Fantasian: Neo Dimension on PS5 – hands-on report

Produced and written by the legendary Hironobu Sakaguchi, and accompanied by a mesmerizing score from Nobuo Uematsu, Fantasian: Neo Dimension’s release on PS5 is set to enchant both new players and long-time Final Fantasy fans alike. Despite being originally designed for mobile in 2021, Fantasian is a full-scale JRPG with undeniable charm. I recently had the chance to dive into an early preview through the Ancient Hill area with Leo, Kina and Cheryl in my party. This segment included a few voiced cutscenes, a small area to explore, and a handful of fights, including an enigmatic special encounter and a classic boss battle. Here’s what stood out.

What’s new in this version

Fantasian: Neo Dimension brings several exciting upgrades with its release on PS5. The most noticeable is the stunning 4K resolution, which makes every detail of the meticulously crafted world pop with breathtaking clarity. Another welcome addition is the dual-language voice acting. Whether you prefer the authenticity of Japanese dialogue or the accessibility of English, Fantasian: Neo Dimension offers a fully voiced experience that brings its cast to life. Finally, the addition of an easier difficulty option means those who are new to the genre will get an easier time going through the title despite its classic JRPG difficulty.

One of the most intriguing new features is the ability to customize your soundtrack. For battles, players can choose between the original music composed for Fantasian —which is obviously excellent considering its author— or mix it up with iconic tracks from a selection of older Final Fantasy titles. You can choose a particular title, or use the random option to get a surprise soundtrack to play over each fight.

A unique art direction

The art direction of Fantasian: Neo Dimension is nothing short of extraordinary. The game’s world is built entirely from hand-crafted dioramas, which have been digitally recreated using drones equipped with 3D scanning technology. This meticulous process resulted in over 150 dioramas that form the game’s various environments, each one brimming with hand painted details.

The dioramas are crafted with an unparalleled level of care, with contributions from notable artists, including Akira Toriyama, the mastermind behind Dragon Ball, and veterans from Japan’s Tokusatsu industry, known for their work on practical effects in films and television. 

Exploring these diorama-based environments feels like stepping into a work of art, with layers of textures and intricate details I wished I could simply reach through the screen and touch. The physical craftsmanship creates a visual experience that is entirely unique to the title.

Merging legacy with innovation

One of the most remarkable aspects of Fantasian: Neo Dimension is how it masterfully combines classic JRPG elements with some innovative gameplay mechanics. Fans of traditional JRPGs will find comfort in the familiar turn-based combat system, complete with elemental weaknesses and your classic spells. However, the game introduces a simple twist by allowing players to manually aim the trajectory of attacks and spells, enabling them to ricochet off multiple enemies. Some of these attacks will be your classic area-of-effect spell or single-target slash, but other attacks will pass through enemies and you can manually adjust the curve of the spell to hit specific enemies in its path. This added layer of strategy is super satisfying, particularly during large-scale battles.

And to boot, larger scale battles are guaranteed by the Dimengeon system, a feature that addresses perhaps one of the most common criticisms of traditional JRPGs: the sometimes repetitive random encounters. Instead of regularly battling the same enemies in the overworld, Fantasian allows you to store these encounters in the Dimengeon, an alternate dimension where you can tackle them all at once. A couple caveats to this: any enemy you haven’t encountered yet will still trigger an instant battle, and you can only store a certain number of enemies before you’ll have to dip your toes in the Dimengeon and clear the queue. 

This system not only streamlines gameplay, allowing you some lovely uninterrupted exploration phases, but also allows for some excellent fights. When you enter the Dimengeon, you’ll find various bonuses scattered throughout letting you steal an enemy’s turn or buff your party’s attacks. Picking these up by aiming your attacks through the bonuses turns these mass battles into thrilling, high-stakes encounters. I found this system particularly enjoyable, as it allowed for more creative approaches in combat. The sheer number of enemies in these Dimengeon battles – which caps at 30 in a single fight – gave me the opportunity to experiment with different spells and strategies, making each encounter fresh and exciting.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension is a beautifully crafted love letter to the JRPGs of old, enriched with modern enhancements that make it feel fresh and innovative. The combination of stunning handcrafted diorama environments, classic gameplay elements, and new mechanics like the Dimengeon system creates an experience that is both nostalgic and novel. As a fan of the genre, my time with Fantasian: Neo Dimension definitely left me eager for the full release.

A brand-new vocation is coming to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

If you’re an RPG fan, you probably need no introduction to Dragon Quest III. This RPG is one of those rare, precious games that captured the imagination of players, critics, and creators alike, and changed the genre. If you’ve ever played a Japanese RPG, it likely owes a debt to Dragon Quest III.

