2017 ~ PS4 games

samedi 30 décembre 2017

PlayStation developers pick their favourite gameplay mechanics of 2017

07:04 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

PlayStation game creators pick their standout characters of 2017

06:09 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

2017 is a year packed not only with great gameplay moments, but with fantastic characters. Be it new heroes (Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy) or returning rogues (Uncharted’s Chloe Frazer), we asked developers from across the PlayStation spectrum to name their favourite faces from the past 12 months.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’s Senua

As chosen by…

“That has to be Senua, or better yet the actress playing Senua, Melina Juergens. She has done a tremendous job in bringing the character to life.” Hermen Hulst, Co-founder, Guerrilla Games (Horizon Zero Dawn)

“She’s a massive leap forward in characterisation, executed very thoughtfully, very skilfully. I’ve definitely never played a character like her before – and I want more!” Gavin Price, Creative Lead, Playtonic (Yooka Laylee)

Buy Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from PlayStation Store now

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’s Chloe Frazer

As chosen by…

“Aside from being an extremely cool individual, she felt like a very real person – they weren’t merely depicted as female characters created to serve as eye candy.” Fumihiko Yasuda, Director, Team Ninja (Nioh)

“The more you play, the more you understand the different nuances that defines her; rough on the outside but way more complex on the inside.” Damien Kieken, Game Director, Ubisoft (For Honor)

“I was already a fan of Chloe since Uncharted 2 and I was so glad when I heard Naughty Dog had decided to make a spin-off based just on her. After Horizon: Zero Dawn, The Lost Legacy, Hellblade and Battlefront II’s main campaign, it’s good to see that female leads are finally getting the attention they deserve in AAA productions. It’s a bold move, really, and I appreciate the studio for giving us more of Chloe’s adventures.” Román Echevarrena, Producer, RecoTechnology (Numantia)

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy

As chosen by…

“A smart, realistic new gaming heroine.” Steve Goss, Director of Design, Supermassive Games (Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, Hidden Agenda)

“In a world with games and movies that feature superheroes and powerful characters that face extinction-level threats all the time, it’s always interesting to play as characters like Delsin (Infamous: Second Son), Nathan Drake (Uncharted) or Aloy – characters that have to discover what it is they’re good at, improvise when thrust into dangerous situations, and handle threats that exist more on a personal level than a global one.

“The thing that makes Aloy so interesting is that she’s not only discovering herself, she’s starting out from a much lower point than some other characters – from a place of exile, as an outcast from birth, and for reasons she’s never even been told. It’s not a story that gets told so well very often, and it makes you think about the real places in our world where a story like Aloy’s — being an outcast solely because of tradition, superstition, or caste — might not be fiction.” Jeramy Bergerson, Associate Producer, Arkane Studios (Prey)

“Horizon’s Aloy was just a genuine surprise for me, the game intro really created a very strong bond between her and the player.” James Valls, Senior Producer, Rebellion (Battlezone)

“Aloy is such a great character; warm, compassionate, motivated and capable. Ashley Burch gives her such depth in her performance. Every interaction was a treasure in a game already full of them.” Brad Davey, Lead Designer, Sumo Digital (Snake Pass)

“It’s nice to see a female character done well.” Mark Healey, Creative Director, Media Molecule (Dreams)

Buy Horizon Zero Dawn from PlayStation Store now

Nier: Automata’s 2B

As chosen by…

“Video games often struggle conveying subtle emotions in their human characters. Nier: Automata is a game about fighter androids who are not allowed to have feelings or even their own name. Yet 2B ends up displaying a wide range of believable emotions throughout the many twists and turns of the story. I was expecting a kick-ass action game, but 2B took me on a deep dive to the depths of the human soul. All the while kicking ass left and right!” Joona Heinikoski, Gameplay Engineer, Housemarque (Nex Machina, Matterfall)

Buy Nier: Automata on PlayStation Store now

Battle Chasers: Nightwar’s Gully

As chosen by…

“It may be a little shallow since I worked on the game, but I think Gully, from Battle Chasers: Nightwar, is an awesome protagonist! It’s not every day you get to play a badass 12-year-old girl with super strength, who can hold her own against giant War Golems and hordes of the undead.” Steve Madureira, Lead Designer/Lead Animator, Airship Syndicate (Battle Chasers: Nightwar)

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

Knowledge is Power’s Wiener

As chosen by…

“The ‘Wiener’ for me is HotDog guy from Knowledge Is Power. I’m definitely selecting one of my own games for this one.” John McLaughlin, Senior Producer, XDev Studios

Knowledge is Power is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

Undertale’s Papyrus

As chosen by…

“Papyrus was awesome and well written. He works hard, like me and you got a whole section of the game where you got to hang out with him so we bonded.” John Johanas, Director, Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within 2)

Undertale is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima

As chosen by…

“The chemistry between these two is just something else. I think it captures this idea of true rivalry perfectly. Plus, if there ever was an award for best bromance, theirs is one for the ages.” Michał Dobrowolski, Senior Game Designer, CD Projekt Red (The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, Gwent)

Yakuza 5 is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

N. Sane Trilogy’s Crash Bandicoot

As chosen by…

“I bought the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, and even though I had completed all the original games, I had forgotten everything this time round and am having a lot of trouble progressing through them. I play intensively for around 30 minutes each day.” Hiroaki Kato, Producer, Square-Enix (Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age)

