PlayStation.Blog News, Tips, Tricks, Ideas

It’d be fair to say Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s next-gen makeover of characters, monsters, and more from the 1997 original has been a spectacular glow-up. The modern console era has returned an iconic cast and world to us with a level of realism in gameplay that even pre-rendered cutscenes over 25 years ago couldn’t match. We asked Square Enix if they could crunch some numbers and share some insight into the changes nearly three decades of technological advancement have wrought. Here, main character modeler and lead character artist Dai Suzuki walks us through a selection of characters, creatures, weapons, and more.

The Lee family is reuniting once again to rid the streets of crime as Billy and Jimmy Lee’s cousin, Sonny Lee, is joining Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons on April 4. An unconventional fighter, Sonny thrashes his enemies with a flurry of punches and kicks to prove he’s just as powerful as his cousins.

Last week, we hit the track with EA Sports F1 23, and asked you to share moments behind the wheel using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Early Access in MLB The Show 24 starts today, March 15, and it’s your chance to get a jump on the competition this year. With new Programs, events, Packs, and Player Items there’s no shortage of content to make your pre-season eventful. There’s so much to do before MLB The Show 24’s full launch on March 19, so let’s take a minute to go over some of the most impactful content made available to you during Early Access.

We’ll say this up front for those of you still exploring Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s vast world: there are no late-game story spoilers here. As seen in its pre-release debut via a new trailer late last year, the action RPG’s theme song “No Promises to Keep” is performed in-game by Aerith. Behind the scenes though, the track was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary composer behind the iconic soundtracks for much of the Final Fantasy series, including Final Fantasy VII Remake. The song’s vocals were performed by American singer Loren Allred, who brought her spellbinding singing voice to the track, augmenting the beautiful—yet tragic—world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the epic story told within it.

Following the successful launch of Arrowhead Game Studios’ third-person co-op adventure, Sony Interactive Entertainment has just upped the ante for Helldivers 2 fans everywhere by launching an exclusive line of official merchandise designed to bring the game’s adrenaline-pumping action into the real world. 

Basketball skills, horror chills, supernatural-infused superheroic thrills and more are on display and available to enjoy as part of March’s Game Catalog lineup for PlayStation Plus. Hit the court with NBA 2K24, escape a zombie-infested Racoon City in Resident Evil 3 or team up to take on the darker side of the Marvel Universe in Midnight Suns. These new releases on Game Catalog are rounded out with even more games, all available to play from Tuesday March 19.  

Add some Essential Picks to your game collection with PlayStation Store’s latest promotion. Enjoy discounts on a selection of titles, from EA Sports FC 24 (80% off the PS4 and PS5 versions), Dead Island 2 (45% off, The Crew: Motorfest (50% off) and many more.

Helldivers 2 has exploded onto the gaming scene in a massive way. This co-operative third-person shooter packed with danger, action, humor, and surprises has already become one of this year’s most talked-about games. What some people may be less familiar with though is its progenitor. The original Helldivers, which debuted in 2015 (and is still active) is a co-op, multiplayer overhead twin-stick shooter packed with action, intensity, and plenty of challenging situations that a player might find themselves in.

Team Ninja has become synonymous with best-in-class action gameplay. From Ninja Gaiden to Nioh 2, the fundamental act of swinging a sword or spear (or any number of deadly weapons) is reliably complex and satisfying, often with a challenging-yet-rewarding learning curve.

Season 2 of The Finals arrives on March 14 and strange things are happening in the free-to-play arena. The game show has been compromised by the rogue hacking collective CNS, and showrunners are scrambling to decipher their cryptic messages — but one thing is clear: the show must go on!

Pandora’s box has been opened, unleashing the myths and mortals of Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2! Olympian legends — like thunder god Zeus and Hades king of the underworld — now rule the Battle Royale Island with otherworldly rage. Turn the tides against them like Poseidon in Chapter 5 Season 2: Myths & Mortals, out now!

It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. February’s PS5 list saw players doing their part to save democracy and humankind from extinction with new releases Helldivers 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth storming the top three in both US and EU regions. The bone-crushing new release Legendary Tales surged the PS VR2 list breaking the top three of most downloads in both US and EU regions.

