When the design of the PS5 was finally unveiled, it’s fair to say it left fans split down the middle. Some people loved it, praising its futuristic look and sleek curved lines, while others hated it, comparing it to a Wi-Fi router or a poorly-made concept render.
One thing that is most divisive, however, is the console’s two-tone color scheme, which mirrors the DualSense controller’s white and black design. We’re used to seeing white special editions of Sony’s consoles, but the company has historically opted for black plastic, ever since the PlayStation 2 days. So will we see a black PS5?
Well, according to a leaked piece of marketing material from Sony, a black and red PS5 could be on the way. Shared by ResetEra user BarrBarr, the photo is apparently part of a Sony promotion for stores to try and incentivize staff to sell more Sony Xperia products.
(Image credit: BarrBarr via ResetEra)
While the picture clearly shows a black PS5 and DualSense controller with red led lighting instead of blue, there are a few tell tale signs that the image may have been manipulated in photoshop. For a start, a blue hue remains on the inside of the PS5’s distinctive ‘popped-collar’, and the rear side of the DualSense controller is clearly white.
Is a black and red PS5 likely, then? Honestly, the odds are unlikely, but we do know we’ll see different console designs in the future. PlayStation’s vice president of UX design Matt Maclauri said that players can “count on even more beautiful (and hopefully radical) special editions” in the future.
For now, though, if you don’t like the PS5 design, you’re out of luck until Sony reveals a new edition of its upcoming next-gen console.
Hyper Scape, Ubisoft’s new contender for the best battle royale game, is now available for PC gamers to download and play in open beta.
Following a new gameplay trailer which was showcased in the Ubisoft Forward event, the open beta of the futuristic shooter – which is kind of like a streamlined and stripped-down Apex Legends with even more emphasis on mobility, and some interesting extra touches – has been unleashed.
The Hyper Scape beta comes with four game modes. Crown Rush Squad is the main game, with the winner being the last team standing, except you can also take an alternative route to victory by keeping hold of a crown that appears in the late game. Crown Rush Solo is the same except players aren’t in squads, but are playing as lone wolves.
Ubisoft notes that two ‘limited time’ modes will be appearing soon – Hack Runner Squad and Turbo Mode Squad – but doesn’t give any info as to exactly what these will be yet. Furthermore, a new weapon and hack have been added to the game for the open beta.
Royale twists
Hyper Scape has some interesting different twists on battle royale, as mentioned, including a fresh mechanic for how the battlefield – a virtual city, an urban environment offering towering heights and jump pads – closes in, with sections of the map simply disappearing and buildings slowly phasing out of existence in the virtual world.
And there’s a whole additional social mechanic whereby viewers on Twitch can trigger different events in the game, like low gravity, or haste, which increases the speed at which the game plays.
All this happens via the CrownCast Twitch extension, with extra features like streamers having the ability to directly invite viewers to play in their squad, which is pretty nifty. Watching streamed games can also progress your battle pass, too, further rewarding spectators.
Of course, the best way to get an idea of what Hyper Scape is all about is to just give it a spin yourself, which you can now do. Download the open beta here, and meanwhile check out the latest gameplay trailer above.
The Xbox Series X may not have many confirmed exclusives but, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, that's because Xbox Series X-only games would be "completely counter to what gaming is about".
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Spencer explained that Xbox Series X exclusives would stop many players from being able to experience those games – which is not something the company is looking to do.
"As a player you are the center of our strategy," Spencer said. "Our device is not the center of our strategy, our game is not the center of the strategy. We want to enable you to play the games you want to play, with the friends you want to play with, on any device.
"Gaming is about entertainment and community and diversion and learning new stories and new perspectives, and I find it completely counter to what gaming is about to say that part of that is to lock people away from being able to experience those games."
PS5 games: all the games confirmed for the PlayStation 5
Microsoft and Sony's approaches to next-gen exclusives have been polar opposites. While Sony is intent on moving PS4 players to the PS5 as quickly as possible, encouraging the upgrade with tantalizing PS5 exclusives such as Horizon Forbidden West and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Microsoft has promised it won't have any Xbox Series X exclusives for the first few years, and that Xbox One players won't be left behind in the leap to next-gen.
So far the Xbox Series X looks like it could be the most accessible next-gen hardware, both in theory and practically. Microsoft is looking at Xbox as a family of consoles, with each member continuing to play a part, which is evident with the Xbox Series X's four generations of backwards compatibility and its innovative Smart Delivery feature, which will ensure that players only have to buy a game once to get the best possible version of it.
Not only that, but it looks like the Xbox Series X could be the more affordable of the two consoles, with Sony's Jim Ryan stating the PS5 won't necessarily be the lowest priced next-gen console. In addition, Microsoft has stated that its Xbox All Access program, a subscription service that allows players to pay off their Xbox Series X or Xbox One console in chunks rather than all at once, is "critical" to its next-gen strategy.
While Microsoft's lack of Xbox Series X exclusives may be somewhat frustrating to some, the company's strategy is certainly much more accessible than Sony's, aiming to ensure that Xbox players will not be priced out of the next-gen experience.
We might not have a price or a confirmed release date for the Xbox Series X yet, but the box art for Microsoft’s next-gen console games has been revealed – and it’s basically what we’ve already got now.
Microsoft has committed to supporting the Xbox One with all Xbox Series X releases, which means games like Far Cry 6 (shown below) and Halo Infinite will also run on Xbox One. For that reason, then, the Xbox Series X box art is basically what we already have now.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Games that are optimized for Xbox Series X will display a rather unmissable badge that points out that the title will take advantage of the next-gen console’s additional graphical grunt. A black bar underneath the platform banner also points out which consoles the game supports.
Far Cry 6 was announced during the Ubisoft Forward event, which took place on Sunday, July 12. The game will star Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring) as the game’s main antagonist, and is set to release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, PC and Stadia on February 18, 2021.
Boxing match
We’ve seen that the PS5 box art is slightly different from its predecessor, and mirrors the consoles new two-tone styling. However, Microsoft’s goal to make Xbox one homogeneous place to play is clear with the Xbox Series X games box art, and hopefully is clear enough for consumers who are looking to buy their favorite titles in the future.
After playing just under three hours of an early build of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, I came away suitably impressed. Not because the game dramatically differs from Assassin’s Creed Origins or Odyssey – Ubisoft hasn’t delivered the type of paradigm shift that we saw after the much-maligned Assassin’s Creed Unity – but because Valhalla has managed to deliver a thoroughly convincing world, set in a historical time period that I’m genuinely fascinated by.
After all, the Viking age is one that had far-reaching implications for many European countries, particularly Britain, and its effects can still be seen today. York, a scenic town no more than 45 minutes away from my home, was famously invaded by Ivar The Boneless and subsequently renamed Jorvik. Pretty cool, right?
Norse code
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Now, various school trips aside, what really reignited my passion for burly bearded-men and inspirational shield-maidens was the aptly-named Amazon Prime show, Vikings. Watching the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, Lagertha and the heartless Ivar was truly gripping entertainment, particularly as many events took place in familiar locations. Sure, liberties were taken with timelines and historical accuracy, but it provides a bewitching insight into what life was like.
"There’s no denying that the personal appeal of each Assassin’s Creed entry ultimately boils down to its setting."
It turns out that the vikings were an incredibly complex and contrasting set of people. Their savagery is usually highlighted in dramatic fashion, and their surprising amount of sophistication and progressive ideals are often overlooked. But one thing that is always agreed upon was their ambition to expand.
From riding through perilous seas to raid unknown lands, to establishing the idea that death in combat was the greatest honor of all, the vikings make the perfect source material for a great video game (see: God of War). Throw in the pagan gods such as Thor, Odin and Loki into the mix, and you have yourself a well-woven story that is surely envied by even the finest of authors. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has the perfect subject matter to succeed, then.
You might think that praising Valhalla based on its chosen era is rather faint praise – after all, Assassin’s Creed games are often revered for their incredibly detailed and fully-realized worlds. But there’s no denying that the personal appeal of each Assassin’s Creed entry ultimately boils down to its setting. It’s why I can’t wait for Ubisoft to finally deliver a game set in feudal Japan, although Ghost of Tsushima is likely to scratch that long-awaited itch when it releases on July 17.
A realistic setting and historical nods is one thing, though, but could Assassin’s Creed Valhalla make me feel like a viking? If the game couldn’t encapsulate what being a viking felt like, it would all be for naught. Thankfully, Valhalla delivers.
Siege warfare
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Sailing towards an enemy stronghold, as the rain lashed down and thunder broke overhead, brought a sense of excitement I haven’t felt from a Ubisoft game in a long time. When the Nordic music kicked in and my band of warriors started to roar their battle cries, I felt a wide-grin begin to form on my face.
