Julius

Kara Comparetto over on YouTube has released a complete performance of the entire Chrono Trigger OST, on piano, harpsichord and organ: Simply wonderful

Looks like the project (at least as originally intended) is all but dead: the official trailer on the PlayStation channel has been delisted, and tweets by the main PlayStation account about the game have been removed (cached tweet here). Unfortunately, it's not at all surprising. Game seemed stuck in development hell at C-tier (at best) studios, and this all comes following the recent issues over at Embracer, which has seen the promise of more studio closures made following a ridiculous and - *shocker* - a completely unsustainable level of acquisition spending. Guess it's time for me to finally bite the bullet and play the Switch port which stupidly still hasn't made it to other platforms... Got to imagine the project moves elsewhere now, but I'm really curious how the fine print works considering all of the parties involved. If it's to remain a PlayStation exclusive, I think the absolute perfect scenario to wish for is that Bluepoint get a crack at modernising the game. It could be similar to what everyone wants/wanted them to do with Metal Gear Solid: same game, pretty much the same story (twisted to fit into Disney canon), new approach. Whatever they choose to do next with this project, and whatever form it takes, it'll surely print money. Larian would be an interesting pick after the success of BG3 if they actually wanted to go the CRPG route, but that seems unlikely.

New details on accessibility options for the game are shared in this week's PS Blog update: Some excellent stuff in there, really looking forward to seeing how certain communities respond to these additions, the Challenge Level Modifiers (basically more granular difficulty sliders) are welcome in every game I've come across them in, and super curious to see just how the slowed Game Speed options (70%/50%/30%) appear in action. Photo Mode returning as a programmable button on the D-Pad is something I've loved in the other games, and know I'll love here; love playing around with the photo modes in games like this! Other additions on the way in the free December update are Screen Reader, Audio Description, and Captions – all completely welcome additions too. PlayStation are still absolutely leading the way on accessibility in AAA titles as far as I'm concerned, such an excellent initiative they've got going on over there in their big games 22 days to go!

It's honestly a really interesting choice to announce an interim successor over 6 months out, because you'd be under the assumption that, like when Kodera briefly took the reins from Andy House back in 2017, that either the VP or someone else in a big role within SIE (for example, your Hermen Hulsts) would be ready to take the reins. It's not like Jim was President/CEO for a shorter period that his VP might not be in a position to step in, etc., because he's been in the role some 4 years or so now, and looking back at the list of SIE head honchos, that seems pretty typical. I don't think a power grab is the reason Jim Ryan is stepping down - he's launched what looks to potentially be the best-selling piece of PlayStation hardware to date, I'm not sure what else you'd want from a CEO - because he's mentioned in the past that he works weird hours (did so during COVID, too) to align with UK/US/JP meetings, and moving between countries on a very regular basis, so it's (unsurprisingly) a very demanding role and I can imagine that would take it's toll; fwiw, I think his GamesIndustry.biz interview is a decent watch where he goes over some of this stuff: But yeah, I do just find the move to announce the interim replacement 6+ months out and shift away from the west - the direction PlayStation has clearly gone over the last decade after its recovery late on with the PS3 and its continued success since - a really peculiar one. Is it a sly move by Sony JP to get a Japanese person at the top of PlayStation again and perhaps lead some reform? The PS5 is surging in sales over in Japan now, for what it's worth, and is doing so after the closure of Japan Studio, perhaps leaving a niche - I'd argue PlayStation's strongest niche - unfulfilled that they might want to, well, fill. The only other thing I can think of is that they want to do some talent poaching, because to me, this signals that they clearly don't feel like they've got the right person to step into the hot seat over at SIE within its current structure. Not sure if it'll lead to any major change - though I want it to; give me back Japan Studio, you cowards!! - but one to keep an eye on, for sure!

And it's official: Jim Ryan is retiring from SIE in March 2024. And, per the official Sony news channels and this update on the New Management Structure of Sony Interactive Entertainment, current Sony Group Corporation President, COO, and CFO Hiroko Totoki will be stepping in as Interim CEO of SIE. This honestly seems like a huge shift – by all accounts, PlayStation has decentralised from Japan, shutting up shop on Japan Studio, and what with its HQ now being in California for over half a decade, and they haven't had a Japanese CEO since Hirai, right? Who stepped out of the hot seat over a decade ago. It does seem like Jim's just retiring at the top, what with them taking six months to ease him out and have Totoki step into his interim role. This is all kind of nuts, but it's hard to parse what exactly it's going to mean, and I imagine that'll be the case for a little while. But it sure does get the mind racing with possibilities.

