 Mark Cerny, lead systems architect on the PS4 and it's next-generation successor, has shared the very first details about Sony's latest project.
The chip will also house a custom unit for 3D audio which Cerny asserts will aid in immersion, as sounds will be coming at you from all angles. No external hardware is required for this effect although he notes that headphones are still going to provide the best results.
The new machine contains an internal solid-state drive. This can massively reduce not only loading times, but the time it takes to render a world. We're told that Cerny demonstrated this with PS4 exclusive, Spider-Man. The new console, which we've masterfully avoided calling the PS5 so far, cuts the fast travel time down from 15 seconds to 0.8 seconds, and the improved rendering speed means that Spidey can travel at breakneck pace without any loss of graphical fidelity. Other features of note include support for 8K graphics and backwards compatibility. When asked about the possibility of a next-gen PS VR, Cerny confirmed that VR is "very important" to the team and the current PS VR headset will be compatible with the new console. Rubin later shared via Twitter a part that didn't make it into the published interview, in which Cerny states that the launch price should be "appealing to gamers in light of its advanced feature set." Share your thoughts on Sony's next console below or over in the forums.  The first DLC for Trials Rising has launched today, with 24 new tracks, 2 Stadium Finals and 2 Skill Games.
Sixty-Six can be purchased as standalone DLC for £6.49/€7.99/$7.99 or as part of the Expansion Pass, which also includes the future expansion Crash & Sunburn, the Stuntman Rider Pack and the Samurai Item Pack.
In addition to the expansion, Private Multiplayer mode is available to all players for free. Are you ready for more high-octane thrills? Let us know below or over in the forums.  EA and Respawn Entertainment have announced that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a third-person action adventure title, is launching in November.
We meet Cal on Bracca, a brand new planet and one of several new locations introduced in the game. Our protagonist was doing a fine job of hiding from the Empire until he exposed himself by using Force powers. Now, he's on the run from the Second Sister, one of the Empire’s elite Inquisitors, and the Purge Troopers - special Imperial forces trained to seek out Jedi and aid the Inquisitors.
Cal will make new friends and bump into familiar faces on the way, all the while being accompanied by his faithful droid, BD-1. “Many Star Wars fans, ourselves included, are really interested in the dark times, so we wanted to explore that mysterious, dangerous period,” said Stig Asmussen, Game Director at Respawn Entertainment. “The team at Lucasfilm have been amazing collaborators, helping us explore and further develop this part of the timeline where the Empire is at the height of its power and any remaining Jedi are in hiding. Within this narrative, we’ve crafted a game with intense, yet thoughtful and fun melee combat using the lightsaber and Force powers, allowing anyone to fulfill their Jedi fantasy.” Respawn are aiming to "deliver the kind of intense Star Wars lightsaber battles that are seen in the films." Alongside the lightsaber combat and Force powers, players will be able to utilise traversal and platforming abilities to "strategically overcome opponents and solve puzzles in their path across this galaxy-spanning adventure." Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order launches 15 November on Xbox One, PS4 and PC via Origin. You can pre-order and sign-up to be notified of any new announcements over on the official website. What do you make of the trailer? Let us know below or over in the forums.  Funcom and Petroglyph have released a new video looking at their upcoming RTS, Conan Unconquered.
It’s not just the strength of their walls players have to take into consideration, with disease also playing a major part in survival - if the bodies pile up too high, you could find a plague ravaging your armies.
Fire can also decimate a stronghold and there’s even the chance your food supplies might be poisoned, or your gold resources plundered. To bolster their survival chances, players are able to call upon hero units, such as Conan himself, and even summon towering avatars that are capable of crushing both enemy and friendly units. Conan Unconquered is out 30 May on PC. What do you think of the latest video? Excited for the game’s release? Let us know below.  Wired Productions and Storm in a Teacup have announced the release date for their first-person horror title, Close to the Sun.
