PS5 Controller And Accessories Get Updated 360 Degree Photos

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It was in June when we finally got the unveil of Sony's next generation console, the PS5. There is still a lot we don't know about the system, such as when it'll launch or what the actual price will be (and Sony is doing everything they can to dance around that question). But we know what the system will look like, at the very least. Alongside that reveal, we also got a look at several different accessories you'll be able to get for the system, and today we got an update that gives you a nice look at all of them.

The accessories in question are the DualSense controller, the HD camera, the media remote, and PULSE 3D wireless headset. The official website updated with some 360 degree view photos of all four, and you can check all of them out in video form below.

It's not been made clear if all of these will be available at the same time as the system's launch, and we'll probably get more details on that when the launch date for the PS5 is revealed. But for now, you can drool a bit over these slick looking devices. I'm partial to those PULSE headsets myself.


Activision Posts Huge Record Results For Q2 2020 Financials

Activision

There are big companies, and then there are the titans of the video game industry. For many years now, Activision has probably been the one at the top of the mountain, only being challenged by the likes of Take-Two Interactive and EA, but what is incredible is how few titles they actually publish to stay on top vs even their closest competitors. After merging with Blizzard and buying mobile studio King, with only a handful of titles, the company remains at titan-level status. And the latest quarter financials show that. 

Activision announced their financial results for the second quarter of 2020, which includes April 1st to June 30th of the year. In it they recorded record financials, exceeding expectations. On the Activision side, Call of Duty was the big winner, as usual, with Call of Duty: Warzone surpassing 75 million players, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare adding more players outside its launch quarter than any other Call of Duty in history. Call of Duty Mobile also saw strong growth and player engagement.

On the Blizzard side,  they recorded 32 million MAUs (Monthly Active Users) across their games. World of Warcraft saw its overall engagement increase, with increase in the upcoming expansion, The Shadowlands, saw positive reception from public testing. Overwatch and Hearthstone also saw increased player engagement from both new and returning players. 

As with many companies, Activision said a lot of this growth came from the many shelter-at-home orders in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For the rest of the year, the company will release Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! for mobile devices and a 2020 Call of Duty title that hasn't been officially announced as of yet.


Hitman 2, GreedFall, And Dead Cells Are August's PS Now Inclusions

Hitman 2 - Mumbai

We've now kicked off August here in 2020, and of course that means that it's time for all the various services we've subscribed to to get some new games (and who isn't subscribed to about 10 at this point). Sony's long running streaming service, PS Now, has announced its batch of three big titles and all are different experiences. 

Probably the headline game is Hitman 2, the sequel to the 2016 reboot of the classic stealth series from IO Interactive. Next up is GreedFall, a RPG from Spiders in the vein of old school choice-based BioWare titles where you must navigate murky morality and monsters in a new world. Finally, there's the hit roguelike indie title, Dead Cells. You can read the full announcement blog through here.

Hitman 2 and Dead Cells are both listed as being available until February 1st, 2021, while GreedFall has no designated leave date. All three games are available now on PS Now on both PS4 and PC.


Marvel's Avengers Will Have Timed Exclusive Cosmetics on PS4, PS5

marvel's avengers

Yesterday, Sony dropped a bombshell when it announced that Spider-Man would be exclusive to PS4 and PS5 versions of Marvel's Avengers. Though this version isn't related to Marvel's Spider-Man by Insomniac Games, it's still a big deal and something to look forward to in 2021. Sony has since outlined "even more PlayStation advantages" for those gaming on the PS4 and PS5 versions.

Essentially, PlayStation players will receive exclusive access to a Legendary Outfit, Legendary Emote, Epic Takedown and nameplate for each new hero, including the starting six, for 30 days. If you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, then each post-launch hero, including Hawkeye, will receive a free cosmetic bundle containing a Rare Outfit, nameplate and 100 Credits. Last but not least, PlayStation Plus subscribers can avail of a free bundle for Ms. Marvel at launch.

Sony also confirmed that along with the beta being available first for pre-orders on PS4 from August 7th to 9th (with pre-loading starting on August 6th), PlayStation Plus won't be needed for multiplayer. All in all, Sony has made out like a bandit with this deal. Marvel's Avengers is slated to release on September 4th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Google Stadia. It will launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X in Q4 2020.