"I particularly enjoyed stomping fallen enemies into the mud, but that’s just me."
Once our longboat crashed onto the shore, Valhalla’s combat came to the fore. And while I wouldn’t call it perfect by any means, it was weighty, impactful and predictably gruesome.
You’ll plunge your axe into the chest of your opponent, then forcefully pull it back out in a shower of claret. Your shield will be swung with such force that it will break bones, and each special ability (which can be unlocked and improved from the various skill trees) were satisfying to perform. I particularly enjoyed stomping fallen enemies into the mud, but that’s just me.
It didn’t take long for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to reward my prior optimism that this game would let me live out my viking dreams. The raids are sure to create some dramatic set pieces and memorable conquests, but the underlying story and characters that inhabit the world were equally as pleasing. I attended a viking wedding, out-drank a fellow mountain of a man, and even lay with a promiscuous fellow.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is shaping up nicely, then, although I have some reservations about how the game will keep the experience feeling fresh. I only savored what is sure to be a small slice of a game which will span 50+ hours. Make no mistake, however, the game has my attention as it stands, and my axe.
Far Cry 6 wasn't exactly a secret, but Ubisoft has now revealed the world premiere trailer for the game during its Ubisoft Forward event.
Far Cry 6 takes place in a "tropical paradise frozen in time" called Yara. Yara is controller by dictator Anton Castillo (played by Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito), who aims to restore the paradise to glory with help from his son, Diego - through any means necessary. However, a revolution is taking place in Yara which aims to take down Castillo. Players take on the role of protagonist Danny, a revolutionist in the fight against Castillo.
In the trailer, we see Castillo giving his son Diego (suspected to be a young Vaas from Far Cry 6) a bit of tough love, as civilians riot in the streets outside their mansion.
Check out the Far Cry 6 trailer below:
Not exactly a secret
Thanks to a PlayStation Store listing leak, which resulted in Ubisoft releasing a teaser trailer for the game likely earlier than anticipated, we already knew a fair bit about Far Cry 6 - even if Ubisoft has only officially confirmed some of the details now.
The leak revealed Far Cry 6's release date as well as news that the game is coming to PS5 (with an Xbox Series X release expected). Players being able to upgrade their PS4 of the game to the PS5 version for free - and we're expecting a similar case for Series X. In addition, the leak confirmed Giancarlo Esposito will star as Far Cry 6's antagonist, Anton Castillo, and even gave details about the game's plot.
It may have already been spoiled for us, but it's still a pretty great trailer.
Far Cry 6 will release on February 18, 2021.
New games 2020: New games 2020: game release dates for console and PC
PS5 games: all the games confirmed for the PlayStation 5
Assassin's Creed Valhalla will launch on November 17, it's been revealed. Previous reports suggested the game was coming out in December, so this date is slightly earlier than we expected. The game will release on November 17 on Xbox One, PS4, PC and Stadia, with Xbox Series X and PS5 releases planned too.
Check out the newest trailer for Valhalla below:
Ubisoft showed off a few features in detail, like the settlement management aspect of the game, and specific Valhalla exploration and combat features. These include battering down enemy doors in conjunction with another character, or using a harpoon to snare and then behead an enemy. You can also dual wield any two weapons, according to the trailer.
You can also expect the biggest variety of enemies in any Assassin's Creed game to date. It still looks like it's built on the bones of Odyssey and Origins' combat systems, though, in case you were expecting a larger change to the hand-to-hand battles.
We expect the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will release whenever those consoles actually launch.
Ubisoft has confirmed the next chapter in the Assassin's Creed series will be Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which will see players visiting the (long-rumored) Viking Age.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla sees players taking on the role of Viking raider Eivor, who leads a beardy clan from their native home of Norway to the shores of Dark Ages England - with a hope of settling down for good. But resistance from the Saxons won't exactly make it easy.
With less of an emphasis on stealth, Valhalla introduces new features such as raids, settlement management and customization. It looks like the bloodiest entry to date and we can't wait to get our hands on it when it releases for current and next-gen consoles on November 17, 2020.
After a sneak peek at a pre-rendered trailer, we got our first proper in-game look at Assassin's Creed: Valhalla during the Xbox Series X gameplay reveal live stream, followed by a deep-dive into the game during Ubisoft Forward on July 12.
We're more than ready for our latest fill of action-packed history and can't wait to see how the series' stunning locations look on next-gen consoles. So, without further ado, here's everything we know so far about Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
[UPDATE: Ubisoft has released a new deep-dive Assassin's Creed Valhalla trailer. Scroll down to check it out.]
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next chapter in the Assassin's Creed series
When can I play it? November 17, 2020
What can I play it on? Xbox Series X, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia and PC. It's also a Smart Delivery game, meaning if you buy it on Xbox One, you'll automatically get an Xbox Series X version, too.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla release date
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Assassin's Creed Valhalla will release "Holiday 2020" (so sometime between October and December) to coincide with the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The game will release for Xbox Series X, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia and PC, and will be an Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store exclusive on PC. In addition, Assassin's Creed Valhalla will be available on Ubisoft's subscription service UPLAY+, and will offer next-gen Xbox Series X upgrades to those playing on the Xbox One through Microsoft's Smart Delivery service.
Ubisoft revealed a deep-dive Assassin's Creed Valhalla trailer during Ubisoft Forward on July 12. The video gives us a closer look at Valhalla gameplay, including combat, stealth and exploration.
Check it out below:
Here's your first look at Assassin's Creed Valhalla gameplay, courtesy of a trailer showed during Microsoft's first Xbox Series X gameplay reveal event:
The vibe, we think it's fair to say, is Assassin's Creed meets Skyrim, with a bit of British coutnryside thrown in. There's very little of the series' once-signature stealth action on show, with the game instead focussing on large scale battles and raids.
There's still nautical action, in the shape of taking the helm of a Viking longship, as well as getting a birds eye view of the action through a feathered friend (here a raven as opposed to the Assassin's Creed's usual eagles).
Compared to the sun-kissed locales of Origins and Odyssey, the two previous Assassin's Creed titles, there's a moodier, darker feel to what's been shown of Valhalla, with plenty of burning villages, brutal axe attacks and snowy vistas. It's also a bit greener too, with Britain's once-lush countryside on full display, including a cameo by the Stonehenge historical site. We'd imagine this hints at some sort of pagan worship featuring in the game too – in keeping with the mix of history, religion, myth and mystery of the series.
Ubisoft debuted the Assassin's Creed Valhalla world premiere trailer on April 30. Check it out below:
Assassin's Creed Valhalla news and rumors
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Below we've gathered all the biggest news and rumors about Assassin's Creed Valhalla for your perusal:
Voice actors revealed Creative Director Ashraf Ismail has revealed the voice actors for female and male Eivor: Danish actors Cecilie Stenspil and Magnus Buun. With Ubisoft leaning into the RPG elements of Assassin's Creed and making dialogue choices really matter, it's likely we'll be hearing a lot of them.
For #AssassinsCreedValhalla here are our phenomenal leads, Female and Male Eivor 🤩❤️Cecilie Stenspil - https://ift.tt/3df1nVx Bruun - @Magnus__Bruun pic.twitter.com/kfVfXSLqkIMay 1, 2020
Norway and England will feature In an interview with BBC Click, creative director Ashraf Ismail has confirmed that the game, set in the 9th century, will take players between Norway and England, with the majority of the action taking place in England's four different kingdoms.
“Norway is quite big on its own but if we talk about England specifically, that's where the majority of the game takes place. We have four kingdoms in England so it's Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and Wessex. We have major cities like Winchester, London, York - or Jorvik at the time period.”
Present day playable In an interview with Eurogamer, lead producer Julien Laferrière confirmed the present day will be playable.
"We've found a way to blend the present day into a new type of experience for players," Laferrière said. "And present day is playable - I can confirm that."
No co-op
Ubisoft has confirmed Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a single-player game.
Raven animal companion In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, players had an eagle companion that could scout out areas from above. In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, you'll have a raven companion which will have new abilities.
Romance available Assassin's Creed Valhalla will have romance options, however it's not clear whether players will be able to romance everyone, regardless of gender.
Epic Games Store exclusive The PC version of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is only available on Epic Game Store and Uplay, which we expect will ruffle more than a few feathers.
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Pre-orders and special editions Gold, Ultimate, and Collector’s Editions of Assassin's Creed Valhalla are available - with pre-orders open now.
The Gold Edition of the game includes the base game and the Season Pass. The Ultimate Edition includes the base game, the Season Pass and the Ultimate Pack giving access to players to exclusive customization content: the Berserker Gear Pack, the Berserker Settlement Pack, the Berserker Longship Pack, along with a Set of Runes to improve weapons or gears.
