https://www.thegamer.com The PS5 is Sony's premier gaming console launched in 2020, and it comes with both a standard and digital-only version. Wed, 31 May 2023 15:00:20 GMT en-US hourly 60 Between Star Wars Jedi and Spider-Man, ‘non-canon’ endings feel like an increasing rarity in the world of licensed games. We don’t get much choice in how stories unfold anymore, since so many developers are striving for a definitive cinematic experience. You don’t go to the theatre and take a vote to make Captain America side with Thanos. But games aren’t movies, and letting the player take control is a key part of how we experience them.

]]> Wed, 31 May 2023 15:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-web-of-shadows-symbiote-morality/ Last week’s PlayStation Showcase set off a wave of discourse, as everyone watched it quickly found out that nobody else on the internet agreed whether the show was good, bad, or a secret third thing. I’m pretty firmly in the last category, but not because there weren’t any games I wanted to play.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-showcase-less-exciting-aging/ When Tears of the Kingdom is blown up on a big screen, hills are stretched, models are fuzzy, and the environments lack the usual obsession with minor details we see in modern games. Most people don’t care because its art direction is stellar, the sandbox tools are like nothing we’ve seen before, and it runs incredibly well despite seamlessly juggling three distinct worlds. For some reason, gamers aren’t okay with prioritising gameplay over visual fidelity unless it’s on a Nintendo console, as Spider-Man 2’s new trailer was immediately met with controversy for not looking current-gen enough. I have no idea what that means other than gamers wanting a generational leap like PS1 to PS2, but when you’re at the top of the mountain, how much higher can you go?

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 16:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-god-of-war-ragnarok-ratchet-and-clank-rift-apart-generational-sequels-unrealistic/ Everyone is excited for Spider-Man 2. Everyone apart from the losers lying about the water, at least. There’s been a lot of talk over how the Symbiote factors into the story, as well as into the gameplay, alongside speculation around Kraven, Lizard, Venom, and Wraith. One villain conspicuous by her absence though was Screwball, and some seem to see this as a cause for celebration. If she really is gone though, the game will always feel like it’s missing something.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 15:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/screwball-return-spider-man-2-villain/ Mortal Kombat 1 isn't that far away, set to be with us on September 19. Despite this, we haven't even had a proper look at the gameplay yet, with the reveal trailer focusing on the timeline reset and this new take on characters we've known and loved for 30 years. But now, fans are getting the chance to try the game out for themselves, even before the pre-order beta kicks off, letting you be among the first to get your hands on the new MK.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 13:31:09 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/mortal-kombat-1-stress-test-sign-up-play-early/ Xbox has been in the spotlight lately when it comes to the exclusivity of its games, whether it be due to the severe lack of them or PlayStation's fear it won't be allowed to play with Call of Duty anymore. Now PlayStation is the one being called out for its exclusive practices, as the Romanian Competition Council (RCC) has accused the platform's parent company of abusing its position.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 11:53:51 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-accused-abusing-games-industry-ps5-exclusives/ The notion of backwards compatibility has been around for some time, ever since the PlayStation 2 could play most of the games of its predecessor. For those who recall, the PS2 could also make these games look slightly better if you went into its menus and chose a "smooth" option that applied a texture filtering effect to PS1 titles that made visuals look slightly crisper. Of course we're generations ahead and players expect much more with the PlayStation 5.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 10:51:07 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-players-want-more-current-gen-upgrades/ Although many of you were left disappointed by last week's PlayStation Showcase, there's no denying the presentation ended on a high note. Almost 15 minutes were dedicated to Spider-Man 2, finally unveiling the symbiote suit, but fans are still wondering whether it's alien or man-made.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 08:17:23 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/fans-debate-spider-man-2-symbiote-alien-man-made/ Naughty Dog could make a credible claim at being the best video game studio in the world. The Last of Us Parts 1 and 2 are some of the most revered games of all time, and unlike other beloved masterpieces like Tears of the Kingdom and Elden Ring, TLOU is also noted for its moving characters and deeply thematic narrative. In between those two legendary games, the studio casually pumped out Uncharted 4, maybe the best action game ever made, and has a storied history through Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter. I hope Factions 2 and its multiplayer ambitions don't throw that reputation away.

]]> Mon, 29 May 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/multiplayer-live-service-factions-last-of-us-naughty-dog-delay/ If you're looking to unlock all of Cyberpunk 2077's endings, you've come to the right place. Cyberpunk 2077 has four main endings, as well as a hidden, secret ending for you to unlock. One of the main endings cuts your story short and prevents you from accessing the final mission, while the other four alter the final mission and change the epilogue.

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 16:46:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-best-secret-ending/ The PlayStation 5 has brought with it a new standard to console gaming, with toggles that have quickly become common to video games released on the current-gen machine. Whereas such options are far more standard and known to PC players, nowadays console gamers have come to expect the ability to choose how games run on the hardware.

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 10:46:33 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-players-prefer-performance-over-quality-mode/ We all have games that we love, but we know aren't all that great. Those solid, dependable 7/10 games that we love despite their flaws, maybe even because of them. My favourite Saints Row is 4, sue me. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fable 3, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Mad Max, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex... none of them are classics, but they are beloved by me and, quite possibly, me alone. I understand that these misfits aren't for everyone, and I can see where they're janky, shallow, derivative, and even bland. I'm perfectly fine with liking something that I know isn't all that great. But many Days Gone fans seem incapable of this understanding, and as talk of a sequel yet again rears its head, it's time to dig into why.

