It’s hard to believe that it’s already been one year since Horizon Forbidden West launched. On February 18, 2022, Guerrillas were eagerly waiting at their workstations as the game started rolling out to our global community.
Describing the feeling of a game launch day is challenging, though any developer in our industry will inherently understand the mixture of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation as we start seeing your reactions come in. We spend most of the day refreshing social media, checking stats, and reading through initial feedback — whilst, of course, sharing a moment with the team, relishing in the incredible achievements and outcomes of over four years of work, now out in the world.
This past year, saw more than just the launch of Horizon Forbidden West; we also released a LEGO Tallneck into the wilds, created a dedicated TikTok channel, and dropped a lot of new merch, like the OST vinyl and a collection with ASOS. We were even able to finally meet some of our fans in person again at Twitchcon and gamescom!
It’s been heart-warming to see the impact Aloy and her story have had on you, and we are so grateful for how our community expresses love and joy for our franchise. One of my personal joys is to scroll through the #BeyondTheHorizon hashtag and see the breathtaking Photo Mode shots from the virtual photography community; did you know you all spent a collective 211,000 hours in Photo Mode?
As a thank you for one year of passion, support, and excitement about Horizon Forbidden West, we want to indulge you with a small token of appreciation in the form of new PlayStation avatars, which will be available to download from PlayStation Store tomorrow.
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for embracing Aloy and her continued story in Horizon Forbidden West. We are now looking forward to our Burning Shores expansion, coming to PS5 on April 19, which sees Aloy pursue a sinister threat in the deadly, volcanic ruins of Los Angeles. And if you want to experience the world of Horizon from a completely different angle, Horizon Call of the Mountain is launching next week on PSVR2.
If you wish to be a great Wild Hearts hunter you must rely on all your senses, not simply your sight, in order to successfully stalk and defeat your prey. The snapping of tree branches in the distance to your right, the plodding thuds that send vibrations through your body as impossibly heavy feet meet the earth, they all tell you plainly that a Kingtusk is passing through the forest. You ready your weapon, testing the bowstring which thrums reassuringly in your hand. You are ready.
This should give you a taste of how the PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller makes each and every hunt in Wild Hearts unforgettable. The hunt begins on February 17. Keep reading to discover what you can expect when you enter the land of Azuma and take on the mighty Kemono.
Haptic feedback
The beauty of the land around you can be both a blessing and a distraction while you pursue your massive prey. Your sense of touch can help ground you, keeping you focused on your pursuit as well as giving you vital feedback that can make the difference between victory and failure. Whether you are using a Karakuri to evade an attack or practicing with your weapons in Minato, Haptic feedback will sometimes speak louder than the mightiest Kemono’s roar.
A wooden gate – somewhat past its prime – blocks your way. You begin to push through it, but it’s surprisingly sturdy. Feel the resistance as it fights against you before, inevitably giving way to your strength.
You pursue your prey, leaping over gnarled tree roots and rocks that litter the forest floor. It begins to outpace you, but suddenly you see a spring Karakuri, a sure sign that luck is on your side today. You leap onto it, feeling the vibrations (thanks to your DualSense controller) as if through your own feet, and make up valuable ground quickly.
Of course not all sensations you experience through Haptics will be strictly necessary for the hunt. You may find it both useful and soothing to take time to interact with the gentler wildlife throughout Azuma. Make a new friend (or two) with a gentle pat on the back.
As a hunter, you must be one with your chosen weapon. You must know its weight, its speed, the sensation it makes as it contacts your prey or as you loose an arrow. As you might expect, a hefty maul will feel quite different from wielding a more delicate bladed wagasa, and in time you will come to know each one better via your DualSense controller.
Adaptive triggers
Carefully you take aim, pausing only long enough to draw in a breath. The reactive trigger as you ready your bow emphasizes its power, your commitment to protecting your people, and the respect you have for your giant prey. As you release your breath your arrow flies, dealing the Kingtusk a final, devastating blow.
