There's no point in spreading Managed Democracy throughout the galaxy if you can't be fashionable while doing it. Okay, all the armor sets in Helldivers 2 do have an intended purpose. But with that gear and c?ape, y?ou can't argue that Helldivers have an immaculate drip.

Helldivers 2 has dozens armor sets to mix and match. They're separated into three types �Heavy, Medium, and Light �and come equipped with an Armor Passive that gives you a small boon. Developer Arrowhead Games is constantly delivering more armor sets via Warbonds and the Superstore, so be s??ure to keep an eye out for more ways to increase y??our style points.

All Armor Passives in Helldivers 2 and what they do

There are eleven Armor Passives in Helldivers 2 and each offers different buffs. Knowing what they do can help y??ou survive longer on the? battlefield.

All armor sets in Helldivers 2, their passives, and how to get them

Here are all the currently available armor sets in Helldivers 2. Keep in mind that some are locked behind Warbonds or need to be purchased in the Superstore, while others are no longer available??.

Aspects such as Armor Rating, Speed, Stamina Regen can differ among sets in the same type. In those occasions, you'll see all three aspects are balanced to compensate for any difference. For example, the SC-34 Infiltrator has a higher Armor Rating than other Light sets, but that is matched with lower ?Speed and Stamina Regen. Keep the differences in mind when choosing your equipment.

Every helmet in?? the game comes with the standard-issue stats of 100 Armor Rating, 100 Speed, and 100 Stamina Regen.

Arrowhead adds more armor sets all the ti??me. The developer also tweaks armor ??values from time to time. We'll keep updating the list whenever the Armory changes.

The post All Helldivers 2 armor sets, including Passiv?es and how to get? them appeared first on Destructoid.

An internal email from Hermen Hulst today has revealed that Sony is shutting down its mobile studio, Neon Koi, as well as Concord developer Firewalk Studios. It has also announced that they have reached the deci?sion to “sunset the game�rather than attempt to salvage and re-release it in some form.

Many of us were bracing for this possible outcome. Concord may have been one the most prolific and expensive failures to launch. It’s been reported that Sony bet big on the game, seeing it as their entry vector into the live service games market. Firewalk started development on the game in 2018, and Sony acquired the studio and the property in 2023. It would appear that they had plans for the license to be a pillar for them, with a storyline based on the game planned as part of Amazon Prime Video’s show, Secret Levels. The game was officia??lly launched on August 23, 2024, and yanked offline exactly two weeks later on September 6.

It may seem like its removal from storefronts was a hasty decision, but player counts were so staggeringly low at launch that it was unlikely to recover. After it was retracted, announcements were made that sounded as though the company was going to reposition the game and relaunch it in some manner, but as Destructoid’s Steven Mills said at the time, it seemed unlikely.

There was hope that the developer wouldn’t take the brunt of the repercussions as many of the more damning decisions around Concord seemed like they would have been made higher up at a publisher level, such as pricing the game at $40 while positioning it against free-to-play games like Overwatch and Fortnite. Unfortun?ately, as it always seems in these situations, that’s not the case, and the developer is being outright shuttered.

Neon Koi, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have really been given much of a chance. As far as I can find, none of the “mobile action games�that it was working on were announced. The statement reads, “While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business, we are in the very early stage of our mobile efforts.  To achieve success in this area we need to concentrate on titles that are in line with PlayStation Studios�pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally.�/p>

The email includes a rather galling message: “I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP. However, growing through sustainable financials, especially in a challenged economic environment, is critical.�I somehow doubt that the developers losing their jobs are going to take comfort in the fact that their sacrifice was to enable growth through “sustainable financials.�/p>

The only real shred of? optimism to be found in th?e statement is here: “We will work to find placement for some of those impacted within our global community of studios where possible.�Hopefully, that’s sincere and many of the folks at Firewalk and Neon Koi won’t be out of work for long.

2024 has been a pretty hellish year for the industry?. It qui?ckly eclipsed 2023’s already substantial mountain of layoffs, and there really is no end in sight. It’s a stressful time to be in the industry.

The post Concord effectively buried ??as Sony shutters Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi appeared first on Destructoid.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, playing the objective and per?forming exceptionally well come??s with the ultimate reward: Scorestreaks. Although the concept is a familiar one in the franchise, Black Ops 6 introduces its own unique twists, so here’s a complete rundown of all the available Scorestreaks and what they bring to the battlefield.

Every Scorestreak in Black Ops 6

Black Ops 6's selection of Scorestreaks features a blend of old and new from the franchise, with some of the old offering a unique take on their core concept. Scorestreaks are obtained by accumulating Score, which represents how well you're playing in a match. Sco?re is gained by co?mpleting objectives, supporting your team, and killing enemies.

Scout Pulse

Scout Pulse allows you to scan for nearby enemies, revealing their positions on your mini-map. Note that? this is only for you, and not your teammates.

RC-XD

Remote-con?trolled bomb cars are a staple to the Black Ops series, and the RC-XD is no exception. It allows you to remotely control a mini-car with a C4 block attached to it. The C4 Block can be detonated at any time, killing all nearby enemies within its radius.

The RC-XD is a great tool for breaking enemy chokepoints,? as they often won't expect it coming even with the vocal callout. It is very fast, so while it can be shot and destroyed, often it is too late for the enemy to stop the blast once they see it.

SAM Turret

When used, allows you to place an anti-air turret in any open location on the map. The SAM Turret will automatically target and destroy Aerial Scorestreaks (UAV, Watchdog Helo, etc...). It can be destroyed by the e?nemy team, if found.

UAV

A Call of Duty classic, the UAV pings and reveals enemies on the minimap for you and your team. Despite its simplicity, it is a massi??vely powerful Scorestreak, especially early during a match. It can be destroyed via small arms fire.

Archangel Launcher

The Archangel Launcher is a unique Scorestreak that allows you to fire up to tw?o remote-controlled warheads that can be detonated at any time. The warhead itself has limited maneuve?rability, but skilled use of this streak and turn the tide of a match especially when used on objectives, where enemies are likely to be plentiful.

Make sure to have a lot of space when using this Scorestre??ak, as it is easy to kill yourself with due to how large the warhead is.

Counter UAV

The Counter UAV has the opposite benefit to the UAV. Instead of revealing the locatio?n of enemies, it prevents the enemies from locating your team by scr?ambling their mini-map. Counter UAV also completely negates the effects of an active UAV or HARP.

Care Package

Care Package is another Call of Duty Classic. When used, calls in an airdropped crate that will land near where it was initially signaled after a few moments. If interacted with, the Care Package will reward you with a random Scorestreak.?? Note that more powerful Scorestreaks are rare to obtain from a Care Package.

Napalm Strike

Allow??s you to call in an airstrike on the target location of your choice. After a few moments, the strike occurs, bathing your selected location in flames that burn enemies within them. This is a strong Scorestreak for area denial, so it is especially effective on centralized objective-based game modes like Hardpoint.

LDBR

LDBR grants you access to a laser pointer that, when triggered at your selected location, will bombard said location with high-explosive missiles for an extended period of time. It is a strong point-defense Scorestreak that, when used strategically, can prevent the enemy team from setting foot on your objectives. This Scorestreak is reminiscent of the Mortar Strike from past Call of Duty titles.

Sentry Turret

When used, it allows you to place a turret that will automatically target and d??estroy enemies within its range and cone of operation. Sentry Turrets can take a significant amount of enemy fire before being destroyed but can be directly countered with Perks that prevent AI targeting and equipment that limits its line of sight??. Thanks to it being a turret, it is naturally a fantastic area denial tool if placed well. Be mindful of its positioning, as a poorly placed turret is useless.

Hellstorm

Reminiscent of the Predator Missile from previous Call of Duty titles, the Hellstorm lets you remotely control a devastating air-to-ground missile, obliterating enemies within its blas??t radius. Unique to the Hellstorm, while guiding it, you can trigger a secondary barrage of missiles, expanding its reach to hit additional targets beyond the primary impact zone.

Watchdog Helo

Similar to the Overwatch Helo from past Call of Duty titles, the Watchdog Helo calls an attack helicopter to escort you, attacking and pinging enemies near your location?. ??If ignored, it will wreak havoc on your enemies.

A.G.R. Mk1

The A.G.R. MK1 is a remotely controlled tank drone ??armed with a machine gun and grenade launcher. It is notoriously difficult to destroy without proper equipment thanks to how durable it is. It can function as an area denial tool, or one used for attacking points. Even in objectiveless game modes like Team Deathmatch, it is useful due to how quickly it can secure kills.

