Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals and soaked in a gritty 1980s horror atmosphere.
I also want to take you a little deeper into how we’re using sound as more than just atmosphere. In I Hate This Place, silence isn’t simply golden — it can mean the difference between life and death.
But first, let’s take a look at the gameplay trailer:
These creatures hunt by sound
As you probably noticed in the video, the world of I Hate This Place is filled with a lot of nightmarish, otherworldly creatures from a rather eerie and distorted world. But what might not be so clear is that many of these hulking monstrosities can barely see. Instead, they stalk their prey (you) by sound, so all your actions and movements need to be thought out. Every footstep, every gunshot, every clang of metal can give off your location.
So whether you’re creeping through overgrown woods or navigating decrepit facilities, the surface beneath your sneakers matters. A slow, crouched shuffle across grass will likely be ignored. A careless stomp on broken glass, not so much.
Making visual noise
To take this system further and make it more clever to players, we also made sound into a visual language, where noise is color-coded. It’s a unique visual system inspired to tie in with the game’s comic book art style. For example:
Green footsteps mean you’re quiet, crouched, moving slowly, minimizing risk Yellow signals you’re walking at a normal pace and making moderate noise Red means you’re running or being loud, and you’re a beacon for danger
This color-coded feedback system doesn’t just apply to footsteps, though. Gunfire, thrown objects, even the howls and attacks of enemies all follow the same noise-visibility rules, helping you judge just how much noise all of your actions are creating.
Sound as a weapon
Just as sound can get you killed, it can also be used to your advantage and become your most useful weapon.
With a bit of strategy and planning, you can lure monsters away from key areas or into your cleverly laid traps. Tossing an empty can down a hallway or into the underbrush might attract a nearby creature, giving you the opening you need to escape.
With a bit more planning and thought, you can try to herd enemies together into the perfect spot to then toss that grenade or molatov cocktail you happened to scrounge.
Stealth is your friend
Combat in I Hate This Place is about choosing your battles wisely. Many of the creatures you’ll encounter are brutal, and even more so when night falls. Going in guns blazing is doable, but maybe not always the right move. Ammo is scarce, noise is dangerous, and enemies are unforgiving.
So the next time you feel tempted to sprint across an open field or you think firing off a shotgun blast in a tight corridor is a good idea, think twice. In I Hate This Place, it is not just what you do, it is how loud you are when you do it. Instead, you can rely on stealth, movement, and manipulation. Using the terrain, sound cues, and enemy behavior against them becomes second nature as you learn to navigate the environment and survive it.
That’s it for today’s deep dive about our combat and potentially sound-induced paranoia!
The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) returns to Las Vegas from August 1-3, hosting players from more than 60 countries around the globe for a weekend of high-stakes competition. Tens of thousands of the most passionate members of the fighting game community will reunite at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second year in a row to celebrate the games that unite them – with only the top competitors bringing home the championship title.
With an expanded lineup of hit fighting games, insightful play-by-play commentary from veteran hosts, and first looks at upcoming games and hardware, this year’s Evo has more for fans to engage with than ever before.
Expanded game lineup and showfloor experiences
Over the past few years, Evo has continued to expand its gaming lineup and experiences. This year’s event is branching out with an expanded competition lineup now featuring 16 titles, including Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Guilty Gear -Strive-.
Photography: Robert Paul
Attendees will have plenty of exciting activities to choose from throughout the weekend, including industry panels, hands-on demo experiences, and various activities at gaming publisher booths. There will also be a Cosplay Contest, an Artist Alley with over 100 vendors and creators, and an Evo Museum with exhibits that showcase historic fighting game artwork and memorable arcade controllers.
Photography: Robert Paul
First playable experience for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at Evo 2025
Attendees can go hands-on with MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at the Arc System Works booth from August 1 to 3. The showfloor demo will be made available to play using a variety of controllers, including the DualSense wireless controller, Razer Kitsune all-button arcade controller, as well as NACON Daija Arcade Stick. Slated for release in 2026, this 4v4 tag team fighter is a collaboration between PlayStation Studios, Arc System Works, and Marvel Games, featuring iconic heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe.
