Category: PlayStation

Hey Troopers! We’re the team at Auroch Digital, and alongside our partners at Dotemu we’re currently Doing Our Part, by creating the most realistic depiction of war ever made. Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War is releasing on PlayStation 5 on March 16 – officially endorsed by FedDev – and we also have a world first for Starship Troopers fans.

For the first time ever, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War will let you play as the enemy – the Arachnid Menace. We hope that stepping into the (many) legs of the all-new Assassin Bug will help our Troopers to understand them, and to defeat them as we throw you into fast-paced, ichor-filled combat.

Would you like to know more?

What is Bug Mode?

In Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War’s Bug Mode, you’ll take control of the Arachnids’ new ultimate weapon – The Assassin Bug. As the Assassin Bug, you’ll terrorize Federation Troopers in four expansive training scenarios, as well as a tutorial mission to understand the real danger of the Assassin Bug.

You’ll work to decimate troops and buildings, commanding your Arachnid army and taking advantage of the Assassin Bug’s three attack forms, with each of these bringing their own unique skills and abilities.

• The Warrior Form – The default state of the Assassin Bug. An agile form with razor-sharp pincers. 

• The Hopper Form – A flying Arachnid form, which can identify destructible buildings, as well as track Bug pheromone trails

• The Tanker Form – a chargeable form, we designed the Tanker to be able to deal devastating attacks including its distinctive flame spray attack

The Assassin Bug itself has been one of the most complex parts of Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War, and possibly the part which has taken the most time and effort internally to ensure it’s a balanced experience. 

In addition, getting the Assassin Bug’s larger form and flying abilities to work within maps designed for a human campaign has been another significant challenge, but one which we believe we’ve lived up to (we’re just Doing Our Part).

Why is Bug Mode?

To fight the Bug, we must understand the Bug – We can ill afford another Klendathu. We’ve been working long and hard alongside the best Federal scientists, spending countless hours analyzing Bug data to truly understand our enemy

As part of our FedDev-approved training experience, in Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War we wanted to deliver something never before seen – something which would allow Mobile Infantry Troopers to truly know how the Bugs feel on the battlefield.

So we teamed up with FedDev to deliver a cutting-edge Bug simulator – giving Troopers a unique insight into the Bug mind as they stick their claws into you and your fellow Troopers (spoiler alert – they love it).

It also provided a great and in-universe way of letting players deliver the elevated carnage that the Assassin Bug has to offer. There’s something so incredibly joyous about charging head-first into a Federation building to blast it into smithereens with the Assassin Bug, and we can’t wait for you to experience it yourself, alongside the Tanker form’s flame spray attack ability.

When is Bug Mode coming?

Bug Mode will be available for all Troopers who pick up Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War. We’ve had an incredible time working with FedDev to create Bug Mode – especially crafting those juicy sound effects and building destruction – and we can’t wait for you to deploy on March 16th.

We’re really excited for you to discover Bug Mode for yourselves, and especially the feeling of commanding your very own Bug army against the Mobile Infantry. This is a never-before-seen experience, and it’s given all of us a real God complex (which is scary considering that the Bugs are meant to be our enemies).

Where to access Bug Mode?

You’ll find Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War Landing on PlayStation 5 – with Bug Mode included from launch. We’re so proud of our S.A.S.S. (you’ll understand that, later) and we can’t wait for Troopers to dive into the Experience. 

Bug Mode will be unlocked after completing your first couple of missions, with four expansive areas to play through – as well as our Bug Mode tutorial. Our FedDev-endorsed Bug Mode is designed to help you to understand the Bug, and to defeat the Bug. We’ll keep fighting, and we’ll win.

Remember – Service guarantees Citizenship. Are you doing your part? Wishlist now, on PlayStation 5.

ILL is a first-person action-horror game coming to PS5 that aims to deliver relentless terror, both when the player is in full control and during the game’s motion-captured cutscenes. I’m Max Verehin, Co-founder of Team Clout, and I’m honored to give the PlayStation community a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating the cutscenes that complement the game’s immersive, horrific gameplay.

This challenging new phase of development has been intense and unpredictable, but not entirely a leap into the unknown. Our background is deeply embedded in the language of cinema, with team members bringing extensive industry experience from working on major horror projects like the Until Dawn film and It: Welcome to Derry television series. We’ve spent years learning how a monster should move, how shadows should fall, and how a creature needs to command a frame to evoke true fear. Join us to catch a glimpse into our wonderfully engaging and deeply collaborative process.

