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In fact, it’s fair to say that those two titles created the foundation that Order of the Sinking Star sits on, not just because of its many, many puzzles, but also with its intriguing blend of characters, an unfolding story, and its stylish aesthetic.

Introducing this new star

While Order of the Sinking Star’s story is more explicit than that found in Braid or The Witness due to its immediate presence of talkative, controllable characters, there’s still a strong ethos of discovery. Even in the demo I played, exposition is delivered in small, sporadic chunks, all secondary to introducing the gameplay mechanics.

This is entirely by design. The subtle environmental storytelling introduces a world of obstacles and divergences, where people are displaced in their surroundings. The first character, the Queen, is lost in what appears to be a strange palace at first, before it opens out into the game’s overworld. It serves as a quick intro to pushing blocking objects around the grid-like locations to progress, as well as understanding the invaluable rewind/undo mechanic in case you get stuck during a puzzle and need to revert to an earlier point in time.

Hearty heroes and more

It’s an essential mechanic, too, given the introduction of the game’s other characters, who come with their own puzzle-driven abilities. Given the choice of three different areas to tackle after the tutorial section, I sent the Queen northwards to begin The Hearty Heroes of Hauling section, which initially stars the warrior Valens, Tif the thief, and Isidore the wizard. Initially separated, each character can manipulate obstructive blocks and crystals in one specific way – Valens can push them, Tif can only pull them, and Isidore magically swaps places with them on line-of-sight.

Guiding the Queen Westwards instead opens up The Promise, where I controlled an explorer who has to work his way through a maze-like mine using the power of gems to emit different coloured beams to perform abilities. While the grassy Mirror Isles to the East dropped me into the sandals of a wealthy trader using mirrors to swap places with his projected reflection in order to navigate a waterlogged archipelago. 

A nesting doll of puzzles

Just as the story reveals its intriguing wrinkles through voice over dialogue and narration, the Sokoban-like puzzles start off simple but escalate very quickly. In The Hearty Heroes of Hauling, the trio eventually meet up, meaning I had to use a combination of all their abilities to progress. Later, a druid who could transmute blocks joined their ranks, and so the game’s complexity evolved further.

Did I mention there are monsters, too? Puzzle purists don’t need to worry – there’s no fighting in the game. But dealing with goblins who will kill your character if they’re on an adjacent square, or beasts who shoot fire on line-of-sight meant the puzzles switched up once more, especially as some gates could only be deactivated once the enemies were vanquished. Thankfully, monsters can be manipulated to attack each other, while another new character, the bard, could charm them with an area of effect ability. And later in the game, a priestess is entirely immune to their attacks, enabling her to protect any adjacent peers.

Order of the Sinking Star prides itself on the gradual layering of new characters, elements, and environments the further you travel. Early on in the demo, the Queen was forced to use the other characters’ abilities to access more of the overworld, smartly leaning on my familiarity with their powers to overcome increasingly difficult challenges. 

And then, several hours in, things changed in a way that turned the entire game on its head…

When worlds collide

As if the three different worlds’ worth of puzzles and an overworld with its own batch of enigmas and brainteasers wasn’t enough, Order of the Sinking Star’s big turning point is when the characters from the different worlds begin to interact in order to solve puzzles they couldn’t alone. At one late point I was having to switch between the merchant and wizard across realms, thinking about their abilities in different ways. 

It speaks to the ethos of Order of the Sinking Star that this switch is still early in a game which has hundreds of hours of gameplay, built on the back of over a thousand puzzles. And while there’s a clear narrative progression, the freedom to choose the order of how you tackle some of them meant I could still move on when I hit a wall.

And on top of all of this, a whole fourth Southern area, Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, was unavailable in my demo, but promises to ramp things up further with a marooned sailor in a world of giant stones, lily pads, and rivers she can redirect.

Following the star’s light

It’s been ten years in development via a modest team of around 20 people, but with its 900+ levels, multiple endings, and constantly evolving gameplay, even after several hours in the demo it’s clear there’s literally worlds worth of discovery left in Thekla’s enchanting puzzler. We’ll even find out what’s truly behind the mysterious title itself…

Expect more to surface from Order of the Sinking Star when it releases on PS5 later this year.

Find your favorite Hero or Villain

When selecting a character, take a look at the EASE OF USE rating on the character select screen.
The more stars a character has, the easier they are to use, making them a great choice for newcomers.
Some of the most beginner-friendly characters include Captain America, Ms. Marvel, and Wolverine. Iron Man and Spider-Man are also relatively easy to learn.

On the other hand, characters such as Storm and Danger offer more advanced playstyles that may take additional time to master. One of the strengths of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is that once you’ve learned a character, you can rely on them throughout the entire match. That’s why we recommend starting with the hero you like most and gradually expanding your roster from there.