Be sure to also check out the Developer Combat Panel with key members of the Arc System Works and Marvel Games teams, taking place on Friday, August 1 at 8pm PT on the Evo Showcase Stage (players at home can also tune into Twitch.tv/Evo or PlayStation Esports’ YouTube channel).
Be one of the first to see the FlexStrike wireless fight stick on display
Announced during the June 2025 State of Play, FlexStrike is the first wireless fight stick designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It uses PlayStation Link technology to deliver wireless connectivity with ultra-low latency for fighting games.
At Evo 2025, the FlexStrike wireless fight stick will be on display only* for the first time – visit the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth for a first look at the fight stick and included sling carry case.
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*Display unit does not reflect final product design, which is subject to change
PlayStation Store’s Summer Saleand deals directly from PlayStation
As part of PlayStation’s Summer Sale, running now through August 13, there will be amazing savings off top fighting games, including titles featured in Evo 2025’s lineup:
TEKKEN 8 – Advanced Edition – 50% off
Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition – 60% off
Guilty Gear -Strive- Blazing Edition – 20% off
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves – Special Edition – 40% off
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – 61% off
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes – 50% off
Players attending Evo in Las Vegas will get 15% off select PS5 Accessories at direct.playstation.com from July 29 at 12:00AM until August 4 at 11:59PM (while supplies last). Offer includes popular items such as DualSense Edge wireless controllers, Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, Pulse Elite wireless headsets, fight sticks, racing gear, storage drives, and more. When ordering directly from direct.playstation.com, players can enjoy free standard shipping and free returns on eligible orders. EVO attendees will have access to the discount code at the event, which must be entered at checkout to take advantage of this exclusive offer.
Where to watch Evo Vegas 2025
For those who will be watching the show from home, visit Twitch.tv/Evo or head to PlayStation Esports’ YouTube channel to witness the world’s best players in competition, see the latest fighting game reveals, and connect with fellow fighting game fans.
Photography: Robert Paul
Whether players are tuning in from home or experiencing the thrill of the fight in-person from the Las Vegas Convention Center, there’s a lot to look forward to at Evo 2025. Enjoy!
Last week, we asked you to share the friendly and villainous side characters of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
youarerexamshares Neil with his gun raised moving through shadows
EmperorHalshares Tomorrow tossing an apple in the air
carletto0809shares a nightmarish version of Dollman
sorathlunashares Fragile playfully posing for a picture
calisarah1998shares Rainy basking in the nighttime air
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Vacation SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 6, 2025
Over the next two weeks, we’re heading on vacation. Share places and spaces from the game of your choice that you would love to vacation at using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Hi there. Square Glade Games here! We’re excited to share that we’re bringing Outbound, our cozy open-world exploration game, to PlayStation 5. Alone or with up to four players, Outbound starts you off with an empty camper van and sets you off on a journey to scavenge, craft, and build up your dream home as you adapt to the changing environment.
I’m Marc Volger, co-founder of our studio, and I’m here to introduce Outbound to our wonderful PlayStation community, giving a deeper look into what you can do in our title, along with help from my fellow co-founder, Tobi Schnackenberg, who will share a bit about the inspiration behind our upcoming game.
Outbound is a “cozyvival,” a term our team started using after Alpha testing when we stepped back and took a look at what players found enjoyable. We found that they fell in love with the satisfying survival mechanics, like managing energy, gathering materials, and growing food, paired with the cozy, low-pressure vibe of living in the van. Other titles tend to lean further into one end of the spectrum or the other, but we feel cozyvival perfectly expresses that balance our players enjoy — that’s the sweet spot where Outbound is found.
Chill solo adventure or cheery multiplayer road trip?
As a solo player, Outbound gives you a wonderful off-grid feeling, where you’re gathering resources and building up your camper van at your own pace. You’re the captain of your own ship, so to speak, and it gives you a sense of calm and empowerment. Outbound can also be played with up to three other friends; however, it changes the DNA of the experience in a significant way.
