I started writing for PlayStation LifeStyle in November 2012. I was just a fan back then—a member of the community who loved the antics of Sebastian, Dan, and the motley crew of writers that made this little site tick. I’d loved PlayStation since the day the PS1 launched, and this site full of PlayStation fans felt like home. Two months later, I was attending my first preview event for Dead Space 3. Shortly after, Dead Space 3 also became the first review I ever cut my teeth on. That same year I attended the first of what would be seven E3s, before the pandemic shut things down. I would go on to review and preview hundreds of games and products in my time at PSLS, from some of the worst experiences I’ve ever had the displeasure of playing, to getting early review access to the PlayStation 5 hardware last year.

But it’s not just the reviews and previews and early access that are what I’ve loved about this job (though they certainly are a perk). What I’ve loved most is getting to connect with the passionate people who make the games. I grew up playing Myst when I was younger, and getting to connect with creator Rand Miller? That was a dream come true, one I didn’t even consciously know I had before it happened. Same happened with the inimitable Tim Schafer. I’ve interviewed and rubbed shoulders with PlayStation leadership like Shuhei Yoshida, Shawn Layden, and Adam Boyes. I recently moderated a developer panel for the team at Polyarc. I even had a tailor-made one-on-one Knack II overview with Mark Cerny, addressing all of the criticisms from my original Knack review, which he had read.

And hopefully in some small way, I’ve been able to deliver that passion back to you, the PlayStation LifeStyle readers. That’s always been my goal. It’s all about the love of gaming. The love of Trophies. The love of PlayStation.

I could wax poetic about countless memories from my years PlayStation LifeStyle—in fact, the more I write this, the more experiences I keep remembering, like that time I wrote a satirical guide for reviewers, or was able to share my experience about my motorcycle accident, or the love for Destiny that was forged thanks to my time here. But I won’t drag this goodbye out too much longer.

I want to say thank you to the incredible people who I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. I’ve seen many PSLS writers come and go, some moving on to much bigger and better things. While it was always sad to lose amazing people, I love seeing them all excelling where they are now. And now it’s my turn to say a bittersweet goodbye. I’ve loved my experience here, but it’s time that I move on to a new adventure and a different challenge. I leave the site in the hands of a small but excellent staff of writers, who I’m certain can continue to carry the torch.

If you want to follow my future endeavors in the games industry, you can find me on Twitter @FinchStrife. For now I’ll simply say farewell, and thank you for actually reading the article.

The post Editor’s Letter: A Farewell From Editor-in-Chief Chandler Wood appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Moss: Book II was first announced at a PlayStation State of Play broadcast in July 2021. Going by the actual seasons, spring 2022 runs from the end of March through mid-June, meaning we should expect to see Moss: Book II somewhere in that March, April, or May window.

Shortly after Moss: Book II’s original announcement in July, we sat down with Polyarc Design Director Joshua Stiksma to talk about the upcoming VR game. We got plenty of insight into what the team is bringing to the table with the sequel, and how they plan to up the ante from the critically renowned first game.

Additionally, Polyarc released the hour-long DevCom 2021 panel, a fireside chat with the development team at Polyarc moderated by yours truly.  The panel, titled “The Alchemy of Polyarc,” brought together Polyarc’s art, design, animation, audio, and narrative leads to talk about just what makes the puzzle pieces fit together, and how the blend of disciplines creates one of the most special and unique VR experiences, in which players become bonded with a virtual mouse.

If that’s still not enough behind the scenes from Polyarc, there are also lengthy developer streams with plenty of additional insights, such as the video on animating quill with Animation Director Richard Lico, and a look at environment art & level design with Principal Artist Coolie Calihan.

Moss: Book II releases in spring 2022. No platforms have been confirmed except PlayStation VR. It’s unknown if the title will appear on Sony’s next gen PS5 VR headset.

The post Moss: Book II Launching Spring 2022, Hour-Long Fireside Chat With Development Team appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

A note about Titanfall. pic.twitter.com/Ew232HkUIo

— Respawn (@Respawn) December 1, 2021

The full message from Respawn reads:

Pilots,

Titanfall is part of our DNA at Respawn. It’s a game that showcased the ambitions of the studio when it was first released more than 7 years ago and it continue to be a beacon of innovation that we strive for in all of our games.

