Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 507: Rogue Metaphor

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here


Howdy, folks! This week the crew sits down to talk about this week’s news. This week, Tim and Kristen discuss their playthroughs of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Alien: Rogue Incursion, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Stuff We Talked About

  • Next week’s release highlights:
    • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | PS5
    • Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator | PS5
  • MLB The Show 25 cover athlete reveal
  • Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered camera flythrough mode
  • Destiny 2 – Act 3 Heresy details
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC features
  • PlayStation Plus February Monthly Games
    • Payday 3
    • High on Life
    • Pac-Man World Re-Pac
  • Dynasty Warriors: Origins
  • Alien: Rogue Incursion
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio

The Cast

Kristen Zitani –  Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

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.]

Share of the Week: Waterfall

Last week, we asked you go chasing in-game waterfalls and share your best moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

mariprosilva shares a massive waterfall in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

M_Joe_Hort shares a waterfall with a moose standing before it in Red Dead Redemption 2.

xenobitz strikes a pose in front of a waterfall in Infinity Nikki.

MrioMoreno5 shares walking across a rope in front of waterfalls in Sea of Stars.

​​

call_me_xavii shares Aloy taking a break in front of a rocky waterfall in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

snejku23 shares the light hitting a lost city a top a waterfall in Uncharted: Lost Legacy. 

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: Climb
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 5, 2025 

Next week, we’re climbing up. Share characters climbing or ascending to great heights from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2 goes full tilt into the past, live now

Heya PlayStation fans. It’s time to grab your Glider and hop off the Battle Bus as Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2 is now here. This Season brings back some of your favorite OG POIs like Shifty Shafts, Junk Junction, and of course, Tilted Towers.

Unleash your inner Fort Knight as Fortnite’s new OG Season will bring back OG loot like the Boogie Bomb, Minigun, and more. Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2 starts today and wraps up March 25, 2025. Let’s dive in a little more on what to expect from this blast from the past:


Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2 goes full tilt into the past, live now

Revisit your old haunting grounds at these Chapter 1 Season 2 POIs:

Go Full Tilt at Tilted Towers

Ah, Tilted Towers, the concrete jungle…, it’s a beautiful sight with its towering high-rises. This fan-favorite POI is home to Chests, high vantage points, and danger. Not to mention, it’s loot-a-palooza with the slew of apartment complexes and offices. Let’s be honest, we all know you’re gonna drop here first.. And potentially 99 of your opponents.

Fortnite OG Tilted Towers

Find your function at the Junk Junction

A plethora of loot awaits you in this scrapyard paradise, but stay alert— at  Junk Junction, every car stack and rubbish pile could be obscuring a sneaky opponent. Be sure to stop by (or harvest) the iconic Metal Llama on your way out.

Fortnite OG Junk Junction

Hide or shriek at the Haunted Hills

The dilapidated Haunted Hills lurk just below Junk Junction on the Island. It is full of abandoned tombs, crumbling architecture, and probably creeping opponents, too.

​​Fortnite OG Haunted Hills

Cause chaos at Snobby Shores

Snobby Shores is the perfect place to be as unneighborly as possible.. Rumor has it there’s an underground bunker hiding in this upscale community… Will you be the first to find it? 

Fortnite OG Snobby Shores

Hit paydirt at the Shifty Shafts

Shift to the past, shift into Shifty Shafts. This POI has a labyrinth of tunnels waiting to be explored. Navigating the tunnels may lead to some close-quarters combat, but considering the amount of loot down here, it’s high risk, high reward.

Fortnite OG Shifty Shafts

Swimmin’ in a reminiscin’ loot pool 

Throughout OG Chapter 1 Season 2, the loot pool will expand with gear from the classic Chapter 1 Season 2:

  • Small Shield Potion (live now.) – Want to quickly pump up your Shield? This is your go-to drink, offering 25 Shield each ‘til you’re at 50.
  • Multi-Surface Damage Trap (live now.) – Get to the point. Place this upgraded Damage Trap on a floor, ceiling, or wall to ambush unsuspecting enemies.
  • Boogie Bomb – Let the rhythm take over and turn the tide of battle in style. This funky orb unleashes a momentary, disco-fueled dance party on your foes. (And yourself if you’re not careful.)
  • Suppressed Pistol – Get the drop on your opponents, stealthy style.. Be quick on the draw and even quicker on the reload to make the most of this sneaky sidearm.
  • Cozy Campfire – Nothing’s better than sitting ‘round the campfire with your squad. Huddle around this benign Trap and restore your HP for up to 25 seconds at 2 HP per second.
  • Chug Jug – It’s comforting to have this beverage in your back pocket (even though it’s probably really heavy).Yes, it takes quite a bit to consume, but it grants full Health and full Shield.
  • Minigun – Mow down the scenery with the Minigun. . Don’t get carried away though — firing for too long will make you vulnerable due to the Minigun’s prolonged cooldown period.
  • Crossbow – Let arrows fly with the Crossbow. Fun fact: The Crossbow was first introduced as Cupid’s Crossbow before becoming the Crossbow in Season 3.
  • Impulse Grenade – How you use this item will likely depend on your inner impulse. Will you be defensive and launch yourself away from incoming attacks, or be offensive and send enemies off high places towards elimination?

