Guide Best Puzzle Games on PS4
PS4's best puzzlers ranked and rated
Guide Persona 3 Reload: Romance Options - All Girlfriends and How to Unlock Them
How to get a girlfriend in Persona 3 Reload
Guide Persona 3 Reload: New Game+ - What Carries Over and How to Start New Game+
All New Game+ bonuses in Persona 3 Reload
Guide What Time Is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play?
Dates, times, and what to expect
News - 2024, Week 06
Sunday11th Feb 2024
Review Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash (PS5) - Cursed Trash Solely Exists to Grab Your Cash
Salmon woe
As arguably the biggest anime and manga franchise on the planet right now, all publisher Bandai Namco had to do was put together a serviceable adaptation of Gege Aktusami’s modern-day sensation and reap the rewards. Regrettably, the dismal Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash is the worst kind of tie-in: a vapid cash grab clearly developed on a...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Persona 3 Reload?
SEES for yourself
A rather stunning remake of a classic PS2 RPG, Persona 3 Reload graced PS5 and PS4 earlier this month. Almost immediately, it became developer Atlus' fastest selling title ever — thanks to strong reviews and a huge marketing campaign. Of course, it also helps that Persona as a brand is more popular than ever these days — still...
Saturday10th Feb 2024
News Xbox Has Allegedly Insisted It Won't Stop Making Consoles, As PS5 Port Rumours Mount
Will apparently support "multiple kinds of devices"
No one really expects Microsoft to suddenly step out of the hardware race, but it’s been a hellish week for the Redmond firm, where rumours have swirled with reckless abandon. All the way back on Monday – which feels like an eternity ago now – boss Phil Spencer announced it’d share news...
Poll What Do You Think of the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Demo?
Keep Kalm
Released earlier this week, the highly anticipated demo for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gives us a glimpse of the game's opening chapter, in which Cloud recalls the time he and Sephiroth were sent to investigate the Nibelheim mako reactor. We happen to think it's a pretty strong start to what should be a great sequel, bit as always, it's your...
News Helldivers 2 Is Now Comfortably Sony's Biggest Ever PC Launch
Touches 120k concurrent players as weekend gets underway
We’ve got to be honest: this wasn’t on our bingo card for 2024 at all. Helldivers 2 has blown up big time, and it continues to climb the Steam most played charts, now peaking at almost 120k concurrent players – with presumably bigger numbers to follow as the weekend goes on. This means...
Interview Why Stylish PS5 Slasher Slave Zero X Could Be Essential for Fans of Action and 90s Anime
Seeing red
Slave Zero X first caught our eye last year, with a trailer that practically screamed cool 90s anime sh*t. Fortunately, the game was later confirmed for a PS5 and PS4 release (it's coming on the 21st February), and so we simply had to pick the brains of the people behind the project. We asked both publisher Ziggurat Interactive and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 515
Dive in
Well, this is something we didn't quite expect: everyone is obsessed with Helldivers 2. Seriously, if you'd told me even three days ago it'd outmuscle Suicide Squad, I never would have believed you. And yet, here we are. Aaron Bayne: I'm squadding up this weekend in Helldivers 2, which has already proven itself to be a lot of fun. It's...
Friday9th Feb 2024
News Readers Vote Gears of War Above Halo as Their Most Wanted Xbox Series on PlayStation
Cogs of conflict
The people have spoken. Amid countless rumours that Xbox is planning a pivot to bring some of its games to other consoles, we now know what's top of the list when it comes to what fans want to see make the jump to PlayStation. We held a poll earlier this week asking our readers which Xbox franchise they'd most like to play on PS5...
News Ubisoft CEO Defends Skull and Bones Premium $70 Pricetag, Insists It's 'AAAA' Quality
Uh-oh
Despite being delayed six times so far, Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot is highly confident in Skull and Bones, so much so that he is tempting fate, invoking the dreaded "AAAA" moniker. The last developer we can recall doing that was the ill-fated Striking Distance Studios with The Callisto Protocol, a game with a sa
Review Foamstars (PS5) - PS Plus' Sudsy Shooter Is Good, Clean Fun
What kinda game is soap?
Foamstars doesn't deserve the hate. Hand-waving comparisons to Nintendo's Splatoon are shallow; beyond both games featuring weaponry that fires something other than bullets, they're two quite different experiences. Square Enix's new multiplayer game is more of a hero shooter than anything else, and while its launch content...
News Subnautica Sequel Surfaces Unexpectedly, More Information Later This Year
Unknown Worlds provides illumination
A sequel to spooky crafting sim Subnautica has surfaced unexpectedly and looks set to begin preparatory test dives in the future. That's according to a recent earnings report from publisher Krafton, which developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment later clarified. GameWatcher initially reported that the sequel would...
News Sony Aggrieves Anime Fans by Erasing Digital Funimation Content in Crunchyroll Merger
Gone for good
Sony has single-handedly managed to p*ss off the entire anime community, as it’s announced plans to erase purchased digital content as part of Funimation’s merger with Crunchyroll. The Japanese giant effectively has a stranglehold on the popular form of media, as it owns all of the major streaming services and a chunk of content...