3D Audio
The beauty of Azuma extends beyond what you can see. All around you the sounds of nature fill the air. Birds sing and chirp above you, the wind dances through a chime creating a soft melody, water rushes by with a soothing murmur. Enjoy the peacefulness of natural sounds all around you with realistic 3-D audio. At least until that peace is shattered by the roar of an enraged Kemono.
Life in Minato creates its own melody, made up of the chatter of villagers as they gossip or barter. Listen carefully and you may even be lucky enough to catch someone singing a folk song.
Hunt with friends
For some, the thrill of the hunt is best savored alone. But even the most deadly hunter may face a beast they cannot take down on their own. In Wild Hearts you can unite with up to two friends (or other players) to stalk and hunt your prey. Hunting in a party will enable you to expand your battle plans and special missions. And with Fast Loading you will be able to experience the game with your friends even more quickly.
Pre-order the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition
Leave a lasting impression on your fellow hunters with the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition which includes the base game and six items: the Karakuri Samurai and Karakuri Ninja cosmetic armor sets, a decorative Tsukumo Lantern, and three Emotes. If you pre-order the Karakuri Edition you will also receive the Ferocious Kemono Emote and five Chat Stamps.
MLB The Show 23 includes some serious updates and additions to gameplay. Read all about them below ahead of launch on March 28.
Defense
High Fielding attributes matter more now than ever before. The disparity between players in games with high vs low fielding attributes is more noticeable. Players with lower Fielding attribute will feature worse start transition animations when contact is made off the bat far more frequently than those with high Fielding attribute.
When it comes to our throwing interfaces, we have a couple to select from depending on player skill and engagement level. Our more player-friendly interfaces, Buttons and Analog, rely heavily on the Arm Accuracy attribute which has been tuned to be in line with MLB statistics. Elevate your game with the Button Accuracy Meter where you are in complete control of your throws.
If using the Button Accuracy throwing interface, consistent with last year’s game, the green portion of the meter (indicates a throw that will be accurate to the fielder), scales based on the Arm Accuracy attribute. However, the functionality of the meter has changed. Universally, the speed of the meter needle is slower than in years past. This is intended, as it helps facilitate the upcoming changes. In previous years of The Show, the meter was consistent, meaning the green spot was always in the middle. Repetition with this mechanic led to ease of use for many players. Now, on difficult infield plays and long outfield throws, the green portion of the meter will dynamically move. This change increases realism while also adding additional skill to defense.
On force throws to first base, players will experience a yellow portion of the meter. This section indicates the dirt ball region of the meter, leading to balls being thrown in the dirt. The frequency of the play being made is based on the first baseman’s Fielding attribute. Visit custom practice to experience and perfect the changes to fielding and throwing.
Two new quirks have been added/revamped on defense. These two quirks are Break Outlier and Pick Off Artist. A pitcher with Break Outlier loses break at a slower rate than those without the quirk. A pitcher with Pick Off Artist leads to 2x the chance of a successful pick-off.
Offense
The pitcher-batter dynamic is better than ever with the revamped competitive gameplay engine. And don’t worry Casual or Simulation fans, we have also tuned and balanced those gameplay styles.
One of the major attribute updates to MLBTS23 we have redefined the Clutch Attribute. With runners in scoring position, clutch attribute directly replaces contact. This helps to facilitate more realism. The battle between a batter’s Contact attribute and a pitcher’s hits per 9 innings (H/9) attribute is directly replaced with batter Clutch and Pitcher Clutch with RISP.
Two new quirks have been added on offense. These are Bad Ball Hitter and Table Setter. A batter with Bad Ball Hitter will excel at hitting pitches outside of the strike zone. A batter with Table Setter excels with no runners on base.
Animations
We’ve added over 5,000 gameplay animations to MLB The Show 23. From rob foul ball, dives, batting stances, additional hot shot variety at the corners and as always new animations for fielder urgency and efficiency.
