Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – discover the gods you’ll battle July 18

Hello everyone, this is Simon Dasan, A44’s creative director on Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Today we shed some light on one of the most mysterious aspects of our upcoming game, set for release on July 18 – the gods that have taken over the world of Kian. To do so we’ve released a brand new story trailer and are giving more information below!


Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – discover the gods you’ll battle July 18

Before the Siege

Before the Door to the Great Below was abruptly torn open, the people of Kian saw the ancient stories of gods and magic as nothing but myths. A new age fueled by black powder technology brought previously bickering nations closer together. Even the most conservative of places such as Three Peaks began to abandon the old ways in pursuit of the riches both trade and technology had to offer.

The Door to the Great Below itself remained as the one, grim reminder of the old world. Once upon a time, the city of Dawn had been built around it by those who struggled to let go of the dead. In modern times the Door had become an unexplainable curiosity, a landmark for a city that was forgetting its past.

The Siege of Dawn

Ten years before the events of the game an unprecedented disaster struck Kian; the Door opened and the Dead themselves marched into the world of the living, overrunning the unsuspecting city of Dawn. By the time there was any understanding of what had transpired the city was lost entirely, those lucky enough to escape the massacre having abandoned the city by the thousands.

The Dead threatened to overrun the entire world. The Coalition was thrown together to answer them, volunteers from many nations gathering themselves into a makeshift army. At tremendous cost, they pushed their enemy back, but ultimately failed to progress further than containing the Dead within the city walls. The Door to the Great Below remained open – and The Siege of Dawn had just begun.

Ten years later, black powder technology has finally advanced far enough to convince Sama, Field Marshal of the Coalition, to sign off on a mission behind enemy lines. Sama entrusts her unit of Sappers with the task of blowing the Door shut and ending a decade of suffering. However, the mission has overlooked a crucial detail; even after all these years, the Coalition remains in the dark concerning exactly how the Door opened… and who opened it.

The Sappers make it deeper into Dawn than any before them, only to walk straight into the lair of a god. Face to face with a creature straight from the pages of legend, the truth descends on them all at once. It was not only the Dead that walked through the Door on that fateful day 10 years ago, but the gods themselves, intent on claiming a world that had forgotten them.

The Sappers’ interference has drastic consequences. The gods are now truly loose on the world – each of them intent on shaping it into their own understanding of perfection.

The gods gone awry

Accustomed to independent domains in the Great Below, the gods have carved up the living world in the same fashion. Each god dominates their own part of Kian.

Dukmar

Dukmar controls Wanderer’s Rest, an ancient region that was once Kian’s cradle of civilization and is now the center of learning.

A self-proclaimed God of Knowledge, Dukmar’s understanding of the world is skewed by larger-than-life stories passed onto him by the souls of the Great Below. Unfortunately, the characters from these stories tend to be conquerors and tyrants, inspiring him to seek the same kind of dominance.

Freedom to wreak havoc on the Great Above is exactly the kind of opportunity Dukmar has always wished for. Arrogant and ambitious, he wastes no time seizing an entire city and taking its population hostage to build monuments to himself.

Rammuha

Rammuha controls Three Peaks, taking advantage of the conservative beliefs of its people to rule over the region without needing to reveal herself directly.

A Goddess of Order, her understanding of the world is fueled by flawed mortal ideas of rules and justice. Rammuha has always existed in the shadow of more powerful gods in the Great Below, forging her into a cunning and resourceful adversary.

Lacking brute force, she has become adept at manipulating others to get what she wants. She knows exactly how to turn the piety of the Knights of Three Peaks against them to turn a once faithful order into her personal army.

Inaya

Inaya, The Goddess of Life, works tirelessly in her role to keep the natural order of the world intact. Unlike the other gods, she is devoted to her duties and has no interest in the invasion of the Above.

Of all the gods, Inaya shares the closest relationship with Enki. Outside the natural order, he may be the only thing that matters to her.

Uru

Uru controls Dawn itself, never letting the Door to the Great Below out of his sight.

Uru the Ravager is the most powerful of the gods, burdened with controlling the Door between life and death itself.

All the other gods, even Enki, fear Uru’s power. The only force capable of restraining him is the Door itself, which he cannot venture far from.

