More Sony First Party Games Should Adopt The Ghost Of Tsushima: Legends Strategy

One reason Sony's first party games have become so popular this generation is that, in an era where so many publishers release games with half baked functionality or polish, relying on post launch patches and content drops to actually bring the title up to scratch, Sony's games ship feature- and content-complete. Out of the box, you get the full game, with no necessity to spend any extra money to supplement the experience – just like how it used to be. This is evident when you consider how so many Sony games don't really get any DLC or expansions – none for God of War, for example, or for Days Gone, or even for The Last of Us Part 2, which was their fastest selling game ever.

What Sony does do, however, even when they're not delivering DLC drops, is support its games exceptionally well post-launch. Games such as Horizon: Zero Dawn, Days Gone, The Last of Us Part 2, and God of War have received a whole lot of great, additional features in post-launch updates, from new extra hard or extra easy difficulty levels, to New Game Plus modes, to the addition of new control schemes and inputs (such as gyro-assisted aiming), and so on.

However, every other Sony first party game this generation so far may end up paling next to the kind of post-launch support Sucker Punch has lined up for Ghost of Tsushima. With the game itself having launched a few months ago and being met with critical and commercial success, Sucker Punch announced a new, free multiplayer expansion. The announcement promised a co-op multiplayer mode, but the true extent of just how full fledged this expansion would turn out to be was not clear until it finally launched.

ghost of tsushima legends

Ghost of Tsushima Legends is basically a co-op loot game set on the island of Tsushima. It comes complete with different classes for your characters, countless pieces of gear, a whole new gear level system, weekly challenges, and even an upcoming raid that, by the way, supports matchmaking (take notes, Bungie). It's a staggeringly expansive addition to the game, for free (and yes, it is free, since this mode lacks microtransactions or other forms of monetization), on top of an already expansive singleplayer campaign that can last dozens of hours. It's the kind of thing that could give Ghost of Tsushima legs on the sales charts for years, assuming Sucker Punch has plans to support it beyond this first season of content.

It's an extremely interesting strategy, delivering a multiplayer service in the most popular genre on the multiplayer market at the moment after first producing a full-fledged, singleplayer game which was unfettered by the constraints or considerations of also developing a multiplayer mode alongside it. Given that the market has a severe shortage of high quality big budget singleplayer titles (Sony, Nintendo, and maybe Capcom are the only publishers who put that style of content out with anything close to resembling a regular pace of releases), this automatically makes your game stand out, because there's not much else like it to begin with. And then, on top of all that, add your free multiplayer mode to bring along other players who may not be interested in the singleplayer side of things, and keep those who already bought your game playing.

This isn't a strategy unique to Sony (Nintendo released some multiplayer modes for Super Mario Odyssey for free after launch as well, as one example, and there's this little game called GTA5 that employed the same tactic…); it's not even the first time Sony has done this (we already knew that Naughty Dog had plans to ship a multiplayer component to The Last of Us Part 2 after launch). However, it is the biggest and most ambitious example of it from Sony we have seen so far, and it does, in its extensiveness, hint at a future direction for Sony first party games that we previously at most only had vague allusions to.

It is very clear that Sony has found its niche on the market as a software publisher – they deliver high quality singleplayer action adventure titles. Sure, they have other kinds of games too – look at Dreams for a user generated content based game as a service, or Gran Turismo Sport for a racing sim GaaS – but the marquee Sony games, the primary titles that get all the awards and the bulk of sales, those are all their singleplayer action adventure games.

horizon forbidden west

However, there is the undeniable fact that there is money to be made with long term multiplayer titles and services as well. This, of course, does not mean that only multiplayer games are profitable, and that everyone needs to drop what they are doing to make the next Destiny or Fortnite clone (and, in fact, the success of so many Sony or Nintendo or Capcom or Atlus games this generation is as convincing a counterpoint as you need against that line of thinking); it just means that there is also money to be made in multiplayer service games.

Other publishers, even ones who do deliver single player games, have their fingers in the multiplayer services pie. Capcom, for example, has Monster Hunter World, while for every Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo releases, they also have a Splatoon 2 or a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As mentioned, however, Sony has so far sat this entire side of the market out. And it seems like they may have just tipped their hand about how they plan to rectify that without undermining the basis of their titles' appeal and popularity with Ghost of Tsushima Legends.

Essentially, going forward, will anyone mind if Sony continues to deliver high quality big budget first party singleplayer games, that, a few months later, also get full-fledged independent multiplayer modes? Modes that can help the games enjoy longer lives on the charts than they otherwise would have, modes that help Sony keep their fingers in the multiplayer service games pie without basically forcing every single one of their games to become Destiny? I don't think anyone would really care if the next Horizon had a multiplayer mode independent of the singleplayer game (and, in fact, developers Guerrilla Games were apparently hiring people for a multiplayer project).

