Category: PlayStation

We got to chat with Jann Mardenborough, the “gamer to racer” subject at the heart of the Gran Turismo movie, with topics ranging from his experience in GT Academy to stunt driving for the film about his incredible life. 

Check out a new clip from the movie before Gran Turismo hits US theaters August 25: 

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It goes without saying that your story, going from Gran Turismo fan to pro driver and subject of a Hollywood movie, must be very surreal. Now that the film is so close to release, what does this moment feel like for you?

It felt surreal the first time I heard about the film being considered in the first place, and it’s still weird even now. I still can’t get over the fact that my story is “forever.” I’m still trying to process that my journey, my family name, is now immortalized for future generations to see. I like thinking this is something my grandkids can look back on and be proud of.

Going back to the beginning, what made you decide to become an entrant in GT Academy? Was there a specific “Eureka!” moment?

I had wanted to be a racing driver since I was five or six years old. But, as I got older, the dream felt less and less attainable coming from a “normal” family, with two parents who live relatively normal lives and perform normal jobs. I didn’t know anyone who could sponsor me, so I shelved that idea while I was at school. I was too young to enter the first GT Academy, but I was also too busy with school at the time regardless.

It wasn’t until 2011 that the stars aligned. I had just dropped out of uni about three months prior, and I found myself in a position to put all my eggs in one basket. 

I thought, “Let’s just see how far I can take this.” 

What was the GT Academy training experience like, and what were the most difficult adjustments to make when racing on a real track for the first time? What differences stood out to you most when you first started driving professionally?

The biggest adjustment had to do with my vision. At home, I had always played GT on a tiny 17-inch screen. That’s what I used for years. 

Then, when I got in a real car and had an instructor sitting next to me, who had a mirror that allowed him to watch where my eyes were focusing, it became clear that I would constantly look at the floor instead of looking ahead down the track. Your field of view is radically different in a car compared to when your view is constrained to a small TV; during a race, you’ll often be driving in the opposite direction of where you’re actually looking. This took months of reprogramming and adjustment. 

The rest felt easy—even when, at 19 years old, I first got behind the wheel of a 485-horsepower GTR at Silverstone Circuit. As I was strapping myself in I thought, “Okay, how is this going to feel now? And, well, it felt normal. From the breaking and throttling inputs, to the way the car would steer and pitch around corners, driving the car felt oddly familiar. Aside from the additional sense of vibration and feedback through the steering wheel and seats, the car handled the way that GT had prepared me for.

It probably helped that at 19 I felt a lot less risk averse. I just wanted to go fast and develop as quickly as possible.

Does this relatively straightforward adjustment period attest to the quality of the simulation in the GT games? Would the experience have been vastly different if you hadn’t spent so much time with them? 

Of course. I had no professional racing experience otherwise: I had never karted nor driven on a track, and my first time driving on an expressway was in transit to GT Academy. At that point in my life, I had only ever driven within 30 or 40 miles of my home in Cardiff. All my friends were there and we never had a reason to drive anywhere else.

I was a blank slate, which I think worked to my advantage. I didn’t have any other preconceived ideas about how to drive a racing car or take it to its limit. All I had was the game, and this made it easier for me to internalize all the instruction I was getting. I didn’t have to unlearn any bad habits or bad advice. 

At least for me, the Gran Turismo games allowed me to circumvent the tens of thousands of dollars some parents pay in preparing their children to become a pro race driver. I was able to skip all that because of the game. 

Aside from lending your life story to the premise of the film, you also got the opportunity to perform stunt driving sequences on behalf of the actor depicting you. What was that like, and how else were you involved in the production? 

I was first approached about driving in the film early last year, and the producers were a bit wary, warning me that I’d have to do a lot of waiting around. But that didn’t bother me. I just said, “I’m in; this is going to be amazing.” I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to be part of such a fundamental aspect of the story, which felt a lot more significant than, say, a walk-on cameo.

As part of this process I got to meet some legendary stunt drivers—like Steve Kelso, who drove for Talladega Nights, as well as the driver for Kitt in Knight Rider. These super experienced guys were all part of the team and it was an honor to learn from them. 