That’s it for a look at the gods of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn! We hope this sneak peek at their history and motivations leaves you wanting to see and discover more… And thankfully you don’t have to wait too long! You can pre-order Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn on PlayStation 5 now (with a 10% discount for PlayStation Plus members), ahead of its launch on July 18. A Deluxe Edition, including additional cosmetics for Nor, is also available.

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for July: Remnant II, Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion, and more 

Tackle deadly creatures, wield the legendary Buster Sword, carve out a kingdom to call your own and much more with July’s Game Catalog lineup! Remnant II, Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord and many more games will be available from July 16 for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members. We’re also announcing new classic and PS VR2 game offerings coming to PlayStation Plus Premium.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the new game announcements. 

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog

Remnant II – Standard Edition | PS5

Remant II is the sequel to the best-selling game Remnant: From the Ashes that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.

Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion | PS4, PS5

Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion is the HD remaster version of the smash hit prequel to Final Fantasy VII. In addition to all graphics being remastered in HD, fully voiced dialogue and new soundtrack arrangements make for a dynamic new retelling of a beloved classic. It follows the story of Zack Fair, a young warrior admired by the boy destined to save the world, trusted by men renowned as heroes of legend, and loved by the girl who holds the fate of the planet in her hands. The tale of Zack’s dreams and honor—the legacy that connects him to Cloud—is revealed in full in this grand saga that has broken the limits of an HD remaster.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord | PS4, PS5

Set forth on an epic adventure in a fictional Dark Ages sandbox that combines strategy and action-RPG gameplay. Create and develop your own character, gather companions, and use diplomacy, trade, and roguery to your advantage as you attempt to establish your clan among the ranks of the nobility. Raise armies to command and fight alongside in huge, real-time battles and sieges using an extensive command system, and an intuitive, skill-based directional combat system. Carve out your own kingdom or champion another’s cause as you explore the vast, reimagined continent of Calradia in this prequel to the critically acclaimed Mount & Blade: Warband.

The Jackbox Party Pack 9 | PS4, PS5

Introducing the ninth installment of the best-selling Party Pack Franchise you know and love! Whether you’re hanging out with friends, having a remote happy hour, trying to make the holidays less awkward, or looking for your next game to stream, The Jackbox Party Pack 9 is here to spice things up. Play now in English, French, Italian, German, or Spanish. You don’t need extra controllers for extra players – everyone uses their phones or tablets to play! Games support up to 10 players and 10,000 audience members joining in the fun to impact the outcome of the game.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | PS4, PS5

Embark on a journey to a realm overrun by demons in a new epic RPG from the creators of the critically acclaimed Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Explore the nature of good and evil, learn the true cost of power, and rise as a Mythic Hero capable of deeds beyond mortal expectations. Create any character imaginable with the flexibility, richness, and depth of the Pathfinder First Edition ruleset. Choose from 25 classes, 12 character races, and more than a thousand spells, feats, and abilities to suit your personal playstyle. Enjoy two combat modes as you slay your enemies – real-time with pause or turn-based. Switch between them on the fly, so you can always take things as slowly — or as quickly — as you like. The unique Pathfinder ruleset also allows you to perform advanced combat maneuvers, like mounted combat. Use them wisely!

No More Heroes 3 | PS4, PS5

No More Heroes 3 follows the otaku assassin Travis Touchdown as he takes up his trusty beam katana once more and slashes his way through ten of the deadliest fighters in the galaxy. Now he must make it to the top of the Galactic Superhero Rankings in order to stop the evil Prince FU and his ten alien underlings from taking over Earth. Rack up combos with Travis’ beam katana and experience hack-and-slash action like never before. 

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition | PS4

Travis Touchdown has been sucked into the legendary Death Drive Mk II games console, and the characters of the Death Drive Mk II’s diverse game library aren’t going to go down without a fight! Slice your way through them with all the beam charging, pro-wrestling-finisher action you know and love — turned up to 11. Burn through your skill gauge and link special and regular attacks for some kick-ass combos! Mix-up your approach and own your playstyle.

Deadcraft | PS4

Welcome to Deadcraft, a new twist on the zombie survival-action genre. In a world ravaged by a deadly virus, half-zombie Reid must survive not only by taking an axe, weedwhacker— anything he can get his hands on—to hordes of the undead, but by growing some zombie followers of his own. Choose your allies and enemies wisely as you try to make it through the apocalypse alive!

