Every good gaming console needs a solid catalog of exclusives to keep it going. Why else would you buy the console? So it’s no surprise that with the PlayStation 5 Pro on the way, ??players are looking to see what exclusives they can play on it. 

Despite being out for nearly ?four years now, the PS5 only has a handful o??f exclusive titles in its library. If you’re looking for all of them to see if any of your must-haves are on the list, we’re here to provide.

All Exclusive Titles on PS5

The PS5 has a grand total of 17 exclusives available on the pl??atform, that you can't play on any other console or PC. Here are all of them, in alphabetical order:

Astro Bot

• Release Date: September 6, 2024
• Developer: Team Asobi

Astro’s Playroom

• Release Date: November 12, 2020
• Developer: Team Asobi

Demon’s Souls

• Release Date: November 12, 2020
• Developer: Japan Studio & Bluepoint Games

Destruction All-Stars

• Release Date: February 2, 2021
• Developer: Lucid Games

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

• Release Date: February 29. 2024
• Developer: Square Enix

The Last of Us Part II Remastered

• Release Date: January 19, 2024
• Developer: Naughty Dog

Neptunia ReVerse

• Release Date: June 8, 2021
• Developer: Compile Heart

Project Wingman: Frontline 59

• Release Date: November 3, 2023
• Developer: Humble Games

Quantum Error

• Release Date: November 3, 2023
• Developer: TeamKill Media

R-Type Final 3 Evolved 

• Release Date: April 27, 2023
• Developer: NIS America

Rise of the Ronin

• Release Date: March 22, 2024
• Developer: Team Ninja

Silent Hill: The Short Message

• Release Date: January 31, 2024
• Developer: Konami

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

• Release Date: October 20, 2023
• Developer: Insomniac Games

Stellar Blade

• Release Date: April 26, 2024
• Developer: Shift Up

PS5 Exclusives with VR2

These titles are currently avai??????????????????????????lable on the PS5 but require the VR2 virtual reality headset to play. These in?clude:

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

• Release Date: March 16, 2023
• Developer: Supermassive Games

Horizon Call of the Mountain

• Release Date: February 22, 2023
• Developer: Guerrilla Games & Firesprite

Synapse

• Release Date: July 3, 2023
• Developer: nDreams

All in all, this makes for a total of 17 exclusives for the PS5 that you can't play anywhere else. A grand majority of the games available on the PS5, however, are also playable on the previous generation console, the PS4 including some of the best PlayStation games. Some games are even on oth??er platforms as well, including PC??, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Luckily, there are a handful of upcoming releases that will add to this list and give PlayStation loyalists something to look forward to. We hope that Sony will continue to add more to the libra??ry to make the PS5 really worth it.

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HBO has tapped Jeffrey Wright to reprise his in-game role of Isaac in The Last of Us Season 2. He's not the first actor to return to the?? same role they had in the video game, bu?t it's a pleasing trend to see the series continuing nonetheless.

Wright played Isaac Dixon in The Last of Us Part II, which launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2020. Isaac, for those who may not recall, is the leader of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). The group st??ands opposite another in-game faction, the Seraphites, often referred to as "Scars." Both groups were antagonistic forces to Ellie and her allies, with the cultish Scars being particularly brutal.

Wright returns to reprise his role from the game

In the game, the WLF made the decaying ruins of Seattle its home turf. Battles between the group and the Seraphites raged on until the two managed a shaky truce. Abby, the deuteragonist of the game, was part of the WLF. If the show fo??llows along with the events of the game, we'll likely see the WLF and its calculating lea?der not long after Seattle gets thrown under the spotlight.

As mentioned, Wright certainly isn't the first actor to join The Last of Us series as the character they portrayed in the game. Merle Dandridge reprised her role as Marlene, the Firefly commander who tasked Joel to transport Ellie in The Last of Us Part I. Both Troy Baker, who voiced Joel in the game, and Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie, also made an appearance i?n the first season but not as their characters.

Wright will appear alongside Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who return as Joel and Ellie, respect??ively. They will also be joined by Catherine O'Hara in an unknown role.

The Last of Us Season 2 doesn't hav??e a premiere date ye??t, but is scheduled to arrive on HBO and Max in 2025.

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Bring out the red carpet, because Moira Rose has entered Jackson. The second season of HBO’s The Last of Us has ca?st Emmy-winning comedy actress Catherine O’Hara in a m??ysterious role.

The news, tweeted by Max, is the fourth major casting for the new season. Just last month, they cast Booksmart’s Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Beef‘s Young Mazino as Jesse, and Superman: Legacy’s Isabela Merced as Dina.

Funny enough, while appearing for Argylle with co-star Bryan Cranston on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, a call-in fan asked about her involvement. She responds “How do you know these things?�and genuinely looks concerned, like she lost Kevin again. She later says that “her son’s a set dresser on the show...so I get to see him, too.�/p>

The video game adaptation, starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), recently won eight Creative Emmys. It was also nominated for five Primetime Emmy awards, including Best Drama. The show was a massive hit for HBO and fans alike. This new season is expected to adapt The Last of Us Part II, released in 2020 to critical praise.

Who is Catherine O'Hara playing in The Last of Us Season 2?

DanielRPK previously teased on his Patreon that Catherine O’Hara was in talks to star as an original character named Gail. There is no character by that name in The Last of Us Part II, meaning this could be an original character, like Marlon and Florence, or a reworked character, similar to how the first season fleshed out Bill's husband, Frank. It's also possible Gail isn't the character's actual name (or that DanielRPK just got it wrong, so take?? it with a grain of salt).

Catherine O’Hara is a pretty interesting choice for a post-apocalyptic drama show given her comedy background. Many know the 69-year-old actress from her roles in the first two Home Alone films as Kate McCallister and her Emmy-winning performance as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020). She’s done other projects like Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, but nothing like this. 

Despite that, I’m excited to see how it goes. Comedy actor Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation) won for his role as Bill in The Last of Us. Who’s to say Catherine won’t get an??other Emmy und??er her belt?

Season two of The Last of Us is scheduled to film later this year and release sometime next year. If you need something Last of Us related to hold you over, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is out on PlayStation 5 and includes a making-of documentary.

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The Last of Us Part II's about to be seen in a whole new way. Grounded 2, a making-of documentary for The Last of Us Part II, premieres next week.

In a post on Naughty Dog's Twitter, the studio confirms the new documentary arrives on February 2. It's a follow-up to Grounded, the making-of for the first Last of Us, and will head to both YouTube and in-game for those who own The Last of Us: Part II Remastered.

The documentary premieres at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET for those?? waiting on the YouTube uploa?d.

Hitting the ground running

As I used to study Game Design (and will pay monthly for around 10 years), I've been interested in behind-the-scenes of the game industry for a while. In fact, one of my favorite documentaries is Raising Kratos by PlayStation and Santa Monica. Can't get more geeky t??han that.