Otherwise, I’ve been involved with the project since the first script was written back in 2019, and all of the people I’ve worked with at Sony Pictures have been awesome. The producers have been very generous in involving me and taking my input on each script draft.

Once on set, I was asked if I wanted to help review the dailies, but I declined because that’s not my world. I was happy with the script and the cast, and wouldn’t know how to properly assess unfinished footage. That’s not my world. 

With Gran Turismo nearing release, where do you see your career going from here?

I can only look ahead by about two years, since anything beyond that is too hard to predict, but I really want to do Le Mans. That race is my goal for next year. I’d also want to return to Japan to compete in Super GT. But I’m very flexible right now; I want to race into my late 40s as a professional. I haven’t peaked as a driver and I’m still hungry. 

What do you hope the audience will take away from learning your story?

I hope people take away that you can do anything you dream and set your mind to. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but you only have one life—why would you spend years doing something that doesn’t satisfy you or give you purpose? So, I hope the story in Gran Turismo can help motivate people to take a different path in their lives, where they feel more satisfied and complete. I’m very lucky that I had this opportunity when I was 19.

To close things out, we’ve got a rapid fire set of questions:

What’s your personal favorite game in the series? 

I’m torn between Gran Turismo 2 and 3. Both were massive advancements over their predecessors and had a profound impact on me when they came out. Gran Turismo 2 had the better car and track selection—and the best intro—but the visual upgrades in GT3 were profound. I still have very fond memories of playing that game for an entire summer when it came out. 

Favorite car to race with in Gran Turismo? 

The Toyota GT-One in Gran Turismo 2—the LMP car.

Favorite car to drive in real life? 

The Nissan GTR GT500 car that I drove in Japan from 2017 until the end of 2020.
It’s a proper race car: two liters, 700-horsepower, lots of downforce, and weighs a ton.

Favorite racetrack in GT?

Grand Valley Speedway, hands down. I wish it was real because it’s just so gorgeous and has an incredible atmosphere. 

Favorite track to race on professionally? 

Sportland Sugo, a little circuit in Sendai (north of Tokyo). It’s like a miniature Nürburgring.

Favorite music track from the GT series?

“My Favourite Game” from GT2 and, of course, “Moon Over the Castle.” They’re both still on my workout playlist because I’m fueled by nostalgia!

Gran Turismo 7 is now available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, as well as PlayStation VR2 following a free update earlier this year. Gran Turismo arrives exclusively in US theaters August 25. https://www.granturismo.movie/

Hello–It’s unbelievable to me that it has been seven years since No Man’s Sky was released, and to celebrate today we are releasing our largest update of the year – No Man’s Sky Echoes.

Our aim with Echoes is to breathe new life into the universe, with a new robotic race, our first race introduced since launch in 2016. We have also overhauled space combat with a focus on creating truly epic space battles, introducing freighter to freighter battles for the first time.

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New robot race

In Echoes, travelers will discover a never-before-seen, long-hidden race of robots with rich new story content–engaging in robot assignments and rituals to earn a huge array of mechanical parts to create their own robotic avatar.

New pirate freighters bring huge space battles to the universe. Defend fleets from pirates. Fly through enemy trenches to sabotage their shields, and destroy them!

Players can search out and assemble their own sci-fi ceremonial staff. Level these up with unique technology to mine and battle your way through the universe.

Travelers can now search for, trade, and scrap weapons, allowing players to become Multi-tool scrap merchants. Travelers can also choose from a wider array of weapons and tools, including the staff and a new powerful Atlas weapon.

Chronicle your journey

This year we introduced the ability to store a catalog of player’s most wondrous discoveries. A new holographic museum allows you to decorate and display your favorite weird and wonderful discoveries in your base for others to visit and see.

The Voyagers expedition starts soon for the adventurers who seek to explore the universe and catalog its marvels. Together with a Twitch Drops campaign this brings a host of new content and rewards for players.

Improved quality dynamics on PS VR2

Rendering quality, stability and performance has improved across the board in this update. In particular, for PS VR2 players, foveated rendering brings a large quality improvement throughout the game. Whether you’re standing on a vista overlooking a planetary landscape, or marveling at the beauty and expanse of the solar system, the virtual universe has never looked better.

