State of Play returns with its first show of 2023! Get ready for new looks at some anticipated games from our third-party partners, as well as a first glimpse at five PlayStation VR2 games set to arrive later this year. Then, settle in for more than 15 minutes of all-new gameplay details and updates on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the next game from Rocksteady Studios.

It all begins this Thursday at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 9pm GMT / 10pm CET on Twitch and YouTube.

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Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)
 
Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

We’re mere hours away from the launch of PlayStation VR2. In the last few weeks we’ve announced the release lineup as well as the games we can expect to enjoy in the launch window. Today, we’re happy to reveal 10 new diverse titles that will be gracing our virtual reality visors in the near future. Read on to catch their debut PS VR2 trailers as well find out a little more about what you should expect from the creators behind these experiences. 

Players in the United States can order directly from PlayStation here, while folks in the UK can do so here.

Also, there will be a sampling of game demos or trials available for players to check out when they purchase a PS VR2 headset. Players will initially see the sample content during the onboarding process, and it can also be found on PlayStation Store. This includes demos or trials of Horizon Call of The Mountain, Resident Evil Village, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and more. Content may vary by region.

Here’s today’s additions to the PS VR2 lineup:

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Another Fisherman’s Tale

Another Fisherman’s Tale is the highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning A Fisherman’s Tale.This captivating adventure game takes players on a journey through a surreal world filled with imaginative locations and mind-bending puzzles. 

The game’s poetic storytelling and unique VR mechanics include the ability to detach and control limbs, making for a truly immersive experience. If you’re a fan of imaginative, narrative-driven games, then Another Fisherman’s Tale is a must-play. Get ready to be immersed in a world of wonder later this year on PS VR2.

– Frank de Brie, Global Marketing Manager, Vertigo Games

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Hi everyone! I’m Jose Perez III, director of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition.

As someone who has been a fan of the Star Wars franchise for many years, I’ve always looked for new ways in which I could dive into that galaxy far, far away. With the launch of PlayStation VR2, we knew that bringing our title to this new headset meant that we had the opportunity to take advantage of the new capabilities it offered to further bring fans into our story in even more immersive ways. With the Enhanced Edition launching exclusively on PS VR2, I wanted to share some of the key features that really make it shine. Let’s dive in!

The high-fidelity visuals really bring you into Star Wars

If you’ve played our game before, the second you put the PS VR2 on you’ll notice that the graphics have been completely overhauled. The environments and characters have been rebuilt, including new vistas and dynamic lights that move through the world with each blaster bolt. Using eye tracking and foveated rendering techniques, every detail your eye is focusing on will stand out. Take our friend Seezelslak for example, who is voiced by the incredibly talented Bobby Moynihan. When you’re hanging out in his cantina, possibly listening to one of his many legendary Tales, you’ll notice how your eyes are focused on him and not everything else happening on your peripherals.

The enhanced resolution of the headset and power behind it allowed us to create these sharper visuals and new details, both big and small, that bring the galaxy of Star Wars to life in a way that’s truly awe-inspiring.

The haptics and adaptive triggers let you feel it all

One of the standout features of this edition is the way you feel everything. Throughout the game you’ll be tasked with solving various puzzles using your All-Kit tool, a handy device with multiple functions that are essential for your role as a droid repair technician. With the haptics built into the PS VR2 Sense controller, that tool’s inner mechanics will pulse through your hand as you use it, with each function offering a different feel based on what you’re using it for.

We also incorporated the adaptive triggers that built into the PS VR2 Sense controller, so that each time you use your weapon you’ll receive back just enough resistance to make it feel as though it’s actually in your hand. With headset feedback, you can literally feel the blaster bolts zip past your head in a way that would feel organic to what you might experience in real life. With the use of these advanced features built into the headset and controllers, it’s hard to describe just how epic a major battle feels!

Hello, PS Blog pugilists! Survios developers here, excited to share some news about our upcoming PlayStation VR2 release of Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition. 

First up, the release date: We’re launching on April 4, 2023 — that means that in just a few weeks you’ll be able to step into the PS VR2 ring as Adonis Creed, son of heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, as you train hard in the gym under the tutelage of the legendary Rocky Balboa.

This is also following the March 3 release of Creed III in theaters nationwide, and Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition will feature new characters, costumes, and arena options based on the film.

