PlayStation.Blog

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 539: Mice and Men

O’Dell Harmon Jr. (he/him) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:30:10 +0000

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hey, everybody! Tim, Kristen, and I are back this week to talk about the upcoming release of Saros, the cartoon world of Mouse: P.I. for Hire, best convenience store snacks, and upcoming updates.

Stuff We Talked About

Next week’s release highlights:
- NTE: Neverness to Everness | PS5
- MotoGP 26 | PS5
- Saros | PS5
- inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories | PS5
- Invincible Vs | PS5
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 announced — The annual Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour two-day event happened this past weekend, and with it came a host of new announcements for FighterZ, Sparking Zero, revealing Xenoverse 3 coming in 2027, and more.
Neverness to Everness gameplay details — See what’s in store for this anime-inspired open-world title with Persona 5 and Porsche collabs, first-person mode for dates, and the Bank Heist stages. Coming to PS5 on April 29.
Helldivers 2 Exo Experts Warbond — The new Warbond arrives April 28 ready to roll out some new goodies. Check out new machine-based weapons and Stratagems, armors, and emotes.
Gran Turismo 7 update — Add the Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau, Renault Twingo ’93, and Yangwang U9 ’24 to your garage today. In addition, Power Pack owners can access new challenges, and there are updates for the Gran Turismo World Series.
Saros starter tips — Learn how to adjust your level of challenge with Carcosan Modifiers, see expanded accessibility options, and gain helpful insight to prepare for the perilous journey ahead on April 30.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced — The remake of this swashbuckling tale arrives on PS5 July 9. See how the new game expands on sailing and combat in our hands-on report.

The Cast

Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Tim Turi – Content
Communications Manager, SIE

Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Share of the Week: Resident Evil Requiem – Grace

Kristen Zitani (she/her) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:00:11 +0000

Last week, we asked you to share portraits of Grace in Resident Evil Requiem using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

riainwonderland shares younger Grace holding a flashlight in the dark

midnight.hyp3 shares Grace standing in red lighting

Yuric83 shares Grace’s FBI report reflected in her glasses

grayfoxvp shares Grace sneaking past an exit sign

Ixion_VII shares Grace in the Lady Dimitrescu costume

leonsbathwater shares Grace throwing a punch

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: Cozy
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on April 29, 2026

Next week, share moments from your favorite cozy game using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: first details, launches on PS5 July 9

Corey Brotherson — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:31:50 +0000

Has it really been 13 years since we took privateer-turned-pirate and assassin Edward Kenway across the seven seas? Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remains one of the series’ most treasured titles, so whether you’re familiar with its swashbuckling exploits or a new fish to its depths, Ubisoft’s announcement of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on PS5 offers the perfect chance to see why it’s hoisted in such high regard.

A faithful remake which focuses on the original’s core single-player adventure, the development team haven’t only applied a fresh lick of presentational paint to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. They’ve also looked at quality of life gameplay improvements, conducting workshops for player feedback to ensure any changes didn’t stray too far from what made the game tick.

So, what can we expect?

What’s back from the original

Edward Kenway Returns: Of course, Captain Edward Kenway is central to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, his story remaining the driving force of the game. Performed by Matt Ryan, the character’s original voice actor, Kenway is joined by his iconic cast of notorious real life pirates, including Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Charles Vane.

Caribbean Setting: As with its story, the luscious locations are all present and accounted for, with its bustling cities, dense jungles, and sun-kissed beaches spread across the likes of Nassau, Kingston, and Havana.

Your vessel: Kenway’s ship, the Jackdaw, was a big part of the original game, and rest assured, you can still set sail, engage in boarding parties and raids, and listen to the crew’s jaunty sea shanties.

What’s new or improved

PS5 Pro Enhancements: Ubisoft is taking advantage of PS5 Pro to deliver an immersive pirating adventure.

