PlayStation Partners With Firewalk Studios For New AAA, Multiplayer Project

Noted that Sony Interactive Entertainment has already orchestrated a fine roster of developers that makes up PlayStation Studios is certainly worth keeping in mind, it is also established partnerships and other arrangements that the PlayStation company is preparing for the coming generation. Speaking with Nikkie, President & CEO Jim Ryan explained to be “slowly but steadily investing” on what will deliver the most number of exclusives to any PlayStation system. Already, Sony Interactive Entertainment proved to pounce on opportunities this past March. In that, the platform giant established to welcome aboard a new team founded by for Stadia Games and Entertainment head, Jade Raymond. With the founding of Haven Entertainment Studios, Raymond will be helming the new operation as it brings unique experiences to PlayStation. Similarly, the PlayStation firm now welcomes a new face to work on an exclusive project for PlayStation 5 – Firewalk Studios. The Washington-based team comprised of former employees that worked on Destiny, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends. The team is to work on a new AAA, multiplayer title. We’re thrilled to announce a partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment for our new, original multiplayer game. For our team, the opportunity to create new worlds and inspire more amazing moments for players around the world is the fire and ambition that keeps us going. The PlayStation team has a deep love and respect for the medium of games, and some of the best expertise and capabilities in the world to help make big ambitions a reality. We’re already hard at work on development and have been having a ton of fun playing our game as a team. In fact, while we continued to grow our team during this challenging last year, it was our daily online playtests that provided the most consistent point of joy and connection for our crew. The fun and laughter of playing together brought us closer, even if we were physically apart. Our goal is to be able to deliver that same joy to gamers and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on when the time is right. Tony Hsu, Firewalk Studios’ Studio Head As new announcements surface on behalf of the future for Sony Interactive Entertainment, they present to disprove a prior Bloomberg report. In that, the publication suggest that PlayStation is keeping its cards close to its chest as the firm plans to only highlight its most prominent developers and franchises. That being noted in extension to the topic, it is also indicated that the PlayStation team will be deviating from smaller teams altogether for its approaching console lifecycle. But, independent game studio organizer Asobu announces a new partnership with PlayStation. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you interested to see what the new Firewalk Studios project will be? Source: PlayStation Blog

PlayStation Joins Asobu’s List Of Partners To Further Support Japanese Independent Studios

In terms of the overall goal for the coming PlayStation generation, it appears that Sony Interactive Entertainment does not aim to incorporate smaller teams into its first-party plans. From Bloomberg, the publication reports that the PlayStation company will be emphasizing on its efforts to prop up its blockbuster projects and the developers tied to the namely franchises. However, there does appear to be more than what is on the surface. While upcoming plans are still unclear on behalf of PlayStation 5, the firm does show to be pursuing this next console lifespan more conservatively. In that, President & CEO Jim Ryan when speaking to Nikkie recently explained that the company is “quietly but steadily investing” towards new propositions for the PlayStation 5. While the initial circumstance implicates that Sony Interactive Entertainment will be partitioning from smaller teams internally, that does not determine the same connotation elsewhere. On Thursday, indie studio hub Asobu announced to be partnering with PlayStation for the future of small-scale teams in Japan. “Very happy to announce that @PlayStation is coming on board as an official asobu sponsor! A clear sign of their continuing efforts to reach out to and support Japanese indies,” the group announced on Twitter.” The organization also happens to partner with other companies as well like ID@Xbox, Makers Fund, Kowloon Nights, and Daysneo. In conjunction with other partnerships, Sony Interactive Entertainment also collaborated with Iderto for the PlayStation 5. In that, the group will be developing platform-specific anti-cheat measures for the console along with other services that will be provided to developers as well. You can read the full report by heading here. What are your thoughts on the new sponsorship?

