Hello there, PlayStation puzzlers!

My name is Blair Lachlan Scott, Writer & Producer at Coin Crew Games. I’m stoked to tell you  about how our design approach evolved to bring you an exciting new experience in our first DLC: Escape Academy: Escape from Anti-Escape Island!

Evolving our design

After completing the base game, we looked inward at our processes to set some goals on how we wanted to evolve as a studio for our first DLC. It needed to be bigger, better, and unexpected. After some teamwide introspection, we defined three core principles in an attempt to outdo our last offering.

Avoiding repetition

The last thing we wanted after players experienced twelve school-themed levels was to have the DLC feel just like a rehashed Escape Academy. We wanted to see how far we could push our universe by taking players away from campus and still keeping the world tied to our academic backdrop. Threading the needle between these two goals, we landed on a single theme: summer vacation.

Taking the Escapists on vacation unlocked a completely new batch of environments and opened the door to dramatic new room premises. Having our players land themselves on ‘Anti-Escape Island’ also introduced a juicy dichotomy between ‘tropical island locale’ and ‘mysterious scientific facility.’ Combining these elements both in the art design and the level concepts bred some of our most exciting, and wacky, rooms to date.

Deepening the narrative

In Escape Academy, we were very cautious of having the narrative get in the way of the puzzles. We designed the story in such a way that it was able to be engaged with at various levels of depth, without missing any context for in-level elements. What we found upon release was that players craved a narrative that was more enmeshed with the gameplay and puzzles.

This response led us to building the DLC around a contained, linear story-arc where the level premises and the story were more integrally linked. While our rooms will always be playable start-to-finish without narrative context to keep the game approachable, our hope is that marrying the level design and narrative more tightly will result in more palpable stakes and deeper investment in our story, characters, and world.

Cranking up the difficulty

Prior to Escape Academy, directors Wyatt Bushnell and Mike Salyh designed real-world escape rooms and arcade cabinets. There, a critical piece of the development process

God of War Ragnarök is almost here! Tomorrow on November 9, you will finally be able to step back into the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus as they prepare for the coming war.

To ensure you can hit the ground running, we’ve put together a list of our top ten tips to aid hero progression! God of War Ragnarök has a ton of new features and updates to many of the returning ones from God of War (2018), so make sure you check them out below!

All equipment is legendary

For God of War Ragnarök, we’ve ditched our old rarity system when it comes to equipment.

Previously, on God of War (2018), most Armors and Weapon Attachments could only be upgraded a few times, so would inevitably get left behind as you increased your Power Level.

In this title, any equipment that has a Power Level can be upgraded all the way to Level 9! This opens a world of possibilities and combinations, allowing a much higher variety of playstyles at every Power Level.

Transmog unlocks at equipment Level 9

Speaking of Power Level caps, there is a surprise waiting for people diligent enough to upgrade their equipment to Level 9!

The ability to “transmog” equipment was one of the most requested features and we’re happy to share that in God of War Ragnarök we’ll have it!

Once your equipment reaches Level 9, you’ll be able to apply any appearance currently in your inventory. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different pieces because you like the way something looks. Find the perk of your dreams and combine it with the look you want once you reach Level 9!

This feature applies to Kratos’ core Weapons and Armors.

Don’t be afraid to go off the path

The Player Investment Team at Santa Monica Studios is responsible for both Player Progression and Exploration content, so we made sure to put some of the best equipment in our optional areas to reward those of you who take some extra time to poke around!

Don’t be afraid to say “yes” when you hear the call to explore, or you feel like things are getting a little too difficult. Completing Favors and exploring the Nine Realms is a surefire way to stay ahead of the curve.

If you’re the type of player that wants to experience the main story before diving back into the side quests and exploration, don’t worry! Quests never expire and exploration content will always be there waiting for you.

Auto-Equip

If min/maxing stats isn’t really your game, we make things simple for you with Auto-Equip feature.

Simply press L3 from the Weapons or Armor tabs and then choose which stat you want to prioritize. Auto-Equip will automatically equip the highest Power Level

PlayStation Stars is our loyalty program and it’s free to join through the PlayStation App. Members have a variety of perks including access to fun Campaigns, which are updated and added to frequently. PlayStation Plus members also get points on purchases from PlayStation Store. 

Completing Campaigns can unlock Digital Collectibles or PlayStation Stars points. Points can be redeemed for limited-edition Digital Collectibles, PlayStation Network wallet funds or select games from PlayStation Store.

Most Digital Collectibles are designed to celebrate great moments in PlayStation and Sony history — some will be widely recognizable, while others will be a bit more subtle.