Fortnite OG Boogie Bomb, Suppressed Pistol, Minigun, and Crossbow

Unlock costalgia-infused rewards in the Chapter 1 Season 2 OG Pass

An all-new OG Pass is here with 45 tiers of rewards based on the classic Chapter 1 Season 2. Specifically, unlock items inspired by Sparkle Specialist and Black Knight, which were Outfits in the Chapter 1 Season 2 Battle Pass, and Cuddle Team Leader — an Outfit that made its Shop debut in Chapter 1 Season 2. 

Like with the other Passes in Fortnite, unlock and claim rewards in the OG Pass by earning XP in any Fortnite experience. The OG Pass is a single track of both free and premium rewards. To claim the premium rewards as you earn XP, purchase the OG Pass for only 1,000 V-Bucks or get it through Fortnite Crew. Included as premium rewards, there are three Outfits in the OG Pass:

  • Sparkle Diva: Shine in style. (Sparkle Diva is claimable right away upon purchasing the OG Pass)
  • Cuddle Team Specialist: Strategy. Stealth. Snuggles.
  • Knight Conqueror: The snarling scourge of Fatal Fields.

Fortnite OG Pass Sparkle Diva, Cuddle Team Specialist, and Knight Conqueror

There’s plenty more to unlock in the Pass as well. The Chapter 1 Season 2 OG Pass is full of accessories like Back Blings, Gliders, and Pickaxes. For example, be prepared to shine wherever you go with the Sparkle Satchel Back Bling, fly in on bearcraft with the Cuddle Team Sierra Glider, and don’t axe twice with the Conqueror’s Axe Pickaxe.

This Season’s OG Pass also has an unlockable alt Style for each Outfit, and for many of the accessories. The Pass will be available to progress in until the Season ends March 25, 2025.

Whether you’ve been playing Fortnite long enough to remember the classic Chapter 1 Season 2 — or will be experiencing Chapter 1 Season 2 for the very first time — we look forward to seeing you in OG!

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.55 details revealed, live today

Gran Turismo players! This month’s Gran Turismo 7 update delivers a wide range of cars, from the original Gran Turismo F3500-A formula car to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N ’24. Be sure to experience the next-generation racing AI agent, Gran Turismo Sophy is now available on Autodromo de Interlagos and Mount Panorama Circuit. 

Update 1.55* for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of Wednesday, January 29 at 10:00pm PT / January 30 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST. 


Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.55 details revealed, live today

*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update. 

4 new cars added this month

Gran Turismo F3500-A 
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)

An original formula car created in the image of classic F1 cars. 

The F3500-A is a Gran Turismo original formula machine born from a deep admiration for early 1990s F1 cars. 

Looking at its construction, the chassis is made from negative molded carbon fiber which was the style at the time. The suspension arrangement also uses a classic layout, featuring horizontally mounted shock absorbers actuated by pushrods and bell cranks. 

The power unit is a light and compact 3.5L naturally aspirated V12. Using pneumatic valves, it can reach 15,000 rpm, and variable length funnels on the intake system ensure ample torque across the rev range. 

The screaming sound of the exhaust at high RPMs is a unique quality of naturally aspirated systems that cannot be recreated with turbochargers. The transmission is a 6-speed semi-automatic box with paddle shifters, which has been mounted laterally to avoid any interference with the shape of the rear diffuser. 

Looking towards the aerodynamics, the monocoque uses a high nose design. Unlike modern front wings which tend to hang down from struts, this one uses an anhedral design where the wing spreads out diagonally from under the nose. There are several different wings, both front and rear, as well as engine cowl shapes available, allowing you to customize the car to your personal tastes.

Honda Civic Si Extra (EF) ’87
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)

A dominating force on the touring car circuit, this 4th generation Civic features the famous ZC engine.

In 1987, the Civic received a full model change, bringing the series into its fourth generation. Often known as the ‘Grand Civic’ or simply by its model code ‘EF’. 

The exterior retains the broad strokes of the previous model while adding modern touches to the slightly larger body. One of the largest changes was the overhauled platform which brought with it a new 4-wheel double wishbone suspension setup. The wheelbase was also lengthened significantly, allowing drivers to enjoy the car’s sporty handling with more stability. 

