“Why didn’t the Eagles just take the One Ring and drop it into Mount Doom?” Well, as developers working on a “Lord of the Rings” game, let me tell you exactly why: because it gave us the opportunity to explore and immerse ourselves in a rich and complex universe!
In creating The Lord of the Rings: Gollum our motto has been to honor the way J. R. R. Tolkien looked at the richness of the world he had created, using his vision as a guidepost for our visual interpretation of his world.
Tolkien always wanted other artists to bring his writings to life and continue the creation of his great English myth. Of course, he didn’t have video games in mind back then. But his passion for meticulous detail, the history, languages, and names that he used to populate Middle-earth has always inspired our industry. Whether we realize it or not, all game creators owe a lot to Tolkien’s writings.
Following Gollum’s journey, we had the opportunity to explore parts of the world that we had never seen in such detail before. We started with everything we could find in the lore. Then we filled in the gaps with our own ideas and knowledge about the cultures and peoples who lived in these places.
For example, for the mighty fortress of Barad-dûr, we wanted to emphasize the huge scale and the stark contrast to our small hero. We imagined that the fortress was constantly expanding and changing. The builders could not keep up with the speed and size of their ever-growing walls and towers. Everything around the perfectly shaped main tower became increasingly chaotic.
One example is this service bridge that crosses the tower’s enormous moat, and that the builders probably meant to be straight:
While Mordor is an iconic and recognizable place with its dark volcanic rocks and reddish lights, designing Thranduil’s palace in Mirkwood was more challenging.
The contrast is intentional. While Mordor is spiky, Thranduil’s halls feature round shapes. While Barad-dûr tries to dominate and transform its environment, the Elvish buildings preserve and respect the shape of the mountain. It’s a harmonious interplay between architecture and nature. Welcoming instead of threatening. A place that repels Gollum but attracts Sméagol. Water, his native element, is everywhere and comes alive in different forms.
King Thranduil’s chambers were another fascinating place to create. The King likes to ride out at night and hunt under the stars. His rooms are decorated like a dreamy night forest, more symbolic than functional. The King’s bed is like a ceremonial boat on a river, where he only occasionally boards to have dreams and visions.
Working on this game has been both a great honor and a big responsibility. We felt a lot of excitement and nervousness when we started this adventure together. How would it all turn out? Would it feel right in the end? And we feel a similar excitement and nervousness now that we are about to share it with all of you.
We hope that our boundless passion for the world of Middle-earth shines through in all these little details, and hopefully, you will feel the same way once you have started your journey.
Hey y’all! This week, Executive Producer at Enhance Games Mark MacDonald stops by to discuss Humanity and strategy for the unique puzzler. Plus the team dives into their personal approaches to challenging puzzle games.
Stuff We Talked About
DualSense Edge wireless controller
Gran Turismo World Series 2023
Players’ Choice Winner – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
PS Plus Catalog May
MLB The Show 23 Season 2 – Kaiju Series
Interview with Mark MacDonald (starts at 10:20)
Humanity
The Cast
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Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE
Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
Last week, we asked you to turn your Focus on Seyka, Aloy’s newest companion from the Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores expansion using #PSshare #PSBlog. From portraits to action shots, here are this week’s highlights:
Callyforniaa_ng shares Seyka crouching in grass in front of the aged Hollywood sign.
RevolutionAndre shares Seyka using her Focus to reveal something.
AreeLyBadPun shares Seyka mid-leap, aiming her bow and arrow.
ForgottenJasmin shares Aloy’s contemplative gaze towards Seyka.
teeparty_s shares an action shot of Seyka about to fire her bow and arrow.
dande__lion55 shares Seyka in front of a colorful hologram display.
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: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 17, 2023
Next week, we’re returning to a galaxy far far away. Share epic moments from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
MLB The Show 23’s Season 2 Rewards Program drops today*, bringing an amazing array of new content including, but definitely not limited to, the Kaiju Series.
