Christopher Castellaw - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/author/christophercastellaw/ PS5, PS4, PS Plus, and PSN News, Guides, Trophies, Reviews, and More! Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:05:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.3 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/cropped-favicon.png?w=32 Christopher Castellaw - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/author/christophercastellaw/ 32 32 Project Q Video Shows Leaked Footage of Sony’s Portable PlayStation in Action https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/22/project-q-video-shows-leaked-footage-of-sonys-portable-playstation-in-action/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/22/project-q-video-shows-leaked-footage-of-sonys-portable-playstation-in-action/#respond Sat, 22 Jul 2023 20:32:08 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=887938 Gamers may still have to wait a while until they can get their hands on Sony’s Project Q PlayStation handheld, but thanks to leaked footage, they can now see the portable PlayStation in action. A leaked Project Q video, along with several images of the handheld, show what looks to be an early version of […]

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]]> Gamers may still have to wait a while until they can get their hands on Sony’s Project Q PlayStation handheld, but thanks to leaked footage, they can now see the portable PlayStation in action. A leaked Project Q video, along with several images of the handheld, show what looks to be an early version of the final hardware ahead of Project Q’s rumored November release.

Leaked Project Q video shows the portable PlayStation in action for the first time

As initially reported by Insider Gaming, a series of images and a short video clip of Sony’s Project Q handheld have appeared online. The images, which show Project Q in both its finished and disassembled state, reportedly came from a factory producing Sony’s handheld. Following the release of the images, a leaked video showing Project Q’s system software was posted online by Twitter user Zuby_Tech.

While the leaked Project Q video doesn’t show any games being played on Sony’s PlayStation streaming handheld, it does give potential buyers a glimpse at how snappy the software may be. Running on what appears to be a custom version of Android, the system looks remarkably responsive as the person filming navigates through multiple menus using both the analog sticks and the touchscreen. A half-empty battery icon visible on the system’s home screen could add support to reports of Project Q’s short battery life, but it’s too early to tell at this point.

Designed to stream players’ existing PS5 library rather than play standalone games like Nintendo’s Switch, Sony’s unorthodox approach to handheld gaming with Project Q is a big gamble. As PS5 sales continue to grow in multiple markets, though, it’s one that could pay off if Sony can sell PS5 owners on the idea of gaming on the go. But, with economic uncertainty leading many to bring in their budgets in recent months, even if Project Q costs less than $300 as rumored, the asking price may still be too high for many players’ pocketbooks.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/22/project-q-video-shows-leaked-footage-of-sonys-portable-playstation-in-action/feed/ 0 Half-Life-Inspired Shooter Vertigo 2 Is Coming to PSVR2 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/14/vertigo-2-psvr2-half-life-like-shooter/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/14/vertigo-2-psvr2-half-life-like-shooter/#respond Fri, 14 Jul 2023 22:39:00 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=887367 Owners of Sony’s high-end headset will soon be able to get their hands on one of the most acclaimed VR titles of 2023 when sci-fi shooter Vertigo 2 arrives on PSVR2 later this year. Originally released on PC in March, it was revealed during the July 14 Perp Games VR Summer Showcase that the Half-Life-inspired […]

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]]> Owners of Sony’s high-end headset will soon be able to get their hands on one of the most acclaimed VR titles of 2023 when sci-fi shooter Vertigo 2 arrives on PSVR2 later this year. Originally released on PC in March, it was revealed during the July 14 Perp Games VR Summer Showcase that the Half-Life-inspired title will be coming to PSVR2 this year.

Vertigo 2 will release physically and digitally

According to UploadVR, both digital and physical versions of Vertigo 2 are planned for PSVR2 in 2023, although no firm release date was given. Described by its creator as “an immersive single-player first-person shooter with a focus on story, spectacle, and tactile VR gameplay,” Vertigo 2 was widely praised by critics and gamers following its PC launch in March and currently sits at an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam. The announcement of the PSVR2 port closed out the Perp Games VR Summer Showcase, which also included more information on the PSVR2 release of Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate.