Gameplay styles
Gameplay Styles are meant to create unique experiences for all players. Gameplay style tuning for Casual and Simulation are continuously taking place. However, the biggest gameplay style change revolves around Competitive Gameplay Style.
Competitive gameplay style is the default for all Online Head-to-Head* games and all Diamond Dynasty* modes. Competitive Gameplay Style can also be accessed by visiting the gameplay settings and toggling the Gameplay Style setting under General Difficulty.
The goal of this Gameplay Style is to increase the consistency of good input for producing good results and bad input for producing bad results, without going too far from baseball strategy and basics. Players will notice more swing and misses, fewer popups and choppers, and the hits put into play are slightly better to make up for fewer being put into play.
Player clarity, visual updates in game, and functionality improvements
Updates to the in-game displays have been made. The largest focus for visual display updates revolved around increasing clarity amongst the player base.
Swing feedback
Swing feedback is a piece of art that appears in the bottom left corner of the screen after a swing attempt is made. This feedback displays Batter Attributes, Pitch Location, Pitch Type, Swing Timing, and Plate Coverage Indicator Placement. It is meant to help describe the outcome of the hit. Although it is difficult to achieve perfection through this art, strides were made to increase precision and accuracy of the art. Previous versions of MLBTS swing feedback displayed Swing Inputs on the left and the outputs on the right. Now the swing feedback is a story that can be read from left to right, top to bottom.
In-game directional button functionality
Left on the directional buttons now display live, up-to-date, Statcast numbers. Right on the directional buttons now display important pitcher/batter matchups, attempting to present all factors that impact the at-bat. This includes vital attributes that dynamically swap in and all active quirks. Up on the directional buttons remains relatively consistent to previous years of MLBTS, with slight functionality updates, including the ability to bring in a pitcher that’s being warmed up without needing to navigate back into the bullpen.
Settings updates
Settings terminology, organization, and descriptions have been updated to better inform players as for what each gameplay setting does. There are now two new settings that allow for increased customization of Pre-Pitch displays while on offense and defense. These new settings can be found under Display and aim to allow for increased control over what information is presented on screen prior to a pitch being thrown. These two settings are Pitch Select Displays and Batter Controls Display.
Additional visual updates
The runner windows displayed in the top right for a first base runner and top left for a third base runner no longer appear. This camera can now be seen in the top right baserunning diamond during pre-pitch. Logic is tied to which runner is shown in the camera, leading to the most viable runner displaying based on the bases currently occupied. Now that space has been created in the top left corner of the screen, important information can be displayed here such as Road to The Show base gains increase or decrease, moment tracking, and Dynamic Difficulty updates.
Custom practice updates
We’ve added some important functionality to Custom Practice. It now has a couple important additions. While batting, players can now finetune specific pitch locations around the Strike Zone. This tool is very useful for improving your eye and improving at specific problem areas. In previous years, players could solely turn specific pitches off or on. This functionality has been expanded upon, allowing players to choose the frequency of pitches thrown through a slider mechanism.
Attribute descriptions
MLB The Show has a lot of attributes, and if you’re new to the franchise, you might not know what they all mean. Be sure to check out the handbook/strategy guide located in the pause menu in game. The attribute descriptions can now also be found in the Diamond Dynasty * Handbook. These descriptions provide insightful information as for how each attribute functions and interacts with gameplay. The goal here is to ensure all players have the information needed to make the best possible decision when forming a squad or making an important managerial decision in game.
To access these descriptions, players can navigate to Diamond Dynasty* > Home > Standing, Stats, & History > Handbook > Attribute Descriptions.
Passive quirks changes
We’ve removed passive quirks from MLB The Show 23. Simplifying the quirk system seems to be the best approach here, as there was general confusion as for what Active Quirks did vs Passive Quirks. Universally, we hope this change leads to more clarity since only the quirks that impact gameplay is displayed.
