Prepare to stay up late or wake up early

Square Enix announced the highly anticipated demo for Final Fantasy XVI will launch worldwide tomorrow on the PlayStation Store. A l?isting for the demo had appeared on the Store earlier this month for some users, but it was not available for download. While this news may confirm what some already knew, it's st??ill incredibly excitin?g for those looking forward to Square Enix's hotly anticipated RPG.

Th?e announcement states the demo will release worldwide on June 12th at 4:00 AM EDT. Here's a nifty map they posted to sho?w what time the demo will be available for you.

[caption id="attachment_386067" align="alignnone" width="675"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Yes, your demo progress carries over to the full game

As part of the Final Fantasy XVI Pre-Launch Celebration Stream, producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed some details about the demo. It will start at the beginning ?of the game and take you through the prologue. It's over two hours long, and your progress will ?carry over to the full game on launch.

In terms of what to expect gameplay-wis?e, Yoshida admitted that the prologue is very cutscene-heavy. It will focus on setting the stage for the story as well as introducing you to the world of Valisthea.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaJ4VVFGIa8

Another demo will unlock after the prologue

If you're concerned about?? the new action-focused combat system in the game,? don't worry. Once you have completed the prologue, you can access a second part of the demo appropriately named "Special Combat Demo."

This will focus on the battle system as protagonist Clive Rosfield. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, the Special Combat Demo will "let you test out the fuller range of combat options by way of numerous unlocked abilities and accessories." Progress will not carry over from this portion of ??the demo, but players can ret??ry it as much as they'd like.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to live in Valisthea. With Final Fantasy XVI releasing June 22 on PlayStation 5 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launching early next year, it's a good time to be a Final Fantasy fan.

The post Final Fantasy XVI demo? available worldwide on June 12 appeared first on Destructoid.

Platinum Trophies used to mean something

The PlayStation S?tore has been cluttered with extremely bizarre and lackluster games for a while now. However, what was bad just seems to be getting worse. A handful of indie developers are gaming the system by re-releasing essentially the same game over and over �?offering a new Platinum trophy with every “game.�?These titles provide nothing of value and only seem to dampen everything around them.

Games like The Jumping Fries, The Jumping Fries Turbo, and dozens more like it are crowding the PSN storefront, making it harder for customers to find what they want. Not only that but actual hardworking indie devs are being l?ost in the shuffle of these crappy titles, forcefully pushed down the list of New Release??s, which is PSN’s only real visibility tool for smaller games.

If you think just maybe these repeatedly-published indies are genuine in any way, just take a look at this video by Kyle Bosman. H??e showcases how you can earn a Platinum trophy for all of these games in just a few minutes or less.? These companies know exactly what they’re doing, and it’s affecting more than just the storefront and other indie developers. It has ruined an excellent meta-game for many PlayStation fans.

The hunt is over

Platinum trophies used to feel special. When a licensed game like Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs or Mega Mind was released, trophy hunters would sprint to play them for a nice and easy Platinum. However, what was considered an “easy Platinum�?back then versus now is extremely different. Disney and Dreamworks games weren’t exceptional but at least they had some semblance to an actual game. You had to put in the work. They typically ranged from 4-10 hours to fully complete �?a far cry from The Jumping Pasta which takes about two minutes and zero effort to Platinum. Literally, all you have to do is press up on the joystick and you’ll earn a Platinum trophy in Road Bustle.

Easy Platinum trophies used to be a needle in a haystack. Now you can’t go on PSN without seeing at least five near the top of the New Releases. The value of the Platinum trophy has decreased exponentially. Before, trudging through average games for seven hours or so made that sweet Platinum trophy worth it. There was a sense of accomplishment. But now, dozens of Platinum trophies ca?n? be obtained in 20 minutes. Where is the fun in that? At this point, I’ve almost given up the hunt entirely.

//twitter.com/PS5Trophies_/status/1??553038948049494016

If you’re curious about the developers behind these Platinum trophy schemes, the most notable ones are ThiGames and RandomSpin-Games. However, Smobile is by far the most egreg?ious. The company has published 75+ games across PS4 and PS5 with at least 250 trophy lists in total (taking advantage of region-based trophies).

For some more insightful information on the topic, I highly recommend checking out a few recent podcast discussions over at LSM. Ty Richardson (WatchMojo, LongplayArchive) compiled a ton of research and shares just how bad these devs are taking advantage of PSN. Then, an interview with the director of production at Atari goes over how these games are hurting their visibility on PSN. Lastly, here's a video by Motson showcasing some cr??iminally easy Platinum trophies?.

Thankfully, Nintendo and Microsoft aren’t allowing nearly as many of these shovelware titles on their digital storefronts (but they still need work). Unfortunately, all signs are pointing to things getting worse on PlayStation with Sony planning to lower the barrier to entry even more for developers to publish games on PSN. Yikes.

I hope Sony recognizes how this affects PSN, other indie developers, and players who enjoy trophy collecting as a hobby. Publishing Jumping Burger, Jumping Taco, and Jumping Hotdog on PSN is??n’t valuable to anyone aside from a small?? group of weak-willed trophy hunters.

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A lot of repeats, but there are some new deals

We're well into summer, and that means scorching days, soothing Seals & Crofts, and lots of gaming deals. The PlayStation Store Summer Sale started today with over a thousand deals on PS4 and PS5 games lasting through We?dnesday, August 3 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

The bulk of the sale is going to be older stuff, naturally �?but a few newer releases stand out in the crowd. Supermassive Games' cinematic horror romp The Quarry, Sloclap's tense martial arts brawler Sifu, Saber Interactive's team-based Evil Dead: The Game, and Team Ninja's super eclectic Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin are worth a nod.

With an eye toward games with ??new low prici?ng, here are some recommendations.

PlayStation Store Summer Sale highlights

• Actraiser Renaissance ($20.99)
• Batman: Arkham Collection ($8.99)
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night ($13.99)
• Cris Tales ($15.99)
• Death's Door ($11.99)
• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut ($19.99)
• Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen ($4.79)
• Dying Light: Definitive Edition ($12.49)
• Evil Dead: The Game ($29.99)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed ($14.99)
• In Sound Mind ($10.49)
• Mafia: Trilogy ($23.99)
• Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 ($15.99)
• Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom ($13.19)
• Murder House ($6.59)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy ($14.99)
• Resident Evil 2 + 3 ($23.99)
• Resident Evil 7 Gold Edition ($15.99)
• Sakura Wars ($17.99)
• Sifu ($31.99)
• Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin ($41.99)
• The Quarry ($40.19 on PS4, $46.89 on PS5)
• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe ($16.74)
• Tormented Souls ($11.99)
• Yakuza 0 + Kiwami + Kiwami 2 ($12.49)

If you haven't shopped in any digital PlayStation sales lately, you'll find even more worth-checking-out games.? I try not to do too many repeats from one sale to the next if I can help it. And while not everything here is a historically low price, they're all competitive (as far as the PlayStation Store goes, at least). Hopefully enough to get you started!

Sony has a complete list of PlayStation Store Summer Sale deals over here on the PlayStation Blog, if you prefer to ctrl+f your way through text entries. ?The deals are set to last through August 3, at which point "new titles [will b?e] added to the promotion."

With the usual mix of featured games an?d a lot of random backlog fodder calling my name in the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium catalog, I'll probably be sitting this one out. (Granted,?? I always say that, then impulse buy something at the last minute.)

The post Pl??ayStation Summer Sale returns for the next two weeks appeared first on Destructoid.

Sony PayStation

A Californian court ha?s granted the request of Sony Interactive Entertainment that it dismiss a class-action lawsuit, filed in 2021, that accused the publisher of maintaining a monopoly over the price and distribution of digital games via its p??opular online store, PlayStation Network (PSN).

The consumer-led lawsuit alleged that SIE held full control over the prices of all titles sold via the PSN store, arguing that the removal of digital game codes from high street retailers, (a practice that Sony halted three ago), meant that Sony now held a "price monopoly" in rega?rds to the sal??es of all digital PlayStation video games, forcing consumers to exclusively use PSN and pay its respective prices.

However, as reported by Bloomberg Law, Judge Richard Seeborg of the Northern District of California dismissed the case this past weekend, citing that there was no evidence that SIE removed digital codes from high street store??s in order to acquire full control of PlayStation's digital game sales. The success or failure of the suit depended upon the plaintiff's abili?ty to prove that SIE's primary goal in removing code sales was to eliminate sales competition. In the court's opinion, this was not achieved by the lawsuit.

"For all the foregoing reasons, the motion to dismiss is granted because Plaintiffs have failed to allege adequately anticompetitive conduct under the Sherman Act [the law by which corporate antitrust is defined], and th?e other claims are derivative of the Sherman Act claims," wrote Judge Seeborg.?? "Although it is unclear at this time if the deficiencies may be cured, Plaintiff is granted leave to amend."

The Sony PSN suit is one of a seemingly endless number of lawsuits brought against publishers in regard to the operation and legalities of digital storefronts. Recent years have seen a litany of varied cases brought against companies such as Epic Games, Apple, Valve, and others. While we are well into the third decade of digital games sales, it seems the rulebook is still far from closed in regards to p?ricing, distribution, regional changes, refunds, and other consumer laws long since estab?lished in street retail.

The post Sony PSN ‘price monopoly’ antitrust lawsuit dismissed by court appeared first on Destructoid.

The Mid-Year, Level Up, and Games Under $20 sales are all running right now

The PlayStation Store is hosting three major sales (and a "Deal of the Week" promo on The Sims 4), so there are a lot of discounts floating around right now �?even more than normal. There's a Mid-Year sale on big PS4 and PS5 games, a Level Up sale on DLC and expansions, and a Games Under $20 sale with indies, hidden gems, and older titles.

Where to start? ?I ??never know. I'm just going to toss out some chaotic recommendations.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands ($47.99 for PS4; $71.99 for PS4/PS5 with the Season Pass) and Riders Republic ($23.99) ar?e two games I ended up enjoying far more than I would've expected. The former had a not-t??oo-jarring D&D-ish story campaign, and the latter was a good way to unwind in a care-free extreme-sports open world with fun traversal options.

