Category: PlayStation

Mixing style, action, and fearsome monsters is a familiar formula for success in action games. However, with its first PlayStation title, Stellar Blade, developer Shift Up is adding a lot of unique flair to the equation. A large point of this distinction comes from its creature design, which quickly became a focal element of the upcoming action-adventure experience.

Stellar Blade incorporates many assets in the creation of its race of behemoths called the Naytiba. These resources include real-life animal research, 3D clay models, and the assistance of famous Korean movie monster designer, Hee-Cheol Jang, who originally came on board as consultant, but ultimately became more involved on the actual design and production of the Naytiba.

We sat down with the studio and monster designer to find out what makes the Naytiba unique, delving into many of their variations, such as the Raven, Stalker, and Gigas to understand the process behind creating a new face of horror in gaming.

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The birth of the Naytiba

PlayStation Blog: Hee-Cheol Jang, how did you get involved with Shift Up and Stellar Blade? Was it your creature designs from The Host and Okja that got the conversation moving?

Jang: I remember visiting the studio one day after being contacted by Mr. Kim [Kim Hyung Tae, Stellar Blade director] and being surprised to see a workshop full of models and drawings. I think he made the offer after seeing my experience in creating clay models – scannable maquettes – for communication and 3D scanning during the design process of [movies] ‘The Host’ and ‘Okja’. At the time, the film industry was moving towards digital models using ZBrush for efficiency reasons, so I was shocked by the idea of using traditional modeling/3D scanning for creature creation for a new console game project.

How did Shift Up decide on what kind of enemy types Eve would face?

Director, Hyung Tae Kim: What Eve encounters is an unknown entity powerful enough to destroy humanity. We deliberately tried to design them to be eerie and unnerving, with missing eyes and faces stuck in the wrong places, which ties in with the content of the game.

The Naytiba have a terrifying, cosmic horror feeling to them. Why choose that direction instead of a more grounded approach?

Kim: Since these creatures never existed, they didn’t need to be realistic. We actually wanted them to look like different species or race. However, if you look closely, there are a number of designs that seem to be related to existing life on Earth, and I think you’ll see why when you play the game.

Hee-Cheol Jang, was your process for creature design different for a game, vs a film? For example, in a game players have to interact with your creature in a variety of ways, so does that mean you have to consider additional complexities when designing?

Jang: In most games, creatures are often targets for real-time combat, so it’s important to be able to match the sum of their motions and design. Other than that, there are some cosmetic differences between live-action and non-photorealistic mediums, but they seem to be converging in recent years.

Were there any designs that worked great on paper, or perhaps may have even worked in film, but for whatever reason didn’t translate to gameplay?

Jang: In a film, you can experience and understand the creatures over the course of the runtime. In games, we’re often forced to interact with a large number of creatures repeatedly in a relatively short amount of time, which is not always well thought out. For example, I personally have a habit of throwing in before/after twist gimmicks, which are often unnecessarily complicated or prolonged, making them inappropriate for resource creation or play.

Are there any personal fears that the team tapped into when bringing the Naytiba to life?

Kim: I think for me, it’s the human element. Something that’s human but different, that’s more terrifying than just an ugly lump.

Clay-made creatures

What positives come from sculpting the Naytiba designs out of clay before bringing them into the digital world?

Concept Art Lead, ChangMin Lee: Ease of communication for multi-team coordination – and gravity. In the digital world, you can’t really feel gravity, but if you are working with a physical sculpture you will be affected by it because the weight of the clay is real. This is important in determining the shapes and proportions of the creatures.

For example, if you make a head that is too big for the body it can actually cause the clay to crack or fall off. I think having these limits in place helps me design creatures that feel more realistic and grounded.

How long does it typically take to settle on a design? Can you go into detail about the review and refinement process?

Lee: Rough designs can be finalized in as little as a week or two. After that, it takes about two to three months to mold, and during those two to three months there are numerous reviews and revisions. During the discussion process with the other teams, specific body proportions, length attack methods, and necessary elements of other attack and defense are discussed and agreed upon. Also, revisions according to the direction (received from Mr. Kim)  are made by seeing and touching the actual sculpt.

Despite their fictional origins, do you consider the muscle and skeleton composition, as well as skin texture of each Naytiba during this stage of its creation?

