Accessibility Tags roll out this week on PlayStation Store on the PS5 console 

As we strive to make gaming more accessible for all players, today we’re excited to announce that Accessibility Tags are rolling out globally this week on PlayStation Store on the PS5 console.

Accessibility Tags allow game developers to provide detailed insight on accessibility features supported in their games. As you browse various game hubs on PlayStation Store game hubs on PS5, you’ll see a list of accessibility features by pressing the “Triangle” button if the game you select supports Accessibility Tags. These can range from visual and audio accessibility settings to DualSense controller options, difficulty settings, and online communication features like chat transcription.


Accessibility Tags roll out this week on PlayStation Store on the PS5 console 

Clip showing Accessibility Tags in the Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut game hub on PS5.

Accessibility Tags will be available for PS5 and PS4 games on PlayStation Store on PS5. If both PS5 and PS4 platform versions are available, you can compare Accessibility Tags for each through a dropdown menu.

With Accessibility Tags, you’ll be able to easily see if the game you want to play features the accessibility options you’re looking for. Here’s a sampling of the more than 50 Accessibility Tags available for game developers to choose from, across six categories:

  • Visual accessibility features, such as clear text, large text, color alternatives, audio cues and directional audio indicators. 
  • Audio features, such as volume controls, mono audio, screen reader and visual cue alternatives.
  • Subtitle and caption options, including subtitle size, clear captions, and large captions.
  • Control options, including button remapping, thumbstick sensitivity, and ability to play without button holds, rapid button presses or motion control.
  • Gameplay options, such as difficulty settings, skippable puzzles, simplified quick time events, and game speed.
  • Online communication options, such as text or voice chat transcription and ping communication.

Accessibility Tags on PlayStation Store for PS5 will gradually release for players this week. At launch a variety of games such as Days Gone, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, God of War, God of War Ragnarök, Gran Turismo 7, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal will support Accessibility Tags. We are just starting to roll out this feature and are collaborating with a wide range of developers to implement this feature in their game hubs on PS5 in the coming weeks and months.

Together with the wide array of accessibility settings within the PS5 console UI, Accessibility Tags will empower you to personalize your PS5 gaming experience to your individual gameplay needs. They’re the latest step in our journey to make gaming more accessible, alongside inclusively-designed games from PlayStation Studios and upcoming products like Project Leonardo.

Thanks for your continued support. We’re eager to hear your feedback on this feature and how we can continue enhancing gaming accessibility for our community.

Where to Preorder the Special Edition Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Switch OLED

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is getting its very own limited edition Switch OLED. It was initially revealed during a Tears of the Kingdom gameplay showcase on March 28, and will release on April 28, 2023. It is now available to preorder from select retailers, and you can find links to preorder the console just below.

Preorders for Tears of the Kingdom are also available from all retailers, and you can find out everything you need to know when scoring your copy in our dedicated preorder guide, alongside news on the Link Amiibo, and Collector’s Edition. For more updates on preorders, make sure you’re following @IGNDeals on Twitter.

Where to Preorder The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Limited Edition Nintendo Switch OLED Model

At the time of writing, only Amazon, Best Buy and Target have the console available to preorder, but this is likely to change very quickly, so stay tuned for more updates. To limit any scalping, Best Buy is allowing only one order per customer, and you need to be logged in to an active Best Buy account to complete your preorder.

This will be the first fully-fledged Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch console as Breath of the Wild launched alongside the base red and blue or grey hardware, though Skyward Sword HD did get its own special Joy-Cons.

Preorder Tears of the Kingdom Switch Pro Controller and Carry Case

UPDATE: THE PRO CONTROLLER IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

A limited edition Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was also announced during the presentation mentioned, featuring a black and white design again decorated with gold patterns and the Tri-Force in the background.

Completing the collection, Nintendo also revealed a Tears of the Kingdom-themed carry case for the console. These will both launch alongside the game on May 12. For more on Tears of the Kingdom, check out these 10 awesome details IGN staff spotted from the gameplay reveal.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Disney Dreamlight Valley ‘Pride Of The Valley’ Patch Notes Out, Here’s What’s Included

It just can’t wait to be king (or queen).

