Howdy! This week the team talks about Baldur’s Gate 3, Lies of P, and gets into a recap of news from this week’s State of Play.
Stuff We Talked About
Mortal Kombat 1 – PS5
Lies of P – PS5, PS4
VR Skater – PS VR2
You Suck at Parking – PS5, PS4
Baldur’s Gate 3 – PS5
State of Play recap (begins at 20:04)
The Cast
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Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE
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Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE
Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and 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.]
Hello Travelers! The Genshin Impact dev team is back and today we’d like to bring you the latest information on the new landscapes, stories, and companions that will be introduced in Genshin Impact version 4.1 To the Stars Shining in the Depths on September 27.
With the latest update, the area north of the prosperous Court of Fontaine will be open for exploration. This area features a massive underwater fortress inhabited by exiles as well as mysterious ruins floating in the air, abandoned following a fatal laboratory accident. The two new five-star playable characters, Neuvillette and Wriothesley, will also play important roles in the Archon Quests that await you.
Far from Fontaine, the people of Liyue and Mondstadt are hosting a poetry festival together to honor friendship and love! To celebrate the upcoming third anniversary of Genshin Impact with all Travelers, we have prepared a special daily login event for you. Take part to receive up to Intertwined Fates ×10, Primogems ×1,600, and 2 exclusive gadgets as tokens of our appreciation.
Danger lurking beneath the waters
Deep in the vast waters of the Liffey Region lies the Fortress of Meropide. This metal edifice detains criminals from all over Fontaine, but exercises self-governance, independent of Fontaine’s legal system. Watch out for spotlights when you approach the Fortress.
However, the Fortress of Meropide is not just a place for convicts. Inside, one can admire an intricate network of gears and pipelines spanning multiple levels into the depths of the Fortress, where more of the site’s functions and mysteries are revealed. Our main storyline also picks up here as we search for Childe. Wriothesley, the Chief Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide, and the Fatui Harbinger Arlecchino will also make their debut in version 4.1.
In addition to the Fortress of Meropide, the vast water of the Liffey Region is also home to a beautiful yet dangerous monster. With a phantasmal beauty, the Millennial Pearl Seahorse can leap high into the air and unleash fierce Electro attacks.
The lofty ambition of the Fontaine Research Institute
Floating in mid-air, the Allogravity-Condensed Water Body and remnants of the previous Fontaine Research Institute tell the catastrophic consequences of an experiment gone awry. Throughout its long history, the Fontaine Research Institute has been searching for solutions to survive the prophesied flood that will dissolve the people of this nation, and harnessing the energy of Arkhium to defy gravity was once considered the key. Unfortunately, this endeavor tragically resulted in a massive explosion, sending several giant blocks of Allogravity-Condensed Water Bodies and ruins ascending to the sky. However, these floating water bodies have also preserved aquatic life and parts of the old institute, which can be explored to aid the current research of the Fontaine Research Institute.
The new boss Experimental Field Generator is also one of these vestiges. It was once a device used to counteract the effects of gravity but has gone out of control since the accident. In combat, you will experience weightlessness effects which will prove useful for jumping higher and dodging the boss’ attacks.
Ludex and Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide
As the plot of version 4.1 unfolds, two characters who occupy high positions will come to your assistance. Neuvillette is the Iudex who oversees the legal system of Fontaine, while Wriothesley is the Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide who keeps a watchful eye over all the outlaws.
The Chief Justice, or otherwise known as Iudex Neuvillette is a highly revered figure in Fontaine, known for his unwavering impartiality. However, Neuvillette has a soft spot for Melusines, and he is fond of tasting water from all over Teyvat. More stories about Neuvillette and Melusines can be found in his Story Quest Diluvies Chapter.
In combat, Neuvillette is a skillful Hydro Catalyst wielder. His Charged Attack can release a stream of surging torrents at the cost of his health to attack all foes in its path. His Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst can also generate Sourcewater Droplets which can be absorbed by his Charged Attack to heal and accelerate charging.