If you’re unsure how to build a team, try combining close-range and long-range specialists. For example, Wolverine’s aggressive melee style pairs nicely with Iron Man’s powerful ranged attacks.

That said, the best team is ultimately the one made up of your favorite heroes. Experiment and create a team that feels uniquely yours.

Learn the basics with Startup Battle

Not sure where to begin? Start with Startup Battle. This mode teaches the game’s core mechanics step-by-step while you play as Captain America.  You’ll learn everything from basic attacks—including Light (□), Medium (△), and Heavy (○) attacks—to combos, skills, and unique character-specific actions through hands-on tutorials.

Startup Battle is divided into two sections:

●       Basics, which focuses on actions performed by an individual character.
●       Assemble, which introduces team-based mechanics and cooperative actions.

Players already familiar with fighting games can skip the Basics section and jump directly into Assemble. While you don’t need to master everything right away, Startup Battle is the perfect place to learn the fundamentals before heading into battle

Master basic combos and defense

One of the first mechanics new players should learn is the Link Attack system. By repeatedly pressing the same attack button, you can easily perform beginner-friendly combo sequences. In the examples below, L, M, and H refer to Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks.

●       L → L → L → L
○       Chains into a Skill and can trigger a Break (stage transition)
●       M → M → M
○       Leads into a powerful Super Skill
●       H → H → H
○       Leads into an even stronger Ultimate Skill

Start by learning these simple sequences to build a foundation for dealing damage.
Once you’re comfortable, try more advanced routes such as:

L → M → H → Skill → Assemble Rush → Follow-up Attack

Successfully coordinating with your teammates opens up additional combo opportunities and lets you experience the excitement of the game’s team-based combat. Of course, offense is only half the battle. Learning how to defend yourself is just as important.

The first defensive technique you’ll want to learn is Guard.

●       Hold ← to perform a standing guard.
●       Hold ↙ to perform a crouching guard.

Once you’re comfortable blocking attacks, try incorporating two advanced defensive options into your gameplay.

Assemble Counter is performed by pressing □ + × while not guarding. Your character performs a defensive backstep, and if an opponent attacks during the maneuver, you’ll automatically launch a counterattack.

Crossover is performed by pressing □ + × while guarding. This calls in a teammate to interrupt the opponent’s attack and create an opening for a counteroffensive.

Mastering these mechanics can turn a defensive situation into an immediate comeback opportunity. Both techniques can be practiced in Startup Battle, so be sure to give them a try.

Assists and character switching

Pressing × will call in a teammate to perform an Assemble Assist attack. You can also switch characters by pressing a directional input along with L2.

The teammate you call depends on the direction you input:

●   Neutral or → : 2nd teammate
●   ↓ : 3rd teammate
●   ← : 4th teammate

For example:

●   ↓ + × calls your third teammate as an assist.
●   ← + L2 switches to your fourth teammate.

New players may find assists easier to use than direct character switching, so we recommend becoming familiar with assists first. Once you’ve gained some experience, try using assist-to-switch techniques.

After calling an assist, you’ll briefly see a “Switch?” prompt on-screen. Pressing L2 during this window allows you to seamlessly switch to that character.

It may take some practice, but mastering this mechanic lets you rotate through heroes fluidly and unleash the fast-paced team action that defines MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.

Find the Skill Input Style That Works for You

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls offers two ways to perform Skills. The first is traditional Command Inputs (also known as motion inputs), familiar to fighting game veterans. The second is a Quick Skill option that allows you to execute skills with a single button press. While both methods provide similar functionality,

Command Inputs offer slightly higher damage and generate more Skill Gauge. If you’re new to fighting games, we recommend starting with Quick Skills while you learn the fundamentals. As you grow more comfortable, try incorporating Command Inputs into your combos for even greater rewards. You can also customize the Quick Skill button through the control settings to suit your preferred playstyle.

Experience the story in Episode Mode

The Open Beta also includes access to part of the Amazing Guardians Episode. Players will get a glimpse of key story moments, including encounters with Promoter and Champion, and learn more about why Spider-Man ultimately forms his team.

The story is presented through immersive motion comics featuring artwork from a renowned comic artist, bringing the Marvel Universe to life in a unique and engaging format. After experiencing the story, you’ll head straight into battle. Once you’ve completed Startup Battle and learned the basics, be sure to check out Episode Mode as well.  

See you in the Open Beta

We’ve covered some of the key fundamentals you’ll need to get started in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, from picking your first character to learning combos, defense, and team mechanics.

Don’t worry about mastering everything right away. Startup Battle and Training Mode are designed to help you learn at your own pace, and part of the fun is discovering new strategies and team combinations as you play.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta runs from July 24–26 on PlayStation 5 consoles and PC. We can’t wait to see the teams you create and the battles you’ll bring to life.  

