When the PlayStation 5 console launched in 2020, we introduced Game Help to enable players to easily access hints, tips, or walkthrough videos without leaving the game to help them progress through a level, obtain a trophy, or find a coveted hidden item.
We’re always evolving the PS5 console experience, and today, we are happy to announce a new enhancement for Game Help launching later this year: Community Game Help. Community Game Help will add to the current Game Help experience by expanding the library of helpful game hints, incorporating videos that are automatically generated from gameplay footage of players who have opted in to contribute.
When the enhanced Game Help experience featuring content from the community launches, Game Help will be available to all PS5 players, with or without a PlayStation Plus subscription. In supported games, PS5 players will be able to contribute their gameplay, view hints from fellow gamers, or access Game Help hints created by developers. Game developers can also continue to create their own hint videos, as seen in popular titles available today like The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Let’s take a deeper look at how Community Game Help will work.
How to access Community Game Help
If you are already familiar with the current Game Help experience, Community Game Help will be largely similar. If you find yourself in a tricky situation and need help, press the PS button to open the Control Center and look for an Action Card with the “Hints inside” icon.
In addition to the developer-generated hints that are currently provided in supported games, you will eventually start to see hints labeled “Community Game Help”, which indicates that the clip was generated from other players’ gameplay footage. You can also rate the usefulness of these hints, which will allow us to curate informative help content for players.
Download “PS5 UI screenshot showing Community Game Help for Granblue Fantasy: Relink”
Download “PS5 UI screenshot showing Community Game Help for Granblue Fantasy: Relink”
Download “PS5 UI screenshot showing Community Game Help for Granblue Fantasy: Relink”
Game Help is currently available on PlayStation App, so you can also use your mobile device to access these hints without taking space on your game screen.
How to contribute to Community Game Help
If you enjoy sharing your gaming expertise with others and are willing to contribute to Community Game Help, you can participate by opting in from the Settings menu.* You can also opt out any time, which will remove all of your published videos from Community Game Help. These settings will become available within the next few months, so please stay tuned for more information.
Go to [Captures & Broadcasts] >[Captures] > [Auto Captures] > [Community Game Help], then select [Participate] to opt in to the program.
You can also select the monthly capture limit to control how many videos you will allow to be captured from your gameplay per month.
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Once you turn on the settings, your PS5 will automatically capture a video when you complete a certain activity in a game. Then, it will be reviewed by a moderator, and if approved, your video will be published as a Game Help hint for PlayStation players to watch, learn from, and rate. Your videos will be removed from the PS5 console once they are uploaded to our servers, so it will not impact your console storage.
When your video is published, you will receive a system notification on your PS5 console.
This process will be done automatically, so you don’t need to edit or upload your clips for submission. Only your raw game footage will be uploaded, so images and audio from your webcam, microphone, or party chat audio will not be shared with the moderator or the community. Depending on the game you’re playing, your video may include online IDs or chat messages that are shown on your game screen.
You can check your published videos from the settings menu and remove them at any time.
Community Game Help will start to become available in select games later this year, and our goal is to expand it to as many titles as possible in the future.
Thank you to everyone for helping us improve gaming experiences for the PlayStation community. Please stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the launch.
We hope to see many players participate in Community Game Help and share their amazing gameplay feats!
*Contributing to Community Game Help is limited to adult accounts.
Greetings. This is Hyung Tae Kim, director of Stellar Blade. We are pleased to officially announce the upcoming free playable demo for Stellar Blade, coming March 29 to PlayStation 5.
The demo takes place from the very beginning of the game when Eve, a member of the 7th Airborne Squad is sent to Earth on a mission to reclaim the planet from the Naytiba, up to the first boss fight. This first stage will include the tutorial phase to help you familiarize yourself with basic combat features as you explore post-war Eidos 7, a human city now infested by the Naytiba, giving you an early grasp of gameplay mechanics that will serve you throughout the game’s story.
We also have a little surprise included for players who complete the first stage.