If you're looking to fill the Elden Ring-sized hole in your heart, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice ($29.99) is waiting, as always. You might have some whiplash �?Elden Ring has so many potential builds, while Sekiro is super focused with a bit of wiggle room �?but it's worth putting time into. When everyt??hing finally clicks into ?place, few games pay off better.

You might find a hidden gem in the Games Under $20 section, which ??is usually the most exciting place to poke around. Here are some asso?rted deals that stood out to me.

[caption id="attachment_331283" align="alignnone" width="2560"] _{AI: The Somnium Files is on sale just ahead of nirvanA Initiative.}[/caption]

Budget PS4 game picks

• AI: The Somnium Files ($7.99)
• Breathedge ($12.49)
• Carrion ($9.99)
• Castlevania Advance Collection ($13.99)
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale ($13.99)
• CrossCode ($9.99)
• Dead Cells ($12.49)
• Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection ($19.79)
• Graveyard Keeper ($7.99)
• Guacamelee! 2 Complete ($4.59)
• Hollow Knight Voidheart Edition ($7.49)
• Huntdown ($7.99)
• Return of the Obra Dinn ($13.99)
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy ($13.99)
• Star Wars Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast ($3.99)
• Super Meat Boy Forever ($10.99)

Sony has a full list of deals for the PlayStation Store Mid-Year sale, i??f you need it.

The Mid-Year, Level Up, and Games Under $20 sales are running through July 6, while the Sims 4 deals, including expansions like Cottage Living, are here through June 29. My fiancée adds another expansion to her collection every time there's a discount like this, and I swear there's no end in sight. Every time I check back in, eve?ryone's all grown up.

I've been on the fence about upgrading to PlayStation Plus Extra lately, but I have plenty to play as is, and my backlog-clearing pace can't keep up with PlayStation Store sales. (Should I keep chipping away at collectibles in Ghostwire Tokyo? No. But I can't help myself.)

I do hope more people give Sekiro a chance. I want to se?e it climb the Fro??mSoft tier list.

The post PlayStatio?n Stor?e is hosting a few big sales on PS4/PS5 games appeared first on Destructoid.

The Year of Tactics carries on

A listing for Tactics Ogre: Reborn leaked out last night. A PlayStation Sto?re l??isting not only had the name, but also a few pieces of art to go along with it.

Though the listing is down now, users were quick to catch the relevant info and art (thanks, Escapist) before it went away.

Sadly, there wasn't anything about pricing, release date, or details about the upcoming project. All we have is the above and below images, one bearing the name Tactics Ogre Reborn.

If we want to over-analyze a bit, the above image struck me a bit because it is pretty darn similar to the box art of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. You can see the box art below (via MobyGames) has two similar characters and stances in front of a flag. Reborn, however, is stylized closer to Akihiko Yoshida's style of art seen on the cover of the PSP version of Let Us Cling Together.

Let us believe, together

That's about all we've got to go off, aside from it being published by Square Enix and designated as an RPG. Square Enix did trademark Tactics Ogre: Reborn in April though, so this looks ?lik?e confirmation that something's happening.

Tactics Ogre and the overarching Ogre Battle series doesn't always get the universal admiration of fellow Square strategy game Final Fantasy Tactics. But entries like Let Us Cling Together have been lauded among tactical RPG fans for ages. The last Ogre entry was the Let Us Cling Together remake for PlayStation Portable in 2010, which the U.S. got a year later. Older entries like Ogre Battle 64 and The March of the Black Queen are even further back, though they did get Virtual Console re-releases.

We don't have any confirmation on what this specifically is or when it will be announced. But this Tactics Ogre: Reborn listing does add onto the pile of a very tactics-filled year. There are the impending Front Mission remakes and new entries like The DioField Chronicle. And we've already had stellar games like Triangle Strategy. It's a good time to be a tactics fan.

The post Tactics Ogre: Reborn listing leaks ?on PlayStatio??n Store appeared first on Destructoid.

Aside from all of the PS4 and PS5 game deals, there's a discount on DualSense controllers

Sony is trying to get PlayStation fans in the spending mood again with its annual PlayStation Days of Play sale. The promo will run for two weeks �?it's here through Wednesday, June 8 �?and features hundreds of PS4 a??nd PS5 game deals on the PlayStation Store, as well as discounted DualSense contro??llers, if you need to stock up.

Considering I just bought a Starlight Blue controller a few weeks ago, I'm a little bummed! But that's how it goes. If you're looking to pick up a secondary PS5 gamepad, the original White, Cosmic Red, Galactic Purple, Midnight Black, Nova Pink, and Starlight Blue controllers are down to $59 on Amazon right now. Normally, they're $70-$75 a pop.

[caption id="attachment_323802" align="alignnone" width="1600"] _{DualSense controllers are on sale for Days of Play.}[/caption]

The PlayStation Gear Store is also hosting a bunch of deals �?it's worth a look if you're after hardware like the Pulse 3D wireless headset, physical PS4/PS5 games, or merch. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is $39.99 and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is $29.99, to name a couple, while a handful of big-seller PS4 games are?? $9.99 each.

With that out of the way, what's up with the PlayStation Store? There are nearly 700 deals listed, around 300 of which are considered "?fu??ll games" (as opposed to bundles or DLC or what have you). I've picked out some highlights, so let's start skimming.

Days of Play PlayStation Store deals

• A Plague Tale: Innocence ($9.99)
• Borderlands 3 ($14.99)
• Chorus ($19.99)
• Deathloop ($23.99)
• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen ($26.79)
• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut ($23.99)
• Dying Light 2 Stay Human ($47.99)
• Far Cry 6 Season Pass ($19.99)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($39.89)
• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker ($27.99)
• Ghostwire: Tokyo ($29.99)
• Golf With Your Friends ($4.99)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed ($19.99)
• I Am Dead ($9.99)
• Kentucky Route Zero ($14.99)
• King's Bounty II ($23.99)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga ($47.99)
• Life is Strange: True Colors ($29.99)
• Little Nightmares II ($14.99)
• MLB The Show 22 ($39.59 on PS4, $49.69 on PS5)
• Necromunda: Hired Gun ($19.99)
• OlliOlli World ($23.99)
• Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye ($9.89)
• Outriders ($21.99)
• Planet Coaster: Console Edition ($17.49)
• Pyre ($5.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($39.89)
• Resident Evil Village ($29.99)
• Risk of Rain 2 ($6.24)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure ($29.99)
• Solar Ash ($29.99)
• Stellaris: Console Edition ($7.99)
• Subnautica ($14.99)
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania ($25.99)
• Telling Lies ($5.99)
• Terraria ($9.99)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes ($17.99)
• Tiny Tina's Wonderlands ($55.99)
• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection ($29.99)
• Unravel + Unravel 2 ($5.99)
• Warhammer: Vermintide 2 ($5.99)
• Weird West ($29.99)
• What Remains of Edith Finch ($5.99)
• WWE 2K22 ($41.99 on PS4, $48.99 on PS5)

Between my highlights and your personal wishlist, it might be wise to cross-reference the impending PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium plans to see what games? will be included.

I'm feeling pretty set right now, but if I'm leaning toward any pickups in the PlayStation Days of Play sale, it's definitely Ghostwire: Tokyo. While I may not end up liking it as much as Chris, I'm intrigued. After obsessively collecting busywork bricks in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, I could go for something stranger and spookier. Hi doggy.

A??gain, you've got until June 8, so there's plenty of time to weigh your options.

The post Highlights from the PlayStation Days of Play sale appeared first on Destructoid.

Most of these deals are running until April 13

The PlayStation Store Spring Sale is hosting a thousand deals for PS4 and PS5 owners to peruse �?but what's actually worth playing? I know, I know. That's always the question. There's a full text-based list on the PlayStation Blog, and I've got so??me highlights.

While we're at a point where the same heavy hitters keep piling onto these sales, that isn't necessarily a complaint. For instance, on the PS5 front, I'm happy to see some of the must-plays like Demon's Souls, Returnal, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart pop up. I am also pleased to see a half-price deal on Sekiro, which has come up in multiple conversations with colleagues post-Elden Ring. From Software's latest is awesome, but there's truly no topping the relentless bosses in Sekiro, and I am craving a replay now more than ever.

In looking for an enticing image for this article, I came across so much cool shit on the Steam community page that I wouldn't dare spoil, not even in 2022. ❤️ you, Sekiro.

Note: you can find the UK PlayStation Spring Sale over here.

PS4 and PS5 games worth checking out

• Alan Wake Remastered ($22.49)
• Batman: Arkham Collection ($8.99)
• BioShock: The Collection ($9.99)
• Crysis Remastered ($11.99)
• Curse of the Dead Gods ($7.99)
• Deathloop ($39.99)
• Demo?n Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hi??nokami Chronicles ($41.99)
• Demon's Souls ($39.89)
• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen ($31.99)
• Destroy All Humans! ($17.99)
• Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut ($40.19 on PS4) ($49.69 on PS5)
• Hitman 3 ($29.99)
• Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition ($9.99)
• Little Nightmares Complete Edition ($7.49)
• Little Nightmares II ($14.99)
• Lost Judgment Digital Deluxe Edition ($38.49)
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales ($29.99)
• Moving Out ($6.24)
• Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection ($29.99)
• Planet Alpha ($3.99)
• Puyo Puyo Tetris ($6.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($49.69)
• Resident Evil 3 ($15.99)
• Resident Evil Village ($29.99)
• Returnal ($49.69)
• Rust Console Edition ($39.99)
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - Game of the Year Ed??ition ($29.99)
• Tales of Arise ($35.99)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology - Triple Pack ($40.19)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes ($19.79)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition ($29.99)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 ($19.99)
• Wasteland 3 ($9.99)
• XCOM 2 Collection ($6.99)
• Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol ($7.49)

I can't exhaustively vouch for a handful o??f these games, but I included them anyway because of positive word-of-mouth, the sale's low price point, o?r ideally both.

You have a while to sit on these deals, as the PlayStation Spring Sale will run through April 27. That said, some of the deals are only here for a couple of weeks �?they're set to expire on April 13. And, accordi??ng to Sony, "additional titles" will join the sale on th??at day.