Players have no weapons or means to defend themselves whilst exploring – save for the help of an ally who helps Rose navigate the ship - and instead must use “running, hiding and quick thinking” in order to survive.
Close to the Sun is out 2 May on PC via Epic Games Store with an RRP of €29.99 (or regional equivalent). Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions are scheduled to arrive later in the year. What do you think of the game? Let us know below or over in the forums.  Pixel Reef, an independent studio founded by Eric Chahi (Another World, From Dust), have announced Paper Beast with a reveal trailer.
Following an unspoken narrative, explorers will traverse a blossoming simulated world, interacting with fascinating creatures which adapt their behaviour according to player actions.
“We are thrilled to reveal Paper Beast to you,” says Chahi. “With this new game, we wanted to create a complete ecosystem, born from the hidden confines of big data. The players will be our explorers, setting out on a creative journey through the spectacles of a virgin world. With the fantastic team at my new studio Pixel Reef, we have found the creative freedom to really delve deep and use the latest technology to tell Paper Beast’s story. We can’t wait to share our game.” Paper Beast will also be playable without PS VR on the PS4 standard, at a later date in 2020. What do you think of Paper Beast? Let us know below or over in the forums.  Artifex Mundi have released a follow-up trailer for their upcoming point-and-click adventure title, Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love.
It's highly satirical with a cast of weird and wacky characters, all fully voiced in English with subtitles available in German or Polish.
The developers took inspiration from classic adventure titles by Lucas Arts and Daedalic Entertainment, the latter of which recently revealed upcoming title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Irony Curtain features non-linear puzzles, 21 hand-painted locations, "1,951 cleverly smuggled-in easter eggs" and an original score by Arkadiusz Reikowski (Layers of Fear, Observer). Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love is launching on Xbox One, PS4, Switch, Steam and GOG in the second quarter of 2019. Find out more and opt in for updates via the official website. Liking the look of Irony Curtain? Let us know below or over in the forums.  11 bit studios (This War of Mine) have announced plans to bring the Bafta-nominated Frostpunk to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this year.
While there’s no release date just yet the game “should be out in the summer,” according to lead designer Kuba Stokalski, with the studio currently focussing on ensuring the console versions’ control scheme feels “natural” and “intuitive.”
Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 editions of the game come with all previously released updates and content found on the PC version, including The Fall of Winterhome scenario. Did you play Frostpunk on PC? Looking forward to the console release? Let us know below.  Fans can experience the story of Tidus and Yuna once again, as Final Fantasy X and its sequel are being given a touch of polish and released as a double pack.
Switch owners can purchase the digital or physical edition - the latter coming with a reversible sleeve featuring artwork of the game's protagonists. For Xbox players it's digital only.
There's even more remasters planned. Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age is set to release on Xbox One and Switch at the end of April. Expect a "reconstructed battle design and a revamped job system" alongside the standard visual/audio overhaul. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is due to launch sometime in 2019 on PS4 and Switch, complete with an all new online multiplayer mode for co-op journeys for up to four players and new areas inside of dungeons. Feeling nostalgic? Share all things Final Fantasy below or over in the forums.  The Game Bakers have rolled out a free update for their boss rush title, Furi, across all platforms.
One of the most notable new additions is Invincible Mode, which lets players skip a particularly tough boss fight or repeat a certain phase of an encounter to practice it. As the name suggests, you can also become immune to damage.
The mode is targeted at those who want to practice fights before attempting speed runs or players that want to better experience the game’s atmospheric setting and narrative. “We’ve been listening to Furi’s community about the features and improvements that they were hoping for and we have been releasing some of those over the months in our Steam version,” said Audrey Leprince, co-founder of The Game Bakers. “With the Freedom Update we’re happy to be able to share them with players regardless of the platform they play on.” To celebrate the update’s launch, Furi is currently discounted by up to 70% on Switch, Xbox One and PC. Let us know what you think of the new content below or in the forums. |
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