Lee: Absolutely. The muscles and skeleton in particular are based on real-life creatures. Skin textures are also heavily referenced. For example, the skin textures of reptiles, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and so on, are mostly referenced. In the case of Gigas, the muscular and skeletal characteristics of gorillas are heavily referenced. The big shapes and concepts are fictional creatures, but without real-life references, they’re merely fiction.

Does the proposed movement of the Naytiba come into discussion and inform the clay model process, or is that fine-tuned once the mode is scanned into the game?

Lee: Things are discussed and adjustments are made in both ways mentioned. During the clay model process, all the teams, especially the animation team, get together and discuss. We talk about things like: “Do this design and these proportions make movements possible?” “How do we make the attacks look cool?”

After scanning, I usually talk a lot with the 3D model team. We discuss practical and efficiency issues, such as which details to keep, and whether there are any unnecessary designs when creating the 3D model. Throughout this process, we make detailed design adjustments and finalize the final product.

How much clay have you used in total to create Stellar Blade’s Naytiba?

Lee: Let’s see.. I didn’t keep count, but probably around 100kg? I think we used a lot. Usually, one portion of clay weighs around 900g and I think I used over one hundred of them.

Designing the bosses

Can you describe the three currently revealed bosses: Gigas, Raven, and Stalker, and any unique attributes that will stand out when Eve faces them?

Lee: Gigas and Stalker are creatures that are in some ways like brothers. They both have unique shapes of moving saw blades, and I wanted Eve to feel scared and threatened by them. Raven, as the name suggests, has large wings and bird-like characteristics. We chose black as the concept color to represent darkness and fear.

How do you find inspiration for attacks specific to the boss monsters?

Lee: In the rough concept stage, we first ask, “What part of the body/what weapon will it use to attack?” and work out the specifics as we go along. During that process, we gain inspiration and continue until the end.

Are there any stories unique to the design of these three boss monsters?

Lee: When we were working on the initial concept for Giga and Stalker, we had fun calling them the fan and dryer brothers. Some of the boss monsters we called “openers,” but you’ll have to find out for yourself which ones those are, and what we mean by that.

Are there any special details you’d like to share with players that they miss when encountering these creatures?

Lee: If you look closely at some, but not all, of the monsters, you’ll see baroque symbols and statuesque faces. You may not be able to see them at times because the combat is so fast and dynamic, but keep your eyes peeled!

You can get a closer look at Gigas, Raven, Stalker, and the rest of the Naytiba’s designs as you face them in Stellar Blade when it releases on April 26 for PlayStation 5.

Destiny 2: Into the Light starts today, and in case it wasn’t apparent during the multiple livestreams last month, it’s a great time to be a Destiny 2 fan. In fact, there’s so much in today’s release that this article is only going to focus on aspects that might appeal to three different types of Guardians:

• Cooperators (I win when the team wins)
• Perfectionists (I win when my run is perfect)
• Collectors (I win when I own everything)

Feel free to skip to the section that sounds most like you or try a little bit of everything; you might discover a new type of fun.

For Co-op Thrill-Seeking Guardians

Into playing with friends and turning the heat up to see how much your finely honed teamwork can take? Meet Onslaught, a new wave-based defensive activity where teams of three will face increasingly challenging waves of enemies hellbent on destroying your Advanced Defense Unit.

It’s a new type of gameplay in Destiny 2 that gets even more interesting when you start constructing upgrades like turrets (that until now have mostly been pointed at Guardians) and decoys (that until now have only been sweeping up after Guardians).

“We’ve had turrets in the game for a while, but rarely have they been on our side,” said Clayton Kisko, a designer on the Destiny 2 team. “Having support with this much enemy density is exhilarating. It’s really rewarding when a turret that you or your teammates built has your back when you’re surrounded by enemies.”

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But who’s cleaning up the mess these turrets make? Well, it turns out that your decoy comes with a broom. “It is a Sweeper Bot!” Kisko says. “They are amazing at pulling aggro from enemies and clumping them up for the perfect grenade opportunity. And they start sweeping right away. Enemies can’t stand this one simple trick the Sweeper Bot does. Just watch as they surround it with hatred.”

