Column | Exclusive deals on consoles makes perfect sense

Exclusive content in multiplatform games is in serious controversy this week. The superhero Spider-Man is only coming to the PS4 and PS5 versions of Marvel's Avengers. Companies try to attract consumers with these kinds of deals, but it backfires for fanatic gamers. Well, at first glance.

In addition to the fact that players will be able to hang around with Spider-Man sometime after the release of Marvel’s Avengers only on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, there is apparently other exclusive content for the game coming to those systems. For example, exclusive challenges will come to the PlayStation versions of the game, as well as all kinds of cosmetic items. Although PC, Xbox and PlayStation gamers pay the same amount of money for the game, the latter will soon be able to get more value from their purchase.

Marvel’s Avengers is now under attack, many gamers are screaming murder and fire but of course it’s by no means the only game where this is happening. Each generation, Activision chooses a platform holder who will receive exclusive marketing rights for Call of Duty. That platform will also receive beta and downloadable content for the games much earlier. This generation draws the longest straw from Sony, the previous generation was Microsoft. Exclusive content for Warzone on PlayStation 4 was also announced this week, but there was significantly less fuss about it.

If you think that only Sony is guilty of this, then you are very wrong. Microsoft is just as involved, even though they have been carefully trying to build a reputation as a consumer-friendly company in recent years. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and The Medium, for example, are temporarily exclusively coming to Xbox Series X. You can bet that these games would also have appeared on PlayStation 5 if Microsoft hadn’t thrown a bag of buck on the table. More similar to the Spider-Man debacle is the upcoming multiplayer update for Tetris Effect, which should not be released on Sony’s consoles until next year. Microsoft does not wash its hands in innocence.

And it is not crazy either: bringing temporarily exclusive content to your platform is a proven way to make your system more attractive to the consumer. Is your favorite series Call of Duty? Chances are you played the series on the PlayStation 4 this generation. Love Marvel and Spider-Man in particular? Then you want to buy Marvel’s Avengers on a Sony console. If the PC-like shooters and horror games that initially only appear on Xbox Series X appeal to you, it will be tempting to buy Microsoft’s new system.

These exclusive deals are also a nice extra for developers of games. The gaming industry is a killer and it remains to be seen how well or badly your game sells. If a company like Microsoft or Sony already pays out part of the development costs in advance in order to arrange temporary exclusivity, the chances are that your studio will continue to exist in the coming years. That means making a new game and – more importantly – making money so you can feed your family and pay off your mortgage. It will be a shock to those developers that a small group of gamers complain about it on a forum – getting a living is more important!

As mentioned, we can scream murder and fire on the internet, but apparently we don’t mind too much. We really talk with our money. If those exclusive deals hadn’t worked, or even hurt the sale of a game, they’d long since died out. But it works, so they persist. It’s not rocket science.

Is there a solution, a way to get rid of those annoying exclusive deals? Not really. We could all agree globally to penalize publishers for this type of practice and stop buying the games where this happens. However, not only is it extremely unlikely that we will get anyone to boycott a game, we also punish many developers who have nothing to do with the closed deal and who have poured blood, sweat and tears into a game for years.

So we have to learn to live with it. If possible, you have all the platforms in house, but otherwise I hope the game you are looking forward to will appear completely on your system of your choice. In a perfect world, console farmers like Sony and Microsoft would stop making these kinds of deals on their own. They would realize that the market is big enough for both of them, that the quality of the various games, including of course their internally developed exclusive titles, is such that they no longer need exclusive deals. The company that dares to do this is the really tough one.

by GamersInfuzed

News | Servers Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout can't handle popularity

The servers of party game Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout have succumbed to the attention a number of times. The game launched yesterday and is free for PlayStation Plus members.

The game is sort of a battle royale version of a game show like Takeshi’s Castle of Wipeout. Players have to survive all kinds of bizarre obstacles and win strange games in different rounds. In the end, one winner remains.

Fall Guys was already extremely popular on Twitch during the beta and now also appears to appeal to many players after release. The developer indicates on Twitter that the number of players is far above the most positively estimated number.

The matchmaking was therefore disabled several times yesterday while the servers were strengthened. The Twitter account reports that the biggest problems have now been resolved. However, for some players, the improvements did not come fast enough. The developer reports that the game has fallen victim to review bombing on Steam, with many players quickly leaving a negative review while the servers were down.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is now available on PC and PlayStation 4.

by GamersInfuzed

News | More PlayStation exclusive content revealed for Marvel's Avengers

After yesterday's reveal that Spider-Man is only available on PlayStation consoles in the upcoming Marvel's Avengers game, even more Sony exclusive content has been announced.

