Originally released in 2022, Stray's tale of friendship and a search for home captivated the collective attention of the gaming world and the internet at large. Initially, that was all thanks to its biggest hook — playing as a cat. A nameless, adorable stray that had many charmed before it'd even launched.

Stray's just saw macOS port in December 2023, and has a movie on the way, bringing the tale to the big screen. Though it's still early days, Annapurna Animation's lead, Andrew Millstein, explains that the the game was chosen for adaptation because "it is just wildly popular." In an interview with Swann Martin-Raget from BlueTwelve Studio, Destructoid discussed the world of Stray and what's to come next.

Stray — On the big, the small, and the fuzzy

Destructoid: Stray mostly takes place in Walled City 99. Its cyberpunk aesthetic is beautiful but dystopian, with some inhabitants doubting whether it is even possible to leave the abyss they dwell in. By the end, the game offers a hopeful answer. Was the plan always to make a hope-inspiring game? 

Martin-Raget: What we really tried to do is to not add a moral point of view to the themes we're approaching in the game. We're only showing possibilities through the eyes of a very neutral character without taking sides between good or bad and we let the players decide what to make of it and if they think it's overall a sad or hopeful message.

Destructoid: The game relies a lot on environmental storytelling, and it is led by a protagonist who can't speak. Did you find this style of storytelling a challenge? 

Martin-Raget: It’s definitely a wide-reaching constraint that changes a lot of things in how you approach the storytelling and the world building. But we also found that it opens up a lot of very interesting possibilities and it’s super helpful to “show and not tell” when we want to leave some room for the player’s imagination to fill the gaps. Creatively it ended up being something really inspiring and motivating for us.

Destructoid: As an occasional Mac player, I'm quite pleased that Stray has made its way to the platform, as it is often neglected. What was the motivation for the port? 

Martin-Raget: As game creators, our goal is always to have as many players as possible being able to enjoy our game and visit this world we made with our hearts. So we were really happy to have this opportunity to allow Mac players that are as avid and passionate as the others to experience and enjoy Stray.

The post Catching up with BlueTwelve and the world of Stray, right meow appeared first on Destructoid.

The long-awaited Version 2.0 update of Honkai: Star Rail is just around the corner! An announcement on YouTube delivers details regarding banners and new content coming to the game. If you missed it, or don’t have time to sit through an hour-long presentation, here’s a summary for you!

Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.0: If One Dreams at Midnight will be live on February 6 and last for seven weeks.

2.0 livestream Stellar Jade codes

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EA8BKR4JL93T
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Redeem these codes either in-game or on the official site. Each code grants 100 Stellar Jades as well as a few other materials. They expire about a day after the stream, so redeem them now!

New characters

Three new characters will be joining the Star Rail roster:

Black Swan is a 5-star Wind Nihility character specializing in damage over time using tarot cards.

Sparkle is a 5-star Quantum Harmony character. She can restore Skill Points for your team while also buffing their damage.

Misha is a 4-star Ice Destruction character. He is a hotel employee who deals AoE damage to enemies using guests’ luggage.

Version 2.0 banners

The first half of 2.0 will consist of the 5-stars Black Swan and Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae with the 4-star Misha. The Light Cones Reforged Remembrance (Black Swan’s signature) and Brighter than the Sun (DHIL’s signature)

The second half will feature the 5-stars Sparkle and Jing Yuan. Their respective signature Light Cones, Earthly Escapade, and Before Dawn will also be available. Going by the seven-week update schedule, these banners should go live on early March

New content

Version 2.0 has Trailblazers heading to a new world: Penacony. Penacony is a luxury hotel with a unique connection to dreams, enabling visitors to explore certain shared Dreamscapes while asleep. A new Trailblaze mission will accompany the new region, continuing the main story of Honkai: Star Rail.

New events include Hanu’s Prison Break, from which they can claim a 4-star character of their choice as a reward. Other events include Dreamchaser Bulletin, Dreamjolt TV, and Penacony Food Fest. There will also be two login events that grant a total of 20 pulls.

There will also be two new Relic sets and new Ascension materials for the new characters. New Light Cones will also be available in the Manifest store. 

We can also expect various quality-of-life upgrades, including a visual representation of past stories, more support character options in your profile, and a more streamlined Relic upgrade system.

We also got a tease of some real-life Star Rail events on the horizon, including carnivals and concerts.

It looks like there’s a lot to look forward to in Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.0. I’ll see you all in Penacony!

The post Honkai: Star Rail announces next banners and Version 2.0 date appeared first on Destructoid.

It may be approaching nine years old at this point, but fans of Until Dawn may wish to know that Supermassive's interactive horror game could be coming to PS5 and PC. That's according to at least one report so far.

In a recent story from Billbil-kin over on Dealabs (as translated by IGN), an announcement could be arriving soon regarding a modern port of Until Dawn. It's also possible that the rumored enhanced version of the game has been in development for "at least a year."

At the time of writing, there's been no official confirmation from developer Supermassive, Sony, or any other company officially associated with the game. What's interesting is this comes just a week after it was revealed Until Dawn was being adapted into a movie.

Isn't it basically a "movie" already?

If you've never played the game before, it's essentially an interactive slasher film in which you're tasked with navigating characters to safety from a serial killer. It was quite a horror hit when it launched in 2015. Sadly, it was only available on PS4 at the time, so a PlayStation 5 and PC version would be welcomed.

We actually think of it as one of the best horror games from the PlayStation 4 era, up there with the likes of Alien: Isolation and SOMA. Okay, some might not be a fan of its minimal interaction – largely reduced to quick time events – but it was offering something a little different in the genre.

As I said, we don't know whether there will be an enhanced version of the game yet. This is just a rumor, so hopefully we'll get some feedback on whether this is true or not.

The post Until Dawn may be coming to PS5 and PC, ahead of the feature film appeared first on Destructoid.

You may have noticed that at the bottom corner of your screen in Palworld, there is a string of numbers indicating what version you're playing. Steam and Xbox Game Pass have different versions, and here's why.

A report from Windows Central highlighted comments from Pocketpair reps in the Palworld Discord server. There, Pocketpair's community manager, Bucky, explained a bit about what's going on with the different versions. The problem is that every game's version has to go through Microsoft's certification queue. This is something Pocketpair has no control over, though the team is "desperately trying to speed up," it highlights on Discord.

It's argued that Xbox isn't necessarily "behind," but yet it is. Our list of differences demonstrates that this is the case. Nevertheless, you can enjoy the game on Xbox Game Pass without really noticing you're playing an earlier build.

Until features parity is reached, keep collecting Pals, building weapons, and having fun with this survival game that shocked the world by being one of 2024's first hits.

The post Palworld on Xbox and Steam have different versions – Here’s why appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact’s Special Program for Version 4.4 is here, detailing all the new areas, events, characters, and banners coming in the next update. Here’s a summary of all the new content coming to Genshin Impact Version 4.4: Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze!

Version 4.4 is expected to drop on January 31st (or the evening of January 30 for most Americans).

4.4 livestream Primogem codes

BBQ8AZHUH2CZ
MT88AYHCZ2UR
FA9QAGYDZJEV

Each code grants 100 Primogems and various other materials. Redeem them either in-game or on the official site. They expire about a day from when the Special Program aired, so be quick!

4.4 new characters: Xianyun and Gaming

Xianyun (aka Cloud Retainer) is a 5-star Anemo Catalyst user who buffs plunge damage. Her Burst increases the jump height of your entire party, allowing anyone to become a plunge DPS. She grants buffs to her party’s Plunging Attacks and deals a bit of damage of her own. On top of unlocking a new playstyle for every character, Xianyun’s Burst also offers healing, making her a great potential partner for Furina. Xianyun’s Skill is a unique triple jump that ends with a dive bomb Plunging Attack.

Gaming is a 4-star Pyro Claymore user and a Wushou dancer. He appears to specialize in Plunging Attacks with his Burst and Skill, allowing him to take full advantage of Xianyun’s plunge-oriented kit. His Skill has him rush toward an enemy, then leap into the air, from which he can execute a special Plunging Attack that consumes some of his own HP. Gaming’s Burst summons a little suanni pet that runs some distance from him after using his Skill combo. When the pet runs back to Gaming’s location, his Skill cooldown is reset, allowing him to spam Skills and Plunging Attacks as quickly as he can retrieve his pet.