Updated options explorer
The options explorer audio and art have been updated. This is a great area for players to learn the mechanics offered within MLB The Show. The general rule of thumb for gameplay mechanics is that the more control a player has over the mechanic, the less ability the CPU has to influence gameplay.
MLB rule changes
Changes to Extreme Left and Extreme Right shifts are now implemented into MLB The Show 23. These changes set a good baseline but will need tuning based on real life strategy seen throughout the MLB season.
Online H2H/Co-op*
Improvements to online stability are continuously being worked on to provide the best experience possible.
For those co-op* players, Play Now Co-Op* now offers the ability to toggle the rotational patterns prior to loading into game. Rather than being locked into rotating roles per inning on defense and rotating per at-bat on offense, teams can now choose additional rotation patterns.
MLB The Show 23 Gameplay Feature Premiere
You can watch the deep dive into all the changes and additions coming to gameplay on demand at your own convenience on Twitch and YouTube .
MLB The Show 23 Technical Test Info
The tech test is live until February21, players 18 or over in U.S. and Canada with a PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch** internet-connected console can participate in the MLB The Show 23 Technical Test.
We want to deliver the best version possible of MLB The Show 23 and to do that we need everyone’s help to stress test the servers, online match-making, cross-platform play, online co-op, and more in addition to gathering feedback on gameplay.
The best news? No need to sign up, it’s open to everyone eligible. ** Download for free on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Nintendo eShop beginning February 15.
“For more detailed information on MLB The Show 23 you can read the FAQ here.” *Online features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription.
At PlayStation, we’re always looking to create meaningful and engaging experiences that celebrate our players. For PlayStation Plus, we have a big month with Horizon Forbidden West joining our Game Catalog, giving PlayStation Plus Extra, and Premium/Deluxe members a chance to experience a post-apocalyptic world with distant lands to discover, striking characters to meet, and enormous awe-inspiring machines to fight. Additional blockbuster titles include Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Borderlands 3, and more which will be added in the Games Catalog next week. In addition to these games, we wanted to take this month one step further and provide you with over a week long of activities to thank you for supporting us on our PlayStation Plus journey.
Starting from today through February 24, PlayStation Plus members can find a range of activities to participate in during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play – from earning digital collectibles, to joining tournaments, to getting exclusive double discounts on select popular games from PlayStation Store. Activities for those who are not PlayStation Plus members are available as well.
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God of War Ragnarök Game Trial
(for PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe members)
Starting February 15
Get a taste of what it’s like to journey into each of the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus as they search for answers while Asgardian forces prepare for the prophesied battle that will end the world. As a PlayStation Plus member you’ll have access to God of War Ragnarök with a 3 hour time-limited trial starting February 15. Trophies and save progress from this trial will carry over if you decide to purchase the full game.
PlayStation Plus members will receive a “Festival of Play Party Favor” digital collectible for checking into the ‘A Gift from PlayStation Plus’ campaign and playing any game.
With Horizon Forbidden West joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog starting on February 21, you can get “A Gift from the Past” digital collectible by checking into the “Welcome to the Forbidden West” campaign and earning the following trophies. This campaign is only available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe members who have yet to earn these trophies.
“Save the Daunt”
“Attend the Embassy”
“Obtain 3 Stripes at a Hunting Ground”
“Used Dyed Flowers”
“First Rebel Camp Completed”
“First Tall Neck Overwritten”
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PlayStation Plus Double Discount
(for PlayStation Plus members)
February 15 – February 24
We are kicking off our Double Discount promotion for PlayStation Plus members this week. Check out the sale here.
We’re kicking off a new contest for your opportunity to win a Sony Bravia XR OLED 55A75K TV, Dolby Atmos Soundbar HT-A5000 and a Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. You can participate by going to our website and answering three questions about PlayStation Plus. You’ll have until Feb 24th at 11:59 PM local time to answer the questions. For more details, head to the website.
