Sony adds picture-in-picture editing to PS4 Sharefactory app
For a growing number of people, it’s not enough just to play a video game anymore. They also want to record and share their favorite moments, whether as a walkthrough, highlight reel or humorous “let’s play” experience. Sony’s answer to this — Sharefactory, a video editing app for the PlayStation 4 — has now been updated to facilitate more complex videos. The biggest addition is Track 2, formerly the Commentary Track, which now lets you add a second piece of footage from the Capture Gallery. With this, you can show two different clips simultaneously, side-by-side.
That’s useful if you want to show how a particular move or strategy (think Overwatch) will affect different parts of the map. Or how tackling an objective in different ways — a freedom offered in games like Hitman, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Dishonored — will change your experience.
As part of the update, Sony has also increased the app’s export limit to 60 minutes — useful if you like making “let’s play” videos — and added Chroma-key support, which lets you edit footage shot with a green screen. Sharefactory will never match professional software like Adobe Premiere, but these new features should make it a more competent alternative.
Source: PlayStation Blog
‘Skylanders Imaginators’ lets you create your own heroes
Just because Disney is calling it quits on Infinity doesn’t mean that the era of collectible-driven video games is over. Activision has unveiled Skylanders Imaginators, and its centerpiece is the ability to create your own hero using a wide array of body parts and gear. At last, you’re no longer limited to whatever the developers can dream up. You won’t get a real-world figurine that matches your exact character, unfortunately, but there will be “Creation Crystals” you can buy to bring your champion to other consoles.
The game mechanics revolve around this customization, too. You have to develop your character through Senseis (who are available as toys, naturally) that refine your skills, unlock content and otherwise help your personalized avatar advance.
Activision releases Imaginators on October 16th in North America, and October 14th in Europe. Importantly, this is likely to be one of the few major games reaching last-generation consoles this year. It’ll reach the PS4, Wii U and Xbox One, but it’ll also come to the PS3 and Xbox 360 — you won’t have to upgrade your kids’ console (much to their chagrin) to make sure they can play.
Source: Activision Games Blog, Skylanders
Boss-battle game ‘Furi’ gets a soundtrack full of electro artists
You might not know much about The Game Bakers’ upcoming one-on-one action game Furi, but you’re about to hear a lot more about it in a very literal sense. The studio has revealed that its boss-battles-only title will have a soundtrack created by a slew of known electro artists, including Carpenter Brut, Danger and The Toxic Avenger. The Game Bakers are confident enough in it that they’re both selling the soundtrack (€15/$17 for digital, €30/$34 vinyl) and holding a concert in Paris on July 8th.
The game itself hits both PCs and the PlayStation 4 sometime in the summer. It’s too soon to know whether or not Furi can match the early hype, but the trailer hints at frenetic gameplay in a distinctive setting — both good signs in our book. We’re planning to cover the game at E3, so we’ll let you know whether or not it merits your attention.
Source: Bandcamp, The Game Bakers
Watch PlayStation’s E3 2016 event in a movie theater
It’s almost E3 time, and that means something big for theater-going PlayStation fans: Sony’s PlayStation E3 Experience is back. This year, you can watch the company’s gaming presentation on June 13th at over 85 theaters in not only North America, but Latin America as well. Everyone who gets in will walk out with some obligatory swag, including a currently-mysterious digital “gift basket.” Tickets will be free when they’re up for grabs on May 31st at 1PM Eastern, so you’ll want to move quickly — there will be plenty of gamers curious to see Sony’s future products on the biggest screen possible.
Source: PlayStation Blog
‘No Man’s Sky’ is delayed until August 9th
The rumors are true: No Man’s Sky isn’t coming out in June, as originally planned. Instead, the world will have to wait until August to play developer Hello Games’ ultra ambitious space-exploration game. Writing on the PlayStation Blog, lead developer Sean Murray says that the game will now launch this August 9th domestically and August 12th in the UK. The reason? He says a few bits weren’t up to snuff. “We understand that this news is disappointing,” he writes. “Making this game is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but we are so close now, and we’re prepared to make the tough choices to get it right.”
Originally announced back in 2013, No Man’s Sky only got a firm release date a couple of months ago. But the June 21st promise couldn’t be kept.
If you don’t know anything about the game, it’s a PlayStation 4 and PC title that allows players to explore a giant, procedurally generated universe. You’ll be able to fly around roughly eighteen quintillion (that’s a lot) planets, and disembark from your ship to explore each, cataloguing flora and fauna and completing challenges along the way. It’s being made by Hello Games, a small UK-based developer previously known for the Joe Danger stunt games.
Aaron Souppouris contributed to this report
Source: PlayStation Blog
The best PC gaming controller
By Kimber Streams
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
After putting in 15 hours of research and testing—in addition to hundreds of hours gaming on controllers in years past—and enlisting the help of an experienced panel of gamers, we found that the Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller (yes, the one that comes with the PlayStation 4) is the best gaming controller to use with your computer. In fact, we concluded that all the best PC controllers are console controllers. But a gaming controller is a highly personal object, and your preferences may differ based on your hand size, gaming style, and operating system. If you already own a controller that you love, you probably don’t need to buy a new one.
