Category: PlayStation

Welcome to Deceive Inc. – the multiplayer PvP game of social deception and subterfuge. The teams at Sweet Bandits and Tripwire Presents have been hard at work polishing this game for release. We’re all incredibly excited for the coming weeks, and now it’s time to share that excitement with you!

About Deceive Inc.  

Deceive Inc. is a multiplayer hero shooter with an emphasis on social stealth and deception where 12 players (either solo or in teams of 3) are tasked with becoming the Agents and successfully extracting with an objective.

Every Agent spawns undercover, cloaked as one of the many NPCs populating the map. Armed with their unique weapons and abilities – plus a couple of hi-tech spy gadgets for good measure – they must use their knowledge of spycraft to suss out other players, avoid detection, gather intel, purchase upgrades, and ultimately locate then extract the precious cargo.

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Deceive Inc. launches globally March 21

Deceive Inc. will launch on PlayStation 5 on March 21 of this year. We’ll also be hosting an Open Beta featuring full crossplay support starting March 10 – free for all players who want to try the game out.

Meet the Agents

Deceive Inc. will have 8 playable agents available at launch, each falling under one of four archetypes:

• Vanguard: Well-rounded, self-reliant fighters that can get through the thick and thin 
• Tracker: Focused on finding, singling out, and hunting down targets
• Scoundrel: Sly, cunning, and use dirty tricks to get ahead of the competition
• Disruptor: Experts at controlling space and disturbing the flow of fights

Rupert Reid aka “Squire”

Adaptable Recruit

Starting Weapon: PT-08 Lance Silenced Pistol
Archetype: Vanguard

As Deceive Inc’s youngest agent, Squire constantly feels the weight of his mentor’s legacy on his shoulders. However, don’t let his impostor syndrome fool you. He’s a top of the line operative, capable of the best.

Tamar Zaken aka “Ace”

Relentless Huntress

Starting Weapon: ‘Queen of Diamonds’ Scoped Sniper Rifle
Archetype: Tracker

A sharp-eyed mercenary, Ace’s unique skills have made her one of Deceive Inc’s pillars. She tracks her rivals without fail. Believe us, once you figure out you are her target, it’s already too late.

Ethan Chavez aka “Chavez”

Rugged Veteran

Starting Weapon: ‘Sentinel’ Revolver
Archetype: Vanguard

A true legend of the spy world, Chavez uses his strength and his kind heart to fight the good fight. He’s supposed to be retired by now, but he’s back for one last mission… or so he says.

Madame Xiu

Enigmatic Dame

Starting Weapon: ‘Zhulong’ Automatic Crossbow
Archetype: Scoundrel

There are a lot of rumors circulating about Madame Xiu, her past, and her abilities. Deceive Inc. can’t confirm any of them without breaching their contract with her, which is a dangerous game to play with such a cutthroat and enigmatic lady. 

Hans Moritz aka “Hans”

Imposing Provocateur

Starting Weapon: ‘The Hook’ Hand-mounted Shotgun
Archetype: Disruptor

Once a head honcho of a super criminal empire, Hans used to have it all. Now forced to serve his sentence as a Deceive Inc. agent, he swears he’ll regain back his former power and glory.

Florence Jacques aka “Cavalière” 

Unflinching Investigator

Starting Weapon: ‘Dragoons’ Alternating Dual Pistols
Archetype: Tracker

Brash detective Cavalière leaves no stone unturned… And if her deduction skills are not enough to keep you in check, her serious combat abilities learned during her globe-trotting days will do the talking.

Francois Claudet aka “Larcin” 

Gentleman Thief

Starting Weapon: ‘Silence’ Throwable Pocket Pistol
Archetype: Scoundrel

Gentleman thief and professional borrower, Larcin has made quite a name for himself with his peculiar savoir faire and showmanship. His charms are such that you won’t even be mad when noticing previous items missing from your pockets.

Yu-Mi Kwon aka “YU-MI” 

Raucous Gadgeteer

Starting Weapon: Tactical Slingshot
Archetype: Disruptor

Brilliant and happy-go-lucky, Yu-Mi’s enthusiasm to be a part of Deceive Inc. is only matched with her ability to create and break things around her. Some may say she’s a stubborn brat, but her tactical capabilities and her inventiveness tend to make her rivals eat their words. 

