Category: PlayStation

A lot is happening in Fortnite right now! If you’re in the mood to play shooters this holiday, we’ve got you covered. Relive the OG OG Battle Royale experience in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 1. Become a Ronin to drive back the demons in Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 1: 鬼 Hunters. Additionally, soon you’ll be able to prove your skill, precision, and teamwork in the new tactical 5v5 FPS, Fortnite Ballistic, launching December 11 into early access.

If you’re trying to keep up with the news, don’t worry — we’ll break everything down for you starting with the upcoming new mode.

Fortnite goes first-person with Ballistic

Ballistic brings a first-person, adrenaline-filled, round-based, 5v5 competitive mode to Fortnite.

Round up your squad because strategy, tactical teamwork, and prowess are essential for victory in this brand-new Fortnite experience.

All new gameplay

At the start of a Ballistic match, you’ll be sorted into one of two teams — attackers and defenders.

The attackers’ goal is to plant the Rift Point Device, a reality-tearing explosive that can be primed at one of two sites on the map. The defender’s goal is to.. defend! Do what it takes to thwart the attacker’s plan to plant and detonate the device.

Every bit of health matters in Ballistic. There are no respawns in this mode and the rounds come to a quick end if one of the following happens; The Rift Point Device detonates or a team is fully eliminated. After six rounds, the attackers become the defenders (and vice versa). Bring home the victory after winning seven total rounds with your team.

Light the fuse

Each player starts on a level playing field with 800 credits to spend and the Ranger Pistol weapon. Think strategy, how you choose to spend your Ballistic credits can determine your success in Ballistic. 

Rack up more credits by scoring eliminations or planting the Rift Point Device during your attacker rounds. At the beginning of each round, you can spend credits to unlock an arsenal of weapons such as Nemesis AR, Thunder Burst SMG, Reaper Sniper, and more to boost your chances of winning.  

You can hold two weapons, one being your primary weapon and the other being the Ranger Pistol. You’ll be able to keep your weapons, shields, and non-consumed items for the next round..if you survive. Just took out an enemy? Feel free to pick up their weapon to use in the next round, finders keepers.

While the Rift Point Device can secure your team’s victory, make sure you’re taking shelter at a fair distance away. The blast is unforgiving and being eliminated by it means you’ll lose any items and weapons you have. You have 45 seconds, after successfully arming the device, to take cover. 

Sharing is caring in Ballistic, assist your teammates by dropping your weapons and items at any time during rounds. Explosives more their style? You can also drop flashbangs and smoke grenades. If one teammate is making more bank on eliminations, they could drop you a weapon by spending their credits.

Fortnite Outfits, Kicks, Wraps, Sprays, and Emotes from your Locker are also available to equip. The cosmetics you can’t bring with you to the matches are Black Blings, Pickaxes, Contrails, Instruments, Vehicles, and Jam Tracks.

Gadgets supreme

With every start of a Ballistic match, you’ll choose one of five Flex Gadgets — the Proximity Mine, Bubble Shield, Frag Grenade, Recon Grenade, and Impulse Grenade. Choose wisely, once you lock in your gadget, you’ll be the only player on your team who can purchase and use that gadget during the match. If you use your Flex Gadgets correctly, you just might clutch a win. 

Early access and Fortnite Ballistic

Ballistic is launching with the Skyline 10 map, a starting set of weapons, and a limited number of items. After launch, adjustments may be made based on player feedback, in addition to major updates such as new maps, weapons, and features. 

At launch, Ballistic will be available on all platforms and regions where Fortnite is supported, with the exceptions of South Korea and Russia. 

Welcome back Fortnite OG – always on, every day

Relive the classic Battle Royale experience in Fortnite OG! Fortnite OG takes you back to day one of Season 1 and this time, it’s here to stay! Grab your squad, hop on the Battle Bus, and get ready to experience OG loot and locations from the original launch of Battle Royale in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 – Season 1.

Fortnite OG Chapter 1 features the initial Seasons of Battle Royale, faithful down to the feature additions and loot pool swaps. While Fortnite OG seasons are shorter than the current Battle Royale seasons, you can still drop into all the fun with Solos, Squads, and Zero Build at launch. 

Some of the rough edges from Chapter 1 have been preserved, while others have been polished. For example, you’ll find Reboot Vans and be able to see the glare from a sniper scope, but Max building resources are set to 999

Last but not least, the original map that launched in 2017 is making its grand return, with classic locations like Retail Row, Pleasant Park, Loot Lake, and more.

