Wales Interactive has teased a new free map for its co-op horror shooter Sker Ritual. The teaser may also include a secret release date.

The House of the Damned map will be available to all players and has already been penciled in for a July release on Sker Ritual’s roadmap. Wales Interactive has said it’s still on track to meet that.

But the teaser perhaps offers a more concrete date. Several people have pointed out that the Morse code in the 20-second preview suggests a July 22, 2024, release date.

Sker Ritual trailer and details

Sker Ritual is an intense round-based zombie survival FPS, play solo or co-op. Shoot your way through relentless waves of vicious horrors with high-octane objectives, upgrading steampunk weapons, collecting Celtic God powers, and surviving the onslaught of the Quiet Ones.

”The Quiet Ones are back in this round-based survival FPS. Face hordes of new and familiar enemies, supercharged elites with unique supernatural powers, upgradeable steam-punk weapons, interchangeable spine-chilling masks, and mysterious story objectives from the writing talent behind Maid of Sker, Battlefield 1, and Total War: Rome II.”

Sker Ritual is a spiritual successor to single-player horror game Maid of Sker. It was launched out of Early Access on April 18, 2024.

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Dragami Games has unveiled a new Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP trailer and a release date for the cult classic’s remaster.

Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP will be released digitally on September 25, 2024 on PS5.

Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is a remake of the original Lollipop Chainsaw (2012), on which Yoshimi Yasuda lead development as producer. RePOP is a definitive version of the game which leaves the story unchanged, with the focus on quality-of-life improvements and additional gameplay content.

Watch Juliet, a descendant of zombie hunters, as she fights alongside her boyfriend and family to stop a zombie apocalypse starting in her high school in “Juliet’s 18th Birthday.”

Watch the Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP trailer below.

Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP will also release a physical edition worldwide. Further details are to be announced at a later date.

Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Quality of Life Improvements

• The game’s resolution has been increased to full HD, and load times have been greatly shortened.
• The chainsaw action has been sped up with the introduction of the Chained Hits Hunting system, in which chaining multiple hits in succession increases the player’s attack speed.
• The input timings for Combo Actions have been adjusted, to better fit players’ expectations.
• Chainsaw Blaster action has been improved with the addition of auto-lock and auto-fire modes that can be toggled. And an increased maximum ammo count of 99.
• The player can now immediately use Combo Actions at the start of the game.

Additional Gameplay Content

• Separate from Original Mode, RePOP adds “RePOP mode,” which uses a unique and colorful pop art-inspired art style for damage effects.
• Unique new chainsaws with distinctly different features have been added.
• There are 30 costumes, more than the original game’s costume count. Combined with the addition of 4 new hair colors and 4 new chainsaws, this adds up to 750 different possible combinations.
• Juliet’s Room has been expanded with more features.
• A “Time Attack” mode with ranking feature has been added.

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It’s been a busy week for BioWare, who revealed Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay showcase on Tuesday. While it saw a more positive reception than the divisive Xbox showcase trailer, it’s still left some concern about how important its RPG systems will be. However, according to Design Director Corinne Busche, they will be very important indeed.

What did Corinne Busche say about Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay?

“So,” Busche told RPG Site, “if I were to contrast Mass Effect versus Dragon Age, for instance . . . I really view Mass Effect as an ARPG. Big action, minor RPG. We’re almost the total inverse of that.”

The Mass Effect comparison didn’t come out of nowhere. The companion ability wheel shown in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay reveal resembles the one from BioWare’s sci-fi RPG shooters. One could also be forgiven for coming away from the showcasing thinking that active abilities and tactical depth had taken back seat to button mashing.

However, unlike Mass Effect, which only has a few abilities per class, Veilguard’s skill trees are “absolutely enormous,” according to Busche. She also explained the skill tree’s structure, comparing it to a spiderweb or the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X. The basic Mage, Warrior, and Rogue class skills are at the center of the grid. Abilities get more advanced as the player moves outward, with the Specialization trees arranged on the outer ring. Players should expect to reach a Specialization around mid-game.

