Sony just announced a ton of new features currently under development. Features such as support for 1440p output have been teased for some time while others, such as the ability to join a Discord voice chat natively, feel like they should have been announced sooner than several years into the console’s life cycle.
You won’t be the first to access these features unless you’ve been selected for the beta, but they seem fairly promising. You’ll finally be able to make Discord calls directly from your PlayStation 5 and display the game that you’re playing to whoever you’re talking to (just like the mobile and desktop versions).
The PS5 will get other notable social features too. You’ll finally be able to request screenshare directly from your friends’ profiles, join gaming sessions through “Party” chats, and see which games that your friends also own on their account. If you’re picky about who gets to join your games (like me), don’t fret: Sony is giving PS5 owners the ability to dictate who does and doesn’t get to join your games.
These additions are potentially huge boons to the multiplayer ecosystem that Sony has been trying to build out ever since it acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion. And according to a financial call from last year, multiplayer was the biggest reason that PlayStation Plus users kept paying to use Sony’s gaming subscription service every month.
Even if you’re not big on multiplayer, Sony is developing features that are applicable to all PlayStation owners. The one I’m most excited about is the ability to use a voice command to capture video. You wouldn’t fiddle with details manually either; you can make presets for how long an average clip should be.
If you upgraded to a current-gen console recently, you probably remember game save transfers being a huge pain point. Currently, the only way to shuffle your PlayStation 4 saves to your new console was to dig into your cloud storage. PlayStation Plus subscribers will eventually be able to transfer save data automatically. Even if you’re not paying for Sony’s gaming subscription service, you’ll soon be able to transfer data between individual PS5s. You know, now that it’s supposedly possible for the average person to secure more than one console.
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If you’re lucky enough to receive a beta sign-up email, then you can preview these features before anyone else. So check your inbox carefully.
Enlarge / A look at the games available in the PlayStation Plus Collection, which will no longer be offered to PS5 subscribers as of May.
For over two years now, PlayStation Plus subscribers who owned a PS5 got access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, a set of 19 legacy PS4 games available for free download and play via the console’s backward compatibility. This week, Sony announced that it will be ending this subscriber benefit in May. Current PS5 owners will have until then to redeem their free games, which will remain available on their account as long as they stay subscribed to any of PlayStation Plus’ multiple tiers.
Hundreds of legacy PS4 games are still available for download as part of the higher-end PlayStation Plus “Extra” and “Premium” tiers (starting at $14.99/month or $99.99/year). That list includes many of the titles that were part of the PlayStation Plus Collection, including almost all of Sony’s first-party titles. But the PlayStation Plus Collection was also available at the cheapest “Essential” pricing tier ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
The PlayStation Plus Collection served as a valuable introduction to legacy PlayStation franchises for PS5 owners who never owned a PS4. Sony said in an earnings release last night that such users made up a full 30 percent of the PS5’s monthly active users, suggesting that “the acquisition of new users is progressing,” as the company put it. Players who did upgrade from a PS4 to a PS5, meanwhile, are spending significantly more time and money on the new console on average, according to Sony.
The sunsetting of the PlayStation Plus Collection comes as Sony promises that long-standing retail shortages of PS5 hardware should be easing thanks to increasing supplies and despite “unprecedented demand.” PlayStation Plus currently boasts 46.4 million subscribers across all consoles, Sony said, a number that has remained essentially flat over the last two years.
Microsoft, meanwhile, announced that it had reached 25 million Game Pass subscribers last January, and Sony publicly estimated that number had grown to 29 million by November. Both those subscriber numbers are up significantly from the 18 million Game Pass subscribers Microsoft claimed in early 2021, though that subscriber growth is reportedly well behind Microsoft’s targets.
Subscription numbers for both console subscription services might be hitting a saturation point, though. As Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said in remarks last October, “at some point, you’ve reached everybody on console that wants to subscribe.”
Here’s the full list of the PlayStation Plus Collection games that will be departing in May (games still available on the Extra/Premium tier are noted with a *):
PS5 [4,141 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps5″>PlayStation 5 has shipped 32.1 million units worldwide, Sony announced in its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
A total of 7.1 million PlayStation 5 units were shipped during the three months ended December 31, 2022, which is up 3.1 million over the same period the previous fiscal year.
Here are a couple of additional statistics:
There are 46.4 million PlayStation [41,910 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation”>PlayStation Plus subscribers as of December 31, 2022, which is down 1.6 million from the 48 million subscribers during the same period the previous fiscal year.
There are 112 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network as of December 31, 2022, which is up one million from the 111 million active users during the same period the previous fiscal year.