Inspired by the Kaiju, or “Strange Beast,” film genre, the Kaiju Series features some of the most devastatingly effective MLB Legends and Superstars of the past and present, such as Monte Irvin, John Franco, and Corey Kluber.
Kaiju Series Program
The Kaiju Series Program, available in Other Programs, is the perfect way to kick off your Season 2 Rewards Program and begin adding Kaiju Series players to your Diamond Dynasty squad.
Play brand-new Moments and complete Missions spotlighting Kaiju Series Program players including Hunter Renfroe, Brandonw Lowe, Stephen Strasburg and Billy Williams.
Take on the three Kaiju Events starting today with “Kaiju, Part I” Then on May 19th, play the “Kaiju, Part II”, followed by the final “Kaiju, Part III” on May 25th.
In Showdown mode, stand your ground against Showdown boss Stephen Strasburg to earn progress in the Kaiju Other Program.
In Conquest mode, complete the Kaiju Conquest Map to earn packs, Stubs, and progress.
Not only will completing each of these tasks provide you progress in the Kaiju Other Program, but they’ll also give you ample opportunity to earn XP towards the Season 2 XP Rewards Path.
Kaiju in Stadium Creator
Along with the monstrous amount of Kaiju content to play and rewards to earn, you can also find all-new Kaiju props in the Stadium Creator on current-gen consoles, including PlayStation 5. Create your stadium with imposing Kaiju looming directly behind the outfield walls. Combine these new Kaiju props with existing props such as the t-Rex, boats, or the UFO Mothership, among others, to create the ultimate Kaiju-inspired setting for your games to take place in.
More to come in Season 2
All of this Kaiju content, while undeniably cool, is just the tip of the iceberg for the new content available in Season 2 of Diamond Dynasty mode.
Play new content in Team Affinity 2 Programs with rewards for all 30 MLB clubs, new Mini Seasons challenges, earn rewards with your friends in the new Ranked Program and climb the leaderboards in co-op mode, complete new Collections for 99 overall bosses, as well as the mysterious Incognito Series that will all be headed your way in Season 2.
So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to get in on the action in MLB The Show 23. See you on the field.
*Internet connection required for Season 2 update and rewards.
Player choice is a core tenant for PlayStation 5’s DualSense Edge wireless controller. The ultra-customizable, high-performance features unlock a wealth of options to tailor gameplay to players’ preferences. The array of choices to select from excites both gamers and developers alike, so who better to share insights on tuning your DualSense Edge wireless controller than the people making the games?
A new Developer Experience Series featuring perspectives from devs at Santa Monica Studio, EA Sports, and Bungie highlights game-specific ways to optimize gameplay with the DualSense Edge wireless controller. From adjusting trigger heights to rapidly blitz on the pitch in FIFA 23 to modifying back buttons for seamless weapon toggling in God of War Ragnarök, here’s a look into how you can make the DualSense Edge wireless controller work for your style of play.
God of War Ragnarök
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
In God of War, you’re hitting the triggers a lot because that’s where your primary attacks and aiming are, so I ended up using the low stops for the triggers to make them feel more like regular buttons. Jason McDonald, Design Director, Santa Monica Studio
In God of War Ragnarök, you want to move the character fairly quickly, especially in the middle of combat, so the left analog stick I set to the Quick setting, and I did the inverse of that on the right analog stick, which is used for camera movement, aiming, etc. Mihir Sheth, Lead Combat Designer, Santa Monica Studio
FIFA 23
Developer: EA Sports
The DualSense Edge wireless controller enables FIFA/FC players to personalize their FIFA/FC experience further, focusing on what matters more to them regarding the controller. Some players prefer their right stick to be perfectly precise for Skill Moves, while others favor a specific sensitivity when Switching. Some players will want to remap controls at a system level to suit their preferences. In contrast, others will be delighted with the ability to have a quicker-to-activate Sprint by adjusting the length of the triggers.
