Hi everyone! My name’s Andrew, and I’m the primary developer on Tunic, which is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on September 27. 

Tunic is an isometric action-adventure about a tiny fox in a big world, where you explore, fight monsters, and find secrets. At its core, however, the game is about mystery and discovery. Well before I started work on the project (which was originally named Secret Legend) I wanted to make a game that captured the feeling of the vast unknown — that delicious feeling of being dropped into a world full of secrets. A stranger in a strange land, ready to uncover its mysteries.

One of the ways I wanted to help players feel like they were in a world that wasn’t meant for them was to fill the game with a strange, unreadable language. Instead of a signpost telling you what’s around the next corner, it would show you some baffling symbols. Instead of the inventory screen labeling things sensibly, it would use the same unknowable runes. It was meant to evoke a feeling of transgression — like you were playing something you shouldn’t. When I was a young kid learning to read, I would play games and be bewildered by the words in them. What better way to evoke that feeling of childlike wonder than to have the text itself be a mystery!

The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that my love for this kind of mystery came not just from the games, but from the manuals they were packaged with. (Or “Instruction Booklets” as they were often called.) I would pore over these documents endlessly, while my friends were playing the games themselves. They filled my head with thoughts of grand adventures, incredible treasures, and terrible creatures — all untempered by the realities of the cartridges the actual games had to fit on.

And so, within the first few months of development, Tunic had its own language, and the beginnings of its own manual. In its final form, the manual is something you collect gradually as you play through the game. Just like those instruction booklets of old, each page is packed densely with information — illustrations, tips, maps, and of course, secrets.

One of my favourite things about those classic manuals is their layout sensibilities and variety of art styles. 8-bit sprit

Player expectations are high for Activision and Infinity Ward’s upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. With the game sharing a similar name to what some consider the best entry in the Call of Duty series, it undoubtedly has much to prove. At the recent Call of Duty Next event, however, Infinity Ward showed it’s rising to the challenge, adding meaningful options and innovations to the franchise’s formula.

Much like the 2019 Modern Warfare, this new title  sets out to give you greater creativity to provide an extra edge, which means even more fun. The additional pieces appear in the form of various in-game tools that allow you to move, attack, and strategize in ways not seen in prior installments.

These new options are also amazingly balanced, keeping the entry barrier low but masterfully raising the high-level skill ceiling.

Move how you want

The defining word for Modern Warfare II is “choice.” You have so many options present that you can define your playstyle and gameplay across every mode. One of those options is movement and how it plays into every aspect of the game.

Mantling has evolved, so you can use it in more ways than just getting around obstacles. Now it’s possible to hang from ledges where it was previously only feasible to jump right over or not be able to scale at all. This allows you to not only peek over at potential threats and survey the land but also pull out a one-handed weapon like a pistol and ward off or even finish off opponents.

Hanging isn’t the only new option present in the movement toolkit either. Actions out of tactical sprint have been expanded as well. You are no longer restricted to only a slide to mix up and evade enemies; you can also dive. The difference is in the ground covered and the position you’re left in. Whereas the slide keeps you to the ground, diving gives a bit of airtime and leaves you in the prone position. This tool comes into play in many areas, such as quick escapes, gunfights, and hiding. One remarkable instance witnessed during the initial gameplay reveal stream featured many players diving behind obstacles and even out of windows to avoid gunfire, explosions, and other opposition.

The biggest game-changer happens under the sea. You can swim above and underwater, with the option of amphibious vehicles also being available. While riding a speedboat above the water is pretty sweet, diving with the fishes to avoid enemy fire is even sweeter. This is especially useful in larger maps and higher player count modes like Invasion, where water travel is a constant variable in the grand battle that spans the land, sea, and sky.

Unique tricks of the trade

Another significant expansion to how Modern Warfare

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Howdy! This week we talked with Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience about the origins of PS VR2 and how cutting-edge games such as Horizon Call of the Mountain are tapping into its next-generation features.

Stuff We Talked About

• PlayStation VR2
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Star Wars Tales From the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution
• God of War Ragnarök
• State of Play reveals

The Cast

Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

Tim Turi –  Manager, Content Communications, SIE

Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communicat

Read more

Last week, we asked you focus closer on The Last of Us Part I and share portraits using the rebuilt game’s photo mode tagged with #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Ceraphyte shares Ellie standing in the fading sunlight with a green forest backdrop.

Ixion_VII shares Joel leaning to the right, wearing a gas mask to avoid spores.

crisg_art shares Ellie standing in front of Firefly graffiti that says “Look for the light”.

oumi_heidi shares Joel taking an angry swing with a pipe.