We’re planning to hold an online multiplayer during the weekend of February 18-19 so you can go head-to-head with other players online during these dates even without a PlayStation Plus membership.
Additionally, PlayStation Stars members can earn a special digital collectible commemorating the online multiplayer weekend just for participating in this event. Be sure to check in the “PlayStation Stars: Free Online Multiplayer is Live” campaign.
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PlayStation Tournaments
(for players with or without a PlayStation Plus membership)
February 18 – February 19
There will be a number of PlayStation Tournaments happening during this timeframe, featuring FIFA 23, NBA 2K23, and Guilty Gear. Also, since our online multiplayer weekend starts during this same timeframe, those without PlayStation Plus members will also be able to participate in the tournaments happening in this timeframe. Players who participate will get a chance to win a PlayStation Plus membership. Please see our website for details.
Again we want to thank all of our players for your support throughout the years. The success of PlayStation Plus starts with you, and we are greatly humbled by the feedback and passion we’ve received from all of our players. We hope you’ll enjoy PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, and all the games we’ve got lined up for this month’s Game Catalog.
From the minds behind Wave Break and Fujii, Funktronic Labs brings you The Light Brigade—a roguelike VR shooter. Featuring intense PlayStation VR2 gunplay and immersive light magic, The Light Brigade puts you in the middle of heart-pounding action.
A twilight that won’t end and survivors hanging on to the hope of bringing light back to the world. This is the journey you will embark on when you first awake, beckoned by a mysterious voice. Arriving at the Last Temple, you are greeted by Mother and anointed as a member of the Light Brigade. As the sun continues to dim, humanity’s last hope is to release the trapped souls of the dead before it’s too late.
Immersive gunplay meets powerful light magic
The Light Brigade is set in a historical fantasy world, reflected in the World War-inspired weaponry. From the Gewehr 43 rifle to SMG M3 and Nambu Type 14, this wide array of weapons is pulled from a historic time period. However, the feel of these guns is even more important than the aesthetics.
Designed with realism in mind, physics-based gunplay like aiming, shooting, and reloading bolt-action rifles, machine guns, and pistols feels incredibly immersive and tactile. In PS VR2, this creates intense gunfights that put you directly in the center of the action. To add to these engrossing battles, you also have magic at your fingertips, allowing you to pair gunslinging and spellcasting beautifully. From infusing your rifle’s bullets with light magic, to raining fireballs on enemy hordes, magic spells provide the perfect complement to your rifle and combat arsenal.
The Light Brigade Weapon & Attachment – Concept Art
The many roguelike layers
You begin your journey as a lowly recruit, and set off with only a standard-issue rifle. But soon after entering the Sunken World, you will begin to loot enemies and discover treasure chests containing various gun modifications.
You can attach magic charms to your rifle and activate them mid-battle to imbue your bullets with light magic, turning them into explosives or armor-piercing rounds. Red-dot reticles provide better aim, while poison barrels cause damage-over-time effects, offering more tactical ways to take down enemy groups.
If you are shot down by enemy fire during a run, you enter into a Weakened Soul state. In this state, you are susceptible and must survive long enough to retrieve your lost soul. If you die again before reaching your corpse, you suffer permadeath and are sent back to the temple HQ to start a fresh run.
The Light Brigade Temple and Hero NPC – Concept Art
Allies at the temple HQ and around the world
With the world hanging in the balance, you need all the help you can get. The Light Brigade features asynchronous online functionality where you will come across fallen allies whose souls you can release. Other times, another player will appear as a friendly Light Brigade soldier that can trade supplies with you… or they may be reincarnated as an enemy soldier you need to defeat. You will know when an NPC is an online player by their username and online status. In addition, you can participate in daily run challenges that combine all online player progress to succeed.