See you in the Open Beta!

raphxander_ shares Arjun facing the eclipsed sun in Saros

jobolts_ shares Atsu watching the sun set from a cliffside in Ghost of Yōtei

honeysinghzzz shares Aloy raising a hand up towards the sun in Horizon Forbidden West

Mur4dQ shares the sun hiding behind a mountain in Sea of Stars

pavesoint shares the sun’s rays shining in the background in Infinity Nikki

CaptainGG_R shares an orange-drenched sky during sunset in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 22, 2026 

Next week, raise the sails and share moments from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

“We were waiting because you never know when your trailer is about to appear,” says Marketing Director Bérenger Dupré. “Then we saw it and started freaking out. And the video’s chat moves so fast that you can’t read the reactions. Then we received a message from a fan showing a version of the ‘absolute cinema’ meme, and I was like, okay… we’re doing fine.”

Since that nerve-wracking reveal, Konami and Evil Empire have been hard at work to ensure Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse meets its October 15 launch on PS5. Which has also included offering some hands-on time to peer into the gothic depths that await.

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In this coffin of treasures I discovered lots for Castlevania traditionalists to enjoy, combined with modern quality of life design choices, smooth combat, and an expansive magic and abilities system giving this entry in the series a fresh feel. In fact, this approach is symbolised by the entirely new character who fronts the game…

Meet Rose Belmont

Set after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, 1499 Paris is in ruin and on the brink of Dracula’s resurrection. The city’s only hope? Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose, who are infiltrating the city after a suspicious letter from the Bishop. While Trevor seeks out the clergy, our protagonist Rose is left to explore the city itself, burning, ravaged, and rampant with the undead.

After a fun animated scene setter, Rose’s introduction blends both thoughtful aesthetic design and hints towards a character arc befitting of the Belmont family tree. She’s determined, but burdened with guilt over her mother’s death, a scar visually represented by her tarot deck and the fiery red curse creeping from her elbow to hand, both things which have greater significance as the game progresses.

Modern-yet-classic Castlevania

Belmont’s Curse feels exactly how a modern Castlevania game should feel, steering away from roguelite elements of permadeath or procedurally generated levels. “We really wanted to capture the essence of the series,” says Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi. “When we started discussing the game with Evil Empire, we said we’d like to go back to its core.”

From its massive map with destructible secret walls, to clearly visible areas which are inaccessible until you gain a certain skill (and the suitably gothic soundtrack of organs and synths) all the expected elements are here. There’s a familiar weight to how Rose controls, but it’s graced with an agile responsiveness that makes both combat and platforming feel intuitive.

During my playthrough, I was able to swiftly guide Rose with wall jumps, swing across instant death spikes, and mix it up with crafty skeletons, lumbering zombies, and cowardly bats, all of which can be damaged by the environmental hazards. And while there was no double jump available, not only were there noticeable level design clues that it would be introduced later, but my questions to the dev team about the ability were met with a wry grin.

Fast and fluid combat

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse also places strong emphasis on snappy combat, with versatile evades and combos. Rose’s dodge and slide on the Circle button gives you the ability to flip backwards with a double tap, while the Arcana Whip grapple on R2 can be chained into an instant attack or traversal swing. Mana – something you can recover by defeating enemies – is used for spells with the Triangle button, or healing via L1.

The weapons system is also substantial, with seven different types each with their own style and special moves. For example, the balanced longsword comes with a perk of extra damage when attacking immediately after a backdash. While the cestus gauntlets are shorter range but have faster combos, and increase in damage the more I hit enemies with them.

“We are very focused on combat, which was a great opportunity to add something new in this specific genre,” explains Evil Empire’s creative director Emmanuel Nouaille. “We want to get the right balance between the spirit of Castlevania and what we want to have to modernize.”

Unleash the power of Relics

Also making their return are Relics, which offer bonuses for combat and exploration. Rose can equip up to three, so you can tailor them to your individual playstyle. The main one I found was the Crypt Key which fully restored Rose’s health and mana whenever she opened a chest. Which was especially useful because:

This game packs a challenge

True to its roots, Belmont’s Curse doesn’t spare your feelings. Hasty mistakes are punished fast and hard, but I never felt like the game was unfair. The reliance on learning patterns, using your dodge’s invincibility frames, and mastering Rose’s attacks were essential to surviving, especially when it comes to the visually impressive boss fights.

Whether it was leaping over The Fallen’s Holy Cross or screen-reaching whip attack in the sewers, or dodging Joan of Arc’s flaming sword swipes, backstabs, and fireballs during an explosive rooftop battle, my first encounter with the game’s bosses were vicious and reflex testing, respecting repeated and patient play.