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

Playdead’s Arnt Hensen

As chosen by…

“I suppose I’d have to say it was actually Arnt Jensen of Playdead – the company who developed Inside. He appeared on stage at the Tokyo Game Show and was so shy and so quiet that he left quite an impression on me. There are a lot of people from abroad who would stand on that stage with tons of confidence, so I was rather charmed by the very different figure he painted.” Yoko Taro, Director, Platinum Games (Nier: Automata)

Inside is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

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PlayStation developers pick their favourite gaming moments of 2017

07:09 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Batman: The Telltale Series join PlayStation Plus in January

08:36 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

Good afternoon, folks! To those who celebrate it, we hope you’re having a very merry Christmas, whatever you’re getting up to and, to those who don’t, we hope you’re enjoying a very well-earned seasonal break.

Between all the new games Santa dropped down the chimney this week and the hundreds of sweet deals currently available in the PlayStation Store January Sale perhaps you figured you had enough games to be getting on with. Well, perhaps, but it is the season of excess – so here are a few more for you to get stuck into.

Here’s January’s PlayStation Plus line-up, available for download from 2nd January:

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Brought to you by a voice so rough and gritty it makes even sandpaper blush, we have the continuing adventures of Swiss army security specialist Adam Jensen.

Hot off the back of his adventures in 2011’s Deux Ex: Human Revolution, the ultra-augmented corporate henchman returns to Prague as tensions between humans and ‘augs’ reach boiling point.

Building on the hybrid stealth-action gameplay of the original, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided holds true to its gritty tech-noir roots, taking a Jensen (with all his trademark reluctance) through another explosive story of corruption, greed and subterfuge.

Batman: The Telltale Series

Sticking closely to the theme of brooding antiheroes who’ve got more needless gadgets than an Amazon wish list, we have the big man himself: Bruce Wayne.

Last year, Telltale Games brought their inimitable comic-book style to the DC Universe, delivering a completely original story driven by player choice, branching narratives and careful investigation.

Taking on the alternating roles of billionaire playboy and caped crusader, work to uncover the culprit behind an escalating tide of crime that’s gripped the city, contending with familiar foes like Catwoman and The Penguin as you prowl the night.

Told in five successive episodes, the outcomes are dictated by how you choose to play: cowled avenger or charismatic businessman, there’s more than one to be the Batman.

PS Plus Bonuses: StarBlood Arena and That’s You!

January’s PS Plus line-up also plays host to two further bonus titles: StarBlood Arena for PS VR and That’s You! for PlayLink.

StarBlood Arena places you inside the cockpit of a miniature battle pod and invites you to test your mettle in a lawless competition where only the most skilled pilots earn a shot at intergalactic glory.

Developed exclusively for PlayStation VR, StarBlood Arena places you at the centre of the action, trading shots with your enemies in a wide open arena that allows for 360-degrees of movement. Take part in Carnage deathmatches, Team Carnage deathmatches for up to four players, or Invaders co-op mode – everything you do will earn you glory, credits and a shot at intergalactic fame.

As with months previous, PlayLink title That’s You! will also continue in the monthly line-up for those of you who haven’t had a chance to grab it yet.

An irreverent party quiz for you and up to five friends or family, That’s You! invites players to find out what they really think of each other. With your TV, PS4 and a tablet or smartphone in hand, answer over 1,000 funny questions, take part in daring doodle challenges, snap selfies for photo challenges and more.

Anything else?

Yup, just like always, January’s line-up will be rounded off with two additional titles each for PS3 and PS Vita. The final rundown is as follows:

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4)
Batman: The Telltale Series (PS4)
StarBlood Arena (PS Plus bonus – PS VR required)
That’s You! (PS Plus bonus – PlayLink)
Sacred 3 (PS3)
Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (PS3)
Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness (PS Vita)
Uncanny Valley (PS Vita & PS4)

All the above (except for That’s You, which is available to download now) will be available on PlayStation Store from 2nd January. That gives you a few more days, if you need them, to pick up December’s titles:

Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition (PS4)
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of the Legendary Legends (PS4)
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (PS Plus bonus – PS VR Required)
That’s You! (PS Plus bonus – PlayLink)
Xblaze Lost: Memories (PS3)
Syberia Collection (PS3)
Forma 8 (PS Vita & PS4)
Wanted Corp (PS Vita)

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PlayStation developers pick their favourite games of 2017

07:06 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

18 great couch multiplayer PS4 games to play with friends & family this Christmas

07:06 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

You know how it is; fighting it out with the family for time with the TV is one of those holiday traditions we’d rather do without. But with a wide range of local multiplayer games available for your PlayStation 4, you don’t need to worry about compromising.

Below you’ll find a selection of cooperative and competitive games available on PlayStation Store (so you can stay close to the festive foods). Just stick a Dualshock 4 (or smartphone/tablet with PlayLink games) in the hand of a family member/friend and get gaming.

1. Knack II

PEGI 7 | Co-op, 2 player

When the average seasonal kids movie can’t cut it, a colourful rampaging romp with size changing heroes is perfect entertainment to pick up the slack. Knack 2’s collaborative action platforming has the rough and tumble appeal of a great Saturday morning cartoon.

How quick is a game session? 10 minutes (with jump in, jump out cooperative).