Another new companion Wriothesley is known as the Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide. His brain and brawn have earned him the respect of the citizens, as well as that of the outlaws. Thanks to a series of reforms carried out by him, the Fortress of Meropide has become a habitable space where vicious criminals and the underprivileged are taken care of. You can find out more about this Duke and the Lord of the Fortress of Meropide in his Story Quest Cerberus Chapter.
In combat, Wriothesley excels at combining his melee attacks with the power of Cryo and his catalyst. His Normal and Charged Attacks can deal Cryo DMG, while his Elemental Skill attracts enemies and boosts his Normal Attack at the cost of his HP. When his health drops to a precarious level, he can inflict a powerful blow to restore HP.
For version 4.1 Event Wishes, Neuvillette will debut in the first half with Hu Tao’s rerun, while the latter half will see Wriothesley’s debut and Venti’s rerun.
A poetry festival of friendship and love
Taking a momentary break from adventures in Fontaine, a poetry festival will greet you with beautiful words and friendship from Liyue and Mondstadt. To fulfill the promise made at the previous Lantern Rite, Hu Tao and Venti join hands to host a poetry festival, telling a heartwarming story about friendship and love that stood the test of time. Festive activities and mini-games will also be available, such as a special dart-throwing game called Hundred-Pace Hurling Rites and Mending Painting Prospects to piece together paintings based on Teyvat scenery. By accumulating Poetry Gala Fervor from those mini-games, Travelers will have the chance to obtain the exclusive 4-star catalyst Ballad of the Boundless Blue.
As Genshin Impact is about to turn three years old, we would like to thank every one of you for supporting us in the past, present, and future. The special daily login event with up to Intertwined Fates ×10 will be back once again. Do also remember to check out your in-game mailbox later, as we will be giving out Primogems ×1,600, Fragile Resin ×4, and two unique gadgets Portable Aerodynamic Gelatinous Bubble Generator and Itty Bitty Octobaby as tokens of our shared memories. Last but not least, we hope you have a wonderful time with new encounters in Fontaine as well as old friends in other regions, and we look forward to seeing you again in the next update!
We hope you enjoyed the exciting news from today’s State of Play, including the first glimpse of the new Deep Earth Collection joining the PS5 family of accessories. The collection introduces three new colors for the DualSense wireless controller and PS5 console covers, all with a smooth metallic finish: molten Volcanic Red, alluring Cobalt Blue, and sleek Sterling Silver.
To share more about the design and process behind this new and vibrant collection, here’s Satoshi Aoyagi and Leo Cardoso from our design team:
“While crafting this new collection of DualSense controller and PS5 console cover colors, we drew inspiration from the beautiful and powerful hues found in the depths of planet Earth. We elevated the colors by adding a metallic finish for a touch of sophistication.”
– Satoshi Aoyagi
“Volcanic Red boasts a rich blazing red tone. Cobalt Blue, on the other hand, presents a deep shade of blue with intriguing hints of purple. Lastly, Sterling Silver showcases a classic aesthetic with a subtle blue undertone.”
– Leo Cardoso
We’re excited to bring this new range of colors to fans in the coming months. Pre-orders for the Deep Earth Collection will begin on October 4, with Volcanic Red and Cobalt Blue accessories launching on November 3, followed by the launch of Sterling Silver accessories on January 26.
The Deep Earth DualSense controllers will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of SGD 107 / MYR 369 / IDR 1,359,000 / THB 2,590 / PHP 4,290 / VND 2,099,000, while the Deep Earth PS5 console covers will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of SGD 79.90 / MYR 259 / IDR 939,000 / 1,890 / 3,090 / 1,499,000. The exact launch date and availability for the accessories may vary by region and is subject to change.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the new collection, and stay tuned to PlayStation.com for more information.