The lineup retained the same 4 body variations as before, a 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, and a 5-door shuttle along with the ‘Pro’ commercial model. Another carryover from the previous generation was the ‘Si’ sport models featuring 1.6L DOHC inline-4 engines. Additionally, this generation saw the introduction of the ‘Si Extra’ grade, which added a rich suite of equipment to the Si formula. 

The ZC engine received extensive tuning to increase the compression ratio, reduce airflow restriction on intake and exhaust, and reduce piston friction among other improvements. The result was a maximum power output of 128.2 BHP and 14.7 kgfm torque net. The previous ‘Wonder Civic’ era boasted 133.1 BHP and 15.5 kgfm however these were gross figures. Net figures are typically 15% less than gross, which means that the new ZC unit was more powerful. 

The Si and Si Extra models also saw extensive use in arenas like the Japan Touring Car Championship (JTC). Starting from the 1988 season, the car would receive its first race victory in Round 3 before going on to win the drivers title and manufacturers title. The car would prove its strength once again in the 1989 season where it would take the manufacturers title again.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N ‘24
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)

A fearsome driving machine that challenges the preconceptions of BEVs. 

The IONIQ 5 debuted in 2021 as Hyundai’s first electric only model. The car already had a clean modern look and excellent usability, but the real star of the lineup would come in 2023 with the introduction of the N model.

For Hyundai, the N stands for the two facilities where this car was developed, Namyang in Korea and the Nürburgring in Germany, which speaks for the car’s performance. With the addition of this name, the IONIQ 5 was transformed into the embodiment of driving pleasure.

The drivetrain is a four-wheel drive system with motors on each of the front and rear axles. These provide a combined power output of 478 kW (641 BHP) / 770 Nm (78.5 kgfm) in overboost mode. Additionally, the system allows for adjustment of the front-to-rear power distribution, which makes it possible to drift the over 2 ton body when set to a rear power bias. A virtual dual-clutch transmission is also provided using regenerative braking power, with further driving euphoria provided by simulated exhaust sound.

The IONIQ 5 N also features a multitude of exclusive furnishings on both interior and exterior. This monster of a car pushes the boundaries of what is possible for BEVs.

Toyota C-HR S ’18
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)

The unconventional crossover SUV that took on the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Toyota has produced a number of world cars, such as the Corolla and the Yaris. In 2016, Toyota released a new global car developed for the 21st century, the C-HR.

The car’s most notable feature is its compact crossover SUV design. In order to meet the needs of people’s various lifestyles, Toyota developed an all-new model that combines the comfort and space of an SUV with the active character of a coupe.

The origins of this model lie in Toyota’s new generation TNGA platform which was first employed in 2015 on the 4th generation model Prius. The suspension features a newly developed strut system on the front end, with a double wishbone setup on the rear. On top of this, sits a coupe style body featuring a complicated series of faceted surfaces.

For the power unit, the car is available with the same 1.8L hybrid engine as the 4th generation Prius or a downsized 1.2L 4- cylinder turbo engine. The former is provided as a front-wheel drive powertrain and the latter as four-wheel drive. The S model featured here is hybrid entry grade model for the Japanese market which features 17-inch wheels.

Exactly as Toyota had planned, the C-HR found support in areas all over the globe, and soon became a bestseller. An unconventional crossover SUV, though popular for its economy and ease of use, it also found a place within motorsports, with a prototype car competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Café / Extra Menus 

The following Menu has been added to the Extra Menus section:

  • Extra Menu No. 43: Group C (Collector Level 47 and above)

World Circuits (Event)

The following new events have been added to World Circuits:

  • Sunday Cup: Kyoto Driving Park – Miyabi
  • Japanese FF Challenge 450: Sardegna – Road Track – C
  • World Touring Car 600: Autódromo de Interlagos

Gran Turismo Sophy

The next-generation racing AI agent, Gran Turismo Sophy is now available on the following courses. Look for the GT Sophy icon in the Quick Race menu on each track to test your skills against Sophy. 

Autódromo de Interlagos

Mount Panorama Circuit

Scapes

Chromatic Drive has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes. 

We hope you enjoy all that’s in store with Gran Turismo 7’s update 1.55, available now.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC features and ray-tracing options detailed, out tomorrow

Hey everyone, we’re just one day away from bringing the latest epic chapter in the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise to PC, where you’ll battle as Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, against a rogue’s gallery of iconic Marvel Super Villains, including the monstrous Venom and the ruthless Kraven the Hunter.

