Hello PlayStation Blog! I’m Corey Martin, designer, programmer and musician on Bonfire Peaks, a new puzzle game crafted in partnership with Draknek & Friends (creators/publishers of A Monster’s Expedition). I’m excited to share that Bonfire Peaks will be launching September 30th on both PS4 and PS5!

In Bonfire Peaks, you start off at the shore of a mysterious island ruin with a simple set of goals: Climb the ruins, solve puzzles, and repeatedly set your belongings on fire. Here’s our launch trailer to quickly sum it up:

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Over 200 handcrafted puzzles are bonded together across that painstakingly designed overworld. Every puzzle presents a distinct idea, either showing you a new mechanic or using a mechanic in a new and unique way. Along your trip, you’ll run into traps and other dangers that lead to surprising, emergent puzzle designs. You don’t gain any power-ups, or grow as a player character; instead, the level geometry and environments reveal possibilities that were there all along.

Have you ever played a game and had your forward progress get blocked by a single puzzle, and it feels like the puzzle is an obstacle between you and the rest of the game? I have and it feels bad. In Bonfire Peaks, the island overworld is structured in such a way that, once you get past the first couple puzzles, there’s always a handful available to you at any given time. If you get stuck on a puzzle, you can always try another and make progress without returning to the first one (unless you want to, of course!).

I started working on Bonfire Peaks in November 2018 as part of a game jam, the theme of which was “sacrifices must be made.” I went into the jam knowing I wanted to make a game about climbing somehow, and the theme then inspired carrying an object for the sake of sacrificing it. Carrying stuff makes climbing harder, so that made a sort of framework for what ended up being a sappy game about nostalgia.

The art style was inspired by a wave of incredible voxel artists (Knos, MadMaraca, Paul Riehle, Dima, among many others) I had been following for a while. Generally when you see voxel art in video games it’s low detail and cute, which is great, but I hope we get to see lots of

Deploying October 5 onto PlayStation 5, Hell Let Loose is an immersive online 50 vs. 50 multiplayer strategic shooter set across 10 highly detailed and accurate maps from World War II’s Western Front, one of which takes place among the trees and mountainous plain of Hürtgen. In the autumn of 1944, months after the Normandy Landings, the forests of Hürtgen saw the United States engage with German forces as part of a strategy to secure Germany’s industrial heartlands. The battle was not only the longest fought on Germany soil during World War II, but it also continues to be the longest single battle ever fought by the U.S. Army.

Between September 16 and 20, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest will be fought during Hell Let Loose’s open beta, exclusively on PlayStation 5. Available to all players, this limited time beta is a taste of what can be expected in the full game. One of the two modes launching next month – Warfare – is playable during the beta, and sees each side begin the battle occupying half of the map. From there, they’ll have to push the opposition back and secure enemy territory for themselves until they reach their base or hold the most ground until the timer runs out. As the two sides of 50 players (each broken down further into squads of six and led by an overarching strategic Commander) fight across trenches, bunkers, and foxholes for every inch of territory, communication will be key to securing the advantage and, ultimately, victory. 

PlayStation 5 is the only platform where the raging battles of Hell Let Loose feel and sound truly immersive, thanks to the exclusive functionality of the DualSense controller and Pulse 3D headset. This is perhaps best illustrated by the use of the K98k bolt-action rifle, a weapon used by Germany through the war. Thanks to the DualSense, players using the rifle will not only feel the haptic resistance on the trigger, but also the bolt as it slides down their palm to ready the next bullet.

These haptic details elevate the Hell Let Loose experience and work together with the PlayStation 5’s 3D audio technology to drive immersion further – especially during a barrage of artillery fire or a tank rumbles past close by. 

At launch, Hell Let Loose will include nine additional huge and to-scale maps alongside Hürtgen. These will include the windswept sands of Utah and Omaha beaches and brutal fighting through the town of

Hello! My name is Joel Nyström, project manager at Ludosity and you will also hear from Fair Play Labs Game Designer Matías R. Singer in this blog, but you’re here to learn about Ren & Stimpy and to find out how they fit into Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, our upcoming platform fighter that is filled with both current and classic Nickelodeon characters.

