making sure Astro was primed for his full solo escapade in Astro Bot Rescue Mission meant tweaking his design, both from a visual and gameplay perspective. Already gifted with classic platformer design considerations – a low center of gravity and a compact frame – Astro benefited from several little details, some made even more distinctive in Astro Bot:

Eyes
Astro’s blue LED eyes are key to his facial expressions, changing shape to convey a variety of emotions – but they’re also fundamental to the VIP Bots in the game. More on that point, later…

Jetpack
“In the original design whenever Astro hovered, two little wings came out of his back for him to glide,” says Doucet. “You don’t really notice them, but we wanted to create a rationale behind the function.”

Chrome dome
Astro Bot’s star shines in more ways than one, with the plate on his head subtly showing off the dazzling power afforded by PS5. From jungles to oceans, all the game’s environments are now fully reflected on the back of Astro’s silver head plating during his travels.

Robo voice
We might think Astro’s cute, high-pitched voice was a natural decision, but lots of thought went into what he can say, to the point that he’s secretly a bit of a polyglot. “Astro fundamentally does not talk but his sounds do mix English and Japanese, but also universal words and onomatopoeia, masked into robotic sounds,” says Doucet. “He’s being played by kids all over the world, so we also had to think about sonority, sounds and syllables that work for as many languages as possible.”

Expanding Astro’s world

It’s things like Astro’s reflective head plate that symbolizes his growth over the years, now unlocked for PS5. Being in 4K has meant more detail and higher fidelity across the board with a compatible 4K TV or display, making Astro and his companions pop, something that extends even to the game’s flora and fauna.

“There’s a lot of wildlife – about 70 new animals in this game,” says Doucet. “From frogs and small insects, to polar bears and elephants, and they all follow the design language of the bots with LED eyes. Even power-ups like Barkster the bulldog booster have the same traits. So the idea of blue LEDs for friends and red LEDs for enemies has become something of a trademark we’ve built on.”

‘Steeling’ some beloved PlayStation characters

And then there are the VIP and Cameo Bots – in-game versions of popular PlayStation-related characters – that had players buzzing with delight at their reveal. The  franchise isn’t a stranger to cameos, but Astro Bot takes it even further, with a staggering amount of consideration given to integrating its robotic tributes to Kratos, Aloy, Nathan Drake, and many others.

“They had to be a cool sci-fi design but also have things like fabrics or furry boots, so we sometimes felt we might be going against the original intent of the character,” explains Doucet. “So we substituted more organic materials, like hair, with materials such as vinyl.

“But with all of these characters, the eyes are paramount. Sometimes LED eyes just didn’t work on certain characters because the original design relies so much on the pupils being a certain size or color for instance . So for more cartoony VIPs like Crash Bandicoot or from Ape Escape, the Bots are wearing a mask to help bridge that problem!”

Excited for Astro’s first PS5 adventure? You’ve not got long to wait – space, speeders, and surprises will be yours to enjoy as Astro Bot gears up for its September 6 launch. 

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – hands-on report

When Konami announced Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on PlayStation 5, you could almost hear the iconic “!” alert ring across the gaming world’s collective ears. A remake of the stealth genre classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – originally on PlayStation 2 – coming our way? With a wealth of updates and enhancements? There’s no place for Snake to hide – the entire planet is watching…

I got to play a short demo of MGS Delta, as well as talk with the game’s producer, Noriaki Okamura, on how the game is shaping up to be much more than simply solid.

The right team for the job

It’s no small feat to remake a revered classic like MGS3. Which is exactly why Komani and Virtuos Studios’ combined development team has a mixture of talent new and familiar to the original, combining fresh eyes and safe hands.

“We had to sift out some old dev documents, but thanks to the expertise of some of the veterans who worked on Snake Eater we didn’t have to spend too much time figuring out preparation,” says Okamura. “We’re also aware that there’s an entire generation who have never played a single Metal Gear Solid game before.”