Several NPC allies are also trapped within the Sunken World and they need your help to escape. Once you free them, they will return to the temple and some may unlock new shops that allow you to spend your well-earned Rank Points to improve your weapons, abilities, etc. From the enigmatic Mother, to the war veteran Samson and wily Jude, these unique NPCs have a backstory and a reason for fighting as well, and as you continue your journey you will get to know them better.
Climb the ranks to victory
As a member of the Light Brigade, your duty is to free the souls trapped in enemy territory. By cleansing these souls, you gain experience that increases your class Rank. When you increase your class Rank, you gain Rank Points that you can spend to upgrade your weapon with the Blacksmith and improve your current class passive abilities and spells.
By gaining experience in your current class, you can also unlock new classes such as the dual-wielding Pistolier, the rapid-firing Assault class, or the long-range Sniper. These classes let you change up your play style with new weapons and load-outs, providing more variety for your runs.
Procedurally generated battlegrounds
Shifting battlegrounds, evolving runs
The Sunken World is pieced together from the old memories of the fallen, so things are constantly shifting and changing. Each new run, you will notice that your surroundings have moved around, forcing you to traverse carefully in new, hostile environments. Using WFC (wave function collapse) technology, battlegrounds are infinitely procedurally-generated to keep your runs fresh and exciting.
Collect tarot cards, player upgrades, and weapon attachments
Tarot cards add variety to your arsenal
On top of a slew of weapons, charms, and attachments you loot on your runs, you will also collect an array of magical tarot cards, each with unique powers, buff/debuffs, and passive abilities. When you acquire stronger versions of these cards, they stack on top of your existing effect, creating devastating combos. Combining all these tools and looted upgrades with new weapons and playstyles, truly opens the game up to make each run feel completely unique.
Uncover the truth of the Light Brigade
What plunged the world into darkness? Who are the Obsidian Forces and what do they want? As a member of the Light Brigade, it is up to you to discover the answers to these questions and more. But what will you do with that knowledge? What choice will you make in the end? The Light Brigade will be available on February 22 for PS VR2. Pre-order now for a discount of 15% with PlayStation Plus membership.
The PlayStation Plus Double Discounts promotion comes to PlayStation Store February 15. For a limited time*, players can enjoy a variety of games for less, including Gotham Knights, FIFA 23, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and more. PlayStation Plus members will get double the discount percentage for the duration of the promotion.
Check out the full list of titles below, and then head to PlayStation Store when the promotion begins to find out your local discount.
Huge, possibly day-altering news: It’s nearly time for the 4th Annual Impy Awards! The Impys is our yearly event where we celebrate the very best things made in Dreams over the past year, as well as the lovely coMmunity in and around it. Back in November, we opened up nominations – and loads of you submitted your favorite creations, creators and coMmunity members for awards consideration across a whopping 23 categories. Cheers for doing that!
We’re currently in the middle of putting together a fabulously over-the-top awards show on Sunday March 26 at 9am PT / 5pm GMTto announce the winners of this year’s Impy Awards – some judged by us with the help of friends from across the creative industries, with others voted on by the CoMmunity. (More on how to vote in a bit!)
How fabulously over-the-top, you ask? Well, we couldn’t seem to find the perfect venue for our awards show this year, as some places have very strict safety rules around fire and giant flesh-monsters (honestly, you can’t have any fun these days). So we simply created our own in Dreams! A whole archipelago, in fact. Here’s a cheeky little peak at some of the virtual sets we’ll be livestreaming from:
‘Peak’? Eh? Because of the mountain? …Wow, tough crowd. Fine, here are some more:
We thought we’d take advantage of all this extra space by turning this year’s Impys season into a multi-day festival – and combining our real-world selves with the virtual world. In the lead-up to the main awards show on March 26, we’ll be hosting several livestreams from the beautiful Nomi Nations on our Twitch channel. We’ve got all sorts of events on the schedule, from behind-the-scenes interviews with our developers and coMmunity artists, to musical performances, highlights reels from the past year and much more.