Few artists have been more requested by our community than our latest release, Daft Punk. The wait is over, we are excited to announce the Daft Punk Music Pack is now available on Beat Saber for PS VR and PS VR 2!

Greetings, fearless heroes of galactic democracy! Steel yourself for the next big push against the disgraceful enemies of freedom with our new Warbond – Cutting Edge*.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is coming to PC! We at Nixxes are thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Sucker Punch Productions who created this critically acclaimed open-world action adventure. We are excited to bring Jin’s story to a new audience and to bring a Sucker Punch title to PC for the first time.

Are you ready for the ultimate fusion of racing and golf? Well warm up your engines and polish your golf balls because Hugecalf Studios is proud to announce that Turbo Golf Racing hits PS5 on April 4!

Hello, Travelers! The Genshin Impact dev team is back with the latest information on the upcoming March 13 update. In Version 4.5 “Blades Weaving Betwixt Brocade,” you will receive an invitation from Mondstadt to come and help bolster the local alchemy potion business. Additionally, the renowned fashion designer Chiori will become a playable character.

We are happy to announce that PlayStation®5 Console – Genshin Impact Gift Bundle​ will be available from 7 March (in Singapore) / 10 April (in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand). The console bundle will be available at suggested retail price (SRP) of SGD799/ IDR9,699,000/MYR2,499/THB18,690.

It’s been 11 years since the release of Capcom’s fantasy action-role playing game Dragon’s Dogma, with fans readily anticipating the March 22 release of its long-awaited sequel, Dragon’s Dogma 2.

The spirit of competition in Destiny 2 is alive and well with today’s launch of the Guardian Games All-Stars 2024 event. The annual competitive event pits Warlocks, Hunters, and Titans against one another to try and take the top step of the Guardian class podium. Last year, Titans took the win, their second in Guardian Games history, and this year’s event features new twists to spice up the competition. Additionally, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen expansion is available today as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game and we dive deeper into the rad new Skimmer vehicle.

MLB The Show 24 proudly announces Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way. A brand new addition to the Road to the Show mode.

PlayStation has been part of India’s vibrant gaming scene for over two decades. In May 2023, we embarked on an ambitious journey with the India Hero Project. We aimed to unearth and empower India’s brightest game development talents to share their unique visions with gamers globally. The response was spectacular, with an avalanche of entries that showcased the rich tapestry of Indian culture, innovation, and storytelling.

Every choice we made when developing Outcast – A New Beginning had, at its core, one motivation: freedom. It was important to us not to limit where players could go at any point; instead, we gave them the tools to navigate the detailed open world we’ve spent the last few years crafting.

Hey everyone, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is coming to PC soon! Last month, we detailed the main PC features and now that we are getting closer to launch on March 21, we can share the system requirements and give you more details about some of the customization options that we have added to the PC version.

Hello, Travelers! The Genshin Impact dev team is back with the latest information on the upcoming March 13 update. In Version 4.5 “Blades Weaving Betwixt Brocade,” you will receive an invitation from Mondstadt to come and help bolster the local alchemy potion business. Additionally, the renowned fashion designer Chiori will become a playable character.

February had no shortage of options to choose from, no matter your gaming preference. Did you spend endless hours in multiplayer or take on a solo quest? Do your part and let us know in the poll below.  

You wake up as the survivor of a shipwreck, with nothing more than the ragged clothes on your back to your name. A short trek away lies the dying captain of the vessel, who mentions the place he was trying to reach– a place called Sacrament. And so, your long and difficult journey begins.

Last week, we asked you share moments from your go-to comfort game using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Hello PlayStation Stars members! This month introduces more exciting Campaigns, from earning Points on acclaimed titles to celebrating award-winning franchises and fan-favorite games. Let’s dive into the featured Campaigns awaiting you in March.

Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are two masterfully made retellings of the classic PlayStation RPG from 1997. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Remake project and continues where the previous title left off, hopefully bringing answers to questions posed with it. Not only is this new sequel a nostalgic experience for veterans of the 90s original, but Square Enix has crafted it to be another perfect spot for newcomers to join Cloud and the gang. 