Pre-order and Black Tie Edition bonuses

Deceive Inc. will also launch with a ton of great cosmetic items for players to unlock. On top of that, we also have some amazing cosmetics designed specifically for those agents who’d like to show up to the job in impeccable style. 

Pre-order Deceive Inc. to receive:  

• “Founding Agent” Profile Portrait
• “Founding Agent” Equipment Ink

Purchase the Black Tie Edition to Receive

• “Dressed to Impress” Profile Portrait & Title
• “Dressed to Impress” Equipment Ink
• Bonds (Deceive Inc. Premium Currency)

Pre-purchases are coming very soon, so make sure you add Deceive Inc to your PlayStation Wishlist to be notified when they’re live!

Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s electric personality, play and love for all things baseball made him a great choice to be on the cover of MLB The Show 23.  Jazz grew up in Nassau, Bahamas, playing sandlot baseball with friends. As Jazz puts it “no umpires, no catchers, just hitting bombs and having fun we just played to play.” He never thought a kid like him from the Bahamas would make it to The Show, let alone end up on the cover of MLB The Show

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Today, we are thrilled to announce that MLB The Show 23 launches on March 28, 2023. The standard edition on PlayStation 4 is $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD. Standard edition on PlayStation 5 is $69.99 USD/$79.99 CAD 

MLB The Show 23 will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.  

Cross-Platform Play, Cross Saves and Cross Progression continue for MLB The Show 23

Have access to all your progress and card inventory in MLB The Show 23 on every platform you own. Once again Cross-Platform Play, Cross Saves, and Cross Progression return allowing you to share your progress on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch*. Cross progression allows you to earn and use any earned content on any platform or generation (this excludes PS5 and Xbox Series X|S exclusive features like Stadium Creator). With cross saves you can transfer a save file for Road to the Show or Franchise mode to a different console.**

MLB The Show Account, Account Linking & The Scouting Report 

In MLB The Show 23 you can easily move from platform to platform and keep access to your entire inventory of cards, and the MLB The Show Account allows you to do so. Just create your MLB The Show Account on TheShow.com and link your PlayStation, Xbox, and/or Switch and you are all set. 

While you are creating your new linked account, make sure you sign-up for The Scouting Report, so we can send you all the latest MLB The Show 23 information and subscribers also get an exclusive pack each month starting in April. So, head over to www.theshow.com to get your account set up. 

MLB The Show 23 Feature Premieres Schedule  

Feature Premieres return to give you a look into new features in MLB The Show 23. You can watch episodes live on Twitch and YouTube. If you can’t watch them live, catch up on every episode on-demand at your own convenience as we get closer to launch. We have several Feature Premiere episodes in the works, so be on the lookout on TheShow.com and our social channels for episode schedule and information. 

Pre-orders open on PlayStation Store February 6.

Collector’s Edition Reveal February 2

We’re sure some of you are wondering, where’s the Collector’s Edition? Stay tuned as later this week we’ll reveal the Collector’s Edition(s) for MLB The Show 23 and all its content.

Please note: All Collector’s Edition(s) of MLB The Show 23 revealed on February 2 include dual entitlement***. If you instead plan on purchasing the Standard Edition of MLB The Show 23 on PlayStation 4 and have plans of upgrading to the PlayStation 5 version, you will need to purchase the digital edition to take advantage of the $10 USD upgrade offer. 

We could not be more excited for Jazz to join the roster of cover athletes and for MLB The Show 23 coming to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch on March 28, 2023! Look forward to new ways to play, a new class of legends and much more! Check TheShow.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok accounts for the latest updates about MLB The Show 23. 

For more detailed information on MLB The Show 23 you can read the FAQ here. 

*Online multiplayer features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription. 

** Cross-platform progression requires an internet connection and for each platform you play on: 1) a copy of the MLB The Show 23 game compatible with your console (other platform versions sold separately); and 2) platform network account linked to your MLB The Show account. 