Decoys can be upgraded into Redjacks and a final secret version. Just make sure someone on the team is building them because this tidy technology might be the difference between a victory and a total team wipe.

“Things ramp as you progress through the waves and eventually get to a point where if everyone dies at once, the run ends. On Legend difficulty, this is how Onslaught works from the start! We can’t wait to see how people work together, master the mechanics, and clear the final wave.”

For Speed-Demon Perfectionist Guardians

Are you someone who loves puzzles and tightly crafted combat encounters that can be played with a team of three (but maybe you secretly can’t wait to do it solo)?

For you, we have two of the most well-regarded Exotic missions ever made in Destiny 2. Both The Whisper and Zero Hour along with their Exotic weapons are back and they’ve been updated.

Mike Profeta, one of the designers who worked on the new version of Zero Hour, spoke about how the team was able to stay true to the mission’s experience while also making it feel modern and challenging despite how god-killing powerful Guardians have become.

“We explored several options to try and match the original’s difficulty, but things didn’t quite feel right. Then partway through development, we opened an old build of the game and took note of all the unique activity options that were in the original mission. We replicated them as closely as possible, made some small adjustments and additions, and that was our eureka moment; it made all the difference and suddenly it felt exactly like Zero Hour should.”

Sometimes, what makes a classic game feel new is how we’ve changed and what we’ve learned that lets us play in a new way. A spotlight moment for this is Zero Hour’s maze… you know the one… with the robot. Don’t look it up!

“We made no changes to the path players carve through the old Tower,” said Profeta. “All the jumping puzzles and combat beats are there and we’re looking forward to seeing how players utilize all their new Guardian tools to overcome these obstacles faster than ever.”

For Gear-Loving Collector Guardians

Are you the type of player who wants… well, everything? Do you need your gear to look stunning? Could you make an Exotic more perfect if only you could craft them?

“When crafting Exotics, players can fine-tune their experience while maintaining the original fantasy of the weapon,” said a designer on the Destiny 2 team. “With Whisper of the Worm, the added barrel and magazine options will let players customize their version of the Sniper Rifle; maybe deciding to max out stability to make crits easier, for example. Outbreak Perfected is similar. The enjoyment of laying down on the trigger and spreading SIVA nanites is still there, but now players can choose a perk like Rewind Rounds to help them maintain their damage output for longer before reloading.”

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Like these two impression-making Exotics, we’re also including a collection of weapons known as the BRAVE arsenal. If you’ve heard the name Midnight Coup, Edge Transit, or Hung Jury SR4, you know the tier of weapon we’re talking about here. If those names are new to you, then you have a unique opportunity to experience these weapons for the first time in their newly upgraded form.

The BRAVE arsenal consists of 12 weapons so dangerous that they were outlawed by the Vanguard… until now. And for the aesthetically aware among you, each weapon has a chance to drop as a limited-edition foil variant.

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“On top of looking unique, they come fully Masterworked. They also have a unique treatment on their icons resembling tiger stripes so that you’ll still be able to identify the foil version in your inventory even if you remove the ornament to apply a shader.”

Everyone’s Welcome

During Destiny 2: Into the Light, you’ll be able to choose a starter kit containing handpicked gear and subclass abilities. Gift of the Thunder Gods is also available if you want even more gear to catch up with your friends at the speed of lightning.

So, build a friendly Sweeper Bot, craft the perfect Whisper, and join us in the Hall of Champions where we’ll be flexing our foil weapons, Superblack shaders, and getting ready to throw hands with the Witness when The Final Shape launches on June 4.

See you in the Light, Guardians.

Stellar Blade launches in just a few short weeks on PS5. You may have already sampled the action adventure firsthand by way of the recently released demo in which Eve, a member of the 7th Airborne Squad, is sent to a desolated Earth on a mission to reclaim the planet from the mysterious, malevolent Naytiba and save humankind. If so, you’ll have had a taste of the game’s mechanics and combat, its story, and creature design. To dig in further, we sat down with Stellar Blade director Kim Hyung Tae (who is also founder of Stellar Blade development studio Shift Up)  and technical director Lee Dong Gi to learn more about the studio’s background, the game’s inspirations and more. 

