Category: PlayStation

Today we’ll be exploring a totally new addition to the Diablo universe; World Bosses. These unique battles in Diablo IV give a taste of what it’s like to play with a large group of players engaging with a monster that is massive in scale, ferocity, and impact.

Core Philosophy

Each World Boss extends from four core player experience pillars. These pillars allow for alignment on the kind of gameplay that is our standard, even as we attempt to create wildly different monsters and challenges.

Everyone can contribute and be part of the solution
This is an activity for players of all classes, so no match-up feels favored towards one class and playstyle. There are no required actions to bring down a boss, so the “fun” can’t be monopolized or prevented.

Players should feel grateful for other players joining in
This content is for all players, from those who are learning the game, all the way up to masters. The activity is built so that each extra player means the World Boss will be conquered a little bit quicker. Don’t worry if you don’t know every attack; getting in and playing is the best way to learn.

Re-playable
We put heavy emphasis on mechanics that remain interesting time-after-time and feel larger-than-life. Experiencing the same Boss with a different class will present different challenges.

Stagger must be interesting and helpful but never required
Players who stagger or break the guard of a boss are rewarded with a high-impact adjustment to the fight flow. We spend a lot of time making these stagger moments significant without them being required.

Unique Experiences

World bosses are high-intensity fights filled with new to Diablo experiences, terrifying challenges, and joyous triumphs. It’s a lot of pressure to get them right!

From the Ashava concept art, you can see that even though we had a strong idea for the overall shape and claws, her head and overall texture went through multiple passes to find what told the clearest story about who she is and worked best with our top-down camera.

Once we’re aligned on what we think our new horror will look like from a high level, we move into building it in the engine.  At this stage the monster is extremely basic because making amazing character models takes a lot of time! The team can’t always wait for a finished model, so we start with something a little rough around the edges.

The process now becomes playtest-playtest-playtest. The team refines attack tells, damage payloads, timings, and assesses whole attacks for how well they’re working.  Bespoke spawn animations are created to tell a story of who this monster is and where it’s coming from. Stagger mechanics are reviewed to make sure that the player has interesting choices and it’s a rewarding experience.

Boss deaths are often given special focus; it’s an impactful moment that showcases the last gasp of a horrific monster in Sanctuary and each World Boss wants to leave a lasting impression.

Multiplayer Focus

As you’ve likely noticed, these titanic combatants are meant to be engaged with as a group. Going up against one without a sizable collection of fellow players would be a mistake until you’ve learned what’s in each World Boss’ bag of tricks.

Our first task was to make sure our World Bosses cover large portions of the field with each attack. To accomplish this, we built some of our biggest attacks first; spectacle abilities that clear out huge spaces with massive damage.

We can’t only have giant attacks though! Our teams work incredibly hard to challenge players that tend to move quickly, adapt to attack patterns, and are always looking for the easiest way to complete a boss. We address this by mapping out many different attacks, utilizing dangerous locations, and making sure we’re creating interesting challenges for all player styles.

Our next step is to make large portions of the map dangerous and blocked off, thereby preventing players from trying to stay super far away in safety. Ashava accomplishes this by spreading her poison and doing leap attacks. Other World Bosses will solve this problem in different ways to keep players on their toes.

Challenge Ashava early

The team is extremely excited to release our World Bosses out into Sanctuary, and hopefully now you know more about the dedication the team is putting into bringing them to you. If you want to challenge Ashava yourself during the Open Beta and Early Access weekends, you can do so on March 18 and March 25 at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight PDT.

Hi everyone, we are Deck13’s Sven Hammer, Principal Technical Designer, and Lila Grimaldi, Narrative Designer. We’re bringing you Atlas Fallen on May 16, an epic and explosive action-RPG where you’ll play as a hero who rises against the reign of a tyrannical god. You’ll explore a semi-open, sand-covered world called Atlas and battle mythical creatures. Your heroic abilities come from a magical artifact, and we’re here to tell you about its lore and mechanics!

The Essence of Atlas

In the world of Atlas, Essence is at the core of everything. All organic things and each particle of its sand-covered surface are made of it. An ancient form of magic built its powers on Essence, but its knowledge has been long lost. One day, our hero stumbles upon the remains of this magic in the form of a centuries-old artifact: the Gauntlet.

The Gauntlet gives its wearer control over the Essence present in their surroundings. Thus, they can manipulate Essence grains found in objects, structures, elements, and change their structural integrity, reassemble or destroy them. Our hero will use it to shape the sand around them into various weapons during combat. The gauntlet’s ability to manipulate its surroundings allows players to propel themselves into the air for epic vertical movements and fast traversal by sliding over the sands of Atlas. The Gauntlet is a very versatile tool!

