Category: PlayStation

Hey there, PlayStation Stars members! It’s almost June, and we’ve got new campaigns and digital collectibles coming your way. Get ready to put your skills to the test again and make some new memories. Keep an eye out for more updates on PlayStation App throughout the month. Now let’s jump into the featured lineup for June.

Score points with NBA 2K23 on PlayStation Plus

Available June 6 for all PlayStation Plus members

Starting on June 6, PlayStation Plus members can get 50 points by playing NBA 2K23. Check out the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games announcement for June to discover the exciting titles available this month.

Get rewards for playing selected titles on PlayStation VR2

Available June 1

PlayStation Stars members can get 50 points by playing any one of the following games on PlayStation VR2:

• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Resident Evil Village
• Gran Turismo 7
• No Man’s Sky
• Tetris Effect: Connected
• Kayak VR: Mirage

These games for PlayStation VR2 have thrilled and chilled us to the core. From heart-stopping horror to pulse-pounding racing, there’s something for everyone.

Hard Game Club | Dead Space 

Available June 1

Join the Hard Game Club by completing difficult in-game challenges in some of PlayStation’s toughest games to get exclusive digital collectibles.

This month’s featured game is Dead Space. To get the June Hard Game Club Balloon digital collectible, members must complete the “Untouchable” trophy challenge in Dead Space. Take on the challenge and once completed, you will receive this month’s digital collectible. Good luck!

PlayStation & You Limited Release Digital Collectibles

“PlayStation & You” is a recurring campaign that celebrates players who have been with us over the years. Here are two of the campaigns we’ll have in June.

PlayStation & You: PlayStation 3D Glasses

Available June 1

We’re celebrating owners of the PlayStation 3D Display, a 3D TV/glasses combo that supports SimulView. If that’s you, unlock the PlayStation 3D Glasses digital collectible by playing any game on your PS4 or PS5 and get ready to add this unique item to your collection.

PlayStation and You: PlayStation 3 Scarlet Red

Available June 15

For PlayStation Stars members who owned the PS3 Scarlet Red. Play any PS4 or PS5 game to unlock this digital collectible. 

New PlayStation Stars Digital Collectible Display Cases

Starting June 2

Check out the new selection of five iconic display cases to store your favorite digital collectibles releasing throughout the month soon. You can update your display case by selecting the “Scenes” option located at the bottom right corner of your current display case. 

As a reminder, PlayStation Stars members can get digital collectibles or points by completing monthly campaigns. PlayStation Plus members enjoy additional opportunities to get points through exclusive campaigns and PlayStation Store purchases. Points received can be redeemed in your Rewards Catalog for PlayStation Network wallet funds, select games, and limited-release digital collectibles.  Learn more about PlayStation Stars and join here. 

Hey everyone, the intergalactic adventurers Ratchet & Clank are making their debut on PC this summer! At Nixxes Software, we are all very excited to announce our next project in collaboration with Insomniac Games.

The Ratchet & Clank franchise recently celebrated its 20^th anniversary. We are thrilled and honored to bring this iconic franchise to a new audience. If you haven’t played a game from this series before, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an excellent one to start with. The game is a visual spectacle that is perfectly suitable for newcomers thanks to a standalone storyline and the introduction of two brand new characters: Rivet & Kit.

We can’t wait for you to meet these intergalactic heroes and start your multidimensional adventure when the game launches on July 26. Today I can share the first details on the PC features for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart that our team has been working on and tell you more about the pre-purchase bonuses.

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The PC version of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart features ray-traced reflections with a variety of quality levels to choose from and newly added ray-traced shadows for natural light in outdoor areas. This enables realistic shadows with natural gradients in softness*.

We know many PC gamers enjoy playing on ultra-wide monitors. For those, we added support for 21:9, 32:9 and up to 48:9 resolutions for triple monitor setups. Both gameplay and cutscenes are optimized for ultra-wide screens. This is possible thanks to our engineers, artists and QA team who have analyzed the game and adjusted all cinematics to ensure compatibility with panoramic aspect ratios.

