Category: PlayStation

Few artists have been more requested by our community than our latest release, Daft Punk. The wait is over, we are excited to announce the Daft Punk Music Pack is now available on Beat Saber for PS VR and PS VR 2!

Formed in Paris in 1993, the duo quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the most influential electronic music artists of all time, spanning genres and inspiring the global music industry for many years. The iconic helmets and robot personas they adopted allowed more focus on their music and craft, and became an undeniable part of Daft Punk’s image and brand.

The Daft Punk Music Pack brings 10 of the band’s top hits so we can all celebrate their work through their almost 30-year history. We’re sure that everyone will find their favorites in our packed selection.

The tracklist includes:

• Around The World
• Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger (Live 2007)
• Da Funk / Daftendirekt (Live 2007)
• Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers)
• Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
• Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)
• One More Time
• Technologic
• The Prime Time of Your Life (Live 2007)
• Veridis Quo

What’s even more exciting is that for the very first time ever, we’re launching live music in the game, bringing select high-energy tracks from the legendary live show Alive 2007. If you’re up for a challenge, this music pack features the longest song ever released on Beat Saber – The Prime Time of Your Life (Live 2007) – it’s 10 mins and 23 seconds long!

The music pack is accompanied by a new custom in-game environment in gold/silver color palette,  inspired by the band’s iconic triangle stage look from their live shows. We took it to the next level and created a beautiful space-y environment, surrounding the player with stars (some even orbit around you). The environment brings captivating new tech for lasers like physics and length.

Beat Saber players can get the 10-song Daft Punk Music Pack for 12.99 USD / 12.99 EUR, or if they don’t have Beat Saber just yet, they can jump in with a discounted bundle that includes the Beat Saber base game plus a full music pack for 39.99 USD / 39.99 EUR.

Let’s lose ourselves to dance!

Greetings, fearless heroes of galactic democracy! Steel yourself for the next big push against the disgraceful enemies of freedom with our new Warbond – Cutting Edge*.

Packed with high-voltage vibes, Cutting Edge gives you the chance to enhance your loadout of liberty with ultra-futuristic armour, guns that spit lightning, super stylish capes and epic emotes.

Super Earth R&D experiments

Helldivers… we need your help. The brainiacs in Super Earth Research & Development have some cool experimental armor ready to be field-tested. This is where you come in, you’re just the right people for the job.

The EX Series Prototypes

EX-03 Prototype 3

Includes a rubber underlayer for insulation. Handy, really, as this prototype’s wires operate at a shocking 400,000 volts.

EX-16 Prototype 16

Warning: Electric arc generates a strong magnetic field. Avoid use while near stapled paperwork.

EX-00 Prototype X

The end result of several billion Super Credits and 12 years of research into creating “the Soldier of Tomorrow”. Show us it was worth it.

Expanded arsenal

R&D didn’t stop at armor, though. They’re also rolling out a new series of alien-splitting weapons with electrifying perks!

LAS-16 Sickle

A sweet laser rifle that fires in short bursts. And it doesn’t need reloading. Just watch for overheating or shove a new heatsink in there.

SG-8P Punisher Plasma

Exploding plasma rounds sound deadly… because they are, to aliens and allies! This modified Punisher shotgun is as fun as it is fearsome.

ARC-12 Blitzer

Project an arc of close-range lightning, or charge it up to fire off powerful bolts. Good for taking out multiple targets and giving you more time to pick a celebration emote.

And you can unlock a new stun grenade, the G-23 Stun, and the LAS-7 Dagger pistol.

I know what I’ll be doing… equipping the LAS-7 Dagger AND LAS-16 Sickle at the same time, turning my Helldiver into a real live wire and melting the foes of Managed Democracy on sight.

But we’ve got to do this with a touch of style, right? Get creative and accessorize your armor sets with three new capes, featuring matching colors and designs.

My favorite is the Botslayer: a light tan cape that will no doubt look great soaked in Automaton oil.

There are even matching player cards for each cape, as well as three new emotes.

Cutting Edge is rolling out to your Destroyer’s Acquisitions panel March 14, soldiers.

Get ready to spill some oil in style. Prepare for deployment.