So, it’s pretty exciting that this legendary game is making a return as Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. The new game reimagines this classic adventure from the ground up, bringing its world and characters to life in the vibrant HD-2D visual style made famous by games like Octopath Traveler I and II and Live A Live.

But Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake doesn’t just look to recreate the past – it builds on it. The game includes new features that make the game feel fresh, modern, and deeper.

We’re excited to reveal just a few of these new additions.

New party customization

In Dragon Quest III HD-2D, you play as a young hero sent on a quest to do what your father could not: defeat the Archfiend Baramos. It’s not an easy task, but fortunately, you can get some backup to help you out.

You can form a team of up to four characters, including your hero, near the start of the game by visiting Patty’s Party Planning Place. In the original game, you could simply choose their vocation, which determines their role and skills in battle. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, however, gives you a lot more options.

For example, you can now change up how they look…

… with fourteen different hair colors to choose from.

You’ll also get to select what kind of voice they have – their appearance won’t limit the voice types you can give them.

Combined with the many different personalities, which affect characters’ strengths and weaknesses, it lets you create a party that’s easier to become attached to – after all, they’re distinctly yours.

Friends forever

What if you create your perfect party member? Once your adventure is done, is that bold recruit lost forever?

Not in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake! The new game lets you register a volunteer so you can use them in another playthrough on the same account. They’ll even keep the attributes, level, and equipment they had when you registered them!

Meet the Monster Wrangler

Everyone in the party, your protagonist included, has a vocation. This determines what spells and abilities they’re capable of learning, how their stats will increase and the equipment they can use.

There are multiple vocations in the game, including classics like Warrior and Mage, but this remake adds a brand-new addition: Monster Wrangler!

Dragon Quest III features some of the most charming and iconic adversaries in gaming – even those new to the series will likely recognize the humble Slime, for example. Monster Wranglers know more than most about the world’s monsters and will help you befriend any creatures you find who looks lonesome.

They can also do battle with an array of monstrous abilities, from awesome attacks that hit multiple enemies at once, to helpful heals that can bring your party back from the brink.

Master the Monster Arenas

 As you play through the adventure, you may encounter monsters of a kinder disposition to those you take on in battle. They’re hidden all over the world – in towns, dungeons, and even secret areas on the world map.

If you scout these monsters, you can use them in another new addition to this remake: Monster Arenas.

You can use a team of three monsters in various arenas around the world, pitting their battle skills against those of other trainers. You can’t control monsters directly, but you can set their tactics to influence how they act. Each tournament has its own rank, so you’ll need a good team and a good strategy to overcome the tougher challenges.

It’s well worth it, as you’ll be richly rewarded with gold and other prizes!

That’s just a few of the new features coming in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Of course, there’s plenty more to discover, including new voiceovers, illustrations and more. And, of course, that HD-2D visual style makes it all look positively gorgeous.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D launches for PS5 on November 14, 2024. Preorder now to enjoy the following in-game bonus items:

  • Equipment: Elevating Shoes – gain XP with each step!
  • Consumable: Seed of Strength x3 – permanently raises strength attribute
  • Consumable: Seed of Defence x3 – permanently raises defence attribute
  • Consumable: Seed of Agility x3 – permanently raises Agility attribute
  • Consumable: Seed of Life x3 – permanently raises HP
  • Consumable: Seed of Magic x3 – permanently raises MP

An important update on Concord

Concord fans — we’ve been listening closely to your feedback since the launch of Concord on PlayStation 5 and PC and want to thank everyone who has joined the journey aboard the Northstar. Your support and the passionate community that has grown around the game has meant the world to us.

However, while many qualities of the experience resonated with players, we also recognize that other aspects of the game and our initial launch didn’t land the way we’d intended. Therefore, at this time, we have decided to take the game offline beginning September 6, 2024, and explore options, including those that will better reach our players.

While we determine the best path ahead, Concord sales will cease immediately and we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchased the game for PS5 or PC. If you purchased the game for PlayStation 5 from the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct, a refund will be issued back to your original payment method.

Customers who purchased from other digital storefronts will also be refunded. More information about refunds from Steam and Epic can be found below:

Steam Store – Steam Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days. Steam will send confirmation of the refund once it has been processed.

Epic Games Store – Epic Games Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days and will contact each customer directly to confirm that the refund has been processed.

Other retailer refunds – For customers who have purchased a physical copy at a retailer location outside of PlayStation directly, please refer to the refund process of the retailer you purchased it from to obtain your refund.   