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The game supports unlocked framerates and includes the latest performance enhancing upscaling technologies. You’ll be able to choose from NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2, Intel XeSS and Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection. NVIDIA Reflex and image quality enhancing NVIDIA DLAA are also supported.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC offers full mouse and keyboard support with customizable controls. Controllers are also fully supported, and when using a DualSense controller on a wired connection, you can feel in-game actions coming to life in your hands with haptic feedback and dynamic trigger effects. 

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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be available on Steam and in the Epic Games Store, head over there now to Wishlist or pre-purchase the game. If you pre-purchase ahead of launch, you’ll get access to the following in-game items early in your playthrough:

·   Pixelizer Weapon

·   Carbonox Armor set

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The PC version includes the five armors of the Digital Deluxe Edition and the 20th Anniversary Armor Pack, with another five armors inspired by previous games in the series.

In the coming weeks we will reveal more details about the PC features of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news.

*Compatible PC and hardware required for enhanced graphics.

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!

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Backbone One – PlayStation Edition, an officially licensed smartphone controller, is now available for both iOS and Android users internationally.

The reception we received when we recently announced Backbone One – PlayStation Edition for iOS has been incredibly exciting. We’ve seen many gamers take advantage of the PS Remote Play app feature, enabling gamers to play PS4 and PS5 games streamed from the console with the Backbone One – PlayStation Edition while they are out and about or anywhere in the home.* It has quickly become one of the most popular gaming features on the BackBone platform.

We’ve heard repeatedly from Android users asking for the same best-in-class gaming experience, so we’re excited to now offer Backbone One PlayStation Edition for Android  as well.

We’ve closely collaborated with the PlayStation team on the look and feel of Backbone One – PlayStation Edition for Android. The colors, materials and finishes are all inspired by the design of the DualSense wireless controller, including the transparent face buttons. It matches the look of the PS5 console, and if you already own the Pulse 3D wireless headset, you can connect it directly to your Backbone One via its 3.5mm headphone jack.

The latest update to the PS Remote Play app on Google Play allows for easy setup and play with Backbone One – PlayStation Edition. If you have access to broadband internet and a PS5 or PS4 console, plug an iPhone or Android device into the Backbone One and instantly start playing your PS5 and PS4 games with the power of the PS Remote Play app — whether that’s out and about or even elsewhere in the home*. See the PlayStation Remote Play website for more information.

When using the PlayStation App, players can double-tap the Options button on Backbone One – PlayStation Edition to easily access the app. Additionally, the latest PlayStation App update will also support controller-based navigation in landscape orientation to optimize the user experience.

Available games may differ by region.

Backbone One also works wonderfully with Google Play and App Store games as well as other game streaming services that support controllers, and may be used with games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Fortnite, Diablo Immortal, and more.

Players can download the Backbone App for a customized PlayStation experience. Inside the app, you’ll see various PlayStation integrations such as custom glyphs representing the iconic PlayStation shapes, and the ability to browse hundreds of game titles. The Backbone app on Android brings all your games into one place, including app store games and supported game streaming services. Players will also find a dedicated row inside the Backbone App with new releases and updates from PlayStation.

Finally, Backbone One PlayStation Edition will soon be available in Japan. For Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, it will be available two weeks after Japan release date, in addition to existing availability in the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.

Here is the Backbone One PlayStation Edition recommended retail pricing for the following territories:

• Malaysia : MYR 495.00
• Philippines: PHP 5,759.00
• Korea: KRW 149,000
• Taiwan: TWD 3,590.00

We hope Android owners will enjoy the PlayStation App, PS Remote Play experience and mobile native games with the Backbone One – PlayStation Edition. Visit PlayStation Support to find out more about how to set up Backbone One – PlayStation Edition for Android for use with PS Remote Play on Android and other compatible devices.

*A PS4 or PS5 console, the PS Remote Play App and an account for PlayStation Network are required to stream your games to other devices. PS Remote Play can be used with a mobile data connection or Wi-Fi. Broadband internet with at least 5Mbps is required. For a better PS Remote Play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended using either Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Titles that require PS VR, PS VR2, or other peripherals such as PlayStation camera are not compatible with PS Remote Play. Availability of DualSense features such as audio output and haptic effects vary when using PS Remote Play on Android, PC, Mac, iPhone or iPad, and some features may not be available.