An era-defining armory

The loot pool available from over seven years ago will be accessible on day one of Fortnite OG, including the Pump Shotgun. Yes, the Double Pump playstyle is returning in Fortnite OG along with more items that will become unvaulted as the season progresses! Traps are returning with some key choices such as the Wall Dynamo, Ceiling Zapper, and Damage trap. 

Kick it old school with the Fortnite OG Pass

The Fortnite OG Pass is giving all the feels by featuring 45 tiers of modern twists on classic rewards. Earn the Aerial Assault Bomber, Skull Commander, and Renegade Rebel Outfits, which also include an unlockable alternate style for each and more nostalgic items in Season 1. You can either get the OG pass in-game or by becoming a Fortnite Crew member, which includes this pass and a ton of other benefits, like the Battle Pass, LEGO Pass, and Music Pass.

You can complete the Chapter 1 — Season 1 Fortnite OG Pass until January 31, 2025, at 2 AM ET by earning XP across any Fortnite experience.

Drive back the demons as a powerful Ronin in Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 1: 鬼 Hunters

A beautiful new island shrouded in mystical energy and mystery appears, but lurking demons are using masks of power to unleash chaos across the Island. Rise to the challenge as a great hero to cast out ancient evils in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 1: 鬼 Hunters.  

Legends come to life

Cherry blossoms fall on the new Chapter 6 map — soil long-protected by spiritual forces and timeworn magic. It’s here you’ll make a name for yourself as a demon hunter.

Journey through ancient, modern, and supernatural scenery 

Demon’s Dojo

On the path to becoming a great Ronin, hone your combat skills at the legendary Demon’s Dojo, force the demon lord’s servants out from the grand sanctuary of Warrior’s Watch, or put your fortitude to the test on the mountain peak of Shogun’s Solitude, where powerful foes await your arrival.

Seaport City

If you’re looking for the hustle and bustle of city life, the Seaport City offers a tightly packed commercial district. See which bun shop serves the best and freshest in the village of Canyon Crossing, or meet travelers like yourself as you move across the Shining Span.

Turtle Landmark

Travel further along lesser-known paths, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by sacred obelisks and hidden treasures within the overgrown Magic Mosses. Wander amongst the endless darkness of the Nightshift Forest, or pay tribute to The Great Turtle, who watches over the land.

Enchantments on medallions, blades & firearms

Enhance your mastery of vanquishing evil by claiming the Wanderer Medallion from the rampaging demon warrior Shogun X. This medallion aids your trials by giving you invisibility and stamina while sprinting. If you hunt down the relentless spirit Night Rose within her domain, you’ll earn the Night Rose Medallion for your efforts, which automatically reload your weapons. 

All traditional weapons that support your endeavors are of the hitscan variety, with damage immediately colliding with your enemies from weapons such as the Veiled Precision SMG, Oni Shotgun, and more. If blade work is more your style, wield the destructive Typhoon Blade and unleash a flurry of strikes against your enemies. 

To add more magic to your arsenal, seek out lesser demons around the island and defeat them to claim their masks of power! The Fire Oni Mask launches homing projectiles at your opponents and the stealthy Void Oni Mask lets you transport short distances to sneak around your foes. 

Make an offering to Sprites and gain powerful boons at Sprite Shrines

May fortune be on your side if you encounter charming Air, Water, and Earth Sprites roaming around the island, which grant you unique effects to increase your luck during battle. 

By guiding a Sprite to one of the island’s overlooked Sprite Shrines, you can gain a strong Fire, Water, Void, or Wind Boon that grants a unique power for the duration of the match. Boons can also drop from bosses and be found in Chests.

Ride in style

If you want to get enemies off your trail more quickly, then look no further with the modern, wheely-popping Rogue Bike. The sporty, high-performance Void Burn coupe also leaves them in the dust and adds to your road menace notoriety.

New traversal maneuvers

If you ever wanted to Ledge Jump, Wall Kick, Wall Scramble, or do a Roll Landing, these features are now a part of Fortnite’s core movement, available across Battle Royale, Reload, Fortnite OG, and creator-made islands. 