Once refunded, players will no longer have access to the game. 

We’ll keep you updated and thank you again to all the Freegunners who have joined us in the Concord galaxy.

* Refunds for PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct purchases may take 30-60 days to appear on your bank statement. If your original payment source was unavailable, the purchase amount will be refunded to your PSN wallet.

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 492: Puzzling Platforms


Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here


Hey folks! The PlayStation Podcast crew punches in a quick episode covering this week’s gaming news and upcoming releases. Plus discussions on Astro Bot, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure.

Stuff We Talked About

  • Upcoming releases:
    • Astro Bot | PS5
    • Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions | PS5, PS4
  • PlayStation Monthly Games for September:
    • Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
    • MLB The Show 24
    • Little Nightmares II
  • Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Gameplay Blog
  • Astro Bot Character Design Blog
  • Hands-on reports:
    • Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
    • NBA 2K25
    • Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Black Myth: Wukong
  • Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure


The Cast

Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

O’Dell Harmon, Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Wingspan swoops onto PlayStation on October 11

Hi there, PlayStation community! We’re Monster Couch, and we make digital board game adaptations. Our digital version of Wingspan—one of the most acclaimed tabletop games of recent years—will be available on PS5 and PS4 on October 11.


Wingspan swoops onto PlayStation on October 11

We’re excited to tell you about it – let’s start with the basics.

Wingspan, at its heart, is a strategy card game in which every card is a bird you place into one of the three habitats of your portfolio – wetlands, grasslands and forest. Sounds easy, right? It is! But the devil’s in the details, as each habitat has its specific purpose, and every card you place has its own cost and unique abilities you can make use of. By thinking strategically and smartly combining the birds’ abilities, you’ll create satisfying combinations, chains, and engines that will net you victory points, and by scoring more than your opponents, you’ll win the game.

At the same time, the game offers a cozy, relaxing escape. You’ll be placing your birds on idyllic preserve backdrops, listening to their chirps and the game’s serene soundtrack. It’s a change of pace compared to the breakneck tempo of some of the other games on the market. That’s because we wanted Wingspan to be something you can play to unwind, and the visuals and music were created with this in mind.

Let’s talk about game modes for a second. Whether you’re a solo player and want to test your skills against AI opponents or the Automa (which is a specifically designed artificial opponent governed by a deck of cards, which works a bit differently to AI players), or play multiplayer with your friends or family locally, you can do that in Wingspan. You can also hop online to join match-made games with birders from all over the world. There are even weekly challenges for those who really want to show off their competitive spirit. There’s something here for every type of player!

What sets Wingspan apart from similar titles is that it’s not just a bunch of mechanics with a slapped-on theme. It’s a charming little preserve full of beautiful birds you create each game you play, in which the birds’ abilities correspond to their real-life counterparts. For example, your hawks will hunt, your pelicans will fish, and your geese will form a flock. You’ll be able to get to know interesting tidbits about your preserve’s inhabitants from the cards, too.

What’s cool is that when Wingspan launches on October 11, it’s not just the base game that will be available. We’re bringing the entire flock of expansions and decorative content to the PlayStation consoles! These include two big expansions released up to this point – European and Oceania – with all kinds of new birds from the respective continents and new gameplay elements. In addition to that, two decorative packs are coming, with new backgrounds and avatars you can use to customize your in-game profile.

Last, but not least – Wingspan will also launch physically simultaneously, thanks to the fantastic team over at Merge Games. The Special Edition box will include the following:

  • The base game
  • European and Oceania expansions
  • Seasonal Decorative Pack

If you’re one of the gamers who would like to show off your shelf collection, the Special Edition is for you.

Hopefully, the above gives you an idea of Wingspan. In this post, we reflected on the game’s core gameplay aspects and relaxing nature (pun intended). We can’t wait to see you in the game on October 11.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Photo Mode detailed

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on PlayStation 5 is a stunning game, filled with jaw-dropping action sequences, breathtaking environments, and intense battles that are perfect for capturing glorious screenshots. With the Swarm Engine taking full advantage of the PlayStation 5 hardware, pushing it to its limits to display hundreds of enemies and rich sceneries all at once, you’ll experience what it means to be a soldier in the galactic war that is Warhammer 40,000 like never before. 

Capture yourself shredding Tyranids as towering structures fall in the background. Fight alongside the relentlessly courageous Imperial Guard as they defend the Recidious solar system. The Warhammer universe has never looked so rich. Whether you’re looking to immortalize a perfectly executed move or showcase the intricate details of your armor, Photo Mode is here to make it happen.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to become a master photographer in the grim darkness of the far future. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s PlayStation 5 Photo Mode is more than just a tool—it’s your canvas to create epic, dramatic, and awe-inspiring images. Start your journey as a Warhammer photographer!