The kind of horror we want to create

At its core, ILL is grounded, emotionally honest horror. The story unfolds inside a massive research fort overrun by a mysterious force and the Aberrations it creates. The game leans into grotesque realism and intense binaural audio designed to keep players constantly on edge.

But beyond the brutality, our focus is immersion. We want moments to feel frightening, but also human. Characters aren’t just obstacles, they are three-dimensional people with motivations and personal stories that deepen the experience. Similarly, the locations in ILL are spaces designed to feel real, like you’re actually navigating them in person. We’re creating an environment that makes the player’s imagination work against them.

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Where gameplay changes everything

Our cinematic experience influences how we approach tension, pacing, and character presence. But the interactivity of video games as a medium changes that process. On set, every filming decision came back to one question: how will this feel once the player is in control?

Unlike traditional filmmaking, every scene in ILL connects directly to gameplay. The game stays in first-person, and most performance moments begin and end inside active play without cuts. We can’t rely on cinematic tricks—transitions have to return control naturally to the player, guiding what they do next and how the moment feels from their exact viewpoint.

Some cinematic ideas didn’t survive that test. If a scene disrupted the gameplay flow, we reworked it. It wasn’t an easy process, but one that ultimately made the overall play experience stronger.

Expect the unexpected

Even though we’re making a game about monsters, the performances came from real people, and that changed our expectations fast. Dramatic scenes—those including expressions of fear like screaming, and crying—are physically and emotionally demanding. They drain real energy and real emotion. We quickly adjusted our schedule to match that reality, giving actors more creative breathing room to tackle the heaviest moments earlier in the day.

Some sequences we thought would be simple turned into hours of work, requiring precise choreography and tight synchronization between performers. Capturing believable horror isn’t just about acting: it requires timing, movement, and constant iteration.

Another surprise we encountered: not every scene can be played “into the void,” or without an audience. Sometimes actors need something tangible to react to. At different points, our own producer and supervisor stepped in as stand-ins for enemy creatures so our performers had a real presence in front of them.

And despite the grim material, the set itself wasn’t always heavy. After long days, the exhausted cast would suddenly crack jokes or start singing—small human moments that made the contrast with the final in-game atmosphere even sharper.

Creative collaboration

Working closely with actors became one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Watching performers grow into roles, get more comfortable with their characters—from rehearsals to final takes—changed how we saw certain scenes.

We came in with a clear script, but actors often suggested different deliveries or interpretations. Many came from dramatic or cinematic backgrounds, and their perspective helped shape the emotional tone. Instead of feeling rigid, filming became a genuinely collaborative space where ideas evolved in real time, with contributions from differing points of view.

Acting in an almost empty space

In addition to the challenge of not having real monsters to react to, one of the other hurdles for our performers was to imagine a fully realized environment while standing in a nearly empty space. On set, props are minimal—sometimes nothing more than a stick representing a creature—while actors have to visualize the entire world around them.

To help, we used monitors showing a rough in-engine perspective from the protagonist’s POV, so performers could see their digital models moving in real time. It helped, but it also demanded focus: some actors instinctively glanced at the screens instead of staying fully in character. Directors and staging leads constantly guided performances by describing invisible walls, obstacles, and even threats. One of the game’s monster types, visible below, is just one of many that we need actors to clearly imagine in front of them.

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In the end, a lot of solutions were invented on the fly: where to stand, how far to turn, how to capture emotion without breaking the technical side of the process. It’s a constant balance between creative intent and practical limits—and that’s where the “magic” happens.

ILL is in development for PlayStation 5, with release information to follow.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hey, everybody! Tim, Kristen, and I are back this week to talk about the horrors of Racoon City, Reanimal, and trying to conquer your backlog before a wave of new games comes for us all. Along with our various journeys through Greece in God of War Sons of Sparta.

