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THEME: Resident Evil 4 – Leon S. Kennedy SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on April 12, 2023
Next week, we turn the spotlight on the hero of Resident Evil 4, Leon S. Kennedy. Share daring images of Leon using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Hello PlayStation nation! I’m Edvin Edsö, the Promotion Producer of Resident Evil 4. I hope that you have been enjoying the game these past two weeks! Today, we are pleased to announce the release of a fan favorite mode: The Mercenaries, available as a free DLC. Check out the trailer here first.
The trailer offers a glimpse into the fast-paced gameplay of The Mercenaries, where the goal is to defeat as many enemies as possible in a limited amount of time for the highest score you can.
Leon starts each round with all of his weapons, and in order to defeat as many enemies as you can, you must make quick decisions about which weapon to use against which opponent.
Don’t forget to keep track of how much time you have left. Killing enemies with melee attacks, headshots, and other methods, as well as defeating tougher enemies like the Chainsaw Man, will give you extra time.
It is also important to know when to grab the green Time Orbs, which will give you even more time to defeat additional enemies.
Did you notice the yellow diamond-shaped icon? This is the Mayhem Mode meter. When Leon activates Mayhem Mode, his basic abilities such as attack power and movement speed are greatly increased for a period of time! You will also receive additional points, and each enemy you defeat in Mayhem Mode will add extra seconds to the clock. The Mayhem Mode meter accumulates over time, by defeating enemies, and by successfully parrying an attack. The gauge also increases by one when you acquire a Mayhem Mode Orb.
The first stage of The Mercenaries is the Village from the beginning of the game. New stages and more content will be unlocked as you progress.
Like the main game, The Mercenaries supports the DualSense controller features. In this mode’s fast-paced gameplay, players can instantly switch weapons and take on multiple enemies, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers providing an even greater sense of immersion.
How you take on The Mercenaries depends on your own strategy, including weapon selection, positioning, and how you use Mayhem Mode. Whether you have already completed Resident Evil 4, or are just getting started, be sure to check out this intense free DLC.
With five new Multiplayer maps, four new game modes, and a new Special Ops Raid, prepare for a massive content offering in Season 03 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. Alejandro and Valeria return to settle the score, Resurgence expands to Al Mazrah, and Ranked Play for Warzone 2.0 sets the battleground for the most competitive Operators.
Season 03 launches on PlayStation on April 12. Now onto the intel.
Modern Warfare II Brings Gunfight, New Maps and Modes
Gunfight
Prepare for 2v2, multi-round cage matches as Gunfight makes its debut in Modern Warfare II. Players start each round with the same random Loadout, which changes every other round. Eliminate the enemy team or capture the Overtime flag to win the round. The first team to win six rounds takes the match.
Gunfight will support four maps at launch, including new maps Alley, based somewhere in Al Mazrah,and Blacksite, which is the new Gulag in Battle Royale.
New Core and Battle Maps
Pelayo’s Lighthouse (Core Map, Launch): A storm rages over this island battleground as Operators take position in the Main Building, set up in one of the scattered maintenance buildings throughout, or brave it in the open.
Black Gold (Core Map, Launch): Infiltrate Al Mazrah’s Rohan Oil in Black Gold, the first iteration of night ops in Modern Warfare II. Use your night vision goggles and the available light sources to track down and eliminate the enemy team.
Rohan Oilfields (Battle Map, Launch): Expanding on Black Gold, the Rohan Oilfields Battle Map widens the arena around this Warzone 2.0 point of interest, adding vehicles for rapid transport.
Sattiq Cave Complex (Battle Map, Launch): Explore a network of caves, battle through small buildings, and set up by the downed plane in an area that should recall fond memories for longtime fans of the series.
A fifth brand-new Core Map will additionally launch in the midseason.
Get Cranked, Fight the Horde in GW Infected
Two series-favorite game modes are making their way to Season 03:
Cranked (Launch): Eliminating an enemy activates a timer. Get another elimination before it hits zero or — boom! — you’re out.
GW Infected (In-Season): Experience Infected on a bigger stage as you fight to survive against the horde on GW maps. Coordinate with your teammates to set up a defense. When you’re infected, take them down.
New Multiplayer Ranked Play Rewards
A new season brings new Multiplayer Ranked rewards. Earn rewards for winning Ranked Play matches, plus get new Operator Skins and cosmetics for placing within the Gold Division or above. Get extra rewards for placing in the Top 250 or finishing the season as the top-ranked player in the world.