Steep* | PS4

Ride a massive open world across the Alps, where the powder is always fresh and the run never ends. Defy and master the mountain alone or with friends on skis, wingsuits, snowboards and paragliders. Record and share your best stunts. Ride solo or drop in next to other players to share thrilling rides. A permanent internet connection is required in order to play the game.

*PS Plus Re-Release

PlayStation Premium | PS VR2 & Classics

Job Simulator | PS VR2

In a world where robots have replaced all human jobs, step into the ‘Job Simulator’ to learn what it was like ‘to job’. Players can relive the glory days of work by simulating the ins and outs of being a gourmet chef, an office worker, a convenience store clerk, and more.

Summoner | PS4, PS5

In this PS2 action-RPG, Summoners have toppled empires and challenged gods. With rings crafted by the ancient Khosani, the gifted can call forth demons, dragons, and elementals, but only the strongest can control the forces they unleash. Born with the mark of the Summoner, Joseph possesses a power greater than emperors and gods. As a child, he summoned a demon to save his village, and watched in horror as those he loved were destroyed. Nine years later, the armies of Orenia invade, and Joseph must confront the prophecy he was born to fulfill. 

Ratchet and Clank Size Matters | PS4, PS5

Explore the mysterious Technomite Universe and even journey inside Clank’s head in this original adventure built for the PSP system. Wield weapons, customize your armor, and shrink yourself down to discover the new worlds! Experience Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

Jeanne d’Arc | PS4, PS5

Enter the 15th century, as France and England battle during the Hundred Years’ War. A mysterious and powerful armlet appears on the wrist of a young crusader named Jeanne. Commanded by an oracle from above, Jeanne wields the armlet to turn back the dark invading army to save her homeland once and for all. Experience Jeanne d’Arc, originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

Metro Awakening: adapting the post-apocalyptic survival horror for PS VR2

The post-apocalyptic survival horror Metro series – based on the best-selling sci-fi novel series of the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky – plunged players into an oppressively dark and dank underground network and the ruins beyond.

Highly immersive and critically acclaimed, the franchise has spawned three games to date. Before year’s end, that count will reach four. Announced at State of Play this past January, Vertigo Games – creator of Arizona Sunshine and After The Fall – revealed it has spent the last few years working on an all-new game built for PS VR2. Metro Awakening is a standalone story set prior to the events of the original title – Metro 2033. I sat down with Creative Director Martin de Ronde and Game Director Samar Louwe to discuss more about how this world has been adapted to VR and how they’re keeping the title authentic to the series.

The game’s story has been created in collaboration with the original author

“One of the first things that we did when we embarked upon this project was to reach out to Dmitry [Glukhovsky],” explains de Ronde. “For us almost like, we were expecting him to come in and come up with another story for the game that was in line with the other Metro games. But instead, he came up with a very, very personal, emotional story for a new character. […] It also meant that our focus started to shift from taking a straightforward approach to a more story-heavy and story-driven approach in this particular game. And of course, the Metro series has always been known for the story that differentiates from other first-person shooters out there, but this time around, I think Dmitry really wanted to make sure that the story and the development of the characters was even more important.”

It’s still going to stick close to the playstyle of the mainline games… 

Part of our onboarding process for every team member is to play the games, of course,” explains Louwe. “And so we look at what the strengths are of the franchise, and specifically on which of those strengths are translatable to VR. And some of the things that we noticed is the dynamic that they have between stealth and combat. And always making sure that you’re on your toes, and that you are never really sure when people are going to spot you. That’s something that works very, very well in VR. There’s just something about creeping up on enemies, listening to what they’re talking about. Of course the nature of VR, you can physically sit behind cover, maybe you can peer through a hole in the cover, and then you can spy on your enemies.”

“But rest assured for everybody that is a little bit more trigger happy,” interjects de Ronde. “There’s plenty of classic Metro action in the game.”

“I think it’s also good to say that the mainline games, of course, have Artyom,” Louwe continues. “After the first game he becomes a Spartan. But in [Metro Awakening], our protagonist is not necessarily a combat expert. So with that in mind, it also fits better to have a bit of a slower pace to the combat versus narrative than the original Metro series.”