If you missed the live broadcast of the latest State of Play, you can find the full show, all the individual trailers and the announcements collected below.
State of Play: All the trailers
Baby Steps
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord – Developer Roundtable Interview
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord – Gameplay Trailer
Resident Evil 4
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Ghostrunner 2
Deep Earth Collection
Helldivers 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Expanded Marvel’s New York
In 1996, the first Tomb Raider game officially launched, skyrocketing to the top of the charts. With its groundbreaking 3D graphics, immersive environments, and thought-provoking puzzles, gamers everywhere were spellbound by Lara’s adventures. The original D-Pad controller provided precise control as players navigated Lara through treacherous terrains. Tomb Raider elegantly showcased the synergy of PlayStation’s capabilities, CRT displays, and intuitive D-Pad controls, laying the foundation for Lara Croft’s enduring legacy.
The franchise found a home on PlayStation thanks to Tomb Raider’s success. Tomb Raider II and III’s console versions were exclusive to the platform, further solidifying the link between Lara Croft and PlayStation.
The relationship between the two is as legendary as Lara’s expeditions, filled with adventure, mystery, and discovery. Lara Croft has left an unforgettable legacy on PlayStation consoles, and her journey is far from over.
The iconic hero’s epic adventures will now be beautifully presented on PS4 & PS5 with enhanced graphics, allowing longtime fans and brand-new players to experience the timeless magic of the Tomb Raider franchise like never before.
Not only will the original three games be remastered, but players will be able to experience the corresponding expansions for each entry for the first time on consoles.
Unfinished Business – In these two expert levels, Lara has discovered the ruined segment of an alien city, allegedly containing an alien hatchery. She must destroy the aliens before they infest the world.
The Gold Mask – Four action-packed levels previously available online only. Lara explores an abandoned mine shaft in Alaska and discovers a strange and hidden world. Many surprises await as Lara uncovers the secret of the Golden Mask.
The Lost Artifact – Six levels unveil the dramatic conclusion of events set in motion in Tomb Raider Ill. Lara is searching for the fifth artifact, rumored to be the legendary Hand of Rathmore. It is the key to unlocking the final secret of the ancient meteor’s powers.
From the treacherous tombs of Peru in the original Tomb Raider to the awe-inspiring sights of Venice in Tomb Raider II and the mystical realm of India in Tomb Raider III, players will embark on a nostalgic journey filled with breathtaking landscapes and ingenious puzzles. Dust off your gear, sharpen your wits, and prepare to step into Lara Croft’s adventurous shoes once again as we accompany Lara on her original globe-trotting expeditions.
The Tomb Raider series is full of secrets, traps, tricks, and collectibles. One of our favorites is finding Lara’s secret treasure room in Tomb Raider II. We’ve compiled a few tips and tricks below to aid in your adventures:
Tomb Raider I
In Level 3: Lost Valley, your objectives contain five secrets hidden on temple rooftops or inside secret waterfalls. A hidden shotgun will be key to taking out the dinosaurs you’ll encounter throughout this zone. Once obtained, collect the three gears needed to open the entrance to the Tomb of Qualopec.
Tomb Raider II
Throughout the game, there are various secret pickups hidden in different levels. You need to collect all of them. Secrets are typically hidden in hard-to-reach places or behind breakable walls. Use your keen observation skills to find them. You can access the inventory menu to check your progress in collecting secrets.
Continue playing through the game until you reach the final level called Home Sweet Home. Make sure you have collected all secrets in all levels up to this point. In this level, you’ll eventually come across Lara’s Mansion. This level is unique because it serves as a hub world. You’ll find a room called the Trophy Room inside Lara’s Mansion. In this room, you can display the artifacts and treasures you’ve collected throughout the game. To access Lara’s secret treasure room, you’ll have to find the switch in the garden maze that opens the treasure room under the stairs.