News Arrowhead Confirms Helldivers 2 PS5 Patch, Matchmaking Fixes Inbound
Help is on the way
Helldivers 2 experienced a somewhat chaotic descent from high orbit, deploying onto PS5 and PC simultaneously and paying for it, with players experiencing matchmaking issues and unable to link up with their comrades. Thankfully, developer Arrowhead is doing its part to keep the intergalactic war effort going. Confirmation of a...
News The Last of Us 2 Remastered Europe's Best-Selling New Game of January, PS5 Sales Up
Wasn't for nothing
January seems to have been a strong month for Sony, at least in Europe. According to data pulled together by GamesIndustry, last month saw successes for the platform holder in terms of both software and hardware — not a bad way to kick off 2024. The Last of Us Part II Remastered did very well digitally and physically,...
News Glimpse Rise of the Ronin's PS5-Powered Depiction of 1800s Japan
Black Ships on the horizon
Set during the disastrous final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Rise of the Ronin will take players to Bakamatsu-era Japan and arm them with an arsenal of early-modern weaponry. We got a new trailer and an accompanying PlayStation Blog write-up, shedding further light on the game's depiction of this pivotal moment in...
News Assassin's Creed Red Will Sneak onto PS5 by March 2025
Star Wars Outlaws also due before the end of this year
It looks like it’s going to a big year of build-up for Assassin’s Creed Red, as Ubisoft has confirmed its feudal Japan open world isn’t far away. Speaking overnight as part of its quarterly sales report, the French publisher announced that the anticipated PS5 outing will arrive by the end...
News Helldivers 2 Is Blowing Up, Sony's Biggest Ever PC Launch
Are you doing your part?
Despite some inevitable technical teething troubles, Helldivers 2 is blowing up on both PS5 and PC – with its Steam numbers outpacing those of even God of War. Not content with being the best-selling game on Valve’s popular storefront right now, the third-person shooter sequel peaked at about 81k players overnight,...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Players Go to Town on Tifa's Piano on PS5
Triple threat
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's playable demo is available now on PS5, and immediately, musically gifted players took the opportunity to show off for Tifa in the included piano minigame. Tifa's Theme is set as a challenge for players to overcome in-game, but rousing tributes to other tracks quickly appeared, a testament to the flexibility...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Granblue Fantasy: Relink?
Was it worth the wait?
It's been about a week since Granblue Fantasy: Relink finally landed on PS5 and PS4. The action RPG released during an especially busy period — just after Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and just a day before Persona 3 Reload — but the positivity surrounding its arrival suggests that fans of the genre...
News Dead Cells Post-Launch Support Coming to an End After Five Years of Updates
One last hurrah incoming
Dead Cells is the excellent side-scrolling roguelike action game from Motion Twin. We loved it back when the vanilla version launched years ago, but it's since received many huge updates, adding a vast amount of extras to keep the experience fresh. Now, though, the studio has announced that the next update to the game will...
Feature Taipei's Biggest Gaming Convention Showcases the Best of Taiwan and Beyond
Loud and proud
Taipei’s blue-hued Bannan Line is always packed to bursting, as it’s the approximately 26-kilometre MRT line which ferries passengers to key city destinations like Ximen and Taipei Main Station, but it was abuzz with added enthusiasm late last month, as enthused gamers rode the train all the way through to its destination station...
News Ed Proves He's a Real 'Edcase in Street Fighter 6 on PS5, PS4
Ruined Lab stage also incoming this month
If you’ve had your head turned by the excellent Tekken 8 recently, then allow Street Fighter 6 to turn it back. This full gameplay trailer for upcoming DLC addition Ed goes hard, showcasing his psycho power-imbued boxing beatdowns. “Ed is a high-speed boxer. We designed his lower half so that you can...
Thursday8th Feb 2024
News Microsoft Employee Inadvertently Adds More Fuel to the Xbox Multiplatform Fire
Oopsie daisy
The Internet is extremely unforgiving. Whatever you put on it will be preserved in some fashion, for better or worse, and it's a lesson still being learned in the year 2024. Case in point: the LinkedIn page of a Microsoft employee, who may have added yet more evidence to the heavily rumoured move from Xbox to publish its games on other...
Interview Shift Up on PS5's Highly Promising Stellar Blade
Korean dev details console debut
PlayStation fans have been frustrated by Sony’s seeming overemphasis on live service game development behind-the-scenes, but that makes Stellar Blade a real breath of fresh air. A staunchly single player PS5 character action title, it marks Korean developer Shift Up’s first foray into the world of consoles –...
News Helldivers 2 Off to a Strong Start on PS5, PC, Currently Third Best-Selling Game on Steam
Over 50,000 concurrent players already
Helldivers 2 officially launches today, 8th February 2024, and it appears to be opening on a very strong footing. From what we can glean from publicly available data, Arrowhead's sci-fi co-op shooter seems to be performing very healthily on both PS5 and PC at this early stage. On the European PS Store, the...
Poll Which Xbox Franchises Would You Buy on PS5?
The big question
There’s strong speculation that some first-party Xbox franchises are being considered for release on the PS5. In some cases, the rumours are incredibly strong, like Hi-Fi Rush – which had a handful of in-game shirts datamined, clearly showing that a PlayStation port is on the way. In other instances,
Poll Are You Playing Helldivers 2?