Best played with… Your niece and nephew who’d enjoy cartoonish action that’s big on item-smashing battles.

Knack II is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

2. WipEout Omega Collection

PEGI 7 | Competitive, 2 player split-screen

Forget the blissful buzz from post-lunch sweets; hurtling at breakneck speeds round roller coaster tracks rivals that sugar rush. And with its marriage of precision piloting and targeting skills to blast your opponents off the track, you can earn family bragging rights with skills that’d make a Jedi jealous.

How quick is a game session? Blast round a track in five minutes.

Best played with… Your sibling who loves sci-fi, EBM music and Fast & Furious equally.

Buy Wipeout Omega Collection from PlayStation Store

3. Gran Turismo Sport

PEGI 3 | Competitive, 2 player split-screen

If you prefer your racing more realistic, and want to take the world’s most iconic cars for a spin, then wow your family with some split-screen GT Sport.

How quick is a game session? You can whizz around a race track in around 5 minutes.

Best played with… The family car enthusiast.

Buy Gran Turismo Sport from PlayStation Store

4. Star Wars Battlefront II

PEGI 16 | 2 player competitive or co-op split-screen

With the Star Wars hype train making the jump to lightspeed for the latter half of 2017 (and well into 2018), Star Wars: Battlefront II will push you over the edge of the Scarlacc pit and even further into a galaxy far, far away with multiplayer matches set across every era of the sprawling space opera.

How quick is a game session? Around 5-10 minutes.

Best played with… Anyone with a love of Star Wars, no matter what era they prefer (especially if it’s the prequels, so you can toss them under an AT-AT’s feet).

Star Wars Battlefront II is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

5. FIFA 18

PEGI 3 | Up to 4 player competitive, co-op

EA’s annual match-winner is always good value when it comes to a great representation of the beautiful game. Like its cover star, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA 18 brings a ton of style to the sport to partner its slick, fast moving gameplay.

How quick is a game session? 5 minutes for a quick match.

Best played with… Anyone feeling bitter about their team’s current misfortunes, or wants to settle a footballing rivalry once and for all. Or maybe you just want to show off a legendary El Tornado skill move…

FIFA 18 is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

6. Injustice 2

PEGI 16 | Competitive, 2 to 4 players

If you were “all in” for the blockbuster Justice League film, then welcome to the dark side. This hard hitting beat ’em up continues the first game’s classic ‘What if Superman went bad’ tale, complete with dozens of popular DC Comics characters, and a few guest appearances, from downloadable extras such as Hellboy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

How quick is a game session? 5 minutes.

Best played with… Slightly older fans of the Justice League movie who are looking for a great twist on their favourite characters – and want to settle the age old argument of whether Batman could really beat up Superman.

Buy Injustice 2 from PlayStation Store

7. Pyre

PEGI 7 | Competitive, 2 player

Hidden within Pyre’s lavish, choice-driven adventure is a glorious, fantasy-based spin on NBA Jam. It’s 3 versus 3 from a selectable roster filled with magicians, ghouls and colourful characters – perfect for both sports fiends and Lord of the Rings buffs.

How quick is a game session? 5 minutes

Best played with… Get the family’s chess prodigy hooked on a game requiring fast finger work and lighting-quick tactics on the mystical court.

Pyre is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

8. Hidden Agenda

PEGI 16 | Co-op and competitive, 2-6 players

Chewed through your murder mystery box sets? Put your – and your family’s – well-honed investigative skills to the test! Grab your smartphones and play through this PlayLink game as you try and track down a killer.

How quick is a game session? You’ll want to settle in for the evening to play through the game’s story.

Best played with… Parents who repeatedly say they could do better than their favourite TV or cinematic detectives.

Hidden Agenda is now discounted in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

9. Knowledge is Power

PEGI 3 | Competitive, 2-6 players

Worried about having enough controllers for that Christmas party? Fret not! Grab your smartphones and prepare to enter the Pyramid of Knowledge, where you and your friends will go against each other and answer a variety of themed questions to be the first to reach its summit. Be careful, however… your competition might have a few tricks up their sleeves to slow you down!

How quick is a game session? 30-40 minutes.

Best played with… Everyone, but especially that one member of your family who thinks they know everything!

Knowledge is Power is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

10. That’s You!

PEGI 12 | Competitive, 2-6 players

Looking to really set the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons this Christmas? That’s You! is just the ticket. The flagship title in PS4’s new Playlink range is an audacious multiplayer quiz game that helps you really get to know your friends. Which of your pals practices chat-up lines in the mirror? Whose diary would make the most explosive reading? That’s You! will help you find out…

How quick is a game session? 30-40 minutes

Best played with… Anyone! If playing with youngsters you can adjust the type of questions to ensure things stay family friendly.

11. Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier

PEGI 18 | Co-op, 2-4 players

Family argument a Christmas tradition? Direct that energy into something positive and decide the fate of two species with this tie-in to the cinematic trilogy.

How quick is a game session? Put aside that movie re-run evening and try out this narrative adventure game instead.

Best played with… With its adult themes, it’s best to enjoy this PlayLink title with the older family members.

