Latest Features
Reaction PS Plus’ Revamp Is Hours Away, But Sony Still Has a Game Pass Problem
Xbox showcase leans heavily on day one inclusions
Microsoft did its big annual E3 shindig today. Of course, it’s not E3 because that’s in a graveyard somewhere being pointed at by industry know-it-all Jeff Grubb. But unlike Sony, the Team in Green has decided to retain its Sunday evening summer showcase slot, so if you ignore the fact this was a...
Live Watch the Future Games Show Livestream Right Here (11th June, 2022)
We go again
Not-E3 season is in full swing, which is to say we’re getting a disparate selection of livestreams and broadcasts – some big and some small. Future Games Show is another that’s been kicking around these past few years, and while you should keep your feet firmly on the ground, it may be worth a watch if you’ve little better to do...
Quiz Test Your PlayStation General Knowledge - Issue 11
It's time to PlayStation
How much do you know about PlayStation and the gaming industry that surrounds it? If you fancy yourself a walking PlayStation encyclopaedia, then why not put your brain to the test with our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz? This is Issue 11 of our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz. You can have a crack at our previous...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 430
A big weekend
We’re in the thick of the summer showcase season, so it’s been non-stop news all week. To be honest, this author feels like it should be Wednesday or something – it’s actually Saturday now! Holy passage of time, Batman! Of course, there’s no Sony showcase this weekend – boo-hoo – but there are still lots of video games to...
First Impressions More Cuphead May Well Be a Tasty Final Dish
We preview The Delicious Last Course
The wonderfully vibrant art style of Cuphead is so timeless that returning to the brutal run and gunner almost five years after its release (two years for PS4 players) doesn't feel anywhere close to a step back in time. It's still a looker, and still hard as ever. It's that difficulty that fans will need to...
Poll Will You Buy The Last of Us: Part I?
Or is it a remake too far?
The Last of Us: Part I is real, and it's coming to PS5 on the 2nd September. The long-rumoured announcement was meant to be Geoff Keighley's big finale for Summer Game Fest Live, but Sony somehow managed to leak the entire thing through its own PlayStation Direct store just hours before the show. Perhaps that leak...
Video Does Battlefield 2042 Zero Hour Revitalise the PS5, PS4 FPS?
It may be fun, but is it enough?
Battlefield 2042 Zero Hour is finally here after a full seven months of waiting. This long-delayed season launch for the highly criticised entry in the military shooter franchise is hoping to bring players back, but is it too little too late? This first season comes to players for free with a new map, specialist,...
Round Up What Was Announced at Summer Game Fest Live?
All the PS5, PS4 reveals
With not a lot of June showcases for gaming fans to look forward to this year, many turned towards Summer Game Fest Live in the hopes of big reveals and huge announcements. Host Geoff Keighley poured some water on that fire by telling us to manage our expectations, so if you decided not to bother tuning in after hearing...
Poll Was Summer Game Fest Live a Show to Remember?
Did Keighley deliver?
Whether it's officially called E3 or not, Geoff Keighley will be there in June with a livestream packed full of video game reveals. This year it's Summer Game Fest Live, and the run-up to the show was dampened somewhat as the host himself told us to "manage our expectations". Was our hype better aligned as a result of...
First Impressions Stray Is Shaping Up to Be a Supurrbly Detailed PS5, PS4 Adventure
Cat's more like it
We recently got to see a surprisingly large chunk of Stray during a preview event, and it's safe to say that this cat sim is shaping up really well. The demo that we witnessed was being played live, and was split across several different sections of the game — all of which had something new to show. This was the most we've seen...
Round Up The Quarry Reviews Say It's As Good As Until Dawn
Supermassive back on form
The Quarry launches this Friday for PS5 and PS4, and reviews are starting to hit the web. This is the latest game from Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games, which has most recently been making The Dark Pictures Anthology with Bandai Namco. The Quarry is seen as a completely different project that stands by itself. Below...
Hands On Assassin's Creed Origins PS5 Patch Reminds Us That It's One of the Series' Best Games
A cut above Odyssey and Valhalla
It might be cool to hate on Assassin's Creed these days, but there's no getting away from the fact that the series is more successful than ever before, raking in absurd amounts of dosh for Ubisoft. What was once a stealth-focused sandbox franchise is now a proper open world RPG property, with Assassin's Creed Odyssey...