Stellar Blade director, Kim Hyung Tae (left), and technical director, Lee Dong Gi (right) of Shift Up

It all began with a collective passion to create action games for video game consoles

PlayStation Blog: As Stellar Blade is a brand-new title, how and when did the idea of developing this game emerge?

Kim Hyung Tae (Kim): About five years ago, when we were talking about what mobile game title should be released after Destiny Child. We were initially thinking about creating Goddess of Victory: Nikke into a duology game for the Android and iOS platforms. It was during that process that the urge to develop a console title emerged as our second project. I have been a long-time fan of video game consoles and have always wanted to develop action games for them. The idea attracted a group of members with a shared passion, and that’s how the idea of developing Stellar Blade emanated.

With Stellar Blade being Shift Up’s first title developed for video game consoles, did you encounter new challenges or hurdles?

I am being realistic in thinking our fans would not be lenient and forgiving just because this is our debut title for game consoles. Instead, we held the same high standard that console gamers hold for their games and ensured that Stellar Blade would be on par with those games in terms of quality.

Can you tell us about the concept and theme of Stellar Blade?

The theme I dedicated to Stellar Blade is humanity. The story is about what makes us human and defines us as human–it’s quite universal. The story came to my mind one day as I witnessed taxi drivers on strike.

The strike erupted when technologies for self-driving cars began advancing, almost hinting at the implementation of autonomous cars in the near future. This instilled fear among taxi drivers that these technologies would eventually take over and replace their jobs. As I watched them on strike, I asked myself what I would do if this were to happen to me, if one day humans were entirely replaced by something non-human. This is where the theme for Stellar Blade originates. Having said that, the game’s focus should not be on that; we tried to create an action adventure game that players can enjoy as they follow Eve’s story. 

Stellar Blade reimagines the style of ‘80s and ‘90s sci-fi

The story takes place on Earth, which is ravaged by unknown creatures. Can you tell us more about the abandoned planet?

We have designed the game so that the backstory of the desolated Earth will reveal itself as the game progresses. The story begins at the point in time after Earth was ravaged by mysterious creatures called Naytiba, leading the decimated human race to flee to an outer space colony. Feeling defeated and tired of life in space, humans decide to battle Naytiba to reclaim their motherland. Players will learn the backstory and the incidents in between as they progress through the game. After discovering the truth, Eve will be faced with a decision and what she chooses is in the players’ hands.

No one knows what the Naytibas are, where they came from, or even what they want. This is where Eve comes in: to uncover the mystery surrounding these unknown creatures.

From the last remaining city on Earth, Xion, to the vast wasteland and the great desert beyond, what special attention and consideration went into designing this post-apocalyptic world?

Post-apocalypse has been one of the longest-running genres in the game industry, among many others. So, for us to avoid monotony and make Stellar Blade a unique post-apocalyptic story was a major challenge. However, on the contrary, we wanted to stay away from making it eccentric or including bizarre elements so that it would be different. We decided it was best to reimagine and render the elements from ‘80s and ‘90s sci-fi for Stellar Blade.

People have their own vision of what a post-apocalyptic world is like based on what they’ve envisioned in their heads or seen in movies and such. I’m sure many players will appreciate and admire the details and attention that went into making the post-apocalyptic world in Stellar Blade vivid and realistic. A younger generation of gamers, on the other hand, will probably find our rendition of the post-apocalyptic world quite novel.

Is there any movie in particular that you took inspiration from?

There are quite a few. However, one of the most inspirational, in terms of theme and design, is the sci-fi manga Gunnm by Yukito Kishiro sensei. It was released as an action film in 2019 under the title Alita: Battle Angel. I’d say I took a lot of inspiration from that movie.

The contrast between extinct Earth and Eve from space

Now, let’s move on to the main character, Eve. Can you tell us the concept and design that went into creating her?
 

Kim: Eve is an Airborne Squad member who is sent to Earth from an outer space colony. Despite being an accomplished soldier, there is a cultural disconnect between where she is from and Earth. So, we wanted Eve’s design to allude to the incongruity of her surroundings. Take a look at the atmosphere on Earth. It is barren, dry. Its cities are falling apart. A sharp contrast to Eve’s athleticism and fluidity. 

How about other human characters? What kind of attention went into creating them?

