PlayStation News, Articles and Information for the UK and Europe

Hi everyone,

I’m sorry for the real lack of updates recently, we’re going through some changes at PlayStation Future and you might find a few changes over the next few weeks and months. Firstly, the site is being run from www.playstationfuture.co.uk rather than www.playstationfuture.com – all the links have been updated (I think) and everything redirects to the new domain, so you shouldn’t notice much difference here. The old .com site will eventually be pulled down completely, but only once Google has updated all its search results to show links to the new site.

Secondly, there probably won’t be any more posts as you know them. I’m not sure how our plans will work, or if they will work at all, but for now the site is on hold and may be for some time.

Thirdly, there may be some design changes to the site. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know in the comments and we’ll try to incorporate as many ideas as we can.

Finally, I’d just like to thank everyone who’s been involved with PlayStation Future, not just the writers and commentators but everyone who’s come along to read our stories. With any luck we’ll be back and better than ever in the New Year, but until then, thanks for reading.

It wasn’t long ago that Kazunori Yamauchi revealed that GT5 would be getting a major update in mid October, however at the time he didn’t reveal any details of what would be in the update as such. Today, though Yamauchi released a few details of new features via Twitter – with some features that fans will be very pleased with.

• A simplified interior view will be added on ALL standard cars.
• Users will now be able to control the Change Weather feature.
• A new setting sheet feature allowing you to save multiple car setups.
• A new opening movie for Spec 2.0.
• The User Interface has been improved and will be more responsive.
• Replays now have rewind and fast forward functionality.
• In-game race saves will now be possible.
• The Online Lounge Features have been expanded (such as narrowing down car types and shuffling races).
• Remote race features for B-Spec have been expanded.
• Expanded photo travel features – such as the ability to take a picture of your car with your avatar.
• Added “NASCAR Pit Scene” to Photo Travel.
• Added eleven 2011 model NASCAR cars.
• Added the Nissan GT-R N24 Shulze Motor Sport.
• Improved physics and AI
• Added support for the Logitech G25/G27 Steering wheel.

Something like this. For the DLC we’re preparing a racing car pack, a course pack, and a racing gear pack…I’ll let you know more about that soon.

This week’s top ten sees a large change in the charts, with barely any games remaining at their position from the week before – only Gran Turismo 5 managed to keep its spot at number 7. The biggest casualty of the week is Resistance 3, which plummets 7 places to No. 8, with Formula 1 2011 taking its place atop the chart. Splinter Cell Trilogy HD and Bleach: Soul Resurrection both rise 5 places to 4th and 5th respectively and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit flutters back in at number 10 – perhaps because of its low price tag (just £12.85!).

The full list is available after the jump…

Read more

You may remember back in July, that Future’s weekly downloadable show on PSN – FirstPlay – was axed. You may also remember that Future and Sony promised that another show would soon take its place – and that it would be absolutely free. Well, releasing on the PlayStation Store today is Access, the new FREE weekly downloadable show.

Like FirstPlay, Access is hosted by comedian Lucy Porter and will provide the latest HD news, interviews and previews. Sadly, Access will only be available to UK PSN users, however it will be possible to see some of the content on Future’s web publications – namely CVG and Gamesradar.

The first episode of Access will focus on Resistance 3, FIFA 12 and the SCE UK Access Tour.

Sony has released PS3 system software update version 3.72. This update is only minor but is mandatory in order to sign into the PlayStation Network. Sony has stated “With this minor update, system stability during use of PS3 format software and network services has been improved.”

If you’re not currently using system software version 3.70, check to see what other features may be included in your update in our archive here.

If you’re a follower here at PlayStation Future, you’ll know that a while back we had a feature listing Amazon’s Top 10 games every week. Sadly, we had to drop that feature but due to its popularity we have decided to bring it back with ShopTo as its focus. Like a game that you see in the list? Click on it and you’ll be taken straight to the product page at ShopTo!

This week, Resistance 3 just managed to pip Dead Island to the number one spot. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine takes third whilst the God of War Collection Volume 2 takes fourth on the day of its release. Gran Turismo 5 (Platinum) makes an appearance at number 7 with its brand new Platinum edition – available for just £17.86! Deus Ex: Human Revolution has proven to be a hit with critics and sits happily at number 8 whilst Splinter Cell Trilogy HD occupies 9th place – also on the day of its release.

