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Sony is Working on a Next-Gen VR Headset

psvr

Sony confirmed a long time back that the PS5 would support PSVR, but though they've made it clear that they have no intention to stop investing in virtual reality tech, they've also explicitly stated that they don't see any reason to make a new headset to go along with the PS5's release for the coming few years. 

That said, it seems work on a new VR headset is now underway at Sony, with a new job listing (spotted by Upload VR) mentioning that work has begun on a next-gen VR headset. It's worth noting that the listing is posted by Sony Corp, and not just their PlayStation division, so it's possible that it's not specifically a PSVR headset that this listing is referring to. Meanwhile, the listing also mentions that the VR headset is being made with "a view to five years from now", so whatever this is, it will probably be a while before we see or hear anything concrete about this. 

If it is indeed a new PSVR headset, hopefully, Sony will be making some significant improvements- and with the time and resources they've put into the VR space, it's likely that they will do that. Patents over the months have suggested that they're looking into a wireless headset and improved controllers, so here's hoping.

Quantum Error Will Run At 4K and 60 FPS on PS5, Developer Assures

quantum error

There's been a lot of talk in recent days about whether or not the PS5 will be able to run games in true 4K, with some reports suggesting that developers have been struggling with getting games to that mark on Sony's upcoming next-gen console. One developer that is confident of hitting that target, however, is TeamKill Media.

Not too long ago, they said that they were targeting 4K and 60 FPS on the PS5 for their upcoming cosmic horror first person shooter Quantum Error, and recently, they reiterated that they will be hitting that target. Responding to a post on Twitter claiming that the game is struggling to hit 4K and 30 FPS on the PS5, the developers responded via the game's account that that isn't accurate, stating further that right now, in its unoptimized state, the game is running at 4K and 65-70 FPS on the PS5, and by the time it's been optimized fully, it will be hitting the 4K60 goal.

Quantum Error is in development for the PS5 and PS4, and will be launching some time in 2021. The developers have confirmed that it will feature real-time ray tracing on the PS5, and that it will be making use of the DualSense's haptics and adaptive triggers.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch Listing Pops Up On Amazon UK

the legend of zelda skyward sword

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is something of a black sheep in the Zelda family. Though a great game in its own right that saw plenty of critical praise when it launched on the Wii in 2011, the game has since often been maligned for its excessively linear nature, and how it seemed to be spoon-feeding players all the time. The criticism it got for those things was, in fact, what led to Nintendo going in the completely opposite direction with its successor, Breath of the Wild.

But it seems the Wii title might soon have its time in the sun once more, and fans of the game could get another chance to dive back into it. A listing for a Nintendo Switch release of the game has gone up on Amazon UK– it likely won't stay up for long, so if the page has been taken down by the time you click on that link, you can check out a screen grab below.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was particularly reliant on the Wii's motion controls, so it will be interesting to see how the game manages on the Switch, if it is indeed brought over. Given the fact that Nintendo also have the Switch Lite to consider, it's likely that if they do indeed port Skyward Sword, they will do so with a traditional control scheme.

But of course, this is completely unconfirmed and unverified for now, and especially with Nintendo, it's best not to believe anything until it's officially confirmed. This isn't the first time we've heard of Skyward Sword coming to the Switch, after all. In 2018, in fact, Nintendo said that they had no plans to bring the game to the Switch… but that was 2018, and this is now, so you never know.

This isn't the only game Amazon UK have recently spilled the beans on- they recently also put up a listing of a remaster for 2010's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Read more on that through here.

the legend of zelda skyward sword

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered Listed by Amazon for November Launch

need for speed hot pursuit

A couple of months ago, we first started hearing about reports that the Criterion Games-developed 2010 racer Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit would be getting the remaster treatment later this year and releasing for the Nintendo Switch, PC, and "other consoles". Just last month, a retailer listing added fuel to that fire. Now, we have more evidence to suggest that EA will indeed be bringing the game to modern consoles. 

Amazon UK recently put up a listing for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, which the Switch and Xbox One listed as the game's platforms (though others will probably be coming as well). The listing was promptly taken down, but was spotted and captured over on the ResetEra forums before that could happen. Take a look at the screen grab below.