With the game launching soon, I’m excited to share more about the awesome new PC-enhanced features the team at Nixxes has been working on.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC features and ray-tracing options detailed, out tomorrow

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, created by Insomniac in collaboration with Marvel, is a technological and graphical showcase utilizing tools like ray-tracing to bring the city of Marvel’s New York to life. On PC, you’ll encounter a variety of new ray-tracing options with individual quality settings to finetune performance and fidelity across a broad range of hardware configurations. 

Ray-traced reflections quickly catch your eye in the skyscraper-filled city of Marvel’s New York as you swing along its many glass surfaces. Meanwhile, we’re offering ray-traced interiors, shadows, and ambient occlusion options that add an additional layer of believability with realistic shadows and increased depth to the game. 

If you have a high-performance PC with Super Hero-tier hardware, you can take advantage of our increased raytracing geometry detail setting. This enables the use of higher quality meshes for raytracing, resulting in more detailed and realistic reflections. You can also use the raytracing object range slider to increase the range at which objects are considered for raytracing. Furthermore, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC includes NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction1, which improves raytracing quality on supported hardware. Let me introduce you to Menno Bil, Graphics Programmer at Nixxes, to tell you more about this feature:


“NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction aims to achieve more detailed raytracing features by combining two separate temporal processes in a frame: denoising of the raytracing features and upscaling of the entire frame. By combining these steps, ray reconstruction keeps more useful information over multiple frames to add small details in raytracing effects that can otherwise be lost.

In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC with ray reconstruction enabled, we see more detailed ray-traced reflections and better-defined ray-traced shadows, especially when viewing raytracing effects at steep angles. We also see improvements in the ray-traced interiors and less ghosting and noise in the ray-traced ambient occlusion. 

We’ve included two models of NVIDIA’s Ray Reconstruction, the original model introduced in DLSS 3.5, and a newly improved model designed for RTX 40 series GPUs and newer. This new model results in an overall more temporally stable image, further improving the visual quality of raytracing.”

– Menno Bil, Graphics Programmer, Nixxes


Players with ultra-wide monitors can enjoy full support for ultra-wide aspect ratios such as 21:9, 32:9 and even 48:9 when using triple monitor setups. Our team of engineers and artists worked hard on ensuring all cinematics in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are adapted to be fully viewable in aspect ratios up to 32:9.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC also supports various performance-enhancing technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation.* Intel XeSS upscaling is also supported.1

With options like raytracing and ultra-wide support, we want to give players the chance to make full use of their high-end PC gaming rigs. However, at Nixxes we also take pride in making PC games scale down to prior generation hardware. To cater to this, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC offers a wide range of graphics settings and presets, including options without ray-tracing, like dynamic resolution scaling. Check out an overview of the recommended specifications for a variety of graphics presets below.

MinimumRecommendedHighHigh Ray TracingVery High Ray TracingUltimate Ray Tracing
Avg. Performance720P @ 30 FPS1080P @ 60 FPS1440P @ 60 FPS1440p @ 60 FPS1440p @ 60 FPS4K @ 60 FPS
Graphics PresetsVery LowMediumHighHigh
Ray Tracing High
High
Ray Tracing Very High
Very High
Ray Tracing Ultimate
GPUNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
AMD Radeon RX 5700
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
AMD Radeon RX 6800
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
CPUIntel Core i3-8100
AMD Ryzen 3 3100
Intel Core i5-8400
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i5-11400
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
Intel Core i5-11600K
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Intel Core i7-12700K
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Intel Core i9-12900K
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
RAM16 GB16 GB16 GB16 GB16 GB32 GB
OSWindows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
Windows 10/11 64-bit
(version 1909 or higher)
SSD Storage140 GB140 GB140 GB140 GB140 GB140 GB

Two editions of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available when it launches on PC on January 30, including the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition (DDE). Players will also have the option to upgrade to the DDE content if they already own the Standard Edition.

Upon purchase, the previously announced Pre-Purchase offer will be made available to all players as PC Purchase Perks. This includes:

  • Arachknight Suit early unlock for Peter with three color variants
  • Shadow-Spider Suit early unlock for Miles with three color variants
  • Web Grabber gadget early unlock
  • +3 Skill Points

Players will receive two early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit, plus additional benefits like trophies and friend management if they opt to connect to a PlayStation Network account. A PlayStation Network account is optional to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC.  

Our friends at Insomniac are also excited to collaborate with NetEase Games and Marvel Games to bring Peter Parker’s Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to Marvel Rivals. To celebrate Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s upcoming PC release, Marvel Rivals players can purchase this suit in-game starting 6PM PST on January 29. Check out the Advanced Suit 2.0 in action.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC features and ray-tracing options detailed, out tomorrow

Nixxes and Insomniac, along with our partners at PlayStation and collaborators at Marvel Games, are excited for everyone to experience Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC! 