PS5 Volume and Price Have Upside and Risks, Sony Comments on Epic Games Investment

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Following its recent Q1 fiscal year 2020 financial results for the three month period ending on June 30th, chief financial officer Hiroki Totoki spoke to investors and analysts in a conference call. He noted the strong first and third party sales for the quarter and expected demand to normalize in the second quarter. This will be in addition to expenses when marketing the PlayStation 5.

Totoki was asked about volumes and price for the PS5. Though not offering specifics, he did interestingly comment that, "With regards to the volume and price, right now I can't talk about that. We have upside and risks, both sides. But at this point in time, we feel that this balance is good and we've shown a plan based on that."

Another interesting topic that came up was regarding investment in Epic Games and Bilibili. Sony invested $250 million in the Fortnite developer, which didn't seem all that surprising after the Unreal Engine 5 demo showcase on PS5. These efforts may only be the beginning though as Totoki said that, "At a time when digitization of the entertainment industry is accelerating, we plan to leverage these investments to expand the customer touch points for our diverse array of content as well as create new digital content and ways of enjoying that content that go beyond our business segments in partnership with these companies.

"Going forward, we intend to proactively pursue strategic investment opportunities to explore future growth."

Sony has quite the busy month ahead with a State of Play presentation set for August 6th and a PS5-related announcement rumored for later this month. Though the upcoming State of Play won't offer any updates on price, pre-orders or games from PlayStation Studios, it will provide new details on third-party titles, upcoming PS4 and PlayStation VR games and so on. As always, stay tuned in the coming days for new information.


FIFA 21 Gameplay Trailer Debuts, Outlines Agile Dribbling and Creative Runs

FIFA 21

It's only two months away but EA Sports has finally released a dedicated gameplay trailer for FIFA 21, showcasing the next iteration of the franchise in all of its glory. A number of new features are revealed including agile dribbling, creative runs and much more. Check it out below.

Agile dribbling gives you more control over the ball by holding down R1/RB and moving the left analog stick. It also allows for a variety of offensive and defensive techniques. Creative runs are a way to direct teammates' runs in the lead-up to shots – holding down L1/LB and flicking the right analog stick makes this possible.

If you're not confident of the AI taking shots, then you can lock onto a player and take the shot yourself. Other interesting features include positioning awareness (which mirrors the real world behavior of players) and a natural collision system. FIFA 21 is currently slated to release on October 9th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

It will also release for Xbox Series X and PS5 with current-gen owners capable of availing free upgrades. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.


Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access Launch Delayed, Release Date Announcement Set for August 18th

Baldur's Gate 3 (3)

Larian Studios earlier announced that Baldur's Gate 3 would arrive in Steam Early Access in August. However, it attached a strong "Maybe" to that statement due to potential delays that could occur. Said delays have seemingly taken place and the role-playing game is now set to arrive past August.

The good news is that Larian Studios will provide a release date soon. Promising that it's "just around the corner," the developer announced a live stream for August 18th at 10 AM PT where it will announce the release date. We'll need to stay tuned for more details in the meantime but currently, September is looking like a safe bet.

Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in development for PC and Google Stadia. The early access version is currently planned to feature five Origins characters, Act 1 of the story and a total of five classes and 11 archetypes. For more details on the combat and stealth, head here or check out the most recent live gameplay demo here.


PS5 and Xbox Series X – 5 Changes That Are Only Possible On Next-Gen

It's crazy how fast time flies. We are now just a few months from the arrival of the ninth console generation. Barring any last-minute delays, both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X should hit shelves before the end of 2020. The arrival of a new console generation always means a significant change in the way games look and how they play. With the increase in graphics and CPU capabilities come new features that just weren't possible a generation earlier.

This is something we see in every generation. Back in the mid 2000s, when the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 just hit the market, rag doll physics, real time shadowing, and light bloom became important parts of the visual makeup of many games. Some games leveraged the "next-gen" consoles superior processing capabilities to deliver an unprecedented number of NPCs on screen, with unique patterns of behavior. In the eighth gen, we again saw advances in terms of graphics. Physically-based rendering and GPU-accelerated particles were introduced right at launch. And interestingly, a handful of cross-gen titles like Metal Gear Solid 5 even managed to deliver some of these features on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

And, as we sit on the cusp of the ninth-gen, we're about to see another leap in progress and fidelity. This generation, the increase in CPU capabilities is a key highlight. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X offer CPU horsepower that's an order of magnitude greater than their predecessors, alongside the expected boost to graphics capabilities. The new consoles also feature SSD storage, radically faster than anything we've seen before, even in the PC space. And, quite apart from the console and games industry, we've seen advances in fields like artificial intelligence that could have significant implications for games. Let's take a look at five ways that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are expected to transform games in the years to come.