PlayStation Boss Jim Ryan Shares To “Quietly But Steadily Investing” For More Unique Release This Generation, Insisted To Be Most Exclusives Ever Compared To Prior Systems

Given the powerhouses that are the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5, there are stark differences between the two in what the SKUs offer respectively. While Microsoft’s latest machine is kicking off loud as the next Xbox Game Pass system, Sony’s resides to the traditional route of being the next home for new hallmark releases. As to the direction that Sony Interactive Entertainment will be heading in future reference for the PlayStation 5, it will continue this strategy as it will focus on already established franchises and series. Bloomberg reports that the firm will prioritize well-named developers as focus on endeavors for its smaller studios are to be minimized such as the reported The Last of Us Remake. Now straight from the mouth of Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan, he elaborates on the plans for more unique projects coming to PlayStation 5. In comparison to prior generations, it is suggested the PlayStation 5 will harbor the most exclusive releases, Ryan asserts. We have been quietly but steadily investing in high-quality games for PlayStation, and we will make sure that the PS5 generation will have more dedicated software than ever before. We have repeatedly engaged in mergers and acquisitions, including Insomniac Games in the US. We will not rule out that option in the future. Later in the interview with Nikkie, which Video Game Chronicles transcribes, Ryan also comments on the importance of the relationship Sony already settled with developers in the Japan region and to further reinforce in the future as well. “It is important for us to provide software that fits the Japanese gaming community, and PS5 has included a lot of software from Japanese developers since its early stages. “We will continue to strengthen our ties with Japanese developers and release content for PS5 that fits the Japanese market.” Looking to other avenues that Sony Interactive Entertainment is pursuing for its platform, entertainment is one that appears to be a potential tent pole for the platform. With a soft launch in Poland for the PlayStation Plus Video Pass, television & film appears to be the next move for the firm. You can read the full report by heading here. What are you most excited to possibly come to PlayStation 5? Source: Video Game Chronicles

Shin Migami Tensei III: Nocturne Remastered HD Announced For May 25 Launch

While Japanese developer Atlus is most touted for its Persona franchise, it should still be noted that the namely series is a spin-off of the source material – Shin Migami Tensei. And while many of the games are certainly out of reach for modern hardware, the game studio is preparing its fifth installment for the Nintendo Switch exclusively. As for prior installments, the firm previously announced Shin Migami Tensei III Nocturne Remastered HD. The game will be a updated version of the classic 2003 title introducing the beloved experience into the realm of high definition. Recently, one rating from Nintendo of Europe revealed that Shin Migami Tensei III Nocturne Remastered HD would be arriving later in May this approaching spring. Now in a new announcement trailer, Atlus confirms the release window. However, the game is arriving a few days after the original listing suggested. You can watch the latest trailer in the video below: In addition to the game receiving a complete HD makeover, Atlus is even going to the lengths to also give the HD treatment to the ‘Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series’ sticker as well. “From HD character models to in-game backgrounds, we’ve remastered everything—even the iconic meme,” Arianne Advincula, Sega of America Communications Manager shares. Following the initial announcement for Shin Migami Tensei III Nocturne Remastered HD, fans were left worried if the crossover would be included in the full release. However, it was later verified that the add-on would be included – as a separate DLC for the game. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you retuning to Shin Migami Tensei III Nocturne Remastered HD this May? Shin Migami Tensei III Nocturne Remastered HD arrives to Nintendo Switch & PlayStation 4 on May 25, 2021. Source: PlayStation Blog

Capcom Announces The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Arrives To PlayStation 4/Nintendo Switch/PC This July

Although much of the attention is pointed to the late March release that is Monster Hunter Rise or the approaching Resident Evil 8 launch next month in May, Capcom continues to draw in its following no matter the announcement. However, the firm is looking to reiterate on a separate franchise according to one finding previously. In a discovery from Gematsu in Taiwan, the Ratings Board reveals a rating for The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. What is most exciting about the unannounced release is that the titles presumed the be in the collection includes the titular entries which has yet to grace markets outside of Japan. But presuming the timing of the rating, it wouldn’t be long until the publisher makes the news official. Now in a new video featuring Shu Takami, director for the original Ace Attorney trilogy, he reveals that The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is arriving later this summer. You can watch the full feature in the video below: “Join Phoenix’s Wright’s ancestor, Ryunosuke Naruhodo, as he takes his first incredibly nervous steps into a courtroom in Meiji era Japan to defend his very first client: himself,” the overview explains. “Soon after, it may seem like you’ll be saying yoi tabi o to Ryunosuke as he leaves Nippon, but you’ll be joining him on his journey as he embarks on adventures that will take him overseas to England’s courts and back again.” Unique about the coming release is that players will be given option on how to play like the use of Japanese or English voice acting for the dialogue or to select which case to start. More exciting is the From the Vault DLC which will include additional art, music, and in-game goodies for those that pre-order or purchase the game shortly after launch. This does not appear to be the end for more Capcom anthology games. In fact, it is suggested that the Japanese firm is preparing to deliver the similar ordeal to Mega Man. More specifically, Mega Man: Battle Network. However, the firm did elaborate it is not ready to share its plans during the subgenre’s 20th anniversary. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you planning to experience Ace Attorney in the 19th century this summer? The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles arrives to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC on July 27, 2021. Source: Capcom