*** Physical edition includes PS4 Disc & PS5 Voucher (PS5 console with disc drive required). 

Over the last few months, we’ve been sharing glimpses of Horizon Call of the Mountain, an upcoming PlayStation VR2 adventure launching on 22 February. Today, we wanted to spend some time getting to know Ryas, the character you will play, as you experience a new story in the world of Horizon. 

The Carja Sundom is still reeling from the bloody Red Raids, a brutal campaign of attacks and ritual sacrifice inflicted by the Carja on their neighboring tribes. These raids, which devastated countless lives, were ended when the Mad Sun-King Jiran was overthrown by his son Avad. 

The aftershocks of Jiran’s rule splintered the Carja tribe, with those grateful for an end to his rule remaining in the Sundom, and soldiers loyal to the slain leader forcing their way into the citadel at Sunfall, reforming as the Carja in Shadow. 

The protagonist of Horizon Call of the Mountain, Ryas, was one such soldier. Having played a key role in the abduction of young Prince Itamen from his home in Meridian, Ryas seeks to atone and regain his honor. 

After allowing himself to be captured and imprisoned by the Carja, Ryas was spared execution. Now, he has been recruited by Sun-King Avad and Blameless Marad. A master climber, archer, and hunter, Ryas must earn his freedom in exchange for investigating a new threat. Guerrilla’s Studio Narrative Director, Ben McCaw, offered us further insight: “Ryas ended up on the wrong side for the right reasons. His family was torn apart, and ultimately, he was incarcerated. This is the story of how he tries to come back from that.”

Ryas has a dangerous adventure ahead of him, and while he may be the only one who can do the job, he won’t do it alone. Along the way, players will meet new characters and be reunited with familiar ones, though his past has affected these relationships, explains Ben. “Having fought for the Shadow Carja, Ryas’ relationship with these characters is at best adversarial. He needs to make inroads and amends if he hopes to be accepted.” 

Take Hami, for example, a stalwart soldier for the Carja Sundom who was spared the horrors of the Red Raids thanks to her posting as a Border Guard. Even she is unable to forgive or forget the atrocities caused by the Shadow Carja, having lost many friends and comrades to the conflict. Known for her sharp wits and quick temper, Hami resents the task of escorting Ryas. Her hatred for what Ryas represents is just one of the challenges he will face. 

With Horizon Call of the Mountain, players will be able to experience the world of Horizon from a new perspective, through both Ryas as a compelling new protagonist and the PS VR2 headset. With haptic feedback, intelligent eye tracking, and an ultra-wide field of view, the player becomes incredibly immersed, and Call of the Mountain puts them right at the most thrilling peaks of the Sundom and beyond. 

Says Ben McCaw, “We took the Horizon experience and built it from the ground up for VR. And for this, we felt we needed a new protagonist. As a master climber, hunter, and explorer, Ryas offers the perfect viewpoint of the sweeping vistas and dangerous wilds of Horizon.”For more information on Horizon Call of the Mountain, please visit here.

Since the launch of PlayStation 5 just over two years ago, we’ve introduced incredible games like God of War Ragnarök, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and Returnal, which showcase the boundless creativity of our development community and the extraordinary experiences they’ve been able to build on our platform.

To all our fans: thank you for your patience as we navigated unprecedented demand for the PS5 console amid global challenges. If you’re looking to purchase a PS5 console, you should now have a much easier time finding one at retailers globally.

For players in the U.S., U.K, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, be sure to check direct.playstation.com to purchase a PS5 console, games, and accessories directly from PlayStation. PS5 products are also available at participating retailers globally.

“Live from PS5” highlights immersive game worlds

Today, we are celebrating our PS5 community and inviting more players to join the fun with our new spot, “Live from PS5.” The best games often make us feel as if we are being transported into amazing worlds filled with adventure, riveting action, and memorable moments. With PS5 features like high-fidelity 4K visuals, haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, 3D audio and lightning-fast loading, developers are creating game worlds that feel more immersive than ever. This new spot hints at the breadth of extraordinary experiences taking place in the PS5 universe through the style of a live news channel. See if you can spot all the game references:

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Keep your eyes peeled on our social channels and this webpage for some fun celebrations of fan-favorite PS5 games over the coming weeks. You might even see content from popular creators on social media, breaking news from within PS5 game worlds.