Gameloft revealed that Disney Dreamlight Valley’s next big update will drop on 5th April, but now we have a name and some patch notes to go with this week’s content update.

Shared on the official website, Pride of the Valley will be available from this Wednesday and with it comes The Lion King Realm, new items at Scrooge McDuck’s Store, and the Easter Eggstravaganza. Along with this wealth of new content (more below), a handful of bug fixes are also in the works and will be live simultaneously.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Building a Better Lightsaber – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Sees Respawn Improving Every Aspect of the Original

Summary

  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Director Stig Asmussen shares with us the myriad of improvements the development team has brought to the new game.
  • From an expansive hub world, powerful Force powers, and new combat stances there’s a lot here for Star Wars fans and gamers to be excited for.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available for pre-order now for Xbox Series X|S on the Microsoft Store for Xbox.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend some three hours with the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — the much-anticipated sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — before its upcoming release date of April 28, 2023, for Xbox Series X|S.

Now, while I enjoyed the first game immensely, it was not without its faults. Its map design could be confusing (with no fast travel), combat difficulty felt inconsistent, and the reward factor for going off the beaten path would very often reward you with… a different colored poncho (yay?). These aren’t just my opinions – the developers at Respawn clearly felt the same, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Director Stig Asmussen spoke incredibly candidly to me about some of those very same shortcomings. As it turns out, many of the things fans like myself were looking for, and some of those criticisms, were aspects Respawn admits should have been there from the start. This time around, the developers are aiming improve on every single one.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

“When you’re making a game, you really don’t know exactly what it is until it goes out into the wild,” explains Asmussen. “You can do as much focus testing as you want, but once millions of people are playing, it becomes a different story. It validates a lot of the things you thought, but it also confirms things and wondering that this was something we could brush up — one of those things was fast travel.”

Stig explained to me that the team had initially fought against features like this, wanting to stay true (to a fault) to the “Metroidvania” gameplay design it aimed for – seeing you return to previously explored areas, unlock new paths with new abilities, and make progress across multiple areas rather than follow a single path through the game. The challenge was that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order just wasn’t really designed around fast travel or built to have that type of feature in-place. But once the fan feedback came in, and once Respawn began to scope its sequel, a fast travel mechanic was part of those discussions on day one. You’ll be happy to know that moving through Jedi: Survivor’s levels feels far more intuitive, and rewarding as a result.

“You can do as much focus testing as you want, but once millions of people are playing, it becomes a different story.”

Another of the cornerstones from the original game that the team is expanding upon heavily is what the definition of a “hub world” is. In the first game, it was confined to the starship Mantis. You could talk to the crew, look at some of your collection, interact with some objects, but that was about it. Which is fine – it fit nicely within the narrower narrative scope of the original. But these hub worlds have now been given a significant expansion, as befits a much wider storyline.

In the portion of the game I played, Cal has taken up residence in Rambler’s Ranch, a small town located on the planet Koboh. Despite having to carry the weight as one of the last surviving Jedi, he also taken it upon himself to help the locals by improving their town piece by piece. This starts to give the upcoming game a veneer of a space western, building upon narratives that we’ve seen in Star Wars television shows like “The Book of Boba Fett” — Cal has, essentially, become a small-town sheriff who aims to clean up this small town and rid the area of those dang bandits. Drop that on top of the rich Star Wars universe and you’ve got something that just feels much more tangible and immersive to play around in. Oh, and you can also collect seeds, set a plot, and grow a garden in the middle of town (not kidding) — this now feels more like living Cal’s life than reliving a single story within it.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

One of the highlights of the first game was the small cast of characters who joined Cal, and Rambler’s Ranch offers even more of that feeling – this town is full of locals who add color to the game world. There’s Mosey Cimmaron, who runs the town stables; Ashe Javi & DD-EC, a pair of DJs who play music at the local Cantina; MXNK-6, a fast-talking and humorous droid bartender; and Dom Dendra, the de facto mayor of Rambler’s Ranch who can sell you cosmetics.