4.4 banners

The first half of 4.4 will feature the 5-stars Xianyun and Nahida, as well as the 4-star Gaming. The weapon banner will consist of Xianyun’s signature weapon, Crane’s Echoing Call, and probably Nahida’s signature, A Thousand Floating Dreams.

The second half Version 4.4 will feature Xiao and Yae Miko. They will likely be accompanied by their signature weapons: Primordial Jade Winged-Spear and Kagura’s Verity.

New area: Chenyu Vale

A new explorable area is being added to Liyue: Chenyu Vale. Chenyu Vale has been teased as a mystical area known for its high-quality tea production. Baizhu’s lore in particular is tied to Chenyu Vale, as this is Changsheng’s homeland.

Chenyu Vale is a verdant, mountainous landscape with rivers flowing between them. Qiaoying Village and Yilong Wharf are the primary human settlements. The people of Chenyu Vale seem to have a unique culture somewhat distinct from the rest of Liyue. While most of Liyue sees Rex Lapis as the land’s sole ruler in its antiquity, Chenyu Vale’s residents recall a time when other gods and adepti protected their ancestors.

There will also be a new world boss in Chenyu Vale: the Solitary Suanni. It appears to have Anemo and Hydro elemental attacks in its arsenal. Given the new characters coming this patch, I would expect either Xianyun or Gaming to use materials from this boss.

4.4 events

It’s that time of year again, and this year’s Lantern Rite event is called Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze. There will be three minigames as part of this event. Participation will reward you with a free Xingqiu skin and your choice of any 4-star Liyue character. The 4-star character selector includes Gaming, so if you can’t pull on the new banners, you can still obtain Gaming for free!

There will also be a login event where you can claim a total of ten Intertwined Fates. We’ll be receiving an additional three Intertwined Fates via in-game mail.

A cooking event called Receiver of Friends from Afar has Travelers playing minigames to cook meals, then decorating the dishes to serve to our friends.

Journey through Hiligmatic Terrain is a two-part event. One part is a stealth mission where you use a special device to follow hilichurls and infiltrate their camps. The other part is a combat domain where you face off against a giant samachurl boss.

Triumphant Frenzy is a combat event using trial characters only. It looks like we’ll be able to choose two to four trial characters from a randomly selected pool to complete combat challenges.

Finally, Overflowing Mastery makes a return with double drops for Talent books.

New skins for Xingqiu, Ganyu, and Shenhe

Xingqiu, Ganyu, and Shenhe are receiving new skins! Xingqiu looks quite dapper in a more Western-style outfit, while Ganyu and Shenhe are dressed in sleek black outfits.

Xingqiu’s skin can be obtained for free during Version 4.4 by participating in the Lantern Rite event. After the end of Version 4.4, we can expect it to be included in the store for Genesis Crystals for those who missed it.

Ganyu and Shenhe’s skins will be sold in the in-game store for Genesis Crystals. For the duration of Version 4.4, these skins will be discounted.

Other additions in Version 4.4

Genius Invokation TCG is receiving another update, adding cards for Sayu, Thoma, Cryo Hypostasis, and Millennial Pearl Seahorse. 

A fast equip function is being added for artifacts, which we previously covered in detail.

A new collaboration was announced with OnePlus, with a Keqing-themed phone coming in late February. More details will be provided via OnePlus’ official channels.

The second Fontaine OST, “Pelagic Primaevality,” will be released sometime during Version 4.4.

As always, there’s lots to look forward to in Genshin Impact. Best of luck to everyone, and happy Lantern Rite!

The post Genshin Impact announces 4.4 release date, banners, characters, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Fate/Samurai Remnant has been out since September 2023, but it only recently received a demo to entice players who haven't touched the amazing game yet.

The demo gives you a small slice of what the whole game possesses. It's pretty long, so for some, it won't be enough to fully grasp it. Nevertheless, if you were on the fence about this title, the demo should convince you if it's worth your money.

I tried out the demo on the Steam Deck, and it's not different from what you're getting in the full game, which should be good news for completionists. It's also worth mentioning that your progress in your demo playthrough can be transferred to the full game.

The demo comes after it receives a teaser trailer letting players know DLC is on the way, and it'll feature characters, including Servants, servants from the main game.

In my review of the game, I praised it and highlighted how it's inviting to both longtime franchise fans and newcomers. With the free demo, Omega Force has given you yet another reason to try this title.

The post Fate/Samurai Remnant receives demo appeared first on Destructoid.

HoYoverse has released a new Developers Discussion previewing some new quality of life changes coming to Genshin Impact Version 4.4. One of these is a new artifact loadout feature that, while exciting at first glance, might not be what players expected.

Not the loadouts we’re looking for

From very soon after the launch of Genshin Impact, players have voiced the need for artifact loadouts. By this, they meant a system similar to Honkai 3rd’s Plans that allows players to save a character’s equipment set, making it easier to switch builds on the go. Genshin Impact characters often have multiple builds or share gear with other characters, so an artifact loadout system has been a common demand within the community for the past three years.

Instead, it looks like the loadouts being implemented in Version 4.4 will consist of artifact recommendations using the artifacts in your inventory. The “quick loadout” recommendations will be based on user data, but you can also customize your criteria to some degree with “custom loadouts.” No matter which method you use to generate your recommended set, there is no mention of being able to save your equipped set or saving multiple sets of gear.

It’s worth noting that Honkai 3rd, another HoYoverse game, has had its Gearing Plans system since April 2019, more than a year before Genshin Impact’s release.

Even if it’s not what veteran players wanted, the quick loadout function could still be useful for casual players. If nothing else, it lets us quickly equip our characters with something usable while using minimal brainpower. I imagine it’ll be nice to have a character fully geared up with one click. 

The custom loadout function looks like it requires a few more brain cells to set up though, and those who really care about min-maxing their artifacts probably already use Genshin Optimizer or other calculators.

Various other quality of life upgrades

Aside from artifact loadouts, it looks like we’ll be getting plenty of other general system upgrades. 

The Encounter Points system was added in Version 4.1, allowing players to bypass daily Commissions. Starting in Version 4.4, you’ll get a reminder alert to talk to Katheryne to claim additional daily rewards. Apparently, many players were forgetting to talk to Katheryne after doing their dailies, myself included.

The number of party slots you can save will be increased from 10 to 15. Additionally, when completing character trials, you can now start the next character’s trial immediately without having to exit back to the overworld. If you’re playing on a PC, there will also be a new setting for borderless windowed mode. 

There will also be a new “Dynamic Character Resolution” function that dynamically changes the details of character models to maximize performance. I can’t see much of a difference between HoYoverse’s example images, but the edges of Aether’s ring-shaped ornament and pauldron do seem a bit smoother after optimization.

Serenitea Pot optimizations

The Serenitea Pot will be receiving some updates too. Certain furnishings will be recategorized for more intuitive searching. After placing a furnishing, your place in scrolling menus will be remembered so that you’re not automatically booted to the start of the list. Companions will show their Friendship Level in the Companions menu. 

There will also be some ordering changes to the images for the furnishing Lingering Moment. This furnishing is a framed photo that showcases each ending for character Hangouts. Starting in Version 4.4, the furnishing will prioritize images from Hangouts you’ve already completed. This part of the Developers Discussion is worded a bit confusingly, so we might have to wait for more details during the Special Program.

When can we expect these updates?

All of these changes are slated to go live in Genshin Impact Version 4.4, which is expected to drop on January 31st. A Special Program has been announced for January 19 at 7:00 AM (UTC-5), which will detail all of the new characters, events, and other content coming in the next version update.

Regardless of their exact implementation, I’m still glad to see the Genshin Impact team continuing to roll out quality of life updates. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll have the artifact loadout system we really need.

The post Artifact loadouts finally coming to Genshin Impact, but not the way players expected appeared first on Destructoid.

The multiplayer hit The Finals is still receiving new content, this time in the form of an update and a new gameplay mode.

You can expect plenty from the new update as well as, for the first time, a limited-time game mode. In this mode, called Solo Bank It, you compete in a 12-player PvP on a quest to obtain a total of 40,000 Cash wins. Sound like your kind of thing?

The game mode comes alongside update 1.5.0 which features several improvements to make life easier for players. Perhaps most importantly, you get a security update to improve "anti-cheat and fair play." While this is beneficial, it should be noted that Easy Anti-Cheat is the reason why the game can't be played on the Steam Deck.

