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PlayStation is now Sony's top priority
Sony's an enormous multinational conglomerate. Some perspective on just how big it is: Sony's ranked 105 on the Fortune Global 500 (for 2014), has its hands in everything from chemical manufacturing to financial services to Hollywood films and employs over 140,000 people. Of that number, just 8,000 people make up Sony Computer Entertainment -- what's better known as the PlayStation brand. And that small group of people is now largely responsible for the near future of the mothership. In short, Sony's leaning on its PlayStation arm to buoy the whole company's financials for the next several years. No pressure! What does that feel like from inside Sony HQ in Japan? I asked SCE Worldwide Studios head (and video game character) Shuhei "Shu" Yoshida this past weekend at the PlayStation Experience in Las Vegas.
You can now pre-order a 20th Anniversary PlayStation 4 (update: sold out)
Been jonesing for that matte gray, extra-limited 20th Anniversary Edition PlayStation 4? It's time to take action. As promised, Sony is now taking pre-orders for the commemorative game console in the US. Plunking down $500 will get you the system, a special controller and a PlayStation Camera in the PS1's distinctive-yet-drab colors. If you're successful, your unit should ship on December 21st. You'd better act fast if you want this machine, however. With just 12,300 systems shipping worldwide, you probably can't buy one for much longer -- Sony's store is already buckling under the demand. If you miss out, you can always live vicariously through Joystiq's unboxing of the special-run PS4. Update: To absolutely no one's surprise, the Sony Store already says it's "out of stock." There's no certainty that this is the only batch the company is selling, but you may have to resort to auction sites from here on out.
Here's everything Sony showed at the PlayStation Experience keynote
Sony just held the keynote for its first-ever PlayStation Experience fan event, and the company didn't hold back on game previews -- it showed dozens of titles that will be hitting the PS3, PS4 and PS Vita in the months ahead. Did you miss out on the whole shebang? Don't worry. We've rounded up all the games that got a showing at the Las Vegas event, ranging from blockbuster sequels like Uncharted 4 and Street Fighter V to eyebrow-raising originals like Wattam. If you're ready to start watching a ton of trailers, grab some popcorn and check out the full game list below.
Sony's Project SkyLight lets you customize your PlayStation 4
Microsoft might not have had much success with Xbox 360 faceplates, but that isn't stopping Sony from giving console customization a shot. The company's newly unveiled Project SkyLight beta lets you slap a faceplate on your PlayStation 4 for $25, livening up the otherwise plain surface of your gaming system. While only two limited edition plates (LittleBigPlanet 3 and The Order: 1886) are available in this test phase, there are promises of more -- don't be shocked if you see SkyLight add-ons tied to major PS4 releases from this moment onward.
The man behind 'Twisted Metal' and 'God of War' has a new game: 'Drawn to Death'
Closing out today's PlayStation Experience keynote event was polarizing game industry vet David Jaffe, the man behind classics like Twisted Metal and God of War. He's got a new studio and a new game: Drawn to Death. In Drawn to Death, you're taking the creations of a young mind drawn in a three-ring binder and bringing them to life in a three dimensional world. The game is very early -- as in "pre-Alpha" -- but it's being shown at this weekend's fan event to give fans a chance to help shape the future of the game. It'll eventually arrive on Sony's PlayStation 4, but if you're really into what you've seen thus far, head below for the full debut trailer.
PlayStation executive becomes playable game character
Sony PlayStation's Shuhei Yoshida is one of the most personable and savvy executives you'll ever meet. He's funny, passionate and he's extremely active on Twitter -- typically gushing about over his own brand or what games he's excited to play. Now, he's going to be in one: Capy Games announced today that the Japanese executive is going to be a playable character in the PS4 and Vita versions of Super Time force Ultra. Yoshida's weapon of choice? His smartphone, of course.
'Final Fantasy VII' is coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 in Spring 2015
You read that right: Final Fantasy VII is coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 next spring. But instead of being the full-on HD remaster than many had likely hoped for, it's a port of the PC version. Essentially, it's an upscaled version of the game's original graphics. But, if the PS4 port retains all of the PC game's features, it'll come with cloud saves (har har), achievements and a "character booster" mode, too. We're just hoping that pricing stays in line with its computer-based counterpart ($12), all of the above considered.
