Chinese Developer MiHoYo has announced its plans to end support for its action RPG Genshin Impact on the PlayStation 4, with the game being delisted from the platform from 10 October 2025 and gradually ceasing all update support in the following months.

Announced via a blog post, the developer stated that it will be ending support for the title on the ageing console due to “limitations related to hardware performance and platform application size”, outlining that the game will be discontinued on the PS4 over three phases.

Starting on 10 October, the game will be removed from the PlayStation Store on the console, meaning that accounts which have yet to download the game on the PS4 will no longer be able to search for it or download it on the store. However, those who currently have the game in their library will still be able to re-download it at any time, with owners also still being able to download microtransactions like items and top-ups through the in-game shop and in the PS4 store.

From 25 February 2026, all in-game purchases for Genshin Impact on PS4 will be removed from both the store and the in-game app, although any items purchased prior to the date but not yet claimed can still be done so after logging in.

Finally, starting from 8 April 2026, MiHoYo will completely cease all update support for the title, meaning that players will no longer be able to log into the game on the PS4, and that all copies of the game on the console will stop receiving further updates. Any purchased items yet to be claimed following this date can only be done so by logging into the game on the PS5.

The PS5 version of Genshin Impact will be unaffected by this development, and the game will offer ways to assist players in console migration with a prompt detailing the steps to bind their accounts to other login methods for easier management appearing periodically on the game interface for PS4 players accessing the game prior to its discontinuation.

It’s been a good run for Genshin Impact on the PS4, with the game first releasing for the platform in 2020 before heading to current-generation consoles in the years after. It seems the game has simply gotten too big and demanding for the ageing console after years of content updates, making it increasingly difficult for the developer to keep optimising it after every new patch. Despite its discontinuation on the PS4, Genshin Impact will still be available on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Android and iOS.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

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Square Enix has announced that Foamstars, the colourful multiplayer shooter, will be going free-to-play starting 4 October 2024. This change comes just months after the game’s initial release, which was exclusively available on PlayStation consoles and included as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription at launch. Before going free-to-play, the game was priced at S$42.68 / US$30 on the PlayStation Store.

Square Enix shared the news on their website, stating, “Thank you for your support of Foamstars. Foamstars, currently available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, will change from its current regional pricing to a free-to-play title starting from October 4th, 2024, at 1:00 AM.” The company also revealed that players who previously purchased the game or downloaded it through PlayStation Plus will receive a ‘Legacy Gift’ as compensation. This gift includes 12 exclusive colour-variant Bubble Beastie skins, an exclusive Slide Board design, and a unique title: ‘Legacy’.

The shift to free-to-play follows underwhelming sales and financial performance, with Foamstars being cited alongside Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI as contributing factors to Square Enix’s weaker-than-expected financial results. In a statement to analysts, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu acknowledged that these titles, including Foamstars, did not meet the company’s revenue and profit expectations.

As Foamstars prepares for its new free-to-play model, it remains to be seen how this change will impact the game’s player base and overall success. For those who haven’t yet jumped into the foam-filled action, 4 October might be the perfect time to dive in.

Edwin Teo

Edwin has been writing about gaming and entertainment news for almost a decade, and has loved video games, comic books, and movies longer than that. He loves interesting stories, immersive world-building, and adorable monsters.

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As we march towards the end of 2023, it is about time to look forward to the gaming goodness that will arrive in 2024 and beyond. PlayStation held its latest State of Play showcase on September 14/15, focusing on third-party blockbusters and indies coming to the PS4, PS5, and the PS VR2, and needless to say, there’s plenty to get excited about.

If you didn’t have the time to get up in the wee hours of the day or just want a quick recap of everything that was shown, we have got you covered as always.

PlayStation State Of Play – September 2023

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Even though it came at the end of the show, there is no doubt that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be a hot topic on everybody’s lips. With more than 100 hours of fun awaiting, this sprawling RPG and second part of the trilogy will arrive on 29 February, 2024, exclusively on the PS5.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Insomniac Games was also on hand to drop a new gameplay trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at the September State of Play presentation, this time focusing on the expanded New York City. In addition, players will be able to utilise over 65 different suits throughout the adventure.

Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways DLC & VR2

More Resident Evil 4 remake goodness comes our way with Capcom confirming that a new piece of DLC will be arriving on 21 September. The Separate Ways DLC will be set during the same time as the main story, focusing on Ada Wong.

In addition, the PS VR2 mode for the remake will be arriving as a free download sometime in Winter, so the fun keeps on rolling.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Insomniac Games was also on hand to drop a new gameplay trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at the September State of Play presentation, this time focusing on the expanded New York City. In addition, players will be able to utilise over 65 different suits throughout the adventure.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Players interested in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora can enjoy a brand new trailer courtesy of Ubisoft, with players set to take on the role of a Na’vi returning to Pandora after being kidnapped by the RDA. The game will launch on 7 December.

Helldivers 2

A closer look at Helldivers 2 gave us more details about the co-op nature of this sequel. With four players in a team, the mayhem is only beginning as the alien monsters keep coming and the bullets keep flying.

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord will be released on 26 October for PS VR2, a perfect way for folks to enjoy the fun of Halloween. Set in San Francisco, it is time to take on the reins of a ghostbusting business and try to stop the Ghost Lord from plunging the city into chaos solo or with up to three other friends.

