Tag: Sony - Page 234
Review Crash Bandicoot (PSone)
Marsupial madness
At one time, Crash Bandicoot was the face of the PlayStation brand, but through licensing headaches and the creation of other characters, the spunky star hasn’t quite gone on to fill the role of Nintendo’s Mario or Microsoft’s Master Chief. However, the hero’s titular game remains a signature PlayStation classic that served...
Feature The Birth of a Legend - 20 Years of PlayStation
Two decades ago Sony launched the PlayStation in Japan. Here's the story
Hell hath no fury like a Japanese tech giant scorned – as the saying doesn't go – but when Nintendo left Sony at the altar following a passionate yet brief engagement which almost saw the two joining forces to create an all-in-one SNES CD-ROM system, few would have believed...
News PS4 Firmware Update 2.03 Adds Extra Stability to Your System
Available now
This may be the most exciting day in recent PlayStation history, but don’t worry, PlayStation 4 firmware update v2.03 is pretty boring. Available now and weighing in at approximately 217MB, the operating system overhaul promises additional software stability. Sony claims that it will help to “improve the usage of some...
News Miss the Original PSone Startup? Get It on PS4, PS3, and Vita Now
We need a moment
It's all about the good old days at Push Square today, and thanks to Sony's free present, we can all drown in a little bit of nostalgia of our own. Available on the PlayStation Network right now are three brand new themes for your PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita, featuring a classic PSone grey colour scheme and the original...
News This 20th Anniversary Limited Edition PS4 Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Get in quick
If you've not been paying attention, this week marked the 20th anniversary of the PlayStation brand. Obviously, we've been celebrating here on Push Square, but it seems that Sony wasn't about to let the milestone go by without a bombshell. Indeed, the Japanese giant today announced a very special new PlayStation 4 console. Dub
Talking Point What's Your Favourite PlayStation Startup Sequence?
Setting the scene
Republished on Tuesday, 2nd December 2014: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate the PSone's big 20th Anniversary this week. The original feature follows. Originally published on Friday, 12th April 2013: While it’s difficult to topple the trembling sense of anticipation that comes when you greedily tug...
News You'll Be Seeing More of The Order: 1886 and Bloodborne at The Game Awards
The Keigh to success
It's going to be a big week for news here at Push Square, with two major events looming large enough on the horizon to make our news team collectively shake in its boots. The first of these – the Geoff Keighley-funded The Game Awards – promises to be nothing if not an interesting affair. The usually boisterous spruiker has...
Feature The Third Place - A Brief History of PlayStation Hardware Marketing
Live in your world, play in ours
Republished on Tuesday, 2nd December 2014: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate the PSone's big 20th Anniversary this week. The original feature follows. Originally published on Saturday, 26th October 2013: With the PlayStation 4 now mere weeks away from release, Sony is starting to oil...
Rumour Sony's About to Get Really Aggressive in China
Business development
Considering that PlayStation is already enormous in Japan and most of Asia, it was strange to see Sony allow the Xbox One to deploy in China first. Microsoft’s machine launched in the potentially lucrative region earlier in the year, and there’s been very little word from its rival when the PlayStation 4 will follow in its...
News Just What the Heck Is PS4's EMAGON?
Shrugs
... And so it begins. We already expected the bulk of this week to be riddled with teaser trailers and subtle hints, but we didn't anticipate that we'd be stumped as soon as Monday evening. Scratching our collective heads we are, though, as the Spanish PlayStation Blog has uploaded a video for “PlayStation's best hidden secret". The clip,...
News The Last of Us Remastered PS4 Reduced in Sony's EU 12 Deals of Christmas Sale
PS4 exclusive available for £20
We hope that you remembered to open your advent calendar this morning, as Santa Claus is coming to town. Sony will be counting down to the big man's arrival in Europe with its 12 Deals of Christmas initiative – an annual event which sees new PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita titles reduced every two days...
News Strong PS4 Bundle Sales Drive DriveClub Numbers Up by 999 Per Cent
Sales of Sony's UK Black Friday package were 'massive'
This is proof that a good bundle can do a lot of damage, and something that SCEA should be paying attention to: DriveClub sales increased by a whopping 999 per cent on Black Friday week in the UK, thanks to a competitive PlayStation 4 hardware package which included the exclusive racing game...
Weirdness Sony's Made a Watch Out of E-Paper
Time for something different
Under the leadership of former PlayStation president Kaz Hirai, Sony is secretly exploring new methods that it hopes will propel it back to profitability in the future. One such subsidiary that it’s created on the quiet is Fashion Entertainments, a small startup consisting of five younger engineers, which has been...