*PSN account required. Content shown requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is coming to PC! We at Nixxes are thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Sucker Punch Productions who created this critically acclaimed open-world action adventure. We are excited to bring Jin’s story to a new audience and to bring a Sucker Punch title to PC for the first time.

The PC version of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut includes the full game, the Iki Island expansion, and the cooperative online multiplayer Legends mode. For the past year, the team at Nixxes has been working hard to bring the Sucker Punch in-house engine technology to PC and implement PC features such as unlocked frame rates, a variety of graphics settings and presets, and customizable mouse and keyboard controls. 

With ultrawide monitor support, you can take in the expansive terrain and ancient landmarks with a cinematic field of view. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC is fully optimized for 21:9 and 32:9 resolutions and even supports 48:9 resolutions for triple monitor setups.  

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC features the latest performance-enhancing technologies. NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3 are available with both upscaling and frame generation options. Intel XeSS upscaling is also supported and if your hardware has headroom to spare, you can use NVIDIA DLAA or FSR 3 Native AA to further boost image quality.   

The game on PC also offers extensive controller support. Use Steam Input to remap and customize the peripheral of your choice to your preference. For a more immersive experience, use a PlayStation DualSense controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, so you can feel the tension of drawing a bow and the strikes of your sword.  

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You can wishlist and pre-purchase Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut now on Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you pre-purchase the game, you’ll get access to the following early in-game unlocks when the game releases on 16 May: 

• New Game+ Horse  
• Traveler’s Attire  
• Broken Armor dyes from Baku’s shop 

 

We asked Sucker Punch co-founder Brian Fleming for his thoughts on the upcoming PC version, here is what he had to say: 

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“We’re proud to announce that our friends and partners over at Nixxes are bringing Ghost of Tsushima to PC! This is a first for Sucker Punch – all our previous work is console-exclusive, so we are excited about all this and Nixxes was the right team to do this project. With them on board, we knew the results would be nothing short of amazing! Now excuse me as I go order a Super Ultra Wide monitor!”

– Brian Fleming, Co-Founder, Sucker Punch

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For PC players who are new to the game, here’s an overview of everything that is included: 

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is an action-adventure game set in feudal Japan. Protagonist Jin Sakai was raised and trained in the ways of the samurai. His world is shattered when a Mongol invasion defeats the samurai army of his home on Tsushima island, and he is faced with a difficult decision: honor the tradition and customs of his upbringing and maintain a fight he cannot win, or deviate from his samurai path to protect the island and its people by any means necessary.  

In his quest to reclaim Tsushima, Jin seeks the guidance and support of old friends and new unlikely allies. He must break away from tradition, become a new kind of warrior, and protect what’s left of his home at all costs. 

Iki Island Expansion – In this story expansion, Jin discovers new locations, characters, and enemies on a mysterious island. The island of Iki is a wild, lawless land of raiders and criminals. Jin will have to bring all his skills to defeat the enemy and save Iki. 

Legends – Inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology, this cooperative multiplayer experience consists of two-player story missions and four-player wave-based survival missions, as well as the competitive two-versus-two Rivals mode. Choose one of four classes: Samurai, Ronin, Hunter or Assassin and play with friends or via online matchmaking. 

Kurosawa Mode – Experience the game in black and white with film grain effects, as well as Japanese dialogue and English subtitles. This mode is inspired by the movies of legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. 

On behalf of everyone at Nixxes Software and Sucker Punch Productions, we can’t wait to bring Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut to PC. We will have more information to share, such as system requirements, as we get closer to launch on May 16. 

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Are you ready for the ultimate fusion of racing and golf? Well warm up your engines and polish your golf balls because Hugecalf Studios is proud to announce that Turbo Golf Racing hits PS5 on April 4!

Turbo Golf Racing revolutionizes the traditional sport of golf by introducing turbo-charged cars as the means to putt the ball. Compete in golf or race game modes across over 80 fantastical levels, unlocking a selection of more than 500 cosmetics as you progress.

Race mode brings adrenaline-inducing speed to the fairways. Compete against seven opponents in a race to putt your ball first. Equip unique Power Cores, which grant special abilities or passive effects, such as a Magnet that can pull your ball closer or Hyper Glider which increases your cars gliding speed. Collect pick-ups such as Air Strike or Frost Beam to hinder the progress of your rivals in your bid to become the ultimate Turbo Golf Racer.