These include in-game special events, rewards, and 30 days earlier access to certain cosmetic items for all heroes. Developer Crystal Dynamics names the Legendary Outfit, Legendary Emote, Epic Takedown and a nameplate for each new hero coming out. That includes the six heroes that are playable at the release of the game.

In a post on PlayStation Blog, Crystal Dynamics also explains that PlayStation players can play exclusive challenges in the game. These are so-called Community Challenges, in which all players have to work together to achieve a larger goal. A number of challenges that are exclusive to PlayStation are underway.

Publisher Square Enix announced yesterday that superhero Spider-Man will only be playable by owners of a PlayStation console. The news received a lot of criticism on social media. Some gamers don’t consider it fair that Xbox and PC players, who pay the same amount of money for their game, get less content.

by GamersInfuzed

News | Dualshock 4 only compatible with PS4 games on PlayStation 5

Sexretly, we hope you can use the trusty old DualShock 4 on the PS5, But unfortunately that's not the case. The PS4 controller only works with  backwards compatible PS4 games.

The Dualshock 4 controller only works with backwards compatible PS4 games on the PS5. That’s what Sony says in a Q&A on PlayStation Blog.

That means that the PlayStation 4 controller will not work with PlayStation 5 games, as “PS5 games must utilize the new capabilities of the DualSense controller.” This means the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that should provide more immersion. Third party controllers also only work with PS4 games.

Sony also shares that the PlayStation Camera works on the PlayStation 5 for VR games. This requires a special adapter, which all PS VR users can obtain for free. Later, the company will let us know how the adapter will be distributed. Associated Move controllers are also supported.

The company will let us know what other accessories work on the PlayStation 5. Peripherals such as official racing wheels, arcade sticks and flight sticks work with PS5 and PS4 games. Sony’s own Platinum and Gold headsets and third-party headsets also work with a USB or 3.5mm connection on the PS5.

Finally, Sony mentions that not all accessories may be supported. The company therefore recommends consulting the manufacturer for each product if needed.

The PlayStation 5 will be released this fall. A price and release date are not yet known.

by GamersInfuzed

News | PlayStation 5 may include an 'Activities' option

The PlayStation 5 may include an Activities option that allows players to launch certain aspects of a game directly from the menu. As stated in a preview of WRC 9 on Gamereactor.

The currently removed preview briefly mentions Activities and claims that it is a ‘direct link to specific races from the console’s menu’. System architect Mark Cerny previously told Wired about such options. “Although it is relatively fast to start games, we don’t want players to start the game, check the game, start the game, etc. Game servers provide the console with available activities in real time.

For example, single player games provide information about missions you can do and what rewards you may get – and all those choices are visible in the interface. As a player you can dive straight into the game. “

Apart from the possibilities in WRC 9, nothing is yet known about Activities. According to rumors, Sony will hold a second PlayStation 5 presentation in August, where more about the feature may be revealed.

by GamersInfuzed

News | Spider-Man: Miles Morales releases with remaster of the first game.

The PlayStation 5 game Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales may come with a remaster of the first Marvel's Spider-Man.

This is rumored in the most recent issue of Game Informer magazine. Reddit user 77good123 posted a photo of the text in which it is stated.

“Miles Morales is not a traditional sequel,” the text reads in the magazine, “as it comes bundled with a remaster of Insomniac’s Spider-Man that takes full advantage of the PS5 hardware.”

Since the announcement of Miles Morales in the PlayStation 5 reveal video earlier this year, there has been confusion surrounding the game. In the meantime, developer Insomniac Games has announced that it is a stand-alone release that is comparable in length to the shorter Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. However, the PS5 game may therefore come with a remaster of the original. Sony and Insomniac have not yet confirmed this.

The game should be released on PlayStation 5 by the end of this year.

by GamersInfuzed

News | Ghost of Tsushima sells 2.4 million units in three days

Ghost of Tsushima has sold 2.4 million units worldwide within three days. This makes it the fastest-selling new Sony IP.

As revealed on Sony’s Twitter. That makes the game sell faster than Horizon Zero Dawn, the previous fastest-selling new Sony exclusive. It was recently announced that The Last of Us: Part 2 is currently the fastest-selling PS4 exclusive game ever, with 4 million copies sold in the opening weekend.

Ghost of Tsushima was released last week and got an 9,0 in our review.

by GamersInfuzed

News | New cinematic trailer for ghost of Tsushima revealed

A new trailer for Ghost of Tsushima has appeared on PlayStation's YouTube channel today.

This one-minute cinematic trailer does not use gameplay footage, but pre-rendered footage, which is often used for commercials as well. In the impressive video, the samurai Jin Sakai can be seen in various locations in Japan.