Most of the characters are cyborg-like. To design these characters, we adjust their designs to reflect the available technology. While Eve and their Airborne Squad companions look sophisticated, albeit simple, we gave the survivors of the earth, living in a harsh environment, a minimal, pieced-together look. Although Xion’s surviving residents refer to Eve as “Angel,” it’s also a fact that some begrudge her for her extravagant machines and technologies.

Malevolent Naytiba come in different forms, such as biological or mechanical. Can you tell us about the design and concept that went into designing them?

We focused on giving the Naytiba repulsive and appalling looks. Many have no eyes or have supernumerary body parts, like a face on an odd part of the body, to evoke a sense of uneasiness. Some of the Naytiba can merge with humans and machines, so they take on different appearances.

An action game that is challenging yet fun for everyone

Stylish action is one of the key elements of Steller Blade. Please tell us what you did to achieve the stylish action and also what the highlights of the game are.

We designed the game so everyone can enjoy the action in Steller Blade. But we don’t want it to be a game where players simply attack the enemies aggressively and perform combos against them. It’s important that players observe the enemies’ movements closely and grasp the combat flow to respond appropriately. Skills increase through the skill tree, but equipment such as Exospine and Gear will also further increase them. As each piece of equipment performs differently, players should choose their battle style to be speed-focused, aggressive to overwhelm enemies, or cautious throughout the enemy attack.

The difficulty is set to be challenging to a reasonable extent. As such, players might find themselves needing to go back to defeat bosses. The difficulty can be adjusted during the game, so I encourage players to challenge themselves at a difficulty level they feel comfortable playing. For novice action game players, there is an Action Assist in the Story Mode that I highly recommend they take advantage of.

How exactly does this Action Assist help players?

For example, during crucial moments, such as figuring out the boss’s attack pattern for counterattacks, the movement slows down to make it easier to attack. When using a certain UI, the right timing for parrying and dodging will be displayed, making it easier for players to counterattack. This feature makes the game more approachable and enjoyable, even for those who usually steer away from action games. After completing the game, players can also play Hard Mode.

Stellar Blade is said to leverage some of the unique features of the PS5 console hardware, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. What type of experiences can players expect?

Lee Dong Gi (Lee): We harnessed these features to enhance the immersive experience. In certain scenes, haptic feedback allows players to sense the mood and feel the atmosphere surrounding the characters. At the beginning of the game, there’s a scene with a drone in which players can fully take advantage of these PS5 features. Apart from that, we’ve incorporated extensive levels of different adaptive trigger resistance assigned to the type of gun being used.

Is there anything else we didn’t touch today that you want us to know?

Kim: I think frame rate is one of the most important factors for action games. Stellar Blade offers three modes: Performance Mode, Balanced Mode, and Resolution Mode. Performance Mode supports gameplay at 1440p and 60fps, while Balanced Mode can achieve 50 to 60 fps for 4K resolution.

Lee: The Resolution Mode performs at 30fps for 4K resolution. I highly recommend this mode to those who want to enjoy the beautiful graphics. We hope everyone will select the mode that best suits them to maximize their experience.

Major League Baseball’s 2024 season has begun, and MLB The Show 24 is bringing you more content to live out your baseball dreams.

The award-winning Storylines mode* transports you into baseball’s past, allowing you to relive iconic moments with unsung heroes of the diamond. Experience career-defining moments through a combination of immersive gameplay and visual storytelling.

MLB The Show 24 continues to put history into your hands in Storylines: Negro Leagues Season 2 with the addition of 3 newly introduced Negro Leagues Legends. Starting today, play your way through the careers of Larry Doby, Leon Day, and José Méndez in Storylines: Negro Leagues – Season 2 and celebrate these barrier breakers and their contributions to the game that still resonates beyond baseball today.

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Season Awards Drop 2 program

Seasons Awards Drop 2 Program** features players from the Topps Now Series and Season Awards Series. Step up to the plate as Milwaukee Brewers top-prospect Jackson Chourio as he made his MLB debut, or take the mound as the Pittsburgh Pirates newest ace Jared Jones when he racked up 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings in his MLB debut. Relive these Moments and more in the Season Awards Drop 2 Program.

Season Awards Drop 2-pack

Season Awards Pack—Drop 2 contains one Diamond player item from the Season Awards Series and Topps Now Series player items. It is available today in the Show Shop for 30,000 Stubs and is limited to 5 packs per player.