With others along for the ride, friendly cooperation can turn Outbound into more of a high-energy road trip, very much like when you go on road trips with friends in real life. We loved to see that energy change, so while not required, multiplayer is a key addition from our perspective. We also recognized, as we brought Outbound over to PS5, that we had an opportunity to take advantage of the PlayStation Portal, as the PlayStation ecosystem doesn’t require any optimization to be Portal ready. We absolutely love the idea of a group of friends sitting together with Portal devices, playing together. The ease of carrying it with you (on a road trip, maybe) is something we hope our players will cherish.
Grand fields of inspiration
“Part of the inspiration for Outbound came when I was on a road trip of my own from Germany to the Netherlands,” says Tobi. “And I saw a beautiful old-school camper van as it drove by a field of solar panels and windmills. We were in the prototyping stage at that point, and this moment sparked the idea of building it around an electric van with sustainability in mind.”
“Thus, sustainability is a huge theme that we’ve woven into the design,” Tobi continues. “The sun, wind, and rain are key sources of energy, and recycling litter earns you new blueprints for van upgrades. Those are merely a couple of ways Outbound shines a light on sustainability through gameplay, and we inject that energy aesthetically, as well, like how we show sailboats on the horizon as opposed to massive tankers and cargo ships.”
Pet that good pup
For the dog fans out there, you do have one with you on your Outbound journey, and, yes, you can pet the dog. This functional companion, which you adopt and name yourself, brings another layer to the cozyvival experience — players can teach them to fetch resources, carry them back to the vehicle, and more. They’re not there just to be an incredibly cute face.
Video games are often platforms that catapult us into far-reaching fantasies, dropping us into glorious worlds where we take on fantastic creatures with weapons and magic. Other adventures tap into fantasies that are a bit more grounded in our reality, and that is where Outbound lives. We’re looking forward to setting you all off on a glorious adventure when Outbound comes to PlayStation 5.
Only 19 of the ‘05 NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune were produced by Nissan’s performance division. Nineteen. With some mathing, that’s one of Z-tune R34 for every 424,315,789 humans on Earth. If you happen to be one of the ridiculously few, good for you. For the rest of us, we have the free Update 1.61 from the Polyphony team. In addition to being able to drive the grail-status Z-tune the ’22 Honda N-ONE RS and ’22 Nissan Qashqai Tekna 190 2wd e-Power are also available in this free update.
Three new events, a new Lone Pine location added to Scapes, and a ’17 Lexus RC F GT3 with the “ANEST IWATA Racing 2025” livery in the Lexus Showroom are additional content for the month. The Sophy AI racing agent will be available to battle against on the High-Speed Ring circuit.
Update 1.61 for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of today, Wednesday, July 23 at 10:00pm PT / July 24 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST.
NEW CARS**
’22 Honda N-ONE RS
(Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars)
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This “hot” model boasts the first front-wheel drive turbo, 6-speed manual transmission combo is a kei car.
The N-ONE was introduced as a new basic car featuring motifs from the original N360, Honda’s first kei regulation passenger car. The first generation was released in 2012 and found critical and commercial success for its charming looks and driveability.
In 2020, the N-ONE entered its second generation. Though the body frame was overhauled, requests from fans to not change the car’s looks led to the body panels from the first generation model being carried over and reused. Instead, subtle changes were made to the shape of the grille and bumper to tastefully express the evolution of the model.
The second-generation sports model was dubbed the “RS,” standing for “Road Sailing.” While this grade also existed for the first generation, the 2nd gen. model featured the first combination of a front-mounted turbocharged engine with front-wheel drive paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, which made it even more of a joy to drive.
The RS features an exclusive exterior design with black trim parts, but its most interesting feature is probably the 6-speed transmission. Designed for the enthusiast, it uses a close-ratio gear set as in the S660. The 2nd and 3rd gears feature heavy-duty synchros, and the clutch also uses heavy-duty parts.
On the other side of the coin, it also features many assistance functions like any other modern manual car—from the peak torque limiter, which reduces shift shock when suddenly releasing the clutch, to automatic brake hold, which makes things like hill starts much easier.