Dive in
Helldivers 2 has arrived on PS5 (and PC!) with a bit of a bang. The co-op shooter appears to be quite popular already, rocketing up the Steam player charts and garnering a sizeable audience on streaming websites like Twitch. The question, then, is whether you're joining the Helldiver ranks and taking the fight to those big old bugs. We...
News Final Fantasy 7's Coolest Companions Won't Fight in PS5's Rebirth
"Accompanying characters" don't do combat encounters
In a tragic update to a story we brought you back in September, the coolest companions in the original and upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will not join Cloud and company on the battlefield after all. It was first thought that "accompanying characters" Cid and Vincent might lend a hand in an...
News Microsoft's Recent Layoffs Contradict Activision Blizzard Buyout Pledges, Says FTC
When can we stop writing about this
In case you missed it, Microsoft made an industry-shaking acquisition at the tail end of last year, buying up Activision Blizzard King for an eye-watering $69 billion. It took a long time to close, though, because of intense scrutiny from a handful of different sources — one of those being the USA's Federal...
News Single Player Games with Definitive Endings Are Still Very Important, Says Stellar Blade Dev
"We hope Stellar Blade will be a significant title"
There’s been much hand-wringing among the PlayStation fanbase about Sony’s reported obsession with live service games, but two of its upcoming titles – Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade – are single player centric, and unashamedly old-school in their design. We spoke to Korean developer...
News Japan Sales Charts: PS5 Games Dominate as Persona 3 Reload, Granblue Fantasy: Relink Arrive
JRPG heaven
Well this is a rare sight indeed. The latest sales charts for Japan are in, and for the first time in a long while, the software rankings are dominated by PlayStation titles. Persona 3 Reload enters at number one on PS5, and number three on PS4, while another new release, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, takes second on PS5, and fifth on PS4...
News Crash Bandicoot Developer Toys for Bob Struck by Layoffs, Office Closure
The ongoing cost of consolidation
Layoffs have been reported at Toys for Bob, the developer behind Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. They form part of the ongoing consolidation efforts necessitated by parent company Activision's acquisition by Microsoft, resulting in 1900 roles being made redundant. Some 86 workers...
News Suicide Squad Antagonist Brainiac Seemingly Leaks Future Playable Character
No chill
The identity of another playable villain coming to the villain-centric Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has seemingly been leaked, not by an account chasing clout on Twitter, but by DC's resident brain maniac himself. A bugged line spouted by the Justice League's most enduring antagonist, Brainiac, indicates that a particularly cool...
News Final Fantasy 8 Director Would Rework Divisive Junction System in Hypothetical Remake
Sacrilege
Final Fantasy VIII was (until XIII rolled around) the most divisive entry in a series famous for changing things up, with oceans of ink spilt by the game's rabid detractors and stalwart defenders. Aside from stoic protagonist, Squall, and the way enemies levelled up alongside the party, players' most significant issue with the game was how...
News Persona 3 Reload Is Atlus' Fastest Selling Game Ever
Already surpassed one million units
The winds are changing, and single player Japanese RPGs are enjoying a bit of a renaissance as a result. We reported earlier in the week about how Steam player numbers were reflecting extremely well on titles like Granblue Fantasy Relink and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and now we have further evidence of the...
News Disney Secures $1.5 Billion Stake in Epic Games, Plans 'Entertainment Universe' in Fortnite
"Discover a place where Magic is Epic"
Hellbent on harvesting your nostalgia forever, megacorp Disney has purchased a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, teaming up to create a persistent, social universe within Fortnite. It sounds wildly ambitious and more than a little dystopian, allowing fans to "play, watch, shop, and engage" with their favourite...
News JRPG Fans Should Definitely Keep an Eye on Lost Hellden, Heading to PS5, PS4 Next Year
Hellden yeah
Lost Hellden is a rather sumptuous looking RPG, freshly announced for PS5 and PS4. It features frankly gorgeous hand-drawn backgrounds, what seems to be a striking art style, and action combat. The official press release also boasts of deep storytelling, as twin brothers embark on a dangerous adventure. It's being developed by Artisan...
News Knuckles TV Series Hits Paramount+ in April, Watch the First Trailer
Punch it
The third Sonic the Hedgehog movie is due to close out 2024, but before then comes a TV show spin-off. Simply named Knuckles, the short series focuses on the powerful echidna, introduced in the second film and voiced by Idris Elba. You can watch the brand new trailer above. Over the course of six episodes, Knuckles is set between films two...
News EA Sports WRC Season 3 Adds New Moments, Rally Pass, Latest Patch Available Now
Keep the motor running
EA Sports WRC is still receiving regular updates from Codemasters, and this month it's bringing not only a new huge patch, but also the start of a new season. While the game update is available today, Season 3 is set to get underway from 13th February. The seasonal content will include a fresh batch of Moments, doled out once...
News Okay, Now We Need a Full-Length Honkai: Star Rail Anime
Here's how it could look
With the Lunar New Year upon us, Honkai: Star Rail is celebrating with an animated short centring on Guinaifen and Sushang from the Xianzhou Luofu. While this is, for all intents and purposes, a very short clip – it’s left us hungering for a full-length anime. Seeing the environments from the game brought to life, along...