Stuff We Talked About

• Next week’s release highlights:
  • Resident Evil Requiem (out now) | PS5
  • Scott Pilgrim EX | PS5, PS4
  • Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered | PS5, PS4
  • Rager | PS VR2
  • Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse | PS5
  • Planet of Lana II | PS5
  • Marathon | PS5
• Death Stranding 2 PC specs reveal blog —See the power requirements to connect, widescreen support, and other features.
• Scott Pilgrim EX new character blog  —  Get acquainted with Goth Neil and Lady Envy, and check out the fun new stage, Casa Vania.
• God of War Sons of Sparta The Pit blog — Time to test your Spartan resolve in the roguelike challenge mode. See how to unlock this mode early and take it on solo or with local co-op. missions and objectives.
• Life is Strange: Reunion hands-on report — Chloe and Max are back for more time manipulation shenanigans. Check out new features, including the ability to play as both the protagonist and the interactive notebook.
• PlayStation Plus Monthly Games March
  • PGA Tour 2K25 | PS5
  • Monster Hunter Rise | PS5, PS4
  • Slime Rancher 2 | PS5
  • The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road | PS5, PS4

The Cast

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Kristen Zitani –  Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

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O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE

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Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

Thanks to 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.]

Last week, we asked to share well-framed moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

parmindernangla shares Atsu framed by the sun in Ghost of Yōtei

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artenpixels_ shares Ratchet framed by rock formations in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

jobolts_ shares Arthur framed by some tree branches in Red Dead Redemption 2

call_me_xavii shares Aloy sitting in a frame-shaped hole overlooking water in Horizon Forbidden West.

EduardoPrx shares Eve framed by a halo of lights and containers in Stellar Blade.

x01.vp shares Rèmi standing in front of a circular light in Hell Us Is

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Heroic
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 4, 2026 

Next week, we need a hero. Share a heroic character using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Hello, fellow Wanderers. We’re proud to share new details about the very first major expansion to our wuxia epic, Where Winds Meet. It’s called Hexi — and it’s vast in scale and ambition!

So large, in fact, that it will be released in three distinct chapters that will be dropped from March to May 2026. It will feature three major maps with nearly 20 sub-regions – covering areas of endless deserts, ice fields, snow-capped mountains and vast swathes of grasslands. You’ll find it populated by eleven unique bosses, dozens of side quests and so much more.

We’ve tried to push boundaries, letting players inhabit characters from history and witness the era from the perspective of ordinary people caught up in the tides of history. This is what makes Hexi’s main story unique, existing outside of the game’s main timeline, and adopting a more cinematic approach to storytelling and gameplay.

There will also be a significant shift in the narrative, as we travel through time and space as if in a dream to a different era of Chinese history – the Tang Dynasty – one of the most prosperous eras of ancient China. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, however, the Hexi region loses all contact with the capital, Chang’an, and the Hexi people long for their spiritual homeland and this prompts your dream pilgrimage. 

The first chapter of the Hexi expansion is called the Jade Gate Pass and launches on March 5 (Pacific Time).  Set in a vast desert landscape, it represents the beginning of the biggest expansion since our game launched, offering up brand-new narratives, new bosses, fresh gameplay features and martial art styles.

To help you to survive and advance in the challenging desert environment, you can obtain two brand new wuxia skills in the Jade Gate Pass area. Sand Race literally allows you to surf on the sand to speed your progress, while Cosmic Reversal will empower you to reverse time itself and rebuild desert ruins. This skill will be particularly helpful for overcoming obstacles, uncovering secrets and solving puzzles. 

Whitecrown City lies between Jade Gate Pass and Liangzhou. Once the crossroads of travel from East to West and a vital part of the ancient frontier defence, now a time-eroded, abandoned shadow of its former glory.

Entering this city will rekindle ancient legends – Guo Xin – the last Grand Protector of Anxi – and the campaign boss. Standing as guardian of this lonely outpost, Guo Xin watches over the frontier in solitude. On this desolate ground, you will witness the reveal of secrets hidden deep beneath the annals of history.

Furthermore, another formidable boss in Jade Gate Pass is the Wandering Ark, whose legend is deeply embedded in the Hexi lore and is waiting to be discovered in the desert wilderness. This boss does not stay in a fixed location – it’s a colossal vessel moving freely across the desert sea. Encountering this vessel, players need to be precise and strategic in discerning where to attack this opponent, while defending against ruthless ranged and close quarter attacks.

Fortunately, to help with these daunting challenges, you’ll be provided with two new martial arts:

Spring Dreamscape is an umbrella-style martial art focused on agility, enabling fluid endless combos and giving you the upper hand in tight spaces or group skirmishes. 

Fleeting Clouds is a new Rope Dart martial art style that centres on large sweeping Area of Effects (AOE) attacks making it ideal both for crowd control and for one on one duels where you hunt down enemies for persistent relentless damage. 

