Fans of Ghost of Tsushima will soon be able to experience the dramatic samurai adventure in a new way. During Sony's CES 2025 press conference, Crunchyroll announced that an ani?me series is in the works, with Ghost of Tsushima: Legends set to premiere in 2027.

As the title implies, the Ghost of Tsushima anime takes inspiration from both Sucker Punch's original 2020 game and the Legends multiplayer mode that was released later that same year. There's no footage at the time of this writing, but the announcement came with the moody k??ey visual above. 

The legends behind Legends

While details overall are fairly light, we at least know the names of a couple of main staff members, consisting of some notable creators. Takanobu Mizuno is at the helm, and while this will be the director's first full series, Mizuno has already done some impressive work at anime studio Kamikaze Douga. In addition to handling CGI direction for the Batman Ninja movie, Mizuno directed one of the standout shorts in Star Wars: Visions, "The Duel."聽Kamikaze Douga will animate Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, as well.

Story composition comes from an even bigger name: Gen Urobuchi. The novelist and screenwriter has left a big mark on the industry in recent years, including writing Puella Magi Madoka Magica and creating and writing Fate/Zero. Urobuchi is also known for PSYCHO-PASS and working on the epic Japanese-Taiwanese puppet wuxia collaboration Thunderbolt Fantasy.

We've still got quite the wait ahead of us, but hopefully, we'll learn more about what to expect from Ghost of Tsushima: Legends soon. It'll give us plenty of time to play through the upcoming sequel, Ghost of Yotei, after it launches sometime this year.

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Greatness has awaited many players who have played the best PlayStation games over the past 30 years. While there have been some unfortunate moments like the release of Concord or the Wonderbook, PlayStation has released many top-qualit??y games in its lifespan.

Ape Escape

The first Ape Escape was revolutionary at the time as it utilized dual analog stick??s in a revolutionary manner. In this game, you're catching monkeys with a net, and you're like a younger James Bond with all sorts of gadgets at your disposal. Spinning the right analog stick, you can net monkeys, spin a hula-hoop to gain speed, and use radar. The level design still holds up today.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon

The final Insomniac Games-developed Spyro, Year of the Dragon, is a masterclass of 3D platforming design. Gliding through the air as the tiny purple dragon is thrilling, and the level design still holds up to this day. Some cool missions had you play as different characters, each with their own abilities to offer. Year of the Dragon mixes the gameplay formula enough to keep it f?resh throughout its storyline. Shoutout to the fun skateboarding levels by the way! I loved those as a kid.

Crash Bandicoot

This one might be the hardest of the trilogy, but it stands out the most. It has memorable levels and bosses that stick in my mind to this day. I played this with the N'Sane Trilogy for the first time (I was more of a Spyro kid) and loved the hard platforming and whacky art desi??gn that truly s?tands out among Crash's contemporaries like Mario and Sonic. This game also changed up the platforming genre with its out-of-the-box hallway design that had Crash facing the camera during pivotal moments.

Wipeout

One of the best PlayStation games has us flying through a race course in futuristic vehicles. It's basically PlayStation's answer to the Mario Kart series. The racing's intense, there are weapons at your disposal, and the controls feel fluid. I remember crashing my vehicle into the walls, but if you really master the movement, Wipeout's a thrill.

Ico

Ico is a special PS2 game that was way ahead of its time. It tells a riveting narrative with barely any speech as the environmental storytelling is spot on. The puzzles are well-designed, and the animations are great for this era. While escort missions are usually a huge turn-off in the gaming industry, Ico manages to make this mechanic thoroughly engaging and dramatic. "Puzzle-platforming, dragging a girl around and wimpy stick combat together sounds tedious, but it works really well, and we have Team Ico鈥檚 beautifully paced and designed levels to thank for that," said our review of the PS3 remaster.

Shadow of the Colossus

The same developer, Team ICO, also聽made聽Shadow of the Colossus,聽a magnum opus, which has received a PS4 re??make since its PS2 launch. That's arguably the best way to play it. Shadow of the Colossus has you take on a bunch of bosses that act as brilliant platforming challenges in and of themselves. You're exploring a dark, empty landscape that's cursed and has been subject to time. You're defeating these bosses to save your character's love, and once again, without a word spoken, there's drama and eerieness in your protagonist's adventure. This is a masterpiec??e that must be played due to its story, incredible a?rt, and sensational soundtrack to match with its groundbreaking gameplay.

Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus

This is a recent game I've been able to play, ?thanks to PlayStation Plus, and I wish I played it sooner. As a sneaky thief, you're stealthily platforming through imaginative levels. Developed by Sucker Punch, this game has aged well with its cel-shaded art style and engaging animation. While the bosses do seem a bit half-baked at times, each level is packed with entertaining challenges and enemy designs. I hope to play the next two in the trilogy with PlayStation Plus Prem?ium, but Sony's sure taking its time to release them as of the time of writing.

Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

The original Jak & Daxter is one of the best 3D platformers PlayStation has ever released. It's filled with charm, the script is funny, and the platforming still holds up to this day. Rather than the dark, depressing levels of the latter titles in the series with tacked-on gunplay, you get bright, colourful stages that test your platforming skills. It also has some fun vehicle segments as you go through the game's delightful?? story.

Killzone 3

While the Killzone series has been long absent, the third entry still holds clout amongst fans. The campaign has blockbuster moments, the gunplay is heavy but makes you feel powerful, and the overall sci-fi look is grit??ty but stunning. The multiplayer, although taken down, was unique at the time as it played elements of the match in cinematic sequences, depen?ding on how the objective was won or lost. It complimented the campaign well. Additionally, the PlayStation Move is utilized excellently within this FPS.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

One of the best PlayStation games that attracted many to the PS3 platform is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. From having an intense level on top of a moving train to zipping through a Nepalese city, the stakes and the Hollywood action were unmatched at the time. Nolan North's performance as Nathan Drake is phenomenal, with the best one-liners and emotional performances from the actor. The weapons feel great to control, and the action is top-notch, but the developer, Naughty Dog, knew how to calm down the action with engaging puzzles along the way. I hope an Uncharted revival is around the corner, either in the form of a seque??l or a remake.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

This entry is likely controversial for many, but it truly is an outstanding fighting game that suffered through many hardships. Despite Nintendo fans crying, "It's a Smash clone!" and the terrible online play,聽PlayStation A?ll-Stars Battle Royale,聽at its core, is a thrilling platform fighter that deserves more acclaim. Linking combos into supers feels super satisfying, and the way the characters use moves from their original ga??mes is cool.

The stages also mashed two different games together, sometimes in unexpected ways. For example, you're fighting in Ratchet & Clank's Metropolis while a hydra from God of War attacks Qwark. It was a creative way of i?ntegrating more PlayStation representation. It deserved more of a shot, and PlayStation should think about returning to this idea with? its new games-as-a-service model.

LittleBigPlanet

LittleBigPlanet is part of the Play, Create, Share era of PlayStation. This game has a surprising amount of creative tools availab??le to players to make their own levels and share them around the world. It was impressive what some creators made, and in some cases, the developer Media Molecule hired them for jo??bs at the studio. Sackboy is the adorable icon of the series, and it was cute to see him run through these creative levels in all manner of outfits.

"LittleBigPlanet鈥榮 amazing level creation tools and the enormous amount of quality online user-created content [..] come together to offer a separate (and superior) experience: a genuine 10.0 purchase," said our 2008 review?. However, the reviewer found the offline content lacking.