Let’s check out some of the Campaigns and Digital Collectibles that will be coming this month for PlayStation Stars members:

Highlights: New Campaigns & Digital Collectibles coming this month

God of War Ragnarök Campaign & Digital Collectible 

For PlayStation Stars members who pre-ordered God of War: Ragnarök in any software edition through PS Store or direct.playstation.com.

We want to say thank you for pre-ordering from PlayStation and making the God of War Ragnarök launch epic.

This Digital Collectible will be available to those who qualify. Check into PS Stars to collect this reward.

Available Nov 9

Happy 20th Anniversary to our beloved Ratchet & Clank Campaign & Digital Collectible
For all PlayStation Stars members

Join us in celebrating 20 years of Ratchet & Clank. A collectible of the universe’s most debonair spy (with significant semiconductor content) is available to collect for those joining us in playing any game on PS4 or PS5 to celebrate the franchise’s anniversary. 

PlayStation and You: PS3
For PlayStation Stars members who owned PS3 in Clear Black or Ceramic White

This is a campaign for those who owned the PS3 Clear Black or Ceramic White – you were with us then and we celebrate you now. Play any game on PS4 or PS5 to receive your Digital Collectible. Doesn’t have to be vintage!

Additional Campaigns live now

November Check-In Campaign & Digital Collectible
For all PlayStation Stars members

Simply ch

Last week, we asked you to share haunted moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s spooky highlights:

ForgottenJasmin shares Seline leaning away from a gnarled creature with a gigantic single eye in Returnal.

ke_23 shares a series of robed women floating in various positions across a red background in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water.

Lunar9p_ shares a two headed skeleton creature snarling in The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan.

oimookrock shares players posing near a hanging Palico Ghost decoration in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.

kimchitraveler shares Castle Dimitrescu looming in the foggy distance of Resident Evil Village

photomodevault shares a masked figure hanging tangled in cords in The Medium.

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: Gotham Knights
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on November 9, 2022

Next week, suit up and fight for justice in Gotham Knights. Share pictures of the Bat family using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Last week, Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida and Director Hiroshi Takai debuted the game’s newly released trailer, entitled Ambition. In that PS Blog post, they touched briefly on the game’s lore as well as sharing more information about two newly revealed characters. 

After that reveal, we had yet more questions. So today, they’re going to dig a little deeper into the world of Valisthea, the Dominants and Eikons. Joined by Creative Director Kazutoyo Maehiro and Localisation Director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, this interview covers the creators approach to its story, worldbuilding, key players’ motivations, and more.  

“The world of Final Fantasy XVI may not be particularly kind or gentle. Still, I think we’ve managed to portray how its people live without abandoning hope – how they struggle, how they stand firm, and how they keep on living.”

– Hiroshi Takai, Main Director

PlayStation Blog: What did you want to achieve in this story that hadn’t been done in a Final Fantasy before? 

Hiroshi Takai, Main Director, Final Fantasy XVI: I would say that, in the beginning, the Final Fantasy series set out to create pure fantasy worlds and tell rich stories about the inhabitants of those worlds. The series has gradually built out from that starting point, sometimes trying out elements closer to sci-fi, and delving more deeply into the coming-of-age stories of its youthful characters. As we come to Final Fantasy XVI, just as our players seem to have grown up, the years have taken their toll on us developers, too. The world hasn’t always been kind, and we’ve learnt that you can’t expect everything to turn out well for you. And things don’t always turn out well in the world of Valisthea, either – in many different senses of the word. Its inhabitants all carry their own burdens. That was the kind of world we wanted to show. And so, the world of Final Fantasy XVI may not be particularly kind or gentle. Still, I think we’ve managed to portray how its people live without abandoning hope – how they struggle, how they stand firm, and how they keep on living. So I really want as many people as possible to experience the world of Valisthea. (And of course, it’s not all doom and gloom!)

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Ratchet & Clank turns 20 today! Did someone tamper with The Great Clock? It’s almost hard to believe, but it’s true! Insomniac Games launched the original game in 2002, sparking two decades of grand adventures through space, time, and dimensions. Since its humble beginnings on the PlayStation 2 console, the franchise introduced us to a variety of beloved characters, a host of iconic weapons and gadgets, multitudes of eccentric alien worlds, and much more.

So, beginning today, we’re kicking off our Ratchet & Clank celebrations – #Ratchet20 if you will, by dropping a few surprises and briefly looking back at the franchise.

