Synduality: Echo of ADA Gearing Up for Closed Beta Mech Test on PS5 | Push Square

Rarely a day passes without a deluge of discounts on the PS Store these days, and another 50 or so offers have been unloaded on to the storefront ahead of the weekend. These discounts will be valid until 27th March, so you’ve got a few days to decide what takes your fancy and why. Please note, these deals are exclusive to PS Plus subscribers.

By trying to do so much, Rise of the Ronin feels like an inferior version of everything it's inspired by. With an open world populated by map markers and side activities, it’s a worse Assassin's Creed. With a historical Japanese setting, it's a worse Ghost of Tsushima. With a combat system that prioritises parrying, it's a worse Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. At no point is it a bad experience, but the game's so run of the mill, so formulaic that attempting something new and ultimately failing would have been a more tantalising sell. You've already played better versions of Rise of the Ronin — what it's attempting is just fine, which is probably the most boring outcome possible.

It feels like the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake has been frozen in carbonite forever. And yet, somehow, the unfortunate project is still quite a while away from being ready for launch. Announced in 2021 with Aspyr at the helm, the project has been in Saber Interactive's hands since at least August 2022, with that company recently managing to escape the imploding Embracer Group's clutches in a deal reportedly worth $500 million.

Today's the day for a big PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium update, with the March 2024 refresh bringing 13 PS5, PS4, and Classic titles to active subscribers. UK and European members can get downloading and playing all the new games now, and those in the USA will gain access later in the day. If you need a reminder of what's on offer this month, here's a complete list:

Out later this week in Japan, publisher Red Art Games has announced that it’s bringing MACROSS Shooting Insight to PS5 and PS4 in North America and Europe later this year, marking the first time a tie-in based on the 80s anime franchise has officially launched in the West. The game, a multi-dimensional shooter, has been developed by Kaminari Games, who’s perhaps best known for the brilliant Raiden V: Director’s Cut.

Looks like Microsoft’s decision to port live service Xbox exclusive Sea of Thieves to PS5 is unlikely to land the company in choppy waters, as the title is currently making a charge on the PS Store’s pre-order charts. At the time of typing, the Rare sailing escapade occupies several spots on PlayStation’s upcoming best-sellers list, including the number one position above heavy hitters like Dragon’s Dogma 2, Rise of the Ronin, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Priority orders have come down from Super Earth high command (developer Arrowhead Game Studios), calling all available Helldivers to arms in response to the surprise, cowardly, and entirely predictable assault on the foundry world of Tien Kwan, located in the Theseus Sector. Until Liberty and Democracy are restored, production of the EXO-45 Patriot exosuit has been halted, effective immediately, in a masterful piece of marketing and propaganda from Arrowhead.

PlayStation Japan, as you’ll already know, loves a good montage trailer. And this latest clip – which has a bit of a road trip vibe to it – is a bit of a banger, spotlighting upcoming console exclusives like Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade. There’s also space to feature titles like Helldivers 2, Silent Hill 2, Unicorn Overlord, Sand Land, and more.

Former WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon remains embroiled in a sexual misconduct lawsuit alleged by former employee Janel Grant. As a result, 2K has decided to partially censor McMahon's face in WWE 2K24, in archival footage featured in the game's Wrestlemania Showcase mode. While McMahon denies Grant's allegations, which include sexual assault and trafficking her to secure wrestling talent, he resigned from WWE as CEO the day after the federal lawsuit was filed.

The Trophy list for soon-to-release PS5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin is now showing up on Sony's servers. There are 51 digital trinkets to collect, and after a brief analysis, we're pretty sure that unlocking the Platinum Trophy won't be a walk in the park.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is an upcoming 3D action platformer and the sequel to the latest animated film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, picking up the story several months later. It's due out on PS5 and PS4 in Q4 of 2024, and we got our first glimpse of it in screenshots and learned more about the game's structure.

The Hunter x Hunter video game project that was announced earlier in the year is now officially coming to PS5 — and we've also got confirmation that it's a 2D fighting game, and not some kind of arena brawler, as was speculated by some fans.