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PlayStation Plus August Monthly Free Games Include a Big Surprise
Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed the PlayStation Plus Essential free games for August 2026. Subscribers will receive Dying Light 2: Stay Human: Reloaded Edition for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, along with Big Walk for PlayStation 5 and Signalis for PlayStation 4. Additionally, a limited-time Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Pack will be available for all PlayStation Plus players starting August 6.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG has the best critter-breeding system?
This article discusses the history and quality of critter-breeding systems in MMORPGs, highlighting Star Wars Galaxies and No Man's Sky as notable examples. It questions which MMORPGs currently offer the best systems for players.
The PS6 will have bigger problems than not having physical games
The success of the PlayStation 6 is unlikely to be determined by its lack of physical game support, but rather by its price, launch titles, and hardware innovation. While the move to an all-digital future is controversial, consumer convenience and the prevalence of digital sales suggest it may not be the primary factor in the console's potential failure. More significant challenges include a presumed high price point, the difficulty of securing compelling exclusive titles, and the need for unique hardware features beyond what the PlayStation 5 offers.
Sony has rolled back its State of Play record-low savings on two major PS5 Collector Editions for a limited time
Sony has brought back limited-time savings on the Death Stranding 2 On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei Collector's Editions for PlayStation 5, offering $100 off each. Notably, these editions include digital game downloads rather than physical copies, with the sale ending on August 10, 2026.
Some parts of Xbox Live are now down – digital games affected
Microsoft's Xbox Network experienced a significant outage affecting account sign-ins, game launching, and store access. The issues, which began early in the morning BST, were identified by midday, though some users reported sporadic problems with digital game loading. This downtime follows a similar incident on Sony's PlayStation Network.
Next Major PlayStation 5 Exclusive Action Game Out Surprisingly Soon
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Santa Monica Studio have announced that the PlayStation 5 exclusive action-adventure game God of War Laufey will release on February 16, 2027. The game will star Kratos' wife, Faye, as she navigates the afterlife to protect her family. A follow-up title starring Kratos is also in development.
PlayStation fans plan week-long blackout over Sony’s disc decision, but will you actually log off?
A week-long PlayStation blackout is being organized by the physical media preservation group Does It Play? to protest Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by January 2028. The campaign aims to reduce console usage and purchases on Sony platforms to demonstrate player dissatisfaction, though its effectiveness is questioned given the dominance of digital sales and the large number of active PlayStation users.
PlayStation fans plan PS5 protest with one week of not playing any video games
A group of PlayStation gamers are organizing a week-long 'blackout' protest from August 23 to August 30, urging participants to avoid playing any games on Sony's platforms. This action is in response to Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs after 2027, which organizers believe further alienates the fanbase. While the protest aims to impact active player metrics, its effectiveness in reversing Sony's decision is questioned due to the growing dominance of digital sales.
Will you power down your PS5 for a week in protest of Sony's all-digital future? A new petition encourages you to pull the plug on PlayStation
A fan-organized protest is encouraging PlayStation 5 owners to boycott Sony's platforms for a week in response to the company's planned discontinuation of physical media by 2028. The movement, spearheaded by the Twitter account 'Does It Play?', aims to demonstrate player dissatisfaction with Sony's perceived disconnect from its community and its shift towards an all-digital future.
God Of War Laufey release date announced alongside first details of new game
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Santa Monica Studio announced that God of War Laufey will be released on February 16, 2027, exclusively for PlayStation 5. The game will star Kratos' wife, Faye (Laufey), and is described as a mainline entry that continues the story from God of War Ragnarök, taking place in the 'afterlife of the gods'.
"Sony had the strictest social media guidelines they've ever seen issued," says former first-party dev about physical disc backlash
Sony has reportedly implemented its strictest social media guidelines ever for employees and former staff following its announcement to discontinue physical media on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028. Former writer Alanah Pearce stated that the company anticipated significant public backlash and prepared internal communications accordingly. This policy change applies to all games released on PlayStation platforms from 2028 onwards, including third-party titles.
How PlayStation should have handled the news about going all-digital - Reader’s Feature
A reader suggests Sony Interactive Entertainment should have handled its transition to an all-digital PlayStation 5 by 2028 more carefully. The author proposes solutions like offering free digital transfers for physical discs, reducing digital game prices, and creating a dedicated studio for game preservation to appease critics and support physical media.
Videogame villains who sing at you are the best
This article discusses the trend of villains singing in video games, highlighting examples from various titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Hades II, and Baldur's Gate 3. It argues that unexpected musical numbers from antagonists can be more engaging than traditional monologues, making them memorable and impactful.
God of War Laufey finally gets a release date - here's when you'll be able to play it
God of War Laufey has officially received a release date of February 16, 2027, for the PlayStation 5. The announcement was made at San Diego Comic-Con, with director Cory Barlog hinting at an expanded world and new characters. The game will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive and will not receive a PC port, aligning with Sony's recent decision to phase out physical media by January 2028.
Former PlayStation head says the rise of AAA games shut down Japan Studio because Sony "wanted to drive hardware…
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida explained that Sony Interactive Entertainment closed Japan Studio in 2021 because its games did not drive console sales, unlike larger AAA titles. He encouraged support for former Japan Studio developers by playing their new games, Slitterhead and Ratatan. Yoshida also noted that while Japan Studio produced creative titles, their smaller scale made them less suitable for the shift towards AAA development on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
A new God of War game starring Kratos is already officially in development and "directly connects to the events of…
Sony Santa Monica creative lead Cory Barlog has indicated that a new God of War game starring Kratos is in development and will directly follow the events of the upcoming God of War Laufey. While no official title or release details were provided, Barlog confirmed that the studio continues to plan stories around Kratos. God of War Laufey is slated for release on February 16, 2026, for PlayStation 5.
What we've been playing - "Gosh I had a really fun 30 minutes with Marvel Tokon before PSN went down"
This week's "What We've Been Playing" feature highlights several games. Bertie revisited Assassin's Creed Odyssey on PlayStation 5, finding it aged but functional. Kelsey enjoyed the bird-watching co-op game Flock Around on PC and returned to Pokémon GO on mobile after a hiatus. Connor had a brief but fun experience with the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls beta on PlayStation 5 before PlayStation Network went down.
PlayStation Network is experiencing a massive outage
The PlayStation Network is currently experiencing a widespread outage, preventing players from logging into their accounts, playing online games, or making purchases on the PlayStation Store. The cause of the outage has not yet been specified.
Quoteworthy
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated that the move away from physical game releases has benefited PC gaming. He also commented that the discontinuation of discs by Sony Interactive Entertainment will not significantly disrupt the industry.
Morning Consolidation
Sega president Haruki Satomi expressed the company's continued value for physical media, contrasting with PlayStation's apparent move towards an all-digital future. The article also briefly mentions an outage of the PlayStation Network shortly after the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2.