Conquer the darkness with the 鬼 Hunters Battle Pass

Unlock levels of premium rewards in the 鬼 Hunters Battle Pass when you spend 1,000 V-Bucks and earn XP across various Fortnite modes. By progressing the pass, you can earn up to 1,500 V-Bucks and also some formidable Outfits, including:

• Nyanja (ニャンジャ): Two-tailed trickster
• Jade: Discover the Island’s myths
• Kendo: A wandering rōnin with a restless spirit
• Daigo: Man of a thousand faces
• Shadow Blade Hope: See through the shadows
• Disney’s Hero Baymax: Ready to be your hero
• The Night Rose: A fearsome demon warrior, bound by ancient duty

The legends are true. Become a true Titan as Godzilla! The Godzilla Evolved Outfit will be available from Battle Pass Quests in January, which you can complete in any experience. This Battle Pass will be available to progress in until February 21. Join the fun in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 1 and Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 1: 鬼 Hunters today. Fortnite Ballistic launches December 11 into early access. 

Explore the dark, twisted realm of Wraeclast when Path of Exile 2 Early Access launches today on PS5. With extensive endgame systems, customizable skill and build progression, new Ascendancies, and more – there’s lots to explore and uncover. Players have six character classes, each of whom has been cast aside for various reasons. 

A redefined combat system

Command legions of the dead from a distance, or wield a hammer, bow, or go full-on artillery. Six classes stand before you, each one a gateway to untold carnage:

• Monk: Swift and deadly, a blur of motion that leaves nothing but mangled bodies in its wake.
• Sorceress: A master of destruction, weaving spells that tear through enemies and scorch the earth itself.
• Warrior: A savage force, wielding deadly weapons with brutal efficiency, tearing foes apart with raw power.
• Ranger: Silent, swift, and deadly, a hunter in the shadows who strikes with lethal precision.
• Mercenary: Crossbow in hand, ready to bring ruin from afar, a relentless force of calculated destruction.
• Witch: A dark sorceress who commands the minions of the abyss, bending them to her will as they tear apart all in their path.

With the new Uncut Gems, your power knows no bounds. Unlock a vast array of skills, mixing and matching Support Gems that transform your abilities — making them faster, deadlier, and more destructive, depending on your playstyle. 

Epic boss fights

Every step leads you closer to unspeakable horrors. The Iron Count will test your resolve with a barrage of vicious attacks. And beware of Zicoatl, the Warden of the Core, whose snaking heads writhe with malice, ready to strike down anyone who dares challenge it. 

And if you think you’ve mastered it all, completing Act 1 through Act 3 will unlock Cruel Difficulty for the endgame which requires you to complete the campaign all over again. Expect a whole new level with more brutal challenges, but better rewards for those who can survive the carnage.

In-depth endgame systems

Seven distinct endgame systems await. Players can also access special passive trees which boost the reward of your maps and change how various mechanics work in the endgame. To become stronger, complete the Trials of Ascendancy. The Trial of Sekhemas will challenge your limits and grant unimaginable power that boosts character progression. The Trial of the Chaos God is another way of Ascending but requires a token from a strange entity. As you enter each room of the Trial, the stakes are high. The same also goes for the downsides as it becomes more perilous than the last. 

Co-op with a friend

You are not alone in this, though. Journey into the deadly continent of Wraeclast with a companion, or go in a group of six. 

Take the first steps into Path of Exile 2 Early Access on PS5 today and face the horrors that await.

Last week, we asked you to dive into Stellar Blade’s newly released photo mode to highlight the Nier: Automata DLC costumes using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

marka_game shares Eve in 2B’s classic outfit, and Adam’s themed bot at her shoulder.

sorathluna shares Lily, Eve, and Adam’s Nier themed costumes.

sirevanztheduke shares Eve wearing 2B’s outfit in combat

FrameCaptureVP shares Eve approaching Emil in the Wastelands.

crisg_art shares Eve striking a heart pose in 2B’s outfit

Valkyrion126 shares Eve strike a pose in the A2 YoRHa Type A No.2 outfit.

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: PlayStation 30th Anniversary

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on December 11, 2024 

Next week, celebrate 30 years of PlayStation history! Share pics of your favorite PlayStation consoles, games, or collection through the years using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

It’s a special time of year in the GT calendar as we head to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for the World Finals of the Gran Turismo World Series 2024. After three rounds of spectacular racing in Montreal in July, Prague in August and Tokyo in September, the points at the top of the tables are tantalizingly close as the action returns to Theater Amsterdam, the scene of 2023’s World Series Showdown.

