Category: PlayStation

Monstrous giants lurk in the unfathomable depths of the Blue Hole, their formidable presence striking terror into the hearts of any who dare to venture into their domain. They interfere with Dave’s tranquil fishing pursuits, yet unwittingly become prime ingredients for his sushi restaurant. Their colossal forms lend an unexpected and savory twist to the culinary creations.

Godzilla, the mighty monarch of monsters whose legendary reign celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, now emerges to make a historic appearance within the depths of the Blue Hole. Prepare to encounter the awe-inspiring Godzilla, arriving May 23.*

G-Force, the military organization from the Godzilla series

G-Force, an international joint military organization formed by the United Nations and the JSDF, is tasked with the paramount mission of safeguarding humanity and upholding global peace. They follow Godzilla’s trail, leading them to the elusive depths of the Blue Hole.

“Godzilla was wounded. We tracked down its brainwaves, and they led us here…”

Kaiju discovered in the abyss

While diving in the shadowy depths of the Blue Hole looking for fish, Dave is confronted with Godzilla, injured and recovering from his wounds. Wariness grips the mighty titan as he senses Dave’s approach, but it looks like he might just need some assistance from an unexpected ally.

Watch out for the relentless Kaiju in pursuit

Embark on an exhilarating adventure in the Godzilla DLC where you’ll engage in a heart-pounding pursuit with Ebirah, the iconic deep-sea Kaiju from the 1966 live-action movie [Ebirah, horror of the deep]. Plunge into the oceanic depths to evade Ebirah’s assaults as the creature relentlessly pursues the submarine carrying Dave and Miki. 

Epic battle with Ebirah

Harpoons prove ineffective against the Kaiju’s impenetrable shell. In a daring move, Dave abandons his usual gear for a more formidable approach. Boarding the G-Force submarine to confront Ebirah head-on. Despite his lack of experience in submarine piloting, Dave needs to stay focused to penetrate Ebirah’s shell.

On whose side does Godzilla stand…?

Godzilla is infamous for his city-razing rampages, yet beneath his fearsome exterior lies its true nature, defending the planet against looming threats. When another malevolent Kaiju emerges Godzilla’s allegiance might unexpectedly align with yours.

Beneath the calm surface of Dave the Diver’s world lies a host of lurking dangers in the depths. 

Amidst the looming presence of Godzilla, brace yourself and venture into the increasingly perilous depths of the Blue Hole.

*Dave the Diver— Godzilla Content Pack is a time-limited free DLC, only available from May 23 until November 23.

Gamers take a lot of unique and interesting names at face value, but there’s always an insightful origin story to be told. We spoke with Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Johan Pilestedt about how the name of the studio and Helldivers franchise came to be. Read on to learn how a translated last name, WWII airplane, and tongue-in-cheek humor played into these titles.

Behind the name “Arrowhead Games”

PlayStation Blog: How did your team come up with the name for Arrowhead Game Studios?

Johan Pilestedt: When we tried to come up with a studio name, we had a long day of throwing ideas around, but ultimately, only Arrowhead stuck, and without much competition. 

The name “Arrowhead” mainly came out of two main ideas. One, my last name is Pilestedt, which can be directly translated to English as “arrow stead.” We also liked the idea that “Arrowhead” sounds like a serious company.  Tip of the arrow. Cutting edge. Then you see the logo [a person with an arrow comically piercing their head] and the meaning changes into something dumber. 

We did, somewhat cheekily, decide to call our studio “Arrowhead Game Studios” plural, just in case we would grow to encompass more than one studio someday. Now, the name stands as a reminder of our student beginnings, when we were five people in a small room on LTU campus. Even the logo hasn’t changed much since then. We’re still chasing the same dream: to change the games industry with the power of fantasy-first co-op games. 

How the “Helldivers” game title came

On the surface, “Helldivers” is a perfect title for a game about soldiers dropping into hostile planets brimming with enemies. What else is there to say about the title’s origins?