Tomb Raider III
Continue playing through the game until you reach the final level called Meteorite Cavern. Make sure you have collected all secrets in all levels up to this point. If all secrets have been picked up throughout the levels by the time you get here, a new level called All Hallows will become available.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered includes:
Tomb Raider I + The Unfinished Business Expansion
Tomb Raider II + The Gold Mask Expansion
Tomb Raider III + The Lost Artifact Expansion
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is available for pre-order now. Please accept an enormous thank you from the teams here at Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics! It’s a great honor to bring our favorite games back to life.
Settling on one fighting game in this day and age is no easy feat. With so many great titles, deciding which will be your next big investment is hard. Mortal Kombat 1 provides a wide array of content reminiscent of old series ventures like Mortal Kombat Deception and Deadly Alliance. You can jump into the series staple modes like versus, training and tutorials, classic Towers, or Kampaign, where you’ll witness a dimension-shattering new story.
But if you want something new, you’ll be happy to learn more about Invasion mode, which expands on the universe-defense plotlines of the story with a roleplaying game twist.
Mortal Kombat 1 is all about protecting your timeline, and in Invasion, you’re tasked with doing just that. Using your favorite characters and Kameos, you’re tasked with warding off invaders ranging from an evil variant of Scorpion to a wacky Ninja Mime.
All this occurs on board game-like world maps set in various locations, beginning in Johnny Cage’s proclaimed “haunted” mansion. Traversing maps like this, you’ll be confronted with various battles where you gain experience points, equipable items, in-game currency, and key objects to help you progress.
Incentives that make Invasion mode a must-play include unlockable customizable cosmetics for your characters, behind-the-scenes content, and more Kameo fighters. Be sure to spend a little time exploring here.
If you’re a Mortal Kombat fan, this may sound similar to something like Towers or the Krypt, and that’s because it’s like an evolution of those classic modes combined into one. As with Towers, your encounters with enemies are broken up by minigames like Test Your Might. In fact, some areas will surprise you with their own Towers to conquer, earning you tons of experience points and in-game currency. Invasion mode also delivers satisfying fanservice in the form of encounters against the Deadly Alliance of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, an invading Scorpion that looks like the classic version of the character, elemental amulets similar to Raiden’s, and even a lurking Kollector who you can buy items from. Inclusions such as this make Invasion feel like a comprehensive celebration of the series.
Anyone can enjoy Invasion, but longtime fighting game fans, especially of the Mortal Kombat variety, will probably find a second home here. While the main incentive is scoring unlockables to personalize your favorite fighters, there’s much to enjoy here.
Equipping the cast with customizable attack items and experimenting with their stats is a fun side project. Having to conquer a path of enemies with random elements like raining fireballs and booby-trapped stages adds an element of comedy and surprise to the experience. One example that had me chuckling was being caught off guard mid-fight by a random sawblade.
Beginners will find Invasion mode to be a great teacher as well. Tutorial matches teach you to block correctly, punish specific moves, and other combat basics. There’s even a feature where enemies will do punishable moves slower, so you’ll learn to interrupt them and take advantage in battle consistently.
If you plan on taking the fight to other timelines with Invasion mode, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. Make sure you take every path possible. You will want to find keys to keep progressing through certain areas. You’ll also want to take down any Towers you come across. Towers are an easy way to take on multiple enemies to stack even more currency and experience points. And finally, use Invasion as a chance to try more than your main fighter and Kameo. If you just stick to one, you’ll miss out on learning a new character with these new features. There’s a lot to experiment with in this mode.
Invasion is a mode that takes the greatest hits from Mortal Kombat’s single-player history, feeling like a museum of content for longtime fans of the series. And even for newcomers, it’s a great single-player mode to sink your time into and learn more about Mortal Kombat lore and competitive gameplay. Join the fight against invaders when Mortal Kombat 1 releases on September 19 for PlayStation 5.