Interceptors

A powerful Scorestreak that calls in a jet squadron that will instantly destroy any air Scorestreaks in play. ?Works well in anti-Scorestreak loadouts designed to prevent enemy Scorestreaks from overwhelming the field.

Strategic Bomber

This Scorestreak de?ploys a Stealth Bomber that blankets a wide area with high-explosive bombs. Unlike other Scorestreaks, activating the Strategic Bomber doesn’t alert the enemy team, allowing for a surprise attack when least expected.

HARP

This Scorestreak is a majorly upgraded version of the UAV in several ways. Like the UAV, the HARP reveals enemies on the mini-map for you and your team. However, the HARPS intel is much more detailed, r??evealing the exact, real-time location and direction of all enemies on the fiel??d. Additionally, unlike the UAV, the HARP cannot be destroyed by anything else. Only a Counter UAV can temporarily disable its effects.

Chopper Gunner

The Chopper Gunner, another classic Call of Duty streak, lets you take control of an airborne assault helicopter’s powerful rotary gun. With this weapon, you can unl?eash rounds that have a wide blast radius, making ??them nearly impossible for enemies to avoid. However, enemies can target and destroy the chopper to cut its assault short.

Dreadnaught

The Dreadnaught is reminiscent of the classic AC-130 streak from previous Call of Duty games. When activated, you take control o??f a heavily armed gunship, equipped with a vast array of explosive weaponry capable of decimating enemies across the battlefield. Unlike most airborne Scorestreaks, the Dreadnaught is immune to small-arms fire and requires multiple lock-on launchers to take down. Even then, its immense firepower and durability make it a presence that is often not genuinely counter-able, even if said counters do exist.

The post All Scorestreaks in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

When does the Astro Bot DLC come out? After being announced for a fall 2024 release, I'm pleased to say that the Astro Bot speedrun levels and new bots are coming... tod??ay. The first wave of fresh content begins now with weekly releases until next month.

Team Asobi's studio director, Nicolas Doucet, surprise-announced the DLC drop date yesterday via the PlayStation Blog. Doucet briefly thanked fans of the game, which launched to stellar praise on September 6, 2024. Today's DLC is the first of many. Expect a new level and t?wo additional bot friends once a week until November 14, 2024.

Here's the release schedule:

• October 17: Building Speed^  
• October 24: Let it Slide 
• October 31: Spring-loaded Run 
• November 7: Helium Heights 
• November 14:^ Rising Heat

Newest Astro Bot speedrun level lets you very quickly take your dog for a walk

The newest level available to play today is Building Speed. The high-flying level requires yo??u to use the power of Barkster, the bulldog boost pack. Building Speed is a massive carwash that includes walls to smash, swinging cranes, bounce pads, and steep drops. Check out the trailer below to see if it's something you want to fly through soon.

The level introduces two new bots for you to add to your crew. Sadly, we won't know what new bots are available just yet �you'll have to play it to find out. The Sony State of Play confirmed Helldiver bots and Eve from Stellar Blade back in September. Over??all, there will be 10 new bots �two per level �to rescue.

The Astro Bot DLC will also be free to all owners of the game. This is great news for those who have done just about everything, from completing levels to rescuing hundreds of bots. Doucet e?nds the blog post by teasing "even more ??surprises coming soon." Astro Bot is so good, that I think I'm fine hearing about even more stuff to check out.

The post Astro Bot is gettin??g its five speedru??n levels and new bots appeared first on Destructoid.

Sony revealed on the PlayStation Blog that the next PlayStation State of Play is set for tomorrow, September 24, at 6 pm EST. The presentation will be streamed on both YouTube and Twitch and will fea?ture more than 20 upcoming PS5 and PS VR 2 titles from studios all ove??r the world.

The last State of Play occurred in May of this year and focused primarily on the ill-fated Concord, taking up over 10 minutes of the roughly half-hour presentation. As for what to expect with this State of Play, Sony hasn't confirmed anything specific but has mentioned over 20 titles will be front and center. It's highly likely we'll see Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered officially announced, and there have been rumors of other Play?Station title remasters in the works.

Surely any remastered announcements will attempt to show off the newly announced PlayStation 5 Pro, and I imagine we'll see a 'Enhanced for PS5? ??Pro' or similar moniker after most of the reveals. You know, marketing stuff.

However, it's always possible that S??ony has kept a top-secret new IP or popular IP game announcement that hasn't leaked yet. It feels like as good a time of ever for Sony to have? an ace up their sleeve, after all.

But if the State of Play is bound to be packed full of remasters, wake me up when Bloodborne Remastered drops.

The upcoming PlayStation State of Play starts at 6 pm EST tomorrow, September 24, and will be live on both YouTube and Twitch.

The post State of Play set for September 24?, featuring over 20 upcoming titles appeared first on Destructoid.

A few days ago, Sony let God of War Ragnarök run free on Steam, nearly two years afte??r its debut on PlayStation 5. However, there's been a bit of contention regarding the publisher's insistence that pl??ayers need a PSN account, even if they don't have the console version. Or even the console itself.

Still, trust the modding community to come to the rescue. As spotted by DSO Gaming, Nexus Mods user iArtorias released an unofficial tool for the game that allows PC users to boot up Ragnarök without having to sign?? up for a PlayStation Networ??k account.

The modder says the download is a "tiny library that fully strips the PlayStation PC SDK runtime requirement," after some players encountered problems with the port of the game. They do make it clear that the mod is not intended to encourage p??iracy, nor does it "touch or modify any original game code."

A quick look at the mod's history demon??strates that it may not be a guaranteed fix for everyone, or at least not a permanent one. A few comments raise issues around sudden curveballs to navigate from Sony, like getting stuck on account linking threads, but iArtoriasUA has since patched the issue. Regardless, as future patches roll out, it's worth noting Sony may introduce or change requireme??nts that could result in modded PC copies getting locked out.

Sony strikes again with its PSN demands

At the time of writing, God of War Ragnarök has a Steam review score of "mixed." Indeed, while a lot of people ??seem pleased with the game, there have been a few comments regarding Sony's PSN account requirement.

This is also not the first time Sony has come under fire for this tactic. Earlier this year, it was announced that those who wanted to play Helldivers 2 on PC would also need to connect up a PlayStation Network account. There was quite the backlash from the community, and Sony eventually backpedaled on the idea.

As for God of War Ragnarök, developer Santa Monica recently published Patch 2, with the update intending to fix some issues with Nvidia Frame Generation and Reflex, as well as tweaks to the UI. You can see the full patch notes here. The developer also recently announced that Ragnarök has been verified on Steam Deck.

Whether Sony will change its mind about PC players having to link to PSN remains to be seen at this stage, but we saw what happened with Helldivers 2. For now, you may have to use iArtorias' mod.

The post God of War Ragnarök mod removes Sony’s PlayStation Network requirement appeared first on Destructoid.

The Bile Titan is akin to the general of the Terminid army in Helldivers 2. It's a massive beast, towering over everything on four tall legs. There are multiple ways to kill the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2, one of which is quick. Sometimes.

The best way to kill a Bile Titan in Helldivers 2 is by turning it to mulch with a powerful Secondary Weapon or Stratagem. Weapons like the EAT-17 and Quasar Cannon do a ton of damage to the hulking monstrosity, especially if you aim at its head �the Bile Titan's primary weak poin??t.

How to kill a Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

It's up for debate how much damage a Bile Titan must take before topp??ling over like a stack of lawn chairs. A couple of shots to? the face with an EAT can do it, but the bug may need more before you can convince it to give up the ghost. No, you can't fire away with the Railgun until its head explodes �not anymore, that is.

As far as Stratagems go, the Bile Titan isn't a fan of the Eagle 500kg Bomb or the Orbital Railgun. The latter is a better idea if you want to go for the kil??l shot, but keep in mind that the Titan may shrug off the first slug. Yes, it's a bit inconsistent. My favorite methods are the 500kg Bomb and the Orbital Laser. Keep in mind that the bomb beacon must be dropped in the Bile Titan's path. You can be smart about it, though.

The best method ??to kill a Bile Titan with an Eagle ??500kg Bomb:

• Get the Bile Titan's attention by shooting it or entering its view
• Allow the Titan to get close and prepare a bile spew
• As it begins the above, drop the beacon under the Titan and run

Helldivers 2: Bile Titan weak points

The Bile Titan is a Heavy enemy and, like the Charger, is coated in a heavy carapace that acts as armor save for a couple of squishy spots. For the Titan, the s?oft, green belly is a smart target for you and? your team to take advantage of, and here's why.