Baby Steps

Sometimes, all you need is some irreverent fun, and that is exactly what Baby Steps is all about. Arriving in Summer 2024, this will be a walking simulator unlike any other, and we are here for it.

Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn

The beloved RPG that is Tales of Arise will be seeing new DLC in the form of a new expansion. Beyond the Dawn was shown off at the September State of Play show and will launch on 9 November later this year.

Ghostrunner 2

Fast, high-octane action will return in Ghostrunner 2, which is set to launch on 26 October on the PS5. A new demo is now available for players to get a taste as well.

Honkai Star Rail

The anime action from Honkai Star Rail is looking slick, and players need not wait to long to experience it on PS5, as the game will release on 11 October.

Foamstars

Square Enix’s hero shooter that trades bullets for foam will soon have its open beta, so look out for that sometime in September.

PS5 Deep Earth Collection

For players who cannot get enough of new colours for both the PS5 faceplates and DualSense controllers, good news. The September State of Play show saw the announcement of the Deep Earth collection, bringing three new colours, Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, and Sterling Silver, to both accessories. The Red and Blue variants will be available on 3 November, while the Silver will arrive on 26 January in 2024.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

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Saddle up! Rockstar Games is about to take us on a wild ride down memory lane. The legendary developer is bringing back the classic that started it all, Red Dead Redemption. This time it’s gracing two modern platforms – the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. This exhilarating return to the open-world Western adventure is set to kick off on 17 August, with physical versions planned for 13 October.

These ports are essentially the equivalent of the backward-compatible version of the game on Xbox. The original Xbox 360 release of Red Dead Redemption is playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility, a practice that extends to the mighty Xbox Series X. Of course, the PS4 version of the game will also be playable on the PlayStation 5 through this same process.

Gamers will be able to rustle up their own digital copy of Red Dead Redemption from the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Store for US$49.99. However, Rockstar is keeping the pricing for physical versions under wraps.

These ports will include the Undead Nightmare expansion along with all the bonus content from the acclaimed “Game of the Year” edition. That said, multiplayer won’t be hitching a ride this time around.

Developer Double Eleven is responsible for the PS4 and Switch port of Red Dead Redemption. The British studio previously had a hand in console versions of Minecraft Dungeons, Rust, and the Lego Harry Potter games.

Back in 2010, Red Dead Redemption blazed its trail on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, captivating hearts and minds with its gripping narrative and expansive open world. A commercial and critical triumph, it sold over 23 million copies and earned its fair share of accolades. In 2018, Rockstar Games rode back into town with the spectacular sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2. The sequel shipped over 53 million copies, proving that the legacy of the West is as untamed as ever. Curiously, Red Dead Redemption 2 has been ported to PC, but the first game has not yet made the journey.

Edwin Teo

Edwin has been writing about gaming and entertainment news for almost a decade, and has loved video games, comic books, and movies longer than that. He loves interesting stories, immersive world-building, and adorable monsters.

The post ‘Red Dead Redemption’ Rides To PlayStation 4 And Nintendo Switch, But Not PC appeared first on Geek Culture.

Guerrilla Games has been doing great with its action roleplaying adventure in the post-apocalyptic world, with Horizon Forbidden West and the VR adventure Horizon Call of the Mountain being the latest entries to wow players. However, now it seems that there is a Horizon sequel in the works, seemingly revealed by a leadership update on the studio’s website.

“We have full confidence in our new leadership as they steer Guerrilla towards a bright future, expanding the world of Horizon with Aloy’s next adventure, and our exciting online project,” said a blog post announcing the departure of Angie Smets, former Guerrilla Studio Director and Executive Producer.

Alongside the post, which sees Smets headed over to PlayStation Studios as Head of Development Strategy, the big kicker is that there will be a new Horizon game alongside the previously revealed online project, a sequel that continues the story of Aloy.

The new and any other Horizon games will now be developed under the leadership of co-studio directors Joel Eschler, Hella Schmidt, and Jan-Bart van Beek.

The Horizon sequel is not the only thing in development for this particular universe. In addition to the Burning Shores DLC, there is the aforementioned online multiplayer experience, as well as an upcoming Netflix series set in the same universe.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post A ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ Sequel Seemingly Confirmed By Guerrilla Games appeared first on Geek Culture.

The latest PlayStation State of Play was once again chocked full of content for players on this side of the console divide, and it included several big blockbuster titles alongside a bevvy of PlayStation VR2 additions. The notables ones include an extended look into Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Resident Evil 4, and Street Fighter 6.

To help you catch up with everything that was announced, simply scroll down and check out all the amazing reveals at this State of Play presentation:

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

At the State of Play presentation, Rocksteady not only revealed the first look at 4-player co-op gameplay for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but also shared the first behind-the-scenes look at the game. With their unique traversal abilities, gunplay, melee, tactics, and teamwork, the Suicide squad must use the chaos to their advantage and succeed in their own style.

The result? A fluid combat and traversal system unique to each villain’s violent tastes.

Resident Evil 4

With players understandably hyped about the remake of Resident Evil 4, Capcom took the opportunity to show off more about the title with brand-new sequences and the iconic confrontation between Krauser and Leon. In addition, the State of Play trailer also officially announced the return of The Mercenaries.