]]> Sat, 27 May 2023 17:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/days-gone-2-sequel-not-coming/ Final Fantasy 14 deals with some heavy topics and themes, the narrative becoming darker and more emotional with each passing expansion. Endwalker hit hard for me in particular, and I’ve written before about how it offers the perfect depiction of depression. After experiencing such a poignant conclusion to the Hydaelyn and Zodiark story, Warriors of Light have since enjoyed lighter content updates in a much deserved break after saving the entire universe.

]]> Sat, 27 May 2023 16:01:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-best-content-often-silliest/ Final Fantasy 16 is drawing closer, and as part of the final round of previews and interviews we’ve seen producer Naoki Yoshida whip out some takes. Known as the saviour of once maligned MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, Yoshida taking the wheel on a single player entry was viewed with ample excitement from fans, representing both a return to the series’ roots and a much-needed departure after a decade of mixed results by Square Enix.

]]> Sat, 27 May 2023 15:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-getting-rid-of-numbers-naoki-yoshida/ We just got a bunch of new trailers for upcoming games, and that can only mean one thing: everyone is a game developer now. This means we all have the knowledge we need to pick apart everything that was shown off, and unfortunately for Spider-Man 2, it seems that it's guilty of a grievous gaming sin - reusing elements of a previous game, rather than building every single feature from scratch. Which, according to experts online, is lazy game development.

]]> Sat, 27 May 2023 13:23:24 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-game-new-york-map-reused-lazy/ There have been many iconic interpretations of Spider-Man over the years, across various mediums. We've had three versions of Peter Parker in the movies, a whole bunch of video games, and countless comic book and animated versions. Insomniac's version of Pete is only the latest in a long line of Webcrawlers, and in Spider-Man 2, he will be wearing the fan-favourite Symbiote suit.

]]> Sat, 27 May 2023 07:29:13 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-symbiote-suit-shocker-90s-cartoon-meme/ Any sports fan will tell you of the highs and lows of following their team through thick and thin. Last minute winners, heartbreaking losses, and skillful legends are carved into their memories. Right now, my team is pretty good, and for a long time it was very, very bad. Before that, we were tragically good, winning nothing despite our greatness. I understand the high of winning, and the gut-punch of just missing out. I know what it's like to think you just need one more player, one lucky break, one big bounce, and it's all sorted. You can't leave your team, so all you can do is hope the chips fall. But your games console is not a sports team. Stop treating it like one.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 16:45:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/sony-xbox-acquisitions-fanboys-celebration/ I’m not ashamed to say I like Spider-Man 3. The final entry in Sam Raimi’s trilogy is a corny mess that turns Peter Parker into a two-dimensional edgelord with far too many villains and subplots, but I can’t get enough of it. A huge part of that is because of the cringe that comes with Peter’s dark angst. Bonding with the symbiote doesn’t make him ‘evil’ or push him toward anti-hero status, it makes him a fedora-tipping asshole who acts like he can take on the world. And he can, because he’s Spider-Man juiced up on alien goo.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 16:31:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-symbiote-suit-peter-parker-edgy/ The best thing, by far, about the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings trilogy is the wealth of behind the scenes features that accompany the special edition. To this day, there is no better documentary of how films are made and the work that goes into them from legions of people in every possible department. 26 hours of footage cover everything from props workers delicately slicing rubber hosing to make chainmail, to the actual forge used to make weapons, to the room-filling ‘bigatures’ of Minas Tirith and Isengard, to the cutting-edge CGI technology used to create the Balrog and other beasties too big for Weta’s incredible workshop.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 16:01:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-digital-art-exhibition-better-than-the-game/ A friend of mine wrote that Project Q feels like a fake leak from a ‘00s E3 press conference, a fan-designed peripheral that was never prototyped but got everyone all riled up in excitement anyway. Many have speculated that it looks like the Switch OLED has been given official DualSense Joy-Con, but I’d like to point out that Project Q doesn’t even have an OLED screen, just LCD, and that it’s not even bloody portable.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 15:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-project-q-wii-u/ Our expectations are too high. I can’t blame the gamers for having them, especially with a company like PlayStation spending the previous console generation defining itself as an industry leader with untouchable exclusives like The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Zero Dawn, and God of War. The majority of its exclusives are blockbuster slam dunks, and after years of them it’s natural to expect more at a similar cadence. But realistically, it will never happen again.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 15:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-showcase-ps5-exclusives-indies-third-party-expectations/ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 looks pretty cool. Insomniac Games finally broke cover during this week’s PlayStation Showcase to unveil an extensive gameplay presentation alongside a menacing introduction to Kraven the Hunter. As far as sequels go, it seems to incorporate everything we loved about the first game and Miles Morales into a more ambitiously grand superhero adventure filled with action, drama, and all of our favourite characters. Our hero also dons the Venom symbiote suit now, which means he is super-duper tough and grumpy.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 19:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-symbiote-suit-puddlegate-all-venom-insomniac/ PlayStation’s Showcase is getting mixed responses, and that alone is unheard of for a company so used to taking the world by storm and blowing its competition out of the water. As ever, your mileage may vary. Dragon’s Dogma 2, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Metal Gear Solid Delta/Triangle/Whatever were all warmly received, and we also saw a lot of Spider-Man 2. There was a decent amount of gameplay footage, but that meant little when we had a lack of games to begin with. PlayStation, what gives?