Gran Turismo players! Update 1.43* for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of Wednesday, February 28 at 11:00pm PST / February 29 at 6:00am GMT / 3:00pm JST.

The PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for March sees racing sim thrills in the shape of EA Sports F1 23, martial arts-powered face-offs with Sifu, a slice of stealth horror in Hello Neighbor 2 and sci-fi action with Destiny 2: Witch Queen. 

Last year, it was revealed that the masters of remasters at Nightdive Studios have taken on the task of bringing the beloved 90s classic Star Wars: Dark Forces to modern audiences. The remaster is set to release February 28 on PS5 and PS4, nearly 30 years after the release of the original game from LucasArts in 1995.

Foamstars released on February 6 as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game, and we’re elated that so many players have tried out the game. It’s not too late for PlayStation Plus members to add it to their library before March 4.

Last week, we asked you to shine a light on gaming best friends using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Since the mid-90s, the developers at Team Ninja have earned consistent praise for their precise, satisfying combat. Look no further than the Dead or Alive franchise’s dynamic fighting system or Ninja Gaiden’s lightning-fast combat for prime examples. The developer aims to continue and expand that legacy of satisfying melee mechanics in Rise of the Ronin.

PlayStation VR2 launched one year ago, backed by a 40+ game launch window lineup which included all-new experiences like Horizon Call of the Mountain and Pavlov, as well as PS VR2-compatible titles such as Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village. Over the next 12 months, our experiences were expanded further: intense first-person adventures such as Synapse, Red Matter and Resident Evil 4 VR Mode; puzzlers like Humanity and 7th Guest VR; action rhythm add-ons for the likes of Beat Saber, Synth Riders and Drums Rock; multiplayer fun in the form of Among Us VR, Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord, C-Smash VRS and more. 

Aspyr is proud to announce, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the beloved Star Wars Battlefront series, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 will soon be able to play the classic Star Wars Battlefront games online and offline in a complete collection.

Hello! Nick Suttner here. You may have seen my name on PlayStation Blog before in various guises (most recently, as the writer behind Carto), but I’m super excited to be coming to you today as co-founder of the small studio Furniture & Mattress, to reveal our debut PS5 game Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure.

We cannot explain to you how grateful we have been for everyone who has picked up Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 over the holiday season. Everyone here at Insomniac Games is proud of the game, and we’re very excited to share details with you about the major title update that will hit your PS5 console on March 7

Launching today, our latest wireless headset, Pulse Elite, brings crisp, immersive audio to the gaming experience on the PS5 console; to PlayStation Link supported devices including PS5, PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portal remote player; and to Bluetooth compatible devices such as smartphones and tablets. Pulse Elite follows the launch of our first wireless earbuds, Pulse Explore, with both audio devices featuring planar magnetic drivers to further enhance the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. When combined with PlayStation Link, the planar drivers precisely deliver the output of the 3D audio algorithms directly to the player’s ear without loss, and nearly no distortion or delay. 

Your adventure beyond Midgar begins in just over a week when Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on PS5 February 29. You may have taken your first steps into that wider world already, thanks to the recent demo, or marveled at that expanse via the State of Play dedicated to the game. And what sights there are. Sprawling, densely detailed open areas and cityscapes, redesigned character models, reimagined threats and new enemies, side-quests and mini-games galore. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth packs a lot in. 

Gear up for your first look into the gameplay of the sixth DLC of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, officially named Goku’s Next Journey. The DLC retraces the steps of the last episode of Dragon Ball Z, which takes place ten years after the victory of the Saiyan warriors over Kid Buu at the hands of Goku and Vegeta. In this episode, the Martial Arts World Tournament is the main event, gathering all the earth’s warriors together.

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Last week, we asked you share romantic moments from a game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

We’re excited to announce a new free addition to Hubris, now available at PlayStation Store for PlayStation VR2. Introducing a thrilling Arena mode where you’ll encounter multiple rounds of Uron invaders and have to navigate through a closed combat map, all set in a never-before-revealed environment. 

I recently had the pleasure to speak with Abubakar Salim, founder of Surgent Studios and creative director of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, about founding his gaming studio and how his childhood, grief, and becoming a father were essential building blocks in the development of Tales of Kenzera: Zau coming to PS5 April 23. Listen to the full interview below.

