Latest Features
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium for September 2023?
Star Ocean! Vanillaware! And the rest!
As massive Vanillaware fanboys, we think September's PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium update is especially tasteful, but as always, we want to know what you think of the selection. Just to recap, this month's line-up is headlined by NieR Replicant, Star Ocean: The Divine Force, and
Hands On Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Update Is an Outstanding, Game-Changing Overhaul
Chippin' back in
Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long, long, long way since we gave the initial PS4 version the most disappointing 3/10 review this website has ever seen back in 2020. We'd go as far to say it's been a great game since its release on PS5, and now, having spent over 50 hours with the title's highly anticipated 2.0 update (prior to its...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 494
Finish them
Mortal Kombat 1 is available in early access this weekend, so we daresay a fair few of you will be digging into the gory brawler over the coming days. The release calendar is absolutely stacked with must-plays these next two months, though, so we're expecting WAYP to be vibrant and varied through to Christmas. Aaron Bayne: Lies of P...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Baldur's Gate 3?
Open the gate
With the caveat that some of you reading this won't have finished Baldur's Gate 3 yet, we want to know what you think of the incredibly highly rated RPG. The PS5 version has been out for over a week now, and it still sits as one of the best reviewed games of... well, pretty much ever, regardless of platform. Indeed, we can vouch for...
Interview Talking PS5 Tech, the Open World, and Suits in Spider-Man 2
New details from senior game director Ryan Smith
To accompany our hands on session with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, we were handed the chance to pose some questions to senior game director Ryan Smith at the London event. Below, we get into how the PS5 hardware has accelerated load times in the sequel, how the open world has evolved, and answer one very...
Preview Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Plays Like PS5 Superhero Perfection
Our thoughts after three hours of play
Given the presumably mammoth sales projections Sony has for PS5 exclusive Marvel's Spider-Man 2, playing too fast and loose with the open world formula at Insomniac Games was probably out of the question. This is a franchise that shifts hardware, and after a year slightly lighter on PlayStation Studios content...
Round Up What Was Announced During Sony's State of Play Livestream for September 2023?
All the PS5, PS4, and PSVR2 reveals
Sony's second general State of Play presentation of 2023 had roughly half an hour's worth of new PS5, PSVR2, and PS4 reveals to share with those watching, but if you didn't tune in, this Round Up article is your best bet for getting caught up in full. Below you'll find all the news shared during the latest State...
Poll Was Sony's Latest State of Play Worth the Wait?
Have your say on the SoP
Another State of Play showcase from Sony has now been and gone, this time sharing news for previously revealed indie and third-party games. A fairly low-key affair for saying it was only the second general State of Play livestream of 2023, but there were a few announcements and reveals to take note of. The big piece of news...
Live Watch Sony's State of Play Livestream Right Here (14th September, 2023)
Third-parties! Indies! Previously announced!
Looking to watch Sony PlayStation’s State of Play livestream today? Well, we’ve got you covered! Expectations may be quite low for this latest indie and third-party focused broadcast, but no matter how small the scale, it’s always exciting to learn a little more about what’s around the corner for...
Preview The First Descendant Could Be a Decent Destiny-Like Co-Op Shooter on PS5
First!
Having spent a good few hours with The First Descendant on PS5 — ahead of its open beta release later this month — we're happy to report that this free-to-play shooter seems to have a solid base to build upon. Very reminiscent of Destiny in terms of structure, we didn't quite have time to dig into finer details, but the gameplay clicked...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 493
It ain't 'alf hot
The weather is allegedly scorching in the UK, but there's no time for sunbathing: this is release season! Games are dropping left, right, and centre — and if you're anything like us, you're probably struggling to keep up. This is what our team are playing. Sammy Barker: It's sports game season for me, so having just wrapped up...
Poll Did You Buy Baldur's Gate 3?
We're in the gateway to hell
If you've been following Baldur's Gate 3 since its original announcement — and you had somehow always planned on a PlayStation release — then this day has been a long time coming. Larian Studios' celebrated RPG is out now on PS5, bringing one of the highest rated games... well, pretty much ever, to Sony's current-gen...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for September 2023?
Plus or minus?