Modnation Racers

One of PlayStation's most under-appreciated games is Modnation Racers. The gameplay feels arguably better than Mario Kart, and the creation tools at y?our disposal are incredible. You could create your own tracks with all manner of obstacles, make characters (and base them off popular pop culture icons if you wanted to), or form your own kart with its custom designs. All of this was complimented by a fantastic online system, which lets you share your own creations and race with them online with other players. I miss this game, as it's now offline.

inFAMOUS 2

Cole McGrath's story wrapped up in inFAMOUS 2, and it was a fantastic resolution. The town of New Marais, inspired by New Orleans, is exciting? to explore, and Cole's new powers upped the ante. The graphics and art design were significantly improved over the rather generic original adventure, and the story features some intense narrative options that change the world around Cole. Unfortunately, this game is stuck on the PS3 and hasn't received a remaster ??of any kind, which is a huge shame.

The Last of Us Part 1

Cinematic storytelling within games is a trend that really hit its high point with The Last of Us. This post-apocalyptic story tugs at the heartstrings of players as Joel and Ellie travel across the United States to help the Fireflies. It does a great job of building a kinship in the pseudo-father-daughter relationship and has us invested in what happens next. The combat is visceral as you try not to waste ammo and beat up your opponents by any means necessary. Additionally, the graphics are still striking today, especially if you play the remastered version of the game.

Journey

It's not often I cry when I play a video game, but Journey is such an emotional experience that I couldn't help myself. It tells the story of a soul traveling throughout its life, and along the way, you may meet a friend or two who help you on your journey. In the end, many realized their friends were played by strangers around the world. It's an incredible use of online functionality. The game itself is wonderful, with some fantastic set pieces, epic music by Austin Wintory, and gorgeous visuals that will stay with you for many years. It was in the running to be our Game of the Year in 2012.

Resistance 3

Another PS3 FPS series that has seemingly faded to dust is Resistance, and the third is arguably the best. As you'd expect from developer Insomniac Games, there are intriguing weapons available in Resistance 3 as they're mixed with alien technology. There is also an intriguing campaign that helped cap off the Resistance series with a mighty conclusion. "Its campaign is a thrill ride of rollercoaster-like set-pieces, huge boss battles, and consistently fast-paced action, and its multiplayer is a solid, enjoyable, anarchic complement," said our review, and I? couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, t?he multiplayer has long been taken down.

Heavy Rain

The PS3 generation began a trend of cinematic games, and Heavy Rain was at the forefront of that. Quantic Dream created a captivating story for players to follow as they try to figure out who the Origami Killer is and save the young boys who have been taken from their families. It feels like your choices and gameplay skills really change the storyline, making it a gratifying experience, at least for my teenage self when I played it. The music by Normand Corbeil is sensational and really pull us into the drama of Heavy Rain.

rain

A smaller yet entertaining experience from PlayStation's library is rain on the PS3. You played as a child who is formed from the raindrops in the environment, and then he becomes invisible when you're in cover. It led to some creative sparks of puzzle gameplay within rain. The main objective is to find a lost girl within the Parisian landscape. "Calming and scary, amusing and sorrowful,聽rain is a game that jogs calmly through a gamut of emotions rather than sprints headlong into mood whiplash, and it鈥檚 incredibly difficult to ever dislike it, even during its twitchier moments," said our review.

God of War (2018)

The God of War series never clicked with me until the 2018 reboot released on the PS4. The monotonous combat and dull protagonist were replaced with more in-depth combat and believable characters you get invested in. Similar to Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us, players feel attached to Kratos and Atreus as they try to figure each other out and bond over a common threat. The powerful score by Battlestar Galactica composer Bear McCreery is also a highlight.

Ghost of Tsushima

Another PS4 gem is Ghost of Tsushima. Jin Sakai's internal struggle between becoming a ghost and sticking to his samurai beginnings is captivating. The open world is a pleasure to exp??????????????????????????lore with gorgeous Japanese scenary. Additionally, the combat feels smooth and satisfying to pull off.

Until Dawn

One of the best horror games on PS4 is Until Dawn by Supermassive Games. The Butterfly Effect mechanic is brilliantly executed, giving you plenty of ways to experience the story. All of the playable characters could either live or die, making Until Dawn an exciting title to play through. It does have an overly long opening, but Until Dawn makes up f??or it with great set pieces and emotional moment?s between the characters.

Gravity Rush Remastered

Gravity Rush Remastered is an absolute gem every PlayStation fan should try. Flying thro?ugh the air at a quick pace and running up walls are fantastic in this game. The storyline is intriguing as you explore the strange town of Hekseville. The art is also ?gorgeous with its anime/art-deco stylings.

Bloodborne

Initially, I was going to put Demon's Souls on this list instead, but I feel like I'd be roasted if Bloodborne is ignored. And they would be correct. This gothic RPG set a new standard for action-RPGs when it came out in 2015. The bosses are tough as hell but are designed immaculately. The atmosphere is grim but gloriously beautiful with its gothic buildings and the creepy citizens that dwell within it. ?The soundtrack is also impactfu?l. A sequel or a remaster needs to happen on PS5. It's crazy it hasn't happened yet.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon: Forbidden West may not have set the world on fire, but Horizon Zero Dawn is a must-play game from the PS4 generation. It's one of the best PlayStation games because it has a unique post-apocalyptic premise. It takes place?? many years after civilization has fallen, and tribes have arisen in the aftermath. There's plenty of environmental storytelling around Aloy, with subtle hints as to what happened to past generations and the robots that roam the earth. The combat is also exhilarating, with a focus on archery and traps rather than the typical sword. Taking down ??massive mechanical beasts is a thrill.

Gran Turismo 7

You can't have a best PlayStation games list without mentioning the Gran Turismo series. It's been massively successful as it has a wide list of realistically rendered cars, accurate tracks from around the world, and smooth simulation controls. Driving fans flock to this series every time a new game comes out, and Gran Turismo 7 is the most recent.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

It is difficult to come up with just one Ratchet & Clank game for this list, but Rift Apart just takes it. Insomniac's weapon design in Rift Apart is phenomenal, and the game constantly wows audiences with its spectacular sci-fi worlds and set pieces. What helps the game is the use of the PS5's SSD, letting you zip between worlds and universes in a matter of seconds. The addition o??f Rivet is also a plus, as she has a personality in spades.

Marvel鈥檚 Spider-Man 2

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is an absolute triumph. It melds Peter Parker and Miles Morales' storylines perfectly, and each of these characters has unique powers at their disposal, making the campaign more gripping. It's a rush to swing around New York, and in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, you can use the web-wi?ngs to roam the Big Apple even faster. The addition of Venom and other villains into the storyline is a delight, and it adds plenty of drama to the mix.

Astro Bot

The most recent game on this list is Astro Bot, but it certainly deserves a spot. The platforming is spot-on and has very creative levels throughout the game. The character references to past PlayStation games are incredible for fans, and there are even segments that pay homage to them, like catching monkeys with a net with an聽Ape E??scape-themed level. Please play this game so we can get a sequel. Thanks!

Returnal

Returnal is bonkers hard, but man, is it a good game. The action is thick and fast as you explore a mysterious sci-fi world. You're going through loops over and over again, trying to defeat bosses and other foes with the weapons you collect in each run. It's challenging, but the stellar gameplay, matched with impressive visuals, make聽Returnal聽a game you should try on your PS5.

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Ghost of Tsushima's sales numbers have reached over 13 million copies worldwide across PS4, PS5, and PC. The news was announced via a New York Times interview published Thursday, generating further excitement for Ghost of Yotei.