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New PS5 games, accessories and platform features coming in 2023

We are humbled by the support for PS5 from our community and are passionate about growing the best lineup of PlayStation games we’ve ever delivered. Last week, players stepped into the world of Athia in Square Enix’s spellbinding new PS5 exclusive, Forspoken. With more anticipated games coming this year like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Final Fantasy XVI, Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4: Remake and Street Fighter 6, as well as upcoming expansions like Destiny 2: Lightfall and Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, 2023 is shaping up to be an amazing year for PS5 players.

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Beyond new games, we’re delighted to continue expanding the PS5 console experience with all-new accessories like the recently-released DualSense Edge wireless controller. On February 22, we will celebrate the beginning of a new VR gaming generation with the launch of PlayStation VR2, featuring more than 30 games in the launch window such as Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village.*

Thanks to everyone in our community for your continued passion and support. We’re truly excited for what’s ahead this year and beyond.

*Final launch software lineup subject to change without notice. Gran Turismo 7 will be available on PS VR2 through a free upgrade for PS5 users who have already purchased the game.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here

Howdy! This week the team dives into the frights and delights of Dead Space, featuring an interview with Motive’s Roman Campos-Oriola (Creative Director) and Philippe Ducharme (Senior Producer).

Stuff We Talked About

• DualSense Edge controller
• Season: A Letter to the Future
• PowerWash Simulator
• Forspoken
• Dead Space (interview begins at 19:32)

The Cast

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Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

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Tim Turi –  Manager, Content Communications, SIE

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Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

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.]

With the release of God of War (2018), we were absolutely amazed by how many people wanted to cosplay characters from the game – even those we didn’t have the chance to make guides for.

With the God of War Ragnarök cosplay guides, we wanted to make as many as we could to help provide resources for all our fans who want to take on creating our characters.

We’re happy to share that we’ve added ten additional characters from Lúnda’s workshops notes to the God of War Ragnarök cosplay page: Freya, Thor, Angrboda, Brok & Sindri, Týr, Thrúd, Heimdall, Odin, and Gná. 

Each guide contains character renders, close-ups of detailed pieces, and shots of their weapons/accessories. You’ll also find in the pages additional lore details handcrafted by our writers here at Santa Monica Studio and more sketches from B is for Boy artist Romina Tempest.

After you’ve taken a look at the new guides, make sure you check out the interview with Lead Character Artists Dela Longfish below on how the team approached creating the designs for Freya, Thor, and Angrboda. 

Community cosplay partners

In addition to the new guides, we’ve once again partnered with members of our extremely talented cosplay community to provide resources and tips on creating three of the characters from the updated guides – Freya, Angrboda, and Thor.

Freya – Ibelinn Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: Ibelinn Cosplay | Photo Credit: Katrix_Media

Representing Freya is none other than Ibelinn Cosplay, who did an enchanting Witch of the Wilds back when God of War (2018) released. We’re thrilled to partner with her to create Freya’s updated design in God of War Ragnarök.

Ibelinn has put together an expert guide on how to plan a cosplay, along with her how-to videos on creating the former Valkyrie Queen – you can see them here.

Angrboda – Kizuki Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: Kizuki Cosplay

To embody the Giantess of Ironwood, we’ve partnered with the wonderful Kizuki Cosplay, who brings a wealth of experience crafting intricate and detailed designs.

Bringing her expert and versatile skills to the creation of her cosplay, Kizuki has created a guide on making a wig for Angrboda, as well as tips on how she approached the other pieces of the costume, which you can see here.

Thor – The Ronin Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: The Ronin Cosplay

To become the God of Thunder, we partnered with The Ronin Cosplay, who has been a longtime pillar of the God of War cosplay community. From Kratos to Sigrun, Ronin has taken on some of the most complex character designs in our games and made them look absolutely incredible.

Ronin has provided us with his expertise in creating the intricate leather pieces for Thor’s armor in his guide, as well as insights into his process with his tips video – check them out here.