Who should get this
Not every PC game is best played with a keyboard and mouse. If you’d rather sit back and play some of your games with a controller instead, you should consider one of our picks. But if you already own an Xbox 360, an Xbox One, or a PlayStation 4, and you’re happy with the controller that came with it, you probably don’t need to buy a different one.
How we picked
All the gaming controllers we tested for this guide. Photo: Kimber Streams
A great controller must be comfortable to hold for long periods of time, have a good grip to prevent your hands from sliding off even if they get sweaty, and it ought to be a reasonable weight. Although people have individual preferences, a controller’s buttons and triggers all need to be responsive and accurate: They need to do what you tell them to do, when you tell them to do it. But comfort and ergonomics aren’t everything; a controller also needs to play nice with your computer.
We looked at 22 controllers from major manufacturers such as Logitech, Mad Catz, Microsoft, Nvidia, Razer, Sony, SteelSeries, and Valve, plus a few other controllers from lesser-known manufacturers that are popular on Amazon. We ruled out those with poor user reviews and others that cost way more than controllers with similar features. That left us with 11 controllers to test with the help of five people with varying hand sizes and comfort preferences.
Our pick
The Sony DualShock 4 is the most comfortable controller for most hands. Photo: Kevin Purdy
The Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller is the most comfortable controller for average-size hands. All of its analog sticks, buttons, and triggers are easy to reach and work well, which isn’t the case for several other models, including the Xbox One controller and Steam Controller. The DualShock 4 works over Bluetooth or with a Micro-USB cable (not included; you can get a great Micro-USB for about a dollar). Plus, its touchpad can simulate a mouse cursor, a feature no other good controller has.
Currently priced less than $50, the DualShock 4 can work both wired and wirelessly—unlike the Xbox One controller, which needs a dongle to work wirelessly on a PC, making it more expensive than the DualShock 4. But the DualShock 4 requires a bit of effort (and software like DS4Windows) to set up on Windows, it won’t work for most games on OS X, and it’s a bit small for large hands.
Runner-up with an easier setup
If you have large hands (unlike me), the Xbox One controller might be more comfortable than the DualShock 4. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you want a controller that’s easier to set up on Windows and will also work on OS X, or if you have large hands, or if you simply prefer Xbox-style controllers, you should get the Xbox One controller bundled with a wireless adapter. The Xbox One’s greatest advantage over the DualShock 4 is ease of setup. In Windows, the drivers automatically install when you plug in the controller. On OS X, the process is about as complicated as setting up the DualShock 4 on Windows—you just need the 360Controller software.
This controller lacks a touchpad, though, and the shoulder buttons are awkwardly placed. Many people prefer the DualShock 4’s triggers and analog sticks, too. The Xbox One controller also costs more to use wirelessly. If you don’t need wireless and want to save some money, buy it bundled with a Micro-USB cable instead.
Inexpensive and well-loved
The Xbox 360 controller’s body is narrower than the Xbox One controller’s, so it’s easier for small and medium-size hands to grip. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you don’t want to spend more than $35 on a controller, you should get the wired Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, the go-to controller for PC gamers for many years. The Xbox 360 controller is a bit smaller and lighter than the Xbox One controller, and its more compact size makes the buttons and analog sticks a little easier to reach for people with smaller hands and shorter thumbs.
All the buttons (including the shoulder bumpers) are well-placed and easy for hands of all sizes to reach, but this controller isn’t without its flaws. It can’t work wirelessly—Microsoft sells a wireless version, but that controller plus the required adapter cost about the same as the wireless Xbox One controller and adapter. And the D-pad is horrendous.
Fancy but pricey
The Elite is about the same size as the Xbox One controller, but its soft surface and textured grip make it more comfortable to hold. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you play a lot of games on your PC that require a controller and you don’t mind spending $150 for a fantastic one, the Xbox Elite is the best option available. The Elite is an upgrade over our other picks in just about every way, with better, customizable controls, four additional paddles on the back, and easier setup than the DualShock 4. Every single member of our testing panel loved it—and I bought one myself—but for most people it isn’t worth three times the price of the DualShock 4.
About the Steam Controller
The Steam Controller feels hollow and cheap, and it’s large and awkward to hold. Photo: Kevin Purdy
The Steam Controller is the only controller that bridges the gap between games with controller support and games better played on a mouse and keyboard. It has touchpads in place of a D-pad and right analog stick; these components offer haptic feedback that you can configure to mimic the movement and feeling of either a mouse or an analog stick. Its dual-stage triggers and back buttons are designed to give you more control and customization than traditional console controllers provide.