Ghost of Tsushima sales numbers are great ahead of its sequel

Sucker Punch Productions' Ghost of Tsushima has reached the milestone four years after its release on PS4. It has since received a Director's Cut edition on PS5 (which comes with the DLC expansion), and a recently launched PC version in May that received a Very Positive score on Steam. It also?? released a multiplayer mode, possibly enticing more players to get into this adventure title.

Back on July 15, 2022, Sucker Punch reported on X that 9.73 million copies were sold. This means that the PC launch, plus additional sales on PS4 and PS5 has r??es??ulted in more than three million copies shipped since.

Likely in response to the critical and commercial success of the first game, PlayStation revealed the game's sequel, Ghost of Yotei. It features a new female protagonist played by Erika Ishii (Apex Legends, Destiny 2), who explores the region of Ezo (now known as Hokkaido) and the stunning areas surrounding Mount Yotei. "Atsu sets out on a journey in the lands surrounding Mount Y艒tei, an area filled with sprawling grasslands, snowy tundras, and unexpected dangers," said the PlayStation Blog.

鈥淏eing in this incredibly beautiful park with jagged cliffs and water, yet all the time being aware there? were dangerous bea?rs, was electrifying," said creative director Nate Fox to The New York Times.

The game's trailer already has over five million views on YouTube. PS5 players can check out Ghost of Yotei when it launches sometime in 2025.

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The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima got a reveal as part of the PlayStation State of Play stream. Ghost of Yotei moves things to 1603 during the po?pular? Sengoku Period of Japan.

It also moves the action to the area aroun??d Mount Yotei, which is located in modern day Hokkaido, known as Ezo back in that period. It stars Atsu, who is a protagonist that I鈥檓 sure is?????????????????????????? not going to rankle a very specific and vocal corner of the internet at all.

The gameplay shown off looks very much like Ghost of Tsushima. Lots of tall gra?ss, horseback riding, and swordplay. Atsu has a Shamisen strung across her back and a wolf features heavily. Maybe you鈥檒l be able to play songs for your puppers, I don鈥檛 know.

I feel like this is trying to trick me into playing again. I liked Ghost of Tsushima for a while, but it was way longer than it should have been and?? the open world was very open-worldy, if you know what I mean. Beautiful game, and killing Mongol invaders was a lot of fun for a while, but its depth wasn't enough to support its breadth. If you know what I mean.

Ghost of Yotei is coming to PS5 in 2025.

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Sony has collaborated with toy company Spin Master to bring a variety of new PlayStation figurines for gamers to collect. The new figurines are based on characters from Sony鈥檚 first-party titles such as God of War Ragnar枚k, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ghost of Tsushima.

Aloy and Varl action figures

Sony and Spin Master鈥檚 The Shapes Collection has introduced a figurine for Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West. The 6-inch figure has 42 points of articulation and come?s with 12 different accessories including multiple face plates and alternative hands, so as to offe??r customisation options for look and pose.

The Aloy figurine from the collection is priced at $49.99 on Amazon and is now available for pre-order. Spin ?Master will start shipping the Aloy figurine in August.

Images for the Varl action figure have also been revea??led, but details on the features, pre-orders, and shipping dates are yet to be unveiled.

Kratos and Atreus action figures

The 6-inch Kratos action figure, based on the God of War Ragnar枚k game, has 31 points of articulation, and the accessories include Kratos' signature weapons Blades of Chaos and the Leviat?han Axe.

Alongside Kratos is also the option for a 6-inch Atreus figure. The Atreus figure has 33 points of articulation and the included accessories include a bow, arrow, and alt??ernative hands for different poses.

Kratos and Atreus action figu??res from this collection will be available for pre-order in the US via Amazon from July 15 onwards. The action figure will enter the shipping stage in September.

Jin Sakai action figure

The official Jin Sakai 6-inch action figure, based on Ghost of Tsushima, features 32 points of articulation. The accessories include Jin's katana, tanto, mempo mask, and an additional sword. The Jin Sakai figure will also be up for pre-orders in the US via Amazon on July 15, with shipping starting in September.

The post Sony introduces new PlayS??tation figurines for Kratos, Aloy??, Jin Sakai, and more; How to pre-order appeared first on Destructoid.

At the end of last week, Ghost of Tsushima was released on Steam, bringing with it additional content in the guise of it?? being the Director's Cut. Since then, the PlayStation exclusive game has been doing pretty well for itself, and has become one of the console's most successful ports on PC.

As of right now, Ghost of Tsushima has beaten out God of War 鈥?another PlayStation exclusive title 鈥?in terms of concurrent players. According to SteamDB, the former registered 77,154 players over the last 24 hours, while the latter achieved 73,529 players at its peak a couple of years ago.

Additionally, Insomniac's Spider-Man Remastered shows 66,436 players from two years ago. At the time of writing, Sucker Punch's samurai warrior game is the top-selling game on Steam, being just behind the Steam Deck handheld system??.

Note the words "single-player"

However, there is one PlayStation-to-PC release that Ghost of Tsushima is probably going to struggle to keep up with, and that's Helldivers 2. However, Ghost is still proving itself t?o be a mighty singleplayer game ??to make the leap from Sony's console to Steam.

That's fair, though. Helldivers 2 has been a phenomenal hit since launching earlier this year, becoming one of PlayStation 鈥?and therefore Sony's 鈥?most lucrative new release in a good while. As of three months ago, the game registered a whopping 458,709 concurrent players.

Ghost of Tsushima was originally a PS4 title, releasing in 2020, before making its way onto PS5 in 2021, so it's taken about three ?years for it to arrive on PC.

Although it's been getting some pretty good feedback from t?he community, more than a few have been showing concern about players n?eeding a PlayStation Network account in order to play online through Steam.

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It may already be four years old, but Ghost of Tsushima is still a breathtaking game to look at. The verticality of its map means you can constantly look over a cliffside and view a beautiful forest of green or yellow leaves, soaking in either the sun or the storm. With so much beauty to behold, you might wonder how you can snap a pic and save a moment. Here's how to use photo mode in Ghost of Tsushima.

How to access and use photo mode in Ghost of Tsushima

To access photo mode, you can either press right on the D-Pad or P on your keyboard to open the photo mode. This will freeze the moment in time, stopping Jin in his tracks while letting the world move freely in time. Fro?m here, you're presented with a wide range of options to change the picture. You can change the camera position, depth of field, Jin's emo??tions, the wind speed, and a whole lot more. If there's something you want to be different, there's a good chance you can do just that

Once you have the picture exactly how you want it, you can either press the Share button on your controller or P on keyboard to take the photo and save it. If you decide you don't want to take the picture anymore, you can sa??fely back out by either pressing right on the D-Pad again or th??rough Escape on your keyboard.

Where can you access your photos?

To find your photos again so you can share them?? with others, you can access them through the Media Librar??y on your PlayStation console. If you're on PC, you can find them through the following methods depending on the storefront:

• Epic Games Store - File Explorer -> Documents -> Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR'S CUT -> Screenshots
• Steam - Open Ghost of Tsushima in your Steam Library, then scroll down until you see Screenshots on the right side of your screen.

The post How to use photo mode in Ghost of Tsushima appeared first on Destructoid.

Looking for the best open-world games for the PS5 can be quite a task. Many open worlds we have traversed over the years in gaming can be the most immersive or barren an?d uninspiring.

So, we have come up with the best op??en-world ??games to explore for this platform. 

The 10 best open-world games for the PS5

The following games may have appeared on the PlayStation 4?? at some?? point, but have since received an update to be native to the PS5 hardware. Keep that in mind.

