Bungie is looking into the possibility of adding something like Halo’s 8 vs. 8 Big Team Battle PvP mode to Destiny 2. However, some technical issues make implementing a 16-player mode in Bungie’s FPS MMO difficult.

Destiny 2 might get a version of Halo’s Big Team Battle

Former host and current Destiny 2 weapons designer Mercules recently joined the 64th episode of the Firing Range Podcast. During the interview, the host asked him about the possibility of bringing Big Team Battle to Bungie’s MMO.

“So, we’re investigating it,” Mercules replied. “It is an ongoing active investigation at Bungie.”

However, some “really weird” technical issues crop up when that many players load into a single activity. “We want to make sure that we can make it happen in a way that ends up being fun and stable,” the Destiny 2 dev explained. “Like, the stable part is pretty important.”

The 16-player Big Team Battle mode first appeared in Halo 3 multiplayer and has been in every Halo game since. Given the overlap between Halo and Destiny 2 fans, many players would no doubt consider it a great addition.

It might also do something to recover lost players. Going by the game’s player numbers on Steam, Destiny 2 hit its all-time peak in February 2023 in anticipation of the Lightfall expansion. However, the year-long post-Lightfall dip has seen the lowest PC player numbers since its release. While console numbers are harder to come by, they likely follow a similar trend.

Hopefully, The Final Shape expansion will reinvigorate Destiny 2 when it arrives in June. Considering the upcoming expansion will reportedly overhaul the game’s core mechanics, it might be an excellent opportunity to implement the Halo-inspired mode.

The post Bungie Investigating Bringing Halo’s Big Team Battle PvP Mode to Destiny 2 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Guerrilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertaimanent recently announced that Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition launches on PC on March 12. The Complete Edition is already available on PS5, and its PC port leaked last September. However, Horizon fans on PC now know precisely when they can continue Aloy’s post-apocalyptic robot-dinosaur fighting adventures.

Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition launches March 12 on Steam and Epic Games Store

Sony announced the PC release date for Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition with a trailer and PlayStation Blog post. Its PC features include unlocked frame rates and performance-enhancing technologies. The latter includes NVIDIA DLSS 3 upscaling and frame generation. The port also supports AMD FSR resolution and frame rate upscaling and Intel Xe Super Sampling and features Nvidia DLAA. Additionally, the port uses DirectStorage for faster loading times on PC.

The PC version of Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition features both controller and mouse and keyboard support. Both are heavily customizable as the game takes advantage of Steam Input remapping. However, the developers encourage players to use a DualSense controller’s haptic feedback for the most immersive experience.

PC gamers can now pre-order Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition for $59.99 from Steam and The Epic Games Store. In addition to the base game, the Complete Edition includes the Burning Shores DLC, two outfits, and two weapons. It also includes a Resource Pack, the Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike Piece, and Exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint. Additionally, players who link their Steam account to a PSN account get the exclusive Nora Legacy Outfit and Nora Spear. Finally, the publisher offers the Blacktide Outfit and Blacktide Bow as an exclusive pre-order bonus.

The post Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition Comes to PC in March appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Rocket Arena suddenly vanished from online storefronts. The 3v3 multiplayer shooter launched in 2020 under EA Originals, but the publisher recently pulled it from all digital stores.

EA pulls Rocket Arena from PS4, Xbox, Origin, and Steam

As TechRaptor reported, EA abruptly pulled the game from the Origin, Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation digital stores. The game’s pages are still visible on all those platforms, and Rocket Arena’s servers are reportedly still online. However, the game is no longer available for purchase, and it’s unclear if it’s ever coming back.

The game saw mixed reviews on all platforms, with the PS4 version of Rocket Arena having a Metacritic score of 68. The Xbox One release had a slightly better score of 71, while the PC version received a 73. Rocket Arena’s user review scores on Metacritic and Steam were similarly mediocre. Critics praised its colorful character design but were split on the gameplay. Some felt it was a fun casual shooter, while others complained about its lack of depth and originality. Other critics reported balance issues and described problems with some of the game modes.

Neither EA nor developer Final Strike Games made any statements about the delisting. The last word from the Belview, Washington-based studio was announcing a double XP weekend late last month. Final Strike’s email address also no longer works, which is a bad sign for Rocket Arena ever returning.

Unfortunately, multiplayer games need players to function, which was a big problem for Rocket Arena. According to SteamCharts, the game only averaged 1.2 concurrent players on Steam over the last 30 days. Given that so few people were logging in, it’s unsurprising that EA decided the shooter wasn’t worth keeping around.