The popular extra game mode that appears throughout the Resident Evil series will also appear in RE4, with it being a free post-launch DLC. A demo will also be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in the near future.

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 rounds out its launch roster with Cammy, Lily and Zangief joining the fray, with the new trailer diving into their move sets for fans to get excited about. The bear, bird, and bee round out the diverse 18-character launch roster when Street Fighter 6 launches on 2 June.

Destiny 2: Lightfall

With the upcoming launch of Destiny 2: Lightfall on 28 February, Guardians will be thrust into a new adventure that will see them prepare for the arrival of the Witness and its disciple, Calus.

Destiny fans got their latest look at Lightfall in the launch trailer during the State of Play presentation, which should whet their appetite for all of the Strand-weaving, Shadow Legion-crushing, Neomuna-exploring action to come.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian Studios shares the first details on gameplay, multiplayer and pre-orders for Baldur’s Gate 3 on the PlayStation 5 during the State of Play presentation, with the launch coming day and date with PC on 31 August.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a next-generation cinematic RPG set in the Forgotten Realms. It’s a true Dungeons & Dragons experience in video game form and the long-awaited third instalment in the Baldur’s Gate series. Whether you’ve been waiting for this game for 20+ years or the previous sentence is a mystery to you, adventure awaits you in Baldur’s Gate 3’s tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power.

Wayfinder

Airship Syndicate has partnered with PlayStation to bring Wayfinder exclusively to Early Access on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, with Season 1 of Early Access beginning in May. The character-based online RPG takes place in a shared online world that we call Evenor.

Evenor has been shattered by a destructive and chaotic force called The Gloom and you must harness the power of a Wayfinder to control the Chaos. You’ll join forces with friends to strengthen your powers and embark on endless adventures as you discover Evenor, Lost Zones, and resources to craft new items, weapons and Wayfinders.

Goodbye Volcano High

KO_OP’s new trailer at the State of Play presentation highlighted performance gameplay and includes a new song from the soundtrack of Goodbye Volcano High, a narrative adventure that is now confirmed for launch on 15 June.

Tchia 

The open-world sandbox adventure inspired by the developers’ homeland of New Caledonia, Tchia, will be launching on 21 March, and better yet, it will be part of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.

Humanity

Set to launch in May, the State of Play presentation gave us an intriguing look at Humanity, a puzzler that gets deep into the sense of purpose and your role as the ultimate saviour, a Shiba Inu.

In the game’s early stages, Humanity appears to be a rather peaceful action puzzler, but as you proceed through the story, it will transform into battles on a massive scale. With a stage creator thrown in and support for PlayStation VR2, there’s is plenty going on with this game. A demo of Humanity is also available on PlayStation Store starting today for a limited time.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections will be the next entry in the series of Ultimate Ninja Storm, and will release on PS4 and PS5 in 2023 as revealed at State of Play.

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Naruto’s anime debut and have fans who supported the series enjoy playing as their favourite ninjas, the game will contain additional new characters on top of 124 playable ninjas who appeared in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto. The game is based on the battle system of the previous series, with the PlayStation 5 version supporting 60 FPS for the first time, making the ninja battle action smoother than ever.

PlayStation VR2 Reveals

Before Your Eyes

Journey to Foundation

Synapse

The Foglands

Green Hell VR

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post State Of Play Feb 2023: PlayStation Dives Into ‘Suicide Squad’ & ‘Resident Evil 4’ appeared first on Geek Culture.

With The Last of Us adaptation achieving great success over at HBO, much of the plaudits have deservedly gone to the many actors that are portraying iconic characters from the video game series. Both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay have brought new life to Joel and Ellie, and even added layers to these beloved characters through their acting. It turns out that the key to that was avoiding The Last of Us games altogether.

This reveal comes via The Last of Us podcast, where game creator Neil Druckmann shared that both he and series co-creator Craig Mazin wanted “Pedro and Bella and everyone else that’s a part of the cast to make it their own.” This means not being affected by the in-game performances, but to make their own mark on the series.

We have already seen this in the first two episodes, with both Anna Trov’s Tess and Nico Parker’s Sarah already becoming unforgettable characters in their time on screen. As Druckmann explained, such performances were only possible if they weren’t working off established performances.

“And that’s why it’s like, trust us that we put everything on the page that needs to be there. We’re not asking you to replicate anything else, because great performances come from the inside, not from the outside.”

The third episode of The Last of Us on HBO will see Joel and Ellie finally visit Bill, which we found to be easily one of the best episodes in the whole season. The performance of Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank will likely elevate the series further, such was the power of their performances.

The third episode of The Last of Us will drop on 29/30 January, so be sure to tune in to be part of the conversation and to witness some of the best performances on television.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Cast Gave Stellar Performances By Avoiding The Games appeared first on Geek Culture.

When it comes to winning the console wars, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have their own strategies. And for those in the PlayStation ecosystem, there is some good news to look forward to. According to a Reuters report, Sony is looking to invest more resources in the Chinese development market, including the relaunch of the China Hero project, all in search of more gaming success like Genshin Impact.

Sony director of Chinese game production Bao Bo shared that the programme will see more than 1 million yuan, or approximately US$140,080, invested in each game, no matter the size of the development team. The return of the China Hero project also signals an increased faith in the region when it comes to developing big hits.