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 14:30:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/does-playstation-have-any-games-showcase-disappointment-upcoming/ Wednesday's PlayStation Showcase might not have been as loaded as some people were expecting, but there was still a lot in there to get excited about. One of the most surprising reveals was Project Q, a handheld streaming device PS5 owners can pair with their console to play games away from their TVs. However, it seems quite a few of you aren't all that enamored with the new product and probably aren't planning on picking one up.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 12:44:47 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-players-unhappy-project-q/ Whether you enjoyed Wednesday's PlayStation Showcase or not, what can't be argued is we were shown a lot of impressive stuff from Spider-Man 2. Many of you have been combing through its trailer and gameplay ever since, and some now believe we may have even been shown evidence that at some point during the game, players will have to battle against Peter Parker's Spidey as Miles Morales.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 10:28:42 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-fans-think-trailer-showed-peter-parker-boss-fight/ Spider-Man and controversial costumes go hand-in-hand. A couple of years ago, the comics unveiled a blue, white, and orange suit to a resounding 'eh', while the MCU has long grappled with complaints about its suits, from the lack of texture of the base outfit to the gaudiness of the Iron Spider. Now, it's Insomniac's turn, as fans are torn over the new symbiote suit in Spider-Man 2.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 08:58:42 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-symbiote-suit-gamers-divided/ Gollum is a pitiful creature. Not wholly evil but definitely not nice, his fate is cruelly tied to that of the Ring, his dedication to which forces him from Mordor to mountain cave and back again. Possibly the most interesting character in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books, many will immediately associate him with Andy Serkis’ scene-stealing mo-cap performance in Peter Jackson’s trilogy. But it’s high time the creature gets another shot.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 08:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-review/ Spider-Man 2 has finally shown off gameplay footage, revealing Wraith, showing Peter Parker's symbiote abilities, placeable web lines, the option to swap to Miles Morales, and the new wingsuit abilities. Ganke even has a Vulture drone to help Miles out in the field, meanwhile, Peter is busy with gooey tendrils and an edgy voice to match. Clearly, the alien suit is getting to him.

]]> Wed, 24 May 2023 21:04:10 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/spider-man-2-playstation-showcase-2023/ I was first introduced to the Final Fantasy series at a friend’s house when I was just a kid. The only thing that really stuck with me was, ‘teehee, you put the guy in a dress’, and I didn’t think much of it until I played my cousin’s copy of Final Fantasy 8 sometime later and fell utterly in love with it. To be fair to FF7, my friend didn’t exactly showcase its selling points in the brief time he kept showing me Cloud in a dress.

]]> Tue, 23 May 2023 16:15:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-16-xiv-understands-the-importance-of-fan-service/ Hype for Mortal Kombat 1 was high before anyone even knew it was going to be called Mortal Kombat 1. Now the next game in the series has been officially revealed, that hype train is picking up speed. So much so that the next MK title's premium edition is currently the best-selling pre-order on the PlayStation Store.

]]> Tue, 23 May 2023 12:27:36 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/mortal-kombat-1-most-pre-ordered-ps5-game/ Day-one patches are an expectation at this point. You get off work or home from school excited to boot up the new shiny game, but you have to sit through a download before the pearly gates open. These usually address key performance issues and bugs, ironing out the kinks to ensure a smoother experience from the go, but Final Fantasy 16 is curbing this modern trend. It won't have a day-one patch.

]]> Tue, 23 May 2023 12:20:24 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-16-no-day-one-patch/ Ghost of Tsushima was fine. Some people loved it, and that's also fine. But the ripple effects it caused were very strange, and I'm not sure we'll feel the full impact of them until the sequel launches in a few years. Ghost of Tsushima was a gorgeous game, possibly one of Sony's best looking, and was somehow a precursor for the PS5's fast loading times, despite releasing on the PS4 and, as I mentioned, looking gorgeous. Its gameplay, while a little simplistic and standard for its genre, was fluid and entertaining, and scratched that 'just one more' serotonin sensation. But the weird culture war that swirled around it puts the sequel under undue pressure.

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 16:46:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ghost-of-tsushima-2-pressure-showcase-playstation-ps5/ A reliable leaker of gaming information has said that we can expect the next entry in the Persona series sometime next year. The industry analyst known as Nate the Hate made some predictions on his YouTube show about what he expects from Atlus in the near future as rumours heat up in expectation of announcements forthcoming from the upcoming PlayStation Showcase.

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 16:02:50 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/persona-6-rumored-late-2024-launch-ps5-timed-exclusive/ Summons have long been a staple of the Final Fantasy series, but in Final Fantasy 16, they become a stronger focal point than ever before. I spoke with producer Naoki Yoshida, art director Hiroshi Minagawa, and localisation lead Michael Christopher Koji Fox about it, and Yoshida-san explained that the idea came to him at the 2014 Tokyo Game Show, long before he had even been told he would be working on FF16.