The DualSense Edge controller helped my defending game tremendously, as I can more easily keep Running Jockey active (L2 + R2) while activating Teammate Contain or player Switching by using the new back buttons (as L1 and R1). Having extra buttons on the back of the controller and personalizing them with the command you want can become invaluable when playing a decisive FUT Champions match or a rival derby in Career Mode. Thomas Caleffi, Gameplay Producer, EA Sports
Among the most useful features that make the DualSense Edge controller stand out and particularly suitable for FC enthusiasts are its adaptive triggers and back buttons, which enable players to have faster reactions and play smarter on the pitch by swiftly switching between different team tactics or changing the team mentality without having to take their thumbs off the sticks. In addition to that, having the option to remap any button to match your preferences and adjust the sensitivity of the triggers will give FC fans more control and customization over their gameplay experience. It is certainly a more enjoyable and improved experience. Danillo Abreu, Game Designer, EA Sports
Destiny 2
Developer: Bungie
The DualSense Edge Controller has been amazing for letting me dig in deeper with Destiny 2’s pinnacle activities across both PvP and PvE! I’ve currently got two primary configurations I bounce between for Trials of Osiris and Raids – and, I’ve got a matching in-game loadout to compliment each one. Being able to seamlessly swap between the needs of Destiny 2’s pinnacle activities both in-game and out of game has been a game changer! Andy Salisbury, Senior Social Media Manager, Bungie
As a massive fan of PvP modes in Destiny 2 like Iron Banner and Scorched, the ability to map my desired controller settings makes it really easy to tailor to my specific playstyle. If I’m going into Scorched, I want chaos. Being able to charge up this mode’s explode-y goodness and then mapping out exactly how I let that fire rain from above using the switchable back options is a blast. It keeps me in the flow, keeps me out of my head, and lets me enjoy the total mayhem that always ensues when taking this mode head-on. With the different options to both the front-side and back-side of the controller, it’s a more personalized experience and that personalization means more ways for everyone to play. Liana Rupert, Community Manager, Bungie
Hello, PlayStation! It’s us, Panic! Publishers of Firewatch, Untitled Goose Game, and the upcoming Nour: Play With Your Food. We have a veritable bevy of upcoming PlayStation games news to share, starting with despelote, coming to PS5 in 2024. The game will also be part of Tribeca’s 2023 Festival Selection, which we’re deeply honored by.
Despelote is a beautiful slice-of-life adventure about childhood, and the magical grip that soccer held over the people of Quito, Ecuador in 2001. Right from their first pitch, we were instantly transported by the work of its creators, Julián Cordero & Sebastian Valbuena. As a semi-autobiographical story of Julián’s childhood, it feels deeply authentic to a specific time and place – while also managing to feel universal in many respects, as you wander the streets of Quito, getting caught up in mischief and soaking in the local culture.
Despelote’s gameplay leans on many of the verbs you’d associate with soccer – dribbling, passing, and kicking (and all feeling great from a first-person perspective!) – but used for a variety of playful, funny interactions as you explore the town, as well as affecting storytelling, as you’re swept up into the fervor of Ecuador’s first qualifying run for the World Cup.
As you can see from the trailer, the game has a very distinct look – one created in part from both reference photos as well as actual textures captured on-site in Quito. This is true for the audio as well, as Julián and Sebastian recorded real conversations and city ambience to create the soundscape within the game. And appropriately, the game is fully voiced in Spanish, with localized subtitles depending on your preference.
Whether you’re a casual soccer fan, someone who enjoys being immersed in other cultures, or just have a love for good storytelling, we think you’ll find something special in Despelote when it launches on PS5 in 2024. Thanks for reading, and there’s much more to come from both Panic and Despelote soon.
The Gran Turismo World Series 2023 gets underway on May 13 with Round 1 of the Nations Cup. Any player who has a copy of Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 can enter the series by heading to Sport mode in the game. Once there, sign up for the Nations Cup – racing to represent your home country or territory – and/or the Manufacturers Cup, racing for your favourite manufacturer.
