Tag: Sony

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You will be able to drive Sony’s new electric car with the DualSense of your PS5

This is the third time the electric car is being presented at CES, and it looks almost the same as the last time we saw it, but the PS5 controller…

The best thing about CES is that technology companies spare no expense or resources to surprise us with each announcement. Sony has achieved this with the Afeela, their car manufactured in collaboration with Honda that can be driven with a remote control. Another one, like Xiaomi, joins the world of mobility.

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The Sony press conference on the eve of CES 2024 served to showcase the synergies between its different media, gaming, and entertainment brands.

Izumi Kawanishi, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Honda Mobility, reintroduced the electric car Afeela by driving it on stage with a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

What do we know about Sony’s electric car?

You probably won’t be able to park your Sony EV with your PS5 controller when the brand starts manufacturing Afeela. Kawanishi was quick to point out that it was just a technical demonstration.

This is the third time the electric car is presented at CES and it looks almost the same as the last time we saw it, so it makes sense that a flashy presentation was needed to catch our attention.

However, Sony and Honda executives provided more details about the development of Afeela and now we know more about the entertainment and safety technologies that the joint venture of the Japanese companies will bring to the road.

It turns out that Afeela has more in common with your PS5 than the controller. To begin with, it uses Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.3 to power the three-dimensional graphics and visual effects that fill the huge widescreen dashboard.

Drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy detailed 3D maps, virtual spaces, and augmented reality views of the world surrounding the Afeela, to which metadata from the Internet can be overlaid. Users will also have access to multimedia content from Sony’s various catalogs of television shows, movies, and games to keep passengers entertained.

Unreal Engine is also used to render the simulated environments used to train Afeela’s multi-camera driver assistance systems.

The highly realistic graphics of UE5 are also used to enhance safety. The highly realistic simulated environments of the game engine allow for greater accuracy when training visual models and processing neural networks that power the driver assistance features of the EV.

Sony Honda Mobility also announced a new partnership with Microsoft to use the Azure AI cloud computing technology from the software giant in the development of Afeela.

We already know the games coming to PS Plus in January 2024: one of them is a bomb

We already know the games coming to PS Plus in January 2024: one of them is a bomb that has been on some people’s list of the best of the year.

With the end of the year, many things go away. The month of December, the entire year 2023, and of course, everything that has happened in it. 2024 is a new year, but that doesn’t mean that everything that will happen in it will be new. Many things will remain the same, for better or for worse. But let’s focus on the good. Because it’s time to talk about what’s coming in terms of games for all PlayStation Plus users.

After a good December, but left us a little cold, we expected Sony to step up their game with their service. And we can’t deny that they have. The three titles they have announced are not only relatively recent, but also remarkable and outstanding. Three titles that should appeal to people with very different tastes and, if you allow us the opinion, you should take a look at any of them that catch your attention.

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A Plague Tale Requiem (PlayStation 5)

The big, exclusive title for PlayStation 5 is A Plague Tale: Requiem. Sequel to A Plague Tale, although it is desirable to have played the original, it is not necessary to understand the events of this one. Bigger, more polished and more elegant, sometimes for its own good, it is a good sequel that doesn’t surprise in the same way, but it is a good adventure with an exceptional story.

Evil West (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)

Flying Wild Hog disappointed us with Trek To Yomi after the excellent Shadow Warrior reboots, only to restore our faith with this Evil West. A third person shooter with a horror setting where we embody a vampire hunter in the Wild West. With certain mechanics in the style of Devil May Cry, encouraging us to make combos, and a B-movie touch, it is a fun and crazy game that you shouldn’t miss.

Nobody Saves The World (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)

If there is a game that has gone under the radar of much of the public and critics, that is Nobody Saves the World. An excellent action RPG, heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda, to create a very original, crazy and fun game, but it ended up going unnoticed for some reason. A true must-play if you like the Zelda series, dungeon crawlers or roguelikes, especially being a game from DrinkBox Studios, the people behind the excellent Guacamelee!

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Bungie could end up becoming part of Sony… and it will all depend on ‘Destiny 2’

The contract included a clause that made it very clear that if the studio did not meet its financial goals, Sony could take control, fire all the leaders and make it their own. And you will never guess what happened.

3600 million dollars. That’s the amount Sony paid in 2022 to acquire Bungie, once the flagship of Microsoft with ‘Halo.’ But by now, we should know that signing in blood and in front of the devil doesn’t usually bring anything good. The contract included a clause that made it very clear: if the studio didn’t meet financial targets, Sony could take control, dismiss all the leaders, and make it theirs. And you’ll never guess what happened.