Pilestedt: “Helldivers” was a thought on the phrases “war is hell” and “diving into war.” So Helldivers it became. Also, we wanted a name that reflected the activity that you would do in the game. The “Helldivers” name had also lingered in the back of my name since I learned the name of the World War II era Curtiss SB2C “Helldiver” dive bomber. I’ve always wanted to do something with it. 

The Helldivers name fit so well that it actually stayed the same from the earliest pitches to the final product. On an emotional level, we wanted the name “Helldivers” to evoke the feeling of going up against insurmountable odds and that you’ll probably die.

For those prepared to dive into the insurmountable opposition of Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Game Studios’ sci-fi co-op shooter is available now on PS5 and PC. Learn more about the latest Polar Patriots Premium Warbond available in Helldivers 2.

Get ready to set sail, me hearties! I’m Desmond, Designer and Artist at The Gentlebros and today we’re revealing some of the new crewmates and nefarious villains that await you in the newest entry into the Cat Quest series – Cat Quest III coming to PS5 and PS4 on August 8.

Play Video

In Cat Quest III, players will explore a treasure trove of picturesque islands and meet a bevy of meow-sterious characters as they set sail in pursuit of the legendary North Star. Some of these characters will assist your adventures and prove to be valuable crewmates for the journey ahead… while other devious Pi-rats and nefarious villains will try to ruin your day! Let’s meet some of the new characters you’ll meet on this seafaring adventure.

Your trusty spirit companion, Captain Cappey is with you every step of the way on your adventures. His main goal is to be the greatest pirate that ever lived, although he’s long past the ‘living’ stage. Whether sharing their wisdom or explaining the ins and outs of being a pirate, Captain Cappey is the purr-fect guide for you.

This furrmidable feline is Mama Milka, proud owner of The Milky Barrel tavern, serving cats across the land milk instead of rum. She’ll offer some guidance to kick off your adventure in search of the mythical North Star, giving the first clues to take on Captain Meowtallika. Additionally, turn in Mama Milka’s pirate (or pi-rat!) bounties to get stat-boosting jugs o’ milk – an essential beverage for any would-be privateers! These equippable trinkets boost a specific ability or stat, like the Pawer Milk which makes the player attack faster the more they attack! Players can equip as many of these trinkets as they want as long as they have spare customization slots in their gear.

Brother of series favourite Kit Cat, Kidd Cat is a mischievous kitten and the local blacksmith. Throughout your adventures you’ll find a boatload of gear to customize your feline friend, from hats and eye-patches to boots and swords! Upgrading your gear with coins found in the world around you makes you both stronger and more durable in a fight, so you can take on tougher challenges. Be sure to visit frequently and enhance your gear to make a pawesome loadout!

Avast! Two nefarious pirates who are out to spoil your day: Captain Meowtallika and Captain Takomeowki! Captain Meowtallika is the leader of the metalhead pirates, known for their heavy metal concerts. Captain Meowtallika was inspired by heavy metal musicians, so we wanted the boss fight to reflect this and staged it on a literal concert stage! During the fight, Meowtallika will play various riffs on his guitar which correspond to different attack patterns that the player has to dodge in time – it’s sure to be absolutely electrifying.

Captain Takomeowki is the captain of the Spicy Squids – the tentacoolest crew who refuse to bow down to the Pi-rat King. Takomeowki was inspired by some of our favorite Japanese foods! Also, a lot of the development team loves bullet-hell shooters, and since Takomeowki is a magic user, we wanted to really lean into this and have players dodge a constant barrage of his hot and spicy magic! These ferocious villains will try to curtail your search for the North Star – so watch out.

The most furrmidable pirate in all the land – none have challenged him and survived to tell the tale! The Pi-rat King has been cursed so he can never die, but also never heal, hence his design, being an amalgamation of stitches and spare parts – he seeks the answers to end his curse and will stop at nothing to find them.

