Category: PlayStation

In September, we invited fans into Transformers Beyond Reality, an immersive VR experience that lets a player fight as a human alongside their favorite Autobots to save Earth from annihilation. It’s an exciting arcade-style first-person shooter with epic battles against hordes of Insecticons and Decepticons. Today PlayStation VR2 players can roll out and enjoy the enhanced action.

We are so thankful for the positive feedback we received from this passionate community. We listened to PS VR players and improved the graphics as requested. It’s been amazing evolving our game into PS VR2, taking advantage of everything this incredible device has to offer to build an enhanced experience.

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“Last Fall, Transformers: Beyond Reality gave our Transformers fans a new VR experience in which they could immerse themselves in. Now, with the title’s exciting evolution into PSVR2, the gameplay is even more enhanced and interactive.”

– Tom Warner SVP & GM, Action Brands Hasbro

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You’ll notice a significant quality jump in Transformers Beyond Reality for PS VR2. Here are a few ways we leveraged evolving technology to enhance players’ overall experience:

Amping up the experience and balancing with improved visuals and 70fps+ performance

Building console games always involves a balancing act between framerate and visual fidelity. This is even more important in the medium of virtual reality, where dips in framerate can make an otherwise enjoyable experience physically unpleasant.

For PS VR2, these concerns have been addressed and minimized. Our team was positively ecstatic as we added detail to models and textures, ramped up reflections, and added atmospheric effects and visual effects seemingly without restrictions, while still holding a solid 70 frames per second. It was liberating.

30+ Enhanced gameplay moments and cinematics 

This extra performance has a tremendous impact on gameplay, as a more beautiful game and higher framerates make it easier to enjoy yourself. We were able to add and enhance over 30 moments to make the game more engaging. Many of those moments were made interactive (such as a notable scene in which a major enemy uses the environment against the player). Particular care was taken to ensure the action happens close to the player, for example with PS VR2’s 110-degree field of view it is immediately evident how large Optimus Prime, Grimlok, and Megatron really are in relation to the player.

Enhanced haptic feedback heightens action

In the development of VR games, it can be challenging to properly communicate game information to the player. Heads-up displays (HUDs) are useful, but in VR they are less effective. For the enhancements to Transformers Beyond Reality, we transitioned from showing an ammo counter to letting players feel when it’s time to reload through the resistance of the PS VR2 Sense controller adaptive triggers..

Our greatest revelation was in how we were able to enhance letting the player know they’re being attacked from off-screen. We experimented with red flashes, but it wasn’t effective because there was already so much happening on screen. Now whenever the player gets hit they feel this information via the headset haptics. It’s a natural and intuitive enhancement.

We were so happy to have the opportunity to improve the experience in Transformers Beyond Reality in response to fan requests. We invite previous payers to update your game for free and see the updates for yourself. For new players, we welcome you to explore your Transformers fandom in this exciting virtual reality adventure available now on PS VR2.

Gear up, and let’s roll out!

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Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here

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This week we introduce our newest pod member O’Dell, plus Respawn Entertainment’s Design Director of Combat Jason de Heras stops by to discuss Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and how devs chose to expand upon its predecessor.

Stuff We Talked About

• Gran Turismo movie
• Marvel’s Spiderman 2 prequel comics
• Humanity
• After Us
• Dredge
• Interview with Jason de Heras with mild spoilers (starts at 16:05)
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

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The Cast

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 join Aloy on her latest Burning Shores adventures using #PSshare and #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: 

call_me_xavii shares Aloy taking in her lava-flowing beach surroundings.

Cosmic_Nook shares Aloy flying over the shore on the back of a Sunwing.

mett981 shares Aloy standing in the glow of lava and moonlight.

bookmancer_myth shares an ancient boardwalk ferris wheel grown over with plants.

indefinite06 shares Aloy leaping at a T-rex hologram.

RevolutionAndre shares Aloy taking in the overgrown Hollywood sign.

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: Portraits of Seyka from Horizon Forbidden West – Burning Shores
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 10, 2023

Next week, we’re turning our Focus on Aloy’s newest companion in Horizon Forbidden West. Share portraits of Seyka from the Burning Shores expansion using #Psshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Los Vaqueros and the Las Almas Cartel not only rebuild — they also reload.