These are just a few of the things that PlayStation players can look forward to when diving into the Echoes update today.

It has already been a pretty busy year for the small No Man’s Sky team with the launch of the Fractal and Interceptor updates, along with the major Singularity expedition. Fittingly Echoes marks our 7th anniversary by making our universe more exciting, dangerous and interesting to explore. No Man’s Sky Echoes is out now on PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and PS VR.

Our journey continues.

If you’re a fan of RPGs, there’s a chance you’ve joined the ranks of millions of players around the globe who have fallen in love with Persona. Great characters, lengthy and engrossing stories, and challenging, strategic gameplay have built Persona into one of the premiere RPG series. Once you’re pulled into the universe of a Persona game, it’s an experience that will leave you craving more. To satisfy that hunger for top-class gaming experiences, Atlus is releasing two Persona titles over the coming months: the strategic spinoff Persona 5 Tactica out November 17 and the highly anticipated remake Persona 3 Reload launching in February 2024, both releasing on PS5 and PS4. We had a chance to play both games recently, so read on and learn more about what to expect!

Persona 5 Tactica: New realm of royal regard

Persona 5 Tactica is a very different experience from the preceding series. It’s not a remake–rather, it’s a spin-off featuring the beloved Phantom Thieves gang we came to love in Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal being whisked away to a whole new genre. Sometime during the events of Persona 5, the team sits in Leblanc, watching the news and discussing events, when they see a report about a missing politician. No sooner than the report ends the TV starts going haywire and everyone finds themselves in a strange new place with their Phantom Thieves garb on. It’s not a Palace, but it does seem like a place with ties to royalty, with a visual theme akin to historical France… and a laughing villainess named Marie.

This otherworldly kingdom has been overrun by spectral Legionnaires, and their tyranny is only kept in check by the Rebel Corps led by the enigmatic Erina, who the Phantom Thieves quickly find common ground with. But the rules of engagement in this realm are quite different from their usual battles.

Join the grid-based revolution

The enemy skirmishes in Persona 5 Tactica take place on a grid. Here, during your turn, you can position individual characters and have them perform various actions: ranged gun attacks, close-range melee strikes, or a variety of Persona techniques that consume SP.

The crux of combat involves positioning. Each character has a unique movement range that can be affected by their current position and terrain. Additionally, characters can use obstacles and barriers on the battlefield as cover to reduce or nullify damage from enemy gunfire. The range and use of Persona skills can also be affected by that character’s location.

Where the strategy starts to get deep and juicy is figuring out how to manipulate the enemy into a disadvantage while holding the upper hand in your own position. Close-range melee strikes can knock down enemies or even push them into a different place on the map–but they can also leave you as a sitting duck on the enemy’s turn if you aren’t careful. Hitting an enemy’s weakness can knock them down and grant the attacking character an extra opportunity to move and attack, but that same rule applies to your foes, as well. Carefully downing enemies and maneuvering members of your squad into a triangle formation allows you to perform a multi-character Triple Threat attack, delivering a massive blow to multiple enemies caught in the crossfire. But even in the heat of battle, sometimes the best strategy is to wait and see–being in the right place at the right time might just grant some benefits.

You won’t have to wait too much longer to take up the mask once again and join the rebellion–Persona 5 Tactica launches November 17 on PS5 and PS4.

Persona 3 Reload: Back to the old-school

Persona 3 Reload is a ground-up remake of the groundbreaking PS2 RPG that established many traditions for Persona games that followed. Our demo took us into two distinct portions towards the beginning of the game: the first few levels of the ever-morphing maze Tartarus, and a challenging team expedition/boss battle on a monorail ride gone haywire.

Winding mazes of Tartarus

Tartarus is a towering, many-floored domain of malevolent Shadows that emerges during the Dark Hour, a period of time late at night imperceptible to most of humanity… save for a handful of students at Gekkoukan High School. It’s up to these students, the Special Extracurricular Execution Squad, to attempt to conquer the maze, level by level, night by night, until its mysteries unravel–not an easy task when its shape is constantly transforming!