The Bile Titan has two attacks based on distance. When close, the Bile ?Titan will stomp on you with its massive legs. If you're out of reach, it spews a jet stream of green bile that can kill you in seconds. That's why you'll want to target its belly to stop it from firing acid.

Use weapons to inflict damage to its abdomen. The Bile Titan's belly, or its green abdomen, has its own health pool. After damaging it for long enough, you can pop the belly like a water balloon. Doing so will remove the Bile Titan's ability to spew acid. Once the belly is gone, the abdomen gets a second health pool. Depleting its health wi?ll ultimately kill the Bile Titan for good. In other words, you can use contemporary weapons to kill a titan, but you'll need to aim for its soft spot from down below. Watch out for its "feet!"

Best weapons to use on the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

Consider using these Support?? W?eapons to kill the Bile Titan:

• EAT-17
• Quasar Cannon
• Recoilless Rifle
• Autocannon
• Spear
• Commando

Against the Titan's armor, the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank works well. Try it as well as the Quasar Cannon, as they dish out the most damage quickly and ??reliably.

The sleeper hit from this list may be the Arc Thrower. It penetrates armor and can be fired from a considerable distance. The only drawback is that it can result in friendly-??fire killings or prioritize smaller fr??ies beneath it. You'd only want to use this weapon if the Bile Titan is by itself.

Do not use:

• Incendiary Grenade
• Stun Grenade

Do use the Thermite Grenade, which dishes out a staggering 2,000 points of damage. You can stick the grenade to any part of the Bile Titan to harm or kill it, but I suggest aiming for its soft belly. If you can't get a quick kill, you?? can at least remove its long-range attack.

Best Stratagems to use on the Bile Titan in Helldivers 2

The best Strata??gems for killing the Bile Titan ??are:

• Eagle 500kg Bomb
• Orbital Laser
• Orbital Railcannon Strike
• Orbital 380MM HE Barrage
• Rocket Sentry
• Autocannon Sentry
• Patriot Exosuit

Other Stratagems that aren't listed here have reportedly worked for o??ther players, but the ones here have be??en more consistent overall.

You can also take down a Bile Titan using a sentry and some good planning. A Rocket or Autoca??nnon sentry both do work against the beast, but you'll need to drop them well outside of its ac??id range.

The Exosuit mech is equipped with a heavy machine gun and rocket launcher. Three to four blasts with its rockets can take down a Bile Titan with ease. If you're ever in a pinch and need some fast clearing, this glass cannon can ??be just what you need to turn the tide in battle.

Can you kill a Bile Titan with a Hellpod?

Killing a Bile Titan with a Hellpod isn't the best idea unless it has already taken significant damage or has exposed flesh. While the tita??n does take damage, if you don't kill it with that one shot you'll find yourself in acid and leg range. It's a lot to ask from a human cannonball.

What else works against the Bile Titan? Well, for one lucky Helldiver, a Charger is a potent projectile when used properly.

The post Helldivers 2: How to kill a Bile Titan appeared first on Destructoid.

Frozen Meal is the final level that includes a secret Lost Galaxy exit you can unlock in Astro Bot. That'??s right, it's all led up to this. The exit is also quite tricky to find, but mostly for those who never liked to p??lay in the snow.

The Frozen Meal Lost Galaxy exit is available fairly late into? the level. If this is your first attempt, you should already have gathered most of your lost Bot friends and puzzle pieces strewn about. To reach the secret exit, progress until you stumble across a couple of penguins having some fun.

Where to unlock the Frozen Meal Lost Galaxy exit in Astro Bot

Make your way through Frozen Meal until you come across a circular platform with four electrified enemies and two penguins playing with a snowball. You??'ll need to remove the enemi?es before attempting to find the exit.

Once the enemies are?? g??one, head over to the penguins. Try to avoid the urge to destroy all the snow on the ground. You'll need it.

Knock the large snowball away from the penguins so that it lands in the surrounding snow.

Push the snowball around the area to ?g??ather as much snow as possible. You'll notice the snowball growing larger and larger the longer you push it.

Do y??ou see ??the ledge in the shot below? That's where you'll need to go.

To reach the ledge, keep growing the snowball until it reaches its maximum size. Push the snowball to the ledge and use the nearby raised platform to jump on top of it. After reaching the top of the snowball, jump up to the next ledge ?and pull on the wires sticking out of the ground.

Up pops a suction-powered controller, which you must use to vacuum all the ice bricks making the wall nearby.

Once that's done, enter the room. It's ??a s??ecret penguin sauna! And in the center is the disco ball that leads to the Lost Galaxy exit.

Using the exit unlocks the final Lost Galaxy level, Turtles In Trash. I'd like to think this is a play on the classic '90s brawler, TMNT: Turtles in Time. No one will be able to convince me otherwise.

You've done it! That's the last Lost Galaxy exit in Astro Bot. Your journey may not be over yet, though. Be sure to check out our guides on every bot and where to unlock them, how to unlock all costumes, and where to find every one of Odin's ravens in Bot of War.

The post How to unlock Frozen Meal Lost Galaxy i??n Astro Bot appeared first on Destructoid.

The Feather Cluster is filled with some of the toughest challenges yet. It makes sense that the Lost Galaxy exits are a bit tougher to find. If you're trying to unlock the Djinny of the Lamp Lost Galaxy in Astro Bot, you've come to the right place.

Djinny of the Lamp is the first of two levels in the Feather Cluster to host a Lost Galaxy exit. The exit is also the most cleverly disguised compared to the others. At least, th??at's how I feel. Here's a clue: If you're looking for the Djinny exit, it's wis?e to think on your feet.

The Lost Galaxy exit is at the end of the Djinny of the Lamp level. You'll first need to beat the Djinny ??boss battle, leading you to a small arena that includes both exits. Obviously, you'll want to ignore the primary exit. Where we're going i??s much higher.

Where to find the Lost Galaxy exit in Djinny of the Lamp

After you clear the Djinny boss fight, the massive lamp gets stamped down by the level exit �don't take it! Instead, turn around and take a gander at all the expensive-looking, easily breakable pots carefully placed on the stone steps.

Make your way to the top of the steps, and be sure to shatter all the pots for fun and profit. You should notice that the stone slabs at the highest point have runes that glow yellow when stepped on. That's your first clue. Your second clue comes wh?en?? you shatter the last pot at the very top. Watch how the shards "float" in the air.

It's an invisible path! But how do you cross it without falling off? Step out ont?o the invisible platform and look down. Keep an eye on the stone slabs in the dirt. As you walk on the invisible platform, the runes on the slabs glow yellow.

These slabs directl??y clue you in the location of the invisible, floating platforms. Look for them circled around the level exit.

Jump and hover to the nearest floating platform. The next one is too far away, so use your dog-shaped jetpack to reach it.

Hop over to the next platform, and finally make your way onto the nearby ledge. Smack the carpet to unroll it.

Hop onto?? the flying carpet, which will take you to a higher ledge with a pool, a cute elephant, and the Lost Galaxy exit?? ball.

Activ??ating the exit unlocks the secret level, High-Suction Hero.

There are many more Lost Galaxy exits in Astro Bot. Here are our guides on how to find them in Hieroglitch Pyramid, Balloon Breeze, and Bathhouse Battle.

The post How to unlock Djinny of the Lamp Lost Galaxy in Astr??o Bo??t appeared first on Destructoid.

As reported by Eurogamer, Hideaki Nishino, the CEO of PlayStation’s “Platform Business Group,â€?has stated in an interview with Nikkei that consoles will remain a part of the company’s “coreâ€?of their business but says that additional platforms like PC will help it increase ?its share of the game market.

I mean, he would say that, since his job is managing that division and promoting its hardware. However, it has been a bit harder to justify or get excited by new consoles from Sony or Microsoft recently, often because those games can be found elsewhere. However, keeping this in mind, Nishino states (according to Eurogamer’s tr??anslation), “PCs are difficult to set up, but with PlayStation, once you turn it on, you can experience the content you bought straight away."

Kind of! Consoles have certainly strayed away from just jamming a game in and playing it “straight away.�Usually, when I get a game on console, I expect that it’s going to spend some time installing and updating. If you buy digitally, you’ll be spending some time waiting for it to download, and if your internet isn’t speed-of-light, that can take quite a while. But I see his point, and it isn't ?a novel one. PCs take some knowledge and maintenance. It’s easier to explain to my parents how to get a game on their Switch than it is to help them update their GPU drivers. To say otherwise would be disingenuous, even if things seem to be converging.

So, on one hand, bringing their games to PC might get purchases from gamers who don’t care to own a console. On the other hand, some gamers w??ho would have bought a PlayStation for exclusiv?es no longer have a reason to. At the same time, console architecture is becoming less proprietary as the years go on, so porting is less of an issue and not necessarily a major cost.

