Category: PlayStation

What an exciting moment for PlayStation players, as the Insomniac team just wrapped up a captivating panel at San Diego Comic-Con with fantastic new reveals from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This includes a first look at the PS5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle, which features a custom PS5 console cover design and matching DualSense wireless controller.

We were thrilled to debut these stunning designs to our fans today because of how they capture the look and feel of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The threat of Venom and the symbiote will be one of the most formidable challenges that our two Spider-Men will face in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This is why we wanted to reflect the intensity of the symbiote and its capacity for transformation and power with a takeover design for the PS5 console and DualSense wireless controller.

The front cover of the PS5 shows the symbiote tendrils aggressively creeping closer to the Spider-Man icon, threatening to consume the last bit of the remaining red shining brightly through. The symbiote has completely bonded to the back of the PS5 console with the iconic white Spider-Man icon from Insomniac’s Advanced Suit on display. On the DualSense wireless controller, you can see a larger portion of the controller taken over by the symbiote design.

It’s been fantastic collaborating with the teams at Insomniac Games and Marvel on this new look for the PS5 console and DualSense controller. Here’s Senior Art Director Jacinda Chew, who shares her thoughts behind the design inspiration:

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“The design was inspired by the in-game symbiote that’s taking over the console and controller, but you can still see some of the underlying red under the tendrils. This represents the various ways players will experience the symbiote takeover in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It’s a constant push and pull for dominance whether it’s internal or external and the outcome is not certain.”

– Jacinda Chew, Senior Art Director, Insomniac Games

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We recognize the importance the symbiote holds, so we hope players can feel the inspiration behind this stunning design while they play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. With the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D Audiotech, you can pinpoint the sounds from bio-electric powers, dangerous enemy attacks, and the bustling traffic of Marvel’s New York. As you travel across different parts of the city, the PS5 console’s ultra high-speed SSD enables you to experience near-instant character switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales. And with the DualSense wireless controller, you’ll feel the action of web-swinging using the adaptive triggers, while haptic feedback provides responsive vibrations as you experience Peter Parker’s new symbiote abilities and Miles Morales’ evolved bio-electric skills.

The PS5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle includes a limited edition PS5 console, a limited edition DualSense wireless controller, and a voucher for a digital copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Standard Edition.

If you already own a P55 console, we have great news for you, too. You can also purchase the PS5 Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, PS5 Digital Edition Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, and DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition separately to add this bold new look to your current PS5 console.

Pre-orders will begin on July 28 at select retailers in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

For Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, the PS5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle, PS5 Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, PS5 Digital Edition Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, and DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition will be available starting September 1, ahead of the game’s official release.

The PS5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle will be launched on September 15 in Malaysia and on October 20 in the Philippines and Vietnam. PS5 Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, PS5 Digital Edition Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, and DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition will be available starting September 1 in Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

For players purchasing the full PS5 bundle, the included game voucher can be redeemed when Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases on October 20. Players who purchase the bundle that has a voucher for the digital Standard Edition of the game will also get the same pre-order incentive items available to those who pre-order Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – an early unlock Arachknight Suit for Peter with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Shadow Spider Suit for Miles with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Web Grabber gadget, and 3 skill points.

I hope you enjoy this new design! We can’t wait until Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases on October 20 when everyone can experience Peter Parker’s and Miles Morales’ incredible new adventure on PS5.

San Diego Comic-Con has always been one of the most exciting times for Marvel fans. We had an amazing time in 2018 with the original Marvel’s Spider-Man, and we were thrilled to make a return trip to Hall H today to talk about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. For those of you who couldn’t join us – here’s a recap of what happened!

We wanted to start the panel off with a bang, debuting our brand-new Story Trailer. Take a look!

The trailer sets up our story in the game while also giving you your first full look at the monstrous Venom in Marvel’s New York! Here’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Senior Narrative Director Jon Paquette to offer a deeper look:

“At the beginning of our story, our Spider-Men are at the top of their game,” said Paquette. “But both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are struggling with their personal lives. Miles is trying to find time to write his college entrance essay, but he keeps procrastinating and focusing on Spider-Work instead. Meanwhile, Peter is underwater on payments for Aunt May’s house, but he can’t sell, it means too much to him. And just like Miles, Peter tries (and fails) to find balance with so many responsibilities. MJ wants to help Pete with the mortgage, but her job is on the line now that J. Jonah Jameson is back at the Bugle and looking to clean house. Our heroes have arrived at a confluence of crossroads, with uncertain futures, and some tough decisions ahead.”

When Kraven’s hunters arrive in the city, it sets off a mystery of why they are there and who, and what, they are hunting. But as the Spider-Men and MJ dig deeper into Kraven’s motivations, the symbiote begins to threaten Marvel’s New York and everyone and everything they hold dear.

As many of you noticed in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Gameplay Trailer from the PlayStation Showcase in May, Peter’s new Black Suit affected his personality and gives him new, powerful symbiote abilities. You see bits of that in this trailer as well, and you can see Peter’s symbiote powers tax his relationships with Miles, MJ and Harry.

(Spoilers for 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man ahead!) Given how much Miles Morales looks up to Peter for mentorship and guidance, this creates further problems. Beyond trying to figure out what’s next for his life, Miles continues to struggle with the death of his father at the hands of Martin Li, aka Mister Negative. As you saw from the trailer, you haven’t seen the last of Mister Negative.

We asked Senior Creative Director Bryan Intihar about some of the new abilities that players will get to use in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2:

“We’ve always thought of our Spider-Heroes as ‘acrobatic improvisors,’ and in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, we wanted to equip them with new ways to do so during combat,” said Intihar. “This includes Pete’s Spider-Arms and Symbiote powers, while Miles now brings two forms of bioelectric Venom to every fight. And when you start combining these abilities with all-new Spider-Gadgets like the Web Grabber, it can lead to some exciting combos.”