I remember watching the first Grounded documentary when I finished The Last of Us Remastered for the first time. It was amazing seeing how a simple idea can become as big as the original did. I did watch it again before The Last of Us Part II's release, so to have a new documentary for Part II is kind of exciting, personally.

The Last of Us Part II is having its moment in the spotlight after its release in 2020. While met with some controversy, the game went home with dozens of Game of the Year awards. Meanwhile, the Emmy-winning HBO show is going onto its second season, which is set to adapt the sequel, and growing out its main cast for characters Abby, Jesse, and Dina.

Just last week, The Last of Us Part II got the remaster treatment for PlayStation 5. Our own Smangaliso Simelane rated the game a 9, saying in his review: "Nevertheless, it manages to not only justify itself but also gives the most seasoned veterans something new to experience." It's a great time to be a Last of Us fan?. Just, don't watch it if you want to be blissful in ignorance of what happens in the sequel. Hate to see someone watch it and find out about the golfing incident.

Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part II will be released in-game within The Last of Us Part II: Remastered and to YouTube on February 2?? at 9 am PT/12 pm ET.

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

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

All new The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features

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

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

You also get the following gun skins:

• Astronaut
• Giraffe
• Moth

When it comes to Abby, the follow??ing skins are available:

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

Abby also gets the following weapons skins:

• Zebra
• Eighties
• Wolf Weapon Skin

Technical improvements

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

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

No Return in The Last of Us Part 2

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

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

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

Guitar Free Play

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

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

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

Lost Levels

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

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

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

Behind the Scenes

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

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

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

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

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Another lead in The Last of Us Part II has been cast for its TV adaptation. The second season of HBO’s The Last of Us has found its Dina in Instant Family’s Isabela Merced.

The news, tweeted by Max and Naughty Dog, is the third casting for the new season in the past few days. The first was Booksmart’s Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and soon after, Beef's Young Mazino as Jesse.

Creators Neil Druckmann and showrunner/director Craig Mazin talked about Merced and Dina with Variety, saying "Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous, and instantly lovable. You can search forever for an actor who effortlessl?y embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away. We couldn’t be prouder t?o have her join our family."

The video game adaptation, starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), is fresh off winning eight Creative Emmys and is nominated for five main Primetime Emmy awards, including Best Drama. The show was a massive hit for HBO and fans alike. This new season is expected to adapt the events of The Last of Us Part II, which was released in 2020 to critical praise.

Dina, according to an official description by Variety, is said to be “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.�Shannon Woodward (Westworld) voiced the role for the game, while Cascina Caradonna was the face model. The?? character plays a ??huge role in the sequel, as a romantic interest for both Ellie and Jesse.

Making Things Click

Isabela Merced is a pretty big actress, if her resume is anything to go by. Breaking onto the scene with films like Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Transformers: The Last Knight, her title role in Dora and the Lost City of Gold shot her to stardom. Now, one can find her appearing in some big franchises in the future, like Alien (Alien: Romulus) DC (Superman: Legacy), and Spider-Man (Madame Web).

With such a busy schedule, it's impressive tha?t Merced is doing this big a role while filming franchise titles. I, for one, can't wait to see her take on a character as deep and strong as Dina.

Season two of The Last of Us is scheduled to film later this year and release sometime next year. Odds are, with HBO's cadence of casting announcements, there's probably still more to come. If you want to refresh yourself on Dina’s part in the games, The Last of Us Part II Remastered arrives for PS5 next week on January 19.

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Another actor has been cast for the next season of The Last of Us. HBO's adaptation of the Naughty Dog series has found its Jesse in Beef’s Young Mazino.

The news, tweeted by Max and Naughty Dog, comes a day after Booksmart’s Kaitlyn Dever was c??ast as antagonist and dual protagonist Abby.

Creators Neil Druckmann and showrunner/director Craig Mazin confirmed Young Mazino's casting via Variety, saying "Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately? undeniable the moment you see him. We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show."

The video game adaptation, starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), is fresh off eight Creative Emmy wins and is nominated for five main Primetime Emmy awards, including Best Drama. The show was a massive hit for HBO and fans alike. This new season is expected to adapt the events of The Last of Us Part II, which was released in 2020 to critical praise.

Jesse, according to an official description by Variety, is said to be "a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost." His role in the game, which was played by Stephen Chang (Bosch: Legacy), was the leader of the Jackson patrol troops, and the on-again/off-again lo?ve interest of Dina.

Breaking Out

Young Mazino is a relatively new actor, starting in 2013 and doing small roles in New Amsterdam and Blue Bloods. His big break came with the 2023 Netflix acclaimed limited series Beef as Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead)’s brother Paul Cho. He’s currently nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding S??upporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role, alongside his co-star Joseph Lee.

I have yet to see Beef, though it is high up there considering it's been dominating the Miniseries category at awards shows thus far. Taking a chance on promising actors is always a win in my book. With that, Young Mazino seems like a great choice to play Jesse, a personal favorite of mine in The Last of Us Part II.

Season two of The Last of Us is scheduled to film later this year and release sometime next year. With HBO announcing t?wo roles in quick succession, I have a hunch we might hear more about other roles soon too.

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HBO's The Last of Us has found its Abby. Kaitlyn Dever, of Booksmart and Dopesick, will play the Part II lead in Season 2 of The Last of Us.

Naughty Dog and HBO confirmed the news on Twitter. She was previously rumored to play the character, but now ?it’s official that?? Dever will take on the role.

The Last of Us, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, is fresh off eight Creative Emmy wins and is nominated for five main Primetime Emmy awards, including Best Drama. The show was a massive hit for HBO and fans alike.

Speaking on the casting to Variety, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said, “Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material. Nothing matters more than talent and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella, and the rest of our family.�/p>

Abby is the dual protagonist and main antagonist in The Last of Us Part II, which HBO will adapt with its second season. Once a Firefly, the death of her father set her on the road for revenge as a Wolf. Laura Bailey (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2) was the actor for Abby in the video game The Last of Us Part II, garnering her a Best Performance award at the The Game Awards 2020.

Brains and Brawn

Kaitlyn is a very inspired choice for the second protagonist/main antagonist of The Last of Us sequel. She’s a big up-and-coming actress whose biggest roles include her Emmy-nominated role as Betsy in the mini-series Dopesick. Many people might know her as the dual protagonist in Olivia Wilde’s coming-of-age comedy Booksmart, which was one of the funniest films I’ve seen in recent years. Recently, she starred in the Hulu-exclusive alien film No One Will Save You.