Raid Episode 03 Comes to Special Ops
Take on the Las Almas Cartel in a new Special Ops mission and regroup with Task Force 141 as they embark on Raid Episode 03 in the midseason update.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Adds Massive Resurgence, Plunder
Massive Resurgence (Launch): Massive Resurgence is coming to Al Mazrah; taking place across the entire map, this mode features a higher player count to better fit the playing field.
Plunder (In-Season): Eliminate enemy Operators, scavenge Supply Boxes, complete contracts and in-game events, and search out loose Cash. In Plunder, it’s all about who can get the richest, quickest. Respawns are enabled and Loadouts are available from the start so you can get right to the money on deployment.
New Gulag: Set to replace the current version, a new Gulag is coming to Al Mazrah. Modern Warfare II players who drop into Gunfight will get a taste of the map in Blacksite.
New Features and Items
Al Mazrah Redeploy Drones (Launch): The Redeploy Drones currently flying over Ashika Island are making their way to Al Mazrah. Use their power to launch toward your next target objective.
UAV Towers (Launch): Sweep the surrounding area for enemy positions using the new UAV Towers, first discovered in DMZ and coming soon to Battle Royale. Note that activating the tower alerts enemy squads, so be ready.
Tempered Plate Carriers (In-Season): Tempered Plate Carriers require fewer Armor Plates to fill, so replating is speedier and more efficient.
Decontamination Station (In-Season): Gas closing in fast? Set down this Field Upgrade, which provides a safe atmosphere within the gas that lasts several seconds. This is a vital strategy in surviving the final circle collapse.
Perk Package Items (In-Season): Players who prefer looting up in the environment instead of calling in a Loadout Drop will now have a means of securing Perks with preset Perk Packages found in Supply Boxes and at Buy Stations.
Deployable Buy Station (In-Season): Even in the farthest reaches of the map, you can still buy the necessary items by activating the Deployable Buy Station. This portable version features limited stock.
Gulag Entry Kit (In-Season): Eliminated again? You’re not out of luck yet. Operators with a Gulag Entry Kit on hand can battle in the Gulag for a second time for another chance to return to the field.
High-Capacity Plate Carrier (In-Season): Carry more Armor Plates for those drawn-out fights.
Arriving Soon — Battle Royale Ranked Play
Launching in the midseason, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Ranked Play takes Battle Royale to new competitive heights as Trios climb the ranks to the Top 250. Watch and learn from the best in the upcoming World Series of Warzone, featuring the tournament’s first ever in-person Global Final.
New DMZ Features: Barter System, Workbench, New Faction and Missions
Barter System: Trade unwanted items in your inventory using the new Barter Systen feature found at Buy Stations.
Workbench: For a small fee, add and remove attachments on Contraband weapons. Equip any unlocked attachment on that weapon’s platform. Found near Buy Stations.
Active Duty Operator Slots: Select from three different Operators when deploying to the DMZ, each with their own inventory, Backpack, Plate Carrier, Killstreaks, Self-Revive, and Gas Mask. Decide whether you want to deploy your best-equipped Operator or a raw recruit.
New Faction, Missions, and Bosses: A new faction enters the fray, offering three tiers of faction missions and more to come in-season. Brace for new bosses being deployed around the exclusion zone, and seek out concrete intel on the rumors circulating about something deep underground in Al Mazrah.
With other features coming, like new Backpack and Plate Carrier types, you know you’re in for some big battle in Season 03.
New Operators, Including Rivals Alejandro and Valeria
Formerly fighting side by side in the Los Vaqueros unit of the Mexican Special Forces, Alejandro Vargas and Valeria Garza are now bitter rivals.
Alejandro: Born and raised in Las Almas, Alejandro spent over a decade as a high-ranking member of Los Fuerzeas Especiales, the Tier 1 Mexican Army Special Mission counterterror unit. His unit, Los Vaqueros, is the only one in the country authorized to work alongside international Special Operations Forces, including those at the CIA headed by station chief Kate Laswell.
Valeria: A former Mexican Army commando who used to work alongside Alejandro, Valeria defected to enforcing cartels in 2014 and ultimately ascended to power as the leader of the Las Almas Cartel. She now works under the name El Sin Nombre — the Nameless One.
Expect more Operators to join the ranks throughout the season.
New Weapons
Season 03 brings four new weapons in total. Once you earn these, you can use them across all modes. Two of them are earned for free within the Battle Pass:
FJX Imperium Sniper Rifle: Engineered destruction at its finest, this anti-personnel, bolt-action sniper rifle intervenes in tense situations with hard-hitting .408 rounds.
Cronen Squall Battle Rifle: A bullpup, semi-automatic rifle chambered in 6.8 Wrath and designed for distance shooting and exceptional damage output.