Despite this, the Steam Controller isn’t a great controller. Its plasticky body feels cheap and hollow; it has an awkward, large shape, with difficult-to-reach buttons and controls; and because it’s so different from standard gaming controllers, it requires a substantial learning curve. Until Valve releases better hardware, we can’t recommend it for most people.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Sony has sold over 40 million PlayStation 4 consoles
Sony has announced a new milestone in PlayStation 4 sales: 40 million. And it says it plans to sell another 20 million by April next year.
Anyone with a basic knowledge of math could’ve worked out the milestone from the company’s annual earning report last month, where it announced it had sold 17.7 million PlayStation 4s over the past year. Add that to 2014’s 14.8 million and 2013’s 7.5 million and that’s — you guessed it — 40 million.
The 40 million figure covers sales up to and including March 31st, and Sony obviously didn’t stop selling PS4s then. That’s why today’s announcement now states “more than” 40 million. In reality, given the pace of sales, we’re probably a couple million over that by now. Either way, the news has the added bonus of being some positive PR as we head towards the annual E3 conference.
Although Microsoft stopped reporting Xbox One sales, third-party statistics have the console at just under 21 million sales. If that’s accurate — Microsoft hasn’t confirmed or denied the figure — then the PlayStation 4 has outsold the Xbox One by around two to one.
Sony is rumored to be announcing a new version of the PlayStation 4, codenamed Neo, at E3 in June, prior to its release later this year. The new console would exist alongside the PS4 as a more powerful alternative capable of displaying 4K content. The Neo would certainly help Sony meet its aggressive target of selling 20 million consoles this financial year.
Source: Sony (2016 Forecast), (2015 Earnings), (2014 / 2013 sales)
Watch homebrew code run Steam games on the PS4
Ever since Sony switched to x86 processors with the PlayStation 4, gamers have been craving the chance to play PC games on the console — it’s much closer to your home computer than the PS3 was, after all. Well, we’re glad to say that it’s no longer just a dream: OsirisX recently demonstrated Steam running on a PS4 thanks to a combination of a jailbreak, Arch Linux and some software libraries from Fail0verflow. And yes, it plays games. The demo shows the action-RPG Bastion running at a decent pace, and OsirisX notes that most other titles run well enough at medium to low graphics settings.
The problem, as with many such mods, is aligning the stars so that you can get it all running. At last check, you need a PS4 with a relatively ancient version of Sony’s operating system (1.76) to jailbreak and install Linux. Also, there’s no simple package that includes everything you need; this will require some elbow grease. There’s talk of a possible jailbreak for much newer software (3.50), though, and it won’t be surprising if it’s eventually trivial to run Steam games on the same system you use for Uncharted.
Via: Wololo.net (1), (2)
Source: OsirisX (YouTube), Fail0verflow (GitHub)
Second ‘The Division’ update raises the stakes
Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are willing to try quite a few things to keep you coming back to The Division, but their latest approach is particularly direct: they’re upping the ante. Ubi has revealed that its second free update, Conflict, will include “high-value targets” where you only get one shot at success. If you die or take too long, you’ll miss out on a nice reward. Also, the Dark Zone is that much more dangerous now that other players can hijack your loot during extraction. Don’t assume that you can relax just because you’ve dropped off your gear, then.
There’s more than those two additions, of course. You’ll get new Incursion mission (Clear Sky) targeting an anti-air missile site, and there’s the obligatory round of fresh equipment. There’s enough to keep you around for at least a little while when the update arrives on May 24th. The big question is what happens when the attention shifts to paid add-ons, which start arriving in June. Will gamers pay to keep The Division fresh, especially when rival MMO-style shooters like Destiny are vying for their attention?
Source: Ubisoft
The second ‘Witcher 3’ DLC adds 30 hours of gameplay
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt made its debut a year ago with a massive open world, a dizzying amount of quests to complete and plenty of reasons to keep coming back. After its first DLC Hearts of Stone served up a massive chunk of new content late 2015, the latest expansion Blood and Wine is about to drop, with a breadth of new Witcher goodness for hardcore fans to devour.
Blood and Wine places players in the absolutely gorgeous land of Toussaint, where a bizarre beast lays dormant. It’s up to Geralt to take up arms against the creature who hides a secret, with over 90 new quests and 40 points of interest to discover as the narrative takes shape. A new dynamic system where eliminating enemies from their hideouts affects the rest of the world has been implemented as well. Topping it all off are an additional 14,000 lines of dialogue, nearly doubling the 8,000 featured in Hearts of Stone.
So there are plenty of enemies to decimate and land to do it within, but there are also 30 new weapons, 100 new pieces of armor and 20 new enemies to completely obliterate as well as 12 new mutations unlockable via New Game Plus. If you’ve already blown through everything The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had to offer, there’s over 30 hours of gameplay here launching for PS4, Xbox One and PC on May 31. That’s also a ton more Gwent to play. You’re welcome for that reminder.
Source: Gamespot
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