Reforging the Gauntlet

Unfortunately for our hero, they find a malfunction in the Gauntlet. Forged by a mysterious being, it was dismantled soon after its creation to prevent anyone from wielding its magic again. Two vital components are required: the Catalyzer and the Shards.

The more Essence comes into play, the harder it is to control. The role of the Catalyzer is to gather Essence and channel it into itself, increasing its raw power tenfold. This component has been broken into three fragments called “Catalyst Pieces”, which you’ll have to find and put back together. Collecting a new Catalyst Piece allows you to reforge a part of the Gauntlet, unlocking a new powerful ability in the process. Each Catalyst Piece must be completed with specific Essence-infused objects called “Shards”, which enhance the hero’s control over Essence.

Throughout your journey in the world of Atlas, you will come across those Catalyst Pieces and Shards, and get to gradually augment the capabilities of your Gauntlet and progress further into the game.

The shape-shifting weapon

Once you have the power to manipulate Essence, you can shape the sand around you into various weapons. In order to do so, you must find the corresponding Weapon Remembrance. Three weapons can be found throughout your journey: the Dunecleaver, the Sandwhip and the Knuckledust. They all grow more massive and powerful as you amass Essence during combat, this process is called gaining Momentum.

The Dunecleaver is a heavy weapon that does wonders when it comes to dealing very impactful area-of-effect damage to your foes. Depending on the attacks you are performing, it will take one of two different shapes. One of them is an axe—ideal to perform large sweeps which deal a good amount of damage while destabilizing your target; the other is a hammer—specialized in crowd control, it creates large damage areas when slammed into the ground.

The Sandwhip combines the fast swings of a sword with the wide sweeps of a whip. It’s your fastest, most efficient weapon at building up Momentum and offers a wide variety of mobility options. A great example of this is the Sandwhip Hook: a move which allows you to latch onto your target and pull yourself towards it. This makes the Sandwhip a highly versatile weapon in that you can either use it to keep your enemies at a safe distance while building up Momentum or use its high mobility to quickly in and out of a fight, allowing you to land devastating melee dagger hits that consume Momentum over time.

Finally, the Knuckledust is a fist weapon that covers both forearms and grows into additional pairs of arms as your Momentum builds up. The Knuckledust shines in dealing high damage-per-second on single targets, which makes it a perfect choice to swiftly take out selected threats.

You’ll be able to wield two weapons at a time, which allows you to create a unique loadout with your favorite moves. In addition to these weapons your combat capabilities will be strongly enhanced by the use of Essence Stones. Those will enable you to perform unique and powerful attacks, customizable to your preferred playstyle.

Sand-taming abilities outside of combat

The sand-taming abilities granted by the Gauntlet are not limited to its shapeshifting qualities. Here are three abilities that you’ll also rely on, allowing you to traverse the world of Atlas with speed and power, and to interact with specific objects and structures.

Air dash can be used while airborne, channeling the Essence around you to propel yourself forward and dash through the air. Thanks to this ability, you can easily get to a specific target, reach the next structure to land on, surmount big chasms and cover great distances rapidly.

Raise enables you to lift imposing structures and objects buried in the ground thanks to the Essence in the sand. This ability is crucial for you to uncover hidden treasures and sunken ruins, as well as create new paths over raised structures and even reveal pathways that have long been forgotten.

Crush gives you the ability to rip magical seals and chains apart, which is how you’ll access forbidden grounds—a necessary step for you to progress in your journey and change the course of Atlas’ history.

We hope you enjoyed this introduction to the epic fun you’ll have taming the sand in Atlas Fallen, releasing May 16 on PlayStation 5. Pre-order it now to get the bonus DLC Ruin Rising Pack!

Hi, my name is Gareth Damian Martin and I am the solo developer behind Citizen Sleeper, one of 2022’s most beloved indie games coming to PS4 and PS5 on March 31. It’s been a wild ride since the release last May, and I have been blown away by the support, positive press and award nominations alike. As a longtime PlayStation player, I’m so happy to finally bring the game, complete with all its DLC to both PS4 and PS5.

Complete and expanded

Since its release, Citizen Sleeper has only been growing and continues on that trajectory with a three-episode DLC series expanding on the world and its stories. The first episode, Flux, saw a refugee flotilla arrive at the game’s ring-shaped space station, Erlin’s Eye. In episode 2, Refuge, a new threat to the future of the station was revealed. The PlayStation version will launch alongside the third and final episode, Purge, which completes the story of the flotilla and the wider game. That means players getting started on March 31st will have the complete game and all its DLC available to them from the get-go.