“We were extremely impressed with the enhanced PSSR. It really redefines the graphics experience in console games. It allowed us to render our dynamic tropical world full of swaying palm trees, violent storms and rogue waves without visible upscaling artifacts, delivering sharp pixel quality and great image stability.”

– Jussi Markkanen, Technical Director, Ubisoft Singapore

“Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced pushes ray tracing further across all modes on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro. PlayStation 5 brings more consistent lighting, while PlayStation 5 Pro delivers a no-compromise experience with advanced ray tracing performance and enhanced PSSR.”

– Nicolas Lopez, Technical Architect, Ubisoft Montréal

New Game Engine: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced uses the latest version of the Anvil engine, which means more detailed character faces, richer animations, and denser crowds. And it shows – the varied environments, on land, across the sea, and beneath the waves all look more vivid, vibrant, and expansive.

Expanded Soundtrack: Some new audio tracks join the visuals, with French musician and Assassin’s Creed fan Woodkid contributing. And those sea shanties I mentioned earlier? Well, expect even more to be added to your favourites.

Parkour Improvements: Kenway was always fleet of foot, but now he is even more agile with an enhanced parkour system which includes the ability to perform three jumps along with back and side ejects. The result is smoother traversal movement that flows more naturally, feels tighter, and makes assassinations look even better. And speaking of assassinations…

Reworked Combat System: Fighting is faster and more fluid, with an emphasis on making the most of your combos, perfect parry, and up to four chained takedowns. There are also additional destructible elements in the environments to make your attacks feel even more devastating.

Better Stealth: Kenway’s covert options have been given a polish, too. Now you can crouch freely – and speedily – to approach targets. Also, failing any tailing or eavesdropping objectives no longer end in an instant desync. Instead of having to restart the mission when you’re discovered, the target reacts to your sloppy stealth and you have to salvage the mission however you can.

New Chapters and Storylines: New content has been added to both the modern day sections and the main tale, including a new scene with Edward’s wife Caroline, specifically written by the original’s lead writer, Darby McDevitt. Kenway’s not the only character to benefit from fresh writing, either, with expanded arcs for some of the other crew, such as Blackbeard.

New Characters:There are also few fresh faces, via new officers Lucy Baldwin, The Padre, and Deadman Smith. Each one has a unique backstory and special abilities – for example, Deadman can unlock a devastating double shot from broadside weapons on the Jackdaw – but you’ll need to earn their trust to recruit them.

Expanded Naval Arsenal:While we’re talking about the Jackdaw, sea battles are even more spectacular via new alternate fire upgrades for every weapon. Navigating also has a little more spice to it due to the dynamic weather system affecting how the ship handles. And most importantly for animal lovers, you can now recruit a cat or monkey to your crew.

And all of this is just the start. There’ll be more info fired across the broadside of the coming months as Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sails towards its July 9 release on PS5.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies – Meet the whole sick cast of characters

Sven Paluch — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:01:22 +0000

Hey everyone! We’re really excited to be back on PlayStation Blog with a brand new trailer for Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. Last year in September’s State of Play, we showed off some of the gameplay features that set Zero Parades apart. Today, we want to shed some first light onto the characters at the heart of our story.

In Zero Parades, you play as Hershel Wilk, alias Cascade, a brilliant but cursed spy for the Operant Bureau who’s been brought back by her controllers for a desperate assignment. Five years ago, your old network — the Whole Sick Crew — was blown to pieces. Now, it’s up to you to put them back together as best you can:

Karolina

Cryptonym: Kindred

The youngest member of the old crew, as much a younger sibling as an asset. You taught K everything she knows about the shadow arts, from infiltration, to handling interrogations and beyond. When you last saw her, she was undercover inside a highly experimental Dream Study. For all you know, she might still be there.

Ramses

Cryptonym: Radian

The Whole Sick Crew’s resident circuit-surgeon, Ramses specializes in audio surveillance and forensics. There’s no line he can’t tap, no room he can’t bug. He was also the closest thing you had to a true friend among the old crew, someone you could let your guard down around. You dearly miss sinking into an old couch with one of his meticulously rolled joints.