Earn two more weapons launching in the midseason either by purchasing a Store Bundle or completing a weapon unlock challenge.
New Seasonal Event and Camo Challenges
During the Season 03 Trophy Hunt event, enemy Operators will drop a trophy whenever they are eliminated in any mode. They can also be found by other means, such as within Supply Boxes. Exchange these trophies for event rewards like Weapon Blueprints, Vehicle Skins, and even Battle Pass Token Tier Skips.
Look for the midseason Camo Challenge event, too, giving players the opportunity to earn new seasonal camos.
PlayStation Combat Pack
Beginning April 19, PlayStation Plus members will be able to download the Season 03 Combat Pack, featuring a new Operator Skin for Oni consisting of an updated gold face mask and high-tech shoulder padding.
The Season 03 Combat Pack also includes the “Striking Distance” Assault Rifle and “Show Stopper” SMG Weapon Blueprints, the “Prepared to Fight” Sticker, “Tusk to Horn” Emblem, “Oni Ready” Weapon Charm, and the “Crumbling” Calling Card.
Out-of-Combat Improvements
BlackCell: Set to replace the current Battle Pass Bundle, the BlackCell offering includes everything in the original Bundle and more, including a BlackCell Operator with Animated Camo plus a Weapon Blueprint, Vehicle Skin, and Finishing Move. Begin your Battle Pass journey in an alternate BlackCell Sector, which offers a unique entry point to the rest of the Battle Pass Map that allows you to unlock higher value items more quickly. In addition to all this exciting content, BlackCell will also include a BlackCell Bonus Topper of 12 Operator Skins as well as the Season 03 Battle Pass plus 20 Battle Token Tier Skips– 25 if you are a PlayStation player – access to the BlackCell Sector provides something for everyone.
Automatic Pathing: If you’d rather unlock Battle Pass items in a linear fashion, the new pathing feature offers an automatic path through the different Sectors. Players can switch between Automatic and Manual pathing at will.
Season 03 of Modern Warfare II Launches April 12
Purchase Modern Warfare II on PlayStation today, and get access to a load of content across three modes, including the ability to unlock 14 exclusive Operators for use across both games. Modern Warfare II owners also get Premium XP while playing Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, awarded at the end of every match.
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores takes Aloy to the ruins of Los Angeles. The past millennia has seen the metropolis wracked by tectonic and volcanic activity. The result: a dangerous archipelago populated by deadly machines. Among these islands, a large settlement of Quen fight to survive.
Spoiler Alert: Please note this article may contain some spoilers for Horizon Forbidden West and its storyline.
A look at The Quen
Aloy first encountered the tribe in Horizon Forbidden West, during her search for one of GAIA’s subordinate functions. “The Quen are a seafaring tribe from across the Pacific ocean,” Annie Kitain, Lead Writer at Guerrilla explains. “Unlike other tribes Aloy’s met, the Quen have built their society around their ability to use the Focus, which enables them to access and read ancient data. This technological advantage has given them an edge against other tribes in their homeland, the Great Delta, but it has also shaped their culture in interesting ways.”
“Knowledge from the ancient past has allowed the Quen to build an impressive empire. But unlike, say, the Oseram tribe, whose technological prowess is due to their creative inventions, the Quen rely solely on the knowledge they’ve unearthed to drive their advancements. As a result, an important part of their culture revolves around protecting the few Focuses the tribe possesses, as well as strictly controlling who can access the valuable information these devices reveal.”
“To that end, Diviners play a special role in the tribe. As a highly esteemed class of Quen, only Diviners are allowed to use a Focus to read data. Their job is to find and record ancient knowledge that may benefit the empire, ensuring that it doesn’t fall into the hands of outsiders.”
But the Quen’s view of the Old World is skewed. Unlike Aloy’s Focus, we find out when playing Horizon Forbidden West that the devices that the Quen use can only view information up to a certain point in history – anything after that is unreadable. This limitation has led them to misinterpret much of the data they’ve found. Over time, they’ve come to revere a pantheon of Old World paragons, consisting of 21st century CEOs and business tycoons.
The Eastern Expedition
Much like the lands of the Forbidden West, the Quen homeland has suffered from environmental collapse over the last twenty years. Desperate to find a solution, the Quen came to believe that data from the ancient tech hub of San Francisco might be the key to saving their lands.
“Unfortunately, the Expedition faced many hardships,” Annie points out. “Early on, they lost half of their fleet in a violent storm. Then, after the remaining ships managed to make landfall in San Francisco, their search for the data they were after stalled, preventing them from making a triumphant return home. Things weren’t looking so good for them… until Aloy came along.”