Interview with Lead Character Artist Dela Longfish

To provide insights into the three characters we’ve partnered with community cosplayers to make, we’ve sat down with Dela Longfish, a lead character artist on God of War Ragnarök, to discuss how these designs came to be.

Freya

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Grace Orlady: At the end of the last game, Freya undergoes a traumatic event with the death of her son – changing her from friend to hunter, vowing vengeance on Kratos. How did the team want to go about changing Freya’s visual look to represent her emotional state at the start of God of War Ragnarök?

Dela Longfish: After the events of the last game, we knew we would be seeing a completely different side of Freya in God of War Ragnarök.

While we wanted to retain the iconic look of her design, we added a light armor under her clothing that is visible around her neck and shoulders. Not only did this show she’s ready for battle, but also using the armor in this way also allowed to make the costume darker to reflect the grief and rage she has because of the loss of her son.

Elements of her appearance were designed to look unkempt as we imagined she has spent sleepless days and nights in her endless pursuit of Kratos. Covered in a layer of dirt to show her rough living, we also smudged the kohl around her eyes intentionally made to resemble tears to show that behind all that anger there’s a layer of sadness she can’t escape from.

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When we first meet Freya again, she is living on Midgard in the heights of Fimbulwinter. Did the harsh climate influence any aspects of her design?

We always imagined Gods have a stronger resilience to the cold than the humans in Midgard. With her single motivation to kill Kratos she has neglected any other mortal needs. The flame of anger she feels towards Kratos is all she needs to keep her warm while on the hunt.

Freya Concept Art by Shan Qiao and Rafael Grassetti

Which elements of Freya’s original look as the Witch of the Wilds did the team feel were important to maintain across this next installment?

We wanted this version of her costume to be an evolution from when we had last seen her. That meant that we retained a lot of the elements from her God of War (2018) look while building on top and around them. Players will recognize elements like the gold disc around her waist which was always a nod back to her royal position in Vanaheim.

Smaller elements of her costume like the weaving and shawl also remain consistent in her God of War Ragnarök design.

We also know that Freya was once the Valkyrie Queen. With her ability to fight somewhat restored at the beginning of the game as she pursues Kratos and Atreus, are there any particular visual references to her past as a warrior incorporated into her updated look?

In the beginning of God of War Ragnarök, we see firsthand her skill in fighting that made her the Queen of the Valkyries. Her ability is quickly evident, wounding Kratos and proving immediately she is equal to him in every way. The increased armor and covering in her design reflects a practical choice for more combat-ready clothing while she pursues Kratos. Not only does she have the leather undershirt now guarding her torso, but she also has additional leathers on her waist to provide additional protection while keeping extremely nimble.

Even using her ability to shapeshift into a falcon to deliver cunning attacks from the air all hint back to her role as the winged queen. You can see the falcon feathers in her hair have been kept in God of War Ragnarök.

While her sword was always present in God of War (2018), it was always sheathed on her back. This is the first time we see her draw it and use it to deadly effect. Throughout the game we see more elements from her past as a Vanir leader and Valkyrie return to her design as she reclaims her power and agency back from Odin.

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Is there any aspect of Freya’s design that you especially want players to notice?

Some fans will notice elements from Baldur’s costume throughout her designs, such as the Twilight Pendant and the orange warps he wore around his legs that she now wears. These are mementos she carries with her to always remember her son.

Thor

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When Thor’s design was shown after the first God of War Ragnarök trailer, the internet exploded (just a bit) with discussions. Were you expecting our take on Thor to be such a hot topic among gamers?

It’s always interesting seeing what catches fire across the internet. With a character like Thor that has so many great depictions in pop-culture, people grow a special connection to them. So, in that way it’s understandable a discussion is prompted when a new take on that type of character comes out.

Our hope is to be able to build that same connection between our characters and gamers. For our interpretation, we wanted a design that fit within the visual language of the world we had established in God of War (2018), while also complimenting the story and gameplay the team had in mind.

We wanted to design a character that embodied a thunderstorm, the concept of pure power coupled with a degree of chaotic unpredictability. As the strongest god in the Norse pantheon, we took inspiration from real world strongmen and powerlifters which gave him a solid build while also reflecting the general time period we reference for the game.