Wednesday7th Feb 2024
Guide Best Puzzle Games on PS4
PS4's best puzzlers ranked and rated
What are the best puzzle games on PS4? It's a big question; there are so many of the darned things that it can be hard to narrow it down. If you enjoy a game that tests your grey matter, you're certainly well served on PS4. Puzzle games can take a few different forms. The classic examples of puzzlers are things...
PS4's best platformers ranked and rated
What are the best platformers on PS4? If you've been playing games for any length of time, you'll know that platformers have been around since the very beginning. Some of gaming's most recognisable characters are from platformers — your Marios, your Sonics, and so on. Mainly concerned with testing a player's...
News Stellar Blade PS5 Pre-Orders Go Live, Two Versions to Choose From
Ahead of 26th April 2024 release date
Following on from its State of Play showing last week, Shift Up has opened pre-orders for Stellar Blade on the PS Store and at retailers worldwide. The PS5 exclusive is available in two versions: a £69.99 / $69.99 standard edition and also a £79.99 / $79.99 Digital Deluxe Edition. The game releases on 26th...
Poll How Do You Feel About All of the Xbox Multiplatform Rumours?
A PlayStation perspective
While we use the word 'rumours' in the headline of this article, the reality of the situation is that it really does look like Xbox is making significant changes to its business strategy. Speculation is absolutely rampant at the time of writing, with numerous reports all coming to the same conclusion: Microsoft wants to...
Preview Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Feels Like a Strong Step Forward from Remake
Kalming influence
"How did it feel being back up there? I don't know... nostalgic, I guess?" Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth summarised our feelings with one simple question. We love the original game but when Final Fantasy 7 Remake opened the door to some dramatic changes, nothing was guaranteed moving forward. Thankfully, Rebirth feels like a natural...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Huge PS5 Demo Out Now, Junon Update Coming Before Full Release
Cloudy weather
Leaked several days ago and now confirmed as part of Sony's latest State of Play broadcast, the playable demo for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is available to download from the PS Store. It weighs in at a whopping 48.6GB, which is huge for a pre-release peek. The demo itself will take you through Rebirth's prologue, as Cloud joins...
News Huge Spider-Man 2 Update Adds New Game+, New Suits, More on 7th March
More features will be detailed soon
Insomniac Games has confirmed the long-awaited Marvel's Spider-Man 2 update that'll add New Game+, new suits, and much more will arrive on 7th March 2024. A tweet states a complete list of features will be shared closer to release, but until then, we know New Game+ and more Spider-Man suits are in. The...
News More Than 2,000 New PS5, PS4 Deals Dropped Tantalisingly onto PS Store
Cough up
Got a hole in your pocket? Well, over 2,000 fresh PS5 and PS4 deals have been deployed on the PS Store, which means any hopes you had of saving money at the start of the year are likely in tatters right now. The savings do include a lot of DLC, so keep that in mind – but you’re generally looking at some big discounts on slightly lower...
News PS5, PS4 First-Party Devs Won't Get Complacent Even if Competition Degrades
"We're driven by an internal desire to create the best work possible"
One of the big talking points emerging as part of Microsoft’s rumoured switch in strategy is that a reduction in competition could result in complacency from PlayStation and its army of first-party developers. The issue, according to some, is that if Xbox were to abandon its own...
News Helldivers 2 Pre-Orders Are Big on PS5, PC, Currently Outselling Palworld in US
Orbital barrage
Sony is launching Helldivers 2 this week on 8th February, 2024, and by the looks of it, the co-op shooter might be more popular than you think. From what can be gleaned from digital storefronts, the sci-fi shoot-'em-up seems to be killing it in terms of pre-orders. As noted by X user KAMI, the game is currently the top result for...
News Stellar Blade Director Says 'Korean NieR' Comparison Is a 'Great Honour'
But stresses that gameplay differs greatly
Even to casual fans of Yoko Taro's esoteric NieR franchise, the similarities to the upcoming and eagerly anticipated Stellar Blade are apparent—both feature flashy, action-based gameplay and buxom, blade-wielding protagonists, for starters. Rather than shy away from these comparisons, director Hyung-Tae...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Tracks How Much Your Crush Hearts You on PS5
Emoji game: 1st Class
Players of the original Final Fantasy VII and its Remake returning for the upcoming Rebirth have been anticipating a particular gondola ride for a very long time. The Gold Saucer date scene is shaping up to be more dynamic and romantic than ever; the mysterious system that determines your potential partner laid bare, as it...
News Remastered LucasArts Adventure Games Looking Likely for Release on PS5
Taiwanese rating reveals
We were fortunate enough to receive remasters of a trio of classic LucasArts point-and-click adventures on PS4, and it's now looking like they're being ported to PS5 too. Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, and Day of the Tentacle are all playable on Sony's previous console (and technically PS5 as well), but it seems the...