Rolls and roles

But what are you getting yourself into if you decide to build a life on Erlin’s Eye? Citizen Sleeper is a narrative-focused sci-fi RPG, but it’s nothing like anything you’ve played before. Taking inspiration from tabletop role-playing games, each “cycle” you’ll roll your dice, and then decide how best to use them.

From taking a bar shift for a few extra chits, to investigating a station-wide conspiracy, everything in the game uses dice to determine its outcome. The result is a broad world filled with various paths and endings, and a whole host of characters to meet. You’ll need to think carefully about which dice you use for what, and face the outcomes of unlucky rolls and difficult decisions.

Allies and adversaries

Character design is a big part of what players have fallen in love with in Citizen Sleeper. To create the diverse cast of salvagers, bartenders, chefs, mercenaries and more, I worked with French comic artist Guillaume Singellin. Guillaume’s art brings a beautiful human touch to the sometimes melancholy and stark world of Citizen Sleeper, and you’ll be able to choose which of the captivating characters you want to spend your time with.

That’s what’s at the heart of Citizen Sleeper—building a life and community in a sci-fi world that feels human and emotionally impactful. I hope you’ll give the game a shot on March 31st and join the 500,000 and counting who have already made a life on The Eye.

Next month, Aloy will face new threats in a danger-filled land as she embarks on a new adventure. Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shore expansion leverages the power of PS5 to make this journey possible. We reached out to Guerrilla to understand how, and to find out more about the enticing combat and world design details we should expect on April 19. Game Director Mathijs de Jonge offers his development insights.

PlayStation Blog: What were your first impressions when first learning about the power and capabilities of the PS5, from a developer perspective?

Mathijs de Jonge: Horizon Forbidden West is a very visual game, so the promise of more CPU power and memory meant we were going to be able to add even more quality to the image; and gameplay-wise I was most looking forward to being able to play at 60fps. This was high on my wishlist as it works so well with our combat gameplay as you’re fighting the machines.

When I first heard about the superfast SSD, it was hard to believe that it was so capable – but it seems like loading times truly are a thing of the past. This works brilliantly for a game like Horizon Forbidden West, where long loading screens can be a real immersion breaker. From a development point of view, fast loading also helped me with reviewing the game because I could jump straight into any section without having to wait.

How have you taken advantage of PS5’s power to create Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores?

One of our key priorities with Horizon games is to add a ton of detail and richness to our environments. On Horizon Forbidden West, everything we added or increased was something we’d need to have a plan around how to optimize for PS4 as well. On Burning Shores, since we can just focus on PS5, we’ve been able to charge forward and we’re really excited about what we’ve been able to pull off in creating this stunning post-post-apocalyptic version of Los Angeles.

The cityscape ruins of LA and its surroundings are highly detailed and require a lot of processing power as well as fast streaming technology to run properly; especially when the player is flying over the lands and can see a lot at once. One of the settlements is situated in and around those detailed ruins, and we were able to squeeze a lot of activity in there.

Another notable one is a particular battle scene that requires a LOT of memory and processing power! To achieve this grand vision both technically and creatively, we definitely were thankful for the many advantages that the PS5 hardware brings.

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Horizon Forbidden West delivers fantastic visual effects, animations and immersive audio during combat encounters, especially when battling some of the larger machines. How have you taken advantage of PS5 to deliver these rich visual performances and what can we expect from Burning Shores?

Using the PS5’s processing power we can run certain simulations at higher speed creating more lifelike results and a better gameplay experience. On PS5, the Horizon Forbidden West base game runs at a higher resolution and at a higher framerate than on PS4, and assets are more detailed which makes the overall quality much better. There is also a special lighting setup for Aloy that we normally only display during cinematics, but is active on the PS5 at all times. On PS5 we can draw at higher detail much further into the distance, displaying the stunning vistas our players encounters all across the map. We also support 40Hz Mode and Variable Refresh Rate on capable TVs for even more fluid gameplay.

What is your favorite PS5 game released so far? And from a developer perspective how do you feel it best takes advantage of the hardware?

I sank many hours into Elden Ring on my PS5 and was really impressed by everything it had to offer, but I think God of War Ragnarök wins it for me in terms of character designs and overall visual splendor.

Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 and is part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.The Burning Shores expansion will be available April 19.