This trailer also provided some new looks at our expanded Marvel’s New York. Now, you’ll be able to swing across the East River and explore Brooklyn and Queens. Coney Island makes its debut as well in the trailer and we can’t wait for you to explore it! And one way you can explore is with the Web Wings! Let’s hear more from Senior Game Director Ryan Smith:

“We are really excited for people to try out the Web Wings,” says Smith. “For us it was a cool opportunity to bring something people have seen in comics and movies and integrate it in the game. Swinging is the core of our Spider-Man traversal, so we designed the Web Wings to work with swinging and complement it. That way you can weave back and forth between the two to build up speed and height. When you use the Web Wings with our wind tunnels, though, that’s one of the ways to go across the city super-fast and really push the speed of traversal, which was one of our goals. Thanks to the power and speed of the PS5, Web Wings, add another layer to our traversal system and change up how you look at getting around the different parts of the city.”

With the reveal of Venom we thought it only appropriate to bring out our Collector’s Edition Statue for the first time and show it to the crowd.

If you still haven’t pre-ordered yours, be sure to check with direct.playstation.com or, in countries that aren’t serviced by Direct, your local retailer!

We asked both Bryan and Jon about bringing such an iconic Marvel character like Venom to life in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

“Our philosophy has always been that we want to respect the history of the franchise and the Spider-Man DNA, but also not be afraid to mix things up,” said Intihar. “The same holds true for one of its iconic characters, Venom. While the look of the character and several of his powers/abilities should be familiar to fans, this will be a unique Venom story that we are excited for everyone to experience this October.”

“When we decided to craft a Venom story, we knew we’d be making a bit of a tone shift. The best symbiote stories serve as an allegory: We all have darkness inside of us– but what would happen if we let it take over? With the introduction of the symbiote into our franchise, our heroes are forced to battle darkness, in all its forms,” added Paquette. “We wanted to see them change, both inside and outside, and feel the effect it has on those around them. And when Venom takes control, they face the real danger that they could lose themselves, and their loved ones, forever.”

Venom was brought to life by the sensational actor Tony Todd. We’ve long admired Tony and were so grateful to work with him to play Venom. His voice work brings to life Insomniac’s new monstrous design for the character – and Senior Art Director Jacinda Chew explains more:

“Our Venom was inspired by the comics, but there have been so many interpretations that it was fun to pick and choose what fits the game,” said Chew. “He has a unique take on the white spider icon and has the anatomy of a human. He also has powerful tendril attacks that can take many forms. It was challenging to find the right balance between liquid and solid in Venom’s materials as going too watery makes him look weak and going too solid can quickly turn him into a tentacle monster. Venom must look both powerful and semi liquid at the same time.”

We had some other fun news to share from SDCC. We are thrilled to work with one of my favorite poster artists, Tomer Hanuka, along with Marvel Games and Mondo, to produce a brand-new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 poster for San Diego Comic-Con. The poster depicts Venom battling our Spider-Men in Tomer’s signature art style. While the variant screen print’s sale (Edition of 215) is limited to Mondo’s Booth (Booth 5137) at the event, Mondo has a Timed Edition screen print on sale on their website! It’s available from now until Sunday, July 23^rd at 9:59pm PDT and they will print one for everyone who places an order. There’s also a special Promo Edition lithograph that the developers and voice actors will be signing at the Marvel Booth (Booth #2329) on Thursday, July 20.

We also discussed another collaboration with Mondo to release a vinyl soundtrack of the game’s amazing score from composer John Paesano. Kris Anka graces the vinyl with his incredible art which is currently in development. Starting today you’ll be able to pre-order the vinyl from Mondo’s website. 

Finally – we had one last big announcement to make and it’s one you’ve all been waiting for! If you missed it, check out the video below.

That’s right! Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be featured on custom PlayStation 5 hardware. The PS5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle has a custom PS5 console cover design with the symbiote closing in on our White Spider icon. Additionally, a matching DualSense wireless controller is included which again shows the symbiote threat creeping across the entire controller! The bundle also includes a voucher for a digital copy of the game. 

And you’ll be thrilled to know that for those who already own a PS5 console, you’ll also be able to purchase these Limited Edition items separately as individual products if you want. For those of you who have a PS5 console with a disc drive, you can purchase the PlayStation 5 Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition. If you own a PS5 Digital Edition, you can purchase the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Console Covers – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition. And finally, you will also be able to purchase the DualSense wireless controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition separately, as well.   

We’re very excited to announce that the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle, PS5 console covers, PS5 Digital Edition covers, and DualSense wireless controller will release on September 1^st. Pre-orders begin on July 28^th

For players purchasing the full PS5 bundle, the included game voucher can be redeemed when Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases on October 20. Players who purchase the bundle, which has a voucher for the digital Standard Edition of the game, will also get the same pre-order incentive items available to those who pre-order Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, including an early unlock Arachknight Suit for Peter with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Shadow Spider Suit for Miles with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Web Grabber gadget, and 3 skill points.

For all the details on where and how to pre-order, as well as additional specifics around the Limited Edition designs, please check out the blog post here. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is now available for Pre-Order on PlayStation Store. We can’t wait for you to play the game on October 20, only on PS5. As always, for all the latest, be sure to follow Insomniac Games on Twitter and Instagram.

Airship Syndicate, the developer behind the upcoming online co-op RPG Wayfinder, loves a colorful world. It’s no surprise why, either. The team’s co-founder — artist and Creative Director Joe Madureira — traces his roots back to the equally vivid world of professional comics.