On her mission to recover DEMETER from the ruins of an ancient Faro research facility, Aloy meets one of the Expedition’s Diviners. “Brilliant and curious, Alva is the first Quen that Aloy could call a friend,” says Annie. “The two bonded over their exploration of Old World ruins and the discoveries they made of the ancient past. During their adventures, Aloy helped Alva uncover a trove of data that could help her people. In return, Alva helped Aloy in her mission and even joined her growing crew of companions in the Base.”
“At the end of Forbidden West, Alva chose to stay behind with a handful of soldiers while the rest of the Expedition set sail for home. Thanks to Aloy, she has a new understanding of the world. And with a new threat to life on Earth on its way, she’s determined to do whatever she can to help.”
Heading to the Burning Shores
When asked what else players should know about this tribe before diving into Burning Shores, Annie answers: “I think it’s important to remember that we know much less about the Quen than any other tribe. We only got to scratch the surface in Forbidden West, so get ready to discover much more about them and how the tribe’s rigid hierarchy affects the new characters you’ll meet!”
The Quen that ended up in the Burning Shores have been here for some time, and while survival has been a constant challenge, they’ve managed to establish an impressive settlement that’s a lot of fun to explore. Here you’ll meet new characters such as Admiral Gerrit. “We meet him early on in the story,” Annie explains. “He’s a highly decorated commander in the Quen Navy and the leader of this group of Quen. He’s responsible for keeping things together even in their dire circumstances.”
The key art for Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores shows Aloy accompanied by a new companion, recognizable by her Quen attire – Seyka. “We’re excited to introduce Seyka! She’s an ambitious marine who has stepped up to help her people survive. As a new companion for the DLC, Aloy will spend a lot of time with her throughout the story and rely on her help in many situations – a position she doesn’t often find herself in.”
“Confident, compassionate, and fierce, Seyka’s quite unlike anyone Aloy has ever encountered, and she plays an important role in the next chapter of Aloy’s journey.”
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is available to pre-order on PlayStation 5 and will be available on April 19. Make sure to follow the team at Guerrilla on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to learn more about the next chapter in Aloy’s journey!
The God of War Ragnarök New Game Plus (NG+) update is available now. To make sure you’re ready to jump back into the Nine Realms, we’ve put together everything you need to know below.
Change the way you play
New equipment, an increased level cap, new Enchantments – all this and more is introduced with God of War Ragnarök’s NG+ mode. As soon as you’ve beaten the game, you’ll be able to dive right into a NG+ save to experience the story again with many more gameplay options available from the start.
Your equipment, weapons (including the Draupnir Spear), and skills will carry over from your previous save, so you’ll be able to use your entire arsenal from the beginning of your journey.
Please note that you will not start the game with access to Sonic and Hex arrows. All areas requiring either those arrows or the Draupnir Spear to access will not unlock until you have reached the point in the main questline in which they become available via the story.
New Equipment
Armor of the Black Bear
Rest assured, we’ve been taking note of the requests to add Kratos’ cloak from the opening scene since the launch of God of War Ragnarök.
The Armor of the Black Bear will keep Kratos bundled up against the Fimbulwinter frost even after the sled chase. Its stats focus on Strength and Defense with a perk that rewards your last-second evades with a volley of Bifröst shards.
Your NG+ run will begin with the Armor of the Black Bear already equipped.
Spartan Armor
If you want a serious test of your skills and to take on the toughest challenge you can get in God of War Ragnarök, the Spartan Armor is for you. With no Perk, no Stats, and locked at Power Level 1 – the Spartan Armor lets you take a more… well, spartan approach towards protection.
This set is perfect for those of you who want to strip down your power to the minimum and leave no room for error. If you’re brave enough to face the coming of Ragnarök pecs-first, then give the set a try!
If you’re more into the Spartan General look and less into the challenging gameplay, you can always transmog this armor onto another set to achieve the look without sacrificing protection.
The Spartan Armor can be acquired for Hacksilver at Huldra Brothers’ Shop.
Ares Armor
Returning favorites from God of War 2018’s New Game Plus are the Ares and Zeus armors with new visuals and Perks.
The Ares Armor rewards the lucky with a chance to drop a Health Stone on hit. When you stomp the Health Stone, you also get a rage gain alongside a bigger explosion.
The Ares Armor can be purchased for Hacksilver at Huldra Brothers’ Shop.
Zeus Armor
The Zeus Armor will enable the ultimate risk-reward playstyle. This set greatly increases your Melee and Runic damage, while also increasing incoming damage.
