Bloodborne Isn’t 60FPS On PS5, But Some Other FromSoftware Titles Are

Bloodborne is one of the PS4’s most important games for many players, and there’s been a lot of speculation on how it might be improved on PS5, as many titles will be. We can now confirm that–at launch, at least–the title does not receive a significant framerate improvement. However, some other titles made by developer FromSoftware are in better shape.

Lance McDonald, a modder whose work with From Software games is quite prolific (see, for instance, his restoration of cut Sekiro content) has been testing From Software’s games on PS5, and has found that Bloodborne is, sadly, still locked to 30fps. “Bloodborne is still 30fps with bad frame pacing,” he confirms.

On the other hand, Sekiro and Dark Souls III both have improved framerates. McDonald has confirmed in a tweet that both games run at 60fps on the next-generation Sony system. Both of these games were released by FromSoftware after Bloodborne.

Dark Souls III and Sekiro were both locked to 30fps on a base PS4, and uncapped on PS4 Pro–but they did not hit 60fps. In our own experience, Sekiro also hits 60fps on Xbox Series X.

McDonald has previously made his own 60fps patch for the game–and it remains a possibility that the Sony-published game will still be patched in the future to take advantage of the new hardware.

One of the major PS5 launch titles in a remake of an older title in the From Software catalog. Demon’s Souls started the “Souls” series on PS3, and now it has been remade for the next-generation. It will be available alongside the PS5 on November 12.

Now Playing: Bloodborne Returning To Yharnam Livestream

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Xbox Game Pass Teases Star Wars-Related News with Baby Yoda Image

Xbox Games Pass’ Twitter account is teasing some upcoming Star Wars-related news with an image of both The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda / The Child.

Xbox Game Pass Tweeted out, alongside the previously mentioned image, “All we’re gonna say is that we’re not posting The Mandalorian and The Child for no reason.”

Screenshot_2020-11-08 Xbox Game Pass on Twitter

What could it be hinting at? One possibility is that Disney+, where The Mandalorian exclusively streams, will be added as an Xbox Game Pass perk, or at the very least will include some introductory promotion.

This also could be something related to the news that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is sort of coming to Xbox Game Pass, as it is being added to EA Play on November 10, the same day EA Play is being added as a perk for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

The Mandalorian most recently aired the second episode of its second season on Disney+, and in our review, we said “much like the Season 2 premiere, “The Passenger” balances some of its narrative shortcomings – most notably its standalone storyline and lack of momentum – with some satisfying character beats that give us further insight into Mando’s priorities.

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Whatever this news ends up being, it looks to add to the celebration of the launch of the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020. You can check our Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to hear our thoughts on Microsoft’s next-gen consoles.

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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Xbox Is Taking Over Queenstown, New Zealand To Promote The Series X Launch

Microsoft has announced a big campaign to promote the Xbox Series X in New Zealand. Xbox ANZ is hosting an event in Queenstown, New Zealand that will see the technology giant transform the New Zealand city into “Greenstown.”

Part of this includes, apparently, installing a giant refrigerator Xbox Series X on the water in town.

This is all happening to promote a livestream countdown event that begins at 9 PM AEDT on Monday, November 9 in New Zealand.

The event is happening in New Zealand because the country is among the first to tick over to November 10, the launch day of the Xbox Series X. And New Zealand offers stunning natural graphics. After all, Queenstown’s backdrop is a mountain range literally called The Remarkables.

“Queenstown, one of the only places in the world that matches the visual fidelity of the next generation of Xbox consoles, will host a dream-like ‘Greenstown’ reveal that will begin from dusk, all framed by The Remarkables mountain range,” Xbox said in a news release.

The livestream event will be held across Xbox ANZ’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch pages.

The event will include “all-new gameplay,” with titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Destiny 2: Beyond Light scheduled to show up during the hour-long show.