News Two of PS5's Best Soulslikes Join Forces Once Again in Another Collab
Lies of P and Wo Long cross streams
In case you didn't know, Soulslike titles Lies of P and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty are best mates. They collaborated once before, with a pair of weapons, 'Puppet's Saber' and 'Etiquette', being added to Team Ninja's action RPG for free. Now, it looks like the games are crossing paths once again. It looks as though...
News Skull and Bones Open Beta Will Let You Test the Waters This Weekend on PS5
Thar she blows
We almost don't want to believe it, but it looks like Skull and Bones really will be launching on 16th February. After that long and difficult journey, Ubisoft's oft-delayed pirate action game is almost ready to drop anchor. Just before that happens, though, all players will be able to take it for a spin for free via an open beta...
News Capcom Currently Polling Player Interest for Sequels to Okami, Dino Crisis, More
Yes
Spotted by our sister-site Nintendo Life, publisher Capcom is currently holding what it's calling "Super Elections", asking fans and players for their feedback relating to its lineup of games and offering eligibility for various prizes (Capcom wood badge set, a key art catalogue, and Capcom Hanafuda) for taking part. It's pretty cute stuff for...
Rumour Call of Duty Games Will Feature Open World Campaigns Starting This Year
Gulf War apparently the first
Word on the street is that future Call of Duty games will expand their single-player offerings with open world campaigns. The first of these will be this year's entry, which is supposedly Black Ops Gulf War. That's according to Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, who has heard from sources that the open world-style...
Tuesday6th Feb 2024
Live Watch Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's State of Play Livestream Right Here (6th February, 2024)
Cloud atlas
Looking to watch Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s State of Play livestream today? Last week we were treated to an excellent State of Play broadcast, showcasing the breadth of PS5's upcoming catalogue. But now it's time for another instalment, this time focusing specifically on Square Enix's remake sequel. We already know a demo will follow...
Wednesday7th Feb 2024
Hands On Honkai: Star Rail's Huge PS5 Update Brings Big BioShock Vibes
The city that always sleeps
The advantage of single player live service games like Honkai: Star Rail, for all the criticism they receive from enthusiasts, is that the action never ends. That makes updates like the enormous v2.0, which takes the Trailblazer to a new planet named Penacony, possible – and this is Chinese developer HoYoverse at its...
News Madden NFL 24 Targets EA Play Addition on PS5, PS4 Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII
That was Swift
Later this week, NFL’s broadcast cameras will be focused on Taylor Swift, while they capture each and every reaction the singer has to boyfriend Travis Kelce’s action on the field. Oh, and a football game will be taking place, too – an important one, the Super Bowl. In order to get you in the mood, EA Sports is adding Madden NFL...
News Recent Steam Concurrent Player Data Suggests Japanese Games Are Thriving
Big in everywhere
It would appear all is well when it comes to recent Japanese games. We've had a great run of big new releases from Eastern teams lately and, if Steam player numbers are anything to go by, it seems they're all making a decent splash right now. Last weekend saw big concurrent player counts for the likes of Persona 3 Reload, Like a...
News CD Projekt Red Musters Veteran Developers for Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel
Former Control, Dishonored, Mortal Kombat devs answer the call
The sequel to CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 is already in development, known by the codename "Project Orion", and developers with some serious credits have begun to assemble at the company's Boston studio (and a satellite studio in Vancouver). In a
News Evo 2024 Games Announced, Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 Headline
A new battle begins
The main games lineup for Evo 2024 has been revealed, and to the surprise of no one, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 are the headline acts. Those heavy hitters will be joined by Guilty Gear Strive, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Under Night In-Birth 2 , Mortal Kombat 1, King of Fighters XV, and
News Square Enix President Orders Development Review to Improve Quality of Future Games
A job for the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
Square Enix has ordered a complete review of its developmental pipeline to increase the quality of future games and streamline, optimise, and synergise its way into increased profit margins. That's under the direction of Square Enix Holdings president Takashi Kiryu, responsible for...
News NBA 2K, LEGO 2K Drive Studio Visual Concepts Austin Suffers Job Cuts
Number affected undisclosed
The unrelenting tidal wave of layoffs across the industry claims another victim. It's come to light that Visual Concepts Austin, a division of Take-Two's studio responsible for the NBA 2K series as well as LEGO 2K Drive, has had some staff let go. The news comes via Game Developer, which spotted a Linked
Tuesday6th Feb 2024
News Microsoft Has Apparently Been Stocking Up on PS5 Devkits as Xbox Pivots
Further fuel to the fire
While an enormous amount of attention has been placed on the games Microsoft is potentially bringing to PlayStation, reports also suggest the tech titan has been quietly stocking up on PS5 devkits to support its plans. Speculation comes courtesy of fan site Xbox Era, which broke the news Starfield may be coming to Sony’s...
News Potential Persona 3 Reload DLC The Answer Found in New Datamine
Plus five other content packs
Suggestions that Persona 3 Reload will be treated to a wave of DLC, including the FES version's post-game content The Answer, have gained more weight after references to them were spotted in a recent datamine. Delving into the PC files revealed mentions of a "P3R Expansion Pass" that would grant access to six portions...
