State Of Play January 2024: All The Biggest PS5 Announcements Friv 0
PlayStation's latest showcase
The January 2024 State Of Play has begun, and with it comes over 40 minutes of updates on over 15 games coming to PlayStation consoles. The official announcement teased new information on Team Ninja's upcoming adventure game Rise Of The Ronin, as well as Shift Up Corporation's Stellar Blade, but the presentation has also revealed new information on Helldivers 2 and a new Sonic Generations game, among others.
Helldivers 2
The event started with a new trailer for Helldivers 2, which is set to launch February 8. The trailer showed multiple scenes of the Helldivers battling all sorts of bad guys, from towering mechs to giant monsters.
The video also gave us a look at a walking mech, which players can pilot and bring into battle.
Stellar Blade
Next up was a look at Stellar Blade, the new action game from Shift Up. The deep dive opened by introducing the game's post-apocalyptic Earth setting, as well as its heroine Eve. We also meet some of her support team, as well as vending machines and camps located throughout the world. Here, Eve can restore health and upgrade equipment as needed.
Next, we're shown glimpses of a massive city hidden under the wasteland. Eve can stock up on supplies, take side missions, and more while visiting. The video then shifts to scenes of combat against the monsters of the wastes, which includes boss fights against creatures called a an Abadon and a Stalker.
Stellar Blade is set to launch April 26, 2024.
Sonic Shadow Generations
The presentation then shifted to the first brand-new reveal of the State Of Play: Sonic Shadow Generations, a new version of 2010's Sonic Generations. The trailer focuses on Shadow's gameplay, which bears a striking resemblance to the game he stared in on PlayStation 2 back in 2006.
Sonic Shadow Generations is slated for an Autumn 2024 release.
Zenless Zone Zero
Hoyoverse's next free-to-play MMO adventure, Zenless Zone Zero, was next on the State Of Play lineup, as a new gameplay trailer was shown. The game was confirmed to be in development on PlayStation 5.
Foamstars
The next game shown was Foamstars, Square Enix's multiplayer shooter with a focus on building structures with foam. The trailer showed new gameplay and characters, as well as the game's debut on PlayStation Plus on February 6.
Dave The Diver x Godzilla
After its collaboration with Dredge was announced at The Game Awards 2023, Dave The Diver's next partnership was announced during State Of Play, and this time things are a bit more...colossal. Godzilla will be entering the world of Dave The Diver in May of this year.
V Rising
Next up was V Rising, an isometric survival RPG from Stunlock Studios. Along with a glimpse at the game's combat and world, it was confirmed that V Rising would be coming to PlayStation 5 sometime in 2024.
Silent Hill: The Short Message
In another surprising reveal, Konami announced Silent Hill: The Short Message, a first-person survival horror game set in the Silent Hill universe. It follows a girl named Maya, who must travel through a dark house in search of something, all while being stalked by a monstrous entity.
Silent Hill: The Short Message is free-to-play, and it is available right now.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
After The Short Message, Konami then gave us our first glimpse at gameplay for Bloober Team's remake of Silent Hill 2. We see James Sunderland fighting enemies and exploring familiar locales from the original game like the Wood Side Apartments. No release date was given for Silent Hill 2 Remake unfortunately, as the trailer ended with a vague "Now In Development" message.
Best Gifts For Lego Lovers This Valentine's Day - A Dozen Budget-Friendly Sets Friv 0
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and flowers have long been one of the most beloved gifts. But before you pick up a bouquet of flowers for your significant other, you should check out the gifts for Lego lovers below. These eye-catching Lego floral arrangements will add some colorful charm to your loved one's home. And unlike real flowers, these building sets don't require any upkeep. Plus, they are far more interesting to watch grow. And, of course, they won't die.
These Lego sets also have the added benefit of doubling as a fun Valentine's Day activity for you and your partner. If you haven't built any of Lego's flower sets before, you should know that they are fairly unique projects due to the uncommon pieces and nature of the designs. From simple projects that take less than an hour to piece together to all-day relaxing activities, here's a look at some of the best gifts for Lego lovers this Valentine's Day.
At the time of writing, all of these sets are eligible for Prime shipping and will arrive with plenty of time to spare ahead of February 14.
Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant (540 pieces)
$60
Modeled after the iconic Super Mario Bros. enemy, this Piranha Plant Lego set clocks in at 540-pieces and is fully posable. The green Warp Pipe acts as the pot, so you'll have yourself a potted Piranha Plant that's ready for display. The Lego Piranha is very cute, too. In fact, some might say it's beautiful (it is beautiful).
Lego Roses Building Kit (120 pieces)
$15
Affordable and easy to build, this two-rose set is the perfect frugal gift for Lego lovers who favor roses. Consider using the money you save to pick up a nice vase.
Lego Icons Bouquet of Roses (822 pieces)
$60
Unlike the Roses Building Kit above, this one is much more complex. When completed, you'll have a full bouquet of roses to display in your home. This bouquet comes with a full dozen roses and four springs of baby's breath white flowers.
Lego Valentine Lovebirds (298 pieces)
$33
If your loved one isn't a fan of flowers, this is the Lego set to give them. The two of you will get to build two lovebirds along with a small diorama to display your creations.
Lego Icons Wildflower Bouquet (939 pieces)
$49 ($60)
This large-scale project includes close to 1,000 pieces and builds a bouquet of colorful wildflowers flowers when complete. It can be displayed solo or placed in a vase for a more realistic presentation. You can even get a nice discount on this particular set right now.
Lego Icons Tiny Plants Creative Building Set (758 pieces)
$50
Piece together nine different plants, including a variety of cacti and tropical species. All nine are set inside terracotta-inspired pots to make it easy to display them around your home.
Lego Icons Succulents (771 pieces)
$40 ($50)
This large gift set for Lego lovers lets you build nine unique succulents. Each one is individually contained within a black stand, allowing you to display them together or place them across various rooms. You can save $10 on this set at Amazon.
Lego Icons Orchid Artificial Plant (608 pieces)
$41 ($50)
Build a intricate orchid with this 608-piece set, complete with petals, pot, stems, and leaves. It's a sizable plant too, clocking in at over 15 inches tall.
Lego Icons Flower Bouquet (756 pieces)
$48 ($60)
When you finish building this set, you'll have a wide assortment of 15 flowers--including snapdragons, daisies, and poppies.
Lego Lotus Flowers (220 pieces)
$15
This affordable gift for Lego lovers features three flowers, all measuring over 12 inches long and great for displaying in a slim vase.
Lego Sunflowers Building Kit (191 pieces)
$15
Don't worry--these aren't as massive as real sunflowers. The kit includes two small sunflowers along with long green stems, making them easy to toss in a vase or atop a shelf.
Lego Cherry Blossoms (430 pieces)
$15
It'll take some time to stick all the colorful flowers onto their stem, but building this Lego set is worth the effort. It includes two twigs adorned with cherry blossoms that measure over 14 inches long.
The Biggest Game Releases Of February 2024 Friv 0
February used to be a dry month for new game releases, but in the last couple of years, the industry has flipped that notion on its head. Now one of the busiest months on the calendar, February 2024 is a stacked month full of high-profile releases and smaller niche games looking to monopolize your precious free time. The most romantic month on the calendar isn't pulling any punches with early releases like Persona 3: Reload, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash.
Then there's the rest of the month to brace yourself for as well, as Mario rekindles an epic rivalry with Donkey Kong, Ubisoft's long-delayed Skull and Bones finally ships out, and Pacific Drive explores an exclusion zone full of assorted homicidal nastiness. And to cap everything off, there's Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth to look forward to--or dread once you get to that part in the storyline--arriving on PS5 on the last day of the month.
What will you be playing? There's plenty to choose from, and we've just scratched the tip of this iceberg, as there are plenty of 2024 game releases to come.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink (PC, PS5, PS4) -- February 1
Sure, Granblue Fantasy: Relink looks like a very very anime game, but beneath the flash and glitz, it looks like a fun adventure set in a world of dragons and possibly even dungeons. Interestingly, Platinum Games was originally developing this title before Cygames took over, but this new Granblue has retained the DNA of Platinum's trademark action design. If the approachable action and wild combo-driven gameplay holds up over the course of the main campaign, Granblue Fantasy: Relink could be an under-the-radar hit this year.
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 2
The sky is blue, water is wet, and popular Shonen anime series always get a fighting game adaptation. Jujustu Kaisen has been a fan-favorite manga and anime for a few years now, and this 2v2 brawler will allow you to wield the cursed energy of Jujutsu High's most powerful students. You won't just be mastering their individual skills in this fighting game, as you can also aim to unleash harmonious Joint Attacks against vile Curses in each battle.