News PS4 Loses Black Friday Battle, Research Firm Claims
Fight back
Sony may want to start thinking about its statement for November’s forthcoming NPD report, as it sounds like the PlayStation 4’s ten month winning streak in the United States could be about to come to an end. Microsoft seriously slashed the price of the Xbox One for the holidays – enabling cons
News The Weather Looks Frightful in This Uncharted 4 Concept Art
Summer holiday
Speculation suggests that we’ll be getting our second proper taste of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End at either The Game Awards or PlayStation Experience next week – but if that still seems too far away, then Naughty Dog concept artist Eytan Zana has cooked up a treat in the form of a brand new piece of concept art for the...
News See, the Console Wars Don't Have to Be Mean
Just slimy instead
War never changes – unless, of course, they’re console wars. Ever since Sony dropped its anti-DRM bomb at E3 last year, both the Japanese giant and Microsoft have learned that the best way to ingratiate themselves to potential consumers is to act like their best friend. Every press conference now concludes with a message of...
News Don't Worry, Sony Still 'Loves' the PlayStation Vita
Never forget
Sony’s big Black Friday flash sale in Europe was flush with PlayStation Vita titles, but its North American alternative overlooked the handheld entirely. This caused a bit of an uproar among followers of the format, but
News PS4's Game Library Will Continue to Grow at Pace, Proclaims Sony
Platform holder will innovate with future firmware updates
While we made a big fuss out of the PlayStation 4’s anniversary in North America, we’d actually forgotten its first European birthday. However, the always well spoken Jim Ryan has penned a post on the PlayStation Blog to remind us that just 12 months ago, we were consigned to the hellish...
News Watch PlayStation's Iconic Controller Evolve in Front of Your Eyes
The whole world in your hands
There’s absolutely eff all going on today, so we’re going to pad out our article quota with an animated GIF. To be fair, this addictive image loop is fascinating, as it shows the often subtle evolution of the PlayStation’s iconic controller, from its original grayscale guise on the PSone all the way through to its...
News MLB 15: The Show to Hit a Homerun at PlayStation Experience
Clean connection
‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, and all around the world, nary a word from a game developer could possibly be heard. That’s our way of saying that the industry has gone to sleep for the weekend, as there’s very little non-Black Friday related news filtering out. The best that we can do is an announcement of an announcement,...
News These Are Your PS4, PS3, and Vita Black Friday Deals on the EU PlayStation Store
Cut price chaos
Sony hasn’t forgotten about Europe. As was the case in the United States earlier this evening, the platform holder has launched a Black Friday fire sale in the Old World, with most deals set to run through until 1st December. Even more excitingly, the manufacturer hasn’t ignored the PlayStation Vita, so there’s something for...
News Sony Slashes PS4, PS3 Prices in Black Friday Flash Sale on US PlayStation Store
Digital deals
Sony’s been a little sly with its US Black Friday discounts. We assumed that the co-op promotion detailed in our big holiday blowout represented the sum of its seasonal savings, but it’s followed up with a Flash Sale that deserves a little breathing room of its own. The initiative’s
News Ni No Kuni Maker to Announce Epic PS4 Game at E3 2015
Hype level up to five
We haven’t even got PlayStation Experience out of the way, but the hype train for E3 2015 has already left the station. Akihiro Hino, who’s in charge of Japanese developer Level-5, teased a brand new PlayStation 4 title during a livestream earlier today – and apparently it will be revealed during the most important gaming...
News Uncharted 4's Creative Director Sure Seems Excited About The Game Awards
Drake for it
Sony’s always been a big proponent of Spike TV’s typically terrible VGA Awards, but with Geoff Keighley flying solo this year, it looks like that’s not going to change. Part of an action packed weekend in Las Vegas – which is also set to host the PlayStation Experience fan convention – The Game Awards look like they’ll hold...
News PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 Has More Than Pretty Visuals
All about that bass
As our very own Graham Banas will inform you, there’s more to a game’s presentation than its looks. Sound is something that often goes underappreciated in this visual driven industry, but it’s the glue that holds everything together. Seeing as The Order: 1886 is aiming to be the complete cinematic experience, then, its...
Feature What Are December 2014's Free PlayStation Plus Games?