The fight escalates to epic proportions in Season 03 Reloaded for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, launching May 10 on PlayStation 4 and PS5.

With new content coming to Special Ops, Multiplayer, and Battle Royale, there’s plenty to look forward to in the midseason update!

New Special Ops Raid and Mission, 6v6 Multiplayer map and modes

Whether you’re teaming up in co-op or looking to compete against the best in the world, Season 03 Reloaded has your six with a new Raid, Special Ops Mission, and Multiplayer map, as well as new modes.

Special Ops Raid Episode 03: As Gaz breaks off from the team to contact Laswell and set up an exfil, Captain Price, Farah, and Alex push deeper into the Soviet base in pursuit of Hadir and the missing armament. Descend into a massive pit punctured with old train tunnels, electrically charged waters, and heavily armed enemy combatants.

Special Ops Mission — Defender: Hafid Port: Take on the cartel’s latest operation in Al Mazrah’s Hafid Port. Eliminate the first line of defense and then defend your position against multiple waves of incoming enemies.

Alboran Hatchery (6v6): Drop into Alboran Hatchery, a medium-sized core 6v6 map set on a remote hillside beneath towering wind farm turbines. Use copious cover to set up more stealthy takedowns, or ascend to upper vantage points for a clearer line-of-sight across the storage and warehouse facilities. Expect this map in featured Playlists throughout Season 03 Reloaded.

Giant Infection and Faceoff: Take on the horde across larger Battle Maps that support a greater number of players in Giant Infection, and get tactical on small-scale Gunfight maps in modes like Team Deathmatch and Kill Confirmed via 3v3 Face Off. 

New Warzone Modes, Equipment, and Ranked Play

New Tactical Equipment: Up your strength in the early game through preset Perk Packages found in Supply Boxes and at Buy Stations. On the go and need to resupply? The Deployable Buy Station’s got your back. And don’t forget to grab a Gulag Entry Kit to fight for your chance to redeploy, even if you’ve already been there once before.

Plunder Is Back: Don’t forget: Plunder from the original Call of Duty: Warzone is currently in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. In this frenetic mode, Operators benefit from respawns and can equip their custom Loadouts at the start of the match. Gather Cash, complete contracts, and take out enemy Operators to amass riches before time runs out.

Introducing Warzone Ranked Play

Put your Battle Royale skills to the test in Warzone Ranked Play, featuring competitive settings, progressive ranking, a visual skill system, and seasonal rewards.

Start in the Bronze ranking and survive to climb your way into higher Skill Divisions, utilizing a Skill Rating (SR) custom-made for Battle Royale. Increase your SR through assists and eliminations and by earning a high placement in the match. Pay a modest SR entry fee for each match and see the end-of-match SR summary for a rundown of your losses and gains. The most skilled players will be visible for all to see in the Top 250 Skill Division leaderboard.

New DMZ Exclusion Zone

There’s something going on deep underground in Al Mazrah. Operators who deploy to that Exclusion Zone should keep an eye out for one of several entrances into a new facility known as the Koschei Complex, accessible during Season 03 Reloaded. Gain access and fight the combatants within to secure high-value loot.

General Overview

Weapon Camos: Complete a series of challenges and earn two new Weapon Camos for all weapon categories in the game.

Two New, Full-Auto Handguns

Season 03 Reloaded is introducing not one, but two new sidearms to the weapon roster:

FTAC Siege: Designed to be a compact and maneuverable machine pistol, this has a jaw-dropping fire rate and rapid swap speed. A trusted secondary for upl-close engagements. Unlock it by completing the in-game Weapon Challenge (get 50 Sidearm Hipfire Operator Kills) or by purchasing via Store Bundle.

GS Magna: This fully automatic .50 GS boasts a thunderous rate of fire and enough power to put an end to anyone crossing your path. Unlock it by completing the in-game Weapon Challenge (get 30 Operator Headshot Kills) or by purchasing via Store Bundle.

Kevin Durant, Reporting for Duty

Step into the shoes of one of basketball’s greatest players of all time as Kevin Durant arrives in a special, limited-time Store Bundle releasing as part of the midseason update.