The cards are the key

The satisfaction of defeating the tricky bosses is also rewarded via the loot you earn from them. As well as occasional weapons – Joan’s Burnt Sword of Fierbois and its charge attack was a particular favourite – each boss gets merged into Rose’s tarot deck, turning them into Arcana which unlocks spells, skills, and special actions.

So that Holy Cross The Fallen repeatedly bludgeoned me with? Well, as a Castlevania mainstay it should be no surprise that it’s yours once you’ve ‘tamed’ him. While Joan’s Holy Light allowed me to traverse through previously solid Chaos Shards by holding down L2, an ability which also deflected enemy attacks if I timed my press perfectly.

Additionally, each Arcana has up to three Works of Mercy, a specific task to be completed like hitting an enemy five times with its spell, which then unlocks a Blessing to improve it. This comes with an unlockable bonus ‘Gift’ once you assign it – for example, the Cursed Flame’s fireball can be enhanced to become bigger and pack a heavier pushback.

Whip smart design decisions

While the nerves are still there for the development team, my playthrough so far captured what made the Castlevania series fun in the first place, without alienating modern day expectations. And it’s an excitement echoed by the people behind the eagerly anticipated action adventure. “We’re happy and overwhelmed with the great response,” says Tsutomu. “I feel a lot of pressure, because everyone is expecting a lot, but it’s a good feeling.”

You’ll be able to finally revisit Dracula in all his gothic glory when Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse arrives on PS5 on October 15 – just in time for Halloween.

Whether you’re returning after last year’s Closed Betas or stepping into the fight for the very first time, here’s everything you need to know before the Open Beta begins.

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Open beta schedule

The Open Beta will run for 72 hours, starting on:

• Start: July 24, 12:00am PT / 8:00am BST / 4:00pm JST
• End: July 26, 11:59pm PT / July 27, 7:59am BST / 3:59pm JST

The Open Beta will be available on PlayStation 5 console, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. No registration is required: simply download the Open Beta from your platform store and start playing. Pre-downloads will be available two hours before the Open Beta goes live, so you can be ready to play as soon as the servers open.

A PlayStation Plus subscription is not required. However, all players will need an internet connection and an Account for PlayStation  to access the Open Beta on both PS5 and PC.  

15 playable Heroes and Villains

Fifteen of the game’s twenty launch characters will be available during the Open Beta, including Blade who becomes playable for the very first time.

Fighting Avengers

• Captain America
• Iron Man
• Black Panther 

Unbreakable X-Men

• Storm
• Magik
• Wolverine
• Danger 

Amazing Guardians

• Spider-Man
• Ms. Marvel
• Star-Lord
• Peni Parker 

Samurai Outriders

• Ghost Rider
• Blade 

Knights of Doom

• Doctor Doom
• Magneto
   

Players will also be able to battle across six iconic stages, each inspired by legendary Marvel locations: Marvel’s New York (Day), Savage Land, X-Mansion, Knowhere, Wakanda, and Marvel’s New York (Night).  

More than online battles

Many of you have already experienced online matches during the Closed Betas. This time, we also want to give you a taste of the additional modes and features waiting for you in the full game when it launches on August 6.

Online Casual and Ranked Matches

Jump into Casual Match to quickly face opponents of a similar skill level or test yourself in Ranked Match and climb the competitive ladder against the best of players.

Want to battle locally? Versus Mode will let you challenge friends on the same system or practice against the CPU whenever you like. 

Explore the open lobby

The Open Lobby is your hub between battles, featuring miniature versions of the game’s iconic stages.

Choose from 16 unique avatars, each with four color variations, then explore the lobby, meet other players, and communicate using free chat, preset messages, stamps, and emotes. Ready for another fight? Head over to one of the arcade cabinets scattered throughout the lobby to challenge other players.

Practice time

New to MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls? Start with Start Up Battle, an interactive tutorial designed to introduce the game’s core mechanics. Learn the fundamentals of 4v4 combat, understand team-based systems, and put your new skills to the test in a trial match before jumping into the action.

Whether you’re learning the basics or mastering advanced combos, Training Mode gives you all the tools you need. Experiment with every character, practice combos, learn game mechanics, and customize a wide variety of training scenarios and dummy settings to sharpen your skills.

Experience Episode Mode

For the first time, players will also get an early look at Episode Mode. Play through the three first chapters of the Amazing Guardians storyline as Spider-Man begins assembling his team to confront a mysterious threat descending upon Earth. Experience how beautifully illustrated motion-comic storytelling blends seamlessly with explosive battles.

Finally, the Open Beta will reflect the full localization players can expect at launch, featuring localized voice-over and text in US English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese (Mandarin VO). Text-only support will also be available in UK English, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, and Traditional Chinese. 

If you played during last year’s Closed Betas, you’ll notice that MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls has continued to evolve.  Based on community feedback, we’ve refined gameplay, improved mechanics, and made numerous adjustments across the experience to deliver an even more exciting and accessible tag fighter.