Revamped controls with traditional options

Keeping with the vital but tricky philosophy of ensuring Delta appeals to all, a strong focus has been on the controls. Traditionalists to MGS3 will feel right at home, but there’s also an option that will feel natural to modern audiences. So if you prefer to play with a third-person camera on the right stick while being able to move and fire simultaneously via an over the shoulder viewpoint, you’ve got it.

“Initially our goal was to keep things as close to the original as possible,” explains Okamura. “But obviously over the course of 20 years, the way people play games has evolved and changed. So we looked at modern action games to ensure Delta was on par with some of those, so it doesn’t detract from the experience.”

This definitely had a desired effect on my playthrough of the demo, where the changes to Delta created a satisfying illusion of how I remembered MGS3 controlled even though it wasn’t. The transition felt natural, smooth and fun.

Accessibility considerations 

The number of quality-of-life improvements also extend to a modernized menu design and a variety of accessibility options that will invaluably make the game better to play for a wider audience. This includes the ability to tweak how you ready and use your weapons/equipment, removing the need to hold down a button when grabbing enemies, and the chance to change visual elements such as color correction and the center dot display.

Utilizing Unreal Engine 5

Of course, the general presentation doesn’t fall short of upgrades, either. Unreal Engine 5 gives Delta an incredible visual punch. “We didn’t want new players coming to the game feeling that it’s old or retro,” says Okamura.

It’s an impressive feat. All the directorial flourishes remain, whether it’s taking in the deep detail and staggering background distance of the Tselinoyarsk jungle, or using the camera during a real time cutscene to zoom close enough to see the pores on Snake’s skin. 

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Visually blending the old with the new

Just like any Snake mission, however, such improvements don’t come easy. “Initially we thought we could just change the basic outside skeleton of the models,” laughs Okamura. “But once we saw them move around in the game with the old character movements, we noticed they didn’t quite blend that well anymore. So we had to tweak them – it was important to keep the player in the experience but also as close to the original way the characters moved and breathed, and still make it seamless.”

Showing off the battle damage system

Creating new looks that also feel familiar isn’t just around cosmetics, either. Konami has already highlighted that any wounds Snake picks up over his missions will be visible throughout the game, which led me to seeing how bloody Snake could get after being discovered by some guards. The answer? Well, let’s just say Snake was practically crimson by the time I was finished.

While cagey about how much this extends to the gameplay, Okamura confirmed that this will noticeably affect Snake, accentuating the original’s battle damage system. Want to keep Snake sharp? Better treat his breaks and fractures…

Playing in the Camo Index dirt

And then there’s the ever-intricate Camouflage Index System. Different uniforms, face paints and disguises help improve Snake’s chances of remaining unseen during his mission, but this is given a new dimension with the improved visuals. Roll around in dirt and mud and Snake will get convincingly covered in it, increasing his camouflage.

To test its enhanced faithfulness to the original MGS3, I dunked Snake into the Dremuchij Swampland mud, fully enveloping him (admittedly, this was after accidentally drowning him in an earlier attempt). His entire face and body became dripping wet brown, his hair sludgy and slicked… and his Camo Index maxed out, rendering him practically invisible to nearby crocodiles.

Fighting expectations old and new

If there was one final thing that was just as clear as some of Metal Gear Solid Delta’s improvements, it’s how seriously Okamura and the team take the task of reviving Snake Eater. “There’s only pressure all the time, every day,” he says.

“We have a lot of veteran staff at hand but they’re also aging out as well, so it might be the last chance for some of the critical members to work on these titles while they’re still at the company. But it’s our duty to make sure these games are still playable – not only to current players but future generations as well.”

Although the demo finished all too quickly at the fabled Boss bridge scene, it was enough to ensure to me that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is going to do justice to its original and the lofty expectations placed on it. You’ll be able to experience it for yourself on PS5, with a release date to be revealed later this year.