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As ever, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup final is the warm-up event for World Finals weekend and takes place at 16:00 CET on Friday, December 7. Always competitive, the TGR GT Cup will feature a mix of established World Series stars, aiming to make a winning start to their weekends, with some newcomers to the international scene keen to establish themselves. The 24 racers from around the world race in two heats before a Grand Final decides the 2024 champion.

Team Lexus heads the points table in the Manufacturers Cup. But its talisman, Igor Fraga (BRA), winner of Round 1 in Montreal, will not be at the World Finals due to Super GT racing commitments in Japan. Harald Walsen from Chile deputises, but second-placed Team Porsche hopes to make up the four-point deficit while warding off Team BMW, just a further point adrift.

With a single driver having represented each team in Rounds 1-3, all three will join forces in Amsterdam and share the racing and team strategy duties. The Manufacturers Cup action can be seen live at 19:00 CET on Friday.

On Sunday, December 8 at 16:00 CET the Nations Cup takes centre stage. Frenchman Kylian Drumont’s flawless win in Tokyo propelled him to the top of the standings. He leads by a single point from a three-way tie for second made up of three former champions: Spain’s Jose Serrano; Montreal winner Takuma Miyazono of Japan; and the winner of Round 2 in Prague, Italy’s Valerio Gallo.

View and download image

View and download image

All the action will play out in front of a live audience at Theater Amsterdam. If you can’t make it don’t miss out and watch the live streams:

Saturday, December 7

Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup – PST 07:00 | EST 10:00 | UTC 15:00 | local time CET 16:00 | JST 00:00 (Sun) 

Manufacturers Cup – PST 10:00 | EST 13:00 | UTC 18:00 | local time CEST 19:00 | JST 13:00 (Sun)

Sunday, December 8

Nations Cup – PST 07:00 | EST 10:00 | UTC 15:00 | local time CET 16:00 | JST 00:00 (Mon)

Head to the World Finals special page for more information and watch all the action at https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/live/.

Race like the best in Gran Turismo 7

There are plenty of ways to get involved in the World Series in Gran Turismo 7. By clicking on the Predict the Winners campaign banner on the GT7 World Map, players can receive one million credits for each of the TGR GT Cup, Nations Cup, and the Manufacturers Cup with votes cast right up to the start of the final race of each.* 

Simply watching the broadcast in-game also unlocks some special gifts in GT7 through the Viewers Gift campaign. 

Players can also take part in two special challenges in Gran Turismo 7 that reflect car and track combinations on show at the World Finals: Red Bull X2019 on Nürburgring 24h and Gr.3 on Spa-Francorchamps.

*Entry limit to one per account for PlayStationNetwork. Once an entry has been submitted it cannot be withdrawn or changes. See https://www.gran-turismo.com/us/gt7/events/gtws2024/campaign/ for more information.

My name is Jenny, and I’m the Communications Director for Ivy Road, the indie studio currently developing Wanderstop. Our team is proud to announce that Wanderstop will be released on PlayStation 5 on March 11, 2025. We are eager for the chance for players to step into Alta’s shoes and contribute to PlayStation’s tradition of representing impactful, emotional storytelling in games.  

A Mysterious Tea Shop

In Wanderstop, you’ll play as a former tournament fighter named Alta who has to put her troubled past aside to tend a charming shop and brew tea for its various customers. One would anticipate that after a lifetime of dedication, determination, and constant competition, Alta would welcome the opportunity to slow down. But Alta isn’t quite like everyone else, and this golden opportunity for rest is something she wishes she could escape. Instead of fighting, Alta must spend time growing and harvesting the ingredients needed for tea and mixing them in an unusual tea-making contraption, speaking with the many travelers who pass through the shop, learning their stories, and making tea to match their unique requests. 

In your downtime, you might tidy up around the clearing, decorate the shop in your style, or just sit on a bench with a cup of tea and listen to your own thoughts. Maybe doing nothing at all is okay. The shop demands patience and rejects those who have come only in the pursuit of growth unchecked. 

Inspired by Personal Experience

Creative Director Davey Wreden’s experience with burnout initially inspired the concept of Wanderstop, and as the team and project grew, each member brought their perspectives to the table. We also drew from the groundwork of many narrative and cozy games that have also explored challenging topics.