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-16-xiv-interview-naoki-yoshida-michael-christopher-koji-fox-hiroshi-minagawa/ Final Fantasy openings have long held a special place in my heart. I always feel a mixture of excitement for what’s to come alongside waves of nostalgia as I recall all the times I’ve gone through this saccharine ritual over the years. You normally go into mainline FF games with high expectations, opening hours setting the bar for tone, narrative, character, and the memories we’re bound to make along the way. There’s a reason they stuck with us.

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 13:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-16-xvi-preview/ PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan was interviewed by Famitsu recently, where he was asked about the company's strategy around porting exclusives to PC. After launching Horizon Zero Dawn on Steam in 2020, Sony has since ported eight other PlayStation’s exclusive to PC, including Returnal, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Uncharted 4, and Day’s Gone. Each of these games were ported to PC two to three years after their PlayStation debut, a gap Ryan says Sony plans to maintain with future ports.

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 19:06:57 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/jim-ryan-clearly-didnt-ask-the-right-game-fans-about-playstations-delayed-pc-ports/ Sony has announced its annual PlayStation Showcase and I feel nothing. That’s partially my declining mental health talking, but it’s also quite sad that a platform that used to ignite such feelings of excitement within me can now barely manage a dejected hurrah. Since the PS5 launched almost three years ago, true exclusives remain in the single digits and what we can expect in the coming months are all sequels, remasters, and live service expansions of universes we’re already familiar with. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is going to be great, there’s little denying that, but deep down I know it’s an open world superhero game with all the bells and whistles that come with it. I’ll enjoy it, but to say I’m excited would be a lie.

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 14:31:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-exclusives-playstation-showcase-spider-man-2-horizon-ghost-of-tsushima-2/ The Final Fantasy 14 community is banding together once again — quite literally — to raise money for a special cause. This weekend, the Bards For Brains event will host multiple bard bands over three stages on the Marilith server to raise awareness and funds for several charities.

]]> Sat, 20 May 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-community-spotlight-bards-for-brains-charity-event/ Amazon Italy has added Mortal Kombat 1 - Premium Edition to its storefront for 109.99€, which comes with the first Kombat Pack. Unlike other retailers, however, it details what that includes, revealing that the six playable characters are Quan Chi, Omni Man, Ermac, Peacemaker, Takeda, and Homelander. It also breaks down the Kameo characters, who are Johnny Cage, Khameleon, Mavado, Ferra, and the Jean Claude Van Damme skin for JC.

]]> Fri, 19 May 2023 14:43:12 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/mortal-kombat-1-omni-man-ermac-kombat-pack-dlc-leak/ Aloy is queer. There are no ifs or buts, she spends a lot of Horizon Forbidden West's DLC flirting with another woman before you're given the option to kiss her. And this isn't 'kiss her to choose that Aloy's gay', it's a choice about whether Aloy is ready to open up. So, of course, bigots got mad and review-bombed the expansion. But the devs aren't letting that bog them down.

]]> Fri, 19 May 2023 12:55:49 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-developer-homophobes-easy-ignore/ When a game goes PS5 exclusive, it really does mean that it's a PS5 exclusive. While Microsoft is, for obvious reasons, willing to share its Xbox offerings with PC players, Sony has proven reluctant, having them wait years for ports. However, it seems like this strategy is working well for Sony, as it has no plans to change this business model anytime soon.

]]> Fri, 19 May 2023 12:10:13 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-exclusives-wont-start-coming-to-pc-day-one/ The PlayStation Showcase is right around the corner, and it’s made some odd thoughts leap forward. For the last ten years, PlayStation has been the dominant force in gaming. Clueless parents who once called all games consoles ’Nintendos’ now call them all ‘PlayStations’. It has launched killer app after killer app, be they sequel, reboot, bought and paid for existing IP, or completely new projects. Xbox meanwhile has fumbled - Redfall is the latest in a long line of awkward failures. But as the Showcase nears, it feels like the reality of ballooning budgets and longer development cycles are taking a toll on PlayStation’s lustre.

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 19:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-exclusive-ps5-showcase-reveals/ Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which makes it the perfect day for Sony to announce the name of its upcoming accessibility-focused controller.

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 15:12:46 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-accessibility-controller-access-features/ Rumors continue to spread suggesting PlayStation is working on a mid-gen upgrade for the PS5, and comments from Take-Two Interactive have added fuel to the fire. The studio's CEO expects not just PlayStation, but also Xbox to launch upgraded versions of its latest consoles in the near future.

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 11:37:58 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/take-two-mid-gen-ps5-xbox-series-models/ There’s always that quiet lull in the theatre where everyone shuffles to their seats, the curtain is down, and you sit in anticipation of the show starting. It still feels strange that Final Fantasy 14 can capture these moments so well. It doesn’t matter that the theatre I’m in is virtual — when you have attendants taking you to your seats, a fully equipped auditorium, and you’re about to watch an in-depth three-hour performance, you realise just how much players have pushed the boundaries of the game.

]]> Fri, 12 May 2023 16:30:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-community-spotlight-the-firebird-theatre-the-importance-of-being-earnest/ If you've been looking for an excuse to cut some virtual friends out of your life but want to avoid an awkward conversation, EA may have you covered. The studio has addressed a problem with FIFA 23 some players have encountered, revealing the only fix is to delete a few of your friends.