It’s a legacy you can clearly see in the bold, vibrant character designs of the titular Wayfinders themselves. These are heroes, called back from death to push back a hostile force in an ever-expanding, thriving online world when Early Access launches on August 15.

On the road to the initial release, we sat down with Joe to discuss how the Wayfinders came to be and what makes them so special to both play and create.

Where do you start designing a Wayfinder? Does it begin with an idea of what the character should look like, or does the design emerge from the gameplay?

Joe Madureira: It’s definitely both. Sometimes we start with a theme in mind, like with Venomess. We’ll say “Wouldn’t it be cool to have a character who was some sort of poisoner? Do we already have a character that does damage over time? Do we even want that?”

Other times, we step back and realize we don’t have enough ranged characters, or we haven’t featured a particular type of weapon enough to show players what’s possible. Sometimes we use those kinds of concessions to at least narrow things down.

But, you know, sometimes we just start drawing something cool and see where it takes us.

What led you to build a game based around the Wayfinders instead of more traditional custom RPG characters?

Well, it’s because we actually started with a more blank slate, generic characters where you picked a class – like a rogue or a warrior. We started designing the warrior first, with a classic sword and shield, and that’s where we started developing our very basic combat. Then we started on the rogue archetype, which ended up becoming Silo.

What actually prompted the change was that I did a sketch of what would become Silo with a little more modern flair. His shoes became a little more sneaker-like and he began to look a little more “tactical gear sporty,” rather than like a typical fantasy ranger.

At that point, everyone who saw it said that Silo had more character than what we could fit into a blank slate mannequin. We wished we could have characters with their own unique backstories. We realized that, having worked on games like Ruined King with Riot Games, we weren’t leaning on our strengths enough.

So, we reevaluated the other classes we had in the cooker and asked “What if this was a paladin? What if he was older and more grizzled and not some 30-year-old stud? What could we build from that?”

Once you get those early pieces in place, the rest of the puzzle starts to make sense.

Is there any detail about the Wayfinders that you’re particularly proud of?

I think we do a good job of telling each character’s story in-game, even right now, but it’s something we’re always trying to expand.

Right now, we have this discovery system that exists even outside of each character. By visiting different locations or interacting with certain objects, you get a little more lore and some rewards. Within that system, each character also has their own quest that kicks off new chapters based on how many discoveries you’ve made.

They’re all personalized, so Senja will have her own questline that Silo does not, but we want to have them all culminate together in a special way. Even when you complete that, though, it’s only the end of that first chapter. We definitely plan on adding more in the future.

I’m sure it’s hard to choose, but do you have a personal favorite Wayfinder so far?

It’s probably Niss, honestly, but I think Senja was more of a longshot. I didn’t know if we were going to be able to pull off the combination of her abilities with her personality — the way the crowd cheers around her and rose petals fall as she attacks.

I think she was the first Wayfinder that felt super unique, to the point where we said “We’ve got to push some of these other guys a little bit more…” Senja set the bar and it was really encouraging to pull it off, so we’re going to try more fun stuff like that.

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Wayfinder enters Early Access on PS4 and PS5 on August 15. Season 1 puts the spotlight on Venomess, a Wayfinder that loves to play with her prey while switching between ranged and melee combat with ease. Her chemicals can poison her enemies and strengthen her allies, and her thrusters give her tremendous mobility.

You can support Wayfinder’s development and gain entry to Early Access by purchasing one of four Founder’s Packs available at PlayStation Store. In addition to Early Access, Founders will unlock a set of time-limited and exclusive rewards that will never again be available in Wayfinder: including character skins like Hyroic Kyros, as well as a unique weapon, and mount. You can also upgrade your Founder’s Pack at any time via PlayStation Store.

Some of the best coming-of-age stories happen in times of great upheaval: war, revolution, calamity… but graduating high school while you’re staring down your almost-inevitable extinction, at the hands of one of the greatest disasters to ever hit planet Earth? That’s some rough stuff. Such is the setting of Goodbye Volcano High, a dramatic, narrative-driven tale of awkward proto-avian teenagers at a turning point when they should have the rest of their lives ahead of them–except they don’t.

Montreal-based indie studio KO_OP has been working on Goodbye Volcano High for several years now, and its tale of prehistoric high-school life is releasing very soon on PS4 and PS5. We sat down with the game’s director, Kyle McKernan, to get a deeper dive into character writing, wrangling the narrative, and how to weave mini-games into the fabric of a sprawling drama.

A drama for the Stone Ages

“The themes at the core of Goodbye Volcano High are love, friendship and youth facing what feels like an inevitable catastrophe,” says McKernan. “The game explores what it means to embrace family and found family in a time of crisis and the different ways people cope with impending disaster… One of our driving focuses was how you reconcile all your wants, needs, goals and love when the time to reach closure has been cut short.”

No matter what species you are, being a teenager isn’t easy, and the narrative of Goodbye Volcano High can often tackle some tough subjects: love, facing others’ expectations, drug use, and the looming specter of premature death. “Crafting the narrative was challenging because it demanded we probe some serious and often difficult topics for ourselves in order to realize them in our characters,” McKernan continues. “Facing mortality isn’t an easy thing to ruminate on, and it especially isn’t easy to focus on for years of development. Making sure we honored those feelings in our story was important to us and we placed a lot of pressure on ourselves to get it as right as we could.”

Tough situations means sometimes making tough choices, and when faced with tough decisions, you’ll be able to peer directly into the mind of protagonist Fang. “Our UI can reflect Fang’s thoughts to the player. When the player is making choices, they aren’t just picking something, they’re seeing what Fang thinks and what they are willing to do or say.”

Prehistoric personalities

Key to crafting an engaging narrative are characters that players come to love (or love to hate.) Volcano High’s students include: Fang, a would-be indie band vocalist; songwriter and guitarist Trish; drummer and dungeon master extraordinaire Reed; shy Student Council president Naomi; and straight-laced class president Naser–who also happens to be Fang’s brother.