Getting started with Photo Mode

You can enter Photo Mode directly from the pause screen during any single-player session. All you need to do is press the Square button and the game will automatically stop, giving you all the time you need to frame the perfect shot. Keep in mind that Photo Mode cannot be accessed during CGI or pre-calculated cutscenes, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial moments in the narrative.

Photo Mode offers a suite of intuitive tools to help you capture the perfect image, and it starts with the ways you can customize your Space Marines (and companions) to set them up just right before the money shot:

  • Character Visibility: Celebrating the sheer power and determination of Lieutenant Titus can sometimes require him to be the only subject of your screenshots, so you can choose to show or hide your AI companions with the Character Visibility function. That’s also true for Titus himself, if you’re looking to capture his battle-brothers Chairon and/or Gadriel.
  • Helmet Visibility: Some Space Marines among you like to feel the last breaths of their enemies on their skin during combat while others prefer the extra safety and the fierce look of a Primaris Marine’s helmet. Choose whether or not to equip it in your shots with the Helmet Visibility function.
  • Facial Expressions: Add some personality to all the Space Marines in your shots with customizable facial expressions. Along with the standard Default, Helmet, and a range of intense emotions like an angry stare, a satisfied grin and more are available for you to play with.

Camera controls

Mastering the camera is key to creating stunning images:

  • Free Camera Movement: Move the camera freely on all axes, but note that it cannot stray more than 10 meters from your character or clip through walls.
  • Rotation: Rotate the camera to find the perfect angle.
  • Vertical Movement: Adjust the camera height to get the best perspective.
  • Camera Roll: Turn the camera from -90 to +90 degrees around your characters.
  • Hide UI: Temporarily hide the Photo Mode interface for an unobstructed view.

If you’d like to revert all the changes and adjustments you made since entering Photo Mode, you may press Reset Changes to return to your original framing. When everything is to your taste, all you’ll have to do to snap your picture is hit the Share button and save it using the PlayStation 5 interface you know so well.

Lens adjustments

To achieve the cinematic look you’re after, Photo Mode includes several lens options:

  • Field of View (FOV): Adjust the FOV from 50 to 115 degrees. The default in-game setting is 73.7, but you can experiment with the full range to dramatically change the feel of your shot.
  • Depth of Field (DOF): Control the distance between the closest and furthest objects in focus, ranging from 0.3 to 50.0 (default is 5.0). This setting is crucial for creating those dreamy, blurred backgrounds.
  • Focus Distance: Set the distance at which objects are in sharp focus. The range is from 0.3 to 25.0, with the default set at 3.0.
  • Blur Intensity: Control the intensity of blur for out-of-focus objects, from 0% to 100%, with a default setting of 15%.

Image effects

Fine-tune the mood and style of your screenshots with a variety of effects. For those who may be new to Virtual Photography, there are a few important subtleties we’d like to explain to let you take full advantage of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Photo Mode.

Brightness will control the overall brightness of the picture, meaning that all colors are affected at once as you brighten or darken your shot. On the contrary, Exposure will only affect the amount of light shining on your subjects and retain the colors’ true tones. Contrast allows you to increase or lower the colors’ sharpness of your shots, with either a clear difference between the bright light tones and deep dark ones or very little. Tweaking your screenshots’ Saturation setting lets you take a different approach. As with Exposure, you will be retaining the true nature of the colors and be able to play with their intensity, but an easy way to think about it is this: the more saturation you have, the less grey is in your colors and the more intense they’ll look. The less you have, the more colors will look faded and grey-ish versions of themselves.

You can also play with Bloom to blend colors at the edges of your characters and decor to obtain a blurry effect affecting your whole picture, making it distinct from the depth of field that really controls where you decide you set your primary focus and how deep you want it. Think of Bloom as how greasy do you want your camera’s lens to be  Let’s close this section with the Hue, Vignette and Film Grain settings. The first will allow you to shift all the colors in your shot at once while retaining their relative positions on the color spectrum. Your screenshots may look very different color-wise but all details will be kept. The second simply lets you add a dark tone at the edges of your picture that creeps inwards as you increase it. It’s a great way to focus people’s attention on the center of your frame while hiding some of the less interesting details around the sides. Finally, the last lets you add that authentic grainy look that you may know so well if you ever watch old motion pictures shot on film.

