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Moss creators reflect on five years of PS VR

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Shuhei Yoshida, head of PlayStation Indies, Sony Interactive Entertainment, introduced the world to PlayStation VR by stating that it was going to be “the next innovation from PlayStation that will [shape] the future of games.” And boy was he right.

For the past five years, PlayStation VR has provided the industry, specifically VR developers like us, with an incredible opportunity to create worlds and games that push entertainment and emotional connection beyond what today’s more traditional game technologies provide. VR is the only platform that truly immerses players in other worlds, allowing them to be a part of a narrative experience. You are a part of the story. Characters look at, converse with, and react to you. Not only do you have presence in beautifully rendered worlds, but you can also interact with the world in a physical way that feels intuitive and true. For instance, in Moss, whether it’s dragging a giant, heavy device to solve a puzzle, or poking hanging vines to sway them back and forth, players convince themselves that they are interacting with a genuine world. That is, until they take off their headset.

But it’s not just the physical interaction that makes VR special, it’s also the emotional connections that you make with virtual characters. When developing Moss for PlayStation VR, we learned that VR gives players the ability to build deep connections with characters over time through shared experiences. And in doing so, players believe that this connection is real—because, it kind of… is. These connections and the emotions they elicit—excitement, joy, and even heartbreak—are mind-opening for players who didn’t know they could feel so strongly within a digital experience.

Since releasing Moss on PlayStation VR in 2018, we’ve continued to experiment, learn, and advance our understanding of VR. In fact, Tyler Walters, principal technical artist, and Richard Lico, animation director, have provided a quick behind-the-scenes look at the work we’re doing to enhance both the thrill of physical interaction, and the joy of emotional connection, in Moss: Book II.

Tyler Walters: Moss proved that dynamic interactive visuals are very enjoyable and rewarding in VR. With additional team members on Moss: Book II, we found an opportunity to create many more visual effect systems and shaders that can only be experienced at their fullest within VR. This ranges from snowflakes falling in the mountains, to candle flames that move around as the player creates wind with their hands. Each of these systems create a different mood and sensation, so much so that some of us even feel colder while playing in the snowy levels of the game.

We’ve also added a new player ability that allows players to grow traversable foliage for Quill in the game. This includes a vine bri

Celebrating five years of PlayStation VR

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Today marks the fifth anniversary of the day PlayStation VR was introduced to the world, and we want to take this moment to thank all of our fans and our talented development community for embracing this platform and supporting PS VR through the years. It’s amazing to see how virtual reality has really established itself in these past five years as a platform for gaming, and we’re pleased to have PS VR play a big role in VR’s growth.

And to celebrate this PS VR milestone, we wanted to give a special thank you to PlayStation fans: Starting in November, PlayStation Plus* members will get three PS VR bonus games for no extra charge. Stay tuned for more details in the PlayStation Plus update in the next few weeks.

Since the PS VR launch, we have seen a diverse range of unique experiences that showcase a sense of presence we set out to achieve with this platform, including critically acclaimed games such as the thrilling sights and sounds action shooter Rez Infinite, the epic rescue mission platformer Astro Bot Rescue Mission, and the stealth action of Hitman 3.

With more than 500 games and experiences available on PS VR, let’s take a look back at the top five most played** games on PS VR worldwide since launching five years ago.

 Most-Played PlayStation VR Games Globally

  • Rec Room
  • Beat Saber
  • PlayStation VR Worlds
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
  • Resident Evil 7 biohazard

Most-Played PlayStation VR Games, By Region

  • Europe: Rec Room, PlayStation VR Worlds, Beat Saber, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim VR, Resident Evil 7 biohazard
  • North America: Rec Room, Beat Saber, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, Job Simulator, Firewall: Zero Hour
  • Japan: Resident Evil 7 biohazard, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, PlayStation VR Worlds, Beat Saber, Gran Turismo Sport

There’s plenty more PS VR games to look forward to, with games in development  such as Moss: Book II, Wanderer, After the Fall, Humanity, Puzzling Places, Zenith: The Last City and more. The games created for PS VR come from some of our industry’s most talented developers who consistently challenge themselves to bring amazing experiences to the platform.