“The scale of the third season will far exceed the previous two,” Bao said, adding that Sony will publish some games and its PlayStation Studios will support enrolled projects.

Two of those games are Lost Soul Aside and Convallaria, which came through previous iterations of China Hero. The former is an action RPG inspired by Final Fantasy XV, while the latter is a multiplayer third-person shooter; both titles will come to the PlayStation 4 and 5.

This news continues Sony’s approach to China for the long term, which can also count the exclusivity deal with Genshin Impact among its successes. Alas, Microsoft is not resting on its laurels either, and has been trying to scout for more Chinese developers to work with, using the Xbox Game Pass as the carrot on the stick.

With several games already released and more to come from China, it remains to be seen if this approach of Sony will pay off even more in the future. As long as it results in more entertaining games, the investment will be a shrewd one.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Sony Raises China Game Incubation Funding, Hopes To Discover Next ‘Genshin Impact’ appeared first on Geek Culture.

The recently launched God of War Ragnarok has received plenty of acclaim both from critics and the community alike, lauded for gameplay and storytelling for the latest adventures of Kratos and Atreus. However, it also features plenty of optional content that helps flesh out the Nine Realms, and one of those just so happens to be a touching tribute to a Santa Monica Studio developer who is unfortunately no longer with us.

If you wish to avoid any spoilers about the game, please do not read any further.

The specific sidequest is to do with the story of Jari and Somr, with the Across The Realms Favor tasking players to visit several Realms in order to obtain all the needed cooking ingredients to bring back to the Eternal Campfire located in Midgard.

This might seem like a Norse tale of love, but the inspiration for it came from the real-life Santa Monica Studio couple, Sam Handrick and Jake Snipes. As shared by Handrick on Twitter, God of War Ragnarok afforded the chance to remember his partner in the best way possible and was a move that the team was on board with.

The couple first met when Snipes started working at the studio in 2019. Soon, travels became a constant activity, and the pair also took up baking to feed the folks working on God of War Ragnarok. Eventually, the couple talked “about how much we’d love to leave some symbol of us in Ragnarok. Some indication within this game that had been the reason we’d first met, our first game made together.”

“[Snipes] once suggested simply a heart, with our initials in Norse runes, carved into this world we made. I told Eric [Williams, Ragnarok’s director] and the team about Jake’s suggestion of our initials carved into a heart. And he and the team returned with that and something even more special.”

That became the story of Jari and Somr, “a story of two men who find each other in an often cruel world, and who find a place to belong simply with each other.”

We will be right back after wiping away our tears.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Pays Touching Tribute To Fallen Dev With Sidequest appeared first on Geek Culture.

Four years have passed since the 2018 soft reboot of the highly popular and successful God of War franchise, and since then, there haven’t been many modern games that have come close to delivering the storytelling and gameplay tour de force of Kratos and Atreus’ maiden adventure. And now, with the sequel God of War Ragnarok upon us, Santa Monica Studio is attempting to capture lightning in a bottle once more.

And to answer all the prayers of the fan base, this is one sequel that surpasses all godly expectations, and continues to showcase the AAA prowess of Sony’s first-party studios.

With Fimbulwinter well underway, our father and son pair attempt to live their lives away from curious gazes, hoping to take no part in the impending prophesied end of the world. Yet, a surprise visit from none other than Odin himself set things into motion, unravelling a tale of high drama and stakes across each of the Nine Realms, and setting the stage for cinematic storytelling of the highest order.

Granted, for fans of the series and the soft reboot, the narrative of God of War Ragnarok carries extra weight, especially with the foretold fate of the new-age icon of fatherly love. Yet, the writers have somehow managed to tell a story that raises the stakes even higher, fully embracing the supposed end and adding more layers to character dynamics, and giving newcomers and returning players alike plenty of reason to see things through to the end.

Atreus, fresh off the knowledge of his other identity of Loki, seeks knowledge to establish where he stands in this world. Kratos, having only recently warmed up to his role as a father, now has to balance the safety of his family and the rest of the realms. It is a compelling relationship, to say the least, not to mention the ramifications it can have for the greater universe and all the other players in God of War Ragnarok. 

The fact that the entire narrative is able to continue in this vein is a testament to the craft of the writers and developers, not only giving us more reasons to see our heroes in a different light, but also allowing the supporting cast plenty of time to shine and play their roles to perfection. 

Mimir remains a steadfast companion that supplies helpful glimpses into the wider Norse mythology, while Brok and Sindri grow further into their roles as eccentric dwarven uncles that balance things out in both fun and seriousness. The accompanying pantheon of Norse gods and goddesses is also not lacking in making their presence felt, with Odin and Thor being characters of immense depth, maintaining the franchise’s focus on family and how relationships can take a drastic turn depending on an individual’s actions. 

Without delving into spoilers, the entirety of the 30-40 plus hours you will spend in God of War Ragnarok are full of exciting action, entertaining segues, dramatic standoffs, and narrative payoffs that tie up loose threads, while also teasing of even more to come. This is hardly an easy feat to accomplish on its own, much less as a sequel to a beloved game.

Of course, all the best storytelling in the world wouldn’t make sense in a video game if the gameplay wasn’t engaging, and for God of War Ragnarok, it’s more of improving on an already excellent combat and puzzle-solving system than wholesale evolution. After all, after being the bane of so many gods and monsters, Kratos’ craft hardly needs any big changes. 