Hit the jump to see the full list…

Read more

Sony held a conference at TGS this morning, revealing a number of exciting details about many things – but mainly Vita. To round up, the conference told us the following:

• The latest worldwide sales figures for PS3 and PSP are 51.8 million and 71.4 million respectively.
• Vita will be launching in Japan on 17th December.
• The Welcome Park application on the VIta introduces you to the system.
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 will be a launch title for the Vita.
• Square Enix announce two launch titles for the Vita: Lord of Apocalypse and Army Corps of Hell.
• A HD Remake of Final Fantasy X will be released on PS3 and Vita to coincide with the 10th anniversary of its release.
• Metal Gear and Zone of the Enders HD Collections are coming to Vita in 2012.
• The launch line-up for Vita will also include Fish On, Ridge Racer, Dream Club Portable, Project Noels, F1 2011 and Virtua Tennis 4 – making a total of 26 launch titles – check the dedicated page here.
• The Vita will feature PSP backwards compatibility, with full scaling and use of dual analog sticks.
• Sony is considering making special downloads for UMD-only titles.

Ever since the Japanese release of the PSP version of Persona 2 and the anime series iteration of Persona 4, things on the Atlus franchise’s side have been quiet. That ended today, as Japanese gaming site Famitsu carried multiple major announcements in regards to the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series.

As revealed by a recent teaser site, Atlus will be remaking Persona 4 for the upcoming PlayStation Vita console. The portable iteration of the hit 2008 title will feature a new character named Mary, more voicework during in-game dialogue scenes, and new animated cutscenes. The game will also include a new wireless support feature where players can call upon other users when their party members are close to death. The new port will be out next spring in Japan.

Atlus also revealed it will be teaming up with Arc System Works (creators of the BlazBlue series) to develop a 2D fighter based on the Persona universe. The game will be called Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena and will launch in spring 2012 for the arcades, with a PS3 and Xbox 360 release due for summer 2012. The game will feature characters from Persona 3 and 4.

Finally, Atlus confirmed that Persona 5 is in the works, with series director Katsura Hashino resuming his role once again. Shigenori Soejima and Shoji Meguro will return to their roles of lead character designer and music composer, respectively.

Persona 4 was released back in March 2009 for the Playstation 2, you can also check out our classic review of the game, praised with a hefty 10/10 score.

PlayStation Home has always been a confusing place for gamers. It’s not a game, it’s not The Sims and it’s not a real social network. It’s a little of bit of each of those things, with a good measure of stuff thrown in to boot. But what exactly is it? If you’re confused you’re not the only one. Fortunately, Sony has woken up to the idea that Home needs redefining and has promised a massive overhaul, bringing a much needed emphasis on gaming, both within and outside of Home.

“This is a giant leap in the evolution of the platform,” said Jack Buser, director of PlayStation Home. “We are going to ‘up level’ games as the heart of PlayStation Home. This means that Home itself is going to become a game. The first things you see when you get into Home are games.”

The new layout will be based around a central hub, and surrounding ‘themed’ areas that match your gaming mood, be it Action, Sports, Adventure or Puzzle. There will also be a re-write of the core Home client, which should streamline the user-interface and let you get into Home faster than ever.

The new update is currently scheduled for Fall 2011 in North America – there’s no date scheduled for Europe yet but it’s a good bet that we won’t be far behind.

For more information check out the Official US PlayStation blog.

The Recommended Retail Price of the 160GB model PlayStation 3 has been slashed to £199 in the UK, down £50 from the previous RRP of £249. In addition, the 320GB model PlayStation 3 has been reduced from £299 to £249.

As these are only the recommended selling prices, retailers are free to cut into their own margins to bring the price down even further. Amazon are selling the 160GB model for just £192, whereas GAME are selling the same model for £189.99 and you can find even better deals than that if you’re willing to buy a bundle that includes one or more games. Remember though folks, it’s only a good deal if it’s a game that you’d buy anyway – you really don’t want to end up with a copy of Terminator: Salvation or PlayStation Move Heroes by mistake!

With Sony’s recent momentum slowed in part by the PlayStation Network hacking earlier on in the year, this new price cut could be the boost Sony needs just before the all-important Christmas season. With PS3 exclusives like Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3, as well as multiplatform must-haves like Skyrim, Modern Warfare 3, Batman: Arkham City and Battlefield 3, all lined up before Christmas, it could be a real sales bonanza for Sony this year.