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Get ready to squad up in an all-new season of Battlefield 2042, coming June 7. Prepare to show no mercy as Season 5: New Dawn* puts your squad front and center. Experience the Battlefield 4-inspired Reclaimed map. Lead the charge to victory with all-new weapons, gadgets, and tools. Enjoy a plethora of improvements to Battlefield 2042, including the returning Squad Management system, a rework of vehicle loadouts, new weapon stations like thermal tech and heavy anti-air, rehauled Vault weapons, and a reworked version of the Hourglass map. Keep reading for all the intel you’ll need to charge into battle this season!

Welcome to Czechia

This landlocked European country is the setting for the Season 5 Reclaimed map. In 2048, war descends on an abandoned industrial facility slowly being retaken by nature. Let’s take a quick look at the areas of particular interest to anyone deployed here:

● Looking for some serious vehicle combat? Head immediately to the Crash Site. Just look for the derailed train in this once-secret train route. The Landing Zone is hidden away in the forest providing a circular area ideal for close-quarters combat, with new sightlines opening up when trees are destroyed.

● The towering indoor space of the Abandoned Turbine sets up incredible crossfire opportunities due to its verticality and cover. While the Military Warehouse’s floors are more likely to attract snipers and a range of gunplay experiences because of the narrow layout.

● Hidden inside the nearby mountains lies The Bunker, forgotten and made up of a central room where short-range, close-quarters combat will always be pretty intense. The Silos, on the other hand, are an expansive outdoor area perfect for vehicle combat – including truly epic tank battles. Easy to spot due to its four towers rising up from the ground, The Silos also provides plenty of elevated areas for infantry to more safely take a shot at vehicles dominating the ground.

Your Season 5 arsenal

You’re going to need the right weapons to handle everything this new season can throw at you, luckily, we’ve got just what you need:

● XCE Bar – This high-precision bolt action rifle has expanded attachment capability to accompany its stopping power, letting you quickly swap through attachment options to engage foes at various distances.

● GEW-46 – An old favorite from Battlefield 4 returns, offering high stability with short burst fire in medium-range engagements.

● BFP.50 – A powerful hand cannon, giving you another sidearm that deals heavy damage at close range.

Looking for something to give your enemies serious second thoughts about advancing on your position? We’ve got you covered there too:

● Spring grenade – A smaller grenade that bounces into the air before detonation.

● Anti-tank Grenade – A bundle of grenades that will detonate on impact against vehicles.

● Mini Grenade – Micro grenades that can be thrown faster and further than regular grenades.

Squad Management system

In the heat of battle, everything can come down to how well your squad performs. The Squad Management system allows you to manage and tailor your squad to suit the way you want to play with a range of new features. Through a new interface, you can join specific squads and create new ones while passing on squad leadership quickly and easily.

Quality of life updates

There have been a number of tweaks to Battlefield 2042 this season, including a rework of vehicle loadouts to enhance their role in combat, new weapon stations like thermal tech and heavy anti-air, rehauled Vault weapons (allowing you to use attachments and skins earned in Battlefield 2042), and (coming later in the season) a reworked version of the Hourglass map, with improved cover and sightlines.

Season 5 Battle Pass

Of course, no season is complete without its Battle Pass. Play through 100 tiers in the Season 5 Battle Pass to unlock free** and premium*** content including new weapons like the GEW-46, XCE Bar, and BFP.50, gadgets, cosmetics, XP boosters, and the new premium Seasonal Booster. All gameplay-affecting items in Battlefield 2042 are free and earnable for all players.

A new dawn is almost upon us, so be sure to gear up and charge into Battlefield 2042 – Season 5: New Dawn starting June 7!

*Requires Battlefield 2042 (sold separately) and all game updates. No weapon, military vehicle or gear manufacturer is affiliated with or has sponsored or endorsed this game. 