Tempo

Cryptonym: Taxman

Some people have a huge presence in a room, Tempo has a huge presence in rooms he’s not even in. This larger-than-life character is a major player in the Portofiran underworld. The kind of guy who can get you anything through legal channels and absolutely everything through non-legal ones. He was one of the first to spot the promise of Luzian tech and pop culture before it took over the world, and he’s made a killing for his foresight. You’ll know him by his colourful manner of speaking and the imported Ouroboros Black cigarettes he chain smokes.

Vespar

Cryptonym: Virtue

Vespar is a member of the carabineros – Portofiro’s elite investigative police. His connections to the city’s authorities and informants within the local mob make him an invaluable source of illicit information.. When he’s off-duty, you’ll find him drinking at the Fogged Mirror. When he’s on-duty, honestly, there’s a fair chance you’ll find him drinking there as well.

Eszti

Cryptonym: Estoc

No-nonsense, venom-tongued, and extremely competent, Eszti found herself deep undercover in the Portofiran government as a liaison with EMTERR – a global development bank and rival intelligence service. It was Eszti who stuck her neck out to warn you that the network had been compromised, but when it came time to leave town, you left her out to dry along with everyone else.

Holocene

Real name unknown

Your enigmatic second-in-command and the crew’s master cryptographer. HOLOCENE has a theory about almost everything, including one about a rival intelligence service run by cats. If you need a cipher decoded, he is your guy. If you need someone to have a normal conversation with, maybe look elsewhere.

That’s it – the Whole Sick Crew, aka: The Friends You Left to Die. To pull off your assignment, you’re going to have to get at least some of them back on your side. It’s not just about who you can trust, it’s who can trust you?

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is coming this year on PS5. Wishlist it today.

Saros: gameplay modifiers, accessibility options, and more detailed

Gregory Louden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:36 +0000

Today we are thrilled to share our launch trailer for Saros, coming out on April 30 for PlayStation 5 and enhanced for PlayStation 5 Pro. We’re also excited to share new information on gameplay modifiers, accessibility options, and more.

For our launch trailer we wanted to show more mystery, characters, weapons and, of course, more bullet ballet action for you all. The opening features Stack, performed by the brilliant Keone Young (Deadwood) painting images that are being forced into his mind on Carcosa, followed by stunning imagery of the Cathedral. The perfect way to establish the tone and world we are launching you into.

We also tease a mysterious future London alley and a hotel corridor that you’ll experience as Arjun. Saros is more than just a dark sci-fi action game – we can’t wait for you all to experience these story focused liminal spaces during Arjun’s journey on Carcosa. There’s also more twists and turns, but it’s best if they are experienced when playing.

Last, but not least, we wanted to show more action, including the main weapons and Power weapons you will use. Two key Carcosan weapons shown in the trailer are Chakram and the Illumine Beam Power weapon. Saros features multiple weapon archetypes and multiple weapon variants which are generated every cycle. The trailer also gives you a glimpse of the incredible boss fights you’ll engage in against the Overlords of Carcosa. This is just a taste of what you will encounter.

Carcosan Modifiers allow you to adjust your experience

With Saros we set out to create a challenging and rewarding action game where every death is valuable. So prepare to die, but also come back stronger with every cycle. With Carcosan Modifiers, you can adjust your experience to lower the challenge… or ramp it up. Find a balance that’s more suited to you. Combined with the Armour Matrix, you’ll love upgrading Arjun and adjusting your stats and abilities.

For players who want less challenge to beat that boss or a tough biome, use Protection Modifiers to adjust your experience. Damage Enhancement allows you to increase your damage dealt to hostiles. Shield Power Enhancement makes your Soltari Shield not consume power so you can use your Power Weapon more often. Lastly Overlord Restoration is a game changer which allows you to be at full armor integrity when you face the Overlords on Carcosa.