But that’s not all in Cat Quest III: there are many, many other villainous foes that we haven’t shown yet. Players can also face off with a 10-storey tall Cthulhu monster, a Necromouser, a giant raging Boar and so many more.

Do you have what it takes to defeat these unstoppable fiends? There’s only one way to find out – Wishlist Cat Quest III for PS4 and PS5 now, ready for its release August 8.

Dead by Daylight: Dungeons & Dragons features one of the most iconic characters in the D&D mythos – the archlich Vecna – as well as the original Bard Survivor Aestri Yazar (and her playable counterpart, Baermar Uraz). Also coming is the Forgotten Ruins Map, a dark fantasy-inspired Realm befitting of The Whispered One’s presence.

Countless players have immersed themselves in the world of Dungeons & Dragons – including many of us on the Dead by Daylight team – and it was important to capture the experience and characters players know and love. It was an exciting challenge for Principal Game Designer Janick Neveu, who was tasked with bringing the all-powerful Vecna to life. 

“We wanted to explore magic and really delve into the spellcasting aspect of the Killer,” he explains. “The first thing we did was look at Vecna’s recently updated lore and stat block from Wizards of the Coast. We then compiled a list of potential spells and tried to identify game mechanics that would translate to DbD.”

After deliberation and a few rounds of prototyping, the team ultimately landed on four distinct spells: Fly, Flight of the Damned, Dispelling Sphere, and Mage Hand. During a game, Vecna can cycle through his spell book and select whichever spell he wishes to use, with each one excelling at a different role.

“Fly allows Vecna to traverse the map quickly,” notes Neveu, citing the impact Killer mobility can have on a match. “Mobility is an interesting element that’s present on many other Killers, and it’s always appreciated by our players.”

“However, it was important that Fly wasn’t more effective than a Killer’s main mobility effect,” he continues. “Otherwise, we’d risk making an older Killer obsolete. During design, we had to carefully examine the values of traversal length, speed, and efficacy in chase.” 

Complementing this tool for quickly gaining ground on a Survivor, Vecna can use his projectile Flight of the Damned spell to zone them into a favourable location. “Flight of the Damned, which is a special ability unique to Vecna in D&D, allows him to cast undead spectral projectiles that propel forward, creating a bullet-hell effect,” explains Neveu. “Try shooting it through walls to catch Survivors unawares.” 

When Vecna catches up to a Survivor, he can use his Mage Hand spell to tip the scales in his favor. “Mage Hand allows you to tag a Pallet and block it if it’s already up,” explains Neveu. “If it’s been dropped, the Mage Hand will raise it instantly. It’s probably his most unique ability.” 

It also rewards skillful gameplay for both sides. “Pallets are a valuable resource to Survivors, and we built intricacies to ensure counterplay. Using Mage Hand effectively might sound simple on paper, but there’s reactivity involved. You must pre-emptively charge your Power and predict a Survivor’s pathing, which creates a fun battle of wits.”

“His last spell is the Dispelling Sphere, which was inspired by two existing D&D spells named Detect Magic and Dispel Magic,” says Neveu. “Using this allows Vecna to cast a large area effect that traverses through the level, revealing any Survivor and dispelling any Magic Items they might have found.”

Speaking of Magic Items…

“One of the big appeals of RPGs is hunting for loot and improving your character,” says Neveu. “As such, it was imperative to incorporate that into Dead by Daylight. In the end, the team decided on making Magic Items spawn in Treasure Chests whenever facing Vecna, giving Survivors tools to withstand his magical onslaught. If they’re lucky, they may even unearth Vecna’s cherished possessions: the Hand and Eye of Vecna.”

“If a Survivor gets the Eye, when they do a fast Exit from a Locker, they’ll become unseen and unheard for a duration. If they have the Hand, when they fast jump into a Locker, they teleport to another random Locker. These can be tricky to use, and while they’re beneficial to the Survivor, they will take damage when using the effect.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be Dungeons & Dragons without one crucial element. “We absolutely needed a dice roll!” laughs Neveu. It manifested in determining the rarity of loot Survivors will find during the Trial – but as anyone knows, sometimes the rolls simply aren’t in your favor. 