From the smooth 60fps combat to the haptics, you’ll feel through the DualSense wireless controller, there are various charms of the game that you can only confidently appreciate through hands-on experience.
For those who complete the demo stage, you can carry over your save data when the full game releases on April 26, starting from the last checkpoint. Please note that save data must be stored on your PS5 system.
The Stellar Blade demo will be available starting Friday, March 29 from 7am PDT / 2pm GMT.
Alongside the demo, the full game will feature the following language options:
We greatly appreciate your anticipation! Mark your calendar for April 26, and make sure not to miss the preorder bonuses. The time for humankind to reclaim Earth has nearly arrived.
Hey y’all! After a few weeks of hiatus, the gang returns and introduces team member James to discuss his early playing experience with Rise of the Ronin. Plus the team talks Helldivers 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Stuff We Talked About
Hi-Fi Rush – PS5
MLB The Show 24 – PS5, PS4
Alone in the Dark – PS5
Horizon Forbidden West – PC
The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered – PS5, PS4
Dragon’s Dogma 2 – PS5
Rise of the Ronin – PS5
Helldivers 2 – PS5
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – PS5
The Cast
Download the image
Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE
Download the image
Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE
Thanks to 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.]
Following the release of Echoes of the Fallen last December, Final Fantasy XVI’s final DLC chapter, The Rising Tide, is set to release on April 18! Available individually or in the discounted Expansion Pass on the PlayStation Store, the upcoming paid DLC, which takes place before the ending of the main game, includes plenty for fans to look forward to! Learn more about the DLC, as well as a new update and purchase bonuses, below:
Introduction to The Rising Tide
An unmarked letter arrives at the hideaway containing a most curious request: the Dominant of Leviathan, the long-lost Eikon of Water, needs rescue. To heed this call, Clive and his companions must journey to Mysidia—a hidden land under a blue sky—where they will uncover the tragic history of a forgotten people.
New Leviathan Eikonic ability set
In addition to the level cap being raised to level 60 in Story Focused Mode and Action Focused Mode or level 110 in Final Fantasy Mode (New Game+), during Clive’s journey in Mysidia, he will obtain new Eikonic Abilities of Leviathan the Lost.
This new ability set allows you to tame the tides and drown your enemies both near and far with the terrible might of the Eikon of Water, as well as includes an all-new Eikonic Feat – Serpent’s Cry, allowing Clive to summon a sea-spitting serpent capable of dealing precision strikes to enemies at great distances!
And when Clive has seized the eighth and final of the elements, what awaits him then? Yet Leviathan is not the only power Clive will discover on his journey…
New locations and threats
Enjoy additional side stories to learn more about the area and people of Mysidia, which will have you encountering new threats, including Final Fantasy XVI’s tonberries found in the ominous Aire of Hours, a new stage, which was once a bastion of civilization—these proud ruins now lay silent, save for the incessant sharpening of knives.
The Rising Tide also brings the highly anticipated confrontation between Clive and the legendary Eikon, Leviathan!
New endgame battle content – Kairos Gate
The Rising Tide introduces a challenging new mode unlocked after completing both The Rising Tide and main game scenarios.
Players can plumb the depths of a virtual underworld, vanquishing wave after wave of internal foes. Only with both strength and strategy will Clive survive the Kairos Gate and emerge with its richest spoils.
Fight through 20 stages–each growing more difficult than the last. Maximize battle performance to earn points and find new materials and weapons to upgrade for Clive. Top players can aim for a spot on the global leaderboard!
Special bonuses
Fans who purchase The Rising Tide or the Expansion Pass will receive special bonus items, including:
A reimagined version of the “Curtana,” the signature weapon used by the Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy XIV, and
“Torn from the Heavens” and “Through the Maelstrom” Orchestrion Rolls, to be played as background music in the hideaway!