Filters and Overlays

In addition to the lens setting, the PlayStation 5 Photo Mode comes with a set of pre-set filters and customizable overlays:

  • Filters: Choose from Default, Monochrome, Sepia, Cold, or Warm filters to change the overall tone of your image.
  • Frames: Select from various frames like Letterbox, Bloody or Toxic to add a dramatic border to your shot.
  • Logos: Proudly display the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or the Saber Interactive logos.

Saving Your Presets

Once you’ve found the perfect combination of settings, don’t worry about losing them. Photo Mode automatically saves your adjustments within the same game session. So you can exit and re-enter without losing your hard work.

When your screenshots are ready

Share your screenshots of the 41st millennium with your PlayStation friends or show your undying bravery to the world by sharing your bloodiest, most gruesome executions with the Share button on your DualSense controller. You may even post your creations directly to your social media accounts for all of the Space Marine 2 community to see! Once you’re back in the action, enjoy stunning 4K resolution at locked 30 frames per second with Space Marine 2’s Quality Mode or opt for a smooth 60 frames per second with our Performance Mode. This combination of visual fidelity and fluid performance not only enhances the gameplay experience but also elevates the potential of Photo Mode, as you may switch between the two to increase the level of detail and overall quality.

We can’t wait to see what creations you’ll come up with, Astartes.

For the Emperor!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 releases on PlayStation 5 on September 9. Pre-order the Gold or Ultra Editions to play up to 4 days early and receive new cosmetics after release by purchasing the game’s Season Pass.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6  — hands-on report

Activision recently declassified a trove of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 intel, including hands-on with Multiplayer, round-based Zombies, and Warzone. I blasted across six new Multiplayer maps, the undead-infested Liberty Falls, and a Nuketown-inspired Resurgence map. Each Black Ops 6 mode also touts Treyarch’s new Omnimovement mechanic, adding slick fluidity to the series’ signature gunplay.

Black Ops 6 launches on PS5 and PS4 on October 25, but if you want a head start on the action check out full details on the upcoming Beta starting August 30.

Now let’s dig into the hands-on details.

Multiplayer

Omnimovement – Black Ops 6’s new marque mechanic is crackling with potential. You can now sprint and hold the Circle button to dive in any direction while maintaining 360-degree aiming control. By the time I wrapped my mind around the possibilities, and was diving down staircases and doing mid-air 180s to take out pursuers. Another favorite technique is to dive into an enemy-occupied room and gun them down before they can react. Better yet, Omnimovement is globally featured across MP, Zombies, and Warzone.

Global weapon loadouts and progression – Two huge quality-of-life improvements for Black Ops 6 make managing your arsenal smoother. Global weapon progression means you’ll have access to all the weapons and attachments you earn across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone. Additionally, any loadout or Gunsmith edits you make in one mode will be mirrored globally to the other modes.

Kill Order mode – This new mode has both teams protecting their own High-Value Target while hunting down the enemy’s HVT. Treyarch has found a slick balance between chaotic TDM-style action and a light layer of strategic, objective-based play. It’s definitely entering my regular rotation.

Body shields – Got the drop on an enemy? A new body shield mechanic lets players grab an unaware enemy for some extra protection. For a diabolical touch, Treyarch has activated proximity chat across teams to exchange words. Mind your sportsmanlike conduct! 
Best Play – Celebrate your team’s game-winning display or examine your downfall with the return of Best Play cams, which mark the end of the match with a third-person camera flourish.

Shoot doors to open them – A nice hands-free touch.

Treyarch’s MP design philosophy – Black Ops 6 marks a return to the studio’s MP bread and butter: small, fast, three-lane maps. The move away from large, expansive maps means you’ll always be around the corner from some combat. Prepare for 16 all-new maps at launch.

New Multiplayer Maps – I fought across six of the upcoming Core 6v6 maps during the hands-on event. 

  • Scud – A massive, downed radar dish acts as a map reference point. Deep winding trenches, underground passages, and explosive red barrels are scattered around the map for plenty of unpredictable action.
  • Rewind – Firefight through a U.S. city street, with the map’s namesake being a ‘90s-era video rental store within a strip mall. Close-quarters combat breaks out amidst piles of VHS tapes, with a fast-food restaurant across the road for more intense encounters.
  • Skyline – A ritzy condo atop a city skyscraper. A narrow upper-floor hallway became a central point of conflict, where plenty of ranged firefights broke out, complete with a swimming pool below to dive down into when things get heated. Watch out for the perilous elevator shafts at the map’s bottom.
  • Babylon – These crumbling, sandy ruins are a paradise for anyone craving intimate battles in tight spaces. Pack an SMG or shotgun to help clear corners.
  • Derelict – Abandoned train cars fill a shattered trainyard, creating jagged pathways through the map with unique lines of sight that will keep your head on a swivel.