Funny enough, this isn’t her first time working with Naughty Dog. Spoiler alert for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, but she actually?? played Nathan and Elena’s daugh??ter, Cassie. Furthermore, when The Last of Us was in the movie stages, ?creator Neil Druckmann in a Hollywood Reporter interview revealed Kaityln was among the actresses who table read for the role of Ellie, alongside Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).

The Last of Us Season 2 is scheduled to film later this year and release sometime next year. If you want to refresh yourself on Abby's journey, The Last of Us Part II Remastered arrives for PS5 next week on January 19.

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HBO’s The Last of Us, based on the hit 2013 Naughty Dog game, has been burning up the awards season. Case in point, the show won eight awards during last night’s Creative Emmys Awards, beating immensely popular shows like Succession and The White Lotus in several categories. 

Chief among those wins are two in acting: Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) won for his role as Bill in “Long, Long Time� beating out his on-screen boyfriend Frank, played by Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus). Meanwhile, Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time) as Riley for “Left Behind� overcoming Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) and Anna Torv (Fringe).

Other wins The Last of Us received were Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, and Outstanding Special Visual Effects, just to name a few. The show was nominated 24 times this year for the Emmys, which is ?extremely high for a new ??show. 

Nick Offerman and Storm Reid win big for The Last of Us

Speaking on his win, four-time Emmy nominee Nick Offerman said: “We would not be doing anything but standing around with our thumbs up our asses if Craig Mazin (the showrunner) hadn’t ??written the most beautiful script I’ve ever been handed.� Bill, in both versions, is a friend of Tess who survived, for the most part, by himself. That is until Frank, another survivor, shows up in his life and gives it meaning. The show does an excellent job with the portrayal and adds tons of layers to their relationship and character development. It's one of, in my opinion, the best episodes of any show last year.

Storm Reid, a first-time Emmy nominee, was very humbled by her win, saying “This is proof you can do anything. I’m just a young girl from Atlanta, Georgia.�Reid's character, Riley, is a friend of Ellie's in the compound. The DLC for the original Last of Us, Left Behind (also the title of the episode), goes further with her and ??Ellie's characters via a visit to an abandoned mall. Even more so, it revealed that the two had a relationship, though it didn't end well. She gave an incredible performance that captured the nuances of Riley and her relationship with Bella Ramsey's Ellie.

Keep Going, Baby Girl!

The Last Of Us shocked many fans in that it was just an extremely good video game adaptation. Not only did it take what Naughty Dog created and adapt it, but it went above and beyond to create some of the best TV this decade. A second season is currently in development with hopes to release next year. 

The outlook for The Last of Us is extremely positive for the Primetime Emmys next week on Ja??nuary 15. The show is nominated for Outstanding Writing, Directing, Actor (Pedro Pascal/Joel), Actress (Bella Ramsey/Ellie), and Drama Series. 

In the gaming world, The Last of Us Part II is releasing a Remastered version on January 19. Players can access new modes, such as Lost Levels and No Return. All in all, it’s a pretty good time to be a Last of Us fan. Well, unless you’re a multiplayer fan.

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

Another Code: Recollection (Switch)

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

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

The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Honorable mentions

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

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

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

It’s time to put the words of Savage Starlight to the test. Naughty Dog and PlayStation have released a new trailer for The Last of Us Part II Remastered, previewing the newest mode: No Return.

The mode, announced alongside the remaster’s reveal, features roguelike mechanics within the world and gameplay of The Last of Us. Players will endure and survive different stages? full of various enemies like clickers, soldiers, and even that disgusting Rat K??ing from the Sewers level. However, if you die, you have to start from the beginning of your run. 

For the first time in the series, No Return lets you play as different characters outside of the base Ellie and Abby. You want to play as Tommy? Go for it. Lev? Absolutely. All of the characte?rs have unique traits that’ll help you on your run. For example, Dina is a crafter, having access to recipes for stun bombs and trap mines. And yes, you can change their outfits if ?you desire.

The stages are randomized, so no two playthroughs will be alike. You’ll need to adapt to your situation and defeat all enemies or ?complete the stated objective to proceed. Along the way, you can upgrade your weaponry to suit the stage. As you’ll be dying a lot, as seen plenty during the trailer, you’ll be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t.?? Gameplay modifiers can be used to create a unique and exhilarating run, so even seasoned players can sweat a bit.

Making Things Click

To be honest, I don't have much experience with roguelikes. Though I've played Hades and Dead Cells and thoroughly enjoyed them, I haven't played enough to call myself an expert. However, No Return does look like it’ll be a fun take on Naughty Dog’s already great gameplay and one I might get into. Plus, its delivery does seem to separate itself from the typical roguelike with its classic TLoU gunpla??y. It’ll be interesting to see how it feels when you’re act??ually playing it.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a re-release of the critically acclaimed 2020 PS4 game of the same name. Taking place after the events of the first, we follow Ellie and newcomer Abby on their separate journeys for revenge and survival. This remastered version comes with unreleased levels (labeled Lost Levels) and boasts even better graphics. While it does feel a bit too soon for it, the recent success of HBO’s adaptation of the game shows you can never have too much of The Last of Us.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is scheduled to release on January 19, 2024, to PS?5.

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We recently learned that The Last of Us Part 2 is on the way for the PS5, and it'll bring plenty of new content for return players. A new post on the PlayStation Store shows a little more of what we can expect fro??m the remaster.

As previously announced, the remaster will feature early development versions of levels that were cut from the fina?l game. There'll also be hours of commentary from developers available to help you learn more about the world Naughty Dog created. The new post gives us the names of the new levels: Sewers, Jackson Party, and Boar Hunt.

Dataminers had previously discovered that the Jackson dance was supposed to be a playable section of the game, though it never made the final cut. Naughty Dog'?s Neil Druckmann had prev??iously discussed a boar-hunting segment of?? the game that was scrapped for the sake of pacing.

It was supposed to feature Dina and Ellie hunting, and it was meant to show Ellie being unab?le to let go of killing the boar. According to Druckmann, this was "part of her dealing with her PTSD." During the boar's dying moments, Ellie hears Joel's screams.

Old game, new features

The remaster will take advantage of the PS5's power to bring you reduced loading times and an unlocked framerate option for TVs that support VRR. You'll also get visual enhancements, including native 4K output in Fidelity Mode and 1440p upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode. Additional improvements include "increased texture resolution, increased Level-of-Detail distances, impr?oved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and more."

New details regarding the roguelike survival mode have also been revealed. This mode will have you taking on randomized encounters? that end with a boss battle. You'll have several gameplay modifiers available, and you'll be able to play as various members of the cast, including Dina, Jesse, Lev, Tommy, and more. These playable characters will have different traits to match differing playstyles, and there'll be unlockable skins for them. The?re are also new unlockable skins for Ellie and Abby.