The Collector’s Edition includes the base game, the Season Pass, the Ultimate Pack, the high-end Ubicollectibles replica of Eivor and her Drakkar, a Collector’s Case, a Steelbook with a unique artwork, a numbered certificate of authenticity, a Viking Statuette of Eivor with his raven and Dane axe, exclusive lithographs as well as a Selected Soundtrack of the game. The Collector’s Edition is available exclusively on the Ubisoft Store.
In addition, fans who pre-order Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will receive at launch an additional mission 'The Way of the Berserker', in which players will join a legendary Norse Berserker on his quest for revenge.
Choices matter Elements such as political alliances, combat decisions, and dialogue choices will influence the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla - so choose carefully.
Bloodier than ever Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks considerably more brutal than previous entries in the series, with the trailer depicting bloody massacres on English soil. It seems like stealth is no longer the priority in this game and instead we'll see more in the way of violent raids and destruction.
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
More RPG elements According to Ubisoft, Valhalla introduces new features such as raids, the ability to grow your settlement and build power, and the ability to increase your influence in this new brutal, dark world. These raids will allow you to collect resources needed to upgrade your settlement.
As your village grows, you'll be able to add new buildings such as a barracks, blacksmith and tattoo parlour - all available to customize and ugprade.
Customization Players will have the option to play as either a male or female Eivor, with new customization options being introduced that allow you to customize your Eivor's hair, tattoos, war paint and gear.
Story Here's Ubisoft's description of the story:
"Driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in the ninth century AD, players will lead Eivor’s clan of Norsemen across the icy North Sea to the rich lands of England’s broken kingdoms.
"Players must carve out a new future for their clan, reliving the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors with a revamped combat system that includes the ability to dual-wield weapons against a greater variety of enemies than ever before.
"To secure resources players can lead raids to select locations using their longship to earn much-needed riches and resources. As the Vikings begin to settle in their new home, they encounter resistance from the Saxons including King Aelfred of Wessex, who denounces them as heathens and looks to be the sole ruler of a civilized England. Against all odds, Eivor must do what is necessary to keep Valhalla within reach."
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Release window and platforms Assassin's Creed Valhalla is due to release"Holiday 2020" (so sometime between October and December this year) to coincide with the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Ubisoft has confirmed Valhalla will release for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, and for PC - it will also be available on Ubisoft's subscription service: UPLAY+.
15 studios working on Valhalla According to a tweet by Ubisoft Montreal, 15 studios around the world are working on Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Viking Age As rumored, Assassin's Creed Kingdom will take place in the Viking Age. This became clear when BossLogic began drawing Viking-themed art on the Assassin's Creed reveal Twitch stream - but the name also gives it away.
New games 2020: the biggest games coming to console and PC
Ubisoft revealed further details on Watch Dogs: Legion during its Ubisoft Forward event on July 12 - alongside a brand new trailer. In it, we got to see some of the recruitable Londoners for Dedsec and a first look at the gameplay.
It's been over a year now since Watch Dogs: Legion was first revealed during Ubisoft's E3 2019 conference. Rumors suggested the latest instalation to the Watch Dog series would take place in post-Brexit London and it turns out they were spot on. With characters straight out of a Guy Ritchie film, Watch Dogs Legion sees you navigating the streets of futuristic London, including Camden Market and Piccadilly Circus, as you form a resistance to take back the city.
Originally Ubisoft gave us a Watch Dogs: Legion release date of March 6, 2020, however the developer has since revealed that this date has been pushed back to October 29, 2020 to allow the team "more development time to ensure that their respective innovations are perfectly implemented so as to deliver optimal experiences for players".
We may be waiting a bit longer than expected but here's everything know about Watch Dogs: Legion so far.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next game in the Watch Dogs series set in post-Brexit London
What can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS5 Stadia and PC.
When can I play it? October 29, 2020.
Watch Dogs Legion trailers
The latest Watch Dogs: Legion trailer was revealed during Ubisoft Forward on July 12 and gave us an overview of gameplay
Check it out below:
Ubisoft revealed a trailer at Gamescom 2019 showcasing Watch Dogs: Legion's ray tracing capabilities. Check it out below:
Ubisoft revealed the first trailer for Watch Dogs 3 - officially titled Watch Dogs: Legion - at E3 2019.
Watch Dogs: Legion seems to see you taking on an organization called Albion who have distributed riot drones all over London to keep people in line. You're a member of the resistance: DeadSec.
What's interesting about Legion is that you play as more than one character (a whole host actually), with permadeath wiping out the one you're playing if you happen to end up on the wrong end of an electric bullet. You can apparently play as anyone - with every Londoner being recruitable and fully simulated.
Check out the trailer below:
Watch Dogs Legion news and rumors
New release date During Ubisoft Forward, it was confirmed that Legion will release on October 29, 2020 for PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Stadia, PS5 and PS4.
Play as anyone Watch Dogs: Legion lets you can on the role of anyone you come across, recruiting them to your resistance - that includes cops, construction workers and even football hooligans.
Release date delay and next-gen confirmation Ubisoft announced it was delaying Watch Dogs Legion, Gods & Monsters and Rainbow Six Quarantine as its more recent releases did not meet expectations.
Originally meant to release in March 2020, Legion's release date was pushed back to late 2020 to allow for "more development time to ensure that their respective innovations are perfectly implemented so as to deliver optimal experiences for players".
In addition, Ubisoft chief financial officer Frédérick Duguet confirmed all three titles will release on next-generation consoles.
“Gods & Monsters, Rainbow Six Quarantine and Watch Dogs Legion will be released between Q2 and Q3 of next fiscal year and will be optimized for the next generation of consoles," Duguet said in a conference call following the announcement (via VGC).
E3 2019 From what we saw during E3, Legion seems to be much more combat-heavy than the previous entries we've seen in the Watchdogs series and offer a much more developed open-world. But what's really caught our eye is the realistic interpretation of London - even if it's a Bladerunner, neon feverdream.
Watch Dogs: Legion has an official release date: October 29, 2020. The London-set entry in the series will release on PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC and Stadia, according to the official website, although strangely PS5 wasn't listed in the official trailer.
The game was first revealed about a year ago, at E3 2019, and it mixes the open world shooter series up by allowing you to recruit anyone in the world to your side. The new trailer showed off the different types of NPCs you can recruit in the world, and how their specialities break down.
We fully expect Watch Dogs Legion to launch on current gen consoles first, unless one of them launches before the game's scheduled release date.
Pre-orders have gone live for the game on sites like Amazon, too. The game will feature a season pass for additional content.
What the Watch Dogs: Legion Ultimate Edition looks like
Looking for the best PS4 cooling stations around? Then you’ve landed on the right page. As PS4 games have become more advanced, the PlayStation 4 console has often struggled to keep up, with the strain of running major AAA titles such as The Last of Us 2 resulting in the hardware sounding like an air plane ready to take off.
However, external PS4 cooling stations and fans essentially keep the console from overworking itself through better airflow. This means that console noise from internal cooling components shouldn’t reach absurd levels of volume. And, alongside simply keeping your PS4 well ventilated and air dusted occasionally, cooling fans and stations could lead to a potentially longer console lifespan.
With Sony’s PS5 around the corner, gamers who wish to get the most out of their PS4 console before upgrading, or who simply want to preserve the console for years to come, should consider an external cooling accessory. So we’ve put together a list of the best PS4 cooling stations, fans and stands on the market that should suit a range of budgets and needs.
Charging docks for DualShock 4 and Move controllers
PSVR bracket
No game storage
One of the PS4’s most successful accessories has been Playstation VR. Sony has sold over a whopping five million units of its virtual reality headsets and made the once niche technology mainstream. In comparison, that’s a better sales rate than the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. For such a premium device, it was sold for noticeably cheaper as well.
Considering the resources needed to run games in VR, it’s best to keep your PS4 and its headset processing unit as ventilated as possible. ElecGear’s all encompassing cooling station is a premium accessory for a premium hardware set up. A simple off/on switch offers solid cooling through duo fans. Alongside chargers for standard DualShock 4 controllers, the station features two more chargers for Playstation Move controllers. Four USB ports at the front should be more than enough. There’s even a hanger for a pair of over-the-ear headphones. The only thing that would make this absolutely perfect would be slots for game cases.