• Victor Scott II, CF St. Louis Cardinals (89 OVR
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B Cincinnati Reds (89 OVR)
• Ryan Borucki, RP Pittsburgh Pirates (89 OVR)
• Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B New York Yankees (92 OVR)
• Brady Singer, SP Kansas City Royals (92 OVR)

Pipeline series

The all-new Pipeline Series features some of the MLB’s top prospects for the 2024 season. Get your first look at the Pipeline Series players in Pipeline Pack 1 and Headliners Choice Pack 7. Be sure to watch for even more Pipeline Series player items in MLB The Show 24.

Pipeline Pack 1

MLB Pipeline Pack 1 lets you choose 1 Diamond player item from one of two tiers: Rare (92 OVR) and Base (89 OVR). Find the MLB Pipeline Pack 1 in the Show Shop today for 40,000 Stubs with a three-pack per player limit.

Rare Round:

• Jordan Beck, CF Colorado Rockies (92 OVR)
• Nick Frasso, SP Los Angeles Dodgers (92 OVR)

Base Round:

• Ryan Clifford, RF New York Mets (89 OVR)
• Brayan Rocchio, SS Cleveland Guardians (89 OVR)
• Carson Whisenhunt, SP San Francisco Giants (89 OVR)
• Chase Petty, SP Cincinnati Reds (89 OVR)

Headliners Choice Pack 7

Headliners Choice Pack 7 features the Chicago Cubs first-round draft pick in Pipeline Series, Matt Shaw. Available today in the Show Shop, Headliners Choice Pack 7 costs 35,000 Stubs and is limited to 3 packs per player.

Egg Hunt jelly bean update

If you missed finding any of the hidden eggs in the Egg Hunt Program, don’t worry. A new goal in the Egg Hunt Conquest Map lets you earn 25 Jelly Bean vouchers, which can be redeemed for Exchange Items.

Challenge of the Week 4

Earn official gear like bats, balls, and jerseys authentically signed by some of your favorite players by taking on Challenge of the Week 4, available in Quick Play. Check out this week’s amazing Challenge of the Week Rewards.

Roster update – Transactions

Alongside today’s content update is the newest Roster Update focused on Transactions intended to align your MLB The Show 24 rosters with the current MLB rosters.

Roster Updates focusing on Transactions will occur weekly, while updates focusing on attributes will occur every three weeks throughout the season. The first attribute update of the season is currently scheduled for Friday, April 26.

Unlock your moment and own MLB The Show 24 today. 

*Internet connection is required to play Storylines mode.

**Internet connection is required to play Diamond Dynasty mode and to redeem rewards.

Last week, we asked you to showcase the best weapons and armor Rise of the Ronin has to offer using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Call_me_xavii shares a ronin in full samurai armor 

gill_mackay shares a ronin with a bladed pole standing in front of a fire 

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_alexMadeira shares a ronin drawing their blade posing for battle

Marka_game shares a ronin with a pointed rifle in hand in front of some cherry blossoms 

Xelod93 shares a ronin in full dark red armor with a demon mask

Sayaka693518 shares a ronin dancing with a bladed weapon in a field of flowers 

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:  Dragon’s Dogma 2
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on April 10, 2024

Next week, show off the once-in-a-lifetime encounters on your fantasy journey. Share epic quests and moments from  Dragon’s Dogma 2 using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Noble patriots of Super Earth, the time for stealth is over. A new Helldivers 2 Premium Warbond has been deployed to all fighting units on frontlines across the galaxy on April 11. Codename…. Democratic Detonation.

This concoction of chaos is packed with explosive weapons, fierce armour, super-slick capes and sweet emotes.

So let loose and make the biggest bang since the dawn of time to blow up the bugs, melt the machines, and ignite the raging fires of liberty!

Firepower

BR-14 Adjudicator Rifle

Deliver righteous judgement to your enemies with accuracy. This armour-penetrating assault rifle is best used against smaller groups.

R-36 Eruptor Rifle

Keep your distance… this bolt-action rifle fires jet-assisted shells that explode shrapnel in all directions upon impact. All directions. Even your face.