Basically what I am saying is, going forward, we can see Sony deliver the same kinds of high pedigree games it is known for – that, after launch, also get a multiplayer mode on top. If you don't care about that multiplayer, you can ignore it (especially since it's not like the singleplayer was held back in any way, if Sony games continue to keep up their current level of quality). This would allow them to have some participation in the multiplayer/services games market, without needing to force the next Uncharted to become Anthem.

I have a feeling that's what we will see happening more and more frequently going forward. And hey, if it helps get more people on board with Sony's amazing games? I'm all for it.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Destiny 2 Xur Exotics – Cerberus+1, Lucky Pants, Felwinter's Helm

Destiny 2 Xur

It's an interesting day to visit Xur in Destiny 2. Not just because he has some new Exotics to sell but because some of them are out of the ordinary. Head to The Winding Cove in the European Dead Zone to see for yourself. Xur will be gone with the next weekly reset so make any purchasing decisions quickly.

This week's Exotic weapon is Cerberus+1, a primary auto rifle with multiple barrels that all fire at the same time. This creates a shotgun-like effect though the damage isn't quite on the same level. Aiming down sights reduces the projectile spread though so there's that. It's weird, for sure, but for 29 Legendary Shards, it might be worth picking up.

Exotic gear includes Lucky Pants (Hunter boots), Heart of Inmost Light (Titan chest) and Felwinter's Helm (Warlock helm), each for 23 Legendary Shards. Heart of Inmost Light allows for an ability's use to empower the others, resulting in faster regen for abilities, stronger melee and grenades, and tankier Barricades. Felwinter's Helm causes elemental melee kills to weaken nearby – the radius and strength of this effect increases against stronger foes and through finishers.

The Outer Worlds is Now Available on Steam and GOG

the outer worlds

After being exclusive on PC to the Epic Games Store for more than a year, Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds is now available on Steam and GOG. It's discounted by 50 percent on both platforms to celebrate the launch. You can check out our official review here for our impressions.

The Outer Worlds is set in the distant future where megacorporations have colonized and laid claim to entire planets. You play as the Stranger, a crew member of the colony ship Hope, and investigate the Halycon system. It's not long before the Stranger is mixed up in the affairs of The Board, a group of megacorporations.

This paves the way to helping out the various denizens of Halcyon, though the impact of one's choices may not always be clear. As a first-person shooter/RPG, players can customize their character's attributes and perks, using different approaches to solving problems. Overall, if you ever craved a spiritual success to Fallout: New Vegas, then it might be worth checking out.

The Outer Worlds also available on Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch (with a new patch improving the visuals).

Gears 5 on Xbox Series X/S Features Dave Bautista in Campaign

gears 5

With the Xbox Series X/S out in just three weeks, The Coalition's Gears 5 will stand as one of the more interesting titles to check out. In addition to being fully optimized for both consoles, however, it also offers a reason to replay the campaign. Check out the trailer below to see what we mean.

Yes, Dave Bautista, the famous wrestler and Hollywood star, can be subbed in to the campaign. He'll take over Marcus Fenix's role so while there won't be any change to lines, everything will be delivered in his signature voice. It's an odd choice but could be a nice extra for some fans.

Along with being playable in 4K, Gears 5 will also support 120 FPS in multiplayer for both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. One can also expect higher particle counts, real-time global illumination, contact shadows and much more. The enhanced version is out on November 10th alongside both consoles. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Outlines How Game Is Optimized For The PS5

marvel's spider-man miles morales

This holiday season will see Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales launch alongside the PS5. It's a solo adventure all about Miles as he struggles as a rookie hero. While the game is cross-gen, the developers at Insomniac Games are looking to utilize the power of the PS5 with the game.

Via Game Informer, there were five ways outlined that the game will be optimized for the next gen console. First will be a lack of loading with instant or near-instant load times (though the beloved subway transitions can be turned on if you wish). They also talk about the improved graphics, something touched upon in the past when the game's performance options were detailed.

They also point to how the performances will be better from the motion capture and voice actors due to access to new technology like 4D scans for more complex rigging, which will also go into the next point that the action is able to be more explosive and dynamic. And finally, the PS5's DualSense will help bring more immersion with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which has been touched on in the past. The full article is worth the read, and there's a few gifs with examples of what to expect.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales will release on November 12th at the PS5's launch. The game will also come to the PlayStation 4 on the same day.

Fallout 76's Steel Dawn Trailer Teases Upcoming Brotherhood Of Steel Quest

Fallout 76 Seasons

While the games as a service (or live service, if you prefer) model is one that makes many player's cringe, and conjures the images of many failed projects, the truth is that it can be utilized well. There's a few examples of this, with one being Fallout 76. Its launch issues were legendary enough that it even prompted several delays to upcoming projects at Bethesda. As time has marched on, Bethesda has put a lot of effort into turning the game around. Whether it was enough is up to you, but at the very least, there's familiar things fans of the franchise will be happy to see again.