“Even the best fighter with the best magic sword can miss an attack from time to time,” he continues. “We really wanted to capture that aspect, but not base the whole experience around it. The dice roll might randomize the experience, but it doesn’t affect the result.”

For fans of Dungeons & Dragons, this latest Chapter looks to be one of Dead by Daylight’s most ambitious to date and no doubt the perfect entry point for many to the long-running horror multiplayer. 

Revealed as part of Dead by Daylight’s 8^th Anniversary celebrations, Dead by Daylight: Dungeons & Dragons will be released on PlayStation on June 3. 

Hello, Wanderers, or should I say, Authorizers? Welcome back! I’m SKY, the lead designer at Hotta Studio of Perfect World Games, and I’m bursting with excitement to share some thrilling news with you. Tower of Fantasy version 4.0, Gesthos Sector, is on the horizon, slated for release on May 28. 

In this upcoming update, we’re introducing an entirely new breathtaking urban-style open world, all infused with futuristic charm and technological wonders. Version 4.0 also brings with it a diverse cast of new companions, each with their own captivating stories and unique abilities. 

We have also prepared a series of events. After the version is released, participating in events, you can get up to 188 draws, 1000 Dark Crystals. We look forward to your participation!

Gesthos Sector

After experiencing the adventures of the Domain 9, I believe you are already familiar with Gesthos—the supercomputer nestled within the headquarters of Hykros. Its recent descent into a state of shutdown due to a virus invasion, potentially causing a severe Omnium crisis. To find the virus that threatens the system, you will become an Authorizer, uploading your consciousness into a virtual world calculated by it—the Gesthos Network World. 

Picture this: a realm meticulously crafted by Gesthos, mirroring the pre-Cataclysmic era of Aida in all its glory. Here, Omnium technology reigns supreme, orchestrating a thriving technological revolution amidst unparalleled prosperity.

A friendly tip: after the version 4.0 is released, newcomers won’t need to complete the previous chapters, you’re granted direct passage to the latest marvel—the Gesthos Sector!

And your first stop upon arrival is Aesperia. 

Behold towering edifices adorned with shimmering holographic billboards, while a symphony of aircraft dances across the azure skies. Embark on an urban trip along gravity rails, bask in tranquil vacations along the sun-kissed shores of Astra…enjoy the seamless fusion of technological marvels and natural splendor. And for those with an appetite for discovery, you can also delve deeper into this world through puzzle-solving gameplay and exploration tasks.

An officer and a phantom thief

In your quest to resolve the viral threat, you’ll find yourself entangled in the complex power struggles of Aesperia’s factions. But fear not, as new friends stand ready to aid you in your endeavors.

Meet Roslyn, a fresh recruit of the Federation Police. With a blend of dedication and charm, she tirelessly pursues justice while lending a helping hand to those in need. Recently, it seems she has been demoted to a junior officer due to a failed mission.

While designing the character, our focus lies in capturing her serene yet contemplative aura. Picture her engrossed in thought, idly toying with handcuffs—a subtle allure that is sure to captivate hearts effortlessly. Her love for kitty is unmistakable, a trait reflected in her design. Roslyn wields “Calm Waters”, a weapon crafted from her grandfather’s ship anchor. With a frost/volt attribute, it’s a testament to her maritime heritage. 

Embracing the ship anchor’s distinctive characteristics, we’ve infused the combat dynamics with interactive intricacies. Designed for mid-range engagements, Calm Waters prioritizes agility and versatility on the battlefield. Therefore, we’ve experimented with allowing Roslyn to throw the ship anchor to generate different striking angles, using acceleration to increase the damage. 

In crafting her skills, we leverage the anchor chain, using its dual-ended design to unleash a flurry of attacks. The fluid interplay between the anchor’s bulk and the short blade results in a mesmerizing ballet of chaos —a spectacle of elegance amidst the combat.