In a change to previous years, the seven-round Nations Cup Online Series will run in a consecutive block with Round 7 taking place on June 3. The Manufacturers Cup will follow, with Round 1 on June 7 and the final round on July 1
The results of the Online Series will determine which players will be invited to the two live events of the 2023 Series, the World Series Showdown in Amsterdam (August 11-12) and the World Finals, which will take place in early December at a venue to be announced.
In 2022, a thrilling World Finals in Monaco ended with Subaru and Toyota tied on points in the Manufacturers Cup, but the trophy was awarded to Subaru’s Daniel Solis (USA), Takuma Miyazono (JPN) and Kylian Drumont (FRA) thanks to their victory in the final race.
The Nations Cup was no less hotly contested with points tied at the top. This time it was popular Spaniard, and World Series veteran, Coque López who was crowned champion having taken the race victory after an incident-packed last lap. Chilean Angel Inostroza was second while Brazil’s Igor Fraga, the inaugural World Champion in 2018, took the final podium place.
A change to the Nations Cup format in 2023 sees the Showdown and World Finals contested as a team event, like the Manufacturers Cup, with three drivers from the same country competing for the title.
“It is always exciting when a new Gran Turismo World Series gets underway,” commented Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer of the Gran Turismo series. “Each year we see incredible battles among our established stars, but there is always some new talent bursting onto the scene at the top level.
As well as the Gran Turismo World Series, 2023 will also see the Olympic Esports Series gathering top players from around the world in Singapore at the end of June. Another exciting milestone this year will be the release of a Gran Turismo film in August, around the time of our Amsterdam Showdown event, that celebrates the success of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy programme.
“In an echo of GT Academy, we’ll enjoy watching our 2018 Gran Turismo World Series Champion, Igor Fraga, racing in the Super GT 300 class and Super Formula Lights in Japan this year. He’ll be busy, but we still expect to see him take on the World Series as well, having finished third in the Nations Cup last year.”
Michelin, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), Genesis, Mazda, Brembo, Sony Alpha and BBS continue their support as official partners of the Gran Turismo World Series.
The Gran Turismo World Series is open to all players with any PS Plus membership for the online rounds through Sport mode in Gran Turismo 7. The Online Series is organised into a league format with three leagues determined by Driver Ratings, so that players compete in races against opponents of a similar level. Qualification for the World Series Showdown and World Finals is subject to terms and conditions which can be found on the Gran Turismo website.
In addition to the Gran Turismo World Series, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup is already underway. Seven online qualifying rounds will finish on August 27 and the finals will again be staged alongside the Gran Turismo World Series Finals at the end of the year.
For the first time since Sydney in early 2020, Gran Turismo fans will have the chance to watch the Gran Turismo World Series live and in person at both the Showdown event in Amsterdam and the World Finals. Keep an eye on gran-turismo.com and the Gran Turismo social channels to find out how to get tickets.
* Internet connection and PS Plus membership are required for entry
PlayStation Store welcomes the Big Games Big Deals promotion on 10 May. For a limited time* you can enjoy discounts across a huge number of franchises and different editions.
That includes 70% off FIFA 23 PS4 Standard Edition, 60% off the PS5 Standard Edition, 30% off WILD HEARTS™ Karakuri Edition and 25% off WWE 2K23 Deluxe Edition.
Today we’re happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May 2023. All games will be available on Tuesday May 16. Let’s dive in.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog
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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PS5
Blast your way through an interdimensional adventure. Go dimension-hopping with Ratchet and Clank as they take on an evil emperor from another reality. Jump between action-packed worlds, and beyond at mind-blowing speeds – complete with dazzling visuals and an insane arsenal – as the intergalactic adventurers blast onto the PS5 console.
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Humanity | PS4, PS5
You are a Shiba Inu charged with commanding massive, marching crowds to jump, turn, push, float, shoot, and climb their way to salvation. Guide the masses through 90-plus stages filled with obstacles, enemies, puzzles, unlockable skills, and wild boss fights in the narrative campaign, or browse a wide array of user-made levels (or build your own!) crafted via the super easy-to-use in-game Stage Creator. Humanity also includes PS VR and PS VR2 support.