Grab the ElecGear PS4 Vertical Cooling Stand from Amazon US for $29.98
Grab the ElecGear PS4 Vertical Cooling Stand from Amazon UK for £24.98
(Image credit: Kootek)
Kootek Vertical Stand for PS4
A feature-packed cooling station at a great price
Fits PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro
Packed with features
Three cooling fans
Games holder
Doesn’t work in rest mode
Anyone looking for a fully functional PS4 cooling station with value should look toward the Kootek Vertical Stand. This vertical stand features three cooling fans that should provide plenty of extra heat dissipation. The stand also features dual-charging ports for DualShock 4 controllers and case holders big enough for twelve game cases. Too bad the USB ports don’t work unless the PS4 is fully turned on. Regardless, it’s probably one of the best bang-for-buck within cooling station offerings for the console and it works for all PS4 models from original to Pro variants.
Grab Kootek Vertical Stand for PS4 from Amazon US for $23.99
(Image credit: KINGTOP)
KINGTOP Vertical Stand for PS4
Fans have high/low settings
Can use external USB Power Source
Compact and portable design
Console doesn’t fit too securely in stand
Those looking for something incredibly cheap in the console cooling department should look into Kingtop’s stand. There’s plenty to love about this incredibly affordable stand which features two fans that offer both high and low settings that doesn’t require using any of the front USB ports. This means it can be powered with any standard USB port. However, the case doesn’t seem too sturdy in keeping the console in place so be mindful of where the set-up is placed.
Grab the KINGTOP Vertical Stand for PS4 from Amazon UK for £26.99
KINGTOP Vertical Stand for PS4 from Amazon US for $27.99
(Image credit: OIVO)
OIVO PS4 Vertical Cooling Stand
Fantastic quality at a reasonable price
Quality design that’s sturdy
Faster DualShock charging through EXT port
Only one USB port
OIVO’s cooling stand works for all PS4 models and is feature packed. Alongside two cooling fans, the base features a metal bottom instead of plastic. This means some serious console ventilation. Instead of using the micro-USB port, the cooling stand utilizes faster charging through the Dualshock 4’s EXT Port. Anyone looking for real quality within their cooling stand should look no further.
Grab the OIVO PS4 Cooler from Amazon UK for £22.33
Grab the OIVO PS4 Cooler from Amazon US for $26.99
(Image credit: Linkstyle)
Linkstyle Cooling Fan for PS4 Pro
No frills cooling for the PS4 Pro
Three Cooling Modes
Easy set up
Uses USB Port
PS4 Pro is already fairly silent and not prone to overheating
PS4 Pro owners looking for a simple cooling set-up should find much usage out of the Linkstyle Cooling Fan. While most rear external cooling fans utilize the console’s power-port, this one is powered through USB. This allows the five fans to run under a normal speed and faster turbo speed for games demanding more power. There’s also an automatic mode for when the PS4 Pro gets too hot. The PS4 Pro already runs at decent decimals even under heavy load compared to the base model. This cooling fan might work best for those looking to preserve their console as long as possible.
Grab the Linkstyle Cooling Fan for PS4 Pro from Amazon US for $20.99
Between Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the upcoming Star Wars: Squadrons, we’ve started to get excited about Star Wars games again. But if the Star Wars game franchise is to go forward, it should start by looking back.
Relegated to non-canon ‘Legends’ status since Disney purchased the franchise, the Star Wars Expanded Universe is a rich vein of lore that just begs to be mined. It encompasses hundreds of books and comics, exploring corners of the Star Wars universe that the movies never could.
And while it’s been swept under the Jedi Academy’s carpet, the Expanded Universe’s new status is oddly liberating. With no ties to current continuity, there’s no reason (Lucasfilm willing) that game developers couldn’t dive back into this Expanded Universe and dig out some of those forgotten tales.
So here are five Star Wars Legends stories we’d like to see turned into games.
Itchy. Tasty. Wookiee. (Star Wars: Death Troopers)
(Image credit: Del Rey Books/Joe Schreiber)
Think Resident Evil 2’s Mr X is scary? Try being chased through the corridors of a zombie-filled Star Destroyer by an enraged, flesh-hungry Wookiee. That’s one nightmare facing the protagonists of Death Troopers, a Star Wars novel that screams “survival horror”.
When Kale and Trig Londo’s prison ship breaks down, their captors decide to plunder a classified Imperial Star Destroyer and soon the pair are knee deep in the undead.
It’s not just the legions of zombie Stormtroopers that makes Death Troopers perfect survival horror material, though. Inspired by Alien and The Shining, it’s a grimly claustrophobic tale; stranded in deep space, there’s nowhere to go apart from the gloomy corridors of the Star Destroyer - we could absolutely see this Star Wars story being turned into an Alien Isolation-like game.
Trig and Kale, too, are the every-men that Star Wars games have been lacking. They’re not Jedi, heroes, Rebels or even soldiers - their only ambition is to make it through the day alive. Give Death Troopers to the likes of Capcom and we could be looking at one of the best horror games yet - at least until someone mods Zombie Chewbacca into a thong.
Barely operational battle station (Star Wars: Darksaber)
(Image credit: Bantam Books/Kevin J. Anderson)
Star Wars: Darksaber asks: “What if the Death Star was built by absolute idiots?” It features an inept crime syndicate who construct a superweapon using stolen Death Star plans and parts from the lowest bidder. What could possibly go wrong with building a bargain basement version of a battlestation that’s already been blown up twice?
Luke Skywalker and company get a look in, but Darksaber’s real entertainment value is in seeing the syndicate’s blunders mount up. Like watching the Chuckle Brothers assemble a guillotine, you know it’s going to end in disaster but you just can’t look away.
We’d love to see Darksaber as a Star Wars-themed take on Landlord’s Super, a construction sim which already throws you in at the deep end. Can’t make head or tail of those Death Star plans? Someone’s ordered the wrong type of laser lens? Tough luck. You’ve got six months or Durga the Hutt will have your head.
Loose canon (Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here)
(Image credit: Marvel Entertainment/Kevin Rubio)
As entertaining as Star Wars is, there are times it takes itself too seriously. Kevin Rubio’s comic spoof is the perfect antidote to the franchise’s po-facedness, starring a pair of well-meaning idiots who get mixed up in half of the movies’ events.
The missing planet Obi-Wan Kenobi was looking for? Tag and Bink accidentally deleted it. Wonder why Chewbacca didn’t get a medal? Totally Tag and Bink’s fault. If they’re not giving Anakin Skywalker dating advice, they’re stealing Boba Fett’s armor or mooching off Lando Calrissian.
Their canon status was questionable even before Disney picked up the Expanded Universe and threw it down a reactor shaft, but Tag and Bink’s shenanigans beg for more exploration. We’d pay good money for an episodic, tongue-in-cheek series that dives into the final Star Wars trilogy or, even better, let us shake things up a bit. The Rise of Skywalker may have crushed our hopes of Poe and Finn being a couple but we’re sure, with a few carefully forged notes, Tag and Bink could set things right.
In Star Wars, death is frequently PG rated; get sliced in half and your blood and internal organs stay obligingly in place as your corpse tumbles out of view. That’s not the case in Medstar 1: Battle Surgeons, which follows the trials of a group of Republic medics, struggling to deal with the Clone Wars’ casualties.
Their gruesome exploits run parallel to the novel’s central story, delivered with a sanity-preserving dose of gallows humor. Here, soldiers don’t die neatly; they bleed out on the operating table while a surgeon jokes about having enough shrapnel to build a new battle droid. It’s a bold take on Star Wars, bringing home the bloody reality of the prequel trilogy’s conflict.
We wouldn’t say no to Theme Hospital: Star Wars, treating ailments like Bloaty Helmet and Ingrown Clonenail, but Medstar deserves a more complex take. Do you save the clones the Republic has deemed expendable when there are civilians in need of treatment? What if it comes down to them and the Jedi Master who’s saved your life more than once? Triage and tough choices are what we need.
Star Wars: Dark Lord (Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader)
(Image credit: Del Rey Books/James Luceno)
How do you reconcile the Darth Vader of the original Star Wars trilogy with the grumpy teenager in Revenge of the Sith? Written partly from Vader’s perspective, James Luceno’s Rise of the Darth Vader begins to bridge the narrative gap.
It depicts a man stewing in his own rage, crammed into a suit which scrapes and scratches at his already ravaged flesh, barely able to think for the rasp of his breathing apparatus. So when a group of Clone Troopers defy Order 66, he welcomes the opportunity to vent his hatred.
It’s this raw, primal Darth Vader that deserves to be experienced on the small screen. He’s been a playable character in Battlefront 1 and 2, but has never the subject of his own title. We’d kill for a Darth Vader Soulslike, not just to have the power of the saga’s infamous villain at our fingertips, but also delve into his tortured psyche – and maybe force-choke an Ewok or two.