And then there’s the enigmatic figure of Ace, the elusive thief who has been the focus of Roslyn’s relentless pursuit. Have you taken note of the baseball bat she wields? Ace named it “Poppin’ Stick”, a powerful attack weapon. Despite her status as a top-tier thief, Ace harbors a genuine desire to uphold fairness and justice through her actions, a paradox that adds depth to her character. In fact, she’s gone so far as to assemble a band of like-minded individuals, forming the renowned phantom thief organization known as “Wednesday”.

But here’s where things get truly interesting. Beyond the surface-level cat-and-mouse chase lies a deepe connection between Ace and Roslyn—a relationship shrouded in secrecy and ripe with untold history.

In addition, following the launch of version 4.0, the incredibly popular simulacrum, Lan, will join the free pick SSR weapon pool!

Upload adventure anew

Upon embarking into version 4.0, you’ll gain access to an exclusive Authorizer’s Terminal—an indispensable tool that not only facilitates seamless exploration of new territories but also enhances the precision of map data. Boasting a myriad of practical features, including SMS communication, an Uber-inspired transportation app, and music playback capabilities, this device is your key to unlocking a world of convenience.

But that’s not all. By seamlessly integrating the world setting with main quests, we’ve also designed a new open-world gameplay. From repairing port tower to tracking down escaped robots and crafting stone sculptures, interactive engagements are scattered across the map, offering Authorizers a wealth of enriching experiences.

However, in this era of technology, be prepared to confront a host of challenges posed by intelligent machines. From the vigilant Patrol Droid to the formidable Formation Point Sphere α: Test Type, each presents a unique threat, demanding careful strategy and skillful navigation from players.

We have also prepared various activities. By participating in sign-ins and version-exclusive events, you can get up to 188 draws, 1000 Dark Crystals. But that’s not all—prepare to be charmed by our latest addition: the free dandelion vehicle, Fluffy. Infused with natural allure, this whimsical mode of transportation promises to elevate your adventures with its enchanting presence. 

And let’s not forget the debut of the first-ever dual-seater sports car. With its sleek design, fully automatic cruise, and driving functions, this marvel of engineering promises to redefine exploration in Aesperia. From its captivating aesthetics to its unparalleled performance, it’s poised to become the ultimate choice for discerning Authorizers.

Mark your calendars, as Tower of Fantasy version 4.0 is set to launch on May 28! With an array of exhilarating features awaiting your discovery, we eagerly anticipate embarking on this thrilling new journey together. See you in the latest version!

Hi everyone! It’s been just over a year since we released Burning Shores, the expansion to Horizon Forbidden West on PS5, and with it, we challenged you with one of our most elaborate boss battles to date! We talked to our developers at Guerrilla to find out about the ideation and creation process of this epic fight.

SPOILER WARNING: Please note that this behind-the-scenes feature contains major spoilers for the storyline and gameplay elements of Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores. To get the most out of this in-depth article, we strongly recommend completing the quest ‘His Final Act’ prior to reading.

Play Video

A threat from the Old World

The Horus can be seen throughout our journey with Aloy, both in Horizon Zero Dawn as well as Horizon Forbidden West, albeit at first in a dormant state – and the continuation of Aloy’s story in Burning Shores felt like the perfect moment to bring it to life, says Misja Baas, Senior Art Director at Guerrilla. 

In the ideation stage, it was clear that the design of the Horus needed to serve two purposes: First of all, to tell the story of the end of the world in the universe of the Horizon franchise. 

“For something that monumental, you need something that fits, something epic to go with that theme,” says Baas. “Imagine these giant machines crawling through the landscape, drilling holes in bunkers and wiping entire cities off the face of the earth. They also served as mobile factories producing Corruptors and Deathbringers to do the groundwork. Together they would form the swarms that ended up destroying the world as we know it. Secondly, we also wanted something that would look impressive and amazing in the landscape. For the final design, we settled on these colossal, almost insectoid machines. It allowed us to really drape the machine on the landscape and make it look very dynamic, as if you’re seeing the last moments of life on earth.” 