The photo mode has been beefed up with new features such as "dynamic lig?hting, Frame Forward, and Gaze Direction, as well as new frame and logo options." Perhaps most excitingly, the game will have full DualSense support. Hence, you'll be able to enjoy haptic feedback as well as adaptive triggers "to allow every weapon to feel distinct."

The announcement of a remastered version of The Last of Us Part 2 hasn't been celebrated by everyone, with some calling it a cash grab. Fortu?nately??, if you own the original version, you'll be able to upgrade for $10.

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After rumors hinting at its existence bounced around, it's starting to look more like we're getting The Last of Us Part II Remastered.

[UPDATE: Since publishing this story, Naughty Dog announced on social media that a The Last of Us Part II remaster will launch on PlayStation 5. Players who own the game on PS4 can ??upgrade ??to this new version for $10.

[Our original story follows]

Reports of a native PS5 version of The Last of Us Part II were going around, and now, PS Deals has caught a listing for The Last of Us Part II Remastered. These details were soon followed by Insider Gaming, which?? posted a report saying the PS5 remaster would arr?ive on January 19, 2024. A trailer was also included, which also showed that date.

As of this writing, The Last of Us Part II Remastered hasn't been officially confirmed ??by Naughty Dog or Sony.

The cycle repeats

According to the listing from PS Deals, this PS5 version of the The Last of Us Part II will get graphical improvements, including 4K at Fidelity Mode. Improved loading times and full Dua?lSense controller integration is also i??n the cards.

What's really interesting in this leak is "No Return," a roguelike survival mode where the player will reportedly be able to pick from several characters within the TLOU universe to play as. They'll attempt to survive through different environments, eventually culminating in boss battles. And apparently, we'll see never-before-playable The Last of Us characters here too. Sounds like a Naughty Dog take on Resident Evil's Mercenaries, to me.

The Deals listing also reports ??a Lost Levels feature, showing three early-development versions of levels not seen in the original game, a free-play mode for the guitar with additional unlockable instruments, and a Speedrun mode. Of course, more unlockable cosmetics will be featured as well.

Again, no official word's out yet, but it looks pretty certain we're getting one of these. I'm pretty ambivalent to the prospect of playing (and paying for) The Last of Us Part II again, as a 2024 remaster for a 2020 game feels steeper than the last time. A roguelike mode has me intrig?ued, but we'll see if that's enough to sway interest.

The post The Last of Us Part II Re??mastered reportedly set for January 2024 [Update: Confirmed] appeared first on Destructoid.

Neil Druckmann is expected to appear live to receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 2024 New York Game Awards.

The award is given to video game industry figures and organizations that have "exhibited a significant, sustained body of work that shows exceptional artistic achievement and innovation." Druckmann's impact on gaming is easy to see. Games like The Last of Us have become generation-defining titles, and with every release, he continues to push the limits of cinematic gameplay and ??storytelling.

His career trajecto??ry has also been an impre??ssive one. As the president and founder of the New York Video Game Critics Circle Harold Goldberg explains, Druckmann "worked his way from an internship all the way up to being a co-president at Naughty Dog."

Goldberg also compliments ??Druckmann for his ability to "create characters that represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives." The executive director of NYVGCC, Ryan O’Callaghan, also sings the Naughty Dog co-president's praises, commending him for his talent for expanding the reach of the gaming industry and captivating audiences through his studio's gaming catalog and its film and TV adaptations.

The New York Game Awards

The first New York Game Awards was hosted in 2012, and it has since grown into a large event with even former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé joining the board of directors. At the previous award ceremony, hosted at the SVA Theatre, Elden Ring won the Big Apple Award for Game of the Yea??r, while Xbox's Phil Spencer won the Andre??w Yoon Legend Award.

It is a great honor to receive the Andrew Yoon award, as it is named after the former Joystiq edit?or and indie creator who met an untimely death. Other past recipients include Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, and id Software co??-founder John Romero.

In an interview with Goldberg, Druckmann expresses gratitude for the a??ward, though he also admits it makes him feel somewhat uncomfortable. This is because the video game industry is so collaborative that having one person singled out makes him feel weird.

The gaming world waits with bated breath to see what Naughty Dog will churn out next. If reports are correct, we could be seeing a PS5 version of The Last of Us Part 2 soon.

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As reports of a second season of The Last of Us circulate, there is also word that a native PS5 version of The Last of Us Part 2 may be on the way.

The news comes from PlayStation dataminer @PlayStationSize who posted a somewhat cryptic Tweet featuring the Naughty Dog sequel. Industry Insider's Tom Henderson contacted the account and confirmed that "the tweet refers to The Last of Us Part II as a native ver??sion being added to the PlayStation database."

This seems to align with what game composer Gustavo Santaolalla previ?ously hinted at in an interview with BLENDER. In the interview, he also claimed that in the PS5 version players would be able to interact with his character an?d make him pl??ay music.

Naughty Dog hasn't forgotten about The Last of Us

As fans already know, The Last of Us Part 2 received a free PS5 patch that unlocked 60FPS gameplay and much shorter loading times. A native PS5 version could bring further improvements, including a higher resolution. It could also introduce some of the PS5's features such as adaptive triggers, the console's Tempest 3D audio, and some of the accessibility features present in The Last of Us Part 1.

The timing feels intentional, as the game could do a good job of drumming up interest in the franchise in the lead-up to the second season of ??the television series that is set to air in 2025. If the first game is anything to go by, there?? could also be a PC port ??on the way.

This isn't the only The Last of Us project you can look forward to. Fans have been waiting so long for The Last of Us Part 2's multiplayer counterpart that many have begun to believe it has been scrapped. Fortunately, Naughty Dog's Vinit Agarwal ??has confirm?ed that work is still being done on the game.

You should remember that the native PS5 version has yet to be officially announced by the studio. With The Game Awards coming up on December 7, there'll be an opportunity for Naughty Dog to address the? gaming world if it wishes?? to.

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Naughty Dog has been pretty quiet on the gaming front this year, though the HBO series continues to be popular. According to Production List, filming for season 2 is scheduled to begin on J?anuary 7 next year.

Like the prior one, season 2 will be filmed in Canada. Production List has Craig Mazin and Nau??????????????????????????ghty Dog's Neil Druckmann returning as producers and writers. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey also return, presumably reprising their roles as Joel and Ellie respectively.

What to expect from season 2 of The Last of Us

The upcoming season will be split into two parts. This makes sense for anyone familiar with The Last of Us Part 2. In a prior interview with Deadline, Mazin also discusses how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes affected work. When it struck, they w??ere in the middle of scriptwriting, b?ut that had to be put on hold.

They had gotten pretty far already, and Mazin was able to "write and submit the first episode right before the deadline hit." According to Mazin, the next season of The Last of Us ?is scheduled to air in 2025, though nothing is certain yet. D?espite the setback, he still really wants "to try and get this show on the air when it’s supposed to be on the air."