Screenshot of an interior level in Vertigo 2

Created by solo developer Zach Tsiakalis-Brown, Vertigo 2’s gameplay is heavily inspired by classic Valve shooters like Portal and the Half-Life series. Featuring a heavily comedic tone throughout, Vertigo 2’s light-hearted gunplay should help it stand out against decidedly darker PSVR2 shooters like Hellsweeper VR. The game’s campaign mode is spread across 18 chapters filled with a wide array of alien enemies and some massive bosses that players can dispatch with Vertigo 2’s many unique weapons. Players will also be able to make their own fun using Vertigo 2’s built-in level editor, which even features scripting support for creating custom missions.

Tsiakalis-Brown had previously mentioned the possibility of a Vertigo PSVR2 port. Despite being a single developer, he tweeted it was “definitely a possibility” and that he’d love to do it.

Vertigo 2 is just one of many high-profile PC VR titles headed to PSVR2 in the coming months, which should help to address some concerns about a lack of quality titles for Sony’s headset. As part of a $2 billion dollar investment in game R&D announced by Sony Group earlier this week, the company plans to increase spending on development of VR, AR, and mixed-reality titles in the coming years.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/14/vertigo-2-psvr2-half-life-like-shooter/feed/ 0 Judge Calls Microsoft’s Call of Duty Deal Bad for Sony, But ‘Good for Call of Duty Gamers’ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/11/judge-calls-microsofts-call-of-duty-deal-bad-for-sony-but-good-for-call-of-duty-gamers/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/11/judge-calls-microsofts-call-of-duty-deal-bad-for-sony-but-good-for-call-of-duty-gamers/#respond Wed, 12 Jul 2023 01:27:43 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=887129 There are winners and losers in every case, and the recent trial between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission is no different. Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley’s ruling in favor of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard states that, while Microsoft’s future plans for the Call of Duty franchise may be bad for Sony, they’re good for […]

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]]> There are winners and losers in every case, and the recent trial between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission is no different. Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley’s ruling in favor of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard states that, while Microsoft’s future plans for the Call of Duty franchise may be bad for Sony, they’re good for gamers.

Judge Corley cites Sony’s payments for Call of Duty’s exclusive marketing rights

As first reported on Twitter by The Verge senior editor Tom Warren, Judge Corley’s ruling against the FTC claims that Microsoft’s Call of Duty deal will be good for gamers. Citing Sony’s history of paying for exclusive marketing rights for Call of Duty titles, Judge Corley states that the deal will allow gamers to “utilize the cloud to play on the device of choice, including, it is intended, on the Nintendo Switch. Perhaps bad for Sony. But good for Call of Duty gamers and future gamers.” As part of its efforts to acquire Activision Blizzard, Microsoft announced in February that it signed a binding 10-year contract to bring the Call of Duty franchise and other Xbox titles to Nintendo’s consoles.

Warren notes that Judge Corley’s ruling echoes statements by the European Unions’ antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestrager. In a speech following the European Union’s May decision in favor of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Vestager claimed the deal would have “significant procompetitive effects.” Both judges’ decisions stand in stark contrast to the somewhat outlandish claims from Sony during the case alleging that Microsoft might make future Call of Duty games buggy on PS5 and PS4. Sony had also objected to an offer from Microsoft to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation for the near future, claiming the deal would “irreparably harm competition.”

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Now that Microsoft has won its case against the FTC it will have to abide by the terms of the agreements made about Call of Duty’s future. This means that not only will the Call of Duty franchise be available on PlayStation for at least the next decade, but also on the Nintendo Switch and cloud services for the first time. While this certainly isn’t the outcome Sony was hoping for, it may well be the best one possible for Call of Duty fans.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/11/judge-calls-microsofts-call-of-duty-deal-bad-for-sony-but-good-for-call-of-duty-gamers/feed/ 0 Sega Moves Away from Blockchain Games https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/08/sega-moves-away-from-blockchain-games/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/08/sega-moves-away-from-blockchain-games/#respond Sat, 08 Jul 2023 23:07:04 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=886943 In a new interview with Bloomberg, Sega’s co-Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi says the company is abandoning plans to develop blockchain games for the time being. According to a GDC survey from earlier this year only 23% of game developers are interested in using cryptocurrency or blockchain technology in their games. Sega won’t make blockchain […]

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]]> In a new interview with Bloomberg, Sega’s co-Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi says the company is abandoning plans to develop blockchain games for the time being. According to a GDC survey from earlier this year only 23% of game developers are interested in using cryptocurrency or blockchain technology in their games.