Let’s get straight to the good stuff: we’re thrilled to announce Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will receive a 20th Anniversary Armor Pack TODAY in honor of #Ratchet20, which will be available via a game update at no extra cost. * The pack includes five armors inspired by games throughout the franchise’s history – and we have an awesome selection:

• Commando Armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
• Holoflux Armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
• Quest Armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
• Marauder Armor inspired by Ratchet: Deadlocked
• Clank rmor to celebrate the greatest of pals

That’s not all. We are also excited to announce more of the Ratchet & Clank franchise coming to PlayStation Plus Premium on November 15.** This includes:

Currently on PlayStation Plus Premium:

• Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PS3)

Coming to PlayStation Plus Premium on November 15:

• Ratchet & Clank (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked (PS3)
• Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)

Now that we’ve gotten the new stuff out of the way, let’s revisit aspects of the franchise that made it an iconic PlayStation staple for the last 20 years. We’ve also invited Insomniacs to share some of their memories!

Hey there, Fuzzball….

After three mystical dragon-filled adventures, it was time to venture deep into the cosmos and explore a brand-new galaxy of opportunities. The premise was simple: a fuzzy-eared alien and a tiny robot trek from planet to planet, collecting weapons and gadgets, and save worlds in the process. Cue Ratchet and Clank. One, a Lombax with a penchant for mechanics and a desire to explore beyond his desert planet Veldin. And another, a robot, an intelligent and logical being with an earnest heart and a desire to d

Experience Need for Speed Unbound at 60fps and 4k resolution on PS5, feel every bump in the road through haptic feedback, and immerse yourself in the world of Lakeshore, a street racers’ playground! 

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Recently we debuted the reveal trailer for our latest Need for Speed. Unbound is an all-new street racing thrillride in development by Criterion Software and is due out next month. As teased in the video above, your goal is to reach The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge by taking on weekly qualifiers (and outsmarting the cops!). Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to build out a garage filled with custom rides. 

Today, we’re going to dig into how PlayStation 5’s features will immerse you even further. Let’s dive in. 

Race against time, outsmart the cops, and take on weekly qualifiers to reach The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge when Need for Speed Unbound releases on December 2, 2022.

Pack your garage with precision-tuned, custom rides and light up the streets with your style, exclusive fits, and a vibrant global soundtrack that bumps in every corner of the world. Check out how PS5 features take street racing to a whole new level in Need for Speed Unbound.

60fps and 4k Resolution

The most realistic looking cars in Need for Speed history are paired with a vibrant graffiti-inspired art style to deliver high-energy visual and sound effects as you’re tearing through the streets of Lakeshore. Enjoy every detail thanks to the power of the PS5 unlocking 4k resolution, a 60fps framerate and 60Hz simulation rate that brings more responsive visuals and handling in the moments you need it most.

A richer world and more detailed car models

What’s the use in having a fresh new custom if no one’s around to see it? Lakeshore’s a popping city, and the PS5’s CPU allows for a higher density of traffic and pedestrians to deliver a more living world. When you’re testing out the latest upgrades on your ride, Lakeshore’s streets will be booming with other city dwellers taking care of business. That means plenty of cars to weave in and out of or scrape alongside… depending on your skill behind the wheel.

Richer car simulation also allows for a more in-depth handling model, creating an intuitive driving experience. Anyone can get in the seat but mastering the roads and earning a spot in The Grand is a completely different challenge that requires skill, bravery, and a trunk load of flair.

Haptic feedback

Feel the tyres on the road as the DualSense controller fires direct feedb

Hello everyone, my name is Ryota Nozoe, Lead Visual Effects Artist on Forspoken.

This expansive new action RPG puts you in control of Frey Holland, a young woman who is transported to the mysterious world of Athia! This land may be beautiful, but it’s dangerous too – a phenomenon called ‘the Break’ has corrupted the people and creatures… and turned them into hideous monsters. 

Fortunately, Frey is able to call upon a wide range of magic spells to defend herself, from harnessing the elements to manipulating nature itself. You can get a close look at the exciting combat in our latest deep-dive video:

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As you can see, magic is varied and visually spectacular! Read on, and I’ll tell you a little about how we achieved it:

Defining the ‘look’ of Forspoken’s magic

We put a great deal of time and thought into how we visualise the spells in Forspoken. 

First and foremost, we wanted to stay away from having things like fire or rocks just suddenly appearing out of nowhere. While that certainly would have been fine, and wouldn’t have caused any issues, doing that felt too expected and boring – especially for a game so focused on magic.

We decided that every spell would share a common rule – it would start with magic energy, and transition into natural phenomena like the afore-mentioned fire and rocks. Then, when the spell is cast, it would revert back to magic energy before fading away.