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We’ve referenced Thor’s descriptions in the Eddas for a lot of inspiration in his design, was the teams’ visual interpretation of him from the myths pretty defined from the start or did it take a lot of iteration to settle on the final look?

We typically start any character design with a wide range of visual exploration. Thor was no different in this case. We had actually started concepts for him back on God of War (2018), but those early explorations were put on pause.

When the team began work on God of War Ragnarök, we started re-exploring what he would look like.  The myths were a big inspiration and depicted the God of Thunder as a great warrior, but also someone who was less than heroic at times, even dangerous and reckless in his actions.

We wanted his look to reflect those aspects and multiple artists did work with that in mind.  As the designs began to evolve and various elements began to resonate with the team our art director Rafael Grassetti did a pass and that is the final design of Thor seen in game.

Thor Concept Art by Rafael Grassetti

Mjölnir is not only an iconic weapon in modern pop culture, but also within the story of our game needs to be a worthy rival to the Leviathan Axe, which is now one of the most iconic God of War weapons. Could you take us through how the team created the Huldra Brothers’ (second) greatest creation?

There are so many good interpretations for Mjölnir already in pop culture. For us Thor’s hammer, which he always holds in his left hand, was inspired by the angled look of Norse artifacts and amulets of the time.

Artist Yefim Kligerman designed the hammer for the post credits scene in God of War (2018). Even back then to visually connect these two iconic weapons, Yefim included a runic skill tree etched into the face of the hammer in the same manner we find on the blade of the Leviathan Axe. This way we can see the signature craftmanship of Brok and Sindri in both weapons.

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Is there any aspect of Thor’s design that you especially want players to notice?

Along with making sure we get the overall look we want for any character we also enjoy layering in small hints and design details.  Thor’s goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostr, make an appearance in the bottom gold carved cap of Thor’s hammer. Keen-eyed players and cosplayers will also notice there are other goat motifs reflected in his design.

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Angrboda

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While we were able to visit Jötunheim at the end of the last game and saw parts of their culture represented through Faye’s art and the triptychs, Angrboda is the first Giant we meet that is actually from Jötunheim and currently calls it home. What were some of the key elements you wanted to include in her design to show visually how the Giants are unique from the Midgardians and Aesir?   

The Giants were master artisans and craft folks.  Even though Angrboda has been surviving on her own for so long, we wanted an elegance and beauty reflected in her design that we don’t find in the inhabitants of other Realms.

As one of the last living Giants, she represents that part of Atreus’s heritage which is something no one else can share with him. Not only does she carry with her the knowledge of her people, but she also physically carried individually carved marbles that contained the souls of the Giants.

Angrboda Concept Art by Rafael Grassetti

You mentioned Thor’s goats are referenced as motifs in his design, are there any nods to the Norse myths within Angrboda’s clothing?

Angrboda has a few serpent motifs recurring throughout her design, which was a nod to her being known as the mother of Jörmungandr in the myths. That theme can be seen most evidently in her gold hair accessory which is shaped like a snake, as well as in her brooches, necklace, and various patterns in her clothing.  

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Angrboda has some of the most unique tattoos in the game in terms of color and design. Why did the team decide to go in this direction with her ink?

With each of the different mythical cultures in the game, the team will look for specific aspects unique to each that set them apart visually. Angroboda’s tattoos were an example of this in that they have a much more organic and natural feel to them than many of the other tattoos you see on other characters. We wanted all aspects of her design, including her tattoos, to reflect a unique aesthetic that is carried through their art and craftsmanship.

The yellow was a color that represented Faye and the Giants throughout God of War (2018). As one of the last of her people left, we wanted that shade to be present in her design. 

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When it comes to visual storytelling, what aspects of Angroboda’s character are the most important to convey through her design?

Unlike some of the more fantastic characters and creatures of the game, we took a more subtle approach to the details in Angrboda’s design.  

For example, Atreus’ new look features a huge splash of yellow to honor his Giant heritage and connection to his mother. Angrboda, while being a Giant and living in Jötunheim, has clothing that features mostly shades of browns, teals, and grays. While her primary clothing pieces don’t have the same statement yellow piece that Atreus’ does, we still wanted to include smaller touches of the color to show her ties to the Giants and to Atreus.