News Stellar Blade Dev Considering Crossover Content with Saucy Smartphone Shooter NIKKE
"If that's what the users want"
NIKKE: Goddess of Victory, Korean developer Shift Up’s saucy gacha shooter, is one of the biggest mobile games on the planet, raking in upwards of $25 million per month according to Sensor Tower data. It’s always felt inevitable, then, that the studio will draw upon the game’s enormous audience to promote...
News Another Three PS Plus Essential Games Are Yours to Download Now
No FOMO here
It's PS Plus Essential update day for active subscribers, bringing another three monthly PS5, PS4 games to members. It is another good month, with brand new title Foamstars added to the roster along with Rollerdrome and Steelrising. You can download the games now if you're situated in Europe, and USA readers will gain access later on in...
News Tekken 8's First Balance Patch Is Out This Week
Bugs also being fixed
Just under two weeks after its initial release, Tekken 8 is set to receive its first balance update. Patch 1.01.04 will drop on the 7th February, after server maintenance is carried out at 10:30 JST / 01:30 GMT / 02:30 CET / 17:30 PST until 16:00 JST / 07:00 GMT / 08:00 CET / 23:00 PST. Obviously, you won't be able to play...
News New PS5 Firmware Beta Improves DualSense Sound, Adds Share Screen Interactions
Starting today
Sony has just announced a new PS5 firmware update that's going into public beta testing today. A selection of PS5 users will be invited via email to try out the firmware's new features before it's rolled out to everybody. Time to check those inboxes! So, what's the deal with this firmware beta? Well, it's not an enormous one, but...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's PS5 Demo Accidentally Outed by Sony
"Uncover the opening chapter of the story"
Sony has prematurely revealed a demo for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as part of a trailer uploaded early to the PS Store. The video – presumably intended to debut as part of an upcoming State of Play livestream – promises to let you “step into the shoes of either Cloud or Sephiroth during the Nibelheim...
News Foamstars Is Another PS5 Game Not Bothering with a Platinum Trophy
Just 12 Trophies to unlock
Foamstars will be available for all PS Plus Essential members later today, but the online foam game won't be rewarding you with a Platinum Trophy once you've earned 100 per cent completion. Just like the upcoming Tomb Raider I-III PS5, PS4 remasters, Foamstars has chosen not to bother with the top gong in Sony's Trophy...
News MLB The Show 24's PS5, PS4 Collector's Edition Is Extremely Unique and Cool
Paper talk
MLB The Show 23 was half annual sports game, half historical documentary – and it looks like San Diego Studio is responding to all the positive feedback from its previous release, and doubling down in MLB The Show 24. Case in point: its extremely unique Collector’s Edition celebrates the voice of black newspapers and writers, who...
Poll Will You Be Watching the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play?
Or have you already seen too much?
Just in case you don't know, there's another State of Play broadcast tonight, featuring Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. It's probably going to be the game's last big blowout before it releases on the 29th February — which is just over three weeks away! — but will you actually be watching the show? The real reason we...
News Abusive Last of Us 2 Fans Allegedly Levelled Death Threats at Abby Actor's Newborn Son
Truly vile
One of the more heartbreaking revelations of Naughty Dog's recently released Grounded II: Making the Last of Us Part II documentary was the extent to which unwell The Last of Us fans took their grievances. The worst of it, according to Abby actor Laura Bailey, was "real hardcore death threats", some of which were even directed at Bailey's...
News Helldivers 2 PS5 Trophies Will Have You Doing Your Part for the Platinum
For Super Earth
Helldivers 2 is only a couple of days away at the time of writing, and it's looking more and more promising the closer we get. The third-person co-op shooter has players working as a team to eliminate alien threats using an array of powerful weaponry. It looks like it should scratch that mindless shooting-stuff itch, and you can work...
News Elden Ring Is Allegedly Getting a Smartphone Adaptation
Tencent converting console classic into free-to-play gacha
While everyone awaits Elden Ring’s anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it seems like a mobile adaptation of the FromSoftware fantasy classic has quietly entered development. Reuters, citing “three people familiar with the matter”, claims Chinese titan Tencent is working on a...
News Fantastic PS5, PS4 Action Game Sifu Teases 'Quite a Few Surprises' Ahead of Second Anniversary
Back in the fight
It's widely believed that Sifu developer SloClap is done with the game — after 18 months of fantastic post-launch support, we should add — and so this new message posted to the title's social media accounts has raised some eyebrows. "It's that time of the year again, and we have quite a few surprises to share with you in the...
News Wild PS5 Indie INDIKA Gets a Bonkers Gameplay Trailer
Revenue will help Ukranian children
The bizarre PS5 indie game INDIKA is back with a fresh trailer showcasing how the third-person action adventure plays, and it appears just as invitingly strange as its original pitch last year. Playing as a nun with the devil as your companion, you'll go on a journey of self-discovery in 19th-century Russia. Check...
News Looks Like Netflix Exclusive Valiant Hearts Sequel Is Coming Home to PS4
Rating spotted for console ports
It's been nearly a full decade since the launch of Valiant Hearts: The Great War, an emotional gut-punch of a game from Ubisoft. Nobody expected the publisher to make a sequel, but that's exactly what we got back in early 2023 — but it only released on mobile, and only to Netflix subscribers. After some recent...