We’ve all wondered why no one gets in a car and drives away from the terror in scary movies and games. Pacific Drive by Ironwood Studios lets us live out that scenario. This upcoming first-person survival adventure drives a customizable station wagon into the genre.

Hello! I’m Josef, one of the creators of Beat the Beats VR, coming out February 27 on PlayStation VR2. It is a rhythm VR game you play with your fists and all about learning actual boxing moves like jab, dodge, and uppercut.

A state-of-the-art airship hovers above a vast toxic dust cloud, shrouding an ecologically devastated Earth. That’s what most people notice when they see Forever Skies for the first time. And while this creates an interesting and unique premise to explore, it’s one that was inspired by rather somber real-world circumstances.

Hello! Last year was a busy one for the small team at Hello Games, with lots of No Man’s Sky updates and the announce of Light No Fire.

February’s Game Catalog lineup for PlayStation Plus brings together racing thrills, sci-fi adventure and a selection of entries from a classic RPG series. Take to the streets in Need for Speed Unbound, blast off into space in The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition, then experience some acclaimed RPG fantasy action in the Tales of… series. These and many more titles are playable from February 20. Let’s take a closer look at each game in turn. 

Get ready to experience another slice of history in the playable micro-documentary, Storylines: The Negro Leagues Season 2, narrated by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick. Season 2 continues our multiyear partnership with the NLBM and our shared mission to educate, enlighten, and inspire by celebrating the rich history of the Negro Leagues. We are so grateful and excited to introduce ten new Negro League legends to MLB The Show 24. Storylines combine immersive gameplay moments, historical footage, and more as we bring these incredible true stories to life.

It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. New release blockbusters and vintage fan favorites are included in January’s PS5 list with Tekken 8 and Grand Theft Auto V both breaking the top five. The PS VR2 list saw Beat Saber rock and roll to the top of the list with the most downloads in both US and EU regions.

Indie games are known for their daring and often groundbreaking approaches to visuals and storytelling. Ultros is a new indie title coming to PS4 and PS5 on February 13. The game is a twisted, time-looping sci-fi adventure. It’s packed with high-stakes action, clever twists on classic game design ideas, intriguing, and often unsettling environmental storytelling, and crazy-colorful pop-psychedelic visuals that makes you wonder if the game came with its own built-in blacklight. 

Hello, I’m Chikara Saito (a.k.a. Rickey), director of Foamstars. As the name suggests, Foamstars is a game that features copious amounts of soft, fluffy foam. However, the path that we took to actually represent that foam in digital space was much longer and tougher than we initially thought it would be.

Until Then is an indie game with unexpectedly profound things to say and a breathtaking art style set among Philippine-inspired landscapes. Don’t mistake its simplistic controls for a lack of substance—from its addictively mundane minigames to its meaningful look at healing from trauma. This game has the potential to stand among the classics in the narrative adventure genre.

Last week, we asked to see the coolest characters from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s extremely cool highlights:

Welcome PlayStation players! This is ByungJik from Urban Wolf Games here to share some exciting news. Yes, it’s true, Legendary Tales is coming to PlayStation VR2 later this year, and we’re here to share with you some information about the game and its development.

Coming to PlayStation 5 on March 22, Rise of the Ronin is a combat-focused, open-world action RPG from Team Ninja, the developer of Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. The game will immerse you in a story set in the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, known as Bakumatsu, where you can experience different play styles and battle in simple yet profound combat as a Ronin, using an array of weapons and equipment – melee weapons as well as ranged weapons like firearms and thrown weapons.

Entering the ring on February 27 in Street Fighter 6 is the troubled protégé, the bad boy of boxing, the Young Commander, Ed. With psycho power imbued within, Ed beats down his enemies with a flurry of fists to prove that he’s the true high-def picture of strength.

Prepare for a massive drop of new content with the arrival of Season 2 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone. Introducing new maps, modes, weapons, a new Zombies story mission, the return of Fortune’s Keep, Resurgence Ranked Play, and more, there’s plenty to challenge players across all modes.