Free update (Ver. 1.30) arrives same day as The Rising Tide Release
Free Update (Ver. 1.30) will also be available for all Final Fantasy XVI players on April 18! This downloadable update will add quality-of-life improvements for the full game, including:
Return to a quest giver immediately with the new “Quick Complete” function
Icon updates for important character quests
A new Skill Set feature, which allows players to save up to five unique Feat and Ability sets
Abilities and Accessories adjusted for easier use
New “Custom” controller type allows for freely customizable button layouts
Tone correction, screen effects, and more added to Photo Mode
Hi everyone, we’re thrilled for our PC community to join Aloy on her journey as she braves the Forbidden West – a majestic but dangerous frontier that conceals mysterious new threats. That’s right, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition launches on PC today.
Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn. Vicious superstorms rage. The land is dying. Machine hunter Aloy has traveled west to investigate the source of a mysterious blight that ravages the remnants of humanity. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and face ever more deadly colossal machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this awe-inspiring frontier to find the answers she needs, halt the biosphere’s imminent collapse, and save life on Earth.
Unlocked frame rates, ultra-wide support up to 48:9 resolutions and performance-enhancing technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 AI-powered upscaling and frame generation allow PC players to experience Aloy’s journey in its full glory on compatible hardware. NVIDIA DLAA is available to help maximize image quality. The game also comes with NVIDIA Reflex, reducing system latency and improving gameplay responsiveness. Intel XeSS and AMD FSR 2.2 upscaling is also supported. The team at Nixxes is working on an update to add AMD FSR 3 with frame generation.
To ensure the game runs on a wide variety of PC hardware, we’ve included graphics presets ranging from very low to very high. This allows gamers with the latest hardware to push their systems, while also providing a great experience on less powerful PCs. Additionally, the PC release offers customizable settings, allowing you to tailor your gaming experience according to your preferences!
On behalf of everyone at Guerrilla and Nixxes, we are so excited to bring Horizon Forbidden West to PC and we hope you enjoy this new adventure with Aloy! We would love to hear what you think and see your amazing virtual photography, so please use the hashtag #HorizonForbiddenWestPC when sharing your experiences and creations and tag us on social media!
Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition for PC is available today on Steam and in the Epic Games Store.
For Team Ninja veterans and newcomers alike, Rise of the Ronin offers a deep and satisfying combat system, set to the backdrop of the Bakumatsu era of Japan. With the game now less than a day away, I spoke to Rise of the Ronin’s Producer, Yosuke Hayashi, and Game Producer and Director, Fumihiko Yasuda, who offered their tips for players joining the Veiled Edge tomorrow.
Experiment with Combat Styles
Rise of the Ronin allows you to wield one main weapon – blades, fists and spears – and sub weapon at a time, such as revolvers, shurikens, bows, rifles and more. When starting out, you’ll have just one combat style available to you for each main weapon, and as you progress, you’ll unlock additional styles which can be attached to them, offering completely different ways to go on the offensive.
But it’s not just you using combat styles – your enemies will have their own styles too, which you will need to adapt to. Recognizing which style your opponent is using will allow you to choose an advantageous opposing style, and can help overwhelm them far quicker. Changing style on the fly is key to being successful in combat.
New styles can be learned through story progression, facing off against tougher enemies, and through bond-building with certain characters and factions. Experiment with different types to find a combination that works for you.
Counterspark is important, but…
The Counterspark – activated with the Triangle button – is both an attack, and a parry. With the right timing, it can be used to deflect most of your enemies moves, even their glowing red murderous attacks. But using the Counterspark isn’t your only tool to defend yourself; combining it with your block and dodge moves will help keep opponents on their toes.
Some enemies will be extremely aggressive, others will wait for an opening to attack, and some may even leap through the air to grab you. Choosing whether you deflect, block, or roll out of the way, and recognizing which works best for the attack you’re facing, can be the difference between success or swift death.
Wander off the beaten path
Rise of the Ronin features a rich narrative throughout, but across the open world, you’ll find a wealth of side missions, characters you can bond with, landmarks to visit, and cats to pet. Engaging in this and taking on quests for monks, fellow travelers, merchants and more will not only ensure you see more of the gorgeous world, but it will help you further your progress through the game’s RPG elements, allowing you to create a build that compliments your chosen playstyle. There’s so much to be discovered away from the main story, and you shouldn’t overlook it.