Update 1.5.0 also brings a store update, balance changes, and bug fixes, which you see more of in the trailer below.

The Finals hit the world stage with a surprise drop at The Game Awards. SteamDB reveals that while the game has had its highs and lows, it maintains popularity with an all-time peak of 242,619 concurrent players in December 2023.

The post New game mode comes to The Finals along with latest update appeared first on Destructoid.

Long-time UK games retailer GAME won't be accepting trade-ins when February 16 rolls around, according to Eurogamer. GAME's parent company Frasers Group has officially confirmed its plans to remove the trade-in program to BBC News on Tuesday.

"As part of the integration of GAME, we will be phasing out the trade-in, pre-owned and Game Elite offerings in the UK over the coming months," said a spokesperson of Frasers Group to BBC News. This effectively hands off mainstream game trading to CEX, a popular used media retailer in the British Isles.

The remaining pre-owned stock that GAME has acquired will be available on store shelves while they last. It will be curious to see how long copies of disappointing titles like Anthem and old sports games will remain in GAME before it throws them out. Frasers Group hasn't given an official reason for this decision, but it's likely due to lacking sales in the used game market.

"PlayStation and Xbox were not as big a part of the sales as they were [due to supply constraints]," said GAME CEO Nick Arran to GamesIndustry.biz in 2023. "But our toy business really came into its own, with staggering numbers at Christmas."

GAME could be switching gears to toys and other similar goods like Pokemon cards instead of its video game titles as gamers look towards an all-digital future. Ars Technica reported in 2022 a 30% drop in available physical games from 321 in 2018 to 226 in 2021. It was also leaked that the next Xbox Series X refresh called Brooklin might be digital only.

Perhaps GAME sees the writing on the wall as the gaming industry slowly moves past a used game model, which used to have 100 million titles traded in every year in the US alone.

The post UK games retailer GAME reportedly eliminates trade-ins next month appeared first on Destructoid.

Naughty Dog's 2020 masterpiece has received a re-release in the form of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. It won't turn heads on a technical level, but it does pack some new content that makes it worth considering even if you've experienced the epic tale already.

Some of the features have been advertised by the studio, but there are a few minor additions that you may not be aware of. If you're still on the fence regarding whether you should try out the game, consider whether these features are enough to lure you back in.

All new The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features

Let's start with the cosmetic changes in TLOU 2's remaster. The remaster introduces the chance to play with different character skins. Some are unlocked through playing the base game while others are obtained by playing the No Return mode. This is the full list of skins available for Ellie:

• Seattle
• Patrol
• B-Day
• Santa Barbara
• Aquarium
• Astronaut
• Astronaut No Helmet
• Pride Tank Top
• Arc the Lad
• Death Stranding
• Destiny
• Mortal Kombat
• Killzone
• Fantasvision
• Siren
• Hotline Miami
• Wipeout Fusion
• Savage Starlight
• Rain Jacket
• Plaid

You also get the following gun skins:

• Astronaut
• Giraffe
• Moth

When it comes to Abby, the following skins are available:

• Seattle
• Jackson
• Salt Lake City
• Santa Barbara
• Coast
• Aquarium
• Eighties
• Genji
• The Getaway
• Syphon Filter
• Jak and Daxter
• The Mask of Kri
• Twisted Metal
• War of the Monsters
• Hotline Miami
• Vintage Naughty Dog
• Bomber Abby
• Badlands

Abby also gets the following weapons skins:

• Zebra
• Eighties
• Wolf Weapon Skin

Technical improvements

The tech improvements in the remaster aren't significant. This includes 4K performance in Fidelity Mode, framerate improvements, and support for Variable Refresh Rate. Other minor additions include improved texture resolution, Level of Detail distances, sun shadow and texture resolution, improved animation sampling rate, and more.

There's also full DualSense support which adds adaptive triggers to weapons, making the overall action experience more immersive. If you're an experienced player, you can enable speedrun mode and track your records.

No Return in The Last of Us Part 2

Perhaps the biggest addition is the No Return mode. It's a roguelike mode that features randomized levels, enemies, and characters from the base game. Consequently, it's best to not touch it until you've completed the main game.

It's a survival mode that culminates in a boss fight if you can live through all the encounters. You're also presented with various challenges, some of which involve taking on certain bosses, and others that involve playing with specific characters.

As you progress and survive runs, you unlock weapon upgrades as well as skins that can be used for characters and weapons in the main game.

Guitar Free Play

In the base game, you'll have the opportunity to play the guitar as a minigame several times. In the re-release, you can now access this feature at any time with the guitar free play mode. You can play as Ellie, Joel, or Gustavo and switch between the following instruments:

• Guitar
• Banjo
• Nylon
• Jazz
• Rock
• Steel Resonator

You're not stuck in one location and can switch between the music store, the theatre, the farm, and Jackson.

Lost Levels

As Naughty Dog has previously discussed, you can explore three "lost levels" which are essentially game segments that never made the final cut. They begin with an introduction from Druckmann to give the levels a little context, and you can turn commentary on if you want. When it's on, there are points you can activate to hear developers discuss a bit about game design and how it fits in with the overall narrative.

The lost levels are rough but not unplayable. There's audio missing in some parts, and the visuals are unpolished, but it looks good enough for you to understand what the developers were aiming for. The three levels are:

1. Jackson Party - You play as Ellie during the Jackson dance. You get an exploration of Jackson and have a chance to spend peaceful time with the inhabitants.
2. Seattle Sewer - This is mostly an environmental puzzle section that has you battling against rushing water. Some parts of this section can be found in the final game.
3. The Hunt - The brief section has Ellie hunting for a boar which turns into a traumatic event when she is suddenly haunted by memories of Joel.

Behind the Scenes

The remaster also gives you some behind-the-scenes looks into TLOU 2's development. It features episodes from the official The Last of Us podcast. The following episodes are available:

• "Take on me" - Behind Part 2
• "They should be terrified of you" - Ellie
• "You're my people" - Abby
• "I would do it all over again" - Beyond Part 2

In addition to the original reveal trailer for the game, you also get a trailer for a documentary titled Grounded 2: Making of The Last of Us. According to the trailer, the documentary was originally abandoned, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been revived. It also appears to touch on topics that surrounded the sequel, including the leaks and accusations of crunch.

Whether this will be enough to draw you back in is a matter of personal preference. If you've never touched the sequel before, this is the best way to experience it.

The post Here are all the new features in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.

Movie adaptations of video games have proven themselves to be lucrative when done correctly. Martha is Dead is one of the next titles to get the treatment, and it may be one of the best choices.

Martha is Death is developed by Italian studio LKA, and the live-action movie is being made in collaboration with Swedish film-production company Studios Extraordinaires. Much like the celebrated game, the film is set in World War 2, and it focuses on the sisters Martha and Giulia. What ensues next is a mystery that will leave your mind twisted and your hands trembling.

In the press release, the publisher, Wired Productions, speaks a bit about how fitting Martha is Dead is for a film adaptation, especially due to its "gripping narrative and unique setting" managing director Leo Zullo states. We can expect something a little more special than usual, as the project is being co-directed by André Hedetoft and Andreas Troedsson who specialize in" crafting high-end action, horror, and science-fiction films from original stories and extraordinary games."

Ambition is high for this project, and both Hedetoft and Troedsson wish to create something that offers both "fans and newcomers a cinematic tour-de-force, while staying true to the game’s soul-stirring essence."

Martha is Dead's film adaptation has yet to receive a release date.

The post Violent thriller game Martha Is Dead is becoming a movie appeared first on Destructoid.

Sometimes, a game has a lot riding against it, and it has to go the extra mile to prove its excellence. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered isn’t in the worst position pre-launch, although it has a steep hill ahead of it to prove why it should exist at all. Staying true to its history, Naughty Dog manages to not disappoint, and delivers a package filled with upgrades and a few surprises. 

The studio didn’t have to try too hard to sway me in its direction regarding the game. The Last of Us Part 2 sits up there as one of my favorite games of all time, and around the announcement of the remaster, I was already easing into another playthrough, which I excitedly put on pause to cleanse my palette for this new offering. 