Schreier / Bloomberg reporting that Jim Ryan is stepping down at PlayStation. Holy. Smokes. First and foremost: hope it's not for personal reasons, because this is seriously out of the blue and where my mind first goes. Could also be retirement? Assuming that it's not, though – very curious to hear the reasoning for such a decision, because PlayStation has seemingly had a clear plan laid out for all to see over the last 12 months or so which is a huge focus on multiplayer output up to 2025, seeing what sticks, and just keeping things ticking along with a much weaker first party presence for the PS5 compared with the PS4 after the closure of Japan Studio a few years ago. We haven't really had a chance to see any of that come to fruition, so I'm struggling to see what the play is here, if he is indeed stepping down. Curious to hear what it means for Hulst over at PS Studios, too, if anything, but with PlayStation it seems increasingly rare for just one big hat to step down and no-one else to follow suit. And, you know, we've also seen PlayStation absolutely wreck shop since he took over, so I'm struggling to see how it could be business related besides a potential change in long-term planning upstairs. Personally, I haven't been a fan of the direction PlayStation Studios have been going since the start of the gen, which seemingly lands squarely at the feet of Jim after the internal power struggle which saw him land the hot seat in 2019 - despite still getting great games, and sure with COVID being a factor, we're still just not getting the great mix of quality and quantity of titles we got with the PS4 - so if this move means that might change, then I'm all for it. If Shawn Layden pulls a Palpatine and somehow returns? I'll be hyped as hell. And if there's no plan for him to return? I'll eat my hat if it's Shuhei. Please let it be Shuhei Also Ben Starr weighing in...

Callisto Protocol, Farming Simulator 22 and Weird West are this month's PS+ Monthly Essentials games. Farming Simulator hype

Thought this was neat: Larian have shared stats for the most popular multi-class builds on PS5. In other news, looks like my co-op campaign is set to begin next weekend with my friends!

Yeah, 5's main story is a blast, and definitely feels like a culmination of everything that's come before (well, the main story at least). That final chapter...man, just thinking about it brings a longing smile to my face for me, it's the best main story besides 0 and Kiwami 2 (of the games that I've completed). Yeah, it's a tricky one for me to read as someone that loves 5, and while I totally get the criticism, I think - perhaps more than any other game in the series - it's really down to how you approach the game. Which is both a strength and a weakness, in my eyes. To go into that more I'll address... To be honest, I think the bread and butter of this game is in the side content, more than other Yakuza. You don't get all that much time with the main cast just following the crit path, and their side content is (well, apart from maybe Shinada) super meaty, to the point that at times it feels like you're playing a completely different game. It takes the approach of substory/mini-game strings in some of the other games and basically makes that the core part of their content, because, besides Shinada, these are all returning characters – we know where most of them stand. Personally, I also just really enjoyed the side content and getting to do different things in these games, for me it freshened things up after Yakuza 4 was a bit of a mess (very linear compared to 5, weaker story, and the returning playable character didn't get used until the end, so the hook was waaaaaaaaaay weaker - a lesson they clearly learned from as shown in 5, structurally, at least), but it does also make some parts of 5 seem a bit...emptier than you're used to for a Yakuza game. The playable flashback sequence you mentioned before immediately comes to mind (though I think it comes with its own payoff a little later on in the game). But yeah, I think with 5, it's just the approach which has so much of a bearing on your time with the game. I remember when I played 5 I just buried myself in all its glory because of personal things going on at the time, and so naturally that meant enjoying as much as I could of the substories/side content, which alleviates a lot of the pacing issues and feels like a deeper dive content-wise. However, if I wasn't in the mood for burying myself in a game like that? I think the game would be a much more middling experience. If you're buried in the game the way I was, it's actually much better paced...up until you get to Shinada, where the game has the opposite problem of 4 and has you playing as a new, original character for its penultimate chapter, and that's where the pacing truly comes screeching to a halt if you play through the game that way. Considering that you didn't put much time into substories/side content, honestly I'm just happy that you enjoyed the main story beats as much as you did! Very curious to read up on what you think of 6, when you get around to it, as it feels like a huge departure from 4 and 5 in terms of its structure and story approach. Also curious – at this point, how would you rank the games in the series that you've played so far? Would love anyone else to chime in with their thoughts, too

Complete Edition of the game launches October 6th for PS5, and early 2024 on PC, bundling the main game and Burning Shores DLC together: The PC version of the game is being developed in partnership with Nixxes, and is coming to Steam and the Epic Games Store.