In our release date announcement video, we had the opportunity to share a bit of Davey’s journey. Years ago, he wrote and directed two games – The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide – and after finishing those games, he felt incredibly burnt out. In the hopes of bringing some balance to his life, and to inspire a healthier work/life balance, he started to explore making a cozy game. As he progressed, he discovered that playing cozy games can provide lots of relaxation – making them still contain the stresses and challenges that all game development holds.

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After collaborating with other members of the team, like co-founder and writer, Karla Zimonja, art director Temi Olujobi, and lead designer, Steve Margolin, the game’s central themes and questions evolved. Rather than simply creating a cozy experience, there was a tension that they began to explore. What happens when you have a protagonist who isn’t excited about or willing to engage with a cozy world? The coziness, rather than simply being the solution to her inner turmoil, became a point of contention for our protagonist, Alta, and it also became an interesting design element for us as a team.

We looked towards many of the games already out that’ve explored these intersections of burnout, grief, fatigue, and healing, as well as previous research articles on topics like player motivation and the work on coziness from Project Horseshoe. Our hope was to continue expanding on the ways that these types of games provide spaces for players to reflect and address potentially challenging issues.

Let Your Mind Wander

In Wanderstop, there are ample activities a player can do to pass the time. Let your interests guide you to the tasks that bring you the most fulfillment. Players who enjoy decorating can take their time arranging plants in the garden and around the shop, petting adorable pluffins, and finding trinkets scattered about the glade. Periodically, visitors will arrive, providing an opportunity for conversation. Talk with them, see what’s on their minds, and perhaps take on a request to brew their favorite tea. Need a moment to yourself? Create your own cuppa, find a spot to sit, and take in the sights and sounds of the clearing. The music – composed by C418 — shifts dynamically based on your actions in-game and provides a relaxing soundtrack to reflect on.

These verbs of Wanderstop – brew, decorate, talk, sit, drink tea – all support our goal for you: that you find your own sense of meaning and connection to this world and Alta’s journey when it comes to PS5 March 11, 2025. 

Since the launch of PlayStation Tournaments on PS5, we’ve continued to bring together a community of competitive gamers and esports fans on PS5 to test their skills and compete at a regional and global level. In the spirit of celebrating our community, we’re excited to announce PlayStation Tournaments: XP, a new live studio event that invites the top competitive gamers globally on PS5 for a unique in-person team-based competition. 

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On January 18, 2025, the first-ever PlayStation Tournaments: XP competition will be held live in London. Qualifying players from across the globe and the competitive gaming community on PS5 will represent teams Triangle, Circle, Cross, and Square to earn points during the competition and vie for the title of champion, in addition to winning exclusive prizes.

Through online qualifiers via PlayStation Tournaments on PS5, players will have a chance to compete to earn their trip to London, while fans at home will be able to tune into the event live stream, watch all the action, and win prizes.

How to qualify for PlayStation Tournaments: XP 

To battle for a chance to compete in London, play in any PlayStation Tournaments: XP Open Qualifier on PS5. Open Qualifiers will start today for Tekken 8 and EA Sports FC 25. Open Qualifiers for Fortnite will start on December 6, and Astro Bot will start on December 13, 2024. See here for full details on the rules and times for each qualifier.

Players who win an Open Qualifier will be invited to a regional online Closed Final. After winning a Closed Final, the player will then earn a spot to compete in the live PlayStation Tournaments: XP event and a ticket to London, including flights and lodging. 

Gear up for PlayStation Tournaments: XP in London on January 18, 2025

When qualifying players arrive in London, they’ll be seeded into one of the four teams (Triangle, Circle, Cross, and Square) and compete across several exciting live broadcast matches to earn points (called “XP”) for their team.  

Each team will feature a Team Captain and Specialists, which are a crew of community favorites who specialize in one of the four featured titles. These Team Captains and Specialists will represent, cheer on, and coach their team through the tournament. We’ll be unveiling the full roster of Team Captains and Specialists in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! 

After four rounds of competition and surprise mini-games, the top two teams will compete to become the first-ever Champions of PlayStation Tournaments: XP.

Esports fans can tune into the PlayStation Tournaments: XP livestream on January 18 to cheer on a team and watch the event. On the PlayStation Twitch and YouTube channels, fans can watch the action in real time, from intense 1v1 matches to interviews with Team Captains. To follow along each team’s progress, a Specialist from each team will be streaming their perspective, giving you an inside look at the action. Viewers will even be able to earn points for your team and win prizes through polls in chat.