Christmas cheer
Thanksgiving is right around the corner for our American readers, but we suspect that the quality of December’s forthcoming PlayStation Plus update will determine just how thankful we’re all feeling come tomorrow morning. Silliness aside, Sony has unveiled this month’s free game refresh a little earlier than usual, presumably...
First Impressions Enlisting in The Tomorrow Children, PS4's Great Social Experiment
Off to work we go
The Tomorrow Children is the type of title that you’d only ever find on PlayStation. We’re not referring to the fact that Sony’s footing the bill of this Q-Games developed curiosity – or the vaguely disingenuous PR sound bites that tend to filter out of first-party outfits from time-to-time – but the mere notion that this...
News Injustice, Secret Ponchos, and Hitman Headline December's PlayStation Plus Lineup
Deadly Premonition, Titan Attacks, and more up for grabs
After some pretty strong criticism last month, Sony’s got a much better PlayStation Plus lineup prepared for December. The platform holder already pre-emptively announced the PlayStation 4 titles, but just in case you missed them, you’ll be able to download Injustice: Gods Among Us
News Sony Pegs the PlayStation 4 as Pivotal to Its Future Success
Cuts television and mobile lines
Sony’s doubling down on the PlayStation 4, as it tries desperately to return to profitability. The manufacturer revealed as part of its Investors Day that it will be cutting its television and mobile lines, while focusing on its next-gen platform to pick up the slack. The company also has high hopes for its...
News Oops, Sony Will Be Compensating Vita Early Adopters for Misleading Marketing
Never stop paying
You may recall that a few years back, Sony was embroiled in a legal minefield over its marketing of the PlayStation Vita. If you're interested, and have a head for legal mumbo-jumbo, you can take a look at the US Federal Trade Commission's original charges through here. For the rest of you, though, the basic gist is that the...
Rumour David Jaffe's New Game Will Be Revealed at PlayStation Experience
God of War maker returns
We knew that David Jaffe wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. The veteran PlayStation employee – who’s behind some of the platform holder’s biggest properties, including God of War and Twisted Metal – looks set to reveal his latest project at Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation Experience fan event. Of course, th
News There Are Only Ten of These Knack Statues in the World
Cerny you want one
Incredibly, it’s been a year since Knack first attacked the PlayStation 4 as a launch title – and in order to commemorate the occasion, Japan Studio has prepared ten ultra-rare statues, which will be given away at Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation Experience event. The trophy itself shows the titular hero standing alongside...
News Sony to Enrich PS4 with Fresh Experiences, Functions, and Usability
Organisation outlines business strategy
We all know that the PlayStation 4 is doing incredibly well – after all, this scribe feels like he writes that sentence at least twice every day. The big question, then, is: what’s next for the system? As part of a presentation intended for investors, the platform holder has outlined its strategy for the...
Feature Five Reasons Why You Should Buy a PS4 This Holiday
Perfect moment
We’re often guilty of forgetting that not everyone owns a PlayStation 4 yet. While there’s no doubt that Sony’s next-gen system has raced out of the gates like an American shopper looking for a decent deal on Black Friday, the Japanese giant has only shipped a total of 13.5 million units to date. That means that
Weirdness Listen to This Gorgeous Acapella Cover of The Last of Us' Main Theme
Clicker along
While much praise is lavished over the gameplay and story of Naughty Dog's survival horror opus The Last of Us, comparatively little is said about its soundtrack. Indeed, the harrowing melodies composer Gustavo Santaolalla created for the game go a long way to making it the memorable and emotional experience that it is. Thankfully,...
News These Are Your Free PS4 PlayStation Plus Titles in December and January
Friendly reminder
Perhaps in an effort to offset mounting disappointment surrounding PlayStation Plus’ free game giveaways, Sony has announced December and January’s PlayStation 4 lineups ahead of time. Regular readers will already be aware of this, but just in case you’ve lapsed – don’
News This Is One PS4 Bundle You Won't Find in Your Local Store
Console major
Sony loves PlayStation 4 bundles in Europe, this much we already know. However, the platform holder has been slightly less forthcoming with premium hardware packages in North America; aside from the Destiny set and the yet-to-be-released Black Friday packs, there’s not been a whole lot to get excited about in the Land of the Free...
News Big Blockbusters Sell Best on the PlayStation 4 in the UK
Grand Theft Auto V and Far Cry 4 perform strongest on Sony's system
The previous generation was a long one for Sony, so we suspect that it’s starting to enjoy being back on top again. While the PlayStation 4 has been performing outrageously well all year in the UK, the next-gen device confirmed its status as the King of Consoles this week by...
