Whose Uncle Or Aunty Is This?

As seen on Instagram! Can his or her family members please step forward for identification? Lol

Little Nightmares Launches Today on PS4

How Tarsier Studios toes the line between adorable and upsetting.

Posted by Dave Mervik Tarsier Studios

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It’s finally arrived… ‘release week’ is now upon us. That thing developers look forward to and dread in equal measure. Today, you’re free to lock yourselves away, with the lights off and the curtains drawn, and bathe in the primary colours and warm, cuddly characters of our lovely new game, Little Nightmares! It’s been over half a year now since we last spoke about the game here, so I thought it might be nice to talk a bit more about how the game has evolved since its inception and how this evolution has informed our approach. Before we do, here is a nice treat introducing the graceful Lady — the ruler of The Maw and the biggest threat to Six’s survival.

As you may already know, Little Nightmares was actually born under a different name – Hunger – a name that was designed to reflect the themes that we would be exploring. These things are of course still present, but the game naturally evolved over time, turning into more of an exploration of childhood, primal fears, and how it feels to try to survive in a world that was built and run for others.

Little Nightmares | PlayStation.com

One of the ways we’ve tried to encapsulate this feeling is through the dialogue — or rather, the complete lack of it. Sure, it’s required a new way of thinking in the way Little Nightmares’ story is conveyed, but it was also integral to creating and maintaining that total sense of detachment and isolation you feel when taken out of your comfort zone. If the monstrous residents of The Maw could talk, and if Six could understand them, she is instantly less out-of-place. There is a comfort in communication that we wanted to withhold, because Six is not welcome here, she doesn’t belong here, and this was a perfect way to convey that. But of course, there is a great deal you can do with visual storytelling too, especially when you have an Art team that never fails to impress with their talent and imagination!

The art style of the game has rightly drawn attention as one of the game’s standout features, but it’s not just there to look pretty (alright, “pretty” isn’t quite the word, hopefully you get my meaning). The visual language of Six and the residents is just one example of how we’ve tried to convey these ideas I spoke about earlier. There is a clear contrast between Six – with her stark colour, small frame, and clean, simple shapes – and the rest of this world, which is not only outsized, but also more organic in shape, and presented in a totally different colour palette.

And, of course, let’s not forget the audio design, which in my opinion has done a magnificent job in making you feel as lost and alone as Six does. The, thoughtful subtle touches from Tobias and Christian, our Audio wizards, have done so much to underpin the story of Six and The Maw.

Something as simple as the light slap of her bare feet fighting to be heard amidst the heavy, industrial machinery of The Maw, can speak volumes about the scale of the task lying ahead. As is always the case with games, if you don’t shout everything from the rooftops, there’s a worry that some things may be misunderstood, or missed completely; but our hope is that it will slip past your eyes and ears and go directly for your subconscious!

Little Nightmares is out today on PS4. You can download it here.

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Nioh DLC “Dragon of the North” Out May 2

Face off against Lord Masamune Date in Nioh's new DLC, out next week on PS4.

Posted by Tom Lee Creative Director Team Ninja

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We’re excited to showcase our upcoming DLC for Nioh, Dragon of the North, coming to PlayStation 4 next week. I’m sure many of you samurai have been hungry for more adventures and challenges.

This new chapter picks up after William’s valiant victory in restoring peace to Japan. In keeping with the tradition of our inspiration through Japanese history and mythology, the central character for this new chapter is based on Lord Masamune Date, the ruler of the Sendai feudal domain in the Keicho Era (about 400 years ago). In our opinion, his personality and exploits in history lend himself to become a key player to contend with in the story.

Masamune is a well-known historical figure who is both brilliant and ruthless. Although he was an exceptional leader; his ambition and lust for power blinded him to all else. He was known for being an impulsive leader who was wildly arrogant of his abilities — believing he was superior to most men, yet at the same time greatly devoted to the his land and subjects. We found this disparity in his personality to be something that we could utilize to create a memorable character and a formidable adversary for William.