*Compatible PC and graphics card required.

No Man’s Sky’s latest update introduces billions of new stars, planets, and more today

Hello! Today we are releasing one of our biggest updates for No Man’s Sky. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on.

Last year, we released No Man’s Sky Worlds Part I (5.0) for PS4, PS5, and PS VR2 players, and it was one of our most successful to date. We’ve been planning the changes in Worlds Part II for a long time, and the wait is finally over. 


No Man’s Sky’s latest update introduces billions of new stars, planets, and more today

One of the biggest reasons people play No Man’s Sky is for that sense of adventure and discovery, that feeling of flying to a planet, and landing to explore, knowing no one has ever been there before. With Worlds Part II, we added billions of new star systems and trillions of new planets to the universe. This allows us to push the boundaries of our engine and technology without changing the things people love about the game already. If you settled on your home planet with a beautiful base that you lovingly crafted, that is safe – but now there are new worlds to explore with a level of variety no one has seen before.

Going to these new systems travelers will notice new terrain, new biomes, new flora, and new fauna. There’s a new terrain system that I’ve been working on for a while now. There are huge mountains to climb, oceans that are kilometers deep to discover, and caverns and canyons at a scale that wasn’t possible before.

In these systems you may even find enormous Gas Giants. These huge worlds can be ten times bigger than any other planet you have explored previously. Gas Giants and deep oceans both require high-level technology to explore. Gas storms, deep sea pressure, and anomalies bring new hazards and challenges to No Man’s Sky.

Water gameplay has much added depth too, including improvements to our submarine, The Nautilus, as well as improvements to fishing and deep sea diving systems. New ocean tech allows water to react physically to the world around it. Dimples appear when it rains and wake appears as ships fly over the surface, and creatures and players can wade through creating waves. 

Our lighting system has been completely rewritten. Shadows show more details, sunlight and ambient occlusion are sharper, and sunlight sparkling through leaves and metals looks crisp and beautiful. Starry night skies and wispy clouds reflect in the water of lakes and oceans.

A lot of this new technology comes from learnings and hard work on our next big fantasy game, Light No Fire, which is keeping our small team incredibly busy.

As well as new solar systems and new technology Worlds Part II brings a lot of new adventures. This update introduces a large strand of new quests and lore connecting up some of the storylines and mysteries we have been building to for a long time. Those who relish unearthing the collective knowledge of the No Man’s Sky universe have a lot to dig into.

There is also a whole new expedition to accompany this major update which deliberately serves as a guided tour to some of the best new additions to Worlds Part II. The rewards for completing this awe-inspiring journey are really special too. Not least is a brand new spacecraft which is a cross between a living ship and a jet fighter. It’s pretty wild! 

The Worlds Part II update is a signal to the PlayStation community that 2025 is going to be a very exciting year for No Man’s Sky. Whether you play on PS5, PS4, or PS VR2, there’s a lot to look forward to from this tiny but still energised team. We’re so thrilled to be able to keep working on this game we all love so much.

Our journey continues.

Inside Destiny 2: Heresy, launching February 4

The Dreadnaught has returned. The fabled Hive ship and Throne World to Oryx himself is once again a threat to humanity. It’s under the shadow of this ominous return that Guardians will begin their adventures when Destiny 2: Heresy, the game’s third Episode and final epilogue of the Light and Darkness Saga, launches on February 4. Today, the Destiny team hosted a livestream featuring an in-depth look at what players can expect from Heresy, including exclusive interviews with developers and live gameplay from the Episode.

Today we’re covering some of the highlights of Heresy that were featured in today’s show. For even more, check out the livestream recap here.


Inside Destiny 2: Heresy, launching February 4

A menacing return

Orbiting the planet Saturn amidst its massive rings, the Dreadnaught never really left the lore of Destiny, serving both as an ominous reminder of Guardians’ previous conflict with Oryx in The Taken King expansion and, later, as a staging ground for the forces of Xivu Arath. With Heresy, the Hive ship will once again return to the forefront.

“What’s significant about the Dreadnaught’s return for Heresy is that it’s going to be changing, and we’re going to be fighting through it in ways we’ve yet to experience,” said Destiny 2 Narrative Architect Nikko Stevens. “The Dreadnaught has reawakened for the first time in almost a decade, spurring the Vanguard and Guardians across the system to take notice. We finally get to see what has become of the Dreadnaught years after Oryx was felled and its halls were left to corrode, without a Navigator.”