We took the starting SEES expedition lineup, consisting of the player hero character, ace archer Yukari, and sarcastic slacker Junpei, for an initial expedition through the dark and winding mazes of Tartarus. The isometric view of the original has been replaced with a more traditional third-person perspective, which really allows players to enjoy the much-enhanced exploration and navigation features.

Touch a shadow in Tartarus, and it’s off to the turn-based, weakness-exploiting combat Persona fans have come to love. Unlike the original, you have full control of all party members from the get-go–no awkward CPU-controlled combat choices–and a revised menu interface both adds immense style and makes flying through menus a breeze. If you’ve been on a Tartarus trek in the past, you might be pleased to know that all that old knowledge of enemy behavior from older versions of P3 still applies here–but with new Persona skills from later games added into the mix, you’ve now got even more options in a heated battle.

Battle under a full moon

The second part of the demo – a battle under the full moon on a shadow-controlled monorail about to go off the rails–was a bit more straightforward but also considerably more intense. The trio is forced to hurry and prevent a mass-casualty disaster–including a timed encounter with a resilient and very suggestive boss with a seemingly endless supply of summoned shadow minions to do her bidding, forcing lots of strategic skill use. Here we got to see some of Yukari and Junpei’s character traits shine through as they reacted to the crisis, resulting in some big team bonding in the end.

The gameplay and storytelling of Persona 3 Reload remain just as engaging as it always was, and it’s all bolstered by the improved visuals of both the environments and the characters. The character models in particular are stunning, looking like they leaped straight from the pages of character designer Shigenori Soejima’s sketchbook into the game. Whether you’re a veteran Persona fan or a relative newcomer, there will be plenty to experience and/or remember when Persona 3 Reload releases in February 2024.

The time to finish them is near once again. While Mortal Kombat 1 is the twelfth entry in the long-running series, NetherRealm Studios has managed to find a way to recreate the iconic fighter yet again, forging a new era for the franchise after the events of Mortal Kombat 11.

Upon sitting down for some dedicated hands-on time with the game’s story mode and all-new Invasion mode, I discovered a fighter that embodies everything that makes Mortal Kombat the series that has earned a dedicated fanbase and molds it into something new, packing in a cinematic, twist-filled story, new modes and gameplay mechanics. It’ll be a must for anyone who’s found themselves quoting that iconic line “Finish Them!” over the years. So get over here, and read on for more details. 

A cinematic tale for a new era

A new Mortal Kombat title means a new story mode: hours of entertainment for anyone ready to enter a new realm. These games have become known for hosting some of the best movie-like story modes in gaming, and Mortal Kombat 1 is no different.

Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t just a new era in name alone. The game occurs in a fresh timeline created by the newly crowned Fire God, Liu Kang. Characters’ roles have switched, and designs changed, such as Kuai Liang—The second Sub Zero— being the Scorpion of this world. Starting as soon as the first chapter, which I could fully explore, these surprises made themselves evident. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there are many jaw-dropping moments, with Ed Boon even teasing the wildest ending in franchise history.

An RPG in my Mortal Kombat

Invasion is a new mode where you explore a board game-like map that I found to be a welcome addition. In it, I took my party of characters on an adventure where I could level them up, equip them with tons of loot, and take on hordes of enemies while unlocking new areas across the map.

Invasion mode isn’t just there for a good time. While traveling the realms, you’ll find yourself unlocking in-game kurrency, concept art, and more goodies you can enjoy in other modes.

As with Factions, Towers, and similar modes in past Mortal Kombat titles, NetherRealm Studios promises a constantly updated experience with Invasion. As the title states, the mode is based around different enemies and factions invading other realms in an attempt to konquer them, such as a Scorpion from a different reality invading the new era. Invaders will make themselves known throughout the game’s lifespan, and with each comes a new challenge, more traversing, and more unlockables to acquire. 

The greatest surprise of Invasion is how well NetherRealm has used it as a love letter to the entirety of Mortal Kombat. While exploring each map, you’ll run into different minigames, such as classic Arcade Towers to take on and others like Test Your Might. These are excellent ways to break up the pace of random encounters and discovering keys to continue the journey.