Hello everyone, I’m Shawne Benson, part of the Global Third Party Relations team here at PlayStation. And I’m excited to announce a new State of Play broadcast streaming tomorrow, September 14 at 2pm Pacific.
Tomorrow’s broadcast will focus on updates to previously announced games coming to PlayStation consoles. From indie and PS VR2 highlights, to major upcoming titles from our third-party partners, our latest show has something for everyone!
Here at PlayStation, our vision is to be the best place to play, and publish, great games. And because there are thousands of developers and publishers all around the world constantly making great games, our team has their work cut out for them.
I hope you can tune in tomorrow to check out a diverse selection of upcoming games.
It all begins Thursday, September 14 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.
Hello PlayStation nation! My name’s James Hunt and I’m the Game Director for Fast Travel Games’ new PS VR2 title, Mannequin, coming in 2024. You may know the Fast Travel team from our long history of single-player VR experiences like Cities: VR and the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice, but Mannequin will be our first ever in-house multiplayer title, allowing up to 5 players to enjoy suspense, social deduction and fast, sudden action.
Let me tell you all about it.
Frozen in time
In Mannequin, our first original IP since 2019’s The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets, the world is reeling from the appearance of an extraterrestrial presence. Sites across the globe have started mysteriously freezing in time, and first responders called to these areas have become motionless, helpless statues.
Not only that, but a race of alien beings has been discovered at these locations, known to you and I as Mannequins. They boast potentially life-threatening abilities, and it’s up to a team of special Agents to hunt down these supernatural new threats before they themselves fall victim to the Mannequin’s powers.
What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse.
Fight to a stand still
In a standard match of Mannequin, three players work together as the titular aliens, facing off against a team of two Agents. As Mannequins, you’ll have the ability to assume a pose and then freeze yourself, turning into a statue with the appearance of one of the trapped first responders. You can use this power to set up the perfect ambush, lying in wait for Agents to appear and then dashing forward freezing them in-place with a touch of the hand.
But Agents are far from defenseless. Armed with state of the art technology, they can scan levels for a Mannequin’s rough location. Catch the enemy in the act or suss out which statue is an enemy in disguise and you’ll need to blast them with your laser pistol. The first team to wipe out the other wins, but there’s a few more twists that make Mannequin a game of intense strategy and shifting favor.
The race is on
Each of the game’s levels features Power Stations that Mannequins can steadily drain. Draining two Power Stations will grant the team enhanced powers, including the ability to see exactly where your enemy is. This can quickly turn the tide of a match, but Power Stations make for high risk areas that Agents are likely to keep under close watch. Make sure you’re not stumbling into a trap.
Agents also have another reason to defend these Power Stations. If Mannequins haven’t claimed them within three minutes of the start of a match, the human team will get the upgrades instead. Each side can also revive any downed allies, but this too creates the perfect opportunity for a deadly ambush.
This makes each game of Mannequin a sharp, tight and tense exercise in hide and seek. Can the Mannequins fool the Agents into thinking they’re friendly, then strike at the right moment? Or will an Agent’s cunning and use of gadgets help them come out on top?
Get involved
Here at Fast Travel, we know that making the best multiplayer games can’t happen without the support of our fantastic community. We want to know what you think of today’s reveal and what you want to see in the full game when it launches in 2024. We will have more to share, including the first gameplay footage, soon.
We really believe that Mannequin is going to be a flagship multiplayer game for PS VR2, but that can only happen with your help. Until next time, ask yourself – who can you trust?
The Tokyo Game Show Sale launches on PlayStation Store on September 13. For a limited time*, you can enjoy discounts on numerous games, including titles from notable franchises, including Resident Evil 4 Remake, Modern Warfare II Cross-Gen, Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition and Monster Hunter Rise.
*PlayStation Store’s Tokyo Game Show Sale runs from September 13 until September 27. Games featured in this promotion may not be part of this year’s Tokyo Game Show.