…and keep close to their look and feel, thanks to original developer 4A Games

“We were very happy that 4A helped us fantastically well with supplying all the assets that they have from those games,” explains de Ronde. “We were able to either use some of those assets directly or use them as a reference for most of the stuff that we built in the game… it’s helped ensure that the game looks the way it looks. 

“There are assets that we looked at, and we wanted to use them specifically because they play a role on the mainland series, we wanted to reuse them again. In our game, you want to also make sure that fans recognise those elements. And then there was obviously stuff that serves the purposes as reference. And then there’s stuff that we’re almost regressing in terms of what would have looked like, X number of years before the events in the mainline series.”

You’re still going to feel the pressure of your bullet count

“You’re basically constantly looking for ammo,” chuckles Louwe when asked if, like the previous games, sourcing bullets is going to be an ongoing concern. “We have this beautiful environment, we have this beautiful world, our art is made sure that there’s detail to explore. But you also need a reason to explore. And the main reason to explore every nook and cranny is to just find bullets. We figured it would be best to hide those in small packets. So you won’t necessarily find full clips all the time. Instead, you will be finding single bullets out here, a couple of bullets there. And we’ve also made an effort to make sure that in some cases that there’s a bit of environmental storytelling around how that ammo got there, and something that triggers your imagination.

“The philosophy that we’ve taken along for this is also that basically, if you look everywhere, you’re probably going to have enough bullets to get through your combat encounters. If you just look on the critical path, you will probably have to be a better shot. And if you don’t scavenge at all, then you’re gonna have a hard time. Of course, you can always fall back to stealth. If you’re successful at that, then that’s always an option.”

Translating the tactile nature of Metro to PS VR2

Wiping your gas mask clean, pulling out maps, peering at ammo counts on guns rather than UI helped immerse you in Metro. I ask whether that makes for an easy VR adaptation. Vertigo’s research proves it can’t be a like for like.

“It’s an interesting point you bring up about wiping clean your gas mask… because Metro is such a tactile world it was obviously for us something that we definitely wanted to try and incorporate in the game. We tried to come up with an alternative way of wiping clean your gas mask that I think fans will very much still appreciate, even though it’s a slightly different version and wiping it when you have it on your face.”

“We chose to keep a lot of our UI and interactions as diegetic as possible,” continues Louwe. “For example, if you want to see how many bullets you have left in your gun, we could have put a counter on it. But we didn’t do that. Instead we opened up the clip, so that you can actually see how many bullets are in there. So if you want to know how many bullets are in your clip, you have to pull it out. It’s just a bit more immersive when you go into a combat encounter and you’re like “okay, let’s prepare, I’ll pull out my clip, check. That’s going to be enough for this one” then you snap it back in. If you want to put on your gas mask, we put it on a backpack. So you pull out your backpack by grabbing it from your shoulder. The gas mask is hanging from it. You just grab it from there and put it to your face, and then you stick it on. Those are the types of interactions that we were very keen on just making them as diegetic as possible.

“The adaptive triggers are a great example of how you can boost the immersion even further, because they give you just a tiny little bit of extra feedback as you fire your weapon. And our weapon designers actually had a lot of fun implementing it, and tweaking it for each weapon. It seems like a really small thing but it is kind of like those subtle elements that make you forget that you’re playing a game when it’s just there, right? Another example is the haptic feedback. It gives you that little bit of added experience to make the intense things that will happen to you in this game, to make them that bit more visceral.”

The game’s Comfort settings

“We want to focus on immersion,” states Louwe. “So our default locomotion setting, we’re offering two presets, so we have Comfort and we have Immersion. In Immersion, the default locomotion setting is continuous stick movements with snap rotation. Of course, we also offer settings you can just change in the Settings menu to make something even more immersive, such as continuous rotation. If you want to have a bit of a more comfortable experience, then you can set your locomotion settings to teleportation. That said, we are not really shying away from pushing the boundaries of VR when it comes to creating a visceral experience. So in Immersion mode, you can also expect to be moved around a bed or knocked over to wake up unconscious on the floor or, or even be thrown off a rail car for example.”


Metro Awakening: adapting the post-apocalyptic survival horror for PS VR2

This version of the interview was condensed for brevity. You can listen to a fuller version of the interview on the PlayStation Podcast, dropping this Friday. Metro Awakening will launch later this year on PS VR2.