Artificial intelligence and creative boosts to image quality

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Sony recently patented an artificial intelligence-based technology solution for frame reconstruction that's very similar to NVIDIA's DLSS. What does this have to do with next-generation graphics? A whole lot, it turns out.

While both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are inarguably powerful devices, Sony and Microsoft made much of the point that their consoles would support 4K/60 FPS gaming experiences. From what we know about the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X GPUs, and what we've seen in the PC space, it should be technically possible for the PS5 and Xbox Series X to deliver a 60 FPS experience in most current-gen AAA titles. There is, of course, an important caveat there. Running eighth-gen games at 4K/60 FPS is one thing. But what about technologically advanced ninth-gen games? How exactly will consoles handle visuals like those seen the Lumen in the Land of Nanite demo at 4K/60 FPS? This is where AI-based frame reconstruction comes into the picture.

While checkerboard rendering delivered reasonable results last gen, the output was noticeably worse in quality relative to native 4K. NVIDIA's DLSS technology on PC, though, was something different. By using an AI that's trained on gaming image sets, DLSS is able to reconstruct detail from a lower resolution frame buffer by actually guessing and filling in the missing bits. In some implementations, for instance in Death Stranding on PC, DLSS actually delivers better results than native resolution rendering. And, remarkably, it boosts performance by as much as 50 percent.

The implications for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are obvious. Both these consoles have finite GPU resources. If next-gen machine learning-based upscaling technology is used, owners of 4K displays could get native image quality without compromising on the frame rate or other aspects of the visuals. This would mean that PlayStation and Xbox Series X games could deliver real 4K quality while also pushing the envelope forward in terms of gameplay and graphics.

A return to micro-destruction 

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There was a brief point in game history in the late 2000s where every seemed to focus on environmental micro-destruction. NVIDIA's PhysX suite at the time emphasised particle effects and dynamic, interactive debris, as seen in Borderlands 2. Red Faction: Guerrilla allowed console players to wreck virtually any standing structure in-game. Battlefield: Bad Company let players put holes in walls with a grenade launcher. Sadly, because high-end physics features were CPU-intensive, they were mostly shunted aside in favour of newer graphics rendering techniques. While micro-destruction is somewhat more prominent in current-gen titles, we've yet to see anything quite on the scale of those earlier games.

With the massive boost to console CPU horsepower in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, developers might finally have enough headroom to bring back micro-destruction. Advanced destruction physics would could allow players to strategically destroy parts of the environment — to create and break cover on the fly, for example. One area where destruction could go beyond what we've seen til date is soft-body physics. Soft-body physics models how objects bend and contort when forces are applied to them. There aren't a lot of games out there right now that deploy it. However, Beam-NG, a soft-body physics tech demo, gives us a good idea about the possibilities. Next-gen racing titles and open world action games could leverage soft-body physics to model more accurate car crashes and damage modeling, for instance.

Audio-only indie titles

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Several years ago, a little-known iOS game, Papa Sangre, demonstrated that it was possible for developers to implement immersive game worlds with no visuals at all. Papa Sangre's use of binaural technology and relatively detailed samples created the illusion of a vibrant underworld environment solely through audio.

While we don't think AAA studios will focus on audio-only experiences, we think that indie devs will almost certainly look at features like the PlayStation 5's Tempest audio engine as a way to deliver next-gen audio-only experiences. It'll be fascinating to see what audio-only titles could do on PS5, with Tempest supporting hundreds of dynamic sound sources at a time. Together with binaural HRTF and a good pair of earphones, we see all-new audio vistas taking shape in the years to come. This would be a big win for the accessibility community, too, since audio-only games would offer value to visually-impaired gamers.

Procedural content that doesn't suck 

Assassin's Creed Valhalla_02

As far back as 2011 and Skyrim's Radiant quest technology, developers have implemented contextual, procedurally generated in-game content to a greater or lesser degree of success.

A major limitation to procedural content generation is that it's simply not feasible with current technology to implement procedural quests that go beyond fetch missions within the existing game world. With recent advances in artificial intelligence and related fields, we think that procedural content generation could see something of a comeback with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. AI-based Procedural generation could be leveraged across different aspects of the mission design process. It could even be used to author unique assets, like buildings, NPCs, and weapons.