Leaving the Forbidden West, Los Angeles was the next obvious destination with the Hollywood sign as the perfect stage for an epic machine confrontation with this titan. 

Force of nature

When Arne Oehme, Principal Game Designer was tasked to design the penultimate battle that Aloy and Seyka are challenged with in their efforts to put an end to Londra’s devious plans, he knew he had an important task at hand. 

“We had to complete the story arc of Horizon Forbidden West, as it was the final quest of the expansion and as such, we had to deliver a level that was worthy of being its grand finale,” says Oehme. “As we are fighting a machine that was responsible for the destruction of civilization, it felt like it shouldn’t be easy to take down with just your bow and arrows. We wanted to challenge all of Aloy’s abilities in this conclusive fight: her ability to sneak in unseen and stay hidden, her agility and ability to climb and swim, and also to collaborate with her friends.” 

Oehme points out that the quest is built up in several sections. “The goal of the first section of the level was mostly to establish the Horus as an overwhelming force of nature, but we also wanted to pace ourselves and give us the potential to escalate the intensity throughout the fight,” he says. “Starting with a stealth section felt right to set the tone: The Horus is high up on the hill, it sits in an imposing position looming over you as you approach the area and this section gave us the potential to deliver the narrative and allow the characters to formulate a plan of attack.” 

During this section you sneak past the Horus’ giant tentacles, which are being used as search lights, while you are surrounded by Corrupters that Londra created using the active Horus. As you sneak past these machines (or choose to take them out head on) you make your way up to sabotage the pump used to cool down the Horus together with your companion, Seyka. 

“This section was also a perfect moment for us to help build Aloy and Seyka’s relationship,” Oehme points out, “Before things get hectic!”

Up close and far away

Getting closer, you transition from the hilly mountains to the beach with a cinematic that seamlessly flows over into gameplay. 

“In order to create structure in the fight and to give it good pacing and rhythm, we tried to separate the player and the Horus throughout the encounter,” says Baas. “If we were only going to fight the Horus up close, it felt like we were ‘clipping its toenails’ so to speak. You would constantly be really close and you wouldn’t see a lot of it and we wanted to make sure that players get a chance to see the machine and observe its abilities. We also wanted players to witness its ability to move around and notice the destruction it causes to the landscape in its path. It was really important to us to give the Horus this moment of presentation to give players a demonstration of its power.

 “To make this part of the fight feel more spectacular and dramatic we had to do completely the opposite of what we always do,” Baas recalls, referring to the lush and vibrant nature that the Horizon franchise is known for. “Our environments and settings are usually places you really want to go to and spend time in. But here, because we’re dealing with this final moment and we are showing what could be described as a flashback of the end of the world, we decided to do a 180 and go for gray and dark. A very different mood compared to what we usually aim for in Horizon. 

“During the anniversary of Burning Shores last month, many players in the Horizon community pointed out that this moment was one of their highlights when playing the expansion. Senior Creature Animator David Vince was responsible for establishing the look and feel of the movement of the Horus making its way to the beach. 

“When we had to figure out the movement theme for the Horus, we wanted it to feel like we were bringing it back from the dead,” says Vince. “This machine has been there for a thousand years, and now it’s being reanimated and controlled by something that’s not itself, so it’s basically a zombie! That became our theme for the Horus and you see this in this transition as it crawls its way down the beach: It’s not powering through, it’s struggling to get there as it’s clawing with its tentacles and pulling itself along. It really is lurching and lumbering forward in an uncoordinated manner, like a shambling zombie would. So that was our goal, to make sure it looked like it wasn’t a fully sentient titan, but one that had been hijacked and doing somebody else’s bidding.”

You follow the Horus down to the beach, traversing the cliffs and ruins of Los Angeles along the way. Oehme further explains how this was a very deliberate choice when designing the quest: “The idea behind moving to different locations in that fight comes from the fact that a quest almost always wants to be a journey.” 

