Hello, Travelers! Your Genshin Impact dev team is here to meet you again. After two months in the Nation of Wisdom, the next update is now confirmed to arrive on November 2. With Version 3.2 “Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises,” we will finally come to the very moment where Sumeru’s fate will be decided. Team up with Nahida, Layla, and more reliable allies to find out more!

Beyond the Archon Quest, a series of fun events will take place, including “Fabulous Fungus Frenzy” where Travelers can catch and train Fungi. Besides, we’d like also like to announce that Genshin Impact will include Italian and Turkish subtitles starting from Version 3.3! We can’t wait to see more players from diverse backgrounds joining us in the future!

The Dendro Archon and the Man-Made God

After experiencing the Sabzeruz Festival samsara and surviving the journey through the desert, we will finally reach the end of the Sumeru Archon Quest arc. Picking up right where we left off, Nahida has been confined in the Sanctuary of Surasthana by The Doctor. As the Dendro Archon, the Akademiya and the Grand Sage, two Fatui Harbingers, desert-dwellers, and all other important players enter the scene, the final chapter will push the story to the climax.

Although the Traveler will receive support from many allies, including insiders like Cyno, the General Mahamatra, and Alhaitham, the path to save Nahida and Sumeru will be fraught with difficulties, as will the epic fight against The Balladeer. Different from The Balladeer we’ve encountered before, the third Fatui Harbinger boss that we are destined to fight comes in the form of a massive mechanical-looking puppet crafted by the Akademiya and The Doctor. To defeat this boss, you will have to survive two combat phases. In the first phase, The Balladeer’s upper body will take the stage with gigantic mechanical arms, along with several types of elemental powers and abilities, including attacks that create huge Hydro tornadoes, Electro beams, and burning or freezing fields.

But you will not fight alone. A floating device will accompany you throughout the combat and help turn the tide in the second phase. After The Balladeer transformed into this massive form, your regular attacks will no longer do any damage. The floating little helper will be the only one capable of breaking through his defenses and attacking the boss’ weak points.

The end of the Archon Quest does not mean the end of our journey in Sumeru. Whether it’s the mysteries from the past or changes in the future, there are still lots to be uncovered.

More Allies From Sumeru

After accompanying the Traveler on their long journey, Nahida is finally ready to join the cast as a playable five-star Dendro catalyst user. Meanwhile, Layla, an Akademiya student with an unusual ability, will be joining as a four-star Cryo sword user.

Since her birth, Lesser Lord Kusanali, also known as Nahida, has yet to set foot in

Last week, we asked you to share the terrifying yokai of Ghostwire: Tokyo using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s spooky shares: 

Gurararala shares a headless schoolgirl dashing through the street.

VrPhotoGamess shares faceless suited men with broken umbrellas skulking around a green-lit hospital.

snkn_shito shares Akito sending a round red blast of energy from his hands.

SSoulpants shares a stories-tall translucent monkey-like yokai walks through the streets.

holy_mashirina shares a female yokai in a red trench coat standing menacingly at the end of a street.

sparkling_Port9 shares Akito stands in the rain

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: A Plague Tale: Requiem 

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 26, 2022

Next week, we journey to medieval France to watch Amicia and Hugo survive among the rats and dangers of A Plague Tale: Requiem. Share your best moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Our return to Midgard and the rest of the nine realms is nearly here. God of War Ragnarök launches on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, and I’ve had the lucky opportunity to scout ahead and go hands on with the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus’ continuing journey.

No big story spoilers lie ahead in this article – and that’s just fine because there’s tons to talk about in terms of pure gameplay, visuals, inventive new enemies, locations, and more. Without mentioning specific characters or moments, I will say this sequel doesn’t wait long to deliver memorable, unexpected moments with a diverse cast of mythical characters.

Read on to learn about God of War Ragnarök’s familiar-yet-fresh combat, deadly new enemies, exotic locales, and more.

Mythical immersion on PS5

Winter wonder – The world of Midgard sparkles on PS5 thanks to crisp 4K visuals and fluid framerates (I played in Performance mode). Fimbulwinter is creeping across the lands, including Kratos and Atreus’ homestead. Snow crumbles and parts as characters trudge through it, with light catching tiny ice crystals on its surface. Frozen waterfalls stand like intricate, towering art pieces. The atmosphere of this snow-covered Midgard captures the serene vibe of a winter walk in the woods perfectly.

Haptic immersion – Santa Monica Studio has taken full advantage of the DualSense wireless controller’s haptics. One sequence involves dogsledding away from a violent avalanche. The DualSense controller’s haptics thrummed in my hands, conveying both a deep rumble of rushing land and lighter clumps of snow tumbling about. In combat, the Leviathan Axe packs an extra visceral punch, and when the boomeranging weapon is recalled the haptics gradually swell until the axe lands in hand with a meaty thud. The range of haptics also brings texture to subtle moments, like Kratos laying his weary body down in his cot to sleep.