It mentions a very specific release date as well, with the remaster supposedly releasing on November 13 of this year. With that release date, one has to wonder whether the game will also be coming to the PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

Of course, the game hasn't been officially announced by EA yet, but if all of these leaks are accurate – and at this point it's starting to seem like they probably are – then that announcement shouldn't be too far away.

Meanwhile, if you're waiting for the next new Need for Speed game, that's also currently in the works at Criterion, who took control of franchise back from Ghost Games earlier this year.  

PS5 Box Arts Emerge for Assassin's Cred Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Far Cry 6

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Sony released the official box art of the PS5 launch title Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales not too long ago to give us a clear idea of what we can expect boxes of physical releases on the PS5 not too long ago. It's certainly a unique and clean look, and sets itself apart from the PS4 quite distinctly. Now, we have PS5 box arts of three more games to look at.

Amazon have put up PS5 listings for several upcoming games, and three of these are for Ubisoft's trio of major releases- Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Far Cry 6. Their box arts aren't new, of course – we've seen all of these before by now – but this is the first time we're seeing PS5 variations of these (at least in an official capacity). Take a look below.

Interestingly enough, Amazon is also selling the PS4 versions of each of these three for $10 cheaper than their PS5 counterparts (which are being sold at $60), though they all have the same MSRP. If you're looking to get PS5 versions of these games on the cheap then, this is a good way to do so, since all of them do offer free next-gen upgrades.

Watch Dogs: Legion is out on October 29, Assassin's Creed Valhalla releases less than a month later on November 17, while Far Cry 6 launches a few months after that on February 18. All three of them will be coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.

Ghost of Tsushima Has Become PS4's Highest-Selling First Party Game in Japan to Date

ghost of tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima has been selling incredibly well around the world since its launch less than a month ago, but in some regions, it's been enjoying particularly impressive sales. In Japan, for instance, the game has been seeing consistently solid sales every week, with Sony even saying at launch that it was selling better than they had expected, and recently, the open world samurai epic crossed a significant milestone.

As per the latest weekly physical sales data in Japan provided by Famitsu (via Benji-Sales on Twitter), Ghost of Tsushima has sold over 330,000 physical copies in Japan in just over three weeks. That's a significant number because it means it has now become the highest selling first party PS4 exclusive in Japan to date, surpassing the record previously held by Marvel's Spider-Man, which released in 2018.

Ghost of Tsushima has seen excellent sales on a global level. Within just three days of release, it had sold 2.4 million copies. Recently, we found out that in the US, it enjoyed the fourth-biggest launch month for a Sony game to date.

Ghost of Tsushima is available on PS4. You can read our review through here.

FIFA 21 File Size is Just Over 50 GB

FIFA 21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schedules of sporting seasons around the world have seen some setbacks and delays (like everything else in the world, really), which, in turn, has affected the annual release cycle of video games based on those sports as well. FIFA 21, for instance, is arriving a little later than it ordinarily would- but it is still coming.

Now, we also know how large it's going to be. Thanks to its updated listing on the Microsoft Store, we know that on the Xbox One, FIFA 21's file size will be 50.01 GB, which is roughly the same size as FIFA 20, which weighs in at just under 50 GB right now. We can probably expect the PS4 file size of the game to be the same (or similar, at any rate).

FIFA 21 has been getting some interesting new details on late. EA Sports recently released a new gameplay trailer detailing the new mechanics introduced being in this year's game, which was followed by another trailer focusing on the career mode. You can also read about the biggest changes being made in the mode in greater detail through here.

FIFA 21 is out for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 9. PS5, Xbox Series X, and Stadia versions will be coming at a later date.

Metroid Prime 4 Developer is Looking for a New Lead Producer

Metroid Prime 4

It's now been over a year and a half since Retro Studios took over development of Metroid Prime 4 and rebooted the whole project, and though it's likely going to be a while before we see the game in action (much less play it ourselves), we can at least take solace in the fact that Retro are hard at work on it.