Xbox Game Pass Reported To Hold More Than 23 Million Subscribers

To many Xbox users, the self-named Xbox Game Pass service is the bread & butter for the platform. While gaming since its founding resided on purchasing games individually to own, Microsoft followed the same formula to the likes of Netflix or Hulu to offer a catalogue of titles for a cheaper price for each month. And it proves to be paying off for the Xbox firm as of late. Back in January, The Verge’s Tom Warren reported that the service already accumulated more than 18 million subscribers. Noted, that is three million increase since fall of the year prior. Even more, the number of active subscribers swelled roughly fifty percent since the recording prior to that held in spring 2020 to the following September. Now in April, a new report from Window’s Central’s Jez Corden indicates that Xbox Game Pass has now welcomed over 23 million users. Noted from the previous reporting from Tom Warren, he goes on to speculate originally that Xbox Game Pass could be roughly double the 18 million at the time. He states that the service could face 30 million users by the year’s end in 2021. And if it is an accurate recording from Corden, then that 30 million should be a landslide for Microsoft by the holiday. One noted attribute to recent growth of Xbox Game Pass is xCloud: the cloud streaming service currently linked to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate brings the same roster of titles to most mobile devices. Now with the recent limited beta for iOS & PC going live this week, there is a possible surge to anticipate as well. The most interesting addition to Xbox Game Pass recently is not the games nor the platforms it is available on. Instead, it is how players can download games. In one report from Thurrott, it is shared that Amazon Alexa owners can now download titles by simply asking the voice-recognized AI. You can read the full report by heading here. Do you think Xbox Game Pass could surpass 30 million users?

Sony Launches PlayStation Plus Video Pass In Poland Providing More Than A Dozen Films To Subscribers

Although the PlayStation 5 is received to be the most successful, and best-selling system in U.S. history, there are still some caveats to the latest iteration. One being the lack of opposition to Xbox Game Pass. While Microsoft continues to thrive on its Netflix-esque monthly video game service, players question how the PlayStation company will deal its own hand on the matter. Even with analysts remarking on the business model for Xbox Game Pass being “risk-averse” for new IPs and releases, it further draws the question as to how Sony Interactive Entertainment will respond to the situation. Excitingly, there is plans for something to arrive. Back during the PlayStation 5 launch, President & CEO Jim Ryan shared that a response to the Xbox service is in the works. Additionally, God of War & Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe commented that the PlayStation firm is certainly working on a “counterpunch” to Xbox Game Pass. In a new report from Video Game Chronicles on Thursday, it appears that the possible answer arrived – well, in Poland that is. Originally leaking directly from Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company today soft launched a new service: PlayStation Plus Video Pass. The new test service offers subscribers an assortment of films and television shows to choose from. With 20 in total, entertainment might be a new perk to PlayStation owners. We want to see how players will benefit from such a service. What titles do they watch, what do they care about, how often do they use them. At this stage, however, I cannot say whether it will be created and what the test process will look like for other markets, as well as what the future is for PlayStation Plus Video Pass after the test period. We are currently focusing only on the Polish market, on Polish players and what will be their reaction to the additional benefit under the PS Plus program. We know very well that we have a large base of players in Poland who stand out due to their commitment and activity in the network and social media. Nick Maguire, Sony Interactive Entertainment Global Service Vice President Upon asking further on the choice to execute PlayStation Plus Video Pass in the region, Maguire continues,” They also like to use VoD platforms. For us, this is the perfect combination, the perfect market, to introduce a test service as part of the PS Plus program and see what our key users think about it.” He continues by clarifying that Sony Interactive Entertainment cannot release the data for its chosen demographic, but believes that Poland reflects the complementing factor for both gaming and entertainment under a unified subscription. “I can emphasize that Poland meets all the criteria that are important to us, your country is a mixture of very important factors from this perspective.” Perhaps this is more than Sony’s response to Xbox Game Pass. Instead, it could stand to be the next addition to the PlayStation Plus Collection that is already available. Since its debut back in November 2020, there has yet to be any additions to the program for playStation Plus members on PlayStation 5. But perhaps it could be the answer to another handicap on PlayStation. This coming summer will mark the end of purchasable entertainment on the platform. So rather than offering individual film & TV, the PlayStation company can handle it through a new subscription altogether. You can read the initial report by heading here. What do you think about the PlayStation Plus Video Pass? Source: Video Game Chronicles