Liam wants his week of excitement back
And so here we are: the week in June we have come to expect all the biggest gaming news for the year to take place in has arrived. E3 has been the event on the calendar every fan, journalist, and developer alike would look forward to, safe in the knowledge something big was about to go down. It was an...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Games for June 2022?
Plus or minus?
June's PS Plus games have been officially announced, and it's fair to say that this month's line up is an important one, because Sony's set to launch the new PS Plus tiers worldwide over the next few weeks. It's a bit of a shame, then, that the selection has been met with a wave of criticism. Most of that is directed towards 2018's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 429
Origins story
An exciting end to the week brought us arguably the best State of Play of all time, refreshing our enthusiasm for the summer showcase schedule. But while there's lots to look forward to in the future, there are games to be played right now. Here's what's on our agenda. Sammy Barker, Editor: I'm meandering between a number of...
Video Is Star Wars Battlefront 2 Worth It In 2022?
Is the force with this one?
It has been close to five years since the controversial Star Wars Battlefront 2 launched on PS4. Back in November 2017, all that was to be said of this fun multiplayer shooter was that it was an unbalanced mess, marred by the intrusive inclusion of microtransactions and pay to win elements. It sprouted the ongoing...
Poll What Was Your Favourite PS5, PS4 Game Shown at State of Play?
Sony brings the big guns
Wow, it's been quite a while since we've seen a State of Play elicit such a positive response. Sony's latest show — which aired just last night at the time of writing — was expertly paced and packed with big games. It started with Resident Evil 4 and finished with Final Fantasy XVI, for god's sake! As explained in our...
Reaction Sony Kickstarts the Summer with Sizzling State of Play
All killer, no filler
Pound for pound, this was comfortably the best multi-game State of Play to date. No doubt. The content does the heavy lifting, of course – there won’t always be multiple titles with mass appeal to reveal – but this broadcast, modestly anticipated after past disappointments, was a handful of PS Studios additions away
Round Up What Was Announced During Sony's State of Play Livestream for June 2022?
All the PS5, PS4, PSVR2 reveals
Another State of Play livestream has come and gone, sharing with the world nearly 30 minutes of PS5, PS4, and PSVR2 reveals. Alongside games for Sony's next VR headset, titles from third-party partners were also promised. This round up is designed to give you a quick list of every single announcement from the show...
Poll Did Sony's Latest State of Play Livestream Live Up to the Hype?
The best one yet or the best one yet?
It's been a while since Sony's last general State of Play livestream, but the company returned with nearly 30 minutes of PS5, PS4, and PSVR2 announcements for its fanbase this week. Since we've already gotten a good look at the headset itself along with its next-gen controllers, Sony lifted the lid on some new...
Live Watch Sony PlayStation's State of Play Livestream Right Here (2nd June, 2022)
PSVR2! Third-Parties! Hype?
Where can you watch Sony PlayStation’s State of Play livestream? You'll find it on this very page. Sony is back with a slightly later than usual 3PM PT / 11PM BST State of Play broadcast, focusing purely on third-parties and a PSVR2 sneak peek. It must be reiterated that, while this is part of Summer Game Fest, it's not...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Sniper Elite 5?
On target or out of focus?
The Sniper Elite series has been aggressively consistent, with storied developer Rebellion fine-tuning its execution with each iteration, rarely reinventing the wheel, but doing just enough with the franchise’s established stealth/sniping gameplay to keep it fresh. Gruff protagonist Karl Fairburne’s latest infiltration...
Hands On Roller Champions Has a Strong Core, But Struggles to Maintain Momentum
Dropped the ball?
Roller Champions is the newly released free-to-play multiplayer game from Ubisoft, presenting players with a brand new digital sport to master. On a surface level, it combines roller derby with basketball, though it folds in its own rules to make for a fresh experience. It's a perfectly good idea, and there are most definitely...
Reaction Why You Shouldn't Worry About Sony's New Strategy
Additional investment is exciting
PlayStation is steering its business in a new direction, and gamers are renowned for their reluctance to change. A recent mid-term strategy meeting elaborated on Sony’s intention to look beyond its traditional walled garden, bringing its content to more platforms and mediums. This, as is perhaps predictable, has...
Talking Point State of Play Predictions - What Do You Expect?
Place your bets
Sony will host an anticipated State of Play livestream this week, but it’s important to stress upfront what it’s not. This is not a summer showcase to be compared with an E3 press conference or even a major Nintendo Direct. Despite the similarities in format, we’ve seen enough State of Play presentations now to know that...