CB-9 Exploding Crossbow

Kaboom! Enjoy powerful exploding bolts that dish out max damage upon direct impact. Gravity must be accounted for when aiming.

Secondary Weapons & Utility Booster

G-123 Thermite Grenade

This little beauty can stick to surfaces before burning up to a toasty 2000°C.

GP-31 Grenade Pistol

Does what it says on the label – a pistol that fires grenades. Don’t forget to reload between shots though.

Expert Extraction Pilot Booster

Need to get out of a jam fast? This booster lowers the time it takes for the extraction shuttle to reach the extraction beacon. Home in time for dinner.

Armour

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CE-27 Ground Breaker

Medium Armour.
“The ground is just another obstacle that hasn’t yet been cleared.” – SGM Janet Jones, Excavation Corps Founder.

CE-07 Demolition Specialist

Light Armour.
Originally worn by Lunar terraformers, this suit can withstand rapid changes in pressure, heat, and personal velocity.

FS-55 Devastator

Heavy Armour.
Domestic versions of this armour allow colonial farmers to safely plant crops and mines side-by-side while staying in one piece.

Of course, always accessorise your choice of armour with brand-new capes – Harbinger of True Equality, Eagle’s Fury, or Freedom’s Tapestry – as you mix and match your lethal loadout of liberation.

Democratic Detonation is rolling out to your Destroyer’s Acquisitions panel on April 11. Let’s drag our malevolent enemies into the burning flames of hell, soldiers. Fire in the hole!

PSN account required. Content shown requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock. Gameplay requires internet access and paid for PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately) on PS5®. PlayStation Plus membership subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

Foamstars Producer Kosuke Okatani here. I hope that everyone is enjoying the Foamstars Groovy Disco season. I’d like to share details regarding the new season Mysterious Swing which begins from Friday April 12.

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New Foamstar – Chloe Noir

Mysterious Swing will feature the new Foamstar Chloe Noir. Chloe Noir is a Foamstar who combines a charge rifle–that can shoot straight foam shots–with skills to hunt down opponents using her bubble beastie, Ciel. She blasts all her enemies with the utmost precision.

Everyone can unlock Chloe Noir for free by progressing the Season Pass to Tier 31. 

She may also be unlocked immediately for users who purchase the Premium Pass, so please check out the Season Pass!

Mysterious Swing – Season Pass introduction

Earn XP via online matches, completing missions or clearing Challenges to progress through the Season Pass tiers and unlock skins, items, and more for free. In the Mysterious Swing Season Pass: Chloe Noir, a weapon skin for Jet Justice, a character skin for Mel T, and more will be unlockable. By purchasing the paid Premium Pass, you can unlock even more glorious rewards. Players will immediately unlock any rewards up to their Season Pass tier at time of purchase.

View and download image

View and download image

View and download image

New feature – Skill Gems 

Mysterious Swing will introduce Skill Gems as a fourth slot of bubble gems which are used to strengthen your Foamstars. Skill Gem effects differ among the Foamstars allowing players to enhance each Foamstars’ skills and Superstar skill. Try making a Skill Gem by using Energy Stones acquired from playing! The existing three bubble gem slots are now categorized as Star Gems.

Ranked Party – Compete for seasonal rankings

Mysterious Swing will also have both the solo-based Ranked Party Lonestar and the team-based Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe as limited-time events.

Ranks are categorized into seven tiers: Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star, Platinum Star, Diamond Star, Superstar, and Party Legend. Once enough Rank Points (RP) have been attained, you will be able to partake in Rank Up Trials.

Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe schedule

April 12 at 6 PM ~ April 19 at 6 PM (PDT)

Ranked Party Lonestar schedule

April 19 at 6 PM ~ May 16 at 6 PM (PDT)

Extreme Party – season events with crazy rules

The new season will also feature two types of Extreme Parties and hold each event twice during the season. All players will battle with Chloe Noir in the All Chloe Party. The second event, Bubbly Penguin Party, will have all players use Penny Gwyn while only being able to use her two skills and Superstar skill to battle.

Unlock free in-game items available for a limited-time

Throughout the season, we will be providing items that are unlockable for free in the in-game shop’s Events section. The items will be updated each weekend, so please check out the in-game shop!

We hope you look forward to joining us for the Mysterious Swing starting April 12.