In other words, keep carving through Elden Ring as needed. There's time.

The post Sekiro, The Witch Queen, and more PlayStation Spring S?ale highlights appeared first on Destructoid.

Sports, shooters, and Grand Theft Auto

It's a new year, and Sony has released a look back at its previous year in digital sales. Today, a new PlayStation blog ??broke down which games w?ere most-downloaded on the PlayStation Store in 2021.

The top of the list may not surprise you; the usual suspects, like annual sports entries and Call of Duty, are all here. But in a few cases, some smaller entries rose to the top. Kena: Bridge of Spirits secured a Top 20 finish on PlayStation 5 across both North America and Europe, and others like It Takes Two and Among Us land in high spots as well.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQT-O1nMSBU

Of course, Call of Duty did well, though notably better on newer consoles than old. While Vanguard secured the second-highest slot for PlayStation Store downloads o??n PS5 in both US/Canada and the EU, it came in at ??fifth and ninth respectively on the PlayStation Store.

What was popular on the PlayStation 4 was Grand Theft Auto V, which bodes well for GTAV's eventual next-gen debut. Other heavy-hitters from the PS4 generation, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Red Dead Redemption, are also there. And of course, Minecraft.

Here's a quick look at? the top games for US and Canada on the PlayStation Store for PS5.

PlayStation 5 games - US/Canada

1. NBA 2K22
2. Call of Duty: Vanguard
3. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
4. Madden NFL 22
5. Battlefield 2042
6. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
8. MLB The Show 21
9. Resident Evil Village
10. Far Cry 6
11. Assassin's Creed Valhalla
12. FIFA 22
13. Among Us
14. Mortal Kombat 11
15. NBA 2K21 Next Generation
16. It Takes Two
17. FIFA 21
18. Deathloop
19. Returnal
20. Kena: Bridge of Spirits

You can find the full breakdown of Top 20's, for PS4 and PS5 in both US/Canada and EU, on the PlayStation Blog here.

The post PlayStation lists the most downloaded games from its Stor??e in 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

Stock up on the year's heaviest hitters for PlayStation

We're finally here, at the tail end of the year 2021. It's been a year with a lot of stories, and quite a lot of games. So the PlayStation Holiday Sale is here to offer one more opportunity t??o nab some of the year's best for a discounted price.

The Holiday Sale kicks off today and runs through Jan. 19, putting discounts on games both new and old. The list runs a pretty good gamut; you'll find some of our own GOTY contenders from this year on the lineup, including Deathloop, Resident Evil Village, and It Takes Two.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R-UU8h-iAo

Of course, a few surprises are on the list too. Life is Strange: True Colors is still one that's sitting with me, months after seeing the credits roll. And if you're eager to learn what the deal with Alan Wake is, the new remaster is on sale.

It's a pretty similar list to the PlayStation Store's Game Awards sale, but if you missed out on any of the year's biggest games, it's a nice way to catch up without breaking the bank. And honestly, if you haven't played Fallen Order yet, pi?cking that up for a measly $12 is a no-brainer.

A few highlights from the PlayStation Holiday Sale list:

• Alan Wake Remastered ($23.99)
• Assassin's Creed Odyssey Ultimate Edition ($29.99)
• Back 4 Blood Standard Edition PS4 and PS5 ($35.99)
• Cyberpunk 2077 ($24.99)
• Far Cry 6 Standard Edition PS4 and PS5 ($35.99)
• Deathloop ($29.99)
• Madden NFL 22 PS5 ($34.99)
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy PS4 and PS5 ($38.99)
• It Takes Two ($19.99)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits PS4 and PS5 ($27.99)
• Resident Evil Village PS4 and PS5 ($29.99)
• Tales of Arise PS4 and PS5 ($41.99)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($39.19)
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order ($11.99)
• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition ($29.99)
• Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 and PS5 ($38.99)
• Hitman 3 - Deluxe Edition ($31.99)

Find the full list over here on the PlayStation Store. And enjoy the holidays!

The post The PlayStation Holiday Sale kicks off today? with deals on Deathloop, Village, True Colors, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

These PS4 and PS5 deals are running until December 13 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific

I'm still working my way through my top-of-the-pile Black Friday game backlog, but if for whatever reason you missed any of those deals on newer PS4/PS5 releases, many of them are back in the PlayStation Store 2021 Game Awards sale. And Kena has a deal, too!

My main motivation for even covering the sale is Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which was uneven in spots but ended up being a pretty great throwback to PS2-era 3D platformers. Between that and Psychonauts 2 living up to my expectations, I had a good year.

While I can't cover Battlefield 2042 without mentioning the fine print �?annoying bugs, a less-than-ideal character system, and sometimes too-big-for-their-own-good battles �?I think that plenty of people will have fun with the game now that the first few patches are out. The $40 to $50 range is a hell of a lot better than $60 to $70, I'll say ??that much.

On the complete other end of the spectrum, there's Chicory. It's a real gem.

Highlights plucked from the list of 130 games

• 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim ($23.99)
• Alan Wake Remastered ($23.99)
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla ($23.99)
• Back 4 Blood ($41.99)
• Batman: Arkham Knight ($3.99)
• Battlefield 2042 PS4 ($40.19) | Battlefield 2042 PS5 ($48.99)
• Borderlands 3 ($14.99)
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale ($15.99)
• Deathloop ($29.99)
• Demon's Souls ($39.89)
• F1 2021 ($29.99)
• Far Cry 6 ($35.99)
• Guilty Gear Strive ($38.99)
• Hades ($19.99)
• Hitman 3 ($23.99)
• It Takes Two ($24.79)
• Jett: The Far Shore ($22.49)
• Jurassic World Evolution 2 ($47.99)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits ($27.99)
• Life is Strange: True Colors ($38.99)
• Marvel's Gardeners of the Galaxy ($38.99)
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($29.99)
• No Man's Sky ($29.99)
• Outriders ($19.79)
• Psychonauts 2 ($38.99)
• Raji: An Ancient Epic ($12.49)
• Resident Evil Village ($29.99)
• Returnal ($49.69)
• Riders Republic ($35.99)
• Streets of Rage 4 ($14.99)
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania ($29.99)
• Tales of Arise Deluxe Edition ($59.49)
• Watch Dogs: Legion ($14.99)
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon Legendary Hero Edition ($44.99)

If you're not quite ready to act on some of these deals, you'll almo?st certainly get another chance with end-of-year holiday sales. The cycle continues, so do??n't feel pressure.

The post PlayStation Store Game Awards sa?le highlights include Kena and Battlefield 2042 appeared first on Destructoid.

PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct deals for Black Friday 2021 start November 19

Start bracing your wallet for impact, as PlayStation has begun its Black Friday deals for 2021. Physical PS4 and PS5 games, digital games, PlayS??tation Plus and P?layStation Now subscriptions, and PlayStation Gear Store merchandise are all on the docket.

Notable recent games from the PlayStation Store

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ($23.99)
• Back 4 Blood ($41.99)
• Deathloop ($29.99)
• Demon's Souls ($39.89)
• Diablo II: Resurrected ($29.99)
• Far Cry 6 ($40.19)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($46.89)
• Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut ($40.19 for PS4, $49.69 for PS4/PS5)
• Life is Strange: True Colors ($38.99)
• Lost Judgment ($41.99)
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy ($38.99)
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($34.79)
• Psychonauts 2 ($41.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($49.69)
• Resident Evil Village ($29.99)
• Returnal ($49.69)
• Riders Republic ($40.19)
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales ($29.99)
• Subnautica: Below Zero ($20.09)
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania ($29.99)
• Tales of Arise ($41.99)

Subscription deals

• PlayStation Plus 12-month subscription ($39.99)
• PlayStation Now one-month subscription ($6.69)