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Thing of destiny

Initially, everything looked good: Bungie would remain an independent studio, and Sony had nothing to say about it. But of course, in 2023, they fell far from their goal. How much? By 45%. Neither the ‘Lightfall’ expansion nor the number of ‘Destiny 2‘ players are enough to keep the studio afloat.

For now, the 1100-person studio has managed to stay afloat by cutting staff (and thus, turning a profit), but all eyes are on June 2024 when ‘The Final Shape,’ the next expansion for ‘Destiny 2,’ will be released. It could either revive the game’s interest to its 2017 launch levels or condemn not just the title but also the studio.

Bungie isn’t devoid of other prospects: ‘Marathon,’ their highly anticipated shooter, is set to release in 2025 (at least for now). The only uncertainty surrounding it is whether their issues stem from decisions made long ago within the studio that have led to serious internal problems or if, on the other hand, they’ve been due to Sony‘s expectations in setting the year’s objectives. Either way, it doesn’t seem like Bungie is eager to jump for joy right now, and the festive season might not be so festive for them.

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The study of Bayonetta anime style becomes a second-party Sony endeavor

The anime-style Bayonetta studio becomes a second party for Sony, promising us a global launch from the Japanese company

Even though Sony is one of the major companies in the video game industry, it can’t keep up with the gigantic multinational corporations that have joined the industry recently. The constant, billion-dollar acquisitions based on very long-term plans are something that the Japanese can hardly afford or justify. But that doesn’t mean they’re not on the hunt for their own studios. It’s just that their acquisitions aren’t as flashy as those of other companies.

This has been demonstrated with their latest acquisition. Sony has announced that from now on, Shift Up will become the company’s first second-party studio in South Korea. And if Shift Up doesn’t ring a bell, creators of the upcoming Stellar Blade, previously known as Project EVE, we don’t blame you. It’s not a game that stands out by its name. Although we’re sure you’ll recognize it as soon as you see its trailer.

Stellar Blade is an action game with hack’n’slash elements reminiscent of classic titles in the genre like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, or Nier Automata. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, players will confront robots and demonic entities in challenging and brutal combat, all within a visually stunning game. Developed exclusively for PlayStation 5, the game was originally announced in 2019 as Project Eve before later being renamed Stellar Blade, with a tentative release date of 2023.

As the year draws to a close, it’s clear that we’ll have to wait a bit longer to dive into this game on our consoles. However, with the signing of this agreement, it’s confirmed that Stellar Blade will be published and distributed worldwide by Sony, who will also handle its marketing and promotion. Therefore, it’s expected that regardless of its current status, Sony will aim to launch it to bolster their current lineup of first and second-party games for the upcoming year.

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Will the new PS5 Slim require an internet connection? We’ll tell you everything we know.

PlayStation 5 Slim will require the Internet so that we can use it, in all its variants, whether with or without a disc reader, in a tough blow for users

Sony is not known for making the most sensible or popular moves with its hardware. In the past, they have removed features from their consoles once released in new models, and sometimes these new models have been inferior to the older ones. It’s a common occurrence with the Japanese company, which is why when they announce a revision of their consoles, it is always met with skepticism and caution. Something that doesn’t seem to be different with PlayStation 5 Slim.

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According to images published on the Internet depicting the initial setup process of the new PlayStation 5, popularly referred to as PlayStation 5 Slim, it has been confirmed that it would require an internet connection to activate the disc reader. Initially, this would only need to be done once, registering the reader with the motherboard it is connected to. Speculations suggest that the reasons for this requirement could be to comply with the regulations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States.

What’s surprising is that this requirement applies not only to the digital model but also to the version with a disc reader, effectively rendering the console useless until it is connected to the Internet, at least once. This could pose significant issues for users.

Indeed, many users on the Internet have already lamented that this is a severe blow to preservation efforts, as well as a significant attack against consumer rights. To activate the new PlayStation 5 consoles, not only will an internet connection be required, but Sony’s servers must also be operational. There is no assurance that this will continue to be the case in the coming years, let alone decades. Not to mention the probable scenario of a temporary outage that could last hours or even days, rendering a newly purchased PlayStation 5 useless.

If confirmed, these are terrible news for all consumers and a user-unfriendly move that, while not unprecedented for Sony, demonstrates a complete lack of consideration for their customers.

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Sony confirms hack that leaked data of many of its employees

Following the recent cyber attack suffered by Sony, the Japanese company has claimed that this hacking managed to expose the information of a whopping 7,000 employees, whether they are still with the company or not. Specifically, it is said that 6,800 workers have been affected, which is a very important figure, as reported by Bleeping Computer. Thus, Sony has already contacted those affected.

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On the other hand, the hack would not have affected PlayStation players and users, something that was in question and that was of great concern to the gaming community itself. Also, more details about the security breach have been reported, such as that it would be related to the MOVEit software, created by Progress Software and used by Sony Interactive Entertainment employees, according to this document.