On that note, this was another major area the team invested resources in to build upon what, unintentionally, did feel like a bit of an afterthought in the first game: while it was fun to collect various colors and parts for your own personal lightsaber, other areas of customization were lacking.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

“Really, [customization] was kind of an afterthought in the first game, and it came in really late in development,” says Asmussun. “The first time we got the whole game together, we were playing it… but I’m not really getting rewarded. There were skins for BD-1, skins for the Mantis, but those were just skins. And I think people saw through that. But the one that we talked about, that I think we got right, was lightsaber customization. And people kind of responded to that. So that’s what we’re going to do — we gave all the customization features ‘the lightsaber treatment.’”

This is extremely evident in our time with the game, being able to not just swap colors but swap parts on BD-1, or to fully customize Cal’s facial features and hair, and a variety of unique-looking outfits. Practically everything has been given new options to make your take on Cal’s adventure feel personal. Of course, the lightsaber customization remains, which continues to look like a Star Wars fan’s dream to tinker with endlessly by swapping parts in and out as the mood suits.

“We gave all the customization features ‘the lightsaber treatment.’”

Finding your way through this world has also been improved, another area that Asmussun admits was a pain point in the original game. Thanks to valuable feedback from players, the redesigned map was added very early on in the iteration process to deliver something closer to what players wanted. While you shouldn’t expect this to be an open world – these are still crafter levels with choices and exploration built in – getting around them should be far smoother and more open to interpretation.

“There’s huge improvements in terms of clarity and of being able to add markers,” explains Asmussun. “BD-1 has binoculars now as well that allows you to scan the environment and drop beacon points. There’s just a lot more legibility in general regarding where you need to go next. Lots of lessons learned here and areas we wanted to improve upon.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

But amid all these improvements, Respawn also acknowledged the strengths of the first game. They were not going to break them or remake them; they were going to make them better and refine them. One of those pillars is Fallen Order’s excellent combat system, which offered an unexpectedly Soulslike spin on lightsaber combat and Force abilities. This returns, but with several new ideas grafted on to help build it out.

“One of the things we were not able to complete for the first game was Dual Wield,” explains Asmussen. “We had that as a late-game pick-up in Jedi: Fallen Order, and that was something that we wanted to have as a full stance, but we just kind of ran out of time, so it became this special instead. But there was a lot there. It was probably ready to roll within the first six weeks of working on Jedi Survivor.”

Cal appears to have lost none of his talents from the original adventure and in fact has a much clearer grasp on his Force and lightsaber abilities.

What becomes immediately clear as a fan of the original, is just how fluid the combat now feels. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s improved, other than everything feels significantly more responsive. Part of that, I imagine, is tied to the story — when we meet Cal in the upcoming game, it’s been some five years since the previous adventure, giving him plenty of time to brush up on his skillset. Also, there doesn’t appear to be any forced moments where you must unlearn what you have learned – Cal appears to have lost none of his talents from the original adventure and in fact has a much clearer grasp on his Force and lightsaber abilities. But that’s not to suggest there aren’t fresh combat tricks for players to learn. New this time will be the five “stances” that each have their own strengths to utilize to counteract with the variety of enemy types in the game.

These are Single, which is your standard lightsaber stance, a balance for offense and defense; Double-bladed, which is great to use for crowd control; Dual Wield, where Cal’s lightsaber splits into two, which is ideal for more aggressive playstyle; Crossguard, which is a powerful, deliberate stance that has Cal dealing massive damage (at the cost of long wind-up times); and Blaster, which has Cal dealing with long-range foes with… well… a blaster.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

“It’s easily the biggest improvement [to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor], in that you can now carry five stances and they each have a unique personality,” details Asmussen. “There’s a kind of synergy that we have the way that we’re constructing the enemies in the game that some stances might be able to reveal exploits faster against some enemies than another one. But to be clear, you can take down any enemy with any stance.”