The player’s companion’s abilities don’t seem as flexible, however. She explained how each party member has five core abilities, with their skill trees focusing on upgrades. “Neve and Bellara are both Mages,” Busche explained, “so they share two core Mage abilities between each other, right? However, the other three are class or character-unique.” The different upgrade branches will also change how characters behave in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay.

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The recent PlayStation State of Play left much to be desired, but 2024 marks PS5‘s most diverse lineup of games yet, which includes a healthy dose of console exclusives. We’ve already received the likes of Stellar Blade, Rise of the Ronin, Helldivers 2, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and there’s still more to come.

PS5 games yet to release in 2024

The aforementioned games all released before we hit the halfway mark this year, and as pointed out by the PS Blog, there’s a lot more to come. Black Myth: Wukong will be out in August on PS5 and PC, followed by Concord, and Star Wars: Outlaws.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will launch on PS Plus early September, days before the positively-previewed Astro Bot will launch exclusively on PS5. Phantom Blade: Zero, which had a great showing at Summer Game Fest, is also releasing this year on PS5 and PC. Then, there’s Silent Hill 2 and Lego Horizon Adventures, both of which are console exclusives. Lego Horizon Adventures, like Astro Bot, has received very positive previews.

All of the aforementioned games come alongside the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Unknown 9: Awakening, ensuring 2024 offers PS5 players a massive variety of games to choose from.

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Direct PS5 Discord voice chat integration will finally start rolling out over the next few weeks, with today’s system update adding support for the gradual release. In addition to this, players will be able to start sharing their PSN profiles starting next week via messaging and social apps.

How to join Discord voice chat directly on PS5 and share your PSN profile

On your PS5 console, press the PS button to display the control center and navigate to the Discord tab within Game Base. You can then choose to join a Discord server or DM group, and select your preferred voice channel. Players will be able to see other channel participants and will also receive console notifications if someone calls them directly, giving them the option to join right away.

The Discord voice chat rollout will begin with Japan/Asia, followed by Europe, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, and Americas, in this precise order. Make sure to download today’s PS5 system update and link your PSN account to your Discord account by following instructions provided by PlayStation.

As for PSN profile sharing, download the PS App and select “Share Profile” or simply navigate to your profile page on your console and select the same option. This will allow players to generate a shareable link or QR code. Recipients of the link/QR code will have the option to add you as a friend right away provided that they’re signed into PSN.

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Sony has released PS5 system update 24.04-09.40.00, the patch notes for which reveal that the company will soon roll out direct Discord voice chat integration. This update adds support for the gradual release over the coming weeks.

PS5 system software update 24.04-09.40.00 patch notes (June 13, 2024)

Complete patch notes for today’s PS5 firmware update are as follows:

• Child accounts can now link and add third-party services and apps to their account for PlayStation Network to enjoy benefits and features that enhance their gameplay experience.
  • Younger players that use child accounts on PS5 can link accounts to use features like Discord voice chat, music streaming via Apple Music and Spotify, and broadcasting and sharing gameplay via YouTube and Twitch.
  • New parental controls are available for parents and guardians. These controls notify and allow them to manage their child’s account links with third-party services and apps. Availability may vary depending on age, parental control settings, and country/region.
• You can now start or join a Discord voice chat directly from your PS5. Open Game Base in the control center and select the Discord tab to access your servers and direct calls.
• We’ve updated the device software for the PULSE Elite wireless headset, PULSE Explore wireless earbuds, and PlayStation Link USB adapter.
  • PlayStation Link connection stability has been improved.
  • We’ve fixed an issue with the PULSE Elite wireless headset that caused the power to turn off when the audio cable is connected to the audio input jack.
  • On the PULSE Elite wireless headset, the status indicator that turns on after establishing PlayStation Link connection is now less bright.
• We’ve improved system software performance and stability.
• We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.

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Stage 2 Studios and Serenity Forge have announced Lifeless Planet follow-up Lifeless Moon will land on PS4 and PS5 next month.