Thanks to its compact size and light weight at just under 1,000 kg, the driving feel is much more direct than one would expect from a car of this type. Overall, it makes for a very attractive package which brings the joy of sports driving closer to home.
’05 NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)
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The second wave GT-R finishes with the ultimate complete tuned car.
In 2004, Nismo (currently Nissan Motorsports & Customizing) celebrated the 20th anniversary of their founding. To mark the occasion, they decided to create the ultimate road car as a culmination of their 20 years of experience. The result of this passion project was the Nismo R34 GT-R Z-tune.
However, production of the R34 model Skyline GT-R, which formed the base of this project, had already ceased by this time. To get around this, Nismo selected 20 used cars that met a strict set of requirements and dismantled all the bodies so they could be carefully reconstructed by hand.
Naturally, every part that was added was of the highest level, befitting of the “Z” label. At its core sits the RB26DETT Kai-Z2 engine. Starting with the same 2.8L setup as the contemporary GT500 class GT-R race car, every component—from the pistons to the block to the conrods—was selected for strength and reliability. The turbochargers are IHI-made units, which had seen success in the 2004 Nürburgring 24-Hour race. Meanwhile, the exhaust is constructed from titanium, increasing catalyzer performance and exhaust flow rate.
To increase chassis rigidity, extra spot welds were added around areas like the door frame, while areas more prone to distortion from the heat of welding were reinforced with molded CFRP parts. The suspension features specially tuned bolt-on dampers produced by SACHS, a company with a proven track record in GT500. In order to achieve the target of 1.6G braking force on semi-slick tyres, bespoke brake parts were developed in conjunction with Brembo.
The exterior also received a number of refinements focused on weight reduction, cooling, and aerodynamics. In particular, on the front end, the bumper, fenders, and bonnet were all replaced with CFRP parts.
In the end, only 19 cars were produced, including the prototype, but the R34 GT-R Z-tune is almost certainly Nismo’s greatest contribution to the second wave of GT-R models.
’22 Nissan Qashqai Tekna 190 2wd e-Power
(Can be purchased from Brand Central)
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Nissan’s Compact SUV Is Even Better with e-Power.
The Qashqai is a compact SUV that occupies the C-segment in Nissan’s lineup. The first model was released in 2006, with a second-generation model introduced in 2013. The model presented here is the third-generation incarnation, which debuted in 2021.
The third-gen Qashqai features a styling overhaul to go along with its new, larger body. The sharp lines of the bold exterior design converge upon Nissan’s emblematic V-Motion grille. The car uses the latest CMF-C/D3 platform, which provides improved ride comfort and handling.
Looking toward the powertrain, along with more traditional gasoline engines, the Qashqai is also available with Nissan’s proprietary e-Power series-hybrid system. This system uses the engine to power a generator, the electricity from which is sent to electric motors that turn the wheels. What’s more, Nissan’s electric-generating engine is the world’s first mass-produceable variable compression ratio engine. Its excellent thermal efficiency also offers great improvements in CO₂ emissions.
‘Tekna’ refers to the model grade. The Tekna offers a wealth of equipment, with larger wheels, ambient lighting, and a head-up display included as standard.
World Circuits (New Events)
The following new events have been added to “World Circuits”:
Lightweight K-Cup: Nürburgring Nordschleife
Japanese FF Challenge 450: Alsace – Test Course
Race of Turbo Sportscars: Fuji International Speedway
Gran Turismo Sophy
The next-generation racing AI agent, ‘Gran Turismo Sophy’ is now available on the following course. Look for the Sophy icon in ‘Quick Race’ and ‘Custom Race’ on each track to test your skills against Sophy.
High Speed Ring
Scapes
“Lone Pine” has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.
Brand Central: Lexus
Added a new base color “ANEST IWATA Racing 2025” for the ’17 Lexus RC F GT3 on sale in the Lexus Showroom.
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*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update. **Credits (paid or via game progression) required to purchase vehicles.
