Meet Braum, the Heart of the Freljord

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2XKO’s newest playable character is Braum, a beloved hero blessed with mighty biceps and an even bigger heart. He joins the previously announced roster of re-imagined League of Legends champions, which includes Ahri, Yasuo, Ekko, Darius, and Illaoi. 

Since 2v2 combat and playing with your friends is at the core of 2XKO gameplay, the team was eager to design a champion who would thrive as a support character. Braum’s protective abilities make any duo partner shine. 

Stand behind me

Early concept art of Braum with his shield

Braum’s design is centered around his massive shield, which was once the unbreakable door to an ancient treasure vault. With it, he protects allies from incoming damage. Braum excels at disrupting opponents and blocking their attacks, making space for his team to land devastating combos. 

Defense is key to Braum’s gameplay design, but he still has strong offensive options. He gains a unique buff called Unbreakable when he lands certain abilities, which coats Braum’s shield in ice and makes his special moves deal more damage. 

His kit also introduces a unique freeze mechanic to 2XKO. By activating the magic of his shield, Braum can gain extra armor and stop opponents cold.

Fluffs of fury

Early concept art of Braum’s beloved poros

Braum’s warm and infectious personality has fostered his friendship with poros—magical creatures who hail from the frozen Freljord, Braum’s home region.  

Braum’s little friends are ready to assist him however they can, whether it’s by flying through the air to stop fleeing enemies, or by coming together to form a massive ball of fluff that deals tons of damage.

Sign up for 2XKO Alpha Lab

For a deeper dive into Braum’s kit and more information on his gameplay, be sure to check out his Champion Introduction dropping tomorrow, July 10 on the 2XKO YouTube channel. 

To try Braum and 2XKO on PlayStation 5, register for a chance to be part of Alpha Lab—our first at-home playtest—starting August 8 in select regions. Those who are selected to participate will receive an invite code for a friend. Sign up and get more details on the Alpha Lab website. 

2XKO will also be playable at Evo 2024. Follow our social channels for the latest news and live coverage of the event. 

Thanks for reading. We’re excited to hear what you think of 2XKO.

Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?

PS5 Games

*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included

PS4 Games

*Naming of products may differ between regions

PS VR2 Games*

*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included

PSVR Games

Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)

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Ava’s fight for survival

Cygni, a planet colonized by humans, thrives on ancient technology found in ruins left by an unknown civilization. These remnants serve as a vital power source and catalyst for technological progress. Our protagonist Ava, a recent recruit in Cygni’s Air Force, pilots the Orca in a desperate struggle against a sudden, potent attack by bio-mechanical aliens— potentially Cygni’s original inhabitants. 

Beyond the bullets

Energy Management: Switching between shields (health) and weapons (more firepower and missiles) on the fly. 

Combat: Air-to-air and air-to-ground combat includes a real-time crowd system—not just a background prop; they are gameplay-related, where players can interact with allied forces on the ground. This mutual assistance is not only crucial for gameplay but also aids in obtaining pickups and increasing your score.

Weapon Enhancement: Upgrade and prepare weapons – even equipping your ship with two additional side-drones – before engaging in battle.

Designer Mode: Allows players to create, save, and manage projectile patterns on the go. This feature adds a layer of customization and strategy, enabling players to toggle between saved patterns on the go.

Three Difficulty Modes: Easy (being more accessible, by having 3 lives per level) Normal and Hard. 

Local Co-Op: Players can revive each other at the cost of sacrificing shield points, while enjoying double the firepower.

Arcade Mode: Tailored for high-score enthusiasts. Players start from Level 1 and continue to the game’s end without any interruptions or cutscenes, but with only one life. This mode caters to those who enjoy a relentless challenge, and the highest scores can be recorded on global online leaderboards.

Colossal Bosses: Cygni features large bosses each with their own unique combat mechanics, providing players with challenging and memorable battle experiences.