We’ve made the decision to discontinue new sales of the original Titanfall game starting today and we’ll be removing the game from subscription services on March 1, 2022. We will, however, be keeping server live for the dedicated fanbase still playing and those who own the game and are looking to drop into a match.

Rest assured, Titanfall is core to Respawn’s DNA and this incredible universe will continue. Today in Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends, and in the future. This franchise is a north star for the caliber of experiences we will continue to create here at Respawn.

Thank you from the entire Respawn team

Respawn’s decision comes following hacking issues that have made the multiplayer-only Titanfall largely unplayable in the face of the one or two people that the developer still has doing support for that original title. Removing Titanfall for new sales will not impact current owners at all, but its removal from subscription services may interrupt some players who were relying on those services to play the title. However, if you own Titanfall, you’ll still be able to play online, should you choose; The servers are not being shut down, at least not yet. The sequel, Titanfall 2, remains actively available for sale, and its servers are also online.

Respawn’s attention more recently has been focused on Apex Legends, the battle royale hero shooter set in the Titanfall universe. While rumors of a proper Titanfall 3 have cropped up in the past, nothing has yet come to fruition as the developer continues to send mixed messages about the future of the franchise without ever committing to a new Titanfall game proper.

The post New Sales of Original Titanfall Being Discontinued, Servers to Remain Online, Respawn Says Franchise is a ‘North Star’ appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Godfall: Challenger Edition is a limited version of Godfall featuring three endgame modes: Lightbringer, Dreamstones, and the Ascended Tower of Trials. Players will be able to jump in fresh with a bunch of weapons and skill points to use. It supports cross-gen play, and is compatible with any of the other versions of Godfall. Players can then upgrade the Deluxe Edition of Godfall in order to play through the bas campaign, as well as the Fire and Darkness expansion campaign, which are not part of the Challenger Edition.

LEGO DC Super Villains is an open-world LEGO game that lets players create and become their own super villain in the DC comics universe. You’ll join up with a cast of LEGO versions of other notable DC villains in order to take on the mysterious “Justice Syndicate.” Mortal Shell is a soulslike that puts players in a “shattered world” that will “test your sanity and resilience.”

Additionally, the three free PSVR games added in November—The Persistence, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, and Until You Fall—will remain available until January 3rd, 2022. However, the other three free November 2021 games—Knockout City and First Class Trouble on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning for PlayStation 4—will leave the service when the new games are added on December 7th. Make sure to redeem those titles before they make their exit.

As a reminder, players don’t have to download the titles immediately. You can redeem the free games while they are free this month and then download and play them at any time as long as you are an active PlayStation Plus subscriber. Even if you don’t have a PS5 console, you can redeem the PS5 games on the web-based PlayStation Store right now to have a library of PS5 games once you pick one up.

The new December 2021 PlayStation Plus free games go live on December 7th.

[Source: PS Blog]

The post December 2021 PlayStation Plus Free Games Include Godfall’s Endgame, LEGO DC Super Villains, and Mortal Shell appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

We first got a clear look at the Caldera map and its 15 points of interest via a tweet, after which the Call of Duty blog detailed the assorted POIs in a lengthier post granting a tour of the sunny Pacific island.

marks your drop.

Where will you be dropping? #Warzone pic.twitter.com/F9btJRH0Q0

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) November 30, 2021

There’s also a tourist-style promo video for Caldera, showing off the sites and sounds of the island that will soon be filled with battle.

Now boarding to Caldera

LIKE this tweet for exclusive pre-launch intel from our excursions across the island. #Warzone pic.twitter.com/HC7gaKlp8I

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) November 30, 2021

When Caldera launches, there will be two playlists: Vanguard Royale and a classic Battle Royale. Vanguard Royale will include new vehicles and dogfighting in planes, limit loadouts to Vanguard weapons and Operators, and offer some changes to the circle collapse to introduce new pacing to the overall game. Each collapse will now also have an in-game event take place to really make each match feel unique and change the flow.