Mazin also gives hope that the ser??ies wo?n't end with the second season. There are already ideas being tossed around, and he is adamant that the "show will not end with Season 2 unless people don’t watch it and we’ll get canceled."

Many franchise fans have also been waiting for the multiplayer counterpart of The Last of Us Part 2 to launch. For a while, it seemed like the project had been scrapped but Naughty Dog game director Vinit Ag?arwal has co??nfirmed he's still working on it.

The post Filming for The Last of Us ????season 2 begins early 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

A bit of a blunder, it seems

When it released in 2020, reviews for The Last of Us: Part 2 were favorable, with particular high praise for its bold sto??rytelling. However, if there's one major criticism, it's that Naughty Dog's lauded series has been exclusive ??to the PlayStation.

True that the remake of the first game, The Last of Us: Part 1, did come to PC earlier th??is year, but its glaring issues were a sight for sore eyes. But something may be happening with the sequel, and the cat may have been let out of the proverbial bag by the game's composer.

In a recent interview with the YouTube channel BLENDER, Gustavo Santaolalla, who did the music for both TLoU entries, may have accidentally let slip that a new version of The Last of Us: Part 2 is on the horizon. During one section, one of the hosts expresses their delight that the composer makes a cameo in Part 2.

Santaolalla then says, perhaps without thinking, that in the "new editions," via ResetEra, players will be able to interact with his character. More specifically, they can make him play some s?pecific music. That section of ?the interview takes place around the 1:36:20 mark.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb34hYjJ-Wk&t=5779s

Wait, what?

Immediately after this, Santaolalla then says that he can't tell the interviewers anything. It sounds like some information about a new version of The Last of Us: Part 2 may have been acci??dentally leaked by someone who worked on the? game.

What this could mean is anyone's guess. Obviously, we can't say for certain what, if anything, he was referring to. Though it's hard to see it as anything other than something maybe being on the horizon for Part 2.

It's unlikely to be a remaster seeing as the game is only three years old, so a PC port or director's cut could be a possibility. That's just speculation, though. Nothing offici??al has been said at the time of writing.

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A surprising whoopsie in the ongoing court case

Currently, Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are embroiled in court hearings, over the former's attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard. Xbox competitor Sony has also been part of the proceedings. And Sony has accidentally let some budgets info slip about Horizon Forbidden West and The Last of Us Part 2.

As spotted by outlets like The Verge, Sony submitted a document with redactions. This is a common practice; companies will redact important fina??ncial data on these findings. However, it looks like the redaction didn't hold so well. After scanning the document, numbers appeared visible.

These numbers aren't quite shots in the dark (rather shots taken through Sharpie) but other outlets' and our own best guesses at the numbers behind the marks are that Horizon Forbidden West clocked in at $212 million to develop, with a staff of over 300. The Last of Us Part 2, meanwhile, came in at roughly $220 million to make, with roughly 200 employees at peak headcount. It also seems to reveal that, according to Sony, 1 million PlayStation players only play Call of Duty.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxDWGW7Z67I

The cost of making games

This came from a section of Sony's documents, emphasizing the availability of high-quality games on their first-choice console. The argument is that if Sony doesn't have access to the best games, as they're all on Xbox, then most ??people will choose Xbox.

Heari?ng about these data points on budgets from Sony is fascinating, as it de-mystifies the numbers around making some of the big?gest games in the industry. Though, I do think Sony would've preferred the data didn't get out.

We'll likely get more info as more people take the stand in this hearing, and possibly get closer to a decision on whether Activision Blizzard will become a new arm of Xbox or not. Much like the Apple-Epic court case, though, it could prove to be qu??ite an illuminating period of discovery.

The post Sony? acci?dentally reveals budgets for Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us Part 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

What if Bella Ramsey played Ellie in The Last of Us Part II?

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like The Last of Us Part II, or Naughty Dog at the very least, have managed to stay in the news cycle since the sequel's release back in 2020. Of course, this is in large part due to the fact that HBO's adaptation of the series is coming up in less than a week now, and conversations about the televised take on the first game have been swirling for months. As a long time mega fan of the series, I'll have a lot of feelings to parse through once it's finally out, but until then, I can focus on the fun that's popping up around the series right now, like this mod that makes Ellie in The Last of Us Part II look exactly like Bella Ramsey, who is portraying the beloved character in HBO's live action ve??rsion.

The project was actually a collaboration between two different fans �a modder by the name of Vontadeh modeled out Ramsey's face and put it onto Ellie's character model, while another modder who goes by smasher248 created tools to implement the model into the game. The video showing off the duo's work was compiled by a YouTuber called Speclizer??, an?d it's pretty amazing to see this mod in action. Based on what little knowledge I have about 3D sculpting, rigging, and animation, it's no small feat to seamlessly blend a face into a game that looks passable, let alone good, especially when using a real person for reference.

//youtu.be/4QFxenhILr4

According to a pinned comment on the video from Von??tadeh, the process involved sculpting Ramsey's face over Ellie's neutral expression, and while they admit to some weirdness going on when Ellie shows some more extreme emotions, I'm still insanely impressed with what they were able to accomplish. Vontadeh also stated that "this was a mod made with care and out of love and respect" for Naughty Dog, the support studios who helped make the games, and Bella [Ramsey].

I think this team did an amazing job of showing off their love for the series, and are certainly keeping fans buzzing as we hone in on the show's January 15, 2023 premiere date. I know I for one am looking forward to s?eeing Ramsey's ta??ke on one of gaming's most iconic roles.

[Featured Image via HBO]

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I'm tired, y'all

I've played a lot of The Last of Us in my life. The first one was incredibly formative for me, and became the reason I work in games now. My hyperfixation with it took over my life for a good year, and in that time I ended up playing it seven or eight times, starting it over again after I finished it. My love for TLOU is what brought me across the country to live in Los Angeles, and eventually landed me a job at Naughty Dog doing QA for The Last of Us Part II, which I platinumed about a half dozen times wh??il?e I worked there.

The series has continued to be at the forefront of the games industry nearly a decade after its beginnings, for better and for worse. The first game is one of the best examples of interactive storytelling we have, and certainly my favorite, and I have to assume that its continued relevance has led many new players to experience its story for the first ??time �that I'm thankful for. Even so, it's not ideal to have too much of a good thing, which is something the games industry knows well.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lrzr_1pW_c

If you haven't heard the news about the newly released The Last of Us Part I (a title I begrudgingly use for the original game only because it's the official name of this version), you might be living under a rock. In case you've decided to go all Patrick Star on us, I'll quickly break it down �Naughty Dog released a new version of The Last of Us that was?? "rebuilt from the ground up" for the PS5, which includes enhanced graphics, gameplay, and quality of life changes. It's also the first time the series is available on PC.