The post EA’s Rocket Arena Suddenly Delisted on All Platforms appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Since releasing to Steam earlier this year, The Last of Us: Part 1 has been plagued with a series of bugs and other issues, which Naughty Dog has been attempting to rectify. Now, continuing the trend of setting things right, patch 1.1.1 has started rolling out, which comes with a list of fixes for the PC version of the remake.

Addressing crashes, user issues, and more

Over on the game’s Steam page, you can see exactly what this newest update comes with, with major focus on some of the current buggiest aspects of The Last of Us, such as remedying a number of crashes, including one that can occur “when rapidly switching through available skins.”

As well as tweaks to other issues in Photo Mode, during specific missions, and even in cutscenes, version 1.1.1 also implements some fixes for the Left Behind DLC.

There’s also been a fix for one of the accessibility, on the Steam Deck, and some “hardware-specific fixes.” Essentially, this patch does not appear to contain any new content or quality of life changes. Instead, it’s another band-aid on what was deemed an unfinished product on PC.

At least Naughty Dog is doing something about the remake’s biggest problems. It’s a shame that it was released in such a state. The original Last of Us, which launched in 2013, is one of the PS3 era’s most critically acclaimed titles.

It was even inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame back in May of this year. Part 1 was a chance for PC users to finally play this highly praised game, but many were left very disappointed at what they received, especially given the reputation of the Last of Us series on the whole.

Full patch notes for version 1.1.1

• Fixed a crash that could occur when restarting a Permadeath Speedrun after dying
• Fixed a crash that could occur when rapidly switching through available skins
• Fixed an issue where reflections were not appearing in vehicles’ rear-view mirrors when Real-Time Reflections are disabled (Options > Graphics > Real-Time Reflections Quality)
• Fixed missing rock and rock wall textures in several areas
• Fixed issues where players could see outside the game world in some locations
• Fixed quick turn animations when zooming without a gun equipped
• Fixed VRAM usage indicator when resetting graphics settings to default after restarting the game
• Corrected several in-game, menu, and text-to-speech translation errors
• Fixed an issue where monitor resolution was not correctly adjusted when using the “Reset to Defaults” command (Options > Display > Reset to Defaults)
• Fixed the bow’s UI icon overlapping with arrow counts when a melee weapon is also equipped
• Updated ‘Loading %’ user interface (UI) so loading progress is tracked more evenly
• Fixed an issue that could cause graphic settings preview images not to appear
• Fixed several camera-related issues that could occur when running the game at high framerates
• [Photo Mode] Fixed an issue blocking full selection of presets when using Gaze Direction
• [Photo Mode] Fixed an issue where arrow icons were not interactable when using a mouse to change the color of frames
• [Model Viewer] Fixed an issue that resulted in multiple models to be highlighted at once
• [The Outskirts] Fixed the appearance of water when Image-Based Lighting is disabled (Options > Graphics > Image-Based Lighting)
• [Tommy’s Dam] Fixed a crash that could occur in a cutscene during extended play sessions
• [The University] Adjusted the visual appearance of fog
• [Bus Depot] Fixed a camera issue that also led to a crash when traversing across the bus while the game is running at high framerates
• [Bus Depot] Fixed a crash that could occur in a cutscene during extended play sessions

Left Behind Standalone

• Fixed a crash that could occur if Ellie is wearing the Seattle Wear skin when starting Left Behind
• [Mallrats] Fixed an issue where the health bar could become stuck on-screen
• [Mallrats] Fixed a crash that could occur when switching through multiple skins before loading into the level

Accessibility

• Fixed Screen Magnifier zoom functionality when using accessibility chord inputs (Options > Accessibility > Alternate Controls > Input Remap > Accessibility Chord Inputs)

Steam Deck

• Fixed directional button controls for behind-the-scenes podcast navigation (Extras > Behind The Scenes)

AMD

• Fixed checkerboard patterns that appear on screen when using Motion Blur on AMD RX 580 and RX 590 series GPUs

The post The Last of Us: Part 1 Update 1.1.1 Fixes Issues, View Full Patch Notes appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The upcoming Sonic Superstars has a special offer where you can sign up at the game’s official website and get a special Amy skin as a bonus. However, this bonus skin is only available for a limited time for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. So if you’re interested in this reboot of classic 2D Sonic games, we recommend that you register sooner than later. Sonic Superstars was revealed at Summer Games Fest 2023 with a trailer showing its upgraded 3D graphics as well as characters Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. On that note, here’s how to grab the Amy Rose skin for Sonic Superstars.