Buy Planet of the Apes from PlayStation Store

12. Overcooked

PEGI 3 | Co-op and competitive, 2-4 players

Kitchens are always pretty hectic, but with the help of a few friends, Overcooked can get straight up chaotic. Work together or against each other to complete your restaurant’s customers’ delicious requests and save the Onion kingdom!

How quick is a game session? 5 minutes.

Best played with… Friends and family alike will enjoy the cheekiness of this messy cooking game.

Overcooked is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

13. Lego Marvel Heroes 2

PEGI 7 | Co-op or competitive, 2-4 players

The family-friendly Lego range of games returns to the Marvel universe! Pick your favourite hero (or villain) from an icon-filled roster of characters and battle across different eras and realities.

How quick is a game session? 10 minutes.

Best played with: Marvel movie junkies who have re-watched their Marvel cinematic Blu-ray collection.

Buy Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 from PlayStation Store

14. Sonic Mania

PEGI 3 | Co-op and competitive, 2 player

One of the blue blur’s most triumphant games ever, Sonic Mania is all about thinking fast and acting even faster. Featuring some of the most inventive 2D platforming in the genre and tons of surprises, Sega’s speed fuelled hedgehog is a glorious delight for new fans and veterans alike.

How quick is a game session? Five minutes.

Best played with: Your younger members of the family who want a great introduction to classic Sonic action brought bang up to date – or fans of the older games who want the perfect nostalgia hit.

Buy Sonic Mania from PlayStation Store

15. Everybody’s Golf

PEGI 3 | Competitive 2-4 players

The much-loved golf series returned to PlayStation this year, debuting on PS4 with its trademark light-hearted but surprisingly in-depth gameplay – plus a few new game modes to tee off with online.

How quick is a game session? 5-10 minutes.

Best played with… It’s accessible enough that golfing newbies will have a good time, yet deep enough that even the wannabe PGA tour winners in your family will want to play.

Buy Everybody’s Golf from PlayStation Store

16. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

PEGI 3 | Co-op, 2 to 4 players

Thought PlayStation VR was best enjoyed as a single player experience? Not so – there are heaps of great multiplayer VR titles available, and this is one of the finest. One player wears the PS VR headset and sees a bomb on a table in front of them; meanwhile, other players must figure out how to defuse it using an online manual and shout instructions before the timer runs out. Frantic, inventive and masses of fun.

How quick is a game session? Each bomb timer is set to 5 minutes.

Best played with… You’ll need a cool head and calm nerves, so pick your collaborators wisely…

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

17. Spelunky

PEGI 7 | Co-op and competitive, 2 to 4 players

An already difficult game which somehow gets even harder with three friends, Spelunky is a classic roguelike platformer that is as hilarious as it is challenging. And if the frustration of teaming up gets too much, you can indulge your desire for revenge the franticly brilliant deathmatch mode.

How quick is a game session? 5 minutes (if you’re lucky).

Best played with… Good friends who won’t take it personally when you “accidently” push them into spikes and then use their lifeless bodies to set off other traps. Actually, better make that really good friends.

Buy Spelunky from PlayStation Store

18. Nex Machina

PEGI 12 | Co-op, 2 players

Single-handedly saving the world from a malevolent robot menace is one heck of a responsibility. So, why not share the burden and take on wave-after-wave of enemies with a friend? The latest top-down shooter from arcade experts Housemarque is one of 2017’s most acclaimed titles, and an absolute blast in couch co-op.

How quick is a game session? You can blaze through a level in 10-15 minutes.

Best played with… Perfect for any grey-haired gamers who hold on to muscle-memory of the twitch arcade classics of their youth.

Nex Machina is discounted now in PlayStation Store’s January Sale

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Introducing the PlayStation Gear Boxing Day sale

05:01 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

Christmas Day may be over, but the gifts keep coming, as we are offering a 10% discount off every single item available on PlayStation-Gear.com from today!

What’s more, the sale lasts until 23:59 on the 1st January so you can grab some great gaming gear for the New Year.

Simply choose from a huge range of clothing, accessories, artwork and exclusives and enter code PSGNY10 at checkout to save 10%.

The sale even includes our range of premium collectibles, including the Horizon Zero Dawn exclusive White Vinyl Edition soundtrack, and newly arrived 30″cm Uncharted Nathan Drake statue.

Find out what else is on offer now on PlayStation Gear.

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New single player GT League mode hits GT Sport today, along with 12 new cars

06:07 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

Today sees the launch of Patch 1.09 for GT Sport and with it the introduction of the exciting new GT League mode and 12 brand new cars, all in time for the holiday season. There are plenty of exciting plans being finalised for 2018, so be sure to stay tuned to PlayStation Blog to see what’s in store for GT Sport.

For now check out the video below for a tour of all the new content that you’ll be able to play right now.

GT League

GT League is a single player game mode including several series of races that appeared in past GT titles, including fan favourites such as the ‘Sunday Cup’, ‘Clubman Cup’ and ‘FF Challenge’, in which you’ll be able to tune and race a wide variety of cars.

New cars

Take to the track in 12 brand new cars, including new additions to the Ferrari and Lamborghini line-up, as well as a brand new manufacturer in KTM and the introduction of the 2013 SEMA award-winning concept car from Chris Holstrom.

