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PS4 Shooter Removes Mandatory VR Requirement Through Update
PS4 first-person shooter The Persistence will receive a free update that removes the necessity to play the game in VR. Dubbed “the Complete Edition,” The Persistence will make the jump from the PlayStation VR to “flat screen TVs.”
Firesprite’s game director Stuart Tilley took to the PlayStation Blog to make the announcement. “The Complete Edition is going to be the next free update for everyone that already owns the game,” Tilley wrote. “And for the first time ever, this update will make The Persistence playable on what we now fondly call ‘flat screen TVs.'” Tilley also discussed a few additional enhancements launching alongside The Persistence: Complete Edition.
In the graphics department, The Persistence: Complete Edition will “deliver 4K at 60 frames per second on the PS4 Pro, and 1080p at 60 frames per second on PS4.” Lighting and particle effects will also be improved and will include “entirely new technical visual effects such as Motion Blur and Chromatic Aberration.”
Since The Persistence: Complete Edition can be played without the PSVR, camera animations had to get retooled. According to Tilley, the game’s camera will now feature “subtle head movement when moving, and transitions between different poses–such as crouching and standing–are now animated to add a greater sense of situational awareness.”
Going from controlling in PSVR to controlling on a PS4 controller can be an awkward transition for some, but Tilley and the Firesprite team is looking to address any of these concerns in this free update. “There is also a brand-new way to interact with objects and collect pick-ups.” Some weapons, like the Gravity Hook, will have “new ways to fire them when you are playing on your TV.”
Lastly, along with graphical and camera adjustments, the game’s UI will get “updated to make them super intuitive for flat screen displays.” There’s no word on when The Persistence: Complete Edition will launch, but Tilley did confirm that the “free update is getting close to being complete.” The Persistence is out now on PS4.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-shooter-removes-mandatory-vr-requirement-throu/1100-6466965/
Grab This PC Game For Free From Ubisoft For A Limited Time
Even though it’s mid-May and the days are growing warmer, you can pretend it’s still winter and conquer snowy mountains in Steep, an extreme sports game that’s 100% free to claim from the Ubisoft Store right now. The game normally sells for $30, but you can grab it for $0 and it’ll be yours to keep as long as you claim the title before 6 PM (your local time) on Tuesday, May 21.
To claim the free game, just click the green text that says “Get it for free before 5/21,” and you’ll be prompted to either launch Uplay (Ubisoft’s PC games platform) or download it for free if you don’t have it already. Once in Uplay, you’ll be able to claim the deal, and Steep will automatically be added to your Ubisoft account so you can play immediately.
(And here’s an alternative link, just in case.)
In Steep, you’ll take to the snowy Alps to ride, perform stunts, and compete with other players. There are four unique ways to travel around: skis, wingsuit, snowboard, and paraglider. You can create your own tricks and challenge friends to beat your records, or just ride around exploring the snowy mountain terrain, discovering secret spots and enjoying the spectacular view.
“Steep’s reflective moments and the sheer joy of its exploration can outweigh some of its rougher points, and some of the most fun it offers comes from simply traveling to undiscovered locations–just you against the mountain,” wrote critic Leif Johnson in GameSpot’s Steep review.
Speaking of free PC games: The latest free game from the Epic Games Store, Stories Untold, is also available to claim now on PC. You can claim it at no cost until May 30.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/grab-this-pc-game-for-free-from-ubisoft-for-a-limi/1100-6466961/
Microsoft And Sony Announce Partnership For Gaming And Cloud Services
Microsoft and Sony have announced plans for a strategic partnership that will include technology and information sharing, as well as shared infrastuctures for some of their initiatives. While the announcement doesn’t mention the Xbox or PlayStation brands specifically, it does suggest the partnership will focus on consumer entertainment platforms including gaming.
Specifically the agreement says that the two will jointly develop future cloud solutions within Microsoft Azure. It also says that Sony will use Microsoft Azure for its own game and content-streaming services, including a push to build better tools for content creators. The two are also committing to work together on semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
“PlayStation itself came about through the integration of creativity and technology,” Sony president Kenichiro Yoshida said in the announcement. “Our mission is to seamlessly evolve this platform as one that continues to deliver the best and most immersive entertainment experiences, together with a cloud environment that ensures the best possible experience, anytime, anywhere. For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas. I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content.”
“Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation,” added Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers.”
Xbox head Phil Spencer and Nadella also followed up with tweets that stressed the entertainment and gaming aspect of the partnership.
Excited about the opportunities ahead with @Sony for us to pursue our mutual gaming ambitions and delight players around the world. https://t.co/3vBuQiruiR
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 16, 2019
Bringing the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers https://t.co/cMRKFE74Yk
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) May 16, 2019
The partnership has only just been announced, so any results from it could take a while to manifest. The mention of Microsoft’s cloud solutions in gaming comes just as Microsoft is planning its own streaming platform, xCloud., which will compete directly with Google Stadia. It’s unclear how this could impact PlayStation’s streaming platform, PlayStation Now.
With E3 2019 only weeks away, it’s unclear if this new strategic partnership will be discussed. We do know Microsoft is planning to “go big” while Sony has opted out of the show altogether. Check out the full schedule of press conferences for more details.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-and-sony-announce-partnership-for-gaming/1100-6466963/