Additionally, there are a few key changes that should help change up how the battle royale feels to play. The Gulag returns, but players who win will take their unused ammo, equipment, and the selected weapon back into the field with them when they redeploy. No more dropping back in with nothing but a pistol. Dead Silence, Stun Grenades, dual-wield melee weapons, and Heartbeat Sensors are being nerfed, and Stopping Power Rounds are being removed entirely.

Loadout Drops can now only be purchased after the free loadout drop happens in game, making it less of a mad rush for a loadout in the early moments of a match. But it’s not all nerfs. Some lethal equipment will get a bit more powerful, Snapshot Grenades will have an increased radius, Stims will grant a movement boost, and Decoy Grenades will launch out “rubber bullets that deal just enough damage to pester enemies.”

Gas masks have also been looked at, with the animation not interrupting as many actions as they previously did. There are also new gas canisters littering the map that will release the same gaseous vapors that make up the circle. You can carry these, shoot them, attach them to an ascender, and more to create tactical clouds of gas. A bunch of new contracts and public events have been added, including one that marks the player with the most kills. Feel free to hunt them down, though be warned in going after them, there’s a good reason they have that many kills.

Perhaps one of the most interesting changes is the addition of shallow water, which allows Operators to reduce tracking for those with Tracker equipped, as well as giving Operators the effects of Cold Blooded if they crouch in knee-high water. Fire-based equipment, such as molotovs or the thermite, will react with the water and cause smoke/steam, creating a new tactical playground on an island that is littered with new shallow pools of water.

You can check out the Call of Duty blog for more intel on the assorted points of interest and changes coming when Warzone Pacific and Caldera launch on December 8th for Vanguard owners and December 9th for everyone else. The complete intel hints at a number of secrets to discover littered across the map, including the remnants of Captain Butcher’s plane, and a few [REDACTED] items that will no doubt be part of Easter eggs.

More details on Season One of Warzone Pacific and Vanguard are incoming over the next week. Rumors and leaks have revealed upcoming potential crossovers, including Attack on Titan, Captain America, and Indiana Jones. The Call of Duty blog has also teased festive holiday events coming up in both games as well. There’s no word yet on a PS5 or Xbox Series X version of Warzone, or if Warzone Pacific will continue to launch from the Modern Warfare application.

And yes, Bobby Kotick is still in charge at Activision Blizzard, despite resounding criticism and calls for him to resign following a Wall Street Journal report that said he not only knew about the abuse at the company, but also shielded abusers and even mistreated women himself.

The post Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Full Caldera Map and New Intel Revealed as Season One Launch Approaches appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ is specifically designed with the PS5 in mind, from its white, black, and blue color scheme to the focus on supporting the PS5’s 3D audio capabilities, though it is multi-functional and will work with a variety of devices. You can connect it via an included 3.5mm headphone cable, or via 2.4 GHz wireless with the USB-C wireless dongle. The one downside of the USB-C dongle is that it will partially cover the other USB port on the front of your PS5 thanks to its wide shape. For a headset designed so heavily around the PS5 specifically, having a dongle that limits use of one of your other PS5 ports seems like a huge oversight.

SteelSeries has nailed the elements of design and comfort for its headsets. The Arctis 7P+ feels like a solid and sturdy headset, while also being light, flexible, and comfortable. And comfort is the name of the game. This might just be one of the most comfortable headsets I own. The brunt of the weight is supported by an adjustable elastic ski-goggle-style band, which removes the usual pressure buildup that can happen with most other headsets, even those with the softest of padding. It evenly distributes the weight and pressure so that there aren’t any noted pressure points that become painful over long gaming sessions.

