Rumour: PS5 Pro Specs Could Leak Very Soon as Dev Kits Go Out to Studios | Push Square

An insider claims that the PlayStation 5 Pro is getting announced this year, but much later in the year.

Atelier is one of those niche PlayStation franchises that seems to get new entries annually but rarely makes a splash outside of its core community. That appears to be changing in Asia, however, where Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator – yes, that’s really its name – appears to be blowing up big time.

The PS Store's January Sale got started part way through December, and it was already enormous, but how about thousands more deals? That's what Sony's now offering, having just extended the sale with just over 2,000 more PS5 and PS4 games. Discounted until 17th January, the range of titles included is massive, as you can see via psprices.

Developer Jukai Studio, the team behind the poorly received horror title Stray Souls, has announced its closure several months after releasing the game on PS5 and PS4. In a statement, the developer cites the surprise closure of publisher Versus Evil as a contributing factor, in addition to relentless cyber attacks, bullying, and disappointing sales.

Eagerly anticipated ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia was a hit on Steam, and the wait for it to come to PlayStation has been torturous, plagued by repeated delays and at least one fire. Developer Kinetic Games posted a development roadmap, which still doesn't give us a date but does promise that the console release, when it does arrive, will benefit from gameplay reworks and performance upgrades.

Sony may have placed its bets on live service too late – at least, that’s what one analyst appears to be alluding to. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz as part of a 2024 predictions post, analyst Tom Wijman from firm Newzoo has hinted he expects a downturn in live service game development as the market reaches saturation point.

We already knew that Ubisoft was plotting a 2024 launch for its open world sci-fi shooter Star Wars Outlaws, but a since-edited post on a Disney Parks blog may have nailed down more precisely when we can expect to visit a galaxy far, far away. Multiple outlets, including IGN, noticed the original blurb referenced a “late this year” release window for the title – but that line’s since been edited to a more neutral “in 2024”.

From serving noodles in Yakuza 5 to the go-kart races of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series has always been one of the leaders in the «games within a game» space. Effectively producing miniature titles that wouldn't look out of place if sold standalone on the PS Store, they provide engaging, enjoyable, and often comedic distractions from the serious tones of the main story. So, when RGG Studio chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto himself admits the team's latest effort «could probably stand on its own» since it's that «expansive», something special is almost certainly on the way.

Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Art Direction of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. Here we'll highlight titles that pushed the boundaries of game visuals, whether that's through near photo-realism, a stylish look, or unique artistic elements. These games are a joy to look at just as much as they are to play.

Limited Run Games has been working tirelessly to re-release a bunch of retro classics, both in physical and digital format. Unfortunately, it seems even the preservation specialist’s efforts have a shelf life. Writing on Twitter earlier this week, CEO Josh Fairhurst revealed that Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection will be removed from the PS Store on 1st January – despite it launching less than a year ago!

To help round off the year, PlayStation has put together an interactive map of the world that shows the most played PS5 and PS4 games of 2023 in a bunch of different countries. A nice idea, we're sure you'll agree, but the results are every bit as boring as you'd expect.

An insider has broken down some details on why Naughty Dog cancelled The Last of Us Online.