As we approach the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, TechRadar is looking back at the games that made this generation great. This week's entry? God of War (2018).
The God of War series has spanned three generations of PlayStation consoles, with a total of eight entries in the series since the first game's release back in 2005. So, you would think think that there's not a whole lot that Sony could do to shake up the veteran series' formula - but you would be wrong.
God of War (2018) stormed onto PS4 consoles just two years ago, well into the PlayStation 4's lifecycle, and firmly cemented its place as one of the best PS4 games of all time - and for good reason. God of War may not officially be a reboot, but it might as well be.
Sony's Santa Monica Studio truly harnessed the power of the PS4 to its fullest with God of War, creating a stunning world drenched in Norse mythology that begs to be explored and offering the most satisfying combat of any God of War game to date. But while the action-adventure is certainly a feast for the senses, its the narrative and character risks that make God of War exceptional - and a game that will penetrate the hearts of even the most hardened gamers.
God of War is a sequel to God of War 3 and, rather than focusing on Greek mythology as the previous entries did, the latest entry in the series instead focuses on Norse mythology. We pick up with demi-god Kratos years after his battle with the Olympic gods. The grizzled warrior now resides in Norway with his son Atreus, in the realm of Midgar, determined to put his violent past behind him and move on.
However the death of Kratos' wife Freya has strained his relationship with his son, who remains unaware of his father's bloody past, and soon it becomes clear that Kratos cannot run from his past - or who he really is. In an effort to toughen young Atreus, and get some closure, the pair set out to fulfil Freya's final wish: to spread her ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms.
For the first time in the series, we have not one but two protagonists. While Kratos remains the playable character, Atreus serves as a sidekick of sorts, shooting arrows at enemies while Kratos beats hell out of them with his hulking axe.
But it becomes apparent throughout the game that Atreus is much more than a (somewhat annoying) tag along. Instead, Atreus is a gate to Kratos' softer side. Until now, we had always seen Kratos as a fearsome soldier, capable of striking down Olympians and probably having the occasional bath in the blood of his enemies - you know, normal demi-God stuff. Instead, we watch his relationship with Atreus develop and grow, sometimes uncomfortably.
The pair struggle with the loss of Freya, and each deal with their grief in a different manner: Kratos remains stoic while Atreus' emotional struggles and fears are more evident. Kratos treats Atreus as a protege rather than a son, often calling him "Boy" and criticizing his lack of courage. However, as the pair's journey unfolds, Kratos begins to understand his son more and we are gifted with a raw emotional exploration of the relationship between a father and son.
It's a testament to Santa Monica Studio that it somehow managed to turn a raging machine into a relatable father figure that we connect with - in such a nuanced way.
But still badass
(Image credit: SIE Santa Monica Studio)
God of War doesn't just excel when it comes to narrative and character development. Seamless transitions keep you in the heart of God of War's action, which is exactly what you want as you navigate the enchanting realm of Midgard, uncovering its lore and solving its puzzles. You don't want the spell of God of War to break for even a second.
Combat is equalling enthralling. Kratos' axe movements feels smooth and controlled, with the hulking demi-God gliding through enemies in a bloody haze. Upgrades offer you more control over Kratos' playstyle, offering plenty of options when it comes to crushing the Norse beasts you encounter.
Every moment feels exciting in Midgard, with even the combat-less aspects being propelled by the quips between Kratos and Atreus and an unforgettable supporting cast.
Simply put, God of War remains one of the best PS4 games of all time - and one of the greatest games of this generation. We can't wait to get our hands on the rumored God of War 2, and see what Santa Monica Studio does with the power of the PS5 to harness.
As sure as the sun rises, we know that we're going to see a new Call of Duty game every year. Sure enough, Activision recently confirmed that a new "premium" Call of Duty is in the works and due for release in 2020, despite already releasing a remastered Modern Warfare 2 campaign and Warzone, its excellent spin on battle royale, earlier this year.
While we don’t know much about the new Call of Duty (or Call of Duty 2020) yet, we do know that Black Ops developer Treyarch is working on the game with support from Sledgehammer Games after a development switch up. Treyarch’s last Call of Duty title was Black Ops 4, a decent enough entry that eschewed a single-player campaign to add Blackout – the franchise’s first stab at battle royale. This year’s game is rumored to be a reboot of the Black Ops franchise similar to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), with the title rumored to be ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’.
With E3 2020 canceled and Activision yet to announce a replacement event, expect the new Call of Duty to pop up in some shape or form during an announcement stream. But, until then, here’s everything we know about the new Call of Duty.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next mainline Call of Duty game.
When is it out? TBC, but probably around October or November.
What can I play it on? TBC. Xbox One, PS4, and PC are likely but expect PS5 and Series X too.
Will it have cross-play? Very likely considering Modern Warfare offered it.
Will there be Zombies? We’d be very surprised if Treyarch’s infamous mode doesn’t make an appearance.
New Call of Duty release date
(Image credit: Treyarch)
New Call of Duty games traditionally releases in November, but Activision has kept things flexible in years past. Notably, Black Ops 4 launched in October, allegedly to steer clear of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Activision will likely want the game available from the off on PS5 and Xbox Series X (due for release in late 2020), having opened the current console generation with Call of Duty: Ghosts back in 2013. Expect more information in the coming weeks as developers and publishers host their own streams in lieu of E3 2020.
New Call of Duty news and rumors
(Image credit: Treyarch)
Here's all the latest news and rumors surround the new Call of Duty:
Name (and time period) revealed? According to a leak by @Okami13_ on Twitter, corroborated by Eurogamer’s sources, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the title of this year’s game.
While its sequels veered into both near and far-flung futures, the original Black Ops was entirely set in the Cold War conflict of the 1960s. The title suggests we’ll be returning to that period, and suggests that rumors of a reboot could be correct. Will we be rubbing shoulders with JFK again?
Warzone leaks Warzone, Call of Duty Modern Warfare’s battle royale mode, has begun setting up a puzzle involving all of its locked bunkers.
With enterprising players glitching into them to find Cold War-era spy aircraft, it looks as though this is all part of a project building towards a full reveal of this year’s game. It wouldn’t be Call of Duty without leaks, after all.
Patch notes teaser The Call of Duty subreddit noted that Modern Warfare 2019's patch notes reference redacted information and “Protocol Yellow”.
These have been deciphered and reveal references to sleeper cells and “Project Nova” – both key plot points in the original Black Ops game.
Still on track During the company’s earnings call on May 5, Activision COO Daniel Alegre confirmed that the 2020 title is “on track for release later this year” despite the “challenges” the studio is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Twitter Teases A number of Treyarch staff members have been removing Twitter headers. That might sound completely unrelated, but in the past has suggested a reveal is coming soon. Games marketing in 2020, you’ve got to love it.
New Call of Duty: what we want to see
(Image credit: Treyarch)
After last year’s successful Modern Warfare reboot and the success of Warzone, things are looking rosier for the Call of Duty franchise than they have done in some time.
While the series has always been about explosions and people barking orders, Black Ops (and to some extent its immediate sequel) offered fun, off-the-wall spy shenanigans that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Black Ops offered a surprising twist and an ambiguous ending, and we’d love to see the new Call of Duty game go into those kind of unanswered questions.
Basing the game in the Cold War also allows for some overlap with the Vietnam war, and allows for plenty of opportunities for stealthy missions. This could make the campaign arguably more varied than any of recent game in the series.
In terms of multiplayer, our main gripe with the Modern Warfare reboot was its map selection which tended to promote camping strategies. With a rich history of multiplayer maps in the Black Ops franchise, we’re hoping this year’s game can continue that lineage.
Finally, Zombies mode is a must – it’s been a pillar of every Treyarch Call of Duty since it was a bonus mode in World at War, and it’s always the place where the developer goes truly wild with its creativity.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive dystopian RPG from CD Projekt Red, the studio behind the acclaimed Witcher series. After a second delay, the game is set to launch on Xbox One, PC, and PS4 on November 19, with a Google Stadia release coming later in the year.
Although its release comes towards the end of the current-generation, Cyberpunk will also move into the next generation, with Xbox Series X and PS5 releases confirmed.
Set in Night City, a corporations-controlled metropolis in the Free State of California, Cyberpunk 2077 is set to be a vast open-world game that allows players to play through numerous branching storylines and experience the neon-drenched, gritty cities and futuristic gadgets and weapons associated with the the cyberpunk sci-fi genre.
Thanks to plenty of Cyberpunk 2077 trailers, and a hands-off demo at E3 2019, we've had the chance to see some of the scale of the game. We also learned even more about it during the Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire stream on June 25.