PlayStation Tournaments: XP is a celebration of the players, competitors, and fans who make our competitive community a great group to be a part of. Whether you’re competing in London or cheering on from home, we can’t wait for you to experience this new in-person competition. Stay tuned for the latest PlayStation Tournaments: XP details at compete.playstation.com.

What’s it like bringing a K-Pop hit from Barbie the Album into a VR Rhythm game?  It’s kinda like opening the doors and walking into a party — with a lot of pink all around you.

Hi, I’m Falcon from Kluge Interactive and this is the new Synth Riders Experience – Barbie Dance ‘n Dream. It’s a Barbie-fueled ride to Fifty Fifty’s “Barbie Dreams (feat. Kaliii).” In fact, this is the first time Barbie joins a VR rhythm game — and it’s available right now!

Here’s a small taste of what you can experience yourself right now in Synth Riders with this new DLC.

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You’ll soak in some rays at the beach, groove at the roller disco, and dance through Barbie dreams in Synth Riders’ latest musical journey. It’s a whole new audio-visual Experience, from the team that delivered the one-of-a-kind immersive tracks collaborating with Muse, The Offspring, and Lindsay Stirling – to name a few.

Associate Creative Director Jaime Nunez-Lopez told me “The idea of Barbie dreaming that she´s on a journey through different dream worlds really fit the Synth Riders game mechanics and perfectly matched the theme of the song itself.”

And, really, we needed an excuse to have pink dolphins in a game!

Jaime adds, “It’s really all about bringing a huge smile to your face by the time the song’s done.” So pull out that power pink wardrobe and get yourself ready for the Synth Riders Experience — Barbie Dance ‘n Dream! 

We can’t wait to see all of you dressing up in pink for the occasion!

The Synth Riders Experience – Barbie Dance’n Dream DLC is available now on PlayStation VR2 for $2.99.

Hello everyone! I’m Nobuo Uematsu, the composer of Fantasian Neo Dimension.

When Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi first contacted me about Fantasian, I had decided that this would be the last video game title which I’d produce the full soundtrack for, solely on my own.

Because this was going to be my final full soundtrack project, I wanted to give it everything I had. I rearranged my office—cluttered with non-work-related things that were there for fun—into something I call the “Fantasian mode,” so that I could corner myself creatively. In the end, I spent several months dedicating myself to composing, and I have no regrets. Please enjoy Fantasian Neo Dimension, the culminating work that tops off my 30-plus years long career of composing full video game soundtracks!

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Today, I’ll be introducing five of my favorite tracks from Fantasian Neo Dimension’s soundtrack.

1. Main Theme of Fantasian

Composing the main theme for a game is always a headache. I try to approach it with the mindset of “creating a track that’s better than anything I’ve ever made,” but progress tends to be slow when I take things too seriously. Sometimes, my creativity flows once I let go and realize “this is what I know how to do best.” This was the case for the Main Theme of Fantasian.

2. Prickle and Clicker’s Theme

A clumsy, outdated robot that’s certainly not the latest model – an incomplete being with fragmented speech, but is endearing precisely because of these qualities. These were the kind of things I thought about while I was making this track. It has an awkward, bumpy feel to the tune, right?

3. Shangri-La

This one is a track that I personally really like. This track features scat vocalization which goes like “lan lan~♪,” but it would be nice to do a live performance of a version that includes lyrics someday.

4. God Realm

Is music considered “proper” only when it has a beautiful melody on top of beautiful chords, played with a beautiful tone? If so, is it an “improper” piece of music when it has a graceless melody layered on top of eerily sounding chords, performed haphazardly? Being in this field for so long, there are times when I question myself about what exactly defines “proper music.”

5. Kina (Destiny) [featuring Yuria Miyazono]

The time Sakaguchi needs to write song lyrics is astonishingly short. In the past, whenever I’d send over a completed melody his way, usually his first draft would be ready by the next day, or the day after that. I wish I could say that this track followed suit, but in this particular case, I believe his lyrics were written first, and I created a melody to go along with them. Regardless, I recall that I was able to complete this track very quickly and smoothly, with no bumps on the road. Speaking of which, Yuria Miyazono’s vocals are so beautiful…

Discover these tracks for yourself in-game when Fantasian Neo Dimension launches on PlayStation Store December 5, 2024.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is the latest console game from the legendary Bleach franchise, where fan favorite characters can unlock powers, engage in combat, and turn the tide of the battle with one strike of their sword. 