Round-based Zombies

Round-based returns – Treyarch resurrects to the roots of Zombies mode with players surviving waves of progressively stronger monstrosities, demanding steady progress through the map and powering up weapons to survive. The two launch maps include the claustrophobic Terminus and colorful new Liberty Falls…

Liberty Falls map – This launch map is a slice of necrotic Americana. Blast through waves of undead while exploring the small town’s vehicle-cluttered streets, the lanes of a bowling alley, motel, comic book shop, otherworldly church, and more locations. Ziplines connect the rooftop destinations of the town, creating a layer of twisty-turny paths to learn.

Shared Door Buys – Players can now pool funds to open doors and progress through Zombies maps, which means more money for powering up your gear.

Exfil or die – Risk and reward reign in round-based Zombies. Exfil offers an opportunity to end your run on a high note, or you can go down fighting in new dramatic game over outros that change dynamically depending on where and how you die. I botched my exfil, failing to clear out the zombies swarming the landing zone in time. My resulting game over involved an armored zombie grabbing onto my escaping chopper and punching it to smithereens.

Melee Macchiato Perk – This new drink powers up your punch to send zombies flying across the map with a click of R3.

Wonder Weapons – Demolish the dead with the Ray Gun, Beamsmasher, and devastating Thrustodyne Model 23. The latter is a massive, repurposed jet engine that vacuums up zombie packs and shreds them to ribbons.

Directed Mode – Need a guide through the zombie hordes? Treyarch is releasing a new Directed Mode post-launch with Season 1, which will assist players in the Main Quest up through wave 15.

Warzone

Area 99 – The launch of Black Ops 6 is accompanied by a new Resurgence map. Area 99 is the birthplace of the iconic Black Ops map, Nuketown. An abandoned facility with a decrepit retro ‘60s vibe makes for a fresh Warzone addition.

New Points of Interest – Area 99 packs 10 tantalizing spots to land. Here are a few I fought through:

  • Pod Dormitory – These retro-futuristic multicolored dorms are made of offshoot pod-like capsule apartments. A great spot to land and possibly snag some loot, privacy, and a vantage point.
  • House Factory – A destination filled with half-constructed prefabricated houses, resulting in some interesting and unexpected sightlines. This point of interest even includes a tiny replica of the iconic Nuketown map. Cute!
  • Nuclear Reactor – Take it from me – do not jump into the glowing green irradiated coolant. 
  • Mannequin Assembly – Piles of damaged mannequins are scattered all around this facility, presumably destined for a weapons testing site somewhere.. Watch out for the hydraulic press above the conveyor belt, which is still active…
  • Other Points of Interest – Look forward to also looting Nuketown Shipping, Test Site, Bunker, Loading Bay, Cooling Towers, and Warehouse.

The weapon inspect animations are undeniably cool.

Treyarch and the rest of the COD devs have something special in store here for Black Ops fans especially, and Omnimovement is a gameplay innovation that makes the storied franchise player extra fresh once again.

But don’t just take my word for it. If you pre-ordered Black Ops 6, you’ll be able to dive into the early access beta starting tomorrow, August 30. The full game launches on October 25.

Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Everything you need to know about the Black Ops 6 beta and more, straight from Call of Duty: Next.

For Black Ops 6, Treyarch revisited the standard Multiplayer core modes, added key improvements for Domination and Hardpoint, and the brand-new Kill Order mode you can play during the Beta. Let’s get into all the Multiplayer beta information, plus new gameplay details for round-based Zombies and Warzone.

Black Ops 6 Beta dates


Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Weekend one: August 30 – September 4  

Weekend one is available to players who have pre-ordered the game and starts on August 30 at 10am PT, ending September 4 at 10am PT.

Weekend two: September 6 – 9  

The second Beta weekend is available to all players and is scheduled to begin on September 6 at 10am PT, ending on September 9 at 10am PT.

Black Ops 6 Beta rewards

Earn cosmetic rewards by reaching Player Level milestones throughout the Multiplayer Open Beta that persist through the launch of Black Ops 6 when it releases on October 25***.  

Pre-order digitally and get the Reflect 115 Camo Pack

Pre-order Black Ops 6 and you’ll receive a variety of pre-order benefits, including the brand-new Reflect 115 Camo Pack for Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone.