Not only are her tattoos yellow as mentioned before, but you can also see other pops of yellow woven through her hair, in some of the stitching of her clothing, and in the bronze jewelry she wears. These were all layered throughout her design to give a consistent, but subtle, reference to the Giants.  

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If you decide to cosplay a character from God of War, make sure you tag Santa Monica Studio on social or use the hashtag #GodofWarRagnarok! We always love to see your work.

Today marks the apex of a long journey exploring the boundaries of what a strategy game can be. We are bringing our upcoming funky title Backbeat to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. When we started working on the first prototype in the spring of 2020, I knew there was a lot of potential in the project. It was our tiny indie studio’s second title, and we wanted to add some of the things that were cut from our first game, Hexagroove: Tactical DJ — an onboarding system to introduce our mechanics slowly over the course of the game, a story full of colorful characters, and an experience that feels as good as it sounds. Now refining our release candidate for launch this winter, I’m thrilled to have all those things possible on PlayStation.

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When we started designing the foundation for Backbeat, we wanted to carry over some principles from Hexagroove and introduce new ones as well. The game fuses the spatial challenges of a sokoban-style game along with the squad-based resource management of a stealth strategy title. Your challenge is to move a band of four characters through a series of isometric maps within a limited number of turns. How you spend those turns and which paths you choose affect a number of shared resources which grow and shrink over the course of the level. Each of the characters’ timelines are controlled separately but are interdependent. Opening doors and deflecting enemies must be done for the benefit of all four or they will preclude your squad’s successful strut to the stage.

To contrast with the synth-fueled EDM soundtrack of Hexagroove, Backbeat is built on a vast pool of live music riffs, improvisations, and solos recorded from the finest funk masters in Stockholm. Changing direction in the map, interacting with doors, or blowing enemies away with a mighty saxophone all enqueue unique audio clips which are played back together in sequence upon completing a level. This gives your unique solution its own personalized victory song.  Every strum, bang, and toot sounded so good I just had to find a way to help them shine extra bright.  After experimenting with the dev kit, I realized the PlayStation 5’s DualSense wireless controller was the perfect instrument to back up our studio musicians. 

I started by working with our composer Pete Fraser to bring a strong musical element to the most interactive parts of Backbeat: when you crash into something, warp through an oncoming car, manipulate time… I feel these brief moments of interaction, when you push a button and immediately something succeeds (or fails), these instants should all be gratifying… and musical! I copied bursts of chords, fanfares, strums, and drum hits all sampled from the studio musicians and fed them into the DualSense controller authoring tools to produce a haptic, musical harmony that reinforces the sound effects used at the same points in the game. Next, I adjust the vibrations using a stack of filters, amplifiers and equalizers to draw attention to the frequencies that we associate these kinds of flourishes with. After these small adjustments the DualSense controller plays a perfect chorus in time with the music and effects echoing from your hi-fi or headphones.

Great music is only part of the experience I wanted to deliver in Backbeat. The game takes place in 1995, paying homage to the great 32-bit arcade and console games I grew up with in smoky restaurant backrooms and our family den. We worked this in to not only the retro low poly style of our characters and environments, but the iconography and sound effects as well. Time manipulation is the key to understanding the core of Backbeat’s challenge, so we embraced analog technology and integrated sampled video cassette tape skeuomorphism into the UI and feedback. When you change characters, the game fast-forwards or rewinds to the point of time the active character has advanced to. This is accompanied with audio-visual tape distortion, and holding the rewind button in the game loops cassette samples including a speed up and slow down at every interaction. This is another fantastic place to use DualSense to increase the immersion and visceral nostalgia we’re going for in Backbeat. Hold down the circle button and commune with the soothing vibration of DualSense controller, built directly from those chunky, white, rotating spools.

Today we’re bringing you a small taste of the full experience that is soon to come to PlayStation. I hope you feel some good vibes from this short trip through some of the first levels of Backbeat, and follow along as we approach the crescendo of our studio’s sophomore title. Enjoy the show, you’re part of it.

Backbeat Demo Tape is available today on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.