Meet 2XKO’s newest champion Braum, plus first details on PS5 playtest starting August 8

Hey everyone! I’m Shaun “Unconkable” Rivera, game director on 2XKO. 2XKO is our new free-to-play, team-based fighting game featuring champions from League of Legends, releasing in 2025. Fight solo or with a friend in intense 2v2 battles, and master powerful abilities, assists, and combos to outplay enemies.

Our team is led by Evo founders Tom and Tony Cannon here at Riot Games—the studio behind League of Legends and Valorant—and is composed of developers who have deep connections with the fighting game community, including former professional players, creators, and tournament organizers. 

2XKO is currently in development. We’ve just revealed a new champion and announced Alpha Lab, the game’s first at-home playtest. Sign up for a chance to play starting August 8. 

Meet Braum, the Heart of the Freljord

2XKO’s newest playable character is Braum, a beloved hero blessed with mighty biceps and an even bigger heart. He joins the previously announced roster of re-imagined League of Legends champions, which includes Ahri, Yasuo, Ekko, Darius, and Illaoi. 

Since 2v2 combat and playing with your friends is at the core of 2XKO gameplay, the team was eager to design a champion who would thrive as a support character. Braum’s protective abilities make any duo partner shine. 

Stand behind me

Early concept art of Braum with his shield

Braum’s design is centered around his massive shield, which was once the unbreakable door to an ancient treasure vault. With it, he protects allies from incoming damage. Braum excels at disrupting opponents and blocking their attacks, making space for his team to land devastating combos. 

Defense is key to Braum’s gameplay design, but he still has strong offensive options. He gains a unique buff called Unbreakable when he lands certain abilities, which coats Braum’s shield in ice and makes his special moves deal more damage. 

His kit also introduces a unique freeze mechanic to 2XKO. By activating the magic of his shield, Braum can gain extra armor and stop opponents cold.

Fluffs of fury

Early concept art of Braum’s beloved poros

Braum’s warm and infectious personality has fostered his friendship with poros—magical creatures who hail from the frozen Freljord, Braum’s home region.  

Braum’s little friends are ready to assist him however they can, whether it’s by flying through the air to stop fleeing enemies, or by coming together to form a massive ball of fluff that deals tons of damage.

Sign up for 2XKO Alpha Lab

For a deeper dive into Braum’s kit and more information on his gameplay, be sure to check out his Champion Introduction dropping tomorrow, July 10 on the 2XKO YouTube channel. 

To try Braum and 2XKO on PlayStation 5, register for a chance to be part of Alpha Lab—our first at-home playtest—starting August 8 in select regions. Those who are selected to participate will receive an invite code for a friend. Sign up and get more details on the Alpha Lab website

2XKO will also be playable at Evo 2024. Follow our social channels for the latest news and live coverage of the event. 

Thanks for reading. We’re excited to hear what you think of 2XKO.

PlayStation Store: June 2024’s top downloads

It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. The launch of the huge new expansion Shadow of the Erdtree catapulted Elden Ring back up the PS5 charts across US and Europe, while the PS VR2 list saw Beat Saber rocking back to the top of the chart in the US and European regions.

Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?

PS5 Games

US/CanadaEU
Grand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto V
ELDEN RINGELDEN RING
NBA 2K24Sea of Thieves
Sea of ThievesNBA 2K24
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
MLB The Show 24EA SPORTS FC 24
V RisingV Rising
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six SiegeIt Takes Two
Madden NFL 24F1 24
HELLDIVERS 2Hogwarts Legacy
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Mortal Kombat 1Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The GameTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUTCall of Duty: Modern Warfare III
UFC 5Cyberpunk 2077
Hogwarts LegacyGran Turismo 7
EA SPORTS FC 24HELLDIVERS 2
It Takes TwoMortal Kombat 1
Cyberpunk 2077Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT
Sly Cooper and the Thievius RaccoonusUFC 5