Our first stream on the road to this year’s Impys kicks off today. Join us at 9am PT / 5pm GMT over on Twitch, where we’ll be celebrating Dreams’ 3rd birthday with a look back at the year just past – and a very special coMmunity quiz.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to secure some coveted real estate of the Nomi Nations for yourself, why not get involved in our latest coMmunity challenge in Dreams by customizing your very own floating island? Imagine what you could build on your very own piece of paradise. A frog pond filled with lemonade! Seventeen cars! Another identical, but much smaller, island! The possibilities are truly endless. Head to the front page of DreamShaping in game to get started with one of our handy island templates. We’ll be featuring your creations in–game and, of course, checking them out on our Impys livestreams.
Time to bring you out of the clouds and back down to Earth, though. Let’s reveal which amazing Dreams creations and creators made the final shortlists for the 4th Annual Impy Awards.
Before we get into it, a reminder: the following categories are coMmunity–voted, meaning the winner is decided by all you arbiters of good taste out there.
Community Collaboration
Most Helpful Dreamer
Breakthrough Dreamer
Curation Star
Contribution Beyond Dreams
Evolving Experience
Innovation in Create
Community Star
Don’t forget to vote for your winners via this survey by 23:59 GMT on Tuesday February 21 for your vote to be counted!
R.I.F.7 (Spot the difference) – KabarudonphaN18, xMorpheuus
TricoBiddy Bus Company – Tricobalt, blackcat_tracks
We saw an incredible number of submissions from Dreams coMmunity members this year, played a lot of quality creations during the shortlisting process – and read so many heartfelt messages from people explaining why particular creations and creators were the highlights of their year. Regardless of whether you made it to the final shortlist or not, a huge congratulations to everyone who received a nomination: You really made an impact on your fellow dreamers this year.
Right – back to the Nomi Nations we go. Fortunately, the phone signal up there is quite good: why not get in touch via our social channels? We’ll be checking out the hashtag #ImpyAwards, so pop that on your Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok posts if you’ve got any questions/comments/loud noises about the upcoming livestreams.
In case you didn’t notice, it’s Valentine’s Day today — and while some people are using this opportunity to go on boring dates with other humans, others have more grand ambitions. They’re going full-hilt and dating weapons!
Boyfriend Dungeon is shockingly out today for PS5, and that means today is the first time many people are exploring the unique pleasure of sword smooching.
To be fair, I don’t actually judge people who date humans. My own husband is a human. That being said, there’s something uniquely thrilling about first defeating some monsters together, and then taking that hot sword out on the town. Work hard, play hard, right?
But you have to be careful! Swords are dangerous if handled without respect. Follow these handy tips when dating your weapon, to avoid hurting yourself or others.
DO: Respect your weapon’s boundaries and range
Keep an open mind. Daggers like to be up-close and personal. Polearms need a bit more space. It sounds like common sense, but it can be confusing when weapons either pull you in or push you away, especially if you’ve just come out of a long-term wieldership.
Similarly, some weapons are fine with being picked up by any wielder, while others need a bit longer to build trust and commit to a sheath. When in doubt, ask whether it’s OK to grab someone’s hilt. It’s also worth briefly double-checking your assumptions about how deep into the dungeon they want to go that night, so you’re both on the same page.
DO: Plan around your weapon’s interests
Many beginning wielders assume that since they’re in the driver’s seat in combat, they should also make the decisions about when and where to go for fun. Know that weapons appreciate being considered in the planning, and may even have ideas of their own!
There’s nothing wrong with a dungeon-dinner date as a starter, but after that, you’ll probably find more success in romance by playing to your combat partner’s hobbies and personality. If they’re a dancing sword, maybe they’d prefer going to the club or a salsa night. If they’re an axe, maybe they’d like a hike in the woods. A lasersaber might want a cozy night in, to recharge their batteries. Get creative!