The challenge for Respawn is finding ways to balance what is essentially a “one-hit-kill” weapon like a lightsaber and continue to make it feel fun, especially now that Cal is so well-versed in both his growing abilities as a Jedi and as a master wielder of the weapon of a more civilized age.

“Oh, there’s also dismemberment in this game,” Asmussen underscores with a bit of a smile.

“We introduce a variety of different ways that enemies can block a lightsaber, and something we work with Lucasfilm on is what kind of technology can we bring to the combatants who are basically loaded up to take on a Jedi,” explains Asmussen. “What kind of Star Wars tech can we give to them? Whether it’s shields or electrified devices that can block a lightsaber. A lot of the enemies are one hit kills; you just need to find the opening. Most of them aren’t though.

“That’s always the challenge. How can we provide contextually the tools that can block a lightsaber but also weave into the narrative that these things have a reason to exist. It’s something we’re always trying to make sure we’re underscoring. Oh, there’s also dismemberment in this game,” Asmussen underscores with a bit of a smile. “Fans have been asking for that and we got the green light from Lucasfilm.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Screenshot

There have also been several adjustments to really make you feel powerful. Force Push and Pull are still tied naturally to the controller’s Right and Left triggers respectively from the start, allowing you jump in right away and play with a myriad of new combat features that weave together powerful Force powers and cinematic-like lightsaber combat. Think of it as a combat sandbox: If you think you can Force Pull a Stormtrooper, hold him in the air while you ram your lightsaber through him, or parry blaster fire back on a variety of enemies while dashing back and forth, or manipulate them to attack their own colleagues… you can.

Presenting this in action during our event, one member from the team’s combat team took the controller and showcased the level of hurt one can unleash on enemies in the game once you become in tune with all of Cal’s abilities. We watched as he moved through each of the five stances, demonstrating the various ways in which you can approach and cut down enemies with the saber, or by using some end-level Force powers where you can group enemies together, slow down time, and charge your pistol to unleash a barrage of blaster fire.

Everything we’ve seen so far promises a bigger, better, more customizable adventure with Cal Kestis and BD-1

Everything we’ve seen so far promises a bigger, better, more customizable adventure with Cal Kestis and BD-1: responsive combat, engaging characters, and an ancient mystery that is just waiting to be solved. We can’t reveal too much more about the latter, as that would be delving into some spoiler territory, but we did get enough of a tease that once these credits roll, our mouths are going to be on the floor.

Thankfully we don’t have long to wait to dive in, as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is launching in just a few short weeks from now on April 28, 2023, for Xbox Series X|S. If you’ve yet to experience the original game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it’s available to play now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Live

STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ Standard Edition

Electronic Arts


$69.99

$62.99

Pre-order* STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ Standard Edition to outfit Cal with the Obi-Wan Kenobi™ inspired “Jedi Survival” Cosmetic Pack:

• The “Hermit” Cosmetic
• The “Hermit” Lightsaber Set
• The “Combustion” Blaster Set

The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar.

• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.

• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Creatively leverage all these abilities and weapons to strategically take on an expanded host of enemies, sizing up strengths and weaknesses while cleverly utilizing your training to overcome your opponents and solve the mysteries that lay in your path.

• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.

*Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/jedi/jedi-survivor/disclaimers for details.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

Xbox Live

STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ Deluxe Edition

Electronic Arts


$89.99

$80.99

Unlock exclusive cosmetic items inspired by Han Solo™ and Luke Skywalker™, as seen in STAR WARS: A New Hope, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe Edition*.