However, what has been added allows for more strategic play both in and out of combat, and gives players more to experiment with beyond the bread-and-butter processes of dicing the enemies to bits. 

Both the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos now boast new Weapons Signature Moves, expanding Kratos’ repertoire of damage-dealing skill sets. Frost Awakens is perfect for extinguishing the flames of the opposition, while Whiplash often leads to explosive results for anyone unfortunate enough to be standing in your way. Even the defensive side of things allows for varied gameplay, whether you like to parry attacks, stand sturdy by blocking, or anything in between. The options are there to suit your play style, and it is satisfying to see everything come together as planned.

The same goes for the companions, with Atreus and the like offering more options in God of War Ragnarok to mix things up further. Sonic arrows help to build up stun and amplify the effects to reverberate across multiple foes, while Sigil arrows bequeath the Hex effect on enemies that augment elemental damage. Although Kratos remains your main vehicle for destruction, there is always help on the sidelines, and that comes in handy against the vast rogue gallery that pervades the Nine Realms.

From local flora and fauna to the more godly beings that call the lands home, our heroes have probably never faced a more diverse cast of enemies in their adventures. It is not just a visual gimmick, so to speak, even within variants of the same type of enemy. Every combat encounter becomes a puzzle to solve, with all of the tools at your disposal becoming vital at certain stages. Other than a couple of occasions where it’s mainly cannon fodder, combat in God of War Ragnarok is to be savoured.

This potent mixture is perhaps most obvious in fights against foes of a more mythical nature. The challenge is suitably increased, and the pace can get frenetic, but it doesn’t ever venture near the territory of being unfair. As long as you have been honing your skills throughout the game, these bouts become the best platform to show off just why Kratos is to be feared. Intense and exhilarating action is to be expected, and God of War Ragnarok has it in spades.

Outside of combat, therein lies other avenues of entertainment that serve to flesh out the various Realms and help players understand their place in this particular mythology. Exploration often yields secrets to be found in the form of more resources, or upgrade materials that hide behind tricky Nornir chests. You might also discover Favors to pursue, directing players to uncharted territory in search of more adventure and discoveries, while environmental puzzles will challenge your problem-solving skills adequately. 

There is a light touch of Metroidvania influences in God of War Ragnarok, teasing areas that are only reachable after a certain point in the game, and in preparation for the end of the world, it seems only fitting that our heroes go to extreme lengths to prepare themselves. With new tools in tow, familiar realms can provide fresh impetus to keep on going, all the while still supplying that intoxicating gameplay mixture, although it may not be to everyone’s taste.

It all also feeds into the roleplaying aspect in the sequel, with new gear a constant reminder that statistics still play an important role in your odds against Ragnarok. While certain items are only obtainable through quests or discovery, Brok and Sindri are always happy to upgrade gear to make you more powerful, while the returning Pommel and amulet systems further provide players with the chance to min-max Kratos to their hearts’ content, built to tackle any problem that may crop up. Be sure to always keep your gear sharp and refined to meet the increasing challenge, it is the only way to survive. 

Experience points gained can also be put into learning useful skills and upgrading relics, and through the new Weapon Skill Labors, you can ensure that your most used moves are made exponentially better through the choice of three bespoke upgrades. No one’s Kratos will ever likely be the same, considering the different play styles available, and that will definitely lead to some interesting combinations down the line. 

Having already created the perfect storm of gameplay systems and world design, God of War Ragnarok brings everything together amazingly when it comes to the visuals too. All of the Nine Realms are distinct and absolutely beautiful, filled with details that portray a living, breathing world that we have the luxury of visiting. In the absence of abundance in certain areas, it evokes that lingering feeling of what could have been, and that’s not something that can be said of every game.

The characters are wonderfully realised individuals, made possible by some of the best acting and motion capture out there. Actors Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic remain superstars as Kratos and Atreus, but it is fair to say the likes of Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Danielle Bisutti (Freya) and the new faces have all upped their game for God of War Ragnarok. This is a cinematic experience that is unparalleled in its execution, and the returning one-shot presentation trademark of Santa Monica Studio continues to elevate proceedings further.

With the power of the PlayStation 5, God of War Ragnarok definitely takes advantage of its unique features to up the immersion levels. The multidirectional 3D audio is a blessing when surrounded by enemies, while the haptics and adaptive triggers do their best to translate the action on-screen onto your hands. Naturally, loading is extremely fast on the SSD, and while the game offers various display options, there isn’t much quality tradeoff when opting for the 60FPS Performance mode, which is only a good thing.

It is clear that there have always been high hopes for the sequel, but the fear was that the heights of the reboot could not be reached again or even surpassed. Yet, just like how it did four years ago, the final product blew our expectations out of the water, a divine experience that marries storytelling, gameplay, and presentation as flawlessly as it could. Descending upon the PlayStation audience like nectar of the gods, God of War Ragnarok is a game that truly deserves its place as one of gaming’s greatest achievements, and a legendary addition to the pantheon of best games ever made.

God of War Ragnarok is available via the PSN Store for $97.90.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Geek Review: God of War Ragnarok appeared first on Geek Culture.