Make friends and influence people
The opening hours of Rise of the Ronin will bring you to Yokohama, a port city which saw an increasing level of Western influence during the Bakumatsu period. As a result, you’ll come across a wide range of characters, all with unique beliefs on the future of Japan. Much of the story centers around this clash of views, and you’ll find yourself moving between pro and anti-Shogunate groups, as well as Western forces.
How you build your relationships with members of these factions is core to the adventure, driving a Bonds system that can affect how you experience the game. Increase your Bond with certain people and you’ll unlock new skills, weapons and items, which you would otherwise be locked out from. Your choice of faction support will drastically alter the games’ narrative and how you experience key story missions, as well as the people you can team up with during your adventures.
You can also increase your bond with each region of the map by clearing out unruly bandit bases, running errands for locals and chasing off dangerous fugitives. A high bond with each region results in discounts at merchants’ stores and other benefits.
Explore what could have been
Your choices affect how the story plays out in Rise of the Ronin, and you’ll see the consequences of your actions throughout your entire time as the Ronin. But what if you chose differently?
Unlocked once you reach the city of Edo, the Testaments of Soul feature allows you replay previously-completed missions and see what could have been had you followed a different path, making different choices and potentially altering the story you’ve previously experienced. So if you come up against a decision you really struggle with, fear not – the option to explore other outcomes is open to you.
Choose a difficulty setting that works for you
From the offset, Rise of the Ronin offers three different difficulty settings:
Dawn – enables features such as increased recovery item effect and reduced ki consumption from attacks, this mode is perfect for those mostly interested in the story and world exploration
Dusk – the default settings, offering a balanced challenge to all players
Twilight – the toughest challenge offered, this mode is ramps up the difficult, making enemies extra aggressive and attacks even more lethal
Difficulty can be reset at any point in the world, or you can increase or decrease the difficulty for key story moments as you set out on your mission. Just be sure you’re prepared for the challenge if you decide to step up to Twilight!
With these tips, you should be well prepared for the journey ahead when Rise of the Ronin launches on PS5 on March 22.
The Lee family is reuniting once again to rid the streets of crime as Billy and Jimmy Lee’s cousin, Sonny Lee, is joining Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons on April 4. An unconventional fighter, Sonny thrashes his enemies with a flurry of punches and kicks to prove he’s just as powerful as his cousins.
First appearing in Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone, Sonny Lee joins Double Dragon Gaiden as part of the free Sacred Reunion DLC coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Sonny is the lazy, distant cousin of the Lee brothers, but just like Billy and Jimmy, he has practiced the art of Sōsetsuken since he was young. However, Sonny has a hard time keeping up. He opts to give the ancient technique his own creative spin and now wanders the streets to test the might of his new moves.
Also joining Sonny in the Sacred Reunion DLC is the secret assassin Ranzou and one additional mystery fighter. Ranzou is a mysterious young ninja from a secret organization, known as The Secret Society of Ninjas. He has no stake in the fate of New York, but he is sent here by his organization as a test of his abilities. Along with the new characters, the Sacred Reunion DLC will include Survival mode, Versus mode and online co-op.
As a fighter, Sonny distinguishes himself as a rushdown/offensive warrior. He executes an action attack similar to a quick breakdance maneuver that travels a short distance and covers threats from all directions. Despite his Sōsetsuken roots, we wanted to ensure that Sonny is his own character, and he is designed to play differently from Billy and Jimmy with much more eccentric moves. His role as the familial outcast significantly influences his fighting style, resulting in a blend of showboating and non-traditional stances. Sonny’s distinctive approach to combat reflects his individuality within the family dynamic, which gives him more depth and personality, allowing him to shine brighter in the game.