Last week, we asked you to share inspiring heroines from your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

MSTakesPictures shares Kena from Kena: Bridge of Spirits

ForgottenJasmin shares Beta and Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West.

YouSpoonyBardd shares Ellie from The Last of Us Part II.

justinphotomode shares Frey from Forspoken

sirevanztheduke shares Batgirl from Gotham Knights.

mobhaine shares Aerith and Tifa from Final Fantasy VII Remake

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? 

THEME: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 15, 2023

Next week, travel to the Three Kingdoms and share daring feats from Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

How Mega will you be in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 4 Season 2? Will you spend your time in Mega City by riding the new grind rails or swerving the streets on a sports bike? There’s a lot to see in the Mega City, but don’t forget to venture out and explore the rest of the new biome: see the cherry blossoms of Steamy Springs, fish in the waters of Knotty Nets, sharpen your skills at Kenjutsu Crossing, and more.

A whole new part of the Island is waiting to be discovered by your squad!

Are you Mega fast?

A new city means new streets for you to ride on. You (and your squadmate) can grab the sleek, aerodynamic Victory Crown Rogue (a.k.a. Rogue Bike) and speed through the streets of Mega City and more. This two-person sports bike features high acceleration, sharp turning, and a boost-ready engine. Prefer a four-wheel approach? Get in the Nitro Drifter and use its handbrake to drift ‘round the tight turns of the city!

How about Mega sharp?

Seek to study the blade? Then hunt down a Kinetic Blade and perform the artful Knockback Slash. No time for mercy? Pull off the devastating Dash Attack.

Will you be Mega masterful?

There are more ways for you to get around Mega City besides the streets. If you see a grind rail, try jumping on it to skate around the buildings and your enemies. You can even use your weapons as you ride!

Or Mega frenetic?

Remember, you don’t need to be loud to cause havoc. Equip the silenced, highly accurate, and fully automatic Havoc Suppressed Assault Rifle. Prefer something less subtle? We’ve got you covered — grab the heavy-hitting Havoc Pump Shotgun and fight bold and brash.

What about Mega assisted?

New Reality Augments make their debut in Chapter 4 Season 2! Activate Dumpster Diving to find loot by hiding, Slap Surplus for some extra kick, Dignified Finish to refresh a Dash Attack, and more.

Be Mega fashionable

Sharpen your fashion sense with Chapter 4 Season 2’s Battle Pass Outfits. With the Chapter 4 Season 2 Battle Pass purchase, you’ll auto-unlock the fine-tailored “Renzo the Destroyer.” Progress through the Battle Pass to unlock other Outfits, including the streetwear savant “Thunder,” the elegantly casual “Highwire,” and more.

Later in the Season, the Outfit for anime protagonist Eren Jaeger will become available to unlock in the Battle Pass.

News on Resident Evil 4, Exoprimal, Monster Hunter Rise, and more headlined the Capcom Spotlight – a global digital livestream event featuring updates on our latest titles coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Buckle up and get ready to recap the news.

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Play the Resident Evil 4 demo today

The wait is over. The Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Demo is available today. Step into the shoes of Leon S. Kennedy and experience the game’s harrowing open moments to help tide you over until the game’s launch on March 24.

Take your first steps into the memorable secluded village, which should be familiar to fans of the original game. Modern gameplay and new combat abilities, such as the ability to parry incoming attacks or quickly switch weapons bring a fresh and exciting feeling to the gameplay.

On PS5, get immersed even further in the game with the DualSense controller. Resident Evil 4 includes haptic feedback and adaptive triggers support. Combined with the game’s vivid visuals and 3D audio, you’ll be even more engrossed in the action.

The demo can be played any number of times with no limits, so you can replay it to your heart’s content!

Pre-orders are available now for both the standard and deluxe editions, and each comes with bonuses. Pre-orders on the PlayStation Store also include a mini soundtrack. If you liked the demo, don’t forget to pre-order Resident Evil 4!

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Suit up in Exoprimal this summer

The Capcom Spotlight brought a bounty of big news for the upcoming online team-based action game, Exoprimal. We’re happy to share that Exoprimal is set to launch on PS5 and PS4 on July 14, with pre-orders available starting today!

First revealed exactly one year ago in the March 2022 State of Play, Exoprimal is an all-new game from Capcom that puts players in the role of an Exofighter working for the Aibius Corporation. Players pilot cutting-edge Exosuits and work together to fight back hordes of history’s most ferocious beasts – dinosaurs.