Thar be no room for landlubbers here. Get ready to start a golden age pirate’s journey taking you from shipwrecked nobody to kingpin when Skull and Bones launches February 16 on PlayStation 5, with an Open Beta running from February 8-11*. The development team at Ubisoft Singapore has been hard at work ensuring that the Skull and Bones experience is as immersive as possible on PS5, thanks to features like 3D audio, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and more.

Help kickstart your February gaming sessions in style with the Happy New Play-Year promotion, in which acclaimed titles are the name of the game. You can enjoy discounts on a mixture of titles, which include ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON (30% off), EA Sports FC 24 – Standard Edition (65% off) and many more.

Welcome to the first Players’ Choice poll of 2024! Let’s welcome the new year by picking your favorite title for January among the heavy hitters, indie knockouts, and virtual bangers. 

Can you believe it? Ten years of tanks! The game known today as World of Tanks Modern Armor officially made its debut in the console arena on February 12, 2014.As one of the first free-to-play titles available on consoles, WoTMA (or just “World of Tanks,” as it was known then!) helped lay the foundation for experiences that PlayStation players would enjoy over the next decade. Of course, the game couldn’t have come as far as it has without the support of a thriving community… or without the efforts of a dedicated staff.In fact, several of our Wargaming staff members who were present for the game’s early days are still part of the team today. Together, they’re taking a look back at the game’s history and a sneak peek at what’s ahead during the year-long event we’re calling Celebrations.

Welcome to February, PlayStation Stars members. This month brings a host of exciting challenges, Campaigns, and Digital Collectibles to elevate your gaming experience. Let’s delve right into some of the offerings for this month.

Today we’re excited to share a new look at the action-packed gameplay of Rise of the Ronin. We at Team Ninja are crafting a liberating open world bristling with tense combat opportunities that are woven together with a complex storyline. Let’s take a new look at freeform traversal options, combat mechanics, and the development of character relationships based on your actions.

Update: Part two of the Creator to Creator series featuring Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is available today. Spoiler warning ahead for those who haven’t seen or played these sequels yet.

Last week, we asked you to share new skins unlocked in The Last of Us Part II Remastered’s No Return mode using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Before radios, television sets, and the internet, physical newspapers were the primary source of news and information. Black newspapers and the Black press not only documented Negro Leagues history, in addition, the newspapers were also a source of pride in the black community. (You can learn more here)

At the demand of hordes of hungry vampires, V Rising is coming to PlayStation 5.

Today, we’re happy to announce the latest, full Monthly Games lineup for PlayStation Plus. February’s selection is headlined by Square Enix’s competitive yet ultra-colorful online party shooter Foamstars, which makes its debut exclusively on PlayStation Plus. Joining it is a potent mix of skates and gunplay with the highly stylish Rollerdrome, while Steelrising brings you automaton-powered RPG action. All three will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, February 6 until Monday, March 4. Let’s take a closer look at each game. 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the newest installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake project and one of 2024’s most-anticipated games, tells the tale of main protagonist Cloud Strife and his loyal companions who explore a massive world outside Midgar, the city of Mako, as they pursue Sephiroth, one of the most iconic antagonists in video game history. 

Hi PlayStation Blog readers! We are very excited to share the newest trailer for Dragon’s Dogma 2 revealed today during State of Play. In this article we will be diving deeper into some of the information revealed in it: the brand new Warfarer vocation, the vocation maisters, and the mysterious dragonsplague.

The Helldivers universe is one of noble soldiers, heroic deeds, and heartfelt, unflinching patriotism in the face of giant acid-spewing bug monsters.

As the new year kicks into high gear with an amazing slate of PS5 game releases like The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Tekken 8 and Helldivers 2, along with FINAL FANTASY VII Rebirth later this month, we’re pleased to roll out another PS5 system software beta today with a number of quality-of-life enhancements and new features.

Have you ever watched the anonymous soldiers of a sci-fi movie get obliterated by aliens and thought to yourself, “I could do better”? Helldivers 2 is Arrowhead Game Studios’ invitation to brave players dying to experience the chaotic fun of facing seemingly impossible odds.

Greetings. This is Hyung Tae Kim, Director of Stellar Blade. After a long wait, I am pleased to present to you our new gameplay trailer.