PlayStation 5 and PS4 [24,567 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps4″>PlayStation 4 software combined sold 86.5 million units during the three months ended December 31, 2022, which is down 6.2 million from the 92.7 million software sold during the same period the previous fiscal year. 20.8 million units were first-party titles, which is up 9.5 from to the 11.3 million sold during the same period the previous fiscal year. 62 percent of software sales were full game software digital downloads, which matches the previous year.
PQube [293 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/pqube”>PQube will release physical standard editions of Inti Creates [212 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/inti-creates”>Inti Creates-developed Side-Scrolling [261 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/side-scrolling”>side-scrolling action Adventure [675 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/adventure”>adventure game Grim Guardians: Demon Purge [4 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/grim-guardians-demon-purge”>Grim Guardians: Demon Purge for PS5 [4,132 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps5″>PlayStation 5, PS4 [24,559 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps4″>PlayStation 4, and Switch [12,915 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/nintendo/switch”>Switch in North America and Europe this spring, the company announced. Collector’s Editions will follow this summer. PQube will also act as the digital edition publisher for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions.
Get the details below.
About
When a demon’s castle darkens the land, two sisters challenge its halls. Together, they can break the curse!
Step into the world of Gal Gun: Double Peace [23 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/gal-gun-double-peace”>Gal Gun: Double Peace once again with a 2D Metroidvania [62 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/metroidvania”>metroidvania twist!
Shinobu and Maya Return – Your two favorite Double Peace demon hunter sisters are back! This time they are on a mission to return their school—which has turned into a demonic castle—back to normal
Different Character Skillsets – Both sisters have very different abilities—which will you choose?
Visual novel style story sections with beautiful artwork and fun dialogue!
Two-Player Cooperative Play – Play with a friend in Co-Op [73 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/multiplayer/co-op”>cooperative mode and take down the bosses that roam the halls together!
Use the three difficulty styles to play your own way.
Experience [206 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/experience”>Experience the quality and challenge that you expect from an Inti Creates title, this time with a gothic- Horror [188 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/horror”>horror aesthetic.
Standard Physical Editions Coming this Spring
Standard physical editions of Grim Guardians: Demon Purge will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch this spring.
Collector’s Edition Coming this Summer
You can also get your hands on the special Collector’ Edition, releasing this summer.
The Collector’s Edition contains:
A special Collector’ Edition box.
A physical copy of Grim Guardians: Demon Purge.
Origami paper based on Maya’s special ability.
A keyring featuring the Kamizono sisters.
A set of four A6 art cards.
A 40-page art book containing beautiful character art and game scenes.
A holographic acrylic standee with Shinobu and Maya in their demon hunting attire.
A set of five Grim Guardians: Demon Purge stickers.
Shinobu and Maya are Back
Your two favorite Gal Gun Double Peace sisters return for another adventure! Play as either character at any time, each with their own playstyle and strengths. Use both to get through the halls of the castle and defeat the dangerous bosses that get in your way!
Shinobu – The elder Kamizono sister, Shinobu has a higher health pool so that she can withstand more attacks and act as your tank on the battlefield. She also has her trusty anti-demon submachine gun for long-ranged attacks which will be useful for taking out enemies at a distance!
Maya – Younger sister Maya uses a sword for close-ranged attacks, and can also create powerful weapons out of origami! Her special protective barrier ability will prove useful despite her lower overall health. Maya’s ability to crouch under smaller spaces will prove useful to get to hard to reach areas!
Max out the Purge Gauge so that Shinobu and Maya can use a powerful combo attack! Use both characters together to succeed, switching between either Shinobu when you need a defensive stance or Maya when you need an all out attack!
Earn More Weapons from Boss Fights
As you progress and defeat bosses, you will obtain brand-new sub-weapons, which will prove useful for taking down bosses that were previously impervious to your attacks. Make sure you explore every nook and cranny as you search for the missing students in the castle and open up new routes!
Adjust the Difficulty to Your Style
Three different difficulty styles are available, giving players the option to adjust the game to how they want to play.
Casual Style – Perfect for beginners or those looking for a casual playthrough.
Veteran Style – A challenging and rewarding mode inspired by past Action [878 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/action”>action games
Legend Style – Unlock this most dangerous difficulty and see if you are up to the challenge!
Grim Guardians: Demon Purge also features two audio options—choose “Pure” for original Japanese voice acting for the story mode or “Refined” for the English voice acting focused on the combat!
Play with a Friend in Local Cooperative Play
With the ability to jump in at any time during the game, gather a friend to join you on your adventure! With each of you controlling one of the sisters, team up to fight those notoriously hard bosses and execute brand new combo options!
You can even jump on top of each others heads to unlock greater heights and access previously inaccessible routes!
Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series [3,173 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/xbox/xbox-series”>Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One [11,791 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/xbox/xbox-one”>Xbox One, Switch, and PC [16,746 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/pc”>PC via Steam on February 23 for $24.99. Read more about the game here and here.
Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of images at the gallery.
Publisher Ubisoft [1,208 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/ubisoft”>Ubisoft and developer Ubisoft Ivory Tower” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/ubisoft/ubisoft-ivory-tower”>Ubisoft Ivory Tower have announced The Crew Motorfest [1 article]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/the-crew-motorfest”>The Crew Motorfest for PS5 [4,132 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps5″>PlayStation 5, Xbox Series [3,173 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/xbox/xbox-series”>Xbox Series, PS4 [24,559 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps4″>PlayStation 4, Xbox One [11,791 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/xbox/xbox-one”>Xbox One, PC [16,746 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/pc”>PC ( Epic Games [322 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/epic-games”>Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store), and Luna [12 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/cloud/luna”>Luna. It will launch in 2023.
Users can sign-up for The Crew Motorfest Insider Program now for a chance to test the game before release.
Here is an overview of the game, via Ubisoft:
About
Welcome to Motorfest! Join a one-of-a-kind festival and enjoy the best experiences car culture has to offer in a beautiful Hawaiian open world.
Key Features
The Newest Chapter in The Crew Franchise – The Crew Motorfest builds on the legacy of The Crew franchise to make it the best open world Action [878 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/action”>action-driving experience in the series. Get ready to race through the city streets of Honolulu, go down the ashy volcano slopes, Adventure [675 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/adventure”>adventure deep in the lush rainforest, drift along the curvy mountain roads, or just chill down on the sunny beach.
O’ahu Turned into a Motor Paradise – Evergreen car culture festival at the heart of the game, Motorfest has settled in the beautiful island of O’ahu, part of the Hawaiian archipelago. On your own or with your crew, come explore this beautiful new playground behind the wheel of hundreds of the most legendary vehicles.
Motorfest Never Ends – The festival will allow you to fulfill your ultimate action driving bucket list through a series of tailor-made races, themed events, and other unique challenges. Whatever the way you enjoy cars and driving, there is something in there for you!
Watch the teaser trailer and first developer diary below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.
NIS America [67 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/nippon-ichi-software/nis-america”>NIS America has announced Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles [1 article]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/rhapsody-marl-kingdom-chronicles”>Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles for PS5 [4,122 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps5″>PlayStation 5, Switch [12,906 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/nintendo/switch”>Switch, and PC [16,734 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/pc”>PC, which includes both Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess (Steam) and Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom (Steam). It will launch this summer with English and Japanese audio, and English-only text. The PC versions will only be available individually.
A limited edition will also be available for $89.99, which includes a copy of the Deluxe Edition, “Memories in Melody” hardcover art book, “Ballad of the Little Princess” two-disc original soundtrack, “Memories of Marl Kingdom” two-disc original soundtrack, set of three “Royal Crescendo” art cards, “Overture of Adventure” acrylic display, “Generations of Song” acrylic display, “The Show Must Go On” cloth poster, and a collector’s box. Pre-orders are available now via NIS America Online Store.
Here is an overview of the game, via NIS America:
About
Experience [206 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/experience”>Experience the harmonious combination of story and song in Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, the continuation of Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure told through two captivating RPG [14,854 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/rpg”>RPGs! As these titles make their way to the West for the first time, they bring with them improved storybook visuals, enchanting music, and lovable characters both old and new!
Following in the footsteps of her mother Cornet, young Kururu sets out on a journey to find her own prince in Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess. Complete with more songs, a new turn-based battle system, and a story both new yet familiar, this title is ready to make your heart sing!
In Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom, a series of charming chapters concludes the stories of Rhapsody and its characters. Experience events that occur before, during, and after the previous Rhapsody titles, including a heartfelt conclusion about Cornet’s mother, Cherie. The revamped and refined battle system shines with combined character attacks and the addition of a 3D camera.
Key Features
A Delightful Debut – Rhapsody II and III take center stage as they make their western debut featuring musical Adventure [673 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/adventure”>adventures in Marl Kingdom!
A Marvelous [1,244 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/marvelous”>Marvelous Makeover – The charming storybook visuals are looking better than ever, and feature a new 3D camera mode for Rhapsody III!
A Story Told Through Song – A heart-warming story brought to life through alluring songs and vocal performances!
Watch the announcement trailer below. View a set of screenshots at the gallery. Visit the official website here.
![[NA] The Crew Motorfest: Teaser Trailer](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L-ybHZWgPH0/hqdefault.jpg)
