With the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach coming up on June 26, we recently sat down with Hideo Kojima to discuss how the theme of ‘connection’ played a part in the development of the sequel during COVID, and what challenges he faced when redesigning the gameplay.
Familiarizing players with a new genre and offering more choice and freedom
PlayStation Blog: What were your goals when creating the sequel to Death Stranding? Were there any major changes or enhancements you were looking to implement?
Hideo Kojima: As we made the jump from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, most of the changes were focused on game design and story. As you may recall, Metal Gear Solid was one of the first stealth games, and you had to go completely undetected to survive. There were no weapons available on the elevator at the beginning of the game, because if there were, players would most likely fight the enemies instead of sneaking past them. That defeats the purpose of a stealth game, so we intentionally left them out. Some said it was too difficult to reach the elevator (laughs), but the game included various mechanics to teach players how the stealth mechanics work. Then in Metal Gear Solid 2, we made some enhancements, like making weapon handling easier, or being able to target parts of the body from a first-person perspective.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was designed with a similar philosophy. Players familiarized themselves with the ‘delivery game’ genre with the first game, and the sequel builds on that and provides players with more choice and freedom, particularly around combat; you can go in guns blazing, or you can choose not to use weapons at all. We also made cars and motorcycles more accessible.
As for the story, the predecessor was centred around Sam and Cliff. This time, the story delves deeper into who Lou is, her relationship with Sam, as well as Sam’s backstory.
Did the way players utilize the Social Strand System (SSS) surprise you in the first game? Did that have any impact on the development of Death Stranding 2?
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the highly anticipated sequel to the genre-defying open-world adventure, launches on June 26 on PlayStation 5, with 48-hour Early Access available for select editions. I recently had the chance to go hands-on with the first 30 hours of the game.
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Sam’s next journey takes him from Mexico to Australia
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set 11 months after the previous game. Sam Bridges, now living a quiet life with his BB (bridge baby) Lou, finds himself in Mexico following a request from Fragile. In Mexico, Sam gets caught u
Today, I am thrilled to officially unveil a new studio in the PlayStation Studios family. teamLFG originated at Bungie, but has also rallied developers from across the industry to bring to life an ambitious incubation project that I’m very excited about. The studio is now fully formed and ready to be introduced to the world.
I’ll let teamLFG introduce themselves properly and give a tiny glimpse of what they’ve been working on.
“Hello, world. It’s a delight to meet you, and we’re very grateful to be joining PlayStation Studios.
Our studio is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, with team members working both on-site and remotely throughout the U.S. and Canada. We are a team composed not just of industry veterans who have shipped titles like Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, Roblox, and Rec Room, but also industry newcomers with fresh creative perspectives and skills. We are passionate about exceptional action-based gameplay, moment-to-moment game feel, and richly social virtual worlds.
The “LFG” in “teamLFG” stands for “Looking For Group.” We are driven by a mission to create games where players can find friendship, community, and belonging. We want our players to feel excited when they log on to discover their teammates already hanging out online. We want our players to recognize familiar names and to make myths and memes out of each other. We want our players to love remembering that one time where they pulled off That Play that changed the whole story of the match. As we say on the team – dat’s da good stuff.
We will make immersive multiplayer worlds propelled by action games that players can learn, play, and master for countless hours. We want to build our games with our communities, inviting players to be a part of our development process through early access playtests. It’s critical that we stay nimble enough to react to player feedback, not just in our lead-up to launch, but throughout live service as we continue to grow the game and community for years to come.
Our first game is a team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games. Players will inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe. We can’t wait to reveal more.
‘Til then, we’ll do our best! Thanks for reading.”
– teamLFG
You can find more information on teamLFG via the links below:
https://www.playstation.com/corporate/playstation-studios/teamlfg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamlfg/
Elden Ring Nightreign, a spin-off action adventure set within the Elden Ring universe, launches on May 30.
We spoke with the game’s director, Junya Ishizaki, about what we can expect from FromSoftware’s upcoming co-op multiplayer.
Game design focused on compelling combat
PlayStation Blog: You have experience working on level and combat design for FromSoftware’s past titles. Was there anything you gave particular attention to when creating Nightreign? What were some of the challenges?
Junya Ishizaki: If I had to pick one aspect that we focused on the most, it would be combat. The game’s main goal is to defeat the Nightlord at the end of each night, and the elements that form the character builds and the world map are placed around the world to make the gameplay more compelling and to encourage players to be more strategic in their combat.