Ghost of Tsushima is set in Japan, at the time of the first Mongol invasion. As one of the last remaining samurai, the player must protect the country from this attack. The game is developed by Sucker Punch Productions, known for the Sly Cooper and Infamous games.

The game will be available on PlayStation 4 from July 17.

by GamersInfuzed

Review | The Last of Us: Part II

The Last of Us: Part 2 again did what it promised and is the most beautiful story ever told in a video game. This zombie game is not about zombies or Infected. This game is about people. The Last of Us 2 holds up a mirror to humanity. And the reflection is not a pleasant sight.

At the beginning of the game, the main characters from the first part, Ellie and Joel, live in Jackson. They are part of a group of people who act as a community against the dangers of the outside world. It’s quite a nice place to stay, with beautiful forests, a playground for the children and even electricity to charge your walkman. Ellie is having a good time here and even finds love in Dinah, but happiness in this world is always short-lived.

A drama unfolds, after which Ellie heads to Seattle for revenge. It is essentially a simple story, just like in the original. It is the human storytelling that takes The Last of Us 2 to an unprecedented level. Ellie, Dina, Joel and his brother Tommy, they are all credible people who may not make the perfect choices, but are pure in their intentions. They are all people. Real people. And they have to do really inhumane things. The fact that the voice acting and motion capture is on point as always really helps in bonding with your character.

All of this is acted extremely well. Ashley Johnson, in particular, can be awarded this year, because her Ellie is truly phenomenal, again. It’s a difficult task to combine such a tough character, which eliminates strong opponents as if it were nothing, with a sensitive woman who drags a lot of luggage. Fortunately, Johnson knows to strike exactly the right tone: fragile if necessary, bone breaking if possible.

The grim message of the game is extended to combat. Blood splatters around the place and screen, Infected are cleaved without mercy and the many finishers are shown relentlessly. After you injure the last enemy in an area, he begs on his knees for his life. That does not stop Ellie from still getting the job done with a baseball bat, or any other weapon for that matter. At least, if you make that choice. After all, you are and remain only human.

All that violence starts to gnaw at you as a player. It gets in your head. Naughty Dog clearly has that effect in mind. Human guards call each other’s names and become audibly nervous when they can no longer find each other. Dogs moan when hit by a Molotov cocktail. And just like you, Ellie has a hard time with that. Every gutted throat carves a scar on her soul.

Everything in this sequel serves the human aspect. No single game element escapes that eye for detail. Seattle is beautiful, but completely destroyed. Each abandoned house with its unique interior tells its own story about the residents. Ellie visits abandoned offices, banks, aquariums and hospitals, and they all have their own atmosphere. Sometimes you stand in wonder for five minutes in the dressing room of a theater, maybe at the dozens of unique costumes, maybe at the walls covered with posters of bands that have ever performed there. The music store filled with albums and posters of the latest releases, at least at that time.

There is hardly any UI to pull you out of that world. Screen info is rarely to be seen. The game inventively uses the environment to pinpoint the next target. Light, for example, shows you the way, or the sound of your next enemy. In a certain section you have to go west, and it is noted that you can follow the setting sun. It is a very natural way to play a game. Disturbing waypoints or mini-maps are a thing of the past.

For a linear game, The Last of Us: Part 2 offers a lot of freedom. Not only in the way you fight, but also in exploring Seattle. You do not have to enter many buildings, but if you don’t want to run out of ammunition, it is worth going on a looting trip. It’s not very exciting to open drawers and cupboards all the time in search of stuff and bullets, but that just goes to show that Ellie needs all the tools she can get. In addition, background information or exciting battles can often be experienced in these optional areas.

The game has negatives. It has happened a few times that a companion got in the way. These AI-driven companions sometimes even tap you out of cover, making you noticed by an enemy. The hint system can also be painful. With a loud sound, the game makes it clear that you can get a hint if you don’t know where to go, while you are still looting the rooms. Fortunately, you can completely disable that system.

It is hardly noticeable. All systems, environments and story elements merge seamlessly. The fluid combat with which you can improvise unhindered plays wonderfully. The eye for details drags you all along in the game world. But in the end it is mainly the story that makes the most impression. The Last of Us: Part 2 is a game about people even more than other games. This game tears you up with emotional scenes, impactful moments and a grim look at what it means to be human, regardless of the background.

Score:

9,5

+ Smooth combat.
+ Beautiful environments.
+ Excellent story and acting.
+ Allot of attention to the smallest details.