*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included

PS4 Games

US/CanadaEU
MinecraftMinecraft
Red Dead Redemption 2Red Dead Redemption 2
FirewatchFirewatch
Grand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto V
NBA 2K24THE FOREST
Watch Dogs 2Watch Dogs 2
Gang BeastsA Way Out
THE FORESTKingdom Come: Deliverance
A Way OutGang Beasts
BloodborneEA SPORTS FC 24
theHunter: Call of the WildNBA 2K24
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIUnravel Two
Injustice 2Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Far Cry 5Assassin’s Creed Origins
Madden NFL 24Bloodborne
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: WildlandsFar Cry 5
STAR WARS Battlefront IISid Meier’s Civilization VI
God of WarGod of War
Kingdom Come: DeliveranceSTAR WARS Battlefront II
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six SiegeTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands

*Naming of products may differ between regions

PS VR2 Games*

US/CanadaEU
Beat SaberBeat Saber
Among Us VRArizona Sunshine 2
Arizona Sunshine 2Kayak VR: Mirage
PavlovPavlov
Job SimulatorAmong Us VR
Kayak VR: MirageJob Simulator
Doctor Who: The Edge of TimeCrossfire: Sierra Squad
Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship EditionCreed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
Crossfire: Sierra SquadThe Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
cyubeVRShave & Stuff

*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included

PSVR Games

US/CanadaEU
ASTRO BOT Rescue MissionSniper Elite VR
The Walking Dead OnslaughtASTRO BOT Rescue Mission
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VRBatman: Arkham VR
Job SimulatorJob Simulator
Batman: Arkham VRThe Walking Dead Onslaught
Creed Rise to GloryCreed: Rise to Glory
Beat SaberBeat Saber
Sniper Elite VRThe Guy VR
SUPERHOT VRDOOM 3: VR Edition
Arizona SunshineThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)

US/CanadaEU
MultiVersusMultiVersus
RobloxFortnite
FortniteStumble Guys
Call of Duty: WarzoneRoblox
Fall GuysCall of Duty: Warzone
Stumble GuysRocket League
Rocket LeagueeFootball 2024
Apex LegendsFall Guys
Destiny 2The Sims 4
The Sims 4Destiny 2

Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up

The journey of developing Cygni hasn’t been easy, especially as a start-up, with this being our debut game. Nevertheless, every step of this journey has been filled with passion.

Our inspiration was sparked by the enjoyment we found in playing shoot’em ups on arcade machines in our youth – a fun experience that brought joy to all, regardless of high scores. We aimed to recreate this exhilarating experience using next-gen technology, with the power of the PlayStation 5. This has allowed us to deliver a fresh take on the shoot-‘em-up, with an epic story, and innovative gameplay features for a new generation of gamers.


Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up

Ava’s fight for survival

Cygni, a planet colonized by humans, thrives on ancient technology found in ruins left by an unknown civilization. These remnants serve as a vital power source and catalyst for technological progress. Our Konamiprotagonist Ava, a recent recruit in Cygni’s Air Force, pilots the Orca in a desperate struggle against a sudden, potent attack by bio-mechanical aliens— potentially Cygni’s original inhabitants. 

Beyond the bullets

Energy Management: Switching between shields (health) and weapons (more firepower and missiles) on the fly. 

Combat: Air-to-air and air-to-ground combat includes a real-time crowd system—not just a background prop; they are gameplay-related, where players can interact with allied forces on the ground. This mutual assistance is not only crucial for gameplay but also aids in obtaining pickups and increasing your score.

Ground Weapon.mp4

Weapon Enhancement: Upgrade and prepare weapons – even equipping your ship with two additional side-drones – before engaging in battle.

Designer Mode: Allows players to create, save, and manage projectile patterns on the go. This feature adds a layer of customization and strategy, enabling players to toggle between saved patterns on the go.

Three Difficulty Modes: Easy (being more accessible, by having 3 lives per level) Normal and Hard. 

Local Co-Op: Players can revive each other at the cost of sacrificing shield points, while enjoying double the firepower.

Arcade Mode: Tailored for high-score enthusiasts. Players start from Level 1 and continue to the game’s end without any interruptions or cutscenes, but with only one life. This mode caters to those who enjoy a relentless challenge, and the highest scores can be recorded on global online leaderboards.

Colossal Bosses: Cygni features large bosses each with their own unique combat mechanics, providing players with challenging and memorable battle experiences.

Innovation with indie passion

Using our past experiences in filmmaking and animation, we wanted to push the visual storytelling boundaries in Cygni without compromising gameplay. This includes short cutscenes in-between levels and creating full scale high-quality CG cinematics (Intro and Outro to the game), uncommon to most indie games, and the genre. Cygni takes full advantage of the PS5’s power and its SSD allowing for crisp visuals, fast loading times and a smooth experience running at 60FPS/4K.