The mic on the Arctis 7P+ is retractable, rather than a big arm that folds up and down on the side of the headset. While not as convenient to mute, it does ultimately create a cleaner profile for the headset by storing the mic inside the left ear cup. Thanks to it being on a semi-flexible wire, it can sometimes readjust itself in the middle of gameplay sessions, but for the most part I found it to be rigid enough that it doesn’t move around much once I have it positioned where I want it. My teammates were happy with the clear audio that the mic delivered, while also largely eliminating most off-axis noise. It features a handy LED light on the end of the mic to show when you are muted, and the whole arm easily slides back into the ear cup when you aren’t using voice chat.

One of the winning features of the Arctis 7P+ for me is sidetone (the ability to monitor your own voice with zero-latency), and not only does the 7P+ implement this feature, it has a special dial to adjust the volume of the sidetone audio. I hate feeling like I can only hear my own voice as it echoes through my own head, particularly when playing a loud game with friends, so the ability to not only hear myself, but balance my own voice within my mix is fantastic.

In terms of audio quality, SteelSeries retains its best-in-class badge here, with an affordable headset that delivers phenomenal sound. Particularly in conjunction with the PS5’s 3D audio engine, the Arctis 7P+ delivers full bodied audio that covers the frequency range. Highs are crisp, not tinny. Voices are clear, and don’t get muddied into the rest of the mix, even when there’s a lot going on. And while these don’t have the punchiest low-end, I actually prefer headsets that balance bass within the mix rather than try to fake consumers out by calling big bass “quality” audio. Explosions and other lows still sound and feel sufficiently boomy without cranking it up to levels that ruin the rest of the mix. That balance is key, particularly within games, which is what these cans are primarily tuned for.

The Arctis 7P+ not only sounds great, but it performs well technically too. SteelSeries says the wireless range is 40 feet, and in my testing, it meets and even exceeds that. I had to leave my house before the sound would start dropping out. Where I have to prepare for other headsets to disconnect if I want to run upstairs to grab a drink, tend to the animals, or get a bite to eat, the Arctis 7P+ remains clearly connected anywhere I stand within my home. It boasts a 30+ hour battery life, which seemed to be generally consistent in my time with the headset so far, and even if it does die, the USB-C charging means you can get 3 hours of battery life out of a 15-minute quick charge.

The SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ is one of the best PS5 headsets you can get. From design, to quality, to comfort, to performance, it covers everything you’d need out of a gaming headset, handily outperforming virtually every other headset in its price range. At a fair price of $169.99 retail, you’d have to pay significantly more to begin getting other features or notably improved quality.

SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ review unit provided by manufacturer. For more information, please read our Review Policy.

The post SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ PS5 Headset Review – Best in Class appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Atropos..?#Returnal pic.twitter.com/oZdDUHoXYR

— Housemarque (@Housemarque) November 26, 2021

The image seen isn’t familiar to anyone; no one can seem to place it within Returnal’s current biomes and environments. Showing what appears to be a rocky formation that looks like a horned helmet or head, the picture is an off-screen image taken on a TV that is sitting on gear crates—the kind often used for big events, like say, maybe The Game Awards. The figure that stands as the subject of the image looks like it could possibly be one of the statues of the alien life forms that litter Atropos, though there does appear to be something a bit different about it, not to mention the unfamiliar environment it seems to be in.

The comment on the tweet—”Atropos..?”—has sparked speculation that the image isn’t even on Returnal’s alien world of Atropos, which leads many to believe that an incoming DLC announcement will take Selene somewhere else. Given the Returnal hashtag, we know for certain that the mysterious tweet has something to do with the game. But just what it could be is yet unknown.

Housemarque was acquired by PlayStation Studios earlier this year, and given Returnal’s status as one of the first and biggest PS5 exclusives so far, it would make sense to continue to support the game with additionally places to go and things to do.

Of course, with The Game Awards 2021 coming up on December 9, that seems to be the closest event that a tease could lead into a big announcement. Organizer Geoff Keighley has been teasing an enormous show with tons of announcements that will change the face of the video game industry as we know it. A few new Returnal biomes may not exactly change video games as we know it, but it would be a great way to return to a beloved game. For now, however, this is all speculation until we either get a full announcement, or more teases add more weight to the possibility.

What does the image mean to you? Do you think Housemarque is preparing players to start the loop once again?