Borderlands 3

Say what you want about Borderlands 3鈥檚 story, but everything else around it just slaps. When you have great charact??er customization, gunplay, and a variety of abilities to play around with in huge explorable areas, you鈥檒l easily forget about the game鈥檚 biggest weakness. Also, the DLC adds dozens of more hours to look around via side quests and just your own exploration.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Some may argue that the many explorable areas don鈥檛 amount to an open world in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but I鈥檇 argue otherwise. You can mostly explore everything in a particular instance once you have progressed far enough int?o the game鈥檚 story. 

What makes it even neater is that you can play the game in its entirety with minimal expl??oration and then come back without missing out on anything major. You can do anything in between as long as the game permits, which gives the players a lot of freedom. 

Grand Theft Auto V

More than a decade later, Grand Theft Auto V鈥檚 Los Santos still holds up. Yeah, you can do the missions and all that and have a blast, but there鈥檚 also that huge online component that has remained strong since the game first came out. Not only is GTA V鈥檚 version of Los Angeles an iconic world??, but it鈥檚 also an amazing sandbox to just mess around in.

Hogwarts Legacy

It was always a dream for many gamers who grew up with the Harry Potter franchise to explore the Wizarding World. When Hogwarts Legacy came out, while not set exactly in the same timeline as our favorite Wizard and his lot, it was a damn good experience. The castle itself was already such a tr??eat to explore, with so much lore to uncover and so many activities to get into. 

Then, once you go outside and visit the other locales via broom or Hippogriff, that experience gets even better. Some quests and activiti?es do get stale, but the whole package is a gem whether you鈥檙e a completionist or a casual.

Marvel鈥檚 Spider-Man 2

The other Marvel's Spider-Man games were such a treat when it came to open-world traversal. However, Marvel鈥檚 Spider-Man 2 took what was great about the original and Miles Morales鈥?standalone games and trimmed the fat. 

It鈥檚 fun as hell to traverse New York while web-slinging and ??gliding around from a visual perspective. The game also knows how to give you just eno??ugh playtime before things start to get stale.

No Man鈥檚 Sky

The procedurally generated planets you explore in No Man鈥檚 Sky make it seem like y??ou鈥檙e on an e?ndless journey. You鈥檙e supposed to reach the center of the universe, but the game is best played to your own rhythm. Go off and explore nonstop. Discover new fauna, flora, and all the many other biomes out there. 

Go make bases and create your own missions. This game is a chill type of sandbox that鈥檚 pretty to look at and has a purpose?? with each thing you do.

Fallout 4

In Fallout 4, you鈥檙e rewarded for going off the beaten path. It may be a post-nuclear world out there, but there are so many things to do. Pair that with the base-building mode? and you can easily sink dozens of hours into the game. If you like that element of exploration at your heart鈥檚 content, this ??is it.

Cyberpunk 2077

Night City and Dogtown (if you have Phantom Liberty) are so visually pleasing in Cyberpunk 2077. On top of that, there鈥檚 a lot of depth in these locales, ranging from player choices in dialogue and a strong focus? on RPG elements.&nbs?p;

This game has come a long way since it was first released and now deserves all the praise it probably should have ??gotten now that it鈥檚 in a very stable, playable state.聽

Ghost of Tsushima

The open world in Ghost of Tsushima is just downright gorgeous. If you ??love to mess around in Photo Modes in games, you can easily sink hours to get the perfect shot here. In addition to that, the game has a compelling story with just the right amount of side content to keep you going and admire the technic??al detail all around. 

It evokes a sense of familiarity the more you play this game, like what many players felt during the golden era of Assassin鈥檚 Creed games.

Elden Ring

Despite being a multiplatform game, Elden Ring does something that not a lot of open-world games do: it doesn鈥檛 hold your hand and lets you explore to your heart鈥檚 content. You鈥檙e really out there alone in The Lands Between with ?only a few indicators of where ??you should go. 

Fast-travel points are saved, NPC locations are marked, and the map is opened up permanently once you find the fragments. More than 200 hours later, ma?ny players, including myself, are still finding new things despite searching through every nook and cranny?? in every region.

The post 10 Best open world games for PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Make it a priority, Sony

When Ghost of Tsushima came out, I knew it was something special. That's why I was waiting for the Director's Cut/DLC package with open arms. Now I'm waiting for basically anything else. A PC po??rt would do.

Sadly there is no confirmation at all right now that聽Ghost of Tsushima is even getting a PC port, but we can look at some trends and surmise that聽it's likely going to happen. It was also part of that partially correct, partially incorrect Nvidia PC leak from 2021.

Here are the games Sony currently has on PC/Steam:

• God of War (2018)
• Spider-Man Remastered
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales (out on November 18)
• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Note that the earliest game is聽God of War, and it was released in January of this year. Yep,聽all of the above list launched in 2022. Sony is clearly serious about porting their biggest games to PC, and if聽Sackboy can make the cut, a lot of other tit??les could too.

But聽Ghost of Tsushima, like many other open world games, would be incredible to mess around with on PC. I mean, just imagine the mods! And the graphical options! While it hasn't happened yet, I'm hoping we get some form of announcement in early 2023, perhaps via a State of Play. T?his feels like a sure thing at this point.

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Sales show no sign of samurai slowdown

Sucker Punch Productions' acclaimed adventure title Ghost of Tsushima is edging ever?? closer to the 10 million sales mark, having shifted a hugely impressive 9.75 million copies since its initial release in the summer of 2020.

The new sales figures are noted as part of a wider ??stat report releas??ed by the developer, which details the number of times wannabe samurais have indulged in some of the title's bloodthirsty, (and less bloodthirsty), activities over the course of the past two years. This period has seen an incredible 91.4 million Legends Mode missions played, a staggering 540.8 million Duels engaged, and 鈥?perhaps the most amazing stat of all 鈥?a huge 998.5 million pulse-pounding Standoffs.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oj3TXsfTCs

Still, despite these bewildering sales numbers, the aforementioned stats are not the greatest Ghost of Tsushima milestones offered by the report. That title is bestowed upon the island's own Goo?d Boys 鈥?the foxes 鈥?which have been petted by players 75.18 million times. This is perhaps the most relatable of all the statistics, a?s the foxes are one of the few activities on Tsushima island that provides respite from all the violence and bloodletting. Glory be to the foxes. Here's hoping that they make an appearance in the upcoming film adaptation.

You can check out the full list of statistics in the tweet below. Ghost of Tsushima is available now on PS4, while Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is available to purchase on PS5. This latter edition includes the Iki Island exp??ansion, along with 4K visuals, improved load times, new filters, a Japanese lip-sync option, and support for DualSense capabilities.

//twitter.com/SuckerPunchProd/statu?s/1548034687049748480?s=20&t=aiQIJEh8383uIkkiVOGjTA

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Horizon coming to Netflix聽is next up in the long line of game adaptations

The video game adaptations to TV and film just don't stop coming, because Sony announced today that they're working in conjunction with Netflix to develop a聽Horizon Zero Dawn series. The news dropped today following Sony's 2022 business presentation to investors, and was initially reported by David Gibson, a notable video game analyst. While Sony didn't mention Horizon聽in the presentation documents, the slides ??did also mention several other projects that they have in the works.