Despite this, I could sense that my perception might not be the norm, and even its most ardent fans were asking worthwhile questions. Was this a sincere gaming product, or an advertisement for the upcoming HBO series? It’s hard to argue against the sentiment that this is far from a title that requires a remaster, for either technical or preservation reasons. Nevertheless, it manages to not only justify itself but also gives the most seasoned veterans something new to experience.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: January 19, 2024
MSRP: $49.99 ($10 upgrade for owners of the PS4 title)

A tale of revenge and trauma

I’ve previously discussed the concept of trauma and its depiction in indie games, and how the personal element amplifies the impact of these experiences. The Last of Us Part 2 is a triple-A attempting to explore trauma, specifically that which is intertwined with love, hate, and regret. Despite the lack of the “reading a personal diary” effect of indies, the sequel manages to pack some weight behind its message.

Part of that punch comes from the coincidental state of world politics and, more specifically, the currently ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. As game director Neil Druckmann has explained, growing up in Israel and witnessing the bloody relationship between Israel and Palestine. In his 20s, he saw footage of that violence, which triggered feelings of revenge followed by self-disgust. As the Washington Post explains, with TLOU P2, “he wanted to explore that emotional tumult on a didactic level.”

The conflict, along with its sociopolitical foundations, have been discussed and debated at length and continue to be. If you want to feel an artistic exploration of the underlying theory from a somewhat controversial but deeply human perspective I’d argue it’s hard to do better than The Last of Us Part 2.

We’ve already got a review of the base game, so I’ll keep the story synopsis brief. It’s the sequel to The Last of Us, which follows the tale of Joel, a hardened weapons smuggler who depends on brutality to survive in a collapsed society where a pandemic has turned the masses into the Infected (they’re zombies).

He finds himself smuggling a different kind of cargo - Ellie. This young girl and her immunity may be the answer to humanity’s problems if she can just make it to the rebel group known as the Fireflies. During the journey, the bond between Joel and Ellie strengthens so much that he is unable to accept it when he discovers that she will have to die for the cure to be made. Driven by love and trauma, he rescues Ellie from the operating table and kills the only surgeon capable of performing the procedure, damning humanity in the process.  

The sequel reveals that the pair have carved a relatively peaceful life for themselves in the Jackson community which stands together against the threat of the Infected. This peace is brought to a bloody end when a faction from faraway discovers Jackson and decides to enact their own idea of justice. The event leaves Ellie traumatized, and the pain drives her to go on a ruthless manhunt to ensure the crew faces retribution.

There’s nothing new about the motivations of the main characters - it is a behavior as old as human society. Wanting to “teach someone a lesson” being used as an explanation for malice is ubiquitous, even when dealing with daily grievances like road rage. Once you spot the pattern, it’s impossible not to immediately start questioning where righteous indignation ends and malevolence begins.

This isn’t a perfect story by any means. What annoys me most is how it feels like it’s constantly underestimating its audience, so it hammers you over the head with its themes just in case you didn’t get it the first time around. The “an eye for an eye” mentality gets quite literal at one point. There are always two sides to every story, so we’re shown a character named Abby, who appears villainous at first before we learn her origins. She also happens to collect coins. It all gets too much at times.

Speaking of Abby, the narrative makes a valiant attempt to have players sympathize with her in a relatively short space of time despite her introduction featuring an atrocity that likely infuriated anyone who had played the predecessor. It’s a tall task, and while I believe The Last of Us Part 2 manages it sufficiently, I wouldn’t shake my head at those who disagree.

A gorgeous dystopia

The Last of Us Part 2 already looked next-gen on PS4, and the remaster manages to polish things in a way that won’t knock your socks off but can definitely be appreciated. You’re given two modes - Fidelity and Performance. On Performance mode, you’ll be able to play at 60FPS, though you’ll be dealing with visuals rendered in 1440p, and then upscaled to 4K. Fidelity offers native 4K, but it has an expensive entry price — 30 FPS gameplay.

It cannot be overstated how magnificent Fidelity mode looks. When it comes to console games, I can’t think of much else that looks this beautifully detailed and borderline photorealistic at some moments. There is a noticeable visual difference between this mode and its Performance counterpart.

What suits you will depend on your playstyle. If you’re playing on the higher difficulties (which I recommend), gameplay becomes an important factor, which makes Performance mode the preferred choice. Though Fidelity looks amazing, Performance still offers pure visual splendor. On the lower difficulties, for players who are more focused on the story than the tense ambushes, 30 FPS may be worth it for that native 4K beauty.

Much like the first game, audio plays a significant role in the overall experience. Gustavo Santaolalla’s special touches always come at the right moments to accentuate the most emotional moments. Once again, by sound alone, you can map out where your enemies are and what direction their footsteps are traveling in. If there’s been any improvement on this front, it wasn’t enough for me to notice it.

Endure and survive

The gameplay in the remake is a replica of the original. Interspersing the cinematic drama are moments of intense combat that drop you straight into survivalist post-apocalyptic scenarios. You get great freedom when it comes to how you want to tweak your difficulty, and you’re able to independently adjust aspects like enemy combat, companion combat, and stealth difficulty, to name a few.

There is certainly value to playing the game on the easier levels. Get a sequence done correctly the first time around, and it feels like your gameplay is straight out of an action movie. Nevertheless, there’s something a bit more thematically consistent when you crank things up to Survivor or Grounded.

Ellie is outnumbered and outgunned, usually packing nothing more than her blade, a brick, and maybe a single bullet in her rifle. There’s a tower teeming with WLF soldiers seeking her. She’s surely not going to overpower her opponents, so she has to rely on her brains and agility instead to get the best of her foes.

Some solutions come in the form of expert stealth to pick off your rivals. Other times, it’s a matter of trial and error until you find the route that’ll get you through the danger zone undetected. There are also those special scenarios where you can implement some creativity and have Infected and enemy factions at each other’s necks while you sneak off. Additionally, environments are more than just a backdrop - you can implement them in your strategies whether you’re hiding traps behind doors or waiting with a loaded shotgun under a truck.

There’s something really satisfying about worming your way through an area and snuffing all your pursuers out before they even know they’re being stalked, or engaging in high-speed action encounters where you evade your foes only for you to snipe them in the grass when they least expect it.

It takes everything at your disposal, some smart strategizing, and a little luck to survive these encounters when a single gunshot is usually enough to end your run. The lack of random resources also makes the world a little more realistic when you’re not finding shotgun ammo inside office building file cabinets.

But it should be stressed that playing at this difficulty level is a matter of preference. To make things a little more bearable, fine-tune the settings by perhaps turning up the frequency of encountering resources and increasing Ellie’s durability. You’ll still get to enjoy enemies functioning at their smartest, but the dreaded one-shot kills won’t be a problem anymore.

There’s also been a roguelike mode titled No Return included, and it’s as feature-filled as it is exhilarating. You’re put through randomized levels where your objective is to remain alive regardless of what’s been thrown at you. 

You can play as different characters, including folks like Dina and Tommy, who have unique abilities. Your base game upgrades don’t transfer, and you’ll have to work from scratch to get your pistols and other weapons back to an optimal level. 

It doesn’t feel tacked on at all - it’s a fleshed-out experience worth investing your time in, and it’s also designed to give you a sense of progress as your hard work helps you unlock new characters and skins. In short, the game mode allows you to experience the best of what the sequel’s combat has to offer, and if gameplay is what draws you to this franchise, the roguelike mode is probably the best gift to receive in lieu of the canceled multiplayer mode.

For the fans

For players who fell in love with the PS4 game, a shot to replay it won’t be declined quickly. But the remaster comes packed with content to ensure the experience is worthwhile. One of my favorite features is the director’s commentary, which genuinely expanded my view of TLOU P2’s world and Naughty Dog’s artistic vision. I’d highly advise you to turn it on if you’ve watched all the cinematics a couple of times already.

It isn’t overused, so you won’t be dealing with chattering in your ear the whole time. But when it does kick in, you’re seldom left without learning something new, even if it’s something minor like discovering that freeing the zebra in one of Abby’s flashbacks was originally designed as a mini-game. It also directed my attention to characters like Jesse, who I'd originally overlooked but now have a greater appreciation for the crucial role he plays in the overall narrative.