For those who favor a traditional golfing experience, take a moment to unwind in Golf mode, where accuracy outweighs speed. Victory is awarded to the player who putts in the fewest shots, so make every shot count, there’s little room for error.

Feel like practicing? Take on Time Trials, a way to learn the maps, refine your skills, and compete in the online leaderboards.

Hang out with your friends and play at your own pace in Custom Games. You can line up your favorite maps and customize the cores and pick-ups available.

Launch party

We’ll celebrate Turbo Golf Racing’s launch with a season full of party rewards! For a limited time after launch players can earn our 2 new car bodies: Jester, our clown car, and Bassline, a car equipped with DJ decks and speakers. Other goodies include party shades, musical boosters, and pork pie wheels, totaling over 35 seasonal rewards.

New Golf mode

Alongside a season of content, Turbo Golf Racing will feature a new game mode, allowing players to compete in Golf mode with up to seven opponents. This new fast-paced take on golf is only for the most skillful of players. Out of bounds will trigger penalties, so if you want to score an eagle, albatross, or the infamous hole-in-one, you’ll need to be precise with every shot!

We’re excited to see you all on the starting line, so mark the 4th of April on your calendar, let the launch party commence!

It’s been 11 years since the release of Capcom’s fantasy action-role playing game Dragon’s Dogma, with fans readily anticipating the March 22 release of its long-awaited sequel, Dragon’s Dogma 2.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes everything that made the original a cult classic and builds upon that foundation. There are new vocations, more monsters to take on, more ways to defeat them, more places to venture to, and above all, more life in the world of the Arisen.

I got the chance to go hands-on with Dragon’s Dogma 2 and speak with its director, Hideaki Itsuno. Here’s some of the standout features from my experience with Dragon’s Dogma 2, along with some quotes provided by the director.

A connected world

The first thing I noticed on my adventure in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is how real the world feels. Thanks to the PlayStation 5 SSD, there were no loading times when traveling from land to land, making the adventure feel that much more captivating. I went straight from the starting village to monster-filled outskirts without even noticing how far I traveled due to the world’s interconnected feel.

This interconnection applies to the monsters as well. After a losing battle with a dragon and attempting to escape, I was horrified to see the scaly fiend still chasing me as I made my way back to what I thought was the safety of the village.

Of course, Itsuno was delighted to hear about my reaction to this, as it was one of his main goals to make the game feel that much more lively on current-gen hardware.

“Back on the PlayStation 3 with the original we were limited and thus, creatures would eventually load out after you got far away enough. We wanted to use the innovations to make these creatures feel alive, so now when you try to run away you’ll look back and see it won’t be as easy as before.”

More ways to battle

I didn’t run from every battle, however. Once I was accustomed to the enemies of this world I realized the additions to the battle system and new vocations take Dragon’s Dogma 2 to new heights.

One vocation that stands out is the Mystic Spearhand, which gives access to magick arts and physical attacks using a dual-ended spear. Using this class against the many fiends sprawling this world I was able to not only defend with physical resistant buffs, but also take on the hordes with simple spear swings, dash attacks, and telekinetic attacks that allowed me to pick up and throw monsters. To hit two birds with one stone, you can toss one monster at another.

This feels like a class made for all obstacles. I enjoyed the freedom granted by the dash attack to both get in quickly with a damaging stab and evade enemy attacks. And now that all vocations can preserve stamina while standing atop giant monsters, I felt ready to take on any challenge the game threw at me.

A land of endless adventure

The land of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a large one that I immediately was lost in, heading out into the wilderness to seek adventure, where the magic of this game lies. Itsuno detailed it as a true journey title, a game where players don’t necessarily have to follow preset rules and destinations, but can make their own story. 

Enhanced AI and Pawns

Upgrades in the AI department were also made. Pawns, which are your allies, are a lot more helpful and characteristically present throughout the adventure. The Pawn system is unchanged from the original. They still do the same things, such as grabbing items for you and helping in battle, but now they do it all more efficiently. They were always nearby when I needed them and it felt more than necessary to keep them alive to aid me in battle. They also lead the way to objectives whenever you find yourself lost in the vast world.