Hey everyone, Game Director Alex Cox here again to break down another look at Mafia: The Old Country, following the Gameplay Trailer breakdown back in May. As with every Mafia title, the team at Hangar 13 has been hard at work ensuring that this all-new entry set in 1900s Sicily elevates and honors the classic gameplay pillars fans know and love.
In this video series (stay tuned for more updates soon), we’re showing off several key aspects of this updated gameplay through the lens of Enzo’s experience as a newly enlisted member of the Mafia. Each entry will be narrated by a different figure in the Torrisi crime family, beginning with the Don himself.
Family responsibilities
Being part of the Torrisi crime family comes with certain obligations. In this video, you’ll get a taste of what’s expected from those who join, especially new soldatos who have yet to prove themselves. We begin with the Don asking Enzo to “send a message” that says “Torrisi takes care of his family and affairs.” How you carry out duties like these will vary throughout the story, as next we see Enzo collecting a protection payment at gunpoint before fearlessly enacting the Don’s will in a bloody knife duel.
Each task Enzo undertakes on behalf of the Family will show off his unflinching tenacity and the range of his abilities, whether he’s leaping across rooftops on foot, pursuing cars through the country on horseback, or skulking into hostile territory to dispatch enemies silently or guns-blazing.
We then glimpse Enzo openly strolling through a bustling San Celeste and striking at enemies from the shadows underground; this section also gives you a look at Instinct mode, which lets you detect foes through environmental obstacles. Cut to Enzo continuing to lethally stalk and doggedly pursue enemies across the Valle Dorate, giving us a sense of the many high-stakes jobs he’ll undertake for the Family.
I’ll have to stop there to avoid giving too much away, but as always, it’s a thrill to unveil more of this gripping Sicilian crime drama as the team refines all the finishing touches. Stay tuned for more deep dives into the game soon.
Dearest fighting game aficionados, tag-team warriors, Marvel fans, and everyone in between,on behalf of the teams at PlayStation XDEV, Arc System Works and Marvel Games, it is our pleasure to announce that the very first playable experience for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls will be at Evo Las Vegas 2025 at the Arc System Works booth!
Attendees will be able to duke it out with their friends and construct their very own 4-character team from a roster of 6 playable Marvel legends, including Captain America, Iron Man, Storm, Star Lord, Ms. Marvel, and of course, Doctor Doom. All players who step into the ring will also walk away with an amazing collectible pin based on our fighting souls – you won’t want to miss it!
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In addition, we are thrilled to be hosting a Developer Combat Panel with key members of the Arc System Works and Marvel Games Development teams, taking place on Friday August 1st at 8pm PT on the Evo Showcase Stage. We will be shedding new light on the core gameplay mechanics, so we really hope to see you there!
And if you can’t make it in person you will be able to watch the Panel livestreamed at youtube.com/@evoevents
Lastly, we’d like to end with a message from the MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Game Director: Kazuto “Pachi” Sekine:
“This is Sekine, Director of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. I’d like to express our thanks on behalf of the entire development team for the incredible response to the State of Play trailer. The game is still under development, but we’re really looking forward to sharing more in our Evo panel, and especially for fans to try it out for themselves with the very first trial version at the event. My hope is to “Assemble” with all of the players and create an amazing game together. We’re trying out many new things to offer a fresh experience. I can’t wait to hear your feedback and thoughts.”
Get ready to assemble your team, and we will see you at Evo!
Keep up to date over the weekend by following our socials @MarvelTokon.
Hi, I’m Tim Willits from Saber Interactive, and we are excited to announce Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, coming to PlayStation 5!
As lifelong fans of the legendary Hellraiser franchise, it’s been an honor to bring this terrifying universe to life in a way that is true to the franchise.
Hellraiser: Revival is a single-player, first-person action survival horror experience that will put you into the dark world of Clive Barker’s twisted imagination. From the moment we started this journey, our team has poured every ounce of passion, creativity, and determination into crafting what we believe will be the definitive Hellraiser gaming experience.