At this point, sharing the fact that I don't want to play the game again as its rereleased Part I version feels pretty stale. All of our timelines are flooded with takes, both hot and cold, about TLOU, a?nd here ??I am adding to the heaping pile. In all honesty, it's because I'm so close to it, I can't help myself.

When all of the controversy surrounding Part II hit, I was already eating, sleepin??g, and breathing the game for over six months, having end?less discussions about it not only as a fan, but as someone who poured their heart and soul into helping refine it. About a year ago, I finally reached a point where I don't feel like I can engage with it at all anymore �I've simply talked myself out.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/v8r8e7/??heres_your_remake_bro/

Part of the exhaustion, which I know others are ??feeling as well, is that we can't escape it. Between the new rerelease and the upcoming HBO adaptation, it's impossible to avoid the conversations surrounding the series in the games space. Naughty Dog doesn't seem to want us to forget.

We've seen other instances of studios wheeling out old favorites for the sheer fact that it'll still sell (looking at you, Bethesda and Rockstar), and now, because TLOU has barely left the public consciousness for going on a decade, everyone? feels some type of way about it. Whether that reaction is to roll your eyes or defend the games to your grave or anything in between, I understand it all.

I am so biased about this topic in so many ways. Every detail of the original is really i??mportant to me �every frame is burned into my brain. It sounds silly, but ?even the slightest change of a camera angle or color grading feels sacrilegious to me.

After being disillusioned by the games industry (something pretty much every developer goes through at some point, unfortunately), the first Last of Us game remains sacred to me in a way I can't really explain, and in a way that might not even be justified, but my love for? it is some?thing I'm stubborn about protecting.

What ??I'm left with is a kind of apathy towards the rerelease, which is bett??er than the alternative of being bitter about it, I guess. At the end of the day, I hope it means that more people can enjoy the story that means so much to me, but I just can't touch it.

Someday I'll be able to play TLOU again, and I ??really look forward to that day. But you can bet your ass it's going to be the PS4 version.

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Please, not another fetch quest

So there's been a lot of talk going around about Dying Light 2 supposedly having up to 500 hours worth of content, if not more, and this wasn't exactly news I was jumping up and down about. Not because of the game itsel??f, necessarily, but the way it plays into the trends of the industry as a whole away from short, linear games. In the past few years, it feels like completion times that clock in at hundreds of hours have become something of a badge of honor, and the discourse surrounding it has seemed to lean toward the idea that the longer a game is, the better.

Listen, I'm all for getting the best bang for ??my buck. When I see that I've played a game for hundreds of hours, there's a sense of pride there, because that was money well-spent. But at this point it feels like players keep pushing for games to be longer and longer, and that's not always a good thi??ng.

For one thing, a super long game with ambitious scope usually (not always, but usually), means more work and crunch for game teams that are already burned out. The prime example here is Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red promised that the game would be one of the most detailed open-world RPG experiences ever while it was still in early development, and the game then suffered from multiple delays as the team tried to keep up. Ultimately, Cyberpunk was a massive disappointment on release (although recent updates have helped), and it all could have been avoided if CD Projekt ?Red had maintained realistic expectations.

[caption id="attachment_304152" align="alignnone" width="1280"] _{[Image Source: cyberpunk.net]}[/caption]There's also the fact that shorter games can also mean less time in development. In theory, if ??the bigger studios dedicated themselves to making shorter, more polished experiences, you could chop a good year or two off of the development cycle, at least. I always wondered what it would be like if a studio that had the talent and money of a CD Projekt Red dedicated themselves to an indie-style project that had a three-to-four-hour ru?ntime. But, because those aren't nearly as lucrative, I guess we'll never know.

Then you just have the content of the games themselves. When you scale up a game to be so big and nonlinear, it's almost impossible to keep the content interesting. The world, the quests, and the characters can all start to feel repetitive and hollow. In creating a game that's hundreds of hours long, developers simply don't have time to put the time and attention into many details of the game �they're just trying to fill out the biggest map they can in a way that doesn't make it feel entirely empty. But there are so many games that I've played that do feel empty, in spite of everything that the game puts in my way, and I'm not alone in this sentiment.

In contrast, I've been playing through BioShock Infinite again recently. It's obviously very different from a big, hundred-hour endeavor, with an average run time of about twelve hours. But when I started playing it again, I realized how much I've missed these short linear games. For example, I seriously cannot get over the environments in BioShock Infinite. Every room you walk into has this perfectly composed setting that looks like it's ?straight out of a concept art painting. That's because the devs know that the player will be entering a room from exactly one position, and they're able to compose the environment around that, and to great effect.

[caption id="attachment_304149" align="aligncenter" width="600"] _{[Image Source: Reddit]}[/caption]The pacing is excellent too, because they obviously planned out exactly how much and for how long you'll be interacting with combat, story sections, and exploration. Sometimes I don't want to have to go out of my way to find combat?? or a quiet space to enjoy the scenery, and linear games just have them lined up, r??eady to go when you need them. Like a perfectly balanced screenplay, the game knows exactly what you want, when you want it, and gives it to you.

Maybe I'm not being fair by comparing games that are meant to provide such different experiences, but I really can't seem to find any big-budget AAA studios that haven't succumbed to this formula. I mean, look at what happened to The Last of Us series. The first one also had a runtime ?of about twelve hours, and in my opinion, was pretty perfectly paced from both a gameplay and storytelling standpoint.

[caption id="attachment_304150" align="alignnone" width="1280"] _{[Image Source: IGN]}[/caption]Then you have the sequel, which is over twice the length, with huge open areas that grind the pacing to a halt. I'm not saying Naughty Dog isn't capable of making a good open-world game, I just don'?t understand why they deviated from what they did so well when it came to the scope, especially within a beloved franchise that used its small-scale linearity to great effect.

Long story shor??t, I just really miss short linear games with a focus on story.

I can certainly go back and play through all my old favorites like BioShock, The Last of Us, and Portal 2, but it's hard to find any games like this that are newer than around 2015. Sometimes I don't want choice �sometimes, I just want to be taken on a ride, a thrilling, bombastic ride that only the resources of a AAA studio can prov??ide, but they seem to be fewer and further between these days.

Story Beat is a weekly column discussing anything and everything to do with storytelling in video games.

The post I miss short, linear games appeared first on Destructoid.