So, this won't come as a shock to anyone, but Ever Crisis has just been announced to be coming to Steam, following a successful mobile launch - which I think now makes it worthy of a dedicated thread. For anyone who needs a reminder, Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is a compilation of the original Final Fantasy VII and it's various spin-offs, whether it be Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, or Dirge of Cerberus. The game also has an original storyline telling the history of Sephiroth, based on the previously released The First Soldier (also for mobile). These are planned to be served up in monthly instalments, but I imagine it's only a matter of time - once the project is completed - before it lands on console. Now, for a roundup of the game's various trailers: After this and XV Pocket Edition, I'm curious to see what other plans S-E has for adaptations/reimaginings of their own works - I think it's one of their smarter moves to be going this route. Personally, given the game's length and MMORPGness, I'd love to see a story-focused and mechanically leaner release of XIV, similar to Dragon Quest X Offline.

Yet another fantastic episode of Ahsoka. That's four in a row of Ahsoka (Parts 4 to 7) that have been top tier Star Wars, as far as I'm concerned! Loved every second of it. I can update this post with some thoughts on it now, though Just one episode left... Cannot wait for next week's episode! Crazy to think there's only one episode left...and then the long wait begins

Versions of the games bundled with the DLC are on their way: Man, Pokémon main series box art hasn't been the best box art in the series for a long time, but the way they make it look with the DLC packed in...gross

I'm not saying that they're planning on teaming up, but the fact that Kamiya announced he is leaving Platinum the same year that Mikami announced he is leaving Tango...definitely gets the mind racing a little at the possibilities. My gut instinct is that they might both go the Nagoshi route and set up shops for Net Ease/some other big Chinese gaming entity like Tencent. Unfollowed them on Twitter too, apparently? So it really doesn't have great optics. Could be a case that he feels like he sees where Platinum is going and isn't in a position to be as creative as he maybe wants to be, seems to be the way the majority of these go

Well here's the answer to that question! You'll be able to create save data for any PS1 Konami titles not released on modern platforms to recreate the memory part of the Psycho Mantis battle. Kind of blown away by some of the extra flourishes Konami are adding to this collection, got to give credit where credit is due! Also, it's been a long minute since I've booted up a PS1, so I might be off here, but the memory card editing screen being 3x5 is a recreation of the PS1 memory card screen, right? If so, that's really neat!

Crazy deal for new PS5 owners in the US where, as part of the Upgrader Program, for the next month new PS5s will include a free game – and it's a mighty strong list of first-party and exclusive offerings that they'll be choosing from. A good few of these have been on PS+ Extra/Premium, but TLOU Part I and Ragnarök making it onto this list too is an insane move. Based on the date by which the offer ends, the plan seems to be to sell as many PS5s between now and when Spidey 2 comes out next month with this added incentive, and then hoping people pick up either Spidey 2 or make some Black Friday/holiday pick-ups. Seems like a great deal for those in the IS without a PS5 to their name!

Special TGS showing covers some open world exploration, Kalm, chocobo catching, hunts, mini-games and the return of CHADLEY! Excellent companion piece to the previews from the other day!

First game announced for the Switch 2/successor: Tamarindos Freaking Dinner. I don't want to get my hopes up here as I'm new to this franchise, but surely this means they think the game is at least on par with Dragon Quest XI?

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror comes to the service on September 29th!

Gameplay deep dive shown off at TGS: Looking good!

Release date announced during Capcom's TGS showing: January 25th 2024.

How dare you suggest that Xbox are money-hatting to keep the Octopath games off of the Ouya!

Can't wait to be a bard @drahkon think you'll appreciate this artistry

Pre-order trailer from TGS: Very excited, curious to learn when us backers get the game!

The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows early next year. Yup, that's a standard Xbox @ TGS announcement