According to the presentation, Sony also has a聽God of War series in development with Amazon Prime, as well as a聽Gran Turismo pitch that they are currently working on developing. When you consider the聽Ghost of Tsushima movie that has already been announced, the聽Twisted Metal聽series that reportedly has an all-star cast attached, and the聽Last of Us show that is filming right now for HBO, Sony is poised to take over streaming platforms? with their gaming properties.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO and chairman Tony Vinciquerra said that in addition to these projects, they also have "10 more PlayStation tit??les in various stages of development for film and TV." 10 more? Seriously? I don't know guys, maybe let's start with what we have before we go all-in on this one.

I can't help but think Sony is biting off a bit more than they ca?n chew here.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a decent choice for a Netflix series considering it's one of the more cinematic games in Sony's lineup, but that has never been a guarantee before. The recent Uncharted聽movie was a?? moderate success at the box office, but other than tha?t, video game adaptations have yet to prove themselves in the mainstream.

Unless the creatives behind these projects really start nailing down the?? m??agic of what a good game-to-TV/film adaptation looks like, Sony could be looking at a whole lineup of series and films that are just okay at best.

I have faith that they'll get it together eventually, but until they prove me wrong, I t??hink I'll just stick to playing their games instead of wa??tching them.

The post Sony announces Horizon Zero D??awn series in the works at Netf??lix, among other projects appeared first on Destructoid.

"We aren鈥檛 actively working on any additional patches at the moment"

Ghost of Tsushima support has seemingly come to a close, based on a? statement from developer Sucker Punch's own patch notes.

At the very bottom of the rundown for patch 2.18, the studio put out the following statement:

"While we aren鈥檛 actively working on any additional patches at the moment, we will continue to monitor feedback on the community-run Gotlegends subreddit and messa?ges sent to @SuckerP?unchProd on Twitter for any high priority bugs or issues that emerge"

Sucker Punch thanks fans for playing, saying they did not expect to "have such an active community more than a year and a half later." This is amid a heap of fixes for聽Legends, as well as several small single-play??er alterations.

I have to say, it's been a fantastic run. Not only did we get a good amount of content updates and quality of life patches, but we also saw the release of the聽Legends multiplayer component, and a full expansion. At this point it's safe to say that Sucker Punch is likely working on their next game: whether that's something completely new, or a follow-up to聽Ghost of Tsushima, or potentially both, in a preliminary fashion.

I might be the only one asking, but how about a new聽Sly Cooper?

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Director's Cut encourages fresh sales spike

During its CES 2022 conference, Sony noted that Sucker Punch's excellent samurai adventure Ghost of Tsushima has surpassed eight million total sales since its release in the summer of 2020.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc4_dXjkCl8

While the stoic adventure title had already won over a passionate and dedicated audience during its launch period 鈥?ultimately surpassing five million sales by November 2020 鈥?the launch of Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut for PS4 & PS5 has encouraged a n??ew army of players to take up their sword against the Mongol army and its ruthless le??ader, Khotun Khan. The Director's Cut includes an additional gameplay chapter, as well as support for PS5 features such as Haptic Feedback, Adaptive Triggers, 3D audio, and 4K visual resolution,

Since its launch, Ghost of Tsushima has been the recipient of numerous industry awards and GOTY nominations, and is even being adapted into a live-action movie, curr??ently in production at Sony Pictures' recently established PlayStation Productions. While some found fault with the title's open-world nature 鈥?which encourages a grind of subquests 鈥?Sucker Punch's epic adventure was widely heralded for its satisfying combat, engaging storytelling, and stunning visual design.

Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is available now on PlayStation platforms.

//?twitter.com/SuckerPunchProd/status/1478549542190878723?s=20

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Look in your journal

Whenever an expansion is released for a game, I kind of panic. Some titles annoyingly make you level up to take on new content, or force you into specific requirements.聽Ghost of Tsushima聽Director's Cut is thankfully painfully simple in this arena: get to Act 2, then access the new zone of Iki Island. He?re's a quick rundown.

So when you log into your game, so long as you've gotten to Act 2, you'll get the prompt to enter Iki Island. Here's what it looks like:

You may have noti??ced a trophy popping. Yep, this game will do that for a while! Just ignore it while you move to the next step.

So from here, you've confirmed that you ??have the Iki Island content. Go to your journal and find the special head??ing for "Tales of Iki." That's the listing you'll want to click on.

Once you're there, select "Journey into the Past." It's the first quest of the Iki Island line, and actually takes place on the main continent. In case you need a refresher/want to log in somewhere close, here's the location??:

Without spoiling anything, this first quest sets the tone for the DLC, including ??the ??introduction of a new enemy type.

After you've dealt with the first mission, you'll get a prompt to enter a boat, which takes ???you to Iki Island proper. Good luck!

The post How to access Ghost of Tsushima’s new Iki Island appeared first on Destructoid.

Welcome to Iki Island

I'm always looking for an excuse to return to Ghost of Tsushima. The multiplayer "Legends" mode managed to lure me like a siren's song for just a bit, but ultimately, I'm a sucker for big beautiful open worlds. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut did the trick.

For clarity, this review primarily deals with the new zone (Iki Island), as well as some Director's Cut-specific additions.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PS4, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: Sony
Released: August 20, 2021
MSRP: $59.99/$69.99

Let's cut (ha, with a katana, and the director's cut, look at that) to the main event: Iki Island. So this thing is聽about as long as the third act, which is fairly substantial. It's going to take roughly five hours to finish with some messing around time, 10 or more to fully complete. A full act is good! I didn't expect a new storyline with an additional threat that's mostly justified and tied neatly into the main course.

These sorts of gaidens are always super hard to figure out. "Oh so X superpower was actually around the entire time but we never knew about it? Sure!" But Sucker Punch attempts to legitimize the tie-in here, and I think it'??s mostly going to go over well with fans. Without spoiling much, Jin is embroiled in a new conflict on Iki Island with what is essentially a shamanistic mystical Mongol faction. It starts with the typical mysterious enemy trope, but quickly morphs into a natural foundation of the narrative. Jin has unfinished business on the island, and a family history that we see unfold as the DLC progresses.

It's legit. We get full cutscenes and m?ore insight into Jin as a character, which should satisfy all of the peo?ple who felt like he was a wet paper bag in the core game. Iki Island, as described by several inhabitants on the mainland, is a haven of "raiders and bandits who hate samurai," so Sucker Punch cleverly is able to reboot the "build your legend" level-up meter to cater to the DLC. Kudos to them for solving the "why doesn't Mega Man keep all his powers after each game" issue.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBrAlSKqdAE

The shaman theme is paramount throughout the DLC too, with strong "Scarecrow from the聽Batman Arkham" series vibes. You're probably going to guess where it's going an hour or so in ??though, as there's some real on-the-nose hints and the narrative doesn't really push itself from a l??ayered perspective. It's nice to get more of an introspective look at Jin, but it's not breaking any barriers.

It can get a little tropey, especially as Jin's visions keep popping up a little too often, but the missions are on point and kept me invested in the new quest. Making i??t an island is kind of a stroke of genius, as there isn't that temptation to go to old areas: you're mainly forging forward. Still, the island can feel small in comparison, and more limited in terms of what you can do (but also less bloated in many ways).

About that! In terms of what Iki Island has to offer beyond? the core story, you're getting animal sanctuaries, archery challenges (which are fun as you're timed, so you can't just pull the bow back as far as you can for each target), and a horse charge mechanic. The latter is extremely arcadey and a ton of fun, and should sate folks that felt like the game was a little too grounded and didn't go out of the box with its combat system. Since you're not using it all the time, it's not too over-the-top, either.

