Timeline
Sunday12th Nov 2023
News Mortal Kombat 1's Microtransaction Backlash Prompts Free Fatalities
A make good for those who coughed up
The vociferous response to Mortal Kombat 1’s controversial paid Halloween Fatality has prompted Warner Bros to respond, with fans who coughed up for the seasonal finisher getting two bonus moves for free. Back in October, the publisher attracted the ire of players by flogging a premium Fatality for 1,200
Saturday11th Nov 2023
Video PS Portal Unboxing Gives Us Our First Look at Sony's PS5 Handheld
It's all about the form
The PlayStation Portal is almost upon us, sort of marking the return to the handheld gaming market for Sony. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a unit on the run-up to its November 15th release date to take our PlayStation 5 experience on the go. However, before we turn on this new device for the first time, we're here...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 502
Once more with feeling
The big new release this weekend is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but it feels like interest in the franchise is at an all-time low, doesn’t it? That doesn’t exactly mean the title will be flop – far from it – but we’re not exactly expecting to see it pop up too frequently in this week’s WAYP. Aaron Bayne: I'll...
News Sony Takes Control of UK as PS5 Climbs to 51% Market Share
More than double Xbox over last six months
As has been reflected in other parts of Europe – like in France, where Sony currently is beating Xbox Series X|S by a ratio of 90 per cent – the PS5 has gained 51 per cent market share in the UK over the past six months. By comparison, Nintendo has just 25 per cent market share, while Microsoft has...
Friday10th Nov 2023
Poll Are You Buying a PS5 'Slim'?
Slimmer down
With the new PS5 model now available for purchase in the US — with other regions likely to follow in the very near future — we think it's time to ask whether you plan on picking up the PS5 'Slim'. For those who already own a PS5, this is probably an unnecessary expense. Aside from being a bit smaller and having slightly expanded...
Video Modern Warfare 3 Maps Lack Character In Side-By Side Comparison
More pixels, more problems?
Modern Warfare 3 just landed on PS5, bringing with it the 16 original maps from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2. From Terminal to Wasteland, some of the best Call of Duty maps ever made have received a facelift — definitively bringing them into the modern gaming era. But how much has Infinity Ward actually changed with these...
News Baldur's Gate 3 Dominates Golden Joystick Awards, Wins Game of the Year
The first of many
This year's Golden Joystick Awards are over, and Baldur's Gate 3 has walked away the big winner. The superb RPG snagged the all-encompassing 'Ultimate Game of the Year', beating out the likes of Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy 16, and many more. Larian's universally acclaimed title also scooped the win in six...
News PS5 Arcade Racer Resistor Looks Like an Absolute Blast in This New Gameplay Trailer
Sign us up
Announced earlier this year, we were already on board with Resistor, but the racing action in this trailer definitely has us more excited. Combining an open world RPG with super-arcadey motorsport, the game looks to be shaping up really nicely. We're not completely convinced by the narrative aspect shown at the start of the video, but...
Video DualSense Edge vs. Nacon Revolution 5 Pro Controller: Which Premium Pad Is Best?
Taking control
Most of us will happily use the default DualSense controller to play our PS5 games. However, there's been a market for more premium input options for a long time, and Sony itself finally tapped into it with the DualSense Edge — a more customisable (and more expensive) version of its classic pad. On the other hand, Nacon has been in...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Star Ocean The Second Story R?
Star crossed
Considered by many to be one of, if not the best game in the series, PS1 and PSP classic Star Ocean The Second Story was revived last week in a very well received fashion. Star Ocean The Second Story R is a remake of the beloved RPG, bringing modern sensibilities to an old school adventure. We awarded it a 'great' 8/10 in our rather...
Family-friendly PS5 games ranked and rated
What are the best kids games on PS5? Many video games target a more mature audience, but there are just as many aimed at children. The good news is that there are lots of fantastic family-friendly experiences on PS5 that can be enjoyed at all ages. Whether you're looking for something simple to engage the...
News PS5 'Slim' Is Now Officially for Sale in the US
The time has come
As of today, Sony has started rolling out the new PS5 model in the US. The 'Slim' system is available to purchase from all of the usual retailers, and it's up for grabs on the official PlayStation Direct online store. There are also Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 bundles available. Buy PS5 Slim -...
News A New Trails Game Will Launch in Japan Next Year as the West Continues to Catch Up
Kuro 3 all but confirmed
Falcom's latest financial report reveals that a new Trails title is set to release before September 2024. It's highly likely that it'll end up being the third game in the series' latest saga, following on from Kuro no Kiseki and Kuro no Kiseki 2: Crimson Sin. The latter hit Japan in 2022, as Falcom focused on Ys X: Nordics...
News The Excellent Persona 5 Strikers Has Sold Two Million Copies
Go team
Persona 5-2 in all but name, it's been confirmed Persona 5 Strikers has sold two million units worldwide. It's unclear whether PS Plus redemptions from January 2022 count towards the milestone, but producer Daisuke Kaneda is still pleased with the achievement. On the Persona Channel, he said: "This work P5S was released on February 20,...
News Honkai: Star Rail Exceeds 1 Million Players on PS5, Dishes Out Crucial Currency
Pulling 'em in
HoYoverse’s gacha gaming sensation Honkai: Star Rail has been played by over one million players on PS5, which means it’s rewards time for faithful fans. Free-to-play forays like this can generally manipulate their most engaged users with the lure of in-game currency, and if you create an account in the turn-based RPG before 24th...