A single hit could be enough to take even Kratos down with the Zeus Armor equipped, so you’ll need to be mindful of where your enemies are while you prepare to deal out punishment with the raw power this armor provides.
The Zeus Armor can be acquired by defeating Gná the Valkyrie Queen and completing certain Remnants of Asgard on a NG+ save.
Spartan Aspis – New Shield
The Spartan Aspis returns in God of War Ragnarök and displays Kratos’ heritage boldly.
The Spartan Aspis is similar to the trusted Guardian Shield, but it has a significantly tighter Parry window. While more challenging to time, successful Parries yield a more damaging reward.
The Spartan Aspis can be purchased at Huldra Brothers’ Shop with Hacksilver.
Armor Appearances
For those of you looking to keep things fresh, we’ve also remixed 13 of our existing armors with new color combinations and styles that were previously unavailable.
These appearances can be bought at Huldra Brothers’ Shop and applied to any of your existing Level 9+ armor in the transmog menu. The new Berserker Armor appearance can be acquired after defeating the Berserker King on NG+.
New Level Cap
In NG+, both Kratos and your enemies will become more powerful with an increased level cap. You will be able to convert all your Level 9 equipment (armor, weapons, weapon components, and shields) into new ‘Plus’ versions that will provide additional levels of progression.
Converting your equipment will also yield a Gilded Coin that can be used to purchase one of the new Enchantments from the shop.
We’ve also added a quality-of-life adjustment to the shop, so you’ll be able to purchase and sell resources incrementally. Buy and selling materials to get your equipment in tiptop shape for your NG+ run is now smoother than Kratos’ scalp.
New Enchantments
Gilded Coins – Engraving and Badge Enchantments
If you ever agonized over an armor choice because you couldn’t choose a favorite Perk, the new Enchantments available in the shop are for you! These take a selection of powerful and versatile perks from Armor (Engravings) and Shield Rönds (Badges), allowing you to equip them in your Amulet as Enchantments.
For example, you can purchase the Dragon Engraving, which has the Dragon Scaled Breastplate Perk, Dragon’s Fury (Blocks and Parries grant a Strength/Defense stacking buff). You can equip that in your Amulet while wearing a different chest piece like the new Cuirass of Ares, allowing you to combine two different chest armor perks at once.
The most powerful enchantments from the Gilded Coins will require certain Stat thresholds to be met to encourage and reward you for getting clever with your builds. With so many new options available, we can’t wait to see which combinations you make.
Berserker Soul Drops – Stat Boost Enchantments
Defeating the Berserker Souls on NG+ will also reward you with new Enchantments to equip. While not as flashy as some of the Perk Enchantments, these will give you big boosts to select stats so you can lean into whatever build you like best even more.
Burdens
Burdens are a new set of Enchantments that will allow you to equip negative Perks for a tailor-made challenge.
For example, the Burden of Evasion will automatically give Kratos the Frost status effect when he rolls.
For those of you seeking to ramp up the difficulty with an exceptionally brutal experience, you can combine Burdens with the Spartan Armor.
We’ve also added a new UI option called Show Difficulty (Difficulty HUD Visualization), which will display the current difficulty setting on the HUD, as well as how many Burdens you have equipped. Feel free to flex a little bit for your friends.
Burdens can be purchased at the Huldra Brothers’ Shop with Hacksilver.
New Progression Paths
New Skill Mod Plus
Upgrade your existing Skill Mod tokens using XP to further enhance the effects of your favorite Mods.
Platinum Tier Labors
Carry over any progress from your Kill Labors or Ratatasks and continue to unlock a new Platinum Tier of rewards.
Additional Stat Gains
Nornir Chests will now provide Yggdrasil Dew to allow players to push Stats far beyond their previous limits.
Expanded Niflheim Arena
The Sparring Arena in Niflheim in NG+ will give you a ton of new options to play with! Alongside a selection of new enemies for you to face off against, you will now be able to play as either Kratos or Atreus and choose any of the following companion characters to fight beside you: Atreus (with Kratos), Freya, Brok, Sindri, Angrboda, Ingrid, Thor, and Thrúd.
With any companion combination possible, we can’t wait to see how creative you can get in gameplay and in Photo Mode.
Endgame Bosses
Got comfortable fighting the Berserker Souls and the Valkyrie Queen Gná? We’ve made sure the toughest optional fights have a few switch-ups in NG+ so even if you’ve beaten them before, they’ll still pack a punch when you meet them again.
