Search

Game News

Hello Neighbor VR: Search and Rescue comes to PS VR2 on May 25

Game Ace Pro 0 0

Hello, neighbors! The town of Raven Brooks is calling again, and this time you’re going to get up close and personal with the town – virtually speaking.

Developed by VR veterans Steel Wool Games and launching on May 25 for PlayStation VR2, Hello Neighbor VR: Search And Rescue is a thrilling new adventure set in the twisted little world of the Hello Neighbor franchise. There’s all the puzzling, sneaking and mystery you’ve come to expect from snooping around the Peterson Estate (all while dodging the attention of your eccentric and unhinged neighbor), but this time, you’re going hands-on, using every trick in the PS VR2 book to intuitively navigate a reactive, physical world.

Everything in the world of Hello Neighbor VR reacts the way it should in the real world, so it’s time to get your grubby little fingers where they don’t belong and dig up some mysteries. Nervously nudge doors open, poke your head around corners (while listening carefully for unseen dangers) rummage through cupboards with haptic feedback relayed direct to your fingertips, and generally act like a sneaky little kid should. Or kids, as the case may be.

For the first time in the Hello Neighbor series, Search And Rescue puts you in the shoes of an entire crew of meddling youngsters. While this is a single-player game, you’ll be switching control between five kids; the self-titled Raven Brooks Rescue Squad. Each has their own unique puzzle-solving gadget, and all of them will be needed to unravel the maze of machines and traps you’ll find. Coordinate the movements of the entire team, using your walkie talkie to switch perspectives at any time. Put their heads together and rescue your missing friend from the mysterious mad gadgeteer (and part-time kidnapper) Mr. Peterson.

We’re excited to let you loose on the trap-laden, off-kilter Peterson Estate. Every little crack in the walls can give you a glimpse of coming danger, so keep those eyes peeled. While it’s always good to see trouble coming, sound is essential in any stealth game, and the PS VR2’s 3D audio capabilities are perfect for the job here. Press your ear up against doors for an early hint of danger, or tilt your head to figure out whether that creaking is coming from the attic or basement. Just tread gently and don’t let your Rescue Squad members get snatched up. Rescuing one kid is hard enough!

Of course, controlling an entire squad comes with its perks. Footsteps getting uncomfortably close for comfort for one character? Switch to another and make a noise. Ring the doorbell, turn on the TV or flush a toilet and then scurry off to a hiding spot. The neighbor is sure to come running, giving the rest of your team some breathing room. Play your cards right and you’ll drive your enemy to distraction – just don’t push your luck, or you could end up backed into a corner with nowhere to go. Rescuing your pal Nicky will be a tough job, but with a bit of thought and a local Raven Brooks can-do attitude, anything’s possible.

How Square Enix built Final Fantasy XVI’s fantastical, believable, lived-in world

Game Ace Pro 0 0

There’s one particular Final Fantasy XVI development story Naoki Yoshida admits he’s unlikely ever to forget. The producer describes a particular port city the studio conceptualized. Its key feature: a colossal stretch of huge wall that runs the length of the city, separating it from the surrounding ocean and which has successfully protected those behind it from invasion for over three centuries. It’s a visually impressive sight, one that fits perfectly with the larger fantasy world of Valisthea. There was, however, one issue.

“You look over these designs,” explains Yoshida-san, “And in the far corner of the town, on the sea side, there’s a natural cliff. And this cliff is maybe 15 meters high. And the leader of this city, the most important person, is housed right there beside it. What stopped pirates just coming up, destroying the house and taking over? It made no sense.” 

The result was a proverbial – and literal – return to the drawing board to correct the oversight.

It’s a recollection that articulates the careful work to make this fantastical world believable, lived in. And that story is but one of numerous examples of the complexities the producer, alongside Art Director Hiroshi Minagawa and Localization Director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox have navigated as they built Valisthea and the player’s journey through it.

A youthful Clive Rosfield explores a castle’s inner courtyard, passing by training grounds and soldiers unpacking supply crates

A world’s design, of how Valisthea rests at a crossroads between multiple teams at the studio – environmental artists, level designers, combat teams and more – is the focus of an insightful conversation with the three midway through their two-day stopover in London. That stay is just one stage of a multi-country tour for the game they’re attached to, each stop giving attendees several hours with the near-final PS5 game.