Dragon of the North will take place in the Oshu region and introduce the ambitious ruler, Masamune Date, also known as the “One-Eyed Dragon”. Just when you thought that peace was finally restored in Japan, we’ve now begun to hear troubling rumors that the One-Eyed Dragon is secretly gathering spirit stones, setting a stage for more unrest and mayhem to take hold.

Prepare to defy death once again as you will face a variety of new Yokai and imposing enemies set in exciting new stages. But rest assured, we will provide you with some formidable ammunition of your own to negotiate your battles. With new Guardian Spirits, armor, ninja skills, magic and a brand new weapon called the Odachi, you should be well prepared to take on your foes. Last but not least, we are proud to introduce the long awaited PvP feature (PS Plus subscription required), which will provide an exhilarating new element to the experience.

We hope you are up for the challenge and enjoy the Dragon of the North DLC. Sharpen your blades and good luck!

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Announcing Call of Duty: WWII

The first intel drop for Call of Duty: WWII reveals details about the campaign and more.

Posted by Kevin Kelly Editorial Manager, Activision

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Today Activision and Sledgehammer Games provided the first glimpse of the title that’s taking Call of Duty back to its roots – Call of Duty: WWII. We’re talking boots-on-the-ground gameplay delivering a visceral and immersive gameplay experience unlike anything we’ve seen before.

In addition to watching the worldwide reveal stream today, we also met with Sledgehammer Games Co-Founders and Studio Heads, Michael Condrey and Glen Schofield for added insights on what’s to come in the new game. They explained to us that Call of Duty: WWII is a very personal journey for the team, as they have been hard at work on this project for the last two and a half years. “This is based on one of the most monumental moments in human history, and we get to honor and respect that global sacrifice, to honor the men and women who fought for freedom on all fronts, on a global scale,” said Condrey.

Schofield added that the team named the main character after his father, who passed away during production. “The story Call of Duty: WWII follows a global and diverse cast, but for me it honors my father Ronald “Red” Daniels and his squad, and not just what they went through from a global perspective, but what they went through personally. We like to tell a story within a story, and this is no different.”

Both Condrey and Schofield underscored the fact that Call of Duty: WWII is about a squad’s remarkable journey of personal growth and heroism across Europe in World War II, and is a story about common men and women doing uncommon things to preserve freedom.

Welcome to the Fighting First

No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty first!

Call of Duty: WWII focuses on the actions of a squad from 1944 to 1945, but will also touch on events from 1940 to 1944 to help set the stage for the narrative and establish the characters. It takes place in the European theater of conflict, at a time when the Allied forces were finally starting to gather strength on their march into Germany. You and your squad will fight your way through occupied France, Belgium, and across the Rhine into Germany.

The Front Lines and Beyond

Highlighting the diverse ensemble cast, players will also encounter the French resistance movement, featuring strong and vibrant characters who were fighting for their homeland even after all seemed lost. The game takes players from the beaches of Normandy to the liberation of Paris and beyond, across a variety of heart-racing engagements and epic battles.

To complement today’s gameplay reveal trailer and touch on more of the action that is coming in Call of Duty: WWII, here’s a few insights on two of the missions from the Campaign:

• Hürtgen Forest: An old-growth forest on the German border where Allied forces engage in devastating encounters. In the heat of battle, the German Army uses tree burst bombs that detonate at treetop level, showering soldiers with wooden shrapnel. When your unit is zeroed-in-on by hostile artillery, the forest explodes around you as debris rains down.
• Normandy: From inside a Higgins landing boat, your squad will storm Omaha Beach in a visceral audiovisual experience unlike any D-Day landing experienced in a game to date. You and your fellow soldiers must overcome the enemy defenses to serve as the tip of the spear for the Allied invasion.

Star Wars Battlefront II hits PS4 in November

A new single-player Star Wars story, vastly expanded multiplayer and much more coming 17th November

Welcome to Star Wars Battlefront II, with a new story mode taking players on an epic journey from the battle of Endor to the rise of the First Order. The prequels, original trilogy, and new era meet in a vast multiplayer adventure coming to PS4 on 17th November (or 14th November if for players who pre-order the Elite Trooper Deluxe Edition).