The studio has been staffing up for the upcoming Switch exclusive for a while, hiring veteran developers from across the industry – from DICE and Visceral to 343 Industries – and they're continuing to staff up for the game. They recently took to Twitter, saying that they're looking to add a new Lead Producer to their team for the development of Metroid Prime 4. "Join us on our journey," the developer wrote.

Meanwhile, if you head on over to their careers page, you'll see that Lead Producer isn't the only position they're looking to fill. The Austin-based studio also has openings in positions such as Senior Level Designer, Lead Graphics Engineer, Lead Animator, Boss / AI Designer, Concept Artist, and more.

Metroid Prime 4 is in development for the Nintendo Switch. It currently has no release date.

PS5 and Xbox Series X Might Both be Out on or Before November 17 – Rumour

ps5 xbox series x

Fortnite has been making waves in the industry with its recent removal from the iOS and Android stores, and Epic's legal war on Apple and Google following that, but it seems it may have now spilled the beans on when we can exactly expect the upcoming duo of next-gen consoles to land.

Fortnite will be receiving a Batman (or Joker, to be more specific) themed bundle soon, called The Last Laugh Bundle, which will include various in-game cosmetics. It will be receiving both digital and physical purchases, and in a post talking about its upcoming release, Epic have seemingly narrowed down the time frame for when we can expect the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The post mentions that it will be out on November 17 for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. But then, interestingly enough, it goes on to specifically say that it will "also arrive in time for the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X next-generation consoles"- which means that both consoles will be available either on or before that date.

Neither Sony nor Microsoft have specifically mentioned the release dates of their consoles. Microsoft, however, have said that theirs will arrive in November (Sony have still only officially given the "Holiday 2020" timeframe), while a recent controller leak suggested that the Xbox Series X will be releasing on November 6.

Information on both is supposedly coming soon, with leaks suggesting that PS5 news will be coming this month, and Xbox Series X info some time in September, so hopefully we'll get concrete word on their release dates sooner rather than later.

How Could Potential RDNA 3-Specific Features Impact The PS5?

The PlayStation 5 is just months away at this point. We've already seen a good chunk of actual gameplay in PlayStation 5 titles, demonstrating technical effects and image quality that go well beyond what's possible with the current generation of consoles.

However, key questions remain about the staying power of the new consoles. Keep in mind that the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X both need to stay relevant for console gamers and the gaming industry on the whole for at least the next 5-7 years. Is the hardware in the PlayStation 5 really up to delivering the kind of gaming experiencing we expect from the year 2027 (literally the point of time when Deus Ex: Human Revolution takes place)?

One possibility is to look beyond the teraflop numbers and focus on how each console leverages unique technology and software features. A recent report indicates that the PlayStation 5 will leverage a subset of RDNA 3 features, functionality AMD is building into the GPUs it'll bring to market after Big Navi, and likely not available to the PC market until at least 2022.

If this is true, what does this mean for PlayStation gamers? And why does it matter?

It implies complete support for the RDNA2 feature set

horizon forbidden west

The big takeaway here, really, is that the PlayStation 5 will likely offer a feature-complete implementation of RDNA2 with key special optimisations and features like variable rate shading. This might sound a bit like "temper your expectations," but let's keep in mind that RDNA2 parts haven't actually been released yet, either.

Variable rate shading on the PlayStation 5, a core RDNA2 function, will likely help to retain great image quality and performance at 4K and higher resolutions. Earlier reports indicated that certain developers like Capcom had trouble getting ninth-generation exclusive games like Resident Evil: Village working on the PlayStation 5 at 4K. As of now, it's not entirely clear whether this is due to early-stage optimisation issues or because of the limits of the PlayStation's 5's hardware configuration and the fact that, at the end of the day, 4K remains a stratospherically high resolution target.

Once we progress past the "cross-gen" period where support for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is mandatory, we'll increasingly see games that hit the PlayStation 5's GPU hard, especially at 4K. In these cases, variable rate shading will come in handy to offer a degree of GPU overhead without noticeably impacting performance. How does VRS work?