Innovation with indie passion

Using our past experiences in filmmaking and animation, we wanted to push the visual storytelling boundaries in Cygni without compromising gameplay. This includes short cutscenes in-between levels and creating full scale high-quality CG cinematics (Intro and Outro to the game), uncommon to most indie games, and the genre. Cygni takes full advantage of the PS5’s power and its SSD allowing for crisp visuals, fast loading times and a smooth experience running at 60FPS/4K.

We wanted to create a shoot’em up that’s not entirely a bullet hell experience – sometimes you WILL get hit, but that’s OK. The core gameplay mechanic of balancing your ship’s power between its weapons and shields means you can strategize your offensive vs defensive gameplay (firepower vs. shield). We have utilized the DualSense controller’s directional haptic feedback to help elevate and enhance this in a tactile, but logical way. 

Behind the bullets

With indie roots at our core, it’s been essential to stay connected to our community who’ve been patiently supporting Cygni from the start. From two people working on the game in their spare time, to signing with Konami, we wanted to share our story for all those eager to learn about us and our journey. Introducing our Behind-the-Scenes short series, and you can watch Episode 1 right now!

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Cygni: All Guns Blazing launches on PS5 next month on August 6.

On the capsule itself, we included a small hint showing the image of a clock. But what could that mean? Looking carefully around the level nearby, you will find a similar clock symbol carved into one of the trees up above. It takes a few jumps to get there. It is at the back of a tree, the furthest away.

That’s when things get trickier (or so we thought!). Standing on that spot, you have to pause the game by pressing the options button. Instead of the normal pause, that makes a special Astral Clock screen appear. By entering the number 24.11.2015 (or November 24, 2015, the original release date of the Bloodborne DLC featuring Lady Maria), the hands of the clock magically turn and…

The capsule opens, letting our Special Bot free. Well done, let’s celebrate with a trophy!

Once freed, Lady Maria will wait for you in the Mission Room, ready to be transferred to Astro Bot when you are ready.

Just a few days ago, we added a second Special Bot, Selene, from the PS5 title Returnal. Once again, working together, you were able to crack the riddle and free her to make it 2 out of 4.

We hope you enjoy these updates as much as we had fun making them! In addition to these Special Bots, the PlayStation Labo received an update, so we invite you to check it out and add new artefacts to your collection. 

That’s all for now. But the treasure hunt does not end here! We will be back soon with 2 more riddles on the run-up to the release of Astro Bot. And by the looks of it, we might have to make the next ones even harder. 

Thank you all for playing along with us, and we will see you soon!

Team Asobi out.

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Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Tourist
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 10, 2024

Next week, we’re using games to travel the world. Share real world locations or landmarks that players can visit in the game of their choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

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The birth of a 16-bit horror classic

Before we get into the new details of Rewind Mode, let’s unpack some of the chilling game’s history.

My own journey with Clock Tower started in my early teens, where I found the game completely by accident. I immediately found the graphics and setting compelling; the game follows Jennifer Simpson, a teenage orphan who has just been adopted along with three of her friends. Little does she know that her new home, a mysterious mansion owned by the Barrows family, holds many disturbing secrets. It wasn’t too long before I met our main villain: the terrifying Scissorman, who’s relentless in his pursuit of Jennifer! 

I’ve personally always loved horror, even as a child, but I found Clock Tower so scary that I could only play it for a few minutes at a time. It remains one of the scariest games I’ve ever played even today, and the story, characters, and setting have made a huge impact on the way I think about games and storytelling. Wrapped up in a point-and-click package, with only one enemy pursuing you for the entire game, it’s a really poignant tale of discovery and tragedy, with many different ways that the story can play out. It’s been one of my favorite games since I first played it, and I know it’s held a special place in the hearts of fans all over the world as well. 

It’s a huge honor to be a part of Clock Tower: Rewind, where we’re finally getting the opportunity to share this special game worldwide for the first time! With this new release, we’ve included the original 16-bit game, as it was in 1995, but also added a ton of fun extras to make Clock Tower: Rewind a new package for both new and existing fans alike. 

