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Sony unveils Tokyo Game Show line-up
Disgaea 5, Tales of Zestiria and Resident Evil Revelations 2 are some of the standouts among the playable games Sony's exhibiting at the 2014 Tokyo Game Show. Sony unveiled the first and last of that trio at its Japan & Asia press conference, but Persona 5, newly announced for PS4 as well as PS3, isn't coming to the show floor. Other games that have graduated from the presser to this month's expo include Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War & Nightmare for PS4 and God Eater 2: Rage Burst on Vita. Attendees can also get their hands on, among others, Bloodborne, The Order: 1886, Minecraft Vita and Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, as well PS4 VR headset Project Morpheus. To see the full list of confirmed games, queue up in front of the break for 3 hours before heading below it.
Tekken team's Project Morpheus demo is voyeuristic
Bandai Namco Director Katsuhiro Harada and the team behind the Tekken series put together a demo for Sony's VR hardware, Project Morpheus, though it's just about the furthest from a fighting game you can get. The demo is called Summer Lesson and it's an interactive tour through a Japanese schoolgirl's bedroom, schoolgirl included. In the introductory video, we see players look around the sunny room, nod yes or no to the girl's questions, and make her pull back in discomfort when the viewing angle gets too invasive. Yes, really. See a video of the demo (from the Sony Computer Entertainment Japan & Asia event) below (skip to the 55:40 mark). Summer Lesson will be playable at Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off on September 18. [Image: SCEJ]
Sony's Metal Slime PlayStation 4 comes with a piece of gunk
We touched on it yesterday in the hubbub of Sony Japan & Asia's press conference, but here's a proper look at the Metal Slime PS4 that's coming to Japan. We're guessing your two immediate questions upon discovering this are 1. Why? 2. What's that thing? Well, the why is to commemorate the release of Dragon Quest Heroes, the new PS4 and PS3 Hyrule Warriors-like crossover that will combine the world of Square Enix's RPG series with action crafted by Dynasty Warriors devs. That's due in spring 2015. As for what that thing is - the happy little slimy dude - it's a removable USB cover rather than a permanent fixture. We're filing it under S for "Sure..." and Y for "Why not, I guess?"
Hot Shots Golf trailer brings green screens to PS4
This morning Sony published the reveal of the brand new Hot Shots Golf for PS4, as first broadcast during yesterday's pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference in Japan. Don't be fooled by that Bob Green fellow at the beginning, this really isn't Fat Cat Simulator 2014. Someone should make that if that hasn't been done already, which it probably has. The debut footage gives us a glimpse into the how Sony's oddball sportsballer looks on PS4, and the cutesy Shuhei Yoshida cameo suggests the series' super-deformed style isn't going anywhere anytime soon. During yesterday's stream, Yoshida said (as translated by Sony) the game features "open world entertainment focusing on golf." Interesting, even if we're a country mile from knowing what it means. Check out the trailer below the break.
Sony Japan & Asia presser round-up: Fives alive on PS4
While some of you were snoozing, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan & Asia had a little shindig ahead of this month's Tokyo Game Show, and it was news-stuffed. If you want you can re-watch the whole shebang here, all two hours or so of it... on your precious day off. Just in case you'd rather not, we've compiled a list of the highlights below the break.
Disgaea 5 announced for PlayStation 4
Some three years after Disgaea 4 hit PS3 back in September 2011, Sony and Nippon Ichi Software announced its successor is coming to the PS4 with a 2015 release window in Japan. Disgaea 5 has long been in the shadows and while today's news makes the tactical RPG official, details remain limited for now. [Image: Sony]
PS4 firmware update adding themes, Toro and Kuro are pleased
Similar to the Vita, Sony has announced that a future software update on the PS4 will add the ability to use themes, giving players the ability to customize the console's dashboard. Themes teased during the reveal were animated, featuring famous PlayStation Japan characters Toro and Kuro kicking back in a kitchen. Paging through the sections of the PS4 dashboard changed the background image. Again, like the Vita reveal earlier this evening, it's unclear if players will be able to select any images to customize their console or if themes will be limited to content available on the PlayStation Store. A release date for the update had not been revealed. Check out another example of the PS4 themes in action after the break.
New Ys RPG announced for PS4, Vita
A new game in the Ys series was announced during Sony's pre-Tokyo Game Show 2014 press event today. The role-playing game is being created by Nihon Falcom, the series' longtime developers. It will launch in 2015 for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita.