That said, I'm thankful that system still exists. It felt natural to slip back into the multi-stance nature of sword-fighting. At first I was extremely nervous that it would take me a while to pick everything back up, but by the first fight my muscle memory kicked in and I was swapping stances like a champion.聽 Ghost of Tsushima still looks incredible and plays great. The previous mesh of stealth an??d action are both facilitated in the new zone, with plenty of opportunities for both. And with near-instant loads on PS5, it was fun to hop around places and hit all of the landmarks.

In case you're curious, I was able to transfer over my PS4 save in no time. From the transfer main menu option to getting in my actual save took around 30 seconds. So there's a few extra features the Director's Cut bestows upon people. In addition to a digital mini art book/director's commentary vide??o and a few minor skin/item bonuses, the PS5 edition also runs at dynamic 4K with 60 FPS (yep, I noticed!), with DualSense haptic feedback (mainly when pulling items with your grappling hook or shooting a bow), 3D audio (wonderful for this game, especially given the wind and leaf sounds of the outdoors), and lip sync for Japanese voiceovers (lovely for those who don't dig the dub). The 3D audio is a boon for discovering enemies that need to be taken out first and make a distinct noise.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is now ?the definitive version of an already? great game; and although the DLC does feel like too much of a companion piece at times, it doesn't feel tacked-on in the slightest. If you're keen on experiencing the game from the ground up, this is the way to do it going forward.

The post Review: Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut appeared first on Destructoid.

Add a little competition to your cooperation

Ghost of Tsushima聽has a Director's Cut on the way, but it's not just the single-player side getting an update.聽Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the samurai game's mu??ltiplayer component, is also getting some updates, including a standalone relea??se.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends聽went live back in October, after the launch of聽Ghost of Tsushima, adding a co-op multiplayer mode to the game. It turned out to be a bit of a hit, or at least a draw for people even if they didn't like the single-player side of Ghost of Tsushima.

Today, Sony and Sucker Punch announced that聽Ghost of Tsushima: Legends聽will be getting its own standalone release, separate from Jin Sakai's adventure. The standalone聽Legends聽will be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for $19.99, and with the exception of some cosmetics that can only be unlocked through single-player, it will be the same version of the game that聽Ghost of Tsushima聽owners will have.

Legends聽standalone buyers will be able to upgrade to the Director's Cut of聽Ghost of Tsushima聽later on as well, for a price of $40 for the PS4 version or $50 for the PS5 version. The standalone version will launch on Sept. 3, alongside the new Rivals mode.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCgjNK8etz8

Rivals is the new competitive mode, where two teams compete to defeat waves of enemies and collect Magatama to spend on harming the other team. It's a little like the old聽Warcraft III聽??c??ustom maps, where two teams compete in PvE fights while also sending hazards and challenges to the other team, trying to be the last one standing.

There will also be a new Gear Mastery system, requested features from the Legends聽community that will start rolling out on Aug. 20, and weekly content from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1. This includes a new Rivals map, Survival maps inspired by the Iki Island expansion, and the Trials of Iyo. Check out the PlayStation blog posted today for more details.

Between the expansion and the new聽Legends聽content, there's a lot of聽Ghost of Tsushima聽in store for the future. The聽Legends聽content will start rolling out over the coming weeks leading up to the Sept. 3 date, while聽Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut聽arrives on Aug. 20, 2021.

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Where eagles dare

Ghost of Tsushima聽is getting its Director's Cut next month, and that includes a new expansion. In it, Jin Sakai will set off for Iki Island, a??nd today, we got a good look at what's in store for Jin when he gets there.

As part of聽Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, you'll get a chance to visit the new location Iki Isla?nd, home to new characters?, tales, and of course, some more enemies to fight. A Mongol tribe has arrived on the island, led by Ankhsar Khatun. Or rather, as her followers call her, the "Eagle."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBrAlSKqdAE

She is both a khatun and a shaman, and she brings some new dangers to the party. To fight her forces, Jin will get to learn some new techniques and gain ??some new allies, as well as explore new legends and tales.

In the PlayStation Blog today, Sucker Punch describes the semi-fictional version of Iki Island in the聽Director's Cut聽as a "stark contrast" to Tsushima. It's ??wild, inhabited by folks who live outside the law, and it's independent. The ?samurai have not been in control of Iki for decades by the time Jin gets there.

So this means probably working with some less-than-honorable types, ?which honestly, sounds pretty alright. Pirates and smugglers sho?uld be a nice change of pace in travelling companions.

Ghost of Tsushima聽only launched last year, but this聽Director's Cut聽version will bundle together the base game and the Iki Island expansion. There's also a direct upgrade option if you own聽Ghost of Tsushima聽already.

It's another Sony exclusive to get a聽Director's Cut聽treatment too, as Kojima Productions'聽Death Stranding聽is also due to get a Director's Cut version on Sept. 24, 2021. (Kojima doesn't seem too thrilled with the terminology, however.)

Ghost of Tsushima聽Director's Cut聽will hit PlayStation 4 ?and PlayStation 5 on Aug. 20, 2021.

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PlayStation legends celebrated in Sucker Punch's samurai epic

This weekend saw the fantastic period adventure Ghost of Tsushima celebrate its one-year anniversary. To mark the occasion, developer Sucker Punch has "re-enabled" a selection of previously limited character skins, spotlighting a who's? who of beloved PlayStation franchises.

Headed to your wardrobe are returning outfits referencing Sony Santa Monica's God of War, Guerilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn, Team Ico's evocative Shadow of the Colossus, and finally FromSoftware's dark RPG, Bloodborne. Previously only available for a short period in December, the skins can now be acquired in-game by completing Legends Story or Survival missions with each class option. Who knows how long they'll be sticking around for this time, so go get 'em.

In addition to the returning skins, Sucker Punch also took the time to release a slew of statistics pertaining to Jin Sakai's violent yet oddly tranquil journies. In the past 12 months, Ghost of Tsushima players engaged in over 333 million duels, summoned over 60 million spirit dogs, and seen steel clash with steel in almost 680 m?illion standoffs. Most importantly of all of the statistics, however, is the reveal that 55.63 million foxes have been petted. Good work, everyone.

You can celebrate the Ghost of Tsushima anniversary event right now on PS4. If you can hold off on one more month, then an expanded "Director's Cut" launches on PS4 and PS5 August 20, bringing with it new equipment and weapons, additional enemies, a new island, and all previously released DLC. The new content will be offered to current Ghost of Tsushima players in a pai??d expansion. A perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of one of PlayStation's finest-looking and most emotionally engaging adventures.

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Target lock-on is coming in a free update along with new accessibility options

Whether or not you're interested in the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (a ?paid upgrade coming August 20), you may want to keep tabs on the base game anyway. A few fan-requested features, including a target lock-on in combat, will show up in a free update?.

As Sucker Punch's Andrew Goldfarb notes on the PlayStation Blog, everyone who owns Ghost of Tsushima 鈥?the Director's Cut or otherwise 鈥?can expect a free update with "some new accessibility options for alternate controller layouts," "the option to enable a target lock-on during combat," and "an option to hide your quiver during gameplay."

It sounds as if this particular update will be out "alongside" the Director's Cut.

At a certain point, even if I would've originally liked a lock-on, I just grew accustomed to how Ghost of Tsushima handles combat and the ways in which enemies tend to come after Jin. It felt appropriately balanced as it was (until I got too powerful too early; but that's what difficulty options are for!). That said, I'll take a lock-on, thanks. It's never too late.

Know what else I'll take? More content for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends 鈥?the pretty dang great demon-slaying PvE mode is getting "some new updates, including an all-new mode that we're excited to detail in th??e wee??ks to come." This stuff will also be free.