Looking for all the juicy details? Here's all the news, trailers, and announcements we've had on Cyberpunk 2077 so far. Or, if you can't take the anticipation ahead of the game's 2020 release, check out our thoughts on the Cyberpunk RED tabletop role-playing game instead.
[UPDATE: Cyberpunk 2077 won’t be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Read on to find out more.]
Cyberpunk 2077: key facts
What is Cyberpunk 2077? A brand new IP from CD Projekt Red starring Keanu Reeves
What's the Cyberpunk 2077 release date? November 19, 2020
What systems will Cyberpunk 2077 be released on? PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, GeForce Now, Google Stadia and PC
Will it come to next-gen consoles too? Confirmed for Xbox Series X and PS5 - there will even be a "full-blown next-gen" version of the game after the consoles launch
Is it not coming to Switch? Sorry, Nintendo fans – while the Witcher 3 was somehow ported to Switch, it seems unlikely the hardware could cope with what Cyberpunk is promising
What is Cyberpunk 2077?
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a neon cyberpunk game that has The Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt Red moving from a gritty, high fantasy world to an equally gritty, science fiction world metropolis. It's based off the pen-and-paper RPG of the same name, but plays a hell of a lot like The Matrix game we've always wanted.
We caught our first peek at the game behind closed doors at E3 2018—you can check out what we saw in the 48-minute walkthrough video below in the trailers section—but we've seen plenty more since then.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that looks vastly different from its developer's The Witcher series, with towering neon skyscrapers, bionic enhancements and a focus on vertical movement rather than wide open plains. It's also all in first-person.
At E3 2019 we learned a lot more about the plot of the game, which features the one and only Keanu Reeves. Reeves plays a character named Johnny Silverhand who's embedded in a biochip that's placed in the main character's brain.
In order to unlock the secrets to the biochip, what basically becomes the main thread of the game, Silverhand will guide you to Alt Cunningham, the most legendary net runner of all-time. The only problem? She’s dead. But her consciousness lives on the web and you’ll need to do whatever it takes to track her down – including, but not limited to, befriending or eliminating leaders of the biggest gangs in Night City.
Cyberpunk 2077 release date
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
The Cyberpunk 2077 release date is November 19 2020. This release date has been confirmed after a third delay—initially scheduled to launch on April 16 2020, the game was later delayed until September and now until November.
The reason for the Cyberpunk 2077 delay to November isn't because the game isn't done. CD Projekt Red says it's finished, but more time to fine-tune the expansive game is necessary. It is, after all, a massive RPG.
An important development update pic.twitter.com/uFGrt9TqpiJune 18, 2020
The latest Cyberpunk 2077 trailer was shown during the Cyberpunk Night City Wire stream on June 25 and showed off the game's prologue. Check it out below.
This Cyberpunk 2077 trailer is a 15-minute deep dive into the game's lore, world, and gameplay. If you don't mind spoiling some of the visual treats in store – including what it's like to actually step into cyberspace – check out the video here.
E3 2019 gave us an incredibly slick trailer, with a look at some new characters, weapon-play – including Keanu Reeves, who will be playing the rock star Johnny Silverhand. Get your fix in the trailer below.
In March 2019, we got yet another video, this time of the development team gearing up for the E3 2019 showcase event. Those hoping for a 2019 release may want to start to brace themselves however – though the game remains without a release date, the suggestion of the video below is that development is still in full swing, and a release date may be some time away yet:
After a veritable truckload of hype, CD Projekt Red released 48 minutes of gameplay footage, based on the demo journalists saw at E3 2018.
In it, you'll see what gunplay looks like, character creation and backstory assignment, plus how you'll upgrade yourself via cybernetic enhancements. You'll meet some of the characters in Cyberpunk's seedy crime circuit and explore the city on foot and in vehicles. (Quick warning: the trailer contains nudity, violence and swearing.)
We were treated to a Cyberpunk 2077 trailer during E3 2018 which you can watch below:
We've rounded up the all the biggest Cyberpunk 2077 news and rumors below for your perusal:
Cyberpunk 2077 won’t be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch Cyberpunk 2077 will be playable on a wide range of platforms when it launches in November, but you won’t find it on Microsoft’s subscription service Xbox Game Pass.
The news was confirmed by CD Projekt Red’s Lead PR Manager, Radek Grabowski, on Twitter.
When VentureBeat journalist Jeff Grubb used Cyberpunk 2077 as an example of the kind of blockbuster third-party release that Microsoft might look to have on Game Pass, Grabowski headed off any further speculation by responding “You’ll have to pick another example, Jeff. No Game Pass plans for Cyberpunk 2077.”
You have to pick another example, Jeff. No Game Pass plans for Cyberpunk 2077.July 10, 2020
Wall-running has been dropped CD Projekt Red has confirmed that wall-running won't be an option in Cyberpunk 2077.
Wall-running was first glimpsed as a means of traversal in Cyberpunk 2077 all the way back in 2018 when the game still in its relatively early stages but level designer Max Pears has said that it's since been removed for "design reasons".
What those design reasons are hasn't been explained but Pears has emphasised that "There's still going to be a lot of flexibility in how you move, that's for sure."
Some digital gifts to come with the game Every copy of Cyberpunk 2077 the game will come with its own bundle of digital content including the original score, an art booklet, a Cyberpunk 2020 sourcebook, some wallpapers for your device and a newly revealed digital comic called Cyberpunk 2077: Your Voice.
The bundle was revealed by the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account, though there aren't any further details on what story the comic will tell. It doesn't appear to be connected to the Cyberpunk 2077 comic series announced recently called Trauma Team.
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Cyberpunk 2077 anime A Cyberpunk 2077 anime is coming to Netflix in 2022. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners will be a 10-episode story about a street kid living in Night City who becomes an edgerunner, a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk.
BrainDance Cyberpunk 2077 will take a leaf from Batman Arkham Knight's book, with its detective-esque BrainDance feature.
Revealed during the Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire stream, BrainDance is a immersive, almost VR-like, experience that your character can partake in. The feature provides a "keyhole into the lives of Night City residents", allowing you to watch the experiences of others as though watching a movie - with the ability to rewind, fast-forward and even analyze the scenes.
In doing so, you can play detective, gathering clues and providing a better understanding of the lives of the city's residents. CD Projekt Red referred to it as a "storytelling tool".
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Xbox One controller easter egg The Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox One controller is apparently hiding a fun easter egg for fans. As reported by Reddit user UglyDucklingTaken, the back of the controller features a QR Code which, when scanned, takes players to an unlisted video of a track from the game's soundtrack: "The Ballad of Buck Ravers" by in-game band SAMURAI.
This comes after those who purchased the special edition Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox One X console discovered a hidden message on its back that can only be discovered using UV light. The message was found to read (via VG247) "Many languages, one message" followed by Thank You in multiple languages.
Coming to Stadia later Cyberpunk 2077 will not be available on Stadia when it launches on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on November 17. This was revealed in an unrelated press release (via ArsTechnica) which states that the Google Stadia version is "set to launch in the same year". Though there's no solid date attached to the Stadia launch, this at least tells us it'll be between November 17 and December 31 2020.
No Less DLC than The Witcher 3
Cyberpunk 2077 hasn't even been released yet but naturally CD Projekt Red is already thinking ahead to post-launch content. In an investor Q&A (via VGC) CD Projekt president Adam Kiciński said that Cyberpunk 2077 will have “no less DLC than The Witcher 3 had.”
For those unfamiliar with The Witcher 3's DLC, the game had a fair amount with two full story expansions as well as a smattering of free DLC which included things like quests, equipment and clothing.
M for Mature It looks like Cyberpunk 2077 will have a Mature rating. Alongside its rating the ESRB has given some information on what aspects of the game have led to that rating, citing "blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content and use of drugs and alcohol."
Cyberpunk coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X - with full blown, next-gen version coming at a later date Cyberpunk 2077 will officially release on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The game will also be backwards compatible on both consoles meaning your PS4 or Xbox One version of the game will work on their respective successor from day one.
In addition, CD Projekt Red confirmed on Twitter that a "later upgrade to Cyberpunk 2077, taking full advantage of the next-gen hardware, will be available for free" on both next-gen consoles.
We are happy to confirm that Cyberpunk 2077 will be backwards compatible with both next-gen consoles! Your PS4 copy of the game will work on PS5 on launch day. Anyone who buys the game on Xbox One will be able to play their copy on Xbox Series X when the console launches too!June 19, 2020
Who are the Tyger Claws? As we're approaching the release of Cyberpunk 2077 new information on the game has been a little limited and CD Projekt Red has been keeping quiet. But a recent video posted to YouTube by Madqueen Show (via VG247) is purporting to reveal one of the gangs that will roam Night City when the game is released: Tyger Claws.