We also wanted to stay away from using auras or summoning circles when Frey was using spells – this would lack originality. Early in development, we decided that magic energy in Forspoken would be represented by geometric patterns. 

This informed the visual design of all of the game’s magic, and ensured we kept a consistent visual style throughout the game.

Each spell in the game was the result of a team of visual artists, game designers and programmers all working very closely together. To give you an example of this, here are three spells you can use in the game – and what went into bringing them to life!

Mark your calendars! PlayStation Studios is set to host an all-day livestream event on Saturday, November 5th for Extra Life Game Day to raise money for a great cause! Join Bend Studio, Guerrilla, Insomniac Games, and San Diego Studio for a day full of fun, laughter, and some friendly competition to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  

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PlayStation Studios will play a variety of games during the livestream from new releases to PlayStation classics and will be asking you, our incredible fans, to help us meet our donation goal of $10,000. And guess what? To thank you for all your support, you will have the chance to receive some awesome PlayStation merchandise in a special giveaway during the livestream, including a DualSense™ Wireless Controller, PS5 HD Camera, and more!* (See official rules here)

Donate or find out more on the Tiltify Cause Page for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.** “Extra Life Game Day is a way for all of us to come together to spend a day playing the games we love and to raise money for a cause we believe in,” says Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. All donations go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services across the U.S. and Canada.

Now, get ready for a full day of games, good vibes, and fun times! 

Check out the livestream schedule below! You can tune into each studio’s Twitch channel or catch them throughout the day on the official PlayStation Twitch channel. The livestream event kicks off at 9AM PT!

PlayStation Studios Extra Life Game Day Schedule

Saturday, November 5
Schedule subject to change

STUDIO	TIME (PT)
Guerrilla	9:00AM – 1:00PM
San Diego Studio	10:00AM – 3:00PM
Read more Shuhei Yoshida recommends 10 games from the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog Game Ace Pro / Wednesday, November 2, 2022 0 0 With hundreds of titles available to play on PlayStation Plus Premium, you may be stuck for choice. Enter Shuhei Yoshida. The head of PlayStation Indies is here to share his own personal picks from the collection, encompassing every era of PlayStation, from unique platformers to enthralling fantasy adventures, and shares his memories of those titles when they originally launched. But we’ll open the floor to Yoshida-san.  Shuhei Yoshida: “PlayStation has a long history, and there are many titles that are referred to as masterpieces. Today, I wanted to offer up my personal recommendations for games available on PlayStation Plus Premium. I’ve chosen titles that I’ve personal history with, but there are many other excellent games available as well.  We are happy that users who have joined the community from PS5 and PS4 can play the masterpieces from the past, and I think the creators are happy too. I think this is a great opportunity to introduce the history of PlayStation to a generation that was not yet born when the first PlayStation was released, so please enjoy the Classics Catalog.” 1. Jumping Flash! Released in 1995 at the dawn of the PlayStation era, this unique 3D platformer was played from a first-person perspective as players controlled the rabbit-shaped machine Robbit. You must use its signature three-step jump to reclaim a world that was stolen by the evil scientist Baron Aloha. This early title showcased the potential of 3D.  “This was one of the first titles to be produced for the PlayStation. Even before the hardware was completed, young game directors like Kazunori Yamauchi-san and Tetsuji Yamamoto-san were assigned to the PlayStation project and started planning the software. It was during this time that Yamamoto-san brought a short movie to me. It was an experimental video called “Jumping” by Osamu Tezuka-san. Jumping up high, over trees, over buildings, and coming down with a whoosh. Inspired by this video where the viewpoint dynamically changes, Jumping Flash was born! Jump up to a high place and jump down at once while looking down at the ground. The novel gameplay and unprecedented sense of pleasure it offered was one answer to the question at the time, “What can a 3D game do?” Moreover, it incorporates cute characters named MuuMuus to give it a pop finish. I was impressed by Yamamoto-san’s skills as a producer, and I think it is a game that represents the early days of the PlayStation, and is still a fun game to play today.” —————————————— 2. Tekken 2 Joint development of system boards helped bring popular arcade games to PlayStation. One notable entry was fighting game Tekken 2, which made the leap from arcade to PlayStation in 1996. Select from a 25 character-strong roster to battle through single player Arcade Mode, drop into Practice Mode to perfect your favorite fighter’s move set, take on endless enemies one after another in Survival Mode and challenge another player to Team Battle Mode.  “Before we launched the original PlayStation, we went around asking game developers to make games for us. However, back then it was considered that 3D graphics could not be used for anything other than shooting and Read more RSS Load next 10 article(s) (1227 left)Loading...