As for the Director's Cut upgrade, as a platinum-trophy-haver, I can't say with confidence that I need even more Ghost of Tsushima in my life in 2021. At the very least, if I'm willing to spend the $30 to upgrade to the PS5 edition next month, I'll just want to transfer my save file and make a?? beeline for the Iki Island region. I do not have a full replay in me.

At any rate, it's awesome to see this late-PS4-life-cycle g??ame thrive all over again.

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A Director's Cut for PS4 and PS5

[Update:聽And here it is! Sony has officially announced the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut for PS4 and PS5. There are PS5-specific enhancements "like DualSense haptic feedback, Japanese lip sync, and more.?" That includes the Legends co-op mode, as well as the Iki Island expansion, with a new island, more story, additional enemies, and other content/equipment. The expansion will also launch on PS4. You can find the trailer below!

It's out on August 20 for $59.99 on PS4 and $69.99 on PS5. If you already own Ghost of Tsushima, you can upgrade to the ??Director's Cut for $19.99 on PS4 or $29.99 on PS5.]

It begins! Sony, like many other publishers, loves to capitalize on its successes with re-releases and Game of the Year editions. Enter Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which assuredly exists thanks to a full listing from the ESRB.

So it's pretty cut and dried, with a full rating summary of the original release; but there's at least one curious element here. The Director's Cut listing notes "PS4 and PS5" (the game is currently just? available on PS4 with a PS5 upgrade) ?and "in-game purchases" is denoted for just PS4. As usual this could be a misnomer, but it's something to watch out for. The name "Director's Cut" is so fitting, as the team wore their hearts on their sleeve in terms of their adherence to Kurosawa's film catalog.

In my original review, I hoped that this game would catch on like wildfire so that Sucker Punch would get the recognition it deserved. I mean, the聽Sly Cooper series slaps, but it was high time they stopped being the "Infamous聽studio" for five years running.聽Ghost聽put them back on the map and I hope we see more projects from them mor??e often going forw?ard.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5gVt028Hww

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Supergiant Games' roguelike bags numerous gongs

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has revealed its winner's list for the 2021 iteration of The ?DICE Awards, celebrating some of the fine releases that hit the market during last year — arguably one of the best gaming years in re?cent history.

The list reads as a who's who of 2021's finery, with awards dished out to Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake, Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2. Even VR got in on the action, with an appearance by Valve's Half-Life: Alyx.

The big winner of the evening, however, is Supergiant Games' fantastic roguelike Hades, which walked away with five awards in total, including the coveted Game of the Year. Hades is going to need a bigger mantelpiece, having already won a glut of honors, including five BAFTAs and Destructoid's very own Game of the Year 2020. Well deserved.

You can check out the full list of winners below. The full DICE Awards ceremony is available for viewing over on? the official Academy of Interactive Ar??ts and Sciences website.

• Action Game of the Year: Hades

• Adventure Game of the Year: Ghost of Tsushima

• Family Game of the Year: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Fighting Game of the Year: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

• Game of the Year: Hades

• Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Half-Life: Alyx

• Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Half-Life: Alyx

• Mobile Game of the Year: Legends of Runeterra

• Online Game of the Year: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

• Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Animation: The Last of Us Part II

• Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Character: Miles Morales (Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales)

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Story: The Last of Us Part II

• Outstanding Technical Achievement: Dreams

• Racing Game of the Year: Mario Kart Live

• Role-Playing Game of the Year: Final Fantasy VII Remake

• Sports Game of the Year: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

• Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Microsoft Flight Simulator

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Only Spider-Man beats it

Not finishing games you bought is a foreign thought to me, but? it happ??ens often!

I mean you're probably thinking to yourself: "I rarely finish games!"?? And data would support you, friend.

Based on a new trophy-scouring report from UnGeek, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most-finished open world games on the PlayStation platform, but it still only ??????????????????????????clocks in at a 50.2% completion rate (for the main story). Before you react, that's actually ??pretty high!

The report looked at many other open world titles of the modern era, and found that only Marvel's Spider-Man beat out Ghost with a 50.8% completion rating. Assassin's Creed Origins was below it at 38.2%, followed by Far Cry 5 (36.7%) and Days Gone (34.7%). You can find the full list below.

In many ways, Ghost of Tsushima's quality speaks for itself in terms of why it was able to hook so many people. It's certainly a more involved and longer game than Spider-Man, w?hich make?s its completion stat all the more impressive.

Ghost of Tsushima has one of the highest completion rates amon?g open-wo?rld games on PlayStation [UnGeek]

PlayStation open world completion trophy percentages:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man – 50.8%
• Ghost of Tsushima – 50.2%
• Assassin’s Creed Origins – 38.2%
• Far Cry 5 – 36.7%
• Days Gone – 34.7%
• Horizon Zero Dawn – 34.1%
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – 30%
• The Witcher 3 – 29.8%
• Death Stranding – 28.6%
• Red Dead Redemption II – 28.2%
• Watch Dogs 2 – 24.9%
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – 19.8%

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Why wouldn't they do it at this point?

It's safe to say that Ghost of Tsushima has ??been a resounding success in just about every respect.

It's become a critic and fan favorite of this past generation; and it sold well. What's not to like, when you're Sony? That's exactly why we might be seeing more of it. After all, Sucker Punch is no stranger to multiple sequels for several of their own franchises; they just came off of five inFamous games before Ghost lit up. So what's fueling the speculation? A new job listing.

Right on Sucker Punch's site, it's for a "Design - Combat Designer" position, with the following description: "Sucker Punch games focus on strong an?d innovative player abilities mixed with rich storytelling and challenging encounters. As a Combat Designer, you’re in the middle of this, creating the glue for content a?nd systems, helping create a cohesive and exhilarating experience."

While this could be for any game, one specific passage hints that it might be a Ghost sequel: "Must have played Ghost of Tsushima and understand its core combat systems." Boom? It'll probably take a few? years to see if this pans out, but for now, we can obviously assume that Sucker Punch is hard at work on their next title.

Combat Designer [Sucker Punch]

The post Sucker? Punch job listing hints at a possible Ghost of Ts?ushima 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Crowdfunding campaign rescues ancient Torii gate

Fans of PS4 release Ghost of Tsushima have helped successfully raised the capital needed to repair a real-life landmark that feat??ures in Sucker Punch's period adventure title.

A part of the ancient Watatsumi Shrine located on Tsushima island, the Torii gate was severely damaged by a typhoon back in September 2020, and currently lies in a sad heap, half-submerged in sand and water. In efforts to rescue the landmark, a crowdfunding campaign was founded on Japanese website Camp-Fire, hoping to raise the money necessary to rescue, transport, restore, and then rebuild the gate, which stands as a tribute to Shinto sea goddess Toyotama-??hime.

As word of the fundraiser spread online, Ghost of Tsushima fans caught wind of the campaign began to offer their own donations toward the restoration project, with the crowdfunder closing out this past weekend at around ¥27 million, (or roughly $260,000 USD), five times that of the original goal. The founders of the project thanked the Ghost of Tsushima community for its generosity, and noted that some of the ca??mpaign's highest do??nors will be recorded on a nearby stone monument.

Stories such as these are always the most pleasing to come out of gaming. As I've noted before, the medium i?s often lambasted for its negative aspec?ts, but rarely heralded for its positive ones. Thanks in part to the generosity of video game fans, a small piece of history has been rescued from the brink of oblivion, and will allow the gates of Watatsumi Shrine to return to their former glory, standing proud for generations to come.