• The “Galactic Hero” Cosmetic Pack
‎ – The “Scoundrel” Cosmetic
‎ – The “Rugged” BD-1 Cosmetic
‎ – The “DL-44” Blaster Set

• The “New Hero” Cosmetic Pack
‎ – The “Rebel Hero” Cosmetic
‎ – The “BD-Astro” BD-1 Cosmetic
‎ – The “Rebel Hero” Lightsaber Set

Plus also receive the Obi-Wan Kenobi™ inspired “Jedi Survival” Cosmetic Pack*:
• The “Hermit” Cosmetic
• The “Hermit” Lightsaber Set
• The “Combustion” Blaster Set

The story of Cal Kestis continues in STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™, a galaxy-spanning third-person action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. This narratively driven single-player adventure continues five years after the events of STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight to protect the galaxy from descending into darkness.

• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system from Jedi: Fallen Order returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Combine all these abilities and weapons to find your distinct style and defeat enemies new and old.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and revisit familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will enhance the ways you explore, fight, and roam.

*Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/jedi/jedi-survivor/disclaimers for details.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

Related:
Xbox and Lucasfilm Launch ‘The Mandalorian’-themed Gaming Gear for Season 3
The Most Anticipated Games of 2023 (According to the Xbox Wire Team)
The Game Awards 2022: Big Winners, World Exclusive Reveals, and More From the Premiere Video Game Awards Show

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor hands-on gameplay report – A sequel with galactic improvements

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a galaxy of fleshed-out worlds that aims to surpass its predecessor in every way. The numerous spectacles I witnessed within my three hours playing Respawn Entertainment’s upcoming sequel ranged from dynamic vistas, diverse communities, and an ecosystem of friendlies and enemies that your in-game actions directly impact. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is not striving to only be a great Star Wars game but an overall excellent game of galactic proportions. 

Enhanced combat options

One key to living out any Jedi fantasy is the feeling of complete control over the Force and your weapons, and Survivor does not disappoint. There are now five different combat stances to unlock throughout the game as your primary and secondary: 

  • Single – The standard balanced “all-rounder” lightsaber option 
  • Double-bladed – Good for crowd control and keeping enemies at bay 
  • Dual Wield – Great for high-octane and versatile combat, requires finesse 
  • Crossguard – Powerful but slow
  • Blaster – Great for dealing with enemies at a distance and pestering foes 

Yes, you will be able to wield a blaster. Protagonist Cal Kestis can also perform blaster and lightsaber combos, wielding one in each hand to dispatch foes in creative and visually spectacular ways. 

The new options provide unique ways to tackle enemies. The crossguard lightsaber acts like a traditional longsword with slow windup times but deals massive damage to anything it comes in contact with, while dual wield allows you to deliver quick and precise strikes while staying agile. 

“One thing I think we looked at in the first game is that that power curve came in a little bit too late,” said Stig Asmussen, game director at Respawn. “You didn’t really start feeling like you had [power], which is by design, you’re this raw and incomplete Padawan that hasn’t been trained in years. We wanted the player to feel that. And it’s around 60% into the first game, you start to feel like, ‘hey, I got a lot of powers right now that I can use to manipulate and eventually dominate both combat and the environment.’ And we definitely want that to come in a little bit sooner on this game because Cal is further along on his path.”

Early in the game, you’ll have access to three stances and all of the basic Force abilities Cal acquired in the first game. Along with some new ones, including Force Confusion which allows players to turn enemies against each other briefly, and Tame giving the ability to mount various creatures to navigate the environment for faster traversal or puzzle solving. 

The power of PS5

The game looks stunning and has been optimized to take full advantage of what the PS5 has to offer. When flying around the world with the help of a Belter, a new flying mount, it becomes apparent just how massive and detailed the new worlds Cal will explore are, with looming structures in the distance casting vast shadows, enemies on patrol, and glimpses of the unknown on the horizon. All this is rendered in real-time and detailed regardless of distance. 