]]> Thu, 11 May 2023 12:30:12 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/fifa-23-ps5-might-break-too-many-friends/ A Plague Tale: Requiem has received a new update on all platforms, finally adding a 60fps option via the performance mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X, while PC players can expect to see some additional graphic options, which aim to improve the game's performance on various system configurations.

]]> Wed, 10 May 2023 13:39:40 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/plague-tale-requiem-60fps-mode-console/ Sony has quietly shuttered Pixelopus, a first-party studio known for games like Entwined and Concrete Genie. They’re not games that set the world on fire, but I don’t think that was ever their intention. Entwined was released as a surprise during Sony’s E3 2014 press conference and Concrete Genie was a PS4 exclusive released later in the console’s life with a fraction of the budget afforded to games like Horizon Zero Dawn or The Last of Us Part 2. It was a sleeper hit with positive critical reception, and never graduated beyond that lukewarm identity.

]]> Tue, 09 May 2023 14:30:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-exclusives-prestige-concrete-genie-gravity-rush-sony/ Do not underestimate the power of PlayStation. It's one of the most famous slogans in video game history, deployed for Sony's entry into the console race. If Sony has done one thing well over the years it's the marketing. While the PlayStation 5 doesn't have such an iconic advertising campaign behind it, the popularity of the console is not under question. Sales of the great white machine has risen dramatically this year, even as the feeling that this generation hasn't quite begun is still hard to shake off.

]]> Mon, 08 May 2023 18:30:23 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-horizon-forbidden-west-best-looking-game/ Final Fantasy 14 is an MMORPG that originally launched in 2010 to a rather rocky start. As a result, the game was shut down and a brand-new development team was brought on board before the game relaunched as A Realm Reborn in 2013. Ever since its rebirth, FF14 has gone from strength and strength and has won numerous awards.

]]> Sat, 06 May 2023 19:45:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-ffxiv-complete-guide-walkthrough/ LunarCon, Final Fantasy 14’s biggest fan-made event, is returning later this year from September 29 until October 1. Last year was the biggest, most jam-packed, and full of excitement the event has ever been, so why not ensure this year ups the ante even further by getting involved yourself? LunarCon covers a wealth of competitions, performances, and venues, so there’s plenty to get stuck into.

]]> Sat, 06 May 2023 17:00:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-community-spotlight-get-involved-with-lunarcon-2023/ When the PS5 launched, it was impossible to get hold of. Scalpers had a field day using bots to skip online queues, and regular gamers were left out in the cold, without a spaceship to adorn their TV stand ahead of Christmas. Xboxes were slightly easier to find, but the PS5 was gold dust. It was the console, it was the Christmas present, and yet I couldn’t help but feel disappointed with mine.

]]> Sat, 06 May 2023 15:30:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/its-finally-time-to-buy-a-ps5/ Star Wars Jedi: Survivor didn't launch in the best condition. Despite positive reviews and a great overall reception, the PC version of the game was incredibly broken, leading to it launching with a 'Mostly Negative' review on Steam. However, Redfall somehow managed to launch in an even worse condition, taking the pressure off Respawn Entertainment.

]]> Sat, 06 May 2023 13:16:33 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-preorder-bonuses-disappearing/ The tagline for Neil Blomkamp’s upcoming Gran Turismo film has taken permanent residence in my brain ever since I watched the trailer - "From Gamer to Racer." It’s beautifully silly and sells the film’s ridiculous - yet based on a true story - premise in ways that somehow work.

]]> Thu, 04 May 2023 16:15:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/gran-turismo-movie-neil-blomkamp-gamer-to-racer/ Update 10:05 BST: Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered is now available separately from Miles Morales for £49.99 or £10 if upgrading. However, it's worth noting that you can buy a second-hand copy of the PS4 version and upgrade from there.

]]> Wed, 03 May 2023 15:20:05 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/marvels-spider-man-remastered-standalone-ps5-may-2023/ Calling video games "expensive" at $70 is all relative. One new triple-A game is pricier than a few months of Netflix or HBO Max, it's true. But, if video games are your primary hobby, you’re guaranteed to spend much less than, say, equestrians, sailing enthusiasts, or gearheads. And, unlike oats or gasoline, games don't deplete as you play.

]]> Tue, 02 May 2023 19:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/new-games-70-dollars-too-expensive/ Everyone would agree that games are too expensive now, and when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Whether it's indie developers trying to scrape together the cash to stay afloat, major studios attempting to push the envelope, publishers trying to make a profit, or regular gamers staring at their wallets, games cost too much money. This is an issue I think about a lot, so there were two news stories over the past weekend which caught my eye. The first was that the CMA Activision-Microsoft merger report claimed triple-A projects can have budgets that go into the billions. The second was that the $70 price point is putting a lot of players off buying new games. Together, these two stories paint a picture of an unsustainable future.

]]> Mon, 01 May 2023 16:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/video-games-too-expensive-make-develop-buy/ Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launched last week and has dominated video game headlines, for better and worse. The bad reasons have largely revolved around the latest Star Wars adventure being plagued with issues, particularly on PC. EA has confirmed the latest patch for the PC version of Jedi: Survivor is available now, and the very first console patch will go live on Tuesday.