The post Returnal DLC Announcement at The Game Awards 2021? Housemarque Tweet Sparks Speculation appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Recently, I’ve been revising the plan and script, and experimenting with everything else. pic.twitter.com/aFV5SxOvsr

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) November 24, 2021

Many fans speculate that the person in the white shirt is Norman Reedus—his hair, stance, boots, and general demeanor as can be seen in the image seem to match Reedus’ own. This would reunite Kojima and Reedus after previously working together on Death Stranding. Others have pointed out the man with his back to the camera in the coveralls, who seems to be getting prepped for… something. Honestly, the image doesn’t offer much in the way of details, and given that this is a Kojima project, even if we did know more, we couldn’t actually say that we “know” more, all things considered. Still, it shows that Kojima is hard at work on bringing his next big creation to the world, whether its a game, movie, TV series, or otherwise.

GameSpot noted that Kojima best friend and The Game Awards organizer Geoff Keighley replied with just the eyes emoji, which has sparked some speculation about whether or not Kojima will appear at The Game Awards 2021 next month. This photo seems to show early production ideas, which may mean things are a bit too early for Kojima to show up at the industry awards show with a fresh reveal just yet. But we can at least rest assured that Kojima is working on…something, and a blurry Norman Reedus may be involved.

[Source: GameSpot]

The post Hideo Kojima Teasing New Project, Which Seems to Involve Norman Reedus Again appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

“We have aspired to redefine what a music game can be,” Harmonix said. “Now, we’ll be working with Epic to once again challenge expectations as we bring our unique brand of musical gaming experiences to the Metaverse, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Rock Band DLC will continue to release for the foreseeable future (at least into 2022), Rock Band Rivals has Season 25 already planned and ideas brewing for Season 26 and beyond, and there won’t be any change to the cadence of planned Fuser DLC and events. Additionally there are no plans to change anything about servers or game availability of any of Harmonix’s currently running titles. Unfortunately, if you were hoping for a revival of the plastic instrument craze, it is “not in [their] current plans” to manufacture more Rock Band instruments, though if anyone can one day revive the era of plastic instrument jam bands, it’s Harmonix and Epic.

What the team is working on next is working with Epic specifically to “create musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite.” They aren’t going into the specifics on these plans just yet, but given the pedigree of Harmonix’s past interactive music experiences, we can expect the studio to bring a new interactive musical flair to Epic’s metaverse in ways that no other developer can. Adding to the enormous concerts and musical events Fortnite has already done, we can only imagine what flavor Harmonix might bring to the table.

[Source: Harmonix]

The post Rock Band and Fuser Creator Harmonix Acquired by Epic Games, Will Make Musical Journeys for Fortnite appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Bowser’s email was reportedly sent to every employee at all levels of Nintendo of America, including the internal development studios. Bowser says that he has been “following the latest developments with Activision Blizzard and the ongoing reports of sexual harassment and toxicity at the company.” In addition to calling the reports “distressing and disturbing,” he says they “run counter to my values as well as Nintendo’s beliefs, values and policies.” Bowser expects the gaming industry and any partners of Nintendo to hold themselves to a high standard of an open and inclusive workplace.

Additionally, Bowser claims that Nintendo has been “in contact with Activision,” and says that they have “taken action and are assessing others.” Fanbyte notes that the email doesn’t offer any specificity into the actions that have been taken or are being considered. Bowser’s email also mentions working through E3 organizers the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to “strenghten stances on harassment and abuse in the workplace.” Activision Blizzard and Nintendo are both members of the ESA—along with a number of other prominent publishers—and Bowser says they “must hold its members to the highest standard.”

A report over the weekend said that Kotick is considering stepping down if change within Activision Blizzard’s culture doesn’t happen quickly enough, though this report does smack of irony given that many demands to fix the culture start with the removal of Kotick anyway. At this time, the Activision Blizzard board of directors have made their official stance in backing the ongoing leadership of Kotick despite the reports.

[Source: Fanbyte]

The post Nintendo President Joins Sony and Xbox in Criticism of Activision Blizzard and Bobby Kotick appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.