Kojima Confirms Mads Mikkelsen Won't Be Returning for Death Stranding 2 | Push Square

Sony will not release any sequels or updates to “major existing franchise titles” before March 2025. The wording is exceptionally important here: this does not eliminate the likelihood of PS5 exclusives entirely, it just means you’re unlikely to see a new Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us in the next 12 months and a bit.

Arrowhead Game Studios has promised to compensate players who were not adequately rewarded for their heroic service in Helldivers 2, with promised loot going missing amidst a chaotic launch experience. When you can get a game, the cooperative shooter is some of the most outrageous fun on the market, so this is hugely welcome news.

As reported earlier today, Sony shipped 8.2 million PS5 consoles during the three-month period ending 31st December, 2023 – a very good number which contributed to record-breaking revenue, but not enough to help it reach its forecast of 25 million units for the current financial year. Thus far, it’s sold 16.4 million units, and subsequently it’s revised its forecast down to 21 million.

Embracer Group, the holdings company that spent years scooping up as many gaming properties and development teams as possible, has had to reduce its unsustainable size, cutting jobs, closing studios, and shelving projects. Last summer, the company announced its restructuring plan, and has now confirmed the figures pertaining to layoffs and more, and it's not pretty.

This month's games for PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium have been revealed, with 13 titles being added across the two tiers. We suppose the biggest talking point is that subscribers are getting four Tales games, including the very well received Tales of Arise, which released back in 2021.

A player has noted a similarity between Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’s DHV Magellan and Metal Gear REX from Metal Gear Solid. This potential Metal Gear Solid reference hidden within Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has sparked some conversations among fans about possible connections between Hideo Kojima's iconic franchises.

«How did it feel being back up there? I don't know… nostalgic, I guess?» Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth summarised our feelings with one simple question. We love the original game but when Final Fantasy 7 Remake opened the door to some dramatic changes, nothing was guaranteed moving forward. Thankfully, Rebirth feels like a natural evolution that continues walking this precarious path with grace, and right now, it's mixing that nostalgic familiarity with a renewed uncertainty.

Helldivers 2 is only a couple of days away at the time of writing, and it's looking more and more promising the closer we get. The third-person co-op shooter has players working as a team to eliminate alien threats using an array of powerful weaponry. It looks like it should scratch that mindless shooting-stuff itch, and you can work towards your next Platinum while you're busy stomping bugs. The full Trophy list has now appeared online, and it looks like a potentially tough but fun set of trinkets.

Building on reports that Bethesda's RPG Starfield will be given a PS5 version at some point later this year, a new article from The Verge claims Microsoft is also «considering» making Indiana Jones and the Great Circle available on the Sony system. The game will supposedly only have a «short period of exclusivity», with the initial Xbox release «tentatively targeting» December 2024.

Ever since Life Is Strange properly put the developer on the map, story over gameplay seems to have been the mantra at DON'T NOD. That's no bad thing; it gave rise to Life Is Strange 2 and Xbox exclusive Tell Me Why. However, with the likes of Vampyr and Jusant also in its back catalogue, there's always been potential there for the studio to happen upon something truly great. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is the realisation of that. Joining a captivating narrative and an enjoyable blend of combat and exploration at the hip, it's comfortably the French team's greatest achievement to date.

Layoffs have been reported at Toys for Bob, the developer behind Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. They form part of the ongoing consolidation efforts necessitated by parent company Activision's acquisition by Microsoft, resulting in 1900 roles being made redundant. Some 86 workers have been let go, and the studio's office shuttered. Contrary to some earlier confusion, that's the physical address; Toys for Bob will remain active, and most remaining employees will now work remotely.

«How did it feel being back up there? I don't know… nostalgic, I guess?» Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth summarised our feelings with one simple question. We love the original game but when Final Fantasy 7 Remake opened the door to some dramatic changes, nothing was guaranteed moving forward. Thankfully, Rebirth feels like a natural evolution that continues walking this precarious path with grace, and right now, it's mixing that nostalgic familiarity with a renewed uncertainty.