]]> Mon, 01 May 2023 14:56:03 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-pc-patch-out-now-console-fix-tomorrow/ Remember PlayStation's ten live services? They're still in development, and we're finally getting some more details on what these could look like. But perhaps most significantly, we now know that Sony won't be gatekeeping all of them on its own console, as at least one of the projects will be getting a PC release, with further multi-platform releases being hinted at.

]]> Mon, 01 May 2023 12:29:41 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-live-services-pc-launch-port/ The Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 heralded the new generation and while it can still sometimes feel like a relatively new era, the fact is it's been almost three years already, while we're still getting used to some new standards. Such new standards include the pricing for this gen's games, which have increased. Nowdays many new games, especially triple-A ones, launch at a price of $70 or £70 minus a cent or penny, respectively.

]]> Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:24:58 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-data-suggests-70-dollar-games-fewer-sales/ Cal Kestis is finally back in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; and this time he comes with different facial hair styles and a diverse wardrobe. Of course, there's also the great story, engaging combat, and intricate level design, but a lot of this has been marred by the sheer number of issues plaguing the game – primarily for PC players.

]]> Sun, 30 Apr 2023 08:23:04 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-game-breaking-design-flaw-traps-cal-chamber-of-duality/ It’s an innate human emotion to want something we don’t have. It’s why we build kingdoms, why we went to the Moon, and apparently, why we play Final Fantasy 14. There are some top-tier coveted rewards for players to earn in the MMO, and I’ll often see a player run past with a mount or minion that makes me do a double-take. They’ll be wearing some shiny, fancy gear, and I can’t help but examine them to find out what it’s called. We’ve all been there, right?

]]> Sat, 29 Apr 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-the-finally-completed-nier-raids-because-of-moogle-treasure-trove/ God of War is a slow game. Sony Santa Monica does this deliberately, wanting to draw us into the lives of its characters and the obstacles they overcome. Every act is defined by plodding movement and melodic combat interspersed with expertly paced set pieces intended to say and do very specific things. You feel the right emotions and gain the right level of investment, which is a testament to the game’s own achievements. It remains an acquired taste though, which is perhaps why the sequel was more polarising than some expected.

]]> Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/god-of-war-replay-story-characters-pacing/ The PS5 turns three later this year, but largely due to shortages for its first two years, not only are its sales numbers not slowing down, they're speeding up at an impressive rate. In fact, PlayStation's newest console has been so readily available to find for the first three months of 2023, it just set a new record for the most consoles sold in a single quarter.

]]> Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:28:39 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-sold-more-units-single-quarter-any-console-ever/ Puzzle games offer something a bit different from the over-the-top action that can be found in most triple-A titles that overpopulate the medium. They require you to stop and slow down as you use your brain to figure out the satisfying and tricky challenges that lie ahead.

]]> Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:45:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps4-ps5-best-puzzle-games-ranked/ Hard to believe, but by the end of 2023, the PS5 will have been on the market for three years. That means the new console is probably already closing in on being halfway through its life cycle which, in turn, means PlayStation is likely working on its mid-gen upgrade. As rumors of a slimmer or Pro version of the PS5 continue to swirl, Sony has filed a patent that looks and sounds a lot like the detachable disc drive we've heard a little bit about.

]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:08:39 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-slim-rumour-boosted-new-sony-patent/ For the average gamer, audience scores are part of the parcel when deciding to see or buy a movie or game. They Google something like 'Callisto Protocol Metacritic', see the number is low, and decide to buy something else. Often, that score is a harmless aggregate of people wanting to try their hand at the critical process or giving their two cents, like telling your friends that Cocaine Bear was pretty good. Unfortunately, these scores are often the subject of review bombing.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:00:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-burning-shores-dlc-review-bomb-metacritic-audience-scores/ Horizon Forbidden West players have been digging into its new expansion, the Burning Shores DLC, which is proving a hit. The PlayStation 5 exclusive has been praised, from its volumetric clouds and new ability to fly above them, to the new gameplay additions and introduction of a certain character.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:12:29 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-actor-geeks-out-burning-shores/ Aloy's journey continued last week via the launch of Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores DLC. An expansion on the sequel that has been largely celebrated by critics. Its user score paints a very different picture, seemingly because (spoiler alert) Aloy is confirmed to be queer at the end of the DLC. Metacritic has responded by confirming it will be changing its approach to user review moderation to prevent this from happening again.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:31:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/metacritic-evolving-moderation-horizon-dlc-review-bombing/ Aloy fans can rejoice, Guerrilla has confirmed that a sequel is in development. The announcement came via a blog post on the developer's website with the primary news concerning the promotion of the studio's director.

]]> Mon, 24 Apr 2023 10:06:49 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-sequel-in-development/ Gaming insider Jeff Grubb has suggested that a PlayStation Showcase could happen towards the end of May, or at least before Summer Game Fest.

]]> Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:29:42 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/insiders-suggest-playstation-showcase-happening-may-mortal-kombat-12-reveal/ Horizon Forbidden West has officially confirmed that Aloy is queer. In the Burning Shores DLC, Aloy makes her way to a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles – think modern day L.A. but without robot animals. Among the many things she gets up to, she can also romance a new character, Seyka. Videos of the two sharing an intimate moment have appeared online in the past few days.