Battles for true kombatants

This time around, you’ll not be fighting alone. Mortal Kombat 1 introduces an assisting partner as a main battle mechanic that can be used throughout each of your bouts. These side characters can’t be tagged into, but at the press of a button will jump in for a few seconds to throw out an attack to aid you in battle. You can use them to grab, throw projectiles, extend combos, and even help out for an X-Ray or Fatality finisher if the situation calls for it. They look cool and add a new layer to Mortal Kombat, not seen since the tag team mode of Mortal Kombat (2011).

With Mortal Kombat’s reality resetting again, the characters have followed suit. This allows NetherRealm to provide new styles to old faces and even bring back some faces we haven’t seen for some time, like Li Mei and Havik. This gives the series a breath of fresh air and makes for a roster with nothing but diverse playstyles.

The game offers some nice audio cues to help during the midst of battle through the DualSense controller: players will hear when the battle begins, their health is low, and different meters fill during fights. 

You can be at the helm of Earthrealm’s protective forces alongside Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Li Mei, and more klassic characters when Mortal Kombat 1 hits PlayStation 5 on September 14.

Granblue Fantasy is a known player when it comes to mobile games. It dominated the market for nearly a decade, and with new content released weekly since its inception, it is one of gaming’s most expansive MMORPGs. With millions of players worldwide, countless storylines, and a plethora of colorful characters, the franchise now enters a new unknown world — console gaming. 

A whole new fantasy 

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a spinoff title in the universe of Granblue for PlayStation. It features a never-before-told story centered around the Captain, the player character, as they explore the Sky Realm. Unlike the main series, the game features a sizable single-player campaign and four-player co-op mode. 

With the shift to console gaming, Cygames wanted battles to feel like spectacles, and they do. Compared to previous games in the series, Relink is an action RPG where players choose from four different adventures on a team at a time, which adventurer you choose significantly changes your battle experience. From quick and nimble range characters to heavy damage-dealing warriors, see the MMO DNA as fights unfold, and remember to remain ever-present through the colorful spectacle of battle. Enemies shoot out status effects, work to separate you from your party, and try to stop links from happening, which are combo attacks with party members. Link together all four members to perform flashy combos that deal massive damage to anything that moves. 

RPG for all 

Considering fans of the franchise may come from mobile, anime, and other media areas, the combat and gear design are streamlined while not alienating more seasoned gamers. Instead of a sprawling open world, the game is divided into large open area levels. Customize your gear and team before entering to tackle those specific challenges. 

There are two assist modes for those new to action-adventure RPGs or gaming altogether. Assist mode is played using only one analog stick and one button to combo and attack, while full assist mode is played with just one analog stick, as the characters auto-attack and combo in every altercation. 

Exploration is encouraged as hidden bosses, and treasures exist for those willing to seek them out. The characters themselves also help bring the world to life, with constant playful banter going on while exploring and even during fights. 

Outside the main story, a four-player co-op mode focuses on tackling the quest for that authentic MMORPG experience. There are over 100 right out the gate, centering around challenging bosses and raiding new areas. Thoughtful teamwork is required, but you’re free to change your loadout for each individual and take them on at your own pace. 

Story and spectacle 

Ancient gods known as Primal Beasts rule this world, and evil forces seek to unleash them upon the land. Cross paths with them at different points in the story, each one being unique and featuring large-scale battles against creatures that reach into the sky or change the landscape–lending to impressive gameplay moments. 

For those looking to learn more about the universe, the anime adaption Granblue Fantasy The Animation will get you up to speed on all you need to know before getting into the game.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink looks to live up to its storied legacy and is a title to check out if you’re a fantasy fan across any genre. Coming to PS5 and PS4 on February 1, 2024.

A particular greeting to those who survived the Maw and the Pale City, brace yourselves, for you might not be so lucky at our next destination.

It’s with great pleasure that we now prepare you to return to our charming world of darkest dreams known as The Nowhere.

Welcome to Little Nightmares III.