DICE Solidifies 2021 Release For New Battlefield, Mobile Game To Come In 2022

For those that are kept in the loop, publisher Electronic Arts and developer DICE are preparing to deliver a new Battlefield game later this year. However, as the game studio tackles its most ambitious release yet, Electronic Arts shares that additional studios will be involved with development. In that, Criterion Games is to be included in production as it postpones work on the next Need for Speed title also scheduled for late 2021. In regards to the newest Battlefield game, little is still understood on the title. Although there is speculation from previously accurate insiders suggesting that a reboot is in order to get players feet wet for the franchise once again, nothing concrete has been revealed. But, there should be an announcement soon. Electronic Arts, again, shared that a spring reveal is to take place which should been closer than we might anticipate. Now from DICE in a new update on Thursday, the Swedish developer goes on to certify that Battlefield is to release later this year. The team also verifies Criterion Games’ involvement and includes assistance from Electronic Arts Gothenburg and the recently revitalized DICE Los Angeles. You can read the statement below: We are creating a jaw-dropping experience for you to enjoy later in 2021. We’re in daily playtesting mode right now: polishing, balancing, and making the best possible Battlefield game we can. I can tell you it is a bold step. It has everything we love about Battlefield – and takes all of it to the next level. Epic scale.  All-out military warfare. Crazy, unexpected moments. Game-changing destruction. Massive battles, packed with more players and mayhem than ever before. All brought to life with the power of next-gen consoles and PCs. Oskar Gabrielson, DICE General Manager Of course, with the new Battlefield underway, DICE is also looking to incorporate the franchise to other platforms. In that, the team in collaboration with Industrial Toys is working to bring a mobile game in 2022. “Make no mistake, this is a standalone game. A completely different game from the one we’re making for console and PC, designed specifically for the mobile platform. “It’s being built from the ground up by iToys to make Battlefield-on-the-go a reality and you can expect a fully-fledged, skill-based experience. This mobile game is now entering a testing period ahead of launching next year, so expect more details to come.” As the series goes to new platforms, there is also some hesitation to prior systems in some regards. Most noteworthy is how DICE aims to have the newest Battlefield “brought to life with the power of next-gen consoles,” the last-generation versions are to be discarded, one rumor insists. The rumor atop of abandoning the Xbox One & PlayStation 4 versions also tell that there will be an arrangement for a day one release on Xbox Game Pass. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for the future of Battlefield? Source: DICE

Microsoft Welcomes A Dozen+ New FPS-supported Titles From EA In New Update

Although one of the largest and still lingering criticisms of the latest Xbox Series X|S is the lacking number of first-party releases, Microsoft is making up for it with continued support to legacy titles. In that, the Xbox company integrated FPS Boost which unlocks framerates for games: debuting in February welcomed a handful of games to test the waters for the new feature. Unlike ‘X Enhanced’ titles for the prior generation, Microsoft doubled down with this new tool as it went on to welcome another helping of supported titles from Bethesda later on. Noted, these upgrades appear to enable performance reaching up to 120 frames per second. It was reported that Xbox Series X already harbors more than triple the number of titles that reach the benchmark over PlayStation 5. And now, that is to continue growing. In a new announcement by Major Nelson, the list swells with a baker’s dozen of titles receiving FPS Boost starting today. You can read the full list below: Battlefield 1 Battlefield 4 Battlefield V Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Sea of Solitude Star Wars Battlefront Star Wars Battlefront II Titanfall Titanfall 2 Unravel 2 Noted, all games are to receive FPS Boost to 120hz on Xbox Series X. However, Jo-Mei’s Sea of Solitude also performs at 60 frames per second. Of course, there is also an exception on Xbox Series S as some games will not be supported for the full 120 fps enhancement (Battlefield 1, Battlefield V, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, Star Wars Battlefront II, Titanfall). More recently in relevance to Xbox and the upside of the platform, Microsoft officially launched the free-to-play initiative for online-supported games. In that, a number of games are now playable without requiring Xbox Live Gold. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you planning to play any of the featured titles? Source: Major Nelson