Today’s trailer showed our full roster of ten Exosuits in action, plus a glimpse at more of the conflict that awaits the Hammerheads – the squad you’ll be joining. As Ace, you’ll rub elbows with your colorful crewmates – Alders, Majesty, Sandy the android, and chief Lorenzo, leader of the Hammerheads – as you work together to unravel the time-bending mystery behind Bikitoa Island, the Hammerheads and Leviathan’s never-ending wargames.

We also shared details on the Survival Pass, which rewards players for their in-game progress and features both free and premium tiers. Survival Pass Season 1: Premium Tier will allow you to unlock even more fun cosmetic items, including 19 additional Exosuit skins, 10 weapons skins, 4 emotes, and more.

Can’t wait to pilot an Exosuit? You won’t have to wait long because the Exoprimal Open Beta Test is set for March 16 to March 19 (PDT)*! The Open Beta Test will include 10 playable Exosuits, allowing you to get a feel for how each one holds up against hordes of dinosaurs – and an opposing squad of players – in the game’s main mode, Dino Survival. The Open Beta Test will also feature cross-platform matchmaking, just like the full game.**

Play in the Open Beta Test and complete a survey after playing to receive an Aibius Medal charm in the full game.

*Be sure to check the official website for the Open Beta Test dates and times in your region.
**A CAPCOM ID is required for both the Open Beta Test and the full game.

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Elgado awaits in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

Been enjoying your time in Kamura Village with Monster Hunter Rise on PS5 and PS4? We’ve got much more on the way. Get ready to take your hunt to the next level when the massive expansion, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak launches on April 28, 2023!

Taking place after the events of the main game, you’ll travel to Elgado Outpost alongside Dame Fiorayne to hunt fearsome new monsters. You’ll meet some new faces, travel to new locales, and expand your hunting horizons as you delve into the mystery threatening the Kingdom. 

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak introduces several challenging new monsters to the fold, including the Western-horror inspired Three Lords. The powerful and boulder-like Garangolm, the icy wolf-like Lunagaron, and the elder dragon and flagship monster, Malzeno, headline a roster of both new and returning monsters.

The expansion also brings new hunting actions, like the Switch Skill Swap that allows you to change your Switch Skill sets on the fly, as well as new Silkbind and Switch Skills that add even more combat options for each of the game’s 14 weapon types.

On April 28, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak will launch with all post-release content up to Free Title Update 3 (Ver.13), which includes harrowing encounters such as Chaotic Gore Magala and other powerful and challenging monsters. More updates are in development, so stay tuned for news in the future.

Lost lives and lost memory, all in one night

Solve the ghoulish mystery behind your murder when Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective revives on PS4 on June 30, 2023!

From the mind of Ace Attorney’s Shu Takumi, this classic supernatural puzzle-solving game casts you as a ghost with just one night to solve the mystery of your death. Leverage the powers straight from the game’s title: “Ghost” and “Trick”, to change your fate. Possess and manipulate objects in the ghost world, then trick them in the real world to change fate!

This updated version features high-resolution graphics, increased frame rate, an updated user interface, support for more languages, and a challenges feature where you can earn illustrations and music from the game.

Also revealed in today’s Capcom Spotlight, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective will feature newly arranged versions of all 37 music tracks in the game. Yasumasa Kitagawa from The Great Ace Attorney series spearheaded the new arrangements, while the game’s original composer Masakazu Sugimori created a new original music track to celebrate this new version of the game.

Battle routine, set – execute

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a little over a month away! This collection gathers 10 beloved titles for the first time on PlayStation platforms, all in one EXEllent collection. Join Lan Hikari and his NetNavi, MegaMan.EXE, as you work together to solve countless cybercrimes in the real world as well as the interconnected online Cyberworld!

The game’s director, Masakazu Eguchi aka Mr. Famous, joined the Capcom Spotlight to share additional details on the upcoming collection of games.

All 499 Patch Cards, usable in Battle Network 4, 5, and 6, are included in the collection! These optional cards were previously only available as physical cards in Japan. Now you’ll be able to use Patch Cards, Item Cards, Event Cards, Character Cards, and Special Cards to further enjoy the game or take on formidable enemies in entirely new ways.

Buster MAX Mode is a new mode being added in the collection that multiplies damage of normal MegaBuster shots by 100, letting you bust viruses with ease to enjoy the story and speed up combat. This mode can be toggled on and off at any time during the story, so you don’t need to commit at the start of the game. It will also be automatically disabled in online NetBattles.

If you’ve been waiting to experience these beloved titles, there’s never been a better time. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection launches on PS4 on April 14, 2023, with pre-orders available now.