News LEGO 2K Goooal Is PS5, PS4's Worst Kept Secret
2KGoaldn
LEGO 2K Goooal, a soccer-based take on Denmark’s most famous bricks, may be the worst kept secret on PlayStation – especially now previous frontrunner Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 has released. The title, which has been rumoured for eons, has now popped up on the PS Store’s back-end under the name Build Up, complete with officia
Guide PS5 Stock: Where To Buy PlayStation 5 in November 2023
Best PS5 console deals + PS5 Slim!
Update: Sony has officially released the PS5 Slim in the US, with other territories coming soon. <related ids="158219"> Which shops have PS5 stock for November 2023? What are the best PlayStation 5 console deals? After a lengthy period of stock struggles, Sony has finally managed to make PS5 consoles much...
News Legendary Dev LEVEL-5 Will Continue Its Resurrection This Month
DECAPOLICE, Inazuma Eleven, and more expected
LEVEL-5 had all but disappeared up until recently, but the legendary Japanese developer is making a big comeback right now. The studio has announced multiple promising projects, including the highly anticipated detective RPG DECAPOLICE and the PlayStation debut of Inazuma Eleven. And we’ll find out...
News People Are Beginning to Play Around with PS5's Remote Play Handheld
Stream like you mean it
While the PS Portal is technically Sony’s first portable since the PS Vita, the Japanese giant is treating it as more of an accessory for the PS5, like the DualSense Edge or upcoming Pulse headphones. That’s because the device can’t operate independently of the new-gen console, requiring an advanced, streamlined version...
Half the time normally allotted to Call of Duty titles
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is out today, and critics and players in Early Access have been hammering the game's underbaked single-player campaign. Wouldn't you know it, it turns out the title was churned out in less than half the time generally allotted to such an undertaking, which would go...
News Sony Has Stopped Updating PS Plus' Subscriber Numbers
In the dark
For the past two quarters, Sony has failed to provide an update on PS Plus’ total number of subscribers. The platform holder is not required to reveal this statistic, of course, but it’s always provided an interesting point of reference as the figure fluctuates throughout the year. Generally the service has hit a ceiling of around 50...
News Overwatch League Confirmed Dead as Blizzard Heads in 'New Direction'
Cheers, love
The ambitious Overwatch League, the most expensive esports bet ever floated, is seemingly no more, with Blizzard confirming that it will take competitive Overwatch "in a new direction." An OWL spokesperson released a statement to GGRecon, which announced the news in no uncertain terms: "We are transitioning from the Overwatch League...
News Baldur's Gate 3 Hotfix 10 Should Keep Shadowheart on Track
Eyes on the prize
Just in time for the weekend, developer Larian Studios has released Baldur's Gate 3's tenth hotfix, which, in addition to four full patches, is a level of post-launch support we're afraid to become accustomed to for fear of future disappointment. However, it's smaller in scope than the relatively large Hotfix 9, so perhaps the s
News God of War Ragnarok LoFi Beats Are Chiller Than Fimbulwinter
More like GOAT McCreary
As the only possible thing to listen to while writing, we've become connoisseurs of LoFi music in recent years. Imagine our delight, then, at waking up to an official Bear McCreary joint on the PlayStation YouTube channel that mixes tracks from Sony Santa Monica's epic God of War Ragnarok soundtrack. The tracklist features...
News Broken Roads Delayed Days from Launch, and While Being Reviewed
Fair dinkum
Post-apocalyptic CRPG Broken Roads has been hit with a surprisingly late delay, mere days away from launch and review code already in critics' hands. Due out on 13th November, Australian indie studio Drop Bear Bytes announced the news on Twitter so suddenly that, at the time of writing, the game's Steam page was still not updated...
Guide New PS5 Games Release Dates in 2023
All 2023's upcoming PlayStation 5 launch dates
What new PS5 games release dates in 2023 are coming up? If you're after a full list of 2023 PlayStation 5 release dates, you've come to the right place. With the PS5 now in its third year, the number of games heading its way is growing larger and the quality is getting better. We'll be keeping you...
Guide New PS4 Games Release Dates in 2023
All 2023's upcoming PlayStation 4 launch dates
What new PS4 games release dates in 2023 are coming up? If it's a full list of 2023 PlayStation 4 release dates you need, look no further. As usual, we'll be updating this article throughout the year, refreshing it with new titles and release dates so you can be clear which new PS4 games are on the...
Guide New PSVR2 Games Release Dates in 2023
All 2023's upcoming PlayStation VR2 launch dates
What new PSVR2 games release dates in 2023 are coming up? If you're looking for a full list of 2023 PSVR2 release dates, then we've got you covered. Sony's headset is off to a strong start in its first year on the market, with virtual reality developers both big and small committing their support to...
Thursday9th Nov 2023
Poll Is God of War Ragnarok Still One of Sony's Best Games, One Year Later?
Oh boy oh boy
Today marks the first anniversary of God of War Ragnarok. The PlayStation exclusive launched on the 9th November 2022, and was immediately met with glowing praise from many a player. Weeks before, it had received universally positive reviews from critics, with some calling it one of Sony's greatest ever first-party titles. At the...
News PS5, PS4's Monthly Active Users Is Increasing
An impressive improvement year-over-year
There were more people playing PS5 and PS4 in the quarter ending 30th September than a year ago. Sony’s latest earnings report reveals that 108 million users connected to the PlayStation Network during the three-month period, compared to the 102 million users in 2022. That’s actually a significant...