For players who want even more challenge, use the Trial Modifiers. Weapon Decay means your main weapon will decay through usage. Hostile Death Projectiles is pretty self explanatory. Last but not least my two favourites are Growth Incapacitor I, which removes second chance, and Growth Incapacitor II, which removes all Armour Matrix enhancements for even more of a challenge.

Expanded accessibility

As well as Carcosan Modifiers, Saros also has accessibility features at launch. It was a goal of our team to build upon Returnal’s accessibility features and expect a deep dive into these features ahead post launch. Today we are happy to share that we will support colour blindness features. For example, we can ensure all players can distinguish between Normal, Corrupted and Nova projectiles. There’ll also be a Dialogue focus mode feature, controller remapping and plenty more. More news on our full feature set coming post launch.

Amazing collaborators and gratitude

We have worked with amazing collaborators on Saros at Housemarque and we also wanted to give them a shout out for this launch focused blog. As well as the amazing teams at PlayStation, Nixxes, PlayStation Creative Arts and Xdev, we have also teamed up with lots of brilliant external studios filled with artists and developers that have made Saros what it is today. Thanks to everyone who contributed from these fantastic teams and also to our amazing cast of actors who provided the soul for our characters you will love and lose.

We are also happy to announce that award winning graphic novelist and storyteller Ram V, worked with our narrative team at Housemarque on the characters and world of Saros during our pre-production. Ram’s approach to cosmic horror, authenticity and his perspective helped us shape Arjun and Nitya as living and breathing characters..

Come back stronger April 30

As we prepare for launch we also wanted to thank you for following and supporting Saros since our announcement back in February 2025 and to all our Housemarque fans for the past 30 years. Your passion and hype has been amazing and we cannot wait for you to play Saros very soon.

Saros is the next gameplay-first, single-player action game from Housemarque and our amazing collaborators. A dream project made by a dream team.

Purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition of Saros for 48 hours early access to the game.

Gran Turismo 7 update 1.69 available today, first 2026 Gran Turismo World Series details

David Robinson — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:28 +0000

In this month’s free update, the Polyphony team is dropping the ridiculously fast 1,286-BHP ’24 Yangwang U9 (0-62.1 mph in 2.36 seconds). They are also introducing the practical ’93 Renault Twingo (1.2L inline-4 OHV engine). In addition, the Leichtbau 964, a mix of classic 911 styling and air-cooled ruggedness, is included. It’s considered one of Porsche’s greatest hits, with only 86 produced, making it one of the rarest of this generation.

The update also includes a new menu, three new World Circuits events, move the camera up and down III curation (height adjustability) in Scapes, and Power Pack updates in Update 1.69, which will be available beginning today at 11:00pm PT / April 23 at 7:00am BST / 3:00pm JST*.

Additionally, the new Gran Turismo World Series Season is beginning!

New cars**

Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau (964) ’93

*Can be purchased from Legend Cars

Introduced in 1989, the Type 964 marked the third generation of the Porsche 911, following the 901 and 930. Though familiar in silhouette, it represented a major step forward, with roughly 80% of its components newly engineered and a more aerodynamic, modernized exterior.

Power came from a newly enlarged 3.6-liter flat-six, while the Carrera 4 debuted Porsche’s first full-time all-wheel-drive system. Rear-wheel-drive models expanded accessibility with the introduction of the Tiptronic automatic.

For maximum performance, Porsche offered the Turbo and the ultra-rare 1992 911 Turbo S. Featuring upgraded cams, a special turbine, lightweight body panels, and 375.7 BHP, just 86 examples were ever produced—cementing its place among the rarest 911s.

Renault Twingo ’93

*Can be purchased from Used Cars

Practical yet cute. A breath of fresh air for the A-segment.

When Renault replaced the Super 5 with the larger Clio in 1990, it left a gap at the bottom of its lineup. The answer arrived in 1992 as the Twingo — an A-segment hatchback that challenged convention. Its distinctive three-door monospace shape featured a single flowing line from nose to tail, instantly setting it apart from its peers.