A pared-down list of PlayStation Store Black Friday deals

• 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim ($23.99)
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ($23.99)
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla �?Season Pass ($19.99)
• Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey DX ($29.99)
• Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings DX ($29.99)
• Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack ($67.49)
• Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout ($29.99)
• Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book DX ($29.99)
• Back 4 Blood: Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 ($41.99)
• Borderlands 3 PS4 &  PS5 ($14.99)
• Borderlands 3 Season Pass PS4 & PS5 ($16.49)
• Borderlands 3: Season Pass 2 PS4 & PS5 ($19.49)
• Cyberpunk 2077 ($24.99)
• Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin  ($19.99)
• Dark Souls III ($29.99)
• Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel ($7.49)
• Dark Souls III: The Ringed City ($7.49)
• Dark Souls: Remastered ($19.99)
• Death Stranding Director's Cut ($39.99)
• Deathloop ($29.99)
• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles PS4 & PS5 ($41.99)
• Demon’s Souls ($39.89)
• Desperados III �?Digital Deluxe ($27.99)
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light ($19.99)
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light + 1 Season ($24.99)
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light Deluxe Edition ($41.99)
• Destiny 2: Forsaken ($8.24)
• Destiny 2: Legendary Edition ($31.99)
• Destiny 2: Shadowkeep ($8.24)
• Devil May Cry 5 Deluxe + Vergil ($29.99)
• Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition ($29.99)
• Diablo II: Resurrected ($29.99)
• Dishonored 2 ($5.99)
• Divinity: Original Sin 2 �?Definitive Edition ($23.99)
• Doom Eternal Standard Edition ($14.99)
• Doom Eternal: Year One Pass ($14.99)
• Dragon Ball FigherZ �?FighterZ Edition ($14.24)
• Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Deluxe Edition ($28.04)
• Dying Light: The Following �?Enhanced Edition ($11.99)
• Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout ($9.99)
• Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition ($13.19)
• Fallout 76 ($9.99)
• Fallout 76: Brotherhood Recruitment Bundle ($11.99)
• Fallout 76: Steel Dawn Deluxe Edition ($23.99)
• Far Cry 6 Standard Edition PS4 & PS5 ($40.19)
• FIFA 22 PS4 (35.99)
• FIFA 22 PS5 ($48.99)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake ($26.99)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($46.89)
• Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut ($40.19 for PS4, $49.69 for PS4/PS5)
• Guilty Gear -Strive- ($38.99)
• Hades ($19.99)
• Hitman 3 �?Standard Edition ($23.99)
• Immortals Fenyx Rising Season Pass ($19.99)
• Immortals Fenyx Rising PS4 & PS5 ($19.79)
• Injustice 2 �?Legendary Edition ($14.99)
• It Takes Two PS4 & PS5 ($24.79)
• Jett: The Far Shore ($22.49)
• Just Dance 2022 ($29.99)
• Kerbal Space Program Enhanced Edition Complete ($26.99)
• Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package ($24.99)
• Kingdom Hearts III ($14.99)
• Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind ($20.09)
• Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory ($29.99)
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning �?Fate Edition ($27.49)
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes ($4.99)
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition ($6.99)
• Life is Strange: True Colors PS4 & PS5 ($38.99)
• Little Nightmares II PS4 & PS5 ($20.09)
• Lost Judgment PS4 & PS5 ($41.99)
• Lumines Remastered ($4.49)
• Madden NFL 22 PS4 ($29.99)
• Madden NFL 22 PS5 ($41.99)
• Mafia: Definitive Edition ($19.99)
• Mafia: Trilogy ($29.99)
• Marvel’s Avengers ($15.99)
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy PS4 & PS5 ($38.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 & PS5 ($29.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition ($49.69)
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($34.79)
• MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries ($22.49)
• Metro Exodus Gold Edition ($11.99)
• MLB The Show 21 PS4 ($19.99)
• MLB The Show 21 PS5 ($29.99)
• Monster Energy Supercross �?The Official Videogame 3 ($5.99)
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition Digital Deluxe ($37.49)
• Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate PS4 & PS5 ($20.19)
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 �?Deluxe Edition ($10.39)
• NBA 2K22 for PS4 ($29.99)
• NBA 2K22 for PS5 ($34.99)
• Need for Speed Heat Deluxe Edition ($17.49)
• NHL 22 PS4 ($35.99)
• NHL 22 PS5 ($48.99)
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom �?Deluxe Edition ($11.99)
• Nioh ($9.99)
• Nioh �?The Complete Edition ($19.99)
• Nioh 2 ($19.99)
• Nioh 2 Remastered �?The Complete Edition PS4 & PS5 ($29.99)
• Nioh Remastered �?The Complete Edition ($29.99)
• Orcs Must Die! 3 ($22.49)
• Outriders PS4 & PS5 ($19.79)
• Overcooked! 2 �?Gourmet Edition ($16.83)
• Persona 5 Royal Ultimate Edition ($39.99)
• Persona 5 Strikers ($29.99)
• PGA Tour 2K21 Digital Deluxe ($31.99)
• Port Royale 4 �?Extended Edition ($32.99)
• Praetorians �?HD Remaster ($9.99)
• Project CARS 3 ($16.79)
• Psychonauts 2 ($41.99)
• Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey ($13.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($49.69)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 ($23.99)
• Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition ($19.99)
• Resident Evil 3 ($17.99)
• Resident Evil Village PS4 & PS5 ($29.99)
• Returnal (49.69)
• Rez Infinite ($8.99)
• RIDE 3 ($5.99)
• Riders Republic PS4 & PS5 ($40.19)
• River City Melee Mach!! ($4.75)
• River City Ransom ($2.99)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure PS4 & PS5 ($29.99)
• Sakura Wars Digital Deluxe Edition ($26.39)
• Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster ($29.99)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI ($8.99)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Anthology Upgrade Bundle ($32.49)
• Sniper Elite VR ($17.99)
• SnowRunner ($19.99)
• Sonic Colors: Ultimate ($29.99)
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom �?Rehydrated ($16.49)
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition ($19.99)
• Star Wars: Squadrons ($14.79)
• Street Fighter V: Champion Edition ($19.79)
• Street Fighter V ($7.99)
• Street Fighter V: Champion Edition Upgrade Kit ($14.99)
• Subnautica: Below Zero PS4 & PS5 ($20.09)
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania PS4 & PS5 ($37.49)
• Tales of Arise PS4 & PS5 ($41.99)
• Tales of Arise Ultimate Edition PS4 & PS5 ($76.99)
• Tetris Effect: Connected ($15.99)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology �?Triple Pack PS4 & PS5 ($40.19)
• The Elder Scrolls Online ($5.99)
• The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood ($19.79)
• The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Blackwood CE ($26.39)
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood CE Upgrade ($16.49)
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood Upgrade ($13.19)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR ($19.79)
• The Jackbox Party Pack 8 ($22.49)
• The Last of Us Part II ($19.99)
• The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories ($7.49)
• The Outer Worlds ($19.79)
• The Outer Worlds Expansion Pass ($19.99)
• The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos ($11.99)
• The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon ($9.74)
• The Sinking City ($9.99)
• The Surge 2 ($11.99)
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt �?Complete Edition ($9.99)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 ($19.99)
• Tropico 6 El Prez Edition ($21.99)
• Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition ($23.99)
• UFC 4 Deluxe Edition ($20.99)
• Watch Dogs: Legion �?Season Pass ($19.99)
• Watch Dogs: Legion PS4 & PS5 ($14.99)
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse �?Earthblood Champion of Gaia ($23.99)
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Digital Deluxe Edition ($11.99)
• World War Z: Aftermath ($29.99)
• WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship ($27.49)
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon PS4 & PS5 ($29.99)

Note: This list was whittled down to cut out a lot of fluff with in-game currencies, trivial DLC, alternate editions, and less noteworthy games. If you're interested in the exhaustive list, that's up on the PlayStation Blog �?I just wanted to make this an easier skim.

A list of physical game deals from PlayStation Direct

• Astro Bot Rescue Mission PSVR ($10.00)
• Blood & Truth PSVR ($9.99)
• Bloodborne PS4 ($9.99)
• Concrete Genie PS4 ($19.99)
• Days Gone PS4 ($19.99)
• Death Stranding Directors Cut PS5 ($39.99)
• Death Stranding PS4 ($19.99)
• Demon’s Souls PS5 ($39.99)
• Destruction AllStars PS5 ($14.99)
• Dreams PS4 ($10.00)
• DualSense NBA 2K21 Bundle PS5 ($54.99)
• Everybody’s Golf PSVR ($9.99)
• Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut PS4 ($39.99)
• Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut PS5 ($49.99)
• God of War III Remastered PS4 ($9.99)
• God of War PS4 ($9.99)
• GT Sport PS4 ($9.99)
• Iron Man PSVR ($9.99)
• LittleBigPlanet 3 PS4 ($9.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: GOTY Edition PS4 ($19.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4 ($29.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS5 ($29.99)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition PS5 ($49.99)
• MediEvil Remastered PS4 ($19.99)
• Minecraft Starter Collection PS4 ($15.00)
• MLB The Show 21 Jackie Robinson Edition PS4 ($44.99)
• MLB The Show 21 PS4 ($19.99)
• Nioh 2 ($19.99)
• Predator: Hunting Grounds PS4 ($15.00)
• Ratchet & Clank PS4 ($9.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart PS5 ($49.99)
• Returnal PS5 ($49.99)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure PS4 ($29.99)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure PS5 ($29.99)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure Special Edition PS4 ($59.99)
• The Last of Us Pt II PS4 ($19.99)
• The Last of Us Remastered PS4 ($9.99)
• The Nioh Collection PS5 ($39.99)
• Until Dawn: Rush of Blood PSVR ($7.50)

Basically, PlayStation Diect is a good indicator of what other places migh?t have listed for physical PS4 and PS5 games for Black Friday (in case you have a preferred retailer).

The PlayStation Gear Store will also have 20 percent off with the code "BLACKFRIDAY20" if you're into any of the usual apparel or merch that Sony sells for the popul??ar IPs.

Separate from the PlayStation Black Friday sale, the store is currently hosting over a thousand deals with a super-wide-ranging PlayStation Indies sale until December 1.

To list off some quick highlights from that sale, there's Risk of Rain 2 ($9.99), The Eternal Cylinder ($22.49), Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye ($11.99), Tails of Iron ($19.99), KeyWe ($18.74), Cozy Grove ($11.24), Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl ($34.99), The Pathless ($23.99), Chernobylite ($23.99), Vacation Simulator ($19.49), and They Are Billions ($8.99).

I am afraid I'm going to spend way too much loading up on PS5 games.

The post PlayStation Black Friday ?d?eals: Tales of Arise, Returnal, Far Cry 6, Deathloop, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Which means I might actually use the wishlist feature now

If you've got a bunch of PS4 or maybe even PS5 games filed away on your PlayStation Store w??ishlist but you're finding it to be a pain to stay on top of deals, here's a heads-up directly from Sony: there's a way to get alerts when a game on your wishlist goes o?n sale.

As spotted by Siliconera, the PS5 supports "push notifications for Wishlist Updates," and when?? t?he time comes, you should see a pop-up in the top-right corner of your screen.

//twitter.com/Pla??yStation/status/1458456939621408774

These wishlist notifications apply to the PlayStation Store on PS5 �?as in, the console, not the browser-based store. There's also alerts via the PlayStation App. So if you're a "browsing the PS4 only" sorta pers??on, you're out of luck on this one.

As someone who doesn't use the PS App and would preferably never need to, I've yet to?? build up a wishlist on m??y PS5 simply because it didn't seem that useful to me. With the ability to get notifications about deals, I may have to start forming that habit. As is, even as someone who keeps tabs on PlayStation Store sales, I'm sure there are plenty of games I want to play that run through discounts without me realizing it.

There's more work to be done with the PlayStation Store on PS5 specifically (to say nothing of the console's user-experience features in general), but this'll get some use. It's wild to think that such seemingly basic features �?that would actively encourage players to spend more money and time gaming �?are still trickling in. (Themes next?)

While we're at it, I'd like to echo all the folks?? on Twitter who want PlayStation Store gifting.

The post PlayStation 5 ca??n give you a heads-up when your wishlist games are on sale appeared first on Destructoid.

Pain or pleasure?

The PlayStation Store Halloween sale is back for 2021, and it's got around 330 games to peruse, many of which are horror-themed. There's some fantastic titles spread across PS4 and PS5. I know it's getting pretty late in the month, but if you're still going all out for October, it's worth a serious look. The deals are sticking around through November 3?.