**Free Battle Pass content requires gameplay to unlock.

***Premium Battle Pass content requires Season 5 Battle Pass (sold separately) and gameplay to unlock.

Returning to the origin of survival horror with Alone in the Dark meant creating a faithful love letter for long-term fans, but also an accessible entry point for new players. Crafting a reimagining that modern gamers will love while staying true to the original experience takes time, and we’re happy to reveal that the wait is almost over – Alone in the Dark will release on PlayStation 5 on October 25.

The team at Pieces Interactive are die-hard Alone in the Dark fans, and knew exactly where to turn when it came to reimagining the game that gave birth to a genre. Creatively led by Mikael Hedberg, writer of horror classics Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA, with creature designs from legendary Guillermo Del Toro collaborator Guy Davis, their vision for Alone in the Dark was a dream (or is that nightmare?) come true for us.

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As with any good survival horror game, we of course have mind-bending puzzles and clues you’ll need to explore to find, with a twist. If you want to really flex your investigative muscles, choose our difficulty that offers less assistance, or you can select an option which provides more tips, hints, and overall guidance.

Today, we fully unveiled this new, nightmarish vision to the world in our Alone in the Dark Spotlight stream. Across 11 nerve-jangling minutes, we revealed our starring talent of David Harbour as Detective Edward Carnby and Jodie Comer as Emily Hartwood, gave you a look at all-new gameplay and cutscenes, and dove into how the haunting Doom Jazz soundscape of Derceto Manor was brought to life. We also launched our playable Prologue, where you can get a short glimpse of the horrors that await you in the full game, today.

A new generation of classic horror

The power of modern hardware has unlocked new possibilities, especially when it comes to our lead character performances. Being able to capture more emotion in faces meant we could bring our dual protagonists Detective Edward Carnby (David Harbour) and Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) to life like never before. Whoever you choose to play as, you’ll experience the entire adventure through a performance from one of Hollywood’s most talented actors in their first ever videogame role.

While Edward and Emily may go through the same overall events in Alone in the Dark, both characters will interpret their journey differently through their reactions to their environments – and a few unique story moments. They each have their own strong personalities and backstories, and the residents of Derceto will treat them in their own way.

A-list in the Dark

Edward and Emily are brought together by the same quest – finding out what happened to Jeremy Hartwood, Emily’s uncle. Be it the promise of work and professional curiosity, or finding a dear relative and shaking the family curse, both characters have complex motivations for coming to Derceto, and their actions are tainted by individual past traumas.

David Harbour brings his trademark intensity to his role as Edward, but also his playfulness. When thrust into unimaginable situations, our natural reaction is terror, even questioning our own sanity, which David captures perfectly. Sometimes, however, we try to steel ourselves against our worst fears with humor. The dry wit that David has brought to some of his most famous characters shines through in Edward, ever the inquisitive, slightly world-weary investigator.

Jodie Comer is no stranger to disappearing into a role, having recently earned a well-deserved Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play, on top of her BAFTA and Emmy awards. Jodie portrays Emily with expert nuance, at once showing concern for her missing uncle and dread for the fate which may befall her as a result of the Hartwood curse. Whether interacting with Derceto’s strange inhabitants or fending off otherworldly creatures, Jodie gives a world-class performance.

No matter who you choose at the beginning of our game, you will experience the performance that Alone in the Dark players deserve. The game begs to be replayed through both characters’ eyes, and we can’t wait to hear what you think of our two incredible leads.

The sound of trauma

Our game is set in 1920s Louisiana, in a period of unease and excess, caught between two World Wars. Realizing this thick atmosphere of “Interbellum Horror” called for a unique sound that reflected the turmoil of the time, as well as the music that emerged from it.

Doom Jazz legend Jason Köhnen (Bong-Ra) lent his talents to capturing Alone in the Dark’s otherworldly chaos, contributing songs that feel at once nostalgic, modern… and from somewhere else, not of this world. Based on these songs, Sound Designer & Composer Árni Bergur Zoëga has crafted an eerie, mysterious soundscape that will have you looking over your shoulder for days – especially if you’re a headphones user.

