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Killzone: Shadow Fall adds new Canyon multiplayer map
Killzone: Shadow Fall players now have a new battleground to conquer with this week's release of The Canyon, a multiplayer map available from the PlayStation Store as a free download. Located within the smoking crater of Pyrrhus on planet Helghan, The Canyon features wide-open areas that encourage long-distance firefights and narrow passageways for players who prefer close-quarters combat. The Canyon also marks the introduction of gravity wells, which players can use to ascend to new heights quickly. The Canyon is available as part of Shadow Fall's free Hangar / Cruiser map pack. [Image: Sony]
Killzone Shadow Fall drops new weapons and modes in April DLC
Killzone: Shadow Fall's first multiplayer expansion will launch in April with new weapons, abilities and game modes for the PS4 launch game. Titled "The Insurgent Pack," the expansion is headlined by the addition of the insurgent character class, which features hack and steal abilities. The assault, scout and support classes will also receive new abilities: Assault characters will gain access to a guard drone, scout players get an e-pulse emitter and support characters can send out a tactical echo emitter to stall infiltrating enemies. Insurgent Pack owners will also receive a single-player "elite mode," limiting them to three lives on hard difficulty in the Shadow Fall campaign, in addition to collectible crates that will spawn once per online match for a limited time. The DLC also includes the M82 assault rifle from Killzone 2 and Killzone 3, as well as the L512 SMG Pistol and Sta14 sniper rifle. Lastly, Sony announced that two of the free multiplayer maps for the game are now available to play on PSN. They arrive just as the game's multiplayer mode becomes free this week. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment America]
Killzone: Shadow Fall multiplayer goes free for a week on March 3
Sony Computer Entertainment and Guerrilla Games are planning a party, and everyone's invited, Helghast and Vekta alike. To celebrate the release of Killzone: Shadow Fall's first free map update, the two companies have announced that Shadow Fall multiplayer battles will be free to any and all PS4 owners for a week starting March 3. Those wanting to get in on the fray need neither a PlayStation Plus subscription nor a copy of Shadow Fall, as a free client will be available for download. Those who play the free trial will be able to compete on global leaderboards in Capture and Team Deathmatch, and all clans - including those made up of trial players - are eligible to win the Clan Community Challenge. The details and prizes of said Challenge haven't been revealed yet, but you know how these Helghast are - they don't uncloak until they're good and ready. [Image: Sony]
Killzone: Shadow Fall global sales top 2.1 million
Killzone: Shadow Fall, the latest entry in Guerrilla Games' series about shooting anyone with glowing red eyes, has sold over 2.1 million copies worldwide. That figure accounts for physical Blu-ray discs and downloads sold through the PlayStation Store. The 2.1 million milestone was achieved on January 15, Sony says. To put that into perspective, Killzone 2 took nearly seven weeks to reach one million in sales. Though we're missing exact figures, we know Killzone 3 debuted at the number eight spot in the February 2011 NPD charts. Killzone: Shadow Fall is set on the planet Vekta, where both the Helghan and the ISA reside. Players take up the role of Lucas Kellan, a covert assassin and espionage agent. Kellan works behind the scenes under the orders of ISA Shadow Marshal director Thomas Sinclair, a man who seemingly views the Helghan as animals more than the gun fodder our review suggests they are.
Clans gang up on Killzone: Shadow Fall next month
Killzone: Shadow Fall's most-requested feature is clan support and developer Guerrilla Games plans to add the functionality next month. Version 1.09 of Killzone: Shadow Fall will drop in early February, adding clan support to the game and the official website. Clan names will display in-game and basic clan management options will be available through the website, allowing players to create clans, add and remove clan members, and promote clan members to officer status. Subsequent free updates will expand on clan functionality based on fan feedback. Guerrilla Games will expand upon its PS4 launch game with free multiplayer maps and has already revealed the first two locales. A $20 season pass for Killzone: Shadow Fall is also available and guarantees a total of six DLC packs, the first of which Guerrilla promises to announce soon.