]]> Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:09:12 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-burning-shores-review-bombed-aloy-queer-romance/ The Gold Saucer is one of my go-to haunts in Final Fantasy 14. It takes pride of place on my list of registered favourite destinations, and I’m sure that’s the norm for most players. Who doesn’t tackle the daily and weekly Cactpocts to earn as much MGP as possible so they can spend it on those sweet rewards? I’ve already cleaned the vendor out of all the minions, but I still need a few mounts, so the more MGP I can earn, the better.

]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-new-gold-saucer-minigame-overdue/ Star Wars video games date almost as far back as the franchise itself, with plenty of hits and miss over the years. They have spanned every generation of games, having reached the dizzying heights of a Millennium Falcon hyperjump, and the unrelenting lows of the bottom of the many-toothed Sarlaac pit.

]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:30:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-best-games-on-ps4-ps5/ The PlayStation 5 came out swinging with some fantastic launch titles back in 2020, and while the console was hard to get a hold of for quite some time, we now have a whole selection of growing titles to delve into, each of which offers a unique and expansive experience on Sony's home console.

]]> Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:00:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-ps5-best-games-of-all-time-ranked/ You've got to feel for the Horizon series. It's one of PlayStation's biggest hitters, included in the fancy new PlayStation studios logo, held in the same breath as The Last of Us and God of War, and recognised as one of the best new IPs of the last generation. But there's just... something. It's timing, it's fate, it's a lack of something intangible. Horizon might be held up as one of PlayStation's gems, but few think it shines quite as bright as The Last of Us or God of War, even as they compare them. Even its status as the best new IP of the PS4 era was usurped late in the day by Ghost of Tsushima. Gamers and Horizon are like lovers in a romcom, always just missing each other. Now, it's happening again.

]]> Thu, 20 Apr 2023 19:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-dlc-burning-shores-forbidden-west/ Is that a moon? No, it's the approaching launch date for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The eagerly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Fallen Order. EA and Respawn's follow-up has had a big budget thrown at it, and the game comes freighted with expectation, especially since the first game was already triple-A, while fans of Star Wars and Cal Kestis are very much looking forward to catching up with the Jedi and his band of outcasts.

]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:09:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-44gb-xbox-series-s/ Horizon fans have long speculated that Aloy might be queer, given that she is a clone of Elisabet Sobek who was a lesbian, but often, on the subreddit, this theory was shut down. However, as per the new Burning Shores DLC in Forbidden West, those theories have been proven true.

]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:50:48 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/horizon-forbidden-west-burning-shores-dlc-aloy-lgbtq/ Ghostwire Tokyo was one of the highlights of last year, with Tango Gameworks' action adventure making it onto several of TheGamer editors' Game of the Year list. A timed exclusive for the PlayStation 5, the title launched on Xbox Series X/S a week ago. But according to an analysis the game runs significantly worse on Microsoft's console than on Sony's.

]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:40:48 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ghostwire-tokyo-runs-better-on-ps5/ Getting a hold of a new console can be tough in the beginning. The launches of the PS2 and Wii have gone down in gaming legend as supply was limited and crowds formed around retail stores to buy one. But the first couple of years of the PlayStation 5 was unprecedented since it coincided with a pandemic and resulting lockdowns.

]]> Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:17:36 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-scalpers-finished/ Each PlayStation seems to bring with it certain hardware innovations, some of which are more successful than others. Sony's debut console touted its 3D capabilities, with 3D definitely a chalk on the success ledger, while the DualShock was introduced a little later on (another tick). The PS2 had EyeToy, which was not such a successful experiment, and the PS3 a blu-ray drive.

]]> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:26:53 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-players-dont-care-about-dualsense-poll/ The streets of Tokyo are waiting for you. Ghostwire: Tokyo is an action-adventure game full of scary creatures called Visitors. A strange event by a masked individual called Hannya has vanished the entire population of the city — well, not everyone is gone; you are alive and with new magic powers. It's your duty to absorb all the spirits and sent them to the other side while you stop the mysterious villain.

]]> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:45:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ghostwire-tokyo-complete-guide-walkthrough-collectibles/ Leveling a new job or base class in Final Fantasy 14 can be a bit of a pain, but there is no wrong way to go about the process. However, there are certainly more efficient ways to get the job done if you're looking to level up on your own without the use of jump potions.

]]> Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:01:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ffxiv-leveling-guide/ It’s 2023, and I’ve only just completed the Binding Coil of Bahamut. This was the first ever raid added to Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn way back in 2013, with the Final Coil launching in October 2014. That means it’s taken me nearly ten years to complete. Don’t get me wrong. I am bad at raids, but I’m not that bad. It hasn’t been nearly a decade of me constantly trying and failing to complete it. I tried the content at its peak, failed miserably, and pretty much just gave up then and there.

]]> Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-completing-the-binding-coil-of-bahamut-years-later/ The positive hubbub surrounding HBO's The Last Of Us adaptation was recently replaced with discourse about Part 1's PC port. The PS5 version of the remake deserves a little bit of attention after all of that, and it has received some via a patch that has already gone live. A patch that adds references to The Wire and Mortal Kombat 2 via new t-shirts for Ellie.

]]> Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:37:37 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/the-last-of-us-part-1-ps5-patch-mortal-kombat-the-wire-references/ Cozy farming games have become quite popular thanks to titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. They can be quite addicting to play and once you play one of these games, you are definitely going to want to play as many as you possibly can.