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Street Fighter 6’s final commentator revealed

Popular Japanese actress Hikaru Takahashi was announced as the final color commentator coming to Street Fighter 6’s Real Time Commentary feature. Real-Time Commentary incorporates the voices of renowned personalities and Fighting Game Community (FGC) commentators to narrate the in-game action with easy-to-understand gameplay explanations and bring the competitive thrill to your matches, all while in the comfort of your home. This feature will also support subtitles in 13 languages for increased accessibility and player excitement.

Hikaru’s addition brings the total roster to four play-by-play commentators, including Vicious, Aru, Kosuke Hiraiwa, and Tasty Steve, and four color commentators, including Hikaru Takahashi, Thea Trinidad (otherwise known as WWE Superstar Zelina Vega), H.E. Demon Kakka, and James Chen.

Street Fighter 6 launches on PS5 and PS4 on June 2, 2023. We’ll have more news to share on the game in the future, so keep an eye out.

Signing off

Before we go, be sure to check out the Capcom Publisher Sale! Games from your favorite Capcom franchises for PS5 and PS4 are discounted today on PlayStation Store. Plus, Monster Hunter Rise is available at a discounted price for the first time since release. Let us know which ones you’re excited to pick up!

That’s all the news from the Capcom Spotlight. Today’s news included just a few titles in development at Capcom, but we’ve got more titles in the works and will share news and updates in future Capcom Showcases and Capcom Spotlights.

Season 02 Reloaded launches on March 15 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. The midseason update continues the epic action from the start of the season with the introduction of Special Ops Raid Episode 02, the Himmelmatt Expo 6v6 Multiplayer map, new Camo Challenges, a new free functional weapon, and more across both games.

Raid Episode 02, Himmelmatt Expo, more Party modes

Test your skills in a new cooperative Raid, explore an idyllic winter retreat at Himmelmat, and let loose with new Multiplayer party modes.

Atomgrad Raid Episode 02: Team up with two other players and take on the roles of Captain Price, Farah, and Gaz as they embark on a new mission to identify and acquire a deadly warhead. The Operators must navigate through deadly traps and increasing enemy resistance as they ascend through the missile silo.

As part of the midseason update, anyone who owns Modern Warfare® II will be able to access Raids; Raid Assignments are no longer required for access. Players who successfully complete Episode 02 can take on the Veteran version of the Raid, offering additional rewards for tackling the mission against greater odds.

Himmelmatt Expo (6v6): Deploy to the Himmelmatt Expo, a new Core Multiplayer map set on a European mountainside. Battle in the main event center and skirmish through the snow-covered streets surrounding the luxurious amenities of this winter retreat. Look for Himmelmatt Expo in the Quick Play rotation and featured Playlists throughout Season 02 Reloaded.

Get your winter jacket and prepare to deploy to this idyllic company retreat nestled in the Swiss Alps. However, attendees for the upcoming Oil & Gas Summit 2023 will have to delay their arrival as combat breaks out on the site between SpecGru and KorTac forces.

Himmelmatt Expo consists of four major areas:

Event Center: The Event Center occupies nearly half of the map, a huge building housing reception services, a Conference Room, the Lounge, and a Terrace. The structure is composed of two levels: the main floor that runs from the reception desks on either side of the building and through the Terrace, and the lower floor leading to the Conference Room.

Main Roads: Roads lead to the event center’s top and bottom entrances, with parked vehicles scattered throughout.  From the southern Roundabout, one can see over the Sauna and up toward the Restaurant, while Operators in the north Street enjoy a similar view over the Sauna and against enemies emerging from the Pool. Use the various trucks and vehicles here for cover as needed and be sure to race inside if you get notified of an incoming enemy streak.

Restaurant: While tiny compared to the event center, The Restaurant nonetheless occupies an important position on the map, with several game modes positioning their objective at or near the building.

Pool & Sauna: The Sauna offers a somewhat safer route when traveling outdoors, considering its position to the side of the map and the squat buildings providing solid cover. If you have to get through the Pool area, use your Tactical Sprint to get through fast; otherwise, you risk becoming a sitting duck on a cold winter day.

Himmelmatt Expo Spawns:

Spawning at the top of the map, SpecGru Operators can turn immediately into the North Hall or continue down the Roundabout toward the Pool, Restaurant, and Sauna.

KorTac forces spawn in on the southern tip of the map, facing the event center, where you’ll see its welcome messages in various languages. Operators have several options when starting the match here: Rush straight through the double-door entrances leading into the Lobby — from there, head to the Lounge, Terrace, or Conference Room —  take the double-door entrance leading into the Lounge, or stay outdoors, wrapping around the main building toward the Pool and Sauna.