Pre-order the Digital Edition to receive the following:

  • Reflect 115 Camo Pack
  • Woods Operator Pack*
  • Early Access to the Open Beta**

Pre-order the Vault Edition and receive the previous rewards as well as the following:

  • Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack
  • BlackCell Season 1
  • Mastercraft Weapon Collection
  • GobbleGum Pack

Players who pre-ordered the Vault Edition can gain access to the Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack, as well as the Mastercraft Weapon Collection, during the Black Ops 6 Beta.

The Reflect 115 Camo Pack includes the Reflect 115 Mastery Camo, usable in Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone. In addition, you receive three Flawless Aetherium Crystals, three Legendary Aether Tools, and three Ray Gun Weapon Cases for immediate use in Modern Warfare Zombies. 

COD Next gameplay details 

Omnimovement

Treyarch boosts player mobility options across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone with new Omnimovement mechanics. The new feature allows players to seamlessly chain combat maneuvers together, like sliding, diving, and a newly enhanced supine prone, all with a full 360-degree range of motion.

Black Ops 6 Zombies


Full details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, live August 30

Every Zombies map coming to Black Ops 6 – including Terminus and Liberty Falls at launch and additional maps throughout upcoming Seasons – includes a multi-stage Main Quest. Whether you’re hunting through the Liberty Lanes bowling alley for a delicious can of Stamin-Up or visiting Olley’s Comics for a Quick Revive (as well as the exciting first issue of the Aetherella graphic novel), you’ll have access to the same thirst-quenching Perks found in Terminus at launch.

Call of Duty: Warzone – Area 99 Resurgence map

Welcome to the birth of Nuketown. Call of Duty: Next brought the very first live gameplay of the all-new Warzone map, Area 99, coming to Season 1 later this year. Designed by Treyarch to optimize movement flow and visibility, let’s take a closer look at a Resurgence Map set firmly in the Call of Duty: Black Ops world.

Set against the unrelenting heat of the Nevada desert, Area 99 – or more specifically, the Echo Ridge Weapons Station – was a top-secret government site constructed in the 1950s, concealed from the public just miles away from the original Nuketown testing site. Designed to push the bounds of radiation testing, Area 99 was subsequently abandoned and erased from government records after an unfortunate reactor leak.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on PS5 and PS4 on October 25. The Truth Lies.

*Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III / Call of Duty: Warzone on the pre-ordered platform required to redeem Woods Operator Pack and Reflect 115 Camo Pack. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.

**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of Open Beta subject to change. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. PlayStation Plus subscription may be required for MP Beta.

***Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately.

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for September: Quidditch Champions, MLB The Show 24, Little Nightmares II

Take flight into the wizarding world when Quidditch Champions launches September 3, making its debut as part of September’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup. That same day*, all PlayStation Plus members** can also enjoy the thrills of making themselves a sporting legend on the diamond with MLB The Show 24, or attempt to survive a horror-themed adventure with Little Nightmares II. 

Let’s take a closer look at each. 

Quidditch Champions* | PS4, PS5

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Quidditch by playing solo or sharing the magic with friends and family.

Live your Quidditch fantasy: take to the sky as one of the classic positions – Chaser, Seeker, Keeper or Beater – each with their own unique play style. Soar into legendary Quidditch arenas and new maps that showcase never-before-seen areas of the wizarding world. Take on Career Mode to progress from backyard battles in the Weasley Burrow to high-stakes showdowns at the Quidditch World Cup. Rise to become a champion either solo or in online co-op with teams of up to three friends, and launch into exhibition matches where you’ll set your teams, map and difficulty and play alone or on teams of up to three in online co-op. Or select player vs player to test your skills in competitive online matches against other Quidditch teams.

MLB The Show 24 | PS4, PS5

Swing for the fences, experience game-deciding moments, become a legend and live out your baseball dreams. Set out on the road to baseball greatness – whatever it is you want to achieve, MLB The Show 24 has got you covered.

Earn your call up from the minors to the big leagues and prove you’ve got what it takes at the top. Learn about known and unsung legends of the sport and take inspiration from their heroics. Hold your nerve when it matters and earn the right to be called World Series champions. Chalk up the wins, pick yourself up after the losses. Whatever happens, know you left nothing in the dugout. Everyone has a moment to own. Everyone has a story to tell. Unlock your moment. Own The Show. 