As has been advertised, one of the bonus features allows you to play the guitar as Gustavo, Ellie, or Joel. You can switch between the regular instrument, or you can switch it out for something else, including a banjo. There’s no getting around the fact that it’s gimmicky, but it is nonetheless a calming addition that I can imagine a music lover enjoying when they need a break from the gritty action of the main game.

Perhaps the largest draw for some players will be the inclusion of three lost levels. These are encounters that were conceptualized and developed to some degree, but were still months away from completion before it was decided they would be cut. Each lost level is introduced by Druckmann, who gives some context regarding the scene and why it isn’t in the final game. 

The lost levels are one of the most interesting ways a studio has provided insight into a game’s development. As you play these clearly unfinished levels, you pass points where you can trigger developer commentary to discover more about what Naughty Dog was considering as the encounters were being developed, and some of the challenges faced. 

They also provide a peek into just how difficult to wrangle a game with a story of this magnitude. Ultimately, I’m glad these lost levels were axed, as they would have subtracted more than they added to TLOU P2. Nonetheless, discovering just how far developers were willing to go to achieve lofty goals like making Jackson feel immersive or highlighting Ellie’s trauma does trigger greater appreciation for the final product.

How polished can a diamond get?

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a tricky one to assess. It should be obvious at this point that I consider it one of, if not the, best offering from a Sony first-party studio in gaming’s eighth generation. Despite this, it’s not lost on me that this is a remaster of a 2020 game that already has an impressive PS5 upgrade patch.

From a tech standpoint, you’re not getting anything considerably better than the PS4 version with an upgrade patch. For most, I’d wager the biggest easily discernible difference players will find when they play the base game is the use of the adaptive trigger for weapons. It’s not transformative, but it’s nice.

This alone wouldn’t justify a remaster, but that’s not all Naughty Dog is offering. You’re getting a new game mode, but it’s nevertheless capable of adding hours to your gameplay provided you’re into that kind of thing. 

Some additions will probably only appeal to the more hardcore fans, including the ability to play instruments as Gustavo Santaolalla and friends, as well as the chance to explore the lost levels. New skins make an appearance, and yes, this matters significantly to me. I like playing as Ellie in a spacesuit. 

This is the most polished version of Naughty Dog’s vision, and it’s chocked full of content illustrating passion for the craft and a deep appreciation for the fans. If you already own the game and had fun with it the first time around, $10 is a reasonable entry price for a package that expands the ways you can enjoy TLOU P2. 

Never played the game before? Well, I don’t think it’s worth piling on any more praise, except to say this is about as good as it gets when it comes to Sony’s cinematic over-the-shoulder third-person action-adventure experience.

The post Review: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.

Foamstars isn't unique, but it does offer a colorful, exciting shooter experience. An announcement trailer has revealed that the game launches on Sony's console's on February 6.

We got a taste of the game last year thanks to the open beta which ran from September 29 until October 1, and it was generally well-receieved. You'd be forgiven for confusing the Square Enix-produced open world beta with Nintendo's Splatoon franchise, as both games feature players making a colorful mess.

However, Foamstars presents itself as a more action-packed party with options to fight solo or team up in 4x4 battles. The foam isn't there for aesthetic reasons alone. You can also use it to slide on, build with it, and much more.

Only time will tell whether this is the iconic shooter Sony has been searching for. As a bonus, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download the game for free from launch until March 4.

The post Foamstars arrives February 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

Though the DualSense packs a suite of impressive features, one of the biggest criticisms has been its battery life. This may be remedied by a new version of the controller that has appeared online, as Resetera user ezidro3 noticed.

The new controller, dubbed the "PlayStation 5 V2 DualSense Wireless Controller - White" was originally spotted on Best Buy Canada, along with an included charging station and $89.99CAD price tag, but the post has been taken down since. The new controller looks identical to its predecessor, except this one is supposed to feature 12 hours of gameplay on a full charge. The page has since been taken down, with no official word from Sony yet regarding this new device.

The DualSense is a phenomenal controller with features that make it a near-irresistable inclusion to any gaming arsenal. However, the low battery has always been a problem, providing 4-6 hours of wireless gameplay depending on which features are being used. Grab the Dualsense Edge, and you can expect even less time.

If there's one new piece of hardware Sony wanted to add to please fans, this is probably it. Only a white version has been seen, but if it's available in other colors, Sony may have found a way to slip its fingers into my wallet.

Now where is the DualSense Edge in different colors?

The post Mysterious PS5 DualSense V2 with more battery life appears online appeared first on Destructoid.

In the upcoming D.I.C.E awards, Spider-Man 2 takes an early lead by scoring nine nominations. The awards ceremony is scheduled for February 15 this year.

Categories that Insomniac's superhero game is in include Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Animation, and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, to name a few. Alan Wake 2 trails not too far behind with eight nominations.

Remedy's survival horror has managed to catch the eyes of critics thanks to its metastory, use of music, and phenomenal ensemble of characters. It has been nominated for Game of the Year as well, but it also picks up nominations in the Outstanding Achievement in Story category and Outstanding Achievement in Character category which gives Saga Anderson a nod.

The other games that got Game of the Year nominations are: Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The full list of nominations is as follows:

Game of the Year Awards

1. Game of the Year: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Spider-Man 2.
2. Online Game of the Year: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Diable 4, Omega Strikers, Street Fighter 6, The Finals.
3. Mobile Game of the Year: Gubbins, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Honkai: Star Rail, Terra Nil, What The Car?
4. Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Cocoon, Dredge, El Paso, Elsewhere, Thirsty Suitors, Venba
5. Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Asgard's Wrath 2, Assassin's Creed Nexus VR, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice, Vertigo 2
6. Immersive Reality Technical Achievement Award: Asgard's Wrath 2, Assassin's Creed Nexus VR, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Vertigo 2, We Are One

Craft Awards

1. Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2. Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, Dave the Diver, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
3. Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Final Fantasy 16, Hi-Fi Rush, Spider-Man 2, Mortal Kombat 1,Super Mario Bros. Wonder
4. Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Starfield
5. Outstanding Achievement in Character: Saga Anderson (Alan Wake 2, Melanie Liburd), Astarion (Baldur's Gate 3, Neil Newbon), Karlach (Baldur's Gate 3, Samantha Béart), Miles Morales (Spider-Man 2, Nadji Jeter),Jala (Thirsty Suitors, Farah Merani)
6. Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Alan Wake 2, Diablo 4, Spider-Man 2, Planet of Luna, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
7. Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Alan Wake 2, Cocoon, Hi-Fi Rush, Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
8. Outstanding Achievement in Story: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Dave the Diver, Thirsty Suitors, Venba
9. Outstanding Technical Achievement: Alan Wake 2, Spider-Man 2, Hogwarts Legacy, The Finals, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Genre Awards

1. Action Game of the Year: Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, Dead Space, Hi-Fi Rush, Spider-Man 2, Remnant 2
2. Adventure Game of the Year: Alan Wake 2, Cocoon, Dave the Diver, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
3. Family Game of the Year: Disney Illusion Island, Fae Farm, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Midnight Girl, Super Mario Bros. Wonder
4. Fighting Game of the Year: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Mortal Kombat 1, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, Pocket Bravery, Street Fighter 6
5. Racing Game of the Year: F-Zero 99, Forza Motorsport, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged, Lego 2K Drive
6. Role-Playing Game of the Year: Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Diablo 4, Final Fantasy 16, Starfield
7. Sports Game of the Year: EA Sports FC 24, MLB The Show 23, WWE 2K23
8. Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Against the Storm, Cobalt Core, Dune: Spice Wars, The Last Spell, Wartales

There's not much that raises eyebrows when it comes to nominations. Tears of the Kingdom received 5 nominations while Cocoon has nabbed 6.

The post Spider-Man 2 snatches nine D.I.C.E nominations appeared first on Destructoid.

The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family, but when I'm not sipping on that sweet hot cocoa or playing charades like a bumbling buffoon, I'm catching up on my excessive backlog of video games. This year, I decided to finish my trip to Hogwarts.

Note: There are spoilers ahead for Sebastian Sallow's storyline in Hogwarts Legacy.

Going back to Hogwarts

Hogwarts Legacy has been a touchy subject for many, and honestly, it's put me off playing the game throughout 2023. The criticisms of the universe's creator, J.K. Rowling, are well-founded. I'm bisexual and part of the LGBTQ+ community, but to me, the Harry Potter series is more important than her; it was a huge part of my childhood. The holidays are also a time when my parents watch the movies, so it's always something in the back of my mind during that time of year.