To mark this occasion, we decided to take a trip down memory lane with developers who share with us what their experience was like when they first got their hands on PlayStation VR.

Reflecting on FFXIV’s big comeback, from launch to November’s Endwalker expansion

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In the industry, the development story of Final Fantasy XIV has reached an almost mythical status. After a difficult launch, the second massively multiplayer online RPG of the Final Fantasy franchise needed salvaging. Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, an avid MMO player himself, was the one tasked with this herculean undertaking, a process that led him and his team to rebuild the game from the ground up and relaunch it under a fitting new name, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Endwalker’s brand-new title screen, a sight that will welcome players from the 19th of November.

As a 1.0 player myself, I vividly remember Yoshida-san’s initial introduction to the community. Aware of the awkwardness of the situation, the newly appointed producer chose to address players directly. He introduced himself and his preliminary plans in what he called a “Letter from the Producer” – a written account to the community that set the tone for a two-way communication that endures to this day, initially gauging players for direct feedback in a handful of small, targeted surveys, assessing expectations and wishes for the game they were playing despite the tumult.

It wasn’t until months later than the idea of A Realm Reborn was formally introduced. Final Fantasy XIV would be “nuked” to be reborn anew – both figuratively and quite literally. In 2012, after a climactic cinematic and months of increasingly gloomy in-game updates, the servers shut down. A few months later, A Realm Reborn would introduce a brand-new world to explore.

The final days of Final Fantasy XIV before its shutdown and eventual 2.0 rebirth. Players had no idea what terrors slept in Dalamud, the ominous red moon…

Now, eight years since A Realm Reborn’s release and on the eve of its fourth and largest expansion to date, Final Fantasy XIV boasts more than 24 million players and has become the most profitable title in the Final Fantasy franchise, a feat largely attributed to the diligent work of Naoki Yoshida and his team.

As part of Square Enix’s recent Media Tour, I was able to play a preview version of its upcoming expansion, Endwalker. Brimming with content, this new behemoth of an update will increase the character level cap to 90 and will introduce two brand-new playable jobs, a male variant of the fan-favorite Viera race, and a wealth of raids, dungeons, and other new content to the MMO. Tag-teaming with fellow interviewer Jade King from TheGamer, I was able to get Naoki Yoshida’s thoughts on the current state of the game, Endwalker’s development, and his own journey all the way to this new release.

As the lead UI/UX designer for the project, it was my responsibility to marry those two worlds, ensuring the game’s interface was deep and intuitive whilst perfectly in sync with the DualSense controller. Due to ongoing back issues (by spending both work and free time sitting at a desk) I have been using the DualSense controller full time when gaming on PC and PS5. I was thrilled with how well the controller worked across both platforms, so much so that I even transposed my entire UI layout from some of my favourite MMOs (no small feat!). With this unique background, I knew I was up to the task of building Disciples: Liberation as the perfect DualSense controller coupling. If I could give more accessibility to players, allowing any type of person to choose whichever input they would like to play our game, I would consider my job a success. 

It was fairly early in development that we started to lean towards a virtual cursor for the in-game menus. For those that don’t know, a virtual cursor is one which players are able to freely move around the screen using the left or right analogue stick. From my experience playing other games using this same system, I knew we could come up with something really special if we spent the time considering how best we could create menus that felt at home on the PS5.   

To begin, we put some time into researching a handful of previous titles that had implemented a virtual cursor in their interface and quickly noticed that a fairly fast-moving cursor that slows over buttons and interactive elements, to give players time to react and stop over them, was perfect. We also used Fitt’s Law for the menus and on-screen button interactions, a la

(For Southeast Asia) “Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles” Game Trailer #3 Released!

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Introducing Adventure Mode “The Hinokami Chronicles”, where you’ll follow Tanjiro through his journey, and Versus Mode “Battles”, which can be played in a 2 vs 2 setting!

Tanjiro and his friends make their way to the Mugen Train, but what awaits them there is… Be sure to check it out!