Uh oh, we've got a bad feeling about this one. Each month, we ask you lot for your thoughts on the latest PS Plus announcements, and we can't wait to hear what you think of September's reveal. We say that because Sony seems to have riled up a lot of PlayStation fans over the last few days, as it unveiled a questionable PS Plus...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 492
Just driftin'
It's a slow WAYP this week as we move into the height of the summer and the busy release season. There are so many games to play right now, though, we're expecting another active comments section. Sammy Barker: It may be the boring answer, but while I wait for my impending review assignments, I'll be wasting away my time with the...
Guide Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for September and October 2023
Spider-Man! EA Sports FC! Sonic!
With August out of the way, we find ourselves nearing the business end of the year when it comes to game releases. Thankfully, for PlayStation 5 and PS4 owners, there's plenty to be excited about over the next couple of months. As always, we've been busy putting together a list of some particularly noteworthy...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Armored Core 6?
Don't hold back, Raven
The game's been out on PS5 and PS4 for a week now, and if you've managed to beat the infamous first boss, we'd like to know what you think of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Indeed, there's no question that this is a hardcore action game — something the series has always embraced — but in riding on the wave of...
Preview Like a Dragon Gaiden Feels Like an Evolution of the Yakuza Franchise
Erase everything, build it again, better
We’ve seen glimpses of Kiryu since his reported death in 2018 — his appearance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a perfect passing of the torch for the series, we reacquainted ourselves with the eerily similar looking Ryōma this year in Like A Dragon Ishin!, and the Judgment series has continued Ryu Ga...
Preview Persona 5 Tactica Is Shaping Up to Be More Than Just a Tired Strategy Spin-Off
Take your time
We've accepted the Phantom Thieves aren't disappearing anytime soon and Persona 5 Tactica reaffirms why that isn't a bad thing. Much like Persona 4, Atlus' phenomenal RPG took on a life of its own and since 2016, we've seen our favourite Phantom Thieves investigating jails, crawling through dungeons and
Preview Persona 3 Reload Shows So Much Promise Despite Missing Features
SEESing the moment
Persona 3 remains a groundbreaking RPG but we were slightly worried if Persona 3 Reload would live up to its legacy. It's been 16 years since the original game first appeared, introducing life simulation mechanics and a considerably darker storyline than its successors. As the game that reshaped Atlus' popular series, expectations...
Poll What PS5 Game Had the Best Showing at Gamescom Opening Night Live?
Take your pick
Another Gamescom Opening Night Live has come and gone, with Geoff Keighley's latest showcase being... a moderate success, we'd say. In our recent poll, readers were torn between calling the event "good", "poor", and just "okay" — but today, we're not here to judge the show as a whole. Instead, we want to know which PS5 title...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 491
Short but sweet
The school summer holidays are drawing to a slow conclusion, but there are still a mountain of video games to get through. In fact, the schedule gets so hectic from here on out, you may need more than the weekends to get through it all. Aaron Bayne: I'm on reviewing duties for Firewall Ultra, so I'll be donning Sony's headset for...
Poll Did You Buy Armored Core 6?
Core fans
It's almost surreal to think that a series like Armored Core is currently one of the biggest talking points in gaming, but that's the power of modern FromSoftware. The latest game in the long-running mecha series — it's only been a ten-year hiatus! — is out now on PS5 and PS4, but will you be adding to the hype? As always, we want to...
Poll Are You Sold on PlayStation Portal?
Another way to play?
The officially named PlayStation Portal is Sony's own dedicated remote play device, allowing you to stream your PS5 to what we think is a slick-looking handheld. Boasting an eight-inch 1080p screen alongside DualSense selling points like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, actually sitting down with one of these things would...
Round Up What Was Announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023?
All the PS5, PS4 reveals
Gamescom Opening Night Live remained relatively lowkey this year, with host Geoff Keighley promising mostly updates on announced projects rather than reveals of brand-new ones. As such, it's probably not much of a surprise if you didn't tune in live. To get you up to speed on all the event's PS5, PS4 announcements, please...
Preview The RPG High Will Endure in Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Our first impressions of the PS5 demo
With Baldur's Gate 3, Final Fantasy XVI, and next month's Starfield in its back pocket, the RPG genre is on something of a tear at the moment. Enthusiast gamers could be losing 100 hours of their free time to a number of different universes right now, and the best part is there's always another enticing...
Poll Was Gamescom Opening Night Live Any Good?
Did Keighley deliver?