News Helldivers 2 Outlines the Story So Far in Stylish Trailer, Confirms Post-Launch Updates
For democracy
We're on the verge of launch day for Helldivers 2, the sci-fi co-op shooter hitting PS5 and PC this week. While the emphasis in the game is very much on the action, there is some semblance of a story behind all the carnage, and that's what this new trailer aims to convey, complete with a neat stylised look. The story details touched...
News Persona 3 Reload's Sexy UI Result of Retaining Key Staff, Says Atlus
Paid approprietly, as well
The modern Persona series is synonymous with slick, sexy UI design, making games like Persona 4 Golden, Persona 5 Royal, and the recently released Persona 3 Reload instantly recognizable. Atlus' efforts are so far ahead of the curve in this regard, and shockingly, it turns out the secret to this success relies simply upon...
News Philippines-Inspired Pixel Adventure Until Then Looks Stunning on PS5
A chance meeting could change everything
Until Then is a gorgeous-looking pixel adventure game set in a world recovering from catastrophe, bringing an emotional adventure to PS5 sometime in 2024. It follows a cast of "achingly familiar characters" using modern technology and social media, where chatting with friends, classmates, and total strangers...
News Apex Legends Season 20 Breakout Introduces Dramatic Overhaul, 120fps on PS5
See you on the dropship
The now-venerable Apex Legends is looking to change things up in a big way with Season 20: Breakout, an overhaul coming to the game to mark its fifth anniversary, arriving 13th February. 120 frames-per-second should shake things up for players on PS5, and the Body Shield system is going the way of the dodo, with Legend's...
News Honkai: Star Rail's Humongous PS5 Update Is Out Now
Penacony is open to all
Honkai: Star Rail, the superb space fantasy RPG from Chinese developer HoYoverse, has been updated to v2.0 on PS5 today – bringing with it an absolute avalanche of new content. The expansion continues the core plot of the turnbased title, taking the Trailblazer and his/her crew to an all-new planet featuring an art deco...
News Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Stellar PS5 Soundtrack Secures Grammy
After apparent TGA snubbing
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been awarded a Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media, a rare nod from the more established mainstream award industry. Jedi: Survivor beat out the likes of God of War Ragnarok, Hogwarts Legacy, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Stray Gods: The Roleplaying...
Monday5th Feb 2024
Guide Persona 3 Reload: Romance Options - All Girlfriends and How to Unlock Them
How to get a girlfriend in Persona 3 Reload
Looking for a girlfriend in Persona 3 Reload? The road to true love can be a long one, but in this Persona 3 Reload guide, we're going to detail all of the game's romance options and how you can go about unlocking them. But before we begin, it should be noted that the romance system in Persona 3 Reload...
Guide Persona 3 Reload: New Game+ - What Carries Over and How to Start New Game+
All New Game+ bonuses in Persona 3 Reload
What carries over in Persona 3 Reload's New Game+ mode? Just like in previous Persona titles, it's possible to replay the game with a lot of your progress from a previous playthrough intact. In this Persona 3 Reload guide, we're going to list everything that carries over into a New Game+ run, and provide...
Guide What Time Is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play?
Dates, times, and what to expect
When is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play? Sony has only just presented us with a bumper State of Play featuring various upcoming titles, but it closed the show with news that another edition would be coming very soon indeed. This latest State of Play will focus entirely on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second...
Rumour Xbox Console Exclusive Starfield Is Setting a Course for PS5
Reach for the stars
Starfield, the Bethesda RPG that released last year as an Xbox console excusive, is apparently being readied for PS5. As reported by XboxEra, the spacefaring title will arrive on Sony's current-gen console alongside its Shattered Space expansion, which is expected to launch at some point this year. What's more, according to the...
News Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Has Almost 300 Trophies, But Zero PS5 Platinums
Platinums only on PS4, apparently
An enormous part of the appeal when it comes to retro remasters or compilations like Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is earning spangly new Trophies in classic games. Developer Aspyr appears to understand this, as it’s plotting almost 300 Trophies across the upcoming trilogy, according to lists published by Insider...
Rumour Even More Xbox Exclusives Coming to PS5 Than Already Reported
Once it rains
There have been rumours about Microsoft’s shift in strategy for weeks now, but things really intensified overnight. While it was previously reported that Tango Gameworks’ rhythm-action game Hi-Fi Rush and Rare’s oceanic online escapade Sea of Thieves would come to PS5,
News Stellar Blade's Japanese Dub Won't Be Available Worldwide, But Korean Will Be
English, Korean, and Japanese will be lip-synced
Stellar Blade’s big re-reveal during last week’s State of Play focused on its English dub, with many fans commenting they’d prefer to play the game in either Japanese or its native Korean. Speaking with developer Shift Up during an interview earlier today, we quizzed Game Director Hyung-Tae Kim...
News Xbox Set to Announce Multi-Platform Plans Next Week
A "vision for the future of Xbox" is coming
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has announced Microsoft plans to share its "vision for the future of Xbox" in a business update event next week. While neither confirming nor denying rampant reports that multiple Xbox exclusives shall be ported to PS5 and PS4, you'd assume the speculation would be denied if it...