My favorite addition to these companions comes in the personality department. Pawns will speak to you and one another, making them feel like actual characters you can feel for, even though you may trade them off for another Pawn down the road.

Immersive PlayStation 5 features

The PlayStation 5 SSD isn’t the only feature the console highlights in Dragon’s Dogma 2. The game adds even more interactivity in battle, with the DualSense wireless controller’s haptics taking center stage. Both when you attack and get struck in turn, you’ll feel the ferocity of each blow through the DualSense controller.

You can get this experience and more when Dragon’s Dogma 2 releases March 22 on PlayStation 5.

The spirit of competition in Destiny 2 is alive and well with today’s launch of the Guardian Games All-Stars 2024 event. The annual competitive event pits Warlocks, Hunters, and Titans against one another to try and take the top step of the Guardian class podium. Last year, Titans took the win, their second in Guardian Games history, and this year’s event features new twists to spice up the competition. Additionally, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen expansion is available today as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game and we dive deeper into the rad new Skimmer vehicle.

A new scoring system will be in place to keep everyone on their toes, including new Diamond-tier Medallions (the most valuable offered yet; earning these will help your class’s standings in a significant way, so these Medallions are limited to three per week). In addition, Guardians will be able to earn daily glow effects that come from a variety of sources, including individual achievement (such as being the “best in Tower” Guardian or showing your performance in modes like Supremacy or Competitive Nightfalls) as well as group achievements (like being part of that day’s winning class). 

Focus Activities are new limited-time boosts to Guardian Games activities that will grant bonus Medallions for the winning class. These events will only be open for a few hours each day, and you’ll be able to earn rewards packages by completing them; in fact, the class that dominates a particular Focus Activity will also earn a special champions rewards package that will earn your class a bunch of Medallions for the day’s competition.   

By taking part in Guardian Games events, every player can also unlock sweet rewards, including new Legendary weapons such as Hullabaloo (a new Compressed Wave Frame Heavy Grenade Launcher), a new Exotic Ghost shell, and even a new form of transportation: the Skimmer.

Gettin’ tricky with it

Perhaps the most exciting reward coming for Guardian Games All-Stars, the Skimmer is the first new vehicle option offered in Destiny since the Sparrow, and it’s available to all Guardians at no additional cost (simply pick it up from Eva Levante in the Tower after completing the first Guardian Games All-Stars quest and banking your first Medallion). All players will be able to use the Skimmer during Guardian Games All-Stars, and Guardians who complete a one-step quest during the event will be able to keep the Skimmer permanently once the Games have ended.

A sci-fi take on skateboarding and snowboarding, the Skimmer is a bold new expression of Guardian mobility in Destiny 2, allowing players to perform sweet tricks and sick grinds on their way to their next destination.

“The very beginning of the Skimmer’s development started with a simple question: What is the Guardian version of a Cloud Strider’s skyboard?” said Bungie senior design lead Ben Wommack. “Imagine a Guardian saw a Cloud Strider zipping around in the air and thought, ‘Yeah, that’s neat, but how about this!’ and pulled out something that’s cooler, more stylish, and most importantly, fun to use.”

“We wanted to make sure that we were not doing just a different Sparrow skin with a Guardian standing on top but something that really fulfills new fantasies,” said Bungie staff technical animator Matt Kelly. “The original Sparrow was a blend of a jet ski and a superbike. For the Skimmer, we took inspiration from surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding, strapped some boosters on it, and blended that up with some space magic.

“In the time between original Destiny and now, player movement abilities when traversing spaces on foot has dramatically changed and expanded, and the gameplay space has held up well. This allowed us to be comfortable pushing the edges of what we could do by adding new verbs into vehicles as well.” 