Welcome to the uncanny valley

Gaming technology has been on the cusp of complete photorealism for years, but things seem to have taken a turn recently with Unreal Engine 5. I feel like every day now I'm seeing something from a game engine that is indistinguishable from real life. At first it was just Forza Horizon 5 screenshots, which didn't freak me out as much, but now that we're seeing an increased number of rendered human faces that are so lifelike, it's hard to tel??l what's real and what's not anymore.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/commen??ts/r0f9aw/realtime_controlled_cgi_puppets_in_unreal_engine_5/

Enter Ziva Dynamics' ZRT Face Trainer, a software that allows game developers and animators to plug in their own face meshes and puppet them into dynamic expressions in real time. A video of the program's demo running in Unreal 5 landed on Reddit, where?? it's been doing some numbers and unsurprisingly freaking everyone out.

The Face Trainer's website boasts some impressive stats, like a database of over 15TB of 4D scan data, over 72,000 unique training shapes, and puppets that can "run at real-time frame rates." The software entered early?? access today, and there's an application for the waitlist on the website for anyone who might be interested in the tech.

The video actually reminds me of some behind-the-scenes stuff I've seen before with motion-capture technology, specifically a tech demo for The Last of Us Part II. From what I understand, they were able to map the face of Ellie's actress, Ashley Johnson, onto her character's face in real time, and the results? look pretty similar to the? ZRT Face Trainer. Now they can just do that with faces that are entirely fabricated, I guess.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5_-aZIVlU

Assuming the Face Trainer is going to be widely available to anyone who might want it in the coming years, I'll bet we're going to see huge leaps and bounds in the visual quality of games. This stuff makes what we have now look like PS2 graphics. While I am intrigued by the implications this kind of software has for the future of the games industry, it also makes me pretty uncomfortable. I'm also afraid of monkeys and Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors because they're too uncanny for me, so take tha?t as you will.

The post These lifelike faces in Unreal? 5 are freaking people out appeared first on Destructoid.

PS4 games are feeling more like they should on PS5

While there have been some new games making use of the DualSense's haptics and triggers, plenty of backward-compatible PlayStation 4 games also use their own controller feedback. Today, The Last of Us Part II co-game director Kurt Margenau detailed just why those are feeling bett??er lately.

"As many of you are jumping back into TLOU2 on PS5, you may notice the haptics feel better," Margenau says. (The Last of Us Part II recently got a performance update for the PS5.) "This is actually thanks to a firmwar?e update to the Du?alSense controller back in April."

As many of you are jumping back into TLOU2 on PS5, you may notice the haptics feel better. This is actually thanks to a firmware update to the DualSense controller back in April. THREAD: pic.twitter.com/zle0XQwDw6

— Kurt Margenau (@kurtmargenau) May 21, 2021

Margenau goes on to say that a few months ago, he was able to send some feedback to the DualSense?? team, in order to improve "certain timing, intensity, and 'texture' of haptics when in backwards compatibility (BC) mode." This was i??ntended to bring the feel closer to what Naughty Dog created for the original DualShock 4.

The difference, as Margenau details, is inside the controller; the DualShock 4 has two different-sized rotating weights inside it, and the DualSense has two weights that move forward and backward, and can express frequency and amplitude at high fidelity with low latency. The firmware in the DualSense has to receive "old" signals, and then em??ulate the resulting feeling in the con??troller using a different mechanical method.

This means accounting for timing differences and emulating inherent variations and the "'rumbly' feeling" that comes with a rotating motor, and it's all done inside the controller, without the game code changing. The DualSense's internal haptics have already been impressive thus far in games like Astro's Playroom. This in-controller implementation to make PS4 game feedback ??feel right? Pretty mind-boggling work from the DualSense team and Margenau to make it happen.

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Revenge at 60 frames per second

Naughty Dog has announced another good reason for PS5 owners to clear a game off their backlog. The studio announced a performance patch is out today for The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 5.

Once The Last of Us Part II owners have installed the latest patch on their PS5, they'll be able to access a toggle in the Display options allowing them to target either 30 or 60 F??PS. Though it's alread?y a pretty nice-looking game, a bump in framerate sounds like a good reason to jump onto this one.

In today's PlayStation blog, Naughty Dog also teases that this patch is "just the first step" of working on the PS5, and they'll let us know when they have more news to share. Reports have said the studio is looking into a remake of the first game, but ??even if it's just more e??nhancements to fidelity, I'm down for that.

Either way, seems like a good time to finally get around to The Last of Us Part II. Hopefully all that revengin' and guitar-playin' looks even nicer running at higher FPS.

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"We'll see"

Naughty Dog may have more in store for The Last of Us moving past its second part. Creative director Neil Druckmann has said there's an outline for what happens following The Last of Us Part II, though it's not in the works right now.

Druckmann and co-writer Halley Gross appeared on the Script Apart podcast (thanks, IGN) to discuss the writing of 2020's The Last of Us Part II. It's a long look into the process of writing the sequel, including major themes and discussions of some pretty big moments in the story (yes, spoiler warning) and talk about the upcoming HBO series.

When the subject of a follow-up comes up thoug?h, Druckmann says the subject has come up, though there's a lot of work that goes into creating one because, as he notes, "these games take so much to make."

"I don't know how much I want to reveal... [Halley Gross] and I did write an outline for a story, that we're not making, but I hope one ??day can see the light of day, that explores a little bit what happens after this game," said Druckmann. "We'll see."

Druckmann notes that there are some "structural and thematic themes" Naughty Dog would have to stick to, if making a third game in the Last of Us series. Patterns sta?rt to get set in a series, and it sounds like Naughty Dog is exploring what could be next.

A recent report indicated that would be a PlayStation 5 remake of The Last of Us, though nothing's been formally announced yet. With The Last of Us Part II now in the rearview, it'll be interesting to see where the studio goe??s next.

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Supergiant Games' roguelike bags numerous gongs

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

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

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

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

• Action Game of the Year: Hades

• Adventure Game of the Year: Ghost of Tsushima

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

• Fighting Game of the Year: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

• Game of the Year: Hades

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

• Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Half-Life: Alyx

• Mobile Game of the Year: Legends of Runeterra

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

• Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Hades

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

• Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Ghost of Tsushima

• Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Ghost of Tsushima

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

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Hades

• Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Ghost of Tsushima

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

• Outstanding Technical Achievement: Dreams

• Racing Game of the Year: Mario Kart Live

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

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

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

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Sony continues to turn away from niche releases

According to a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Naughty Dog is at work on a PS5 remake of its miserable 2013 third-person adventure The Last of Us.

The supposed project is referenced by Bloomberg as part of a larger report on PlayStation's growin?g focus on blockbuster video games, noting the designers, artists, and other developers within the PlayStation family who are growing uncomfortable with the corporation's aggressive push toward mega-budget mega-sellers over all other projects.

This unrest has reportedly led to the disbandment of a Sony development division known as the "Visual Art Service Group." This San Diego team - who have been working on many PlayStation releases in recent years - had been tasked with developing The Last of Us remake for Sony's PS5 hardware, before Sony bosses handed off the project to original TLOU developer Naughty Dog. Bloomberg cites eight former?? members of the Visual Arts Service Group - who felt mismanaged, ignored, and undervalued - as its source. Neither Sony nor the group's f?ounder wished to comment on the matter.