The main thing Geoff Keighley was doing in the lead-up to his Gamescom Opening Night Live event was tempering fan expectations rather than raising them — a rare change in approach for the host. Although, this is a video game show, so someone out there was still probably expecting to see Half-Life 3 and Bloodborne 2. The...
Live Watch Gamescom Opening Night Live Right Here
Assassin's Creed! Cyberpunk! Alan Wake 2!
Looking to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live? While the curtain has barely closed on E3 2023 – an event Sony barely took an interest in – it’s now Germany’s turn to host a convention PlayStation has decided not to attend. The pre-show press conference, scheduled to get underway from 11AM PDT / 7PM...
Guide What Time Is Gamescom Opening Night Live?
Dates, times, and what to expect
What time is Gamescom Opening Night Live? The end of the summer means it's time for Gamescom, Europe's largest video game exhibition. Held as always in Cologne, Germany, the enormous convention gets started each year with a kick-off showcase named Opening Night Live, put together and hosted by the one and only Geoff...
Poll What PS5 Game Do You Most Want to See at Gamescom Opening Night Live?
A lot to choose from
Airing tomorrow night at the time of writing, Gamescom Opening Night Live should prove to be a decent show — provided your expectations are kept in check. As per organiser and host Geoff Keighley, this year's event will focus on games that we already know about, rather than surprise announcements. Now, that may not sound...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 490
About to go big
Gamescom begins next week, and you better believe the release schedule is about to absolutely explode as well. The summer months may have been slow and dreary, but things are about to get busy, folks. Aaron Bayne: I'm away on a trip with the lads this weekend, but you better believe that if I get a moment, it'll be spent on Elden...
Poll Is 'Live Service' Becoming an Excuse to Release Unfinished Games?
We'll fix it later
It feels like the term 'live service' is more divisive than ever. With Sony seemingly jumping on the bandwagon in search of its own money-printing machine — with titles like Fairgame$ — the live service model is under constant scrutiny here on the web. And when one of these games goes under, boy do you hear about it. Achieving...
Hardware Review JBL Quantum 910P - High-End Price, Middling Audio
Flashy headset fails to impress
With Dolby Atmos support making its way to PS5 in an upcoming system software update, it’s never been more important to have a quality pair of headphones. With Sony already offering up its own brilliant set of cans in the form of the Sony INZONE series, it might be a little daunting to move outside the Sony...
Poll Did You Buy Red Dead Redemption's PS4 Port?
Dead eye to eye
Out now on PS4 (and PS5 via backwards compatibility, of course), Red Dead Redemption rides again. Rockstar's open world western was a game that helped define the PS3 generation, and 13 years later, it's still held in extremely high regard. It is nice, then, to see such a classic finally be unshackled from last-last-gen hardware —...
Hands On Red Dead Redemption PS4 Port Seems Solid, But Should Be So Much More
A remaster, but only just
The source of much criticism since its announcement, Red Dead Redemption — the freshly released PS4 port — admittedly isn't as half-arsed as we feared it would be. But at the same time, it's far from the remaster that such a beloved PS3 classic deserves. We've ran through the open world epic's opening hours in order to...
Round Up Baldur's Gate 3 Reviews Rate It as One of the Best RPGs Ever Made
Sitting at a ridiculous 97 on Metacritic
It's felt like Baldur's Gate 3 would be a hit for quite some time, but we didn't quite expect it to have such a colossal impact. The highly anticipated RPG isn't out on PS5 until next month, but PC reviews, impressions, and reviews-in-progress are painting a frankly ridiculous picture. Indeed, on its current...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for August 2023?
Another 17 games added
It's time once again to weigh up another batch of games coming to PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium. 17 titles are making the jump to Sony's more expensive subscription tiers, and we'll go right ahead and say that there's a lot of variety to this month's selection. From super promising indie RPG Sea of Stars — which debuts...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 489
The beautiful gaming
A partial heatwave and the return of Premier League football should make for a big weekend here in the UK — but that certainly won't stop us from squeezing in some quality gaming sessions. Aaron Bayne: This weekend I’m heading to the Lands Between for a solid session on Elden Ring with some friends. Editing through our...
Feature Saints Row Expansion Pass Review - Is It Worth Buying?
