Genshin Impact Runs in 60 FPS on PS5
Update 1.1 is out today for Genshin Impact and along with adding new content, it also adds backwards compatibility support for PS5. The PS4 version will sport visual improvements and faster loading times. But more importantly, as revealed in the PlayStation Blog, it will also run at 60 frames per second.
The jury is still out on the resolution and overall performance so we'll need to wait for more details. In the meantime, update 1.1 adds several new quests, wrapping up the Liyue chapters in the process. Specific characters also get new side quests while each city will now have a Reputation to work towards which unlocks exclusive rewards.
Four new characters are also live with Tartaglia and Zhongli (5-stars) along with Xinyan and Diona (4-stars). New players can also partake in the Unreconciled Stars seasonal event which provides new quests and co-op challenges to complete. You can even earn Fischl, a powerful 4-star character, as a reward so it's well worth doing.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is Out Now for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and PC
It's finally time for Ichiban Kasuga to shine, at least in the West as Yakuza: Like a Dragon is now available for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PC and Xbox One. The critically acclaimed RPG sees Kasuga leaving prison after a number of years only to be ditched by his clan. He thus embarks on a journey to find out what happened.
Besides the protagonist, the key difference from previous Yakuza games is the combat. It's now turn-based and relies more on RPG tropes like Jobs, elemental damage, weapons and crafting. Of course, Yakuza fans can still expect some awesome side stories, activities and mini-games like karaoke and Dragon Kart.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon supports Smart Delivery on Xbox One so previous gen owners can obtain a fully optimized version for Xbox Series X/S for free. PS5 players will have to wait until March 2021 to get their hands on the game. Fortunately, PS4 owners can upgrade to the PS5 version for free (though cross-gen saves are sadly not supported).
PS5 Could Add 1440p Support if There is Enough Demand
Recently, it emerged that the PS5 might not support output at 1440p resolutions, which is something that Sony have now officially confirmed in their PS5 FAQ. It's a bit of a disappointment, especially for those who plan on playing the console on 1440p monitors- but support for the same being added to the console in a post-launch software update isn't completely out of the question.
Speaking in an interview with AV Watch (via @Nibellion on Twitter), Sony Interactive Entertainment senior vice president Hideaki Nishino said that the console doesn't support 1440p output because Sony wanted to focus on TV screens first and foremost. However, he also added that support for it could be added to the console if there is enough demand from players.
Given how widely so many use 1440p monitors for playing console games, it's a bit of a surprising oversight to begin with. Hopefully, Sony will address the issue post-launch.
The PS5 launches in various regions of the world on November 12, and everywhere else on November 19.
Sony's Hideaki Nishino reveals in a new (Japanese) interview that there is no PS5 1440p resolution support due to TVs being the highest priority – and he also notes that if it's requested enough, they might add it in the futurehttps://t.co/JPj4FJIdoW pic.twitter.com/mrDchTRVY5
— Nibel (@Nibellion) November 10, 2020
The Last of Us Part 2 and God of War Seemingly Support DualSense Features on PS5
The Last of Us Part 2 and God of War are two among several PS4 first party exclusives that Sony have added enhancements to for the purposes of being played on the PS5 via backward compatibility, but it seems better load times and improved frame rates aren't the only improvements the games will have. As per GamesRadar, who have tested both games on the PS5, it seems support for the DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers has also been added to the two games.
In the case of The Last of Us Part 2, actions such as drawing a bowstring trigger feedback from the triggers, while haptic feedback can be felt throughout the game, in moments of combat or when you're, say, driving a boat. Similarly, throwing Kratos' axe or using his shield in God of War also seems to have similar effects. What's interesting is that neither Naughty Dog nor SIE Santa Monica have officially spoken about any such improvements being added to their games.
We do know officially that God of War runs at 60 FPS on the PS5. Meanwhile, other PS4 games, such as Days Gone and PSVR exclusive Blood and Truth, have also received backward compatibility enhancements of late.
Resident Evil Village Receives Some New Gameplay Footage
We haven't seen an awful lot of gameplay footage from the upcoming Resident Evil Village outside of a few trailers, and fans have been growing hungrier for the same. While a dedicated gameplay info dump is yet to come, we do have some new footage to look at.
Sony recently released a new video showing tennis player Naomi Osaka playing the PS5, in which she tries out a couple of games, including Resident Evil Village. We get to see the snowy village environment, and plenty of the footage shown overlaps with things that Capcom have already shown before, but we do get to see the game in action on the PS5. You can check it out below. The video is timestamped to the section where Resident Evil Village's gameplay begins, so just hit play.
Resident Evil Village is due out some time in 2021. Though currently only announced officially for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, Capcom have said that they're also looking into the the possibility of releasing the game on PS4 and Xbox One. Stay tuned for more updates.
Microsoft Celebrates Launch Of Xbox Series X/S With Unboxings, A Bizarre Trailer, And Gameplay
2020 has been quite the taxing year for just about everyone. It's kind of amazing to think, honestly, that we are actually getting next generation consoles this year with all the things that have happened and all the delays and cancelations. Here we are, though. Today marks the worldwide launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S from Microsoft and they are keen to celebrate, albeit in maybe some odd ways.