Into The Nether

During Heresy, Guardians take the fight into the Dreadnaught itself in a new activity known as The Nether. With an action-packed mix of exploration, combat, as well as gameplay modifiers and escalating difficulty (not to mention some excellent rewards), The Nether promises to keep players on their toes each time they board.

“There is a constant surge of Taken forces and corruptive power spilling from the Dreadnaught in Heresy,” said Stevens. “The outpouring of corruption is like an acerbic current that pushes back against Guardian forces attempting to board the Dreadnaught. This is where The Nether comes in.”

With a combination of area patrols, multiple bubbles full of challenging enemies, each culminating in heroic boss fights, and all set in the haunted corridors of a metamorphosed Dreadnaught, The Nether activity will find Guardians besieging the sprawling ship to disable its weaponry and prevent the Taken corruption from spreading. With lessons learned from previous rogue-lite experiments in Destiny 2 such as The Coil from Season of the Wish and Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, Guardians can also look forward to a constantly varied experience. For example, after completing a bubble, the Power level of enemies increase. In addition, the activity introduces a new twist to the combat formula in the form of boons that directly affect gameplay.

Three types of boons will be available for players to collect: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons offer boosts to stats and will stack upon collection. Major boons are acquired by completing a bubble, and though they won’t stack, they offer gameplay-altering benefits such as building up Static Charge stacks by sprinting, ultimately allowing you to unleash a powerful thunderbolt by firing your weapon. Corrupted boons also offer a significant gameplay boost, but also a downside as well. For example, one corrupted boon increases the damage done to targets while also increasing damage taken from sources.

“We’ve also experimented with player modifiers, with increased health pools, no regenerating of health, low ammo drops and revive tokens, and a modification on healing in the sandbox over the course of play,” said Destiny 2 Senior Designer Ryan Harris, adding that build crafting is a key to success in the Nether activity. “Players should look to build their loadouts geared for survivability as the game mode modifiers increase health pools of players significantly while also stopping all health regen.”

Alongside the new narrative twists as well as new gear and updates, today’s livestream also introduced the newly announced collaboration between Bungie and Lucasfilm Games to bring Star Wars-inspired gear and accessories to Destiny 2. Available with the launch of Heresy are three new armor ornaments (one per Guardian class), each inspired by the soldiers of the Galactic Empire, in addition to a number of Star Wars-inspired accessories. 

With three Acts coming this Episode, Heresy still has plenty of fun left in the coming months, with new activities, amazing gear to collect, and much more. Heresy is also just the start of a great 2025 for Destiny 2, so be on the lookout for more!

Destiny 2: Heresy launches on February 4.

MLB The Show 25 cover athletes revealed: Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, and Gunnar Henderson

In 2025, MLB The Show is celebrating its monumental 20th anniversary, a milestone that honors two decades of baseball history, innovation, and unforgettable memories for baseball fans around the world. To mark this special occasion for San Diego Studio and PlayStation Studios, MLB The Show 25 proudly features not one, nor two, but three cover athletes for the first time ever — Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, and Gunnar Henderson. These rising stars join a rich history of legendary cover athletes, symbolizing the future of baseball as we celebrate 20 incredible years of the franchise. 

Paul Skenes’ journey began in high school and continued through college, where he cemented his status as one of the most talented young pitchers in baseball by winning a national championship before being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. The following season, Skenes made his MLB debut and became the first player in MLB history to start the All-Star Game just one year after being drafted. He capped off an incredible 2024 season by earning National League Rookie of the Year honors and being named to the All-MLB First Team. His story and skillset align perfectly with Road to the Show, where you can chart your own path to greatness. 

Elly De La Cruz’s meteoric rise from the minors to the majors perfectly captures the excitement of working up to a big league debut and becoming a star. Since making his Major League debut in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds, Elly has consistently proven to be one of the most electrifying players on the field. He became one of the youngest players in MLB history to hit for the cycle and is renowned for his blazing speed on the bases and his cannon-like arm, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most promising talents. The 2024 All-Star showcases an impressive five-tool skillset and a dynamic switch-hitting approach — exactly what MLB The Show fans dream of when developing or acquiring their starting shortstop in Franchise mode.

Rounding out this triple play of talent is the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson. Selected 42nd overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, Gunnar quickly ascended through the Orioles’ farm system, making his MLB debut late in the 2022 season. Heading into 2023, he was named the #1 prospect on MLB’s Top 100 list. In his first full season in the majors, Gunnar became a cornerstone of the Orioles’ young core, helping lead the team to its first postseason appearance in seven years. His outstanding performance earned him AL Rookie of the Year honors and a Silver Slugger Award. Gunnar’s star continued to rise in 2024, as he was selected to start in the MLB All-Star Game and compete in the Home Run Derby. His MLB journey resonates deeply with MLB The Show fans who strive to dominate head-to-head competition in their pursuit of greatness on the diamond.