How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb: a virtual reality experience
My directions were simple: don't let the bomb explode. I failed. Rather than a screen or a headset, I was looking at a three-ring binder full of printed out instructions. "There are six wires," my partner told me. Okay! I scan the page in front of me and quickly find the directions for how to handle a bomb defuse with six wires. "How many yellow wires?" I ask, as the timer counting toward explosion decreases. This is how it goes in "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes," a new virtual reality game headed to Sony's PlayStation 4-based Project Morpheus VR headset. You're either the bomb defuser or the person tasked with guiding the bomb defuser through a variety of steps. Does it sound tense? Because it's way tense.
Get a free game on every modern PlayStation console this weekend
PlayStation owners might not be blessed with Electronic Arts' EA Access subscription program, but the outfit's Peter Moore has a consolation prize for you. Sort of. Starting today at 3 p.m. Eastern / 12 p.m. Pacific, you can download Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PlayStation Vita, Mirror's Edge for PlayStation 3 and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare on PS4, all for free on the PSN Store. Pretty cool, right? But, you can't put this off: when Moore took the stage at today's PlayStation Experience keynote, he said the downloads only last until midnight Pacific tomorrow night -- hopefully you have some free space on your Sony console of choice. If not, well, there's still time to make room. [Image credit: Getty Images]
Katamari Damacy and Journey creators reveal new game, 'Wattam'
Did you play bizarre and charming PlayStation 2 game Katamari Damacy? If you did, you're familiar with the quirky stylings of Keita Takahashi, the game's creator. And how about Journey, the beautiful exploration game from thatgamecompany? If you did, you're familiar with Robin Hunicke, one of a small group of folks who created the gorgeous, unique experience. Now put those two artistic sensibilities together and you've got Funonema, the studio that both Hunicke and Takahashi now helm -- the duo revealed their first game today at PlayStation Experience in Las Vegas: "Wattam." What is Wattam? Your guess is as good as ours -- the brief bit shown had a personified cube trying on a variety of adorable hats. What we do know is that the game is headed to PlayStation 4 and we're willing to bet it'll be just as adorable and memorable as previous titles from Takahashi and Hunicke. We'll of course have much more from PlayStation Experience as the weekend rolls on!
Take a look at the next Uncharted on the PlayStation 4
Uncharted's swashbuckling adventures already looked good on the PlayStation 3, so how will they improve on the PS4? Quite a lot, apparently. Naughty Dog has just shown off the first gameplay from Uncharted 4 at PlayStation Experience, and we won't lie: it's gorgeous. Characters look so good in-game that you'd think you were watching a cutscene, while even cliff faces (and there are many cliff faces) appear all too real. You'll also see some new game mechanics that promise to inject new life into the series, including grappling hooks and pinions that get you across seemingly impossible challenges. It's a shame that you'll still have to wait until 2015 to play, but this preview suggests that it could be worth the wait.
Watch the PlayStation Experience 2014 keynote right here!
Couldn't make it to Las Vegas this weekend to check out the first PlayStation Experience? Well, we've got you covered with a livestream of the event right after the break. If the official image above is any indication, we can expect to hear quite a bit about Until Dawn, Mortal Kombat X, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, The Order: 1866, Batman: Arkham City and hopefully a whole lot more -- maybe even a live demo of new Project Morpheus games. The Twitch stream starts with the keynote address at 1 p.m. Eastern / 10 a.m. Pacific and will run until 3 p.m. Eastern / 12 p.m. Pacific. Sony says that certain interviews and panels from the event will be broadcast as well, so be sure to keep this tab open!
Sony's PlayStation Experience is a two-day public gaming show in Vegas
Sony's holding a two-day PlayStation event in the middle of the desert, and it wants you to attend. Okay, technically Las Vegas isn't the middle of the desert, but it's certainly out there. What will said event entail? PlayStation social media man Sid Shuman says you'll, "Sit in on in-depth panels, meet the industry's best developers, score hands-on gameplay with tons of upcoming PlayStation games, collect free swag, and get a chance to purchase rare collectibles directly from their favorite game studios." It's kind of like PAX, basically, but all PlayStation. One more similarity to PAX? It'll cost ya. $50 for a one-day pass, $90 for both days. If those previous activities left you still sitting on the fence about attendance, Shuman also promises, "an exclusive first look at what's coming next in 2015, which I am told you will not want to miss." Project Morpheus details? Maybe a PlayStation helicopter? Who knows! Hey, if nothing else, it's an excuse to fly to Las Vegas in December, right? [Image credit: Sony PlayStation]