A look at all three expansions
Is the Saints Row Expansion Pass worth buying? With the reboot's DLC plans having now come to an end, we wanted to take a look at the sandbox's additional offerings and attempt to gauge whether the aforementioned pass is worth the price of entry. With that goal in mind, we recently played through all of the Expansion...
Preview Duelling Worlds Set Lords of the Fallen Apart from Other Souls-Likes
Our thoughts after three hours of play
FromSoftware is almost certainly waiting until next year now to release Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, so in the meantime, how about a more traditional take on the Dark Souls formula? Developer Hexworks is resurrecting the Lords of the Fallen IP following its forgotten 2014 instalment with a bigger and...
Poll Will You Be Buying Red Dead Redemption on PS4?
Put 'em up
Red Dead Redemption is coming back, but not in the form many fans were hoping for. The PS4 port was announced earlier this week, with Rockstar's official press release pretty much confirming that this version won't boast any enhancements over the PS3 original. There's no mention of an improved frame rate, resolution, or updated assets. As...
Movie Review Gran Turismo - An Unexpectedly Great Racer
A Gran(d) Surprise
When PlayStation Productions launched, we’d bet money that Gran Turismo wasn’t on your TV/movie bingo card. Uncharted? Of course. Twisted Metal? Surprising but makes sense. A movie about a famed racing simulator? That one, admittedly we here at
Feature Tren Sends Media Molecule's Dreams Out in Style
The little game that could
Conversation surrounding Media Molecule and Dreams is bittersweet at the moment; the game's arrival on PS Plus precedes the developer taking a step back from its creation platform and, largely, moving onto pastures new. However, it's important to remember the studio's efforts that led us to this point. It's been supporting...
And what was the best tournament?
And just like that, another annual Evo event is over. Just in case you had no idea if was happening, Evo 2023 took place over the weekend, welcoming thousands upon thousands of fighting game competitors and spectators. Most of the tournaments were streamed live online, with the finals for Marvel vs Capcom 3, Tekken...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 488
Let's go
Another week in the can means we can all look forward to another weekend of gaming, eh? This weekend sees the return of the football league, but there should be plenty of time for PlayStation between matches. Aaron Bayne: After recording some footage for a video, I’ve caught the Returnal bug once more. I’m praying to the RNG gods in...
Poll Will You Be Muting Your PS5's Beep?
BEEP
Just in case you missed it, the next major PS5 firmware update will let you disable the console's infamous 'beep' — the surprisingly loud chirp that occurs whenever you switch your system on. In truth, we've come to embrace the beep, but this news has revealed that some PS5 players aren't too keen on it. Whether you're just not a fan of the...
Guide Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for August and September 2023
Madden! Mortal Kombat! EA Sports FC!
Summer's usually a quieter time of the year for new game releases, but August and September seem to be packed full of new titles heading to PlayStation 5 and PS4. As always, we've been busy putting together some highlights headed to both systems over the next few weeks, as well as a larger selection of games...
Feature Best Dreams Games to Play While It's on PS Plus
All our recommendations in one place
Since Dreams launched in February 2020, it's come a long way. The game arrived with a whole host of weird and wonderful creations from the early access period, but it's been populated with a steady stream of brilliant stuff in the intervening years. We've made many recommendations on what's worth playing within...
Hands On The Expanse: A Telltale Series PS5, PS4 Gets Off to a Strong Start
Kowlting gut, bosmang
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a newly-reanimated Telltale Games' first outing since filing for bankruptcy in 2018, before reviving a year later under LCG Entertainment. Now, with many of the studio's original staff having returned in a freelance capacity, the first episode (of five) is available, and we were eager to dive...
Poll Is Twisted Metal's TV Show a Win or a Write-Off?
Calypso needs to know
It’s been a few days since Twisted Metal’s oddball television show started streaming on Peacock. While first impressions were disastrous based on a now infamous Thong Song scene showcased during Summer Game Fest, the reception to the entire first season has been much warmer overall, with reviews still largely mixed but many...
Interview How a Dreams Side Project Evolved into Media Molecule's Next Game
Talking Tren with its lead developer
John Beech Media Molecule is on the verge of launching Tren, a brand new game all about a wooden train set. It's due to be released in Dreams very soon, and after spending time playing the adorable title ourselves, we were eager to pick the brains of its creators. In order to learn more about Tren, where it came...