With its wheels pushed to the corners, the compact Twingo delivered exceptional interior space despite its modest footprint. Power came from a transverse-mounted 1.2-liter inline-four, modest but well suited to the car’s light weight and urban mission. Clever features like sliding rear seats added versatility, proving practicality and personality could coexist. Produced for 14 years, the first-generation Twingo remains one of the most innovative small cars ever made.

Yangwang U9 ’24

*Can be purchased from Brand Central

The Yangwang U9 challenges conventional supercar thinking by placing an electric motor at each wheel. Developed by Yangwang, BYD’s luxury performance brand, it rides on the proprietary e⁴ platform, delivering a staggering 960 kW (1,286 BHP). Despite its size and weight, the U9 launches from 0–62 mph in just 2.36 seconds.

Its headline technology goes beyond raw output. The DiSus-X suspension combines hydraulic and pneumatic systems to actively control body motion, delivering exceptional stability and control, sometimes dramatic in motion, but always purposeful in function. Styled by Wolfgang Egger, the scissor-door coupe looks unmistakably futuristic while retaining true supercar presence. In 2025, the extreme U9 Xtreme variant even pursued record-setting top-speed performance, positioning the U9 as a bold statement of speed in the electric era.

Café/Extra Menus

The following Menu will be added to the Extra Menus section:

Extra Menu No. 53: Muscle Cars (Collector Level 55 and above)

World Circuits (new events)

The following new events have been added to World Circuits:

Schwarzwald League – Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Hypercar Parade – Yas Marina Circuit
World Touring Car 900 – Autódromo de Interlagos

Scapes

Move the camera up and down III has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.

Power Pack / Power Pack Challenges

Power Pack Challenges will be added. In this mode players can receive a variety of rewards according to the number of races completed within the fixed period. Rewards will be updated weekly, and progress can be checked from the World Map screen or the dialogue in the top right of the Event Select screen.

*Power Pack is a paid add-on for the PlayStation 5 version of Gran Turismo 7

2026 Gran Turismo World Series

The Online Qualifiers are done, the Gran Turismo World Series 2026 line-up of drivers is decided, and now it’s time for the all-action live events. First up is Milan on Saturday, May 23 at the historic Teatro Lirico, close to the city’s famous Duomo, and tickets are selling fast. The action at the Teatro Lirico will start at 5:00 pm local time with the Manufacturers Cup before the Nations Cup drivers take to the stage at 7:30 pm PT.

Full 2026 Calendar

The 2026 calendar will feature Round 2 taking place at Polyphony Digital Inc.’s Tokyo studio and set for broadcast on August 15.

Round 3 sees the Gran Turismo World Series land in Singapore on Saturday October 3.

The Championship decider, the World Finals, sees a return to Tokyo at the new Shibuya Lovez venue on December 5 and 6.

If you can’t make it in person, you can catch all of the action at Gran Turismo’s website, YouTube, or in-game in GT7.

Round 1 | Milano | Saturday, May 23
Round 2 | Tokyo | Saturday, August 15 (no live audience)
Round 3 | Singapore | Saturday, October 3
World Finals | Tokyo | Saturday and Sunday, December 5 & 6

In-game benefits

As ever, the Gran Turismo World Series offers plenty of incentives to get involved on Gran Turismo 7. The World Map will feature GTWS-themed challenges as well as the Predict the Winner and Viewer Campaigns.

Full details of the Gran Turismo World Series 2026 can be found online here.

*Internet connection required for update.
**Credits (paid or via game progression) required to purchase vehicles.

Palia’s Royal Highlands expansion launches May 12 on PS5

Javi Carlos — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0000

Welcome back, cozy gamers, and welcome home to those of you just joining the Palian community on PlayStation 5.