When it comes to the PlayStation side of things, players are more or less used to big AAA blockbuster titles coming from its first-party studios. Now, Sony is attempting to build on that success further, with a new development studio in the works to work with Naughty Dog on an unannounced title.

This comes via a new job listing as spotted by VGC, which points towards a new team being created in conjunction with PlayStation Studios Visual Arts. If you are unfamiliar, this is a studio that does most of the work with motion capture, cinematics, animation, and more across major franchises like Uncharted and The Last of Us. Once the new team is set up, they will be working with Naughty Dog to create a new PlayStation title.

“This high visibility project is being developed in collaboration with Naughty Dog,” the job listing stated. “Though currently unannounced, we have a clear vision and plan to release. Using our existing expertise and premier talent, we will guarantee a high visual quality bar for the game and a compelling experience for our players.”

While the listing does not point towards a new AAA title, a new Sony studio being set up suggests that there is plenty of muscle behind this new push. The candidate is also required to be “proficient in all aspects of AAA game production and management” and has published at least two AAA games previously, which more or less confirms the direction.

What the unannounced game will eventually become remains to be seen, but there is every chance it could be the new Uncharted game that has been rumoured for some time now. Having the extra hands on a huge project such as this will definitely be helpful; we will definitely be keeping our eyes on any new developments on this front.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Sony PlayStation Sets Up Studio To Partner Naughty Dog On Major New Title appeared first on Geek Culture.

Console and PC gamers have always been divided by the platforms of choice, but that line has increasingly blurred as console makers look to a new market for their existing games. Microsoft has already been a great example of that, and PlayStation has followed suit in recent times. However, for the hardcore console players, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst has revealed first-party PlayStation releases will still likely take “at least a year” before landing on PC. Live-service games, however, may come sooner.

This comes via Hulst’s interview with Julien Chièze, where he shared that “it’s been really great for the teams to see their wonderful creations also being released on PC… there are more players and that’s really helpful. I think going forward, we’ll see at least a year between releases on [Playstation] and on the PC platform, possibly with the exception of live-service games”.

That is because such games are a “little bit different in nature because you want to have a really strong community, strong engagement right away, right when you go live. So we might in the case of our live-service offerings go day-and-date with PC and the PlayStation platform.”

With Horizon Zero Dawn, Days Gone, God of War, and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered already on PC and more to come, Hulst’s comments will placate PlayStation gamers that are worried about losing that exclusivity. Indeed, it is less so about following Microsoft’s day-and-date PC releases, and more about PlayStation’s own strategy.

Earlier in the year, Sony had confirmed that it plans to release 10 live-service games by the end of fiscal year March 2026, and how many of those will eventually come to PC remains a question. However, PC is clearly a core pillar for PlayStation, with Sony expecting PC and mobile games to make up almost half of its overall game release in 2025.

It would seem the lines are not just being blurred, but erased, perhaps it is really the time where play has no limits.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post PC Players Won’t Get PlayStation First-Party Games Until A Year After Launch appeared first on Geek Culture.

Announced back in July, the PlayStation Stars programme is another attempt by Sony to reward players and keep them within its carefully built ecosystem. Promising freebies and digital collectibles just by completing a variety of campaigns and activities, it seems the initiative has everything going for it.

Now, with the programme now live in Asia already (followed by North/South America on 5 October and Europe/Australia on 13 October), we sat down to discuss PlayStation Stars with Grace Chen, Vice President, Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, and what it means for the players.

Similar to the Trophies system that has spawned its own dedicated subset of the fan base, the thinking behind PlayStation Stars stems from making sure players are always engaged, even when the console is off.

“Our players are at the heart of our business strategy at PlayStation. In addition to creating compelling gaming products, one area we focus heavily on is developing programs that keep our players engaged, even off-console,” said Chen.

“This is why we’ve created PlayStation Stars – to celebrate our players’ achievements with fun and delightful campaigns and the ability to earn rewards such as points and digital collectibles. It’s never been a better time to be a gamer, and our fans are more engaged than ever, which makes this a perfect time to launch PlayStation Stars.”

Naturally, as a programme designed to give players more reasons to play, the barriers of entry, if any, are extremely low. The programme is free to join, and for PlayStation Plus members, any purchase on the digital store will come with bonus loyalty points as welll.

“Points earned can be redeemed in a catalogue that may include PSN wallet funds and select PlayStation Store products.”

As of now, the currently available campaigns include one for buying a selected title from the PlayStation Store Picks (50 points), while another rewards the Novelty Toy Fight Trophy for playing Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombay 11, and Tekken 7.

Amassing points will likely be the main driver for many players under the PlayStations Stars programme, and when you see that digital collectibles like a Pink Monkey Diorama are going for 200 points and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice requires 15,000 points, plenty of effort is required. Then again, if you are already playing games, this is just another bonus to enjoy. Wallet credit worth $30 for 7,500 points is not that bad either.

“PlayStation Stars is centred around engaging in fun and challenging campaigns, so we envision this to be the primary way for players to earn rewards,” Chen emphasised.

“What’s unique about PlayStation Stars is the digital collectibles that members can earn. We are in a unique position to create collectibles that reflect not only the long legacy of gaming at SIE but also our deep and trusted relationship with our players. Whether it’s a figurine of beloved and iconic characters from games and other forms of entertainment, or cherished devices that tap into Sony’s history of innovation, there will always be a new collectible to strive for, or something surprising to collect just for fun.”