Weirdness What if You Could Play PSone Games on Your Watch?
Watch this
Back in the day, video game watches were all the rage. This author has a Double Dragon timepiece kicking about which includes a pretty terrible LCD replica of Taito’s beat-‘em-up – but things have gotten a little more sophisticated since then. With smart watches a current curiosity, it was only a matter of time before someone got an...
News Collect Your Own Precursor Orb from the Naughty Dog Shop
Daxter stupidest thing ever
Naughty Dog’s gotten so big over the past five or so years that it now has its own official online store. Partly designed to celebrate the studio’s 30th anniversary, the firm is selling off several collectible items, including The Last of Us-inspired clothing, art books – and Precursor Orbs. Yeah, you read that...
News PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 to Secure New Gameplay at PlayStation Experience
London's calling
Let’s be honest: Sony’s done a pretty terrible job promoting forthcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive The Order: 1886 so far. After an impressive unveiling, the company’s recycled a pretty bland demo, which has been doing the rounds at virtually every gaming convention under the sun for months now. Even developer
Weirdness Ooh Matron! This PS4 Remote Play Ad Is All a Bit Saucy
Carry on playing
Don’t take your temperature after watching this bizarre Belgian commercial for the PlayStation 4 and Vita, as there may be some inaccuracies in the results that you record. It would appear that Sony hasn't forgotten about its portable platform in Europe – and is quite literally, ahem, bringing out the big guns to help sell the...
News Don't Worry, Your PSN Account Details Probably Haven't Been Leaked
Hoax hack seemingly exposed
We live in a world where a single exposed password can be catastrophic, which means that there’s plenty of reason to panic when a hacking group claims to have gotten hold of account details for over 4,500 users. That’s exactly what happened overnight, when a faction named
News PS4 Is the Best Place to Play This Holiday, States Sony's Latest Trailer
Stop us if you've heard this one before
There’s some decent alliteration in the phrase ‘the best place to play’, but we’re pretty sure that all three major console manufacturers use it. As such, it’s starting to lose its meaning a little bit – especially seeing as the reasons listed in this new PlayStation 4 trailer are a little loose...
Feature 15 Awesome PS4, Vita Indie Games That We Haven't Had Time to Tell You About Yet
Catch up
Not every indie game is amazing, but we very much appreciate the existence of the space. While this week has proven that blockbuster titles are not going anywhere – Grand Theft Auto V! Far Cry 4! LittleBigPlanet 3! Dragon Age: Inquisition! – we like to think of the smaller content as the palette cleansers that prepare you for your next...
News Killzone: Shadow Fall Fights for Free in Japan's December PlayStation Plus Update
Vekta-ory
PlayStation Plus’ selection of "free" software has been underfire for a little while now, with subscribers dissatisfied with the roster of indie games making up each month’s PlayStation 4 lineup. However, the platform holder has already stressed that this will change starting in December, with superhero brawler Injustice: Gods Among Us...
News Wait, There's a New PlayStation 3 Firmware Update?
Nod like Churchill Dog
Sony’s pledged its ongoing support to the ageing PlayStation 3 by releasing a new firmware update for the machine. The operating system overhaul – dubbed v4.66 – is available now, and improves software stability. Well, you weren’t expecting anything especially interesting, were you? It didn’t take us too long to...
News Meet the Man Who Makes PlayStation's Amazing Press Kits
Box art
Talking about press kits in a post-Doritosgate era is perhaps a little awkward, but the work of Tim Smith deserves to be appreciated. The Welsh graphic designer and illustrator is behind some of SCEE’s best pre-release packages, which are typically sent to journalists alongside review code prior to a particular PlayStation title’s...
Interview LittleBigPlanet 3's Stellar Soundtrack Is Already Winning Awards
Prize bubble
Sony’s last major release of the year, LittleBigPlanet 3, is a real gem, dragging Media Molecule’s do-it-yourself series into the future with a laundry list of tweaks and improvements. It’s already winning awards as well, as composer Winifred Phillips has received a Hollywood Music in Media Award for one of her contributions to...
News Will PS4 Exclusive Bloodborne Feature Randomly Generated Dungeons?
Anything's possible
As promised last week, PlayStation 4 exclusive Bloodborne has recently received a slew of new screenshots. Obviously, if you're planning on tackling the game without taking in a single spoiler, we suggest that you stop reading right now. The images themselves include several juicy new details, including a gentlemanly invention...