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So, how exactly does Championship Edition differ with PS VR2? I’m glad you asked! Let’s dive in:

• Enjoy enhanced fidelity with 4K/HDR support
• Foveated rendering ensures the action looks best wherever you’re looking
• See more of each match with a 110º field of view
• Engage in more accurate combat with advanced controller tracking
• Feel every punch with impact haptics in your PS VR2 Sense controllers and PS VR2 headset
• Hear Rocky Balboa yelling from the corner thanks to 3D audio powered by PS5’s Tempest Audio tech
• Get into each game more quickly than ever with lightning-fast load times
• Take the fight online with cross-platform PvP and optimized matchmaking

In addition to the development team’s dedication to visual and performance upgrades, experience an expanded Creed universe with new story chapters, characters, and location based on Creed III.

This is all in addition to the features offered by the base Creed: Rise to Glory game, which includes multiple play modes, innovative mechanics like phantom melee tech and slow-mo counterattacks, cinematic boxing, and more.

Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition launches April 4 for PlayStation VR2, but pre-orders for the Standard and Deluxe editions are live today at PlayStation Store with an additional 10% discount for PlayStation Plus members, and a limited-time exclusive, specialty Adonis Creed costume.

Priced at $39.99 / €39.99 Standard, $49.99 / €49.99 Deluxe, PlayStation Plus users will also receive a limited-time exclusive, specialty Adonis Creed costume along with a 10% discount on pre-orders. Owners of the original PSVR game can upgrade to the enhanced and expanded PS VR2 version for $19.99 (Stan

Gran Turismo players! The 1.29 update for Gran Turismo 7 arrives today February 20 at 10pm PST* / February 21 at 6am GMT / 3pm JST.

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PlayStation VR2 (PS5 only) for Gran Turismo 7 arrives

With the 1.29 update at no additional cost, players will be able to for the first time experience all the races and game modes (excluding ‘2P Split Screen’ mode) with a whole new level of realism. PS VR2 players will also be able to access an exclusive ‘VR Showroom’ area from their ‘Garage’ or the in-game car dealerships where they can admire all the stunning details of the ultra-high-definition car models in a variety of locations and lighting settings.

GT7 takes full advantage of PS VR2’s next-gen features – Utilizing specially optimized HDR tone mapping, as well as foveated rendering from the eye-tracking feature (a technology that renders areas of the screen that the player is directly looking at in high definition), and dynamic 3D audio support, players will experience a whole new dimension of highly immersive gameplay.

Take your Gran Turismo 7 experience to new heights with PS VR2 (launching February 22).

Experience Gran Turismo Sophy in Race Together mode (PS5 Only)

Gran Turismo Sophy is a revolutionary superhuman racing AI racing agent developed in a collaboration between Sony AI, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Polyphony Digital. “Gran Turismo Sophy Race Together” mode gives Gran Turismo players of all levels and abilities the opportunity to go head-to-head against GT Sophy in GT7. The special mode, available as a time-limited in-game event (From Feb 21 to end of March), is a first look at GT Sophy in GT7 and is designed to maximize the fun and excitement of racing against GT Sophy for everyone

I’m thrilled to share our new trailer for Zenith: The Last City, a massively multiplayer world built for VR. Zenith on PlayStation VR2 is an entirely new immersive experience. Stunning visual upgrades, juicy new hardware features like headset rumble, gaze tracking, and adaptive triggers. You might have a hard time taking off the headset!

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Let’s deep dive on the new PS VR2 features coming to Zenith on PS VR2 launch day February 22.

PS VR2 Features

Headset haptics

Feel the sensation of falling from great heights, taking heavy damage, and even the dizziness of critically low health. Dash, jump, and glide through the air, feeling the wind on your face. The quicker you move, the more intense the headset rumbles.

Eye tracking

Eye Tracking helps you stay focused in moment-to-moment gameplay. With PS VR2, there’s no need to stop and point your hand to focus on enemies like other platforms. Simply look at the enemy while clicking the joystick to lock on. This is especially handy during high-stakes battles like boss fights, allowing you to concentrate on your opponents even while moving quickly, gliding, or climbing.

Advanced PS VR2 Sense controller haptics

As a Blade Master, feel the power of your strikes and parries with intense haptics in the hand that lands the blow. As an Essence Mage, feel energy surge through your hands as you charge up your blasters. Outside the heat of battle, feel the wind gently passing by your head as you glide through the air.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

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Hey y’all! The team’s back and sharing news to use if you so choose about PS VR 2 ahead of its launch Feb 22.