Concord launches on PS5 & PC today – 5v5 action, Training Mode, Time Trials, and more awaits

Hey everyone! We’re excited to share with you all that Concord* is live and available now worldwide on PS5 and PC. So, grab your crew and queue up to take down your rivals, earn cosmetics, and explore the Concord Galaxy. To celebrate this moment, we’re thrilled to debut our brand-new launch gameplay trailer.

Your adventure begins

Launch is just the first step, and now that Concord is live, your adventure is just beginning! During our first week and every week after, we’ll be premiering our weekly cinematic vignettes in-game. These brief cinematics expand upon the characters and the universe of Concord. We can’t wait for you to learn more about the Crew of the North Star, their journey, and of course their tidy ship in the coming weeks.


Concord launches on PS5 & PC today – 5v5 action, Training Mode, Time Trials, and more awaits

As you start your adventure in Concord, you’ll be able to begin expanding your character roster with the first unlockable Variant for Teo—a former elite soldier turned Freegunner on the Northstar crew. Like all Variants in Concord, this unlockable Variant of Teo will grant you a new cosmetic Outfit for Teo and a unique Combat Trait that modifies his skills and abilities—in this case, giving you extra grenades to deploy in combat. You can use them to clear out areas on the map for your team, or to just make fights a little chaotic. You can expect us to introduce a new Variant every week for you to earn and add to your collection.

Evolving the experience

Continuing to grow and evolve Concord with our community as we release regular and Seasonal content updates is such an important part of this journey. We poured through all your comments after our beta last month, including your questions about solo modes, leaver penalties, join-in-progress, and more—and we’re excited to share that many of your frequently requested features are available for launch. 

With the release of the game today, you’ll be able to learn about some of our Freegunners and game mechanics in-game with a solo Training Mode, as well as special Time Trials. We also heard your suggestions during the beta about having a way to test out Freegunners, their weapons, and their abilities before heading into a match, so based on your feedback, we’re launching with a brand-new Practice Range feature based on your feedback.  The team has also made several changes to make Crew Bonuses more apparent during character selection and in Crew Builder based on your feedback.

The lore of the broader Concord Galaxy, the Freegunners, and what awaits you in the Wilds will also expand with the debut of the Galactic Guide—an interactive map that will unlock new lore entries as you play and progress in the game. We can’t wait for you to learn more about the universe, worlds, and characters of Concord.

Ensuring teams are complete is crucial in a multiplayer experience. Following the beta, we’re thrilled to say that backfilling, join-in-progress, and leaver penalties are live in Concord with this week’s launch and will help incentivize players to start—and stay in—complete teams. This is just the start of our updates and refinement of the social experience, and we can’t wait to share more with you in the coming weeks and months.


Concord launches on PS5 & PC today – 5v5 action, Training Mode, Time Trials, and more awaits

Thank you

Before we head out into the Concord Galaxy with you, we wanted to thank all of you who have been part of the journey to this point, from Concord’s announcement and the jiggle burger teaser to beta and now launch. From the beginning, our dream was to get this game in all your hands and provide you and your friends with the same fun memories we’ve gotten from multiplayer games for years, so we can’t wait to see your clips, streams, and laughs today and beyond.

This is just the beginning, and our team can’t wait to deliver you more updates and content in future seasons. Thank you again from everyone at Firewalk! 

To stay up to date with all things Concord, follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok. If you’re looking for a crew to squad up with, be sure to also join the community in the Official Concord Discord.

*Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required. Paid for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) required on PS5.

Share of the Week: Teachers

Last week, we asked you to showcase the best teachers in the gaming world using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

horace0816 shares a stoic profile of Sadanobu Ishikawa

BitarHector shares a touching moment with Joel and Ellie

Lny_Trpr_EE7 shares a wizard passing down knowledge

Amianan_NiRaGuB shares Sokrates being a philosopher

wmcapture shares Jackie Welles deep in thought

juniaxe shares Marvin Branagh helping Leon

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?

THEME: Squads
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 28, 2024

Next week, showcase how teamwork makes the dream work by showing off your squad. Highlight your favorite crew for Share of the Week using  #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.