After a year of heavy guide writing, I decided to return to the Scottish highlands and finish my fifth year at Hogwarts. The game's visuals and storytelling entranced my family. However, it wasn't what they expected as they witnessed the end of Sebastian's dark storyline. Oh, and it was also fun to flip over a cow.

Did you finish a backlog game during the holidays?

With so many 2023 releases like Starfield or Baldur's Gate 3, games will fall by the wayside, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass. We all have busy schedules, so getting one or two weeks off is a blessing. That's why it's so fascinating there are trophy and achievement hunters out there who finish a game to completion.

The patience and the reluctance to buy new games are something to be admired. However, as a guide writer who has to stay current, I move on from games I love, which can be heartbreaking. It's part of the job, especially as a freelancer.

Have you conquered a backlog game over the holidays? Were you able to defeat the Mongols in Ghost of Tsushima or finally finish every world in Super Mario Odyssey to completion? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Did you finish a backlog game over the holidays? appeared first on Destructoid.

PlayStation 5 owners are one of the few who have yet to be able to get their hands on Sam Barlow's interactive movie title, Immortality. But their wait is finally over, as Immortality splices onto PS5 on January 23.

The news came within an announcement trailer from Barlow's Half Mermaid Productions. The trailer gives a brief idea of how the game's unique "match cut" feature works and teases the project's supernatural story.

Initially released for PC and Xbox Series X|S in August 2022, Immortality was met with glowing reviews from many outlets. Destructoid's Eric Van Allen classified it as "superb" in our review.

Immortality's story revolves around the actress Marissa Marcel and the three films she starred in but were never released. The player uses behind-the-scene footage to jump between movies, matching shots of faces or objects to jump to a similar take in a different film. The more you interact with the game's clips, the more you begin to unravel and understand the title's dark and mysterious plot.

Outside of reviews, Immortality also cleaned up during award season. The project was nominated across numerous outlets for Best Performance, Best Story, Best Game Direction, and Best Game. Manon Gage, the lead actress who portrayed Marissa Marcel, came home with hardware at the 2022 Golden Joystick Awards for Best Performer. Gage also won the 2022 New York Game Award for Best Acting in a Game.

PlayStation 5 owners should be excited to have such a unique title become part of the console's catalog when Immortality launches on PlayStation 5 on January 23. Immortality is currently playable on PC, Xbox Series X|S, mobile, and Mac.

The post Haunting FMV mystery Immortality comes to PS5 later this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Stephanie Tyler Jones, who provided the face likeness for Mary Jane Watson in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, is speaking out about fans who have "crossed boundaries" over the character.

As she explains in an Instagram message, she appreciates the positive responses she's received over the years. However, certain fans have crossed the line, with some going so far as to call her workplace and attempt to speak to her.

Upon hearing all the voicemails, she "immediately felt unsafe and uncomfortable." Though it should need no explaining, she highlights that while she may be the face behind a cultural icon, she is still "a human being trying to make a living just like you."

She also highlights that her skincare page isn't for Spider-Man or MJ fans. She asks fans to not cross boundaries, informs everyone that messages will not be answered, and you can expect to be blocked if she feels uncomfortable.

It's worth noting that she had no longer been an actively auditioning actor or model before the incident. The roles she accepts are only creative outlets for herself and with friends.

Jones joins an unfortunately long list of actors who have found themselves harassed following their gaming fame. This includes Laura Bailey who received threats towards her and her family after her performance as Abby in The Last of Us Part 2.

The post Spider-Man 2’s MJ face model speaks out about harassment from fans appeared first on Destructoid.

I talk about this all the time, but I’ve long been searching for the perfect road trip game. Something that captures the calmness of a long drive and the vibes of a late-night Waffle House. One day. One day…

It’s that search that got me interested in Pacific Drive. Okay, it’s sort of like driving a jalopy through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, as shown in S.T.A.L.K.E.R., but there’s still room for Waffle House vibes. Having played a bit of it, I’m going to have to say that I’m probably going to still be left searching, but that’s not to say that Pacific Drive doesn’t have some interesting things going for it.

Pacific Drive has you transporting a package near the Olympic Penninsula where a promising technology was being experimented with. However, things started going wrong and getting weird, so the government walled up the area, establishing the Olympic Exclusion Zone. Then things just got worse, so they pulled everyone they could out of there and sealed the exits. That shouldn’t matter to a delivery person like you, but while taking a short detour, you’re sucked into the zone.

I mostly enjoyed my time with Pacific Drive, but I'm concerned that the unique aspects of it might get drowned out by trite looting and crafting that we’ve seen too many times before. Upgrading your car is fun, but if that aspect outweighs the actual driving, then I think it will cheapen the entire experience. 

Nonetheless, I’m excited to get my hands on more of Pacific Drive. In preparation for this write-up, I fired the demo up again to refresh myself on the narrative details of the introduction, and I had trouble putting it down again. There is a lot that it does well, and it’s clear to see where its heart lies. Maintaining the station wagon is really enjoyable, I just hope we’re doing the bulk of that out on the road rather than in the garage.

Pacific Drive is out on February 22, 2024 for PS4 and PC.

The post Pacific Drive is a harrowing road trip on the edge of reality appeared first on Destructoid.

Though much of PlayStation's success has come from its stable of first-party games, it has also benefitted from third-party titles that receive Sony's support. In an interview with Boardroom, Shawne Benson, who is the global head of third-party portfolio and acquisitions, shed some light on how some of these deals come about.

A typical workday will include meetings with prospective partners. During these meetings, it's not just the quality of the games that's considered. The team also has to ask whether the titles resonate with the PlayStation brand and appeal to its audience.

By the end of it, if a partnership is established, "it doesn’t always end with a traditional deal." Some partners are disappointed by this because they think it means that the game isn't good. However, that's not the case at all.

One of the notable success stories when it comes to PlayStation supporting third-party teams is Stray. Released in 2022, the cyberpunk game has you playing as a cat trying to find its way home. According to Benson, PlayStation's "team worked really closely with Annapurna Interactive and the development team behind it, BlueTwelve Studio" and guided them on how to make the most of the DualSense controller.

This guidance is important, as haptics give a layer of immersion when it comes to playing as a cat and feeling sensations such as a purr. Though PlayStation's team, which consists of 11 people, provides their input, they are sure to not tell partners how to make their games. They "just give them tips and tricks on how to be best on PlayStation."

While on the PS Plus catalog, Stray has "brought in the highest number of players that have accessed that title over the first 12 months" according to Nick Maguire, who is PlayStation's vice president and global head of subscriptions. Several other titles have received support from Sony with successful results, including games like Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

The post Sony explains how Stray and other third-party games found support appeared first on Destructoid.

A lot of people have been quite keen to know when they can get their hands on the remake of Silent Hill 2. So much so that developer Bloober Team urged for a bit more patience, and we still have no idea when it's releasing. But we're getting closer.

In a recent video on the PlayStation YouTube channel, we're treated to a brief teaser showing what we can expect to launch this year on Sony's system. Among other things (something called "Tek-en," not sure if you've heard of it), we're now told that Silent Hill 2 will be available this year.

Of course, we could probably have ascertained that 2024 was likely the release window. But it's comforting to see PlayStation officially acknowledge this. However, we don't have an actual date yet, so that's surely the next port of call.

We must be nearly there, then

Many of us had been hoping to see the remake by the end of 2023 at the latest. For some time, it's been suggested that Bloober was just putting the finishing touches to the game, and this teaser sort of confirms that the team must be at the final hurdle now.

After the disappointment that was the interactive experience Silent Hill: Ascension, the legendary series could do with a win. Konami's horror franchise has been dormant for far too long, some might say. Me. I would say that.

However, there's a lot to live up to. Bloober Team has its critics, and bringing back Silent Hill 2 – with the original being largely considered one of the most influential horror games of all time – is a tall order, indeed.

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Though the studio remains forever secretive, Kojima Productions has been gracious enough to provide fans a sneak peek into two upcoming projects: the Death Stranding sequel and OD. On Twitter, Hideo Kojima recently gave an update on Death Stranding 2's development.