In an impulsive frenzy, I could see myself going nuts with horror games I've been meaning to pick up. The old-school Resident Evil throwback Tormented Souls, in particular, is calling my name �?the buzz is tempting. I also regret never playing Visage?, despite repeated re??commendations and testimonies about its ability to genuinely scare.

My wide-ranging sale highlights, from cheap to cheaper

• Diablo Prime Evil Collection ($41.99)
• Resident Evil Village ($40.19)
• Biomutant ($38.99)
• The Medium ($37.49)
• Aliens: Fireteam Elite ($31.99)
• Doom Eternal Deluxe Edition ($29.69)
• Lost in Random ($23.99)
• Visage ($22.74)
• The Evil Within 2 ($19.79)
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night ($15.99)
• Tormented Souls ($15.99)
• Code Vein ($14.99)
• Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted ($14.99)
• Pumpkin Jack ($14.99)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope ($14.99)
• The Evil Within ($9.99)
• Until Dawn ($9.99)
• Remothered: Broken Porcelain ($9.89)
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan ($9.89)
• Blair Witch ($8.99)
• Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 ($8.99)
• Blasphemous ($8.74)
• Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition ($7.99)
• Death Road to Canada ($7.49)
• Little Nightmares Complete Edition ($7.49)
• Call of Cthulhu ($6.99)
• Hollow Knight Voidheart Edition ($6.74)
• Outlast 2 ($5.99)
• Inside ($4.99)
• Layers of Fear 2 ($4.99)
• SOMA ($4.49)
• Outlast ($3.99)
• Oxenfree ($3.99)
• Friday the 13th: The Game ($3.74)

Worth stressing: I would not recommend all of these games equally, and some of these picks (namely the multiplayer? ones) are a little iffy, but I wanted to get a decent mix of stuff I like and stuff that resonates with a wider Hallow?een-loving audience.

There are a lot of Dead by Daylight deals if you need to nab any DLC characters, and older Resident Evil games are on sale, too. (Where'??s that classic coll??ection, Capcom?)

Also, don't sleep on Lost in Random �?it's easily missed in the shuffle. It's worth playing.

The post Binge on horror games with the PlayS??tation Store Halloween sale appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh wow, I forgot It Takes Two launched this year

We've got another PlayStation Store sale to sift through between now and October 20, and this time, the theme is hidden gems. Loosely. To a wide audience that doesn't keep up, sure, a lot of these indie games, even the big-hitters, might not be super well-known, but should Final Fantasy XV and Metal Gear Solid V really be featured? I mean, deals are deals...

Of the 400 games i??n the Hidden Gems sale, some of these PS4 and PS5 titles are hidden, some of them are gems, and a few of them genuinely earn that hidden-gem status.

Here are some highlights and personal recommendations

• It Takes Two ($29.99) �?one of the best local and online co-op games of the year.
• Little Nightmares ($4.99) �?a tense puzzle-platformer with a uniquely messed-up world. Only the base game is on sale, so no story DLC.
• Judgment ($19.49 on PS4, $23.99 on PS5) �?an interesting spin on the Yakuza formula with a great lead. Shame it's not cross-buy, though!
• Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood ($8.99) �?a fantastic price for these two Castlevania bangers.
• Orcs Must Die! 3 ($23.99) �?a cozy trap-laying action game that's familiar but fun.
• Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin ($27.99) �?that rice-growing action-RPG you keep hearing good things about.
• Prey: Digital Deluxe Edition ($11.99) �?something to play before (or after) Deathloop.
• Salt and Sanctuary ($5.39) �?you might want to brush up before the sequel in 2022.
• Pyre ($5.99) �?for when you finally walk away from Hades.
• Ghost of a Tale ($9.99) �?an honest-to-god hidden gem about a mouse.
• SteamWorld Dig ($2.49) and SteamWorld Dig 2 ($6.99) �?I can't recommend these metroidvania games enough. They're among the best.
• ScourgeBringer ($11.04) �?a fast-moving roguelite action game.
• Gorogoa ($4.49) �?a pleasant and artful puzzle game.
• Aggelos ($4.49) �?a new but decidedly retro tribute to games like Wonder Boy.
• I Am Dead ($14.99) �?an under-the-radar afterlife adventure from Annapurna.
• Anodyne 2: Return to Dust ($13.99) �?come explore this strange low-poly world.
• The Pathless ($23.99) �?that game with the bow and arrow from the maker of Abzu.
• Stonefly ($13.99) �?another actual hidden gem about tiny bug mechs.

Welp, those are my picks. I tried to balance newer and admittedly higher-priced games that you might've skipped at launch with some much-cheaper oldies-but-goodies. There are definitely some fantastic games in here (Celeste! Slay the Spire!) that we've heavily featured before in prior sales, so my list is reall?y just scratching the surface.

The PlayStation Store Hidden Gems sale lasts until 11:59 p.m. Paci??fic on October 20.

The post The PlayStation Store Hidden Gem??s sale is full of potenti??al appeared first on Destructoid.

That said, you'll be able to add funds using a computer, mobile device, PS4, or PS5

Sony ultimately decided to keep the PS3 and?? PlayStation Vita digital stores online (after announcing their closure back in March), which was a surprising and backlash-fueled turn of events �?but there are still some caveats to keep in mind, and today, we've got another one to watch out for. Soon, you won't be allowed to use a credit card, a debit card, or PayPal to add funds to your account on the PlayStation Store for PS3 an??d PS Vita.

In another one of those now-iconic support page messages, Sony said that as of October 27, 2021, users "can no longer use a credit or debit card, or a payment method such as PayPal, to buy digital content or add funds to your wallet when visiting PlayStation Store on your PS3 console or PS Vita system." That sounds like a huge deal, right? Yes and no. For so??me, it'll be an issue; for others, it's an annoyance that can be side-stepped.

The main factor to note is that PS3 and Vita?? purchases will still be possible (again, those legacy stores aren't fully shutting down), b??ut Sony is narrowing the options.

Here's what's changing for PS3 and Vita on October 27

• "You will still be able to purchase content (including DLC) via in-game stores, but you will need to use wallet funds to pay for the content on PlayStation Store."
• "You can add funds by redeeming a PlayStation Store gift card, using a credit or debit card, PayPal, or other available payment methods via a desktop computer, mobile device, a PS4 console or a PS5 console."
• "PlayStation Store gift cards can be used on both PS3 consoles and PS Vita systems. Product vouchers and subscription vouchers can also be used."
• An extra note spotted by Siliconera: digital games with a CERO Z rating in Japan require a credit card for age verification, which means they won't be buyable on PS3 or Vita starting Oct. 27.

To add money to your account in the browser-based PlayStation Store, log in here, click on your account/avatar in the top right, click "Payment Management," then ??hit "Add Funds."

On some level, I can see why Sony's hand might've been forced with respect to keeping these old storefronts safe and secure and compliant, weighing the numbers, and not wanting to invest any more money. No matter how you slice it though, ??"f?ewer features" is a tough sell, and it's something PlayStation fans have been dealing with a lot lately.

Maybe I'm being too pragmatic here, but if this was The Compromise, I'm definitely glad the stores are staying online (for now). The longer, the better. It's just a shame that we won't be able to actually see these old games while we top up our accounts since, you know, the current PlayStation Store on modern devices only lists PS4 and PS5 games.

In another reality, it's not a hassle to buy these old digital games, and they still offer deals. Maybe it's too late for these specific titles, and t??hey'll suffer a slow fade-out; maybe it isn't. In general, ?PlayStation could be doing so much more with its legacy games.

The post PS3 an??d PlayStation Vita stores are dropping credit card and PayPal support this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Like JRPGs, action, or fighting games? This is your sale �?and there's a few more running right now

As someone who tries to keep up with new games (due to the nature of this lucky job), it's stuff like the Big in Japan sale on the PlayStation Store that makes me long for a chance to set everything?? else aside and hibernate for several months with big, comfy JRPGs and action-RPGs by my side. They're great! They just don't always fit into my gaming life.

Two examples that immediately come to mind, just scrolling by these deals: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($49.69) and NieR Replicant ($38.99). I started going through FFVII Remake again on my PS5 �?in part to refamiliarize before Yuffie's Intermission DLC, but also because it's so fun �?and I dropped off after besting the Air Buster. As for NieR Replicant, I owe it ??to myself to get to this game when I can fully immerse myself in it, and that opportunity hasn't really presented itself yet. It's looking like a "winter game."

You might've made it through those games, but what about Persona 5 Royal ($23.99), Yakuza: Like a Dragon ($35.99), Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection ($29.99), NEO: The World Ends with You ($41.99), 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim ($29.99), Legend of Mana ($22.49), Trails of Cold Steel IV ($38.99), Dragon Quest XI S ($25.99), or Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Digital Deluxe Edition featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series ($45.49)?

Another one: Final Fantasy XIV Online - Complete Edition ($23.99).

There are around 230 "full games" in the sale, along with DLC and season passes you might've been avoiding at full price. Naturally, there's a lot more than just JRPGs �?fans of fighting games and action games will want to turn up too. Remember when I gave PixelJunk Monsters 2 a shout-out? Well, I replayed it, I loved it, and hey, it's only $2.24!

The Big in Japan sale will be active until October 6, 2021. The UK sale is right here.

A few other sales worth noting today: the current deal of the week is Mass Effect: Legendary Edition ($39.59), which I really wish I would've waited for given how small of a dent ??I've made in my well-meaning but destined-to-fizzle "full trilogy replay" goal.

The PlayStation Store also has a Games Under $20 sale and a PS Plus-centric Double Discounts sale, both ?of which are up and ??running until September 29, 2021.

The post PlayStation’s Big in Japan sale is back with JRPG gems I want to keep hoarding for a rainy day appeared first on Destructoid.

Scarlet Nexus is a deal of the week, and there's also an Under $20 sale on the PlayStation Store

I've been in a real budget-minded gaming mood lately, and n??ot necessarily just because it's nice to get the most bang for my buck �?there are still a ton of indies, remasters, and random games I skipped or missed. My PS5 continues to be a PS4-catchup machine more often than not, and I'm not mad about it. It's nice to not pay $70 for just one game.