As it is right now, I still own a PS5, but it’s nowhere near ?as indispensable as my Switch. I don’t mind exclusivity, and I feel a library with a unique personality lends meaning to a console. That’s maybe not important to everyone, but as someone who eats video games every day, I like them to taste a bit different.

At the very least, this means that there are still plans to continue the PlayStation lineage. Just last week, we received news that the PlayStation 5 Pro is on the horizon, offering minor performance gains for a dizzyingly high price tag. At this point, I don’t see the PlayStation 6 announcement coming for a few years, and I’m not conv??inced it ??will be able to justify the price all that well later. I guess what I’m saying is: if Sony wants consoles to remain a “core�part of their business, they should probably have more convincing reasons.

The post Sony exec says consoles will remain the “core” of its business appeared first on Destructoid.

In Astro Bot, you move from level to level via a flying PlayStation 5 controller called a?? Dual Speeder. But did you know you can swap out its skins? You can, but you'll need to unlock the Dual Speeder Garage first.

The Dual Speeder Garage is unlockable in the Crash Site after you collect a specific number of puzzle pieces. You'll need 32 puzzle pieces for the garage, which will appear to the right of the Dual Speeder's landing pad. To be clear, you must unlock the Gatcha Lab first by collecting 16 puzzle pieces hidden in levels.

How to customize your Dual Speeder in the garage

Once you have the Dual Speeder Garage unlocked, all you need to do to swap skins is to enter it and smack some cans of paint.

You'll see your speeder inside the garage, floating in the center. Circling it are small platforms for unlockable paint cans. You start with the default skin color: a clean jacket of white and blue. But how do you g??et more?

How to unlock more skins for your Dual Speeder

You can't get skins for your Dual Speeder until you unlock the garage. Once the latter step is complete, he??ad to the Gatcha Lab and start pulling that crank! With the garage unlocked, toy capsules with Dual Speeder skins will appear. Look for the c??apsules containing bronze balls emblazoned with the PlayStation controller buttons.

Pop the toy capsule op?en to see what skin is unl?ocked.

There are 16 skins for your Dual Speeder (including the default one), but you can only unlock 14 in the Gatcha Lab. You must collect all puzzle pieces and hidden bots for the final skin. Doing so unlocks a ?secret fi??nal challenge. Beat the challenge and the last skin is yours.

The post How to unlock the Dual Speeder Garage and cu??stomize your flying controller in Astro Bot appeared first on Destructoid.

Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series and creator of Kirby, recently shared on his Twitter account that he has been playing and enjoying the new PlayStation 5 hit, Astro Bot. And the development team at Team Asob??i even responded to his kind ??words.

The Super Smash Bros. director appreciates that Astro Bot didn't waste his time

Sakurai claims that he rescued all the 300 bots in the game. He confirmed that this didn't take him much time to achieve, but that the game was interesting enough for him to do it. Furthermore, he even signed off his tweet by explicitly praising Astro Bot, saying it's a "great game".

This tweet was made in response to his most recent YouTube video, in which he explains how important it is for developers to be mindful of the time players are giving them when playing through their games. After all, modern audiences have a variety of different options for things they can do with their free time, and therefore they must feel like their time investment must be worthwhile. He kept this philosophy in mind when he developed Super Smash Bros. and, with this new tweet, Sakurai seems to pose Astro Bot as an example of a ??good game that doesn't waste any ?time.

Team Asobi, the developer behind Astro Bot, responded on its official Twitter/X account to Sakurai, and said: "Dear Sakurai-san, thank you so much for taking the time to play Astro Bot! Love from Team ASOBI".

Twitter users responded positively to this exchange, with many of them even asking Sakurai to add Astro Bot as a playable fighter in a future installment of Super Smash Bros.

The parallels between Super Smash Bros. and Astro Bot are evident??, since both titles work as gigantic celebrations of not only their console brands (Nintendo and PlayStation respectively), b??ut also of the gaming industry as a whole, thanks to the inclusion of many third-party IPs.

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There are many secrets within Astro Bot, and they're all worth seeking out. Among those are hidden Lost Galaxy exits found in two levels in each gal??axy. Hieroglitch Pyramid in Camo Cosmos is one such level, and it?? hides a Lost Galaxy exit so well, that you'd think you missed it.

Hieroglitch Pyramid is one of the tougher levels in Astro Bot. It challenges you to survive an ancient Egyptian-inspired labyrinth filled with enemies and deadly traps. You're given the metal ball ability partway through the level.?? You'll need it to not only make it to t?he end but to find the Lost Galaxy exit once you get there.

Hieroglitch Pyramid Lost Galaxy exit location in Astro Bot

Yes, you read that right: The Hieroglitch Pyramid Lost Galaxy exit is right at the end of the level. You may be surprised, but it's not ?the only level to hide the secret exit near the end. If you've scoured the level from top to bottom in frustration, here is your relief.

Your first step is to make it to the level's end. The final stretch has you rolling down in metal ball form, navigating over ??moving blocks with spikes alongside a flowing cascade of precious jewels.

The level exit is just beyond, where a shower of jewels rains from the ceiling. But don't be tempted; we're here for better treasure. Look for the platform near the back-right wall. Hop over to it and then navig?ate to the ledge nearby.

You can use your spin attack to clear the jewels and reveal a hidden chamber hidden by some flimsy wooden planks.

Jump and? use your metal ball ability to break through the boards and activate the jump p??ad below.

The pad sends you up to a hidden area. Y?ou should know what to d??o here: Locate the button to take down the wall.

But wait, ??it's a final trap! That figures. Take down the two approaching walls using the same ??method as above.

On?ce that's done, the Lost Galaxy exit is yours to claim.

The exit unlo??????????????????????????cks the secret level Rocket Pull Power!

There are many more Lost Galaxy exits hidden in Astro Bot. Be sure to check out our guides for Bathhouse Battle, Downsize Surprise, Go-Go Archipelago, and Balloon Breeze.

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Two levels per galaxy in Astro Bot contain a secret exit to a level in the Lost Galaxy. For the most part, they can be tricky to find. The Lost Galaxy exit in Balloon Breeze easily falls under this category, because unlocking ??it takes a bit of awareness.

You prob?ably cleared Balloon Breeze before realizing you missed the Lost Galaxy exit completely. Just know that you're not alone. I was moments before the end of the stage when I had to stop and scratch my head. Where the hell did I miss the exit? My friends, it was quite a while a?go.

Balloon Breeze Lost Galaxy exit location in Astro Bot

The Lost Galaxy exit is near the start of Balloon Breeze. If you're near the end of the stage, it's best to finish and start again. Thankfully, y??ou won't have far to go.

Make progress on the stage until you reach the part with the ladybug robot. Knock the ladybug upside down ?and bonk it toward the platform's edge near the pink flow?er.

As before, reach the pink flower and wait for Big Brother to show up with the balloon ability. Take it and turn around. Do you see what appears to be a large, flying potted plant? That's where we need to go.

Next, return to the ladybug. This time, turn it over and bonk it to the edge closest to the flying potted plant.

Use the ??ladybug as a jump pad and, at the heig?ht of your jump, activate the balloon and float to the flying pot.

Use your spin attack to clear the flower petals. Activate the spinning switch and a hidden island will ascend from the clouds. Again, activate your float abi??lity to reach the new island.

Press the butto??n to activate a shuriken-tossing controller. Use it to cut down the cluster of bamboo in the center.

Once that's done, jump onto the platform that was hidden by the bamboo. Use your jump jets and circle the robotic face, turning the gray rectangles blue.

When all the lights are blue, the Lost Galaxy disco ball appears. Pull down on?? its wires to reveal the secret exit.

The Lost Galaxy exit unlocks the Danger Dojo level of Astro Bot. If you like shooting shuriken at things, thi??s level is made for y?ou.

There are plenty more Lost Galaxy exits to unlock in Astro Bot. Be sure to check out our guides for Bathhouse Battle, Downsize Surprise, and Go-Go Archipelago.

The post How to unl?ock Balloon Breeze Lost Galaxy in?? Astro Bot appeared first on Destructoid.

The Bathhouse Battle level in Astro Bot contains an exit that unlocks a Lost Galaxy, but it's?? one of the trickier locations to track down. In this case, it's ?wise to keep your eyes glued to the sky.

The Lost Galaxy exit is found not long after you pass the bamboo wall and use the large slide. It'll lead you to a large space with?? enemies, a bot to rescue, and a puzzle piece to collect.