He explains that 2024 entails another year of development for the game which is being produced at the same time as OD. Death Stranding 2 still "has some ADR left" and after that, the studio will focus on doing Japanese voice-overs. There's still no official release date for Death Stranding 2, but with Kojima discussing "another year of development," a 2025 launch wouldn't be out of the question.

A busy year for Kojima Productions

During The Game Awards 2023, Kojima spoke a bit about OD which is described as a title that will defy expectations and expand the medium. He's enlisted the help of movie-maker Jordan Peele, and we've received a cryptic teaser trailer, though we're still stuck without a release date.

Although Kojima intends to limit his business trips this year, he's still busy turning Death Stranding into a movie, collaborating on the Avengers, and working on OD in addition to other video projects. He also mentions a writing project along with the possible revival of Hide Radio and "a special program on 'HideTube'."

It appears it's a busy year ahead for Kojima Productions, but we may see the fruits of the studio's labor soon. Plenty of the upcoming projects intrigue me, but I'm particularly interested to see how Death Stranding's movie adaptation will be handled. Although the game is teeming with lengthy cutscenes, it'll be a tall task to capture the unique atmosphere established by the gameplay.

The post Hideo Kojima provides update on Death Stranding 2’s development appeared first on Destructoid.

Fate/Samurai Remnant, the latest entry in the Fate franchise, will receive the first of three DLCs soon, and it will arrive in February 2024.

Titled Record’s Fragment: Keian Command Championship, details on what to expect are still sparse. The trailer depicts Gilgamesh the King of Heroes announcing that he has seized control of the fates of several characters from the base game. He then announces the start of the Keian Command Championship.

Two more DLCs are on the way, but they've yet to be named or receive a release date, although they are to launch in 2024. Each of the DLCs will bring additional scenarios, new Servants, stages, and more. If you want access to all the extra content, a Season Pass is available which also comes with the Hallowed Relic Sword Mountings bonus.

I enjoyed my time with Fate/Samurai Remnant, so the DLC piques my interest. Perhaps the only downside is that it comes during a time that already promises to be packed with enticing titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload.

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It's the beginning of a new year, and despite being a weaker month usually for releases, there's a selection of highly anticipated January 2024 games to look forward to. From intense fights in Tekken 8 to the calmer, puzzle-based Another Code: Recollection, there's something for everyone.

Another Code: Recollection (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

It's a delight when a lesser-known game gets another chance on a newer platform. Another Code: Recollection includes two DS and Wii puzzle games (one never released in North America) about Ashley, a 13-year-old girl looking for answers. She's uncovering the truth about her parents as you solve puzzles on the stunning remote Blood Edward Island. There's new voice acting, visuals, and music to make the game feel more modern on the Nintendo Switch.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5)

Publisher: PlayStation
Developer: Naughty Dog
Price: $49.99 (or $9.99 for the PS4-PS5 upgrade)
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

Naughty Dog, whether you like it or not, is releasing a new remastered version of the PS4 game The Last of Us Part II. Thankfully, it won't be full price. If you have the PS4 game already, the upgrade only costs $9.99.

Despite the apprehension, this game does have a bunch of new features. First and foremost there's the roguelike survival mode called No Return. There will be plenty of enemies in your path, and a return to some familiar settings throughout the series so far. It will be all randomized.

We'll also gain access to the Lost Levels that lets us play early development workings from the game cut from the final product. Another impressive feat is that the game outputs 4K in Fidelity mode, adding higher quality visuals on-screen. Despite it being a remaster, it's arguably one of the most anticipated January 2024 games, due to the series' prestige alone. It's a shame the multiplayer game was canceled, however.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The turn-based RPG antics of Ichiban and his friends return in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. He'll be exploring Hawaii, battling thugs, and starting up a new village in a new Animal Crossing-inspired side mode. It has also been teased that this could be Kazuma Kiryu's farewell to the series as he's battling cancer. Get the tissues ready if you play this game.

As always, expect some drama and some bombastic comedic moments in Infinite Wealth just like past Yakuza and Like a Dragon games. If you play the last entry The Man Who Erased His Name, you can play a demo right now.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 18
Trailer

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is looking like a promising revival of a beloved Ubisoft franchise. This one's taking a 2D Metroidvania route with astonishing bosses, plenty of time powers to unlock, and exhilarating platforming from what the trailers have shown so far. "The combat system in The Lost Crown is extremely fluid and fast-paced," said our preview. Sargon has a quick light attack, a heavy attack that takes longer to perform but deals more damage, a block, and a dash-style evade."

The combat looks fast and deadly with combos that have you soaring across the sky and crushing your foes to the ground. Hopefully, this game will live up to its potential when it releases on January 18.

Tekken 8 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Bandai Namco
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The epic fighting game series returns for this generation with Tekken 8. The visuals are enhanced, the stages are destructible, and the new Heat system will heighten each battle greatly. There will be 32 characters at launch.

Tekken 8 looks incredible. "The environments are filled to the brim with detail," said our preview. "The puddles in the New York stage reflect the lights from Times Square’s advertisements, and the lighting from the neon signs stands out sharply on screen."

Unlike many other fighting games at launch, Tekken 8 is packed with content from day one. The story continues six months after the events of Tekken 7 as Jin and Kazuya fight it out in an awe-inspiring clash. There's also the all-new Arcade Quest, which has you playing as your own avatar and unfolding a narrative as we battle it out among a series of arcades. It sounds like a great way to learn the game for newcomers to the series.

Honorable mentions

There are even more January 2024 games to expect, including another fighting game and a new Tamagotchi game exclusive to iOS platforms.

• Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom (iOS) - January 4
• Laika: Aged Through Blood (Switch) - January 11
• Sovereign Syndicate (PC) - January 15
• Bulletstorm VR (PS5, PC, Meta Quest 2) - January 18
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - January 18
• Enshrouded (PC) - January 24
• Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - January 25
• Under Night In-Birth 2 [Sys:Celes] (PS4, PS5, PC, Switch) - January 25
• Rugby 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - January 30
• Palworld (PC) - January

The post Most anticipated games – January 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Though they're wildly different games on the surface, Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2 are sequels representing massive achievements for their respective studios. In an IGN interview, Remedy's Sam Lake and Insomniac's John McAdam discuss some of the intricacies of game development, and how they dealt with having two protagonists.

Alan Wake 2's story is split between Alan Wake the writer, and Saga Anderson the FBI agent who has been dragged into a twisted tale. In Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker's back but he shares the spotlight with Miles Morales.

According to McAdam, having the two protagonists forced the studio to shift from the original ideas driving the narrative. At first, Venom was going to be a central character that "was going to weave in and out of all the other characters in the story and affect them."

However, with two protagonists to juggle as well, it felt like there was too much going on. Consequently, things had to change. This was mostly driven by writer Lauren Mee who decided that Miles should have his own arc with Martin Li. This change ensured that it doesn't feel like Miles "was not participating in the story because it's Peter who succumbs" to the symbiote.

Lake highlights how dual protagonists complicate the process of building suspense. Typically, you'd "lead the character into a cliffhanger and that's the point to switch." But players have freedom concerning when they switch, so that tool isn't available anymore. Like McAdam, Lake relied on a lot of other writers to get the two character arcs right, including Clay Murphy.

Of course, the challenges that come with having two protagonists aren't limited to narrative. There are also gameplay elements to consider. Though it was tough to include the feature to switch between characters in an open-world game like Spider-Man 2, it was worth it because it's "so freeing for the player."

What goes into creating Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2

The two creatives also discuss how they go about planning these large narratives. Lake admits he takes an old-school approach and relies on a whiteboard. As his theoretical backbone, he uses "three helper structures: the three act structure, the hero's journey, five or seven stages of grief." McAdam has an approach that isn't too different, as he also uses a whiteboard and describes himself as a "structure nerd."

Both creatives also seem quite obsessive in just how detailed and planned their narratives need to be. Lake describes his stories as having multiple layers that begin with a synopsis. But he's usually not satisfied at first, which motivates him to "write a proper treatment that can be anything from 30 pages to 50 pages on the detail level of what is actually going on and happening." This is something McAdam relates to, and he also likes "to do a detailed treatment."

We also get a glimpse into the editing process. Even at the heights Lake and McAdam work at, they still occasionally have a hard time with the editing process and letting go of ideas that they and the team love but might not work for the project.