First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting Palia since the game launched on PS5 last year. There’s something special about snuggling in on the couch with a cup of coffee, decorating your Home Plot, then casting a line in the fishing pond with the haptic feedback of a DualSense controller! And there’s a whole lot more where that came from.

On May 12, we’re opening the gates to Palia’s next major expansion: The Royal Highlands. The upcoming expansion introduces a sprawling, sun-drenched region; a brand-new chapter in Palia’s story; more Villagers to meet; and so many features we’ve been champing at the bit to unveil.

And this time… you’ll be hoofin’ it in style.

A new frontier awaits in the Royal Highlands

The Royal Highlands is our third Adventure Zone, and by far our most ambitious.

The massive new map offers an elevated countryside of windswept cliffs, rolling golden fields, and ancient stone structures steeped in quiet, old-world elegance. From the moment you arrive, the space feels refined and regal – but beneath that beauty lies something older, an ancient secret lost to time.

As you explore, you’ll meet Eshelon, heir to the Bahari Dukedom, who has been sent to investigate some peculiar occurrences unfolding across the “Highlands.” Together, you’ll dig into the mysteries behind Amber Echo, a strange substance spreading across the region that encapsulates and traps anything – or anyone – caught in its snare. Not much is understood about Amber Echo… only that those confined within are frozen in time for years, decades, maybe a millenia… a sticky situation indeed!

Despite the danger, the Adventure Zone is filled with opportunity. New materials to gather, insects to catch, fish to reel in, and creatures to hunt, including the elusive Jaakcat, await across every hill and valley.

Saddle up: horses arrive in Palia

Exploring a vast new region is no small task. But we’ve made sure you won’t have to go it alone.

For the first time, you can meet, tame, and ride your very own horse. Early in your Royal Highlands journey, you’ll be introduced to your first mount, opening up faster, smoother traversal across the world.

Riding is designed to feel both responsive and grounded. Horses move through natural gaits, building into speed in a way that feels tactile and intuitive. Whether you’re galloping across open terrain or taking a relaxed trot along ridge-lined roads, the experience is meant to feel calm, immersive, and connected.

You’ll be able to choose from three distinct horse types at launch, each with its own look and personality. Horses also tie directly into the Ranching skill, allowing you to raise and breed horses while shaping their traits over time – some favoring speed, others endurance, and a few offering rarer qualities.

More ways to build, customize, and express yourself

The Royal Highlands also expands how you shape your home and identity in Palia.

The expansion introduces the Ancient Human Home Line, inspired by the architecture found throughout the Royal Highlands. Think stone foundations, dramatic verticality, and refined architectural silhouettes that will take your Home Plot to the next level… literally.. A new Capstone allows you to increase the number of stories your home can have, opening the door to unprecedented multi-level designs.

Pair your expanded space with the Aristocrat’s Set, a collection of ornate, Renaissance-inspired decor that brings a sense of luxury to your Home Plot.

And you can customize beyond your home with an expanded Clothing Dye system, allowing you to apply colors you’ve unlocked directly to your outfits, giving you more control over self-expression.

Celebrating 10 million players

Before you ride into the Royal Highlands, we have something special to celebrate.

Palia has surpassed 10 million players worldwide – a milestone representing millions of stories, homes, and shared moments across the community.

To say thank you, we’re kicking off the 10 Million Player Celebration Event, live from today through May 11. During the event, players can earn rewards simply by playing, including up to two free premium Mystery Outfits, alongside event-exclusive Decor, Plushes, a Nameplate, and more.

Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just getting started, this is our way of saying thank you for being part of the journey.

Your journey continues on May 12

The Royal Highlands expansion launches Tuesday, May 12, on PlayStation 5.

It’s our biggest Adventure Zone yet, a new way to explore with your equine companion, and the next step in unlocking even more creativity from Palians across the globe.

From all of us at Singularity 6, thank you for being part of this journey with us.

We’ll see you in the Royal Highlands.