Sign up for The Scouting Report

For all the fans, make sure to sign up for the MLB The Show Scouting Report to stay updated on all the latest features, updates, and legends coming to MLB The Show 25, while unlocking amazing rewards along the way. Starting in April 2025, subscribers will receive a unique pack every month through December 2025*, packed with incredible in-game rewards. Plus, the Golden Ticket Sweepstakes will return in 2025, with winners selected every month for amazing prizes like Packs, Stubs, clothing, autographed items from Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, and Paul Skenes, along with even more surprises we can’t wait to reveal. Don’t miss out—sign up today on theshow.com!

While you’re there, don’t forget to also set up your MLB The Show account and prepare for Opening Day. MLB The Show 25 allows you to easily move from platform to platform and keep access to your entire inventory of cards**. Head over to https://account.theshow.com/ and create your MLB The Show Account. After creating your MLB The Show account, log in with your platform account and link it to your MLB The Show account. You are all set.

MLB The Show 25 launches on March 18, 2025

We are also thrilled to announce that MLB The Show 25 will launch on March 18, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The game will not be on platform subscription services in 2025. Early Access begins on March 14, for anyone who purchases the Digital Deluxe Edition. 

Mark your calendars for a first look at our first Gameplay Trailer, which will be revealed on February 4 at 9:00 AM PST on San Diego Studio and MLB The Show social channels

Look forward to even more weekly feature reveals, including Feature Trailer Deep Dives featuring MLB Network host Robert Flores, and the return of Feature Premieres from the development team at San Diego Studio.  

Pre-orders for all editions (Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition) will open on February 4 at 6:00 AM PST on theshow.com, platform stores, and participating retailers. 

For all the latest information on MLB The Show, head over to TheShow.com, sign up for The Scouting Report, and follow our X, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. 

*Internet connection required.

** Cross-platform progression requires an internet connection, and for each platform, you play on: 1) a copy of the MLB The Show 25 game compatible with your console (other platform versions sold separately); and 2) a platform network account linked to your platform network account linked to your MLB The Show account.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation Power Up Deals in the Philippines

Hi everyone! We are happy to share our Power Up Deals in the Philippines and it will feature discounts on PlayStation 5, PS VR2, DualSense wireless controllers and PlayStation gaming audio peripherals.

Power Up Deals promotion starts from February 1st till February 14th, in participating retailers in the Philippines: https://www.playstation.com/en-ph/local/retailers/

Please see below for full details of PlayStation Power Up Deals 2025 in the Philippines. 

PlayStation 5 ConsolesOriginal SRPPromotion SRP
PlayStation®5PHP 30,790PHP 27,990
PlayStation®5 console – Two DualSense™ Wireless Controllers BundlePHP 33,990PHP 31,190
PeripheralsOriginal SRPPromotion SRP
PlayStation VR2PHP 34,790 PHP 22,990 
DualSense® wireless controller (White, Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Nova Pink, Galactic Purple, Starlight Blue, Gray Camouflage)PHP 4,290 PHP 3,490 
DualSense® wireless controller (Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, Sterling Silver, Chroma Pearl, Chroma Indigo, Chroma Teal)PHP 4,590 PHP 3,790 
Pulse Elite Wireless HeadsetPHP 8,390 PHP 7,290 
Pulse Explore Wireless EarbudsPHP 12,490 PHP 10,790 

(For Southeast Asia) Genshin Impact Version 5.4: Moonlight Amidst Dreams

Happy New Year, Travelers! The Genshin Impact dev team wishes you an amazing start to 2025. Today, we’d like to share details about the upcoming Version 5.4 “Moonlight Amidst Dreams,” arriving on February 12. It will take you back to the land of Electro, Inazuma, where a grand celebration awaits! Join your new friend, Yumemizuki Mizuki, and reunite with familiar faces like Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko as they gather for the Mikawa Flower Festival. This enchanting event bridges the realms of human and youkai, inviting everyone to celebrate together under Inazuma’s shimmering moonlight.

A Grand Festival of Youkai and Humans

At the foot of Inazuma’s Mt. Yougou, the Mikawa Flower Festival shines brighter than ever this year. Once a grand gathering of youkai in ancient times, it has blossomed into a vibrant celebration where humans and youkai alike are welcome. With newfound energy and spirit, the festival weaves together old traditions and new friendships in a truly unforgettable way. This year’s festival boasts a new special event — the “48-hour Game Development Competition.” In addition, here’s a fun sneak peek of things to come: Raiden Shogun will be making a special appearance, and there are rumors that she’ll be investigating a strange nightmare involving an old friend…

In this competition, humans and youkai will have two days to create new games together. Thanks to the Kitsune Meal’s magic, youkai can now speak in human tongues, giving them the ability to combine their powers with human ingenuity, an enchanting team-up sure to promise exciting new mini-games in the making!