Steps to unlock the Bathhouse Battle Lost Galaxy in Astro Bot

Your first ??step to locate the Lost Galaxy exit is to?? activate the faucet and get the water running. You'll need to do this by destroying the enemies and activating the spinning wheel. Soak up the water to become Astro Bot, the sponge kaiju, and spray the nearby wall of yellow sponges.

Now, climb the sponges to the top and look for the bath to your right. Th?e water in the bath is used to continue the level, but we're going somewhere else first. Do you see the smokestack on the roof across the way? That's our destination.

While soaked with water, walk along the top of the nearby roof while moving toward the smokestack. Jump and use your boosters to reach the island with the large torii gate. Yes, you can still jum??p and hover while being about 1,000 pounds of adorable sponge.

Climb the nearby cherry tree and use your sponge power's ability to shoot water and douse the smokestack. When the? fire is put out, jump and use your boosters to reach the top of the stack and go down.

Congrats! You made it to the Lost Galaxy exit. Didn't I say it was a bit tricky? You may need to kill the enemy in the room, or you'll have to go through the above steps all over again. If you change your mind and want to leave, press the nearby power button to spawn a jump p??ad.

Taking the exit unlocks the level Furnace Fever. W?hile I won't spoil anything, fans of FromSoftware should give the fiery stage a look as soon as?? they're able.

There are plenty more Lost Galaxy exits to find in Astro Bot. Be sure to check out our guides on how to find Lost Galaxies in Downsize Surprise, Go-Go Archipelago, and Az-Tech Trail.

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Downsize Surprise is a standout level in Astro Bot. Or, at least I feel that way. The level, found in the Tentacle System, gives you the power to shrink down for some pint-sized mayhem. Downsize Surprise also has a Lost Galaxy to unlock in Astro Bot, and here's how.

Like w??ith some other levels, Downs??ize Surprise gives Astro a new ability. In this case, it's being able to shrink down and become a robo-mouse to navigate through small environments. Considering how often you'll find yourself squirreling away in these areas, hopping over moving gears, or sneaking into bedrooms, you'd think the Lost Galaxy exit would be in a mouse hole of some type. You'd be wrong.

Where to find and unlock the Downsize Surprise Lost Galaxy exit in Astro Bot

Don't be alarmed, but there's a pretty good chance you would have been able to find the particularly sneaky Downsize Surprise exit if you were a bit more patient. You can find the exit not long after the aforementioned bedroom. ?Leave the room and shrink down to climb a nearby tree.

Once you're on top, use your jump boost las??ers to blast through a protective glass barrier over a fan to the left.

Shrink to mouse form and ride the gust of air to the next ??platform. As y?ou approach the frog, it'll turn around and begin blowing bubbles. Hop on a bubble and ride it skyward.

Now, here's the fun bit. Most players will likely hop off the bubble, enter the cage? to rescue the robot, and then leave. But if you stay on the bubble just a bit longer, it'll bring you to a branch just above the cage.

Hop onto the branch before the bubble bursts. Use your booster to get to the next branch and press the power button to activate the Lost Galaxy?? exit portal.

See? Patience pays off. (Please don't point out t??hat I used the bird. We all need help sometimes.)

The exit unlocks the Boxel Bust-Up?? level in the Lost Galaxy. It contains two puzzle pieces and five bots, three of which are VIPs.

If you're looking for more Lost Galaxies, we're here to help. Check out our guides on how to find Lost Galaxy exits in the Go-Go Archipelago, Az-Tech Trail, and Creamy Canyon.

The post How to unlock? Downsize Surprise Lost Galaxy in Astro Bot appeared first on Destructoid.

Astro Bot is chock full of references and secrets, and those?? two can align in some cases. While playing, you get a chance to do as Kr??atos does. No, I don't mean yelling at Atreus. You can track down eight of Odin's ravens in Bot of War, and here's how.

Bot of War is the last level you need to finish in the second galaxy of Astro Bot, called the Tentacle Syst??em. After the boss is gone, travel to the new location for a chilly reception.

The first raven is a gimme. But before you can start hunting down the res??t, you'll need to meet the bot facsimiles of Kratos and Atreus. Once you get your hands on the Leviathan Axe and gain its power, it's time to take it for a spin.

All locations of Odin's ravens in Astro Bot - Bot of War

You destroy the ravens in much the same way you could in God of War. Fling the Leviathan Axe a?t a target using the right trigger. Press the b??utton again to recall it to your hand. When you're close enough to a raven, you should see a target reticle appear. Hit the trigger to knock the feathered foe from its perch.

Raven 1

The first hidden raven can be claimed right at the start of Bot of War when you're flying into the level. You can see the raven on top of the stone pillar sticking out of the water just befor??e the entrance.

Raven 2

The second raven is a bit more hidden than the last. T??o find it, use the Leviathan Axe to destroy a block of ice to the left of the giant, yellow head. It reveals a jump pad you can take to get to the top of the giant's dome. Once you're up there, rescue the ThrĂşd bot and turn around. The raven is standing at the end of a wooden walkway.

Raven 3

The third raven can be found soon after the last. Tightrope across the water and look for the raven perched on a led??ge to the left of the massive, ornate door.

Raven 4

From the fourth ?raven, head left and shatter the ice to reveal some wires. Pull up the wires for the massive horn, which calls Jörmungandr. Use the jump pad to get onto the giant snake. After getting the Thor bot, look toward the ic??e wall in front of you and take out the raven at the top.

Raven 5

To th?e right of the large, ornate door is Chaurli, the giant tortoise featured in the first God of War game. Hop down to its island and pull the lever to flip the dog and reveal the Freya bot. Standing on the tortoise, look for the raven perched on the structure nearby.

Raven 6

Head through the door (at last) and find the sixth raven resting along the ice wall to the left of?? the next entran??ce.

Raven 7

After destroying the sixth ra??ven, look to your right for a block of ice you can destroy with the axe. Doing so reveals a jump pad. Take it and hold forward while attacking to shred through destructible ice walls.

Beyond the walls, you'll find a tree with the ravens you've knocked out so far perched in its branches. To the left is a mural of all the ravens in the level, with the ones you've destroyed outlined in green. After beating the nearby enemies, kill the nearby raven that head-napped Mimir. It's flying arou?nd the tree.

Raven 8

The next raven won't appear until after you knock over th?e massive Mjolnir statue. Look for the raven hidin?g just behind it.

Don't forget to grab the puzzle piece just? below.

Your reward for destroying all of Odin's ravens in Bot of War

With that, you've at last blinded Odin to your adorable doings. But what do you get for your reckless disregard for spectral avian life? Completing your task rewards you with the trophy, Eyes of the All-Father. There are plenty more where that came from.

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Sony kicked off the PS5 Technical Presentation? with Mark Cerny by jumping right into the announcement of the PS5 Pro. Cerny then took some time to talk about how cool the PS?5 is.

He then talks about how developers want higher framerates than 60fps. Or especially higher than 30fps. Apparently, players choose Performance over Fidelity three-qua??????????????????????????rters of the time. I tend to swap between the two, depending on the game. The framerate thing seems to be the focus of the presentation.

When going over the hardware, Cerny says that it will have a ??67% "larger" GPU with 28% faster RAM that apparently renders at 45% faster. It improves Ray Tracing speeds. It is also implementing AI Upscaling (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, as they call it). T?hey showed a few games running on both systems and how it improves the framerate without cutting down on the appearance of the game.

Color me unimpressed. I can see the difference, sure, but it doesn’t seem all that dramatic. The presentation really pushed the framerate thing. I like higher framerates, but this feels like worse value t??han I’d get by upgrading my GPU, which, to be fair, could cost about as much as the PS5 Pro. The upgraded visuals seem pretty miniscule for the price they’re asking. There's also no disc drive, so you'd be paying extra for that. F?or the deep-pocketed enthusiast, I suppose.

If you’re into it, it’s going to set you back $699. For me, I could barely afford the base model. I'll probably skip on the upgrade. Un??less you want to gift it to me.

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Astro Bot is drawing in a giant crowd on the PS5, which is great news for PlayStation aside from one detail: Gamers are seeing just how bad their?? DualSense’s stick drift is.

As hype for Astro Bot has drummed up, quite a few people have decided to finally make their way through Astro’s Playroom. @CoreyHikari on X shares that the title “is a great way to see your stick drift.�A lot of gamers seem to agree, including one who noticed how awful his drift was after hitting the crash site in Astro Bot. In this way, the Astro games are a bit of a double-edged sword.

Got drift?