Helldivers 2: The Exo Experts Warbond drops April 28

Mitchell Ayre — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:00:15 +0000

The latest Helldivers 2 Warbond, entitled The Exo Experts, launches April 28. Read on for full intel on what to expect.

Machines… Our enemies… But they can also be forces for good, tools at our disposal, and when you need to fight fire with fire it is important to be an Exo Expert.

The Ministry of Defense has authorised the immediate mobilisation of new Exosuits to aid in our ongoing war efforts against the enemies of Managed Democracy.

Weapons and Stratagems

Let’s start where all good Warbonds start, with the latest offensive items included in the Exo Experts*. Beginning with EXO-51 Lumberer, a modern reinvention of the Lumberers of the first Galactic War, this Exosuit is equipped with an anti-tank cannon and a flamethrower allowing you to unleash maximum devastation upon your foes and then purge smaller enemies in the flames of Liberty.

Next up, we have the EXO-55 Breakthrough. Brandishing a flak cannon and a ballistics shield, allowing you to face off with Super Earth’s toughest foes whilst laying down heavy fire.

For those who don’t like to overburden themselves, we are introducing the MGX-42 Bullet Storm: a disposable machine gun sporting caseless ammunition in multiple barrels. Each usage includes two of these so you can throw them away when you are done.

Not forgetting our ground troops! We have the SMG-203 Gallant, a submachine gun with a high rate of fire, this is the MP-98 Knight’s older brother, sacrificing clip size for increased penetration. Finally to round out your kit, try the new P-33 Missile Pistol utilising the latest in guided, heat-propelled rounds and a lock-on feature. Proven to hit its target 60% of the time, every time.

Armors and Capes

To ensure you remain compliant with safety regulations, make sure you have these new armors. The O-2 Heavy Operator armor is the state mandated uniform for Super Earth Citizens who must operate heavy machinery and is best paired with the Watchful Compatriot cape, which sports a retro print that was first made popular in GW1 cereal merchandising. It helps citizens to remember that not all machines are twisted mechano-socialists; some are piloted by true-hearted humans and we can all rest easy in their gaze.

The O-3 Free Spirit armor comes equipped with SteerComfort, this armor that allows the wearer to feel every curve, bump, and jostle of their Exosuit, as if they were drifting into one single being.The Free Spirited Spangles cape pays tribute to the mischief-makers and mavericks, those trailblazers who dutifully execute their orders with universally-endearing panache. The star-crossed trail calls to mind the special kind of Freedom that can only be achieved by going very fast in very expensive state-owned vehicles.

These new armors come stock standard with the Oxygenator perk allowing you to walk, run and slide slightly quicker (within Super Earth Health and Safety guidelines).

To ensure others know you are up to the job, you can also equip the new Exosuit Certified title and make sure to let them know how you feel with the Thumb of Approval emote and victory pose

This Warbond also includes the Mobile White patterns. Prepare to become an Exo Expert on April 28!

*Warbond requires base game, Super Credits, and game progression to unlock.

Ball x Pit: Shadow Update arrives April 27

Kenny Sun — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:22 +0000

Hey everyone, last time you heard from us was back in January where we shared some fun facts about Ball x Pit’s game concept, its inspiration, and pretty much all the brand new content that we packed into the first free major update titled The Regal Update. The incredible PlayStation Blog team wanted us back to share first details with you on the second free content update coming to Ball x Pit titled The Shadow Update, which releases in just one week on April 27 for PS5.

Time starts to bend in this update, with some new ball evolutions that freeze it and warp it entirely. Expect your runs to get a little more chaotic as we introduce some new balls, passives, and characters alongside the addition of a new building all detailed below!

Two new characters

The Tunneller is a scrappy miner whose shots don’t stop at the edge; they wrap around the screen and come back in from the other side, making just about every angle fair game.
The Tiptoer is a fragile but deadly ninja who stays undetected by enemies at close range at the cost of lower health and damage.