Skimmers are just as zippy as their Sparrow counterparts, and they are capable of a host of new tricks and grinds that will make travel time even more fun. Guardians will be able to pull off four base tricks that map to the emote buttons: a tre flip, a Tamedog, a 360 grab, and a 360 spin where the Guardian leaves the board. There are also four grinds: a 5-0, a boardslide, a backside darkslide, and a crooked nosegrind. In addition, the dev team has also added a variety of grounded turn dodges inspired by carving while surfing as well as some air dodges with grab spins to avoid obstacles (or slam into an unlucky enemy that gets in your way). Finally, there’s a vehicle jump ability that will launch your Guardian into the air, complete with a nice ollie grab as a finishing touch.

“We are lucky enough that we have a massive group of excited skaters, snowboarders, and surfers who were extremely excited about pointing out their favorite boarders and tricks to implement,” said Kelly. 

“We also had a bunch of animators who were able to dive in and really put the polish on some amazing and difficult-to-animate moves. Inspiration was everywhere.”

One final thought to whet your Skimmer appetite. During development, Bungie testers found some creative uses for Skimmers when combined with Strand’s grapple ability. Bungie test engineer Thomas Duda explains:

“Without any design specifically going towards this interaction, we discovered during a playtest that players can grapple the hoverboard while another player is using it. A player with Strand grapple can hook on and get pulled along with the grind, and they’ll be taken wherever the grinding player steers. If you’re in a firefight that’s not going too well, a friend can glide over you, and you can skyhook your way out of there, like the scene in The Dark Knight where Batman extracts from the high rise in Hong Kong.”

Test your medal

As if competing for the glory of your chosen Guardian class isn’t enough, we also have an additional incentive for Guardians who want to embody the spirit of the Guardian Games All-Stars event. Players who complete the Gold Event Challenge by March 26, 2024, at 9:59 AM PT, will earn the Bungie Rewards offer to purchase a physical 2024 Guardian Games All-Stars Medal through the Bungie Store.

The Witch Queen arrives with PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus members, the threat of the Lucent Hive continues to loom, and we’re putting the call out to you all. Starting today, and for a limited time, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is available to all PlayStation Plus members as a Monthly Game at no additional charge. Now is your chance to own one of the greatest chapters in Destiny history, as you take on Savathûn herself in a desperate bid to take back the Light. Experience the thrilling campaign from the start, explore The Witch Queen’s mysterious Throne World, and test your skills against Legendary mode. All of that and more, and it’s yours to keep once you download it.

If you’re a PlayStation Plus owner new to Destiny 2 or looking for the ideal time to jump back in, don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience one of the best adventures Destiny 2 has to offer. Head over to the PlayStation Store, grab The Witch Queen expansion, and prepare for the fight ahead.  

PlayStation has been part of India’s vibrant gaming scene for over two decades. In May 2023, we embarked on an ambitious journey with the India Hero Project. We aimed to unearth and empower India’s brightest game development talents to share their unique visions with gamers globally. The response was spectacular, with an avalanche of entries that showcased the rich tapestry of Indian culture, innovation, and storytelling.

Today, we’re excited to unveil the inaugural cohort of the India Hero Project at our landmark first developer conference in India – Develop India. Join us in celebrating their achievements and the exciting future they represent for gaming. This marks not just a milestone for these talented developers, but a leap forward in our journey to bring extraordinary gaming experiences from India to the world.

Get to know the upcoming India-developed games coming to PlayStation below, and stay tuned for future information regarding release timing.

Meteora: The Race Against Space Time

Developer: Big Boot Games

Shoot yourself into the nebula and join a race for survival. In this arcade combat racer, you’re not just a meteor but a force of nature. Cascade your way through a volatile universe of awe and wonder as you outmaneuver, pursue, and obliterate rival meteors in a dazzling display of strategy and skill.

Harness the power of the cosmos, level up your abilities, and climb the leaderboard in an experience that’s as thrilling as it is unforgiving. Your adventure awaits on PlayStation 5, PS VR2, and PC. 

Fishbowl

Developer: imissmyfriends 

Fishbowl is a slice-of-life story that takes players on a journey of nostalgia and melancholy, exploring themes of grief, connection, and self-discovery, set in the cultural landscape of urban India. The world is filled with crafted pixel art and an original Lofi soundtrack that forms the backdrop of our game. Fishbowl weaves together a multigenerational narrative, following the aspirations of Alo as she embarks on her first job in a new city, although working from home. 