We’re incredibly excited to welcome both returning players and newcomers into the fight and can’t wait for everyone to experience the ultimate 4v4 tag team fighter when the Open Beta begins on July 24.

Assemble your dream team and get ready to fight!

Welcome to Pro Jank Footy, launching August 12 on PlayStation 5.

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I’m David Ashby, Creative Director for Pro Jank Footy, a love letter to Aussie Rules Footy, retro sports games of the 90s, and our cultural irreverence. Now, there have been many “Footy” games over the years, but there was never one that leaned into the high-energy arcade sensibility shared by titles such as NBA Jam or NHL ‘94. We leaned right into both the fun and absurdity of our sport and I’m excited to share more about it with the PlayStation Community.

The “jank”

Aussie Rules Footy is a high-scoring game, akin to basketball and hockey, which makes it fast by design, which allows us to implement a simple core mechanic whereby whenever a player scores a goal, the opponent gets to choose one of three random power-ups. This is how we put the jank in Pro Jank Footy.

There are over 150 power-ups in the game. These powers range from making your team better, making the opposition team worse, or changing the rules of the game. Not only does this allow players to bounce back, but it also allows players to change the game from retro sports into pure, unhinged, janky chaos. Personally, I suck at sports games. There’s nothing worse than just sitting there, taking an absolute belting. With our power system, you’re rewarded for losing. Tyler Roach, who co-created this game with me, is a genuinely dominant player (and to be fair, he did make the game). When we play each other, my only tactic is to concede a bunch of goals so I can get a decent power-up build to turn the tide (note: he still beats me most of the time).

There are simple power-ups that make your team faster or gigantic. There are brutal powers that reset the scores. There are even powers that add a third team to the game or turn all the players into seagulls (a very real fixture of Australian football, who hang around ovals to eat everyone’s food). One of my favourites turns one of your players into your dad’s beat-up sedan. There’s even a trophy you can pop if you ram it into a shopping trolley. There are also power-ups that are deliberately vague, such as Burnt DVD and Where’s the Remote? – figuring out what they do is part of the fun!

From a challenge to reality

The project started as a dare in 2024, when I was challenged to get into video games by Cam Rogers, an entertainment lawyer (who later came on board as producer), while at a fantasy football league BBQ. Cam made the argument that there aren’t a lot of funny video games being made, despite the appetite, and I should give it a go. It occurred to me pretty quickly that footy was the answer.

Like that fantasy draft, we had to put a team together. In addition to Tyler and Cam, there’s Broden Kelly, known for his work with Australian comedy collective Aunty Donna. He performs in-game commentary and completely understands the intent and humour, bringing a performance that is both sincere and comically absurd. Hyemin Yoo, a Korean artist based in Adelaide, animated all the amazing goal celebration cut scenes. Not only did she bring a voice of authenticity to the project, but her humour and distinct visual style really elevates the project to a whole other level.

Oscar Armstrong-Davies singlehandedly built the online functionality for the game, and Dario Russo composed all the music, including all the team songs.

Umbrella Entertainment, a film distributor looking to branch into games, is supporting us as well. Through them, we’ve even started rolling custom arcade cabinets into pubs around Australia to build a real tournament scene, created by Louie Roots, the cabs can run on car batteries so they can be played anywhere, and they even have AM radio transmitters so you can tune in your radio to the game audio for that true footy experience.

Get ready to have a ball

There are multiple game modes in Pro Jank Footy. You have the option to play the true “Pro Jank Footy” experience, with all the power-ups activated, or you can play the appropriately named “Normal Footy” which is, as the name suggests, normal Aussie Rules footy without power-ups. The game is designed to be a couch co-op experience, but you can play solo against bots, and you can play online too.

There’s also a single-player Season Mode, where you start the campaign with a random set of powers and fight your way through ten increasingly ridiculous teams – one team of giants, one made entirely of cars, one that’s just a single unstoppable player – to become Pro Jank World Champion. There’s also a Watch Mode where you can just watch the AI battle it out (which is surprisingly entertaining) and a Kick-to-Kick Mode, which is a throwback to the classic “Aussie Rules Footy” game. We’ve found that a lot of younger kids gravitate towards this game mode more than anything else.

Pro Jank Footy is both a love letter to arcade sports games from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and to a sport that is arguably Australia’s game, one that is worth sharing with the rest of the world for all its charm and absurdity.  We can’t wait for the PlayStation community to share a slice of Australia when Pro Jank Footy comes to PS5 on August 12.

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Hellraiser separates itself from other pieces of horror media by having villains, the Cenobites, who aren’t so easily viewed as being morally bad. As the Hell Priest (aka Pinhead) explains in the original Hellraiser movie, they are “Explorers in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others”. We like to think of them as monks – whether it comes to extreme pain or pleasure, they are interested in exploring sensations and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. 

