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'Gravity Rush Remastered' launch date shifts up a week in Europe
Sony is doing the fine people of Europe a solid and pushing up the release date of Gravity Rush Remastered from February 10th to February 2nd. This is the new-and-improved, PlayStation 4 version of Gravity Rush, originally a (truly incredible) Vita game. Gravity Rush Remastered includes updated graphics, motion-sensing controls, and extra missions, costumes and challenges. The game is due to hit PS4 on February 9th in the US, in both digital and physical forms. A sequel, cleverly called Gravity Rush 2, is also on its way to PS4 -- and PS4 only, with no Vita version in sight.
Sony: PS4 demand is challenging European supply
The PlayStation 4 is in high demand for the second holiday season in a row, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO Andrew House. Without offering specific sales numbers, House told Reuters that the console is potentially "going to be quite inventory challenged." Shipments for the PS4 reached 13.5 million consoles as of the end of October. "I'm not going to say you won't be able to find a PlayStation 4," House added. "I think it's going to be kind of hand to mouth in terms of that market." The CEO noted that sales for the system in December were in line with Sony's projections, though it was a "tougher" month thanks to the $50 holiday price cut by its main competitor in the United States, Microsoft's Xbox One. While its gaming division is thriving, Sony upped its loss forecast to $2 billion in September due to struggling smartphone sales and opted to not renew its FIFA sponsorship at the beginning of this month to spend more money on structural reforms. [Image: Sony]
Resogun Defenders brings two new modes to PS4 next year
While Resogun is firing up its engines to launch on PS3 and Vita later this month, a new expansion for the game is in the works: Resogun Defenders. Priced at $5, the final add-on for the game introduces two new modes: Protector and Commando. It also features new ships and planets for players to "save the last humans" on (we're pretty sure they mean it this time). Resogun Defenders will launch early next year, and will be part of the game's $8 season pass. The season pass includes the "Heroes" DLC, which hit digital shelves in June. Housemarque will also issue a free content update alongside Defenders codenamed "Challengers," which offers new challenges for players across Resogun's existing modes. [Image: SCEE]
Resogun saves the last humans on PS3, Vita this month
Carousel-scrolling shooter Resogun will reach PlayStation 3 and PS Vita on Tuesday, December 23 in North America. The game will launch nearly a week earlier in Europe on Wednesday, December 17. Resogun first arrived as a launch title for Sony's latest home console, PlayStation 4, in November 2013. While originally developed by Housemarque, the PS3 and Vita ports are courtesy of Climax Studios, the developer behind the PS4 and Vita version of Housemarque's Dead Nation. PlayStation Blog notes that the PS3 and Vita versions of Resogun run at 30 frames per second as opposed to the 60 fps seen in the current-gen version of the game. The game will be Cross-Save and Cross-Buy compatible, so those that own the PS4 version will be able to download it on the other two systems for free instead of ponying up $14.99. Resogun on Vita will feature ad-hoc cooperative multiplayer and the ability to customize controls in order to use the system's touch panel options. [Image: SCEE]
Europe's heroic Vita Mega Pack has Worms, Ratchet & Clank
Sony Europe revealed a new "PS Vita Heroes Mega Pack" for its handheld system today, bundling together five games and a memory card for the console just in time for the holiday season. Slated to launch on November 19 (November 21 in the UK), the pack includes the following games: Worms Revolution Extreme Ratchet and Clank Jak and Daxter Lemmings Touch LocoRoco Players can opt to pick up the games alone with an 8 GB memory card for €40 ($49.75). Those without the console can also choose to purchase the games, memory card and a PlayStation Vita in one pack for €200 ($248.80) instead, the same price as a standalone Vita system. Sony issued other "Mega Pack" bundles for the Vita in the past, including the more recent adventure game pack revealed in August, which includes Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Tearaway and Gravity Rush. [Image: SCEE]
Report: PS4 Share Play caps at 720p for guests