On a larger map like Himmelmatt Expo, it’s important to get a feel for when you should move in and attack and when it’s best to defend your position. Move too aggressively, and you’ll be eliminated in transit; hang back too much, and you risk missing out on the action. The more you play the map, the sharper your instincts will become. For more tips and tricks, check out the deep dive in the Himmelmatt Expo Map Guide Blog.

Play new party modes

Following up on the rerelease of Infected, Gun Game, and Grind for Modern Warfare II, Season 02 Reloaded drops three more party modes from Call of Duty’s near two-decade history:

Drop Zone: Capture and hold the Drop Zone to earn points in this chaotic team-based mode. For every 15 seconds that the Drop Zone is occupied, a Care Package containing a Killstreak will be dropped in the vicinity. This makes rotating to the next Drop Zone a high priority so you can dig in and start earning those packages ASAP.

All or Nothing: Equipped only with Throwing Knives and a pistol with no ammo, each Operator must fight for themselves in a race to earn 20 eliminations. Earn additional Perks by eliminating enemies, starting with the Scavenger Perk to allow for ammo pickups.

One in the Chamber: Load into the match with a pistol, one bullet, and three lives. Each player fights for themselves, and a single shot to any part of the body earns the elimination, granting the attacker one more bullet for the next fight. Try not to miss.

Call of Duty: Warzone third anniversary celebration

To celebrate three years of Warzone, all players will receive free items through the in-game Store that are themed around the maps, seasons, and memories made since its surprise launch on March 10, 2020. These rewards include a free Weapon Blueprint, a Calling Card, and an Emblem. Check the in-game Store daily to claim your rewards throughout the season.

Path of the Ronin Event Camo Challenges

When the midseason update launches, the Path of the Ronin will shift from the Seven Virtues of Bushido to a new set of challenges tied to weapon camos. Complete a challenge to unlock a new camouflage — Winds of Ash — for every weapon in that category. Complete all ten challenges to earn another new camo for every weapon — Bowing Blossoms — as well as a golden Charm that represents your dedication to following the Path of the Ronin.

 New weapon

Season 02 Reloaded gives you more ways to deal with your enemies, whether you prefer going loud or striking swift and silent.

Tempus Torrent: This new Marksman Rifle offers impressive damage and a fast-firing mechanism, making it a great Primary Weapon choice when deploying to the new Himmelmatt Expo Multiplayer map or to Ashika Island. Unlock the Tempus Torrent by completing the in-game Weapon Challenge or by purchasing via Store Bundle

Watch for other Store Bundles arriving in the midseason, including the Tracer Pack: Padraig’s Pandemonium Bundle, Generation XRK, and Raid Bundle Season 02: Deepwater.

New Social Feature: Party Queuing

Among other technical updates across Modern Warfare and Warzone 2.0 that all developer studios are working on, there is one notable feature addition that makes it even easier to form parties with friends and competitive teammates

Party queuing allows players to automatically join a friend’s party once they are finished with their active match. Just like inviting friends to a party or channel, you can access party queuing via the in-game social menu.

After selecting the option to party queue, you will wait in the hanger bay pre-match lobby until that specific friend is done with their match, then automatically join their lobby for the next match. While queuing, you can use voice and text chat with those currently in a match, with all queued players appearing in the game channel member list for all players in said party.

Note that party queuing can cause the current squad to be ineligible to re-queue for a playlist if their new party size exceeds the match’s maximum party count (for example: getting a party of five from party queuing after finishing a Battle Royale Quads match). In those cases, you may need to switch to a game mode that can accommodate the new party size, or figure out how to get back to the game mode party size limit.

PlayStation exclusive reminder — Season 02 Combat Pack

Plus, don’t forget to grab your exclusive operator bundle. The Season 02 Combat Pack grants Hiro “Oni” Wantanabe an Operator Skin that suits the journey of those living the Samurai Code.

PlayStation® Plus subscribers will also receive the following: the “Oni Carver” SMG Blueprint, the “Oni Slasher” Assault Rifle Blueprint, the “Yoroi” Weapon Charm, the “Crimson Oni” Animated Calling Card, the “Golden Dragonfly” Weapon Sticker, and the “Grinning Oni” Emblem.

And be sure to jump into Season 02 Reloaded on PlayStation from March 16 10AM PT to March 17 10AM PT to take full advantage of the Sony exclusive Player 2XP!

Season 02 Reloaded launches March 15

For the best midseason experience, purchase Modern Warfare II on PlayStation today and get access to additional 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.