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To get fans and players excited for Bleach Rebirth of Souls, we’ll be showing some exclusive content of Sosuke Aizen and Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto, as well as an introduction to the game’s unique battle system.

New character reveals

The new characters, Sosuke Aizen and Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto have been revealed in the release date announcement trailer. Their character trailers will drop soon, but below is a tease of the two iconic characters. 

As the Captain of Squad 5, Sosuke Aizen is infamous for his crime of high treason against the Soul Society. He has a Spiritual Pressure unlike any other, far surpassing that of other Soul Reapers. His immense strength is amplified by his unique ability to manipulate his attacks and shift the tide of the fight to his advantage.

As the Head Captain, Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto stands at the pinnacle of all Soul Reapers, wielding the most powerful fire-based Zanpakuto capable of incinerating everything in its path. With unmatched firepower and mastery over his abilities, Yamamoto is a formidable force, ready to face any opponent who dares to challenge him.

Combat system basics

At its core, the basic strategy is reading the opponent’s moves, attack, guard, counter, and decreasing Reishi. Winning a battle involves cutting down an opponent’s Reishi (HP) and destroying their Konpaku (lives). All playable characters have unique abilities to accomplish this goal through various mechanics so using movement abilities for positioning becomes key to finding opportunities to strike.

Before diving into the combat overview, let’s introduce some important game terms:

• Reishi Gauge: A player’s health gauge. Every time a Reishi gauge is cut down, the player’s Konpaku takes damage.
• Konpaku: A player’s remaining health. Destroy all of the opponent’s Konpaku to win the fight.
• Fighting Spirit Gauge: Accumulated over time and by taking damage. When enough of this gauge has accumulated, a player can activate the Awakening. If a player has a full gauge when using Awakening, they will move into a Kikon channel state, which increases the power of the Kikon Move.
• Awakening: Elevates a player to an empowered state with enhanced abilities and increased Konpaku destruction power. 
• Kikon Move: An ability that directly destroys an opponent’s Konpaku.
• Guard Gauge: Decreases when a player guards an opponent’s attacks. If the gauge is fully depleted, a player will not be able to guard temporarily (Guard Break).
• Spiritual Power Gauge: Accumulated when attacking an opponent. The gauge is consumed to activate a Spiritual Pressure Move.
• Spiritual Pressure Move: Special actions that differ per character that includes empowered abilities, counter skills, etc.
• Hohô: Movement ability to quickly close the distance and get behind an opponent.
• Reverse Action: There are three types of Reverse Actions; Soul Reverse (increase Spiritual Power and recover Reishi), Chain Reverse (continue a combo and increase Spiritual Power), and Burst Reverse (cancel an opponent’s combo and recover Guard Gauge).

Turn the tide of the battle

To destroy the opponent’s Konpaku, players must either damage the Reishi gauge or, when the opponent’s remaining Reishi falls below 30%, activate a Kikon Move. Additionally, a Kikon Move can be triggered when the opponent is under Guard Break. However, if a player uses a Kikon Move in an ancillary manner, the number of Konpaku destroyed will be reduced.

Players can damage an opponent’s Reishi Gauge in two ways, Quick Attack and Flash Attack. While both attacks can decrease an opponent’s Guard Gauge, Quick Attacks can be unleashed quicker and are used to easily accumulate Spiritual Power,while Flash Attacks inflict greater damage to Reishi. These attacks can also be used in succession as a combo, and using Hohô will extend the combo attacks.

There are also other abilities like the Signature Move, a unique action which can be activated without consuming gauge, as well as a Spiritual Pressure Move, which can be activated with accumulated Spiritual Power. Strategically timing these skills will give a player the upper hand on their opponent.

Along with basic abilities, players can activate the Awakening state in the form of signature Bleach skills like Shikai, Bankai, and Resurrección. Awakening can be activated when a player accumulates a certain amount of Fighting Spirit, enhancing a character’s abilities and Konpaku destruction power. Activating Awakening can be crucial in overturning the tide of the battle, bringing victory from the edge of defeat!

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is coming to PS5 and PS4 on March 21, 2025. Pre-order the game today and receive the Toshiro Histugaya and Yoruichi Shihoin Thousand-Year Blood War costume set!