As both Oehme and Baas mentioned earlier, it was important to show the player how much impact this machine had on its environment. 

“It didn’t feel good if we were tied to only one location in the world, we felt like it needed to move around to actually show you this destruction,” says Oehme. “The beach also gave us a reasonably flat space for the continuation of the combat encounter, with enough room for the Horus to stomp and splash around in the water.”    

Baas points out that working on an expansion to the main game meant that we could focus all our efforts on a single encounter and make it as awesome and epic as possible. For this all to come together, Oehme worked with multiple disciplines across development.

“This was very different content from what we were used to building, so it required a new approach,” says Oehme. “We worked together with an awesome team of specialist developers from Game Tech, Art, VFX, Animation and Sound Design to tackle the unique challenges that surfaced during development of this quest.”

One of these challenges was climbing the moving legs of the Horus to expose and destroy its heat sinks. “We wanted Seyka to distract the main armaments of the Horus to give Aloy windows of opportunity to dart in and strike, says Oehme. “As a player, being below the Horus already gives you the desire to climb it, so we wanted to make sure you could actually do that. But of course, something of that scale, and moving around and shooting you, that’s something that’s quite different from anything we had done before – but we felt like we had to do it.”

Senior Technical Designer Marcin Matuszczyk remembers tackling this specific challenge. “We already had support for climbing objects and machines like the Tallneck, but we had to improve quite a lot to make it look better for the scale and size of the Horus,” he says. “We had to create some new tech to make sure that Aloy’s hands and feet look nice against the machines’ climbing points that were placed on the leg. The Horus turned out to be the most complex machine we ever made in terms of design, scale, and collaboration between teams.”  

Vince expands on animating the behemoth boss. “For animation, some of the complexities that came with the Horus weren’t necessarily the model itself, but more the joint-count that was in it,” he says. “All of our machines have orientation or articulation joints that enable us to animate them. For comparison, the Slitherfang used to be our highest joint-count machine capped at around 240 joints. The Horus has over a thousand more joints than that! The Horus has its legs and tentacles, and having it turn around takes a very long time to do. It takes about 50 seconds to do a full rotation with around 1400 frames of animation, which is one animation of the 200 animations that it has.”   

“The Horus is massive! It takes up so much of your screen,” adds Vince. “Throughout the beach encounter, Seyka is up there flying around dodging tentacles and missile fire. The player isn’t always looking because it’s contending with the Horus itself. Quite a lot of Seyka’s actions that are tied to what the Horus is doing often go unnoticed. One of the biggest animations we had is when Seyka causes the Horus to trip. She flies under the titan, causing the tentacles to crash into its legs and it becomes entangled – which is incredibly hard to animate. Most players might have missed it as they are busy dodging attacks, but Seyka will help Aloy in every section of the fight, even if you don’t see it.”   

Oehme points out that some of the fights most memorable moments are too good to risk spoiling here, and invites players to dive in. 

“There’s actually another part to this fight that we haven’t even touched on yet,” he says. “But for those who haven’t played yet, it might be better to experience it for yourself!” 

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is available on PS5 and PC.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Howdy! This week the team returns to discuss the Player’s Choice winner and Animal Well.

Stuff We Talked About

• Destiny 2 Expansion Open Access
• Player’s Choice April: Stellar Blade
• Fishbowl Demo Blog
• Spin Rhythm XD Blog
• Animal Well – PS5
• Stellar Blade – PS5

The Cast

View and download image

Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

 

 

 

 

 

O’Dell Harmon, Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, 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 time we asked you to drop into the world of Stellar Blade, and share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

NoxFleuret24JL shares Eve and Adam’s droid gazing out into the Great Desert

HovsepStepanyan shares Eve wielding her blade in a yellow jumpsuit outfit

sirevanztheduke shares Eve sitting at the Big Gulp in Xion, listening to Enya singing

redmaiden_vp shares a short silver haired Eve walking on a path with fallen blossoms

DexM_ds shares Eve standing in the center of Xion’s courtyard

BBuradori shares Eve standing in Kasim’s salon with a fresh new bob haircut

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

THEME:  Landscapes
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 15, 2024

Next week, we’re taking in the sights of your favorite gaming environments. Share landscapes and environments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Do you know the feeling of moving to a new city for a new job all by yourself?