Guide Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for June and July 2022
The Quarry! F1 22! Disgaea 6!
Sony's digital offerings may well be taking up all the headlines in June with the revamped PS Plus service just around the corner, but there are plenty of intriguing titles appearing at retail for both PlayStation 5 and PS4 over the next couple of months. Below, we've been busy preparing our usual roundup of exciting...
Quiz Test Your PlayStation General Knowledge - Issue 10
It's time to PlayStation
How much do you know about PlayStation and the gaming industry that surrounds it? If you fancy yourself a walking PlayStation encyclopaedia, then why not put your brain to the test with our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz? This is Issue 10 of our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz. You can have a crack at our previous...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 428
No one mention the European cup
We've got a bumper WAYP in store for you this week, folks — potentially one of the biggest editions in quite some time. With the very real prospect of Liverpool winning the Champions League, this author will be avoiding all living civilisation for the next 48 hours. Unless, of course, Karim Benzema can repeat his...
Poll Do You Care About PlayStation TV Shows?
Tune in or tune out
If it was not already clear before this week, it most certainly should be now: PlayStation is about more than just its PS5 console and lineup of quality single player focused titles. Sony is pushing for more live-service games, it's porting more to PC, and its
Talking Point What PS Plus Games for PS5, PS4 in June 2022 Do You Want?
When will June 2022's PS Plus update be announced?
What are the June 2022 PS Plus games for PS5 and PS4 and when will the June 2022 PS Plus games be announced? The rollout phase for PS Plus' revamp is imminent, and is actually already available in parts of Asia. That means the nature of these articles will change in the future, as we'll be...
Hands On Two Point Campus on PS5, PS4 Is a Tycoon Title That's Too Cool for School
School's out for summer
What a time to be alive! This author grew up on the Bullfrog era of tycoon titles, meticulously managing theme parks and hospitals on a 14” CRT from the edge of his bed. That spirit is very much alive with the Aardman-inspired Two Point series; the excellent Two Point Hospital already reminded patients not to die in the...
Feature Bringing Elden Ring's Best and Worst Boys to Life
We speak to two of the game's most memorable voice actors
FromSoftware games are memorable for a myriad of reasons but in their hostile, melancholy worlds, the small number of NPCs that players can befriend are precious and memorable. So are those villains whose reputations precede them. As its biggest title to date, Elden Ring has a cast far larger...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 427
You know the drill
Finally we have a partial list of PS Plus games for next month's launch, and we know that PS1 classic Syphon Filter will have a Platinum Trophy. Happy days! Stephen Tailby, Associate Editor: I've put Elden Ring on ice for the time being, so I'm catching up on a few other bits and bobs. I've been chilling with OlliOlli World...
Poll Do PS Plus Premium's Classic Games Need Trophies for You to Play Them?
Ding!
When Sony re-revealed PS Plus Extra and Premium earlier this week, we saw a lot of people asking whether the classic PS1, PS2, and PSP titles included with Premium would include Trophy support. The digital trinkets system has become an integral part of PlayStation gaming since it was introduced back in the PS3 era, and some would argue that...
Hands On MultiVersus Leans on Fantastic Cast of Characters in Entertaining Smash Clone
Nostalgiaverse
MultiVersus, as its name implies, is a game in which characters from disparate worlds come together to duke it out. To what end, we're not sure, but it makes for a wildly entertaining platform fighter nonetheless. If you grew up watching Tom & Jerry, for example, hearing the cat's iconic scream as he's flung from the arena is...
Preview New Saints Row Looks Like Fantastic Fun, But It's Also Distinctly Last-Gen
In with the old
The new Saints Row has looked better and better every time that it's been shown — and recently we got to see a whole chunk of the sandbox title in action. Volition's latest is still unapologetically Saints Row (and by that we mean Saints Row: The Third), right down to the ridiculous character customisation and mental side...
Poll Are You Sold on PS Plus Extra or Premium?
Sub up
Sony has finally spilled (some) of the beans on its overhauled PS Plus service, just a few weeks out from its various regional launch dates. It's revealed (some) of the games that'll be available to subscribers through its new PS Plus tiers, Extra and Premium, while also giving us (some) new information on what we can expect from PS Plus...