Furthermore, our commitment to providing each character with a distinct fighting style facilitated the exploration and implementation of Sonny’s unconventional techniques. This emphasis on uniqueness granted us the flexibility to fully develop Sonny’s distinctive combat style, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
Quick attacks, dodges and unexpected movements are what drive Sonny’s attacks. This includes the special move Feigning Dragon where Sonny pretends to fall back while knocking enemies far away with a barrage of punches and kicks. This is a very quick aerial move that can be easily used to cause high damage from opposite directions. It can be used as a great combo ender, but the move makes Sonny vulnerable upon landing.
Another special move of Sonny’s is Dragon’s Regret, which allows Sonny to dish out rapid punches. Activating this move allows Sonny to potentially travel across the screen while attacking, but if you hold the attack in the opposite direction when the move ends, you can deliver a final punch in the opposite direction. Dragon’s Regret is a great combo starter and extension.
The last move we’re going to talk about is the Sleeping Dragon. This is a quick jump kick, followed by an elbow drop to knock down nearby enemies. Sleeping Dragon covers a large amount of ground and can be used as an anti-air attack and as a combo extension.
Celebrate the Lee boys getting the band back together when the Sacred Reunion DLC releases April 4 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 as a free update to Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons.
Last week, we hit the track with EA Sports F1 23, and asked you to share moments behind the wheel using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
guneetsingh1111 shares a blurry race shot of a car shot from the back wheel perspective
Defalt368 shares a blurry car in the foreground with a car behind it in focus
visionevp shares an orange car leading the pack around a corner of the track
Pastuzogaming shares a dark red car making practice loops
_pedrorsoliveira shares an aerial red car zooming by with motion blur.
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: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 20, 2024
Next week, we’re turning our focus to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Avoiding spoilers, share eye-catching moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Early Access in MLB The Show 24 starts today, March 15, and it’s your chance to get a jump on the competition this year. With new Programs, events, Packs, and Player Items there’s no shortage of content to make your pre-season eventful. There’s so much to do before MLB The Show 24’s full launch on March 19, so let’s take a minute to go over some of the most impactful content made available to you during Early Access.
(Early Access is available globally for anyone who purchases the MVP, Digital Deluxe, or Negro Leagues Editions).
Check out the latest new features and everything coming to MLB The Show 24 today:
Start your Early Access to-do list today
Where should you start in Diamond Dynasty? The aptly named Starter Program is where you’ll explore Diamond Dynasty content through Moments, multiplayer and single player missions, Collections, Exchanges, and a Showdown to add veteran Rafael Palmeiro and All-Star Sandy Alcantara to your squad. Next, leap into the Spring Breakout Program to celebrate the MLB’s Spring Breakout event featuring some of the best and brightest prospects in baseball to earn Spring Breakout 89 OVR players series Dylan Crews and Colson Montgomery, 87 OVR players Jacob Misiorowski and James Wood, and 85 OVR players Kyle Manzardo, Termarr Johnson, and Harry Ford. Afterwards, be sure to check out Team Affinity Season 1: Chapter 1, to play Moments, single player & multiplayer* missions, three associated Conquest maps, a Showdown, and complete Exchanges to earn progress towards 30 New 89 OVR Bosses (one per team, five per division).
Team Affinity Season 1: Chapter 1 Mini Seasons is a great opportunity to earn Packs and Team Affinity vouchers through missions. Pick up a Team Affinity voucher, good towards progress in Team Affinity Season 1: Chapter 1, for every five wins and for each level of playoffs you advance through.
Take on the Welcome to the Show Event using players from new MLB The Show 24 card series including Live Series, Captain Series, and Team Affinity Season 1: Chapter 1 Series’ players to get your mitts on 85 OVR Hyper Grayson Rodriguez at five wins and 90 OVR Standout Anthony Rendon at 20 wins.
In Mini Seasons Classic you’ll build a squad of Player Items from card series new to MLB The Show 24, then play through 28 regular season, three-inning games against teams in the fictional Global Baseball League. Complete goals to earn rewards including exclusive Packs and 2nd Half Heroes 88 OVR Salvador Perez for taking home the Mini Seasons Championship.
