Category: Editorial

PlayStation Game Server Closures

Editorial Team

Last month, players said farewell to the online portion of the 2010 PS3 title ModNation Racers, which went offline on October 10. The Platinum has officially become Not Obtainable for players who still required any of its 17 online trophies. In addition, the three DLC add-ons, Far East Tour, Arctic Tour, and Big City Tour, which have a total of 21 trophies, have been pulled from the PlayStation Store.

While unfortunate, it’s also natural for game servers to close as they get on in years, and less people are playing them online. Here is an updated list of planned PlayStation game server closures that players and trophy hunters may wish to be aware of:

The 2012 vehicle combat game Twisted Metal is currently on borrowed time. The online servers were originally scheduled to close on January 31 next year, only to be “rescheduled” for October 15, 2018. At the moment, the servers for Twisted Metal are still up, though it’s unclear whether they will be closed on any scheduled day, or the original January 31. Twisted Metal includes 12 online trophies, which means unless they are unlocked before the server closure, the Platinum will become Not Obtainable.

The 2014 PS4 action title InFamous Second Son will have its online servers close on December 16, 2018. However, this only included the web-based puzzle portions of InFamous Paper Trail. Since there are no trophies connected with this – or any online trophies, for that matter – the Platinum will remain available after the closure.

Warhawk, the 2007 PS3 multiplayer third-person shooter, will have its online servers closed on January 31 next year. Warhawk is an online-only game, which means all of its trophies, including the DLC, will become Not Obtainable after the date.

The 2012 crossover fighting game, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, will also have its online servers close on January 31 on both the PS3 and PS Vita version. This title was a PlayStation Plus free game in September 2014. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale includes 7 online trophies which, along with the Platinum, will become Not Obtainable after the server closure.

Also closing on January 31 are the online servers for Sound Shapes, across the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita platforms. However, none of the trophies require online gameplay, which means the Platinum will still be obtainable. Also, the DLC packs which make up a total of 55 trophies to be unlocked, will still remain available for purchase on the PlayStation Store.

The PS4 third-person shooter Drawn to Death will see their online servers close on March 25, 2019. Drawn to Death was a PlayStation Plus free game upon its release in April 2017. Since this is an online-only title, all trophies and its Platinum will become Not Obtainable after the closure date.

For trophy hunters out there who are hoping to unlock these online trophies before their server closures, may find it easier to locate boosting partners as we near crunch time. Be sure to check out the Links tab for each respective game, where we add Boosting Forum links.

PlayStation Plus Free Games November 2018

Editorial Team

Happy Halloween!

Sony is providing more treats than tricks next month, with the announcement of their next line-up of PlayStation Plus Free Games November 2018 which will be available for download on Tuesday, November 6.

For the PlayStation 4, there’s Yakuza Kiwami, the GTA-like action-adventure and full-on remake of the original 2005 Yakuza on the PS2, where players explore the open world of Tokyo while battling street gangs and rival yakuza. And Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition, a remastered version of the 2011 Bulletstorm, a first-person shooter where points are awarded for the most creative and insane kills.

On the PlayStation 3, there’s Jackbox Party Pack 2, a collection of party games involving fill in the blanks, bid on art in an auction, and describe other players through sound effects. And Arkedo Series, a 3-in-1 collection of retro platforming and puzzle games.

Finally, for the PlayStation Vita, there’s Burly Men At Sea, a set of multiple-choice adventures involving three burly men and their mysterious map. And Roundabout, an open-world limousine driving game where players must pick up and drop off people while searching for collectibles. Both Burly Men At Sea and Roundabout are cross-plat with the PS4.

Among the free titles for November, Yakuza Kiwami, Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition, and Burly Men At Sea have Platinum trophies.

Of these, Burly Men At Sea is by far the easiest and quickest if following a walkthrough, requiring only a couple hours. Meanwhile, Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition is a fairly challenging Platinum, while Yakuza Kiwami will require over 100 hours.

Also, unlocking 100% of the trophies on Jackbox Party Pack 2 is fairly easy, and only needs about 5 hours.

Finally, just a friendly reminder that the party game Knowledge is Power will cease to be a free download on November 6.

PlayStation Plus Free Games October 2018

Editorial Team

It’s the month of Jack-o-lanterns, candy, and scary flicks, and Sony is celebrating upcoming Halloween with at least one horror title in their line-up of PlayStation Plus Free Games October 2018 which are available for download on Tuesday, October 2.

On the PlayStation 4, there’s Friday the 13th: The Game, the online survival horror which pits the hockey-mask wearing Jason Voorhees against Camp Crystal Lake counselors. And Laser League, a brand-new multiplayer by Roll7, the developers behind OlliOlli and Not A Hero, in a team-based futuristic sports game.