Everyone seems to be having a blast playing through Astro Bot. However, if your DualSense controller is busted, it may put a damper on things. One of the biggest features of the Astro Bot games is finding unique ways to emphasize that controller. Critics are finding it to be one of the most charming aspects of the game. Astro Bot offers a spin on motion controls and player interaction that other games on the PS5? simply haven’t implemented. For the simplest of sequences, the controller and any inputs are on full display. Entering and exiting a level on the DualSense Glider shows off everything the controller has going on.

For people who have burned through a lot of games with their controllers, the wonder that this can bring out might be lost. Some gamers have quote-reposted @CoreyHikari’s post discussing the severity of their own stick drift. Others mentioned it alongside Nintendo’s Joy-Con drift problem. Some feel as though they have never noticed drift this much until this generation (Anyone still rocking a GameCube controller for Smash Bros gameplay may be able to testify that ??this isn’t a new problem). 

Will drift ever get fixed?

Perhaps one reason players are so caught off guard is because of the money and presentation that goes into these controllers. As of September 2024, a fresh pair of Joy-Cons or a brand-new DualSense will run you approximately $70 in most places. Nintendo and PlayStation both heavily advertised the advanced nature of these products as their respective consoles were introduced. It feels kind of like a slap in the face that something so premium might be so faulty. Sony doesn’t appear to have it nearly as bad as Nintendo yet. Nintendo has been taken to court over the matter, and the issue has gotten so bad the company has been offering free JoyCon r?epairs. Whether Sony gets to that point depends on how soon it handles the issue.

For some, the fix is the DualSense Edge, which allows stick modules to be swapped. For other systems, companies like 8BitDo offer hall-effect controllers. Hall-effect employs magnets for stick sensors with the aim of eliminating drift. This could be the standard in the future, but right now, hall-effect joys??ticks just seem to make things more expensive. Whether Sony and Nintendo take care of their growing drift problem is up to them. Still, it would help endear the gamers who recognize how much pricier it can make the hobby.

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Over the years, I've been watching Astro Bot's career with interest. The series had humble tec??h demo origins, and now, it's a full-on mascot platformer.

This little bot has a lot of potential, and n?ow with a full game under its wing, developer Team Asobi has managed to knock it ou??t of the park �and then some.

Astro Bot (PS5 [Reviewed])
Developer: Team Asobi
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: September 6, 2024
MSRP: $59.99

Astro Bot may go the traditional "level select" platformer route, but there's a lot under the hood as you continue through the roughly 10-hour core adventure. I'm not going to spoil basically anything from said adventure, including all of the cameos, Sony homage levels, and challenge-esque bonus stages, so don't worry about that. No need to fear: Astro Bot is far more than just? cameos and Easter eggs. It stands on its own as a breezy, and occasionally challenging platformer.

The general flow, and wordless setup, will be very familiar for those of you who orbit this genre (especially Mario, and specifically Mario Galaxy, which this takes a few cues from). Astro Bot is just minding their own business when poof, a big bad shows up and wrecks their ship. It's up to them to assemble a crew of robots (the main collectible in the game) to fix the downed craft, then take off for a final confrontation. Along the way, all of the bots you pick up (which range from regular old NPCs to deep-cut cameos) w??ill be hanging out in the hub, which also serves as a way for players to change costumes, find secrets, and generally hang out.

The hub is straight-up adorable. You can lightly interact with the unique bots you've saved, all of wh??om sequester themselves with folks from the same franchise. Every half an hour or so, I'd find myself going back to the hub just to see what they were getting up to, and buy them more goodies with the game's core currency, gold.

You can go back to the hub at any time through the game's world map screen, which houses a few secrets of its own, amid a host of optional and required levels, all capped off by a boss fight in each zone. It's a cute way to add a little more agency to a rote-level select concept, and the secrets aren't so esoteric that you'll be pixel-searching. Again, Astro Bot is all abo??ut ease of play, baked right int??o its DNA.

As the titular hero, Astro Bot has all of their old tricks at their disposal, which consists of two core moves: a punch/spin, and a double jump/hover mechanic that also shoots lasers out of their boots to damage enemies. The game does a lot with just these two concepts, and you do not need any prior fra??nchise knowledge ?to pick it up and play.

Where Astro Bot really brings out the big guns is with the individual levels themselves. Most (but not all) h??ave a fleeting power-up gimmick, like a chicken robot that serves as a vertical jetpack, or a pair of frog boxing gloves that are linked to L2 and R2 ??for left and right-hand punches, respectively. It also houses one of the best "shrinking mechanic" levels I've ever played.

Because Astro Bot rarely lingers on one single mechanic, I found myself wanting to dive into optional levels on a constant basis. The game offers a constant sense of discovery, within the levels themselves and as a central tenet of its design. Of course, the levels look lovely, and expand upon what was offered with the pack-in for the PS5??'s launch.

Although I wouldn't say that the DualSense functionality is a selling point, it does still feel incredibly snappy to control Astro Bot itself, and the little sounds and haptic feedback are once again tied to whatever te?rrain you're stomping around on. This creates a cacophony of sound, especially as I was blasting the game's catchy soundtrack.

Astro Bot is also completely reasonable when it comes to divulging its secrets. If you're missing one bot, puzzle piece, or warp from a stage, you can go back in, get that missing link, and quit immediately: you'll keep that collectible without having to finish the level. You can even dive back into a level you've already completed, and buy a power-up for 200 coins that helps you sniff out those last remnants you need to 100% a world. It's very, very, chill, which gels perfectly with the general tone of Astro Bot.

?If you're a platforming fiend, you'll probably be 100%ing the game either way, and that'll take roughly 15 hours to hit everything (again, the story is around 10 hours; less if you're looking to rush through). At no point did I ever feel like it overstayed its welcome, and for this review in particular, I e??nded up snagging 260/300 collectible bots (FYI, you need 200 to fight the final boss and finish the game properly). I'm going for the Platinum this week, and free DLC aimed at "speedrunners" has been teased for later this year.

Astro Bot on PS5 feels like the culmination of every Team Asobi project before it. Given how many mascots Sony has lost over the years (this game's constant cameos certainly reminded me of that!), I'm completely on board with them adopting ?the little bot as their new face. They've earned ??it.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Astro Bot (2024) appeared first on Destructoid.

Players have never been able to offer too much detail in terms of reviews on the P??layStation Store, but that may be about to change.

In a Reddit post (first reported by Eurogamer), user cusman78 noticed he was able to add a written review for Helldivers II.

When did PlayStation start allowing written reviews? Seems to only be allowed for few?? games on their store pages for now.
byu/cusman78 inplaystation

Users in the comments got together and realized cusman78 wasn't alone. It seems PlayStation has been offering select fans the opportunity to leave written user reviews on the PlayStation Store.

Previously, users were only able to leave a rating of 1-5 stars on a game. However, the inability to add detail to a review has been missing for y??ears, despite platforms like Steam and the Xbox Store including the option for years.

As of this writing, it's an incredibly specific number of people who are able to tackle reviews. Based on the comments on the ?Reddit post, it sounds like players are chosen by how many hours they've spent with a game rather than outright ownership.

The other caveat is ownership, as it seems reviews are only being allowed for users with digital copies. As one player explained, they received an invite to review Final Fantasy VII Rebirth but were unable to leave a ???review as they owned a physical copy of the game.

It's a good first step towards a little more transparency around game reviews, which sounds crucial given how hot-button the PlayStation Store has been recently. Helldivers II made headlines when it was review bombed following controversy regarding PSN Accounts. Allowing (or even requiring) added context will make it easier to understand those rev??iews or explain why a game was review bombed in the months and years to follow to unaware gamers.

The reviews as they are aren't perfect, though. The reviews don't display how much time a user has spent in a game, which can be a huge detriment. After all, you wouldn't give the same weight to the opinion of someone who spent 10 hours in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as someone who spent over 100 hours, would you?

Reviews are rolling out on an invite-only basis at this time, with invites being sent to the e-mail associated with the PlayStation Store account. PlayStation itself has not mentioned or announced the Reviews program as of this writing, so there's no indication as to when? the feature will be more widely available.

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As the August 15 release of the 1.2 update for Wuthering Waves approaches, excitement among players has long been building. There have been rumors about whether the PS5 version of the game might launch alongside the nearing update, thanks to its official announcement.

Will Version 1.2 bring Wuthering Waves to PS5?

While the PS5 version of Wuthering Waves has been officially announced, there’s no confirmed release date for it in conjunction with the 1.2 upda??te set?? to launch on August 15.

The speculation surrounding the PS5 release is fueled by the timing of the 1.2 update, along with the official announcement of a PS5 release. There's a natural assumption that the PS5 version might launch simultaneously with it, given the high demand for Wuthering Waves thanks to its increasing popularity.