In the first entry, “A Little Fox’s Daydream,” Mizuki and Kokomi present an adventure through shifting dreamscapes, where a little fox must navigate between sweet dreams and nightmares to reach both tasty fried tofu and its target destinations.

The next creative entry, “Bunshin Phantasm,” offers a true test of strategy and teamwork from Sayu, Yoimiya, and Kichiboushi. Guide adorable Muji-Muji Daruma that mimic your movements to activate pressure plates and unlock your path to victory!

Don’t miss out “Akitsu Harpastum: Dreams Doubled,” presented by Thoma and his youkai friends! This is a creative fusion of the classic brick breaker game “Akitsu Yuugei” and elements of Mondstadt’s harpastum, perfect for solo play or co-op fun! As you complete these mini-games, you’ll earn Festival Stamps which can be exchanged for exciting rewards, including the 4-star polearm, “Tamayuratei no Ohanashi.”

Baku, Bathhouses, and Dreams

We’ve heard that the Aisa Bathhouse has introduced customized Mikawa Flower Festival-styled bathrobes, an initiative backed by its major shareholder, the new 5-star character Yumemizuki Mizuki! As a yumekui-baku, Mizuki can consume nightmares. As a clinical psychologist, she uses this gift to help her clients confront their deepest, darkest nightmares. Even a Natlanese warrior is among her clients, one who has a particularly severe affliction after returning from the Night Warden Wars. In Mizuki’s Story Quest, you will have the chance to visit Aisa Bathhouse in person, where you might be fortunate enough to experience her dream-altering treatments firsthand.

In combat, Mizuki shines as a 5-star Anemo catalyst user, a versatile support character who combines Swirl DMG and healing into one elegant package. Her flexibility allows her to fit into various team compositions, including Pyro/Electro/Hydro/Cryo Element teams, while enhancing Swirl DMG — an effective means of boosting the party’s overall damage output! When using her Elemental Skill, Mizuki enters the Dreamdrifter state, floating gracefully while periodically dealing AoE Anemo DMG and boosting her team’s Swirl DMG.

Additionally, Mizuki can adjust her healing strategy depending on her team’s condition. Her Elemental Burst pulls in opponents and creates “Yumemi Style Special Snacks.” These snacks can be picked up and, depending on the HP of the currently active character, will heal them or deal AoE Anemo DMG. Mizuki’s unique talent also boosts healing, offering an extra 30% HP recovery when her teammates use HP Recovery Dishes.

Here’s another combat tip for Mizuki! While she’s in her Dreamdrifter state, her pick-up range for Yumemi Style Special Snacks is increased, making it easier to collect them in the heat of combat.

For Version 5.4’s Event Wishes, the first phase will have Yumemizuki Mizuki’s debut and Sigewinne’s rerun, and the second phase will bring back two reruns, Furina and Wriothesley. Mizuki will enter the Standard Wish banner after the Version 5.5 update.

Meeting Old Friends Never Gets Old!

Aside from reconnecting with old friends at the Mikawa Flower Festival, you’ll also run into more familiar faces during your adventures. The new event “Travelers’ Tales: Anthology Chapter” makes it possible to encounter your old friends in the open world! Simply look for the anecdote icons on your map to see what they’ve been up to recently.

For combat enthusiasts, the “Realm of Tempered Valor” event introduces a series of combat challenges with 25 floors for each challenge, playable solo or in Co-Op Mode. Reach certain milestones to earn an exclusive Namecard!

Looking for more fun things to do? Try the multiplayer fishing mini-game, “Invasive Fish Wrangler,” or dive into ad-editing commissions with your old friend, Xavier!

Continuing QoL Updates

Lastly, we want to share some recent optimizations that we’re working on to streamline your character development.

Level-Up Plans will be added to the “Training Guide.” Just set your level-up goals, and the system will calculate the materials you need, as well as show you where to find them! Other key interfaces will also display reminders for these required materials, including the Adventurer Handbook, Domain entrances, Domain completion screens, and the Battle Pass rewards.

Crafting materials will also become simpler! By clicking on “Craftable Amount,” you can teleport directly to the Crafting Bench. Moreover, an Auto Add button will be added to the Weapon Refinement interface to speed up the process.

That’s all for today! We hope you’ll be able to reconnect with old friends and make new memories at the Mikawa Flower Festival. Enjoy the festivities and sweet dreams of Version 5.4, and we’ll see you on your next big adventure!