To help the narrative connect with players, the KO_OP team put extra care into developing the personalities of these central characters, along with the many other faces at Volcano High. “The key focus for us is to let the player see themself in our characters one way or another,” says McKernan. “In games, you have a lot more tools at your disposal for doing that because the player is directly engaging with and influencing the game itself. We want the player to get inside the mind of Fang and draw out the experience they get from it naturally. Our cast of characters has a wide range of reactions to the end of the world–we hope we’ve provided a space for players to engage with their own internal struggles through our characters.”

The central cast went through quite a few iterations as development progressed, as McKernan tells us. “Our characters went through a lot of revision and refocusing as our overarching narrative and mood of the game settled into place. As the threads of our story evolved, the characters’ voices and personalities needed to match them and vice versa. It was a long process to make the characters’ internal struggles feel real and realized in the context of the game’s story. The push and pull of development requires a willingness to toss things out and break things down so that you can reform them.”

Ultimately, McKernan hopes that players will find themselves connecting to the gang. “We wanted the player to feel what our characters feel in the game. Not just fear and anxiety (which we have an ample supply of in the real world) but love, camaraderie, creativity, and hope amplified in the face of immense crisis. Even though the core of our narrative is difficult in a lot of ways, we want the player to come away from it feeling hopeful. That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of ups and downs there–we hope it’s all keenly felt. To us, authentic characters are critical to any narrative art, so for us it was extremely important that we feel our characters have an authenticity to their behavior, thoughts and feelings–especially for us to feel a connection to our work.”

Jurassic jams

One of the story’s main elements is Fang and Trish’s band, VVORM DRAMA. The band isn’t just a piece of background information–there will be parts of the game where you’ll need to play a rhythm mini-game to belt out a jam. As McKernan explains, these portions are just as emotionally charged as the rest of the game. “In order to let the music performance moments shine emotionally, it was important that we create rhythm mechanics that let the player be a part of the music while not being overly challenging. We wanted the player to engage with Fang’s fantasy around music and let them in on everything that means to the character.”

You won’t just be alternating between making decisions and playing tunes, though–there are also bits of experiential gameplay that help set the stage for what’s currently happening. “We have moments in the game where you get to look around at people in the world and get thoughts on them, or take a look at their social media posts that help to give a sense of place to the world our characters inhabit. We also have moments that show the emotions specific characters are feeling and engage the player in them: moments like doom scrolling social media when things get bad or playing music for your friends and hoping they like your song. Our mini-games serve to flesh out the world on a larger scale and the relationships/characters on a smaller scale.”

This prehistoric story may have been 66 million years in the making, but you won’t have to wait much longer to hang out with Fang and friends. Goodbye Volcano High will be available digitally for PS5 and PS4 on August 29.

Ever since we announced Firewall Ultra, the next evolution of the Firewall franchise, last year here on the PlayStation Blog, the outpour of encouragement from the community has been nothing short of amazing. The pure excitement in all your comments, messages, tweets, and posts have us all even more motivated to make the game as great as it can be.  

Which is why we’re so excited to debut our new gameplay trailer featuring fresh PvP gameplay footage!  

To cap off that excitement, today we’re thrilled to announce that pre-orders are officially live for Firewall Ultra starting today with a launch date of August 24, 2023 at 10PM (Bangkok/Jakarta) / 11 PM (Singapore/Kuala Lumpur/Hong Kong/Taiwan) / August 25, 2023 at 12AM (Seoul).

Firewall Ultra puts the next-gen VR features embedded in the PS VR2 front and center to deliver a compelling and immersive first-person shooter experience. This includes eye-tracking for innovative use cases like closing your eyes to avoid the effects of a flashbang, incredible haptic feedback in the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers for realistic weapon feedback, headset feedback when you take damage or toggle on night vision goggles, and so much more.  

Firewall Zero Hour players know how much we continue to support and build on the game after launch, and that we value feedback from our community – so we will be looking to explore adding more content such as new weapons and contractors, maps, additional game modes, and possibly manual reloads post-launch. Keep an eye out for our operation calendar and more info on our post-launch plans as we get closer to the release of the game. In the meantime, we are excited to reveal that we’ll be offering ways to acquire unique variants of our weapons when playing Firewall Ultra for the first time ever. These unique weapons* will come pre-fitted with great attachments, an exclusive skin, and legendary versions will even have a different look all together. 

* Unique Weapons require game progression 

We’ve also overhauled the game’s internal infrastructure with an immersive social lobby area and shooting range in our Safehouse between game sessions, dedicated servers to help minimize dropped network connections, and a new best-of-three round-based player-versus-player (PvP) format that will have you spending less time waiting and more time playing. You can read more about all of this in the PlayStation Blog’s hands-on report right here. 

What is Firewall Ultra? 

Firewall Ultra is the next evolution of the Firewall franchise following the 2018 hit PS VR shooter, Firewall Zero Hour. The primary PvP game mode called Contracts pits two teams of four against each other in a best-of-three series of matches that feature tense tactical combat across a variety of maps.  

In each match a defending team must protect a laptop full of classified intel using an assortment of gadgets and weaponry while the attacking team attempts to bypass the security access points and hack the laptop. Tools at your disposal include proximity mines you can place in crafty locations to catch attackers by surprise, door blockers to fortify your position, and many more. Attackers need to tread carefully around maps and work as a team to decrypt the intel before time expires.  