News Sounds Like Naughty Dog's Next Game Won't Be The Last of Us 3
Or possibly the one after that
Naughty Dog recently released Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II, a two-hour documentary delving into the creation of the mammoth sequel. Full of in-progress footage and stories from development, It's well worth watching, and you can do so for free on YouTube. In its closing moments, Neil Druckmann says he has...
Rumour Even Gears of War Is Reportedly in Talks to Come to PlayStation
Mad world
In case you missed it, there have been a lot of reports recently about Xbox exclusives being ported over to rival platforms. The latest of these rumours concerns one of Microsoft's biggest franchises, the third-person shooter series Gears of War, which is apparently being considered for a port to PlayStation. This comes from Giant Bomb's...
Interview How Castlevania, Studio Ghibli Inspired the Action Gardening of Ultros
And there's a double jump!
Not only is February a big month for the AAA titles of the world, but it's also lined up some fascinating indie games for PS5, PS4 owners to digest. Alongside Pacific Drive is Ultros, an incredibly colourful platformer promising just as much brutal action as there is calming gardening. It is out for Sony's two systems on...
News UK Sales Charts: Suicide Squad Swings Past Persona 3 Reload for Number One Debut
Killing it
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been quite divisive thus far, with lots of discussion online about the pros and cons of this anti-hero looter shooter. However, it appears to be doing just fine when it comes to sales; in the UK, the game has arrived at number one on the physical retail chart, selling over 80 per cent of those...
Rumour Xbox's Indiana Jones Game Also Being 'Considered' for PS5
May arrive a few months after December 2024
Building on reports that Bethesda's RPG Starfield will be given a PS5 version at some point later this year, a new article from The Verge claims Microsoft is also "considering" making Indiana Jones and the Great Circle available on
Rumour A PS5 Remake of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Is Possibly on the Cards
Buried treasure?
The eternal churn of online scuttlebutt continues apace, and this time, our old pal Nathan Drake is said to be coming out of retirement. According to XboxEra's Nick Baker and John Clarke, the very first game in the series — Uncharted: Drake's Fortune — might be in the running for a PS5 remake. Speaking on their podcast, the...
News No Expanded Royal or Golden Edition for Persona 3 Reload, Atlus Promises
Fool me once, shame on you...
Persona 3 Reload launched on PS5 and PS4 on Friday, introducing a new generation to the Dark Hour and giving veterans the best way yet to relive the adventure. And while Atlus predictably had a swathe of day-one DLC ready to go, the publisher has stated fans can feel confident this is the complete package, and no...
News Face Your Demons in Supernatural RPG The Thaumaturge on PS5
Devil you know
The Thaumaturge is an upcoming isometric RPG that's caught our eye with its intriguing alt-history setting, concerned with demonic beings called salutors, and coming to PS5 sometime in 2024. It takes place in Warsaw in 1905, and as a Thaumaturge, the player can commune with these dark entities in battle and out against the fearsome...
News SEGA Congratulates Itself in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on PS5, PS4
Getting gassed up
Venerable publisher SEGA has been around for a long time. It was founded, appropriately enough, in Hawaii back in 1960. In its latest game, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (which ventures to the tropical locale), SEGA couldn't help but give itself a pat on the back via a fourth-wall-breaking conversation between protagonists Ichiban...
News Kojima Confirms Mads Mikkelsen Won't Be Returning for Death Stranding 2
Stranded on the Beach
Iconic actor Mads Mikkelson will not be returning for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, creator Hideo Kojima has confirmed, with the tragic tale of his character, Cliff Unger, having been resolved in the original Death Stranding.Kojima confirmed the news on Twitter in response to fan inquiries about the star returning...
News One of PS5's Most Promising Games Just Got a Seriously Stylish Trailer, Demo on the Way
Phantom Blade Zero looking slick
We've liked the look of Phantom Blade Zero from the very start, and this most recent trailer has really got us back in the mood. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, developer S-GAME put together the above video, and it's an incredibly stylish teaser with some brief looks at gameplay towards the end. Most of the...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth?
Infinite/10
It's been over a week since the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and it's safe to say that RGG Studio's latest RPG has been a hit. Its unique brand of madness (and massive marketing campaign) has allowed the game to reach people who wouldn't normally be interested in the series — and so we're very interested in hearing what...
News The Last of Us 2 Began Life as Open World Melee Epic Heavily Inspired by Bloodborne
May you find your worth in the waking world
With the release of Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II, fans have been given a unique insight into the challenges and triumphs developer Naughty Dog encountered while creating its violent sequel, The Last of Us Part II. One of the biggest genuine surprises was a few almost throwaway lines,...
News Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland Brings Nostalgic Side-Scrolling Fun to PS5, PS4 in March
Baby game
This somehow completely passed us by when it was announced several months ago, but a new detail has just surfaced, and a baby's gotta do what a baby's gotta do. Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is in development for both PS5 and PS4, and it's an old school 2D platformer that's about as 90s as you can get. Developed by The MIX Games and...
Guide Honkai: Star Rail: Misha - Best Builds
Porter bridges
What are the best builds for Misha in Honkai: Star Rail? Misha is an Ice bellboy who subscribes to The Destruction Path Type. He's an Ice damage dealer with a powerful Ultimate that dovetails nicely with his Skill. On this
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