In terms of challenges, honestly, everything was a challenge (laughs). Especially when it came to making major changes to the game mechanics, we had to make sure the game was still viable and truly enjoyable. We could have changed the mechanics without putting much thought into it, but there was a risk that the game would become something completely different, even though it was part of the Elden Ring universe. Finding the perfect balance between something that felt fresh and new, while still feeling true to Elden Ring, was challenging.
What was the idea behind the unique revival system that allows you to rescue incapacitated teammates by attacking them?
Since we were using many existing assets from Elden Ring, we wanted to find ways to leverage them in interesting ways. As we were tossing around ideas, we realized that ‘attacking’ is the most consistent element of Nightreign’s gameplay. We tested to see if it would work for resuscitation, and we discovered a wide variety of tactics depending on range, frequency, and probability, so we formally implemented it. We also found it quite amusing (laughs).
After playing the network test, while I enjoyed building my characters, I also felt like the strategy aspect became a little repetitive. Can we expect more unpredictability that encourages players to be more tactical, in the final product?
Yes, we’re also pursuing that approach, so the same strategy won’t always work when fighting the bosses. Your initial strategy may be effective for a while, but the bosses will gradually evolve and your tactics will no longer be viable, forcing you to rethink your approach.
Also, in the final version of the game, you’ll be able to determine the weakness of each boss before heading out. So, if poison is effective against an upcoming boss, you may proactively search for and loot items that inflict poison more often in that run. Taking advantage of their susceptibility will give you an edge in the fights. We intentionally designed the game so that you’ll need to adapt and evolve your strategies along with the changes that happen in the game.
PlayStation Store ushers in its new promotion, Next Level Savings, tomorrow, May 7. For a limited time*, you can enjoy discounts across a selection of titles, including The Crew: Motorfest (70% off), Resident Evil 4 (50% off), Diablo IV – Expansion Bundle (40% off) and many more.
Browse a selection of games on offer below, then when the promotion goes live, head to PlayStation Store to discover your regional discount.
Browse a selection of games on offer below, then when the promotion goes live, head to PlayStation Store to discover your regional discount.
- A Little to the Left
- ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN
- ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN – TOP GUN: Maverick Ultimate Edition
- Ad Infinitum
- Agatha Christie Collection 2
- Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- Alone in the Dark – Digital Deluxe Edition
- Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
- Anno 1800™ Console Edition – Standard
- Anthem™
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage Master Assassin Edition
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Complete Edition
- Assassin’s Creed® Mirage
- Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey
- Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey – ULTIMATE EDITION
- Assassin’s Creed® Origins
- Assassin’s Creed® Origins – GOLD EDITION
- Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate Gold Edition
- Assetto Corsa Competizione
- Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition
- Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
- Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand
- Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ Ultimate Edition
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Battlefield 4™ Premium Edition
- Battlefield™ 1
- Battlefield™ V
- Beach Buggy Racing
- Beach Buggy Racing 2: Hot Wheels™ Edition
- Beach Buggy Racing 2: Island Adventure
- BLACKSAD: Under the Skin
- Bloodborne™
- Border Police: Contraband Simulator 2024
- Borderlands 2 VR
- Broforce
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
- Bully (Canis Canem Edit)
- Bus Driver Simulator
- Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare Gold Edition
- Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War
- Call of Duty®: Ghosts Gold Edition
- Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare
- Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare – Legacy Edition
- Call of Duty®: Vanguard – Standard Edition
- Call of Duty®: WWII – Gold Edition
- Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions
- Car Flipper Simulator 25 – Car Mechanic, Wash, Repair, Sale
- Castlevania Advance Collection
- Castlevania Dominus Collection
- Catherine: Full Body Deluxe Ed
For Guardians, there are always new corners of the cosmos to explore, new stories to immerse themselves in, and new adventures to conquer. Today, the Bungie development team behind Destiny 2 gave the world a first look at what comes next: the epic start of a brand-new Destiny saga!
During the reveal event, Destiny 2 developers unveiled the Year of Prophecy, including a mix of deep dives and sneak peeks at the game’s next two expansions: The Edge of Fate, which will be released on July 15, and Renegades, which follows on December 2, with both available to pre-order now. The two campaigns will not only kick off the story of the all-new Fate Saga but launch alongside a variety of changes to core systems and gameplay mechanics aimed at refreshing how players experience the challenges — and rewards — the game has to offer.
While we can’t possibly cover everything with the space we have here, let’s hit some of the biggest highlights from today’s event, and give you a taste of what to expect in the year ahead for Destiny 2.