It is vital to be aware of your surroundings at all times while playing Firewall Ultra. Nighttime outdoor maps like Oil Rig, as seen in our gameplay trailer, or even the dark, decrepit corners of indoor maps like Office can get incredibly dark and dangerous. Thanks to the dynamic lighting and realistic shadows afforded by Unreal Engine 5, we’re able to deliver an incredible sense of tension, immersion, and visual fidelity in real-time. 

Firewall Ultra will feature a brand-new player-versus-environment (PvE) game mode that will let either you by yourself or you and up to three other contractors take on deadly enemy AI across the full selection of maps. It’s a whole new way to play Firewall and we can’t wait to share more about that mode soon. 

Cutting-edge FPS immersion 

We use eye tracking in a number of ways to enhance actual gameplay in Firewall Ultra. For example, you can close your eyes physically to avoid the blinding light of a flashlight. You can also close your non-dominant eye when aiming down the sight of a gun to make the view even tighter for slightly more precision. These are both natural things players find themselves doing while playing, so we reward you for getting lost in the experience, having a sense of presence, and giving into the immersion. 

Using eye tracking you’ll be able to quickly swap weapons on the fly without needing to take time away from the action and foveated rendering ensures you’ll always have a sharp and crisp look into the world thanks to PS VR2’s powerful 4K HDR** display. 

Just wait until you play one of the darker maps and witness the dynamic lighting from your side barrel flashlight attachment for the first time. There’s nothing else quite like it. 

Finger touch detection and the adaptive triggers elevate things even further, letting you feel the different resistance levels of each weapon in your hand. Pulling the trigger of a pistol is completely different from the trigger on a sniper rifle and experiencing the intense haptic kickback of a shotgun is incredibly visceral. Using the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers you’ll be able to flip a knife across your fingers for stealth takedowns – or simply show off this nimble hand movement to friends. You can even make realistic hand signals and silent commands to team members for better tactical realism and interactivity. The PS VR2 Sense controllers make for an incredibly immersive game experience. 

We leverage the amazing hardware features of PlayStation 5 to make it easier than ever to join your friends. If you see your friends in a game of Firewall Ultra, you can quickly hop directly into the squad immediately from the card in your PS5 Game Base if there’s room. Load times are blazing fast to cut down on friction. 

Pre-order details 

We want to thank all our fans for patiently waiting on new information to come out about Firewall Ultra and are pleased to reveal that your patience is being rewarded with pre-order and edition details.

Choose between the Firewall Ultra Standard Edition for SGD 54.90 / MYR 169 / IDR 579,000 / THB 1,290 which includes access to the full game or the Digital Deluxe Edition for SGD 79.90 / MYR 249 / IDR 879,000 / THB 1,990. When you pre-order Firewall Ultra before launch, you’ll get access to one of our favorite legendary weapons: the Reaper X75. This is included for both Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions when pre-ordered.

For those that purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition, you’ll receive early unlock of four of the game’s contractors (Meiko, Skip, Fang, and Node—pictured above,) which includes their unique skills, as well as alternate outfits for each contractor. The Digital Deluxe Edition will also include four weapon camos that can be applied to customizable weapons in the game and you get access one post-launch Operation Pass*** for Firewall Ultra.

We can’t wait to see you all in-game when Firewall Ultra launches exclusively for PS VR2 on August 24. Don’t forget pre-orders are live now so you can secure everything you need to prepare and be ready to squad up next month! 

** Consists of two 2000×2040 OLED displays
*** Access to complete content for one future Operation (date TBA). 

PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 required to play. PS VR2 is not for use by children under age 12. Internet connection & PS Plus membership required for online play. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

When PlayStation VR2 released earlier this year, it offered players a chance to experience virtual game worlds bristling with detail and immersive features. PS VR2 was the culmination of several years of development, which included multiple prototypes and testing approaches.

To learn more, we asked PS VR2’s Product Manager Yasuo Takahashi about the development process of the innovative headset and PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller, and also gained insight into the various prototypes that were created as part of this process.

Yasuo Takahashi, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Global Product Strategy & Management Dept. Section #1 Principal Product Manager

Developing the PS VR2 headset

PlayStation Blog: When did development for the PS VR2 headset start?

Yasuo Takahashi: Research on future VR technology was being conducted even prior to the launch of the original PlayStation VR as part of our R&D efforts. After PS VR’s launch in 2016, discussion around what the next generation of VR would look like began in earnest. We went back and reviewed those R&D findings and we started prototyping various technologies at the beginning of 2017. Early that same year, we began detailed conversations on what features should be implemented in the new product, and which specific technologies we should explore further.

For additional context, take a look at the PS VR2 Headset Teardown video which digs deeper into the features of the headset and its inner workings.

PSB: Which feature or design element took the longest to develop?

YT: From the concept planning phase, we were already thinking about introducing new features that would represent a generational leap compared to PS VR. These included eye tracking, headset feedback, and a single-cord setup. We also needed to include these features into the headset while maintaining a light and compact design. To achieve this, it was important to design a system that handled all the functions efficiently. Our teams worked very closely from the beginning to produce detailed technical estimates, and discussed how they could achieve an optimized design. It was a very important part of the early stages of the project, and although the research itself did not take that long, we were constantly optimizing even after the prototype was built.

Additionally, we dedicated a lot of time into making sure that the headset was comfortable to wear and hold.

PSB: Looking at these initial headset prototypes, I’m guessing that the weight significantly reduced during the development process?

YT: Yes, the initial prototype was focused on evaluating functionality rather than weight, as we were considering how to incorporate new features into the original PS VR design. We were also exploring the best system for tracking, and with our first outside-in/see-through prototype, we were simultaneously testing the see-through view camera as well.

After we performed functional evaluations, we then integrated the components into the actual system. The “tracking system study prototype” was a prototype created just prior to the integration, and although it was very large and heavy, it served an important role for evaluation.