Versatile combat options

Settling back in – I’ll admit it took me until the back half of God of War (2018) until I felt proficient with the new combat mechanics. The intimate camera position, ranged and melee Leviathan Axe, and abundant combat options overwhelmed me a bit. In contrast, picking back up Kratos’ axe and Blades of Chaos at the beginning of God of War Ragnarök filled me with confidence and a lust for battle. Wielding both weapons at the outset encouraged me to make more complete use of Kratos’ arsenal, and it’s a blast.

Death From Above – Kratos can now take a sprinting leap off a cliff and slam into enemies below – a furious intro to any group fight that stuns enemies. The new combat option is a potent example of God of War Ragnarök’s increased focus on verticality in the environment.

Stay frosty – The triangle button, used for equipping and recalling the Leviathan Axe, can be pressed when held to apply a Frost Awaken effect to your next melee or ranged attack. Pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Breach – a wide swing and applies Frost to nearby enemies. Aiming while pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Spike – a quick throw of the Leviathan Axe that creates

Since the Family Portrait series began five weeks ago, we’ve had the great pleasure of showcasing works created by a fantastic group of artists.  These portraits showcase key relationships that are foundational to God of War Ragnarök. 

Now that the series has wrapped, we’ve put together a gallery featuring all five works on the God of War Ragnarök website and sized them for desktop wallpapers so you can bring the gallery to your home(screen). You can download them together here or get them individually below. 

But that’s not all! 

We wouldn’t conclude the series without adding an extra special touch. Not only have we animated each of the works, but we also borrowed Mimir to provide some of his keen insights into our portrait’s subjects!

Drew Merritt – The Bear and the Wolf   

Drew Merritt’s portrait of Kratos and Atreus, the bear and the wolf, captures the familial relationship of our heroes. The father and son pair have endured many trials together on their quest to scatter the ashes of Faye (Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother) atop the highest peak in all realms. After the events of God of War (2018), Kratos and Atreus become the close family unit that Faye always hoped for 

But Atreus is no longer a child in God of War Ragnarök. Training relentlessly under the watchful and protective eye of his father, he has grown to be a skilled fighter with the quickness and cleverness of the wolf.  Atreus knows some questions have answers that can only be reached beyond their frozen home in Midgard. 

The snows of Fimbulwinter herald the coming of Ragnarök and signify an ever-increasing danger to all inhabitants of the Nine Realms. Now more than ever, Kratos must prepare Atreus to fight and survive as he was once taught. Protective and cautious like the bear guarding its young, Kratos would do anything to keep his family safe. 

Download a wallpaper version of Drew Merritt’s The Bear and the Wolf here. 

Emma Ríos – The Dwarves 

Emma Ríos’ portrait of the Dwarves gives you a glimpse at some new faces alongside the familiar Huldra brothers, Brok and Sindri. 

While they have had their differences in past, Brok and Sindri mended not only their business relationship, but their brotherly bond as well. Both master smiths, they have provided Kratos and Atreus much needed gear improvements countless

At Santa Monica Studio, one our guiding phrases is “we’re fans of our fans.” Whether it’s a reaction to a trailer, a deep-dive lore video, or cosplay – knowing that there is an audience that appreciates all the details in our work motivates us to create something worthy of God of War fans. 

Cosplayers are a huge part of our community and have been since the very first game released in 2005. Over many years we’ve seen how much time, love, and dedication it takes to create a single character. God of War characters especially have many different materials, layers, and details to account for. One thing we’ve learned is that the best starting block for any cosplayer is a good reference of the character they’re portraying!

Once you’ve taken a peek at the new guides, make sure you check out the interview below with Santa Monica Studio Art Director Raf Grassetti on how the team updated the designs of Kratos and Atreus in God of War Ragnarök! 

Official Kratos and Atreus cosplay guides

To show our appreciation for all the God of War cosplayers who have taken on Kratos and Atreus over the years, we wanted to make their updated guides for God of War Ragnarök even more comprehensive than the ones we did for God of War (2018).

We’re worked with our fantastic character artists and writers at SMS, as well as B is for Boy artist Romina Tempest, to create guides that not only give the in-depth references necessary for cosplayers, but also let us play more in the world of God of War by looking at these designs through the lens of our characters.

Read more

Greetings everyone! I’m happy to announce that our newest trailer—Ambition—is now live. Rather than focusing on action as we did in our last reveal, this time we wanted to give the world a more in-depth look at Final Fantasy XVI’s lore and its rich cast of characters—with the Dominants front and center.