A taste of the terror to come

While the team at Pieces are still working hard on putting the finishing touches on Alone in the Dark, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at the world they have constructed. Right now, you can download the playable Prologue for free and start your descent into our warped world today.

The Prologue follows eleven-year-old Grace Saunders, who eagle-eyed fans may recognize from Alone in the Dark 2 and its own playable prequel, Jack in the Dark. Tasked with delivering the letter that will bring Emily to Derceto, you’ll get a first look inside the manor and the forces preying on its residents’ sanity. Simply visit the store to download.

We still have some surprises in store between now and release – in the meantime, you can watch the Spotlight, play our Prologue, and pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition for access to bonus content. We’ll see you on October 25!

Hi, I’m Romain Clavier, Game Director at Tindalos Interactive, the studio developing Aliens: Dark Descent, a strategic real time squad-based tactical action game with rich management systems and twisted horrors. On June 20 you’ll be able to witness the Xenomorphs stalk their prey in a contemporary strategy game. But before you descend into the darkness, I want to use this blog post to shed some light on how our development team fused terror and tactics for Aliens: Dark Descent’s intense, lo-fi world.

First, let’s look at the horror elements of Aliens: Dark Descent. As the title suggests, the game is set in the Alienuniverse, more specifically tinted towards James Cameron’s action-based take on Aliens (1986) where players take on the role of a group of colonial marines trying to escape from a colony overrun by the titular aliens. From the very beginning, we worked hard to establish a tense and foreboding atmosphere; there are cryptically dim corridors, flickering fluorescent lights, and the constant threat of a Xenomorph attack, but what really changed Aliens: Dark Descent for the better was when we implemented our unique fog of war mechanic, where areas of the map are hidden to create dread and let players’ imagination run wild. This means that you must carefully plan your routes and movements at every turn, taking into account the risk of running into a Xenomorph or other unknown dangers.

Developing the Xenomorphs was one of the most rewarding challenges, as we want them to hit the same level of ruthlessness they’re famous for on film. Our goal is to have players drown in the tension from the potential of a ferocious ambush of a conniving pack of Xenomorphs. That said, we wanted to avoid having swarms of Xenomorphs in a way that would dull their individual significance so we opted to give the game’s enemies cunning strategic impulses to plan maneuvers on the fly, flank squads, and quickly retreat to gather more numbers.

Sound design is also crucial in eliciting that primal dread; we made sure to add the subtle hums of the tattered tech and eerie chirps of the creatures’ hissing and scurrying as you lead your crew on a variety of crucial missions.

But Aliens: Dark Descent isn’t all suspense and dismay – it also requires strategic thinking and planning to succeed. Players must manage their resources carefully, gathering supplies and weapons while avoiding detection by the Aliens and other enemies. 

While the constant threat of a Xenomorph attack creates a sense of urgency and danger, the strategic gameplay elements add depth and complexity to how players must react. Our stress mechanic is a ticking time-bomb acting as a constant reminder of how things can go wrong if distraught marines are left uncared for in this hostile environment. Permadeath will be the unfortunate reality for the most unlucky marines, making each mistake have a lasting impact; and the more the marines have progressed, the more heart-wrenching losing them will be. Players must constantly adapt and change their tactics to stay one step ahead of the Aliens, making each playthrough personal and exciting. My personal favorite feature is the slowdown mechanic, as it forces players into inescapable situations where they must make a split-second reaction while the clock ticks away.

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With Aliens: Dark Descent I can confidently say we have crafted a persistent air of terror while still allowing everyone to explore the secrets of Lethe; so we’ve added a plethora of accessibility options, lower difficulty levels for players who want to focus on the story, and the option to turn slowdown mode into a full pause so you can approach Aliens: Dark Descent your way.

As a long-time fan of the Alien universe, it’s been a joy and an honor working on this game with the rest of the team at Tindalos Interactive, Focus Entertainment and 20^th Century Games . We’ve pushed ourselves and overcome challenges to make Aliens: Dark Descentan unforgettable blend of suspense and strategy. I’m excited to see how our tense world keeps players on the edge of their seats.