We wanted to create a shoot’em up that’s not entirely a bullet hell experience – sometimes you WILL get hit, but that’s OK. The core gameplay mechanic of balancing your ship’s power between its weapons and shields means you can strategize your offensive vs defensive gameplay (firepower vs. shield). We have utilized the DualSense controller’s directional haptic feedback to help elevate and enhance this in a tactile, but logical way. 

Cygni: All Guns Blazing launches on PS5 next month on August 6.

Astro’s Playroom second update is now available, hiding a new Special Bot in-game

Hi everyone! We hope you are getting ready for a good summer and have enjoyed the last few weeks of gaming news. 

As we gear up for Astro Bot’s launch on September 6, we wanted to let you in on a few surprises we have been reserving for our community.

In Astro Bot, you and Astro go on a mission to rescue the 300 bots crew who got scattered all over the galaxies. Many of the bots making up the crew are cameo characters that have marked the PlayStation history. There are over 150 to collect, each with their own funny animations relating to the game they originally came from.

To add a spice of fun, we’ve been hiding 4 of these Special Bots inside Astro’s Playroom, which came pre-loaded in every PS5 console. By unlocking these 4 hidden characters in Astro’s Playroom, you will be able to take them with you into the new game, Astro Bot, and add them to your starting crew. Are you following so far?

On June 7, we dropped in the first of these 4 Special Bots. Being cheeky robots ourselves, we thought it would be fun to turn this into a treasure hunt riddle and see how long it would take anyone to figure it out. What a big surprise to see it took the community less than 3 hours to clear that riddle. That was quite incredible. If you have missed it, here is a quick rundown of what you have to do.

We hid a secret capsule in the first area of GPU Jungle (Render Forest). To make it appear, you must stand on top of a big plant near the edge of the level, just behind the Bloodborne Hunter Bot. Inside the capsule, another Special Bot (Lady Maria) appears to be trapped and needs rescuing.

On the capsule itself, we included a small hint showing the image of a clock. But what could that mean? Looking carefully around the level nearby, you will find a similar clock symbol carved into one of the trees up above. It takes a few jumps to get there. It is at the back of a tree, the furthest away.

That’s when things get trickier (or so we thought!). Standing on that spot, you have to pause the game by pressing the options button. Instead of the normal pause, that makes a special Astral Clock screen appear. By entering the number 24.11.2015 (or November 24, 2015, the original release date of the Bloodborne DLC featuring Lady Maria), the hands of the clock magically turn and…

The capsule opens, letting our Special Bot free. Well done, let’s celebrate with a trophy!

Once freed, Lady Maria will wait for you in the Mission Room, ready to be transferred to Astro Bot when you are ready.

Just a few days ago, we added a second Special Bot, Selene, from the PS5 title Returnal. Once again, working together, you were able to crack the riddle and free her to make it 2 out of 4.

We hope you enjoy these updates as much as we had fun making them! In addition to these Special Bots, the PlayStation Labo received an update, so we invite you to check it out and add new artefacts to your collection. 

That’s all for now. But the treasure hunt does not end here! We will be back soon with 2 more riddles on the run-up to the release of Astro Bot. And by the looks of it, we might have to make the next ones even harder. 

Thank you all for playing along with us, and we will see you soon!

Team Asobi out.

Share of the Week: Fireworks

Last week, we asked you to share fireworks bursting in games of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

clerence_1993 shares Cloud and Tifa sharing a moment with firework bursting in the sky behind them

secondcapture shares sparks flying behind Ratchet in a way that looks like fireworks in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

call_me_xavii shares Aloy in her Elisbeth outfit staring up at fireworks

xenobitz shares fireworks bursting in Naraka: Bladepoint

jdbolzan shares fireworks bursting over the Eiffel Tower and the not-yet-gifted Statue of Liberty in Assassin’s Creed Unity

GM04v shares a ronin posing in front of fireworks in Rise of the Ronin

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Tourist
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 10, 2024

Next week, we’re using games to travel the world. Share real world locations or landmarks that players can visit in the game of their choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Introducing new PlayStation Studios collectible figures from Spin Master, launches starting this August 

At Sony Interactive, we’re always looking for opportunities to bring our players closer to some of PlayStation’s most beloved games – and that includes bringing to life collections of physical products to add to your home decor.  Today we are pleased to reveal a new collaboration with Spin Master, a leading toy company, to introduce The Shapes Collection – a new line of collectibles, based on our hit PlayStation Studios titles. This includes iconic characters from God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ghost of Tsushima.  