Killzone: Shadow Fall's first pair of free multiplayer maps revealed
The first batch of promised free multiplayer maps, based on locations seen in the single-player campaign for Killzone: Shadow Fall, is on the way. The Cruiser, a map designed for more intimate close-quarters combat, is set within a decommissioned ISA cruiser ship (see: big boat) and is largely comprised of cramped corridors. The other map, The Hangar, places players within a wide-open Helghan mining spire, which serves as particularly good sniping grounds. These maps unfortunately still haven't been dated for release. On top of the free maps, developer Guerrilla Games is also working on Killzone: Shadow Fall's first expansion pack, about which the studio promises to share more info in the near future. This first expansion pack will be available as part of the game's Season Pass content. Killzone: Shadow Fall, a PS4 launch title, resides on the border between good and great, our review said. The game's multiplayer side is punctuated by a make-your-own game type editor, with which both of these proposed maps are fully compatible. [Thanks, Denis.]
Killzone: Shadow Fall free multiplayer weekend set for Dec. 28
If you find a PlayStation 4 stuffed in your oversized Christmas stocking this year, you'll want to redeem its included PlayStation Plus subscription ASAP, as members will receive access to a free trial version of Killzone: Shadow Fall's multiplayer component this coming weekend. From December 28 through the end of the year, PlayStation Plus subscribers can jump into 24-player Shadow Fall matches from a downloadable Multiplayer Trial application. Members can get a head start by downloading Shadow Fall's Multiplayer Trial from the PlayStation Store in preparation for the weekend-long bloodbath.
Killzone: Shadow Fall review: Goodbye, gray sky
We're rolling out PlayStation 4 review coverage all the way through the launch on Nov. 15. Check out more coverage here! This is not a review of futuristic architecture, thank God, but if it were I would have reams to write about Vekta City, the angular gem that serves as the heart and showcase of a big PlayStation 4 exclusive, Killzone: Shadow Fall. Its skyscrapers form an endless field of crystals and carbon, mantled in blue skies and fly-by lens flares. The game will let you admire the view from time to time, even with its finger extended and ready to prod – you've got some shootin' to do, remember. This is a peculiar kind of disappointment, because it speaks highly of the environmental fidelity in Killzone: Shadow Fall. The guns are the only thing approaching pollution in Vekta's pristine metropolis, which conveys far greater depth than is available when bullets are whizzing by. Then again, it's not as if "Killzone" is dishonest about its choice of genre – and the action is worthwhile when the shooting is as boisterous and tinged with tact as it is here. Your options in combat are grafted to your status as shadow marshall, a covert operative of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance. Clandestine employment grants you access to the OWL, a cute but weaponized aerial vehicle that naps on your back. It also permits you to travel between Vekta City and New Helghan, a noxious, industrialized tumor of a city, fit for the Helghast refugees that lost a war and their planet.
PS4 disc install trials: Knack playable in seconds, Killzone under 3 minutes
At a New York event yesterday, Sony demonstrated install speeds - the time from the point the disc is inserted, install is initiated and play can begin - for retail versions of two PS4 launch games: Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall Knack, the action-adventure game from PS4 architect Mark Cerny, will take only tens of seconds before play can begin after priming the installation, Kotaku reports. Killzone: Shadow Fall will take a bit longer to reach play, Polygon reports, because there is an unskippable introduction movie and mandatory profile set-up. Guerrilla Games Managing Director Hermen Hulst told Polygon it takes under three minutes total to get into gameplay. Sony outlined the launch limitations of its PS4 console last month. All retail PS4 games will have to install data to the console's 500GB hard drive, which can be manually swapped out should the need for more space arise. The PS4 won't let users store data on an external hard drive or memory stick.
Guerrilla Games' next project 'completely different' from Killzone
Killzone series developer Guerrilla Games has a new project in the works now that work on PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall has been finished. Lead designer Eric Boltjes told Eurogamer this new game is "completely different" from the Killzone series. "I can be true about it, yes. That's definitely what's happening right now," Boltjes said. "As a studio we do want to branch out, and we have started work on a new IP, something completely different to Killzone. I don't want to say anything about it right now, but as a studio we do want to keep it fresh." Unfortunately, that's the extent of what Boltjes offered regarding this new IP. It's common practice for Guerrilla Games to begin work on its next game before it's shipped its current project. Guerrilla Games began development on Killzone: Shadow Fall before it had even shipped Killzone 3 back in 2011.