While I usually hear about a PlayStation sale from a tweet or article or Slack message, look into it, and potentially post it here, I happened to glance at the PlayStation Indies sale last night in between Hades runs and was impressed with the game selection and prices �?enough to want to give it a shout, along with a couple of othe?r promos running right now.

A quick overview:

• PlayStation Indies with 1,000-plus games (also in the UK)
• Games Under $20 for the big boys (UK too)
• Scarlet Nexus for $35.99 (and £29.99 in the UK)

The Scarlet Nexus deal is sticking around until August 25, while the PlayStation Indies and Games Under $20 sales both run until September 1. (Here's Eric's review as a refresher.)

If you're anything like me, you'll find something tempting. I kept scrolling, and scrolling, and my mind went off in about a dozen potential directions thinking about games I could be getting into right now, whether it's Streets of Rage 4 (that DLC!), the Turok remasters from Nightdive, Panzer Dragoon: Remake, or The Long Dark, among others I've been eying.

You may fare better with the Under $20 sale if you're partial to new or old Doom (that also goes for the Ancient Gods expansions), the Yakuza series, or Ace Combat 7, to name a few.

I already went with MediEvil after postponing that purchase several times. I'm expecting a mostly breezy trophy run, though I might hold off until closer to Halloween, just to keep with the spirit of the game. I know Moyse got Hellblade and Dishonored 2 for super cheap.

Hope you find something good!

The post The Pl??ayStation Indies sale is one of the better recent store ?promos, and Scarlet Nexus is here too appeared first on Destructoid.

Planet of the Discounts, Games Under $15, and Add-On Deals are running through July 21

PlayStation Store sale season is in f??ull effect right now with three major PS4 and PS5 game sales running through July 21, 2021. If you're in the mood to spend:

• Planet of the Discounts
• Games Under $15
• Add-On Deals

The first promo has my attention with a few hundred games, some of which are recent, though I do appreciate the chance to save on DLC that's difficult to justify at full price (Dead by Daylight), and you know I love a goo??d flawed gem plucked from the bargain bin.

After scanning through the Planet of the D??iscounts list, I've got some picks.

• Doom Eternal Deluxe Edition ($29.69) �?if you want to go all-in on The Ancient Gods Part One and Two, especially with the PS5 upgrade out now.
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon Hero Edition ($41.99) �?if you're tempted by the Devil Rocker and Matriarch jobs. Includes both PS4 and PS5 editions.
• Yakuza 0 ($4.99), Yakuza Kiwami ($4.99), Yakuza Kiwami 2 ($9.99), Yakuza 3 Remastered ($9.99), Yakuza 4 Remastered ($9.99), Yakuza 5 Remastered ($9.99), Yakuza 6 ($4.99) �?look, I put Yakuza in the headline for a reason!
• Turok ($9.99) and Turok 2 ($9.99) �?half-price for Nightdive Studios' remasters.
• Persona 5 Strikers ($38.99) and the Digital Deluxe Edition ($45.49) �?in case you're specifically looking for a digital deal and skipped the physical sales.
• Godfall ($35.99) �?I feel weird recommending this one, but I'd feel even weirder about someone paying $70 for the game.
• Dreams ($9.99) �?Media Molecule is doing some cool stuff again in this game.
• Control: Ultimate Edition ($19.99) �?a spot-on price for the main game and DLC.
• Unravel Two ($4.99) �?I skipped the first Unravel and had a fantastic time with the sequel's co-op. Highly recommended.
• Shadow Tactics ($4.99) �?there's enough love for this tactical stealth game that, despite missing it, I've gotta share a shout-out.
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game ($9.74) �?do you think it'll ever be delisted?
• Burnout Paradise Remastered ($7.99) �?love these sunny city streets.
• Resident Evil 2 ($15.99) and Resident Evil 3 ($19.79) �?pair them for the best result.
• Prototype 2 ($5.99) �?ludicrous open-world carnage that mostly holds up.
• Battle Axe ($20.99) �?a high-def-as-hell hack & slash arcade game with co-op.

Wild card deals you might be super into:

• Wasteland 3 ($29.99)
• The Surge 2 ($12.49)
• MediEvil ($14.99)
• Golf With Your Friends ($9.99)
• Team Sonic Racing ($14.99)
• Ape Escape 2 ($4.99)
• SnowRunner ($19.99)

Again, ?I focused on ??just one PlayStation Store sale, and there are two others that might serve you better, so follow your gut. I always feel like I'm taking a shotgun approach, but that's sort of how it goes. We all get to the games we get to when we're good and ready.

The post PlayStation Store sale highlights: Doom Eternal Delu?xe, Yakuza, Turok, and Persona 5 Strikers appeared first on Destructoid.

Returnal, Demon's Souls, and Miles Morales Ultimate Edition are under $50 right now

Slightly hidden in an unassuming Weekend Offer sale on the ?PlayStation Store, you can find some of the best early PlayStation 5 games with honest-to-god discounts.

If you skipped Returnal at launch because $70 is just too much on the line for a great-for?-some-but-not-all rogueli??ke shooter, you might be tempted by a 29 percent discount.

Same goes for Demon's Souls. It's my favorite PS5 game to this day, but some players are thinking of entering the Souls series with this remake, and again, seventy dollars. While ?I rarely have buyer's remorse with video games, they're starting to feel higher stakes.

Here's the full list of deals??. It's short but high-impact.

• Returnal ($49.69)
• Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99)
  • Some early weapon unlocks and the soundtrack.
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales ($29.99)
• Marve??l's Spider-Man: Miles Mo?rales Ultimate Edition ($49.69)
  • Includes Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered.
• Demon's Souls ($49.69)
• Demon's Souls Digital Deluxe Edition ($70.19)
  • Red-Eye Knight Armor, the Ritual Blade, a few other items, and the soundtrack.
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure ($40.19) [PS4 and PS5]
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99) [PS4 and PS5]
  • Four costumes, four emotes, an art book, and the soundtrack.
• Nioh Remastered �?The Complete Edition ($29.99)
• Nioh 2 Remastered �?The Complete Edition ($29.99) [PS4 and PS5]
• The Nioh Collection ($49.69)
  • Includes Nioh Remastered (PS5) and Nioh 2 Remastered (PS4 and PS5)
• Destruction AllStars Digital Deluxe Edition ($29.99)
  • In-game currency, Lupita Legendary Crow skin, eight Story Mode packs, and an art book.

The sale runs until June 28, 2021.

As more of you are able to land a PS5 throughout the year, I'll feel obligated to share deals like these as often ??as I can. "Around $50" seems like Sony's new go-to sale price.

The post Returnal and other pricey PS5 games are under $50 at the PlaySta??tion Store appeared first on Destructoid.

Over a thousand PlayStation indies for PS4 and PS5 are on sale through June 18

We've seen the PlayStation Indies sale before, and we'll see it again �?but unlike a lot of the cookie-cutter promos that pop up, I like the frequency of these recurring deals. In my book, there's never a bad time to play indie games, especially when we're talking about some fantastic PS4 titles that ar?e still ?very enjoyable on PS5, upgrade or no upgrade.

You can start browsing the PS4 and PS5 indie game sale over here.

This particular PlayStation Store selection covers over?? 1,300 entries, which means we'll want to use som??e of those filtering options to cut through the fluff.

Recommendations

• Disco Elysium: The Final Cut ($27.99)
• Curse of the Dead Gods ($13.99)
• Risk of Rain 2 ($9.99)
• Untitled Goose Game ($11.99)
• Spelunky ($3.74)
• Spelunky 2 ($11.99)
• Visage ($24.49)
• The Pathless ($27.99)
• CrossCode ($10.99)
• Outward ($13.99)
• Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun ($4.99)
• Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling ($16.24)
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners ($25.99)
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night ($19.99)
• Shantae and the Seven Sirens ($20.99)
• Sayonara Wild Hearts ($7.79)
• Limbo + Inside ($6.99)
• Ashen ($15.99)
• Soma ($2.99)
• Manifold Garden ($13.99)
• The Vanishing of Ethan Carter ($2.99)
• Gris ($6.79)
• Oxenfree ($2.99)
• Donut County ($3.89)
• Nex Machina ($4.99)

I always find it tricky to navigate which discounted games are cheaper (and perhaps better-played) on, say, PC, as well as the potential "most of us already got that game from PS Plus" caveat. One example: Frostpunk is free right now o??n the Epic Store. As always, take m??y picks with that in mind and see what everyone else is hollering about, too.

To see the entire list of games on a single page with all of the items written out, you can cross-reference this PlayS?tation Blog post and ctrl+f as you p?lease.

The PlayStation Indies sale is also running in the UK and Australia.

These deals last until June 18, 2021, a??t 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

The post PlayStation St??ore ??indie games banded together for a big sale appeared first on Destructoid.

From $70 down to... $60.19? I have to laugh a little

The PlayStation Store is running its annual Days of Play sale through June 9, 2021 �?and if you're hoping to scoop up some PS5 game deals in addition to the usual PS4 sale circuit, you're finally in luck.

I'm glad to say that the early MVP Demon's Souls has a discount. Now, it isn't a great discount �?the game is $60.19 �?but 14 percent off the top isn't nothing. It's been slow-going since launch outside of Returnal and Resident Evil Village, and if we're talking big, impressionable PS5 titles, Demon's Souls is still my favorite. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, another fun one, is down to $39.99 for PS4/PS5.

Some other recomm??endations from the Days of Play 2021 sale:

• Assassin's Creed Valhalla ($35.99)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure ($49.79)
• Ghost of Tsushima ($40.19)
• The Last of Us Part II ($29.99)
• Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate ($26.99)
• Sekiro ($29.99)
• Dreams ($9.99)
• Judgment ($29.99 for PS5, $19.99 for PS4)
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon ($41.99)
• Nioh Remastered - The Complete Edition ($39.99)
• Nioh 2 Remastered - The Complete Edition ($39.99)
• Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville ($7.99)
• Dragon? Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elu??sive Age �?Definitive Edition ($25.99)
• Overcooked: All You Can Eat ($31.99)
• Immortals Fenyx Rising ($29.99)
• Blasphemous ($9.99)
• Bugsnax ($18.74)

If you ended up gett?ing a PS5 but you could only snag a Digital Edition console that can't play discs, and, as a result, you're at the mercy of the PlayStation Store for your PS5 game deals, I feel for you. It's going to be a long wait for some of these $70-at-launch titles to reach anything approaching half price.