Tsushima's Watatsumi Shrine crowdfunding ended?? at over 500% [Siliconera via Famitsu]

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Animal Crossing was second

We're at the point in 2020 where we're celebrating the best of the best (or the worst of the worst!). It's an interesting time for takes, and that includes this recen??t, and interesting, "Best of 2020" award from Famitsu.

The outlet, using their influence, managed to corral 132 game developers, as well as gaming celebrities ("voice actors" is a descriptor used, but a few illustrators and entertainers voted) to choose the best titles of 2020. As they point out, Death Stranding took 2019's top honors, with Marvel's Spider-Man n?abbing the award in 2018: so th??e winner doesn't have to be a Japanese studio.

This year, interestingly enough, a game about Japan by a western studio took it: Ghost of Tsushima. In second place was Animal Crossing: New Horizons, followed by Final Fantasy VII Remake, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, and Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.

You can check out the full rundown here, which publicly lists the folks involved with the process (with studios from Arc System Wor?ks to Square Enix par?ticipating).

Famitsu Game Awards 2020 [Famitsu]

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Ghost of Tsushima

2020 was another memorabl?e year for PlayStation, to the point where, at least for some of us, there wasn't necessarily a clear-cut list??-topper – more like a few "favorites" to rattle off and reflect on.

That said, one game, in particular, resonated with a lot of players. One game really clicked.

If the critical and ongoing commercial success of Ghost of Tsushima is any indication, there was a huge untapped audience waiting for a talented studio to sit down and craft a tight open-world samurai adventure. That crew ended up being Sly Cooper's own Sucker Punch Productions, and while the game took longer than fans probably expected, it nailed the concept on the ??first try. I'm pretty convinced we'll get a sequel and it'll move things forward, but as is, this was a fant??astic starting point for a series.

Ghost of Tsushima didn't materialize out of nowhere – it owes a lot to the open-world games that came before – but there's an art to collating the best ideas and building on them in big and small ways. This is a familiar romp in many respects, but at the same time, it feels uniquely identifiable. It's built just so.

Racing down picturesque foothills on horseback, perfecting my ideal armor-clad fashion, picking off burly soldiers one by one in a fortified camp behind enemy lines, dueling with an imposing figure against the howling wind – there were so many moments to a??ppreciate in this game. And if you missed i?t back in October, the free Legends multiplayer expansion is worth investing time in. It's shockingly robust.

I'm thankful Ghost of Tsushima is not only a PS4 game, but a PS4 game that plays and runs as well as it does. It's a fitting swan song for this console generation – a culmination and a transition all at on??ce.

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Great games converge on another great game

You already look stylish when you're slicing and dicing in Ghost of Tsushima, doubly so when you're hacking away in black-and-white mode. Add to the aesthetic by infusing?? your s?amurai warrior with Kratos, just as Kurosawa intended.

Sucker Punch has brought some of PlayStation's all-time great games to Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the co-op focused multiplayer mode (that's surprisingly really good). Until January 15, you can unlock outfits from Bloodborne, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Shadow of the Colossus. Images of all four are in the gallery below.

Each costume is tied to a different class; complete a single story or survival mission to unlock the costume of whichever class you played as. For example, clear a mission as the Hunter to earn Aloy's outfit. Kratos is the Samurai, Aloy is the Hunter, Shadow of the Colossus is the Assassin, and Bloodborne is the Ronin.

New looks from some of PlayStation's heaviest hitters. It won't be long until future games get Ghost of Tsushima skins. It's that good. It's just a shame that Sucker Punch couldn't find a way to shoehorn an inFamous outfit in. I'd play as D?elsin, the beanie-wearing samurai.

@SuckerPunchProd [Twitter]

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Its fiercest competition was The Last of Us Part II

The polls are closed, and Sucker Punch's samurai action game took the Players' Voice award at The Game Awards. Ghost of Tsushima faced tough competition from The Last of Us Part II – Sony really showed up this year – but its cozy open-??world vibe beat out Naughty Dog's?? harrowing storytelling.

I had not-so-secretly hoped that Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II would essentially cancel each other out in the final round and help Hades bubble up to the top, but it wasn't meant to be.

They're all great games in their own right, and the same can be said of Doom Eternal and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the two other titles that made it to the end. Talk about a wide spread of experiences.

Ghost isn't my game of the year (I felt like Jin's journey lost steam at points), but I can see how a case could be made for it. The awesome Legends co-op mode brightened my outlook, and the game resonated with a lot of players – it was the "fastest-selling first-party original PS4 game."

We'll fi??nd o??ut what the jury voters ultimately landed on this Thursday during The Game Awards.

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Where would you want a sequel to go?

In case you needed more affirmations that Ghost of Tsushima was a big success for Sucker Punch Productions and? Sony, here's an updated ??sales figure: five million copies since launch day on July 17.

#GhostofTsusima is our fastest-selling first party original PS4 game with more than 5 million copies sold since its debut in July. What an incredible achievement by @SuckerPunchProd!

— Hermen Hulst (@hermenhulst) November 12, 2020

As for what those sales actually mean, in a tweet today, head of PlayStation Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst once again called Ghost of Tsushima the "fastest-selling first-party original PS4 game."

"We're thrilled and absolutely blown away by all of the support," said Sucker Punch.

I wrapped up Jin's journey wanting a sequel, and those feelings were only cemented by the free post-launch multiplayer Legends mode that leans in??to the super??natural, fun loot, and new mechanics.

Sucker Punch invested so much energy into Ghost of Tsushima that it's hard to imagine the studio will suddenly move onto something new, especially in light of the game's ongoing commercial success. The inFamous series branched out in unexpecte??d way??s, and I'm hoping history will repeat itself.

Apart from a potential sequel, I wouldn't mind seeing even more of Legends – it's t??hat good.

@hermenhulst [Twitter]

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The Tale of Iyo doesn't have matchmaking, unfortunately

Sucker Punch Productions' co-op Legends mode in Ghost of Tsushima blew me away, and I think that's going to be the consensus going forward as more players – even folks who don't typically go for this sort of multiplayer side offering – dig into the free update. Here's what's coming up on the roadmap.

As promised early on, the first raid, The Tale of Iyo, isn't far off – it will be released on October 30. That said, Legends players won't be able to waltz in with an under-powered crew made up of randoms. The "absolute minimum" Ki gear requirement is level 100, an?d the raid won't have matchmaking, meaning we'll need to form our own groups ahead of time. I can't say I'm surpr?ised, but I am bummed. LFG it is!

[Update: The Tale of Iyo is split into three chapters and it'll be accessible at 3:00 p.m. on October 30.]

For the rest of us who are nowhere near that Ki power leve??l yet, there will be a Nightmare-tier Story and Survival mission to check out every Friday starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific with "weekly modifiers" to spice them up. "They'll be very difficult, but if you and your fellow Ghosts are able to complete them along with all bonus objectives, you'll get max-level gear that will help you become Raid ready."

Sucker Punch also announced a patch ??that's going out today with fixes for n?etwork errors, crashes, and a tutorial glitch. There's also now support for PSN's "Player's Met" feature in Legends.

This is the gift that keeps on giving. I'll probably still be playing it by the time?? the PS5 is out. I feel like I've only scratched the surface with my main (the Hunter) by playing through every mission at least once, and it's a testament to the quality of Legends that I not only want to get back in there to tackle the Silver and Gold challenges, but I want to do so with the three other character classes, too.

Every Ghost of Tsushima player shou??ld try to play these Story missions at the very least.

Week One Update [Sucker Punch Productions]

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