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Watch Dogs: Legion | PS4, PS5
Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities as you build a Resistance from virtually anyone you see as you hack, infiltrate, and fight to take back a city facing its downfall. Recruit and play as anyone in the city. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set. Hack armed drones, deploy spider-bots, and take down enemies using an Augmented Reality Cloak. Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities. Take the Resistance one step further and fight with your friends in new missions in Online mode.
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Dishonored 2 | PS4
Reprise your role as a supernatural assassin in Dishonored 2. Play your way in a world where mysticism and industry collide. Will you choose to play as Empress Emily Kaldwin or the royal protector, Corvo Attano? Will you make your way through the game unseen, make full use of its brutal combat system, or use a blend of both? How will you combine your character’s unique set of powers, weapons and gadgets to eliminate your enemies? The story responds to your choices, leading to intriguing outcomes, as you play through each of the game’s hand-crafted missions.
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Dishonored: Death of the Outsider | PS4
Take on the role of Billie Lurk (aka Megan Foster), once one of Dunwall’s most notorious killers-for-hire. Reunited with your old mentor, the legendary assassin Daud, you undertake the greatest assassination ever conceived: killing the Outsider, a god-like figure whom Billie and Daud see as instrumental to some of the Empire’s most dishonorable moments. As you venture deep into the grimiest corners of Karnaca to uncover the mystery of the Outsider and his origins, you will face deadly opposition, ancient powers, and difficult decisions that will forever change the world around you.
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Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin | PS4
Fight monsters and cultivate rice in this fascinating side-scrolling action title. Learn the ancient art of agriculture from planting to harvesting to cultivate the perfect crop. As a harvest goddess, Sakuna’s strength grows with each rice crop, with attributes such as aesthetic and flavor directly correlating to her combat abilities. Using farm tools as weapons, chain together quick, heavy, and special attacks to take down demonic beasts, while mastering the magical “divine raiment” will be essential to grapple distant platforms, evade danger, and overcome powerful enemies.
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition | PS4
The cinematic action-adventure that forced Lara Croft to grow from an inexperienced young woman into a hardened survivor has been re-built from PS3 to PS4, featuring an obsessively detailed Lara and a stunningly lifelike world. Lara must endure high-octane combat, customize her weapons and gear, and overcome gruelling environments to survive her first adventure and uncover the island’s deadly secret. The Definitive Edition of the critically acclaimed action-adventure includes bonus content and combines all of the downloadable content.
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Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration | PS4
In Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft becomes more than a survivor as she embarks on her first Tomb Raiding expedition to the most treacherous and remote regions of Siberia. This 20 Year Celebration edition includes the “Blood Ties” single player content, PSVR support for “Blood Ties”, a ‘Lara’s Nightmare’ zombie combat mode, online Co-op play for Endurance mode, “Extreme Survivor” difficulty setting for the main campaign, 20 Year Celebration outfit and gun, and 5 classic Lara skins.
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Shadow of the Tomb Raider | PS4
Experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she races to save the world from a Mayan apocalypse. Master an unforgiving jungle setting in order to survive. Explore underwater environments filled with crevasses and deep tunnel systems. Tombs are more terrifying than ever before, requiring advanced traversal techniques to reach them, and once inside they are filled with deadly puzzles. Discover a hidden city and explore the biggest hub space ever found in a Tomb Raider game.
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Bus Simulator 21: Next Stop | PS4, PS5
Enjoy many game improvements and a brand-new game mode with this comprehensive update of the original Bus Simulator 21. Career Mode combines Sandbox Mode with the campaign’s economic system. You have access to all the bus stops and bus models right from the start of the game and don’t have to unlock everything gradually by completing missions. The PS5 version includes improved graphics, haptic feedback, adaptive trigger support, and 4K resolution.
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The Evil Within 2 | PS4
From mastermind Shinji Mikami, The Evil Within 2 is the latest evolution of survival horror. Detective Sebastian Castellanos has lost it all. But when given a chance to save his daughter, he must descend once more into the nightmarish world of STEM. Horrifying threats emerge from every corner as the world twists and warps around him. Will Sebastian face adversity head on with weapons and traps, or sneak through the shadows to survive.