It remains to be seen whether the programme will take off, even with the obvious benefits for invested users in the ecosystem. Being able to show off a collection of hard-to-earn collectibles alongside a high Trophy count might just be the perfect reason for hardcore players to dive straight into PlayStations Stars.

Similarly, there will be four different status levels that will reflect the milestones players reach. This will be based on the number of non-common trophies earned for gameplay as well as full game purchases from the PlayStation Store. The higher your level is, the more perks and benefits you can get. Upon reaching a status level, you will stay there for the remainder of the calendar year plus an additional 13 months.

As an example, if you earned status level 2 in October, your Level 2 status would remain valid through that calendar year, and continue for the next 13 months from January 1 of the next year, through January 31 of the following year, so you will have much time to enjoy the perks and hunt down the next status level, further gamifying the entire experience.

At launch, the full PlayStation Stars experience can be accessed via the PlayStation App on both iOS and Android, where users can “see the campaigns that are available” while accessing “reward points and digital collectibles.” The “virtual display within the app” can also be used to “show off the digital collectibles” earned.

If Sony is able to keep coming up with interesting ways rather than the usual purchase-driven incentive, then PlayStation Stars has every reason to succeed. Fingers crossed.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Geek Interview: How PlayStation Stars Rewards Elevates Play With Digital Collectibles appeared first on Geek Culture.

As we slowly approach the end of the year, chances are, you are looking forward to big releases and announcements that will set up months and months of gaming goodness. Thankfully, the gaming industry is more than ready to deliver with the latest Nintendo Direct as well as the PlayStation State of Play. For PS4 and PS5 players, here are all the major announcements that are worthy of your gaming time with this latest showcase for September 2022.

God of War Ragnarok Story Trailer and New DualSense

The confrontation between the gods comes ever nearer, and Santa Monica Studio has graced us with a brand new story trailer for God of War Ragnarok, featuring many of the characters we will meet in the game, as well as a healthy variety of enemies that will stand in our way.

Together with the State of Play trailer, PlayStation also revealed the limited edition God of War Ragnarok DualSense wireless controller, which features a two-tone, cool blue on icy white design inspired by the Norse world of Midgard, further embellished with bear and wolf insignia – representing Kratos and Atreus. It will be available on 9 November, with pre-orders starting on 27 September.

Tekken 8

It has been a long time coming, but after seeing this debut trailer for Tekken 8, it sure feels like the wait is going to be worth it. This trailer was actually taken directly from a certain part in the current work-in-progress Tekken 8’s story mode, played on PlayStation 5. In other words, all the character models, backgrounds, and effects are the same ones that are used in-game, and it’s gorgeous.

In addition to the quality of characters, the battles will feature dynamic backgrounds as well to make things even more visually stunning. Of course, expect to see the story continue with the focus on the father and son showdown between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama.

Rise of the Ronin

A brand new action RPG is coming from Team Ninja, with Rise of the Ronin being a PlayStation exclusive. This title is set to bring players on an epic and unfettered journey as a Ronin at the dawn of a new era in Japan. Having started the project seven years ago, the team has finally debuted their work in the latest State of Play.

In this time of mayhem, players embody a Ronin character, a warrior bound to no master and free to make choices of his own. Rise of the Ronin is a new Team Ninja experience that will immerse you in a historically inspired world while bringing together its renowned combat action with Katanas and the likes, with new firearm weaponry that depicts the unique personality of its time period.

Like a Dragon: Ishin

The action-packed samurai title of legend, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, will launch globally in February 2023, finally giving fans around the world a chance to step into Japanese history with some of their favourite Yakuza characters with a surprise reveal at State of Play.

Set uniquely in 1860s Kyo, a fictionalized version of Kyoto, Ishin lets you experience the story of how the iconic samurai era vanished. Our hero, Sakamoto Ryoma AKA Kazuma Kiryu, brings the rest of his crew along too. Goro Majima and other Yakuza celebrities join Ryoma as friends and foes in this fictional world that trades the flashy streets of Tokyo for the chaotic bustle of 1860s Kyo.

The first RGG Studio game to be built on Unreal Engine 4, expect the combat styles of Swordsman, Gunman, Wild Dancer, and Brawler to be even more intense and visceral when the game hits in February 2023.

Synduality

Coming via Bandai Namco, the State of Play presentation also gave us a glimpse of the new sci-fi third-person shooter game known as Synduality. The game is set in a dystopian future where poisonous rain and deformed creatures wreak havoc on the world, where you and your AI partner must find a way to work together and reclaim lost ground for humanity.

As Drifters — who make a living by collecting AO Crystals; a rare resource that can only be obtained in dangerous terrestrial environments, players will take on each mission in your Cradle Coffin — an armed vehicle that will get you mobile during the adventure. Players can personalize their Cradle Coffin’s appearance and the weapons equipped to suit their own play style. While playing online, there will also be danger from other players hoping to cash in.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition

Coming in 2023, the award-winning VR experience from Lucasfilm’s ILMxLAB has been rebuilt to take advantage of many of the enhancements the PS VR 2 has to offer.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition will have players begin the story as a droid repair technician who gets swept up into a grand adventure when you crash land on the planet Batuu following an attack by the Guavian Death Gang. This kicks off a series of extraordinary events, proving that anyone in the galaxy can become a hero.