Killzone Mercenary patch improves online stability
Developer Guerrilla Cambridge has issued a patch for the just-released Killzone Mercenary said to improve the game's online connectivity and multiplayer stability, issues which stood out in our recent review. "The multiplayer game has been through a few stages of Beta Trials over the last couple of months and, we've said this elsewhere, we are immensely grateful to all those people who took part, especially those who took the time to provide feedback," wrote senior producer Mark Green on the game's official blog. "We've worked hard to make sure those views were taken on board (we were overwhelming by how much feedback we received!), and the day one patch is a direct consequence of that feedback with changes made to improve standard things like stability and connectivity, but also to get people back into the game quicker." Addressing the patch's notably large 1.1GB size, Green continues, "We appreciate some users' frustration over the patch's size, but we offer every assurance that we couldn't have included its changes any sooner, and that the enhancements - borne of the beta -offer dramatic and worthwhile improvements. The Beta Trials were limited in what they showed, just one or two modes and maps, but we hope you'll feel the impact of all the time that has been dedicated to perfecting the multiplayer experience when you play the game." When we reviewed Killzone Mercenary, we were impressed by how well the generally console-based franchise was translated to the Vita handheld, but noted significant latency problems in multiplayer. Since downloading the patch, overall lag during online gameplay has drastically improved (though it remains a periodic issue), while random disconnects seem more prevalent (though not to such a degree that they're an ongoing frustration). Killzone Mercenary is now available for the Vita for $40.
Killzone: Shadow Fall DLC multiplayer maps to be free, other DLC not so much
While most of Killzone: Shadow Fall's multiplayer DLC will still necessitate an expenditure of hard-earned cash money, new maps will at least be delivered free of charge, according to an announcement on the game's official blog. "We aim to keep the post-launch multiplayer experience fresh through the frequent release of paid DLC expansion packs that offer new gameplay and customization features," the update reads. "At the same time, all DLC multiplayer maps will be released free of charge to prevent the player base from becoming fractured." We fractured our player base once, it was awful – had to sit on this special inflatable pillow for like a month and a half, we can totally get why Guerrilla Games is trying to avoid that. No further information was given with regards to just how frequent these DLC releases may be.
Killzone Mercenary review: Hired gun
From a superficial perspective, Killzone: Mercenary is about as rote a shooter as you'll find. It stars former soldier Arran Danner who has opted for a more lucrative life as a mercenary, battling the Helghast invasion as part of the Phantom Talon Corporation. This sets the plot up for many cliché twists and overwrought scenes of dramatic betrayal that players will see coming miles away. And yet, despite its tired storytelling, Killzone: Mercenary largely succeeds by focusing on the sort of well-polished, frenetic first-person shooter gameplay rarely see on the PlayStation Vita (though not for lack of trying). When you first step into the world of Killzone: Mercenary, you'll notice its gorgeous graphics. There's no hyperbole in saying these are some of the best the Vita has ever seen – Killzone: Mercenary could very easily pass as an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game. Fans of earlier Killzone games might find this worrying, as the series has earned a reputation for being overloaded with cutscenes that, while attractive, remove control from players for lengthy stretches of time. The developers behind Killzone: Mercenary seem to have learned their lesson on this front. Mercenary does feature periodic interludes, but they're primarily used to segue into and out of missions, and seldom last more than a few moments. Of course, this added autonomy would mean nothing if the gameplay were not worthwhile. Thankfully, in a pure, gut-level way, Killzone: Mercenary stands alongside almost any recent shooter – for better or worse.
Killzone: Shadow Fall multiplayer opens its arms to all players
Killzone: Shadow Fall has a few big ticket features in its multiplayer mode. The most significant is probably that all character classes, weapons and abilities are unlocked right from the beginning. According to game director Steven ter Heide, developer Guerrilla Games set out to make sure that all players could log into Shadow Fall's multplayer and start having fun immediately. The game still features the sort of progression system we've come to expect from most modern shooters, but it focuses on unlocking weapon attachments and ability upgrades. Rather than slowly doling out an arsenal of deadly weapons and perks, players will earn things like scopes, flashlight attachments and different ammunition types. Player freedom is also emphasized in Warzone, Shadow Fall's multiplayer mode. As in previous Killzone games, a Warzone match is basically a mash-up of several traditional multiplayer game types. These are doled out periodically during the match, and you never know what might be coming up next. One moment, you'll be fighting to defend multiple control points, and the next you'll have to plant explosive charges on key targets. Killzone: Shadow Fall's Warzones are different, however, because players will be able customize nearly everything about them.