Outside In/ See through prototype:
“The first prototype of would become PS VR2 featured IR LEDs for outside-in tracking, and a see-through view camera on the front and center part of the headset.”

Outside In prototype.
“A second prototype was created in parallel with the Outside-in/See-through Prototype. This one featured multiple IR LEDs for outside-in tracking placed on the front of the headset to test out tracking capabilities. A second prototype was created in parallel with the Outside-in/See-through Prototype.”

Inside Out prototype.
“This prototype was equipped with four cameras for inside-out tracking, and was created to evaluate the headset’s new tracking capabilities.”

After we performed functional evaluations, we then integrated the components into the actual system. The “tracking system study prototype” was a prototype created just prior to the integration, and although it was very large and heavy, it served an important role for evaluation.

Tracking camera positioning prototype
“Prototype used for considering the position and angles of the four cameras. Using a dial, the position and angle of each camera could be finely adjusted.”

Tracking system prototype
“Prototype for testing the four cameras on the front of the headset by connecting them to an evaluation board. This was performed prior to the production of the SoC (system-on-chip), which is responsible for integrating all components.”

In parallel, we also assessed the comfort and wearability of the headset. Since we already knew its expected weight, we evaluated numerous configurations of how the headset can be worn based on that estimate. We added many features, but in the end, we put a lot of thought into the materials and shape to make the headset feel lightweight. Each component itself was made lighter, the design was made as simple as possible, and the thickness of the plastic was made as thin as possible while maintaining strength. The mechanical engineers worked hard to achieve just the right balance between weight reduction and durability.

PSB: PS VR2’s eye tracking feature is really impressive– how was this developed?

YT: We wanted to push the boundaries of play with PS VR2, so we were exploring eye tracking as a new UI feature. Eye tracking technology had been around for some time and we knew it was a great fit for VR, so we wanted to make sure we leveraged it appropriately. We also looked at foveated rendering to achieve a high-fidelity visual experience, which is a technique that optimizes the resolution of where the player is looking at, while reducing rendering performance of the surrounding peripheral vision.

PSB: Did you encounter any difficulties when testing eye tracking?

YT: Some people wear glasses and everyone has different eye colors, so the feature needed to accommodate all kinds of players. To ensure the feature was tracking correctly, we spent a long-time testing and optimizing the feature with a variety of users.

PSB: Headset feedback is unique to PS VR2. How was this first added as a new feature and how did you go about developing it?

YT: Mechanical design engineers removed the rumble motor from a DualShock 4 wireless controller and attached it to PS VR to try it out. They found that it actually increased the feeling of immersion and sense of reality, though there were challenges when trying to actually integrate the feature into the headset. That’s why we created the next prototype, “Eye Tracking Evaluation Prototype Part 2” with a built-in motor, and tested how the motor affected eye tracking and head tracking.

Eye tracking evaluation prototype 2
“Testers were asked to look at different screens to test the eye tracking. The sides of the device can be opened, so that the developers can visually check the distance between the lens and the eyes. This was done because without visual confirmation, it was difficult to know if the device was being worn at the correct lens distance.”

We worked closely with PlayStation Studios to evaluate what kind of headset feedback would be the most effective based on what we learned from the prototypes. We compiled our findings into a design guide so that other developers could learn from it, and many developers used it as a reference.

PSB: What PlayStation Studios feedback did the team end up incorporating into the final PS VR2 headset?

YT: The placement of the tracking camera was adjusted based on their feedback, while confirming the range of hand movement expected in actual gameplay. When PlayStation Studios members gathered in San Francisco for an event, we brought prototypes from Japan and made adjustments based on the feedback we received there.

Skeleton prototype
“This is a prototype that allows the internal structure of the headset to be visible from the outside.”

Developing the PS VR2 Sense Controller

Check out the PS VR2 Sense Controller Tear Down Video for an in-depth look at the internal structure of the controller.

PSB: When did the development of the PS VR2 Sense Controller start?

YT: As with the headset, we kicked off discussions in 2016 and began prototyping in 2017. The inside-out method is a tracking technology that is paired with the headset, so we considered this from the initial stages. We also discussed other features we wanted to add, how many buttons the controller should have, and to what extent we could incorporate features from the DualSense wireless controller for PlayStation 5.

Members included those from electrical design, mechanical design, R&D, as well as mechanical design. The mechanical design team was integral to developing and exploring various shapes for the controller.

PSB: What were the features or design aspects that took the longest to develop?

YT: The PS VR2 Sense controller incorporates key features from the DualSense wireless controller, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. We also added a sensor for finger touch detection, and we spent a lot of time adjusting the controller to make it easier and lighter to hold. We also conducted extensive user testing. PlayStation Studios has a dedicated user testing team, and we worked closely with the team in Europe to ensure that we had as many people test the controller as possible.

PSB: How did you land on the final design and shape for the Sense controller?

YT: In the earliest prototype we used a different tracking method and utilized the sphere from the PlayStation Move controller. It also included features such as adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, finger-touch detection, and L1/R1 shoulder buttons. We equipped these features in the prototype to verify which features were the most important.

Prototype 1
“This is one of the earliest prototypes. This was a prototype to test the effectiveness of adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and finger touch detection in VR controllers. Tracking was enabled by the PlayStation Move motion controller sphere.”

The next prototype used inside-out tracking, and this was how we determined where the IR LEDs should be placed and started experimenting with several different shapes for the controller. 

Prototype 2
“This prototype was built for tracking performance study,evaluating the performance when the IR LEDs (for tracking) were placed separately on the top and bottom of the controller.”

Prototype 3
“A prototype for the tracking performance study. This prototype was used to evaluate the performance when IR LEDs were placed on a ring on the back of the hand.”