Aliens: Dark Descent slithers onto PS5 and PS4 June 20. 

That’s a wrap! Today’s PlayStation Showcase delivered tantalizing first looks at all-new games in development and updates on upcoming titles by PlayStation Studios and our third party friends. With the show running over an hour and over thirty titles being revealed, there was a lot to absorb. If you want to relive the Showcase, you can rewatch it below. 

If you want to know more about some of the games shown today, read on. Alongside recaps of individual reveals, there’s additional info plus exclusive screenshots from the creators behind the games in a selection of PlayStation Blog articles. All are linked below. 

PlayStation Showcase: PlayStation Studios & third-party publisher announcements 

Take a sneak peak at new accessories revealed at today’s Showcase — the Project Q device for playing games installed on your PS5 and streamed over WiFi, plus our first official wireless earbuds offering lossless audio on PS5 and PC. More details to come in the months ahead.

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We also announced Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which is coming to PS5. Check out the first trailer below: 

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Bungie officially announced its first completely new project in more than a decade: Marathon, a sci-fi PvP extraction shooter. The studio behind Halo and Destiny debuted the very first CGI teaser trailer for the game, featuring a look at the player characters – cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners. Take a look:

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Staying with Bungie, the studio showed off the first glimpse of its next expansion, Destiny 2: The Final Shape, which will serve as the epic conclusion of the decade-long Light and Darkness Saga. A brief teaser trailer was shown, culminating in a surprise cameo from popular character Cayde-6, the Hunter Vanguard who met his match during the events of Destiny 2: Forsaken in 2018. Cayde will be played by actor Nathan Fillion, who Bungie announced is reprising the role. Destiny fans will have their next chance to learn more about The Final Shape expansion during the upcoming Destiny 2 Showcase, a livestreamed event which will be broadcast on August 22 on Bungie channels. 

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Street Fighter 6 is just over a week away. To celebrate, Capcom shared a new World Tour-focused trailer:

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Alongside these new trailer debuts, we had big news from other developers: 

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 gameplay revealed
• Introducing Fairgame$, a competitive heist experience coming to PS5 and PC
• Helldivers 2 drops on PlayStation 5 later this year
• Introducing Concord—a new PVP multiplayer FPS from Firewalk Studios coming to PS5 and PC
• Alan Wake 2 launches on PS5 October 17
• First Assassin’s Creed Mirage gameplay revealed, launches October 12
• Watch the first trailer for Dragon’s Dogma 2, Capcom’s upcoming action-RPG
• Final Fantasy XVI launch trailer, Salvation, revealed
• Foamstars, a fresh new party shooter revealed for PS5 and PS4
• Two new playable characters join the Granblue Fantasy: Relink roster
• New Immortals of Aveum trailer highlights enemies of the realm
• Tower of Fantasy, an immersive cyberpunk open-world RPG, hits PS5 and PS4 this summer

PlayStation Showcase: PS VR2 announcements

• Beat Saber launches on PS VR2 today with new Queen Music Pack
• First PS VR2 footage for Resident Evil 4 VR Mode revealed
• First look at Arizona Sunshine 2 revealed, launches on PS VR2 this year
• New gameplay details revealed for Crossfire: Sierra Squad, coming to PS VR2
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 – hiring again on PS VR2
• Immersive PS VR2 action-shooter, Synapse, launches on July 4

PlayStation Showcase: Indies announcements 

• Take your first look at Ghostrunner 2, coming to PS5 this year
• Meet the friends and foes of The Plucky Squire’s storybook world 
• Introducing Sword of the Sea, a new game from Giant Squid
• Teardown hits PS5 later this year 
• Revealing Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean, coming to PS5 and PS4 next year
• Introducing Neva, the beautiful new game from the developer of Gris
• Welcome to Revenant Hill, where your journey to become a witch’s familiar begins
• Towers of Aghasba hits PS5 next year – new gameplay details
• The Talos Principle 2 brings mind-bending puzzles and haunting beauty to PS5
• Revealing Ultros, a psychedelic sci-fi side-scroller coming to PS5 and PS4 in 2024