Sony claims that data of nearly 7,000 employees was leaked after hacking

In fact, Progress Software advised on May 31 that it had found a vulnerability in the aforementioned software, something that occurred a few days before a hacker, or group of hackers, accessed the personal information of the aforementioned number of Sony employees, all of them from the United States. While this seems quite worrisome, the firm claims that the incident is limited to that Progress software and not to other systems they employ. Additionally, the owner of PlayStation indicates that it has already resolved the vulnerability.

“On June 2, SIE discovered unauthorized downloads, took the platform offline and remediated the vulnerability,” Sony has told its employees. “An investigation was launched with the help of external cybersecurity experts. We also notified law enforcement. Once the files were identified, we began to determine the type of personal information and those affected. While we worked quickly, this is a time-consuming process and we wanted to provide accurate information.”

In connection with this, the company has offered free monitoring and identity restoration services for those affected by possible phishing, something that could end up arising in the near future. It is worth mentioning that no such cases have come to light so far.

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On the other hand, Sony confirmed a week ago that it was investigating the hackers’ statement, but in that attack there would be no consumer or partner data on the server that would have been affected either. In short, the company insisted in saying that “there is no adverse impact on Sony’s activities“. Also, although the aforementioned hacker group threatened to sell the stolen data, it seems that this material was not too compromising, according to some experts.

Now you’re going to be able to play Red Dead Redemption better than ever

Before announcing the third part and breaking the Internet with a slam on the table, it has decided to give one more twist to one of its great star titles.

“Red Dead Redemption” is 13 years old, but there’s not a month that goes by without it making headlines. Whether it’s due to its release on Nintendo Switch or because a player has achieved something incredible, there’s no doubt that Rockstar keeps raking in stacks of cash with John Marston‘s adventures in the Old West. But before announcing the third installment and breaking the internet with a single move, they have decided to give one of their flagship titles another twist.

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The Red Dead Redemption

And, without warning, they have released patch 1.03 on the PlayStation Store, which gives the game a 60fps mode, something many have been requesting for a long time. The problem? You’ll have to make a choice. Either 30fps at higher resolution or 60fps but slightly worse graphics. You can’t have it all in this life, at least until they release its inevitable remake in a few years.

This improvement (depending on how you look at it) is currently available only on PlayStation 5. Since the game is not native to that console, it’s a way for Sony to give it a boost and allow players of the new generation to give it another chance. It was released on PlayStation 4 on August 17, so this is a way to provide an extra incentive for those using the later console with backward compatibility.

“A game from PS3, released on PS4, and enhanced on PS5. That’s what they call milking the cow until it runs dry. At least, it did come with ‘Undead Nightmare,’ its DLC, although the price tag remained prohibitively high for a title that hasn’t even received a facelift. I personally remember the day I bought this game right when it was released. And yes, indeed, I’m signing the papers for the nursing home now. Might as well start now than be shocked when ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ gets its remake on PS6.”

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These are the PS Plus games for October

We already have the October PlayStation games announcement among us, with three games that you may not have expected, but you definitely need!

Few days are happier than the last Wednesday of the month when the PS Plus games for the next month are announced. This month is not only quite interesting but perhaps we need to explain why it is. That’s okay. That’s what we’re here for. Sony sometimes makes choices that may seem a bit out of place, and not everything will always be AAA titles, but that doesn’t mean that what they are offering are bad games. Far from it.

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This month, we have a good dose of horror, adventure to solve as you like, and one of the best-selling and celebrated simulators in all of our old continent. As we already mentioned that it had been leaked. Do you want to know what they are? Well, for that, you just have to keep reading. Do you want to play them? For that, you’ll have to wait until Tuesday, October 3rd, or if you’re reading this after that date, claim them before Monday, November 6th. And having clarified everything, let’s get to the games!

The Callisto Protocol (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4)

The first game from Striking Distance Studios promised to be the spiritual successor to Dead Space, and we had good reasons to believe it would be. Directed by Glen Schofield, the executive producer of the original Dead Space, and with the studio founded by him, it was expected to capture that same spirit. In the end, the game turned out to be a bit rough around the edges, with an inconclusive ending until the arrival of the DLC, but let’s not kid ourselves. The Callisto Protocol is a good horror game that, while not as original and groundbreaking as the original Dead Space, iterates quite well from its foundations to create something truly interesting.

Farming Simulator 22 (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4)

For a significant portion of the audience, Farming Simulator might sound like a filler game. However, for a small but significant group of players, it’s like saying they include the Game of the Year (GOTY) every year. For many people, this is their FIFA or NBA 2K, except instead of playing a sport, they manage a farm in a relatively realistic manner. There are online competitions, with a professional competitive circuit included. Farming Simulator 22 represents a significant graphical leap compared to the previous Farming Simulator 19, in addition to adding many improvements that make it the best farm simulator you can play.