Ready to take a peek into the horrors that await? Watch the announcement trailer here:
You will play as Aidan, the protagonist in the story who must fight with various melee and ranged weapons, and use the mystical powers of the Genesis Configuration to take down unholy enemies. Finding a way to survive your bargain with the infamous Pinhead and help your girlfriend Sunny escape is never as simple as it seems in a world filled with Cenobites, cultists, deviants, and the realm of torture and pain that is the Labyrinth.
Speaking of the story, we have been greatly privileged to consult with Clive Barker himself to make sure this new chapter in the Hellraiser storyline is authentic to the vision of his iconic Hellraiser films.
Hellraiser stands as one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time, and we fully understand the legacy we’re stepping into. From the very start, we’ve committed to holding nothing back.
The Hellraiser universe is defined by its unflinching exploration of pain, pleasure, and the thin and terrifying line that separates the two. That essence is at the heart of our game.
We are embracing everything that makes Hellraiser unforgettable and weaving it into an experience designed to leave you shocked, exhilarated, and, yes, just a little bit disturbed.
Because let’s face it—what is a horror game if it doesn’t leave a mark on you, body and soul?
We can’t wait to reveal more in 2025. Come with us, for we have such sights to show you!
Hot on the heels of Free Title Update 2 comes the next seasonal event in Monster Hunter Wilds: the Festival of Accord: Flamefete, running from July 23 to August 6. In this summer-themed event, the Grand Hub will be decorated to match the season. Hunters can collect tickets to obtain special equipment, take on special Event Quests, and enjoy some fun in the sun in the Grand Hub.
The Grand Hub heats up for Summer
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Visit the Grand Hub – your space to hang out and gather with fellow hunters – decorated to celebrate summer. Listen to a new song performed by the Diva, chow down on a special meal, and make some fun summer memories.
Forge Special Armors
Special armor sets only obtainable during the Festival of Accord: Flamefete can be forged with tickets earned through Event Quests and just for logging in.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can earn during the event:
Special Login Bonuses During the seasonal event, you’ll receive daily rewards such as tickets just for logging in. Use these to forge special equipment and use meal vouchers to eat the special summer-themed meal in the Grand Hub.
Enhanced Regular Login Bonuses Throughout the event period, the usual login bonuses will be boosted:
Lucky Vouchers will be doubled to 2 per day
Barrel Bowling Vouchers will be increased to 3 per day
Daily Limited Bounties Special tickets and items can be earned through daily bounties. Additionally, the Provisions Stockpile will be running an extended sale for the duration of the event.
Special Barrel Bombs, perfect for the beach
Get the Beach Barrel Bomb as a login bonus.
Forge the Afi Armor Set
Collect the special tickets to forge the Afi α series for your Hunter and Felyne Afi α series for your Palico. Having the Afi α series equipped will reward you extra seasonal event slots for certain quests. Make sure to have the armor equipped so you can stock up on tickets and Beach Barrel Bombs.
Additional Limited Contents
Those who claim login bonuses during the event will also receive limited contents. Here’s a look at some exclusive items you can obtain.
Blaze through the Forbidden Lands with the Firebird Caparison Seikret decoration.
You can also get special Titles, as well as a Nameplate, Background, and Pose to use in your Hunter Profile.
Show off your summer spirit by customizing your pop-up camp with special items.
Cool off from the hot weather with a new additional Water Gun gesture to cool down Hunters from all over the world.
By selecting the Water Gun gesture, your Hunter will equip and raise their water gun, ready to cool off anyone in the line of fire. You can rapidly shoot, as well as run around and dodge. How about having a water gun fight with your fellow hunters in between quests?
Enjoy the new Flamefete Felyne Teddy pendant and additional music (BGM).
During the event, you will also be able to have Fabius join the hunt.
New and returning Event Quests
Here’s a look at the new Event Quests debuting alongside the Festival of Accord: Flamefete.
Event Quest: “Pick Your Poison”
Collect special materials to obtain the Diver α series and Felyne Aloha Set α for your Palico.
Event Quest: “Putting Up a Stink”
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Every summer BBQ is better with corn. If you agree, you’ll want to take on this Event Quest to obtain the corn-styled gunlance: Cornpopper. The Half Rim Glasses and Lovely Shades headgear for your hunter and Alma are also available to forge by completing this quest.