Other Enemy Adjustments
Available on All Difficulties in NG+
The Hateful and the Ormstunga, two of our optional mini-bosses, have been given a few new tricks. Be sure to pay them a visit when you can in your NG+ run.
Available on Give Me No Mercy and Give Me God of War in NG+
If you choose to play on Give Me No Mercy or Give Me God of War difficulties, all bosses and mini-bosses will have Runic Armor. Strategic Runic usage in these fights can make the difference between victory and defeat.
In NG+, enemies turning elite can now also happen on Give Me No Mercy in addition to Give Me God of War. Elite enemies will gain an increase in Power Level, so make sure you keep a special eye on them when you see one transform in combat.
Black and White Render Mode
Looking to experience the story again with a more cinematic twist? After you beat the game once, you will have access to a new Black and White Render Mode for any subsequent NG+ or standard New Game saves.
You can find the new mode under the Graphics & Camera settings menu.
We are so excited for the release of Meet Your Maker, available today on PS5 and PS4, and included Day 1 with PlayStation Plus memberships as one of April’s Monthly Games.
We launch today with a full arsenal of traps, guards, weapons, Custodians, and more already included for Builders and Raiders to discover and master. This is a game driven by user-generated content, and so for us, the next step is making sure our players are taken care of with a steady stream of new content to keep the possibilities, personalization, and creativity firing on all cylinders.
There’s a lot to look forward to, so let’s celebrate today with some tips and tricks plus everything we’ll be adding to the world of Meet Your Maker in the first three months after launch.
Tips & tricks
We hope you’ll have a blast building incredible Outposts and raiding the insane creations of other Builders. To close things out, we wanted to share a couple of quick tips for both roles to help you get started whether you’re playing solo or with a friend.
Builders:
Build Step-by-Step: Use a 3-step approach – build the basic structure, add traps and guards, then cosmetics.
Second Wave: Raiders still have to escape once they’ve grabbed the Genmat. Make getting out just as hard as getting in.
Anticipate: Think like a Raider as you set traps. How can you lure, herd, and trick them while using their reactions to your advantage?
Test: Test your own Outposts as a Raider. It’s the best way to know what’s working and what’s not.
Raiders:
Hardware: Stock up on useful consumables like speed boosts, deployable shields, and even respawn beacons.
Grapple Hook: This is your best friend. Master it. It gives you incredible mobility for both attacking and escaping.
Danger Signs: When a trap is tripped you get both a visual and audio cue before it deploys. Train yourself to react quickly.
Second Wave: Some traps and guards only activate after you grab the Genmat. Trust nothing on your way out.
Three-month content roadmap
Keeping things fresh, ever-changing, and always unexpected is our mission when it comes to adding content to Meet Your Maker.
We also want to make all this content easily accessible to all players, and so a lot of what you’ll see below is either free, or unlockable just by playing the game and earning in-game currency.
Arriving a few weeks after launch thisDeco Pack willbe free and instantly accessible to all players. Deco Packs in Meet Your Maker are essentially themed building materials that add a totally new aesthetic to the game. Hellscape combines organic matter and industrial materials to create eerie, pulsating, and all-around unsettling Outposts that feel alive in the worst possible ways.
New Mods and Augments – free/unlockable with playtime (regular drops)
Over the first several months, we’ll also be dropping multiple new Mod and Augment additions for existing traps and guards which players can unlock with in-game currency. If Deco Packs are all about style, Mods and Augments are all about being a more effective killer. Builders get new ways to affect traps and guards for even more control over their setups and combos. Raiders are suddenly faced with fresh challenges to overcome just when they thought they’d figured everything out.
Major Content Update – Sector 1: Dreadshore (end of June)
Meet Your Maker’s first major DLC will come at the end of June and add a completely new environment to the game, as well a new Deco Pack, Custodian, trap, guard, weapon, and even a cosmetic collection.
When it comes to Sectors, new environments and new deco packs will always be instantly available for free to all players upon release. The environment introduces a completely new region along with a Sector-themed set of building blocks to create a completely different style of Outpost. All the gameplay elements are unlockable via playtime.
“A Sector is our way of traveling to a new location and uncovering weapons, guards, and other supplies that can be useful to the Custodian,” says Joe Dermo, Meet Your Maker’s narrative designer. “Each Sector has lore that can give us a clearer idea of what was happening in the world before its downfall.
“There are many Sanctuaries out there, so we envision how their inhabitants might have lived, how they’d adapt to their environment, and how their morality, or lack thereof, could lead them down a different path. Dreadshore will bring us beyond the sandy wastes to a very different location. The backstory will shine a spotlight on one of the themes of our universe: what happens when science and experimentation is pushed beyond its ethical limits.”