Your Hellraiser: Revival experience will come from the perspective of Aidan Lynch, our story’s protagonist. He first encounters the Cenobites after his girlfriend Sunny activates the Genesis Configuration, a mysterious puzzle box with unknown power and purpose. The Cenobites appear and unceremoniously tear Sunny in half. At first this seems like some kind of fever dream to Aidan, but he quickly comes to learn that Sunny’s soul can still be saved and that the Cenobites are integral to accomplishing that goal.

While Cenobites exist as godlike explorers of experience from another realm, there are people in the real world who are seeking that same kind of enlightenment. This is where one of the groups of enemies that you’ll face in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival come in… the members of the Scarlet Church. Led by a charismatic figure named Marlowe, this cult is working to establish contact with the Cenobites and seeks to use the Genesis Configuration in order to create a debauched paradise for themselves.

But the cultists of the Scarlet Church aren’t the only people that will stand in Aidan’s way. There are people, maybe now better described as wretches, who once sought out greater experiences but were denied by Leviathan, the creator of the Cenobites and ruler of the otherworldly Labyrinth. We call these creatures, who are essentially Hell’s rejects, the Unworthy. They are drawn to the Genesis Configuration as a potential path to redemption, and will instinctively seek out Aidan in an effort to obtain it.

You’ll be able to fight back against the cultists of the Scarlet Church and the Unworthy by attacking while dual-wielding weapons (R2) and Genesis Configuration powers (L1). Aidan’s journey fighting against these groups will be full of pain, pleasure and everything in between. In a way, this mirrors our experience developing the game over the past few years. Some of us have even uncovered our own fears and phobias through the development process. I found out that I suffer from trypophobia, a condition where you feel sick from looking at clusters of holes or bumps!

Luckily, if you run into anything you find too disturbing or find yourself needing to make a quick escape away from a certain Cenobite, you can either turn your Flashlight off (R3) and hope the problem goes away… or make a quick 180 degree turn (Left Stick + L3) and run for your life! 

If you’ve made it this far into the blog, congratulations! You might be exactly the type of person who will enjoy exploring that which Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival has to offer. But I’m not one to pass judgment – Leviathan is the ultimate decider. Will you be worthy? We’ll find out on October 8 when Hellraiser: Revival launches both digitally and on physical media.

Sharper character detail

With the upgraded PSSR enabled on PS5 Pro, character outfits and material textures appear noticeably sharper. Fine costume details, layered materials, and surface textures retain greater definition, allowing the game’s distinctive character designs to stand out with improved clarity throughout exploration, combat, and story scenes.

Greater clarity for Endfield’s stylized world

Arknights: Endfield’s stylized environments also benefit from the upgraded PSSR. Lush vegetation, sprawling industrial facilities, and the wildlife peacefully inhabiting natural environments all maintain stable, crisp detail, making exploration across the game’s diverse maps even more immersive.

Crisp and stable visuals during fast-paced gameplay

During fast-paced movement, the upgraded PSSR more effectively preserves image integrity and clarity while reducing visible instability. On PS5 Pro, the system can more consistently maintain higher frame rates at 4K resolution, delivering a gameplay experience that balances smoothness and visual quality.

“Integrating upgraded PSSR required very little engineering effort, while improving image clarity and temporal stability across a wide range of gameplay scenarios. It allows us to present the world of Arknights: Endfield with greater visual consistency, preserving the smooth exploration and combat experience while bringing the rich details of Talos-II to life.”

– David Gu, CTO, Hypergryph

About Arknights: Endfield Version 1.4 – Companionship Celebration: Homecoming

Version 1.4, Companionship Celebration: Homecoming, is the biggest content update since launch, bringing a major story expansion, new operators, gameplay systems, challenge modes, and Half-Anniversary rewards. Continue the main story with Chapter 3: Acts 1 & 2 as the Wuling storyline reaches its dramatic conclusion.

Explore two brand-new regions—Yinglung Pass and the North Wuling Exclusion Zone—each featuring unique environmental mechanics and culminating in an epic confrontation against the powerful new boss, Alleikhreos.

With Version 1.4, players will learn more about Arcane, an operator who has already made her appearance in the story, while also meeting a remarkable new companion, Liino. Arcane, a Nature Caster specializing in Corrosion and crowd control, further strengthens Nature-based team compositions with powerful battlefield control. Meanwhile, Liino, an Electric Supporter with healing and amplification abilities, joins the roster with her distinctive idol-inspired style and strong team support capabilities.

Version 1.4 also introduces several major gameplay additions. Experience Echoes of War, a permanent seasonal challenge mode that rewards skillful play with exclusive titles. Venture into The Rooted Realm, a brand-new roguelike mode featuring progressively unlocked stages and unique rewards. Team up with a friend in Heat Rage! Mega Arena!, a limited-time co-op challenge where only two operators can be deployed.