“We’re excited to be celebrating the launch of both the Xbox Series X and S. New Zealand and Australia will be the first in the world to bring our next-generation consoles to our fans,” Xbox ANZ boss Dan Johnson said. “So, we want to celebrate this momentous event in style.”

For more, check out GameSpot’s Xbox Series X review.

Daemon X Machina Celebrates Its First Year With Freebies

Daemon X Machina released in September 2019 for Switch, and has now, in November 2020, released its first anniversary update. No judgement here–time has stopped making sense this year–but the good news here is that everyone who owns the game can access some free content.

Daemon X Machina is also available on PC, and both versions have received an update.

The first anniversary update, version 1.4.0 on Switch (1.0.2 on PC), comes with numerous cosmetic elements, and one bonus mission, which lets you battle Eclipse Q, a powerful enemy that will grant you a new blueprint for an Arsenal if you defeat it.

Here are all the freebies added in this update, via Nintendo Life:

  • “Grossfeiern” Arsenal skin
  • “Grandemon” Outer suit
  • “Eclipse RT: Omega Destruction Strategy” Order – Battle against the strengthened Colossal Immortal “Eclipse Q.”
  • Three Arsenal decals
  • Three Preview backgrounds

Daemon X Machina earned a 7/10 in GameSpot’s review of the Switch version. “The missed potential of the story and minor issues with mech-vs-mech combat and multiplayer loadouts make Daemon X Machina fall just short of its potential, but the foundation is strong,” wrote reviewer Steve Watts. “As a total package, it’s on the verge of greatness; it just needed a little more time in the shop tinkering.”

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Sackboy: A Big Adventure On PS5/PS4 Won’t Have Online Co-Op At Launch

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a major PS5 launch game, but one feature will be missing when it releases alongside the system on November 12. Ned Waterhouse, a design director at developer Sumo Digital, has revealed in a post on PlayStation Blog that the game will launch with couch co-op, but you’ll have to wait to play it online with friends.

The game, which is coming to PS4 as well, will feature 2-4 player co-op throughout the entire campaign, as well as some co-op only levels. From day one, you’ll be able to play through these on a single system.

This update is promised “by end of 2020”, and it will also add cross-generation multiplayer between PS5 and PS4, as well as game save transfers that will let PS4 players carry on their games when or if they switch to PS5.

Online multiplayer has always been a major part of the LittleBigPlanet series, which Sackboy comes from. While this new game will not let players build their own levels as that series did, it has maintained the focus on co-op.

GameSpot has previously talked to Waterhouse about what the team is achieving in this new adventure, and you can read that interview here. If you want to pick the game up alongside your new PS5, check out GameSpot’s preorder guide.

Now Playing: Sackboy: A Big Adventure – Story Gameplay Trailer

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Spider-Man: Miles Morales Dev Details Extensive Accessibility Options

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a major PS5 launch title (that’s also coming to PS4), and developer Insomniac has pushed to introduce more accessibility options in this sequel. In a Twitter thread, the studio has detailed all the ways the game has been designed for wider, improved accessibility on PS4 and PS5.

Across 14 tweets in this thread, Insomniac Games lists various features that will make it possible for a wider audience to experience the game. These include many changes that will make the game a bit easier, as well as some changes that will make the game easier to play without using the right stick, such as automatic camera follow. There’s a narrated ASL option, and numerous ways to tweak your subtitles for improved readability.

Earlier this year, The Last of Us Part II set new benchmarks for in-game accessibility, and while Miles Morales does not go as far as Naughty Dog’s game did, the changes made should open the game up to more people.

The complete list of accessibility options covered in the tweets is below.