Persona 3 Reload (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) -- February 2
Easily the darkest entry in the Persona series, Persona 3 is locked and reloaded for its debut on modern platforms. Its combat has been substantially improved and several quality-of-life updates have been added, but at its core, this is a remake that is aiming to be as faithful modernization of the original game. It's a good time to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber as well, as Persona 3 Reload will be available as a day-one addition to that service.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 2
Almost 10 years after the release of Batman: Arkham Knight, Rocksteady is back and ready to explore the DC Universe once again. This time, DC's most dangerous--and expendable--supervillains are in the spotlight, as Rocksteady shifts towards a live-service experience. We're not too certain if Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League can successfully juggle multiple ideas, but after several lengthy delays, it's time to see just how the game will evolve over the weeks and months to come.
Foamstars (PS5, PS4) -- February 6
Foamstars looks like a fresh take on Nintendo's popular Splatoon series, but this new 4v4 shooter from Square Enix has some interesting ideas up its sleeve as you keep the streets clean. The game is launching with a healthy number of PvP and PvE modes, Square Enix already has its first year of content mapped out, and for PS Plus subscribers, it'll be one of the free games of the month that they can grab and try out.
Helldivers 2 (PC, PS5) -- February 8
A Starship Troopers game in all but name, Helldivers 2 looks like a chaotic slice of bug-eradicating action set on distant planets. It's a tongue-in-cheek third-person shooter where the only thing more dangerous than armies of giant alien insects are your fellow soldiers, as friendly-fire has been turned on.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 13
Dontnod's next game looks like a spooky good time, as you'll get to explore the ghost-infested surroundings of a small New England village, keep an eye out supernatural menaces hunting you, and dive into a story focused on a doomed love. It's God of War mixed with Ghostbusters, and that might just be a fascinating action-packed combo to check out when the game is released.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 14
It's going to be a while before Lara Croft returns in a brand-new adventure, but for longtime fans looking to celebrate her early adventures, there is good news! The original trilogy of games have been updated with more modern graphics, but if you're in a retro mood, you can switch back to the original polygons for an old-school experience. All of the expansions and secret levels are included, making this the definitive collection of the original Tomb Raider games.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) -- February 16
An old rivalry is rekindled this month, as Mario clashes with Donkey Kong in this remake of the first game of the spin-off series. Donkey Kong has stolen Mini Mario toys and hidden them across the world, and it's up to players to take control of Mario, recover all those collectibles, and teach the powerhouse ape a lesson across a diverse lineup of stages. A new two-player co-op mode is being introduced in this game, as a second player can play as Toad and help Mario out with difficult puzzles.
Skull and Bones (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 16
Believe it or not, Skull and Bones finally is finally setting sail in February. Set in the golden age of piracy, there'll be oceans to explore, ships to pillage, and naval consequences to deal with when your infamy rises on the treacherous waters. It's up to you to forge your own legend, and just like several of Ubisoft's other live-service games, you'll be able to create a distinctive look for your character, crew, and ship in your high-seas voyage.
Slave Zero X -- February 21
A direct prequel to the 1999 action game Slave Zero probably wasn't on your 2024 bingo card, but here we are! While the original Slave Zero was a 3D game, Slave Zero X is primarily a 2D game with the occasional half-dimension added in when necessary. It looks like an intriguing blend of stylish action a la Devil May Cry mixed with the deep combat of fighting games like Guilty Gear. It looks fast and fluid in action, and with plenty of story beats to explore, it should be a fascinating expansion of the world of Slave Zero.
Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance -- February 21
We've seen plenty of Terminator games focus on the more action-packed side of the franchise over the years, but a strategic dive into the war between humanity and our future AI overlords sounds like an interesting new direction. Taking place during the Future Wars between humanity and Legion's synthetic intelligent machine network, it'll be up to you to lead the resistance in tense and challenging encounters while the world around you falls apart. And if you're cunning, a little impromptu demolition can help you gain an advantage on these battlefields.