Original Mode and Rewind Mode

Clock Tower: Rewind will feature two main modes — Original and Rewind. Original mode is just what it sounds like: this is Clock Tower, ported straight from the 1995 version, with new translations in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. And then we have Rewind mode, which is an enhanced version of the original game. 

Today, we’d love to reveal more details about what Rewind mode entails.

The original Clock Tower actually had two releases — the 1995 16-bit version, and an updated version called Clock Tower: The First Fear, released on the original PlayStation in 1997. Clock Tower: The First Fear added new content, such as new scares, more story, and even additional enemies. Did you know there was a room you couldn’t access in the 16-bit game? Now you’ll find another bedroom that provides another place to hide from Scissorman. A new cutscene at a pivotal moment in the game will set up events in later Clock Tower games, too. And make sure you keep an eye out, as a certain corpse or haunted doll might come to life.

For Rewind mode, we’ve taken that new content from The First Fear and added it to the original version, allowing players to experience everything Clock Tower had to offer.  

We didn’t stop there, though. With Rewind mode, we’ve also included completely new features, such as an updated chase system, in which Scissorman can follow you into more rooms and hide in more places, dialing up the scares even more than before. Complementing that is better controls for Jennifer, allowing her to run on stairs, find new hiding places, and even use a few weapons. Add in a few bug fixes and quality-of-life adjustments, and we’ve made what we believe to be the ultimate version of Clock Tower for players to enjoy.

None of this would be possible without the Clock Tower fan community, who we collaborated with to bring Rewind mode to life. Much of what we achieved with Rewind mode was built upon their work, and it was a joy to work with fans who know the game inside and out. 

Clock Tower: Rewind also includes additional new content outside of the game, such as new original music by Dale North (with two different vocal songs, one featuring Mary Elizabeth McGlynn of Silent Hill fame and the other featuring Emi Evans of Nier), beautifully animated motion comics with brand new VO, an animated intro directed by yours truly, and more.

Clock Tower: Rewind lands worldwide this fall on PS5 and PS4. Make sure to grab your copy to experience a classic, genre-defining survival horror title.

Tickets to the Americas’ stop of the outstanding SIM racing series have sold out, but don’t worry, as here are the details of where and when to tune in to catch all the thrilling racing as 20 of the world’s fastest players battle it out in the historic Canadian city.

Saturday, July 6
Manufacturers Cup

• Local time (EDT) 17:00
• UTC/GMT 21:00
• Central European Summer Time (CEST) 23:00
• Japan Standard Time (JST) 06:00* (*7 July)

Nations Cup

• Local time (EDT) 19:30
• UTC/GMT 23:30
• Central European Summer Time (CEST) 01:30* (*7 July)
• Japan Standard Time (JST) 08:30* (*7 July)

Win big in Gran Turismo 7

To mark the event, Gran Turismo 7 players will benefit from in-game opportunities to win prizes and play a special Time Trial.

Clicking on the ‘Predict the Winners’ campaign banner on the GT7 World Map gives players the opportunity to win one million credits for each of the Nations Cup and the Manufacturers Cup with votes cast right up to the start of the final race of each.

Simply watching the broadcast in-game will also unlock 6-Star Roulette Tickets for viewers through the Viewers Gift campaign.

And finally, GT7 players will be able to enter a special Time Trial that will use the same car and track combination as the Nations Cup qualifying session so that they can see how they measure up to the pros.

Find out more

A special Gran Turismo World Series site for Montreal gives all the details of the competition and the drivers and can be seen here.

Where to watch

If you are not watching in-game, you can view the streams live (or on-demand) on:

• The Gran Turismo website – https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/live/ 
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GRANTURISMOTV 
• Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/granturismoofficial

Follow the whole season

The calendar for the Gran Turismo World Series 2024 live events is as follows:

• Round 1 – Montreal, Canada | Saturday, 6 July
• Round 2 – Prague, Czechia | Saturday, 10 August
• Round 3 – Tokyo, Japan | Saturday, 28 September 2024
• World Finals – Date and location to be announced

All the live events are open to the public and details of how to buy tickets will be posted on Gran Turismo social channels and gran-turismo.com.