However, it's important to approach these rumors and speculations with a healthy dose of skepticism. While the speculation certainly can be intriguing to entertain, they are not confirmed facts. Until Kuro Games provides an official announcement on the matter, th?ese discussions remain no more than rumor mill.

It's always best to wait for direct u?pdates from the developers to get accurate ??and reliable information. The best course of action is to stay tuned to the official Wuthering Waves channels and developer updates for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

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If? you've suddenly found yourself unable to log into your PlayStation account on PS4 or PS5, don't worry, you're not the only one. Sony has put out a notice warning people that the PlayStation Network is experiencing some issues, which are also affecting online games and the PlayStation Store.

According to Sony's website, the issues began at around 7:46 a.m. PT / 10:46 a.m. ET / 3:46 p.m. BST. So, if you were planning on buying any digital games or enjoying some online multiplayer, you unfortunately have to forgo those plans until Sony??'s fixed things.

Not everyone seems to be affected, though. I've just been testing it myself and things are working fine on my end. However, there are reports online from those who can confirm the network?'s gone down for them. At the time of writing, Sony doesn't have an ETA for when things will be resolved, only saying it will be done "as soon as possible" and asking PlayStation users be patient.

As for what specifically is being affected, the network issues mean you may not be able to sign into or manage your account, launch certain games, accessing PlayStation Video content, or buy products off the ?PlayStation Store. Hopefully, you've got some offline games that don't require an internet connection to play while you pass the time. If you decide to go do something else rather than use your PlayStation while the network's down, it is worth keeping an eye on social media for any notice from Sony or other players about the network coming back online.

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In Helldivers 2, you need all the help you can get. Weapons and Stratagems can help you stay alive, but you have one other upgrade worth taking for a ride. Boosters are passive buffs in Helldivers 2, so be sure ??your team picks the best one?s before the drop.

There are eleven Boosters you can unlock and equip in Helldivers 2. Each applies a useful passive b?uff to you and your team. The best Boosters enhance survivability, though some may find choices subjective. But after playing for roughly 120 hours, I've found there are some Boosters that Helldiver teams are unable to be without.

You unlock Boosters by spending Warbond Medals in Warbonds, the game's take on season passes. The free Warbond, Helldivers Mobilize, includes six Boosters. There are five Premium Warbonds, each with one Booster to unlock, purchasable using Super Credits. The premium currency can either be farmed in-game or purchased for real-life cash.

Best Boosters in Helldivers 2 for team play

The best Boosters in Helldivers 2 are typically those that diver teams simply shoul??d not leave behind on their Super?? Destroyer ships.

These three are the best Boosters in the game, and shoul?d be considered for every mission:

• Hellpod Space Optimization (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • Players come out of their Hellpods fully stocked on ammo, grenades, and stims.

• Vitality Enhancement (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • Lets you resist injury better.

• Stamina Enhancement (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • Stamina capacity and recovery are increased.

You can have up to four Boosters equipped (based on how many players are in a match), which means we have room for one more on the list. Generally, the fourth Booster can be whatever fits your team dynamic or any planetary hazard you may experience.

Here are my picks, starting with the free option:

• Muscle Enhancement (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • Available in the free Warbond, Muscle Enhancement allows you to power through tough terrain such as bushes and mud.

• Experimental Infusion (Viper Commandos Premium Warbond)

  • This Booster increases movement speed and damage reduction when using a Stim, perfect for getting out of hairy situations.

• Localized Confusion (Cutting Edge Premium Warbond)

  • If you want to reduce the number of patrols your team runs into, consider this Booster.

Best Boosters for Helldivers 2 solo play

If you're running solo, chances are you will try and avoid most combat situations. In th?at case, here are the Boosters I'd recommend taking:

• Stamina Enhancement (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • This Booster gives you more stamina for long-distance running while also buffing its recovery speed.

• UAV Recon Booster (Helldivers Mobilize Warbond)

  • The Recon Booster increases the range of your radar, allowing you to take in more of your surroundings.

Best Boosters to unlock first

The best Boosters you should get first in Helldivers 2 are Hellpod Space Optimization and Vitality Enhancement. It also just so happens that both are the earliest ones you can unlock. And for good reason. Ammo and gren??ades can be found on the field, but Hellpod Space Optimization makes it so you don't need to scramble if you're called in during a scrap. Speaking of scrap, Vitality Enhancement can help you survive killing blows from enemies or keep you alive longer.

Don't sleep on the Muscle Enhancement Booster! It does let you climb more easily, sure. But you can also traverse over snow and through mud and water with greater ease �perfect for wet or snowy planets. If you're running away from a Charger, don't let anything slow you down.

Boosters are not consumable items in Helldivers 2

Boosters are not consumable items in Helldivers 2, so please do not sit on them. They're not health potions. You don't need to save them until "you need them" and then finish the game fully stocked. Boosters can be used over and over again. The effects don't st?ack, but a teammate can't pick one that's already applied anyway.

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The PlayStation VR 2 headset ??launched in February 2023 and, in the roughly 16 months since, it's been on the market, Sony has put out barely any first-party games for it. And whenever the topic of VR has come up during a State of Play, it's mostly been to announce third-party games. It's easy to assume that Sony has already given up on supporting the headset and, according to a new report, it sounds like that's precis??ely what's happened.

The report comes from Android Central, whose anonymous sources allege Sony is cutting funding for VR game development, with only two such projects currently in development. No exact details? about the games were shared, but if this is accurate, it speaks volumes to how little faith Sony has in the headset's future. This could also mean Sony won't develop any further VR hardware.

PSVR 2 owners can rely on third-party developers for new games, such as Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro Awakening, but I have to imagine anyone who spent $550 on the headset at launch must be feeling burnt by the distinct lack of exclusives. Aside from launch title Horizon Call of the Mountain and the VR mode for Gran Turismo 7, the only other Sony published VR title was Firewall Ultra from First Contact Entertainment, and that studio was sadly shut down just five months later.

In December 2023, Sony had admitted the VR space was "a challenging category," but assured the PSVR 2 was selling well. However, a Bloomberg report from this past March claimed Sony was struggling to push its backlog of stock, prompting it to put production on hold. Combined with Sony shutting down its PlayStation London studio a month earlier, which was focused on creating more VR titles, and the writing has clearly been on the wall for a while. At this rate, it's questionable whether those ?two in-developm??ent VR games may even see the light of day.

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One of the things that makes Minecraft so popular and accessible is its many ports to mu?ltiple?? systems. It even made its way to ChromeOS and Apple TV. However, for some reason, there's never been a native version of the game on PlayStation 5. Until now, that is.

As of yesterday, Mojang Studios has made its gaming behemoth Minecraft available on the console, although it is just a preview for now. In a recent post on the official website, the developer invites people to check out the PS5 version, which you can access if you have it for PS4 by "navi??gating to 'Settings' and then 'Preview' within the game."

Quite why it's taken this long to roll out a current-gen version of it on t??he Sony system is not clear, but it’s here now, and you can enjoy all the same benefits as the Xbox Series port. Well, almost all the benefits.

What you can and can't do in the PS5 version of Minecraft

Even though it's just a preview so far, you'll still get access to Minecraft in its entirety. However, there are some things you won't have until the final release. For example, Mojang says while there is multiplayer in the PS5 versio?n, there's no cross-play, except with the PS4?. Also, for obvious reasons, you can't play this port on previous-gen hardware.

However, you can cross-play if you use Realms �the subscription-based servers for Minecraft �which is available on the PlayStation 5 preview. But you don't have access to the Minecraft Store currently, though you will get the new "T??ricky Trials Update" with the download.

Essentially, this is a testing ground for running the game natively on the PS5, which is something the studio does quite often. As such, this particular build is likely to be "unstable" and "not representative of the final version quality." With these previews, players are encouraged to send feedback and submit bug reports to the developer. As for when the full version will be getting a? release, there's no word on that ??yet.

Still pulling in millions of players after all this time, Minecraft recently celebrated its 15th birthday. I still remember the first time I played it, not long after it went into beta. It's been quite the trajectory for the sandbox game that went from a single person's passion project to dominating the video gaming landscape for the better part of a decade. Maybe its popular??????????????????????????ity has waned slightly over the years, but I? will always find myself back in its blocky world from time to time.

The post What ??you need to know about the native PS5 version of?? Minecraft appeared first on Destructoid.

Stratagems are powerful tools in Helldivers 2, but you'r??e typically limited to four per mission. But if yo??u're fortunate, you may be able to up that count. The SEAF Artillery found on a map adds an extra Stratagem to the mix, but it works best when you choose the right payload.