The PlayStation 4's latest update, codenamed "Masamune," adds a major feature, Share Play, to the console today. PlayStation Plus members can now share their games over PSN with friends that don't own a copy (and aren't necessarily PS Plus subscribers themselves unless both are playing), hosting one-hour play sessions at a time. As a Sony rep confirmed to Video Gamer, Share Play sessions are capped at 720p and will "have a limited frame rate" for friends partaking in the action, while those hosting the game will still see 1080p games on their screens at the full resolution. SCEE product planning manager Kazuhiro Yanase said that while Share Play "doesn't require any super-fast broadband," the company won't disclose recommended upload and download speeds for those looking to share games sessions with friends over PSN. "The internet environment is really different user by user. For example, some users will be using a LAN cable, some users will be using Wi-Fi, sometimes you use the microwave in your house," Yanase told Video Gamer. "It's very difficult for us to guarantee you can use Share Play if you have [a certain] speed." Today's update also adds the ability to play music from a USB device with support for MP3 and AAC file types. The Masamune update introduces YouTube as an option for gameplay clip uploading as well as home screen themes. We've reached out to Sony to confirm the Share Play restrictions and will update as we learn more. [Image: Sony]
The Unfinished Swan painting PS4, Vita next week
Giant Sparrow's surreal exploration game The Unfinished Swan will arrive next week on PS4 and Vita, just over two years after it first launched on PS3. The game will launch on Tuesday, October 28 in North America and the following day in Europe for $14.99 (€12.99/£9.99). The Unfinished Swan will also be Cross-Buy enabled, so those that own any version of the game will be able to download it on the other two systems. Our review of the PS3 game noted that The Unfinished Swan's power "lies in its engagement with our imagination, in its ability to remind us of that capacity for whimsy and fantasy." It's the first game from the Santa Monica-based developer, which is currently working on an as-yet-unannounced game that is not a sequel to The Unfinished Swan, but is "not a million miles away either." [Image: Giant Sparrow]
First Bloodborne alpha invites roll out to Europe
Alpha testing invites for Bloodborne are now appearing in select email inboxes. Joystiq's own Sinan Kubba received an invite to the "small-scale test," which features early access to the game and "a sample of its online features," according to the email. Those that would like to take part in the testing phase for From Software's next sort-of-like-Dark Souls game can apply on the PSN Beta page. The trial is for European players only, as invites are granted at SCEE's discretion. The enrollment period ends on Tuesday, September 23 at 11:59am BST (6:59am EST). Bloodborne will launch on February 5 in Japan and early 2015 in Europe. [Image: From Software]
PlayStation Gamescom 2014 press conference round-up: Wild, Hellblade
After Microsoft rolled out a whole bunch of announcements earlier today, it was Sony's turn to take the stage for its Gamescom 2014 press conference. We watched the stream, we followed the liveblog and now it's time to recap all of the event's announcements. Head past the break to dive into our round-up.
Q-Games announces The Tomorrow Children
Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert announced The Tomorrow Children today during Sony's Gamescom 2014 press conference. The game is the result of a collaboration between the PixelJunk studio and SCEE Worldwide Studios. The announcement video of the game showed dwarf-like characters chipping away at walls with picks, then shooting at large glossy creatures with guns.
These Murasaki Baby gifs make Tim Burton look normal
Technically, these gifs show off the various backgrounds that Baby, the main character in Murasaki Baby, must traverse by activating their various attributes with the Vita's rear touchpad. The gray Heart of Stone background weighs down Baby's balloon; the blue Frozen Hell background freezes the balloon and bodies of water; the green Eye of Scrutiny background shrinks Baby; and the red, neutral background calms Baby down. But really, these gifs are simply a joy to watch – they're equal parts adorable and eerie. Take a look at them in the gallery below. The game itself is just as adorable and weird, as we found out in our preview last year. Murasaki Baby is due out in 2014. [Images: SCEE]
PS Vita Pets plays fetch on June 3
PlayStation Vita Pets, the pet simulation-meets-adventure game from Spiral House, will launch June 3 in North America and June 4 in Europe. In the game, players choose from four different dogs, care for them, then explore Castlewood Island to "uncover the long lost legend of a king and his dog." Sony's answer to Nintendogs was announced in August, at which point it was revealed that the animals in the game talked like humans. PlayStation Blog noted today that the game features roughly 10,000 lines of spoken dialogue, which is around 10,000 more lines than you'd expect to hear out of any animal. [Image: SCEE]
Driveclub, Killzone Mercenary and Playroom devs hit by layoffs
Several Sony studios in the UK have been hit by layoffs. VideoGamer reports Evolution Studios, Guerrilla Cambridge (Killzone Mercenary) and SCE London Studio (Wonderbook, Playroom) were all affected in the "focused restructure." The one studio on that list with an announced project in development is Evolution and its oft-delayed Driveclub. In a follow-up, Sony said development of Driveclub would not be affected by the layoffs. Don't let your mind wander into the paradox of an already delayed game not being affected by layoffs.