Variable rate shading essentially takes advantage of the fact that perceived resolution varies across a person's field of view. Pin-sharp 4K only really matters in a relatively narrow cone of view immediately in front of the eyes. Further out to the left and right, perceptual resolution is as low as one half or even one fourth of the nominal level. By dynamically adjusting the shading rate in specific parts of the onscreen image, developers free up a substantial amount of GPU resources without affecting perceived image quality.

It could mean support for AI-based frame reconstruction technology

ratchet and clank rift apart

Sony recently made waves when patents were uncovered for PlayStation frame reconstruction technology that offered similar functionality to NVIDIA's DLSS. Support for RDNA 3 features raises the prospect that the PlayStation 5 could support some form of AI-based frame up scaling and reconstruction.

Since the PlayStation 5's GPU doesn't have dedicated tensor cores for machine learning workloads, frame reconstruction would have to be done in software, with a slightly higher performance hit. Regardless, this can still mean tangible improvements to performance. Remedy's Control was recently updated with what was described as "DLSS 1.9," essentially a software implementation of NVIDIA's general purpose DLSS 2.0. While the performance hit of "DLSS 1.9" was somewhat higher than Control's earlier DLSS 1.0 implementation, image quality and overall performance improvements are undeniable.

The PlayStation 5 could potentially leverage forward-facing RDNA functionality to deliver great frame reconstruction and upscaling results without the need for tensor cores. As games become more graphically intensive, this'll be a key approach in maintaining performance at 4K. Moreover, if developers actually plan to deliver games that run at 8K, some kind of frame construction or upscaling is critical.

Enhanced performance thanks to the custom geometry engine

Gran Turismo 7

Reports indicate that the PlayStation 5 features a custom geometry engine that delivers better mesh shading and VRS performance than RDNA2 as seen in the Xbox Series X and in upcoming PC products. It isn't clear as yet whether or not the PlayStation 5's geometry engine adopts RDNA3 features or if this is a fully custom design. Regardless, this has long-term implementations for the staying power of the PlayStation 3.

High fidelity models are a key aspect of the ninth-generation visual set. This is something we saw in demos like Lumen in the Land of Nanite, as well as in actual gameplay snippets. The PlayStation 5's next generation mesh shading capabilities should allow it to handle a higher geometry throughput. This would mean more polygons on-scene at a time, less pop-in, and higher quality character and object models. Because of diminishing returns, it takes an exponentially higher polycount to create models that look objectively more realistic than current-gen models. More efficient mesh shading could give the PlayStation 5 performance headroom to make this a reality.

Possible ray-tracing optimisations

Kena Bridge of Spirits

While AMD has stated that RDNA 2 parts will support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, it's still not clear as to exactly what form hardware acceleration will take. Will Big Navi and other RDNA2 parts feature bespoke RT cores in the same way as NVIDIA's Turing hardware? Or will RDNA2 cards run ray-tracing workloads on the shaders with bespoke optimisations for performance? We're leaning toward the second option. Why does this matter for the PlayStation 5?

A lot has been made about the PlayStation 5's ray-tracing capabilities. A number of PlayStation 5 gameplay reveals, including Gran Turismo, showcased spectacular ray tracing implementations, beyond what we've seen in the PC space.

The push for ray-tracing on PlayStation 5 hardware is puzzling because we're still unclear about the extent of AMD's ray-tracing support on RDNA2. RDNA 3 "special sauce" could be one possible answer. Regardless of the exact form that hardware ray-tracing support is deployed on the PlayStation 5, it's possible that AMD might bake in RDNA 3 -based ray-tracing optimisations to deliver superior ray-tracing performance on the Sony console. This forward-facing approach might be critical to ensuring adequate ray-tracing performance in the long term, with Big Navi and Ampere cards like the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti expected to make major inroads in terms of PC ray-tracing performance.

Conclusion

At this point, it's still very early to determine the exact impact of possible RDNA3 features on the PlayStation 5's performance. What we do know is that Sony's delivering a capable 4K console with support for hardware accelerated ray-tracing and emerging technologies like variable-rate shading. Whether or not RDNA 3 "secret sauce" is deployed, we expect PlayStation 5 owners to see a night-and-day difference in fidelity over the PlayStation 4.