How to get Sonic Superstars Amy Rose skin

Here’s a list of steps you need to take to get the exclusive Amy Rose skin for Sonic Superstars:

1. Head to sonicsuperstars.com and scroll to the bottom of the webpage
2. Click on the button that says “Subscribe to the Newsletter”
3. Enter all the required information in the form, including your name, email, date of birth, and preferred platform
4. Wait for a code that will be sent via email where you can redeem your Amy Rose skin after the game is released in Fall 2023

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This Amy cosmetic skin is only available for newsletter subscribers, and the offer will only last until January 31, 2024. The offer is only available for selected regions. We’re not sure what those regions are, but most territories should be covered.

Also make sure that you select the right platform in the form, as you will only be able to get the Amy skin for one selected platform.

It’s unclear how long it will take for developer Sonic Team to send the codes after the game releases. But there should be a few months after Fall 2023 release window where you can take advantage of this offer.

The post Sonic Superstars: How to Sign Up and Get Amy Skin appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Mortal Kombat 1 is available for pre-order on PS5 and PS4, along with other platforms like PC and Xbox Series X|S. Mortal Kombat 1 is an upcoming fighter from NetherRealm Studios that sees Liu Kang as the new Fire God create a new MK universe for the game. An extended gameplay trailer for MK1 was shown off at the Summer Game Fest 2023, revealing fatalities and featuring a brief interview with Ed Boon on the timeline for the reboot. Here’s how to pre-order Mortal Kombat 1.

Mortal Kombat 1 pre-order guide

Mortal Kombat 1 is available to pre-order at various retailers including Amazon, GameStop, Target, and Hit in the UK. You can also pre-purchase the game at the specific console stores, like the PS Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop, in addition to PC via Steam and Epic Game Store.

You can pre-order Mortal Kombat 1 for PS5 through the following websites:

• Amazon at $69.99
• PS Store at $69.99
• Target at $69.99
• GameStop at $69.99

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Mortal Kombat 1 Edition Differences: Standard vs. Premium vs. Kollector’s

The $69.99 price is based on the Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition. The Premium Edition costs $109.99 and come with one-week early access to DLC characters, the Kombat Pack DLC, and 1250 Dragon Krystals as in-game currency. The Kombat Pack comes with a Johnny Cage skin that is modeled after Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The MK1 Kollector’s Edition, exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, is also available at $249.99. In addition to all the items in the Premium Edition, it also comes with a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture, a Steelboox case, 2,700 Dragon Krystals, and an exclusive Liu kang character skin. Only select retailers like Target, GameStop, and Amazon will have this available for sale.

Pre-ordering any version of Mortal Kombat 1 will get you Shang Tsung as a playable character.

The post Pre-Order Mortal Kombat 1: Price, Bonus Items, Standard vs. Kollector’s Edition Diffferences appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Without much fanfare, Sony has increased PlayStation game prices on Steam, including Returnal, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, and Horizon Zero Dawn, in a number of select regions. After pouring through price data on SteamDB, we can confirm that affected regions include Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Japan, and South Korea.

New PlayStation game prices on Steam in various regions

This price increase for Sony’s games on Steam was first spotted by a user on ResetEra, who noted that the price for Returnal and Sackboy had been raised. We checked SteamDB further and discovered that these aren’t the only PlayStation games impacted on the platform, with the majority of these increases occurring recently from April 14 to April 19. Apart from the games already mentioned, these titles also include Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Days Gone, and God of War.

How much the price has been increased generally depends on the age of the game. Older games like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn are on the lower end of the range (indicated below), whereas newer titles like Returnal are in the higher range. But in general, here are the new price points for these PlayStation games on Steam in various regions:

• Argentina: 4199-5999 Pesos to 8499-9999 Pesos
• Canada: $59.99-69.99 CAD to $64.99-79.99 CAD
• Chile: 32000-39500 CLP to 35000-42000 CLP
• China: 279-379 RMB to 345-414 RMB
• Colombia: 159000-194000 Pesos to 184000-219000 Pesos
• Japan: 4900-6490 Yen to 6490-7590 Yen
• South Korea: 45880-58800 Won to 52800-62800 Won

Sony has not yet announced these price increases in any official blog post, like the company did for the PS5 price increase for select regions back in August 2022. It’s unclear if these increased prices will impact other PC retailers like Green Man Gaming or if other regions will be impacted beyond these seven countries.

That said, these price increases are in line with predictions made by an analyst in January who stated that “gamers are likely to see prices go up across the board in 2023.”

The post Sony Raises PlayStation Game Prices on Steam in Select Regions appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Naughty Dog has responded to the overwhelming number of players for The Last of Us Part 1 PC port who are experiencing crashing and freezing issues. The developer is “actively investigating” multiple problems reported by users, though it sounds like these issues will be just some of the many things that Naughty Dog and Iron Galaxy will be working on for future updates and patches.