Play solo, co-op* with friends, or a mix of both to earn program progress in Ranked 1 Program and climb the leaderboards to earn XP, Stubs, and Packs including Pennant Race, Division Series, Wild Card, Championship Series Packs featuring an array of amazing player items to add to your Diamond Dynasty lineup**.
Draft a 26-player team from a balanced pool of cards then rack up wins against online opponents while avoiding elimination (two losses) in Battle Royale 1 to earn rewards.
In addition to all this amazing content where you’ll earn rewards, including Player Items, for your efforts, be sure to check out The Show Shop where you’ll find two free Packs to get you started in MLB The Show 24 as well as a variety of additional Packs featuring some of your favorite players.
Free The Show Pack
Free Cornerstone Choice Pack
Jumpstart Choice Pack
Jumbo The Show Pack
Spring Breakout Promo Pack 1
Chase Pack 1
City Connect Choice Pack
Headliners Pack 1
Learn more about what’s new in Diamond Dynasty*** here and additional gameplay updates here.
Over 190 new and returning Legends
All your favorite Legends players, along with a few new ones, are back in MLB The Show 24. With over 190 Legends to choose from, add Legends from the past and present to your roster and build a team from the best the league has to offer. Discover historic Legends**** like Henry “Hank” Aaron, Satchel Paige, and Toni Stone to modern-day Legends like Johan Santana, Andrew Miller, and Brain Dozier. Who will you add to your roster?
For the latest updates about MLB The Show, be sure to head over to TheShow.com, sign up for The Scouting Report, and follow our X, Facebook and Instagram accounts. Additional detailed information on MLB The Show 24 can be found in the FAQ.
*Online multiplayer features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription. **Internet connection required to redeem rewards. ***Internet connection required to play Diamond Dynasty mode. ****Internet connection required to play Storylines mode.
We’ll say this up front for those of you still exploring Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s vast world: there are no late-game story spoilers here. As seen in its pre-release debut via a new trailer late last year, the action RPG’s theme song “No Promises to Keep” is performed in-game by Aerith. Behind the scenes though, the track was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary composer behind the iconic soundtracks for much of the Final Fantasy series, including Final Fantasy VII Remake. The song’s vocals were performed by American singer Loren Allred, who brought her spellbinding singing voice to the track, augmenting the beautiful—yet tragic—world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the epic story told within it.
The two musicians sat down for an exclusive interview to delve into the behind-the-scenes stories of the creation of this celebrated ballad, inspired by Aerith.
Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu is a Japanese composer whose prominent career started in 1986 when he joined Square, a Tokyo-based video game studio. During his 18 years of tenure as a composer for Square, he contributed to many game scores, including the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy Legend, and Chrono Trigger. In 2004, he left Square to establish his own production companies, SMILE PLEASE and Dog Ear Records, where he continued to work on various game music projects. In 2020, Uematsu composed a theme song for Final Fantasy VII Remake, which won the Japan Gold Disc Award for “Soundtrack Album of the Year.” Besides his renowned game scores, he has entered a new realm of global success by producing and directing orchestra world tours. More recently, he has held Nobuo Uematsu conTIKI SHOW, featuring various style performances by Nobuo Uematsu himself and his band, a live performance by his band, and a live reading of “The Story of Blik-O,” an original work for which he wrote both the story and the music.
Loren Allred
Loren Allred is a singer and songwriter who gained acclaim for her astounding vocal performance of the multi-platinum song “Never Enough” from the Oscar-nominated and Grammy award-winning “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack and film. Although she wasn’t a familiar face to the public, in April 2022, Loren appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, where she performed “Never Enough” and received a Golden Buzzer, sending shockwaves throughout the industry. Loren is widely regarded as one of the industry’s greatest voices and has collaborated with Michael Bublé and toured globally with recording legends Andrea Bocelli and David Foster.
Uematsu knew Allred’s singing voice was “it”
PlayStation Blog: As you composed the theme songs of both Remake and Rebirth, what are your feelings about having to work on Final Fantasy VII scores today?