Sega won’t make blockchain games but will license some characters for NFTs.

Speaking to Bloomberg News, Utsumi said that Sega is re-evaluating its use of blockchain, crypto, and related play-to-earn game mechanics because “The action in play-to-earn games is boring, what’s the point if games are no fun?” While it’s moving away from the use of blockchain in its top-tier franchises, Sega will allow some characters to be used as NFTs, including Virtua Fighter and Three Kingdoms characters. The company will also offer “lesser franchises” for use in multiple blockchain games that have yet to be announced.

Although Sega will no longer include blockchain in its most high-profile games Utsumi, who told Bloomberg last month that Sega isn’t interested in any acquisition talks, didn’t rule out revisiting the technology down the line. He also refused to comment on whether blockchain technology would be used in Sega’s mysterious “super game” slate of big-budget releases scheduled for 2026. Despite previous optimism at Sega about the use of blockchain and other web3 tech, Utsumi told Bloomberg the company is now “looking into whether this technology is really going to take off in this industry, after all.”

Despite Sega’s hesitance about the technology, other gaming companies may be going all in on web3 features. It was recently revealed that Sony patented a system for transferring and trading PlayStation NFTs, showing that console makers could embrace the tech even if developers don’t. The use of blockchain and other web3 technology in games has been a sore spot for many players in recent years, leading to significant pushback, but it seems it won’t disappear anytime soon as long as developers and publishers see potential profits in its use.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/08/sega-moves-away-from-blockchain-games/feed/ 0 Gran Turismo 7 Update Next Week Will Add 3 New Cars https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/06/26/gran-turismo-7-update-next-week-will-add-3-new-cars/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/06/26/gran-turismo-7-update-next-week-will-add-3-new-cars/#respond Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:13:42 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=886051 Fans of Polyphony Digital’s popular PlayStation 5 racing sim will be able to step behind the wheel of three new cars as part of a Gran Turismo 7 update arriving next week. Originally released in Spring 2022, Gran Turismo 7 players have seen a steady stream of content updates that have brought multiple new cars […]

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]]> Fans of Polyphony Digital’s popular PlayStation 5 racing sim will be able to step behind the wheel of three new cars as part of a Gran Turismo 7 update arriving next week. Originally released in Spring 2022, Gran Turismo 7 players have seen a steady stream of content updates that have brought multiple new cars and tracks to the title on a regular basis since launch.

The 3 New Cars Coming to Gran Turismo 7 Will Arrive As Part of a Free Content Update

A new post on Twitter (via ComicBook.com) from Gran Turismo 7 producer Kaz Yamauchi has revealed that a new update will be coming to the popular PlayStation racing game next week. The tweet included a picture of the three cars included with the update obscured by shadows, leaving players to speculate about which new rides they’ll be able to add to their collection. Other than the arrival of the new vehicles, no other information was given about what will be included in the update.

The new cars are arriving just weeks after Gran Turismo 7 added the 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo, and 2018 Ford Maverick to the game with Update 1.34. Previous updates have also added additional functionality to the game, such as support for Sony’s PlayStation VR2 and limited-time game modes like being able to race against Polyphony Digital and Sony AI’s advanced Gran Turismo Sophy AI racer.

Despite being praised for its rock-solid gameplay and gorgeous graphics, Gran Turismo 7 has proven to be a controversial entry in the long-running franchise for some players. Some of the biggest complaints have stemmed from the astronomically high price to unlock cars in Gran Turismo 7 compared to previous Gran Turismo entries, with Polyphony Digital aggressively pushing microtransactions throughout the game. Technical problems have also been a frequent issue with the game, including a particularly nasty Gran Turismo 7 PS5 shutdown bug that caused gamers’ consoles to turn off while playing the game. Following the recent hints from Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi that Gran Turismo 8 is already in development, hopefully the developer will address these issues before the series’ next entry.

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