<Adventure Mode “The Hinokami Chronicles”>

In Adventure Mode, follow Tanjiro Kamado through the story from the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Share of the Week: Death Stranding Director’s Cut

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Last week, we asked you to journey through the dangerous peaks and valleys of Death Stranding Director’s Cut using #PSshare #PSBlog. From lush landscapes to Sam’s many modes of transportation, here are this week’s highlights: 

RevolutionAndre shares Sam throwing up a fist in the air triumphantly.

gamingbyframe shares a landscape grown over with grass.

toyo_3po shares Sam raising up his BB.

oolong_cha_cha shares Sam riding his motorcycle towards a rainbowed blue sky.

yokoichi444 shares Sam standing in front of a wall with the BRIDGES logo on it.

Photoingame shares a close up look at one of Sam’s cars.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? 

THEME: Moonlight
SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on October 1

Next week, we’re taking some time to bask in the moonlight. Share your favorite nighttime gaming moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: An homage to Hispanic Heritage and representation

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Hey everyone, Hispanic Heritage Month is officially underway and here at Insomniac Games, we’re proud of the work that went into the cultural representation of the Morales family and East (sometimes referred to as Spanish) Harlem in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. As someone who comes from a Hispanic background, I felt a powerful connection to Miles’ story so I’m delighted to share the details that went into establishing the game’s representation and giving people like myself meaningful recognition in Marvel’s New York. I’ve had the honor to speak with the writers, artists, animators, and audio designers at Insomniac who collaborated with dialect coaches, consultancy groups, actors from across Latin America, and our own studio talent to ensure the Hispanic representation felt genuine and specific. The team also traveled to East Harlem to study the neighborhood and learn about the people who continually make it a vibrant place to live.

So, let’s talk about how the environments were influenced starting with Miles’ apartment. Originally his grandmother’s, the apartment is an homage to Puerto Rican culture and celebrates Miles’ roots. Paintings that depict Puerto Rican dancers and pueblos are hung on the walls alongside flags, straw hats, and family portraits. Meanwhile, Puerto Rican staples like coquí frog statues, inspired by the country’s national animal, are found on shelves and as refrigerator magnets. The set also includes wooden Santos figurines that allude to Abuela’s religious upbringing. During the sequence La Nochebuena, Rio can be found frying up tostones in the kitchen while pasteles boil in a stock pot. Keen eyes can find other mouthwatering dishes such as flan and fresh empanadas on plates alongside a bowl of arroz con gandules. When we spoke to Puerto Rican consultants, they reminisced about their childhood and Christmas gatherings, offering detailed descriptions of visiting their grandparents’ homes. Specifically, we wanted Puerto Rican players to feel a sense of home and comfort, so we included the little details that would take them back to those moments growing up.

Music also plays a crucial role in connecting Miles to his heritage. In La Nochebuena, players are given a choice of music to pick for the party, each embodying key figures in Miles’ life: a jazz tune from his father; an R&B track from Uncle Aaron; and from Abuela, a salsa tune some may recognize as Esta Navidad (“This Christmas”) by Puerto Rican salsa musicians Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. At Rio Morales’ campaign rally, you can also hear La Gozadera, a reggaeton dance tune from Cuban music duo Gente de Zona. The selection was inspired by songs you’d hear at Latin-American events: the Willie Colón classic can be heard at family gatherings during the holiday season, meanwhile Gente de Zona hypes up parties and invites Latin Americans to celebrate their diversity through song and dance.

Out on the streets of East Harlem, you’ll notice other cultural Hispanic touchstones: beautiful murals depicting the lives of people in the community – friends, family, camaraderie, elders playing games, and children play

PlayStation Store: September 2021’s top downloads

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Greetings! The numbers are in and we’ve got some piping-hot charts for ya.

NBA 2K22 was the big winner last month, topping the PS5 US, PS4 US, and PS4 EU lists (and earning the runner-up spot for PS5 EU). Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Deathloop round out the top three for PS5, with big debuts from other newcomers like Diablo II: Resurrected and Death Stranding: Director’s Cut.