The 3D platforming sequel will be PlayStation-bound on July 9, 2024.

Lifeless Moon details

Lifeless Moon, the spiritual successor to the popular 2014 indie title Lifeless Planet, is a 3D platformer that puts you in the center of a mysterious Moon expedition. This new adventure, inspired by classic science fiction, plays as an Apollo-era astronaut who finds themself in the aftermath of an old 1970s experiment: an oddly familiar desert town… on the moon.

Explore Anomalies – Secrets in the desolate moon city soon unlock mysteries on a much grander scale… Equipped with a jetpack and your sense of survival, search for the truth through landscapes one could hardly fathom.

Collect Documents – You’ll need perseverance and wit to uncover this mystery. Record your thoughts and find clues from the past to unravel the dark secrets residing on this celestial body.

Utilize the Technology – If you want to understand the forces at hand, you’ll need to use them to your advantage. Solve puzzles and work with strange technology to create a path forward.

Unearth the Mystery – A land where objects materialize from nothing and time flows unexpectedly. Relive the experiences and traumas of the scientists that came before you. After all, following their footsteps might be the only way to return home.

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As I sat down for one of EA‘s closed-door presentations of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it didn’t take long for me to sense the excitement in the air. Despite this being a hands-off presentation of the game’s first hour, it was hard not to notice the plastered smiles and excited whispers coming from my fellow writers and content creators to the left and right of me. And this makes sense; it’s been a decade since players have gotten their hands on a new Dragon Age, and BioWare‘s other offerings over the past 10 years weren’t exactly slam dunks.

With the game’s director, Corrine Busche, guiding us through the first hour of the game, it became clear that the dev team was looking to open up the world of Dragon Age to all types of players, from more casual newcomers to those who logged countless hours across the franchise’s other titles. Of course, as you’d expect from most western RPGs at this point, the presentation kicked off with an overview of the character creator.

Your Character

Now, if I’m being honest, spending an hour or two obsessing over my character’s and eye color and facial scars is not something I normally place a lot of importance on, but I know I’m probably in the minority on that. To their credit though, BioWare looks to have spend a lot time and effort to craft a robust character creation system, even going so far as to make sure skin tones and hair styles look great throughout the course of your adventure.

“We wanted to make sure skin tones were well represented,” Corrine explained, “including the under hues that influence how our skin shows up under different lighting conditions, even controlling for levels of melanin.”

And I have to admit, the end result looked rather good, thanks in part to the ability to look at your character under several different lighting conditions representative of in-game locales and settings. It only took a few minutes to throw together a great looking character, and there are plenty of presets and randomizers at your disposal should you want to get into the game in as little time as possible.

Your Combat

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard only features three core classes (Rogue, Warrior, and Mage), Corrine explained that each one can pick from different specializations to better align with one’s intended playstyle.

“Each class has three bespoke and unique specializations that are really classes unto themselves. The duelist plays much different to the saboteur, who prefers to use gadgets, turrets and bombs. The Veil Ranger is my personal favorite [Rogue] specialization, as it prioritizes the bow arrow and can magically infuse arrows. Now, each of these specializations are unique per class, and are backed up by an incredibly robust skill tree which is also unique per class. It really allows you to customize and curate how you exist and how your gameplay experience plays out to your tastes.”

Admittedly, I was a bit surprised to see the combat adopting a stronger focus on action — if you’ve checked out any footage of the game in action, you’ll probably notice how the camera is a bit closer to your player, lending a more intimate feel that I normally associate with third-person action-adventure games. It’s a noticeable difference compared to say the first or second Dragon Age, but BioWare has taken some steps to provide options for those who prefer a slower-paced, strategic experience.

Sure, you can’t control your companions directly, but along with firing off abilities using more recognizable button combos, you can also use any of these abilities by pulling up an ability wheel. This completely pauses the game, which helps to slow down the sometimes frantic pace for those who would rather not deal with juggling their companions in real time.