Play Video

The flames of war spread as Valisthea enters an age of twilight. Where will fate lead the Dominants and what future awaits the realm at the end of this bitter conflict? There are still many more questions to be answered, many more truths to be uncovered.

With regards to development, the team has turned the corner and entered the home stretch, and is currently concentrating its efforts on debugging, tweaking, polishing, and optimization.  

We’ll be back soon with more information about the world of Final Fantasy XVI! For now, please enjoy the new trailer and new insight into two new characters. But first, some additional words from Director Hiroshi Takai.

Clive Rosefield, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy XVI

Hello!

Our third trailer is finally here and jam-packed with exciting new information that provides a better picture of how the game’s setting, lore, and characters tie in with our compelling narrative. Hopefully it was worth the wait!

As the game edges closer to completion, the team has turned its full attention to debugging and final adjustments. Now that things are starting to

What a beautiful day! A beautiful day to surrender to the void… or, as we at Media Molecule have come to know it, The Land Of Lost Dreams. That’s right: this year’s Halloween event, All Hallows’: The Land of Lost Dreams, is available to play in Dreams right now. 

Is there a better way to get in the Halloween spirit than to explore this creepy creative purgatory, filled with strange quests, odd characters and coMmunity-created interactive delights? No. No, there is not. And if you don’t believe us, you should probably boot up Dreams on your PlayStation, then play The Land Of Lost Dreams to either confirm or deny. It’s only fair.

There’s so much to see in The Land of Lost Dreams. Challenge a king to a tabletop game of questionable quality! Get ripped off by odd little robots! Admire cursed trinkets and scream your way through a haunted forest! And maybe – just maybe – escape development hell once and for all…

Need more info about what awaits you there? Well, you’re in luck: we at Media Molecule have come into possession of a tourist brochure that lays out many of The Land of Lost Dreams’ main attractions in unnerving detail. Honestly, this place seems like a weird choice for a ‘holiday destination’, but travel agency D.Tours looks trustworthy enough – they’ve even got a logo. What evil entity ever had a logo? Exactly.

Star Ocean The Divine Force will soon touch down on PS5 and PS4! This action-packed science-fiction RPG presents a bold new vision for the beloved RPG series, with a powerful story, innovative traversal mechanics, and a combat system that’s just… *chef’s kiss.

That said, we suspect that some of you may still be wondering what this game is all about. Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know:

It’s the sixth mainline entry in the Star Ocean series…

You may have played a Star Ocean game before – or at least heard of it. The series has been around since 1996 and has won many fans thanks to distinct science-fiction trappings. While many RPGs lean into fantasy tropes, the Star Ocean series embraces space opera wholeheartedly – think spaceships, interplanetary travel, advanced technologies, and the like. Even now it feels very unique in the genre.

Star Ocean The Divine Force is the sixth mainline title in the series and brings with it excitingly fresh ideas, including unparalleled freedom of movement and a blisteringly fast combat system.

…but it’s completely standalone

Similar to other RPG series like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, each entry in the Star Ocean series works as a standalone adventure. There’s no need to have played through the previous games to work out what’s going on – the entire narrative from start to finish is contained within the game. Of course, if you are a fan of the previous games, you may spot a reference or two…

It’s an epic adventure that fuses science fiction and fantasy

The adventure begins when starship captain Raymond Lawrence crash lands on the planet of Aster IV. This dangerous world is like stepping into a long-forgotten past for the young spacefarer – people still live in castles, wear plate armor and kingdoms wage war against one other. Joining forces with a warrior princess named Laeticia, he sets off to find the rest of his crew and get off the planet… unaware that he will soon find himself embroiled in a conflict that threatens the entire universe.

The dual protagonist system returns from previous games

At the beginning of your adventure, you’ll be able to choose between two main characters: Raymond or Laeticia. This isn’t just a cosmetic decision – the events that transpire and the allies you can recruit will differ depending on who you play as.

You can play as Raymond …

Raymond is the captain of the merchant vessel Ydas, operating under Lawrence Logistics – a company run by his family. He’s a friendly guy with big hair and a bigger heart. He can be brash and reckless, which often gets himself into trouble – but he’ll throw himself into the heart of danger to protect his friends. He’s a protagonist who’s easy to love.

…or Laeticia

Laeticia is Princess of the Kingdom of Aucerius: a large territory located on the underdeveloped planet of Aster IV. She’s a knight and highly skilled with the dual blades, something that makes her greatly admired by her people.   Laeticia is insatiably curious and her encounter with Raymond opens her eyes to a bigger world than she knows… but more than anything she loves her kingdom and will do whatever she can to protect it.