]]> Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:46:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-farming-games-releasing-2023/ Though it's by no means the best type of game out there, there's no denying that open-world games are some of the most popular at the AAA scale. Just about every major game seems to have one, creating a massive world that you can explore at your own pace. It can be pretty hard to make a world that big feel real though.

]]> Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:45:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/open-world-games-wildlife-ranked/ Hot on the heels of their Junior Dancers Showcase, Esprit were back on stage last week to deliver a unique show like nothing they’ve ever done before in Final Fantasy 14. The event was hosted at the troupe’s new Free Company house on April 1, so that should give you a clue as to what kind of content they delivered.

]]> Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-xiv-community-spotlight-esprits-totally-normal-april-show/ Persona 3 Portable has long been said to be one of the stronger entries in the beloved Persona series, and we’d definitely agree on that. Thematically dark and with life and love on the line, P3P is a classic JRPG that doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to your emotions.

]]> Sat, 08 Apr 2023 15:00:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/persona-3-portable-complete-guide-walkthrough/ People play video games for an almost endless number of reasons. Thanks to The Last Of Us, a lot of outsiders are learning that some video games tell incredible stories. 2023 has also shown just how many people like to be scared by their games, especially ones they've probably played before, via the success of the Dead Space remake and the resounding reviews for Resident Evil 4 Remake. You might even play games for nothing more than competitive reasons, loving the thrill of battering someone on FIFA or picking up a Victory Royale in Fortnite.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/i-need-more-games-like-tchia/ In Resident Evil 4 Remake, when you return to the village and the tower explodes, several enemy wolves will be waiting to gang up on poor ol' Leon Kennedy. As it turns out, they didn't just wander in from the outskirts - someone let them out of their cage, and that someone can be killed earlier.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:37:12 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/resident-evil-4-remake-wolf-village-skip/ We still don't know when the Silent Hill 2 remake is coming out, but as spotted by AestheticGamer on Twitter, the Steam page updated its release date from TBA (to be announced) to "Coming Soon" only last night.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 08:46:46 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/silent-hill-2-steam-page-release-date-coming-soon/ For those who have completed God of War Ragnarok and enjoyed its story and boss fights, now would be a good time to give the game another run. That's because the New Game Plus (NG+) update has dropped and is available now. Announced via the PlayStation Blog, there are a hefty number of new additions contained with this update.

]]> Wed, 05 Apr 2023 17:11:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/god-of-war-ragnarok-new-game-plus-kratos-cloak/ Sony PlayStation is reportedly working on a new handheld. But for those hoping for a successor to the adored PS Vita, it might not be everything you're wishing for.

]]> Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:41:54 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-remote-play-based-handheld/ Sony has been making a conscious effort to try and make its PlayStation systems more accessible for a varying range of people with disabilities. Most recently, it announced Project Leonardo, a highly customizable split PS5 controller that allows you to map buttons to where you like. It's now gone one step further to make sure those with disabilities are purchasing games they're able to play, by adding accessibility tags to the PS5 digital storefront.

]]> Tue, 04 Apr 2023 01:15:55 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/playstation-accessibility-tags-ps5-store/ The story of Kratos has been a long and emotional one. From a raging, vengeful god-killer to a stoic, sad god-killer, the Ghost of Sparta has come a long way since he first set out to kill Ares. However, as the new God of War series shows his evolution, it equally focusses on his son and their relationship. Kratos' journey appears to be winding down, but Atreus' is only just beginning.

]]> Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:35:30 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/sunny-suljic-cool-to-see-atreus-grow-into-a-man-god-of-war-ragnarok/ Square Enix continues to claim the PS5 is the only system that can handle Final Fantasy 16, hence the game launching exclusively on the platform for an unspecified limited time. What exactly its creators mean by that has just become a little clearer. Now, its director has revealed just how integral the use of the PS5's DualSense will be when you're playing the next installment in the Final Fantasy series a few months from now.

]]> Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:01:36 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-16-players-will-feel-air-movement-dualsense-controller/ Video game release dates have become pretty fluid over the past decade or so. They're more rough estimates than fixed points in time these days, and that's absolutely fine. In fact, it's better than fine. I welcome it. As a few heavy hitters have proved recently, it's better to push a game's launch multiple times than offer it up to the world in an unfinished state. Cyberpunk 2077 shows how badly things can go if you stick to a date in the calendar (even after multiple delays), and the decision to launch the game in the state it was should serve as a warning to not only CD Projekt Red but every other developer with something in the pipeline.

]]> Sun, 02 Apr 2023 14:30:14 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/why-cant-starfield-spider-man-2-launch-same-time/ We could get more news about the long-awaited PS5 Pro in the next couple of months, as Sony is reportedly starting production in April. This will apparently come after a slimmer model is introduced this year, as Sony is seemingly poised to phase out the current PS5 model.

]]> Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:55:07 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-pro-news-slim-release-date-2023-tom-henderson/ Cyberpunk 2077 brings Night City to life, a place full of saints and sinners that hosts some of the best and worst places to visit. In a map as massive as this one, you want to make sure you explore every nook and cranny while fighting for your life against corpos and mercs.

]]> Sat, 01 Apr 2023 18:15:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-how-to-ride-the-rollercoaster-in-pacifica/