The update expands the AIC Factory with a new Gas production chain, introduces new progression systems including Story Skip for new players, Birthday rewards, Talosite collectibles, and an upgraded Photo Mode with adjustable poses.

Celebrate the Half Anniversary with generous in-game rewards, including a free 6★ weapon, Oroberyl, recruitment permits, limited-time events, and multiple sign-in campaigns.

The upgraded PSSR will be available as part of the Arknights: Endfield Version 1.4 update, which launches on July 16.

Introducing Kill Block

Deploy to the West Bridge Training Facility in Kill Block, a new dynamic combat space where sightlines, pathways, and cover objects shift between matches, forcing Operators to adapt in real time. Launching with both 3v3 Gunfight and the all new 10v10 Gunfight mode, Kill Block will offer over 500 possible configurations.

The building blocks

The West Bridge Training facility is an unrivaled example of military engineering, a self-contained compound featuring an array of concrete towers, electronics, motors, and pulley systems allowing regular reconfigurations of the map as various pieces, or “Slabs,” are moved around dictating the overall layout for the next deployment.

The core design for Kill Block is based on three modular sections, including two outer End Slabs attached to a Central Slab, that combine into new battlegrounds between matches and even after certain Gunfight rounds. Most of these sections are brand-new while others are inspired by iconic locations from the Modern Warfare series such as Crash, Storage Town, Shoot House, and others.

Each Slab is rectangular in shape, and when all three Slabs are connected a play space roughly the size of Shoot House from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is created. To quicken your intake of the environment, look for section markers around the perimeter and spray-painted signs helping to orient your position in the map.

Learn the layout and adapt when it changes… or die trying.

Play it your way

No matter your playstyle, there’s room for it on Kill Block as the changing layout offers creative challenges with variations on vertical positioning, sightlines, flank routes, and more. For example, in one match you may be fighting within close-quarters trenches, while in the next you’re firing downrange across rooftops, or some mixture of the two. Luckily, with Modern Warfare 4’s refined and fluid movement mechanics, improved player agency, and tactical decision-making, there are countless ways to approach the field, no matter its form.

Shifting weather patterns

It’s not just the terrain that changes, but the weather, too. Some Slabs are fitted with military-grade weather simulation arrays outfitted with powerful fans to propel rainfall and snow flurries across the map. Weapons are additionally affected by the weather, with water and ice particles building up on the weapon until you swap armaments or reload.

Beyond Kill Block

Kill Block is just one part of the greater Multiplayer offering for Modern Warfare 4 at launch as players also deploy across 12 Core 6v6 maps that span the globe. Each location features a distinct visual identity and tactical flow, with two additional favorites arriving just after launch. At launch, players can expect a full suite of Core modes and Hardcore variants, as well as Party Modes. In addition to that, players can jump into large-scale battles across additional expansive maps, delivering intense combined-arms warfare.

Immersive features on PS5 and PS5 Pro

Modern Warfare 4 takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro through use of adaptive triggers, haptics, 3D audio, HDR, and 4K visuals. 120Hz HFR and VRR support ensure high fidelity play, while Remote Play support gives greater control over where you play and Low Energy Mode reduces overall power consumption.

On PS5 Pro, players will additionally benefit from upgraded PSSR support, increased graphics quality for 120Hz and 60Hz, and an unlocked framerate when VRR and 120Hz are enabled.

Pre-order Modern Warfare 4 on PlayStation 5 and gain Early Access to the Open Beta, Campaign Early Access, and more. MW4 launches on October 23.

Original Story: This month, journey into the breathtaking open world of Pandora in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, carve your own path through a war-torn 19th-century Japan in Rise of the Ronin, tackle raging infernos and rescue civilians in Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, or relive classic Saturday morning heroics in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind. All these titles and more are available in July’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup*. Meanwhile, two PS2 classics land into PlayStation Plus Premium: Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Indigo Prophecy.  

As a reminder, we’re exploring new ways to deliver PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles in select markets. Games will be available on varying dates as noted below in the US, the UK and Japan. The full lineup will be available to play on July 21 in all other regions. 

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog 

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Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora | PS5

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, action-adventure game set in the open world of the never-before-seen Western Frontier of Pandora. Abducted by the human militaristic corporation known as the RDA, you, a Na’vi, were trained and moulded to serve their purpose. Fifteen years later, you are free, but find yourself a stranger in your birthplace. Reconnect with your lost heritage, discover what it truly means to be Na’vi, and join other clans to protect Pandora from the RDA.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will be available globally July 21.