DoomsdayDave3D shares Ellie looking like she’s about to say something, wearing a yellow jumpsuit and goggles.

justinphotomode shares a hyper close up shot of Joel’s shocked face.

MiCHiKO_x3 shares a close up of the grazing giraffe.

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: The Last of Us Part I – Left Behind
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on September 21, 2022

Next week, we’re diving into The Last of Us Part I’s prequel chapter, Left Behind. Share moments between Ellie and Riley using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. 

Hello, Travelers! This is your Genshin Impact dev team, and today, we’d like to show you more about the other part of Sumeru arriving with Version 3.1 “King Deshret and the Three Magi” on September 28. This time, we will head westward, passing through the rainforest, to step into the starkly beautiful desert. Here, we will uncover the legends of King Deshret and clues to the past buried in the sand. In addition, three Sumeru characters: Candace, Cyno, and Nilou will join the cast of playable characters.

Far beyond the sweltering sands, celebrations for Mondstadt’s Weinlesefest are arriving as the crisp autumn wind blows, together with more events, mini-games, and rich rewards.

The area of death, mystery, and technology

Unlike the verdant rainforest, the desert of Sumeru appears bleak and barren at first glance. In the center of the desert lies the massive Mausoleum of King Deshret. Although King Deshret and his ancient civilization have perished, his legends and technologies are still being told by Desertfolk as well as mechanisms and robots guarding his resting place.

Beneath the scorching sand lies a large number of dungeons, challenging trespassers with unseen puzzles, mechanics, and robotic guardians powered by ancient technologies of King Deshret. The Algorithm of Semi-Intransient Matrix of Overseer Network is the most dangerous among all, with the ability to become invisible during combat. Another new Boss Enemy, the Aeonblight Drake is also a powerful mechanic monstrosity that can be found in the rainforest.

Not as lifeless and desolate as it first appeared, the desert area reveals an amazing variety of landforms and living beings. Dunes, grand canyons, and oases stand amidst harsh arid conditions, and creatures like the Sumpter Beast, Desert Fox, Quicksand Unagi, Red Vulture, Scorpion, and Scarab all call this area home. Meanwhile, Aaru Village is the largest settlement and a solid fortress for Desertfolk. The village has also taken in many scholars exiled from the Akademiya, and it has become a place where people from different walks of life and valuable intelligence converge.

Sumeru’s Archon Quest will continue as its landscape extends into the desert.

Attention to all PlayStation players! Prepare for the next era of Call of Duty. At the Call of Duty: Next showcase event, new details emerged regarding the October 28 release of Modern Warfare II and the release later this year of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. Both titles promise a wealth of innovations and evolved gameplay.

Let’s go over some of the newly revealed features, as well as additional Modern Warfare II pre-order incentives reserved exclusively for PlayStation.

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Modern Warfare II Multiplayer Innovations

After years of development, Modern Warfare II has undergone extensive iterations, bringing a host of evolutionary changes in technology and design.

Swimming and Aquatic Combat: Plunge underwater to flank and attack enemies. With its increased density, water affects the dynamics of combat. Learn how to use sidearms and certain equipment to achieve your aquatic goals.

Enhanced Movement Options: Slide or dolphin dive to the floor, providing more ways to hurl yourself into an engagement. For vertical movements, utilize the ledge hang, allowing more freedom to explore your environment while climbing.

Employ New Vehicles: Pilot all-new vehicles like the UTV, Light Tank, Heavy Chopper, Tactical Vehicle, and Rigid Inflatable Boat. Vehicles feature more interactive and destructible elements than ever before.

New Equipment, Field Upgrades, and Perks: Test out new Field Upgrades like the Tactical Camera, Shock Stick, Drill Charge, DDoS, and Inflatable Decoy. Equip new Perk Packages, featuring two base Perks plus a Bonus and Ultimate Perk that are earned in the match.

Gunsmith Weapon Platforms: Earn Weapon Platform Attachments that are shared across all weapons in the same platform, as well as Universal Attachments that are shared across all relevant weapons.

New Modes: Play Ground War and the new player and AI mixed Invasion, and experience new modes like Knockout, Prisoner Rescue, and the new Third Person playlist for a change in perspective.

Firing Range: Available at launch, the Firing Range is an offline testing ground with three firing lanes, ledges for mantling, and multiple targets at different ranges.

Special Ops: Continue the story after the Modern Warfare II Campaign concludes in a branching cooperative experience allowing you to explore large-scale hot zones with your fellow