The highly detailed figures deliver the interactive storytelling element of these titles in an all-new way, extending the gaming experience from digital to physical. This creative line takes inspiration from details in each game, with interchangeable accessories and dozens of points of articulation to pose and display each figure in your collection of memorabilia.

The Shapes Collection 

Deluxe Figure 6-inch Aloy, Horizon Forbidden West

Core Figures 6-inch Kratos and Atreus (God of War Ragnarök), Varl (Horizon Forbidden West), Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima)

PlayStation Studios developers have closely collaborated on this new creative lineup from Spin Master, and share details they are most excited about with the PlayStation community.


“It was a great pleasure to work on the Aloy and Varl figurines together with Spin Master.

They are based on the actual digital sculpts used for the game, something you can really see in the final result. We made sure the many articulation points made sense and even the finest textural detail shows up on the figures.

A personal highlight was the ability to provide different facial expressions for Aloy, which, together with those many articulation points (even her hair has some!), make her a very poseable figure. Also, the technique used to apply color to the faces meant we were really able to maintain the likeness of actual models, something that was very important and adds a lot to the appeal of these figures.”

– Arno Schmitz, Lead Character Artist, Guerrilla



“We’re excited to have a new action figure version of Jin that fans can keep on their shelf to protect their home. Jin’s Ghost armor has so many beautiful details, including intricate fabric patterns and overlapping armor plates that are integral to the design of his character. In addition to his katana, it’s also always important to us to see all of his various Ghost tools represented to capture his different fighting techniques.”

– Jason Connell, Creative Director, Sucker Punch


Gran Turismo World Series 2024 Series Round 1 takes place in Montreal July 6

Following the exciting Online Qualifiers in April and May, the best Gran Turismo racers in the world have been selected to take part in four live events between now and December. The action starts in Montreal, Canada where Round 1 of the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup start the live action.

Tickets to the Americas’ stop of the outstanding SIM racing series have sold out, but don’t worry, as here are the details of where and when to tune in to catch all the thrilling racing as 20 of the world’s fastest players battle it out in the historic Canadian city.

Saturday, July 6
Manufacturers Cup

  • Local time (EDT) 17:00
  • UTC/GMT 21:00
  • Central European Summer Time (CEST) 23:00
  • Japan Standard Time (JST) 06:00* (*7 July)

Nations Cup

  • Local time (EDT) 19:30
  • UTC/GMT 23:30
  • Central European Summer Time (CEST) 01:30* (*7 July)
  • Japan Standard Time (JST) 08:30* (*7 July)

Win big in Gran Turismo 7

To mark the event, Gran Turismo 7 players will benefit from in-game opportunities to win prizes and play a special Time Trial.

Clicking on the ‘Predict the Winners’ campaign banner on the GT7 World Map gives players the opportunity to win one million credits for each of the Nations Cup and the Manufacturers Cup with votes cast right up to the start of the final race of each.

Simply watching the broadcast in-game will also unlock 6-Star Roulette Tickets for viewers through the Viewers Gift campaign.

And finally, GT7 players will be able to enter a special Time Trial that will use the same car and track combination as the Nations Cup qualifying session so that they can see how they measure up to the pros.

Find out more

A special Gran Turismo World Series site for Montreal gives all the details of the competition and the drivers and can be seen here.

Where to watch

If you are not watching in-game, you can view the streams live (or on-demand) on:

Follow the whole season

The calendar for the Gran Turismo World Series 2024 live events is as follows:

  • Round 1 – Montreal, Canada | Saturday, 6 July
  • Round 2 – Prague, Czechia | Saturday, 10 August
  • Round 3 – Tokyo, Japan | Saturday, 28 September 2024
  • World Finals – Date and location to be announced

All the live events are open to the public and details of how to buy tickets will be posted on Gran Turismo social channels and gran-turismo.com.