– Annoying hint system
– Artificial intelligence sometimes gets in the way

by GamersInfuzed

News | Everything you need to know about Sony's PlayStation 5 presentation

Thursday night Sony showed a lot of games and finally the appearance of the PlayStation 5. Below you will find an overview of all announcements.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales is revealed

The game will be released sometime around this year’s holidays. Miles Morales will star in this sequel, not Peter Parker. Further details are not yet known.

GTA 5 is coming to PlayStation 5

Rockstar Games said GTA 5 for the PS5 is ‘more extensive’ and ‘improved’. GTA Online is also supported. Players who now own the game on PlayStation 4 will receive $ 1 million every month until the game is released.

Polyphony Digital has unveiled Gran Turismo 7.

The studio reports that the game is built entirely for the PlayStation 5, including very realistic tuning options. The game also has an extensive campaign. A release date for Gran Turismo 7 is not yet known.

Sony has revealed the appearance of the PlayStation 5.

Like the DualSense controller, the console has black and white colors. The console appears slightly narrower in the center than at the top and bottom. In addition, two versions of the console are launched. One with disk drive and one without. The disc-free PS5 allows players to play games digitally only. It is not yet known whether there is a difference in price between the consoles.

Guerrilla Games unveils Horizon: Forbidden West

In Forbidden West, Aloy sets out on a journey to the futuristic American frontier, where she tries to save the creatures present from destruction. The trailer shows various landscapes with animals, robot dinosaurs and underwater environments.

Resogun creator Housemarque has revealed Returnal. 

Returnal is a science fiction game in which the main character is constantly reliving her first moment on another planet, including her death from the attack of a mysterious creature. Furthermore, the gameplay consists of shooting from a third-person perspective. Returnal has no release date yet.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The game allows players to travel through cracks in space to new dimensions. In addition to the reveal trailer, gameplay was also shown. A release date is not yet known.

Square Enix reveals Action RPG Project Athia

The action RPG revolves around a female protagonist who can influence her environment and use it in combat. The game is known to be exclusive to PlayStation 5.

Project Athia is being developed by Luminous Productions, a Square Enix studio made up of people who worked on Final Fantasy 15. It was previously known that they were working on a game, but now that game has finally been revealed.

Warner Bros.  announces Hitman 3

Hitman 3 is set to become the final installment of the reboot trilogy and Agent 47’s ‘most personal part’ yet. In the cinematic trailer, the protagonist can be seen in a forest and some gameplay footage of a level in Dubai is shown.

Hitman 3 will be released in 2021 for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Other platforms are not yet known.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure has been announced

The platformer with the main character of the LittleBigPlanet series is developed by Sumo Digital. The game seems to focus on cooperative gameplay for up to four people. However, the game can also be played alone.

The LittleBigPlanet games also excelled in cooperative gameplay. However, those were 2D platformers, while Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a 3D platformer. There is no release date for the PS5 game yet.

Demon’s Souls remake for PlayStation 5 announced

It is not yet known when the remake will be released. However, the game remains exclusive to PlayStation. The game has been completely rebuilt and gets a new ‘Fractured Mode’. Players can choose between two graphic modes: one focused on graphics and one on frame rate.

Capcom reveals Resident Evil: Village

Village is the eighth installment in the franchise and includes Chris Redfield from the original game. The game centers on Ethan Winter traveling to a cold Louisiana to find his missing wife and encounter mysterious figures there. The game, like Resident Evil 7, takes place in a first person perspective. Resident Evil: Village is coming to PlayStation 5 in 2021.

Shinji Mikami shows extensive images Ghostwire: Tokyo

Horror legend Shinji Mikami has unveiled the first comprehensive footage from Ghostwire: Tokyo. The game will be released next year.

The action adventure game is developed by Tango Gameworks and Horror legend Shinji Mikami. Ghostwire: Tokyo is about a remarkable event that makes 99 percent of the city disappear. With special powers, players fight against different Spirits, so as not to disappear like the rest. Ghostwire: Tokyo will be released next year for PlayStation 5 and PC.

Bethesda’s Deathloop gets first gameplay trailer

Deathloop, the new game from Arkane Lyon and Bethesda, received a first gameplay trailer during the PlayStation 5 presentation.

Arkane Lyon, creator of Dishonored, among others, describes Deathloop as a game that transports players to a lawless island called Blackreef and follows the story of two exceptional assassins.

Astro Bot jumps to PS5 with Astro’s Playroom

The game is automatically installed on every PlayStation 5 that is purchased. The game features four platforming worlds, each based on a unique feature of the upcoming console. Each area should offer innovative gameplay that explains the capabilities of the DualSense controller.

More information about the game is not yet known, but the first trailer can be seen below. PlayStation 4 previously released Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, a game for PlayStation VR that has been praised by gamers for its good use of virtual reality and its strong platforming action.

by GamersInfuzed