Sony blamed for choosing Iron Galaxy instead of Nixxes for this PC port

At the time of this writing, the average user review rating for The Last of Us Part 1 on Steam is at a dismal “mostly negative” ranking, with only 33 percent of the over 3,000 reviews recommending it.

Pouring through some of the “most helpful” user reviews, they report multiple crashes at about once every 20 minutes (sometimes even more frequent than that), a huge amount of VRAM usage, long loading times, and a general lack of optimization. Many have been stuck with the game building shaders for hours. One user on Twitter has had the game crash his Steam Deck and his “fully spec’d gaming PC” even after redownloading and reinstalling the game.

In the reviews, much of the blame has been pointed at Iron Galaxy Studios and at Sony for choosing that studio over Nixxes Software for this PC port.

Naughty Dog, as indicated by the tweet above, is aware of the issues, though it sounds like they are prioritizing updates and will address the crashing issues in upcoming patches. The developer asks players to monitor its support pages and to submit tickets for any issues on Naughty Dog’s official website here.

This PC port for The Last of Us Part 1 was delayed in February, perhaps foreshadowing these crashing issues with the game

The post The Last of Us Part 1 PC Port Crashing Issues Addressed by Naughty Dog appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The highly-desired Bloodborne PC port was apparently canceled after the developer behind it released a poor Horizon Zero Dawn PC port, according to a rumor from a Spanish YouTuber. The developer originally in charge of the Horizon PC port was Virtuos, who is also involved in Metal Gear Solid 3 remake rumors and Marvel’s Avengers. As usual, we recommend taking this rumor with a few grains of salt.

Horizon Zero Dawn PC port had to be fixed by Guerrilla and Nixxes

The podcaster, known as BaityBait [yeah, we know] who has over 160,00 followers on Twitch, explains what he heard about the Bloodborne PC port on The Wild Project. As a summary of what he says, as translated by PlayStation LifeStyle, he “presumptively heard that, from an unknown source, Virtuos bungled the PC port of Horizon and Sony had to bring Guerrilla in to fix it. And in turn, Sony canceled the Bloodborne PC port that was being made by the same studio.”

Sony, through Guerrilla, apparently subcontracted Virtuos to develop the PC port for Horizon Zero Dawn, because at the time, it didn’t have much expertise on how to do this. Horizon Zero Dawn released on Steam in August 2020, and while it has a positive rating today, it had a slew of negative user reviews due to its poor technical performance at launch. So if Virtuos was in fact also slated to develop the Bloodborne PC port, it would make sense that Sony would have nixed that project too.

In time, Guerrilla and Sony were able to fix the Horizon PC port within a few months, and even brought in Nixxes Software to help with the game’s PC patches in December 2021, just a few months after Sony acquired it.

Fans have been clamoring for a Bloodborne PC port for years, and on Twitter, either Bloodborne itself or the #FreeBloodborne hashtag has been seen trending on the platform. In September 2022, an insider said that a Bloodborne remaster must be done by FromSoftware, but the studio is too busy (with Armored Core 6, no doubt).

The post Rumor: Bloodborne PC Port Was Canceled After Poor Horizon PC Launch appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The PC ports for five PlayStation console exclusives have been declared the winners at The Steam Awards 2022. The Steam Community has voted for its favorite games in 2022 across eleven separate categories, including Game of the Year, Outstanding Visual Style, and Best Game on the Go, and multiple PlayStation games on PC have surprisingly come out on top. This continues an incredible 2022 for Sony and its initiative to remaster and port its PS5 catalog to the desktop.

The Steam Awards 2022 winners list includes God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Here is a short list of the five PlayStation console exclusives that won in The Steam Awards 2022:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – 2022 Outstanding Visual Style
• Stray – 2022 Most Innovative Gameplay
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade – 2022 Best Soundtrack
• God of War – 2022 Outstanding Story-Rich Game
• Death Stranding Director’s Cut – 2022 Best Game on the Go

The most surprising of the bunch is Death Stranding Director’s Cut, winning over other games like Vampire Survivors, Brotato, and Marvel Snap, which can all be easily played on the go. But The Steam Deck has changed the handheld market to such an extent that Death Stranding Director’s Cut stood on top of the pile. (Either that, or we just like Kojima and Death Stranding that much.)

Meanwhile, Elden Ring racked up yet another Game of the Year 2022 award and also won the 2022 Best Game You Suck At award (which is the most apt description for Elden Ring I’ve seen yet).

The post Five PlayStation Console Exclusives Won at The Steam Awards 2022 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.