Arriving first this summer on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess on July 19. Let’s kick things off with a look at the latest trailer. 

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Experience a fresh new world from Capcom, today

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a new, Japanese-inspired IP from Capcom coming to PS5 and PS4, carrying on the spirit of new and innovative games throughout the company’s 40-year history. To get ready for the game’s launch on July 19, a demo for the game is available today! 

In the demo, take your first steps on the defiled Mount Kafuku and go hands-on with the game’s blend of action and strategy in a demo packed with content. 

Aside from the chance to try out the game’s unique mix of gameplay styles, this demo also has a unique twist! We’re challenging the community to collectively complete two challenges to earn free rewards in the full game for all players. You’ll want to play and work together to achieve them, as these rewards include collaboration content with the beloved 2006 action-adventure classic Okami.

In the first challenge, we’re tasking the community to defeat the Seethe creatures and cleanse the defilement to earn 1 billion crystals in-game. These crystals are earned throughout the normal course of gameplay, so play the demo and defeat the Seethe as much as you can! Completing this task will earn two Okami-inspired rewards for all players: a costume for Soh themed after the Celestial Brush God Amaterasu, and the Thunder Edge weapon inspired by one of Amaterasu’s Divine Instruments. Awoooooo~

Additionally, finding the 15 hidden Lucky Mallet easter eggs in the demo and sharing them on social media will earn the Waka costume for Yoshiro and the Okami BGM pack, allowing you to listen to an Okami collaboration soundtrack while playing Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Keep an eye on the official Kunitsu-Gami social media account for details and updates on the campaign!

The game is all about working together with the villagers to cleanse the world, so we hope you feel the spirit of collaboration as you play and earn these Okami rewards. 

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is available for pre-order now on PS5 and PS4 and the worldwide launch is fast approaching on Friday, July 19! All of us on the team are eager for everyone to go hands-on with the game and experience its unique gameplay for themselves.

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Frank is back in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

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This game is far from undead, as this new version has been brought back to life with Capcom’s RE Engine, bringing improved graphics, revamped lighting and shadows, and character models at up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS.  

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If you’re new to Dead Rising, the story takes place in Willamette, Colorado. Freelance photojournalist Frank West journeys in search of a big scoop and finds himself in the vast Willamette Parkview Mall embroiled in a zombie outbreak with only 72 hours to uncover the truth. Created with a love of B-movie horror films, the original Dead Rising is beloved for its ironic self-serious tone, dark humor, zany characters, and unique gameplay mechanics. 

In the game, manage your time wisely to explore the varied areas of the mall, full of various goods that might prove useful when fighting through hordes of zombies or helping bring survivors to safety from the dangers of the mall and its inhabitants. Use anything you can as a weapon, wear outrageous outfits, and unleash death-defying moves as you bask in the over-the-top world of Dead Rising!

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster comes with a host of adjustments and quality-of-life changes to make this updated version of the game sing on new platforms. Here’s a quick list of a few below. 

• The ability to move while aiming
• Improved controls and UI
• Beautify your photos with filters
• Auto-save functionality keeps your progress up to date. Manual saves are also supported
• All NPC and survivor interactions are fully voiced
• …and more

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Pre-orders for Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster begin today. The Digital Deluxe version includes 17 additional costumes for Frank, as well as 17 special BGM tracks. Pre-order the game to receive 3 additional costumes, including Frank West’s original look from the 2006 game, the costume of Chuck Greene, the protagonist of Dead Rising 2, and a costume for the mascot of the mall, the Willamette Parkview Mall Bee. Pre-orders also come with three additional BGM tracks. 

We’ll have more to share on the game in the coming days and weeks leading up to its digital launch on September 19. 

What games have you been playing in July? Share predictions on what will win for this month in the comments below.

June saw a variety of monsters and mischief, from classic to modern horror and cute and cuddly creatures. What did you enjoy most about this lineup of titles? 

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

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Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Fireworks
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 3, 2024

Next week, we’re watching the gaming skies for bursts of color. Share in-game fireworks, sparks, or laser lights using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.