PlayStation Store’s Spring Sale begins. For a limited time* you can enjoy deep discounts of up to 80% off across a wide selection of games and add-ons. That includes NBA 2K23, Horizon Forbidden West and Need for Speed Unbound and many, many more.
The sale is so massive, we can’t include everything here. You can browse a select list of games at the bottom of this post. Head to PlayStation Store to discover the full list and your regional discount pricing.
Sale runs over the next four weeks. And it’s so big, we’ve had to split it in two. The sale refresh kicks off on Wednesday, April 12, so be sure to check back in on PlayStation Blog then to find out the next wave of titles joining the promotion.
*PlayStation Store’s Spring Sale runs from Wednesday March 29 until Wednesday April 12. The Sale will be refreshed on Wednesday, April 12.
As we strive to make gaming more accessible for all players, today we’re excited to announce that Accessibility Tags are rolling out globally this week on PlayStation Store on the PS5 console.
Accessibility Tags allow game developers to provide detailed insight on accessibility features supported in their games. As you browse various game hubs on PlayStation Store game hubs on PS5, you’ll see a list of accessibility features by pressing the “Triangle” button if the game you select supports Accessibility Tags. These can range from visual and audio accessibility settings to DualSense controller options, difficulty settings, and online communication features like chat transcription.
Clip showing Accessibility Tags in the Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut game hub on PS5.
Accessibility Tags will be available for PS5 and PS4 games on PlayStation Store on PS5. If both PS5 and PS4 platform versions are available, you can compare Accessibility Tags for each through a dropdown menu.
With Accessibility Tags, you’ll be able to easily see if the game you want to play features the accessibility options you’re looking for. Here’s a sampling of the more than 50 Accessibility Tags available for game developers to choose from, across six categories:
Visual accessibility features, such as clear text, large text, color alternatives, audio cues and directional audio indicators.
Audio features, such as volume controls, mono audio, screen reader and visual cue alternatives.
Subtitle and caption options, including subtitle size, clear captions, and large captions.
Control options, including button remapping, thumbstick sensitivity, and ability to play without button holds, rapid button presses or motion control.
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Accessibility Tags on PlayStation Store for PS5 will gradually release for players this week. At launch a variety of games such as Days Gone, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, God of War, God of War Ragnarök, Gran Turismo 7, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal will support Accessibility Tags. We are just starting to roll out this feature and are collaborating with a wide range of developers to implement this feature in their game hubs on PS5 in the coming weeks and months.
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Together with the wide array of accessibility settings within the PS5 console UI, Accessibility Tags will empower you to personalize your PS5 gaming experience to your individual gameplay needs. They’re the latest step in our journey to make gaming more accessible, alongside inclusively-designed games from PlayStation Studios and upcoming products like Project Leonardo.
Thanks for your continued support. We’re eager to hear your feedback on this feature and how we can continue enhancing gaming accessibility for our community.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a galaxy of fleshed-out worlds that aims to surpass its predecessor in every way. The numerous spectacles I witnessed within my three hours playing Respawn Entertainment’s upcoming sequel ranged from dynamic vistas, diverse communities, and an ecosystem of friendlies and enemies that your in-game actions directly impact. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is not striving to only be a great Star Wars game but an overall excellent game of galactic proportions.
Enhanced combat options
One key to living out any Jedi fantasy is the feeling of complete control over the Force and your weapons, and Survivor does not disappoint. There are now five different combat stances to unlock throughout the game as your primary and secondary:
Single – The standard balanced “all-rounder” lightsaber option
Double-bladed – Good for crowd control and keeping enemies at bay
Dual Wield – Great for high-octane and versatile combat, requires finesse
Crossguard – Powerful but slow
Blaster – Great for dealing with enemies at a distance and pestering foes
Yes, you will be able to wield a blaster. Protagonist Cal Kestis can also perform blaster and lightsaber combos, wielding one in each hand to dispatch foes in creative and visually spectacular ways.
The new options provide unique ways to tackle enemies. The crossguard lightsaber acts like a traditional longsword with slow windup times but deals massive damage to anything it comes in contact with, while dual wield allows you to deliver quick and precise strikes while staying agile.
“One thing I think we looked at in the first game is that that power curve came in a little bit too late,” said Stig Asmussen, game director at Respawn. “You didn’t really start feeling like you had [power], which is by design, you’re this raw and incomplete Padawan that hasn’t been trained in years. We wanted the player to feel that. And it’s around 60% into the first game, you start to feel like, ‘hey, I got a lot of powers right now that I can use to manipulate and eventually dominate both combat and the environment.’ And we definitely want that to come in a little bit sooner on this game because Cal is further along on his path.”