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V・spec II (R32)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V・spec II Nür (R34)
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Lamborghini Countach LP400
Ferrari F40
Ferrari Enzo Ferrari
KTM X-BOW R
Suzuki Swift Sport
Volkswagen Samba Bus Type 2 (T1)
Chris Holstrom Concepts 1967 Chevy Nova
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible (C3)

We look forward to seeing everyone out on track in this new selection of cars, as well as getting stuck in to the new GT League mode.

Lewis Hamilton vs. the Nürburgring

Also dropping today, we’re excited to introduce the first of our Lewis Hamilton mentor videos, as Lewis goes head to head with the infamous Nürburgring circuit.

With two videos, one aimed at beginners and one for the more seasoned racer, the four-time world champion offers guidance and tips on how to navigate this notoriously challenging circuit.

Both videos provide a real insight into how Lewis races – from how he selects his racing lines and braking points, to his general racing philosophy that guides how he tackles every circuit.

Both the beginner and expert videos can be found in the Lewis Hamilton section of the Brand Central area. Rarely has Lewis provided this level of insight into what makes him one of the best racers in the world, so be sure to check them out before you take to the track.

Take a sneak peek below at what you can look forward to seeing in-game.

Remember to stay tuned to Gran Turismo and PlayStation channels to ensure you’re up-to-date with the latest news.

For now though, from everyone at Polyphony Digital, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

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500+ games discounted in PlayStation Store’s massive January Sale

18:26 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

PlayStation Store’s biggest sale of the year is back, and it’s bigger than ever! The January Sale has hundreds of incredible offers available spanning PS4, PS3 and PS Vita until 19th January 2018*.

If it’s blockbuster’s you’re looking for, we have the likes of Star Wars Battlefront II, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Need for Speed Payback, Fortnite, Persona 5 and many more on offer**.

When it comes to add-on and Season Pass content, you can grab a bargain on Battlefield 1 Premium Pass, Wolfenstein II: The Freedom Chronicles Season Pass, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Expansion Pass, Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer, Tekken 7 – Season Pass** and more!

Got yourself a PlayStation VR headset? Save on top VR titles such as Superhot VR, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV, Arizona Sunshine. Resident Evil 7 Biohazard and more in the January Sale**.

We also have a host of digital titles available on offer for you to get stuck in to. Whether it’s Undertale, Grim Fandango Remastered, Firewatch, Euro Fishing or Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 there is a new adventure for everyone**!

There’s a lot on offer in the PlayStation Store January Sale… so much so we’re going to show you a selection of titles in each category, but you can head to the January Sale page on PlayStation Store to see the hundreds of offers available!

In fact, the sale is so big, we’ve also partnered with the Slow Mo Guys over on YouTube to give you access to the first episode of their new “Super Slow Show”.

*Promotional end dates vary per product. Please see individual product pages on PlayStation Store for details
**Please note, some titles may not be available in your region

PS4 Games

Add-Ons

VR Content

Digital titles

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New Sonic the Hedgehog merchandise dashes onto PlayStation Gear

02:56 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

We are pleased to bring a brand new range of official Sonic the Hedgehog merchandise onto PlayStation Gear! Fans can show their love for their favourite hedgehog with everything from limited edition concept art prints and collectible coins to snapback caps and socks.

Speed onto PlayStation-Gear.com now to find out more and check out some of our favourites below:

Made with 100% cotton, the Green Hill Zone Snapback shows off one of the most iconic game levels of all time, though if that’s not your style, there’s also a classic blue design sporting the hedgehog’s face.

Featuring three limited edition prints (Sonic Black, Sonic Concept and Sonic Rings), the special artwork set commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the original game and comes complete with a certificate of authenticity.

This three pack of cotton socks feature colourful stylised designs that nod to some of the game’s most recognisable lore – Sonic Power Sneakers, Green Hill Zone and Doctor Eggman.

With only 5,000 created, these 3.8cm in diameter collectible coins come in a special gift package and feature an embossed Sonic on one side and Dr Eggman on the other.
Speed onto PlayStation-Gear.com now to find out more including clothing.

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The Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack for Grand Theft Auto Online

09:11 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

Now is the best time to jump into the dynamic and ever-evolving world of Grand Theft Auto Online. The recent release of The Doomsday Heist offers up epic new cooperative Heist missions for 2-4 players where you’ll save San Andreas from total annihilation over a three-act story.

And GTA Online is currently celebrating the holidays with its annual Festive Surprise, which includes gifts for all players and the rarely seen Los Santos snowfall.

If you’re new to Grand Theft Auto Online, the Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack is the fastest way for you to jumpstart your criminal empire. Get access to a huge range of the most exciting and popular content in GTA Online including properties, businesses, weapons, vehicles and more.

Launch business ventures from your Maze Bank West Executive Office, research powerful weapons technology from your underground Paleto Forest Bunker or tear through the streets with a range of vehicles, including a Supercar, Motorcycles the weaponized Dune FAV and more.

In addition, you’ll get GTA$1,000,000 along with powerful weapons, all to help launch your reign over Los Santos and Blaine County.

The Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack gives you over GTA$10,000,000 in value with access in Grand Theft Auto Online to:

Properties:

Maze Bank West Executive Office
Paleto Forest Gunrunning Bunker
Senora Desert Counterfeit Cash Factory
Great Chaparral Biker Clubhouse
1561 San Vitas Street Apartment
1337 Exceptionalists Way 10 Car Garage

Vehicles:

Dune FAV
Maibatsu Frogger
Enus Windsor
Obey Omnis
Coquette Classic
Turismo R
Pegassi Vortex
Huntley S
Western Zombie Chopper
Banshee

Weapons, Clothing & Tattoos:

Compact Grenade Launcher
Marksman Rifle
Compact Rife
Stunt Race & Import / Export Outfits, Biker Tattoos

Grand Theft Auto Online is included in every copy of Grand Theft Auto V. Visit PlayStation Store for more details.

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Horizon Zero Dawn’s art, quest and narrative teams reveal how the PS4 action RPG’s characters come to life

08:21 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

To celebrate Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition’s recent release, we thought it’d be interesting to offer an insightful deep dive into how the studio creates its in-world characters - from rough ideas to realistic, fully voiced and animated individuals.

During your time exploring, you’ll interact with many colourful personalities, but to example the creative process, the various teams in the studio weighed in on the creation of one of the game’s newest faces: the bumbling fortune hunter Gildun, from the recently released expansion The Frozen Wilds.

Step 1: The quest that determined a quest-giver

“The character of Gildun first emerged from a collaboration between the Quest Team and the Story Team,” Principal Game Designer Tim Stobo says. “He was built to fit the quest, rather than the other way around.” The team started by thinking about the type of experience they wanted the player to have: to explore a large, old-world site in a unique way.

Once the site was determined to be an old dam facility, Quest Designer Samantha Schoonen and Writer Dee Warrick worked out a reason for Aloy to visit the dam.

“While her motivations changed over multiple iterations, Aloy always met a member of the Oseram tribe there,” Tim recalls. “He was either responsible for the damage caused to the dam, or attempting to fix the damage caused by someone else.”

Thus, the Oseram fortune hunter Gildun was born. “Samantha had mapped out exactly what she wanted the player to do in this space and, in the process, did a lot of research into how modern dams work,” Tim says. “It became clear that multiple pieces of the dam had to have failed or been broken for the quest to make sense.”

Step 2: The story team flesh out Gildun’s backstory

In turn, this provided an important clue to Gildun’s personality for the Story Team. “The chain of failures in the dam came close to absurd, and I think that was where Gildun really started to emerge as a person,” Lead Writer Ben McCaw explains. “He struck us as someone who might be eternally optimistic, but also rather clumsy, and that unfortunate combination of character traits put him in his predicament at the dam.”

At the same time, the team didn’t want Gildun to come off as just comic relief. “There’s a sadder side to him, something that becomes apparent towards the end of the quest,” Ben says. “The closest analogue I can think of is John Candy’s character in Planes, Trains and Automobiles -upbeat and overly talkative, but with a tragic background.”

Step 3: The art team conceptualises the character’s look

The Story Team provided an outline of Gildun’s character to the Concept Art Team, who set out to visualize him. “In the main game the Oseram people mostly stuck to warmer climates, so they had no need for thick layers of clothing,” Senior Concept Artist Ilya Golitsyn recalls. “But given the location of Gildun’s quest, we felt that regular Oseram clothing wouldn’t provide enough protection against the elements.”

Luckily, the team didn’t have to search far for inspiration. While going through earlier Oseram clothing concepts for ideas, they found a design that closely matched their requirements for Gildun’s outfit. “From there, it was a matter of updating the design to include fur lining and additional padding,” Ilya says.

Step 4: translating the concept into a hyper-realistic game character

After the concept art for Gildun was finished, the Character Art Team oversaw its translation into a game character that could fit with the hyper-realistic style of Horizon Zero Dawn. “This process always involves striking a careful balance,” Character Art Director Dan Calvert explains. “On one hand the concept art, which can be slightly exaggerated, needs to be interpreted into a 3D model with realistic proportions and material expression. On the other hand, the 3D model needs to retain and do justice to the core appeal of the concept art.”

A first-pass version of the model consisting of 140,000 polygons was then handed off to the Animation Team for rigging and skinning. “We also did a pass on the procedural setups for Gildun’s clothing and muscles, to allow them to move more realistically” Lead Technical Animator Bart Wijsman says. “We even added procedural bones to dent his scarf based on where he was looking.”

In total, an additional 108 extra joints were added on top of Gildun’s logical skeleton. While the team performed a final optimization pass on Gildun’s body, his face was scanned and rigged in a separate track. Then, with Gildun fully assembled and able to move, all that was needed was for actor Donovan Patton to breathe life into the character.

“For Gildun’s most prominent scenes we used full-performance motion capture,” Senior Producer Jochen Willemsen says. “We recorded Patton’s body, face and audio in sync to get a very natural-looking performance.” For other scenes, the team recorded Patton’s face and audio first, then used the recording of his voice performance to inform the movements of a body double, who was recorded separately.

“Patton put so much fervor into his performance, the body double had no trouble finding a body language to match,” Jochen recalls. “Even though our body double only had the voice performance to work with, his movements ended up being remarkably close to those Patton used during the recording.”

The result is a unique character that comes across as affable, clumsy and slightly annoying – but also deserving of Aloy’s help and sympathy. Her interactions with Gildun rank as some of the funniest moments in the game, and make an already fun quest even more entertaining.