Ren & Stimpy are definitely on the classic side of the character spectrum. I’m a 90’s kid and I absolutely loved The Ren & Stimpy Show growing up. They were so refreshingly dirty and disturbed compared to everything else at the time. I loved and continue to love them to bits. It was one of the few Nickelodeon shows that aired in Sweden and I often watched it after school. Back then, if you missed it on TV you missed it forever, so I always made sure to catch it and I wasn’t alone. I think everyone involved with the game wanted Ren & Stimpy so their inclusion was a no-brainer.

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As anyone who has watched the show knows, they are separate characters with distinct personalities, but they are also inseparable which is why they play as a single, joint character in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. We really wanted them to be a duo. It allows for some very special moves and playstyles, so we thought it’d be interesting to explore.

Matías R Singer, Game Designer at Fair Play Labs, who is co-developing the game with us, was heavily involved in their design and says, “They have a knack for using each other as weapons, which really helps the slapstick comedy of the show come to life.”

Ren rides on Stimpy’s shoulders which makes them slower than other characters, but they often attack in multiple directions together. Ren deals lower initial damage and Stimpy deals higher, but delayed damage. Here’s an early sketch of Ren & Stimpy’s Crouch Strong attack as drawn in some of our early conceptualization.

They’re slow and heavy so you want to move in on your opponent, but they also have good range with a bouncing log projectile and a very fast Down Strong that is especially fun to use as a spike for a match ender, since it’ll ring-out you both. It was very important to us and Singer that we get log in the game. “The Log from the Blammo advertisement is so iconic we couldn’t conceive not including it as a Special move. The ‘Happy Happ

Every day is a party on the island of Blackreef – except it’s the same party. Every. Single. Day. Blackreef is a place you can be free – as long as your version of freedom means no chance of ever escaping. Blackreef lets you be yourself – unless “yourself” is someone who would rather not be trapped in a timeloop, destined to do the same thing over and over, day in and day out.

That’s an awful lot of caveats for a guy like Colt, who just wants to break free from this repeating day and get off this frigid, isolated rock. In Deathloop, your sole mission is to put an end to the timeloop keeping you trapped on Blackreef by killing the eight people responsible for its creation. All you have to do is take them all out before the day ends and the cycle resets. Sounds easy enough, right?

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Perfect your build

Blackreef has opened its shores to you and the hunt is on. In Deathloop, you can customize your character with a variety of weapons and abilities, as well as special Trinkets to add new features to both your gear and your character. Trinkets are small devices that can provide big boosts. Some amplify your skills and attributes, while others enhance your weapons. Higher quality Trinkets have more powerful effects. All of these can be discovered or unlocked as you progress through the game, either by taking out targets, facing off against Julianna, or exploring the island.

High-tier weapons with purple and gold icons will even come with special perks that will completely change how the gun performs. Plus, the higher the weapon’s quality, the more slots it has for Trinkets, so be sure to load up your favorite weapons with the best of the best.

Arkane’s loadouts

To help you jump into the action, several members of the team at Arkane Lyon are here to offer some of their favorite loadouts. Gear up with some of these suggestions and you might just find the perfect arsenal for your playstyle.

The Shadow

Do you want to silently make your way through the streets of Blackreef, downing enemies without ever being noticed? Try these loadout options, suggested by Animator Victor Syllos:

• Weapons: PT-6 “Spiker” with Echolocation perk | Sepulchra Breteira with Deep Lungs perk | LIMP-10 or Tribunal with Suppressor perk  
• Weapon Trinkets: Penetrator | Sure Shot  
• Abilities: Aether with Ghost and Flicker upgrades

Greetings everyone. We are Acme Gamestudio, an independent developer from Taiwan. Today, we’re happy to  introduce Asterigos, a 3D action RPG set in a high fantasy world, featuring exhilarating battle encounters, interconnected maps full of adventure for you to explore and an immersive story. 

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It starts with a young warrior embarking on a quest

Hilda, a brave Northwind Legion warrior, seeks to find her lost father and enters the mythical cursed city of Aphes. She would come to realize the rise— and fall—of a great city, witness history in the making, and face difficult choices which would shape the entire kingdom’s fate.