One thing I'll say about this sale: while a lot of the deals aren't very enticing price-wise, I appreciate the new sorting options in the web-based PlayStation Store. I?? like being able to break these sales down by platform, content type, and even "most downloaded" to quickly see what's catching everyone's eye.

The post PlayStation Store’s Days of Play sale has deals on Demon’s Souls, Sackboy, and Miles Morales appeared first on Destructoid.

Repair work continues on beleagured RPG

CD Projekt RED cannot offer a date for when its troubled RPG Cyberpunk 2077 will return to the PlayStation Store. The hi-tech, hi-issues title was pulled from the PSN platform by Sony following the game's incendiary launch, which saw the PS4 edition plagued with problems and subj?ect to thousands of refunds from disappointed players.

"We are still in discussions and with every patch the game gets better and there is a visible progress," said CDPR Co-CEO Adam Kicinski in a shareholders' me?eting. "?As we said, the decision is an exclusive decision of Sony. We are waiting for the inf??ormation about the fact that they took the decision to bring back this game. Until then I am not able to tell you anything more."

Work continues at CDPR to improve the state of Cyberpunk 2077 on both PS4 and Xbox One, with numerous patches and hotfixes applied since the game's notoriously rough release in December of last year. The publisher has previously stated that abandoning the port is "not an option". Cyberpunk 2077 is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X this year, but these releases are obviously now mired in a queue of damage control and after-market repair on? its ??platform predecessors.

Despite all of the above, Cyberpunk 2077 was — at least from a strictly sales standpoint — hugely successful for CDPR. The controversial title sold over 13.7 million copies in 2020 alone, with over half of all sales taking place on PC, where the title is far more stable. This huge number led to a revenue growth of over 550% for CDPR, year-on-year. In regards to refunds, only 30,000 copies of Cyberpunk 2077 were returned via C?DPR's own refund program, though the numbers pertaining to PlayStation and Microsoft Store refunds remains unknown??.

CDPR still waiting for Sony's approv?al to bring Cyberpunk 2077 back ?to PSN [VGC]

The post CDPR doesn’t know when Cyberpunk 2077 will return to PlayStation Store appeared first on Destructoid.

Captive Audience

It's been at least a few hours since the last one started, so it's time for another industry lawsuit. In the dock this time is Sony Interactive Entertainment, which is facing a class-action lawsuit over the exclusivity of digital software as it per??tains to its online storefront, PlayStation Store.

As reported by Bloomberg, the consumer-led lawsuit accuses SIE own maintaining a monopoly over the price of d?igital games, given that the PlayStation Store is the only place said titles are available. While Sony previously allowed digital game codes to be sold over-the-counter in high street stores — as well as other third-party retailers — this practice was halted two years ago, making the PS Store the only place in town to officially acquire digital games for PlayStation platforms.

"Sony's monopoly allows it to charge supracompetitive prices for digital PlayStation games," reads a section of the suit filing. "[the digital games] are significantly higher than their physical counterparts sold in a competitive retail marke??t, and significantly higher than they would be in a competitive retail market for digital games."

The suit references examples of online customers being charged up to 175% more for purchasing a game via PlayStation Store than it would purchasing the same title in a hypothetical third-party-retailer environment. The ??case is set to be heard presently at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, California.

The post Sony facing class-action lawsuit over PlayStation Store ‘price monopoly’ appeared first on Destructoid.

High-profile PS4 indies, PlayStation VR gems, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition will be free on the PlayStation Store

[Update: Today (April 22) is the last day to get nine free PS4 games from Play at Home 2021. So long as you show up and claim them from the PlayStation Store by 8:00 p.m. Pacific, they're yours to keep — no subscription needed. PlayStation VR ??owners, in particular??, shouldn't sleep on this deal.]

We had heard that more free-to-keep PS4 games were coming soon from Sony after the Ratchet & Clank giveaway, but I can't say I was expecting 10 more titles to show up for the Play at Home promo. It's not just about quantity, either – these are all quality releases.

You'll be able to grab nine games from March 25 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific until April 22 at 8:00 p.m.

• Abzu
• Enter the Gungeon
• Rez Infinite (PlayStation VR optional)
• Subnautica
• The Witness
• Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PlayStation VR)
• Moss (PlayStation VR)
• Thumper (PlayStation VR optional)
• Paper Beast (PlayStation VR)

Sony is also kicking in one of its own: Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition. You can add the robo-dino-hunting adventure to your PS4 library for free from April 19 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific until May 14.

Unlike the usual monthly "free games," you do not need PlayStation Plus for any of these.

Play at Home 2021 also has an "extended" 90-day?? trial for Funimation/Wakanim. If you're a new member and you want to go?? on an anime binge to end all binges, you have from March 25 to April 22 to take them up on the offer. I'll leave recommendations to the readers – they know what's good.

To give you a little bit more context on how much I like the games on this list, I own everything here except for Paper Beast – and the only reason it's on my yet-to-play list is that I've been on a VR break lately. Subnautica is one of my all-time favorites, Astro Bot is PSVR at its best, and Horizon Zero Dawn is a crowd-pleaser. I'm envious?? of anyone about to carve through these games for the first t??ime.

The post PlayStation is giving out 10 fantastic PS4 ga?mes for Play at Home 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

There's more to rising physical game prices than just the looming PlayStation Store closure, but it's not helping

PlayStation 3 games have gotten expensive lately �?as have a lot of other old games that are either rare, genuinely desirable as something an adult would play and enjoy in 2021, or heaven forbid, both.

I'm not about to sell off anything, but it's to the point where I've found myself re-checking all of my collections in astonishment after seeing the prices games are fetching right now. In some cases, especially my DS library, these are titles I haven't touched (much less thought about touching) in years. I know myself well enough to know that ditching them ?would en?d in eventual regret, but it's tempting.

It's a similar story on other consoles, including my besti?e, the GameCube, and while it's not necessarily a new trend �?the pandemic has done a number on retro game prices �?the PS3 is worth watching.

In the wake of Sony announcing its plan to remove the ability to purchase digital PS3, Vita, and PSP games later this year, I've been on a mad dash t?o catalog my existing purchases, figure out my longstanding gaps, and begin buying up digital copies (so far mostly PS1 Classics) before the store shutdown in July. I was so fixated on this initial goal that I hadn't looked that much into stocking up on physical copies of PS3?? games. In retrospect, that was a mistake. It's probably too late for me.

[Update:  Sony reversed course on the PS3 store shutdown after this article was pub?lished.

As highlighted by ResetEra, c??ertain PS3 games have gotten pricey �?even some that are readily available on other platforms and can be purchased digitally for a reasonable price on the PlayStation Store. This isn't an exhausti?ve list or anything, but here are some recent prices that stood out to me:

It's times like this that remind me "Oh shit! The ??PS3 is coming up on 15 years old. I'm just dust."

Personally speaking, my YouTube feed has become filled with lists of hidden ??gems worth grabbing from the P?layStation Store as well as popular games that are shockingly expensive on disc but dirt-cheap digitally. With all of this info swirling, I've thought more about my PlayStation 3 in the last few weeks than I have since I bought the system late into its lifecycle �?no joke. I finally got a second DualShock 3.

I'm hardly the only one with a renewed focus on the PS3 right now, and that's reflected in the soaring prices on the second-hand market. The recent drama about certain games being unable to download patches is surely adding fuel to the fire. A lot of us are looking to situate our libraries, and in this console generation, that means mo?re than just buying a game, putting it on a shelf, and calling it a day.

If you're a motivated buyer, start researching, and do what you gotta do before you feel even more pressure as we inch toward the store shutdown. If y??ou're open to parting with some of your less-loved games for the right (inflated-as-hell) price, it might be time to take another look at your library.

That goes double for complete copies of PS1 games like Suikoden II, Tron Bonne, and Klonoa.

The post PlayStation 3 games sure have gotten expensive appeared first on Destructoid.

A new level of coaster enforcement

[Update: The PS3 community is starting to discover that som??e games are getting patches back??, mysteriously, as of this week. Alien: Isolation, Battlefield 4, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Dante's Inferno, Dark Void, Dead Nation, Dungeon Siege III, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Gran Turismo 5, Jet Set Radio HD, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, Just Cause 2, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, LEGO Lord of the Rings, LittleBigPlanet: GOTY, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Mortal Kombat, Need for Speed Shift/The Run, Resogun, SoulCalibur IV, Sports Champions 2, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition, Tekken Tag 2, Twisted Metal, WRC FIA World Rally Championship, and Zombie Tycoon 2 have been patched.

However, since our first report, a ton of games have also been added to the list and do not have patches. 48 games (that we know about) are still impacted to some degree, including some bigger games or exclusives like White Knight Chronicles and LittleBigPlanet 2.]

Just recently, we were talking about how great it was that Microsoft actually valued game preserva??tion.

The ripples of their efforts to actually allow people to play their old games have been felt for some time, especially when it comes to preserving games as old as the original Xbox platform. But on the flipside, S??ony is shutting down entire ??marketplaces for multiple devices, ??and now it seems?? like the PSN's backend is shoddier than we thought.

According to myriad users on the forum PSN Profiles, a handful of games no longer patch at all. The games range from Dante's Inferno to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow to Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, all of which currently cannot obtain patches from the PSN. There's 35 known games in all, with a living list th??at grows by the day. In a few cases this process can lock folks out of DLC they've purchased without the new version to authenticate.

It all falls back to the warning signs of digital many years ago. Some companies were tying a lot of content solely to digital releases, and folks were asking constantly "physical edition when?" You've probably seen the chant before and rolled your eyes at it, but if this is the fate of the legacy PSN, it just goes to show you how important preservation really is. This is partly why people praised the idea of putting Witcher III, and all of its DLC, on one self-contained Switch cart.

You can find the full list below, compliments of DeidaraTV on PSN Profiles. We'v?e reached out to Sony for clarification on why this m??ay have happened.

No Patches for some PS3 games [PSN Profiles] Thanks John!