  • QTE Auto Complete: Auto advance all QTE sequences without button presses
  • Change Button Taps to Hold Up
  • Web-Shooter Burst: Enable firing up to three webs at once
  • Swing/Parkour Mode: Sets swinging and parkour to a toggle or a button hold
  • Chase Assist: Chase targets’ top movement speed is lowered so there is a longer window before the target escapes. Automatically attaches to the chase target when within range. Press [R3] to automatically turn the camera towards the chase target.
  • Venom Mode: Sets Venom Activation to a toggle or a button hold
  • Enhanced Auto Aim: Snap onto targets with greater ease while in aim mode.
  • Increased Dodge Window: Increases the dodge window time.
  • Controller Remapping: Fully Customize your control scheme or choose between presets. Up to two inputs (Default D-Pad Left & Right) can be individually mapped to moves that normally require multiple button presses.
  • Explicit Puzzle Hints: Enable explicit puzzle hints during puzzle segments.
  • Accessibility Vibration: Enable additional vibration to assist with auditory and visual gameplay elements.
  • Invert Camera up/down. Invert Camera left/right.
  • Adaptive Triggers (PS5): When enabled allows the [R2] and [L2] buttons to dynamically change resistance during traversal actions.
  • Camera Follow: Automatically rotate the camera behind Spider-Man while swinging.
  • Combat Camera: Automatically rotates the camera to assist with keeping enemies in view.
  • Look at Waypoint: Automatically turns the camera towards the objective waypoint.
  • Control Hints: Control hints are displayed on the bottom left corner of the HUD.
  • Mini-Map: Display the mini-map on the bottom right corner of the HUD.
  • Crime Notifications: Display crime notifications on the right side of the HUD.
  • UI Parallaxing: When turned off HUD and Pause Menu elements stay in place on the screen.
  • Icon and Prompt Size: Set the size for in-word waypoints, icons, and prompts.
  • HUD Background: Enable a contrasting background for the HUD.
  • Subtitles: Display Subtitles for spoken dialogue.
  • Subtitle Size: Adjust the size of the subtitles.
  • Subtitle Background: Enable a background for subtitles for improved readability.
  • Subtitle Color: Set the text color for subtitles.
  • Subtitles Speaker Color: Set the speaker name color for subtitles.
  • English VO: Use English Dialogue audio instead of system language if your system language is set to a SKU supported language.
  • Controller Speaker: Allow certain sounds to play through the controller speaker.
  • Narrated ASL: Enable narration of subtitled American Sign Language Lines.
  • JJJ Podcast: Automatically play JJJ Podcasts.
  • Danika Podcast: Automatically play Danika Podcasts.
  • HDR: Enable high Dynamic Range. Only available on compatible TVs.
  • High Visibility Spider-Sense: Enable a high contrast Spider-Sense effect.
  • Contrast Options: Enables various shaders and high contrast options to help with visibility. Use presets or customize each setting individually. Including solid single colors on the hero, allies, enemies, etc.

Unfortunately, PlayStation still does not have a control option on par with the Xbox Adaptive Controller, which will work with the Xbox Series X/S, too.

Now Playing: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Video Review

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Legendary Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek Dies At 80

Longtime Jeopardy host Alex Trebek has died at the age of 80. Trebek had been suffering from pancreatic cancer since early 2019 but continued to host the show during his treatment.

The official Jeopardy Twitter account confirmed the news, saying Trebek passed away at his home early this morning with family and friends by his side.

Trebek had hosted Jeopardy since 1984, and the show has often been ranked as one of the best game shows of all time. Though not the original host of the show, he was, by far, its longest-serving host.

Legendary Jeopardy contestant Ken Jennings spoke on Trebek’s death, calling him the “best ever” host and a “lovely and deeply decent man.”

A number of Jeopardy video game adaptions have been made over the years, often featuring Trebek’s likeness. Gaming has often been featured in the series’ categories, as well, including The Last of Us 2 earlier this year.

Square Enix’s HD Gaming Unit Loses $63 Million After Marvel’s Avengers Launch

Marvel’s Avengers was one of Square Enix’s biggest releases in years, but the game’s big sales were not enough to help Square Enix’s HD Games business turn a profit for the latest period.