Your decisions throughout the game will shape Alo’s journey, leading to moments of reliving the past and coming to terms with the present through a month of challenges and discoveries with Alo. Prepare for Fishbowl’s robust storytelling and immersive gameplay, coming soon to PlayStation 5 and PC.

Mukti

Developer: Underdogs Studio

Mukti is a first-person story exploration game set within the immersive environment of an Indian museum, delving deep into a critical social issue: human trafficking. In Mukti, players embark on a journey of discovery as they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the museum, uncovering the harrowing truths and hidden narratives behind the scourge of human trafficking. Through rich storytelling and immersive gameplay mechanics, Mukti invites players to confront the realities that victims and survivors face, shedding light on this pressing global issue.

Drawing inspiration from authentic narratives and meticulously researched historical contexts, Mukti aims to raise awareness, provoke thought, and inspire action. Each interaction within the game is designed to provoke empathy, spark dialogue, and ignite change.

Launching on PlayStation 5 and PC, Mukti offers an impactful gaming experience that enlightens and empowers. 

Requital: Gates of Blood

Developer: Holy Cow Productions

Requital: Gates of Blood is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer inspired by Egyptian mythology set in the mystical underworld of Duat. Players assume the role of Zahrah, traversing the afterlife to defeat the mighty guardians of the Gates of Duat. Through a series of intense boss-rush-like encounters, players confront powerful gods, demons, and beasts.

Embark on your journey of retribution from the celestial Nile, delving into the dark and twisted realms of the Duat. Engage in the immersive interactions with entirely hand-drawn characters and environments as you unravel the lore that permeates this enigmatic underworld.

Launching on PlayStation 5 and PC, traverse the Gates of Duat and forge a path through the afterlife.

Suri: The Seventh Note

Developer: Tathvamasi

Suri: The Seventh Note is a 2D action-exploration game set in the enchanting backdrop of mythical India. A world brimming with captivating Indian mythology-inspired narratives, vibrant characters, and mythical locales, from the floating temples in the Himalayas, the lost forts of Rajasthan, ancient jungles nestled in the Western Ghats, and many more. Platforming meets a unique musical dimension as the game’s world synchronizes seamlessly with an enigmatic beat. 

Uncover the connection between rhythm and the mystical realm of Ragamandala as you traverse its landscapes and unravel its secrets. This journey promises to transport players to a realm where every step is accompanied by the pulsating heartbeat of the game’s universe. 

Get ready to embark on this extraordinary adventure, coming soon to PS5 and PC.

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Stay tuned for more information on the India Hero Project and all the games in development as we work to bring new gaming experiences to players worldwide.

You wake up as the survivor of a shipwreck, with nothing more than the ragged clothes on your back to your name. A short trek away lies the dying captain of the vessel, who mentions the place he was trying to reach– a place called Sacrament. And so, your long and difficult journey begins.

No Rest for the Wicked is the newest game from Moon Studios, creator of the Ori series. First announced at last year’s Game Awards, this PS5-bound action RPG is as visually luscious as their previous work but wrapped in a darker, mature narrative. We sat down with the team for an early preview of the game to discover more about its central gameplay mechanics and world design.

In the harsh world of No Rest, suffering comes on two fronts: political maneuvering by well-connected royals and religious figures in the wake of the King’s death, and a horrific curse called the pestilence that transforms the humans it claims into unholy abominations. As all this happens, the populace is turning to more desperate and illicit means of survival.

A world of great beauty and unspeakable suffering

Moon Studios is well known for its ability to create compelling worlds and stories, and No Rest for the Wicked explores new territory for the developer. “After having made both Ori games, our next goal was to create our own huge fantasy universe,” says Thomas Mahler. “With Ori, we always relied on using allegory. We told stories that touched people, but we used fantasy creatures that, in essence, had to deal with very human problems. This time, we wanted to actually use humans and craft a Shakespearian tale with very strong human themes like family, trust, betrayal, comradery, and so on.”

To that end, No Rest offers up a very different feel from that of Ori’s warm, inviting natural environments: dilapidated, crumbling fortresses, barren, scarred landscapes, and vicious-looking foes — human and non-human alike — populate the tumultuous land of Isola Sacra. With each sword-slash, you see blood and viscera, illuminating the brutal, painful reality of life here. 