“With the PS5, we’re really digging the haptics and what the controller is bringing, and it’s been a lot of fun to see how that works with push and pull [Force powers],” said Asmussen. “And a [DualSense] controller, it feels really good, and we’re taking advantage of that. You’re going to feel it on the triggers when you’re doing push and pull. If you really [push] on the triggers, it’s going to give a different response. Compared to if you’re lightly feathering them, and the game is going to react to that. It’s the nuance within the vibrations on the controller that is pretty outstanding. Our audio team and our combat team is really dialed into how the things that are happening in the world, the effects, and everything that are like translating to how it feels in your hands.”

A galaxy of cultures

The galaxy is a lively and beautiful place, and the planets are not just a collection of biomes for the players to run and slash their way through. Cal finds himself temporarily stranded on Koboh, which features a sprawling open-world design. Instead of featuring a core environmental theme, there is a wide range of biodiversity. Open arid sears, dense jungles, and puzzle room-like Jedi Chambers that will test your critical thinking skills and ability to wield the force. 

Koboh is also inhabited by friendly prospectors trying to make a living among the small-town communities who are being oppressed by The Bedlam Raiders, a gang that terrorizes the nearby system. The Bedlam Raiders are also in conflict with The Empire encroaching on their turf leading to an open world that constantly has different factions of people interacting and fighting even without Cal’s involvement. 

A new addition to the sequel is Rambler’s Reach, a place where you will meet colorful characters, plant gardens, and recruit different people you meet to the town to help with repairs or even to be a DJ. These and other activities will improve the lives of the locals and possibly aid Cal on his journey. The game features town-building mechanics for those who genuinely want to make the galaxy a better place. 

Customization & controls 

Like a Jedi honing their skills, Cal’s movement feels more fluid and responsive in this sequel. You have more control over what direction Cal dodges incoming attacks, and platforming feels organic and purposeful. Facial animations and characters’ interactions in and out of combat are more natural. 

Climbing, hanging, and jumping animation reflect what you’re jumping on or toward instead of a generic jumping animation for all situations. There was also a heartfelt yet somber reunion with Greez where the contents of the conversation could be perfectly conveyed with facial expressions alone in both cutscenes and gameplay. 

The game incentives exploration with a plethora of robust cosmetic options for Cal and the many forms his lightsaber can take. I indulged in customizing my lightsaber down to the tiniest details, from accent colors to the sheen and wear on my weapon. 

Cal now has the option to change hairstyles, rock some facial hair, and switch up his clothing to take him from space cowboy to galactic entrepreneur. With a more customizable Cal, lightsaber, and droid buddy BD-1, it’s possible no two players will look exactly the same.

Optimizing Respawn’s Star Wars recipe

Respawn is taking what they learned from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, optimizing the formula to make Survivor an even more exciting experience.

“The game is built on the fundamentals of the best games that we played throughout our lifetime, like the things that we point out in other games. Can we make that work in Star Wars? It’s kind of a soup, right?” said Asmussen. “We got to make sure that we’ve got all the right ingredients there. We taste a little bit, and it’s like, let’s add a little bit of this. Let’s add a little bit of that. Star Wars is always a part of it, but those tried and true design fundamentals are the backbone of everything that we’re doing.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is shaping up to be a spectacular galactic adventure and compelling showcase for what PS5 games can truly offer. The game drops on April 28, and if it wasn’t already on your radar, it should be.

Storybook strategy sim Six Ages 2 treks to PC this summer

Six Ages: Ride Like The Wind was a spiritual successor to 1999’s cult classic King Of Dragon Pass, created by some of that game’s former developers. Six Ages is now receiving its own proper successor later this summer, developer A Sharp and publisher Kitfox have announced. Just like its predecessor, Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out is a blend of tribal management and choose your own adventure drills, all wrapped up in some gorgeous fantasy illustrations.

Read more

Multiversal RPG Dragonheir: Silent Gods Announces Collaboration with Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons Brand

Popular characters from the world of Dungeons & Dragons and Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer’s voice will be making their way onto the Multiversal Plane in Dragonheir: Silent Gods in the coming two years as the fantasy adventure title releases in the second half of 2023.