In Little Nightmares III, we expect no less than what we have always expected from you children: courage, cleverness, and imagination. If you think you’ve come well-equipped, please proceed (at your own risk).

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For the first time in the Little Nightmares franchise, you can face these new horrors with a friend using online co-op. Or, if you’d rather embark on this journey by yourself, you’ll also be able to play solo with an AI companion.

You’ll play as Low and Alone. Two lost children seeking a way out of this gloomy world and trying to escape a greater threat lurking in the shadows.

Low and Alone are each equipped with their own iconic items that will allow you to solve various puzzles and defend yourself against the new and dangerous challenges that await you. You’ll be able to interact with the world using Low’s bow and arrows and Alone’s wrench, but you’ll also need your wits, tenacity, and creativity to survive your trip across the Spiral.

The game’s first chapter takes place in the desert sands and ruins of The Necropolis, a city of eternal energy and certain death powered by gusting winds. The ancient metropolis is now more of a ghost town. And it’s unclear what happened to its inhabitants, but perhaps a giant baby had something to do with it.

The Necropolis is the home of Monster Baby, a new Resident with swiveling doll-like eyes who is, due to her bulk, an agent of sheer destructive force. She may not seem cruel or malevolent at first sight, but her size, clumsiness, and curiosity might become dangerous for our dear Visitors.

Low and Alone will have to find a way to navigate these ruins while staying out of her way – and Monster Baby is far from the only danger they’ll face.

So, are you ready to dive deeper into the twisted world of Little Nightmares III?

The game will be released on PS5 & PS4 in 2024.

Last July Madison was released on PS4 and PS5, both digital and physical. One year later, we’re excited to share new details on Madison VR gameplay. Let’s take a look at the horrors that await you when it launches on PlayStation VR2 this Halloween season.

Madison VR plunges you deeper into its immersive and terrifying world. With the utilization of an instant camera in your virtual hands you can bridge the gap between our world and the unknown. Snap photos, develop them by yourself to solve puzzles, explore the shadows and above all, survive.

Graphics

Since launch, we’ve been working on visual enhancements that will immerse you even deeper into the horrors of Madison, fully in VR this time around. 

From lighting, textures to 3D objects and much more, everything has been meticulously polished to elevate the game’s immersion and graphical fidelity. The result is a truly terrifying and nerve-wracking experience.

Immersion

Taking full advantage of the PS VR2 technology you will feel new levels of intense immersion. Thanks to PS VR2 OLED displays and the eye-tracking feature your eyes will keep you engaged. 3D Audio helps your ears distinguish the position of what’s breathing down your neck. Your hands… will appear to be Luca’s hands, our main character. PS VR2 Sense controller haptics and adaptive triggers sell an immersive and tactical horror experience.

Interactive environments

One of the most significant changes in Madison VR include new opportunities to interact with the environment and inspect even the smallest detail. You will be able to pick up and interact with all kinds of objects with your own hands. Just be careful what you pick up…

Instant camera & photos

Incorporating VR technology was always in mind since the first conception of Madison, back in 2016. The main mechanic – taking a photograph and being able to develop it with one’s own hands by shaking the instant photo – was envisioned to be transferred to the VR plane from the very beginning, and today we have achieved that.

In Madison, the instant camera plays a fundamental role as it has the ability to connect the world of the living with the beyond, and it will accompany you throughout the whole story. With it, you’ll be able to solve puzzles, expose hidden secrets of the spine-chilling environments, cast light into the darkest corners, and leverage it as a lifeline in your fight for survival.

This time, brace yourself to take control of the camera with your own hands, aim, and boldly say “cheese!” to your worst nightmares.

Every time you take a photograph in the game, the camera will eject the print from its front. You’ll need to grab the photo with your other hand, and shake it to develop it quickly and see its content. Not all photographs will show something out of the ordinary; some will reveal disturbing information you are unable to see with your naked eye, while others… will burn in your own hands.

Check out a new look at Madison VR gameplay below:

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Madison VR will be available for purchase both physical and digital for the PS VR2 this Halloween season. Hope you enjoyed this update and don’t forget to stay tuned! We have a few more surprises and reveals coming before launch.