This next prototype is close to its current final shape, but the main difference is the size of the grip. The shape is the result of adding various features, such as adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and of course, the battery. However, it was too large to hold for extended game play sessions, so our mechanical and electrical engineers worked hard to optimize the grip to make it thinner and more comfortable to hold.

Prototype 4
“Another prototype for the tracking performance study. This was to evaluate the performance when IR LEDs were placed around the controller with both design and features in mind.”

PSB: What kind of evaluation process did you go through when adding completely new features such as finger-touch detection?

YT: We created a prototype that incorporated features such as adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, finger-touch detection, and other elements that achieved a stronger feeling of immersion in VR experiences. We considered various forms of finger-touch detection, including ones that required button presses.

Each time we created a prototype, we asked for feedback from PlayStation Studios and used those insights for further testing. We asked how they wanted to utilize the controller in their games, and determined which features we wanted to include and how to include them. The optimal number of buttons, for example, is something that game developers can provide the best feedback for, so we closely listened to their thoughts during development.

PSB: The final shape of the controller feels natural in the player’s hand. Why and how did you decide on this final design?

YT: Our goal was to balance the weight and center of gravity to make the controller easier to grip and hold for longer gameplay sessions. We conducted extensive prototyping and user testing in order to achieve a comfortable fit. It was not enough to simply piece the components together; we had to make drastic changes to the internal structure. The next prototype is close to the final product, but the fit is not yet fully optimized.

Prototype 5
“This prototype is equipped with all final features and incorporates the unique “orb” shape. It was also used to evaluate the tracking feature, which was close to final at this stage. The grip design and comfortability were not yet fully optimized.”

PSB: It seems like the team put a lot of effort into IR tracking during development. When creating the prototypes, did you have to make any drastic changes from your initial planning?

YT: At the start of the project, we weren’t sure whether inside-out or outside-in tracking was better, so we explored both possibilities in parallel. We split into two teams and produced prototypes for both. After that, we decided to focus on the inside-out method and continued to optimize the tracking. The prototype produced to test the placement of the headset tracking camera enabled us to fine-tune the position and angles of the four cameras with a dial. It was also used to verify the range that the cameras could detect.

PSB: Were you involved in software development at the initial research phase? What feedback did you incorporate?

YT: We couldn’t fully envision how the controller would act and perform in an actual game, so the PlayStation Studios team provided feedback on the proposed product specifications early on in the technical review process. For example, if the player is standing and grabs an object at the waist, the head must remain facing forward, so we made sure the camera could detect an object below the headset. On the other hand, if you are pulling out a bow and arrow from your back, your arm will not be in the range of the camera. In instances like this when the controller was out of range from the camera, we had to make adjustments based on feedback, so that the tracking felt more natural.

Optimizing ergonomics while incorporating both adaptive triggers and haptic feedback was challenging, but we followed through due to strong demand from the software development team. The adaptive triggers must be located near the fingertips, while the haptic feedback needs to be incorporated where players grip the controller. The adaptive trigger modules are reasonably large, so if you account for the modules as well as the battery, various components end up crowding the grip area. This is not ideal ergonomically and sacrifices comfort. Originally, we intended on utilizing the same adaptive trigger components as the DualSense wireless controller, but we ended up creating a customized, dedicated module for the PS VR2 Sense controller.

All the prototypes for PS VR2 headset and the PS VR2 Sense controllers.

PSB: Finally, what are you proudest of with regards to the final PS VR2 headset?

YT: The original PS VR was used by many game developers to expand the world of VR games, and we believe that the PS VR2 pushes the boundaries even further. PS VR2 is capable of rendering stunning 4K HDR visuals (2000×2040 per eye), and eye tracking also delivers high-quality graphics with efficient rendering techniques. Combined with the controller, headset and comfortable design, players can fully immerse themselves in the extraordinary VR worlds created by game developers. The diverse portfolio of VR games will continue to expand in the future, and we hope that players will enjoy them to the fullest.

●  Learn more about PS VR2
●  Read more PlayStation Blogs about PS VR2

EA Sports FC 24 launches September 29 on PS4 and PS5 and is focused on delivering an authentic football experience and gameplay innovations to usher in a new era of virtual football. Behind this are three key technological advancements: HyperMotion V, enhanced PlayStyles and a radically overhauled Frostbite engine. But the exciting new features certainly don’t stop there. Get ready for elite women’s players to join Ultimate Team, create unique versions of players using Evolutions, and enjoy cross-play for the first time in Clubs and Volta Football and play alongside your friends across same-generation platforms.

HyperMotion V*

HyperMotion has been developed using volumetric data taken from over 180 professional matches to produce realistic animations. Video can now also be captured without athletes having to wear motion capture suits. Every in-match team or player movement is captured by cameras in stadiums, with that data used to produce authentic animations for EA Sports FC 24. Your favorite footballer therefore moves in the game exactly as they would during a real match. 

This technology also calculates ball physics, using adaptive AI to ensure that the football’s mid-air and rebounding movements are fully realistic. It also enables footballers’ hand movements to be recorded using a glove and flawlessly recreates those details in the game. 

PlayStyles

Every player moves around the pitch and controls the ball in a distinctive way. Real-match data collected by Opta and other sources has been optimized to bring footballers’ unique skills to life on the virtual pitch, via individual PlayStyles. These PlayStyles unlock many actions for forwards and defenders, such as power shots and elásticos while dribbling. Select players even have PlayStyles+ moves, as benefiting their status as best-in-class and which showcases their dazzling individual skills. 