International Publisher and developer Nuverse and SGRA Studio announced a collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, Inc, that will bring Dungeons & Dragons characters into their upcoming multiversal RPG Dragonheir: Silent Gods later this year.

This post-launch content will appear as seasonal updates that expand the multiverse with new locations to explore, enemies to slay, and other well-known characters from the Dungeons & Dragons lore.

In order to defeat their opponents, players must engage with strategic, turn-based combat, combining their adventurer party’s strengths and synergies to unleash powerful magic and merciless steel on monsters of all kinds and sizes. Dice rolls play a major role in Dragonheir: Silent Gods’ combat, enhancing gameplay and adding a stroke of luck to every situation adventurers might find themselves in.

As part of the licensed collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, popular characters from the Dungeons & Dragons lore will appear on the multiversal plane in Dragonheir: Silent Gods. Erttu, the menacing balar demon who revels in chaos and destruction will reign havoc on the denizens of Adenthia. To challenge his demonic reign, adventurers must enlist the help of Drizzt Do’Urden, a drow ranger and fabled hero of the North known for fighting against the dark powers.

Set in the magical high fantasy open world of Adenthia, Dragonheir: Silent Gods allows players to take on the mantle of The Chosen One and fight against the tyrant three-headed dragon alongside adventurers from all corners of the multiverse, exploring ancient caverns and unraveling secrets as they forge their own story.

“We are beyond excited to be working with Wizards of the Coast to bring iconic Dungeons & Dragons characters into our game.” said Sagi, Lead Developer at SGRA Studio. “All of us at SGRA have been fans of Dungeons & Dragons for years now, and only dreamed of creating stories about legends such as Erttu and Drizzt, let alone being able to directly bring them into our game! We cannot wait to see players forge their own legends – Dragonheir: Silent Gods is our love letter to high fantasy RPGs and we’re excited to release the game later this year.”

“SGRA are an enthusiastic team of Dungeons & Dragons and fantasy fans, and we believe their passion combined with industry experience will make Dragonheir: Silent Gods exceptional and unique.” Spokesperson at Nuverse commented. “Nuverse is committed to bringing high-quality game experiences to players around the globe, and we believe Dragonheir: Silent Gods is a great example of a game that will excite and intrigue.”

“Dungeons & Dragons is a beloved IP for players all around the world, and we have exciting and ambitious plans to expand its reach into new media spaces.” said Eugene Evans, Wizards of the Coast, SVP Business Development & Digital Licensing. “This is an exciting time for the brand, and we’re thrilled to bring the characters of Dungeons & Dragons to life with new audiences, and have found great gaming partners in SGRA and Nuverse. The IP integration strategy of Nuverse combined with SGRA’s passion and dedication to quality content create a collaboration we are excited to be an integral part of.”

Last but not least, the legendary Dungeon Master and one of the most prominent figures in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Matthew Mercer, will be lending his voice to Dragonheir: Silent Gods. In addition, a series of collaborative activities within and beyond the game will be launched. According to Matthew, if you’re a fantasy RPG fan, and are looking for the next title you can play on PC and Mobile devices, check out the new title Dragonheir!

Dragonheir: Silent Gods will release on PC and mobile devices in the second half of 2023. For more information, visit the game’s official website or follow Dragonheir: Silent Gods on Discord, Facebook and YouTube.

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is more Fallen Order, and that’s okay

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor last week, I can tell you it is exactly what you probably already thought it would be: a competent, big-budget action-adventure sequel, well made by talented people, that isn’t breaking the mould but expands upon the first game in the areas you liked best. If, like myself, you enjoyed Jedi: Fallen Order, this will probably be a solid follow-up for you. But if you were less well disposed towards that first game, you’d probably want to swap “consistent” for the word “predictable”.

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Video: 10 Exciting Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In April 2023

Mega Man, Advance Wars, and more.

It’s April already? Crikey.

Yes, another month is here, and that means there’s a tasty handful of new games to look forward to in the coming weeks. March brought us excellent titles like Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Have A Nice Death, and more.

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