Weird West (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4)

Raphaël Colantonio, the director of Weird West and the founder of WolfEye Studio, may not be a widely recognized name among the general public. However, if we mention that he is the creative director behind games like Dishonored and Prey from Arkane Studios, we might have a clearer picture of who this person is. Because Weird West is exactly what we can expect from Colantonio. It’s a game where everything interacts with everything else, and the beauty lies precisely in that. We find ourselves in a Wild West setting where we have to solve a series of personal problems for five different characters, and how we do it is entirely up to us. Everything has consequences. Nothing is off-limits. Few games will ever offer you more freedom to do as you please and accept the consequences than Weird West.

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Will the new Skyrim arrive on PlayStation 5? This is what we know

The Elders Scrolls VI, the continuation of Skyrim, may never see the light of day on PlayStation 5, as leaked from Xbox documents.

Microsoft is having a bad day today. With a massive leak happening due to documentation that should not have seen the light outside of the courtroom, Xbox is witnessing how all its plans for the coming years are exposed to the world. Not only to gamers but also to competitors. While it’s true that many of these plans have already been executed, and many may have changed, all this information sheds light on what they have in store for the future, including what they do not have planned for the competition.

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The Elder Scrolls VI, the successor to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, was announced during the E3 event in 2018. Although we now know that its development didn’t begin until the release of Starfield in September of this year, we’ve been aware of its existence for five years. And Bethesda has a target release year for the game: 2026.

While it may seem excessive to announce a game eight years before the target release date and five years before the start of its development, there’s even more concerning news. Among the confidential information that has accidentally leaked during the trial with the FTC, it has been revealed that The Elder Scrolls VI would be an Xbox and PC exclusive.

As analyst Stephen Tolito has shown in a chart depicting Bethesda’s upcoming releases, The Elder Scrolls VI has a big red cross indicating it won’t be released on PlayStation. This is very disappointing news for fans of the franchise and those who enjoyed Skyrim and only have a PlayStation 5, as they will be forced to switch to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or PC if they want to play its spiritual sequel. Because, as Microsoft has made clear, albeit accidentally, starting in 2023, all of Bethesda’s games have little to do with Sony.

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Summary of the September PlayStation Direct

Sony made a lackluster PlayStation Direct today that is saved thanks to a great announcement by Square Enix and a very good start.

Sony is not known for conferences that stand out in terms of pace or quality, except for honorable exceptions. Unfortunately, this PlayStation Direct has not been one of those exceptions. While there was a big surprise at the end and a good start, the conference got lost among half-baked announcements and dedicating too much time to things that didn’t need it. But that won’t stop us from summarizing everything that has happened so that you know all that they have announced. And even more importantly, so that you can assess everything properly.

The PlayStation Direct began with Baby Steps, and it was quite an intense way to start. Developed by Maxi Boch, Gabe Cuzzillo, and Bennett Foddy, the latter two have previously worked together on APE OUT, and Bennett Foddy is especially known for the successful game among streamers, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy. Here, they continue with their same sense of humor, combining player frustration with pushing the boundaries of game design to find what makes an experience memorable. However, we’ll have to wait until summer 2024 for its release.

Next came a small VR segment. They showed a Ghostbusters game titled Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghostlord, set to be released on October 26, and the VR mode for Resident Evil 4 Remake, scheduled for winter. They also announced the Resident Evil 4 Separate’s Ways DLC, which allows us to experience the adventure from Ada’s perspective and will be released on September 21, along with an update to the Mercenaries mode.

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Outside of this block, there have been three games that have stood out especially. The arrival of Roblox on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on October 10, the release of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on December 7 and some technical aspects of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which will be released on October 20. Three advertisements that we already knew and that, despite having shown more about the games, have not shown much more that we did not know.

In addition to those, they have shown a quick preview of another game series. They have shown Ghostrunner II, an interesting platform hack’n’slash that will be released on October 26 and has a demo now available. They have shown Helldivers II, which will be released for both Steam and PlayStation 5, and have dated its release for February 8, 2024. They have announced a DLC for Tales of Arise, called Beyond the Dawn, for next November 9, without giving more information. They have tiptoed around the launch of Honkai: Star Rail on PlayStation 5 on October 11. And they have spent more time than the two previous announcements combined talking about Foamstars, a Splatoon clone that will have an open beta between September 29 and October 1.

Nevertheless, the big highlight came at the end. That’s when they announced that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be released on February 29, 2024. This closed a conference that lacked much excitement and could have been more interesting with a bit more effort from Sony.

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