Peep the full charts below, then mosey over to the comments to let us know which games you think are going to make a splash this month.

PS5 Games

US/CanadaEU
1NBA 2K22Kena: Bridge of Spirits
2DEATHLOOPNBA 2K22
3Kena: Bridge of SpiritsDiablo II: Resurrected
4Diablo II: ResurrectedDEATHLOOP
5Madden NFL 22Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT
6Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUTDEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT
7Tales of AriseTales of Arise
8Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
9DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUTAssassin’s Creed Valhalla
10Life is Strange: True ColorsF1 2021
11Assassin’s Creed ValhallaLife is Strange: True Colors
12TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX SIEGETOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX | SIEGE
13Marvel’s AvengersIt Takes Two
14HOT WHEELS UNLEASHEDHITMAN 3
15Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
16Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarMarvel’s Avengers
17STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen OrderMetro Exodus
18HITMAN 3No Man’s Sky
19Demon’s SoulsSTAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order
20Aliens: Fireteam EliteWatch Dogs: Legion

*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included

PS4 Games

US/CanadaEU
1NBA 2K22NBA 2K22
2Madden NFL 22Grand Theft Auto V
3Diablo II: ResurrectedMinecraft
4Grand Theft Auto VRed Dead Redemption 2
5MinecraftDiablo II: Resurrected
6Red Dead Redemption 2Need for Speed Heat
7Need for Speed HeatFall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
8Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarThe Forest
9Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesGran Turismo Sport
10Insurgency: SandstormeFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE
11Batman: Arkham KnightTOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX | SIEGE
12God of WarThe Crew 2
13Tales of AriseF1 2021
14THE FORESTCall of Duty: Black O

Scandinavian-inspired adventure, Röki, comes to PS5 October 28

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Röki is a multi-award winning adventure game inspired by Scandinavian folklore, and arrives on PlayStation 5 on October 28. Set in the stunning, snow-capped wilderness, you play Tove. She’s a young girl plunged into a living fairytale, where you must solve puzzles, collect curiosities, and uncover a tale of tragic loss. Your quest is to rescue your brother Lars from Röki; a gigantic pitch-black creature with a mysterious smile. Like the movie Jaws, our game is eponymously named after its monster, although there may be more to Röki than meets the eye…

Scandinavian-inspired adventure, Röki, comes to PS5 October 28

As Tove, you explore the enchanting 3D world, find long-forgotten objects, talk with misunderstood monsters, and solve ancient puzzles to unlock paths deeper into the wilderness. You can also dive into the pages of Tove’s handwritten journal that she scribbles in as you explore, charting her adventure. This includes notes of folklore, loot, and wilderness “badge” achievements, as well as some of her inner thoughts and reflections.

The game’s combination of fairytale adventure, emotional storytelling, and signature graphical art style has won it many accolades, accumulating in nominations for Best Debut Game at The Game Awards and Best British Game and Best Debut Game at the BAFTA Game Award, which was amazing for us as a tiny indie team.

Adventure for all

Röki is our take on modernizing the classic adventure games we loved growing up – games like Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, and Grim Fandango. We wanted to capture the storytelling and spirit of adventure from those games, but more importantly, update the play style for audiences today. You take direct control of Tove with the pad and can explore the world in 3D, rather than directing her with a cursor. Not only does this make the game feel more immediate and r

(For Southeast Asia) “Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles” Adventure Mode Introduction③

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In Adventure Mode, follow Tanjiro Kamado through the story from the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” anime by diving in and taking control yourself!

This game includes the events of “Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc” where Tanjiro would begin his journey, join the Demon Slayer Corps and fight a variety of demons, as well as “the Movie: Mugen Train” where he was accompanied by the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku!

The fights against the demons from the anime are given new life with incredible graphics!

Introducing a part of what’s included in Adventure Mode!

Butterfly Mansion Arc

Take control of Tanjiro as you undergo Breathing and reflex training by playing the Gourd Breaking and Tea Throwing mini games respectively!

Learn to master the Total Concentration: Constant technique as you train!

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