There are multiple payload variants. The best payload options you can use for the SEAF Artillery can be based on preference, but it also depends on the difficulty and enemy type in Helldivers 2. If you're against bugs, tossing down a napalm strike to defend points is ideal. But when fighting Automatons, a calculated EMF strike is wiser. For high-level missions, you can pick smoke to cover your re?treat. Both factions die to explosives, though, and those are likely the ones you want to know ?about the most.

The SEAF Artillery counts as a Secondary Objective, which means it?? can spawn randomly on some maps. It can also appear regardless of the enemy faction, so bugs and bots will feel its fury. The weapon, once activated, will give you an extra Stratagem to use in the fight for Liberty and Justice. It's a good idea to load it up with payloads to prep it for war. The payloads are large munitions found around the artillery and must be manually loaded into the gun.

How to pick the best payload for the SEAF Artillery in Helldivers 2

In my experience, newer players of the game tend to grab whatever payload they find and load it up without knowing what it can do. I did the same until I started paying attention. The SEAF Artillery is powerful, no?t just because it makes kickass explosions, but because you can change how it functions with different payloads.

To find the best payload you want with the SEAF Artillery, approach a warhead and read the description that appears. It shows next to the button or key required to ??pick the payload off the ground. The type appears like this: "SEAF ARTILLERY: [PAYLOAD TYPE]". If you want napalm, look for "SEAF ARTILLERY: NAPALM", etc.

There are six types of payloads for the SEAF Artillery, which are differentiated by color??. They are all capped with cones, making them more akin to spicy crayons.

All SEAF Artillery payloads and appearance:

• Mini-Nuke

  • Yellow cone

• Explosive

  • Green cone

• High-Yield Explosive (like the Eagle 500kg)

  • Orange cone

• Napalm

  • Red cone

• Smoke

  • Gray cone

• Static Field

  • Blue cone

How to load and fire the SEAF Artillery in Helldivers 2

Loading the SEAF Artillery and firing it in Helldivers 2 is a simple eno??ugh affair. First, you can locate and access the terminal to power up the gun. Fully loaded, the weapon takes fi??ve shells you can find scattered around its proximity.

You can only move one pay??load at a time. Pick up a payload using the button or key prompt and carry it to the breech at the gun's base. Press the button again near the loading section of the breech, and you'll load the shell. Once you have all five loaded, return to the terminal to activate the artillery.

You use the SEAF Artillery just as you would any other Stratagem in Helldivers 2. Open up the Strata??gem menu, where you should see its name and icon with the number '5', showing it's fully loaded and ready.

Tips and tricks:

• Drop and pick up the payload as you make your way to the gun to move more quickly
• Don't activate the terminal until you have all five payloads, since that can cause enemy attacks
• The load order is the firing order, so if you want to shoot a Mini-Nuke first, put it in the first spot
• The location of the strike will tell you the payload type before it drops
• Look around the artillery for ammo and samples

That's about all you need to know on how to pick the best payload for the SEAF Artillery in Helldivers 2. It's a powerful stratagem??, so activating it during a mission is?? almost always worth the effort.

Can you use the SEAF Artillery in Helldivers 2 after the Destroyer leaves orbit?

The SEAF Artillery can be used as a Stratagem option even after the mission timer hits zero and the Destroyer Ship departs. You may have lost access to your Destroyer Stratagems, but the Artillery will never let you down. Keep that in mind if you feel a mission is running a little t??oo long. It'll be a good idea to get the gun working just in case things go awry. The SEAF Artillery will also still work while near Stratagem jammers or in Ion Storms.

The post Helldivers 2: How to choose the best payload?? for th?e SEAF Artillery appeared first on Destructoid.

Sony is bringing its PlayStation VR2 headset to PC gamers, as an adap??ter for the headset is set to arr?ive for PC on August 7, 2024.

The PS VR2 headset was?? originally released for the PlayStation 5, but Sony is now expanding its functionalit??y to make it possible for PC players to play VR games using the headset adapter.

The company has mentioned in the official PlayStation Blog that it built the PS VR2 from “the ground up specifically for PS5�which is why some features that are present on the PS5 will be missing on PC. These features include the absence of HDR, h??eadset feedback, adaptive triggers, eye tracking, and haptic feedback (except rumbling).

However, features ??such as 4K resolution, 110-degree field of view, see-through v?iew, finger touch detection, 3D Audio, and foveated rendering without eye tracking will be present for PC.

The PC adapter for PS VR2 will be sold for $59.99 in the US, and users will also need a DisplayPort ?1.4 cable to use the headset for PC, sold separately.

PS VR2 minimum requirements for PC

Sony has also listed the minimum PC requirements for the PS VR2 to run. Here’s the mini??mum PC requirement??s for the PS VR2:

How to set up PlayStation VR2 on PC

Players have to simply connect the PlayStation ?VR2 to their PC via the new PS VR2 PC adapter and a DisplayPort 1.4 cable. To play VR games on Steam, players have to download the SteamVR app from Steam, and they also have to download the PlayStation VR2 app for PC.

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PlayStation's unofficial mascot, at least in my eyes, is back for his own big adventure. Astro Bot is a fully fledged new game starring th?e rambunctious little bot, and it arrives on PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2024.

Previously starring in games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission for Sony's VR headset and in the fantastic launch title Astro's Playroom for the PS5, Astro Bot gives Team Asobi's little fella ??a game all his own. Granted, it looks like he'll still b?e platforming around, meeting famous Sony characters, and utilizing PlayStation tech from throughout the console lineup's history.

We can expect more than 50 worlds to explore, which is a substantial amount of Astro Bot to dig into. But if it remains as charming and fun as the previous games, this might be a big-hitter f??or Sony. At least in today's trailer, shown off during the Sony State of Play, we can see plenty of fun levels and interesting gameplay moments, including flying a giant PlayStation 5 into space.

It will have to carry the weight either way, as today's State of Play was a little short on other major Sony reveals. Concord feels like it's already off to a rough start after its official unveiling, and other games felt like they only got small updates, with several major games like Monster Hunter Wilds still aiming for 2025 rather than 2024.

I believe in Astro Bot, though. He's quickly become a favorite face of min?e in the Sony roster, and this new entry looks delightful. If nothing else, I have a hopefully solid platformer to look forward to on Septem??ber 6.

The post Astro Bot gets a brand-new mission in a self-titled ?adventure this September appeared first on Destructoid.

While the specifics of the issue are still unclear, it seems a very significant chunk of Destiny 2: The Final Shape has leaked ahead? of its June 4 release date. The leak is rapidly spreading all over the internet, so I advise caution if you're spoiler-averse.

Notably, it appears that a strange issue with Sony's PlayStation 5 streaming services allowed some users to access a pre-release build of The Final Shape. It doesn't seem that there have been any major story leaks, which is good news, but the gear has been all but entirely leaked due to all the new stuff popping up via the Collections interface. This means that if you'd like to enjoy the process of discovery at your own pace on June 4, you're going to want to avoid most of the usual online Destiny discussion hotspots, ??as screenshots and videos are being posted virtually all over the place already.

Avoid the usual Destiny 2 discussion boards to steer clear of The Final Shape leaks

The particularly alarming bit, in my book, is that Raid loot seems to have leaked alongside all the usual stuff (i.e. regular DLC loot, seasonal gear, etc.), and the featured descriptions can help deduce what some of The Final Shape's hotly anticipated narrative beats might be. Further, Ra?id mods, too, seem to have been spotted, and particularly well-informed and clever players could use these during the Raid Race to figure out? the event's mechanics.

This could be catastrophic for The Final Shape's Raid scene. Historically, Destiny 2's Raid Race events have always been the highlights of their respective content releases, as they invigorate the community and bring everyone together to figure out what's what and how the new endgame content functions in practice. Having what is practically a leaked cheat sheet around is a huge issue, especially considering just how important The Final Shape is for Destiny at large.

It doesn't seem that any of the actual lore and cutscenes have leaked out, thankfully. Those players who managed to accidentally access the testing server had to create an all-new character, which meant they couldn't immediately start progressing through The Final Shape's story. Still, I recommend extreme caution if you don't want spoilers for The Final Shape, and the u??pcomin??g seasonal release, Echo. It's just better to stay on the safe side of things when it comes to such situations, really.

Whatever the case may be, Bungie may decide to chime in on the situation as part of today's TWID blog post. With The Final Shape coming out next Tuesday, this leak is bo?und to be a hot topic for the next couple of days, so stay on your toes.

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