As Lake explains, you need to be in a mental place where you "bear the fact that things are not locked. And for some people, it's harder and a lot more stressful." McAdams relates, though he admits the following: "one of the things I've learned to embrace as I've gotten older is it's okay if we change things, because if we're changing it, we're changing it for a good reason."

Both Spider-Man 2 and Alan Lake 2 have been well-received and have collected plenty of accolades. At The Game Awards, Remedy's sequel nabbed three awards while Insomniac's project dominated the player-voted PlayStation awards.

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First Contact Entertainment is a studio specializing in VR games, and it is behind titles like Firewall: Zero Hour and Firewall Ultra. It has announced that it will be shutting down by the end of the year.

According to the announcement from the studio, a "lack of support for VR within the industry has eventually taken its toll." Though the company wishes it could continue with its AAA VR projects, it has become impossible to justify the expenses.

This is notable news for the VR community, as Firewall: Zero Hour was a popular PS VR title that had earned itself good reviews. Firewall Ultra was released for the PS VR2, though it failed to impress players as much as its predecessor.

Employees have commented on the imminent closure on social media, celebrating their time with the studio while announcing their availability for new opportunities. They join the ranks of thousands of other gaming industry employees who have found themselves in a similar position this year. It has been estimated that in 2023 alone, around 9,000 video game jobs were lost.

First Contact Entertainment isn't the only company struggling to master the VR space, with Sony also calling it a "challenging category." PS VR2 players looking for first-person shooters aren't out of luck, however. The PlayStation VR2 has a few FPS titles available, with Pavlov being an unmissable standout.

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Sony has been testing the waters with different hardware this year, including the PlayStation Portal and the PS VR2. In an interview with the Financial Times, Eric Lempel, the head of global business at Sony Interactive Entertainment, reveals how some of these projects have been faring.

Though Lempel states that the VR headset sales are "going well," the VR category is still challenging. He argues that "there was a higher expectation generally for what VR would do to gaming." Other hardware benefitted from the Black Friday sales period, including the PS Portal. According to Lempel, PlayStation enjoyed its most successful November ever in both sales and revenue.

Sony is having no problems selling PS5s

As Sony announced this week, over 50 million PS5s have been sold. This, according to Financial Times, means the console outsold "Microsoft's Xbox by almost three to one in 2023." Lempel comments on the sales milestone, claiming that with prior supply problems solved, the console is "now on track to outsell PlayStation 4" which has sold over 117 million units.

Referencing data from Ampere Analysis, FT claims PS5 sales grew 65% while the Switch fell 18% and the Xbox fell 15%. Carolina Milanesi, an analyst from Creative Strategies, states that the divergences reflect differing strategies from the hardware manufacturers: "Sony really cares about selling hardware but from a Microsoft perspective, it’s more about their subscription service."

Sony recently released a slimmer version of the console, and with the right line-up of titles, 2024 could be another successful year for the company. Fortunately, we have titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Rise of the Ronin to look forward to.

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Every year, players get the chance to vote for their favorite PlayStation games in different categories. Several titles have won in various categories, with Spider-Man 2 voted the PS5 Game of the Year.

The win is not a surprise considering its stellar sales and the positive reception it has received from players and critics. The PS4 hasn't been forgotten, and Hogwarts Legacy won Game of the Year for the console. According to PlayStation, competition was tight, and it squeezed past Resident Evil 4 Remake by a mere half a percent of votes.

All the winners

There were 18 categories to vote in, with winners chosen solely by player votes. Though several studios have released phenomenal titles this year, Insomniac seems to have won the hearts of many PlayStation players. These are all the winners:

1. Best New Character - Venom (Spider-Man 2)
2. Best Story - Spider-Man 2
3. Best Graphical Showcase - Spider-Man 2
4. Best Art Direction - Alan Wake 2
5. Best Audio Design - Spider-Man 2
6. Soundtrack of the Year - Spider-Man 2
7. Best Accessibility Features - Spider-Man 2
8. Best Use of DualSense Controller - Spider-Man 2
9. Best Multiplayer Experience - Baldur's Gate 3
10. Best Ongoing Game - Fortnite
11. Best Expansion - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
12. Best Sports Game - EA Sports FC 24
13. Best Independent Game of the Year - Sea of Stars
14. PS VR2 Game of the Year - Resident Evil Village: VR Mode
15. Studio of the Year - Insomniac Games
16. Most Anticipated Game of 2024 and Beyond - Grand Theft Auto 6
17. PS4 Game of the Year - Hogwarts Legacy
18. PS5 Game of the Year - Spider-Man 2

While Insomniac can celebrate these victories, it is also currently facing a data leak from hackers. Fortunately, the gaming industry has been showing great support for the studio.

The post Spider-Man 2 is voted PlayStation’s PS5 Game of the Year appeared first on Destructoid.

Drip marketing is here for Version 4.4 of Genshin Impact, introducing a playable version of Cloud Retainer and a brand-new character named Gaming.

Xianyun, aka Cloud Retainer

Xianyun appears to be Cloud Retainer in a human disguise. She has an Anemo Vision, though her weapon is still up in the air. Given her design and popularity, it’s hard to imagine that Cloud Retainer will not be a 5-star character. Her Constellation is listed as Grus Serena, which is Latin for “serene crane.”

It’s unknown why Cloud Retainer has decided to live among the humans, but she seems to be getting along well. The residents of Liyue Harbor only have good things to say about her, describing her as a talented artisan with a kind heart. There are those who know her true identity, such as her fellow adepti and Rex Lapis himself, but they appear to do a good job of helping to maintain her disguise.

Gaming

Yes, his name is Gaming. It’s actually based on the Cantonese pronunciation of a real name: 嘉明, pronounced “gah-ming.” It’s time to take bets on whether the English voiceover will say “gaming” or “gah-ming.”

Gaming has a Pyro Vision at his waist, but his weapon and rarity are unclear. His Constellation is Leo Expergiscens, Latin for “awakening lion.”

Gaming works as an armed guard for the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency, escorting valuable cargo as it’s transported from place to place. However, he moonlights as a Wushou dancer. Given the little lion mask that holds his Vision and references to suanni, Wushou Dance could be Teyvat’s version of a Lion Dance. This could indicate some interesting martial arts/Lion Dance themed animations, which I’m very excited to see!

When are Cloud Retainer and Gaming coming to Genshin Impact?

Since we’re about to go into Genshin Impact Version 4.3, Cloud Retainer and Gaming should be coming in Version 4.4. If the six-week update schedule holds, Version 4.4 should go live around January 30, just in time for Lunar New Year and Genshin’s annual Lantern Rite celebration. 

Given how past Lantern Rite rewards were structured, we can expect to be given a free Liyue 4-star character of our choice. If either Cloud Retainer or Gaming turn out to be 4-stars, they should be added to the selection pool, letting you pick up a new character for free!

The post New characters Xianyun and Gaming announced for Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

A Hunter x Hunter fighting game is officially in development, as announced by publisher Bushiroad at Jump Festa 2024. It's being worked on by DNF Duel and Tatsunoko vs Capcom developer Eighting.

According to Gematsu, more details will be shared at Bushiroad New Year Grand Presentation 2024, which occurs on January 6. The announcement was made at the publisher's booth in Jump Festa 2024 on Friday. No gameplay or even screenshots has been shown as of the time of writing. No platforms have been announced either.

Bushiroad has games based on other anime properties, including Goblin Slayer, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, and Shin Chan. This Hunter x Hunter game seems to be the publisher's first fighting title on consoles, but it has released a mobile wrestling game in the past based on NJPW.

There's also a Macross game from this company heading to consoles and PCs on January 25 called Macross Shooting Insight.

The last Hunter x Hunter console game takes us back decades

The last Hunter x Hunter console game takes us all the way back to 2001. It's called Hunter x Hunter: The Stolen Aura Stone. It never received a North American release, sadly.

Developed by Konami, The Stolen Aura Stone is a card game RPG that has your character try to get back the Aura Stone from the Phantom Troupe. The battle system revolves around a rock, paper, scissors style with three different types of moves: regular, special, and counter. It also revolves around your character's Nen type and power, like the anime.

In a 2019 review, YouTube channel Gaming Through The Ages says the battle system "has the potential to seem quite convoluted and fairly unapproachable until its idiosyncracies are understood."

Given the critical success of DNF Duel and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, hopefully that means Eighting can make a stellar Hunter x Hunter game after all these years.

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