Yet among it all is a strange and compelling beauty, captured in the gorgeous stylized visuals Moon Studios specializes in, the studio seemingly not missing a step with the switch from 2D to 3D: every frame looks like a painting come to life.

“We’re just very much set in not being yet another studio that tries to go for a photorealistic style,” Mahler continues. “We think paintings age less quickly than trying to pursue photorealism. When I see a Caravaggio painting, I’m still amazed by what he was able to accomplish just using oils 500 years ago.”

Humble beginnings

Starting up the game, you have next to nothing on your person. That changes quickly as you discover a worn one-handed sword and some discarded tools, likely the scraps the nearby bandits didn’t bother looting from their victims. Taking up the blade and using some found materials to cook up a basic stew, you prepare to fight through the area under the bandits’ control to try and reach Sacrament.

There are many ways to engage foes–barging in head-first, or trying to get the jump on them with a sneaky ambush–but once you engage them, you’ll need to fight smartly, as your stamina meter makes sure your every move counts. A careless sword swipe, a bad dodge, a failed parry, or a broken guard can quickly get extremely painful. If you’re in a pinch, a well-placed Rune attack might help you turn the tables, but at the cost of focus.

Fortunately, you have a variety of gear on your side–which you’ll either find, buy, or craft– and a stat-building system that lets you invest points where you choose on level up. Unlike many action RPGs, which have you pick a class very early and restrict your gear based on that choice, you grow into a class in No Rest for the Wicked more organically. 

“We just wanted to give players an extremely diverse set of gear they can find to fulfill all their fantasies of the characters they’d like to play within an RPG,” notes Mahler. “We start the player out with pretty simple movesets, but as they progress further and further, they’ll be able to advance those movesets, and combine various combos, special attacks, and spells together. As for leveling and stat-building, in general, our methodology was that we wanted things to be as active as possible. We believe that players want all progress to be felt instead of just seeing some numbers go up that might not immediately affect your playstyle.”

Shaping your adventure

The overhead view of the action helps the environments in No Rest for the Wicked feel epic and atmospheric while also giving you subtle hints about out-of-the-way paths or hidden nooks and crannies. Background objects may be more destructible than first assumed, often yielding some precious loot as a reward for our experimentation. Pushing against odd-looking walls and bits of geometry that seemed a bit off may reveal passages filled with valuable treasures–and sometimes also their guardians.

Besides combat gear, there are plenty of other items to be acquired–bits of food for cooking, wood and ore for crafting, and assorted other sundries. With tools like an axe or pickaxe, we can chop down trees and harvest ore–though you’ll want to make sure the area is clear from hazards first. Otherwise, a flaming projectile to the face might interrupt your gathering session.

The harvesting and crafting elements become more and more pronounced as the game progresses, and eventually, you can choose to engage in the reconstruction of Sacrament. “We have so many different mechanics all mashed into this one game, which we then had to all make work together, “explains Mahler. “The idea is simple: We create certain needs for players and then we provide a lot of tools on how to fulfill those needs. For example, if players choose to farm and engage in housing, crafting, etc., they’ll then be able to take the outcome of those interactions back into the battle.”

“The ultimate goal here is once again to fulfill that RPG fantasy and ultimately craft a game that is not just about slaying enemies. We want you to have a diverse set of things you can do at all times. Tired of being in combat? Well, go and get some resources instead. Or go and help rebuild Sacrament. Or engage in housing and build yourself a dream home that constantly produces resources for you. Or go fishing. There should be no end of ‘Or’s’ in this game.”

The first few steps on a long road

The demo ended with a boss battle against the pestilence-infected Warrick, who has been warped and transformed beyond recognition. It’s not an easy struggle, but learning the parry cues makes the fight more manageable, turning the corrupted creature into a sitting duck for a precious few seconds. So ends the beginning of what’s likely to be a very, very long journey.

Thomas Mahler hopes players will enjoy the game his team has spent many moons crafting. “During development, we looked at what current ARPGs offer players. Our goal was to take all the aspects from all these games we love, mix that together, and create a new recipe that ultimately becomes the game we always wanted to play!”