The gang, which also exists in the tabletop RPG of the game, is described in the video as being “a Japanese booster gang" which "settled in the district of Westbrook, also known as ‘Japantown,’ the part of the city where people go when they’re looking for thrills. As they are the protectors of the Japanese community at large, it is thought they are backed up by one of the most powerful megacorporations of Cyberpunk 2077: Arasaka.”
The contents of the video haven't been confirmed by CD Projekt Red but adding some credence to it is a Tyger Claws poster over on the official Projekt Red store which describes Tyger Claws as a Night City gang hailing from Japantown. Another gang poster features a group called the Valentinos from the barrio.
Grimes tells all in apparent gameplay leak So, we knew that the pop star Grimes was going to feature on the soundtrack, but she'll also be voicing a character within the game – a character we now know a decent bit about.
Grimes appeared on a live stream in late February, and spoke about her involvement in Cyberpunk 2077 as the singer / performer Lizzy Wizzy, possibly revealing more than she was meant to, with mention of how her in-game character appears and the rather sci-fi situation she finds herself in. Spoilers below, obviously.
The YouTube video was quickly pulled, but this thread on Reddit features a "summary" of what was mentioned (meaning this may not be perfectly verbatim):
"I did my voice acting for Lizzy Wizzy, that game is going to be fucking good. I mean I haven’t played it, but I saw someone play an hour of the game. The game was fantastic, and I play a pop star who committed suicide on stage, and they had to quickly come and preform emergency surgery and replace her whole body with cybernetics while she was dead for an hour and then she finished the show as a cyborg. One of the greatest pieces of performance art ever made."
(Image credit: JC Olivera / Stringer)
Nvidia GeForce Now support Nvidia has announced that it will support Cyberpunk 2077 on its GeForce Now streaming platform when the game launches in November 2020. This is good news for those who can't stretch for a brand new expensive gaming PC but would like to enjoy the game's promised ray-traced visuals as they'll be able to play it with RTX On.
You'll have to buy Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam before playing it on GeForce Now but this is a big win for Nvidia after losing Activision Blizzard's games.
🌗 Next stop: Night City. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to GeForce NOW at launch.More info → https://t.co/DuK53ktkrh pic.twitter.com/hjNVsom58fFebruary 19, 2020
VR not happening It seems that a virtual reality element was considered by CD Projekt Red for Cyberpunk 2077 but was ultimately found to not be viable. In an interview with OnMSFT, producer John Mamais said that VR is "very experimental and niche" and therefore just wasn't a great fit for the game. “We tried," he explained, "We were thinking about VR but, yeah, we’re not doing anything with VR.”
Mamais wasn't particularly forthcoming on the topic of a port for Nintendo Switch, either, saying it's unlikely but that similar things had been though of The Witcher 3.
“I don’t know if Cyberpunk 2077 would work on the Nintendo Switch. It might be too heavy for it. But then, we did put Witcher 3 on it and we thought that would be too heavy too, but somehow we pulled it off.”
Big names on the soundtrack CD Projekt Red used The Game Awards to give players a better idea of the music that will feature in Cyberpunk 2077 and set the tone for exploring Night City. A behind-the-scenes segment confirmed that artists including Run the Jewels, Refused, Grimes, A$AP Rocky, Gazelle Twin, Ilan Rubin, Richard Devine, Nina Kravitz, Rat Boy, and Tina Guo will appear and there are more to be confirmed. You can watch the segment for yourself below:
So, what does Night City sound like?@runjewels @Refused @Grimezsz @asvpxrocky @gazelletwin @IlanRubin @RichardDevine @NinaKraviz @DeadlyHunta @RATBOY @Tinaguo#TheGameAwards #Cyberpunk2077 pic.twitter.com/f5ayGtVgTX13 December 2019
Game map An official art and lore book for Cyberpunk 2077 has appeared on Amazon and its cover gives us a look at part of the game's map of Night City. The map shown on the cover isn't massive but it is dense and it looks like it doesn't cover the whole game world—cutting off at the edges suggests that exploration will extend beyond the city walls, correlating with earlier interviews with Pawel Sasko which revealed an external area known as the Badlands will be explorable. Not only that, the fact that we've previously had a glimpse at a city metro map makes us think Night City will be about exploring vertically as well as horizontally.
Reddit Q&A reveals more details More has been revealed about the depth of Cyberpunk 2077 in a recent Reddit Q&A in which a user has recounted information from their attendance at a Q&A day with CD Projekt Red in Poland.
According to the poster, the game's day and night cycle will have an impact on quests; at certain times of day, for example, a location may be more or less guarded which could impact your likelihood of success. Weather, though, won't have an impact quite so severe although in-game characters will react to it.
The game's crime system has been revealed as being similarly dynamic— so police won't jump on you for a small crime like, say, assault on a particular individual. But they will "absolutely try to fry your ass" for more extreme things like causing harm to large groups of people with a gun or vehicle.
Quests in the game will be wide-ranging, branching and evolving, even impacting one another. And the game won't necessarily end with the completion of the main story; you can opt to keep playing. Replayability is said to be higher with this game than The Witcher 3.
As far as customization goes, the developer has acknowledged that players are interested in car customization but has asked for more patience before saying anything with regards to any plans, while, interestingly, there won't be an option to buy a new apartment. Instead V's apartment will evolve and change depending on the paths that players take when playing the game and it'll feature options within it for customization and expression though what they are has not been confirmed.
(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)
Photo mode Let's face it, we all want to take pictures of Night City and after saying "we are planning to have it", CD Projekt Red has done some teasing on Twitter.
What about multiplayer? After repeatedly stating that multiplayer elements were in R&D but saying nothing more, CD Projekt Red has confirmed on Twitter that it's definitely in the works.
So far, the plan appears to be to release the game in November as a single-player experience and then follow this up with various single DLCs that will be free to download and play, after which players will begin to be invited for "some multiplayer action." Multiplayer is, then, slightly down the road but it is coming.
1/2 Until now, the only thing we said about multi was that it was in R&D. As we’re getting closer to launching ‘single player’ Cyberpunk 2077 in Apr. 2020, we’d like to confirm that multiplayer's in the works! If you feel like lending us your skills apply: https://t.co/QQV6qsuvhk pic.twitter.com/GHbiS5N3DTSeptember 4, 2019
Character creation will be gender fluid In an interview with Metro, senior concept artist Marthe Jonkers clarified that players would be able to customize their characters's gender expression in a much more fluid way than traditional RPGs – with two masculine / feminine body types and voices you can mix and match as you please.
Jonkers said that "you don’t choose your gender anymore. You don’t choose, ‘I want to be a female or male character’ you now choose a body type. Because we want you to feel free to create any character you want."
GTA-style radio You can listen to some music GTA-style while cruising about in your vehicle.
(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)
Hardcore mode that says goodbye to UI In an interview with Wccftech, CD Projekt Red’s Alvin Liu discussed hardcore mode, revealing that it will get rid of the game’s UI to provide a “real challenge” for players. That means there’ll be no markers or indicators telling you where things are or what level of enemy you’re going up against. It’s real immersion in Night City and the desert beyond with the potential for real frustration.
Of course, it’s not just the hardcore players that are being catered to in Cyberpunk 2077; Liu revealed that there will also be modes for those who are less experienced with first person games and shooters and wish to enjoy a more laidback experience.
“If you want to play more casually for the story and maybe you’re not experienced with shooters, which was a real big concern for us. We want to tell a story and maybe you’re a big fan of The Witcher and you’re not comfortable playing a shooter, we have settings available for that.”
Liu explains that as well as settings for less experienced players, there will also be weapons. The smart gun, for example, will help players to aim. Though it comes at the cost of the smart gun being a weaker and slower weapon. It will, however, be a good start for those looking to get to grips with the aiming system.
For those unfamiliar with first person games, there’s also going to be a Field of View slider. Making more of the game world visible through the eyes of the avatar should alleviate that sense of tunnel vision that comes from trading third person view for first person and the potential for nausea this can cause some players.
Environmental hazards
In an interview with Wccftech, UI director Alan Liu revealed Cyberpunk 2077 will feature dynamic weather such as acid rain and other environmental hazards.
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Settings available for those uncomfortable with FPS The game includes a number of difficulty levels for those who may struggle to adjust to playing an RPG in the style of an FPS.
Cyberpunk 2077 will look just as good on console as PC In an interview with Wccftech, UI director Alan Liu was asked about the challenges of optimizing Cyberpunk 2077 for low-end hardware.