Uematsu: The original Final Fantasy VII was released 27 years ago. I highly doubt that the music from my 30s will resonate with fans today. So, I feel very grateful to be invited back to work on the game scores. Very fortunate, indeed.
To compose “No Promises to Keep,” what kind of communication did you have with the creative director, Tetsuya Nomura, and the scenario writer, Kazushige Nojima?
Uematsu: I think the three of us unanimously had a predetermined vision to go with a ballad. Since I am typically inclined to write ballads, I was hoping for a ballad as it would allow me to create melodies as my heart desired. And it turned out everyone was on the same page. As we watched a provisional scene of Aerith singing, the three of us agreed a classic ballad would be a perfect fit.
Did Mr. Nomura make any specific requests for the song?
Uematsu: No, not really, since we all agreed on a ballad fairly smoothly. However, he did say that he wanted Loren Allred to sing the theme song.
What was your first impression after hearing Loren’s singing voice? Uematsu: Although I didn’t know her name at that time, I immediately knew she was “it” when I heard her voice. Then I listened to “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman” and thought, “She is great. She’s the one we’re looking for!” But we couldn’t get ahead of ourselves because this was before we even contacted her and knew she’d be on board.
What was the inspiration behind No Promises to Keep?
Uematsu: Since it is a ballad, I wanted to make it absolutely electrifying. I was asked to make the song so that the key phrase would play in repetition, and that’s when Harry Nilsson’s “Without You” came to mind. I took inspiration from it and decided to repeat a key phrase in the chorus.
Loren: “Without You” is one of my favorite songs.
Uematsu: Mine, too. But it turned out that no one repeated the key phrases in the lyrics after all [laughs].
Does that mean you started composing the music without Mr. Nojima’s lyrics?
Uematsu: That’s correct. I first composed the melody and gave it to Mr. Nojima and the team. From there, they came up with the lyrics. When I was writing the song, I wanted to make the song memorable and catchy, the same key phrase being repeated again and again.
Loren: So, even though you (Mr. Uematsu) didn’t write the lyrics, you had already envisioned a structure where the chorus would be repeated to make the song more pop?
Uematsu: Yes. I thought repeating key phrases would make the song catchy.
Loren: Cool! That’s interesting!
Mutual trust: how they overcame challenges during recording
So, Loren, please tell us how you felt when Square Enix contacted you.
Loren: It was two years ago when I received an email from Square Enix. However, the message was very vague. I immediately started looking and learned that it was for a game title and that it was a song by Mr. Uematsu. I was already familiar with his work, and I was thrilled to learn that it was for the Final Fantasy franchise. As someone who knew about Aerith’s character growing up, this really meant a lot to me.
What was your prior impression of the Final Fantasy series?
Loren: Final Fantasy is a highly imaginative fantasy game series featuring very complex, engaging characters, and of course, I knew Mr. Uematsu was the composer. Both the story and music are essential aspects of the game.
Uematsu: I am happy you feel that way.
How did you feel when you first listened to “No Promises to Keep?”
Loren: The melody was very prominent. I could palpate sweet and epic moments of the story through the melody and feel the elevation of the song. I thought how amazing it would be to experience all these dynamic sensations in the game. Also, I knew this would be a paramount platform for Aerith to reflect her inner character through lyrics and express it to the fans, as it was her first time singing.
Uematsu: This is the first time I’ve heard this, and I’m glad she sensed exactly what we were aiming for. “No Promises to Keep” is a love song. I wanted it to exude a sweet feeling, but at the same time, evoke the complex feeling as Aerith confessed her feelings. I tried to build up the song as it climaxed, exactly as Loren described.
Loren: One of my initial thoughts was how challenging it would be to sing the song. As a vocalist, I find it easier to sing higher notes with an open mouth to produce the “aa” sound, but many lines of the song ended in the “ee” sound [laughs].
Uematsu: You’ll have to take that up with the English songwriter [laughs].
Was there anything you paid attention to when singing “No Promises to Keep”?