We hope you enjoyed our dive into the creation of Horizon Zero Dawn’s characters. The game (and the expansion!) are full of interesting individuals like Gildun above, so pick up a copy of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition if you haven’t played them yet. Also, be sure to follow Guerrilla on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Horizon Zero Dawn news.

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How Minecraft built its tribute to Norse mythology, available today in a new PS4 DLC pack

07:21 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

The team at 4J Studios has just completed work on the next episode in our Mythology series: Norse Mythology mash up, an epic depiction of Viking lore featuring the 9 Realms with Yggdrasil (the Tree of Life) at its heart. With the pack releasing today on PS4, we’d like to give you some insight into the creative processes we went through to create this pack.

Environment textures

As with previous Mythology packs, we researched every little detail, for example, the trees and flowers are all based on real foliage found in Scandinavia, most of which have a connection to Norse mythology. The jungle leaves are rowan, oak leaves are oak (both trees associated with Thor the thunder god) and acacia are ash (associated with Odin and Yggdrasil). Allium was redrawn as cowslip (associated with Freyja, the goddess of love, beauty and war).

Patterns are always a huge part of any texture pack for us, so to achieve the detail found in Norse design, we used 32×32 pixel blocks.

Hopefully, builders will enjoy putting our themed selection of paintings to good use – they feature quite a few Norse artefacts, symbols and runes.

World map

In early iterations of the world map, we heavily focused on real world geographical locations to shape the map, but as we began to introduce the more fantastical elements in to the design it wasn’t really working.

When it came to researching Yggdrasil (the Tree of Life) as the main feature, we began to shift focus towards the 9 realms. The Story behind Yggdrasil and its links to the realms through its roots was a more inviting and adventurous path to explore.

We settled on the current design with huge waterfalls framing plateaus that embody the 9 realms, each with its own style and unique build work. In early designs, the tree itself was almost half the size of the map! Though it looked awesome, we had to adjust the size to balance with the other realms. Yggdrasil alone is still one of the biggest builds we have done in a mash up.

Skins

The first iterations for the Norse skins were grounded in real world design to fit alongside the initial world map. As the map style developed, we felt the skins needed to get a little more fantastical to go with it. We created a lot of quick 1/1 pixel concepts of each skin and kept the additional geo more refined and focused to highlight important features like beards!

Mobs

The idea to add additional geometry didn’t come until late into development. It all started with experiments adding dragonheads to the boats, and it gave us all a taste for more… Llama as Elks and Reindeer? Oh yes!

This is the first time we have added extra geometry to the mobs. It gives a fun and unique appearance, as well as the occasional crazy design on some. Ever wonder what a Ghast would look like as a floating Nordic war ship?

Menu design

When we design an interface based off a Mythos, we mainly look at the architecture, items and patterns that are iconic to that period in history. For Norse Mythology, we considered things such as early metals, carved stones and wood.

From these we decided a warm, carved wood would fit best. Wood was the material of choice in that era due to its natural abundance and ease of working. It was used to make all sorts of iconic artefacts from beautiful artworks to the longships that defined the era.

In any Mashup pack, we want the menus to feel as much a part of the game world as the blocks around you. The carved wooden elements appear in things such as the crafting and enchantment tables, so having the menus match them feels less like you’re jumping out of the game and more like you’re interacting directly with the object.

Conclusion

The team at 4J had a great time working on the Norse Mythology mash up, it gave us a great source for creativity, it posed technical challenges for us to overcome, and most of all we got to build Viking longships and grow beards!

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12 expert tips to help you survive frantic PS VR action game Shooty Fruity, out today

06:11 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

The world’s first manic blend of scanning, serving, packing and shooting has arrived on PlayStationVR, only possible with two PS Move controllers.

We’ve held back a ton of unannounced features until now, including a brand-new job packing produce in the warehouse, more ridiculous ballistics, a bullet-time style power up, and added more variety to the fruit bowl (including flying bananas…)

Additionally, we’ve got a store full of useful tips to help you on your steps into the world of Shooty Fruity!

Packing

We have a new job for you! Head to the Super Mega Mart warehouse to pack the right produce down the chutes and send them on their way once you complete an order. Whilst fending off mad fruit hiding behind the boxes, obviously.

Newly revealed weapons

Explosive additions to your arsenal include a Gatling gun and rocket launcher – but you’ve got to earn them as they are ludicrously powerful.

Recently spotted in an aisle near you

Bunches of grapes team up against you by getting close and shooting themselves directly at your face. Coming in both green and red varieties, you can spot their stalk corpses lying around the store if you manage to get them first.

Got the work blues? The blueberries are here to wreck your shirt. Tiny, agile and arrives in groups but easily squishable.

Tips & Tricks

We know not everyone is a gun-toting, scanning multitasking maniac by nature, so we’ve pulled together some tips and tricks to help get you through your shift.

1. Use both hands

A lot of newbies tend to forget they possess two entirely independent hands, so you can scan and shoot, shoot and shoot, scan and scan – whatever works best for you!

2. Collateral damage

Destroy your environment to get a better line of sight for oncoming fruit. (Just don’t tell the manager we said that)

3. A tidy workspace for a tidy mind

Ignoring the pulpy explosions and general madness in the store, keeping your counter tidy will mean you won’t end up trying to shoot an enemy with a can of beans.

4. Multitask

Try not to focus on one task more than the other. You might get distracted by the hordes of fruit, but you’ll quickly be outgunned if you avoid your duties.