Square Enix’s HD Games business unit–which includes Marvel’s Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and others–posted an estimated loss of 6.5 billion yen for the latest period, which works out to a loss of around $63 million USD. Net sales jumped significantly to 23.7 billion yen ($~230 million USD), but the cost of goods sold was more significant, leading to a loss. Square Enix also reported that it saw greater digital sales of catalog games during the period, but again, not enough to turn a profit overall.

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The HD Games business is just one of Square Enix’s many categories. Overall, the company posted sales of 172 billion yen (up 43 percent) and a profit of 16 billion yen (up 46 percent) for the latest period, so the downturn in the HD Games business was not enough to impact the company’s overall bottom line.

Marvel’s Avengers had a rocky launch in September, but despite that, it was the best-selling game in the United States during the month. While the game had a strong start, the momentum was apparently difficult to sustain. According to Steam’s public data, the game is not even in the top 100 most popular titles based on players, so its daily player count is likely only around 6,000.

Marvel’s Avengers is also coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but those versions have been delayed to 2021. Additionally, the game’s first DLC character, Kate Bishop, has been delayed.

Now Playing: Marvel’s Avengers Video Review

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How Fortnite Uses The PS5 DualSense Controller

Epic Games has shared some new details on the PlayStation 5 version of Fortnite, which will be available when the console releases later this week.

Perhaps the most unique element of Fortnite on PS5 is how the game uses the next-gen console’s DualSense controller. In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Epic said it is using the controller’s adaptive trigger feedback to make the game’s various weapons feel more lifelike in your hands.

“Fortnite will support two kinds of adaptive trigger feedback for ranged weapons: trigger pull feedback and sustained feedback. Weapons that fire once per trigger pull–your Pistols, SMGs, Snipers, Assault Rifles, etc.–will use trigger pull feedback, meaning you’ll feel the authentic resistance of pulling their triggers as you push down the trigger of the DualSense,” Epic said.

For weapons that require the trigger button to be held down before firing, there will be “sustained feedback.” Epic described this like this, “Even as you’re holding the DualSense trigger all the way down, you’ll still feel an authentic sensation of resistance, reminiscent of what it feels like to draw back a bow or keep a Minigun firing.”

In addition to the DualSense controls, Fortnite on PS5 will have upgraded graphics and better frame rates. Here is a rundown of the benefits of Fortnite on PS5, as written by Epic:

  • Working with the console’s custom RDNA 2 GPU, we’ve made the next-gen version of Fortnite output at 4K and up to 60 FPS in all game modes on PS5.
  • The Zen 2 CPU + expanded memory let us use dynamic visuals and physics to bring even more life to the Fortnite Island. Grass and trees respond to explosions, visual effects for smoke and liquid are enhanced, and there are new effects for clouds and the Storm.
  • Our work with PS5’s ultra-high speed SSD has let us dramatically upgrade loading performance, improving texture loading and letting you get into matches much faster.
  • Split Screen can be played with higher performance: up to 60 FPS. This is due to our work with the improved CPU, GPU, and memory.

As announced previously, Epic is giving everyone a free item–the Throwback Axe Pickaxe–to celebrate the launch of Fortnite on PS5. This is the very first axe in the game, and you can get it in the Item Shop until January 15, 2021.

Fortnite will also be available on Xbox Series X and S, and it features a big improvement on those consoles, too, with 4K/60FPS support and new storm and cloud effects, among other things.

For more on Fortnite’s impressive-sounding next-gen updates, check out GameSpot’s rundown of all the new features for Fortnite on PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Fortnite will be playable for free on PS5 and Xbox Series X when those systems release this week. For more, check out GameSpot’s reviews of the next-gen consoles.

Now Playing: Epic Games Talks Unreal Engine 5 On PS5 & Xbox Series X, Future Of Gaming, Impact Of Fortnite

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