Bloomberg's report goes on to suggest that Sony Bend - the studio behind open-world survival title Days Gone - recently had its proposal for Days Gone 2 turned down. Following this, several members of the team were sectioned off to work alongside Naughty Dog on the Uncharted franchise. This action led to some of Sony Bend's lead developers stepping away from th?e studio, con??????????????????????????cerned that Bend would soon be absorbed into Naughty Dog in its entirety.

For credence to the above story, one only need look at Sony Japan Studio, which has recently gone through a "restructure" in order to focus its key efforts entirely on Studio ASOBI - makers of PS5 title Astro's Playroom. The restructure has led to a slew of long-time Sony alumni taking their leave of the company, including top-tier members of the Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, and Gravity Rush teams. Sony has allegedly told? developers that it has no further interest in creating smaller titles that are likely to only find cult or localized success.

All of the above?? news is bitterly ironic given how Sony essentially revolutionized gaming with the launch of PlayStation. Offering a wide variety of exciting, varied, and even experimental titles, PlayStation made gaming "cool" again and would see the recruitment of armies of new video game fans, many of whom hadn't owned a console in years. To hear stories that Sony is putting all of its chips in the basket of just a few franchises, many of which will likely tread the path of "over-the-shoulder dude adventure," is a disappointing turn of events, but perhaps inevitable in our modern, blockbuster-obsessed world of mainstream entertainment.

Sony's obs?ession with blockbusters is stirring unrest within PlayStation [Bloomberg]

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Disclaimer: That's not one of the actual awards

Last n?ight saw the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hold its annual BAFTA Games Awards, which saw a cavalcade of excellent releases from 2020 line up in hopes of receiving recognition from Britain's premier arts & media academy.

And when the curtain finally fell on the evening's festivities, Supergiant Games' Hades emerged with the heaviest trophy bag, having scooped a total of five awards in numerous categories. The fantasy dungeon-crawler took home the gongs for Artistic Achievement, Game Design, and Narrative, with actor Logan Cunningham bagging the Supporting Role award for his work voicing numerous underworld characters. Hades rounde??d out the night winning the coveted Best Game award - a string of deserved accolad?es for a brilliant release.

Despite having been nominated in a whopping 13 categories, Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II only succeeded in taking home three awards: Best Animation, the public-voted EE Game of the Year, and actor Laura Bailey winning Leading Role for her excellent portrayal of dual protagonist/antagonist Abby Anderson. Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons bagged Best Multiplayer and "Game Beyond Entertainment". Flying the flag for the little guys, Phobia Entertainment won Best Debut for their gooey body-horror title, Carrion.

Congratulations to all of the winners and the nominees. There was much to dislike about 2020 but, at the very least, it cannot be denied that our favorite pastime absolutely knocked it out?? of the park with hit, after hit, after hit. Check out the full list of winners below.

• Animation: The Last of Us Part II

• Artistic Achievement: Hades

• Audio Achievement: Ghost of Tsushima

• Best Game: Hades

• British Game: Sackboy: A Big Adventure

• Debut Game: Carrion

• Evolving Game: Sea of Thieves

• Family: Sackboy: A Big Adventure

• Game Beyond Entertainment: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Game Design: Hades

• Multiplayer: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Music: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

• Narrative: Hades

• Original Property: Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition

• Performer in a Leading Role: Laura Bailey (for The Last of Us Part II)

• Performer in a Supporting Role: Logan Cunningham (for Hades)

• Technical Achievement: Dreams

• EE Game of the Year: The Last of Us Part II

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But not enough to sate Bowser's Fury

After weeks of Nintendo's dominance, PlayStation finally had reason to cel??ebrate. A supply restock - in addition to several store discounts - saw some of Sony's big-hitters shoot back up the UK Charts.

As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, comic-book adventure Spider-Man: Miles Morales saw a 172% rise in sales, climbing from number nine to number two in the Top Ten. Naughty Dog's misery-fest The Last of Us Part II was discounted at a variety of outlets, which saw the award-winning title skyrocket up the charts to make a grand re-entry at number three. FromSoftware's PS5 remake Demon's Souls also returned to the Top 40 at number 21.

None of the above releases, however, were successful in usurping Nintendo's Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, which enjoyed a third week at number one despite seeing a 38% drop in sales. On the subject of Switch releases, Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Minecraft all m/animal-crossing-new-horizons-ichiban-kuji-lets-you-experience-island-life/anaged to retain Top Ten positions, while Atlus' musou-lite Persona 5 Strikers en?joyed moderate success, debuting at number five.

There are very few major releases scheduled to hit the market in the foreseeable future. Add to this continued stock issues brought about by Brexit, as well as Britain's ongoing lockdown woes, and it seems that the nation's video games charts will continue spinning the platters that matter from last year, or even before. Let's go, Crash Bandicoot 4 for Switch.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: February 27, 2021
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury - Nintendo
2. Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Sony Interactive Entertainment
3. The Last of Us Part II - Sony Interactive Entertainment
4. FIFA 21 - Electronic Arts
5. Persona 5 Strikers - Atlus
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - Activision
9. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two Interactive
10. Minecraft - Nintendo

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

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Commander-in-Grief

Developer Naughty Dog has announced that it is promoting its Vice President, Neil Druckmann, to the position of Co-Pres?ident. Druckmann will now work alongside President Evan Wells, overseeing the Sony partner studio going forward.

"Neil Druckmann now joins me as Co-President of Naughty Dog, after serving almost three years as Vice President," said Wells in an official press release. "In addition, we’re welcoming Alison Mori and Christian Gyr??ling as Vice Presidents of Naughty Dog. Prior to becoming Vice President, Alison served as our Director of Operations and Christian served as our Co-Director of Programming."

"We have such an incredible team at Naughty Dog and being able to work alongside each and every one of them is especially meaningful these days. I feel proud of the team when I’m able to recognize their accomplishments and contributions to?? the studio. Please join me in giving them all a big congratulations!"

Druckmann has worked with Naughty Dog almost his entire video game career. Joining the company in 2004, The Israeli-American worked as an intern before taking up coding roles on titles such as Jak 3 and Jak X: Combat Racing. Druckmann's break came as a designer on the Uncharted series, which would eventually lead to a celebrated creative director role on uber-grim adventure The Last of Us.

Druckmann was promoted to the position of Naughty Dog Vice President during the lengthy production of equally dark sequel The Last of Us Part II. Druckmann's new role as Co-President arrives in the wake of the title's release this past summer, where it sold over four million copies worldwide in its opening week. Druckmann will also serve as a producer on the coming The Last of Us television adaptation.

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