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Wolfenstein: Youngblood | PS4
Nineteen years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazckowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action. Team up with a friend or play alone. Level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance.
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Thymesia | PS5
Thymesia is a gruelling action-RPG with fast-paced combat and an intricate plague weapon system. Seize plague weapons from gruesome bosses and formidable enemies, wielding them as deadly weapons. Shift into your raven form during battle, throw feathers like daggers to interrupt your enemies’ attacks, and perform executions. Upgrade and modify Corvus’ basic movements and plague weapons, build your very own playstyle, and prepare for the challenges that await in your own unique way.
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Rain World | PS4
Inspired by the simplicity of 16-bit classics, this survival platformer requires fast-paced sneaking to catch your own prey and elude ravenous predators. Explore a vast world of over 1600 rooms, spanning 12 diverse regions filled with ancient secrets and undiscovered dangers. Sneak, climb, and pounce your way through a dynamic, ever-changing ecosystem of predators and prey With procedural design and individualistic AI, every playthrough is a unique challenge.
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Lake | PS4, PS5
In this story-driven adventure, take on the role of forty-something Meredith Weiss, who returns from the big city to her quiet hometown. She exchanges her busy career at a software company to fill in for her dad, the local mail carrier. During her two-week stay in beautiful Providence Oaks, Oregon, she runs into a few familiar faces as well as plenty of new folk. As Meredith, you get to decide who to talk to, who to befriend and perhaps even start a romantic relationship with.
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Conan Exiles | PS4
Conan Exiles is an online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Enter a vast, open-world sandbox and play together with friends and strangers as you build your own home or even a shared city. Survive freezing cold temperatures, explore loot-filled dungeons, develop your character from scavenging survivor to mighty barbarian and powerful sorcerer, and fight to dominate your enemies in epic siege wars. Conan Exiles can be played in full single-player, co-op, or persistent online multiplayer.
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Rune Factory 4 Special | PS4
Grow crops, raise monsters, catch fish, cook up tasty dishes, and craft powerful equipment as you live your life however you choose in this fantasy farming adventure. Venture outside the town gates to explore dangerous dungeons. Use swords, spears, staves, and other weapons and magic to personalize your battle tactics as formidable monsters await in trap-laden dungeons. Become friends (or more than friends) with a charming and interactive cast of characters, and breathe life into the village with seasonal festivals and competitions.
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Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town* | PS4
Welcome to Olive Town, a peaceful community established by your trailblazing grandfather and his friends. Now that you’ve taken over his farm, it’s your job to carry on his legacy. Tame the wilderness and build your farm from the ground up. Gather and process materials to fulfill requests and improve Olive Town’s infrastructure, upgrade tools, or commission new outfits and accessories. Participate in local festivals and watch the town come to life. Get to know your neighbors better with over 200 unique events, and you may even find love with a special someone.
*Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town + Expansion Pass Set will be available to download, and the base game Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town will be available to stream.
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Soundfall | PS4, PS5
Soundfall is a fast-paced music-based dungeon crawler that combines looter-shooter action with rhythm-based gameplay to create a world of music unlike any other. the closer you time your actions to the rhythm of the soundtrack, the more powerful you become. Unlock powerful new abilities, and explore Symphonia to discover incredible music-based weaponry! Customize your loadout with more than 500 pieces of equipment to choose from, and venture out solo or with up to four players locally or online.