Fan-favourite characters like R2-D2, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz), and Hondo Ohnaka (Jim Cummings) will join the adventure alongside new characters like the boisterous barkeep Seezelslak (Bobby Moynihan), treasure hunter Lens Kamo (Karla Crome), and Guavian Death Gang leader Tara Rashin (Debra Wilson).

Utilising all tech that the PS VR 2 has to offer, the game pushes what’s possible with VR. The high-fidelity visual experience will include headset-based controller tracking and eye tracking; audio and haptics also play a major role in the immersion, all working toward making the fantasy feel real.

Stellar Blade

Formerly known as Project Eve, Shift Up Corp is back with an official name for their stylish action title at State of Play, and it is called Stellar Blade.

The setup is intriguing, where Eve and her comrades land on the surface to reclaim the extinct Earth and cross paths with a survivor named Adam. Eve is then led by Adam to the last surviving city, Xion, where she meets the elder of the town Orcal and is told many stories. In order to serve her mission to save Earth, Eve develops close relationships with the key members of Xion and contributes to rebuilding the city.

Stellar Blade introduces action combat that requires deflecting and evading the NA:tives’ attack at a precise timing that will also connect to combos and unique skills. Throughout the game, you will arm yourself with unique Beta Skills and intense Burst Skills, which will come in handy against dangerous bosses.

Pacific Drive

A run-based first-person driving survival game, Pacific Drive comes from Ironwood Studios, and transports players to 1955. As the United States government seized a region of the Pacific Northwest by eminent domain, the Olympic Peninsula became the staging ground for promising new technologies, but these utopian creations came at great cost: severe radiation, environmental collapse, and supernatural horrors.

The government walled off the area and established the Olympic Exclusion Zone. What happened inside was never disclosed.

As you explore the Zone, your car is your lifeline: scavenge resources to maintain and improve your car — as long as you keep it running, it will protect you from the surrounding dangers. As you settle into what remains of the Zone, you’ll discover that it’s not quite as abandoned as you think — this place is full of old tales and legends, some long gone while others still linger. Remember to keep your eyes on the road, the woods are deep – and not entirely empty.

Pacific Drive will come to PlayStation 5 in 2023.

Demeo

Tabletop gaming has always been a popular pastime for many, and creating video games based on such experiences is nothing new. For Demeo, the flexibility afforded by PS VR 2 means players can enjoy themselves without necessarily worrying about the logistics, as shown at State of Play.

Available also outside of VR, the game will arrive in 2023 with a wealth of great features that truly make this one of the best ways to experience Demeo yet. Haptics in the PS VR 2 Sense controllers, headset, and the PlayStation 5’s DualSense wireless controller will each play a role in immersing you deeper into Demeo than ever before.

Thanks to Sony’s ongoing developer support, Demeo players on PS5 and PS VR2 will also be able to jump into sessions with their pals no matter where they prefer to get their game on.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Haunted Hogsmeade Exclusive Quest

One of the more highly anticipated games for the near future, Hogwarts Legacy is giving players more reasons to enjoy the game on PlayStation with the Haunted Hogsmeade quest.

Cassandra Mason has a shop to sell you in Hogsmeade, but all is not as it seems in this run-down establishment. What sinister secrets lie beneath Madam Mason’s shop and why was she so keen to sell it? That’s a mystery Hogwarts Legacy players will discover in the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop quest exclusively available on PlayStation platforms. 

While the team does not want to give too much away about what strange things await players below the shop, overcoming these challenges will reward you with a shop of your own where you can sell items and gear at better rates than anywhere else, and the Shopkeeper’s Cosmetic Set, a right proper outfit for the entrepreneurial Hogwarts student. 

A Felix Felicis potion recipe is also rewarded to those who pre-order the game, functioning as a luck potion that reveals gear chests on the mini-map for one in-game day.

Definitely a day to remember for PlayStation gamers, and if you happen to own the Nintendo Switch as well, there is certainly much to look forward to in the near future and beyond.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post State of Play September 2022: ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Trailer + DualSense, ‘Tekken 8’ & More appeared first on Geek Culture.

With God of War Ragnarok set to bring the war of all realms this coming 9 November, fans are obviously eager to find out more about what lies ahead for Kratos and Atreus. The latest update gave us a glimpse of the new combat options available to our heroes, but what if you prefer to go in dark? Then perhaps you will appreciate the marketing efforts instead, with popular adult animation Rick & Morty joining forces with God of War Ragnarok to promote the game.

In a nod to what awaits players, Rick also made sure to point out the “other unannounced upgrades” in addition to the signature axe. Seems like the Blades of Chaos and Leviathan Axe will see some new friends in that department.

The partnership between Rick & Morty and God of War Ragnarok is certainly not the first marketing activation pushed by PlayStation; the animated duo also did their part in promoting the PlayStation 5 launch and Death Stranding too.

Either way, Kratos will definitely not be pleased to see his Leviathan Axe in the hands of another, especially not when the gods of Norse mythology are coming for him and his son. 9 November cannot get here fast enough, and we are always on board for more promos such as this Rick & Morty one for God of War Ragnarok.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Rick & Morty Travel The Nine Realms To Market ‘God of War Ragnarok’ appeared first on Geek Culture.