We’re also going to introduce a brand-new weapon in April:

The Heng Blade is a core weapon with its own dedicated martial art system. Heng Blade combat puts the emphasis on precision, structure and decisive timing. The key lies in blending measured defence with clean, powerful strikes. Strong in mid to close-range, Heng Blade rewards spacing, discipline and making the most of brief openings and opportunities. 

Passing through the Jade Gate Pass, your next journey will head to Hexi Chapter 2: Liangzhou, where you’ll encounter the first snow-capped mountain map haunted by the lingering echoes questioning why a stranger in a foreign land is answering the call to return to their spiritual home. 

Ultimately, the final chapter of Hexi will be set in the scroll of the Painting Realm – the vast grassland of Qinchuan, and this is where the true treasure of this adventure will be found. 

But, hey – let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The road ahead is very long. It’s time, instead, to look forward to the Jade Gate Pass. Prepare yourself, wanderers, to enter Hexi, a world independent of the main timeline, where everyone is waiting to meet you in your dreams.

When players return to Nosgoth in Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered on PS4 and PS5, they are not only revisiting a defining chapter of the saga, but are also stepping into one that was never released.

Included with the definitive edition of Defiance Remastered is a playable demo of The Dark Prophecy, the unfinished sixth entry in the Legacy of Kain series. For years, this project existed only in fragments, remembered through concept art and early development materials. Now, players can experience a preserved segment of that lost chapter firsthand.

The demo is presented as a historical artifact rather than a reimagining. Freely explore its tone, environment direction, and early gameplay ideas as they were originally conceived. This is a rare chance to experience the direction the series was preparing to take and to witness how Nosgoth’s next chapter was intended to unfold.

For longtime fans, it is a fun, what-if experience. For new players, it is a fascinating look at the creative ambition that followed Defiance.

Rebuilding Nosgoth with care 

While The Dark Prophecy looks toward an unrealized future, Defiance Remastered focuses on strengthening the experience seasoned players will remember.

Across the main campaign, environmental gaps and stretched geometry have been repaired. Areas that once showed seams now feel structurally complete. Standing at the edge of a cathedral or overlooking a distant ruin, the world holds together without distortion or missing detail.

A camera that works with you

In addition to the original fixed camera, the remaster also boasts a new third-person free camera. For the first time, players can also rotate the camera across those vistas to admire Nosgoth from any angle without breaking immersion.

Now players have clearer sightlines when managing multiple enemies, navigating vertical arenas, and switching between Raziel’s spectral abilities and Kain’s telekinetic control. The encounters remain the same, but players can read and respond to them with far greater confidence.

Lighting, atmosphere, and player choice

Every level has been relit to enhance mood and depth. Shadows are more deliberate. Fog feels denser and more atmospheric. Interiors carry a heavier sense of presence, while exterior spaces feel more expansive.

If players prefer the original lighting style, they can switch back at any time. The updated lighting system is entirely optional, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preference.

A reworked interface and deeper lore

The original static menu has been replaced with a new ring menu designed to keep players immersed. The interface grants access to the maps, character skins, and a world encyclopedia filled with rich lore. Beyond these, expanded bonus galleries and restored content further support the narrative and smooth out pacing across the campaign.

Sound that responds to the world

Game audio has also received a meaningful upgrade. Additional music is integrated into levels and cutscenes, increasing variety and reinforcing emotional tone throughout the story.

Environmental sound design is also refined. Footsteps now respond accurately to different surfaces. When Raziel crosses a wooden bridge, players can hear the wood cracking beneath him. When Kain steps onto rough stone or plush carpet, the sound shifts accordingly.

Preserving the legacy

Defiance Remastered is about preservation and clarity. Players experience the same story, the same characters, and the same dramatic weight that defined the original – what changes is the stability, responsiveness, and cohesion of the world around them.

Alongside those improvements, The Dark Prophecy demo offers something rare in game history: the chance to play a chapter that once seemed lost.

Together, they form a more complete view of Legacy of Kain’s past and the paths it might have taken.

Looking for your next challenge in God of War Sons of Sparta? Go to the place all aspiring Spartans prove their worth as warriors, the Pit of Agonies.  

Enter The Pit today

The Pit is a separate endgame roguelike challenge mode that gives you different enemies and reward pools each time you play. 