PlayStation Premium | Classics
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Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow | PS4, PS5
How do you hunt in the shadows… when the shadows are hunting you? Unseen, unheard and unknown – Gabe Logan, Precision Strike Operative, is no stranger to secrecy. But when Logan’s latest mission to capture a lethal weapon incriminates his closest allies, an intimate secret threatens to become a deadly lie. Experience Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
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Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light | PS4, PS5
In a world protected by the gentle Prismatic Moon, an ancient evil is stirring. The Dread Knight has reappeared to wreak havoc across the land, and the Dark Lord gathers his strength. The world’s only hope rests in the hands of Lance, a reluctant young adventurer. Discover your heritage and learn what it means to be the Protector of Light, Blade Dancer! Experience Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
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Pursuit Force | PS4, PS5
Five vicious gangs are fighting for control of Capital City. The terrified public has given up hope – and the Chief of Police wants results, fast! Jump into action as a member of the elite Pursuit Force and rid the state of corruption. Dive behind the wheel of a truck, a speedboat or even a helicopter as you hunt down criminals and recover stolen goods. Experience Pursuit Force originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
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Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered | PS4
The beloved and critically acclaimed Ghostbusters video game is back. Experience unique ghost hunting, wrangling and trapping with upgradeable weapons in widely destructible environments throughout New York as you play through a unique storyline penned by the writers of the original films Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The game features the voices and in-game likenesses of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson.
Be sure to play the titles you’re interested in before they leave the service as part of our normal content refresh. You can always check the ‘Last chance to play section’ on the PlayStation Plus -> Collections page on the PS5 console, or PlayStation Plus -> Games -> Games Catalog on the PS4 console.
Enjoy this month’s Games Catalog lineup and check back monthly for new games added to PlayStation Plus.
Saturday, May 6, is Free Comic Book Day —and to celebrate, we teamed up with Marvel to release a comic that will serve as a prequel to the upcoming game Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
When we initially sat down with the team at Marvel, we explored a few different ideas about what kinds of stories we could tell in a prequel comic. But we kept coming back to the same core premise—What if Peter, Miles, and MJ had to team up against a new Super Villain whose powers they didn’t understand? Additionally, we wanted to make sure that we could get a peek into what this heroic trio has been doing since the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. What is Pete up to now that there are two Spider-Men in the city? How is Miles doing in school? And how is MJ’s journalism career going?
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In this story, their lives collide as Peter, Miles, and MJ attempt to balance their responsibilities to the city, and each other. They keep coming back to one of the main themes of the comic: is magic real? Because in this action-packed issue, a beloved Super Villain makes their first appearance in our universe and appears to have supernatural abilities that defy mere webs and fists: none other than The Hood!
To find the answers to these questions we collaborated with the experts: Writer Christos Gage (who was also one of the writers on Marvel’s Spider-Man), and Artist Ig Guara. In celebration of Free Comic Book Day. Fans in the US can visit a participating comic book store or download the comic digitally on the Marvel Unlimited app* or Marvel.com starting on May 6. The comic will be available digitally worldwide through the Marvel Unlimited app at a later date! And one more thing…
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We know you’ve all been patiently waiting for news on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and we thank you for hanging in there with us. Today we have one more piece of news: a standalone release of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PS5 console!
On May 4, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will become available for a standalone purchase on PlayStation Store. This title was previously only included as part of the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition.
On top of that, when the game becomes available, there will be an upgrade program for owners of the original Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 console. Whether you have a disc or a digital copy of the PS4 game**, you will be able to upgrade to Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on the PS5 console for SGD 12.49 / MYR 40 / THB 300 / IDR 150,000. Owners of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales can still obtain Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered by upgrading to the Ultimate Edition through the main menu of the PS5 version of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
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For those who don’t fall into either of those categories, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered can be purchased on PlayStation Store for SGD 67.90 / MYR 209 / THB 1,690 / IDR 729,000. We hope you’ll take a chance to revisit the original Marvel’s Spider-Man in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered ahead of Marvel Spider-Man 2’s release this fall.
That’s all for now, as always you can find all the latest on the Insomniac Games Twitter and Instagram pages, or you can join our Discord channel!
* For more information about Marvel Unlimited including terms and system requirements, please see here
**Owners of PS4 disc copies must insert them into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital version. PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to get the PS5 version for the discounted price.
PlayStation Plus members who claimed any edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man via their subscription are not eligible for the PS5 upgrade.