The Nine beckon
With the aptly named Fate Saga, Guardians will be asking themselves big questions about their place and role in the universe. Questions like: What is fate? What (or who) is out there, and are they planning for us to find them? These cosmic mysteries and more are at the heart of this new storyline and, with The Edge of Fate, returning players and new Guardians alike will be jumping onboard a new narrative; one that will reward longtime fans who are familiar with Destiny lore, while also serving as an ideal entry point for new players.
“Before the Traveler ever arrived in our solar system, there was already magic here,” said Destiny Assistant Game Director Robbie Stevens. “With the Fate Saga, we want to explore one of Destiny’s biggest mysteries: the foundations of our universe.”
That investigation starts with the Nine – enigmatic celestial beings that have existed… well, for a very, very long time. Destiny players have seen and heard hints about this pantheon of extradimensional beings but the mystery that lies behind them will be one of the primary drivers of the action in The Fate Saga.
Close to the Edge
In The Edge of Fate, Guardians will answer an invitation from a member of the Nine, leading them to a new destination at the edge of th
It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped the PlayStation Store download charts last month.
April saw a lot of action among the top spots. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Forza Horizon 5 broke into the top three for the U.S. and EU PS5 charts, while Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate dominated the PS VR2 charts across the board.
Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?
PS5 Games
| US/Canada | EU |
|---|
| The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered | Forza Horizon 5 |
| Minecraft | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Minecraft |
| MLB The Show 25 | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| NBA 2K25 | EA SPORTS FC 25 |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Grand Theft Auto V |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | Assassin’s Creed Shadows |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Indiana Jones and the Great Circle |
| Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Split Fiction |
| Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition | Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 |
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | Days Gone Remastered |
| Days Gone Remastered | Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition |
| Split Fiction | NBA 2K25 |
| EA SPORTS FC 25 | Hogwarts Legacy |
| EA SPORTS College Football 25 | Cyberpunk 2077 |
| WWE 2K25 | It Takes Two |
| EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 | Lords of the Fallen |
| Mortal Kombat 1 | The First Berserker: Khazan |
| PGA TOUR 2K25 | Mortal Kombat 11 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Mortal Kombat 1 |
*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included
PS4 Games
| US/Canada | EU |
|---|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| Devil May Cry HD Collection | Minecraft |
| Minecraft | A Way Out |
| A Way Out | Devil May Cry HD Collection |
| Devil May Cry 4 | EA SPORTS FC 25 |
| Mortal Kombat X | Unravel Two |
theHunte
Last week, we asked to set off on the broken road of Days Gone Remastered and share epic moments of survival using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
calisarah1998 shares Deacon standing in the middle of a desolate street
itsRyanUnicomb shares a look up at Deacon’s motorcycle and the night sky
tulippooh3 shares Deacon walking through a sundrenched field
EmperorHal shares a profile portrait of Boozer and his head tattoo
Holden88805 shares a look the back of Deacon’s vest and weapons
r0gues_fr0ntier shares a look at a Freaker through a broken car window
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: Days Gone Remastered – Deacon
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 7, 2025
Next week, we’re sticking by Deacon’s side in Days Gone Remastered. Share portraits of Deacon using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
As the May 8 release date for the PS5 and PS VR2 title The Midnight Walk creeps ever closer, we grow more and more excited to experience this unique dark first-person adventure. Making its debut at State of Play late last year, the game showcased an incredible hand-crafted “cozy horror” world filled with deformed antiques, charming little freaks, and plenty of nightmare fuel. With the clock due to strike midnight very soon, we wanted to get another look at what the game will offer–and savor more of the game’s gorgeous stop-motion inspired visuals in the process. We sat down with its creator, Swedish studio Moonhood for a walk through a new section of the game.
Close your eyes to sense the world around you
You begin The Midnight Walk as The Burnt One, awakening in a makeshift grave you must extract yourself from. As you move down the winding road ahead and get your bearings, you learn a bit about how the world works: using matches to light fires and candles, sneaking about to escape the notice of threats, and finding and using items.
One of the most unique actions is closing your eyes to focus on hearing sounds you couldn’t sense normally–and sometimes change the environment when you open them again. On the flat screen version of the game, a button press and hold will increase the volume of important objects and dangers around you. The DualSense controller vibrates to indicate how close you are to an important object.
After your brief introductory trek, you’ll meet one of the other main figures: Potboy, a being with a stubby little body and a big, malformed head crowned by toasty fire. A touch from a lit match awakens him from his stasis, and he immediately flees in panic
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