Stuff We Talked About

• PS VR2
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Resident Evil Village VR
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Dead Space
• Season: a letter to the future
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me
• The Last of Us on HBO

The Cast

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Last week, we asked you share the love, by highlighting romance in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s romantic shares:

Comput_ART shares Aloy making a heart with her hands in Horizon Forbidden West

ForgottenJasmin shares Cloud and Tifa embracing in Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Mur4dQ shares Cody and May from It Takes Two standing in front of a broken clock

_nvrheardofit shares Markus and North pressing palms together in Detroit: Become Human

skykiller1000 shares Ellie showing Dina her tattoo in The Last of Us Part II

CarrotsCaptures shares a set of Light Elf and Dark Elf lovers from God of War Ragnarök.

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: Horizon Forbidden West

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 22, 2023

Next week, we head back to the future of Horizon Forbidden West to celebrate its one year anniversary. Share epic moments from Aloy’s adventure using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Jeff Minter is a well-respected video game developer who has developed a reputation for creating a brand of colorful, whimsical, irreverent and challenging games over his 40-plus year career. He is credited with more than 75 games, and we would not be surprised to find some unreleased gems hiding on his computer.

Jeff has been releasing games on PlayStation devices for a decade, including the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation VR, PlayStation 4, and with Akka Arrh now both PS4 and PS5. Akka Arrh drips with Jeff’s sense of humor, his love of psychedelic color and light, and his ability to flat-out create games that are a joy to play.

With the release of Akka Arrh, we had a chance to speak with Jeff and learn more about the new game.

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Q. Why Akka Arrh?

I’ve been interested in Akka Arrh ever since I first heard the story of this incredibly rare arcade game being held in secret for 30 years by a collector and how the ROM was “liberated” so everyone could have a go. 

When I got a chance to play the game I liked the abstract nature of it, the flower-like shape of the platforms. I also thought the level splitting between upstairs and downstairs was interesting, as was the lighting up of upstairs level sections to “electrify” the incoming enemies.  The original has some cool ideas, but it doesn’t quite fit together in a way that I found satisfying. So when Atari asked me which of their game IPs I was most interested in working with, I saw it as a chance to explore the ideas of the original and make them work.

Q. Despite the ROM controversy, Akka Arrh is still not a household name. How would you describe the new game?

The original felt to me almost like a real-time strategy game, so I’ve pushed a bit in that direction and made the levels almost like a series of puzzles. You can pretty easily blaze away with bombs and pass a level easily, but to rinse the most points out of it, you need to study the attack patterns and learn how to be efficient.

It’s almost like a cross between a shooter and a puzzle game. One friend described it as ’cerebral’ which is not something anyone would normally say about my shooty things.

Q. How did you approach the game design?

For me the design process isn’t something you do at the start and then code to a spec,

Drums Rock, the arcade game of playing drums while smashing demons to the rhythm of rock, offers its most complete edition (and the craziest news) as it arrives with the launch of PS VR2! From the team here at Garage51 Entertainment, we’re delighted to highlight what we’ve done with this technology, which you can try at home on February 22. Let’s rock!

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We had been developing Drums Rock for a few months when we received a PS VR2 dev kit. At that time we were refining gameplay and fighting record labels to get cool songs for the game. We set about testing the features of the PS VR2 headset and Sense controller.  

We’ve tried countless different VR headsets in the past, but with the PS VR2 headset we saw that things could be done here that nobody had done before. And that is exactly what we did. We wanted to take a risk and nail it. We opted to go overboard rather than be afraid to try all these new features, and now I think it was the best decision possible.

In case anyone hadn’t noticed, we’re huge fans of the music rhythm genre. Drums Rock is a tribute to everything we loved about the games that defined that genre. Maybe it’s just us, but didn’t you know part of the songs by heart and even played them without looking? I’m sure some madman has even played a guitar controller with his mouth like Jimi Hendrix. Well now, in Drums Rock, playing without looking scores double!

Eye tracking

After getting our hands on the PS VR2 development kit headset, eye tracking was the feature that surprised us most, to the extent we built a gameplay mechanic around it and set about fine tuning it so it felt really fun. Let me explain:

Below the streak marker there are two switches, one for each eye. These switches activate either when we have our eyes closed, or are not looking at the incoming notes lane. They have a small cooldown period so as to avoid being triggered by the player blinking or taking side glances to see the notes. Once the switches are activated, your score is multiplied x2. They can also be combined with no fail chain modifiers, reaching x8. It’s a risk-reward mechanic that I personally adore!