Stay frosty.

After its successful debut on the PlayStation 5 console last year, The Last of Us Part I is making its way to PC on March 28! Marking the first time The Last of Us has been available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, we can’t wait for new and returning players to experience Joel and Ellie’s emotional journey on a new platform.

Whether you’re coming to the launch of The Last of Us Part I on PC as a first timer – maybe you’ve been enjoying The Last of Us on HBO and want to jump into the game? – or if you’re a returning player who wants to experience this memorable adventure all over again, we hope the PC version will be an exciting way for everyone to play.

We previously confirmed Part I’s PC iteration will bring with it the same main content as its PS5 counterpart, but with the PC release drawing near, we snuck by some frightening Clickers to deliver more information about what players can expect.

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Whatever your previous experience with The Last of Us Part I, its PC release brings with it plenty of PC features to bring Joel and Ellie’s tense and unforgettable journey to life. This version of The Last of Us Part I is optimized for PC with PC-centric quality-of-life enhancements. Part I will feature AMD FSR 2.2 support, Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution support*, VSync and frame rate cap options, and a host of features designed specifically for PC, including adjustable Texture Quality, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion, and more.

Through the experiences of Joel and Ellie, PC players can fully immerse themselves in beautiful yet haunting environments in stunning detail with true 4K resolutions**. From the harsh, oppressive streets of the Boston QZ to the overgrown and abandoned homes of Bill’s Town to so much more, embark on a beautiful journey across the United States of America with Ultra-Wide Monitor Support for both 21:9 Ultrawide and 32:9 Super Ultrawide aspect ratios.

Experience all these locations, stealthily sneaking through abandoned homes and cities (and picking their drawers and cabinets clean looking for supplies) or engage in tense, captivating action with 3D audio support to better hear the rustle of leaves, the crack of glass, or the footfalls of enemies trying to ambush you***.

The Last of Us Part I on PC features DualSense controller support through a wired connection so players can feel the impact of battle, the rumble of a tank rolling by, and so much more through haptic feedback and dynamic triggers. With support for the DualShock 4 controller, a wide range of other gamepads, and keyboard and mouse, players can adjust their playstyle to suit their preferences. The PC release includes a number of new control customization options including full control remapping, primary and secondary bindings for keyboard and mouse control, an adaptive mode that allows players to combine keyboard and controller inputs, and more.

As our team has been hard at work on the PC version since Part I’s PS5 release, we’ve also been continuously listening to player feedback. The Last of Us Part I on PC will include a number of bug fixes and improvements throughout the game, in big part thanks to our community’s feedback. 

To ensure you have a smooth experience, we recommend the following PC specifications:

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Whether you’re a new or old player, The Last of Us Part I on PC will bring with it the same core gameplay experience of the PS5 version, including its award-winning campaign, the Left Behind DLC chapter, additional modes like Speedrun Mode****, Permadeath Mode, and Photo Mode. Part I’s PC launch will also include The Last of Us Part I’s suite of accessibility features so that players can adjust the experience to suit their needs and preferences.

If you’re counting the days until launch, you can still pre-purchase The Last of Us Part I on PC.

The Firefly Edition of The Last of Us Part I for PC via Steam is still available in limited quantities in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg through direct.playstation.com. Pre-purchase it to receive a SteelBook, physical copies of The Last of Us: American Dreams comics, and more.

• The Last of Us Part I PC Firefly Edition: direct.playstation.com

Additionally, the standard and digital deluxe editions of The Last of Us Part I are still available for pre-purchase. All pre-purchases will receive bonus supplements and bonus weapon parts for their adventure, while the Digital Deluxe Edition includes early in-game unlocks, cosmetics, and more. Make like a Runner and head over to the following storefronts to pre-purchase your copy now:

• The Last of Us Part I PC Digital Deluxe Edition: Steam | Epic Games Store
• The Last of Us Part I PC: Steam | Epic Games Store

We have been so moved by the incredible support from new and old fans alike for the franchise over the years, and especially since the start of 2023. We’re so grateful to the incredible fans, new and old, who have been loving The Last of Us series on HBO, and for everyone who has been, and with this PC launch is looking forward to, jumping into our games. Thank you for all your continued support, and we can’t wait to welcome more players to Joel and Ellie’s journey on March 28.

* Compatible PC and graphics card required for enhanced graphics.
** Compatible PC, graphics card, and 4K display device required.
*** 3D Audio requires stereo headphones or compatible speakers.
****Game progression required to unlock for The Last of Us Part I Standard Edition.