DO: Respect weapon-blacksmith confidentiality
If your weapon gets chipped, dinged, or just plain broken, don’t panic. From a young age, weapons usually develop a unique and personal relationship with their blacksmith, who helps them with repairs as needed. It’s normal for a wielder to get insecure once they realize the intimacy a blacksmith has with their weapon, but just remind yourself that everyone needs a doctor sometimes. The heat of their forge has no influence on the heat in the bedroom!
DON’T: Compare your weapon to famous swords
We all know and love the Masamune or Excalibur, but it can be awkward and off-putting for your new armament to feel they have to measure up to these legendary weapons! Besides, not all weapons are even bladed. Hammers, brass knuckles, and maces for example might never have the same mass appeal as swords, and they shouldn’t have to feel embarrassed or apologetic for their blunt natures.
DON’T: Surprise-gift a whetstone
Whetstones are a deeply meaningful gift reserved for lifelong commitments between wielders and weapons. Always talk about choices like whetstones together long before you act on it to avoid any misunderstandings.
Now go, wielders! The relationship that slays together stays together. Boyfriend Dungeon is waiting for you at PlayStation Store!
At the turn of the new millennium, Sega made a game called Cosmic Smash. It came to select arcades in Japan and Europe before a Japan-only release on console.
Set in refreshingly minimalist spaces brought to life by music and graphic design, the game was a unique blend of sports and puzzle action. Think low-gravity squash meets block breaker. A real trip to the edge of space and time.
Versus. Concept by art director Rob Davis. (Copyright, RapidEyeMovers 2023)
The game seemingly came out of nowhere but quickly distinguished itself as a design and style icon for the ages, one of those rare games that look, sound and feel unlike anything you’ve ever played before.
While the game felt like it came from an alternate universe, it wholly embraced the most fundamental part of what makes games great: it was a blast. If ever I wanted to travel to a virtual world, it would be this one: a place where I can relax while moving, in inviting spaces that are uncluttered and effortlessly stylish, devoid of the stresses, the noises and the garishness of our daily grind.
Cosmonauts. Concept by art director Rob Davis. (Copyright, RapidEyeMovers 2023)
This world just had to come to VR, but building beautiful worlds takes great people.
While our planet was locking down, I teamed up with a dream team of people whose work I admire. From VR pioneers Wolf & Wood, who I’ve been building the PS5 and PSVR2 game The Last Workerwith, top designers Cory Schmitz (Rez Infinite, Sound Shapes) and Arkotype (Polytron), musicians Ken Ishii (Rez Infinite) and Danalogue (The Comet is Coming, Soccer 96), art director Rob Davis (The Motherless Oven) and sound designer Dan Pugsley (Alba: A Wildlife Adventure).
Together, we set out to reimagine the beloved classic for VR and online gameplay. Amazingly, Sega trusted us.
Here is the first look at our game, C-Smash VRS.
VRS stands for VR and Versus. On March 23, you can sample both when we release a C-Smash VRS demo for PS VR2 on PlayStation Store, which you can enjoy with another player online or in a solo training mode. I cannot wait to show you a virtual reality we could have only dreamed of until now.
C-Smash VRS (Copyright, RapidEyeMovers 2023)
We’ll be sharing our release date soon, at which point you’ll be able to pre-order the game at PlayStation Store, so make sure to wishlist it today to be notified when that and the demo are live!
Last week, we asked you to embark on a journey to record the past in Season: A letter to the future using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
shimo_ps shares Estelle riding her bike up an inclining road
MrNeverNeverman shares a portrait of Estelle with her headphones on
Sarokeye shares Estelle sitting in a field with a friend
oolongchafun shares Estelle riding through a lantern-lit grove
call_me_xavii shares Estelle walking her bike along a mountainside
sparkling_Port9 shares Estelle approaching a cobblestone bridge.
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: Romance SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 15, 2023
Next week is all about romance. Share romantic characters or settings from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