Nightingale (PC) -- February 22
Nightingale looks like an ambitious new entry in the survival-crafting genre, and it'll begin its journey with an early access release on PC this month. Set in the Fae Lands, it'll be up to you to explore this dangerous land after you're transported there to escape a plague that has driven humanity to the brink of extinction. Developer Inflexion Games--a studio formed in 2018 by a group of industry veterans--plans to create an evolving narrative over time for Nightingale, as it continues to work on this Victorian era-inspired game.
Pacific Drive (PC, PS5) -- February 22
There's nothing better than a relaxing car cruise, something Pacific Drive definitely won't be. Instead, you'll be exploring a quarantined zone full of danger in this first-person roguelike driving game. Your trusty station wagon provides some security against the forces conspiring to un-alive you, but you'll need to take care of your vehicle if you want to escape and see the light of day.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery of Serpentcoil Island -- February 27
Missed out on the previous Shiren the Wanderer games? Then maybe the ninth time will be the charm when The Mystery of Serpentcoil Island arrives on Switch this month. While the roguelike and RPG elements remain intact in this latest sequel, user-interface tweaks, new multiplayer content, and the return of familiar monsters will make Shiren's return that much more memorable.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 28
Several console generations ago, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons quickly earned acclaim for its accessible gameplay and soul-crushing finale. If this new version from developer Avantgarden SRL can retain the dark charm of that game and spruce it up with some enchanting new visuals, expect this game to be an unforgettable tale of discovery, loss, and adventure for a new and unprepared generation of gamers.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 28
Launching exactly 29 years after the original game, Nightdive Studios is bringing this classic Star Wars first-person shooter into the modern age. The game will support up to 4K resolution and 120fps gameplay on PC and all consoles--but not you, Nintendo Switch--current-gen controller features, and it'll ship with a fresh batch of Trophies/Achievements to hunt down.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PS5) -- February 29
Final Fantasy 7 Remake told a story that felt comfortably familiar when it was first released several years ago, but Rebirth is headed into exciting and unknown territory when it arrives later this month. What does the future hold in store for Cloud and friends? There's only one way to find out, as this middle chapter in the Remake trilogy is teasing an even bigger deviation from the established canon of this series, the arrival of fan-favorite characters, and a potentially devastating climax.
- Granblue Fantasy: Relink (PC, PS5, PS4) -- February 1
- One Punch Man: World (PC, iOS, Android) -- February 1
- Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 2
- Persona 3 Reload (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) -- February 2
- Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 2
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice (PC) -- February 2
- Foamstars (PS5, PS4) -- February 6
- Helldivers 2 (PC, PS5) -- February 8
- Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 13
- Ultros (PC, PS5, PS4) -- February 13
- Dragon Quest Builders (PC) -- February 13
- Islands of Insight (PC) -- February 13
- Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 14
- Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 14
- PlateUp! (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 15
- Mario Vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) -- February 16
- Skull and Bones (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 16
- Madison (PlayStation VR2) -- February 20
- Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance -- February 21
- Slave Zero X -- February 21
- Nightingale (PC) -- February 22
- Pacific Drive (PC, PS5) -- February 22
- Sons of the Forest (PC) -- February 22
- Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery of Serpentcoil Island -- February 27
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) -- February 28
- Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -- February 28
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PS5) -- February 29
Halo Infinite Spirit Of Fire Operation Rewards Are A Blast From The Past Friv 0
Halo Infinite has officially started its first Operation. These will essentially act as free mini-seasons lasting 4-6 weeks. 343 has based its first Operation around the Spirit of Fire to kick things off. For those unaware, the Spirit of Fire is the name of a command ship in Halo Wars. The armor that 343 is giving away for free is built around the Mark IV set, which was the gear the Spartans were wearing during the Halo Wars era.
Just like seasons, Operations can be claimed from the in-game store at any time, just in case players miss out on one while it's new. But unlike seasons, Operations won't have the 100-tier system most players are accustomed to. In addition, Operations won't have any story cinematics to them and will instead focus on in-game content.
It's also worth pointing out that even though the Spirit of Fire operation is free, you can still spend credits (Halo Infinites premium currency) to level up and unlock exclusive items. If you spend 500 credits on the Operation, you'll unlock the Evolved MA5, a skin for the MA40 Assualt Rifle. But if you spend 2,000 points, you'll obtain the rifle skin and automatically unlock everything.
Below is an image gallery featuring a closer look at everything you can unlock in the Halo Infinite Operation Spirit of Fire.