It’s a robust hands-on. We first sample the game’s opening hours, a flashback to a key period in Clive Rosfield’s youth that sets up what’s to come. (It’s this section that players will experience in a public demo which drops ahead of the full game’s launch.) We then play through the two hours and change directly following that demo’s conclusion. Lastly, we’re left to roam for thirty minutes in one of the game’s open areas, a lush valley filled with optional beasts to defeat and side-quests to take up.

In that collective time we wander through castle grounds and hideouts, battle our way through more guided scenarios, partake in a spectacular, cinematic Eikon versus Eikon clash. As such, we get a better understanding of the game’s structure, the environment design. I have answered a question I never thought to ask: what is Final Fantasy’s version of gardening tools?

Boss battles, be they Eikon versus Eikon or Clive’s clashes with bigger threats, promise to be unique encounters. FFXVI has a speci

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 458: Access Granted

Game Ace Pro 0 0

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here


This week the team chats with Accessibility Consultant Paul Amadeus Lane about accessibility in gaming, before diving into the world of deck-building with some Inscryption talk.

Stuff We Talked About

  • Lord of the Rings: Gollum
  • PlayStation Showcase
  • Humanity Q&A
  • Project Leonardo is the Access controller
  • Interview with Paul Amadeus Lane (starts at 10:00)
  • Inscryption

The Cast

Share of the Week – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Game Ace Pro 0 0

Last week, we asked you to use the Force and share epic moments from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: 

dharlequin shares Cal Kestis wielding an orange lightsaber, cloaked in shadow

AreeLyBadPun shares Cal leaping towards a large creature, wielding a blue lightsaber

zaurielvp shares an agent of the Empire wielding a flamethrower, surrounded by flames

nahHermes shares Cal racing forward against a neon blue and pink backdrop

kingforever008 shares Cal gazing out from a cave at floating turrets

WriterlyRyan shares Cal and Merrin riding a spamel

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: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Cal Kestis

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 24, 2023

Next week, we’re staying in a galaxy far, far away to focus on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s hero, Cal Kestis. Share portraits of Cal using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Arrows and soccer crossover in multiplayer sport title Nock, coming to PS VR2 on May 25

Game Ace Pro 0 0

Nock is a fast paced, physical game of bow and arrow soccer. We’ve taken the time to level up Nock specifically for the PS VR2. Here are some of the improvements we’ve made to the game.

Top notch visuals

Running at 90hz on the highest resolution with no foveation and no reprojection, Nock looks better than ever on PS VR2. Crisp clean geometry and vibrant colors that’ll make your eyes happy. It’s a pretty sweet sight.

Feel the action with PS VR2 headset haptics

Nock is a physical sport, and now you can feel every bump of the ball on your headset. In the high-speed game of Nock, if you take your eye off the ball, you could end up on the wrong side of a knockout.

Spectator camera

Using the power of the PS5, we are able to render a second camera. With a variety of different camera options, this is perfect for streaming or having friends and family watch your dominance on the pitch.


As a bonus to our PS VR2 players, we’re throwing in a season pass with every purchase. This pass is your ticket to unlocking over 30 skins, bows, and blocks as you progress in the game.

One last thing, Nock supports crossplay with all major VR platforms. So, no matter what your friends are gaming on, you can all get in on the action together.

This is just the start. We truly can’t wait to see you out there.

First look at new images and UI of the Access controller for PS5, an all-new accessibility controller kit

Game Ace Pro 0 0

While accessibility is an important topic year-round, May is always special as we celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day and recognize the strides made by the accessibility community and the games industry to make gaming more inclusive. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are committed to furthering that mission, so today we’re excited to share new details and images of the Access controller for the PS5 console.

Image showing the Access controller and its swappable analog stick caps, button caps and button cap tags

New details and product images

First revealed at CES this year as “Read more

(For Southeast Asia) You’re Invited: PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL)

Game Ace Pro 0 0

It’s almost time to see what’s next — PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL).

The show will run a bit over an hour, focusing on PS5 and PS VR2 games in development from top studios from around the world. Expect a glimpse at several new creations from PlayStation Studios, as well as spellbinding games from our third-party partners and indie creators.

The live broadcast starts next Thursday, 25 May at 3am (BKK/JKT) / 4AM (SG/KL/MNL) on YouTube and Twitch. Hope to see you there!

Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

Please note that this web 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 possibly interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this stream. 

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. 