Your Companions

If you’re a purist who’s worried that The Veilguard isn’t your grandfather’s Dragon Age, you’ll be delighted to hear that the battle-tested dialogue and companion system from previous games is back in full force. Completely separate from class or species, you’ll be able to select a backstory for your created character, which also unlocks new dialogue options that are unique to that background.

As you’d come to expect, being able to choose your own dialogue can have both short-term and long-term impacts, whether it’s affecting how specific plot arcs unfold, or influencing how your companions think about and treat you. For those of you who are far more in touch with Dragon Age’s lore than I am, you’ll probably get a kick out of seeing fan-favorites like Varric or Harding, who serve as your companions (along with a few other new characters).

While I’m by no means concerned, one niggling thought that I couldn’t get rid of was that The Veilguard might be trying to appease too wide of an audience, losing its uniqueness and core identity in the process. That being said, if there’s a studio capable of striking a careful balance like this, BioWare would be a top contender — and I’m certainly hoping that they are propelled back into the AAA game dev spotlight when Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases this fall.

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The new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update will add eight new suits for Peter and Miles when it launches on June 18. It includes four suits created by fashion designer Colm “KidSuper” Dillane with celebrity collaborators Vini Jr., Lando Norris, and Rina Sawayama.

What new suits are in the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update?

Insomniac Games showcased the new Spider-Man 2 suits in a blog post announcing the update. Miles Morales’ Metro Suit by KidSuper features a puffer jacket and a variety of color options. Players can choose between the default gold on white, red on black, teal on purple, and “classic Spidey.”

KidSuper collaborated with professional soccer player Vinícius “Vini Jr.” Júnior on Miles’ Ginga Suit. The suit’s default color scheme pays homage to the sport and Júnior’s homeland of Brazil. It also has alternate red-on-black, classic, and gold-on-white color schemes.

Looking at Peter’s new duds, British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris left his mark on Parker’s Fluro Suit. It features racing-inspired overalls and helmet and comes in green on black, white on black, pink on blue, and classic.

KidSuper also worked with Japanese-British singer and actress Rina Sawayama on Peter Parker’s Motorchic Suit. The new Spider-Man 2 suit gives Peter a leather jacket and overall motorbike-inspired look. Players can choose between the default red and black, red, black, and classic color schemes.

Meanwhile, the Spider-Man 2 update gives Peter Parker’s Last Stand suit inspired by the Earth-312500 version of Spider-Man. The default suit and leather jacket is red and black, though players can also choose full black, classic, and Arachno-Man yellow and green. Meanwhile, Miles Morales’ gold and black Uptown Pride suit is another fan favorite introduced in the Spider-Man 2 Update. It also comes in silver trim, black on red, and blue on pink versions.

Peter Parker’s Into The Spider-Verse suit copies his outfit from the 2018 animated movie. Players can also enable Film Style Animation mode to make it more authentic. Finally, Miles Morales’ Animated suit pays homage to the classic comics and cartoons.  

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Digital Foundry tech expert John Linneman reckons that the PS5 can’t properly support 8K resolution at the current hardware level, but Xbox Series X theoretically can. As we recently reported, Sony quietly removed the 8K label that has been plastered on PS5’s box since launch in 2020, and the subject has been hotly debated since.

Sony accused of false advertisement with PS5 box’s 8K label

At PS5’s launch, Sony said that the console will be able to output in 8K with a future firmware update when supported content is available. Thus far, only one game has boasted 8K — The Touryst — but it has Minecraft-like graphics.

Linneman says that PS5’s HDMI capabilities aren’t enough to support 8K at 60 FPS without making some serious compromises. Secondly, the console’s HDR is limited to 8 bit, which isn’t enough to output in 8K. A minimum of 10 bit HDR would be required, which the Xbox Series X comes with. “Even if they [Sony] did enable 8K, you wouldn’t want to use it,” Linneman concluded.

Ultimately, however, Linneman rightfully points out that 8K just hasn’t panned out yet and it may have been a little silly on Sony’s part to advertise that. The company was accused of false advertisement following the discovery of the updated PS5 box.

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