While Xbox Game Pass often steals all the headlines thanks to its onslaught of games added over the last couple of years, Sony has been making some big additions to its PlayStation Now service as well. The company today announced the additions coming for the month of June, and the offerings are looking rather strong for those who subscribe to the service.
The headliner is certainly The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition. Those who haven't already played The Witcher 3 are in for a treat, as this bundle not only includes one of the best games of last generation, but also all 16 pieces of DLC and the two award-winning expansion packs: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was immediately one of the most memorable experiences in gaming history when it released, and it has only gotten better in the time since. You can read our review of the base game here. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available until September 6, and it's a huge game, so plan on starting sooner rather than later.
Next up is a trio of Sonic games to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Blue Blur. Sonic Mania is not only a terrific celebration of the hedgehog's past featuring classic level design, timeless music, and Genesis-inspired graphics, but arguably one of the best Sonic games to date. Sonic Forces released alongside Sonic Mania in 2017, and while it wasn't as well received as the more traditional platformer, it's not without its share of high-speed thrills. Finally, Sonic's most recent racing outing, Team Sonic Racing, rounds out the hedgehog hijinks. You can read our review of Sonic Mania here, Sonic Forces here, and Team Sonic Racing here.
We loved Slay the Spire when it first launched and it's great that more people will be able to play it thanks to PlayStation Now. Build your deck from a selection of hundreds of cards and tackle ever-changing layouts and escalating battles. The fascinating fusion of genres transcends the typical niche appeal to hook players of varying interests and inspire them to climb the deadly spire over and over again. Learn more about Slay the Spire in our review here. Slay the Spire will be available on PlayStation Now until December 6.
Rounding out this month's list is Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown and Car Mechanic Simulator. Virtua Fighter 5 is largely revered as one of the best 3D fighters, but this is hardly a huge get for PlayStation Now subscribers, as it will already be available at no additional cost to PlayStation Plus members this month. Meanwhile, Car Mechanic Simulator appears to do what the name implies, allowing you to repair, paint, tune, and drive cars as you build your repair service business.
Streaming for PlayStation Now supports up to 1080p resolution to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, as well as PC, though resolution will depend largely on your internet connection.
Are you a PlayStation Now subscriber? Are you looking forward to playing any of these games starting next month? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
Following a launch that sparked massive backlash from the gaming community, CD Projekt's Cyberpunk 2077 was removed from the PlayStation Store's digital marketplace and those who purchased it were offered the opportunity to receive a refund. The game is still unavailable for purchase from the PlayStation Store today, and CD Projekt is feeling the effects as it reports its quarterly profits.
CD Projekt SA's profit fell more than half from a year earlier, Reuters reports. While the company did not say how many copies of Cyberpunk 2077 it sold during the quarter, it says that approximately 60 percent of first-quarter sales came from Cyberpunk 2077. Overall net profit at the Polish company fell 64.7 percent to 32.5 million zlotys (just below $8.9 million). Going in, analysts projected 80 million zlotys, but Cyberpunk 2077 development expenditures plus work on post-launch fixes have greatly impacted that. CD Projekt revenue also dropped by 2 percent. Reuters also reports that CD Projekt's shares have dropped more than 60 percent in value from their all-time high value during last year's lead up to Cyberpunk 2077's launch.
In March, CD Projekt said the return to the PlayStation Store was close to happening, but to this day, it remains delisted from the platform's digital storefront. "The general situation as long as we are not back on the Sony store has not changed," a company official said on today's conference call. "One of the leading marketplaces for us is not available and we generate most of the sales on the PC/digital channels."
In response to the Cyberpunk 2077 backlash, CD Projekt is planning to make some changes to its business and the way it operates. According to the report, the company plans to move toward a parallel development process where it will create multiple high-budget projects at the same time beginning in 2022. In addition, the company will begin looking for merger and acquisition opportunities.
Cyberpunk 2077 launched on December 10, 2020 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. While we came away impressed by the PC version we played prior to release (read our review of that version here), the console version, which CD Projekt did not provide advance access to, was in a completely different state (read our review of that version here). This resulted in fans pushing back against the company and CD Projekt apologizing for the low-quality experience on consoles.
Cyberpunk 2077 is currently available to purchase digitally for Xbox One, Stadia, and PC, though a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S version is planned for 2021. CD Projekt also plans to release a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S version of its most beloved title, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, during the calendar year.
[Source: Reuters]
A new PlayStation State of Play is on the roster for this week, this time centering on Aloy and her new adventures in Horizon Forbidden West. The highly anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn promises new action, gorgeous new locales, and so much more, and we'll finally get to see some of that stunning gameplay live later this week.
The latest PlayStation State of Play kicks off on May 27 at 2 p.m. Pacific / 4 p.m. Central. Forbidden West game director Mathijs de Jonge promises 20 minutes of exclusive content, including 14 minutes of brand-new gameplay that has never been seen before. All of the gameplay shown will be shown using the power of the PlayStation 5.
You can follow along with the Aloy reveal over on Twitch and YouTube at the respective links for those interested in watching.
The last time we had a look at Horizon Forbidden West was last year, showing off the stunning ray tracing technology and expansive open world that our red-headed protagonist will explore. What we've seen thus far has been nothing short of impressive, with the "no loading screens" feature making it all the more so.
Forbidden West will act as the direct sequel to the original Horizon Zero Dawn and will continue to follow Aloy's journey. It appears that massive storms have destroyed the land. From what was shown in the reveal trailer, it looks like Horizon Forbidden West will feature some new gameplay mechanics, like diving underwater, for example. There will also be a plethora of new creatures for her to interact with and new monsters to fight, including an awesome-looking robotic elephant.
Horizon Zero Dawn was a huge success for the PlayStation 4 lineup when it was first released back in February of 2017. Its dual-nature setting with futuristic technology in a more tribal society made the parallels between the two worlds interesting for the game's narrative. More than that, however, was Aloy herself. Forced to overcome great struggles at such a young age, her strength is in more than just fighting. Her kindness, despite being treated as an outsider, never wavered. Her desire to help while also being strong enough to lay down personal boundaries was nothing short of inspiring. I can't wait to see what this character does next. If it's even half as enticing as its predecessor, we're in for a world of enjoyment when Horizon Forbidden West finally releases.
What are you the most excited about when it comes to Horizon Forbidden West? Thoughts on Aloy and her adventures in the first game? Shout those feelings out loud and proud in the comment section below!