Hey! So this week, as well as a few release dates, we’ve got announcements, trailers, and some sucky news, too.

Well I’ll get the bad news out of the way first, and it’s in regards to the new Need for Speed game, we’ve got a new Vita game announcement though, along with the new PS Plus games, I’m sure the good news outweighs the bad!

Norn9: Var, just like Steins; Gate is a visual novel, and was announced on the PS Blog this week for a release window and also a few tidbits on the story, too:

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While on a school field trip, child prodigy Sorata Suzuhara wanders off after hearing a mysterious song and blacks out. When he comes to, he finds himself in unfamiliar place, and soon encounters a girl who informs him that he’s currently in turn of the century Japan.

In order to help him get home, Sorata follows her to a ship that she’s waiting for but when it appears it is not a wooden sailing ship, but a round aircraft that flies using technology that is beyond Sorata’s imagination. Even stranger, he discovers that the other 12 passengers — 3 young women and 9 men — are all supposedly espers with special powers, and are on some kind of journey at the behest of a multinational entity only known as The World.

Experience the voyage! Board a mysterious aircraft and go on a journey with twelve young men and women with special powers. While travelling to an unknown destination, you will view beautifully detailed environments.

The game will be released both digitally and physically in the US, but unfortunately only digitally in EU, as the developer clarified reasonably abruptly in the comments section:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/05/26/norn9-var-commons-coming-to-ps-vita-this-fall/

Until Dawn, Sony’s next notable exclusive release has finally got a release date. August 25th. If you haven’t heard about Until Dawn, it’s a horror game with decision-making story arcs, much like Life is Strange and the Telltale games. Your decisions actually impact people’s life and their relationships.

Is there a difference in this game though?

Well, it’s one whole game. Rather than being split into 5 mini episodic games. I’m interested to see how this will work, and how it will feel, as the episodic games are split perfectly into sections for your gameplay time. I am certainly looking forward to this game, yet somewhat cautious about how it will play. Take a look at the latest trailer below:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/05/26/until-dawn-launches-on-ps4-august-25th/

Here’s some good news like I mentioned above, the new PS Plus games have been announced. There are some pretty good games, and surprisingly enough they are the same across EU and US, which makes this announcement nice for all our readers who have Plus.

I’m excited to play Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, I played a trial on Plus quite a while ago, enjoyed the game but never ended up buying the game.

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Leaving PS Plus:

• 3rd June: Ether One (PS4)
• 3rd June: Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4)
• 3rd June: The Unfinished Swan (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
• 3rd June: Race the Sun (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
• 3rd June: Murasaki Baby (PS Vita)
• 3rd June: Hohokum (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)

Entering PS Plus:

• 3rd June: Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (PS4)
• 3rd June: Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition (PS4)
• 3rd June: Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (PS3)
• 3rd June: Cloudberry Kingdom (PS3)
• 3rd June: Futuridium (PS4 & PS Vita)
• 3rd June: Super Exploding Zoo (PS4 & PS Vita)

 

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/05/27/ps-plus-free-games-for-june-2015/

Okay, time for the bad news now.

When I say bad news, it not particularly too bad. It’s just silly and unneeded.

The Need for Speed re-boot will require an online connection to play the game, saying that the online feature makes gameplay more enjoyable:

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@DeanRheims NFS will require an online connection, but the benefits are nice. More variety and a more rewarding experience with friends.

— Need for Speed (@NeedforSpeed) May 28, 2015

But that’s just it. More enjoyable, more rewarding. Just like every other driving game with interlinking campaign/online. Can you imagine if Bloodborne, Watch_Dogs, DriveClub, Little Big Planet were all online only, just because the gameplay is ‘more rewarding’? Sure it is, but it isn’t necessary, is it? What if you have no friends with the new NFS game?

*sigh* Rant over.

Well, there’s only one thing we can do now, and we know what that is don’t we.

Blame EA.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-29-need-for-speed-reboot-requires-online-connection?utm_source=eurogamer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=net-daily

Here’s an awesome new trailer for the new Mad Max game, informing us a bit about the story, we’ve seen previous videos introduce the humongous scale of the game, and also the combat, now we see one about the story. I’m actually really excited about this game now and has been added to my to-buy list. Whether that happens or not I’m not sure. But I really hope it does.

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2015/05/26/ferocious-new-mad-max-trailer-makes-its-debut/

A character I’ve never personally seen before, Kazumi Mishima, will be a part of the roster for the latest entry to the series. Awesomely enough, she is different as she has a pet tiger that she can call upon in an attack, take a look in the video below:

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/05/30/tekken-7-characters-kazumi-mishima/

As I said in the title, the new Games with Gold have been announced. Here they are:

• Massive Chalice ($19.99 ERP): Available from June 1-30 on Xbox One
• Pool Nation FX ($13.99 ERP): Available from June 1-30 on Xbox One
• Just Cause 2 ($14.99 ERP): Available from June 1-15 on Xbox 360
• Thief ($29.99 ERP): Available from June 16-30 on Xbox 360

http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/05/massive_chalice_leads_the_way_in_junes_games_with_gold

Something rather interesting from the Twitch front now, is that they’ve introduced a streaming ban to AO(Adults Only) games, these games include the likes of the original GTA: San Andreas, and also Manhunt and the newest addition to the AO rating, Hatred.

This is probably what kicked the whole thing off, with the release of Hatred and all the criticism surrounding it, twitch probably just wanted to play it safe, I would honestly like to play it though.

I can understand Twitch’s decision on this, but let’s be honest, there’s a pretty fine line between AO and M 17+. Take a look at the likes of Mortal Kombat’s fatalities, or The Orders dismemberment through guns, and even God Of War’s hack and slash/pull enemy apart charade. You are able to stream these games, not a problem.

http://www.vg247.com/2015/05/28/twitch-ao-games-banned-streaming/

Weekly Blog Round-Up

LangSwapper v 1.4 released (PSVita/PSP)

Amiibo Wave 4 – Like those Amiibos? Then you’re going to have to fight today

PS Vita a ‘Legacy’ platform: Why do people act surprised?

PeXploit 1.0 released [PS3]

Still waiting for the PSM license approval? – You might not get it in time…

regionFOUR the Region Free Loader for 3DS updated

Reddit Time

Playstation Trivia