The Handlers and the Smithy get a new look for the Seasonal Event
During the seasonal event, Alma, Erik, and Gemma are getting in the summer mood with special new outfits.
They’ll wear these outfits during the seasonal event, and can be purchased as paid DLC to be worn after the event ends
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The Flamefete DLC Pack will become available when the event starts, including the festive special outfits, “Alma Outfit: Summer Poncho, Gemma Outfit: Summer Coveralls,” and Erik Outfit: Summer Hat. In addition, the pack will also include special pendants, gestures, sticker sets, and Seikret decoration. The contents included in the DLC pack can also be purchased individually.
Happy Hunting!
*Please note that it may take some time for the contents to be reflected in the store.
An updated version of the classic 1997 PlayStation strategy RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, is on the way. And better yet, it’s being worked on by some members of the original’s team.
“It was Final Fantasy Tactics that inspired me to dedicate my life to becoming a game designer,” reveals Kazutoyo Maehiro, who was an Events Planner for the original, and now Director of The Ivalice Chronicles. “Even now it serves as an emotional underpinning for me, so it’s very dear to my heart.”
With other members of the development team, such as Yasumi Matsuno (Original Script, Scenario Writer, and Editor), present from the PlayStation original, there’s little doubt that this remake is in safe hands. For newcomers it means you can experience an engaging and rich tale of conflict in a troubled land, with updated and added dialogue, voice acting, and new features including a streamlined and optimised user interface.
Rebuilding Ivalice
Maehiro revisited the game a few years ago, a replay that reminded him of how awe-inspiring it continued to be. “[It was] no less impressive even compared to modern games with its excellent game design and deep storyline.” But with it came awareness that the game had become inaccessible on modern platforms within the console landscape. “I strongly felt that I wanted to revive this amazing game so that new players of the current generation could experience it. That was what began the development of this game.”
The process wasn’t without its challenges. Purists have the option to choose the Classic version, recreating the original as faithfully as possible, but crafting both it and the Enhanced version came with its challenges given the original master data and source code no longer exists. “This was simply the norm at the time,” explains Maehiro. ”We didn’t have the kinds of effective resource management tools available today, and we developed games by essentially overwriting the previous code each time we fixed a bug or added a new language.”
“The best way to ensure the game met modern playability standards while staying true to the original was to rebuild it.” – Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
“Since the classic version was intended to recreate the original game, we did have the option to implement using an emulator,” he continues. “However, this method wouldn’t have allowed us to make granular refinements even if the objective was to recreate the original game. After our analysis, we felt the best way to ensure the game met modern playability standards while staying true to the original was to rebuild it.”
That rebuild of the original produced the Classic version, which was then updated to create the Enhanced version. The hard work paid off, giving the team a solid foundation that all improvements and changes could stand on, allowing for granular quality of life refinements, such as an auto-save function, as well as adding elements that had to be dropped from the original, due to time.
“One of the things we had to cut the first time around was character dialogue,” reveals Maehiro. “This was disappointing for me, as it was for Matsuno, who worked on the script additions and refinements for The Ivalice Chronicles. So this time we added dialogue while making overall story additions and refinements.
“Even if the game design is excellent, people won’t appreciate it if the controls aren’t great.” – Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
“For example, in the original game certain characters rarely spoke once they were recruited, but here we added conversations that play during battles. When sending them into specific battles, characters like Agrias, Cid, and Mustadio speak considerably more. Some of these dialogues aren’t just exchanges between characters, but also complement the narrative, or touch on the heart of the story, such as why war veteran Marquis Elmdore chose the path he did.”
The UI also received scrutiny, with the Enhanced version receiving a complete graphical overhaul. “The goal was to create ‘the optimal solution to playing Final Fantasy Tactics today’,” summarises Maehiro. “Even if the game design is excellent, people won’t appreciate it if the controls aren’t great.”