Reaction Sony's Positive PS Plus Reboot Proves the Value of Catalogues
A lovely library
Sony took its sweet time revealing the full extent of its PS Plus reboot – and, frankly, with only approximately 150 of All PS Plus Games confirmed, we’re still not getting the complete picture. According to the company, PS Plus Premium subscribers will get access to about 750 games at launch, so it still has plenty more to...
Quiz Test Your PlayStation General Knowledge - Issue 9
It's time to PlayStation
How much do you know about PlayStation and the gaming industry that surrounds it? If you fancy yourself a walking PlayStation encyclopaedia, then why not put your brain to the test with our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz? This is Issue 9 of our PlayStation General Knowledge Quiz. You can have a crack at our previous...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 426
Blue sky thinking
We're not sure about where you are, but after what felt like a never-ending winter, the weather is finally improving here. It's not tropical yet, but the sun is shining, the skies are blue, and there are barely any new video games to play. Time to go outside? Sammy Barker, Editor: I never, ever expected to write this, but I'm...
Video Is It Time to Leave Last-Gen Behind?
Is the end in sight for the PS4?
This week, players were excited to get another look at the highly anticipated Gotham Knights, which is set to release this October. While responses to the gameplay were… mixed… the bit of news that caught everyone’s attention was that Gotham Knights is, surprisingly, bypassing its last-gen release. This is one...
Talking Point Does Sony Need a Big Summer Showcase?
Time to shine
Primarily thanks to E3, the summer months have long been the time for console makers and publishers to push their plans for the future. Of course, E3 itself is pretty much dead and buried at this point, but its lasting legacy is clear to see, with events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest eagerly taking its place alongside...
Video Everything You Need to Know About Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on PS5
Ubisoft goes blue with open world Avatar game
While it seems like we’ve been waiting for new Avatar content — whether it be a video game or a film — for an absolute age, James Cameron finally gave us a peek behind the curtain for his ambitious long-awaited sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. However, it got us thinking, what’s going on with...
First Impressions F1 22 Skips Story Mode for More Authentic, Flexible Racing
Fit for porpoise
Much like the real life motorsport, the official Formula One game will undergo a number of changes this year. F1 22, like every iteration before it, aims to capture the sport as accurately as possible, and for this season, that means all new vehicles, rules, and tyre regulations, not to mention the debut of the Miami Grand Prix. All...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 425
Believe with all your heart
We truly are in the doldrums, folks, because this week was a real stinker of nothingness for virtually the entire gaming industry. Yes, we got the shock news that Embracer has acquired Square Enix's western studios first thing on Monday, but beyond that... Nada. Let's play some games, eh? Sammy Barker, Editor: I'm...
Poll When Do You Think Final Fantasy 16 Will Release?
But a Fantasy
It's been a pretty slow week for news, so let's enter the weekend with a potentially interesting poll: when do you think Final Fantasy XVI will release? The PS5 action RPG was first revealed during Sony's next-gen showcase in 2020. Since then, we've seen almost nothing of the game, barring a few screenshots and concept art. It feels...
Video Please, Sony - We Need These PSVR2 Games
Dare to dream
PSVR2 remains in that semi-limbo state where we know it’s coming, but we still don’t know much about it – especially when it comes to software. Obviously, a handful of games have been officially announced – including Horizon Call of the Mountain – but we can still revel in the unknown, before our expectations crash back to...
Feature What's Next for PS5, PS4?
The future is now
It’s been a good start to the year for PlayStation, with the release of two critically acclaimed exclusives in Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7, as well as dozens of other noteworthy titles, including Ghostwire Tokyo, MLB The Show 22, and Sifu to name just a few. Of course, as we lurch into the slow summer season, things...
First Impressions Trails from Zero Is Going to Be a Must-Play for JRPG Fans
From Zero to hero
Originally a 2010 PSP title, Trails from Zero was never officially released in the West, despite its incredibly positive reputation amongst hardcore Trails fans. Indeed, many would tell you that this is one of the best entries in Falcom's long, long running The Legend of Heroes franchise — and that's saying a lot. Thankfully, NIS...
Video Why Prey Is Arkane's Best Game
Even better than Dishonored?
Prey (2017) just turned five this week, proving once more that time is a vortex. However, we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to once again remind the masses that Prey is bloody brilliant. This first-person sci-fi horror has never quite been held in the same regard to its Arkane brethren, such as Dishonored, or more...