Explore the magnificent city of Aphes

The game’s events unfold in Aphes, a city-state inspired by ancient Rome and classical Greek designs, and is full of magic and wonder. From the mist-covered bazaar streets to gloomy sewers, the enigmatic forests at the city’s outskirts to deep chasms full of glittering crystals, the landscapes of Aphes are full of beauty and dangers.

Poisonous vines could choke you to death, or deadly arrow traps will injure the unwary. And deadly creatures lurk in the shadows: werewolves who will launch surprise attacks from the rooftops overhead, axe-wielding brutes… even a fire-breathing calydonian boar.

Take on enemies with skill and style

Hilda’s combat options are heavily tied to her character progression. The talent system allows you to pick and expand your combat style by choosing two out of six completely different weapons: sword and shield, dual blades, spear, hammer, staff or magic bracelets. 

For example, the dual blades are swift weapons that can help you dive in and out of combat quickly, whereas the magic staff is tailored to long distance, letting you shoot fireballs from a safe distance to defeat the enemy before they approach. There are over 60 different monsters to fight, and over 20 unique boss encounters to challenge. Customize your combat style and skills to vanquish them!

Fortnite fans, Dr. Slone’s Operation: Sky Fire was a success (at your expense…), and the war between the IO and Alien forces is now over. But we got some news to go with that. The operation uncovered a new threat even greater than the Aliens… the Cubes! These speechless yet sentient creatures have cruel intentions for the Island, so now it’s time to get ready for another fight in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8: Cubed!

It’s time to go Sideways

The Sideways… A malevolent, dark, and monster-filled reality awaits you in Chapter 2: Season 8. The Cubes have spread Sideways Anomalies throughout the Island. These strange portals connect the Island to The Sideways.

This mysterious world isn’t just connecting with the Island — it’s bleeding into it, taking over a certain POI each match and turning it into a “Sideways Zone.”

Wield the Sideways weapons

Sure, you’ll face mobs of Cube Monsters after entering a Sideways Anomaly, but besting them in combat will reward you with ever so powerful Sideways Weapons. Also make sure to collect Cube Monster Parts: a dark crafting ingredient that gives you the power to upgrade your Sideways weapons. Get in, collect, and get out before you’re eliminated by the swarms of monsters.

Sideways Zones work a bit differently. Monsters don’t fight in waves, and Sideways weapons can be found as loot.

What’s special about Sideways weapons?The Sideways Rifle and Sideways Minigun will deal bonus damage when they’re close to overheating.

Join the global effort

When we said it will take the effort of everyone to win this war, we meant it. How can you contribute to the war effort? There’ll be a variety of ways throughout the Season, but to start,  players in the community can donate Bars to the construction sites where they’d like to see Turret Stations built. Later on, it’ll be up to the community to help decide which new weapons to develop, which ones to unvault, and more.

More ways to arm yourself

Diving into the Sideways and donating your Bars is not the only way to properly arm yourself this Season. Nuts & Bolts are still around, so turn the Lever Action Shotgun into the pressurized Charge Shotgun, or make your combat more stealthy by turning the Assault Rifle into the Suppressed Assault Rifle.

Classic weapons like the Automatic Sniper Rifle and Harpoon Gun have also been brought back! All of these goodies can pack a punch, but it still won’t be enough to take down this formidable Cubic force. Be on the lookout for more tools arriving throughout the Season that could very well give you the edge.

Cubic conquest

The Cubes have gathered themselves around the wrecka

It’s the 93rd minute of a bruising UEFA Champions League final. You pick the ball up on the halfway line and start running towards the goal, battling through the fatigue. But the roar of the crowd spurs you on. From the edge of the box, you blast it towards the goal and feel the sensation of the ball hitting the back of the net. The celebrations begin, the trophy is secured. In FIFA 22, you’ll not only feel the rhythm of the match in your hands with the DualSense controller, but you’ll also hear it with 3D Audio that wraps you in the sounds of the stadium.

From the DualSense controller to 3D Audio and our brand new next-gen HyperMotion gameplay technology, here’s how we’re using PlayStation 5 hardware to create an experience that’s Powered by Football in FIFA 22. 

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Haptic feedback

In FIFA 21, we used the DualSense controller to truly let you experience the effects of stamina through adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback that reflected the physicality of a tough tackle or the feeling of the ball hitting the crossbar.