Giving Tactics its voice
While the story remains one of the biggest benefactors of the remaster, it’s interesting to discover why this was such a focus. “One of the biggest reasons we decided to add to and refine the story was because this game features voiceovers,” says Maehiro. “If we simply added voiceover without adjustments it would have sounded unnatural. So we adjusted the lines so they could flow as a conversation, greatly enhancing their immersion, while the additions clarify the characters’ thoughts, goals, and backgrounds.
“Once the characters’ voices played on-screen, I felt that the actors had truly brought them to life with their powerful performances. I may have felt this way because I worked on the original game, but I’m sure that both fans and newcomers alike will be able to relate to this feeling.”
Fans will also likely appreciate the introduction of the State of the Realm, a high-level summary of information and incidental lore that plays between battles, similar to how the feature was used in Final Fantasy XVI, which was also designed by Maehiro.
“We wanted to give a way for players to appreciate the story further, however we made it so this information can be viewed chronologically according to the protagonist’s actions. So if you want to check the broader flow of the story, you can through the State of the Realm, whereas if you want to learn even more details, you can through rumors in the taverns or from the other features.”
One such feature is Errands, which reveals the smaller problems faced by Ivalice’s populace through a series of mini-games. “I’m very attached to [Errands] because back [during the original’s development], I was assigned its direction as a rookie and worked frantically on its implementation,” explains Maehiro. “Errands were initially something akin to rumors, but I thought it was a waste for them to be a mechanic solely to acquire information about the story. So, I proposed that we make errands something that could allow players to enjoy unit progression. As a result, I think we were able to create something that could coexist within the game as a nice break from the storyline, allowing players to take on the small problems faced by the inhabitants of Ivalice as if they were quests.
“In the classic version, these errands can be played just as they were back then, and in the enhanced version, they’ve been recreated with higher definition artefacts and wonders alongside graphically overhauled UI for a more approachable experience, so we hope you enjoy them.”
Tactical tips and tricks
With the additions of Stratagems for Battle, which compiles tips on strategy, it only felt right to ask if the team had any tips for players new to Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles. “At the start, I recommend combining Archer with the Knight’s Arts of War,” suggests the game’s Producer, Shoichi Matsuzawa. “Especially with Rend Weapon. Break your opponent’s weapon before they come into contact from high ground.
“If you’re unsure about your sub-character’s action abilities, just use Item for the time being. Having them learn Potion and Phoenix Down alone can enable them to take action immediately.”
“It’s generally easier to have two melee damage dealers, such as Monks, Ninjas, and Dragoon; two ranged damage dealers, such as Black Mages and Archers; and one healer, such as White Mages or Chemists,” adds Maehiro. “But it’ll likely serve you well to have each character individually progress their respective paths—such as being a damage dealer or a healer—rather than mindlessly trying your hand at them learning everything.
“My personal preference is improvising my strategies on the spot, such as raising or lowering parameters, or persuading enemies to become an ally using Speechcraft. This requires knowledge and the ability to improvise, so I encourage advanced tactical RPG players to give it a try.”
“Our greatest source of pride is the fact that the game is still beloved by so many fans, even after 28 years since its original release.” – Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
Regardless of whether you’ll take the valuable pointers on hand or build your party your own way, we’re all excited for seeing this masterpiece find an entirely new audience while satisfying its old fans. It’s a sentiment echoed by the game’s team. “Our greatest source of pride is the fact that the game is still beloved by so many fans, even after 28 years since its original release,” says Maehiro. “My chest swells with pride knowing that I had a chance to be involved with both the original version of the beloved game, as well as this newest iteration.”
“Final Fantasy Tactics incorporates many series staples of Final Fantasy, such as the Jobs and Summons, but it’s also a complete, standalone story,” continues Matsuzawa. “This is a great game to start with if you’re new to the Final Fantasy series, so I hope you will give it a go.
“Some of you may have avoided the game because it is a tactical RPG, but the enhanced version lets you adjust the difficulty to make the game more accessible. We hope you take this opportunity to experience the rich world of Ivalice.”
We’ve not got long to wait before our dreams are realised. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles launches September 30 on PS5 and PS4.