We've seen games like No Man's Sky do this already. However, the limited number of variables mean that mission structures — and indeed procedurally generated environments and characters — are never that different from each other. AI-enhanced procedural generation could create unique experiences that approach the quality of handcrafted quests. Better yet, AI-based audio rendering technology could be used to turn procedural conversation text into in-game audio. This could transform the "padding", for instance: developers won't have to sacrifice quality for quantity.

Cloud-powered cross-platform experiences

xcloud

Both Microsoft and Sony are already clear about their long-term play in the gaming space: moving everything to the cloud. Microsoft's xCloud is set to release in a couple months and will allow gamers to play Xbox titles on their smartphones and other devices. However, the infrastructure is still not there for a pure, cloud-powered experiences in the here and now. In the months and years to come, we think that Sony and Microsoft might ease the transition by leveraging the power of hybrid solutions that connect to a host console.

Effectively, we're talking about supercharged versions of the "companion apps" that many games ship with right now, such as Fallout 4's Pip-boy app. Chunks of gameplay — especially sections that are more amenable to mobile controls like driving sections — could be streamed to other devices. Players could use a mobile-friendly interface — much like the Wii U's tablet mode functionality — to play these sections or perform other actions that would impact the in-game world. And thanks to the super-fast SSD storage and always-on connectivity players could pick up the main console experience seamlessly.

Conclusion

We expect to see major change in the console space over the next couple years. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will almost certainly deliver graphics and gameplay experiences that aren't possible on current tech. But, as we've seen here, there are a number of other ways we expect developers to harness the power of the next-gen consoles.


Call of Duty: Warzone Will "Evolve and Become Tied to" Future Call of Duty Games Over Time, Infinity Ward Says

call of duty warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone launched as a standalone free-to-play game earlier this year, but it's been intrinsically linked to Modern Warfare. The two games share the same progression and seasons, while Warzone is also a part of the Modern Warfare package. As time goes on, however, Warzone will continue to grow and share that same connection with other games in the Call of Duty series- as many have guessed.

Speaking with GamesRadar, Infinity Ward design director Geoff Smith said that Warzone will "evolve" over time and "become tied to" future Call of Duty games.

"Although Warzone is very closely tied to Modern Warfare, it was designed from the beginning as its own game," Smith said. "As the game continues to be updated over time, it will evolve and become tied to other games in the Call of Duty universe."

There's been plenty of evidence to suggest the same over the last few weeks, of course. Changes and references in Warzone hinting at the next Call of Duty title have been found by players, and many have predicted that updates will change Warzone to bring it more in line with whatever the series has in store next.

As for what that might be, there have been multiple leaks over the weeks suggesting that the next game in the series, due out this year, will be a Black Ops reboot developed by Treyarch called Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War. You can read more on that through here.


EA Sports UFC 4 – 15 Features You Need To Know

After numerous leaks, EA Sports UFC 4 was finally announced and will arrive on August 14th for Xbox One and PS4. It's been more than two years since the last release so what's changed? Let's take a look at 15 things you should know before buying.

Real Player Motion for Clinches and Takedowns

Real Player Motion is EA's fancy animation system which imbues fighters with more realistic movement in keeping with their personalities. Though the previous game implemented this feature to some extent, EA Sports UFC 4 sees clinches and takedowns benefiting the system. Clinches are more intuitive to enter and exit, and transitioning to throws is supposed to feel smoother. Takedowns have also been revamped as you can either dodge a takedown attempt with some nimble footwork or push an opponent into the cage before slamming them to the ground. More variety in takedown animations also makes the entire exchange feel more dynamic and less pre-determined.

Revamped Ground and Pound

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The ground and pound system is also seeing its share of interesting new features. When defending against an opponent, players can use head movement to avoid major blows and maybe transition into a counter. A new grapple assist has also been added with attacker choosing between getting up, grounding and pounding an opponent, or going for a submission.

New Submission System

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Ever wanted to strike an opponent during a submission? How about picking up and slamming them down to escape a submission? EA Sports UFC 4 allows both of these for even more realism in fights. The system also relies on two new mini-games when going for chokes or joint submissions. Standing submissions and counter-submissions for takedown attempts are also in, meaning a fight can end at any time.