Dragon Quest Heroes coming to PS4 from Dynasty Warriors devs
Dragon Quest Heroes is coming to the PlayStation 4 in Japan, marking the first time the series has appeared on a Sony platform since 2005's Dragon Quest 8. Helmed by Dynasty Warriors series developer Omega Force, Dragon Quest Heroes is an action-oriented spinoff in the same vein as the upcoming Hyrule Warriors. Sony will also release a Metal Slime-themed PS4 console in Japan to commemorate Dragon Quest Heroes' release. [Image: Sony]
Senran Kagura making PS4 debut with Estival Versus
Marvelous' portable action series Senran Kagura will make its first console appearance with next year's PlayStation 4 release of Senran Kagura: Estival Versus, as revealed during Sony's pre-TGS press conference today. While many series entries have made their way stateside courtesy of publisher Xseed, a localization for Estival Versus has not been announced. For now, it hits Japan on March 26, and a Vita version is also confirmed. [Image: Sony]
Persona 5 coming to PlayStation 4 [update: trailer]
Persona 5 is being summoned to PlayStation 4, Sony announced at this morning's pre-TGS press conference. It was previously announced for PS3, in line with recent entries which came to PS2 rather its already released successor. The next entry in Atlus' acclaimed role-playing series was originally due for the previous-gen console this winter in Japan, but it's now coming to Japan for both systems in 2015. Atlus has already confirmed it's bringing Persona 5 to North America, and that's also due in 2015. While it's not yet confirmed, we expect the PS4 version to make the journey across. In the interim, check out Atlus' new trailer below the break.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst terrorizes Japan on PS4, Vita
Bandai Namco Producer Yusuke Tomizawa announced the action-RPG God Eater franchise will live on. During Sony's Pre-TGS media briefing, Tomizawa revealed God Eater 2: Rage Burst is coming to PS4 and Vita in Japan. With the addition of Sony's console, Tomizawa said – via a translator – the franchise can live on and allow the developer to try new things. God Eater 2 first launched on the PSP and Vita, in Japan, in 2013. The Burst branding indicates an expansion of the original sequel, similar to the re-release of the first game in the franchise under the banner God Eater Burst in 2010 (Japan, 2011 worldwide). God Eater Burst added new characters, story and monsters.
Yakuza Zero sets the calendar to 1988, coming 2015
Yakuza Zero, the recently-revealed entry in the Japanese crime sim series, will take fans back to the year 1988, developer/published Sega announced at Sony's pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference. Taking place years before the first Yakuza game, the new entry in the series will focus on two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. The game, which is coming to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, will feature cross-play with the PS Vita. Yakuza Zero is expected to start its crime spree in spring of 2015. [Image: Sega]
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 confirmed for early 2015 [update]
Update: Capcom Unity and a press release confirm Resident Evil: Revelations 2 for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in early 2015. There's no mention of the 3DS, which the original Revelations debuted on. Check out a teaser below the break. Capcom confirmed the development of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 during Sony Entertainment of Japan's press conference today. The publisher will launch the game in early 2015. While the game's predecessor, Resident Evil: Revelations, featured series mainstays Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield as protagonists, Revelations 2 will star new heroes in a new story and setting. Box art for the game was leaked on Microsoft's official Xbox site earlier this month for Xbox 360. Capcom confirmed the game for PlayStation 4 during Sony's press event. A playable demo of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will be available at Tokyo Game Show later this month.
Upgraded PS4 port of Earth Defense Force 2025 in development
Sony announced during today's pre-TGS press conference that an upgraded PlayStation 4 version of D3 Publisher's bug-blasting third-person shooter Earth Defense Force 2025 is in development. The Japanese edition, Chikyuu Boueigun 4.1, is launching in 2015. A North American release date was not announced. [Image: Sony]
Bloodborne to tear up Japan in February 2015 [update: trailer]
From Software's Bloodborne will launch in Japan on February 5, 2015, Sony announced at this morning's pre-Tokyo Game Show conference. There's no further news as yet on when it will launch internationally. Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida revealed the game's limited edition will include an artbook and soundtrack over in Japan. For more on the new terror from the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls studio, check out our hands-on from Gamescom.
New Hot Shots Golf swinging to PlayStation fore
A new Hot Shots Golf - or as its known in Japan, "Everybody's Golf" - is in development for PlayStation 4, Sony announced during their pre-Tokyo Game Show conference. According to Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida (as translated during the stream by Sony), the game will feature "open world entertainment focusing on golf." The Hot Shots Golf series has been off the green for some time now; the last major entry developed for console specifically, Hot Shots Golf 5, appeared on PS3 in 2008, while Hot Shots Golf World Invitational took golf on the go by way of the Vita before coming to the PS3 later. No release window or official name was announced for the new game. [Image: Sony]
Vita gets a personal touch with themes in new software update
Sony will soon allow players to give their Vita handhelds a personal touch, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia President Atsushi Morita announced during the company's Pre-Tokyo Game Show briefing. A new software update for the system will add customizable themes to the handheld, allowing for customization of wallpaper, icons and sounds on the system's dashboard. The announcement only featured themes of popular Japanese video game franchises, so it's unclear if players can use any images and sounds for the customization options. A translated tweet from PlayStation Japan appears to point to an October release date for update 3.30, which features themes. [Image: Sony]
Light pink/white PS Vita announced for Japan
Sony announced a new pink PlayStation Vita system during its SCEJA Press Conference today. The back of the system is light pink and the front-facing part is white. Sony will launch the pretty new Vita on November 13 in Japan. It will cost players 18,980 yen (roughly $182.20). [Image: Sony]
Luminous Arc Infinity to light up Vita
Sony announced a new Vita entry in the Luminous Arc tactical RPG series at this morning's pre-TGS conference. The Marvelous-published series has traditionally been limited to the DS, but there were once rumors of a PSP version. Many years on, the brand new Luminous Arc Infinity will come to Sony's current handheld. Details remain limited for now. [Image: Sony]