"Actually no, we have a very custom engine, the RED Engine," Liu responded. "And actually, we’re targeting consoles as first-class platforms and it looks amazing there. So obviously, if you spent, you know, $2,000 building your PC rig, it’s going to look better on that. But the graphics are quite amazing for what you’re going to get from Cyberpunk 2077 on consoles and low-end PCs."
Could we see a movie adaptation in the future? In an interview with VGC at E3 2019, Pondsmith admitted that Keanu Reeves' involvement in the game has made the possibility of a Cyberpunk movie adaption much more likely.
"I can’t really say anything on that," Pondsmith told VGC in response to whether he is optioning the Cyberpunk movie rights. "But with Keanu Reeves being tied up in things, it’s become much more of a possibility."
"At this point we are teaching people about this new kind of cyberpunk. My favorite film is Blade Runner, but I recognise inherently that it’s a cerebral film and 2049 was even more cerebral. A cerebral film is not necessarily going to allow other people to enter that space and understand it, but at the same time you don’t want to do it totally action."
Keanu Reeves' band gets its first single If the appearance of Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077 as a rock star wasn't enough, punk band Refused are creating the music for his in-game band (named Samurai). And if that wasn't enough, Samurai have released their first single, Chippin' In – presumably something to do with microchips – so you can start getting a sense of Night City's soundscapes already.
There may or may not be three games in development Polish news site Bankier reported that CD Projekt President Adam Kiciński had confirmed the existence of yet another AAA game set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, likely being the planned follow-up to next year's game – with a secondary team apparently working on a multiplayer mode too. CD Projekt has refuted the claims, while refusing to be drawn on whether a sequel could appear down the line. To be fair, they're probably focused on getting the main title out first.
Take your pick of protagonists Instead of a set lead character like the Witcher, it sounds like we'll have a few options to choose from. Cyberpunk 2077's lead quest designer, Paweł Sasko, has commented that "The player in Cyberpunk 2077 can create a custom character that has one of three origin stories, that we call Lifepaths," each with their own "starting location and story background that are strongly connected with the origin story" (via VG24/7). The three choices are Street Kid, Nomad and Corporate.
There will be romance—but not with Keanu Reeves Fans of The Witcher 3's romantic sub-plots will be happy to hear that CD Projekt is bringing something similar to Cyberpunk 2077. In an interview with GamesRadar, the game's Quest Designer, Mateusz Tomaskiewicz, confirmed that players will be able to have relationships with different "entities", all of whom will have their own stories, goals and ideas for you to engage with.
He stopped short of confirming just how many romance threads players will have the option to pursue but we do know that Keanu Reeves is not a character you'll be able to romance during Cyberpunk 2077 (via PCGamer).
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
There will be no morality system Players won't be constrained by any kind of morality system in Cyberpunk 2077 it has been confirmed by Mateusz Tomaskiewicz in an interview with GamingBolt. Given the complex nature of the decisions players made in The Witcher 3, this decision to favor the grey probably won't come as much of a surprise. This means that if you want to play through the entire game without killing anyone you absolutely can. Or if you want to be the next Angel of Death you can do that too. You just have to invest in the right in-game skills to do so.
There's more than Night City From what we've seen so far, the setting of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 looks like a mighty impressive, expansive and very neon place to explore. But it won't be the only location in the game to explore.
In an interview with VG247, the Lead Quest Designer, Pawel Sasko, revealed that players will be able to go beyond the walls of the metropolis and explore an area known as the "Badlands". Largely desolate and populated by Nomads, this area will have its own quests. You can even start the game as a Nomad and begin your story outside of the city.
Multiple Endings In an interview with CD Projekt, YouTuber Yong Yea got confirmation that Cyberpunk 2077 will have multiple endings. It's not been confirmed just how many there will be but this ties in with the expansive image of the game that's being presented and the idea that players are crafting a highly personal story.
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
New Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay shown at E3 2019, but not playable At E3 2019 we got the chance to see Cyberpunk 2077 at a behind-closed doors demo centered around Pacifica – the southern-most region of Night City – and Keanu Reeves' character, Johnny Silverhand. The weirdest part? Keanu may in fact be the key to immortality. Yes, you read that correctly.
Inside Pacifica, two gangs – The Animals and The Voodoo Boys – are fighting for supremacy. In order to meet Bridgitte, the head of the Voodoo Boys, you'll have to first deal with her lieutenant Placide, who wants you to infiltrate The Animals' hideout. Your goal, at least you're told, is to find a high-tech van that's monitoring all the network traffic in Pacifica.
To get to this van, you'll have to make your way past The Animals' crew. The reason they're called The Animals, it turns out, is because they take a drug that enhances their muscle mass. To get through them you'll either need to fight your way through – a risky proposition – or sneak your way into the hideout.
Customization: perks, skills and attributes You’ll customize your character’s look; you’ll customize their backstory; you’ll customize their base skills and you’ll give them perks that make them who they are. If you want a ninja samurai who came from the streets and is skilled in firearms and hand-to-hand combat, you can make that. If you want a net runner super hacker that can take over turrets and jack into enemies, you can make that, too.
The choices are vast, and while they're not completely limitless, CD Projekt Red doesn’t want to confine you to a single play style or set path.
The reasoning behind that, it seems, is to better mirror the game’s source material – a 30-year-old tabletop role playing game called Cyberpunk (however, there was also a later edition called Cyberpunk 2020).
Behind all of the hacking and gunplay lies a fairly complex RPG – the perks screen we saw during our demo had more than 20 perks to choose from and level up. These perks impact how your character plays, but can also impact what choices you have in conversations with the world’s NPCs.
Image Credit: CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red is working on two AAA titles – both to be released by 2021 CD Projekt Red has confirmed it still plans to release two AAA titles by 2021. While we know one of these titles will definitely be Cyberpunk 2077, we're still in the dark about what the second title could be.
This release window was reaffirmed on the official CD Projekt Red forums, with moderator Donata Popławska confirming the studio is sticking to its original roadmap.
"As far as the strategy of the CD Projekt Capital Group for 2016-2021 is concerned, its plans to release the second AAA game by 2021 remain unchanged," the moderator wrote (translated via Resetera user Antiax).
However, Popławska did not expand on what the second AAA title to be released in this time frame could be.
"We are currently focusing on the production and promotion of Cyberpunk, so we do not want to comment on further projects," they continued.
E3 2018 confirmed features We got to spend some time watching a demo of Cyberpunk 2077 during E3 and we learned some interesting things about the game.
It's a first person RPG set in a huge open world known as Night City – a metropolis split into six districts, each offering a different environment to explore. During the demo we only saw a small part of one of them.
Players can create their own character called V and embark on their journey to crawl up from the criminal underbelly. This is a dark game and though The Witcher series is mature, this takes it to a new level.
As you'd expect, the game lets you augment your body using various bits of tech – illegal or otherwise – and you can use drugs to enhance your combat, or a kind of digital brain-hack called 'Braindance'. We know weapons are wide ranging and seriously creative, with smart guns and bullets as well as terrifying Mantis Blades for melee.
It will be on Steam Good news Steam fans: Cyberpunk 2077 will definitely be coming to the platform. At the Pareto Securities Gaming Seminar (via PCGamesN) the studio’s CEO Adam Kiciński gave a presentation in which he confirmed that the game would not be exclusive to GOG. There's been a lot of furore over the Metro Exodus being 'removed' from Steam and onto the Epic Games Store, but it looks like CD Projekt Red is steering clear of that minefield.
It’s going to be bigger than The Witcher 3 It would have been a pretty safe guess to say that Cyberpunk 2077 is going to be a big game, but in an interview with MCV in 2015 visual effects artist Jose Teixeira said it’s going to be “far, far bigger” than anything the studio has ever done.
In fact, he said that The Witcher 3 was being treated as a learning experience and that they could do better. To do better, the studio has doubled in size with studio head Adam Badowski saying that after The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 needs to be “even better, even bigger, even more revolutionary” than what had originally been planned.
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
There will be online As well as multiplayer, CD Projekt's CEO has confirmed that there will also be online elements to the game. In an interview with Polish tech site Strefa Inwestorow Kiciński stated that “Online is necessary, or very recommended if you wish to achieve a long-term success. At some point, we have mentioned that there will be a certain online element related to Cyberpunk.”
Whether or not the online elements will feed into the multiplayer is unclear.
There won't be microtransactions CD Projekt Red tweeted to quell fears over microtransactions in online components, stating that Cyberpunk 2077 will be "nothing less than" the Witcher 3, adding that players will "get what [they] pay for" with "no hidden catch."
It appears that while many studios are feeling the need to move to a service model to ensure their titles make money, CD Projekt is staying committed to the story-driven single player experience with Cyberpunk 2077, one which served them very well with The Witcher.
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