Little Nightmares II | PS4, PS5

Discover the sinister secrets of The Signal Tower in this horror-themed platform adventure where you control Mono, a young boy trapped in a distorted and broken world. Joined by Six, the raincoat wearing hero from the original Little Nightmares, only you can help her from fading away into nothingness. As the relationship between Mono and Six grows, the duo must work together using a combination of stealth and an array of items to overcome tricky puzzles and horrifying enemies. Muster your courage and begin your journey in the face of terrible threats in a mission to stop the source of evil that’s spreading throughout the land.

Last chance to download August’s games

PlayStation Plus members have until September 2 to add LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga, FNAF Security Breach and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights to their game libraries.

*All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on September 3 until September 30.

**PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup may differ in certain regions. Please check the PlayStation Store on launch day for your region’s lineup.

New Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gameplay – fighting and exploring the Flying Waters region

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG incorporating real-time elements, focusing on a unique journey to stop The Paintress from ever painting death again. In this early preview of the game’s initial stages, PlayStation fans will get a first look at gameplay in Flying Waters, a mysterious region where Gustave and Lune search for their missing companion, Maelle. 


New Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gameplay – fighting and exploring the Flying Waters region

Each environment within Expedition 33 offers something distinctive. Flying Waters, for example, defies conventional physics, presenting a setting that is both underwater and not. This surrealistic approach is central to the game’s design, aiming to immerse you in a world where the impossible becomes possible. Inspirations from surrealist art are woven throughout, creating a striking experience that constantly keeps you on the edge of discovery. 

In Flying Waters, you will navigate environments filled with remnants from past expeditions, such as destroyed structures, worn paths, and other telltale signs of previous groups that met untimely ends. Expedition 68 perished here, and by closely examining the area, you can piece together how they met their tragic end. 

Making these environments fun to explore was something key for us. So, we built them to be nonlinear, with a layer of verticality and full of mysteries and secrets. There are multiple tools at your disposal to reach every hidden area: a grapple, climbing hooks left by previous expeditions, ropes… Exploring a level fully will always be very rewarding and you may find secret bosses, items or even entire secret levels by being meticulous in your exploration.

 Combat in Expedition 33 blends traditional turn-based mechanics with reactive real-time elements. During battles, timing is key—whether initiating attacks or defending against incoming strikes. The battle system requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. While commands are inputted in a turn-based format allowing you to take as much time as you need to establish your strategies, you must also react swiftly during enemy attacks to defend effectively.

Basic attacks in the game deal minimal damage, so you must rely on skills and special abilities to topple powerful enemies. Many skills come with timed commands that enhance damage or provide other bonuses. As battles progress, you will see the turn order displayed on the left side of the screen, giving you a clear understanding of when to expect attacks and when to prepare your counters. You will be able to dodge using Circle and parry with R1. Dodging allows for a larger timing window, letting you evade attacks completely, while parrying demands more precise timing. A perfectly executed parry not only negates damage but can also trigger a powerful counterattack if the entire combo of an enemy is parried. And yes, this means that in theory, you can beat any enemy of the game at level 1. Good luck with that.

Each party member in Expedition 33 has their own unique playstyle, featuring abilities that can change how you approach combat. Gustave can charge his mechanical arm, building up his Overcharge to unleash a devastating special move. The longer the charge, the more spectacular and damaging the resulting attack. Lune, on the other hand, can infuse skills with elemental affinities using her ability called Stains, enabling you to exploit enemy weaknesses with devastating effects!

In battle you can also use the Free Aim system to shoot at an enemy’s weak points. The Demineur, for example, is accompanied by floating sea mines, and targeting and detonating these before you approach them will cause a chain reaction.

After battle, you can level up and allocate points to various stats and customize each character’s build. Skill Points earned in battles can be spent unlocking new abilities in each character’s unique skill tree, allowing for further specialization and strategy customization. We also have other progression systems that allow you to make really crazy builds that we can’t wait to reveal in future updates.

Bosses in Expedition 33 are powerful and usually have an element that adds to their strength in combat. Goblu is surrounded by flowers that grant it potent buffs, which can quickly turn the tide against the party. In these cases, the free-aim system becomes crucial, allowing you to target and disable these flowers, weakening Goblu and shifting the battle in your favor. Identifying and exploiting these unique boss mechanics will be vital to your victory.

This preview has offered just a glimpse into the world of Expedition 33, and we’re excited to share even more in the future. Our team is small and incredibly passionate about games in this genre, and we are dedicated to creating an experience that both honors classic RPGs and pushes boundaries in new ways that haven’t quite been done before. Our dream is to make a game that will profoundly touch players as much as the classics impacted our lives. And hey, even if we fail, we lay the trail for those who come after, right?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on PS5 in 2025 – Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

See you soon, Expeditioners!