High Impact Moments

New to the series, High Impact Moments can trigger on some of the more devastating hits. Along with facial and body deformation, there will be a slight blue or red hue on the side of the screen, indicating whether you should be defending or capitalizing on an attack. High Impact Moments are meant to add a bit of flair to striking exchanges along with indicating when you should push the advantage.

Revamped Career Mode

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Career Mode has a deeper focus this year with fighters evolving based on their disciplines. Players will also see more "diverging career paths" which means you can choose which fights to take. There's even Relationship Building where players will take on a friend and rival through social media. New skills can be learned in the process and all it takes is a simple tweet or two, just like in real life! If you need to learn the various systems, then there's an Amateur phase and Sparring Challenge in addition to the Practice Mode.

Weight Classes and MMA Disciplines

EA Sports UFC 4

To further develop one's fighter in Career Mode, players will choose a weight class to fight in. You then select an MMA discipline, whether it's Wrestling, Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and so on. There are five disciplines in total and EA promises that with the different moves, rivalries and weight classes on offer, no two career paths will be the same.

New Arenas

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To further add some variety to the proceedings, there are four new arenas to fight in. These are UFC Apex, Action Avenue, The Kumite and The Backyard. So whether you want the bare-bones feel of an MMA fight in the backyard, complete with tires holding up the cage, or the snazzy arena that Jean-Claude Van Damme fought in for Bloodsport, EA Sports UFC 4 aims to please.

Star Ratings

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To see a fighter's strengths and weaknesses at a glance, star ratings are being introduced. There's an overall star rating for a fighter and individual star ratings for categories like ground game, health and whatnot. You can also view a fighter's top five moves to better understand what they specialize in. Another interesting twist is live updates for attributes and moves based on a fighter's performance in the real world, which can lead to some interesting balancing situations.

Pre-order Bonuses

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Pre-order bonuses are a given with every EA Sports title and in the case of UFC 4, that means playing as boxers like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Cosmetic items like the Backyard Customization Pack and Kumite Customization Pack will also be received on pre-ordering. If you purchase through EA Sports UFC 2 or 3, then you get 10 percent off on UFC 4 along with 500 points and the legend Bruce Lee. This offer is valid until July 1st 2022 though so no rush.

Unified Progression

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Instead of separate progression for each mode, EA Sports UFC 4 offers unified progression across the board. This is most likely what the new Connected Player Profile does, essentially tracking overall experience earned. While this should help in advancing through Career Mode, it will also play a part in unlocking new gear and cosmetics.

Over 1600 Gear Pieces

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As players earn experience and complete different challenges, there will be more than 1600 gear pieces to unlock. This is in addition to 120 emotes for even more customization. While microtransactions are included, they only apply to cosmetics and it's possible to earn everything in-game. You can even unlock Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua by finishing Career Mode on the toughest difficulty. "Randomized" microtransactions – which is likely another term for RNG loot boxes – aren't included.

No Ultimate Team

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Interestingly enough, EA Sports UFC 4 won't have an Ultimate Team mode. According to creative director Brian Hayes, this is due to "overwhelmingly, less interest" in the mode when compared to other EA Sports titles. Instead, the development team focused on providing cosmetic items and challenges while improving custom fighter creation. It's good news for those burned out by all the other Ultimate Team modes if nothing else.

Rated for Xbox Series X and PS5

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The development team is currently focused on "finalizing the game" for Xbox One and PS4 and has stated that it isn't working on next-gen versions. However, an ESRB rating emerged for EA Sports UFC 4 on Xbox Series X and PS5 on the same day it was announced for current-gen. While full-fledged next-gen versions may not be in the works, it's possible that free upgrades will be provided down the line. Again, this isn't officially confirmed so take those ratings with a grain of salt.

Blitz Battles

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Online World Championships and Quick Fight will be returning with the former seeing players advancing through the leaderboards with each fight. However, Blitz Battles are completely new, comprising a six round rapid-fire tournament with rotating rule sets. You can also have flyweights battling heavyweights though which should be entertaining in its own way.

EA Access Trial

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Those who are still undecided but want to try the game before launch should take note of EA Access. Subscribers on Xbox One and PS4 can play the early access trial on August 7th for $4.99 (which lasts the entire month and provides access to lots of other titles in the EA Access Vault). Along with providing a feel for the controls and mechanics, one can also complete challenges for in-game currency. This will transfer over to the main game if you decide to pick it up.