11 New Balls

Venom stacks up with each hit, slowing targets and chipping away at them until enough buildup finally locks them in place with paralysis.
Time leans into area control, dropping a timesnare that freezes enemies caught in its range.
Erosion cuts straight through foes, with each hit shaving off a percentage of their current health, making it incredibly nasty against tougher targets.
Time Bomb adds a bit of delayed chaos, planting an explosive that goes off after a short wait.
Timestop does exactly what it sounds like, freezing absolutely everything on the field for a few seconds before going on cooldown.
Warp keeps things unpredictable, blinking to a random spot on the field upon every enemy hit while ramping up speed as it goes.
Sniper shots cut straight through enemies but burn out the moment they hit a wall or loop back, trading longevity for a boosted critical chance that rewards precise enemy line ups.
Heart Swallower gives each hit a certain chance to drain a bit of life and heal you for one while also weakening the target’s attack by a percentage, but remember each enemy can only be drained once.

Plus a few more that we won’t spoil just yet..

Four new passives

Full Metal Rapier thrives on chaos with each ball scaling its damage based on how many baby balls and enemies are currently on the field.
Arrow of Fate flips defense into offense, making you immune to incoming projectiles and firing back a burst of baby balls whenever you’re hit.
Argent Stopwatch plays with momentum, starting balls off at 150% damage before shaving off 30% with every bounce, so timing and positioning matter more than ever.
Sword Breaker keeps things steady but scalable, lowering base damage to 75% while quietly stacking an extra 1% for every enemy in play.

1 new buildings

Better start thinking of a spot to drop the Guildhall! This new building will allow players to re-roll previously chosen character upgrades.

Thank you again to all players supporting and for making Ball x Pit what it is! We hope you’re excited to jump back into the pit when Ball x Pit : The Shadow Update releases for free next week, April 27 on PS5.

Infinity Nikki Version 2.5 launches April 23

Zexu Shi — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:02 +0000

Infinity Nikki Version 2.5, launching April 23, expands the adventure on PlayStation 5, with visual upgrades and a more seamless photo experience.

This update introduces the Boneyard—a brand-new region with a deeper, more mature tone—while also enhancing performance and image quality, especially on PlayStation 5 Pro with updated PSSR support.

Sharper visuals and smoother performance on PS5 Pro

With Version 2.5, we’ve focused on improving visual clarity and overall gameplay stability.

On PlayStation 5 Pro, updated PSSR enhances image sharpness, visual clarity, and frame-rate stability, with improvements most noticeable in large areas or during combat.

We’ve also enhanced environmental detail, lighting, and long-distance rendering. Outfit materials—especially layered fabrics and textures—now appear more defined, making styling moments feel even more rewarding up close.

A more seamless photo experience

We know many players enjoy capturing their favorite looks and moments, so we’ve made the photography experience easier.

Screenshots can now be saved to the PlayStation system gallery, removing extra steps between taking a photo and sharing it.

Whether you’re documenting an outfit, a location, or a story moment, it’s now quicker to capture and revisit them anytime.

A new region: the Boneyard

Version 2.5 introduces the Boneyard, a new open-world region centered on themes of reincarnation, destiny, and choice.

It’s a quieter, more atmospheric region, with environments shaped by dragon bones, ruins, and lingering mysteries. As you explore, more of its story unfolds through the world itself.

With the visual improvements on PlayStation 5 Pro, this region feels even more immersive—especially when moving through its expansive spaces or taking in distant views.

Outfit abilities play a bigger role in exploration

We’ve continued expanding how Ability Outfits interact with the world.

New additions, such as a new Archery Ability Outfit, offer greater flexibility in movement and interaction. At the same time, other abilities—like Dragonbone-related mechanics—are more deeply integrated into the environment and its challenges.

These updates bring exploration and ability choices closer together.

Infinity Nikki Version 2.5 will be available for free starting April 23 PT / April 24 CEST on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro. We hope you enjoy exploring the Boneyard and discovering all it has to offer.