Early in the game, you’ll have access to three stances and all of the basic Force abilities Cal acquired in the first game. Along with some new ones, including Force Confusion which allows players to turn enemies against each other briefly, and Tame giving the ability to mount various creatures to navigate the environment for faster traversal or puzzle solving.
The power of PS5
The game looks stunning and has been optimized to take full advantage of what the PS5 has to offer. When flying around the world with the help of a Belter, a new flying mount, it becomes apparent just how massive and detailed the new worlds Cal will explore are, with looming structures in the distance casting vast shadows, enemies on patrol, and glimpses of the unknown on the horizon. All this is rendered in real-time and detailed regardless of distance.
“With the PS5, we’re really digging the haptics and what the controller is bringing, and it’s been a lot of fun to see how that works with push and pull [Force powers],” said Asmussen. “And a [DualSense] controller, it feels really good, and we’re taking advantage of that. You’re going to feel it on the triggers when you’re doing push and pull. If you really [push] on the triggers, it’s going to give a different response. Compared to if you’re lightly feathering them, and the game is going to react to that. It’s the nuance within the vibrations on the controller that is pretty outstanding. Our audio team and our combat team is really dialed into how the things that are happening in the world, the effects, and everything that are like translating to how it feels in your hands.”
A galaxy of cultures
The galaxy is a lively and beautiful place, and the planets are not just a collection of biomes for the players to run and slash their way through. Cal finds himself temporarily stranded on Koboh, which features a sprawling open-world design. Instead of featuring a core environmental theme, there is a wide range of biodiversity. Open arid sears, dense jungles, and puzzle room-like Jedi Chambers that will test your critical thinking skills and ability to wield the force.
Koboh is also inhabited by friendly prospectors trying to make a living among the small-town communities who are being oppressed by The Bedlam Raiders, a gang that terrorizes the nearby system. The Bedlam Raiders are also in conflict with The Empire encroaching on their turf leading to an open world that constantly has different factions of people interacting and fighting even without Cal’s involvement.
A new addition to the sequel is Rambler’s Reach, a place where you will meet colorful characters, plant gardens, and recruit different people you meet to the town to help with repairs or even to be a DJ. These and other activities will improve the lives of the locals and possibly aid Cal on his journey. The game features town-building mechanics for those who genuinely want to make the galaxy a better place.
Customization & controls
Like a Jedi honing their skills, Cal’s movement feels more fluid and responsive in this sequel. You have more control over what direction Cal dodges incoming attacks, and platforming feels organic and purposeful. Facial animations and characters’ interactions in and out of combat are more natural.
Climbing, hanging, and jumping animation reflect what you’re jumping on or toward instead of a generic jumping animation for all situations. There was also a heartfelt yet somber reunion with Greez where the contents of the conversation could be perfectly conveyed with facial expressions alone in both cutscenes and gameplay.
The game incentives exploration with a plethora of robust cosmetic options for Cal and the many forms his lightsaber can take. I indulged in customizing my lightsaber down to the tiniest details, from accent colors to the sheen and wear on my weapon.
Cal now has the option to change hairstyles, rock some facial hair, and switch up his clothing to take him from space cowboy to galactic entrepreneur. With a more customizable Cal, lightsaber, and droid buddy BD-1, it’s possible no two players will look exactly the same.
Optimizing Respawn’s Star Wars recipe
Respawn is taking what they learned from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, optimizing the formula to make Survivor an even more exciting experience.
“The game is built on the fundamentals of the best games that we played throughout our lifetime, like the things that we point out in other games. Can we make that work in Star Wars? It’s kind of a soup, right?” said Asmussen. “We got to make sure that we’ve got all the right ingredients there. We taste a little bit, and it’s like, let’s add a little bit of this. Let’s add a little bit of that. Star Wars is always a part of it, but those tried and true design fundamentals are the backbone of everything that we’re doing.”
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is shaping up to be a spectacular galactic adventure and compelling showcase for what PS5 games can truly offer. The game drops on April 28, and if it wasn’t already on your radar, it should be.
Tetris creators Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov join PlayStation Podcast to chat about bringing the iconic game’s origin story to the silver screen. After diving into the discussion, sit back and watch Tetris now on Apple TV+ with free trials on PS5 and PS4.
Stuff We Talked About
Tetris (the history)
Tetris (the movie)
Tetris (the game)
Tetris 99
Tetris Effect
Tetris in space!
Tetris
The Cast
Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE
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Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE
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Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