And for the PlayStation 3, there’s Master Reboot, a sci-fi horror puzzler that takes place in the Soul Cloud, where immortality is possible and memories are stored for enjoyment. And The Bridge, a puzzle game where players navigate around obstacles by manipulating gravity. The Bridge is also a cross-plat on the PS4 and PS Vita.

And on the PlayStation Vita, there’s Rocketbirds 2: Evolution, a sequel to the 2011 platforming adventure where the superchicken secret agent must use all weapons, gadgets and disguises at his disposal to do away with evil penguins. And 2064: Read Only Memories, a cyberpunk point-and-click adventure set during Christmas in New-San Francisco in which a sapient machine requests the help of a journalist to rescue a kidnapped creator. Both Rocketbirds 2: Evolution and 2064: Read Only Memories are cross-plat with the PS4.

Among the PlayStation Plus Free Games October 2018 line-up, Friday the 13th: The Game, Laser League, Master Reboot, Rocketbirds 2: Evolution, and 2064: Read Only Memories all have Platinum trophies to unlock. Of these, Master Reboot and 2064: Read Only Memories are the easiest with a guide, each requiring only 5 and 15 hours of gameplay respectively. Also, unlocking 100% of the trophies on The Bridge is easy to do with a guide, and only needing about 7-8 hours.

For those who haven’t yet downloaded the free PlayStation VR game Here They Lie, keep in mind that it will remain available for free until October 2. Meanwhile, the party game Knowledge is Power will continue to remain as a free download until November 6.

Tokyo Game Show 2018 Video Presentation

Editorial Team

Our Tokyo Game Show 2018 Video Presentation, featuring some of the highlights and such anticipated games as Kingdom Hearts III, Devil May Cry 5, God Eater 3, and more! Also we test out some of the unique – and bizarre – Indie games, as well as give a few new VR titles a try. Check it out!

 

 

The Tokyo Game Show 2018

Editorial Team

It’s that time of the year again, when we push through the crowds under humid weather, and make our way to Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, on our way to the Tokyo Game Show 2018. The event is expected to be even larger this year, with 668 companies and organizations (609 last year) showing off a total of 1,568 game titles from across 41 different countries and regions. Plus, the Japan e-Sports Union (JeSU) was established just this past Spring, marking the Tokyo Game Show 2018 the first time e-Sports will be holding professional competitions.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

One of the most anticipated titles being presented in the main hall was Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts III. It has been 13 years since the Square Enix / Disney cross-over RPG had a full sequel, after multiple remakes, prologues, and side stories. Set for release in January 2019, Kingdom Hearts III will feature returning worlds such as Olympus from Hercules and the Caribbean from Pirates of the Caribbean, new stories from Big Hero 8 and Toy Story, and a completely new, original world that has not yet been disclosed. Visitors at TGS 2018 were able to learn more at the Square Enix booth, as well as play the demo at the PlayStation area.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Also, Capcom was a big hit at the Tokyo Game Show 2018 with their presentation of Devil May Cry 5. The last we saw Dante battling demons was ten years ago, when the PS3 was still fresh on the shelf and trophy support was on its way. We did get a reboot/prequel called DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013, and while the game was critically successful, fans weren’t too happy with the changes. The long-awaited Devil May Cry 5 had playable demos at the PlayStation area as well as the Capcom booth, with a scheduled retail release on January 25.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

And speaking of Capcom, this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Mega Man (Rockman in Japanese) series. Not only were there playable demos for Mega Man 11 scheduled for release next month, but a museum dedicated to the platforming, shooting robot, complete with commemorative coins, figures, stamps, illustrations, and soundtracks, while also showcasing the game’s history.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Finally, Bandai-Namco had several titles on display – the most notable being God Eater 3, a game which made its debut on the PSP back in 2010. The God Eater series, which features battles against huge monsters known as Aragami, may not be huge sellers overseas, but are smash hits here in Japan. God Eater 3 is set for release in Japan on December 13, though no world-wide launch date has yet been decided.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Virtual Reality is still a hot item here in Japan. The Japanese company JPPVR had a booth that was at least eight times larger than last year, showcasing VR games with sleek, cool looking vehicles to ride, creating a 4D experience. They ranged from motorcycles and racing cars that looked like something out of Tron, a Gatling gun on the top of a starship, and a bicycle for traversing across the top of skyscrapers.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Sony, meanwhile, still continues to promote their PSVR, with visitors trying out Everybody’s Golf VR, and the platforming Astro Bot Rescue Mission scheduled for release on October 2.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Overall, the Tokyo Game Show 2018 had some delightful surprises and some unique – and hilarious – Indie games. I was glad to see that VR is still going strong, with more titles to look forward to on the PSVR.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

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Stay tuned for our video presentation of the Tokyo Game Show 2018!

 

written by Damon Finos