The company released four different videos to mark the occasion. One of them is a trailer for the Series X which is, I guess, supposed to serve as a launch trailer. It's a neat lightshow thing with some added nostalgic flair callbacks to the original Xbox and the 360. Alongside that we also got a 6 hour long livestream that incorporates that trailer as well as gameplay footage from several titles that will be available at launch for the system. The Series S did not get a traditional trailer, instead an unboxing video that talks about the design of the system as well as several people marveling at its small size. They also had an unboxing video for the Series X, though we've already seen considerably more of that console.
It's a bit of an odd way to celebrate the launch, but hey, it is what it is. You can see all these videos below. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are officially available as of today. Most likely, if you didn't get a pre-order in earlier in the year, it'll be a bit before you'll be able to get one, however.
The PS5 Designer Reveals The System Design Was Originally "Much Larger"
For some regions, this week is finally the week that Sony's PS5 will launch. Pre-orders directly from the company have reported to be shipping already, and it's kind of an exciting time in general. By now you've probably seen at least some reviews or unboxings of the system to know it's a big ol' boy. It's quite a bit larger than its predecessor, and dwarves both the Xbox Series X and especially the Series S Microsoft is releasing this week as well. Believe it or not, at one point it was actually going to be even bigger.
Talking to The Washington Post, Senior Art Director Yujin Morisawa revealed he was tasked with designing the system, and said when he sat down to actually do the design knowing what kind of space was needed for airflow and the heat sink, he actually came back with a design that was estimated to be quite a bit larger than the final product, which is crazy to think about. He said the engineering team told him it was just too big and had to do some redesigns to trim it down until getting to what we have now.
"I knew it was going to be larger because I know how much power there was going to be, so I knew how much air flow you would need and how much space for a heat sink," he said.
"In the beginning, when I started drawing, it was much larger even though I didn't know what engineering was going to do. It's kind of funny that engineering actually told me it's too big. So, I actually had to shrink it down a little bit from the first drawing."
The PlayStation 5, when it launches on November 12th in some regions and 19th worldwide, will actually be Sony's biggest console to date. The company also released a dedicated FAQ for all your PS5 questions, which you can read more about through here.
NBA 2K21 Requires a Minimum of 150 GB Storage on PS5
Prospective users have been concerned about the PS5's useable internal storage for a while now, with the console offering just 664 GB of space- which may not seem like a small number in isolation, but doesn't seem like it will be enough when you consider how big next-gen games' file sizes are going to be. The likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War have already baffled players with their massive storage requirements, and another game that seems to be doing just that is NBA 2K21.
Leveraging next-gen hardware for improved visuals, features, gameplay additions, and more, NBA 2K21 is going to be significantly larger on the upcoming next consoles. Over on Twitter, @GameLeaksRumors recently showed the game's physical box, which states on the box that it will require a minimum of 150 GB of free storage. That does not necessarily mean the game's file size is going to be 150 GB, but it's definitely going to be in that ballpark. For instance, on the Xbox Series X/S, the game's file size is over 120 GB.
NBA 2K21 is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia, having also launched for Xbox Series X/S today. It will release for PS5 on November 12.
NBA2K21 is 150GB on #PS5. For reference, PS5' storage is 667GB for games & apps.https://t.co/sBngWaXrIq pic.twitter.com/m7fKY3imkn
— Gaming Leaks & Rumors (@GameLeaksRumors) November 10, 2020
Ubisoft's 2003 cel-shaded first person shooter XIII might not be the most high profile shooter out there, but its got a dedicated cult following nonetheless. That following has been looking forward to its remake, developed by PlayMagic, for some time now, and that remake is now out.
Publishers Microids have released a new launch trailer for the game, showing off its stylish visual aesthetic and setting the stage for its story, which will see the amnesiac protagonist on the run from the FBI and involved in the assassination of the United States President. Fans of the original are likely going to be happy with how faithful the remake seems to be to the original, at least based on appearances. Take a look at its launch trailer below.
XIII is out today on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and will release for the Nintendo Switch at some point in 2021. There's no word yet on whether a next-gen version is planned, or if the game will feature any enhancements on next-gen consoles.
Codemasters Has Agreed On Terms With Take-Two For Sale That Will Finalize Next Year
A couple of days ago it was announced, somewhat surprisingly, that Codemasters was in talks to sell to Take-Two Interactive. The UK-based firm has been one of the most popular, and consistent, producers of racing titles such as DiRT, Project CARS and the F1 series of games. Well, it seems the time for talk is over and a deal has been struck pending finalization.
As reported by VGC, Codemasters sent out a note to investors early today to say they anticipate that the acquisition will complete at some point in the first quarter of 2021. This is barring shareholders approval, but as it stands, there's no reason to suspect that it won't get the green stamp. The deal is said to be worth about £750 million, which equates to roughly $980 million USD, so just under $1 billion. Codemasters will continue to run under the current leadership and would be published under Take-Two's 2K Games label. The CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, published a statement about the pending purchase.
"We are exceedingly pleased to announce this recommended transaction with the Board of Codemasters," he said. "Codemasters has a renowned history of creating some of our industry's most beloved and commercially successful racing franchises, and we believe that their offerings will be highly complementary to our sports portfolio and enhance further our organization's long-term growth.
"Moreover, we look forward to welcoming Codemasters' senior management and development teams into our Take-Two family, and sharing in our vision to deliver the highest quality entertainment experiences and aim to be the most innovative, creative and efficient company in our industry."
Take-Two Interactive is primarily known for their 2K Sports titles as well as the owner of Rockstar games. As long as this sale does go through as expected, it would give them several well renowned racing titles to add to their catalog.