Frostbite

No football game has ever looked as realistic as EA Sports FC 24 as a result of the revamped Frostbite engine. Using new character models, the AI Sapient technology delivers anatomically correct bodies with authentic proportions and fluid animations, the GPU Cloth feature recreates amazingly detailed clothing where muscles can be seen under the fabric and shirts move like real materials, and the new lighting feature with enhanced contrast and greater detail makes encounters feel even more lifelike, therefore providing a superb stadium atmosphere. The Elevated Matchday Experience with dynamic intros also plays a major role here. A short clip will give you a glimpse of the changing rooms and warm-ups and will of course show the teams walking onto the pitch. It’s like a televised match come to life. 

Ultimate Team with Women’s Football Stars 

A true world first: EA Sports FC 24 brings together male and female players on the same pitch. In Ultimate Team, you can choose from more than 1600 female players, including icons and heroes from the annals of women’s football, to strengthen your squad and mold your dream team with both men and women. You can therefore create a truly unique fantasy eleven. 

Evolutions: create your own club legend 

If your favorite player’s ratings aren’t to your liking, you can create a unique version of them for the first time ever. Pick a player who meets the criteria for Evolutions, complete the required challenges and permanently improve your player’s ratings, individual skills, PlayStyles and even change your Player Item’s color and animation so that everyone recognises your legend straight away.

Career Mode, Clubs and Volta Football with exciting new features 

If you plan to focus on your career as a player or manager, then there are new features to enjoy in these modes, too. As a player heading to the top, you will receive support along the way from a player agent who will recommend transfers to you and help you achieve your career goals to make it at your dream club. 

You have even more options to lead your club to glory when playing as a manager. Choose from seven tactical strategies, such as tiki-taka or counter-attacking, appoint assistant coaches, prepare players as effectively as possible for upcoming matches, observe games from the touchline or follow a star player during the action and celebrate your victories in impressively staged, dynamic scenes.

Clubs and Volta Football are also back. These popular modes are cross-play-compatible for the first time, so now you can take on your friends if they play EA Sports FC 24 on a different (same-generation) platform.

With updated commentary provided by Guy Mowbray and Sue Smith, Clubs with league seasons, and a streamlined, redesigned start menu, EA Sports FC 24 has even more new features to show off and, in the buildup to the game’s release on September 29, you can certainly expect to discover more. 

*HyperMotion V technology only available on PlayStation 5.

Next week, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is launching on PC! Many of you have asked for details about the technologies used and system requirements. Today we are answering those questions, and on top of that, we have some exciting new feature announcements.

To ensure a smooth dimension-hopping experience, our team implemented DirectStorage 1.2 in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC, including GPU decompression. 

Richard van der Laan, Senior Lead Programmer at Nixxes Software, explains: “To enable quick loading and instant transition between dimensions, the game needs to be able to load assets quickly. DirectStorage ensures quick loading times, and GPU decompression is used at high graphics settings to stream assets in the background while playing. Traditionally, this decompression is handled by the CPU, but at a certain point, there is an advantage to letting the GPU handle this, as this enables a higher bandwidth for streaming assets from storage to the graphics card. We use this to quickly load high-quality textures and environments with a high level of detail.”

Principal Programmer Alex Bartholomeus: “For Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC, we added adaptive streaming based on live measurement of the available hardware bandwidth. This allows us to tailor the texture streaming strategy for the best possible texture streaming on any configuration. With DirectStorage, the use of a fast NVMe SSD and GPU decompression, this results in very responsive texture streaming even at the highest settings.”

DirectStorage is developed to fully utilize the speed of fast PCIe NVMe SSDs, but the technology is also compatible with SATA SSDs and even traditional hard disk drives. This means Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC can use the same technology for loading data, regardless of the storage device in your system.

Ray-Traced Ambient Occlusion and XeGTAO

In our initial announcement, we shared that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC will feature ray-traced reflections and newly added ray-traced shadows for natural outdoor light. Today we can reveal the addition of another option that will further enhance the realism of light in the game: Ray-Traced Ambient Occlusion, with various quality levels to choose from.

Graphics Programmer Menno Bil explains: “Ambient occlusion is a technique used in games to simulate how ambient lighting affects a scene. Ambient lighting is a form of indirect lighting: the light reflected from other surfaces. This effect mostly appears at creases, cracks, and corners where surfaces are close to each other. Commonly used AO techniques are SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) and HBAO+ (Horizon-Based Ambient Occlusion). These are not very demanding on the hardware, but they do not provide physically accurate results. RTAO utilizes ray tracing further to enhance the realism of ambient occlusion in the game. We have implemented RTAO as an addition for those with high-end systems with ray-tracing compatible hardware and processing power to spare.”

Menno and the team also implemented XeGTAO, Intel’s implementation of Ground-Truth Ambient Occlusion. Like SSAO and HBAO+, this solution is based on screen space. Therefore, this technique does not enable the level of realism that RTAO does, but the performance cost is much lower and comparable to that of the HBAO+ implementation. XeGTAO is selectable as an option in the game and works with graphics cards from all vendors. 

“XeGTAO generates a very high-resolution ambient occlusion that shows even the smallest details in geometry,” says Bil. “Overall, the output quality of XeGTAO is very high and results in a pleasant look.”

System Requirements

Now that we have detailed all the features of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for PC, it is time to tell you more about the system requirements. When making a PC version of a game, we put a lot of work into scalability. Additions like ray-traced shadows, ray-traced ambient occlusion, and triple-screen support are aimed at those with the latest and greatest hardware so they can push their systems. With highly customizable graphics and features, we make the game scale to less powerful systems to make it accessible for as many gamers as possible. Below is an overview of the recommended specifications for a variety of graphical presets.

While Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart can be enjoyed using an HDD and the minimum system requirements, we encourage players to use an SSD in combination with the recommended system requirements or higher, to experience the game’s signature dimension-hopping gameplay as originally intended.

Details regarding ray-tracing support for AMD GPUs coming soon