Normally The Pit is accessible only after you beat the main story to ensure those who attempt it are familiar with both Kratos’ Spartan arms and the foes you will face, but if you feel ready to test your skills earlier, you can input this sequence below in the starting menu to unlock it early: 

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, R1, Touchpad

Once entered, you will see a new option on your menu that can be used to take you into the challenge mode. 

Two-player local co-op 

While The Pit can be played entirely solo as Kratos, the team at Mega Cat Studios was inspired to bring back a gaming staple that defined so many childhood afternoons on the couch: 2-player co-op. 

This is local, offline-only co-op in true retro style, so you’ll need to grab a buddy if you want to bring both Kratos and Deimos to face the challenges deep below. 

Choose your agony 

Each run begins by selecting your starting Agony, a global difficulty modifier that will add variety to each run and impact the way you play. 

For example, the Agony of Torment will manifest healing vessels that must be destroyed to prevent enemies from regenerating health, while the Agony of Calamity will cause defeated enemies to burst into a fiery explosion. 

As you progress through your run, you will have the option to add more Agonies or increase the effect of your starting choice. 

Rewards

Upon finishing a run, you will earn a Symbol of Suffering for your chosen Agonies. As you reach certain thresholds of total Symbols, you will unlock new Agonies to choose from. 

Upon completion, you will also gain Ashes of Agony, a Pit-specific resource which can be used to acquire permanent upgrades that last between attempts. 

Keeping score 

If you like to track your progress (or earn some bragging rights), you’ll be able to see your current and high score at the end of each run. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported God of War Sons of Sparta, available now on PS5. We hope you’ll enjoy the challenge of The Pit.

March’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup features four games available to all PlayStation Plus members*. 

Improve your swing on the green in PGA Tour 2K25, seek out adventure in Monster Hunter Rise, enjoy a mix of farm sim meets first-person adventure with Slime Rancher 2, and explore a massive multiplayer fantasy world in The Elder Scrolls Online. All these titles will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday March 3 until Monday April 6. 

Let’s take a closer look at the games. 

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PGA Tour 2K25 | PS5 

Step onto golf’s biggest stages and prove you can rise among the greats. Compete in the ultimate test: The PGA Championship, The U.S. Open, and The Open Championship make their PGA TOUR 2K debut. Rise through the ranks in an expanded MyCareer, where every round builds your legacy. Create your path to greatness with new MyPlayer customization, upgraded Skill Trees, and advanced Course Designer tools. Then take your shot against the best in ranked, casual, and cross-platform multiplayer.

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Monster Hunter Rise | PS5, PS4

The worldwide hit series Monster Hunter returns with a host of new gameplay features, original monsters and a story inspired by ancient Japanese folklore. Personalise your hunter, choose from 14 unique weapon types, recruit your Palico Felyne and all-new Palamute Canyne companions, and gear up to explore a range of vast, richly detailed hunting maps. Whether you prefer to go solo or enjoy the company of a four-person squad, smart difficulty scaling guarantees a fair and thrilling battle. The irresistible Monster Hunter loop remains, with each successful hunt yielding the materials required to craft and upgrade your weapons and armour, allowing you to hunt tougher monsters and gather more precious resources.

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Slime Rancher 2 | PS5 

Slime Rancher 2 is a sequel to the award-winning, smash-hit original that has been enjoyed by over 15 million fans worldwide. Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys to Rainbow Island, a mysterious land brimming with ancient technology, unknown natural resources, and an avalanche of wiggling, jiggling, new slimes to discover. As Beatrix attempts to unravel the island’s secrets and uncover its true purpose, she’ll build, ranch, and farm within a beautiful conservatory, whose sparkling glass walls give her full view of the prismatic paradise she now calls home.

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The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road | PS5, PS4

Every legend starts somewhere, and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Write your story into a vibrant chapter of Tamriel’s distant past that takes place nearly 1,000 years before the iconic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and discover a world steeped in adventure and possibility. Travel the vast land of Tamriel and discover a world of adventure. Explore the mushroom forests of Morrowind, battle Daedric foes in the realms of Oblivion, or face off against other players in PvP combat. The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road grants instant access to all major Chapter zones, biomes and quest arcs across Tamriel*.

*2025 Content Pass not included

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Last chance to add February’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games to your library 

PlayStation Plus members have until Monday March 2 to add Undisputed, Subnautica: Below Zero, Ultros, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown to their game library.