Star Wars Battlefront II introduces a new single-player Star Wars story. As Imperial special forces operative Iden Versio, you’ll witness firsthand the destruction of the second Death Star. That calamitous event propels you and your elite team, Inferno Squad, into an odyssey of revenge, betrayal, and redemption. The action-packed campaign that follows spans the 30-year gap between Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and leads you to encounters with some of Star Wars’ greatest heroes.

You’ll also take control of even more of your favorite characters in the vastly expanded multiplayer, including Darth Maul, Yoda, Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, Rey, and many more familiar faces from all three cinematic eras. You’ll be able to pilot a variety of starfighters in Space Battle scenarios and master the deep, class-based online gameplay in locations like Theed, Takodana, Starkiller Base, Yavin, Mos Eisley, Endor, Hoth, and more. You’ll have more options than ever with a rewarding progression system, extensive hero customization abilities, and a larger arsenal of weapons with improved modification.

Anyone who pre-orders the Standard Edition will get a whole range of rewards, including exclusive Star Wars: The Last Jedi-themed looks for Kylo Ren and Rey, an ability modifier that upgrades the Millennium Falcon, epic ability modifiers for Rey and Kylo Ren, and more. Players purchasing the Elite Trooper Deluxe Edition receive upgraded versions of all Trooper classes, a A280-CFE blaster rifle instant weapon unlock, an enhanced scope modification, and an epic ability modifier.

We’re very proud of the exciting new single-player story and multiplayer gameplay, but we don’t want to spoil too much too soon! We’ll be revealing new details on Star Wars Battlefront II this summer. In the meantime, we’d love to hear more about the characters, battlegrounds, and features you’d most like to see.

How Sniper Ghost Warrior 3’s dynamic weather systems will affect the way you play

Wind, rain, and light affect every shot in the sprawling open-world shooter

When exploring the war-torn Georgian landscape of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, players will be exposed to a range of weather conditions that affect the gameplay in various ways. Pulling off a precise shot over a long distance will require paying close attention not only to the instrument readings, but also to your surroundings.

Before you can take the shot, you must make your way to a good vantage point undetected and weather conditions will factor into successful infiltration.

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 follows a dynamic day and night cycle, so consider the optimal time to approach a mission and if need be, pass the time by sleeping in your safehouse. At night, you’ll be less visible to your enemies, but alternately need to look out for searchlights and various patrols using flashlights to search darkened areas.

Once on a mission, you’ll be fighting against your enemies, but also need to consider all the challenges of the environment. During rain your footsteps will be slightly obscured and enemy patrols will have a harder time finding you, but you’ll also have to compensate your aim to counter heavier bullet drop.

When you finally make your way to a sniping position and set your sights on an enemy combatant, consult the wind indicator before shooting. The wind strength will pick up at various times during the day, especially during harsh weather conditions. Any time you want to take a shot, adjust your scope to the target distance, check the wind influence for that setting, offset your target to counter the wind and only then, pull the trigger.

Good luck, sniper!

Everybody’s Golf tees off for PS4 on 30th August

Check out the new trailer for the upcoming PlayStation-exclusive sports sim

What type of golfer are you? A casual weekend golfer? A semi-pro? Or maybe you’re one of those golfers who spends more time picking out your outfit than you spend practicing your swing?

No matter your play style, we’re pleased to invite golfers and gamers of all skill levels to play the next installment in the Everybody’s Golf franchise – Everybody’s Golf. And what better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise than to launch the next iteration of the series this summer.

We’re pleased to announce that Everybody’s Golf will launch on 30th August 2017 for PS4!

Not only does Everybody’s Golf boast the same three-click shot mechanic our fans have come to love, the series returns with new features such as more character customisation, robust online modes and other fun activities including fishing, buggy racing and treasure hunting in the open world environment. How you enjoy the game is up to you.