Become the best fighter in your region in Road to Evo 2023

Game Ace Pro 0 0

We’re thrilled to announce the return of an exciting tournament for fighting game fans, FGC Arcade PlayStation Tournaments: Road to Evo on PS4. The tournament offers gamers worldwide a chance to win cash prizes, and winners across each region will get a roundtrip ticket to compete in Evo 2023. We invite all players who want to test their skills and take on the world stage. This is your chance to represent your region at the biggest fighting game tournament of the year. 

Last year, we saw players across the world compete in PlayStation Tournaments for an opportunity to play on the world’s biggest fighting game stage. Among them, we saw amazing performances and even new champions crowned. Watch the recap from last year’s event.

Become the best fighter in your region in Road to Evo 2023

Road to Evo 2023 Tournament Details

This tournament will give players in the global fighting game community a chance to make a name for themselves in their region. See the tournament details:

DatesMay 26 – June 24, 2023
RegionsNorth America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific 
Prizing$7,500 in prizes and a trip to compete in Evo 2023
Featured TitlesTekken 7, The King of Fighters XV, Mortal Kombat 11, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Melty Blood: Type Lumina
Rules & EligibilityActive PS Plus membership required. Must be of appropriate age and a member of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. See full rules. 

Each title will have four Qualifiers per region, with the top competitors moving onto broadcasted Final matches in an ultimate showdown of talent and skill. Whether you’re planning to sign up to compete or a spectator looking to watch some amazing action — it’ll be an exciting competition that will shift the global FGC rankings and spotlight the players to watch out for at Evo 2023. 

How you can sign up for the Road to Evo 2023

*Sign up for the Road to Evo 2023 in your region on the Competition Center, or head over to the Events tab on PS4. See you there.

*Access to PS4, game title, and active PS Plus membership required. Must be 18+ and a member of an eligible country. Void wh

You’re Invited: PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time

Game Ace Pro 0 0

It’s almost time to see what’s next — PlayStation Showcase broadcasts live next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time / 9pm British Time.

The show will run a bit over an hour, focusing on PS5 and PS VR2 games in development from top studios from around the world. Expect a glimpse at several new creations from PlayStation Studios, as well as spellbinding games from our third-party partners and indie creators.

The live broadcast starts next Wednesday, May 24 at 1pm Pacific Time / 9pm British Time on YouTube and Twitch. Hope to see you there!

Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

Please note that this web 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 possibly interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this stream. 

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. 

Inside the creative minds of Humanity developers Yugo Nakamura and Tetsuya Mizuguchi

Game Ace Pro 0 0

Shuhei Yoshida chats with Yugo Nakamura, creative director, art director, designer, and narrative designer for Humanity, and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, executive producer for Humanity, on how the title delivers a new puzzle game experience. They discuss the thought process behind the creation of Humanity as a new form of interactive experience and how they came up with the game’s main theme. 

Humanity is available starting today as a Day 1 PlayStation Plus Game Catalog title.*

Inside the creative minds of Humanity developers Yugo Nakamura and Tetsuya Mizuguchi

Inspired by the “flocking behavior of birds”

Shuhei Yoshida (SY): I heard that Nakamura-san likes to observe flocks of birds, and that’s where you found inspiration for Humanity. Can you tell us more about that? 

Yugo Nakamura(YN): I specialize in Interactive Design, and I like to spend my time programming, sharing my work, and creating visual experiences; I enjoy these things and that’s why I do them for a living. I think a lot of people like me have used a simulation program called “Boids,” which essentially simulates the flocking behavior of birds. If you focus on just a single creature, you’re able to create very organic movements just by programming three simple rules and connecting them. But in the case of birds, the simulation looked so alive, and it was fascinating to see how organically the flock of birds moved, even though it was based on such a simple mechanism. 

From there, I spent some time making a bite-size mobile game that used simple bird movements as motifs. It was like a racing game where you control a flock of birds. 

SY: It’s the one where you try to progress further into the game, right?

YN: Yes. In a regular racing game, you’re only responsible for controlling one car, but in this game, you basically had to control 300 different cars. If you made a small mistake, you lost 100 birds, but then eventually gained back 200!

SY: Game developers like us are always looking to surprise people by creating something that goes above and beyond what you’d expect from a hardware’s capabilities. So when I saw your game, I felt something similar. 

YN: I had similar thoughts as a consumer myself. I was shocked at how smoothly games ran back on the original PlayStation, and I thought that was such a great achievement. From there, I decided that since I already made a game with birds on a smartphone, next I wanted to create a system that controlled large groups of humans. That’s how the idea for Humanity was born. 

RSS