Killzone Mercenary multiplayer open beta starts August 20
Killzone: Mercenary's open beta program is right around the corner, opening August 20 for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Vita owners without a PlayStation Plus subscription will have to wait until August 27 for their turn with the game's multiplayer mode. The beta program closes on September 3, ahead of the game's September 10 launch. Killzone: Mercenary's multiplayer offerings allow up to eight players to do battle in three modes and six maps. It also features a "valor card" system that ranks players on a daily basis, with each card representing a player's "earning ability." Players drop their valor cards upon dying in the game, offering greater rewards to the victor if the card is of a higher valor level.
Pre-order Killzone: Shadow Fall for goods later, watch E3 presentation right now
Those who pre-order Killzone: Shadow Fall through select retailers will net the Shadow pack, a collection of exclusive DLC that includes the full game soundtrack, three skins for the OWL attack drone sidekick and a special victory move for multiplayer meant to humiliate your opponents. Killzone: Shadow Fall is the latest entry in Guerrilla Games' series, a PS4 game due alongside the console launch later this year. Last month, it was shown that when downloading the game through PSN, users can prioritize the download between the multiplayer side or the single-player campaign.
Devs helped shape PS4, console wasn't designed 'in an ivory tower somewhere in Tokyo'
Pssst, here's an open secret: Sony's PlayStation 3 was a machine built on ego that had harsh executive-level repercussions following launch. For the recently revealed PlayStation 4, which Sony has been developing for several years, the company took a more democratic approach, consulting with developers and publishers on what it should do."We've been very closely involved in the development of the machine," said Hermen Hulst, co-founder of Killzone developer Guerrilla Games, to The Guardian. "It's no longer designed in an ivory tower somewhere in Tokyo, it's shared with us, with [Uncharted developer] Naughty Dog, with Sony San Diego – and together we've built the machine."The Guardian posits developer consultation and discussions with publishers like Ubisoft led to the PS4 being designed in line with modern PCs, so devs could easily comprehend the hardware. Other design elements noted were greater social integration and controller elements, like concave triggers and the headphone jack.The Guardian has far more on the roundtable design.
Killzone: Shadow Fall presentation reduced to teaser
If the nearly eight-minute PlayStation 4 event presentation of Killzone: Shadow Fall is too much time to focus on one thing, here's the one-minute version of the same demo. Since last week we've learned Killzone is a PS4 launch title and could be visually in-line with what we've seen demoed.
Killzone: Shadow Fall trailer analyzed by Digital Foundry
Digital Foundry's critical eye for tech has placed its gaze upon the presentation for Killzone: Shadow Fall from last week's PlayStation 4 reveal. It was a curiously bold choice that Sony tied together its new hardware with Killzone again, since the E3 2005 presentation of Killzone 2 was a tech generation off from hitting what was shown at the time."All material we have available suggests that the new PS4 Killzone runs at a rock-solid 30 frames per second at 1080p full HD resolution," notes Digital Foundry. It notes all the Killzone material it has from the presentation is limited to 30FPS, but there's nothing stopping devs from going higher, it's just not what was presented.They continue, "Based on specs alone, the PS4 clearly has far more to offer than what we're seeing, and it's worth remembering that Guerrilla would have developed a large chunk of Shadow Fall on incomplete hardware."Check out the full analysis at Eurogamer.
PS4 demo with Killzone: Shadow Fall on Jimmy Fallon
The Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show got the first PS4 demo outside of the PlayStation event this morning, and it saw Killzone: Shadow Fall taking the limelight. Guerrilla Games managing director Hermen Hulst first showed off the DualShock 4 controller before taking Fallon and guest Anthony Anderson through a hands-on demo of Shadow Fall.While the three-minute demo was essentially the same sequence showcased in the reveal trailer, a couple of interesting morsels did emerge. While talking about the greater range of possibilities with the PS4's boosted hardware, Hulst noted the demo's climbing segment as something Guerrilla wasn't "able to do with Killzone before." Secondly, we got a clearer look at Shadow Fall's slowdown mechanic in action, which Hulst called "Focus Mode."Also, as much as we'd prefer to see useful footage of just-announced hardware, we did snigger at Anderson pointing the controller all over the shop like a man trying to hold on to a wriggly kitten. What good is a hands-on demo, Mr Anderson, if you're unable to play it?Killzone: Shadow Fall is coming to the PS4 at launch, which is due Holiday 2013.