North American Vitas getting Murasaki Baby, No Heroes Allowed this year
Sony recently confirmed the appearance of two Vita games this year in Murasaki Baby and No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either. The latter will launch this spring while the former will arrive in North America "later this year." Murasaki Baby, a twisted touch-based adventure from Italian indie developer Ovosonico, has players protecting a little girl from nightmarish threats. We spent a little time with the game in October and determined that it's "about as bizarre as could be." No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either is the fifth game in the series, one of the previous being No Heroes Allowed for PSP. No Puzzles Either draws a few comparisons to mobile puzzler 10000000, as it challenges players with 64 levels of match-three-style puzzles to defeat over 200 enemies. [Image: Ovosonico]
Europe: 12 Deals of Christmas PSN sale for PS3, Vita games starts Dec 1
On the first day of Christmas, Sony gave to you - provided of course that you live in one of the countries serviced by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - a bunch of sales on various gaaaaaaames. From December 1 to Christmas Day, SCEE will be offering a total of 24 deals on PlayStation 3 and PS Vita games as part of its "12 Deals of Christmas" promotion. Starting tomorrow, and every 48 hours thereafter, Sony will announce two new sales for the PlayStation Store: one for PS3, and one for Vita. You can check with the PlayStation Blog to stay current with the sales before Santa takes them back to the North Pole they end on December 25.
PlayStation Vita Pets announced, coming to Europe in 2014
Sony announced its own Nintendogs-like game for Vita today called PlayStation Vita Pets. The game has players choosing one of four dogs to take care of and dress up in costumes, then take on adventures in places like castles. Additionally, the game features an augmented reality mode so players can take their virtual dogs out in their real-life yards. Each dog also speaks like a human, just like in real life. PlayStation Vita Pets will launch across Europe in 2014. There is no word yet on a North American release for the game. %Gallery-196064%
Sony Europe plans quarterly events for self-publishing developers
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will keep in touch with its network of indie developers by hosting quarterly events, Develop revealed. SCEE hopes to launch the initiative in September, but dates have not been finalized. SCEE Senior Account Manager Agostino Simonetta said that although the events will focus on Europe, all developers are welcome, regardless of their location. Each event will update developers on the PS4, PS3 and Vita. Discussions concerning the PSN's performance and each console's install base will also be a focus. Simonetta hopes to use the events to support the "incredible numbers of new companies coming to the [PS4]." The proposed events align with Sony's supportive stance towards self-publishing developers on the PS4.
Sony expected to announce new Gran Turismo title next week
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is expected to announce the next entry in Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo series next week during an anniversary event held at Silverstone Circuit in the UK. While specifics regarding the next Gran Turismo title are not yet known, Sony notes that designer Kazunori Yamauchi will be present at the event on May 15 to discuss the future of the series, and promises that "something big" will be revealed. Today, May 8, marks the 15th anniversary of the European release of the original PlayStation Gran Turismo title. Given the timing of the event -- and considering Gran Turismo 5's extended development period -- it's likely that the next entry in Polyphony Digital's driving simulation series will be announced for the PlayStation 4, though no details have been confirmed.
Gran Turismo 6 'on PS3 this year,' Sony exec says
We knew Polyphony has been working on Gran Turismo 6 since 2011 at least, meaning we had our hearts set on playing it shortly after the launch of the PS5. Turns out we may get the game a little earlier, as in this year on the PS3.This is according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Senior Vice President Michael Denny, speaking with Silicon Republic (audio here): "Look at the games coming out on PlayStation 3 this year, like The Last of Us, like Beyond, GT6...."Sony confirms that GT6 is in development and has been since 2010, but offers no additional comment about a release this year. [Pictured: GT5]
Soul Sacrifice being given up to NA April 30, EU May 1
Keiji Inafune's Comcept is relinquishing Vita action-RPG Soul Sacrifice to North America on April 30, and to Europe the day after on May 1. It'll be in both stores and on PSN on its day of release. The game received its Japanese release date of March 7 last month.Both regions get the same pre-order bonuses, such as the two character costumes and three magical aids for battle. Those aids are the Spirits' Flamepike, which spears a fiery five-hit combo attack, the Spirits' Blightstone, which stirs up a poisonous explosion, and Spirits' Fulgurwood, which can both track enemies and cast a thunder spell.The most curious bonus is that of Japanese voice-overs. It's always great to have the option, but tying it to pre-orders is certainly unusual. If you're not gonna sacrifice your dosh for the pre-order, take note that the voice-over pack will be sold separately. %Gallery-177521%