In addition to his Operator, the Bundle will also include “Reap This” AR Blueprint and the “Easy Money” Sniper Blueprint, the “Deadly from Downtown” Finishing Move, the “B-Ball” Weapon Charm, the “Ankle-Breaker” Loading Screen, the “Hoops” Sticker, and the “KD Baller” Animated Emblem.

Watch for other Store Bundles arriving in the midseason, including the Throwback Pack: ’09 Weapon Audio Bundle, VII: Wrath, and more.

Season 03 Reloaded Launches May 10

For the best midseason experience, purchase Modern Warfare II on PlayStation today, offering access to additional content across three modes, including the ability to unlock 14 exclusive Operators for use across both games. Modern Warfare II owners also get awarded Premium XP at the end of every match while playing Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.

Stay frosty.

When humanity meets its end what will be left of Earth? This is the question Piccolo Studio’s platforming adventure title, After Us, looks to answer. As Gaia, the Spirit of Life, you are tasked with sprinting, jumping, airdashing, and rail-grinding your way across the surreal and barren planet while freeing the souls of extinct animals. Along the way you’ll encounter the monstrous Devourers, countless tear-jerking moments, and a lot of somber, yet beautiful, scenery.

In our hands-on time with the game we were met with all this on top of a wonderfully unique and expressive gameplay core that proved After Us is a great addition to the pantheon of platformers.

A unique powerkit

Bring life back into the world: Gaia is the Spirit of Life, bestowed with the ability to bring beauty back into a world consumed by a dark void. Pressing L2 fires a boomerang-like orb of light, used to retrieve lost souls, attack enemies, and even make simple wires into green grindable rails. Holding L2 down instead charges her with light and upon release unleashes a blast of bright energy that replaces untraversable goop-covered land with safe grass and fauna to traverse.

Battle the dark with life: Not only is Gaia’s power used to return greenery into the world and unlock secrets, but it can be used to defeat dark hordes of enemies as well. The Devourers, oil-covered monstrosities that trap souls, wait beyond many corners. To free the trapped souls Gaia must use her boomerang-like spirit ball to fight back while using her superb movement options to avoid their attacks.

Platforming in a post-human world

Free, expressive platforming: Gaia can jump to various heights, double jump, dash through the air, float, wall run, and rail grind through the world. Putting all these together allows players to freely express themselves no matter the challenge encountered. Those that master these movement options never have to stop moving on the journey to free the animal spirits.

An open-world platformer journey: You don’t have to stick to one path when soul-searching in After Us. The world is crafted masterfully and encourages completing tasks in whichever way you want. Want to use your airdash to reach a floating car to skip over a dangerous street? Or maybe you saw a far-off island you’d rather detour towards? The direction you take exploring this platforming wasteland is up to you.

Challenges aplenty: Around every corner is a new trial to tackle and it’s up to you to triumph over each of them. This includes puzzle-platform challenges where you must put your platforming skills to the test in tandem with Gaia’s special life-force powers. 

Many require combining Gaia’s movement and attack options – such as jumping over a large gap while perfectly timing an energy burst to create a plant-covered path. Other challenges push players to react to their environment to create rail grinding and wall run opportunities. Just be ready for incoming plastic bags that seek to stop your momentum and impede on your progress.

An emotional journey

You can pet the dog, cat, raccoon, horse, and more: After Us is a game with a message that we are responsible for the innocent animals of the planet. Not only is Gaia’s job to free the trapped spirits of the extinct critters of the planet, but she can comfort them with a pet using the DualSense controller’s touchpad once they’re saved.

There will be tears: After Us presents players with a unique vision of a post-human Earth. You’ll find statues of humans that once were, presenting a visual of their last moments. This feature is shared by some animals, some that passed away due to simple loneliness and sadness. Freeing these souls not only gives a bittersweet ending to a sad tale, but it also gives you a vision of their memories before the end of the world. Yet another turn on the emotional rollercoaster.

A beautifully empty world: While thematically somber, the surreal world of After Us is filled with beautiful visuals that will have you taking a breather to enjoy. From floating roads to Babylon-like post-apocalyptic cities and crumbling buildings that signify a civilization that once was, the world around Gaia and her mission makes venturing this sad world a joy.

The journey to save the last spirits on Earth starts when After Us releases May 23, 2023 for PS5.