Bethesda released a new trailer for Steel Dawn, the upcoming update for 76. Steel Dawn will be a new quest that will bring back the iconic Brotherhood of Steel, as had been detailed earlier by the last Roadmap. There will be a whole new story, as well as new NPCs and settlements to navigate as you must contest with an early version of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Fallout 76 is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, all of which are free to play until October 26th. Steel Dawn will launch for free to all players with the base game sometime in December.

Sony Announces "Strategic Creative Partnership" With Travis Scott To Promote PS5

ps5

Even if you're not into the current rap scene, no doubt you have probably heard the name Travis Scott by now. He's seemingly been everywhere over this past year and has created quite an incredible brand. Now it seems he and Sony are joining together to promote the PlayStation 5.

As announced on the official PlayStation blog, it seems Sony and Scott and his Cactus Jack brand have entered into a creative partnership for promotion of the upcoming console. It's not entirely clear what that entails, but alongside the announcement came a video, which you can see below. It's…well, it's something. It's actually a reference to an old commercial that I imagine most of Scott's core audience probably doesn't get, but it's fun even if you don't know the joke. Presumably, this will be the first of many videos used as promotion for Sony's new system.

The PlayStation 5 will release in select regions on November 12th with the full worldwide release coming on November 19th.

Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition Has Been Delayed To Undetermined Time

Blade Runner Enhanced

Nightdive Studios has become something of a legend when it comes to remastering old classics so they don't get too lost to the past. One such game that they were looking to do that with was 1997's Blade Runner. The adventure game was not directly based on the 1982 film, but is a midquel, with some characters from that movie showing up. It was largely lauded and seen as ahead of its time. But it seems as if some of that time did catch up to it, as some technical issues are leading to the recently announced Enhanced Edition being pushed back.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick confirmed that the game had been pushed back. Despite seemingly having solid progress so far, you can see some comparisons of the cinematics here, they seem to have hit a wall. It seems the studio is trying to find more of the original source code and assets, most of which were thought lost and only recently rediscovered. Still, Kick says the game will still come, just now they have to put it as a TBD (To Be Determined) date for the time being.

"We've had some discussions with EA about what else is in the vault they found regarding Blade Runner, and we haven't been able to get a clear answer," Kick said. "And even if there was something, it's very unlikely they would release it to us for legal reasons, mostly, which is a bit of a disappointment, because we were hoping to at least get the original audio recordings. So we're basically working off what was in the original game at this point and not having access to any original stuff."

It's a shame and hopefully they can pull together what they need to finish the project. But if you're curious, the original non-remastered version of Blade Runner was recently re-released on GOG, which you can check out through here. We'll keep you updated as more information on the Enhanced Edition comes.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Gives Us First Look At J. Jonah Jameson

The world of Spider-Man is one filled with many characters and supporting cast for the webslinger to play off of. We've seen a lot of the upcoming Miles Morales, such as the combat and the way stealth works, but now it's time for the man you really want. Some would even say he's the real star of the franchise: J. Jonah Jameson.

J. Jonah was present in the original game, but only via billboards and through his talk radio show where he spreads the word of the true menace of the Spider-Man (now Spider-Men). Via Game Informer, we now get the first look of the man in person and, well, I imagine you'll get a chuckle at how Insomniac Games have chosen to show their first look at the iconic character. Unfortunately, he won't be playable.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales will launch on November 12th (or 19th in some regions) for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Apex Legends Out on November 4th for Steam, Switch Version Delayed

apex legends

Respawn Entertainment has some good news and bad news for Apex Legends. First, the good – the free-to-play battle royale shooter is set to arrive on November 4th for Steam. This will coincide with the launch of Season 7, which introduces a new Legend and Battle Pass into the mix.

Those currently on Origin can retain progression and unlocks on Steam or switch between the two platforms as desired. If you are playing on Steam at any time during Season 7, then you expect some exclusive gun charms based on Half-Life and Portal. Whether Steam and Origin players can group together is unknown though.

The bad news is that the Switch version has been delayed to next year. In a recent statement on the same, game director Chad Genier stated, "We're still hard at work on the port, but in order to do justice to the game and make it into the great experience Switch players deserve, our team needs more time. This year has brought on unexpected new challenges, to put it mildly, and we don't want to rush anything out."

Genier did confirm that the Switch version would launch with cross-platform play supported. One can also expect it to have full feature parity with other versions, which includes new seasonal content. Apex Legends is currently available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC via Origin. Stay tuned for more details on Season 7 in the coming days.