Loren: I wanted to get to know Aerith well, and I also wanted to depict her relationship with Cloud. So, for me to channel her fragile and pure personality, I needed to change certain elements of my natural vocals to match up with her character.
Loren: But I also enjoyed singing the band version* because it allowed me to be me, adding more riffs and fun things.
Uematsu: I agree with you. You seemed to have enjoyed singing the band version more. You nailed singing the orchestral version used in the game, but you were very lively when you were singing the band version. It was fascinating to watch you perform differently, and it made me happy to see two different versions of youself.
Loren: I have done similar work on “The Greatest Showman,” where I provided my singing voice for a character. So, in a way, both of these experiences are like acting. However, since I have my own style outside of movies and games, I’m humbled to hear that you also enjoyed my style of singing.
Were you, Mr. Uematsu, in the studio during the recording sessions?
Uematsu: The Tokyo team and the U.S. team were working remotely during the recording process. Loren was recording in the U.S., and I was in Tokyo, so we didn’t get to work together in person.
Do you have any memorable moments during the recording process?
Loren: I worked remotely with the Japan team. But we had some internet problems and got disconnected occasionally. The line got dropped just as an interpreter translated what had just been said, leaving me to imagine what was being said. When the connection was restored, the call dropped again as I got ready to speak. Because this happened frequently and became a time-consuming process, I asked if they would trust me to sing the song as I saw fit and submit the best recording version. They readily agreed. I was immensely touched by the trust they placed in me. I had a video crew from London with me that day, and it was after 2am when we finally finished shooting, but it was a great experience [laughs].
Uematsu: It wasn’t like we just told her to sing however she was pleased from the get-go; we had communicated precisely and in entirety about how we wanted the song to be sung, like, “I want you to sing this part like this.” We had already discussed and confirmed details when we decided we couldn’t continue with the unstable connection. At that point, we had already established the trust for her to sing independently, so it wasn’t like I offhandedly threw the whole thing over to her [laughs]. So, while I wasn’t there with her to actually watch her sing, I listened to the final version when it was ready.
What did you think when you listened to “No Promises to Keep” by Loren?
Uematsu: One word; amazing! I will never forget it. I received an overwhelming number of emails from different staff members at Square Enix, marveling at the song. Even Kazushige (Nojima) could not hide his excitement. I have written many songs for Final Fantasy, but the reaction we have seen for “No Promises to Keep” is unprecedented. There is something about her singing voice that is truly captivating.
Loren: I’m truly honored. Thank you.
Loren, was there anything different about singing a song for a video game?
Loren: It’s completely different. First of all, since Aerith is a fictitious character, it wasn’t like I could meet her to get to know her. I had to spend a lot of time online to learn about her instead. To top it off, since Final Fantasy has a cross-generational, long-standing fanbase, it’s not the same as singing for a new movie. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to sing for a game title, as I know how unique and fascinating the gaming world is.
Uematsu: You are absolutely right about being unable to talk to Aerith. As a composer, I have someone to consult with, like the director. Still, Loren, being so far away from Japan, probably found it difficult to ask questions to get more insights and immerse herself in the world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Loren: I did a lot of research on YouTube and Wikipedia and read so many articles.
Finally, do you have a message for the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth fans?
Loren: I am truly honored to have worked on such a well-loved game title and be the singing voice for a beloved character. I cannot wait for everyone around the world to play the game and listen to “No Promises to Keep.” I know many people were anticipating the release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and I could not be more thrilled to imagine how the scene of Aerith singing the song would touch fans.
Uematsu: This marked another milestone in my book to have written one more song for the Final Fantasy series that I am genuinely proud of. Both the orchestral version and the band version are amazing, and I can’t wait for everyone to listen to the song. I hope “No Promises to Keep” will be loved for a very long time, just as much as the memories of Aerith.
“No Promises to Keep” will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services from March 20. There is also a Final Fantasy Spotify playlist, featuring classic tracks from across the franchise, that you can listen to here.
*The single also includes “No Promises to Keep” band version.