5. Be a ballistic hoarder

All those guns floating past your head may come in useful later. Grab them early and leave them to one side using the conveniently placed shelves.

6. Don’t let them blindside you

Some fruit will sneak around the sides and attack from out of sight.

7. Be a high achiever and attempt a skillshot

Get bonus points by shooting your enemy from far away or in mid-air. Go for broke and get multiple kills in one go.

Scanning at the checkout

8. Scan multiple items

If your workload is piling up, drop the guns and scan with both hands to get things moving again.

Fulfilling food orders in the canteen

9. Supersize by scooping
Consumerism at its finest, get a higher score by piling food on the trays using your open hands as scoopers.

Packing chutes in the warehouse

10. Bail
If you can’t find the right produce and want to move on, pull the lever and you’ll get a new
one.

11. Not sure what heat to pack?

We’ve got some loadout ideas to suit your playstyle but experiment and see what works best for you:

Close shave – 3 shotguns (Ginelli Pump Action, Dunderbuster Mk2 and Feckler 500) and the C4 Launcher
Gun Slinger – Just the Biff and Jetson .44 or the Dessert Fox .45 Revolver
Demolition Time! – All Explosive weapons
The Big Guns – Spratling ‘Chain gang’ Special Assault Rifle and the Stockard 19

Shooty Fruity is out now on PlayStation VR! Join our nDreams PS VR Community on PSN to share scores, have the chance to be featured as our employee of the month and to ask the community team any questions.

For more Shooty Fruity, check out an overview on our website, find us on Facebook and Twitter, reach us via our dedicated subreddit and find the latest trailers and videos on YouTube.

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4 fresh PS VR titles to check out in this week’s batch of new releases on PlayStation Store

07:38 PlayStation.Blog.Europe No comments

PlayStation VR gets a wealth of new releases in this week’s PlayStation Store update. Put your PS VR headset on and journey into the haunting narrative-driven story of Manifest 99, dive into the bizarre world of Accounting+, shoot hordes of mutant fruit in Shooty Fruity VR and cook bonkers burgers in VR The Diner Duo.

1. Shooty Fruity VR

The time is ripe! Shoot and defend your store from an onslaught of mutant fruits all whilst maintaining your day job as a supermarket clerk. Shooty Fruity combines your VR shooting skills with an immersively weird job simulator. Scan! Shoot! Repeat!

Why you should play it: nDreams’s latest VR experience lets you use an arsenal of increasingly ridiculous fruit-killing guns and berry-bursting explosives, so get on with that smoothie!
More info: 7 things you should know about outrageous PS VR blaster Shooty Fruity, out 19th December
Available: 19th December

2. Manifest 99 VR

Embark on a mysterious crow-filled train to the afterlife. Manifest 99 is an eerie, ominous and emotional story that unfolds around you as you watch. You don’t need a controller; move around by gazing into the eyes of crows to warp up to their perch. Investigate your fellow passengers to uncover the reason why they – and you – are on this train traveling into the great beyond.

Why you should play it: With its striking and painterly visual style, Manifest 99 is an award-winning metaphorical trip to the river styx.
More info: Award-winning PlayStation VR experience Manifest 99 releases in Europe next week
Available: 19th December

3. Accounting+ VR

From one layer of virtual reality to the next – yes, just like in Inception – Accounting+ will immerse you in the crazy worlds and the twisted humour of Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty and William Pugh, the designer of The Stanley Parable. Actual accountancy skills may or may not be required.

Why you should play it: Be the first to make it to Accounting+’s three hidden secret levels.
Available: 19th December

4. VR The Diner Duo

Things will get hectic in the kitchen with VR The Diner Duo! As a chef, you’ll have to satisfy your customers’ cravings for increasingly elaborate burgers. Keep up the pace and master all the different recipes. Are you ready to serve?

Why you should play it: Play with a friend thanks to the asymmetrical multiplayer mode: one of you will play the chef and the other the waiter!
Available: 18th December

Out this week

VR The Diner Duo
18th December
NeverEnd
18th December
Ultimate Chicken Horse
18th December

Wonder Boy Returns
(Not in Austria, Middle East, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine)
18th December
Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition
(Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi and UAE only)
19th December
Assassin’s Creed Origins – Gold Edition (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi and UAE only)
19th December

Assassin’s Creed Origins (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi and UAE only)
19th December
Shooty Fruity
19th December
Manifest 99
(Not in Australia, Middle East, Croatia, Germany, India, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine)
19th December

Accounting Plus (Accounting+)
19th December
Dragon’s Lair Trilogy
19th December
Goat Simulator: The GOATY
19th December

Zen Originals Season 2 Bundle
19th December
Steven Universe: Save the Light
(Not in Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Turkey)
19th December
Aaero
19th December

HiQ Ace
19th December
Call of Duty: WWII + Destiny 2 Bundle
20th December
Dustoff Heli Rescue 2
20th December

Hammerwatch
20th December
10tons Cyberpunk Bundle
20th December
Knowledge is Power (Cyprus, Czech, Hungary, Israel, Malta, Slovakia and Turkey Only)
20th December

Flipy’s Tesla! Let’s invent the future
(Not in Austria, Middle East, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine)
20th December
RollerCoaster Legends
21st December
Tiny Metal
21st December