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Rise of the Ronin | PS5

Embark on an epic journey across war-torn 19th-century Japan in this combat-focused open-world action RPG from Team Ninja, the veteran studio behind Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. Japan, 1863. After three centuries of the Tokugawa Shogunate’s reign, the Black Ships of the West descend upon the nation’s borders and the country falls into a state of turmoil. Amidst the chaos of war, disease and political unrest, a nameless warrior forges their own path, holding the very fate of Japan in their hands.

Rise of the Ronin will be available today, July 15 in the US and the UK, and July 16 in Japan.

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Firefighting Simulator: Ignite | PS5

Face unpredictable dangers head-on, fight perilous fires with your crew, and save lives in Firefighting Simulator: Ignite. Step into the boots of a U.S. firefighter in a sprawling city in the American Midwest, where every mission pushes your skills to the limit. Experience the rush of firefighting in stunning visual quality in an intuitive and cooperative multiplayer mode with 3 friends or with the help of your NPC controlled crew. Battle raging and dynamic flames, heat, and smoke – all simulated in real time. Cutting-edge physics & graphics systems powered by Unreal Engine 5 let you experience firefighting immersion like never before.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite will be available globally July 21.

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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind | PS5, PS4

In the action-packed 2-D brawler Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, the team faces off against a robotic reincarnation of the Power Rangers’ long-time nemesis. Robo Rita has conjured a portal to send herself back in time so she can finally vanquish the Power Rangers by forming an alliance with her younger self. Working together, Robo Rita and Rita Repulsa rewind, rewrite, and remix the past in an attempt to stop the very formation of the Power Rangers, altering the course of history. Will the two Ritas and their army of monstrous enemies from across the MMPR timeline finally succeed in destroying the Power Rangers? Or will these teenagers with attitude learn to work together and counter this catastrophic chronological collaboration?

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind will be available July 28 in the US, the UK and Japan.

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Dying Light | PS4

From the creators of hit titles Dead Island and Call of Juarez comes Dying Light, the game whose uncompromising approach to gameplay set new standards for first-person zombie games. Survive in a city beset by a zombie virus. Engage in gory combat and discover limitless options to confront your enemies, or join forces with other players to raise your chances of survival in an exciting co-op mode. Will loyalty to your superiors prove stronger than the will to save the survivors? The choice is yours…

Dying Light will be available July 28 in the US, the UK and Japan.

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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector | PS5

You are a sleeper, an emulation of a human mind housed in an artificial body. You are on the run from the corporation that made you and the gang that seeks to control you. Commandeer a ship, build a network of crew and allies, and take on challenging contracts as you seek to build a future for yourself. Choose a class, configure your skills and assemble your crew in unique tabletop-inspired gameplay. Your future depends on the roll of a dice, as you make difficult choices in a complex world. Reinventing the award-winning systems of Citizen Sleeper, this RPG will satisfy both fans of the original game and new players alike.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector will be available July 28 in the US, the UK and Japan.

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Snow Bros. Wonderland | PS5

The legendary Snow Bros. series began over 30 years ago. Snow Bros. Wonderland is the newest chapter—and boy, has a lot changed in the last couple of decades! For starters, the graphics aren’t two-dimensional anymore; the new game offers a gorgeous 3D isometric style. Armed with an endless supply of ice pellets, gamers can turn monsters into snowballs, which can be kicked to destroy whole hordes of foes! Attacks can be chained to take down multiple enemies at once, and your snowball skills will be put to the ultimate test against some truly massive bosses. Are you (snow)man enough to defend Snow Land from evil King Atchich?

Snow Bros. Wonderland will be available July 28 in the US, the UK and Japan.

PlayStation Plus Premium

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Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy | PS5, PS4

Wield psychic powers as elite agent Nick Scryer and unravel a shadowy conspiracy within the Mindgate Project, battling rogue operatives and unleashing telekinesis, mind control, and pyrokinesis across mind-bending levels in Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy. Face off against formidable foes like the enigmatic General Grienko and the deadly Six, each with their own unique psychic abilities and motivations. Explore iconic locations such as the secret Mindgate facility and war-torn strongholds, utilizing stealth, environmental manipulation, and a diverse arsenal of psychic powers to overcome challenging puzzles and intense combat scenarios.

Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy will be available globally July 21.

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Indigo Prophecy | PS5, PS4

Indigo Prophecy is the first interactive drama created by Quantic Dream, the makers of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. In this paranormal thriller, New York City is stunned by a series of mysterious murders that follow the same pattern: ordinary people become possessed and kill absolute strangers in public. Play both sides of this breathtaking murder conspiracy and uncover the supernatural forces behind these crimes. Outside North America, Portugal, and France, the game carried a different title on its original release – Fahrenheit.

Indigo Prophecy will be available globally July 21. An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated this title was PS5.

*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day. Digital PS5 games available to stream from your library will vary over time, region, and country.