In Fishbowl, our main character Alo is doing just that. You experience a slice of Alo’s ordinary life, at home. Set in urban India at the onset of the pandemic, Fishbowl serves as a vignette of that time through our eyes. A new PS5 demo available today lets you get a taste of Alo’s life.

The game follows Alo over a month during which she spends time indoors, in isolation, her phone and computer being the only connection to others. Taking care of home chores, doing her best with self care and staying on top of work-from-home are things she is still getting used to.

Until unusual dreams and bittersweet childhood memories begin to crop up, all thanks to a package sent from home, containing a mysterious toy fish. Tumble into a story of nostalgia, melancholy and self-discovery, where the choices you make, determine the path that Alo takes, leading to multiple endings, true to how you play.

Play Video

Figuring out life one day at a time

As Alo slowly gets familiar with her new home, do care tasks like watering your plants, snacking from the fridge (samosas or idlis anyone?), make sure to stay hydrated and take moments to relax between work and chores.

The mood at home is a reflection of Alo’s emotional state and sometimes, ordinary objects may give you an idea of a larger meaning behind them—that writing desk seems awfully dingy. We hope for everybody to tinker around and discover little hints and secrets we have planted throughout the game.

Fishbowl prioritizes the every day—simple things and mundane acts, and how living through them mindfully is a way to understand our emotions and check in with ourselves.

Moving through grief at your own pace

Alo recently lost her grandmother and is uncertain about how to cope with this loss and grief. Fishbowl represents grief as an ongoing feeling and not as something to “get over” on a time limit.

Players unpack Alo’s late grandma’s belongings and uncover memories from her childhood which help them connect the dots to her past—whether it’s time spent with friends after school, your very first sleepover or the one day you were all alone in the park.

Each object in Fishbowl is a storyteller, celebrating the idea of how the things in our life can be little time capsules, reminders of days gone by—from an old sweater your grandma knitted to a storybook you barely remember. Some of these objects also unlock new things to do at home, like the beat-up record player which still lets you play a familiar tune from back when you were little.

A look into the “player first” mechanics of Fishbowl

In Fishbowl, we place importance on allowing players to experience the game as they’d like, with no time limits and no fail state. Don’t feel like doing the laundry, let it pile up, enjoy a warm shower, go for it! Much like life, we allow for players to do as much or as little as they are able and have their story unfold accordingly.

It’s our way of showing what prioritizing people over the pressure of productivity could look like. Taking the focus away from giving value to the player for their actions, but rather simply valuing them because they are.

Like when you work from home as a video editor, your colleagues encourage you to do your best if you fall behind and cheer you on if you get things done in time. And you support them too, whether it’s the intern who is struggling or an old-timer who doesn’t see their worth.

Meet our characters and experience a slice of urban India

As the game progresses you meet characters, each one with a rich, unique story of their own. You get to know them through video calls that have branching conversations where choices matter. Through these, you understand how others are managing in the lockdown, you get to delve further into Alo’s life, forge new friendships and stay in touch with those dear to you.

We give players a window into Indian craft and culture. As fans of pixel art, we were keen to portray everyday Indian objects and diverse characters in this style. Tiny details in the backgrounds will tell you a little more about their personalities, like Zuari’s certificate for becoming one of the youngest government school teachers or how Iris’ love for DIY has her sewing and knitting her own clothes.

Through Fishbowl we’d like to take you on a journey to feel all feelings as there are no right endings. Fishbowl’s demo is now out on PS5 and we hope you enjoy playing this one day in our month-long story made by a two-person team from Goa, India.