This year we’re taking it even further, adding in haptic feedback that replicates the feeling of the ball hitting the back of the net – mimicking the power of the strike and the tension of the net – to deepen the sensation of scoring a goal in FIFA 22. So when you bury one into the top corner from outside the box to win the title for your Pro Clubs squad, you’ll feel it in your palms as the crowd erupts in the stands and the celebrations begin on the pitch.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

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Join us as we react to the big reveals from PlayStation Showcase 2021. Plus, a look at new games coming to PlayStation next week. Listen in!

Stuff We Talked About

• PlayStation Showcase 2021
• God of War Ragnarök
• Knights of the Old Republic Remake
• Gran Turismo 7
• Deathloop
• Forspoken
• Alan Wake Remastered
• Project Eve
• Genshin Impact
• Hades
• Curse of the Dead Gods
• Life is Strange: True Colors

The Cast

Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

Kristen Zitani –  Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Read more

Last week, we asked you to take on the challenge of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends using #PSshare #PSBlog. From frightening armor sets to graceful partner poses, here are this week’s legendary highlights: 

SaraAtwoodGamin shares a striking black and white posed portrait.

ccf_photomode shares an electric portrait shaded in yellow.

Dande_Lion55 shares a portrait of her player blindfolded.

XxPAGZxX raises their bow to strike.

BillyGunn_ wears menacing armor bathed in blue. 

rdTYovWoDJRyUJr shares an action shot between two fighters.

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: Purple
SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on September 15

Next week, we’re picturing purple. Share violet, plum, and all around purple moments in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Our team is pleased to share the full experience of Tales of Arise with its release today, September 10! If you were wondering how to play Tales of Arise, or what could be helpful to know before you begin, this guide is for you! Our useful tips will show you how to get started with Tales of Arise and progress in the game. 

First, let’s talk about Battle basics. As Tales of Arise is a JRPG, you’ll have to go through lots of fights to survive and pursue your missions. Knowing how to fight and mastering Combat system basics will be key to start your journey in Tales of Arise. 

Combat system basics

Base actions consist of normal attacks and Artes, which have been featured in the gameplay of previous Tales Of games.   In Tales of Arise, we wanted to recreate this combo string and thus revived the Normal Attack mechanics. The enemy won’t simply fall and Normal Attacks are designed to create the perfect breakthrough. 

First, weaken the enemy with Normal Attacks. Then, continue with the Martial and Arcane Artes that will create a smooth combo flow!

Artes and Artes Gauge

To use Artes in Tales of Arise, you have an Artes Gauge. For a stronger emphasis on action in combat gameplay, itis now possible to do Artes continuously using the Artes Gauge resource that recovers automatically during battle. The added balance between Normal Attacks and the option to use continuous Artes makes the flow of battle a lot more exciting.

There are two types of Artes: Martial Artes and Arcane Artes. Keep in mind that Arcane Artes are more powerful and resource-consuming than Martial Artes. The Artes Gauge will recover more slowly when attacking.

As you progress in the game, you will be able to increase the Artes Gauge by acquiring new skills. 

Evasion and Counter Edge

Most characters can only execute a perfect evade, whereas Kisara has the special option toguard. It’s always a good idea to create distance between you and your enemy whenever possible to avoid taking damage. Push [L Stick] and press [L1] to evade an enemy attack.

Another important feature is the Counter Edge. The Counter Edge was created to make the battle combos more enjoyable. With the updates in battle gameplay, we eliminated the guarding requirement that comes before the Counter Edge. After executing a successful evasion and performing a Normal Attack, you can now trigger a Counter Edge, which will make your characters perform a counterattack. 

Boost Attacks and Boost Strikes

Each character in Tales of Arise has their own Boost Attack, which perfectly reflects their individual strengths. Involve allies in your battles to use their own Boost Attacks pressing the corresponding pad direction to damage. 

Boost Strikes are one-hit kill attacks performed in collaboration with other Tales of Arise characters. Boost Strikes will make your battles spectacular whether it’s a low-level enemy or boss fight. When the word “STRIKE” shows up on your screen, make sure to press the pad to trigger a Boost Strike to finish off your attacker! 

Now you have the keys to start your journey in Tales of Arise, which is now available! Get an enhanced Tales of Arise experience on PlaySt