List of PS3 Games that are currently unable to get Patches:

• 007 Legends - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Battlefield 4 - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - (USA, Disc) [*Some players are having trouble downloading the Patch regardless of Region*]
• Colin McRae: Dirt 2 - (JPN, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Dante's Inferno - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Dark Void - (EU, Disc) [*Some players are having trouble downloading the Patch regardless of Region. The problem can be fixed: "boot-up the game then let it sit on the patch notification screen until the Hard Drive light stops flashing. Once the light stops flashing, press X to start the download"*]
• Dead Nation - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Fuel - (JPN, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Dungeon Siege III - (EU, Disc) [*If you install the DLC before installing the game data, a Data error will occur. The problem can be fixed: deleting the DLC Data and later it will be possible to start and install the Patch and re-download the DLC correctly.*]
• flOw - (USA, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Ghostbusters: The Video Game - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Gran Turismo 5 - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle - (EU, Disc) [*Campaign+Characters DLC no more available in PS Store* - Platinum/100% OBTAINABLE]
• Journey - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Just Cause 2 - () [*Some players are having trouble downloading the Patch regardless of Region. The problem can be fixed: "boot-up the game then let it sit on the patch notification screen until the Hard Drive light stops flashing. Once the light stops flashing, press X to start the download"*]
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year Edition - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Need for Speed: Shift - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Need for Speed: The Run - (USA, Digital) [*N/A*]
• NHL 10 - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• NHL 15 - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - (JPN, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Payday 2 - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Savage Moon - (USA, Digital) [*N/A*]
• Smash Cars! - (EU, Digital) [*N/A*]
• SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• SOCOM: Special Forces - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• SoulCalibur IV - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition - (USA, Digital) [*Some players are having trouble downloading the Patch regardless of Region*]
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - (USA, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Top Spin 3 - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• Twisted Metal - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]
• White Knight Chronicles International Edition - (EU, Disc) [*N/A*]

The post (Update) Not only does t??he PS5 not favor game p?reservation, but certain PS3 games are unable to get patches now appeared first on Destructoid.

I added probably too many PS1 Classics to my digital PS3 library ahead of the shutdown, and now my backlog is in shambles

With Sony cutting off access to the PlayStation Store on PSP, Vita, and PS3 later this year, some of us have been exhaustively combing through recommendation lists to whittle down which digital games we want to grab before we're no longer able to purchase them. As I've covered before on Destructoid, it's a needlessly drawn-out process. I'm nearing the end of this arguably i?ll-ad??vised project — I hope!

For me, half the battle was just going through my Download List and getting everything I already owned situated on my PS3 and PlayStation TV. That step wasn't strictly necessary (the store cutoff date is for making new purchases, not the ability to do?wnload your stuff), but it helped me organize my thoughts.

Along the way, I've dabbled with PS1 Classics I always intended to play, I've messed with a few out-on-a-limb titles, and, to be honest, I've fallen head over heels with PixelJunk Monsters ??again. If? you're in the tower defense mood and the 2018 sequel didn't cut it, my goodness does the original still hold up.

I'll like?ly continue down this "play everything and nothing" path for the near future.

I've got screw-around saves started in the first three Resident Evils, which I'm justifying as a ramp-up to Village, as well as the original Silent Hill and Dino Crisis, which I've seen but never touched. For me, PlayStation was the peak "hang with friends and watch someone ??else play freaky games" era.

Quick impressions: I died in the diner, and I kind of love that. It felt appropriate. As for Dino Crisis, I said "whoa" out loud when I saw a (surpr?isingly detailed) dude torn in half, and I'm already more invested than I thought I'd be. If Capcom won't do a modern remake, it's about time I checked this one out.

These games are pretty much locked in — I genuinely i?ntend to finish them soon(ish).

_{[Image credit: World of Longplays]}

Things get much more convoluted when I consider everything after this survival-horror kick, and that's where you all come in with feedback. Her?e's a list of my recent PlayStation Store purchases, as well as some pick-ups I somehow already had but never got very far in, vaguely sorted with not??es:

• Yakuza: Dead Souls — this was my last buy, and it might skip the line. I wasn't Yakuza-ready when this launched in 2012; now I am. I'm ready for some nonsense.
• Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve II — these missed my initial survival horror list for whatever reason. I'll also need to circle back on Dino Crisis 2 when the time comes.
• Xenogears, Final Fantasy Tactics, The Legend of Dragoon, Suikoden, Suikoden II, and Vagrant Story — big RPG mood. I consider all of these to be substantial commitments.
• Tomba, Tomba 2, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, and Pac-Man World — I feel like someone's going to take offense to having Pac-Man World lumped in here, but I'm into it.
• Mega Man Legends, Mega Man Legends 2, and The Misadventures of Tron Bonne — I'm convinced I'm going to dig this series. Fun fact: as a kid, I could've gotten Mega Man Legends for my birthday, but I ended up getting Rampage World Tour instead, and that was that. It was an either/or situation! I remember being perfectly happy with it too.
• Bomberman '94 — this gets its own bullet point because it's freaking Bomberman.
• Strider 2 — I messed around a bit and had fun, but I was initially thrown off by being forced into the first Strider. Oh, right, that's how you swap discs for PS1 Classics.
• Mega Man 8 — I couldn't resist buying this before the closure, but I'm also not in a rush.
• Tokyo Jungle — do I... do I drop everything and replay this can't-miss PSN exclusive? I'm still missing two trophies ("finish all challenges in a single playthrough" and "survive 100 years in Survival"), which doesn't sit well with me. My cheetah is calling.

I'm not comfortable making a full-on "buy these PSN games!" list yet, but I'm happy to share my rece??nt buys for fun and also for the possibility that it helps someone else in the mad dash to ??July.

While there are potentially more PS3 games for me to get before the July 2 deadline — I'm eying various missing entries in the Metal Gear Solid, Ratchet and Clank, and Sly Cooper serie?s — I'm stepping back for now. The question is, beyond surface-level check-ins, what should I strive to finish fir?st?

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Update: Sony has called off the PS3 and Vita store shutdown

[Update: Sony has reversed course on the PS3 and Vita store shutdown, but "PSP commerce functionality will retir??e on July 2." In a blog post, SIE CEO Jim Ryan admitted that "we made the wrong decision here," adding that "we see now that many of you are incredibly passionate about being able to continue purchasing classic games on PS3 and PS Vit??a for the foreseeable future."]

Last week, there was a hugely disappointing rumor that Sony would close the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable stores this year. The report served as a wake-up call for people who see value in PlayStation's legacy platforms, and it was accurate – Sony confirmed the news this morning.

When do we lose access to the stores and, as a result, the ability to buy legacy games and DLC? These are the dates to remember: July 2 for PS3 and PSP, and August 27 for PlayStation Vita.

The silver lining (though I hesitate to call it that): we will still be able to re-download the games that we own as well as the games that we got through PlayStation Plus. We'll also be able to access our purchased media content and redeem game ?and PS Plus vouchers even after the stores are closed. That said, once the dates come a??nd go, we won't be able to redeem PSN wallet vouchers on the old systems.

For many people, even just having download access is crucial. You'll be able to do it using the Download List on PS3, Vita, and PSP. The race is ??now on to get our libraries situated before it's too late.

It's a shame Sony ?put an end to the workaround that let folks use the "old" PlayStation Store in a web browser. Actually finding and buying content on the old consoles is an unwieldy mess in 2021. As it stands, ??this is going to be an all-out scramble even for people who know which games they're missing.

Where to start? Try this PS3 exclusives breakdown on Reddit. Wikipedia also has lists of PS3 games, Vita games, PSP games, PS1 Classics, and PS2 Classics that will be instrumental for collectors.

On my list: Yakuza: Dead Souls, Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection, Puppeteer, Siren: Blood Curse, Afrika, and way, way too many PS1 and PS2 titles from Vagrant Story to Maximo: Ghosts to Glory.

The post It’s true: Sony says it will close the PS3, Vita, and PSP stores in 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's suggested that Sony intends to close the PSP and PS3 stores on July 2 and the Vita store on August 27

Long-term access to digital and even physical video games is one of those concerns that might not necessarily matter day-to-day for the average person, but without intervention – without ongoing preservation efforts – it's likely going to sneak up on a lot of people. What happens when a d?igital storefront gets taken ??down? In the case of PlayStation, we might find out sooner than expected.

According to a report from TheGamer, the PlayStation Portable??, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 3 stores are going to shut down in 2021. In the aftermath of such a move, people would no longer be able to buy digital copies of PSP, Vita, and PS3 games and content – they'd be inacce??ssible to new players.

It's not official yet – TheGamer's source believes Sony will make an announcement by the end of this month – but the closure dates are expected to be July 2 (PSP and PS3) and August 27 (Vita).

[Update: Sony confirmed the store closure dates. You'll still be able to re-download any games you own after the shutdown periods, but new purchase??s will be prohibited. The countdown has started.]

That's so soon! To some extent, it's understandable for support to eventually fade away (or at least be diminished),? bu??t I don't feel like we're anywhere near ready for that day to come for these platforms.

The current web-based version of the PlayStation Store doesn't officially support the sale of PSP, Vita, or PS3 games, meaning if you want to buy legacy titles, you need to do so using your original systems. That said, there's still a workaround to access the "old" PlayStation Store in a browser right here.

On a related note, there's a well-researched Reddit post circulating again today that recaps a bunch of notable PlayStation 3 exclusives that would be harshly impacted by exactly this kind of store closure. Do you know how I'm always going on about Tokyo Jungle any chance I can get? It's on the list. Many?? fantastic digital-only PS3 games have been ported to PS4, but many more of them never were.

It's unclear if users would still be able to re-download digital PSP, Vita, and PS3 games they own once the stores are closed, but I'd sure hope so at the bare minimum. Either way, I can't see any long-term path forward tha?t doesn't rely on hackers, tinkerers, and preservationists who care about this stuff. It's far more complicated than just retaining games, too – think about DLC, post-launch patches, and rights.

?This is an uphill ??battle even with all hands on deck. We've got a lot of those looming, don't we?

Report: PS3, Vita, And ?PSP Stores To Be Permanently Closed In A Few Months [TheGamer]

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